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Less than two weeks after The Simpsons producer dismissed a theory that Homer has been in a coma for two decades , an astronomer has come up with another conspiracy : Springfield is in the southern hemisphere . In the latest episode of the show , SpaceX 's Elon Musk guest starred and spends time at the Simpsons ' home . At one point he stands by the dining room window , looking out at the night sky as the family sits behind him eating dinner . In The Simpsons ' scene with SpaceX 's Elon Musk , who was guest starring on the episode , the tips of the waxing crescent moon face right - how they would in the southern hemisphere . In the northern hemisphere , the tips of a waxing crescent moon face left , pointing away from the sun , unlike what was seen in the new episode . The waxing crescent moon is important to note , according to astronomer Phil Plait . In the northern hemisphere , the tips of a waxing crescent moon face left , pointing away from the sun . But in The Simpsons ' scene with Musk , the tips of the waxing crescent moon face right - how they would in the southern hemisphere . ` This is the moment that changed everything for me . The frozen moment of time when I realized that for 22 years , The Simpsons has been lying to us , ' Plait wrote on Slate . Plait , 50 , does not reveal , however , why he believes the show to be lying for only 22 years of its 26-year span on television . But the fact that there are places called Springfield in Australia , New Zealand and South Africa , makes this theory entirely possible . There are places called Springfield in Australia , New Zealand and South Africa , which makes this astronomer 's theory entirely possible . Astronomer Phil Plait , 50 , does not reveal in his article why he believes the show to be lying for only 22 years of its 26-year span on television . Two weeks ago fans of the satirical cartoon proposed that Homer Simpson never awoke from a coma he fell into during an episode in 1993 and that everything that occurred on the series after that happened inside Homer 's head . While seeming outlandish on the surface , the theory is gaining a lot of traction in online The Simpsons forums , with even the most devout of followers declaring they believe it . The theory lays claim to why the characters never age , and how the show moved from mundane episodes in the early '90s , such as Bart cheating on an IQ test , to plots that saw Mr. Burns capturing the Loch Ness Monster . But producer Al Jean said that the coma theory can be stashed in the ` intriguing but false file ' . Jean said the theory , and a similar one that claims Bart was killed in an episode that never aired , is false , according to TMZ . He said : ` It would mean back in 1993 we would presume the show was going on for years and years more and right before we left , threw this hidden monkey wrench in for all our successors . ` I 'm afraid it goes with the ` Dead Bart ' episode in the intriguing but false file . ' Two weeks ago theorist proposed that Homer Simpson never woke up from a coma he fell into during an episode in 1993 . Producer Al Jean said that the theory can be stashed in the ` intriguing but false file ' along with an a theory about Bart dying . | At dusk in northern hemisphere , waxing crescent moon tips face left . At dusk in southern hemisphere , waxing crescent moon tips face right . Latest episode of The Simpsons shows tips of the moon facing right . Astronomer claims this means the show takes place in southern hemisphere . Producer just dismissed theory Homer has been in a coma for 20 years . There are Springfields in Australia , New Zealand and South Africa . | [[633, 659], [662, 706], [633, 659], [662, 701], [709, 735], [865, 891], [894, 938], [865, 891], [894, 933], [941, 969], [0, 19], [26, 112], [1426, 1503], [1417, 1479], [1482, 1510], [1513, 1550], [1551, 1630]] |
A five-month-old baby suffering from flat head syndrome must wear a # 2,000 specialist helmet every day for up to six months to help correct his misshapen skull . Oakley Porter-Mcaveeney , from Coventry , suffers from brachycephaly -- a rare condition which is better known as flat head syndrome - and has to wear the special helmet to remould his skull . His mother Stephanie Mcaveeney , 28 , first noticed her son 's unusual condition when he was just eight-weeks-old but was told treatment to rectify his head shape was not available on the NHS . Scroll down for video . Oakley Porter-Mcaveeney -LRB- pictured with his mother Stephanie -RRB- suffers from brachycephaly -- a rare condition which is better known as flat head syndrome - and has to wear the special # 2,000 helmet to remould his skull . The five-month-old baby has ` one of the worst examples ' of the condition ever seen -LRB- left -RRB- but doctors said treatment was not available on the NHS . Ms Mcaveeney put out an appeal on Facebook for donations to help . Doctors told Ms Mcaveeney , a stay-at-home mother , that it was the worst case of the condition they had ever seen but admitted that she would have to fork out # 2,000 to buy the specialist helmet . However , after posting her story on Facebook , donations piled in and she was able to afford the helmet . Young Oakley now wears the hard hat -- which is designed with his name on the front - for 23 hours every day . Ms Mcaveeney said : ` He 's adapted to life with the helmet really well . ` Oakley is only five-months-old so he 's just taken it all in his stride and seems to be as happy as ever . ' I can already see an improvement and it 's now just a matter of waiting for the helmet to work its magic . ` He will have to be reviewed every two weeks and it could take between four to six months to fully correct the shape of his skull . Young Oakley now wears the helmet -- which is designed with his name on the front - for 23 hours every day . It is hoped that after he has worn it every day for six months , his skull will be remoulded to the correct shape . ` I 'm very confident my lovely little boy will be okay now . It 's a wonderful feeling knowing that he 's receiving the correct treatment and I ca n't thank the people who 've donated enough . ' Oakley will wear the helmet for 23 hours each day for up to six months to counteract his flat head . Brachycephaly is caused when part of a baby 's head becomes flattened due to continued pressure on one spot and can also affect the jaw and ear alignment . In extreme cases it can affect speech and hearing . Ms Mcaveeney added : ` It was emotional to see the helmet finally being fitted . All the research I have looked through says that this is the best thing for him . ` At first I thought this was a cosmetic issue but it did n't take a lot of research to realise that it 's far more serious than that . I 'm delighted that Oakley will be OK now . ` He 's adapted to the change really well and is happy taking naps in it . ` Oakley 's a little star and I could n't be any more proud of him . ' | Oakley Porter-Mcaveeney suffers from rare condition called brachycephaly . It is better known as flat head syndrome and he needs his skull reshaped . His mother Stephanie Mcaveeney noticed issue when he was eight weeks . Doctors said it was worst case they had seen but NHS could n't fund helmet . Ms Mcaveeney , 28 , posted his plight on Facebook and received donations . Has now bought helmet and Oakley will wear it for six months to fix skull . | [[163, 202], [205, 231], [574, 603], [645, 671], [114, 117], [125, 162], [235, 251], [258, 295], [675, 691], [698, 735], [356, 366], [394, 469], [1088, 1126], [1113, 1145], [964, 1020], [1240, 1275], [1278, 1296], [0, 124], [114, 117], [125, 162], [163, 186], [302, 355], [742, 803], [574, 580], [746, 803], [1786, 1830], [1820, 1823], [1831, 1872], [1982, 2097], [1999, 2097], [2294, 2364]] |
Last month Myleene Klass landed herself in hot water among Britain 's middle class mums when she mocked an email sent to fellow parents asking for cash donations for a child 's present . Amid the fall-out - compounded by her own sarcastic response on social media - the 36-year-old was confronted at the school gates by mothers who felt betrayed , and was even ticked off in a round robin email from the # 5,000-a-year school 's headteacher . But in a new interview with Fabulous magazine , the designer and Classic FM presenter said : ` This is why I keep getting myself in trouble . I ca n't keep my mouth shut . But that 's who I am . ' Myleene Klass in 2011 with her daughter Ava , now seven , says she ` ca n't keep her mouth shut ' Opening up about her decision to post two emails from mothers of her seven-year-old daughter Ava 's classmates , Myleene said : ' I want my children to receive yo-yos and give yo-yos , not Kindles . Being happy is not about stuff . ' I know it does n't make me popular but this is what I stand for . I was n't raised like that . ' The designer , who has a line of Littlewoods clothes , considered the potential backlash and reaction to posting the emails last month - which it has now emerged could be a year old - but went ahead anyway . She shared two emails from her fellow mums which were sent out to help organise a group present for their daughters , with her 459,200 followers on Twitter and 75,000 on Instagram . The messages , which Myleene posted under the hashtag #bonkers , soon went viral . The first email read : ` Jane and Hannah would prefer a class birthday gift for their daughters this year . Sarah would like a Kindle and Lola a desk -LRB- very studious choices ! -RRB- so if you would like to join in , please can I collect a suggested # 10 from you before the party on February 9 . ` If you prefer to send # via an envelope in your daughters -LSB- sic -RSB- school bag , marked for Jane/me that works too . I will pass on a voucher and card to each at the party . Thanx -LSB- sic -RSB- and no obligation of course . ' Myleene looked unworried by the furore at The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel premiere last week . A second email from another parent who offers to collect the cash reiterates that # 10 would be a ` popular amount ' to contribute -- meaning that the total value of the gifts would be at least # 200 -- but adds : ` Feel free to give what you like or indeed , to give your own gift . ' Myleene then posted her own response with the sarcastic heading , ` let 's put the fun back into birthdays ' saying she was going to collect money to buy Ava a unicorn and that she 'd ` like a Ferrari and Leonardo DiCaprio , so by all means , do feel obligated to contribute to this too . ' And making it clear she thought the original request was bad manners , she ended her retort by saying the money could be donated to a fictitious site -- www.getwhatyoure-givenandendthismadness.com . But the designer , who has her own Littlewoods brand of clothes , underwear , hair and beauty products , says she 's undaunted by controversy , describing herself as ` fearless ' . Myleene Klass caused a backlash from mothers around the country when she posted fellow school mums ' emails about collecting cash contributions for their daughter 's presents . Myleene caused further outrage with her sarcastic response titled , ` Let 's put the fun back into Bdays ! ' She further explained her rationale in an article in the Telegraph , explaining she was ` amazed ' by the emails when she first received them and posted - what she thought was - a ` humourous response ' . Myleene wrote : ` One mum did explain that she feels 26 presents is an awful lot for any child to get , and a lot of it is plastic rubbish . ` She saw the email as problem-solving , and I understand what she meant , but the joy of getting a gift of some felt-tips and a yo-yo when you 're a kid ca n't be diminished . Surely that 's what you 'd rather have for your seventh birthday , not a Kindle or a desk . ' Myleene , whose career was rebooted by starring on I 'm A Celebrity and notably featured her showering in a white bikini , also opened up to Fabulous about the end of her marriage to celebrity minder Graham Quinn , the father of her two daughters and husband of six months . She said that for the first year after their split , she was ` reeling from the heartache ' . But she believes in ` the sanctity of marriage ' , adding , ` you 're either in or you 're out , you ca n't just be half in it and because I believe in those things so strongly , when those beliefs are rocked you question so much . ' Designer , Classic FM DJ and presenter Myleene is a single mother to Ava , seven , and Hero , three , . | Myleene Klass , 36 , explains why she shared a fellow mum 's email . Posts of message asking mums for cash donations for a Kindle went viral . The mother-of-two admits ` this is why I keep getting myself in trouble ' | [[3422, 3488], [93, 186], [1459, 1521], [1524, 1541], [3216, 3234], [3244, 3312], [447, 488], [491, 533], [536, 584]] |
A Seaside town 's plan to officially call a road Hitler 's Walk has been scrapped after a flood of complaints . Mevagissey Parish Council agreed the drop the planned sign after it attracted widespread condemnation . The Jewish community had called on holidaymakers to boycott the town if the scheme went ahead . Decision reversed : Plans to officially rename a park in Mevagissey , Cornwall , ` Hitlers Walk ' have been scrapped . The pathway , in Mevagissey , Cornwall , has been called Hitler 's Walk unofficially for decades after an ` over-zealous park warden ' . Old signs in Mevagissey , Cornwall were taken down in 2005 following a small number of complaints that the name was offensive . Last month it was announced that the council had ordered a new sign , but it has now been cancelled . The controversy began earlier this month when the parish council decided to reinstate the Hitlers Walk nameplates , which were removed by Restormel Borough Council in 2005 after complaints they were offensive . News of their decision came five days before the world marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp . Controversial : The old signs in Mevagissey , Cornwall were taken down in 2005 following a small number of complaints . Harvey Kurzfield , of Kehillat Kernow , which represents the Jewish community of Cornwall , branded their plans ` ludicrous ' and said he was ` astonished and perplexed as to why anyone in this day and age would put up a sign like that ' . But the council maintained that the sign was named after an over-officious 1930s park-keeper , and that the area - once called Cliff Park - had been referred to as Hitlers Walk ever since . Liberal Democrat MP for St Austell and Newquay , Stephen Gilbert , said : ` This plan has caused huge offence to many people as well as attracting national and international condemnation and coming on the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camps it could n't have been more insensitive . ` I 'm pleased that the parish council have abandoned the plan and I am sure that sentiment will be shared by everyone whose family , like mine , fought against the Nazis and all those who rightly remain horrified at the mass extermination of Jewish people , disabled people , gay people and others that Hitler is responsible for . ` Respect , humanity and decency has prevailed at the Parish Council and the plan has gone where it belongs , in the bin . ' John Daniel , a councillor who supported the sign , reportedly told the Telegraph : ` The name goes back to a time before the war when whoever was in the charged of the park was a bit authoritarian . It 's not offensive , it 's just what local people call it . ' Historic : Mevagissey is a village , fishing port and civil parish in Cornwall that dates as far back as 1313 . | Cornwall village adopted name in reference to overly-officious councillor . And the residents insisted the moniker was not a tribute to Nazi leader . But in 2005 , signs were removed as some complained they were offensive . Plans to return the sign has been dropped by Mevagissey Parish Council . | [[112, 215], [145, 215], [594, 665], [874, 913], [920, 1008], [1199, 1272], [112, 215], [145, 215], [770, 797]] |
A 37-year-old gay mom is set to spark controversy after she said she 'd be disappointed if her six-year-old daughter was n't gay when she grows up . Sally Kohn a political commentator who has appeared on CNN and MSNBC , describes herself as living in the ` liberal bubble of Park Slope , Brooklyn , where ` yuppies ' want their kids to be happy . She said : ` I 'm gay . And I want my kid to be gay , too . ' Scroll down for video . Family : Kohn , right , is raising her six-year-old girl daughter , Willa , center , along with her partner Sarah , left , whom she met at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre , Brazil , in 2003 -LRB- Courtesy of Sally Kohn -RRB- . View : Sally Kohn , 37 , a CNN and MSNBC political commentator said ` I 'm gay . And I want my kid to be gay , too ' In a lengthy essay in The Washington Post Kohn explained that , she , like most parents simply wants her child to follow in her footsteps . She writes : ` If we went to college , we want our kids to go to college . If we like sports , we want our kids to like sports . If we vote Democrat , of course we want our kids to vote Democrat . ' Kohn said : ` When my daughter plays house with her stuffed koala bears as the mom and dad , we gently remind her that they could be a dad and dad . ` Sometimes she changes her narrative . Sometimes she does n't . It 's her choice . ' ` Time will tell , but so far , it does n't look like my six-year-old daughter is gay . In fact , she 's boy crazy . ' Kohn , a liberal political commentator , community organizer , and founder and chief executive officer of the Movement Vision Lab , a grassroots think tank is also a contributor to the Fox News Channel . She is raising her six-year-old girl daughter , Willa Hansen Kohn , along with her partner Sarah Hansen , whom she met at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre , Brazil , in 2003 . Hansen works in philanthropy advising foundations how to best support groups in the social and environmental justice movements . Bond : Kohn , right , and her partner Hansen hold their daughter , Willa , center , in their arms during a trip . Video : In 2010 she posted a Youtube video of her then two year-old daughter entitled ` My 2 year old explains the Bush tax cuts ' featuring the precocious little girl . Parenting : Kohn , pictured here with her daughter as a baby said ` If my daughter is gay , I do n't worry about her having a hard life . But I do worry about people expecting her to have a hard life ' Kohn , however , is no stranger to controversy . In 2014 , she wrote that referring to an undocumented person as an ` illegal immigrant ' was like calling a black person the N-word . Meanwhile , she often writes about how her sexuality impacts her parenting style . In a parenting blog for The New York Times she described her experience of being ' a butch lesbian ' taking her five year old daughter for a Princess makeover at Disney World . She wrote : I have been a tomboy all my life . When I played with dolls they were usually being sacrificed in some sort of erupting volcano-like mud hole in my backyard or running for their lives . ' ` My partner and I certainly did n't teach our daughter to like pink and ruffles and such . And I ca n't fathom some genetic or biological nodule that predisposes my girl to like dolls while little boys like trucks . Baloney . ' She adds : ` Even in the midst of our hyper-liberal and hyper-diverse neighborhood with girls and boys of all kinds on display every day , it happened . ` Did I do something wrong ? Is feminism mysteriously skipping a generation ? Meanwhile , I have to bribe her to wear jeans . ' In 2010 she posted a Youtube video of her then two year-old daughter entitled ` My 2 year old explains the Bush tax cuts ' featuring the precocious little girl . Kohn said : ` If my daughter is gay , I do n't worry about her having a hard life . But I do worry about people expecting her to have a hard life -- helping to perpetuate discrimination that might otherwise fade ' And while the pundit is known for her outspoken views , she admits that her straight friends have a massive problem with her wanting her daughter to be gay when she grows up . She wrote : -LSB- One friend asked -RSB- ` Do n't you want her to be happy ? ' She adds : ' A friend once told me ' I would n't even choose for myself to be gay . ' It was a sad admission , because she was . ' She goes on to suggest that there is a widely-held viewpoint that ` no one would choose to be gay -- even in the gay rights movement . ' She adds : ` I 've never for a single second regretted being gay , nor saw it as anything other than an asset and a gift . ` My parents were ridiculously supportive from Day One , and I had a great community of friends and mentors who made me feel unconditionally accepted . ` By the time my daughter comes of age , she 'll have even more of a support network , including two moms , for crying out loud . ` If my daughter is gay , I do n't worry about her having a hard life . But I do worry about people expecting her to have a hard life -- helping to perpetuate discrimination that might otherwise fade more quickly . ' I want my daughter to know that being gay is equally desirable to being straight . ` The problem is not the idea that homosexuality could be a choice but the idea that heterosexuality should be compulsory . ` In my house it 's plainly , evidently not . We 've bought every picture book featuring gay families , even the not-very-good ones and we have most of the nontraditional-gender-role books as well -- about the princess who likes to fight dragons and the boy who likes to wear dresses . ' | Sally Kohn is a political commentator for CNN , Fox News and MSNBC . She wrote in The Washington Post : ` I 'm gay . I want my kid to be gay , too ' ` When my daughter plays house with her stuffed koala bears as the mom and dad , we gently remind her that they could be a dad and dad ' Kohn says like most parents she wants daughter to follow in her footsteps . But suspects her daughter , 6 , is straight as she is already ` boy crazy ' | [[155, 183], [188, 217], [674, 747], [347, 355], [360, 370], [371, 398], [382, 406], [674, 747], [748, 775], [759, 781], [4128, 4162], [4140, 4182], [1123, 1132], [1135, 1271], [784, 923], [854, 923], [91, 148]] |
The former colleagues of the ex-solider charged with killing American Sniper author Chris Kyle and another man say the veteran on trial in Texas is not the Marine they had come to know in Iraq . They say Eddie Ray Routh respected and cherished people who had jobs like former Navy SEAL Kyle . Routh , 27 , is charged with capital murder after allegedly killing Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a gun range in Stephenville , Texas , in February 2013 . Scroll down for video . Eddie Ray Routh posing with an AK-47 at Camp Fallujah in Iraq . He is on trial for murdering American Sniper author Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield at a shooting range in Texas in 2013 . Chris Kyle , a former Navy SEAL and author of American Sniper was allegedly shot to death by Routh . Members of the Combat Logistics Battalion 8 for the US Marines - Routh 's unit -LRB- he is is second from from left -RRB- - pose for a picture at Camp Fallujah in Iraq . Men who served with ` Routhy ' in Combat Logistics Battalion 8 at Camp Fallujah in 2007 and 2008 believe something must have happened to turn him from a gung-ho Marine into an alleged double murderer . Former Cpl. Ryker Pawloski said : ` The Routh I knew looked up to people who did that kind of job . ` He respected war fighters like you would n't believe . ` None of us who deployed with him know what 's wrong . '' We want to know what 's wrong , and we want him to get help . ` Because all of us kind of have the collective feeling of , you know , we let our brother down . ' A solider who shared a metal trailer with Routh at Camp Fallujah , Corey Smalley , said : ` It just does n't fathom . ` He was n't the picture-perfect Marine , even though that 's what he wanted to be . ` And the people he looked up to the most were people like Chris Kyle . ` He always wanted to be those people - be the people that Marines from now on will always be talking about . ' Prosecutors will seek life in prison without parole instead of the death penalty if Routh -LRB- above -RRB- is convicted . Routh -LRB- seen in 2008 -RRB- was hospitalized multiple times for mental health issues and had trouble keeping a job after he came back to the United States from his military service . Taya Kyle , the wife of the murdered former Navy SEAL , has been in court watching the capital murder trial . Shortly after the unit reached Fallujah , Routh was ordered help guard Iraqi prisoners at Balad Air Base , . Although Routh had no love for the captured fighters , Smalley said he was disturbed at how they were treated . He told Smalley some guards would use the leashed prisoners ' heads to push open the metal cell doors and ` he just did n't feel like that was called for ' . Smalley did see a glimmer of the man he knew when Routh confessed and asked if he could apologize to the families of Kyle and Littlefield . He said : ` I 'd love to have an hour to just sit down with him and talk to him . ' I would put money on it , that he was n't in his right mind . ` That there was something going on that , he made an unconscious decision to make that mistake . ' Men who served with ` Routhy ' say something must have happened to turn him into an alleged double murderer . Routh reportedly wanted to meet with Kyle 's parents , Wayne and Deby -LRB- above -RRB- , so he could apologize to them . Routh was hospitalized multiple times for mental health issues and had trouble keeping a job after he came back from his military service . His defense has argued that when Routh killed Kyle and Littlefield ` he was in the grip of a psychosis ' so severe he did n't know it was wrong . ' The prosecution has argued otherwise and said that Routh killed the two men because he was upset Kyle had brought Littlefield to the range , NBC News reported . A psychiatrist testifying for the prosecution , Dr Michael Arambula , said : ' -LSB- Routh -RSB- did n't have issues with Chris -LSB- Kyle -RSB- , only Chad -LSB- Littlefield -RSB- , but because Chris would shoot him for shooting Chad , he had to shoot Chris . ` And that makes sense and is not psychotic thinking . '' Prosecutors will seek life in prison without parole if Routh is convicted instead of the death penalty . | Eddie Ray Routh 's comrades think something must have happened to him . He is on trial for killing American Sniper author Chris Kyle and another man . Kyle and Chad Littlefield were killed at a gun range in Stephenville , Texas . Routh , 27 , was hospitalized for mental health issues after his service . Prosecutors want a life sentence and not death penalty if he is convicted . | [[0, 39], [48, 94], [940, 1141], [3091, 3119], [3122, 3200], [25, 110], [293, 298], [301, 303], [306, 380], [546, 658], [669, 679], [731, 769], [3496, 3529], [25, 110], [546, 658], [2050, 2117], [3323, 3385], [1907, 1943], [4091, 4127], [4143, 4195]] |
It 's the biggest night in the film calendar and actresses have spent months choosing their outfit and getting red carpet ready for the most important night of their career . Yet designer Tom Ford has likened the Oscar red carpet to a ` global game show ' and says he does n't know an actress who is n't terrified at the prospect of the ` glam cam ' . Forget the fact that they 're the most beautiful women in the world , primped , styled and dressed to perfection - he told WWD that running the gauntlet of the world 's press leaves Hollywood 's A-list women ` terrified ' . ` Cate Blanchett -LRB- left -RRB- and Jennifer Lawrence -LRB- right -RRB- negotiate the Oscar red carpet at last year 's ceremony . Designer Tom Ford said actresses are ` terrified ' of the red carpet , saying it 's like a ` global game show ' He said : ' I do not know an actress who likes it.They 're fearful of what 's going to be in reviews that would n't have been there 25 years ago . ` They 're fearful of the glam cam . It 's like being on a global game show , and it 's horrible . They 're terrified . ' ` Ford , recently hosted a star-studded autumn/winter 2015 catwalk show in Los Angeles , with a front row groaning with celebrities including Scarlet Johansson , Beyonce and Jay Z , Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Adams . He typically dresses several men and one woman for the Oscars and was behind Gwyneth Paltrow 's 2012 gown . Now he 's issued his advice on how Hollywood stars should cope with the world 's spotlight . The 53-year-old tells his starry friends : ` You 're an actress . Play a part . You 're in a movie now and you 're a major actress stepping out on the red carpet and you 're one of the most beautiful women in the world . ` Just play the role . Get out of the car . ' Gwyneth Paltrow wore a white gown with a matching cape by the designer at the 2012 Oscars . Best actress favourite Julianne Moore was spotted in the front row of his show , prompting speculation the actress will wear Tom Ford to tonight 's awards ceremony . And when it comes to ultimate glamour , beauty and style , Ford - who also made his directorial debut with the much-lauded film A Single Man - keeps it simple , recommending women always go for a style that cinches the waist . He explained to WWD , that it 's not an issue of weight or size but ` our standard of beauty ' . Tom Ford with Julianne Moore , left , who is nominated for Best Actress at tonight 's ceremony ; the actress , right , in 2012 , wearing Tom Ford - she 's rumoured to be wearing one of his designs tonight . | Designer says A-listers feel the red carpet is a ` global game show ' Tom Ford dresses one woman for the Academy Awards each year . Speculation that Best Actress nominee Julianne Moore will wear Tom Ford . | [[175, 248], [467, 559], [708, 725], [779, 812], [1004, 1042], [1303, 1364], [1863, 1900], [1944, 2028], [1863, 1900], [1944, 2028], [2367, 2381], [2389, 2447], [2450, 2469], [2482, 2516], [2490, 2549]] |
A collection of touching letters addressed to best-selling crime novelist Agatha Christie have been published for the first time . The heartfelt notes , many of which date back to the 1950s and 1960s , praise the crime writer for her epic novels and short stories and thank her for helping individuals through hard times . The horde of messages , which have been published to mark the 125th anniversary of her birthday , include a letter from author PG Wodehouse , as well as a note from a Polish woman in London , who told how one of Christie 's novels helped her survive a war-time labour camp in Germany . Scroll down for video . A series of touching letters to novelist Agatha Christie -LRB- left -RRB- have been published to mark the 125th anniversary of her birthday . The messages , some of which date back to the 1960s -LRB- right -RRB- , praise her novels . The woman explained in her letter how she exchanged a piece of candle for a Polish translation of Christie 's novel , The Man in the Brown Suit . In her fan mail , she wrote : ' I read and re-read -LRB- it -RRB- so often that I almost knew it by heart . ` The first few pages were missing so I did n't know the title or the author but for seven months it was my only link with a normal world . ' I know your writings have given pleasure and amusement to millions of people all over the world but never can one of your books have meant more to anyone than that tattered Polish translation did to me . ' Christie , who wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short-story collections , also treasured a 1958 letter from a 14-year-old boy in Bristol who started a book club at his school so he could raise funds to buy her work . ' I have bought 28 books by you and this is how I have managed it , ' he wrote . ' I charge the boys 3d per book to read at school , and 6d if they wished to take them home . ` With the money I obtained ... I bought more ` AC ' books ... Now my scheme is bringing in so much money , I can afford to buy one of your books a week . ' One letter , dated August 1963 , thanks Ms Christie for helping women prisoners escape in Romania -LRB- above -RRB- by writing her novels . The note references Christie 's crime novels including Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple . In the five-page handwritten letter , he later told how he would be ` truly proud ' to hold a response from Christie and said he would be able to show it to his children in years to come . He also asked the ` Queen of Crime ' at what age she began writing and expressed an interest in knowing the background of her successful career . In her typed response , which Christie also kept a copy of , she replied : ' I was very interested in your letter . You seem to have had a very good idea and I congratulate you . ' Christie , who died in 1976 aged 85 , also saved a note from PG Wodehouse , the English writer best known for the Jeeves and Blandings Castle novels and short stories . His 1969 letter from New York stated that he was ` pleased and proud ' after discovering she had dedicated a Halloween party to him and added ' a new Agatha Christie is always an event ' . Praising her choice of title , Wodehouse also revealed that he found ` getting a satisfactory title is the most difficult problem ' . Christie , who penned 66 detective novels and 14 short-story collections , also treasured a 1958 letter from a 14-year-old boy in Bristol who started a book club at his school so he could raise funds to buy her work . The young boy from Bristol said he would be ` truly proud ' to hold a response from Christie and said he would be able to show it to his children in years to come . Christie replied saying she was ` very interested ' in his note . The heartfelt letters -LRB- left -RRB- , many of which were sent to the best-selling crime novelist 's personal address in south Devon -LRB- right -RRB- have been published for the first time ever to mark the 125th anniversary of her birthday . Also in the collection is a letter written in 1963 by a woman who spent more than a decade in a Romanian prison with no access to books . She told the best-selling author : ` During the 12 years I spent in prison I never saw a written page . ` My memory , however , could not be sealed up and thanks to it and to you my fellow-sufferers came to know and to love the works of Agatha Christie . ' Christie 's grandson Mathew Prichard published a number of the letters and replies to mark her 125th anniversary and encouraged today 's fans to share their experience of her writing . He said : ` Knowing what receiving these letters meant to my grandmother , I 'm sure she would be moved to see these personal stories shared publicly for the first time . ` As we call to her fans across the globe to share their stories and experiences of Christie , I look forward to discovering how her work continues to inspire today . ' Christie , who also wrote under the name Mary Westmacott , died aged 85 having written more than 66 detective novels , most famously featuring her creations Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple . Agatha Christie -LRB- pictured with her then young grandson , Mathew Prichard -RRB- wrote a total of 66 detective novels . Mr Prichard has now taken the decision to publish the fan letters to mark her birthday anniversary . | Letters from fans of the best-selling crime writer are published for first time . The touching notes praise Agatha Christie for her novels and short stories . Messages have been published to mark 125th anniversary of her birthday . | [[16, 73], [0, 32], [74, 130], [633, 695], [701, 774], [4613, 4616], [4632, 4698], [16, 73], [131, 150], [202, 273], [633, 706], [633, 695], [701, 774], [775, 789], [847, 866], [2838, 2930], [0, 32], [74, 130], [336, 344], [347, 418], [323, 344], [373, 418], [633, 695], [701, 774], [3880, 3894], [3900, 3947], [4426, 4455], [5186, 5205], [5212, 5286], [5186, 5286]] |
Britain woke up to a freezing morning today as temperatures dipped to -6 C in the South and up to eight inches of snow was forecast in the North . The Met Office has a yellow ` be aware ' snow warning in the North and Scotland today , which widens to cover the Midlands tomorrow and on Tuesday . Gusts of 60mph are expected to create blizzard conditions , with heavy snow expected on high level routes and some accumulations at lower levels . White landscape : Snow-covered trees alongside the River Garry , near Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands . Horses for courses : The start of another winter blast of weather for the north of England as snow blankets areas of Nenthead , Cumbria , today . Motoring on : A Nissan Pathfinder Sport makes its way down a snow-covered road in Nenthead , Cumbria , today . Clearing the way : The winter blast caused problems in Cumbria today . Pictured , a snow plough clears snow from the A6 where several vehicles were stuck near Shap . Stuck : Several vehicles were stuck in snow on the A6 near Shap resulting in the road being closed on the final week of meteorological winter . Warning : Gusts of 60mph are expected to create blizzard conditions , with heavy snow expected on high level routes . Pictured , a lorry on the A6 . Closed : Bad weather for the north of England caused problems in Cumbria today leaving vehicles stuck in snow on the A6 near Shap . In the Peak District : Snow settles on the back of sheep as they graze in a field in Buxton , Derbyshire . Dashing through the snow : A East Coast train makes it way along the track near Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands this morning . Blizzards : A women walks her dog during heavy snowfall in a field near Blair Atholl , Perthshire . Making a path : Gritters take to the A9 to keep the road clear near Dalwhinnie , in west of the Cairngorms National Park today . Having fun : Jackie and Sam Adamson -LRB- left -RRB- sledging at Glenmore in the Cairngorms , where Louise Martin -LRB- right -RRB- was also seen going downhill . High tide : Richmond and Isleworth in west London was flooded after the Thames burst its banks last night , but that did n't stop this person from taking their dog for a walk . My car ! The Environment Agency has issued flood warnings for riverside properties in Richmond and Isleworth due to exceptionally high tides . Great outdoors : Sleet falls as a woman and her dog walk through Ashwood Park in Buxton , Derbyshire . Covering : Snowy acorns near Blair Atholl , Perthshire , today . A Met Office snow warning is in place for the area until Tuesday . And more than 50 flood alerts and nine warnings were in place for England and Wales this morning , as well as eight and two respectively for Scotland . Meanwhile wave swells of up to 50ft are expected off the Republic of Ireland within 24 hours , with ` super tides ' forecast until tomorrow . These are caused by the astronomical tide being at an 18-year peak , although the height will not be unusual because the weather is normal for winter . However , strong winds and higher tides than average have prompted a warning over a flooding risk brought on by large waves in coastal areas . The Environment Agency said it was urging people to ` take care near coastal paths and promenades and not to drive through flood water ' . Overnight rural parts of England saw freezing temperatures , with -6 C -LRB- 21F -RRB- in Benson , Oxfordshire , and -7 C -LRB- 19F -RRB- observed in the Scottish Highlands . Brave couple : Nicola Clyde , left , and Jonathan Carroll , right , go out for a walk in the snow in Blair Atholl , Perthshire . Warm coat : A highland cow stands in the snow near Trinafour , Perthshire , as Scotland expected up to 8in to fall over the next few days . Swirling : People watching sledgers at Glenmore in the Scottish Highlands are suddenly engulfed in snow today as the wind picks up . Chilly start : A man and woman enjoy the early morning frost at Richmond Park in south-west London today . Free-roaming : A sharp frost turned Hampshire 's New Forest into a winter wonderland early this morning - but rain is on the way today . Deer in the park : There was early morning frost in Richmond today , while elsewhere in the South temperatures dropped to -6 C overnight . High tide : A surfer enjoys the conditions at Porthcawl , South Wales , with swells of up to 50ft expected off the Republic of Ireland tomorrow . Met Office meteorologist Mark Wilson said : ` It 's set to be a very wet and windy day for most parts . ` Across northern parts temperatures will reach a maximum of around 5C -LRB- 40F -RRB- , while the South West will briefly hit 10C -LRB- 50F -RRB- . ' Another forecaster , Chris Page , said wind gusts of up to 60mph are likely , especially in coastal areas , adding to the blizzard-type conditions . He said : ` It does n't necessarily mean that every single place within the warning zone will see snow . It 's a hit-and-miss scenario -LSB- with the showers -RSB- . ' Icy conditions are forecast tomorrow and Tuesday , as slow melts away leaving a risk of slippery patches on untreated surfaces . A Met Office warning for 4in of snow today was valid from 6am to 5pm , covering all of mainland Scotland and most of northern England . Forecast : The Met Office said today will be ` very wet and windy ' in most areas - with temperatures only expected to hit 10C in the South West . ` Be aware ' : The Met Office has a snow warning in the North and Scotland today , which widens to cover the Midlands tomorrow and on Tuesday . Environment Agency flood watch : More than 50 flood alerts and nine warnings were in place for England and Wales this morning . Snow in red , rain in blue : Blizzard conditions are expected , with heavy snow on high level routes and some accumulations at lower levels . A separate alert issued from midnight tonight until 3pm on Tuesday covers as far south as the Peak District and also includes a warning for ice . There was only one report of severe delays on a motorway this morning - between junction 7 and 6A of the M1 near Hemel Hempstead , Hertfordshire . In the Lake District , motorists got into difficulties on higher routes . Cumbria Police 's road traffic unit tweeted : ` Kirkstone Pass and The Struggle closed . ` Several vehicles stranded and RTCs -LRB- road traffic collisions -RRB- . Treacherous conditions . Please do not go there . ' Yesterday snow was seen in parts of Surrey and a light dusting visible in the early hours in London , while Cumbria was covered in several inches . Commonly referred to as super tides , spring tides or ` super moon ' tides , they are governed by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun . In a blog on its website , Met Office analysts said these tides occur when the pull of the sun and moon align and combine . When the gravitational pulls offset each other , we get smaller tides known as neap tides . We are currently at the height of these pull increases . The experts added : ` However , there is a longer cycle at work too , associated with the gravitational pull of the planets in the solar system . ` This means we can see additional , albeit relatively small , increases and decreases in the size of spring and neap tides over long periods of time . ' This is the moment a deer swam through a flooded wetland after being caught out by the highest spring tide in 20 years . With water rapidly rising to about 7ft , the animal battled through water with only its head above the surface . But the deer made it to the other side of Steart Marshes near Bridgwater , Somerset , and even stuck its tongue out at the photographer . Getting across : This deer swam through a flooded Steart Marshes in Somerset , after being caught out by the highest spring tide in 20 years . Soaked : With water rapidly rising to about 7ft , the animal battled through water with only its head above the surface . It was one of five deer that did not expect the sheer volume and speed in which the wetlands was flooded . But none were hurt . Photographer Robin Morrison said : ` I do n't think the deer were bothered . They normally move around and find higher ground . ` But the volume and speed -LSB- yesterday -RSB- was a different level . They must have thought `` oh , we better get out of here '' . ` They are obviously very good swimmers . They just got to higher ground , had a bit of a shake and then basked in the sun for a while . ' Unhurt : It was one of five deer that did not expect the sheer volume and speed in which the wetlands was flooded . Spotted : The photographer said the deer which escaped the flooded wetland are ` obviously very good swimmers ' and made it to higher ground . | Met Office yellow ` be aware ' snow warning in North and Scotland today , and also covering Midlands tomorrow . Gusts of 60mph expected to create blizzard conditions in North , with heavy snow expected on high level routes . More than 50 flood alerts and nine warnings in place for England and Wales , as well as eight and two in Scotland . Wave swells of up to 50ft expected off Republic of Ireland in 24 hours and ` super tides ' expected until tomorrow . Environment Agency urges people to ` take care near coastal promenades and not to drive through flood water ' | [[147, 232], [218, 232], [241, 295], [1277, 1346], [2519, 2585], [5121, 5189], [5121, 5157], [5192, 5256], [5419, 5484], [5470, 5484], [5493, 5547], [296, 353], [361, 442], [1129, 1186], [1194, 1236], [1268, 1274], [1277, 1313], [1277, 1346], [4675, 4693], [4709, 4750], [4675, 4693], [4783, 4823], [5705, 5737], [6111, 6131], [6134, 6184], [2590, 2682], [5581, 5675], [2738, 2830], [3042, 3129], [4351, 4419], [3114, 3174], [3175, 3309], [3203, 3309], [3175, 3190], [3277, 3309]] |
Activists , actors and politicians gathered Saturday in New York City to honor civil rights leader Malcolm X with a ceremony at the Harlem site where he was killed 50 years ago today . About 300 people converged to hear remarks from one of Malcolm X 's six daughters , Ilyasah Shabazz , as well as elected officials , including Reverend Al Sharpton , who said believes the civil rights icon would have been proud of the demonstrators across the country who demonstrated who protested the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown . The ceremony was held at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center , formerly known as the Audubon Ballroom . Scroll down for video . In memoriam : Ilyasah Shabazz , daughter of Malcolm X , speaks about her father and family on Saturday as activists , actors , and politicians remembered the civil rights leader during a ceremony in New York . About 300 people converged to hear remarks from one of Malcolm X 's six daughters , Ilyasah Shabazz , as well as elected officials , including Reverend Al Sharpton . Remembering an icon : Ilyasah Shabazz spoke of her father 's legacy and keeping it alive , while Sharpton spoke of how he believes Malcolm X would have reacted to the protests over Eric Garner and Michael Brown . A blue light shone onto the floor in the exact spot where he was killed . A mural with images of Malcolm X adorned a wall . ` He was just a young man who gave all that he possibly could , ' Shabazz said after a moment of silence marking the time of his death . ' I felt so compelled to try and do whatever it was that I could for my father , not because , again , he was my father , but because of the work he did for all of us , ' she added , according to NY1 News . ` So I do n't think it 's only my responsibility - I think it 's all of our responsibilities . ' Killed : February 21 was the 50th anniversary of the assassination Of Malcolm X . Malcolm X , whose full name was El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was 39 when he was shot in the theater on Feb. 21 , 1965 , as he was preparing to address several hundred of his followers . By the time he died , the Muslim leader had moderated his militant message of black separatism and pride but was still very much a passionate advocate of black unity , self-respect and self-reliance . Three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of murder in his death . He had repudiated the Nation of Islam less than a year earlier . In an interview with The Associated Press on the eve of the anniversary observance , Shabazz said she was pleased that the site is now a place for people to get a sense of empowerment . Scene : Human rights activist Malcolm X is tended to as he lies mortally wounded on the stage of the Audubon ballroom in the Harlem on February 21 , 1965 , after being shot multiple times . ` One of the great things about Malcolm is that he redefined the civil rights movement to include a human rights agenda , ' she said . ` So while we are focusing on integrating schools , integrating housing and all these other things , Malcolm said that we demand our human rights ` by any means necessary . ' ` And that means ... that we have to address these problems . That we have to identify them , and absolutely discuss them . ' Respect : Thousands gathered for the funeral of Malcolm X following his death . Plans for the ceremony also included a keynote address by social and political activist Ron Daniels , and a reading by actor Delroy Lindo of a eulogy for Malcolm X that was written by the late actor and activist Ossie Davis . | Malcolm X was 39 when he was assassinated in Harlem , New York , while preparing to give an address on February 21 , 1965 . Hundreds gathered Saturday at the same theater to keep his legacy alive . ` He was just a young man who gave all that he possibly could , ' said one of this six daughters , Ilyasah Shabazz . Sharpton said Malcolm X would have been proud of the protests that followed the police shootings of Eric Garner and Michael Brown . | [[1842, 1848], [1851, 1862], [1851, 1923], [1924, 1933], [1983, 2032], [1990, 2039], [2042, 2107], [2645, 2783], [0, 143], [688, 699], [702, 717], [744, 790], [1403, 1462], [328, 348], [355, 452], [434, 452], [457, 529], [1161, 1276]] |
A woman was left horrified after she spotted a giant rat outside her home in north London . Sam Firth photographed the rodent , which she estimated to be between 16 and 18 inches , as it peered through her back door in fashionable Belsize Park . The sighting comes as pest controllers revealed the shocking epidemic of mutant rats - some as big as cats - across the UK . The rodents , which have been seen been seen across the country over the past year , are twice as large as normal species and can not be killed with traditional substances . Scroll down for video . Alarming : Sam Firth spotted this giant rat outside her home in fashionable Belsize Park , north London . Fearless : The rodent , which Ms Firth estimated to be between 16 and 18 inches , approaches the back door . One rodent measuring 20-inches was recently spotted at a food establishment in Swindon , Wiltshire . Kevin Higgins , of the British Pest Control Association , said rat numbers were going up by about 15 per cent each year - and the boom was driven by the availability of food . ` The more food , the more rodents it will attract , ' he said . John McNeice , director of Scottish Pest Control Services , said : ` We see big rats in cold stores . The rats grow a very thick fur . That can make them look bigger . ` You might see a rat under a pallet that looks as big as a cat . ' Similar stories of giant rats have been reported by pest controllers in Glasgow , the Scottish borders and Swindon . Last week , experts warned of a plague of super rats after it was revealed that pest control budgets have been slashed by a quarter by local authorities . Information released to Labour by councils has revealed deep cuts in the amounts being spent on controlling vermin . A map details where notable rats have been recorded across the UK since 2010 . The rat discovered in Swindon this month was giant at 20-inches , but not considered ` mutant ' as it was killed traditionally . Across 200 local authorities in England , pest control budgets have been cut by 24.4 per cent on average since 2010 . There has also been a 16 per cent cut in the amounts spent on street cleaning . Some authorities insist they have taken steps to provide better value for money , accounting for reductions in budgets . But others admit they have stopped providing pest control services altogether . Super rats are typically larger than sewer rats and can not be killed by traditional rodenticides . The species has developed a genetic mutation which means substances approved by the EU to control rat populations has no effect on them . Pest controllers are calling for new rules to be made allowing the creation of stronger poisons , though the health and safety risk to humans and the environment this bears is a bone of contention . Most rats are found in food premises , though some have been recorded across the UK in homes . To prevent the creatures from infesting your home or business , experts advise keeping conditions spotlessly clean . Ensuring wheelie bins have proper drain holes is also important , said exterminators . ' A rat in the wrong place is a problem for anybody so you have to be vigilant whether its commercial or residential . ` They 'll chew water pipes , electric cables and it puts your property at risk , ' said Justin Holloway of exterminators , Prokill . Traditionally , people have been able to call out pest control officers from their local authorities if their homes are infested with mice , rats , wasps or other pests . Many councils have offered free assessments , and then made subsidised charges for proofing , poisons or other recommended measures . The decline in local authority services means more people are likely to attempt ineffective and sometimes dangerous DIY solutions , increasing the numbers of pests , experts said . Reports this year suggest that rats in the UK are becoming bigger , and some are developing resistance to traditional methods of control . So-called ` super rats ' are expected to outnumber humans two to one by next year . Genetic testing by Huddersfield University has revealed that some rodents have developed a mutation that allows them to survive conventional poisons . In counties including Berkshire , Suffolk , Surrey , Wiltshire , Hampshire and Kent , all the rats tested were found to have immunity to poison . Earlier this year , worried homeowners shared photographs of the rodents , some of which were as large as small cats . One , found on an industrial estate in Liverpool , measured two feet , while another in Gravesend , Kent , was the width of a shovel . Researchers at Huddersfield University performed studies on the rodents , with some parts of Britain more severely affected than others . In Gloucestershire and Shropshire , around 20 per cent of rats tested were immune to traditional poisons , while a third in Kingston could not be killed using the substances . In Southampton , 75 per cent of the rodents were found to have the genetic mutation . Spread : This enormous rat discovered in Cornwall last year measured 50cm . Reports this year suggest that rats in the UK are becoming bigger , and some are developing resistance to traditional methods of control . Epidemic : This rat found in Swindon is the largest on record for the Wiltshire town . Pest exterminators have warned an influx of super rats may be on its way , with the rodents immune to traditional poisons . | Giant rat photographed outside home in fashionable Belsize Park , London . Homeowner Sam Firth estimated it was between 16 and 18 inches long . Comes as pest controllers revealed the rise in number of mutant rats in UK . Rodents are twice as large as normal and are resistant to traditional poison . | [[0, 91], [33, 91], [580, 657], [92, 178], [686, 696], [714, 754], [246, 370], [268, 370], [5309, 5363], [371, 453], [456, 492], [371, 443], [497, 544], [2358, 2368], [2410, 2457], [3833, 3958], [5083, 5208]] |
Ford Focus Zetec , 5-door 1.0 T . Price as driven : # 19,630 . Ray Massey tested the new 5-door Ford Focus Zetec -LRB- pictured -RRB- this week and was impressed by the car 's simple interior and streamlined exterior styling . GOOD . BAD . Golden Globewinning actor and car fan Idris Elba -- star of the film Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom -- has been putting Jaguar 's new XE compact salon through its paces before it goes on sale in June priced from # 26,995 . Golden Globewinning actor and car fan Idris Elba -LRB- pictured -RRB- has been putting Jaguar 's new XE compact salon through its paces before it goes on sale in June . As well as driving an XE from London to Berlin for a four-part documentary , he 's taken part in a high-octane test at Spa , Belgium , with the help of ex-F1 driver Martin Brundle . He said : ` My work takes me around the world , but I rarely have the time to get behind the wheel myself . ' Prime Minister David Cameron welcomed Rolls-Royce 's official announcement that it 's to build its first ever 4x4 , creating hundreds of new jobs . He was present as the firm announced the multi-million pound investment at its Goodwood factory , in West Sussex , on Wednesday and hailed it as a huge vote of confidence in the UK and its economy . Rolls Royce officially announced this week that they will be building their first ever 4x4 and creating hundreds of new jobs - this photograph demonstrates how the new 4x4 could look . He said : ` The Government will do everything we can to support you because it is something the country needs more of . ' The new super-luxury offroader -LRB- as imagined by Auto Express above -RRB- is set to go into production within three years , adding to a line-up which includes the Phantom and Ghost limousines and variants , plus the Wraith fastback . It will be a high-bodied allterrain vehicle with all-new aluminium architecture , which Rolls-Royce says is ` worthy of carrying the Spirit of Ecstasy into the future ' . | The company have put a great deal of attention to detail into this model . The new Zetec is both effortless and nimble to drive . Ford have listened to their customers and simplified the car 's interior . Were it not for a Press leak , this would be a test of the latest version of the Ford Fusion . That was the name planned for the mid-size hatchback , which in 1998 replaced the longrunning Escort . But Ford 's then boss , the mercurial Jac Nasser , was so incensed that the cat had got out of the bag , he changed the name and revealed it just seconds before the curtains came up at its Geneva Motor Show launch . Now with 12 million sold worldwide , we 're on the third generation . Ford does so many things without fuss that it 's easy to take its cars for granted . A big mistake . The company puts a great deal of attention to detail into each model . So this newcomer is both effortless and nimble to drive , but also engaging , thanks to a crisp six-speed manual gearbox linked to a willing , yet frugal and award-winning , 1-litre 125bhp EcoBoost engine . The base price of the car I drove was # 18,795 , but it came with a few extras including Frozen White paint -LRB- # 250 -RRB- , door edge protectors -LRB- # 85 -RRB- , but most significantly the Ford Sync2 DAB navigation system -LRB- # 500 -RRB- with a big 8in touch-screen with on the central dashboard . It includes a splitscreen display , voice-control of audio , satnav , climate control and mobile phones , spoken street names , 3-D highway , junction and landmark views and even the Michelin guide . A chunk of money , but well worth it . The ergonomics make it easy to sit in and drive . Buttons tend to be where you want them . Ford said it 's listened to customers who asked for simplicity inside the car with fewer controls and switches to navigate around . So a sensible de-clutter results in a cleaner , more modern feel to the interior with black satin trim and chrome detailing . Sufficient space in the back . The boot is big enough for the weekly shop . Good economy at around 60mpg -- almost 50mpg in town , helped by stop-start technology . Acceleration from rest to 62 mph is 11 seconds which , while it wo n't break any speed records , is fine for family motoring . CO2 emissions are low at 108g/km . My Zetec trim level is the third of six which range from basic Studio to Style , Zetec , Zetec S , Titanium and Titanium X. Standard equipment includes 16 in alloy wheels , a quick-clear heated windscreen , air conditioning , remote central locking , hill-start assist , Thatcham category 1 alarm , halogen headlamps , sports-style front seats and a driver-seat lumbar adjust . Exterior styling has been refined to make it look more streamlined , but the main brief seems to have been , if it ai n't broke , do n't fix it . Up against tough competition such as the Volkswagen Golf which , although more expensive , is a hard act to follow . There are some handy parking aids on offer , which use ultrasonic sensors to locate parking spaces and steer the car into them automatically . Sadly on the model I tested , they were not fitted . Having plumped for a midrange model , you might ask what else is on offer . Beyond the standard Titanium X trim there 's the 135mph ST , with its 250 bhp 2-litre EcoBoost petrol engine , which hits showrooms this month from # 22,195 . There 's also a 185 bhp diesel with a top speed of 135mph and 19in alloys , and a high-performance 320 bhp 2.3-litre allwheel drive RS -- the 30th vehicle to wear the RS badge since 1968 . | [[63, 73], [148, 226]] |
