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1a62cfb671e672b999ea9c9f71fd0b5911295a3a | By . Ap . and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:44 EST, 18 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 21:09 EST, 18 March 2014 . Two Utah men removed from their Boy Scout leadership positions after a viral video showed them toppling an ancient rock formation pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges Tuesday and avoided jail time. Initially, the two men were charged with felonies. Glenn Taylor, 45, and David Hall, 42, appeared in Utah's 7th District Court to enter their pleas under a deal with prosecutors. The two men from Highland were sentenced to a year of probation and ordered to pay fines and restitution, which has not yet been determined. State prosecutors are still trying to put a price on the amount of damage caused last October to the mushroom-shaped sandstone pillar in Goblin Valley State Park, which park officials said had been standing for much of human history, if not longer. The formation was estimated to be about 170 million years old. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Guilty: Boy Scout leaders Glenn Taylor (left) and Benjamin Hall each received probation for destroying an ancient rock formation in Utah . Freedom: David Hall (left) and Glenn Taylor (right) avoided jail time for destroying an ancient rock formation in Utah . Deal: Attorney Scott Card (left) brokered the deal for the two former Boy Scout leaders that will is likely to also include a hefty fine . A video shot by Hall and posted on YouTube shows Taylor dislodging the formation at Goblin Valley State Park in central Utah that's filled with thousands of the pillars called 'hoodoos.' Hall, Taylor and a third man were seen cheering and high-fiving after the formation toppled. The men claimed it might have been ready to fall and kill a visitor. Both were later stripped of their Boy Scout positions. Scott Card, an attorney for Taylor, told the Salt Lake City Tribune that the restitution will be thousands of dollars and will go toward putting up signs in the park to warn others against damaging the formations. Both men were originally facing felony mischief charges. If Taylor and Hall meet the requirements of their probation, the offenses will later be removed from their records. The alleged cameraman: Dave Hall has been charged with aiding criminal mischief . Accused: Glenn Taylor has been charged with tipping over the rock while his son and friend cheered him on . Park officials . have said the rock formation had been standing for much of human . history, if not longer. The central Utah park is dotted with thousands . of the eerie, mushroom-shaped formations. 'We are taking it seriously,' Blackwell said. 'It's been an interesting case, mostly because of the attention it's garnered.' Caught on camera: Glenn Taylor was filmed pushing the 'loose' rock in Goblin Valley State Park . Destroyed: The massive rock, which had been in place for 20 million years, crashes to the ground beneath . Celebration: Glenn and Dylan Taylor high-five while the cameraman, Dave Hall laughs . Blackwell . said any defense asserting the goblin-shaped rock was ready to tip over 'would need to have a lot of expert testimony, and it would probably go . both ways.' The round-shaped rock, which was pushed off a natural pedestal, weighed thousands of pounds, he said. 'I . understand why the state brought felony charges - it's a definite . deterrent effect,' Taylor's lawyer, Scott Card, said when his client initially was charged with a felony, 'but I believe it's . an overcharge. We will be defending Mr. Taylor in court.' The two men faced up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. The rock formations at Goblin Valley State Park in Utah are thousands of years old, formed by the erosion of the material around the base of the rock . Showing off: Glenn Taylor, a Boy Scout leader, flexes his muscles after forcing the rock from its perch . | Glenn Taylor and David Hall initially were charged with felonies for destroying the formation in Utah's Goblin Valley State Park .
Taylor and Hall were both stripped of their leadership roles with the Boy Scouts .
A judge is yet to determine how much the men will have to pay in restitution . |
1a62f9efa20873f91adfe728c4c93aee3b85f787 | By . Associated Press . and Mail online Reporter . Three men are charged with digging up the cremated remains of two relatives and moving them to another cemetery in Maine (stock image) Three men are charged with digging up the cremated remains of two relatives and moving them to another cemetery in Maine. Authorities say 42-year-old Kevin Lewis, his brother Travis Lewis, 37, and their uncle Calvin Lewis, 71, are charged with abuse of a corpse. Police say the men dug up the remains of Richard Lewis and his son - who shared the same name - from a cemetery in Standish last fall, then reburied them in the family plot in Limington. The elder Richard Lewis was Calvin Lewis' brother and the father of the other two men. The remains were returned to their original resting place on August 2. It . was the former girlfriend of the younger Richard Lewis - also the . mother of his children - who alerted the Cumberland County Sheriff’s . Office about the ashes being moved. She learned about the incident in July after Kevin Lewis believed she should know. She . objected to the remains being moved because she had purchased the . burial plot for her ex-boyfriend, who died in 2007 in a motorcycle . accident, for $200. His . father, whose his ashes were kept at a family member’s house for many . years after his death in 2003, was eventually laid to rest in the same . spot. Authorities say 42-year-old Kevin Lewis, his brother Travis Lewis, 37, and their uncle Calvin Lewis, 71, reburied the remains of their relatives in a family plot in Limington, Maine (aerial shot of town shown here) Kevin Lewis, who is now based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, told the Portland Press Herald that the men thought they 'had a right' to move family members and the graves were not marked where they were. 'My father’s parents are there [in Limington] and it’s where everybody else will be buried,' he said of moving his father, Richard Lewis and brother, Richard 'Trent' Lewis, to the family plot. However, the law does not differentiate between ashes and physical remains and the men have been issued a summons to appear in Bridgton District Court on November 18 on a charge of abuse of a corpse. | Kevin Lewis, 42, his brother Travis Lewis, 37, and their uncle Calvin Lewis, 71, are charged with abuse of a corpse .
Police say the men dug up the remains of Richard Lewis and his son - who shared the same name - last fall and reburied them in a family plot in Maine .
The men say they thought they 'had a right' to move family members and the graves were not marked . |
1a6383ef069cae906e90b7a2da13ccf7379811ef | Baroness Margaret Thatcher appears to have been well-liked across the pond, as many American politicians have reflected on their respect of the now-deceased British leader. Among her admirers is former First Lady Nancy Reagan, the widow of President Ronald Reagan - who worked closely with the so-called Iron Lady. Reagan and Thatcher joined forces in the early 1980s and drastically changed the economic and political landscapes in both of their countries. Scroll down for video . 'Special relationship': Former First Lady Nancy Reagan (seen here in 1991) said she was too frail to attend Mrs Thatcher's funeral but she mourned her loss . Their calls for more-austere government and lower taxes still resonate with conservatives on both sides of the Atlantic. And their side-by-side standing up to . Soviet communism is credited by those of all political stripes as . hastening the end of the Cold War. Dynamic duo: Reagan and Thatcher's calls for more-austere government and lower taxes still resonate with conservatives on both sides of the Atlantic . Speaking to MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell yesterday, Mrs Reagan said that it wasn't just her husband who got along well with Mrs Thatcher, but she did as well. 'We had a very special relationship,' Mrs Reagan said via phone. 'I think people thought she and I didn't have a relationship. Nothing could be farther from the truth. And of course I loved it that she and Ronnie were as close as they were.' Also singing Thatcher's praises was President Barack Obama, who said that America 'has lost a true friend.' The kind words came amid the revelation that Thatcher died in the luxury suite at the Ritz where she had spent months recuperating after an operation. Britain's first and only female prime minister, who passed away peacefully at the age of 87 after suffering a massive stroke, had checked into the five star hotel at the start of the year following minor surgery on her bladder over Christmas. While a close-knit circle of friends . took it in turns to visit the increasingly frail 87-year-old at the . Belgravia hotel - a long-time favorite of the former leader's - it was a . solitary start to what would prove to be her final few months. She had been due to spend Christmas Day . with her niece Jane Mays, who lives in north east London, but was . admitted to hospital five days earlier for minor surgery to remove a . growth on her bladder. Iron Lady: Baroness Thatcher, who died today, was pictured on a bench in Battersea Park, London with her carers and a police officer . Ritz: Media and police were gathered outside the five star Ritz Hotel in London today, where Baroness Thatcher died after suffering a massive stroke . Her daughter Carol Thatcher, 59, was understood to be at her side in the hospital at Christmas time. After being discharged Baroness Thatcher was checked straight into a suite at the hotel in Belgravia amid concerns she would no longer be able to manage the stairs at her elegant four-story mansion. Staff at the hotel had invited her to make the Ritz her home for the foreseeable future, and her carers are understood to have been taking it in turns to stay with the 87-year-old. Yesterday Carol dashed home from Swiss ski resort Klosters, where she lives for part of the year, to be with her ailing mother, her neighbours said. The mother of two, who was Britain's . first and only female prime minister, had spent the previous two . Christmases without either Carol or her twin brother Sir Mark. Close . friends of the former prime minister said after she was discharged that . she was in 'sparkling form' following the procedure, but admitted the . experience had been 'very draining' for her. Home life: The former prime minister had spent recent Christmases without her children Carol (pictured with her mother) and Mark . The spell in hospital followed more than a decade of fragile health for Baroness Thatcher after she suffered a series of minor strokes in 2002. She had been suffering from acute short-term memory loss, which could make social gatherings an unsettling experience, and in recent years the once formidable Iron Lady had all but disappeared from public view. Alongside her health issues, in 2003 Baroness Thatcher suffered the devastating loss of her husband Denis, 88, who she had described as the 'golden thread running through my life.' The life-altering loss heralded the . start of a new chapter in her life, one in which she appeared to spend . increasing periods of time without her close family around her. Loved ones: Family was said to be essential in the life of Baroness Thatcher, who was mother to Carol, left, who rushed home from a ski trip in Klosters, Switzerland, yesterday, and Sir Mark, right . 'Golden thread': Baroness Thatcher's husband Denis died in 2003 at the age of 88 after suffering heart problems and pancreatic cancer . Although she was a mother of two, it was . with Mrs Mayes - the daughter of Baroness Thatcher's late older sister . Muriel - that she had been due to spend last Christmas before she fell . ill. She dined with Mrs Mayes and her family on Christmas Day 2011, while both Carol and Mark spent the festive season abroad. The former prime minister had credited her husband, who was 10 years her senior, as the man 'who has made everything possible.' Honoured: Baroness Thatcher will receive a ceremonial funeral with military honours, Downing Street has said . She met her husband while fighting the Dartford constituency - which she lost - in 1950. Denis, the director of a paint firm, helped the fledgeling politician by driving her around. They married in the autumn of 1951 when Baroness Thatcher was 26. As she went on to embark upon a career at the highest echelons of British politics, she relied on Denis as a constant source of discreet support. The pair had enjoyed an marriage lasting more than 50 years, but Baroness Thatcher's family life was not without moments of crisis. Some months after the death of her . husband she endured a second personal trauma when their son, Sir Mark, . was charged in August 2004 with plotting a coup to overthrow the . Government of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea - a charge which could, in its . extreme, have led to the death penalty. Baroness Thatcher, already suffering ill health, was deeply upset by the news about her son, to whom she was devoted. To her intense relief, he entered a guilty plea and was punished with a large fine and a suspended prison sentence. Baroness Thatcher was well enough to . celebrate her 87th birthday with Sir Mark, 59, and his wife at a London . restaurant last October. She had also enjoyed robust health during her term as Prime Minister. Unlike . her predecessor at 10 Downing Street, James Callaghan, Mrs Thatcher did . not have a doctor accompanying her on foreign trips. Days gone by: The then Conservative Party leader is seen strolling through the grounds of Scotney Castle in Kent with husband Denis and their twins Mark and Carol in 1979 . Upsetting: Sir Mark is seen outside the High Court in Cape Town in 2004, after pleading guilty to charges of plotting a coup to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea . Once, when she was asked by Lee Kuan Yew, who was prime minister of Singapore, why she did not travel with a doctor, she replied: 'I would have ended up looking after the doctor'. But in the past decade, she had become increasing frail. In 2002, she made her first concession to increasing age when she cut back her workload on the advice of doctors. Concern about her health had been growing and it emerged she had suffered a minor stroke shortly before New Year 2002 during her golden wedding anniversary holiday with Sir Denis Thatcher in Madeira. The series of minor strokes forced her to retire from public speaking. Despite this, in May 2004 - the 25th anniversary of her election as Prime Minister - she defied doctors' orders to speak at a dinner held in her honour, attacking the Blair Government and praising Michael Howard, then Tory leader. In 2008, Lady Thatcher succumbed to the heat at a dinner in the House of Lords and fainted. She was taken to nearby St Thomas's Hospital for tests, but was allowed to go home the following day. Recuperation: Baroness Thatcher started the year convalescing at the Ritz in central London after undergoing minor surgery over Christmas . Tributes: Notes and bouquets were piling up outside the former prime minister's home in London following the news of her death today . That year her daughter Carol admitted that her mother suffered from dementia. She said she first noticed her mother's previously formidable memory was failing in 2000 and she had to be repeatedly . reminded about the death of her husband, each time reacting to the sad . news as if it were the first time she had heard it. Baroness Thatcher died after . suffering from a stroke - a condition which kills around 45,000 people . every year in the UK - and is the third largest cause of death, after . heart disease and cancer. The risk of stroke rises . significantly with age. And 40,000 of those who die each year are over . the age of 75, according to the Stroke Association. Although men have a higher risk of stroke, women are one and a half times as likely to die from one. | Nancy Reagan speaks of her close bond with Baroness Thatcher hours after her death had been announced .
Thatcher died at London's Ritz hotel after suffering a stroke .
Former prime minister was rarely seen in public in recent years, and had been in fragile health since suffering a series of strokes in 2002 .
Daughter Carol rushed home from Klosters, Switzerland yesterday . |
1a6463586146341da63c4594fdc68a9b5fa3cdb2 | A Chinese woman has revealed she was dragged from her home in the middle of the night and forced to have an abortion, three months before her child was due to be born. Liu Xinwen, 33, and her husband Zhou Guoqiang were left devastated after the mother-of-one was pulled from her bed and taken to hospital to be injected with an abortion-inducing drug. The forced abortion is due to China's strict one-baby policy, introduced in 1979 to keep the country's population under control - the couple already have a son. Scroll down for video . Horrifying: Liu Xinwen, 33, and her husband Zhou Guoqiang were left devastated after the mother-of-one was pulled from her bed and taken to hospital to be injected with an abortion-inducing drug . Zhou Guoqiang took this picture of his wife, showing the foetus in an orange bucket next to Liu Xinwen curled up on the hospital bed . Brutal: The couple said that they were awoken at 4am last week after their door was kicked down and two dozen officials from the Shandong Province Family Planning Commission forced their way into their home . The couple claim that they were awoken at 4am last week after their door was kicked down and two dozen officials from the Shandong Province Family Planning Commission forced their way into their home. Mr Zhou told Sky News how he was held down on the sofa while his terrified wife was taken away to the hospital. He then spent a desperate five hours trying to find out where Liu Xinwen had been taken as officials refused to tell him. When he eventually found his wife at the People's Hospital of Fangzi District in Weifang City, he arrived just minutes after the injection had been administered. Cruel: Mr Zhou shows the programme a horrific photo he took as evidence . which shows the foetus in an orange bucket next to Liu Xinwen curled up . on the hospital bed . In hospital: Liu Xinwen is pictured recovering after the forced abortion of the six-month-old foetus . Heart-breaking: The room at People's Hospital of Fangzi District in Weifang City, where the lethal injection was administered . Forced: Mr Zhou claims his wife was forced to sign papers which said she had agreed to the abortion. He said that when she refused she was told if she did not co-operate he would be arrested . 'My wife was lying in bed. I asked her: 'Have you been injected?' She said 'yes'. I asked if the baby was still moving.' She said 'not much,' he told Sky News. 'After that, I didn't want my wife to see my crying. I went outside.' The baby died in her womb and was delivered a day later - a horrific photo shows the foetus in an orange bucket next to Liu Xinwen curled up on the hospital bed. It was then the couple discovered they had been due to have a little boy, a younger brother for their son Zhou Junfeng, 10. A sobbing Liu Xinwen told of her grief at aborting her baby saying, 'I miss him.' Traumatic: The couple said that they were awoken at 4am last week after their door was kicked down and two dozen officials from the Shandong Province Family Planning Commission forced their way into their home . Terrifying: Mr Zhou told how he was held down on the sofa while his terrified wife was taken away to the hospital . 'I didn't get to see him. I would be even more upset if I had seen him,' she said. Mr Zhou claims his wife was forced to sign papers which said she had agreed to the abortion. He said that when she refused she was told if she did not co-operate her husband would be arrested and she would be left with nothing. Known to many as the one-child policy, China's actual rules are more complicated. The government limits most urban couples to one child, and allows two children for rural families if their firstborn is a girl. Numerous other exceptions include looser rules for minority families and a two-child limit for parents who are themselves both singletons. There has been growing speculation among Chinese media, experts and ordinary people about whether the government will soon relax the one-child policy — introduced in 1980 as a temporary measure to curb surging population growth — and allow more people to have two children. Though the government credits the policy with preventing hundreds of millions of births and helping lift countless families out of poverty, it is reviled by many ordinary people. The strict limits have led to forced abortions and sterilizations, even though such measures are illegal. Couples who flout the rules face hefty fines, seizure of their property and loss of their jobs. Many today also see the birth limits as outdated, a relic of the era when housing, jobs and food were provided by the state. She told Sky News that after her son was born she had a contraceptive coil inserted, a procedure proscribed by China. She said it must have failed and she discovered she was expecting a second child when she was four months into the pregnancy. The couple decided against informing the authorities as they feared a forced abortion and instead hoped to pay a fine after the birth - this is sometimes acceptable in parts of China. It is not clear how authorities found out Liu Xinwen was pregnant. The Chinese Embassy in London told Sky News they were looking into the case. In July a man stabbed to death two government workers in China after they told him they couldn't register his fourth child. They had told the man they were . unable to record the birth because he had not paid a fine for breaching . China's family planning laws. The . official Xinhua News Agency, said staff at the Dongxing City Family . Planning Bureau - which comes under Fangchenggang city - had refused to . register the man's fourth child for a hukou, or resident's certificate, . because he hadn't paid a social compensation fee. The fine is levied on parents who break family planning laws and can be up to 10 times a family's annual income. A child without a hukou faces problems registering for education, health care and government benefits. Known to many as the one-child policy, China's actual rules are complicated. The government limits most urban couples to one child, and allows two children for rural families if their firstborn is a girl. Numerous . other exceptions include looser rules for minority families and a . two-child limit for parents who are themselves both singletons. Family: Mr Zhou and his son Zhou Junfeng, 10. The family remain in shock over the recent events . Devastated: Liu Xinwen lies in the bed she was forcibly removed from last week as she tries to recover from the traumatic experience . Though the government credits the policy with preventing hundreds of millions of births and helping lift countless families out of poverty, it is reviled by many ordinary people. The strict limits have led to forced abortions and sterilizations, even though such measures are illegal. Couples who flout the rules face hefty fines, seizure of their property and loss of their jobs. Many demographers argue that the policy has worsened the country's aging crisis by limiting the size of the young labor pool that must support the large baby boom generation as it retires. They say it has contributed to the imbalanced sex ratio by encouraging families to abort baby girls, preferring to try for a male heir. | Liu Xinwen, 33, and her husband Zhou Guoqiang were left devastated .
Mother-of-one was pulled from her bed and taken to hospital .
She was injected with an abortion-inducing drug which killed her son .
Says she was forced to sign abortion papers after threatening her husband . |
1a64eae1b79fcc45e2788ea9d2701afd35eb6a8d | (CNN) -- Aid is getting to Haiti but it's not as simple as getting a direct flight to the quake-battered nation. CNN followed one aid container from the headquarters of ShelterBox in Cornwall, England, to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to see the hurdles aid groups face. Minutes after the earthquake struck on January 12, the ShelterBox crew sprang into action. The international disaster relief organization is the brainchild of Tom Henderson, who was recognized as a CNN Hero in 2008. "If you've lost everything as they have in Haiti, it's all about shelter, warmth, comfort and dignity," says Henderson. "That's what ShelterBox is." A ShelterBox container -- containing relief supplies including a 10-person tent, water and blankets -- is designed to be easily carried by two people and stackable for easy storage. To get to Haiti from Cornwall, the box went on four flights and one overland trip over five days before being distributed to a mother and her newborn baby. Once in the Dominican Republic -- Haiti's neighbor -- there were delays because of security concerns and a national holiday that meant local help was limited. The ShelterBox was one of 720 boxes eventually loaded into a four truck convoy in Santa Domingo for a U.N.-escorted drive to Haiti. The drive from Santo Domingo to the Haiti border took about 11 hours because of poor roads and a puncture. Twelve ShelterBoxes are being used to build an emergency field hospital at the airport, said Mark Pearson who is in Haiti for the charity. Each ShelterBox contains individual survival equipment like water carriers, a tool kit and a children's pack containing drawing books, crayons and pens. By February 1, Shelterbox hopes to have more than 7,000 boxes in Haiti, housing up to 70,000 people. But Henderson acknowledges there is much more to be done. "There are thousands of people dying every day. That's what drives us forward. This is not a job for us. It's a passion." Want to get involved? Check out ShelterBox's Web site and see how to help. | A ShelterBox aid box sent from England takes five days to reach Haiti .
It went via Ireland, Canada, the U.S. and Dominican Republic .
Box contents include tent, water, school kits and blankets . |
1a66cdc2a064f1a203c41b93320987bb023bf11a | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 10:27 EST, 20 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:01 EST, 20 May 2013 . An angry elephant took exception to having his picture taken - nonchalantly destroying thousands of pounds worth of camera equipment. The seven-tonne bull elephant casually threw the gear into a mud hole after discovering it near his watering hole. Photographer Paul Souders was trying to take close-ups of a herd of males in Chobe National Park, Botswana, when the giant mammal struck. Whoa Nelly! The camera goers flying after the elephant takes offence to its presence . Hope they were waterproof: Mr Souders went through a number of cameras getting the shots . But the costly lesson did not deter the American as he went through several expensive cameras, ranging between £395 to £3,945. He said: 'Elephants are intelligent and curious creatures so I wasn't surprised that he inspected the camera with his trunk, sniffing at it delicately. 'But the utter contempt and disdain when he picked it up and gave it a toss, that hurt my feelings a little.' He added: 'If I had to guess, he was merely annoyed that there was this silly, clicky thing in the way of where he wanted to drink.' Camera-shy: A camera gets a soaking from the bemused beast . Success: Despite the numerous setbacks the tenacious photographer got the up close and personal pictures he wanted . Mr Souders also placed cameras in Nxai Pan National Park and along the Botete River in Makgadigadi Pans National Park. He planted them at the edge of watering holes, using his past experience to guess where the elephants would wander. The 52-year-old then operated the camera by remote from a truck 30-50m away. Mudslinging: Fortunately the photographer was able to get his abused cameras repaired after finishing his trip . Intimate: Mr Souders was trying to take close-ups of a herd of males in Botswana . Mud bath: This picture, taken by remote, shows the elephants throwing mud over themselves to cool off . 'There might be someone crazy enough to lie down in a mud pool and try to photograph elephants from five feet away - but I'm not that guy any more,' added Mr Souders, who comes from Seattle. 'So I put the cameras out there and let them take the risks. It's all off-the-shelf gear that anyone could buy. You just have to be willing to watch it get destroyed. 'It's sort of a Buddhist thing I've unintentionally cultivated of late, avoiding attachments to material things.' Fortunately Mr Souders was able to get all of his damaged cameras repaired following the trip - but added: 'Next time I try this, I will plan a little better and protect my cameras in waterproof cases.' | Bull elephant smashes thousands of pounds worth of equipment .
Paul Souders went through several cameras getting his shots .
'Next time I'll plan better' admits photographer . |
1a66cf8c31e6c8374e7fdb900bca221c3a48687b | Disney theme parks make up four of the world’s top 20 tourist attractions, according to new research. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Park in California and Tokyo DisneySea registered a total of more than 66 million visitors last year. The destinations are among 15 theme parks included in a list of the world’s top 50 tourist attractions compiled by tourism website Travel + Leisure. The most popular tourist destination across the globe last year was Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, which recorded 91.25m visitors in 2013 . The most popular destination across the globe was Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, which recorded 91.25m visitors in 2013. The 15th century market is famous for its hand-painted ceramics, lanterns, intricately patterned carpets, and Byzantine-style jewelry. Mexico City’s The Zócalo - the ceremonial Atzec plaza - came in second place with 85 million visitors, while New York’s Times Square was third in the list with 50 million. The Zocalo hosts military parades, cultural and political events, concerts, exhibitions, fairs, and public art installations, while Times Square is known for it lively entertainment, Broadway shows and many shops. Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida recorded 18.6 million visitors last year making it the 12th most visited tourist attraction in the world . Other attractions that made up the top ten were New York's Central Park, and Union Station in Washington D.C. which both attracted 40m visitors. The Las Vegas Strip came in sixth position followed by Tokyo's Meiji Jingu Shrine and Sensoji Temple. Niagara Falls was in ninth place while New York City's Grand Central Terminal was in tenth position with 21.6m visitors. There was no place on the list for any British attractions, and the least visited place in the top 50 most popular tourist destinations was the Taj Mahal, which still recorded between seven and eight million tourists. It means the British Museum in London (6.7 million), the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (6.3 million), and the Roman Colosseum (5.1 million) narrowly missed the cut. Nevada's Las Vegas Strip attracted 30.5m annual visitors in 2013, making it the sixth most popular destination . The figures were compiled from data supplied by government agencies and industry reports including the Global Attractions Attendance Report. The attractions themselves also supplied their own data when ticket sales weren’t available. Travel + Leisure defined tourist attractions as ‘cultural and historical sites, natural landmarks, and officially designated spaces’. It meant that while destinations such as the Las Vegas Strip made the list, popular spots such as malls and shopping centres were not included, despite often attracting tens of millions of visitors each year. Beaches and religious sites were also omitted. Niagara Falls in New York and Ontario registered 22m visitors, placing it ninth in the top 50 tourist attractions . Bourbon Street in New Orleans was 45th in the list of the world's top 50 destinations with 7,470,000 visitors . The publication of the list comes shortly after the World Tourist Organisation published their annual report earlier this year detailing the state of global tourism. It revealed there was a five percent growth in international tourism in 2013, which amounted to an additional 52 million tourists and which brought the total up to 1.087 billion. The growth defied predictions that the global economic downturn would slow tourism. Regions that showed the biggest growth in international tourism in 2013 were Asia, Africa and Europe. Of these areas, Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe and North Africa were the most popular places to visit. The Taj Mahal in India recorded between seven and eight million visitors in 2013 putting it in 50th position . The Great Wall of China had 10.7m visitors in 2013, making the historic attraction the 26th most popular site . The Palace of Versailles, in France just made it onto the list with 7,527,122 tourists visiting the site last year . The Forbidden City in Beijing attracted an astonishing 15,340,000 in 2013, making it the 16th most popular tourist attraction in the world last year . The Great Smoky Mountains National Park in North Carolina and Tennessee had 9,345,695 in 2013 . Europe currently remains the most visited region in the world, welcoming an extra 29 million visitors last year to attract a total of 563 million tourists – 52 percent of the entire tourist market. Northern, Southern and Central America saw an increase of six million visitors to reach a total of 169 million. Africa attracted three million more arrivals than 2012, reaching a new record of 56 million. Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City, recorded 20 million tourists in 2013, putting it in 11th place . The list of top 50 travel destinations also revealed that South Korean theme parks Everland and Lotte World were among the most visited attractions, beating the Eiffel Tower with nearly seven million, the Great Pyramids with nearly four million and Stonehenge with one million. Travel + Leisure noted that accessibility can be a factor in determining how many visitors visit a particular attraction, adding that it takes extra effort to reach destination’s such as Yellowstone National Park, which recorded 3.2 million visitors, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, China, which had 4.8 million, and Peru’s Machu Picchu, which has restricted tourism to 2,500 entries per day, or 912,500 per year. 1 Grand Bazaar, Istanbul . Annual Visitors: 91,250,000 . 2 The Zócalo, Mexico City . Annual Visitors: 85,000,000 . 3 Times Square, New York City . Annual Visitors: 50,000,000 . 4 (tie) Central Park, New York City . Annual Visitors: 40,000,000 . 4 (tie) Union Station, Washington, D.C. Annual Visitors: 40,000,000 . 6 Las Vegas Strip . Annual Visitors: 30,500,000 . 7 (tie) Meiji Jingu Shrine, Tokyo . Annual Visitors: 30,000,000 . 7 (tie) Sensoji Temple, Tokyo . Annual Visitors: 30,000,000 . 9 Niagara Falls, New York and Ontario . Annual Visitors: 22,000,000 . 10 Grand Central Terminal, New York City . Annual Visitors: 21,600,00 . 11 Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico City . Annual Visitors: 20,000,000 . 12 Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando, Florida . Annual Visitors: 18,588,000 . 13 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston . Annual Visitors: 18,000,000 . 14 Tokyo Disneyland . Annual Visitors: 17,214,000 . 15 Disneyland Park, California . Annual Visitors: 16,202,000 . 16 Forbidden City, Beijing . Annual Visitors: 15,340,000 . 17 Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco . Annual Visitors: 14,289,121 . 18 Tokyo DisneySea . Annual Visitors: 14,084,000 . 19 Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris . Annual Visitors: 14,000,000 . 20 Golden Gate Park, San Francisco . Annual Visitors: 13,000,000 . 21 Balboa Park, San Diego . Annual Visitors: 12,000,000 to 14,000,000 . 22 South Street Seaport, New York City . Annual Visitors: 12,000,000 . 23 San Antonio River Walk, Texas . Annual Visitors: 11,500,000 . 24 Epcot, Disney World, Orlando, Florida . Annual Visitors: 11,229,000 . 25 St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Italy . Annual Visitors: 11,000,000 . Source: travelandleisure.com . 26 Great Wall of China . Annual Visitors: 10,720,000 . 27 Sacré Coeur Basilica, Paris . Annual Visitors: 10,500,000 . 28 Disneyland Park, France . Annual Visitors: 10,430,000 . 29 Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Florida . Annual Visitors: 10,198,000 . 30 Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Florida . Annual Visitors: 10,110,000 . 31 Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan . Annual Visitors: 10,100,000 . 32 Hollywood Walk of Fame, California . Annual Visitors: 10,000,000 to 12,000,000 . 33 Pike Place Market, Seattle . Annual Visitors: 10,000,000 . 34 Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee . Annual Visitors: 9,345,695 . 35 Musée du Louvre, Paris . Annual Visitors: 9,334,000 . 36 Navy Pier, Chicago . Annual Visitors: 8,900,000 . 37 Disney’s California Adventure,California . Annual Visitors: 8,514,000 . 38 Sydney Opera House, Sydney . Annual Visitors: 8,200,000 . 39 Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Orlando, Florida . Number of Visitors: 8,141,000 . 40 (tie) Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. Annual Visitors: 8,000,000 . 40 (tie) Grand Palace, Bangkok . Number of Visitors: 8,000,000 . 40 (tie) Pier 39, San Francisco . Annual Visitors: 8,000,000 . 43 Palace of Versailles, France . Annual Visitors: 7,527,122 . 44 Ocean Park, Hong Kong . Annual Visitors: 7,475,000 . 45 Bourbon Street, New Orleans . Annual Visitors: 7,470,000 . 46 National Museum of China, Beijing . Annual Visitors: 7,450,000 . 47 (tie) Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong . Annual Visitors: 7,400,000 . 47 (tie) Lotte World, Seoul . Annual Visitors: 7,400,000 . 49 Everland, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea . Annual Visitors: 7,303,000 . 50 Taj Mahal, Agra, India . Annual Visitors: 7,000,000 to 8,000,000 . source: travelandleisure.com . | Fifteen theme park attractions listed in world's top 50 most-visited sites .
Four Disney theme park attractions, including Magic Kingdom, in top 20 .
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is the most visited with 91.25m visitors last year .
World Tourist Organisation reports five percent growth in tourism in 2013 .
Additional 52m international tourists last year, bringing total to 1.087 billion . |
1a679ee064f608ed4bde14f6535c495d1b9d1a4d | Washington (CNN) -- The Supreme Court will take another look at government regulation of air pollution in a high-stakes environmental and economic fight pitting the Obama administration against a coalition of states and utilities. The justices announced Tuesday they had accepted six separate appeals for review, which will be consolidated into an hour of oral arguments scheduled for early next year. A ruling is expected by June. At issue is whether the federal Environmental Protection Agency can tighten emission standards for stationary greenhouse gas sources, such as power plants, in what the government says is an effort to stem the effects of global warming. The high court in 2007 affirmed the conclusions by much of the scientific community that greenhouse gases are an air pollutant, but that case dealt with emissions from motor vehicles. A range of business groups say the agency then improperly extended its regulatory authority. Texas was among the states whose cases were accepted. Climate change to drive annual temps to new highs within a generation, study says . The court rejected three other related appeals, including one from Virginia state officials: broader challenges to the EPA's power over carbon emissions. Numerous environmental groups support the administration, saying the court's acceptance of only one legal question was a positive sign. "Today's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to deny numerous further legal challenges to EPA's science-based determination that six greenhouse gases threaten our nation's health and well-being is a historic victory for all Americans that are afflicted by the ravages of extreme weather," said Vickie Patton, general counsel of the Environmental Defense Fund. "Those decisions make it abundantly clear, once and for all, that EPA has the both legal authority and the responsibility to address climate change and the carbon pollution that causes it." This is the second major environmental regulation case that will be heard this term. The justices in December will decide the EPA's ability to measure emissions from an upwind state that is polluting a downwind state, requiring those upwind states to pay for greenhouse gas reductions. Many business groups hope the conservative majority will limit the reach of government in this and a range of regulatory areas, which the Chamber of Commerce and others say is hurting the economy and stifling innovation. "The EPA's illegal regulations threaten Texas jobs and Texas employers," Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said of the agency's policies. "As Texas has proven in other lawsuits against the EPA, this is a runaway federal agency, so we are pleased the Obama Administration will have to defend its lawless regulations before the U.S. Supreme Court." The new cases are Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. EPA (12-1272); Texas v. EPA (12-1269); Southeastern Legal Foundation v. EPA (12-1268); Energy-Intensive Manufacturers Working Group on Greenhouse Gas Regulation v. EPA (12-1254); American Chemistry Council v. EPA (12-1248); and Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA (12-1146). Test your knowledge of the Supreme Court . | Coalition of states, utilities is challenging the government's authority to limit air pollution .
At issue is whether the EPA can tighten emission standards for all greenhouse gas sources .
The government says the tighter rules are an attempt to stem the effects of global warming .
Business groups say regulations are hurting the economy and stifling innovation . |
1a68681b034765bae5e91f909d7faeafe8270e28 | By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 08:24 EST, 31 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:22 EST, 1 August 2012 . Dominant player: Visa issues about 41 per cent of all payment cards in Europe . Shoppers are being being charged over the odds because of the fees Visa charges to process cross-border credit card transactions, the European Union claimed today. EU regulators have sent a complaint to the company, which issues about 41 per cent of all payment cards in Europe, saying its charges harm competition between banks. Retailers pay a fee to to their bank every time a card is used to pay for a product. The bank then pays Visa for the transaction to be processed. The EU Competition Commission said the company's cross-border consumer credit card fees in Europe breach EU rules and leave retailers paying too much to get payments processed. Visa Europe, the largest card network in the 27-country European Union, cut its debit card fees in December 2010 to settle a competition probe by the European Commission into that part of its business. However it has held out against doing the same for its credit card fees. The commission said its charge sheet or 'statement of objections' sent to Visa Europe also covers domestic credit card fees in eight EU countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden. 'Visa's MIFs (multilateral interchange fees) harm competition between acquiring banks, inflate the cost of payment card acceptance for merchants and ultimately increase consumer prices,' the EU watchdog said in a statement. Visa Europe, which is owned and operated by more than 3,700 European member banks, said it regretted the Commission's decision. 'We are very disappointed that the Commission has taken such a confrontational approach and was not willing to find a solution to support investment and innovation in European payments for the benefit of European consumers and to allow European payments to compete globally,' Visa Europe's chief executive Peter Ayliffe said in a statement. The company could face fines of up to 10 per cent of its global turnover if found in breach of EU antitrust regulations. It posted record revenues of 1billion euros (£782billion) last year. Europe's second-highest court in May backed the EU regulator's crackdown on card fees in a case involving Mastercard, the world's second-biggest credit and debit card network operator. Visa Europe's credit and debit cards account for about 41 per cent of all payment cards issued in Europe. | Visa Europe settled with regulators on debit card fees in 2010 .
Group says it is disappointed with EU Commission's 'confrontational' approach .
EU antitrust breaches can incur fines up to 10 per cent of global turnover . |
1a68ed3cf7d5843a710894237842e5a7347533d4 | By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 04:05 EST, 10 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:26 EST, 10 April 2013 . Freeman Burkholder will leave several children behind when he goes to jail Friday for his part in the hair and beard-cutting scandal against other Amish . Amish schoolchildren held their end-of-school celebration early yesterday so their parents could attend before they are jailed for beard-cutting. Nine members of the Ohio Amish sect led by Samuel Mullet Sr are already in prison after being convicted of the hate crime against rival followers, and five more will join them this Friday. Four women and one man will start jail terms of between one and seven years, leaving nearly three dozen children without one or both parents for the duration of their sentences. They were convicted of cutting off the hair or beards of fellow Amish in a campaign of assaults said to have been orchestrated by the leader of the breakaway sect Mullet Sr. The incidents are considered deeply offensive in Amish culture as the beard is considered a symbol of manhood and faith. Usually the Amish settle disputes within their communities, but in this instance the police were involved because of the seriousness of the assaults, in which victims were said to have been pinned down, screaming, as their beards were hacked off by 'howling' aggressors. Yesterday's end-of-school celebration was brought forward from its usual date at the end of April so that the convicted parents could spend some time with their children before going to jail. Men played baseball in buttoned shirts, work boots and blue pants with suspenders. Their wives, some barefoot, sat on simple wooden benches and chatted, their long-sleeved, blue and green dresses and white head scarves fluttering in the wind. Their children relaxed nearby, dressed like smaller versions of their parents. 'It's . a happy day on the outside, but not on the inside. On the inside, a lot . of times we're crying, but we have to keep our spirits up for the . children's sake,' said Martha Mullet, whose husband, Sam Mullet Sr, was . accused of orchestrating the hair-cutting attacks and was sentenced to . 15 years, the longest term of the 16 defendants in the case. Scroll down for video . Amish girls played softball in front of their parents who are heading to jail on Friday convicted of hate crimes . The innocence of children: Amish children played in the sunshine yesterday before many of them will have to say goodbye to one or both parent for at least a year . She said that she believes the government is trying to split up the community but that the members are determined to remain on their current property. Glimpses from the news media are limited in Amish communities, but the members of Mullet's group in Bergholz said they were open to sharing their story because they feel they've been treated unfairly by the justice system. Amish, who shun many facets of modern life, are deeply religious and believe the Bible instructs women to let their hair grow long and men to grow beards and stop shaving once they marry, which means cutting the hair would be shameful and offensive. Anna Miller, left, and Emma Miller, right, will leave their small children in the care of others when they go to jail . Freeman Burkholder, who will go to prison later this week, carries his son to the schoolhouse for the party . Amish girls gathered outside the school house before the start of their final day of class yesterday . Wilma Mullet adjusts her traditional Amish bonnet as she surveys the farewell celebrations for those convicted of hate crimes . The defendants don't deny the hair-cuttings - some say they regret what happened, others don't - but contend they stemmed from family disputes that should have been handled internally. They say that they are bound by different rules guided by their religion and that the government had no business getting involved in what they did. 'We're not exactly saying it was wrong, and we don't say it's right, either. ... It's something that will never happen again, I can tell you that,' said Wilma Mullet, a daughter of Sam Mullet Sr. who was not charged. A little girl enjoyed a ride on a miniature pony, left, while Freeman Burkholder crosses home plate at the party . Amish women wait to hear their children sing during the final day of class yesterday . Amish men sat apart from their womenfolk before the school celebration in Ohio yesterday . Amish girls enjoyed a picnic in the sunshine in Bergholz, Ohio, as part of farewell celebrations for four women and one man from their sect . All 16 defendants have appealed, arguing that the group's conviction, sentencing and imprisonment in separate facilities as far away as Louisiana, Minnesota and Connecticut violates their constitutional rights and amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, an argument prosecutors reject. The defendants say the distance to the facilities is too great to travel by horse-drawn buggy or even by using a hired driver, so most of their families likely won't be able to visit. The five reporting to prison on Friday said they're scared and not sure what to expect, but they're hopeful about being released early for good behavior. They're sewing clothes, plowing ground and finishing other chores to make life easier for their loved ones who will remain in the community. Two women were bracing for their first plane ride, to prisons in Minnesota. Amish boys walk to the schoolhouse on their final day of class before saying goodbye to five members of their community . A family of Amish walk to the school house in the sunshine yesterday where the children were to perform . Their departure will leave nearly three dozen children without at least one parent, and some without both because their fathers already are incarcerated, so the adults have made alternative arrangements. In some cases, older siblings will look after younger ones. The spouses and 15 children of two defendants, Anna Miller and Freeman Burkholder, are merging under one roof while they serve their one-year sentences. Lovina Miller is beginning a similar sentence and giving Martha Mullet custody of her eight children until she returns because her husband is in Massachusetts on a seven-year sentence. The case has shocked the Amish in America and shone a light on their strictly traditional ways . Amish children from first through eighth grade sang songs in German and English for their parents . Emma Miller was convicted and sentenced to prison for her role in the hair and beard-cutting scandal . Before the trial, the Amish rejected plea agreements that offered leniency and could have helped some of the young mothers avoid prison. Several said yesterday that they rejected those deals, either because they didn't want to admit guilt to a hate crime charge or they didn't want to testify against Mullet Sr. and say things they don't believe. The community members say they're working together to ensure the group perseveres by handling home repairs and various chores that would have been the responsibility of the incarcerated members, with the remaining men especially bearing the burden of extra work. Among them is the 19-year-old grandson who took over running Sam Mullet Sr.'s 700-acre farm. | Four women and one man will be incarcerated, leaving their children behind .
Convicted of hate-crime against rival Amish followers in campaign of attacks .
Sentences range from 1-7 years - hair is a symbol of manhood for Amish .
Children in the sect in Bergholz, Ohio, will be looked after by other parents . |
1a69a26ec4964d868bddc5655532fa2493fa610a | Selfie-loving councillor Karen Danczuk has offered herself up for a Valentine's night out - and bidding has already topped £10,000. The 31-year-old councillor, who is married to Labour MP Simon Danczuk, has promised to go on a date with 'one lucky person' to raise money for charity. Just minutes after she launched the online auction, bids started flooding in, with someone already promising to pay £10,300 for the privilege. Selfie-loving councillor Karen Danczuk (left and right), who is married to Labour MP Simon Danczuk, has offered herself up for a Valentine's night out - and bidding has already topped £10,000 . The 31-year-old councillor, who is married to Labour MP Simon Danczuk, has promised to go on a date with 'one lucky person' in aid of two charities, Key 103 Cash for Kids in Manchester and the Rochdale RSPCA . Mrs Danczuk, who shot to fame after posting a series of racy selfies online, also told MailOnline that Manchester restaurant Tertutti has now agreed to host the date for her and her winner. Her husband, who now faces spending Valentine's night on his own, has also launched his own mini campaign, asking his Twitter followers to find him a date for the same night. She told MailOnline: 'I had had so many offers from people asking to take me out on a date for Valentine's, so I just thought I might as well make something out of it and raise money for charity. I do a lot for charity anyway. 'There were two people who bid £10,000 so I had to tell them that one had to go higher. It then went to £10,300. 'The cut off isn't until Friday at 12pm, so it could go higher, but I'm just a bit nervous the person won't pay now. Even if they don't, the next biggest offer was £2,000 which is still amazing for those two charities.' She added: 'Simon thinks it's great, he knows it's for charity. He's even trying to get a date of his own now!' The mother-of-two made the announcement to her 37,000 Twitter followers yesterday, saying she was holding an online auction for Saturday's date. Mrs Danczuk, who shot to fame after posting as series of racy selfies online, said that Manchester restaurant Tertutti has agreed to lay out a special meal for her and her lucky winner . She tweeted: 'Just realised its Valentines Day Saturday! Hmmmm should I offer one lucky person a night out for charity?? KD.' It prompted a deluge of responses from fans, with Bryn Smith posting: 'Yessss you should defo do this, I can feel a Twitter meltdown coming.' Andy Hudson tweeted: 'Sounds like a great idea, and for a good cause as well.' While Andy Futers said: 'Meee, but can I leave the wife at home and we can send a selfie of us to her.' Andrew Meaden posted: 'I'm starting with £200', while another anonymous user offered £2,000. Mrs Danczuk later added: 'Want to take me out for Valentines & raise money for charity? Email me your secret bid. Highest bidder wins! karendanczuk@hotmail.com KD.' The mother-of-two (left) said her husband Simon (right), the MP for Rochdale, has now launched his own campaign to find a date for Saturday night . The MP tweeted his followers asking for 'offers, suggestions or ideas' in light of his wife's charity campaign . Presumably inundated with offers from men, she then tweeted: 'My Charity Valentines Dinner doesn't just have to be male, females are just as welcome! KD.' The mother-of-two, who has represented the Kingsway ward on Rochdale council since 2011, announced last month that she was standing down as a councillor at the next election to pursue other opportunities. She's already hired London-based agent Ginger Comms and is understood to be interested in pursuing TV work. Mrs Danczuk also hit the headlines last year when she started selling signed pictures of herself posing in a bikini on eBay. But the £10 pictures were criticised by many buyers for being poor quality. In August, former Conservative MP Louise Mensch described her as 'Westminster's most embarrassing wife' and claimed she was cheapening politics for constantly posting pictures of her cleavage. She later went on to ITV's Loose Women show to defend herself against the accusations, where panelist Janet Street-Porter said she was a poor model for young girls in Rochdale. The date is raising money for Key 103 Cash For Kids, based in Manchester, and Rochdale RSPCA. | 31-year-old councillor has promised to go on date with 'one lucky person'
Asked 37,000 Twitter followers to bid to raise money for two local charities .
