doc_text
stringlengths 157
16.7k
| summary_text
stringlengths 26
11.1k
| highlight_spans
stringlengths 9
3.7k
|
|---|---|---|
A former ballerina allows mothers to bring their babies to her pole-dancing class - and says it 's cheaper than getting a babysitter . Anna Milosevic , 34 , from London , founded Pole Fit after she had her daughter Faye last summer and realised there was nowhere she could go to get her pre-baby body back , and bring her child with her . The pole-dancing instructor 's solution was to create a class where new mums can work out on poles while their infants sit on cushions on the floor and watch - but she insists it 's a clean-cut , family-friendly environment . A former ballerina holds pole fitness classes for new mums and allows them to bring their babies to watch . She has even added a soft play area so toddlers and older babies can enjoy themselves as their mothers tackle the core-strengthening routines . The 34-year-old , who is married to husband Vedran , 35 , said she ` wanted to tone up ' after the birth of her baby . Anna said she soon became aware of other mums who wanted to get fit post-birth but struggled with managing childcare . ' I knew other new mums who wanted to lose their baby weight too . Anna Milosevic wanted to get fit after giving birth to her daughter Faye and having trained as a pole fitness instructor new the benefits of pole dancing . Pictured : Anna with her husband Vedran and daughter Faye . After speaking to her midwife about the safety of post-natal exercise Anna decided to open her own class . ` Having trained as a pole fitness instructor I knew the benefits attached to pole dancing . ` The point is , you can come and get fit but you do n't have to get a babysitter , just bring your babies with you . ' I do n't teach the mums anything that you would see in a strip club and do n't let the kids have a go because of the connotations . It 's harmless . ' Children as young as a few months old watch their mothers twirling on the pole and she said the baby girls who attended the class liked it , while the boys were less interested . Anna has designed her classes to fit around new mums , allowing them to bring children up to two into her lessons as she says that it is cheaper than childcare . Pictured : Some mums at a class . Anna 's range of exercises are designed to help new mothers build up and strengthen their core muscles and improve their posture . Pictured : Anna teaching during her classes . The babies are never allowed to join in on the classes but Anna says having them watch is harmless . ` They do n't care what 's going on , ' she said . ` It means their mums would get to exercise without having to find someone to babysit for them . ' Anna 's range of exercises are designed to help new mothers build up and strengthen their core muscles and improve their posture . The mother-of-one says that her classes are designed to go hand-in-hand with being a new mum and wanting to shape up . ` Most mums already have upper body strength from picking up their babies . ' I spoke to my midwife to find out how soon new mums could exercise safely and what exercises were suitable . Aside from the poles , the classes are crammed with toys for babies and young children to play . ' I learned that eight weeks is enough time for the body to heal following a pregnancy , including after a woman has had a caesarean section . ` So only mums whose babies are eight weeks and older , and are fit enough to take part , are allowed to join . ` Some of the classes I run are shorter as newborns can get restless . ' Anna now holds classes for mothers with babies up to eight months old , then up to 18 months . The classes are tailored so that mothers can tend to their babies at any point . Aside from the poles , the classes are crammed with toys for babies and young children to play with as well as soft mats and pillows help to keep the babies propped up and comfortable during the sessions . The classes are tailored so that mothers can tend to their babies at any point , to feed them or stop them crying . She added : ` My classes actually work better when there are lots of mums there . ` There are two people to every pole so while one mum is exercising the other can tend to their babies . ' | Anna Milosevic opened her pole fitness class wanting to tone up after birth . She allows mums to bring children along as its cheaper than childcare . The infants are not allowed to join in but Anna says watching is harmless . The class is even equipped with soft toys and seating for the babies . | [[565, 623], [817, 832], [875, 935], [971, 981], [986, 1014], [1122, 1277], [2743, 2861], [0, 81], [0, 18], [88, 134], [135, 149], [312, 338], [565, 583], [628, 672], [1988, 1992], [2043, 2101], [2105, 2149], [2361, 2415], [2420, 2461], [339, 378], [383, 498], [673, 708], [3072, 3135], [3673, 3736], [3711, 3782]] |
There 's nothing more awkward than rocking up to an event in the same outfit as someone else and luckily for the stars at Sunday night 's Oscars , they managed to avoid such a mishap . But for Jennifer Lopez and actor and director Robert Duvall 's wife , Luciana Pedraza , it was a near miss . Whilst the two stars did n't wear the exact same dress , the styles of their frocks were so similar , they may as well have . Scroll down for video . Jennifer Lopez , let , and actor and director Robert Duvall 's wife , Luciana Pedraza , right , looked strikingly similar in pretty peach gowns on the Oscars red carpet on Sunday night . The two red carpet beauties looked pretty in peach wearing strikingly similar gowns on the red carpet last night . Jennifer Lopez , 45 , looked the vision of youth in a dazzling Elie Saab Haute Couture gown , which came complete with hand-embellished crystal detailing . Pedraza , 43 , meanwhile , looked remarkably similar to Lopez in a Jad Ghandor number . Both gowns were slashed to the midriff , revealing ample cleavage , and came with showstopping tulle skirts . The duo even accessorised in sync , both carrying boxy clutches and wearing diamond drop earrings . Adhering to the red carpet trend for up ` dos , both ladies wore their brunette locks slicked back in a sophisticated style . Jennifer Lopez , 45 , wowed in a dazzling hand-embellished Elie Saab Haute Couture gown on the red carpet . Pedraza , 43 , pictured with her husband of ten years , Robert Duvall , looked remarkably similar to Lopez in a Jad Ghandor number . She may oozed glamour but Lopez 's voluminous gown presented some technical difficulties of its own . The star suffered a bit of a train trip after presenting the Best Costume Award to The Grand Budapest Hotel 's Milena Canonero with Chris Pine , but fortunately the Star Trek actor saved her from making an even more embarrassing misstep . Jennifer 's heels appeared to have gotten caught in the cascading material as the pair walked off the stage at The Dolby Theater in Hollywood , California . Earlier in the evening , the singer-dancer-entrepreneur needed a helping hand from the valets when exiting her limousine . Speaking to Lara Spencer on the red carpet , Jennifer explained she has a tried and tested formula for walking the red carpet . She said : ' I knew it would be a challenge , but I like a challenge . I have a whole technique . I got this . I 'm used to it . I 've done it so many times . ' The duo even accessorised in sync , both carrying boxy clutches and diamond drop earrings . As she arrived at the event , Lopez needed a helping hand from the valets when exiting her limousine . | Jennifer Lopez , 45 , dazzled in an Elie Saab Haute Couture gown . Pedraza , 43 , looked remarkably similar in a Jad Ghandor number . Both gowns were slashed to the midriff and stars accessorised the same . | [[746, 760], [768, 837], [798, 837], [846, 901], [1326, 1340], [1348, 1433], [902, 914], [929, 989], [1434, 1441], [1506, 1566], [444, 511], [540, 630], [631, 658], [676, 745], [990, 1028], [1100, 1133], [2477, 2510]] |
A Mississippi lawmaker has been accused of racism after accusing all of the black people in his town of being on welfare benefits and food stamps . State Representative Gene Alday sparked outrage after making the comments in an interview with local media . The Republican , who was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2011 and was a former mayor of the town of Walls , was asked about improving education and boosting reading levels by electing superintendents in schools . Mississippi representative Gene Alday stands before the house to apologise for comments he made about black people in a local newspaper interview . But he disagreed with the idea telling the Clarion Ledger : ' I come from a town where all the blacks are getting food stamps and what I call ` welfare crazy checks ' . They do n't work . ' He later turned to healthcare provision in his hometown in Desoto County by recalling a trip to the emergency room , saying : ' I like died . ' I laid in there for hours because they -LRB- black people -RRB- were in there being treated for gunshots . ' Fellow Republicans were quick to distance themselves from Mr Alday 's comments and House Representatives also called for his resignation . They held a press conference saying they were concerned by his use of language and are calling for discussions with top elected officials to discuss the issue . Mr Alday had said that all of the blacks from his hometown of Walls were all on welfare benefits and were receiving food stamps . This prompted Mr Alday to say his comments were taken out of context and that he is n't a ` bad person ' when he addressed the chamber on Tuesday . He also denied being racist , saying he was a supporter of civil rights . He added : ` Yes , it 's true that most of the blacks in my hometown are on welfare . But they 're good people . I do n't have anything against anybody . ` I 'm a straight-up guy . In my little town they had little civil rights walks and I was with them . I 'm with everybody . ' His apology was greeted with applause by the house and he says he will stand for re-election despite the calls for him to step down . | Republican Gene Alday asked about education in interview with media . Said he did n't agree with increasing funding or electing superintendents . Added that most of the blacks in his town were on welfare and food stamps . Said he waited for hospital care as blacks were being treated for gunshots . Fellow politicians have now called on Mr Alday to resign his position . He then apologized saying that his comments were taken out of context . | [[148, 256], [257, 271], [382, 486], [639, 692], [0, 147], [0, 22], [50, 147], [709, 715], [722, 760], [1378, 1507], [1401, 1445], [1479, 1507], [1730, 1738], [1743, 1815], [1003, 1026], [1041, 1075], [1161, 1182], [1188, 1216], [2125, 2143], [487, 574], [1508, 1610]] |
Sean Penn is in hot water over remarks he made about a ` green card ' into relation to Mexican-born Oscar-winner Alejandro Inarritu who won Sunday night 's Oscar for best director . Penn arrived on stage at the end of the Sunday 's Academy Awards telecast to hand out the award for best film . In announcing the win for Birdman , Penn asked , ` Who gave this son of a bitch his green card ? Birdman . ' Sean Penn is in hot water over remarks he made about a ` green card ' into relation to Mexican-born Oscar-winner Alejandro Inarritu who won Sunday night 's Oscar for best director . One of the first to call Penn out was filmmaker and immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas . Twitter quickly went into meltdown with users denouncing Penn 's ill-judged ` joke ' as ` insensitive ' to the plight of many immigrants in the United States and ` racist . ' One of the first to call Penn out was filmmaker and immigration activist Jose Antonio Vargas . ` Mexican director = green card joke . Not funny , just plain xenophobic . Wtf , Sean Penn ?! ' he tweeted . Others , including TV presenter Mario Lopez , pointed out that the comment was made about a Mexican while no one questioned the immigration status of the countless British and Australian actors in attendance . The term ` green card ' refers to a document that confers permanent residency to immigrants in the United States . While the remark about Inarritu 's immigration status struck many as an insult , the director insisted it was nothing more than a brutal joke between old friends . ' I found it hilarious , ' Inarritu said after the ceremony . ` Sean and I have that kind of brutal -LRB- relationship -RRB- where only true friendship can survive . ' Penn 's ill-judged attempt at humor was considered racial insensitive by a number of people on Twitter . Other people commented that no one would make such a racial-charged ` joke ' about the countless Brits and Australians present at the event . Inarritu directed Penn in his 2003 film 21 Grams , and the pair remain friends . Penn posed for pictures with Inarritu after the ceremony . The director , who won three Oscars on Sunday night , said he has told many similarly brutal jokes at Penn 's expense . ' I make on him a lot of very tough jokes that I will not tell you , ' Inarritu said . Joke or not , the remark struck many online as problematic for an awards ceremony that had been criticized for not having more nominees of color . Inarritu joked that after his three wins on Sunday night , the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences might institute a residency requirement . His win in the best directing category marks back-to-back wins for Mexican-born directors ; last year Alfonso Cuaron won that honor for Gravity . TV presenter Mario Lopez was quick to point out that the comment was made about a Mexican while no one questioned the immigration status of the countless British and Australian actors in attendance . Director Alejandro Inarritu , seated , insisted afterwards that Penn 's remark was nothing more than a brutal joke between old friends . ` Maybe next year , the government will inflict some immigration rules -LRB- on -RRB- the academy . Two Mexicans in a row , that 's suspicious , I guess . ' It took some of the sting out of Penn 's words , but Inarritu also used the opportunity of having some of the last words in the Oscar telecast to celebrate immigrants . The director called on his fellow Mexicans to build a better government , and said those who have come to the United States should be afforded the respect that previous generations of immigrants have been given . ' I want to dedicate this award for my fellow Mexicans , the ones who live in Mexico , ' Inarritu said . ' I pray that we can find and build the government that we deserve . And the ones that live in this country who are part of the latest generation of immigrants in this country , I just pray that they can be treated with the same dignity and the respect of the ones who came before and -LRB- built -RRB- this incredible immigrant nation . ' | Sean Penn joked about a ` green card ' before awarding the best film Oscar to Mexican-born director Alejandro Inarritu on Sunday night . Many on social media found Penn 's ` joke ' to be bad taste and insensitive . ` The struggles people endure for immigration justice are not punchlines , ' tweeted one person . Director Inarritu insisted afterwards that Penn 's remark was nothing more than a brutal joke between old friends . | [[39, 131], [87, 131], [136, 181], [182, 186], [256, 293], [442, 534], [490, 534], [539, 584], [680, 783], [1716, 1820], [2324, 2391], [1384, 1418], [1465, 1547], [1575, 1609], [2952, 2979], [2991, 3088]] |
Calling to book a table , make a doctor 's appointment or phoning for help when stranded at the side of the road are tasks many people take for granted . But for the deaf , simple tasks like these typically require expensive equipment or a mediator - until now . The Pedius app was created to help deaf people speak to friends , family and businesses on the phone using voice recognition and real-time speech translation . Scroll down for video . Pedius -LRB- pictured -RRB- uses voice recognition and speech translation to make calls more natural . When a call is made using the app the user types a message on the screen . This is translated to speech in real time , so the recipient can ` hear ' them . The recipient 's spoken response is then immediately translated into text . When a call is made using the free Android or iOS app , the user types a message on the screen . This is translated to speech in real time , so the recipient can hear the request or conversation.Their spoken response is then immediately translated into text . Pedius was developed by Italian entrepreneur Lorenzo Di Ciaccio after he heard a story about a deaf man whose car had broken down . The driver was unable to communicate by phone and was left waiting for hours hoping someone would notice and help him . Last year a visually impaired developer from Denmark launched an app designed to help blind people ` see ' . The free Be My Eyes app connects blind people to a sighted volunteer using a live video chat . The volunteer can then answer questions and see the blind person 's surroundings using a phone 's camera . Be My Eyes takes advantage of an iPhone feature called VoiceOver . This lets people who are completely blind use the device using synthetic speech and a touch-based interface . Pedius does not require both users to have specific hardware , and all communications and interactions are private . If the voice transcription is not accurate enough , Pedius automatically shows alternatives , and if it 's still not enough , a user can ask the recipient to repeat themselves using the ` R ' button . Users can additionally record messages using their own voice by pressing the microphone button . Although the app is free , calls cost 15p per minute when made in the UK , Italy and Ireland and users need to add credit to the account to make these calls . A typical top-up starts at # 3.99 , but credit packages are also available in # 5 , # 10 , # 20 and # 50 bundles . From next month , users will also be given 20 free minutes every month . Pedius launched in Italy in 2013 and is now available in the UK , US and France . The firm plans to expand further into Europe later this year . ` Being able to make a simple phone call is something we often take for granted , ' said Mr Di Ciaccio . ` There are over 70 million people in the world who have profound to severe hearing loss and are unable to use phones . If the voice transcription is not accurate enough Pedius automatically shows alternatives , and if it 's still not enough , a user can ask the recipient to repeat themselves using the ` R ' button . Users can record messages by pressing the microphone button -LRB- left -RRB- and use contact lists by connecting existing accounts -LRB- right -RRB- . Earlier this year Google released an audio translation function for its Translate app . Transcription experts at Verbalink recently tested the tool 's accuracy when compared to human translators . For the first test , Google Translate and a translator called Adriana were asked to translate a promotional document about Argentina 's National Beekeeping Council from Spanish into English . For the second test , both had to translate a minute of Spanish audio into English . For both document and audio translation , Google was able to capture the ` overall gist ' of the content and Verbalink said it would be useful for quick , general understanding . Transcription experts at Verbalink recently tested Google Translate 's accuracy when compared to human translators -LRB- pictured -RRB- . Google 's translations ` were too raw to be used for any professional purpose , and readability was often compromised by poor word choices and questionable grammar ' , explained the firm . But Verbalink added that Google 's translations ` were too raw to be used for any professional purpose , and readability was often compromised by poor word choices and questionable grammar ' . In the second test , for example , Google failed to translate the word ` ya ya ' . Adriana had a higher degree of overall accuracy and a greater ability to capture the tone and style of the original documents . By being able to consider the subject matter , context , and target audience , Adriana 's translations sounded more natural . ` Of course , a human translator wo n't fit in your pocket , and they may not always be able to accompany you to that very authentic Thai restaurant or overseas vacation , ' explained Verbalink . ` When you need immediate results , and they do n't have to be perfect , it 's OK to use Google Translate . ' -LSB- But -RSB- for any sort of business or commercial documents , or anything that has to be precise , it 's best to stick with human translators . ' ' A smartphone is something most people have , so Pedius is designed to help make everyday life easier by offering a more accessible way to communicate whenever they like over the phone . ' Last year a visually impaired developer from Denmark launched a similar app designed to help blind people ` see ' . The Be My Eyes app connects blind people to a sighted volunteer using a live video chat . The volunteer can then answer questions and see the blind person 's surroundings using a phone 's camera . Be My Eyes takes advantage of an iPhone feature called VoiceOver . This lets people who are completely blind use the device using synthetic speech and a touch-based interface . The app is currently only available for people using an iPhone 4S or above , running iOS 7 . A similar app called Be My Eyes takes advantage of an iPhone feature called VoiceOver , to help blind people use the device with synthetic speech . To ask for help , a blind person opens the app and requests assistance . This can be anything from knowing the expiry date on the milk -LRB- pictured -RRB- , to navigating new surroundings . | The free Pedius app was created to help deaf people ` speak ' on the phone . It uses voice recognition and speech translation to make calls more natural . When a call is made using the app the user types a message on the screen . This is translated to speech in real time , so the recipient can ` hear ' them . The recipient 's spoken response is then immediately translated into text . Pedius is free on Android and iOS but calls start at 15p per minute . | [[263, 363], [354, 422], [502, 549], [555, 598], [555, 561], [570, 624], [354, 422], [625, 666], [669, 696], [699, 705], [879, 883], [898, 920], [923, 977], [706, 758], [770, 781], [706, 738], [747, 781], [977, 1018], [1030, 1041], [977, 998], [1007, 1041], [787, 835], [2224, 2249], [2230, 2249], [2255, 2299]] |
A serving British soldier who went to fight ISIS was being flown home last night after he was found near the border between Syria and Iraq . The 19-year-old private serving with the 2nd Battalion of The Princess of Wales 's Royal Regiment left for the region last week after telling his parents he wanted to help the Kurdish Peshmerga . He was the first British soldier to have gone to fight against the terror group and his disappearance fuelled fears that he could have been a prime beheading target for Islamist jihadists . The 19-year-old soldier who reportedly left to fight against ISIS is now returning to his unit , it emerged today . The soldier , who is now said to be ` safe and well ' , was in Dubai on leave from his base in Cyprus when he decided to travel to the war-torn country . He was due back at his base yesterday when it emerged the Ministry of Defence had located him and were flying him back . The MoD refused to confirm whether they had found him or whether he had reached out , but last week a defence source said they would not send police to the Middle East looking for him . Speaking during Commons defence questions , Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said : ` The House may also want to know the soldier reported as missing last week has now been located and is being returned to his unit . ' As the soldier was not considered AWOL , it is not clear whether he will face disciplinary action . A defence source said : ` We are just grateful to have him back at the moment . ' The private is understood to be serving with the 2nd Battalion of The Princess of Wales 's Royal Regiment . Pictured : Peshmerga fighters outside Mosil , Iraq . A number of foreign fighters have come from around the world to join Kurdish forces in the battle against ISIS . The soldier , who has not been named for security reasons , left his base after sending a message to his family saying : ` I 'm with other British people and a Canadian at the moment . I do n't know how to explain it to you but I really want and need to do this and I will be safe . He added : ' I have good skills and I can speak the language , I can help these people and help with this fight . I will get in trouble for being AWOL , but it 's minor and no prison sentence . ' The private joined up at the age of 16 after leaving school and had reportedly been learning Arabic . He was said to have once shared a barracks with murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby . He is understood to have visited the area with the military for a training exercise before he decided to return to fight . He is thought to have been fighting alongside a group called Lions Of Rojava , who have Americans , Canadians and other Britons among their number . The serviceman , who has not been named for security reasons , was stationed in Cyprus and is believed to have travelled to the region via Dubai while on annual leave . He is thought to have then entered Iraq . The soldier reportedly posted a picture online over the weekend showing him standing next to Canadian ex-serviceman Brandon Glossop . In the post , he referred to Glossop as his ` wingman ' and , in a message to his family , added : ` I 'm all safe guys . ' The Princess of Wales 's Royal Regiment are based at the Tower of London , where the soldier will return to find out whether he faces a court martial . In December it emerged that two former British soldiers had travelled to Syria to fight against ISIS after feeling ` compelled ' to take up arms following the murder of aid volunteer Alan Henning . News of the soldier came as the Defence Secretary was urged to clarify exactly what Britain 's plan is for the campaign against ISIS in Iraq . Labour MP John Woodcock said it was troubling defence chiefs had failed to outline the objectives for the campaign against ISIS , also known as Isil , in recent evidence to a Commons committee . Speaking at Commons defence questions , the Barrow and Furness MP Mr Woodcock said : ` Do you think it is acceptable none of the service chiefs who gave evidence to the defence committee 's recent inquiry was willing or able to articulate the UK 's objective or strategic plan in Iraq ? What is our plan exactly ? ' Mr Fallon replied : ` Our plan in Iraq is very simple - it is to disrupt threats to the UK mainland and our interests overseas , secondly it is as part of an international coalition to defeat Isil , including discrediting its violent ideology . ` It is thirdly to mitigate the impact of Isil and other violent extremist groups on the stability of the region as a whole . ' It is understood the British soldier joined a group called the Lions Of Rojava , who boast , ` It is better to live one day as a Lion that a thousand days as a sheep . ' They are the foreign fighters who have travelled to Syria to fight , not for jihad , but on behalf of the Kurdish communities who are defending their communities from the advance of Sunni Islamists . Just as hundreds of young Europeans have gone to fight for the radical Islamists of Islamic State , so increasing numbers are now travelling to fight for their avowed enemies , the Kurds . Westerners in Kurdistan : A photo of Western fighters from the Lions Of Rojava Facebook page . Jordan Matson , a former U.S. soldier now with Syrian Kurds ' People 's Protection Units -LRB- YPG -RRB- , operates The Lions Of Rojava Facebook page openly calling for volunteers to travel to join the fight . Just as many of the Islamic State 's foreign volunteers have been drawn from the ranks of Sunni Muslim youth worldwide , many of the initial YPG volunteers have come from the Kurdish diaspora . Last August a hairdresser from South London was reported to be the first Briton to travel to fight alongside Kurdish forces . Ethnic Kurd Mama Kurda from Croydon , 26 , travelled to Iraq to join the Kurdish peshmerga as they desperately tried to halt Islamic State 's lightning advance . But since then many others have been inspired to take up arms against Islamic State , perhaps also inspired by the radical socialist experiment underway in the Kurdish autonomous region of Rojava . Brothers in arms : Briton Jamie Read , right , with American Jordan Matson , who is also fighting in Syria . Inspired by the social ecologist and anarchist Murray Bookchin it has adopted a vision of ` libertarian municipalism ' calling for Kurds to create free , self-governing communities . Last October it was reported that a currently serving British Royal Marine had been questioned by police on suspicion he was travelling to fight with Kurdish militias during his leave . The 22-year-old Commando was quizzed after he prepared to fly from California on a one-way ticket to Turkey . He was suspected of being in contact with Kurdish militant groups . Two women , Canadian Jew Gill Rosenberg , 31 , and Danish Kurd Joanna Palani , 20 , have also reportedly travelled to fight with the Kurds , inspired perhaps by the images of female fighters on the front line against Islamic State terrorists . It is perhaps the only place in the world where women are fighting on the front line of armed conflict . There are also claims that a number of European biker gangs have travelled to Syria and are helping to assist the resistance . Leaders of the Cologne-based Median Empire Motorcycle Club , which has strong Kurdish links , have posted images of their German riders posing in the city - some of them carrying weapons . The news came just days after three members of a notorious motorcycle gang from the Netherlands were told they had not committed any crime by travelling to Kobani to join the fight against ISIS . | Private with Princess of Wales 's regiment went to fight while on leave . 19-year-old texted his family saying Peshmerga fighters ` need our help ' Defence Secretary said today that the soldier was now returning to base . Comes after he posted picture with fellow fighter and said : ` I 'm safe ' | [[0, 25], [30, 48], [527, 550], [555, 592], [2710, 2724], [2801, 2844], [2855, 2878], [141, 164], [269, 336], [1779, 1790], [1839, 1890], [527, 550], [596, 621], [797, 834], [1104, 1135], [1148, 1185], [1190, 1320], [3069, 3071], [3146, 3151], [3156, 3176]] |
A New York writer has discovered that his stolen iPhone ended up in China - after photos of a stranger posing beside an orange tree started appearing on his iCloud . Matt Stopera explained in an article on Buzzfeed how , a year after his phone was pinched from a Manhattan bar , he was scrolling through his pictures and started seeing images of the man and set off to investigate how the images had ended up there . In a bizarre twist , the story has brought him fame across China , where internet users tracked down the man , dubbed Brother Orange - and Stopera now hopes to visit the country to meet him . Stopera first noticed hundreds of unfamiliar photos on his phone a few weeks ago . Scroll down for video . Bizarre : Buzzfeed writer Matt Stopera , pictured , said he was stunned when he learned his stolen iPhone had ended up in China - and that he was able to see photos a man there was snapping of himself . ' I was going through my photos and I was like , `` Oh my God , who is this person ? '' ' he told CBS . The photos included selfies of a man in front of orange trees , as well as images of fireworks , stores and menus - and Stopera guessed they had been taken from somewhere in Asia . More images started appearing : people on motorbikes , children pointing at chickens and stock photos of models , plants and cars . When he mentioned the bizarre happenings to a friend , they told Stopera that most stolen iPhones end up in China - and told him to go to an Apple store immediately . ` The next day , I went to the Apple Store and tried to explain to them that pictures from some guy in China were showing up on my phone , ' he explained in his Buzzfeed article . Strange : He first noticed the photos earlier this month - a year after the phone was snatched in Manhattan . Odd : Images of Chinese store fronts and firework displays began appearing on his phone 's photo stream . ` They were confused . I got sent around the store until some guy made me log into my iCloud account . Sure enough , there was my old iPhone on network . ` That was it . There it was . My stolen iPhone had gone from the East Village to China . Incredible . ' He deleted everything from his old phone and was told that he should no longer have any trouble , although the phone would also stop working for Brother Orange . ` The reason his pictures were showing up on my current phone was because he must have been logged into my iCloud account , ' he said . But letting go was n't easy . ` To be honest , I was kind of upset about the whole thing , ' Stopera wrote . ' I kind of liked getting his picture updates and as long as he could n't access my info , I was OK with it . ' Luckily , that was only just the beginning of their relationship . New-found fame : After sharing his story online , it was picked up in China . He joined Chinese social networking site , Weibo -LRB- pictured -RRB- , and discovered that he had hundreds of messages of support from people . Found ! After the story was shared , people managed to track down the man in the photographs . After sharing his story online , it was found by readers in China and shared on their version of Twitter , named Weibo . People started calling the anonymous man ` Brother Orange ' because of the selfies beside the orange tree . Stopera learned of his new-found internet fame in China when users contacted him to say the story had been viewed thousands of times across Weibo . Chinese internet users found out that the photos had been snapped in Guangdong and got to work finding out the real identity of Brother Orange . Stopera soon received a photo of his old iPhone . ` Apparently Orange Man 's nephew heard about the story and posted pictures of my phone and pictures of his uncle on Weibo , ' Stopera wrote in a follow-up article . A Chinese blogger connected the two and said that Brother Orange wanted to invite Stopera to his home and ` prepare the famous local food for you ' . Life-changing : After contacting the man - known as Brother Orange because of his poses beside the orange tree in the photo feed - Stopera was invited to China and said he now hopes to visit the country . Stopera shared this image of him saying hello to his new friend in China and is now planning his trip . ` Matt , you are welcome to come to my house to taste downight Meizhou Hakka vegetables , ' Brother Orange wrote on Weibo in a message that has since been translated . Stopera said he is now planning a trip to China . ' I think it 's actually going to happen , ' he told CNN , adding that he has been overwhelmed by the kind messages he has received from so many Chinese internet users . ` It 's getting me really excited to visit China , ' he said . ` They 've been so warm to me and so excited about the whole thing . ' See below for video . | Matt Stopera 's phone was stolen from a New York City bar last year . When he checked his photo stream a few weeks ago , he noticed images of a stranger posing beside an orange tree . When more odd photos started appearing , he went to an Apple store and learned that his stolen phone had ended up in China . He and the man were both sharing information to Stopera 's iCloud . The story was widely shared in China and internet users tracked down the man , who has now invited Stopera to visit his hometown . | [[1749, 1792], [0, 131], [279, 281], [321, 365], [609, 691], [1023, 1150], [3950, 3963], [3966, 4073], [0, 131], [609, 691], [716, 723], [726, 741], [768, 849], [1204, 1233], [1503, 1517], [1520, 1545], [1580, 1639], [2084, 2142], [417, 435], [438, 481], [476, 481], [490, 525], [2761, 2821], [2975, 3001], [3004, 3061], [3062, 3127], [3352, 3438], [3800, 3817], [3840, 3945], [3950, 3963], [4074, 4109], [4268, 4346]] |
Lisa-Jayne Samuels has been jailed for perverting the course of justice after she accused a man she barely knew of raping her - putting him through a year of hell . A mother-of-four has been jailed after she put a man through a year of hell by making up claims he had raped her . Lisa-Jayne Samuels , 29 , invented the allegation because she wanted her mother to feel sorry for her , a court heard . She even had police draw up an e-fit to back up the bogus claims and picked a man , Terry Brown , out in an ID parade . Her allegation hung over Mr Brown for more than a year before she finally admitted she had made up her claim that he spiked her drink and attacked her . During that time he was attacked by a gang and his pregnant partner lost her baby , the court heard . Samuels ' own lawyer described her actions as ` loathsome ' when she was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court , Essex . She pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and was jailed for 20 months . Samuels , of Southend , Essex , called 999 at 1am on October 10 , 2012 , claiming to have been raped at the town 's cliffs . When interviewed , she gave a detailed description of her attacker , claiming she had been drinking with friends at the Last Post in Southend , where she met a man she knew from a night shelter who spiked her drink and attacked her . An e-fit was drawn up and Mr Brown , of Basildon , Essex , was arrested the following year . But he was later released without charge after police uncovered inconsistencies in Samuels 's story . CCTV from the Last Post and a nearby off-licence showed no sign of Samuels at the time she claimed to be there , and the friends she claimed she was with on the evening were found not to exist . During a voluntary interview with Samuels on December 6 , 2013 , she eventually admitted to making up the whole story . She said she had lied to try and reconcile with her mother . It is understood she had seen Mr Brown , who hardly knew her , on the night she claimed she had been attacked and based the details of her fictitious attacker on him . Samuels has a history of making such claims . In 2002 , she made false claims to police , but later admitted it was so her mother would not find out she had slept with a Kosovan man . In the same year , she phoned police saying she had been raped in a public toilet and also made a hoax fire call to 999 . The court heard Samuels , who had made false claims in the past , invented the allegation because she wanted her mother to feel sorry for her . Sentencing Samuels , Recorder Anthony Abell said : ` Rape is one of the most serious and repulsive crimes there is . ' A false allegation of rape can have dreadful consequences on the innocent person who has committed no crime whatsoever . ` It seems your initial call to the police was an impulsive act but you persisted in it , you made an e-fit and identified your supposed attacker in a line up - that was not impulsive . I have a duty to the public , meaning your sentence must be immediate and must be of some length . ' Samuels has struggled with addiction to alcohol and problems with drugs , including crack cocaine . Her defence solicitor , Paul Vickers , tried to argue her sentence should be suspended , but he was unsuccessful . He said : ` She accepts what she has done was loathsome and describes her actions as stupid . ` You are dealing with a lady who was homeless , intoxicated and in the grip of an addiction , who botched a scheme to enable her to get the support of her mother , to try to get her to feel sorry for her and to take her back and to rebuild her relationship with her . ' Samuels claimed she been attacked after drinking in the Last Post pub in Southend , but it later emerged she was not there at the time she claimed she had been . | Mother-of-four claimed she had been raped after drinking in Southend pub . But the claim was invented in a bid to get her mother to feel sorry for her . She even helped police make e-fit and picked man out at police line-up . Man , who hardly knew accuser , waited year for her to drop the allegations . Jailing her for 20 months , judge says false claims ruin lives of the innocent . | [[165, 260], [254, 279], [1103, 1119], [1122, 1125], [1172, 1244], [1984, 2075], [3759, 3794], [3649, 3714], [280, 298], [306, 381], [1847, 1907], [1856, 1907], [2122, 2129], [2132, 2135], [2170, 2228], [2382, 2391], [2398, 2405], [2448, 2525], [3442, 3454], [3461, 3524], [3488, 3524], [3527, 3630], [400, 464], [400, 403], [469, 481], [2856, 2859], [2878, 2921], [78, 164], [520, 606], [165, 260], [892, 895], [951, 977], [2645, 2725]] |
A sculpture exhibition showcasing the best of Victorian craftsmanship will soon be unveiled at Tate Britain . Among the collection is a 7ft ceramic elephant and range of jewellery from Chatsworth House as well as bronze and marble sculptures . The exhibition , titled Sculpture Victorious , will be shown at Tate Britain from February 25 for three months . Among pieces included in Sculpture Victorious is a 7ft ceramic elephant by Thomas Longmore and John Henk dating back to 1889 . The exhibition is being shown at Tate Britain until the end of May . Intricate metalwork and jewellery is also featured in the collection . Above , The Eglington Trophy , created in 1843 by Edumund Cotterill and R&S Garrard . A visitor admires A Royal Game by Sir William Reynolds-Stephens , a bronze sculpture depicting Queen Elizabeth I and Philip of Spain in a game of chess . Among its sculptures is the well-known Athlete Wrestling with a Python by Frederic Leighton and Hiram Powers ' Greek Slave . A Royal Game , a bronze statue by Sir William Reynolds-Stephens depicting Queen Elizabeth I and Philip of Spain is also part of the collection . Perhaps the most noticeable piece is Thomas Longmore and John Henk 's 1889 Elephant , a towering 7ft tall . The Victorian era brought about a flurry of productivity among British sculptors with artists able to access a wider range of materials . The sculpture imagines the political and religious struggle between Elizabeth I and Philip of Spain , with the latter 's chess pieces the ships of the Armada and the British queen 's the fleet that destroyed them . The bronze chess pieces which represent each country 's ships are faced toward one another in the sculpture . Dame Alice Owen , 1897 , by George Frampton -LRB- left -RRB- and Eagle Slayer , 1851 , by John Bell -LRB- right -RRB- are among the statues in the collection . Constant building and development created more places for their works to be displayed while monuments erected across the country inspired more art . Queen Victoria was reportedly a great fan of the art form which had already seen wide success across Europe . It was under her reign that pieces were commissioned for the first time to decorate the Houses of Parliament . In addition to a surge in the number of large sculptures and statues , artists began to consult manufacturers about their production of intricate materials . This brought about an increase in detailed jewellery and smaller ornaments , both of which are showcased in the Tate Britain collection . A bust of Queen Victoria by Edward Onslow Ford and Alfred Gilbert . The Victorian era brought about a flurry in activity among artists who had access to a wider range of materials and more places to showcase works . Sculpture Victorious will be open to the public at the Tate Britain from February 25 until the end of May . | Sculpture Victorious celebrates the best of the Victorian era 's productivity . The collection includes famous bronze statues and busts of past monarchs . Intricate jewellery and silverwork are also on display from February 25 . | [[0, 69], [0, 109], [1242, 1335], [776, 842], [1805, 1864], [110, 243], [244, 267], [278, 356], [553, 586], [553, 623]] |
If you do n't know what a word means , it 's best to just not say it . One Cleveland , Ohio news anchor learned that lesson the hard way when she ` accidentally ' uttered a racial slur on-air Monday morning , during a chat about last night 's Oscars . WJW Channel 8 morning news anchor Kristi Capel was discussing Lady Gaga 's tribute to the Sound of Music with her co-anchor Wayne Dawson when she used the word ` jigaboo ' - a negative term referring to black people of a darker skin tone . Cringe-worthy : Cleveland , Ohio morning news anchor Kristi Capel used a racial slur on-air Monday morning but she says it was an accident . Bad choice of words : Capel used the term ` jigaboo ' which is a negative word referring to black people of a darker skin tone . Her co-anchor Wayne Dawson , who is African-American , appeared to know the meaning of the term by the look on his face . Whoops : Capel used the term in a misguided attempt to compliment pop-star Lady Gaga on her tribute to the Sound of Music at Sunday night 's Oscars award ceremony . ` It 's hard to really hear her voice with all the jigaboo music whatever you want to call it ... jigaboo , ' Capel said in a misguided attempt to compliment the pop star . From the shocked look on African-American Dawson 's face , he understands the term but does n't draw attention to the gaffe as they turn the segment over to their traffic reporter . Capel went on to apologize for the statement to several viewers on Twitter , saying she did n't even know what the term meant . ' I do apologize if I offended you , I did n't know the meaning behind it or that it was even a word . Thank you for watching , ' she wrote . She later went on to Tweet a message to all of her followers . ' I deeply regret my insensitive comment . I truly did not know the meaning of the word , and would never intentionally use such hurtful language . I sincerely apologize , ' she wrote . Mea culpa : Capel later tweeted several apologies to individual viewers -LRB- above -RRB- , before posting a general comment to all of her followers -LRB- below -RRB- . Keeping her job : WJW 's news director Andy Fishman says the fact that Capel did n't know the word is ` no excuse ' but that she will remain on the network . Her news director Andy Fishman later apologized on behalf of the network in an interview with the Cleveland Plain-Dealer . ` She did n't even know what the word meant , which is not an excuse , ' Fisman said . ` We 've spoken to her about this , and we 're confident it wo n't happen again . From here , we 'll handle it internally . ' Fishman says that Capel will not be terminated for the comment , and will appear on Tuesday morning 's broadcast . ` She does feel horrible about this . It 's not who she is , ' Fishman said . | WJW 's Kristi Capel used the term ` jigaboo ' to describe Lady Gaga 's music . The word is a racial slur meaning black people of a darker skin tone . In a Twitter apology , Capel claimed to not even know what the word meant . Capel 's news editor says that 's ` no excuse ' but that she will keep her job . | [[492, 505], [520, 598], [655, 711], [394, 491], [655, 711], [666, 684], [693, 761], [1404, 1478], [1404, 1409], [1481, 1531], [1780, 1824], [2375, 2441], [2110, 2249], [2586, 2700]] |
Eight British schoolgirls have travelled to Syria in the last seven months using a route which has become known as the ` jihadi bride trail ' - and hundreds more besotted British women have proposed marriage to extremists online . The true figure is likely to be even higher as the police and families have imposed news blackouts in some cases , prompting fears that Britain 's anti-terrorism agencies are losing the battle against the radicalisation of young Muslims on the internet . School friends Shamima Begum , 15 , and Kadiza Sultana , 16 , and Amira Abase 15 , from Bethnal Green Academy are reported to be in Syria after flying out of Gatwick for Turkey earlier this month . A fourth unnamed girl from the same school went out in December . ` Groomed ' : Shamima Begum -LRB- left -RRB- is thought to have been contacted directly using Twitter by a female IS fighter . She later flew from Gatwick Airport to Turkey with friends Kadiza Sultana -LRB- right -RRB- 16 , and Amira Abase . Sick : Amira Abase -LRB- left -RRB- flew to Turkey with her friends Kadiza Sultana and Shamima Begum . Radical websites like Jihad Matchmaker -LRB- right -RRB- have been blamed for encouraging impressionable girls to join ISIS . Flight to terror : Clutching their luggage , the three teenage friends prepare to board a flight to Istanbul . Radical websites like Jihad Matchmaker , which offers to arrange marriages between Muslim women and Jihadists , have been blamed for encouraging young , impressionable girls to travel to Syria . Hundreds of besotted British women have put marriage proposals to jihadists fighting on the front line with Islamic State , according to security sources . One European fighter in Syria who has become a pin-up jihadi fighter has been bombarded with proposals from women all over the world , desperate to be associated with a ` holy warrior ' . Jihad Matchmaker , which states it is based in Syria , uses the motto ` keep it halal and get married . ' Its official Twitter account says : ` Jihad Matchmaker is here to link up those seeking marriage in Syria in a halal manner . ' It is not known how many jihadi brides it has matched to jihadi fighters but it has 378 followers , many of whom are young Western Muslim women . Last year it was forced to deny it was linked to any terrorist groups after it was alleged to been responsible for helping to radicalise teenage girls in the UK . It encourages Muslim women seeking a jihadi husband to make contact through a third party or agent who can represent the girl 's interests under Islamic law . It also claims : ` All actions will be conducted via Shariah acceptable routes and means once agreement and compatibilities are established . ' Gone : Yusra Hussien was aged 15 when she told her parents she was going on a school trip before leaving her home , heading to Heathrow airport and boarding a flight to Turkey in October last year . Terror twins : Salma and Zahra Halane fled Manchester in June 2014 to join the Islamic State , becoming the first known British jihadi schoolgirls to travel to Syria . The schoolgirls who fled last week followed the same route used by two 16-year-old twins from Manchester , a 15-year-old from Bristol and another 17-year-old girl from south London . All four are believed to have married Islamic State fighters after travelling to Syria via Istanbul from UK airports . Manchester twins Salma and Zahra Halane fled in June 2014 to join the Islamic State and are the first known British jihadi schoolgirls to travel to Syria . But according to reports they are now teenage widows after their jihadi fighter husbands were killed in battles with Kurdish forces or in Coalition bombing raids . In October Yusra Hussien , 15 , a GCSE A * student , from Easton , Bristol , left in October with another teenager , Samya Dirie . Both flew to Turkey from Heathrow in October last year before being escorted into Syria . Jihadi bride : Aqsa Mahmood . A lawyer for her family said they are ` full of horror and anger ' that she is being allowed by Twitter to ` recruit and encourage ' others to travel to Syria . In contact : Shamima Begum , 15 , sent an open message -LRB- pictured -RRB- to Aqsa Mahmood , 20 , who had fled to Syria from Glasgow to be a ` jihadi bride ' in 2013 , asking her to open a private line of communication . Zahra and Salma Halane are also extremely bright and had 28 GCSEs between them . They were planning to become doctors , having just finished their first year of sixth-form college . They too were said to have been radicalised over the internet . Their father Ibrahim and mother Khadra travelled to the region to try to bring them home , but without success . It is estimated that a total of 60 British women are in Syria living with the Islamic State . Yusra Hussien was aged 15 when she told her parents she was going on a school trip before leaving her home , heading to Heathrow airport and boarding a flight to Turkey in October last year . The City Academy pupil and another girl , Samya Dirie , 17 , from London , then made their way to territory controlled by violent extremist group Islamic State in Syria . A picture tweeted by Aqsa Mahmood , who now goes by the name of @muhajirah_ shows her in ISIS ' capital Raqqa posing alongside two British women using the nom de guerre 's Umm Haritha and Umm Ubaydah . Aqsa Mahmood -LRB- right -RRB- has been accused of helping to recruit schoolgirls to join Islamic State terrorists . It was reported earlier this month that Yusra contacted some friends to say she is now married . Friends of Yusra , now 16 , have claimed that the Bristol teenager contacted them on social media to confirm she was married in Syria living with the Islamic State . Speaking when she first went missing , Yusra 's mother Safiya Hussien , 40 , said : ` Please come back . I love you so much , all your brothers and sister , we miss you so much , the house is not the same since when you left . Now the families of the four east London schoolgirls fear that their daughters have been groomed into going to Syria to become jihadi brides . | At least eight schoolgirls have left the UK to join ISIS since last summer . Three school friends from Bethnal Green Academy left for Syria last week . Another young girl from the same school travelled to join ISIS in December . Manchester terror twins Salma and Zahra Halane , 16 , were the first British schoolgirls to join the Islamic State . Later Yusra Hussien , 15 , and Samya Dirie , 17 , travelled ISIS-held Raqqa . An Edinburgh-born jihadi bride is thoughy to help recruit young schoolgirls . Aqsa Mahmoud joined the terror group last year and has been in contact with several young British school girls since her arrival . | [[0, 88], [0, 13], [53, 184], [3386, 3469], [3084, 3099], [3104, 3118], [4985, 5024], [5060, 5092], [684, 749], [4985, 5024], [5060, 5092], [2916, 2928], [2954, 3008], [2916, 2928], [3011, 3083], [3386, 3469], [3386, 3425], [3474, 3541], [3386, 3469], [3706, 3735], [3738, 3770], [3783, 3820], [4985, 5024], [5060, 5092], [2261, 2263], [2275, 2413], [5358, 5474], [5358, 5388], [5406, 5474], [5358, 5474]] |
