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Apple has made a U-turn in its app review strategy after reversing an earlier decision to ban MassRoots . The social app allows its members to speak with other cannabis users and discover new marijuana strains and trends . It was removed from the App Store late last year because Apple said it promotes illegal substances online . Apple has made a U-turn in its app strategy after reversing an earlier decision to ban MassRoots . The social app allows its members to speak with other cannabis users and discover new marijuana strains and trends . According to App Store guideline 2.18 : ` Apps that encourage excessive consumption of alcohol or illegal substances , or encourage minors to consume alcohol or smoke cigarettes , will be rejected . ' MassRoots has now announced that Apple has agreed to allow the app back in the store just three months after the ban was enforced . However , the app is now restricted to users located in one of the 23 states where medical or recreational marijuana is legal . To enforce this , Apple phones will conduct an automatic geo-location before allowing users to down the app . MassRoots recently announced that Apple has agreed to allow the app back in the store just three months after the ban was enforced . The group had campaigned to get the app reinstated . The company added in a blog post that it intends to implement more checks to ensure it complies with the rule . ` We do not take this task lightly , ' it wrote . ` Over the coming weeks , we will be implementing new features to strengthen our compliance even beyond what is currently required ' MacRumors noted that it was possible to get around the geo-restrictions by signing up for a MassRoots account through the website before logging into the app . But MassRoots founder Isaac Dietrich said the Colorado-based private site was working to close the loophole . The company added in a blog post that it intends to implement more checks to ensure it complies with the rule . ` We do not take this task lightly , ' it wrote . ` Over the coming weeks , we will be implementing new features to strengthen our compliance even beyond what is currently required . ' MassRoots is available on the App Store for free , and has been updated to version 3.0 . The states in which marijuana is legal in some form include Alaska , Arizona , California , Colorado , Connecticut , Delaware , Hawaii , Illinois , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Michigan , Minnesota , Montana , Nevada , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Oregon , Rhode Island , Vermont , Washington . Tweets often reveal growing trends among young people - and now scientists have revealed cannabis has become a popular topic . During a single month , researchers identified more than seven million tweets referring to marijuana , with ` pro-pot ' messages outnumbering those opposed to the drug by 15 to one . Most of those sending and receiving ` pot tweets ' were under the age of 25 , and many in their teens , said the team . US psychiatrist and lead author Dr Patricia Cavazos-Rehg , from the Washington University Institute for Public Health , said : ` It 's a concern because frequent marijuana use can affect brain structures and interfere with cognitive function , emotional development and academic performance . ` The younger people are when they begin using marijuana , the more likely they are to become dependent . ' A lot of young people will phase out of marijuana use as they get older , but unfortunately , we 're not good at predicting who those individuals are . ' The findings , reported in the Journal of Adolescent Health , follow a computer search of tweets conducted between February 5 and March five last year . | Colorado-based app allows members to speak with other cannabis users . Apple banned it because it ` encourages excessive consumption of drugs ' Ban overturned in 23 states , and app will use geo-location to enforce this . | [[106, 222], [128, 174], [430, 546], [452, 498], [223, 330]] |
While the rest of us huddle indoors with the heating cranked up , Canadian photographer Annie Degré-Blais braves sub-zero temperatures in her quest for the perfect photo opportunity . The hardy 42-year-old uses pieces of naturally formed ice found near her home in rural Québec to take the incredible snaps , which play with perspective and light for an almost sculptural appearance . With the stunning Saint-Lawrence River as a backdrop , ice queen Annie takes most of her photographs at sunset for the best results , making the ice appear like precious jewels . Annie Degré-Blais spends her winters scouring rural Québec for naturally-formed ice sculptures that she uses for her incredible photographs . The 42-year-old Canadian braves sub-zero temperatures by the Saint-Lawrence River to take her incredible snaps . The ice structures in Annie 's photographs take on a sculptural appearance in the winter sunshine . Wearing just hiking boots and a hooded parka jacket to protect her from frostbite , Annie scours the landscape for the most mesmerising ice formations that glimmer and glisten in the twilight . For the best results , Annie often works at sunset which makes the ice appear like precious jewels . Winters can be long and harsh in Quebec , but Annie claims the area 's natural beauty is unrivalled . The ice reflects and refracts the glorious sunsets , which Annie has captures here . The ice in this pictures take on a golden appearance in the winter light . ` Winter can be long and cold in Quebec if you do n't find an activity that you enjoy but its beauty is unrivalled so , for a photographer , it 's heaven , ' says Annie . ' I enjoy walking and taking photos and I particularly enjoy the space and solitude that winter brings . ` Nature is my inspiration and winter has become my favourite season to express myself through photographs . ' Annie scours the landscape for the most mesmerising ice formations that glimmer and glisten in the twilight . Annie enjoys the space and solitude that winter brings , and wears just hiking boots and a hooded parka jacket to protect her from frostbite . | Annie Degré-Blais braves sub-zero temperatures in her quest for the perfect photograph . The 42-year-old photographer uses pieces of naturally formed pieces of ice as the subject for her work . Images are taken at sunset for the most stunning results . Ice queen Annie uses the stunning Saint-Lawrence River as a backdrop . | [[706, 818], [184, 217], [231, 277], [184, 205], [221, 306], [627, 636], [637, 705], [627, 658], [668, 705], [440, 495], [1113, 1133], [1136, 1163], [1316, 1323], [1337, 1400]] |
A senior Tory has attacked David Cameron 's ` illegal and unworkable ' plan to force fat people to go on a diet or lose their benefits . Sarah Wollaston , the chair of the influential Commons Health Committee , said she was ` infuriated ' by the proposal , announced last week . She has written to the Prime Minister to demand he drops the controversial plan . David Cameron has been criticised by Tory MP Sarah Wollaston over his plan to cut benefits for people too fat to go to work if they do n't go on a diet . Dr Wollaston said Mr Cameron was effectively asking doctors and nurses to break the law , because all patients had the right to refuse treatment . She said threatening to take away people 's basic income meant the government was forcing people to get help . At the moment there is no requirement on addicts to seek help before they claim sickness benefits . Cameron has launched a review to see if he can change the rules . But Mr Cameron said people who can not work because they are too fat -- or addicted to drugs or alcohol -- should have their benefits cut if they refuse to get treatment . He pointed to Government figures which show 100,000 people claim benefits for ` treatable conditions ' . Less than 2,000 are on benefits because they are too fat to work . But Dr Wollaston , a former GP , said : ' A doctor would not only find themselves in breach of the law , they 'd find themselves at risk of being struck off . So in fact , his proposal is utterly unworkable in terms of the existing law . ' Government figures show 100,000 people claim benefits for ` treatable conditions ' - including around 2,000 who are too fat to work . The MP for Totnes told BuzzFeed News that she was ` infuriated ' by the proposal which she suggested was a dog whistle to right wing voters who think everyone on benefits is lazy . She said : ` It 's really unnecessary and it 's all part of , in my view , trying to appeal to a sort of particular group of people who see that everybody on benefits is somehow there because it 's their own fault . We should n't go down this route . ` We need to have a compassionate Conservative message , in my view , and this is n't a compassionate Conservative message -- this is frankly illegal and unworkable . ' Dr Wollaston said the proposal was ` indefensible ' . Iain Duncan Smith , the Work and Pensions Secretary , has defended the proposal . She called on Number 10 to issue an urgent clarification that ` there will be no enforced referrals ' of obese patients for treatment . The MP added : ` If you say to somebody : ` We will remove everything you have to live on unless you go to this thing ' , all you 'll have is people pitching up just to tick the box , they wo n't engage with treatment so it wo n't work , and it would count under the law as an enforced referral and it would be illegal . So I ca n't stress this enough , they need to withdraw it and they should do it immediately . ' On Saturday , Mr Cameron defended the plan . He said : ` People have problems with their weight that could be addressed , but instead a life on benefits rather than work becomes the choice . ` It is not fair to ask hard-working taxpayers to fund the benefits of people who refuse to accept the support and treatment that could help them get back to a life of work . ' Number 10 made it clear the benefit cuts , worth about # 100 a week , were a personal priority of the Prime Minister . Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has insisted the policy does not mean taking away people 's benefits if they can not lose weight . Speaking on the BBC 's Andrew Marr show , he said : ` The problem we 've got is that lots of people are either fearful or do n't want to take the help that 's there . ` We invest in the help , whether it 's to support people to get off drugs ... or whether it 's to get people into a particular mindset to reduce their weight because their health condition 's so bad . ` What we want is people to take that help and to take responsibility for their condition and try to improve . No one 's going to penalise anybody who tries . ' | Sarah Wollaston said she was ` infuriated ' by the Prime Minister 's proposal . Chair of the Commons Health Committee said it was ` indefensible ' She has written to the PM to demand he drops the controversial plan . Dr Wollaston said people could not be forced to go on a diet by doctors . | [[137, 152], [211, 278], [361, 435], [1657, 1737], [2258, 2307], [279, 360], [279, 282], [298, 301], [317, 360], [361, 435]] |
A mother has a rare brain disorder which she claims causes her to take off her clothes in public -- and says the condition is ` ruining her life ' . Leanne Lyon , 41 , has a small non-cancerous tumour lodged in her brain which triggers up to five seizures a day , each lasting up to half an hour . She blacks out during the fits - which have a strange and embarrassing side-effect - they often cause her to strip down to her underwear . They also sometimes leave her incontinent , meaning she is at risk of wetting herself publicly . Mrs Lyon says while the condition may seem amusing to onlookers , it is highly debilitating as she can not hold down a job and struggles to raise her two young children . Leanne Lyon , 41 , has a small , non-cancerous tumour lodged in her brain which triggers up to five seizures a day . These episodes can cause her to strip off in public , she claims . Mrs Lyon has a hypothalamic hamartoma , which is thought to affect only one in a million people . She says the condition is ` ruining her life ' as she hates having seizures in front of her children : Megan , 6 -LRB- left -RRB- and Kieran , 9 -LRB- right -RRB- and feels as though she ca n't always look after them properly . She relies on a carer to take her two children Kieran , nine , and Megan , six , to school and is heavily dependent on her husband David , 43 , a shoe salesman . Mrs Lyon , of Northampton , said she does n't strip every time she has a seizure , but it does happen around twice a month . She said : ' I have no idea what I 'm doing during the fits - it 's almost like I 'm sleep-walking and it 's led to some really embarrassing episodes . ` Once , I was shopping in Wilkinsons when I suffered a seizure and I began stripping in the aisles . When I came round , I was in nothing but my underwear . ' She added : ` Because I black out during the seizures I can never remember what happened - I simply come round with no clothes on . ` I 'm sure it might look funny to some strangers but the condition is ruining my life . ` The same thing happened at a taxi rank . ` It 's mortifying and frankly I 'm amazed nobody has called the police to report me for indecent exposure . ' Mrs Lyon has had seizures since she was four years old . Medics were baffled by her condition until she was diagnosed with hypothalamic hamartoma at the age of 29 . The condition is a small , non-cancerous brain tumour which causes seizures , blackouts and memory loss . It is thought to affect only one individual in every one million people . At 17 , she had surgery to remove part of her brain and rid her of the tumour . But the procedure , a left temporal lobectomy , only made the condition worse . Now Mrs Lyon has five or more episodes a day . While some last for a few seconds , others can go on for half an hour . When she was 17 , Mrs Lyons had a part of her brain removed in order to remove the tumour . But the procedure , a left temporal lobectomy , only made the condition worse . Hypothalamic hamartoma -LRB- HH -RRB- is a small , non-cancerous brain tumour which causes seizures , behavioural problems , blackouts and memory loss . The condition is thought to affect only one in a million people . HH is often difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat . Some individuals can go years with very few symptoms , or ones that are so mild , they are often missed by both parents and medical professionals . However , for most people with HH , the most common symptoms are frequent daily ` gelastic ' seizures -LRB- seizures which involve spontaneous laughing , giggling or smirking -RRB- or ` dacrystic ' seizures -LRB- which involve crying or grunting -RRB- . People with HH report behavioural difficulties , and some have been diagnosed with attention deficit behavior -LRB- ADHD -RRB- , autism spectrum disorder -LRB- ASD -RRB- , Asperger 's disorder , depression , paranoid disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder . Some have significant difficulties controlling angry outbursts , aggressive tendencies and many have been described as having oppositional-defiant disorder . These angry outbursts are often referred to as hypothalamic rages . What makes the actions different from a genuine angry ouburst is that the person typically does not make eye contact or the eyes seem vacant , they initially may not be able to hear any commands and they often require time and space to calm down . Sometimes they have no memory of the rage once it is over . These symptoms often start early in life -- for some , they become apparent shortly after birth , but are frequently misdiagnosed . They are most commonly treated by surgery or anti-epileptic medicine . Source : Hope for HH . Mrs Lyon said : ` It 's terrifying - not to mention dangerous - living like this . ` Once , I got onto a bus during a blackout and when I came round I had no idea where I was . ' I also am often incontinent when I have my seizures , which is excruciating . I had to wear adult nappies for a while . ' I ca n't go out for a night out with friends because I 'm terrified I might have an episode . ` It would be really embarrassing to have to go home early because I wet myself or started stripping at the bar . ' Mrs Lyon also suffers from embarrassing episodes at home . She said : ' A few months ago I was folding my kids ' washing when I had one of my episodes . ' I do n't know what I did while I was having my fit but when I came around I had one leg in a pair of my eight-year-old daughter 's knickers . ' I frequently walk from room to room in nothing but my underwear with no idea what 's going on . ' She added : ` My children are more like carers than carefree kids - they 've had to grow up so quickly . ` When I start having a fit I usually start laughing . ` When my son sees me laughing he says `` Mummy 's having one of her turns , '' and he records it on his phone so I can see what happened . ` It is horrible to watch , you can see I 'm not quite right . ' I hate to think that my kids have to watch their mother having seizures multiple times a day . ` My devoted husband is incredibly understanding but my condition puts a constant strain on our marriage . ` To him , it must be like living with three children . ' I do n't feel like a normal wife or mother . I need help with the school run because I ca n't be trusted with the kids alone . ' Because of the debilitating condition , Mrs Lyon also struggles to hold down a job . The seizures often leave Mrs Lyon incontinent , and she says they are dangerous . Once she had a seizure and got onto a bus and when she ` woke up ' she had no idea where she was . She is pictured undergoing tests in hospital with Vivian Gattoc , who founded the Hope for Hypothalamic Hamartoma charity . She says the condition means her children are ` more like carers than carefree kids ' . She said : ' I do n't feel like a normal wife or mother . I need help with the school run because I ca n't be trusted with the kids alone . ' She is pictured with daughter Megan , 6 , -LRB- left -RRB- and son Kieran , 9 , -LRB- right -RRB- . For a brief period she was employed at a supermarket but left after one of her episodes . She said : ' I have no idea what happened but I could tell my colleagues were scared by me afterwards . ' Mrs Lyon 's rare condition can be treated using keyhole surgery to destroy the tumor . But the procedure is currently only available in the United States and costs # 95,000 . Mrs Lyon said : ` I 'm desperate to find a way to beat this tumour . ` It would mean the world to me if I could just take my kids to the park without needing constant supervision . ` I 'm trying to raise money for the expensive procedure in America -- one day , I 'll beat this and be seizure free . ' To donate towards Mrs Lyon 's surgery , please visit her website . | Leanne Lyon has hypothalamic hamartoma , a non-cancerous brain tumour . It causes her to have up to five seizures a day which can last 30 minutes . During seizures she has removed her clothes in public places like shops . She can also be left incontinent , meaning she 's afraid to go out with friends . It leaves her unable to work and she ca n't always care for her children . Is now fundraising for brain surgery in the U.S. which costs # 95,000 . | [[149, 160], [168, 220], [705, 716], [724, 778], [889, 926], [2354, 2459], [2371, 2407], [2414, 2459], [2985, 3137], [211, 220], [227, 261], [264, 297], [769, 778], [785, 821], [2694, 2740], [0, 96], [847, 873], [1663, 1755], [437, 441], [447, 478], [4998, 5065], [6444, 6489], [534, 670], [629, 632], [661, 704], [1098, 1105], [1154, 1214], [6399, 6407], [6413, 6443], [7366, 7449], [7633, 7698]] |
Nearly 95 percent of fruits and vegetables imported to Australia are not tested for diseases before they are sold on the supermarket shelf . Experts warn growers in foreign countries are not subjected to the same levels of hygiene as Australian farmers , which puts people at greater risk of infection , the Daily Telegraph reports . It comes after nine people in various states contracted hepatitis A from consuming packaged frozen berries sold in the supermarket . Scroll down for video . Nearly 95 percent of fruits and vegetables imported to Australia are not tested for diseases before they are sold on the supermarket shelf . ' A lot of the countries where we are importing food have waterways that are contaminated with sewage , ' Professor Peter Collignon , infectious diseases expert from the Australian National University said . ` They are not operating at the same standards as we have here . You do n't want to have food that has been contaminated with human waste . ' High risk foods that are imported to Australia are currently tested but all other foods are categorised as ` surveillance foods ' , according to a Department of Agriculture spokesman . Of these surveillance foods , which includes frozen berries , only five percent is tested for diseases . The peak body of vegetable farmers say this standard was putting Australians at risk . It comes after Patties Foods recalled 1kg packets of Nanna 's Mixed Berries and the 300g and 500g varieties of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries at the weekend due to people contracting hepatitis A . Experts warn growers in foreign countries are not subjected to the same levels of hygiene as Australian farmers , which puts people at greater risk of infection . ` It is of great concern because our growers are being disadvantaged by cheap imports ... potentially putting consumers at risk , ' Andrew White , AUSVEG deputy CEO , said . Foods that did fail safety testing last year include cooked prawns from Vietnam -LRB- standard plate count -RRB- , chilli powder from South Africa -LRB- salmonella -RRB- and Serrano ham from Spain -LRB- e.coli -RRB- , according to the Daily Telegraph . Patties Foods recalled 1kg packets of Nanna 's Mixed Berries and the 300g and 500g varieties of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries at the weekend . The products were pulled off the shelf after three adults in Victoria , two in NSW and four in Queensland contracted hepatitis A from reportedly eating the berries . The products were pulled off the shelf after three adults in Victoria , two in NSW and four in Queensland contracted hepatitis A from reportedly eating the berries . The berries , which are sold in major supermarkets including Woolworths , Coles and IGA stores , are packed in China and distributed in Australia by Patties Foods , based in Bairnsdale in southeast Victoria . Trudie Sims , from Ballarat in Victoria , is awaiting test results to see if she contracted hepatitis A after using Nanna 's frozen berries in smoothies until Sunday . ` I 'm really angry ... -LRB- and -RRB- it 's absolutely terrified me , ' Ms Sims told Daily Mail Australia . Doctors say Ms Sims is exhibiting common symptoms of the disease and expect to formally diagnose her with the virus when her results come back on Tuesday morning . ` Over the last two to three weeks I 've been getting quite sick and I just thought it was a flu , ' Ms Sims said . Just five per cent of imported food is checked when it gets to Australia - if it fails every item is tested . Roasted peanuts from China detected Aflatoxin last year . Chilli powder from South Africa was found to have traces salmonella . Serrano ham from Spain had traces of e.coli when it was tested in Australia last year . ` Last night I just could n't really swallow anymore and I was going to make a frozen drink like I have been for the last four to six weeks . ' After her partner Trevor alerted her to the health warning he rushed her to hospital . Since her admission her eyelids have turned yellow and she is exhibiting signs of jaundice . Ms Sims is also suffering from chronic tonsillitis and a chest infection - likely a result of her body fighting multiple infections . ` I 'm massively jaundice and my liver 's pretty crappy and these are the first signs of hep A from the berries , ' Ms Sims said . Though still awaiting the definitive results of her blood tests , Ms Sims said her doctor was almost certain she had hepatitis A. Ms Sims said she felt betrayed by the food company and claims she was misled over the origin of the product which she thought were Australian made . Patties Foods CEO Steven Chaur said the wider recall was a precautionary measure until the results of further laboratory testing came back . Trudie Sims , from Ballarat in Victoria , is awaiting test results to see if she contracted hepatitis A after using Nanna 's frozen berries in smoothies until Sunday . She is suffering from jaundice , evident on her eyelids , and doctors expect to formally diagnose her with hepatitis A when her blood test results return . ` We have decided that all our frozen Mixed Berries should be recalled until such time as we receive the results of further laboratory tests , ' Mr Chaur said . ` The recall is an important step to ensure public safety and confidence . ' The health department has also told the company to recall the product that contains strawberries , raspberries and blackberries from China and blueberries from Chile . Hepatitis A is spread when traces of faecal matter containing the virus comes in contact with hands , water or food , and then enters a person 's mouth . Victoria 's chief health officer , Dr Rosemary Lester , said frozen berries have been tied to outbreaks of the virus in the past . ` Hepatitis A virus infection is uncommon and normally associated with travel to countries affected by endemic hepatitis A , ' she said in a statement on Saturday . ` The only common link between the cases is consumption of this product - there is no overseas travel or common restaurant exposure . ' Hepatitis A -LRB- pictured -RRB- is spread when traces of faecal matter containing the virus comes in contact with hands , water or food , and then enters a person 's mouth . NSW Health 's Communicable Diseases Branch director Dr Vicky Shepherd said an investigation by all health agencies would help determine how many people have been affected - although some may not be struck down with the infection for a few weeks . Symptoms of Hepatitis A include abdominal pain , nausea and fever as well as yellow skin and eyes . Concerned consumers can call Patties Foods on 1800 650 069 . The following products have been recalled : . Nanna 's Mixed Berries 1kg , up to and including Best Before Date 22/11/16 . Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries 300g , up to and including Best Before Date 10/12/17 . Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries 500g , up to and including Best Before Date 06/10/17 . | Most fruit and vegetables imported to Australia are not tested for diseases . High risk foods are tested but others fall into a surveillance category . Only five percent of surveillance foods are tested before being sold . It comes after nine people contracted hepatitis A after they reported eating frozen berries imported from China . Patties Foods recalled 1kg Nanna 's Mixed Berries and 300g and 500g varieties of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries . | [[21, 64], [0, 140], [512, 555], [491, 631], [982, 1028], [1033, 1049], [1054, 1109], [1229, 1271], [3389, 3486], [334, 378], [364, 440], [390, 399], [402, 466], [1359, 1541], [1523, 1555], [2362, 2455], [2528, 2621], [1359, 1541], [2146, 2289], [6623, 6664], [6669, 6695], [6708, 6745], [6746, 6776], [6794, 6831], [6832, 6862], [6880, 6917]] |
This is the terrifying moment a fire-breather sets himself alight in front of a screaming audience after his trick goes awry mid-performance . Jeff Hurd and his wife Alice Gibson filmed the incident take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Sunday while they were attending the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention . Footage shows the unidentified performer being engulfed in flames as he kneels down on the ground . Bystanders can be heard shouting out while they watch helplessly from the sidelines . Scroll down for video . Do n't try this at home : This is the moment a fire-breather gets his audience hot and bothered as he accidentally sets himself alight mid-performance . Running for cover : Jeff Hurd and his wife Alice Gibson filmed the incident take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Sunday while they were attending the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention . The fire-breather instantly gets up and stumbles off with an assistant checking if he 's okay . While the majority of the flames die away , some continue to flicker around the man 's arms and neck . Workers rush over and lay a table upsidedown on the floor to put out a blaze spreading across the ground . It is not known if the man sustained any injuries . Warm under the collar : Footage shows the unidentified performer being engulfed in flames as he kneels down on the ground . Grim sight : Bystanders can be heard screaming while they watch helplessly from the sidelines . However , he later appears back on camera wearing no T-shirt , with no apparent burn marks on his body . Gibson told NBC News that many members of the audience thought the blunder was part of the show because it happened so quickly . Apparently fire rescue workers were not called out as the flames were put out with minimal damage . Heated moment : The fire-breather gets up and stumbles off with an assistant checking if he 's okay - meanwhile , the fire continued to rage . Quick reaction : Workers rush over to turnover a table and lay it on the floor to deaden the fire . The fire-breather was part of the Ink Iluusionsist tattoo group , which states its goal is to ` bring old world craftsmanship and winning showmanship to our beloved art form that has all too often been the victim of massive misrepresentation . ' A spokesperson from the company has not yet responded to MailOnline 's request for comment . Performers from Ink Illusionist will next perform high-risk acts at a tattoo convention in Fort Myers , Florida , towards the end of February . | Jeff Hurd and his wife Alice Gibson filmed the incident take place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Sunday while they were attending the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention . It 's not known if the fire-breather sustained any injuries . | [[143, 165], [179, 257], [264, 325], [709, 731], [745, 823], [830, 891], [1217, 1249]] |
Journalist Caroline Clarke has known for most of her life that she was adopted , but it was not until she turned 37 and was searching for some medical history that she found out that her grandfather was the legendary signer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole . Clarke , a married mother of two who hosts the syndicated TV show Black Enterprise Business Report , made the shocking discovery in 2002 . That same year , she reunited for the first time with her birth mother , Carole ` Cookie ' Cole . Last year , Clarke published a book about her extraordinary family titled Postcards From Cookie : A Memoir of Motherhood , Miracles and a Whole Lot of Mail . Famous relative : At age 37 , journalist Caroline Clarke -LRB- left -RRB- found out that her biological mother , Carole ` Cookie ' Cole , was the eldest daughter of famous singer Nat King Cole -LRB- right -RRB- . Reunited : In 2002 , Clarke and Carole ` Cookie ' Cole -LRB- right -RRB- met for the first time after being estranged for 37 years - from the day of Clarke 's birth . Cole clan : Carol Cole , pictured far left as a child next to her sister Natalie and their parents , gave birth to a baby daughter in 1964 . She was forced to put her up for adoption because she was conceived out of wedlock . For Clarke , it all started when a mystery pain in her joints forced her to reach out to a social worker in hopes of obtaining her birth mother 's medical history . But the woman at Spence-Chaplin Adoption Services did one better and voluntarily provided Clarke not only with her family 's medical records , but also with a seven-page report detailing her mother 's personal history , down to her major in college . What the Ivy League-educated journalist learned was that she was born on Christmas Day in 1964 at Lenox Hill Hospital to an exceptionally wealthy and famous black family , but her 20-year-old mother was not allowed to raise her because Clarke was conceived out of wedlock , and the scandal could have damaged her grandfather 's reputation , reported the New York Daily News back in April . Memoir : Caroline Clarke wrote a book about her incredible family in 2014 , five years after the passing of her biological mother . By the time Clarke was born , Nat King Cole , her maternal grandfather , was one of the most celebrated entertainers in the country . The singer , his wife and their five children lived in a 20-room mansion in a tony part of Los Angeles where they hosted lavish parties for their famous friends . Born Nathaniel Adams Coles , Nat King Cole emerged in the post-World War II era as a trailblazing black performer , best known for such chart-topping hits as Mona Lisa and Unforgettable . He also held the distinction of being the first African-American man to host a show on NBC . That is why when the family learned that the singer 's eldest unwed daughter , Carole , became pregnant , her mother made the decision to put the child up for adoption . Determined to keep her child , whom she named Gretchen , Carole Cole initially refused to sign the adoption papers , but she finally relented upon learning that her 45-year-old father was dying of lung cancer . ` I lost my baby in December . I lost my father in February . I lost my soul , ' Carole Cole would write in her journal . Not long after , Robert and Vera Clarke , an African-American couple from The Bronx , adopted little Gretchen and renamed her Caroline . Her adoptive father was a college professor while her mother taught high school . Nat King Cole 's music was ever present in the Clarkes ' home on Wilson Avenue . By her own account , Caroline Clarke enjoyed a happy childhood marked by joyous celebrations and summers spent at her adoptive uncle 's home in Long Island . It was during one of those family get-togethers that she met her future husband , John Graves , at the age of 7 . Clarke went on to earn a Bachelor 's degree from Smith College and a Master 's degree from the prestigious Columbia University School of Journalism . In an unexpected twist of fate , during her time as an undergraduate student , Clarke met and became close friends with Timolin ` Timmie ' Cole , one of Nat King Cole 's younger children who had a twin sister , Casey . Keeping up appearances : Maria Cole -LRB- far right -RRB- insisted that Carole put her child up for adoption . The Clarke family , from The Bronx , New York , raised little Caroline as their own . Nat King Cole at play with his girls . Like Caroline , Carole was also adopted . When her mother , Maria Cole 's sister , passed away , the family of the famous musician took the child in . Long-distance relationship : Caroline -LRB- center -RRB- and Cookie -LRB- right -RRB- spent seven years , until her mother 's passing in 2009 , exchanging postcards and phone calls . Over the course of their 20-year friendship , Clarke got to know the Cole family well and was told about Timmie Cole 's much older sister , Carole , who was an actress in Hollywood , and who put up her baby for adoption . Carole Cole herself was adopted by Nat King Cole and his wife , Maria , after Maria 's sister died in her youth . After learning the truth about her heritage , Caroline Clarke recalled how at age 17 , she was invited to a sleepover at Maria Cole 's penthouse at the Ritz Carlton in Boston . That night , Nat King Cole 's imperious widow questioned Caroline about her date of birth , the hospital where she was born and the circumstances of her adoption . At the time , Caroline Clarke thought nothing of Maria Cole 's very personal line of questioning . It was not years later that the conversation came back to haunt her . In 2002 , Caroline Clarke finally reached out to her birth mother after getting her phone number from her friend , Timmie , who was actually her aunt . The mother and daughter reunited later that year and kept in touch , mostly via postcards , for the next seven years , until Carole Cole passed away from cancer in 2009 . Truth comes to light : Caroline Clarke , the host of the TV show Black Enterprise Business Report , reached out to a social worker in 2002 to obtain medical history , but she got so much more than that . Over the course of their relationship , Carole Clarke was shocked to learn that her biological father was a white Jewish man whom her mother met in college , and who knew nothing of her existence . Clarke , a strong , independent black woman who married into the family that owned Black Enterprise , initially struggled to accept that she was a person of mixed race . ` I was raised black in a black family , very happily , proudly , adamantly black . And finding out that my birth father was white was jolting , ' she revealed to the site The Root . In the end , however , Clarke was glad to uncover her family history , with all its dark secrets and unexpected twists and turns . ` My feelings have evolved , ' Clarke said in an interview with Smith College 's news site . I accept that I am what I am genetically . Mixed-race is such a common reality now ; the culture has evolved , which helps . But I still identify as African American . ' | Journalist Caroline Clarke found out the truth about her birth family in 2002 when she went searching for medical history . Nat King Cole 's eldest daughter , Carole ` Cookie ' Cole , conceived a child out of wedlock and was forced to put her up for adoption by her mother . A couple from The Bronx adopted Carole Cole 's daughter and raised her as their own . Caroline Clarke met her mother 's much younger sister , Timmie Cole , while in college and became close friends with her , not knowing she was her aunt . Mother and daughter finally reunited in 2002 and enjoyed a seven-year relationship , until Carole Cole 's passing in 2009 . | [[257, 263], [358, 395], [1258, 1268], [1271, 1273], [1278, 1422], [720, 830], [1032, 1041], [1133, 1172], [1173, 1222], [1173, 1176], [1188, 1198], [1202, 1257], [1850, 1872], [1889, 1945], [2774, 2908], [2786, 2850], [2880, 2943], [4243, 4328], [4834, 4840], [4979, 5009], [3277, 3316], [3363, 3386], [4329, 4363], [4377, 4414], [4496, 4511], [4551, 4604], [3999, 4029], [4032, 4075], [4078, 4088], [3999, 4029], [4032, 4067], [4078, 4084], [4093, 4142], [5736, 5746], [5762, 5785], [396, 410], [413, 466], [865, 873], [876, 883], [876, 883], [886, 1031], [4605, 4631], [4634, 4708], [4711, 4746], [5786, 5834], [5911, 5956]] |
A teenage scrounger due to appear in a new benefits programme hopes the experience will catapult him to celebrity status , with a new set of teeth thrown in for free along the way . Travis Simpkins from Sheffield is among a handful of people who will feature on Benefits Britain : Life on the Dole , a Channel 5 documentary starting tonight . The 17-year-old , who says his only job is ` to be me ' , claims employment allowance after being diagnosed with ADHD . Scroll down for video . Travis Simpkins will appear in Benefits Britain : Life on The Dole on Channel 5 tonight . The 18-year-old has hopes of becoming a reality TV star and being given new teeth on the NHS . On the road to stardom ? The teenager hopes his appearance on the reality TV show will buy him a new set of teeth . He hopes the programme , inspired by Channel 4 's popular Benefits Street , will bring him the acclaim he needs to launch a career in showbiz . ` I 'm hoping to come off benefits in three months , I want to go into a TV career , ' he said . . ' I want to become a reality star and I 'm hoping to apply for Big Brother 's summer show . I just love cameras and love television . ' The only thing holding him back from fame and fortune are his teeth , which he hopes will be corrected by the taxpayer one way or another . And if the NHS rejects his request , the teenager plans to set up an online donations page to pay for the dentistry . ' I want to put up a website like fixmyteeth.com or something and ask people to help fix my teeth , to raise the money , then I 'll pay the rest . ` No one has ever done that before . ' Critics have hit out at the teenager 's plans saying he should focus more on work and less on vanity . ` It 's important we do n't glamourise the benefits system , ' Jonathan Isaby , Chief Executive of the Taxpayers ' Alliance said . ` Life is hard for those out of work , and that 's why it 's important the Government does everything it can to get people into employment - not just for taxpayers who may have to pick up the bill , but for the individuals concerned . ` Taxpayers will hope this young man is devoting as much time to looking for work as he is to his appearance . ' Travis appears on the reality show with his friend , Stephanie Cocker , a 25-year-old single mother-of-two . Miss Cocker does not work because , with childcare so expensive , she says she would not have enough money left from a wage at the end of the month . The teenager -LRB- pictured on screen with friend Stephanie Cocker -RRB- claims employment support allowance after being diagnosed with ADHD . Travis hopes he will be selected to appear on reality TV shows in the future , like Benefits Street 's White Dee -LRB- right -RRB- who starred in Celebrity Big Brother after sharing details of her life claiming from the state . White Dee , real name Deirdre Kelly , was the stand-out star of Channel 4 's controversial series Benefits Street . She and her neighbours on James Turner Street in Birmingham became the most prolific benefits scroungers in the country in the show 's wake . But the stardom afforded to her by the show 's popularity brought with it a wave of opportunities . Namely expensive appearances at parties in Magaluf where the mother-of-two was seen swigging champagne and topping up her tan . And a stint on Celebrity Big Brother followed before Dee shifted her focus to politics . She appeared at a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party Conference and features on debate panels regularly to discuss Britain 's welfare system . Dee no longer claims benefits , and while she says she is disappointed to have been cast in a negative light by producers of the show , she is grateful to be able to provide her children with more . White Dee shot to stardom after appearing in the Channel 4 show filmed on James Turner Street . Above , she is pictured speaking at a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party Conference . Instead she chooses to stay at home with her children and claim benefits . Travis has a more simple explanation - he does n't see himself in an office job or working behind a bar . ` I 'm just me . That 's my job . I want to entertain people . ' I had a part time job as a valet when I was 16 for four weeks and I got # 25-a-day . I do n't feel like I could do a job sitting in an office or in a shop or behind a bar or in a call centre or at a butcher 's . ' I do n't think I could do it . ' And while he admits that ` everybody is entitled to their opinion ' , the teen would rather see some ` keep theirs to themselves ' . Miss Cocker is more apprehensive about criticism , claiming the programme ` edits it to make you look bad . ' ` There was no mention of all the work I 've done , ' she said , referencing her stint as a nightclub bouncer which ended when she fell pregnant . ' I ca n't go back to night work because I ca n't get child minders overnight . They never put anything in about that , ' the 25-year-old bemoaned . Keen to turn her life around , Miss Cocker is on the lookout for new opportunities to become a social worker . ' I want to go back to college , I want qualifications , I want to go and get GCSEs . At the moment I 'm looking for education and then I want to be a youth worker . ' | Travis Simpkins is due to appear on Benefits Britain : Life on The Dole . The 18-year-old hopes the Channel 5 show will catapult him to fame . If turned down by the NHS for new teeth he plans to set up a crowd fund . The teenager said his only job was ` being me ' but wanted to be on TV . Taxpayers Alliance said benefits system should not be ` glamourised ' Benefits Britain : Life On The Dole is on Channel 5 at 9pm . | [[0, 146], [487, 534], [0, 146], [577, 671], [1314, 1341], [1344, 1424], [1427, 1522], [1427, 1428], [1491, 1543], [343, 358], [365, 396], [985, 1014], [1716, 1772], [300, 342]] |
A Gold Coast woman says she was left stressed after her bank balance was mysteriously increased to almost $ 10 million . Sue Lamb , 49 , from Labrador , was shocked when she used an ATM to withdraw $ 100 from her ANZ credit account on Saturday and the bank receipt said her available balance was $ 9,990,420.94 . Ms Lamb said she called ANZ to inform them of the error but claims a customer service agent told her it was her money and there was nothing he could do . ` They 've really caused grave stress for my family , ' she told Daily Mail Australia . Scroll down for video . Sue Lamb , 49 , from Labrador had almost $ 10 million mysteriously deposited into her bank account . ` I 've seen stories around the world where people get in a lot of trouble for this . ' Ms Lamb said the money had been added to the limit on her credit card -- an account she did n't usually use to withdraw cash . ' I never use that credit card to withdraw cash ever , ' she said . ` If I had never gotten money out I never would have known . ' Ms Lamb said when she spoke to a customer service agent on Sunday he first insisted the money was hers , and then told her she would have to ring back during business hours on Monday if she had any concerns . ' I said `` It 's not my money '' and he said `` But it 's a compound of all your company 's funds '' , but I do n't have a company , I 'm a sole trader , ' she said . ` This gentleman did n't seem too concerned , he was more concerned with telling me that they were my funds . Ms Lamb used a Bank of Queensland ATM to withdraw $ 100 from her ANZ bank account on Saturday and the bank receipt said her available balance was $ 9,990,420.94 . ` I 'm just appalled that ANZ bank have n't contacted me , and I 'm really concerned that people really need to check the credit limits on their account . ' On Monday morning Ms Lamb still had not heard from the bank , and had checked her account again to find the $ 10 million was gone and she was listed as being $ 7500 in debt . ` It 's just ridiculous , I mean they 've put $ 10 million credit on my credit card , ' she said . ` Now the fact is they 've put me in debt $ 7500 . It 's someone 's debt but it 's not mine . ` This happened on Valentine 's Day , so the CEO of ANZ must want to marry me . ` After all the stress you caused you need to give me roses , chocolates and a holiday . ' Ms Lamb said she called ANZ to inform them of the error but claims the customer service agent told her it was her money and there was nothing he could do . An ANZ spokeswoman said Ms Lamb had chosen to have an ` unlimited monthly spend cap ' on her account . ` The available balance on the BOQ ATM receipt refers to the amount of the monthly spend cap rather than the available credit , ' she said . ` We 're investigating why the BOQ 's receipt is showing the monthly spend cap rather than the actual balance . ` We would like to apologise to Ms Lamb for any inconvenience and we will be contacting her today . ' In 2012 , a New Zealand petrol station owner was sentenced to four years and seven months in jail after going on the run when a bank error mistakenly transferred $ NZ10 million into his account . | Sue Lamb was shocked when she checked her bank balance on Saturday . The Gold Coast woman 's receipt said her available balance was $ 9,990,420 . Ms Lamb said she called ANZ to inform them of the error but claims a customer service agent told her it was her money . | [[248, 312], [1611, 1675], [313, 430], [313, 320], [373, 452], [1026, 1128], [2372, 2491], [2372, 2379], [2432, 2513]] |
An eight-month-old baby suffocated after she ` wriggled ' down her parents ' bed and became trapped between the mattress and the frame as her family held a party downstairs , an inquest heard . Halima Saida Ali was found unconscious by her mother Shaheen at the foot of the bed at the family home in Derby on August 25 last year . Although the little girl was taken to hospital and later transferred to a specialist unit , she died two weeks later at the Queen 's Medical Centre in Nottingham . Eight-month-old Halima Saida Ali suffocated after wriggling down her parents ' bed and becoming trapped in the frame as her family held a party downstairs at their home in this street in Derby , an inquest heard . A coroner has ruled that the baby 's death was accidental after hearing police could find no evidence of neglect . The inquest into Halima 's death , at Derby Coroner 's Court was told that there was a party taking place at the Ali family home on the night she was taken to hospital , and that the baby had only been left for a short amount of time . Finding their baby , Mrs Ali and her husband Ashad , who works as an administrator , had called for an ambulance and , under the instructions of paramedics , the family had performed CPR on the child in an attempt to save her . When the ambulance arrived , Halima was taken to the Royal Derby Hospital , and was later transferred to the intensive care ward at Queen 's Medical Centre , where she died on September 7 . Detective Inspector Tony Brittan , who attended the family home on the day Halima was taken to hospital , told the hearing he was content that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death . After being taken to the Royal Derby Hospital , Halima was later transferred to the intensive care unit of the Queen 's Medical Centre in Nottingham -LRB- pictured -RRB- , where she died on September 7 last year . He said the baby had appeared to have wriggled in her sleep before becoming stuck . ` Halima was found by her family with her head stuck under the footboard and her feet hanging down towards the floor , ' the police officer said . ` There were no signs of trauma in the bedroom where she was found . ` The family had completed CPR on the directions of the ambulance service . ` There was no sign of any criminal negligence . It was a tragic accident . ' Louise Pinder , assistant coroner for Derby , asked if there had been any chance of survival for the baby , despite the best efforts of the family and hospital staff to keep her alive . DI Brittan replied : ` There was a very weak pulse towards the end of her resuscitation . ` It was clear from the start she was not going to survive that particular incident . ' A post mortem examination showed Halima died of a positional asphyxiation - meaning she had suffocated due to the position she had wriggled into . Miss Pinder said : ` Halima , a much loved and well cared-for eight-month-old baby girl , was found unresponsive , having only been left alone for a short period of time . ` It is likely she became trapped between the footboard and the mattress at the bottom of the bed . ` It was quickly established she had no chance of survival . She died on September 7 last year and she died as a result of accidental death . ' | Halima Saida Ali found unconscious at family home in Derby last August . Mother Shaheen Ali found her unconscious , trapped at the foot of the bed . Baby was taken to hospital and transferred to specialist unit but later died . Coroner rules her death was accidental , and there was no sign of neglect . | [[194, 246], [255, 277], [306, 330], [194, 246], [255, 277], [306, 330], [331, 377], [340, 355], [382, 420], [1684, 1729], [1732, 1748], [1761, 1838], [1684, 1729], [1732, 1738], [1743, 1832], [709, 823], [734, 823], [2274, 2322], [3234, 3276]] |
The ` biggest national security threat ' to the U.S. at this juncture is not terrorists abroad , says former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta , it 's Congress . ` It 's the total dysfunction in Washington . The fact that so little can be done by the Congress , ' Panetta told CNN 's Jim Acosta on Sunday during an appearance on State of the Union . Earlier in the broadcast Panetta , the Pentagon chief from 2011 to 2013 , said ISIS ` truly represents kind of a whole new face in the war on terrorism ' because the extremist group is well-funded , well-armed and ` has a strong command and control . ' ` And as a result of that , I think that they can conduct the kind of offensive operations that can be very effective , ' he said , and therefore they must ` be met tooth and nail with everything we 've got . ' The United States needs to bolster its strategy in confronting ISIS if it is going to achieve its mission of degrading and destroying the terror group , former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Sunday . ISIS , Panetta told CNN 's Jim Acosta , ` is a whole new chapter in terms of the terrorist threat to that area and to our country . ' But the ` biggest ' threat to U.S. national security is the dysfunction of Congress , he said . ISIS , he proclaimed , ` is a whole new chapter in terms of the terrorist threat to that area and to our country . ' Panetta said President Barack Obama has the ` right pieces in place to try to confront ISIS ' and noted that the U.S. and its partners have ` made some important gains ' in stopping the territorial expansion of militants in Iraq . But even after prompting from fill-in host Acosta , Panetta would not say he agreed with Obama 's claim last week that the United States ' coalition ` is on the offensive ' and ISIS ` is on the defensive . ' The president 's ` strategy has to be bolstered in a strong way , ' he asserted . ` We 've got to be able to ensure that we are committed every day of the week towards making sure that this strategy works , that we disrupt , dismantle and ultimately defeat ISIS . ' Panetta acknowledged , as he did in his memoir , released in October of last year , that Obama and his administration bungled its response to the chaos in Syria and that the White House should have asked Congress for the authority to fight ISIS at least six months before it did . The U.S. has been carrying out airstrikes on ISIS in Iraq since August , Syria since September , but it did not make a formal request to Congress for power to go to war with the terrorist group and its affiliates until last week . The White House has been relying on a 9/11 era document for its authority to carry out military operations in the two countries . It last week asked Congress to tear up a 2001 Authorization of Military Force Agreement and replace it was an updated ` right-sized ' resolution giving the president the ability to conduct an air and ground war against ISIS in any country it invades . Despite its close work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to come up with a draft that satisfied both political parties , legislators are dissatisfied with the president 's request for varying reasons . They have suggested they would not support the proposed AUMF in its current form . In this photo taken last Wednesday , President Barack Obama -LRB- center -RRB- delivers a statement on the legislation he sent to Congress earlier in the day to authorize the use of military force -LRB- AUMF -RRB- against ISIS , while Vice President Joe Biden -LRB- left -RRB- and Secretary of State John Kerry -LRB- second right -RRB- and then-Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel -LRB- right -RRB- listen . The following day Ash Carter was confirmed by the Senate as Pentagon head , replacing Hagel . Panetta lashed out at Congress on Sunday for Members ' unwillingness to put aside their differences to pass legislation addressing key problems . They ca n't ` resolve the issue of homeland security . They ca n't deal with budgets . They ca n't deal with immigration reform . They ca n't deal with infrastructure . They ca n't deal with other issues , ' he said , referencing a dispute over funding for Homeland Security that must end by Feb. 28 to avoid a partial shutdown of the department . ` If they wind up not being able to deal with this war authorization , that sends a terrible message to the world , ' Panetta warned . The former Defense head and CIA director stressed that ISIS ` is not an enemy that you can kind of stand aside and not confront . ' ` If we stand aside , if we do n't get involved , if we do n't provide leadership , unfortunately , nobody else will , ' he claimed . ` That 's why it 's important for us to take a leadership position ' in Iraq , Syria and ` elsewhere in confronting terrorism , ' he said . Panetta said he had ` tremendous confidence ' in newly confirmed Secretary of Defense Ash Carter 's skill set and ability to steer the president toward victory in the country 's battle against ISIS . ` He 's very bright , ' Panetta said . Noting that Carter served as his No. 2 at the Pentagon , Panetta said the new military chief knows the Department of Defense inside out . But ` in the end , it 's the president who has to ultimately decide ' whether to take the advice of his top military advisers , he said , or not . | ` It 's the total dysfunction in Washington . The fact that so little can be done by the Congress , ' Panetta said during an appearance on State of the Union . He said ISIS ` truly represents kind of a whole new face in the war on terrorism ' ; they must ` be met tooth and nail with everything we 've got ' ` If we stand aside , if we do n't get involved , if we do n't provide leadership , unfortunately , nobody else will , ' he claimed . Panetta served as Secretary of Defense from 2011 to 2013 , and before that he directed the CIA for Obama . | [[109, 139], [142, 158], [161, 204], [219, 256], [261, 346], [964, 1018], [1157, 1236], [3757, 3809], [3812, 3856], [382, 418], [421, 498], [736, 779], [746, 750], [775, 808], [1059, 1150], [1272, 1363], [4386, 4515], [4441, 4515], [1873, 1886], [4618, 4634], [4639, 4651], [382, 418], [421, 498]] |
` Cold towel sir ? ' asked a petite Filipina as I stepped onto the jetty of the Constance Moofushi Resort in the Maldives . It was the fourth cold towel in as many hours . Reaching my overwater bungalow , I kicked off my shoes , changed into swimming shorts and perused the room . It was posh-rustic with ethnic wood carvings , semi-outdoor shower and a glorious terrace poised over the turquoise sea . I walked down my personal steps , under my personal rainforest shower , and swam in my personal Indian Ocean . A small shark swaggered by , angelfish darted off and the ripples of white sand felt indulgent under foot . A little piece of paradise : The Moofushi Resort does the idea of all-inclusive with a little dash of style . Back in my room , I grabbed a beer from the minibar . And began to fidget . ' I know , ' I thought , ` I 'll walk around the island . ' Twenty minutes later , I 'd explored the thatched main restaurant and circled the island . Back in my room , I sought a new distraction in a can of Carlsberg and some crisps . Then I read pages on the Smart TV about Moofushi 's all-inclusive package . No more wristbands , house plonk and sky-high mini-bar prices ; just fine cuisine , premium brand beers and spirits and wine from Provence . After that , I padded barefoot to the Totem bar to put it to the test . At the cute beachside hangout , I polished off a draught Tiger beer and more nibbles , then made a pen-on-the-palm gesture to the barman . He wobbled his head politely : ` There is nothing to sign , sir . ' There was nothing to sign in the restaurants either , where I ceased being sniffy about ` all-inclusive ' on my second helping of sashimi . Smells to swoon over wafted across the Manta restaurant from the grill hut . The buffet brimmed with sushi and salads , and mains such as Thai green chicken curry , Mongolian lamb , and reef fish with tarragon . To my surprise , the three novels I 'd packed went unread . Instead I joined a yoga class , drank some Cosmopolitans , had a massage looking down at fish swimming under the treatment hut , drank some more Cosmopolitans and took a sunset cruise in a traditional dhoni . I had a try-dive too , right off the jetty , and explored the incredible house reef with just a few lazy flicks of my fins . I paddled a kayak , enjoyed a wine tasting , and went on a boat trip to the neighbouring island of Himandhoo -LRB- population 750 -RRB- . Scarcely dull : Richard was worried that he would be bored in the Maldives - but found plenty to do . Here , sparky local lad Nazim showed me his 314-year-old mosque and the banyan tree he climbed up to hide in as a child . Lazy lunches and drawn-out dinners blurred into late-night cocktails . In the Alizee Restaurant , the sommelier suggested a glass of Secateurs Chenin Blanc 2013 with my starter . ` It 's citrus and apricot with some honeysuckle at the end , ' he said . I might have been at an elegant restaurant in Mayfair . My new best friend , though , was Goram , from India 's Himalayan foothills . He quickly came to know that I liked my Bloody Marys spicy , and introduced me to his award-winning concoction called Indian Snowfall . All too soon I was saying cheerio to Goram and the gang , before making the walk along the jetty for the seaplane to Male . Of course , I made use of one final cold towel . Turquoise Holidays -LRB- 01494 678400 , www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk -RRB- offers seven nights at Constance Moofushi -LRB- www.constancehotels.com -RRB- from # 2,624 pp , staying in a beach villa on all-inclusive basis , including flights from Heathrow and seaplane transfers , non-motorised watersports , a meal in the Alizee restaurant and a sunset cruise . | The Constance Moofushi Resort is an all-inclusive Maldivian retreat . Activities including scuba diving and yoga are included as part of the deal . | [[48, 123]] |