Manchester restaurant has already offered to host date for lucky winner .
Husband Simon Danszuk has now launched his own campaign to find date . |
1a69d1257e4ef4b229e8244370a43ebc3d0aede8 | A father-of-two has been stabbed to death by a woman following a blazing row at his house. Kyle Farrell, 21, died from a single stab wound to the chest at the house in Dingle, Liverpool, at around 5am yesterday morning. Mr Farrell, an amateur footballer, lived at the house with his partner Freissia and two young children. A 21-year-old woman, who has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody. Amateur footballer Kyle Farrell died from a single stab wound to the chest following a blazing row at his home . The young father was a talented footballer and represented Kent FC on the Wirral. Today, family and friends paid their tributes to Mr Farrell. In a statement, his family said: 'Kyle was a devoted father and a loving son. He will be missed by all of his family and friends. The father-of-two was killed around 5am on Friday . 'He loved his football and music, and loved his mum dearly.' Tributes also flooded in for the popular young dad on social media sites. Kirstie Rowson said: 'RIP my fab cousin. Heaven has gained another beautiful angel too soon. 'Heartbroken isn't the word. You will be loved and missed forever.' Antonia Croft said: 'Rest in paradise Kyle, such a lovely lad so young as well thoughts are with the family.' Merseyside Police's forensics teams spent a number of hours at the scene looking for evidence. Post mortem results will help establish the exact cause of death. A police spokesman said: 'A 21-year-old woman from Dingle was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder. 'She has been taken to a police station on Merseyside where she will be questioned by detectives.' Mr Farrell lived at the house in Charlecote Street, Dingle with his partner Freissia and two young children . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Kyle Farrell died from single stab wound to the chest in Dingle, Liverpool .
He was killed at the house he lived at with his partner and two children .
A 21-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder . |
1a6c8ff161b490829a98025051b4474701adbe44 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:55 EST, 14 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 23:13 EST, 14 August 2013 . Desperate singles are always told to play it cool to snag a date - but it's a different story for the lucky in love. According to a new Recovery.org study, men are more likely to hit on women online who are actively looking to cheat on their partner. And the more brazen the cheating profile the better, with affair-seekers reportedly turned on by the prospect of readily available 'fresh, immoral meat'. Study: Research shows OkCupid users in the five most unfaithful U.S. cities were more likely to message 'brazen cheaters' Honey trap: The self-confessed 'brazen cheaters' attracted the most interest on OkCupid . For this experiment, 40 fake profiles (20 men, 20 women) were created on dating website OkCupid, using photos of real people, identifying themselves in one of four categories: 'brazen cheaters', 'married maybes', 'recently taken' and 'sincerely single'. The fake daters stated they lived in the most adulterous U.S. cities, as identified by married dating . site Ashley Madison - Oklahoma City, Miami, . Houston, Austin, Texas, and Washington D.C. Recovery.org is a site for people . struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. The study, called 'To Catch A Cheater', found the female brazen cheats were the most popular group, receiving 998 messages in a month compared to 890 for single women, 355 for married maybes and 284 for the recently taken. While the men received drastically less messages than the women overall, the male brazen cheats also received more messages than any other group. Corrosive: The study found users were more likely to mention self-identified cheaters than 'married maybes' and the 'recently taken' Online interaction: OkCupid is a dating and social networking website . And the brazen profiles were incredibly brazen. 'My profile lists me as single but I'm not going to lie to you, I AM in a relationship right now. I'm here because I want to meet someone new but I don't want my current partner to know about it,' one fake user wrote. The responses were mixed: . 'You are the most striking woman I have laid eyes on in years. Let me know if I can fill any holes in your relationship for you,' one potential cheater wrote. 'We are in the same boat lol,' another claimed. However of the 44 messages the male cheaters received, 36 were insults or inquiries into whether their adulterous ways were really true. Messages ranged from 'I presume this is a joke. If not then wow' to 'Do you have any idea how unattractive your profile is?' | A Recovery.org study has found more OkCupid users message self-confessed 'brazen cheaters' than singles .
More affair-seeking women were hit on than their male counterparts . |
1a6f9e6f8d4176b1928cd5dce14049fd06e80e3f | By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 02:26 EST, 27 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:54 EST, 27 September 2013 . Stefano Ampollini, a 56-year-old Italian, conned a casino out of £60,000 pounds in one night using cards marked in infrared. File picture . A poker player was sentenced to two years in prison yesterday after using infra-red contact lenses and cards marked with invisible ink to win games. The high-tech scam saw Stefano Ampollini, a 56-year-old Italian nicknamed ‘Parmesan’, rake in up to £60,000 pounds in one night at an upmarket casino in Cannes, on the French Riviera. Describing himself as a ‘player and cheat with an international reputation’, Ampollini told a criminal court in nearby Grasse that he was proud of his ‘work’. He used insiders at ‘Les Princes’ casino to mark cards with the invisible ink, and could then ‘read’ them using the contact lenses, which he bought in China for around £1,800. Ampollini always sat opposite another accomplice, another Italian codenamed ‘The Israeli’, who sniffed or snorted to signal what cards Ampollini should choose. The complicated scam enabled Ampollini to ‘control the game’ without being caught, he said. Marc Concas, barrister for the owners of the casino, said: ‘Security found his behaviour rather strange as he won very easily and, above all, because he folded twice when he had an excellent hand, suggesting he knew the croupier’s cards.’ It was at this point that police were called, and detectives launched an immediate investigation along with casino staff. Telephone intercepts proved staff had handed cards over to the Italians, who had marked them with invisible ink. They were then placed under cellophane and returned to a casino cupboard, ready to be used during games. The casino where Ampollini employed his scam. He used insiders there to mark cards with the invisible ink . 'Parmesan' was aided in his criminal endeavours by an accomplice known as 'The Israeli'. File picture . When Ampollini returned to the casino two months after the first scam, he won some £19,000 pounds, but was then arrested by police. In court in Grasse, the well-dressed Ampollini smiled as presiding judge Marc Joando, who marvelled at his sophisticated techniques. Ampollini was sentenced to two years in prison and was ordered to pay a fine equivalent to £88,000. Two other defendants involved in the scam were also sentenced: Gianfranco Tirrito, 55, got three years, and Rocco Grassanno, 57, got two-and-a-half years in prison. | Stefano Ampollini conned £60,000 from casino, then £19,000 months later .
He used £1,800 contact lenses to see cards marked by accomplices .
Ampollini smiled as he was sentenced and seemed proud of his 'work' |
1a6ffc4cae1958d75f295844b1ef04d9eae425d0 | By . Ruth Styles . She's the glamorous Monégasque princess turned model and now showjumper but it seems life isn't always so charmed for Charlotte Casiraghi. Competing in the jump-off during the Prize Evian competition at the Paris Eiffel Jumping, the royal, 27, took a tumble, ending the event sprawled on the sand. Despite the painful fall, the fifth-in-line to the throne of Monaco was soon back on her feet and was helped off the Champ de Mars course by officials. Ouch! Charlotte Casiraghi grimaces after taking a tumble from her horse during the Paris Eiffel Jumping . Sore: The Monégasque royal rubs her backside as officials descend to help her off the course . Her horse, a dapple grey gelding named Tintero, was also none the worse for his stumble and was caught by grooms before being led off to the stables. Casiraghi has pursued a professional showjumping career since 2009 but put her career on hold last year ahead of the birth of her baby son Raphaël last December. Like Zara Phillips, the royal was soon back in the saddle and last month proved she was back to winning ways when she triumphed in the Longines Pro-Am Cup in Monte-Carlo. Joined by Gucci team mate, Edwina Tops-Alexander, Casiraghi beamed as she was handed the trophy by her mother, Princess Caroline of Monaco, watched by her brother Andrea and his wife, Tatiana Santo Domingo. Bad day: Casiraghi is helped from the course on Paris' Champs de Mar which sits in front of the Eiffel Tower . It all started so well! Charlotte Casiraghi and Tintero compete in the jump-off at Paris Eiffel Jumping . Sponsorship: Casiraghi and British team mate Edwina Tops-Alexander make up Team Gucci . Looking good: Casiraghi has recently returned to showjumping following the birth of her son Raphael last year . The win came just a week after Casiraghi and her fiancé, Gad Elmaleh, 43, held a lavish christening party for their baby son. At the party, which took place at the royal palace of Monaco, the couple were joined by Princess Caroline and her daughter, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, as well as Charlotte's uncle Prince Albert of Monaco, 56, and his wife Princess Charlene, 36. The royal couple can look forward to the baptism of their own baby later this year, after announcing Charlene's pregnancy last month. Although early reports suggested that the South African former swimmer was expecting twins, the Prince's Palace of Monaco is yet to confirm whether one or two new additions to the Monégasque royal family will arrive in December. Model mother: Casiraghi is the face of Gucci Equestrian and also competes for Team Gucci in showjumping . Parents-to-be: Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene are expecting their first child in December . Excited: The royal couple declared themselves to be 'overjoyed' and 'thrilled' by the impending arrival . | Charlotte Casiraghi was competing at the Paris Eiffel Jumping event .
Her horse Tintero stumbled and the Monégasque royal was thrown off .
Recently returned to showjumping after birth of son Raphaël in December .
Won her last outing which took place in Monte-Carlo last month . |
1a70210ffa7692ce1a08d2cd94769e6e26165f06 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 11:38 PM on 21st November 2011 . A former FBI informant has revealed a fascinating career of two decades undercover with white supremacist and far right anti-government groups. John Matthews, 59, told Newsweek he appeared as a troubled and paranoid Vietnam veteran who could not hold down a job, flat or marriage. But in reality the Rhode Island native was posing as an extremist in a violent world and trying to help the FBI prevent far right terror attacks. Former informer: John Matthews, 59, told Newsweek he appeared as a troubled and paranoid Vietnam veteran who could not hold down a job, flat or marriage . Mr Matthews, who always kept a backpack with provisions by his bedroom door, revealed all to his family when he developed a fatal lung condition. ‘These people are just plain crazy,’ he told Newsweek. ‘If they don’t like you, they (would) take you out to have you shot. They don’t care. ‘These people think that if they overthrew the government they’d make a better world,' he told Newsweek. 'Their world would be a total nightmare.’ He joined the U.S. Marines ‘to be like John Wayne’, going to Vietnam, and then working in various jobs - including as a Grand Canyon tour guide. White supremacy: Mr Matthews attended parties with the Ku Klux Klan, sold weapons at petrol stations and hosted extremist leaders (file picture) Going up: Since Barack Obama was elected President in 2008 the number of right-wing extremist groups has reportedly risen fivefold (file picture) Mr Matthews also married and divorced four times. He first became interested in the dangers of the far right at a gun enthusiasts’ conference. ‘These people are just plain crazy. If they don’t like you, they (would) take you out to have you shot. They don’t care' John Matthews . He became an FBI informant after tipping them off about the gun theft plans of the head of a paramilitary group he met at the conference, reported Newsweek. Mr Matthews was soon attending Ku Klux Klan parties, selling weapons at petrol stations and hosting extremist leaders at home. He once met a former Klan leader who allegedly laundered money, paid off authorities, bought stolen weapons and threatened to kill two FBI agents. Agents: Mr Matthews became an FBI informant after first tipping them off about the gun theft plans of the head of an American paramilitary group (file picture) Since Barack Obama was elected U.S. President in 2008 the number of right-wing extremist groups has reportedly risen fivefold from 149 to 824. 'These people think that if they overthrew the government they’d make a better world. Their world would be a total nightmare' John Matthews . Government officials warned of this rise in 2009 and said it was in part down to easier access to information online and America electing its first black President, reported Newsweek. Last year nine members of Christian militia Hutaree allegedly tried to kill Michigan policemen, in just one of many recent far right terrorist attempts. Jared Lee Loughner allegedly went on the rampage in Tucson, Arizona, in January, killing a judge and severely injuring Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Read the full Newsweek piece here . | Fascinating Newsweek interview with John Matthews .
He posed as an extremist in white supremacist circles .
Went to Klan parties and hosted leaders at his home . |
1a7088299c6ee34f5f5b2e2b534fcf4822babe05 | By . Amanda Williams . PUBLISHED: . 06:21 EST, 5 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:38 EST, 5 March 2014 . Some of Britain's eeriest underground wonders have been captured by a photographer with an obsession with the deep. Mike Deere, from Reading, Berkshire, crawls through sewers and mineshafts to snap the haunting images. He heads to daunting locations such as London's sprawling miles of underground sewers and disused cooling towers, some of which remain almost exactly as they were left when they were abandoned. A photographer has captured these eerie images showing the scale of some of Britains deepest darkest wonders - such as the Box Freestone Mine, Wiltshire . Mike Deere, from Reading, Berks, heads to daunting locations such as abandoned mine shafts, London's miles upon miles of sewers and even disused cooling towers - this incredible image was captured by the photographer as he was looking down the ladder of a disused gasometer . Box Freestone Mine, in Wiltshire, has been worked since Roman times, but closed in 1968. Mr Deere said: He said: 'I've long held a fascination with interesting spaces, and the way that we relate to them' The photographer said some of the seemingly endless tunnels were so dark that even experienced map readers would struggle to navigate their way around. Due to each tunnel's similarity and the fact it's pitch black it's also extremely difficult to capture his amazing shots. Some of Mr Deere's best work has come from the now-abandoned Box Freestone Mine, Wiltshire, which ceased operation in 1968. Before then the mine had been used to extract Bath Stone for the city of Bath's buildings since the Roman occupation of Britain. The mine had been used to extract Bath Stone for the city of Bath's buildings since the Roman occupation of Britain. Mr Deere added: 'After seeing a photo of the Cathedral chamber in Box Freestone Mine I knew I had to experience such areas for myself' The photographer - pictured here in the sewer network beneath the River Westbourne, London, has come across abandoned cranes, wells, ventilation shafts, work benches, tools and even the rubbish from workers' meals, more than 45 years on . He said some of his best work has come from the now-abandoned Box Freestone Mine. It is one of the largest limestone quarries in the country . As well as being able to capture the sheer scale of such shaft, Mr Deere and his friends also stumble across many of the original features that still exist in such mines. The photographer has come across abandoned cranes, wells, ventilation shafts, work benches, tools and even the rubbish from workers' meals, more than 45 years on. He said: 'I've long held a fascination with interesting spaces, and the way that we relate to them. 'After seeing a photo of the Cathedral chamber in Box Freestone Mine I knew I had to experience such areas for myself. The awesome size of a cooling tower, captured from the ground. The photographer uses only the natural light available at each location, with stunning results . A huge 19th century hall complete with ornate decoration is light and airy. But thephotographer said some of the seemingly endless tunnels were so dark that even experienced map readers would struggle to navigate their way around . Mike Deere said he was inspired by his fascination in abandoned places: 'Ever wondered what people have forgotten about? Or what¿s in that old derelict house that you walk by everyday? Or what lies just beyond that fence on the brow of the hill? So have I' 'The sheer size of the network can seem a little daunting. To go in there without a map and backup torches and batteries would be suicide. 'Even those that are adept at map reading with heightened spatial awareness can become confused by the maze of endless junctions, dead ends, passages and markings. 'The tunnels I go into are usually completely pitch black. The only light available for photographing with is what little you can carry. With this in mind, I'm happy with the photos I've taken.' | Mike Deere's fascination with the deep has led him to daunting locations such as abandoned mine shafts .
He has explored London's sewer network, abandoned mines in Bath, disused wells and cathedral chambers .
During his adventures he has come across leftover work benches, tools and even the rubbish from workers' meals .
The haunting images are mainly captured in the dark as the adventurer navigates his way around tunnels and holes . |
1a71119b571c2e83e6ae88a2ffa2146f1fd07535 | By . Freya Noble . and Aap . Police have identified Scott Allen Miller, 42, as a suspect in the murder of a woman found on Saturday morning in Melbourne . Police in Victoria have released a photo of a man they believe may be involved in the murder of a Melbourne woman whose body was found on Saturday. The naked body of the woman, who is yet to be formally identified, was discovered by a jogger near the Royal Botanic Gardens in Southbank about 8.30am. Officers say 42-year-old homeless man Scott Allen Miller is a suspect in the death of the Chinese woman, found in the gardens near where Miller had reportedly been sleeping. The homicide squad's Sergeant Nathan Favre said the woman was aged in her 30s and worked in hospitality. It is believed she was on her way to work when she was assaulted. 'We can't rule out sexual assault as the motivation for this offence,' Det Sgt Favre told AAP. He said police wanted to speak to Miller about several items found at the crime scene. Miller has been sleeping on the streets of the city for at least six weeks and is known to police in other states, although not for violence related matters. Detective Sergeant Favre said detectives believed Miller may still be in Melbourne, and anyone who sees him should contact police and not approach him. The woman's naked body was discovered in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Southbank . 'Police are working tirelessly to solve this crime,' he said. 'We ask that members of the public not be alarmed but certainly be vigilant.' A statement released by Victoria Police said 'investigators seized a number of items at the scene and believe Scott may be able to assist police with their investigation. ' Anyone with information about the death is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au. | The naked body of an unidentified Chinese woman was found by a jogger on Saturday .
Police have named Scott Allen Miller as a suspect in the murder .
Her body was found near the Royal Botanic Gardens in Southbank, Victoria .
Miller is reportedly wanted for non-violent crimes in other states . |
1a71c481191a57d4ae387450f040d1da83c10eb1 | A Utah grandmother who was left fighting for her life after unwittingly drinking poisoned iced tea at a barbecue chain has reached a settlement with the firm, it was today revealed. Jan Harding, 67, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after swallowing the mixture of iced tea and lye, an industrial cleaning solution, at Dickey's Barbecue Pit in South Jordan, Salt Lake City. She was forced to undergo two weeks of treatment for severe internal damage, including deep, ulcerated burns in her upper esophagus and mouth, before being released on August 20. Now, the married mother-of-three has agreed on a deal with Dickey's that will apparently lead to extensive changes at the business to ensure such an incident never happens again. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEo . Deadly: Jan Harding, 67, was left fighting for her life after drinking poisoned iced tea at Dickey's Barbecue Pit in South Jordan, Utah. Above, the grandmother sweetens her drink (left) before taking her first sip (right . Reaction: Instantly, Mrs Harding realizes something is wrong and hunches over a trash can, vomiting up the drink (left). Her husband then arrives by her side (right) and she is rushed to the University of Utah Hospital . In a joint statement, Mrs Harding and the chain said they had come to an out-of-court settlement, but refused to disclose how much money the victim had received, nor any details of the deal. 'Everyone involved is grateful that Ms. Harding has made a good recovery,' the statement said. In October, new footage was revealed showing a worker at the chain accidentally mixing lye - instead of sugar - into an iced tea dispenser just minutes before the near-fatal incident. Lye, an odorless chemical that looks like sugar, is used for degreasing deep fryers and is the active ingredient in Drano. When swallowed, it can tighten and burn the esophagus and lead to death. Couple: Mrs Harding (seen with her husband) was forced to undergo two weeks of treatment for severe internal damage, including deep, ulcerated burns in her upper esophagus and mouth, before her release . Desperate: Now, the married mother-of-three (pictured trying to flush the toxic chemical out of her mouth with a glass of water) has reached a settlement with Dickey's. She has received an undisclosed sum of money . Mrs Harding, who was donning a bright green top and a black skirt, was then caught on surveillance camera sweetening her iced tea at the dispenser, before taking a single sip. Instantly, she realized something was wrong and hunched over a trash can, vomiting up the drink. A fellow customer a store manager stopped to check on her, but she continued to throw up. After her husband arrived by her side and spoke to members of staff, Mrs Harding was rushed to the University of Utah Hospital, where doctors carried out an endoscopy. This involved inserting a tube with a light and camera into the grandmother's digestive tract, to assess the damage - and it was worst than medics initially thought. Hazardous: In October, this new footage was revealed showing a worker at the chain accidentally mixing lye - instead of sugar - into an iced tea dispenser (pictured) just minutes before the near-fatal incident . Scene: In September, prosecutors chose not to file charges in the incident at the Dickey's branch in South Jordan (pictured) saying there were errors and mishaps, but no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. She was forced to undergo extensive treatment for the burns in both her upper esophagus and mouth and could not speak for the majority of her time in hospital, her family lawyer Paxton Guymon said. Because Mrs Harding was the first one to drink from the batch of tea, no one else was harmed. In September, prosecutors chose not to file charges in the incident, saying there were errors and mishaps, but no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. Although Mrs Harding and her family apparently accepted the decision by Salt Lake County Attorney Sim Gill, they were determined to work with Dickey's to implement new, safer procedures. Determined: Although Mrs Harding (pictured with her daughter) and her family apparently accepted the decision by attorney Sim Gill, they were determined to work with Dickey's to implement safer procedures . Survivor: Mrs Harding is pictured with her husband following the August incident, which nearly killed her . The new deal between Mrs Harding and the chain was first reported by KSTU-TV in Salt Lake City. The Dallas-based Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants Inc. has since said the incident was isolated and unprecedented in the chain's 73-year history. The company now has more than 400 restaurants across the country. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Jan Harding, 67, took sip of iced tea at Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Utah .
Restaurant worker had accidentally mixed lye - not sugar - into drink .
Grandmother was left with deep, ulcerated burns to throat and mouth .
She was forced to undergo two weeks in hospital and could not speak .
She has now settled out-of-court with busy chain for undisclosed sum .
Deal involves changes to ensure a similar fate does not happen again . |
1a71d53eefec9a02fb4b6c73be9237a35ef944fb | Atlanta (CNN) -- A patient admitted to a New York City hospital with a high fever and gastrointestinal symptoms Monday is being tested for Ebola. He recently traveled to a country in West Africa where Ebola has been reported, Mount Sinai Hospital said in a statement. The patient was placed in strict isolation, and doctors are working to determine the cause of his symptoms. They expect to get test results back in a day or two. "Odds are this is not Ebola. It's much more likely that it's a much more common condition," said Dr. Jeremy Boal, chief medical officer of the Mount Sinai Health System. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta agrees. About half a dozen people have recently returned from West Africa and gotten tested because of symptoms consistent with the disease. None of those cases has been confirmed as Ebola, Gupta said. Meanwhile, an American suffering from Ebola is expected to arrive in Atlanta on Tuesday from Liberia, where she contracted the deadly virus. Her plane departed early Tuesday morning, a source said. Missionary Nancy Writebol was set to travel aboard an air ambulance equipped with an isolation unit. It will land at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, and from there she'll be rushed to Atlanta's Emory University Hospital about 20 miles away. "The reports from our medical doctors there on site caring for her is that she's in a more weakened condition; however, today has been a good day," said Bruce Johnson, president of SIM USA, where Writebol was working in Liberia. He told CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront" that her husband had told him Writebol's appetite was returning and that she had asked for potato soup. "We're just grateful and very cautiously optimistic about how she's doing right now," Johnson said. Writebol is one of two Americans stricken with the disease while aiding Ebola victims in the latest outbreak in West Africa. Ebola has killed more than 700 people in three nations: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Their evacuation to Atlanta marks the first time anyone infected with the virus has been known to get treatment in the United States. Both patients will be treated at an isolation unit where precautions are in place to prevent it from spreading, unit supervisor Dr. Bruce Ribner said. The first American evacuee, Dr. Kent Brantly, was making progress since he arrived in Atlanta from Liberia on Saturday, a U.S. official said. "It's encouraging that he seems to be improving," Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told CBS' "Face the Nation." "That is really important, and we are hoping he will continue to improve." Brantly, 33, is the first known patient with the deadly virus to be treated on U.S. soil. He landed at Dobbins and was quickly rushed to Atlanta's Emory University Hospital. A prayer service was held for Brantly on Sunday night at the Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. A family friend reportedly read a statement from his family. "We cannot share any news of Kent's condition but please know that we believe Kent will be healed and that healing will come from the hand of God. To say thank you is SO inadequate for what we're feeling! We are humbled & simply, blown away by the response," it read, CNN affiliate KTXS reported. Ebola doesn't spread through airborne or waterborne methods. It spreads through contact with organs and bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine and other secretions of infected people. There is no FDA-approved treatment for Ebola, and Emory will use what Ribner calls "supportive care." That means carefully tracking a patient's symptoms, vital signs and organ function ad taking measures, such as blood transfusions and dialysis, to keep patients stable. The Ebola virus causes viral hemorrhagic fever, which refers to a group of viruses that affect multiple organ systems in the body and are often accompanied by bleeding. Early symptoms include sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headaches and a sore throat. They later progress to vomiting, diarrhea, impaired kidney and liver function -- and sometimes internal and external bleeding. Emory's isolation unit aims to optimize care for those with highly infectious diseases and is one of four U.S. institutions capable of providing such treatment. American Ebola patient 'seems to be improving,' CDC chief says . CNN's Jason Carroll contributed to this report. | "Odds are this is not Ebola," a hospital official in New York City says .
Doctors expect to get test results back in a day or two .
The patient recently traveled to a country in West Africa .
American battling Ebola virus to arrive in Atlanta for treatment . |
1a73eb2e9f7b62850b46c75624963ed36b1308a1 | (CNN) -- Being in the NFL is a bit like being a Wall Street banker or a pop star -- the job title comes with a laundry list of assumptions. If you've made it into the pros, then you must be not only physically elite and athletically talented, but also ridiculously wealthy and secure in a life the rest of us could only dream about ... right? Well, not exactly, as burgeoning filmmaker Matthew Cherry seeks to reveal in his first feature film, "The Last Fall." The indie, which premiered at SXSW this year and has racked up accolades on the film festival circuit, follows a 25-year-old pro football player who finds himself back at home, cash-strapped and trying to find his place in the world after his athletic career ends. The film's inspired by Cherry's own experience as a former NFL player, and the 30-year-old director/writer/producer hopes his feature directorial debut will educate audiences. "A lot of people, they look at the guys who sign the big contracts -- the Peyton Mannings, the Tom Bradys, the Calvin Johnsons -- and I think that what ends up happening is that people automatically assume it's like that for every player," Cherry said. "And I think a lot of times people compare it to basketball and baseball contracts. In the NFL, there's no guaranteed contract." For example, upon exiting the University of Akron in 2004 with a degree focused on radio/TV broadcast and media production, Cherry said he signed a three-year deal that allowed around $225,000 his first year year and escalated to $350,000 in his third -- but he ended up getting cut during training camp. "What happens is that if you get cut at any point, they only owe you what they paid you," he explained. "When I got cut they reassigned me to the practice squad, and when I was on the practice squad, that base salary was $80,000." "After taxes and everything else, it's roughly $30,000 (to) $40,000," he said. "I'm in the NFL, and people were thinking that I'm making all of this crazy dough, and it ended up being like, maybe a couple thousand a week. But it's only for those 16 weeks of that season. It was really hard to even make that stretch out for a year, let alone to put it in savings for years to come." So when he was released from the league, a then 25-year-old Cherry had to figure out how to rebound. The answer seemed obvious: to pursue a longstanding passion for movies. "The reality of it is, in regards to playing ball, I could probably still be playing in Canada somewhere, or doing arena football, or something," he said. "But I didn't want to live that life that I was living for the past three years for another seven." He picked up and moved to Los Angeles around 2007 after gaining acceptance to an organization called Streetlights, which helps place minority men and women on sets as production assistants. At first, his transition to his new life left him shell-shocked as he tried to adjust from being a football player to being the humble PA fetching coffee. Cherry treated his production assistant gig like film school, soaking in all he could. He also used equipment made available to him to gain experience as a music video director. "Every artist that charted, I cross-referenced it on YouTube, and the artists that didn't have music videos for songs that were charting, I wrote them a message on MySpace," Cherry said. The aspiring director offered a full music video treatment to musicians with no charge, just to get experience. After reaching out to several artists over the span of a few months, Cherry began to make inroads in the music industry. He served as second assistant director on videos for artists including Sean "Diddy" Combs and Raheem Devaughn. But while his career as a director was taking shape, it wasn't until he was shooting an independent documentary about the NFL lockout in 2011 that the idea for "The Last Fall" hit him. "We were interviewing all these different fans, and we were asking people: 'Who do you blame, the players or the owners?' And everyone blamed the players, surprisingly," Cherry said. "Saying they're greedy, what do I care these guys get $8 million, $9 million, calling them arrogant. I found myself defending these players and educating people and opening their eyes to that process, and I thought wow, maybe there's something here." He began writing the screenplay, his first, last March, and approached Lance Gross ("Our Family Wedding," "House of Payne") to play the lead. By July, they were embarking on a 15-day shoot. "The biggest goal that we wanted to do with the film is to show that these guys are human beings," Cherry said. "With so many people, they just look at them like, 'Oh, he's just a piece of meat. He dropped a pass, let's kill him. He's an idiot, he gets cut -- whatever, he sucked anyway. To make it to the league, nobody sucks." Gross, who's also an executive producer on "The Last Fall," was taken from the moment he read the script. And as an actor, Gross understood the fear of failure that comes with constantly placing one's fate in the hands of higher-ups. To get this far, "it took a lot of hard work, knocking down doors, making sure that I was at the right auditions, working with the right people," he said. "You get what you work for." Yet the biggest hurdle for the film's director wasn't a professional obstacle but a personal one, as Cherry faced the devastating unexpected passing of his mother last May. "The day before my mother passed, I wrote her a message. Similar to the character in the movie, we really didn't talk that much, we weren't super-duper close. I just kind of felt compelled to hit her up," he said. He thanked her for helping to support him financially, and told her he loved her. And in the last line of his e-mail, he added that he was "working on something big, and that if it goes well, hopefully I'd be able to buy her that house that I wasn't able to buy her back when I was playing ball. " Cherry's mother responded, and the next day after their exchange, she died at 57 of a heart attack. That, he said, was really what pushed him to see "The Last Fall" through. At the time, Cherry said, "The Last Fall" was going to be "ultra-low-budget." After his mother passed, he was able to use most of her life insurance money to co-finance the project along with executive producer (and NFL player) Ellis Hobbs. "In a way," Cherry said, his mother "sacrificed herself so that I can live out a dream." Unfortunately, that was just the first challenge for Cherry. Ten minutes following their last SXSW screening, Cherry received word that his father, who'd been in poor health, had also died. With his first movie bowing in theatrical release in Los Angeles today and headed for DVD release on January 15, Cherry's already working on his next projects, one of which will revisit the world of football. "You definitely have to have a strong faith in God to try to get through, because this filmmaking thing, this is 10 times harder than trying to make it into NFL," Cherry said. "Seriously. It's the hardest thing I've ever done in my life." | Former NFL player Matthew Cherry is a rising filmmaker .
His first feature film is loosely based on his own experience .
"The Last Fall" stars Lance Gross, who sees the film as "a love story"
Cherry hopes it will educate audiences and humanize players . |
1a74ab8d7d47e3cb2119413b80adba407f3f0542 | (CNN) -- Luis Suarez may have been the villain of Liverpool's 2011-12 season, but the Uruguay striker is doing his best to make amends in another difficult start to this English Premier League campaign. The fallout from Suarez's eight-match suspension for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra ultimately led to Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish losing his job as manager in May. His successor Brendan Rogers is under increasing pressure after the club's worst start to a season in more than a century, but Suarez's inspirational performance in Sunday's 1-1 draw with 10-man Newcastle helped prevent a fourth defeat in 10 EPL games. His second-half equalizer -- a superb display of control for his 10th goal this season after chesting down a long pass and rounding the keeper -- lifted the 18-time English champions up to 12th in the table. The confrontational Suarez is never far from the headlines, having been accused by several opposition managers of diving and going to ground too easily. Such was his combative presence on Sunday that he lured visiting defender Fabricio Coloccini -- a fellow South American from neighboring Argentina -- into a rash challenge that earned a red card. While Liverpool couldn't capitalize on that advantage, Rodgers was grateful for another virtuoso show from Suarez -- who also scored in last weekend's Merseyside derby draw with Everton, when he had a late winner wrongly ruled out for offside. "I thought he was unplayable. Coloccini getting sent off was frustration," said Rodgers, whose team trailed to Yohan Cabaye's strike just before halftime. "I don't think he could get near him today, and he's a good defender, Coloccini. "Suarez is so bright, so clever, he's a world-class striker. On that form today he really frustrates and provokes defenders. He has a hunger for the game, he has a hunger for goals." It was, however, Liverpool's fifth draw this season and followed a humiliating 3-1 midweek League Cup defeat at home to Rodgers' former club Swansea -- when Suarez also scored. "Once we can turn those draws into wins by converting the chances ... but that's about players, the type of players you need. If we can get that over the next couple of (transfer) windows it bodes really well for us," said Rodgers, who was criticized for his lack of top signings in August while allowing England striker Andy Carroll to leave for West Ham. The result left Newcastle in 10th place, and came at a cost of injuries to midfielder Cabaye, defender James Perch and top scorer Demba Ba. Meanwhile, Queens Park Rangers moved off the bottom after a 1-1 draw at home to Reading in Sunday's other EPL game. French striker Djibril Cisse scored a second-half equalizer that will lift some of the pressure on his manager Mark Hughes, though both teams remained in the bottom three. In Italy's Serie A, Napoli failed to capitalize on Juventus' first defeat in 50 matches, being held 1-1 at home by Torino on Sunday despite a sixth-minute goal from Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani. Substitute Gianluca Sansone leveled in time added on to leave Napoli -- beaten by Atalanta in midweek -- in third place, five points behind leaders Juve. Fiorentina moved up to fourth after a 4-1 win at home to Cagliari, while Lazio went in the other direction after a 4-0 defeat by seventh-placed Catania. In Germany, Bayer Leverkusen moved up to fourth place after beating Fortuna Dusseldorf 3-2 despite having midfielder Simon Rolfes sent off just over a minute after he came on. Leverkusen went 3-1 ahead straight after the substitute's 65th-minute dismissal and held on against a team that is battling to avoid an immediate return to the second division. Werder Bremen beat Mainz 2-1 in Sunday's other Bundesliga fixture, with two goals from Aaron Hunt lifting his team to seventh place and above the visitors on goal difference. In Spain's La Liga, Levante moved up to fifth after a 0-0 draw with seventh-placed Sevilla on Sunday. Real Betis can reclaim that position with a draw at Getafe on Monday. Valladolid claimed eighth spot with a 1-0 win at bottom club Osasuna while Espanyol won 1-0 in a clash with fellow strugglers Real Sociedad. Deportivo la Coruna joined Sociedad and Celta Vigo on 10 points from 10 games after beating Mallorca 1-0, while Athletic Bilbao moved above that group to 14th with a 2-1 win at Grenada thanks to two goals from Aritz Aduriz. | Luis Suarez's 10th goal this season earns Liverpool a 1-1 draw with Newcastle .
Striker cancels out Yohan Cabaye's opener; also involved as Fabricio Coloccini sees red .
Napoli's Italian title hopes suffer setback after conceding late equalizer against Torino .
Bayer Leverkusen move up to fourth place in Germany despite having a player sent off . |
1a75af02c282751b253f713e90eb5f50b1221a73 | This heart-warming video shows a mystery couple elegantly ballroom dancing on the seafront in the rain - blissfully unaware they are being filmed by an onlooker. Stunned Carrie McCabe, 34, was walking on a cliff top when she spotted the man and woman dancing next to a derelict swimming pool. The twinkle-toed couple had placed a stereo on the floor and were performing tangos and twirls as the waves crashed in next to them. Scroll down for video . The mystery couple were spotted elegantly ballroom dancing on Tynemouth seafront in the rain - blissfully unaware they were being filmed by stunned onlooker Carrie McCabe . Ms McCabe, a 34-year-old florist, said: 'I couldn't believe it when I looked out and saw them two there. They were dancing away, oblivious to the fact the weather was pretty bad' They were seen together for more than an hour - practicing a number of different moves including the rumba in the abandoned lido in Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear. Ms McCabe, a 34-year-old florist, said: ‘I couldn’t believe it when I looked out and saw them two there. ‘They were dancing away, oblivious to the fact the weather was pretty bad. It was like watching the Strictly live show. ‘They were out there for more than an hour - it was mesmerising. What made it better is that they’re actually really good dancers. I’m a bit jealous, actually.’ Her dad John Walsh added: ‘They were dancing by the waves in an old derelict abandoned swimming pool. How romantic. ‘I wish I could dance. I should have gone over to get a few pointers.’ Ballroom dancing has risen in popularity after being hurled into the spotlight via BBC's Saturday night primetime TV show Strictly Come Dancing . The couple were seen together for more than an hour - practising a number of different moves including the rumba in the abandoned lido in Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear . Ballroom dancing has risen in popularity after being hurled into the spotlight via the BBC’s Saturday night primetime TV show Strictly Come Dancing. The series, hosted by Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth, sees celebrities and professional dancers competing in Ballroom and Latin dancing. Watched by millions of viewers, the show has been credited over the last few years for providing a ‘dance boom’ across the country as millions try their hand at the art of dancing. The couple could be seen performing twists, turns and jumps as they danced blissfully on the seafront despite the miserable weather conditions . Armed with a portable stereo, the twinkle-toed twosome were seen together for more than an hour, practicing a number of different moves, including ballroom and the rumba . Ballroom dancing has risen in popularity after being hurled into the spotlight via BBC's Saturday night primetime TV show Strictly Come Dancing. Pictured: Susanna Reid, left, and dancer Kevin Clifton . Ballroom dancing has increased in popularity in recent years thanks to Strictly Come Dancing which sees celebrities including actor Tom Chambers, left, and Chelsee Healey, right, try their hand at the art of dancing . | Couple spotted dancing for more than an hour on Tynemouth seafront .
Stunned Carrie McCabe, 34, spotted them as she walked along cliff top .
They continued to practice their moves despite waves crashing nearby . |
1a75b9c997a90370176611b2b41bae71ef70f748 | By . Francesca Chambers . The percentage of Americans who say they don't have health insurance dropped to 13.4 percent in April, according to Gallup. The number of uninsured Americans has been steadily dropping since last fall, the polling company said, when a peak 18 percent of Americans said they did not have health care coverage. Gallup reports that number of Americans without health insurance decreased at a faster pace as the federally mandated deadline to purchase insurance arrived. Gallup reports that percent of Americans without health insurance dropped to 13.4 during the final month Americans could sign up for health care through the federal exchange . The number of uninsured Americans has been steadily dropping since last fall when a peak 18 percent of Americans said they did not have health care coverage . African-Americans saw the most dramatic increase in health care coverage between the close of 2013, when 20.9 percent told Gallup they did not have coverage and April. Then, only 13.8 percent of blacks polled told Gallup they did not have insurance. Hispanics continue to say they do not have health insurance at higher rates than other demographic groups. In April, 33.2 percent told Gallup they were uninsured. The percent of Hispanics and Americans making less than $36,000 a year who did not have coverage dropped by 5.5 percent in April, respectively. Gallup's numbers are consistent with a Health and Human Services report released last Thursday that showed Hispanic enrollment below what it could be and a high rate of enrollment among blacks. More than 8 million Americans have signed up for health care insurance through the state and federal exchanges, the report said. The Obama administration did not say how many people had signed up for health care, but the number surpasses a previous report of 8 million provided by the president two weeks earlier. The original deadline to purchase . healthcare insurance was March 31. The Obama administration has extended . deadlines multiple times to accommodate Americans having problems with . government's Obamacare sign-up site, healthcare.gov, and Americans with . pre-existing conditions moving out of the government's temporary . high-risk pools and into the general insurance marketplace. Gallup . took its survey of 14,700 Americans from April 1 - 30. The new deadline . for average Americans who had already started the sign up process to . get covered was April 15. Some of . the people Gallup polled who did not have insurance the first or second . week of April may have since finished applying for coverage, potentially . bringing the percent of Americans who do not have coverage down . further. Other Americans may be . waiting to get coverage until for the provision of Obamacare that . requires employers to cover full-time employees to kick in at the start . of 2015. 'On the other hand, it is likely that some newly insured Americans will . not pay their premiums and will rejoin the ranks of the uninsured,' Gallup notes. White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters last week that the White House did not have, 'hard, concrete' numbers on the number of people who had both signed up for Obamacare through the federal health exchange and made their first payment. A report issued last week by House Republicans estimated that one-third of those enrollees have not paid their premiums. The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations report is based on information provided to the committee by 'all 160 insurance providers in the federally facilitated marketplace.' The White House disputes the Republican report has not provided evidence to the contrary. A House Republican report claims that one-third of Americans who signed up for Obamacare through the federal health exchange have not yet made their first payment on their plans . | Last fall a peak 18 percent of Americans told Gallup they did not have insurance .
Now, only 13.4 percent say they are uninsured .
Hispanics continue to be the most likely demographic to be uninsured .
The percentage of Americans who say they are now insured is consistent with the surge of Americans who signed up for healthcare through the government exchanges toward the end of the federally mandated deadline to buy insurance . |
1a75c6f0614785f46968c1f9b2ff4e14b451639c | The chief of the Pakistani Taliban who had a $5 million bounty on his head has been killed in an American drone strike. Hakimullah Mehsud, thought to have been behind a failed car bombing in New York's Times Square and several attacks inside Pakistan, is one of five believed dead in the attack this morning. The attack and his death were confirmed by senior Taliban commanders, who said they saw Mehsud's body, and U.S. and Pakistani intelligence sources. Killed: Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, who had a $5m bounty on his head, pictured in 2009 . It is believed the men were killed in a U.S. drone strike on Mehsud's car in the mountainous North Waziristan region, in the north west of Pakistan. Reports said Mehsud led the violent militant group from a secret hideout in the tribal region, which is one of the Taliban's main strongholds. How the U.S. Department of State described Mehsud, who has been among the CIA's most wanted men in the world for at least four years . Drones fired four missiles at a compound in Danda Darpa Khel, a village about three miles from the regional capital of Miranshah, sources said. Two of the dead reportedly included Hakimullah's personal bodyguard Tariq Mehsud and his driver Abdullah Mehsud. A senior Taliban commander said: 'We confirm with great sorrow that our esteemed leader was martyred in a drone attack.' Mehsud took over the leadership of the Pakistani Taliban in August 2009 after his predecessor was also killed in a drone attack. Since then he has been one of the CIA's most wanted men with a $5 million bounty on his head. He appeared in a farewell video for a Jordanian double agent whose suicide bombing in 2009 killed seven CIA employees at a base in Afghanistan. The U.S. named him 'the self-proclaimed emir of the Pakistani Taliban' and charged him with conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens abroad and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. His funeral will be held tomorrow in Miranshah, the Taliban commander said - which is likely to stir tensions further in the highly volatile region. Today's drone strike came amid peace talks between the Pakistani government and militants in the region to end years of fighting. Unconfirmed reports say the strike came as Mehsud attended a gathering of 25 Taliban leaders to discuss the government's offer of peace. Hakimullah Mehsud, pictured right, was said to command violent militants from a mountainous hideout . This photo from November 2008 shows Mehsud, second from left, speaking to journalists at a Taliban base . During . a visit to London yesterday, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who won a landslide election victory in May, confirmed talks with the Pakistani Taliban had started. The Pakistani government condemned today's drone strike, although their statement was issued before Mehsud's death was reported. Controversial: Taliban leaders have already described Hakimullah Mehsud as a martyr . 'These . strikes are a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial . integrity,' said a spokesman for Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The drone strikes are unpopular in Pakistan, . where many people view them as an infringement on Pakistani sovereignty . and say innocent civilians are killed in the process. But the Americans have had some successes - in May, a drone strike killed Mehsud's second-in-command, and one of his most trusted lieutenants was captured in Afghanistan last month. The CIA and the White House declined to comment on Mehsud's death. Although the killing will spark calls for revenge among Taliban leaders, it may make negotiations with the militants easier in the long-run, said Saifullah Mahsud, director of the Pakistani think-tank FATA Research Center. He said: 'Hakimullah Mehsud was a very controversial figure and he had very tough demands.' Mehsud, who told jokes and had an interest in modern technology, was the driver for the former head of the Pakistani Taliban before rising through the ranks. The militant leader, known for his emotional outbursts, had two wives but moved frequently because of his fear of U.S. drone strikes. His wing of the Taliban was accused of being involved in an attempt to detonate a car bomb in New York's Times Square in 2010. But recently Mehsud's rivalries with other Taliban commanders over the spoils from extortion and kidnapping had sharpened, it is believed, raising tensions within the armed organisation. Tension: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, pictured meeting U.S. President Barack Obama last week, said only yesterday that peace talks with the Taliban had started. His government condemned the drone strike . | Hakimullah Mehsud one of those dead in blast, said intelligence sources .