Tony Abbott says he 's feeling ` young and vigorous ' after his approval rating rose to a four month high despite coming under fire in recent weeks for a series of gaffes . Support for the Abbott government rose three points , while Labor fell three points - making both parties tied on a primary vote of 38 percent , according to the latest Newspoll published by News Corp. . ` Karl , you know what it 's like to be young and vigorous and at the height of your powers , ' the Prime Minister told Karl Stefanovic on Today this morning . ` That is exactly how I feel . There are some mornings we do n't feel like that but that is certainly how I feel this morning . ' Scroll down for video . Tony Abbott says he 's feeling ` young and vigorous ' after his approval rating rose to a four month high in the latest opinion polls . The percentage of those voters satisfied with Mr Abbott 's performance rose to 25 percent in the latest opinion poll . But Labor leader Bill Shorten took a hit with his satisfaction rating down to a record low of 35 percent . The latest opinion poll was taken over the weekend where Mr Abbott was in full force talking about his response to tackling terrorists and national security . Despite Mr Abbott 's bump in the polls , 77 percent of those surveyed consider him arrogant and only one one-third of them believe he is in touch with voters . The percentage of those voters satisfied with Mr Abbott 's performance rose to 25 percent in the latest opinion poll released by News Corp . The latest opinion poll was taken over the weekend where Mr Abbott was in full force talking about his response to tackling terrorists and national security . It comes after a rough few weeks in which the Prime Minister was ridiculed for controversially giving Prince Philip a knighthood , admitting he felt no guilt ` whatsoever ' for children in detention centres and describing job losses under the Labor government as a ` holocaust of jobs ' . While Mr Abbott also managed to survive a motion for a leadership spill this month , it emerged on Tuesday seven ministers who had expressed support for him have now put him on notice , the Sydney Morning Herald reports . The seven ministers , who asked not to be named , voted for Mr Abbott in the spill motion but say they are now prepared to help remove him if he ca n't revive the budget and further recover the approval ratings . Labor leader Bill Shorten took a hit with his satisfaction rating down to a record low of 35 percent . Despite Mr Abbott 's bump in the polls , 77 percent of those surveyed consider him arrogant and only one one-third of them believe he is in touch with voters . Several ministers have reportedly reached out to Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull , but one said : ` There 's not overwhelming support yet for Malcolm -LSB- Turnbull -RSB- and it needs to be . ' ` I 'm focused on government . I know there are always some people in this business of politics who would rather pursue their own ambitions than the national interest but I am absolutely focused on getting on with government , ' Mr Abbott told Today . ` There is a sense in which Prime Ministers are always on probation . There is a sense in which every day you have to perform . It is true you have to perform . It is true of you , it is true of me , it is true of most of us . ' Support for the Abbott government -LRB- L-R : Treasuer Joe Hockey , Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Tony Abbott -RRB- rose three points , while Labor fell three points - making both parties tied on a primary vote of 38 percent . | Tony Abbott 's approval rating has risen to a four month high . Support for the government three points to equal Labor at 38 percent . Mr Abbott said he was feeling ` young and vigorous ' with news of the bump . Percentage of voters satisfied with Mr Abbott 's performance rose to 25 percent in latest opinion poll . Labor leader Bill Shorten took a hit with satisfaction down to 35 percent . It comes as seven ministers revealed they will help get rid of Mr Abbott if he ca n't revive the budget and opinion poll ratings . | [[0, 172], [60, 113], [691, 826], [751, 826], [173, 224], [233, 315], [3489, 3573], [0, 172], [17, 51], [691, 826], [708, 742], [845, 897], [827, 945], [1372, 1488], [950, 1015], [2396, 2461], [2046, 2083], [2183, 2202], [2277, 2376]] |
The average British holiday in 2015 will be a couple 's sunshine break to Spain , taken out of season , in a hotel with a healthy spending budget to enjoy once we 're there . A survey of over 2,000 UK adults by Monarch Airlines revealed that over half of all breaks booked for 2015 are for trips to sunny Spain -- more than three times as many as its closest rival destination , Greece which took second spot with 17 per cent . An astounding two thirds of holidays in 2015 will be taken by couples , well ahead of the 21 per cent of bookings made groups of friends , and family holidays with the children , which account for 19 per cent of this year 's planned breaks . Spain is set to be the most popular 2015 holiday destination according to research carried out by Monarch . Greece was some way behind Spain in second as the most likely holiday destination for 2015 . Ian Chambers , head of retail and online at Monarch Airlines said : ` This research into 2015 's holiday plans show that our customers will be enjoying some seriously relaxing breaks this year . ` Spain 's popularity amongst those looking for sun , sea and sangria is as strong as ever , and with Greece being the second most popular destination for 2015 it 's no wonder that our new Greek routes are in high demand . ` It 's also great to see savvy travellers making the most of the exceptional bargains that are to be had outside of the traditional peak season -- June is a month that offers the excellent weather conditions of high summer without the crowds . 1 -RRB- Spain -- 58.3 % . 2 -RRB- Greece -- 17.2 % . 3 -RRB- Portugal -- 16.1 % . 4 -RRB- Americas -- 13.8 % . 5 -RRB- Italy -- 12.5 % . 6 -RRB- Turkey -- 12.2 % . 7 -RRB- Cyprus -- 11.7 % . 8 -RRB- France -- 9.1 % . 9 -RRB- Egypt -- 6.4 % . 10 -RRB- Croatia -- 5.3 % . ` However as our research shows , more people are seizing the opportunity and those looking to secure one this year need to act fast to make sure they 're not left behind . ' The most popular months for travel are outside of the school summer holidays , with almost half of those surveyed -LRB- 45 per cent -RRB- booking a break in September , followed closely by getaways in May -LRB- 32 per cent -RRB- and June -LRB- 31 per cent -RRB- . Only one in five of those polled were planning to travel in the traditional peak season of July or August . The appeal of a real break complete with room service and housekeeping is just too strong for most Brits , with over two thirds of holidaymakers booking hotel accommodation over a villa or apartment . The nation 's holidaymakers are also keen to ensure they 're able to make the most of their hard earned break -- the most popular amount of spending money to take on holiday is a sizeable # 400 - # 500 per person , with a lucky 12 per cent taking over # 1,000 as holiday spends . Many couples have decided Spain will be the choice for them on holiday in 2015 . The Americas are the fourth top choice destination for Britons this year according to Monarch . Italy sneaks into the top five with 12.5 per cent of Britons opting to visit the Mediterranean country . | Spain set to be almost three times as popular as next-placed Greece . Two third of holidays in 2015 will be taken by couples . September holidays will be most popular , giving greater discounts . | [[175, 376], [778, 870], [428, 497]] |
Two people have died and 16 have been hospitalized in North Carolina after contracting a superbug which led to the deaths of two patients in Los Angeles . Eighteen people have contracted carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae , or CRE , in the state so far this year , officials have confirmed . Kevin McCarthy , a spokesman with the Carolinas HealthCare System , told CNN 15 of the patients had CRE upon admission to the unnamed hospital in Charlotte , three acquired it in the hospital . Scroll down for video . Concerning : Health officials give a news conference outside the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center of Los Angeles after seven people contracted a killer superbug . Eighteen people have also been diagnosed with the deadly strain in Charlotte , North Carolina . It comes after two people died at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center last week after routine endoscopic procedures . Seven people , including an eighteen-year-old man , were diagnosed with the superbug and has been linked to surgical tools used on as many as 500,000 patients . Officials warned that as many as 179 people who had endoscopies at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center may have been exposed to the so-called superbug . The procedures were done between October 3 and January 28 . All five of the confirmed infected patients who remain alive are under treatment , said UCLA spokeswoman Dale Tate . The infections all occurred during procedures in which a specialized scope , known as a duodenoscope , was inserted down the throat to diagnose and treat pancreatic and bile duct diseases . The outbreak has raised questions about whether methods for cleaning the endoscopes were adequate . The 18-year-old man , whose name has not been released , was among those infected by CRE , said attorney Kevin Boyle , a member of his legal team . The man went to the medical center in mid-2014 for a pancreatic ailment and received an endoscopy , Boyle said . The man became ill and was hospitalized a short time later . By November , he had been diagnosed with CRE . The youth spent 83 days in the hospital , mostly in the intensive care unit , the attorney said . ` It 's definitely a severe infection , ' he said , adding that the infection had landed the young man back in a Los Angeles hospital . The 18-year-old was not in the intensive care unit but was under 24-hour monitoring . ` The -LRB- man 's -RRB- prognosis is unknown , ' Boyle said on Saturday . He would not give the name of the hospital where the young man is being treated . Deadly strain : The patients were infected with the carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae bacteria -LRB- artists impression -RRB- . It has been linked to an endoscope used in routine procedures . Further details on the conditions of the five infected patients have not been disclosed , and details on the circumstances of the two deaths have not been made public . Officials have said there is no broader threat to public health , and that hospital officials have called and sent letters to at-risk former patients . All of them are at home , rather than at a hospital , Tate said . No further infections have been reported . Corey Egel , a spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health , said the short-term risk window for additional CRE infections among the patients who came into contact with the scopes was over . There remains , however , a possibility of future infections if the organism was able to colonize inside any of the patients . ` Any person who is colonized with any multi-drug resistant organism is at some increased risk in the future of developing an infection with that organism , ' he said . The medical center has said that it had been sterilizing the duodenoscopes implicated in the infection , which it began using in June , according to manufacturer standards . It has said it now uses a more rigorous process that exceeds national standards . The two infected scopes were immediately removed from use for return to the manufacturer , Olympus Medical Systems Group . Olympus did not immediately respond to requests for comment . Hospitals across the United States have reported exposures from the same type of medical equipment in recent years . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said it was working with other government agencies and scope manufacturers to minimize risks to patients . California 's public health department said no other hospitals in the state have seen a similar outbreak . | 18 people diagnosed with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae . Comes after pair died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center last week . Seven people were diagnosed with the infection after routine procedures . Officials say 179 people who had endoscopies could be at risk . Two endoscopes used at the hospital had been infected with bug . | [[155, 228], [679, 755], [0, 3], [25, 27], [69, 154], [775, 846], [790, 894], [528, 647], [635, 678], [895, 944], [947, 979], [895, 944], [984, 1017], [1056, 1210], [1089, 1099], [1104, 1153], [1078, 1099], [1123, 1210]] |
A Royal Air Force Typhoon was today scrambled after two Russian surveillance planes flew close to British airspace . The aircraft , believed to be Tupolev 95s , were spotted off the coast of north-east Scotland - but turned away when the British jet fighter took off from Leuchars airbase , near St Andrews in Fife . Incidents . of foreign planes flying close to UK airspace are surprisingly common - . with eight similar occurrences reported last year , according to the Ministry of Defence . Jet : A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft is pictured at RAF Leuchars in Fife , Scotland , in this file image . Seen : The aircraft , believed to be Tupolev 95s -LRB- file picture -RRB- , were spotted off the coast of Scotland . Defence experts say Russia uses such . surveillance flights to remind the world of its military might and to . probe other countries ' air defence systems . The incident comes as international tensions heighten over the Ukraine situation , after last month 's annexation of Crimea by Russia . An MoD spokesman said : ` Typhoon quick reaction alert aircraft were launched today from RAF Leuchars to determine the identity of unknown aircraft that approached the Nato air policing area north of Scotland and could not be identified by other means . ` The aircraft were subsequently . identified as Russian military aircraft . The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace at all times as they are perfectly entitled to do so . Off the coast : A file picture of an RAF Tornado fighter landing at Leuchars airbase near St Andrews in Fife . ` Russian military flights have never entered UK sovereign airspace without authorisation . ' ` Russian military flights have never entered UK sovereign airspace without authorisation ' Ministry of Defence spokesman . Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said tonight : ` Recent events have increased awareness of Russian military activity . ` But we have always routinely intercepted , identified and escorted Russian air and naval assets that transit international airspace and waters within the UK 's area of interest . ` The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force will remain alert and ready to intercept any non-NATO forces in the area . ' | Aircraft , said to be Tupolev 95s , spotted off north-east Scotland coast . Turned away when the RAF jet fighter took off from Leuchars airbase . Russia ` uses surveillance flights to remind world of its military might ' It also performs them to probe other countries ' air defence systems . | [[117, 129], [132, 158], [117, 129], [155, 158], [161, 210], [605, 609], [627, 664], [605, 609], [612, 615], [636, 678], [605, 609], [673, 721], [117, 129], [217, 288], [500, 570], [761, 817], [833, 878]] |
A knitter has been awarded a British Empire Medal - after sending 13,000 colourful woolly hats to soldiers serving overseas . Tina Selby , 51 , set up the Hats For Heroes campaign because she did not want British troops to get cold on the front line . She had originally planned to send around 500 colourful beanies to servicemen stationed in Afghanistan , after reading how the morale of service personnel can be boosted by receiving treats from home . Trooper : Tina Selby , 51 , has been awarded a British Empire Medal - after sending 13,000 colourful woolly hats to soldiers serving overseas . Grateful : Members of 2 Rifles CSS Katt -LRB- Logistic Corps -RRB- wear their woolly hats with pride as they pose alongside their Mastiff while in Afghanistan . However , after starting her efforts in 2009 , Mrs Selby found she could not stop making the hats and ended-up recruiting a small army of knitters to help her . She has also been sent hats from other crafty types who heard about her campaign , and has received cash donations enabling her to buy more wool . As the beanies are only worn when the troops are off duty , Mrs Selby says they do not have to be in any particular colour , but has advised those taking part in the campaign not to use white or fluorescent wool for safety reasons . Winters in Afghanistan can be particularly harsh , with temperatures dropping as low as -20 c , making the hats a must have accessory for many servicemen and women . Crafty : Mrs Selby set up the Hats For Heroes campaign because she did not want British troops to get cold on the front line . Ongoing : Mrs Selby could n't stop making hats and ended-up recruiting a small army of knitters to help her , as well as receiving hats from other crafty types who heard about her efforts . Depending on the style knitted , it takes around one or two balls of wool to make the hats - typically costing between # 5 and # 10 depending on the type of yarn used . Mrs Selby has now been honoured for her ` innovative ' campaign , based out of her home in Penarth near Cardiff , Wales . However , she says her efforts are a ` drop in the ocean ' compared to the work done by the soldiers fighting on foreign soil . Cosy : Members of Support Company 1 Yorkshire Regiment model an array of knitted hats , made by Mrs Selby and her army of knitters . Support : Mrs Selby says her efforts are a ` drop in the ocean ' compared to the work done by soldiers fighting on foreign soil . She added : ' I was proud and humbled to receive the award . It was nice to have the recognition but I did n't do it for that . ' Mrs Selby set up the campaign in 2010 and plans to send out a total of 17,000 hats before she is finished , meaning she has another 4,000 to go . With the withdrawal from Afghanistan now underway as of the end of 2013 there were around 5,200 troops left in Helmand Province - compared to the end of June 2011 when there were roughly 9,500 . Mrs Selby says she now has enough hats to cover the final deployment in Afghanistan and has asked her knitters to down tools so the final consignment can be posted out . Knitter : Tina Selby at work creating another hat . You will need : Double Knit -LRB- DK -RRB- or Chunky wool.Double knit and Size 8 -LRB- 4mm -RRB- needles or Chunky and Size 4 -LRB- 6mm -RRB- needles . Cast on 100 stitches for DK or 80 stitches for chunky and Rib -LRB- 2 plain 2 purl -RRB- for 8 -10 inches -LRB- 20 - 25.5 cm -RRB- . Next row knit 2 together to the end of the row . Purl next row . Next row knit 2 together to the end of the row . Purl next row . Knit 1 row . Purl 1 row . Break off yarn , run yarn through remaining stitches , draw up and fasten off . Join back seam . Source : Hats4Heroes . | Tina Selby , 51 , set up the Hats For Heroes campaign in 2009 . She planned to make 500 hats as she did not want UK troops to get cold . But she could not stop and soon recruited a small army of knitters to help . With the withdrawal from Afghanistan underway she will have sent 17,000 by the time the last British troops come home . | [[769, 803], [806, 905], [769, 803], [806, 815], [861, 866], [870, 919], [126, 136], [144, 251], [252, 329], [1475, 1592], [769, 803], [806, 905], [769, 803], [806, 815], [861, 866], [870, 919], [861, 919], [1603, 1688], [1635, 1700], [2275, 2287], [2290, 2334], [2595, 2604], [2637, 2700]] |
This is the moment an RAF Typhoon closes in on a Russian surveillance plane after it flew close to UK airspace , before making it turn back . The photograph of the Russian Tu-95 ` Bear H ' was taken from one of the RAF 's Quick Reaction Aircraft after two Russian planes were spotted off the coast of north-east Scotland . However , the aircraft turned away after the British jet fighters , one which can be seen approaching the Russian plane from above , took off from Leuchars airbase , near St Andrews in Fife yesterday . Approach : This is the moment an RAF Typhoon -LRB- pictured in the background -RRB- closes in on a Russian surveillance plane -LRB- front -RRB- as it strayed towards UK airspace . Spotted : RAF Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert aircraft were launched from RAF Leuchars to determine the identity of the unknown aircraft as approached the NATO Air Policing Area north of Scotland . Planes were launched by the RAF to determine the identity of two unknown aircraft seen approaching the NATO Air Policing Area north of Scotland , which could not be identified by other means . The aircraft were later identified as Russian Bears , which the Ministry of Defence said remained in international airspace , as they are entitled to do . Incidents of foreign planes flying close to UK airspace are surprisingly common - with eight similar occurrences reported last year , according to the Ministry of Defence . A spokesman from the MoD said that Russian military flights have never entered UK sovereign airspace without authorisation . Surveillance : Planes were launched by the RAF to determine the identity of two unknown aircraft seen approaching the NATO Air Policing Area north of Scotland , which could not be identified by other means . Monitoring : Defence experts say Russia uses such surveillance flights to remind the world of its military might and to probe other countries ' air defence systems . Defence experts say Russia uses such surveillance flights to remind the world of its military might and to probe other countries ' air defence systems . The incident comes as international tensions heighten over the Ukraine situation , after last month 's annexation of Crimea by Russia . Typhoon Pilot Flight Lieutenant Gary Montgomery , of 6 Squadron , said : ` Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert stands ready to scramble at a moments notice , 24/7 , all year long , to maintain the integrity of UK airspace . Identified : The aircraft were later identified as Russian Bears , which the Ministry of Defence said remained in international airspace , as they are entitled to do . ` We scrambled on 23 April to intercept two unknown aircraft approaching the NATO Air Policing Area from the north . ` We intercepted and flew within visual range and identified them as Russian Tu-95 `` Bear H '' aircraft . ` We . monitored their progress , including handing them over to Danish F-16 . QRA aircraft as the Bears flew towards Denmark , then continued to . monitor them as they returned . ' Jet : An RAF Typhoon , similar to the ones scrambled yesterday . Pilots say the planes are on constant alert , and ready to deploy at a moment 's notice . | RAF jet fighter can be seen approaching the Russian Tu-95 ` Bear H ' Two unidentified planes were spotted off the coast of north-east Scotland . British planes were scrambled to identify the aircraft . Ministry of Defence say Russian jets remained in international airspace . | [[0, 75], [8, 110], [333, 388], [391, 453], [246, 322], [900, 981], [961, 1043], [1559, 1642], [1622, 1704], [2596, 2710], [715, 838], [900, 981], [1559, 1642], [1131, 1144], [1169, 1190], [1131, 1144], [1182, 1216], [2477, 2490], [2515, 2536], [2477, 2490], [2528, 2562]] |
David Cameron today pledges to protect a raft of pensioner benefits to ensure ` dignity and security in retirement ' . In a major pitch to grey voters , the Prime Minister will vow to continue paying for the winter fuel allowance , free bus passes , TV licences , prescriptions and eye tests for as long as he is in Downing Street . He will repeat the pledge , which he first made at the last election , as he rejects the argument that such benefits are an ` unnecessary luxury ' in times of financial difficulties . Instead , he said it is ` our fundamental duty ' to care for those who have ` done the right thing ' . They deserve ` comfort , independence , companionship , health ' he said in a speech , adding : ` No one has put in as much as our elderly . These people have fought wars , seen us through recessions -- made this the great country it is today . ` They brought us into the world and cared for us , and now it 's our turn -- our fundamental duty -- to care for them . ' Last year Mr Cameron refused to say whether pensioner benefits would be continued for another five years , amid reports of opposition from within Cabinet . It emerged at the time that senior ministers , including Iain Duncan Smith and George Osborne had both argued for the guarantee to be dropped . Both Labour and the Lib Dems have called for restrictions on elements of some pensioner benefits for the better off . In 2010 , during the television debates , Mr Cameron rounded on Gordon Brown , accusing him of scaremongering by telling older people their benefits would be cut under the Tories . Today he said : ` In 2010 , I looked down the barrel of the camera and made a clear commitment to the British people that I would keep these things . ` And that was n't a commitment for five years -- it was a commitment for as long as I was Prime Minister . ' I know some people do n't like this . There are those who say it 's an unnecessary luxury during a time of national financial difficulties . They 're wrong . Say that to the older woman who can keep warm tonight , on this cold February evening , because she 's been given the money to heat her home . ` Or the widower heading into town on the bus , doing his shopping , seeing people for the only time that week . Or the bedbound lady whose whole day is brightened by the TV ; or the sick man whose pain is kept at bay . ` Comfort , independence , companionship , health -- these are n't luxuries ; they 're what people who have worked and saved all their lives deserve . ` And think what we would give up if we did take them away -- the principle that if you 've done the right thing you will get the benefits of living in Britain . ' Rejecting the argument that pensioner benefits need to be reduced to pay for cuts to the overall welfare bill , he will point out that the ` biggest saving ' made by the Government has been as a result of raising the retirement age . He will also hint that Labour , which has said it will cut winter fuel payments for richer pensioners , could go further and restrict the benefits ` far more aggressively ' or even abolish them altogether . That suggestion will be furiously rejected by Labour . The Winter Fuel Allowance costs around # 2billion a year , the free TV licence for over-75s # 600million , free bus passes # 1billion and free prescriptions and eye tests # 4billion . Tory analysis suggests that Labour 's policy of means-testing winter fuel payments will save just # 75million after administration costs -- or just 4 per cent of the budget for the benefit . That compares to Labour 's estimate of # 105million a year . Enjoying the ride : Joan Dyson , 70 , and Marion Pickering , 67 , use their right to free travel on a London bus . In this Parliament the Lib Dems have refused to countenance any further welfare reform unless Mr Cameron agrees to cuts to benefits for the better off . It is Lib Dem policy to remove winter fuel payments and TV licences from higher rate tax paying pensioners but continue the pensioner bus pass , free prescriptions or eye tests for all . Lib Dem pensions minister Steve Webb said : ` The working age poor will pay the price for the Conservative ring fence for the very wealthiest pensioners . Lib Dem pensions minister Steve Webb said : ` The working age poor will pay the price for the Conservative ring fence for the very wealthiest pensioners ' ` The Conservatives are proposing # 12 billion pounds of welfare cuts which is the equivalent of a # 1500 cut for eight million people . ` By ruling out any changes to benefits of wealthy pensioners they are showing their determination to balance the books solely on the backs of disabled people and the working age poor . ' Mr Cameron pledged last year to keep the ` triple lock ' , which guarantees the value of the # 113-a-week basic state pension , until at least 2020 if he wins the election . Mr Cameron said : ` The truth is this : the big savings will only come by restricting these benefits far more aggressively -- or by abolishing these benefits altogether . ` That 's why I have to warn people -- beware of politicians promising just to cut one or two of these benefits , and only by a bit . Once they have started chipping away at these benefits , believe me , before long , they 'll start getting rid of them altogether . ' The announcement was welcomed by campaign groups representing older people . Caroline Abrahams , charity director at Age UK , said : ` Age UK supports the continuation of older people 's universal benefits because they are the best way we have of getting extra help to those who need it , and because older people tell us they value them highly . ' Paul Green of Saga said : ` There appears to be much in today 's announcement that will appeal to the Saga generations . ' Rachel Reeves , Labour 's shadow work and pensions secretary , said : ` David Cameron 's government has let millions of pensioners down , failing to act on rising fuel costs and rip off pension fees and charges . ` Pensioners will find it hard to take pre-election promises seriously from a Prime Minister who has introduced the granny tax , increased VAT , and caused the Tory NHS crisis which has damaged social care services . ` Labour has a better plan for pensioners . We will support the triple lock , freeze energy bills and ensure savers are protected against pension rip-off pension charges and mis-selling . As part of our plan to get the deficit down in a fairer way , we will stop paying the winter fuel allowance to the richest five per cent of pensioners and reverse David Cameron 's tax cut for millionaires . Accusations that we will end pensioner benefits are simply untrue . ' | Prime Minister will today reaffirm pledge he made at the last election . It includes # 2bn fuel allowance , # 600m TV licences and # 1bn bus passes . Free prescriptions and eye tests for pensioners also cost # 4billion . Row over how much Labour plans to means-test fuel allowance will save . | [[333, 401], [3179, 3235], [3286, 3362], [3286, 3362]] |
More than 11,000 amendments have been proposed in U.S. congressional history , but only 17 have been added to the Constitution . If some of the thousands of amendments had been approved , life as we know it in America would change radically : There would be no president , Americans would declare their allegiance to the United States of Earth , and it would be illegal to get a divorce . As numbers show , though Congress and the states can change the U.S. Constitution through the amendment process , it 's very rare . The U.S. Constitution -LRB- left -RRB- was created in 1787 and went into effect in 1789 . The Bill of Rights -LRB- right -RRB- and its first ten amendments went into effect in 1791 . Since then , 17 amendments have been added . One failed proposal , for example , came in 1893 from U.S. Representative Lucas Miller from Wisconsin , who said that America should change its name to ` the United States of Earth ' , according to Yahoo . ` It is possible for the Republic to grow through the admission of new States into the Union until every Nation on Earth has become part of it , ' Miller , who was n't nominated for a second term , suggested . 1876 : A three-person , Roman-style triumvirate should replace role of president . 1876 : Eliminate the Senate and Presidency . 1876 : Forbid religious leaders from occupying a governmental office or receiving federal funding . 1893 : Rename America the ` United States of the Earth ' 1893 : Abolish the U.S. Army and Navy . 1894 : Acknowledge that the Constitution recognizes God and Jesus Christ as supreme leaders in human affairs . 1912 : Marriage between races should be illegal . 1921 : Divorce should be illegal . 1916 : Put all acts of war to a national vote . Any ` yes ' voter has to register as a volunteer for service in the U.S. Army . 1933 : Limit income to $ 1million - all excess goes toward lowering national debt . 1936 : Allow American people to vote on whether or not country should go to war . 1938 : Forbid drunkenness in all states and U.S. territories . 1947 : Income tax for individuals should not exceed 25 per cent . 1948 : Give the right of citizens to segregate themselves from others . 1971 : American citizens should have the alienable right to an environment free of pollution . source : constitutionfacts.com . An amendment , first proposed in the 1880s , that would regulate marriage and divorce was introduced to Congress every year for about 60 years . Former President Theodore Roosevelt , too , lobbed to give Congress power over divorces without passing an amendment . And one 1921 amendment tried to eliminate the idea of divorce entirely . ` Congress shall have power to establish and enforce by appropriate legislation uniform laws as to marriage and divorce : Provided that every state may by law exclude , as to its citizens duly domiciled therein , any or all causes for absolute divorce in such laws mentioned , ' the proposal read . In 1876 , a citizen named Augustus Wilson proposed to Congress that the role of the president be eliminated and replaced with a three-person , Roman-style triumvirate . That same year , residents of Potter County , Pennsylvania , suggested an amendment that would eliminate the Senate and Presidency . National Archives records show that they were upset because the Senate ` always advanced the interest of the money , railroad and manufacturing speculators to the prejudice of the common welfare ' . And in 1933 , U.S. Representative Wesley Lloyd , from Washington , proposed that excess income for millionaires making more than $ 1million per year be put toward lowering the national debt . A 2005 proposal - the Flag Desecration Amendment - came within one vote of passing Senate in 2006 after the House had approved it . The Corwin Amendment , which guaranteed the rights of states that legalized slavery to keep ` persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State ' , was approved by Congress in 1861 , but it was not ratified by the states . To become part of the Constitution , an amendment must be proposed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives or by two-thirds of the state legislatures in what 's called a constitutional convention . For the proposed amendment to then be approved , three-quarters of the state legislatures have to vote to ratify it . Lucas Miller -LRB- left -RRB- proposed that America change its name to ` the United States of Earth ' in 1893 because he believed the nation could take over every nation on Earth . Though Theodore Roosevelt -LRB- right -RRB- never proposed an amendment to make divorce illegal like many others did , he lobbied to give Congress power over the subject . For an amendment to become part of the constitution , it must be first proposed by two-thirds the Senate and House or two-thirds of state legislatures . It then is up to the states to approve the proposal . Three-quarters of the states must vote to ratify it for the amendment to become valid . U.S. House of Representatives member Thomas Corwin proposed an amendment that guaranteed the rights of states that legalized slavery to keep ` persons held to labor or service by the laws of said State ' . It was passed by Congress in 1861 but failed to ratify . A few proposed amendments came close to ratification , including the Titles of Nobility Amendment , the Equal Rights Amendment and the Child Labor Amendment . But since the Bill of Rights , the first ten amendments passed in 1791 , 99 per cent of the amendments have n't made it through the congressional approval or constitutional convention , . Of the 17 that have made it through the process , one has already been repealed -- the 18th Amendment , which established Prohibition . The 27th Amendment established in 1992 , the last to be passed , barred Congress from giving itself a pay raise during the current season . In today 's 113th Congress , many proposed amendments focus on balancing the governmental budget and allowing campaign financing . Others include outlawing same-sex marriages nationally , imposing limits on Senate and House terms , repealing the 22nd amendment that limits the presidency term and eliminating the 16th amendment and income taxes . | More than 11,000 amendments have been proposed in Congress . Only 17 have been approved since the first ten amendments passed in 1791 . Proposed amendments include banning divorce and eliminating presidency . Amendments must be proposed by two-thirds of state legislatures or two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives . Three-quarters of the states ' lawmakers must approve a proposal for it to be ratified . In current 113th Congress , proposed amendments include balancing the governmental budget and allowing campaign financing . | [[0, 76], [79, 128], [652, 703], [5436, 5475], [346, 388], [1651, 1655], [1658, 1685], [2573, 2645], [3114, 3128], [3131, 3157], [3175, 3246], [4037, 4216], [4742, 4758], [4768, 4840], [4742, 4744], [4753, 4840], [4217, 4243], [4266, 4334], [4895, 4964], [5869, 5895], [5898, 5999]] |
The mother of a four-year-old girl who was found unconscious and turning blue after wandering away from home at 3am has told police she had left the house to joyride and smoke marijuana . Rebecca Reyes , 23 , has been arrested after her daughter was found cowering by a neighbor 's door in New London , Connecticut on Friday morning and rushed to hospital with hypothermia . She called 911 at 3.38 am to report that the girl was missing , and said she had woke up and found her daughter 's bed empty . When police asked Reyes if she had left the house at any point , she then said she had quickly left her three children , aged five , four and two , to go to the store , and returned to find the girl gone . Scroll down for video . Arrested : Rebecca Reyes , 23 , was arrested after her daughter wandered away from their home on Friday morning while Reyes went to smoke marijuana and go joyriding with a friend , police have said . But when pressed , she admitted she had left around 2am to go joyriding and smoking with a friend , before returning at 3am , NBC Connecticut reported . Responding officers also reported that the home was covered with dirty laundry mixed with toys and food . They also said they smelled marijuana and rotting garbage , NBC reported . The children were sleeping on mattresses on the floor with no sheets or blankets , police said . Police said Reyes was unemotional and did not inquire how her daughter was when the girl was eventually found after two and a half hours . ` Detectives said they 're really was n't a lot of remorse of her at that point . She had other things going on her agenda than taking care of her children at the time , ' Peter Reichard , the New London Police acting police chief , told Fox CT. . Mother : Reyes , pictured , has a two-year-old son and two daughters , aged four and five . ` No remorse ' : Police said Reyes , pictured in court on Friday , did not ask how her four-year-old daughter was when she was found blue and unconscious after being outside for more than two hours . ` What parent in their right mind goes out at 2:00 a.m. leaves their three infants behind to score drugs ? ' The New London Police and Fire Departments , police from Waterford , and Connecticut State Police searched for the girl . She was discovered between a storm door and a door of a nearby apartment for warmth . She was wearing only a t-shirt , jeans and boots , police said . She was turning blue and unconscious , and her temperature had dropped to 90 degrees as outdoor temperatures plunged to just three degrees -LRB- -16 C -RRB- . Her fingers were red and swollen and she had ` frost nips ' on her arms , back and legs , police said . The girl , who was taken to hospital for treatment , later told police officers she had woken and looked for her mother but could not find her . Scene : The girl told police she had woken up in the night and had not been able to find her mother . The child , who is now out of the hospital , and her two siblings are now being cared for by their mother 's father . The girl 's own father is in prison , WTNH reported . Last year , she wrote on her Facebook page beneath an image of her children : ` Everything i do is for them . Im not living for likes , for people to like who i am , i dnt care what people think abt me , all im living for since the birth of my first , is my children . Point blank . Im just being Mommy to them . ' Reyes has been charged with three counts risk of injury to a minor , first-degree reckless endangerment and false statement . She appeared in court on Friday and will remain in jail on $ 250,000 bond . She is due back in court on March 13 . See below for video . | Rebecca Reyes , 23 , called police and told them she had woken up and her daughter was missing from their Connecticut home . But she later admitted she had left her three children alone for an hour while she went out to joyride and smoke marijuana with a friend . The four-year-old girl was later found unconscious next to a neighbor 's door as temperatures plunged to 3F -LRB- -16 C -RRB- . She was turning blue and was starting to suffer hypothermia . | [[375, 397], [401, 436], [375, 378], [398, 436], [732, 740], [759, 843], [2687, 2737], [2740, 2806], [2840, 2890], [0, 34], [112, 187], [850, 879], [850, 855], [884, 910], [936, 948], [951, 1029], [227, 286], [1925, 2041], [14, 34], [39, 108], [0, 3], [14, 34], [65, 115], [188, 201], [337, 374], [1925, 2041], [2424, 2460]] |
A Burlesque dancer has become an unlikely hero after getting fired for being ` too fat ' as she says hoards of women have reached out to her in support . Ruby Rage claimed Lucky Pierre 's dumped her because she was too curvy and accused the New Orleans club of having issues with her body type . But both high-profile figures in the burlesque community , Facebook commenters and an army of women have lashed out at the French Quarter nightclub . She told WGNO ABC : ` The amount of women that have reached out to me and have told me like ` you 're my hero ' it hit close to home for a lot of people and in my own community here in New Orleans a lot of people have supported me . Scroll down for video . Dancer : Ruby Rage , pictured , has claimed that Lucky Pierre 's let her go due to her size . Dismissal : Rage has said she was informed ` that upper management did n't think that my body type fit in with the burlesque show ' ` Bella Blue has decided to pull the show from Lucky Pierre 's after a lot of the attention . I know a lot of people who work at Lucky Pierre 's have gotten backlash from this and it 's unnecessary for employees that still work there to get harassed . ' I feel that if anyone wants to work there they should , I just wanted to make it known that this happened to me and it was n't right . ' ' I have had this happen before , I have been told ` Oh sorry , you ca n't do a gig because of your weight ' you know it 's one of those things , you show up to an interview , you interview for a spot and you do n't get it , no big deal . ` It 's not about me losing the job , it 's not about me losing the gig , it 's about someone saying I 'm too big to do burlesque , I do n't fit a certain body image to do burlesque and that is wrong . ` Burlesque is accepting of men , women , different genders , transgendered , it does not matter . ' The club became the target of online criticism after performer Ruby Rage claimed Lucky Pierre 's dumped her because of her weight . Rage had been part of ` The Blue Book Cabaret ' show at the club . Rage told 21st Century Burlesque ' I have been working at Lucky Pierre 's for around a year . About three weeks ago I stopped seeing my name on the schedule , so naturally I asked about this because I thought it was a technical error with my phone/computer on my end . ' ' I finally had the chance to speak with -LSB- show producer -RSB- Bella Blue , and she told me that upper management did n't think that my body type fit in with the burlesque show , ' she told the website . Lucky Pierre 's said in a Friday Facebook page statement ` Let 's face the facts , in the long history of the art there is an expected image . ' The club also said that ` The world has a standard for burlesque and our dramatically comical musical show will achieve that standard . ' Lucky Pierre 's cited a number of current and former burlesque stars who are not plus-size as examples , including Dita von Teese and Blaze Starr , and included a video of Miss Exotic World champion LouLou D'Vil performing . The post received hundreds of comments - many of which slammed Lucky Pierre 's and came to Rage 's defense . Others pointed to Miss Exotic World champion Dirty Martini as an example of a famous burlesque performer , who herself is a plus-size . Speaking out : Lucky Pierre 's posted this Facebook post in regards to the controversy . Examples : Lucky Pierre cited Dita von Teese , left , and Blaze Starr , right , as examples of burlesque 's ` expected image ' Second message : Lucky Pierre 's later posted a second statement online . Anger : The first Lucky Pierre 's post has received hundreds of comments - many of which slammed the club and came to Rage 's defense . D'Vil herself commented on the post , writing ` If a performer is able to entertain the audience , nothing else matters . And that 's my opinion . ' The Burlesque Hall of Fame criticized Lucky Pierre 's message on Facebook Saturday , claiming it was factually incorrect . Writing for 21st Century Burlesque on Sunday , Dirty Martini said ' I read the statement -LSB- from Lucky Pierre 's -RSB- and was interested to find that they justify their argument using some sort of burlesque time machine with examples handpicked from the past to prove their point . To this sort of logic , there is no argument . It 's like using Hitler , Mussolini and Saddam Hussein as examples of why power corrupts in politics . ' Lucky Pierre 's published a second Facebook statement Sunday . ` There was never a statement by any representatives of Lucky Pierre 's about size , ' the statement said . ` It is a shame that people are using a sensitive subject like body shaming to incite a misled mob . The standard we clearly explained was about skill , costume and entertainment . ' Several Facebook comments regarding the second post accused the Bourbon Street club of ` backpedaling . ' Joining in : The Burlesque Hall of Fame commented on Facebook about the controversy in the burlesque community . Statement : Ruby Rage has said ` It 's the talent of the performer and what they bring to that stage that really matters ' Lucky Pierre 's spokesman ` AJ ' told NOLA.com ` It is my understanding that the point the -LSB- Facebook -RSB- post was attempting to convey is that the changes were not specifically about size but rather the entire show . We are looking for more energy , better costumes , and more crowd participation . We have worked on this particular act since October and unfortunately there was little improvement . The worst part is this misinformation is now affecting other acts and in the end it will only hurt our loyal staff . That is very sad and I hope our fans can see past this web bashing . ' On Saturday , Bella Blue wrote on Facebook ' A lot of you have asked for comment on what is going regarding what happened with Ruby Rage . I promise to make a clear and concise statement when the time is right . Please know that this situation involves and affects a lot of people and creates a ripple effect far and wide . That being said , also know that Ruby 's community loves and supports her . ` On a personal note , Ruby and I are friends . We have talked extensively about this in private . And we will continue to be friends and work together for many years to come . ' Blue announced that she ` will no longer be producing at Lucky Pierre 's ' on Facebook Monday . Daily Mail Online reached out to Rage , Blue , and Lucky Pierre 's for comment . Rage directed Daily Mail Online to a statement she earlier gave to NOLA.com , which said in part ` Some may agree with Lucky Pierre 's , and some may not . But the bigger picture here is n't just this , it 's the fact that burlesque is something that accepts everyone . So please do n't sit in the corner calling a show burlesque when you truly do no accept everyone 's appearance . It 's the talent of the performer and what they bring to that stage that really matters . ' | Ruby Rage has claimed that Lucky Pierre 's fired her due to her size . The club said in a Facebook post ` The world has a standard for burlesque and our dramatically comical musical show will achieve that standard ' Hundreds of comments poured in - many of which slammed Lucky Pierre 's and came to Rage 's defense . In a second message , Lucky Pierre 's said ` It is a shame that people are using a sensitive subject like body shaming to incite a misled mob . The standard we clearly explained was about skill , costume and entertainment ' | [[154, 295], [172, 184], [188, 295], [703, 709], [724, 796], [1915, 1993], [2540, 2596], [2660, 2682], [2685, 2693], [2699, 2820], [3293, 3305], [3308, 3381], [1055, 1104], [3048, 3102], [3097, 3126], [3048, 3056], [3131, 3156], [3589, 3671], [3293, 3305], [3308, 3381], [3509, 3523], [3526, 3582], [4429, 4491], [4602, 4675], [4616, 4700], [4701, 4713], [4717, 4738], [4701, 4780]] |