At 40 weeks pregnant , a Florida mom had heard plenty of advice on how to induce labor - spicy food , laxatives , castor oil - but she chose a different route : dancing . Bonnie Northsea , from Gainsville , tried to dance her baby out of her womb my moving along to Michael Jackson 's 1980 's pop song Thriller . She can be seen shimmying and shaking to the hit in a video she uploaded to YouTube last week . ` Someone told me that Thriller would induce labor , ' Northsea said in the video 's description . ` Here I am on my due date 40 weeks , February 11 , looking like a fool . ' She added that her husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer last month , which has been emotionally difficult for the family . ` This video really helped as it has caused me to laugh over and over again , ' She said . The couple also has a three-year-old son , according to Yahoo . It is unknown if Northsea 's attempt to induce labor was successful . Bonnie Northsea , from Gainsville , Florida , tried to dance her baby out of her womb my moving along to Michael Jackson 's 1980 's pop song Thriller . Northsea , who is 40 weeks pregnant , originally posted the video to Facebook to entertain her friends before posting it to YouTube . Northsea , who has a three-year-old son , can be seen shimmying and shaking to the hit in a video she uploaded to YouTube last week . ` Someone told me that Thriller would induce labor , ' Northsea said in the video 's description . ` Here I am on my due date 40 weeks , February 11 , looking like a fool ' She said that her husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer last month , which has been emotionally difficult for the family , so the video was a way to make her laugh ` over and over again ' | Bonnie Northsea does the entire Thriller dance while 40 weeks pregnant . It is unknown if Northsea 's attempt to induce labor was successful . Her husband was diagnosed with testicular cancer last month . She said watching video has been a way to laugh ` over and over again ' | [[1092, 1100], [1107, 1127], [870, 886], [887, 895], [907, 922], [584, 658], [630, 660], [667, 714], [1533, 1608], [1573, 1608], [1615, 1660], [717, 790], [1666, 1725]] |
A Texas motorist has been charged after he spat on a mother 's car and shouted ` Black Power ' in a bizarre act of road rage . Rashaad Ben , 23 , was seen getting out of his car in Austin , Texas , earlier this month and approaching Julie Nowlin , who was driving with her four-year-old daughter in the back seat . He then spat on the front window , shouted profanities and then stuck is middle fingers up at the terrified pair . Scroll down for video . Confrontation : Rashaad Ben , 23 , was seen getting out of his car in Austin , Texas , earlier this month and approaching Julie Nowlin . He then spat on the window , stuck up his middle fingers and shouted ` Black Power ' The 39-year-old mother recorded the confrontation on her cell phone and the video has since gone viral . She claims that Ben pulled over and got out three times on the same stretch of road . He was angry because she was trying to take a picture of his licence plate . Ben has a lengthy rap sheet with more than 20 arrests , including criminal convictions for drunk driving , marijuana possession , theft , resisting arrest , and driving with a suspended license . If convicted of the reckless driving charge , Ben faces a maximum of 30 days in jail . Altercation : After the bizarre incident he got back in his car . Other motorists claimed to have been involved in similar confrontations with Ben and police revealed he spat at another woman last month . Ben has since apologized , telling KVUE : ' I came here to apologize to my family and Mrs. Nowlin and to the community for acting the way I did and for my obscene language and obscene behavior . ' The station reported that since the video spread , other motorists have come forward suggesting they have had similar encounters with Ben . Last month police reported that he spat in the face of another woman , Charlotte Cross , during an argument inside a store . She told KVUE : ` When I saw him apologizing and acting like you know that this was his first time and that it 's not in his character , yes it is . ` He needs to be behind bars because it 's going to turn into something worse and someone is going to end up getting hurt . ' Horrified : Nowlin -LRB- right -RRB- had her four-year-old daughter -LRB- left -RRB- in the backseat of her car at the time . She started filming Ben after trying to take pictures of his licence plate . Serial criminal : Ben has a lengthy rap sheet with more than 20 arrests , including criminal convictions for drunk driving , marijuana possession , theft , resisting arrest , and driving with a suspended license . | Rashaad Ben , 29 , was arrested after the road rage incident in Austin . Footage taken by driver Julie Nowlin , 39 , earlier this month went viral . The serial road-rager is seen pulling over and getting out of his car . Then spits on the car , sticks up his middle fingers and shouts profanities . Last month Ben spat in the face of another woman during an argument inside a store . | [[0, 126], [676, 743], [748, 767], [773, 780], [748, 757], [768, 780], [127, 138], [155, 187], [781, 866], [0, 126], [0, 92], [315, 347], [315, 317], [350, 369], [350, 429], [591, 617], [591, 593], [620, 647], [1378, 1431], [1769, 1893], [1801, 1837], [1858, 1893]] |
She recently lost more than three stone and slimmed down from a curvy size 16 to a svelte size eight . And Geordie Shore 's Charlotte Crosby is clearly keen to showcase the fruits of her labour as she models her new fashion range for e-tailer In The Style . The 24-year-old , who has seen her fitness DVD become the biggest-selling in the last 15 years , told FEMAIL that her weight loss was the main inspiration behind her new Nostalgia range . Scroll down for video . Charlotte Crosby , who found fame on Geordie Shore , has unveiled her SS15 Nostalgia range for In The Style - and shows off her svelte new figure in the campaign imagery -LRB- dress , # 32.99 -RRB- . She said : ` It allowed me to include tighter , sexier styles . But I 've kept styles for different body shapes , too . I 'll always love casual styles so we have a great mix now . ' The spring/summer 2015 collection , which is priced between # 16 and # 46 , comes after the Charlotte smashed records for the brand , with some items selling out in less than ten minutes after going live . Some pieces have been restocked over ten times due to huge demand . Charlotte , 24 , recently lost more than three stone and slimmed down from a curvy size 16 to a svelte size eight so is keen to show off the results -LRB- left : shirt dress , # 33.99 , right : # 32.99 -RRB- . Charlotte 's range , which includes items like # 32.99 this paisley tassel skater dress , sold out instantly last time . The SS15 collection comes after the Geordie Shore name smashed records for the brand , with some items selling out in less than ten minutes after going live -LRB- left : shirt dress , # 35.99 , right : shorts , # 19.99 -RRB- . Charlotte , who is heading to Australia to launch her range there , explained how her collection of layered shift dresses , pastel playsuits , slogan T-shirts and floral bodycons has evolved . ` We 've definitely continued designing what people loved from the last range but we 've also experimented with more styles this time , ' she said . ` This range is sexier and some of the styles we 've designed for going out are more daring than I ever used to wear . ' ` We 've definitely continued designing what people loved from the last range but we 've also experimented with more styles this time ' she said of her range -LRB- dress , # 45.99 -RRB- . She explains she has added plenty of sexier styles that she could n't necessarily wear before she lost weight . Charlotte who loves ` nothing more than throwing on one of her oversized vests or slogan tees ' has included casual items -LRB- slogan tees , # 17.99 -RRB- . Charlotte admits that it would be ` amazing ' to see Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wearing the range -LRB- dress , # 35.99 -RRB- . The range perfectly encapsulates Charlotte 's personal style . The reality star , who loves ` nothing more than throwing on one of her over-sized vests or slogan tees ' has included casual items , as well as the party dresses she loves to wear on a night out in Newcastle . Charlotte , who cites Vanessa Hudgens as her style icon , has her sights set on one celebrity client in particular . ` It would be amazing to see Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wearing the range , ' she said . ` So many celebrities wore the last range and it 's always a buzz to see people in something I 've had so much input into . I also love seeing my Twitter feed of people wearing them - it 's always a great feeling . ' The star , who wants her brand to ` take over the high street ' , is already plotting the future . So where does she see herself in five years time ? ` Ruler of the world ? , ' she jokes . ` Pregnant and designing a nostalgia maternity range ! ' . The star , who stars on Ex On The Beach and has lost three stone since last year , right , wants her brand to ` take over the high street ' -LRB- dress , # 34.99 -RRB- . | Charlotte lost more than three stone and models SS15 Nostalgia range . Slimmed down from a curvy size 16 to a svelte size eight . Fitness DVD is biggest-selling in 15 years . Wants to see Cheryl Fernandez-Versini wearing her designs . | [[0, 51], [107, 140], [157, 257], [470, 486], [515, 560], [1127, 1141], [1144, 1191], [3675, 3685], [3709, 3755], [0, 51], [258, 273], [305, 352], [2606, 2713], [3123, 3194]] |
A dog on death row will for the first time in history have its case heard in Australia 's highest court . Condemned Staffordshire terrier Izzy is set to be destroyed after she bit a woman in August 2012 after escaping from her owner Tania Isbester 's backyard in The Basin , east Melbourne , Victoria . The woman who Izzy bit suffered a 1.5 cm to her finger on 4 August 2012 , which is deemed as a ` serious injury ' under the Domestic Animal Act in Victorian law , and Izzy was seized by the council in June 2013 . Lawyers representing the dog at no cost to the client say the local council that is fighting for Izzy 's destruction in the High Court is wasting public money by perusing the case . City of Knox council has refused RSPCA South Australia 's offer to rehabilitate the pet and assume all liability for her at no extra cost from the time of collection . ` The council is prepared to spend a six figure sum fighting to kill a dog when they might lose in the High Court , ' barrister Graeme Mcewen , founder of the Barristers Animal Welfare Panel told Daily Mail Australia . Condemned Staffordshire terrier Izzy is set to be destroyed but could be saved by a final High Court bid . ` No dog should be allowed to be killed by a council expect by court order , ' Mr Mcewen argued . In normal circumstances Izzy 's case would never have made it to the High Court but her fate has taken an unusual twist due to the manner in which the local council made in administrative decision for her to be put down . In September 2013 , Izzy 's owner Ms Isbester pleaded guilty to charges of her dog causing ` serious injury ' at Ringwood Magistrates Court but the local council , the City of Knox , did not apply for a destruction order on Izzy from the magistrate at that time . If they had applied for the order from the magistrate , the question of whether the penalty -LRB- death -RRB- was proportionate to the injury caused -LRB- a 1.5 centimetre cut -RRB- would have been raised on appeal to a judge at the county court . Instead , the council ruled that the dog should be destroyed during a council panel meeting . In a letter to the City of Knox council , the CEO of RSPCA SA Tim Vasudeva , wrote an offer to assess and then possibly rehabilitate and rehome Izzy at no cost to the council instead of seeing her destroyed . The letter , seen by Daily Mail Australia and written on September 9 , 2014 , said : . ` As discussed late last week , I can confirm that RSPCA South Australia would be happy to transport the dog known as Izzy -LRB- owned by Tania Isbester -RRB- to our Lonsdale Animal Shelter here in Adelaide in order for her to undergo an extensive behavioural assessment under the guidance of our qualified behaviourists . ' ` This would involve a wide variety of behavioural interactions and analysis both inside and outside kennels , in our indoor behavioural centre and our outdoor fenced enclosures . The purpose of this would be to determine , in as thorough a manner as possible , the rehabilitation prospects of this dog . ` We are able to arrange collection and transport at no expense to Knox City Council . RSPCA South Australia are prepared to take Izzy into our care and custody and assume all liability for this dog from the time of collection . ' During the panel hearing , which took place on 30 September , 2013 , at Knox Civil Centre , one of the people on the panel was the same council officer who brought the charges against Izzy 's owner Ms Isbester . The team of barristers fighting Izzy 's case from the Barristers Animal Welfare Panel , including Richard Kendall QC and Andrew Felkel , is now challenging the decision that the panel came to based on administrative law grounds . ` The council officer who brought the charges then sat as a member of the three person panel which decided to put the dog down , ' Mr Mcewen told Daily Mail Australia . ` The question of law is whether a fair minded observer might think that the accuser sitting on a panel is a -RRB- a conflict of interest or b -RRB- with a disposition of pre judgement . ' Izzy has been living in a cage at the RSPCA centre in Victoria for almost 21 months while the legal battle has played out . Victoria 's highest court first upheld the decision to destroy her on September 10 , 2014 , but the barristers have now been granted Special Leave permission to appeal to the High Court of Australia . Mr Mcewen admitted : ` It 's a bit of a story . ' ` Only one in ten cases get through on special leave application . ' In a letter to the City of Knox council , the CEO of RSPCA SA Tim Vasudeva , wrote an offer to assess and then possibly rehabilitate and rehome her at no cost to the council instead of seeing her destroyed . But the council knocked back the offer . ` Rather than accept the offer and bring the matter to an end - avoiding legal proceedings at cost and removing her from their municipal boundaries of City of Knox - and not leaving a family heartbroken ... the City of Knox refuses and now they have got to fight in the high court , ' Mr Mcewen said . Izzy 's case will be heard in court in April . A dog on death row will for the first time in history have its case heard in the High Court of Australia . | The City of Knox council made an ` administrative decision ' to kill Izzy . The Staffordshire terrier bit a woman in August 2012 . She suffered a 1.5 cm cut but it was classed as a ` serious injury ' Council decided to destroy Izzy during a council panel meeting . Normally a magistrate decides whether a dog should be killed . The Barristers Animal Welfare Panel are fighting her case at no cost . If they win the council will have to pay legal fees . RSPCA SA offered to take Izzy and assess her for rehabilitation . | [[1417, 1427], [1437, 1494], [2034, 2117], [3787, 3809], [3816, 3843], [106, 142], [150, 202], [172, 232], [303, 374], [303, 374], [358, 376], [383, 463], [1832, 1885], [1907, 1963], [106, 152], [106, 142], [150, 202], [1085, 1144], [1085, 1121], [1129, 1191], [2034, 2117], [3787, 3809], [3816, 3843], [516, 569], [731, 752], [762, 785], [2118, 2157], [2160, 2192], [2195, 2326], [2444, 2522], [2465, 2486], [2502, 2542], [2634, 2736], [3131, 3204], [4519, 4558], [4561, 4593], [4596, 4726]] |
A vigilante speed campaigner has been sacked by police for catching ` too many motorists ' after he trapped more than 40,000 drivers . David McCandless , 69 , and his team of volunteers at Speed Watch caught around 1,600 speeding drivers every month in the Cambridgeshire towns of St Ives and Ramsey . The group use hand-held speed cameras by the side of the road and then pass on the information police , who can then issue a warning letter to offenders . David McCandless , 69 , was sacked from volunteer role at Speed Watch after he caught ` too many motorists ' But he claims his relationship with the force began to deteriorate when he was told he could only report less than 500 motorists a month . Police told him staff could only process 2,000 cases across the whole country , so he would have to let some drivers off . But the decision led to increasing tensions between the two parties before the former RAF engineer was dismissed by the force . Mr McCandless , from St Ives , said : ` The police believed that we would exceed the resources of the business support unit . ` The fear of the police was that if we continued to issue 1,500 letters a month than we would prevent other schemes in the country from issuing their letters . ` We were basically letting speeders off . We would go with an extra 10 people who had been doing 45mph in a 30 zone but they would n't go over the quota . Mr McCandless and his team caught 40,000 speeding drivers in the Cambridgeshire towns of St Ives -LRB- pictured -RRB- and Ramsey . Their technique was to set up cameras at the side of the road during rush hour . ` In the end because I kept going on at them I got a bit of a reputation but basically we were a victim of our own success . ` Because we were turning in these high numbers and they were so accurate they became suspicious that something was going on . ' He added : ' I basically got sacked for doing a good job and being too accurate . ` We were thorough and professional and we had a pride in what we were doing . I 'm ex-armed forces and I always do everything by the book . The volunteer scheme Community Speed Watch was rolled out by several police forces across the country to help educate people about speeding on the roads . It currently manages 647 trained volunteers distributed across 88 local CSW groups . Volunteers operate at the roadside in areas with 20 , 30 and 40 mph limits , monitoring speeds with the aid of a portable speed indication device -LRB- SID -RRB- . They record and report the speed and identifying details of vehicles travelling at or above nationally-specified speed thresholds -LRB- 25 , 35 and 46mph respectively -RRB- . Vehicle checks are undertaken by the police and letters sent to the registered keepers advising them of the speed and reminding them of why it is a community concern . It is a form of education rather than enforcement , however , if problems persist enforcement can be undertaken by the police Safer Neighbourhood teams . People wishing to set up the scheme in their area have to be prepared to fund it , which can cost up to # 3,000 for the equipment . ` They are experts and they are professionals but none of them have `` kerb-side '' with us so they do n't know what they are talking about . ' Mr McCandless had been coordinator of the volunteers since 2010 and his team increased the accuracy of their speed detectors using the same technology as the Dambusters . They clipped on a wooden sight similar to those used by airmen to pinpoint the dropping point for the bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis used in the dams raid . He said his volunteers caught more motorists than any other scheme in the county because they targeted drivers at rush hour . Mr McCandless now plans to set up his own independent group and has complained to the Police and Crime Commissioner -LRB- PCC -RRB- Sir Graham Bright about his treatment . A spokesman for the PCC said they had written to the Chief Constable and asked him to respond to the claims . But Cambridgeshire Constabulary has said Mr McCandless 's position became ` unsustainable ' as he was ` unable to share our vision of education ' . A police spokesman said : ` As a force , we support the great work of our SpeedWatch volunteers , and the work they do to help us educate drivers to change their behaviour through high visibility deployments in areas of community concern . ` We have 155 groups across the county - all made up of local volunteers , and we continue to work with those groups to make the county 's roads safer . ' | David McCandless , 69 , caught around 1,600 speeding drivers every month . Team of Speed Watch volunteers use hand-held speed camera at roadside . Police told him to let some motorists off as it could only process so many . It led to increasing tensions and Mr McCandless was dismissed from role . He intends to set up own independent group and has complained to PCC . | [[135, 301], [457, 473], [476, 563], [302, 363], [2328, 2338], [2405, 2455], [785, 827], [1245, 1285], [457, 473], [476, 563], [832, 844], [849, 917], [896, 955], [3729, 3788]] |
A Mercedes left unlocked abandoned in a multi-storey car park has been towed away after gathering dust for three years . The car has been sitting idly in the Broadway Plaza car park in Birmingham after being deserted by its owner . After repeated failed attempts to have it collected , parking company APCOA towed the vehicle away this week . A Mercedes left unlocked in a city centre car park in Birmingham has been removed after sitting idle for around three years . The tax disc on the car 's blackened windscreen expired in July 2012 . Authorities were unable to track down its owner after numerous attempts . With spaces in the city-centre costing # 13-a-day , the Mercedes C Class racked up # 14,000 in unpaid fine over three years . For years drivers skirted around the black car which was propped up by a safety barrier . While the owner was traced through a log book left inside , they did not respond to any of the parking company 's numerous attempts to make contact . And with the vehicle never having been reported as stolen , missing or involved in a crime , West Midlands Police saw no need to intervene . Birmingham City Council shrugged off responsibility for case too , with privately-owned APCOA forced to call in a third party to have it removed . ` The car in question has been in situ for years , ' an APCOA spokesman said . The company which owns the car park made numerous failed attempts to contact its owner over the years . It was taken away by a third party brought in by APCOA after West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council failed to intervene . Such a long-term stay in the car park would have cost the owner # 14,000 if they had returned to claim the car . ` The reason why the vehicle is effectively cordoned off is because one of the back wheels/axles is loose , and the car is propped up on one side for reasons of safety . ` West Midlands Police were made aware of the vehicle in the event that it may have been stolen . However , police records confirmed otherwise . ` The police recommended APCOA write to Birmingham City Council to request the removal of the abandoned vehicle . ' While local authorities are at a loss as to where the car came from , other drivers at the car park offered up their own bizarre theories . ` What is it doing there ? Why has n't it been moved ? Is there a dead body in the trunk ? Is it haunted ? ` Thousands upon thousands of people must have driven past it over the years and thought similar things , ' said one motorist . | The vehicle gathered dust in Birmingham car park for three years . Its owner , who left it unlocked , has never responded to letters or fines . West Midlands Police said the car had never been reported stolen . Charges for the long-term stay would have been more than # 14,000 . The Mercedes C Class was removed by a private company this week . | [[0, 15], [38, 120], [121, 231], [343, 407], [343, 353], [371, 468], [1268, 1316], [121, 231], [121, 128], [196, 231], [540, 613], [890, 961], [1347, 1450], [1347, 1382], [1397, 1450], [1388, 1396], [1404, 1450], [980, 1070], [1583, 1655], [232, 283], [286, 342], [1451, 1485]] |
A father who was battling a brain tumour at the same time as his young son was fighting a similar condition has died , leaving behind his grieving wife and children . Peter Gebruers , 42 , was given two years to live when doctors said had grade four glioma - a cancerous brain tumour - after he suffered a seizure while driving last April . Just weeks earlier Mr Gebruers and his wife Lucy , 38 , were dealt a devastating blow when doctors said Joshua , seven , had a rare brain condition which puts him at a high risk of having a stroke . For the next two years , both Mr Gebruers and Joshua underwent radiotherapy treatment , and he also had chemotherapy . Despite this , Mrs Gebruers , from Solihull , West Midlands , has now revealed her husband - whom she describes as ' a wonderful husband and cherished father ' - has lost his battle with the disease . Peter Gebruers , 42 , was battling brain cancer at the same time his son had been diagnosed with a rare brain disorder that put him at an increased risk of having a stroke . His family have now announced that Mr Gebruers has now lost the battle to the disease . In January 2014 , Joshua , seven -LRB- right -RRB- had been diagnosed with a rare brain disorder . Days before he was due to start treatment , Mr Gebruers had a seizure while driving Joshua and his sister Amelia , eight -LRB- centre left -RRB- , home from school . Writing on Facebook , she said : ` It 's with the heaviest heart imaginable that I say RIP my wonderful husband . ` Fourteen years to the day that we moved in together he was taken from his loving family and adoring children . ` The best man , the most wonderful partner , local friend and cherished daddy . Thank you for giving me two little hearts to carry you around in because mine will never be the same again . ' I love you Pete Gebruers , and I always will . Thank you for all that we have shared . xxxxxxxxxx ' MailOnline first reported on the family 's bitter struggle with cancer in August 2014 . The family had received the devastating news that Joshua had a life-threatening brain condition in January that year . Doctors said he had Arteriovenous Malformation -LRB- AVM -RRB- , a tangle of blood vessels in the brain which puts sufferers at high risk of stroke . In April , four days after Joshua was due to start his radiotherapy treatment , Mr Gebruers had a seizure in his car while driving Joshua and Amelia , eight , home from school . Luckily , the children escaped without injury , but Mr Gebruers was admitted to Heartlands Hospital , Birmingham , where doctors discovered a cancerous brain tumour . As he was receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy , Mr Gebruers was forced to give up his job as a pilot . His wife , Lucy , 38 , took on three jobs to support the family . The couple are pictured here on their wedding day . Mr Gebruers was diagnosed with a deadly brain tumour and told he had only two years to live . The couple are pictured with daughter Amelia before Mr Gebruer 's diagnosis . While he remained in hospital , Mrs Gebruers was forced to leave his side to take Joshua for a radiotherapy appointment . She said : ' I had to leave Pete in intensive care to take Joshua to his treatment . ` My daughter Amelia was struggling as she had seen the seizure . ' I just wanted to cut myself in three to be with all of them . ' Mr Gebruers , who worked as a pilot for Thomson Airlines , was given between 14 months and two years to live . Both father and son underwent radiotherapy , and Mr Gebruers also had a round of chemotherapy . Mr Gebruer 's cancer meant he lost his pilot 's licence and was unable to work , leaving them struggling to make ends meet . The family had cancelled their critical illness insurance cover years earlier , and so Mrs Gebruer took on three jobs so they could stay in the family home . Despite the hardship the family was facing , Mrs Gebruer said they still felt ` blessed ' . She said : ` Things could be so much worse . ' ' I am exhausted , but you have to do what you have to do . If I can keep us in this house by doing three jobs , I 'll do three jobs . If I have to do four , I have to do four . ' I do have my dark times , but you have to seize the moment , make the most of life and that 's what we intend to do . ` As soon as your start wallowing in self pity , that 's when you start to deteriorate . ' The whole family decided to fundraise for charity , calling themselves ` Team G ' , and have raise # 12,000 to date . Announcing her husband 's death , Mrs Gebruers wrote on Facebook : ' I love you Pete Gebruers , and I always will . ` Thank you for giving me two little hearts to carry you around in because mine will never be the same again . ' She is pictured here with Joshua and Amelia before Mr Gebruers and his son fell ill . After her father and brother were diagnosed with brain conditions , eight-year-old Amelia decided she wanted to do something positive . She organised an auction and raffle at her school to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity , and wrote a touching letter to businesses around Solihull appealing for help . ' I wanted to do something good to cancel out the sad times we 're having , ' Amelia said . The whole family joined in the fundraising efforts , calling themselves ` Team G ' and have now raised more than # 12,000 for cancer research and other causes . Mrs Gebruer says they will continue their fundraising efforts in her husband 's memory . To donate to the charities , visit the family 's Just Giving page or email lucygebruers@hotmail.co.uk . Symptoms caused by increased pressure in the skull : . Headaches - a dull and constant pain that sometimes gets worse when the person coughs , sneezes or bends over . The headache may be worse at night . Nausea - this may be worst in the morning , it may also get worse if the person suddenly changes position . Seizures - some people may experience muscle spasms such as the twitching of an arm or leg . Sometimes a person also briefly loses consciousness . Drowsiness - some people with brain tumours sleep more and fall asleep during the day . Vision and balance problems - changes to the sight , such as blurred vision , confusion and balance problems . Symptoms caused by the position of the tumour : . Changes in personality and intellect . Speech problems , loss of sense of smell , weakness in one side of the body . Facial weakness , difficulty swallowing and a one-sided smile . Source : Macmillan Cancer Support . | Peter Gebruers had a seizure when driving his children home from school . He was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour . Mr Gebruers was dealt the devastating blow he only had two years to live . News came when his son Joshua , seven , was about to start radiotherapy . Joshua had been diagnosed with a rare brain condition that causes strokes . Mr Gebruers has now died , and his wife has written a tribute on Facebook . | [[292, 340], [1221, 1262], [1265, 1326], [2263, 2271], [2274, 2330], [2343, 2379], [0, 74], [119, 166], [167, 181], [184, 291], [860, 874], [882, 969], [2562, 2607], [2833, 2885], [167, 181], [184, 291], [2833, 2844], [2890, 2926], [3435, 3454], [2290, 2340], [2263, 2271], [2274, 2330], [2343, 2379], [341, 384], [392, 488], [462, 539], [860, 874], [882, 969], [911, 978], [957, 978], [984, 1033], [1122, 1137], [1140, 1220], [2044, 2112], [2207, 2216], [2223, 2262], [674, 702], [721, 859], [1034, 1121], [4514, 4544]] |
NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer had an extraordinary rant blasting race organizers for trying to put on a ` cute show ' after he spectacularly crashed out of Daytona 500 qualifying . The 35-year-old spun off the track after he made contact with the back of Reed Sorenson 's Number 44 Chevrolet , accusing him of making a desperate move in the build up . Parts of debris started flying off both cars before they came to a stop . A furious Bowyer then got out of his car and approached Sorenson 's driver 's side window to yell at him . Scroll down for video . Dramatic : Clint Bowyer spun of the track after he made contact with the back of Reed Sorenson 's Number 44 Chevrolet during qualifying for the Daytona 500 on Sunday . Furious : Parts of debris started flying off both cars before they came to a stop . A furious Bowyer then got out of his car and approached Sorenson 's driver 's side window to start an argument . After he was checked over by medical officials , he was interviewed by Fox Sports and slammed the new qualifying process that had been initiated . Drivers initially competed for positions through single-car runs . But they introduced group qualifying last season and decided to use it for the Daytona 500 . Visibly angry by what had happened , Bowyer said : ` It 's just idiotic to be out here doing this anyway . ` There is no sense in being able to try and put on some cute show for whatever the hell this is , then you 've got a guy out there in desperation doing crap like this . ` There 's no reason to be out here . These guys have been working for six months , busting their ass on these cars , to go out there have some guy out of desperation pull this crap . Angry : After stepping out of his wrecked car and getting checked over by medical staff , Bowyer said in an interview with Fox Sports : ` It 's just idiotic to be out here doing this ' Cause : He shifted the blame to NASCAR during the interview , blasting the new qualifying format that had been put in place . ` It ai n't his fault . It 's not . It 's NASCAR 's fault for putting us out here in the middle of this crap for nothing . We used to come down here and worry about who was going to sit on the front row and pole for the biggest race of the year . ` Now all we do is worry about how a start-and-park like this out of desperation is going to knock us out of the Daytona 500 . We 've been in meetings for 45 minutes just to figure out what the hell everybody 's going to do just to make the race . It 's stupid . There 's no sense in doing this . ' In 2012 , Bowyer was accused of deliberately crashing his car and starting a huge brawl in the pits . It was the result of a long-time feud with fellow driver Jeff Gordon . | The 35-year-old slammed the qualifying process at the Daytona 500 . Came off the track when he made contact with the back of Reed Sorenson . Went over to Sorenson 's car after the crash and appeared to yell at him . However in an interview with Fox Sports he put the blame on NASCAR . Driver slammed the new group qualifying system that is being used . He said ` there 's no sense in doing this ' as the team 's try and get into the season 's blockbuster race . | [[919, 1039], [919, 965], [968, 970], [1005, 1065], [1872, 1877], [1880, 1882], [1934, 1997], [178, 288], [565, 721], [423, 439], [468, 529], [806, 822], [851, 918], [919, 1039], [1777, 1820], [1880, 1931], [2034, 2106], [919, 1039], [919, 965], [968, 970], [1005, 1065], [1872, 1877], [1880, 1882], [1934, 1997], [2508, 2541]] |
Train travellers are not being told about their right to compensation -- despite as many as four in ten suffering a delay on their last journey . Passengers held up for more than an hour are entitled to a full refund . But up to eight in ten put through the misery of a long delay are not given this information , research by Which ? found . The poll of 7,300 travellers paints a picture of unreliable and dirty trains , particularly on commuter routes into London . Others heading to Gatwick and Luton airports , where punctuality is vital to making flights , are also being let down . Train travellers are not being told about their right to compensation , pictured commuters waiting for trains at Liverpool Street Station . The consumer group rated train companies for their reliability , punctuality , value for money and cleanliness to come up with an overall score for customer satisfaction . Its findings come at a time when customers are being hit with punishing ticket price rises -- which have risen well above inflation . Thameslink & Great Northern , which operates services from the Home Counties into London , came out worst in the country with an overall customer satisfaction score of 43 per cent . It scored badly on cleanliness , punctuality and availability of seating . Southeastern , which also runs services through Kent and Sussex into the capital , did little better with a score of 44 per cent . Third worst was Southern , with a satisfaction score of just 46 per cent . Which ? said : ` Southern was the worst for delays with four in ten saying they were held up the last time they travelled . ' The company was recently shamed after it emerged that its 7.29 am Brighton to London Victoria service failed to arrive on time once in 2014 . A survey found that 33 per cent of customers for South West Trains were told about their right to a full refund . But despite Southern 's appalling record on punctuality , the survey found that just two in ten customers delayed for an hour were told about their right to a full refund . And many other companies were not much better -- the figure was 27 per cent for First Great Western , 31 per cent for Southeastern , 33 per cent for South West Trains , and 38 per cent for London Overground . Most train companies are signed up to the Delay Repay scheme , where travellers delayed for 30-59 minutes can claim back 50 per cent of the cost of a single journey . A delay of 60-119 minutes allows a refund of 100 per cent of the cost of a single journey , while delays beyond this qualify for the cost of two single journeys . These refunds are usually paid in vouchers , rather than cash . Which ? said : ` Passengers often have little or no choice as to the rail companies they travel with , so as ticket prices continue to rocket , more must be done to improve customers ' satisfaction and to inform people of their right to a refund as a result of delays . ' As many as four in 10 passengers suffered a delay on their last journey . Passengers held up for more than an hour are entitled to a full refund . Grand Central -- which operates in the North East through to London -- came top of the customer satisfaction table with a score of 76 per cent . The Rail Delivery Group , which represents rail operators , said billions were being spent to help ` improve passenger satisfaction ' . It added that nine out of ten trains arrive on time , and that ` compensation is increasingly generous and easy to apply for ' . Thameslink said it was ` determined to make things better ' and it knew ` these scores are not good enough ' . Southern added : ` We know that because of performance problems , our service has been below levels expected . ' Southeastern said it was investing # 70million over the next three years to help ` provide better information to passengers ' and improve conditions . | As many as four in 10 train passengers suffered a delay on last journey . Passengers held up for more than an hour are entitled to a full refund . But they are not being told about their right to compensation . Thameslink & Great Northern was voted worst for customer satisfaction . | [[92, 145], [1504, 1508], [1513, 1570], [1552, 1602], [1660, 1763], [2929, 2999], [146, 186], [146, 156], [179, 218], [2323, 2426], [2427, 2516], [3000, 3040], [3000, 3010], [3033, 3072], [0, 69], [587, 656], [1936, 2050], [2796, 2923], [1033, 1060], [1124, 1153]] |
Giorgio Armani has swapped clothes for interiors , creating swanky dream homes in one of the world 's most exclusive apartment blocks - in the booming Indian city of Mumbai . The apartments , which are being sold by Wetherall Estates , which specialises in # 50million Mayfair mansions , has signed a deal to sell the flats , with prices starting at # 1.4 million each . When complete next year , the luxury 1,450 ft World One Tower will be the tallest residential building in the world . Giorgio Armani is designing luxury three or four-bedroom apartments in the World One Tower in Mumbai . The apartments ' interiors will combine the ` Armani philosophy ' with the ` magnificent textile legacy of India ' Rooms have colour schemes of taupe , chocolate , grey , and cream in apartments with # 1.4 million price tags . It is being built by the Lodha group which is targeting super-rich Indians living in the UK . It will include 300 high-end apartments and penthouses and occupants will reach their floors in lifts only a little slower than an Olympic sprinter . The Giorgio Armani-designed interiors will boast comfort cooling , state-of-the-art home entertainment and security and electronic windows , curtains and blinds . The three and four-bedroom apartments on the upper floors wil have views over Mumbai and the Arabian Sea . The skyscraper also has a large indoor leisure complex with indoor swimming pools , gymnasium and spa . Each apartment will have a generously sized reception room , kitchen/breakfast room , luxurious bedroom suites and beautifully appointed bathrooms . The pads , on the tallest residential skyscraper in the world , will have views over the Arabian Sea . The flats are being sold by Mayfair-based Wetherell Estates which wants to tempt rich Indians living in London to snap up one of the properties in the 117-storey tower , which is due for completion next year . Wetherell Estates , in Mayfair , now has the job of tempting Indians living in London to look at buying a home in the 117-storey World One Tower , which is scheduled to be finished next year . The estate agency has been chosen because Indians currently account for 25 per cent of homebuyers in Mayfair . Only Brits buy more property in the luxury London ` village ' . Indian families and developers have spent around # 1billion on homes and business projects in Mayfair and the West End in the past 18 months alone . It is estimated around 3,000 rich families escape the heat of India each summer and spend their time in Mayfair instead . They typically spend between # 1 and # 20 million on homes , with 70 per cent spent on flats and apartments . The website for World One describes the look of each of the flats : ` The Armani/Casa Interior Design Studio creates living experiences rooted in the Armani philosophy -- yet evoking all the colour , vibrancy , energy and magnificent textile legacy of India . ` Working under the personal supervision of Giorgio Armani , the Armani/Casa Interior Design Studio team will translate his vision within India ` s unique culture and ethos . ' The 300 high-end apartments and penthouses in the swanky block of flats will be accessed by super-fast lifts . The 1,450 ft World One Tower is being built by the Lodha Group in the Worli district of South Mumbai . It describes the signature Armani residences as ` harmonious ' and each home , ` exudes the perfect simplicity , sensitivity , sophistication and flair that is quintessentially Armani . ' Peter Wetherell , chief executive of Wetherell , said : ` The British and international-based Indian business community are extremely successful and have been major investors in prime London real estate over the last two years . ` Now Wetherell aims to tap into this market and generate some reverse marketing and sales , in order to channel some of this wealth back to India and into the luxurious residences in the World One Tower . ` Indian buyers in London are used to homes with an extremely high specification and hotel style amenities . ` Lodha Group have been extremely clever in providing the World One Tower with every luxury and leisure amenity imaginable , and the Armani Casa brand and interiors clearly demonstrates that this is an international product of a standard that can rival London , Milan and other luxury destinations . ' World One Tower was designed by international architects Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and is located in the Worli district of South Mumbai , overlooking the Arabian Sea . Worli is a leafy downtown suburb where , during the days of the Raj , the British administrators had their luxury villas and bungalows . The tower will leapfrog 432 Park Avenue in New York which at 1,398-feet high is currently the world 's tallest residential tower . The building , with its interiors that would n't be out of place in a five star hotel , will be taller than the current highest residential tower , 432 Park Avenue in New York , which is 1,398 feet tall . Wetherell 's chief executive said potential buyers are used to ` high specification and hotel style amenities ' . | 1,450 ft World One Tower will be the world 's highest residential building . Exclusive flats in Mumbai , India , will be designed by Giorgio Armani . Interiors will combine Italian flair with Indian heritage and textiles . Prices for the luxury three or four-bedroom pads start at # 1.4 million each . | [[371, 394], [397, 488], [3196, 3298], [0, 14], [51, 174], [489, 591], [1063, 1225], [331, 370], [489, 591], [707, 818]] |
A photo of President Barack Obama was mistakenly used by a Fox news affiliate to represent a suspect in a college sexual assault case . The photo of the president appeared on KSWB when anchor Kathleen Bade said ` The only suspect in a sex assault at SDSU -LRB- San Diego State University -RRB- will not be charged . ' KSWB soon cut to footage of a different man with authorities , as Bade announced ` The District Attorney 's Office says they decided not to file charges against 20-year-old Francisco Sousa because the evidence against him is weak . ' Mistake : A photo of President Obama popped up during a report on a sexual assault suspect . According to the Times of San Diego , the photo of Obama - which had the words ` NO CHARGES ' underneath it - was shown Friday at 10:04 pm . The Times of San Diego was the first to report on KSWB 's error . In an interview with the newspaper , KSWB assignment editor Mike Wille said the image was up for approximately 5 seconds and instantly spotted . Wille told the Times of San Diego ` Yeah , there was an accident when they had an over-the-shoulder . It was n't on purpose . ' The assignment editor also said he did not know what time Bade learned about the Obama photo . He told the Times of San Diego ` They really do n't do that when it 's a small thing like that ' in response to a question from the newspaper over a potential live acknowledgement or apology . No one phoned KSWB in the middle of Friday 's 10pm news regarding the photo , Wille told the news outlet . KSWB did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Daily Mail Online . Error : An assignment editor with KSWB has said the image was up for approximately 5 minutes and instantly spotted . | The photo appeared on KSWB , when anchor Kathleen Bade said ` The only suspect in a sex assault at SDSU will not be charged ' Assignment editor Mike Wille has said the image was up for approximately 5 seconds and instantly spotted . No one phoned KSWB in the middle of Friday 's 10pm newshour regarding the photo , Wille said . | [[0, 135], [136, 287], [180, 229], [250, 315], [401, 506], [852, 886], [889, 996], [1413, 1488]] |
Her face etched with anxiety , the sister of British drug mule Lindsay Sandiford waits outside Bali 's notorious Kerokoban jail as a spate of executions for Western prisoners looms . Hilary Parsons arrived with three lawyers today in a bid to save the 58-year-old grandmother , who was convicted of trying to smuggle # 1.6 million of cocaine in 2012 , from the firing squad . Ms Parsons ' dash to the Indonesian island was spurred by what appears to be the imminent threat of execution for the two Australian ringleaders of the Bali Nine heroin-smuggling ring , Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran . Scroll down for video . Worry : Her face etched with anxiety , Hilary Parsons -LRB- right -RRB- - the sister of British drug mule Lindsay Sandiford -LRB- left -RRB- - waited outside Bali 's notorious Kerokoban jail today as part of a last-minute bid to save her life . Visitor : Ms Parsons , pictured , arrived at the island jail with three lawyers to speak to her condemned sister . She arrived at the prison as representatives of Indonesia 's legal department were meeting Australian officials in Jakarta , where the executions of Chan and Sukumaran were in the final stages of preparation . ` It 's like they will be transferred to the place where they will face the firing squad in a matter of days , ' said Tony Spontana , a spokesman for Indonesia 's Attorney-General . ` Maybe this week ... hopefully . We 're already at the stage of planning the executions and these must be implemented . ' With the threat of death now close for the Australian pair , Ms Parsons ' fears for her sister 's life are understood to have increased dramatically . She declined to make any comment when she arrived at Kerobokan prison today . Death row : Mrs Sandiford pictured left in 2013 and right earlier this month , when with the help of a translator she read a letter from Indonesian prosecutors notifying her that she was listed for execution . Condemned : Australians Andrew Chan -LRB- left -RRB- and Myuran Sukumaran -LRB- right -RRB- , the ringleaders of the Bali Nine drug ring , have been told they will be the next prisoners to be executed and could be shot within days . Her sister was convicted of trying to smuggle cocaine through Bali airport in 2012 . Recently-elected President Joko Widodo has announced that he will show no mercy for people sentenced to death for serious drug offences . So far he has held to his word with the execution last month of six prisoners for drug-linked offences . However , the Attorney General 's Department has made it clear that no-one will be put to death until they have exhausted every possible legal avenue - and that is where Ms Parsons ' hopes hang . It is understood grandmother Mrs Sandiford , from Cheltenham , Gloucestershire , has one last legal attempt at saving her own life and that is to ask for a judicial review of her case . Knitting : Mrs Sandiford has been languishing on death row since being convicted of drugs smuggling in 2012 . Hearings : The grandmother has faced a string of courts in her bid to be saved from the death penalty , which was not requested by prosecutors . She insisted she carried the drugs because her son was threatened . She has already received a letter from the prosecutor 's office in Bali 's capital , Denpasar , pointing out her rights to lodge what is known as a PK application - an appeal for a judicial review . But the British government has refused to give her any funds to employ a lawyer and she told friends last month that without a local legal expert she has no idea how to conduct the process . Ms Parsons told News Corporation recently that her family were ` terrified ' at what lay ahead . At the prison today Ms Parsons was accompanied by two Indonesian lawyers and a legal representative from Australia . It was not clear who was paying them . Long fight : Mrs Sandiford was arrested in May 2012 . Early 2012 : Lindsay Sandiford , who was born in Yorkshire and had been living in Gloucester , sets up home in India . May 17 2012 : Mrs Sandiford allegedly meets two members of a drug syndicate in Bangkok , Thailand , and collects a suitcase packed with 4.8 kilos of cocaine . May 19 : She flies to Denpasar airport , the main airport on Bali , where customs officials X-ray the suitcase and find the drugs . She is arrested . May 20 : She is interrogated by drug squad officers who suggest it will be in her interest to tell all she knows about the syndicate . She agrees . August : She is moved to Kerobokan prison , where , because she is so important to the police case , she is held in solitary confinement . Early September : She is believed to have written to the British Embassy and Indonesian government officials claiming she is being badly treated and does not have enough food or water . September 27 : Mrs Sandiford makes her first court appearance , accused of drug trafficking . She is tearful and covers her head with a scarf , maintaining that she had agreed to carry the suitcase because her son Elliot , 21 , was being threatened by a drug gang . December : She is convicted but her lawyers plead for leniency because of her co-operation . The prosecution say they want her jailed for 15 years , rather than receive a death sentence . January 14 2013 : In a ` last chance ' hearing , her lawyer pleads for even less than the 15 years because her son was being threatened and she was coerced into carrying the cocaine . January 22 : She , her lawyer and even the prosecution are stunned by the death sentence , after one of the judges said she had brought a bad reputation to Bali 's tourism . January 28 : The grandmother files her formal appeal against the sentence , which was imposed after judges said there were no mitigating circumstances in her favour . April 8 : Bali 's High Court upholds Mrs Sandiford 's conviction after British well-wishers raise thousands of pounds to pay her legal fees . She appeals to the country 's Supreme Court . August 30 : Bali 's Supreme Court upholds the decision to have her shot . She languishes in Kerobokan prison with only two hopes remaining - that she receives clemency directly from the Indonesian president , or that the country 's Supreme Court agrees to reopen the case . July 16 2014 : Britain 's Supreme Court rejects a bid by Mrs Sandiford to have the UK government pay her legal bills , but the five judges say there are ` serious issues ' about the quality of Sandiford 's trial and there should be an ` urgent review of the policy as it applies to her ' . November : Her hopes for clemency from the Indonesian president are dashed as newly-elected Joko Widodo reiterates his zero-tolerance stance against drug smugglers . February 2 2015 : Indonesia reveals the two Australian ringleaders of the Bali Nine heroin-smuggling ring , Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran , will be the next to be executed . February 7 : It emerges Mrs Sandiford has been notified that she is formally listed for execution . February 16 : Mrs Sandiford 's sister Hilary Parsons returns to Kerobokan prison with three lawyers as part of a last-ditch attempt to secure her freedom . | Hilary Parsons ' sister on death row for smuggling # 1.6 m cocaine in 2012 . Grandmother , 58 , from Cheltenham , now faces execution within days . Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran told they will be next . Ms Parsons arrived at Indonesian island jail today with three lawyers . Her sister needs pardon from President - who has zero-tolerance stance . | [[243, 277], [282, 349], [2168, 2252], [2168, 2178], [2193, 2252], [2887, 2987], [240, 275], [1232, 1299], [376, 596], [376, 418], [434, 559], [376, 418], [447, 596], [2067, 2167], [6827, 6872], [183, 239], [866, 873], [876, 886], [900, 980], [1685, 1724], [3688, 3804], [6973, 6984], [6987, 7010], [7026, 7104], [6541, 6633], [6608, 6695]] |
The most-loved Barbie doll and Lego toys have been toppled by an Australian toy company . One of the fastest-growing toy manufacturers in the US , Moose Toys , won the 2015 Girl Toy of the Year Awards at the Toy of the Year Awards ceremony in New York on Friday night . Up against a slew of international goliaths , Shopkins Small Mart triumphed over the likes of Barbie manufacturers Mattel , The Lego Group and Disney Princess to win the award . Moose Toys Co-CEO Paul Solomon told Daily Mail Australia it was an incredible honour and an acknowledgement to take out the toughest category usually dominated by toy manufacturing giants . Moose Toys Co-CEO Paul Solomon with the award winning and leading Australian products Shopkins . ` The TOTY Awards is like the Oscars for our industry so it 's the ultimate award to win and we 're incredibly proud to achieve it , ' Mr Solomon said . ` We 're up against the powerhouses and the monster entertainment toy giants so it 's a great Australian success story and an enormous feat to bring home . ' More than 65 million Shopkins have now sold worldwide , with limited edition characters , normally retailing from $ 2.99 , now selling upwards of $ 1,500 each on US eBay . Shopkins have taken the world by storm in the seven months since their launch . ` We 're quite unique in Australia because we create and manufacture our own products and they 're distributed to more than 100 countries over the world , ' Mr Solomon said . ` It 's great to see people are collecting and trading online - and to see the rare characters going for $ 1500 on eBay shows how demanding they are . ' Home-grown success story - Australian designed and developed Shopkins scoops US Girls Toy of the Year . Australian designed and developed Shopkins Small Mart take on the Big Apple . Shopkins makes a huge splash - selling more than 65 million characters worldwide in just seven months . Designed and developed by the Moose team from their head office in Cheltenham , Melbourne , Moose Toys is family-owned and has been in the business for more than 25 years . ' A lot of time and energy have been put into these toys by our talented team and we 're very proud , ' Mr Solomon said . ` One of the things we do have a lot of expertise in is collectable toys so we 're always on the look-out for the most popular trends and what themes work best for the children . ` Miniature toys are a huge trend and we noticed children love collecting , trading and doing role plays - like in real life in a store . ` Trends are changing on a regular basis and children are always changing every year so it 's important that we must always continue to bring out the exciting and innovative toys over the years . ' The colourful facade of the Moose head office in Cheltenham in Melbourne . The perfect place for creative thinking - a meeting room at the top of beanstalk where all ideas come to light . Members of the Moose Toys team at the New York Fair ahead of the Awards ceremony on Friday . Moose has products in all toy categories including collectibles , arts and crafts , activity toys , dolls , novelty items and outdoor products , and has brought joy to kids worldwide with successful products such as Mighty Beanz , Beados , Aqua Sand and The Trash Pack . ` We have a secret product launching in October but we 're keeping it under wraps at the moment . There are some exciting introduction and new things so keep your eyes peeled . Mr Solomon added : ` We also signed a deal with a major entertainment company for a Shopkins cartoon series and is set to release in 2016 - it 's a huge achievement to be a part of . ' Paul Solomon -LRB- left -RRB- and Manny Stul -LRB- right -RRB- with Girls Toy of the Year winner Shopkins . Girls Toy of the Year Award 2015 surrounded by Shopkins characters . More than 65 million Shopkins have now sold worldwide , with limited edition characters , retailing from $ 2.99 . American TIA vice president of marketing communications Ken Seiter said the TOTY Award winners are chosen out of hundreds of submissions by a panel of toy experts . ` The toys selected are judged to be the most creative , unique , innovative , special toys of the year . ` We 're thrilled to recognize the Shopkins Small Mart as this year 's ` Girl 's Toy of the Year ' as it inspires creativity and encourages imaginative play , which plays a crucial role in the development of children . ' The brand has also attracted a strong online fan base , garnering 13 million views of Shopkins webisodes and over 400 million views on Shopkins fan videos . | Australian toy company has won the 2015 Girl Toy of the Year Awards . Shopkins beat giants including Barbie , Lego and Disney Princess . The award was given at a ceremony in New York on Friday night . Co-CEO said the award is a great Aussie success story to bring back home . | [[0, 89], [90, 144], [160, 269], [1626, 1663], [1677, 1729], [4200, 4294], [0, 89], [316, 447], [90, 144], [160, 269], [968, 1027], [1626, 1672], [1626, 1663], [1677, 1729]] |