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani may be known for taming crime , but a book probing into his life claims that his father was tied to the mob and served prison time for armed robbery . Though Giuliani credits his father with raising him to have the values that made him a success , the book alleges that his father had connections with organized crime . Rudy ! : An Investigative Biography of Rudolph Giuliani , written by former Village Voice investigative reporter and senior editor Wayne Barrett in 2001 , alleges a slew of claims about the former mayor and his family . Rudy ! : An Investigative Biography of Rudolph Giuliani , written by former Village Voice investigative reporter and senior editor Wayne Barrett in 2001 , claims a slew of claims about former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani . Family : Though Giuliani credits his father with raising him to have the values that made him a success , the book alleges that his father had connections with organized crime . Crime : Giuliani is known for the zero-tolerance policy that lowered the crime rate in New York CIty while he was in office . The former mayor 's father Harold Giuliani went to Sing Sing prison for a one-and-a-half years in 1934 after robbing a milkman at gunpoint , Barrett claims . Book : The former mayor 's father Harold Giuliani went to Sing Sing prison for a one-and-a-half years in 1934 after robbing a milkman at gunpoint , Barrett claims . This was a decade before his son , who later sought the 2008 GOP presidential nomination , was born . Harold Giuliani also allegedly ` broke legs , smashed kneecaps -LSB- and -RSB- crunched noses ' when he served as a ` muscle ' for a for a loansharking operation in the 1950s , and got in a Brooklyn gunfight in the 1960s , according to ABC . Direct links between the former mayor and organized crime , however , are hard to find , Barrett told ABC . ' I think Harold Giuliani went out of his way to protect his son from that environment . Rudy has said he was taught to hate the mob when he was growing up , ' Barrett said . Giuliani , who was mayor of New York from 1994 through 2001 , is credited for taking down organized crime and lowering crime in the city . He also is known for his great leadership in New York after the September 11 attacks . The former mayor has said that has missed his father every day since he died of prostate cancer in 1981 . ` He taught me enormously important lessons , including the lesson of being honest , which I 've practiced all my life , ' Giuliani said when asked about the book in 2001 . Barrett 's book also reveals information about his romantic relationships with two women that eventually led to a public separation from his wife , Donna Hanover . Giuliani recently hit headlines after questioning President Barack Obama 's love of the United States last week . Author : Harold Giuliani also allegedly ` broke legs , smashed kneecaps -LSB- and -RSB- crunched noses ' when he served as a ` muscle ' for a for a loansharking operation in the 1950s , and got in a Brooklyn gunfight in the 1960s , Barrett -LRB- pictured above -RRB- claims in his book . Marriage : Barrett 's book also reveals information about his romantic relationships with two women that eventually led to a public separation from his wife , Donna Hanover , pictured with son Andrew Harold . The former mayor said at a New York City event on Wednesday night that ' I know this is a horrible thing to say , but I do not believe that the president loves America . ' ` He does n't love you . And he does n't love me . He was n't brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up through love of this country , ' Giuliani said , according to Politico . Giuliani says he is standing by his comments about Obama and denies that the statements are rooted in racism . But he said he has received death threats - mainly in the form of voicemails - in the wake of the controversial comments . ` I 'm right about this . I have no doubt about it . I do not withdraw my words , ' Giuliani told NBC Friday . ' I do not detect , in this man , the same rhetoric and the same language , the same love of America that I detected in other American presidents including democrats . ' Giuliani told NBC that though he never meant to question the president 's patriotism , he absolutely will not apologize for saying what he believes . Patriotism : Giuliani , pictured here in 1987 , recently hit headlines and received death threats after questioning President Barack Obama 's love of the United States . Stands by claims : Giuliani , pictured here in 1985 , said last week that though he never meant to question Obama 's patriotism , he absolutely will not apologize for saying what he believes . | In 2001 book , Rudy ! : An Investigative Biography of Rudolph Giuliani , former Village Voice reporter alleges a string of claims about former mayor 's family . Reporter Wayne Barrett says former mayor 's father , Harold Guliani , went to prison a decade before his son was born after robbing milkman at gunpoint . Barrett claims Harold Giuliani served as a ` muscle ' for a loansharking outfit . Rudy Giuliani is known for his work in lowering crime rate in New York City . He has said he credits father for giving him values that led him to success . Last week Giuliani came under fire for questioning President Barack Obama 's love of the United States . Though he has received death threats , he said he stands by his comments . | [[75, 189], [368, 414], [417, 511], [359, 363], [368, 414], [514, 578], [588, 590], [618, 634], [637, 731], [579, 583], [588, 634], [734, 804], [75, 189], [1109, 1135], [1152, 1211], [1218, 1247], [1383, 1412], [287, 358], [911, 982], [1250, 1266], [1415, 1431], [1534, 1549], [1555, 1602], [1630, 1708], [1534, 1549], [1580, 1627], [1630, 1708], [2851, 2919], [2947, 3025], [2842, 2848], [2851, 2866], [2897, 2944], [2947, 3025], [0, 68], [1013, 1038], [1044, 1108], [2059, 2067], [2121, 2197], [197, 260], [238, 284], [821, 884], [862, 908], [2728, 2841], [2728, 2736], [2760, 2841], [4371, 4381], [4384, 4392], [4446, 4540], [3706, 3816], [3720, 3762], [3821, 3939], [3993, 4019], [4371, 4381], [4384, 4392], [4446, 4540]] |
David Cameron , Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband will be put on the spot this week when broadcasting chiefs announce fresh details of planned televised Election debates . BBC , ITV and a combined Sky/Channel 4 team will draw lots to decide the scheduling order for three proposed TV confrontations between the party leaders . They intend to show three debates in the six weeks leading up to the May 7 Election , with two programmes featuring seven party leaders and a separate head-to-head clash between Mr Cameron and Mr Miliband . David Cameron , Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband -LRB- pictured left to right -RRB- will be put on the spot this week when broadcasting chiefs announce fresh details of planned televised Election debates . But there is continuing speculation that the debates may never be screened because of squabbling between the rival parties and the broadcasters . The Prime Minister has complained that the debates are too close to polling day , Mr Clegg says it is unfair to exclude him from the Cameron versus Miliband showdown and Mr Miliband is worried that allowing Scottish Nationalist Party leader Nicola Sturgeon to take part in two of the debates is a major threat to Labour 's fading hopes north of the border . Veteran political inquisitor Jeremy Paxman has been tipped to host one of the programmes . Some Tory MPs have urged Mr Cameron to boycott the debates altogether on the grounds that with a superior personal rating in the polls to Mr Clegg or Mr Miliband , he has most to lose by debating with them live on television over three hours or more . Channel 4 and Sky TV , which have won the right to broadcast the Cameron versus Miliband clash , are reportedly planning to ` empty chair ' the debate if the Prime Minister refuses to take part . That could make it tricky for Mr Miliband if he opts to appear on his own as he would face the prospect of being interrogated by new Channel 4 recruit , veteran political inquisitor Jeremy Paxman , who has been tipped to host the programme . Invitations to join the two debates of seven leaders will be sent to Mr Cameron , Mr Miliband , Mr Clegg , Mrs Sturgeon , Ukip 's Nigel Farage , Green party leader Natalie Bennett and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood . Northern Ireland 's Protestant-dominated Democratic Unionist Party has threatened legal action for being excluded . And if they win , it is certain to provoke similar demands from rival parties in Ulster . Broadcasters want to hold the debates on April 2 , April 16 and April 30 . | BBC , ITV and Sky/Channel 4 team will draw lots to decide scheduling order . They want three proposed TV confrontations between the party leaders . Intend to show debates in the six weeks leading up to the May Election . But there is speculation that the debates may never be screened because of squabbling between the rival parties and the broadcasters . | [[165, 168], [171, 319], [0, 76], [165, 168], [171, 319], [320, 425], [411, 526], [82, 164], [320, 425], [644, 726], [2435, 2509], [731, 872]] |
An Air Force Reserve captain whose family believe she was sexually assaulted in Afghanistan killed herself using her handgun . Jamie Brunette , from Tampa , Florida , was found dead on February 9 by Tampa police in the back of her locked sedan near her apartment . It appears the 30-year-old killed herself with her Smith & Wesson .380 handgun , which she purchased about six months earlier according to police , reports the Tampa Tribune . Air Force Reserve Capt. Jamie Brunette was found dead on February 9 by Tampa police in the back of her locked Chrysler 200 sedan near her apartment . The news shocked her family as Brunette , who left active duty after 11 years last June and joined the Air Force Reserve , had not shown any signs of being suicidal . The news shocked her family as Brunette , who left active duty after 11 years last June and joined the Air Force Reserve , had not shown any signs of being suicidal and was in the middle of opening her new fitness business . ` She had so much going for her , ' says Jackie Leverich , 40 , Brunette 's oldest sister . ` She was so full of hope and wonderment and passion and excitement for life . ' To the outside world Brunette appeared happy - the week before her death she was posting photos of her studio being built with the caption ` Doing work today ! ' . It was due to open in a few weeks time and Brunette was part owner/part instructor . But Leverich says she believes something traumatic happened to her sister in Afghanistan , saying the family noticed a change in Brunette on her return at her sister 's wedding . ` She seemed upbeat , ' says Leverich , ` but she was n't really giving us a whole lot of detail about life and what was going on . ' Brunette was in the middle of opening her new fitness business next month - pictured here on a bike outside the studio . Leverich says she suspects that her sister was sexually assaulted in Afghanistan - she does not have any proof , but believes there was an incident . ' I suspect she was assaulted , and she did n't feel comfortable reporting it for some reason and internalized the incident so she could finish her deployment , which she did with flying colors , ' says Leverich . ` It 's not anything she told me , just from talking with all her friends this past week , and piecing those things together . ' I am female active duty , 18 years in the Coast Guard . I am well aware of those issues , and that 's my gut feeling . ' The following year Brunette left active duty and opted for the Air Force Reserve . In June 2014 , Brunette left active duty and opted for the Air Force Reserve . Air Force Lt. Col Kurt Spranger , her business partner told the Tampa Tribune : ' I do not know the detail , but unequivocally I can say , yes , something happened , something that should never happen to a human , ' says Spranger . ` Something happened and it was why she wanted to get out . So she would n't have to deploy again . ' He said Brunettte had split with her boyfriend two weeks before her death , but she did not give any signs of being outwardly unhappy and was professional at all times . The Hillsborough County medical examiner 's initial report states that Brunette had a ` long tobacco and alcohol abuse history ' and was suffering from depression and anxiety . Her roommate said Brunette had confided in her that she was seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder from the VA and had been depressed . The VA , citing privacy issues , could not comment . A memorial page set up online has been inundated with comments . One user wrote : ` She was a wonderful , bright , positive , professional , Contingency Contracting Officer and Airmen . She was so young and so full of life and I feel great sadness from the squadron that loved her very much . ' Another user wrote : ' I recently met Jamie at Orange Theory in Largo . I was so impressed while talking to her - articulate , respectful , courteous and interesting . She was full of life and excited about getting her business up and running . ' MailOnline has contacted the US Air Force for a comment . To speak to a skilled , trained counselor , call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1800 273 8255 . | Air Force Reserve Capt. Jamie Brunette was found dead on February 9 by Tampa police in the back of her locked car near her apartment in Florida . Police say it appears she killed herself with her handgun . Sister believes something traumatic happened to her in Afghanistan . Her family do not have any evidence of a sexual assault . | [[127, 154], [157, 211], [463, 524], [0, 28], [92, 126], [265, 343], [1409, 1493]] |
Three-parent babies risk the future of the human race and put Britain at odds with EU law , politicians from across Europe have warned . MPs from Italy claim the ` human species as a whole ' will be affected by the controversial technique , while MEPs in Brussels warn it violates ` human dignity and integrity of the person ' . But ahead of a vote on the law in the House of Lords , former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey dismissed the ` unfathomable ' opposition and vowed to defy the Church 's line to back the idea . Graphic shows how the three-parent baby process works . However critics argue there is a small risk of diseased mitochondria could be carried over too -LRB- point 4 -RRB- . MPs last month voted in favour of Britain becoming the first country in the world to permit the creation of IVF babies with genetic material from three different people , despite warnings from some experts warn it would be an ` historic mistake ' . Scientists at Newcastle University have developed a way of swapping the mother-to-be 's diseased mitochondria -- the ` batteries ' that give cells energy -- with healthy ones from another woman 's egg . Supporters stress that mitochondrial DNA is 0.054 per cent of a person 's overall DNA and none of the nuclear DNA which determines personal characteristics and traits . David Cameron backed the law change , insisting it was not ` playing God ' but the chance to hep parents have a ` healthy and happy baby ' . But some 50 MEPs have written to the Prime Minister calling for him to withdraw the legislation , which is due to be debated in the Lords . Lord Carey , the former Archbishop of Canterbury , is firmly in favour of three-parent babies . Slovakian MEP Miroslav Mikolásik has called on the European Commission to ` take steps ' over Britain 's ` lack of compliance ' with EU law . In the letter he and 49 other MEPs said : ` We are writing to you to express our profound concern at the intention of the UK to permit the modification of the human genome . ` Your proposals violate the fundamental standards of human dignity and integrity of the person . ' Meanwhile a group of Italian MPs have also called on the House of Lords to vote against the plans . In a letter to The Times , they warned the technique ` could have uncontrollable and unforeseeable consequences , affecting future generations and modifying genetic heritage in an irreversible way , inevitably affecting the human species as a whole ' . The letter added : ` The greater part of the scientific community maintain that the scientific data currently available is insufficient to even consider intervention on human subjects , and there can not therefore be any guarantee for the safety of any eventual off-spring ' . However , supporters of the technique have rejected the idea that the global scientific community is opposed to mitochondrial donation . Lord Carey said he was surprised that Church of England in the Lords were preparing to support a delaying motion from the Roman Catholic peer Lord Deben . In an article in the Mail on Sunday , he said : ` It would be received by families as a cruel and unnecessary delay after seven years of investigation , consultation , parliamentary discussion and scrutiny . ' He added : ` Much opposition is coming from well-organised campaigns from Catholics from Latin America and Eastern Europe . But if we can not make any alteration , then we will deny ourselves the possibility of ever improving life for those who suffer from these intractable conditions . ` Turning our backs on these advances is uncaring and unloving . We live in an exciting time for medical research and we must support caring scientists and doctors with the resources and proper regulations to do their work . ' Mitochondrial donation would allow IVF babies to be born with DNA from three different people should be made legal . The technique involves replacing DNA in an egg in order to prevent devastating inherited mitochondrial diseases . WHAT ARE MITOCHONDRIA ? Mitochondria are tiny rod-like structures in cells which act as power houses , generating the energy that allows our bodies to function . Unusually , they have their own DNA , distinct from the genetic material within the cell nucleus . Mitochondrial DNA -LRB- mDNA -RRB- makes up about 0.1 % of a cell 's total DNA and does not affect individual characteristics such as appearance and personality . WHAT CAUSES MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASE ? Harmful mutations in mitochondrial DNA can prevent the mitochondria working properly , resulting in a number of diseases some of which can be serious and life threatening . They may affect major organs and cause conditions ranging from poor vision to diabetes and muscle wasting . HOW ARE MITOCHONDRIAL DISEASES PASSED ON ? Children may inherit mitochondrial DNA defects from their mothers , but not their fathers . People with faulty mDNA can develop symptoms or be carriers of the condition without experiencing ill-effects themselves . WHAT IS MITOCHONDRIAL DONATION ? Defective mDNA from a mother 's egg can be replaced with healthy mDNA from a donor . This will then prevent the harmful mutations being inherited and passed onto future generations . WHAT ARE THE TECHNIQUES INVOLVED ? There are two different procedures , one carried out before fertilisation and the other after . Maternal Spindle Transfer -LRB- MST -RRB- involves first removing the nuclear DNA from a donor egg whose mitochondria are healthy . The ` spindle ' of chromosomes containing the mother 's nuclear DNA is then taken from her egg and inserted into the donor egg . As a result , the donor egg is left with nuclear DNA from the mother and mDNA from the donor . This healthy egg is then fertilised and implanted into the mother 's womb . Pronuclear Transfer -LRB- PT -RRB- is similar but in this case the mother 's egg is fertilised first . Its nuclear DNA is then transferred to a fertilised donor egg , containing healthy mitochondria , whose own nuclear DNA has been removed . This healthy fertilised egg is then implanted . HOW SAFE IS MITOCHONDRIAL DONATION ? Animal and laboratory experiments suggest that the procedures are safe , but no-one can say that the risk is zero . Three separate reviews by an expert panel convened by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology 's Authority have found no evidence that the techniques are unsafe for clinical use . Critics argue that problems might only arise once the procedure is used to create human babies . For instance , replacing mDNA might have more of an impact on personal traits than had been envisaged . Unknown epigenetic effects , environmental influences that alter the way genes work , may also have serious consequences for the health of babies , it is claimed . | House of Lords to vote on babies being born using DNA from three people . It can prevent serious diseases from being passed down to children . If legalised , Britain will become first country to approve new process . Italian MPs claim the ` human species as a whole ' will be affected . MEPs in Brussels say it violates ` human dignity and integrity of the person ' But ex-Archbishop of Canterbury to defy Church line to back the new law . | [[333, 381], [384, 468], [732, 866], [3759, 3852], [3932, 3989], [5107, 5111], [5117, 5204], [732, 866], [178, 238], [2122, 2144], [2184, 2211], [2411, 2460], [247, 324], [2014, 2109], [384, 426], [473, 524]] |
Britain 's brightest teenagers are most at risk of mental illness caused by smoking a potent form of cannabis . Britain 's brightest teenagers are among those most at risk of mental illness caused by smoking a potent form of cannabis , a leading expert has warned . Professor Sir Robin Murray said it tended to be ` clever and sociable ' youngsters who were damaged by using the super-strong strain of the drug , known as skunk . Sir Robin , the foremost authority in Britain on the effects of smoking cannabis , led a landmark study with colleagues at the Institute of Psychiatry which found that regularly smoking skunk triples the risk of psychosis , as revealed last week by The Mail on Sunday . Now he has given further alarming warnings after his study was published in full in The Lancet Psychiatry . Speaking yesterday , he said that : . Sir Robin said : ` Twenty-five years ago , if parents , brothers or sisters of a patient with schizophrenia asked me : `` Could it have had anything at all to do with the cannabis he smoked ? '' , I 'd have said : `` There 's no evidence that 's the case -- do n't worry about it . '' All the medical journals said cannabis was a safe drug . But now we know there are these risks . ' He said : ` A lot of people who develop schizophrenia have had problems since they were children . Maybe they had more personality or cognitive difficulties than their brothers or sisters . But the ones who develop psychosis associated with cannabis , they tend to be people who were doing very well . ` Their parents always say : `` No I never worried about them at all -- they had lots of friends , were good at school , good at sport . '' ` In some ways their problem was that they were so sociable : they were street-smart and could get cannabis when they were 13 . ` So it 's a different group of people who get psychotic as a result of cannabis : they were cleverer and more sociable before they got ill . ' People who had suffered a single psychotic episode -- such as hallucinations or delusions -- tended to get better if they gave up smoking skunk , with no long-term effects . Cannabis use was as big a health problem in the young as smoking cigarettes , ' said Sir Robin . But , he said ` sadly a proportion wo n't recover ' , adding : ` A third of people with cannabis-induced schizophrenia do n't stop ... people who persist in smoking cannabis have the worst outcomes . Someone who 's smoked regularly for five years , they do n't recover . It just looks like regular schizophrenia . ' Last week 's study concluded that 24 per cent of ` first episode psychosis ' cases in South London were caused by smoking skunk . South London is a known cannabis hot-spot . But Sir Robin believed skunk was now widely available ` across the country ' , with research showing three people now smoked skunk for every individual smoking ` old-fashioned ' , weaker hash . Cannabis use was as big a health problem in the young as smoking cigarettes , he said . ` It used to be that people started smoking cigarettes and then moved on to cannabis . Now , for increasing numbers , it 's the other way around . ' The drug had been ` effectively decriminalised , at least in South London where I work ' , he said , as the police ` wo n't arrest somebody simply because they have cannabis for their own use ' . Increasing numbers of teenagers , wanting to stay on the right side of the law , are buying ` legal highs ' off the internet . These chemicals , marketed as ` spice ' or ` incense ' , are designed to mimic the effects of cannabis . But Sir Robin said they could be much more powerful than skunk . Users of ` synthetic cannabinoids ' are far more likely to end up in A&E than those who smoke pot , according to Dr Adam Winstock of the Institute of Psychiatry . ` Little 14-year-olds who 'd like to experiment , but do n't want to do anything illegal , buy things off the internet that are legal , but also more potent , ' said Sir Robin . ` It 's sad that some kid may end up taking something worse -LSB- than cannabis -RSB- , by getting it in a brown-paper envelope through the post . ' | ` Clever and sociable ' teens damaged by using super-strong skunk . Study found regularly smoking skunk triples the risk of psychosis . Skunk is so wide spread it 's even a gateway drug to tobacco . Its use has left some people with permanent schizophrenia . Cannabis has effectively been decriminalised in south London . Teens now legally purchasing ultra-strong synthetic cannabis online . Skunk now dominates Britain 's cannabis market -- and is so widely used that it has become a gateway drug to tobacco . It is having a devastating impact on mental health -- leaving some people with permanent schizophrenia . Cannabis has been ` effectively decriminalised ' in South London . Teens are now legally purchasing ultra-strong synthetic cannabis online -- without knowing it is even more likely than skunk to trigger psychosis and acute paranoia . | [[266, 348], [316, 348], [353, 410], [1883, 1941], [570, 580], [587, 651], [402, 410], [413, 429], [1832, 1838], [1843, 1880], [3136, 3182], [3136, 3144], [3156, 3182], [3185, 3209], [3332, 3363], [3413, 3458], [402, 410], [413, 429], [2989, 2991], [2997, 3073], [3136, 3182], [3136, 3144], [3156, 3182], [3185, 3209], [3332, 3363], [3413, 3458]] |
For most young people , turning 30 is seen as something of a landmark in life . But Amy Caulton from Hatton , Derbyshire , has celebrated the milestone two years earlier , after giving birth to the child she thought she could never have and two healthy decades passing since her lifesaving kidney transplant . The 28-year-old had the transplant when she was nine and is now the proud mother of five-month-old Seth . Amy Caulton , 28 , -LRB- right -RRB- from Hatton , Derbyshire , had a kidney transplant aged nine and for years she worried it would affect her ability to have a child . She and her partner Anthony -LRB- left -RRB- are now parents to a five-month-old boy called Seth -LRB- centre -RRB- . Amy said : ` When I was growing up , I always wondered if I would be able to have a baby . ' I had to change all my medication before my fiance , Ant , and I could start trying , but even then I did n't know if I would get pregnant . ` Then it happened and I was over the moon . I think Seth is our little miracle . He 's everything we wanted and more . ' Even before Amy , who works at Sainsbury 's , was born , doctors knew she might encounter renal problems in her life as it was clear on the hospital scans that her kidneys were small . Seth was born six weeks early . When she was seven-years-old , her details were added to the NHS Organ Donor Register and it took two years for a suitable match to become available . She said : ` My blood group is quite rare and that made it hard to find me a kidney . ` When I was little , I knew kids who were having their transplants just a few weeks after dialysis . ` For me , the wait was much , much longer . I do n't think I was bothered at the time because I was young and obviously I did n't know the importance of the transplant . ` Now I 'm a mum , I ca n't imagine how my own mum felt about it . She must have been so worried . ' Amy received her donation from a young boy , who lost his life after being involved in an accident and many of his organs , including his other kidney , lungs and liver , were given to others . Amy said : ` He saved the lives of so many people , including mine . ' I will always feel indebted to the boy . He saved my life . ' But Amy 's problems did n't end after the transplant - during the six months after the operation , she developed infections and had to go back into hospital . She said : ' I think my mum and dad regretted the transplant for a while because I had not been so well on my dialysis but after about six months , things settled down and it was fantastic for me to say goodbye to the regular renal treatment . ' Amy with her newborn baby Seth , who weighed just 4lb 8oz at birth . But although the procedure was successful , Amy was always left wondering if her condition would affect her ability to have children . She said : ` When I talked to my consultant at Derby about wanting a baby , he was very supportive . ` He said he would have to change some of the drugs I took and that I would have to wait three months for the other medication to leave my system before I could try and get pregnant . ` Anthony and I were really happy . Obviously , we had to be patient because getting the medication right was important but we were in no rush . Three months later , after Amy and Anthony had been given the green light to try for a baby , they received some wonderful news . Amy was pregnant and she says Anthony , a 33-year-old aircraft designer , was in complete shock at the news . At the 20-week scan , special attention was paid to Seth 's kidneys to make sure that he was alright . She said : ` It was hilarious really . ` Ant and I had talked about just how long it might take me to get pregnant and I 'd told him it could be a while . ` Obviously , because of my kidney transplant and all the medication I took , I thought it could take us at least a year . Luckily , that was n't the case . ' I got pregnant straight away and I was so thrilled . It was everything we wanted . ' Almost as soon as Amy revealed a positive pregnancy test , she was back seeing the renal team at the Royal Derby Hospital . Checks were immediately carried out on her kidney function and doctors were pleased with the results . Amy and Anthony fell pregnant almost immediately . After he was born at the Royal Derby Hospital , Seth was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit . She said : ' I was looked after so very well . It was wonderful to have so many scans and to see the baby growing normally . ` At the 20-week scan , special attention was paid to Seth 's kidneys . I guess everyone wanted to be sure that he was alright . ' Baby Seth was born six weeks early at the Royal Derby Hospital . He weighed a tiny 4lb 8oz and was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit . She said : ` Having a kidney transplant could have stopped me from enjoying life but that has not been the case . ` I 've done some wonderful things and my health issues have never got in the way . ` When I wanted Seth , the team at Derby were only too happy to support and help me . ' I do n't know what the future holds , no-one does , but I 'm so proud of what I have achieved and my son will know all about what I 've been through when he 's older . ' | Amy Caulton from Hatton , Derbyshire , had kidney transplant aged nine . For many years , the 28-year-old worried she would n't be able to conceive . But five months ago , she gave birth to a boy called Seth . | [[84, 107], [110, 169], [310, 362], [416, 464], [480, 527], [528, 585], [717, 738], [741, 794], [350, 353], [367, 415], [586, 605], [631, 670], [650, 703]] |
She will be the oldest Bond girl in 007 history and at 50 , Monica Bellucci insists there 's nothing girly about her new role . The Italian sex bomb told the Giles Hattersley at the Sunday Times Style magazine that she wants to be known as a Bond lady when the latest film , Spectre , is released later this year . ` I 'm not a girl , I 'm a woman . I 'm a mature woman , ' Bellucci told director Sam Mendes when she met him to discuss the movie , which is currently filming in London and Rome . She added : ' I am a Bond lady . ' Scroll down for video . At 50 years old , Monica Bellucci will be the oldest Bond girl in 007 history , but says she has no desire to look younger . Four years older than Daniel Craig , Bellucci is the only Bond girl to be older than her co-star since Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg in the 1960s . The former Dolce & Gabbana model , whose film accolades include The Matrix Reloaded and who was last seen presenting at the Baftas two weeks ago , was born in 1964 - the year Goldfinger was released . She has shunned plastic surgery and is a poster girl for growing old gracefully , telling the magazine : ` We have to start to respect women getting older . ` The real you comes out , and you can see it in the face . I do n't want to be younger . ' Monica pictured with 007 star Daniel Craig . Since hitting 40 , life has certainly been busy for the actress . Monica had her first child the same year and her second child at 45 with French actor Vincent Cassel , from whom she divorced in 2013 after an 18 year relationship . She says having children has given her the ability to ` forget herself ' and said : ` You wake up , go to the bathroom to clean your baby and see yourself in the mirror only by coincidence . ' Monica at a photocall for the film Shoot 'Em Up in France in 2007 . | At 50 years old , Monica Bellucci will be the oldest Bond girl in 007 history . But the Italian actress has no concerns over getting older . In a new magazine interview , she reveals : ' I do n't want to be younger ' | [[0, 57], [555, 570], [573, 632], [680, 714], [717, 827], [555, 570], [573, 588], [639, 679], [1246, 1275]] |
Disposable contact lenses have been developed which mimic the surface of the eye -- making them the most comfortable yet , according to wearers . They have been created specially for middle-aged people who have trouble reading but have been put off wearing contacts because they irritate the eyes by drying them out . The lenses are made of a new material called HyperGel which has the same water content as the cornea and double that of standard silicone contacts . Scroll down for video . Comfy : A new kind of contact lenses which mimic the surface of the eye and said to be the most comfortable yet are to be marketed specially for middle-aged people who have trouble reading . The Biotrue lenses are also breathable , allowing for 93 per cent transmission of oxygen , just short of the 100 per cent available to the open eye . It all means they not do dry out the eyes as much and become uncomfortable for wearers . The contacts were engineered for people with presbyopia -- age-related loss of focus , which affects more than half of adults over 40 . The condition occurs when the crystalline lens of the eye ages and loses flexibility . As a result , those with the condition might have to hold newspapers or restaurant menus further away to read them easily . But older people are less likely to wear contacts to correct their vision because their eyes tend to be drier . London-based contact lens optician Wendy Sethi said the Biotrue lenses , which are available on the high street , help avoid dehydration of the eye , with less than 2 per cent of water lost during a day 's wear . ` It makes them extremely comfortable to wear and the whole process less daunting , ' she said . ` I had a man in his 50s -- a first-time contact lens wearer -- in my practice today who said he could not feel them at all . ' Francesca Marchetti , an optometrist and adviser to WINK , an independent eye-care panel supported by Bausch + Lomb , makers of the new lenses , said the one-a-day , disposable contacts have added hygiene advantages . Reusable , soft contacts must be cleaned and disinfected after every use to prevent a build-up of bacteria and proteins . The new contacts cost between # 40 and # 60 a month , depending on individual practitioners ' prices . | Biotrue contact lenses have the same water content as the human cornea . They are also breathable , allowing for 93 per cent transmission of oxygen . The new contacts cost between # 40 and # 60 a month for daily lenses . | [[682, 720], [682, 700], [723, 770], [2158, 2209], [2212, 2260]] |
An evangelical writer has had his latest book turned down by his Christian publishers after he revealed that he is gay . Brandan Robertson had signed a deal last year with Destiny Image to publish his book , Nomad : Not-So-Religious Thoughts On Faith , Doubt , And The Journey In Between . In January Robertson appeared in a TIME magazine article -- Inside The Evangelical Fight Over Gay Marriage -- in which he identified himself as a homosexual . Brandan Robertson had signed a deal last year with Destiny Image to publish his book , Nomad : Not-So-Religious Thoughts On Faith , Doubt , And The Journey In Between . Last week when he turned in his manuscript , he quickly received a reply from his publisher who had ` concerns ' about his ` media attention ' . He alleges that he was then asked to sign a statement that he does ` not condone , encourage , or accept the homosexual lifestyle ' . Robertson , who is also a spokesperson for Evangelicals for Marriage Equality , refused to sign the statement , and days later he was contacted by the publisher again and told that his book had been dropped . According to Robertson , the publishers were concern that Christian retailers would n't buy the book because of his public advocacy for gay and lesbian inclusion in Christian communities . Destiny Image had previously agreed to publish the book last year , with no advance payment , after Robertson submitted a proposal while still a student at the conservative Moody Bible Institute in Chicago . The book , described as a collection of essays on his personal spiritual journey from a fundamentalist to a progressive evangelical , makes only a glancing reference to homosexuality . Robertson , who is also a spokesperson for Evangelicals for Marriage Equality , refused to sign the statement that he does ` not condone , encourage , or accept the homosexual lifestyle ' Don Nori of parent company Nori Media Group told TIME : ` We did not reject or refuse . As with all books , a publisher decides what is financially viable . ` We released the book back to the author with our sincere prayers for his success . This occurrence happens every season . ' According to Robertson the incident illustrates a much larger problem that the evangelical community has with homosexuality . ` This is so symptomatic of what happens in the broader evangelical community -- every day , LGBTQ individuals are told that they are no longer welcome in churches , are kicked out of homes , are fired from jobs , and forced in to reparative therapy by those who claim to represent Jesus . ' | Brandan Robertson had signed a deal last year with Destiny Image to publish his book Nomad . Then in January he revealed that he is gay . On submitting his completed manuscript last week he received a reply from his publisher who had ` concerns ' about his ` media attention ' He refused their request to sign a statement that he does ` not condone , encourage , or accept the homosexual lifestyle ' | [[121, 205], [449, 533], [1295, 1386], [409, 448], [0, 91], [618, 660], [663, 709], [696, 709], [714, 758], [763, 892], [779, 790], [797, 892], [763, 765], [779, 781], [786, 892], [897, 906], [977, 1006], [1688, 1697], [1768, 1873]] |
A BBC reporter has revealed her battle with skin cancer after becoming addicted to tanning and using sunbeds . Laura McMullan has now called for high street sunbed shops to be banned after a new programme hosted by the reporter branded them as harmful as cigarettes and alcohol . The 39-year-old , who carried out the investigation for BBC1 , believes it was her over-tanning that caused the disease . BBC reporter Laura McMullan , who has revealed her battle with skin cancer after claiming she became addicted to tanning and using sunbeds . She is pictured after receiving her diagnosis of malignant melanoma . In the episode of the BBC investigative show Inside Out , to be broadcast on Monday , Miss McMullan walks 19-year-old Jess through the dangers of sunbed usage . Jess works in a tanning salon and regularly uses its services . Miss McMullan said : ' I just wanted to shake her and say ` Please , do n't keep doing this ' . She looks beautiful on the outside but underneath , who knew what damage she was doing to herself . The worst skin to go underneath sunbeds or in the sun is pale skin and blue eyes , which is what she 's got . She 's a carbon copy of me when I was 19 . We did n't know before we started how much damage she had done but I really wanted to make her think . ' Miss McMullan was inspired to make the film for the BBC after recovering from her own cancer , which was diagnosed in February last year . She was determined to educate people on the dangers of using sunbeds and of tanning in general . She said : ` You read the papers and you hear peoples ' stories that they spend thousands a month on tanning . I read one article from a girl who said that even if she got skin cancer she would still go on sunbeds . Miss McMullan , pictured before being diagnosed with skin cancer , says she first started using sunbeds at the age of 16 and soon became addicted to having a tan . ` If she could go through one day of what I 've been through she would totally take that comment back . People do n't think of skin cancer as a serious type of cancer , they think they can just get it cut out and move on , you go through hell . ' I really , really , really want to hit home to people that just for the sake of a tan , you are risking your life . ' Miss McMullan first began using sunbeds at the age of 16 , when her family would hire a home sunbed once every three weeks for about a week at a time . It triggered a 20-year addiction to tanning , for ten of which she was using sunbeds almost daily . After being diagnosed with skin cancer and now being in recovery , pictured , Miss McMullan always covers up , even on the beach on holiday . She said : ` I 'm convinced it started was when my older brother had hired a sunbed at home , we used to have them brought to the house and dropped off . I thought I would just pop under and have a go . ` It was one where you put it over your bed and you hop in and you do one side and then the other side and I just thought ` this is lovely and warm and I 've got a bit of a glow ' . ' I believe UV rays do promote serotonin , which is a happy hormone . I 've always been pale growing up , I think you just try it one and you like it , you try it again and you like it and you do it more and more . I really was addicted , you just ca n't buy that feeling in a tonic . ` You start to see yourself in the mirror and think you like to have a healthy glow . I eventually thought I did n't look like me anymore when I was pale , so I kept on going . ' She hopes her report will help educate others on the dangers and allow them to avoid the mistakes she made . She added : ` It was never pointed out by a professional person or anyone who worked in the tanning salons or who dropped the sunbeds off at home but my mum used to say to me ` Laura , what damage are you doing to your skin ? ' ` My dad is pale too and he would tell me I would damage my skin in years to come but it just made me feel good and when I started working on the radio I was office based and I had a lunch hour every day and I would pop off to use a sunbed in my lunch hour . ` My colleagues used to say : ` Laura , what are you doing ? ' It was standing joke at work , whenever I went on holiday , they would ask ` What shade are you aiming for ? ' and I would say mahogany . Lots of people around me were saying things but it took me getting a devastating diagnosis for me to actually stop and for it to hit home . ` I 'm not blaming anybody , I chose to do that but what I have got an issue with is that I was never given an informed choice . ` Not once in all the ten years I was using tanning beds did anyone ever say to me , you 've got pale skin and blue eyes be careful what you do with your skin , or that if you do too much you might get skin cancer . ` There was no warning signs in the shop of anything . A lot more education is needed , especially with young people . ' With more than 11,000 new cases of malignant melanoma in the UK each year , Miss McMullan believes tanning salons are a significant contributor to this . The BBC Midlands reporter has now carried out an investigation for BBC1 , where she looks into the dangers of tanning . She is pictured receiving a spray tan after recovering from skin cancer . Official guidance across the EU sets a maximum UV intensity to be used by commercial sunbeds . This figure must be adhered to by all members of the UK Sunbed Association . However , with only 20 per cent of the industry affiliated to this body , Miss McMullan thinks it would be safer for sunbeds to be banned entirely until a tougher regulatory system is put in place . Research funded by Cancer Research UK revealed that out of 400 sunbeds tests , 90 per cent had UV light intensities exceeding the EU recommended limit , sometimes up to double . Miss McMullan added : ` It 's like cigarettes and alcohol , people have their vices . Cigarettes come with a health warning , so does alcohol but sunbeds do n't and I totally think they are on par . It 's a hot topic of discussion but I totally think sunbeds should at least come with a warning that they can cause cancer . ` Some people will say if you use them responsibly you will be fine but sunbeds are so open to abuse and the majority of them are not regulated . During her programme for the BBC , Miss McMullan meets 19-year-old Jess , pictured , who works in a tanning salon and regularly uses its services . During the show , the pair visit Staffordshire University , where Jess 's skin is analysed to see how much tanning is affecting her face . ` So , if there was a proper regulation and licencing program then that would be great but until then , and that 's a long way off , I would like to see them banned . ' This is a call echoed by Deemesh Oudit , a skin cancer expert and Miss McMullan 's consultant . He told the BBC1 programme : ' I would definitely like to see sunbeds banned . Because the UV radiation has a significant risk of patients developing melanoma -LSB- skin cancer -RSB- . ' And speaking to MailOnline , he added : ` As a consultant at The Christie -LSB- cancer centre -RSB- , I see first-hand the harm that UV radiation does to the skin and the impact that melanoma has on patients . Sadly , despite our best efforts , many people do not survive melanoma . ` Therefore , I believe there is a strong case for sunbed use to be controlled more strongly and personally would like to see them prohibited . ' But Gary Lipman , chairman of the Sunbed Association , said : ` Our members have followed a strict Code of Practice for more than 20 years with requirements that exceed the current calls for extended legislation which The Sunbed Association was a full participant in and which we fully support . A computer analysis of Jess 's skin shows how much it has aged through using sunbeds as part of the BBC1 programme . ` When interviewed by Laura McMullan , I provided her with the evidence that clearly demonstrated there is categorically no scientific data to support a link between professional sunbed use and melanoma , it is purely and simply a statistically skewed myth . ` Responsible sunbed use in a salon in membership of the Sunbed Association is an entirely safe way to tan for those people who can tan and want to tan . ` The research about sunbeds emitting higher intensity levels was conducted in 2011 which was around the same time that the new emission level regulation came into effect . If that research was undertaken today the results would be completely different . We know this as fact from our own research covering thousands of sunbeds , activity undertaken by local authorities and the fact that compliant sunbeds tube sales have risen by more than 500 per cent . ' The episode of BBC Inside Out featuring Miss McMullan 's report will be broadcast on Monday at 7.30 pm on BBC One -LRB- West Midlands -RRB- . It will also be available on the BBC iPlayer . | BBC reporter Laura McMullan first started using sunbeds at the age of 16 . Was using them daily for 10 years after becoming addicted to tanning . Last February the 39-year-old was diagnosed with malignant melanoma . Is now recovering from skin cancer and wants to highlight the dangers . Has made her own film about the dangers of sunbeds comparing them to cigarettes and alcohol . | [[0, 14], [56, 110], [1744, 1757], [1811, 1907], [2273, 2329], [0, 14], [56, 110], [402, 429], [477, 542], [1744, 1757], [1811, 1907], [2425, 2468], [6321, 6325], [6341, 6357], [6404, 6433], [543, 612], [543, 546], [559, 612], [1365, 1386], [1393, 1430], [1292, 1384], [1431, 1527], [1431, 1434], [1450, 1527], [2568, 2602], [2525, 2589], [2603, 2633], [5219, 5220], [5231, 5266], [215, 279], [5140, 5144], [5153, 5192]] |
Tory MP Fiona Bruce is attempting to stop ` femicide ' - the termination of pregnancies if the mother finds that she is expecting a girl . MPs will mount a bid tomorrow to make it a criminal offence to abort a child on the grounds of gender . The move , being spearheaded by Tory MP Fiona Bruce , is an attempt to stop ` femicide ' -- the termination of pregnancies if the mother finds that she is expecting a girl . Campaigners say that the practice is well established in some ethnic minority communities in the UK , where a greater value is traditionally placed on a male child . Mrs Bruce has tabled an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill which would ` put beyond doubt ' that it should be a prosecutable offence for a doctor in the UK to abort a baby on the basis of gender . The MP , who claims wide cross-party support for the measure , says the reform is required because in 2012 the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge two doctors who were caught agreeing to abort female babies . The then Director of Public Prosecutions , Keir Starmer , said the law did not ` in terms , expressly prohibit gender-specific abortions ' . Tomorrow 's debate will be a free vote , allowing MPs to ` follow their consciences ' on the matter . When the issue was put to a non-binding vote last November it was passed by 181 votes to one . In support of her move , Mrs Bruce points to university research which has found evidence of a shortage of girl babies in some ethnic minority communities . She says that women have come forward to say that they were kicked and punched repeatedly in the stomach by husbands trying to cause a miscarriage if they were carrying girl babies . Last night , Mrs Bruce was backed by her Conservative colleague Nadine Dorries , who said : ` In some cultures and religions , the birth of a girl child is a birth of shame . There are reports of women being coerced and forced with the threat of violence into aborting their daughters . ` There are even stories of women too afraid to leave hospital and return home with a baby daughter . The debate in the House of Commons will be a free vote , allowing MPs to ` follow their consciences ' on the matter . ` Some of the mothers are victims of their own upbringing and they believe themselves , and any female child they bear , to be of less value than a male . ' Mrs Dorries added : ` Labour-supporting websites , publications and prominent figures have this week been calling for MPs to vote the amendment down . But if the vote goes our way there will be young women everywhere who will have no idea that their life once hung in the balance . ' The amendment is also backed by Labour 's Indian-born Virendra Sharma , MP for Ealing Southall . He said that a ` legal framework ' was needed to send a clear signal to those families where pressure is put on pregnant women to terminate according to gender . | MP Fiona Bruce spearheading attempt to stop ` femicide ' of unborn girls . Tabled an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill to make criminal offence . Practice is well established in some ethnic minority communities . Debate is a free vote allowing MPs to follow their consciences . | [[243, 251], [254, 294], [154, 159], [169, 242], [583, 642], [417, 516], [1143, 1181], [1143, 1161], [1184, 1244], [2069, 2123], [2069, 2103], [2126, 2186]] |
Explosive scenes : Dame Helen Mirren plays the Queen in the Broadway production of The Audience . It is one of the most extraordinary confrontations in recent British political history . The Queen pleads with Tony Blair to call off the planned 2003 invasion of Iraq in a fraught private audience at Buckingham Palace , imploring him to seek a diplomatic solution from the United Nations . But with British forces poised to join the US in bombing and ground assaults the next day , he says : ` The right thing to do is to go in now , and go in hard . ' This explosive scene is in a new Broadway production of controversial play The Audience , with Dame Helen Mirren as the Queen . Publicity material for the play says it will ` break the contract of silence ' around private audiences between the Queen and her Prime Ministers . It describes the meetings as both ` intimate ' and ` explosive ' . It 's the first time Blair has been in the play , written by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Daldry . It ran in London depicting meetings with seven Prime Ministers including Churchill and David Cameron . Royal experts denounced a scene suggesting the Queen had a negative view of the invasion . She asks Blair : ` You do n't want to give it more time ? ' A defiant Prime Minister says it will lead to the overthrow of a tyrant and the creation of democracy , saying : ` We confidently predict liberated Iraqis will cheer our soldiers through the streets after a short , sharp and easy campaign . ' Blair refers to bombing taking place ` tomorrow ' , placing the alleged meeting on March 19 , 2003 , the day before the Allies launched their ` shock and awe ' campaign . But the court circular , which lists the Queen 's official engagements , makes no reference to the meeting . The discrepancy will increase pressure on Morgan to justify claims in the play , which premiered in London in 2013 and is to return to the capital this year . The playwright , now working on a # 100 million blockbuster about the Royal Family called The Crown , has never revealed his sources , saying much of it was based on ` anecdotal information ' . He said : ` If transcripts exist , I 'm confident she 'd emerge with credit . ' But historian and constitutional expert Andrew Roberts last night said : ` The idea the Queen would oppose the war because she is the Left-wing conscience of the nation is rubbish . It is easy for playwrights to impose Left-wing views on the Queen , secure they will not be denounced . ' Private chats : The Queen with Mr Blair in 2002 - the year before the Allies launched their campaign in Iraq . The scene is controversial because Britain 's case for war , including Blair 's close relationship with President George W Bush , the ` dodgy dossier ' of evidence of Saddam Hussein 's weapons of mass destruction and the legal advice of former Attorney General , Lord Goldsmith , are all under scrutiny in the long-delayed Chilcot Inquiry . Roberts said last night : ` There is no sense the Queen would be with people opposing the Iraq War on the streets . BLAIR : We confidently predict that liberate Iraqis will cheer our soldiers through the streets after a short , sharp and easy campaign . QUEEN : -LSB- pleading -RSB- You do n't want to give it more time ? Just get back to the United Nations and see that a diplomatic solution can be reached . BLAIR : -LSB- insistent -RSB- No ma'am , the right thing to do is go in now , and go in hard . ` She would have intelligence reports people demonstrating on the streets would n't have . She is close to the Armed Services . Her family understands military dangers . ' Constitutional expert Professor Vernon Bogdanor , who advised on the original production , said the Queen prized the confidential meetings and would probably distance herself from anyone who betrayed a confidence . But he called the play 's depictions of the audiences as highly plausible , as was the idea the Queen could ask a question about Iraq . He said : ` I think her manner is to ask questions rather than to argue . ` She might have asked , do you not think it a good idea to go to the UN ? He might have said no . But I think Mr Blair would have been more deferential . ' Royal biographer Penny Junor said : ` I suspect the Queen would voice concerns . That 's what she 's there for . ' It is not clear if the scene will be in the London revival this year , with Kristin Scott Thomas in the title role . Buckingham Palace declined to comment , as did a spokesman for Tony Blair . Morgan and Daldry were unavailable for comment . | Explosive exchange is in new Broadway production of play The Audience . Shows the Queen pleading with Tony Blair to call off planned action in Iraq . But expert denounced scene suggesting she had negative view of invasion . | [[552, 679], [187, 316], [187, 222], [319, 388], [1105, 1195], [1129, 1195]] |
Swooping from the sky , all Synwell the lonely bird of prey really wants is to find a mate . But being one of the world 's biggest and most powerful owls , with a 5ft 6in wingspan and talons like scalpels , his advances might seem a little forceful . Woefully misguided too , as unfortunate victims of the eagle owl 's indiscriminate love bombing in a Cotswold market town can testify only too well . Take Sue Dunn , 70 , a retired nurse who ended up with a broken arm after she caught Synwell 's enormous orange eyes one night when she tried to photograph him perched on a lamppost , hooting . Synwell the owl has been swooping down on frightened residents in Wotton-on-Edge in his search for a mate . Left , he lands on Graham Ellis in his garden and right , Sue Dunn , whose arm was broken by his wings . ` He was making such a noise , so I went outside and shone my torch on him to try to get a picture , ' she said . ` He did n't seem to like that . He drew his wings up and took off -- flying straight at me . ' She tried to run back to her house but while dodging the bird , which stands over 2ft tall and weighs as much as a small dog , she tripped and fractured her right forearm as she broke her fall . ` If he was being romantic , he should have gone to Specsavers . I had no time to run from him , he just dive-bombed me . He 's certainly got no fear of humans , ' she said . It is the latest in a series of incidents in Wotton-under-Edge , Gloucestershire , involving Synwell , who was named after an area of the town by locals . Margaret Carruthers , 74 , has been swooped on in the street , and her husband Robert , 66 , was targeted outside their home . Mr Carruthers said : ` We were so shocked by the incident that my wife wo n't go outside the house now without taking an umbrella for defence . If he comes at you , there can be no warning . ' Despite his misadventures , Synwell has become so popular since he took up residence two years ago that residents have created a Facebook page for him to record sightings , incidents and photographs -- and he has amassed 457 followers . Of course , some ca n't resist posting updates about the twit-twooer on Twitter too . Eagle owls are found all over Europe , but are rarely seen in Britain . They have been known in captivity in this country since at least the 17th century , says the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds , and remain popular with falconers and collectors . The owl perched atop a tree in the Gloucestershire village . Synwell has left other residents with claw marks on their foreheads and in fear of being swooped upon . But dozens of eagle owls , which feed on small mammals but can be trained to kill foxes , escape every year . Synwell has tags on his legs and is thought to have been born in captivity before escaping or being abandoned . Experts say that explains why he seems so eager to get to grips with humans . Jemima Parry-Jones , from the International Centre for Birds of Prey at Newent in the Forest of Dean , said : ` Captive birds think their mother was human , so new humans are potential partners , hence it flies at them . ` He 's not actually attacking , but he 's a big bird with dirty great talons , so it 's certainly a nerve-racking experience if he takes a sudden fancy to you . ' The centre is keen to rescue the bird , if the town approves . But support for Synwell is so strong that even Mrs Dunn bears him no ill-feeling , although her husband Alex has bought a sonic scarer to deter him from further visits . ` If he is looking for love , he 's certainly taking bold risks , ' she said . ` A lot of people are concerned he might get hurt if someone takes the law into their own hands . ' For Graham and Glenys Ellis , both 67 , Synwell is a welcome visitor . Mrs Ellis can even call him down by mimicking his hoots -- although her husband always steps in at the last second so the owl lands on him -LRB- pictured above -RRB- . Mr Ellis said : ` He does a little tap dance then flies off again . I 'm not frightened of him , he 's beautiful . ' Others , however , have wondered what might happen if Synwell swooped on a small child . His Facebook page also contains warnings about his behaviour . ` Do not leave the house if the owl is out ! He just swooped at me as I walked down my drive , ' posted Samii Buckland . ` Claw marks on my head ! ' | Synwell the owl has swooped on several residents in Wotton-under-Edge . The lonely bird , named by locals , is on the look-out for a female mate . He broke the arm of 70-year-old Sue Dunn in just one of many incidents . Others have resorted to taking umbrellas out when its dry for defence . | [[595, 702], [24, 59], [73, 92], [1471, 1542], [422, 437], [442, 527], [761, 769], [772, 807]] |