U.S. drone strike reportedly came as Mehsud held peace talks .
Pakistan government condemned drone strike as 'violation of sovereignty'
Taliban leader was widely reported dead in 2010 but later resurfaced .
He had been near top of CIA most wanted list since 2009 suicide bombing . |
1a7667bf5064686af636bc7ef2e47cef044fd51b | By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 07:43 EST, 19 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:40 EST, 20 February 2013 . A heroin addict and her partner whose two-year-old son died after drinking his mother's methadone at home wept uncontrollably in the dock today as they were jailed for his manslaughter. Sally Dent, 33, and Shaun Binfield, 45, were found guilty by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court last month over the death of Riley Pettipierre, who died after drinking the heroin substitute last March. The pair cried today as Dent was sentenced to seven and a half years for her son's manslaughter and her partner Binfield, who is also Riley's father, was jailed for four years on the same charge. Tragic: Riley Pettipierre, two, of Belper, Derbyshire, died in hospital last March after drinking methadone from a child's beaker that was left on a set of drawers in his parents' home, Nottingham Crown Court heard . The pair had denied the charges, but . Dent was also found guilty of a separate charge of cruelty to a child . under the age of 16 for failing to keep methadone out of the reach of . her child. Sentencing the couple from Belper, Derbyshire, at court . this morning, Judge John Milmo QC said: ‘You will both have his death on . your consciences for the rest of your lives.’ The child's green and yellow beaker . had been placed on a chest of drawers in the couple's bedroom at the . flat so that Dent could easily drink the methadone if she needed it . during the night. The next day Dent awoke to find . Riley's lifeless body next to her in the bed after he had drunk the . heroin substitute from the cup. Dent, who had been addicted to heroin . since she was 16 and cocaine, called 999 but the toddler's heart had . stopped beating and his lips were blue when the paramedics arrived. He . was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival at hospital. Post-mortem tests showed that Riley had enough methadone in his blood, stomach and urine to prove fatal. He is believed to have consumed . between 10ml and 20ml of the heroin substitute, the court heard. Traces . of cocaine were also found in his hair. Emotional: This is a drawing from inside Nottingham Crown Court of Sally Dent and Shaun Binfield . Parents: Shaun Binfield (left) and Sally Dent (right) were pictured outside Nottingham Crown Court . The trial had heard that Dent had been . prescribed methadone to help her get rid of her heroin addiction but . had struggled to kick the drug. Today the judge accepted Binfield's . culpability in Riley's manslaughter was less than his partner's but . condemned the couple for failing to move the cup out of the toddler's . reach. 'You will both have his death on your consciences for the rest of your lives' Judge John Milmo QC . Mr Milmo said: ‘You both knew the . beaker was in a place to which he had access. Ms Dent showed a reckless . disregard for the child's safety by asking Shaun Binfield to move it. ‘But you Mr Binfield didn't bother to . check the next morning whether there was methadone still in the cup at . the side of the bed. ‘You had the last opportunity to . protect your son and you failed in that duty. There was no excuse for . leaving it where Riley could get to it.’ The judge said he had taken into . consideration that the family had ensured the physical safety of their . child by installing safety gates around their home and that witnesses . during the trial had spoke of a well-cared for and clean home. But Mr Milmo added: ‘If one parent is addicted to Class A drugs, there must be a risk to a child.’ Sadness: Mourners leave flowers outside a disused shop below the flat where Riley Pettipierre died last March . Trial: Dent and Binfield were found guilty by a jury at Nottingham Crown Court (pictured) last month . In mitigation, Dent's barrister Simon . Clarke said the family had tried to minimise Riley's exposure to the . drug by installing child-proof gates around their home and ensuring . Binfield looked after the children in a different room while Dent took . her drugs in the kitchen. He said Dent would be ‘punished for the rest of her life’ for failing to move the cup. Defending Binfield, Paul Mann asked the judge to bear in mind the 45-year-old's personal loss when sentencing him. 'You had the last opportunity to protect your son and you failed in that duty. There was no excuse for leaving it where Riley could get to it' Judge John Milmo QC . He said that Binfield had tried to persuade Dent to get off the drugs during their relationship. ‘Riley was a daddy's boy. They had a close bond. Mr Binfield has lost his son and his liberty,’ Mr Mann told the judge. I ask that you impose punishment measured with a degree of mercy.’ Family and friends sobbed in the . public gallery as the judge jailed Dent for seven and a half years for . manslaughter. She was handed a three-year sentence to run concurrently . for the second charge of cruelty to a child. Binfield was jailed for four years for manslaughter as the judge said he was satisfied his culpability was less than Dent's. The pair were told they would serve half their sentences before been released on licence. | Riley Pettipierre, two, of Belper, Derbyshire, died in hospital last March .
Consumed drug in room of mother Sally Dent and father Shaun Binfield .
Riley slept in same room as them and found beaker left on set of drawers . |
1a7743ce5c62f95c17fac83dde4ff7ced0e0457a | (CNN) -- More than 170,000 homes are without power in Queensland after a massive cyclone slammed into the already flood-ravaged northern Australian state, according to the emergency services minister. Some areas could be without power for weeks. Neil Roberts told CNN that said that no serious injuries have been reported since Tropical Cyclone Yasi roared ashore, but emergency crews are still working their way across the affected region. So far, the worst-hit towns seem to be in an area roughly 90 miles (150 kilometers) south of Cairns, he said. Cyclone was 'absolutely terrifying' Queensland Premier Anna Bligh described conditions for local TV networks, and said that many coastal cities are enduring power outages. In Cairns, only 34% of homes had electricity. Townsville, south of Cairns, only has power in about 15% of homes. Farther down the Queensland coast, electricity is out in half of Mackay and Proserpine, and the entire town of Ingham was without power. Bligh said the tens of thousands of power outages were caused by downed lines and a transmission break. Electrical supply lines running into coastal communities have been cut south of the town of Innisfail. "It is not clear yet why it has been cut and we won't know until we are able to get into the air and check all along that system," Bligh said. "I should say that requires checking 400 kilometers (248 miles) of line and 500 transmission towers." It could take weeks to repair the problems, Bligh said, an assessment affirmed by Queensland's emergency services minister. Tropical Cyclone Yasi is now a Category 2 storm, significantly diminished but still able to bring strong winds and heavy rain into interior areas of the country, according to CNN meteorologist Jenny Harrison. Yasi is moving toward the west. Wind speeds could reach up to 77 miles per hour (125 kilometers per hour) and very heavy rains could cause localized flooding Thursday and in days to come, she said. Joe Vella, a resident of Cairns, said that wind gusts when Yasi came ashore sounded like a sledgehammer hitting his house -- and that it went on for four hours. "Our hearts were in our throats thinking what was going to happen," he told CNN. Tropical Cyclone Yasi made landfall late on Wednesday night, local time, as powerful Category 5 storm, the highest designation on Australia's classification system. Thousands of people left their homes ahead of the storm, which forecasters warned was one of the worst the country has ever seen. Earlier, Queensland's Premier, Anna Bligh, warned residents they may have to cope alone for several days. "I can't sugarcoat this for people. It's going to be a tough 24 hours. For some it's going to be a tough couple of days," she said at a news conference. "They need to prepare for the worst-case scenario, and that might mean they have to be self-sufficient for a couple of days. Carl Butcher, another Cairns resident, said before the storm, "I have all my rations ready to go, batteries, candles. The authorities have been very proactive in informing us about this system. We have known about it for a week. That is more than enough time to prepare for it." CNN Meteorologist Jennifer Delgado said heavy rain in Queensland could continue until Friday. There are serious concerns for six adults in Port Hinchinbrook, who apparently ignored advice to evacuate the storm surge zone before calling to request help from the emergency services. Police, who are in contact with them via telephone, said the group are currently hunkered down on the second floor of an apartment block, but the tidal surge is expected to reach the top of the first floor. The state's premier, Anna Bligh, had urged residents in the threatened areas to take sensible precautions and to stay inside once the storm hit. "It will be a display of the awesome power of nature, but it is not something you want to go outside and watch," she said. The cyclone threatens more devastation for Queensland, where 20 people died and thousands of homes were wrecked in severe flooding in January, which affected 3.1 million people. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced a one-off tax aimed at helping to for pay the estimated AUS $5.6 billion (US $5.58 billion) in damage caused by that flood. CNN's Pauline Chiou, Hilary Whiteman and Bryony Jones contributed to this report. | NEW: Queensland emergency minister: More than 170,000 homes are without power .
NEW: Australian officials say it could take weeks for power to be restored in some areas .
NEW: Tropical Cyclone Yasi is now a Category 2 storm .
The storm had strengthened to the highest level on Australia's cyclone classification system . |
1a77bf360b7d7c2dc579991bfd4fb630afe423a8 | Four alleged members of rival gangs in the California prison system launched a hunger strike from solitary confinement that at one point in 2013 comprised 32,000 inmates - black, white and Latino - from 33 prisons, it has been revealed. The coordinated 59-day hunger-strike by opposing, racially aligned gangs resulted in a second legislative hearing into SHU conditions in Sacramento in February during which the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation unveiled a package of new regulations. From the Pelican Bay State Prison's Security Housing Unit (SHU), Todd Ashker, allegedly a senior member of the Aryan Brotherhood (an affiliation he denies), Sitawa Jamaa, alleged minister of education for the Black Guerilla Family, Arturo Castellanos, allegedly a leader in the Mexican Mafia and Antonio Guillen, allegely one of three generals of Nuestra Familia spent years shouting through cell walls to form a political alliance and organize the strike. Unlikely allies: Todd Ashkar (left) an alleged member of the Aryan Brotherhood and Sitawa Jamaa (right), allegedly a member of the Black Guerilla Family . Hispanic gangs: Arturo Castellanos (left), allegedly a member of the Mexican Mafia, and Antonio Guillen (right), an alleged leader of Nuestra Familia . The strikers’ grievances centered on the solitary confinement policy that some experts consider the most oppressive in the country. The California prison system dictates that a confirmed gang member may be kept in the SHU indefinitely, with a review only once every six years - a policy more extreme than that for prisoners who kill another prisoner or guard. Some inmates have lived at the Pelican Bay SHU, where they are locked up 22 hours per day in seven by 10 cells, are not allowed phone calls and cannot have face-to-face contact with other humans, for four decades, reports the Mint Press News. The strict isolation policy is not devised as a punishment, but rather functions to isolate dangerous gang members from the rest of the prison population, curbing gang activity. Following a reorganization of the SHU to separate members of the same gangs in 2006, the most influential leaders of each gang came to be housed in a 'pod' together in a wing called the Short Corridor away from underlings who could be relied upon to do their bidding, reports New York Magazine. Behind bars: Gang members sent to the SHU could expect to languish for decades . Solitary cell: The men spend most of their time in a tiny, austere cell . Ashker, Jamaa, Castellanos and Guillen conducted a years-long conversation through drain pipes and holes in perforated doors, via secret notes and messages through lawyers, in which they became allies for the same cause and called themselves the Short Corridor Collective. Inspired by readings about prison protester Bobby Sands and philosophical works by Michel Foucault and Howard Zinn, the prisoners formulated their plan for a statewide hunger strike. For Ashker, the idea that they were all members of a single prisoner class and that racial segregation into gangs was encouraged by prisons to keep them divided resonated, reports New York Magazine. The men sent letters to an activist group explaining the strike and the reasoning behind it, and asking their fellow prisoners to join them. Letters to family and friends spread word of the action further. Despite years without seeing another person, the influence of the men in their respective gangs was still potent. Isolated: Pelican Bay State Prison SHU, in a lonely spot near the Oregon coast, is home to 1,100 inmates . Meals are delivered through a slot in the door and inmates have a court-mandated five hours of exercise per week in a concrete run . 'Castellanos is, if not the most influential Mexican Mafia member, right there at the top. Once you put his name on something with orders, the southern Hispanics are going to do it,' Lieutenant Jeremy Frisk of Pelican Bay's Institutional Gang Investigations told New York Magazine. A former Nuestra Familia member confirms his influence in the strike: 'It was Chuco Guillen, 100 per cent,' he said. By the time the hunger strikers were 40 days into their self-imposed starvation, 69 remained. The strike was finally broken on its 59th day after Jamaa convinced the others that a promise of a special hearing on conditions in the SHU was a victory. The state had already won permission to force-feed any inmate whose action put them close to death, reports New York Magazine. On September 5 2013, the Short Corridor 'suspended' its action. At the hearing in February, officials agreed that the SHU needs to change. 'We all agree that it is far too easy to get in and too hard to get out, and the stays in this environment have been far too long,' Martin Hoshino, an undersecretary of Corrections, testified. New methods to validate gang activity have been devised and Tom Ammiano, the chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Public Safety, has introduced bill capping the SHU confinement of a validated member or associate of a gang or security threat group at three years, reports Mint Press News. | A hunger strike in California prisons took place last year .
It was organized by four alleged leaders from rival racially aligned gangs from the Pelican Bay State Prison's SHU .
The men were in solitary confinement at the facility, which houses 'the worst of the worst'
The unlikely allies were protesting conditions in confinement, including that a gang member may be kept in isolation indefinitely, with a review only once every six years .
They spent years orchestrating the strike in snatched conversations, shouting through walls and down drainpipes and passing messages through lawyers .
They communicated their plan to other prisoners though letters to activist groups and friends and family members .
At its beginning, 30,000 prisoners took part in the strike .
By day 40, 69 inmates remained on strike and the state won permission to force-feed them .
The strike ended on day 59, when the inmates won a promise of a special hearing on conditions in the SHU . |
1a79324ba190e9c46b38efc10f075bfa1fc3bf22 | (CNN) -- During a recent visit to Mexico, a woman on a bus in Cancun expressed puzzlement to me about why anyone would choose to travel to her country right now. After a lengthy description of the violence in her hometown of Veracruz, she left me with emphatic advice: "No confia en nadie," meaning "trust no one." That advice seems extreme. With a well-developed tourism sector, there are legions of people whose livelihood depends on helping you have a good time, and beyond that, most locals are warm and friendly. The drug violence that grabs most of the headlines shouldn't define a country so rich in world-class attractions. Yet safety should always be taken into account. The U.S. State Department warns against travel to many Mexican states, mostly in the north and west. Though southern Mexico goes about business as usual (and the State Department does not warn against travel to the area), it's important to exercise caution and remember that danger can arise anywhere. I've visited Mexico three times and have got a lot more to see, but here are three undeniably good reasons I've discovered to visit Mexico: . Gastronomia: Fried grasshoppers, perhaps? Mexican food as a category needs little introduction; it was even recognized by UNESCO as part of world heritage in 2010. But regional specialties abound. Oaxaca in southwestern Mexico is famous for multiple moles, complex stewed sauces served over meats. The Oaxacan treatment of the tortilla is the tlayuda, an open, crispy tortilla slathered with a bean paste, topped with cheese, meat or other toppings. More adventurous Oaxacan offerings are the famous chapulines, grasshoppers fried to a crunch and spiced with chile and lime. They are better than they might sound (unless you're wise enough to realize that anything crunchy with chile and lime is going to be good). Chocolate originated in Mexico, and they still make it best. Oaxaca is ground zero for chocoholics, where chocolate shops show visitors the transformation from beans into bars in the store. Chocolate here is most popular as a hot drink with water served alongside a sweet roll, but you can get it with milk or in bar form. Coastal cities such as Campeche or Cancun on the Gulf of Mexico have great seafood, notably ceviche. Mexican ceviche usually adds tomato to the citrus marinated fish and shrimp. Also often added is ketchup, though this usually is called coctel instead of ceviche. (The tomatoes are acceptable, the ketchup is an abomination). The Yucatan has specialties ranging from cochinita pibil (citrus marinated roast pork) to pavo en salsa negra (turkey in black salsa, a seriously funky dish made with burned chilies). You can get a pretty mean taco almost anywhere. Mexican tacos are usually soft corn tortillas, a small pile of meat and little pickled vegetable or onion. Salsa is around, but you have to add it yourself if you want it. The ends of many worlds . Mexico's many pre-Hispanic sites are among the country's most interesting destinations. They carried extra weight last year for eschatologists with 2012 being the end of a cycle in one of the Maya long-count calendars. The Mayas never said it was the "end of the world," just the end of "a" world. So they will be there for you to enjoy in the new 14th baktun. Archaeologists aren't sure who built the massive pyramids at Teotihuacan, but the site was long abandoned by the time the Aztecs were dominant (they reckoned it was built by gods). It is easily reachable from Mexico City but as such can be crowded and is packed with vendors. Near the city of Oaxaca, the hilltop ruins of Monte Alban were once home to the Zapotec. Palenque, a Maya site in a lush jungle in Chiapas, is also extremely impressive and interesting, but it is in the interior of the country and not really easy to get to from anywhere. The site's jungle seclusion gives a trip there a more adventurous feel. Expect to pay extra at these sites if you want to shoot video or use a tripod. Fees are posted near the entrances. It will likely be hot (in the summer especially), but vendors inside and out of the parks offer drinks as well as a vast array of trinkets, ranging from respectable to ridiculous. Mysterious swims . Mexico's beaches are plentiful, varied and justifiably a major draw. This year, I went for the more sedate environs of Tulum, a nice uncrowded beach with perfect turquoise water (and a beachside Maya ruin). But the cenotes are much more unusual and interesting. Cenotes are a geological occurrence that are found in the Yucatan and very few other places. Because most of the peninsula sits on a limestone shelf, there are no surface rivers, and rainwater quickly seeps underground where it gathers and forms subterranean bodies of water known as cenotes. They are present throughout the Yucatan and some have been developed into near-theme parks, where you pay a substantial admission price and there are vehicles, boats, zip lines and more. Others are tiny sinkholes known mainly to locals and are free if you can find them. Many fall somewhere in between with a small admission fee (equivalent of $5-$10), perhaps a changing area and maybe some lights or ropes. Other than that, it's just a natural swimming hole. Some go underground for hundreds of meters or more, and they are a popular attraction for intermediate divers. They're also perfect for just plain swimming. The Yucatan is hot and sticky; the water in cenotes is fresh and ice cold since they are partially or completely underground. In some cases, sunlight shines through holes in the cavern ceiling, illuminating the beautifully clear, blue-tinted water giving it an otherworldly feel. And many cenotes attract swallows, which you might -- as I did -- mistake for bats. They constantly fly in and out squeaking busily. Though the clear water might trick your brain into thinking you're in a sterile pool, you are not. There is wildlife present, mostly in the form of little fish that will nibble at your feet if you are still, as well as the occasional turtle or snake. Some recommended cenotes for swimming: . X'kekén near Valladolid is a beautiful underground spot. Cristalino off the main highway near Playa del Carmen is mostly exposed and has a fun cliff you can jump off (it's only a 15 foot or so drop). Grand Cenote near Tulum has some exposed and some subterranean areas and lots of wildlife running or swimming around. So whether you go to Mexico for cave swimming and ancient sites or for mole and margaritas, it'll be worth it. Confia en mi -- trust me on that. | Beauty of Mexico shouldn't be overlooked because of violence, author argues .
The country's distinctive regional cuisine and ancient past are undeniably alluring .
For otherworldly relaxation, underground swimming holes await in the Yucatan . |
1a79ce4f2e32237a114f623834a0eb8fe799d654 | A Ukrainian gang that took medical waste that included body parts and disease testing samples for cremation dumped it all in local woodlands instead of burning it. The gang reportedly made hundreds of thousands of pounds collecting medical waste including amputated limbs and aborted foetuses from hospitals in Zaporizhia Oblast in southern Ukraine. They also collected other biologically hazardous waste including parts from veterinary surgeries and laboratory samples awaiting safe disposal. Scroll down for video . A Ukrainian gang that took medical waste that included body parts and disease testing samples for cremation dumped it all in local woodlands instead of burning it . The gang reportedly made hundreds of thousands of pounds collecting medical waste including amputated limbs and aborted foetuses from hospitals in Zaporizhia Oblast in southern Ukraine . The gang's activities were uncovered when surprised mushroom pickers spotted sack-loads of amputated limbs dumped around the woods. Police, reportedly wearing special germ warfare clothing, had the job of collecting the various body parts while avoiding infection by the biohazard waste they had to sift through. A spokesperson said: 'It was a very difficult job. It was clear right from the start that the body parts had been professionally removed and so it was just a question of finding out the medical establishments where this happened.' The gang's activities were uncovered when surprised mushroom pickers spotted sack-loads of amputated limbs dumped around the woods . The gang had been defrauding local councils who had subcontracted the disposal of clinical waste to them. They claimed they were cremating it at a state-of-the-art facility that included special filters to ensure environmental safety. But the reality was that initially they buried it, and then eventually they simply dumped the bags in remote locations. The fraudsters have since been arrested and face jail terms of up to eight years. | WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT .
Ukrainian gang 'made thousands from collecting waste hospital material'
But instead of incinerating limbs and aborted foetuses, they dumped it .
They also collected other biologically hazardous waster and lab samples .
The waste was spotted by mushroom pickers foraging in woodland . |
1a7a8054368d7ff37ad58ae1efdfddd7d7954a95 | (CNN) -- Pink Floyd are not who you think they are. With effects-laden production, Hipgnosis-illustrated concept albums and expansive live shows, the band is famously associated with rock 'n' roll excess. It wasn't for nothing that the Sex Pistols' John Lydon scrawled "I HATE" on a Pink Floyd T-shirt (though he later admitted he loved the band). But, almost 45 years on, a closer look at the band's catalog reveals as much hardcore pile-driving ("Run Like Hell") and wistful melodies ("Wish You Were Here") as the long-form "Interstellar Overdrive" space rock with which it's frequently classified. Still, drummer Nick Mason says, it's hard to escape the pigeonholing. "I think these labels are generally delivered by people who sometimes haven't listened to the music," he said in a phone interview. Longtime fans and new listeners will have another chance to size up Mason's words. The band's entire studio catalog, including the Syd Barrett-led 1967 debut "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn," the Roger Waters-dominated "The Wall" (1979) and the career-concluding "The Division Bell" (1994), has been remastered and is scheduled for release on Tuesday. "The Dark Side of the Moon," the band's 1973 classic, which still holds the record for longest run on the Billboard album charts, will be issued in three versions: a single CD, a two-disc "Experience Edition" that includes a live album, and a six-disc "Immersion Edition" boxed set. Mason talked to CNN about the band's evolution, the pitfalls of playing live and fantasies about being the Monkees. The following is an edited version of the interview. CNN: How often do you go back and listen to the old material? Mason: The answer is, I would never willingly put on one of our old records at home for entertainment. But with this project, that all changed -- and I was forced at gunpoint to listen to everything, again and again. (laughs) Actually, it's really interesting. It's a bit like a diary -- looking at old photographs. What you get is not only the music but the memories that come with it of what you were doing, and how it was in the studio, and all the rest of it. CNN: There's been the label placed on Floyd as "space rock." How did you guys take that label? Mason: One tends to try and reject any labeling anyway, as a matter of principle. And I think the labels tend to reflect whatever you were doing before. So we were labeled psychedelic -- well, "Dark Side of the Moon" was the least psychedelic album you could hope to listen to. It's terribly specific and measured and not floaty-off anywhere. I think these labels are generally delivered by people who sometimes haven't listened to the music -- sometimes by just looking at the photographs. If the band have got curly hair and flared trousers, then they're prog-rock or space rock, and if they're very, very grubby, with waistcoats and jeans, then they're an R&B band. CNN: Also, it probably has something to do with what you were smoking or doing when you were listening to the album. Mason: Yeah. Always be very careful if you're listening to country and western and doing drugs. CNN: Let's talk about "Dark Side." Were you aware that you were creating something different? Mason: I don't think so. My opinion was that we knew we'd done the best thing so far. But as I've told people, even if you think you've done the world's greatest record, that does not guarantee that the public will feel the same way. What happened with "Dark Side" was we were out touring with it and it began to come up the American charts, but we were actually on tour, so there wasn't that time to reflect and bask in the glory of being No. 1. It was much more, "Where are we tomorrow? Dallas. OK." We were slightly disjointed from its success. What the success really bought for us was the thing of moving up a notch. You suddenly go from playing theaters to playing arenas. And in some cases, arenas into stadiums. So that's the way things catch up with you. Sometimes they catch you out. If you're used to playing smaller venues, and you suddenly find yourself in a stadium, it's not necessarily the best place to be working. CNN: After that, you guys did play a lot of stadiums. That led to a lot of discord. Was there a time when you thought, I wish I could go back to the clubs? Mason: No. I don't think there was a wish to go back. But I think stadiums make quite a lot of bands feel a little uneasy. There is that sense that you're not really connecting with the audience as well as you would. I think arenas are fine -- I think arenas are really suited for rock concerts. But stadiums, it gets away from you a bit. There's too many people at the back not listening. CNN: How did the band change for you over the years as leadership went from Syd to Roger to David Gilmour? Mason: I've always been happy with the way it operates. I have no wish to be the fearless leader. And interestingly, I think even David found it pretty wearing when he was sort of in command on the last couple of tours. It's not always easy being the chief. I've always felt that I have my say and I am a partner in it, rather than an employee. CNN: What do you think are some of the underrated aspects of the band? Mason: To be honest, after this long and this many releases, there's not much that's been overlooked. I was telling someone yesterday, I feel like a stately home with people taking tours around me. CNN: How are you guys getting along nowadays? Mason: Fine, I think. We haven't had any fights recently. David and I pitched up for Roger's show in London. And it was really nice -- we had dinner together. There's a lot of shared stuff as well as plenty of aggro. The fact of the matter is you grow up together. The problem is when you start in a band you think it's all going to be like the Monkees -- four lovable moptops running around at double speed. But then you get married and have children, and being rock and roll often the marriages break up. People change as they grow. CNN: And here you are still with people you knew at 18. Mason: Yes, it's very unsatisfactory. (chuckles) CNN: Do you feel like sitting in with an R&B band some night? Mason: Yeah. I still really like playing music, and playing with other people is terrific. I was talking with someone about a charity record we did a year or so ago, and the rhythm track was Bill Wyman playing bass and me playing drums. I've known Bill for 35 years or something, and it was great to finally end up playing together. It's always a little bit nerve-wracking -- you're always alarmed at the prospect of f***ing up -- and if you get through it, and someone says, "It's good," it's a very warming feeling. | Pink Floyd's entire studio catalog has been remastered .
Drummer Nick Mason says band isn't just "space rock"
Band is getting along fine these days, Mason says . |
1a7a8c44a5376aabc2b1aa177989276713466d13 | The pregnant teen daughter of a flight attendant found stabbed to death and taped at the limbs in the body of her trunk has been charged with murder. Alyssa Barrett, 17, faces counts of murder and burglary in her mother's death. She was charged only days after her 18-year-old boyfriend Damarius Wren was also charged with murder, according to WMAQ. He was arrested after Indiana police found a GPS system pinpointing where DeCarol Deloney-Cain's body was dumped. Scroll down for video . The accused: Alyssa Barrett, 17, and Damarius Wren, 18, are both charged in the murder of Barrett's mother . The 54-year-old flight attendant's body had to be identified through the serial number in her breast implants. When police searched the victim's home they found traces of blood, stains, and red duct tape similar to that used to bound the hands and feet of Deloney-Cain. Police were allegedly contacted by the victim's teenage daughter, who said she had found a bloody wrench in the basement bedroom of her home. A GPS system was also found in the home, which police reports said showed directions to where the woman's body had been left in Gary. When police questioned Wren he allegedly gave two differing accounts of how he found the body of his girlfriend's mother. The . victim's daughter, who has not been identified, later claimed that Wren . had attacked her mother when she returned home on July 3. Victim: The body of flight attendant Decarol Deloney-Cain was found bound, wrapped in bags and stuffed in the trunk of her car . She alleged that Wren put a pillowcase over Deloney-Cain's head and hit her head against the stairs, before stabbing her with a kitchen knife, according to court records seen by My Fox Memphis. A coroner said Deloney-Cain, who had three children, suffered multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma to the head. The records state that the girl hid upstairs and later saw two of Wren's friends arrive and help carry the body to a car in plastic bags. She . claimed that she got in a car driven by one of the men and followed . behind the vehicle her mother's body was in, and watched as it was left . on a dirt road. The . court report states that she then withdrew cash from her mother's bank . account, while being threatened with a gun, out of fear of what Wren and . his friends may do to her. The daughter is not facing any charges. Dumped: Deloney-Cain's body was found in the trunk of her car on this desolate dirt road . Deloney-Cain, . who worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines, was not reported . missing until Monday when she failed to turn up for work. She often . worked on international flights and would be away for a couple of days . at a time. Deloney-Cain's brother, Todd, praised the police team behind the investigation. 'I do commend the Gary Police Department for coming up with charges as quick as they did,' he told NBC Chicago. Wren is being held without bond, and police say more charges could be brought in the case. | Pregnant 17-year-old Alyssa Barrett faces murder and burglary charges .
Damarius Rashard Wren, 18, is accused of beating and stabbing Decarol Deloney-Cain .
Body of 54-year-old was found bound and wrapped in bags in car trunk . |
1a7a92bb284eef599d727ba474e68dc99a19a7c1 | (EW.com) -- No one wants a Liberace biopic to be subtle. You want the director to don a puffy-sleeved man-blouse and spell out the drama in rhinestones. You want the camera to linger on the peacock-feathered pianos, the velveteen ''royal throne'' toilets, and, of course, that white fox-fur coat — the only coat in the world with its own chauffeur. And you'll get all of that in Steven Soderbergh's "Behind the Candelabra," which casts Michael Douglas as the Vegas legend and Matt Damon as his much younger lover Scott Thorson, whose memoir of their tumultuous five-year relationship inspired the film. But there's less razzle-dazzle here than you'd expect from a portrait of a camp icon. Despite the stranger details of their courtship — say, the fact that Liberace had Thorson undergo plastic surgery to look more like him, or that he offered to adopt his young paramour — their love feels as banal as any married couple's, right up until the end, when Thorson sues Liberace for palimony. The man deserved a sensational, Sunset Boulevard-style tribute; what he got plays more like a Lifetime movie. To be clear, there's still just enough camp gold to get the best lines bedazzled on a leotard. (My favorite: ''Honey, in gay years, you're Judy during the Sid Luft obese period.'') Also, casting Rob Lowe as Liberace's drug-pushing, alien-faced plastic surgeon is a genius move that allows the actor to send up his pretty-boy image. But Douglas' performance is surprisingly restrained, especially given that he's playing a man who lived in fear every day that his double life would be exposed. The more secretive parts of Liberace's world, like his obsession with sex clubs and porn, come across as quirky rather than dark. And Damon, who captures Thorson's damaged-child side well, makes him a little too sympathetic. (After all, this is a guy who's now in jail for burglary.) It's interesting that Soderbergh couldn't get "Candelabra" made as a feature film; he says it's because studios feared it was ''too gay.'' Liberace's fans were actually mostly straight women, the older, blue-haired types. And for better or worse, that seems like the target audience for this movie, a glossy story of love gone wrong and then (slightly) redeemed at the end, without a whole lot of deep pathos in between. Those ladies might've been comforted by Liberace's final words in the movie: ''Too much of a good thing is wonderful,'' he says. That's true — but just a little bit more of a bad thing might've been better. Grade: B- . "Behind the Candelabra" will air Sunday May 26 on HBO. HBO is owned by the parent company of CNN and EW. See the original article at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. | Michael Douglas plays Liberace and Matt Damon Scott Thorson in "Behind the Candelabra"
Thorson's memoir of their five year relationship inspired the film .
Steven Soderbergh directs . |
1a7abc66b96c362c7f4e2989c00388532b13d9a2 | By . Sami Mokbel . Follow @@SamiMokbel81_DM . Alexis Sanchez is at the centre of a tug-of-war between Manchester United and Arsenal. The Barcelona forward is set to leave Spain this summer, alerting Europe’s big guns to his potential availability. And the Chile international is a target for United and Arsenal as both club’s plot their summer transfer business. Target: Arsenal and Manchester United are both looking to bring in Chile star Alexis Sanchez . In form: The Barcelona forward has been in form during the World Cup as Chile beat Australia and Spain . Not needed: Sanchez scored 21 times for Barcelona last season but has been deemed surplus to requirements . Available: Top clubs around Europe have been alerted to Sanchez's availability as he prepares to leave Spain . It is understood United are preparing a move worth £22million for the 25-year-old, but the fact they are not in the Champions League next season could prove a stumbling block. Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is a huge fan of Sanchez, with the player having been on the club’s radar since 2009 during his time at Udinese. Arsenal are understood to have registered their interest in Sanchez with Barcelona, who will decide his future after World Cup. Come and get me: Sanchez might be interested in a move to England but wants Champions League football . Long-term: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been watching Sanchez since his time at Udinese . With the Nou Camp club keen on a big-money move for Luis Suarez this summer, sources in Spain have suggested Luis Enrique could use Sanchez as a makeweight in any potential deal with Liverpool. Sanchez has been the leading light of Chile’s World Cup campaign so far and scored 21 goals for Barca last season. | Chile forward is expected to leave Barcelona this summer .
Arsenal and United both interested in signing Sanchez .
Lack of Champions League football could hinder United bid .
Arsene Wenger has watched Sanchez since 2009 . |
1a7cd0272cc5accb73c2b1cd6dac89a3f0da446d | JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu labeled Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe "Frankenstein" and called for other countries to intervene before the country descended into bloodshed. Desmond Tutu has labelled Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe a "Frankenstein for his people" International military action against Mugabe's regime, however, is unlikely, said Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith. And Friday's runoff election in the country will go on "no matter what," said the U.S. ambassador in Zimbabwe. Tutu -- speaking from Capetown, South Africa -- told Australian television that Mugabe has disappointed many who held him in high regard for his role in liberating the country from "the shackles of colonialism." "He has, I mean, mutated into something that is quite unbelievable," Tutu said late Tuesday. "He has really turned into a kind of Frankenstein for his people." Mugabe, 84, has been Zimbabwe's only leader since it gained independence from Britain in 1980. Frankenstein is the name of the scientist in a Mary Shelley novel who creates a monster in the likeness of man. Over the years, popular culture has taken to referring to the creature itself as "Frankenstein." Tutu, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, urged international intervention to curb the violence and harassment leading up to a runoff vote in Zimbabwe. "I just hope I mean that we don't wait until it is too late," he said. "You know, Rwanda happened despite all the warnings that the international community was given. They kept holding back and today we are regretting that we did not, in fact, act expeditiously." An ethnic cleansing campaign in Rwanda in 1994 led to the deaths of more than 800,000 people, according to the United Nations. Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called for armed international peacekeepers to secure a new presidential election in his country. But international military action against Zimbabwe's regime is unlikely, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told reporters. He instead urged other southern African nations to put pressure on Mugabe to step down. "I don't think that the international community will move in the first instance or quickly or necessarily at all to military intervention in Zimbabwe," Smith said Tuesday. "We've been arguing for some time and we repeat the argument that the primary responsibility here has to fall upon Zimbabwe's neighbors." The U.N. Security Council has unanimously condemned the Zimbabwean government for the campaign of violence and intimidation, but stopped short of calling for a postponement of the runoff or for a new election. Mugabe has said Friday's vote would take place as planned. James McGee, U.S. ambassador to Zimbabwe, said Mugabe's ZANU-PF party intends to force people to vote even though Mugabe will be the only candidate on the ballot. "So they're saying 'We want an election at all costs. We want to validate Mr. Mugabe's victory here," McGee said Tuesday. "There's really nothing that we can do here in the international community to stop these elections." Zimbabwean opposition leader, Tsvangirai, won the most votes in the March 29 election but failed to gain a majority. He formally withdrew Tuesday from the runoff, citing violence against party members. Legal experts in Zimbabwe, however, have said he cannot legally withdraw from the runoff; the Electoral Commission is to meet Wednesday to discuss the matter, the state-run newspaper Harare Herald reported. Speaking to CNN on Tuesday from the Dutch Embassy in Harare, where he has been granted refuge since Sunday, he said, "This is total war and we cannot be part of that war. Watch Tutu's full interview » . "This is not an election," he said. "The conditions are just horrendous." He added, "I've been arrested, I've been brutalized -- this is not exaggeration. This is reality here." Mugabe's government has denied responsibility for the violence in Zimbabwe, instead blaming supporters of Tsvangirai's own Movement for Democratic Change party. "He's frightened, frightened of the people," Mugabe said of Tsvangirai at a rally Tuesday. " ... Seeking refuge? What for?" | Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu calls Zimbabwe President "Frankenstein"
Warns of dangers of inaction, compares to Rwanda, 1994, when 800,000-plus died .
Australia PM urges southern African nations to put pressure Mugabe to step down .
U.N. Security Council has unanimously condemned the Zimbabwean govt. |
1a7d41b8907786349d825e449a317c7a63f8e12e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:15 EST, 30 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:33 EST, 30 April 2012 . A nurse has recalled the astonishing moment she unzipped a body bag and found the woman inside - apparently killed by a tornado that flattened her home - was still alive. She recounted the story exactly a year after storms ravaged the South, flattening homes and killing residents - many of whom ended up in body bags in a make-shift morgue in a Trenton, Georgia. Dana Culpepper was working at the Dade Health and Rehabilitation Center in Trenton when one room was closed off for the dead bodies. Scroll down for video . Saved: Glynis Lawson, left, was caught in a tornado that ripped off her nose and ear. Paramedics thought she was dead and put her in a body bag, but Dana Culpepper, right, heard her moans and found her alive . Dana carried out her rounds amid the chaos - and was certain she heard a moan as she neared the morgue at the end of the building. 'I kept hearing something moan, but I really couldn’t tell . because there was so much noise,' she told My Fox Atlanta. With another nurse, she started towards a door where the bodies were being stored. She added: 'We heard another moan and that’s when I . said, 'Let’s look in the body bag".' Unzipping the bag, they were stunned to discover Glynis Lawson, barely alive but still breathing. Friends: Glynis was saved by Dana's quick thinking and multiple surgeries. They see each other every week . Destroyed: Emergency responders found Glynis in a ditch near her flattened home, pictured . Moving on: Glynis, pictured with a reporter, has now rebuilt the home in Trenton, Georgia . Culpepper added: 'When we opened it up, I know half of her nose was gone. Her ear was off and just a lot of blood.' Unperturbed by the gruesome sight, they immediately got to work and started an IV drip to try to stop the bleeding. 'We just did what comes natural,' she said. Speaking to Channel 3, Lawson said: 'I'm just glad that they were there that night and heard me.' She recounted hiding in her closet as the severe weather began to batter her home. 'By the time that it had got to my area, . it was too late for me to go anywhere,' Lawson said. 'Just as I shut the [closet] door, . that's when everything started - the hitting, the roar, and the house . started breaking apart.' She was found in a ditch under the debris of her home and taken to the center where she was later found alive. Ruins: The tornadoes in April 2011 hit the South, the Midwest and the Northeast. A Tuscaloosa, Alabama street shows the aftermath of the 300 tornadoes that hit the area, leaving 238 in the state dead . Wiped out: In total, more than 300 people were killed by the tornadoes. In Georgia, 14 people lost their lives . Debris: A scene from Trenton, Georgia. Glynis was sheltering in her home when the tornado tore it apart . The storm completely flattened the house. She has now rebuilt it and undergone surgeries to heal. 'I really didn’t think that she would live, to even to make it to the hospital. None of us did,' Culpepper told Fox. 'It’s a miracle. I look at her and I think she’s a miracle.' Lawson returns to the centre every week to visit Culpepper and the other staff who saved her. She said she believes she was kept alive to take care of her father, who was suffering from dementia. 'I guess that was God's way of keeping me here, to make sure daddy was okay,' Lawson said. The tornadoes between 25 and 28 April last year swept across the South, Midwest and Northeast, claiming more than 300 lives. Fourteen died in Georgia, while Alabama lost a staggering 238 people. See below for video . Woman Pronounced Dead After Tornado Recovers: MyFoxATLANTA.com . | It is one year since tornadoes ravaged the South killing more than 300 .
Glynis Lawson was sheltering in her Georgia home when tornado hit .
Dana Culpepper heard moans from makeshift morgue at health centre .
Found Glynis alive inside the bag - and she survived . |
1a7d4a03c516689fe8835b280ca94cbca96c22d0 | (CNN) -- Fernando Alonso is revved up and ready to go ahead of his home Grand Prix at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya Sunday. The 31-year-old has not won on Spanish soil since triumphing with Renault in 2006 but is in confident mood after taking 47 points from the opening four races of the season. And the Ferrari driver says the extra incentive of winning in front of his adoring supporters has given him an extra edge going into the first European race of the year. He told a press conference: "I think it motivates you to race at home and you give an extra 10% on what you normally do, to take care of every detail of the weekend, starting from practice into qualifying and into the race. "You try to do everything well, because you know that a nice result here, a nice podium finish or whatever will make you happy, will make the team happy and make many people in the grandstand happy. "So, it's a special weekend, but after all those years I think you're OK with that extra motivation and it's not any more pressure. "Now you've proved for many years that there's not a pressure or anything that will stop you doing well." If Ferrari are to succeed in seeing off Red Bull and Lotus, then the team will need to avoid any trouble on the track -- a point not lost on Alonso. "I think that maybe it's the first time we arrive with a competitive car, but that doesn't mean you will fight for top places if you don't do everything right and don't put together a good weekend," the double world champion added. "In the first four races we were competitive. We thought we could fight for the top places if the race was without problems. "We will try here to have a clean race with no problems and if that will be enough to put us in contention for the victory, it would be nice. "But if it's not possible then we will try and be as high as possible. It is a weekend we approach with a positive mentality -- and not a defensive mentality like the first three years for me at Ferrari." One man who Alonso will need to be wary of is triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, who currently sits 30 points clear of the Spaniard. Vettel, who won last time out in Bahrain, is expecting a difficult challenge with just ten points separating him from Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen. "It is much too early to make any predictions," Vettel said. "Who would be so bold as to predict the outcome of a 19-race championship after only four races? "This weekend we have to concentrate on the modified tires and the work that we have to do before Sunday to get our car right." Raikkonen, a two-time winner in Barcelona, finished second in Bahrain after coming home behind Vettel's Red Bull. And the Finn insists his team has much to do if they are to bridge the gap and claim a second victory of the season. "To catch the leaders, we have to work twice as hard as they are," he told the Lotus website. "It's no secret that we want more speed from the car in qualifying; it's so tight up there at the front and we really need to be on the first two rows to fight for victories every time. "It's good to be able to start the European season where we are as this is when you see teams starting to push on with lots of new parts for the cars. "It's still early days, but to have scored strong points since the start of the year is obviously better than not having them. "We need to keep scoring points in the same way; even if it's a bad weekend for us, we need to keep finishing as well as we can. That's how we will fight to the end of the season." | Fernando Alonso targeting home success on Sunday .
Ferrari driver won in China earlier in the season .
Sebastian Vettel hoping to increase lead at top of championship .