MI5 blocked police investigations into sexual abuse at a children 's home to protect their intelligence gathering operation , campaigners will tell the High Court today . Victims of abuse at the Kincora children 's home in Northern Ireland have accused senior members of the security services of colluding in protecting abusers from being investigated or prosecuted . Campaigners are taking legal action at the High Court in Belfast to force a full independent inquiry with the power to force MI5 witnesses to testify and release documents . Victims of abuse at the Kincor children 's home in Northern Ireland , pictured , have accused senior members of the security services of blocking police investigations . The case is the first to examine allegations of a British state cover-up of abuse at the East Belfast home in the 1970s . Claims that children were molested for years because police and the British security services were using the home , run by a member of a Protestant paramilitary organisation , to gather intelligence are already subject to a separate inquiry in Northern Ireland , the Historical and Institutional Abuse -LRB- HIA -RRB- inquiry , led by Sir Anthony Hart . But critics of the HIA claim it lacks sufficient powers to get to the heart of the scandal as it may not be able to compel either evidence or witnesses from MI5 . Victims are applying for a judicial review to establish a similar full inquiry in Northern Ireland to the London-based child abuse inquiry , now chaired by Justice Lowell Goddard from New Zealand . Lawyers for the victims have lodged papers in Belfast High Court arguing : ` There is credible evidence -LRB- and it is therefore arguable -RRB- that the security forces and security services were aware of the abuse , permitted it to continue and colluded in protecting the individuals involved from investigation or prosecution . ' Senior members of the Loyalist community , the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary have also been accused of collusion , blackmail and cover-up . Claims that children were molested for years because police and the British security services were using the home to gather intelligence is already subject to a separate inquiry led by Sir Anthony Hart , pictured . One alleged victim of the abuse at Kincora , Gary Hoy , was placed there with his younger brother in the 1970s . He said in a sworn affidavit : ` If we had had a proper inquiry in the 1980s then I would n't have to relive this again today . MI5 and MI6 can not be allowed to hide things , and I believe everything needs to be brought out into the open . ` I find it heart-wrenching that there were security men could have been behind the abuse or involved in it ... Because they were in positions of authority or supposed to be protecting the state they get away with it . ' Solicitor Kevin Winters who is representing Mr Hoy and other survivors said : ` The allegations of our clients and others have been in the public domain for years ; the role of state has been alleged for a long time . There is now an opportunity for the truth to be uncovered for our clients to be able to move on with their fractured lives . ` This opportunity is possibly being lost because of the UK government 's fear of being exposed to impunity and straightforward corruption and criminality against innocents used as pawns in a cynical political exercise . ' He added : ` This is about state agents in a very dark episode of the conflict in the North of Ireland . ' A former British military official has also backed a full inquiry . Colin Wallace , a former army information officer in Northern Ireland , said : ` There is now irrefutable evidence that previous inquiries were deliberately engineered or manipulated to mislead parliament by concealing the role of government agencies in covering up the abuses . ' In 1981 , three men were imprisoned for between four and six years for a number of offences relating to systematic sexual abuse of children over a period of years . But the allegations of MI5 involvement have never been fully examined . It has suggested that William McGrath , Kincora 's housemaster and the leader of an extreme evangelical Protestant group called Tara , was an informant for British intelligence . McGrath was jailed for sexual offences in 1981 and is now dead . An Amnesty International spokesman said : ` There are longstanding claims that MI5 blocked one or more police investigations into Kincora in the 1970s in order to protect its own intelligence-gathering operation , a terrible indictment which raises the spectre of countless vulnerable boys having faced further years of brutal abuse . ` It 's only Justice Goddard 's inquiry that will be able to ensure that evidence does n't remain hidden in Whitehall filing cabinets and that even senior politicians will have to attend the inquiry . ' A Home Office spokesperson said : ` The government is cooperating fully with all investigations into allegations relating to the Kincora boys ' home . It is not appropriate to comment further while these investigations are under way . ' | Victims of abuse at Kincora Children 's Home say MI5 blocked investigation . Claim staff members colluded with security services to protect abusers . Campaigners are now taking legal action at the High Court in Belfast today . Case is the first to examine allegations of a British state cover-up of abuse . | [[0, 73], [171, 327], [542, 609], [612, 711], [4332, 4371], [4374, 4491], [171, 327], [306, 367], [542, 609], [612, 711], [1699, 1740], [1767, 1834], [1796, 1879], [1882, 1922], [1925, 2038], [124, 170], [368, 443], [1549, 1621], [712, 833], [724, 833]] |
Ask Claire Croft how many children she has and she 'll say : ` Three . ' In fact her youngest , Jake , tragically died just a few months ago . But as Claire explains : ` I 'll always have three children . And I am still Jake 's mother . ' Her darling boy was just four-and-a-half when he passed away last October . The speed with which he became ill left Claire , 29 , husband Stuart and their two older children reeling . Jake had loved playing football and rough and tumble with Jack , 12 , and Alex , seven . ` One moment he was running around with his brothers , ' recalls Claire , a stay-at-home mum from Barnsley , South Yorkshire . ` The next , I was organising his funeral . It happened so fast , I still do n't think I have come to terms with it . ' Scroll down for video . Jake Croft from Barnsley , South Yorkshire was four-and-a-half when he passed away last October . Jake was just about to start his reception year at school when he started complaining of ` achy legs ' in August last year . ' I just thought it must be growing pains - I 'd heard lots of mums say their children 's legs ached sometimes , ' says Claire . ` Some days he had no pain at all , others he would complain that it hurt a lot , sometimes in the lower part . As the term progressed , I thought , maybe he just was n't keen to go to school . ' In fact , the medical consensus is that growing limbs do not normally cause pain . As Dr Kate Wheeler , a consultant in paediatric oncology at Oxford Children 's Hospital says categorically : ` Growing pains do not exist . ' Some children between the ages of three and 12 may suffer from pains in the legs at night , adds Dr Martin English , a consultant paediatric oncologist at Birmingham Children 's Hospital . ` But there is no evidence this is due to growth itself and in some cases may just be the aches and pains after physical activity that anyone would have . It may be that some children are more aware of pains than others . ' Sometimes GPs may use the term ` growing pains ' if they 're unsure of the cause of child 's pain , but ` if a problem persists or is getting worse , the cause should be reconsidered , ' says Dr English , who is a spokesman for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health . For instance , ` growing pains ' may be a sign of an underlying condition such as childhood arthritis . Jake -LRB- centre -RRB- pictured with mother Claire , father Stuart and siblings Jack and Alex . Pain around the upper part of the shin -LRB- tibia -RRB- in rapidly growing , active children may also be linked to Osgood-Schlatters disease , a painful condition that causes inflammation of the tendon that attaches the knee cap to the shin - this is not serious and usually clears up over time . Dr Wheeler warns that if a child has pains in the legs and other symptoms such as persistent limping , pain or bruising , parents should not assume it is just ` growing pains ' - ` they should always get their child seen by a doctor ' . As Claire is now all too keenly aware , in rare cases ` growing pains ' can be a sign of something serious . A month after Jake started complaining of achy legs he lost his appetite and developed bruises on his shins that varied in size from that of a 5p coin to a 50p piece . ' I thought perhaps he was being kicked at school , so I went to his teacher , ' says Claire . ` But she said nothing like that was happening and Jake was happy at school . ' By now it was October , six weeks after he had first complained of achy legs and Claire decided to take him to the GP . He complained of ` achy legs ' and Claire thought it must be growing pains . He examined Jake and ordered blood and urine tests at the hospital . The next day the hospital called to ask Claire and Stuart to bring Jake in straight away as his white blood cell count was unusually high . ` My stomach lurched , ' says Claire . ' I was terrified . ' That afternoon Claire and Stuart , 38 , hurried back to hospital with Jake . Doctors told them the heartbreaking news that Jake might have leukaemia . He was immediately transferred to Sheffield Children 's Hospital for scans . Afterwards , Claire and Stuart were led to a quiet room . ' I saw the consultant 's face and I knew then there was something much worse going on , ' Claire says . ` Before , when we 'd talked of leukaemia , although it was terrifying , everyone seemed so hopeful and mentioned that the success rate if treated early was high , but now the tone changed . ' I remember hearing her speak and then watching as Stuart just collapsed into his seat . ' The consultant said Jake had an aggressive children 's cancer called neuroblastoma . There was only a 30 per cent chance of survival . Jake was at stage four - an advanced stage - of the disease . Neuroblastoma is a cancer of specialised nerve cells called neural crest cells that are particularly concentrated in the adrenal glands above the kidney and on either side of the vertebrae in the spine . Jake 's tumour had begun on his right kidney . Claire says : ` We were told the doctors would still fight it with chemotherapy , but the odds were stacked against us . I was reeling . I had n't even taken it in . How had `` growing pains '' in my healthy boy been hiding this ? ' There are about 100 cases of neuroblastoma diagnosed a year in Britain . ` It 's very much a children 's disease , ' says Dr Wheeler . ` Ninety per cent of patients are under five years old , but very occasionally it can develop in an older child , a teenager or an adult . ' The symptoms can vary from child to child , but early warning signs of the disease include a protruding abdomen , unexplained weight loss and limping or pain in one or both legs . Even now , Claire constantly casts her mind back - trying to remember signs she may have overlooked . ` But just days earlier Jake had been playing his computer games or running after his brothers . ' After his diagnosis Jake remained in hospital . Two weeks after he was admitted , he was sedated for an MIBG scan - a nuclear scan which involves an injection of radioactive liquid - which looks for abnormal cell growth in the body . Jake never regained consciousness . ' A consultant took me aside , ' says Claire . ' I only had to look at his face to know . He confirmed Jake 's organs were failing . ' The scans showed his liver was riddled with tumours and in the hours that followed Jake 's heart stopped twice . Oncologists tried Jake with his first round of chemotherapy - desperate to try anything even at this stage . But it did n't work . Jake -LRB- right -RRB- with his brothers Jack and Alex . ` They brought him back each time his heart stopped , but then a doctor told me this would simply keep on happening . I knew what he was saying . Jake 's poor little body had been through so much . We had to make the hardest decision of our lives . ' He had been put onto life support , but even this was n't working . Claire and Stuart decided to let him go . Later that day , Jake passed away in his mother 's arms . It was only 14 days after he 'd first seen the GP . ' I walked around in a numb haze , unable to accept it , ' says Claire . ' I went through every stage of grief - disbelief , anger and back to disbelief again . ' The family banned anyone from wearing black to the funeral and , instead of having flowers , they released balloons into the sky . Now , although still in the depths of her grief , Claire wants to raise awareness of the signs of children 's cancer among other parents . ` The trouble with the symptoms , is that so many of them can be explained away , ' she says . ` The aching legs I thought were growing pains , the bruised shins could have been from rough and tumble . I had no idea these symptoms meant he had the most aggressive form of cancer . I look back every day at pictures and ask myself : did he have it then ? I 'll never know . ' In the months after her son 's death , she found some comfort after visiting Jake 's oncologist . ` The consultant told me Jake 's was the most aggressive form of neuroblastoma she 'd seen in her career and that he 'd probably only had it for around two months . ` She said even if we had started chemotherapy earlier it may have had the same result . ' Since Jake died Claire says it is only thanks to her other children and Stuart she 's been able to cope . ` It 's because of them I am still here , ' she says . ' I do n't think I could have carried on otherwise . ' All she can do is hope no other parent has to endure the same heartache . ` If my story can help another mother spot the signs in her child , then that 's something I can be proud of in Jake 's memory , ' she says . neuroblastoma.org.uk . | Jake Croft was four-and-a-half when he passed away last October . Youngster from Barnsley , South Yorkshire complained of ` achy legs ' Mother Claire thought it must be growing pains , but he did n't improve . Six weeks later she took him to the GP who ordered blood and urine tests . Jake was diagnosed with advanced neuroblastoma , an aggressive cancer . | [[103, 142], [239, 314], [285, 314], [810, 880], [881, 885], [901, 981], [944, 981], [984, 1005], [1171, 1246], [3094, 3166], [3094, 3148], [3171, 3201], [3477, 3479], [3490, 3508], [3557, 3585], [1008, 1073], [3592, 3633], [7639, 7667], [3518, 3556], [3634, 3636], [3655, 3702], [7067, 7069], [7079, 7092], [4578, 4639], [4598, 4662], [4713, 4774]] |
Two young men have filmed themselves repeatedly swearing at a police officer after they were fined for driving without P-plates . The men were pulled over by an officer in Sydney on Saturday and started recording after they were made to wait 15 minutes before they were handed a fine . The p-plate driver uploaded footage of the encounter to Facebook boasting about his brush with the law and the video has since been viewed more than 60,000 times . Scroll down for video . Two young men have filmed themselves repeatedly swearing at a police officer after they were fined for driving without p-plates in Sydney on Saturday . The video shows the officer approaching the car to hand back the driver 's license before the two men unleashed a torrent of abuse . ` Four times you 've been given tickets for not displaying p-plates , ' the officer can be heard saying . The driver hit back : ` What are you trying to prove ? You want to know what I think of you . I think you 're just a f *** ing useless piece of s ** t. ' ` You 're just bored.You 're just a redneck that 's bored . ' The video shows the officer approaching the car to hand back the driver 's license before he tells the driver this is the fourth time he has been pulled over for the same offence . The p-plate driver uploaded footage of the encounter to Facebook boasting about his brush with the law . The passenger then chimed in accusing the officer of being ` racist ' for pulling them over . ` You are a racist . Mate you done 180kms to catch me without p-plates . You 're putting people in danger for a p-plate , ' the driver said . His friend ordered the officer to hand back the license before telling his to ` wake up to yourself ' . ` You 've done your job , now we 're going . We 've been waiting for 15 minutes for you to give us a fine for a p-plate , ' he said . The officer was filmed warning the driver not to drive like that again to avoid getting another fine before asking if the pair had any questions . The driver called the officer a ` f *** ing useless piece of s ** t ' but was allowed to drive away without a fine . The p-plate driver uploaded footage of the encounter to Facebook and it has since been viewed more than 60,000 times . ` Only question I have is that you need help ... like Jenny Craig , ' the driver said . ` Give yourself an upper cut . ' The pair were then allowed to leave . NSW Police have been contacted for comment . | Two young men were pulled over and fined by police in Sydney on Saturday for driving without P-plates . Passenger recorded policeman after the pair waited 15 minutes for a fine . Video uploaded to Facebook has been watched more than 60,000 times . Driver repeatedly swears at the officer , but is allowed to drive away . | [[130, 190], [500, 625], [772, 826], [130, 137], [195, 252], [219, 223], [234, 285], [1752, 1794], [393, 449], [2174, 2223], [0, 76], [26, 129], [474, 550], [500, 625], [716, 758], [1988, 1998], [2062, 2104], [2345, 2353], [2359, 2382]] |
Women who do strenuous activity two to three times a week are 20 per cent less likely to suffer heart problems , new research says . Exercising vigorously for just ten minutes twice a week is enough to help middle-aged women avoid heart disease , a study has found . Women who did strenuous activity two to three times a week -- enough to cause sweating or a fast heartbeat -- were 20 per cent less likely to suffer from heart problems , stroke and blood clots than inactive women , researchers said . Those who did gentler exercise , such as walking , gardening or cycling , four to six times a week had the same reduction in their risk of heart disease . Indeed , doing any physical activity at all was found to lower risk by a certain amount , compared with being inactive . But surprisingly , getting active more than three times a week did not result in a further drop in risk . The chance of heart disease was no lower among the small proportion of women who did some strenuous activity more than three times a week than among those who did so two to three times . The Oxford University research , which is published in the journal Circulation , is based on data from more than a million UK women who took part in the Million Women Study , a major health project that was started in 1996 . The latest analysis was funded by the British Heart Foundation , the Medical Research Council and Cancer Research UK . Lead author Dr Miranda Armstrong , a physical activity epidemiologist , said : ` Inactive middle-aged women should try to do some activity regularly . ` Positively , the research showed that every effort to be physically active could contribute to improving heart health . Women who were active two to three times a week were able to cut the risk of heart disease substantially . ' The finding comes during the British Heart Foundation 's Heart Month , when the charity is urging people to spend ten minutes each day making small lifestyle changes to improve their heart health . Doireann Maddock , senior cardiac nurse at the BHF , said : ` This research reinforces evidence that you do n't have to run marathons or spend hours at the gym to improve your heart health . Exercising vigorously for just ten minutes twice a week is enough to help middle-aged women avoid heart disease . ` Even if you do n't have much time to spare , just a couple of weekly sessions to get your heart rate going can help to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke . ' Tom Stansfeld , of Cancer Research UK , commented : ` This study shows how important physical activity is for your health -- and it 's not only your heart that stands to benefit . ` Even small amounts of physical activity can reduce the risk of breast , bowel and womb cancers . ` Being active in any way you can -- even if it 's just walking to the station or getting off the bus a few stops earlier -- is a great thing for your overall health . ' Britons are advised to do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate activity . But almost a third get less than 30 minutes of exercise a week , and one in ten does not manage to walk for more than five minutes at a time over a month . A can of sugary drink a day increases your risk of dying from heart disease by a third , health campaigners warn . They have unveiled a poster campaign to highlight the risks of drinks such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi , which they say are linked to tooth decay and type 2 diabetes , while a can a day could lead to weight gain of over a stone in a year . The campaign , called GULP -- Give Up Loving Pop -- comes from the Health Equalities Group , based in Liverpool and funded by the NHS and local authorities . Director Robin Ireland said : ` Few people fully realise the harm that sugary drinks can do to your health ... We 've launched our GULP campaign to get the message across and take the fight to the manufacturers . ' Soft drinks are now the largest single source of sugar for teens and children aged four to ten . Many groups want a tax on the drinks to reduce consumption and fund health schemes . Recent research by the University of Liverpool suggests a 20p per litre tax in London alone could prevent 1,100 cancers , 6,300 cases of type 2 diabetes , and cut the number with heart disease and strokes by 4,300 . Such a levy would add around 7p to the price of a standard can . The British Soft Drinks Association accused the campaign of ` scaremongering ' . | Ten minutes exercise a twice a week can reduce the risk of heart disease . Also makes women less likely to suffer from a stroke or blood clots by 20 % . Applies to gentler exercise such as walking , gardening and cycling . Research was carried out by Oxford University and funded by British Heart Foundation . | [[133, 181], [1688, 1794], [2186, 2234], [2347, 2379], [2398, 2467], [267, 325], [357, 373], [377, 480], [502, 523], [535, 550], [553, 562], [502, 656], [1296, 1414]] |
When Tennessee Titans star Delanie Walker broke up with his girlfriend just before Valentine 's Day this year , his spurned ex took matters into her own hands to keep him from finding a date for the most romantic holiday of the year . The 30-year-old tight end 's longtime girlfriend Racine Lewin , 31 , hacked into his Instagram account on Saturday , to post a picture of them together in happier times . She captured the sweet picture with a bitter rant , accusing him of infidelity . She also claims he broke up with her even though she is four months pregnant . ` This is my girlfriend/fianc é of 10 years . Her name is Racine . I broke up with her just a few days ago , like I do every February because I have no self control in the off season . I 'm a ` celebrity ' and she no longer looks good enough for my ` image ' while I 'm not playing football , ' the now-deleted post read . Time to get a better password : Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker -LRB- right -RRB- had his Instagram account hacked by his ex-girlfriend Racine Lewin -LRB- left -RRB- on Valentine 's Day . Cheater ? Lewin posted a picture of her with Walker during happier times which she captioned with a rant about his alleged infidelity . Walker pictured above during a December 2014 against the Jacksonville Jaguars . ` She 's also 4 months pregnant so I figured it was the perfect time to take advantage of her . I 've been canoodling around Nashville like a whore telling everyone that I 'm single even though we planned this child and have been asking her to marry me for the past 5 years . ' Lewin goes on to describe Walker as being a liar who only cares about his ` image ' . At the end of the rant , Lewin adds that Walker sent her four dozen roses on Valentine 's Day to cheer up , and breaks the news that they are expecting a daughter . ` All jokes aside , surprise Delanie you are having a girl . Congratulations ... Love , Racine . ' Lewin later apologized for the breach of privacy in a post on her own Instagram account , saying the act was ` completely out of my character ' . Making up or breaking up ? Lewin later posted a picture to her personal Instagram account of the four dozen roses Walker sent her on Valentine 's Day to cheer her up . She also posted pictures of the roses that Walker sent her as a Valentine 's Day gift , and confirmed that the two had indeed split . Walker has not yet commented on the social media spat . Lewin described their relationship issues in more detail , saying that she lost trust in Walker a long time ago but decided to stay with him after they experienced a miscarriage a few years ago . ` For all of you saying its my fault I stayed for 10 years ... your right , but easier said than done when you love someone . It was really the death of our baby boy back in 2010 that made me stay ... Promises of another baby , gifts , family , marriage , lies ... . All really enticing to a girl who is already broken . ' However , she says she is stronger now and wants to set an example for her unborn daughter by standing up for herself and breaking things off . Snapped : In another post on her personal Instagram account , Lewin wrote that the hack was ` completely out of my character ' ` The last thing I want is our daughter to think it 's ok or normal to be disrespected by a man . So it stops now , before she is born , one way or another . If we did n't love each other , we would n't have made it this far . . But love without trust , loyalty , or respect was bound to crumble , ' she wrote . Walker has been playing football since his days at Pomona High School , located in an eastern suburb of Los Angeles , California . He went on to play college ball at Central Missouri before being recruited in the sixth round of the 2006 draft to play for the San Francisco 49ers . Walker played for the 49ers for six years before transferring to his current team , the Titans . According to public records , Lewin lived in the San Francisco Bay Area around the time that Walker started playing for the 49ers , so they may have met during his early professional football days . Happier times : Lewin and Walker pictured above attending the CMT Music awards in Nashville Tennessee on June 5 , 2013 . | Tennessee Titans Delanie Walker , 30 , had his Instagram account hacked on Saturday by his longtime girlfriend Racine Lewin , 31 . In the post , Lewin claimed that Walker broke up with her just before the romantic holiday because she ` no longer looks good enough ' Lewin also wrote that she is four months pregnant with a baby girl . Walker has not commented on the social media spat . | [[235, 283], [304, 349], [352, 377], [235, 283], [352, 405], [921, 1053], [0, 109], [112, 234], [751, 779], [783, 822], [536, 565], [1305, 1334], [1692, 1697], [1779, 1831], [2379, 2397], [2408, 2434], [2379, 2385], [2394, 2434]] |
Now raspberries have been added to the growing list of Nanna 's frozen berries that people should throw out of their freezers as the risk of hepatitis A continues . The latest recall is for the 1kg packs of Nanna 's Raspberries with best before dates until 15/09/16 - it does not apply to the Creative Gourmet Raspberries 300g and 500g packs as the Chinese supplier , believed to have contaminated the recalled items , no longer supplies these particular products . As the number of people who have contracted hepatitis A from consuming frozen berries rises to nine across Australia , one woman has revealed her anger and fear over potentially being diagnosed with the virus . This comes as people who ate berries linked to the hepatitis A scare have been banned from donating blood for two months tests as the service tests for 70 diseases , but not hepatitis A due to its low risk . The latest recall is for the 1kg packs of Nanna 's Raspberries with best before dates until 15/09/16 . While those who have donated , either on or after 1 November 2014 , after eating the berries is asked to contact the Red Cross Blood Service on 13 14 95 , so they can identify any risks posed to those receiving blood . ` This will help us identify whether or not we need to take further action to minimise the unlikely event of hepatitis A being spread via blood transfusion , ' Red Cross Blood Service spokesman Shaun Inguanzo said . Patties Foods CEO , Steven Chaur , said the further recall on raspberries was a precautionary measure as investigations identified the potential link of the product to the Chinese supplier in question . ` While there are no confirmed test results indicating a potential link to Hepatitis A , we are working proactively with health authorities based on the information they have presented to date , ' said on the company 's Facebook page . Trudie Sims , from Ballarat in Victoria , had been using Nanna 's frozen berries in smoothies until Sunday evening , when she was alerted to the health warning which had been issued . ` I 'm really angry ... -LRB- and -RRB- it 's absolutely terrified me ' , Ms Sims told Daily Mail Australia . So far four cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed in Queensland , three in Victoria , and two in New South Wales . Ms Sims ' case could take the national toll to ten . Doctors say she is exhibiting common symptoms of the disease and expect to formally diagnose her with the virus when her results come back on Tuesday morning . Trudie Sims , from Ballarat in Victoria , had been using Nanna 's frozen berries in smoothies and doctors suspect she has hepatitis A . The products which have been pulled from shelves are Nanna 's Mixed Berries 1 kilogram packets , and the 300 and 500 gram varieties of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries . ` Over the last two to three weeks I 've been getting quite sick and I just thought it was a flu , ' Ms Sims revealed . ` Last night I just could n't really swallow anymore and I was going to make a frozen drink like I have been for the last four to six weeks , ' she added added . After her partner Trevor alerted her to the health warning which had been issued when he saw Ms Sims with a packet of Nanna 's berries - he rushed her to hospital . Since her admission her eyelids have turned yellow and she is exhibiting signs of jaundice . Ms Sims is also suffering from chronic tonsillitis and a chest infection - likely a result of her body fighting multiple infections . ` I 'm massively jaundice and my liver 's pretty crappy and these are the first signs of hep A from the berries , ' Ms Sims revealed . Though still awaiting the definitive results of her blood tests , Ms Sims said her doctor was almost certain she had hepatitis A , news which left her in tears . The Ballarat woman said she feels betrayed by the food company , and claims she was misled over the origin of the product which she thought were Australian made . Nanna 's frozen berries are what Ms Sims was consuming and are among a number of products which have been recalled . She is suffering from jaundice , evident on her eyelids , and doctors expect to formally diagnose her with hepatitis A when her blood test results return . ` I 'm really angry ' , Ms Sims said before adding ` It 's disgusting . We 're in Australia - we have our own resources . ' She now faces at least a week of unpaid leave from her casual job , is on heavy antibiotics and ca n't even kiss her partner . Ms Sims said she was beside herself when she found out , especially since she and partner Trevor visited his sick mother in hospital just last week . She hopes that she did not pass on any virus . The Ballarat woman decided to share her story in the hopes of alerting others of the dangers . ' I thought I 'm going to tell someone ... if I did n't know about it then how many other people do n't know , ' she revealed . In recent days the frozen berry products have been pulled from supermarket shelves after increasing numbers of people contracted the potentially deadly hepatitis A virus after consuming the fruit . The first items to be pulled were 1kg packets of Nanna 's Frozen Mixed Berries after five adults , three in Victoria and two in NSW , fell ill after eating the fruit . Ms Sims now faces at least a week of unpaid leave from her casual job , is on heavy antibiotics and ca n't even kiss her partner Trevor -LRB- left -RRB- who rushed her to hospital on Sunday night . The Ballarat woman said she feels betrayed by the company , and would not have bought the fruit had she known it was n't made in Australia . On Sunday Patties Foods also recalled a number of their products , the 300 gram and 500 gram varieties of their Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries . Patties Foods CEO Steven Chaur said the wider recall was a precautionary measure until the results of further laboratory testing came back . ` We have decided that all our frozen Mixed Berries should be recalled until such time as we receive the results of further laboratory tests , ' Mr Chaur said . ` The recall is an important step to ensure public safety and confidence . ' The berries , which are sold in major supermarkets including Woolworths , Coles and IGA stores , are packed in China and distributed in Australia by Patties Foods , based in Bairnsdale in southeast Victoria . Meantime Australian farmers say the outbreak from frozen the berries imported from China illustrates the risks involved with imported food and called on consumers to always buy homegrown products . Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Tuohey said not all imported food adhered to Australia 's strict guidelines which were some of the best health and safety standards in the world . Mr Tuohey urged consumers to always buy Australian made products but conceded identifying those products could be quite challenging . Australian farmers urge consumers to always buy homegrown products . ' I can only assume that this company is using Chinese berries because they are offering a lower market price , ' he told The Herald Sun . ` Berries are certainly in season in Australia . ' He said that it was likely the berries were contaminated when they were first picked . ` They may have been placed on the ground where rats and other vermin could have caused the problem , ' he said . ` Unfortunately , Australian Customs do n't test every batch , they only check a certain percentage of shipments . ' The health department has also told the company to recall the product that contains strawberries , raspberries and blackberries from China and blueberries from Chile . Hepatitis A is spread when traces of faecal matter containing the virus comes in contact with hands , water or food , and then enters a person 's mouth . Hepatitis A -LRB- pictured -RRB- is spread when traces of faecal matter containing the virus comes in contact with hands , water or food , and then enters a person 's mouth . Victoria 's chief health officer , Dr Rosemary Lester , says frozen berries have been tied to outbreaks of the virus in the past . ` Hepatitis A virus infection is uncommon and normally associated with travel to countries affected by endemic hepatitis A , ' she said in a statement on Saturday . ` The only common link between the cases is consumption of this product - there is no overseas travel or common restaurant exposure . ' NSW Health 's Communicable Diseases Branch director Dr Vicky Shepherd said an investigation by all health agencies would help determine how many people have been affected - although some may not be struck down with the infection for a few weeks . Symptoms of Hepatitis A include abdominal pain , nausea and fever as well as yellow skin and eyes . Concerned consumers can call Patties Foods on 1800 650 069 . The following products have been recalled : . Nanna 's Mixed Berries 1kg , up to and including Best Before Date 22/11/16 . Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries 300g , up to and including Best Before Date 10/12/17 . Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries 500g , up to and including Best Before Date 06/10/17 . | Nanna 's One kg pack of raspberries have now been recalled as precaution . Three people in Victoria and two in NSW have contracted hepatitis A . A further four cases in Queensland have been confirmed . Trudie Sims is suspected of virus after eating Nannas Frozen Berries daily . People linked to the Hep A scare ca n't donate blood for two months . Those who donated on either on or after 1 November 2014 must contact Red Cross on 13 14 95 . Consumers urged to throw out 1kg packs of Nanna 's Frozen Mixed Berries . Patties Foods also recalled 300g and 500g Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries . | [[165, 237], [885, 957], [1423, 1440], [1458, 1524], [1463, 1542], [5719, 5847], [483, 489], [494, 521], [2156, 2273], [2156, 2273], [510, 519], [522, 551], [2487, 2498], [2518, 2580], [691, 840], [1056, 1140], [79, 152], [2623, 2780], [5067, 5163], [8791, 8817], [8830, 8867], [2623, 2780], [5574, 5597], [5603, 5638]] |
They splashed out on stunning bouquets to make their loved ones smile on Valentine 's Day . But for some customers , their 1-800-Flowers deliveries did not quite meet their expectations . Instead , their partners , relatives and friends were sent wilted , crushed and sparse arrangements . Some even received the wrong bouquets - while others were apparently not sent flowers at all . Scroll down for video . ` You had one job ' : For some customers , their 1-800-Flowers deliveries did not quite meet their expectations on Valentine 's Day . Above , Megan Hess tweeted these photos of her order -LRB- left -RRB- and what she received -LRB- right -RRB- . Disappointed : Twitter user Jeremey Rodriguez posted a photo of a beautiful arrangement of red roses that he ordered from 1-800-Flowers -LRB- left -RRB- , alongside an image of what actually arrived at his wife 's workplace -LRB- right -RRB- . ` Dead ' : A male user with the handle @bulldogev uploaded this picture of a basket of dead-looking red roses to the social networking site , writing : ' @ 1800flowers nice #ValentinesDay gift . Here 's a pic of the dead flowers ' No-show : While some customers ' ordered bouquets arrived wilted , crushed and sparse , others apparently failed to arrive at all . Above , a man named Jayson took to Twitter to complain about his lack of flowers . Now , customers are taking to social media in their droves to complain about the arrangements that they ordered from the American floral retailer , with many deeming them ` pathetic ' and ' a let down ' . One Twitter user , Colin Clark , posted a photo of wilted pink roses on the site , alongside the caption : ' @ 1800flowers thankfully my gf has a sense of humor or I 'd be single right now . #WiltAwayMyTears . ' Meanwhile , Jordan Jones tweeted an image of dead flowers , with the sarcastic note : ` Gee ... thanks @ 1800flowers for the . . uh . . beautiful ... dried herbs ? #neveragain #inthedoghouse . ' And a user with the handle @bulldogev uploaded a picture of a basket of dead-looking red roses , writing : ' @ 1800flowers nice #ValentinesDay gift . Here 's a pic of the dead flowers . Around 12 hours ago , 1-800-Flowers representatives started replying to irritated customers on Twitter and Facebook , asking them to direct message them with their order number for assistance . And it was not just the firm 's bouquets that apparently did not meet expectations on February 14 . ` In the doghouse ' : Twitter user Jordan Jones tweeted an image of dead pink flowers to 1-800-Flowers , with the sarcastic note : ` Gee ... thanks @ 1800flowers for the . . uh . . beautiful ... dried herbs ? #neveragain #inthedoghouse ' Another complaint : Since February 14 , people have been taking to social media in their droves to complain about the arrangements that they ordered from the US floral retailer , with many deeming them ` pathetic ' And it was not just the firm 's bouquets that apparently did not meet expectations on February 14 . One Twitter user , Tiffany , posted a photo of a heart-shaped box of squashed chocolates to the social network -LRB- pictured -RRB- . One Twitter user , Tiffany , posted a photo of a heart-shaped box of squashed chocolates , alongside the caption : ` This is not how someone should receive chocolates for Valentines Day . #disappointed . ' Another user , Jeremy Holmes , poked fun at the delivery disaster , uploading a picture of a bouquet of red roses , as advertised on the company 's website , alongside an image of a chicken in a jumper . He tweeted : ` what the hell @ 1800flowers , what I ordered vs. what I got ' , adding : ` My girlfriend does n't even like chicken ' . His post was retweeted 30 times and ` favorited ' a further 29 times . It is unclear what caused the 1-800-Flowers orders to arrive disfigured - or fail to arrive at all . It is possible the severe wind chills and sub-zero temperatures that swept across the US over the weekend could have affected packages left on recipients ' doorsteps , or slowed down deliveries . But whatever the reason , many customers accused the firm of ruining Valentine 's Day . Jena Nieves tweeted : ' @ 1800flowers sent my sister DEAD & ROTTED flowers . Thanks for ruining a special day ! ' It is the second year running the floral retailer has sparked outrage over its February 14 deliveries . Less serious : Another user , Jeremy Holmes , poked fun at the firm 's flower disaster , uploading a picture of bouquet of red roses , as advertised on the company 's website , alongside a picture of a chicken in a jumper . Response : Around 12 hours ago , 1-800-Flowers representatives started replying to irritated customers on Twitter and Facebook , asking them to direct message them with their order number for assistance . Furious : Despite the firm 's personal responses , many customers accused it of ruining Valentine 's Day . Jena Nieves tweeted : ' @ 1800flowers sent my sister DEAD & ROTTED flowers . Thanks for ruining a special day ! ' Last year , 1-800-Flowers sent nearly 1,000 individual apologies on Twitter to angry customers , many of whom complained they had not been able to receive phone support , CNN reported . In a Facebook post at the time , representatives wrote : ` Our customer service center is open 24x7 and our caring team is working hard to resolve every concern , and wo n't stop until we do . ` Due to the weather issues we experienced , wait times are longer than we would like . ' 1-800-Flowers ' bouquets range in price from $ 34.99 to $ 159.99 . | Customers have accused 1-800-Flowers of ` ruining ' their Valentine 's Day . Splashed out on spectacular bouquets starting at $ 39.99 for loved ones . But deliveries did not quite meet expectations - and some failed to arrive . Many flowers appeared wilted and sparse , while others were wrong type . ` Thankfully my gf has sense of humor or I 'd be single , ' one man tweeted . Retailer is replying to customers individually via Twitter and Facebook . | [[96, 114], [117, 187], [452, 542], [1270, 1344], [1345, 1348], [1351, 1438], [4063, 4124], [4823, 4878], [0, 91], [21, 91], [96, 114], [117, 187], [452, 542], [1218, 1261], [2352, 2377], [2383, 2436], [2905, 2930], [2936, 2989], [188, 195], [198, 289], [290, 342], [1146, 1215], [1659, 1710], [2143, 2162], [2165, 2258], [4567, 4575], [4578, 4597], [4600, 4693]] |
Last year , the community of Cypress , Texas , was shaken when a family of four was discovered dead in their homes , each killed with a bullet to the head . Any sense of calm has stubbornly refused to return for neighbors , as police say they still have no leads into who killed Maoye Sun , 50 , and Mei Xie , 49 , and their two sons , 7 and 9 . ' I hope every time you blink , you see the images of these children , ' Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said at a recent press conference . Quadruple murder : Husband Maoye Sun and wife Mei Xie were found dead last year along with their boys , Timothy and Titus , all of whom had been shot at least once in the head in their bedrooms . ' I want you to remember that you killed two children . I want that to burn in your brain . I want you to have no peace in your life until you turn yourself in and confess . ' KPRC reports that the reward for information was raised to $ 75,000 from $ 70,000 as the Houston Chinese Alliance and other community leaders try to keep focus on the Sun family . ` The community 's disappointed due to the lack of progress , ' said the Houston Chinese Alliance 's Howard Xu . ` We urge the community to ask people who have information to contact Crime Stoppers or the investigators . ' On January 30 of last year , police visited the Sun residence after one of the parents were reported to not have shown up for work . There , Sun and Xie were found dead along with their boys , Timothy and Titus , all of whom had been shot at least once in the head in their bedrooms . Pledge : Sheriff Garcia spoke at a press conference announcing a new reward for information leading to the killer after a year with no leads . Family : The two boys had last been seen in school on January 23 , a week before the family was found murdered in their home . The Houston Chronicle reported that what was first believed to be a grisly murder-suicide scene was ruled a homicide when police found several of the windows had been broken . The two boys , students at Sampson Elementary School , had last been seen on January 23 . News of the murders even reached China , where Maoye Sun , who has worked as an engineering analyst at several petroleum drilling companies , was reportedly connected a former Chinese security official currently the subject of a corruption probe , according to KHOU . ` We have received news articles and different emails . We have gone through it all , ' Sheriff Garcia said . ` There is a great deal of information we can not share . ' | Maoye Sun , 50 , Mei Xie , 49 , and their sons , Timothy , 9 , and Titus , 7 , were found dead in their home last year , but no leads have turned up . Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia delivered a message to the killer or killers at a press conference announcing a new reward for information . The killing was first believed to be a murder-suicide , but broken windows led investigators to rule it a homicide . | [[0, 9], [12, 36], [39, 114], [227, 262], [238, 345], [491, 507], [537, 612], [1399, 1404], [1407, 1476], [1631, 1693], [1761, 1820], [419, 490], [1560, 1602], [1584, 1642], [1821, 1937], [1887, 1996]] |
A Chinese teenager who went missing in California last week while carrying hundreds of dollars and a credit card has since been discovered by authorities . Authorities discovered Jin Wuwei Monday at approximately 2pm on a Sunset Boulevard bus stop bench , the West Hollywood Sheriff 's Station told KCAL-TV . The 16-year-old was taken to the police station in Claremont to meet his mother , the sheriff 's station told the CBS affiliate . Wuwei and his mother , Jiping Geng , reportedly traveled to Claremont so they could visit colleges . Scroll down for video . Student : Jin Wuwei , seen left and right , was discovered by authorities in West Hollywood . He disappeared last Friday in Claremont after he and his mother traveled there to look at colleges . The Claremont Police Department earlier said in a news release that Geng reported the teenager missing February 13 . Wuwei took off on foot from the Claremont Lodge at approximately 12:42 pm that day , according to the police department , which said he first arrived in the town on February 11 . Wuwei was carrying multiple bags at the time , images captured on surveillance video reveal . Before Wuwei was found , the Claremont Police Department said in the release ` He was carrying a backpack and had a limited amount of money . He does not have any family or friends in the area and his destination is unknown . He is fluent in English . ' Journey : Jin Wuwei and his mother Jiping Geng were reportedly in the United States scouring colleges . Mystery : Wuwei was carrying multiple bags on February 13 , images captured on surveillance video reveal . Geng told KCAL-TV via a translator that her son told her on February 13 that he would look at college libraries in town by himself as she shopped . ` Son , where are you ? Can you contact me or your daddy as soon as possible and I hope anybody can help me out ' Geng told the television station . Speaking to KABC through a translator , Geng said Wuwei had approximately $ 500 in cash , a cell phone , a phone charger , and a credit card . The translator relayed to the ABC affiliate that Geng 's son also refused to show her an item he purchased ahead of the disappearance . The credit card was not used and the cell phone was shut off , police told KCBS-TV . | Authorities discovered Jin Wuwei Monday at approximately 2pm on a Sunset Boulevard bus stop bench , the West Hollywood Sheriff 's Station has said . The 16-year-old took off on foot from a motel at approximately 12:42 pm in Claremont on February 13 . His mother has said he had $ 500 in cash , a cell phone , a phone charger , and a credit card . She told authorities her son is a fluent English speaker and has neither friends nor family near Claremont . | [[156, 242], [220, 253], [256, 308], [564, 571], [574, 583], [600, 657], [658, 736], [876, 958], [0, 18], [23, 94], [0, 18], [66, 112], [0, 18], [99, 155], [1951, 2053], [1291, 1341], [1375, 1400]] |
U.S. talk show host John Oliver has put Australia 's plain packaging cigarette laws in the spotlight in his latest segment in which he takes on big tobacco companies . The host of HBO 's Last Week Tonight used his segment to demonstrate how cigarette brands use their power to fight against government health initiatives designed to reduce smoking rates in countries around the world . Oliver began his segment by describing tobacco as : ` An aging product that 's decreasing in popularity and yet somehow , it just ca n't stop making money . It 's basically the agricultural equivalent of U2 . ' Scroll down for video . U.S. talk show host John Oliver has put Australia 's plain packaging cigarette laws in the spotlight . The host of HBO 's Last Week Tonight used his latest segment to demonstrate how cigarette brands use their power to fight against government health initiatives designed to reduce smoking rates . In the 18-minute video he went on to discuss the lengths cigarette companies go to when faced with the introduction of laws that limit their ability to market to consumers -- starting with the fight faced by the Australian Government before it introduced new cigarette branding laws in 2012 . ` Australia 's plain packaging laws banned tobacco company branding from packaging and replaced it with upsetting photos such as the toe tag on a corpse , the cancerous mouth , the nightmarish eyeball or the diseased lung , ' he said . ` Perhaps unsurprisingly , since this law was implemented total consumption of tobacco and cigarettes in Australia fell to record lows ... and nightmares about eyeballs have risen to record highs . ' He then pointed to a picture of a health warning on a cigarette package and joked : ` Take it down , take down the demon eye ! ' Oliver made reference to Australian Department of Health statistics which show that consumption of cigarettes and tobacco fell to their lowest recorded levels -LRB- $ 3.405 billion -RRB- in the March quarter of 2014 , down from $ 3.508 billion in the December quarter of 2012 . Oliver made reference to Australian Department of Health statistics which show that consumption of cigarettes and tobacco fell to their lowest recorded levels following introduction of plain packaging . The talk show host then went on to suggest a ` compromise ' with tobacco companies , allowing them to market their products using ` Jeff the Diseased Lung ' as their mascot . Oliver encouraged people to tweet using the hashtag #JeffWeCan , which started trending on Twitter . It 's not the first time the popular HBO show -- which has a large online fan base with more than 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube -- has spoken about the Australian Government . In June last year Oliver took a much less favourable look at Australia 's political landscape by collating a series of Prime Minister Tony Abbott 's biggest gaffes . The talk show host then went on to suggest a ` compromise ' with tobacco companies , allowing them to market their products using ` Jeff the Diseased Lung ' as their mascot . | U.S. talk show host John Oliver spoke about Australia 's cigarette laws . In his latest segment he took aim at tobacco companies and the lengths they go to to be able to market to consumers . Last year Oliver slammed Tony Abbott by playing a series of gaffes . | [[15, 122], [636, 723], [15, 122], [104, 122], [132, 167], [168, 320], [724, 883], [919, 995], [964, 1042], [1038, 1042], [1048, 1090], [2715, 2863], [2733, 2739], [2809, 2880]] |
Thinking outside the tool box , this builder has perfected some impressive party tricks with his gadgets . Dan Paquette from Davidson , North Carolina , is seen in a new video flipping his hammer in the air and catching it perfectly in his belt holster . ` Holy s *** you saw it ! ' he says in disbelief as he performs the stunt bang on . Thinking outside the tool box : Dan Paquette from Davidson , North Carolina , was caught on camera as he flipped his hammer in the air and caught it perfectly in his belt holster . He edited the clip to show it in slow motion . Paquette uploaded the footage to Facebook with dozens of viewers giving him the thumbs up . ` That was unbelievably amazing ! ' one fan mused . Bang on ! ` Holy s *** you saw it ! ' he says in disbelief as he performs the stunt bang on . The handyman said he received an email from The Late Show with David Letterman after his hammer-welding skills were spotted online . He 's apparently wanted for the ` stupid human tricks ' segment . When he 's not throwing tools around , Paquette specializes in building miniature structures . His company is called Tiny House Customs . The accompanying YouTube channel shows Paquette in action , doing everything from fixing fuses to completing demolition work . | Dan Paquette from Davidson , North Carolina , said he received an email from The Late Show with David Letterman after his hammer-welding skills were spotted online . | [[107, 133], [142, 175], [805, 915], [890, 937]] |
A video of a young George Osborne advising voters how to use ` clever financial products ' to avoid taxes has been unearthed . In the clip , recorded on BBC 's Daily Politics in 2003 , Mr Osborne smirks as he advises a caller to the show how to cut inheritance tax bills and avoid paying for old age care . Mr Osborne even admits that he ` probably should n't be advocating this on television ' . Scroll down for video . A young George Osborne advising voters how to use ` clever financial products ' to avoid taxes has been unearthed . Mr Osborne said : ` There are some pretty clever financial products which enable you to - in effect - pass on your home , or the value of your home , to your son or daughter and then get personal care paid for by the state . ' I probably should n't be advocating this on television . ' The revelation comes amid an ongoing political row over tax dodging in the wake of bombshell allegations that HSBC helped wealthy individuals stash their money in its Swiss banking arm . A list of thousands of British-linked individuals with bank accounts in Switzerland was leaked -- including a number of high profile Tory donors . Labour said the Government had turned a blind eye to tax avoidance -- and accused David Cameron of being ` a dodgy Prime Minister surrounded by dodgy donors ' . A party source said the video of Mr Osborne advocating ways to dodge taxes exposed the Conservative Party 's hypocrisy . A Labour source said : ` We already knew that David Cameron and George Osborne were turning a blind eye to tax avoidance . Now we learn the Chancellor has been advising people how to do it . ' In the video Mr Osborne , who was a backbench MP at the time of the recording , hands out advice to a viewer called Bill . In the clip , recorded on BBC 's Daily Politics in 2003 , Mr Osborne smirks as he advises a viewer who rings the show how to cut inheritance tax bills and avoid paying for old age care . Labour 's shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna -LRB- right -RRB- said it was ' a matter of good housekeeping ' to get a receipt for cash-in-hand jobs following Ed Balls 's remarks . It comes after Labour 's Ed Balls said tax avoidance was such a widespread problem families should make sure they get a receipt for all cash-in-hand jobs - even if they are only for # 10 . His remarks sparked accusations that he was out of touch with ordinary small businesses . But the party 's shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said getting a receipt for all cash-in-hand jobs was a ` matter of good housekeeping ' and was a ` good thing to do ' . Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the demand was ` absurd ' . Tory minister Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Balls 's demand for people to get a receipt for someone charging # 10 to trim a hedge was ` absurd ' He said : ' I do n't think anybody in the country probably does that unless they sit down and they do it as part of a process ; in other words , if you are employing somebody in which the objective is paying them cash as a process of your business , then of course I suspect most businesses do keep some kind of record , that 's the right thing to do . ` But if you have a one-off payment for something and you pay cash , I should n't think anybody in the country does that necessarily ... what it exemplifies is Labour 's complete lack of understanding about how business works and , actually , how people get by . ' He told BBC Breakfast : ` Here we have a man that would be the chancellor who is wandering around saying Big Brother is going to watch you carefully , that if you do any cash transactions and do n't keep receipts , somehow they are going to punish you . I find that absurd . ' The shadow chancellor 's comments came as Labour and the Tories engaged in furious clashes over tax dodging , with both sides complaining of smears . As he was pressed on BBC Radio 5 Live 's Pienaar 's Politics about what constituted tax avoidance , Mr Balls said : ` The right thing to do if you are having somebody cut your hedge for a tenner is to make sure they give you their name and address and a receipt and a record for the fact that you have paid them . ' Asked whether he himself followed that rule , he said : ` Absolutely . That 's because I am the shadow chancellor and I 'm extremely careful about these things . ` Over my life , have I ever given people a tenner and not given a receipt for it ? Probably yes . But he had not done so ` since I have been involved in politics and Treasury matters ' . Mr Balls said : ` It 's not your job to pay their taxes for them and I think most people you give a tenner to are not going to be VAT-registered . ` They 've got the legal obligation to make sure they pay their taxes if it 's that kind of transaction - but I think the sensible thing for anybody is that you 've got a record of it and you 've done it properly . ' | Clip featuring Mr Osborne was recorded for BBC 's Daily Politics in 2003 . The Chancellor smirks as he advises a caller how to cut inheritance tax . Comes amid ongoing row over tax dodging following HSBC bank scandal . Labour has accused the Tories of ` turning a blind eye ' to tax avoidance . But the Tories say Labour are guilty of ` breathtaking hypocrisy ' Ed Balls said people had a duty to get a receipt for all cash-in-hand jobs . He said people should get a receipt even for getting their hedge trimmed . | [[130, 138], [141, 182], [1758, 1766], [1769, 1810], [127, 138], [185, 306], [1562, 1629], [1632, 1655], [1712, 1740], [1755, 1766], [1813, 1853], [1834, 1941], [823, 915], [1157, 1286], [2035, 2052], [2055, 2125], [2183, 2286], [3946, 3959], [3962, 4138], [3946, 3959], [3962, 4138]] |