Elaine Rhoades had to be taken to hospital by ambulance after she suffered ` broken heart syndrome ' following a day filming death scenes . When actress Elaine Rhoades spent the day repeatedly filming a goodbye scene with her son on her character 's deathbed , she never expected the emotional stress would have an impact on her personal life . But the next morning the mother-of-four from Epsom in Surrey , was rushed to hospital in an ambulance with a life threatening condition known as ` broken heart syndrome . ' The condition , which causes the heart to stop beating is often caused by someone suffering a period of intense stress or grief . It can be fatal because the syndrome can lead to heart attacks . Ms Rhoades spent five days in intensive care and had to have blood thinning treatment before she was well enough to leave . ` It 's very odd why it should happen , ' Ms Rhoades told the Sunday Mirror . ` They said it was like I 'd had a major trauma or massive shock . Doctors ca n't really explain it . ' The 53-year-old had been filming scenes for C.O.O.L.I.O in which she plays a gangster 's mother . She appears in the film alongside Kellie Maloney , who plays herself as a boxing promoter . Ms Maloney filmed the scenes before she started sex change surgery . Ms Rhoades said she had tried to get into the emotion of the scene by imagining how she would feel if she was forced to say goodbye to her own son . She added : ' I pretty much spent the whole day dying , to get the take right . ' The actress was taken to St George 's Hospital in Tooting in south west London by ambulance and doctors told her she could have died from the condition . Rhoades was filming scenes for C.O.O.L.I.O when the next day she had to be rushed to hospital . They were also surprised she had managed to survive the night after filming without going to hospital . Around 6,000 people each year suffer heart attacks which are believed to have been caused by broken heart syndrome . Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is the medical term for broken heart syndrome . It is a temporary heart condition that affects people who have suffered intense grief or emotional stress . It is thought a temporary rush of stress hormones can weaken the heart muscle and cause the arteries to constrict . The condition causes a weakening of the heart muscle , affecting its ability to beat - making it known as ` broken heart syndrome . ' Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath . It affects women more than men . The syndrome is different from a heart attack which is caused by a complete or near blockage of the arteries to the heart . The syndrome is different from a heart attacks because blood flow is reduced . | Elaine Rhoades spent the day filming emotional death scenes for film . Actress said she ` spent the whole day dying ' to get takes for film right . But next morning mother-of-four was rushed to St George 's Hospital . She was diagnosed with broken heart syndrome , caused by intense grief . Condition affects beating of the heart muscle and can cause death . Rhoades , 53 , was in hospital for five days before she could be released . | [[62, 98], [101, 139], [140, 258], [261, 300], [62, 98], [101, 139], [140, 258], [261, 300], [1427, 1436], [1441, 1506], [1509, 1580], [1711, 1758], [518, 581], [589, 647], [518, 572], [576, 647], [2059, 2086], [2092, 2160], [452, 515], [648, 712], [2277, 2329], [2277, 2290], [2332, 2373], [713, 757]] |
John Prescott is to make a surprise comeback to the political frontline , after Ed Miliband called on the bruiser to ` bash heads together ' . Despite Lord Prescott frequently criticising Mr Miliband 's party handling , he is to become the Labour leader 's special adviser on climate change . The appointment of Lord Prescott , who once punched a voter on the campaign trail , comes just weeks before the general election amid claims Mr Miliband is at ` logger-Eds ' with his shadow chancellor Ed Balls . Ed Miliband has sparked surprise by recalling John Prescott -LRB- pictured -RRB- to the political frontline - despite the former Deputy Prime Minister 's previous criticism of the Labour leader 's Election strategy . The decision to call on Lord Prescott ahead of the general will be seen as an attempt to turn the clock back to when Labour used to win elections . The move was backed by Alastair Campbell , Tony Blair 's former spin doctor , who also pledged to join the effort to get Mr Miliband elected . The involvement of senior figures from the last decade contrast with Mr Miliband 's repeated claims to have moved on from the New Labour era . The Labour leader said that he wanted to exploit Lord Prescott 's experience in negotiating the landmark Kyoto Protocol in the run-up to a crucial United Nations summit in Paris at the end of the year . Writing in The Observer , he said : ` His abilities and experience , as one of the architects of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 , must be used at this critical time for our future and there is no one better than John at bashing heads together to get a deal . ' However , it raises the prospect of him playing a high profile role during the election campaign . Douglas Alexander , Labour 's election co-ordinator , told Sky News : ' I fully expect that as well as that policy role , he will continue to support the Labour campaign in the months ahead and I welcome that . ' However , just months ago Lord Prescott launched a scathing attack on Mr Miliband 's ` too timid ' approach to winning in May . Lord Prescott said : ` He might as well have said at the end of his conference speech , ` Go back to your constituencies and prepare for coalition . ' The Labour leadership is in the grip of a crisis , amid claims of deep divisions between Mr Miliband and Mr Balls . The Labour leadership is in the grip of a crisis , amid claims of deep divisions between Ed Balls and Ed Miliband . Tensions have mounted over how to pay for Mr Miliband 's flagship pledge to cut tuition fees from # 9,000 to # 6,000 . A meeting last week designed to thrash out how to fund the plan ` did not end well ' , according to a report in the Sunday Times . Problems at the top are now so bad that Labour MPs refer to `` the Ed aches '' or the two leaders being `` at logger-Eds '' . Mr Miliband is now being urged to ditch Mr Balls from the key economic brief if he wins the election to prevent a repeat of the deeply damaging clashes between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in the last Labour government . `` They do n't like each other and they do n't respect each other , '' another insider said . A new poll for The Observer put the Tories ahead in an Opinium survey for the first time in three years . The latest survey sees David Cameron 's party rise two points to 35 per cent , with Labour on 33 . Tory hopes of an Election victory were boosted last night as a second opinion poll in under a week put them ahead of Labour . The survey sees David Cameron 's party rise two points to 35 per cent , with Labour on 33 . Ukip are on 15 , the Greens on seven and Lib Dems on six . It 's the first time in three years that pollsters Opinium have put them ahead of Ed Miliband 's party , and follows an ICM survey last week which gave the Tories a four-point lead over Labour . | Former Deputy PM brought in to advise Miliband on climate change policy . Return of bruiser to campaign comes as Tories inch ahead in new poll . Survey sees Cameron 's party rise two points to 35 % , with Labour on 33 % . Clashes at the top between Ed Miliband and Ed Balls over economy . Meeting on how to pay for tuition fees cut ` did not end well ' , reports say . | [[220, 292], [3129, 3234], [3235, 3285], [3334, 3432], [3647, 3713], [3728, 3751], [3758, 3805], [3235, 3285], [3258, 3311], [3460, 3503], [3476, 3529], [2558, 2577], [2601, 2640], [2558, 2621], [2645, 2688]] |
The Orthodox Jewish tradition known as oral suction circumcision reaches back to biblical times but it has created a modern-day dilemma for New York City health officials , who have linked it to 17 cases of infant herpes since 2000 . Two died and two others suffered brain damage . Mayor Bill de Blasio 's administration , which came into power a year ago with a promise to reconsider an existing regulation on the ritual , is now negotiating with a group of rabbis over how to protect children 's health while still preserving religious freedom . ` The talks are ongoing but I can not go into particulars , ' said Avi Fink , the mayor 's deputy director of intergovernmental affairs who has been leading the talks . ` Our goal is to achieve awareness of the risks . ' Tradition : Abraham Romi Cohn is handed a scalpel during the bris , or ritual circumcision , of Yosef Sananas in New York . Officials in the city are negotiating with Orthodox Jews over oral-circumcision , which has been linked to 17 cases of infant herpes since 2000 . Such oral suction circumcisions are relatively rare , even in New York City , which is home to more than a million Jews -- the largest Jewish population outside Israel . City health officials estimate more than 3,000 babies are circumcised each year using the oral suction method -- formally called metzitzah b ` peh in Hebrew . A 2012 report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised against the practice , saying it increases the risk of herpes infection in baby boys by 3.4 times that of other male newborns . Oral suction circumcisions first came under scrutiny during Mayor Michael Bloomberg 's administration , and the city 's health board voted in 2012 to regulate the practice by asking a parent or guardian to sign a consent form indicating possible risks . Health officials point to a number of factors they say have linked the known cases to the ritual . They look for lesions on the genitalia , indicating that 's where the virus started . In addition , lab tests have showed that the timing of the infection coincides with the circumcision . Two cases were recorded after oral suction in 2013 and four last year . In the most recent case , diagnosed in November , a baby boy was found to have lesions on his penis . But of those six cases , parents refused to identify the person who performed the circumcision -- called a mohel -- in four . Precaution : Cohn uses mouthwash as an antiseptic before performing a bris . Mayor Bill De Blasio 's administration is negotiating a medical protocol following concern over the practice . In the two cases in which the circumcisers were identified , both declined to be tested , the Health Department said . They were banned from performing the ritual . The consent forms remain the regulatory standard for now , but most ultra-Orthodox rabbis have told their faithful not to comply , and the city acknowledges it does not collect them unless there is suspicion of herpes . Cohn , an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor and native of what today is called Slovakia , is chairman of the American Board of Ritual Circumcision , which has certified 90 mohels , says he doubts the oral suction method had anything to do with spreading herpes . Cohn believes the infants may have been infected by the mother or another source . ` They 're wild accusations without any basis , ' Cohn said . ` I 've done 35,000 circumcisions and never had an infection , of any kind . ' The rabbi does warn parents that circumcision , in general , has its risks , just like any medical procedure . His association mandates herpes testing and rinsing with mouthwash before the ceremony , in addition to scrubbing and sterilizing hands . The rabbi followed those precautions one morning at Brooklyn 's Congregation Shaare Zion , where he circumcised week-old Yosef Sananas . Cohn first administered a topical anesthetic , wrapping gauze around the child 's legs to isolate the sterilized area . Then the baby , on a white pillow , was carried into the main worship space . Invited guests watched as Cohn did what he 's done thousands of other times . Concerns : The rabbi does warn parents that circumcision , in general , has its risks , just like any medical procedure . ` He 's the best mohel in New York , ' says the boy 's mother , Becky Sananas . ` We chose him because we trust him . ' While New York City wrestles with the issue , suburban Rockland County -- itself home to thousands of Orthodox Jews -- seems to have found a solution . For any suspected case after circumcision , county health officials use DNA testing to try to link a baby with the source of infection . Since the county introduced the protocol in 2013 , three infant boys were diagnosed with herpes ; the DNA of two mohels did not match the boys ' and the third test was inconclusive . Members of the Jewish community participate voluntarily in the process , working with Dr. Oscar Alleyne , Rockland 's director of epidemiology . ` That proves that they trust us , ' Alleyne said . ` We have cooperation , along with a scientific approach . ' | Health officials say 17 cases of infant herpes since 2000 have been linked to the tradition , which dates back to biblical times . Around 3,000 babies are circumcised using the method every year . Bill De Blasio 's administration is now trying to negotiate a compromise . Measure would aim to preserve religious freedom while protecting health . A 2012 report by the CDC advised against the practice . | [[0, 29], [65, 95], [136, 172], [177, 233], [950, 1038], [1209, 1303], [282, 320], [424, 516], [893, 972], [2495, 2605], [471, 547], [1368, 1468], [1478, 1480], [1368, 1439], [1471, 1575]] |
MPs and ministers are preaching the public about the need to eat healthily while helping to chomp through 100,000 chocolate bars in Parliament every year . Kit Kats , Twix bars and Snickers are revealed as the biggest sellers in the cafes , shops and bars in the Houses of Parliament , with almost 200,000 sales of confectionery and sweets in the last two years . Health campaigners raised concerns about the ` astronomical amount ' of chocolate sold by lawmakers and their staff . New figures show how in 2013 and 2014 almost 200,000 chocolate bars were sold , including 40,000 Kit Kats , 23,300 Twix and 18,200 Snickers bars . David Cameron once railed against shops selling cheap chocolate at their checkouts , blaming He WH Smith for fuelling the obesity crisis with half-price Chocolate Oranges instead of real oranges . The Prime Minister has also spoken of his battle with his own weight , moving to cut out bread to shed the pounds . And just last week he suggested obese people should be refused out-of-work benefits . But details have emerged of the scale of the chocolate addiction in the corridors of power . Information on sales of chocolate and sweets in the Houses of Parliament were released under Freedom of Information laws . In 2013 and 2014 there were 199,966 items of confectionery sold , according to the Sunday Times . More Kit Kats were sold than any other snack , totalling more than 39,000 in two years , including almost 2,000 Kit Kat Chunkys and more than 3,100 dark chocolate versions . The second most popular was Twix , selling more than 23,300 , followed by Snickers -LRB- 18,235 -RRB- , Maltesers -LRB- 14,150 -RRB- and Mars bars -LRB- 13,916 -RRB- . Crunchies , Galaxy , Bounty bars , Yorkies and Picnics complete the top 10 most popular chocolate bars in Parliament . . Health campaigners said politicians should ` lead by example ' and not indulge in so much chocolate . Tam Fry , from the National Obesity Forum charity , said the ` astronomical amount ' of sweets and chocolate sold in Parliament suggested politicians had a sugar habit ` that should be kicked in the can ' . He told the Sunday Times that ` nobody should be denied a treat ' , but added : ` This is no example to give the electorate . Members of parliament should lead by example . ' A letter sent to every MP and peer last year ordered them to measure their waistline in an attempt to get Parliament to set an example to the nation . They were urged to check that their waist is less than half their height - a key indicator of having a healthy weight . Former surgeon Lord McColl of Dulwich stalks the corridors of power to put pressure on Labour , Tory and Lib Dem members who he accuses of ` eating too much of the gross national product ' . Lord McColl said overweight politicians could not be seen lecturing the public on their eating habits . ' I think the whole nation is at fault . We have got to get the whole nation moving on this . ` It looks bad if politicians are telling the people what to do and they are not doing it themselves . ' A Commons spokesman said : ` The House of Commons is keen to promote healthy eating to all those who work on or visit the estate and who use the catering facilities . ` For example , at our ` Wellbeing Day ' events healthy eating is strongly promoted . Our menus rate dishes for fat content using a traffic light system . ' | New figures reveal chocolate sales inside the Houses of Parliament . Kit Kats , Twix , Snickers , Maltesers and Mars bars are the biggest sellers . Almost 200,000 sweets and chocolate sold in 2013 and 2014 , officials say . Health campaigners say politicians should be leading by example . | [[436, 481], [1028, 1120], [1121, 1243], [1995, 2034], [156, 283], [1559, 1575], [1578, 1662], [482, 628], [503, 510], [515, 559], [520, 549], [562, 587], [1244, 1307], [1342, 1355], [1389, 1428], [1805, 1906], [1829, 1867], [2240, 2286]] |
A 19-year-old man was arrested on Friday after allegedly admitting to drowning his pregnant girlfriend and trying to burn her body to get rid of the evidence . The body of suspect Courtney Hyriease Velasques ' 18-year-old girlfriend Dawanna Thomas was found in a field on Valentine 's Day , as firefighters tried to extinguish a blaze . She was four months pregnant with a baby girl at the time of her death . Courtney Velasquez , 19 -LRB- right -RRB- , was arrested on Friday in connection to the murder of his pregnant girlfriend Dawanna Thomas , 18 -LRB- left -RRB- . Thomas ' body was found partially burned on Valentine 's Day in a field in Bexar County , Texas . Bexar County Sheriff 's Office officials arrested her ` jealous ' boyfriend Velasques at his home less than a week after her body was found . They say he confessed to drowning his girlfriend in Salado Creek before trying to burn her body in a field off Schuwirth Road . ` He stripped her , put her in a bag , he put a log over the bag in the middle of a creek , and then moved the body , he moved it to another location , ' Rosanne Hughes with the Bexar County Sheriff 's Office told Fox San Antonio . Thomas ' mother Tear Bedford confirmed to News 4 San Antonio that the unborn child was Velasques ' . Velasques allegedly admitted committing the crime to officers , saying he drowned his girlfriend in a creek before trying to burn her body to rid the evidence . She says the couple had been dating for about six months but that they had a toxic relationship . ` He 's always been violent , take her money , take her phone , break her phones , every month break her phone , ' Bedford said . She says she tried to warn her daughter - but to no avail . ` This dude is gon na kill you , and that 's just what he did , ' added Bedford . Now she wants Velasques put to death for killing her daughter . ' I still want to see justice even though he 's locked up . To me , that 's not justice served . I 'm seeking the death penalty for whoever had hands in it , ' Bedford went on to say . Velasques faces the death penalty if convicted . He has a criminal record as a juvenile but the multiple capital murder charges are his first as an adult . | Courtney Velasques , 19 , was arrested at his home in Texas on Friday . Stands accused of drowning his pregnant girlfriend Dowanna Thomas . Thomas ' body was found on Valentine 's Day , in a field . She was four months pregnant with a baby girl when she was killed . Police say Velasques confessed to the crime . | [[0, 130], [410, 428], [446, 531], [669, 783], [0, 130], [410, 428], [446, 531], [1272, 1281], [1336, 1410], [160, 288], [571, 658], [337, 409], [1272, 1333]] |
Islamic State has acquired a cache of deadly chemical weapons in Libya which pose a significant threat to European security , a British expert has warned . According to Middle East reports , the terror group has unconfirmed quantities of sarin and mustard gas after defeating government forces in southern and central Libya . Former British Army officer Hamish de Bretton-Gordon told The Mail on Sunday that the weapons remain dangerous , even though they are likely to be ten years old , and in a degraded state . Mr de Bretton-Gordon based his warning on President Assad 's use of one tonne of sarin in Ghouta , Syria , in August 2013 , which killed as many as 1,000 people . Islamic State has acquired a cache of deadly chemical weapons in Libya , an expert warned . Pictured , shells contained mustard gas near the southern Libyan town of Waddan in 2011 . Speaking from the Gulf , where he advises the Iraqi government on chemical weapons , he said : ` We saw what a single ton of not very good quality sarin did in Ghouta . ` While we do n't know how much IS has acquired , and though the Libyan sarin dates back to the Gaddafi era , it would still have a toxicity and pose a danger . ` Libya is virtually Europe and so the fear factor from a European perspective is huge . I should think the security forces will be watching this situation very closely . ' IS has used chlorine as a weapon in Iraq and has acquired significant expertise in chemical warfare from those who previously developed chemical weapons for Saddam Hussein . A fleet of cars parade freely through the Libyan city of Benghazi , showing the level of control in the country ruled almost entirely by rebel forces . | Weapons acquired after defeating government forces in Libya , reports say . Sarin and mustard gas likely to be be ten years old and in a degraded state . But former British Army officer said the weapons remain dangerous . | [[451, 486], [326, 436], [1139, 1189]] |
Ministry of Defence scientists have been exploring the possible use of Ebola as a biochemical weapon , newly released documents confirm . Staff at the MoD 's research centre at Porton Down , Wiltshire , have been assessing the risk of the virus being used by terrorists such as ISIS or Al-Qaeda to attack the UK . The documents , released under the Freedom of Information Act , reveal that scientists have been looking into at least three potential scenarios . Bio weapon : Ministry of Defence scientists have been assessing the risk of the Ebola virus being used by terrorists such as ISIS or Al-Qaeda to attack the UK . The request from an unnamed source was for Porton Down staff to provide ` guidance on the feasibility and potential impact of a non-state actor exploiting the Ebola outbreak in West Africa . ' Three potential scenarios are outlined in the document , marked ` UK secret UK eyes only ' , although the details are withheld . No information is provided regarding the first scenario , and the only detail revealed about the second scenario is that it would be both logistically and technically challenging for a non-state group to undertake ' . Following the blacked-out scenario , the team concludes : ` Clearly there are practical issues involved with such a scenario that of themselves are often not insurmountable but taken together add enormously to the complexity of successfully undertaking this attack . ' A third , also heavily redacted , scenario ` constitutes the most technically challenging of the scenarios considered here ' , The Observer reports . Porton Down : The site in Wiltshire has been the centre of the UK 's chemical weapons research for 100 years . This comes after yesterday 's report that the nurse who became the first Briton to be diagnosed with Ebola in the UK faces disciplinary action over claims she concealed being unwell when she returned from Africa . Ebola is virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission . Ebola spreads via direct contact with the blood , secretions , organs or other bodily fluids of infected people , and with surfaces and materials -LRB- e.g. bedding , clothing -RRB- contaminated with these fluids . The incubation period is 2 to 21 days , but the humans are not infectious until they develop symptoms . First symptoms are the sudden onset of fever fatigue , muscle pain , headache and sore throat . This is followed by vomiting , diarrhoea , rash , symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function , and in some cases , both internal and external bleeding . Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes . People remain infectious as long as their blood and body fluids , including semen and breast milk , contain the virus . The current outbreak in west Africa is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 . There have been more cases and deaths in this outbreak than all others combined . There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but two potential candidates are undergoing evaluation . Source : World Health Organization . Pauline Cafferkey , who spent almost a month in an isolation unit in London earlier this year while her life hung in the balance , is one of five medics having their ` fitness to practise ' assessed by regulators . According to one unsubstantiated report , a temperature test showed that Ms Cafferkey was over the limit -- and others present were aware of it -- but the result was not reported . In theory , if any of the five are judged to have broken professional standards , they could be ` struck off ' . Last year 's outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has been recorded as the worst in known history with 22,894 cases and 9,177 deaths reported around the globe so far . A majority of confirmed cases have been found in Guinea , Libera and Sierra Leone , with the latter the worst affected , with 10,934 cases to date , according to the World Health Organisation . The steep decline in case numbers has leveled off over the past month and the development is a cause for concern , the WHO said this week . The United Nations has said ten times fewer people are being diagnosed with Ebola each week than in September . Over the past four weeks , however , the line of the graph has flattened out , with the rate around 120 to 150 new cases a week . Health officials have expressed optimism in recent weeks that the tide seems to be turning in the fight against the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history . The presidents of the three worst affected countries , Liberia , Sierra Leone and Guinea , this week said they hope to reduce the number of new cases to zero by April 15 . MailOnline has contacted the Ministry of Defence for comment . | Scientists at MoD research centre explored use of Ebola as bio weapon . Documents revealed MoD considered use of virus by terrorist groups . Heavily redacted memo reveals at least three ` potential scenarios ' | [[0, 100], [461, 471], [474, 552], [80, 100], [103, 137], [314, 375], [378, 460], [815, 840], [872, 903], [1431, 1438], [1441, 1462]] |
An important announcement on the way cancer can be diagnosed is due today -- that will hopefully pave the way for simple blood tests to replace painful biopsies . Scientists at Stanford University in California have long been trying to develop a pill that makes cancer cells release certain proteins into the blood . In theory , those proteins would then be detected using a quick and easy blood test . It is hoped the drug will be sensitive enough to work on even the earliest cancer cells . Diagnostic breakthrough : Researchers at Stanford University are trying to develop a pill that will help detect cancer by releasing certain proteins into the bloodstream if tumours are present . The latest research by John Ronald and Sanjiv Gambhir is to be published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . Two years ago , the scientists presented early results from their research at the World Molecular Imaging Congress . They said at the time : ` We envision a powerful new cancer management paradigm that involves tumour detection via an initial blood-based assay , tumour localisation via molecular-genetic imaging and tumour treatment . ' Such a test would detect the cancer cells released by tumours into the blood . Scientists know that these unique cells are there , but the volumes are so small that so far have found it difficult to detect them . The Stanford team 's approach involves giving people a drug containing circular pieces of DNA which are to break into tumour cells . The DNA - called minicircles - prompts the cancerous cells to secrete a specific protein into the bloodstream . Breast exam : Any tests of the drug are likely to be initially targeted at those known to be at risk of cancer . Their conference paper in 2013 said : ` We have developed tumour-specific mini-circles -LSB- of DNA -RSB- that drive the expression of secretable alkaline phosphatase or firefly luciferase -LSB- proteins -RSB- , and validated them for detecting tumours . ` These can be assayed via serum and non-invasive imaging to differentially identify tumour-bearing from normal subjects . ` Importantly , they should have broad applicability in many patient populations ... across many different tumour types . ' Such tests would most likely be initially targeted at people known to be at risk of cancer . | It is hoped the drug will be sensitive to work on the earliest cancer cells . The drug contains circular pieces of DNA which break into tumours . They prompt cancerous cells to secrete a specific protein into the blood . | [[403, 492], [409, 492], [1383, 1476], [1473, 1476], [1483, 1515], [163, 316], [244, 250], [256, 316], [568, 582], [588, 662], [1170, 1248], [1195, 1248], [1516, 1519], [1555, 1627]] |
The wonderful thing about having older children is that they change from travel dependents to travel companions . My 19-year-old daughter Christie I seem to have missed out on the ski bunny gene -LRB- unlike other family members -RRB- , so we wanted to find an exciting short-haul getaway with minimal travel and maximum show-stopping thrills . The trouble with being out of season is that any traditional hot-spots are out of the question , yet anywhere else takes too long to get to for a five day break . TV presenter Carol Smillie and her 19-year-old daughter Christie visited Marrakech for five days . As it turns out , easyJet now offer weekly flights direct to Marrakech in Morocco from Glasgow , flying out on Saturday and returning on Wednesday , which was ideal for us . I visited Marrakech many moons ago as a reporter for BBC Holiday . I fell in love with the vibrancy of the frenetic souks , as well as the pungent scents and vivid colours of local life , and vowed I would return someday . Christie had never been there , and I wondered what it would be like wandering around with such a willowy beauty - would I be deluged with offers of 2,000 camels for her and forced to beat them off with sticks ? Carol visited Marrakech many moons ago as a reporter for BBC Holiday and wanted to revisit the busy city . They stayed for two nights in a beautiful riad with an open courtyard walking distance from the main square . Luckily , I did n't have to worry . Marrakech today is still like something from a film set , and the locals are just delightful . We stayed for the first two nights in one of the many beautiful riads , or bijou hotels , with a glorious open courtyard . We wanted to be within walking distance from the Djema El Fna , Marrakech 's main square , which is the perfect starting point to explore the city . By day , the colourful square is a bustling hub of carpet sellers , snake charmers , musicians and even a tooth puller -LRB- yes really ! -RRB- . Carol and Christie ride on camels during their trip to northwest Africa , just a short flight from the UK . They took the wise decision to hire a guide to show them around so they would n't miss any ` hidden gems ' At night , however , it takes on a truly magical appearance with twinkling lights , a myriad of pop-up restaurants , henna artists , performing monkeys , fire eaters and story tellers - set amid the pungent smell of incense . We loved it , and I wondered how it was possible for one location to appear so different within the space of 24 hours ? On our first day we took the wise decision to hire a guide to show us around and allow us to get our bearings a little . The duo visited Yves Saint Laurent Gardens , Mederassa Ben Youssef , and the Bahia & Badii Palaces . Khalida from TravelLink was brilliant , and although she was n't cheap she was worth every dirham . As well as covering all the major important sights - Yves Saint Laurent Gardens , Mederassa Ben Youssef , and the Bahia & Badii Palaces - she also gave us a flavour of local life that we 'd never have discovered on our own . These hidden local gems included the shared underground ovens , a hamam furnace attendant who played his lute and offered us delicious mint tea and tiny pieces of thread tied to the church railings by people hoping to cure their various ailments . The locals were friendly and genuinely kind , and respectful when we did n't want to buy any of their wares . They had so very little , it seemed , but wanted to share their bread with anyone who needed or wanted to try it . The colourful square is a bustling hub of carpet sellers , snake charmers , musicians and even a tooth puller . With many restaurants vying for our attention , we were relieved to have a couple of excellent recommendations for dinner . Le Salama and Le Tangia are both visually stunning , and serve a delicious selection of authentic local dishes with a little belly dancing thrown in for good measure . If shopping was a sport , I am its Olympian , and for me , this was manna from heaven . The markets were overflowing with beautiful lamps , gorgeous fabrics and carpets , intricate jewellery and metalwork , fine leather slippers ; the list was endless , but sadly my purse was not . After two days of pounding the streets , and all the associated sights and sounds , our next destination was a very welcome five star retreat set a little distance from Marrakech 's bustling Medina . Carol says she is a champion of shopping and markets were full of lamps , gorgeous fabrics and carpets . Just 20-minute drive from the Marrakech 's centre , Tigmiza is a breathtaking , romantic retreat with its own unique style and sense of tranquility . It was here where we tried our first hamam , a kind of giant sauna , where you are placed on a hot slab , washed by hand in black soap , and scrubbed until you feel as if your skin might fall off - before realising that it actually has . But although it sounds revolting , my skin has never felt so soft . After another cup of mint tea it was time for bed , and the most marshmallow-comfortable beds we 've ever slept in . Next morning we were invited to attend a cookery lesson with Tariq , a rather rotund and jovial chef -LRB- just as they should be -RRB- , to teach us how to prepare a ` tagine ' - a delicious Moroccan dish that 's typically made with chicken or lamb . Local herbs , spices and fruits are added and cooked slowly for a number of hours , making the meat melt-in-the-mouth tender . Dinner was at the retreat 's beautiful Berber-inspired restaurant , which was followed by a movie in the private cinema - complete with popcorn . Morocco was a truly magical experience that came to an end far too soon , and a wonderful mother-daughter trip that , turns out , is right on our doorstep . Carol Stayed at : Riad Idra www.riad-idra-marrakech.com and Tigmiza Suites and Pavillions www.tigmiza.com ; for more information Travel Link Morocco www.travellink.ma . | Carol Smillie and 19-year-old daughter Christie visit Morocco for five days . After visiting Marrakech years ago as a reporter Carol was keen to return . They walked around souks , had their first hamam and rode on camels . | [[508, 563], [573, 606], [781, 847], [1216, 1284], [1216, 1221], [1289, 1322], [1982, 2053], [4705, 4747]] |
Actress Patricia Hodge has revealed how she was forced to take the heartbreaking decision to put her dementia-suffering husband into a care home . Peter Owen , who was a successful music publisher , now barely recognises the award-winning star . He was diagnosed with the illness two years ago but his condition quickly deteriorated . Ms Hodge , who played Miranda Hart 's mother Penny in the popular BBC sitcom Miranda , said : ` Dementia is a devastating illness . Fifteen months ago Peter went into a home . Rapid deterioration : Award-winning actress Patricia Hodge , 68 , with her husband Peter Owen in 2001 . ` Sometimes he does know who I am and can recognise me and the family . But he does not know at times that I am his wife . It varies . ' The couple married in 1976 and have two sons -- Alexander , 26 , and Edward , 23 . Ms Hodge added : ` It 's all so sad . This illness is horrific . ' The 68-year-old actress was speaking at a ceremony to mark a # 28 million revamp of her old drama school , the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art -LRB- LAMDA -RRB- . In an interview last year , she spoke fondly about life with her husband before his dementia took hold . She said : ` He was such a strong dependable figure in the boys ' lives , so we live with great sadness in our hearts , but you just have to get on with life . These have been a difficult few years for our family . Star : Ms Hodge played Miranda Hart 's mother Penny in the popular BBC sitcom Miranda , pictured above . ` Alexander has struggled with it but he has also been magnificent . He has kind of got to be head of the family now , but I do n't lean on him . It 's up to him to choose his role . ` Not long ago , in all his pain , he said , `` Mum , let 's not forget the wonderful things we have . '' Hearing that was just 24 carat . ' Ms Hodge made her West End debut in 1972 and won a coveted Olivier Award in 2000 for her role in Money . She is also famous for playing QC Phyllida Erskine-Brown in Rumpole Of The Bailey . | Peter Owen barely recognises actress Patricia Hodge , his wife of 39 years . He was diagnosed with dementia two years ago but quickly deteriorated . Ms Hodge , who starred in Miranda , said she was forced to put him in care . The 68-year-old revealed he sometimes does not know that she is his wife . | [[147, 157], [199, 245], [246, 293], [298, 334], [0, 89], [40, 43], [55, 146], [1401, 1439], [1446, 1479], [691, 737]] |
A killer who murdered his wife has been granted legal aid to fight for custody of her four children . The man , known only as X , is serving a life sentence for the ` particularly horrible ' murder of the children 's mother and has refused to have a paternity test to prove he is their father . Judges at the Court of Appeal upheld a decision that DNA collected from the murder scene could not be used to prove paternity , so the issue of his and his family 's access to the children - aged between three and nine - will be decided without this evidence . Court of Appeal judges ruled that DNA collected from a crime scene when a man murdered his wife will not be used to prove he is the father to their four children - despite his refusal to take a paternity test - as he receives legal aid to fight for custody of the youngsters who are aged between three and nine . The case began when the local authority and children 's legal guardian challenged the decision by Theresa May , the home secretary , and the police not to allow the DNA to be used to prove paternity , the Sunday Times reported . The man is not named on any of the children 's birth certificates . Sir James Munby , president of the family division of the High Court , initially allowed the application and ruled that the DNA could be used to determine paternity . He said : ` One can not ignore the enormous implications for these children of what happened to their mother . ` Their futures will be indelibly marked by it . They need to know if the man who murdered their mother , the man who they believe to be their father , is in truth their father . ' But after the ruling was challenged the Court of Appeal overturned Sir James Munby 's decision . The man , who is referred to only as X , has refused to have a paternity test to prove he is the children 's father . The judges said allowing evidence gathered from the crime scene to be used would damage the integrity of the DNA database . David Green , director of Civitas , a think tank , branded the case ` extraordinary . ' He added : ` For the sake of the long-term care of the children and the feelings of the wife 's family he should not be allowed any continuing role in their upbringing . ' | Man , identified only as X , murdered his wife and mother of four children . Killing was ` particularly horrible ' and X was given a life sentence for murder . He has refused to take a paternity test to prove he is father of the children . Council and children 's guardian applied to use his DNA for paternity test . But Court of Appeal has overturned decision and said it can not be used . Judges said using crime scene DNA would damage integrity of database . | [[0, 8], [13, 30], [0, 101], [590, 651], [1722, 1760], [1763, 1799], [1722, 1760], [1775, 1839], [102, 127], [217, 264], [728, 764], [1722, 1760], [1763, 1799], [869, 1037], [1722, 1760], [1775, 1839], [295, 513], [1629, 1721], [1840, 1963], [1883, 1963]] |
A beluga whale who was on loan to under-fire SeaWorld has died after fracturing his jaw during an ` interaction ' with two other whales and later contracting an infection , it has emerged . Nanuq , who was around 31 or 32 years old , entertained millions of visitors at the firm 's Orlando , Florida , theme park while on a long-term breeding loan from Canada 's Vancouver Aquarium . But during a recent encounter with two of the three beluga whales he lived with , the 2200lbs marine creature suffered a fractured jaw . He later developed an infection and passed away on Thursday . Although Nanuq had been undergoing treatment for the infection at the time of his death , a post-mortem examination has been arranged to confirm the cause . The results are expected in weeks . Scroll down for video . Tragic : Nanuq the beluga whale -LRB- pictured meeting Sarah Michelle Gellar and her daughter Charlotte Prinze , two , at SeaWorld San Diego in July 2012 -RRB- has died after fracturing his jaw and later contracting an infection . Celebrity meeting : The marine creature , who was 31 or 32 years old , entertained millions of visitors at the firm 's theme park in Orlando , Florida . He previously resided at SeaWorld San Diego -LRB- pictured with Isla Fisher -RRB- . Deadly interaction ? During a recent encounter with two of the three beluga whales he lived with , Nanuq -LRB- pictured -RRB- suffered a fractured jaw . He later developed an infection and passed away on Thursday . It comes just a month after SeaWorld 's chief executive resigned following low visitor numbers in the wake of the 2013 documentary Blackfish , which criticized the firm 's treatment of killer whales . Jim Atchison , who had served as CEO and president since 2009 , stepped down in January amid accusations that the company 's treatment of killer whales may have led to the deaths of trainers . On Friday , SeaWorld Orlando paid tribute to Nanuq , who was a hit with a number of celebrity visitors to the attraction , including actor Will Ferrell and actresses Isla Fisher and Sarah Michelle Gellar . In a Facebook statement , the park said : ` Fans , please join us in remembering one of our favorite beluga whales , Nanuq . An older whale , -LSB- he -RSB- passed away yesterday at the estimated age of 31-32 . Protest : It comes just a month after SeaWorld 's chief executive resigned following low visitor numbers in the wake of the 2013 documentary Blackfish , which criticised the firm 's treatment of killer whales . Above , PETA members and its Jesus People for Animals program demonstrate outside SeaWorld Orlando on Friday . Former CEO : Jim Atchison -LRB- pictured -RRB- , who had served as CEO and president since 2009 , stepped down in January amid claims that the company 's treatment of killer whales may have led to the deaths of trainers . Another famous face : On Friday , SeaWorld Orlando paid tribute to Nanuq , who was a hit with a number of celebrity visitors to the park , including actor Will Ferrell -LRB- pictured with the 2200lbs creature in July 2011 -RRB- . Paying tribute : In a Facebook statement , the resort said : ` Fans , please join us in remembering one of our favorite beluga whales , Nanuq . An older whale , -LSB- he -RSB- passed away yesterday at the estimated age of 31-32 . ` As an ambassador for all arctic animals , he has delighted millions of visitors to our Wild Arctic attraction , and has been part of the SeaWorld family since 1997 . ` Nanuq was a wonderful whale and dearly loved by his trainers and our vets , as well as guests . The park , operated by SeaWorld Entertainment , added that the whale 's fractured jaw ` resulted from an interaction between two animals that were part of a compatible social group ' . During his time at SeaWorld Orlando -LRB- and earlier , SeaWorld San Diego -RRB- , Nanuq interacted with members of the public as part of an $ 119-plus scheme called the ` Beluga Interaction Program ' . On its website , the park says the ` intimate ' program offers visitors ' a rare and wonderful opportunity to learn more about the amazing Arctic and connect with one of its most charming inhabitants ' . New friend : Actor Greg Kinnear meets Nanuq the beluga whale at SeaWorld 's Wild Arctic attraction in 2013 . Getting up close : Sarah Michelle Gellar -LRB- left -RRB- and Kelly Clarkson And Clay Aiken -LRB- right -RRB- are seen with Nanuq . On Friday , Scott Smith , a University of South Carolina assistant hospitality professor , said Nanuq 's death could be potentially damaging to SeaWorld following the release of Blackfish . ` It really is one of the worst times this kind of news could come out , ' he said . ` Any other time , it probably would n't even make a blip on the radar , but now everyone is watching SeaWorld . ' Longtime SeaWorld critic and Animal Welfare Institute marine mammal scientist Naomi Rose added that in the wild , suffering a broken jaw from an ` interaction ' with another animal seems unlikely . Speaking to the Orlando Sentinel , Ms Rose said : ` If he died because of something related to that infection he got related to the broken jaw , then he died of being in captivity . ' Theme park : During his time at SeaWorld Orlando , pictured , -LRB- and earlier , SeaWorld San Diego -RRB- , the whale interacted with members of the public as part of an $ 119-plus scheme called the ` Beluga Interaction Program ' Blackfish , which implied that the stress of life in captivity may have been responsible of an orca 's killing of Orlando trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010 , sparked widespread criticism of SeaWorld , . Since its release , attendance has declined at the company 's parks in Orlando , San Diego , California and San Antonio , Texas . SeaWorld 's stock value has also plummeted . To counter the backlash , the firm , which has participated in animal rescue programs for more than 50 years , has announced plans to nearly double the size of its orca enclosures in upcoming years . SeaWorld has not yet named a replacement for Mr Atchison . | Nanuq entertained millions of visitors at SeaWorld 's Orlando-based park . But during recent ` interaction ' with two other whales , he fractured his jaw . 2200lbs creature later developed infection and passed away on Thursday . Post-mortem examination has been arranged to confirm cause of death . Comes just a month after SeaWorld 's chief executive resigned following low visitor numbers in wake of 2013 killer whale documentary , Blackfish . 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The brother of condemned Bali Nine drug smuggler Myuran Sukumaran has told of his brother 's love for Indonesia as reports emerge that fighter jets have arrived in Bali to escort the two men to their deaths . Speaking on behalf of his brother outside Kerobokan prison today , Chinthu Sukumaran told reporters that both Myuran and Andrew Chan are very grateful to the Indonesian people for their respect and help during their ten years in jail . ` Myu and Andrew love Indonesia , they have a great respect for the Indonesian people and its culture , ' Chinthu said . Scroll down for video . The executions of Andrew Chan -LRB- L -RRB- and Myuran Sukumaran who are on death row in Indonesia for drug smuggling have been delayed . ` It was through the support of the Indonesian justice system that they were able to help set up many programs that have helped a lot of Indonesians and has also helped better themselves and they are very grateful for that ' , Mr Sukumaran told Perth Now . It comes after four Air Force Sukhoi fighter jets were spotted at Bali 's Denpasar International Airport . It is believed the jets will be used to transfer Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran to the prison island of Nusakambangan . Michael Chan -LRB- left -RRB- and Chinthu Sukumaran -LRB- right -RRB- outside Kerobokan prison today to visit their brothers Andrew and Myuran . Chinthu Sukumaran arrives at Kerobokan Prison in Bali last week to visit his brother Myuran who is facing execution by firing squad in Indonesia with fellow Australian Andrew Chan . The presence of the fighter jets only adds fire to speculation that the men may be flown from Denpasar to Nusakambangan in helicopters , instead of taking the traditional route of sailing there . Chinthu Sukumaran told reporters the family barely speak when they visit Myuran in jail and said he does not need the added strain of seeing his beloved family members crying at the moment . ` We were all standing around barely talking , ' Chinthu Sukumaran told reporters of the morning his family had gathered at the prison to say what they thought were their last goodbyes . ` We were trying to tell each other there was still hope but it just felt like we were lying to each other ' he told the Sydney Morning Herald . The family had understood the move would ` definitely happen this week . ' Both Michael and Chintu spoke on behalf of their brothers who are awaiting execution at the prison . Chinthu Sukumaran told reporters that both Myuran and Andrew love Indonesia and the respect they have shown them during their 10 years in prison . Chinthu Sukumaran said his brother Myuran was comforting his family on Tuesday as they collected his artworks and wept . ` He was trying to be strong , ' he told the Herald . ` It was very difficult . For him to stay strong at a time like that , he really did n't need people crying around him . ' When news reached the Bali Nine pair at midday that their transfer to Nusakambangan ` death ' island would be delayed , Myuran Sukamaran got back to his painting and had something to eat with his loved ones . Four Air Force Sukhoi fighter jets were spotted at Bali 's Denpasar International Airport.It is believed the jets will be used to transfer Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran to the prison island of Nusakambangan . ` Myuran said he could actually taste the food . That had n't happened for a long time , ' his younger brother told reporters . He also slept for the first time in a long while . Indonesian authorities had planned to move Sukumaran and fellow prisoner Andrew Chan to the island at midnight but announced a last-minute delay because of ` technical matters . ' It leaves the men more time to spend with family visiting from Australia , and more time for their lawyers to prepare a legal challenge . The men have been locked-up in Kerobokan prison for almost 10 years for trying to smuggle drugs to Australia . Despite the delay , President Joko Widodo has insisted that that their killings will go ahead as planned , telling Indonesian media on Friday that it was the nation 's ` legal sovereignty , ' and that the postponement was ` only about technical matters ' . An earlier picture of Chinthu Sukumaran -LRB- left -RRB- , his mother Ranjini and sister Brintha with a photo of Myuran Sukumaran , one of the ` Bali Nine ' condemned to die by firing squad for drug trafficking in Indonesia . Indonesian President Joko Widodo has claimed that ` technical issues ' were to blame for the postponement . Indonesia 's Attorney-General H.M. Prasetyo explained that isolation rooms and executions fields on the island were not ready for the pair , The Sydney Morning Herald reported , but said the pair 's execution should take place ` the sooner the better . ' The reason was later disputed by officials on Nusakambangan island , following claims that the families of Chan and Sukumaran were entitled to more time with the pair . Meetings to plan the transfer continued on Friday , but no date has been set . ` As soon as Nusa Kambangan is ready , we 'll send them immediately , ' Bali chief prosecutor Momock Bambang Samiarso told reporters . On Thursday , Husain Abdullah , the spokesman for Vice-President Jusuf Kalla , said the execution of the drug smugglers ` will be delayed for between three weeks to a month from now due to technical reasons . ' Jusuf Kalla took a phone call on Thursday afternoon from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop , who reportedly thanked his government for delaying the men 's transfer to the execution site on Kambangan island . The news came after senior government figures expressed concerns Mr Abbott had derailed efforts to save the Bali Nine duo from execution by making comments taken as a ` threat ' by Indonesia . Andrew Chan 's and Myuran Sukumaran 's families speak to journalists at a press conference in Jakarta last week . Indonesian president Joko Widodo has insisted that that their killings will go ahead . Ms Bishop has been leading a carefully crafted campaign to spare the lives of Australians Sukumaran and Chan , exercising caution in pointing out problems with Indonesia 's legal system while remaining respectful , Fairfax reported . But on Wednesday , Mr Abbott linked the men 's fate to Australia 's donation of $ 1 billion in aid following the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami that killed more than 200,000 in Indonesia , and suggested the Asian country should ` reciprocate in this way at this time ' . President Widodo told local media that Ms Bishop had clarified the remarks , speaking directly with Vice-President Jusuf Kalla . ` She has explained that it was n't the intention . Actually we wanted to say something but since it has been explained , we cancelled it , ' said Widodo . Senior government figures were concerned Prime Minister Tony Abbott -LRB- left -RRB- had derailed efforts to save the Bali Nine duo , after Foreign Minister Julie Bishop 's -LRB- right -RRB- carefully crafted campaign to spare their lives . The comments had previously sparked a sharp rebuke from the Indonesian government , with the country 's foreign affairs ministry spokesman , Arrmanatha Nasir , hitting back by saying ` no one responds well to threats ' . Senior members of the Abbott government slammed the prime minister 's comments as ` awful ' . ` It undid a lot of the good work , ' a source told Fairfax . Ahmad Yuspahruddin , chief of the Indonesian Justice Ministry 's Central Java penitentiary division which governs the prisons on Kambangan island told Daily Mail Australia today that preparations were in place to put the two Australians to death by firing squad . ` Nothing problem , everything is okay here , ' Mr Yuspahruddin said , ` Whenever the Bali nine duo will be coming we have prepared it for some days ago . We are waiting for them . ' Chan and Sukumaran are enjoying a few days ' reprieve from the firing squad after Indonesia delayed moving them from their Bali jail cells . ` Everything is ready for execution - we are waiting for them ' : The ` death island ' prisons boss Ahmad Yuspahruddin -LRB- pictured -RRB- , chief of the Central Java penitentiary division which governs Nusakambangan Island is prepared to execute Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran . Condemned men : Myuran Sukumaran -LRB- pictured in a Bali holding cell -RRB- . The temporary reprieve gives the condemned men 's lawyer , Michael O'Connell , precious time to progress their case . Mr O'Connell says it 's a strong one , but lawyers will first have to clear jurisdictional hurdles to determine whether Mr Joko 's decree can be characterised under administrative law or is simply a decision that 's a matter for the president . Mr O'Connell said the Sydney men were coping extremely well . ` They 're humbled really by the depth of support that has been coming from Australia and to some extent in Indonesia as well , ' he said on Thursday . ` They are very grateful for it and they simple wait and hope . ' | Chinthu Sukumaran has told of his brother Myuran 's love for Indonesia . It comes as reports have emerged that fighter jets have arrived in Bali . They are expected to escort the men to their deaths . Chinthu says his family were trying to tell each other there was still hope for his brother , even if it felt like a lie . Chan and Sukumaran were slated for transfer to death island on Tuesday . The move was delayed for ` up to a month ' to give them time with family . Indonesian President Joko Widodo claims ` technical reasons ' behind delay . He said that their deaths will go ahead as plans despite postponement . 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The food company which imports the frozen berries at the centre of the hepatitis A outbreak that is sweeping across Australia has said there no firm link between their Nanna 's Berries and the health scare . Patties Foods says its imported Chinese berries were recalled on health department advice despite a lack of proof from accredited laboratories of a link to the hepatitis A virus -LRB- HAV -RRB- . ` At this point , we have not been provided any remaining consumer product to test from the 13 confirmed HAV cases to clinically verify there is indeed a link with the Nanna 's Mixed Berries , ' managing director and chief executive Stephen Chaur said in a statement on Friday . Up to 450,000 people may have eaten the frozen berries suspected of transmitting hepatitis A , as four more people were diagnosed with the disease on Saturday . Scroll down for video . Up to 450,000 people may have eaten the frozen berries suspected of transmitting hepatitis A . 70,000 packets of the Chinese berries are sold each week in Australia , putting nearly half a million people at risk and sparking concerns over potential future cases . 18 people in total have been diagnosed with hepatitis A , which has an incubation period of seven weeks , leading health experts to believe that more cases will come to light . Mr Chaur insists the company had rigorous testing that went beyond the Australian standards requirement that five per cent of imported fruit containers be tested . ` Patties Foods ' documented test regime is amongst the highest , testing 20 per cent of all the containers when they arrive in Australia , ' he said . But Mr Chaur said sample testing for microbial and viral markers had been increased to 100 per cent of imported frozen berries from all countries . The company has checked quality control testing documents back to June 2014 and says they 're satisfied no biological indicators outside Australian guidelines have been detected . Recalled products are being tested further at laboratories in Australia , Europe and North America with results expected in a fortnight . Production of recalled products has been stopped until the formal results are known . The health department says the source of the virus is still unconfirmed but the berries are the only common exposure in all cases . The Department of Agriculture is asking all companies importing Chinese berries for more information about their sources and food safety management . Food Standards Australia New Zealand will review of the risk status of frozen berries . Approximately two percent of the country 's population may have consumed the berries , said Finn Romanes , public health physician and Victorian government medical adviser . ` We are still working on this outbreak and we think that there will be more cases come to light , ' Mr Romanes told The Australian . Consumers are being urged not to buy or eat Nanna 's Raspberries one kilogram packs , Nanna 's Frozen Mixed Berries one kilogram packs and 300 and 500 gram packs of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries . While only the Nanna 's Mixed Berries product has been linked with the outbreak , and the other products have been recalled as a precaution , a Health Department spokesperson said that the source of the disease was still unconfirmed . Four frozen berry products imported by Patties Foods , and sourced from China 's Shandong province , were recalled this week due to fears they are linked to the viral disease Hepatitis A . ` However , the berries are the only common exposure for cases , ' the Heath Department said in a statement on Saturday . Despite the Federal government refused to release statistics relating to the scare , it has been revealed that three Victorians were the first to contract Hepatitis A , between Christmas and New Years . The Victorians were all interviewed by health authorities , and found that all three had consumed the berries , corroborating similar findings in NSW . An estimated one in 100 people who have eaten the contaminated berries will develop the disease , a figure which the Federal Health Department labelled as ` worse case scenario ' . The Department of Agriculture is contacting companies that have imported Chinese berries to find out about the source of the berries and supply chain food safety management systems . Early last week , the Red Cross Blood Service banned those who had eaten the berries from donating blood for two months , but lifted the ban on Saturday when they found the blood supply was not at risk . It has been revealed the frozen berries are from the Shandong province in east China , the Daily Telegraph reports . A river which flows in the Chinese village Jinling in the Shandong province is one of China 's most polluted areas , reportedly where frozen berries are grown and packed before they are imported and sold in Australian stores . Cities and villages in Shandong are reportedly plagued by chemical and industrial waste pollution , with farming land laying adjacent to factories and petrochemical plants . One river running through the village of Jinling is so polluted by nearby chemical factories that the water is red coloured and has a foul smell , according to local Chinese reports . The small town of Jinling in east China 's Shandong province is located near the Qilu Chemical Industrial Park in Zibo City , according to the Epoch Times . The small town of Jinling in east China 's Shandong province is located near the Qilu Chemical Industrial Park in Zibo City . In previous reports , there have been claims that the company releases chemical distribution into the river , which was once sparkly clear but has now visibly been contaminated and also emanates a stench . Residents also say there 's a ` cancer virus ' floating around the village as cancer is quite common in the town . This comes as reports emerged that health tests were n't conducted on any frozen berry products imported to Australia while similar goods have been tied to hepatitis breakout in North America and Europe , The Australian reports . | Patties Foods say there 's no firm link between their berries and hepatitis A . The company insists ` Nanna 's Berries ' was recalled despite a lack of proof . 450,000 people may have eaten berries suspected of passing on Hepatitis A . The company say their testing is four times beyond the Australian standards requirement . Figures from the company show up to 70,000 packets are sold each week . Hepatitis A has an incubation period of seven weeks . Health authorities fear this means the number of cases will rise . Four more people were confirmed diagnosed to have Hep A on Saturday . The total number of people with the disease now stands at 18 . The outbreak came from three Victorians who ate the berries in December . | [[0, 91], [126, 207], [208, 379], [0, 91], [126, 207], [208, 379], [683, 775], [868, 962], [963, 1000], [1035, 1131], [2547, 2631], [1309, 1358], [1326, 1412], [963, 1032], [963, 1000], [1035, 1131], [1176, 1187], [1196, 1235], [1238, 1308], [2765, 2817], [778, 843], [1132, 1187], [1132, 1187], [3682, 3801]] |
Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg is planning to build a waterside town next to the firm 's San Francisco headquarters . The 200-acre plot will be turned into Facebook 's own company town , complete with supermarkets , hotels and homes for 10,000 of its employees and their families . The extravagant plans will see the conurbation - dubbed ` Zee-town ' - have its own roads , as well as accommodation ranging from luxurious villas for high-paid executives to dormitories for trainees . Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg is planning to build a waterside town next to the firm 's San Francisco headquarters , with the help of architect Frank Gehry -LRB- right -RRB- . The 200-acre plot will be turned into Facebook 's own company town , complete with supermarkets , hotels and homes for 10,000 of its employees . Pictured , plans from 2012 . Facebook recently spent $ 400million -LRB- # 260million -RRB- on a 55-acre industrial park next to their main offices at 1 Hacker Way near San Francisco 's Menlo Park , the final plot needed for construction to begin . Mr Zuckerberg has hired architect Frank Gehry , 85 , who designed the visually-striking Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao , Spain , for the job . The Sunday Times reported that the town will have ` real streets ' for outsiders to visit . Mr Gehry was asked to tone down some of the plans for the $ 200billion -LRB- # 130billion -RRB- company 's town , with the architect told to make the buildings blend into nature . Most of the offices will have oak trees planted on 40ft high roofs with Facebook hoping the site will look like a grassy hill from the outside . Critics of ` Zee-town ' say that workers will be dependent on cars to get to the settlement , going against Facebook 's eco-friendly ethos , however the company argues it has alternative plans for transport . The extravagant plans will see the conurbation - dubbed ` Zee-town ' - have its own roads . Facebook moved into its Menlo Park headquarters in 2011 . The campus previously was home to Sun Microsystems . Mr Gehry designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao , the museum of modern and contemporary art in northern Spain . Business writer Sarah Goodyear said it ` epitomises the planning failures of the past three generations in California and avoids connecting with a real messy place like San Francisco ' . Mr Zuckerberg already has a $ 10million -LRB- # 6.5 million -RRB- , five-bedroom ` starter home ' 20 minutes away from the site , so he is unlikely to be moving in once the town is complete . The tycoon also owns four houses on the same street . Mr Zuckerberg , the 15th wealthiest person in the world according to Forbes , is not the first boss to try to build a town for their company . The Cadbury family built Bournville - and named their plain chocolate bar after it - in the 19th century after the confectionery makers needed to move the factory to a new site in Birmingham . Jeff Bezos , founder of Amazon , also plans to move his company to its own independent settlement , using the unconventional method of building rockets in an attempt to colonise space . | Facebook plans to build its own town on a 200-acre plot in San Francisco . Mark Zuckerberg wants homes for 10,000 workers next to company 's HQ . ` Zee-town ' will have supermarkets , hotels and luxurious accommodation . Oak trees will be planted on 40ft high roofs to provide an eco-friendly feel . Extravagant town designed by Guggenheim Museum architect Frank Gehry . | [[0, 117], [0, 30], [43, 117], [118, 232], [484, 646], [661, 775], [2906, 2916], [2944, 3003], [118, 232], [282, 398], [661, 775], [1466, 1546], [484, 646], [1078, 1099], [1111, 1179], [2023, 2072]] |
A councillor kicked out of Ukip has insisted she is not racist despite being filmed saying she has ' a problem with people with negroid features ' . Rozanne Duncan , who was a member of Ukip in the seat where Nigel Farage will run to be an MP , said she did not like ` negroes ' . Ms Duncan was expelled from the party after the comments were revealed by the makers of a fly-on-the-wall documentary by the BBC , but she still says she does not regret her comments . Scroll down for video . Rozanne Duncan says she is not racist despite being filmed saying she has ' a problem with people with negroid features ' The councillor for Thanet South , in Kent , was filmed telling Ukip press officer Liz Langton Way that she has ` problems with negroes ' . ' I have to watch my tongue because I can be very outspoken and it goes against the grain to be careful what I 'm saying , ' Ms Duncan said . Insisting there was ` absolutely no way I 'm a racist ' , she added : ` The only people I do have problems with are negroes . And I do n't know why . ' I do n't know whether there is something in my psyche or whether it 's karma from a previous life or whether something happened to me as a very , very young person and I 've drawn a veil over it - because that sometimes happens , does n't it ? Ms Duncan denies being a racist , saying the ` only people I do have problems with are negroes ' ` But I really do have a problem with people with negroid features . ' Ms Duncan went on to explain that things were different when she was brought up . She said : ' I used to say to my daughter , by way of some sort of justification , you need to remember that I was born in the late '40s , early '50s when , especially down in Thanet , there were n't any and I was n't brought up with them . Now that 's no justification at all , it does n't answer the question `` why is she like that with them and not anybody else . '' ' Her comments were revealed in BBC documentary Meet the Ukippers , which airs tonight . After Ukip booted her out of the party over the comments , Ms Duncan claimed there had been a ` hidden agenda ' against her and she felt ` betrayed ' . ' I still honestly believe that what I said was never at any time racist or derogatory , ' she said . ' I used the word `` negroes '' as you would do Asians , Chinese , Muslims , Jews . It 's a description , it 's not an insult - in the same way as you would say `` what do you mean by Jewish ? '' Well , they belong to a community , they have got a certain faith , they have usually got noses that have got a bit of a curve to them , married women - if they are orthodox Jews - wear wigs . It 's description . ' She added : ' I do n't regret saying it . I do n't regret anything , that 's the truth . ` I was not expelled for having an `` association with or membership of an organisation incompatible with membership of the party '' , nor have I links with a far-right or any other group . ` The only group I 've ever belonged to is the Conservative party -- unless you count Mensa , the Women 's Institute or the Order of Women Freemasons . ' The former Ukip councillor made the comments to party press officer Liz Langton Way , pictured with fellow press officer James Langton . Ukip local chairman Martyn Heale is shown discussing his past membership of the far-right National Front . The documentary also shows local Ukip chairman Martyn Heale attempting to draw a line under his past membership of the far-right National Front . He said : ` For Christ 's sake , I was never a member of the Gestapo . I was not a member of the Stasi , I never served a term of imprisonment in my life . Ms Duncan was elected as a Ukip councillor in a by-election in the Cliftonville East ward of Thanet South in May 2013 with a 41 per cent share of the vote . The landlady , who owned four properties in Margate when she was elected , was brought up in Kent . She stood in a council election for the Margate Central ward in 2007 for the Conservative party , but was not elected after finishing third with 192 votes . After she was expelled from Ukip , she continued in her role as an independent . ' I was a f *** ing member of the Conservative Party for 22 years , I was a member of the National Front for one year and two months . Why do n't they just let it go ? ' He added that when he joined , he did not realised the organisation was ` as extreme as they said ' . The controversy is just the latest row over racism to hit Ukip . In December , Mr Farage defended a disgraced Ukip candidate taped referring to a Chinese woman as a ` Chinky bird ' . The Ukip leader said he felt sorry for Kerry Smith , who was a ` rough diamond ' and meant no ` malice ' with the comments , which were not considered offensive in TV shows like Only Fools and Horses . Mr Farage hit back at claims it was not further proof that Ukip is racist and homophobic , claiming people who live in London are ` snobbish ' about ` colloquial language ' which is common amongst people who live in council houses . He initially refused to sack Mr Smith , with Ukip insiders hoping an apology would help the row to ` blow over ' . Eventually he stood down ` by mutual consent ' . Mr Farage defended disgraced Ukip candidate Kerry Smith -LRB- right -RRB- , who was taped referring to a Chinese woman as a ` Chinky bird ' Meet the Ukippers is on BBC Two at 10pm tonight . | Rozanne Duncan was filmed saying she has ` problems with negroes ' Documentary shows her saying does not like ` people with negroid features ' But she insists derogatory terms are just a way of describing people . Former Ukip councillor denies being racist and does not regret comments . BBC footage also shows Ukip member discussing National Front past . | [[63, 135], [84, 144], [149, 163], [245, 276], [490, 600], [549, 609], [612, 643], [649, 653], [656, 746], [951, 960], [963, 1018], [1289, 1298], [1323, 1383], [63, 135], [84, 144], [149, 163], [245, 276], [490, 600], [549, 609], [612, 643], [649, 653], [656, 746], [951, 960], [963, 1018], [1289, 1298], [1323, 1383], [1392, 1454], [1912, 1962], [0, 90], [416, 465], [490, 600], [893, 946], [1289, 1320], [2153, 2237], [2664, 2673], [2678, 2705], [3234, 3340], [3234, 3266], [3276, 3340], [3368, 3486]] |
Former Australian Test player Brett Lee has been dragged into the Glenn McGrath hunting controversy after an image of the pair posing with a dead animal emerged . Daily Mail Australia has uncovered a photograph of the cricketers in the company of two young boys , smiling next to a bleeding deer . Lee has one hand placed casually on the dead animal and the other around a child 's shoulders . A spokesman for the 38-year-old confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that ` yes , that photo was taken on a farm in South Africa ' . The new image comes just a day after McGrath attracted mass criticism for a series of images from a 2008 African hunting trip . The fast bowler is pictured holding a gun and smiling with his kill , including an elephant , water buffalo and hyenas . A spokesman for Brett Lee -LRB- second from left -RRB- confirmed that this photograph was taken at a farm in South Africa . Glenn McGrath is pictured on the far right . A series of photographs of ex-cricketer Glenn McGrath posing next to dead African animals , emerged the day before the image of McGrath with Brett Lee . In 2006 , McGrath opened up about the hunting trips he has enjoyed on his New South Wales country property with Lee and fellow Australian bowler Jason Gillespie , in an interview with Australian Shooter . He explained that Lee enjoys hunting , whilst Gillespie was an amateur with firearms . McGrath is a life member with the Sporting Shooters ' Association of Australia and defended the practice in 2006 , explaining that he sees it as a ` bonding ' activity between himself and his mates . ' I do n't expect people to feel the same way about -LSB- shooting -RSB- , and at the same time , I do n't expect others to force their opinions on me , ' he told AS in 2006 . ' I do have a passion for hunting and it is something I do want to continue once I 've finished with cricket . ' Social media users slammed the former cricketer on Twitter and Facebook . Some went as far as to announce they would boycott his cancer charity the McGrath Foundation . However , McGrath issued a statement on Twitter soon after the images surfaced on Saturday , saying he ` deeply regretted ' the experience . ` In 2008 I participated in a hunting safari in Zimbabwe that was licensed and legal but in hindsight highly inappropriate , ' McGrath wrote . ` It was an extremely difficult time in my life and looking back I deeply regret being involved ' . The ` difficult time ' McGrath referred to in the statement is understood to be a reference to the death of his wife Jane McGrath , who died of Breast Cancer in June 2008 . She died at the age of 42 , eleven years after she was diagnosed , after co-founding the McGrath Foundation with her husband . When the images emerged , the photograph of a beaming McGrath sitting in front of a dead elephant in Zimbabwe with a gun in his lap was considered particularly distressful amongst Twitter users . African elephants are classified as ` vulnerable ' by animal welfare groups . McGrath has openly expressed his passion for hunting in the past during an interview with the Sporting Shooters ' Association of Australia . Social media users slammed the ex-cricketer after the photos emerged . Dozens of Twitter users continue to express their disgust for the photos , with many also saying they would boycott the cancer charity . Twitter users continue to express their disgust for the photos , with many also saying they would boycott the cancer charity . ` Glenn McGrath game hunter . Yes , that 's a dead elephant he 's grinning about . Wo n't give any more $ to his foundation , ' Kerry Glover wrote on the platform . However , another Twitter user pointed out that the cancer patients would suffer greatly if charity was targeted . ` We need to look at the foundation and Glenn McGrath as two separate identities ... do n't kill Jane 's dream , ' tweeted Vivienne . ` Boycotting The McGrath Foundation and the women it helps is pathetic . Get a grip , ' tweeted another . User Sandy Lanceley wrote : ` Just lost an enormous amount of respect for @glennmcgrath11 , hunting in Africa ? Hang your head ' . The photos , which were originally posted to the Zimbabwean canned hunting group Chipitani Safari 's website , have since been removed . The ` difficult time ' McGrath referred to in the statement is understood to be a reference to the death of his wife Jane McGrath -LRB- pictured -RRB- , who died of Breast Cancer in June 2008 . McGrath and his wife Jane attended the launch of the Australian National Breast Cancer campaign in 2004 . Jane died of the disease in 2008 . The 45-year-old issued an apology on Twitter soon after the images surfaced on Saturday , saying he ` deeply regretted ' the experience . The ` difficult time ' McGrath referred to in his statement is understood to be a reference to the death of his wife Jane McGrath , who died of Breast Cancer in June 2008 . The Planet Ark ambassador has openly expressed his passion for hunting in the past during an interview with the Sporting Shooters ' Association of Australia . ` I 'm keen to get into trophy hunting , no animal in particular , but a big safari in Africa would be great , ' he said . ` I 'd prefer to do the safari on foot , like they did in the old days and just take the camp with you , not driving around in 4WDs . ' Now a cricket commentator and president of the McGrath Foundation , McGrath met his current wife Sara Leonardi during a trip to Cape Town in South Africa in 2009 . Planet Ark denied any association with the ex-cricketer today . ` We have only been made aware of these activities today . We are deeply saddened by the deaths of these animals and in no way endorse or support this activity . Planet Ark does not have an ongoing association with Glenn McGrath . ' Now a cricket commentator and president of the McGrath Foundation , McGrath -LRB- right -RRB- met his current wife Sara Leonardi -LRB- left -RRB- during a trip to Cap Town in South Africa in 2009 . The photos , which were originally posted to the Zimbabwean canned hunting group Chipitani Safari 's website , have since been removed . Planet Ark denied any association with the ex-cricketer today . | Photo made public of Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath posing with dead deer . In 2006 McGrath gave an interview describing an enjoyable hunting trip with fellow cricketers Lee and Jason Gillespie . It comes a day after McGrath attracted mass criticism over photos of him smiling with dead African animals and a gun , including an African Elephant . Social media users slammed the ex-cricketer after the photos emerged . McGrath apologised for participating in the hunting safari , saying it was ` highly inappropriate ' The ` difficult time ' he was referring to is believed to be the death of his first wife , who passed away during the same year of the hunting trip . He has openly expressed his passion for hunting in the past during an interview with the Sporting Shooters ' Association of Australia . | [[0, 126], [118, 152], [969, 1031], [1095, 1102], [1105, 1146], [1141, 1255], [3003, 3143], [3003, 3010], [3044, 3143], [4913, 5071], [118, 152], [524, 651], [561, 651], [652, 772], [652, 667], [698, 772], [969, 1031], [2773, 2838], [2729, 2752], [2755, 2790], [2844, 2924], [3144, 3214], [3352, 3426], [0, 126], [524, 651], [561, 651], [1876, 1949], [2729, 2752], [2755, 2790], [2844, 2924], [3144, 3214], [3194, 3214], [3215, 3287], [3352, 3426], [2055, 2062], [2138, 2185], [2214, 2242], [2248, 2308], [4602, 4646], [2429, 2545], [4267, 4383], [4740, 4856], [3003, 3143], [3003, 3010], [3044, 3143], [4913, 5071], [4913, 4923], [4972, 5071]] |
Tina Bayliss had no idea a man she had gone on several dates with was a convicted child killer until he strangled her 13-year-old daughter in the family home . Jade was gagged and strangled in her Christchurch home in November 2011 by Jeremy McLaughlin - a man with criminal past that no one , not even the police , warned Ms Bayliss about . The mother of three was devastated to learn her daughter had been murdered , but she was dealt another cruel blow when she found out Jade 's death could have been prevented . Scroll down for video . Jade Bayliss , 13 , was gagged and strangled to death in her Christchurch home in November 2011 by convicted child killer Jeremy McLaughlin . McLaughlin was sentenced to 23 years in jail in 2013 for Jade 's murder , stealing items from her family 's home and torching it . Now , Ms Bayliss is determined to change the system that let her daughter 's killer slip through the cracks . Ms Bayliss , completely unaware of his dark history , had been on a few dates with McLaughlin in the six weeks prior to Jade 's murder . When she started to distance herself from him , Ms Bayliss said she became concerned when he started stalking her and sending inappropriate text messages . Four days before Jade 's death , Ms Bayliss went to police . ' I asked if I should be worried about Jeremy McLaughlin , ' she told Daily Mail Australia . ' I was informed that I had nothing to worry about and was given a trespass order to serve to Jeremy if he came to my home . ` They typed his name in , but to this day I do n't think anything came up on the computer . If they knew and just gave me a trespass order , that 's pretty sick . ' Tina Bayliss -LRB- right -RRB- had been on several dates with the man who murdered her daughter Jade -LRB- left -RRB- , but she was n't told of his dark criminal history when she complained to police that he was stalking her . Jade stayed home from school sick on the day she was killed and left to perish in the house fire in 2011 . Sadly , the day McLaughlin did return Ms Bayliss was n't home . Jade stayed home from school sick on the day she was killed and left to perish in the house fire . ` It still is the worst day of my life , ' she said . ' I had a gut feeling , but when they said suspicious circumstances , I said straight away it was Jeremy . ' Ms Bayliss was soon informed McLaughlin had been deported to New Zealand after he was found guilty of killing a 14-year-old boy in Western Australia in 1995 . Phillip Vidot and his friend Tyron Williams had been beaten with a cricket bat , run over and robbed of their clothing . McLaughlin was sentenced to 12 years for the manslaughter of Phillip , but only served six before he was deported back to his native country . McLaughlin who was sentenced to 23 years in jail for killing Jade , had been deported to New Zealand after he was found guilty of killed a 14-year-old boy in Western Australia in 1995 . McLaughlin was sentenced to 12 years for the manslaughter of Phillip Vidot , but only served six before he was deported back to his native country . Ms Bayliss said if police had known of McLaughlin 's criminal history she could have been better equipped to protect her 13-year-old daughter Jade . ' I was shell-shocked because I had been into the police station before , ' Ms Bayliss said . ' I just kept thinking , if it did come up on the system that he hurt a child , surely they could have provided me with protection . I was pretty devastated . ' Now more than three years on , Ms Bayliss is determined to change the system . She has launched an online petition calling for a register to help monitor criminals deported to New Zealand and Australia after serving time in other countries . ` We all should have the right to protect ourselves and our loved ones from potential harm , especially if the person has served time for committing a serious crime , ' she said . 13-year-old Jade -LRB- left -RRB- was home sick the day she was killed , while her younger sister Amber and brother Harvey went off to school . Ms Bayliss , pictured here with Jade , has now launched an online petition calling for a register to help monitor criminals deported to New Zealand and Australia after serving time in other countries . She wants Australia and New Zealand to set up a serious crimes register so that police informed when someone is being deported after serving time . At the moment there 's no such register , only one for sex offenders . Ms Bayliss is also campaigning for deported criminals to meet the same parole conditions as those who have served time in New Zealand . ` If this information was available to the police and they could have informed me of McLaughlin 's serious criminal history I would of been better equipped to try and protect my family , ' she said . ` Things could have been a lot different . ' Ms Bayliss ' petition is available on change.org . | Jade Bayliss was strangled in her Christchurch home in November 2011 by convicted child killer Jeremy McLaughlin . Tina complained to police about McLaughlin 's strange behaviour four days before he killed her 13-year-old daughter . Police were unaware he had been deported to New Zealand after serving time for killing a 14-year-old boy in Western Australia in 1995 . 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An apologetic Vanilla Ice has given his first proper interview following his arrest this week , saying he is struggling to eat and sleep and that he has never felt worse . The rapper turned renovation show reality star - charged with burglary and grand theft after allegedly pilfering property from a foreclosed home in Palm Beach , Florida - seemed teary as he said he has barely eaten or slept since turning himself into police on Wednesday . ` I 'm a family man , I 've got kids , I 'm sorry to everybody for whatever this is , ' Van Winkle told WPBP News as he left Florida for Columbus , Ohio , on Friday . ' I really love the community , where I live here in Palm Beach , I do a lot of things ... hopefully people can see who I am , the real me . ' Scroll down for video . ` I 'm sorry to everybody ' : Vanilla Ice gave his first proper interview since being released from lock up earlier this week while leaving Florida on Friday bound for Columbus Ohio . He was teary , apologetic and upset . ` Worst day ' : The 47-year-old maintains he was trying to purchase the home that the property - left behind furniture - was stolen from , after it went into foreclosure . Van Winkle has told investigators he was ` going to purchase ' the home that the stolen property was removed from . He is accused of breaking into a vacant home and stolen furniture , a pool heater , bicycles and other items . ` I 'm still actively trying to by this house , ' he told the network . ` It 's just sad the way this has played out . It 's not me . ' ' I feel horrible . It 's the worst day of my life . ' The burglarized residence , which is in foreclosure , is near a home that Van Winkle was working on for his show on DIY Network , The Vanilla Ice Project , and some of the stolen property was later found at Van Winkle 's personal home , police say . It has been reported however that Van Winkle told his work crew that he owned the home , and sent them over twice to burgle the property . Vanilla Ice , whose real name is Robert Van Winkle , was charged with burglary of a residence and grand theft . Police say Van Winkle stole items from this house in Lantana , Florida , while he was filming his reality show inside an adjacent home . Van Winkle -LRB- center -RRB- was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on a $ 6,000 bond . According to the New York Daily News ; ` Cops later interviewed Ice 's construction foreman , who said Ice told him he 'd bought the property and ordered him to fetch stuff from it , including the pool heater and two bikes , worth about $ 400 . In the show , Van Winkle and a crew renovate and flip houses . ' Then , earlier this month , a mirrored coffee table and some glass knick-knacks were reported missing from the property . The real estate broker of the burglarized $ 1million home , Jim Lovely , called the situation a ` hassle ' , according to NBC Miami . Lovely said : ` Why would you jeopardize going to jail for basically junk ? ` It was just worthless furniture and some items so it does n't make much sense . ` The house was n't full of Picassos , so it was n't a high-dollar heist . ' The former pop star , who rose to fame with the 1990s hit ` Ice Ice Baby , ' was released from the Palm Beach County Jail on a $ 6,000 bond , according to WPBF . Van Winkle called the situation a ` misunderstanding ' that ` was blown out of proportion ' . He said : ` It 's sad that good news does n't travel this fast . ` It 's just out of proportion and I wish you guys would focus on all the good things I 've done . ` It 'll all get cleared up , you 'll see . ' Authorities believe Van Winkle stole furniture , a pool heater -LRB- above -RRB- , bicycles and other items . The broker for the property said the house , which did contain some furniture -LRB- above -RRB- , ` was n't full of Picassos ' Police took Van Winkle into custody after they obtained a search warrant and recovered some of the stolen items at his home in Palm Beach County . The Lantana Police Department said : ` During the investigation , it was determined Robert Matthew Van Winkle played a role in the burglary and theft . ' A search warrant was obtained and executed in unincorporated Palm Beach County in which several of the stolen items were recovered at a residence under the care and control of Robert Van Winkle . ' The items have been returned to their owner . In his DIY Network show , Van Winkle and a crew renovate and flip homes . DIY is ` aware ' of the situation . The items which Van Winkle allegedly took from the home -LRB- pictured -RRB- have been returned to their owner . Van Winkle in a 2001 mugshot -LRB- left -RRB- after he allegedly threatened a man and in a 2008 mugshot -LRB- right -RRB- after an assault charge . According to Van Winkle , the incident was not related to his television show . He said : ' I wish it was . There 's nothing fun about this . ' I wish everybody all the best , and maybe some of the good news will travel this fast in the future . ' DIY Network is ` aware ' of the situation and ` looking into the matter ' . The cable star is still scheduled to appear at the Columbus Dispatch Home and Garden Show on Saturday in Columbus , Ohio . Tommy Quon of TQ Management Agency told the Columbus Dispatch that Van Winkle will be speaking about home renovation . He said : ` Rob will be available to make the home show in Columbus . ' I still do n't know what exactly happened but will get all the facts together and decide a course of action . ' Van Winkle has been married to wife Laura since 1997 and they have two daughters together . This is not his first brush with the law ; in 1991 , he was arrested and pleaded no contest for threatening a homeless man with a gun . A decade later , he was arrested by Florida police and spent a night in jail for assaulting his wife as they argued while driving . He admitted that he had pulled her hair , but said it was to stop her from jumping out of their truck , and was sentenced to probation and attended family therapy sessions . In 2008 , Van Winkle was arrested for allegedly assaulting his wife again - but was released the following day after she said he had only pushed her . The case was dropped two weeks later . | Vanilla Ice , 47 - real name Robert Van Winkle - was arrested in Lantana , Florida , on Wednesday and charged with burglary and grand theft . Cops say he took furniture , a pool heater and bicycles from a vacant $ 1million home near a property he was working on for his reality show . ` The Vanilla Ice Project ' reinvented Van Winkle as a renovation king . He allegedly told his crew he owned the home and sent them over twice to pilfer the property . The items were later found inside his own house , according to authorities . He says it was a ` misunderstanding ' that was ` blown out of proportion ' | [[172, 258], [206, 218], [221, 330], [1980, 1991], [2024, 2091], [206, 218], [221, 330], [1110, 1119], [1122, 1137], [1140, 1172], [1289, 1399], [1289, 1291], [1303, 1399], [1591, 1616], [1645, 1659], [1660, 1718], [2092, 2152], [2388, 2415], [2422, 2546], [2634, 2638], [2641, 2659], [2662, 2755], [3591, 3700], [3701, 3796], [4483, 4544], [206, 218], [221, 330], [1841, 1904], [1875, 1927], [1841, 1843], [1934, 1979], [2388, 2415], [2422, 2546], [1751, 1788], [1795, 1825], [1751, 1778], [1783, 1825], [3828, 3834], [3870, 3874], [3905, 3974], [4175, 4207], [4211, 4324], [3287, 3376], [3347, 3376], [3448, 3476]] |
A collection of eight New York bartenders has shared what it 's like to ` sit back and enjoy the show ' of couples who meet on the mobile phone app Tinder meet each other in their restaurants . Tinder , through which prospective couples can arrange dates if they both ` like ' each other , now makes 10million matches a day , sending users into bars to see each other in person . Patrons may not want to add any extra pressure by having their meetup become a spectacle , but bartenders are adept at knowing when a couple comes in on a Tinder date , according to a video from The Daily Share . Eight bartenders explained what it is like to watch some of the dating app Tinder 's 10million matches a day meet each other for the first time . The restaurant workers agreed that they could always tell when a couple had met online and enjoyed watching the show . ` Usually they 're dressed a little bit too well and they 're showered a little bit too recently ' said Bryan , who works at The Jakewalk in Brooklyn . Bartenders said they text their coworkers and other bartenders they know when they see a particularly entertaining date . While Tinder date customers look to end their loneliness , they also often recruit a friendly bartender to their side to share the awkwardness of their first encounter with a potential new flame . Kerryn , who works at Greenpoint Heights , said that once a woman arranged to touch her forehead to signal if her date did not look like his picture on the app . She ended up vigorously smacking her brow . Bad dates sometimes end with one of the parties simply taking off when the other is going to the bathroom , leaving bartenders to break the news that the date had been ended to the other customer . Another woman told her date that she was leaving to go find her missing glove , but never came back . Junior , who works at the Brooklyn bar Commonwealth , said that seeing failed goodbye kisses is like ` watching a dog get put down ' Goodbyes may be the most dramatic part of the first date ordeal , with multiple bartenders saying that women often turn their head to the side when a man goes in for a kiss . ` It 's a heartbreaker . It 's like watching a dog get put down , ' said Junior , who works at Commonwealth . But a lack of connection does n't deter some app-users . One bartender named Carla said that she once saw a woman bring in three Tinder dates to her restaurant in the same night , according to Your Tango . Other customers on bad dates will use their dating app again before even saying goodbye to a failed romance . The bartenders said it feels rewarding when the dates go well , even if it sometimes ends up with customers wildly displaying their new-found affection in public . The best dates from the amount of laughter , said Kerryn . Bartenders said that it feels good when new Tinder couples end up having a good date at their establishments . | Eight bartenders said they can always tell when a Tinder couples come in . Customers sometimes bring in multiple dates in the same night . Bartenders must break news if someone leaves while date is in bathroom . Patrons create signals to share with bartenders when date is going badly . | [[0, 114], [475, 485], [496, 592], [739, 857], [2310, 2458], [2346, 2388], [1643, 1732]] |
Air Chief Marshal Lord Stirrup , a former chief of the defence staff , claimed Vladimir Putin is ` testing ' Britain 's reaction times . Planes packed with holidaymakers could be brought down by Russian jets in a highly dangerous ` game of chicken ' , a former head of the armed forces has warned . Air Chief Marshal Lord Stirrup , a former chief of the defence staff , claimed Vladimir Putin is ` testing ' the resolve of Britain and its Nato allies in the stand-off in Ukraine . He accused Moscow of pursuing an ` aggressive ' strategy of probing UK defences , using flights by Russian long-range Bear bombers off Bournemouth and the coast of Cornwall . Two Russian bombers last week skirted British airspace off the coast of Cornwall , where they were intercepted and escorted by the two RAF Typhoon fighters . It came after one of the huge Cold War-era Tu-95 planes was spotted in the skies off the coast of Bournemouth last month . Lord Stirrup said the flights were not ` joy rides ' but ` mission rehearsals ' designed to test Britain 's capability to react . He told Sky News 's Murnaghan programme : ` They are becoming more aggressive . These aircraft - Russian Bears for example - are not going on these very flights simply as joy rides . They are mission rehearsals , ' he said . ` These aircraft launch stand-off missiles against Western targets and just as they used to do in the Cold War they are practising those profiles . ` They are testing us , they are testing our defences , they are testing our reactions and they are engaging to a degree in a game of chicken and that 's very dangerous . ` So we are seeing the possibility of mid-air collision , not between RAF and Russia aircraft , but between Russian aircraft and civilian aircraft increasing . ' Official figures show that RAF jets have been scrambled to deter Russian plans 88 times from 2005 to 2014 , including 8 times last year . A third of all incidents in which RAF pilots were deployed involved a plan from Russia . Lord Stirrup suggested that Britain should now consider supplying arms to the Ukraine government to counter the superior firepower of the separatist rebels who are being supplied by Moscow . ` Nato over the years , in the eyes of Putin at least , has become weak . Putin views the West as weak all round and that is a very , very dangerous position for us to be in , ' he told Sky News 's Murnaghan programme . ` My concern is that Nato is not spending enough resource on defence . If Nato is weak or is perceived to be weak by Putin then the risk of miscalculation is much greater and our security is much lowered as a result . ' Scroll down for video . Footage of British and French fighter jets escorting a Russian bomber was released by a Kremlin-backed TV station . Lord Stirrup , who was head of the armed forces at the time of the 2010 strategic defence and security review , said the ` swingeing cuts ' to defence spending had left the forces ` right on the limit ' and needed to be reversed . Since January last year , there have been at least 17 shows of military strength by Russia near the UK . The most serious included : . Wednesday : RAF jets scrambled after two Russian Bear bombers spotted off the coast of Cornwall . Feb 15 : Russian warship intercepted by Royal Navy in the English Channel . Jan 28 : RAF fighters challenge two Russian bombers capable of carrying nuclear missiles south of Bournemouth . Jan 8 : Defence chiefs ask for US help to hunt a suspected Russian submarine lurking off the coast of Scotland . Nov 2014 : Russian flotilla on military exercise in the Channel escorted from UK waters by HMS Tyne . Nov 2014 : Nato aircraft called in to hunt suspected Russian submarine off the west coast of Scotland . Oct 2014 : RAF Typhoon warplanes shadow two Bears as they fly down the west coast of Britain . He was backed by Tory MP Rory Stewart , chairman of the Commons Defence Committee , who said that all the political parties now needed to commit to maintaining the Nato target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence . ` This is absolutely central . Every party must in their manifesto commit to 2 % spending on defence , ' he told Sky News . ` That is what Nato is about . It is passing the message to Putin that Nato is a serious organisation that is prepared to defend its territory . ` Deterrence is about psychology . That 2 per cent figure is something he is going to be looking at very carefully because that is what we used to show that we are serious . ' Increasing aggression from Russia has led to calls for military support for the Ukrainian government . Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox has said the West should now consider arming the government in Kiev . But the idea was rejected by Commons Leader William Hague , who said that the right approach was to ratchet up sanctions if Russia continued to de-stabilise Ukraine . ` We are not planning as the UK to send arms to Ukraine . It has n't been our approach in any recent conflict in recent years to send arms into those conflicts , ' Mr Hague , who was foreign secretary until last year , told BBC One 's The Andrew Marr Show . ` We want to see a diplomatic solution . We believe that that long-term economic price toRussia and all of those other penalties are the right penalties for Russia to pay . You have to think very carefully before you send additional arms into a conflict . ' Tory MP Rory Stewart , chairman of the Commons Defence Committee , -LRB- right -RRB- said that all the political parties now needed to commit to maintaining the Nato target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence . Commons Leader William Hague ruled out arming the Ukrainian government in the stand-off with Russia . | Jock Stirrup warns of risk posed by Russian flights testing UK airspace . Former chief of the defence staff accuses Moscow of ` game of chicken ' Long-range Bear bombers seen off Bournemouth and coast of Cornwall . RAF jets scrambled to deter Russian jets 88 times in the last decade . Calls grow for Britain to help arm Ukrainian government against Russia . | [[252, 298], [656, 736], [0, 30], [71, 136], [252, 298], [299, 329], [370, 480], [1531, 1610], [481, 483], [563, 655], [656, 736], [835, 936], [3174, 3234], [1773, 1910], [1795, 1910], [2000, 2155], [4501, 4603], [4604, 4707], [4647, 4666], [4676, 4707], [4647, 4655], [4663, 4707], [4900, 4932]] |
A Los Angeles man taken off a United Airlines flight the day after the massacre at the Paris offices of Charle Hebdo because a flight attendant believed he was one of the murderers has spoken out about his unhappiness at how the airline treated him following his ordeal . Elliot Pembrook was detained by federal agents upon arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport on a United flight from Frankfurt , Germany , where he had been visiting his fiancée . United had contacted the feds after a member of the flight crew grew suspicious that Pembrook , 31 , might have been Al-Qaeda extremist Said Kouachi , 34 , who was shot by French police outside Paris later that day . Elliot Pembrook , right , was marched off a United Airlines flight the day after the massacre at the Paris offices of Charle Hebdo because a flight attendant believed he was Said Kouachi , left , who along with his brother Cherif had forced his way into the Paris offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charle Hebdo and killed 12 people . Said Kouachi and his brother Cherif had forced their way into the offices of the satirical weekly newspaper and killed 12 people on 7 January . After being marched off the United flight , Pembrook was held for two hours before he was eventually released and allowed to continue his journey home to Los Angeles . Pembrook told NJ Advance Media that he had no issue with being detained by the feds - who he says were just doing their job - but believes his ordeal could have been avoided if the concerned flight attendant had simply spoken to him and realized he was clearly an American rather than French citizen . The passenger 's fury concerns the fact that no one from the airline sought him out to check how he was doing or even to apologize after his release . Instead , Pembrook only heard from United after he contacted them days later to see if they planned to make amends . Three weeks later he received a belated apology via email and a $ 500 credit . Elliot Pembrook was detained by federal agents upon arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport on a United flight from Frankfurt , Germany , where he had been visiting his fiancée . ` We hope that he will understand that our apology is sincere and that he will give us another chance , ' read the email , which Pembrook has described as a ` slap in the face . ' ' I wanted an apology , and I just wanted some kind of explanation from the flight attendant , a specific apology from her , ' Pembrook told NJ Advance Media . Pembrook , who is mixed race , has acknowledged he matched a broad description of the suspect , but says he deserved to be treated with more respect . ` Customs said that United 's decision was stupid but that they had to act , and the U.S. Marshal that showed up simply asked , ` Is this the guy ? ' and then immediately left , ' he said . Said Kouachi and his brother Cherif pictured outside the Paris offices of the satirical weekly newspaper Charle Hebdo : A Los Angeles man was taken off a United Airlines flight the day after the massacre because an attendant believed he was one of the murderers . ` No one from United ever showed up during any of this or at the end to even blurt out an , `` Oops I 'm sorry . ' '' A United spokesman insists that the crew responded appropriately during the flight . ` Whenever a crew member or a customer has cause for concern , relaying that concern to the proper authorities is absolutely the right thing to do , ' said Rahsaan Johnson . ` The authorities are the right ones to determine whether the threat is legitimate . ' He did however concede that United should have apologized immediately to Pembrook . | Elliot Pembrook was marched off a United Airlines flight because a flight attendant believed he was one of the Charle Hebdo murderers . Pembrook was detained by the feds at Newark airport for two hours before being allowed to continue his journey . He says he is angry because United failed to check up on him after his ordeal or offer an apology . Pembrook complained and three weeks later he got an email and a $ 500 credit but he says the airline 's behavior is n't good enough . | [[0, 103], [117, 143], [125, 180], [496, 558], [677, 692], [695, 770], [816, 863], [1163, 1204], [2967, 3082], [3061, 3112], [272, 406], [1163, 1330], [1246, 1248], [1277, 1330], [1980, 2114], [167, 271], [1633, 1783], [1678, 1783], [3113, 3199], [3600, 3660], [167, 271], [1901, 1979]] |
She 's the favourite to win the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Still Alice tonight but Julianne Moore is by no means just an actress . In fact , the 54-year-old has written a series of children 's books and is such an experienced interior designer that she 's picked out the pieces decorating the green room at the Oscar ceremony itself . However , in an interview with The Telegraph , she admitted her true life goal : ' I really wanted a family , I really wanted children and I did n't want to compromise on that . ' Julianne Moore -LRB- pictured on Saturday -RRB- counts interior design and children 's fiction writing as just some of her outside passions , but the real thing that drives her is being a mother to her two children . Although she 's struggled to balance work and family - calling it ` hell ' at times - the actress , who plays a woman with early onset Alzheimer 's in the highly praised film , said she has ` loved every minute ' of motherhood . Julianne has two children with director husband Bart Freundlich , Liv , 12 , and Caleb , 17 . The dream of a family was instilled in her from a young age by her mother , who died in 2009 . ` She always told me that you can have both -LSB- career and family -RSB- . I think that it was important to realise what I valued , what I wanted , and to find a way to make them both happen , ' she said . Another thing Julianne inherited from her mother is an acute eye for interior design , which has been further enriched by her brother-in-law , architect Oliver Freundlich . In fact , the Oscar nominee was even enlisted to select the furniture and decor for the green room backstage at the Oscars this year , a task that has previously been assigned to designers including David Rockwell , who teamed up with Susan Sarandon , and Madeline Stuart . ' -LSB- My mother -RSB- always told me that you can have both -LSB- career and family -RSB- , ' said Julianne -LRB- seen in January with son Caleb , daughter Liv and husband Bart Freundlich -RRB- . Julianne , who collaborated with Los Angeles-based design studio Commune on the design project , chose a Hollywood Hills theme , with the aim of making the room feel as if Joan Didion ` invited you over for a drink before the Oscars , ' according to Roman Alonso , a partner at Commune . She said her mother , who was Scottish , cared about where her family lived and made their houses look beautiful . ` And that 's something that I got from her and now I can see it in my daughter . I 'm always fascinated by the urge to decorate . It does n't seem to be a necessity and yet we 've done it for centuries . ' When she 's not exercising her eye for design or spending quality time with her kids , Julianne also writes children 's stories , including 2007 bestseller Freckleface Strawberry , about a young redhead girl finding confidence in a world full of blondes and brunettes . Julianne is nominated for a best actress Oscar for her role in Still Alice , the story of a professor diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer 's at age 50 , which hits UK theatres on March 6 . She has another book , Backpacks , launching in July as part of a five-book contract with Random House . With all these non-Hollywood skills and interests , it 's easy to forget the reason why Julianne Moore is a household name in the first place - her three-decade-long acting career , for which she has earned five Oscar nominations , two Golden Globes and four BAFTA nods , among many more accolades . But it 's certainly not something she takes for granted . She recalled a conversation with her father who remarked that she 'd been acting for 30 years . Julianne said : ' I thought , oh my God , I feel lucky that it 's gone on for that long and that I 've had the experiences that I 've had . ' | Julianne Moore , 54 , is nominated for best actress at the Oscars tonight . Was chosen to design the green room backstage at the awards ceremony . A children 's book writer , she has two kids , Liv , 12 , and Caleb , 17 . | [[2890, 2964], [257, 333], [1548, 1670], [149, 206], [969, 1062]] |
As a country known for its lavish tipping practices , there has always been a debate in America over how much to leave at the end of a meal . For customers who have ever wondered how much staff at restaurants actually earn , new data has revealed on average , they receive a median salary of $ 13.30 an hour . That includes a base salary of $ 9.90 an hour and earning $ 3.40 an hour in tips . Surprisingly , the IRS estimates that up to 40 per cent of tips go unreported , meaning there is an estimated $ 11billion in unrecorded income , according to the Atlantic . The IRS estimates that up to 40 per cent of tips go unreported , meaning there is an estimated $ 11billion in unrecorded income , according to the Atlantic -LRB- above file photo -RRB- . For customers who have ever wondered how much staff at restaurants actually earn , new data has revealed on average , they receive a median salary of $ 13.30 an hour -LRB- above a chart representing the average income for restaurant workers -RRB- . Staff who work at restaurants depend on 25 per cent of tips to make their total income , findings from a study by online salary-information company , PayScale , has revealed . From the 15,000 restaurant workers surveyed in roles including barista , dishwasher , host and pizza chef , bartenders earn the highest tips . Bartenders in general out-earn Bar Managers after counting tips - which makes up 59 per cent of their total income . The top median earners of the study were bartenders in San Francisco , apparently the land of gracious diners . Workers reported earning $ 15.50 in hourly tips along with a base salary of $ 11 an hour , a total of $ 26.50 hourly -LRB- above a graphic representing income trends for waiters and waitresses across the country -RRB- . The top median earners of the study were bartenders hailing from San Francisco , apparently the land of gracious diners . Workers reported earning $ 15.50 in hourly tips along with a base salary of $ 11 an hour , a total of $ 26.50 hourly . In comparison , the worst place for bartenders to be is New York where the median amount earned in tips hourly is $ 7.10 . Waiters and waitresses in San Francisco , Boston and Miami reported earning an average of $ 13.00 an hour in tips . Sous Chefs and Head Chefs earn the highest salaries and men are more likely to hold these jobs , they study found . Males also tend to have roles in management and leadership more than females -LRB- above a graphic by job of median income for restaurant workers -RRB- . Sous Chefs and Head Chefs earn the highest salaries and men are more likely to hold these jobs , the study found . Males also tend to have roles in management and leadership more than females . There was also a difference among genders when it came to reported hourly tips - women reported an hourly tip income of $ 3.70 as their counterparts reported $ 2.70 an hour . However , men reported a base salary of $ 10.40 an hour compared to the $ 9.60 an hour women make . A survey from last summer revealed that across the states , the people who tip most often -LRB- as opposed to the largest -RRB- are in Illinois , with the Delaware residents tipping the least often . | Staff in restaurants depend on 25 per cent of tips to make their total income , PayScale study showed . On average , workers receive a median salary of $ 13.30 an hour . Top median earners of study were bartenders in San Francisco who earn total of $ 26.50 an hour . Sous Chefs and Head Chefs earn highest salaries , with men in these roles more than women . | [[1002, 1061], [1091, 1149], [1152, 1160], [1163, 1177], [260, 309], [871, 924], [1438, 1506], [1770, 1848], [2250, 2309], [2250, 2275], [2281, 2344], [2520, 2579], [2520, 2545], [2551, 2614]] |
The number of children in Britain who have been snatched has increased with almost 900 youngsters taken by strangers or their parents in the last year , a new report reveals . Figures gathered by police forces in England , Wales and Northern Ireland and the charity Parents and Abducted Children Together -LRB- Pact -RRB- show that child kidnappings have increased by almost a fifth . During 2013-14 , kidnappings and abductions of children under 18 rose by 13 per cent since the previous year . Five-year-old April Jones , who was abducted after being seen getting into a car near her home in Wales in October 2012 . Mark Bridger , 46 , was later found guilty of abduction and murder . Kidnappings alone , which are defined as using force or fraud to remove a child , increased at a faster rate , rising by 18 per cent over the same period . Most abductions , 401 out of 559 , were carried out by people other than the children 's parents , while 321 were kidnapped . The number of children being abducted by parents was 158 , up by six per cent on the previous year . And the charity believe the increase in numbers since 2012-13 could be down to a different attitude in recording such crimes in the light of the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal . Alice Gross , left , who was abducted and murdered by Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns last year . Right , Talia Belaid , who was kidnapped by her father and taken to Libya in 2012 at two weeks old . Shannon Matthews , who was abducted by her mother Karen and her partner 's uncle in Dewsbury in 2008 . She was found alive 24 days after going missing . Natalie Horrell , left , who was taken from her mother aged five months in May 1988 . She was found 200 miles away . Right , Alex Griffiths , who was snatched from St Thomas ' Hospital in London in 1990 by a woman posing as a health visitor . She was found two weeks later . Pact 's director of research Geoff Newiss said : ' I would imagine that -LRB- Rotherham -RRB- is something to do with it . ' I would n't be surprised if forces are more sensitive now to the need to record what comes their way . ' The highest rate of child abduction and kidnap was in Northern Ireland , with 11.6 offences per 100,00 children in the last year . Meanwhile the lowest was in Wales where there were 4.5 offences per 100,000 children . The largest forces such as the Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of cases , while kidnapping and abduction offences in Lancashire doubled and there were also significant increases in Kent , North Yorkshire and Northumbria . Mr Newiss added : ` Our analysis shows quite alarming rises in child abduction and kidnapping over the last two years . Vishal Mehrotra , left , was abducted from Putney , west London in 1981 aged eight and murdered . Right , Martin Allen who was last seen at King 's Cross station in November 1979 aged 15 . He has never been found . ` However , it 's difficult to say whether this is a consequence of victims being more likely to report crime , changes in the way police record it , or a genuine increase in offending . ` It is important to stress that child abduction or kidnapping is relatively rare . ` However , we know that many incidents go unreported to , or unrecorded by , the police . ' While Susannah Drury , Director of Policy for Missing People , said : ` The report has uncovered worrying increases in child abductions and kidnapping offences - highlighting the importance of a quick and effective national response to these crimes . ' The Association of Chief Police Officers say there has been a significant increase in the recording of these kinds of crimes due to a ` considerable focus ' on improving crime-recording practices . | Number of child kidnappings in Britain increased by a fifth in the last year . Kidnappings and abductions of children under 18 rose by 13 % in 2013-14 . The vast majority of abductions , 401 from 559 , carried out by strangers . Number of children being abducted by parents was also up by six per cent . Figures were compiled by charity Parents and Abducted Children Together . They believe there is a different attitude to reporting such crimes in wake of Rotherham scandal . | [[0, 33], [43, 97], [254, 384], [385, 399], [402, 495], [2573, 2588], [2593, 2692], [0, 33], [43, 97], [254, 384], [385, 399], [402, 495], [2573, 2588], [2593, 2692], [3278, 3292], [3295, 3306], [3335, 3339], [3344, 3522], [3342, 3522], [76, 150], [843, 858], [872, 939], [0, 33], [43, 97], [254, 384], [983, 1017], [2573, 2588], [2593, 2692], [176, 304], [1070, 1230], [1173, 1260]] |