A Fitzroy woman who ` got lost ' and then stopped to ask Melbourne Highway Patrol officers to help her find the way home , will be charged with drink driving after being breath tested at the scene of a totally unrelated accident . Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia that she had her licence revoked on the spot and ` she will be charged by summons after she approached officers as they were attending a collision ' . At about 10pm on Sunday , the woman , aged 39 , drove up to the police at the scene of the accident and told them she was lost and could n't find her way home to Fitzroy . Victoria Police were surprised to find a woman driving up to them at the scene of an accident near Flinders Street in Melbourne 's CBD - she was found to be more than five times over the legal alcohol limit . The 39-year-old woman was tested at the scene of someone else 's accident nearby Flinders Street Station after she became lost on the way home to Fitzroy , less than three kilometres away . The 39-year-old driver was caught out by police after telling them she was ` lost ' less than three kilometres away from her home in Fitzroy . After requesting directions , she was breath tested and returned a reading of 0.271 , more than five times over the legal alcohol limit . Her licence has been suspended and she will be charged with drink driving . Police added that an alcohol lock device is likely to be fitted to her car , once she is permitted to drive once more . Victoria Police immediately disqualified her drivers licence and impounded her car . She returned a reading of 0.271 and will be sent a summons to appear in court . | Woman gets lost in Melbourne CBD less than 3 kilometres away from her home . The driver approached police , who were attending an unrelated accident , for help when she could n't find Fitzroy . Highway Patrol officers sensed something was up and asked her to undertake a breath test . The 39-year-old registered 0.271 more than five times the legal limit . Her licence was torn up on the spot and her car impounded . | [[805, 994], [910, 987], [995, 1119], [995, 1017], [1043, 1137], [0, 15], [37, 120], [322, 419], [424, 447], [450, 459], [472, 523], [596, 732], [1138, 1165], [1168, 1189], [424, 447], [450, 459], [462, 469], [733, 736], [747, 804], [1557, 1588], [231, 384], [1472, 1487], [1537, 1556]] |
Aiming to undercut Apple 's latest hit service , Google is teaming up with three major U.S. wireless carriers to prod more people into using its mobile wallet . Google 's latest volley calls for its payment service to be built into Android smartphones sold by AT&T Inc. , Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA later this year . Smartphone owners currently have to download the service , called Google Wallet , and install the app on their phone if they want to use it to buy something instead of pulling out cash or a credit card . Google is teaming up with three major U.S. wireless carriers in an effort to prod more people into using its mobile wallet and undercut the rapid success of Apple 's rival payment service . The counterattack announced Monday is just the latest example of how the competition between Google Inc. and Apple Inc. is extending beyond the technology industry 's traditional boundaries . Besides payments , Silicon Valley 's two richest companies are expanding into fields such as home appliances and cars to increase their power and profits . Apple 's rival service , Apple Pay , already comes embedded in the latest versions of the company 's mobile software . Besides trying to make it more convenient to use Wallet , Google also is hoping to improve the nearly 4-year-old service . Toward that end , Google Inc. is buying some mobile payment technology and patents from Softcard , a 5-year-old venture owned by the wireless carriers . Financial terms were n't disclosed . Although Google and the wireless carriers got a head start with their digital wallets , the concept had n't gained much traction until Apple Pay debuted last fall . The service has become more popular than Apple expected , according to a recent presentation by CEO Tim Cook . Just three months after Apple Pay 's November debut , Cook said the service accounted for two out of every three dollars spent across the three major U.S. card networks , when no card was used . About 2,000 banks and credit unions have agreed to offer Apple Pay to its customers . Apple has n't said how many merchants are set up to handle its mobile payment services . If Apple builds on that early momentum , the Cupertino , California , company could become the leader in what is expected to be a booming market . Nearly 16 million U.S. consumers spent about $ 3.5 billion on tap-and-pay services last year , according to the research firm eMarketer . Apple Pay -LRB- pictured at its launch with Tim Cook -RRB- -RRB- has been a hug success . Apple Pay launched earlier this year and lets people with an iPhone 6 and 6 Plus pay for goods by tapping their handsets on NFC readers . It works by holding the phone up to a card reader and pressing a finger on the TouchID button . This confirms the person 's identity , and the payment is made as if the user had presented and signed their card . All details are encrypted and the system stores payment information securely . If an iPhone is lost , users can suspend all payments via the Find my iPhone service . By 2018 , eMarketer predicts those figures will rise to 57 million U.S. consumers spending about $ 118 billion . Companies that provide mobile wallets make money by collecting processing fees from merchants and banks . Samsung Electronics , another major smartphone maker , may be ready to join the fray after buying a mobile payment startup called LoopPay . That deal , announced last week , fueled speculation that Samsung will include a digital wallet on its next phone . Apple Pay 's popularity probably helped forge the unlikely alliance between Google and the wireless carriers . Google traditionally has had a prickly relationship with the carriers , largely because it does n't believe enough has been done to upgrade wireless networks and make them cheaper so more people can spend more time online . Media reports say Google is considering selling its own wireless plans to consumers . LoopPay -LRB- left -RRB- calls itself a ` wallet solution ' that lets customers pay with their phones and tablets ` virtually everywhere ' . It consists of an app and a device , which is either a fob or a phone case . If the firms do partner up , LoopPay 's technology could be built into Samsung phones -LRB- Galaxy S5 pictured right -RRB- , tablets and watches . The pre-installation of the Wallet app is similar to what Google already does with its search engine , Gmail and YouTube on millions of other phones running on Android -- an operating system that Google has been giving away for years to ensure people keep using its products on mobile devices . Google profits from the traffic by showing ads . | AT&T , Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile USA will include Google Wallet on Android phones . Samsung expected to launch its mobile payment solution on Sunday . | [[232, 305], [528, 601]] |
Workers form a picket line outside the Lyondell-Basell oil refinery in Houston , Texas earlier this month . Motorists have been warned to expect a hike in gas prices as the first nationwide refinery strike in 35 years has reduced American oil production by a fifth . The United Steelworkers union have said that workers at the largest refinery in the country , Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur , Texas , started their strike at midnight on Friday . Employees at two other refineries and a chemical plant in Louisiana also planned to strike . The union said in a statement that it expanded a strike that started February 1 at refineries largely in Texas and California because the industry has refused to ` meaningfully address ' safety issues through good-faith bargaining . The union also wants to discuss staffing levels and seeks limits on the use of contractors to replace union members in doing daily maintenance work . Negotiations for a new contract began on January 21 with Shell Oil Company , which is serving as the lead company in bargaining talks . Shell spokesman Ray Fisher said in an email that the company was ` extremely disappointed ' with the latest development . Mr Fisher said : ` We believe this move sets the wrong tone for both parties to move forward and reach an agreement . ` We remain committed to continued safe operations and productive negotiations . ' United Steelworkers represents about 30,000 workers at refineries , terminals , petrochemical plants and pipelines across the country . The walk out started with about 3,800 workers at nine refineries and then grew to include locations in Indiana and Ohio . This latest expansion adds another 1,350 employees to the strike . The workers who were to begin striking on Saturday at midnight work at Motiva refineries in Convent and Norco , Louisiana , and a Shell Chemical plant in Norco . The Port Arthur site is a joint venture between Shell and Saudi Refining Inc. . It produces more than 600,000 barrels per day . Oil companies and energy experts have said that improved plant technology and strike-contingency plans should ease the blow to production from these strikes . The United Steelworkers Union said in a statement that it expanded a strike that started February 1 at refineries largely in Texas and California because the industry has refused to ` meaningfully address ' safety issues through good-faith bargaining . But economists say pockets of the country served by refineries targeted in these strikes have likely already seen some impact to gas prices . That includes California , which depends more on in-state refineries for its fuel , said Amy Myers Jaffe , an energy economist at the University of California , Davis . ` The price of gasoline did n't soar in California , but it went up a little bit after the strike , ' she said . She added that the labor dispute 's influence on price may grow as refineries finish the maintenance work they typically do at this time of year and start preparing to increase gasoline production . She added : ` The longer it goes on , then the more likely it is going to influence gas prices . ' | United Steelworkers union have expanded a strike across U.S. oil refineries . Strike is the first nationwide refinery walkout in America for over 30 years . It has already reduced oil production within the United States by a fifth . Experts now warning motorists the strike could mean a hike in gas prices . | [[552, 607], [587, 677], [2168, 2243], [2223, 2313], [108, 217], [169, 266], [169, 266], [108, 217], [3044, 3053], [3058, 3140]] |
A 13-year-old girl suspected of stabbing a classmate to please the internet meme Slender Man told police she was ` excited ' to kill her friend - because she thought it would help prove the horror character exists . Anissa Weier and friend Morgan Geyser , who were 12 at the time of the alleged incident , also told police different accounts of the horrific act when they were interviewed in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha , Wisconsin . The pair are accused of knifing Peyten Lautner 19 times before leaving her for dead in the woods on May 31 , 2014 . She managed to save herself by crawling to get help from a passing bicyclist . Scroll down for video . Suspects : Morgan Geyser -LRB- left -RRB- and Anissa Weier -LRB- right -RRB- have been accused of stabbing their classmate in Waukesha , Wisconsin in a bid to appease the mythical Slender Man . Survived : Peyton Lautner -LRB- above -RRB- was stabbed 19 times in the woods on May 31 , 2014 . She managed to save herself by crawling out of the woods and flagging down a passing bicyclist . Harrowing : Morgan is seen with blood on her shirt during the interrogation -LRB- above -RRB- . A video of the suspects ' chilling interrogation was released by police last week . During questioning , the girls told officers they tried to kill the girl to appease the mythical character . One of them however said : ' I was excited because I wanted proof that he existed because there were a bunch of skeptics out there saying he did n't exist . ' I was afraid of what would happen if I did n't ... I did n't want to find out what would happen if we did n't . ' According to NBC , one of the girls said the other told her they could become Slender Man 's ` proxies ' if they killed the victim . In the video of the interview , obtained by WISN , the girls both say they told Peyton they wanted to go bird watching , this after planning their attack on the school bus . ` People who trust you become very gullible , ' Morgan told police . ` And it was sort of sad . ' Anissa is more emotional during her interview , wiping away tears at one point . Anissa said at one point Slender Man would kill their families if they did not kill Peyton . ` We told her we were going to get help , ' she told police about the moments after the two stabbed Peyton . ' ` But we were n't . We were going to run and let her pass away . So we ran . ' The girls were running off to find Slender Man , and were later picked up walking along a highway off-ramp , and Morgan had a knife in her backpack . In the interrogation video , Morgan can also been seen with blood on her shirt , which she has photographed at one point . She also begins singing to herself at one point during the six-hour interview , and told police of her plan ; ` You have no idea how difficult it was not to tell anyone . I knew we 'd get in trouble . ' When she described the actually stabbing , she said ; ` It just sort of happened . It did n't feel like anything . It was like air . ' Morgan and Anissa said they stabbed their friend to appease the Slender Man . As for Slender Man , Morgan described him as a man with ` tendrils that are very sharp . ' ' I see him in my dreams , ' she told police , . Anissa said in her interview that she did not have the same visions as Morgan , but knew she had to kill her friend for the Slender Man . ' I decided to go along , tag along , to prove the skeptics wrong , ' she said . Then , when asked if she saw the Slender Man , she told police ; ` Uh huh , after Morgan stabbed -LSB- Peyton -RSB- . ' She also revealed that Morgan said to her ; ' I kinda sorta made a deal with Slender saying that if I did n't , if we did n't kill Peyton that he would , would either or could kill our families and everything we love . ' The two girls are charged in adult court with attempted first-degree intentional homicide . If convicted , each could be sentenced to up to 65 years in the state prison system . Their attorneys want their cases moved to children 's court where a conviction could send them to a secure facility until age 25 . Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren said he intends to issue a ruling in the case March 13 . | Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser have been accused of stabbing Peyton Lautner 19 times in Waukesha , Wisconsin , in May 2014 . They told officers different accounts of what happened during interviews . One of them is believed to have said they were afraid of what would happen if they did n't commit the horrifying act . One girl told the other they would become Slender Man 's ` proxies ' | [[439, 545], [669, 722], [704, 792], [863, 939], [216, 239], [311, 361], [1494, 1527], [1494, 1495], [1510, 1544], [1545, 1546], [1568, 1605], [1627, 1712]] |
The Georgia State Patrol says a county sheriff and a deputy have been shot and wounded while responding to a domestic abuse call at the home of a disgraced ex-cop . The bloody encounter in Habersham County Georgia ended with three people dead - including the gunman . State Patrol Capt. Mark Perry says the incident happened around 7.30 pm Sunday outside of Clarkesville when EMS and law enforcement officials arrived at the home and suspect Anthony Giaquinta opened fire . Giaquinta is a former Gainesville , Georgia , cop who 'd been fired . Perry says Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell and deputy William Zigan were shot and taken to a hospital . Scroll down for video . Shots fired : Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell -LRB- left -RRB- was allegedly shot by former Gainesville , Georgia , officer Anthony Giaquinta when the sheriff and a deputy arrived to Giaquinta 's home . A LinkedIn page bearing his name says he was part of the K9 unit and had been with the Gainesville force for five years . ` We have a domestic situation turned deadly . We have one deceased subject in the residence . The active shooter has entered the woods , ' Captain Mark Perry with the Georgia State Patrol told WSB . ` As EMS and law enforcement arrived , he started shooting at Habersham County Sheriff 's deputies . Two have been wounded . At this point -LRB- the injuries -RRB- do n't appear serious . ' Perry says that one person was found dead inside the house and that the suspect fled into nearby woods before he was found dead . Police identified the suspect 's ex-wife among the deceased . The other victim was an as yet unidentified male reports 11 Alive . Habersham County is about 85 miles northeast of Atlanta . Two dead bodies were reportedly found in the home police arrived to on a domestic abuse call before the alleged encounter with Giaquinta . | Anthony Giaquinta ambushed , shot and wounded Habersham County Sheriff Joey Terrell and a deputy when they arrived at his home for a domestic violence call . His ex-wife was found dead at the home . Giaquinta was a disgraced cop who had been fired from the Gainesville Police Department . He fled into the woods , then returned as deputies hunted for him . Giaquinta and another man were dead outside Giaquinta 's home . | [[47, 74], [51, 59], [79, 164], [0, 3], [93, 164], [434, 473], [544, 611], [555, 627], [678, 689], [692, 750], [741, 825], [831, 886], [1011, 1055], [1248, 1309], [1310, 1333], [1758, 1855], [1056, 1103], [1410, 1457], [1529, 1590], [474, 519], [487, 507], [520, 543], [1104, 1144], [1399, 1528], [1467, 1528], [225, 242], [245, 267]] |
An Ohio police dog that went missing two months ago and gained 24,000 Facebook followers on a page created by his owner has finally been found safe and sound . K-9 Karson and his handler , officer Jerry Popp , shared an emotional reunion on Sunday after the dog saw Popp and immediately jumped into the front seat of his police truck . Popp said he fell to the snow and cried after they found his furry friend . He ran away on December 20 . Officer Jerry Popp has been reunited with his K9 Karson , who gained nearly 24,000 followers on Facebook while he was missing . After Karson saw his owner he immediately jumped into Popp 's truck , where they shared an emotional hug . But the reunion was n't quick , according to a post Popp wrote on Karson 's Facebook page . Although Popp called commands to Karson he was not close enough to be seen , and the scared dog began to run from the truck . Popp ran for the Belgian Malinois on foot , while Sergeant Ron Fithen pursued him in their truck . After the dog finally gave up and stopped running , Fithen got out of the truck and laid down in the snow . Popp wrote that Fithen wanted to appear ` small and nonthreatening ' as he began to talk to the K9 . Popp then walked behind Karson , who immediately jumped into the truck when he saw him . As Popp fell the ground and cried , Fithen and a lost dog specialist consoled him and then enveloped him in a group hug . ` Getting the furry boy home is just a loss of words , ' Fithen told WLWT 5 . ` Just being there at the moment when I met eyes with Karson knowing he was coming home today that - that has made my year . ' Karson at first ran from Popp and his fellow officer because he did n't recognize them and was scared . Popp fell to the ground and cried after Karson was finally safe and found in the truck . An officer and lost dog specialist comforted the handler before enveloping him in a group hug . Popp immediately updated Karson 's Facebook fans after the rescue . ` Karson has been found . I have him in the truck next to me , ' he wrote . # . ` He 's alive and healthy . It 's all over finally . ' The K9 went missing two days before Christmas after escaping from a boarding kennel where he was staying while Popp was on vacation . Karson lost 14 pounds while he was away , surviving record-breaking low temperatures . Popp said he was getting plenty of sleep and being very quiet as he recovered at home . The devoted handler posted frequent updates about Karson after he went missing , keeping the dog 's followers informed as the police received numerous sightings and tips . Karson 's Facebook page had a devoted following and users were overjoyed to hear of the dog 's safe return . Facebook users shared their joy with news of the dog 's return . ' I ca n't say how relieved I am for you and your family and the department , ' one user wrote . ' I along with my 9 year old daughter have been following you and K9 Karson since day one . We have checked this site everyday over a hundred times a day reading every post and hoping Karson would be found . ' Another user advised Popp to get some much needed sleep . ` Rest well with your boy ... cause he has thousands of tennis balls to play with you , ' they wrote . Police Chief Duane Weyand said Karson was n't ` just a dog ' but a member of the department and the community . ` That 's been our driving force that he belongs here . He 's one of us . ' Karson lost 14 pounds while he was away , surviving record-breaking low temperatures . Popp said he was getting plenty of sleep and being very quiet as he recovered at home . | Ohio officer Jerry Popp shared an emotional reunion with his K9 Karson . Said he fell to the snow and cried after his furry friend was safely found . Karson immediately jumped into Popp 's truck when he saw his handler . Dog ran away on December 20 . The dog lost 14 pounds and survived record-low temperatures . Popp said he is now resting quietly at home . | [[160, 186], [210, 270], [441, 496], [623, 627], [645, 675], [336, 365], [336, 340], [346, 348], [370, 411], [993, 1042], [1045, 1051], [1077, 1100], [1722, 1726], [1750, 1785], [160, 186], [210, 270], [254, 261], [275, 335], [569, 636], [1226, 1232], [1239, 1290], [412, 440], [2110, 2193], [2244, 2330], [2244, 2250], [2272, 2274], [2286, 2330], [3421, 3507], [3421, 3427], [3449, 3451], [3463, 3507], [2331, 2395], [2331, 2335], [2341, 2343], [2376, 2418], [3508, 3572], [3508, 3512], [3518, 3520], [3553, 3595]] |
It may not be a fruit that you automatically reach for in the supermarket , but the large and exotic breadfruit is being touted as a wonder food . Known by its Latin name , artocarpus altilis , the fruit has lumpy green flesh and a potato-like texture so that it can be served as part of a main meal or turned into sweets . It was once a staple in the Jamaican diet and now experts believe it could provide food security on the island , which imports more than half of its food . Scroll down for video . Wonderfood ? Breadfruit -LRB- pictured -RRB- - Artocarpus altilis - has lumpy green flesh and a potato-like texture so that it can be served as part of a main meal or turned into sweets . The fruit . is widely eaten throughout the Pacific Islands and more breadfruit are . produced per hectare than rice , wheat and corn , New Scientist reported . Just one breadfruit , which weighs around 7lbs -LRB- three kgs -RRB- , provides the carbohydrate portion of a meal for a family of five . The fruit can be ground into flour and used in sweet and savoury dishes , including pancakes and crisps . It is rich in vitamins and minerals , as well as being a high source of gluten-free carbohydrate and protein . The protein in the fruit has a higher proportion of aminio acids than soy . Diane Ragone of Hawaii 's National . Tropical Botanical Garden -LRB- NTBG -RRB- has been studying the plant since the . 1980s , which some people say is bland and starchy . Mary McLaughlin , founder of the charity Trees that Feed , said that the high-protein fruit can be used to make pancakes . A third of a cup of breadfruit flour is added to the same quantity of orange juice as well as one egg , cinnamon , nutmeg and vanilla . The mixture is fried in a pan and this recipe makes pancakes for three people . Breadfruit crisps and pasta are being developed so that the food can be more easily stored . The NTBG said that mature breadfruit is a healthy substitute for any starchy food such as rice and potatoes if it is boiled , steamed or baked . Small immature fruit can be boiled , pickled and marinated . They are said to taste like artichoke hearts . Ripe fruits are creamy and sweet and can be eaten raw or used to make cakes and pies . Even the flowers found on the trees can be candied and eaten as sweets . She has studied . hundreds of varieties from 34 countries . Together . with Nyree Zerega of Northwestern University in Chicago , she traced back . the roots of the fruit using DNA analysis to the breadfruit ` Eve ' . Most . of the fruit she examined included fingerprints of a plant called . the breadnut that grows in New Guinea . The breadnut is thought to be the . ancestor of the breadfruit . In 2003 Dr Ragone created the NTBG 's Breadfruit Institute , which includes an orchard on the island of Maui . Scientists . there are working with the charity Alliance to End Hunger with the aim . of distributing breadfruit to places without a regular supply of food . across the world . ` Traditionally in Polynesia you would plant a breadfruit when a child . was born , because that would guarantee food throughout the child 's life ' Dr Zerega said . Breadfruit trees require little care and thrive in the tropics . Now . experts are investigating which varieties best suit certain . environments and climates -- as well as local tastes -- in countries . lacking food security . Breadfruit -LRB- pictured -RRB- was once a staple in the diet of Jamaicans and experts think it could provide food security on the island , which imports more than half of its food . It is viatamin and mineral rich , as well as being a high source of gluten-free carbohydrate and protein . Just one breadfruit , which weighs around seven lbs -LRB- three kilograms -RRB- provides the carbohydrate portion of a meal for a family of five . The fruit can be ground into flour and used in sweet and savoury dishes , including pancakes and crisps . Breadfruit was first bought to the Caribbean in the 18th Century to feed slaves . Lieutenant William Bligh first bought the fruit to Jamaica from Tahiti . It is said that on the way , his crew mutinied and set him adrift , dumping the cargo of breadfruit plants overboard with him . On his second attempt as a captain in 1792 , he brought 2,000 of the plants to Jamaica and 678 bore fruit . Intended as a stable and cheap food for slaves , breadfruit was not much liked and it took around 50 years for it to be incorporated willingly into local dishes . Scientists think that the fruit 's ancestor is the breadnut , which is native to New Guinea . Breadfruit is so called because of its high . carbohydrate and fibre content . When it is just ripe enough to eat , it . is more like bread as it is starchy and dry , but when it is softer and . riper it tastes sweeter and is more moist . They are also identifying which varieties of the fruit produce the best yields and protein content . They think that some of the fruit are highly tolerant to salt , which could prove important in the Caribbean as sea levels rise . However , some varieties of breadfruit relied upon by people in the eastern Pacific are proving to be less robust . Scientists are trying to use tissue culture methods to create breadfruit trees that yield more fruit sooner . While progress is difficult , the experts have grown disease-free trees that start bearing fruit at two years of age -- three years sooner than is usual . From the varieties propagated , 35,000 trees have now been sent to 26 countries , including Jamaica and Haiti . A variety called Ma'afala , which is native to Samoa , bears fruit a different time to varieties found in the Caribbean , extending the time when the nutritious fruit is available . It is hoped that one day there could be forests of breadfruit trees throughout the Caribbean . The starchy fruit can be ground into flour and used in sweet and savoury dishes , including pancakes and crisps -LRB- pictured -RRB- . | Breadfruit has lumpy green flesh and a potato-like texture . It is widely eaten in the Pacific Islands and scientists are encouraging the planting of trees in countries with poor food security . One breadfruit , which weighs around seven lbs -LRB- 3kg -RRB- provides the carbohydrate portion of a meal for a family of five . It can be can be ground into flour and used to make pancakes . The fruit is rich in vitamins and is a source of carbohydrate and protein . The protein in the fruit has a higher proportion of aminio acids than soy . | [[194, 251], [543, 569], [572, 619], [704, 770], [852, 871], [880, 920], [852, 871], [923, 989], [3670, 3689], [3698, 3749], [3670, 3689], [3750, 3816], [990, 1024], [3817, 3851], [5811, 5853], [1096, 1131], [1096, 1098], [1142, 1206], [3563, 3669], [3563, 3565], [3608, 3669], [1207, 1282]] |
With the trademark curly hair and giant personality , it is difficult for Adam Jones to blend into the background . The uninformed supporter still stops the Welsh prop in the street to commiserate with him on his country 's latest defeat , unaware that he is no longer in the squad . Jones has been a household feature in Wales teams over the last decade and is one of the most recognisable and popular figures to wear the dragon red jersey . The 33-year-old has experienced some tough autumn evenings at the Millennium Stadium , but none quite as difficult as this November , having been left out of the squad for the first time in his career . Jonathan Davies -LRB- left -RRB- , Adam Jones -LRB- centre -RRB- and Ian Evans sing the Welsh national anthem . Wales coach Warren Gatland has opted for young prop Samson Lee over veteran tighhead Jones . Jones -LRB- right -RRB- moved to the Cardiff Blues from the Ospreys during the summer . The frontrower admits it has been ` tough ' and ` odd ' as an outsider looking in , but has still not given up hope of making next year 's World Cup squad , even if it is just to avoid those awkward moments in the supermarket . ` Someone 's wife came up to me in Tesco and said `` unlucky at the weekend , you almost beat ` em '' , ' said Jones . ` Then the bloke nudged her and said `` he was n't playing , he was n't picked ! '' It 's happened a couple of times ; people assume I was there because I 've been involved for such a long time . I guess I 'm quite recognisable with the hair and that . That 's been the hardest bit . I always had a good rapport but I have n't given up on the dream quite yet . ' A summer move from the Ospreys to Cardiff Blues has given the forward renewed hope . Jones was caught in the crossfire of the funding row between the WRU and the Regions , which has now been resolved , and found himself unemployed and without a club when he returned from the summer tour to South Africa . Jones -LRB- left -RRB- and Wales captain Sam Warburton catch a breather against Ireland in Cardiff in February 2013 . He turned to his first club Neath , who he joined in 2000 as a part-time labourer making patio slabs . They invited the Welshman to join their pre-season training and , after coming close to hanging up his boots , Jones was offered an alluring opportunity with the Blues . ` I 'd be lying if I said I did n't fancy knocking it on the head and saying , `` f *** it , I 'll just go to university or something '' , ' said Jones . ` I missed the day-to-day camaraderie of being in a team ; all the chopping and the p *** taking . You become pretty used to something when you 've been doing it for 14 or so years . ` Not having an income was a bit of a ball ache too , but I 'd been pretty thrifty so I always had a bit saved up . It dragged on for months but I was always thought in the back of my head that I still had something to offer . Then Cardiff came in on the Sunday and it was all done by Tuesday . The whole thing made me realise how important rugby was to me . I 'd have been pretty dumb to pack it all in . ' Jones and fellow front row veteran Gethin Jenkins -LRB- left -RRB- celebrate with the 2013 Six Nations title . A lack of fitness was Warren Gatland 's reason for substituting Jones 32 minutes into his milestone 100th Test against South Africa at Kings Park in June . Jones was left out of the squad for the second Test altogether and he has not played for his country since . It harked back to 2003 , when Jones became known as the ' 30-minute man ' after he was hauled off by Steve Hansen early in the World Cup quarter-final in Brisbane against England , but the latest episode was more painful . For a player who was being courted for interviews all week ahead of the Test in Durban , it was a huge crash down to earth . ` It was my 100th Test match so to go from such a high to getting hauled off was n't nice , ' said Jones . ` I 'm not going to lie , the last week out there was hard work . I 'm not sure how I would have coped without Ian Evans -LSB- the veteran second row -RSB- . I 'm probably still bitter about it now but it 's happened . Jones , speaking to the media during the 2013 Lions tour of Australia , has always been a popular figure . ` It was harder this time than in 2003 , because I 'm so much further down the line . I 've got to a certain standing and achieved things , so it hurt more . When I was younger it happened and I just had to suck it and see . But I understand that Gats and these guys get paid to make these big decisions and they have to do what works for them . ' Gatland turned to 21 year-old Samson Lee , who is regarded as Jones ' long-term successor . The Scarlets prop has started every Test since Jones was ousted and has the seal of approval from the man himself . ` Samson is excellent , ' said Jones . ` He 's been phenomenal for his club and I think we 've got a little gem there . Guys like him and Nicky Smith will be around for the next 10 years now and I think Samson will be a shoo in for the Lions . He 's a tough little f ***** and does n't give a s *** about reputations . He 's someone we can build our team around over the next 10 years . ' Lee may be the future , but Jones is not ready to consign himself to the past . Not yet . | Adam Jones won his 100th cap for Wales during the summer . The 33-year-old tighthead has played no part in autumn series . Wales coach Warren Gatland has preferred Samson Lee to Jones . Jones moved from the Ospreys to Cardiff Blues this season . | [[758, 850], [4596, 4636], [851, 938], [1649, 1733]] |
For many people , becoming a parent is the most important task in life . For one MP , however , children are simply the ` opium of the masses ' . Conservative backbencher Rory Stewart has hit out at people who think of their offspring as their ` purpose ' in life -- despite admitting he would like to become a father himself . He said : ` If we say the purpose of life is our children , that 's neither a purpose nor a meaning . But I 'm sure I will be as besotted as everybody else when I have them . ' Conservative MP Rory Stewart says people should not let their lives be driven or defined by having children . Playing on revolutionary Karl Marx 's infamous statement that ` religion is the opium of the masses ' , Mr Stewart described children as the new ` opium ' . His comments come just five months after he criticised society for worshipping children as they once worshipped God . On that occasion he also compared children to ` opium ' , but focused his attack on society 's tendency to prioritise the needs of young people over the elderly . It is not known what the 41-year-old 's wife Shoshana Clark , 33 , will make of his comments , which he made in an interview with the Radio Times . The pair , who have been married for almost two years , have yet to have children of their own . They first met when she and her first husband , an aid worker , moved to work for the Turquoise Mountain Foundation , a charity Mr Stewart set up in 2006 . The MP made the comments in an interview with the Radio Times magazine . She became its chief executive a few months later and moved in with him after ditching her husband in 2010 . Mr Stewart , who is MP for Penrith and the Border , has made a documentary about the boundary between Scotland and England for BBC2 , called The Story of Britain 's Lost Middleland . Before entering Parliament , he served as a soldier and a diplomat and wrote a book about his experiences walking across Afghanistan . Mr Stewart said his life is ` slower ' now he is an MP , adding : ` Being a backbench MP is a bit of an anti-climax for a superhero . ' And he said politicians have less power than many voters realised : ` The politicians think the journalists have power , the journalists think bankers have power , bankers think lawyers have power . The truth is , nobody has power . ' The MP -- who is Scottish -- is campaigning against Scottish independence and thinks Hadrian 's Wall is a ` pernicious scar across the landscape ' . But he said he was unable to talk about his campaign while promoting his new documentary because it ` might put the BBC in a difficult position ' . He added : ` I think I probably began filming feeling that what the programme would discover was that there was a strong sense of British identity and that there would be no difference either side of the border . ` But I found that Scottishness and Englishness are actually strong , instinctive things , whatever the historical reasons . Even the accent changes -- just two inches across the border . ' | Rory Stewart says children are ` neither a purpose nor a meaning ' The backbench MP made the comments in a Radio Times interview . The Scot is campaigning for the ` No ' campaign in the independence debate . | [[328, 335], [340, 429], [505, 614], [1133, 1145], [1157, 1200], [1454, 1526]] |
Helpless whimpers carried through the frigid Minnesota night air led a passing truck driver to a burning trash can , at the bottom of which he spotted a puppy engulfed in flames . Clayton Van Wert said he was visiting the garbage dump on the edge of the Red Lake Indian Reservation Friday night when he made the shocking discovery . With little regard for his own safety , Mr Van Wert , a father of three , reached into the flames and pulled the crying pup to safety , burning his hands and singeing his hair in the process . Burnt to a crisp : Truck driver Clayton Van Wert took this heart-wrenching photo just minutes after pulling this tiny puppy from a burning trash bin in Minnesota . He said his fur was the color of charred marshmallow . Survivor : The 5-month-old husky mix is lucky to be alive after being pulled from a burning trash bin by a Good Samaritan Friday night in Minnesota . Torched : The puppy 's fur was charred and had to be shaved off so that the medics could assess his skin . Skin and bones : Phoenix is five months old , but doctors say he was brought in weighing only 19lbs . The trucker is convinced that the husky mix was too small to jump into the 4-foot-tall container on his own , suggesting that someone had deliberately tossed the pooch in and left him for dead . Van Wert contacted a tribal conservation officer , who took the badly burned dog to a rescue shelter on the reservation . From there , the pooch was transferred to Act V Rescue and Rehabilitation , an animal shelter in Bloomington . Dr Vicki Schulz , the veterinarian who has been treating the pup , appropriately dubbed Phoenix after the mythological bird that rose from the ashes after being burned , says most of the dog 's hair was charred to a crisp . The rescue team revealed in a Facebook post Sunday that Phoenix is five months old but was brought in weighing only 19lbs - or about half of what a dog like that should weigh . The severely malnourished puppy suffered the most serious burns on his knees and two of his paws , leaving him in pain that requires medications . Worse for wear : The malnourished pup suffered the most serious burns on his knees and two of his paws . Road to recovery : Phoenix will undergo several rounds of skin grafting for his burns . Four-legged victim : Clayton Van Wert , the truck driver who rescued the pooch , said given Phoenix 's size , there is no way he could have jumped inside the 4-foot-tall trash bin on his own . Talking to the Minneapolis Star Tribune about his heroic rescue , Mr Van Wert , 55 , who owns a towing and auto recovery company , choked back tears as he recounted the moment he reached into the burning bin and retrieved the howling puppy with his gloved hands . Van Wert , himself a lifelong dog owner , said as soon as the pooch was out of danger , he walked over to him on his burned paws and showed no trace of fear . Van Wert said the top of the puppy 's fur was the color of toasted marshmallow and crumbled to ashes at the slightest touch . Phoenix is now on the road to recovery , but he still has to undergo several rounds of skin grafting for his burns . The team at Act V who are treating the abandoned puppy are asking for donations to cover the mounting costs of his care . As of Monday night , authorities have not found whoever dumped the dog in the burning bin . | Clayton Van Wert , 55 , heard whimper coming from a trash container Friday night and found a tiny husky mix engulfed in flames inside . The puppy dubbed Phoenix was 5-month-old but weighing only 19lbs . Van Wert says given Phoenix 's size , there is no way he could have jumped inside the 4-foot-tall trash bin . Puppy suffered severe burns to a knee and two of his paws , and he will require skin grafts . | [[0, 64], [0, 17], [45, 110], [95, 114], [117, 158], [140, 179], [180, 294], [545, 689], [756, 894], [1019, 1045], [1052, 1103], [1812, 1838], [1756, 1771], [1812, 1819], [1835, 1907], [1756, 1759], [1812, 1819], [1855, 1912], [1104, 1298], [1134, 1211], [2273, 2291], [2354, 2380], [2383, 2465], [1933, 2029], [2097, 2184], [2202, 2272], [3060, 3062], [3069, 3131]] |
Elsa had no time to build a snowman , or even play fetch . The devoted Canadian yellow lab was on a mission to help shovel her family 's snow-covered backyard hockey rink . Ignoring the tennis ball nearby , Elsa meant business when she bit down on the handle of a big blue shovel . Elsa the yellow lab was on a mission to help shovel her family 's snow-covered backyard hockey rink in Guelph , Ontario . Ignoring the tennis ball nearby , Elsa meant business when she bit down on the handle of a big blue shovel . The dog , from Guelph , Ontario , confidently shoveled a straight path , even as she struggled to maintain her grip mid-way . Elsa 's owner Greg Cox tweeted the clip out to his followers and tagged ESPN sportscaster John Buccigross , according to Huffington Post Canada . Cox wrote : ` So my Lab is ready for some hockey , are you @Buccigross @NHL ?? #backyardrink #Canada #hockey #puppy ' . Buccigross , who wrote a weekly NHL column for ESPN 's site for 10 years , tweeted Cox back and said ` Greg , that is beautiful ! ' Elsa then confidently shoveled a straight path . Her owner , Greg Cox , shared the video on Twitter and YouTube , even tagging Budweiser to ask if they needed ' a new lab ' for their commercials . Cox said the family never taught Elsa how to shovel snow . ` She watched us do it many times and loved being out there , so who knows ? ' he wrote . Greg also tweeted the clip out to ESPN sportscaster John Buccigross and said his daughter Claire , who named Elsa , can be heard cheering her pup on in the background . Cox 's daughter Claire , who named Elsa , can be heard in the video cheering her hard-working pup on . The proud owner also tagged Budweiser in a separate tweet and asked them if they needed ' a new lab ' for their commercials , alluding to their much-loved recent puppy advertisements . When one Twitter user asked Cox how the family managed to teach Elsa the trick , he said she had never been trained . ` We did n't teach her at all , ' he wrote back . ` She watched us do it many times and loved being out there , so who knows ? ' Cox also shared the video of Elsa on YouTube , where the 11-second clip has already been watched over 13,000 times since it was posted yesterday . | Elsa was all business , ignoring the tennis ball nearby . She bit down on the handle of a shovel and confidently scooped a path . Owner Greg Cox tweeted video and said ` So my lab is ready for hockey ' He tagged ESPN sportscaster John Buccigross , who called it ` beautiful ' Video has received 13,000 hits on YouTube since it was posted yesterday . | [[173, 204], [404, 435], [207, 281], [438, 512], [513, 534], [547, 583], [586, 638], [1037, 1085], [639, 652], [662, 699], [785, 794], [799, 862], [797, 833], [1086, 1095], [1109, 1148], [1174, 1183], [639, 652], [704, 744], [1383, 1387], [1393, 1450], [2124, 2131], [2134, 2233]] |
It 's a chocoholic 's worst nightmare : a disease ravages cocoa crops , causing a worldwide chocolate shortage and the price of sweets to soar . But a steamy greenhouse near London is helping to ensure that cocoa crops around the world remain disease-free . The International Cocoa Quarantine Centre -LRB- ICQC -RRB- is nurturing quarantined cocoa plants so that they can be shared with cocoa-producing countries to produce new , more disease-resistant varieties . The International Cocoa Quarantine Centre -LRB- ICQC -RRB- is designed to nurture quarantined cocoa plants so that they can be shared with cocoa-producing countries to produce new , more disease resistant varieties . This image shows a researcher taking cocoa beans from an opened cocoa fruit inside the facility . Inside the ICQC , the plants thrive tropical conditions where the air is a balmy 23 °C -LRB- 73 °C -RRB- . ` Cocoa plants are generally quite difficult plants to grow , ' said Heather Lake , a technician at the newly-revamped centre , which is funded half by the British chocolate industry and half by the US government . ` They do n't like too much sunlight , they do n't like too much shade . It 's quite difficult to get the climate correct . ' Hosted by the University of Reading and situated in the village of Arborfield , west of London , the ICQC boasts 400 cocoa plant varieties , grown in 10,760 square feet -LRB- 1,000 square metres -RRB- of greenhouse space . Cocoa plants are difficult to grow because they need the right mix of sunlight and shade . Here , horticultural technician Heather Lake checks the leaves of young cocoa plants for pests . A steamy greenhouse near London -LRB- pictured -RRB- is helping to ensure that cocoa crops around the world remain free of diseases to cope with our growing appetite for sweet treats and keep it affordable . At a time when changing tastes in emerging economies like China and India are fuelling global demand for chocolate -LRB- stock image -RRB- , the centre acts as a vital resource for producer countries when pests or droughts strike crops . Chocolate drinks were made as early in 1,900 BC . The Mokaya and pre-Olmec people of Mesoamerica first roasted and ground cocoa beans to make ` chocolate ' . The Aztecs believed that cacao seeds were the gift of Quetzalcoatl , the God of wisdom , and the seeds had so much value they were used as a form of currency . The Latin name for the cocoa tree is Theobroma Cacao which means ` Food of the Gods ' . Originally prepared as a drink , chocolate was served as a bitter , frothy liquid and was often mixed with spices , wine or corn . It was believed to give the drinker strength and boost their libido . Sugar was first added to cocoa in the 16th century when chocolate became popular the form we now recognise . It was originally only eaten by the rich . Chocolate houses sprang up in London in the seventeenth century and were frequented by the upper classes - by 1700 there were 2,000 in the capital . By the 20th century , the sweet was popular with all classes and chocolate was considered a staple and featured in war ration packs . The UK has the seventh highest consumption of chocolate in the world . The average Briton eats 17.49 lbs -LRB- 8kg -RRB- of chocolate per year , according to The World Atlas of Chocolate , but Switzerland takes the top spot . A total of 40 per cent of chocolate is consumed in Europe . Its aim is to reduce the amount of diseases affecting cocoa plants by quarantining them before sharing them with different countries to produce new , more resistant varieties . Diseases such as Black Pod and Mirid can decimate valuable crops . Andrew Daymond , manager of the ICQC , told MailOnline that there are various fungal diseases of cocoa such as blackpod , which is found worldwide , witches broom disease in South America and frosty pod rot , which is found in Central America and parts of South America . ` These all spread by fungal spores . Another disease that it important in West Africa is Cocoa Swollen Shoot virus . This is spread by insect vectors . ' Most of the efforts to increase cocoa supply are geared towards improving yields on existing farms rather than increasing the area cultivated . Breeding of improved varieties that have better resistance to pests and diseases and higher yield potential is one route to achieve this and at the same time improve farmer livelihoods . The plants in the greenhouse were grown from cuttings or seeds collected from disease-free crops in the wild , on expeditions to the tropics . At a time when changing tastes in emerging economies like China and India are fuelling global demand for chocolate , the centre acts as a vital resource for producer countries when pests or droughts strike crops . ` That 's where we come into play , ' said Dr Daymond , which was set up 30 years ago . ` We are the main hub for international movements of cocoa plants . ' New plants are needed because almost three quarters of the world 's cocoa is grown in West Africa , despite originating from South America , according to the International Cocoa Organisation . Such a heavy concentration of production in one region - the Ivory Coast and Ghana alone represent 60 percent - makes it vulnerable to shocks . For example , the price of cocoa jumped to almost $ 3,400 -LRB- # 2,202 -RRB- a tonne in September , amid fears that the Ebola crisis in West Africa could affect cocoa supplies . Both Ivory Coast and Ghana have so far been spared by the outbreak , but Sierra Leone , Guinea and Liberia , which collectively produce 0.7 per cent of the world 's cocoa , saw their yields plummet when the disease struck . Cocoa prices later rebounded , and even rose 15 per cent overall , last year . There is also the potential threat to the industry from plant diseases , which in West Africa can mean up to one third of the annual harvest is lost . The plants in the greenhouse were grown from cuttings or seeds collected from disease-free crops in the wild , on expeditions to the tropics . Here , technician Heather Lake checks the plants for signs of disease , which are all hooked up to a watering system to ensure they thrive . Hosted by the University of Reading and situated in the village of Arborfield , west of London , the ICQC boasts 400 cocoa plant varieties , grown in 10,760 square feet of greenhouse space . An image showing on variety of cocoa , and a pod is pictured left , and right , a technician polinates buds from flowers on a cocoa plant . New plants are needed because almost three quarters of the world 's cocoa is grown in west Africa , making it more vulnerable to pests and disease , according to the International Cocoa Organisation . Here , a technician hand pollinates buds from flowers on a cocoa plant , to ensure the crop thrives . Dr Daymond explained : ` In each cocoa-growing country , they face particular challenges to do with pest and diseases , low yield potential of planted materials , extreme weather events . ` The basic objective of the project is to allow safe movement of cocoa plants from one part of the world to another . ' Because Britain has no endemic pests or diseases affecting cocoa , the centre can grow resistant varieties before dispatching them around the world . The current quarantine procedure involves experts looking for signs of disease over a two year period , but research is under way to speed up the process . Because Britain has no endemic pests or diseases affecting cocoa , the centre can grow resistant varieties before dispatching them around the world . More mature cocoa plants are shown . ` When we do an export , we send the small branches off a tree ... we then remove all the leaves and we just send a stick , ' Dr Daymond said . He explained that producer countries can then ` establish a plant that is genetically identical to the plant that they received the cutting from ' . The centre also researches the effects of climate change on cocoa crops and is looking at developing new varieties that would be more resistant to droughts or increased carbon dioxide levels , in a bid to meet the demand for chocolate . The current quarantine procedure involves experts looking for signs of disease over a two year period , but research is under way to speed up the process . Here , a cocoa fruit is removed from a plant . Experts at Kew Gardens are advising the coffee industry how to grow more resilient plants , amid fears that the Arabica variety will be wiped out by the end of the century . The Ethiopian bean - the world 's most popular type of coffee - is severely threatened by drought . With dry weather predicted to become more frequent in east Africa , Arabica plants could be eradicated in the wild by 2080 , experts say . Experts at Kew Gardens are advising the coffee industry how to grow more resilient plants , amid fears that the Arabica variety will be wiped out by the end of the century . A stock image of arabica beans is shown . This is because those growing in coffee plantations are from limited genetic stock and are unlikely to have the flexibility required to cope with repeated dry spells and other threats , such as pests and diseases . Now horticulturists from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are finding alternative species and educating coffee giants . Professor Kathy Willis , head of science at Kew , said : ` We 're finding alternative species and talking to Starbucks and Sainsbury 's and other big coffee importers and producers so that information flows through to big business . ` By 2050-2080 there could be a 100 per cent reduction in Arabica coffee in the wild because of the dry , so we will need to move to the other 124 species of coffee . ' This is because those growing in coffee plantations are from limited genetic stock and are unlikely to have the flexibility required to cope with repeated dry spells and other threats , such as pests and diseases , which could potentially create a shortage of good coffee -LRB- a stock image is shown -RRB- . She said Kew coffee research head Aaron Davis was looking in countries such as Madagascar for more resistant strains of coffee that can be grown with better climatic tolerance than Arabica , but lots of the varieties found there taste ` horrible ' . While there are almost 125 species of coffee , Arabica is the most popular by far and is considered the most important global commodity , after oil . Kew is setting up a new company in May called Kew Consultancy Services to sell commercially useful information . ` We are focusing Kew 's science in those areas where we can truly make a unique impact on people 's lives , thanks to our unrivalled collection of specimens and the world-leading expertise of our evolutionary botanists , mycologists , taxonomists and systematists , Professor Willis said . Kew has cut 100 jobs in the last eight months - half from the science department - after a cut in Government funding . | The International Cocoa Quarantine Centre -LRB- ICQC -RRB- is based near London . Steamy greenhouse mimics a tropical climate so cocoa crops thrive . Cocoa plants are grown that can be shared with cocoa-producing countries . This practice produces new , more disease resistant varieties . Work is important in creating a steady supply of cocoa , which makes sure the price of chocolate does n't soar and crops meet demand . | [[149, 257], [358, 412], [465, 523], [536, 629], [387, 464], [604, 681], [4240, 4258], [4264, 4335], [1639, 1846]] |