Vettel won last time out in Bahrain . |
1a7e1fce0994bdcb29d9146df78dc5cf9b8a2206 | (CNN) -- Order has been restored in South Sudan after fighting that left about 500 people dead, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. Government forces are now in charge of the situation, and flights have resumed at Juba International Airport, the ministry said. The United Nations, however, is warning that the crisis is not over. Joseph Contreras, U.N. acting spokesman on South Sudan, said, "It is a very, very fluid situation, so I don't think the country is out of the woods yet." U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also spoke Tuesday of being "deeply concerned" about South Sudan. "There is a risk of this violence spreading to other states, and we have already seen some signs of this," Ban said. Meanwhile, the South Sudanese government said its forces are in "absolute control of the situation" and that Sunday's coup attempt was not based on ethnic divisions but rather on "the power ambitions" of the coup plotters. About 800 more people have been wounded in the violence, Information Minister Michael Makuei Lueth said earlier. He said bodies are still being found in forests and many of those who were wounded are dying in hospitals. Deadly clashes in Africa's newest nation began Sunday evening. President Salva Kiir later said his forces had halted a coup attempt. U.N. officials have expressed deep concern about the unrest, saying between 15,000 and 20,000 people have taken shelter in the organization's compounds in the capital, Juba. "There are many, many people who have run away, and there are also people who have been killed," one woman who fled the fighting said. "Now there is a woman who has a baby who was shot in the back and died." In Bor, a town 87 miles north of Juba, the South Sudan Red Cross reported 19 civilians were killed, said U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky. Meanwhile, about 800 people gathered at a U.N. camp in Bor to seek protection, he added. Gunfire was still ringing out in Juba as recently as Tuesday. But Makuei said Wednesday the situation in the city had returned to normal, with people returning to work, flights resuming and government offices opening. He said the rebels who have clashed with government forces had moved closer to the Nile River. Fears of ethnic tensions . U.N. officials have said they are worried the recent fighting is based on ethnic divisions. Makuei disputed that suggestion, saying people from different states and tribes rose up against the government, which is now fighting back. In a televised address Monday, Kiir blamed soldiers loyal to his sacked deputy, Riek Machar, for starting the fighting Sunday evening. Ten people were arrested in connection with the foiled coup and five others are still at large, according to a statement posted Tuesday on the South Sudan government website. Those five include Machar, the government said on its Twitter account. U.N. leader Ban spoke with Kiir by phone Tuesday, expressing his concern about the fighting. "I spoke to President Salva Kiir yesterday morning, urging him to do everything possible he can to end the violence and to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law," Ban told reporters in New York on Wednesday. "I also impressed on him the need to resume dialogue with the political opposition. I welcome the reports this morning that President Salva Kiir is willing to enter into such talks." He urged "all parties to cease hostilities immediately" and called on the government to "exercise restraint in the management of the situation and to guarantee the protection of all civilians regardless of their ethnicities," the United Nations said. Medical crisis . The International Committee of the Red Cross has said it is providing Juba's two major hospitals with support, such as wound-dressing materials, to cope with the heavy influx of patients. More than 300 people have been admitted to Juba Teaching Hospital and Juba Military Hospital over the past two days, the organization said Tuesday. "We know there are more people who need care, but they are having difficulty reaching health care facilities because of the security situation and the lack of available transportation," Felicity Gapes, a Red Cross delegate leading the medical response on the ground, said in a prepared statement. The State Department said U.S. citizens in South Sudan should leave immediately and ordered the departure of nonemergency U.S. government personnel from the country. In a tweet, the U.S. Mission in Juba said an evacuation flight for Wednesday was full. With a dusk-to-dawn curfew in effect, it said the airport would close at 5.30 p.m. locally. Britain's Foreign Office announced the temporary withdrawal of some embassy staff and dependents. Kiir's dismissal of his Cabinet in July further inflamed deep tensions between his Dinka community and Machar's Nuer community. South Sudan formally split from Sudan in 2011 after a referendum, following decades of conflict. Numerous armed groups remain active in the oil-rich country. Britain's minister for Africa, Mark Simmonds, urged leaders on all sides to end hostilities and for civilians to be protected. "After years of conflict, the people of South Sudan expect their leaders to resolve their differences through political, instead of military, means," he said in a prepared statement. "Unless there is restraint from all sides it will be impossible to move the country further towards true national reconciliation." Editors' Note: This article has been edited to remove plagiarized content after CNN discovered multiple instances of plagiarism by Marie-Louise Gumuchian, a former CNN news editor. CNN's Aliza Kassim, Nana Karikari-apau, Khushbu Shah and Michael Martinez contributed to this report. | NEW: U.N. leader says South Sudan violence shows "some signs" of spreading .
NEW: South Sudan Red Cross reports 19 killed in Bor, U.N. says .
NEW: U.N.'s Ban Ki-moon urges president to end the violence that has killed 500 .
NEW: South Sudan government must resume dialogue with opposition, Ban adds . |
1a7e74d00e465648863b29c264bdb1ea135cb8a4 | (CNN) -- In the year since Steve Jobs' death, Apple has undergone a gradual and subtle brand makeover, shaking off some of the more unpleasant characteristics associated with Jobs and taking on bits of the personality of its new leader, Tim Cook. For all his brilliance at product design, Jobs showed little interest in glad-handing with Apple partners or investors. By contrast, Apple from the outside has appeared more open under Cook, thanks to a number of orchestrated meetings and trips meant to appeal to the various factions -- consumers, investors and politicians -- interested in the world's leading tech company. In May, Cook went to Washington to meet with congressional leaders to open lines of communication that were mostly blocked in previous years. Apple was no stranger to lobbying (although it spends far less than some other Silicon Valley companies, like Google), but sending Cook was a way of letting politicians know Apple was ready to grow its relationship with Capitol Hill and that the company might take a stronger interest in policy issues in the future. Apple also has worked harder to woo Wall Street. There was a bus tour of investors that stopped at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California, where they were treated to cookies and a presentation by Apple's chief financial officer. A more sizable act of goodwill was the cash dividend Apple paid out to investors -- the first in 17 years. On a call with investors in February, Cook answered questions, cracked jokes and was generally open and friendly. Did Apple's fanboy fever peak with Steve Jobs? After an outcry over working conditions at the factories of Apple's manufacturing partners, most notably Foxconn, Cook took swift action. He took a trip to China and toured a Foxconn plant in person. Apple also allowed the Fair Labor Association to do a thorough audit of conditions at the China factories, and Apple vowed to improve pay and hours. The most recent display of the company's shift in tone was its reaction to the bungled iOS 6 Maps app. The new Maps app crafted in-house by Apple to replace Google Maps on iPhones and iPads was riddled with flaws, from missing features to misplaced businesses, landmarks and even towns. A week after the phone hit stores, Cook apologized for the map publicly and, with surprising humility, even pointed customers to competing products. Some pundits compared his swift and contrite reaction to a terse and rare public apology from Jobs more than a month after complaints over the iPhone 4's antenna erupted in 2010. Who is the next Steve Jobs (and is there one)? Cook's mea culpa is just the latest demonstration of how he, and by extension Apple, is different from Jobs and the Jobs era at the company. Cook comes off as having a far more relaxed and approachable personality, and he is less inclined to be the center of attention. His product announcements are not one-man shows, but presentations shared with other Apple executives. He is still discovering his own style -- a tricky undertaking given the abnormal amounts of scrutiny that follow Apple's every move. A recent article by Bloomberg Businessweek, citing interviews with current and former Apple executives, employees and partners, states "the company is happier and even somewhat more transparent than it was during Jobs' tenure ... There are fewer frantic calls at midnight, and there's less implicit pressure on engineers to cut short or cancel vacations in the heat of product development cycles." Cook recently announced that most Apple employees at company headquarters will get the week of Thanksgiving off with pay, according to reports. Unfortunately for Apple's soft-spoken chief executive, he has been incessantly compared to his predecessor after every presentation, successes and failures. "To simply put Steve Jobs on some sort of pedestal and say Apple could do no wrong under Steve's leadership is wrong," said Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg. Remember Ping, Apple's failed attempt at a social network centered around music? Cook has not launched any bold new products in the past 12 months. So far, the company has only released minor updates of popular products, like speedier laptops, the new Mac operating system, the refreshed iPod line and the new, taller iPhone 5. They've all been met with solid reviews (Maps app aside) and sold well. Apple has gone on to become the most valuable company in history. A year ago on October 4, Apple stock closed at $381.80 a share. On Wednesday, it closed at $671.45. But by staying the course, Cook has raised some concerns that he may lack the imagination and the bold ability to conjure up mind-blowing new products, which was Jobs' hallmark. Cook's last major responsibility was decidedly left-brained: streamlining Apple's supply chain. Some question how much credit for Apple's recent financial success should go Cook and how much is residual carryover from Jobs' regime. He prepared the company and its executives to carry on his vision and spent years grooming staff and setting up Apple to continue on seamlessly without him. Is it any surprise that it's continued to do so well? Your thoughts on the next Steve Jobs . Gartenberg says that while Jobs gave the appearance of being entirely in control, he did not in fact design each new device single-handedly. Apple has about 12,000 employees in the United States, not counting retail and support staff. It is a large, well-oiled machine that knows how to design and sell beautiful products that consumers want. "The company is on cruise control," said Tero Kuittinen, an analyst at Alekstra. Kuittinen thinks the recent Maps kerfuffle could have a material impact on Apple and iPhone sales down the line, but we won't know until 2013. Early stats -- like moving 5 million iPhones 5s in the first weekend of sales -- can't foretell what's going to happen at the end of a model's life cycle. "Apple has a huge amount of good will among consumers. They've started eating away at that," said Kuittinen, referring to the Map app problems. Kuittinen believes the big decisions that will define Cook are still yet to come. Some are decisions Jobs never made, such as whether to drop the price of the iPhone to be competitive in emerging markets. Cook has already proven that he is aggressive about international sales. The iPhone 5 will be in 100 countries at the end of this year -- a far speedier and more expansive roll out than previous Apple devices. It's still too early for anyone to predict Cook's long-term success or failure, observers say. And the true impact of Jobs' absence won't be known for two years or more. "The biggest challenge Apple has is not product," Gartenberg said. "They are going to have to manage this legend of Steve Jobs." | In the year since Steve Jobs' death, Tim Cook has subtly altered Apple's image .
Concerted efforts have been made to reach out to investors and Washington .
Tim Cook's quieter, more approachable style is setting a new tone at the company . |
1a7f470bd7422d3215c0edfa5a7f5d534a391a95 | Chris Morgan has warned Tottenham against taking Sheffield United lightly after the Blades pulled off yet another cup upset, this time humiliating Premier League strugglers QPR 3-0 at Loftus Road. The third-tier side will face Spurs in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup having already knocked Southampton and West Ham out of the competition. And their FA Cup third-round victory against Rangers rekindled the spirit of last season, when United beat top-flight sides Fulham and Aston Villa on the way to the semi-finals. Sheffield United coach Chris Morgan (left) believes his side can surprise Tottenham in the Capital One Cup . Jamal Campbell-Ryce capitalised on a QPR defensive error to score from close range in the second-half . Campbell-Ryce celebrates after doubling Sheffield United's lead at Loftus Road on Sunday afternoon . First-team coach Morgan, speaking to the media instead of manager Nigel Clough, said: 'Everybody in the semi-final draw would have wanted to play us. 'The Premier League clubs would want to avoid each other, it's just the nature of the beast. 'But I don't think people will take us lightly, because of the results we've had. In the last calendar year we've beaten five Premier League clubs. 'The semi-final will be different in that it's over two legs. But with the atmosphere and the type of performance we can get at home, we know if we're still in the tie when we get back to Bramall Lane then there will be a game on. 'We had a great run last year, getting to the semi-final, and this year we've backed that up with some really good performances.' Marc McNulty gave United a first-half lead against the R's after being put through by Louis Reed. The Sheffield United bench jump up in celebration during the 3-0 victory at QPR in the FA Cup on Sunday . Campbell-Ryce is all smiles after his double helped Sheffield United beat QPR 3-0 on Sunday . And Jamal Campbell-Ryce netted twice in the second half following defensive aberrations by the home side, first following an error by keeper Alex McCarthy and then after collecting Leroy Fer's wayward back-header. Morgan added: 'We were confident but when you come away to Premier League sides you've got to work hard and get the blocks in like we did. 'We know we can come and compete with top teams. It's great to have a run in the cup - great for supporters and for the revenue of the club.' QPR, meanwhile, have won only two cup ties in the last 11 years, with several of their early exits coming at the hands of lower-division opposition. Rangers boss Harry Redknapp, who made seven changes but still fielded an experienced side, admitted: 'They looked sharper than us all over the pitch. 'They were brighter and better than us and looked like a team that had 10 days without playing a game - we were playing our fourth and looked lethargic. We looked sluggish today. 'They thoroughly deserved their win. They played well and you've got to give them the credit. 'Look at their record - they got to the semi-finals last year and this year are in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup. 'It's no good shouting and screaming. What can you do? Our home form has been fantastic. 'But we didn't play well and the third goal summed us up. That was a horrendous goal.' | Sheffield United knocked out QPR in the third round of the FA Cup .
The Blades face Tottenham in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup .
United knocked out Southampton and West Ham in previous rounds . |
1a7f86ef6f07372701099a776b58482d54dbfda3 | Rivers overflowed their banks, mudslides buried houses and roadways flooded as fierce tropical storm systems hit opposite sides of Mexico, killing at least 21 people, an official said. State media reported one more death. At least 16 people were killed when Manuel, downgraded later to a tropical depression, hit the Pacific coastal state of Guerrero, including a group of six tourists from Mexico City who died in a highway accident Saturday as the storm struck, Mexico's state-run Notimex news agency said. And flooding and mudslides caused by Hurricane Ingrid's rains killed at least six people in the states of Hidalgo and Puebla, Notimex said. Three people were killed when rains swept away the vehicle they were riding in, Notimex said Saturday. And three others were killed when a mudslide buried a house. Luis Felipe Puente, from Mexico's civil protection agency, reported the 21 figure at a Sunday press conference. Another news conference is scheduled for Monday morning. Forecasters said the Category 1 hurricane, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, is expected to make landfall Monday morning and could strengthen slightly before it hits. But even as Ingrid churned in the Gulf of Mexico, the storm system was already dumping heavy rains on parts of Mexico. Residents of Mexico's central state of San Luis Potosi felt the first signs of Ingrid's outer bands Saturday. Notimex reported damaged and collapsed roads and flooded homes. It said authorities evacuated residents in danger areas, taking them to one of more than 50 shelters in the region. Track Ingrid . Emergency crews distributed supplies in boats to areas unreachable by land. Riverside towns were stranded after the water rose to critical levels. The National Hurricane Center in the United States warned Ingrid could dump 10 to 15 inches of rain over Mexico's eastern region, with 25 inches expected in mountainous areas. The rainfall would mean flash floods and mudslides for saturated areas. Along the coast, the center predicted a "dangerous storm surge" and "destructive waves." Ingrid is the second hurricane of the 2013 season in the Atlantic region, the center said. Fast facts: 2013 Atlantic Hurricane season . | Rains, flooding and mudslides from Ingrid and Manuel kill at least 21 .
Hurricane Ingrid is in the Gulf of Mexico while Tropical Depression Manuel is in the Pacific .
Storms leave behind collapsed roads, flooded homes, stranded towns . |
1a810cba1111577212ac2d02b1b8394301c8df5e | By . Daily Mail Reporter . A gregarious male gorilla is to be sent for therapy after he bit one female gorilla and sneered at others. Patrick, a 430lb Western lowland gorilla, will be moved from Dallas Zoo to the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina, where he will live the bachelor life in his own digs. His new home is known for working with gorillas with behaviour problems. Not a ladies' man: Patrick, a 430-pound Western lowland gorilla, will be moved to the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina, after he bit one female and sneered and nipped at others . Dallas Zoo officials said Patrick gets along fine with humans but not with other gorillas. They said they have tried repeatedly to socialise him with the other gorillas, particularly the females, in the hopes that he might get along and even breed. Instead, he bit one female and sneered and nipped at others. 'It's not like we haven't tried, he's been here for 18 years' said Laurie Holloway, a spokesman for the zoo. Patrick was more tolerant of other male gorillas but seemed only to engage with Jabari, who was shot dead by Dallas police after he escaped in 2004 and injured three people. Only friend: Patrick (background) with his friend Jabari, who was shot dead by Dallas police after escaping and injuring three people in 2004 . Because of his cranky behaviour, Patrick has been kept in his own habitat separate from the other gorillas. But Dallas Zoo needs to reclaim Patrick's space because it recently acquired two new males from the Calgary Zoo, including Zola, a break-dancing gorilla who stars in a video that has gone viral on the Internet. John Davis, curator of mammals at the Riverbanks Zoo, said that initially Patrick will be separated from the zoo's three other gorillas, all males, but will be able to see and smell them. Eventually Patrick will be introduced to the guys and zoo officials aren't ruling out the possibility that they can live together in a spacious, wooded bachelor pad, Davis said. Born at the Bronx Zoo in 1990, Patrick was abandoned by his mother and then transferred to the Toronto Zoo, where he was hand-raised along with another male about the same age. At age five, he was transferred to Dallas, zoo officials said. Because of his rearing, Patrick gets along well with people and is a popular favorite among visitors and zookeepers at the Dallas Zoo, Holloway said. 'He's beautiful and smart and everyone loves him,' said Ms Holloway. 'We're really sad to see him go but it's for the best for the zoo and for Patrick.' The zoo will have a few days of 'We'll miss ya, Patrick!' celebrations for the ousted primate. | Patrick, a 430lb Western lowland gorilla, is to be sent to live in his own bachelor pad after failing to socialise with other animals .
Staff at his new home at Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in South Carolina are known for working with gorillas with behavioural problems .
The hand-reared ape only ever engaged with one other gorilla, Jabari, who was shot dead after escaping and injuring three people in 2004 . |
1a821a7a97881ac08d57975b6583e02039816d5f | (CNN) -- Riding through the streets of Moscow or flipping through channels of Russian TV, it's difficult to escape messages from the country's natural gas monopoly, Gazprom. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the central control room at the Gazprom HQ, Moscow, January. "I'm driving under a huge Gazprom sign right now," Yuri Pogorely, vice-president of Interfax, the Russian business news wire, said in a phone interview. Television ad campaigns have promoted the company as a "national treasure" and, more recently, the business that makes "dreams come true." "It can make someone think, why does a Russian monopoly need this kind of branding? After all, there are other state-owned companies that don't present themselves as a symbol of Russia," Pogorely said. "But Gazprom is not just any company." If the Soviet Union promoted its interests through satellite states and military prowess, Russia today flexes its might on the global stage through its vast oil and natural gas fields. And no company exemplifies this more than Gazprom. "By reputation, it is the largest and most powerful Russian company," said Lev Snykov, an analyst with VTB Capital in Moscow. Watch Gazprom chief Alexander Medvedev explain future strategy » . But its strong-arm tactics in contract negotiations with the Ukraine -- shutting off gas supplies three times in the past four years at the height of winter -- have European Union customers looking for alternatives to their reliance on Russian natural gas. The company has the world's largest distribution system of gas, maintaining 97,560 miles (157,000 kilometers) of pipelines that stretch, like Russia, from the Far East to Europe. The perennial conflict with the Ukraine -- through which much of the natural gas supply of Eastern Europe flows -- is of deep concern to nations such as Germany and Greece, which depend on Russia for up to 50 percent and 90 percent of their natural gas, respectively. Gazprom saw its market share in the European Union drop in the second half of 2008. Gas exports from Russia to Europe dropped 33 percent in October alone, according VTB Capital. "The Ukraine conflict may have served as a catalyst for European customers to become more averse to Russian gas imports," says a VTB report on the Ukraine crisis. The Russian economy, reliant on commodities, is suffering because of the fluctuating oil market, down from its record of nearly $150 a barrel to about $60 today. As a result, Gazprom saw profits fall 84 percent in the last quarter of 2008, prompting the company to slash its dividend by 86 percent, to 11 cents a share. Russia has 20 percent of the world's gas reserves, and is the single-largest producer of natural gas. Gazprom posted profits of $30.8 billion last year -- down from $40 billion the year before -- and its business alone accounts for 10 percent of Russia's gross domestic product. So it's no surprise that Gazprom is a pet project of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. His replacement as president, Dmitry Medvedev, is a former chairman of the company. Putin's "interest in Gazprom is very deep. As a journalist who writes about energy issues, I've seen him give very detailed information and knowledge about what's happening with the company and company logistics," said Pogorely of Interfax. "When you hear him speak, it's like you're not talking to the prime minister of Russia, but one of the top company managers." Alexander Medvedev, deputy chief executive officer of Gazprom Exports, deflects questions about the perception that Gazprom is a tool of Russian government and energy policy. Watch Medvedev explain Gazprom's plans » . "Nobody is challenging the view that Gazprom is a very special company, that we have a mixed capital structure, the majority of our shares are in the hands of the Russian government," he said. "But the rest are in the hands of private shareholders, including private citizens all around the world." The company's goal is to become an energy leader with a diversified portfolio around the world, he said. "Like Alexander Ovechkin... not everyone enjoys him, but he's a leader, and we would like to perform as good as Ovechkin in hockey," he said, referring to the controversial Russian ice hockey star who was named Player of the Year this week by National Hockey League players. That sentiment echoes how Russians feel about Gazprom. A recent poll by the Public Opinion Foundation found one in five Russians under 26 would like to work for Gazprom. "In rural areas, Gazprom is dramatically important for people because of our harsh winters," Pogorely said. "Russians love someone big who sticks up for you. OK, sometimes they may not be very nice to you. But if he cares for you and makes your life better, that's OK," Pogorely said. "But if you're doing business in Russia, Gazprom is the power you wouldn't mess with." | Russia, single-largest natural gas producer, has 20 percent of global gas reserves .
Gazprom business accounts for 10 percent of Russia's gross domestic product .
Gazprom disputes with Ukraine has seen European nations wary of the company .
Russian president and prime minister show strong interest in the company . |
1a841319b2d7efe5f01fe2f780fe13629a02c334 | (CNN) -- Lytro cameras, which let you take a photo and refocus anywhere after it's taken, are getting two much-requested new features: Instagram-like filters and the ability to bring the entire image, not just one section, into focus. The camera was released early this year by a new Silicon Valley-based startup. Long and rectangular with a small touchscreen on one end and minimal buttons, the camera uses Light Field technology to capture its interactive images. Since the camera's release, Lytro employees have been busy testing and releasing new features. The most recent additions will be available December 4. First is the new Perspective Shift feature. Until now, you could focus only on one small section of a Lytro image at a time, which seemed to negate the benefit of having a camera that could focus on everything in the frame. Perspective Shift finally allows you to bring the entire image into focus, but that's not the most interesting part. When you click and drag on a Lytro picture, there is also a 3-D effect, allowing you move the image around for altered angles. Existing Lytro camera owners will be happy to learn that the effect can be applied to older images as well. For one test photo, Eric Cheng, Lytro's director of photography and a former underwater photographer, filled a glass Christmas ornament with paint and shot a pellet through it, capturing the explosion as it happened (click and drag the image to the left to see the effect). The desktop application will also gain new filter options. If there's anything the photography industry has learned over the past two years, it's that people love adding quick filters to their photos to make them look better. Lytro's first nine filters are a mix of typical retro -- Film Noir, 8-Track and Crayon -- and some genuinely unique effects that take advantage of the interactive features of Lytro pictures. For example, the Glass filter (below) throws up a pane of frosted glass between the foreground and the background. Click around to refocus, and it will move accordingly. Carnival distorts the photo like a funhouse mirror, undulating in different directions depending on where you focus. A year after the product was announced, the question of who exactly it is for still lingers. The $400 and up price tag is steep for a camera that takes only one kind of photo, and while it's fun to play with, it's not immediately clear what practical purpose refocusable photos serve. A flattened JPEG of a Lytro image is only 1.2 megapixels, which rules out many pro photography uses like product photography. Lytro is not sharing any sales numbers or statistics but says the camera has mostly been a hit with amateur photography enthusiasts. Enterprising customers have found some creative uses. Food bloggers are snapping interactive shots of their meals (the ability to make a bowl of ramen jiggle in 3-D could be an amazing or gross addition). An artist who makes miniature figures uses it to document her work. Bug lovers everywhere like its impressive macro photography abilities. Some in the medical field have tested the technology out, too; Lytro says there is a dermatologist who uses the camera to take up-close photos of skin issues, and a dentist takes shots of teeth. "What we're looking for are people who are interested in storytelling in some new way," Cheng said. "That's the common thread between all of our earlier camera owners." Lytro has released other updates to the camera's firmware and desktop software over the year, including rolling out a Windows version of the desktop application and adding manual camera controls. With the manual controls, you can speed up or slow down the shutter speed to play with interesting effects like light paining. The company has also released a handful of accessories, cases and a tripod mount. There are new Lytro body colors (hot pink and forest green), but other than that, the hardware is the exact same camera that started shipping at the start of the year. The prices have also stayed the same: $399 for the 8GB camera and $499 for the 16GB version. | Lytro cameras capture photos that can be refocused after they're taken .
New photo filters include a funhouse mirror effect and retro coloring .
Lytro images can finally be focused entirely; perspective-shifting effect has been added . |
1a853a5d49ad1e3d0af1c4428daa3fc1ab4c4d49 | Hong Kong (CNN) -- When the new names of China's elite political committee were announced Thursday they didn't come as a surprise to one leading China expert. Rather, they reinforced the sense of "a major opportunity lost." "This Party congress has sent a very clear signal that this leadership is politically conservative," said Cheng Li of the Brookings Institution, who predicted that the lineup wouldn't go down well with the Chinese people who he said were looking for signs of political reform. "You can imagine the Chinese public may start to express some dissatisfaction with the dominance of princelings (sons of revolutionary leaders), with the elder and retired top leader Jiang Zemin's interference in the process of succession, and also that two liberal leaders Li Yuanchao and Wang Yang are excluded in the new Politburo Standing Committee (PSC)," he said. As expected, the number of seats on the PSC shrank from nine members to seven and included the names at the top of many speculative lists: Xi Jinping (President), Li Keqiang (Premier), Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli. "Of these seven people, it's really five-versus-two or maybe even six-versus-one because only two people are Tuanpai," Li said. Tuanpai are Party members who rose through the ranks of the Communist Youth League and typically have ties to outgoing president Hu Jintao. "One of the Tuanpai members -- Liu Yunshan -- is actually very close to Jiang Zemin. So this lack of balance will potentially be a serious problem in the months or years to come," Li added. CNN asked Li for his immediate reaction to the lineup and the possible implications for Xi's term as China's new president. After months of mystery, new leaders revealed . What do you make of the new lineup? It is not a surprise but a disappointment. The disappointment is based on several reasons: First, apparently there was no intra-party multiple-candidate election for the Politburo and its standing committee. They were still selected through the old way of "dark-box" manipulation by departing Politburo Standing Committee members. Also, it's dominated by Jiang Zemin's protégés, especially the so-called princelings. Despite a profound sense of disappointment, I should say there are some positive things coming out of this leadership transition. One is that Hu Jintao stepped down as Chairman of the Central Military Commission, making the succession more institutionalized and complete. By and large, this leadership transition is another orderly transition in PRC history. The leadership change follows the rules and norms of age limits, and the turnover rates in all leadership bodies are all very high: 64% for the Central Committee, 77% for the Disciplinary Commission, 68% for the Secretariat, 71% for the PSC. The size change (from nine to seven members of the PSC), including the elimination of the police czar and the propaganda czar, is a welcome development. These are all positives but, in my judgment, this leadership lineup does not generate an uplifting spirit for the nation; I think this is a major opportunity lost. Some leaders, particularly the Tuanpai leaders, will be very unhappy. You need to give an explanation to the Chinese public why Li Yuanchao and Wang Yang -- two strong advocates for political reform -- are out. Opinion: Why China's reforms have hit a wall . Why are they out? The reason, in my view, Wang Yang is out because he is seen by many conservative leaders as a threat. Particularly as Wang's main political rival Bo Xilai is out, they don't want him to be in -- previously Wang and Bo tended to balance each other in terms of power, influence and policy preference. In many ways, both are very outspoken, very courageous, very innovative in politics -- they reach out to the public for support -- so in a way, some conservatives are very scared. In my view, this group of seven leaders is very capable in economic and financial affairs, but politically they are quite conservative. Read more: Bo Xilai stripped of last official title . How long will it take for Xi to make his presence or policies known? Xi will enter a short honeymoon period despite all the criticism and worries that have already emerged. The criticism may not be against him but rather against Jiang Zemin, against the dominance of princelings. He needs to demonstrate that he can provide new hope and confidence for the public with new economic policies. He should do so relatively quickly. He can't wait too long because a large number of people are very unhappy with rampant official corruption and growing economic disparity. He needs to do a lot on the economic front, but I'm a little bit concerned that because of the composition of the new Politburo Standing Commitee the political reform will be delayed. These leaders are not famous for political reform -- not like Li Yuanchao and Wang Yang. How will Xi rule? I think he will emphasize economic reform -- to make the middle class happy -- and to promote the private sector, to introduce more economic reform mechanisms, including banking reform and state-owned enterprise reform, basically with the goal to promote private sector development. Some of his team members, like Wang Qishan, Yu Zhengsheng and Zhang Gaoli, are all pretty capable in that regard. The problem is that economic reform needs serious political reform; otherwise, it can not go too far because of the political bottleneck. This leadership lineup has sent a very clear signal that it is politically conservative. What can Li Keqiang bring as Premier? In many ways, he's surrounded by Jiang Zemin's people who will tremendously restrain his power. There were previously a lot of people who wanted to block him from the premiership -- that failed. But now even in the state council, certainly in the standing committee, he's quite alone. What does it say about the enduring influence of Jiang? The backlash against Jiang Zemin will be overwhelming. Yes, Jiang's camp wins many seats in the Politburo Standing Committee, but in the future they may pay a huge price for this "victory." The public resentment will be very strong. These leaders are still selected by old-fashioned, behind the scenes deal-making and retired leaders' influence, not really through an intra-party multiple-candidate election. That's a big opportunity missed. That will undermine their legitimacy and credibility. Read more: Hu warns of enemy within . Why and how is Jiang still able to wield such influence? Because of the need to protect his interests and his family interests. To a certain extent his protégés also want to have him to help them, in a way. Jiang Zemin is strong largely because his protégés are in important positions. People like Xi Jinping, Zhang Dejiang and Wang Qishan, they're already well-positioned. Why has Hu failed to be the type of leader who could win out against Jiang's people in the PSC? It's still too early to give a well-grounded answer due to a lack of reliable information about what happened inside Zhongnanhai (Communist Party headquarters in Beijing). There are several possible reasons: One is, Hu wants to make a contrast between himself and Jiang Zemin. Jiang stayed in power for two more years after the transition at the 16th Party Congress. But Hu wants to immediately give up that position. So it is an institutional improvement. Secondly, his volunteering to give up that position makes Jiang's activity to promote his protégés in the past few months very problematic. The balance in the Politburo Standing Committee is broken, but the balance in the Politburo and the Central Military Commission -- between the two camps -- largely stays intact. There are many of Hu's people in the central committee. Consequently, this may create structural tensions between these very important leadership bodies. Read more: Can Hu retain clout after handover? | Cheng Li of the Brookings Institute expresses disappointment at lineup of PSC .
Politiburo Standing Committee stacked with supporters of former president Jiang Zemin .
Premier Li Keqiang, part of Hu Jintao's camp, is "quite alone," Li said .
Li: "This leadership lineup does not generate an uplifting spirit for the nation" |
1a87358e123db0ecdaeebb3a675b73ea1ad97635 | WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Bedouin who was just a boy when a U.S. Navy pilot's plane crashed in the Iraqi desert in 1991 was the key to finding his remains more than 18 years after he was killed, the Pentagon says. Marines conduct recovery efforts at the crash site of U.S. Navy Capt. Michael Scott Speicher, shot down in 1991. The new details of the final hunt for U.S. Navy pilot Scott Speicher, who was lost over Iraq on the opening night of the Gulf War in January 1991, were released by the Pentagon Friday. Two sites were searched by U.S. troops who dug west of Baghdad, Iraq, in Anbar province, one at the plane crash site and another 2 kilometers away. The remains of Capt. Speicher were found at the second location. The U.S. military has long said Speicher had ejected out of his jet after it was hit by an Iraqi missile. After years of searching, it was just last month that the military got the crucial information that led them to the burial site. A Bedouin who was just 11 years old at the time of the crash came forward and connected the military with other locals who had knowledge of generally where the crash and burial locations were. The tipster did not know exactly where Speicher was buried but he knew others who had the knowledge, the military statement explained. "He willingly provided his information during general discussion with MNF-W [Multi-National Force-West]personnel and stated he was unaware of the U.S. government's interest in this case until queried by U.S. investigators in July 2009," according to the statement. Bedouin are desert-dwelling nomadic Arabs. One hundred and fifty U.S. military troops were dispatched to dig for the remains at the crash site and did not find any sign of the pilot. At the second site the troops discovered skeletal fragments, according to the statement. Dental records initially identified the bones as Speicher's and, on August 2, DNA results came back positive. Speicher's remains will be taken to Jacksonville, Florida, for burial, according to a family spokeswoman. Speicher was a lieutenant commander when shot down, but because his status remained uncertain, he received promotions during the past 18 years, reaching the rank of captain. | U.S. Navy pilot Scott Speicher lost over Iraq opening night of Gulf War in 1991 .
Two sites searched by U.S. troops, west of Baghdad, Iraq, in Anbar province .
A Bedouin, 11 at time of crash, connected military with locals who knew of crash .
Speicher's remains will be taken to Jacksonville, Florida, for burial . |
1a87ab87d632576613670797a7559b7d5d0f06d0 | By . Emily Davies . PUBLISHED: . 12:51 EST, 10 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:21 EST, 10 February 2013 . Attics and garages all over Britain are likely to be filled with dust covered boxes of them. But museum curators have made an appeal for members of the public to contribute their old Airfix models and kits after an exhibition due to open at the Royal Air Force museum has been left with gaps. The exhibition, which is due to open in June, will document the history of Airfix dating back to its advent in 1939. Curators are appealing for members of the public to contribute their Airfix models to complete the exhibition . Kits still in their boxes are also being sought to be included in the Royal Airforce Museum exhibition, which opens in June . But the museum has a shortage of certain types of Airfix toys from the 1950s and 1960s which it is hoped members of the public can fill by donating their models, either fully built or still in boxes. The missing items in particular include the first Spitfire, the first Massey Ferguson Tractor, the HMS Endeavour and a Hawker P1127. Also sought after are figures from the historical characters range, including Joan of Arc, Henry VIII, Oliver Cromwell and Charles I. The company was launched in 1939 by Hungarian Nicholas Kove. The small-scale Golden Hind model first went on sale in Woolworths in 1952. The first Spitfire - one of the company's most popular models - went on sale in 1953. During the 1970s Airfix was selling 20 million kits a year. In the 1980s the toys began to decline and the firm was bought by General Mills, who later sold it to Borden. In 1995 Airfix was sold to Allen McGuire and in 2006 it was bought by trainset toy company, Hornby. Curators are mainly looking for perfectly built items in mint condition, but are also seeking one or two more clumsy attempts to feature in the collection. Andrew Cormack, the curator of the exhibition, told the Sunday Times: 'It would be interesting to get a few examples of models made by eight-year-olds who were shockingly proud of them, but which were actually dreadful. 'We would like to make a feature of some for the huge enjoyment people got from making their own toy. Anything and everything is of interest.' The company is assisting in the search, but as the ownership has changed many times over the years there are gaps in some of the ranges needed for the exhibition. Appeals have been made in vain to model clubs but the curators are hoping members of the public will be able to fill the void. | Gaps remain in museum Airfix collection from 1950s and 1960s .
Massey Ferguson Tractor and first ever Spitfire among the toys missing . |
1a87c8d07942461fe352a65007f2cfbe31c468ae | By . Matt Blake . PUBLISHED: . 10:53 EST, 10 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:47 EST, 11 June 2013 . Holland is harbouring 22 'completely pointless' nuclear bombs belonging to the United States in secret underground bunkers, a senior Dutch politician has revealed. Former prime minister Ruud Lubbers broke a mysterious political omerta by confirming the existence of American-owned weapons in Europe, which has been branded the 'worst-kept secret' on the continent. The B-61 thermonuclear devices, whose secret storage has until now been held under a don't-ask-don't-tell pact among European statesmen, are part of a Cold War military arsenal described by Lubbers as 'absolutely pointless'. Breaking ranks: Former prime minister Ruud Lubbers broke a mysterious political omerta by confirming the existence of American-owned weapons in Europe . Lubbers, whose Christian Democrat party ran the country between 1982 and 1994, told a dutch National Graphic documentary: 'I would never have thought those silly things would still be there in 2013. 'I think they are an absolutely pointless part of a tradition in military thinking.' A spokesman for the Royal Dutch Air Force refused to confirm their existence at Volkel air base, adding that these issues 'are . never spoken of'. 'He, as former prime minister, knows that well,' he said. Dutch officials told local media that the weapons are B-61 . thermonuclear bombs, capable of wreaking four times as much havoc as the atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki towards the end of the Second World War. B-61: Built in 1960, the B-61 thermonuclear bombs are 11-foot long and weigh 770lb with a streamlined casing capable of withstanding supersonic flight speeds (stock image) Built in 1960, the bombs are 11-foot long and weigh 770lb with a streamlined casing capable of withstanding supersonic flight . speeds. The 'poorly kept secret' of the existence of nuclear weapons in . concrete vaults emerged in 2010 in the classified US documents published . by Wikileaks. It was mentioned in a report on a conversation involving US . Ambassador to Berlin Philip Murphy, US diplomat Phil Gordon and German . Chancellor Angela Merkel's national security adviser, Christoph Heusgen. | Ruud Lubbers broke political omerta by confirming bombs' existence .
B61 thermonuclear devices are held in air base, left over from Cold War .
FOUR times stronger than ones dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki .
Lubbers: 'Those silly things are an absolutely pointless part of a tradition' |
1a882054ccdbcf287b8f5c2c209e754806d1f0b4 | (CNN)This is going to be a long year. Well, one second longer. We're all going to get an extra tick of the clock, known as a "leap second," on June 30. The bonus sliver of time raises a couple of questions. How to spend that extra second? Sleeping? Working? Maybe Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg will use it to help keep up with his New Year book-reading program. Then there's the question of why we need to tinker with clocks all around the world in the first place. Earth vs. atomic clocks . It all comes down to physics, according to Nick Stamatakos, the head of Earth Orientation Parameters at the U.S. Naval Observatory, which oversees atomic clocks in the United States. "The real simple explanation is the Earth is slowing down a little bit," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. That means atomic clocks are keeping more accurate time than our planet's own rotation, which can speed up and slow down because of tides and changes within the Earth's core. To get things back in sync, an extra second is periodically added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the world's benchmark time standard. The call is made by scientists at the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service, the agency that keeps tabs on the spinning of the planet. It announced the decision to add a leap second this year in a bulletin Monday. The previous one was in 2012, but that didn't go entirely smoothly. Some of the software platforms that underpin a lot of websites didn't know how to cope with the extra second. U.S. wants to ditch leap seconds . The issue has become an international sticking point. Some countries, including the United States, want to get rid of leap seconds altogether, saying they're too disruptive to precision systems used for navigation, communication and other services. But others, like Britain, have argued that it's risky to allow a divergence between the time kept by atomic clocks and that of the Earth's rotation. An international radiocommunication conference in 2012 put off a decision on the matter until this year. In any case, fewer leap seconds are being added nowadays than a few decades ago. "Earth isn't as slow as it was in the 70s," said Stamatakos. "Relative to the 1970s, it's sped up a little bit." But still not enough to keep time with the atomic clocks. | A "leap second" will be added to the world's standard time on June 30 .
The move is to keep clocks in sync with the Earth's rotation . |
1a8b9a27ba8cd9f0f233aaf53d17c1d03040e514 | Tam Dao National Park, Vietnam (CNN) -- As a hangover "cure," they don't come more brutally disturbing than bear bile. Extracted from the animal with a long needle inserted into the gall bladder on illegal bear farms in Vietnam and China, the endangered Asiatic black bear -- also known as Moon Bears because of the crescent of white fur on their chest - is subjected to a slow death from infection and disease in tiny cages that restrict their movements. "In Vietnam, men in particular mix bear bile with rice wine because they believe it makes them stronger and able to drink more," says Tuan Bendixsen, Vietnam director of Animals Asia, an animal welfare group. "It's been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years and there are claims that it can cure everything from hangovers, liver cirrhosis to cancer," he says. "People mix it with alcohol and rub it on their skin to reduce swelling. To that extent, we acknowledge that it does work, but there are alternatives; cortisone, for example, or even Dencorub." Last month, the animal welfare group marked a coup in its fight against bear farming. For the first time in Vietnam, a bear farmer acted on conscience, voluntarily surrendering his share of a bear farm -- with its 14 bears -- without asking for compensation. "If he wanted to sell his share, he could have easily done it underground on the black market, but he'd seen the work we've done and approached us," says Bendixsen. "It's the first time that's happened with such a large number of bears." At the group's Moon Bear rescue centre in the Tam Dao National Park, 43 miles (70km) north of Hanoi, chief vet Kirsty Officer said the decision by bear farmer Nguyen Ngoc Tien to relinquish his share voluntarily was an important development. "Now that we've had one person doing this we are hoping it will lead the way for others to follow the example," says Officer. In the sanctuary's temporary quarantine cages, where the 14 new arrivals will be slowly rehabilitated over three months before joining the 98 other bears that live permanently at the 30-acre site in Chat Dau Valley, the animals show signs of their recent trauma. Some pace the cages, another is bald from rubbing its head repetitively against the bars, several have missing limbs -- a sign they were snared in the wild. "This stereotypical behavior is a sign they are bored out of their brains," says Officer. "There's been nothing for them on the bear farm to express their natural bear behaviors, so they replace them with these very unnatural behaviors." In many cases, the bears need immediate medical attention, Officer explains, including the removal of their gall bladders and other organs damaged by the bile extraction process. The bile extraction process, she says, differs from country to country. In China, the bears are housed in coffin-sized "crush cages" to prevent the animal moving, making it easier and safer for an operator to insert a catheter, and in some cases to simply suture the organ to an opening in the abdomen so the bile can be drained continuously into a collecting tray. In Vietnam, however, the animal is sedated -- sometimes using illegal street ketamine -- taken into the open and a four-inch needle inserted into its abdomen and the bile drawn out. The non-sterile conditions can quickly lead to infection, a situation which not only endangers the bear but also bile users. Bile samples have shown contamination with everything from cancer cells to pus. Some users, says Animals Asia, have become seriously ill from using it. "There have been some recent cases of people being poisoned by bear bile," says Bendixsen. "A few months ago, we heard of a case of 76-year-old man who swallowed bear bile to help him get over injuries from a fall. "Within half an hour his body was heating up, a shower didn't help him cool down and within two days he was in hospital with a severe reaction to the bile. His body was covered in red spots and his skin was peeling. It was a severe allergic reaction." He said reported cases such as this have helped his group's campaign to end bear bile farming but there was still a long way to go, especially since extracted bile is expensive and sometimes gains cachet as a status symbol among Asia's nouveau riche. How much the illegal trade in bear bile is worth is still difficult to estimate. "It's hard to say because it's illegal," says Bendixsen. "But two years ago the police raided a farm in Halong Bay and they confiscated all the records which provided valuable information on the trade. "From the records we could see that the farm had sold 80,000ml of bear bile in six months at between US$6 and US$30 per milliliter -- that's at least $500,000 from one bear farm alone." While it's illegal to harvest and sell bear bile in Vietnam, it's not illegal to keep bears if they have been in captivity before 2005. Animals Asia says there are 3,567 bears held on farms throughout Vietnam, but a lack of enforcement means the trade continues. As many as 7,000 bears are believed to be farmed in neighboring China, with farms also known to exist in Laos, Myanmar and the Republic of Korea. The Chinese government has previously defended the practice, saying that farming protects wild bears which would otherwise be killed and harvested for their whole gall bladders, where the bile is stored. The argument is widely disputed by animal welfare groups who say farmed bile puts pressure on captive and wild populations alike. Animals Asia estimates that wild Asiatic bears in Vietnam could now number in the hundreds and there are worrying signs that poachers are moving into the forests of neighboring Laos where the bears may be more plentiful. Little is known about the animal in the wild and remaining numbers worldwide are estimated at anywhere between 16,000 and 50,000. Animals Asia says it has reached an agreement with the Vietnamese government to eventually keep 200 bears at its center, but the group admits its work is only a band aid when put against scale of the problem of illegal trapping and farming. Their best hope, says bear manager at the Moon Bear rescue center Falk Wicker, is to educate a new generation about the dangers of bear bile remedies. "In Vietnam, especially, these remedies are not thousands of years old at all, they've been imported from China much more recently," he says. "In Vietnam, it has much more to do with new wealth and with status." The active ingredient in bear bile -- ursodeoxycholic acid, or UDCA, which does have anti-inflammatory properties -- can be produced in a laboratory. The problem, says Falk, is that most bear bile is used in quack cures and folk remedies. "It's the problem with many traditional remedies. People are told it cures cancer, then the thinking is if it cures cancer, then it must be good to have a shot of it every now and then," Officer adds. "The myths just keep being perpetuated." For the workers at Animals Asia, the struggle is not just to bring the animals back to health, but to avoid getting too comfortable around a highly intelligent and sometimes socialized wild animal. "We follow very strict protocols as far as safety is concerned," says Officer. "Even if they're hand-raised as cubs, at a certain age it's hands off," adding that it's easy to let your guard down around animals that sometimes seem and behave like pets. "They're very quick," she says, looking at a bear eyeing its new surroundings and keepers. "But it is tempting sometimes." | 14 Moon Bears have been rescued from a bear bile farm in Vietnam .
The bears were illegally harvested for their bile which is used in folk remedies .
The painful process often leads to a slow and agonizing death for the bear .