Treasury minister Danny Alexander said there should be a new offence of ` corporate failure to avoid preventing an economic crime ' Firms which give advice on how to avoid tax will be treated as harshly as tax dodgers themselves under a new law set out by the Lib Dems today . Treasury minister Danny Alexander said there should be a new offence of ` corporate failure to avoid preventing an economic crime ' . He likened the new law to prosecuting someone who acts as an accomplice to a burglar breaking into homes . The Lib Dems set out details of the new laws , which they say will form part of their manifesto if they can not be put on to the statue book by the coalition before the election . The centrepiece would be a new offence of a corporate failure to prevent economic crime , including aiding or facilitating tax evasion . There would also be a penalty for those that facilitate others to commit tax evasion , so they face the same financial penalty as that repaid in tax and fines by the evader themselves . Codes of practice that apply to tax advisers would also be toughened to make it harder to help people and businesses to avoid tax . Mr Alexander said the idea would also see organisations who encourage tax evasion or make it easier for it to be carried out face the same level of fine as the evaders . Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC One , Mr Alexander said the idea would create a much stronger deterrent to companies helping tax dodgers . He said : ` Organisations , be they accountants , banks or whatever , who help people evade tax will be liable for this new offence and crucially liable for financial penalties . ` So , for example , if their customers have to pay back hundreds of millions of pounds in tax then those organisations should have to match that with hundreds of millions of pounds of their own money and I think that 's a very tough disincentive to them to get involved in this in the first place . ` This is taboo . This is something that absolutely must n't happen in our society and we still have a problem with some people thinking they can get away without paying their fair share of tax . ' Mr Alexander went on : ` This is a Liberal Democrat idea for our manifesto . We 've delivered a lot from our last manifesto tackling avoidance , tackling evasion . ` But I am going to seek to pursue this within Government over the next few weeks because I think we do have time potentially in the Budget or through other processes that are going through to take these ideas forward . ` But what I can say is if it we 're not able to do that then we absolutely will be making this one of our key things in the general election . ' The Lib Dems say their plan also includes making a commitment for the government to see the ` tax gap ' - the difference between the total tax owed to the Exchequer and the amount actually collected - fall in each year of the next parliament . Mr Alexander said he wanted to make tax evasion as socially unacceptable as benefit fiddling or drinking and driving . In a statement , Mr Alexander added : ` These new measures will build on the successful strategy that is making tax evasion as socially unacceptable as benefit fiddling or drinking and driving . ` It is a crime , plain and simple . If someone helps a break into your home they end up in the dock as an accomplice . It should be the same if some helps a tax evader . ' For Labour , Chris Leslie said nobody will believe Mr Alexander 's ` warm words ' as the Lib Dems have ` broken their promises on tax ' . The shadow chief secretary to the Treasury said : ` Along with the Tories , they have totally failed to tackle tax avoidance and cut taxes for millionaires while raising VAT on families and pensioners . ` The amount of uncollected tax has gone up by # 3 billion under Danny Alexander and George Osborne . ` This Government has refused to close loopholes which Labour has highlighted . And ministers still need to explain why there has been just one prosecution out of 1,100 names in the HSBC case and why the head of the bank was made a Tory minister . ' Mr Leslie added Labour would have an immediate ` root and branch ' review of HMRC to ensure it is ` up to the job ' . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article . | Lib Dems announce offence of corporate failure to prevent economic crime . It includes aiding or facilitating tax evasion and would hit advice firms . Alexander likens crime to a burglar 's accomplice who helps break-in . | [[72, 129], [349, 406], [698, 759], [740, 834], [132, 244], [740, 834], [698, 713], [808, 834], [1171, 1259], [1470, 1477], [1480, 1648], [411, 495], [3275, 3316]] |
Americans living in the eastern U.S. have certainly been feeling the cold this past week , but now they can see it . This weekend , NASA released a satellite photo which shows the Midwest and East Coast turned white with snow and ice thanks to a recent blast of Siberian and Arctic air . However , the blast has contributed to 21 weather-related fatalities in Tennessee since Monday , according to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency . They include 11 people who died of hypothermia and five victims of motor-vehicle accidents . ` Looks like the states have been sitting in a freezer , ' the space agency said in a statement . The picture was taken by NASA 's Terra satellite 200 miles up from Earth on Friday when record low temperatures were set across the nation including in Maryland , Kentucky , North Carolina and Georgia . Any hopes of a big thaw should be retired for the time being . Another ` Siberian Express ' weather system is forecast to hit Sunday , causing a rain-and-snow storm to hit parts of the East Coast and South . Scroll down for video . Shivering states : This satellite image was taken 200 miles up from Earth on Friday , when record low temperatures were set across much of the Midwest , East Coast and South . Six inches or more of fresh snow was forecast for parts of . the Northeast by early Sunday , according to the National Weather . Service -LRB- NWS -RRB- . Bitter cold is also expected , but conditions . should start to ease in many areas by mid-morning , the service . said . Following nearly a week of cold and ice in Tennessee , Governor Bill Haslam elevated the state on Saturday to a higher level of emergency , which means hard-hit areas may be eligible for state and federal assistance . The state , which has more than 44,000 power outages , is expected to get around a half-inch of snow Sunday night , with some freezing rain and sleet in parts of West Tennessee . Boston , which had already been hit by 98.7 inches of snow going into the weekend , saw only about an inch Saturday , . but local weather watchers there were forecasting the total . tally to hit 100 inches by midnight . The city 's total is well . above the average yearly total of 31 inches . The new round of harsh weather is part of a system that has . cut a curving , 2,000-mile path from southern Missouri to Maine . Snow and ice contributed to major delays at John F. Kennedy . International Airport in New York Saturday , with some arriving . flights delayed more than two hours , and flights destined for . Newark International Airport in New Jersey were delayed more . than three hours , according to a Federal Aviation Administration . advisory . Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings were in . effect until Sunday for parts of West Virginia , Pennsylvania , . New York , Massachusetts , Maine and New Hampshire , the NWS said . The system dropped steady snow on Washington and Baltimore . as it pushed up the East Coast Saturday . West Virginia saw 18 . inches of snow , according to state officials . Kids take a break from playing ice hockey on Mirror Lake as a dogsled team passes on a pleasant Adirondack Mountain morning on Sunday , February 22 , 2015 , in Lake Placid , New York . A city truck grades snow as it drives south on US 81 in Enid , Oklahoma Sunday , February 22 , 2015 . Ken Helms shovels snow from the steps of St. Paul Lutheran Church Sunday , February 22 , 2015 in Enid , Oklahoma . Commander in sleet : The White House was covered in snow Saturday as wintry weather coated Washington , D.C. Snow problem : This plow cleared the snow from the President 's front path on Pennsylvania Avenue . Hey , big guy : This two-story snowman towered over streets in Irondequoit , New York . Above , Anna Vincelli , 45 , takes a picture . Deadly cold : In Tennessee , 21 people died in the cold . Pictured above is a crossroads in Knoxville . Frozen harbor : The waters around New York City 's financial district were covered in ice this week due to the frigid weather . Clean-up : In Danville , Kentucky , a city worker shovels snow off the roof after the devastating cold snap . Struggling on : A wrapped-up figure makes their way through the snow in Philadelphia after an NHL game Saturday . Widespread chill : In Denver , Colorado , this commuter took to the streets on cross-country skis on Saturday . NWS warned that ` structural collapses ' are possible for . rooftops overloaded with the persistent snowfall . Maryland State . Police said people had abandoned their vehicles along . interstates and roadways . In Kentucky , 10 people have died since Monday in . weather-related incidents , said Buddy Rogers , a spokesman for . Kentucky Emergency Management . Pennsylvania authorities said Friday at least two people had . frozen to death outside . A 119-year-old record low temperature for February 20 was broken . in Washington , with a temperature of 5 degrees Fahrenheit -LRB- minus . 15 degrees Celsius -RRB- recorded at Ronald Reagan Washington . National Airport . On Monday morning , there is a possibility of heavy snow to fall over areas of the central Rockies , and rain is expected in parts of southern California to the southern High Plains , according to NWS . A front extending from the Mid-Atlantic to the Gulf Coast is predicted to move into the Southwest towards the southern tip of Florida , and also over the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico by Tuesday . The southern Plains to parts of the Mississippi Valley will have freezing rain and sleet during the day and throughout the evening on Monday . Rain will also develop from the southern Plains to the Southeast through Tuesday , while light snow is expected to fall over parts of the Upper Mississippi Valley in the evening . Temperatures are set to be between 25 and 40 degrees below average for parts of the central and southern Plains , and 20 to 35 degrees below average from parts of the Lower and Mississippi Valley to the Ohio valley and Lower Great Lakes . Fun for some : Ella Gregg , six , and her three-year-old sister Olivia made the most of the snow on a hill in Dublin , Ohio . Clean up : Workers from the Metro Water Services work to clear water drains of ice and snow as rain falls in Nashville , Tennessee . Chillout : The Broadway Bridge in the Bronx borough of New York City was pounded by snow Saturday night . Brave : Hardy souls took to the waters in Newport , Vermont , for the U.S. Winter Swimming Championships . Cold stroke : Jonathan Gladstone -LRB- left -RRB- of the USA and Yuta Tsuboi -LRB- right -RRB- of Japan compete in the frosty waters at Lake Memphremagog . Snow art : William Green , 25 , spray paints flowers onto a snow bank in the parking lot of Genrichís Garden Center where he works in Irondequoit , New York . | The NASA satellite photo was taken on Friday , when record low temperatures were set in several states . Cold is expected to continue , with another ` Siberian Express ' expected to hit on Sunday . In frost-hit Tennessee 21 people died in the past week from the weather , while in Kentucky the death toll was 10 . | [[633, 715], [716, 835], [1085, 1151], [1154, 1243], [4808, 4874], [899, 968], [899, 942], [971, 1043], [1399, 1427], [298, 382], [1520, 1572], [1575, 1657], [3790, 3796], [3804, 3816], [3819, 3847], [4569, 4620]] |
Thousands of British troops may have withdrawn from Afghanistan after the 13-year conflict came to an end last October . But demand for traditional English food has remained sky-high and one entrepreneur has capitalised on this by opening British-style chippy Mr Cod in war-torn Kabul . The fish and chips shop , which is the first of its kind in the country , is the brainchild of Afghan-Canadian entrepreneur Bashir Halimi . He said bringing a British flavour to the country battered by more than a decade of conflict would ` serve a new taste , the taste of the UK , to the Afghan public ' . British-style chippy Mr Cod has opened in Afghanistan 's war-torn capital Kabul , pictured an Afghan man serving food at the restaurant . The fish and chips shop , which is the first of its kind in the country , is the brainchild and investment of Afghan-Canadian entrepreneur Bashir Halimi -LRB- not pictured -RRB- . ` Fish , and chips , are both common in Afghanistan , but I wanted to serve them in a better quality , to international standards , ' said the 29-year-old , who opened the business a week ago . The food is served wrapped in paper and a large picture of a fish adorns the wall along with an aquarium which boasts colourful live fish . A wide-screen television shows Afghan music videos and blue and white balloons hang from the ceiling . In one corner is a small play section for children . ` Customers seem to be happy so far . The number of the guests has increased since we opened , ' said Mr Halimi , who studied business in Vancouver . The British-style food is served wrapped in paper , pictured two customers eating at a wooden table . The restaurant is priced to attract middle-class Afghans with the average medium meal costing 240 Afghanis -LRB- # 2.73 -RRB- . The restaurant is priced to attract middle-class Afghans with the average medium meal costing 240 Afghanis -LRB- # 2.73 -RRB- . It is currently attracting around 250 customers per day , mostly local young people and families . ' I am not expecting profit for now . My rent is 6,000 dollars per month and I also have 22 employees to pay . ' ` Once people knew about it , I will earn by increasing the number of the customers not raising prices , ' Mr Halimi told dalje.com . He has invested $ 400,000 -LRB- # 259,000 -RRB- in the restaurant and is hoping to open up other outlets . Diner Abdul Qader , 53 , said : ' I will come here at least twice a week with my family and friends . `` The food here is tasty and they have a good service . ' Foreign-style restaurants have boomed in the capital since the ousting of the Taliban in the 2001 US-led invasion , despite repeated attacks on establishments frequented by expats . Mr Chippy is currently attracting around 250 customers per day , mostly local young people and families . | British-style chippy Mr Cod opened in Afghanistan 's war-torn capital Kabul . The traditional fish and chips shop is the first of its kind in the country . It is the brainchild of Afghan-Canadian entrepreneur Bashir Halimi . The restaurant is currently attracting around 250 customers per day . | [[187, 203], [228, 286], [595, 674], [595, 622], [677, 732], [595, 674], [287, 310], [361, 426], [733, 756], [807, 891], [1911, 1926], [1938, 1966], [1911, 1913], [1917, 1966], [2707, 2729], [2741, 2769], [2707, 2716], [2720, 2769]] |
A single mother on benefits has admitted spending # 3,000 of taxpayers ' cash on a dream round-the-world trip to far flung destinations with her 10-month-old baby daughter . Kay Bird , 28 , from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire , is unemployed and lives comfortably with her middle-class parents . Her mother Jill , 54 , and stepfather lawyer Bob , 61 , pay for all her rent , bills and all other outgoings . Unemployed single mother Kay Bird , who has admitted spending # 3,000 of taxpayers ' cash on a round-the-world trip to far flung destinations with her 10-month-old baby Chloe . She is pictured with her daughter in Dubai . Miss Bird and her young daughter splash around in the Indian Ocean during the trip . The young mother receives more than # 8,500 in various benefits . But she still receives more than # 8,500 a year in child benefit , income support and tax credits as it is considered that she has a low income . And now she has admitted that she has spent # 3,000 of her welfare benefits on a five-week-long trip with her daughter Chloe , where she visited places such as Australia , Bali and Dubai . Miss Bird says she could work but chooses not to so she can take care of her young child . She said : ` No , I do n't need the money as such and I did n't need to go travelling either but I wanted to so I did . ` If someone 's offering you free money and telling you to take it , you 'd have to be a fool not to -- that 's all I did . ` Once it 's in my bank account it 's up to me how I use it and I decided to spend it on taking the trip of a lifetime . Miss Bird , pictured with her daughter Chloe , says she does n't need the benefit money as her parents pay for all of her rent and other outgoings but would be a ` fool ' not to take ` free money ' The round-the-world trip began last month when Miss Bird jetted off to Sydney , right , with Chloe via London . She also visited destinations such as Bali and Sri Lanka , left . ' I do n't feel guilty and I do n't regret it . It started off just as a holiday to Athens , then things started to fall into place . ` Each time some more money landed in my account , I booked something . ' I started booking flights and accommodation in Europe in October and was booking something with every payment until a few days before I went . ' Miss Bird set off on her round-the-world trip last month when she flew to Sydney via London on January 10 . She also visited Athens , Istanbul , Dubai , Colombo in Sri Lanka , Kuala Lumpur , Jakarta , Bali and Darwin before returning home via Amsterdam . In total , she spent four months worth of her benefits cash on the trip , paying for 13 flights , travel visas , accommodation and spending money . Her benefits continued to be paid into her bank account while she was away and she returned to the UK just before the five-week travel limit imposed on people claiming Jobseekers ' Allowance . It is reported that the 28-year-old spent four months worth of her benefits cash on the trip , paying for 13 flights , travel visas , accommodation and spending money for her and daughter Chloe , right . She added : ' I went to the job centre and told them I wanted to go travelling and they told me there was a five-week limit . I came home just within those five weeks so my benefits did n't get cut off . ' Miss Bird had been living in Rome after studying psychology at La Sapienza university in the Italian capital when she became pregnant . After she found out she was expecting a baby , she returned to the UK to live with her parents and visited her local Jobcentre Plus office . Soon after she was claiming # 90 a week income support , # 90 a month child benefit and # 230 a month in tax credits . She said : ' I told them I wanted to register back in the country and they told me I was already eligible for Jobseekers ' Allowance . ` Then a couple of weeks later they said I could switch to income support which meant I did n't even have to apply for jobs . ` Then I was told I could get tax credits , too . I was really shocked at how generous it was but I was n't going to turn it down . ' However , she does not receive any money from her daughter 's father , a professional rugby player she met in Rome but now lives in Australia , saying she asked him not to pay maintenance because she does n't need it . Now she says she is planning her next luxury trip for herself and daughter which will be to New Zealand . Among the places that Miss Bird visited were Athens in Greece , left , and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia , right . But Miss Bird says her way of life could help change the perception of single mothers on benefits . She explained : ` I 'm not your regular single mum on benefits who spends it all in McDonald 's and never leaves the town they were born in . ` I 'm changing the image of what it is to be a benefits mum and proving that if you do it the right way , you can have anything you want . ` They 've chosen to eat takeaways and buy the latest gadgets . I chose a different route . ` OK , I do n't have any outgoings so I have been lucky to spend my benefits on this amazing experience but I think single mums get more than enough . ` Of course people are negative and many people get very jealous . ` But I had only been out of Europe once before I went on benefits and now I 've had the chance to see some incredible things from tropical beaches to the skyscrapers of Dubai . ' I never would have been able to afford it without benefits . ' | Single mother Kay Bird , 28 , is on benefits and lives with her parents . Receives over # 8,500 a year in child benefit , income support and tax credit . Her parents pay all of her bills including all of her rent and other outgoings . Has admitted spending # 3,000 of taxpayers ' cash on a round-the-world trip . Visited destinations such as Australia , Bali and Dubai with her daughter . Says she does n't need benefits but would be a ` fool ' not to take ` free money ' | [[174, 194], [226, 293], [712, 777], [782, 844], [294, 338], [350, 404], [1569, 1578], [1616, 1715], [0, 173], [405, 429], [439, 440], [445, 573], [924, 1042], [0, 173], [405, 429], [439, 440], [445, 573], [582, 626], [1057, 1112], [2406, 2409], [2415, 2514], [1329, 1390], [1569, 1578], [1706, 1764], [4246, 4313]] |
Pope Francis has told members of the Italian Mafia they will be welcomed by the Roman Catholic church if they repent their sins and give up organised crime . The Pontiff told an audience of pilgrims and anti-crime activists at the Vatican that they would be free to join the church , if they promised to stop ` serving the cause of evil ' . Many of those gathered to hear the Pope had come from the diocese of Cassano allo Jonio in the southern Calabria region , home to the ` Ndrangheta , the mainland Italy equivalent of the Sicilian Mafia . Pope Francis arrives for a special audience at the Vatican with pilgrims and anti-crime activists from the southern Calabria region , home to the Italian Mafia . He told his audience : ` Open your hearts to the Lord . The Lord is waiting for you and the Church will welcome you if your willingness to serve good is clear and public as your choice to serve evil was . ' Last June , Pope Francis travelled to Calabria , where he accused organised crime groups of practicing ` the adoration of evil ' and said Mafia members had excommunicated themselves from the Church by their actions . His visit to the region last year came after he promised to meet the father of a three-year-old toddler , Nicola ` Coco ' Campolongo who was shot dead alongside his grandfather in the town of Cassano allo Ionio . The murders were apparent mafia assassinations over money and the discovery of their bodies in a burnt-out Fiat Punto sent shockwaves through Italy . The Pope greets a baby at the Vatican as he arrived to address an audience . He told them that the Italian Mafia will be welcomed by the Roman Catholic church if they repent their sins and give up organised crime . Pope Francis told the audience : ` Open your hearts to the Lord . The Lord is waiting for you and the Church will welcome you if your willingness to serve good is clear and public as your choice to serve evil was ' During his visit to Castrovillari prison , the Pontiff met Coco 's father , who was serving time in prison alongside the toddler 's mother for drug crimes when their son was killed . It was here that he also denounced the ` Ndrangheta for what he called its ` adoration of evil and contempt for the common good . ' ` Those who go down the evil path , as the Mafiosi do , are not in communion with God . They are excommunicated , ' he warned . The Pontiff told pilgrims and tourists in St Peter 's Square that he and his top aides would be starting a spiritual renewal retreat until Friday in Arricia , a suburb of Rome . The ` Ndrangheta , which makes most of its money from drug trafficking , has spread from Calabria to northern Europe and North America . A 2013 study by Demoskopia , an economic and social research institute , estimated the ` Ndrangheta 's annual turnover at some 53 billion euros in 30 countries , equivalent to about 3.5 percent of Italy 's total official economic output . It has been much harder for investigators to combat than the Sicilian Mafia because its structure is more lateral than hierarchical and its tightly-knit families are harder to penetrate . Last month 163 people were arrested in a major police crackdown on the ` Ndrangheta with 1,300 lb of drugs also seized . Italian police arrest members of the notorious ` Ndrangheta mafia gang - said to be the most powerful crime organisation in the country . The Pope 's message to the mafia comes as he announced he would be leaving the Vatican for a few days alongside his advisers to work . He said he would be ` correcting the many defects that we all have . ' The Pontiff told tens of thousands of pilgrims and tourists in St Peter 's Square that he and his top aides would be starting a spiritual renewal retreat . Until Friday morning , they will spend time listening to reflections , meditating and praying in Ariccia , a suburb of Rome . | The Pope has urged the Italian Mafia to give up a life of organised crime . Told Mafia members that they could join church if they repent their sins . Audience members had come from the Italy 's southern Calabria region . Area is home to ` Ndrangheta , the mainland equivalent of the Sicilian Mafia . Last year the Pope visited the region saying Mafia members had excommunicated themselves . | [[0, 50], [105, 109], [132, 157], [1655, 1659], [1682, 1707], [0, 50], [158, 281], [367, 460], [544, 675], [968, 970], [1046, 1129]] |
A brave Aussie nurse fighting the war against the devastating disease that is Ebola has shared her story from deep inside ` the Ebola death zone ' . Anne Carey , 56 , from Esperence in Western Australia has been on the front line in Africa since the outbreak of the killer virus , and has no regrets despite playing almost daily witness to suffering and fatality . She was one of the first Australians to arrive in Sierra Leone , as the disease began to take a deadly hold on the west African country , and speaking to 60 Minutes she revealed the horror and heartbreak of her work . Scroll down for videos . Anne Carey has told of the horror and heartbreak that comes with working as a nurse caring for Ebola patients in Sierra Leone . The West Australian woman said the virus does not discriminate and affects anyone that comes into contact with it . As a volunteer for the Red Cross , Anne is currently on her third trip to the high-risk region , and describes the deadly Ebola crisis as ` an unfair bully ' As a volunteer for the Red Cross , Anne is currently on her third trip to the high-risk region , and describes the deadly Ebola crisis as ` an unfair bully ' . ` Sometimes you have to take the bullies on , and win , ' she told reporter Michael Usher . Anne recalled the first patient she ever saw just as she had stepped inside a treatment centre , set up especially to treat Ebola patients . ' I got dressed up in the protective suit and there was a mother with her four-week-old child , and that child as soon as I came into the centre it convulsed , so it fitted , and it proceeded to bleed from everywhere and it just bled to death , ' the nurse recalled . She told her story to 60 Minutes on Sunday evening , revealing what the past months have been like for her in Ebola-stricken Sierra Leone . All the volunteers at the centres must take exceptional care when getting ` suited up ' to enter the centres . Journalist Michael Usher and a team from 60 Minutes travelled to the deadly zone to report on the crisis . When that young baby died that mother lost her seventh child . ` When this child died she had nothing to live for , ' Anne revealed . ` It 's an angry virus yes , it takes everybody . It does n't matter who you are if you let it in it will take you , ' Anne said . During the program she also tells of her struggle to even get into the country , as most commercial flights to the region were cancelled as the outbreak escalated ... and then the heartbreak of seeing the virus afflict young and old and how it would claim so many victims , many of those she had cared for . ` It does n't matter who you are , it affects everybody , ' she said , admitting that death is around her , every day . Anne said how sometimes the job is about ` comforting ' the sick and dying . The awful reality of working in Ebola afflicted areas in west Africa , as Red Cross workers bury another victim of the virus at the nearby cemetery . ` It does n't matter who you are , it effects everybody , ' Anne Carey said about the Ebola virus which has claimed almost 10,000 lives across parts of west Africa . The ` violent and deadly virus ' , which has threatened the population of West Africa , has seen already more than 23,000 people infected , with at least 10,000 known to have died from the causes of Ebola . The West Australian nurse started working with Red Cross about 10 years ago . Her previous assignments include missions to Lokichoggio on the Sudan/Kenya border , tending to war-wounded patients at the Red Cross Hospital and she was also stationed at Darfur , Sudan , in the local feeding centres . While working to try and get the Ebola epidemic under control , Anne revealed although lives are always at stake , the process or transferring and treating patients must be meticulous to avoid spreading the deadly virus . At the centre where Anne works there are a number of tents organised by how seriously a person is thought to be suffering . They are arranged in order of severity from suspected , probable to confirmed cases . It was also revealed that victims of the horrific disease may arrive at centres knowing they will die there . Patients become even more contagious after death , and therefore bodies and body bags have to be drenched in chlorine to prevent contamination . Anne Carey places her protective suit on before going to work as a nursing volunteer in Sierra Leone 's so-called ` death zone ' Red Cross nurse Anne Carey celebrates Christmas at the Red Cross Ebola treatment centre in Kenema with local volunteers who have been working and saving lives since the disease first broke out . Anne Carey is on her third assignment to help people survive Ebola and control the disease in that part of the world . Anne -LRB- centre -RRB- is pictured with reporter Michael Usher -LRB- right -RRB- during a briefing at the Red Cross treatment centre in the Kono district . Anne is on her third assignment to help people survive Ebola and control the disease in that part of the world , working as a clinical nurse with the international Red Cross near the town of Kenema and in the Kono district . It 's considered among the most seriously affected parts of Sierra Leone . Anne Carey is one of 27 Australian Red Cross aid workers sent to tackle Ebola , working with more than 200 international Red Cross staff members and upwards of 6,100 local volunteers in West Africa . Australian Red Cross is one of the few Australian agencies working on the front-line , trying to help bring the disease under control . Also helping fight the deadly disease is a survivor of Ebola , Edwin . The nurse said she 's ` knows when people are going to die ' , as this man tragically did just the day after filming . Edwin is an Ebola survivor who contacted the disease while working as a nurse . He now has immunity and is continuing to help others fight it . He was exposed to the virus during his work as a nurse , but was one of the lucky ones who survived . He now has immunity from Ebola and is back working with Anne , donating his blood to help others who have contracted the virus . When asked if it felt as though Anne had been to war , she responded that the war was n't over . ' I feel like I still am , but I feel like we 're going to win the war . ' I think we 've got to win the war but I feel like we will , I think in the end we 'll get there , ' she said . Australian Red Cross aid worker Anne Carey with local Red Cross volunteers , an Ebola survivor and her baby at the Red Cross Ebola treatment centre in Kono , Sierra Leone . The horrible reality of the Ebola virus is seen through the makeshift cemetery just a short walk from where Anne Carey and her colleagues tend the sick and dying . Guinea , Sierra Leone and Liberia are the worst hit areas . Here health workers wearing Ebola protective gear remove the body of a man who died from the Ebola virus at the treatment centre on the outskirts of Monrovia . Meantime , Sierra Leone , Guinea and . Liberia , the three countries hardest hit by the epidemic , set a target of reducing the number of new cases to zero . within 60 days , the countries said on Monday . The worst Ebola epidemic in history broke out in late 2013 . in Guinea and has killed close to 10,000 people . The . spread of the virus is slowing but the World Heath Organization . warned against complacency . West Africa recorded 128 new confirmed cases of Ebola in the past week , the first decrease in three weeks . Scares remain , however , Sierra Leone placed hundreds of homes in the capital under Ebola quarantine recently after the death of a fisherman who tested positive to Ebola . Less than a month after it lifted all restrictions on movement , the government said 700 properties had been locked down in Aberdeen , a fishing and tourist district of Freetown . ` We are on top of the situation and people should not panic , ' said Obi Sesay of the government 's National Ebola Response Centre . The Red Cross Ebola Outbreak Appeal can be supported at www.redcross.org.au . | Anne Carey has been working in Sierra Leone 's Ebola hospitals for several months as part of the Red Cross . The volunteer nurse was one of the first Australians to make it into the so-called ` death zone ' She tells of the heartache of watching defenceless babies lose their battle against the killer . At least 10,000 people have died since the 2013 outbreak in west Africa . Her story featured Sunday night on 60 Minutes Australia on the Nine Network . | [[149, 278], [4908, 4912], [5021, 5132], [365, 401], [380, 427], [4308, 4434], [4349, 4434], [530, 582], [608, 656], [3025, 3046], [3053, 3114], [3260, 3321], [7155, 7215], [7216, 7265], [1671, 1721]] |
A South Carolina family have now spent nine months quarantined in their home and had little to no contact with humans for the past 280 days in a bid to protect their daughter with a rare condition . Glenn O'Neill and his wife Cara have opted to stay away from other people to help their daughter Eliza , five , who has the rare metabolism disorder , Sanfilippo syndrome . But they are determined to make sure she does not miss out - recently Eliza 's school held a Frozen-themed dance , but as the five-year-old could not attend , her family recreated the dance at their home - much to Eliza 's delight . SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Glenn O'Neill and his wife Cara and their son Beckham have now spent nine months quarantined in their home to protect their daughter Eliza with a rare condition -LRB- all pictured -RRB- . Recently Eliza 's school held a Frozen-themed dance , but as the five-year-old could not attend , her family recreated the dance at their home - much to Eliza 's delight . Glenn O'Neill and Eliza dance in their living room to the Frozen song . Children with the disease typically develop deficiencies in muscle growth , speech and brain functions by the time they are five , and later become confined to a wheelchair as it spreads . Victims typically die before they are out of their teens . Eliza danced with her father and swayed happily as her parents took to the ` dance floor ' in the touching video . But the family are still anxiously waiting for the outcome of a clinical trial they have been raising funds for - so far $ 2.2 million has been donated to the foundation . Children with the disease typically develop deficiencies in muscle growth , speech and brain functions by the time they are five , and later become confined to a wheelchair as it spreads . Victims typically die before they are out of their teens . Mr O'Neill told MailOnline : ` She is holding on as best she can . We are now nine months into our self-imposed isolation . For 280 days our family has had little to no contact with any people directly , or anything people have touched . ' Quarantine : Five-year-old Eliza O'Neill -LRB- pictured -RRB- , who suffers from Sanfilippo Syndrome -LRB- Type A -RRB- , has not left her home in Colombia , South Carolina , since May after her family started a voluntary quarantine . Family : Eliza -LRB- pictured with her father , Glenn , mother , Cara , and brother Beckham -RRB- was born with the terminal disorder . Father and daughter : The youngster -LRB- pictured with her father -RRB- lacks an enzyme vital for normal cellular function , causing a lethal buildup of a toxic material - heparin sulfate - which leads to leaning and behavioral problems . In May Eliza and her brother , Beckham , eight , were pulled out of school and Mrs O'Neill left her job as a pediatrician for special needs children . Mr O'Neill now works from home as a purchasing consultant . ` Science often does not move at the speed a parent or child would hope , particularly one with a degenerative disease urgently waiting a chance at life , ' he said . ` Multiple teams are working on it , but to a parent of a child now 5 years & 3 months with Sanfilippo , time is not on our side . ` We thought we 'd be closer to a clinical trial start date by this point . As things stand , even if we get news of success in the drug making soon , we are still likely at least 6 months away . We wo n't ever give up though . The family do leave their home but only to ` open fields , empty beaches , a state forest . ' At home and in hospital : When Eliza 's family launched a fundraising campaign to find a cure for the disease nearly a year ago , they said they expected her to lose her ability to speak by her fifth birthday . Sick : And although the five-year-old can still talk , her father , Glenn O'Neill said words do not come as easily to her and she appears to have stopped learning new things . Above , Eliza is seen in hospital with her mother . The children Skype with teachers and grandparents . The family 's food shopping is done by grandmom and everything that enters the house is wiped down with disinfectant wipes . Everything else they need is ordered on Amazon and other online shopping . While they hope the quarantine will keep her healthier for longer and increase her odds to be a candidate for a life-saving clinical trial , Eliza 's family realize the only way to really save her is a cure . Sanfilippo Syndrome -LRB- Type A -RRB- is a genetic and terminal disorder that affects around one in 70,000 live births . Victims lack an enzyme that is essential for normal cellular function . The condition eventually causes a buildup of a toxic material - heparin sulfate - leading to learning disabilities and behavioral problems . Sufferers typically die before they are out of their teens . There is no known cure . They had expected her to lose her ability to speak by her fifth birthday , which was in November . Although she can still talk , Mr O'Neill said words do not come as easily to her and she appears to have stopped learning new things . But he added : ` She still is speaking , reciting her letters and counting . ' They launched a fundraising campaign for the disease nearly a year ago . They have already gained more than $ 1.8 million on a GoFundMe page , in a bid to fund an upcoming clinical trial for a gene therapy they hope will cure Eliza . Although there is no guarantee that the treatment will work - or that Eliza will get into the clinical trial - her father said he and his family had to try . He said the family will remain in isolation until there is progress and admitted the decision had been ` the hardest of our lives . ' ` But , if Eliza were to build up immunity to the AAV9 virus that they are using to deliver the drug product , she would not be selected for the trial ... her only chance at life , ' he added . Siblings : The O'Neill 's have already gained over $ 2million on a GoFundMe page , in a bid to fund an upcoming clinical trial for a gene therapy they hope will cure Eliza -LRB- seen with her brother -RRB- . The family 's food is ordered online and all of the groceries have to be wiped down with disinfectant wipes when they arrive at the house . | Eliza O'Neill , of South Carolina , suffers from Sanfilippo Syndrome -LRB- Type A -RRB- . Disorder causes buildup of toxic material ; victims do not reach adulthood . Although she can still talk , she finds it hard and does not learn new things . Eliza 's parents , Glenn and Cara , voluntarily quarantined their family to give her the best chance to qualify for a planned clinical trial . Have had little contact with the outside world since May . They are raising funds for research and a possible gene therapy ; have so far gained over $ 2.2 million . | [[2140, 2145], [2152, 2203], [1250, 1308], [1785, 1843], [2455, 2474], [2581, 2643], [4620, 4760], [4761, 4821], [3805, 3866], [3863, 3912], [4955, 4958], [4963, 4973], [4976, 4986], [4976, 5034], [5031, 5080], [0, 23], [81, 148], [199, 225], [231, 295], [629, 674], [683, 691], [698, 779], [629, 674], [683, 774], [629, 646], [698, 816], [2275, 2318], [4287, 4355], [0, 23], [81, 148], [1968, 2036], [1497, 1558], [1538, 1595], [3557, 3653], [5233, 5250], [5258, 5300], [5233, 5237], [5243, 5300], [5891, 5918], [5926, 5960], [5891, 5905], [5911, 5960]] |
The Islamic State is being funded by black-market oil trading , illegal drugs and internet cafes , a local activist group has claimed . The group claims that the most important financial resources of ISIS-controlled areas in Syria are secret deals with the Assad regime to sell the government electricity and gas from dams controlled by the militants . The Islamic State is also imposing strict taxes on its citizens , charging for electricity , phone bills and customs on imported goods , anti-ISIS activist group Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reports . Scroll down for video . Oil , drugs and taxes : A report on how the Islamic State is funded has revealed that the militants have a secret deal to sell electricity to the Syrian government and is growing cannabis which it sells in Turkey . Unlike the core al-Qaeda terrorist network , ISIS gets only a small share of funding from deep-pocket donors and therefore does not depend primarily on moving money across international borders . Despite several attempts by the coalition forces to cut off funding to the Islamic State militants , the organisation continues to thrive and find independent ways to create capital . Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently -LRB- RBSS -RRB- is a small activist collective which secretly documents the shocking violence and oppression ISIS has brought to their home city . In its most recent report on ISIS 's funding , RBSS outlines ten ways the militants fund their crusade to create a Muslim caliphate . The group claims that ISIS and the Syrian government has struck a secret deal which enables the militants to sell electricity and gas to the Assad regime . Crude ways : The leader of the Islamic State group , Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi , funds his organisation by fining citizens who break sharia law and extracting oil from fields in areas under ISIS control . Terrifying rise : Despite several attempts by the coalition forces to cut off funding to ISIS , the organisation continues to thrive and find independent ways to create capital . Growth of terror : Since its formation as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in 2013 - it has conquered regions of Iraq , Syria and recently Libya - while building support among marginalised Muslims in Turkey , Yemen , Saudi Arabia , Egypt 's Sinai Province , Afghanistan , Tunisia and Algeria . Fightback : The majority of ISIS ' territory lies inside Iraq and Syria but there have been recent reports of defections in Syria , while Iraq plan to retake its second city of Mosul from the Jihadists . The Islamic State controls several important dams as well as a gas field in its occupied areas of Syria . 1 . Sales of electricity and gas to the Syrian government through ISIS-controlled dams and gas fields . 2 . Taxes on citizens of the Islamic State . 3 . Customs revenue on import and export of goods in the caliphate . 4 . Exporting goods such as fruits , vegetables , grains and fabrics . 5 . Internet cafes . 6 . Religious taxes -- punishment for smokers , missing prayers and breaking sharia law . 7 . Confiscating private lands and selling it on public auction . 8 . Selling crude oil on the black market in Turkey . 9 . Growing and selling drugs and black market cigarettes and alcohol . 10 . Looting museums and selling artefacts on the black market . Source : Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently . Even though the citizens of Raqqa and Islamic State live under strict sharia law , ISIS leaders appear to have no qualms about growing and selling illegal drugs to others , with cannabis being grown on the outskirts of the city to be sold on to Turkey . The report also reveals details of the of taxes and fines imposed on citizens of Raqqa , ISIS 's ` de facto ' capital . This includes flat-rate taxes on electricity , ` hygiene services ' and use of the telephone network , paid in cash to ISIS 's very own revenue agency , called Al Hisba , as well as customs on imported and exported goods . Another interesting source of income is Internet cafes , which RBSS calls ` one of the most profitable trades for ISIS ' . The number of internet cafes in Raqqa has increased from 20 to 500 since the Islamic State came to power , according to the group . As reported by the U.S. Treasury Department last year , ISIS is earning about $ 1million a day from black market oil and fuel sales by using primitive ways of extracting crude oil from fields in ISIS-controlled areas of Iraq and Syria . Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently also lists fines on breaking sharia law by smoking or being late to prayer , looting and selling historical artefacts and confiscating private land from locals who disagree with the ways of the caliphate and selling it at public auction . | ISIS has secret deal with Syria to sell electricity and gas , say activists . As coalition block outside sources , ISIS is being funded from within . Militants use taxes and religious fines on citizens of ` capital ' Raqqa . Number of internet cafes in Raqqa has increased from 20 to 500 . ISIS is also selling crude oil on the black market , and trading drugs . | [[97, 135], [136, 322], [671, 748], [1498, 1575], [1520, 1653], [1736, 1853], [3640, 3684], [4064, 4154], [0, 96], [3110, 3159]] |
Want to know what boho babes Poppy Delevnigne , Kate Moss and Sienna Miller will be wearing next season ? Look no further than Matthew Williamson 's AW15 collection . Taking the crown for best show venue , Matthew unveiled his designs at the decadently designed Criterion restaurant in central London on Sunday . The mystical and bright hued collection was inspired by the signs of the Zodiac and by taking such a point of reference , he maintains that his designs cater to every woman 's tastes . Matthew Williamson 's beautifully bohemian designs for AW15 were inspired by signs of the Zodiac . Flowing silk dresses came slashed to the hip and were often embellished with bold blue crystals inspired by birth flowers , horoscope signs and stones . Fur is officially in fashion come autumn , if Matthew 's catwalk is anything to go by . Shaggy Mongolian lamb and shearling in topaz , teal , and pink sent Instagram into a furry frenzy . Want to know what Poppy Delevingne and Sienna Miller will be wearing next season ? Just look to Matthew 's upcoming collection for a clue . Flowing silk dresses were given an injection of sex appeal with slashes . Glittering jumpers and dresses were often embellished with bold blue crystals inspired by birth flowers , horoscope signs and stones . Beauty-wise , Benefit 's Lisa Potter-Dixon created a look echoing the garments we saw on the runway . ' I wanted to do something that complimented the feminine curves of his clothes and the zodiac signs , which are very structured , ' she told FEMAIL backstage ahead of the show . Lisa explained that she wanted Matthew 's girl to be a cool Brit - a muse he sticks to season upon season and one that reflects his clientele . After prepping the skin and eyes , Lisa added volume and definition to the models ' brows with cult product , Gim me Brow , brushing up the inner corners for an ` undone ' look . The brand 's Boi-ing concealer was the key product behind the look and Lisa used it to prep eyes before ` layering and layering ' cream and metallic shadows six times . Black bad gal waterproof eyeliner was used on the upper lash and water line and Lisa reapplied concealer to fill in gaps and add depth . ` Using concealer is perfect because you can also cover any mistakes without having to use makeup remover , ' she said . The brand 's best-selling They 're Real mascara was used on only the top lashes to keep eyes ` looking wide awake ' . The beauty look echoed the designs and Lisa Potter-Dixon explained that she wanted Matthew 's girl to be a cool Brit - a muse he sticks to season upon season and one that reflects his clientele . Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow gave a glowing complexion and Hoola bronzer provided the contouring . Rather than using a liquid highlighter , Lisa opted for long wear powder shadow in Gilt-y to highlight . ` I 've applied it onto the bridge of the nose and cheekbones and buffed it in to complement the jewel tones of his collection and the beautiful building we 're in , ' she explained . ` Matthew 's girl will literally blend in with the ceiling . ' For lips , boi-oing concealer came into play once more , and was mixed with hydra-smooth lip colour in Air Kiss . Lisa shunned lip liner and simply patted the duo into models ' lips with a slick of gloss for a ` healthy ' finish . Benefit beautified the models , left , while Mark Hampton for Toni & Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe coiffed their locks to perfection , right . Mark Hampton for Toni & Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe coiffed the models ' locks to perfection . ` We 're going for that cool 70s girl ; she 's very Matthew , ' he told us . He began by prepping the hair with heat protecting mist and hair was given some oomph courtesy of 3d Volumiser . Glamour Sky High Volume Dry Shampoo was used to take off any shine before he created movement , waves and bends using two different size tongs . He did a touch of backcombing at the crown to give it a ` hippy Woodstock ' vibe -LRB- something we witnessed here last season , too -RRB- . Two pieces of the models ' hair were then clipped back by their ears using invisible elastic bands , which Mark explained stopped it from looking ` too retro ' or ` puffy ' . ` The girl this season is older and cooler , ' he added . ` It 's a punky 70s vibe but real , as though the girl had done it herself . ` It 's organised chaos . ' | Matthew 's AW15 show was held at glittering Criterion restaurant . Mystical and bright hued collection was inspired by the signs of the Zodiac . He says his designs cater to every woman 's tastes . | [[238, 312], [313, 432], [498, 596], [435, 497]] |
Councils have been criticised after it emerged an event they are sending workers to has advised packing ibuprofen and vitamin C - to beat hangovers . Around 118 public officials are being flown out to the French Riviera to attend the taxpayer-funded four-day event in March . But organisers of the Marche International Des Professionnels De L'Immobilier -LRB- MIPIM -RRB- have warned attendees the trip will cause ` exhaustion ' thanks to its action-packed party schedule . Council workers have been told to pack ibuprofen and vitamin C to beat hangovers at an international property event in Cannes , France . Attendees are pictured above at last year 's event enjoying a cool beer in the sun . Workers will be wined and dined at the prestigious Palais Des Festivals , which also hosts the Cannes Film Festival , as they try to secure future investment for their areas . Individual tickets cost # 1,160 . A guide to the international property fair , written as part of a blog on the official event 's website , said : ` Networking extends into late evening and for some that means the wee hours of morning . ` Yes , it happens to the best of us . And yes , we feel pretty rotten the next day . Magic fix ? A good ibuprofen and a heavy dose of Vitamin C usually does the trick . At least until midday ... ' But the flippant advice has sparked outrage . John O'Connell , director of the TaxPayers ' Alliance , said : ` It 's stunning to see them blow huge sums on a jolly . ' A blog on The Marche International Des Professionnels De L'Immobilier 's website advises any attendees to be prepared to take a ` heavy dose of vitamin C ' The Marche International Des Professionnels De L'Immobilier -LRB- MIPIM -RRB- is an annual event held in Cannes -LRB- above -RRB- . Workers will be wined and dined at the prestigious Palais Des Festivals -LRB- pictured above -RRB- , which hosts the Cannes Film Festival . The largest sole contingent to attend this year is a 22-strong delegation led by Nottingham City Council leader Jon Collins . Their ticket allocation alone cost more than # 25,000 . The Scottish Government has also paid # 18,500 for tickets for a 16-strong team under its ` Cities Alliance ' banner . Two employees from Edinburgh City Council have been given a budget of # 2,454 for ` travel and accommodation ' . The council was unable to estimate the cost of food and drink . Individual tickets cost # 1,160 . Delegates are pictured above eating , drinking and enjoying the beautiful view at the 2014 MIPIM show . Cannes is known for its luxury yachts and beautiful scenery . Several delegates do business at the 2014 MIPIM show -LRB- above -RRB- . Glasgow City Council is also sending a team but added that ` it 's impossible ' to reveal the true cost to the taxpayer until after the event . Highland Council , which is planning to shed up to 1,000 jobs over the next five years , is sending delegates . Local politicians and employees are also attending from Aberdeen , Dundee , Newcastle and Perth . A Cities Alliance spokesman said : ` We ca n't give final costs . ` Bringing the cities together allows us to showcase investment opportunities . ' | Around 118 public officials flying to property event in Cannes in March . Includes council staff from Edinburgh , Nottingham and Newcastle . Guide published on event 's website states : ` We usually feel pretty rotten ' Individual tickets for the four-day event cost # 1,160 . | [[150, 275], [201, 204], [220, 275], [474, 599], [1631, 1762], [1712, 1762], [1954, 2028], [917, 948], [951, 1009], [1158, 1194], [872, 905], [2381, 2414]] |
A thousand people braved freezing snow and ice in Estonia to take part in a bizarre competition to visit the most saunas in one day . Participants stripped down to swimsuits and underwear for the Otepaa Sauna Marathon , running around the city to enjoy as many saunas as possible in just six hours for a prize . After plunging in ice pools for extra points , they were rewarded with an open air bath in beer . Women enjoy one of the hot tubs on the list of saunas and spas participants in the Otepaa Sauna Marathon visited today as part of the competition . Many teams donned costumes for the occasion , with one group dressing up as angels and devils -LRB- above -RRB- . The competition sees teams race around the ski resort to visit all the town 's saunas in the fastest time . One team sported dressing gowns , swimming caps and Santa costumes as they took part this afternoon . The competition attracted 1,000 people this year , with many dressing in costume for the occasion . It was the sixth time the festival was held , with entry to the competition free of charge . Participants are given a map to find their way to all of the listed saunas across the city and are required to stay in each place for at least three minutes . Last year 's winners managed to cram in all of the stops in just over two hours , taking home a hot tub of their own as a prize . A select number of saunas take part , with owners required to mark off each team 's charts when they arrive and leave . Thirty minutes is added to a team 's finishing time for each of the stops they failed to make , with organisers shaving off ten minutes to hot tub visits if every member of the team takes a dip . Prizes for second and third place included spa stays and hotel accommodation . Otepaa is a popular skiing resort with a population of around 2,000 . Every year it attracts thousands of snow sport enthusiasts . Its wooden saunas are among the towns most popular attractions . A team emerge from one of the hot tubs on the competition 's route . Groups were awarded extra points if all members took a dip at each spot . At the end of the competition , winning teams were rewarded with a hot beer bath in the Estonian town . A team wearing furry hats holds up a bouquet of leaves as they enjoy a beer bath at the end of the competition . Teams must visit all the saunas on the list and are penalised by having 30 minutes added to their finish time for every stop they miss out . A group of female competitors brave the snow and ice to make their way into yet another sauna . Organisers welcome teams wearing swimming costumes and devil horns at the beginning of the competition . A woman in angel fancy dress stands in the centre of a crowded sauna as teams compete this afteroon . The competition takes place in Otepaa every year , drawing in 1,000 people this year in its sixth event . Women sporting wigs and bikinis settle into one of the saunas on the list of stops . Teams had to spend at least three minutes in each of the locations . One competitor wore a poncho , jumper and hat while others went bare chested and wore helmets . | The Otepaa Sauna Marathon takes place every year drawing in hundreds . Teams compete to visit the most wooden saunas in ski resort in six hours . Participants are awarded extra points for plunges in ice pools across town . Winning team took home a five person hot tub of their own this year . | [[0, 133], [0, 33], [74, 133], [134, 146], [220, 311], [468, 557], [672, 779], [693, 779], [2456, 2551], [312, 356], [359, 409], [2024, 2056], [1234, 1254], [1316, 1363]] |