This shocking video has revealed the abuse endured by a police officer who was able to remain calm in the face of extreme provocation by a gang of young thugs . Pc Richard Allen was subjected to a barrage of abuse and threats as his colleague searched one of the youths at a bus stop in Plymouth , Devon . The incident was filmed by one of the gang , who posted the video on Facebook last Thursday , and the footage is now being investigated by police . Scroll down for video . A shocking video has revealed the abuse endured by police constable Richard Allen , who was able to remain calm in the face of extreme provocation by a gang of young thugs - who filmed the incident . Pc Allen has been widely praised for his self-control despite being told by the unidentified cameraman to ` jog on you mug ' , and called a ` little f ****** perv ' . The scale of the threats made to Pc Allen have provided an insight of the vile abuse and threats on-the-beat officers endure on an almost daily basis . In the clip , which has gone viral , the unidentified cameraman can be heard shouting : ` You want to watch your back , mate . ` You 're in Estover - things happen round here . Bad things , mate . People go walkabouts , mate . ` You 're not wanted here . Jog on , you little mug . Get back in your bacon mobile and drive off . ` You 're on minimum wage , you little bum . You 're working for me . ' He finally is heard calling the officer a ` little f ***** g perv ' . But the calm officer simply replies ` ok ' throughout the stream of abuse , warns the youth about his language and continues with his job , adding ` I 'm going to ask you politely , can you stand on the pavement , ' as he walks back to the police patrol car . Pc Allen was subjected to a barrage of abuse and threats as his colleague searched one of the youths at this bus stop in Plymouth , Devon . Pc Allen said after the search , he and his colleague , a special constable , left the youths to go about their day . No arrests were made . ' I did n't want the situation to escalate when it could potentially turn into a fight between six people , ' he said of the video . ' I was with a special constable who was conducting a search for the first time . ` We knew -LSB- the person filming the incident -RSB- and so we wanted to visit him another time when there were less people around and things were calmer , ' said the officer of six years . ` There was no-one present at the time who was being caused harassment , distress or alarm . ` There were no children or elderly people around so I knew I could visit the person another time . ' Pc Allen -LRB- left -RRB- said after the search , he and his colleague , a special constable , -LRB- right -RRB- left the youths to go about their day . No arrests were made . After his interlude with the youths , Pc Allen went on to demonstrate the other side of police work when he chased an apprehended an armed robber who had targeted a shop with a knife in an unrelated incident . A police spokesman said the footage was now being investigated . ` Unfortunately we have a small minority of people who are abusive to the police and we understand some people will be shocked watching the video and wonder why he was n't arrested , ' he said . ` An officer has to use their judgement and take account of a number of factors . ` The individual doing the filming is known to police . The officer was aware he was being filmed and that he was being deliberately goaded to react for the benefit of the video . ' I can confirm this incident is subject to a police enquiry and action will be taken against this individual . Just because action is n't taken at the time does not mean it is the end of the matter . ` Unfortunately I ca n't comment further on this incident , but it was important to provide some context . ' The incident occurred in the Estover area of Plymouth -LRB- pictured -RRB- , and the footage was uploaded to Facebook last week . | Pc Richard Allen faced barrage of abuse as colleague carried out a search . Officer filmed by a youth , who told him ` Watch your back ' and to ` jog on ' Footage has gone viral with Pc widely praised for his handling of situation . Incident is now being investigated by police . | [[0, 70], [161, 225], [229, 295], [478, 559], [1726, 1782], [1786, 1838], [711, 800], [1034, 1060], [1074, 1082], [1085, 1114], [1087, 1123], [678, 739], [1000, 1008], [1017, 1031], [404, 453], [2994, 3058], [3518, 3576], [3518, 3519], [3532, 3587], [3518, 3519], [3560, 3627]] |
As Australia 's greyhound racing industry goes into damage control mode after it was revealed that the sport 's top trainers were tying live piglets , possums and rabbits to mechanical lures and using them as live bait to train the dogs , another trainer has been suspended and three inquiries have been launched . A tale of horror and death was told by ABC 's Four Corners program on Monday night , revealing irrefutable evidence of live baiting during secretly filmed training sessions . The live piglets , possums and rabbits were strapped to lures before being sent around the private tracks before being chased and killed by dogs . Six NSW greyhound trainers , 10 in Victoria and several in Queensland , have stood down after property inspections by the RSPCA . One of the men stood down - Paul Anderton - was a former steward for Greyhound Racing Victoria . Scroll down for video . A trainer holds his greyhound as it rips into a rabbit tied to a mechanical lure in footage shown on the ABC . Greyhound Racing Victoria Chairman Peter Caillard arrives at a media conference to announce a full investigation will be launched into the live baiting claims . A possum is ripped to pieces by a greyhound during a live baiting session at a track . A piglet hangs from a lure before it his sent hurtling around the greyhound track . On Tuesday , Greyhound Racing NSW chief executive Brent Hogan said NSW trainer John Thompson had also been suspended in the wake of the report . Comment was being sought from Mr Thompson , who is reportedly based in the state 's north , at Shannon Brook . ` John Thompson was stood down last night , ' Mr Hogan told Fairfax Radio . ` We only became aware of John Thompson 's involvement through the broadcast last night . ` He 's registered in NSW , he 's been suspended and we 're now working with Racing Queensland in relation to that matter . ' In the show , two-time Australian Greyhound Trainer of the Year Darren McDonald , who has won more than $ 4 million in prize money , was filmed tying a terrified piglet to a mechanical lure to be savaged by dogs . Another long-time successful trainer , Tom Noble , was filmed taking a baby possum from its mother so the mother could be used for live baiting . The Racing Integrity Commissioner Sal Perna believes the live baiting is probably an isolated incident . Greyhound Racing NSW chief executive Brent Hogan said NSW trainer John Thompson had also been suspended in the wake of the report . A greyhound grabs a piglet by its hind leg as it it whips by on a mechanical lure . On Tuesday , GRNSW announced that a taskforce headed by former High Court justice Michael McHugh would investigate live baiting in the industry . Mr Hogan has called for greater powers to stamp out animal cruelty in the industry . The allegations of animal cruelty come as the NSW government oversees a scheduled five-year statutory review of the Greyhound Racing Act 2009 . In light of the report , the Office of Liquor , Gaming and Racing has extended the time for submissions for a further two weeks , until March 2 . NSW opposition leader Luke Foley has called for an urgent , independent investigation to root out the ` bad apples ' in the industry , and urged life bans . NSW Greens MP John Kaye is urging GRNSW to be broken up for failing to detect live baiting . Meanwhile , Victoria 's racing integrity commissioner believes the illegal practice of live baiting is isolated in the greyhound industry . A rabbit with its ears pinned back in terror is strapped to a mechanical lure before the greyhounds appear . Sal Perna says the allegations of live baiting aired in an ABC report were a shock and he was only aware of one instance , which was disproved , in his five years in the job . Mr Perna says the extent of the practice is n't known . ` My guess is that it is isolated but I really do n't know yet , ' he told reporters on Tuesday . He says he will investigate the extent of the problem . Mr Perna said he would conduct a wide-ranging inquiry . ' I want to talk to people in the industry who know about this - whether it 's current , or whether it 's historical , or whether this is isolated or not . ' He said it would be premature to stop greyhound racing when the extent of the problem was not known . Twenty-three greyhound industry participants in Victoria , NSW and Queensland have been stood down for allegedly being involved in live baiting . Mr Perna said reform was needed to stop trainers getting around sanctions by transferring ownership of dogs to relatives . Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting celebrates a win for his greyhound trained by Darren McDonald . Mr Ponting has no connection whatsoever with live baiting . ` If it does n't have any effect because they can move a dog over to someone else and continue to be doing what they did , they 're not working and they need to be addressed , ' he said of sanctions . Tasmania has also promised to review animal welfare processes in its greyhound industry following the Four Corners expose that highlighted the use of live bait in other states . Tasmania 's minister for racing says the revelations aired on Monday night by ABC 's Four Corners were horrifying . ` The use of live bait is illegal , disgusting and totally unacceptable . This is an extremely serious animal welfare crime , ' Jeremy Rockliff Rockliff said in a statement on Tuesday . ` The Tasracing chief executive officer Dr Eliot Forbes has today assured that there is no evidence to date that this abhorrent practice is occurring in Tasmania . ' Mr Rockliff has since directed the Chief Veterinary Officer and the Director of Racing to review Tasmania 's arrangements for animal welfare in the greyhound racing industry . In Tasmania , live baiting currently attracts a fine up to $ 28,000 and imprisonment of up to 18 months . Animal rights activist Hayley Cotton said what they discovered on the secret footage was brutal . AFL great Tony Lockett holds his dog after it wins for himself and trainer Darren McDonald . Mr Lockett has no connection at all with live baiting . ` On the tapes was probably the most horrific cruelty that you would ever come across involving dogs and animals , ' she told the ABC on Monday . Scores of owners and trainers including some of the biggest names in the business were shown secretly blooding their dogs with live bait . ` It 's a practice that they believe will give their dogs a distinct advantage over other competitors not exposed to the practice , for the simple reason that their blood lust is up , ' Four Corners presenter Kerry O'Brien explained . However , it 's the cheating that is maybe the worst thing as hundreds of thousands of punters bet more than $ 4 billion a year on greyhound racing , but what most of them do n't know is that this illegal activity is taking place . Two famous greyhound owners are former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and St Kilda and Sydney Swans AFL great , Tony Lockett . Both were pictured in the program with their winning greyhounds that were trained by Mr McDonald . However , they would have had absolutely no connection with Mr McDonald 's cruel methods . A rabbit twitches before dying while strapped to a mechanical lure after being savaged by a greyhound . ` Darren McDonald 's dogs have won millions of dollars in prize money , so I 'm sure there 'll be people without and within the racing industry who 'll be questioning whether his winning advantage has been gained through illegal and quite horrific live baiting training practices , ' Lyn White of Animals Australia said . Tracking dogs and their trainers from private training facilities and on to official race meets and using undercover investigators to infiltrate the industry , the Four Corners program discovered the integrity of potentially thousands of races and millions of dollars in prize money is now in question . Live baiting has been banned and criminalised for decades . Those found guilty of it can face up to two years in jail and a life ban from greyhound racing , but at tracks at New South Wales , Queensland and Victoria the practice was obviously still thriving . Greyhound trainers let their dog attack a rabbit that has been kept on a leash so it ca n't run away . Rabbits are kept in a cage before being taking out and strapped to a mechanical lure at a greyhound track . Greyhounds Australasia CEO Scott Parker said an independent review of all systems relating to animal welfare and integrity would be run in the wake of the allegations . He said live baiting was ` abhorrent ' . Greyhound Racing NSW chief steward Clint Bentley said the decision to stand down the trainers was made because of the seriousness of the allegations against them . ` While the investigations are only beginning , the allegations are of such a serious nature that we felt it imperative to suspend the five participants immediately , ' Mr Bentley said in a statement on Friday . Greyhound Racing Victoria Chief Executive Adam Wallish said 10 people had been suspended over the allegations . ` The use of live bait in the training of greyhounds is disgusting and has no place in our sport , ' Mr Wallish said in a statement . ` Any person engaged in live baiting can expect to be disqualified and prosecuted . We have zero tolerance for these individuals . ' Mr Wallish confirmed that live baiting is a criminal offence punishable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and can attract a jail term of up to two years and a fine of more than $ 30,000 . A trainer tries to pry his greyhound away from devouring what 's left of a rabbit on a lure . Late last week the RSPCA made raids on various tracks that were operating live baiting operations . This RSPCA officer saves a piglet that was about to be used as live bait at a greyhound track . | Trainers filmed tying live piglets , possums and rabbits to mechanical lures . This live bait method increases the greyhound 's blood lust . The industry 's biggest names were shown secretly blooding their dogs . One was filmed tying a piglet to a mechanical lure to be savaged by a dog . Live baiting has been banned and criminalised for decades . Those caught live baiting can attract a jail term of up to two years . Six NSW greyhound trainers , 10 in Victoria and several in Queensland , have stood down . Greyhound Racing NSW , Tasracing and Greyhound Racing Victoria will probe practises . | [[3, 205], [72, 236], [315, 341], [400, 489], [490, 615], [934, 979], [1879, 1890], [1893, 1958], [2012, 2068], [2048, 2092], [3471, 3493], [3516, 3570], [6245, 6383], [7178, 7208], [7215, 7281], [8271, 8378], [8271, 8278], [8298, 8378], [9769, 9777], [9783, 9839], [6543, 6565], [6245, 6383], [6245, 6326], [6338, 6383], [1879, 1890], [1893, 1958], [2012, 2068], [2048, 2092], [3471, 3493], [3516, 3570], [7178, 7208], [7215, 7281], [8271, 8278], [8298, 8378], [9769, 9777], [9783, 9839], [7908, 7936], [7954, 7967], [7908, 7920], [7941, 7967], [9344, 9549], [9370, 9467], [5746, 5757], [5760, 5851], [7968, 8062], [9344, 9549], [9344, 9354], [9463, 9549], [637, 663], [709, 766], [4282, 4427], [8965, 9076], [9020, 9076], [274, 314], [999, 1159], [1082, 1159], [4924, 5038]] |
The chief executive of Twitter has been hurt in a skiing accident . Dick Costolo , CEO of the popular social media site made the announcement to his 1.4 million followers by tweeting that he had fractured his collarbone along with a selfie . Costolo tweeted : ` Day 1 skiing . Fractured collarbone . I 'll do anything to avoid leisure . ' Accident : Costolo tweeted : ` Day 1 skiing . Fractured collarbone . I 'll do anything to avoid leisure , ' he wrote , including a selfie of his right arm in a sling ' His followers and colleagues were quick to respond with an outpouring of sympathy urging him to ` get well soon . ' Former Vice President of Product Michael Sippey tweeted ` thank god your selfie game is still strong ' referring to the photo Costolo posted of himself in a sling . The current CEO of Twitter was its former COO but took over as CEO from Evan Williams in October 2010 . He was born in Royal Oak , Michigan and is reported to have a net worth of $ 300 million dollars . Earlier this month , Twitter reported its revenue had nearly doubled in the final three months of last year , but user growth fell short of analyst expectations . Revenue hit $ 479 million in the fourth quarter , up 97 percent from $ 242.6 million in the same period a year ago . Net worth : Costolo , CEO of Twitter was born in Royal Oak , Michigan and is reported to be worth $ 300 million . | Costolo was the site 's former COO but took over as CEO from Evan Williams . The tweet resulted in a huge outpouring of support from his followers . He is reported to have a net worth of over over $ 300 million dollars . | [[788, 833], [788, 814], [838, 891], [507, 588], [892, 894], [919, 990], [1293, 1307], [1357, 1384]] |
Five teenagers have been arrested after they were caught on camera running amok in a California grocery store in the middle of the afternoon last week . The four girls and one boy reportedly did not steal anything , but instead ` terrorized the store , ' shouting gang slogans , dumping food into the aisles and at one point chugging a bottle of alcohol , Marysville police told KTXL . After entering the Save Mart store around 1.40 pm , the group prowled the shopping lanes screaming profanities and at one point dumped a bottle of cooking oil into the aisle that caused a 64-year-old veteran to slip and fall . The shocking act of vandalism was allegedly carried out by the rampaging girls as revenge for the owners calling the cops on them two days earlier when they were causing a nuisance in the store . Scroll down for video . Chugging along : Five teenagers were caught on camera causing chaos in a Marysville grocery store Wednesday afternoon . The 64-year-old Air Force veteran was taken to Rideout Medical Center with a potentially broken elbow . The teenagers also apparently screamed and shouted gang slogans as they made their way through the aisles , according to police . ` At one point they even went to the liquor aisle , and they actually opened up some liquor bottles and started consuming alcoholic beverages in the liquor aisle , ' a police spokesman told KTXL . Revenge : Investigators say they believe the teens were trying to get revenge on the store , where three of them had been arrested for shoplifting on Monday . Clearance : The group ripped groceries from aisles , dumping out a bottle of cooking oil that a 64-year-old Air Force veteran slipped and fell on . Trashed : Early estimates put the damage the teenagers caused at several thousands of dollars . Littered : The group was booked into a juvenile detention facility for felony vandalism and other charges . When the store manager attempted to intervene , one of the group members allegedly punched him in the face . Two responding police officers at the scene received minor injuries when the 15-year-old boy reportedly resisted arrest . One of the girls also tried to run and was apprehended after a brief chase . The five teenagers were taken to a juvenile detention facility on charges including felony vandalism . Investigators say they believe the vandalism , is estimated to have caused thousands of dollars in damages . | Four girls and one boy entered a Save Mart in Marysville , California , and tore groceries from the shelves . The teens , aged from 13 to 15 , allegedly carried out the attack as revenge for being kicked out of the store two days earlier . Cooking oil dumped on the ground caused a 64-year-old Air Force veteran to slip and fall and possibly break his elbow . At one point , the teenagers grabbed a bottle of alcohol and began drinking it in the store . Punched the store manager in the face when he tried to intervene . | [[0, 152], [60, 152], [1555, 1593], [613, 717], [1394, 1474], [550, 559], [565, 612], [953, 1056], [1028, 1056], [1543, 1552], [1555, 1564], [1596, 1668], [1608, 1676], [1637, 1668], [1681, 1690], [312, 353], [1243, 1247], [1291, 1348], [1895, 1940], [1943, 2003]] |
An Australian mother-of-two believes she can still ` parent from afar ' if she is chosen to travel on a one way ticket to Mars . Brisbane teacher Natalie Lawler has been selected as one of the 100 global finalists who are vying to become part of the four-person team to head off on the first mission to live on the Red Planet planned for 2024 . One of seven selected Australians , Ms Lawler 's two daughters will be young adults by the time the unprecedented project is ready , and she believes that while she would never be able to physically touch her children again she would remain an intregral part of their lives via satellite communication . Scroll down for video . Brisbane teacher Natalie Lawler has been selected as one of the 100 global finalists who are vying to become part of the four-person team to head off on the first mission to live on the Red Planet planned for 2024 . One of seven selected Australians , Ms Lawler 's two daughters will be young adults by the time of the planned mission and believes she would remain an intregral part of their lives via satellite communication . ' I think that it 's something that we can all deal with so that I will feel like I will be very much a part of their lives even though I wo n't have physical touch , ' she said . ' I will see them again - there 's satellite communication so we wo n't be able to have telephone conversations because of the time delay with the distance between Mars and Earth but there will be satellite communication to send videos everyday , emails and I 'll learn to just parent from afar . ' She said her youngest was very excited about the possibility of her mother living on another planet but her eldest was only slowly coming around to the idea . ` My eldest daughter is turning 14 and definitely in her own world of friendships and sport and to be honest does n't show much interest at this stage but hopefully now that I 've got through to round three she might become a little bit more interested ' , she said . ` My youngest daughter has been writing stories about space exploration and is quite excited with the prospect that we will have people living on Mars . The mother-of-two believes she can still ` parent from afar ' if she is chosen to travel on a one way ticket to Mars . ` If we can live in Mars we can live anywhere - it 's the next giant leap for mankind ' Ms Lawler says . Dianne McGrath -LRB- left -RRB- and Josh Seven -LRB- right -RRB- are one of the seven Aussies in the top 100 global finalists hoping to go to Mars . Ms Lawler said there were many reasons why she hoped to be one of the final four to be the first humans to ever live in space . ' I think that all humans have this natural curiosity and it 's the next giant leap for mankind , ' she said . ` The first hole that we dig we expect to find more about Mars than we have with rovers being on the planet for the last few decades so there 's the science and the sustainable living , ' she said . ` If we can live on Mars we can live anywhere . ' However , she said she would not enjoy the seven long months in transit to get to Mars . ` That would be quite horrific - I 'm not looking forward to that part of the mission but showing the world that we can live sustainably , ' she said . When questioned about the inevitably different personalities that will be part of the close knit team , Ms Lawler said that was part of the selection process . There will be eight cargo missions to show that they can land rovers and supply units and have everything set up before so that the final four leave earth have oxygen , water and a habitat . Dr Electra Navarone -LRB- left -RRB- and -LRB- right -RRB- Gunnar Prehl will join the five other Aussies who will train for eight years before it is decided who will become the astronauts . ` Doctor Norbert Kraft who is in charge of the application process has lots of experience in choosing astronauts and he will profile us and put us in teams that we will train for eight years with , ' she said . ` So we will know our team very well so if we are not compatible the teams will change or people will withdraw from the program . ' The brave woman says she is well aware of the potential dangers involved with the mission . ` There 's lots of risks with the mission - the benefits of the mission that Mars 1 has planned is that it 's using proven technology so they are not waiting for technology to be invented to be able to make this mission a success , ' she said . ` They will also do eight cargo missions to show that they can land rovers and supply units and have everything set up before people actually leave earth so we 'll have oxygen , water and a habitat . ' The first man mission in currently scheduled for 2024 but Ms Lawler concedes that is an ambitious time frame . ` Then the plan is to have a colony on Mars and every two years they will send another four astronauts to live on Mars , so every four years for as long as the program is a success - we 'll keep sending people , ' she said . Today Show host Lisa Wilkinson suggested that the mission , which will be presumably taken up with single people , will become ` Mars Tinder ' and her co-host Karl Stefanovic added that the Red Planet could evolve into ` one big swingers party ' . Ms Lawler laughed it off saying that she hoped the mission would become something that ` humanity can be proud of ' . Teah Calvert -LRB- left -RRB- and -LRB- right -RRB- Rohan Lyall-Wilson are two more Australians who made the global top 100 list for the potential to live on the Red Planet . | Natalie Lawler is one of the 100 global finalists to possibly travel to Mars . Only four people will be chosen for the one-way journey planned for 2024 . The mother-of-two believes she can still ` parent from afar ' if she is chosen . Brisbane teacher is one of seven Australians selected in top 100 . The top 100 will train for eight years before final four are chosen . | [[129, 213], [186, 213], [218, 299], [673, 757], [730, 757], [762, 843], [2481, 2532], [4685, 4738], [0, 74], [482, 648], [925, 951], [1012, 1100], [2160, 2224], [129, 213], [352, 378], [673, 757], [896, 922], [2420, 2509], [186, 213], [218, 299], [730, 757], [762, 843], [3666, 3769], [3690, 3717], [3722, 3802], [3920, 3922], [3943, 3998]] |
When a Jewish woman wanted a divorce from an unwilling husband , federal prosecutors say Mendel Epstein was the rabbi who could gather a kidnap team to make it happen . New Jersey prosecutors allege Epstein 's team would use brutal methods , including martial arts beatings , handcuffs and electric cattle prods , to torture the man into granting the divorce . ` If it can get a bull that weighs 5 tons to move , you put it in certain parts of his body and in one minute the guy will know , ' prosecutors said the Orthodox rabbi told a pair of undercover FBI agents posing as a brother and sister trying to force the sister 's husband to grant the ritual Jewish divorce known as a ` get . ' Prosecutors say he was recorded telling the agents the operation would cost at least $ 50,000 . Fixer ? Rabbi Mendel Epstein , pictured , allegedly could gather a kidnap team to make unwilling Jewish husbands grant their wives divorces . Investigation : FBI agents are seen removing evidence from the Brooklyn residence of Rabbi Mendel Epstein -LRB- October 2013 file photo -RRB- . The kidnap team brought surgical blades , a screwdriver and rope to a staged kidnapping in 2013 , according to the indictment . Epstein , who was indicted last May along with his son and three other Orthodox rabbis , told the undercover agents he arranged similar kidnappings every year or year and a half , the indictment said . Epstein 's trial on attempted kidnapping charges starts Wednesday in federal court in Trenton . It was initially scheduled to begin Tuesday but was pushed back because of a snowstorm . Several co-defendants have pleaded guilty in the case ; others will go on trial with Epstein . The charges against Epstein reveal how far some Jewish women are forced to go to obtain a get , which Jewish law says the woman needs to remarry or even date another man . Defense lawyer Robert Stahl called Epstein a ` champion of women 's rights . ' Epstein wrote the 1989 book ' A Woman 's Guide to the Get Process . ' ' I think that a lot of information will come out about the supposed victims , and the evidence will not be there that he was involved in certain incidents , ' Stahl said . ` Much more will come to light once the trial gets underway . ' Methods : Prosecutors allege Epstein 's team would use brutal methods , including martial arts beatings , handcuffs and electric cattle prods , to torture the man into granting the divorce . Epstein is free on bail . No one answered the door last week at his two-story house in Lakewood , a 25-square-mile community near the Jersey shore where more than 60,000 Orthodox Jews reside . The allegations against Epstein show the lengths to which an agunah -- a Jewish woman whose husband will not give the get -- will go for a divorce . ` Without having the get ... I have no prospects of getting remarried . I can not date men . I have no future of having more children , ' said Rivky Stein , a 25-year-old Brooklyn woman who says she is trying to obtain a get from her husband but is n't involved in the Epstein case . ` It just literally locks you in . You 're just entirely chained , and , in a sense , you 're controlled . ' The problem of recalcitrant husbands in the Jewish faith is dealt with in a few ways but can be complicated in the U.S. , said Rabbi Mark Dratch , executive vice president of the Rabbinical Council of America . In Israel , he said , husbands who refuse to grant divorces can be imprisoned . Because that ca n't happen in the United States , communities sometimes exert social pressure on the husband . ` It 's embarrassing to the individual and to the community , ' he said , noting that he does n't condone the violence alleged in the Epstein case . ` It 's not such a thing we 're proud of . ' Stein said she does n't pardon any crimes Epstein may have committed but has called for the Jewish community to come up with a solution to what she said is a problem of men ` distorting Judaism . ' ` Do I condone it ? No . But I understand these women , ' she said . ' I understand their desperation . I understand their pain . '' ' | Federal prosecutors say Mendel Epstein could gather a kidnap team for a Jewish woman who wanted a divorce from an unwilling husband . Prosecutors allege the team would use martial arts beatings , handcuffs and electric cattle prods , to torture the man into granting the divorce . Epstein was recorded telling the agents the operation would cost at least $ 50,000 , according to prosecutors . | [[0, 62], [65, 117], [89, 148], [104, 117], [122, 168], [169, 313], [314, 360], [2251, 2382], [2385, 2431], [691, 786], [707, 755], [707, 709], [723, 786]] |
A father stabbed to death his transgender daughter at their Ohio home before telling a 911 dispatcher that she was ` in a cult ' and had been attacked by fellow members , police have said . Kevin Golec , 52 , allegedly knifed 22-year-old artist and drummer Bri Golec after they got into an argument over money at their house in Inman Street , Akron , at around 10pm last Friday . He then called 911 and reportedly told a series of lies to cover his crime . ` He 's -LSB- Bri 's -RSB- in a cult and all this s *** . These guys came in . I fought them off . They got him , ' he told the operator . Police arrived at the scene and discovered Bri lying unresponsive near the side door of the house with a stabbing wound to her neck . She was rushed to hospital , where she was declared dead . Scroll down for video . Killing : Kevin Golec -LRB- right -RRB- , 52 , stabbed to death his transgender daughter , Bri Golec -LRB- left -RRB- , at their Ohio home before telling a 911 dispatcher that she was ` in a cult ' and had been attacked by fellow members , police said . Scene : Golec allegedly knifed 22-year-old artist and drummer Bri after they got into an argument at the house they were living at -LRB- pictured -RRB- in Inman Street , Akron , at around 10pm last Friday . She was later declared dead . Now , Golec has been arrested on murder and domestic violence charges . He is currently being held at the Summit County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday , according to ABC 5 . In the hours after the killing , many local news outlets reported on the incident , but referred to Bri as ` Brian ' . Her mother , Christine Hamblin , and fiancée , Sarah Price , also used male pronouns . Although Bri 's gender identity remains disputed , Jacob Nash , the head of an Akron-based support group for transgender people , has since confirmed the victim was a transgender woman . Speaking to the Akron Beacon Journal , he said : ` I 'm just devastated by the fact that this young woman who had so much potential and so much ahead of her ... her life was cut short . ' ` She had come to the support group several years ago and started coming back again recently . ' He added that he was not sure what Golec had meant by ` cult ' in his 911 call , during which the alleged killer cried ` Oh my God ' several times and accused ` cult ' members of storming the house . Drummer : After killing Bri -LRB- pictured -RRB- , Golec called 911 and told a series of lies to cover his crime , police said . ` He 's -LSB- Bri 's -RSB- in a cult and all this s *** . These guys came in . I fought them off . They got him , ' he told the operator . Disputed : In the hours after the killing , many local news outlets reported on the incident , but referred to Bri as ` Brian ' . Her mother , Christine Hamblin -LRB- pictured with Bri when she was a child -RRB- , also used male pronouns . Victim : Although the victim 's -LRB- pictured -RRB- gender identity remains disputed , Jacob Nash , the head of an Akron-based support group for transgender people , has since declared the victim was a transgender woman . ' I do n't know if that was geared toward the transgender community or not , ' said Mr Nash . The Columbus-based group , TransOhio , also paid tribute to Tri in a statement that it released on Sunday , saying : ` Please keep our Akron trans community in your thoughts and prayers . ' Police Lieutenant Rick Edwards said the force was unaware of Bri 's transgender status , but added that it was not a factor in the stabbing , which occurred in the 1100 block of Inman Street . He said Golec had drug issues and had been taking money from the family . The troubled father had moved into the house Bri shared with Miss Price in a bid to ` reconnect ' with her , relatives said . Distraught : On Saturday , Ms Hamblin -LRB- pictured -RRB- paid tribute to her daughter , a former Coventry High School , Connecticut , student who played in band and apparently dreamed of studying biomedical engineering . Fiancee : Bri 's fiancee , Sarah Price -LRB- pictured -RRB- , described the victim as a ` beautiful soul ' and ` my soul mate ' Musical : Bri -LRB- pictured -RRB- , whose interests included ` painting , jewelry making , meditation , martial arts , video games , and anime ' , was ruled to have died from a neck stab wound by the Summit County Medical Examiner . On Saturday , Ms Hamblin paid tribute to her daughter , a former Coventry High School , Connecticut , student who played in a band and apparently dreamed of studying biomedical engineering . Referring to Bri as her ` son ' , she said : He cared more for other people than he did himself . It 's just so heartbreaking for me . ' Miss Price described Bri as a ` beautiful soul ' and ` my soul mate ' . In an email to Raw Story , Geoff Ackerman , Bri 's friend and fellow Murphy 's Children band member , also disputed claims the victim was transgender , writing : ` Did Brian at one time identify as Bri ? Yes . ` However , within the last year or so , he identified as Brian , and if I had to put a label on him -LRB- something he would hate , by the way -RRB- , he would identify as an androgynous pansexual man . ' Raising money : Bri 's family and friends have set up a GoFundMe page to pay for expenses . On the page , the victim is listed as ` Brian ' . She is the sixth transgender individual to have suffered a violent death in 2015 . A family obituary also lists Bri - who was first labeled transgender in the context of her killing by LGBT blog Pittsburg Lesbian Correspondents - as ` Brian ' and uses male pronouns throughout . Bri , whose interests included ` painting , jewelry making , meditation , martial arts , video games , and anime ' , was ruled to have died from a neck stab wound by the Summit County Medical Examiner . She is the sixth transgender individual to have suffered a violent death in 2015 . The other victims were Lamia Beard , Ty Underwood , Yazmin Vash Payne , Taja Gabrielle DeJesus and Penny Proud . Bri 's family and friends have set up a GoFundMe page to pay for expenses . | Kevin Golec , 52 , allegedly stabbed daughter , Bri Golec , 22 , at their home . He then called 911 and told series of lies to cover his crime , police said . Told dispatcher Bri was ` in cult ... these guys came in . I fought them off ' Bri rushed to hospital with stab wound to neck , but later declared dead . Golec has now been arrested on murder and domestic violence charges . Bri 's gender identity remains disputed ; her family refer to her as a man . Others say that she was attending a transgender support group in Ohio . | [[0, 76], [190, 201], [209, 348], [813, 820], [860, 901], [1075, 1177], [171, 189], [380, 398], [380, 382], [403, 456], [904, 930], [933, 983], [1053, 1066], [2384, 2422], [2425, 2441], [2384, 2407], [2425, 2430], [2446, 2486], [2489, 2502], [0, 8], [70, 110], [107, 126], [515, 535], [536, 549], [989, 1008], [2268, 2286], [2325, 2373], [2561, 2581], [2582, 2595], [694, 715], [730, 756], [748, 756], [759, 788], [1274, 1287], [1297, 1303], [1274, 1303], [4133, 4140], [4281, 4320], [5604, 5607], [5721, 5760], [1304, 1375], [1615, 1659], [1681, 1701], [1711, 1763], [2772, 2782], [2861, 2881], [2900, 2980], [5408, 5425], [5572, 5603], [1781, 1786], [1787, 1829]] |
It is set to be a very different kind of arena show . Rather than One Direction or The Rolling Stones , a Dutch promoter plans to put on a show with drones as the stars . Billed as ` the world 's first drone circus , ' it is to be held is to be held in the Netherlands at the Amsterdam Arena . Scroll down for video . Tron-like racetracks will also be set up as human pilots battle each other during the show . Hundreds of drones will be used to create special effects during the performance . For their starring roles , robots equipped with lasers and projectors will be used . Tron-like racetracks will also be set up as human pilots battle each other . ` In this high energy and explosive show , drones will take centre stage to bring a collaboration and fusion of music , video , projections and special effects , the firm behind the project promises . ` AIR allows you to experience a variety of ballet and battles , races and lasers , circus , illusions and most of all magic from hundreds of drones . ' The show is scheduled to take place this year with hundreds of drones lined up to fill the venue . The event is being developed in conjunction with the Royal Netherlands Air Force , although a date has not yet been set . `` In this high energy and explosive show , drones will take centre stage to bring a collaboration and fusion of music , video , projections and special effects , ' the promoters say . ` AIR allows you to experience a variety of ballet and battles , races and lasers , circus , illusions and most of all magic from hundreds of drones , '' said the event 's promoter Fjuze in a statement on the site announcing the AIR2015 show . ` Visitors will be immersed into 3D effects instead of standard 2D experience , proving that innovation is sensational and nothing is impossible ! ' The event is being developed in conjunction with the Royal Netherlands Air Force , although a date has not yet been set for the Amsterdam Arena performance . | Show will features hundreds of drones at Amsterdam Arena . Gadgets will race and perform to music for fans . Promoters promise it will be a ` circus for drones ' | [[104, 170], [219, 221], [236, 293], [411, 493], [411, 429], [443, 493], [859, 1007], [1010, 1085], [1418, 1564], [1273, 1391], [104, 170], [171, 214]] |
A Southern California teen fatally shot himself early Monday morning in front of his family after telling his cousins he was going to play Russian roulette , authorities say . The 17-year-old boy allegedly put the .38 Special revolver to his head and pulled the trigger while his cousins begged him ` not to do it , ' Los Angeles County Sheriff 's Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez told the Los Angeles Times . In Russian roulette , a revolver is loaded with one bullet and participants take turns putting the gun to their heads and pulling the trigger . Russian roulette : Police responded around 4 a.m. Monday morning to reports of a shooting and found a 17-year-old boy bleeding from a single gunshot wound . NBC4 reports security guard Donald Gordon responded to reports from neighbors of screaming that lasted a minute , followed by a gunshot . ` He was on the ground , gasping for air , saying he really needs some help , ' Gordon said , after he found the teenager bleeding on the ground . Police arrived around 4 a.m. , after which the boy was transported to the hospital , where he was pronounced dead , according to the sheriff 's department . The teenager reportedly lived with his older brother and sister-in-law at the Harbor Cove apartment complex in Torrance . ` They were pleading with him not to play with the gun , not to play Russian roulette , ' said sheriff 's department Sgt Scott Hoglund . ` The victim did not listen and proceeded to put the gun to his head and pull the trigger , ' Hoglund added . Police say they recovered the gun from the scene and are trying to find whose name the gun is registered under . ` Additional information about the weapon is still under investigation , ' the department said in a statement . Family members told NBC4 they did not know how the boy had gotten hold of a gun . | The teenager pulled out a gun and announced to his cousins he was going to play Russian roulette in his room at an apartment complex in Torrance . The family begged him not to play , but he pulled the trigger , shooting himself once in the head . A security guard responding to reports of a gunshot said the bloodied teen was gasping for air and pleading for help . The boy was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead . | [[0, 117], [106, 155], [0, 117], [176, 246], [176, 195], [251, 313], [429, 439], [529, 550], [551, 567], [645, 707], [1274, 1332], [1411, 1421], [1441, 1498], [551, 567], [645, 707], [848, 850], [871, 886], [871, 878], [889, 921], [993, 1021], [1024, 1075], [1063, 1075], [1084, 1106]] |
Nato has sounded a warning after 26 Russian bombers , tankers and fighter jets on military exercises were intercepted around Europe in just 24 hours . Jets were scrambled by the RAF and allies in Germany , Portugal and Turkey after the ` unusual ' spike in activity , which saw two giant Tu-95 Bear H bombers fly close to Britain yesterday . The alliance said Russia had conducted ` significant military manoeuvres in European airspace ' - though it then added none of the planes had strayed into any specific country 's territory . Closely watched : RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled yesterday to track this Russian Tu-95 Bear H bomber , one of two which flew close to Britain without filing flight plans or communicating with air traffic controllers . Some 26 intercepts were made in around 24 hours , said Nato . The two Bear bombers had been part of an eight-plane formation which was first intercepted by Norwegian F-16s over at 2am yesterday . While six of the planes returned back towards Russia , the two Bears carried on south west towards the UK where they were picked up by RAF Boulmer , Northumberland . Chiefs the scrambled Typhoon jets from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray , northern Scotland , which tracked the Bear bombers as they continued through Britain 's ` flight information region ' . Nato said : ` The bomber and tanker aircraft from Russia did not file flight plans or maintain radio contact with civilian air traffic control authorities and they were not using on-board transponders . ` This poses a potential risk to civil aviation as civilian air traffic control can not detect these aircraft or ensure there is no interference with civilian air traffic . ' Followed : These images were all issued by the RAF and showed the moment the aircraft were escorted by Typhoon jets near British airspace . Nato stepped up defences and said : ` These sizeable Russian flights represent an unusual level of air activity over European airspace ' The Bear bombers which flew near Britain -LRB- one is pictured -RRB- were just two of 26 Russian planes intercepted over Europe in 24 hours . NORWEGIAN SEA . Norwegian air force intercepts eight Russian planes -- four Tu-95 Bear H bombers and four Il-78 tankers -- flying in formation at 2am on October 29 . Six turn back . NORTH SEA . Two of the Tu-95 Bear bombers continue towards British airspace . Typhoon jets scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth . ATLANTIC OCEAN . The bombers continue to Atlantic where they are intercepted by Portuguese air force , and turn back . They are still airborne at 3pm . BALTIC SEA . Seven Russian fighter jets intercepted on afternoon of October 29 by Portuguese F-16 Fighters . Just 24 hours earlier , German Typhoons intercepted the same seven types . BLACK SEA . Turkish jets intercept four Russian planes -- two Tu-95 Bear H bombers and two Su-27 Flanker fighters -- on afternoon of October 29 . The British Typhoon pilots identified the Bear bombers visually and ` escorted ' them around the edge of British airspace , a Ministry of Defence spokesman said . The Bears then continued towards the Atlantic to the west of Portugal , where they were intercepted by Portuguese F-16s before turning back . They appeared to be heading back to Russia but were still airborne by 3pm . Nato said the ` sizeable Russian flights ' represented an ` unusual level of air activity over European airspace . ' But the alliance added that all the planes intercepted were , in legal terms , still in international airspace . Russian bombers and jets were also intercepted over the Baltic and Black Seas between Tuesday and yesterday afternoon . Some 26 interceptions were made in the space of just 24 hours , although seven could have been the same planes returning to the same area . More than 100 Russian planes have been intercepted by Nato this year - triple the number in the whole of last year . The movements come after months of heightened tension between Moscow and the West following Russia 's annexation of Crimea and military incursion into Ukraine . Nato 's new chief said today the alliance is increasing its readiness and air policing after yesterday 's flurry of activity . Jens Stoltenberg said that while Nato is not back on a Cold War footing with Russia , its former arch-enemy as the Soviet Union , recent behaviour has severely undermined mutual trust . Mr Stoltenberg said the trans-Atlantic military alliance ` remains vigilant and ready to respond ' . ` We need to keep our forces ready , therefore we are investing in high readiness , new capabilities , ' he said . ` We are ... increasing air policing as an answer to the increased air activities we are seeing from Russia . ' He also urged Russia to remove its forces from Ukraine - Russia denies they are there - and warned against plans by pro-Russian separatists to hold local elections in eastern Ukraine . This photo , released by the Norwegian Air Force , shows a Norwegian Air Force F-16AM Fighting Falcon -LRB- left -RRB- accompanying a Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-95MS -LRB- right -RRB- -LRB- file pic -RRB- . Portugese F-16s were used to escort seven Russian fighter jets on October 29 . A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber - the same model which flew close to Britain yesterday - refuels over an unknown location during a military exercise -LRB- file pic -RRB- . The interceptions yesterday were unrelated to a sonic boom caused by RAF fighter jets which shocked residents across Kent . Typhoons from RAF Coningsby , Lincolnshire , flew to Kent at supersonic speeds to dramatically halt a Latvian cargo plane on its way to Birmingham after it 'cause d concern ' to air traffic controllers . The swoop , which resulted in the Lativan-registered plane being grounded at Stansted airport yesterday evening , sparked a massive sonic boom which was heard across a 50-mile radius . Soon after the incident , an unverified audio clip was posted online which appeared to have recorded the moment an RAF pilot warned the plane it risked being ` shot down ' . A man was heard saying : ` I 'm instructed by Her Majesty 's government of the United Kingdom to warn you if you do not respond you will be shot down ' . The incidents happened on the same day Kent was rocked by a sonic boom as a Latvian cargo plane was intercepted , but were unrelated . Grounded : The Latvian Antonov An-26 cargo airliner -LRB- pictured -RRB- was escorted into Stansted Airport after causing a brief scare yesterday . The interceptions were also not said to be linked to another huge sonic boom heard yesterday over the Outer Hebrides . The blasts rattled buildings and left islanders shaken from Benbecula and Barra , a distance of more than 55 miles . At first locals thought there had been a blast at a local quarry or military ordnance blown up at a beach - but the RAF later said it was ` most likely a supersonic jet belonging to the RAF or US Air Force on a routine training flight ' . A spokesman added : ` These flights take place all the time around the UK and we do n't announce them . To hear a supersonic boom is rare . However in certain climatic conditions they can be heard and this is what most likely happened in this case . It was probably us . ' Sheila MacCormick , of the Borrodale Hotel in South Uist , said : ` The actual building shook . When we looked out there was people walking on the road - who were standing looking around to see what had happened . ' The exercise is a rebuke to Nato , which was founded as a Cold War-era defence body in 1949 , less than a week after it insisted the Russia still had troops in eastern Ukraine . Russia strenuously denies the claims - but Nato said although it has withdrawn ` partially ' it still maintains a capable force on the border . U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove , Nato 's top military commander , told reporters : ` Make no mistake , there remain Russian . forces inside eastern Ukraine . ' Some Russian troops stationed near the Ukraine border had . left and some others appeared to be preparing to leave , he said . ` But the . force that remains and shows no indications of leaving is still . a very , very capable force and remains a coercive capability to . the nation of Ukraine . ' | 26 Russian aircraft ran ` military manoeuvres ' in 24 hours including two Bear bombers followed by RAF fighters . Nato steps up its defences as it says two planes near Britain did not file flight plans or contact controllers . Alliance reported ` unusual ' activity after intercepting 100 Russian planes in 2014 - triple the number in 2013 . | [[54, 150], [257, 265], [274, 308], [342, 446], [551, 634], [1955, 1971], [2024, 2058], [2041, 2096], [2291, 2356], [637, 647], [684, 751], [1300, 1309], [1314, 1502], [1818, 1842], [4034, 4160], [1818, 1822], [1847, 1851], [1856, 1952], [3266, 3380], [3276, 3306], [3309, 3380], [3756, 3872]] |
An increase in suspected Russian spying activity is raising fears of a return to the Soviet-style espionage seen in the Cold War . In Poland a high-ranking military officer was recently arrested for spying while in the Czech Republic , security services warn of a rise in the number of foreign intelligence officers operating out of Prague 's embassies . Their concerns were shared around Europe on Wednesday after 26 Russian bombers , tankers and fighter jets on military exercises were intercepted across the continent in just 24 hours . And yesterday , RAF Typhoons intercepted a Russian Bear bomber again as it approached UK airspace in a manoeuvre similar to that witnessed earlier in the week . Scroll down for video . Espionage incident : Spy agency officers in Poland escort a man suspected of spying in front of the district court in Warsaw last month . An RAF spokesman said the Russian aircraft was picked up by the RAF Control and Reporting Centre at Boulmer in Northumberland , . She added : ` Following a similar incident on Wednesday October 29 , the RAF Typhoon pilots visually identified the Russian aircraft and escorted them through the UK flight information region . ' The extraordinary incidents follow months of heightened tensions between Moscow and the West following Russia 's annexation of Crimea and military incursion into Ukraine . In Poland a high-ranking military officer was recently accused of passing information to Russian security forces . Officers from Poland 's domestic security agency , ABW , descended on the country 's defence ministry in Warsaw to arrest the lieutenant-colonel . A lawyer , with contacts throughout Polish government , was also taken into custody on spying charges , The Financial Times reports . Sending a message : One Polish MP said the arrests were intended to show Russian security forces that Poland should not be seen as an easy target for obtaining intelligence on EU or Nato strategy . Gromoslaw Czempinski , a former head of Poland 's security service , said : ` Activity is higher , for certain . It is to be expected . ` There is tension between Russia and Europe , and they would obviously like to know much more about sanctions , relations between countries . ' One Polish MP said the arrests were intended to send a message to Russian security forces - that Poland should not be seen as an easy target for obtaining intelligence on EU or Nato strategy . The Bear bombers which flew near Britain -LRB- one is pictured -RRB- were just two of 26 Russian planes intercepted over Europe in 24 hours . Piotr Niemczyk , a former deputy director of the Polish intelligence services , told the Financial Times : ` We do not want this kind of spying activity in Warsaw . We want to show that we will not tolerate it . This is the point of the game . ' This week it was also claimed that the Russian government was behind a series of cyber attacks on Polish government ministries - an allegation Moscow has denied . The Czech secret service has also warned that Russia placed an ` extremely high ' number of intelligence officers at its Prague embassy in 2013 - in a bif to increase its influence in the country . A Russian Bear ` H ' aircraft photographed from an intercepting RAF quick reaction Typhoon near to UK airspace . This photo , released by the Norwegian Air Force , shows a Norwegian Air Force F-16AM Fighting Falcon -LRB- left -RRB- accompanying a Russian Air Force Tupolev Tu-95MS -LRB- right -RRB- . On Wednesday , Russia sent 26 bombers , tankers and fighter jets on military exercises around Europe - sparking widespread concern . Jets were scrambled by the RAF and allies in Germany , Portugal and Turkey after the ` unusual ' spike in activity , which saw two giant Tu-95 Bear H bombers fly close to Britain yesterday . Nato said Russia had conducted ` significant military manoeuvres in European airspace ' - though it then added none of the planes had strayed into any specific country 's territory . British Typhoon pilots identified Russian Bear bombers visually and ` escorted ' them around the edge of British airspace , a Ministry of Defence spokesman said . The Bears then continued towards the Atlantic to the west of Portugal , where they were intercepted by Portuguese F-16s before turning back . In 2010 11 people were arrested by the FBI and accused of spying for Russia . The group was accused of using invisible ink , short-wave radios , steganography and wi-fi in cafés to pass coded messages back to Russia - including information on nuclear weapons . | High-ranking Polish military official recently arrested for spying for Russia . Polish MP says Russia sees them as easy targets for intel on Nato strategy . Czech secret service warn of surge in foreign intelligence officers in Prague . 26 Russian military planes were intercepted across Europe on Wednesday . Yesterday RAF forced to intercept another plane flying near British airspace . | [[131, 185], [195, 233], [131, 133], [141, 172], [177, 233], [1361, 1415], [1424, 1475], [1361, 1402], [1407, 1475], [1777, 1938], [1854, 1954], [2236, 2428], [2333, 2428], [131, 140], [236, 315], [2980, 3134], [355, 433], [436, 539], [2515, 2570], [540, 553], [556, 652], [3195, 3290]] |
Chuka Umunna yesterday refused five times to say Labour would hand back money if a donor was found to have used aggressive tax avoidance . The party 's business spokesman dodged the question repeatedly by insisting he was ` not aware ' of any such donation . He even refused to rule out Labour accepting the money if it knew in advance that a donor was aggressively avoiding tax , saying only that the party would ` think twice ' before saying yes . Chuka Umunna yesterday refused five times to say Labour would hand back money if a donor was found to have used aggressive tax avoidance . His comments came as details emerged of how unions which handed millions to Labour pay no corporation tax on millions of pounds of investment income . Despite criticising tax avoidance by corporations and wealthy individuals , trade unions exploited a little-known loophole to avoid paying millions in corporation tax last year . Tory MPs seized on the revelations to accuse the unions of ` financial trickery ' and demand Ed Miliband return the union donations . Between them , the Labour-affiliated unions Unite , UNISON , GMB and USDAW made nearly # 15million on investments worth a total of # 223million last year . Ed Miliband , Ed Balls -LRB- second right -RRB- , Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Caroline Flint -LRB- left -RRB- and Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Umunna -LRB- right -RRB- , during a visit to Jaguar Land Rover yesterday . But they paid no tax on this income , which if it was taxed at the main corporation tax rate of 21 per cent would have netted the Exchequer some # 3.1 million . Unions insisted they were not liable for corporation tax because of a legal exemption for unions . But Tory MP Charlie Elphicke said : ` This is yet more straight-up hypocrisy from Ed Miliband . He tried to sound tough on tax , now it turns out his biggest donors are tax avoiders . This is an edited transcript of Chuka Umunna 's interview by James Naughtie : . JN : Can we take it that if you discover that anyone who 's given money to the Labour Party has been involved in aggressive tax avoidance , you give the money back ? CU : I think the Labour Party would think twice about accepting money from people who fit the description you give ... JN : No , simple question : If you 've taken it , will you give the money back ? CU : Well I 'm not aware that we have taken money from anybody who 's engaged ... JN : No , but if it emerged , would you give that money back ? CU : Well as I said , I think if Labour found out somebody was engaged in aggressive tax avoidance , it would think twice before taking the money ... JN : But if you had taken the money , you 'd give it back ? CU : I 'm not aware that we have taken it ... JN : Answer the question . If the money came from a tax dodger , would you give it back ? CU : Well I 'm not aware that it has , that we have received any monies from people engaging in aggressive tax avoidance . ` Hardworking taxpayers ca n't get away with this financial trickery , so why should Ed Miliband and his donors ? ' Last week Mr Miliband attacked David Cameron as ` dodgy ' over donations to the Tories from alleged tax avoiders . But since then questions have emerged about the tax affairs of a string of Labour donors . Mr Umunna was quizzed by Jim Naughtie on Radio 4 's Today programme yesterday . He was asked if it was an ` absolute given ' that if party bosses were to discover that a donor was involved in aggressive tax avoidance they would give the money back . Mr Umunna repeatedly avoided answering the ` hypothetical question ' , saying he was ` not aware ' of anyone who was accused of tax avoidance . Details of unions ' investment income and tax payments are based on figures provided to the Certification Officer , who audits union affairs . Figures for 2013 show Unite made # 2.8 million on an investment of # 51.3 million but its return states that corporation tax is payable only on investment income which exceeds ` expenditure on provident benefits ' . Unison made # 298,000 on an investment of # 114.2 million , but its annual return said no corporation tax was payable ` because of relief available ' . USDAW made nearly # 10million on an investment of # 40.2 million and the GMB # 1.7 million on # 17.3 million . Since Mr Miliband became Labour leader the same four unions have donated a total of # 30.6 million to the party . The union tax loophole is contained within the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 , which allows them to offset costs such as sick pay , accident compensation and employment tribunal costs against income . Ed Miliband suffered a fresh blow yesterday -- after ` staunchly Labour ' TV stars Ant and Dec -LRB- pictured -RRB- attacked his leadership and questioned whether they could vote for him . Declan Donnelly , 39 , said he had always voted Labour but was unimpressed with Mr Miliband . He said : ` I 'm not sure I could picture him -LSB- Ed Miliband -RSB- as prime minister . ' Ant McPartlin , also 39 , said the pair were ` staunchly Labour ' but did n't know if they could vote Labour under Mr Miliband . They also told The Times that they followed politics ` keenly ' but were disillusioned with both Labour and the Coalition . | Labour party 's business spokesman dodged the question repeatedly . Mr Umunna only insisted he was ` not aware ' of any such donation . Refused to rule out Labour taking cash if they knew donor was tax avoider . Labour paid millions of pounds by unions with questionable tax records . | [[0, 138], [139, 258], [178, 258], [450, 588], [3534, 3600], [3612, 3614], [139, 258], [178, 258], [3534, 3543], [3605, 3642], [0, 138], [78, 138], [259, 313], [317, 378], [450, 588], [528, 588], [1987, 2119], [2506, 2512], [2515, 2591], [2779, 2811], [3380, 3500], [610, 739]] |