The rescue marks the first time a large number of bears was relinquished on conscience . |
1a8bb430ee56e2972bd257c55193df6f104a0589 | Arsenal broke the habit of a lifetime on Sunday, winning an away game against one of their top-four rivals. Their 2-0 win over Manchester City could well be a watershed moment in the Gunners' stuttering season. But what was different about Arsene Wenger's side at the Etihad Stadium and what lessons can they learn going into future clashes against their direct rivals? Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger got his side's tactics spot on as they won 2-0 away at Manchester City . 1) DISCIPLINE AND CONCENTRATION . Throwing away leads in search of more goals has been an unwanted characteristic of Arsenal's season so far. Conceding a 3-0 lead against Anderlecht in the Champions League has been one of the low-lights of their campaign. But there was no gung-ho approach against City. Having taken the lead through Santi Cazorla's penalty, the Gunners were much more conservative, remaining compact, not trying to stretch the game as they stifled City's attack. Santi Cazorla's first half penalty gave Arsenal a platform to build upon in Sunday's 2-0 win at the Etihad . The diminutive Spain international (left) celebrates his opener with Olivier Giroud (centre) and Alexis Sanchez . 2) KILLING THE GAME . It's not, perhaps, in keeping with Arsenal's attacking mantra but they showed guile and know-how of getting over the line at the Etihad. Time wasting in the corners, passing the ball sideways and backwards all wastes valuable seconds when you are ahead in a game. We don't usually see Arsenal lower themselves to that sort of thing. But they did on Sunday and came away with the best win of the season so far. Lesson learned. Arsenal's second goalscorer Giroud (centre) held the ball up well as the visitors closed the game out . 3) FRANCIS COQUELIN - MIDFIELD ENFORCER . Arsenal have been crying out for an out-and-out defensive midfielder all season. It looks like they have found one in Coquelin. The young Frenchman was instrumental against City. Breaking up play in midfield and passing the ball to those who can do damage. Whether Coquelin is the answer to the Gunners midfield conundrum in the long term remains to be seen. But, for the time being, Wenger looks to have the midfield enforcer he has been desperate for. Francis Coquelin (centre) had an excellent game in midfield for the Gunners protecting the defence . 4) MIXING IT UP . We all know Arsenal can pass the ball as well as most teams in Europe, but they showed a different side to their game on Sunday. Goalkeeper David Ospina's long balls into centre forward Olivier Giroud was a feature of the Gunners' game plan. Is it a shame Wenger's side were forced to part with their passing principles? Perhaps. But Arsenal supporters certainly won't be concerned about that this morning. David Ospina's (left) long balls into Giroud were one asset of an astute tactical plan deployed by Arsenal . 5) HAPPY NOT TO HAVE THE BALL . Arsenal are most comfortable with the ball at their feet; when they dictating play. But on Sunday they had just 35 per cent of possession - but came away with a 2-0 win. Figure that one out? You don't always have to control the pace of a game to win it, as the Gunners proved as they stifled City's attack. They showed efficiency in their counter-attacks against Manuel Pellegrini's side. They had three shots on target - two of which were goals. Gunners used the counter-attack to good effect against City - with Sanchez (left) a key weapon on the break . | Arsenal won 2-0 away at Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday .
Gunners had just 35 per cent of possession in their Etihad victory .
Arsene Wenger's side were tactically set up brilliantly against City .
Click here for Arsenal transfer news . |
1a8c95baa5e8541c6dd3104bb54074711f388405 | Kevin De Bruyne's impact at Wolfsburg this season has been such that the midfielder's former club Chelsea are regretting letting him go, according to general manager Klaus Allofs. The 23-year-old completed a £17million move to the Bundesliga side in January 2014 after concluding that he would not be able to break into the first team at Stamford Bridge. The Belgium international is enjoying a successful first full season with the Wolves - having currently netted eight league goals as they sit eight points behind league leaders Bayern Munich. Wolfsburg general manager Klaus Allofs says Kevin De Bruyne's form is proof why Chelsea regret selling him . De Bruyne (right) is enjoying a stellar season for Wolfsburg, netting eight league goals so far this term . And Allofs believes De Bruyne's midfield prowess is one reason why Chelsea are regretting his departure from west London. 'At Chelsea they watch with appreciation as Kevin has developed,' he told Kicker. 'They've seen it confirmed why they were reluctant to let him leave.' De Bruyne's spell at Chelsea was rather a frustrating one following his move from Belgian outfit Genk in January 2012 - starting just five matches during his time at the Blues. De Bruyne (left) endured a frustrating time at Chelsea - making just five starts in total for the Blues . During his time at Chelsea, the midfielder was loaned out to Werder Bremen in the 2012/13 season where he scored 10 goals in 34 appearances for them in the Bundesliga. De Bruyne's limited opportunities at Stamford Bridge mimicked Andre Schurrle's - who left the club for Wolfsburg in a £24m deal on transfer deadline day. The pair are expected to be in tandem together for their trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon. Like De Bruyne, Andre Schurrle (right) swapped Chelsea for Wolfsburg after limited opportunities . | Kevin De Bruyne joined Wolfsburg in a £17million move from Chelsea .
De Bruyne left the Blues in January 2014 after limited opportunities .
The 23-year-old has scored eight Bundesliga goals this season .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Chelsea news . |
1a8c96ed743c04b8c42efd7a53a1d119669be655 | Joran van der Sloot has been tied to the disappearance of one woman and been convicted of murdering another. Now, he's a taken man. The Dutch national, who is serving a 28-year sentence for the killing of Stephany Flores -- married a Peruvian woman named Leidy Figueroa on Friday morning, his attorney told CNN en Espanol. The nuptials took place at the Lima, Peru, prison where the 26-year-old van der Sloot is being held, according to the lawyer, Maximo Altez. John Barrera, Mayor of Ancón District, presided over the ceremony. Van der Sloot is expected to become a father in September, when Figureoa is due to give birth to their child together, Altez said. But just like he won't have a honeymoon anytime soon, van der Sloot won't be around to change diapers after the baby heads home. That's because he has been sentenced to 28 years for the murder of Flores. Once he's eligible to get out of prison for that crime, van der Sloot is set to be extradited to the United States to face charges related to the case of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama 18-year-old last seen leaving an Aruba nightclub in 2005 with van der Sloot and two other men. Peru agrees to extradite Joran van der Sloot to U.S. ... in 24 years . Accountant met inmate while visiting a relative . There's no reason to believe that Figueroa didn't know about van der Sloot's past when the two first encountered one another. They met when Figueroa, an accountant with a young boy from another relationship, was visiting a relative in the Peruvian prison where van der Sloot was being held. "They became friends and spent a lot of time together in his cell," Altez said earlier this year. "Unlike the United States, here in Peru, loved ones or relatives can see inmates inside their jails." In January 2012, van der Sloot made a far different pronouncement when he pleaded guilty to all charges against him in Flores' killing. "I am really sorry for what happened," he told the three magistrates overseeing his trial in Lima. 2012: Joran van der Sloot sentenced to 28 years for Peru murder . Police say van der Sloot killed the then 21-year-old Flores in his Lima hotel room in May 2010, then took money and bank cards from her wallet and fled to Chile. He was arrested a few days later in that South American country. Investigators believe van der Sloot killed Flores after she found something related to the Holloway case on van der Sloot's computer as she visited with him in his hotel room. Lawyer: 'No hidden agendas' with marriage . Holloway's body has never been found, and her case -- which drew intense international attention in the weeks after it unfolded -- has never been solved. Van der Sloot himself was arrested twice in Aruba in connection with the Alabama teenager's disappearance. However, he was never charged in that Caribbean nation. He has been charged in the United States in relation to her case, though. In June 2010, a federal grand jury based in Alabama indicted van der Sloot on charges of allegedly attempting to extort $250,000 from Holloway's mother, Beth. Van der Sloot offered to provide what turned out to be bogus information about the whereabouts of Holloway's remains in exchange for the money, according to the indictment against him. He was allegedly given $25,000, which authorities say he used to travel to Peru for a poker tournament. 2012: Natalee Holloway declared legally dead . In March, Peru agreed to extradite van der Sloot to the United States on these charges sometime after he's eligible for release, in 2038, for Flores murder. Peruvian media have raised the possibility that van der Sloot got married to avoid extradition to the United States. But Altez, his defense lawyer, this spring dismissed that suggestion, saying then that the wedding shouldn't be "a big deal." "He's getting married because he's in love and is having a child," Altez said in May. "There are no hidden agendas." | Joran van der Sloot marries a woman who he met as she visited his Lima prison .
The couple are expecting a child together in September, according to his lawyer .
Van der Sloot pleaded guilty in 2012 to the murder of a 21-year-old Peruvian woman .
He was arrested twice, but never charged, in Natalee Holloway's disappearance . |
1a8cf8f52aa22f9dfd0f5c8eaf6eb48745492f15 | (CNN) -- A former hospital worker systematically shot and killed four people in upstate New York on Saturday, authorities in two counties said. Former hospital worker Frank Garcia, 34, has been accused in the shooting rampage. Frank Garcia, 34, was arrested Saturday afternoon. Garcia knew all four victims, police said, but they didn't reveal details about the relationships. "The individuals who were shot were known to the suspect. It was not necessarily a random act," Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn said. The first two victims -- Mary Sillman, 23, and Randall Norman, 41 -- were fatally shot before 5 a.m. at Lakeside Memorial Hospital in Brockport, where Garcia was once employed, O'Flynn said. Another woman was wounded and is undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital, he said. The second shooting happened at a house in nearby Ontario County on Saturday afternoon. Christopher Glatz, 45, and his wife, Kim, 38, were killed "execution-style" while their two teenagers were in the suburban Rochester home, Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero said. The teens were not wounded, but it is unclear whether they witnessed the event. Povero said neighbors reported Garcia went door-to-door looking for the Glatzes' home. "He was in fact looking for the residence," Povero said. "He was saying different things to different people, but he was clearly looking for that home." Ballistic evidence has connected the two crime scenes, Povero said. Investigators found the matching brass cartridges from a pistol found on Garcia when he was arrested, he said. Garcia was arrested at a restaurant Saturday afternoon, CNN affiliate R-News in Rochester reported. Garcia was to be arraigned Saturday night in Monroe County, where the first shootings occurred, on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder in the second degree, O'Flynn said. Sillman was a certified nursing assistant at Lakeside's long-term care center, hospital officials said. "During Mary's brief time within the system, those who worked closest with Mary described her as warm, kind and compassionate toward the residents of Lakeside Beikirch Care Center," Lakeside interim CEO Michael Stapleton said in a statement. Garcia likely will face similar charges in Ontario County, Povero said. "This certainly speaks to a tragedy that is enormous, not only the taking of the lives that were taken, but the people that were left behind, the person in Brockport and the two teenage children who were present when their mother was systematically murdered," Povero said. | Suspect went door-to-door in search of victims' residence, authorities say .
Christopher Glatz, 45, and wife Kim, 38, were shot "execution-style" in home .
The couple's teenage children at suburban Rochester home but were not injured .
Mary Sillman, 23, and Randall Norman, 41, shot at a hospital earlier Saturday . |
1a8d01e74cc53143e197da91c80896c6b5b73175 | A mother diagnosed with terminal cancer is preparing for what could be her last Christmas after doctors mistook bleeding and cramping as signs of pregnancy. Samantha Beaven went into premature labour with her second daughter at just 26 weeks. It was only then that doctors discovered the 28-year-old had cervical cancer. She barely had time to come to terms with the news when her daughter Daisy was born 14 weeks early, drastically underweight at 2lb 2oz and battling for life. Both mother and daughter were treated in the same hospital but while Daisy is now thriving, Mrs Beaven has been told her cancer has spread and is now terminal. Samantha Beaven, 28 (centre), has incurable cancer and has been told she has just 12 to 18 months left with her two daughters, Bracken, six (right) and Daisy, one month old (left) In May she was given 12 to 18 months to live. But she has vowed to fight the illness for as long as possible for the sake of Daisy and her older daughter Bracken, six. She decided to marry her partner - and the girls' father - Alex, and is determined to give her family their best Christmas ever knowing it may be their last together. Mrs Beaven said: ‘I have promised them I will be here for them for as long as I can. 'There are times when I feel overwhelmed and scared and then I look at them and I know I have to stay strong. ‘Daisy fought so hard to live after being born so early that I owe her and Bracken the same. ‘I want to make this Christmas so special for them. I hope to create some special memories for us all.’ She is currently funding alternative treatments with donations from well wishers to extend her time with her girls. She said: ‘Every day it buys me with them is worth it and I am extremely grateful to the people who have fundraised to help give me that precocious time. ‘I just want to make enough memories for my girls to last them a lifetime.’ She hopes sharing her story will raise awareness of cervical cancer, especially in pregnant women. ‘People need to know pregnant women can get cervical cancer too,' she told MailOnline. Cervical cancer is an uncommon type of cancer that develops in a woman's cervix, the entrance to the womb from the vagina. Cervical cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. The most common symptom is unusual vaginal bleeding, which can occur after sex, in-between periods or after the menopause. In the UK, the NHS offers a national screening programme open to all women from the age of 25. During screening, a cervical smear test is performed. A small sample of cells is taken from the cervix and checked under a microscope for abnormalities. If cervical cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, it's usually possible to treat it using surgery. In some cases it's possible to leave the womb in place, but it may need to be removed. The surgical procedure used to remove the womb is called a hysterectomy. Radiotherapy is an alternative to surgery for some women with early stage cervical cancer. In some cases it is used alongside surgery. More advanced cases of cervical cancer are usually treated using a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Some of the treatments used can have significant and long-lasting side effects, including early menopause and infertility. 'The signs were all there but dismissed as pregnancy symptoms and I’m afraid that has cost me my life.’ Mrs Beaven, a primary school teaching assistant from Brighton, suffered severe bleeding and cramping from the start of her pregnancy. She claims she went to hospital on multiple occasions, but tests had failed to detect the true cause. Mrs Beaven said: ‘I felt strongly that something was very wrong. I’d never experienced anything like it with my first pregnancy. ‘I must have gone to hospital bleeding at least 10 times only to be told nothing was wrong. ‘But eventually I had to take the doctors and midwives at their word and trust that things were OK.’ Fearing she was experiencing contractions just 26 weeks into her pregnancy, Mrs Beaven went to hospital in October 2013. At the Royal Sussex County Hospital a midwife examined her cervix for the first time. She confirmed that at just 26 weeks Mrs Beaven was 2cm dilated but also revealed she had seen a lesion that was causing the bleeding. Mrs Beaven said: ‘Initially I felt relieved to finally have an answer and assurance that my baby was not in danger.’ But it was only when doctors said they needed to perform a biopsy on the 7cm mass that she realised she might be in danger. Doctors administered steroid injections to help her baby’s lungs develop in preparation for birth. Two days later, Mrs Beaven learned she had cancer. She said: ‘When the specialist came to my bedside and said he was an oncologist my heart sank to the pit of my stomach. I knew what it meant. ‘When he said I had cervical cancer my hands went straight to my bump. I just kept saying to him "but I’m about to have a baby".’ It became clear that all her symptoms, bleeding, discharge, back pain and stomach pain had slipped under the radar because they are associated with normal pregnancies too. Mrs Beaven said: ‘Of course I was shocked and disappointed that it hadn’t been picked up earlier but there wasn’t time for ifs and buts because I needed to focus on my unborn baby.’ It was discovered Mrs Beaven had cervical cancer when she went into labour with baby Daisy (left) prematurely at 26 weeks. The cancer spread to her lungs and she was told it was terminal. She hopes to make this Christmas, possibly her last, extra special . Doctors agreed they needed to keep the baby, a girl Mrs Beaven and her husband had already named Daisy, inside her to increase her chance of survival. They planned to deliver her by C-section at 30 weeks and perform a full hysterectomy to fight the cancer at the same time. Initially drugs to slow labour worked and Mrs Beaven was sent home to rest. But the following night her waters broke at home and because the baby was breech. She was rushed into surgery on October 27. She said: ‘I came round and saw Alex was smiling. He told me Daisy had been born crying and nobody could believe she was already breathing on her own.’ But the odds were stacked against her as she weighed just 2lbs 2oz, much less than the average of 7lb 4oz for girls in the UK. Mrs Beaven said: ‘At first I was too scared to see her but Daisy was so strong I knew I had to be strong too. I couldn’t touch or hold her but she was so beautiful. Days later Mrs Beaven started chemotherapy and radiotherapy while Daisy continued to make good progress. They were treated in different wards at the same hospital. But at five weeks old Daisy contacted necrotising enterocolitis, a life-threatening bowel condition common in premature babies. After being told she had terminal cancer, Mrs Beaven (right) decided to marry partner Alex (left). They arranged the wedding in two weeks. Here, the pair are pictured on their big day . At seven weeks old she needed surgery to remove a 10cm portion of her bowel. Still weighing just 3lbs, staff warned she may not survive. To their relief and joy, Daisy pulled through and Mrs Beaven drew on her tiny daughter’s strength to fight her own battle. She said: ‘I felt overwhelmed and exhausted. At times I felt utter disbelief that this was happening to us, but I just needed to think of her and my family to keep going.’ Three months after she was born Daisy was finally discharged. Weeks later more good news came when Mrs Beaven was told her treatment had been a success. Scans had shown there was no longer any sign of cancer in her cervix. Mrs Beaven is currently funding alternative treatments through donations from well-wishers . ‘Since Daisy had been born we had taken life one day at a time, but finally it felt like we could think about the future,' she said. ‘It was like we’d both had death sentences lifted.’ But their joy was short-lived. In May Mrs Beaven developed a nasty cough that wouldn’t shift, so visited her GP. On her fourth visit to the doctor a scan confirmed her worst fear. The cancer had spread to her lungs and was terminal; she was given 12 to 18 months to live. ‘It was like the rug had been pulled from beneath us all over again,' she said. 'I was in shock. I cried for two weeks solidly. I just couldn’t believe that after all that I was going to be taken from them anyway.’ But after starting the heartbreaking task of making memory boxes and filming videos to be shown to her daughters when they were older, Mrs Beaven instead decided to put her energy into something positive and told family she wanted to get married. The couple had been engaged for three years and Mr Beaven planned their wedding in just two weeks. Their daughters were bridesmaids and shortly after Mrs Beaven started a course of chemotherapy to try and extend her life. She also researched alternative therapies to boost her health allow her to make the most of the time she has left. She is currently funding the treatment, which she says is keeping her strong, from money raised through fundraising and donations from well wishers. She said: ‘Thanks to them I can go on being mum and try to enjoy as much time as possible with my beautiful girls. ‘From what doctors have told me this could be my last Christmas with them so I want to make it the best ever.’ For more information, or to donate, please visit Mrs Beaven's fundraising page. | Samantha Beaven suffered symptoms while pregnant with daughter Daisy .
Claims she visited hospital 10 times after suffering bleeding and cramping .
Doctors dismissed the signs as normal part of pregnancy .
She went into labour at just 26 weeks and they discovered cervical cancer .
Baby Daisy was born drastically underweight at just 2lb 2oz .
After chemotherapy and radiotherapy Mrs Beaven thought she was all clear .
But the cancer had spread to her lungs and she has 12 to 18 months to live .
Married partner Alex and has made memory boxes for her two daughters .
She hopes to make Christmas, possibly her last, extra special . |
1a8d3debd7397eda5ff682816dddc0d6ac536076 | (CNN) -- In the time it takes you to skim this piece, you could travel 95 stories into the clouds on the world's new fastest elevator. The elevator will operate in a new supertall skyscraper being built in Guangzhou, China. With a top speed of 45 mph (72 km/h), this lift will fling you nearly half a kilometer in just 43 seconds. That's like riding a speeding commuter train -- into the sky. The elevator incorporates high-tech wizardry to give you a comfortable ride even as you're shooting vertically toward the heavens. According to manufacturer Hitachi, special technology will regulate air pressure within the car to keep your ears from getting blocked as you fly skywards. "Rollers" will keep the car from swinging wildly from side to side. And in case something goes wrong on the way down? Newly developed brakes are high able to resist extreme heat -- up to 300 degrees Celsius, says Hitachi. Can't wait to ride it? Too bad -- the Guangzhou CTF Financial Centre skyscraper doesn't officially open until 2016. At 1,739 feet (530 meters) tall, the building will be one of the world's tallest -- though not as tall as the current record-holder Burj Khalifa, which stands at 2,717 feet (828 meters). And even that building will be dwarfed by the upcoming Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia, expected to pierce the skies at 3,281 feet (1 kilometer) high. | Hitachi's new lift climbs 95 floors in 43 seconds .
Technology limits elevator shake, regulates air pressure .
Elevator will be in new Guangzhou skyscraper, opening in 2016 . |
1a8d5d9b31e9133d92d90843593eb1868dfeee40 | By . William Cook . PUBLISHED: . 07:02 EST, 24 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:40 EST, 24 October 2012 . A fisherman got the shock of his life after accidentally catching a massive shark just 100 yards off the British coast. Skipper Chris Glaves and his crew were fishing for seabass when they hauled in the 320-pound thresher shark just north of Padstow, Cornwall. Luckily for the crew of the Good Intent the thresher was already dead when it was brought onboard. At 15 feet from its nose to the tip of its trailing tail, it could have decapitated a man with just a single swish. Jaws-dropping: Skipper Chris Glaves with the 320-pound thresher shark he caught off Padstow, Cornwall . Killer: The 15-foot shark could have decapitated a man with its powerful tail . The shark - a relative of the Great White - was lurking thousands of miles from its usual home in the seas around Asia and North America. But it drew a huge crowd when it was brought into Newquay Harbour and then again when it was sold at Plymouth Fish Market. Chris said: 'There was nothing that could have been done to rescue it. A shark needs oxygen to breath and it got wrapped up in the net which was too tight for it. 'If the shark was alive when it came up we would have freed it. As it was dead the shark was taken to the fish market to be sold.' Trapped: The predator had suffocated after getting caught in fishing nets . Sighting: A thresher shark was captured on camera as it leapt from Welsh coastal waters earlier this year . Sharks extract oxygen from seawater as it passes over their gills, meaning they have to keep moving to respire. Threshers use their long scythe-like tails, which can make up around half of their total length, to stun prey before they tear at the flesh. Thresher sharks are usually found . along the continental shelves of North America and Asia in the North . Pacific, but exist in all oceans of the world. They tend to stay in the open ocean, but do not venture below 500m, preferring to feed on schools of fish at shallower depths. The thresher shark has a torpedo-shaped body and small head and teeth. It is named after its long . scythe-like tail, which is used to stun prey before the shark goes in for the kill. The breed is considered a 'vulnerable' species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The predator is the third of its kind to have been caught in Cornwall in the last few months. Angler Malcolm Roberts, 49, was fishing with friends off the coast of Looe when a 350-pound thresher tugged on his line. It took them an hour and a half to haul in the 13-foot shark. And in July a 20-foot thresher was caught off Falmouth by the trawler The John Boy, which was fishing for mackerel in the English Channel. One of the fish was also photographed recently as it jumped spectacularly out of the sea off the Welsh coast. | Crew were fishing for seabass off the coast of Padstow, Cornwall, when they netted the shark .
15-foot, 320-pound monster was already dead after getting caught in nets .
The vulnerable species is usually found in the Pacific Ocean around Asia and North America . |
1a8f7bc801706c5111fc880f870280e5ee1590ae | (CNN) -- Why should we care about what Sinead O'Connor says to Miley Cyrus? When a 1990s hitmaker tells a former Disney Channel darling to stop "pimping" herself (or allowing herself to be pimped), does that have any bearing on our lives? That's what we were wondering after we read O'Connor's open letter to Cyrus, in which O'Connor cautioned the 20-year-old singer that "nothing but harm will come in the long run, from allowing yourself to be exploited." Naturally, as one does in this day and age, we took to Twitter to find out, by asking prominent feminists and media critics Soraya Chemaly, Gloria Feldt, Jaclyn Friedman, Erin Matson and Jennifer Pozner what they thought of the letter. We got some pretty interesting responses, and we'd like to continue the conversation. Check out this sampling of their responses and let us know what you think in the comments or on Facebook. Or, you can e-mail us at CNN.Features.Sources@gmail.com. Your thoughts might be used in a story on CNN.com. . | Sinead O'Connor tells Miley Cyrus to stop allowing herself to be "pimped"
Do her comments have any bearing on our lives? We took to Twitter to find out .
We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments . |
1a90119450a0fe8b91ad2c3afa2a73caf89e5c11 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:08 EST, 18 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:39 EST, 2 April 2013 . A British seed company has purchased a single pumpkin pip that comes from the biggest specimen ever grown after beating off fierce competition from around the world. Seed supplier Thompson and Morgan paid £170 for the inch-long seed on an online auction - about 400 times higher than what is normally paid by specialist growers for giant pumpkin seeds. Bosses at the seed company hope that because the pip comes from 'good stock' it will also produce record-breaking offspring. Heavyweight: Seed supplier Thompson and Morgan paid £170 for the inch-long seed from American grower Ron Wallace who holds the world record for growing the largest pumpkin (pictured) Giant: The valuable seed (pictured) is approximately three times bigger than an average pumpkin seed . The seed was sold by American pumpkin grower Ron Wallace who last year claimed a world record for his enormous pumpkin that weighed 2,009lbs. Suffolk-based Thompson and Morgan saw off 67 rival bids and paid over the odds for the seed because it hopes to use it to grow an even bigger pumpkin. The record-breaking pip is now being sent by air-mail to the UK from Mr Wallace's home in Rhode Island. Thompson and Morgan are currently speaking with a number of British growers before choosing one they will work with on the pumpkin project. Paul Hansord, managing director of Thompson and Morgan, said: 'If you want to grow a really huge pumpkin you need to start with record-breaking, genetically proven, premium seed. Record: The pip is taken from Mr Wallace's record-breaking pumpkin that weighed 2,009lbs . 'The price for a giant pumpkin seed is usually around 46p so this seems quite extortionate compared to that but we are paying for the pedigree. It was a frenzied bidding war but we are happy we managed to clinch it.' Bidding on the European Giant Vegetable Grower's Association auction lasted for four hours. The average pumpkin has around 350 seeds and the size of the individual fruit has no bearing on how many it has inside. Michael Perry, new product development manager at Thompson and Morgan, said they had big hopes for their seed. He said: 'The seed is about three times the size as your average pumpkin seed and obviously it has a good pedigree and comes from good stock. Winning bid: Suffolk-based Thompson and Morgan saw off 67 rival bids and paid over the odds for the seed because it hopes to use it to grow an even bigger pumpkin . 'The hybridisation has already been formed in the seed so it will be ready to grow. We are hoping to look for a grower who will work with us, probably off-site, to beat the world record. 'It will need lots of space, lots of heat, lots of water and lots feed, lots of everything really. But we are going to give it every chance to become a record.' If successful, Thompson and Morgan hope to mass-produce seeds from the pumpkin which they will then sell. The average packet of 20 giant pumpkin seeds sells for approximately £5. | Seed supplier Thompson and Morgan bought seed from grower Ron Wallace .
American claimed world record for his pumpkin that weighed 2,009lbs .
The company beat off competition from 67 rival bidders in an auction . |
1a909536062c5cee2f223071bd0401a70672d463 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:58 EST, 26 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:56 EST, 27 November 2013 . The Foreign Office has apologised and agreed to pay £1,000 compensation to a British woman who was raped by a military officer in Egypt, after they failed to provide proper support to her following the attack. A damning investigation by the Parliamentary Ombudsman found the FCO was guilty of 'maladministration and injustice' after the woman turned to it for help when she was assaulted in May 2011. In her report, Dame Julie Mellor said that although the woman - referred to only as Ms M - had clearly been frightened and vulnerable, officials at the British Embassy in Cairo failed to explain clearly how they could help her. The Foreign Office has apologised and agreed to pay £1,000 compensation to a British woman who was raped by a military officer in Egypt, after officials at the British Embassy in Cairo (pictured) failed to provide proper support to her following the attack . They did not arrange a medical examination or offer to accompany her to a hospital and had no knowledge of post-exposure prophylaxis - a treatment which can prevent HIV infection after the virus has entered the body. In particular, the report said officials did not accompany her to report the attack, and failed to appreciate her fears that she could be arrested or even killed if she made a complaint against a military officer to the police who were themselves under the control of the military. 'Ms M was far away from home, she had been through a terrifying ordeal, and the FCO were the only authority she could approach for help. She should have been able to rely on them to fulfil their role and assist her when she was at her most vulnerable,' the report said. Ms M's ordeal began when she was stopped at a checkpoint while travelling in the Sinai region, three months after the revolution which overthrew President Hosni Mubarak. A man in plain clothes, who she believed to be a military officer, told her she would not be able to continue her journey until the next day. He took her to a place where he said she could sleep and then raped her. The following day, with the help of a friend, she contacted the FCO - initially through its Global Response Centre in London - appealing for advice on what to do and help in getting a medical examination. However when she went to a hospital, on a list supplied by the Global Response Centre, she was told by the doctor that she did not need a HIV test as there was no HIV in Egypt. Later that morning when she went to report the attack to the tourist police she found herself in a room with a number of armed plain-clothes officers - a situation she described as 'extremely intimidating'. Dame Julie Mellor said that officials failed to explain clearly how they could help the woman . She was told that in order to complete her complaint she would have to go to military headquarters, something she felt she had no choice but to comply with despite being reluctant to go. Ms M said she was finally allowed out shortly before 3am so that she could try to obtain antiretroviral drugs, on the understanding she would return at 9am to complete her statement. When she failed to do so an officer was sent to interview her at her friend's apartment where he required her to re-enact what happened when she was assaulted, including demonstrating the positions she had been forced into. While Ms M was in telephone contact with the embassy while she was at the police station and the military headquarters, she said it would have made a 'huge difference' it she had be told that an official could actually have been with her. On a return to the UK she complained to the FCO about the way she had been treated with 'impatience, rudeness and a serious lack of sensitivity' by its staff. Her complaint was initially rejected, but after the first the human rights charity Redress and then ombudsman became involved, the FCO agreed to apologise and pay £1,000 in compensation. Mr Fraser said: 'We apologise unreservedly to Ms M for the mistakes we made in her case and fully accept the recommendations in the ombudsman's report. 'We have taken a number of actions to ensure that this does not happen again and we will give Ms M a comprehensive update on the steps we have taken in December. We remain committed to delivering a high-quality consular service to British nationals overseas, particularly to those who are most vulnerable.' Dame Julie said: 'This is a prime example of how one individual coming forward to complain can lead to significant changes.' | Officials failed to explain clearly how they could help woman after attack .
Did not arrange medical examination or offer to accompany her to hospital .
FCO was guilty of 'maladministration and injustice' following investigation . |
1a9181d0edc217d3d16bac4338a916babcfa1e55 | New York (CNN) -- The man who rescued an 11-year-old girl lost in a dense Florida swamp said Wednesday that God led him directly to her and that finding her was no surprise. James King said he set out on his own to look for Nadia Bloom on Tuesday, trusting that he was going in the right direction even when that meant through water or dense brush. "I was expecting to hear her voice," King told CNN. "So I'm yelling, 'Nadia!' and at one point, I yell, 'Nadia!' and I hear 'What?' And I said that way -- right there." Tanya Bloom, Nadia's mother, said later Wednesday that the family is "so fortunate God used him to bring her back." "She's doing remarkably well," Bloom said. "She has swollen feet and lots of bug bites and scratches, but she's doing great." Dr. Mary Farrell, who treated the girl when she arrived at the hospital, said that Nadia was in good shape but that she would remain hospitalized a little longer because of a bacterial infection. "When she got here, she was a little bit dehydrated but she had been resuscitated pretty well," Farrell said, "and she looked remarkably well considering she had been out for four and half days." King said he was surprised at the good shape Nadia was in. She had been missing since Friday. Shoeless and covered in insect bites, she was in otherwise good condition, he said. "She was not panicked. She looked like she had been sitting there, waiting on me," he said. The two of them then stayed in the swamp, near Lake Jesup in central Florida, while King called authorities. When he got hold of the 911 dispatcher, he put Nadia on the phone. "Hi. This is Nadia. I'm the girl who got lost," came the little girl's voice. King said it took him "two hours of rough time" trekking through the swamp to find Nadia. He said he figures it took Nadia just as long to reach the same spot. She told King that she had gone on a nature walk and simply got lost. "We are so, so grateful," Nadia's father, Jeff Bloom, said. "I can't even express how we felt when she was found -- beyond words." The swamp was so dense, King said, that the rescuers who carried Nadia out on a black cloth stretcher Tuesday had to use machetes to cut through the brush, bushes and trees. "I see it as an answer to a lot of people's prayers," King told CNN. "I'm just very thankful, I'm thankful that God used me as a part of it to be able to find her. It's definitely a miracle. "I didn't know where she was. The only person who knew where she was was God, and I asked him and he led me directly to her, straight -- well, as straight as you can go through the swamp." King said he prayed the whole time he was searching, even when it seemed like he was going in the wrong direction. In one case, he said, there was water all around and he didn't know where to go. "He said, 'Go that way.' And I'm looking at water. I said, 'Lord, are you sure?' He said. 'I got ya.' And as soon as I start walking, the ground under the water is solid. It's only about a foot and a half deep. He took care of me all the way there." The disappearance of Nadia, described as mildly autistic, had sparked an Amber Alert that was canceled when King found her. Both King and Nadia's family at one time attended the same church, Metro Church in Winter Springs, Florida, but they didn't know one another -- though King said Nadia did seem to register him as a friendly face when she was found. The church held an open-air thanksgiving service to celebrate Nadia's return Tuesday evening. "Give the glory to God," Nadia's father told reporters after seeing his daughter Tuesday. King had brought trail mix and drinks to give to Nadia if he found her, but he also brought another important item -- toilet paper. The swamp vegetation was so thick that the helicopter that came to retrieve Nadia and King couldn't see them on the ground. King said he heard the chopper overhead and tried to give the dispatcher directions for the pilot, but it still didn't work. "I had brought toilet paper for signaling, and so I covered the top of a couple of bushes that were in more of an open area than I was in," King told CNN. "They still had a hard time finding me, but I used that on the top (of the bushes) and they finally were able to locate it." Authorities questioned King after they got to safety, something King said was unexpected but understandable, especially given his ability to find Nadia so quickly. "They also have a job to do," he said. "They have a responsibility to the community to make sure there is no foul play. And so I understand that, I understood it completely." Coming out of the swamp was a blur with lots of hugs and praise, King said. He said he hopes to be able to see the Bloom family again, and that Nadia even hinted he'd be welcome: "She said she might invite me to her pizza party." | NEW: "She's doing remarkably well," says Nadia Bloom's grateful mother, Tanya .
James King said he set out on his own to look for Nadia on Tuesday .
It took him "two hours of rough time" trekking through swamp to find 11-year-old .
He was surprised by the good shape girl was in, said she wasn't panicked . |
1a925a8e5635e926253fe207308a9c0cb4d9c850 | By . Dan Bloom . Urine the clear: Despite being filmed urinating into his colleagues' kettle, police say Gao committed no crime as he is free of disease . Four female nursery teachers who were suspicious about their strange-smelling tea trained a hidden camera on their thermos flasks - and discovered a cigarette-smoking colleague was urinating in them. Chinese police arrested 54-year-old Gao Chao and took him to hospital where he was tested for infectious diseases. But they say the teacher at Dongsheng Art Kingergarten, in the north eastern city of Lianyungang, committed no crime because he has a clean bill of health so his actions caused no harm. The four women aged between 21 and 26 complained to police after saying they had discovered the reason why their tea smelt strange. They set up a hidden camera in one of the classrooms and saw that the kindergarten's only male teacher had been relieving himself into their thermos flasks. The man reportedly felt his female colleagues did not respect him enough, and was bitter at being passed over for the job of kindergarten boss. But teacher Li Kao, 26, one of the four, said she was furious that police had simply given the man nothing more than a stern lecture and a warning not to do it again. She said: 'I first noticed there was a strange smell from my tea a few weeks ago after I returned to the class after taking the children out to play in the playground. 'The cups are not transparent, so it was hard to see if the liquid looked strange but there was certainly a strange smell which also came from the thermos flasks that the tea was stored in. 'I changed the flask and bought a new one but once I brought it to the kindergarten again I had the same problem with the strange smell. Flushed out: One of the four teachers lays the trap before her colleague wanders into the room unawares . Teaching a-cistern-t: Watching the footage, the horrified women finally realised why their tea was smelling odd . The perfect grime: The man zips up and walks away, not knowing police would soon swoop on the school . 'Eventually I discovered that my three colleagues had the same problem, and we thought perhaps somebody was putting something in the water.' The women complained to kindergarten boss Qiu Li Shih, 37, who advised them to put a camera in the room. So they activated the camera on a mobile phone and put it in a basket filled with children's toys. The video showed the man, who appeared to . be smoking a cigarette, picking up one of the women's brand new pink . flasks and holding it close over his genitals while he contaminated her . morning drink. All four women refused to return to work if their colleague was not sacked. However, the stand-off was resolved when he agreed to pay around £200 to each of the women, apologised, and promised not to do it again. Pointing the finger: One of the teachers singles out the pink thermos flask at the scene of the non-crime . Police swooped on the Dongsheng Art Kingergarten in the city of Lianyungang, but said the male teacher had committed no crime because he has a clean bill of health so his actions caused no harm . | Four colleagues set up hidden camera to catch teacher in Lianyungang city .
It showed him undoing his flies and urinating into a pink thermos flask .
Police arrested Gao Chao, 54, and tested him for diseases at hospital .
But they cannot charge him with a crime because he caused no real harm . |
1a92e810d18af1b5918292372ec045d94c7c3314 | By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 09:01 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:34 EST, 23 April 2013 . Archaeologists excavating the inner courtyard of a former Dominican monastery may have discovered a Romanian Romeo and Juliet after unearthing the bodies of a young couple who were buried holding hands. Experts from the Cluj-Napoca Institute of Archaeology and History of Art are working on what they believe is the former cemetery of the monastery have already uncovered several bodies . But discovering the couple holding hands was a surprise as double burials were extremely rare in that period. Forever holding hands: Archaeologists excavating the courtyard of a former Dominican monastery in Cluj-Napoca have been left baffled after discovering the bodies of a young couple who were buried holding hands . Double: Experts from the Cluj-Napoca Institute of Archaeology and History of Art were baffled when they came across the double grave dating back to the Middle Ages . Main researcher Adrian Rusu said: 'It . is a mystery - and rare for such burials at that time. 'We can see that . the man had suffered a severe injury that left him with a broken hip . from which he probably died. We believe the injury was caused after he . was hit by something very blunt and hard.' Because of the fact that the young . woman obviously died at the same time and was presumably healthy we are . speculating that she possibly died of a broken heart at the loss of her . partner. 'Because of the fact that the young woman obviously died at the same time and was presumably healthy we are speculating that she possibly died of a broken heart at the loss of her partner,' said the experts . Mr Rusu explained that becuase suicide was regarded as a sin in the Medieval Ages it is unlikely she killed herself - and if she had they would not have been buried together like the were in a holy place. 'They were obviously buried together as a tribute to the love they had for each other,' he said. He estimated that the two bodies were . buried somewhere between 1450-1550. The body . of a child was also found in the grave in Cluj-Napoca although this may not have been . linked to the pair. The lower leg bones of a fourth skeleton were also found in the burial plot. Star-crossed lovers. Were the young couple buried in the graveyard like Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Danes in Rome and Juliet? | Double burials were extremely rare in the Middle Ages .
The male had a broken hip, but the female cause of death is unclear .
Body of child also found in the grave - not clear if it was related . |
1a9418b5aa52688a0966bc6c572224ee1a9c2a4b | (CNN) -- The hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon -- and out again -- was symbolic for Melissa Schaaf. It was a sign of how far she had come, a sign that the middle-aged mom of two was active, adventurous and alive. She had lost 80 pounds over the last year and a half through regular exercise and a healthy diet. She was in the best shape of her life, and the trip to Arizona's natural wonder was a chance to celebrate. It was a grueling hike, about 15 miles down and up the steep trail with hundreds of switchbacks. But on that day in summer 2011, Schaaf had no idea her biggest battle was yet to come. A healthy habit . Four years ago, the 5-foot-4 Schaaf weighed close to 250 pounds. "When I turned 40, I looked down at the scale and thought, 'Oh my, I must really do something about this,' " the Herndon, Virginia, woman says. Family wins $10,000 after losing 255 pounds . A friend convinced her to join a local Sport & Health Club, and the pair started attending group fitness classes. Schaaf liked spinning, which allowed her to burn calories without pounding her joints with the extra weight she was carrying. Step aerobics was another story -- "I'm jigging when everyone was jogging" -- but being able to laugh at her lack of coordination kept Schaaf coming back. After a while going to the gym became just another habit, like brushing her teeth. "I used to be very emotionally vested in hating the gym," she says. "You're not emotional about brushing your teeth. It's something I do because I want to have teeth when I'm old. I want to be able to move when I'm old." The first 50 pounds seemed to fall off Schaaf. After eight months, she joined Weight Watchers to overhaul her diet. In the past she had tried everything from hypnosis to prepackaged meals to restriction diets to lose weight. But eating better wasn't such a big deal after conquering the gym. "I'm the kind of person where I can change one habit ... at a time," she says. "I found that trying to master everything at once was just too much." Foods that will power up your spring diet . Schaaf hit the gym five to six days a week and traded cookies for apples and bananas on her kitchen counter. Within a year she had lost another 30 pounds. The aches and pains that had come with her extra weight and advancing age stopped. She felt confident and more at ease. She looked forward to living a longer, happier life. Maintaining normalcy . In December 2011, Schaaf had an elective hysterectomy. During surgery, her doctor uncovered a tumor in her uterine muscle and removed it for testing. The tumor was leiomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that's often only discovered in the terminal stage. Schaaf's cancer was stage I. She started the first of four rounds of chemotherapy in February 2012. Through it all, she continued to hit the gym and make healthy food choices. At the gym, her goal was simply to keep moving. And if ice cream was all her stomach could handle, she chose frozen yogurt. "So much of what's happening to you is out of your control," she says. "I wanted to control what I could." Overall health during cancer therapy is critical, says Schaaf's oncologist, Dr. Amy Irwin. "We encourage (patients) to eat healthful meals, exercise and continue in activities they enjoy." Let's talk about sex ... and cancer . Exercise helped Schaaf sleep better at night and work through some of the drugs' side effects, such as constipation and nausea. She went to the gym the morning of her chemo treatments to relieve stress. "It helped me mentally -- kept me strong, kept me balanced." Patients should stay involved in life, Irwin says, to avoid obsessing about their cancer diagnosis. "Given the supportive medicines we have, most patients are able to maintain normalcy." Schaaf's weight loss may have done more than prepare her mentally for the challenge ahead. Obesity has been linked to cancer incidence rates. And research has shown that cancer patients who are overweight have a higher risk of mortality than patients with a normal body mass index, Irwin says. Twice in a lifetime . Schaaf is now in remission and has kept the weight off for more than three years. She still has about 10 pounds to lose to reach her goal weight, but she's says she's not in any hurry. "It think it's all about being patient and ... making the best choices every day," she says. "Do I make great choices every day? No. But you've got to be forgiving with yourself and wake up the next morning and say, 'Today, I'm going to do better.' " Her healthy lifestyle has increased her energy and opened her eyes to new opportunities. She plans to run a half marathon at the end of April with a bunch of her girlfriends from the gym, and hopes eventually to tackle the Grand Canyon again. "Hopefully it's not once in a lifetime," she says of her first symbolic hike. "There (are) no limitations anymore." Have you lost weight? Share your story on iReport . | Melissa Schaaf lost 80 pounds through regular exercise and a healthy diet .
Schaaf later was diagnosed with stage I of a rare cancer called leiomyosarcoma .
Schaaf continued to work out through treatment to stay mentally, physically healthy . |
1a946ca4f7058fbc6c6744aea9ca559b4d160cee | By . Katy Winter . Facebook can often seem like a rather unhealthy habit these days, as we spend hours mindlessly checking our news feeds or uploading vain selfies. But for one overweight mother the social networking site proved to be just the kick she needed to shape up and get healthy when an unflattering photo shamed her into losing an incredible 8st in weight. Tracy Nicholson, 34, a childcare provider, ditched fatty snacks after she was horrified by a photo of her enjoying a night out with friends. The picture which persuaded Tracy to lose weight after she was 'horrified; when it was uploaded to Facebook . Tracey dropped from 19st 2lb (left) to 11st 2lb (right) by drastically changing her diet . Miss Nicholson, a mother of two from . Cramlington in Northumberland, said: 'I uploaded the picture but regretted . it immediately. I was suddenly very anxious about what people would . think about me - about how I could have let myself become so overweight. 'I was horrified - and knew I had to stop making excuses and do something about it.' Miss Nicholson began putting on weight after she left school and struggled to control her overeating following the birth of her son Dylan, now 8, and daughter Chloe, 5. By the winter of 2012 Miss Nicholson, whose partner James Shaw, 37, works as a painter and decorator, weighed 19st 2lb. She said: 'I’d fallen into the habit of snacking on crisps and eating chocolate and thought nothing of routinely ordering a takeaway when I got to the weekend. 'I never had any energy and keeping up with the children was proving to be increasingly difficult. James said he didn’t care about my size, but it was starting to get me down. 'When I put the picture on Facebook, I was mortified. I didn’t want other people to see me that way.' Tracey has banned crisps from her diet and totally eliminated snacking, joining a slimming club to give her moral support during her weight loss . Shortly afterwards Miss Nicholson attended a GP appointment where her weight was confirmed. She joined a local slimming group where she drew up an eating plan which permanently banned crisps from her daily diet. While she . was overweight, she had typically eaten two slices of toast for . breakfast, followed by a cheese sandwich and a packet of salt and . vinegar crisps for lunch, followed by an evening meal of sausage and . chips. She would snack on crisps and chocolate with coffee throughout . the day. Today, . she usually has fruit or boiled eggs for breakfast, then ham salad with . beetroot and pickled onions for lunch, followed by a handful of pasta . with cheese in the evening. Instead of snacks, she usually treats . herself to a cup of fruit tea. Tracey, pictured left with boyfriend James, says her dramatic eight st weight loss has transformed her life beyond recognition . She said: 'I gave myself four weeks - that’s how long I thought I’d last at slimming club. But by the end of the fifth week I was still there, and I was amazed to find that I’d lost a stone and a half. As I kept losing more and more, I was only more motivated to keep going with the eating plan.' Today, Miss Nicholson weighs 11st 2lb. She said: 'I have so much more energy now and keeping up with the kids is great fun - we race each other on the school run. 'James always loved me the way I was, but it’s something that I had to do for myself. I’m so glad I managed to keep going, when I only gave myself a few weeks to start with. 'My life has changed out of all recognition - I feel so much better now, and I don’t worry about putting photos on Facebook any more.' | Tracey struggled to lose weight after the birth of her two children .