New parents Yasmin and Michael Burley say all they want is a screaming child and long , sleepless nights . Instead , their six-week old baby , Tate , is quietly fighting for his life at Sydney 's Westmead Children 's Hospital . Tate was born at 35 weeks with an extremely rare brain disorder , Miller Dieker Lissencephaly Syndrome , which means he will never cry or feed properly , and will probably not live past the age of five . ` We just want him to cry , ' Ms Burley told the Sunday Telegraph . Scroll down for video . Baby Tate was born at just 1.7 kg with an extremely rare brain disorder which means he ca n't cry or feed , and will develop severe intellectual disability . The Miller Dieker Lissencephaly Syndrome affects most of Tate 's major neural systems and his parents are told his brain will not develop past the three month stage . Tate 's brain is abnormally smooth , without the grooves of a normal brain which receive senses . ' I had to come to terms with Tate possibly being blind , deaf and having seizures , ' wrote his mother to a Facebook page marking her son 's journey . ` The word seizure makes me gasp . It is a fact and it will happen . ' A rare birth defect of the brain caused by a deletion of genetic material near the end of the short -LRB- p -RRB- arm of chromosome 17 . People with lissencephaly have an abnormally smooth brain with fewer folds and grooves which cause intellectual disability , seizures , abnormal muscle stiffness -LRB- spasticity -RRB- , weak muscle tone -LRB- hypotonia -RRB- , and feeding difficulties . Feeding and swallowing problems are common , and can be complicated by aspiration pneumonia . Seizures usually begin before six months of age , and some occur from birth . Children with this condition usually die in infancy or childhood and it is normally caused by respiratory complications . MDS is usually not inherited from the parents . A milestone for the family was when Tate managed to suck 6-10mls out of a bottle by himself during one feed . Another was when they heard him ` squeak ' . ` Tate has no ability to cry however we also witnessed a sound today when he got restless . . Not a cry or scream but definitely a squeak ! , ' Ms Burley posted . But after just four days at home , Tate developed a cold and his parents rushed him back to emergency . His mother thought he was dieing . ` Granny & I watched Tate lie lifeless in the emergency ward on the table gasping for air , dropping saturations & an excessively weak heart rate , white with blue lips , eyes rolled in his head , body flopped , ' she said . Little Tate is now recovering with mum in hospital . She calls him her ` silent fire . ' ` Today my lesson as a mum is to use the fire inside me to deal with the things I can not change for my son and except reality as it challenges me , ' Ms Burley wrote on Saturday . ` No one can understand how a family with a terminally ill child is feeling or the choices they make ... stand up , be an advocate for your child , do n't feel pressure because people are more educated than you because I learnt today that I 'm educated in what a palliative care patient is . ' Yasmin Burley with her son Tate who has been diagnosed with Miller-Dieker Lissencephaly , a rare congenital birth defect with no cure . The Burleys say it is especially hard to explain to their older sons , Zane and Kye , what is happening to their baby brother . But they hope to be home as a family again soon . Friends and family have launched a MyCause fundraising campaign to help pay for Tate 's care and more research into the condition . They hope to raise $ 100,000 . ` Research is majorly lacking in Australia , ' Michael Burley told Daily Mail Australia . ` The more awareness the better for other families . ' The campaign has so far raised over $ 11,000 . ` With this current money we can provide Tate with a respiratory sleep machine , correct bedding and feeding apparatus at home for the next few months without having to worry , ' says Ms Burley . For now , the family are fighting with Tate and trying not to think too far ahead . The hardest thing , they say , is ` the not knowing . ' Baby Tate Burley has difficulty taking a bottle by himself and will be lucky to live up to the age of five . ` My silent fire ' : Friends and family have launched a fundraising campaign to help the Burleys pay for Tate 's medical care and greater research into Miller Dieker Lissencephaly Syndrome in Australia . | Six-week old Tate Burley was born with Miller Dieker Lissencephaly Syndrome , a rare defect of the brain which means he ca n't cry . Tate 's family hope to raise $ 100,000 to pay for his care and brain research . There is no cure for the condition and babies rarely live out their childhood . | [[228, 291], [294, 330], [339, 379], [563, 595], [602, 629], [2061, 2087], [3169, 3176], [3182, 3237], [3464, 3583], [3497, 3595], [3596, 3626], [4283, 4467], [294, 330], [386, 431], [1734, 1798], [4155, 4171], [4218, 4263]] |
It 's a label adored by the Duchess of Cambridge - and the one she wore to announce her engagement to Prince William in 2010 . But with a new creative director taking over the helm at Issa , there was potential for a huge shake-up . Luckily for Kate - and Issa 's army of loyal fans - new creative director Jamie O'Hare stuck to the tried and tested method that has made the brand so popular in royal circles . Jamie O'Hare unveiled his debut collection for Issa in London today . Adding his own touch , the trademark jersey dress was given an asymmetric hem and came emblazoned with more interesting prints . The 70s throwback -LRB- which is being championed all over the catwalks -RRB- was omnipresent , with coats and dresses coming heavily fringed . Models stomped down the runway in textured jumpsuits , turtle neck dresses with bold stripes and statement red dresses , which were worn almost exclusively with black boots . Ultimately , Jamie 's play-it-safe debut collection will no doubt please customers -LRB- including a certain royal one -RRB- . Models stomped down the runway in flowing dresses with bold stripes , worn almost exclusively with boots . The brand 's trademark jersey dress - loved by Kate - was given an asymmetric hem . Beauty-wise , Vidal Sassoon Global Ambassador , Duffy , aimed to capture the collections ethos of ` movement ' when coiffing models ' hair . ' I was asked to create a curtain of hair that could float , with a strong silhouette that played to the underlying gothic element within the collection , ' he told FEMAIL backstage ahead of the show . ` The collection is precisely worked , with an attention to detail and couture-like craftsmanship in the clothes and this inspired the beautiful , `` high quality '' hair . ' As with the collection , Duffy was aiming for an element of effortlessness with an undertone of attitude . Requiring little more than freshly shampooed and conditioned hair and a salon-quality blow dry , the look is all about simplicity . ' I was asked to create a curtain of hair that could float , with a strong silhouette that played to the underlying gothic element within the collection , ' Vidal Sassoon Global Ambassador , Duffy , told FEMAIL backstage ahead of the show . Hair was kept flat at the roots and a round brush was used to add body through the lengths and ends to create movement . The minimal styling gives the hair looseness so that the lengths part as the girl walks . Duffy added : ` The intention was to exaggerate the healthiness and recreate the look of virgin hair - and the result is a strong silhouette of completely clean , heavy , super-shiny hair that amplifies perfection . ' Make-up came courtesy of legendary Val Garland using L'Oreal Paris . ` We are chanelling Donatella , ' she told FEMAIL backstage ahead of the show . She etched on a strong graphic eye in matte black , which was ` cool ' and ' a bit gothy ' . Lips were pared back in nudey pink , while skin was similarly peachy . ` It 's matte , pretty and , above all , wearable , ' she said of the final look . Nails , painted by Marian Newman , were metallic blue and beetle winged because , according to the queen of talons , they 're back ... and we wo n't argue with her . | Jamie O'Hare stuck to the tried and tested method . Played it safe with statement red and black dresses with occasional fringing . | [[272, 356], [233, 319], [343, 410], [851, 874], [881, 928], [942, 980], [995, 1055]] |
Crown Princess Mary was left ` shaken up ' after talking about the harsh reality of child marriage and female genital mutilation during an emotional visit to Ethiopia . During the official three-day humanitarian visit last week , the Danish Royal visited a refugee camp in Gambella and spoke with locals in the Afar region - one of the hottest places on earth . The mother of four was met by a group of ethnic Afar men performing a welcome dance when she arrived in the region in her United Nations four wheel drive . Scroll down for video . Crown Princess Mary of Denmark spent three days in Ethiopia on an official United Nations humanitarian visit last week . The Danish Royal spoke to villagers in Afar about the reality of female genital mutilation and child marriages in the African nation . With the Danish Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation , Mogens Jensen , by her side Princess Mary spoke to brightly dressed villagers about the reality of female genital mutilation and child marriages in the African nation . ` You do get shaken up by the knowledge that such a practice still exists but we have to think beyond judging it , ' Crown Princess Mary told TV2 Denmark . In the Afar region , newborn babies or young girls have their clitoris cut off with a traditional knife before the opening is sewn closed so only a small hole remains . Princess Mary listened intently as mothers shared stories of their daughters suffering infections and complications from the procedure , which the United Nations condemns as a violation of human rights . She also visited a refugee camp known as ` Tierkidi ' in Gambella . The mother of four met and spoke with refugees during her visit to a camp known as ` Tierkidi ' in Gambella . The 42-year-old future Queen looked at ease laughing with children living at the refugee camp as she battled the harsh heat . Princess Mary met with brightly dressed leaders and women in a local community near Afambo . The 42-year-old opted to help with the workload at the refugee camp as locals watched on . Local children were delighted with Princess Mary 's visit and flocked around her at every chance . Princess Mary listened intently as mothers shared stories of their daughters suffering omplications from the genital mutilation procedure . The 42-year-old future Queen took the time to visit 91-year-old Australian doctor Catherine Hamlin and the patients at Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital during her three day visit . Dr Hamlin , who has lived in Africa for 55 years , embraced Australian-born Mary as she toured the hospital speaking with patients , staff and even visiting a baby girl born on the day she arrived . The philanthropist has made it her mission to cure the women who suffer from obstetric fistula , a condition endured from obstructed labour . ` Mary was taken on a tour of the main ward and she was able to meet staff and patients , ' Lucy Perry , CEO of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia in Australia , said . ` She did n't stand back from them , she went right up to the patient 's bedside and was engaging with them . ` It was a major thrill for staff to meet royalty from Europe . ' The Danish Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation , Mogens Jensen -LRB- right -RRB- , took part in the visit with Princess Mary . Last week 's visit to Ethiopia was the second and longest trip for Princess Mary , who is a United Nations patron . Princess Mary toured the refugee camp with the help of local children , some of which were carry water cans . The future Queen of Denmark got her hands dirty helping to plant trees at the refugee camp . Princess Mary then joined Dr Hamlin for tea in her cottage on the hospital grounds . ` Mary bought Catherine a set of Danish tea cups , which is so spot on for Catherine , ' Ms Perry said . ` They mainly talked about eradicating obstetric fistula in Ethiopia once and for all . ' While obstetric fistula was eradicated in the western world in the 1920s , many developing countries still have hundreds of thousands of women who suffer from the injury , which is a hole in the bladder or bowel , that requires surgery . Dr Hamlin established the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital and the Hamlin College of Midwives in the 1950s , and then expanded the operations to five other hospitals . Last week 's visit to Ethiopia was the second and longest trip for Princess Mary . The future Queen took the time to visit 91-year-old Australian doctor Catherine Hamlin and the patients at Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital . Princess Mary and Trade Minister , Mogens Jensen , spent three days touring Ethiopia for the United Nations . Princess Mary looked delighted as she watched refugees perform inside a tin shed . There were smiles all-round when Princess Mary arrived and spent time with the children . The mother of four watched how things were done inside the refugee camp known as ` Tierkidi ' The 42-year-old looked calm despite the region of Afar being one of the hottest in the world . | Princess Mary spent three days in Ethiopia on an official United Nations humanitarian visit last week . Danish Royal visited a refugee camp and spoke with locals in the Afar region - one of the hottest places on earth . Mother of four listened intently as locals shared their experiences of child marriage and female genital mutilation . Princess Mary also visited 91-year-old Australian doctor Catherine Hamlin at her hospital . | [[169, 227], [230, 281], [169, 227], [230, 246], [286, 361], [542, 662], [4500, 4532], [4551, 4609], [169, 227], [230, 281], [169, 227], [230, 246], [286, 361], [1561, 1564], [1570, 1628], [1629, 1647], [1656, 1702], [3394, 3431], [4913, 4971], [0, 168], [29, 40], [43, 168], [0, 5], [43, 168], [663, 797], [863, 876], [891, 1031], [1357, 1491], [1629, 1647], [1656, 1702], [2148, 2287], [2288, 2435], [4362, 4499], [4384, 4387], [4393, 4499]] |
A series of adorable images of a baby boy and his pet dog are guaranteed to put a smile on your face . Taken over several months , the photographs show the pair dressed in a range of identical costumes . Rescue mongrel Zoey and ten-month-old baby Jasper are seen wearing anything from Mexican sombreros to bunny ears and space helmets as they sit side-by-side in all the shots . How fetching ! Ten-month-old Jasper and his pet pooch Zoey star in a photo series wearing a huge variety of matching costumes , including astronaut helmets , sombreros and bunny ears . Zoey , a rescue dog , wears a viking hat in complete with braids , while Jasper smiles next to her . The photographs are the brain child of Jasper 's mother Grace Chon , 34 , from Los Angeles , who came up with the idea after dreaming up ways of getting creative between nap times . Incredibly , Zoey needed little training in front of the camera and in fact eagerly sits in her special spot each time the costumes come out . Since Zoey has joined the family , both baby and pooch have become inseparable despite Zoey 's initial fear of humans . Tragically , Zoey was found shivering in the gutter outside a restaurant in Taiwan but was rescued by a passing student . The dynamic duo sit patiently while wearing a pair of colanders for size . Ay carumba ! The brains behind the adorable photo series is Jasper 's mum , Grace Chon , 34 , from Los Angeles , who came up with the idea after dreaming up ways of getting creative between nap times . Jasper and his furry friend do their best Easter bunny impression - but Zoey looks less than amused . Hipster cool : The pair are too cute in knitted hats complete with bobbles and beards . Zoey and Jasper look adorably studious in thick-framed Harry Potter-style glasses . But it was only after searching on the internet for a dog to adopt that Grace discovered Zoey and instantly fell in love . Grace said : ` It surprisingly was n't difficult when I started the series to get both Zoey and Jasper looking straight into the camera . ` Usually when I photograph dogs , I use high reward treats or toys to get them to cooperate and look into the lens , however , Zoey for some unexplainable reason just loves dressing up and loves the camera . According to Grace , Zoey ` for some unexplainable reason just loves dressing up and loves the camera ' Oh , la la ! The friends channel their inner Frenchmen in berets , with Jasper sporting a drawn-on moustache . They got kitted out in rainbow workout gear for one of the cute photos . ` As soon as she sees the hats come out , she goes to her spot and poses , without the help of any enticing treat . ` There were n't very many places to take Jasper other than the grocery store or with me running errands , and I was looking for something fun for us to do in between his nap times . ` One day I put one of Jasper 's hats on Zoey and had the epiphany that baby hats look really adorable on dogs , I shot an image of them sitting side-by-side wearing the same hat and the series was born . ' The duo do casual style in matching purple hooded sweatshirts . Grace said of adopting her dog : ` One day on a pet adoption website I spotted a little puppy 's face staring back at me and I just knew in an instant that I had to adopt her ' Tragically , Zoey was found shivering in the gutter outside a restaurant in Taiwan but was rescued by a passing student . Jasper pulls a cute face as they strike a pose in identical orange headphones . Grace said of adopting her dog : ` One day on a pet adoption website I spotted a little puppy 's face staring back at me and I just knew in an instant that I had to adopt her . ` Her mother gave birth to Zoey and her siblings in front of a restaurant in Taiwan , but the owner of the restaurant came and promptly hosed them away because it was considered bad luck to have black dogs by the restaurant . ` Zoey was the runt of the litter and very sickly , so she 's extremely shy and terrified of new people . I honestly was n't sure if she would ever warm up to Jasper at all . Grace said that Zoey started out being very shy around people , but now she is the first to run into Jasper 's room when he wakes up . ` Every new moment Zoey and Jasper share is a true triumph for Zoey overcoming her fears and I could n't be prouder of her , ' said Grace . The pair are two peas in a pod as they pose in matching party hats . The photographer has two other rescue dogs - Maeby and Funke - she and her family have adopted in addition to Zoey . Grace said she is ` so proud of Jasper for being such a gentle , compassionate little boy ' ` When Jasper was seven months old , Zoey rolled over to show Jasper her belly and asked for a belly rub . ` It was such a huge turning point for her , because before this she would n't let him get near her , after that , she warmed up to him so quickly that she would be the first to run into his room in the morning when he woke up . ` Every new moment Zoey and Jasper share is a true triumph for Zoey overcoming her fears and I could n't be prouder of her , I am also so proud of Jasper for being such a gentle , compassionate little boy . ' | Grace Chon , 34 , snaps photos of baby Jasper and her rescue dog Zoey . Mum , from Los Angeles , wanted to get creative between nap times . Pair pose in everything from space helmets to Mexican sombreros . | [[0, 102], [0, 57], [73, 102], [379, 391], [394, 460], [1307, 1417], [744, 755], [762, 846], [1307, 1417], [1406, 1417], [1424, 1508], [2804, 2839], [204, 334], [446, 563]] |
Rebecca Tootle -LRB- pictured -RRB- attacked Ashley Meadowcroft with a knife after he turned up unannounced at her house in Blackburn , Lancashire , with a Pit Bull terrier . A devious bride-to-be who claimed she ` legally killed ' an unarmed teenager has been jailed for nine years . Rebecca Tootle attacked Ashley Meadowcroft , 18 , with a knife during a confrontation at her front door after he turned up uninvited with his Pit Bull terrier . He suffered a fatal knife wound to his lung and died in hospital 45 minutes later despite efforts to save him . Tootle , 20 , told police Mr Meadowcroft had brought the knife to her house and even scratched her arm before they arrived to make her story more viable . But despite making legal history by being the first defendant to argue under the new defence of ` disproportionate force ' she was found guilty of manslaughter at Preston Crown Court on Friday . Police were called to Tootle 's house in Blackburn , Lancashire , on September 4 last year . She claimed she had ` loads of trouble ' with the teenager and told police he had stalked her , robbed her and tried to rape her . As officers arrested Mr Meadowcroft she told them : ` He 's a f *** ing d *** , he 's stabbed me so I took the knife off him and stabbed him self-defence . ` He could have killed me . He could have definitely killed my fiancé . He broke into my address . I did n't do it on purpose . ' Paul Reid , prosecuting , said that before the killing Tootle was living with her fiancé Matthew Moran and two friends who had all fallen out with Mr Meadowcroft . She had previously sent a text message to a friend claiming to know about a new law that would mean she could kill someone and not be sent to prison . It said : ` I 'd love to see him -LSB- Meadowcroft -RSB- break into my house when I 'm there because three legal marks on me and I can actually kill him . ' The 20-year-old -LRB- left -RRB- told police that 18-year-old Mr Meadowcroft -LRB- right -RRB- had stabbed her and even cut herself on the arm to try and make her story more viable . In a 999 call after the stabbing she told operators that Mr Meadowcroft had a dangerous dog and could be heard screaming : ` Help me , help me , I 've been stabbed . ' Mr Reid said : ` When police got there she showed a small mark on one of her arms and was saying : `` I had to take the knife off him because he 's mental '' . ` But Mr Meadowcroft never had a knife , he did not try to stab the defendant and he caused her no injury to her arm . ` The defendant was lying about all these matters within a short time of her having plunged the knife into Mr Meadowcroft 's chest . ' He added that Tootle consciously armed herself with the knife before she went to answer the door . She discarded the weapon in her garden after the attack . He said : ` The idea that a few marks on her would justify her in killing someone who had come into her house was not something that had just occurred to her that night . Mr Meadowcroft -LRB- right -RRB- , a former former friend of Tootle -LRB- left ; and together , right -RRB- , suffered a fatal knife wound near his left armpit which penetrated his lung . He died in hospital 45 minutes later . ` She had previously spoken about this in messages that police extracted from her mobile phone . ' After being told Mr Meadowcroft had died Tootle said : ' I stabbed him but if I did n't it would have been me or my boyfriend . ' I did it , yeah , but he came into the house . It was unlocked and he had an illegal dog . ` What if it was me or my fiancé Mos . I heard the door smash . I went down and he had a knife in his hand . ` Mos was holding his wrist . I grabbed hold of his hand and tried to get the knife and it went in . If I intended to kill him , I would have stabbed him in the heart . ' Preston Crown Court -LRB- above -RRB- heard Tootle - who was living with her fiancé Matthew Moran and two other friends - had fallen out with Mr Meadowcroft and the group had moved house to get away from him . Police described Tootle as a ` violent individual ' who had previously dialled 999 on a number of occasions to falsely claim someone was in her house with a knife . Detective Inspector Andy Cribbin , from Lancashire Police , said : ` Tootle took it upon herself to attack Ashley and then fabricate an account portraying herself as the victim . ` She armed herself with a knife , attacked him and then set about trying to justify what she did and never took any responsibility for her actions . ` Prior to the attack she falsely claimed Ashley had a knife and immediately afterwards she said that she had disarmed him and then used the knife to inflict a minor injury upon herself in an attempt to defend her actions . ` The trial has heaped further misery on the family and friends of Ashley . ' Mr Meadowcroft 's family said in a statement : ` Ashley was not an angel , he had his mistakes , but he did turn his life around and he did not deserve to die . ' A memorial left to their son is pictured above . Judge Tim Holroyde told Tootle she was ` sly and manipulative ' and posed a ` danger ' to the public . He said : ` Having observed you throughout the trial there can in my judgement be no doubt whatsoever that you are dangerous . By your act , although you did not intend it , you ended a young life . ' Mr Meadowcroft 's family said in a statement : ` Ashley was not an angel , he had his mistakes , but he did turn his life around and he did not deserve to die . ` Murder and manslaughter are just labels , but Rebecca Tootle got what she deserved . ' The trial was the first in Britain where the defence of ` disproportionate force ' was put forward under an amendment the Crime and Courts Act 2013 . The new law means that if somebody is acting in an ` extreme circumstance ' such as a burglary , they can use ` necessary ' force to stop the offender . | Rebecca Tootle jailed for nine years at Preston Crown Court . Stabbed 18-year-old in the chest before discarding knife in garden . 20-year-old cut herself before falsely claiming Mr Meadowcroft stabbed her . Judge said she was ` sly and manipulative ' and posed a ` danger ' First case in Britain to try and use defence of ` disproportionate force ' | [[175, 196], [201, 276], [175, 284], [285, 332], [2577, 2652], [2754, 2811], [3068, 3076], [3093, 3142], [1917, 2032], [4254, 4260], [4303, 4363], [4536, 4574], [4579, 4713], [5028, 5130], [5052, 5089], [5028, 5046], [5096, 5130], [5131, 5138], [5141, 5257], [732, 833]] |
The beauty of the world 's most famous skylines simply can not be denied . From Toronto 's skyscraping CN Tower , which reaches an impressive 1,814 ft -LRB- 553 metres -RRB- , to Dubai 's Burj Khalifa , the tallest building in the world at 2,722 ft -LRB- 829.8 metres -RRB- , these cosmopolitan cityscapes are as imposing as they are impressive . While architectural preferences are subjective , of course , building data and project management website , Emporis , has a definitive ranking of the visual impact offered by skylines in major cities worldwide . Scroll down for video . Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia , is home to the stunning Petronas Towers , though the city 's 608 buildings tally just 8,077 floors altogether . Shanghai 's futuristic skyline is not to be missed , especially the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower , which is dotted with LED lights . Sao Paulo , Brazil , with a population of over 11 million , has 5,734 buildings considered by Emporis , with 17,859 floors in total . Toronto 's skyline is most recognised for the CN Tower , which stands 1,814 ft -LRB- 553 metres -RRB- tall and overlooks Lake Ontario . However , their analysis only reflects completed high-rise buildings and does not include bridges , masts or other aesthetically-pleasing structures , like Sydney 's Opera House , for example . Emporis assigns each building points based on its floor count and the point total for each city is calculated . Currently in top spot ? Hong Kong , which boasts 7,794 skyscrapers with a combined floor count of 133,531 . Hong Kong 's closest competitor is New York City , which is home to 6,090 buildings and a score of 43,101 . The central business district in Sydney looks gorgeous when viewed from offshore , in particular the iconic Opera House building . The Seattle skyline - photographed from Kerry Park at night - illuminates the majestic Mount Rainier in the background . The Chongqing municipality in China boasts a rapidly rising skyline and has 12 buildings with heights of more than 650ft -LRB- 200 metres -RRB- . Rio de Janeiro overlooks the Guanabara Bay and is most recognisable due to the iconic Christ the Redeemer sitting high atop the city . The tiny island of Macau is home to the 47-storey Grand Lisboa hotel which looks like a giant fan reflected over the Pearl River . The Chicago skyline , as viewed from the Sears Tower , is a great Midwestern alternative to the oft-photographed New York City skyline . The downtown Seoul skyline comes in fourth place in the Emporis rankings with 3,023 buildings totalling 21,098 floors . Singapore 's skyline has the unique feature of being home to the world 's most expensive building : the multi-billion dollar Marina Bay Sands . The Manhattan skyline is one of the most photographed in the world , with the Empire State Building at its centre . Las Vegas is known for its glittering Strip , which includes a mini Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower , among other replica landmarks . Dubai 's skyline is home to the world 's highest building , the Burj Khalifa , which towers more than 2,722 ft -LRB- 829.8 metres -RRB- . Rio 's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue , though not considered in the Emporis rankings , gives the South American city a boost in our own MailOnline Travel rankings , especially when photographed overlooking the stunning Guanabara Bay . Similarly , Chicago 's impressive skyline , set along the shores of Lake Michigan , offers a great alternative to the excessively photographed New York City landscape . Singapore 's glittering ferris wheel and the world 's most expensive building - the Marina Bay Sands - help this city skyrocket to the top of the list . Meanwhile , Shanghai 's light-studded Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower helps to complete the futuristic aesthetic of China 's third most-populous city . | Dubai 's Burj Khalifa tower , which is the highest building in the world , measures 2,700 ft from the ground . Toronto is home to the CN Tower , which reaches an impressive 1,800 ft high above Lake Ontario . Shanghai 's futuristic skyline is not to be missed - especially the LED-dotted Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower . | [[2967, 3024], [3027, 3043], [3052, 3104], [91, 111], [120, 173], [1033, 1045], [1054, 1126], [721, 771], [774, 822], [829, 856], [3666, 3675], [3678, 3817]] |
Footage of a driver arguing with a policeman over a speeding ticket has gone viral after the man claims the officer wrongly pulled him over because a radar of speedometer was n't used . Truck driver Chris Smith filmed the police officer issuing him a speeding fine near the Coonabarabran area in NSW and uploaded the video to his Facebook page on Saturday . The officer , who identified himself as Steven when he flashed his name badge , told Mr Smith the fine was based on his ` estimation ' and he had n't used a radar . The video has been shared more 15,000 times and viewed 800,000 times in less than 24 hours . Scroll down for video . Truck driver Chris Smith filmed this police officer issuing him a speeding fine near the Coonabarabran area in NSW and uploaded the video to his Facebook page on Saturday . Mr Smith repeatedly argues that he was n't speeding , but the officer continues to write him a ticket . ' I want to know how you can book me when I was n't speeding ? ' the driver says . The officer replies ` my estimations ' before saying there was another police vehicle on the opposite side the road who agreed the driver was speeding . ` You 're a senior constable , for guessing speed ? ' Mr Smith said . ` Estimating speed , ' the officer responds . ` So obviously you 're some sort of computer , ' the driver argues . The officer , who identified himself as Steven when he flashed his name badge , told Mr Smith the fine was based on his ` estimation ' and he had n't used a radar . The filmed argument , which lasts for five minutes , has been shared more 15,000 times and viewed 800,000 times in less than 24 hours . The police officer hits back : ` Expert . I 'm an expert at estimating speed ' . The video of Mr Smith arguing with the officer goes on for five minutes as he repeatedly says he was n't speeding . When he asks to check the speed radar , the officer says it was n't used . ' I did n't check you on the radar . I think you need to realise everything is based on my estimations . All a radar does is back up my estimations , ' the officer says . A clearly frustrated Mr Smith suggests the estimation was wrong because the officer 's sunglasses put him off , but the policeman just laughs it off . The truck driver repeatedly claims he was speeding and the police was ` out of line ' to pull him over . The driver has pledge to take the fine to court , despite officers being able to issue fines via radars , speedometer or an estimate of speed . ` This absolutely ridiculous . I will take it to court because I ca n't get booked for not speeding . I know I ca n't get booked for you guessing a speed , ' Mr Smith said . ' I was n't speeding . ' The officer tells the driver it 's ` my word versus yours then ' . It is understood police can issue speeding fines using radars in police cars or speed cameras , a speedometer and from an estimate of speed . A NSW Police spokesperson said the driver was issued an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit by more than 10km per hour . ` All highway patrol operatives are considered subject matter experts in the eyes of the court in terms of estimating speed , ' they said . ` This is included as a part of the training received by potential highway patrol officers . Any LIDAR or radar check that is done has to be reinforced with a valid speed estimation . ' Mr Smith now faces a $ 254 fine and loss of three demerit points , police said . | Truck driver Chris Smith filmed the police officer issuing him a speeding fine and uploaded the video to his Facebook page on Saturday . The video has been viewed 800,000 times in less than 24 hours . Officer said the fine was based on his ` estimation ' and a radar was n't used . Mr Smith argues with officer for five minutes as he writes up a ticket . | [[0, 103], [186, 299], [186, 210], [304, 357], [640, 812], [672, 754], [640, 664], [759, 812], [2916, 3024], [523, 532], [571, 615], [1503, 1522], [1594, 1638], [104, 185], [358, 369], [438, 522], [1000, 1036], [1039, 1115], [1338, 1349], [1418, 1502], [1836, 1873], [1876, 1910], [1913, 1947], [1948, 2015], [0, 103], [871, 916], [1503, 1522], [1531, 1553], [1720, 1766], [1720, 1835]] |
Do you think being super-fit , running five miles into work each morning and hitting the gym every evening is the best way to prepare for conceiving a child ? Think again . According to Dermot O'Connor , acupuncturist and author of The Fertility Code , women who do lots of exercise are actually considerably less fertile than those who do n't do any at all . ` Most people assume that the fitter you are the more fertile you are , ' O'Connor told MailOnline . ` But . evidence shows it 's almost exactly the opposite ; studies have shown that the fitter you are , often the less . fertile you are . ' Dermot O'Connor 's book The Fertility Code explains how couples can create the optimum conditions for conceiving naturally or with the help of IVF . He continued : ` Before a set of Harvard studies , the assumption was that 45 minutes of exercise a day five days a week would be the optimum amount of exercise a woman could do if she was trying to have a baby . ` But the research - which surprises people - proved that that amount actually dramatically decreases your chances of conceiving . The optimum amount of exercise is no . exercise , or very gentle exercise . ' And it is advice that was heeded by the Duchess of Cambridge : Kate is said to have swapped her gruelling gym sessions for light walks in the park with her dog Lupo before she became pregnant . O'Connor added : ` Of course , the results need to be tempered because if you are overweight then losing weight by doing exercise helps fertility . But if you are normal weight or underweight then strenuous exercise is detrimental . ' The Duchess of Cambridge , left , is reported to have given up strenuous exercise in order to improve her chances of becoming pregnant . The author and practitioner went on : ` After all , the body is intelligent : if you push yourself to run seven miles in the gym every day the body thinks you are migrating . It does n't consider that optimum conditions to have a baby so the reproductive system effectively shuts down . ' ` By far the best way of both losing weight and creating ideal conditions for conceiving are through diet . The key approach to losing weight needs to be calorific . Exercise comes a very . distant second . ' O'Connor has adapted his . latest book , The Fertility Code , from his 2006 best-seller The Healing . Code , which advocates a five-pronged approach to recovering from serious . illness . ` That book dealt with my . own story of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1998 . I . developed an approach to helping my self heal using nuttrition , . exercise , and different therapies including herbal medicines and . acupuncture . I then became a trained acupuncturist . ' Dermot O'Connor with his new book , The Fertility Code , in which he explains his five-pronged approach to helping couples conceive a baby . Though O'Connor 's own story was about neurological issues , he quickly found that 70 per cent of his clients were visiting him for help with fertility problems . ` If you help someone with a back problem they may tell ten people . But if you help someone have a baby they tell the whole word . So I soon became known as `` the fertility person '' . ` My method is n't foolproof , it 's a mulch-dimensional approach to optimising a couple 's lifestyle to give maximum chance of things happening naturally . ' I have helped thousands of couples conceive - probably around 50 per cent of my clients have had success - and a high proportion within four months of coming to see me . I also work with fertility clinics and totally support work they do . ' Everyone knows about the birds and the bees but it 's all about understanding ovulation timing ' 1 . Look at the scientific basics of timing . Everyone knows about the birds and the bees but it 's all about understanding ovulation and how important timing is when it comes to trying for a baby . 2 . The psychological aspect . This is not to be underestimated . If you 're trying for a baby and it 's not working you will become stressed , which is not conducive to conceiving . In my method I do n't just say ` de-stress ' , I offer programs explaining exactly how to do this and teach ways of implementing and mind exercises . 3 . Nutrition . There are foods that are helpful to conceiving - such as dark leafy greens and flax seeds - and foods that are injurious , such as meat - red meat in particular . Dairy products are a bit more debatable but my inclination is to avoid them altogether - women who do n't eat . dairy products seem to stay fertile for longer than women who do . And I believe dairy is not really meant for human consumption , it 's meant for cows . 4 . Detoxification . Coffee is not great - even a relatively small intake of caffeine can have a seriously . negative effect on conception . Once you 've had three cups of coffee it 's the same as smoking 25 cigarettes a day . I discuss ways of eliminating toxins in your body , in particular tobacco , nicotine , caffeine and . alcohol . Unfortunately even relatively small amounts of alcohol hinder . chances of becoming pregnant . 5 . Exercise . It seems to have been proved that the fitter you are , often the less . fertile you are . If you are overweight exercise helps , but if you are normal weight or underweight then exercise . is detrimental . To make an appointment with Dermot O'Connor visit fertilitycode.com , or email him at dermot@fertilitycode.com or call 0871 218 0300 . Collette and Kevin with Emily . Collette Hempenstall , 46 , Bray in County Wicklow , Ireland : . ` For as long as I can remember I wanted a baby . I had a few relationships and during the longest one , we did try , but it never happened . ` In 1996 some cysts were found on my ovaries and I was told conceiving would be hard . I was devastated . I tried to carry on but in the back of my mind were thoughts I would never become a mum . ` After my 30th birthday I started looking into artificial insemination . As I was single there was nowhere in Ireland that would help me , so I found a clinic in London . I looked into all the details , saved the money and went for it . ` It was so heartbreaking when the pregnancy test came back negative , but it only made me more determined . ` It was on my third try that I met my partner Kevin through a dating website . ` We got to know each other very well via phone and text for about a year before we actually met and I 'm glad it happened that way . ' I told him about my health problems and that I really wanted a baby , and he was happy for me to try to get pregnant . We tried naturally for about six months , then a friend mentioned acupuncture . ' I found Dermot O'Connor in the phone book , and he was fantastic and so helpful . I went for a few sessions and kept track of my menstrual cycle and ovulation . I saw Dermot weekly at first for acupuncture , then fortnightly , then just monthly . ` He gave me nutritional advice and supplements to take . By this stage , I had given up alcohol , tea , coffee , diet and fizzy drinks , most red meat and was drinking a lot more water . ' Collette , Kevin , Emily and Emily 's godparents at her christening seven years ago . ' I took Dermot 's advice and did as much as I could to be healthy . All of a sudden my period was late . I did a test and to my surprise the stick changed colour straight away . I burst into tears - my God , I 'm in tears just typing this , it was one of the best days of my life ! ' I did another test the next day - and years later I still have the two sticks . ' I went to the doctor the day after to confirm it . Dermot had only been seeing me for five months , it was amazing . ` It took so long and so much heartache to get this far so I was n't prepared to take any risks . I quit the gym and stopped my hill walking . ' I went overdue by two weeks so I was taken in to be induced on Saturday 20th May and Emily was born at 6.30 pm on Sunday 21st May 2006 . It was a traumatic birth and I had two blood transfusions but it was the best day of my life . Emily will be seven in May . She is my dream come true . ' | Author Dermot O'Connor has helped thousands of couples conceive . His new book , The Fertility Code , advocates five-pronged approach . One mother explains how she followed his method and had a baby . | [[3361, 3448], [3361, 3362], [3375, 3518], [2339, 2343], [2352, 2414], [2777, 2851]] |
This river in northern India has become an isolated sanctuary teeming with wildlife thanks to centuries of urban legend , tragedies and bandits who terrified locals with horrendous acts of violence - but it may be undone in just a matter of years . Nearby villagers had long believed that the Chambal River , and the infertile soil surrounding it , was cursed or too dangerous to traverse , making it largely a no-go zone . Their fears allowed the area to become a haven for crocodiles , jackals , river dolphins and endangered birds , which lay small speckled eggs in the sand . India 's Chambal River is teeming with wildlife , including crocodiles , but it is facing growing environmental threats from humans . Indian villagers cross the Chambal River on a packed ferry near Bhopepura village in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh . A man drinks straight from the Chambal River as villagers wade through the shallow waters after crossing on a ferry . Chicks and speckled eggs of the endangered Indian skimmer rest in a pit nest in a sandbar on the banks of the river . What makes the Chambal River so remarkable is that it thrived and remained essentially wild while the rest of the region developed into a deeply-polluted industrial belt . The stench of industrial fumes fills the air in towns and tons of raw sewage is dumped every day into many rivers . But the Chambal itself is now facing threats from humans like never before , raising fears about the fate of its creatures , including several varieties of birds and rare crocodile-like gharials , which can be found nowhere else on the planet . Garbage is piling up , plastic bags blow through the ravines , increased farming has led to fertiliser and pesticide runoff , and factories , construction projects and stone quarries are dumping pollutants straight into the river or its tributaries . An Indian villager follows a camel , carrying a load of firewood , as they cross the Chambal River near Bhopepura village . The Chambal region is home to rare crocodile-like gharials , which can be found nowhere else on the planet . Hundreds of storks , geese , babblers , larks and other birds nest along the river , which is facing an uncertain future . Dr Rajiv Chauhan , a scientist with the India-based Society for Conservation of Nature , told the Associated Press : ` In the old days , there were n't many people here to interfere with the river . ` But with the bandits gone , the pressure on the river is now just too much . ' Beliefs that the river was unholy have faded and the last of the famed outlaws was killed by police in 2005 after their political patrons were driven out of office . Indian villagers alight from a ferry after crossing the Chambal River near Bhopepura village in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh . Development along the river is booming after the last of the bandits , who had enormous power in the region , were killed or driven away . For hundreds of years , bandits , who wielded enormous power , ruled the labyrinth of scrub-filled ravines and tiny villages along the river . Deep pits are visible near the bank of the Chambal River after they were dug out by illegal sand miners near Sagarpada . The bandits held enormous power in the poverty-stricken and lawless region . Now that they are gone , villagers regularly traverse the river with camels or boats ferrying people from one side to the other . Yet the river is facing many environmental threats even though a 250-mile stretch was declared an official sanctuary nearly 40 years ago . As people take advantage of cheap land and untapped resources , today 's biggest concerns include corruption , which is leading to deforestation and illegal sand mining for concrete production , and India 's undertrained and underfunded wildlife agencies . For years villagers were afraid to venture near the river because of the presence of bandits and the belief that it was unholy . Labourers who are paid $ 15 a day load sand onto tractor trolleys at an illegal sand mine on the banks of the Chambal River . Villagers prepare for the cremation of an elderly woman on the banks of the Chambal River near Bhopepura village in Uttar Pradesh . Flames rise from the cremation pyre of an elderly woman along the banks of the river , which is under threat from pollution and corruption . One of the illegal sand mines can be found near the village of Bhopepura , where men can earn an attractive $ 15 a day -LRB- just under # 10 -RRB- to shovel sand for bosses who they claim have paid off local officials . One of the labourers , Gopal , told the Associated Press : ` What is a sanctuary ? What is a mammal ? What is a bird ? I do n't have time to worry about these things . ' Hemruda Singh , an aristocrat with a crumbling family fort overlooking the river from Bhareh , has watched the transformation as dirt paths became paved roads , making villages easily accessible from the outside world . He worries about the future of the region as corruption takes hold and people ignore the environment , adding : ` We were so isolated for so long . ' | Northern India 's Chambal River is teeming with wildlife , including crocodiles , river dolphins and endangered birds . Villagers had long believed the river and its infertile soil were cursed or too dangerous to traverse . There were beliefs that the river was unholy , and bandits terrorised locals with violence and robberies . River is now being pumped full of pollutants as people take advantage of cheap land and untapped resources . | [[0, 143], [424, 533], [580, 602], [630, 650], [1372, 1383], [1445, 1562], [249, 423], [289, 346], [349, 388], [289, 331], [391, 423], [3813, 3941], [3823, 3832], [3845, 3941], [122, 143], [148, 188], [249, 423], [2946, 2967], [2970, 2977], [3009, 3088], [3813, 3941], [3823, 3832], [3845, 3941], [1743, 1863], [3559, 3617], [4275, 4284], [4293, 4340]] |
The FBI is offering a $ 30,000 reward for a pair of bank robbers donned the Black Hat Bandits . The thieves have been linked to seven hold-ups across Maryland and Virginia in the last two months . Wearing black hats , sunglasses and fake beards , they have stormed into branches and demanded money from employees . Reward : The FBI is offering a $ 30,000 to a tipster who can provide information that will lead to the capture of a pair of bank robbers dunned the Black Hat Bandits . Brazen : The thieves have been linked to seven hold-ups across Maryland and Virginia in the last two months . The pair have n't hurt anyone during the heists , but agents say they are getting more confrontational . In their most recent attack they held a gun to a teller 's head and have jumped over counters in a bid to access bank vaults . An FBI statement said : ` In an escalation of violence , the Black Hat Bandits have become more brazen at each robbery having threatened bank customers and tellers , most recently holding a gun to a customer 's head , and jumping teller counters in attempts to gain access to bank vaults . ` During each robbery , the Black Hat Bandits have been described as carrying handguns and wearing winter coats , sunglasses , black hats -LRB- either a winter knit cap or wide brimmed hat -RRB- and facial disguises such as ski masks or a fake beard . ' The bureau have released a plea , urging members of the public with any information to come forward . Aggression : The pair have n't hurt anyone during the heists , but agents say they are getting more confrontational . In their latest heist they held a gun to an employee 's head . Disguise : Wearing black hats , sunglasses and fake beards , they have stormed into a number of branches and demanded money from employees . It read : ` The FBI Washington and Baltimore Field Offices are investigating these bank robberies with local law enforcement partners in Northern Virginia and Maryland and request that anyone with information call the FBI at 202-278-2000 or 410-265-8080 . ' FBI Assistant Agent in Charge Mike McGarrity told WJLA : ` There were guns raised to customers in the bank , as well as tellers . These are guns that are out , they 're brandishing them , it does n't get much more violent than that . ` These are guys that are skilled at what they 're doing . These robbers seem proficient with weapons , they 've made plans . They 're tactical in the way they put customers and employees in the position of coverage . He added : ` We 'll catch them . Statistics show these guys will get caught . We have seven robberies , seven opportunities for witnesses , surveillance video and unique evidence . ' Poster : The bureau have released a plea , urging members of the public with any information to come forward . | Brazen robbers have been linked to heists across Maryland and Virginia . Storm in wearing black hats , sunglasses , fake beards and long coats . Pair are becoming more confrontational , holding employees at gunpoint . | [[96, 196], [490, 592], [197, 244], [1115, 1136], [1139, 1366], [1652, 1660], [1663, 1710], [647, 697], [698, 761], [825, 846], [849, 1082], [1538, 1588], [1589, 1651]] |
Jailed : Rapist Paul Clarke told one victim , ` No pain , no gain ' during a ten-year campaign of abuse . A sadistic serial rapist who said ` no pain , no gain ' to one of his victims as he attacked her has been jailed for 16 years . Paul Clarke carried out a ` campaign of rape ' over ten years from his home in a remote Devon village believing he would always be able to escape justice , Exeter Crown Court heard . He insisted to his family that he was innocent - making his young daughters feel ` broken ' when they discovered the truth about his crimes . Clarke , 47 , a divorced father of six , became aggressive when drunk and forced three women to take part in degrading sex acts against their will . In one case he laughed off his victim 's protests , telling her ` no pain , no gain ' . He was investigated on suspicion of rape in the early 2000s , but after he escaped prosecution he was apparently emboldened to carry out further assaults . Clarke , from Chilsworthy in north Devon , told one of his victims : ' I have been accused of rape so I might as well get on and do it . ' After being arrested in 2011 and charged with 11 counts of rape , he continued to deny any wrongdoing , but was found guilty of all charges last month . At an earlier trial , he was also convicted of assaulting one victim . Clarke 's daughter Michaela , 20 , said today that her father 's lies had ` torn the family apart ' and destroyed the lives of her and her younger sister . She told MailOnline that she had believed her father , who was a ` hero ' to her , until just two months before he was convicted . ` He 's been an alcoholic all his life , but I never thought he was capable of this ' , Miss Clarke said . ` Me and Dad were really close - I looked at him as if he was a hero . ` He said he was innocent all along , and I always forgave him for his drinking . ` Why could n't he be the person I always lay on the sofa and watched TV with ? He completely changed and became a different person . ' Horror : Clarke 's daughter Michaela , pictured with her father , believed his denials for years . While Miss Clarke , a cleaner who now lives in Cornwall , stood by her father until November last year and continued to share his home , other relatives spurned him - leading to a major breach in family relations . ` It 's torn my family apart , ' she told MailOnline . ' I do n't have dealings with any of them any more . He 's just torn us all to pieces . ' I want answers to why he did it , and why he could n't stop his drinking . ' Some members of the family still refuse to believe that Clarke is guilty , and his daughter says she and her younger sister have been threatened by relatives over social media . ` It 's broken her as well as broken me , ' Miss Clarke said . Attacker : Clarke carried out his rapes at home in the remote Devon village of Chilsworthy . Sentencing Clarke to 16 years in prison , Recorder Mr Michael Bowes said : ` Each victim described you correctly as being a bullying and manipulative man . ` There were 11 offences of rape against three separate women and in my judgment , taken as a whole , comprised what can properly be categorised as a campaign of rape . ` One of your victims said that the more she struggled the more you seemed to enjoy it . That assault was very painful and must also have been disgusting . ` The degradation and humiliation the victims suffered almost beggars belief . Your violence has had a profound effect on all of your victims . It is quite plain you have no remorse whatsoever . ' Clarke , an unemployed ex-farmer , claimed that the women had colluded to invent false allegations against him and said he could not have had sex while drunk because alcohol made him impotent . After the case , Detective Constable James Rees of Devon and Cornwall Police said said : ` We are extremely pleased with the guilty verdict and the sentence imposed today . ` The defendant 's denial of these offences and taking his case to trial has caused the victims further distress in having to recount their ordeals in court . ' | Father-of-six Paul Clarke raped three women over ten years while drunk . He told one ` no pain , no gain ' and said to another that he ` might as well ' rape her before the attack . Clarke , 47 , denied the charges but has now been convicted and jailed . His daughter Michaela described how she trusted him for years . Says her family has been left ` broken ' by his repeated lies . | [[234, 295], [559, 565], [568, 570], [600, 651], [3024, 3104], [9, 43], [106, 175], [187, 233], [708, 757], [708, 722], [760, 781], [952, 958], [995, 1018], [1091, 1154], [1157, 1192], [1091, 1119], [1157, 1159], [1193, 1243], [1583, 1601], [1471, 1523], [417, 506], [473, 506], [509, 558], [1315, 1333], [1350, 1470], [2234, 2311], [2314, 2316], [2320, 2334], [2420, 2454]] |
Greece 's Marxist finance minister Yanis Varoufakis displayed a volcanic temper during fraught talks with European leaders last week , with some observers fearing the discussions could descend into a punch-up . But the explosive style of the so-called ` rock star ' economist may have been part of a deliberately ` schizophrenic ' negotiating technique conceived while Varoufakis was a student in Essex in the 1980s , The Mail on Sunday can reveal . After weeks of tense negotiations , European finance ministers finally announced on Friday that they had drafted the basis for an agreement to extend Greece 's bailout package for four months . ` Erratic ' : Greece 's Marxist finance minister Yanis Varoufakis meets IMF chief Christine Lagarde last week . Endorsed by the full 19-member Eurogroup , it should be finalised tomorrow -- effectively saving Greece from leaving the eurozone and going bankrupt . During tense negotiations last week , Mr Varoufakis was said to have shouted ` liar ' at Jeroen Dijsselbloem , chairman of the eurozone group of finance ministers , with some observers fearing that punches were about to be thrown . But Mr Varoufakis 's erratic behaviour and outbursts may have been part of an orchestrated plan to build a ` reputation ' to use as a bargaining tool . The Mail on Sunday has seen Mr Varoufakis 's economic thesis submitted as part of his doctorate at the University of Essex in 1987 . The 249-page document , titled Optimisation and Strikes , discusses bargaining positions between employers and unions and is a blueprint for how to win negotiations . In it , Mr Varoufakis , who earlier this month wore a leather biker 's jacket and boots when he met Chancellor George Osborne , states that the workforce needs to accept their leader 's ` peculiarities ' to get a good outcome . Left-wing : Mr Varoufakis as a lecturer in 1993 . It says : ` In the aftermath of the strike they will have realised that in spite of his or her peculiarities their manager has come up with the goods . ' The thesis then discusses the merits of negotiating methods and how ` irrational ' behaviour in the short term may enhance the long - term reputation of the negotiator -- and get a better outcome . It says the best negotiator is one who lives up to a ` schizophrenic ideal ' and builds a reputation . ` Reputation-building depends on the ability to punish the opposition and the time preference of the party in question , while at the same time , the ability to punish the opposition depends on solidarity which itself depends on the negotiator 's reputation and the level of utility derived from being loyal , ' it says . Tellingly , Mr Varoufakis concludes : ` Negotiators seeking to maximise the probability of persuading their opponents of their intransigence may attempt to convince themselves first . The ability to switch from `` conviction bargaining '' to `` pragmatic '' behaviour at the optimal point in time is of paramount importance . Negotiators approaching this ideal will be maximising their payoffs . ' Mr Varoufakis , who has described himself as ` an erratic Marxist ' , graduated from Essex University in 1981 , gaining a 2.2 in mathematical economics . He was awarded a PhD in 1987 . The Greek Left-wing government , elected in January after promising to end austerity , stepped back from the brink last week , conceding that the current $ 240 billion -LRB- # 180 billion -RRB- bailout would be extended pending further talks . Refusing to continue the current bailout had been seen as a ` red line ' for the Greek government , and accepting that the deal is still in place is widely seen as a climbdown . Varoufakis has until Monday night to present a list of reforms his government will carry out . Tense : Mr Varoufakis -LRB- right -RRB- was said to have shouted ` liar ' at Jeroen Dijsselbloem , left , chairman of the eurozone group of finance ministers , with some fearing that punches were about to be thrown . | Yanis Varoufakis displayed volcanic temper during fraught talks last week . Observers feared punches were about to be thrown during discussion . But explosive style of the so-called ` rock star ' economist may have been part of negotiating technique conceived while he was a student in Essex . | [[0, 132], [907, 942], [945, 967], [1143, 1234], [140, 210], [1077, 1138], [3929, 3962], [215, 352], [298, 415], [1143, 1234]] |