A freight train . hauling North Dakota crude oil derailed in West Virginia on Monday , . setting a number of cars ablaze , destroying a house and forcing . the evacuation of two towns in the second significant oil-train . incident in three days . One or two of the cars plunged into the Kanawha River , and . ' a couple are burning , ' said Robert Jelacic , night shift manager . of the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and . Emergency Management . There were no injuries or deaths , he said . Train company CSX Corp said the train was hauling 109 cars from North Dakota to . the coastal town of Yorktown , Virginia , where midstream firm . Plains All American Pipelines runs an oil depot . It said . one person was being treated for potential fume inhalation . Scroll down for video . Explosion : A freight train hauling crude oil from North Dakota derailed in West Virginia Monday afternoon and several cars burst into flames . Damage : One house was destroyed in the explosion , and about 200 people from two nearby towns evacuated . ' I saw a plume , an inferno , a pillar , like something Biblical or wrath-of-God type stuff , ' Boomer , West Virginia resident Charles Keenan told the Charleston Daily Mail . ' I heard a big boom and a hiss , it was the fuel hissing , and then it went ` boom , ' and I felt the heat . I was on Route 60 , across the river , and I felt the heat and ran because I thought it was going to rain down . ' West Virginia State Police First Sergeant Greg Duckworth , . who was at the crash site , said that nine or 10 of the . cars had exploded at intervals of about every half hour . A . similar sequence has occurred in a handful of other derailments . over the past year and a half , with the fire from one tank . heating up gases in the next nearest car , causing it to ignite . ` It 's a real mess down here , ' Duckworth said . He said all . but 14 of the cars on the train had been pulled out of harm 's . way . A 1-mile-wide area around the incident was being evacuated . after a house caught fire because of the accident , Lawrence . Messina , spokesman for the West Virginia Department of Military . Affairs and Public Safety , said . Heavy snow and frigid temperatures were hindering efforts to . deal with the incident , Jelacic said . West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin issued a state of . emergency for Kanawha and Fayette counties after the derailment . The American Red Cross has set up a shelter for those displaced by the derailment at nearby Valley High School . Meanwhile , CSX has taken efforts into their own hands by booking hotel rooms for displaced persons at the Holiday Lodge Hotel and Comfort Inn New River , both in Oak Hill . Displaced residents can call either hotel to book a room free of charge . CSX has set up a hotline for those affected as well at 877-835-5279 . Lucky : Only one person was taken to the hospital to be treated for possible fume inhalation . There were no other reported injuries or deaths . Wo n't stop burning : The fire was still raging as of 6pm Monday . It 's unclear how much oil was spilled . Above , a resident looks at the massive plumes of dark smoke from the accident . The train derailed at 1:20 pm Eastern Time about 33 miles southeast of Charleston , the state capital , according to Fayette . County 911 Coordinator James Bennett . The derailment occurred less than 200 miles west of . Lynchburg , Virginia , where another CSX train also bound for the . Plains terminal in Yorktown derailed and erupted last April . Plains did not immediately return calls seeking comment . Local websites showed images of flames at times twice the . height of nearby trees and a thick plume of black smoke near a . partly frozen river , with a number of houses nearby . As of 6pm Monday , the fire was still raging . It 's unknown how much oil was spilled . The latest incident came just two days after a Canadian . National Railways train from Alberta 's oil sands . derailed in a wooded area of northern Ontario . CN said 29 of 100 . cars were involved and seven caught fire . No injuries were . reported , but the cars were still on fire on . Monday . Awe-inspiring : Brenda Manley -LRB- left -RRB- , watches local news reports about the crude oil train fire as her husband , Dane -LRB- right -RRB- , watches the train burn through a kitchen window in Boomer , West Virginia on February 16 , 2015 . Temporarily homeless : The American Red Cross has set up a shelter for residents displaced by the derailment . Meanwhile , CSX Corp , the transportation company that was running the train , has also booked complimentary hotels for these residents as well . Fire and ice : Local websites showed images of flames at times twice the height of nearby trees and a thick plume of black smoke near a partly frozen river , with a number of houses nearby . A boom in oil shipments by rail and a spate of derailments . across North America have put heightened focus on rail safety . In 2013 , 47 people were killed in the Quebec town of . Lac-Mégantic after a train carrying crude oil derailed and . exploded . The latest incidents will likely refocus attention on U.S. and Canadian regulators ' efforts to improve the safety of such . shipments , which have spurred concerns over both the . flammability of very light oil from the North Dakota Bakken . shale as well as the flawed design of older tank cars . The U.S. Transportation Department has submitted a proposal . to the White House to require adding an extra 1/8th inch of . steel to most existing oil train tank shells , while new models . would have the thicker hull installed on the factory floor . It was unclear what kind of tank cars were involved in the . derailment on Monday . | Several cars caught fire in Monday afternoon derailment near Charleston . House destroyed in the explosion and 200 people evacuated from the area . One person treated for fume inhalation , no other injuries or deaths reported . | [[89, 120], [123, 155], [850, 942], [4037, 4079], [4060, 4079], [950, 992], [999, 1049], [462, 494], [714, 774], [2855, 2943], [2944, 2993]] |
A cat has miraculously escaped death after being stabbed in the head with a kitchen knife . The stray was found in bushes with the 6in blade sticking out of his skull in the city of Sevastopol in the Crimea Peninsula , and was taken to vets who found the knife had penetrated 2in into his head . However the blade missed his brain - and the cat , named Zelonyy -LRB- Mr Green -RRB- , is now expected to make a full recovery after undergoing emergency surgery . Scroll down for video . Close to death : The stray was found in bushes with the 6in blade sticking out of his skull in Sevastopol . X-ray : He was taken to vets in the Crimea Peninsula , who found the knife had penetrated 2in into his head . Emergency surgery : The blade missed his brain - and Zelonyy the cat is now expected to make a full recovery . Lyudmila Alexeeva - who used to feed strays outside her home in the south-western Crimean Peninsula - was shocked when her favourite cat emerged with the knife sticking out of his head . Ms Alexeeva told local television : ` When I went to look for him I found him hiding under a bush and was shocked to see a knife sticking out of his head even though he was still alive . ' She said she took the animal to the nearest vets in the Peninsula - which is the subject of territorial dispute between Russia and Ukraine - where it had been surgically removed under an anaesthetic . Natalia Morozova , president of a local charity for homeless animals , said : ` We think the cat had been stabbed on Friday 13 , and had therefore been injured for some time before he was found . Attack : The cat is said to have been stabbed last Friday - and was injured for some time before being found . Getting better : Although the prognosis after the incident was poor , vets now believe that the cat will make a full recovery after not observing any changes in his behaviour despite the head injury . ` The knife was wedged in the skull and the cat had probably run off before its attacker could remove the blade . ' The prognosis after the incident in the city 's Sakharnoy neighbourhood was poor . But vets now believe that Zelonyy will make a full recovery after not observing any changes in his behaviour despite the head injury . The cat will however have to remain in care while vets make sure an infection does not set in as a result of the injury . The charity said police had been informed about the incident . | Zelonyy -LRB- Mr Green -RRB- found in bushes in Sevastopol and taken to vets . X-ray found knife had penetrated 2in into his head but missed brain . Cat now expected to make a full recovery after emergency surgery . | [[92, 101], [217, 240], [599, 645], [1067, 1098], [1190, 1255], [236, 240], [245, 295], [304, 344], [625, 645], [652, 702], [723, 763], [304, 313], [337, 344], [384, 460], [764, 778], [788, 813], [764, 771], [775, 813], [1768, 1898], [2102, 2232]] |
Mexican gang members stabbed a teenager to death before taunting his family on Facebook by giving gruesome clues about where he was buried . Victim Irvin Reyes , aged 14 , was kidnapped as he left school in Ciudad Juarez , a city in northern Mexico and taken to a derelict house . Police believe he was attacked and badly beaten before being stabbed and dumped in the abandoned house , with his body buried under the floorboards . Fourteen-year-old Irvin Reyes who was beaten and stabbed to death by a gang in Mexico before they taunted his family over Facebook with gruesome clues over where he was buried . Irvin 's parents were then left wondering where their son was after being taken by the gang on his way home from school . Then members of the gang spent the week after the killing taunting the youngster 's family through anonymous Facebook accounts , telling them their son was dead and leaving gruesome clues as to where he could be . Eventually they revealed the address of where Irvin 's body had been dumped and police found his remains . Police spokesman Comissario Tirso Diaz said : ` They had been taunting and bullying him on the internet and social media for several months . We do not yet know why he was targeted . ` It was a particularly cruel way to tell his mother and father what they had done but they made a game of it with various clues . The gang took Irvin to this street in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez and dumped his body in an abandoned house . ` The mother was with the police detectives when the body was found and identified him from the clothing including new trainers that he had purchased only a day before he vanished . ' Police are now attempting to track down the gang members using the messages they sent to Irvin and his family . Mr Diaz added : ` They think they have been clever but they left a very wide trail to follow through social media . ` There is no doubt that we will find them . ' | Irvin Reyes was kidnapped as he left school in a city in northern Mexico . Fourteen-year-old was beaten and stabbed to death by gang members . His body was then dumped in an abandoned house under the floorboards . Gang members taunted his Irvin 's family with clues of his whereabouts . Eventually revealed the address of where his body had been dumped . Police have vowed to track down the gang using their social media trail . | [[141, 159], [167, 220], [0, 87], [141, 159], [162, 169], [281, 399], [431, 460], [465, 475], [431, 460], [480, 581], [141, 159], [253, 280], [281, 399], [391, 430], [985, 1020], [1366, 1374], [1451, 1490], [0, 87], [431, 460], [480, 581], [731, 857], [736, 755], [860, 918], [873, 882], [896, 944], [945, 1051], [985, 1020], [1675, 1689], [1701, 1731], [1675, 1681], [1686, 1731], [1842, 1902]] |
High-resolution images taken by the Rosetta probe during a Valentine 's Day flyby reveal comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in unprecedented detail . The images reveal boulders on the comet 's surface , as well as ` stunning details of the contrasting terrain , ' the European Space Agency said . The boulders in these images range in size from a few metres to a few tens of metres , and lay scattered across the comet 's surface . Scroll down for video . A four-image montage of Comet 67P/Churyumov -- Gerasimenko comprising images taken on 14 February 2015 during the first dedicated close flyby . This image set was taken at 10:32 GMT from a distance of 7.8 miles -LRB- 12.6 km -RRB- from the comet centre . Using the surface distance , the image scale is 0.9 m/pixel . To take the images , Rosetta passed within just four miles -LRB- 6 km -RRB- of the surface of the comet in the first dedicated close flyby of the mission . The sun was directly behind Rosetta as the pictures were taken , providing optimal light conditions . The closest approach took place at 12:41 GMT over the Imhotep region on the comet 's large lobe . Rosetta 's parting shot following the close flyby features the comet 's small lobe at the top of the image , with the larger lobe in the lower portion of the image set . A closeup of the comet shows the surface 's crags or ice and rock and the smooth layers of dust . The sun was directly behind Rosetta as the pictures were taken , providing optimal light conditions . To take the images , Rosetta passed within just four miles -LRB- 6 km -RRB- of the surface of the comet in the first dedicated close flyby . Esa 's Rosetta spacecraft launched on 2 March 2004 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket , on a mission to visit comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko . It took more than ten years to reach the comet , and on the way it flew past Mars and two asteroids . On 6 August 2014 it entered orbit around the comet , beginning a series of complex manoeuvres to get the best views possible . On 12 November 2014 Rosetta successfully released a smaller vehicle it had carried called Philae . This small probe bounced twice on the surface before coming to rest . Although Philae 's landing did not go as planned , it was still able to complete more than 90 per cent of the science it was intended to do before its main batteries died , sending the probe to sleep . The location of the lander is currently unknown . It is thought to be in partial shadow near a cliff but , as the comet approaches the sun , the additional light may charge its solar panels enough for the lander to wake up . Rosetta , meanwhile , is continuing its mission around the comet . 67P is approaching the sun and , by August this year , it is thought its activity will have dramatically increased . This will release much more ice , vapour and other materials from the surface - and Rosetta will be there to watch it all happen . As well as providing the opportunity to take close-up high-resolution images of the comet surface , flybys like this also allow Rosetta 's instruments to sample the innermost parts of the comet 's atmosphere , or coma . Rosetta is now moving out for a far view of the comet -- it will reach a distance of about 160 miles -LRB- 255km -RRB- from the comet centre tomorrow . Earlier this week , Nasa said the structure of Comet 67P resembles ice cream . In an experiment , they found that while the exterior of a comet is encased in a hard , outer crust , the interior would mostly be fluffy ice . Rosetta 's parting shot following the close flyby features the comet 's small lobe at the top of the image , with the larger lobe in the lower portion of the image set . ' A comet is like deep fried ice cream , ' said Dr Murthy Gudipati of Nasa 's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena , California , corresponding author of a recent study appearing in the Journal of Physical Chemistry . ` The crust is made of crystalline ice , while the interior is colder and more porous . The organics are like a final layer of chocolate on top . ' To come to the conclusion , astronomers used an icebox-like instrument nicknamed Himalaya . They showed that fluffy ice on the surface of a comet would crystallise and harden as the comet heads towards the sun and warms up . The composition of comets is important to understanding how they might have delivered water and organics to the young , hot Earth . New results from the Rosetta mission show that asteroids may have been the primary carriers of life 's ingredients ; however , the debate is ongoing and comets may have played a role . New results from the Rosetta mission show that asteroids may have been the primary carriers of life 's ingredients ; however , the debate is ongoing and comets may have played a role . This image set was taken at 4:32 GMT from a distance of 22 miles -LRB- 35km -RRB- . | Valentine 's day swoop was the first dedicated close flyby of the mission . Imaged boulders range in size from a few metres to a few tens of metres . The sun was directly behind Rosetta , providing optimal light conditions . | [[0, 81], [0, 146], [523, 596], [791, 886], [1517, 1612], [294, 354], [294, 341], [385, 428], [926, 988], [965, 988], [991, 1027], [1394, 1456], [1433, 1456], [1459, 1495]] |
A former Navy SEAL and best-selling author has become the latest expert to question Brian Williams ' claim that he was friendly with the SEAL team responsible for killing Osama Bin Laden . The embattled broadcaster , currently serving a six-month unpaid suspension , has previously claimed that he received a soldier 's knife as a gift and was given a piece of the helicopter used in the 2011 operation which led to the former Al Qaeda leader 's death . In a Nightly News item broadcast on May 3 2011 , Williams said he had the ` great honor of flying into Baghdad with them -LRB- SEAL Team 6 -RRB- at the start of the war , ' a claim that ex-SEAL Brandon Webb told SOFREP is impossible . Scroll down for video . Ex-SEAL Brandon Webb , left , has rubbished a claim made by Brian Williams that he flew with SEAL Team 6 at the start of the Iraq War in 2003 - the team did n't join the war until a month later . According to Webb , whose books include The Red Circle and Benghazi : The Definitive Report , a former SEAL Team Six operator told him that they did n't enter Iraq until April - a month after the invasion had started . ` It 's one thing to embellish for the sake of storytelling , but to flat-out lie about serious events in what appears to be a narcissist-fueled campaign of self-indulgence , when you are a trusted news correspondent is unacceptable , and a career ending activity , ' wrote Webb . He also said that the same SEAL strongly disputed Williams ' claim that he was given a piece of the stealth helicopter from the mission . ` It 's tactically unsound to waste time taking pieces off the downed helo during that mission , ' said the former operator who spoke on condition of anonymity . ` That helicopter was also part of a Special Access Program , so I 'm one hundred percent certain that the professionals at DEVGRU -LRB- SEAL Team Six -RRB- are not going to risk imprisonment to give Brian Williams a souvenir . ' The new allegations surfaced just less than a week after the 55-year-old was suspended by NBC News for six months without pay after lying about an RPG attack in Iraq . Revelations : Brian Williams openly talked about travelling with Nay SEAL Team Six the day after the raid which killed Osama Bin Laden on David Letterman . The U.S Special Operations Command has however cast doubt on his claims . Shortly after the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks was killed in a secret operation in Pakistan , Williams started talking openly about the unit in interviews claiming he had the ` honor ' of flying with them when he first arrived in Baghdad . The Huffington Post reported that during an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman the day after the Bin Laden raid in 2011 , Williams said : ` We have some idea which of our special operations teams carried this out . ` It happens to be a team I flew into Baghdad with , on the condition that I would never speak of what I saw on the aircraft , what aircraft we were on , what we were carrying , or who we were after . ' While anchoring NBC 's Nightly News the following night he said : ` Now , people might be hearing about SEAL Team 6 . I happen to have the great honor of flying into Baghdad with them at the start of the war . ' A year later on the chat show he claimed he flew in with the military unit on March 22 , 2003 , three days after the invasion . The embattled broadcaster is seen reporting from Baghdad International Airport . He claimed he arrived three days after the invasion on March 22 , 2003 . However he was stationed in Kuwait at the time . Stealth helicopter that Brian Williams claims he owns part of : The rotor blades of SEAL Team 6 's damaged helicopter is seen lying near Osama bin Laden 's compound after it was destroyed following the successful May 6 raid . However he was in Kuwait for the initial stages of the invasion and did not report from inside Iraq until April 9 - where he used a flashlight to speak to the camera . In another Late Show appearance in 2012 , Williams told a soldier he admired his knife while they chatted over a box of Wheat Thins . He then told the host : ` Darned if that knife did n't show up at my office a couple weeks later . ' It is allegedly one of the many memorabilia items Williams has been handed over the years - including signed sports memorabilia , autographs and a B-24 control panel from an American Second World War bomber that was recovered in a field in Great Britain . Eight years after he was gifted the weapon he described how he received an unsigned thank you note with a package containing a piece of fuselage . He claims it was from the helicopter used in the raid on Osama Bin Laden 's Pakistan compound . The aircraft was blown up by the commandos after the raid , fearing it contained sensitive material that could have got into enemy hands and used against the United States . Replacement : On Wednesday night , Williams ' name was taken off the Nightly News ' graphics and the program 's title was officially changed . In the months after the raid , John Kerry managed to secure a deal with Pakistan that saw some of the tail from the aircraft returned . United States Special Operations Command spokesman Ken McGraw told The Post Williams could only have received a piece of the helicopter after parts of it had been given back . He added : ` We do not embed journalists with this or any other unit that conducts counter-terrorism missions . ' On Tuesday Williams was suspended for six months without pay after he admitted to lying about his time in Iraq . In a note sent to NBC staff , Deborah Turness , the president of NBC 's news division , described his puffed-up retellings of events from 2003 as ` wrong and completely inappropriate ' . Bosses at the network finally acted after deciding Williams 's own decision last week to remove himself from anchoring for ` several days ' was not enough . He claimed to have been inside an aircraft when it was hit by an RPG - he was actually around one mile away . On Wednesday , the network changed the name of the broadcast from NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams to NBC Nightly News . Scandal : The newest allegations are concerning for Williams -LRB- pictured arriving for his appearance on Letterman 's show in 2013 -RRB- who is already facing an investigation by NBC News . Red Bank , New Jersey , 1970s . In a 2011 interview , Brian Williams recalled his time as a teenage volunteer firefighter during which he saved a puppy . However in a 2005 Esquire interview , Williams had claimed to save not one but two puppies . In the same Esquire interview Williams also revealed that he had been mugged at gunpoint while selling Christmas trees in the sleepy New Jersey town in which he grew up . A number of locals have questioned the credibility of his claim that someone ` stuck a .38 - caliber in my face ' . Iraq War , 2003 . Over the years Williams has told multiple versions of a story about being in an Army Chinook helicopter during the Iraq War in 2003 . Last month he claimed his helicopter was hit by ground fire , an allegation he was later forced to admit was false after an outcry from soldiers who were present . Williams issued an on-air apology and wrote on Facebook : ` Nobody 's trying to steal anyone 's valor . ' Hurricane Katrina , 2005 . Williams has told several stories about his experiences reporting from New Orleans . He has claimed to have seen a dead body float past the window of his hotel in the city 's French Quarter -- even though the area was n't flooded . The accuracy of other Katrina claims , including that he caught dysentery drinking the flood waters and that his hotel was ` overrun ' with gangs , have been called into question by others who were on the ground during the disaster . Israel , 2006 . In a 2007 interview with Fairfield University Student Television , Williams recalled ` Katyusha rockets passing just underneath the helicopter I was riding in ' during a trip to Israel . In fact he was nowhere near enemy fire and in a broadcast segment filmed that day he described rocket fire ` six miles away ' . Boston , 2006 . A Navy vet accused Williams of lying to skip an event honoring members of the Armed Forces so that he could appear on Saturday Night Live . On the day of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society event the NBC News anchor told organizers that a ` pressing engagement ' meant he would n't be able speak at the dinner , but later that evening he appeared in a walk-on role on SNL 's Weekend Update . | Williams claimed on the Nightly News in 2011 that he had flown with SEAL Team 6 at the start of the war in 2003 . Ex-SEAL Brandon Webb has revealed that that is impossible as the team did n't go to Iraq until a month after the start of the war . Webb criticized Williams for his ` narcissist-fueled campaign of self-indulgence ' that he said was ` unacceptable ' He also strongly disputed Williams ' claim that he was given a piece of the stealth helicopter from the mission to kill Bin Laden . | [[454, 500], [503, 622], [793, 860], [2121, 2212], [3129, 3220], [3129, 3130], [3138, 3220], [3223, 3247], [3253, 3316], [640, 688], [713, 733], [743, 787], [857, 908], [1003, 1127], [1194, 1230], [1234, 1300], [189, 214], [267, 375], [713, 733], [743, 787], [1409, 1411], [1417, 1546], [2263, 2297], [2310, 2336], [3578, 3718]] |
It was panda playtime in this reserve as a bunch of rowdy juveniles rolled around a bamboo platform grappling one another . The two-minute long footage was shot at China 's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in the Sichuan province . In the clip , the pandas paw at each other and somersault out of their enclosure as the playful fight turns in to a mass brawl . As the brawl breaks out between the pandas , one tries to keep his distance and slowly backtracks . In the opening sequence , two of the pandas pair up - to the left , one tries to scurry up a tree . But as the panda clambers up the tree he is grabbed by a standing juvenile and dragged back to the ground . Four of the pandas then scuffle on the edge of their enclosure watched by a crowd of excited onlookers . Two of the pandas slip off the bamboo platform as the mass brawl breaks out in the China reserve . In the opening clip , one of the pandas quickly exits the fray by scurrying up a tree but is dragged back down and given a slap for his troubles . Another who elects to stay out of the action is pounced upon by the more active juveniles and slips off the platform . The remaining three are then caught up in a tussle with only one left standing as the victor . The panda brawl was greeted by a mix of shocked gasps and roars of laughter from the watching crowd . Ho Lu , 40 , a panda keeper at the reserve said : ` The pandas are pretty friendly creatures really but play fighting is an important part of growing up , it prepares them for finding their place in panda society when they are older and works out a sort of hierarchy . ' Three pandas were left to battle it out on one of the bamboo platforms inside the reserve . One of the pandas breaks off leaving the last two standing to trade blows and emerge victorious . China 's Wolong Nature Reserve is attempting to bring the panda population back from the verge of extinction . At the centre , they train pandas for release into the wild . Keepers who interact with pandas must wear panda costumes -LRB- which also smell like pandas -RRB- in order to mimic costumes in the wild . Giant pandas are an endangered species , with about 1,600 left in the wild . They usually prefer their own company when foraging in Chinese bamboo forests . | Video clip was shot at China 's Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding . In the footage , pandas paw at each other and flip off bamboo platform . Reserve attempts to bring panda population back from verge of extinction . | [[124, 244], [245, 256], [259, 281], [329, 373], [377, 416], [787, 851], [1620, 1711], [1620, 1632], [1643, 1655], [1660, 1711], [1810, 1920]] |
It 's hardly worthy of a Terminator film , but the owner of the remote controlled vehicles in this video footage must have a lot of time on his hands . The oddly compelling footage , shot in Magog , Canada last month , shows a the exploits of a remote controlled car as it ventures out onto a frozen lake . Using cameras installed in the vehicle , viewers can watch as the car becomes stuck in a patch of thin ice shortly after it embarks on its exploratory mission . Luckily for the owner - who uses the online pseudonym ` Traxxalu ' - help was at hand in for the form of a nifty remote controlled rescue truck , complete with a robotic arm and snow chains . Using a second on-board camera , the footage shows the modified truck retracing the steps of the first vehicle , before a nail-biting rescue bid unfolds . The owner of this remote controlled car used a camera installed in the front seat see as drives onto the lake . The oddly compelling footage was shot in Magog , Canada late last month . Shortly after embarking on its icy mission , the car gets stuck as a wheels falls through a patch of thin ice . The robotic arms can be seen struggling for a moment as it tries to attach itself to the stricken car , but eventually manages to hook a tow-lead to the bumper , before pulling it back to safety . ` Traxxalu ' later wrote online : ' I had n't realized that the stream had n't frozen all the way , the slash broke the ice ... it was a stressful situation ' . The well-prepared owner then sends a remote controlled rescue truck to find the stricken vehicle . Cameras installed in the front seats of both vehicles capture the miniature rescue mission . The remote controlled resuce truck uses a robotic arm to attach a tow lead before carting the car off to safety . | On-board camera shows remote controlled car as it gets stuck in ice . Oddly compelling footage was shot in Magog , Canada last month . Remote controlled car is rescued by a remote controlled tow truck . Truck uses robotic arm to attach a tow lead and pulls the car to safety . | [[828, 868], [815, 926], [1001, 1043], [1046, 1082], [152, 196], [219, 306], [927, 973], [983, 1000], [1663, 1776], [1113, 1129], [1221, 1272], [1275, 1309], [1663, 1776], [1703, 1760], [1738, 1776]] |
When James Richards decided to ask his partner of 13 years to marry him , he wanted it to be an extra special occasion . So the romantic 35-year-old , from Swansea , South Wales , decided to aim high - and attempted to enlist the help of his favourite pop star . James wrote to Paloma Faith , contacting her through her Facebook page , to ask if she would lend a hand popping the question to his other half Chris Howells . Chris -LRB- right -RRB- was on a train home when he received the message , he says he was overwhelmed but immediately said yes to partner James -LRB- left -RRB- . But he never expected a response and was shocked when the Stone Cold Sober singer recorded a personal message for Chris , 42 . And James ' efforts paid off with his Chris taking one look at the platinum-selling singer 's clip and saying : ` Yes ! ' In the intimate video , Paloma leans in to the camera and says : ` Hi Chris , it 's Paloma Faith . I 've got a little secret for you . In the 30-second clip , Paloma Faith records herself asking Chris Howells to marry his partner James Richards . Paloma points out that the couple have been together for 13 years and it is about time that they get married . ` James , your boyfriend thinks that you 've been together for 13 years now and it 's about time that he asked you to marry him . ' I think you should say yes . Thirteen years is kind of a given . Anyway , good luck to you both . Bye . ' The red-headed singer ends the 30-second black and white clip by blowing a kiss down the lens . Designer James said : ' I was really shocked . ` When I got in touch asking for her help I had been expecting a tweet or Facebook status not a live recording ! ' Make-up artist Chris , 42 , saw the video when he was travelling home from Birmingham by train . He added : ' I was totally overwhelmed , but obviously I said yes ! ' Paloma tells Chris that she thinks he should say yes to the proposal before wishing them both luck . When James contacted the singer via Facebook he had only expected a tweet or a status not a personally recorded message . | James Richards enlisted the help of Paloma Faith to propose to his partner . Paloma responded to his Facebook plea by recording a 30-second clip . Chris Howells watched the video and immediately said yes . | [[263, 268], [336, 422], [913, 933], [970, 991], [994, 1081], [1431, 1492]] |
Watching Friends is like stepping back into the Nineties , a time before mobile phones and selfie sticks were the norm . But a funny new video re-imagines the sitcom in a modern setting , with some hilarious results . In the clip , Rachel , Monica , Phoebe , Ross , Chandler and Joey are replaced by a group of six modern-day selfie-taking 20-somethings dressed in hipster clothes . Scroll down for video . A funny new video reimagines the Nineties sitcom Friends in a modern setting , with some hilarious results . In the clip , Rachel , Monica , Phoebe , Ross , Chandler and Joey are replaced by a group of six modern-day selfie-taking twenty-somethings dressed in hipster-worthy clothe . In the show 's iconic theme tune montage , instead of dancing around a fountain together , they all focus on their phones , texting and striking a pose as they absentmindedly take pictures of themselves . Even when they jauntily pop open their colourful umbrellas as with the original credits , their eyes remain glued to their smartphones . And instead of the classic single I 'll Be There For You by The Rembrandts , this rebooted version , created by Nerdist , features an edgy remix . The lyrics play off the original refrain but add in updated lyrics addressing the current vogue for online dating , going dairy-free or , like Beyonce , opting for a ` plant-based ' diet . The song begins : ` No one told you life was gon na be this way , your Tinder profile sucks and you spilled your almond milk latte . Instead of dancing around a fountain together in the show 's iconic intro scene , they all focus on their phones , texting and striking a pose as they absent-mindedly take pictures of themselves . Even when they jauntily pop open their colorful umbrellas like in the original show , their eyes remain glued to their smartphones . ` Feels like everyone 's growing out their beard and your roommate 's going vegan while you 're drinking gluten-free beer . ' The song then mentions the greatest difference between Friends then and now - mobile phones . ` I 'll be there for you , if you shoot me a text first . ` I 'll be there for you , taking phone calls is the worst . ` I 'll be there for you , but my battery 's really low . ' The modern-day Friends stars have a brand new favourite locale , too - a cafe called Woodcat , with minimal decor and exposed lightbulbs adding to its overdone hipster charm . The video has been viewed more than 350,000 times since it was posted on YouTube last week . ` It 's so depressing but so true , ' one commenter said of the Friends reboot . The modern-day Friends stars have a brand new favourite locale , too - a cringingly cool cafe called Woodcat , with minimal decor and exposed lightbulbs adding to its overdone hipster charm . While the original Friends cast cracked jokes and watched Phoebe sing during their Central Perk sessions , this group simply continues to stare at their phones , completely uninterested in one another . The video has been viewed more than 350,000 times since it was posted on YouTube last week . ` It 's so depressing but so true , ' one commenter said of the Friends reboot . Another wrote : ` Sad but true . Good Job ! I laughed ! ' Friends is n't the only show Nerdist has parodied ; the group releases a new comedy video covering different areas of pop culture on their YouTube channel every two weeks . The original cast of Friends , the hit show that ran from 1995 to 2004 , clockwise from left : Matt LeBlanc , Lisa Kudrow , David Schwimmer , Matthew Perry , Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox . | Top sitcom Friends is updated with today 's gadgets and fashions . In Friends Rebooted all six characters are obsessed with their phone . Characters wear hipster styles including beards , fringes and glasses . | [[2880, 2932], [311, 382], [609, 681]] |
Warning : Home Secretary Theresa May -LRB- above -RRB- will make an announcement on stop and search today . Theresa May will today promise to change the law if police do not halt the ` excessive and inappropriate ' use of stop and search . The Home Secretary will warn officers that she wants to see a dramatic improvement in figures showing that only one in every ten of the searches ends in arrest . If police continue to misuse the powers -- which are disproportionately targeted against ethnic minorities -- legislation will be introduced to tie their hands . Mrs May will make the announcement when delivering this year 's Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Criminal Justice Lecture , in memory of the murdered black teenager . Stop and search has been blamed for inflaming tensions between the police -- labelled ` institutionally racist ' for their botched response to Stephen 's killing -- and black people , in particular . In 2013 , a Scotland Yard officer was disciplined for discriminating against Stephen 's younger brother , Stuart , who was followed and stopped while driving in his car . Mr Lawrence -- who said he had been targeted simply because of the colour of his skin - complained that he had been stopped or searched by officers on 25 occasions since the age of 17 . A recent report by the police watchdog found more than a quarter of police stop and searches are ` unlawful ' and risk promoting ` major disorder ' . ` Targeted ' : In 2013 , a Scotland Yard officer was disciplined for discriminating against Stephen 's younger brother , Stuart -LRB- pictured with his mother Doreen -RRB- , who was followed and stopped while driving in his car . Her Majesty 's Chief Inspector of Constabulary said that , in 27 per cent of cases , police failed to show they had reasonable grounds to carry out the search . It was the equivalent of 250,000 people every year being stopped and subjected to hugely intrusive searches without the police sticking to the rules . Mrs May is expected to say that , during her time in office , she has heard ` accounts exposing the excessive and inappropriate use of stop and search . ' She will add of ` evidence that if you are black or from a minority ethnic background that you are up to seven times more likely to be stopped and searched by the police than if you are white ' . Stop and search : If police continue to misuse the powers - which are disproportionately targeted against ethnic minorities - legislation will be introduced to tie their hands -LRB- file picture -RRB- . Mrs May had originally wanted to legislate to curb the use of the powers in last year 's Queen 's Speech but was blocked by Number 10 . Murdered : Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death at the age of 18 in an unprovoked racist attack at a bus stop in Eltham , south-east London , in 1993 . Downing Street was said to be keen to support police leaders who argue the search powers are a vital tool against knife crime and gang culture . In a compromise , she instead introduced a voluntary code to which every police force , including the British Transport Police , has agreed . This includes a restriction on the so-called ` no suspicion ' power , which allows officers to stop and search even when they do not suspect a crime has been committed . A chief police officer must now believe it is ` necessary ' to authorise use of the power because violence ` will ' take place . Previously , use of the power could be authorised by a much more junior officer if they believed violence ` may ' occur . Forces now also have to record the outcome of searches in more detail , including if the suspect was arrested and charged . Mrs May will tell the conference at London 's City Hall , which is supported by the Mail : ` It is my hope , expectation and objective that these steps will further reduce the number of stops and searches across England and Wales , as the use of these sensitive powers becomes properly targeted , based on reasonable grounds and accountable to citizens and communities . ` But let me be absolutely clear : if stops and searches do not continue to fall , if the use of these powers does not become more targeted , and stop-to-arrests ratios do not improve , then a Conservative Government will not hesitate to bring in primary legislation to make it happen . ' Stephen was stabbed to death at the age of 18 in an unprovoked racist attack at a bus stop in Eltham , south-east London , in 1993 . The public inquiry into his death accused Scotland Yard of being ` institutionally racist ' . The Mail campaigned to bring the killers to justice and published a landmark front page accusing five men of the murder . Two of the men named -- Gary Dobson and David Norris -- were eventually convicted of murder in 2012 . Last month , the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust and the Daily Mail announced two journalism scholarships . More details can be found by clicking here . | Figures show only one in every ten of the searches ends in arrest . Home Secretary Theresa May wants dramatic improvement in figures . Stop and search ` has inflamed tensions between police & black people ' | [[326, 401], [240, 333], [283, 341], [732, 805]] |
Google 's Boston Dynamics released a video last week designed to show off a smaller , lighter version of its robotic dog called Spot . But the video received an unexpected backlash after people began complaining that the ` dog ' in the clip had been mistreated . During the footage , employees are seen kicking Spot to prove how stable the machine is on its feet , but this has been dubbed ` cruel ' , ` wrong ' and has even raised concerns about robotic ethics . Scroll down for video . Google 's Boston Dynamics released a video last week designed to show off a smaller , lighter version of its robotic dog , dubbed Spot . During the footage , employees are seen kicking Spot to prove how stable the machine is on its feet , but this has been dubbed ` cruel ' , ` wrong ' and has raised concerns about ethics . The four-legged , 160lb -LRB- 73kg -RRB- robo-pet can run , climb stairs , jog next to its owner and correct its balance on uneven terrain , and when kicked . It was built by Google-owned Boston Dynamics and is the ` little brother ' of the firm 's larger Cujo , or ` big dog ' . Boston Dynamics has not revealed what Spot will be used for , but its video showed the robot-animal climbing up and down hills , walking through offices and , of course , being kicked repeatedly . Following the video 's release , viewers posted their concerns on Twitter . One user wrote : ` Kicking a dog , even a robot dog seems wrong . ' Another said : ` Just wrong , kick a robot dog as practice : Google 's dog robot looks too real for comfort when getting kicked . ' A third added : ` When I first saw -LSB- the -RSB- Boston Dynamics video I was very disturbed regarding dog-kicking . I 'm not the only one . ' Following the video 's release , viewers posted concerns on Twitter . One user wrote : ` Kicking a dog , even a robot dog seems wrong . ` Andother said : ` Spot the dog has kickstarted a legit ethical debate over robot rights ' While a fourth added : ` Spot the dog has kickstarted a legit ethical debate over robot rights . ' Equally , comments on MailOnline 's original story about Spot included : ` If I ever run across this guy I 'm going to kick HIM ... poor doggy , ' and ` Where 's PETA . Look . He kicked that dog ! ' To prove this point , CNN filmed reactions to the video in which many viewers said they were shocked and surprised . But not everyone was as concerned . One Twitter user wrote : ` Kicking a dog is wrong ; it feels , breathes , and remembers . A robot is a piece of sheet metal . ' The four-legged , 160lb -LRB- 73kg -RRB- robo-pet -LRB- picutred walking through Boston Dynamic 's offices -RRB- can run , climb stairs , jog next to its owner and correct its balance on uneven terrain , and when kicked . Others said : ` Are they alive ? You people need clarity , ' and ` Is it cruel to kick a hammer ? A rock ? A cardboard box ? ' When questioned about the video , animal rights group PETA said : ` PETA deals with actual animal abuse every day , so we wo n't lose sleep over this incident . In a recent paper by Dr Anders Sandberg from the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University , he posed the question : ` In the future it 's possible we will be able to create artificially human brains that emulate a real human - but what are the ethicalities and moralities of doing this ? . ' In particular , in his ` Ethics of brain emulations ' research , Dr Sandberg considers a future in which AI may be commonplace in so-called ` lesser beings ' . If brain emulation becomes possible we could in theory clone animals to create , for example , virtual laboratory rats . There is much opposition to performing scientific experiments on rats and other animals in the modern day - but Dr Sandberg questions whether people will have similar objections to experimenting on an animal that was artificially created . Dr Sandberg likened the scenario to abortion in the modern day and the battle between people who are pro-choice and those who are pro-life . If an emulation was run for just a millisecond of time before being deactivated , some might argue that this would constitute a ` murder ' of sorts , destroying a life as it had been created . ` But while it 's far better to kick a four-legged robot than a real dog , most reasonable people find even the idea of such violence inappropriate , as the comments show . ' Noel Sharkey from the University of Sheffield , UK , added : ` The only way it 's unethical is if the robot could feel pain . ' This is not the first time Boston Dynamics has used to tactic to demonstrate its machines ' balancing skills . In 2008 , it released a similar video for its Big Dog in which the larger model was also kicked by employees . It was also filmed walking through snow and shows how the robot can correct its stance when walking on ice . Spot and Big Dog are an electrically powered and hydraulically actuated robots that walk , trot and climb steps . A sensor on the robots ' head helps it navigate over rough terrain - and to spot when humans , or another robo-dog is nearby by , allowing it to follow its owner and run in formation . During the video , the robot is also shown ` going for a walk ' with its ` big brother ' . Last year , a mathematician said robots will never have feelings because computers ca n't handle any process that completely integrates information , so they can not be conscious and capable of feeling . Professor Phil Maguire of the National University of Ireland in Maynooth said that consciousness can not be created in a physical machine in finite time using limited memory . Using a mathematical framework for consciousness , developed over the last decade by Giulio Tononi at the University of Wisconsin-Madison , Professor Maguire concluded that the ability to integrate information is a key feature of consciousness . He believes that integrated information ca n't be broken down into smaller components in conscious minds , because the brain contextualises information . For example , when we see a red triangle our brains do n't register the shape as a colourless triangle plus a shapeless coloured area . Instead we see it as a whole - a red triangle , we understand the ` wider picture ' . This is not the first time Boston Dynamics has used to tactic to demonstrate its machines ' balancing skills . In 2008 , it released a similar video for its Big Dog in which the larger model was also kicked by employees , filmed walking through snow and shows how the robot can correct its stance when walking on ice . Spot -LRB- left -RRB- was built by Google-owned Boston Dynamics and is the ` little brother ' of the firm 's larger Cujo , or ` big dog ' -LRB- pictured right -RRB- Boston Dynamics has not revealed what Spot will be used for , its video showed the robot-animal climbing up and down hills , walking through offices and , of course , being kicked repeatedly . Therefore , if consciousness is based on the integration of lots of pieces of information , computers ca n't be conscious and capable of experiencing emotions like humans . Professor Phil Maguire of the National University of Ireland in Maynooth added that consciousness can not be created in a physical machine in finite time using limited memory . ` It does n't necessarily mean there is some magic going on in the brain that involves some forces that ca n't be explained physically . It is just so complex that it 's beyond our abilities to reverse it and decompose it , ' he said . His research may mean that while humans may not find love with a robot , they are unlikely to be made their slaves either . But not everyone was as concerned . Twitter users tweeted : ` Are they alive ? You people need clarity , ' and ` Is it cruel to kick a hammer ? A rock ? ' Spot is pictured roaming with another robot -LRB- left -RRB- and climbing steps -LRB- right -RRB- . Animals rights group PETA said it deals with actual animal abuse so ` wo n't lose sleep over this incident ' This theory was put to the test recently in a paper by Dr Anders Sandberg from the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University . In his ` Ethics of brain emulations ' research , he posed the question : ` In the future it 's possible we will be able to create artificially human brains that emulate a real human - but what are the ethicalities and moralities of doing this ? . ' In his paper Dr Sandberg considered a future in which AI may be commonplace in so-called ` lesser beings ' . Cujo is made by Boston Dynamics , which was bought by Google , and costs $ 2 million to create . It can walk and run over rugged terrain , following a soldier while carrying their kit and weapons . It can stand upright , walk for 20 miles without a break and carry up to 400lbs . The controls are simple to learn and have joysticks , and one recruit said using it ` feels like playing Call of Duty . ' If brain emulation becomes possible we could in theory clone animals to create , for example , virtual laboratory rats . There is much opposition to performing scientific experiments on rats and other animals in the modern day - but Dr Sandberg questions whether people will have similar objections to experimenting on an animal that was artificially created . ` In particular , emulations of animals could be used instead of real animals for experiments in education , science , medicine or engineering , ' Dr Sandberg wrote . ` If it is cruel to pinch the tail of biological mice , the same cruel impulse is present in pinching the simulated tail of an emulated mouse . ` Treating emulations well might be like treating dolls well : it might not be morally obligatory but it is compassionate . ' He also suggested that it might be necessary to perform neuroscience experiments on ` real ' animals in order to make brain emulation a possibility - which itself could lead to opposition . Dr Sandberg likened the scenario to abortion in the modern day and the battle between people who are pro-choice and those who are pro-life . If an emulation was run for just a millisecond of time before being deactivated , some might argue that this would constitute a ` murder ' of sorts , destroying a life as it had been created . | Boston Dynamics released the video of its ` Spot ' robotic dog last week . The four-legged , 160lb -LRB- 73kg -RRB- robo-pet can run , climb stairs and jog . It can also correct its balance on uneven terrain , and when kicked . During the clip , employees are seen kicking Spot to prove its stability . But this has since been dubbed ` cruel ' , ` wrong ' and potentially unethical . Spot was built by Google-owned Boston Dynamics and is the ` little brother ' of the firm 's larger military version known as Cujo , or ` big dog ' | [[0, 120], [105, 134], [488, 608], [6528, 6591], [813, 870], [813, 845], [873, 885], [2517, 2637], [2517, 2581], [2640, 2652], [2517, 2546], [2655, 2718], [4866, 4930], [813, 828], [888, 951], [813, 816], [958, 971], [2517, 2546], [2655, 2718], [2517, 2532], [2725, 2738], [4708, 4710], [4752, 4816], [263, 281], [284, 362], [625, 643], [646, 724], [369, 373], [416, 463], [365, 397], [727, 759], [731, 735], [772, 812], [3199, 3323], [8215, 8339], [105, 134], [972, 1016], [972, 974], [1021, 1088], [6528, 6591], [6528, 6538], [6596, 6648], [8466, 8486], [8493, 8513]] |
A small tsunami has hit the coast of northern Japan after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday morning . A wave of 10 centimetres was observed on the shore of Miyako , a small city of approximately 60,000 people on the eastern-most coast of Honshu , eastern Iwate , at 8:47 am . It followed a quake at a depth of about 10 km on Tuesday at 08:06 JST . The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami advisories and evacuation orders for coastal towns in north-eastern Japan . The agency said a possible 1-meter -LRB- 3-foot -RRB- tsunami was expected . Scroll down for video . A handout image made available by the U.S. Geological Survey of a shake map showing the location of an earthquake that struck 77km East North East of Miyako , Japan . This photo shows the Iwate Prefecture area where many train lines were wiped out in the tsunami generated by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11 , 2011 . The US Geological Survey said the quake struck 77km east-northeast of Miyako . People on the coast of Iwate Prefecture were warned : ` Get out of the water and leave the coast immediately . As the strong current will continue , do not get in the sea or approach coasts until the advisory is cleared . ' A rise in sea level was observed on the coast of Miyako , Kamaishi and Kuji-ko but no tsunami damage is expected . A wave of 10 centimetres was observed on the shore of Miyako , northeastern Japan . No tsunami warning has been issued for the Australian mainland or islands . Tuesday 's earthquake struck in the same region that was hit by a magnitude 9 quake on March 11 , 2011 , unleashing a devastating tsunami . More than 18,000 people were killed in the disaster . Members of Japan 's Self-Defence Force search for bodies in Akahama District , Otsuchi-cho , Iwate Prefecture in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in 2011 . Collapsed homes in Akahama District , Otsuchi-cho , Iwate Prefecture , in 2011 . | Japan issued a tsunami advisory for the north east coast . A tsunami of up to one metre was forecast to hit the coast of Iwate . A 10 centimetre wave was then observed on the shore of Miyako . Quake struck 77km east-northeast of Miyako , on the east coast of Honshu . | [[359, 481], [0, 84], [482, 558], [498, 558], [113, 173], [1330, 1390], [683, 696], [702, 739], [912, 990], [942, 990]] |
Infectious diseases , such as Ebola and West Nile virus , will rapidly spread to new areas as a result of global warming . This is according to zoologist , Professor Daniel Brooks , who warns humans can expect to face new illnesses as climate change brings crops , livestock , and humans into contact with pathogens . Professor Brooks says it will be ` the death of a thousand cuts ' with society unable to keep up with the speed of disease as it spreads around the world . Scroll down for video . Infectious diseases , such as Ebola -LRB- pictured -RRB- and West Nile virus , will rapidly spread to new areas as a result of global warming.This is according to zoologist , Professor Daniel Brooks , who warns humans can expect to face new illnesses as climate change brings crops , livestock , and humans into contact with pathogens . ` It 's not that there 's going to be one `` Andromeda Strain '' that will wipe everybody out on the planet , ' Professor Brooks said , referring to the 1971 science fiction film about a deadly pathogen . ` There are going to be a lot of localised outbreaks that put a lot of pressure on our medical and veterinary health systems . ' In his research , Professor Brooks has focused primarily on parasites in the tropics , while his colleague , Professor Eric Hoberg , has worked in Arctic regions . Each has observed the arrival of species that had n't previously lived in that area and the departure of others , said Professor Brooks , who is affiliated with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln . Changes in habitat from global warming could mean animals are exposed to new parasites and pathogens . In 1990 , the UN 's climate panel predicted with ` substantial confidence ' that the world would warm at twice the rate that has been observed since . Pictured are two projected outcomes of global warming from 2081-2100 . ` Over the last 30 years , the places we 've been working have been heavily impacted by climate change , ' he added . ` Though I was in the tropics and he was in the Arctic , we could see something was happening . ' Changes in habitat from global warming could mean animals are exposed to new parasites and pathogens . For example , some lungworms in recent years have moved northward and shifted hosts from caribou to muskoxen in the Canadian Arctic . But for more than 100 years , scientists have assumed parasites do n't quickly jump from one species to another because of the way parasites and hosts co-evolve . Professor Brooks calls it the ` parasite paradox . ' Over time , hosts and pathogens become more tightly adapted to one another . According to previous theories , this should make emerging diseases rare , because they have to wait for the right random mutation to occur . But it turns out such jumps happen more quickly than anticipated . Even pathogens that are highly adapted to one host are able to shift to new ones under the right circumstances . Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes . It thrives in warm and humid conditions - which could one day include include large areas in Europe . European holiday destinations could become hotspots for the nasty viral illness thanks to climate change , experts have warned . The Po Valley in Italy , the Spanish Mediterranean and southern Spain are the areas at most risk , according to research last year by the University of East Anglia -LRB- UEA -RRB- . Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes . Symptoms include a severe flu-like illness , fever , headache , muscle ache , rash , nausea and vomiting . The new study was based on data collected in Mexico , where dengue is a common problem . Researchers looked at the occurrence of the viral illness and climate variables such as temperature , humidity and rainfall , along with other factors . They then combined their findings with information about EU countries , to model which areas are most likely to be at risk , according to the study , published in the journal BMC Public Health . ` Our study has shown that the risk of dengue fever is likely to increase in Europe under climate change , ' said lead researcher Professor Paul Hunter . ` Almost all of the excess risk will fall on the coastal areas of the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas and the North Eastern part of Italy , particularly the Po Valley . ' Professor Brooks is calling for a ` fundamental conceptual shift ' recognising that parasites and pathogens retain genetic capabilities that allow them to quickly shift to new hosts . ` Though a parasite might have a very specialised relationship with one particular host in one particular place , there are other hosts that may be as susceptible , ' Professor Brooks said . In fact , the new hosts are more susceptible to infection and get sicker from it , he said , because they have n't yet developed resistance . Though resistance can evolve fairly rapidly , this only changes the emergent pathogen from an acute disease problem to a chronic problem , Brooks said . ` West Nile Virus is a good example of this phenomenon - no longer an acute disease problem for humans or wildlife in North America , it nonetheless is here to stay , ' he said . In addition to treating human cases of an emerging disease and developing a vaccine for it , he said , scientists can learn which non-human species carry the virus . ` We have to admit we 're not winning the war against emerging diseases , ' Professor Brooks said . ` We 're not anticipating them . We 're not paying attention to their basic biology , where they might come from and the potential for new pathogens to be introduced . ' | This is according to Nebraska-based zoologist Professor Daniel Brooks . Warm habitats mean animals are exposed to new parasites and disease . Scientists had assumed parasites do n't move rapidly between species . But new research reveals these parasites evolve faster than expected . Society will not keep up with pace of change , warns Professor Brooks . | [[123, 153], [144, 153], [156, 179], [186, 317], [640, 670], [661, 670], [673, 696], [703, 834], [1333, 1337], [1447, 1530], [4659, 4682], [5399, 5422], [0, 55], [58, 122], [1531, 1633], [1581, 1633], [2072, 2174], [2122, 2174], [5487, 5498], [5515, 5571], [5540, 5590], [2313, 2336], [2339, 2372], [2748, 2750], [2761, 2810], [144, 153], [156, 179], [186, 317], [661, 670], [673, 696], [703, 834], [4659, 4682], [5399, 5422]] |
Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall were spotted enjoying some comfort food after he fell on the finish line on The Jump . The Queen 's granddaughter had joined Mike Tindall in Innsbruck , Austria , for the Channel 4 show , and the couple were seen visiting a kebab shop for a late-night snack after the final . The former Rugby International came joint second place on the show with athlete Louise Hazel as they lost out to former TOWIE star Joey Essex . Hold the hot sauce : Zara Phillips orders at a kebab shop in Innsbruck , Austria after celebrating husband Mike Tindall 's second place on The Jump . Mike , 36 , and Zara , 33 , visited the Chili kebab shop in Innsbruck in the early hours after the final and tucked into their greasy meal before heading home holding takeaway boxes . Zara wore a black fur-lined coat and black heeled ankleboots , while her husband looked more casual in jeans and a green puffer-style jacket . The couple , who married in 2011 , live on Princess Anne 's Gatcombe Estate with their young daughter Mia , born last year . It was reported last week that they are set to revamp a Grade II listed farmhouse where Zara 's father , Captain Mark Phillips , had been living since his divorce from Anne in 1992 . Once a high-tech renovation has been carried out on Aston Farm , set in 600 acres on the Princess Royal 's estate , the young family will move in . Late night treat : Zara had been supporting her husband as he took part in the Channel 4 winter sports show , which saw him make it to the final where he lost out to Joey Essex . Happy couple : Zara and Mike , who are parents to Mia , one , looked happy to finish their night with a snack . Hot spot : The couple visited the Chili kebab shop in Innsbruck in the early hours after the Jump final . ` The new rooms include a gun room , gym , cinema and games room , ' an insider told Mail on Sundat 's Girl About Town . Mr and Mrs Tindall sold a # 1.2 million house in Cheltenham two years ago and moved to a small cottage next to the farm . Aston Farm has been held in trust for her by family friends , including motor-racing legend Jackie Stewart and her godfather Andrew Parker Bowles , and a spokesman for Zara said last night that the move had been ` long planned ' . Trophy : Although Mike was beaten to the Jump crown by Joey Essex , he seemed happy with his price . One for the road : Mr and Mrs Tindall were seen leaving the kebab shop carrying tinfoiled takeaway . | Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall spotted enjoying a late-night kebab . Couple in Austria where rugby ace has been taking part in The Jump . Tindall came joint second in the show , losing out to Joey Essex . | [[0, 29], [43, 129], [231, 318], [613, 633], [641, 717], [1698, 1792], [319, 449], [415, 462], [1531, 1540], [1547, 1574], [2276, 2332]] |
Let 's hope these rather terrifying photos wo n't be making it into the baby album . Fiona , 28 , from the UK decided to use the phone app YouCam Makeup on her newborn boy . Little Gabriel is seen looking at the camera with various make-up looks superimposed on his face . In one photo he models a black cropped wig , stenciled eyebrows , purple eye shadow and red lipstick . His look is finished off with a set of piercing bright blue eyes . Before and after : Fiona , 28 , from the UK decided to use the phone app YouCam Makeup on her newborn boy . Made-up : Little Gabriel is seen looking at the camera with various make-up looks superimposed on his face . In another shot he 's seen with a Marilyn Monroe-style mop of hair . Later his mother gives him long blonde locks with curls . Fiona said she had great fun using the app on seven-week-old Gabriel . ` It helps to pass the long hours of crying ! ' she said . Source of amusement : Fiona said she had great fun using the app on seven-week-old Gabriel . Conversation starter : The new mother uploaded the madeover images of Gabriel to Imugur and Reddit , promoting hundreds of comments from viewers . The new mother uploaded the madeover images of Gabriel to Imgur and Reddit , prompting hundreds of comments from viewers . She reassured commenters that no real beauty products touched the child 's face . The YouCam Makeup app is available for free on Android and iOS . It allows users to virtually transform themselves by tweaking their features . Au naturel : Fiona -LRB- seen here with her newborn , Gabriel -RRB- reassured commenters that no real beauty products touched the child 's face . | Fiona , 28 , from the UK decided to use the phone app YouCam Makeup on her newborn boy . She reassured commenters that no real beauty products touched the child 's face . | [[85, 90], [98, 173], [443, 472], [475, 550], [1280, 1361], [1310, 1361], [1560, 1651]] |
Egpytian warplanes blitzed Islamic State targets in Libya yesterday after fanatics released a horrific video showing the beheading of 21 Christians on a beach . They bombed IS training camps , weapons stockpiles and fighters in two waves of airstrikes following the gruesome murder of captured Egyptian workers . Meanwhile , the Egyptian government called for Britain and the rest of the US-led coalition to also target IS on Libyan territory . Scroll down for video . Bombing : It was Egypt 's first official military action in Libya since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 . Damage caused : Destroyed buildings seen after Egypt 's army warplanes carried out airstrikes in neighbouring Libya against targets belonging to Islamic State yesterday . The bombing , Egypt 's first official military action in Libya since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi four years ago , came after a day of international outrage at the slickly-produced IS beheading video . Lasting five minutes , it shows a group of Coptic Christians dressed in Guantanamo-style orange jumpsuits being marched one-by-one along a lonely beach , each held by a fighter clad in black . It appears to be dusk and the sea laps at the sand and rocks . The men their , faces uncovered , are then made to kneel . A jihadist dressed in camouflage fatigues and speaking English with an American accent declares : ` All crusaders ... The sea you have hidden Sheikh Osama bin Laden 's body in , we swear to Allah we will mix it with your blood . ' Destruction : Cairo called on the US-led coalition carrying out strikes over Syria and Iraq to broaden the scope of their operations to include Libya . Pictured above is damage caused by the Egyptian attack . Ripped open : Destroyed buildings seen after Egyptian warplanes carried out airstrikes in neighbouring Libya . Returning : An Egyptian Army photograph of an F-16 fighter landing after carrying an airstrike against militants loyal to Islamic State in Derna in eastern Libya , at a military base in an undisclosed location . The men are then forced to lie face-down before they are beheaded simultaneously . The US is sending 4,000 troops to Kuwait -- raising the prospect of a ground assault against Islamic State fighters . The combat brigade , supported by armoured vehicles , is largely composed of battle-hardened veterans of the Iraq War . They will bolster the existing US force in Kuwait and could be used to counter the spread of IS extremists in Syria and neighbouring Iraq . Although Barack Obama has ruled out another large-scale operation , he is seeking approval from Congress for the ` flexibility ' to send in ground forces in ` limited circumstances ' . The Kuwait force -- the 3rd Brigade Combat Team -- has been training for more than a year for a possible confrontation with IS . However , Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi , who has vowed to retake the city of Mosul from IS , said he needed equipment rather than foreign ` boots on the ground ' . The camera zooms in on the sea as the water turns red with blood . Britain condemned the murders as ` barbaric ' . The US said the video showed the ` wanton killing of innocents ' . Last night , the video was being seen as IS 's bid to announce its presence in a new region where it is gaining influence . The former head of MI6 , Sir John Sawers , said Britain should consider putting troops on the ground in the country . He told the Daily Telegraph that Libya had descended into chaos since Britain joined the US and its allies in bringing down Gaddafi 's regime . The Prime Minister 's spokesman defended Britain 's role in the overthrow of Gaddafi , saying : ` This was a country where people were being oppressed by a dictator , where they were not able to pursue their aspirations and have their voice heard . ' Egyptian state TV showed warplanes over Libya as the military declared they were ` avenging Egyptian blood and retaliating against criminals and killers ' . Libyan officials said 40 fighters and two civilians had been killed . Blast : A video still from aerial footage released by the Egyptian Ministry of Defence shows an airstrike on Islamic State group positions in Libya yesterday . Airstrike : Egpytian warplanes bombed IS training camps , weapons stockpiles and fighters in two waves of airstrikes following the gruesome murder of captured Egyptian workers . Mourning : Neighbours and friends of the relatives of Egyptian Coptic men killed in Libya sit at the courtyard of a church before a mass at El-Our village in Minya , south of Cairo yesterday . Cairo called on the US-led coalition carrying out strikes over Syria and Iraq to broaden the scope of their operations to include Libya . The country 's internationally recognized government has been confined to its far east since militias seized the capital Tripoli last year . ` Leaving things in Libya as they are without decisive intervention to suppress these terror groups constitutes a clear danger to international peace and security , ' the Egyptian foreign ministry warned . French president François Hollande called for the UN security council to meet over Libya and to take new measures against the growing power of the militants . Italy has already said it is willing to lead a coalition of European and North African countries to stop the IS advance . Shocking : The bombing came after a day of international outrage at the slickly-produced IS beheading video . Horrifying : Lasting five minutes , the video shows a group of Coptic Christians dressed in Guantanamo-style orange jumpsuits being marched one-by-one along a lonely beach , each held by a fighter clad in black . Significantly , it has not ruled out using ground forces . The video of the beheadings , posted online by Libyan jihadists loyal to IS , is the first to come from outside the group 's heartland of Syria and Iraq , raising fears it has established a new foothold just 450 miles from the Italian coast . Pope Francis expressed ` profound sadness ' at the murders . ` They were executed for nothing more than the fact that they were Christians , ' he said . ` Their only words were : ` Jesus , help me ! ' The Egyptian workers were seized in separate kidnappings in December and January from the coastal town of Sirte in eastern Libya , under the control of Islamist groups . Libya is home to a large community of both Muslim and Coptic Egyptians , with most working in the construction sector . | Egpytian warplanes bomb IS training camps and weapons stockpiles . Two waves of airstrikes follow gruesome murder of captured workers . Calls for UK and rest of US-led coalition to target IS on Libyan territory . | [[0, 108], [161, 251], [193, 312], [584, 597], [600, 715], [708, 754], [1730, 1826], [1839, 1855], [1894, 1988], [4192, 4269], [4238, 4357], [193, 312], [4238, 4357], [325, 404], [313, 322], [325, 348], [384, 444], [1521, 1557], [4551, 4587]] |
A German rapper-turned ISIS extremist who starred in the group 's grisly beheading videos was being spied on for the FBI by a woman he thought was his wife . Denis Cuspert , 39 , who now calls himself Abu Talha al-Amani , embraced radical Islam and travelled to Syria to fight with militants before becoming the group 's main propagandist . The spy transmitted critical information about the rapper and his ISIS colleagues before escaping to Turkey - where she was arrested and then turned over to the US , according to the German newspaper Bild . Passed on inintelligence : German rapper-turned ISIS extremist Denis Cuspert was being spied on for the FBI by a woman he thought was his wife , it has been revealed . The paper said German and American intelligence sources confirmed the existence of the operation , Fox News reports . The unidentified woman fled Syria after her handlers told her it was no longer safe to continue the mission as militants had began to hunt for and flush out infiltrators . She is now believed to be in the US . German newspaper Bild believe Cuspert may have been targeted for the operation because of his womanising past . In Germany he fathered three children by three different women , including one who he dumped just before embarking on his career as an ISIS poster boy . Cuspert arrived in Syria in 2013 from a so-called German jihadi colony in Egypt . It was not clear when he married the spy , but Bild reported that she informed her US handler via secret methods on regular basis about ISIS activities . Poster boy : Cuspert , 39 , who now calls himself Abu Talha al-Amani , embraced radical Islam and travelled to Syria to fight with militants before becoming the group 's main propagandist . It is not known how she communicated the information to her handler . Last week the US added rapper Cuspert to its list of ` global terrorists ' - freezing all his assets under US control and prohibiting any transactions with him in the future . The State Department said : ` Cuspert is emblematic of the type of foreign recruit ISIL seeks for its ranks - -- individuals who have engaged in criminal activity in their home countries who then travel to Iraq and Syria to commit far worse crimes against the people of those countries . ' In November , Cuspert was compared to Nazi Minister for Propaganda Joseph Goebbels for his ability to appeal to young , disillusioned people in Europe while providing an alternative ideology . He spent several years as a major player in the Berlin hip hop scene under the name ` Deso Dogg ' before embracing radical Islam . He has been known to oversee the group 's sophisticated media operation and is reportedly using British fighters in an attempt to attract even more of their countrymen to the war-torn region . It is understood he leads a unit of German-speaking ISIS terrorists operating under the name ` The German Brigade of Millatu Ibrahim ' . Terrorist : It is understood Cuspert -LRB- left -RRB- leads a unit of German-speaking ISIS militants operating under the name ` The German Brigade of Millatu Ibrahim ' Last year , the rapper appeared in an ISIS beheading video and was seen holding the severed head of a man who he claims fought the terror group and as a result ` received the death penalty ' . Another man in the video explains in Arabic that the victims were members of Syria 's al-Sheitaat tribe , a group of about 70,000 Sunnis who are fighting ISIS . Around 700 members of the tribe were massacred by ISIS in August . The Sun reports he is the subject of a dossier compiled by German security services , which quotes him as saying : ` My duty is to use my voice for telling people the truth and the truth is jihad is a duty . The lyrics in his song ` Who 's Afraid of the Black Man '' show his hatred for the West and his tendency towards violence . The song states : ` Doing time in my skin like Tookie Williams in San Quentin . No identity , where will this end ? ` In a white world full of hate and illusion . The last option was only violence and emotion . ' Terrorism expert Raphael Perl of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe -LRB- OSCE -RRB- told Dutch newspaper Trouw : ` He gained fame with music and now he brings his fans in contact with a radical ideology . ' The most recent German intelligence data estimates 500 German Muslims have traveled to the Iraqi and Syria . Roughly 150 radical Islamic fighters are back in Germany , posing an enormous challenge for the country 's taxed counter-terrorism officials . | Denis Cuspert known as ` Deso Dogg ' before travelling to Syria as extremist . Now Cuspert , 39 , oversees recruitment propaganda for the terror group . Has appeared in a video holding up the severed head of an enemy of ISIS . Emerges woman he thought was his wife had been passing on intelligence . She escaped to Syria when it became too dangerous to continue mission and is now believed to be in the US . | [[0, 41], [158, 171], [249, 340], [158, 171], [249, 340], [1545, 1555], [1643, 1734], [3093, 3102], [3105, 3151], [3093, 3102], [3105, 3115], [3156, 3198], [124, 131], [143, 157], [124, 146], [575, 666], [659, 681], [659, 666], [678, 690], [874, 941], [1006, 1016], [1026, 1043], [1006, 1009], [1013, 1043]] |
A kindergarten teacher has been suspended without pay after school officials said she videotaped a child beating other children and did not intervene . Teacher Rita Baci , 65 , also used her foot to push a kindergarten student out of her class and left him unattended , according to the Duval County schools investigative report in northeast Florida . The incidents allegedly took place in November . Teacher Rita Baci , 65 , has been suspended without pay from Duval County Public Schools ' John E. Ford Montessori -LRB- pictured -RRB- in Florida after allegedly videotaping a child beating other children . The Florida Times-Union reported that a school district investigation found that Baci on three occasions used her cellphone video camera to record a boy beating on other students . The videos revealed one boy being hit ` about his face and body several times ' , another student being kicked while he tried to take cover under a table and a third being punched , according to Fox . The investigator found that Baci had shown the tapes to other students and a vice principal before a meeting with the child 's parents . Officials say Baci violated the district 's code of ethics and professional conduct when she failed to make a reasonable effort to protect students from harm . The 65-year-old teaches a number of subjects and uses the renowned hands-on Montessori method for emotionally disabled students , according to Jacksonville.com . | Teacher Rita Baci , 65 , also used her foot to push a kindergarten student out of her class and left him unattended , according to investigation . Officials said Baci violated the district 's code of professional conduct by failing to make a reasonable effort to protect students from harm . | [[152, 169], [182, 243], [152, 169], [248, 267], [152, 169], [270, 328], [0, 85], [1128, 1211], [1142, 1255], [1217, 1220], [1228, 1287]] |
No receipt : John Durning has never been asked for a receipt from Ed Balls despite cleaning the windows at his Castleford home once a month . Ed Balls was accused of ` total hypocrisy ' last night after his window cleaner revealed he has never asked for a receipt in 17 years . The Shadow Chancellor provoked controversy at the weekend when he lectured families on their duty to collect receipts and personal details from gardeners , cleaners and handymen , no matter how small the job done . Mr Balls said he always followed the practice -- and had done ` since I have been involved in politics ' . But inquiries in Castleford , West Yorkshire , where he and his MP wife Yvette Cooper have a family home , have shown that he has never asked his window cleaning firm for a receipt despite employing them for nearly two decades . Pontefract Window Cleaning Services last night confirmed it had never been asked for a receipt by Mr Balls . The firm cleans the windows at the three-storey Balls family home once a month , charging # 12 each time . Christine Durning , 66 , who handles the family firm 's paperwork , refused to criticise Mr Balls for his comments and said she ` did n't want to get involved in any controversy ' . But she added : ` I 'm not doing anything wrong here , I 'm just telling you the facts and I do n't give him a receipt and he does n't ask for a receipt . ' Mrs Durning said the well-established family firm had never been asked for a receipt by any of its customers . Instead they simply take cash or cheque or write their customers a note to inform them money is due . Her son John , 34 , who cleans the MPs ' windows , said : ` It only takes me about ten minutes to do , it 's no problem . After each clean I drop a note through the door which states , `` Your windows have been cleaned '' . ` I see a cleaner sometimes , but I have never seen either of them or even met them . ' Conservative MP Peter Bone last night said it was ` absurd ' to expect people to get receipts for everything and it was hypocritical of Mr Balls to suggest it . ` Total hypocrisy ' : The Shadow Chancellor has been slammed by Conservative MP Peter Bone , who said it was ` absurd ' to expect people to get receipts for everything and it was hypocritical of Mr Balls to suggest it . He said : ` Having lectured the nation on the need to demand receipts , it turns out he does n't even do it himself . ` It is total hypocrisy from a man who wants to be considered as a potential Chancellor . ' He added : ` This idea from Ed Balls was ludicrous from the start -- you ca n't expect people to demand a receipt for every minor job they have done . It is basically suggesting that every small trader is dodging tax , which is a slur . ' Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Balls 's comments suggested Labour was planning a ` Big Brother ' state where people 's every action was monitored . Even Labour business spokesman Chuka Umunna admitted : ` I have to confess I do n't keep a receipt for every single thing that I get people to do . ' A spokesman for Mr Balls last night said his practice of demanding receipts applied only to jobs where he pays in cash . He pointed out that Mr Balls pays his window cleaner by cheque and receives handwritten invoices every few months . The spokesman said : ` As Ed said , he asks for receipts when paying in cash for work done so that , as Shadow Chancellor , he knows he has a written record . ` Needless to say , a cheque obviously means both sides have a written record of the transaction . ` Ed 's window cleaner sends a bill every few months and he pays them by cheque . He 's done this for 17 years with the same local business . ' The controversy began on Sunday when the question of what constitutes tax avoidance was discussed during a BBC interview . Mr Balls said : ` The right thing to do if you are having somebody cut your hedge for a tenner is to make sure they give you their name and address and a receipt and a record for the fact that you have paid them . ' On Sunday Ed Balls said he always asked for a receipt because it was the ` right thing to do ' . But he and his wife Yvette Cooper were among MPs criticised when the Parliamentary expenses scandal erupted in 2009 . Between 2005 and 2007 they ` flipped ' their second home designation to three different properties -- including their North London home and a constituency property in Castleford , West Yorkshire . The North London home . ... and the constituency home . Under the old expenses system , MPs could designate either a London home or a constituency property as their second home . They could then change the designation of their second home -- nicknamed ` flipping ' -- and increase the amount they could claim for mortgage interest payments . Together they claimed a total of # 24,400 on their second-home allowance . A Tory MP said it was wrong for them to claim the London property as their second home when they spent most of their time there , but they were cleared by the Standards Commissioner in 2008 . | Ed Balls provoked anger after lecturing families about collecting receipts . Shadow Chancellor said he had followed practice since getting into politics . But firm claims he never asks for a receipt for # 12 monthly window clean . West Yorkshire company said they are just pointing out ` the facts ' | [[278, 375], [341, 446], [2290, 2297], [2302, 2359], [493, 556], [13, 74], [66, 141], [203, 277], [653, 671], [700, 828], [829, 937], [886, 937], [938, 1016], [1350, 1381]] |
Daley Blind could face several weeks on the sidelines after suffering a medial ligament injury in Holland 's 6-0 win over Latvia . In the latest blow to Manchester United , Blind went down in the 19th minute at the Amsterdam ArenA after Eduards Visnakovs landed on his knee . Blind 's is the 39th United injury since Louis van Gaal took charge in July - that 's an average of one injury every three days . Blind was able to limp off unaided but Holland manager Guus Hiddink said his ligament could be twisted and possibly ruptured . The Manchester United midfielder looks in real pain while clutching his left knee during Holland 's game with Latvia on Sunday . Blind goes down in agony after a collision with Eduards Visnakovs in the first half of Holland 's game with Latvia . Blind goes down under the challenge from Visnakovs inside the box during Sunday 's game . Blind -LRB- back left -RRB- posted this picture on Instagram after the match with the message ` I 'm staying positive ' Nov 22 : Arsenal A . Nov 29 : Hull City H . Dec 2 : Stoke City H . Dec 8 : Southampton A . Dec 14 : Liverpool H . Dec 20 : Aston Villa A . Dec 26 : Newcastle United H . Dec 28 : Tottenham Hotspur A . Dutch TV scaled down this diagnosis to a ` small tear ' , saying Blind will likely miss four-six weeks . A full MRI scan on Monday will reveal the full extent of the damage but it looks as though Blind will be out until the New Year . Blind took to Instagram to confirm the news of his injury saying : ` I 'm proud of my 25 games for the Dutch national team , but I 'm so gutted with my injury ... I 'll stay positive and will come back stronger ! Nevertheless a great win , 6-0 ! ' Hiddink said : ` I 'm am not a doctor , but I 'm rather negative . His medial ligament is twisted and there might be a rupture as well . There will be a full MRI scan tomorrow . ' It is just the latest injury blow for United boss Louis van Gaal , who is already without a number of key personnel . Goalkeeper David De Gea faces four weeks out after dislocating a finger during training with Spain on Friday . Defenders Phil Jones -LRB- shin splints -RRB- , Marcos Rojo -LRB- dislocated shoulder -RRB- , Rafael -LRB- muscle problems -RRB- and Jonny Evans -LRB- ankle -RRB- are all on the treatment table . Blind is helped off the field by a member of Holland 's medical team during the game against Latvia . VIDEO Daley Blind faces knee scan . Robin van Persie jumps in the air after putting Guus Hiddink 's side in the lead against Latvia . Daley Blind : Suspected knee injury . David de Gea : Finger Injury . Michael Carrick : Groin/pelvis Injury . Marcos Rojo : Dislocated shoulder . Rafael : Muscular injury . Ashley Young : Groin/pelvis Injury . Phil Jones : Calf/shin Injury . Radamel Falcao : Calf/shin Injury . Jonny Evans : Ankle/foot Injury . Jesse Lingard : Knee injury . Midfielder Michael Carrick withdrew from the England squad last week with a groin problem , while Ander Herrera has been struggling with a fractured rib . Striker Radamel Falcao has been struggling to overcome a calf problem but could be in contention for Saturday 's trip to Arsenal in the Premier League . Blind , who joined from Ajax for # 13.8 m in the summer , has featured in eight matches so far for United and has been one of their most consistent performers . With Van Gaal 's defence so threadbare , Blind was forced to play at centre half during United 's last match - the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford last week . It means Herrera could be rushed back into action at the Emirates , while Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair could be called upon at centre half . The young players have just 10 Premier League appearances between them . United are currently seventh in the table , some 13 points adrift of leaders Chelsea , and Blind 's injury will come as another hammer blow . His withdrawal did n't affect Holland , who romped to a six-goal win thanks to doubles from Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and further strikes from Robin van Persie and Jeffrey Bruma . Arjen Robben -LRB- left -RRB- grabbed a double to ensure Holland ran out comfortable winners against Latvia . March 5 : Inter Milan confirm they have agreed a deal to sign Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic from United . He leaves at the end of the 2013-14 season . May 12 : United confirm Rio Ferdinand , a key component of the Red Devils ' back line for 12 years , will leave in the summer . June 27 : Left back Luke Shaw is signed for # 27million plus add-ons . July 21 : Patrice Evra also exits the club , joining Juventus , even though he signed a one-year contract extension at United in May . July 29 : United boss Louis van Gaal announces he has had to devise a special training programme for Shaw , whom he describes as ` not very fit ' . August 13 : United confirm Shaw will miss first four weeks of the season with a hamstring injury . August 20 : Argentina defender Rojo , who played at full back for his country at the 2014 World Cup , moves to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon . Marcos Rojo - here receiving treatment after dislocating his shoulder against Manchester City - has picked up two injuries at United . August 24 : Chris Smalling suffers a groin injury in the 1-1 draw at Sunderland . September 1 : Daley Blind , who can play in defence or in midfield , is signed on deadline day from Ajax . The window closes with United having spent around # 150million on new players but no recognised central defender . September 12 : Versatile defender Phil Jones is ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring injury . September 21 : Defender Jonny Evans suffers a foot injury in a calamitous 5-3 defeat at Leicester , with Smalling replacing him as he made his own return from the groin problem sustained in August . Another defender , Tyler Blackett , is sent off and suspended . September 24 : Smalling suffers a new injury - this time to his thigh - in training . September 25 : Van Gaal confirms he is now down to just one fit centre back - Rojo - for the game against West Ham . September 27 : Nineteen-year-old Paddy McNair is drafted in for a senior debut against the Hammers . He also features against Everton and Manchester City . Teenage central defender Paddy McNair has been thrust in to the limelight given United 's defensive injury woes . October 26 : Van Gaal reveals Jones is suffering from shin splints which caused him to miss the 1-1 draw with Chelsea , in which Smalling made his return from injury . Jones also missed the Manchester derby . November 2 : Smalling sent off for two bookable offences against Manchester City , while Rojo suffers a dislocated shoulder . Brazilian full back Rafael misses the match due to injury so winger Antonio Valencia is forced to fill in . United end the match with McNair and midfielder Michael Carrick occupying the central defensive positions . November 16 : Blind suffers suspected knee ligament damage while playing for Holland against Latvia . A scan will determine the extent of the problem - but Dutch manager Guus Hiddink suggests Blind could be facing up to six weeks of rehabilitation . | Manchester United already have nine players out injured . Daley Blind the latest to give cause for concern after being forced off during Holland 's win over Latvia . The 24-year-old went off midway during the first half clutching his knee after a challenge with Eduards Visnakovs . The United midfielder took to Instagram to express his sadness about the injury . Blind will have a scan on Monday to discover the full extent of the injury . | [[0, 130], [0, 11], [54, 130], [533, 661], [533, 565], [591, 661], [662, 778], [2277, 2378], [6877, 6964], [131, 170], [173, 254], [533, 661], [533, 565], [591, 661], [662, 778], [779, 868], [869, 962], [1294, 1361], [1809, 1849], [2379, 2414], [6965, 7032]] |
Angel Di Maria has revealed that Paris Saint-Germain 's well-documented financial issues prevented him moving to France rather than Manchester United last summer . The French giants were issued with a spending restriction last summer for breaching UEFA 's Financial Fair Play regulations with Di Maria subsequently making the move to Old Trafford for a British transfer record of # 59.7 million . And the Argentine believes PSG 's money troubles were the key reason why they halted their pursuit . Angel Di Maria celebrates scoring the opening goal against QPR at Old Trafford in September . ` PSG , I think they had a money problem and they could n't buy players , ' Di Maria said in an interview with French broadcaster Telefoot . ` This is the main reason I did n't go there . Playing in the French league would please a lot of players . ` Now I 'm in the English league . But you never know , there is a lot of movements in football . You can never predict where you 're going to play . ` There were a lot of clubs interested in me . A lot really . But Manchester United appeared and did n't go away . They absolutely wanted me and it happened . '' Di Maria , in action for Real Madrid , takes on Patrice Evra -LRB- left -RRB- and Michael Carrick in February 2013 . Di Maria has made an impressive start to his career in the Premier League but the former Los Blancos star refused to ruled out a move to the Ligue 1 side later in his career . ` It could have been a good experience for me to go to Paris , ' he added . ' I know I 'm still young , perhaps I 'll go to PSG one day . I do n't know how it will all end . ' Di Maria insisted he had no regrets leaving the Bernabeu in the summer despite United 's on-field struggles this season . ` It 's a different style of football here at Manchester United , ' he stated . ` I 'm very happy . I do n't have regrets about leaving Real Madrid . I think I won everything I wanted with Real : La Liga , the Champions League and the Copa Del Rey . ' Argentine star Di Maria could have ended up playing alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic -LRB- pictured -RRB- at PSG . | Angel Di Maria came close to signing for Paris Saint-Germain during the summer before the Parisian club were hit with a spending restriction for breaching Uefa 's Financial Fair Play regulations . Di Maria subsequently signed with Manchester United for a British transfer record of # 59.7 million . Argentine star refuses to rule out move to PSG in the future . | [[164, 233], [199, 221], [234, 275], [293, 396], [1348, 1445], [1550, 1583]] |
Labour ` infantilised ' welfare claimants by letting them choose a life on benefits , David Cameron declared today . The last government 's handling of the system had divided Britain and created ` resentment ' among taxpayers , the PM added . In his first election campaign speech on the benefits system , the PM said it was a ` national disgrace ' under Labour which had ` infuriated ' those forced to pay for welfare . Labour 's handling of the welfare system divided Britain and created ` resentment ' among taxpayers , the PM said . As he appealed to voters for five more years ` to finish the job ' Mr Cameron outlined his ` British deal on welfare ' which he said would ` restore real fairness to our country ' . He confirmed proposals to force jobless youngsters to do community work rather than just going straight on the dole . Instead of signing on , young people will be forced to pick up litter , clean graffiti or work for local charities . This would give them the ` order and discipline of turning up for work each day ' , he said . There are around 50,000 young people a year who currently go straight on to the dole . Mr Cameron defended the coalition 's reforms -- including the benefits cap , tax cuts for low earners and rises in the minimum wage - and challenged the idea it was ` compassionate ' to ` leave people on the dole for years with no incentive to get into work ' . Addressing activists and the media at a school in Hove , East Sussex , he questioned the ` myth ' that it was ` kind to sentence people to never going anywhere ' or to let ` people in their teens and twenties sit at home all day slipping into depression and despair ' . Under Labour welfare became ` a series of giveaways ' . Young people could ` leave school , sign on , start getting your benefit , start getting housing benefit ' while making only a ` minimal ' contribution , he said . David Cameron appealed for five more years ` to finish the job ' to stop Ed Miliband becoming Prime Minister . He said : ` No CV ? No problem . No real effort put in ? No problem . ` And all this had a corrosive effect . For those paying for welfare -- it infuriated them . For those dependent on welfare -- it infantilised them . ' ` Because people do n't just live up to expectations -- they live down to them too . ` If you give people nothing to work for , no responsibilities to uphold -- they 're going to lose the ability to stretch themselves and find work . Mr Cameron added : ` Our welfare system should be something that unites our country in pride -- not that divides it in resentment . ' The Prime Minister said Labour treated benefit claimants like children . ` But when people worked hard and paid their taxes , knowing that others were choosing to live on welfare . ` When they saw their money going on social housing they could never afford to live in . ` Or when hardworking young people were stuck living with their parents into their 30s -- while others got a council house straight out of school , that created a sense of deep unfairness . ` We are putting that right with a clear set of rules that apply to all ; a British deal on welfare . ' Mr Cameron promised people in work would be better off , support for those who are ` genuinely sick or disabled ' and ` dignity and security in retirement ' for those who worked hard all their life . But to anyone who refused to work he said : ` We will not keep supporting you . ' The PM pointed to the rise in employment , and the 700,000 job vacancies for those looking for work . The Government 's economic plan was working and being felt ` in people 's pockets and homes and hearts and hopes ' , he said . The Liberal Democrats attacked the plans saying they placements were designed to ` punish ' young people . ` These placements are not designed to help someone into work , more to punish . Just like the Tory plans to axe housing benefit for young people , it 's all stick and no carrot , ' a spokesman said . ` Young people should be given help and support into the work place , help at job centres , and the opportunity to get on in life , not just written off as feckless and lazy . ' Labour 's Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Rachel Reeves ministers should introduce ` Labour 's compulsory jobs guarantee to get young people off benefits and into paid work . ' ` Under David Cameron young people can spend years claiming benefit without being offered and required to take up paid work . Labour 's compulsory jobs guarantee would ensure young people are given the chance to learn , earn and contribute . ' | Last government divided Britain and created ` resentment ' among workers . PM said welfare system was a ` national disgrace ' which ` infuriated ' voters . Mr Cameron also appealed for five more years ` to finish the job ' after 2015 . Confirmed plans to force youngsters to do community work to get benefits . | [[117, 182], [117, 182], [117, 162], [187, 225], [243, 303], [306, 361], [421, 461], [482, 520], [540, 583], [566, 581], [584, 614], [1887, 1931], [1914, 1997], [719, 836], [732, 836]] |
A mother died after suffering a severe allergic reaction caused by L'Oreal hair dye , an inquest heard yesterday . Julie McCabe , 39 , was rinsing out the dye when she ` screamed loudly ' and gasped at her husband : ` I 'm struggling to breathe , I think I 'm going to die . ' She fell into a coma and died 12 months later in hospital without regaining consciousness . Julie McCabe , 39 , died after suffering an extreme reaction to L'Oreal hair dye , inquest hears . The coroner , Geoff Fell , said he believed it was only the second death in the UK resulting from hair colourant . Mrs McCabe , an estate agent , coloured her hair dark brown every month despite a long history of low-grade allergic reactions to the dye , the inquest at Skipton , North Yorkshire was told . She went to her local health centre 16 to 20 times in six years because of the issue and suffered at least ten allergic reactions to hair dye products . 2005 : . Julie McCabe starts colouring her hair using L'Oreal products and has an allergic reaction . 2005-2011 : . Mrs McCabe visits her doctor between 16-20 times complaining of rashes , itchy eyes and swelling . October 2011 : . Mother-of-two suffers severe allergic reaction to the L'Oreal dye , collapses and slips into a coma . November 2012 : . After over a year in a coma , the 39-year-old dies from heart failure due to brain damage . Doctors prescribed a cream to rub into her skin and scalp which dealt with the minor rashes and itchiness . None of the GPs believed her life could be in danger from her allergy . Yet she suffered an anaphylactic reaction , in what her doctor described as a ` unique ' incident that led to fatal brain damage . Mrs McCabe 's husband Russell , 47 , said he had heard his wife ` screaming loudly from upstairs ' after going to wash out her dye . He saw her slumped against a wall gasping for air . ` She said , `` Russell , I 'm struggling to breathe , I think I 'm going to die '' . ' He dialled 999 but became impatient with the emergency operator and decided to drive his wife the three miles to Airedale Hospital in Keighley . Mr McCabe said : ` I went outside and discovered Julie was on her hands and knees in the driveway , gasping for breath . I just thought Julie was having a severe asthma attack . ' During the short journey from their home in Cowling , North Yorkshire , Mrs McCabe lost consciousness . Medics were working on her within seconds of Mrs McCabe arriving at hospital , but she had already suffered a major cardiac arrest . The devastated relatives of Julie McCabe arrive at her inquest in Skipton Magistrates ' Court . The incident happened in October 2011 . Mrs McCabe remained in a coma and died in November 2012 . The cause of death was given as cardiorespiratory arrest as a result of severe brain damage . Dr Sean Emmott , one of her GPs , said she would have been advised that the way to stop the allergic reactions would be to stop using the hair dye . Dr Shuaib Nasser , an allergy expert , said : ` The hair colouring was the cause of the severe allergic reaction . The continued regular use probably contributed to the severity of the reaction . ' The hearing was told Mrs McCabe was taken to Airedale General Hospital after he collapse . Mrs McCabe 's family blames paraphenylenediamine -LRB- PPD -RRB- - a chemical found in hair dyes - for her extreme reaction . Pictured : Her parents Keith and Brenda Miller of Shipley , West Yorkshire . The mother-of-two suffered a severe reaction to L'Oreal Recital Preference hair dye in Shade One , also known as Naples Black -LRB- file picture -RRB- , left . Doctor Sean Emmott , right , said it was ` inconceivable ' given the number of doctors she saw that nobody told her to stop using the hair dye . Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction where the body 's immune system over-reacts in response to a substance that it wrongly perceives as a threat . It can be triggered by substances including peanuts , latex , drugs , insect stings shellfish and even fruit . The product used by Mrs McCabe , whose children were aged 16 and 21 when she died , was L'Oreal Recital Preference shade one . Brian Lightfoot , a chemist from L'Oreal , said the chemical para-phenylenediamine in the dye used by Mrs McCabe comprised just 1 per cent of the substance put into her hair . He said the incident was reported to the authorities as soon as the company was told about it . The inquest continues . | Julie McCabe visited her doctor up to 20 times between 2005 and 2011 . She complained of rashes , itchy eyes and swelling during visits to GPs . Slipped into a coma after severe reaction to L'Oreal hair dye in 2011 . Never regained consciousness and died a year later in November 2012 . Doctor says ` inconceivable ' she was n't told to stop using dye . | [[775, 859], [1044, 1142], [1081, 1142], [1044, 1142], [1081, 1142], [0, 56], [0, 8], [14, 83], [277, 297], [369, 381], [389, 449], [1160, 1173], [1242, 1261], [2654, 2683], [3311, 3369], [3447, 3521], [277, 280], [302, 334], [2654, 2664], [2688, 2711], [3607, 3625], [3636, 3693], [3694, 3751]] |
A Russian warship was intercepted by the Royal Navy as it strayed close to the UK while passing through the English Channel . The vessel -- equipped with missiles , anti-aircraft guns and torpedoes -- was monitored and escorted by a heavily-armed British frigate . Yesterday , the Ministry of Defence stressed that the encounter was in accordance with international law . However , it comes at a time of heightened tension between Britain and Russia . Cat and mouse : Heavily-armed HMS Argyll follows the Russian warship , background left , as it passes through the English Channel . Last month , RAF jets were scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers capable of carrying nuclear missiles as they flew south of Bournemouth . And in November , a four-strong squadron of the country 's Northern Fleet sailed through the Channel . The manoeuvres have raised fears that the Russians are looking for weaknesses in the British naval force . In the latest incident , Plymouth-based HMS Argyll , which has a crew of 185 , intercepted the Neustrashimy-class warship and its accompanying tanker as they headed home after a deployment in the Mediterranean . The 4,900-ton Type 23 frigate used its Lynx helicopter and hi-tech sensors to locate the vessels off the French coast and track them as they entered the Channel . The MoD said the Royal Navy took over from French surveillance , in line with the Nato agreement , and described the operation as ` pretty routine ' . But military sources insisted it was vital the Armed Forces were poised to react swiftly as Russia has stepped up its military drills in recent months with a greater number of naval exercises and reports of incursions by Russian fighter jets and bombers . A naval source said : ` They were not provocative but the British public would expect nothing less of the Navy than to be alert and keep an eye out for any potential threat , and to be ready to react in case it that turns into an actual threat . ' Plymouth-based HMS Argyll -LRB- pictured -RRB- intercepted the Neustrashimy-class warship and its accompanying tanker as they headed home after a deployment in the Mediterranean . It is understood that the Russian vessels complied with all maritime reporting regulations - they did not encroach on British waters and abided by the correct regulations while passing through the Strait of Dover . A MoD spokesman estimated that a Russian warship was escorted through the Channel every few months . Russia has been suspected of military provocation as its economy continues to suffer under international sanctions . These have been imposed by the West over allegations that Moscow has been providing troops and equipment to separatist rebels in Ukraine . Many other European countries have reported what are widely seen as displays of Russian military prowess . Britain summoned the Russian ambassador for a dressing down after the long-range bombers flew over the Channel close to UK airspace last month , disrupting civil aviation and prompting Britain to scramble two Typhoon fast jets . Experts said Vladimir Putin 's move to send planes capable of carrying cruise missiles so close to British shores could be seen as an act of aggression . More than 100 Russian aircraft were intercepted last year , three times more than during the whole of 2013 . In November , HMS Tyne escorted a Russian flotilla led by the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov through the English Channel . | Russian warship was intercepted by Royal Navy as it strayed close to UK . The vessel was equipped with missiles , anti-aircraft guns and torpedoes . Russian boat was monitored and escorted by HMS Argyll - an armed frigate . MoD stressed that the encounter was in accordance with international law . But it comes at a time of heightened tension between Britain and Russia . | [[0, 125], [55, 125], [937, 959], [962, 987], [1016, 1148], [126, 197], [201, 214], [126, 197], [219, 264], [126, 197], [219, 264], [468, 520], [265, 274], [277, 371], [382, 451]] |
A toddler looks to have become the latest victim of Tanzania 's sickening trade in albino body parts , after machete-wielding kidnappers stormed his home and attacked his distraught mother . The 18-month-old boy was taken from his home in Chato , on the shores of Lake Victoria , late on Saturday . His mother could do little after the family home was stormed by the kidnappers , who attacked her with machetes as they stole her son . It is feared the little boy will be killed , and his body parts will be used in potions and charms which are believed by some to bring luck and wealth . His father , who was nearby at the time , is now being questioned by police . Horror : The 18-month-old boy was snatched from his home in northern Tanzania on Saturday . Pictured : Children being kept at a centre to prevent them becoming victims of the black market trade in body parts . ` Two bandits armed with machetes stormed into their kitchen , they hit his mother with machetes and took away the baby , ' said regional police chief Joseph Konyo . He confirmed the father was being questioned , adding : ` We have asked the public for cooperation to arrest the suspects . ' As the MailOnline has previously reported , albino body parts can fetch thousands of dollars on the black market . People are willing to pay as much as $ 3,000 or $ 4,000 for a limb , or as much as $ 75,000 - about # 50,000 - for the ` full set ' , a whole body . Families are known to sell-off their own children in return for the money - a fortune for someone on the average Tanzanian wage . It has left an entire community in fear of their lives : young children with albinism are sent to special schools , where they are kept behind high walls for their own safety . Some of those children have already been attacked , and are missing arms or legs lost to their attackers . Albino rights groups have warned that , as the country 's presidential election approaches in October , the demand for body parts is likely to soar . Sickening : Tanzania 's albino population is being hunted down by people who want to turn their body parts into potions and charms . Victim : Not all those attacked die : Pendo Sengerema , 15 , pictured right with campaigner Vicky Ntetema , was one of three people attacked in 11 days last August . The supposed ` luck ' which the charms and potions bring are highly sought after by certain political campaigners , it is thought . And the prices the witch doctors charge mean the people buying them need to have a substantial amount of money behind them . Josephat Torner , an albino rights campaigner who works with charity Standing Voice , told MailOnline last month : ` The big fishes are behind the issue . It has been really a big discussion . If I say big fish , or big people , it is those who have enough resources , enough money . ` People sell the body parts for high prices . So it is not really small fish behind it . ` It could be politicians . It could be those people . ' Since people began collecting records of the attacks , there have been 74 killings and 59 survivors of attacks . Even the dead are not safe : 16 graves have been robbed . Hereditary : Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin , hair and eyes , affecting one Tanzanian in 1,400 . In August , three people were attacked in just 11 days , while this most recent kidnapping is the second in less than two months . A four-year-old girl , called Pendo Emmanuelle Nundi , was reported missing in December , but has never been found . Her father and uncles were among the 15 questioned - but so far there have been no charges made . In fact , just 10 people have ever come before the courts , and not one of the ` buyers ' has ever been named . Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin , hair and eyes . It affects one Tanzanian in 1,400 , often as a result of inbreeding , experts say . In the West , it affects just one person in 20,000 . Albinos are seen as curses , or ` ghosts ' who can be wiped off the face of the earth , in many part of Tanzania , and across Africa . Albinism is a hereditary genetic condition which causes a total absence of pigmentation in the skin , hair and eyes , albinism affects one Tanzanian in 1,400 , often as a result of inbreeding in remote and rural communities , experts say . In the West , it affects just one person in 20,000 . Families are often told to kill the children at birth . Yet , conversely , their body parts are highly prized . But Josephat Torner sees the two as being intrinsically linked . ` The killings and attacks is the outcome of the stigma and discrimination . If you respect me , you wo n't think of me as a commodity , ' he said . Witch doctors claim albino body parts are capable of bringing riches , power and success , if used in potions , while a UN report report into the trade revealed miners used the bone as amulets , or would bury them where they are drilling for gold . Fishermen are said to weave the hair into their nets to help them catch more fish . Children are particularly vulnerable : their innocence is highly valued , and they are not as strong as the adults attacking them . Most of the time , limbs are taken - but the report notes there have been cases where victims were beheaded , genitals , ears , and bits of skin were removed ; tongues were cut out and the eyes and the heart gouged out . Other types of attacks reported included rape for healing purposes . Possibly most shockingly , some believe the louder the screams while the limb is removed , the more potent the charm . | WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT . The 18-month-old was taken from his home near Lake Victoria on Saturday . Mother was attacked with machetes as she tried to save her little boy . Father , who was nearby at the time , is now being questioned by police . It is likely the boy has been taken for his body parts - thought to bring luck . Second child with albinism to disappear in the last two months . Campaigners fear attacks and killings will increase ahead of elections . | [[191, 244], [666, 757], [109, 153], [109, 136], [158, 190], [363, 377], [384, 434], [878, 936], [939, 972], [588, 598], [605, 627], [588, 598], [630, 665], [0, 100], [4787, 4824], [3383, 3450], [1846, 1995]] |
Hundreds of angry Amazon customers have hit out at the online retailer after finding they were being charged # 79 for Prime services without realising it . The furious shoppers spoke out after being hit with the yearly charge when their 30-day free trial expired , meaning the price was raised to the regular # 79-a-year rate . One Conservative councillor checked his Amazon account only to realise he had been paying for the service for five years without knowing , while another shocked subscriber said she was ` livid ' . Amazon Prime customers have hit out after hundreds of customers complained that they had been charged # 79-a-year for the service without realising it after their 30-day free trial expired . Hundreds of his followers responded saying they had been caught out after their free 30-day trial of Prime expired , meaning they were automatically upgraded to the # 79-a-year service . All Amazon customers will be asked to sign up for a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime at the site 's digital checkout , offering them free one-day delivery on their purchases . However , reading the small print reveals that after this 30-day trial ends , buyers will be charged the # 79-a-year rate , which includes movie streaming services , among other things . The unwitting subscribers were responding to a tweet by food critic and TV personality Giles Coren after he discovered he had been charged for the service for two years without using it . On Sunday he messaged his 164,000 followers saying : ` You b ******* Amazon ! I ca n't believe you 've been screwing me for # 79 a year for Prime ! I had no idea . ' I mean , Amazon offer a free trial in 2012 , then quietly start charging # 79 and never tell me . That 's what sicko porn sites do ! I 've heard ... ' Outspoken Times columnist Giles Coren launched a rant against Amazon after discovering he had been charged for the Prime service for two years without knowing about it . Initially customers were billed # 49 per year for the service , but this was hiked to # 79 in February last year after Amazon bought LoveFilm and included access to it as part of the deal . Jeremy Bellamy , a Conservative councillor for Barton in Canterbury , said : ' I noticed just after Christmas that they 'd been charging me for it ... for about the last four or five years I think ? ' Amazon customers can tell if they 've signed up to Prime by going to the My Account section of the site , located in the top right hand corner of the homepage . Once there , scroll down the page until you see the ` Settings ' section , then look under the ` Account settings ' column for a option called ` Manage Prime Membership ' . Once you have clicked on that , a new page will open up , telling you whether you are signed up to Prime , how long you have been a member , and who is being charged . If you want to end your membership , there will be a button on this page allowing you to do this . If you think you have been wrongly charged for Prime , you can apply for a refund via the customer services page . Lauranne Pearce , from Derbyshire , added : ` I 've just checked and yep # 79 lighter and did n't even know it . I ca n't even remember signing up ! ' Meanwhile Sally Roberts , from London , said she was ` livid ' after also being caught out . Mr Coren , who has become known for his often savage restaurant reviews and rants against sub-editors of his column at The Times , added : ` Come on people , check your Amazon accounts . ` If you 're being secretly f ***** by ` Prime ' let me know . It 's a class action waiting to happen . ' Amazon has long received complaints over its practice of automatically charging customers after the free trial expired , with website moneysavingexpert.com speaking about it back in 2009 . In recent weeks the UK service has also been attacked for being the most expensive in Europe after it was revealed customers in Italy pay just # 7.50 per year for Prime . Amazon say that the UK Prime service includes access to hundreds of movies and TV shows to stream online , as well as online space for storing pictures , and the ability to borrow Kindle books . The UK service also includes free one-day delivery on millions of items , while Italian Prime only includes free 2-3 day delivery . However UK customers are not given the option of taking the cheaper service if they do not want to use all the features of UK Prime . Mr Coren branded Amazon ` highwaymen ' and ` corporate rapists ' after he discovered the charge , which is explained in the small print on Amazon 's website -LRB- right -RRB- . An Amazon spokesman said : ` Customers who sign up to a free trial of Prime receive an email informing them of the duration of the free trial and how to avoid continuing to paid Prime Membership . ` Customers who become full Prime members can cancel their membership at any time and we will refund the full membership if the customer has not made any eligible purchases or used any Prime benefits . ` So as long as you have n't used the free delivery , downloaded or streamed any videos through the service , or borrowed a Kindle book , you can simply cancel the membership and reclaim the subscription . ' Amazon did offer Mr Coren a refund online today after saying he had misunderstood the terms and conditions , but he refused , adding that he was n't asking to be reimbursed , but was informing his followers of the practice . | Customers complained that price rose to # 79 a year after free trial expired . A Tory councillor said he paid for service for five years without realising . Amazon says customers can claim refund if they misunderstood offer . | [[0, 155], [0, 34], [71, 155], [156, 262], [226, 243], [249, 262], [265, 282], [231, 262], [265, 327], [567, 715], [716, 840], [716, 741], [833, 902], [1090, 1201], [1181, 1201], [1210, 1266], [1533, 1600], [1630, 1636], [1666, 1698], [2010, 2083], [3586, 3704], [328, 464], [2132, 2146], [2202, 2206], [2211, 2320]] |