Was 'horrified' at seeing a picture of herself on night out on Facebook .
Dropped from 19st 2lb to 11st 2lb by drastically changing her diet .
Began eating healthy meals and banned snacking . |
1a94a6dcb2695cbbbe30f501783edb1372ac5ece | An Afghan villager who risked everything to save the life of a Navy SEAL is seeking asylum in the U.S. after his life came under threat in his home country. Mohammed Gulab could have left heavily injured Marcus Luttrell to die in the mountains, but instead took him to his village and protected him from the Taliban. In the extraordinary story depicted in the movie 'Lone Survivor', Luttrell was the only one of four Navy SEALs to survive a nightmarish firefight in northeastern Afghanistan in June 2005. Scroll down for video . Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell (left) was the lone survivor of a firefight with the Taliban in northeastern Afghanistan in June 2005. Gravely wounded, he was protected by Mohammad Gulab until his rescue by U.S. forces . When Gulab found Luttrell he had been shot twice, suffered several cracked vertebrae and had shrapnel wounds to his leg. Speaking through a translator to CBS's '60 Minutes' in 2013, Gulab said: 'I knew I had to help him; to do the right thing, because he was in a lot of danger.' 'He very well could have just left me laying there on the side of that waterfall and let me die,' Luttrell said. 'But he didn't.' Marcus Luttrell, pictured third from right, was operating in Afghanistan supporting Operation Red Wings, when the rest of his team (pictured with him) were killed in a firefight with the Taliban in June 2005 . Luttrell was rescued by American forces and came home to the US, back to his native Texas. Now Gulab needs help from the U.S. After his crucial role in Luttrell's survival, Gulab and his family had to go into hiding as they received death threats from the Taliban, their house was burned down, and his cousin was killed. These threats had worsened after the release of the movie 'Lone Survivor' depicting the events surrounding Gulab's heroism and Luttrell's dramatic survival. Once audiences in Afghanistan had seen the movie and understood the role Gulab had played, it became dangerous for him to stay in the same place for longer than a night. Mark Wahlberg (second from left) played Luttrell in the 2013 movie 'Lone Survivor'. Once it had been seen in Afghanistan, threats against Gulab's life intensified as his role in Luttrell's survival became more widely known . Last Saturday, with the help of the U.S., he managed to escape Afghanistan with family members to a neutral, undisclosed, third country. He is now working with New York immigration attorney Michael Wildes to gain refugee status to enter the U.S. – the first step towards being granted asylum, CBS reports. Wildes is working on the exceptionally complicated case on a pro bono basis. Mohammad Gulab (left) attended the 'Lone Survivor' New York premiere in December 2013. Immigration lawyer Michael Wildes (right) has said that if he had applied for asylum then he probably could have stayed in the U.S. Much of the complexity comes from the number of agencies involved, from the United Nations to the Department of Homeland Security – and ultimately it is the latter that will make the decision. Ironically, the process could have been made much simpler. Gulab has been to the U.S. before, occasionally visiting Luttrell on his ranch in Texas, and attending the movie's premiere in New York in December 2013. Wildes said Gulab probably could have stayed had he applied for asylum on one of those visits. Despite a language barrier between the two of them, Luttrell and Gulab have become friends and have even gone shooting together on the Texas ranch. Gulab (left) pictured on a December 2013 visit to Luttrell's (right) Texas ranch where the two have enjoyed going shooting together . | An Afghan villager who saved a Navy SEAL, as depicted in the movie 'Lone Survivor', is seeking asylum in U.S. according to his lawyer .
Mohammad Gulab and some family members left Afghanistan on Saturday for an undisclosed, neutral, third country .
He now needs refugee status to enter the U.S. and apply for asylum .
Ironically he could have applied for asylum on one of his previous visits to the U.S. to visit Marcus Luttrell, whom he saved, or for the movie premiere . |
1a96f64f4c9e80dd0adce0f8790b442c39dfdb0d | (CNN) -- New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan sat for questions from lawyers for victims of sexual abuse by priests in Milwaukee while he was that city's Roman Catholic leader, his office disclosed Wednesday. "Today Cardinal Dolan had the long-awaited opportunity to talk about his decision nine years ago in Milwaukee to publicize the names of priests who had abused children and how he responded to the tragedy of past clergy sexual abuse of minors, during the time he was privileged to serve as archbishop of Milwaukee," Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, said in a written statement. "He has indicated over the past two years that he was eager to cooperate in whatever way he could, and he was looking forward to talking about the good work and progress that took place to ensure the protection of children and pastoral outreach to victims." Dolan was archbishop of Milwaukee from 2002 to 2009 before taking the same position in New York, the Catholic Church's top U.S. pulpit. The church has been rocked globally by revelations that it failed to stop the sexual abuse of children by priests for decades, and Dolan's old archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in the face of numerous lawsuits by victims. The Chapter 11 proceedings led to the discovery that Dolan had approved payments of $20,000 to get abusive priests to leave the church in 2003. The Milwaukee archdiocese confirmed that it had offered the payoffs as "the most expedient and cost-effective way" to get rid of them. "Like it or not, the archdiocese is canonically responsible for the financial care of a priest -- even a priest who has committed such a horrible crime and sin such as clergy sexual abuse of a minor," the archdiocese said in a statement in May that confirmed the payments. A leading victims' group said it was heartened that Dolan had sat for a deposition, saying he had been "particularly adept at evading responsibility" for his actions. "So while these depositions represent progress, it's crucial to remember that the best way to prevent and discourage future crimes and cover ups is for secular authorities to investigate, charge and convict Catholic officials who hide and enable heinous crimes against kids," the Survivor's Network for those Abused by Priests said. Dolan, who also serves as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, is among the cardinals who will choose a new pope after the resignation of Benedict XVI. Dolan himself was a 33-1 longshot for the papacy as of last week, according to one British bookmaker. Vatican: Pope may change rules to allow replacement vote sooner . CNN's Ross Levitt contributed to this report. | Dolan's old archdiocese in Milwaukee filed for bankruptcy in the face of abuse lawsuits .
He "was eager to cooperate" in the deposition, his office said .
Dolan is now archbishop of New York and a cardinal who will help choose the next pope . |
1a976d73ee60e6604cdfcd6ad5380a7f3cd41d2c | LONDON, England (CNN) -- An online petition demanding a formal apology from the British government for its treatment of World War II code-breaker Alan Turing is gaining momentum. A portrait of Alan Turing is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery's "Gay Icons" exhibition. Turing was subjected to chemical castration in 1952 after being found guilty of the charge of gross indecency for having a homosexual relationship, an illegal act at the time. He committed suicide two years later. More than 19,000 people have added their names to the petition on the UK Government Web site since it opened three weeks ago, urging the government to "recognize the tragic consequences of prejudice that ended this man's life and career." The petition was created by computer scientist John Graham-Cumming, who said he grew "mad" at the country's memory of a man he says should be considered one of its national heroes. "I'm looking for an apology from the British government because that's where I think the wrong was done. But Turing is clearly someone of international stature," Graham-Cumming said. Turing was best known for inventing the Bombe, a code-breaking machine that deciphered messages encoded by German Enigma machines during World War II. The messages provided the Allies with crucial information from the British government's code-breaking headquarters in Bletchley Park where Turing worked full-time during the war. He was considered a mathematical genius and went on to develop the Turing machine, a theory that automatic computation cannot solve all mathematical problems, which is considered the basis of modern computing. However, to avoid a custodial sentence for gross indecency Turing agreed to undergo chemical castration. He was injected with estrogen, an experience that is widely believed to have led to his suicide just two years later. Turing was just 41 when he ended his life by eating an apple laced with cyanide. Graham-Cumming has not yet received a response from the British government to his request for an apology, nor has he received a reply from Queen Elizabeth II to whom he wrote last week asking that Turing be considered for a posthumous knighthood. "There is no doubt in my mind," he wrote, "that if Turing had lived past age 41 his international impact would have been great and that he likely would have received a knighthood while alive." Graham-Cumming's efforts to draw attention to Turing's life has attracted an international response. "This morning I woke up to an inbox stuffed full of e-mails and blog postings from around the world on Turing, and many people were saying 'it's a pity I can't sign the British petition,'" he said. The main online petition is only open to British citizens. Supporters have set up a second international petition which has attracted more than 5,000 signatures. Graham-Cumming is not fazed. "My focus is really on Britain at the moment because I think that is where the greatest need is, but I'm very happy for anyone in the world to know about Alan Turing." High-profile signatories to the petition include author Ian McEwan, evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, and gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. Graham-Cumming said if the government would not extend an apology, "the least it could do is to put Bletchley Park on a sound financial footing in Turing's name." Earlier this year, the center's supporters created their own online petition urging the government to "save Bletchley Park." The site receives no external funding and has been turned down for funds by the UK National Lottery, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The government replied to the petition last week saying that, while it "agrees that the buildings on the Bletchley Park site are of significant historic importance and, although recognizing the excellent work being carried out there, at present it has no plans, nor the resources, to extend its sponsorship of museums and galleries beyond the present number." Simon Greenish, director of the Bletchley Park Trust, said: "The work that Turing did during the war has never really been properly recognized and this is an opportunity [for the government] to do that." He said the government had also failed to recognize the contribution of Bletchley Park to the war effort: "What went on in those buildings was absolutely vital to the outcome of World War II." The center receives more than 100,000 visitors a year and is staffed mainly by volunteers. A portrait of Turing is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London, as part of its "Gay Icons" exhibition. He was one of the six personal icons selected by contributor Chris Smith, Britain's first openly gay Member of Parliament. | More than 19,000 people sign petition calling for apology for Alan Turing .
Turing best known for creating machine to decode German Enigma messages .
Found guilty of gross indecency in 1952, committed suicide two years later .
Campaigner: "Turing is clearly someone of international stature" |
1a9798ea5a3ff484f0b5f420bdbec3da2145eb33 | (CNN) -- The mysterious deaths of 21 prized polo horses Sunday at a club in Florida provides a peek inside the private world of a sport that generally is off limits to all but the very wealthy. The Lechuza Caracas polo team may not recover from the loss of 21 ponies for years, a polo executive says. The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville and the state-run Kissimmee Diagnostic Laboratories near Orlando are conducting necropsies on the animals. Initial tests failed to reveal a cause, said Liz Compton, a representative of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Tissues, organ samples and blood are now being screened for toxic agents, she said. Scientists have ruled out any contagious disease because the animals died so quickly, said state Agriculture Department spokesman Mark Fagan. Authorities initially requested necropsies for only the eight horses that were insured, according to Sarah Carey, a representative of the veterinary school, which got the bodies of 15 horses. Later, the order was expanded to all 15 horses, she said. The U.S. Polo Association is among the parties cooperating in the investigation. "In the meantime, we all mourn the loss of these horses," U.S. Polo Association Executive Director Peter Rizzo said in a news release. "There are no words to describe the grief and sadness shared by everyone -- particularly the devastated owners of those magnificent horses." Watch what investigators are studying » . Players form strong emotional bonds with the horses they ride, said John Wash, operations president of the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida, where the horses fell ill. "I've heard a couple of polo players who were affected with this loss the other day, a couple of them I don't think have left their house since Sunday night," Wash said. "There were a lot of tears there -- these big, tough guys just on their hands and knees, crying over what happened." The U.S. Open Polo Championship that was interrupted by the tragedy will resume Wednesday with semifinal matches, Wash said. Lechuza Caracas, the team whose horses died, was offered spare mounts from other competitors so they could remain in the competition, but the devastated team chose to withdraw, Wash said. The Wellington tournament is one of the sport's three major championships, on a par with the U.S. Open in tennis or golf. Authorities say they believe that the competition facility is safe for the other horses and that whatever killed the 21 horses entered their bodies away from the site. Fifteen of the animals fell ill shortly before they were to compete Sunday; some died immediately and others lingered for almost an hour. Six others died overnight Sunday to Monday as they were kept in the same trailer in Wellington. Animals are not kept overnight at the competition site, so no special precautions are in place regarding food, water or bedding, Wash said. Organizers are planning a short memorial and laying of wreaths in honor of the horses, he said. Grief counselors are on hand at the facility to help employees deal with the trauma, Wash said. "The scene can be described as almost like an airplane crash that involved not human life, but horses," he said. "It was horrific." Polo ponies in the United States are not drug-tested, but the U.S. Polo Association has been considering taking up the practice for several years, Wash said. "People are calling for reform, and maybe that needs to happen, but until toxicology reports come back, and autopsy reports, we don't even know if [Sunday's incident is] anything related to that." The Humane Society of the United States has no record of abuse of polo ponies, but that may be a function of the sport's exclusive nature, society spokeswoman Holly Hazard said. "We are learning about this, as is everyone else," she said. "It may be that perhaps because it's not televised or not as popular as other sports, it's not something that either our constituents or our program is particularly focused on. "But if there are either performance-enhancing drugs or some problem that is associated with this, we will investigate and we will offer a reward to bring whoever is responsible to justice." Keith Dane, director of the Humane Society's equine protection program, was en route to Florida on Tuesday to interview people involved in the incident and keep an eye on the investigation, Hazard said. No evidence has been brought forth suggesting someone deliberately poisoned the animals. "I guess everything's possible," Wash said. "I've heard all different rumors. I don't know if I even want to go there and think about that." Compton, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services representative, said authorities have seen no evidence of criminal activity in the case. "Clearly, law enforcement has gotten involved, given the complexity and the scope of the deaths, and they are fact-finding and gathering information, and once we have a specific cause of death, then they can determine where their investigation will go," she said. The devastated team, Lechuza Caracas, is one of the top teams in the world. The loss could set it back for years, Wash said. "It's just like baseball or basketball or football," he said. "You're taking years of grooming, training, nurturing to create, really, a first string of horses. And for four polo players, it takes anywhere from six to eight horses per polo player to play a game of polo. So if you're taking 21 horses, they're probably 21 of your first-string horses ... and you've just lost every one of your best players. "It's not like you could just go out and buy 21 new horses and start at that point." Polo ponies are thoroughbreds, many of them former racehorses retrained for the game, but they cover a wide range of ages, Wash said. When they get too old to play, they are retired to pasture or stud, he said. "A polo horse is treated quite well," Wash said. "In fact, when you're a polo horse, you might play three months here in Palm Beach, you might take three months off, you might play another three months, say, in Argentina or England, you take three months off. They're not pushed 12 months out of the year." CNN's Kim Segal and John Couwels contributed to this report. | Investigators try to determine what killed 21 polo ponies in Florida .
Contagious disease ruled out; tissue samples sent for further study .
Players form close bonds with horses, club executive says .
Humane Society of the United States sends official to watch investigation . |
1a97a319f6b346f1ca6471f2e8130f5b852f94d5 | By . Gemma Mullin . Armed police stormed the tallest building in Wales yesterday ending a two-hour siege and freeing a hostage. Officers used tasers to subdue a lone gunman who had been holding his victim in the penthouse restaurant of The Meridian Tower in Swansea, South Wales. The drama began shortly after 4pm when the man entered the exclusive Grape & Olive restaurant carrying a handgun. Armed officers from South Wales Police can be seen escorting the man into the back of a police van . Police rushed to the scene at the tallest building in Wales at the exclusive Grape & Olive restaurant . Residents were trapped inside their luxury flats in the 29-storey tower as armed police cordoned off the building and evacuated diners from the top-floor restaurant. Paramedics wearing protective clothing and helmets were seen entering the tower around 5pm. Police told around 60 locals who had gathered to watch the siege to ‘move out of sight of the tower’ as the police helicopter circled the upper floors. The siege lasted for around two hours while a police negotiator entered the tower alongside armed police and talked to the gunman. It ended when the man was tasered by members of a ‘tactical response team’ and his hostage freed. Last night, police said a man was being held. Jason Hole, who lives in the tower, said he saw armed police and paramedics in helmets going inside around 4.15pm and was told by police to stay in his flat. Villarreal football players arrive at the nearby Marriott Hotel, which had also been cordoned off by police . Paramedics in protective gear outside Meridian Quay during the two-hour siege in Swansea, South Wales . It happened just after 4pm when the man entered the exclusive Grape & Olive restaurant carrying a handgun . Mr Hole said: ‘We were not allowed to leave as there was a gunman upstairs. The whole marina was cordoned off. There were about 15 police cars and there was a helicopter and armed police were trying to negotiate. ‘I went downstairs to leave as I was going back to work and they told me I had to go back up the flat because there was a gunman upstairs, or someone had gone into the restaurant with a gun and they’d had to evacuate the building.’ The lockdown ended just as Spanish football team Villarreal arrived at the Marriot Hotel next door ahead of their friendly against Swansea City today at the Liberty Stadium. One police officer apparently saw the team bus stuck at a police cordon and said: ‘Welcome to Swansea.’ A spokesman for South Wales Police said: ‘We can confirm that a hostage situation on the twenty-eighth floor of the Meridian Tower in Swansea Marina has ended peacefully with no serious injuries. ‘Officers were called to the building at 4pm after a man was taken hostage inside a public area of the building, by another man who was in possession of a firearm. Specialist resources were dispatched to the scene, including the police helicopter, armed response officers, and a trained police negotiator. ‘After approximately two hours, a tactical response team discharged taser to subdue the man and detain him. A handgun has been recovered from the scene. ‘Nobody was seriously injured as a result of the incident.’ The top floor of the 29-floor Meridian Quay, where the residents were trapped while the siege was underway . Bride Michelle Morgan (centre) with husband Warren had her wedding at the Marriott Hotel interrupted . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Officers used tasers to subdue gunman holding victim hostage in penthouse .
Man entered exclusive Grape & Olive restaurant in Swansea at around 4pm .
Residents trapped inside luxury flats of 29-story tower by armed police .
Two-hour siege ended as Villarreal arrived at the Marriot Hotel next door .
South Wales Police say incident ended peacefully and no one was injured . |
1a97e61438461ee145ca3a640948fcb685ba5a12 | By . Ruth Styles and Sadie Whitelocks . PUBLISHED: . 13:55 EST, 21 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:07 EST, 21 October 2013 . A woman whose right arm was amputated from the shoulder down when she was three years old after being misdiagnosed with cancer has received a bionic limb. Doctors later found that Ashley Kurpiel, 32, from Georgia, was in fact suffering from a rare, incurable disease called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) which causes her soft tissues to turn into solid bone. After being fitted with her new robotic arm at the Denver Clinic for Extremities At Risk in Colorado last week, she told CBS News: 'I keep looking down and seeing two hands and it's just mind-blowing.' Overwhelming feeling: Ashley Kurpiel whose right arm was amputated from the shoulder down when she was three years old after being misdiagnosed with cancer has been fitted with a bionic limb . The prosthesis works through sensors placed on Ms Kurpiel's right shoulder. These detect minute electrical charges in her muscles and trigger small motors in the battery-powered arm to move. This means Ms Kurpiel can now multi-task. In front of a film crew she demonstrated how she can now use her cell phone and hold a drink at the same time. 'I put a cookie in there and just go for it,' Ms Kurpiel later said while popping a biscuit into her mouth. Brave: Ms Kurpiel, (right) is slowly losing her ability to move thanks to a disease disease called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) which causes her soft tissues to turn into solid bone . Lucky: Ms Kurpiel, who has already lost an arm to the condition, says she is happy her jaw hasn't locked . Ms Kurpiel is one of an estimated 700 people worldwide with Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), a disease sometimes known as 'stone man syndrome' because its devastating effects can leave sufferers completely immobilised, like living statues. 'My condition has made me who I am - an optimistic person with an inner strength and determination to succeed,' Ms Kurpiel previously said. 'My condition has made me who I am - an optimistic person with an inner strength and determination to succeed' 'If I want to do something, then I normally find a way to do it. I don't know how much longer I will have movement in my body, so I want to experience as much as I can now. 'In other cases of FOP people have frozen solid, their jaws locking shut. They can't move and have to talk through their teeth long before they get to my age. So I actually feel extremely lucky.' The condition arises from a mutation of the body's repair mechanism which causes muscles, tendons and ligaments to convert to bone material when damaged. Ms Kurpiel,, whose mother Carol emigrated to Georgia from the UK before she was born, was diagnosed with the condition when she was three years old - six months after her right arm was amputated by surgeons who wrongly suspected she had cancer. Childhood: Ms Kurpiel, pictured with her mother Carol, was initially diagnosed with cancer at the age of three . Ambassador: She now hopes to raise awareness of her condition and met the Dalai Lama in 2007 . 'During my childhood my mobility was fine, because I was still young,' she added. 'But I was quite unhappy. I felt very different from the other children at school, and I didn't have many friends. I was quite shy and kept myself to myself. It wasn't much of a life.' Her symptoms first began to show when she was a teenager, with gradual muscle stiffening accelerating as she grew older. 'I began to feel my body stiffen gradually. I knew I was finally facing the onset of the condition,' she remembers. 'I'd been told what was going to happen, and feeling the first symptoms made me want to experience everything life had to offer - before it was too late.' She married Shawn Keeney, 31, a man she met online, but the pair divorced in 2005 after three years of marriage. 'I'm still on good terms with Shawn and I look back on our time together with nothing but fondness,' Ms Kurpiel said. Video source YouTube HitTheResetButton . 'Walking down the aisle, with full use of my limbs, was one of the happiest days of my life, and no one can take that memory away from me.' Despite her happy memories, in May 2006, Ms Kurpiel's life took a turn for the worse after she was involved in a serious car crash. She escaped without any broken bones but her right leg took a heavy impact. 'My doctor warned me that just the slightest bump could trigger the FOP to take hold. After the smash I fully expected my leg to freeze up permanently,' Ms Kurpiel said. Proud: Ms Kurpiel wants to do as much as she possibly can before being left immobile . 'One of my worst fears was that my body would fuse upright, meaning I'd never be able to sit again. 'When my leg locked in a standing position I was sure I was facing a worst-case scenario. Luckily when the swelling went down I was able to bend the leg slightly. 'I spent a lot of time sitting in the hope it would fuse in that position. At least then I could sit in a wheelchair and be wheeled around.' Her leg locked into a bent position permanently in May 2007, and Ms Kurpiel was fitted with a special platform shoe to help her maintain as much mobility as possible. Since the setback, Ms Kurpiel has been determined to do more with her life and so far, has learned to surf and completed a five kilometre course in a specially-adapted wheelchair in August last year. She has also become a full-time ambassador for amputees and families affected by the FOP and in December she is going on a Caribbean cruise with 100 friends who are amputees. 'I've been blessed to meet so many truly amazing people, especially the Dalai Lama - that was a real honour,' said Ashley of the religious leader, whom she met in 2007. 'I feel so humbled that so many people have taken an interest, and hopefully found some inspiration, in my life.' There's no known cure for FOP, but in 2006, a team at the University of Pennsylvania isolated the gene responsible for the disease. Researchers are now searching for a cure. | Ashley Kurpiel, 32, was misdiagnosed with cancer at the age of three but was later found to be suffering from Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva .
Just 700 people worldwide have the illness which turns muscle to bone .
She is now determined to make the most of her new limb before becoming completely immobile . |
1a98e4d9fcb1ae866fa2176343c1cf2adaceb7ef | (CNN) -- Former English Premier League referees have jumped to the defense of Howard Webb after criticism of his performance in Sunday's World Cup final. Webb, the first referee to officiate the European Champions League final and World Cup final in the same season, dished out 13 yellow cards and one red as Spain defeated the Netherlands 1-0 in a tempestuous clash at Soccer City, Johannesburg. Dutch coach Bert Van Marwijk and several of his players suggested the English official favored the Spanish, and Netherlands fans booed Webb and his assistants when they collected their medals after the game. But ex-referee Jeff Winter, who took charge of several fiery encounters between English giants like Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, was full of praise for Webb's performance in extremely testing circumstances. "I thought he had a superb game," Winter told CNN. "I find it very difficult to remember a more testing game than that at any level. I thought the players' behavior and discipline were abysmal. "It was as if the Dutch had decided the only way they were going to stop Spain was by kicking them, harassing the referee and being obnoxious throughout. "From a referee's point of view, if the players don't want to be controlled it's virtually impossible to control them. Had it had been a referee without his experience of the European game, they might have lost control within the first 30 minutes." Webb's tally of 14 yellow cards -- including the red shown to Netherlands defender Johnny Heitinga in extra-time - was a record for the World Cup final. Players from both sides flew into challenges from the first whistle and Dutch midfielder Nigel De Jong was fortunate to escape with only a yellow for a chest-high kick on Spain's Xabi Alonso. "Howard will never, ever, if he lives to be 100, referee a tougher match," Dermot Gallagher, another former Premier League referee, told Sky Sports News. "If you take the De Jong tackle out -- I thought that was a red card -- other than that I don't think he's got much to really look back in anger at himself, because he's gone out, he's been tested to the absolute limit." FIFA president Sepp Blatter also defended Webb's performance, stating that it was "not easy" to control such a match. "It's not up to me to judge the performances of the officials, I can only say it was a very hard task that the referee trio had on the field of play," he told reporters in Johannesburg. The defeat was the Netherlands' third in a World Cup final, and several of the players made Webb the target of their frustration. The official declined to dismiss Spain center-back Carles Puyol for a tug on Arjen Robben as he bore down on goal in the second half and failed to award a corner to the Dutch when a free-kick was deflected wide shortly before Spain's goal. "There were some strange decisions and for me, honestly, if you play a World Cup final, you need a world-class referee," Robben said, the U.K. Press Association reported. Van Marwijk said Webb had not controlled the match, while Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt said: "I know you cannot blame others, but the referee favored Spain." Winter, Webb's room-mate when he joined the Premier League circuit in 2003, has no sympathy for the Dutch. "To listen to Dutch players after the game blaming the referee for the defeat after they conducted themselves abysmally for the whole two hours is unbelievable," he said. "I hope when they look back at what they've said they are totally and utterly embarrassed." | Former referees defend Howard Webb's performance in World Cup final .
Ex-Premier League official Jeff Winter ddescribesWebb's display as superb .
FIFA president Sepp Blatter says Webb had a "very hard task" in the match .
Dutch players and manager say referee favored Spain, who won 1-0 in extra-time . |
1a99284a32d2e20e250af7509d26c58391a6cdcf | Click here to view all the stats and graphics from White Hart Lane . As they hunted for arsonists and pitch invaders at White Hart Lane, Tottenham may have unearthed something far more valuable to Mauricio Pochettino: a turning point for the season. Most teams in the Barclays Premier League are searching for the same thing, such is the inconsistency around the country, but the Spurs boss has conjured his third wins in eight days. And this one seemed more significant than those against Partizan Belgrade and 10-man Hull City. This was a team proving to their manager they had spirit to respond after going behind early to a goal by Kevin Mirallas. VIDEO Scroll down for Sportsmail's Big Match Stats: Tottenham 2-1 Everton . Roberto Soldado slots home to put Spurs ahead in first half stoppage; it was the Spaniard's first Premier League goal since March . Soldado (centre) gave Tim Howard the eyes as he was put through on goal by Aaron Lennon, and sent the American the wrong way for 2-1 . Soldado looks relieved as he wheels off in celebration in front of the celebrating Tottenham fans at White Hart Lane . Christian Eriksen nets the equaliser six minutes after Mirallas' opener, converting after Harry Kane's good run and shot . Eriksen celebrates in front of the White Hart Lane crowd as Spurs got back on terms after 21 minutes . Kevin Mirallas wheels off in celebration after his superb first-half strike to give Everton the lead at White Hart Lane . Mirallas curled home after winning an aerial battle with Soldado on the edge of the penalty area . Hugo Lloris is well beaten by Mirallas' effort, the Belgian's fifth goal of the season and his second in four days for Everton . Mirallas goes to the touchline to celebrate with Everton manager Roberto Martinez as the visitors took an early lead . Tottenham: Lloris 6.5, Chiriches 4.5 (Dier 70, 6), Fazio 6, Vertonghen 6.5, Davies 6.5, Mason 7, Bentaleb 6.5, Lennon 6.5 (Lamela 61, 5), Kane 8.5, Eriksen 7.5, Soldado 7 (Paulinho 81). Subs: Kaboul, Vorm, Dembele, Chadli. Mauricio Pochettino: 7.5 . Booked: Chiriches, Lamela, Davies, Bentaleb, Eriksen. Goals: Eriksen 21, Soldado 45. Everton: Howard 5, Coleman 6.5, Jagielka 5.5, Distin 5, Baines 6, Besic 4, Barry 5, Mirallas 6.5 (McGeady 61, 5), Eto'o 5 (Osman 61, 6), Barkley 6.5, Lukaku 5.5. Subs: Robles, Hibbert, Atsu, Pienaar, Garbutt. Roberto Martinez: 6 . Booked: Mirallas. Goals: Mirallas 15. Att: 35, 901 . Ref: Michael Oliver 7 (Northumberland) Click here to read the detailed player ratings . SUPER STAT: This was Roberto Soldado’s third goal from open play in 35 Premier League appearances since his £26million move from Valencia. He also has four penalties. They displayed great desire and energy in midfield to reverse the flow of the game and the grit to defend once Christian Eriksen and Roberto Soldado had turned it upside down. For Soldado it was his first Premier League goal since March, and for Spurs a third home-win of the league campaign with three Academy graduates in their starting line-up. That trio: Harry Kane, Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb contributed greatly to the tempo and industry which underpinned a victory and eased Tottenham up to seventh, level with Arsenal. There was a slice of fortune when Federico Fazio used an arm to block a goal-bound header from Romelu Lukaku during a frantic closing phase, and it went unnoticed, much to the annoyance of Roberto Martinez. 'Fazio makes himself really big and closes his eyes and he’s in a unusual position when it hits him,' fumed Martinez. 'If it hits him in the chest, no complaints, but it hits him in the arm and it should have been a penalty. 'I’m disappointed because Michael Oliver is a very good referee. It’s a real shame. This season, we haven’t been rewarded for good performances at Leicester, Manchester United and here. There are points we need to get back. But I would never blame a third party or the referee. We should be good enough to come to White Hart Lane and rely on ourselves.' Martinez had seen his team take control in the 15th minute, with a beautiful curling shot by Mirallas when Spurs failed to clear a free-kick swung over from the left by Leighton Baines. Mason headed out but only to the edge of the penalty area where Soldado lost a duel with Mirallas, who promptly set the ball on his right foot and bent a shot into the far corner. Everton might have been ahead earlier in the game when a Gazza-style dribble by Ross Barkley was smothered on the edge of the penalty box, only for the ball to spill to the feet of Romelu Lukaku in front of goal. Lukaku, wanted by Spurs when he left Chelsea in the summer, might have been offside but the flag stayed down. He hurried his shot and Hugo Lloris saved without fuss. Spurs reacted well with great energy from their home-grown trio and were level within six minutes. Again it was a delightful finish, this time by Eriksen, but the goal owed much to Kane’s determination to threaten the goal. Kane who cut in from wide on the Tottenham right, into space cleverly vacated by Soldado and unleashed an effort which took a slight deflection and flashed across the slick surface. Tim Howard could not hold it and Eriksen was first onto the rebound, clipping a skilful finish over the Everton goalkeeper and Gareth Barry who had made ground to cover on the goal line. Harry Kane was instrumental for Tottenham, particularly in the first-half as his hard work earned Spurs their two goals . Kane's heat map after a superb performance from the young English forward - click here for more heat maps from the Match Zone service . Eriksen has an attempt from a free-kick in the second half as Spurs looked to build on their lead . Leighton Baines whips in a free-kick in the second half for Everton, with Spurs hanging on in the latter stages . Everton defender Seamus Coleman goes close in the second half, striking wide at the far post with Lloris stranded . Lloris claims the ball as Spurs held on for a vital three points at White Hart Lane, their first win at home since early October . MINS PLD KM MILES . Tottenham 121.6 75.5 . Harry Kane 90 13.0 8.1 . Ryan Mason 90 12.9 8.0 . Christian Eriksen 90 12.7 7.9 . Everton 112.1 69.7 . Muhamed Besic 90 12.1 7.5 . Gareth Barry 90 12.0 7.5 . Seamus Coleman 90 11.4 7.1 . Spurs dominated until half-time with patches of attractive football. Howard thwarted Mason and Kane, while Eriksen went close with a deflected shot. Then a poor header by Muhamed Besic, intended for his goalkeeper, fell short. Soldado had anticipated the error but his touch did not match his instinct and Besic escaped. It seemed like it might be another of those days for Tottenham’s £26million Spaniard: culpable in Everton’s opener and able to do little right at the other end, when he struck, in first-half stoppage time. Kane caught Barry deep in his own half, dithering in possession, and hooked the ball from him. Martinez wanted a free-kick but it would have been harsh. Aaron Lennon played in Soldado and this time his finish was clinical, past Howard and inside the post. Soldado has managed to remain dignified through his months of struggle in North London and supporters have refused to turn on him. As he headed down the tunnel at half-time, his name was ringing around White Hart Lane. 'The striker who doesn’t score is frustrated,' said Pochettino. 'It’s not easy and he felt the pressure but now he is happier and more free. It’s important to the team.' Although they rode their luck at times, Everton stirred and summoned a bold finish, with Barkley proving increasingly influential. Mauricio Pochettino's (right) Spurs are now seventh in the Premier League, three points above Roberto Martinez's Everton in tenth . Jan Vertonghen throws the kitchen sink in with a high foot in a challenge with Everton's Ross Barkley . Tottenham defender Ben Davies looks to evade the attention of Everton midfielder Aidan McGeady in the second half . Spanish striker Soldado misses an attempt with a header in the second half at White Hart Lane . Nabil Bentaleb of Spurs and Belgian forward Mirallas compete for the ball in the first half at White Hart Lane . Lloris made terrific save to block from Seamus Coleman after one of Barkley’s passes. Then came the penalty appeal for a Fazio handball, but Tottenham clung on and were cheered off by fans who have been critical at times this season. 'I understand why our supporters have been angry,' said Pochettino. 'If you lose four at home, it is difficult for them to be happy. You win away and lose at home is not the right way. But today the team have sent a different signal. We played in good style. We must keep this feeling and mentality. 'This is the aggression we want. It was important to get this victory. For me, it’s not only three points - it’s a little bit more.' Sportsmail's Graham Poll gives his verdict on the refereeing talking points at White Hart Lane . 'Michael Oliver had two big penalty calls in the closing minutes. 'The first, with current interpretation should have been a spot kick for Everton as Federico Fazio handled, the ball hitting his arm with the defender in an unnatural position. Federico Fazio (21) appears to handle the ball inside the area from Romelu Lukaku's header late on at White Hart Lane . Everton had a right to feel aggrieved that they weren't awarded a penalty, with Fazio clearly handling . 'Minutes later Harry Kane was through and went down under a challenge from Muhamed Besic. 'Watching replays I could not tell whose leg had tripped whose so waving appeals away was the only sensible option for Oliver.' Kane goes down under the challenge of Besic late on, but referee Michael Oliver waved play on at White Hart Lane . Tottenham's Federico Fazio shields the ball as Mirallas looks to nip it off him in midfielder . Barkley goes on a run through the Tottenham midfield in the first half, but Everton's lead diminished before half-time . Harry Kane is brought down by Everton midfielder Muhamed Besic in the centre of the park at White Hart Lane . | Everton took the lead through Kevin Mirallas, firing home a superb effort from the edge of the box .
Spurs levelled through Christian Eriksen, who converted a rebound after Tim Howard saved from Harry Kane .
Roberto Soldado, without a league goal since March, slotted past Howard just before half-time to make it 2-1 .
The win puts Totteneham seventh in the Premier League, three points above Everton who sit in tenth . |
1a992b7fdc97bc77934d9b9f37d55d185d3c70d2 | By . Jessica Jerreat . PUBLISHED: . 18:09 EST, 24 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:11 EST, 25 July 2013 . Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, who has regularly been criticized over his website's privacy settings, has had the tables turned on him in a documentary about online privacy. When the social network's founder was approached by a film crew outside his California home, he asked not to be filmed, but unbeknown to him the filmmaker continued to record their encounter using a camera hidden in his glasses. The encounter was part of Cullen Hoback's documentary Terms and Conditions May Apply, which examines internet privacy. Scroll down for trailer . Privacy settings: Mark Zuckerberg asked not to be filmed when the documentary crew questioned him outside his home . 'Do you still think privacy is dead? What are your real thoughts on privacy?' director Mr Hoback asked Mr Zuckerberg outside his home. In the clip Mr Zuckerberg, 29, asked: 'Are you guys recording?' Will you please not?' before relaxing after seeing that the main camera had been switched off, according to the Huffington Post. After believing that he was no longer being filmed, Mr Zuckerberg suggested that the film crew got in contact with his company's public relations department. Mr Hoback, whose recently released documentary has been well received in the wake of the NSA scandal and revelations that the government had collected information on millions of Americans, said he had wanted Mr Zuckerberg to experience privacy infringement. 'I just wanted him to say, "Look, I . don't want you to record me", and I wanted to say, "Look, I don't want . you to record us".' Mr Hoback said. Mr Zuckerberg has changed Facebook's terms and conditions on several occasions. Most recently, the network began rolling out its Graph Search, making it even easier for people to find information and photos of the site. Denied access: Leigh Van Bryan, left, was denied entry to the U.S. because of a tweet he sent . Timing: Cullen Hoback's documentary has been well received in the wake of the NSA scandal . The new service has been labelled a privacy nightmare by Slate, which warned that 'likes' from several years ago could now be easily viewed by others. Mr Zuckerberg has also been criticized in the past after he referred to web users as 'dumb f***s' for trusting him with their information, in an instant-message . conversation when he was 19, the Huffington Post reported. However, Facebook remains the largest social network in the world, with more than 1 billion users each month. In Terms and Conditions, Mr Hoback examined the agreements web users have been asked to sign up to by social network sites and other online services, and looked at who was sharing and collecting the information. The film includes interviews with people who found themselves in trouble with the law after posting comments on Twitter that were taken out of context by authorities. In one case, tourist Leigh Van Bryan was held by passport control at Los Angeles airport and then refused entry to the U.S. in January 2012 because of a tweet he sent three weeks early to a friend that said: 'Free this week for a gossip/prep before I go and destroy America?' Privacy act: Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook has faced criticism over its privacy settings . 'I think the craziest thing about this whole experience is that I didn't realize I was making a horror film,' Mr Hoback told the Daily Telegraph, adding that it would take the typical internet user about 180 hours to read all of the terms and conditions for their favorite websites. In the film, a MIT professor of social studies claimed that the world had woken up to privacy concerns about four years too late, according to the Chicago Tribune. Mr Hoback told the paper: 'I think the primary question needs to be not even do the systems work - but is this a mass infringement on civil liberties?' The film opened July 12 and is being shown in various U.S. cinemas. | Film crew wanted Facebook founder to 'experience privacy infringement'
Terms and Conditions May Apply exposes rules internet users agree to . |
1a999572bc03c5db121d7bf96e695b318fe5b46a | On the campaign trail, Otto Perez Molina vowed to rule his country with an iron fist. The retired general said he would send troops into the streets to fight drug violence. Analysts summed up his political platform with three words: law and order. Now -- just two months after taking office -- the 61-year-old Guatemalan president is pushing a controversial proposal that has come under fire from U.S. officials and earned praise from people who were once his critics. During a routine speech last month, Perez Molina slipped in a surprise announcement. Last year's law-and-order candidate said he wanted to legalize drugs. "What I have done is put the issue back on the table," Perez Molina told CNN en Español. "I think it is important for us to have other alternatives. ... We have to talk about decriminalization of the production, the transit and, of course, the consumption." The proposal caught many Guatemalans off guard. "Everyone was expecting him to copy the strategy of (Mexican President) Felipe Calderon and involve the military in fighting cartels," said Martin Rodriguez Pellecer, director of Plaza Publica, an investigative journalism and analysis website in Guatemala. "Then he made this surprise announcement ... without even his foreign minister knowing about it." The president's unexpected pitch grabbed global headlines -- and the attention of international leaders. Central American presidents are scheduled to debate the idea in Guatemala on Saturday. The meeting could pave the way for a significant policy shift in a region where brutal drug violence is a daily reality. 'Too high a human cost' The attackers left a warning written in blood on a white wall at a northern Guatemala farm: "I will find you and I will leave you like this." Nearby, investigators found the bodies of 27 dismembered and decapitated workers. Authorities said members of the Zetas drug gang were behind the massacre last May in the province of Peten. Officials and analysts pointed to the slayings as more evidence of a devastating spike in drug-related violence across the region. At a conference on regional security last year, Guatemala's then-president, Alvaro Colom, said his country was reaching the limit of its ability to fight cartels. "Eight killed per ton (of cocaine) passing through Guatemala is a lot of blood. If you pass through Honduras, there are 20 murders, and if we add it up, a ton of cocaine has too high a human cost," he said. Guatemala's murder rate is 42 per 100,000 people -- one of the highest in the world, according to a United Nations report. "The immense economic power of drug trafficking has corrupted all the spheres of the state. The violence is incredibly high," said Mario David Garcia, a well-known Guatemalan lawyer and radio show host. Perez Molina isn't the first leader to propose that legalizing drugs may help stem the bloodshed. In a 2009 report, three former Latin American presidents -- Brazil's Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Colombia's Cesar Gaviria, and Mexico's Ernesto Zedillo -- called for decriminalizing cannabis for personal use. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox also has said he supports legalizing marijuana use. But analysts say sitting presidents rarely make such proposals, fearing political consequences. "This has been an academic debate and it has also been a scientific debate, an issue that has been studied. And bringing it back into political debate, I think, is important," Perez Molina told CNN en Español last month. A political strategy? U.S. officials responded swiftly to Perez Molina's proposal. "The United States continues to oppose such measures because evidence shows that our shared drug problem is a major public health and safety threat," the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala said in a statement a day after Perez Molina first floated his proposal. The embassy urged Guatemala and other countries in the region to continue fighting drug traffickers. "With increased cultivation and consumption of decriminalized drugs, crime in Central America could well increase as the drug cartels shift their focus to other forms of illicit activities," the statement warned. Weeks later, on a trip to Mexico and Honduras, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said he was open to debating the issue. But he stressed that the United States would not waver from its policy against drug legalization. "If (Perez Molina's) strategy is a political strategy designed to get Washington's attention, then it worked," said Samuel Logan, managing director of Southern Pulse, an online information network focused on Latin America. Some skeptics have suggested Perez Molina may be bluffing -- using the legalization debate to pressure U.S. officials into bringing back military aid to Guatemala. Such aid has been cut off for decades due to human rights abuses committed during the Central American nation's civil war. Guatemalan Defense Minister Ulises Noe Anzueto told CNN en Español Thursday that he was meeting with officials in Washington to discuss lifting the military aid embargo. "It's a question of a political decision," he said. "At any moment this restriction could be lifted and help us become more efficient partners in meeting our responsibility to help with security for the region and therefore the continent." John Walters, who directed the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy from 2001 to 2009, said decriminalization is "utterly self-defeating" and would cause more crime. He described Perez Molina's proposal as "a call for help and a call for U.S. leadership." "They're telling us, 'We think we have to give up, because we don't think we can win," Walters said. Details unclear as debate nears . Supporters of Perez Molina say Latin American nations should create new drug policies that don't follow in U.S. footsteps. The United States has not done enough to stop the demand for drugs, they argue, and many in Latin America are suffering the consequences. "All we're doing is, in effect, fighting a U.S. battle outside of U.S. borders," said Ambassador Andres Rozental, a former deputy foreign minister of Mexico who advocates drug legalization. Creating a regulated market and opting for a less militaristic approach should decrease violence, he said. "The fundamental problem of the violence ... is directly related to this so-called war on the cartels and this war on drug trafficking and the effort by the criminals to show that they have more money, more weapons, more people," Rozental said. But could drug legalization efforts in the region work without U.S. backing? "Even if the United States is not willing at this point to go along, there is space for Latin American countries to take certain steps," said Martin Jelsma, a political scientist who specializes in Latin America and international drugs policy at the Transnational Institute. "Of course, politically, that will be one of the questions. How much pressure will the United States put on Latin America to prevent this?" Details about the ideas Central American leaders will debate Saturday have not been released to the public. Perez Molina plans to present a range of proposals at the meeting, Guatemala's foreign minster said. Drug legalization is also expected to come up before a wider audience of regional leaders at next month's Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, Colombia. Rodriguez, the director of Plaza Publica, said Saturday's meeting will be a promising start to the debate, even if it takes years to hash out the details. "It wouldn't surprise me if in the next decade there would be a Latin American agreement to legalize drugs," he said. But some analysts were more doubtful that other countries in the region would follow Perez Molina's lead. "Publicly, I would be very surprised if they stand behind this," said Logan, of Southern Pulse. Jelsma said he hoped the leaders would weigh other drug policy changes, in addition to legalization. "I fear that this debate could lead into deadlock," he said. "From the current situation, to jump to legalization as an answer to all these problems that are getting worse, I think it's a recipe for a debate that will get stuck pretty soon." | Former military general Perez Molina surprised many when he proposed decriminalizing drugs .