A woman has fallen foul of the law in North Dakota -- for praying too loudly on sidewalks . Martha Nagbe , from Lisbon , and was fined $ 150 after two court appearances for causing ` unnecessary noise ' . However , Mrs Nagbe , the wife of the pastor , said she will carry on as before , because she ca n't help it . Martha Nagbe , from Lisbon , is the wife of the pastor and was fined $ 150 after two court appearances for causing ` unnecessary noise ' She told Valley News Live : ` I ca n't stop . I 'm trusting God . ' Mrs Nagbe moved to Lisbon from Liberia for a better life and now feels disillusioned . She added : ` In the United States it 's one nation under God . ' The police remain adamant that she was causing a nuisance , with Police Chief Jeanette Persons stating that the problem was n't the praying , but the volume of her voice . She said : ` I mean , we all need prayers and great she 's out there praying for all of us , but it 's just the volume of her voice . ' Chief Persons added that Mrs Nagbe would linger outside people 's homes shouting . Pastor Juwle Nagbe said he was upset that his wife was being made to look like a bad person and urged officials to treat her with respect . The police remain adamant that she was causing a nuisance , with Police Chief Jeanette Persons stating that the problem was n't the praying , but the volume of her voice . | Martha Nagbe , from Lisbon , ended up in court for praying too loudly . Police said the volume of her voice was causing a nuisance . Mrs Nagbe said she will carry on as before , because she ca n't help it . | [[316, 328], [364, 450], [674, 768], [739, 845], [1205, 1299], [1270, 1376], [215, 224], [252, 286], [257, 284], [287, 315], [453, 498]] |
A teenage girl who was left in a coma after a suspected hit-and-run has spoken out for the first time . In an interview with Nine Network 's A Current Affair on Tuesday night , April Lee Gillen tried to recall the night that changed her life . The 17-year-old , of Berkeley which is south of Sydney , also told of the shocking moment she woke up to discover that she was pregnant . Police , who described the hit-and-run incident 10 months ago as ' a horrific and violent attack against a young vulnerable girl ' , have also revealed the case is now being investigated as an attempted abduction . Scroll down for video . A teenage girl who was left in a coma after a suspected hit-and-run has spoken out for the first time . April Lee Gillen was on life support after suspected hit-and-run 10 months ago . Police , who described the incident 10 months ago as ' a horrific and violent attack against a young vulnerable girl ' , have also revealed the case is now being investigated as an attempted abduction . While she was in hospital , April discovered she was pregnant and gave birth to her son on Christmas Eve . April was walking home after a date with her boyfriend on the night of April 19 when police claim she was hit by a car . At about 2am the following morning , April was found on the kerbside and was quickly rushed to hospital in a critical condition . Daily Mail Australia previously reported the teen was admitted to hospital in a critical condition after suffering ` extensive head injuries ' a police statement said in April . In what could be a clue for investigators , she is believed to have posted the following status to her Facebook account shortly before the incident . ` Phones on 1 percent walking from warrawong to berks -LRB- Berkeley -RRB- and some Asian guy just stopped me telling me to come home with him cause it 's safe and I need help wtf sos ' . According to police , a number of residents near Northcliffe Drive in Lake Heights - where April Lee was hit - heard a ` loud noise ' shortly before the critically injured teenager was found bloodied on the side of the road . Daily Mail Australia previously reported the teen was admitted to hospital in a critical condition after suffering ` extensive head injuries ' a police statement said in April . Many questions are still left unanswered for April -LRB- left -RRB- and her mother Leonie -LRB- right -RRB- . In what could be a clue for investigators , she is believed to have posted the following status to her Facebook account shortly before the incident . At the time Lake Illawarra Inspector Steve Worthington told reporters : ' -LRB- The Facebook message -RRB- is certainly vital information our detectives are following up , but until we can speak to April herself , we need further information from the public . ' April was in an induced coma for two weeks with a severe brain injury . ` After I found out that it was an abduction I was terrified , ' she told A Current Affair . ` If I did n't put up that fight I could be dead right now . ' But there were many questions that still remain unanswered for April to this day . ' I just think : `` Why me ? Why did you pick me out of all people ? '' , ' she said . ' I would n't wish this on anyone - what I went through ... no other teenager girls . ' And as April continued her recovery for two months at Wollongong Hospital , she also made another shocking discovery . According to police , a number of residents near Northcliffe Drive in Lake Heights - where April Lee was hit - heard a ` loud noise ' shortly before the critically injured teenager was found bloodied on the side of the road . Police releaved CCTV footage of a black BMW SUV that was near where April was found . ` Am I pregnant ? Oh my goodness ! ' April recalled the moment when her sister broke the news . ' I said to mum it 's my little baby . I 'm giving birth to him and bringing him into this world so I 'm not going to think about getting rid of him at all . ' But for mother Leonie , who initially thought she had lost her daughter , her concerns grew about whether April was able to raise a child . ` Later on as April healed much more she was clearer , well spoken and quite determined in what she wanted so I said to April I will be right by her side . And it 's the best decision we 've made , ' she said . Baby Jacobie was born on Christmas Eve and April is grateful for her mum 's support . ` Thank God my mum 's there beside me . She helps me a whole lot . I would n't be here without my mum . ' However the investigation is ongoing as police released CCTV footage of a black BMW SUV which was seen in near where April was found . Acting Superintendent Andrew Koutsoufis told A Current Affair the incident was ' a horrific and violent attack against a young vulnerable girl ' . ` We believe she was dragged in that vehicle and something has happened in that vehicle and shortly after she was ejected from the vehicle and dragged along where she suffered some serious injuries , ' he said . April 's mother is desperately appealing for anyone with information to come forward . ` Do n't just walk away . It 's a very big thing to live with for the rest of your life if you know who did that . We 're all human beings but it 's not a right thing to do on a young girl like that . ' | April Lee Gillen was on life support after suspected hit-and-run last year . She was walking home from a date with her boyfriend and was later found on the kerbside in a critical condition . Police have now revealed that it may have been an attempted abduction . The teen posted a chilling SOS message online minutes before being hit . The 17-year-old spent two weeks in an induced coma and spent two months recovering in hospital . When she woke up she was told she was pregnant and gave birth to her son on Christmas Eve . Mother Leonie pleads for anyone with information to come forward . | [[0, 67], [0, 103], [621, 688], [621, 724], [725, 805], [725, 741], [762, 805], [1208, 1236], [1116, 1195], [1237, 1305], [1237, 1271], [1274, 1279], [1310, 1366], [2025, 2108], [3556, 3639], [382, 388], [515, 596], [806, 812], [927, 1008], [2889, 2925], [1589, 1694], [2441, 2546], [0, 67], [0, 103], [621, 688], [621, 724], [2809, 2837], [3295, 3368], [3371, 3374], [3380, 3413], [334, 381], [1009, 1034], [1037, 1070], [1037, 1042], [1075, 1115], [4333, 4381], [5019, 5105], [5076, 5105]] |
HSBC is having to weather yet more controversy after the United States named it as one of the banks it 's investigating over the possible manipulation of precious metals markets . The British banking giant is already mired in a scandal surrounding allegations that it helped wealthy clients dodge taxes and was fined last year for manipulating foreign currency markets . Now it is being probed over the fixing of gold , silver , platinum and palladium prices . HSBC is having to weather yet more controversy after the United States named it as one of the banks it 's investigating over the possible manipulation of precious metals markets . The banks probed by the US government over possible manipulation of precious metals markets also include Bank of Nova Scotia , Barclays , Credit Suisse , Deutsche Bank , Goldman Sachs , J.P. Morgan , Societe Generale , Standard Bank and UBS . Barclays , previously fined for the attempted manipulation of the Libor financial benchmark , is also being probed . The investigation is being carried out by the Justice Department with help from Commodity Futures Trading Commission , which regulates raw materials and derivatives . The Bank of Nova Scotia , Credit Suisse , Deutsche Bank , Goldman Sachs , J.P. Morgan , Societe Generale , Standard Bank and UBS are also under the spotlight , according to the Wall Street Journal . The probes are at the preliminary stage , but HSBC , in releasing yearly results Monday , noted requests from the Justice Department and the CFTC over the precious metals probe , the Journal said . A trove of leaked documents shows that HSBC 's Swiss private bank turned a blind eye to illegal activities of arms dealers and blood diamond traders while helping rich people evade taxes , according to a report based on the documents that was published earlier this month . The data relate to accounts worth # 650billion held by more than 100,000 people and legal entities around the world . What happened . A former HSBC employee-turned-whistleblower , Herve Falciani , gave the data to French tax authorities in 2008 . France shared it with other governments and launched investigations . The French newspaper Le Monde obtained a version of the data and shared the material with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists , which analyzed the material together with The Guardian and the BBC . What the files show . The leaked documents mainly cover the years 2005 to 2007 . HSBC , which is based in London but has operations globally , served those close to the regimes of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak , former Tunisian leader Ben Ali and Syria 's Bashar Assad . The consortium said clients include former and current politicians from Britain , Russia , Ukraine , Kenya , India , Mexico , Lebanon , the Democratic Republic of the Congo , Zimbabwe , and Algeria . Switzerland had the greatest number of clients of the data examined , followed by France , the United Kingdom , Brazil and Italy . In terms of ranking by value , Switzerland was first with $ 31.2 billion , followed by the United Kingdom with $ 21.7 billion ; Venezuela with $ 14.8 billion ; the U.S. with $ 13.4 billion ; and France with $ 12.5 billion . Why it matters . Though some of the details of such operations were disclosed previously , when HSBC was fined in 2012 by the U.S. for allowing criminals to use its branches for money laundering , the new information suggests HSBC took an active role in assisting the wealthy in hiding their money from authorities . ` The bank repeatedly reassured clients that it would not disclose details of accounts to national authorities , even if evidence suggested that the accounts were undeclared to tax authorities in the client 's home country , ' the consortium said . ` Bank employees also discussed with clients a range of measures that would ultimately allow clients to avoid paying taxes in their home countries . ' Crawford Spence , a professor of accounting at the University of Warwick , said this case was different than other recent tax scandals . ` HSBC has been complicit in clear tax evasion and law breaking rather than legitimate tax avoidance , ' he said . Potential fallout . The disclosures could see governments step up their efforts to prosecute tax evaders and the bank itself . Governments are looking to crack down on tax evasion to bolster their coffers depleted by the financial crisis and amid criticism that the rich are n't paying their fair share . In Britain , the report sparked criticism of tax authorities . The national tax agency clawed back # 135million -LRB- $ 236 million -RRB- from some of the 3,600 Britons identified as using the Geneva branch of HSBC , but only one person has been prosecuted . France , by contrast , launched 103 legal actions . ` You are left wondering , as you see the enormity of what has been going on , what it actually takes to bring a tax cheat to court , ' Margaret Hodge , chair of Parliament 's Public Accounts Committee , told the BBC . Hodge said the former chairman of HSBC , Stephen Green , must face questions about whether he was ` asleep at the wheel , or he did know and he was therefore involved in dodgy tax practices . ' In Belgium , an investigating judge is considering arrest warrants against some former and current officials of the HSBC bank if cooperation in an investigation on the Swiss operations does not improve . What HSBC says . HSBC stressed that the documents were from eight years ago and said it has since implemented initiatives designed to prevent its banking services from being used to evade taxes or launder money . Franco Morra , CEO of HSBC 's Swiss subsidiary , said the new management had shut down accounts from clients who ` did not meet our high standards . ' ` These disclosures about historical business practices are a reminder that the old business model of Swiss private banking is no longer acceptable , ' he said in a statement . The investigation centers on prices for gold , silver , platinum and palladium . It is being carried out by the Justice Department with help from Commodity Futures Trading Commission . Barclays paid # 290million in penalties to US and UK regulators in June 2012 to settle Libor rate-rigging claims . Libor , which stands for London Inter-Bank Offered Rate , is a benchmark that indicates the interest rate that banks charge when lending to each other and is seen as fundamental to the operation of both UK and world markets . Alleged rigging is said to have involved the submission of false figures in order either to make more money or to paint a false picture of a bank 's health . A review in September 2012 found that the manipulation of the way it was fixed had damaged trust in the financial system . HSBC was one of several banks named in lawsuits filed in U.S. courts last year alleging a conspiracy to manipulate gold , silver , platinum and palladium prices , as well as precious metals derivatives , during the daily precious metals fixes . The century-old gold fix is a standard price for the metal that banks set twice a day over the phone . Some gold traders claim they were harmed by a scheme to manipulate the fix . The banks operating the precious metals benchmarks , known as the fixes , said last year they would no longer administer that process . An electronic daily silver price benchmark is now administered by Thomson Reuters and CME Group , while the London Metal Exchange provides twice-daily benchmark platinum and palladium prices . ICE Benchmark Administration will run an electronic gold price benchmark from March 20 to replace the London gold fix . Switzerland 's financial watchdog said in November it had found a ` clear attempt ' to manipulate precious metals price benchmarks . An investigation by German regulator Bafin found no signs of attempted benchmark price manipulation in precious metals , newspaper Handelsblatt reported last month . HSBC is currently under intense scrutiny over practices at its Swiss private bank , where it is said to have helped clients dodge taxes . It said past practices at this bank were ` unacceptable ' as it reported that 2014 net income fell 16 percent to $ 13.7 billion . HSBC acknowledged Monday that 2014 profits ` disappointed ' and said the figures included the costs of paying settlements to cover past failings . These include $ 550million the bank set aside last year to cover penalties for manipulating foreign currency markets . | Investigation centers on prices for gold , silver , platinum and palladium . The banks being probed also include Barclays , UBS and Goldman Sachs . HSBC mired in allegations it helped wealthy clients dodge taxes . Swiss watchdog said it found ` clear attempt ' to manipulate benchmarks . | [[371, 460], [5954, 6034], [6840, 6962], [641, 732], [738, 883], [884, 892], [978, 1000], [180, 205], [209, 247], [226, 302], [1565, 1775], [3408, 3527], [8018, 8071], [7677, 7767]] |
A renowned poet was murdered by her stepson in an argument at her idyllic country farmhouse , a court has heard . Writer Anne Cluysenaar , 79 , was stabbed to death by stepson Timothy Jackson , 48 , with a kitchen knife during a family row . University lecturer Ms Cluysenaar was found with knife wounds to her chest and neck at her Little Wentwood Farm in Usk , South Wales . Jackson is now facing life in prison after pleading guilty to murder at Cardiff Crown Court . Anne Cluysenaar was stabbed to death at her home last November following a family row . Her stepson Timothy Jackson -LRB- right -RRB- has now admitted her murder . The court heard the peace of the picturesque home she had set up with Jackson 's father Walter , 77 , was shattered on November 1 when her stepson visited from his home in Sheffield . The couple had celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary the day before she was murdered . Police and paramedics were called following a violent family argument and discovered Ms Cluysenaar 's body in the living room . Prosecutor Roger Thomas QC said Jackson picked up the murder weapon from a sideboard during an argument with his stepmother . He said : ` The knife was clearly a household knife and was in the room and when the murder took place . ` It was obviously picked up in the course of the incident that took place . ' Ms Cluysenaar and her husband lived at their cottage in South Wales for 25 years before the brutal murder . Belgium-born Ms Cluysenaar came to Britain after her family fled the Nazis during World War Two . She started writing poetry as an eight-year-old and went on to write hundreds of poems in her life which were printed in literary journals and magazines . She had also lectured in literature and linguistics at universities across the country including Manchester , Dublin and Aberdeen . Anne moved to the smallholding with her husband Walter and had lived there for more than 25 years before her brutal murder . Jackson was remanded in custody and told to expect to serve a lengthy jail term when he is sentenced next month . | Police found writer 's body dead after family row at South Wales home . Stepson , 48 , admits her murder and now faces life prison sentence . Court told poet and killer 's father had been married for 39 years . But argument brewed after stepson visited country home from Sheffield . Prosecutors say the stepson picked up a knife and stabbed poet last year . | [[471, 558], [525, 558], [910, 979], [114, 136], [139, 196], [377, 391], [399, 470], [377, 384], [388, 470], [559, 634], [94, 113], [819, 909], [635, 644], [737, 818], [0, 91], [114, 136], [139, 196], [471, 558], [1038, 1163]] |
It could be a scene out of Little Britain featuring Matt Lucas 's comic creation Andy Pipkin . But this is Phillip Lemonheigh being pushed into court in a wheelchair -- then getting up and going for a stroll when he thought no one was looking . He was in the dock after disguising his car as an ambulance and using a flashing blue light so he could speed while running errands for his bed-bound wife . Disabled ? Phillip Lemonheigh is pushed to his hearing by stepson Bryan Rowe . Finding his feet : Hours later , he is seen walking around and pushing his wheelchair . Lemonheigh , 59 , admitted dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice when he appeared at Swansea Crown Court . Judge Peter Heywood said of the case : ` I do n't think I have ever come across something so bizarre . ' Lemonheigh , of Neath , South Wales , now faces jail . He recently suffered a heart attack which has left him in a wheelchair , the court heard . Asked about his trip to the shops , Lemonheigh said : ` Yes , I walked there and back ' Lemonheigh was seen arriving in a wheelchair pushed by his stepson Bryan Rowe , 41 . But hours later he ditched the chair -- and was photographed the next day walking to the shops unaided . In Little Britain , actor Lucas has made millions laugh with his character Andy Pipkin who fakes disability and leaps in and out of his wheelchair when no one is looking , fooling his friend Lou , played by David Walliams . Asked about his trip to the shops , Lemonheigh told The Sun : ` Yes , I walked there and back but when I got in I had to sit and rest for half an hour . ' Yesterday , Mr Rowe said Lemonheigh was feeling too weak to comment . The jobless stepson added : ` You should have seen how slow he was walking . ` As long as he takes it easy he is OK , otherwise he gets tired so easily . ' The court heard how Lemonheigh , who did not have a driving licence , stuck ` emergency response ' signs on his wife Noreen 's Renault Laguna . A speed camera recorded him running a traffic light 24 seconds after it turned red and doing 73mph in a 50mph zone at a notorious accident spot on the A4119 in Llantrisant near Cardiff . He claimed he had been a ` volunteer ambulance driver ' at the time of the offence . After the hearing , a laughing Lemonheigh admitted he had been driving the fake ambulance for three months , adding : ` I just went a bit far and they caught me . ' I do n't think I was doing anything wrong . ' He will be sentenced on March 20 . In Little Britain , Andy Pipkin , played by Matt Lucas , fakes his disability , fooling his friend Lou , played by David Walliams . Andy has made millions laugh when he repeatedly leaps in and out of his wheelchair when no one is looking . | Phillip Lemonheigh was pushed into Swansea Crown Court in a wheelchair . Hours later , he went for a stroll when he thought no one was looking . He was in the dock after disguising his car as an ambulance so he could speed while running errands for his bed-bound wife . Lemonheigh admitted dangerous driving and perverting course of justice . | [[99, 165], [413, 480], [1032, 1076], [1064, 1098], [99, 103], [189, 244], [500, 511], [514, 568], [1117, 1135], [1154, 1221], [245, 336], [337, 401], [569, 579], [587, 692]] |
A Philadelphia man has been arrested in the stabbings of two members of rapper Nicki Minaj 's tour , one of whom died . Authorities say 31-year-old Pierce Boykin was arrested Monday on charges of attempted murder , aggravated assault and related offenses . Police Capt James Clark said more arrests could come . Last week , authorities said they were looking for two suspects . The double stabbing on Wednesday left 29-year-old Devon Pickett dead and a second member of Minaj 's tour , 27-year-old Eric Parker , severely wounded . Scroll down for video . Collared : Police in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania arrested Pierce Boykin , left , on Monday in connection to a deadly bar stabbing that left one of Nicki Minaj 's tour managers dead and another in critical condition . Minaj pictured on the right attending a Marc Jacobs fashion show on February 19 in New York . Victims : De'Von Pickett -LRB- left -RRB- , Nicki Minaj 's tour manager , was stabbed to death last week , while Eric Parker -LRB- right -RRB- , 27 , remains in critical condition . Police sources told Philly.com that Boykin critically injured Parker , and that Pickett was killed by another assailant in the same fight . Police say the stabbing occurred outside a bar after the victims argued with a man inside , allegedly over a woman . According to Minaj , the crew members had arrived in Philadelphia only two days earlier to rehearse for a tour . Boykin or an attorney for him could not be reached Tuesday to comment on the charges . Minaj shared the news of the fatal bar fight on Twitter last week , writing ; ` Two members of my team were stabbed last night in Philly . One was killed . They had only been there for two days rehearsing for the tour . ' She also called the incident ` another senseless act of violence that took the life of a great guy . ' Parker is expected to survive the incident . Scene : It has now been revealed that Pickett and Parker were fighting with the rival group over a female bartender who works at Che Bar & Grill , near where the altercation happened . It has now been revealed that the fight was over a female bartender who worked at the restaurant where Pickett , Parker and friends dined Tuesday night . When they were leaving Che Bar & Grill early the next morning , Minaj 's employees got in a confrontation with a group of local men on the sidewalk outside . It 's alleged that both Parker and a man from the rival group were both dating the female bartender . ` Both of the parties knew a female who worked at the bar , and the arguments centered around her , ' Capt Clark told WPVI . When she came out , Parker 's group tried to escort her to the car . The situation escalated when Parker asked the woman if she was ok and someone in the other group pulled out a knife . Music veteran : Pickett -LRB- above -RRB- had worked in the music industry for years , helping out on tours for Rihanna and singer K. Michelle . Both men were in town to rehearse for Minaj 's European tour , which begins next month in support of her new album The Pinkprint . Rihanna also paid tribute to Pickett , who previously worked on her tour , writing ; ` Ca n't believe this is true ! one of the nicest , coolest , funniest people I 've ever met and toured with ! We had so much fun together !!! Sad to lose a beautiful spirit like yours #RIPDayDay . ' Rapper Fabolous also paid tribute , writing ; ` My heart is heavy right now ... God opened my eyes this morning at 9:49 am . For some reason at that time I woke up thinking about both of these guys . They both work with me , but I could n't figure out why they were in my mind at 1st wake up . Was n't sure if I had a dream & they were in it or just some wake up & process things type shit . . But at 10:04 my brother hit me & told me ... ` My friend died & my friend Eric Parker is in critical condition in the hospital fighting for his life . I am still in shock & do n't want to believe this . And it hurts even more knowing how good these two dudes are . How hard these guys work . And how loyal they are to whoever they are down with & each other . Please send Eric Parker your blessings & a prayer for him to pull thru . Survivor : Parker -LRB- above with Questlove of The Roots -RRB- is in critical condition but expected to survive . It 's believed that Boykin is the man who stabbed him . Friends with Bad Gal RiRi : Pickett worked on Rihanna 's Glow In the Dark Tour -LRB- both pictured above -RRB- . Tour manager to the music stars : Pickett also worked with K. Michelle -LRB- both above -RRB- on her first tour . ` And RIP to the fallen soldier Day Day . I ca n't even believe I 'm saying that with your name attached to it . & I HATE this being a post !! I will miss your energy , your vibe , & you but I 'll hold on to your spirit !! ' Singer K. Michelle wrote ; ` I 'm in real shock . Woke up this morning to some awful news that you passed . My heart is broken . You managed my first tour ever the Rebellious Soul Tour . ` You Were so supportive and excited about the growth of my career . When are we going to stop killing eachother ? They do n't even know they took away one of the best . You 've guided so many careers . The road for many artist wo n't be the same . My heart hurts . Praying for your family and I know you are in a better place . ' Pusha T also remembered Pickett ; ` It 's killing me to talk abt you in the past tense . I do n't believe I 've ever met someone as selfless as you . No one as humble and for the team as you . I hired you as my road manager simply because I knew you were more honest than me . ` There were stronger , more experienced , more polished candidates for the job but they were n't better than you . You made me see good in people . You gave everyone a chance , they should 've gave you a chance . You did n't deserve this . Love you . ' | Pierce Boykin , 31 , was arrested Monday and charged with attempted murder , aggravated assault and other offenses . Police believe he critically injured Nicki Minaj 's 27-year-old employee Eric Parker in a bar stabbing last week . Minaj 's tour manager De'Von Pickett was killed in the fight , though it 's believed a different assailant struck the fatal blow . It has now been revealed that Pickett and Parker got into a fight with the rival group over a female bartender at the restaurant they were eating at . | [[120, 256], [136, 256], [663, 684], [690, 771], [979, 1008], [1016, 1047], [1048, 1116], [4185, 4262], [378, 483], [663, 684], [690, 771], [1123, 1187], [1875, 1880], [1883, 1990], [1972, 1990], [1995, 2019], [2060, 2127], [2109, 2127], [2132, 2156]] |
The FTSE 100 soared to a record high today as Britain 's economic growth was given a ` pat on the back ' by a leading international think-tank . The index of leading companies trading on the London Stock Exchange closed at 6,949.6 , beating its previous life-time high set on December 30 , 1999 at the height of the dot-com boom . It is a major boost for Chancellor George Osborne who was today lauded by the OECD for his ` remarkable ' stewardship of the economy . The FTSE 100 Index has risen to a record high , its previous life-time high set on December 30 , 1999 . Today 's rally on the stock market means the FTSE 100 is now 13 percent higher since hitting a low in December and has risen by almost 6 per cent in 2015 . Stocks rose in part after the European Central Bank agreed a 1.1 trillion euro -LRB- # 820 billion -RRB- stimulus scheme to buy bonds , or parcels of government and corporate debt . Bank of England governor Mark Carney also revealed today that record low inflation means interest rates could be cut even further to near zero , in a boost for homeowners . OECD chief Angel Gurria , on a visit to London , even echoed a Tory slogan by hailing the Government 's ` long term economic plan ' . But he also warned that UK plc 's recovery would be in jeopardy unless productivity improved - and highlighted the continuing threat from high property prices . Launching the OECD 's latest survey of the British economy , Mr Gurria noted that 2.6 per cent growth last year was the highest in the G7 . The organisation expects the rate to be the same this year . Chancellor George Osborne has been buoyed by a string of positive economic news , including a ` pat on the back ' from the OECD . Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said interest could be cut below 0.5 per cent - but it was still more likely that they would rise . Interest rates could be cut even further from their already record low of just 0.5 per cent , the Bank of England Governor Mark Carney revealed this morning . The Bank chief said the banking system could cope with interest rates being cut closer to zero -- but refused to say how far they could fall . However , Mr Carney insisted it was still more likely that rates would go up after inflation returns to normal after a period of falling prices this year . Mr Carney said that three-quarters of the current weakness in inflation was due to falling prices of oil and food , which he said was a ` temporary , one-off development ' . He stressed that if there was any evidence of a sustained fall in inflation , the Bank could ` if necessary ' cut interest rates from their current 0.5 per cent low to zero , but he emphasised that the ` focus of policy is towards tightening ' . He said : ` Because of the resilience of banking and building societies has increased , we are in a position where we could , if necessary , cut bank rates towards zero . That is -- to a level that is still above zero -- but we have n't specified a specific level . ' Mr Gurria said the performance of the labour market had been ` remarkable ' , with three million jobs created over the past five years . Relative to the size of the UK population , the figures were even better than those recorded in the US over the period , he said . ` Even as unemployment has fallen , inflationary pressures have vanished ... real wages are on the rise , ' Mr Gurria told a press conference in the Treasury . ` We are predicting this economic expansion will continue this year and next . What a difference effective economic policies can make . ' The fall in the oil price combined with fears over Greece had pulled markets lower at the start of 2015 but ECB stimulus and tentative hopes of a new deal on Greece 's debts have , together with a slight bounce-back for oil , helped them recover . It comes after the FTSE 100 ended 2014 lower than it started in the first annual fall since 2011 , leaving investors hoping for a better performance this year . Tom Stevenson , investment director at Fidelity Personal Investing , said that UK shares had underperformed relative to Wall Street in the last couple of years , leaving them relatively cheap . Equities had been held back by falling commodity prices and anxiety over the Scottish referendum , meaning the market now offers better valuations for those hunting dividends , he said . Added to the likelihood of interest rates remaining low until the end of the year , it produced a ` positive combination ' for investors . Mr Osborne seized on the praise from the OECD , including the Tories ' election slogan about having a ` long term economic plan ' . The Chancellor wrote on Twitter : ` The OECD report shows we have right strategy & Sec Gen Gurria says ` Britain has a long term economic plan & we need to stick to it ' - I agree . ' Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said : ` This report confirms that the UK economy is returning to health and highlights the vital role of key Liberal Democrat policies in the turnaround . ` Our dramatic increases in the personal allowance , the greening of the economy , the focus on infrastructure , and putting the financial sector back on an even keel are just a few examples of where Liberal Democrat thinking has been central to the economic turnaround . ` Our commitment to continue the same balanced approach in the next parliament is in stark contrast to the Conservatives , who are abandoning fairness and the centre ground . ` By urging years of cuts for cuts ' sake , by unfairly finishing the job of balancing the books on the backs of the least well-off and undermining our position in Europe , they will put this hard-won recovery at risk . ' Shadow chief secretary to the treasury Chris Leslie said : ` The OECD is right to highlight the challenge of increasing productivity in order to sustainably raise living standards and so get the deficit down . ` This is what Labour 's better plan for Britain 's prosperity , which we published this month , is all about . Our plan includes cutting business rates for small firms , reforming the banking sector , investing in training and apprenticeships and keeping Britain in a reformed EU . ` Government standing back and hoping wealth will trickle-down from the top to everyone else simply wo n't work . We need a recovery that reaches kitchen tables across Britain , not one which has left working people # 1,600 a year worse off since 2010 . ' | Index breaks record set in December 1999 at the height of dot-com boom . Rise comes after European Central Bank agreed a 1.1 trillion euro stimulus . Fears of eurozone crisis hitting Britain have not dampened the markets . OECD praises George Osborne 's ` remarkable ' stewardship of the economy . Bank of England says interest rates could be cut to close to zero . | [[145, 212], [233, 294], [726, 846], [355, 380], [385, 394], [402, 465], [355, 380], [395, 465], [1577, 1706], [908, 932], [950, 1050], [2476, 2648], [2837, 2839], [2863, 2892]] |
British troops are being sent to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against Russia , David Cameron announced today . About 75 soldiers will be deployed to carry out tactical intelligence and some basic ` defensive ' infantry training . The revelation came as the Prime Minister warned there would be ` dreadful ' consequences to appeasing Vladimir Putin . In a clear reference to the Second World War , Mr Cameron said Britain had ` made these mistakes ' before , adding : ` It 's not a sensible thing to do . ' Mr Cameron said the Russian President 's goal was to swallow up swathes of territory on its border . He told MPs that if Britain and the West did not stand up to Russia now , Mr Putin would target other countries after annexing parts of Ukraine . About 75 British soldiers will be sent to Ukraine to carry out tactical intelligence and some basic ` defensive ' infantry training , the PM said today . Mr Cameron confirmed the British military personnel being sent to Ukraine will be deployed over the next few weeks . Giving evidence to the Commons Liaison Committee , Mr Cameron said : ` We are not at the stage of supplying lethal equipment . We have announced a whole series of non-lethal equipment , night-vision goggles , body armour , which we have already said that we will give to Ukraine . ` Over the course of the next month we are going to be deploying British service personnel to provide advice and a range of training , from tactical intelligence to logistics to medical care , which is something else they have asked for . ` We will also be developing an infantry training programme with Ukraine to improve the durability of their forces . This will involve a number of British service personnel , they will be away from the area of conflict but I think this is the sort of thing we should be helping with . ' The Prime Minister said he was not advocating sending ` large numbers of British troops ' to Ukraine . But he said the EU and US should use its economic might to punish Mr Putin . Mr Cameron said : ` Of course there is short-term pain when you are putting sanctions on a country there 's short term pain to your own economies . ` But in the medium to long term the countries of Europe depend on a rules-based system where people obey the rules . ` The instability we will yield if we do n't stand up to Russia in the long-term will be deeply damaging to all of us , because you will see further destabilisation -- next it will be Moldova or one of the Baltic States . ` That sort of instability and uncertainty will be dreadful for our economies , dreadful for our stability -- and that 's why Britain takes such a clear view . ' Mr Cameron said the Russian President Vladimir Putin 's goal to swallow up swathes of territory was becoming increasingly clear . Pro-Russian Donetsk residents receive a free meal during a rally as people celebrate the Russian festival ` Defender of the Fatherland ' in Donetsk , Ukraine , yesterday . He said Mr Putin 's ` strategic goals ' were becoming clear . ` We 've now seen a very clear pattern of behaviour . We saw it Georgia , with the creation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia , we 've seen it with Transnistria -- we 're now seeing it with Ukraine . ` He would like if countries respond weekly to try to restore some of the Russian near abroad to Russia . That is what he would like to do in my view . That is not acceptable . These countries are democracies and should be able to decide their future . ' Mr Cameron said allowing Russia to swallow up its smaller neighbours with Russian-speaking minorities would be wrong . He said : ` We 've made these mistakes in our history , or talking about far-away countries of which we know little -- and it 's not a sensible thing to do . ` I 'm not saying we should send huge numbers of British troops to Ukraine or even that we 're at the stage of arming the Ukrainians -- but what we should do is make the weight of our economic power that Europe and America play against Russia if they continue to behave in this way . ` Putin knows if he continues down this path he will have a very different relationship with Europe , with Britain , with the US , with the West . ' Ukraine 's President Petro Poroshenko has asked for military help to defeat Russia 's military advance , David Cameron said today . Members of the Ukrainian armed forces ride an armoured personnel carrier in Artemivsk , eastern Ukraine , today . Mr Cameron also insisted that Russia 's annexation of Crimea and supporting Ukrainian rebels had not been a success for Moscow . He said : ` Let us not talk ourselves into some idea that it 's all been a fantastic success for Russia -- it has n't been . ' A couple of Russian planes fly around the Channel . But we should n't talk ourselves into a situation where we think we ca n't defend ourselves -- we absolutely can . The Prime Minister also insisted that Russia knew Britain and other members of Nato were ` rock solid ' in support of its eastern European members . He said : ` President Putin absolutely knows that we would stand by our article five obligations . If a country of Nato is attacked , an attack on one is an attack on all . That is Nato doctrine -- I sign up to it absolutely . ' Mr Cameron said Britain was keeping up the pressure on Mr Putin from within the European Union . He said : ` Britain 's role is to be at the tougher end of the spectrum , keeping the European Union and the European Union together . ' By James Slack . Vladimir Putin attended a wreath-laying ceremony to mark the ` Day of the Fatherland 's Defender ' in Moscow yesterday . Ministers have been accused of kowtowing to Russia by refusing to publicly identify Vlaidimir Putin ` henchmen ' with links to the UK . Despite a series of provocative acts by the Russians -- including buzzing Bear bomber jets off the coast of Cornwall last week -- the Home Office said it did not want to upset ` international relations ' . The decision provoked fury among MPs and campaigners who accused the Government of being on bended knee to the Russian lobby of ` murderers and torturers ' . Senior MPs say that , where a decision is taken to ban Russian officials from travelling to the UK on the grounds their presence here would be harmful , they should be publicly identified . This is considered crucial as , by omission , it would also reveal which of the President 's wealthy associates -- including men with links to a notorious murders and the mafia -- have not been excluded . There are fears a string of Russians who may even pose a threat to national security are still being allowed in , to avoid angering Putin . Tory Dominic Raab warned : ` If we are serious about trying to alter Putin 's behaviour , should we not start by making sure that those who bankroll him can not enjoy the fruits of their labour here , clandestinely in luxurious comfort ? ` Those individuals who bankroll Putin and his like should know that when they cross the line and engage in serious international crimes , their association with him and support for him will bar their ability to enjoy the luxurious Knightsbridge lifestyle that so many of them crave . ` People carrying dirty money and individuals with blood on their hands should not be welcome on the streets of Britain . This is not just a question of moral principle . ` Sooner or later , if we keep allowing such unsavoury characters into the UK , bringing all their baggage and vendettas with them , we risk finding that it is British citizens who are caught in the crossfire or worse . ' The campaign to name Putin associates banned from Britain was inspired by Sergei Magnitsky , a Russian lawyer who was tortured and murdered in 2009 whilst detained , on instructions from the Kremlin , for exposing a $ 230 million tax fraud committed by Putin 's ` cronies ' . In the US , a law was introduced banning the Russian officials allegedly involved in the killing from entering the country . All have been publicly named by the Obama administration . MPs have been calling for a similar law in the UK since 2012 . Yet , while promising to similarly exclude the guilty men , the Home Office refuses to say who has been banned -- raising fears a number of those responsible have been allowed to slip through the net to avoid offending Putin . Tory MP Dominic Raab has accused of kowtowing to Russia by refusing to publicly identify Vladimir Putin ` henchmen ' with links to the UK . On Monday evening , a band of senior MPs -- including the chairmen of seven Westminster select committees - attempted to introduce a clause to the Serious Crime Bill . This would have forced the Government to identify the people who it had excluded from the country and , therefore , those who remain free to travel here . However , despite the continued Russian hostility to Britain , Home Office Minister Karen Bradley was ordered to block the legislation in order to not offend ` international relations and foreign policy objectives ' . A string of prominent Tory backbenchers had backed the naming of Putin 's ` henchmen ' , including ex-solicitor General Sir Edward Garnier , who said the case for changing the law was ` unassailable ' . Mr Raab accused the Home Office officials blocking the legislation of burying their heads in ` a comfortable secrecy and lack of transparency ' . The Government 's ` unbelievable ' stance also angered campaigners . The British businessman Bill Browder , who employed Mr Magnitsky , said : ` Who are British ministers serving here ? They are more worried about a dictator in a foreign country than in keeping the British people safe . ` The Russian torturers and murderers lobby seems to hold a lot more sway here in the UK than the US . ' Justifying the decision , Mrs Bradley said changing the law would have ` serious implications for the security of our borders and therefore to the national security of the country ' . She added : ` There is a further risk that publication of individuals excluded from the UK may undermine international relations and foreign policy objectives . ` That risk is intensified if the excluded individual has connections with a foreign Government or well known organisation that may be working in partnership with the UK to broaden our interests abroad . That is one example . ` Also , ongoing investigations into the activities of an individual could be jeopardised if they became aware of the fact that they were on the list . ' | About 75 soldiers will be deployed to carry out ` defensive ' infantry training . PM revealed troop deployment to MPs on Commons Liaison Committee . He said UK should not allow Russia to swallow up small European states . Mr Cameron said Putin 's goal to swallow up new territory becoming clear . He said if UK did not act now Putin would target Moldova and Baltic states . British personnel will be deployed to Ukraine over the next few weeks . | [[124, 242], [124, 141], [159, 242], [766, 897], [1037, 1085], [3489, 3607], [3514, 3590], [519, 619], [535, 619], [2674, 2769], [2690, 2734], [2770, 2803], [2984, 3013], [3016, 3037], [3514, 3590], [4304, 4330], [620, 691], [2325, 2327], [2357, 2407], [2410, 2511], [0, 89], [920, 1028], [941, 971], [986, 1036], [1354, 1356], [1367, 1508], [1674, 1729]] |