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker , a leading Republican contender for the White House in 2016 , has said he does n't know whether President Barack Obama is a Christian or not . Despite the fact that Obama has frequently spoken publicly about his Christian faith , Walker maintained on Saturday that he is not aware of the president 's religion . Walker refusal to acknowledge the president 's faith , came hours after he had also refused to be drawn on Obama 's love for his country in the wake of inflammatory remarks made by former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani at a fundraising event for Walker during the week . Despite the fact that Obama has frequently spoken publicly about his Christian faith , Walker maintained on Saturday that he is not aware of the president 's religion . On the subject of the president 's faith , Walker told reporters at the National Governors Association in Washington that he simply did n't know . ` I 've actually never talked about it or I have n't read about that , ' Walker said , reports The Washington Post . ` I 've never asked him that , ' he added . ` You 've asked me to make statements about people that I have n't had a conversation with about that . How -LSB- could -RSB- I say if I know either of you are a Christian ? ' Walker spokeswoman Jocelyn Webster later phoned the Post to deny that the governor had been trying to cast doubt on Obama 's faith . ` Of course the governor thinks the president is a Christian , ' she said . ` He thinks these kinds of gotcha questions distract from what he 's doing as governor of Wisconsin to make the state better and make life better for people in his state . ' Earlier Walker had refused to give a clear answer when asked if he agreed with Giuliani 's belief that the president does n't love his country . ` You should ask the president what he thinks about America , ' said Walker . ` I 've never asked him so I do n't know . ' Walker 's comments on Saturday came after several days in which he was asked repeatedly whether he agreed with the former New York mayor . President Obama has often talked about his political faith despite some figures on the right repeatedly suggesting that he is Muslim . ' I know this is a horrible thing to say , but I do not believe that the president loves America . ' Giuliani had said during his dinner speech . Some figures on the right have consistently questioned Obama 's faith , with some suggesting that he is a Muslim . Obama , however , has often talked about his Christian faith , as he did recently at the National Prayer Breakfast . Walker accused the media of being fixated on issues that are not relevant to most Americans . ` To me , this is a classic example of why people hate Washington and , increasingly , they dislike the press , ' he said . ` The things they care about do n't even remotely come close to what you 're asking about . ' Walker said he does not believe that most Americans care about such matters . Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani has said he is standing by his comments that the president does n't love his country despite receiving death threats in recent days . ` People in the media will -LSB- judge -RSB- , not everyday people , ' he said . ' I would defy you to come to Wisconsin . You could ask 100 people , and not one of them would say that this is a significant issue . ' Giuliani said on Saturday that he was standing by controversial statements even though he had received death threats . The former mayor did not say whether he contacted police about the threatening calls . Giuliani told CNN that despite the death threats , the majority of voice mails left at his office were in support of his remarks made on Wednesday at a private dinner for Wisconsin 's Republican Gov. Scott Walker . ` I 'm right about this . I have no doubt about it . I do not withdraw my words , ' Giuliani told NBC on Friday . ' I do not detect , in this man , the same rhetoric and the same language , the same love of America that I detected in other American presidents including democrats . ' White House Press Secretary , Josh Earnest , said on Friday that he felt sorry for the man who was once known as ` America 's mayor . ' ' I can tell you that it 's sad to see when somebody who has attained a certain stature and even admiration tarnishes that legacy so thoroughly , ' Earnest said . The White House started the hashtag #ObamaLovesAmerica on Twitter , the hashtag was tweeted more than 50,000 times in 24 hours , with comments both for and against Giuliani 's remarks . Critics have called for the author and former politician to apologize , but Giuliani told NBC that though he never meant to question the president 's patriotism , he absolutely will not apologize for saying what he believes . | Gov. Walker said on Saturday that he is not aware if President Obama is a Christian or not . President Obama has often talked about his political faith despite some figures on the right repeatedly suggesting that he is Muslim . Walker 's remark was made hours after he repeatedly claimed that he does n't know if the president loves his country . A war of words has broken out between Republicans and Democrats after Rudy Giuliani said this week that the president does n't love America . | [[0, 27], [91, 171], [259, 340], [697, 778], [779, 819], [822, 925], [194, 199], [204, 256], [632, 637], [642, 694], [2053, 2111], [2120, 2187], [2334, 2403], [0, 27], [91, 171], [2235, 2286], [2956, 3125], [3001, 3125], [493, 609], [1646, 1790], [1646, 1660], [1696, 1790], [2956, 3125], [3001, 3125]] |
Images showing designs for an artist 's potential Bill Cosby sculpture were exhibited Friday night , local media reported . The Cory Allen Contemporary Art Gallery , located in St. Petersburg , Florida , revealed the images , according to WTVT . Rodman Edwards ' statue would be called ` Fat Albert Cries for Dr. Huxtable . ' Proposal : Rodman Edwards wants to create this sculpture of Bill Cosby , called ` Fat Albert Cries for Dr. Huxtable ' In light of sexual assault allegations against Cosby , both Edwards and Cory Allen , who is representing the 15-year-old artist , have alleged that the sculpture represents the comedian 's true face . A February 5 news release from the gallery described the project as ' A teenage artist 's protest against Bill Cosby for misrepresenting his TV characters and their messages is proposed as a nude statue of Cosby 's Dr. Cliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show to ` replace ' the busts of the legendary performer displayed in front of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Halls of Fame in North Hollywood and Orlando . ' The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza in Orlando is part of Walt Disney World Resort . Speaking to the Huffington Post earlier this month , Edwards said that ' A small one might take six weeks . A bigger one might take a few months . ' Though Cosby has been accused by multiple women of sexually assaulting them , he has denied the claims and has not been charged with a crime . Though multiple women have come forward and publicly accused Cosby of sexual assault , he has denied the claims , the Huffington Post noted , and has not been charged with a crime . Daily Mail Online has reached out to Cosby 's attorney and publicist for comment , as well as the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and Walt Disney World . | The Cory Allen Contemporary Art Gallery , located in St. Petersburg , Florida , revealed the images . Rodman Edwards ' statue would be called ` Fat Albert Cries for Dr. Huxtable ' The 15-year-old 's sculpture shows Fat Albert keeping Dr. Huxtable 's modesty hidden from view . | [[124, 163], [166, 191], [124, 163], [204, 245], [246, 285], [288, 323], [326, 334], [399, 405], [408, 441]] |
Rail passengers could save millions of pounds a year thanks to a secret computer code which finds cut-price fares normally hidden from the public . Founders of the website TrainSplit.com are helping travellers buy cheaper ` split tickets ' . This means that instead of buying one ticket for a journey , passengers can break their trip up into legs -- offering a lower combined fare while travelling on the same train . The website 's founders believe rail companies are overcharging passengers on 42 per cent of tickets sold . Rail travellers can save money by using a new website which allows them to buy tickets for each leg of their journey without having to get off the train . And they say their tool can save an average of 22 per cent on the fares listed on train company websites . For example , a single off-peak ticket from Plymouth to Derby can cost # 129.50 using the Trainline site . But buying five separate , single tickets for the route costs just # 79.80 -- a saving of # 49.70 . Similarly , depending on the hours of travel , a return ticket between Manchester and London can cost # 270 . But by using TrainSplit.com to find five separate tickets , that is cut to just # 179.50 , saving # 90.50 . The train has to stop at the stations where all the tickets are valid to and from , but passengers need not get off . Hereford-based computer programmer Nick Brown , 45 , tried for three years to create a search engine to find cheap fares . Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has defended rising ticket prices in the past . But it was n't until he met rail buff Mark Richardson and his business partner George Sikking that he gained access to the pair 's vast databases of timetables , fares and reservations for the UK rail network . They launched the site last April with freelance software developer Paul Kelly , and it is used by 20 to 30 passengers a day . Mr Brown , 45 , said : ` Before we had access to this massive database , it would take the most hardcore of passengers to actually sit down with the National Fares Manual and go through it to find the cheapest deal . ` And you ca n't stand at a kiosk and ask staff to work out the price of each individual journey . ` They do n't have enough time , and it 's not part of their job . ' Mr Richardson told The Sunday Times : ` The idea is to take insider knowledge and make it available to the general traveller , so they do n't have to work anything out themselves . ' The four experts now want to extend the service to tickets which include travel on London 's Tube . They are working on an algorithm to show passengers how to buy cheaper fares if they are happy for their journey to take longer . Although it is allowed under the conditions of carriage , train firms have in the past lobbied the government to banish split-ticketing . The MoneySavingExpert.com website also has a split-ticketing search engine , offering only two split legs . | The website TrainSplit.com allows passengers to save money on fares . Buying tickets for separate legs of journey on the same train is cheaper . Trains must stop at stations where all tickets are valid to and from . But passengers do n't have to get off , allowing for huge savings on tickets . | [[148, 237], [148, 237], [199, 237], [242, 418], [303, 313], [351, 418], [527, 542], [558, 681], [900, 920], [923, 970], [1142, 1163], [1171, 1194], [1214, 1251], [1239, 1251], [1258, 1295], [1302, 1331]] |
With the head of a pit bull and the body of a dachshund , he is certainly an extraordinary pup . But Rami has n't allowed his unusual appearance to get in the way of his popularity and success . The rare mixed-breed dog - who has caused a storm of interest online due to his striking looks - has just become an ` ambassador ' for The Moultrie Colquitt County Humane Society in Georgia . In his new position at the local shelter - where he currently resides - he will train to become a special therapy dog and will work to raise awareness of other pets in need of loving homes across the US . Scroll down for video . Striking : Rami - who has the head of a pit bull and the body of a dachshund - has just become an ` ambassador ' for The Moultrie Colquitt County Humane Society . He has generated a huge online following due to his looks . Announcement : On Saturday , Rami 's Facebook page - which has gained more than 4,500 fans in just three weeks and even sells T-shirts in the pup 's likeness - publicized his ` ambassador ' appointment in a post . On Saturday , Rami 's Facebook page - which has gained more than 4,500 fans in just three weeks and even sells T-shirts in the pup 's likeness - publicized his ` ambassador ' appointment in a post . The post , written in the pup 's voice , read : ` Rami has been chosen to be the MCCHS Ambassador ! For all of you that are concerned for my well being , please be assured that I am being well taken care of and loved . I love having the opportunity to meet and greet everyone during the day . ` At night I go to my other home where I can play and sleep with my fosters . No more worries as a dog on the street , now I have food in my tummy , a warm cozy bed , and lots of friends and most important ... LOVE !! ... I 'm thankful to be given this chance to become Ambassador . ' And Rami 's new position is not his only success - he has received so many offers of adoption that the rescue shelter in 1st Street Northeast has declared it is no longer accepting applications . In training : In his new position at the local shelter - where he currently resides - Rami will train to become a special therapy dog and will work to raise awareness for other dogs and cats in need of loving homes . A popular choice : And Rami 's -LRB- left and right -RRB- new title is not his only success - he has received so many offers of adoption that the rescue shelter in 1st Street Northeast has declared it is no longer accepting applications . Staff are currently reviewing applications for the pup , who was rescued after being spotted wandering the streets of Moultrie last month . He rose to fame just days later . In a Facebook post , the shelter said : ` We will do everything possible to place Rami in a very deserving home , so we ask you be patient with us as every application will be carefully reviewed . ' While Rami 's body is long , his legs are more muscular like those of a pit bull . According to the dog breeding website Designer Mixes , the mix of pit bulls and dachshunds is called a Doxbull or Pitwee . The cross-breeds can weigh around 25lbs when fully grown . Unfortunately for Rami , his enormous pit bull head has seen him compared to a Tyrannosaurus Rex and even a bobblehead doll . Unusual appearance : Staff are currently reviewing applications for the pup -LRB- pictured -RRB- , who was rescued after being spotted wandering the streets of Moultrie , Georgia last month . He rose to fame just days later . Overwhelmed : The Moultrie Colquitt County Humane Society posted this message on Facebook earlier this month , encouraging users to visit their local shelters , where they ` may find a dog or cat as unique as Rami ' Photos and videos of the dog have been shared more than 40,000 times online . Most users say Rami is adorable . However , others are not impressed , describing the pup as ` freaky looking ' . At first , some were even unconvinced and thought the pictures were doctored , or that the animal was not a mix but actually has canine dwarfism , a condition that affects dogs ' growth and spines . According to the Humane Society , Rami is ` full of energy ' , ` hyper ' and does n't ` listen very well ' . Rami 's ears have also been cut for an unknown reason . Potential owners have been told they will need to go through an interview process and pay for Rami 's vaccinations before taking him home . The pup will shortly begin his therapy training with Leigh Ann Facloner , of Bark Busters . | Pit bull-dachshund mix Rami has attracted an enormous online following . Photos and videos of the pup have been shared more than 40,000 times . Now , he has become an ` ambassador ' for Moultrie-based rescue shelter . Will train as therapy dog and help other pets to find new , loving homes . As well as his new role , Rami has received thousands of adoption offers . Has been compared to a Tyrannosaurus Rex but also dubbed ` adorable ' | [[195, 289], [301, 386], [779, 838], [796, 838], [3688, 3765], [271, 289], [292, 295], [308, 386], [195, 289], [301, 386], [616, 624], [669, 692], [695, 778], [1252, 1290], [1293, 1297], [1300, 1366], [387, 419], [457, 504], [2026, 2037], [2089, 2091], [2102, 2159], [2089, 2091], [2164, 2242], [1830, 1987], [2243, 2259], [2289, 2431], [3143, 3245], [3766, 3799]] |
Victim : Barney McGinley , 63 , was shot dead outside a church in County Fermanagh , Northern Ireland . A man has been remanded in custody accused of shooting dead his uncle outside a gipsy family wedding . Patrick McGinley , 46 , is charged with the murder of Bernard McGinley close to St Mary 's Catholic Church moments before the wedding in Newtownbutler , a village in County Fermanagh , Northern Ireland , was due to start last week . The 63-year-old grandfather was shot in the chest in front of his wife , Brigid . The accused , who appeared in Omagh Magistrates ' Court yesterday , is the uncle of the bride who was just about to walk down the aisle . Wearing a grey fleece over a blue checked shirt , balding and unshaven McGliney , from Lisfarrell in County Longford , Republic of Ireland , spoke only to confirm his name , address and that he understood the charge he faced during the short hearing . A police officer told District Judge John Meehan that he could connect the accused to the crime . Seamus Leonard , defending , said he wanted to make clear that his client voluntarily presented himself to police in Belfast earlier this week . ` He provided a very full account of what happened in this tragic event , ' he said . Outside court : Patrick McGinley , 46 , is charged with the murder of his uncle outside a gipsy family wedding . Dramatic : The bride and members of the wedding party leave the church after the service earlier this month . The solicitor said his client did not want to apply for bail at this stage but an application would probably be made in the future . Judge Meehan remanded the accused to custody to appear before Enniskillen Magistrates ' Court on March 16 via videolink . Last Wednesday 's ceremony for the marriage of Matilda McGinley , 17 , and Jimmy O'Connor , 16 , was delayed for a short period after the shooting but then went ahead . Father Michael King said the wedding party had asked him for the service to take place as planned . Just married : Matilda McGinley , 17 , and Jimmy O'Connor , 16 , are pictured in the hours after their wedding . He explained : ` They said `` father , we would like you to proceed with the wedding '' , so I proceeded with the wedding . They spent at least half an hour inside the church at the end taking photographs . ' Mr McGinley was flown to hospital from Lisnaskea in a police helicopter but died later . Tributes were later paid to him . Cousin Willie McGinley said on Facebook : ` R.I.P. Uncle Barney . Gone but will never be forgotten . Still ca n't believe he 's gone . God only takes the best . ' And Michaela Dinnegan added : ` R.I.P Barney . May you get the best bed in heaven and look over all your family and help them get through this hard time . ' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article . | Patrick McGinley , 46 , remanded in custody accused of shooting uncle . Allegedly shot Bernard McGinley , 63 , near church in Northern Ireland . Service earlier this month was delayed but went ahead after shooting . | [[104, 138], [131, 163], [147, 163], [168, 173], [207, 223], [226, 321], [1241, 1254], [1276, 1353], [1597, 1651], [0, 6], [27, 82], [207, 223], [226, 321], [1719, 1808], [1816, 1865], [1719, 1808], [1870, 1887], [2194, 2224]] |
Miami Beach was the stage , renowned chefs prepared the food and a drag queen DJ set the tunes . This was the scene at celebrity chef Art Smith 's massive gay wedding this weekend , where he invited 101 couples to wed in a free ceremony to celebrate a lift on the state 's ban on same-sex marriage . The wedding was officiated by chef Guy Fieri and the seven-tier gold cake was made by Duff Goldman , star of the Food Network reality show Ace of Cakes . Pictured are 26 of the 101 same-sex couples who tied the knot at celebrity chef Art Smith 's massive Miami Beach wedding in celebration of the lift on Florida 's gay marriage ban . Smith , a former chef to Oprah Winfrey , said he was inspired by the film 101 Dalmatians - more specifically its villain - when he decided on the number of couples to invite . He called Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi , who plans to appeal the legalization ruling and is a staunch opponent against same-sex marriage , the state 's own ` Cruella De Vil ' . Smith told his guests on the dance floor that he wanted to show the haters ` we 're proud , we 're happy , we 're loud ' with the party . ` She was determined that she was going to prevent equality from coming to Florida , ' Smith said , according to the Associated Press . ` For a state known for sunshine , it was living in the darkness when it came to LGBT rights and it was important to acknowledge that . ' Smith has been hosting the Big Gay Ice Cream Social in Miami for years in protest to the state 's same-sex marriage ban . He told his guests on the dance floor that he wanted to show the haters ` we 're proud , we 're happy , we 're loud ' with a party . The wedding was also personal for Smith . The chef met his partner , Jesus Salgueiro , in Miami 15 years ago while he was out buying flowers for Winfrey 's home . They married five years ago on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial . Friends flew in from California and Indianapolis to see couple Nicole Griffin , 43 , and Stephanie Swanson , 42 , tie the knot . Swanson told the Associated Press she believed the wedding represented a ` defeat ' for Pam Bondi , who Swanson said had denied them ` for so long ' in her fight against marriage equality . Seth Anderson and Michael Ferguson had legally wed in a Utah courthouse two years before , but joined the ceremony so they could renew their vows at a proper wedding . ` We wanted to come and be a part of this and celebrate with all the other people getting married , ' Anderson said . Fieri officiated the ceremony in honor of his late sister , who was a lesbian . Fellow Food Network star Goldman also made the wedding 's massive feast , which included fried chicken , grilled lamb , crab-stuffed avocados and empanadas . Goldman , who is a gay rights advocate , said he wanted to help celebrate and make the new law ` true in every state ' . Guy Fieri -LRB- left -RRB- officiated the ceremony in honor of his late sister , who was a lesbian . Duff Goldman -LRB- right -RRB- , a gay rights advocate , made the seven-tier gold cake and a feast of food for the reception . | Art Smith wanted to celebrate the state 's lift on same-sex marriage ban . Guy Fieri officiated the ceremony and Food Network star Duff Goldman made the seven-tier gold wedding cake . Smith said he chose the number because of 101 Dalmatians and called Florida District Attorney General Pam Bondi the state 's ` Cruella De Vil ' Bondi plans to appeal the legalization ruling and is a staunch opponent against same-sex marriage . | [[221, 227], [237, 299], [300, 344], [345, 398], [2496, 2553], [2576, 2608], [2614, 2647], [2855, 2933], [2956, 2986], [3013, 3082], [635, 640], [676, 757], [811, 855], [821, 855], [862, 901], [811, 813], [906, 953]] |
David Quammen traced the history of AIDS by examining genetic samples from humans and chimps . A new book claims the AIDS epidemic began in a rainforest in southeastern Cameroon in 1908 and not more than 70 years later when the virus started to be recognized in the early 1980s . For the book , which is subtitled ` How AIDS emerged from an African forest ' , Quammen traced the history of AIDS by examining genetic samples from humans and chimps . His led him to believe the birthplace of the epidemic was the southeastern edge of Cameroon sometime around 1908 . Quammen theorizes that a hunter in the rainforest was infected with a immunodeficiency virus similar to HIV by a chimp he killed and butchered , the New York Post reported . The hunter likely infected at least one other person through sex and the virus continued to make its way down the Sangha River in that matter until it reached the city of Leopoldville -LRB- now Kinshasa -RRB- in the Congo . After reaching the Congo , the virus spread even faster via the continued re-use of hypodermic syringes at health clinics . Treatment for a common ailment in the area at the time required 36 injections over three years and most needles were used over and over . Quammen wrote : ` Once the reusable needles and syringes had put the virus into enough people -- say , several hundred -- it would n't come to a dead end , it would n't burn out , and sexual transmission could do the rest . ' French-speaking Haitians who were working in the Congo went home after Belgium gave up the colony in 1950 . Quammen added : ` Someone brought back to Haiti , along with Congolese memories , a dose of HIV-1 , Group M , Subtype B. ' The re-use of needles allowed the virus to spread in Haiti and an infected person or infected container of blood plasma likely brought AIDS to America ` in 1969 , plus or minus about three years ' . Quammen wrote : ` It reached hemophiliacs through the blood supply . ` It reached drug addicts through shared needles . It reached gay men ... by sexual transmission , possibly from an initial contact between two males , an American and a Haitian . ' Scroll down for video . In his book , Quammen -LRB- left -RRB- theorizes that a chimp infected a hunter with a virus similar to HIV in Cameroon . A conceptual view of HIV in the bloodstream . Since 1981 , about 78 million people have been infected by HIV . In his book -LRB- right -RRB- , Shilts theorizes the virus could have been brought to the US by a gay Air Canada steward named Gaëtan Dugas -LRB- left -RRB- . The book claims AIDS originated in Cameroon around 1908 and spread down the Sangha River before reaching Kinshasa , the capital of the Congo , sometime in the 1910s or 1920s . The account contradicts the theory put forth in Randy Shilts ' history of AIDS , And the Band Played On . In his book , Shilts theorizes the virus could have been brought to the US by a gay Air Canada steward named Gaëtan Dugas . He called Dugas ` Patient Zero ' and hypothesized he infected at least 40 people with HIV . 1908 : A hunter is infected by an HiV-like virus after he kills and butchers a chimp in Cameroon . 1910s-20s : The hunter spreads the virus by having sex with at least one other person . It gradually begins working its way down the Sangha River before reaching Kinshasa , the capital of the Congo . 1920s-50s : Health campaigns to treat tropical diseases re-use needles multiple times and the virus is spread unknowingly via syringes . 1960 : After Belgium gives up the Congo as a colony , French-speaking Haitians head home and bring ' a dose of HIV-1 , Group M , Subtype B ' with them . 1969 : Shared needles at Haitian clinics also spread the virus and it is brought to the US ` in 1969 , plus or minus about three years ' . 1980 : A UCLA Medical Center professor notices a number of gay men suffering from pneumonia because of weakened immune systems and HIV is discovered thereafter . If Quammen is right , there is no way Dugas could have brought HIV to the US . Quammen wrote : ` Dugas himself was infected by some other human , presumably during a sexual encounter -- and not in Africa ... somewhere closer to home . ` As evidence now shows , HIV had already arrived in North America when Gaëtan Dugas was a virginal adolescent . ' Since 1981 , about 78 million people have been infected by HIV . The virus destroys immune cells and leaves the body exposed to tuberculosis , pneumonia and other opportunistic diseases . Thirty-nine million people have died , according to UN estimates . Antiretroviral drugs , invented in the mid-1990s , can treat infection but can not cure it or prevent it . The number of people newly infected with HIV over the last year was lower than the number of HIV-positive people getting access to the medicines they need to keep AIDS at bay , according to a report by the ONE campaign . | David Quammen traces the history of AIDS in The Chimp and the River . He says AIDS began near southeastern edge of Cameroon around 1908 . A hunter in the rainforest was infected by a chimp he killed and butchered . Hunter infected someone else and virus moved down the Sangha River . It spread to many others due to continued re-use of needles at health clinics . | [[0, 40], [360, 394], [95, 218], [449, 563], [472, 563], [2547, 2602], [564, 682], [675, 692], [2155, 2166], [2169, 2276], [3045, 3049], [3052, 3143], [807, 888], [3232, 3314], [962, 986], [989, 1085], [1185, 1223], [1681, 1800], [3356, 3429], [3434, 3480], [3639, 3674], [3634, 3638], [3641, 3674], [3680, 3696]] |
Police are searching for the driver of a vehicle that hit and killed a woman in a wheelchair early this morning in Miami . The victim , Takesha Shawanna Hayes , 39 , was trying to cross the street in her motorized wheelchair when she was struck by a vehicle as about 2.45 am , police said . The vehicle drove away after hitting Hayes , and police said that the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the crash . Takesha Shawanna Hayes , 39 , was hit by a vehicle at about 2.45 am as she was trying to cross a Miami street in her motorized wheelchair . The vehicle , which Miami police are trying to find along with its driver , drove off after hitting Hayes , leaving her to die in the middle of the road . Hayes died at the scene of the incident and people nearby said they heard a loud noise when she was hit and tried to help her , according to Local 10 . One man told CBS Miami that he ` heard a big bang , like a car crash , ' and when he got to the road he saw ` all types of car parts ' . One woman said she thought the jailhouse was ` not good enough ' for the person who left Hayes to die in the road . The same woman said that she tried to help Hayes , and asked if she was OK , but when she saw was n't breathing , she new it was not good news . Police are still investigating and searching for the person who hit Hayes and left the scene . ` We have no information on the vehicle , but definitely speed was a factor here that played a major role in this incident , ' a spokesman for the police told Local 10 . Police are asking that if anyone as any information on the incident , they call the Miami-Dade Crimestoppers at -LRB- 305 -RRB- -471 - TIPS . Police said speed was a major factor in the incident and are asking the public to come forward with any more information they might have . | Takesha Shawanna Hayes , 39 , was trying to cross the street at 2.45 am . Miami Police said driver was traveling at a high speed when they hit Hayes . People nearby said they heard a loud noise and ran to help the woman . Hayes died on scene and police are still searching for driver of vehicle . | [[123, 133], [166, 237], [225, 271], [433, 455], [458, 497], [501, 572], [225, 271], [340, 432], [433, 455], [458, 497], [501, 572], [1685, 1737], [772, 814], [791, 853], [880, 948], [0, 48], [573, 586], [606, 646], [728, 785]] |
A decorated Upstate New York policeman of 22 years who only retired last month murdered his two teenage daughters before killing himself inside their family home on Saturday afternoon , authorities say . Glen Hochman , 52 , who left the force in January , is believed to have killed daughters Alissa Hochman , 17 , and Deanna Hochman , 13 , inside the family 's Westchester County house , The Journal News reported , alongside the three family dogs . He then committed suicide . The three were were found dead about 3.50 pm inside their home in the village of Harrison , about 20 miles northeast of Manhattan . Dead : Glen Hochman , 52 , a police officer of 22 years who only retired in January , is believed to have murdered his two daughters Deanna Hochman , 13 -LRB- center -RRB- and Alissa Hochman , 17 , on Saturday afternoon . Family torn apart : Glen Hochman is seen here with with his wife Anamarie -LRB- back right -RRB- , his two victims , daughters Alissa and Deanna -LRB- front -RRB- and eldest daughter Samantha -LRB- right -RRB- . Anamarie and Samantha were not home at the time of the tragedy , police have confirmed . Killed : Alissa Hochman , 17 , a senior at Harrison High School , and Deanna Hochman , 13 , were found dead , along with their father , on Saturday afternoon . Scene : Police arrived at this home at 1 Adelphi Avenue in the Westchester County village of Harrison on Saturday night to find Glen Hochman , 52 , a former local cop , and his two teen daughters dead . Police have confirmed that Anamarie Hochman , Glen Hochman 's wife , and Samantha Hochman , the couple 's oldest daughter , were not at home at the time of the incident . It is unclear how Hochman and his two children died , however WABC are reporting Hochman shot his two girls and then himself . The network also reported that Hochman and his wife had been having marital issues . Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini said police went to the home after a person reported that no one was answering the door . Investigation : Police are trying to establish what drove Glen Hochman - seen here with his wife Anamarie - to murder his two daughters , before killing himself . Police found the bodies of Hochman and his daughters at 3:50 p.m. . He said Hochman 's body was found in the garage while the bodies of 17-year-old Alissa and 13-year-old Deanna were found on ` the main level ' of the house . Three dogs were shot to death as well , he said . White Plains Police Commissioner David Chong released a statement identifying the former officer as Hochman , and called the deaths ` an unfathomable tragedy ' . Chong told The News Journal the department are ` shocked and horrified by the news ' . ` We can only pray for the family , ' he said . ` Officer Hochman served this department and the city of White Plains with honor and integrity for over 22 years . ' Last year , Hochman won the department 's life-saving award for keeping an unresponsive man alive until paramedics arrived . Hochman suffered an Achilles ' injury in early May when he fell while helping a disabled motorist , reports Lohud . Murder-suicide : Investigators worked through the night on Saturday inside the home . Victims : Deanna Hochman , 13 -LRB- left -RRB- , and her sister Alissa Hochman , 17 , a senior at Harrison High School , were murdered by their father on Saturday , police say . He had time off to recover according to his union lawyer , Warren Roth , who had known Hochman for more than 25 years , since both worked as EMTs with the Harrison ambulance corps . He said Hochman sought a disability retirement because of the injury but had not been depressed over it as he was planning for retirement soon anyway . ` It 's just devastating to a lot of people , ' Roth said . ` He was always a quiet , reserved guy , nothing ever seemed to unsettle him . ... And he was wonderful with his daughters , a devoted father . That 's the scary part . There was absolutely no seeing this coming . ' Residents of the upper middle-class neighborhood discussed the shootings in quiet tones as they shoveled snow Sunday . Howard Hollander , 52 , an airline pilot who lives five doors down from the Hochmans , said Hochman ` was always taking care of the property , landscaping , cleaning up the yard . ' ` The girls said hi whenever they passed , ' Hollander said . ' I remember one was learning to drive and beeped at us as she went by . ' He added , ` There was no indication at all of any problem , that something like this would happen . ' Another neighbor , Dante Garritano , 52 , an engineer , said he went outside when he saw ambulances and police cars Saturday . ' I walked out and I heard a woman crying , screaming , on her phone , ` My God , they 're dead . He killed himself , '' Garritano said . In a statement on the Harrison school district 's website , Superintendent of Schools Louis N. Wool said Alissa , a high school senior , and Deanna were ` both lost to incomprehensible tragedy . ' He said the response of the district community to past tragedies has been inspiring and that he expects the students and staff will be no less resilient this time . ` In this awful moment , let us remember how proud we are of -LRB- the high school community -RRB- , how much they have helped others and how much they will help others again , ' Wool said . Harrison High School , opened its campus on Sunday for grief counseling . | Police arrived at the home in Westchester County about 3.50 pm Saturday . Retried White Plains officer Glen Hochman , 52 , killed daughters Alissa , 17 , and Deanna Hochman , 13 , before killing himself , authorities said . He was a decorated police officer of 22 years and only retired in January . Hochman used a gun , according to local media . Hochman 's wife Anamarie and the couple 's eldest daughter were not home . Unconfirmed reports say the couple were having marital issues . | [[1302, 1439], [0, 50], [79, 183], [186, 203], [204, 216], [256, 314], [451, 478], [611, 615], [697, 801], [1134, 1140], [1143, 1162], [1198, 1218], [1221, 1241], [1730, 1775], [2149, 2173], [2242, 2340], [2296, 2399], [3244, 3254], [3303, 3353], [42, 50], [60, 78], [0, 50], [79, 183], [204, 216], [228, 253], [658, 666], [676, 694], [2749, 2861], [1045, 1107], [1497, 1667], [1524, 1586], [1621, 1667], [1795, 1806], [1812, 1879]] |
The Oscar movies this year may be small , but they 're packing a lot of drama . When the 87th Academy Awards kick off on Sunday night at 8:30 EST , the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles will be buzzing with something the Oscars have n't always had in recent years : genuine intrigue at who the night 's biggest winners will be . The Oscars may also have another sight unusual to Southern California : rain . Light afternoon showers are expected , which could dampen red-carpet arrivals - though the carpet itself is under a glass tent . Scroll down for video . An Oscar statue is uncovered outside the Dolby Theater during preparations leading up to the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood , California , on Sunday night . Organizers have placed a giant glass tent over the red carpet for the 87th Oscars as afternoon showers are predicted over the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles . Neil Patrick Harris and Kerry Washington rehearse during preparations for the 87th Oscars to be presented at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood , California , on Sunday night . With a co-leading nine nominations , Alejandro Inarritu 's backstage comedy Birdman -LRB- or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance -RRB- flies in with the strongest wind at its back . It topped the acting , directing and producing guild awards , which are often strong predictors of what the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will vote for . Birdman also won best feature at Saturday 's Independent Film Spirit Awards , further boosting its momentum . At the pre-Oscars beachside bash , star Michael Keaton , who won best actor , proclaimed the film ` bold cinema ' and ' a game changer , ' a judgment shared by many in Hollywood who no doubt recognize something in Keaton 's character 's out-of-control ego . But the coronation of Birdman is far from assured . Many believe the landmark of Richard Linklater 12-years-in-the-making Boyhood will ultimately prove irresistible to academy members . Best director also appears to be a toss-up between Inarritu and Linklater . Three of the acting winners -- Julianne Moore -LRB- Still Alice -RRB- , J.K. Simmons -LRB- Whiplash -RRB- and Patricia Arquette -LRB- Boyhood -RRB- -- are virtual locks going into Sunday 's show , but best actor will be a nail biter . Television reporters stand next to an Oscar statue outside the Dolby Theater during preparations leading up to the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday . It could be the young British star Eddie Redmayne for his technically nuanced performance as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything , or it could be Keaton 's career-topper in Birdman , as an actor trying to flee his superhero past . But whether suspense will be enough to pull viewers to the telecast on ABC remains to be seen . Host Neil Patrick Harris will hope to continue the recent ratings upswing for the Oscars , which last year drew 43 million viewers , making it the most-watched entertainment telecast in a decade . This year 's crop of nominees , however , is notably light on box-office smashes . Clint Eastwood 's American Sniper -LRB- six nominations including best picture -RRB- is the only best-picture candidate to gross more than $ 100 million domestically . -LRB- A runaway hit , it recently surpassed $ 300 million . -RRB- . Possibly worse for the Oscars is that the lack of diversity in the nominees this year -LRB- all 20 nominated actors are white -RRB- turned off many potential viewers and led some to call for a boycott of the broadcast . Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are likely to aim for a telecast more inclusive than the nominees . When the 87th Academy Awards kick off on Sunday night at 8:30 EST , the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles will be buzzing with something the Oscars have n't always had in recent years : genuine intrigue at who the night 's biggest winners will be . Planned performers include Lady Gaga , Jack Black , Jennifer Hudson and Anna Kendrick , as well as Oscar-nominated original songs : Common and John Legend -LRB- Glory from Selma -RRB- , Maroon 5 -LRB- Lost Stars from Begin Again -RRB- , Tim McGraw -LRB- I 'm Not Gon na Miss You from Glen Campbell . I 'll Be Me -RRB- , Rita Ora -LRB- Grateful from Beyond the Lights -RRB- and Tegan and Sara with the Lonely Island -LRB- Everything Is Awesome from The Lego Movie -RRB- . Oprah Winfrey -LRB- a co-star in Selma -RRB- will be among the presenters , as will Eddie Murphy , Chris Pratt , Kevin Hart , Ben Affleck , Jennifer Aniston , Scarlett Johansson , Cate Blanchett , Channing Tatum and John Travolta . Increasingly , ratings are driven by moments that spark social media frenzy , like when Travolta famously mispronounced the name of singer Idina Menzel as Adele Dazeem at last year 's show . Sunday night , he gets a chance for redemption . Nominees for this year 's Oscars : Sunday 's diversity protest is planned for barely three hours before curtain up on the 2015 ceremony . | The 87th Academy Awards kick off on Sunday night at 8:30 EST , the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles . Afternoon showers are expected , which could dampen red-carpet arrivals and so this year the carpet is under a glass tent . With nine nominations , Alejandro Inarritu 's backstage comedy Birdman is predicted by some to be the night 's big winner . Richard Linklater 's 12-years-in-the-making Boyhood is considered its main competition for the Best Film generated . Neil Patrick Harris is hosting proceedings for the very first time . | [[80, 145], [148, 222], [556, 714], [942, 1011], [2344, 2406], [3583, 3648], [3651, 3725], [403, 439], [403, 426], [448, 482], [490, 500], [508, 531], [715, 796], [800, 871], [1082, 1225], [1828, 1948], [2742, 2830]] |
It 's fondly remembered as the classic bodice-ripper , with millions of television viewers in the 1970s enthralled by scenes of passion and adventure played out against a backdrop of windswept Cornish landscapes . And now , the BBC 's new adaptation of Winston Graham 's Poldark novels is again set to shock viewers -- but this time because of a lack of sex scenes and nudity . Debbie Horsfield , the acclaimed dramatist who has written the new series , said : ' I am always fascinated by the way Poldark is described as a bodice-ripper . ` There do n't seem to be any bodices being ripped in the original material and this new series is very much an adaptation of the source material . ' Fresh faces : Aidan Turner as the brooding Captain Ross Poldark with Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza . Horsfield 's comments might reassure fans of Graham 's 12 Poldark books but will surprise fans of The Hobbit star Aidan Turner , cast as the brooding Captain Ross Poldark in the 2015 adaptation . They have welcomed a ` sexy and steamy ' trailer for the show which shows ' a buffed ' Turner topless and then has him swimming naked in the sea . One wrote online : ` OMG , Aidan Turner has made me feel things again ! ' while another added : ' I have Turner fever ! ' But Horsfield , who created the hairdressing drama Cutting It , said the trailer , which has been shown frequently on the BBC , was n't necessarily typical of the drama to follow . She said : ' I ca n't comment on what choices are made for a trailer . I do n't think you will be seeing those sorts of scenes every few seconds . My view is that less is more . ' Topless scenes : A ` sexy and steamy ' trailer for the show shows ' a buffed ' Turner topless , pictured as he prepares for a scene during filming at Dollar Cove . Screen Shot episode one of the new BBC drama Poldark ... mos web grab . .20 02 2015 . . Captain Poldark together with Ellizabeth.Heida Reed in the roles of Demelza and Elizabeth respectively . The Mail on Sunday has seen the first episode of the new adaptation and can confirm there is no actual nudity . The new series will not be short of romance and intrigue , however , as it focuses on an 18th Century love triangle involving Poldark , his former fiancee Elizabeth and the servant girl Demelza whom he eventually marries . The new series will inevitably be compared with the previous adaptation which caused a sensation when it was broadcast from 1975 to 1977 . That version , which starred Robin Ellis as Poldark , Jill Townsend as Elizabeth and Angharad Rees as Demelza , proved to be a ratings hit and is still considered one of the best television dramas ever made . Bodice ripper : The new series will inevitably be compared with the previous adaptation starring Robin Ellis as Ross Poldark and Angharad Rees as Demelza Poldark . But Horsfield said she did n't give it a second thought when she started work on her own adaptation , which has Eleanor Tomlinson and Heida Reed in the roles of Demelza and Elizabeth respectively . She said : ' I know there is a certain generation that watched the 1970s version . I just wanted to convey the complexity of the story telling . I did n't think of the earlier version when I was writing it . We are sticking much more closely to the novels . The 1970s adaptation diverged quite considerably . ' The new eight-part series , which will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday nights , is based on Graham 's first two novels . But the BBC hopes to adapt all 12 books if audiences warm to the story . The original series only covered the first seven novels although ITV did adapt the eighth in 1996 . | Hit 1970s drama Poldark is remembered as the classic bodice-ripper . BBC 's new adaptation of Winston Graham 's novels is again set to shock . But this time because of a lack of sex scenes and nudity in the series . Dramatist Debbie Horsfield said they are trying to stay true to the books . | [[0, 52], [214, 221], [224, 294], [299, 315], [214, 221], [224, 285], [295, 315], [3225, 3274]] |
Bobbi Kristina Brown 's boyfriend Nick Gordon has been lying about trying to visit her in the hospital , her R&B - singer father claims . Gordon tweeted in anger this weekend , saying he had been denied access to visit his 21-year-old girlfriend in the hospital where she remains in a medically-induced coma three weeks after being pulled unconscious from a bathtub . ` Let me in the hospital to see my girl and let her hear my voice SHE WILL WAKE UP !!! ' he tweeted Saturday . But Bobbi Kristina 's father Bobby Brown has refuted the claim that Gordon is desperately trying to visit his daughter . Scroll down for video . Not true : Bobby Brown says his daughter 's boyfriend Nick Gordon has been lying about trying to visit her in the hospital , where she remains in a medically-induced coma . Brown pictured on the right at Emory Hospital on February 6 , Gordon on the left outside the hospital when Bobbi Kristina was first hospitalized . Couple : Bobbi Kristina was found unconscious in a bathtub three weeks ago , and has been in a coma ever since . Pictured with her boyfriend in 2012 . ` Let me be very clear , Mr. Gordon was offered an opportunity to potentially visit Bobbi Kristina and he declined to meet the terms of any possible visit , ' the R&B star said in a statement through his lawyers . ` Obviously Mr. Gordon is not as desperate to visit Bobbi Kristina as he wants the world to believe . ' Gordon 's lawyers responded to Brown 's statement by saying they advised their client against agreeing to Brown 's unspecified terms . In a statement released Sunday , Gordon 's lawyers said Brown has ` consistently prohibited ' Gordon from visiting Bobbi Kristina , who she ` would want by her side ' . ` Mr. Brown has only `` offered an opportunity to potentially meet with Bobbi Kristina '' if Nick were to meet certain conditions , conditions that we , his attorneys , have advised him not to meet , particularly in light of Mr. Brown 's inability to guarantee access . ` But in an effort to do all he can to visit , Nick has repeatedly offered to meet with Mr. Brown privately to discuss his request in person , rather than through lawyers . Those offers have also been rejected . We hope Mr. Brown has a change of heart , ' the statements reads . Reports suggest Gordon may by the subject of a police investigation after police found ` suspicious injuries ' on Bobbi Kristina in hospital . In his Saturday rant , Gordon also tweeted : ` If she hears MY voice let me massage her , play her favorite music I believe it will help . If you ask Bobby anything abt -LSB- sic -RSB- he can not answer . ' Plea : Gordon , who has been frozen out by the family for weeks , insisted his presence will help the 21-year-old . Demands : The extraordinary outburst also included a request to massage her once she heard his voice . Ink : He then posted a picture of a recently-completed tattoo with his partner 's name on , saying it was healing nicely . He posted a picture of a recently-completed tattoo of Bobbi Kristina 's name on his arm alongside the message : ` Healing fine just like my baby . ' On Wednesday , Gordon 's lawyer Randall Kessler said his client ` desperately wants to be with the one he loves . ' Gordon 's efforts to see Bobbi Kristina have been blocked by the family claims Kessler , with relatives of Bobby Brown threatening to lay ` hands on him ' if he shows up . Kessler said , ` -LSB- Nick -RSB- has respected the family 's wishes and for that reason alone has not returned to the hospital and risked a public confrontation ... He continues to hope that his request will be granted . ' A new report claims that Bobbi Kristina Brown -LRB- above -RRB- was under the influence of drugs the morning she was found face down and unresponsive in the bathtub . Gordon reportedly made an attempt to visit his girlfriend after she had been first hospitalized earlier this month , but instead he got into a physical confrontation with her relatives . He sent a defiant message to Bobby Brown and the Houston family just days ago when he had the ailing heiress 's name tattooed across his arm in huge letters . A new report which surfaced on Saturday claims that Bobbi Kristina was under the influence of drugs and drinking heavily the morning she was found face down and unresponsive in the bathtub . In addition to this , she had been using cocaine , heroin and Xanax in the months before the January 31 incident according to multiple sources who spoke to People . Sources say she used drugs as she was ` distraught ' over the death of her mother three years earlier . Brown had also been ` in and out ' of rehab for three years these same sources claim , and was ` distraught ' still over her mother 's death three years ago . One of the sources who regularly saw the 21-year-old said Brown seemed to frequently be ` high ' and was often ` slurring her words . ' She has been on life support ever since she was rushed to the hospital after being found by her possible husband Nick Gordon , and remains in critical condition . Gordon and Bobbi Kristina Brown referred to each other as husband and wife , but father Bobby Brown said they never legally married . Earlier this week she was taken off her ventilator and had her breathing tube removed for fear of infection and given a tracheotomy . Few details about the young woman 's condition have been revealed since she entered the hospital , and her father , the rapper and former member of New Edition , has asked that the media not take interviews from the numerous family members who have come forward to speak about his daughter 's condition . This as Gordon has reportedly become the main focus in a criminal investigation into what caused this incident . Police in Roswell , Georgia , are investigating the circumstances leading to Brown 's discovery in the tub on January 31 . She had been in a car crash four days earlier , according a police report . The SUV she was driving spun out of control and hit a car on January 27 , causing extensive damage to both vehicles and sending her passenger and the driver of the other car to the hospital , the report said . The other driver was listed in critical condition , police said , and one of Brown 's tires was punctured by a nail and appeared to have blown out . | Nick Gordon tweeted Saturday that he had been denied access to the hospital where his girlfriend Bobbi Kristina Brown remains in a coma . Her father Bobby Brown struck down the claims , saying in a statement that Gordon had been given the opportunity to visit and declined . Three weeks ago , Bobbi Kristina was found unconscious in a bathtub at their home . Police are treating the incident as a criminal investigation . | [[138, 174], [177, 261], [249, 261], [268, 319], [457, 478], [734, 746], [755, 796], [944, 950], [953, 967], [1019, 1056], [483, 507], [520, 599], [1120, 1193], [1254, 1308], [1719, 1806], [268, 271], [320, 367], [951, 1018], [3720, 3785], [4257, 4322], [2282, 2346]] |
A 36-year-old man arrested in connection with sex abuse allegations made by MP 's wife Karen Danczuk has been released on bail . Mrs Danczuk , 31 , who is the wife of anti-child sex abuse MP Simon Danczuk , claims she was raped and sexually assaulted ` hundreds of times ' as a child at her family home in Manchester . The man , who lives a few miles from Mrs Danczuk , was arrested by Greater Manchester Police today and he has now been bailed until April 30 . After news of the arrest , Mrs Danczuk tweeted : ` For all those who doubted me , publicly slated me & made me feel like scum for coming out . I will NEVER forgive & NEVER forget ! ' A man , 36 , has been arrested in connection with sex abuse allegations made by MP 's wife Karen Danczuk . Mrs Danczuk , who has became well known for Twitter selfies showing off her ample cleavage , claims the abuse took place between 1989 and 1995 when she was aged between six and 12 . She said she was regularly abused in the bedroom of her family home in Middleton , Greater Manchester , shortly after her parents ' marriage broke up . Her father Martin Burke , now 73 , moved out , leaving Mrs Danczuk , three older brothers and an older sister with their mother Susan Burke . Mrs Danczuk 's claims were branded a ` figment of her imagination ' by her mother , as well as two of her four siblings who challenged her story . Mrs Danczuk claims she was regularly abused in the bedroom of her family home in Greater Manchester . In response to the arrest today , Mrs Danczuk said she would never forgive those who doubted her claims . The family feud erupted this week as Mrs Danczuk publicly claimed her cleavage-baring selfies were rooted in the abuse she suffered as a child . She told the Mail on Sunday her ` selfies ' are a defiant way of saying : ` I 'm sexy -- and I 'm in control now . ' But Mrs Burke , 58 , called her daughter an ` attention-seeker ' which led Mrs Danczuk to report her claims to the police ` as a matter of urgency , to prove I am telling the truth ' . Today , she told the Mail on Sunday that she felt ` more numb than angry ' and her rage is instead directed at her mother . Mrs Danczuk 's claims were branded a ` figment of her imagination ' by her mother Susan Burke -LRB- pictured -RRB- . She told the newspaper : ' I am not a fantasist . I am telling the truth . I was raped or sexually abused hundreds of times . ` She did nothing to protect me and I will never forgive her . ' Asked why she had waited two decades to name her attacker , she said : ` Because I am still coming to terms with it . It is a very difficult thing to confront -- as any paedophile victim will know . ' DI Caroline Ward of Greater Manchester Police said : ` We work hard to support victims of sexual offences and thoroughly investigate all reports of sexual abuse and rape no matter how long ago they happened . ` We will do everything we can to support victims and bring offenders to justice . ' Mrs Danczuk , pictured with her Labour MP husband Simon , she felt ` more numb than angry ' about the abuse . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article . | Mrs Danczuk is the wife of anti-child sex abuse MP Simon Danczuk . Claims she was raped and sexually assaulted at her home in Manchester . Greater Manchester Police arrested and questioned the man this afternoon . The man , who lives a few miles from Mrs Danczuk , has been bailed until April 30 . | [[129, 145], [152, 181], [46, 86], [129, 145], [207, 318], [695, 735], [934, 1014], [1375, 1476], [1394, 1476], [319, 417], [0, 67], [93, 128], [319, 417], [418, 461]] |
Fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood has used the launch of her new collection to urge Britons to ` vote Green ' as all other parties preach ` consumption ' . She is reportedly donating # 300,000 to the Green Party ahead of this year 's general election and will be touring universities to promote the party 's values to students . The maverick designer , 73 , who is known for her political activism , released a statement at her London Fashion Week show today saying : ` We are in incredible danger ' . She describes the kind of girl who would buy her Red Label clothes , saying : ` She is an art lover and she really thinks culture is very , very important . Scroll down for video . Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood is urging Britons to vote Green as all other parties preach ` consumption ' , pictured at an anti-fracking demonstration in January . ` If we had true culture we would not be in the situation we 're in . Culture has been replaced by consumption - which is quite a different thing . ` At the moment we are controlled by 1 % of the world population who are in power . ` They preach consumption and they preach war , and they 're taking us into disaster . We are in incredible danger . ` There is no point in voting for the others . She is going to vote Green . ' Westwood has taken part in anti-fracking protests and has been a vocal supporter of environmentalist campaigns . She will be visiting Liverpool , Norwich , Brighton and Sheffield , among others , ahead of this year 's general election . The designer with models on the catwalk following her Red Label Autumn/Winter 2015 London Fashion Week show at the Science Museum in Kensington . Model Daisy Lowe on the catwalk during Vivienne Westwood 's London Fashion Week show earlier today . ' I am investing in the Green Party because I believe it is in the best interests of our country and our economy , ' she said . ' I hope that by example other individuals and businesses will follow suit . If we get behind this we can make a real difference and the time is now . ' Amelia Womack , deputy leader of the party , will be accompanying Westwood , who previously donated # 300,000 to the party , on the tour and speaking alongside her . Westwood also wrote a pamphlet called End Capitalism , which explained one of her main reasons for voting for the Greens was because of its ` pro-community ' stance . Young Greens co-chair Clifford Fleming said the party was ` incredibly excited ' to have the fashionista 's support . Westwood is reportedly donating # 300,000 to the Green Party ahead of the General Election , pictured is her 2013 London Fashion Week Show . | Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood is urging Britons to vote Green . She claims other parties preach ` consumption ' and says we are ` in danger ' The 73-year-old designer is reportedly donating # 300,000 to Green Party . She released statement at launch of her London Fashion Week show . | [[0, 113], [689, 776], [1254, 1257], [1267, 1282], [119, 157], [335, 356], [465, 471], [474, 503], [759, 797], [162, 256], [335, 356], [406, 453]] |
Police are investigating the death of a 17-year-old girl whose body was found after a house party . The teenager was discovered by a friend at 9am on Friday . Officers said the death was being treated as ` unexplained ' and a post mortem examination would be held to determine the cause of death . One neighbour in the village of Ditchling , East Sussex , who asked not to be named , said : ` It is normally such a quiet village -- you do not expect this sort of thing to happen . It is absolutely tragic . ' Police are investigating the death of a 17-year-old girl whose body was found after a house party in South Street , Ditchling , East Sussex . ` We did see a man come out of the property looking very distressed , he sat on the tailgate of the ambulance and had his hands behind his head , ' another told the Brighton Argus . Others said they believed the girl attended a secondary school in nearby Lewes . Yesterday police officers stood guard outside the property and the road was closed for a number of hours as police launched an investigation into the death . Detective Chief Inspector Mark O'Brien said : ` This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the girl 's family and friends at this sad time . ' A post-mortem will be held to determine the cause of her death , but until that time it will be treated as unexplained . ' | Police investigate death of girl ,17 , after party in Ditchling , East Sussex . Officers treating death as unexplained while wait for post mortem results . Girl was believed to attend secondary school in nearby Lewes . | [[0, 56], [35, 99], [509, 565], [544, 650], [1022, 1071], [159, 297], [173, 249], [220, 297], [1293, 1344], [1224, 1286], [833, 913], [845, 913]] |