Central American presidents will debate the Guatemalan leader's proposal this weekend .
U.S. officials respond swiftly, saying they do not support drug legalization .
Some skeptics say the Guatemalan president is bluffing to get money from the U.S. |
1a9a42968fc3c694dada7b9d050c779958bdb6b5 | British men, rest easy. This summer, cougars are going on tour and they're heading for the Mediterranean. A poll of female members of CougarLife.com, the dating site for women of a certain age looking for younger men, shows that British cougars can't get enough of Spain. And it seems that Barcelona is their favourite hunting ground. With 19 per cent of the votes, the Spanish city topped the list. On the prowl: Mature women like Jules Cobb (played by Courtney Cox in U.S. sitcom Cougar Town) are flocking to Barcelona for the summer . These cougars' visits won't just be about taking in the sun, sea and sangria. Sight-seeing will also be on the to-do list (though maybe not the traditional sort). The survey reveals that a majority of the women polled plan on seeing some action. 70 per cent hope to 'hook-up' with younger men while on their holiday. And they know who they want: 53 per cent intend to pounce on hotel or activity staff, while just over half have the hots for tennis and golf instructors. Miss CougarLife.com's Marlo Jordan, voted in as the site's ultimate cougar, said, 'For cougars like myself who enjoy flirting with young attractive men, Spain is one fabulous playground so I’m not surprised it took the number one spot for women looking for their dream cub.' Sight-seeing: Cougars will want to take in the sights of Barcelona, but 70% also aim to 'hook-up' with younger men . The business owner and dating coach added, 'We like luxury, spas, beach-front cocktails and handsome Mediterranean men who appreciate mature woman and are not shy of expressing themselves.' With 17 per cent of the vote, the Canary Islands were also popular with the survey's 1,043 respondents. In third place was Cyprus (17 per cent), followed by Greece (14 per cent) and Egypt (8 per cent). | 70% hope to get some action - preferably with a golf or tennis instructor .
Canary Islands, Greece, Cyprus, and Egypt also popular hunting grounds . |
1a9a8fbfd048804e81ae0b1bd8352656b2be23c4 | By . Leesa Smith . Drunks, customers refusing to pay and offensive language have forced a pizza shop to ban an entire street in northern Queensland from receiving home deliveries. The decision was made by a Pizza Power outlet in the town of Andergove after residents from Sunita Drive had been consistently abusive towards the young delivery staff. Once the black ban was put in place, shop manager Lillian Riley said she was verbally abused and hit by an angry customer from the street demanding to know why he had been refused delivery service over the phone. That case went before Mackay Magistrates Court and the offender was fined. Pizza Power takeaway shop has refused delivering pizza to residents who live on Sunita drive in Andergove in northern Queensland . Shop manager Lillian Riley said she was verbally abused and hit by an angry customer from the street demanding to know why he had been refused delivery service over the phone . Ms Riley, whose son owns the store, told the Daily Mercury that the man, who was ‘yelling and screaming’, pushed the heavy shop counter and attempted to punch her in the head but struck her arm instead. However, Sunita Drive was not the first street to be struck off the home delivery list with others in the area also banned due to the danger staff had been subjected to in the past. Staff also dealt with aggressive customers inside the store dubbing Tuesday evenings as ‘fight night’. Ms Riley’s son was subjected to a particularly vicious attack where two women verbally abused and attacked him for not taking a pizza to them outside. One woman got him down on the ground then kicked him in the groin more than once and also stomped on him, according to his mother. ‘We have to stand our ground,’ Ms Riley said. ‘We only ask for people to be polite but there are many loyal customers who are terrific, who make it worthwhile.’ She said business had dropped off at the shop because customers were intimidated by the anti -social behaviour of youths wandering around at night. Sunita Drive was not the first street to be struck off the home delivery list with other streets in the area also banned due to the danger staff had been subjected to in the past . | Pizza Power has banned deliveries to all homes in a Queensland street .
Some residents from Sunita Drive have been abusive to deliverers .
A man verbally and physically abused the manager after being refused home delivery over the phone .
The shop has also banned other streets for similar behaviour .
Aggressive customers also come into the store which affects business . |
1a9b343b3f758982040faaa7739d749a526d12c6 | The ex-Commons clerk who clashed with John Bercow today took a thinly-veiled swipe at the Speaker. Lord Rogers, who was allegedly told to 'f*** off' by Mr Bercow before retiring early this year, was named Parliamentarian of the Year at a glitzy Westminster awards lunch. Collecting his award from Home Secretary Theresa May, Lord Rogers appeared to hint at Mr Bercow's eventual departure from his role, hoping 'common sense and good governance will prevail before very long'. Lord Rogers was named Parliamentarian of the Year, where he used his speech to make a thinly-veiled gibe at John Bercow's expense . Home Secretary Theresa May hosted the awards and presented Lord Rodgers with his prize . Speaker John Bercow, who is said to have clashed with Lord Rogers, was in the Commons this morning . Politicians and journalists gathered at the Savoy Hotel this afternoon for the 271 Parliamentarian of the Year Awards. Winners included minister of the year Steve Webb, politician of the year Alex Salmond and William Hague, who was given a lifetime achievement award. But eyebrows were raised by Lord Rogers gibe at Mr Bercow, who had been invited to the awards but was otherwise engaged. He stood down as Clerk of the Commons – the most powerful official in Parliament – after relations became strained with Mr Bercow. Today Lord Rogers, who now sits in the House of Lords, told the audience at the awards bash that Parliament had been through a difficult period. In an apparent suggestion that Mr Bercow's days in his job might be numbered, he added: 'I've every confidence common sense and good governance will prevail before very long.' The room of MPs, peers and reporters cheered. But Mr Bercow's place setting at the lunch remained empty throughout. Politicians and journalists gathered at the Savoy Hotel in London for the 27th Parliamentarian of the Year Awards . Mrs May hosted the awards, but struggled at times with technology as the projector used during her speech failed her . During her speech Mrs May used a series of photographs to poke fun at Islington, the constituency of Labour MP Emily Thornberry who landed herself in hot water last week for appearing to sneer at working class voters . Organisers say he had been expected to attend, after he had chaired questions in the Commons this morning. But a spokesman for the Speaker said the invitation had been declined 'several weeks ago because of a prior engagement'. Awarding the prize to Lord Rogers, Spectator editor Fraser Nelson said: 'Our winner knows more about the Commons and its history than any other living soul – he has, quite literally, written the book on parliament. 'After the expenses scandal and the demise of Speaker Martin, it was our winner who plotted the restoration of parliamentary grittiness which has been wonderfully evident in the past few years. 'He did so with impeccable impartiality. He did so with humour, scholarship, charm, a flinty adherence to democracy and the most splendid mutton chop whiskers in Westminster.' Other prize winners included politician of the year Alex Salmond (left) and William Hague, who was given a lifetime achievement award . Douglas Carswell, who this year became Ukip's first elected MP after defecting from the Tories, was named 'insurgent' of the year . During his acceptance speech, Mr Salmond produced a handkerchief from his pocket bearing a St George's Cross . Mr Salmond said he was 'honoured' to receive the award for a second time, having previously been recognised in 2011 after the SNP's landslide win in the Scottish elections . Mr Bercow sparked a major row with MPs earlier this year when it emerged he hoped to replace Lord Rogers with Australian Carol Mills the £200,000 post. In the Commons, Tory MP Michael Fabricant claimed Mr Bercow had sworn at Lord Rogers. In a debate in July, he said: 'Now, we do not know why he has chosen to retire early, though his working environment, behind closed doors, has not always been easy, as those in the know have already alluded to. 'In that respect, despite Sir Robert having studied Anglo Saxon at Oxford, being told at least once in front of others to f*** off by you, Mr Speaker, would not have encouraged him to stay.' At the ceremony Mr Salmond said he was 'honoured' to receive the award for a second time, having previously been recognised in 2011 after the SNP's landslide win in the Scottish elections. The former SNP leader said: 'This has been a momentous year for Scotland and, while the Yes campaign may not have won in the referendum, there is no doubt that Scotland has been changed utterly. 'With the SNP now the third biggest party in the UK with more than twice as many members as the Lib Dems, and support for the party surging in the polls, there is a determination in Scotland to ensure that real progress is delivered.' | Lord Rogers named Parliamentarian of the Year at Spectator Awards .
He retired early as Commons Clerk after reports of clashes with Bercow .
In acceptance speech, Rogers hoped 'good governance will prevail'
Bercow was expected at bash but aides say he was otherwise engaged .
Home Secretary Theresa May hosted ceremony at the Savoy Hotel .
Alex Salmond, William Hague and Douglas Carswell also collected prizes . |
1a9b4c48e12dee8b75bc425e0681796b3acf06d5 | By . Ryan Lipman . A 10-year-old boy has been helicoptered to a Sydney children's hospital in a serious condition after he was viciously attacked by two dogs on Tuesday afternoon. A NSW Police media spokeswoman confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the attack happened in Bellambi, a suburb north of Wollongong on the NSW coast. The young boy was bitten and wounded on his legs, arms, hips, stomach, buttocks and head in a gated front yard on Waley Avenue by an American Staffordshire terrier and German shepherd at about 2pm. Scroll down for video . A 10-year-old boy was viciously attacked by two dogs in Bellambi on Tuesday afternoon, one of which was a German shepherd. Pictured is a stock image . The boy was taken to Wollongong Hospital after paramedics were called and he was later airlifted to Sydney Children's Hospital at Randwick, where he underwent surgery. As of 1.30am Wednesday morning, the young boy's condition was not known a police media spokesperson said. A spokeswoman for the Sydney Children's Hospital said the boy's mother was 'very distressed' and did not wish to release any information about her son's condition. Police were told the boy was looking for his brother with a friend and the two had been door knocking before the boy entered the yard. His friend was not involved in the dog attack and remained on the footpath while it happened, reported The Daily Telegraph. A police media spokesperson confirmed that Wollongong Council had been notified of the dog attack and was investigation. Police are also currently investigating the attack. The young boy was bitten on his legs, arms, hips, stomach, buttocks and head in a gated front yard, by the dogs including an American Staffordshire. Pictured is a stock image . This incident was the latest in a spate of reported dog attacks on young children in the Bellambi area on Tuesday. NSW Ambulance Illawarra district inspector Terry Morrow confirmed paramedics received two unrelated dog attack reports in the area, neither matching the incident reported by police, reported the Illawarra Mercury. Also at Waley Avenue, paramedics attended an 11-year-old who had be bitten by a small dog, and the child was taken to Wollongong Hospital with minimal bleeding and a few small puncture wounds, Mr Morrow said. After a dog bit a 10-year-old on the buttocks, the child went to Wollongong following the attack in Bellambi’s Whitby Mews, also on Tuesday. For treatment of a small wound, the child was transferred to Sydney Children’s Hospital by road ambulance. The spate of dog attacks on children on Tuesday took place in Bellambi, north of Wollongong . | There has been a spate of dog attacks on children in the Wollongong area .
The attacks happened on Tuesday with one boy left in a serious condition .
After being bitten on most of his body, the boy was airlifted to hospital .
Two other children in unrelated attacks were treated for minor injuries . |
1a9f503389f51b238f67681efdce1d4ed29648a9 | By . Steve Doughty . PUBLISHED: . 07:40 EST, 18 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:46 EST, 18 November 2012 . Couples should not try to emulate the glamorous weddings of the stars if they really want their marriages to last, a High Court judge said last night. The lavish ceremonies splashed across the pages of celebrity magazines such as Hello! have little to do with the reality of lifelong commitment, according to Sir Paul Coleridge. They are also twice as likely to end in divorce over ten years, according to research from the Marriage Foundation, the charity Sir Paul launched this year. Forty per cent of stars’ marriages end within a decade compared to just 20 per cent of ordinary couples’, the study found. Sir Paul Coleridge, left, has warned couples against developing false expectations of marriage from glossy magazines such as Hello!, pictured right . ‘The worrying feature of these . statistics is the picture they paint to those who regard the celebrity . lifestyle as something to be admired and copied for its own sake,’ Sir . Paul said. ‘These are, after all, the role models . upon which many, especially young people, fashion their lives. Aspiration for happiness built on celebrity lifestyle is, it seems, . dangerously flawed. All of us subconsciously want to believe that these . beautiful people are living an idealised life which we can vicariously . enjoy. ‘Surely this must create a false . expectation within the participants that in some way their relationships . will be better, easier and, above all, more exciting than the average. A wedding issue of Hello! magazine being read. The report says the celebrity culture absorbed from magazines like Hello! gives us an 'unrealistic, fairy-tale expectations about marriage' ‘Unfortunately all men and women, . glamorous or not, are riddled with the same weaknesses and shortcomings . which surface even quite soon after the excitement of the wedding has . died down.’ Sir Paul, a senior family court judge, . said real life has nothing to do with the stars’ love stories played . out in celebrity magazines and on TV. ‘There is a disconnect between the . nature of real long-term relationships and the dramatised and apparently . more exciting versions portrayed on screen or imagined for them by the . rest of us,’ he said. Katy Perry and Russell Brand, pictured left in 2010, were married for 14 months and Jennifer Lopez was married to dancer Cris Judd, right for eight months . 5 of the shortest celebrity marriages: . Britney Spears and Jason Alexander (55 hours) Sinead O’Connor and Barry Herridge (18 days) Drew Barrymore and Jeremy Thomas (30 days) Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon (60 days) Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries (72 days) 5 of the longest–lasting celebrity marriages: . Kirk Douglas and Anne Buydens (58 years) Barry and Linda Gibb (40 years) Jeff Bridges and Susan Geston (35 years) Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach (31 years) Tony and Cherie Blair (30 years) ‘This is surely exacerbated by huge, expensive . fairytale weddings attended by the icons of the day.’ The report pointed to the 55-hour . marriage between Britney Spears and Jason Alexander and said that ‘few . non-celebs can match that kind of relaxed attitude to their marriage’. Others whose marriages barely made a year include Russell Brand and Katy . Perry, and Kim Kardashian. Sir Paul said that while most celebrities hankered for a stable marriage like anyone else, their fame made it harder to find. ‘They pay the price by being even less able to sustain long-term healthy relationships than the rest of us,’ he said. The 40 per cent rate of celebrity . marriage break-ups over ten years was worked out from an examination of . 572 prominent celebrity weddings since 2000. It found a fifth were over . within four years, against just one in 20 of all marriages. The report said there were some starry . happy endings. Kirk Douglas has been married to wife Anne for 58 years, . while Barry and Linda Gibb have notched up 40 years. | Celebrities are twice as likely to divorce as the rest of married UK population .
'Hello! gives 'unrealistic, fairy-tale expectations about marriage', says study . |
1aa074f6284e7ad48241460e4abc55196a0973cf | (CNN) -- Investigators have found the vehicle of a University of Georgia professor wanted in the killing of three people. Authorities examine a Jeep belonging to professor George Zinkhan on Friday in Clarke County, Georgia. Police found George Zinkhan's vehicle early Friday in northwestern Clarke County, home to the University of Georgia, the university said in a statement. Authorities have been looking for a 2005 red Jeep Liberty that Zinkhan was driving when he was last seen six days ago after a shooting left three people dead, including his wife. Last Saturday's shootings happened at a community theater group's reunion in Athens, Georgia, just off campus. The university fired Zinkhan from his job as a marketing professor the day after the shootings. Zinkhan had purchased a plane ticket to the Netherlands for travel on Saturday, said Gregory Jones, special agent in charge of the FBI's Atlanta, Georgia, office, this week. Authorities have said Zinkhan owns a home in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Police Capt. Clarence Holeman identified the dead as Marie Bruce, 47, Zinkhan's wife and an Athens attorney; Tom Tanner, 40; and Ben Teague, 63. Holeman said it appeared that Zinkhan "and his wife were having problems." Police said Zinkhan has relatives in Texas as well as in the Netherlands. University Police Chief Jimmy Williams said Monday that authorities do not believe Zinkhan remains on campus or in Athens. However, he said, security has been beefed up on campus, including officers on foot patrols carrying semiautomatic weapons. The victims were all associated with the Town and Gown Players, a theater group that was holding a reunion picnic at the time of the shootings. "The three people we lost were a part of the rich 50-year history of this theater and, more than that, were vital members of the Town and Gown family," the organization said on its Web site. The site described Bruce as "the binding force that held the Town and Gown community together." "Having worked with Town and Gown for over 20 years, at one time or another she served in every capacity at the theater, artistically and administratively, from leading lady to president of the board to chief cook and bottle washer." Police said Zinkhan arrived while the Town and Gown event was under way. According to Holeman of the Athens police, Zinkhan got into "a disagreement" with his wife. He left the scene -- police believe he went to his car, where the couple's children apparently were waiting -- and returned with two handguns. The shootings "only took a few minutes," Holeman said. Police found eight shell casings, he said. After the shootings, Zinkhan left the scene with his children -- ages 8 and 10 -- still in the vehicle, police said. He drove to a neighbor's house in nearby Bogart, Georgia, where he lived, and left the children there. The neighbor, Bob Covington, said that Zinkhan arrived at his home shortly after noon Saturday with the two children. "He rang the doorbell -- asked me if I could keep his kids for about an hour," Covington said. "I said sure, and he said there'd been some type of emergency, and he took off." An hour or so later, Covington said, police arrived and took the children. | University of Georgia professor sought in shooting deaths of wife and two others .
Investigators find professor George Zinkhan's Jeep near Athens, Georgia .
University fired marketing professor after off-campus shootings .
Zinkhan had purchased plane ticket to the Netherlands, FBI agent says . |
1aa0a8a9b21cd49403fcc516a8220ab1a8d0687d | Baghdad (CNN) -- A wave of bombings left 51 people dead and more than 120 wounded Thursday in various Baghdad neighborhoods, including one in which angry residents later threw stones at security forces, the Interior Ministry said. At least 48 people were killed and 121 wounded when a parked car bomb detonated near a funeral tent in the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Shula in northwestern Baghdad, an Interior Ministry official said. After the Shula bombing, people threw rocks at security forces, the official told CNN, and some people fired guns. Security forces withdrew until an Iraqi Army unit dispersed the crowds by shooting in the air and imposing a partial curfew in Shula, the official said. The gathering of the crowd reflects the growing frustration and anger against the government and security forces, especially by the country's Shiites, who have come under intensive attacks in recent days. Iraq has witnessed in the past 10 days constant high-profile attacks, mainly targeting Shiites and security forces, that have claimed the lives of more than 200 people. Some 151 people were killed in the entire month of December. Attacks on security forces in Tikrit and Diyala were claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group that includes al Qaeda in Iraq. There was no claim of responsibility for attacks on the Shiites. Officials have blamed al Qaeda and other Sunni extremist groups of carrying out these attacks in an attempt to reignite the sectarian war that gripped Iraq for years. Many Iraqis blame their security forces for not preventing these attacks and question the abilities of these forces to secure the country, especially as the U.S. military prepares for a complete troop withdrawal by the end of this year. Many have blamed the deteriorating security situation on politicians still not agreeing on key security posts that remain vacant in the government formed more than a month ago. Meanwhile, three people died in three other attacks in the Iraqi capital. A roadside bomb exploded next to a police patrol in southern Baghdad, killing a civilian and wounding seven people, including three police officers. In another attack in southeastern Baghdad, a roadside bomb exploded near a government convoy. It missed the convoy but killed one civilian and wounded three others. In central Baghdad, a roadside bomb exploded on a busy road, killing one civilian and wounding four. The blasts came after Wednesday night's assassination of three government employees by gunmen using pistols equipped with silencers in three neighborhoods in Baghdad. Two of the three government employees worked at Iraq's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the third employee worked at the Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction. | NEW: Angry citizens throw stones at security forces .
One bomb exploded near a funeral tent, killing dozens .
Another bomb exploded next to an Iraqi police patrol .
The blasts come after the killing of 3 government officials in Baghdad Wednesday night . |
1aa0b624570d4a77f547f16c05c33053c2fec110 | By . Richard Hartley-parkinson . PUBLISHED: . 11:15 EST, 4 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:20 EST, 5 April 2013 . A lesbian was sacked by her boss the morning after a party at his house, a tribunal has been told. Rae Roberts, 19, went to Jim Cullen's house in Reading, Berkshire, with her partner, Jennifer Rowsell, who also worked for Cash Zone Ltd. The next morning Miss Roberts was called into Mr Cullen's office where she was sacked and Miss Rowsell quit soon after in protest at her girlfriend's treatment. Tribunal: Rae Roberts, left, claims Jim Cullen, right, made offensive comments about her sexuality . Miss Roberts says Mr Cullen discriminated against her on grounds of her sexual orientation and claims that he threw a bin at her and called her an idiot. She said that her boss made offensive comments about her sexuality and her age and that her immediate manager, Abigail Peters, would leave abusive and demeaning notes about her performance on a weekly basis. Mr Cullen and Cash Zone Ltd deny any wrongdoing and claim Miss Roberts was dismissed because she failed to follow company procedures or take on board training. In her statement, Miss Roberts described receiving regular written and verbal abuse from Mr Cullen and Miss Peters, who constantly criticised the amount of work she did and its standard. She said she was criticised for being late and using Facebook despite claiming Miss Peters was sometimes several hours late and also used the website. The panel heard that her responsibilities included dealing with money transfers, valuations, buy-back procedures, processing cheques, testing gold, serving customers and even cleaning the branch office in Camberley, Surrey. She said: 'In September 2011 the second respondent (Mr Cullen) held a party at his home for all of the firm's employees. I and my partner Jennifer Rowsell attended the party. 'The next working day he came to the Camberley branch and said to me how disrespectful I was and how embarrassed he was of me because of how I and Jennifer Rowsell were "all over each other". 'I found his remark embarrassing, unfavourable and directed at my sexual orientation,' she told the tribunal sitting in Reading, Berkshire. Miss Roberts (right) said she was sacked the day after a party at her boss's house where he says she 'humiliated him' by being 'all over' her girlfriend (left) Miss Roberts worked at the Camberley, Berkshire, branch of Cash Zone in Camberley, Surrey . Dark-haired Miss Rowsell went further when she gave evidence later on, denying such activity had even take place. She said: 'I never really display any affection publicly. I would not display affection, especially with work people around.' Over the next few months, Miss Roberts said, the offensive notes continued with comments such as: 'You're a stroppy little teenager who has an attitude', 'I will depress you and ruin your holiday', as well as 'clean the f****** fridge' and 'clean the 'f****** microwave'. Then on January 28 last year Mr Cullen held another party at his house, which Miss Roberts and Miss Rowsell reluctantly attended. 'At one point when I, Abigail Peters and other girls were dancing, the second respondent (Mr Cullen) said to me: 'Don't get excited about dancing with other women',' said Miss Roberts. Mr Cullen and Cash Zone Ltd deny any wrongdoing and claim Miss Roberts was dismissed because she failed to follow company procedures . The tribunal heard that on March 30 last year Abigail Peters spilled some gold-testing acid onto her trousers. She pointed to the inside of her upper-thigh, showing it to Mr Cullen. He then said: 'Be careful. You may get Rae excited.' Rowan Morton, counsel for the respondents, said: 'Mr Cullen remembers, first of all, you were roaring with laughter and having a joke.' Miss Roberts said: 'That's incorrect.' A few days earlier, on March 23, Miss Roberts said she was called into Mr Cullen's office, where she said he shouted and swore at her for about 30 minutes, telling her: 'I bet you go home and cry to your mum, dad and Jennifer but they will not care or help you. You're a stupid kid.' She said he then grabbed his half-full bin and shouted: 'This is how you empty a f****** bin' as he picked it up. She began to leave the office after being told: 'Go on then,' and turned around just as the bin flew past her and smashed into the door. Miss Rowsell, who had worked in the firm's Bracknell branch, testified that she had seen Mr Cullen shouting and swearing at her partner on up to 10 occasions. She said Miss Roberts, who moved to the Camberley branch from Bracknell on July 18, 2011, had returned home in tears before and that she had encouraged her to look for other work and make a formal grievance but that Miss Roberts was sacked on April 16, 2012, before they could submit it. The claimant, of Brook Road, Camberley, said Miss Peters had requested the abusive notes back and that the record of their contents, which the firm had presented to the tribunal, was wrong. Miss Morton said Mr Cullen had never shouted at or sworn at the claimant but had always treated her with respect and supported her. She also said the gay couple had stayed the night at his home during the first party and that the flat they lived in was rented from him. The hearing continues. Miss Roberts (left) pictured with her girlfriend, Jennifer Rowsell (right), who also quit in protest at her partner's treatment . | Rae Roberts said her boss made offensive comments about her sexuality .
Jim Cullen says she was sacked because she failed to follow procedure .
Miss Roberts girlfriend also quit company in protest at partner's treatment . |
1aa4ea4a510f5ca5d4d22ef441a5fd3db993445c | Nearly 100 lawmakers have now come out in favor of placing travel restrictions in order to decrease the odds that someone who is infected with Ebola will be able to enter the U.S. At least 80 members of the House and 20 senators have said they would like the president ban flights that have carrying passengers coming out of West Africa or temporarily rescind the visas of residents of Ebola stricken nations. President Barack Obama said on Thursday evening that he has no 'philosophical objection' to a travel ban, but he believes 'a flat-out travel ban is not the way to go.' The White House clarified on Friday that if the president believed such a move would be in the interest of the public's safety, 'he wouldn't hesitate to do that.' Scroll down for video . President Barack Obama said Thursday that he has no 'philosophical objection' to a travel ban, but that he thinks it's unnecessary . President Obama speaks to the media about the fight against the Ebola virus during a meeting with his Ebola Response Team in the Oval Office at the White House. Also pictured is Center for Disease Control Director Dr. Tom Frieden . The president's spokesman, Josh Earnest, said Friday that Obama's remarks last night after a meeting with health officials indicate that he is willing to 'keep an open mind' about how to address the Ebola crisis. He then noted: 'At this point, if our core priority is protecting the American public, then we're not going to put in place a travel ban.' Earnest later claimed that a moratorium on travel into the U.S. from Ebola hot spots 'will continue to be on the table' even though it's not something that is 'being considered right now.' The White House Press Secretary claimed that the screening measures at airports are working and the government has had a '100 percent success rate' of preventing people who are showing symptoms of Ebola from getting into the U.S. That, Earnest, said, is the purpose of the screenings, and by that standard the current policies and procedures have been a great success. HOUSE REPUBLICANS . Lou Barletta, Pennsylania; Andy Barr, Kentucky; Joe Barton, Texas; Charles Boustany, Louisianna; Susan Brooks, Indiana; Michael Burgess, Texas; Bradley Byrne, Alabama; Mike Coffman, Colorado; Tom Cole, Oklahoma; Steve Daines, Montana; Jeff Duncan, South Carolina; John Duncan, Tennesee; Stephen Fincher, Tennessee; Randy Forbes, Virginia; Scott Garrett, New Jersey; Bob Gibbs, Ohio; Louie Gohmert, Texas; Paul Gosar, Arizona; Michael Grimm, New York; Gregg Harper, Mississippi; Andy Harris, Marylan; Richard Hudson, North Carolina; Sam Johnson, Texas; David Joyce, Ohio; Mike Kelly, Pennsylvania; Pete King, New York; Doug Lamborn, Colorado; Pete Olson, Texas; Kenny Marchant, Texas; Tom Marino, Pennsylvania; Michael McCaul, Texas; Mark Meadows, North Carolina; Candice Miller, Michigan; Tim Murphy, Pennsylvania; Steven Palazzo, Mississippi; Robert Pittenger, North Carolina; Bill Posey, Florida; Ed Royce, California; Dennis Ross, Florida; Matt Salmon, Arizona; Steve Scalise, Louisiana; Pete Sessions, Texas; Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania; Adrian Smith, Nebraska; Lamar Smith, Texas; Steve Stivers, Ohio; Steve Stockman, Texas; Greg Walden, Oregon; Lynn Westmoreland, Georgia; Roger Williams, Texas; Ted Yoho, Florida; John Culberson, Texas; Kevin Brady, Texas; Randy Neugebaugher, Texas; John Carter, Texas; Rodney Davis, Illinois; David Jolly, Florida; Mark Meadows, North Carolina; Blake Farenthold, Texas; Thomas Massie, Kentucky; Steve Southerland, Florida; Jackie Walorski, Indiana; Gary Miller, California; Curt Clawson, Florida; Ann Wagner, Missouri; Lynn Jenkins, Kansas; Peter Roskam, Illinois; Paul Broun, Georgia; Raul Labrador, Idaho; Lee Terry, Nebraska; John Boehner, Ohio . HOUSE DEMOCRATS . John Barrow, Georgia; Alan Grayson, Florida; Dave Loebsack, Iowa; Scott Peters, California; Nick Rahall, West Virginia; David Scott, Georgia; Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona; Collin Peterson, Minnesota . SENATE REPUBLICANS . Saxby Chambliss, Georgia; Ted Cruz, Texas; James Inhofe, Oklahoma; Johnny Isakson, Georgia; Mike Johanns, Nebraska; Mitch McConnell, Kentucky; Pat Roberts, Kansas; Marco Rubio, Florida; John Thune, South Dakota; David Vitter, Louisiana; Roy Blunt, Missiouri; Chuck Grassley, Iowa; Orrin Hatch, Utah; Mike Lee, Utah; Jeff Sessions, Alabama; Ted Cruz, Texas; Lindsey Graham, South Carolina; John Cornyn, Texas; John Boozeman, Arkansas; Rop Portman, Ohio . SENATE DEMOCRATS . Bill Nelson, Florida; Kay Hagen, North Carolina . 'If it is assessed that there might be other aspects of our travel policies that would strengthen the health and security of the American public, then the president won't just consider them, he'll implement them,' he later explained. 'If he concluded that an all out travel ban actually would be in the best interest of protecting the health and safety of the American public, if circumstances change on the ground in a way that an all out travel ban needed to be implemented, the president wouldn't hesitate to do that.' The White House's indication that the president could impose a travel ban in the future comes as a cavalcade of lawmakers, mostly Republican, but also some Democrats, have demanded that Obama reconsider his position on the issue. Republican members of the Texas delegation joined the fray on Thursday, sending a letter to Obama that urged him to use his authority to block individuals from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea from coming to the U.S. Also on Thursday, Republican Rep. Dennis Ross of Florida announced that when Congress resumes its legislative session after the midterm elections, he will introduce legislation demanding Obama put a ban into effect. 'Now that two of our healthcare workers have contracted the virus I am putting my foot down,' Ross said. 'This legislation is a more serious approach to preventing Ebola from further infiltrating our homeland.' Even former White House flak Jay Carney said on Thursday that the president and his administration ought to take it under review. 'I think substantive actions need to be taken, and they may involve flight restrictions, they may involve moving all patients to specific hospitals in the country that can handle Ebola, and I think those would be wise decisions to make,' Carney, now a CNN contributor, said on the network yesterday. Carney admitted that he's not 'an expert' on the issue but said a more aggressive approach 'would demonstrate a level of seriousness in response to this that is merited at this point.' Earnest responded in depth to proponents of travel restrictions in his daily briefing on Thursday. ‘If we were to put in place a travel ban or a visa ban, it would provide a direct incentive for individuals seeking to travel to the United States to go underground and to seek to evade this screening and to not be candid about their travel history in order to enter the country,' he claimed. 'And that means it would be much harder for us keep tabs on these individuals and make sure that they get the screening that's needed to protect them and to protect more importantly the American public,’ he added. Earnest also said that allowing commercial travel to West Africa is critical' to making sure supplies, equipment and personnel are able to enter the region. As a 'practical matter' a travel ban would make it 'harder for the international community to respond to this incident,' he said, because airline companies don't make flights into Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea if they can't take any cargo back. The White House spokesman confirmed that President Obama made calls to members of Congress on Thursday to talk about the Ebola crisis, including House Speaker John Boehner, who has endorsed the travel ban. He would not say whether Obama and any of the members discussed a travel ban, though. Rep. Tim Murphy, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, endorsed a travel ban at a rare recess hearing on Capitol Hill yesterday. Murphy charged that 'screening and self-reporting at airports have been a demonstrated failure' White House spokesman Josh Earnest was blitzed with questions about the Obama administration's handling of the Ebola crisis for the second day in a row on Friday. The Obama administration official said again today that the president would not put restrictions on commercial travel from West Africa to the U.S., however he left the possibility open for a future travel ban . At a congressional hearing on the Ebola crisis in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, members ginned up their support for travel restrictions. At the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing.Ohio Rep. Tim Murphy alleged that 'screening and self-reporting at airports have been a demonstrated failure.' Murphy, who chair's the committee, estimated that approximately 1,000 people from Ebola afflicted countries are arriving in the U.S. on a weekly basis, which presents a great threat. At the hearing CDC Director Thomas Frieden declined to say whether his agency had talked about a travel ban with the White House. However, he too, suggested that he would be open to the idea. The CDC does not have the authority to restrict flights or visas, however, explained. 'At CDC, our authority is to quarantine individuals or require the isolation of individuals.' Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan said he didn't but the White House's claims that travel restrictions would make it too hard to send equipment and personnel to West Africa. 'Surely we can find other ways to get the aid workers and supplies in to these countries,' he said. 'From terrorist watch lists to quarantines, there are tools used to manage air travel to assure public safety. Why not here? Upton argued that the Obama administration needs to rethink it's approach to fighting Ebola 'to stop the spread of this disease here at home and at its source in Africa.' 'This includes travel restrictions from that region beginning today.' The White House announced on Friday morning that Ron Klain, a former chief of staff to two vice presidents, had been tapped to lead the administration's response to the Ebola crisis. Earnest said this afternoon that he did not know when Klain would start and that he had only just accepted the job when his appointment was announced to the press. | That number includes members who want an outright travel ban and those who want the U.S. to temporarily rescind West Africans' visas .
President Obama said today that he has no 'philosophical objection' to a travel ban - but that he doesn't think it would be effective .
The White House says a travel ban would lead to West Africans to find other ways to enter the country, potentially leading to more cases of Ebola .
Obama's spokesman said today that the president is willing to 'keep an open mind,' though, and that option 'will continue to be on the table' |
1aa50f9d8c09b5c41f86e3e4d325d1c03e102e6a | By . Paul Donnelley . A judge has insisted that ‘this knife business must end’ as he jailed three men for life for the murder of a bright schoolboy who had ambitions to be a doctor. Ajmol Alom, 16, had been playing football with some friends in a park in Poplar, east London, last August 12 and were on their way home when the gang wearing hoodies and bandanas attacked them near some shops in Spey Street. Without saying a word, they knifed Ajmol’s friend, in the face then turned on Ajmol when he intervened. Tragic: Ajmol Alom, 16 who was stabbed to death near his home in Poplar, east London, last August, just days before his GCSE results . The attackers used kitchen knives and a machete-like blade to carry out the assaults. Aminur Nadir Khan, 20, Mashudur Rahman, 22, and Ali Akbar Choudhury, 20, were told by Judge Martyn Zeidman, QC at Snaresbrook Crown Court that they will serve a minimum of 23 years. Ajmol, described as one of the brightest pupils at nearby Langdon Park School, was just days away from receiving his GCSE results and it later emerged that he had achieved top marks including eight A and three B grades. Judge Zeidman said the gang’s actions had ‘imposed upon the Alom family a life sentence of sadness and mourning’ adding that the attack on Ajmol and his friend, who was stabbed in the face with a 10in knife but has since made a good recovery, were ‘totally unprovoked’. Murderers: Aminur Nadir Khan, 20, Ali Akbar Choudhury, 20 and Mashudur Rahman, 22, who were told at Snaresbrook Crown Court in east London, they will serve a minimum of 23 years for the murder of schoolboy Ajmol Alom . His Honour Judge Martyn Zeidman QC has issued a call for an end to 'knife madness' In the year ending in March 2013, 400 people died as a result of knife crime and the judge said: ‘This knife madness must end. There has to be a change. But cold figures can never sufficiently reflect the tragic sorrow caused by knife crime. ‘In our case there were two totally unprovoked attacks upon 16-year-old boys. ‘The first stabbing was to [Ajmol friend]'s face but that did not quench your joint thirst for violence. ‘Within a minute or so you were each a party to the second attack, this time upon Ajmol Alom. You each played a part in bringing his life to an end.’ Scene of the crime: Spey Street in Poplar, east London, where Ajmol Alom was murdered last summer . Judge Zeidman said that he could not say for sure which defendant stabbed each victim but it was clear it was a ‘joint enterprise’ between them. ‘I am sure that this was a planned premeditated group attack, carried out in revenge upon a random selection of targets who were entirely innocent of any wrongdoing and who had not in any way provoked the attack,’ he said. The judge . told the defendants that Rohima Khatum, Ajmol’s mother, said in a victim . impact statement that her son’s death ‘has left a massive hole in my . life which can never be filled. ‘There . is no laughter in our home anymore. I have no interest in planning for . the future and I find it hard to enjoy anything,’ she said. ‘I feel . like my heart has been taken away.’ All three defendants had previous convictions for violence, the court heard. Rahman received a three-year sentence in a young offenders’ institution for stabbing someone in the face with a seven-inch knife, while Choudhary did not have any knife crime on his record but has 15 previous convictions, including an unprovoked group attack on a man in a street. Khan, who was taken into care at the age of 15, has four offences of assault or battery on his record, including a robbery in which he threatened a man on a bus with a knife, the court was told. After the men were led down from the dock, Judge Zeidman offered his condolences to Ajmol’s family in the public gallery and said it was clear the teenager was an ‘exceptional person’. ‘Some have emphasised his intellectual qualities. He did brilliantly in his GCSEs and there was talk of him becoming a doctor,’ the judge said. ‘Those are useful gifts but his star quality was not his brain but his heart. He was an extraordinarily kind person, gentle and sensitive.’ | Ajmol Alom, 16, murdered just days before his GCSE results .
On way home from playing football when his friend was stabbed in the face .
Ajmol stabbed in thigh and bled to death in Poplar, east London .
All three killers had previous record of violence . |
1aa59e2e946d50721d6b153c88e30fa2f87ef075 | (CNN) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appeared on state television with a shaved head Monday, telling viewers it is a sign that his cancer treatment is working. He referred to it as his "new look," using an English fashion phrase to describe his appearance. "Chemotherapy attacks the whole body, and the act of hair falling out is normal, and it also shows that the treatment is effective," he said. Chavez said his cancer treatment is going well and he is "advancing optimally." In June, Chavez announced that doctors had removed a cancerous tumor from his body, but the Venezuelan leader has not specified what type of cancer. He traveled to Cuba last month for about a week of chemotherapy. Chavez was jovial as he spoke to members of his Cabinet for more than an hour after swearing in several new government ministers. He mocked critics for widespread speculation about his illness. "They keep speculating without any scientific basis," he said. Chavez also reiterated his support for Moammar Gadhafi, reading a letter he recently received from the embattled Libyan leader. In the letter, Gadhafi said he was praying for Chavez's health and decried what he called a global conspiracy against Libya. Chavez and Gadhafi have a close relationship, having bonded partly over shared opposition to the United States' global influence. In 2009, a new football stadium in Libya was named after Chavez. The Venezuelan leader has spoken out numerous times since unrest erupted in Libya, accusing the United States and other countries of blowing the situation out of proportion to justify an invasion. On Monday, Chavez applauded with his Cabinet ministers as they chanted, "Long live Moammar Gadhafi." "Brother, we are with you and we are with Libya," he said, saluting toward the camera. | NEW: Chavez reiterates his support for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi .
The Venezuelan president says his "new look" is a good sign .
He said in June that doctors had removed a tumor .
Chavez mocks critics for speculating about his health . |
1aa5feb839390ff9f231434454aeb46aa0592860 | Andy and Jamie Murray could team up in their own backyard to form a highly-charged doubles partnership for Great Britain against the USA in next week's Davis Cup first round in Glasgow. The less celebrated Murray sibling was recalled to the GB side for the first time since 2011 when the squad was announced on Tuesday morning for the prestigious fixture starting a week on Friday at the Emirates Arena. There is every likelihood that he and his brother will be thrown into the doubles to tackle the world number one twins Bob and Mike Bryan, although Captain Leon Smith has also included GB doubles number two Dom Inglot as another option. Andy Murray is set to play in all three of Great Britain's Davis Cup matches against USA next month . Murray could be partnered in the doubles alongside his brother Jamie for the clash at the Glasgow Arena . Jamie Murray has earned his place having reviving his career in the last two years after it had slipped into the doldrums. He is now ranked the world's 31st doubles player following victory in the ATP Brisbane Open and reaching the final in Rotterdam earlier this month with Australian foil John Peers. The presence of him and Andy in the team promises to make it an emotional three days, as this will be the first time they have played in Scotland since his younger brother won the Wimbledon title. The world number three is likely to have to take on the responsibility of playing three days in a row, although that could depend on the outcome of the first two singles matches. This will be the first tie in the elite World Group knockout held in the UK since 2002, with the winners going through to face either France or Germany in the last eight. The doubles could decide the tie unless James Ward can produce one of his outstanding Davis Cup performances and upset one of the higher ranked Americans as second singles player. Yorkshire youngster Kyle Edmund will be the travelling reserve. Jamie Murray (right) has been recalled to the GB side for the first time since 2011 after an upturn in form . 'From a selection point of view we've been able to choose our strongest possible team which is spearheaded by Andy Murray who is significantly ahead of where he was 12 months ago,' said Smith. 'The tie will be a huge deal for him personally as he returns to play in Scotland for the first time since winning Wimbledon in 2013. In James Ward we have somebody who has already proven himself against the US Davis Cup team, and I'd back him again to put in another excellent performance after some consistent recent form has seen him on the verge of cracking the top 100 for the first time. 'I've selected our top two doubles players in Jamie and Dom, and again they've showed real consistency this year to earn their place in the team. As a group, all the guys deserve this opportunity.' The American team, captained by Jim Courier, is expected to be made up of world No 20 John Isner, No 44 Steve Johnson and the world champion Bryan brothers . Great Britain captain Leon Smith will be hoping James Ward (right) can repeat his Davis Cup heroics vs USA . | Andy Murray will be competing in the singles with James Ward .
Murray is set to play in the doubles too - alongside brother Jamie .
Doubles specialist Dominic Inglot completes the four-man line-up .
Andy Murray moved up to world No 3 in the ATP rankings on Monday . |
1aa6324a546c9a85369cb32cff1ad9f328960f16 | Tim Cahill is widely regarded as a deadly marksman in front of goal, but the former Everton star outdid himself with an audacious pass following a recent Socceroos game. Cahill was being watched from the stands by his 10-year-old son Shae following Australia's game against Kuwait in the AFC Asian Cup. When the ex-Milwall forward heard his son shouting from high up in the stands, he proceeded to fire a pin-point pass into the arms of the youngster. Tim Cahill's 10-year-old son Shae watches on from the stands following Australia's game against Kuwait . The Australia forward hears his son shouting from the stands and picks up a ball from the side of the pitch . Shae is overjoyed after his dad finds him high up in the second tier with a perfect pass from pitch level . Tim Cahill scored against Holland with an audacious left-footed volley during last summer's World Cup . Holland goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen was powerless to prevent Cahil's strike from rattling the back of the net . Cahill, who now plies his trade in the MLS with the New York Red Bulls, scored one of the goals of the tournament at last summer's World Cup in Brazil when he fired in an unstoppable volley for the Socceroos against Holland. The 34-year-old striker was the talk of tournament after his left foot wonder strike in Austrlalia's 3-2 defeat to the Dutch in Porto Alegre. Australia's greatest ever footballer? It's hard to argue with that title after watching his recent display of skill and accuracy. Cahill's wonder goal could not prevent his team from crashing 3-2 to the Dutch in Port Allegre . | Tim Cahill's son was watching from the stands during the AFC Asian Cup .
Cahill hit a pin-point to his 10-year-old son Shae .
The former Everton star has scored some remarkable goals in the past .