A young man who suffered a horrific brain injury will embark on an incredible charity bike ride as a moving memorial for his friend , Kim Hunt , who was killed in a tragic murder-suicide . Ms Hunt ; a beloved intensive care nurse , wife and mother , was found dead in September last year as a result of a suspected murder-suicide . Her husband Geoff and their three young children Fletcher , Mia and Phoebe were also tragically found dead on their country property , all with gunshot wounds . Mrs Hunt suffered from a traumatic brain injury after a car crash in 2012 . Just weeks beforehand and mere kilometres away , fellow Lockhart resident Luke Stojanovic sustained very similar injuries after a bike accident . A photograph taken of friend Kim Hunt -LRB- left -RRB- and Luke Stojanovic -LRB- right -RRB- before Kim 's tragic death , during one of their ` many dinners in the courtyard together at Liverpool Brain Injury Unit ' The Hunt family , Geoff -LRB- back left -RRB- , Kim -LRB- back right -RRB- and their children -LRB- left to right -RRB- Phoebe , Mia and Fletcher , were all tragically killed in a suspected murder-suicide in September 2014 . Luke Stojanovic -LRB- left -RRB- just days after his accident at the high dependency ward in Canberra with his lifelong best friend , motocross champion Jackson Strong . Stojanovic , 22 , is now preparing to ride to honour Mrs Hunt and to raise money for the Liverpool Brain Trauma Unit and Wagga Base Hospital Intensive Care Unit . The hospitals were vital in helping both himself and Mrs Hunt recover from their traumatic brain injuries and is also the place where their friendship was formed . The road ride has long been a dream for the 22-year-old and he had often discussed his plans with Ms Hunt . ` Kim had indicated that she would like to support Luke by riding part of the way with him , ' family friend and the fundraiser organiser , Mandy Strong told Daily Mail Australia . ` We say to him `` Kim is there with you , she 's just sitting on your shoulder keeping you going . ' Stojanovic will ride a staggering 180 kilometres on his charity ride . He will set off from Ramsay Private Hospital in Nowra , where he is currently undergoing rehabilitation as an outpatient , and finish in Liverpool where he spent nine months after his accident . Mr Stojanovic -LRB- left -RRB- and Mrs Hunt -LRB- right -RRB- were both Lockhart residents and formed a close friendship as they fought to overcome their brain injuries . Kim -LRB- in red , holding daughter Mia -RRB- is remembered as a loving wife , mother and friend . She was also a dedicated intensive care nurse and showed incredible strength to overcome a horrific brain injury . He hopes to raise money to help brain injury sufferers along the way . ` I am calling my ride the Luke Stono 's `` Never Give up Ride '' , ' said Mr Stojanovic . ` I want to undertake this fundraising event to help others like myself so they can better themselves and be the best they can be . ' He hopes to complete the ride in 10 days from April 22 to May 1 . ' I will do this by riding a recumbent push bike that has been specially modified to suit my disability , ' explained Stojanovic . The driven 22-year-old is focussed on using the event to commemorate the wonderful Hunt family . He and the Lockhart community want people everywhere to learn about what Kim achieved as a nurse , a brain injury sufferer and as a friend . Stojanovic also hopes the ride will send a message of hope to other people with brain injuries , as evidence of what they are capable of achieving . The pair , both residents a small town in the NSW Riverina named Lockhart , formed a close bond as they both fought to recover from their brain trauma . ` Both accidents were really similar , just weeks and kilometres apart from each other , ' said Jackson Strong , Luke 's lifelong best friend and a renowned motocross star . The road ride has long been a dream for the 22-year-old and he had often discussed his plans with Ms Hunt . She had promised to ride part of the way with Luke to support him . A poster promoting one half of the fundraising campaign , made by Kim Hunt 's sister Jenny Blake . The Lockhart community will come together for a charity ride on March 7 to raise funds for brain injury sufferers and to remember the beloved Hunt family -LRB- pictured -RRB- . On June 20 , 2012 Stojanovic , then a 20-year-old up-and-coming motocross rider , missed a seat grab and landed on his head whilst training for motor cross stunt riding . Shortly afterwards , on July 14 , Ms Hunt suffered life-threatening injuries when she flipped her car twice while on the road leading to her Lockhart home . Her then-four year old daughter Phoebe was also in the vehicle and suffered minor injuries . The two Lockhart residents met and formed a tight bond at the very beginning of their long road to recovery . ` Luke and the Hunt family made a connection in hospital and that never ended . ` Whenever Luke came to Lockhart , Kim and the Hunt family would always make sure they all came up to spend time with him , ' Mr Strong told Daily Mail Australia . Mr Stojanovic is motivated to raise money to improve the resources at the two hospitals to help provide care for other people who are suffering . ` Throughout my days in Liverpool Hospital I was able to meet others of all ages with different degrees of brain injuries , who were fighting their own battles and who in return were inspirational people to me , ' said Mr Stojanovic . ` After spending so much time in the Rehab Unit , I realised that these people , and the Brain Injury Unit overall , would benefit from new equipment and a total make over . ' Kim and Luke gave each other a lot of strength and lifted each other with their friendship . Mr Stojanovic has made incredible progress thanks to his determined efforts to recover from his injury . He is pictured with his friends shortly after the accident in June 2012 . Mandy and Jackson Strong are organising the Lockhart bike ride and say the community will do anything to keep the memory of the Hunt family alive . ` They went through the same hospital circuits and the families became quite close . They maintained a connection , ' agreed Mr Strong . ` Going through the same thing with a brain injury , it was so good for them to be able to talk with each other . ' ` Kim recovered more quickly than Luke so she was also inspirational for him , motivating him by showing him what he is capable of achieving . ' The bike ride is an important step for Luke and the rest of the community who mourn the deaths of the treasured Hunt family . ` When the tragedy happened it hit Luke pretty hard and he wants to do everything he can to keep their memory alive , ' said Mr Strong . ` I think everyone in the community feels the same and they will do whatever they can . ' ` The whole ride is about what an amazing person Kim was , the recovery she had and keeping awareness alive for people in the same situation . ` Kim and Luke 's lives show people that they can make something positive out of it . ' Before Stojanovic embarks on his ride , the Lockhart community will come together and hold ` The Kim Hunt and Family Memorial Ride ' to raise funds for two intensive care units and show their support . Stojanovic has worked tirelessly to recover from his brain injury , spending hours a day on the bike at the gym at his rehab centre . ` Luke rides a specially remodelled bike . He does a lot of training and goes for rides . He does up to 60 kilometres a day , depending on his fitness . ' ` I 'll be riding next to him but probably only go be able to go half as far as Luke will . He 's pretty fit ! , ' said Mr Strong . Before Stojanovic embarks on his ride , the Lockhart community will come together and hold ` The Kim Hunt and Family Memorial Ride ' to raise funds for two intensive care units and show their support . Members of the community will ride 93 kilometres from Wagga to Lockhart on March 7 . ` I am extremely lucky to have the love and support of all my family , friends and our local community , ' said Mr Stojanovic . ` Also for dedicated nurses , doctors , rehab physiotherapists and everyone who is helping me with my recovery ' Kim and Luke formed a close friendship during their recovery . Whenever Luke came home to Lockhart Kim , her husband Geoff and their three young children -LRB- L to R -RRB- Phoebe , Fletcher and Mia would always visit . People are encouraged to take part in the day in whatever way they can , whether it be riding part of the way by joining in at Mangoplan and The Rock , joining in for a barbeque at Lockhart Swimming Pool . Mrs Strong is campaigning for people to donate online to help raise funds for the intensive care units that made such a difference to Mr Stojanovic and Mrs Hunt 's lives . It is also fitting as Mrs Hunt had been a dedicated and caring nurse who spent so much time helping those in need at both Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and Lockhart District Hospital . ` I am extremely lucky to have the love and support of all my family , friends and our local community . ` Also , for the dedicated nurses , doctors , rehab physiotherapists and everyone who is helping me with my recovery , ' said Mr Stojanovic . The response from the community has been astounding according to Mrs Strong . ` It 's what small towns do best . They look after each other and help each other through . ' For more information visit the Facebook page here . Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 . The response from the community has been astounding according to Mrs Strong . ` It 's what small towns do best . They look after each other and help each other through ' | Kim Hunt died after a suspected murder-suicide in Lockhart , NSW in 2014 . Her husband Geoff and children Fletcher , Mia and Phoebe also died . Mrs Hunt suffered a horrific brain injury in 2012 after she rolled her car . Just weeks earlier and kilometres away , promising motocross rider Luke Stojanovic , then 20 , suffered an eerily similar injury . He is now embarking on an 180 kilometre ride in her memory and to raise money for the intensive care units which helped both of their recoveries . The country town of Lockhart will first show their support with another fundraising ride in March . | [[117, 131], [138, 188], [303, 331], [392, 492], [1010, 1076], [493, 568], [4525, 4543], [4546, 4556], [4559, 4681], [569, 615], [618, 714], [3728, 3744], [3782, 3798], [0, 131], [1326, 1341], [1344, 1350], [1361, 1488], [1326, 1336], [1344, 1488], [1489, 1585], [2044, 2114], [7088, 7125], [7128, 7150], [7174, 7218], [7221, 7289], [7711, 7748], [7751, 7773], [7797, 7841], [7844, 7912], [8743, 8767], [8773, 8836], [4177, 4248], [7088, 7125], [7128, 7150], [7174, 7218], [7221, 7289], [7711, 7748], [7751, 7773], [7797, 7841], [7844, 7912]] |
These are the competitors who are dragged at break-neck speed through alpine forests , as part of a decades-old sporting event in the Polish mountains . The series of traditional races , which take place in the Tatra mountains , involve two-person sleighs and daredevils skiers being perilously led through the snow at the reins of a galloping horse . The event consists of sleigh racing , being dragged on skis by a horse while another competitor is riding it , and skiring , a sport in which skiers are pulled along by a free-running horse . These are the competitors who are dragged at break-neck speed through alpine forests , as part of a decades-old sporting event in the Polish mountains . Pictured : A skiring competitor in action . The series of traditional races takes place in the Tatra mountains , a mountain range in southern Poland . It involves daredevils skiers being perilously led through the snow at the reins of a galloping horse . The event sees participants take part in various races such as sleigh racing , skiing with ridden horses as well as skiring , which sees competitors on skis pulled along by a horse . The sleigh races are known as Kumoterki , the name of which is derived from the type of small sledge used to transport godparents for religious occasions in the area of Podhale , the country 's southernmost region . The races are known as Kumoterki , the name of which is derived from the chariot-style small sledge used to transport godparents for religious occasions in the area of Podhale , the country 's southernmost region . The sleigh racing event involves two-people teams following a horse shoe-shaped track at the Polana Sywarne site in Koscielisko , on small , wooden sleighs . It is one of the top attractions of the carnival and often draws in scores of visitors and tourists , who are reminded of the old cavalcading tradition . Traditionally , the competitors are long-married couples . Kumoterki involves two-people highlander teams following a horse shoe-shaped track on small , wooden sleighs . A skier attempts to stay upright as he is dragged along by the reins of a galloping horse in the traditional skiing race . The Parade , now in its 21st year , is held throughout February each year in Polana Sywarne in Koscielisko . It gives the local highlanders to show off their embellished sleighs and colourful costumes . The event often draws in scores of visitors and tourists as it reminds them of the old winder cavalcading tradition . The husband - known in this case as ` kumotr ' - drives , while his wife holds tightly onto the sleigh and balances her whole body to prevent it going off the track . The Highlander Parade , now in its 21st year , is held throughout February each year and gives the local highlanders the chance to show off their embellished sleighs and colourful costumes . The festival is one of the events that puts traditional culture of the highlanders land on display to outsiders . The Tatra Mountains are a popular destination for people seeking winter sports earning the town of Zakopane the title of ` winter capital of Poland ' . The festival is one of the events that puts traditional culture of the highlanders land on display to outsiders . Bartek Stachon lets out a shout as he skis behind ` Prezes ' during the 9th Edition of Kumoterki . Ludwik Szlembarski skiing at high speeds behind ` Tytan ' during the event in of Kumoterki . The festival is one of the events that puts traditional culture of the highlanders land on display to outsiders . One of the contestant 's sleighs is tipped up as it is dragged through the snow at speed by one of the horses . The horses are raring to go as they drag the sleighs through sheets of white snow . Marek Gasienica skiing behind ` Dzida ' during the annual races held during February . The events take part in the Tatra Mountains , which form a natural border between Poland and Slovakia . | Traditional races take place in Tatra mountains , south Poland , every year . They involve two-person sleighs and skiers being led by a galloping horse . Races known as Kumoterki , name derived from chariot-style small sledge . The Highlander Parade , now in its 21st year , is held throughout February . | [[0, 152], [167, 184], [193, 226], [544, 696], [741, 807], [3819, 3862], [153, 184], [229, 277], [153, 184], [295, 351], [352, 361], [390, 422], [463, 474], [477, 543], [848, 951], [860, 951], [952, 961], [1031, 1075], [1109, 1134], [1566, 1723], [1937, 2047], [1956, 2047], [2048, 2170], [2081, 2170], [3582, 3647], [1177, 1235], [1351, 1383], [1386, 1450], [1420, 1515], [1420, 1450], [1456, 1526], [2171, 2181], [2207, 2279], [2659, 2680], [2706, 2743]] |
Just weeks after a Brisbane stadium banned the use of selfie sticks at a One Direction concert , the promoter of a national festival has followed suite . Branding them as narcassistic , Soundwave festival promoter AJ Maddah took to Twitter this week to express his outrage over the accessories , leading to a ban which revellers have embraced with open arms . ` Dear people with those f *** ing camera sticks : please have some consideration for people behind you trying to enjoy the show . Thank you , ' Maddah wrote on Sunday . Selfie sticks have been banned at the upcoming legs of the Soundwave festival . The festival 's promoter took to Twitter last week to express his hatred for the contraptions . He has now warned fans they will have selfie sticks and tablets confiscated at the gates and put in a cloak room if they try to bring them in . After support from fans and festival goers calling for him to ban them , the promoter told his followers to ` consider it done ' . Maddah also warned patrons if they tried to bring tablets into the upcoming legs of Soundwave - which hits most Australian capital cities - they would be confiscated . ` No tablets allowed at #SW15 -LRB- Soundwave 2015 -RRB- ' , he posted on Twitter . In a follow up interview with Fairfax , Maddah called the selfie sticks egotistic and said they get in the way of others having a good time at concerts . ` It is just the ultimate expression of narcissism , ' he told the publication . After many fans took his side on Twitter about barring the devices he made it official . He said no one would be allowed to bring a tablet into a Soundwave festival ` ever again ' Maddah has pointed out the danger but also inconvenience they are to other festival goers . The promoter said the final straw came when he saw someone taking a photo of themselves with a selfie stick instead of the band on stage . ` Most of them are pointed at the stage with kids taking photos . But I think the one that kind of put it in perspective for me was there was a band set going and a young girl pointed it at herself , ' Maddah added . He said that was the final straw for him and said if she had n't been a paying attendee he would have grabbed the stick off her and kicked her out . Maddah said there was no way he would allow selfie sticks or tablets into the Sydney leg of Soundwave this weekend , and would instead confiscate them and put them in a cloak room until after the festival . Maddah made sure to make his point clear on social media this week . Some other uses also pointed out the dangers of the selfie sticks being used as weapons . The promoter helped the ban would help fans simply go and have a good time watching the performances . The promoter said not only was he concerned about fans illegally recording bands ' sets , they posed a danger and also an inconvenience for those there to see the performances . ` It is insane that people do n't have enough courtesy to care about the people around them , ' Maddah said . ` Just do n't bring them , ' he said , after seeing too many at the Adelaide and Melbourne legs of the festival . This comes just weeks after Suncorp Stadium banned fans from bringing their selfie sticks to One Direction concerts , much to the outrage of teenage girls across the state . Last week in a similar move Suncorp Stadium banned One Direction fans from taking selfie sticks to the concert . The restriction was listed under Suncorp Stadium 's One Direction Frequently Asked Questions section . ` For the safety and comfort of other patrons , selfie sticks are not permitted into the stadium for this event , ' the stadium 's website said . Other restricted items included alcohol , pepper spray or mace , fireworks , studded jewellery , spurs and unusually long wallet chains . | Soundwave promoter AJ Maddah has banned selfie sticks from the festival . He took to Twitter this week to express his hatred for the contraptions . Maddah told fans selfie sticks and tablets will be confiscated . This comes after they were banned at One Direction 's Brisbane concert . | [[0, 153], [154, 183], [186, 293], [186, 223], [296, 312], [530, 609], [2245, 2359], [3554, 3617], [154, 183], [186, 293], [610, 705], [610, 634], [661, 705], [1210, 1232], [2452, 2520], [530, 609], [706, 708], [713, 769], [1121, 1148], [1557, 1634], [2245, 2359], [2245, 2251], [2366, 2395], [3554, 3617], [0, 10], [17, 94], [0, 153], [3116, 3231], [3290, 3299], [3318, 3402]] |
These are the shocking pictures of the mess left by travellers who occupied a patch of waste ground over just a single weekend . The trail of destruction includes ruined portable buildings filled with smashed furniture , broken fences , piles of rubbish and a gate thought to have been forced so the group could get access . The travellers set up camp over the weekend on a privately owned vacant plot of land in Solihull , West Midlands , and have since been removed by police and bailiffs . Trashed : The inside of a temporary building littered with broken furniture left behind by the travellers . What a mess : Portable buildings at the site in Solihuill , West Midlands , were left in a complete state . Smashed : Rubbish was strewn across the patch of waste ground , which was occupied by nine caravans . The group had promised police to leave the site yesterday but they were still there this morning , before they were moved on this afternoon . Their vehicles blocked a vital access road for various industrial units and HGVs were unable to pass . Discarded rubbish littered the area and other roads in the vicinity . A Solihull Council spokesperson said : ` We understand there were around nine caravans on the site which vacated the area earlier today . ` It is private land and BNP Paribas Real Estate market the site on behalf of the owner . ' Right in the way : Vehicles blocked a vital access road for industrial units and HGVs were unable to pass . Hanging around : The travellers promised to leave the site yesterday but were still there this morning before police moved them on this afternoon . | Group with nine caravans wreck vacant plot in Solihull , West Midlands . Blocked vital industrial unit access road and HGVs were unable to pass . Have since been removed by police and bailiffs but were still there this morning , despite promising officers they 'd leave the site yesterday . | [[52, 62], [67, 104], [325, 421], [755, 772], [779, 810], [1126, 1162], [1165, 1224], [953, 1033], [1029, 1055], [1375, 1441], [1375, 1383], [1437, 1463], [325, 339], [444, 492], [811, 868], [873, 907], [910, 926], [1481, 1532], [1481, 1495], [1537, 1611]] |
New Zealand skiing holidays and Kiwi wines are set to get more expensive with economists predicting the Australian dollar will fall to parity with the New Zealand dollar . ANZ economist Daniel Been said the Aussie and Kiwi dollar will likely reach parity for the first time since both currencies were floated , after the AUD hit a record low 103.01 Kiwi cents last Thursday . ` At the moment momentum suggests that parity is more likely than not , ' Mr Been said . New Zealand skiing holidays -LRB- such as in Queenstown , pictured -RRB- are set to get more expensive with economists predicting the Australian dollar will fall to parity with the New Zealand dollar within 12 months . Settled snow is seen covering houses on New Zealand 's lower South Island in Queenstown . ` It 's very difficult to see what structures will change that will prompt a change - a catalyst for a sharp reversal is not all that obvious . ' Mr Been co-authored a report about the AUD/NZD with fellow ANZ economist Sam Tuck . Mr Tuck said the two currencies would probably hit parity in the next year , with the options market suggesting there is a 57 per cent it will happen . He said this would make New Zealand products more expensive for Australian consumers . ` Australians who like to come over to Queenstown of Christchurch for a skiing holiday in winter , it will make that more expensive and make the Snowy Mountains more attractive , ' Mr Tuck said . New Zealand wines would also become more pricey if the AUD and NZD hit parity . A tractor mulches dead wood at one of winemaker Villa Maria Estate Ltd. 's vineyards in Marlborough , NZ . ` Those who enjoy Kiwi wines will have to pay a bit more for it . ' Mr Been said parity would not have a big impact on the Australian economy , and parity would be ` unlikely to sustain itself for a long period of time ' . ` For the Australian economy I do n't think the consequences are as large as they are for the New Zealand economy , ' he said . ` New Zealand makes up about 4 per cent of our exports basket , but we make up about 20 per cent of the export market for NZ . ' In their report , Mr Been and Mr Tuck said decline in the AUD will add competitiveness pressures on the New Zealand economy . ' A sustained push through parity would make holidaying in destinations like Queensland or Tasmania far more attractive on a relative basis , ' they wrote . The Australian dollar hit a record low of 103.01 Kiwi cents last Thursday . The report said the move toward parity was due largely to the fact that the New Zealand economy had confidence whereas the Australian economy did not . The report said the move toward parity was due largely to the fact that the New Zealand economy had confidence whereas the Australian economy did not . New Zealand is enjoying growth beyond the housing sector , but in Australia ` the malaise is going to be hard to shake in the near term ' , the report said . ` In May last year , as the new government 's first budget was delivered it provided a watershed moment , ' Mr Been and Mr Tuck wrote . ` It hammered home the consequences of the declines in the terms of trade and that Australia 's incomes in aggregate were unlikely to rise . ` This means that the momentum in Australia is going to be hard to shift and the RBA will likely have an easing bias for much of 2015 . ' | Experts say the Aussie and Kiwi dollar will likely reach parity for first time . The Australian dollar hit a record low of 103.01 Kiwi cents last Thursday . This will make NZ products more expensive for Australian consumers . It will also hurt New Zealand exports , with Australia making up about 20 per cent of the export market for the country . | [[89, 171], [172, 273], [203, 295], [584, 683], [1004, 1115], [1490, 1518], [280, 308], [311, 348], [317, 375], [2389, 2464], [0, 121], [465, 483], [523, 616], [1156, 1242], [1164, 1242], [1340, 1419], [1439, 1518], [1628, 1691]] |
Proving that bigger is definitely better is P&O Cruises , who have taken delivery of the largest ever cruise ship for the British market . The liner which can hold 3,647 passengers will boast # 1 million worth of art , nine entertainment places to keep the family occupied , including a 936-seat theatre , four pools , and 13 places to eat . The colossal vessel will leave Italy and arrive in Southampton on Friday March 6 . Before her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean on Saturday 14 March , she will be officially named on Tuesday 10 March . Scroll down for video . Queen of the ocean : The Britannia will be named in an official ceremony on Tuesday 10 March , and make her maiden voyage on Saturday 14 March . The spectacular three-tier atrium on the Britannia . Guests can enjoy nine entertainment places to keep the family occupied , including a 936-seat theatre , four pools , and 13 places to eat . Cosy cabin : A Superior Deluxe cabin on board the P&O liner . In total there are 1,837 cabins on board , and 15 passenger decks . The 141,000 ton cruise ship will feature a 1,837 cabins , a three-tiered atrium , a library and a sports centre . Adults can relax in the Oasis Spa & The Retreat , whilst the children enjoy the extensive facilities , including four age group areas , a night nursery and outdoor splash area for teens . For those who like to be kept active , explore the 15 passenger decks and stroll around the largest amount of shops in a fleet at 660 sqm . The stunning Blue Bar room on board the 141,000 ton cruise ship . The luxury liner also include a library and Oasis Spa & The Retreat . The handover saw P&O finally take possession of the grand cruise ship , just days before it is set to be unveiled to the public . Queen of British baking Mary Berry will allow people to learn from her 60 years in baking , on the 12-night British Isles cruise to the Mediterranean , departing July 6 . Unique to the cruise is the opportunity to hone your skills in the kitchen alongside your relaxing cruise . Great British Bake-off judge Mary Berry will lead a list of 10 celebrity chefs offering up classes on the ocean , as well as hosting chef 's table dinners , book signings and Q&A sessions . She will be featured on the 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 from Southhampton , along with Theo Randall and James Martin and prices to learn from her 60 years in baking start from # 1,149 pp . Celebrity chef and master patissier Eric Lanlard owns a cake boutique in London called Cake Boy and will join a line-up of ` food heroes ' who will be on board the ship during certain sailings . The artistic decor in the atrium of the Britannia . The ship will also hold # 1 million worth of artwork . For those who like to be kept active , explore the 15 passenger decks and stroll around the large amount of shops . While the weather was n't ideal for a swim , the pools on deck will offer respite from the heat on summer Mediterranean cruises . Mary Berry will be on board to share her culinary skills on the 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 from Southhampton , along with Theo Randall and James Martin . NATHAN OUTLAW - Cruise B503 , a 14-night Portugal , Spain & Morocco cruise departing March 28 . From # 1,549 pp : Four Michelin stars in total , two at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw , Port Isaac , Cornwall , and one each at Outlaw 's Fish Kitchen , Port isaac and Outlaw 's at The Capital , Knightsbridge . PIERRE KOFFMANN - Cruise B510 , a 14-night Spain , Monaco & Italy cruise departing June 13 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull . From # 1,449 per person : Legendary French-born chef who held three Michelin stars at La Tante Claire and now runs Koffmann 's at The Berkeley . MARY BERRY - Cruise B513 , a 12-night British Isles cruise departing July 6 with Theo Randall and James Martin . From # 1,149 pp : Television chef , Great British Bake-Off judge and prolific food writer for 60 years cooking experience . THEO RANDALL - Cruise B153 -LRB- as above -RRB- : Theo Randall at the InterContinental Hotel London Park Lane . LAWRENCE KEOGH - Cruise B514 , a seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise departing July 18 . From # 799pp : Head chef at the Wolseley restaurant in London . JAMES TANNER - Cruise B516 , a seven-night France , Spain & Guernsey cruise departing August 8 . From # 949pp : Co-owner of Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth , and The Kentish Hare in Bidborough , Kent . VIVEK SINGH - Cruise B517 , a 14 night Spain , Monaco & Italy cruise departing August 15 . From # 1,999 pp : Modern Indian chef with three London restaurants , The Cinnamon Club , Cinnamon Kitchen and Cinnamon Soho . DANIEL GALMICHE - Cruise B519 , a seven-night France , Spain & Guernsey cruise departing September 5 . From # 799pp : Michelin-starred Executive Chef at The Vineyard in Berkshire , a pioneer of modern French cuisine and TV chef . ANTONIO CARLUCCIO -- Cruise B523 , a 14 night Spain , Monaco & Italy cruise departing October 9 with James Martin and Charlie Turnbull . From # 1,149 pp : Beloved chef , food writer and owner of Carluccio 's chain of restaurants . PAUL RANKIN - Cruise B524 , a 14 night Portugal & Caribbean cruise departing October 23 with Eric Lanlard . From # 1,139 pp : Celebrity chef from County Down . The handover ceremony of P&O cruises took place on Sunday February 22 , in Italy 's Trieste , and was attended by Carnival UK executive chairman , David Dingle , senior executives from P&O Cruises , as well as senior teams from the shipyard Fincantieri , where Britannia was built . The ceremony involved exchanging of flags , and the P&O Cruises flag was hoisted in place . Stars to attend the prestigious event included cheese expert Charlie Turnball , TV wine expert Olly Smith , and master patissier Eric Lanlard , along with some of the P&O Cruise Food Heroes . Cheese expert Charlie Turnball outside his delicatessen in Shaftsbury , Dorset attended the handover ceremony on February 22 in Italy . | The luxury liner can hold 3,647 passengers , has four pools and a theatre . She will take her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean on March 14 . Guests can enjoy the spa , library and # 1 million worth of art . | [[139, 218], [767, 868], [425, 491], [494, 544], [590, 603], [668, 713], [139, 218], [1545, 1561], [1567, 1614], [2669, 2723]] |
Companies behind nuisance calls and texts will be fined up to # 500,000 under a crackdown on firms which plague millions of families . Ministers will announce today that they will change the law to making it much easier to levy tough penalties on those responsible for the menace , MailOnline has learned . The communications watchdog will no longer have to prove messages are causing a ` substantial damage or substantial distress ' before taking action against those responsible , including holding bosses personally liable for fines . Ministers will announce tomorrow that they will change the law to making it much easier to levy tough penalties on those responsible for the menace . Last year there were more than 175,000 complaints made to the Information Commissioner 's Office about nuisance calls and texts . Four in five people are regularly cold-called at home , according to consumer group Which ? , while a third of people feel intimidated by the messages . Spam text messaging is also on the increase , particularly communications about debt or accident claims . Industry figures show there are one billion unwanted phone and text messages a year . Some firms are believed to have illegally obtained mobile and landline numbers . Others are operating outright scams . Culture Secretary Sajid Javid vowed to act after seeing evidence that so many people were suffering cold calls that six in ten people said they no longer want to answer their own phone . A consultation was launched in October last year on lowering the threshold for legal action . It is understood that ministers will announce tomorrow that they will go ahead with the change , to make it easier to take action against firms behind nuisance calls . Legislation is expected to be amended shortly with the change coming into effect before the general election . A government source told MailOnline said : ` Companies have bombarded people with unwanted marketing calls and texts , but have escaped punishment because they did not cause enough harm . ` So we 're making it easier for companies to face the consequences of ignoring the law and subjecting us to calls or texts we have said we do n't want . ' The ICO had levied a fine of # 300,000 against the co-owner of a marketing company , Tetrus Telecoms , which sent hundreds of thousands of texts about PPI and accident claims . Culture Secretary Sajid Javid vowed to act after seeing evidence that so many people were suffering cold calls that six in ten people said they no longer want to answer their own phone . But a tribunal upheld Christopher Niebel 's appeal that the messages did not meet the legal test to prove ` substantial harm or distress ' had been caused . Ed Vaizey , Tory digital minister , said : ` For far too long companies have bombarded people with unwanted marketing calls and texts and escaped punishment because they did not cause enough harm . ` This change will make it easier for the Information Commissioner 's Office to take action against offenders and send a clear message to others that harassing consumers with nuisance calls or texts is just not on . ` We 're also going to look at whether the powers the ICO have to hold to account board level executives are sufficient . ' According to new research from alldayPA , which handles calls for 23,000 small businesses , some companies are being targeted with as many as 30 cold calls a day . David Joseph , board executive at alldayPA said : ` The number of cold-callers targeting businesses is out of control and has become a real drain on the time and resources especially for smaller companies and home businesses . ' Earlier this month Information Commissioner Christopher Graham demanded more powers to rein in firms that bombard pensioners and Alzheimer 's sufferers with nuisance text messages and cold calls . . He urged ministers to change the law to make it easier to clamp down on unwanted calls and spam texts by companies promising to write off debts , pursue compensation and sell anything from mobile phones to double glazing . Mr Graham said : ` The current rules around marketing calls are a licence for spammers and scammers . ` The elderly and vulnerable are particularly at risk , and this can only add to the worries of those who care for them . The Government is letting people down . ` Time and time again the Government talks about changing the law and clamping down on this problem , but so far it 's just that -- talk . We seem to be going round in circles . The Government need to lay the order , change the law and bring in a reform that would make a real difference . ' Ministers insist they are determined to tackle the problem of nuisance calls . Rules on data sharing were changed last year to make it easier for Ofcom to give information to the ICO on companies breaking the law . The ICO has powers to take action against companies who break the existing rules on direct marketing . Since January 2012 , the watchdog has taken enforcement action against nine companies for nuisance calls and text messages , hitting them with fines totalling # 815,000 . The ICO states : ` We meet with companies to discuss their compliance with the law and monitor their progress . And we now have the power to fine those who break the law . ' Separately , Ofcom has powers to deal with abandoned and silent calls by taking action against offenders that persistently misuse a network or service resulting in annoyance , inconvenience or anxiety . To date Ofcom has fined seven companies totalling # 1,926,500 for abandoned and silent calls . Mr Javid said in October : ` Companies have bombarded people with unwanted marketing calls and texts , but have escaped punishment because they did not cause enough harm , ' the Culture Secretary said . ` Being called day after day may not be ` substantially distressing ' , but that does n't make it acceptable . ' I want to make it easier for companies to face the consequences of ignoring the law and subjecting us to calls or texts we have said we do n't want . ' Consumer group Which ? welcomed the announcement today . Executive director Richard Lloyd , who chaired the Nuisance Calls Task Force , said : ` These calls are an everyday menace blighting the lives of millions so we want the regulator to send a clear message by using their new powers to full effect without delay . ` It 's also good news that the Government has listened to our call and is looking into how senior executives can be held to account if their company makes nuisance calls . ` The regulator can now go after the worst offenders for flouting cold-calling rules : just one more nuisance call could see those companies facing a big fine . ' Two companies that appeared in the BBC TV series The Call Centre , starring eccentric boss Neville Wilshire , were fined # 225,000 for nuisance payment protection insurance calls in 2013 . Separately , communications regulator Ofcom has the power to deal with silent calls by taking action against firms that persistently misuse a network or service resulting in ` annoyance , inconvenience or anxiety ' . To date , it has fined seven companies a combined # 1,618,000 . However , watchdogs have complained the law as it stands makes prosecutions and fines difficult . The ICO levied a fine of # 300,000 against one firm but the decision was reversed on appeal as no substantial harm or distress had been shown . The watchdog warned the ruling had left it almost powerless to deter such companies even if they churn out industrial quantities of messages . | Ministers to announce tomorrow that it will be made easier to impose fines . Watchdog wo n't have to prove ` substantial damage or substantial distress ' 175,000 complaints to the Information Commissioner 's Office in 2014 . Watchdog chief warned existing rules were a ` licence for scammers ' Government source vows to crackdown on firms ` ignoring the law ' | [[135, 194], [165, 279], [538, 600], [571, 687], [1563, 1722], [1580, 1657], [1618, 1657], [1660, 1730], [688, 737], [4060, 4074], [4079, 4161], [7179, 7266], [7411, 7502], [0, 98], [2063, 2135], [5922, 5994]] |
A businessman who paid Eastern European workers just # 30-a-day to pick crops in the fields charged them # 30-a-week to sleep on mattresses on the derelict ground floor of a former pub , a court has heard . Mohammed Aslam , 71 , lived in the upstairs area of the The Smut Inn in Oldham , Greater Manchester , and he had converted it into a modern living area with high standards . But Oldham Magistrates ' Court heard that the ground floor , where up to ten men slept on mattresses , was squalid and did not have any heating . Mohammed Aslam charged each of his workers # 30-a-week to live on a mattress in the former pub , pictured . Council officials believe that up to ten men slept on the ground floor of the pub without heating . Mr Aslam lived on the first floor of the building , pictured , which had been renovated to a high standard . The men were also expected to wash in the former pub 's toilets , while a fire escape had been jammed closed with a paint roller , meaning it could not be opened easily in the case of an emergency . Oldham Council said the men living at the property told investigators that they were being paid # 30 per day to pick coriander in the fields of North Wales and East Yorkshire . But they were also made to pay # 30 per week for their squalid accommodation . There was no heating and the lighting could only be controlled from one switch behind the old bar . Photographs from inside the property were taken by Oldham Council who prosecuted the property 's owner Mohammed Aslam , 71 . They showed that many of the pub 's windows are boarded up . But despite the poor conditions downstairs the council found that Aslam lived on the first floor of the property which had recently been renovated to a high standard . Last year Environmental Health Officers were informed by the police that the men were staying on the ground floor of the property . Aslam paid his tenants # 30-a-day to work in fields picking crops of coriander across Wales and Yorkshire . The ground floor of the building , which used to be The Smut Inn , did not have any proper washing facilities . The ground floor area which used to be the bar had been partitioned into separate ` bedrooms ' , pictured , . Officers arranged with Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to visit the premises just after midnight on July 1 , last year . The owner Aslam had just arrived back from work with the men who were all working for him . When officers went into the property they found the bar still in situ but the seating area had been poorly partitioned off to make bedrooms . A prohibition order was served at the time of the visit stating that an interlinked fire detection system was to be installed or the workers were not allowed to stay there . A follow up visit carried out by officers on September 10 , last year revealed that the prohibition order had n't been complied with and there was still workers living there . Legal proceedings were then launched by the council . At Oldham Magistrates Court Aslam pleaded guilty to 11 offences under the Housing Act 2004 of Management of Houses in Multiple Occupation -LRB- England -RRB- Regulations 2006 . He was fined # 2,200 with # 2,600 costs . Councillor Dave Hibbert , Cabinet Member for Housing , Planning and Transport , said : ` In this day and age it is shocking that a landlord would allow their tenants to live in such a poorly maintained property . ` The council gave Aslam an opportunity to put the faults right in his property but he failed to do so . ` All landlords have a responsibility to their tenants and must ensure that the properties they rent out are safe and healthy to live in . We will take action against those who think they can get away with letting out substandard properties . ` Oldham Council is committed to working with landlords for the benefit of all the Borough 's residents . ' Council officials found that an emergency exit had been wedged closed with a paint roller , pictured . The workers used the former pub 's toilets , pictured , to dry their clothes , with a make-shift washing line . | Mohammed Aslam charged his workers # 30-a-week to stay in squalid ` bar ' The men lived on the ground floor of a former pub called The Smut Inn . Aslam , 71 , converted the first floor where he lived to a high standard . His workers lived in derelict conditions without heating in the former bar . Aslam paid them # 30-a-day to pick coriander across Wales and Yorkshire . The men had no proper washing facilities or any adequate source of heat . Aslam pleaded guilty to 11 counts under the 2004 Housing Act . Oldham Magistrates ' Court fined Aslam # 2,200 with # 2,600 in costs . | [[81, 111], [527, 569], [558, 569], [582, 621], [1224, 1298], [117, 184], [635, 734], [672, 716], [1589, 1697], [1753, 1884], [1821, 1884], [2013, 2025], [2034, 2057], [309, 380], [735, 784], [1589, 1697], [1682, 1697], [1708, 1752], [117, 184], [385, 526], [558, 569], [582, 621], [635, 734], [1299, 1319], [0, 13], [18, 63], [1063, 1219], [1885, 1992], [1896, 1914], [1919, 1963], [385, 526], [1993, 2025], [2060, 2104], [3015, 3191], [3192, 3233]] |
Alleged terrorism plotter Omarjan Azari was urged to ` pick a random unbeliever ' and kill him or her , and then film the body next to an ISIS flag , a court has heard . Azari , 22 , was denied bail on Tuesday after Sydney 's Central Local Court was read extracts of a conversation between him and Islamic State member Mohammad Baryalei , during which it 's alleged they discussed a plot to kill random members of the public . ` Just pick a random unbeliever , ' Baryalei is alleged to have said . ` What you guys need to do is pick any unbeliever . ` Finish him , finish her , put the flag of the state in the background . ' Scroll down for video . Push : A supporter of Omarjan Azari is pictured pushing a news photographer into a parked car as he leaves Central Local Court today . Azari was arrested at his Guildford home in Sydney 's west in mid-September during the biggest counter-terrorism operation in Australia 's history . Hidden : A supporter of Omarjan Azari attempts to shield his identity from the waiting media . Azari was refused bail and remains in custody after prosecutors revealed parts of a transcript where the suspect was allegedly ordered to conduct a beheading plot . His supporters are pictured pushing a photographer . Kingpin : Baryalei , pictured above , allegedly ordered Azari to behead a ` random unbeliever ' The court heard he Azari instructed to also choose American , French or British backpackers as ` that would be better ' . The crown alleged Azari is heard to say ` yeah ' in agreement multiple times . ` It 's evidence of an agreement ... and the particular manner agreed , ' crown prosecutor Peter Neil , SC , said . He said there was strong evidence either Azari by himself , or with others , was planning to randomly pick someone and ` kill them , cover them with the Islamic State flag , film it and send it to Mr Baryalei ' . In denying bail , Magistrate John Andrews said he was not satisfied the extraordinary circumstances needed to grant Azari 's release existed , and described the prosecution case as strong . Azari appeared via video link from Goulburn 's supermax prison . Outside the court , supporters of Azari clashed with media , resulting in a brief scuffle with two cameramen . Earlier , Azari 's defence lawyer accused Prime Minister Tony Abbott of prejudicing the case against his client . Barrister Steven Boland said Mr Abbott 's public statements about the case were an ` unprecedented intrusion by a sitting PM into criminal proceedings ' . Departure : More supporters pour out of Central Local Court in Sydney . Hats down : Omarjan Azari remains remanded in custody . Mr Boland said Mr Abbott spread misinformation about the case . ` Mr Abbott has deliberately or otherwise spread misinformation that has no support in the evidence , ' he said . ' -LRB- It -RRB- gives rise to a substantial possibility that Mr Azari 's interests have been harmed by the power of Mr Abbott 's statement . ` The people of Australia have been told that there 's a plot to behead people . It was made up . ' Azari was arrested at his Guildford home in Sydney 's west in mid-September during the biggest counter-terrorism operation in Australia 's history . Since those raids , Mr Abbott has stepped up his rhetoric on national security . Mr Boland said the allegation of plotting an attack was untrue and argued Azari 's custody conditions at Goulburn 's supermax prison were excessively onerous for someone with no criminal conviction . Azari is facing three other terrorist financing charges . The matter is next expected back in court on April 29 . | Terror suspect Omarjan Azari was refused bail today . Azari 's supporters pushed a photographer as they left court . A transcript of a phone call between him and Mohammad Ali Baryalei was read out . Baryalei allegedly ordered him to behead a French , American or British backpacker . | [[170, 175], [183, 239], [1029, 1051], [2592, 2635], [650, 654], [657, 685], [657, 776], [1194, 1246], [2128, 2145], [2148, 2186], [2148, 2167], [2189, 2238], [216, 336], [0, 101], [463, 485], [1111, 1123], [1130, 1193], [1247, 1254], [1257, 1265], [1285, 1340], [1343, 1439], [1359, 1367], [1379, 1460]] |
It looks more like a scene from Mad Max than a religious celebration , but revellers in the Greek town of Galaxidi marked the beginning of Lent yesterday with an almighty - and extremely messy - flour fight . Hundreds of party-goers lined the old harbour of the pretty resort clutching bags of flour and colourful powder for Clean Monday , which is a national holiday in Greece . The celebrations mark the end of carnival season in the country and the beginning of Lent which ends on Easter Sunday . In scenes reminiscent of post-apocalyptic film Mad Max , revellers in the Greek town of Galaxidi marked the beginning of lent yesterday with an almighty - and extremely messy - flour fight . A colourful party-goer takes a break from the Clean Monday celebrations in Galixidi in Southern Greece yesterday . This reveller fashioned a redimentary helmet out of an old bird cage , although it does n't appear to have protected him from the flour . Hundreds of party-goers lined the old harbour of the pretty resort clutching bags of flour and colourful powder for Clean Monday . Clean Monday , also know as Pure Monday or Ash Monday , is a national holiday throughout Greece . Also known as ` Pure Monday ' , the day is derived from passages in the Old Testament and is intended as a time to renounce sinful attitudes and behaviour . Clean Monday celebrations are popular all over Greece , although the flour flight is unique to Galaxidi and is thought to have been influenced by similar celebrations in Sicily during the 19th century . More traditional , and less messy , celebrations involve flying kites , eating fish and other fasting food , including a special type of bread - ` lagana ' - which is baked especially on the day to make the occasion . The celebrations mark the end of carnival season in the country and the beginning of Lent which ends on Easter Sunday . The day is derived from passages in the Old Testament and is traditionally intended as a time to renounce sinful attitudes and behaviour . ... although these revellers looked more intent on having a good time than renouncing their sins . Clean Monday celebrations are popular all over Greece , although the flour flight is unique to Galaxidi and is thought to have been influenced by similar celebrations in Sicily during the 19th century . A reveller clutches a bag of flour as he prepares to empty it out over fellow party-goers in the Greek town , which is three hours from Athens . It is also customary to confess your sins and give your house a thorough clean . Consuming meat , eggs and dairy products is traditionally forbidden to Orthodox Christians throughout Lent , although from the look of these images , abstention was the last thing on these revellers minds . More traditional , and less messy , celebrations involve flying kites , eating fish and other fasting food , including a special type of bread - ` lagana ' - which is baked especially on the day to make the occasion . It is customary on Clean Monday to confess your sins and give your house a thorough clean . Consuming meat , eggs and dairy products is traditionally forbidden to Orthodox Christians throughout Lent , although from the look of these images , abstention was the last thing on these revellers minds . | Clean Monday - also known as Pure Monday - marks the beginning of Lent and is a national holiday in Greece . Unique celebrations in Galaxidi in Southern Greece involve an enormous - and extremely messy - flour fight . Hundreds of party-goers lined the old harbour of the pretty resort clutching bags of flour and colourful powder . Flour flight is Galaxidi is thought to have been influenced by similar celebrations in Sicily during the 19th century . | [[325, 337], [346, 379], [380, 469], [1075, 1087], [1095, 1128], [1075, 1089], [1131, 1172], [1751, 1840], [75, 208], [500, 554], [557, 690], [209, 275], [258, 337], [944, 1010], [993, 1074], [2312, 2419], [75, 208], [1395, 1411], [1438, 1448], [1462, 1522], [1395, 1411], [1449, 1532], [2174, 2190], [2217, 2227], [2241, 2301], [2174, 2190], [2228, 2311]] |