British holidaymakers who hit the slopes in North America without proper insurance could break the bank if they suffer a serious injury , a new report says . The study examined the medical costs associated with winter sport injuries suffered by uninsured travellers abroad and identified the US and Canada the most expensive countries , with sky-high bills for those without travel coverage . It found that treatment for a broken leg would cost a staggering # 26,000 in the US -LRB- approximately USD$ 40,000 -RRB- and almost # 15,000 in Canada -LRB- approximately CAD$ 28,000 -RRB- . Uninsured Britons who suffer a winter sport injury in the US and Canada face sky-high medical bills . The average cost per claim for a winter sport injury suffered in the US and Canada is more than # 11,000 , according to the study commissioned by Allianz Global Assistance UK and the Ski Club of Great Britain . Of all the claims that were included in the study , the most expensive treatment covered by Allianz Global Assistance was for a head injury suffered in Canada , totalling more than # 145,000 -LRB- nearly CAD$ 280,000 -RRB- in medical and repatriation costs . Barry Smith , Underwriting Manager for Allianz Global Assistance UK , said : ` We have analysed data from hundreds of claims from the past few years and the results are enough to give you a chill even when you 're not on a ski slope . ` The remainder of our top five costs were all from the USA , ranging from # 33,000 to # 81,000 for various bone fractures . ' Austria and Switzerland were named the third and fourth most expensive countries for medical assistance . He said an arm fracture suffered in the US would translate into a medical bill of nearly # 41,000 -LRB- approximately USD$ 60,000 -RRB- . Austria and Switzerland were named the third and fourth most expensive countries for medical assistance , with average costs of more than # 2,000 and # 1,200 , respectively . Frank McCusker , Chief Executive of Ski Club of Great Britain , urged people to purchase insurance before they travel abroad . The average cost per claim for a winter sport injury suffered in the US and Canada is more than # 11,000 . He said : ` Whilst most skiers and snowboarders do of course return home in one piece , it does n't take much to cause a serious , and seriously expensive , injury on the slopes . ` The high costs we 've seen in the past few years could leave an individual in financial difficulty if they did not have travel insurance to cover the bills on their behalf . ` It could be a real false economy to cut out insurance to save a few pounds , and we urge those booking winter sports holidays this season to make sure they purchase good quality insurance to avoid being landed with any unaffordable medical bills . ` As with any type of insurance policy , individuals should read the details carefully to ensure it provides the cover they require . ' | Study examined the medical costs associated with winter sports injuries . Treatment for a broken leg would cost # 26,000 -LRB- USD$ 40,000 -RRB- in the US . Most expensive claim in study was a head injury suffered in Canada . Austria and Switzerland ranked third and fourth , respectively . | [[158, 232], [393, 584], [407, 550], [687, 739], [763, 791], [950, 1037], [1024, 1056], [1519, 1624], [1763, 1866]] |
A 45-ton humpback whale entangled with heavy crab line and buoys for more than a week in Hawaii waters is finally free . A response team cut away several hundred feet of fishing line from the 45-foot-long whale 's tail using a pole equipped with a knife , according to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary . Their inflatable craft came within ten feet of the marine mammal as it sidled up next to it during the rescue attempt along the leeward coast of Maui . Once released from the line , the whale swam free with only a small piece of line lodged in a wound remaining , but the fragment will fall off as the would heals , said Ed Lyman , Large Whale Entanglement Response Coordinator for the sanctuary . Scroll down for video . A 45-ton humpback whale entangled with heavy crab line and buoys for more than a week in Hawaii waters is finally free -LRB- above rescuers using a knife making the last cut to free the whale -RRB- . The entangled whale was first spotted on the afternoon of February 13 , 45 miles northwest of Hilo , according to the Star Advertiser . The whale 's conditions were documented and a tag was attached to it so it could be tracked on satellite by the West Hawaii Marine Mammal Response Network . It was not seen again until Sunday and was reportedly carrying a red buoy along the Kona Coast . A response team cut away several hundred feet of fishing line from the 45-foot-long whale using a pole equipped with a knife , according to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary -LRB- above the whale 's tail entangled in crab line -RRB- . But as the whale moved into unreachable waters with treacherous currents near south Point , the sanctuary had to halt plans for a rescue effort last Monday , as they stood down and waited for weather conditions to improve , according to West Hawaii Today . From Tuesday to Thursday , the whale was tracked traveling around the Big Island before being seen again Thursday evening off Maui 's south shore . The entangled whale was first spotted on the afternoon of February 13 off the Big Island 's Kona Coast , 45 miles northwest of Hilo -LRB- above the response team in an inflatable craft approach the whale off Kona -RRB- . Males measure between 40 and 48 feet , while females measure between 45 and 50 feet . They can weigh between 25 and 40 tons . Their flippers are very long , usually between a quarter and a third of their body length ; and their tails can be as long as 18-ft wide . They live mostly in polar to tropical waters , including in the Arctic and Pacific Oceans . Humpbacks migrate at three to nine mph and can travel over 3,100 miles during each seasonal migration . On average , these incredible creatures have a life expectancy between 45 and 50 years . The following morning , a response team assembled at Maalaea Harbor . When the response team on the rescue vessel arrived just before 8am , they found the whale 's fluke tangled in at least five wraps of gauge line , according to the NOAA . Crew held the line and attached more buoys to keep the whale from diving and at surface level , while they successfully cut the line . ` There was no sudden thrashing . It would trumpet blow , which is a sign of stress , ' said Lyman . ` It definitely was n't happy with us being there . It did n't understand . ' Tissue samples were taken from the animal to determine its health before it was let go , and the rescue vessel returned to the harbor at 2.30 pm . Entanglements like this could result in drowning , starvation , infections and increased susceptibility to ship strikes , according to authorities . | The 45-ton marine animal had several hundred feet of fishing line cut away . It was first spotted on February 13 off the Big Island 's Kona Coast before being tracked via satellite . Once released , 45-foot-long whale swam free with only small piece of line lodged into tail wound which will fall off as wound heals . | [[0, 120], [121, 218], [256, 332], [1345, 1434], [1472, 1562], [955, 984], [993, 1053], [955, 974], [979, 1048], [1160, 1247], [2013, 2042], [2051, 2115], [2013, 2032], [2043, 2115], [0, 120], [562, 594], [601, 646]] |
In its day , it was seen as a celebration of multiculturalism and racial harmony . But when a BBC DJ played Blue Mink 's 1969 hit Melting Pot he admitted beforehand its lyrics might now be seen as inappropriate . BBC Three Counties Radio presenter Iain Lee warned listeners : ` I think it might be a little bit racist now . ' Spot the difference : BBC Three Counties Radio presenter Iain Lee -LRB- left -RRB- played a 1969 hit which included a reference to ` yellow Chinkies ' - the same song once sung by fictional gaffe-prone DJ Alan Partridge -LRB- right -RRB- . But less than half a minute into the song , after hearing the words ` yellow Chinkees ' he stopped the track and apologised , adding : ` At least we know you can not play that song any more . It 's a different world . ' Listeners heard only the first six lines of Melting Pot : ` Take a pinch of white man , wrap him up in black skin , add a touch of blue blood and a little bitty bit of Red Indian boy . Curly Latin kinkies , mixed with yellow Chinkees ... ' They did not hear the chorus , which includes the lines : ` What we need is a great big melting pot . Big enough to take the world and all it 's got . ' In 1969 , the song was seen as a statement against racial intolerance by a five-piece British band fronted by black American singer Madeline Bell . It reached No 3 in the singles chart and spent 15 weeks in the Top Ten . There have been several cover versions but the most recent , by Boyzone in 1996 , changed ` yellow Chinkees ' to ` Oriental sexy ' . Good intentions : Pop act Blue Mink -LRB- pictured -RRB- said racial integration was a ` beautiful dream ' Mr Lee 's producer told him she had not checked the lyrics before he played it on Three Counties , which covers Bedfordshire , Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire . After stopping the track , he said : ` I humbly apologise . The intention was good , the way it was phrased was very poor . If anyone was offended by that you have my sincerest apologies . ` You know it 's not our intention to offend anybody on this show . ' Mr Lee had to apologise in August after he told his producer to ` go and do the black and Asian show ' during a pretend on-air row . The BBC described the exchange as banter , but said the comments were unacceptable . Yesterday the BBC said Melting Pot had been played shortly after 8.50 am on Friday after it was mentioned during an on-air discussion about the impact of immigration on the NHS . A spokesman added : ` It was clearly not played to cause offence . The production team have been reminded of their responsibilities to ensure this does n't happen again . ' The programme , including the song , was still available to listen to on iPlayer yesterday . Ofcom said that if it receives a complaint it will see if broadcasting rules were broken . The regulator 's website states that ` Chink ' is a ` term of racial offence/abuse ' . Last April veteran BBC Radio Devon DJ David Lowe lost his job after playing a 1932 version of The Sun Has Got His Hat On , unaware that it included the N-word . He was later offered his job back but declined . | BBC Three Counties host Iain Lee played Blue Mink 's hit Melting Pot . No3 song called mixing of races a ` get along scene ' and ` beautiful dream ' But the word ` Chinkees ' prompted awkwardness - and later an apology . | [[87, 175], [348, 415], [0, 10], [13, 82], [1327, 1363], [1590, 1637], [654, 656], [679, 689], [692, 698], [1803, 1827], [1830, 1837], [1842, 1862], [2062, 2101]] |
Britain 's foreign aid budget worth # 11billion should be immediately suspended with the money diverted to help areas in the UK devastated by flooding , Nigel Farage said today . The Ukip leader insisted ` charity begins at home ' and urged the government to step up its response to the colossal damage to homes , businesses , roads and railways . The call came as David Cameron was again forced to defend the government 's response from claims ministers have been slow to act and ill-prepared , even turning up to flood hit areas without wellington boots . Ukip leader Nigel Farage insisted ` charity begins at home ' and demanded foreign aid money be redirected to help communities hit by flooding . Flood waters have risen over night in Moorland , Somerset , where residents have been advised to evacuate their homes . Heavy rain and gale force winds continue to batter much of southern Britain today , with new warnings of further flooding . Homes across much of the Somerset Levels have been evacuated while ministers are drawing up an emergency plan to repair a vital rail link at Dawlish near Exeter after its collapse when huge waves whipped up by high winds smashed a 100ft section of sea wall . Communities Secretary Eric Pickles today announced an extra # 30million for this year and # 100million next year to pay for repairs , urgent work in Somerset extra maintenance . But Mr Farage insisted it was not enough . He said : ` Anyone with an ounce of common sense knows that a government 's primary duty is to the well-being of its own citizens . Charity begins at home and it is not mean-spirited to say that , it is just basic common sense . ` The amount of damage caused by the floods and storms across a large swathe of the south west and other regions too is colossal . ` Yet the Government 's response is both lethargic and inadequate . People would be forgiven for thinking that they do n't really care and that ordinary British families are not their priority . ' Residents in Moorland have been advised to evacuate their homes , as floods continue to cause chaos . High tide strikes again at the Dawlish train station in Devon where the train line has been exposed by the wild storm . David Cameron today leapt to the defence of his minister who visited flood-hit areas in black polished shoes . The Prime Minister rejected claims that Environment Secretary Owen Paterson had arrived in Somerset dressed like he was going to the Ritz . Mr Cameron said : ' I completely disagree with what you said about Owen Paterson who knows a lot about rural issues and the countryside . ` He sits for a rural seat , he was absolutely on top of those flooding issues . ` He went to visit the floods . He was not dressed as if he was going to the Ritz . He was dressed as if he was going to floods . ` He had a pair of wellies but because he was harassed as soon as he got out of the car he did n't have a chance to put them on . ' The government and the Environment Agency have faced mounting criticism for the handling of the floods and the response as more rain and high winds swept across the country . Today Mr Cameron was forced to defend his response during an interview on BBC Radio Manchester . He insisted : ` We have been very pro-active we have an emergency planning system in government called cobra which we called on straight away . ` We 've been planning this across government . I chair a meeting yesterday which has everyone around the table , the police , the fire service , the local authorities , all ready to help with whatever we can . ' But the Prime Minister was critical of the Environment Agency 's decision to cut back on dredging rivers over the past two decades . ` The fact is , since the Environment Agency was founded in the late 1990s , it took a view - and increasingly other organisations took a view - that dredging was n't appropriate , ` he said . ' I think that 's wrong . I have a constituency that does flood frequently . I pushed for dredging and some dredging has taken place and it does make a difference . ` We 've got to make sure that our system is focused on protecting people above all else , so some of the arguments against dredging have to be taken on and we need to start dredging again more systematically . The Environment Agency now accepts that . ' He added : ` The scale of these weather events and the scale of the flooding has shifted even more something that was beginning to shift anyway . The Environment Agency had taken a very anti-dredging view for many years . That was beginning to change and now it 's changing faster , and that 's something I welcome . ' Downing Street revealed the army could be called in to help rebuild the Dawlish railways line in Devon . | Ukip leader condemns government 's ` lethargic and inadequate ' response . Urges to use # 11billion foreign aid budget to deal with ` colossal ' damage . Government announces # 130million in new support for repairs . David Cameron defends minister who visited floods without wellies . | [[433, 493], [1387, 1425], [1786, 1853], [0, 69], [80, 94], [0, 47], [58, 94], [558, 649], [558, 582], [623, 683], [623, 701], [2677, 2706]] |
Georgina Martin , 46 , from Wakefield , West Yorkshire , claims her daughter 's father is Jimmy Savile after he abused her when she was a teenager . A 29-year-old woman fears she could be Jimmy Savile 's secret daughter after her mother was sexually abused by the paedophile DJ . The woman , who has not been named , claims her mother - Georgina Martin -- was abused by the former Radio 1 DJ when she was just 13-years-old . Ms Martin , from Wakefield , West Yorkshire , said disgraced Savile had sex with her more than 20 times over a three-year period but ended the relationship when she discovered she was pregnant . The now 46-year-old conceived her daughter when she was 16-years-old and , despite having sex with another boyfriend during the same period , believes Savile could be the child 's father . She told the Daily Mirror : ' I have carried the terrible secret that my child is likely to belong to Jimmy Savile for three decades . ` Now I have found the strength to speak out because we need to have a test to draw a line under this for her sake . ' Ms Martin 's daughter grew up with bright blonde hair , dark eyes and distinctive cheekbones -- bearing some resemblance to Savile . She has now been given the news by her mother that she may well be Savile 's child -- and is demanding a DNA test to try and determine the true identity of her father . She told the newspaper : ' I want to know the truth , but I hope to God I was not fathered by that man . ` It would be the worst nightmare imaginable to find out Jimmy Savile was my dad . ' The mother and daughter have now asked detectives from Operation Yewtree for help in obtaining DNA from Savile 's family to try and aid their paternity test . Ms Martin claims she was groomed after first being approached by Savile outside Leeds railway station in February 1982 . She said she ` instantly recognised ' him from Jim 'll Fix It and Top of the Pops and said the former DJ asked her if she fancied a cup of tea . She said he later asked for her phone number , which she handed over , and called her three weeks later to enquire about meeting up . After agreeing , she was collected by a man she claims was called ` Vince ' -- the name of Savile 's older brother -- and was taken to a penthouse flat on the outskirts of Leeds . Scroll down for videos . Ms Martin claims she was approached by the former DJ outside Leeds Railway Station when she was 13-years-old and later invited to his three-bedroom apartment -LRB- above -RRB- , where they had sex on several occasions . Ms Martin said she was driven to the luxury apartment block in Leeds where Savile once lived -LRB- pictured -RRB- and it was there that he had sex with her in the bathroom . They went on to meet up 20 more times in three years . She said the pair discussed his charity work at the three-bedroom flat , which was ` cluttered ' and full of framed pictures of himself with other high-profile faces such as Prince Charles . They did not have sex on this occasion . Ms Martin claims she was then called by Savile a few weeks later , just before her 14th birthday , who said she should meet up with him to celebrate her upcoming birthday . She said she was again picked up and taken to his flat , where she was allegedly plied with alcohol before Savile had sex with her in the bathroom . The liaisons went on for more than three years , until March 1985 when Ms Martin informed Savile that she was pregnant . She said : ` At the time I was seeing Savile as well as a boyfriend closer to my age . I did have sex with both of them in the same month but I always knew it was Savile 's child . ' She gave birth in the December of that year and put her boyfriend 's name on the birth certificate . However , she said she always made it clear that he was not her daughter 's real father . In response , the boyfriend -- who is now aged 52 and lives near Pontefract , West Yorkshire -- said he believes he still is the father and claims he had ` never heard that she even knew Jimmy Savile . ' A report published last summer charted how Savile became the most prolific sex attacker in living memory . The mass of NHS reports into his crimes revealed how the DJ boasted about having sex with corpses and had jewellery made from glass eyes which he had removed from their bodies . The paedophile also gloated to others that he enjoyed ` posing ' with the corpses and said that he would ` wheel them around ' at night at Leeds General Infirmary . Savile was revealed to be the most prolific sex attacker in living memory following his death in October 2011 . Investigators discovered that the late TV presenter claimed at least 103 victims aged between five and 75 . Starstruck NHS workers allowed Savile free reign to sexually abuse patients and hospital staff ` did n't want to hear or believe ' what his young victims were saying , the report said . They detailed his 50-year reign of terror at 28 institutions including Leeds , Broadmoor and Stoke Mandeville hospital . The reports outlined in unprecedented detail the sordid crimes he committed between 1962 and 2009 . They revealed how he used his charming and manipulative personality to open the doors of hospitals and access their most vulnerable patients . He also used his fundraising activities as a cover to further his predatory sexual attacks , which targeted men and women , staff and patients . Since his death in October 2011 , dozens of victims have come out to say they were abused by the disgraced television presenter and several investigations have been carried out to determine how his abuse went unknown for so long . Savile after he received his knighthood in 1996 . October 29 , 2011 : . Veteran DJ and broadcaster Jimmy Savile is found dead in his home in . Roundhay , Leeds , aged 84 . His death came after a spell of pneumonia . December 2011 : BBC drops Newsnight investigation into his years of sex attacks . September 30 , 2012 : It emerges that allegations about Savile will be made in a new ITV documentary , due to be aired on October 3 . October 1 : . Surrey Police confirms Savile was interviewed in 2007 over allegations . dating back to the 1970s but was released without charge . October 2 : Reports that Jersey . and Surrey police both investigated accusations about alleged abuse in . two children 's homes , but decided there was not enough evidence to . proceed . October 2 : . Jeremy Paxman has a furious stand-off with his Newsnight bosses because he . disbelieves editor Peter Rippon 's blog into why he dropped the Savile . abuse investigation . October 7 : Prime Minister David Cameron calls for the ` truly shocking ' allegations to be fully investigated . October 9 : Scotland Yard reveals they are looking at 120 lines of inquiry and as many as 25 victims and launches Operation Yewtree . October 11 : Allegations emerge that Savile abused children at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire and Leeds General Hospital . October 12 : . Then BBC director general George Entwistle offers a ` profound and . heartfelt apology ' to alleged victims as he announces two inquiries - . one into potential failings over the handling of the abandoned Newsnight . investigation , and a second into the ` culture and practices of the BBC . during the years Savile worked here ' . October 19 : Scotland . Yard announces that Operation Yewtree , the inquiry into alleged child . abuse by Savile , is now a formal criminal investigation involving other . living people . October 22 : Newsnight editor Peter Rippon , will step aside , it 's announced . October 25 : . Scotland Yard says it is investigating in excess of 400 lines of . inquiry involving 300 victims , of whom all except two are women . Commander Peter Spindler says Savile is one of the most prolific sex . offenders in recent history and the inquiry into his abuse will be a ` watershed ' investigation into sex crime . October 26 : It . emerges that seven alleged victims of Savile made complaints to four . separate police forces - Surrey , London , Sussex and Jersey - while the . disgraced television presenter was alive , but it was decided no further . action should be taken . November 2 : Newsnight runs controversial report which wrongly linked former Tory party chairman Lord McAlpine to child abuse allegations . December 19 : Pollard Review reveals better leadership could have prevented ` chaos and confusion ' at BBC over Savile scandal . Peter Rippon replaced as editor of Newsnight . February 14 , 2013 : It 's . announced that the BBC 's most high-profile woman executive Helen . Boaden , formerly director of news , will become director of radio . She . had been criticised in the Pollard Review for failing to tackle the . ` virtual meltdown ' in parts of the news department . February 22 : Pollard Review transcripts and appendices are released on BBC website . March 6 : Britain 's top prosecutor Keir Starmer announces tough new measures to avoid ` another Savile moment ' . June 26 , 2014 : Series of internal investigations are published which chart how the DJ became the most prolific sex attacker in living memory . The mass of NHS reports into his crimes reveal how Savile boasted about having sex with corpses and had jewellery made from glass eyes he removed from their bodies . Investigators discovered the late DJ and Top of the Pops presenter claimed at least 103 victims aged between five and 75 . June 26 : Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt issues public apology in the House of Commons to the NHS patients abused by Savile . | Georgina Martin , 46 , claims her daughter , now 29 , is child of Jimmy Savile . Ms Martin claims she was abused by former DJ in Leeds when she was 13 . Had sex with Jim 'll Fix It star 20 times during three years and fell pregnant . Claims father of child is Savile despite having another boyfriend at the time . | [[0, 37], [57, 95], [64, 122], [149, 236], [280, 314], [317, 352], [620, 639], [762, 808], [1196, 1278], [109, 148], [280, 295], [324, 424], [2319, 2427], [425, 434], [471, 553], [2503, 2538], [2713, 2767], [3322, 3368], [3371, 3387], [64, 122], [620, 759], [620, 639], [762, 808], [3443, 3451], [3454, 3529]] |
A Liberal Democrat candidate said he ` regrets ' using a selfie he took in front of a crematorium furnace as his profile picture on a mobile dating app . Josh Mason took a photo of himself posing at the Kirkleatham Memorial Park and Crematorium near Yearby , North Yorkshire , and later uploaded it to Facebook and dating app Tinder . The 26-year-old , who will stand as the party 's parliamentary candidate for Redcar in the General Election in May , said today he ` deeply regretted ' any offence he may have caused . Selfie : Liberal Democrat candidate Josh Mason took a photo of himself posing at the Kirkleatham Memorial Park and Crematorium near Yearby , North Yorkshire , and later uploaded it to dating app Tinder , above . But he stopped short of apologising for the photograph , which has been branded as ` disrespectful ' by political opponents . The photo was first published on website Political Scrapbook , who claimed it was taken by Mr Mason while he was on a guided tour of the crematorium at its official opening last June . It shows Mr Mason , who is deputy leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council , pulling a face in front of the furnace . Roughly 400 cremations had already taken place there at the time . Response : Mr Mason , pictured , said today he ` deeply regretted ' any offence he may have caused . Mr Mason uploaded the image to Tinder , which finds potential matches based on a user 's location and Facebook information . Users then decide whether they want to make contact with any of the suggested dates - based mainly on the photos on their profile . Mr Mason 's photo has been slammed as ` insensitive ' by one opponent , who called on him to apologise . Anna Turley , Labour 's candidate for the seat , said : ' I am surprised that he would be so insensitive to families who have lost loved ones and show so little awareness of how his actions could offend . ' ' I think he should apologise ' . In a statement , Mr Mason said : ` Being born and bred in Redcar and Cleveland , I imagine that one day , Yearby Crematorium will be my own final destination . ` My visit there was a stark reminder of our shared mortality . Indeed , I have already said a last ` goodbye ' to a number of family friends and colleagues there . ` Nevertheless , I deeply regret any offence I may have caused . ' Mr Mason hopes to replace Redcar 's current Lib Dem MP , Ian Swales , who is standing down in May . Visit : The photo was first published on website Political Scrapbook , who claimed it was taken by Mr Mason while he was on a guided tour of the crematorium -LRB- pictured -RRB- at its official opening last June . | Josh Mason took photo during tour of crematorium in North Yorkshire . The 26-year-old Liberal Democrat is pictured posing in front of furnace . Today he said he ` deeply regretted any offence he may have caused ' | [[154, 256], [529, 658], [899, 918], [925, 966], [2479, 2498], [2505, 2574], [34, 36], [49, 140], [55, 147], [1043, 1045], [1052, 1060], [1126, 1166], [335, 350], [452, 498], [487, 519], [1234, 1242], [1245, 1253], [1267, 1313], [1302, 1334], [2280, 2327]] |
A McLaren supercar worth # 250,000 was left almost entirely destroyed after it crumpled following a crash in one of London 's most exclusive districts , scattering its expensive parts across the road . The McLaren 650S Spider , which can reach speeds of more than 124mph in less than nine seconds , was badly damaged after a head on crash with a more modestly priced Saab in Eaton Square in central London . It is understood that the supercar , which was brand new and registered in Monaco , was turning right at traffic lights when the two vehicles collided on Saturday evening . Scroll down for video . A McLaren supercar which can reach speeds of more than 200mph and is worth around # 250,000 was almost completely destroyed when it collided with a Saab in Eaton Square , London , scattering parts across the road . Police were called after the two cars collided at traffic lights and the front of the supercar crumpled on impact . The supercar then spun around as a result of the impact , the wreckage showing a bonnet almost completely folded and the front of the car left crumpled and smashed . Parts of the McLaren 's expensive bodywork were left scattered across the road after the crash , which took place at around 8pm on Saturday evening . Both cars started leaking oil with police officers covering the area in sand . No one was injured in the crash but photos taken after the crash showed airbags had been inflated . The Saab appeared to be considerably less damaged than the supercar . The supercar is registered in Monaco and is understood to have been brand new and valued at # 250,000 . The McLaren was left virtually destroyed after the crash , which saw the bonnet almost fold in on itself . Police were called to help try and clear the road after the two cars collided in the exclusive London district . Pictures after the crash showed the airbags had been activated after the collision on Saturday evening . Both cars were left considerably damaged by the crash , with insurance bills likely to be high . The Saab convertible also suffered considerable damage at the front of the car following the crash . The front of the Saab was badly damaged by the crash , but appeared to suffer less damage than the McLaren . Airbags were activated in both cars after the crash took place at about 8pm on Saturday in Eaton Square . Debris from the McLaren were left scattered across the road after the two vehicles collided at traffic lights . A recovery vehicle is shown removing the two cars from the scene after the front ends crumpled . The convertible McLaren 650S Spider was launched last year and is powered by a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged engine developing around 640bhp . This gives the car , which is built in Woking , a 0-62mph time of less than three seconds and a top speed of 204mph . An entry-level 650S Spider costs # 215,000 , with the extras on this model likely to push the price towards # 250,000 . The McLaren 650S Spider was launched last year . A basic model of the convertible costs around # 215,000 but extras can add tens of thousands of pounds to the price . The car can reach 60mph in less than three seconds , and 100mph in less than nine seconds . Top speed is 207mph -- nearly three times the legal UK motorway speed limit -- and it will cover a standing quarter mile -LRB- 400m -RRB- in a mere 10.5 seconds . It has seven gears , allowing drivers to reach top speeds often seen on race tracks . The car 's engine capacity is 3,799 cc and it has a fuel capacity of 72 litres . It is a full second quicker than the iconic McLaren F1 road car to 124mph . The car includes a satnav , rear parking camera , bluetooth , digital radio and voice control . It was built in Woking , Surrey . | A McLaren 650S Spider was left almost destroyed after crash in London . Supercar worth # 250,000 is capable of reaching more than 200mph . It collided with a Saab at traffic lights and the front crumpled after impact . It is believed to have spun on impact , scattering debris across the road . No one was injured and police closed the road for a short time to clear it . | [[0, 150], [202, 225], [299, 407], [605, 623], [697, 819], [1605, 1661], [605, 623], [630, 666], [605, 623], [671, 696], [1501, 1513], [1542, 1604], [0, 150], [202, 225], [299, 407], [605, 623], [697, 819], [845, 935], [994, 1048], [1053, 1101], [994, 1014], [1053, 1073], [1092, 1101], [1652, 1661], [1670, 1711], [2027, 2047], [2053, 2127], [2128, 2180], [2409, 2454], [2526, 2551], [0, 34], [153, 201], [605, 623], [697, 819], [936, 991], [1102, 1196], [2343, 2425], [1331, 1362]] |
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has expressed his disappointment in former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani for saying he does n't think President Barack Obama loves the United States . In an interview on CNN 's State of the Union program , Johnson branded Giuliani 's words ` very regrettable . ' ` His comments were not helpful ... And I 'm sorry to see statements like that coming from the former mayor whose response to 9/11 in 2001 I admired very much , ' Johnson said . Scroll down for video . Opposition : Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told CNN 's State of the Union program , that Giuliani 's claims that President Obama does not love his country are ` very regrettable ' Criticism : Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has questioned President Barack Obama 's love of his country . Johnson revealed he was once hired by fellow New Yorker Giuliani as a federal prosecutor and the two visited fire stations and police precincts in Lower Manhattan on the September 11 anniversary . But while he admitted that he admired Giuliani 's response to the 2011 attacks , he said he was sorry to see the former mayor make his recent statements . He added : ' I think his most recent statements are very regrettable . ' The former mayor made his controversial remarks about the President Wednesday at a private dinner for Wisconsin 's Republican Governor Scott Walker . Giuliani said : ' I know this is a horrible thing to say , but I do not believe that the president loves America . ' Since facing a barrage of opposition over his comments Giuliani made an attempt to justify his claims saying it dates back to when the President was nine years old . Opposing view : Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker , seen here , also said Saturday that he does n't know whether Obama loves his country . Giuliani said that the President 's lack of affection for his country can be attributed to meeting Communist Party members when he was living in Indonesia 44 years ago . He suggested that Obama 's meetings with Communist Party member Frank Marshall Davis , when the President-to-be was nine years old has affected his attitude towards America . He told Fox News that he was n't ` questioning his patriotism ' , but said his rhetoric did not convey the pro-American sentiment he had heard from Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton . Yesterday Giuliani stood by his comments despite receiving death threats on his voice mail in the wake of the controversial statements . ` Troubling ' : Giuliani suggested that Obama 's meetings with Communist Party member Frank Marshall Davis , right , when the President-to-be was nine years old , affected his attitude towards America . The former mayor did not say whether he contacted police about the threatening calls but told CNN that despite the criticism he has also received widespread support . Yet , Democrats , members of the GOP and the White House have condemned his comments . Deputy press secretary Eric Schultz said it was ' a horrible thing to say ' , while Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz said it was the time for Republican leaders to ` stop this nonsense . ' White House Press Secretary , Josh Earnest , spoke Friday saying that he feels sorry for the man who was once known as ` America 's mayor . ' ' I can tell you that it 's sad to see when somebody who has attained a certain stature and even admiration tarnishes that legacy so thoroughly , ' Earnest said . But Giuliani hit back and told NBC Friday : ` I 'm right about this . I have no doubt about it . I do not withdraw my words . ' ' I do not detect , in this man , the same rhetoric and the same language , the same love of America that I detected in other American presidents including democrats . ' | Johnson made his remarks on CNN 's State of the Union program . Johnson branded Giuliani 's words against President Obama ` regrettable ' Last week , Giuliani said : ' I do not believe that the president loves America ' | [[190, 242], [245, 278], [517, 595], [0, 111], [190, 242], [245, 278], [342, 409], [603, 691], [1011, 1036], [1088, 1161], [1162, 1170], [1175, 1232], [83, 189], [603, 691], [706, 809], [1448, 1499], [1668, 1681], [1731, 1800]] |
Taking the family to a Walt Disney theme park is pricier than ever . The ticket price for a visitor aged 10 and up to Walt Disney World Resort 's Magic Kingdom in Florida now costs $ 105 . Including tax , the total price comes to $ 111.83 . Magic Kingdom tickets for those ages 3 - 9 are slightly cheaper at $ 99 . With tax , each ticket costs $ 105.44 . Costly : The ticket price for a visitor age 10 and up to Walt Disney World Resort 's Magic Kingdom in Florida -LRB- pictured in this file photo -RRB- now costs $ 105 . One-day tickets for visitors ages ten and up to Epcot , Disney 's Hollywood Studios and Disney 's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida each cost $ 97 - and comes to $ 103.31 with tax . Tickets for those ages 3 - 9 to those three parks are $ 91 . Including tax a ticket is under $ 100 at $ 96.92 . The $ 105 and $ 97 prices are an increase from $ 99 and $ 94 , respectively , the Orange County Register reported , saying that the new prices went into effect Sunday . Bryan Malenius , a Walt Disney representative , said in a statement to the Orlando Sentinel ' A day at a Disney park is unlike any other in the world , and there is strong demand for our attractions and entertainment . We continually add new experiences , and many of our guests select multi-day tickets or annual passes which provide great value and additional savings . ' According to the Orlando Sentinel , the pre-tax price of a Florida resident annual pass increased from $ 485 to $ 529 . The Florida resident seasonal pass pre-tax cost increased from $ 319 to $ 329 , the newspaper reported . On the West Coast , prices went up at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure , as well . A one-day ticket for visitors ages ten and up costs $ 99 , and a one-day ticket for visitors ages 3 - 9 costs $ 93 . ABC30 earlier reported on those prices , and found that they increased from $ 96 and $ 90 , respectively . Changes : The news prices at Walt Disney World Resort , Disneyland and Disney California Adventure went into effect on Sunday . Customers can pay an extra $ 56 per ticket for a Park Hopper Ticket , which lets them enter both parks . According to the Orange County Register , the price used to be $ 54 . ABC30 found that the Premium Annual Passport price increased from $ 699 to $ 779 , and that the Deluxe Annual Passport increased from $ 519 to $ 549 . The SoCal Annual Passport renewal fee is now $ 299 , and used to cost $ 289 , the television station reported . Annual Pass Parking also increased from $ 159 to $ 169 , according to the ABC affiliate . Disney says on its websites that tickets are n't required for anyone under 3 years old at both the Florida and California theme parks . | It costs $ 105 to buy a one-day ticket for visitors ages 10 and up to Walt Disney World Resort 's Magic Kingdom . Magic Kingdom tickets for those ages 3 - 9 are slightly cheaper at $ 99 . One-day tickets for those ages ten and up to Epcot , Disney 's Hollywood Studios and Disney 's Animal Kingdom Theme Park , each cost $ 97 . Tickets for those ages 3 - 9 to those three parks are $ 91 . Across the country , prices went up at Disneyland and Disney 's California Adventure , as well . A one-day ticket for visitors ages ten and up costs $ 99 , and a one-day ticket for visitors ages 3 - 9 costs $ 93 . | [[69, 99], [171, 188], [326, 354], [499, 522], [241, 314], [1681, 1710], [1724, 1737], [658, 674], [523, 551], [579, 635], [679, 707], [769, 819], [1681, 1710], [1724, 1737], [708, 768], [0, 68], [1588, 1605], [1608, 1668], [1915, 2032], [708, 768], [1681, 1710], [1724, 1737]] |
A UFO spotted hovering above a popular beach has sparked mystery in a seaside resort . The unidentified object was caught on camera flying over Summerleaze Beach in Bude , Cornwall , and has prompted people to take to social media in their droves in an attempt to decipher its origin . The three-pointed object has been touted as an alien UFO , a drone and even a Russian bomber plane after it was photographed last week . Scroll down for video . The mystery ` triangular ' object -LRB- top right -RRB- was caught on camera hovering above Summerleaze Beach in Bude , Cornwall , and many believe it could have been a UFO , drone , RAF fighter jet or remote-controlled plane . The object has caused confusion among Cornish residents , with many unsure as to what the object could be . The photo was sent to the Cornwall UFO Research Group , which receives about 40 to 45 sightings every year . However , it has now been claimed the mystery object was a radio-controlled seagull , which was fitted with a camera before being flown through the skies . The great UFO mystery began on Thursday when David Gillham , of Cornwall UFO Research Group , posted a photo on his Facebook page of the object . He accompanied the picture with the caption : ` Just received this photo 2 of 2 from a person in Bude . Any ideas what this object could be ? ` Taken at Summerleaze Beach , Bude , N Cornwall 17th February 2015 . Looks triangular ... but I have no idea what it is ? The second sighting I have witnessed around N Cornwall in two weeks . ' In a post just days earlier , he uploaded an image of a snowy field with a dark , unusual-looking object hovering in the sky above . He captioned the photograph : ` Just received this photo 1 of 2 from a person in Bude . Taken at Davidstow , N Cornwall 3 February 2015 . ' He said both of the photographs were sent to him by a resident of Bude , who did n't notice the objects when he took the photos and only realised they were in the frame when he downloaded them to his computer . The posts were greeted with dozens of responses who claimed the objects could be a drone or one of the RAF fighter jet 's which were sent to intercept two Russian Bear bombers off the coast of Cornwall last week . Mr Gillham also received this photo via his Cornwall UFO Research Group , which was taken by a resident of Bude . He said he could not decipher what the dark object was situated in the top right hand-side of the frame . He said he had tried to zoom in on the object but had only managed to see a dark object due to the resolution . The bizarre object sparked mystery for days until Van Johnive claimed the object was in fact his uncle 's remote-controlled seagull . He told the Cornish Guardian : ' I can confirm that the `` UFO '' in the photo was my great uncle 's Seagull RC Plane with a camera . ` The photos are of before and during flight of the Seagull before we crashed it upon landing on the cliff . ` Please apologise for the confusion for us . Thanks . ' The lightweight model ` aircraft ' is inspired by a seagull -- complete with lifelike features and colourings -- and is operated with an aerial and radio . It is not known whether it was being used for fun or as a deterrent to other birds of prey in the area . It has also not been confirmed by any experts whether it was in fact the ` seagull ' which was the UFO in the photographs . The supposed revelation sparked surprise online , with many finding it rather amusing . Jade Louise Ullrich wrote : ` So funny . The councils should get a load of these and use them outside food establishments to stop us getting attacked . ' While Lesley Hands added : ` Brilliant ! If only all of life 's mysteries were solved so easily . ' However , Mr Gillham said he was still rather dubious that the object was the remote-controlled seagull and not something more sinister , such as aliens . He told MailOnline : ' I do n't know whether it is that . One of the problems with the photo is that it was taken on a low resolution phone . I 've tried to zoom in but all I get is a pixelated image . ' I did notice that in the top left-hand side there was a very bright area , a white light . ` One of things you 've got to try and work out is the distance from the camera , where the object was seen . ` It 's hard to judge because it 's over the sea and the camera is quite far away but it seems a bit big to me to be a model seagull . ' Mr Gillham said he had never come across remote or radio-controlled seagulls before . He said : ` It 's the first time I 've ever seen one , it seems he has some pretty hefty gear to fly it with . ` If the resolution was a lot better , I could 've zoomed in and actually seen what it was but when I zoomed in you could just see black . ' In 2011 , this ` UFO ' was caught on camera flying through the sky at Trenarren near St Austell , Cornwall . The image was taken by a walker who only noticed the mystery object upon downloading his photos to his laptop . This photo by Michael Potter last year appeared to show a mysterious flash of light -LRB- left -RRB- above the seaside resort of Mount 's Bay . It was never determined what the UFO actually was , but it may have been a meteor . It is not the first time mysterious objects have been spotted above the county and the Cornwall UFO Research Group claims the region has more paranormal activity than anywhere else in Britain . Mr Gillham said he gets about 40 to 45 sightings every year and said they often ` come in waves ' . Last year , amateur photographer Michael Potter captured a ` mysterious object ' flashing across the sky as he photographed cloud formations above the seaside resort of Mount 's Bay . The grandfather 's erie photograph showed an unexplained flash of light streaking across the sky and he spent weeks puzzling over the identity of the UFO , which he initially thought was the result of a problem with his camera . The object , which appeared to have a triangular shape , appeared in the so-called ` UFO Triangle ' , an area off the Cornwall coast where spooky sightings are common . However , while its exact existence was never determined , sceptics suggested that it was likely to be a meteor burning up in the sky as it shot towards Earth . And in 2011 , a ` UFO ' was caught on camera flying through the sky at Trenarren near St Austell , Cornwall . The image was captured by a walker who did n't notice it in his photograph until he downloaded it to his computer hours later . Mr Gillham , who founded Cornwall UFO Research Group in 1995 , said at the time : ` The person who took the photo never saw anything in the area while taking the photo . ` It was only when he got home and downloaded it onto his computer that he saw an object - a disc shaped craft , hovering just above the sea . ` There appear to be two trails of water beneath the object which looks as though they are falling from it in to the sea . ` It could be that the object has just emerged from the sea . ' Mr Gillham could not shed any further light on the origins of the object , which left many scratching their heads for an explanation . However , some people pointed out that it could have been a seagull during mid-flight and Mr Gillham himself also said that RNAS Culdrose confirmed to him that it was a seagull . | Mystery ` triangular ' object spotted above popular beach in Bude , Cornwall . Photo shows three-pointed object hovering above beach in seaside resort . Many suggested UFO could be drone or fighter jet sent to intercept planes . It has been claimed that it could have been a giant radio-controlled seagull . | [[0, 44], [0, 86], [447, 523], [517, 575], [5913, 5967], [5970, 6010], [5913, 5923], [5941, 6010], [0, 44], [0, 86], [1613, 1620], [1621, 1655], [6723, 6793], [582, 674], [2053, 2062], [2067, 2136], [902, 975], [926, 1047], [2611, 2694], [7126, 7253]] |
Tony Abbott has revealed he wanted to speak with the gunman at the centre of the Sydney siege but was warned by police it could make the situation worse . Man Haron Monis had demanded to speak with the Prime Minister over the phone after he took 18 people hostage inside the Lindt cafe at Martin Place in December . Mr Abbott , who released the joint federal-NSW inquiry report into the terror attack on Sunday , said he only learned of the demand on the evening of the siege . ` My response was if he wants to have a conversation , of course he can . -LRB- But -RRB- advice of police was it could make a bad situation worse , ' Mr Abbott said . Scroll down for video . Tony Abbott has revealed he wanted to speak with Man Haron Monis , the gunman at the centre of the Sydney siege , but was warned by police it could make the situation worse . The inquiry report made a number of recommendations and Mr Abbott and NSW Premier Mike Baird said governments needed to learn lessons from the siege . ` Plainly , this monster should not have been in our community , ' Mr Abbott said . ` The difficulty is that while he was well and truly on a lot of radar screens , he was routinely assessed as not being a threat to himself or to the community . ` Plainly , at some stage he did become a threat . We obviously do need more checks and more scrutiny in the visa process , in the citizenship process . ' Hostages Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson died when the 17-hour siege came to an end at the Lindt cafe in central Sydney on December 16 . The gunman was shot dead when police stormed the cafe , ending the crisis . Mr Abbott , who released the joint federal-NSW inquiry report into the terror attack on Sunday , said he only learned of the demand on the evening of the siege . Manager of the Lindt cafe , Tori Johnson -LRB- left -RRB- and barrister Katrina Dawson -LRB- right -RRB- died when the 17-hour siege came to an end at the Lindt cafe in central Sydney on December 16 . Mr Abbott said it was pretty obvious from the report that at every stage Monis had been given the benefit of the doubt . ` The cumulative effect of the benefit of the doubt being given to him time and time again is that he was able to wreak havoc on our community , ' Mr Abbott said . He says there is an ongoing debate in a society such as Australia 's between the rights of the individual and the protection of the community . ` My judgement is that while having always to respect both , the question of precisely where we draw the line in the era of terrorism will have to be reconsidered and the line may have to be redrawn , ' he said . Mr Abbott said the report concluded decisions made by various government departments in relation to Monis were ` justifiable under the circumstances ' . Mr Abbott said the report concluded decisions made by various government departments in relation to Monis were ` justifiable under the circumstances ' Marcia Mikhael was carried out of the Lindt cafe after police stormed in shooting dead the gunman . A total of 18 hostages were held inside the cafe for hours on December 15 with many escaping and running into the arms of police . ` But plainly , in their totality , the system has let us down , ' he said . ` The system has let us down because plainly this guy should n't have been in the country , he should n't have been out on bail , he should n't have had a gun and he should n't have been radicalised to the extent that he claimed to be conducting an Islamist death cult attack here in Australia . ' Australia needed to re-examine the system and ask itself if it needed to change the ` tipping point ' from protection of the individual to safety of the community , according to Mr Abbott . Mr Baird said while decisions made by the various agencies were considered reasonable by the review , the system had let the community down . ` The recommendations that have come forward - we need to act and we need to respond and we will be doing exactly that , ' Mr Baird said . The inquiry report made a number of recommendations and Mr Abbott and NSW Premier Mike Baird said governments needed to learn lessons from the siege . A permanent memorial for the victims would be in place by the anniversary of the siege , according to NSW Premier Mike Baird . The report recommends that information about identified terror suspects should be provided as part of any bail conditions , NSW Premier Mike Baird said . ' I have a view it should actually go further , ' he said . The report also comments on the need to reduce the number of illegal firearms . Mr Baird says there are close to 250,000 illegal firearms cross the country . ` We need to look at all options we can to ensure that we reduce the number of illegal firearms across this state and nation , ' he said . A permanent memorial for the victims would be in place by the anniversary of the siege , Mr Baird said . | Man Haron Monis demanded to speak with the Prime Minister after he took 18 hostages inside the Lindt cafe in December . Tony Abbott said he learned of the demand on the evening of the siege and was willing to speak with the gunman . Police informed the Prime Minister it could make a ` bad situation worse ' Joint federal-NSW inquiry report into the attack was released on Sunday . More scrutiny was needed given the gunman had been given the benefit of the doubt on several occasions , Mr Abbott said . | [[0, 93], [155, 255], [238, 315], [670, 734], [3019, 3111], [3019, 3041], [3116, 3149], [0, 93], [155, 255], [316, 325], [413, 477], [670, 734], [1610, 1619], [1707, 1771], [3690, 3714], [0, 11], [98, 118], [112, 154], [552, 557], [562, 624], [670, 681], [788, 808], [802, 844], [316, 325], [332, 410], [1610, 1619], [1626, 1704], [629, 645], [1063, 1079], [1973, 2093], [2031, 2093], [2136, 2184], [2241, 2257], [3690, 3714]] |
A pawnbroker who weighed more than 25 stone was motivated to shed half her body weight after being told she was too fat to complete her lifelong ambition of skydiving . Debbie Allmark , 35 , from Biddulph , Staffordshire , tipped the scales at 26 stone at her heaviest and her weight was damaging her health . She said : ' I could n't see a light at the end of the tunnel and I did n't feel like I wanted to carry on . I was so embarrassed and felt humiliated - my confidence was so low . ' Scroll down for video . Debbie Allmark , a mother-of-two from Biddulph , Staffordshire , was motivated to shed half her body weight after she was told she was too big to go skydiving . -LRB- Pictured : Mrs Allmark before , left , and after her transformation , right -RRB- . At her heaviest , Debbie tipped the scales at 26 stone . Now , less than two years later , she has slimmed down to a much healthier 13st 1lb . In 2013 , Debbie was so heavy that on a family holiday to Disneyland in Florida , she was banned from some of the rides because of her size . A year earlier , the mother-of-two was left humiliated after a roller coaster at Alton Towers Resort in the Midlands stopped while she was on it . She said : ` We were at Alton Towers in the summer of 2012 . The ride got stopped as my bars were not locked . I was too big and had to leave the ride . It was humiliating . ' She added : ` The ride made me more humiliated and devastated about my weight . That was a huge catalyst . ' Debbie was n't allowed on some Disneyland rides in Florida , in 2013 because of her size -LRB- Debbie pictured before weight loss -RRB- . Debbie has always dreamed of skydiving , but was told that 13st was the maximum weight to take part . But the biggest game changer for Debbie , who is mother to Bradley , 14 , and Connor , 11 , was when her excess weight stopped her from following her dreams . She said : ` I 'd always wanted to do a skydive . It was my life ambition to do one . But when I looked into it , I found out you need to be up to 13 stone to take part . ' I was devastated . ' It was then that Debbie finally decided to battle her weight problems . After her GP prescribed her with a gym membership , Debbie started to rapidly shed body fat . She has now lost 13 stone in less than two years and now tipped the scales at 13st 1lb . She said : ` This is not the end , I feel a lot healthier and I have more energy . ` My confidence has tripled and I can now play with my kids and enjoy myself more . It has given me another life . ` The support from my family has been great as well . They have been a massive part of it . I do n't think I would have been able to do it without my boys . ' Debbie 's weight loss was thanks in part to a new gym membership prescribed to her by her GP . After reaching the acceptable weight , Debbie has booked her skydive for May 16 . After reaching the acceptable weight , Debbie has now booked her skydive and has chosen to donate the proceeds to the North Staffordshire Heart Committee , which provided care for her mother Lilian Lovatt , who passed away in 2009 from heart failure at the age of 66 . The event will take place on May 16 , just three days before what would have been her mother 's birthday . Debbie said : ` The heart ward was brilliant in caring for her , so the money I raise will go straight to them and hopefully help other families , ' she said . ` I 'll be thinking of her throughout the whole flight . But at the moment , when I stretch out my arms , I know she 'll be there under me . ` She 'll be my wings and I know she would be proud of what I 've done . ' Debbiehas chosen to donate the proceeds from her skydive to the North Staffordshire Heart Committee , which provided care for her mother Lilian Lovatt , who passed away in 2009 from heart failure at the age of 66 . Debbie 's sister Dawn Adey , 47 , from Brindley Ford , Stoke-on-Trent , says her sibling is as an inspiration to everyone . She said : ` It is such a fantastic achievement . We 're all really proud of her and she has been an inspiration to the whole family . ` At her lowest points , she kept saying she could n't do it , but we all encouraged her to get off the settee and get moving . ` At first she just started walking , but then she began doing more and more . ' I love her so much and it is amazing she is now doing a skydive . Mum cared for all of us and it means a lot to us that Debbie is doing this with her in mind . ' To donate , visit www.justgiving.com/Deborah-Allmark . | Debbie Allmark , from Biddulph , Staffordshire , was 26 stone at her heaviest . 35-year-old pawnbroker decided to lose weight so she could go skydiving . In two years , she has slimmed down to 13st 1lb and booked her skydive . | [[0, 43], [58, 168], [169, 204], [223, 268], [766, 781], [784, 822], [823, 826], [829, 854], [857, 908], [2242, 2290], [2242, 2245], [2295, 2330], [2783, 2864], [2865, 2901], [2904, 2918], [2926, 2937], [2865, 2901], [2904, 2910], [2915, 2937], [2865, 2901], [2904, 2910], [2930, 3018], [4337, 4347], [4354, 4365], [4337, 4340], [4344, 4365]] |
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