Women going through the menopause may suffer hot flushes for as long as 14 years , warn researchers . They found half the women in a large study had uncomfortable , often distressing symptoms for more than seven years on average . US experts said greater efforts are needed to find new ways of helping women at the menopause as HRT is currently recommended for five years of maximum use . Nancy Avis , a professor of social sciences and health policy at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center , North Carolina , and the study 's lead author , said doctors should advise women that vasomotor symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats might last longer than they had been led to believe . Women going through the menopause may suffer hot flushes for as long as 14 years , warn researchers . She said ` The duration of 7.4 years highlights the limitations of guidance recommending short-term hormone therapy and emphasises the need to identify safe long-term therapies for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms . ' In the UK , the average age of the menopause is 51 years , when periods stop and oestrogen hormone levels decline . The study of 1,449 women with frequent hot flushes or night sweats is the largest study of its kind and included four ethnic groups . The average length of time women endured symptoms was 7.4 years . Half of the women were affected for less than that time , but half had symptoms longer -- some for at least 14 years , researchers reported in JAMA Internal Medicine -LRB- must credit -RRB- . Overall , African-American and Hispanic women experienced hot flashes significantly longer than white or Asian women . The study found that the earlier hot flushes started the longer they lasted . Researchers found half the women in a large study had uncomfortable , often distressing symptoms for more than seven years on average . For women who got hot flushes before they stopped menstruating , they were likely to continue for years after the menopause , longer than for women whose symptoms only began when their periods had stopped . In the study , one in eight women began getting hot flushes while still having regular periods . For two-thirds of women , they began in perimenopause , the period of time before the menopause sets in when periods become more scant . Women who started getting hot flushes when they were still having regular periods or were in early perimenopause experienced symptoms for around 11.8 years . About nine of those years occurred after menopause , nearly three times the average of 3.4 years for women whose hot flushes did not start until their periods stopped . Prof Avis said ` If you start later it 's a shorter total duration , and it 's shorter from the last period on . ' The study also found that women with longer-lasting symptoms tended to have less education , greater perceived stress , and more depression and anxiety . Hot flushes -LRB- known as flashes in the US -RRB- are caused by dilation of the blood vessels and increased flow of blood to the head and neck , causing reddening of the skin and sweating . Night sweats are hot flushes that take place at bedtime , disrupting sleep and causing fatigue and stress . Studies have found that women with hot flush symptoms also face increased risk of cardiovascular problems and bone loss . Researchers followed the women in the study , who came from seven American cities , from 1996 to 2013 . All of them met the researchers ' definition for having frequent symptoms : hot flushes or night sweats at least six days in the previous two weeks . None had had a hysterectomy or both ovaries removed and none were on hormone therapy . The study comprised of women from different ethnic groups living in America , including African-Americans , Japanese and Chinese descent and Hispanic as well as white women and reasons for variation in the length of menopause between the groups were unclear , said the researchers . Dr JoAnn E. Manson , chief of preventive medicine at the Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women 's Hospital and an author of a commentary on the study , said ` Women with more stress in their lives may be more aware of their symptoms and perceive them to be more bothersome . ` But also having significant night sweats that interrupt sleep can lead to stress ' she added . | Researchers found half the women in study had symptoms for seven years . US experts say more must be done to help women through the menopause . In the UK the average woman begins menopause at the age of 51 . | [[102, 144], [102, 106], [165, 230], [1260, 1309], [1260, 1325], [1388, 1412], [1715, 1764], [1715, 1726], [1785, 1850], [231, 324], [1010, 1019], [1022, 1066]] |
One of two Wisconsin girls accused of stabbing a classmate to please the horror character Slender Man should only face a lesser charge in juvenile court because she thought she had to kill her friend to protect herself and her family from the creature , her attorney argued on Monday . Anissa Weier , then 12 , and her friend Morgan Geyser were arrested after allegedly stabbing their friend 19 times and leaving her in the woods on May 31 , 2014 . Each girl faces one count of being a party to first-degree intentional attempted homicide in adult court in connection with the May incident . Scroll down for video . An attorney for Anissa Walker , pictured in court last June , told a Wisconsin court on Monday that her client believed the fictional character was real and that she had to protect herself . Anissa Weier , left , and her friend Morgan Geyser , right , were arrested after allegedly stabbing their friend 19 times and leaving her in the woods on May 31 , 2014 . Their cases have reached the preliminary hearing stage , where a judge decides whether enough evidence exists to order a trial . Defense attorney Anthony Cotton began the two-day proceeding by declaring that the evidence will show his client , Weier , should really face a second-degree attempted intentional homicide charge in juvenile court . He argued that she believed she had to kill 12-year-old Peyton Leutner because she had a deal with Slender Man that called for her and her co-defendant to kill someone so they could become the creature 's servants . If they did n't follow through , Slender Man -- described in online horror sites as standing between 6 feet and 14 feet tall with tendrils sprouting from his back -- would attack both girls and their families . Cotton tried to show the girl believed Slender Man was real , introducing multiple sketches of him from her notebook . The drawings were accompanied with phrases such as ` never alone , ' '' safer dead ' and ` ca n't run . ' Waukesha Police Detective Shelly Fisher testified that Leutner had recounted how she had wanted to end her friendship with Weier because the girl had become obsessed with Slender Man and was getting ` scarier and scarier and weirder and weirder . ' Victim Peyton Leutner told police she had wanted to end her friendship with Weier because the girl had become obsessed with Slender Man and was getting ` scarier and scarier and weirder and weirder ' Morgen Geyser , pictured above in June 2014 , was 12 during the attack and has since turned 13 . Her attorneys tried to paint her as a terrified tag-along on Monday . ` It 's absolutely clear -LRB- the girl -RRB- believes in him , ' Cotton told reporters outside court . However , Waukesha Police Detective Thomas Casey testified that Weier told him that her co-defendant Geyser believed Slender Man would kill them and their families if they did n't go through with the stabbing . Later , she said she did n't know why they did what they did . The Slender Man is a fictional character prevalent on the internet after originating as a meme in 2009 . The mythical creature is often depicted as an unnaturally tall , thin figure with a blank , featureless face , wearing a black suit . The character is said to have long , tentacle-like arms , which can be extended to capture prey . It is said to stalk , abduct and traumatize children and , depending on interpretations of the myth , can cause memory loss , insomnia and paranoia . It is also said to be able to create distortions in photographs and teleport . It is understood to have originated in a photoshop contest on the Something Awful Forums in 2009 . It then went viral with numerous works of fan art and short scary stories published online known as ` creepypasta ' . The detective said the browser history on Cotton 's client 's family computer showed searches on how to get away with murder . During the interview , she asked him if he was going to cut off her head , he said . ' I think -LRB- the girl -RRB- had an infatuation with death and killing , ' Casey said . The two girls blamed each other during initial interviews with the police , detectives testified . Weier accused her friend of stabbing Leutner first , Casey testified , even though Leutner told detectives that Weier did all the stabbing . Geyser was 12 during the attack and has since turned 13 . Her attorneys tried to paint her as a terrified tag-along . Detective Michelle Trussoni testified that Geyser told her she refused to kill Leutner and turned her back during the attack . Weier was led into court in shackles , wearing a plaid button-up shirt over a Batman T-shirt . She spent much of the day hunched over the defense table , scribbling on a legal pad . Geyser was in shackles as well . She wore dark slacks , a dark jacket and a green shirt . She sat up straight during most of the proceedings . The defense teams were expected to present their witnesses on Tuesday . It 's unclear when Judge Michael Boren will make a decision on a trial . Prosecutors ended the day on Monday by asking him to review some six hours of videotaped interrogations . According to court documents , the girls told detectives they had been planning to kill Leutner for months . They lured her to a park on May 31 , where she was stabbed 19 times . The alleged attackers were found walking toward the Nicolet National Forest , where they say they thought they would join Slender Man . | Anissa Weier , then 12 , and Morgan Geyser are accused of stabbing their friend Peyton Leutner 19 times on May 31 , 2014 . An attorney for Weier told a Wisconsin court on Monday that her client believed the fictional character was real and that she had to protect herself . Weier and Geyser , 13 , both face being charged with first-degree intentional attempted homicide in adult court . Weier 's defense attorney claims his client should face a lesser charge in juvenile court , even though the victim says she did all the stabbing . | [[0, 89], [286, 300], [311, 448], [807, 843], [860, 976], [4293, 4324], [5251, 5254], [5260, 5292], [254, 285], [616, 645], [678, 777], [716, 806], [1749, 1808], [495, 553], [4235, 4292]] |
The American man brutally gored during a Spanish bull-running festival has been identified as a 20-year-old Ole Miss student on a semester abroad . Ben Milley , 20 , from Marietta , Georgia , suffered severe injuries , including a 16-inch wound in the thigh , after he was dragged by the bull during a festival in Ciudad Rodrigo on Saturday . He underwent surgery and was kept in intensive care but was today believed to be out of danger . Mr Milley is studying Spanish and economics in Salamanca . It is believed that his friends accompanied him to the hospital after he was injured and that his mother , Marilyn , was on her way to see her son in Spain . Scroll down for video . Ole Miss student Ben Milley , 20 , from Marietta , Georgia , was injured during bull-running at a festival in Ciudad Rodrigo , Spain on Saturday . He underwent surgery for a 16-inch wound to his thigh but was believed to be out of danger . His mother , Marilyn , -LRB- pictured right -RRB- was on her way to Spain to see her son . The student , from Marietta , Georgia , underwent a three-hour operation to repair damage to his thighs , sphincter and back muscles . Surgeon Enrique Crespo was called to operate on Milley after he suffered serious injuries to his thighs , sphincter and back during the bull-running event in Ciudad Rodrigo . American Benjamin Milley , 20 , -LRB- above -RRB- was hurt at the Carnaval del Toro festival in Ciudad Rodrigo , Spain . Calls to Mr Milley 's family in Georgia went unanswered on Tuesday . Mr Milley 's father , Ethan , is a managing director at financial services firm JLL . A spokesman for the University of Mississippi told Daily Mail Online that they had n't heard from the family so could offer no updates on the student 's health . However Ole Miss confirmed that Mr Milley was a sophomore at the college who was currently studying abroad with a program at the Institute for the International Education of Students . A family member , who asked to remain anonymous , told the Daily News : ` We had heard from them -LRB- Milley 's parents -RRB- what had happened , but we did n't understand the magnitude until we saw the pictures . ' The terrifying images showed the student being tossed around by the bull before he was dragged to the side of the road by other participants and spectators . Mr Milley suffered injuries to his sphincter and numerous hemorrhages , according to doctors at Clinic Hospital in western Salamanca . He had a three-hour operation for injuries to his thighs , sphincter and back . Surgeon Enrique Crespo was called to operate on Milley after he was injured on the first day of the annual festival . Crespo said : ` It 's not the worst injury I 've seen , but it 's the biggest goring wound I 've ever had to operate on . ' He was believed not to have to undergo any more surgeries . Ben Milley pictured with his prom date and parents , Ethan -LRB- left -RRB- and Marilyn Milley -LRB- right -RRB- in 2013 . The now 20-year-old student was hospitalized in Spain on Saturday and underwent surgery after being gored by a bull . Ben Milley -LRB- pictured left -RRB- is believed to be out of danger but spent time in intensive care following his bull goring injuries . Two other unidentified men were hurt during Saturday 's festivities . Town councilor Pedro Munoz said : ` One man from Scotland and a Spaniard from Salamanca were also injured . ' The injured Scot is 46 years old and the wounded Spaniard is 31 . Munoz added : ` Doctor Crespo is a world-renowned expert and we have a medically-equipped helicopter on standby every day of our annual fiesta . ' The 20-year-old student was injured on Saturday on the first day of the event and had to have emergency surgery after going to the event with a group of friends . Milley was helped by other revelers after being tossed and gored by a bull during the Carnaval del Toro . The festival is an annual event in Ciudad Rodrigo that celebrates the world of bullfighting , according to the Tourist Office of Spain in the U.S. Fiestas featuring bulls are common in Spain , and critics and aficionados alike agree that the events , which attract international audiences , are dangerous . Munoz said somewhere between 45,000 and 50,000 people had been attracted over the weekend to this year 's four-day fiesta , that includes afternoon bullfights and bull-running events . Ciudad Rodrigo -- population 14,000 -- is a small cathedral city close to the Portuguese border that is a popular tourist destination . It retains its ancient defensive walls and was the site of key battles between Napoleon 's army and British forces under the command of the Duke of Wellington from 1810 to 1812 . The 20-year-old Ole Miss student has been recovering from his injuries in the Clinic Hospital in western Salamanca . Doctors have said he is out of trouble and is not likely to require any more surgeries . In addition to the American student two other people were hurt yesterday including a 46-year-old man from Scotland and a 31-year-old man from Salamanca . | Ben Milley , 20 , from Marietta , Georgia , suffered severe injuries , including a 16-inch wound in the thigh . Mr Milley is studying Spanish and economics in Salamanca during a semester abroad . | [[148, 179], [192, 238], [148, 151], [219, 257], [681, 729], [732, 805], [1147, 1250], [0, 147], [440, 498]] |
Ambitious house-hunters are being offered the chance to create a heavenly home in a 19th century church - which is on the market for just # 50,000 . The Grade II-listed St John 's Church in Merthyr Tydfil , Wales is up for sale and boasts its own pulpit , stained-glass windows and a marble memorial to its founder . But investors are also being enticed by the planning permission the building has already been given to be converted into 20 apartments . Scroll down for video . Many of the church 's original features remain intact - including a number of stained-glass windows -LRB- left -RRB- and a bell-tower -LRB- right -RRB- . The church was built in 1827 for the workers at a famous ironworks in the town and it was used for Sunday services right up until 1997 . St John 's Church in Merthyr Tydfil , Wales has gone on the market for # 50,000 - less than the price of some garages in central London . The church was built by Josiah John Guest , a celebrated ironworker in the region whose company eventually became the top iron producer in the world . The chapel was erected for his workers in 1827 and Mr Guest was buried in an iron coffin at the top of the chancel steps under a red , granite slab . Among the building 's features are a miner 's window donated by Donny Osmond 's grandfather , who was manager at the ironworks . The historic church closed in 1997 after 170 years of holding services . It has remained derelict ever since . The tomb of the founder of the church , Josiah John Guest , remains in the building after he was buried in an iron coffin under a granite slab . The pulpit of the church - from which scores of priests have delivered their sermons over the years - remains in the building . The property has been derelict for nearly 15 years but is now being sold with planning permission to build 20 apartments inside . The building now has planning permission to be converted into flats - as well as listing building consent which ensures some of the historic features remain . Stephen Morgan , auctions manager at Darlows Auction , said : ` The property has fantastic potential , especially for conversion into flats which is something the area would greatly benefit from . ' I think the property would be of particular interest to general investors ; for one , it is of great historical significance to the area and needs to be preserved . At the same time , there is great investment potential . ' The property 's price is less than many garages are now sold for in central and north London . The auction is set for February 25 . Auctioneers say the building offers great potential to investors due to its relatively low asking price and historical significance . Many of the building 's stained-glass windows remain preserved , although the interior of the building will need considerable work . The planning permission means the property will be able to be converted , although the listed status of the church means conditions will apply . | Church was built by owner of famous ironworks in the town for his workers in 1827 but has been derelict since 1997 . It 's now up for sale for # 50,000 - cheaper than some London garages - with permission to convert into 20 apartments . Many of the church 's features remain - including ornate stained-glass windows , a pulpit and the founder 's tomb . The church has listing building consent which ensures some of the historic features will remain if developed . | [[82, 105], [112, 148], [632, 710], [1058, 1104], [1337, 1409], [1410, 1447], [1721, 1771], [82, 105], [112, 148], [381, 453], [805, 906], [1721, 1733], [1776, 1818], [1721, 1733], [1794, 1850], [1851, 1956], [2433, 2480], [207, 212], [232, 316], [478, 583], [556, 631], [1448, 1485], [1508, 1592], [1851, 1863], [1932, 2009], [2699, 2761], [478, 583], [1851, 1956], [1851, 1863], [1932, 2009]] |
Employment minister Esther McVey today admitted she wanted to become Prime Minister . The glamorous former TV presenter , appearing on ITV 's Loose Women this afternoon , said she wanted to see more women in top jobs . Miss McVey was asked by Janet Street Porter -- who was the MP 's boss when she started in television -- if she had designs on Number 10 . The Tory cabinet minister said : ` To be honest , it is not as simple as that . But if I had to do a yes or no I 'll be honest and say `` yes '' . ' Employment minister Esther McVey told the panelists on ITV 's Loose Women that she wanted to become Prime Minister . David Cameron was asked about Miss McVey 's admission today . He said there was ` lots of talent in Tory Party ' . He said he did not want to put a ` limit on anyone 's ambition ' . Miss McVey , who is not married and has no children , had earlier admitted making ` sacrifices ' to succeed in politics . Panellist Jamelia Niela Davis said : ` Do you not feel that it is different as a woman being in politics -- that it is much more difficult , that you do have to make different sacrifices to men ? ' She said : ` I guess we all do sacrifices in one way or another . I have other sacrifices -- I live between two places , it 's difficult because there are always lots of people wanting to criticise what you do . ` So there are sacrifices there . But if you want to do and you believe in it then I say have the courage of your convictions and go for it . ' The minister added : ` Those are sacrifices I am prepared to give because I believe in the cause . ' Miss McVey was asked by Janet Street Porter -- who was the MP 's boss when she started in television -- if she had designs on Number 10 . She was also asked about not having children by panellist Jamelia . Loose Women presenters Ruth Langsford and Coleen Nolan questioned Miss McVey about her plans to inspire young girls to aim higher . Miss McVey appeared on the programme to push her new campaign to break open traditionally male professions for women . It comes after she said girls should be encouraged to run around and climb trees as it could help them have more confidence at the workplace in later life . Miss McVey said there is evidence men are more likely to put themselves forward for promotion at work , because they have been ` pushing the boundaries ' from a young age . A traditional upbringing in which boys tear around and make dens , but girls sit quietly with their parents has an impact in later life , with women sometimes reluctant to put themselves forward because they are ` looking for acceptance ' , she said . Recent research has shown that men are more likely to embellish their CVs than women when applying for a job . Miss McVey said girls should be encouraged to run around and climb trees as it could help them have more confidence at the workplace in later life . Head-hunters have also said they check men 's CVs for longer than women 's because men are more likely to exaggerate their experience while women underplay theirs . ` There is an element of confidence there ' , the Conservative cabinet minister said . ' I thought it was very revealing that head-hunters check through a woman 's CV for something like 25 minutes to analyse because the chances are she will play down her achievements . ` Whereas it can take two-and-a-half hours to check a bloke 's because they 'll write about things as if they have done them , when in fact that would be a promotion ' , she said in an interview with the Mail . David Cameron , asked about Miss McVey 's admission , said he did not want to put a limit on anyone 's ambition . ' I think girls , whether it 's the way they 're brought up , they sit quietly beside mum and dad and speak when they 're spoken to , and boys are allowed to run around outside and climb trees and make dens , and that actually does have an impact later on in life where girls are frequently looking for acceptance by others , whereas boys are much more naturally pushing the boundaries . ' Miss McVey will appear on ITV 's Loose Women tomorrow as part of a series on election issues . She will launch the #notjustforboys campaign , intended to boost the number of women in jobs where they are under-represented such as construction science , IT and engineering in which 12million jobs will be created in the next decade . The minister said these choices need to be influenced at a young age . As well as their upbringing , she said girls need to be encouraged to choose ` the right subjects at GCSE and A-Level so you do n't limit your choices later in life , because these are the fast-growing areas , the ones with the greatest opportunities and the ones paying the most money ' , she said . ` That 's where advanced economies are going , we 've got to make sure our young people are up to speed and can compete in the jobs market . ' She said misconceptions that tech industries were not glamorous were being rapidly broken down , and girls working in IT were increasingly being seen as ` the new It girls ' . ' I would like to think the IT girl is the new It girl ' , she said . ` It is about being powerful and creative , not just an attractive image but being in charge of your own destiny . ` There 's a lot of people who are getting to 18 or 20 and saying if only I 'd known , if only I 'd got the right subject grades at a levels I would have taken those options . We just want to make sure that girls are going forward . ` Among engineering professionals only 7 per cent of women are working in that area . Yes it has gone up since 2011 , but that 's 93 per cent of women who might think `` I would have done that '' . ` So many people like to use the latest phones or programmes , we are saying do n't just be the consumer of technology , be the creator and think of the opportunities that will open up for you . ' | Esther McVey said ` yes ' when asked if she wanted to be Prime Minister . She made the admission on ITV 's Loose Women this afternoon . The rising Tory star said more women were needed in top jobs . She said girls needed to be taught to be more ambitious from a young age . Claimed boys were encouraged to ` push the boundaries ' as children . Esther McVey will appear on Loose Women on Wednesday at 12.30 pm on ITV . | [[0, 85], [48, 85], [506, 622], [585, 622], [86, 119], [122, 168], [506, 622], [86, 119], [171, 218], [4126, 4129], [4173, 4218], [1871, 1919], [4363, 4433], [4376, 4433], [2230, 2233], [2250, 2297], [2300, 2368], [86, 119], [122, 168], [4031, 4125]] |
Former Arizona congresswoman Gabby Giffords has posted an inspirational video of her singing a duet with her music therapist , four years after a would-be assassin shot her in the head . ` Great to be back at Houston 's TIRR Memorial Hermann and sing a few lines from `` Annie '' with my friend and former music therapist , Maegan , ' Giffords wrote on Facebook . ` Wonderful people work here , and they do so much to help others get better ' Scroll down for video . Sing when you 're winning : Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords has posted an inspirational video of her singing with her music therapist , Maegan , right , four years after she was shot in the head . The short clip shows the politician-cum-gun control campaigner smiling and raising her one good arm as she trills lines from the musical 's stand-out number , It 's A Hard Knock Life . Singing has been an important part of her rehab , the New York Daily News reports . Six people were killed and 13 wounded , including Ms Giffords , when Jared Loughner opened fire at a Tucson shopping center car park where she was giving a stump speech . Ms Giffords , who took a bullet to the head at point-blank range , still struggles to speak and walk . Her arm and leg remain paralyzed and she also has vision problems . She has become a standard-bearer for the controversial issue of gun control after co-founding Americans for Responsible Solutions with her husband , retired astronaut Mark Kelly . The gun control group raised millions for congressional candidates in the 2014 election , including Ron Barber , who replaced Ms Giffords in Congress after she was shot but lost his seat to Republican Martha McSally . The group has garnered attention nationwide but has been able to do little to change gun laws . Long road to recovery : Ms Giffords in hospital after she was shot in the head at point-blank range . Monster : Jared Loughner , right , was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting . His youngest victim was nine-year-old Christina Green , pictured right with her mother , Roxanna Green . The January 8 , 2011 , shooting shook Tucson , a city that considers itself a tight-knit community despite its half-million residents . Among those killed was 9-year-old Christina Green , whose face adorns many of the memorial messages left at the shooting site and the hospital . U.S. District Judge John Roll and Giffords aide Gabe Zimmerman were also killed . Loughner was sentenced to life in prison for the shooting . Organizers with the January 8th Memorial , a nonprofit foundation , are in the final phase of selecting a designer for a permanent memorial to the victims . The foundation hopes to finish the memorial this year , manager Michelle Crow said . It will be at El Presidio Park in downtown Tucson , but there are plans for other exhibits . Ms Crow said she wants the community to be closely involved in the selectin of the design and final memorial . ` People remember the day . They remember when they heard . They want to remember what happened that day , and they want to take part in an activity to commemorate that anniversary , ' she told The Associated Press . | Former congresswoman was visiting TIRR Memorial Hermann hospital . Singing has been an important part of her continuing rehab program . She has become a standard-bearer for the issue of gun control . | [[853, 900], [1279, 1425]] |
When he was found crammed into a chicken coup , his rescuers feared for the worst . But three months after Budi the orangutan was taken to safety in Indonesia , the little ape has finally left intensive care - and is almost able to stand by himself . His heartbreaking plight and subsequent recovery has earned him fans around the world . And from being so ill that he cried in pain if he was touched , he is now beginning to take his first steps - albeit with some assistance . Scroll down for video . Ordeal : These were the appalling conditions Budi was found in when International Animal Rescue was asked to help by his owner , who admitted he was ill . First steps : With the aid of physiotherapy , Budi 's twisted and weakened limbs have begun to return to normal and she has made her first steps with the help of charity workers . Eating too : Fed for ten months on condensed milk , the little orangutan had lost the muscle use of his jaws , but is now beginning to feed himself . In new video footage aired on The Doctors on CBS his amazing recovery is apparent . With the help of vets and other volunteers with charity International Animal Rescue -LRB- IAR -RRB- , Budi is seen beginning to walk , his species ' distinctive long arms being the key to getting moving . Alan Knight , the chief executive of IAR , said : ` It 's hard to believe this healthy young infant is the same poor creature we found lying on his back in a cage , completely unable to move or sit up . ` When Budi was rescued he was so weak and fragile that we all feared he would n't survive . But he has proved to be a real fighter and is now safely on the road to recovery . ` He still has a long way to go but his pain has subsided , the swelling in his body and limbs has disappeared , he has a healthy appetite and is becoming more energetic and active by the day . ' Budi is just one of the many orangutans exposed to appalling conditions in Borneo , where their natural habitats are increasingly under threat . Many are orphaned during logging operations and the orphans kept as pets , with the people supposed to be looking after them entirely unaware of their needs . Open wide : Budi had been unable to even open and close his mouth but is now feeding well at the sanctuary in Borneo which has rescued him and which depends on donations to help him and other animals . In training : Eventually vets will be able to see if Budi can swing through the trees like his relatives in the wild . Sleeping well : At first Budi would scream in pain if touched but is now settling into a more normal life . In Budi 's case he was given just condensed milk , which meant that when the charity was contacted by his owner , he did not know how to chew , and his limbs - thanks to his poor diet - were misshapen , weak and swollen . His owner , who lives in Kubing , in the Ketapang area of Western Borneo , had admitted he was ill when she asked for help from the charity . Since his rescue Budi has learned how to eat properly , as he has gained the muscle strength to open and close his mouth , and been given physiotherapy to overcome the problems in his legs and arms . Although he is yet to return to the trees where his species should live , the charity is hopeful of more progress . At just over a year , Budi is still a baby , and a normal orangutan will not climb trees unassisted until they are around two , when they move in the branches by holding hands with other orangutans . In the wild the apes will be weaned around the age of four , and a year later begin to spend time away from their mothers . The typical orangutan lifespan in captivity or the wild is around 30 years , and 45 years is towards the top of expectations . The oldest recorded lifespan was Guas , who died aged 59 at the Philadelphia Zoo , Pennsylvania , in 1977 , the Los Angeles Times reported . Budi 's recovery will take many years and it is still too early to tell if he will be able to survive in the wild , his rescuers say . The charity estimates it will cost about # 5,000 a year to care for the little orangutan and he is likely to need six or seven years of rehabilitation before he can even be considered for release into the wild . If Budi does not regain the strength he will need to fend for himself in the forest , International Animal Rescue will have to cover the cost of caring for him in their sanctuary for the rest of his life . It has already received tens of thousands of dollars in donations for Budi and other animals ' plight , but says more are welcome . International Animal Rescue , the British charity based in Uckfield , East Sussex saves animals , big and small , from suffering around the world . Work includes freeing and caring for dancing bears in India , rescuing primates from captivity in Indonesia , and sterilising and vaccinating stray dogs and cats in developing countries . Wherever possible , the charity returns rescued animals to their natural environment but it also provides a permanent home for those that can no longer survive in the wild . International Animal Rescue works to educate the public in the compassionate and humane treatment of all animals . Sound scientific evidence forms the basis of its decision-making and determines the course of its rescue operations . It also works with other like-minded organisations and government departments to strengthen legislation to protect animals from cruelty and neglect . | Endangered ape spent ten months in a chicken coop cage in Borneo . Rescued by British-based charity , he has fought back to health . Now beginning to learn to walk after physiotherapy on his twisted limbs . ` Fighter ' has finally left intensive care and is on road to recovery . | [[403, 412], [423, 478], [403, 405], [409, 478], [1174, 1204], [3008, 3010], [3070, 3148], [88, 158], [161, 207], [1577, 1579], [1616, 1622], [1630, 1655]] |
It 's nearing ` crunch time ' for Greece and the eurozone and failure to reach a deal over the country 's bailout would be ` very severe for economic and financial stability ' , according to Britain 's Finance Minister George Osborne . However , Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras today signalled little intention of backing down from Greece 's clash with its euro zone partners , despite a looming financial crisis . Tsipras said his government would not succumb to ` blackmail ' and would instead quickly start voting in new laws to reverse bailout reforms . Defiant : Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras -LRB- pictured -RRB- signalled little intention of backing down from Greece 's clash with its euro zone partners , despite a looming financial crisis . Ignoring calls from across Europe to compromise on a plan to extend Greece 's bailout programme , he said he was confident a deal on the country 's future would ultimately be found but that Athens would not climb down from its pre-election pledges . ` We are not in a hurry and we will not compromise , ' Tsipras told his party 's lawmakers in parliament . ` We are working hard for an honest and mutually beneficial deal , a deal without austerity , without the bailout which has destroyed Greece in recent years , a deal without the toxic presence of the -LRB- bailout inspecting -RRB- troika . ' Tsipras said his parliament would start voting in bills this week to implement campaign pledges of protecting primary residences from foreclosures and banning the sale of mortgage loans to distressed funds . A bill reversing labour reform and restoring collective bargaining agreements scrapped by European Union and International Monetary Fund lenders would soon be presented alongside another one to deal with the ` humanitarian crisis ' in Greece , he said . The current bailout runs out in two weeks , and the EU had originally said Greece would have to demand an extension to the loan by yesterday . But , following the collapse of a meeting in Brussels , European officials gave the newly elected radical Left government in Athens another three days , with the possibility of another meeting on Friday . Jeroen Dijsselbloem , the Dutch finance minister who chairs the Eurogroup of 19 countries using the common currency , stuck to his guns , however , saying Athens must seek an extension . ` It 's really up to the Greeks , ' he said . ` We can not make them or ask them . We stand ready to work with them , also -LRB- over -RRB- the next couple of days . ' If no deal is reached , Greece will be unable to service its debt and could run out of cash , meaning it would not be able to pay its civil servants or fund pensions . Economists have warned that this could see the country being forced out of the euro , which would spark a crisis in the eurozone and have damaging knock-on effects for the UK economy . Osborne said ` we 're reaching crunch time for Greece and the eurozone ' and warned failure to reach a deal would be ` very severe for economic and financial stability ' . Echoing the alarm EU officials have voiced about the negotiating tactics of the left-wing government Greeks elected last month to end hated austerity programmes , Osborne added : ` What Britain really needs to see is competence , not chaos . ' ` Crunch time ' : Jeroen Dijsselbloem -LRB- left -RRB- , the Dutch finance minister who chairs the Eurogroup , said Greece must seek an extension , while George Osborne -LRB- right -RRB- warned failure to reach a deal would be ` very severe for economic and financial stability ' Greece 's Left-wing Syriza government wants the country 's bailout to be restructured , with an end to many austerity demands . The International Monetary Fund and European Union say there should be no change to the terms of the current # 178billion loan . Despite all the tough talk and ultimatums , Greece and its creditors in the eurozone are still expected to cobble together some sort of deal that will allow the country to remain a member of the euro currency . ` If Greece were to leave the euro , the financial chaos that would follow could also spell the end of the Syriza-led government , ' said Jane Foley , analyst at Rabobank International . ` For this reason it remains our central view that an eleventh hour compromise between Greece and its creditors is still likely . ' The current bailout expires on February 28 . Any new agreement would have to be approved by national governments , so time is running out to reach a compromise . While the stock index in Athens declined only modestly Tuesday , Greece 's government borrowing rates are rising steadily - a sign investors are more wary of a potential bankruptcy . Economists at Commerzbank estimate that falling out of the currency union would see Greece 's economy shrink another 10 per cent . That is on top of the 25 per cent it has already plunged since the crisis , putting it through a downturn similar to the U.S. Depression of the 1930s . A new currency would fall sharply in value , meaning painfully higher prices for imports like medicine and gas . Companies ' debts in euros would swell , forcing many into bankruptcy . In the rest of the eurozone , taxpayers would be handed big losses on bailout loans their governments gave Greece . The eurozone bailout fund - a pot of money backed by taxpayers - is owed $ 142billion , individual countries are owed $ 53billion , and the European Central Bank $ 20billion . The Greek central bank owes another $ 50billion to eurozone central banks . | Greek PM says deal will be found but he wo n't renege pre-election pledges . Greece 's government will start voting in laws to reverse bailout reforms . Bailout runs out February 28 and Greece must ask for extension by Friday . George Osborne says it 's reaching ` crunch time ' for eurozone and Greece . Economists warn failure to reach a deal could spark crisis in the eurozone . | [[246, 379], [572, 720], [858, 940], [945, 1009], [419, 532], [419, 426], [486, 561], [1359, 1566], [1821, 1862], [2169, 2188], [2317, 2355], [3350, 3376], [3404, 3438], [4360, 4404], [0, 113], [0, 69], [106, 173], [0, 69], [178, 235], [2877, 2984], [0, 113], [2764, 2777], [2784, 2820], [2877, 2984]] |
Longtime Obama administration political insider David Axelrod claimed on Monday that the Obama administration has n't been tainted by a smidgen of scandal . The surprising boast came during a Q&A at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics , an organization he founded and leads . ` I 'm proud of the fact that basically you have had an administration in place for six years in which there has n't been a major scandal , ' Axelrod said . ` And I think that says a lot about the ethical strictures of this administration . ' Audio and video of Axelrod 's remarks indicate the audience 's first reaction to his insistence that Obama has presided over a scandal-free government was a chorus of laughs -- before friendly attendees quickly drowned them out with applause . Conservatives have made a parlor game out of cataloging the Obama White House 's scandals , with tallies running into the dozens and some organized alphabetically . SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS . GREEN CARDS : Millions of illegal immigrants will have IDs and become mainstreamed into the US population under a policy Obama put into place without input from Congress , sparking a Constitutional-crisis scandal . A leaked slideshow about the National Security Agency snooping on domestic Internet traffic grew into a major international scandal in 2013 . Among the administration 's earliest media firestorms was its green-energy loan guarantees to Solyndra and other alternative-energy companies . Solyndra ultimately defaulted on $ 527 million in loans that the federal government guaranteed , leaving taxpayers on the hook for the money . In April 2009 a White House official green-lighted a photo-op that featured Air Force One , Obama 's private plan , doing a flyby in New York City past the Statue of Liberty . Panicked New Yorkers flooded the streets thinking another 9/11-style aircraft attack was underway . Also early in his presidency -- on Day One -- was a pledge to shut down the military detention camp at Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . That effort has led to 115 prisoner releases , including several later confirmed to have re-entered hostilities against the West . Last year the president traded five high-value Taliban detainees for the safe return of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl , who is now expected to be charged with desertion for walking away from his Afghanistan post in 2009 . Military veterans who return home under more typical circumstances were shocked to learn in 2014 that dozens were dying for lack of medical care through the Veterans Administration health system . REMEMBER SOLYNDRA ? $ 527 million later , the company is bankrupt and US taxpayers had to cover itsload defaults . The Internal Revenue Service , Americans ' most feared and loathed government agency , has had a bumper crop of scandals since Obama took office . In May 2013 an inspector general report found that the agency spent more than $ 4.1 million on a single conference in California that included six-figure fees for speakers and expensive video production for a corny Star-Trek themed humor video . The General Services Administration was caught in a similar conference scandal later that year over an $ 823,000 in Las Vegas training conference held in 2010 . It featured mind-readers , a clown and lavish hotel suites with jacuzzis . The GSA administration resigned over the flap . Also in May 2013 , the IRS was plunged into scandal over news that its Tax-Exempt Organizations section was subjecting Tea Party groups and conservative-oriented charities to intrusive screening and years-long delays before granting them tax-exempt status -- while liberal groups were often given a pass . The IRS later claimed to Congress that years worth of emails belonging to retired official Lois Lerner , who is thought to be responsible , were destroyed in a hard drive crash . Americans had a civil-liberties awakening in June 2013 that grew into an international scandal , when former government contractor Edward Snowden fled the country with untold amounts of stolen data and gave journalists evidence of a massive global eavesdropping program run by the National Security Agency . Called Project PRISM , its tentacles reached into industry , private citizens ' emails and even the cellphone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel . Outrage over the program put the NSA on a tighter congressional leash . ` WHAT DIFFERENCE ... DOES IT MAKE ? ' Hillary Clinton 's State Department still has questions pending about Benghazi , and the former secretary of state was never interviewed by investigators . The White House 's own black eyes continued with other revelations related to domestic spying on American citizens , including members of the press . The Justice Department under Attorney General Eric Holder , it was revealed , had tapped the phones of Associated Press reporters and scoured emails belonging to a Fox News Channel correspondent , all without notifying the affected news organizations . The ensuing scandal forced Holder to convene apologetic meetings with journalists and news executives in which he and his deputies pledged to follow a more transparent route in the future when dealing with the Fourth Estate . The attorney general was already reeling from a series of revelations about Operation Fast and Furious , a failed effort to track illegal U.S. gun sales to Mexican drug lords that resulted in hundreds of deaths south of the border and the killing of at least one U.S. Border Patrol agent , Brian Terry . Holder 's Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives instructed legitimate gun dealers to sell illegal quantities of rifles , shotguns and handguns to ` straw buyers , ' whom they knew would take the guns into Mexico for use by narcotics cartels . Of the 2,100 guns trafficked into Mexico in this fashion , just over 700 were recovered . Holder was held in Contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over documents subpoenaed by lawmakers . He was also accused of committing perjury when he claimed in a congressional hearing that he had only learned about Fast and Furious weeks earlier . Documents later proved otherwise . President Obama 's Affordable Care Act was a signature legislative accomplishment but remains shrouded in controversy and scandal . The Benghazi siege killed a US ambassador ; the Obama White House initially spun the terror attack as an out-of-control protest over a YouTube video . After the president pledged dozens of times that Americans who liked their existing health insurance plans could keep them under his new system , millions found themselves with cancellation letters because their older policies fell short of the government 's minimum requirements . Those included birth-control and breast cancer coverage for men and prostate exams for women on single-person policies . Obamacare also became a punchline when billions of dollars failed to produce a working website in the fall of 2013 when open-enrollment for government-brokered medical insurance policies opened up . By then , the administration had already angered members of Congress by unilaterally pushing back implementation dates that were written into the law he signed . Some of those impromptu delays pushed back key outcomes -- including the massive wave of insurance policy cancellations -- until after the 2012 election . In late 2014 the GOP got another chance to raise a ruckus about the Obamacare law when its self-proclaimed ` architect ' Jonathan Gruber was caught on video saying that it only passed Congress because of ` the stupidity of the American voter . ' Overseas , the administration 's role in failures related to the September 11 , 2012 terror attack in Benghazi is still the subject of scandal , with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton eyeing a presidential run of her own . Under Clinton , the State Department refused to provide added security for the diplomatic compound that would later be firebombed and attacked in a coordinated paramilitary assault , killing three Americans including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens . Afterward , with a presidential election just weeks away , Obama and Clinton both claimed the attack was the product of a spontaneous escalation of protests related to a crude YouTube video that mocked the Muslim prophet Muhammad . Protests in other countries throughout the Arab world did take place after the film was publicized online . FIVE-FOR-ONE : Obama consoled Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl 's parents at the White House after giving away five Taliban prisoners from Guantanamo to get him home , but the soldier 's comrades later said he was a deserter . But the Benghazi attack , it emerged after the election , was planned and executed by Ansar al-Shariah , an affiliate of al-Qaeda . A scandal-within-a-scandal erupted when ti was proven that the CIA and White House insiders both edited a set of ` talking points ' used by the administration to brief Congress and talk to reporters . Those changes removed all references to the Islamist and jihadi groups that intelligence officials knew were responsible . Some analysts believe Obama 's re-election was cinched when an ABC News anchor incorrectly said during a debate with Republican nominee Mitt Romney that the president had called the event a ` terrorist attack ' the day after it occurred . RIP : US Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was gunned down by a Mexican drug cartel member who was armed with an Operation Fast and Furious rifle that US government supplied . Clinton later raised senators ' hackles when she asked ` What difference does it make ? ' whether or not the deadly attack was the careful work of terrorists . More recently the president 's executive actions on immigration have become the stuff of scandal intense enough to spur federal lawsuits filed by 26 sitting governors and the Republican-led House of Representatives . Obama has begun already to offer green cards and work permits to millions of people who were brought to the United States illegally as children . He has proposed to expand that program dramatically , guaranteeing millions more that they wo n't be deported during his term in office . A federal judge on Monday night blocked that plan -- which Obama himself said more than 20 times he lacked to legal authority to carry out -- but the final say will rest with the Fifth Circuit or the Supreme Court . Other more minor blips on America 's scandal radar since 2009 included former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson using a private email address -- complete with an alias -- to conduct agency business . Those emails , unlike messages archived from official government accounts , were n't subject to retention policies and could not be subpoenaed . Obama was also hammered for appointing Timothy Geithner as his first Treasury Secretary , since Geithner had failed to pay his own taxes years earlier . And in January 2012 he created a scandal by making presidential ` recess appointments ' of key personnel who required congressional approval while Congress was still in session . The move allowed his appointees to serve for a year without being confirmed on Capitol Hill . Four federal courts later ruled that the actions were unconstitutional , including a unanimous 9 -- 0 Supreme Court ruling . | Senior political operative was speaking at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics , which he founded and leads . Laundry list of scandals during Obama 's six years includes Operation Fast and Furious , IRS targeting conservative nonprofit groups , Justice Department snooping on reporters . State Department was slammed for bungling that led to the 2012 Benghazi terror attack , and alleged cover-ups afterward . Healthcare.gov website 's follies made for late-night TV jokes during its botched rollout and immigration executive actions have brought lawsuits . National Security Agency was pilloried for a global eavesdropping program that included Americans ' computers and foreign leaders ' cellphones . Bowe Bergdahl 5-for-1 Taliban trade drew catcalls from both sides of the political aisle . | [[2671, 2699], [2749, 2817], [3415, 3564], [4555, 4621], [4604, 4704], [4705, 4762], [4783, 4853], [6123, 6161], [6209, 6254], [7651, 7713], [6809, 6818], [6824, 6923], [9642, 9646], [9656, 9778], [1180, 1321], [3935, 3978], [4035, 4102], [4064, 4140], [4164, 4287]] |
The BBC lavished nearly # 7million on consultants last year -- but has refused to say what they did for the money . The bill follows a promise made by BBC boss Tony Hall to rein in spending on external management ` experts ' . A freedom of information request revealed that the consultancy bill for the 12 months to May 2014 was an improvement on the # 10.4 million the BBC spent the previous year . The BBC has spent nearly # 7million on consultants last year , despite director general Tony Hall , pictured , promising to rein in spending . However , that bill was considerably higher than the # 5million it spent the year before that . The BBC said some of the money covered the auditing of its annual accounts , but would not disclose how the rest was spent . ` We are legally obliged to use external organisations to audit our accounts ' , said a spokesman . Conservative MP Philip Davies has called for the corporation to be more transparent about how they spend their money . ` On occasion , just like any other large organisation , we also use external companies for specialist services - this saves the BBC millions of pounds because it is cheaper than employing permanent , full-time staff to carry out work which would only last a short period . However , MPs said the Corporation has a duty to do explain where its fees have gone . ` If they want to be feather-bedded by a licence fee , they need to be transparent about how they spend it , ' said Philip Davies , Conservative MP for Shipley in West Yorkshire . The BBC added that it uses a competitive tender process to choose which firms to hire . Lord Hall has in the past faced accusations of ` cronyism ' after he handed a # 600,000 management consultancy contract to a friend . In 2013 , he appointed Suzanne Heywood to lead a two-month McKinsey review into making the corporation a ` simpler place to work ' . Lord Hall worked with Lady Heywood , who is married to Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy , at the Royal Opera House before he joined the BBC as director-general . In 2013 he told MPs that he would not be ` an easy ride ' for consultants , and pledged to cut back on contracts with firms like Deloitte , Accenture , McKinsey & Co , and KPMG . ` I want to reduce the amount of money that we pay on consultants , I really do . I am not an easy ride when it comes to consultants , ' he said . | FoI request revealed the BBC spent # 7million on consultants during 2014 . But the corporation refused to say what they did to earn their money . Follows promise by director general Tony Hall to rein in external spending . MPs say the BBC has a duty to explain where its licence fee is spent . | [[0, 59], [227, 399], [400, 460], [0, 16], [60, 115], [116, 222], [133, 222], [500, 508], [511, 542], [463, 497], [511, 542], [864, 982], [909, 982], [1267, 1316], [1276, 1343], [1399, 1450]] |