The mother of the man former NFL player Aaron Hernandez is charged with killing mouthed the words ` my baby , my baby ' as photos of his body in the morgue and bullet-shredded clothes were shown in court on Tuesday . Odin Lloyd 's mother , Ursula Ward , quietly mouthed the words over and over as jurors saw photos of his body during Hernandez 's murder trial in Fall River , Massachusetts . She also cried as the shirts he was wearing the night he died in 2013 were shown to jurors by a Massachusetts state trooper . The trooper pointed out where the bullets had made holes on the blood-stained material . Scroll down for videos . Massachusetts State Police Trooper Heather Sullivan holds up bloodied clothing with bullet holes from the body of Odin Lloyd as evidence in the murder trial of Aaron Hernandez on Tuesday . Odin Lloyd 's mother , Ursula Ward , quietly mouthed the words ` my baby ' as she saw pictures of his body and his clothing in court on Tuesday . Massachusetts State Police Trooper Heather Sullivan told the court that the holes in the Lloyd 's shirt were around the size of a quarter , suggesting he had been shot at almost point-blank range . Hernandez , 25 , is accused of fatally shooting Lloyd , who had been dating his fiancée Shayanna Jenkins ' sister , in an industrial park near his North Attleboro , Massachusetts , home in June 2013 . He also faces a variety of firearms charges . Hernandez , 25 , at his murder trial on Tuesday . Ward left the courtroom in tears twice in the early days of the trial , and the judge warned her not to cry while she gave her testimony . Since then , Ward usually leaves the courtroom before graphic images are shown . Tuesday was the first occasion when she has decided to stay while witnesses give graphic testimony about her son 's violent death . She was accompanied by Odin 's girlfriend , Shaneah Jenkins . Across aisle sat Terri Hernandez , mother of the defendant , who returned to court after a number of days away . As proceedings began , a woman who cleaned Hernandez 's Massachusetts home testified that the former Patriots star 's fiancée was visibly nervous the day after Lloyd was killed . Hernandez 's fiancée , Shayanna Jenkins , spent time on the telephone , peeking out the window and crying after hauling away a large trash bag in the trunk of a red car , 31-year-old Carla Barbosa , a native of Brazil , told the court . Miss Jenkins was not in court on Tuesday . ` She was nervous , she was walking back and forth , ' said Barbosa , who added that police were outside when she left the house on June 18 , 2013 , a day after Odin Lloyd 's bullet-riddled body was found . Ex-Pats player , Aaron Hernandez , looks at a photograph of the body of Odin Lloyd , displayed as evidence in Hernandez 's murder trial at Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River , Massachusetts . The jury was shown surveillance footage of Shayanna Jenkins , Aaron Hernandez 's fiancée , leaving their home with a large trash bag on the day after Odin Lloyd 's murder . The day after Lloyd 's body was found on wasteland a mile from the Hernandez home , the football player 's fiancée , Shayanna , was seen on their own surveillance cameras taking a large trash bag from the home . Earlier that day , Barbosa testified , she saw Jenkins carry a large trash bag out of the home . ` It was held close to her , she had her arms around it , ' she said in Portuguese , which was translated by an interpreter . Jenkins has pleaded not guilty to perjury charges for lying to a grand jury about not knowing where she disposed of a box Hernandez had asked her to throw out . She was granted immunity recently but it remains unclear if she will testify . Prosecutors showed video from Hernandez 's home surveillance system of Jenkins carrying a large trash bag from the house . Lloyd 's body was found on June 17 , 2013 , in an industrial park less than a mile from Hernandez 's house . Lloyd , 27 , had been shot six times , and police found five empty .45 - caliber shell casings nearby . They found another 45-caliber shell in a dumpster at a rental car agency , and witnesses testified it had been removed from a car Hernandez returned . Police have not found the gun used in the slaying . Prosecutors contend Hernandez and two friends , Ernest Wallace and Carlos Ortiz , picked up Lloyd at his Boston home , before driving him to the North Attleborough industrial area where his body was found . On Monday , two other housekeepers testified that they found several guns around Hernandez 's home in the weeks before Lloyd 's murder . Marilia Prinholato , 28 , said that a black handgun fell onto the floor while she was changing sheets in a basement guestroom at the house where Hernandez lived with his fiancée , Shayanna Jenkins , and their baby . ' I just took the gun and looked at it and put it back , ' Prinholato said , adding that the gun was 12 to 16 inches -LRB- 30 to 40 cm -RRB- long and had a full magazine . Prinholato said another housekeeper , Grazielli Andrade Silva , showed her a second , smaller gun that Silva found in a pocket of a pair of pants the former tight end left in the master bedroom . It was silver with black accents , she said . Hernandez 's house cleaners , Grazielli Silva -LRB- left -RRB- and Marila Prinholato -LRB- right -RRB- , testified during the murder trial on Monday about finding guns at the NFL star 's Massachusetts mansion . Silva testified that the gun was small enough to fit in the palm of her hand , and that she saw another gun , like ' a normal gun that the police use , ' in Hernandez 's sock drawer . Lloyd 's body was found by a teenaged jogger on June 17 , 2013 , in an industrial park about a mile from Hernandez 's home . Authorities have not located the gun used in the slaying . Hernandez , who has pleaded not guilty , had a $ 41 million contract with the New England Patriots when he was cut from the team shortly after being arrested in June 2013 . If convicted , he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison . He will face a second trial later this year on charges he killed two Cape Verdean men outside a Boston nightclub in 2012 . Earlier on Monday , two people who worked in the industrial park where Lloyd 's body was found testified that they heard sounds like fireworks at the time of his death . | Victim Odin Lloyd 's mother , Ursula Ward , cried as photos of his body were shown during Hernandez 's murder trial in Fall River , Massachusetts . The shirts Lloyd was wearing the night he died in 2013 were shown to jurors - and where the bullets had made holes pointed out . Hernandez , 25 , is accused of fatally shooting Lloyd , in an industrial park near his North Attleboro , Massachusetts , home in June 2013 . Court shown footage of Hernandez 's fiancée carrying a large trash bag out of home day after Lloyd 's murder . | [[0, 107], [110, 216], [297, 373], [392, 395], [401, 420], [821, 841], [858, 893], [896, 966], [2655, 2669], [2690, 2737], [2655, 2669], [2740, 2837], [110, 216], [410, 461], [518, 606], [548, 606], [632, 756], [1165, 1174], [1177, 1179], [1182, 1218], [1193, 1278], [4362, 4422], [4384, 4422], [4429, 4449], [2240, 2247], [2267, 2336], [2597, 2654], [2856, 2915], [2947, 3016], [3169, 3240], [3241, 3257], [3280, 3337], [3772, 3826]] |
A former bank manager has pleaded guilty to systematically stealing over $ 1.4 million from two customers in suburban New York , including a 92-year-old ex-policeman . Bank manager : Maria Rodriguez of Mount Kisco has pleaded guilty to systematically stealing over $ 1.4 million from two customers in suburban New York . Maria Rodriguez of Mount Kisco entered guilty pleas Monday , Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said in a news release . 46-year-old Rodriguez was a branch manager for M&T Bank in Ossining . Rodgriuez pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal tax fraud , as well as one count of first-degree grand larceny and one count of second-degree grand larceny , DiFiore said . The district attorney said in the release ` We entrust our money and investments to our financial institutions and their employees . Both victims put their trust as well as their money in the hands of someone who they had faith in , but ultimately took advantage of that trust and stole from them . ' Several of Rodriguez 's subordinates called the bank 's whistleblower hotline . The bank contacted authorities . DiFiore said the thefts began in June 2008 . The first victim ` trusted the defendant to assist her with her personal banking and banking for her business , ' the news release said . ` Over the course of five years , the defendant stole money from the victim by writing unauthorized checks to cash , making unauthorized cash withdrawals , and requesting an ATM card and making unauthorized ATM withdrawals . ' The first victim had $ 1,112,127.40 stolen from her , DiFiore said . The 92-year-old victim used to a be a police officer in Ossining Village , according to DiFiore , and reportedly lost $ 256,644 . DiFiore said in the release that the man thought he was withdrawing interest alone from his bank account . Rodriguez was instead making unauthorized withdrawals , she said . Rodriguez faces up to 25 years in prison when she 's sentenced on May 20 . Bank : 46-year-old Rodriguez was a branch manager for M&T Bank in Ossining , pictured . | Former bank manager Maria Rodriguez pleaded guilty to systematically stealing over $ 1.4 million from two customers . One of the customers included 92-year-old former policeman . Rodriguez , 46 , was a branch manager for M&T Bank in Ossining . | [[0, 167], [0, 21], [41, 126], [183, 320], [1313, 1344], [1347, 1388], [0, 167], [0, 13], [129, 167], [1609, 1681], [458, 527], [1995, 2062]] |
The temperatures in London still signal winter but Victoria Beckham is hailing the beginning of spring . The fashion designer has commissioned a new art installation for the front of her 36 Dover Street clothes store to signal the start of SS15 season . Last season , Victoria worked with Shirazeh Houshiary on a Christmas tree at the shop , this time she collaborated with acclaimed set designer Andy Hillman on a floral design . Scroll down for video . Victoria Beckham has installed a giant pink foxglove in her London shop that was designed by Andy Hillman . He also created vinyl foxglove pictures for the store 's front window . The designer created a giant foxglove , complete with pollinating bees , to sit at the bottom of the main staircase in the store . The sculpture has been suspended from the ceiling to make it look like it is growing up from the stark concrete floor . Andy also designed a vinyl foxglove floral to cover the glass window at the front of the shop , which continues out onto the stairs that lead up to the door . Victoria 's upside down Christmas tree installation created a mass of public attention when it was built at the store for the festive season . The foxglove installation is designed to coincide with the beginning of the SS15 fashion season . The large sculpture comes complete with giant fake pollinating bees . It was similar to the tree that Shirazeh Houshiary created for the Tate in 1993 , which Victoria referenced when thinking of Christmas decorations for the store last autumn . Victoria , 40 , opened her Dover Street boutique in September , the first standalone store for her high-fashion brand which has been winning critical acclaim since it launched in 2008 . The store houses handbags , sunglasses and the Victoria Victoria Beckham collection on the ground level and her main collection upstairs . Victoria Beckham poses for the camera in her Dover Street store . In an exclusive tour of the Dover Street space back in September , the designer told MailOnline why she shunned traditional features such as a till and a window display in favour of a more contemporary space . ` It 's the first time people can see the brand through my eyes , ' she said . ` I did n't want a traditional shop window , just a plain window , and a huge concrete sliding door . ' On the subject of tills , she added : ` We 're not going to have any ugly tills anywhere . Payment is with an iPad , so we can go to the customer on whatever floor she 's on . ' Last season , Victoria worked with Shirazeh Houshiary on a Christmas tree at the shop . | Victoria Beckham has installed a giant pink foxglove in her London shop . The star commissioned the piece from set designer Andy Hillman . The artwork was created to coincide with the Spring/Summer 2015 season . | [[455, 526], [635, 705], [342, 430], [508, 526], [532, 562], [1188, 1285], [1188, 1213], [1226, 1285]] |
` Bland ' : Amanda Redman , former star of New Tricks , criticised the programme when she left in 2013 . It is now cancelled to make way for more BBC drama . It has already been criticised by its own cast for not being as good as it used to be . Now BBC1 has called time on detective drama New Tricks after 12 years on our screens . Bosses said they will axe the programme , which follows a squad of retired police officers recruited to investigate unsolved crimes , after its twelfth series this year to ` increase the range of drama on the channel ' . All of the original line-up -- James Bolam , Amanda Redman , Alun Armstrong and Dennis Waterman -- have already quit the show . Mr Bolam , 79 , said it had ` gone stale ' when he announced his departure in 2011 . Miss Redman , 57 , who left in 2013 , said it was ` bland ' , adding : ` The characters are not being as anarchic as they used to be , which I think is a huge shame . ' Launched in 2003 , the light-hearted crime drama won legions of fans as long-suffering boss DSI Sandra Pullman , played by Redman , and her irreverent team of old-school policeman looked into unsolved crimes . Viewers were won over by the on-screen chemistry between Redman , James Bolam , 79 , Alun Armstrong , 68 , Dennis Waterman , 66 . But , over the years , the ageing team gradually left to be replaced with the slightly younger alternatives of Denis Lawson , 67 , Nicholas Lyndhurst , 53 , and Tamzin Outhwaite , 44 . Armstrong also complained about developments in the series , saying : ` My character has got saner . Which I 'm not too enamoured with . ' BBC bosses promised that the final series , featuring 10 new episodes , would go out on a high . Last September , Waterman became the last member of the original cast to announce he was leaving the show . The star -- who also sings the theme tune -- said it was because he missed ` the old crew , the original line-up ' . His spokesman said at the time : ` The chemistry between -LSB- the original line up -RSB- on the set was remarkable . ' He added that there had been ` no big falling out ' - simply that the old team had worked together for a long time . Waterman will only feature in two episodes of the final series , which began filming last November . Larry Lamb , 67 , will replace him for the last episodes . The original crew : James Bolam , Dennis Waterman , Amanda Redman and Brian Lane in a publicity photo for the very first series of New Tricks , which was launched on BBC One in 2003 . In a joint statement , Charlotte Moore , Controller BBC One and Ben Stephenson , Controller BBC Drama said : ` We are incredibly proud of New Tricks and would like to thank Roy Mitchell the brilliant creator , Wall to Wall and Headstrong , and all the cast and teams involved across the 12 series . ` However , on BBC One it 's important to make room for new series and continue to increase the range of drama on the channel , so it wo n't be returning after the next series airs this summer ' Fans of the show took to social media to express disappointment that New Tricks was over but also conceded that it was perhaps the right time to do so . Andrew White , from Doncaster , said : ` It had run its course really , had n't it ? ' Matthew Donovan , from Watford , tweeted : ` So sad to hear this . I 've been a huge fan since series one . Can we please have the odd special still ? ` Gaynor Rowse , from East Sussex , tweeted : ` No what a shame , no doubt it will be replaced with rubbish . Really do n't know why I pay my TV licence . ' | Cancellation comes after all the original line-up left the much-loved show . Former stars went on to criticise the creative direction taken by the series . BBC bosses promise the final 10 new episodes would go out on a high . | [[554, 649], [653, 681], [12, 25], [56, 104], [158, 204], [1600, 1696], [1625, 1696]] |
The cold weather currently gripping the nation has cancelled work , scrapped flights and ruined plans for millions - but one man refuses to be cowed by Mother Nature . Fraser Cunningham , a 56-year-old engineer , has been cycling to work every single day for the past eighteen months . And even though the temperature in his home town of Madeira , Ohio , has plunged as low as -10 °F in recent weeks the biting cold has n't stopped him pedaling the 16 and a half miles to work and back while others shiver at home . Taking the sub-zero way : Fraser Cunningham , 56 , is pictured above on his 17-mile cycle ride to work . When he left his home in Madeira , Ohio , it was -10 °F . Something on your face : Cunningham , an engineer for General Electric , wears protective gear , but ca n't stop icicles forming on his voluminous beard during the cycle . Wrapped in thermals , a protective coat , two pairs of gloves , a helmet - and his voluminous beard - Cunningham spends as long as two hours each way to his job at General Electric . Nonetheless , his commute on Friday was so bitter that his eyelids froze open as he rode . When he shows up around 7.30 each morning , shivering and sporting huge icicles in his beard , his first stop in the bathroom to melt away the damage with warm water . And with another bout of snow predicted this week in a seemingly relentless winter , Cunningham 's dedication is likely to be tested again . When the going gets tough : In cold weather , Cunningham 's trip can take as long as two hours . To combat icy roads , he swaps to his ` fat bike ' , which has monster tires less likely to slip . Precarious : In Dallas , the semi truck was left dangling off the I-45 highway as icy roads coated the region . This , and more of this : Cunningham is used to the biting cold - but southern states like Arkansas , the state capitol of which is pictured , have also had unwonted blasts of snow . More to come : Through Wednesday rain and snow could still fall across Arkansas , Texas , Louisiana , Mississippi and Alabama . Getting chilly : Snow could return to the mid-Atlantic region Wednesday night , hitting Virginia , Tennessee , North and South Carolina , Georgia and Alabama . Explaining his cast-iron commitment , he said : ` I 'm going to characterize myself as a bit of a stubborn person . ' ` Getting in the car -LRB- to go to work -RRB- is an option , but only in an absolute , dire emergency . ' The option has , rarely , been taken before - he missed his last cycle on July 22 , 2013 , and his continuous record is around 20 months . He switched to cycling more than a decade ago , and says he will continue until he retires . Cunningham 's show of resilience in the cold comes as yet another snowstorm is predicted in the relentless march of bad weather that has left all but two states with snow on the ground . Chill : Pictured above , a man uses a snow blower in La Plata County , Colorado , where two feet fell Monday . Totals : Snow could fall in all the above locations by Thursday - leaving Florida potentially the only U.S. state with no snow at all . First-timers ? These kids in Tyler , Texas , were dealing with snow as well Monday when they crossed the street . Given up : Schoolbuses took kids home early in Tyler after the school district called it quits due to bad weather . Snowy : In Oxford , Mississippi , this student made his way across the state university campus in the Monday snow . Forecasters say the fourth wintry blast in quick succession could sweep into the south and move up the Atlantic coast later this week . According to the Weather Channel , northern Texas , Arkansas , Mississippi and Alabama could be snow-hit Tuesday . By Wednesday the precipitation is expected to drift north into Tennessee , North Carolina and Virginia . According to many assessments , South Carolina could also be hit with some snowfall - which would leave Florida the only U.S. state with no snow on the ground . Though the fresh totals are mainly expected to be three inches at most , some areas such as Raleigh , North Carolina , could be hit by up to eight . Coverage : According to The Weather Company , snow is on is on the ground in 48 out of 50 states - with only Florida and South Carolina currently bar . Boxing clever : Some small children take advantage of the unseasonably cold temperatures in Enid , Oklahoma , to head down the side of the north Van Buren overpass in their cardboard sled . Dangers : Dallas firefighters respond to an accident on Central Expressway on Monday as freezing rain affected travel in nearly half of Texas and winter storm warnings were issued in the northern part of the state . Fort frigid : Downtown Fort Worth , Texas , was quiet as sleet and freezing temperatures hit the area on Monday . | Fraser Cunningham , 56 , cycles to work every day in Madeira , Ohio . Not even frigid , eye-freezing lows stop him making the journey . While Cunningham is resilient , many are cowering from winter onslaught . Snow was on the ground in 48 of 50 states - with more to come . Forecasters say snow could hit South again Wednesday , then head north . | [[168, 185], [202, 285], [117, 167], [400, 468], [1034, 1045], [1048, 1124], [1293, 1375], [2670, 2797], [1293, 1375], [1925, 1937], [2670, 2797], [2783, 2797], [2803, 2856], [2975, 3049], [4162, 4166], [4173, 4195], [1293, 1375], [1940, 1983], [1989, 2052], [2068, 2212], [2670, 2797], [3450, 3545], [3701, 3805], [3714, 3731], [3744, 3805], [3838, 3889]] |
The company has agreed to rebrand its ` eco superstar ' A major lightbulb producer has given way and agreed to stop branding old-fashioned products as ` eco ' bulbs . The Daily Mail revealed last month that Osram and Philips , two of the biggest manufacturers of lightbulbs , were selling basic halogen bulbs with ` eco ' branding . Consumer groups accused the firms of trying to ` greenwash ' their products , encouraging people to buy them because they think they are more environmentally friendly and could save them money . But in reality halogen bulbs are among the least energy efficient bulbs widely available today . They have been surpassed by several technologies including LEDs and compact fluorescent -LRB- CFL -RRB- bulbs - some of which will burn ten times less energy . Now , just weeks after the Mail 's expose , Osram has agreed to rebrand its ` Eco Superstar ' bulb as ` Halogen Classic ' . Christian Boelling , a spokesman for the Germany-based firm said : ` We have decided not to use the term ` Eco ' for our halogen products any more . ` This change will be implemented in the course of an already planned packaging change . ` The advantages of dedicated lamp types will still be communicated in the future . This includes longer lifetime , the possibility of disposal in household waste and better light quality . The adjustment will be implemented as soon as possible . ' Previously Osram had tried to insist that Eco stood for ` economy ' as well as ` ecology ' - reflecting the cheaper price of the halogen bulb . But the firm has now changed its stance . Mr Boelling said : ` From our point of view , the term ` Eco ' is not crucial for our customers . ` For this reason we decided not to use it anymore . ' Philips , however , is continuing to sell its EcoClassic bulb . A spokesman said consumers are given enough information on packets to make an informed decision . The Energy Saving Trust estimates that replacing every halogen bulb with LEDs will save a family # 40 a year in electricity bills . Philips EcoClassic bulb and Osram Classic Eco Superstar bulb each only earn an energy label grade of C or D , the third and fourth out of five efficiency bands . The Energy Saving Trust estimates that replacing every halogen bulb with LEDs will save a family # 40 a year in electricity bills . They will last just 2000 hours and consume ten times more energy than the latest LED technology , researchers say . Richard Black , director of the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit , a think tank in London , said : ` Low-energy lightbulbs are one of the success stories of recent years , saving British households about a billion pounds per year and helping to reduce the carbon emissions that are changing our climate . ` So it 's great that Osram has seen sense and put consumers back in charge of their energy saving . We would urge other companies still using misleading labels to follow suit and help consumers make informed choices about their energy bills and carbon emissions . ' | Daily Mail revealed companies were selling halogen bulbs with ` eco ' labels . Weeks after the expose Osram is to rebrand their ` Eco Superstar ' bulbs . The products will now be sold as ` Halogen Classic ' after criticism . Halogen bulbs are among the least energy efficient on the market . | [[207, 224], [276, 332], [0, 53], [785, 788], [791, 904], [785, 788], [791, 904], [532, 624]] |
Terry Ditrich had her first car - a Corvette Stingray - stolen from the parking lot of her work six months after she bought it in Duluth , Georgia , in 1972 . At the time police said the car was a likely stripped of its parts and dumped in the Chattahoochee River . But the cops recently called her saying it had been found , 42 years after it was taken from her . The only problem is that she no longer actually owns it . Finally found : This Corvette Stingray was stolen from its owner in 1972 , but has now turned up , thanks to the smarts of a car restorer who recently bought it . Well-kept : The car is in exceptional condition , the only problem is that the original owner no longer owns it . Impounded : Owner Terry Dietrich now needs a court order to get her car back after 42 years . The new owner , car restorer Gary Green , bought it from a widow in North Carolina . Green checked the vehicle identification number -LRB- VIN -RRB- and realized it matched a 1969 Corvette convertible and thought something was amiss . He the realized there was another VIN stamped into the frame and engine . Green called police , who verified the car was stolen in November 1972 . The car was impounded and Dietrich was told it had been found , all these years later . However , Dietrich had financed and insured the car through Allstate , who paid out the title when it was stolen . That gave Allstate legal ownership of the car . Now , neither Allstate nor the state of Georgia can provide a title to Dietrich . ` If I could get that car back , it could roll back up the same driveway , pull back into the same carport it left 11-14-72 . How awesome is that ? ' Dietrich told 11 Alive . Great condition : The car was looked after very well by its former owner . Slick : Interestingly , owner Terry Dietrich lives in the same place she did when the car was stolen . Reunion : Dietrich hopes the car will finally be returned to her after all this time . Flashback : This is a photo of Terry Dietrich taken around the time the car was stolen in 1972 . Dietrich now needs a court order in order to get the car released to her . However she says she ca n't afford to get one . Without a court order the car will stay impounded and eventually be auctioned off . ` If I can not have the car back , I do not want to see it , ' Dietrich told 11 Alive . ` And I will have to get over -LRB- losing it -RRB- all again . ' Hot rod : Unless a court order allows her car be released , it 'll head off to police auction for the highest bidder . | Car stolen in Duluth , Georgia , in 1972 . Recently bought from a widow in North Carolina . New owner checked the VIN and realized it was stolen . Original owner Terry Dietrich now fighting to get the car back . | [[423, 436], [439, 495], [437, 495], [2008, 2045], [794, 807], [836, 878], [879, 942], [712, 793], [1872, 1948]] |
Organic food is seeing a revival with sales up # 1.4 million a week amid evidence of nutrition benefits and the launch of budget ranges in discount stores . The market is bouncing back from a disastrous downturn in the wake of the financial crisis and cost of living squeeze that forced families to cut back their food budgets . Total sales in 2014 exceeded # 1.86 billion , taking them back up the level last seen in 2009 . Families are buying more organic food , particularly dairy produce , despite the fact that they have made big cut backs on conventionally produced food , according to a study by the Soil Association . The organic food market is bouncing back from a disastrous downturn in the wake of the financial crisis . The value of sales of organic products increased by 4per cent in 2014 , despite a general fall in all food spending of 1.1 per cent in the year . More than a quarter of spending on organic products - 27.9 per cent - is in the dairy aisles with sales of milk and yoghurt up by 6.5 per cent , which is in stark contrast to the 3per cent fall in non-organic products . Sales of organic eggs were up 15.8 per cent , against a fall of 6.2 per cent for conventional eggs , while chicken was up by 8.2 per cent compared to a fall of 3.3 per cent for the non-organic equivalent . Organic fresh fruit sales were up 6.4 per cent , tea by 13.7 per cent , cereals by 4.2 per cent and biscuits by 7.2 per cent . There was a dip of 2per cent for organic vegetables , however the fall was a fraction of the five-fold reduction in spending on vegetables from other sources . More than eight in ten households bought some organic products in 2014 , according to research by the Soil Association , which sets industry standards . The nutritional credentials of organic received a significant boost last July when landmark research from Newcastle University showed organic fruit , vegetables and cereals were up to 69per cent higher in a number of key antioxidants . The higher levels of the antioxidants , which are recognised as being beneficial in preventing cancer , were equivalent to eating 1-2 extra portions of fruit and vegetables a day . The same research also found lower levels of toxic heavy metals and reduced exposure to pesticides . The Newcastle study was a huge boon for the industry which had previously suffered following a report from the Food Standards Agency which found no meaningful nutritional benefits . There has been a slight reduction in spending on organic vegetables and fruit but overall , organic food sales are booming . A decision by Aldi and Lidl to promote organic food has also delivered a huge increase in sales . The chains are supporting the sector in the belief it will help attract the middle income families they are trying to win away from the major supermarkets . Aldi sells a 1.14 litre -LRB- 2pint -RRB- carton of organic semi-skimmed milk for 89p , which compares to 75p for the conventional equivalent . A box of six organic eggs is # 2 at Tesco , which is double the price of the free range equivalent . Chief executive at the Soil Association , Helen Browning , said : ` Three years ago , commentators were writing off the organic market in the UK . Now , with a third year of steady growth , and against a falling overall food market , it 's clear that reports of organic food 's demise were premature to say the least . ` This reinvigoration may be partly related to an improving economy , but it 's also testament to the fact that retailers and manufacturers who continued to invest in organic lines have continued to thrive . Now , even the discounters are beginning to stock organic ranges . ' The Produce World Group is the UK 's leading grower and supplier of fresh organic vegetables . Its director of agriculture , Andrew Burgess , said : ` The continuous growth of organic products , despite numerous challenges in the retail environment , highlights the strength of the organic sector . ` We know from our own figures that more people are buying organic , with taste and quality being big reasons behind this consumer trend . ' | Organic food is seeing a revival after a downturn following financial crisis . Total sales in 2014 reached # 1.86 bn , taking it to levels not seen since 2009 . Study by Soil Association revealed families are buying more organic food . More than a quarter of spending on organic products is in the dairy aisles . | [[0, 156], [157, 274], [626, 731], [329, 372], [329, 348], [375, 424], [425, 491], [579, 625], [1591, 1624], [1664, 1709], [425, 491]] |
University students have published an online guide and map which details the best places to smoke cannabis on campus without getting caught . The Aberdeen Tab , a student-run online publication , has highlighted the three best places to smoke cannabis joints in the grounds of the University of Aberdeen without being ` busted ' . The article , written by Hal Duke - who is listed as having studied at the university - comes with its own detailed map ` for when times get tough ' and points students in the direction of public places to ` enjoy a J in peace ' . The Aberdeen Tab , a student-run publication , has highlighted the three best places to smoke cannabis joints at the University of Aberdeen without being caught in a new online guide which comes complete with a map . The online article , written by Hal Duke who is listed as having studied at university , comes with a handy map ` for when times get tough ' and points students in the direction of public places to ` enjoy a J in peace ' Among the ` best places ' touted by the student publication is the iconic 13th century Balgownie Bridge over the River Don and an electricity substation near university accommodation . The article has already been liked by more than 10,000 people on Facebook . In the online piece , Mr Duke writes : ` Even with weed becoming more socially acceptable as an alternative -LRB- addition -RRB- to alcohol , there are still risks involved with smoking up in public . ` The threat of getting busted constantly hangs over you like untapped ash as you stand out in the open , nervously puffing on something that clearly is n't a cigarette . ` Even if you do n't turn around to find the stern hand of a porter on your shoulder , it may just as easily be the eager hand of a fellow student looking to get in on something they did n't shell out for . ` Toke in fear no longer . ' He advises students take a walk to the secluded Seaton Gardens which involves climbing through an opening in the wall . He claims the spot ` boasts 360 degree wall coverage to keep the worst of the wind from stealing the best of your smoke , benches to kick back on , and enough chill vibes to inspire several reggae albums ' . Among the ` best places ' touted by the student publication is the iconic 13th century Balgownie Bridge over the River Don -LRB- pictured -RRB- , as well as an electricity substation situated close to university accommodation . An electricity substation -LRB- pictured -RRB- is listed in the guide as the second best place to smoke cannabis . It is described as ` the ultimate in stealth spots for those concerned about bumping into any potential leachers ' He lists the electricity substation as option number two , describing it as ` the ultimate in stealth spots for those concerned about bumping into any potential leachers/porters/leaching porters ' . The third option , for those ` who like a little jaunt with their joint ' , is highlighted as Balgownie Bridge over the river Don . He writes : ` Once there , you will be treated to a spectacular view across the Don where you can ponder the mysteries of the universe and inter-connectivity of nature in peace . ' A University of Aberdeen spokesman could not comment on whether the student would be spoken to about the online article but said : ` The University of Aberdeen has a zero-tolerance approach to drugs on campus . ` The views expressed refer to a number of sites which are not part of the University 's campus . ` The University signposts students concerned about drug misuse to relevant support services . ' The University of Aberdeen -LRB- pictured above -RRB- said it has a zero-tolerance approach to drugs on campus . | Student-run website has published guide to best places to smoke cannabis . Guide features map and lists top locations to smoke without being caught . Aberdeen Tab lists a bridge , electricity station and uni halls as top places . Unusual article claims to help students ` toke cannabis in fear no longer ' | [[0, 124], [142, 158], [163, 170], [171, 193], [142, 158], [182, 303], [562, 578], [595, 701], [726, 744], [751, 778], [1006, 1023], [1026, 1059], [1000, 1184], [0, 124], [142, 158], [182, 303], [353, 366], [371, 452], [331, 364], [381, 450], [562, 578], [595, 701], [562, 578], [693, 744], [726, 744], [751, 778], [779, 819], [868, 892], [142, 158], [182, 303], [562, 578], [595, 701], [1006, 1023], [1026, 1059], [1000, 1184], [2197, 2379], [2354, 2424]] |
An overweight mother of two shed five stone after being inspired to get healthy when her young son was left fighting for his life after contracting a dangerous bout of bronchiolitis . Librarian Anna Lloyd , 35 , from Crewe , Cheshire , had weighed 16st 4lb after giving birth to Isaac in December 2011 thanks to her love of Indian takeaways and ready meals . But it was n't until little Isaac 's life hung in the balance at just 11 days old that Anna was inspired to make some changes to her lifestyle and get fit . Anna Lloyd vowed to lose weight after her little boy Isaac contracted bronchiolitis at just 11 days old - she wanted to be healthy for her family and now weighs 11st 4lb . Poor little Isaac , pictured in ICU in January 2012 was left with his life hanging in the balance after contracting the respiratory tract infection at just 11 days old . As Isaac , now three years old , battled against his illness , tied up to a respiratory machine , Anna made a ` bargain ' at his hospital bedside that they should both get healthy . When Isaac recovered and was allowed out of hospital , she kept her promise by joining her local Slimming World group and started exercising and her weight dropped to a much healthier 11st 4lb . Anna said : ` At one stage it was touch and go for Isaac . It was like his lungs had given up and he was being constantly monitored . Anna has now lost weight and is happy with her family . She is pictured here with her husband Tim and their two children Isaac and Isabel . Anna cradled a new born Isaac when he was just three days old , shortly before he was taken back into hospital with an infection . ' I sat by his bedside and it dawned on me that he might not survive . It was the worst moment of my life . ` That 's when I made a bargain with him . I said : `` If you get healthy for me , I promise I 'll get healthy for you . '' ' She continued : ` Now looking at Isaac , you 'd never guess what he went through when he was only days old . ` He 's my inspiration and I 'm going to make sure I stay fit and healthy so I can be the mum he deserves . ' Anna said she always the ` fat girl ' when she was growing up and was teased right through school : ` My parents tried to get me to eat healthily but you have to want it for yourself and I always loved sweets and chocolates . On her wedding day in 2007 Anna was a size 20 , she said her husband , Tim , was one of the first people to accept her for her size . ` When I met my husband Tim I was a size 18 and 14st which made me very shy and self-conscious . I did n't think anyone would love me just for me but Tim saw passed my size and we got married in September 2007 with me in a size 20 dress . ' In 2008 Anna fell pregnant and found that her weight spiralled out of control , as she felt like she had a ` green light ' to eat whatever she wanted . With a BMI of 40 , Anna was warned that hers was a ` high risk ' pregnancy and she was closely monitored throughout . But everything went smoothly and her daughter Isabel was born in November 2008 weighing 8lb 4oz . At her largest Anna was gorging on take-aways and unhealthy ready meals . She has since joined Slimming World and dropped five stone . But Anna struggled to lose the weight she 'd gained during the pregnancy and even stayed in her maternity clothes as Isabel grew into a toddler . By the time Anna fell pregnant with her second baby , in March 2011 , she weighed 16st 4lb at just 5ft 4in tall . ` My doctor suggested I join a slimming group for overweight mums , which was mortifying , but I found it really helpful and it stopped me gaining more weight during my pregnancy , ' said Anna . ` Isaac was born weighing 8lb 9oz but just a week after we brought him home he developed a nasty cough and it got so bad we had to rush him back into hospital . ` By the time we got him there , he was struggling to breathe and started to turn blue . Everything happened really quickly . A doctor said he had bronchiolitis and had oxygen piped into a headbox to help him breathe . ' Anna is now a size 12 and she says she wanted to be healthy for her children . Lttle Isaac was hooked up to a CPAP -LRB- continuous positive airway pressure -RRB- machine which encouraged his lungs to work and was transferred by ambulance to Alder Hey Children 's hospital in Liverpool where he was ventilated and won his battle for life . With Isaac on the road to recovery , Anna joined her local Slimming World group , cut out fatty takeaways and started to make her own healthy meals , incorporating lots of fresh vegetables and lean met . Along with her new healthy diet , Anna started walking regularly and even took part in a 5k Race for Life . After a year she started boot-camp classes and her fitness improved by leaps and bounds . Isaac is now happy and healthy and although he still has some problems with his breathing Anna has revealed that it has n't stopped him living a good life . After three years of healthy eating and exercise , Anna has dropped an impressive 5st , now weighing 11st 4lb , with another stone to lose to reach her target weight of 10st 4lb . She now helps other people who are eager to lose weight as she leads two Slimming World classes each week . ` Losing weight has improved every aspect of my life , ' she added . ' I can spend quality time with my family doing things I would n't have dreamed of before , like going for long walks and swimming . Now I 'm a size 12 , I can shop wherever I want , not just in plus size stores , which is fantastic . ' As for Isaac , he 's grown into a happy , confident and active toddler . He still has a weakness in his lungs and uses his inhaler three times a day but that does n't stop him from jumping and climbing , she says . | Anna Lloyd from Crewe promised her son Isaac she would get healthy . She joined Slimming World after the youngster 's battle with bronchiolitis . Anna lost an impressive five stone after ditching her diet of takeaways . | [[516, 574], [1791, 1797], [1800, 1868], [0, 37], [65, 183], [1095, 1098], [1104, 1157], [3136, 3139], [3150, 3171], [0, 79], [1185, 1234], [3136, 3139], [3176, 3196], [4933, 4981], [4984, 5018]] |
A man who stabbed his girlfriend to death with a kitchen knife after she allegedly told him ' I want you to do it ' has been found not guilty of murder . Friends and family of Amy Aiton shook their heads and wept as Michael John Aller , 48 , was found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter on Tuesday . A man yelled out ` you got away with murder , you grub ' , as Mr Aller was led away after the ruling . Amy Aiton was brutally stabbed by her partner Michael John Aller in 2012 . The court heard Ms Aiton dared Mr Aller to kill her . The Supreme Court found Aller was suffering from an abnormality of the mind when he carried out the ` ferocious ' attack . The court head Mr Aller had ` smashed ' six cans of bourbon and Coke and several schooners of beer prior to the fatal altercation with Ms Aiton at their Narara property on July 31 , 2012 . During the fight , he alleged Ms Aiton noticed him looking over at a knife . `` I glanced at it and she saw me glance at it and she said , ` Go on ... I want you to do it . You either do it or I 'm going to ... do it to you ' , '' he claimed . Mr Aller said he ` snapped ... and repeatedly stabbed Amy . ' After brutally stabbing Ms Aiton repeatedly with a kitchen knife , Mr Aller changed into clean clothes and headed to Sydney for a night of drinking at a hotel . Mr Aller had a violent past and history with alcohol abuse , and was hospitalised twice before he killed Ms Aiton in 2012 . He turned himself in to police the next morning , and said the duo had an argument that spiralled ` way out of control ' . The court also heard Mr Aller had a history of violence and alcohol abuse , and was admitted to hospital on two separate occasions in 2008 and 2011 . In 2008 , he allegedly threw a brick through his ex-wife 's house , and in 2011 he said he had been ` betrayed ' by a woman who had an AVO out against him . Mr Aller spent almost nine months in a rehabilitation centre from October 2011 to June 2012 , during which time he admitted to thinking about harming his partner and his wife while drunk . It was shortly after leaving rehabilitation that he met Ms Aiton , who had developed a marijuana addiction to cope with injuries suffered in a car accident . Justice Peter Hidden said there was nothing to suggest Mr Aller was capable of the sort of extreme violence shown when killing Ms Aiton . Judge Hidden agreed with the recommendation of forensic psychiatrist Dr Richard Furst that it was highly likely Mr Aller had a serious mental illness prior to the offence , despite some doubts remaining over claims he was ` hearing voices ' at the time of the killing . Mr Aller will be sentenced at a later date . | Amy Aiton killed by her partner in ` ferocious ' stabbing attack . Victim allegedly dared killer to do it , told him she ` wanted him to do it ' Victim 's family and friends wept in court as verdict was announced . Killer ` smashed ' number of beers and bourbon and Cokes before he killing . ` Highly likely he had a serious mental issue prior to offence ' : Judge . | [[0, 72], [111, 153], [412, 486], [1097, 1105], [1132, 1156], [1159, 1223], [1226, 1261], [2312, 2358], [69, 91], [94, 104], [94, 153], [487, 540], [503, 540], [981, 989], [992, 1025], [154, 185], [208, 234], [664, 843], [541, 616], [565, 663], [2359, 2529]] |
A house was ` disintegrated ' and five people rushed to the hospital on Tuesday when a natural gas leak caused a dramatic explosion in a New Jersey neighborhood . New Jersey Natural Gas workers were called to Oak Avenue in Stafford Township Tuesday morning after reports of a suspicious odor in the neighborhood . While investigating a possible leak , a house at the far east end of the street exploded - sending flames into the air , shattering windows of surrounding houses and shaking the ground a mile around . Five workers were injured in the blast - with at least one who was in an extremely critical state and needed CPR on the scene . The current condition of the five gas workers is not currently known . Devastating : Five New Jersey Natural Gas workers were injured - one critically - when a leak caused a massive explosion that leveled a house on the New Jersey shore Tuesday morning . The explosion was captured by a police dash cam that was parked nearby . The house disintegrated into tiny little pieces after the explosion . The debris went flying all the way down the street . Helicopter footage of the blast site shows debris littering the street , smoke filled air , and a hole in the ground - the basement that is the only remnant of the leveled home . ` The house has been disintegrated , ' Stafford Township Mayor John Spodofora told NBC New York . The sheer force of the blast was felt across the community , with some saying the tremor shook their homes as far as a mile away . ` It was kind of like a mini-earthquake , ' Plowing contractor Max Von Newss said . ` You were thinking it was like a bomb . ' ` It looks like a war area . It 's just destruction . There 's debris all over the place , ' Mr Von Ness added . All that 's left : The above scene shows where a house used to stand before the explosion which virtually disintegrated the structure . Devastating : Residents first reported a gas odor around 8:55 am on Tuesday . Earth-shattering : Those in the community could feel the explosion shake their homes from nearly a mile away . Victims : The conditions of the five injured workers is not immediately known . Without homes : About 75 to 100 homes in the surrounding area have been evacuated and the gas line shut off . The gas odor was first reported around 8.55 am , and were trying to contain the leak at 10:45 am when the blast occured . Neighborhood resident Barbara Cotov told the Press of Atlantic City that the smell was ` terribly strong ' and filled her entire house . She says she was told to evacuate by men in uniforms who said : ` To be safe , you need to leave . ' She felt the blast as she was driving to get coffee and buy groceries . ` When I saw all that smoke , I said `` Oh my God , is that my house , '' ' she said . Luckily , her house had been spared . NJ Natural Gas personnel dig in front of smoldering debris after the explosion on Tuesday in Stafford Township . It 's unclear when gas will be turned back on in the town on the New Jersey shore . Before the blast , residents reported smelling a bad odor in the air - prompting a call to the gas authority . ` The house has been disintegrated , ' Stafford Township Mayor John Spodofora said of the home leveled in the blast . Tuesday 's explosion comes nearly a year after another gas leak sparked at a blast in nearby Ewing , destroying 10 houses , killing one woman and injuring seven people in March 2014 . The scene of the Tuesday blast pictured above . Michael Thomas was not as fortunate . He lives one house down from the scene and when he heard about the explosion he drove home from work to survey the damage : finding cabinets knocked down , sheetrock damaged and pictures shaken off the wall . But Mr Thomas is just thankful that his wife and 1-year-old son where out of the house at the time . ' I do n't care so much about the house , the house can be fixed , as long as my kid , my wife and the dog are all right , ' Mr Thomas said . About 75 to 100 families in the surrounding area have now been evacuated while emergency crews have shut off the gas to investigate where the leak occurred . It 's unclear when the gas will be turned back on . Tuesday 's explosion comes nearly a year after another gas leak sparked at a blast in nearby Ewing , destroying 10 houses , killing one woman and injuring seven people in March 2014 . | Residents in Stafford Township , New Jersey first reported a gas odor Tuesday morning . The entire explosion was captured by the dash cam of a nearby police car . New Jersey Natural Gas workers responded to the scene and were investigating the leak when an explosion tore through a suburban home . Five workers were rushed to the hospital - one of them in critical condition . About 75 to 100 families have been evacuated and the gas line shut off . | [[163, 313], [1892, 1955], [2257, 2279], [2289, 2303], [2257, 2269], [2274, 2303], [3011, 3027], [3030, 3121], [928, 945], [951, 970], [34, 162], [314, 349], [352, 412], [435, 498], [314, 349], [352, 412], [480, 514], [801, 897], [1818, 1831], [1848, 1877], [3208, 3239], [4035, 4119], [34, 162], [515, 573], [564, 573], [578, 612], [728, 807], [2147, 2160], [2163, 2245], [2233, 2256], [3962, 4056], [4035, 4119]] |