Cahill scored a wonder goal against Holland at last summer's World Cup . |
1aa6b45d341824cbaa82219ee4692d65aa5ba54d | An HIV positive student accused of exposing a gay lover to the disease allegedly filmed himself having unprotected sex with other men in his university dorm room, police have claimed. Detectives investigating Michael Johnson, 22, say they have seized a cache of videos allegedly filmed covertly showing him with a string of, as yet, unidentified people he picked up via social media. Officers fear Johnson may have had intimate contact with more than 30 other men who might not know they are at risk of sexual diseases. Allegations: The St. Charles Police Department believe that Michael Johnson, pictured, secretly filmed his lovers . In October, last year, the student and . former wrestler at Lindenwood University in St Charles, Missouri, was . charged with exposing sexual partners to HIV. A month later, four more felony charges were filed. But now police have revealed that during their probe into the allegations they found 32 incriminating videos on his laptop. St. Charles County prosecutor Tim Lohmar told local station KMOV: 'On that laptop were 32 videos that depicted different individuals engaged in sexual acts with Mr Johnson. Accused: Michael Johnson, 22, pictured in a Facebook profile image, left, and in a police mugshot, right, is charged with transmitting HIV to a man he met online . 'It's safe to safe that numerous . of those videos were taken inside his dorm room; we know that because . we recognize the furniture.' The . St. Charles Police Department believe that his sex partners did not . know that he had the virus or that their actions were being filmed. One is of a victim already identified, . but police are still trying to find out how many different men are . depicted on the other tapes. Police are now appealing for anyone else who was a sexual partner of Johnson to contact St. Charles Detective Bureau at . 636-949-3330. Appeal: Police are asking anyone who had been intimate with Michael Johnson, pictured, to contact them . 'It's a matter not only of their individual safety but public safety as well,' Lohmar said to KMOV. The . St. Charles Police Department began investigating Johnson after a former lover complained he had contracted HIV, which leads to AIDS, and gonorrhoea after sex in his university dorm room. Officers have spent the last five months building the case but are still keen to hear from anyone who might have more information. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Michael Johnson, 22, was charged with exposing gay lover to HIV .
Police discover 32 sex tapes showing Johnson and a string of other people .
Most films were made in room at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, police said .
31 unidentified men are captured in the explicit tapes .
Investigation launched after a man claimed he caught HIV from Johnson . |
1aa6f94eb08fd9eba16123263a33809b1d681674 | By . Daily Mail . PUBLISHED: . 17:38 EST, 22 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:15 EST, 23 November 2013 . The woman who falsely accused three Duke lacrosse players of raping her in 2006 has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of her boyfriend. Crystal Mangum, 35, was sentenced to between 14 and 18 years in prison for killing Reginald Daye, 46. The former stripper and mother-of-three stabbed her boyfriend in the side of his chest during a fight at Daye's apartment on April 3, 2011. Daye died 10 days later at Duke Hospital due to complications from his injuries but managed to speak to police before his death. The verdict: Former stripper and mother-of-three Crystal Mangum is told she will spend a minimum of 14 years in prison for the stabbing murder of her boyfriend, Reginald Daye, in 2011 . Crystal Mangum was found guilty of second-degree murder on Friday by a court in Durham, North Carolina. In 2006, Mangum shot to notoriety as the stripper who accused three Duke Lacrosse players of raping her at a party where she had been paid to perform . While Mangum claimed she stabbed Daye in self defense after he dragged her out by the hair out of the bathroom, Daye told investigators she Mangum attacked him several times with knives before stabbing him in the chest, according to News & Observer. Victim: Crystal Mangum was found guilty of the second-degree murder of her boyfriend Reginald Daye (pictured) whom she stabbed in his apartment during an argument in 2011 . It took the jury six hours to deliberate. Deputies immediately led Mangum out of the courtroom in handcuffs following the announcement of her sentence. Her attorneys had hoped for a verdict of voluntary manslaughter. The jury found Mangum not guilty of larceny for allegedly stealing cashier’s checks totaling $700 that Daye had previously given her to pay the rent. Members of Daye’s family said they were satisfied with the verdict. 'We’re just grateful that justice was served for Reggie today, for his family and his friends,' his sister, Cynthia Wilson, said. 'We just thank everybody that played a part and thank God. We’re just happy.' In 2006, Mangum claimed Duke lacrosse players Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans gang raped her at a team party where she was hired as a stripper. Scene: Mangum allegedly stabbed her 46-year-old boyfriend in this apartment block in 2011 after they had an argument over rent money . The three men were arrested but eventually declared innocent by North Carolina's attorney general after the evidence failed to back up Magnum's inconsistent story and her mental stability was called into question. The district attorney who championed Mangum's claims was later disbarred. North Carolina's attorney general eventually declared the players innocent of a 'tragic rush to accuse'. Prosecutors declined to press charges for the false accusations, but Mangum's bizarre legal troubles continued. Not long after she was convicted on misdemeanor charges of setting a fire that nearly razed her home with her three children inside. Crystal Mangum - seen here following her arrest in April 2011 - maintained she had stabbed boyfriend Reginald Daye in self-defense, with her attorneys hoping for a voluntary manslaughter verdict . In a videotaped police interrogation, she told officers she set got into a confrontation with her boyfriend at the time - not Daye - and burned his clothes, smashed his car windshield and threatened to stab him. Friends said Mangum has never recovered from the stigma brought by the lacrosse case and has been involved in a string of questionable relationships in an attempt to provide stability for her children. Vincent Clark, a friend who co-authored Mangum's self-published memoir, said: 'I'm sad for her. I hope people realize how difficult it is being her.' | Crystal Mangum, 35, was found guilty Friday of the second-degree stabbing murder of her boyfriend, Reginald Daye, 46, in April 2011 .
The mother-of-three was sentenced to between 14 and 18 years in prison .
Mangum hit headlines in 2006 as the stripper who accused three Duke Lacrosse players of gang raping her at a party she was paid to perform at, however the charges were dropped because her story crumbled . |
1aa7155e0588b931b192f7231a7727f50a7e1868 | Celtic have been handed a sensational Champions League reprieve after UEFA ruled Legia Warsaw fielded an ineligible player against the Scottish champions. Henning Berg's side had advanced to the play-off round after winning the home and away legs on a convincing 6-1 aggregate. But a UEFA disciplinary meeting convened before the European draws in Nyon decided Celtic should be awarded a 3-0 second leg victory - and advance on away goals - after Legia fielded defender Bartosz Bereszynski for the final three minutes of Wednesday night's win in Edinburgh. VIDEO: Scroll down to watch Ronny Delia following Celtic's defeat on Wednesday . Reprieve? UEFA have launched an investigation into Celtic's Champions League defeat to Legia Warsaw . Suspended: Defender Bartosz Bereszynski came of for the final few minutes of the game . Going through? Bereszynski celebrates with team-mates as Legia Warsaw beat Celtic . Bartosz Bereszynski is a Polish international who has won two caps for his country. He started his career at Lech Poznan in 2009 before joining Legia Warsaw in 2013. The 22-year-old was suspended for the match having picked up a three match ban last season after being sent off against Apallon in the Europa League. He could have served two matches of his suspension in the second round against St Patrick's but Legia failed to register the defender for those matches allowing Berg to choose from his full compliment of 25 players. News began to filter out for Uefa headquarters after the Legia chairman tweeted 'I failed' ahead of the official announcement. Red carded against Cypriots Appollon Limassol in a Europa League game last season Bereszynski was supposed to serve his suspension in UEFA competition this season. Unregistered for the second qualifying win over St Patrick's Athletic, however, the first opportunity to serve his ban came with during the Celtic tie. His late appearance as a substitute in the second leg was reported to the governing body by the UEFA match delegate leading to his eligibility being investigated. After being reinstated into the competition, Celtic were drawn against Maribor in the play-off round. Legia are likely to fight the decision after spokeswoman Elizabeth Kus said: 'This is the result of a misunderstanding. We have already seen comments appear which threaten us with expulsion, but this is absurd. UEFA have only asked us to explain.' Heat is on: Deila (left) sitting beside assistants John Collins and John Kennedy has suffered an horrendous start as Celtic boss following the Hoops failure to reach the group stage . Legia Warsaw midfielder Ondrej Duda gave a scathing assessment of Celtic's performance after the first leg, he said: 'St Patrick's playerd a lot tougher against us than Celtic. They gave us a very tough game in Warsaw. 'With Celtic, we didn't know what to expect, but we were expected to easily beat the Irish side, which we did, but only after a big fright and a good performance away. Fortunately, we regained our composure and we are now on the right track.' In an incredible twist this is the second time in three years Celtic have gained a UEFA reprieve following an ineligibility row. In September 2011 Swiss club FC Sion were expelled from the Europa League for fielding ineligible players. Sion won the qualifying tie 3-1 on aggregate, but following an appeal from Celtic, UEFA awarded the Parkhead club a 3-0 victory for each of the home and away legs of the tie which sent them into the group stages. A UEFA statement said: 'Legia have been sanctioned for fielding an ineligible player (article 18 of the UEFA Champions League regulations and article 21 of the Disciplinary Regulations). The match has been declared as forfeit meaning Legia Warszawa have lost the match 3-0. 'As a consequence, Celtic have qualified for the UEFA Champions League play-offs on away goals (agg: 4-4) and Legia will compete in the UEFA Europa League play-offs. 'In addition the player Bartosz Bereszynski has been suspended for one additional UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible. This suspension shall be added to the remaining two match suspension which the player still has to serve in accordance with the Control and Disciplinary Body decision of 13 February 2014.' Hopeful: Celtic fans, pictured ahead of Wednesday's night clash at Murrayfield, will be hoping for a reprieve . Celtic will now be among the seeded teams for Friday's draw. Legia Warsaw have five days within which to lodge an appeal, and a statement on the Polish's club website indicated they had requested UEFA's reasoning for the ruling before making a decision. Celtic benefited from an ineligibility ruling during the 2011-12 season when they were reinstated into the Europa League group stages despite a qualifying defeat by Sion. The Swiss side were ruled to have fielded five ineligible players after breaching a FIFA transfer ban and failed to reverse the decision during a lengthy legal battle. Legia chairman Dariusz Mioduski vowed to challenge UEFA's decision. He wrote on Twitter: 'Today, the sport lost behind closed doors. We made a mistake, sorry, but the penalty is disproportionate. Stay with us. We fight on.' | Legia Warsaw fielded defender Bartosz Bereszynski was suspended after red card last season .
Celtic handed 3-0 win in second leg meaning they progress on away goals .
Ronny Deila's side go into the draw for the play-off round .
Legia chairman Dariusz Mioduski vows to challenge UEFA's decision .
Celtic drawn against Slovenian champions Maribor in the play-off round . |
1aa72473760d544200acd5c4d9093c139314b916 | By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 05:09 EST, 17 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:25 EST, 17 October 2013 . It is known as a time to let your hair down while at a safe distance from your parents. But new research suggests many students are risking their health through irresponsible sexual habits. Some 23 per cent of students admit to having caught a sexually transmitted infection . during their first year alone, according to a new survey. Nearly a quarter of students admit to having caught a sexually transmitted infection during their first year of university. The majority of encounters happened after drinking alcohol . The poll, rather ironically conducted by the website www.shagatuni.com, also revealed that 21 per cent caught an STI after their first year but before they finished their studies. The research . also revealed that theatre studies students appeared to be the most promiscuous, . with an average of 28 sexual partners while at university. The next most promiscuous are dance students, who have an average of 25 sexual partners. Media studies students have an average of 22 sexual partners and biology students have 19. 1. Drama/Theatre Studies - 282. Dance - 253. Media Studies/PR - 224. Biology students- 195. Philosophy and ethics - 176. English - 157. Sports science - 138. History of Art s - 139. Law - 1110.Geography - 10 . In contrast, law students have an average of 11 sexual partners during the time at university and geographers 10. Worryingly, . the survey of 2,177 young adults who had recently graduated found 89 . per cent of students do not use condoms for the majority of their sexual . encounters. The poll, which only involved people who . had remained single while at university, also revealed that 73 per cent . of students were under the influence of alcohol when engaging in the majority of their sexual encounters. More than half – 54 per cent – also admitted to being unable to recall who gave them their STI. Of . the respondents, 32 per cent said they found out about their infection . after being contacted by someone they had slept with who had been . diagnosed. Another 27 per cent said they were only diagnosed after being given a free testing kit. More than half of students who have had an STI - 54 per cent - admit to being unable to recall who gave them the STI . Nearly 60 per cent of students who caught an STI contracted chlamydia, 18 per cent caught herpes and 14 per cent genital warts. Possibly the most worrying finding was that 67 per cent of respondents said they would rather risk another STI than use a condom. In the past ten years, the number of under-25s being diagnosed with STIs had increased by almost 50 per cent. Gonorrhoea rates are increasing particularly rapidly - they have risen by a fifth in the last year. This is thought to be because of a new super-strain of the disease that cannot easily be treated with antibiotics. A report by Public Health England shows there were 448,422 new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in 2012, including chlamydia, herpes and genital warts. The total was up by five per cent on the previous year and 46 per cent higher than 2003, when figures were first collected. Rates are highest among the under-25s, with nearly two-third of chlamydia cases, and more than half of gonorrhoea infections, occurring in this age group. The Public Health England report states: ‘The continuing high STI rates in England suggest too many people are still putting themselves at risk through unsafe sex, especially young adults and men who have sex with men.’ It urges the under-25s to ensure they use protection with ‘casual partners’ and have regular checks at sexual health clinics. Audrey Simpson, of the Family Planning Association, said there was less awareness of the importance of contraception among the young, adding: ‘The worry is that condom use is not being taught in schools. There may be less awareness in people’s conscience.’ | 89% of students do not usually use a condom during casual sex .
73% of students undertake most of their sexual encounters after drinking .
60% of those who caught an STI contracted chlamydia, 18% herpes .
The most promiscuous are Drama students - an average of 28 partners .
67% of people who have had an STI would rather risk another one than use a condom . |
1aa7253896c7e4d3301acb7fe6e0c1ba0876f59c | (CNN) -- Ten years ago, Al Franken wrote a satirical book detailing his fictitious race for the White House. In "'Why Not Me?" Franken trounces former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to win the election, but after countless scandals, a mental breakdown and a cloning incident, President Franken is forced to resign. Comedian, author and radio host Al Franken can now add "senator" to his resume. Asked how he came up with the idea for the book, Franken said at the time that a number of people had been encouraging him to run for office. "They thought it would be a good idea because I obviously know a lot about politics; I'm comfortable on camera, as you can tell; I've been married once, have two children; very, very good looking. And I told them that I'd be a terrible office-holder, so that was sort of the genesis of this idea," he said. As far-fetched as the plot was, Franken's political aspirations weren't fantasy, and eight months after Election Day, the Democrat will be sworn in as an office-holder, representing Minnesota in the Senate. Soon after, the outspoken comedian and former radio host will take over the desk once occupied by election rival Norm Coleman. For months, Coleman appealed the election results, in which a recount gave Franken a 312-vote lead. But Coleman's case was put to rest last week when Minnesota's Supreme Court ruled in Franken's favor. Franken on the issues » . When Franken is sworn in Tuesday, the title "senator" will become just the next line on a lengthy and varied résumé that reflects a man who has built up an illustrious yet controversial name for himself. Franken, born in New York in 1951, moved to Minnesota when he was 4 years old. He grew up in a middle-class family and did well in school. Franken attended Harvard University, where he majored in political science. After graduation, Franken teamed up with his home-state pal Tom Davis, and the two started writing for what became known as "Saturday Night Live." Franken was also a performer -- playing self-help guru Stuart Smalley and impersonating public figures like Henry Kissinger and the Rev. Pat Robertson -- and over the course of two decades, he took home five Emmys for his work on the show. Post-"SNL," Franken dabbled in film and had a successful career as an author, penning several best-sellers, including "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations." Watch CNN's Brianna Keiler report on Franken's plans » . In 2004, Franken made a name for himself as someone well-versed in politics through "The Al Franken Show," carried by Air America Radio. During his final show on February 14, 2007, Franken announced his intentions to run for the Senate. But the man who once played Liam the Loose-Boweled Leprechaun wasn't the first unlikely politician to come from Minnesota. Voters there elected former wrestler Jesse Ventura as their governor in 1998. David Schultz, a professor of law at Hamline University in St. Paul, says Franken's win was probably not an affirmation of support for the Democratic candidate but was, for many, a "lesser of two evils vote." Third-party candidate Dean Barkley was chipping into Coleman's support, and "in addition, Coleman threw all his dirt against Franken early, and by the general election, it was old news." "Coleman had little new to campaign on during the general election, and Franken became a better candidate in terms of campaigning during the last two months," he said. In a video posted on his campaign Web site, explaining that he wanted to run, Franken said Minnesotans had "a right to be skeptical" about whether he was ready to take on such a challenge. Watch more on the Franken factor » . Franken cited late Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone as his political hero. Wellstone, who first won election to the Senate in 1990, died in a plane crash shortly before the 2002 election. Going into the race, Coleman was considered one of the more vulnerable Republicans seeking re-election. Although he'd started distancing himself from President Bush, he had been long seen as one of the president's allies. Franken's campaign took off, and he raked in contributions, but his foes were not going to let Coleman go down without a fight. The former comedian's past came back to attack him as anti-Franken ads focused on some of his more controversial lines. The National Republican Senatorial Committee launched a 60-second spot highlighting clips from Franken's SNL days, with an announcer saying, "Rape jokes, poor and foul-mouthed anger do not make for good training for the United States Senate." The Minnesota State Republican Party also blasted their challenger for a 2000 Playboy column he wrote called "Porn-O-Rama!" When the votes were tallied on Election Day, Coleman held a slight edge on Franken, leading with just 206 votes. Under Minnesota law, a recount was in order because the margin of victory was less than .5 percent. The controversial recount, and subsequent court challenges, evoked comparisons to the 2000 Bush-Gore saga. But Franken came out on top in one of the most drawn-out Senate races in Senate history. A day after the Minnesota Supreme Court handed down its unanimous decision in favor of Franken -- and 239 days after the election -- the newly dubbed senator-elect thanked his supporters in an at-times emotional speech on the steps of the state Capitol. "It is, of course, technically true that this was Paul's U.S. Senate seat. But I don't think Paul saw it that way," Franken said Wednesday, again paying respects to Wellstone. "This seat belongs to the people of Minnesota, and so did Sen. Wellstone, and so will I," he said as he thanked his wife, Franni, supporters, volunteers, campaign staff members and the people of the state he will represent. Now, Franken takes on what could be the most influential role of his life as he joins the Senate, giving Democrats their potentially filibuster-proof 60th vote. Senate Democrats are welcoming their newest with open arms, and although the months-long contest has reached a resolution, it's likely the division over Franken will follow him to Capitol Hill. "The arrival of the man from Minnesota will make the Democrats move even more to the left. He will not only be one more vote for the left, but one more loud voice for liberal policies," John Feehery wrote in a commentary for CNN.com. Feehery is a former staffer for former House Speaker Dennis Hastert and other Republicans in Congress. "When Franken first started in politics, he did so as the liberal answer to Rush Limbaugh. Imagine if Rush were the 60th vote for Republicans, with George Bush as president. Now, think how Franken will act as the 60th vote for President Obama," he wrote. | Al Franken defeated Norm Coleman in one of the longest Senate races in history .
Franken was a fixture on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" for years .
He also is a best-selling author and former radio host .
Franken gives Senate Democrats their potentially filibuster-proof 60th vote . |
1aa7fdacfbc3472388fe81e1923aac7961014749 | By . Bianca London . The England football team may have enough money to snap up the latest designer gear, but as their latest photoshoot proves, you can still look a million dollars in a high street suit. Players including captain Steven Gerrard, Chelsea's Ashley Cole and . Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana have swapped their football boots for smart shoes to model the Three Lions' official World Cup suits - and both football and fashion fans will be pleased to know they can emulate the soccer stars' look for £199. Designed . by high street retailer Marks and Spencer, the suits, which will be worn . by England manager Roy Hodgson and his players, come in charcoal grey and are packed with special design features. These include an embroidered World Cup winners' star on the inside envelope . pocket, the England crest on the Autograph label and a red, white and . blue sleeve and pocket lining. Dressed to impress: England players including captain Steven Gerrard (fifth from left) and Chelsea's Frank Lampard (sixth from right) show off the Three Lions' Marks and Spencer suits for this summer's World Cup . Looking good: Three Lions stars (from left to right) Leighton Baines, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Ashley Cole will all be hoping to wear their new suits in Brazil - and you can snap it up on the high street . Styled up and looking slick in . an exclusive photoshoot with men's magazine GQ, the 12 candidates for this . summer's trip to Brazil showed off England's new look, which can be . bought for £199 from stores throughout the country. Created in-house by the design team, Marks & Spencer has worked with The FA to develop this exclusive ensemble. The high street giant say they've sourced the finest British fabrics as well as tailor-making each suit to perfectly fit every player - only the best for our country's football heroes, after all. The store say the suit is specially designed to be lightweight and comfortable to wear in the hot temperatures in Brazil. Made to measure: Every member of Roy Hodgson's squad will have a Marks and Spencer Autograph suit fitted to his exact measurements - and they're available to the public in a variety of styles . Suited and booted: England's players will swap their boots for black Gibson shoes when wearing their suits on World Cup duty . The grey Autograph suit is cut from light and breathable English wool and mohair fabric and is available to customers in regular, slim and 'Big and Tall' fit. June's edition of GQ magazine, in which the footballers model suits, is on sale now . Fancy copying Ashley Cole's entire look? You can! The outfit also includes Gibson shoes and an Autograph tie, featuring a woven England crest on the inside tip. Celebrating six years as official tailor to the England team, M&S has been supplying the squad with its formal wardrobe since 2007. A spokesperson said: 'We’re proud to be the official tailor to the England Football team and are delighted with the design of the new team suit. Made from lightweight British cloth and impeccably tailored, the suit is modern and relevant, representing the very best of British tailoring.' Club England Managing Director Adrian Bevington added: 'With qualification secured to the World Cup, one of the most exciting parts of planning for the tournament is always the team suit and this has been no exception. 'We are delighted with what has been created for the team and staff to wear. The FA and Marks and Spencer have enjoyed a great relationship over six years, and that will continue next summer in Brazil.' Fashion . writer Simon Glazin says: 'I can imagine men across the country . furiously tapping their credit card numbers into the Marks and Spencer . site right now buying this official World Cup suit. 'Men . like to look to male celebs they can relate to . and, let’s face it, what man doesn’t consider himself a professional . football player? Now he can emulate his favourite player both on and off the . pitch. 'This . grey number would make a perfect addition to any man’s wardrobe, for . work or play. Style it up with a pastel shirt, open at the neck, for a . summer wedding, or wear it smart with cufflinks and tie for that . all-important job interview. 'One . thing’s for sure - get ready for men everywhere boasting that they are . wearing the exact same thing the whole England squad own. How cool is . that?' Femail Contributing Editor Toni Jones says: 'The slim fit design is very cool right now, and looks great on a lean, athletic body. But how many men are as toned as the England football team? 'Frank, Stephen and the boys look super smart in their made-to-measure versions but real men splashing out on this two-piece need to be careful that the sharp cut doesn't end up looking a little lumpy.' | England team modelling in GQ .
Designed by M&S and has embroidered World Cup winners star .
Packed with special World Cup-inspired design features .
£199 and perfect for summer weddings . |
1aa8d68c2b87150c783a33c294d11050bf4fb793 | Esa’s Rosetta mission is currently making its way towards a comet in the solar system. And, in a series of stunning new images, it reveals how comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko has begun to develop into an exciting ball of dust and gas. Over a period of six weeks the comet has begun to extend its dusty veil known as a ‘coma’ into space. This sequence of images was taken between 27 March and 4 May, as the gap between spacecraft and comet closed from around 3.1 million miles (five million kilometres) to 1.2 million miles (two million kilometres) The Rosetta spacecraft is set to rendezvous with the comet later this month before entering orbit in August and becoming the first spacecraft ever to orbit a comet. Rosetta, . named after a block of stone that helped archeologists decipher ancient . Egyptian hieroglyphs, will seek to help scientists unlock the . composition of comets and thereby understand more about the origins and . evolution of our solar system. The . probe was launched in 2004 and has since travelled around the sun five . times, picking up energy from Earth and Mars to line it up with its . final destination: Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. For . the coldest, loneliest leg of the mission, as Rosetta travelled out . towards the orbit of Jupiter, the spacecraft was put into deep-space . hibernation. Later . this year, Rosetta will complete its cruise towards the comet, meeting . with it in August, before putting its Philae lander onto the comet’s . surface in November. Once there it will follow the comet on its journey around the sun, performing extensive studies of the coma and the surface. And in November it will perform another first when it releases the Philae lander, which if successful will be the first vehicle ever to land on a comet. By the end of the sequence of images of the comet the coma extends about 800 miles (1,300 kilometres). But the core of the comet, known as the nucleus, is itself just 2.5 miles (four kilometres) across and cannot yet be seen. The coma has developed as a result of the comet moving progressively closer to the sun along its 6.5 year orbit. Even though it is still more than 370 million miles (600 million kilometres) from the sun - more than four times the distance between Earth and sun - its surface has already started to warm, causing its ices to turn to gas and escape from its rock-ice nucleus. As the gas escapes, it also carries a cloud of tiny dust particles out into space, which slowly expands to create the coma. The warming will continue as the comet moves closer to the sun and activity rises, and pressure from the solar wind will eventually cause some of the material to stream out into a long tail. Rosetta and the comet will be closest to the sun in August 2015, between the orbits of Earth and Mars. The Rosetta spacecraft launched in 2004 on a mission to study comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (artist's illustration shown). It will rendezvous with the comet later this month before entering orbit in August, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit a comet . In November of this year the Philae lander will be sent to touch down on the surface of the comet (artist's illustration shown), which will be the first landing ever performed on a comet. Here, harpoons will be fired into the surface to keep it anchored while it studies its surroundings . The onset of activity now offers scientists the opportunity to study dust production and structures within the coma before getting much closer. 'It’s beginning to look like a real comet,' says Holger Sierks, principal investigator for OSIRIS, the Optical, Spectroscopic and Infrared Remote Imaging System, at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany. 'It’s hard to believe that only a few months from now, Rosetta will be deep inside this cloud of dust and en route to the origin of the comet’s activity.' In addition, tracking the periodic changes in brightness reveals the nucleus is rotating every 12.4 hours ' about 20 minutes shorter than previously thought. 'These early observations are helping us to develop models of the comet that will be essential to help us navigate around it once we get closer,' says Sylvain Lodiot, ESA Rosetta spacecraft operations manager. On 25 Feb 2007 The Rosetta spacecraft returned this stunning image of Mars as it flew past the red planet on its way to the comet. The picture was taken by an imaging instrument on the Philae lander at a distance of 620 miles (1,000 kilometres). Below the solar array an area close to the Syrtis region is visible on the planet's disk . OSIRIS and the spacecraft’s dedicated navigation cameras have been regularly acquiring images to help determine Rosetta’s exact trajectory relative to the comet. Using this information, the spacecraft has already started a series of manoeuvres that will slowly bring it in line with the comet before making it enters orbit in the first week of August. Detailed scientific observations will then help to find the best location on the comet for the Philae lander’s descent to the surface in November. The images shown here were taken during a six-week period that saw the orbiter’s 11 science experiments and the lander and its 10 instruments switched back on and checked out after more than 2.5 years of hibernation. Earlier this week, a formal review brought these commissioning activities to a close, giving the official ‘go’ for routine science operations. 'We have a challenging three months ahead of us as we navigate closer to the comet, but after a 10'year journey it’s great to be able to say that our spacecraft is ready to conduct unique science at comet 67P/C-G,' says Fred Jansen, ESA’s Rosetta mission manager. | Esa's Rosetta spacecraft is getting ready to rendezvous with a comet .
And ice from the target has started to create a 'coma' as it nears the sun .
This is seen in a series of images taken by the spacecraft as it approaches .
Later this month Rosetta will perform its first rendezvous with the comet .
It will become the first spacecraft ever to orbit a comet in August .
In November the Philae lander will be the first vehicle to land on a comet . |
1aa8fb06662950a25e36ca2a782fb246eabea950 | He has been praised for his star performance as the code breaker Alan Turing in his latest film role. But it seems Benedict Cumberbatch’s uncanny resemblance to his subject may be down to more than just good acting…because it turns out they are related. The actor, 38, is a distant cousin of the celebrated mathematician, who broke the German Enigma code during World War Two. Benedict Cumberbatch, pictured in a scene from The Imitation Game, is a distant cousin of the celebrated mathematician Alan Turing who broke the German Enigma code during World War Two . He plays Turing in The Imitation Game, which is released in UK cinemas on Friday. Both men share a common 15th century ancestor, John Beaufort, the Earl of Somerset, making them 17th cousins, experts from the genealogy website Ancestry said. Turing helped alter the course of the war after he created a machine that allowed the Allies to read secret German messages. Alan Turing (pictured) helped alter the course of the war after he created a machine that allowed the Allies to read secret German messages . But he was persecuted by the British Establishment because of his homosexuality and is thought to have killed himself in 1954 by eating a poisoned apple. It is not the first time Cumberbatch’s ancestry has revealed surprising parallels with his film roles. The star, who won plaudits for playing a slave owner in 12 Years A Slave last year, is also descended from a long line of slave owners in Barbados. Earlier this year, a New York City commissioner, Stacey Cumberbatch, claimed she gained her distinctive surname because her ancestors were owned by the star’s fifth great-grandfather on a sugar plantation. Cumberbatch once said his part in another anti-slavery film – Amazing Grace – was a sort of apology’ for his ancestry. He also revealed that his mother, the actress Wanda Ventham, once urged him not to use his real surname professionally in case it made him a target for reparation claims by the descendants of slaves. Miriam Silverman from Ancestry said: ‘It’s amazing to think that when stepping into the role of Alan Turing, he would not only be portraying a world class code breaker but a real life relation.’ | Benedict Cumberbatch, 38, stars as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game .
Actor is distant cousin of mathematician who broke Enigma code in World War Two .
Both men share 15th century ancestor, John Beaufort, the Earl of Somerset .
Experts say this makes them 17th cousins .
Turing helped alter the course of the war after creating machine that allowed Allies to read secret German messages . |
1aa90b32ababba126cdd01074a1b7a970cc2cec0 | Gun debate? What gun debate? Americans seem to have this settled. Yes, we witnessed on our TV screens this week yet another parade of children being evacuated from their school — this time in Oregon -- their arms held high to show they were not armed as they fled a 15-year-old shooter who police said took the life of their 14-year-old classmate. But Americans, ever more desensitized to the school/mall/navy yard attacks that come, weekly, into their lives, don't seem to want to talk about a gun problem. Americans remain pleased for the general population -- even 15-year-old kids -- to have nearly unfettered access to all manner of firearms, including assault rifles. Even the President seems to have acquiesced. A tweet from @WhiteHouse: "'If public opinion does not demand change in Congress, it will not change.' -- President Obama on legislation to prevent gun violence." What this means is that we've accepted school shootings and other random mass shootings as a normal part of life in America, no matter how they affect the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness that was first announced in the Declaration of Independence, some 13 years before our oft-quoted Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I guess that's not surprising: We accept collateral damage for other privileges we enjoy. We tolerate a certain number of drunk driving deaths, more than 10,000 in 2012, and there's little public outcry for greater restrictions. We've been willing to sacrifice nearly 7,000 soldiers (and tens of thousands wounded) in two wars to maintain our political influence in the Middle East. About 400 children drown each year in pools and spas, but we're not scrambling to outlaw summer fun. Why should guns be any different? In the United States only about 10 people out of every 100,000 are killed by guns, or a little more than 30,000 per year (As a reference, we lost about 60,000 soldiers in the Vietnam War). This is clearly an acceptable sacrifice to make to maintain our sacred, un-infringed right to bear arms, no? After all, I've been told by some gun-rights advocates that reasonable restrictions on gun ownership will undoubtedly send us down a slippery slope to the abolition of all guns in America. And if we didn't have unfettered access to guns, think about what would happen: We would be overrun by a foreign power; our government would assume totalitarian control and burn the Constitution; and criminal gangs, the only people left with guns, would run roughshod over all law-abiding citizens. If you suggest, as I have, that we should place reasonable restrictions on guns, then you are clearly a delusional or ignorant pacifist who has been dropped on his head. What part of "shall not be infringed" don't you understand? they ask. (For the record, I'm a responsible gun owner.) I'm confident that in the next few weeks there will be another school shooting. I'm confident because there have been 74 shootings on or around schools or colleges in the year and a half since the Sandy Hook massacre. That's averaging one a week. I'll repeat: We have a gun problem in this country. Reasonable restrictions on guns will not lead to totalitarianism and anarchy. Suffering 30,000 gun deaths annually is not a reasonable sacrifice to make in order to blindly maintain our unrestricted gun culture, particularly when the rallying cry is an outdated reference concerning infringement which, known to anyone who has actually studied the Constitution and our founding fathers who drafted it, was a reference to the then-existing reality that young men, when called upon to defend the state and the laws of the state, were expected to provide their own arms. Listen, reasonable restrictions are necessary to assure the continued viability of our Second Amendment rights, and to curb the unnecessary bloodshed caused by the proliferation of guns into hands of irresponsible people who care little about constitutional rights, and less about the sanctity of life. Like that of a boy in Oregon, who was shot dead. | Mark O'Mara: America appears to have settled its gun debate .
He says inflexible owners must view school shooting as collateral of "right" to bear arms .
He says we don't further restrict drinking because of DWI. Have we made that deal on guns?
O'Mara: Face it: Restricting guns won't hurt Constitution, cause anarchy; it will protect us . |
1aa92fe95d56a7dae390a321fee4760da5e7f9d0 | By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Ap . Paula Faris is replacing the departing Bianna Golodryga as the news anchor on the weekend edition of Good Morning America - and you might not have even noticed unless someone told you because the two women look nearly identical. ABC News said Monday that Faris will start Aug. 8. The World News Now anchor joined the network in 2012 from the NBC affiliate in Chicago, and was recently given exposure as ABC News' reporter at the World Cup. Promotion: Paula Faris (pictured) is replacing Bianna Golodryga as weekend anchor at Good Morning America . Doppelganger: Golodryga is leaving ABC News to join Katie Couric at Yahoo News . Golodryga is leaving ABC News to join Yahoo News, where Katie Couric recently was hired to be the global anchor of the web-based news outlet. Faris will be co-anchor of the weekend morning broadcast with Dan Harris. Rob Marciano will also soon be joining the weekend crew as the weather forecaster. 'After 7 years with ABC News, Bianna Golodryga is departing for an . amazing new opportunity at Yahoo! as news and finance anchor,' ABC News President James Goldston said in a statement obtained by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Royal: Bianna Golodryga covered the royal wedding for ABC News in 2011 . Soccer fan: Faris recently covered the World Cup in Brazil for Good Morning America . 'Because of . our great partnership with Yahoo!, she will continue to appear on our . air and will contribute frequent reports to the Yahoo-ABC News Network,' he continued. For ABC, Faris has anchored America This Morning and the 'World News Now' morning shows, and reported for many ABC News shows. | Faris will start as the weekend anchor for Good Morning America on August 8 .
She recently covered the World Cup in Brazil .
Golodryga will still appear on ABC News programs because of the network's partnership with Yahoo! |
1aaae281edf4e2b069ee88a859195bebce8ac5fe | Bali Nine drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan could be executed within days after Australian embassy staff were called to meet with Indonesian diplomats on Monday. A spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has confirmed the meeting, saying other officials with nationals facing execution have also been summoned. This comes as family and friends say their final goodbyes to the Australians, including Sukumaran's mentor and artist Ben Quilty. Chan and Sukumaran are expected to be moved to Nusa Kambangan - a prison island off central Java - where prisoners on death row are executed. They will be given 72 hours notice of their execution by firing squad. The pair were leaders of the so-called Bali Nine, who were found guilty of attempting to smuggle more than 8 kg of heroin valued at about $4 million from Indonesia to Australia in 2005. Scroll down for video . Australian death-row prisoners Andrew Chan (left) and Myuran Sukumaran have been moved for execution . A general view shows the death island of Nusa Kambangan island, upon which Indonesia's maximum security prison is located and prisoners on death row are executed . 'The Australian Embassy in Jakarta, along with a number of other diplomatic missions, has been invited to a meeting with the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday,' a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia. It is not yet known whether officials attending the meeting will be notified when the executions will take place. Those who are on death row are believed to be delaying the execution date as they have to be transported from prisons across Indonesia, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. In previous a case, embassies were informed just 24 hours before Attorney-General H.M. Prasetyo held a media conference to announce when five prisoners on similar charges would face the firing squad. They were executed on January 18 - three days after Mr Prasetyo spoke to the press, the Sydney Morning Herald further reports. The Attorney-General said on Friday a date is yet to be set for the imminent executions and gave no indication to when the 72 hour notice period will commence. Chan and Sukumaran have been disturbed by the evident preparation for their execution as prison guards broke open the lock to their jail cells to conduct a search. Mr Sukumaran is passionate painter who has been conducting art classes to other inmates while in Kerobokan jail. The classes have been his way of showing he has rehabilitated . Sukumaran's friend and mentor, artist Ben Quilty, said goodbye to him at Kerobokan prison in Bali for the last time on Thursday . During a charity event on Saturday, Prime Minister Tony Abbott made another appeal to Indonesian authorities. 'I should also just observe today that millions of Australians are feeling very, very upset about what may soon happen to two Australians in Indonesia and my plea even at this late stage is for Indonesia to be as responsive to us as it expects other countries to be to them when they plead for the lives of their citizens on death row overseas,' he said. Artist Ben Quilty says Sukumaran is no longer sleeping as he waits with dread for a final knock on his door to take him to his execution by firing squad. Quilty said goodbye the 33-year-old to at Kerobokan prison in Bali for the last time on Thursday. 'He knows someone will knock on his door in the middle of the night. I offered to bring him valium but he said "no". He is completely free from drugs and won't even take sleeping pills,' Quilty told ABC radio. The Australian artist, who in 2011 won the Archibald Prize, has been Sukumaran's mentor since 2012, helping him develop a talent for painting. Nusa Kambangan is deceiving, it's pristine waters and white sandy beaches look like a place of haven . Bali Nine ringleaders Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan are expected to be taken to Nusa Kambangan, where they will take their final breaths . The Australians who are facing execution were arrested at Bali's Denpasar airport and their case has taken on enormous resonance as a domestic political issue in Australia. Sukumaran has begun what may well be his final painting after finding a photo of the Indonesian island where he will likely be shot and killed. 'He's found an image of the island where his execution will take place and wants to make a painting. I hope it's not the last he makes but it's the beginnings of a great painting,' Quilty said. Sukumaran has been on death row for almost ten years but Quilty, who has been leading the Mercy Campaign for the Bali Nine pair, said on Thursday his spirits were high after Ms Bishop and Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek pleaded for their lives to be spared in parliament. Indonesian police tighten security at the main gate of maximum security prison Nusa Kambangan . But later in the day, events took a turn for the worse and their moods plummeted when it was confirmed permission had been granted to move them from Kerobokan prison, setting the wheels in motion for their death. 'By the afternoon things had gone dark, it was very bleak leaving them there,' Quilty said. 'We thought he'd be fine. I said one day we'd be sat on a veranda out in the bush smoking a pipe and drinking vodka together, now that looks like it will never happen.' Quilty explained yesterday was the first time Sukumaran let out a tear when he said goodbye to his friend. 'The inevitability of it is brutal. He handled it better than I did.' A meeting on Thursday granted permission to move the Bali Nine drug smugglers on a date which will be determined on Friday. Australia's efforts to stop the executions have so far failed, along with desperate legal bids. Death-row prisoner Myuran Sukumaran's sister Brintha Sukumaran, left, and his mother Raji Sukumaran, right, have been visiting him every day . Ben Quilty greets Myuran Sukumaran's family at the I Stand For Mercy concert and vigil for Bali Nine death row inmates Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, at Martin Place in Sydney, on January 29 . Andrew Chan mother's Helen Chan arrives to visit her son at Kerobokan prison on Thursday . Officials have been granted permission to transfer the two men from Kerobokan jail in Bali . Indonesia's Attorney-General HM Prasetyo, who hasn't shied away from commenting on the men's cases before the courts, says he won't delay with his execution plans. Chan and Sukumaran are expected to be moved to Nusakambangan, a prison island off central Java known as 'Indonesia's Alcatraz'. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that it understood officials have been speaking to airport authorities and Garuda - the national carrier - which has apparently agreed to fly the men to the place where the executions will take place. They will be given 72 hours notice of their execution by firing squad. Their Sydney families are in Bali, where they have spent the past three weeks paying daily visits to the men in Kerobokan jail. Over the past decade they've been imprisoned there, Chan and Sukumaran have transformed into model inmates, who have helped scores of others rehabilitate and get drug-free. In this photo taken on August 17, 2010, convicted Australian drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran (L) and Andrew Chan (R) gesture as they sit inside Kerobokan prison in Denpasar, Bali . Mr Chan has been in jail in Bali since 2005 after his arrest at at Bali's Denpasar airport . Both men have vowed that their time in jail has rehabilitated them and they deserve a reprieve . | Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan could be executed within days .
It is believed Australian officials along with other embassies with nationals facing execution have also been summoned .
Family and friends have said their final goodbyes including artist Ben Quilty who saw Sukumaran on Thursday .
Chan and Sukumaran are expected to be moved to Nusa Kambangan, a prison island off central Java known as 'Indonesia's Alcatraz'
The men will be given the required 72 hours notice of their executions . |
1aaae71e50c2a3700baada00e21d39da3b771465 | (CNN) -- When film director Kevin Smith tweeted about getting kicked off a Southwest Airlines flight on Saturday, the airline responded in less than 20 minutes. "Dear @SouthwestAir - I know I'm fat, but was Captain Leysath really justified in throwing me off a flight for which I was already seated?" Smith tweeted at 6:52 p.m. "@ThatKevinSmith hey Kevin! I'm so sorry for your experience tonight! Hopefully we can make things right, please follow so we may [direct message]!" the airline responded at 7:08 p.m. The airline contacted Smith personally to apologize for bumping the director of "Clerks" off a standby flight, accommodated him on a later flight, and sent him a $100 travel voucher for his inconvenience. Southwest did not immediately return calls or a Twitter message for comment but posted a statement on its blog apologizing to Smith and explaining its "Customer of Size" policy, which "requires passengers that can not fit safely and comfortably in one seat to purchase an additional seat while traveling." Kevin Smith 'too fat' to fly Southwest . But if Kevin Smith were, say, John Smith, who worked in Muncie, Indiana, instead of Hollywood, California, would he have gotten the same response to his tweets? "If the company is actively using social media -- and I think that most companies are using social media -- I think the consumer stands a great chance of hearing directly from the company and being engaged and having their issues resolved," said Steve Loucks, vice president of communications for Travel Leaders, a large travel agency network. Southwest has more than a million followers on Twitter. Loucks believes the majority of travel companies now are using sites including Twitter and Facebook to get feedback from their consumers. "If someone feels they are not being heard, social media is a very visible way to tell your friends, the people that follow you, that you're not happy and hopefully the company will be paying attention," Loucks said. Adam Ostrow, editor-in-chief of social media site Mashable.com, says many big brands are starting to dedicate entire teams to social media monitoring, because they know it's important to respond quickly to negative comments before they become a public relations nightmare. Yet there's a difference, Ostrow said, between responding and being able to fix the problem. "For example, if you tweet that your plane has been stuck on the runway for four hours, JetBlue can respond to you, but they're likely not in a position to do anything about getting your plane off the ground," Ostrow said. JetBlue, which wasn't involved in the Kevin Smith incident, is one of the most followed airlines, with more than 1.6 million followers on Twitter. JetBlue has six people who watch the airline's social media presence. The team rarely handles issues personally -- instead directing customers to the right resource for their complaints or questions. "We consider ourselves more of an information booth rather than a customer service counter," public communications manager Morgan Johnston said. Johnston says all JetBlue customers are equally important, but someone with a larger voice may get noticed, and responded to by the team, faster. Ostrow recommends using the company's Twitter name in your complaint to get noticed, as most teams are set up to monitor for these mentions. He also suggests keeping your character count short so that others can easily retweet and share their own thoughts on the issue. In her Mashable article "HOW TO: Get Your Feedback Heard on Social Networks," media director Mollie Vandor offers additional tips. "First, always remember that the person on the other end of Twitter is, well, a person," Vandor writes. "Patience is key. You will get a better response if you give your recipient some time to look into the issue before they respond." She also suggests avoiding people at the top of the company, instead looking for people who mention user experience, community or support on their Twitter profiles. Most of all, it's important to hit the normal channels first before going on a social media rant, Travel Leaders' Loucks said -- give the system time to work and only try the more high profile online complaints if the company doesn't respond satisfactorily. "We'd want to know about it not only because we want happy customers but because we want to make sure that that never happens again." | Kevin Smith gets quick response to his complaint about Southwest Airlines .
Travel experts say other customers can get the same response .
Use replies on Twitter to get better feedback, industry insiders say . |
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