What could be more heart-breaking than for your beloved dog to disappear one day , never to return , and for you never to find out what happened ? But that is what is now possible as a result of a decision by the Highways ' Agency , which used to stipulate that any dog found dead on a major road should be checked for identification and , where possible , the owner informed of the animal 's fate . To save costs , the agency 's new contracts do not include such mandatory checks , although any driver who hits a dog is required by law to report the incident to the police . Keeping them close : Devoted Jenni Murray cuddles two of her chihuahuas . Clearly this does n't always happen , which is what led Jude Devine from Sheffield to spend 13 agonising weeks searching for her miniature poodle Harvey , who had gone missing while she was visiting friends . Eventually she was told by a kind Highways Officer that Harvey had been found dead on the M62 only 20 minutes after he had gone missing . If only someone had told her at the outset , it would have saved her three months of desperate anxiety and the # 8,000 she spent on living in a caravan close to the search area . That 's how much an owner can love a dog . It 's for that reason she is calling for the Department of Transport to introduce a ` Harvey 's Law ' to require compulsory scanning of any domestic animal found on a road and make sure a report is filed with the police . It will seem ridiculous to anyone who does n't understand what a dog can mean to its owner to make a comparison with a child , but I 'm going to do it with my dog . No one would dream of suggesting that a child hit by a car should simply be disposed of without anyone being required to inform the parents and , I believe , the same caring attitude should apply to the demise of a dog . I know exactly what Jude Devine went through when Harvey disappeared without trace . My first dog was a corgi-cross called Taffy . After much pestering and endless reading of Enid Blyton 's Shadow The Sheepdog , Mum finally relented and Taffy , a tiny , ginger pup with floppy ears and a long waggy tail , was my fifth birthday present . We went everywhere together . We walked in the woods and loafed in the garden . He chased the balls I threw and sat when I told him to . He was not , unlike Enid Blyton 's Shadow , allowed to sleep on my bed , but I did sneak him into the bedroom and he lay on the rug by my side . Microchips can be used to identify a lost or dead dog and notify families . For an only child he was the most devoted and constant companion . He was never cross with me , always deliriously excited to see me -LRB- he even went to the door when he knew I was due home -RRB- and , as I grew into a teenager , he was my confidant . He listened intently as I poured out my troubles and licked me profusely as a comfort . He always knew when I was worried or sad . He was desolate when I went away to university . He was 13 years old and Mum would always include his moods in her letters . ` Taffy miserable -- looking forward to the end of term ! ' I missed him terribly . It was when I came home at Christmas in my third year that there was no enthusiastic welcome from Taffy . He 'd gone out through the back door the night before and had n't come home . Dad initially joked he 'd probably found a girlfriend , but I knew instinctively he had n't gone out temporarily . There was an air of finality about his disappearance . I spent the entire Christmas fruitlessly hunting around the area , sorrowfully weeping at the thought that he may have been hit by a car or locked into someone 's shed and could be cold , hungry or in pain . At the end of the holiday I had to return to my studies and never knew what happened . Dad said he 'd probably gone off to die quietly in a ditch because he was old and did n't want to upset me by dying in front of me or having to go to the vet for a lethal injection . I was inconsolable and for years felt the absence of the dog I 'd loved so much whose end remains a mystery . I remember my grief as if it were yesterday . It was 44 years ago . It was two or three years before I plucked up the courage to have another dog . A friend of my first husband , Brian Murray , had a yellow Labrador which had pups . They were irresistible . We took one and called him Chivas after Brian 's favourite tipple -- the whisky , Chivas Regal . He was a similar colour . There 's no doubt in those early years of marriage he was something of a child substitute . Road workers are no longer obliged to check the collar or microchip of a dog that has been run over -- and bodies can be disposed of without worried families being informed . We played with him and walked him in every spare moment . He was loyal and , like Taffy , always an unconditionally welcoming presence when we returned home . We were careful never to let him out on his own , but one day , I popped out to the garden to pick some flowers , let my concentration slip for just a second and he was gone . I chased after him , calling his name , but he ignored me and was much faster than I was . He was heading for the main road . By the time we had organised to get in the car and hunt for him there was a knock on the door and a shocked , white-faced man explained his car had hit our dog . He said that he 'd found our address on his collar and was sorry but thought Chivas was dead . We hardly knew what to do . We picked up his blanket , drove to where the man had told us he 'd left him and found his lifeless body at the side of the road . There was n't a mark on him , but it was obvious the impact had killed him outright . We called the vet who simply told us to take him to the rubbish tip . I cradled him as my husband drove and when we arrived at the tip we met the same callous attitude demonstrated by the vet . ` Oh , just dump it over there ' said one of the workmen . ` We 'll incinerate it later ' . It was a terribly thoughtless way to deal with two young people whose grief was palpable and we both wept all the way home . There have been other dogs since . In fact , I 've never been without them . Now my beloved babies -- yes , I openly admit they 're child substitutes now my children are grown up -- are the chihuahuas Butch , Frida and Madge and I learned a hard lesson with Taffy and Chivas . My three are micro-chipped , never allowed out alone -- except into my completely dog-proofed garden -- and never permitted to run free on a walk except in the wilds of the countryside far from any roads . And so , I support the call for Harvey 's Law . Losing Chivas was heartbreaking , but we were grateful to the driver who 'd taken the trouble to set our minds at rest . It 's true that it 's better to know the worst than to spend a lifetime wondering -- and , surely , a civilised country can spare the small sum of money needed to make that possible . | Rule change means roadworkers are not obliged to check dog 's identity . Jude Devine spent 13 weeks searching for her miniature poodle Harvey . Eventually , Highways Officer that Harvey had been found dead on the M62 . If she was told sooner , it would have saved her # 8,000 and months of desperate anxiety . | [[4532, 4608], [650, 657], [694, 802], [771, 804], [809, 825], [775, 802], [818, 858], [915, 996], [1000, 1039], [1040, 1115]] |
A mother has blamed doctors for her two-year-old 's son eating habits after he refuses to eat anything but biscuits and now weighs the same as a three-month-old baby . Anastasia Shields , 23 , from Northway in Gloucester , says she has tried everything to get Harvey-Jay to eat , including sneaking high-fibre milkshakes into his hot chocolate . She has hit out at doctors after her son , who weighs just 15lbs - spent 10 days at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and medics failed to diagnose the problem and told her he may just be a fussy eater . Anastasia Shields -LRB- left -RRB- has blamed doctors for her two-year-old son 's eating habits after he refuses to eat anything but biscuits . She says medics should do more to diagnose his condition rather than say he is ` fussy ' Mrs Shields said : ` Something needs to be done before we end up putting him in a coffin . He weighs less than a three-month-old baby . It 's just ridiculous . ' ` Half of the doctors in hospital had n't read all of his notes before they came to see us . The whole time we were in there , it felt like we were doing the same things as at home . ' Mrs Shields and her husband Andrew claim to have tried everything to get him eating wholesome and nutritious food but he will only eat biscuits , including fig rolls and chocolate digestives . They are occasionally able to trick him into eating cookie cereal because he thinks he is eating mini biscuits . Harvey-Jay is two-years-old but weights only 15lbs , which is the same as a three-month-old baby . Mrs Shields said : ` He will just play with food in his mouth and that 's it . I 'm at the end of my tether . I do n't know what to do . ` Maybe it 's an oral phobia . He never really put things in his mouth when he was baby , which was very unusual . ` The doctors think it might be a behavioural problem but I do n't believe that because he 's been like this since he was born . ` In his first month alive he lost a whole pound , it took us months to get his weight back up to what it had been when he was born . ` The only variety he adds to the diet is that he some times has a mouthful of yoghurt or a nibble of a bacon flavour crisp . ` It 's got to the point now where he just runs away crying from plates of food - people keep trying to force him to eat and it 's making the situation worse . ' The mother-of-two said she was disappointed that doctors have done little more than suggest her son is just a fussy eater . She added that Harvey-Jay 's weight loss has led to his skin become stretchy , a pale complexion and he is now prone to becoming ill more easily . Harvey-Jay was not born prematurely and although he was a light baby , weighing 5lbs 1oz , he was not critically under-weight . The couple , who have a healthy five-year-old daughter called Lilly , are now considering the offer of sending him to a special pre-school in Cheltenham which may help him . A spokesman for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , which runs Gloucestershire Royal Hospital , said : ` We are committed to providing high quality and safe care for our patients and we take complaints seriously . ` We are disappointed to hear that Mrs Shields was unhappy and would like to continue to work with her to look into her concerns through our Patient Advice and Liaison Team so we can answer any questions she may have about her son 's care . ' Former GP and patient advocate Dr Mike Smith said : ` If this little boy is really only eating biscuits I can certainly understand his parents ' concern . Mrs Shields , who has a healthy five-year-old daughter , sneaks high-fibre milkshake into Harvey-Jay 's hot chocolate . ` Presumably being the weight he is , the hospital will have followed up his stay and will be following his progress closely - at his weight they would not just let him go home and leave it there . ` And presumably , after a stay of 10 days in hospital if they can find no medical problems I should imagine a specialist paediatrician will be closely watching his progress over the coming months and years . ` What he is currently eating is clearly not a satisfactory diet . He 's not getting everything he needs as he would if he were eating fruit and vegetables . ` He 's not getting enough vitamin c , or micro-nutrients like anti-oxidants and that sort of thing . ` I can not believe that the hospital would not have assigned him a dietary nutritionist to work with his parents to advise them on how best to give him a balanced diet . ` This boy 's parents need to work with a nutritionist and specialist paediatrician and follow their advice to ensure their child receives a balanced diet . ' | Anastasia Shields says she has tried everything to get Harvey-Jay to eat . But the little boy will only eat biscuits , especially fig rolls and digestives . Mother-of-two has tried sneaking high-fibre milkshakes into hot chocolate . She has hit out at doctors who put problem down to being a ` fussy eater ' Mrs Shields says it may be an ` oral phobia ' and wants medics to do more . | [[168, 190], [223, 345], [1127, 1154], [1162, 1240], [32, 115], [649, 690], [1245, 1319], [168, 190], [223, 345], [3533, 3544], [3551, 3652], [0, 55], [346, 386], [547, 642], [2335, 2458], [2358, 2458], [691, 766], [1671, 1699]] |
Fire officials said Darryl Ferguson -LRB- pictured during previous arrest -RRB- , 55 , confessed to causing a blaze at an Islamic institute in Houston . A homeless man has been arrested and charged with arson for a fire that destroyed a building at an Islamic institute in Houston , fire officials said on Monday . The blaze early on Friday at the Quba Islamic Institute destroyed one of three buildings there , but no one was injured . Fire officials said Darryl Ferguson , 55 , confessed to causing the blaze -- but he claimed it was an accident as he was led away by officials , according to a Houston news website . Ferguson had been staying in the area and was considered a suspect by investigators . They were looking for him on Monday when he apparently approached them on his bicycle . Ruben Hernandez , from the Houston Fire Department 's arson squad , told Chron.com : ` We asked if he wanted to talk to us in our office . Mr Ferguson made an admission . ' Ferguson has been linked to a number of crimes in the past , including credit card abuse , trespassing , possession of a controlled substance , prostitution and assault . Authorities said that someone used an accelerant in the 5am Friday blaze , according to one of the imam 's sons , 25-year-old Ahsan Zahid . Mr Zahid said that an investigator told him that the incident was a suspected arson , and that the fire was not an accident . On Friday , the Houston Fire Department -LRB- HFD -RRB- said in a release it was investigating and could not yet name the cause of the fire . Earlier Twitter users had directed their fury at a Texas man who allegedly said on social media that the center should burn down . According to The Daily Kos Herron wrote on social media ` let it burn ... block the fire hydrant ' . The Daily Kos reported that Herron is a Crystal Beach Volunteer Fire Department -LRB- CBVFD -RRB- volunteer . Scroll down for video . Charged : Mr Ferguson is pictured here being led away by officials investigating the blaze in Houston . The fire , which completely destroyed the contents of a storage shed , is thought to have been arson . Pictured is Ahsan Zahid , an assistant imam at the center , at the scene of the devastation . Aftermath : The fire completely destroyed the contents of a storage shed at the Quba Islamic Institute . Texas has the US 's eighth-largest population of Muslims , according to the Texas State Historical Association . A LinkedIn profile lists a man of the same name as working for the fire department and Herron 's own Facebook profile features him in front of a fire truck dressed in overalls . However , CBVFD said in a statement sent to Daily Mail Online early Monday that Herron is not affiliated with the organization whatsoever . The statement said ` There have been recent post on social media from someone stating they are a member of our Fire Department and have posted hate messages against the Islamic Community . ` Please know that this person , Dustin Herron , is not a member of the Crystal Beach Volunteer Fire Dept ; nor has he ever been a member of our fire department . ` We are in the process of trying to track down Mr. Herron regarding the comments he made . We have also notified the Galveston County Sheriff Dept. regarding Mr Herron falsely stating he is a fire fighter within our organization . Online activity : Dustin Herron , pictured , allegedly wrote online ` Let it burn ... block the fire hydrant ' regarding the Quba Islamic Institute fire . Uproar : Herron allegedly posted this message on social media . Daily Mail Online could not independently confirm the authenticity of the post . ` We have received many e-mails regarding his recent social media post and comments . ` Please know that our Volunteer 's give 100 % effort 100 % of the time . ' One tweet against Herron asked him ` why the hate ? Serve and protect ? Or just hate ? ' Another said ` you are an embarrassment to all public safety officials and volunteers , what you posted about the Islamic center is shameful ! ' Both Herron and a spokesman for the Galveston County Sheriff 's Office -LRB- GCSO -RRB- did not immediately return requests for comment early Monday from Daily Mail Online . The FBI said Saturday that they are monitoring the situation and could take a more active role in the investigation , according to Reuters . The Council on American Islamic Relations 's Texas office has called for possible hate crime motivations to be looked at in the investigation . Federal agencies are expected to become more involved if that is the case . No injuries were reported in the fire , which largely took place in a storage building and is thought to have caused $ 100,000 in damage . The contents of the building , which housed the institute 's computers , lights and equipment for a renovation , were completely destroyed . Authorities said the blaze started at 5am and caused an expected $ 100,000 worth of damage before firefighters were able to put it out , according to one of the imam 's sons , 25-year-old Ahsan Zahid . The Houston Fire Department is still investigating the cause of the fire , though they reportedly told Mr Zahid that it did not start by accident . The center has a place to pray , holds community events , offers Arabic classes and also runs a Sunday School . The Quba Islamic Institute is asking for donations through their website qubahouston.org , and Zahid told Daily Mail Online that they had raised $ 2,500 as of Saturday afternoon . The institute said a man had driven past the institute and mockingly yelled ` Allah ' on Thursday . A man with a covered face was chased away from the building earlier in the week . The Muslim center had been scheduled to host a talk by a former Guantanamo Bay guard who converted to Islam after the experience , Terry Holdbrooks , on Friday night . Zahid said that the event took place despite the fire and that ` all programs , activities , and prayers have , and will continue as scheduled ' . The Islamic Institute used its Facebook page to reach out for donations and ask for tolerance in the wake of the fire , but their posts soon saw an influx of anti-Muslim commenters . Two suspicious incidents happened in the week leading up to the fire , including a man with a covered face who had to be chased away from the building . The center 's Facebook account responded to abuse on Facebook by thanking offensive users for their perspective . The institute 's Facebook page has also come under attack from posters who have insulted Islam repeatedly on posts where the center is explaining what happened in the fire . The institute has defended itself against the Islamophobic posts by thanking the users for their perspective and urging tolerance . The possible hate crime follows on the death of three Muslim students in Chapel Hill , North Carolina , that federal investigators are looking into for motives of religious hatred . Deah Shaddy Barakat , 23 ; his wife , Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha , 21 , and her sister , Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha , 19 , were buried Thursday . Texas has the US 's eighth-largest population of Muslims , according to the Texas State Historical Association . The annual Texas Muslim Capitol Day in Austin was targeted by anti-Islam protesters last month , the Los Angeles Times reported . In 2011 the Houston Fire Department said that someone had deliberately set fire to a mosque on the other side of the city . The Quba Islamic Institute is a gathering place for prayer and community events , but also holds Arabic and Sunday School classes . | Fire destroyed a building at the Quba Islamic Institute in Houston on Friday . Blaze caused $ 100k worth of damage before it was put out by firefighters . Drifter Darryl Ferguson , 55 , told investigators that he started the fire . He apparently told investigators that he started the blaze ` by accident ' Ferguson has been arrested and charged with arson over the incident . It follows stream of online anti-Muslim abuse posted in the wake of the fire . | [[87, 152], [213, 219], [225, 280], [315, 409], [4564, 4575], [4655, 4702], [4844, 4934], [4844, 4855], [4890, 4954], [4897, 4967], [4942, 4978], [87, 152], [457, 472], [480, 510], [933, 964], [518, 547], [153, 167], [190, 219], [2016, 2079], [2087, 2118], [2749, 2925], [2835, 2839], [2865, 2937], [6107, 6165], [6491, 6503], [6508, 6527]] |
A woman who lost her leg after the Boston Marathon bombing has begun training to run the event this year , declaring that it 's ` my way of showing everyone that they did n't destroy me ' . Rebekah DiMartino , 27 , had her left limb amputated in November after 17 operations and 19 months of physio failed to get her back on her feet . In December the mother-of-one from Katy , Texas , shared a video on Facebook of her first steps -- and now she 's spending two-and-a-half hours in the gym every day and an hour in rehab in preparation for the April marathon . Scroll down for video . Rebekah DiMartino , 27 , had her left limb amputated in November after 17 operations and 19 months of physio failed to get her back on her feet . She was severely injured in the Boston Marathon bombings . The mother-of-one from Katy , Texas , is spending two and a half hours in the gym every day and an hour in rehab in preparation for the April Boston Marathon . DiMartino said that taking part in the Boston Marathon was ` my way of showing everyone that they did n't destroy me , and I 've come back stronger because of it ' She told Espn : ` I 've never been a runner . I actually tried to run a half marathon a few years ago before this and I hated every minute of it . I did n't understand why people would run , especially for fun . But the marathon is a huge part of my life now , and it will always be . ` I got blown up and they tried to destroy me . This is my way of showing everyone that they did n't destroy me , and I 've come back stronger because of it . ' Ms DiMartino was with her son Noah , now seven , and then-boyfriend , Pete DiMartino , at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April 2013 when two bombs detonated , killing three people and injuring 270 . All three were wounded in the blast but Rebekah suffered the most extensive damage to her left leg . She had undergone 17 operations , including putting metal plates , screws and rods in her leg , and suffered a serious bone infection . Struggle : DiMartino pictured with now-husband Pete at a Red Sox game months after the incident . Family : Ms DiMartino , Noah and Pete are looking forward to a 2015 of progress and milestones . Although she had been confined to bedrest or a wheelchair for much of the time since the bombings , she was able to walk down the aisle on crutches when she married Pete last year . Still , even a boot has not helped her gain strength or ease the pain in the leg , and before the operation , she said that finally losing it will be ` such a relief ' . ` The day that I made the decision to chop it off is the best thing I have ever done for myself , because I was letting go of what was holding me back , ' she told KHOU in December . ` You do n't realize how many little blessings are in your life that you do n't really even pay attention to because they 're just expected . ' Sharing the video of her first steps on Facebook , Ms DiMartino wrote : ` So look what I did today ... Happy New Year !!! 2014 has GOT TO GO !!!!! ' Her mother embroidered a special pink and black prosthetic leg that reads ` blessed ' , ready for April 's marathon . And her son Noah said he is ` just excited that she gets to run races with me and play with me now ' . Ms DiMartino added that she will not be paying any attention to the trial of bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev as she works to rebuild her life . ` It does n't matter what happens , it 's not my judgment to make and it also does n't change anything that 's happened to me . ' Decision : Ms DiMartino shocked many when she jokingly said goodbye to her left leg in November . | Rebekah DiMartino , 27 , had her left limb amputated in November . She was at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in April 2013 . Two bombs were detonated killing three and injuring 270 . DiMartino was left severely injured , with doctors unable to save her leg . She is now training daily so she can run April 's Boston Marathon . | [[190, 207], [215, 298], [586, 603], [611, 694], [1709, 1728], [1731, 1770], [732, 790], [0, 104], [791, 818], [829, 950]] |
Google has sent its Glass smart eyewear back to the drawing board , while Apple is adament that the wrist is the right place for a wearable computer - but it appears Sony did n't get the message . The firm today released it 's take on Google Glass - a set of thick , black glasses complete with a black control cable . The developer version is available for $ 840 - far less than the $ 1500 Google charged for its ill fated Google Glass Explorer edition . Scroll down for video . The glasses are larger and bulkier than Google 's Glass explorer edition . Last month Google announced it was killing off the current version of its Glass headset . It did n't abandon the project entirely though , and promised to develop a range of smart glasses under a different guise . Now , sources claim Glass ' new boss Tony Fadell wants to redesign the headset from ` scratch ' and wo n't release it until ` it 's perfect ' . Sony says they uses ` holographic wavelength technology ' , to superimpose information onto the wearer 's field of view -- ` without any half mirrors that may obstruct the user 's vision , ' the company boasted . It also comes with a built-in 3-megapixel CMOS image sensor , accelerometer , gyro , electronic compass , and brightness sensor , behind the 3-millimeter lenses . ` Imagine true augmented reality , ' Sony boasts . ` Imagine a world of knowledge in front of your eyes . Imagine never not knowing , always having your hands free . Imagine SmartEyeglass . ' The SED-E1 transparent-lens headset will go on sale in eight more countries -- Japan , the U.S. , France , Italy , Spain , Belgium , Netherlands , Sweden -- next month . Sony hopes app developers will create hundreds of apps for it . ` Developers can combine the SmartEyeglass sensors and camera with the powerful features of the smartphone to create unique hands-free use cases . ` Whether you 're watching a live game , concert , touring a new city or carrying out a job , SmartEyeglass helps you stay focussed and involved , whilst supporting and empowering you with extra data , help and information . ' In an email to PCWorld , a Sony spokesperson said they chose to release the developer 's version now because ` as a hands-free device , SmartEyeglass can be a promising product with many practical uses . ' ` But since we recognize the need to explore applications at this stage , we 're releasing this developer edition , ' the spokesperson said . Developers can access the official version of the SmartEyeglass SDK today . A separate -LRB- but wired -RRB- circular controller that clips onto your jacket or shirt collar houses the battery , speaker , microphone , NFC , and touch sensor . A separate -LRB- but wired -RRB- circular controller that clips onto your jacket or shirt collar houses the battery , speaker , microphone , NFC , and touch sensor . Early application concepts include a step-by-step guide on how to assemble an engine , scrolling in front of the mechanic 's eyes as they work . Sony also suggested an app to share player stats while watching a sports game , or to display sightseeing information while visiting a tourist attraction . Early developers will have access to a handful of SmartEyeglass apps -- available in the Google Play store -- which enable access to Twitter , Facebook , Gmail , RSS , calendar , and voice control . Sony hopes to release its SmartEyeglass headset to consumers sometime next year . Google dubbed the first set of several thousand Glass users . as ` Explorers . ' But as the Explorers hit the streets , they drew . stares and jokes . Some people viewed the device , capable of . surreptitious video recording , as an obnoxious privacy . intrusion , deriding the once-proud Explorers as ` Glassholes . ' ` It looks super nerdy , ' said Shevetank Shah , a Washington , . DC-based consultant , whose Google Glass now gathers dust in a . drawer . ` I 'm a card carrying nerd , but this was one card too . many . ' Glass now sells on eBay for as little as half list price . Google told the BBC it will focus on ` future versions of Glass ' . The Explorer programme , gave software developers the chance to buy Glass for $ 1,500 -LRB- # 990 -RRB- , and was launched in the United States in 2013 , and the UK last summer . From next week , the search firm will stop taking orders for the product but it says it will continue to support companies that are using Glass . The firm had already been thought to be developing a new version with chips made by Intel to go on sale later this year . The Glass team is also expected to now move out of the Google X division which engages in ` blue sky ' research , and become a separate undertaking , under its current manager Ivy Ross . After an initial burst of enthusiasm , signs that consumers are giving up on Glass have been building.Some developers recently have felt unsupported by investorsand , at times , Google itself . She and the Glass team will report to Tony Fadell , the chief executive of the home automation business Nest , acquired by Google a year ago , the BBC says . He said the project had ` broken ground and allowed us to learn what 's important to consumers and enterprises alike ' and he was excited to be working with the team ` to integrate those learnings into future products ' . Google says it is committed to working on the future of the product , but gave no timescale for the launch of an improved product . ` It 's hard to believe that Glass started as little more than a scuba mask attached to a laptop , ' the Glass team said in a post on Google + . ` We kept on it , and when it started to come together , we began the Glass Explorer Program as a kind of `` open beta '' to hear what people had to say . ' ` Glass was in its infancy , and you took those very first steps and taught us how to walk . ` Well , we still have some work to do , but now we 're ready to put on our big kid shoes and learn how to run . ' | Sony developer version is available for $ 840 . Japanese giant hopes developers will create apps for the smart glasses . Costs far less than the $ 1500 Google charged for Glass Explorer edition . | [[319, 397], [1651, 1714], [319, 397], [380, 455]] |
Scuba divers have uncovered the largest treasure trove ever discovered off Israel 's Mediterranean coast - but wo n't get a penny . The group initially thought they had found a toy coin on the ocean floor before tests confirmed the gold pieces were treasure . Experts who eventually counted 2,000 pieces , dating back more than 1,000 years , described the discovery as ` priceless . ' The coins are now property of the state with no finder 's fee for the divers . Gold : Divers uncovered almost 2,000 gold coins in different denominations , circulated by the Fatimid Caliphate , which ruled much of the Middle East and North Africa from 909 to 1171 . Members of a diving club in the Roman-era port stumbled across the treasure , weighing nearly 20 pounds , by pure chance while on a dive . ` The largest treasure of gold coins discovered in Israel was found in recent weeks on the seabed in the ancient harbour in Caesarea , ' said a statement by Israeli Antiquities Authority . ` At first they thought they had spotted a toy coin from a game and it was only after they understood the coin was the real thing that they collected several coins and quickly returned to the shore in order to inform the director of the dive club about their find ' . Experts from the authority called to the site uncovered almost 2,000 gold coins in different denominations , circulated by the Fatimid Caliphate , which ruled much of the Middle East and North Africa from 909 to 1171 . Pure chance : Scuba divers -LRB- left -RRB- thought they were ` toy coins ' initially before experts confirmed it was gold . The 2,000 pieces are now property of the state with no finder 's fee . Kobi Sharvit , director of the marine archaeology unit at the Israel Antiquities Authority , said excavations would be carried out in the hope of shedding more light on the origin of the treasure . ` There is probably a shipwreck there of an official treasury boat which was on its way to the central government in Egypt with taxes that had been collected , ' said Sharvit . ` Perhaps the treasure of coins was meant to pay the salaries of the Fatimid military garrison which was stationed in Caesarea and protected the city . Treasure : It is the largest treasure trove ever discovered off Israel 's Mediterranean coast with the country 's antiquities authority calling it ` priceless ' ` Another theory is that the treasure was money belonging to a large merchant ship that traded with the coastal cities and the port on the Mediterranean Sea and sank there , ' he said . The Israeli Antiquities Authority declined to put a cash value on the coins , which it said had been exposed as a result of winter storms . | Largest haul ever found off Israel 's Mediterranean coast . Divers found coins dating back more 1,000 years by pure chance . Thought they were toy coins before experts confirmed they were gold . Work ongoing to trace origins of the treasure , uncovered by storm . Valuable haul is property of the state with no finder 's fee for divers . | [[0, 131], [28, 104], [792, 826], [841, 922], [2200, 2324], [260, 303], [306, 339], [132, 217], [979, 1046], [1480, 1551], [1559, 1590], [1662, 1674], [1755, 1859], [0, 131], [0, 12], [28, 54], [111, 131], [385, 463], [1591, 1661]] |
One family got the surprise of a lifetime on Valentine 's Day . Rodney Gist of Fullerton , California , took his son and daughter out for a ride in their kayak on Santa Barbara harbor when the group was joined by an adorable guest - a baby sea lion . And while the family was nervous at first to have the wild animal join them , the sea lion proved to be a delightful guest . A baby sea lion caught a ride with one family on Valentine 's Day . Rodney Gist -LRB- above with daughters -RRB- had taken his kids out for a kayak ride when the pup hopped on board . The sea lion even nuzzled with Gist a bit before returning to the ocean . ` At first it felt like he was pushing the kayak . We felt him back there , ' Gist told KTLA . ` Next thing you know , I could tell he had climbed aboard . ' The pup , which the family decided to name Cecil , even spent some time nuzzling with Gist as he quietly sat at the back of the kayak . ` Maybe he just was tired of swimming . Maybe he was wanting to interact with people . Maybe he just wanted to snuggle , ' said Lee Lee , Gist 's daughter . Soon , the people around them began to take notice too , and while the sight of the pup on the kayak was exciting for them , it seems lt was too much for the baby , who soon returned back to the ocean . Lucky for the family , the moment was all caught on video . | Rodney Gist of Fullerton , California took his son and daughter out for a kayak ride on Valentine 's Day . While the family was paddling along , a baby sea lion hopped on the back of the kayak . The pup nuzzled with Gist and hung out for a bit before returning to the ocean . | [[64, 88], [104, 116], [134, 183], [64, 88], [121, 183], [444, 528], [163, 250], [376, 443], [560, 633], [560, 567], [602, 633], [792, 799], [843, 927], [1239, 1247], [1254, 1287]] |
While blizzards , snow and freezing conditions batter parts of the East Coast , unseasonably warm temperatures across the rest of the country mean the U.S. is experiencing one of its warmest winters on record . Almost the entirety of the country 's West has experienced significantly warmer than average temperatures across December and January , while parts of the East Coast , including New York and Boston are continuing to be battered by a freezing storm system . In this month alone thousands of warm weather records have been broken as high temperatures across the western states contributes to what is now the country 's sixth-warmest winter on record . The West is experiencing temperatures which have contributed to the country 's sixth-warmest winter on record . Pictured is Lake Success , near East Porterville , California , where drought conditions are worsening . A horse grazes in a Temecula , California , pasture surrounded by palm trees in this photo taken late December . Meanwhile residents in Boston -LRB- pictured -RRB- are bracing themselves for more than 16inches of snowfall . Pictured is the snow covering the homes of residents in South End , Boston . An Air Force officer walks through the snow after Obama departed Air Force One in a motorcade following his trip to California at the weekend . The East Coast storm system - which follows a weekend storm that dumped a staggering 16.5 inches of snow on Boston - is set to hit the South . So far this month there have been 4,074 records set for warm temperatures across the West , USA Today reported . This includes hot weather records in Seattle , San Jose , Las Vegas , Reno and Salt Lake City . Remarkably , the average February temperature in Salt Lake City is 16.4 degrees above average , while Boise is up 12.2 degrees and Phoenix 8degrees . Last month , the West , Rocky Mountains and Northern and Central Plains were all warmer than average , with many maintaining hot temperatures that placed the month among their top ten warmest averages . Incredibly , San Francisco had no measurable rainfall during January , while the state of California itself had its fourth-driest ever January . As well as remaining unseasonably warm , much of the West continues to suffer drought conditions . Nearly all of Hawaii was drier than average , with drought expanding to 46.6 per cent of the state , according to the National Climatic Data Center . And although the drought improved in parts of the Southern Plains and Southwest , it worsened in the West and Midwest . A dog walks across the receding shoreline of Folsom Lake , California , in November , where the drought shows no sign of letting up . While storms in early December gave farms in California a boost , temperatures across the state remain unseasonably high . Temperatures forecast for Thursday show the blizzard hitting parts of the East while the West remains warm . The dry area spans California , Nevada , New Mexico , Arizona , Texas and Oklahoma and other parts of the region , directly affecting more than 64 million people . In contrast to the big dry in the West , Winter Storm Octavia - which follows a weekend storm that dumped 16.5 inches of snow on Boston over the weekend - is now set to pummel the South . Residents in Boston have battled through 16.5 inches of snow while New Yorkers are preparing for another six inch-dumping . In the early hours of Tuesday morning , Washington DC was bracing for between four to eight inches of snow , according to USA Today . Mayor Muriel Bowser told CNN 's ` The Situation Room ' that the weather was ` dangerous cold ' . Federal government offices in the area will be closed on Tuesday . Father south , up to a foot of snow was forecast in Roanoke and Richmond , Virginia , where Governor Terry McAuliffe declared a statewide emergency . Residents have been advised to avoid non-essential travel , while thousands of children in the region are missing school for a second day running . Kentucky and Tennessee were also preparing to be battered by the storm , which could dump more than a foot of snow on each state . | Blizzards , snow and freezing conditions are currently battering the East . But overall , the U.S. is experiencing its sixth-warmest winter on record . In this month alone , thousands of warm weather records were broken . The West is experiencing much higher than average winter temperatures . Drought conditions across parts of the West and Midwest are continuing . | [[0, 77], [80, 210], [353, 467], [2799, 2877], [0, 77], [80, 210], [606, 660], [661, 772], [673, 698], [705, 772], [468, 585], [1466, 1555], [1466, 1489], [1558, 1578], [211, 344], [661, 772], [1825, 1835], [1838, 1925], [2676, 2739], [2742, 2798], [805, 821], [843, 877], [2214, 2271], [2504, 2541], [2617, 2625], [2634, 2675]] |
Double the loss : Mother-of-two Beverly Smith , 32 , and her unborn baby girl were killed Saturday in a multi-vehicle car crash in Ohio . Just two weeks shy of her due date , a 32-year-old mother and her unborn baby girl were killed in a Valentine 's Day car crash . Beverly Smith and her husband Eric , 33 , were driving home to Middleville , Michigan from a medical trip to New Jersey when they encountered whiteout conditions on I-90 Saturday morning near Sandusky , Ohio . The religious mother-of-two was sitting in the passenger 's seat , reading a bible , when their Ford F-150 became entangled in a massive multi-vehicle car wreck involving at least eight vehicles - including six semi-trucks . One of the tractor-trailer 's jack-knifed and collided with the Smith 's truck , which became pinned underneath the freight hauler . It took two and a half hours for emergency responders to cut Mrs Smith out of the passenger seat , and rush her to the hospital where she was tragically pronounced dead along with her unborn baby . Her husband Eric was also hospitalized , but none of his injuries are life-threatening . He was able to hold their stillborn daughter , which they planned to name Grace , briefly , according to his aunt Kathy Van Faasen who spoke on his behalf with MLive on Monday . ` People need to know that we 're more than just that crash , that God has a plan for me and God had a plan for Bev , ' Eric said , according to Van Fassen . ` There 's still hope in the middle of tragedy . ' The Smith 's two other children , 3-year-old daughter Claire and 1-year-old son Sam , remain in the care of family members who were taking care of them while their parents were on a trip last week . Scroll down for video . A family torn apart : Mrs Smith and her husband Eric were travelling back to their home in Michigan from a medical trip to New Jersey when they became involved in the crash . Their two children , 3-year-old Claire -LRB- right -RRB- and 1-year-old Sam -LRB- left -RRB- , were being cared for by family at the time . Since November , Mrs Smith 's vision had been weakened by an eye disease called Retinitis pigmentosa . She and her husband traveled to New Jersey last week to receive acupuncture treatment for the condition , which did end up improving Mrs Smith 's vision . Mr Smith 's aunt says he is finding comfort in his faith that God was with his wife during her final moments . He was able to retrieve the bible she was reading at the time of the crash , which had a bookmark on the page she was reading . He plans to give it to his daughter when she is older . Friends and family remember Mrs Smith as an avid runner , who would often participate in half marathons and other races . She and her husband liked taking their family on camping trips and boating on Lake Michigan . Stuck : Mrs Smith was just two weeks shy of her due date . The Smiths Ford F-150 became stuck underneath a semi-truck for two and a half hours after it jack-knifed . A picture of the scene above . Dangerous : At least eight vehicles were involved in the accident , which happened in heavy snow and strong winds . ` She was a steady presence , a kind , kind woman , ' Van Faasen said . ` Bev was just pure goodness . She never judged , she was always smiling . ' The Ohio State Police say conditions on the road were dangerous when the accident happened , with heavy snow and limited visibility due to the strong winds pushing over open fields on either side of the road . Six other people received minor injuries in the crash , but refused medical treatment . The accident is under investigation . | Beverly and Eric Smith were driving home to Michigan from a medical trip to New Jersey on Saturday when their pick-up truck was involved in a crash . Emergency responders had to work for two and a half hours to free Mrs Smith from the passenger seat of their car , pinned under a semi-truck . Mrs Smith and her unborn daughter were later pronounced dead at a local hospital ; her husband was treated for non-life-threatening injuries . She is survived by her husband and their two children , 3-year-old daughter Claire and 1-year-old son Sam . | [[702, 743], [748, 780], [1754, 1851], [1866, 1906], [477, 541], [762, 780], [789, 834], [835, 931], [2875, 2958], [0, 137], [138, 172], [175, 266], [950, 962], [969, 1032], [1509, 1588], [1595, 1631], [1907, 1999], [1907, 1988], [1994, 2046]] |
The New Zealand bar manager who was arrested in December in Myanmar for insulting the Buddhist religion after publishing a psychedelic image of Buddha wearing headphones to promote his bar in Yangon is still no nearer being freed . Philip Blackwood was led back to jail by police after another court hearing in Yangon on Tuesday . Last December a Myanmar court denied the bar manager bail . The New Zealander has pleaded not guilty to the charges . He was charged in December , along two local men , over the publication of a poster promoting cheap drinks at his bar . If found guilty , they face up to four years in jail . Phil Blackwood , a bar manager from New Zealand , is escorted by a police from the court after a hearing in Yangon on Tuesday . Blackwood told the court on December 26 that he had removed the image from the bar 's Facebook page , and posted an apology once he realised that it was being shared widely online , provoking outrage . ' I believe the law says the act must be deliberate , require malice with intent to offend , ' Blackwood said . ' I have said a number of times , there was no intent . ' Blackwood 's lawyer , Mya Thway , said he had received anonymous messages on Facebook threatening to cut him to pieces and burn him because he 'd taken on the case . The Dominion Post in New Zealand reported that in a recent post on Facebook , his mother , Angela Blackwood , said they had received a moving letter from her son , who was being supported by the International Red Cross while in jail . Mr Blackwood manages a smile despite being taken back to prison after the hearing on Tuesday . ` He says he is trying to stay strong and hoping to be home for the Rugby World Cup -LRB- in September -RRB- . ' The 32-year-old New Zealander was arrested by Myanmar police in early December , along with owner Tun Thurein , 40 , and manager Htut Ko Ko Lwin , 26 , after an official from Myanmar 's Religious Department complained about the advertising . The bar has since been shuttered-up . ` They were trying to promote the bar . Buddha grabs people 's interest ... however , Buddhists can not accept it , ' a police official told reporters . The trio were charged for breaching the country 's Religion Act . New Zealander Philip Blackwood , centre , is escorted by Myanmar police officers following his first court appearance in Yangon , Myanmar , in December . According to the Act , anyone who attempts to insult , destroy or damage any religion can be punished by a maximum of two years in jail , with another two-year penalty for those who try to insult religion through the written word . Around 30 monks and 20 ordinary citizens gathered at the court in December when the three men were first charged . ` The whole public was insulted by the posting of the improper Buddha photograph , ' a monk called Thusita from the Burmese Patriot Monks Union told reporters at the time . ` We will wait and see what action the authorities take . We will do what we need to , if the authorities do not take action , ' he added . A Buddhist monk tries to take a photo of the New Zealander as he gets into a police vehicle outside the court in Yangon , Myanmar , during his first court appearance in December . VGastro Bar employee Htut Ko Ko Lwin is escorted to a police vehicle after appearing in court in Yangon in December . The offending image was quickly removed from the bar 's Facebook page and replaced by an apology from VGastro Management expressing ` sincere regret ' for having offended ` the citizens of this wonderful city . ' ` Our ignorance is embarrassing for us , ' read the statement . But the apology attracted a slew of angry comments from Burmese social media users including one which decried the bar management as ` utterly unprofessional and culturally insensitive . ' V Gastro bar , which opened in December , swiftly deleted the insulting image and posted this apology on its Facebook page . The arrests come as Myanmar grapples with a growing Buddhist nationalist movement , spearheaded by extremist monks who have urged boycotts of Muslim shops and proposed a raft of laws to restrict religious freedoms . Their rise has accompanied several bouts of religious violence between Muslims and Buddhists . The arrests come during a surge of religious nationalism in Myanmar , a predominantly Buddhist country . | Phil Blackwood was lead back to jail by police after another court hearing . The New Zealander was arrested in Myanmar for insulting Buddhism . Mr Blackwood had already pleaded not guilty , but has been denied bail . The offending image was removed from the bar 's Facebook page . Blackwood 's lawyer , Mya Thway , was threatened for taking the case . | [[232, 330], [624, 638], [664, 751], [1525, 1619], [1538, 1619], [2232, 2262], [2265, 2385], [0, 27], [32, 122], [331, 335], [345, 390], [391, 448], [752, 851], [3344, 3413], [3810, 3822], [3852, 3887], [1124, 1143], [1158, 1221]] |
A revealing insight into Andy Murray 's tactical and mental approach has emerged after his motivational notes from the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam last week were leaked . A list of ten instructions are listed on a sheet of A4 paper , on the back of which is a letter of support from the British No 1 's fans . The photo was taken by Dutch journalist Wilfred Genee who obtained the notes after Murray left them behind on the court . Andy Murray waves to the crowd after losing to Gilles Simon in the quarter-finals in Rotterdam on Friday . 1 . Be good to yourself . 2 . Try your best . 3 . Be intense with your legs . 4 . Be proactive during points . 5 . Focus on each point and the process . 6 . Try to be the one dictating . 7 . Try to keep him at the baseline , make him move . 8 . Keep going for your serve . 9 . Stick to the baseline as much as possible . 10 . Stay low on passes and use your legs . Murray , who lost to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open earlier this month , was pictured looking at the notes in his courtside chair . Instructions included ` Try your best ' , ` Be proactive during points ' . ` Try to be the one dictating ' and ` Be intense with your legs ' . It is unclear who was responsible for the instructions as coach Amelie Mauresmo did not accompany him to the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in the Netherlands , though Murray did reveal last month that he has been working with a sports psychologist . Murray returns to action next week at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships , before heading to Glasgow for Great Britain 's Davis Cup World Group first-round tie against the USA from March 6-8 . Murray posted this fans ' letter last week , the back of which was used for his motivational notes . Murray shakes hands with Gilles Simon -LRB- left -RRB- after suffering his first defeat in 13 against the Frenchman . Murray shows his frustrations during his ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament quarter-final defeat . | Andy Murray 's notes from a tournament in Rotterdam have been leaked . The A4 sheet of paper features ten tactical and mental instructions . Murray lost in the quarter-finals to Frenchman Gilles Simon . CLICK HERE for all the latest tennis news . | [[0, 164], [115, 188], [189, 249], [450, 556]] |
A Nashville Predators superfan known for decorating his sizable tummy during games found a unique way to pop the question to his girlfriend . Ben Butzbach , of Nashville , Tennessee , who is better known to hockey fans as Big Ben , asked his girlfriend Brandy to marry him the best way he knew how - by painting ` Brandy will you marry me ? ' on his stomach . And after being asked , on the jumbotron no less for all to see , Brandy said ` yes . ' Nashville Predators superfan Big Ben proposed to his girlfriend by writing a message on his stomach . Big Ben aka Ben Butzbach has become famous for decorating his stomach during hockey games . Making the whole thing even more romantic was the fact that Big Ben popped the question on Valentine 's Day . ` She said YES ! ' wrote Big Ben on his Instagram shortly after , sharing a picture of his belly and the ring . On Penalty Box Radio , where Big Ben is a contributor , he describes himself as a ` proud father ' and , it should go without saying , a ` humongously big Predators fan . ' He is also ' a Leo , enjoys long walks on the beach , The Notebook , and cool nights by the fire listening to Lionel Richie . ' The bio will have to get edited a bit however , as Big Ben also claims to be ` single . ' | Ben Butzbach , of Nashville , Tennessee , asked his girlfriend Brandy to marry him by painting a proposal on his stomach . Butzbach , known as Big Ben , is a Nashville Predators superfan who is known for painting messages on his stomach during hockey games . Brandy said ` yes ' to Big Ben , who popped the question on Valentine 's Day . | [[0, 30], [83, 141], [142, 169], [232, 252], [260, 311], [286, 340], [448, 511], [448, 476], [512, 549], [0, 82], [142, 145], [160, 169], [198, 229], [142, 169], [232, 252], [260, 311], [448, 476], [512, 549], [550, 641], [554, 574], [593, 641], [360, 381], [426, 445], [448, 511], [642, 751], [702, 751]] |
` Scaremongering ' : Ed Miliband has been accused of misleading voters with ` NHS letter ' Ed Miliband has been accused of misleading voters after Labour sent out letters made to look like they were from a hospital or GP surgery . Many were left upset by the mail , which could easily be mistaken for test results or notification of changes in local NHS provision . The letters come in envelopes saying that they contain important information about the NHS . It is only when people read the contents that they realise it is a message from the Labour leader . Mr Miliband has been condemned as ` cruel ' and ` insensitive ' after sending the letters to people including hospital patients , the elderly and families of the recently deceased . Opponents have accused him of scare tactics and claim it is further evidence of his campaign to ` weaponise ' the NHS ahead of the general election . Across the top of the envelope is the message : ` Important information about the future of local NHS services . ' The only clue as to its real contents is small print on the reverse that says it should be returned to ` Labour Central ' at an address in Newcastle if undelivered . In the letter , Mr Miliband writes about the ` challenges facing your local hospital ' and warns that ` services here are struggling ' . Despite the claim that it concerns the future of ` local NHS services ' , exactly the same message is being sent to homes across the country . One was addressed to a woman in Southampton who died from cancer six months ago , aged 72 . Her husband , 76 , had asked for her name to be taken off the electoral roll -- which is commonly used by political parties and companies for mailshots -- so he assumed it was from the hospital that treated her . The man , a lifelong Labour voter and former docker , was left in tears when he realised his mistake . His daughter Kerry Haynes , 51 , branded Mr Miliband ` cruel ' for the ` deliberate deception ' and added : ` I go round every day , and when I arrived Dad was crying . ` The poor man had to read the letter four or five times to work out that all it was asking for was his vote . ` If he 'd thought it was junk mail he would not have opened it , but as it was addressed to my mum and made to look like it was from the hospital he was really upset . ' Misleading : Across the top of the envelope is the message : ` Important information about the future of local NHS services , ' and recipients only find out the letter 's true message once they have opened it . Another the recipients was Sylvia Knight , 39 , from Cambridge , who mistook the letter for information about a hospital appointment she is waiting for . Her partner Sarah Brown said : ` Sylvia is an outpatient with the local health service . The letter came and it looked like it was something official from the hospital . She did not realise it was something political until she opened it . ` It 's a bit freaky . They do n't know who they are sending these letters to and what these people are going through . If someone was having treatment for cancer , it could be quite unnerving . ' Another recipient , in Middlesex , said : ` I 'm sure there will be people desperate for test results or appointments who will be opening the letter thinking they 've got the information they 've been waiting for . ' Tory MP Robert Jenrick , who is on the Commons health select committee , said : ` Ed Miliband has said he wants to weaponise the NHS and now we can see how far Labour will sink in their attempt to spread fear . ` Desperate moves like this show what little regard Labour have for the public and why Ed Miliband is n't up to the job of being Prime Minister . ' Mary Macleod , Tory MP for Brentford and Isleworth , said the Labour leader was ` scaremongering ' . She added : ` I was shocked to see my constituents receiving this misleading political rubbish from Ed Miliband . Not only can the letter be mistaken for important information from the NHS but inside is just a missive of pure inaccuracy . ' Mr Miliband 's spokesman said : ` The letter makes clear it 's from the Labour Party . The future of our NHS is incredibly important . ' | Labour Party letters say they contain important information about NHS . The only clue as to envelopes ' real contents is small print on the reverse . Ed Miliband has been condemned and accused of misleading voters . | [[366, 458], [408, 458], [1006, 1073], [0, 16], [21, 88], [19, 88], [91, 170], [741, 784], [3688, 3700], [3741, 3784]] |
A 21-year-old man in Montgomery County , Texas was arrested on Saturday after tying a donkey to his Toyota pick-up truck and towing the animal several miles . Authorities say suspect Nasim Irsan did n't even think anything was wrong with dragging the aging donkey at least three miles Saturday afternoon . They stopped him near the 18000 block of Old Houston Road where the animal was handed over to animal control and Irsan was arrested on animal cruelty charges . Painful : A man in Montgomery County , Texas was arrested this weekend for tying a donkey to his pick-up truck and dragging the animal several miles . Charged : Driver Nasim Irsan , 21 -LRB- left -RRB- , has since been charged with cruelty to an animal after police spotted him towing the donkey . ` He did n't think he was doing anything wrong -- that he was moving it from one place to another , ' Precinct 5 deputy livestock constable Marshall Williams said . Williams says Irsan had tied the donkey to his truck with a single rope connected around the animal 's neck and at the hitch . Luckily the donkey appeared to be in ` fine condition ' when Irsan was stopped . Witness Hazik Hassan saw the donkey after Irsan was stopped by police and told KTRK that the scene was ` pretty terrible ' . ` That was a long way for a horse , and it was an older horse , mule I mean . You could see its ribs and everything , that 's pretty sad man , ' Hassan said . New home : The donkey was reportedly in fine condition , but is now in the care of animal control . Shocking : A witness who saw Irsan getting arrested called the scene ` pretty terrible ' | Driver Nasim Irsan reportedly did n't think he was doing anything wrong . Donkey was connected to truck by a single rope tied around its neck and to the truck hitch . Animal control has taken custody of the animal , which is in fine condition . | [[159, 305], [183, 305], [766, 810], [929, 1000], [987, 1055], [347, 363], [370, 414], [1056, 1109], [1421, 1429], [1432, 1442], [1482, 1520]] |
It seemed a friendly stranger was simply coming over to peer into a pram and admire a fellow shopper 's little boy . But the woman who approached this mother in a Boots store had a far more sinister intention . The stranger grabbed hold of the one-year-old and throttled him , telling his mother : ` That baby would rather be dead . ' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Attack : Police are hunting for the woman in the striped poncho who throttled a stranger 's one-year-old baby boy who was saved from further injury by her mother . Threat : The suspect was confronted by the mother and security and said ` that baby would rather be dead ' Police are now hunting for the woman believed to be in her sixties , who assaulted the child in a Boots store on The Strand in central London . CCTV footage of the incident on January 16 shows how the baby was attacked so forcefully that the pushchair started moving across the shop floor . Scotland Yard said the boy was only saved from serious injury by the fast response of his mother , who grabbed the woman 's hand and pulled her away . Detectives believe the mother and her son were followed into the store , close to Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross railway station , at around 12.30 pm . The suspect walked the length of the shop towards them and then reached into the pram , taking hold of the baby 's throat . A Metropolitan Police spokesman said : ` The mother of the baby had originally thought that the suspect was going to just look and fuss over her baby . Planned : Detective believe that the woman had followed the mother and baby into the central London Boots before choking the child . Description : The suspect is described as a white woman in her early sixties , 5ft 2ins tall , of chubby build , with light coloured hair and a boil or eye deformity on her face . ` But when she saw what was actually happening , she immediately grabbed the suspect 's hand to prevent the assault from continuing . ` The baby was not injured due to his mother 's quick reaction . However , she was extremely shaken up and traumatised by the incident . ' A security guard then intervened and the attacker said , ` That baby would rather be dead ' as she was escorted out of the store . She is said to have walked off towards Trafalgar Square . Police followed her on CCTV but lost track of her in the crowds . The suspect is described as white , in her early sixties , 5ft 2in tall , of a chubby build , with light - coloured hair and a boil or eye deformity . She wore a deer stalker hat and a distinctive white , red and grey striped poncho top with a brown handbag and black boots . Anyone who witnessed the incident , was in the area at the time or has information that could assist officers is asked to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 . | Detectives believe woman followed mother and baby in to Boots on Strand . Suspect reached in to buggy and grabbed throat of the one-year-old boy . Mother thought attacker was ` fussing over ' her son but then stopped her . Woman then said : ` That baby would rather be dead ' and left store . | [[121, 210], [685, 696], [703, 773], [1072, 1204], [1514, 1636], [211, 256], [1228, 1239], [1316, 1351], [1007, 1010], [1054, 1071], [1352, 1388], [1391, 1503], [300, 332], [532, 543], [590, 627], [2127, 2144], [2147, 2220]] |
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