Pebble has revealed a colour version of its popular smartwatch in a bid to fend off Apple and Google . Called Pebble Time , the firm has turned to Kickstarter , where it funded its original watch , for the # $ 199 colour version . The campaign has already been a huge success - with Pebble hitting its target in just seventeen minutes . Scroll down for video . The Pebble Time will cost $ 199 and will ship in May - although is cheaper for Kickstarter backers . Pebble Time features a new colour e-paper display and microphone for responding to notifications , meaning it can also do voice dictation and even calls . ` At its heart , Pebble Time is an awesome watch , ' the firm says . ` The new color e-paper display is easy to read and always-on , perfect for displaying incoming notifications and your favorite watchface . ' Pebble hopes the battery life of its watch will be a major selling point - both the Apple Watch and Google 's Android Wear watches need to be recharged every night . ` Compared with display technology like LCD or OLED , power consumption is minimized , enabling Pebble Time to achieve an industry-leading battery life of up to 7 days . ' However , the screen is far lower resolution , and can only display 64 colours . ` It 's not going to break any records for number of pixels or whatever , ' Eric Migicovsky of Pebble told Backchannel . ` But it does what it has to do to be on a smart watch . ` It 's color , it 's always on and it uses , for all intents and purposes , the exact same power as our black-and-white display . ' The watch will also be able to be fitted with any standard watch strap . The watch is also far thinner , at just 9.5 mm . ` Its ergonomic , curved design fits comfortably on either wrist and slides easily under dress shirts , ' the firm says . The new design was first leaked yesterday on Pebble 's own website . The watch has a new ` timeline interface to allow people to see information depending on what 's in their diary or the time of day . According to 9to5mac , the new watch is set to have a thinner design and a colour e-paper-like display . It spotted an image showing off the watch on Pebble 's own servers . ` Now , thanks to an image hosted on Pebble 's own servers , we have a look at a device with a physical appearance matching the device we described . ` The device looks to have a larger bezel , as well as buttons that are smaller compared to its predecessor . ' As we reported , the watch is going to be thinner than the current generation , but you ca n't really see that based on this image alone . The new watch is also far thinner , at just 9.5 mm . And while the new device will have a color display and a slimmer hardware profile , it 's said to have battery life that compares to the first generation Pebble . On the inside , the next Pebble is going to have a Cortex M4 processor and a 6-axis gyroscope . Unlike the Apple Watch , the new Pebble wo n't have a touch screen , and its resolution is definitely on the low side compared to Apple 's upcoming device . Compatibility : The smartwatch is compatible with Android 2.3 + and iOS 5 + . Connectivity : The Pebble connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth . Messaging : Wearers can see texts , tweets , calls and app notifications -- but they ca n't use the watch to type messages or make calls , like with the Apple Watch , for example . Battery : The battery lasts for between five and seven days on a single charge and can be recharged using a USB cable with a magnetic connector . Tough : The watch is water resistant with a scratch and shatter-proof e-paper screen . Screen : 144 x 168 pixels , measuring 3.2 cm . Apps : The watch has a ` thriving ' app store with staples like Twitter as well as fitness apps . Users can also create their own . The Pebble can store eight apps and watch faces at a time . Extras : A vibrating silent alarm and hundreds of watch faces . Colours : White , black , red , grey and orange . Size : The watch is designed to fit most 2.2 cm watch straps . It measures 5.2 cm x 3.6 cm x 1.15 cm deep . Weight : 38g . Price : # 99 -LRB- $ 99 in the US -RRB- and # 180 -LRB- $ 199 -RRB- for the Steel model . The current watch allows wearers to read texts and tweets on their wrist , as well as see incoming calls , check the weather , access fitness apps and tell the time . It is compatible with Apple and Android devices and connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth so users do n't have to rummage in their handbag or pockets for their phone to see app notifications and messages , because they appear on the watch 's screen . Pebble 's device is the second most funded product in Kickstarter history and the new Pebble Steel model is also now available in the UK for # 180 . The Apple Watch is set to go on sale in April , with prices from $ 349 . The Moto 360 runs Google 's Android Wear software - but has so far failed to attract buyers . They are water resistant and have a battery that lasts for between five and seven days . In contrast , it 's predicted that the Apple Watch , which is due to be released early next year , will need to be recharged daily . Firebox predicts that the already popular devices will be in demand from UK customers for Christmas , partly because they are more affordable than some rival offerings . Since its US release last year , Pebble has developed its open-source platform so that anyone can create an app for the device and companies are offering fitness tracker apps like Jawbone and Misfit , so people can check their running pace without carrying another gadget , for example . The upadter Pebble watch , called Pebble Steel , has an e-paper display -- like a miniature Kindle -- so it can be easily read in bright sunlight , while a flick of the wrist illuminates the screen so it can be used in a the dark . The # 180 Pebble Steel Smartwatch is pictured . It has a choice of more luxurious straps , compared with the original watch . The watch has an e-paper display -- like a miniature Kindle -- so it can be easily read in bright sunlight , while a flick of the wrist illuminates the screen so it can be used in a the dark too . Staples such as Twitter , Yelp and Foursquare are available too . There are also ` extras ' like a vibrating alarm and a choice of hundreds of watch face designs . | Watch allows wearers to read texts and tweets on their wrist , see calls , access fitness apps and tell the time . Will have e-ink colour screen that allows it to go for a week between charges . Firm hits its funding target on Kickstarter in just seventeen minutes . | [[3203, 3265], [3661, 3751], [4173, 4339], [4198, 4245], [4173, 4190], [4259, 4277], [4280, 4319], [4173, 4190], [4324, 4339], [4495, 4544], [4547, 4591], [2636, 2713], [231, 255], [261, 336], [231, 336]] |
One in five children are affected by their parents ' heavy drinking , with some being verbally abused , physically attacked or left unsupervised , a new report has found . The troubling statistics show more than one million children across Australia are impacted in some way by other 's drinking habits , with a further 142,000 ` substantially affected ' and 10,000 already under child protection . Family violence campaigner and Australian of the Year Rosie Batty is launching the report , ` Hidden harm : Alcohol 's impact on children and families , ' at NSW Parliament House in Sydney on Tuesday . One million Australian children are affected by their parents ' drinking with 10,000 already under child protection as a result , a new report has found -LRB- stock image pictured above -RRB- . Researchers behind the report say alcohol abuse is a factor with almost half of child abuse cases reported each year . Children are also being left unsupervised , verbally assaulted and physically attacked , according to the report . However , the most common harm experienced by children is witnessing verbal or physical conflicts between parents . The report was created after the combination of data provided from child protection services , and surveys and interviews conducted with families impacted by alcohol abuse . Family violence campaigner and Australian of the Year Rosie Batty -LRB- pictured -RRB- launched the report at NSW Parliament House in Sydney . Experts have said the report highlights the devastating impacted alcohol abuse has across the community , and called for governments to invest in a number of new strategies and plans to tackle alcohol-related problems . Domestic Violence NSW chief executive Moo Baulch said it is time for family violence to be considered a national emergency . ` If there is any comfort at all to be found at present , it is that the issue of domestic and family violence has found itself , not before time , front and centre of the national agenda and public awareness , ' Ms Baulch said . ` Governments are now looking to act and I for one welcome robust research findings that provide us with a more complete picture of the problem , and help identify and explore the policies that may address it . ' Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education chief executive Michael Thorn said his organisation has created a blueprint for reducing alcohol-fueled family violence . ` We need targeted screening of young people at greater risk of harm ; and measures that reduce the availability , target the price , and regulate the promotion of alcohol , ' Mr Thorn said . ` We need national public education campaigns that acknowledge and address the role of alcohol in family violence . ' There were almost 30,000 police reported incidents of alcohol-related domestic violence in 2011 in just the four states and territories where data is available - NSW , Victoria , the Northern Territory and Western Australia . | One in five Australian children are affected by parents ' drinking . Troubling statistics show 10,000 children are in protection as a result . Alcohol abuse a factor in up to 47 % of child abuse cases each year . Report launched by Australian of the Year Rosie Batty in NSW Parliament . Domestic Violence NSW 's Moo Baulch says we face ` national emergency ' | [[0, 67], [795, 892], [860, 913], [399, 504], [1319, 1405], [1319, 1461]] |
It was one of the most successful Kickstarter projects of all time - and could change the way you sleep . Sense , a $ 129 -LRB- # 99 -RRB- smart orb went on sale today following a crowdsourcing campaign that saw it raise $ 2.4 m . It contains sensors that can monitor everything from air quality to noise , and tell owners how they slept - and how to sleep better . Scroll down for video . Sense contains a main unit , and a sleep pill which clips onto a pillow , and is controlled via a free app . ` Our mission at Hello is to help people to live better , by understanding themselves and the world around them , ' said James Proud , the 23 year old behind the project . ` By starting with sleep , what we 've produced with Sense is something that will help to improve the foundation of every day . ` In less than a year , from conception , Kickstarter campaign , to release , our team at Hello has worked tirelessly to produce a simple and unobtrusive system . ` With Sense , all you should have to do , is go to sleep ' . It measures sound , light , temperature , humidity and air quality . giving users a sleep score for every night . Over time , it learns how a user sleeps and offer them tips . Sense is a simple system that tracks your sleep , monitors the environment in your bedroom and reinvents the alarm , so you can sleep better . The app tells you how well you slept -LRB- or did n't -RRB- by giving you a Sleep Score each night , and analysing the historic data to work out what temperatures and humidities you sleep best at . 23 year old James Proud founded the firm in 2012 after moving to San Francisco from London . The device continually learns about you and your sleeping habits , gathering essential data from your bedroom without any input from you . It uses a learning algorithm so that , with every sleep cycle that passes , it gains a more comprehensive understanding of how to improve your sleep . Sense analyzes the information from your sleep cycles and the environment of your room to give you a personalized reading and Sleep Score every morning . The free app for iOS and Android , also launching today , presents all your sleep data in a clear timeline each morning . When you turn your lights out before you go to sleep , Sense performs a thorough room check , measuring the temperature , sound , light , humidity and air quality in your room to make sure it 's just right for you . Sense glows green if everything is good , yellow if something is a little off and orange if you should adjust something . The main sensor and ` sleep pill ' which clips onto a pillow . The main control orb is packed with sensors . Ambient Light Sensor monitors the levels of light in your room . Temperature and Humidity Sensors are able to detect the temperature and humidity throughout the day . A particulate Sensor can check for pollen and other material that triggers allergies , giving an air quality reading . The second sensor , the sleep pill , has accelerometers to detect the slightest movement , and is left clipped to your pillow . It tells the orb how you are sleeping . The app tells you how well you slept , or did n't , by giving you a Sleep Score each night , and analysing the historic data to work out what temperatures and humidities you sleep best at . Sense 's Smart Alarm will wake you up at the lightest part of your natural sleep cycle , up to 30 minutes before your requested wake-up time , making sure you wake up refreshed and at the right time for you . ` The Sense Smart Alarm knows where you are in your sleep cycle and will wake you up at the right time for you , ' the firm says . ` Sense wo n't let you wake up later than you requested . The gadget is designed to fit in to any decor , and is available in cotton and charcoal . ` It will simply rouse you when you are sleeping lightly which may be prior to your requested time and you will feel better as a result . ' The firm also decided not to include a snooze alarm . ` Hitting snooze allows your brain to restart its sleep cycle . ` When the alarm goes off again , you are more likely to be sleeping even deeper than your first alarm . ` The extra eight minutes of sleep will actually make you feel worse , not better . ' Proud founded the firm in 2012 after moving to San Francisco from London . In 2011 he was accepted to the inaugural Peter Thiel Fellowship and was the only non-American candidate that year . Smartwatch Pebble -LRB- right -RRB- raised $ 10.3 m from 68,929 backers in May 2012 , making it the most popular Kickstarter campaign ever . Fledgling console maker Ouya raised $ 8.6 m from 63,416 backers in August 2012 for its Android-based ` microconsole ' Neil Young 's Pono music player and downloads store attracted $ 6.2 m of pledges earlier this year . Oculus Rift raised $ 2.4 m from 9,522 backers in September 2012 - before being sold earlier this year for $ 2bn to Facebook . | Sensor sits on bedside , listens for noise and monitors air and light quality . ` Sleep pill ' clips onto pillow to monitor movement in the bed . Gadget reached its Kickstarter funding target in just seven hours . | [[231, 322], [1024, 1092], [1200, 1314], [1634, 1644], [1701, 1743], [2200, 2204], [2255, 2260], [2294, 2375], [2304, 2415], [2647, 2711], [423, 435], [442, 461], [2560, 2570], [2579, 2600]] |
A Chinese man is urging officials to toughen up animal protection laws after discovering local children had been using fireworks to play a sick form of Angry Birds with live sparrows . The children trapped the birds in a variety of ways - including using catapults to knock them down - before strapping the stunned or injured birds to fireworks , lighting them and sending them into the air to explode . The sick game was discovered by Huang Chu , 45 , from Lantian county in north-western China 's Shaanxi province , after he spotted children running away from something in a local park . The sick game was discovered by Huang Chu after he found children had strapped an injured bird to a firework . He took this picture in the hope officials will toughen up animal protection laws in the country . He investigated and discovered it was an unexploded firework . He said : ' I realised it was not going to go off as the fuse had run out , but when I went to walk past it I saw there was a sparrow tied to the side of the firework . ' I took a picture and then I set it free , and it flapped off under a bush . ' He then spoke to people in the park - where the children had been setting off fireworks all morning - and found several more bloodied and mutilated dead birds which had already been torn apart by the fireworks . He said : ' I spoke to an older boy who told me that the others had been playing Angry Birds , shooting the fireworks across the park and pretending to be playing the video game of the same name . ' The children said they were pretending to play popular video game Angry Birds -LRB- pictured -RRB- - but with real birds . Angry Birds is a popular video game franchise played primarily on mobile phones . In it , the player must fling a wingless bird at a pig 's fortress in order to gain points and get through to the next round . Mr Chu added : ' I posted images online because people should be aware of what 's happening and maybe it will increase pressure for animal rights laws to finally be introduced here in China . ' | Huang Chu , 45 , saw children had strapped a live sparrow to a firework . The children were pretending to play popular video game Angry Birds . Mr Chu found bodies of birds who had been torn apart by the fireworks . Incident took place in a park in north-western China 's Shaanxi province . He is urging officials to toughen up animal protection laws in the country . | [[77, 184], [404, 450], [590, 700], [638, 700], [943, 1031], [1462, 1520], [1523, 1645], [1541, 1645], [1646, 1727], [1156, 1168], [1218, 1270], [1156, 1168], [1250, 1323], [0, 70], [24, 103], [734, 799]] |
` Fake ' autographs : Classical singer Katherine Jenkins -LRB- pictured -RRB- has called in trading standards . Classical singer Katherine Jenkins has called in trading standards officials to investigate a company for selling allegedly fake signed photos of her . The 34-year-old mezzo-soprano posted on Twitter yesterday that Autographed Music Photos in Maldon , Essex , was selling the pictures - adding : ` I did not sign these ' . But the company claimed to MailOnline today that it obtained the four signed images and a Christmas CD from a supplier who bought them at a charity auction in 2012 after they were donated by her management . Miss Jenkins tweeted yesterday : ` Want to warn you that Autographed Music Photos is selling `` authentic '' photos signed by me . I did not sign these and we 're reporting to trading standards . ' However the company said it was ` aggrieved ' that Miss Jenkins had taken to Twitter to report a problem with the pictures before members of her management had got in touch . A spokesman told MailOnline : ` We 're quite annoyed she tweeted without anybody contacting us first , so that we could do something about this . As soon as we were aware of it , we immediately removed them . ` We only had three or four photos and a Christmas CD signed by her . I 've gone back to the guy who bought them from a charity auction , and -LSB- he said -RSB- they were donated by her management in 2012 . ' It was tonight still unconfirmed where the photographs came from , but Miss Jenkins 's management insisted that she ` obviously knows her own signature ' and ` did not sign ' them . Took to Twitter : Miss Jenkins is concerned about a company selling allegedly fake signed photos of her . Autograph session : Miss Jenkins is pictured signing copies of her new album at HMV Cardiff last November . He added : ` If anybody contacts us , whoever it is , we 're always responsive and immediately take action . We 've certainly had no disgruntled customer about it . It 's come completely out of the blue . ' Miss Jenkins 's memorabilia would usually sell for # 20 to # 30 , the company said , adding that it had not yet been contacted by trading standards - but would keep the items available for inspection . But Miss Jenkins 's manager , Jonathan Shalit OBE , told MailOnline : ` We tried to contact the company . Katherine also hardly ever signs her photos `` Katherine Jenkins '' so you can quite clearly tell someone is forging them . ` Katherine spends hours and hours of time to sign things herself and that 's why she was particularly upset as she does n't want her fans to be ripped off . She regularly tweets that people can send in anything as she is happy to sign them for free . Happy couple : Miss Jenkins with her partner , film director Andrew Levitas , whom she married last year . ` It was brought to our attention as a fan had purchased one which had a certificate of authentication and had asked Katherine to personalise it . ` Katherine obviously knows her own signature and realised straight away she did not sign it . ` We still have this in our possession as proof and when on further investigation we looked at their website they themselves had four or five different forms of Katherine 's signature . We also emailed autograph trading standards and they are assisting . ' Autographed Music Photos insists on its website that all signed items are supplied by ` an established music and media industry employee , a person that we 've known both personally and professionally for many years ' . The firm - which is is run from a # 350,000 four-bedroom detached house - also claims to be a member of the Universal Autograph Collectors ' Club , although it is not listed within the Florida-based organisation 's official dealer directory . Website : Autographed Music Photos claimed it obtained the four signed images and a Christmas CD from a supplier who bought them at a charity auction in 2012 after they were donated by her management . The Autograph Fair Trade Association confirmed tonight that it was investigating the complaint , but this could take months -- and it was normal practise to ask trading standards to get involved . An AFTAL spokesman said : ` Katherine 's management company contacted us to say that there was a company called Autographed Music Photos selling autographs of her that were not authentic . ` We had a look at it , and there were probably about half a dozen that Katherine said were n't her signature . They do have a lot of quite unique stuff . It 's not a company that we 've heard of before . ' An Essex County Council spokesman said : ` The ECC 's trading standards team has not received complaints about this company and is not currently pursuing any investigation into this matter . ' | Mezzo-soprano criticises Autographed Music Photos of Maldon , Essex . Miss Jenkins , 34 , says she ` did not sign ' pictures being sold by company . Her manager insists singer is keen to ensure her fans are not ` ripped off ' | [[112, 263], [327, 361], [372, 405], [112, 263], [112, 121], [161, 168], [189, 263], [384, 396], [399, 405], [410, 430], [774, 838], [3049, 3070], [2582, 2627]] |
A woman has exacted the ultimate revenge on her roommate after she wrapped every item in his bathroom with cling wrap and aluminium foil . Shari Griffin , who lives in Darwin , was getting her roommate named Chris back for parking horizontally across both car spaces in their apartment block as a prank . ' I came on a Sunday night at 9.30 pm and ... at the time I had to do a 50-point turn and go back down three storeys and park on the road . I was pissed off , ' she told Daily Mail Australia . Scroll down for video . Shari Griffin was getting back at her housemate for parking horizontally across both their car spaces . The 24-year-old lives in Darwin in the Northern Territory posted a video of the prank on her Facebook page . So the Northern Territory woman , 24 , hatched her own hilarious plan , which took between half an hour to an hour to complete , and posted a video of her efforts on Facebook . In the footage , Ms Griffin showed off how she had wrapped every from the toilet to the basin to skincare products in her housemate 's bathroom with cling wrap and aluminium foil . It has garnered just over 2,000 views so far on the social media site . Ms Griffin said she had seen someone else had carried out a similar prank on social media and had found it funny . It took her between half an hour and an hour to complete her prank , which included wrapping the toilet -LRB- left -RRB- and toilet paper -LRB- right -RRB- . When her housemate came home , much to her frustration , he pretended like nothing was wrong . ` At first he was walked in and said `` This is the way I left it '' , ' Ms Griffin said . ` He acted like it did n't even bother him because he knew it would p *** me off . When her housemate came home , he pretended not to notice because he knew it would annoy her . ` He was joking around saying `` Why would n't I put tinfoil on the sunscreen ? '' and `` Why would n't I put cling wrap on the shower head ? '' It was funny . ' Ms Griffin said she and her housemate ` get along like brother and sister ' and she expected retaliation . ` It 's like a war zone at home . Every time I come home I 'm being really cautious about what I touch . I know he 'll get me back , ' she said . | Shari Griffin , who lives in Darwin , pulled the prank on her housemate Chris . It took her between a half an hour and an hour to wrap up the bathroom . She got her housemate back after he parked across both their car spaces . Ms Griffin said she was now scared her housemate would prank her again . | [[139, 152], [159, 174], [738, 766], [774, 861], [1280, 1324], [1317, 1437], [189, 304], [522, 581]] |
Rajendra Pachauri has stepped down amid claims he sexually harassed a woman working at his office in Delhi . The head of the UN climate change panel has stepped down amid claims he sexually harassed a woman working at his office in Delhi . India 's Rajendra Pachauri pulled out of a meeting in Kenya this week after Indian police started an investigation into the complaint from a 29-year-old researcher . The 74-year-old , chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -LRB- IPCC -RRB- since 2002 , has denied the claims against him , according to a court order . But today Mr Pachauri , who has also suffered cardiac problems , ended his 13 turbulent years in charge after announcing he was stepping down . It has been reported that the woman claims the alleged harassment included unwanted emails , texts and phone messages . His second term as IPCC chair had been due to . end in October 2015 . In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon , Mr Pachauri . said that his inability to travel to Kenya showed he may be . unable to ensure the ` strong leadership and dedication of time . and full attention by the chair ' needed by the panel . ' I have , therefore , taken the decision to step down from my . position as chair of the IPCC some months before completion of . my term , ' he wrote . He collected the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the IPCC in . 2007 , when the panel shared the award with former U.S. Vice . President Al Gore . Findings by the IPCC about global warming are the main guide . for action by almost 200 governments which have agreed to work . out a deal in December 2015 to combat climate change . The panel . completed a set of mammoth reports last year . The United Nations said the IPCC had appointed vice-chairIsmail El Gizouli as acting chair and would continue business asusual . Rajendra Pachauri pulled out of a meeting in Kenya this week after Indian police started an investigation into the complaint from a 29-year-old researcher . Mr Pachauri told Ban Ki-moon -LRB- pictured -RRB- that his inability to travel to Kenya showed he may be unable to ensure the ` strong leadership and dedication of time and full attention by the chair ' needed by the panel . ` The actions taken today will ensure that the IPCC 's mission . to assess climate change continues without interruption , ' Achim . Steiner , Executive Director of the United Nations Environment . Programme , which oversees the IPCC , said in a statement . Mr Pachauri said he had considered retiring last year after the . IPCC completed a series of reports that raised the probability . that climate change is mainly man-made to at least 95 percent . from 90 percent in its previous study in 2007 . He weathered pressure to quit after an error in the 2007 . report exaggerated the rate of melt of Himalayan glaciers . An . external review at the time recommended that IPCC chairs should . only serve one seven-year term . | Rajendra Pachauri headed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change . Pulled out of meeting in Kenya after Indian police started an investigation . Denies claims that he sexually harassed a 29-year-old working at his office . The 74-year-old today announced he was stepping down from the position . He collected the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the IPCC eight years ago . | [[240, 340], [316, 405], [1830, 1921], [1897, 1986], [47, 108], [178, 239], [406, 421], [505, 545], [581, 598], [642, 697], [681, 720], [1163, 1169], [1190, 1225], [1163, 1164], [1184, 1225], [1314, 1375]] |
A Darwin man knew it was no laughing matter when he spotted a kookaburra wedged into a parked car 's numberplate . Russell Crow , 50 , found the beautiful blue-winged kookaburra jammed into the vehicle bumper at Humpty Doo United servo , 40 km south of Darwin . After noticing the bird was still alive , Mr Crow managed to move the animal from harm 's way with some unlikely utensils , reports NT News . The blue-winged kookaburra was found wedged into the front of a parked car 's bumper at Humpty Doo United servo . Mr Crow assumed thought the animal was long dead when he first noticed it . ` Even when I walked over to it , I could see it had an eye open but I still thought it was dead -- it was pretty still , ' he told NT News . After photographing the peculiar scene , the kookaburra moved its head . But when Mr Crow attempted to freeit with his hands , the bird attacked him . ' I was trying to pull it out with my hands , but he kept trying to bite me , ' he said . Kookaburras have extremely strong beaks which they use to soften their food . In turn , they can inflict a painful bite . Mr Crow resolved to use a mop and bucket to free the captive bird , which was miraculously unharmed . The blue winged kookaburra is susceptible to being hit by cars on country roads due to being a slow flyer . ' I used the mop to pry him out , and it worked . I was expecting him to have a broken wing or to be injured in some way , but as soon as he hit the ground he flew off and into a gum tree . ' Mr Crow left a note on the car advising them to check their grille after striking an animal on the road . The blue winged kookaburra is native to northern Australia and southern New Guinea . Due to being slow flyers , they are susceptible to being hit by cars on country roads . The assistant curator for Territory Wildlife Park Damien Stanioch said the car was travelling between 60-70km / h when it hit the bird . The bird was found at Humpty Doo United servo , 40 km south of Darwin in the Northern Territory . | Russell Crow , 50 , found the blue-winged kookaburra wedged into a car . The bird is susceptible to being hit by cars due to being a slow flyer . Mr Crow used a mop and bucket to release the bird from the vehicle . Territory Wildlife Park estimate the car was going between 60-70km / h . | [[0, 17], [21, 114], [18, 20], [28, 114], [115, 127], [135, 261], [404, 517], [404, 430], [441, 517], [1201, 1308], [1285, 1308], [1719, 1779], [262, 301], [304, 383], [1099, 1164], [1123, 1200], [1780, 1893], [1851, 1916]] |
The widow of comedian Richard Pryor has slammed embattled Bill Cosby , describing him as a ` piece of s *** ' who ` had sex with everything that moved ' . Jennifer Lee Pryor also branded the 77-year-old a hypocrite on the podcast ` Alison Rosen is Your New Best Friend ' in a scathing attack on the star following the resurfacing of historic sex abuse allegations against him . The two comedians started their careers as bitter rivals , with Cosby accusing Pryor of copying his technique . However they are believed to have become friends when Pryor changed his act after two years away from the comedy scene . ` Had sex with everything that moved ' : Jennifer Lee Pryor branded the 77-year-old a hypocrite on the podcast ' Alison Rosen is Your New Best Friend ' She said : ` Bill ... hated Richard because he `` worked dirty '' . Bill worked clean , so therefore , you know-Bill 's just a f ***** g hypocrite and dirty on the inside . ' ` It was a well-kept secret that Bill f ***** d everything that moved , ' she added . ` This kind of s *** that we 're finding out about is beyond . ' I was n't aware of this kind of business . There are people in the business who were aware of it and they 're coming out now . ' The pair married in 1981 but divorced just 14 months later . However they tied the knot again in 2001 and stayed together until Pyror 's death in 2009 at the age of 65 . During the damning interview , she also insisted Cosby 's wife Camille knew about his alleged lurid behavior all along . She said : ` Of course she knew . Why is she going for the `` okie-doke , '' as Richard would say ? That 's anybody 's guess . ' Finally , referring to the state of his career , he said : ` He 's done . Yea . He 's done . ' Relationship : Pryor died in 2005 at the age of 65 . His widow -LRB- pictured with him in 2000 -RRB- claims Cosby hated him because he ` played dirty ' Tensions : Pryor walks into the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Century City , California , He and Cosby started their careers as bitter rivals , with Cosby accusing Pryor of copying his technique . | Jennifer Lee Pryor also branded the embattled comedian as a ` hypocrite ' on the podcast ' Alison Rosen is Your New Best Friend ' Claims Cosby 's allegedly lurid behavior was a ` well-kept ' secret . Also believes his wife Camille knew what her husband was doing all along . She married Pryor in 1981 , but the pair divorced just 14 months later . However they remarried in 2001 , and remained together until he died in 2005 at the age of 65 . | [[0, 68], [155, 173], [179, 231], [155, 173], [232, 268], [652, 730], [724, 760], [940, 996], [1437, 1450], [1459, 1508], [1218, 1242], [1218, 1226], [1247, 1278], [1287, 1319], [1287, 1291], [1324, 1387], [1748, 1785]] |
A Colombian military cook is being investigated after he was seen taking a bath in a cauldron used to make soup for troops . Victor Gamboa , 27 , was caught by a fellow chef as he stripped off and got into the huge vat before starting to wash his hair and body . The incident took place in Bogota last July , but the news of Mr Gamboa 's unusual choice of bathtub only reached top brass this week after pictures were leaked online . Disgusting : Victor Gamboa , 27 , was caught on camera as he stripped off to take a bath , washing his ` hair , feet and genitals ' in a military soup cauldron at a base in Bogota , Colombia . Gamboa , who serves in the Colombian Military Police Battalion in the Colombian capital was snapped in the kitchen at the base , stripping off and climbing into the huge vat of water . Sous chef Juan Camargo Cubillos , 24 , said Gamboa then took a bottle of shampoo and began washing his hair before turning to the rest of his body . Caught : Gamboa is now under investigation after pictured of his ` soup bath ' leaked online . ` He was dressed in his uniform but then took it off and climbed into the vat of water which is used everyday to make soup , ' Mr Cubillos told a local newspaper . ` First he washed his hair and then started doing his feet and genitals . ` It was completely grotesque and I could n't believe what I was seeing . ` But when I asked him what the hell he was doing he just laughed and said I should n't worry about it . ' Mr Cubillos says the incident in July last year was hushed up and that he was told to delete all photos , but they have now emerged on the internet . Base commander General Raul Antonio Rodriguez said : ` It 's illogical for a soldier to do this because the cauldrons are lit for 18-hours-a-day at high temperatures . ` It looks like it all happened in July 2014 when the place was shut after an order from the Health Secretariat . ` But everything is under investigation and if disciplinary measures are needed , they will be applied immediately . ' | Victor Gamboa , 27 , caught taking a bath in a military soup cauldron . The military chef ` climbed in and washed his hair , feet and genitals ' Incident took place last year , but photos have now leaked online . | [[0, 93], [83, 124], [125, 138], [141, 143], [146, 234], [177, 179], [197, 262], [0, 93], [125, 138], [141, 143], [146, 234], [177, 179], [197, 262], [524, 564], [811, 820], [850, 959], [1057, 1059], [1112, 1141], [1227, 1245], [1227, 1229], [1250, 1292], [313, 432], [969, 1054], [1584, 1623]] |
A ` devious and calculating ' accounts manager who stole # 23,000 from a TV star 's home improvements company was jailed for 16 months today . Abeyomi Ogunagbadaro , 44 , had only been working at home expert Alison Cork 's Alison At Home furniture business in Regent Street , central London , for six weeks when he started stealing from the firm . The financial controller , who was on a # 42,000-a-year salary , had access to the company 's online bank account and was able to launder payments via two innocent friends he duped into giving him their bank details . ` Devious and calculating ' accounts manager Abeyomi Ogunagbadaro -LRB- left -RRB- who stole # 23,000 from a TV star Alison Cork 's -LRB- right -RRB- home improvements company was jailed for 16 months today . Mother-of-two Ms Cork , 51 , has appeared in a number of home and garden shows and is best known for her ITV series ` Do n't Move , Improve ' . Ogunagbadaro , who started work at the company Alison At Home on March 4 last year , admitted one charge of fraud by abuse of position and was jailed for 16 months when he appeared in front of Southwark Crown Court today . The fraud was only discovered after Ogunagbadaro had left the company in May of that year . Peter Zinner , prosecuting , said : ` This was a very sophisticated , pre-planned fraud by a devious and calculating defendant who abused his position as a financial controller to his own financial gain . ` The offence , say the Crown , was aggravated by the use of various lies and by the involvement of two innocent people in an attempt to launder , or disguise , where the monies were being transferred to . ` Those two innocent people were put in the threat of prosecution by their unwitting involvement . ' Abeyomi Ogunagbadaro , 44 , had only been working at home expert Alison Cork 's Alison At Home furniture business , based on the third floor of this building in Regent Street , central London , for six weeks when he started stealing from the firm . Mr Zinner told the court that soon after starting with Alison At Home , Ogunagbadaro had made a number of mistakes , but had tried to cover this up by pretending that a young relative had died . ` His employment commenced on the 4 March 2014 , but there were immediately problems during his probation period with accounting errors and processing errors which resulted in him being spoken to by supervisors , ' Mr Zinner said . ` To elicit sympathy from his employers the defendant lied about illness and death of a child in his family and because of that he was given a little bit of latitude and time off . ' However , the story was a sham and there had been no death or illness in his family . ` As his performance was not good he parted company , it seems amicably , with Alison At Home on May 7 but shortly afterwards the owners of the company decided they would do an audit and in particular they were concerned about three unrecognised transfers , ' said Mr Zinner . Two payments of # 4,000 each were made to Vanessa Murphy and a further # 15,000 was sent to Daniel Collen . Mother-of-two Ms Cork , 51 , -LRB- pictured -RRB- has appeared in a number of home and garden shows and is best know for her ITV series ` Do n't Move , Improve ' Interior design and homes expert Alison Cork is best known for her appearances on Peter Andre 's 60 Minute Makeover and her own ITV daytime show ` Do n't Move , Improve ' , where she travelled the country with co-presenter Michael Holmes . The pair would assess a homeowners ' current property and suggested two options of how they could renovate in order to meet their family 's needs . They would then return to see if the family had listened to their advice , and check out the finished results . Mother-of-two Ms Cork , 51 , has also worked as a presenter on Carlton Food Network , the BBC and Channel 5 , as well as radio stations LBC and BBC Radio Wales . She has also written on homes and interiors for numerous publications , including the Mail On Sunday . Ms Cork launched her furniture business Alison At Home in 2012 , and has also been behind two collections for online site Made.com . She also offers help and advice on homes and decorating , as well as lifestyle and cookery tips via her Alison At Home website . Her latest venture , One Regent Place , which sells discounted home and garden products launched last year . Ms Cork is also an ambassador for The Prince 's Initiative for Mature Enterprise -LRB- PRIME -RRB- , which was set up by the Prince of Wales to help support entrepreneurs over the age of 50 and campaign for older workers ' rights . ` The two payments were made without the consent or authority of the accountants signing off at Alison At Home , the recipients of the funds were not related to the business and suspicion fell on Mr Ogunagbadaro as he had actioned all the transfers . ' Ogunagbadaro had tricked his friends into receiving the money by telling them he wanted to conceal a bonus payment from his family and lying that he needed help keeping the cash because he had a drug problem , the court was told . But Charles Shelton , mitigating , said there was ` still a chance of redemption ' for his client . ` The whole situation is highly regrettable , ' he said . ` We have here a man who was in a downward spiral of drink and drugs that reach its nadir . ' He said Ogunagbadaro only spent '10 per cent ' of the money on himself and used the rest to fund ` the shallow circle of friends who he does n't hang out with any more ' . But none of the money has ever been recovered and Ogunagbadaro has not paid a penny back . Judge Martin Beddoe said the fraudster was a ` mature and educated man ' . ` Very shortly after starting a trusted job on a very good salary employed as a financial controller for this firm , you gained access to their online banking system , ' he said . ` You were trusted to use it for the purposes of your job and you abused their trust in you by setting up the transfer for funds totalling # 23,000 from your employer 's accounts . ' The judge added it took Ogunagbadaro only six weeks to set up the ` apparatus to defraud ' . ` Apart from the seriousness of the deceit of your employers and the very considerable breach of trust as far as they are concerned , to commit this crime you had to trick , and did trick , with elaborate lies two friends of yours , ' said Judge Beddoe . ` It was in my judgement a sophisticated fraud , sophisticated enough to be given that description and it involved gross breaches of trust along the way . ` There was nothing reckless about your conduct Mr Ogunagbadaro , it was quite purposive and deliberate . ' The judge also criticised the defendant for blaming alcohol and cocaine as ` excuses latched on to ' . Ogunagbadaro , of Kilburn , north west London , was led to the cells carrying his belongings in a Louis Vuitton rucksack . | Abeyomi Ogunagbadaro , 44 , worked at Alison Cork 's furniture business . Had access to Alison At Home online bank account as part of # 42,000 role . Ogunagbadaro laundered money through innocent friends ' bank accounts . He admitted fraud by abuse of position and jailed for 16 months today . | [[143, 163], [171, 273], [1746, 1766], [1774, 1859], [348, 372], [413, 461], [348, 372], [466, 519], [1439, 1452], [1471, 1597], [0, 46], [110, 142], [721, 774], [919, 931], [1004, 1053], [919, 931], [1058, 1141]] |
Britain 's coasts were battered by huge waves today as cars were dug out of the snow and vehicles struggled in difficult driving conditions . Violent gusts of 70mph were expected in northern areas , with more regular gale-force blasts of up to 60mph causing hazards for motorists . But while five flood alerts and one warning remained in place across the UK today , the worst effects of the 50ft ` supertide ' have now subsided . Scroll down for video . Enormous splash : Huge waves breaking at Sennen Cove in West Cornwall - close to Land 's End - shortly after first light this morning . Clear the area : Huge waves pound the seafront at Ilfracombe , Devon . The worst effects of the 50ft ` supertide ' have now subsided . Incoming : Massive waves batter the sea wall at Porthcawl - in between Cardiff and Swansea - in South Wales today . Over they come : Another view of the spectacular waves battering the seafront at Sennen Cove in Cornwall . Cornwall : The swells were caused by the position of the moon , which is closer to the Earth than usual and causing a stronger gravitational pull . Outlook : This week forecasters predict temperatures in London and the South West could rise to 12C -LRB- 54F -RRB- tomorrow and on Thursday . Current earth wind speeds : Violent gusts of 70mph were expected in northern areas , with more regular gale-force blasts of up to 60mph . The swells were caused by the position of the moon , which is closer to the Earth than usual and causing a stronger gravitational pull . Now , this week forecasters predict temperatures in London and the South West could rise to 12C -LRB- 54F -RRB- tomorrow and on Thursday . Temperatures in northern cities including Sheffield and Manchester tomorrow could be 9C -LRB- 48F -RRB- , but by Friday the high could be down to 6C -LRB- 43F -RRB- . And the weather will remain unsettled all week , despite there being no severe weather warnings in place for the next five days . Met Office meteorologist Laura Young told MailOnline : ` The winds have calmed right down now - generally the blustery weather is out of the way . ` We 've got a band of patchy rain and potentially sleet on higher ground , and snow on much higher ground in Scotland and northern England . Letting the supplies through : A man digs a track in the snow to enable a beer truck to break free near Langdon Beck , County Durham , today . White blanket : Villager Ewan Carr , 61 , sits on the railway station platform in the village of Dalwhinnie in the Scottish Highlands today . Freeing the car : Mr Carr shovels snow in the Highlands village of Dalwhinnie , which has been affected by the bad weather conditions . In the Pennines : A snow plough powers past an abandoned car near Alston in Cumbria , as gale force winds cause problems for motorists . Making a way : A motorist clears his drive and car from snow , in a village off the A9 road to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands . Whiteout : A lorry driver battles difficult driving conditions on the A9 Drumtocher Pass road to Invernes as snow showers continue today . Flowering : Snowdrops in bloom in the gardens of the National Trust estate Kingston Lacy near Wimborne Minster in Dorset . ` Tomorrow will have a clear start , and in northern areas you 're likely to see a bit of frost . Then we 've got a warm front coming through . ` That means that temperatures are likely to be quite warm tomorrow , and in some places you could see into double figures . ' She added that tomorrow night into Thursday morning will be windier , with more rainfall hitting the west coast , and heavy showers in the South East . Yesterday 's wettest area was Tyndrum in the Scottish Highlands , which saw 1.6 in -LRB- 41mm -RRB- , while the warmest was Gravesend in Kent at 9.4 C -LRB- 49F -RRB- . An Environment Agency spokesman said today : ` As expected , we saw some localised flooding of low-lying land but have not received confirmed reports of any property flooding . ` From today high tides drop but with an unsettled forecast for the rest of the week we 'd encourage people to continue to check their flood risk on the GOV.UK website . ' | Violent gusts of 70mph expected in northern areas , with more regular gale-force blasts of up to 60mph . Worst effects of 50ft ` supertide ' have now subsided , but five flood alerts and one warning remain in place . London could be 12C tomorrow , with 9C forecast in northern cities including Sheffield and Manchester . | [[142, 196], [1239, 1252], [1267, 1321], [292, 363], [366, 407], [410, 418], [286, 309], [366, 407], [415, 429], [661, 702], [705, 713], [661, 702], [710, 724], [1653, 1756]] |
Ann Walters , 61 -LRB- pictured at age 39 -RRB- , was found dead on her living room floor , 10 hours after she called NHS 111 for help . A distraught son found his mother dead on her living room floor nearly 10 hours after she phoned for medical help . Ann Walters ' call to the NHS 111 line was categorised as an emergency , passed to the 999 service and an ambulance was dispatched to her home . The journey was estimated to take around seven minutes . However , for reasons that remain unclear , the ambulance turned back when it was just four minutes away - under instruction from the NHS 999 service . Mrs Walters , 61 , had a hole in her heart and it is thought she died from died from heart failure . Her son Lawrence Thorpe , 24 , found his mother on the living room floor of her home in Portsmouth , Hampshire , at 6pm . He checked her phone log and discovered she had called the NHS 111 line at 8.25 am . However no medical help arrived at his mother 's home until an out-of-hours GP arrived at 8.30 pm that evening . It remains unclear why the GP had been asked to attend , given that Mrs Walters ' initial call had been passed to the emergency services . And it is not known whether the GP was called by the NHS 111 service or the 999 service , however both are run by South Central Ambulance Services -LRB- SCAS -RRB- in the area . SCAS said it had launched two investigations into the incident , which occurred on December 28 last year . One investigation will focus on why the ambulance was sent back and the other on why it took so long for an out-of-hours GP to attend . Mr Thorpe believes had the ambulance arrived at his mother 's home , she could still be alive today . He now wants to know why help was sent so late . He said : ` Knowing there was an ambulance minutes away from reaching my mum , I believed it could have saved her life . ` Even if it was only for an hour so , my sister Felicity could have had a chance to say goodbye . ' Mr Thorpe continued : ` At about 8.30 pm , an out-of-hours GP came to the house to see my mum . ` Obviously we told him what had happened and he said he had been called at 4.45 pm . The ambulance service is now carrying out an investigation into Mrs Walters ' death . Her daughter Felicity Thorpe , 25 , -LRB- left -RRB- and son Lawrence , 24 , -LRB- right -RRB- believe that had she received help sooner , she may have lived . Mrs Walters -LRB- pictured here aged 54 -RRB- had a hole in her heart and it is thought she died of heart failure . An ambulance sent to her was recalled when it was just minutes away from her home . ` However , because of a high workload he said he could n't get to her until 8.30 pm . ' SCAS has said it does not know why an earlier ambulance was cancelled , but the phone operator involved has been suspended , according to Mr Thorpe . He said : ` I 'm infuriated that she called for help and that no help came . ` Instead I was left to find my mother dead , and my sister - who had n't spoken to my mum for several years - was robbed of her chance to say goodbye . ' I want to share this story so that in future , others may not have to suffer a similar fate . ` At least that way , her possibly-preventable death will not be in vain . ' A SCAS spokesperson said : ` The original call was answered and correctly assessed by the NHS 111 service and was very quickly and appropriately passed to the 999 service given the nature of the call and the information given by the caller . Felicity and Lawrence Thorpe , Mrs Walters ' children , say they were ` robbed ' of the chance to say goodbye to their mother -LRB- pictured here aged 23 -RRB- . ' A full investigation is currently underway focusing on all aspects of our response to this patient . ` South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust takes our response to patients very seriously and we would like to apologise to the family for the distress caused as a result of this regrettable incident and would like to offer our sincere condolences . ` We are in contact with the patient 's family so that we can fully address their concerns . ` SCAS follows all internal policies and procedures in the handling of such cases . ` As this investigation is still ongoing we are unable to comment further at this time . ' | Ann Walters , 61 , was found dead at 6pm on December 28 last year . Her son , Lawrence Thorpe , 24 , found she had called NHS 111 at 8:25 am . Call was passed to the 999 service , which sent an ambulance immediately . But when it was minutes from her house , the ambulance was recalled . A GP later turned up at Mrs Walters ' home , hours after her death . Investigation into her death is being carried out by South Central Ambulance Services , which runs the local NHS 111 and the 999 services . | [[1395, 1407], [1416, 1451], [107, 136], [253, 323], [253, 291], [326, 351], [830, 832], [859, 914], [253, 291], [326, 351], [352, 397], [1028, 1166], [1051, 1057], [1085, 1166], [2505, 2529], [499, 606], [1739, 1746], [1749, 1815], [2505, 2588], [2548, 2588], [923, 993], [975, 1027], [1961, 1980], [1983, 2034], [2004, 2056], [1257, 1344], [2143, 2171], [2181, 2228], [2143, 2164], [2168, 2228]] |
It 's not every day that a property boasting one of the most ancient wonders of the world hits the market . Built on an expansive 431 hectares in Esperance , Western Australia , the full-size recreated Stonehenge has long been a sight to rival the real thing - and for only $ 5 million the granite marvel could be yours . Kim and Jillian Beale unexpectedly became the proud owners of the unusual backyard edifice in 2009 , when the replica commissioned by the quarry next to their property failed to find the funding required to transport it to the Margaret River . Scroll down for video . The Esperance Stonehenge is the only complete life-size Stonehenge replica in the world . The edifice , along with a homestead and 431 acres , has hit the market for the asking price of $ 5 million . ` The community was keen for it to stay , and there was some talk of the Rotary Club taking responsibility for it , but a site just did n't come up in time , ' Kim told Daily Mail Australia . ` So we decided to put our hand up . There was some doubt as to whether we could make it work , but we did , ' he said . The cattle farmers erected the edifice , which is the only complete life size replica of pre-historic English structure Stonehenge made entirely of granite in the world , and decided to operate it as a tourism venture . ` It was meant to be a semi-retirement plan , but it 's become so popular it 's turned into a full-time job , ' said Kim . Esperance Stonehenge , hit the local tourism industry in 2010 , weighing over 2500 tonnes and made of 137 stones of local pink granite from the quarry . Since then , the unusual wonder has seen over 30,000 visitors and has made a name for itself both nationally and overseas . The unusual wonder has seen over 30,000 visitors since it opened as a tourist attraction in 2010 . The Beales have applied to subdivide the property to separate Esperance Stonehenge from the farm they run . The homestead boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms and is just 90 metres away from the edifice . The Beales live in the two-storey farmhouse , also up for sale , just 90 metres away from the structure , gaining a view that few in the world could lay claim to . ` We 've transformed the shed into a really lovely office which overlooks the Esperance Stonehenge , and our house is right next door , so all day , five days a week I look at it , ' Kim said . The property has been on the market for a year , as the couple look for an actual retirement plan to put into action . Advertised as Lot 35 , Merivale , Esperance , the asking price is $ 5 million , though the Beales have applied to rezone and subdivide the property to separate Esperance Stonehenge from the beef farm they also run . ` We put it on the market because we know the age we are at . This could develop into a huge tourist precinct . If there 's anyone who is passionate about tourism and something a bit different , this could be the right property for them , ' Kim said . ` It 's an iconic structure , and we have quite a few overseas tourists who come in and know about it . Australians might not see ancient history as something important and never know the worth of these structures , ' he said . Estate agent for the property , Ron Johnstone , described the expansive site as a unique opportunity . The Beales believe their ` once-in-a-lifetime ' property will make some lucky buyer happy . Mr Beale said that visitors often take as many pictures of the cattle as they do of the structure . ` We 're still trying to figure out exactly how it was made - we always tell people we could n't work it out and just cheated . ' Estate agent for the property , Ron Johnstone , described the expansive site as a unique opportunity . ` We 've had quite a bit of interest , and once we get the subdivision through we may get more offers focused purely on Stonehenge or the beef far , ' Mr Johnstone said . The property offers the best that the South Coast of Western Australia has to offer , combining the two prosperous industries of agriculture and tourism . The beef farm supports Gelbvieh cattle stud and commercial cattle , and boasts abundant pastures which have been well tended to . Advertised as Lot 35 , Merivale , Esperance , the asking price is $ 5 million . The homestead boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms . The two-storey house also offer a spacious living , dining and kitchen area with polished floorboards . ` There are often cows sitting on either side of the road as people drive down . We get hundreds of people walking down the path , especially when cruise ships come through , and they spend as much time taking photos of the cattle as they do of the Stonehenge , ' said Mr Beale . With 4.7 kilometres of road frontage , not to mention rolling coastal views , the Beales believe their ` once-in-a-lifetime ' property will make some lucky buyer happy . The two-storey house also offer a spacious living , dining and kitchen area with polished floorboards . The homestead boasts three bedrooms and two bathrooms , as well as an Australian oak hand rail on twisted steel balustrade.which leads to the family retreat . A wall of glass and in-built balcony captures the coastal views of Esperance Bay , as well as the iconic structure the property is so well known for . The beef farm supports Gelbvieh cattle stud and commercial cattle , and boasts abundant pastures . | A property in Western Australia boasts a life-size replica of Stonehenge . Stonehenge is a ancient edifice constructed of granite stones in a circle . The structure is only 90 metres from the three-bedroom homestead . It has brought in over 30,000 visitors since it opened to tourists in 2010 . The couple bought it as a semi-retirement plan but it 's now a full-time job . ` Esperance Stonehenge ' was valued at $ 5 million when it hit the market . The property also incorporates a successful commercial cattle farm . | [[25, 107], [178, 212], [590, 679], [1103, 1271], [1930, 1983], [1930, 1943], [1988, 2029], [4267, 4322], [4981, 5065], [1599, 1609], [1612, 1660], [1723, 1821], [1778, 1821], [1325, 1366], [1369, 1430], [158, 175], [213, 304], [680, 730], [733, 789], [2553, 2584], [4233, 4266], [4057, 4122], [5291, 5356]] |
Julie Bishop has revealed the heartbreaking moment Myuran Sukumaran 's mother hugged her tightly and begged her to save her son from the firing squad . Lawyers for Bali Nine duo Myuran Sumkumaran and Andrew Chan lost an appeal on Tuesday to challenge Indonesia 's presidential decree to spare the men from execution . The Foreign Minister said while the pair 's lawyers were lodging an appeal , she hoped Indonesia would see the ` value in these men 's lives ' as the federal government seeks a stay of execution . ` My last meeting with Mrs Sukumaran she hugged me so tightly I could hardly breathe , ' Ms Bishop told Nine 's Today show . Scroll down for video . Julie Bishop has revealed the heartbreaking moment Myuran Sukumaran 's mother , Raji , hugged her tightly and begged her to save her drug smuggler son 's life . Lawyers for Bali Nine duo Myuran Sumkumaran and Andrew Chan lost an appeal on Tuesday to challenge Indonesia 's presidential decree to spare the men from execution . ` She begged me to do all I could to save the life of her son whose own life had been rehabilitated in such an extraordinary way . ` No person could fail to be touched by the anguish of the families . ' It comes as a Jakarta court determined on Tuesday it could n't examine Indonesian president Joko Widodo 's decision to refuse clemency for Chan and Sukumaran as they await execution in Bali . Lawyers for the two Australians will appeal the court 's decision not to hear their last-ditch challenge , arguing it would be unthinkable if they were executed in the meantime . Authorities say preparations are being made to move the convicted drug smugglers to the prison island where they are set to face the firing squad , with the move `` very likely '' this week . ` We are very disappointed that the appeal was lost at this point , ' Ms Bishop said . The Foreign Minister said while the pair 's lawyers were lodging an appeal , she hoped Indonesia would see the ` value in these men 's lives ' as the federal government seeks a stay of execution . Myuran Sukumaran 's mother , Raji -LRB- pictured with his siblings Chinthu -LRB- left -RRB- and daughter Brintha -LRB- right -RRB- begged Julie Bishop to save her son 's life as he awaits execution in Bali . ` We continue to appeal to President Joko Widodo 's sense of generosity and his sense of forgiveness and hope that he will consider these clemency pleas and that there will be a stay of execution . ' Ms Bishop said she was n't understating the gravity of their drug crimes , but noted it was 10 years ago and they had made efforts to rehabilitate with Chan now a priest and Sukumaran being an accomplished artist . ` Both men have been rehabilitated in the most remarkable way . They are adding value to prison life in that they are working with other prisoners . ` They are rehabilitating other prisoners and helping Indonesia with this whole process of rehabilitating people , such as drug offenders . ' Todong Mulya Lubis , the pair 's lawyer , said that their legal team would appeal the judge 's decision after court ruled it could n't examine Indonesian president Joko Widodo 's decision to refuse clemency . Lawyers for Andrew Chan -LRB- left -RRB- and Myuran Sukumaran -LRB- right -RRB- will challenge the presidential decree that denied them clemency in a Jakarta court . Lawyers for the Bali Nine duo now have 14 days to lodge an appeal , according to one of their lawyers Peter Morrissey . ' -LRB- Indonesia -RRB- have a court system , they have a rule of law and when you have the rule of law it stands to reason that you just do n't execute the people who are litigating , ' Mr Morrissey said . ` So what we think will happen is that the Indonesian executive will likely cooperate with the rule of law and act in accordance with it and not do anything drastic unless all legal impediments really are removed . And right now there is a live appeal on foot . ` We are very hopeful about it , you know . We are not going to give up . Even if we had no hope we would n't give up . But we do have hope because the argument is a sensible good argument . ' Advisers to Indonesia 's President Joko Widodo -LRB- pictured -RRB- say he should get the executions over and done with . It 's a rare challenge , and the only one like it was brought by an anti-drugs group against the decision to grant clemency to another Australian drug smuggler , Schapelle Corby . Lawyers for the pair argued in court that the Indonesian president did not follow due process when he denied the Bali Nine pair clemency . They claimed that President Joko did not consider their circumstances because the pair were death row drug offenders . The only other case ever deemed to be outside the realm of the court was brought against fellow Australian Schapelle Corby . When the same challenge was brought by an anti-drugs group against the decision to grant clemency to the convicted drug smuggler in 2012 , the court ruled that it had no power to overturn presidential decrees . The 37-year-old is now free on parole . Authorities say it 's ` very likely ' the Bali Nine duo will this week be relocated to the island where Indonesia plans to execute them . Ms Bishop said she was n't understating the gravity of their drug crimes , but noted it was 10 years ago and they had made efforts to rehabilitate with Chan now a priest and Sukumaran being an accomplished artist . Ms Bishop said both men have been rehabilitated in the most remarkable way and were helping to rehabilitate other prisoners in Bali . Reports from the Indonesian government indicate that the duo will be transported via military planes to Nusakambangan penal island . It has not been confirmed whether the government will use a Hercules plane which will mean a journey by both air and land for the pair , or the smaller airforce fighter jets which can land directly on the island . Four jets from Denpasar airport have the capacity to land in the regency of Cilacap , where Nusakambangan is located , and would take an estimated three hours to fly the 900 kilometres from Bali to the island where the Australians are scheduled to be executed . If the Indonesian government made the decision to deploy a Hercules from Densapar , where the pair are being held , to Yokyakarta , the former capital in East Java , Chan and Sukumaran would then have a four-hour road journey to reach the Cilacap port to be ferried to Nusakambangan Island . Chan and Sukumaran were to be transferred from their Bali jail cells to the island last week , but it was found to have inadequate isolation cells . Indonesian Attorney General HM Prasetyo on Monday said preparations were now ` about 80 per cent ' complete . Construction materials have been arriving on the island and a jail official has said there are orders to accelerate the works for completion within days . The ` death island ' prison boss Ahmad Yuspahruddin -LRB- pictured -RRB- is prepared to execute Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran saying everything was ready . 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 . | Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran lost an appeal on Tuesday to spare drug smuggler 's from execution . Lawyers for Bali Nine duo now have 14 days to lodge an appeal in court . Julie Bishop says she hopes Indonesia will see value in their lives . Foreign Minister continues to appeal to President Joko Widodo to give Chan and Sukumaran stay of execution . Authorities say preparations are being made to move the convicted drug smugglers to the prison island to face firing squad . | [[152, 317], [825, 990], [2955, 2973], [2997, 3142], [3330, 3395], [318, 460], [1844, 1986], [0, 12], [101, 151], [2251, 2253], [2354, 2446], [1565, 1666], [1649, 1710], [5135, 5145], [5152, 5185], [5535, 5667]] |
The Duke of Cambridge today admitted that he is a fan of the BBC show Dragons ' Den as he awarded businessman and former panelist James Caan a CBE . James Caan , who visited the palace today to receive the honour , said it was ` amazing ' to meet William and admitted he was thrilled to find out that the prince was a regular viewer . William was making his final UK appearance at the investiture ceremony ahead of his visit to China and Japan , with the Prince set to fly to Tokyo on Thursday . James Caan received a CBE at Buckingham Palace today that was presented to him by Prince William who admitted that he was a fan of Dragons Den . The business mogul received a CBE for services to entrepreneurship and charitable services through his James Caan Foundation . James , 54 , who was born in Pakistan but moved to the UK aged two and now resides in London , said : ` He said to me `` we miss you on Dragons ' Den '' ' . It is not clear who the ` we ' refers to but it suggest that the Duke might enjoy the show with his wife the Duchess of Cambridge , Kate - unless of course it is the royal ` we ' . The entrepreneur added that it was a delight to meet the Prince and it served as a reminder of the importance of British heritage . He said : ` It was amazing to meet the Duke . He is just so charming . ' When James met the Duke of Cambridge he told James that ` We miss you on Dragons ' Den ' . Pictured : The dragons in 2010 -LRB- left to right -RRB- Duncan Bannatyne , Deborah Meaden , Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis . James continued : ' I just adore the British history and culture and the whole formality of today . ` We should treasure this in this country . ' The entrepreneur was one of the formidable judges on the BBC television programme from 2007 until 2010 . And the former dragon says he is still struck by some of the more outlandish inventions pitched to him on the show . ' I remember a couple who came on the show because they felt married couples do n't get a good night 's sleep because the woman moves over to the husband or vice versa . ` They felt the way to solve that issue was to invent a white sheet with a black line down the middle . ' I thought , why do n't you just use a ruler ? ` It 's a good reminder of some of the crazy ideas you get in the den . ' Hanah -LRB- left -RRB- and Jemma Caan , stand with their father James Caan , as he holds his Commander of the Order of the British Empire -LRB- CBE -RRB- outside Buckingham Palace . Despite leaving the show five years ago James revealed that , like William , he tunes in to Dragons ' Den regularly . And the entrepreneur is looking forward to seeing the new judging line-up after panelists Duncan Bannatyne and Kelly Hoppen announced their departure from the show . He said : ' I think it 's good to change things and dragons . Once you have been on the show for a while it becomes bland because you can anticipate each other . ` Any time a new dragon comes in it makes it more edgy . ' The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge often like to spend time at home watching television when not undertaking official duties . In the past , the royal couple has revealed themselves to be fans of the TV dramas Homeland and Downton Abbey , as well as the ITV talent show X Factor . Nikki Gewirtz was one of the honorees at Buckingham Palace today . The Duke of Cambridge was on cheerful form today as he took part in an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace . Resplendent in a gold-braided uniform , the 32-year-old smiled broadly as he welcomed honorees to the Palace , among them Nikki Gewirtz , the 44-year-old founder of jewellery brand , Lola Rose . Ms Gewirtz , whose pieces are a favourite with the Duchess of Cambridge as well as numerous celebrities , joins an exclusive club of designers honoured by the Palace , most famously Vivienne Westwood and Alice Temperley . Speaking to MailOnline , Gewirtz says she was ` absolutely delighted and humbled ' to spot her name on the New Year 's Honours list , which also included actresses Joan Collins and Sheridan Smith . ' I am absolutely delighted and humbled , ' said the ecstatic designer . ` The fashion industry has been incredibly supportive and to be joining the ranks of such eminent talent is an honour . ' Now Gewirtz , who was presented with an MBE , is hoping her unexpected success will encourage other budding designers to follow in her footsteps . ' I believe that we must celebrate British designers , ' she explains . ` We have some of the finest in the world . ` It 's the ability to think outside the box and break rules that results in the extraordinary and as a nation , we shine at turning things on their head and coming up with something unique . ' Among the designers to have honours bestowed on them in recent years are Betty Jackson who in 1987 was handed an MBE and in 2007 a CBE . Alice Temperley and Anya Hindmarch have both been handed gongs , as has Vivienne Westwood who turned up to collect her MBE in 1992 wearing no knickers beneath her dress . She repeated the trick for a second time in 2006 when she was invited to Buckingham Palace to collect a Damehood from Prince Charles . Luckily for the Duke of Cambridge , Gehwirtz had no such inclinations and the investiture ceremony , which is usually done by the Queen or Prince Charles , passed off smoothly . On Thursday , the prince will fly to Tokyo for the start of a six-day tour that will also take him , for the first time , to Beijing . During his visit , which will involve a trip on one of Japan 's legendary bullet trains , he will be introduced to his Japanese opposite number - Prince Hisahito of Akishino . The meeting is not expected to be particularly formal , however , as Prince Hisahito is just eight years old . After Japan , he will travel on to China where he will visit Beijing and Shanghai . BY RUTH STYLES . | James Caan was awarded a CBE today at Buckingham Palace . Duke of Cambridge told the businessman ` We miss you on Dragons ' Den ' James said it was an honour to meet the ` charming ' Prince William . | [[496, 542], [522, 548], [554, 592], [3377, 3439], [0, 83], [872, 911], [889, 920], [1311, 1397], [1369, 1397], [149, 159], [215, 267], [1106, 1173], [1238, 1245], [1250, 1283]] |
The United States is probing major banks over possible manipulation of precious metals markets , it has been reported . The investigation centers on prices for gold , silver , platinum and palladium . It is being carried out by the Justice Department with help from Commodity Futures Trading Commission , which regulates raw materials and derivatives . The banks probed by the US government over possible manipulation of precious metals markets include HSBC , Bank of Nova Scotia , Barclays , Credit Suisse , Deutsche Bank , Goldman Sachs , J.P. Morgan , Societe Generale , Standard Bank and UBS . The banks targeted are HSBC , Bank of Nova Scotia , Barclays , Credit Suisse , Deutsche Bank , Goldman Sachs , J.P. Morgan , Societe Generale , Standard Bank and UBS , according to the Wall Street Journal . The probes are at the preliminary stage , but HSBC , in releasing yearly results Monday , noted requests from the Justice Department and the CFTC over the precious metals probe , the Journal said . HSBC was one of several banks named in lawsuits filed in U.S. courts last year alleging a conspiracy to manipulate gold , silver , platinum and palladium prices , as well as precious metals derivatives , during the daily precious metals fixes . The century-old gold fix is a standard price for the metal that banks set twice a day over the phone . Some gold traders claim they were harmed by a scheme to manipulate the fix . The banks operating the precious metals benchmarks , known as the fixes , said last year they would no longer administer that process . The investigation centers on prices for gold , silver , platinum and palladium . It is being carried out by the Justice Department with help from Commodity Futures Trading Commission . An electronic daily silver price benchmark is now administered by Thomson Reuters and CME Group , while the London Metal Exchange provides twice-daily benchmark platinum and palladium prices . ICE Benchmark Administration will run an electronic gold price benchmark from March 20 to replace the London gold fix . Switzerland 's financial watchdog said in November it had found a ` clear attempt ' to manipulate precious metals price benchmarks . An investigation by German regulator Bafin found no signs of attempted benchmark price manipulation in precious metals , newspaper Handelsblatt reported last month . HSBC is currently mired in a scandal surrounding allegations that the bank helped wealthy clients dodge taxes . It said past practices at its Swiss private bank were ` unacceptable ' as it reported that 2014 net income fell 16 percent to $ 13.7 billion . HSBC acknowledged Monday that 2014 profits ` disappointed ' and said the figures included the costs of paying settlements to cover past failings . These include $ 550million the bank set aside last year to cover penalties for manipulating foreign currency markets . | Investigation centers on prices for gold , silver , platinum and palladium . The banks being probed include scandal-hit HSBC , Barclays and UBS . HSBC mired in allegations it helped wealthy clients dodge taxes . Swiss watchdog said it found ` clear attempt ' to manipulate benchmarks . | [[120, 200], [1082, 1204], [1564, 1644], [0, 94], [353, 597], [598, 763], [1003, 1032], [2361, 2378], [2385, 2397], [2361, 2365], [2369, 2409], [2361, 2378], [2385, 2397], [2361, 2365], [2369, 2409], [2388, 2472], [2104, 2194]] |
A Chinese woman was kept in a filthy shed and ` treated like an animal ' after her parents locked her up because they did not approve of her boyfriend , it has been claimed . Zhang Qi , 24 , was allegedly forced into the dilapidated building in Jingang in central China 's Hubei province , after her mother and father ordered her to split up with her lover in 2009 . Despite being told the relationship was over , she tried several times to run away - but her parents told everybody she was mentally ill and being locked up for her own protection , a villager said . Zhang Qi -LRB- pictured -RRB- was kept in a filthy shed and ` treated like an animal ' after her parents locked her up because they did not approve of her boyfriend , it has been claimed . The 24-year-old was allegedly forced into the dilapidated building -LRB- pictured -RRB- in Jingang in central China 's Hubei province , after her mother and father ordered her to split up with her lover in 2009 . Chow Jen , 50 , said : ` Her parents are powerful people here and everyone was told not to interfere . ` Everyone knew about the girl in the house . I moved away and only come back to visit occasionally so I do n't care about their threats , and that 's why I was happy to expose these pictures online after the local authorities refused to do anything . ' He said they had claimed that she was mentally unstable and locking her up was for her own good - and that villagers then forced themselves into pretending it was not their business . There has been no official comment on the claims or on the current status of the young woman since the images were posted . Villager Chow Jen said she visited Zhang Qi and found her lying on a pile of straw before posting pictures online . But many copies have been removed by Chinese censors without reason being specified , it has been reported . Chow Jen said : ` Every time I came back for Chinese New Year I went to visit her secretly . ` On my latest visit though I saw her lying on a pile of straw with a couple of blankets and some food around her and I just decided enough was enough . ` Whether what they say about her having mental problems is true or not , she is being treated like an animal here and I 'm sick of it so I contacted the police , and then posted the images online . ' | Zhang Qi kept in shed in China 's Hubei province since 2009 , it is claimed . Allegedly locked away after parents ordered her to split up with boyfriend . The 24-year-old 's parents ` told villagers that their daughter was mentally ill ' Pictures exposed by villager who said Qi was being ` treated like an animal ' | [[0, 47], [153, 174], [175, 183], [186, 188], [191, 287], [567, 628], [734, 755], [798, 889], [296, 366], [898, 968], [456, 546], [1326, 1509], [1334, 1481], [2120, 2161], [46, 70], [73, 90], [549, 566], [627, 651], [654, 671], [2179, 2239]] |
In today 's selfie-obsessed world , one motorist has perhaps taken the desire to chronicle every moment of life to a new low . Andrew Mac appeared to smile through the pain as he set his phone up to record as he was cut free from the twisted metal of his car . The young Canadian found himself trapped in the mangled wreckage of his vehicle with broken bones after he blacked-out , slewed off the road and slammed into a lamppost . While the bloodied and battered driver waited for emergency workers to free him from the crash he directed the camera on his face . Scroll down for video . Motorist Andrew Mac smiled through the pain as rescuers attempted to cut him free from the twisted metal of his car . Mr Mac managed to pull faces and even make jokes while fire fighter using cutting equipment , known as the jaws of life , worked to free him . During the two-and-a-half minute clip that he posted online the disorientated driver said : ` Why could n't I hit on the passenger side ? ' One paramedics could be heard offering words of encouragement , ` Buddy you are doing really really good , ' as Mr Mac commented on the bright lights . The same paramedic can also be heard telling the injured motorist : ` The hot nurses are going to be all over you . ' Moments later Mr Mac , who was wearing a neck brace , calmly tells the emergency worker that he can not feel his legs and says he just wants to go to sleep . As rescuers get closer to Mr Mac they can be seen over his shoulder as they cut away the crumpled metal . Andrew Mac suffered several broken bones after his car slewed off the road and slammed into a lamppost . On his YouTube channel he explains that the accident happened when he ` blacked out ' behind the wheel at 5.30 am after spending the night in Victoria , British Colombia . Mr Mac was driving through nearby Duncan when he careered into the lamppost at 60kmp -LRB- 40mph -RRB- with the drivers side of the vehicle taking the worst of the impact . He suffered a broken right arm , broken left femur , broken knee cap and two broken ankles . ` Went for major surgery in Victoria which took total 14 hours over a couple days , ' he revealed on the video sharing site . ` Metal plates and screws all over . Spent a month in hospital . Only one hot nurse . But I 'm home now . And recovering quickly . ' Since he posted the video showing the aftermath of the crash on January 11 , on the sharing site it has been viewed more than 36,000 times . | Injured motorist filmed emergency works cutting him out of mangled car . Driver blacked out , slewed off road and slammed into a lamppost . Accident happened as he drove home from Victoria in British Colombia . Andrew Mac suffered five broken bones and needed major surgery . He spent over a month in hospital after filming this video . | [[183, 260], [588, 705], [261, 379], [261, 279], [380, 392], [382, 388], [406, 431], [1523, 1627], [1543, 1627], [1523, 1533], [1602, 1627], [1628, 1778], [1800, 1939], [1523, 1627], [1543, 1627], [2066, 2102], [2229, 2256]] |
A teenage boy has been arrested after teachers found he had a 15in Rambo-style knife in class . The knife , which has a 10in blade - one side razor sharp and the other serrated - was allegedly found in the 15-year-old boy 's bag yesterday at an unnamed school in Croydon , south London . Sergeant Matt Smith , who works as a neighbourhood officer in the Fieldway area of Croydon , posted a photograph of the huge knife and its holster online earlier this week . Huge blade : The knife , which has a 10in blade - one side razor sharp and the other serrated - was found in the boy 's bag yesterday at an unnamed school in Croydon , south London . Under the image , Sgt Smith wrote on Twitter just after 8pm on Monday : ` The team have charged a teenager for taking this knife into school . He awaits court appearance . ' Sgt Smith did not reveal the school 's name . The teenager was charged under section 139A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 for possession of an offensive weapon on school premises . A Metropolitan Police spokesman said : ` Police were called on February 3 to a school in Croydon to reports that staff had confiscated a knife from a student . Officers attended and seized the knife . ` A 15-year-old boy from Croydon was arrested the following day and was bailed for further enquiries . ` He was charged on February 21 with possession of an offensive weapon on school premises and was bailed to appear at Croydon Youth Court on April 2 . ' People found guilty of the offence upon conviction at a magistrates ' court can face a fine or six months in jail , or both . At a crown court , the jail term can go up to four years or a fine , or both . Arrest : Sergeant Matt Smith -LRB- pictured -RRB- , who works as a neighbourhood officer in the Fieldway area of Croydon , posted a photograph of the huge knife and its holster online last night . In one 11-day period last year there were six stabbings in Croydon , with knife arches being brought into a number of the borough 's senior schools in an attempt to combat the problem . Eliza Rebeiro , founder of the Croydon-based organisation Lives Not Knives , told MailOnline : ` There needs to be more support in schools for young people but specific support for teachers . ' She added : ` The whole community needs to work towards preventing such things from happening . We do not know if this young person was being bullied or actually intended to use the knife . ' Tracey Ford , who launched the Jags Foundation after her son 's murder , added : ` We are coming up against youth-on-youth violence very , very regularly in Croydon and other parts of London . ` More and more incidents are happening but they are not fatal and they are not being reported . Young people are being stabbed every day . ' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article . | Huge knife has 10in blade - one side razor sharp and the other serrated . It was found in boy 's bag at unnamed school in Croydon , south London . Sergeant Matt Smith posted photo of knife and holster online last night . | [[96, 105], [114, 176], [475, 484], [493, 555], [533, 555], [558, 585], [158, 176], [179, 228], [533, 555], [558, 585], [288, 307], [381, 461], [1663, 1669], [1672, 1697], [1786, 1859]] |
His many decades of entertaining on stage and screen have earned Sir Bruce Forsyth a considerable fortune . And with six children , nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren , it 's no surprise the entertainer , 87 , wants to be able to share as much of the wealth with them as possible . But while he may be known more for his light-hearted banter than political commentary , the former Strictly Come Dancing host has revealed his frustration at the amount that will be taken from his estate in inheritance tax , describing it as ' a bit over the top ' . Sir Bruce stands with wife Wilnelia , his daughters Laura -LRB- left -RRB- and Charlotte and son Jonathan after he was knighted by the Queen . Sir Bruce , pictured with daughters Debbie -LRB- left -RRB- and Julie -LRB- right -RRB- , says inheritance tax is ' a bit over the top ' Sir Bruce , who has a keen interest in politics and once revealed he tapes Prime Minister 's Questions each week , also told the Radio Times : ' I think your inheritance should go to your children more than back to the country that you 've lived in . ` I 'm not saying you do n't owe the country something , of course you owe your country a lot for living there all those years . But I think it can be a bit over the top . ' Sir Bruce 's company , Bruce Forsyth Enterprises , is worth # 5.7 million and he lives in a house near London worth an estimated # 4million . His estate would be exempt from inheritance tax if he leaves everything to his third wife , former Miss World Wilnelia Merced , 57 , who is the mother of his only son , JJ . The entertainer had three daughters -- Debbie , Julie and Laura -- with his first wife Penny Calvert , a former dancer with whom he split in 1973 . That year , Sir Bruce married Anthea Redfern , his hostess on The Generation Game . The couple had two daughters , Charlotte and Louisa , but their six-year marriage ended following allegations of infidelity . The entertainer - pictured with daughters Julie -LRB- left -RRB- and Louisa -LRB- right -RRB- in 2006 - has a company worth # 5.7 million and a house worth # 4million . Sir Bruce was pictured with his wife , first wife , six children , eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren on Mother 's Day 2009 . Below , key to who is who . In the interview , Sir Bruce declined to say which political party he supports . But he described David Cameron as ` the most pleasant man ' who has ` done a good job ' . He also used the interview to hit out at reality TV , saying he was tired of the format . He said : ' I have had enough of it . I do n't know how long it 's been going on but it 's probably well over 10 years . ' He added : ` I 'd like to see performers playing together , having fun together , entertaining together , instead of this thing that we 're caught up in . ' Sir Bruce quit Strictly - although he still presents one-off specials - after 11 series and a decade in the job . ' I was beginning to feel a bit stale . It 's an awful thing to feel as a performer , that you 're not enjoying it as much as you should do and you 're not giving as much as you could , ' he said . Sir Bruce -LRB- pictured left in 1977 and right in 2013 -RRB- declined to say which political party he supports . But he described David Cameron as ` the most pleasant man ' who has ` done a good job ' His estate would be exempt from inheritance tax if he leaves everything to his third wife , former Miss World Wilnelia Merced , 57 , who is the mother of his only son , JJ . He said of the show 's rival , The X Factor : ' I do n't watch it because they have singer after singer after singer after singer ... and then , after that , they have another singer . ` That , to me , is n't entertainment . It 's a very good show , it 's produced very , very well and I 'm all for giving young people a chance to become big names , but I want more in two hours of entertainment than only singing . ' The veteran star is returning to the stage - the London Palladium - with his one man show as part of a three-leg tour in the spring . Asked if going on stage felt better than sex , he replied : ` Well , it 's pretty close . ' Sir Bruce , who has vowed not to retire , also gave his thoughts on death , saying : ` As I get nearer to it I fear it less because with the tiredness one gets at times , you think , ` Is it just like having a nice long sleep ? ' I would n't say I fear it . ' I think I 'll be completely at peace when it does happen to me because I 've been so lucky . I 've had a wonderful career . ' And he said on immigration : ` It should benefit the country , whatever decision is made . It needs sorting out . ' The former Strictly Come Dancing host , pictured with fellow presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly . | Entertainer , 87 , also has nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren . Wants to be able to share as much of the wealth with them as possible . He is frustrated at amount due to be taken from estate in inheritance tax . Sir Bruce , who lives in # 4m house , described levy as ' a bit over the top ' | [[183, 200], [224, 295], [384, 464], [451, 518], [384, 394], [521, 558], [706, 715], [796, 840], [1227, 1265], [2046, 2110]] |
It 's a source of sadness to grandparents everywhere -- their teenage grandchildren do n't spend enough time with them . And it appears that even fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood , 73 , is n't immune . Dame Vivienne -- once the first lady of punk -- said she was disappointed that her 17-year-old granddaughter Cora Corré had failed to call or see her . She said Miss Corré had missed her fashion show at the weekend so she could go on a skiing holiday instead . Scroll down for video . Dame Vivienne Westwood -LRB- right -RRB- said her granddaughter Cora Corre -LRB- left -RRB- missed her fashion show to go skiing , pictured at the designer 's Red Label catwalk show last year . Asked about the young model , who made her London Fashion Week debut last year , Miss Westwood revealed Miss Corré had not ` kept in touch ' . She added : ' I am very disappointed . I think she is wasting her opportunity . She should use me . I 'll be dead and she will think , ` What was that woman talking about ? ' It is not the first time Dame Vivienne has publicly criticised her granddaughter . In an interview recently she said : ` She 's a beautiful girl , but I wish she would use it to stand for something . I would also like to see more of her . She 's teenager , she 's busy . ' The designer with models on the catwalk during her London Fashion week show on Sunday . Daisy Lowe on the catwalk during the Vivienne Westwood Red Label show in Kensington on Sunday . And she said she hoped her granddaughter would ask to read her diary . She said : ' I think my diary is a point of view you would n't get anywhere else . I am trying to understand the world we live in . I think she could get a lot from it . ' Miss Corré is the child of Agent Provocateur founders Joe Corré , Dame Vivienne 's son with the late Malcolm McLaren , and his ex-wife Serena Rees . The couple sold the lingerie chain following their divorce in 2007 . Miss Corré , who went to the progressive boarding school Bedales with fellow model Cara Delevingne , made her catwalk debut aged just four in one of her grandmother 's fashion shows . She was signed by Next Models last summer , and in September she took a bow with Dame Vivienne at the close of her grandmother 's Red Label show . | Vivienne Westwood is ` disappointed ' grandchild does not call or see her . She said model Cora Corré missed her London Fashion week show . The 17-year-old model chose to go skiing and did not ` keep in touch ' Fashion designer said she thinks Cora is ` wasting her opportunity ' | [[209, 222], [257, 360], [831, 840], [845, 869], [209, 222], [257, 360], [361, 423], [499, 604], [580, 622], [209, 222], [257, 360], [769, 826], [870, 910], [878, 910]] |
One of Britain 's most powerful independent politicians ` would n't know the truth if it slapped him in the face , ' an electoral fraud trial heard today . Mayor of Tower Hamlets Lutfur Rahman , 49 , faced the claim at the High Court after he branded a Labour opponent ` institutionally racist ' - despite the ` institution ' being one man . Rahman is in his second term in the deprived East London borough , where critics claim voters were intimidated , opponents were smeared and ballot papers were forged in last year 's election . Scroll down for video . Row : Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman -LRB- left -RRB- told the High Court Labour opponent John Biggs -LRB- right -RRB- was ` institutionally racist ' - but a barrister told him : ` You would n't know the truth if it slapped you in the face ' Historic : The High Court is hearing the rare electoral trial , which could result in a new election , mayor Rahman being suspended or banned from office or completely exonerated . The claims led four voters to force a rare electoral fraud trial against Rahman at London 's High Court , where he denies all the allegations against him . If commissioner Richard Mawrey QC finds allegations of corruption proved , he has the power to declare the election void . Case : Lutfur Rahman is facing a litany of allegations in a rare High Court electoral fraud trial . Today a row erupted as Rahman was asked whether he stood by comments he made about John Biggs , his former colleague in the Labour party who became a rival after Rahman left . He attacked Mr Biggs , 57 , as being ` institutionally racist ' after he said in 2013 that the Mayor was biased in favour of the Bangladeshi community . The London Assembly member had told the BBC : ` All of the Mayor 's Cabinet are Bangladeshi and his primary policy focus has been the concerns of one community , the Bangladeshi community ' . Rahman said the comments were ` outrageous ' and maintained the East End community had been in uproar - despite being unable to cite any specific examples . The court heard his campaign manager , Alibor Choudhury , issued a press release the following February which claimed Mr Biggs was ` Dividing the East End ' and insinuated he was a racist . Rahman repeatedly avoided giving direct answers about whether he felt Mr Biggs was a racist , until Commissioner Mr Mawrey , a deputy High Court judge , intervened . The judge asked : ` Is it your view that Mr Biggs is a racist ? ' Rahman replied : ` What I would say , my Lord , is racism comes in various forms . ` There is direct racism and indirect racism , institutional racism . ' The judge repeated the question , to which Rahman replied , ` My personal view is that he is institutionally racist ' . The judge was left baffled and replied : ' I do n't think an individual person can be institutionally racist ' . Francis Hoar , for the voters who have brought the case , agreed - saying : ' A human being ca n't be an institution , its as simple as that ' . Pressed again , Rahman said , ` What I would say , my Lord , is racism comes in various forms , various forms . ` He is not a racist in the sense of skinheads , Dr Martens , cropped hair et cetera . ` He is a highly intelligent person , but racism can also come in very subtle forms . ' Both forms of racism cause ` the same devastation ' , the mayor added . Victory : Rahman after his first election win in 2010 . He won another vote against Labour last May . But Mr Hoar said to Rahman , ` You have done nothing but lie . You would n't know the truth if it slapped you in the face . ' Rahman spoke directly to the judge , responding , ` My future is in the hands of my Lordship ' . He said he would not ` throw away ' his future by lying . The trial has been brought by four petitioners , Tower Hamlets residents Andrew Erlam , Debbie Simone , Azmal Hussein and Angela Moffat . Mayor Rahman denies any wrongdoing . The trial continues . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article . | UK 's first elected Muslim mayor is subject of a rare electoral fraud trial . Critics say votes were forged and voters bullied on east London patch . Rahman in High Court row today over comments about rival John Biggs . 49-year-old insisted his Labour opponent was ` institutionally racist ' But baffled judge replied : ' I do n't think an individual person can be ' | [[117, 155], [815, 904], [985, 1088], [1271, 1363], [415, 452], [482, 534], [156, 192], [200, 270], [1424, 1457], [156, 192], [200, 270], [251, 270], [287, 293], [306, 341], [669, 709], [1540, 1560], [1568, 1612], [1540, 1542], [1568, 1601], [1604, 1634], [2203, 2231], [2416, 2461], [2547, 2616], [2662, 2676], [2679, 2734], [2739, 2765], [2739, 2748], [2770, 2777], [2782, 2847]] |
Alaska has become the third U.S. state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana . This follows a vote last November which saw an 53-47 outcome in favour of legalizing marijuana use by adults in private places . Smoking marijuana in public remains illegal , and police officers in the state 's largest city , Anchorage , have been told to remain vigilant . High five : Alaska Cannabis Club CEO Charlo Greene , who famously quit her job as a journalist on live TV last year to support the cause , smokes a joint at the medical marijuana dispensary in Anchorage , Alaska . As of Tuesday , adult Alaskans can keep and use marijuana as well as transport , grow and give it away . A second phase , creating a regulated and taxed marijuana market , will not start until 2016 at the earliest . Alaskans caught smoking weed in public can expect a $ 100 fine , but the full details regarding what constitutes a violation has yet to be ironed out . Lawmakers have left the question to the alcohol regulatory board , which is planning planned to meet early today to discuss an emergency response . In the meantime , communities across the state have adopted different standards of what constitutes ` smoking in public ' . Green day : Adult Alaskans can now use marijuana as well as transport , grow and give it away , but smoking in public remains illegal . Celebrating : Peter Lomonaco , co-founder of the Alaska Cannabis Club , and CEO Charlo Greene roll a joint at their medical marijuana dispensary in Anchorage , Alaska . Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew said his officers will be strictly enforcing the public smoking ban . He even warned people against smoking on their porches if they live next to a park . Further north , in North Pole , smoking outdoors on private property will be OK as long as it does not create a nuisance , officials there said . The newly formed Alaska Cannabis Club , which is having its grand opening on Tuesday in downtown Anchorage , is , unsurprisingly , celebrating the new law with a joint . Its CEO , former television reporter Charlo Greene who famously quit her job with a four-letter walkoff on live television last year to devote her efforts to passing the initiative , is promising to give away weed to paying ` medical marijuana ' patients and other ` club members . ' Meanwhile , Alaska Native leaders worry that legalization will bring new temptations to communities already confronting high rates of drug and alcohol abuse , domestic violence and suicide . Violation : The full details regarding what constitutes ` smoking in public ' has yet to be ironed out so different areas of the state has interpreted the law differently -LRB- pictured is the Alaska Cannabis Club in Anchorage -RRB- . ` When they start depending on smoking marijuana , I do n't know how far they 'd go to get the funds they need to support it , to support themselves , ' said Edward Nick , council member in Manokotak , a remote village of 400 that is predominantly Yup ` ik Eskimo . Both alcohol and drug use are prohibited in Nick 's village 350 miles southwest of Anchorage , even inside the privacy of villagers ' homes . But Nick fears that the initiative , in combination with a 1975 state Supreme Court decision that legalized marijuana use inside homes -- could open doors to drug abuse . Initiative backers promised Native leaders that communities could still have local control under certain conditions . Alaska law gives every community the option to regulate alcohol locally . From northern Barrow to Klawock , 1,291 miles away in southeast Alaska , 108 communities impose local limits on alcohol , and 33 of them ban it altogether . But the initiative did not provide clear opt-out language for tribal councils and other smaller communities , forcing each one to figure out how to proceed Tuesday . | As of Tuesday , recreational use of marijuana is legal in Alaska . Adult Alaskans can now use , transport , grow and give away weed . Smoking marijuana in public remains illegal across the state . | [[1215, 1224], [1227, 1249], [1254, 1284], [1215, 1224], [1227, 1263], [1215, 1224], [1227, 1249], [1254, 1284], [1215, 1224], [1227, 1263], [216, 259], [1227, 1241], [1315, 1350]] |
It is one of the most unlikely links on Earth . A new Nasa satellite has revealed the stunning link between the Sahara desert and the Amazon rainforest . For the first time it showed vast dust clouds travelling high in the atmosphere . Scroll down for video . Nasa 's Calipso collects ` curtains ' of data that show valuable information about the altitude of dust layers in the atmosphere . The data show that wind and weather pick up on average 182 million tons of dust each year and carry it past the western edge of the Sahara at longitude 15W . This volume is the equivalent of 689,290 semi trucks filled with dust . The dust then travels 1,600 miles across the Atlantic Ocean , though some drops to the surface or is flushed from the sky by rain . Near the eastern coast of South America , at longitude 35W , 132 million tons remain in the air , and 27.7 million tons -- enough to fill 104,908 semi trucks -- fall to the surface over the Amazon basin . About 43 million tons of dust travel farther to settle out over the Caribbean Sea , past longitude 75W . Scientists have not only measured the volume of dust , they have also calculated how much phosphorus -- remnant in Saharan sands from part of the desert 's past as a lake bed -- gets carried across the ocean from one of the planet 's most desolate places to one of its most fertile . ` This is a small world , ' said said lead author Hongbin Yu , an atmospheric scientist at the University of Maryland who works at NASA 's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt , Maryland . ` And we 're all connected together . ' A new paper published Feb. 24 in Geophysical Research Letters , a journal of the American Geophysical Union , provides the first satellite-based estimate of this phosphorus transport over multiple years . A second paper published online by Yu and colleagues Jan. 8 in Remote Sensing of the Environment provided the first multi-year satellite estimate of overall dust transport from the Sahara to the Amazon . It is the first time a Nasa satellite has quantified in three dimensions how much dust makes this trans-Atlantic journey . This trans-continental journey of dust is important because of what is in the dust , Yu said . Specifically the dust picked up from the Bodélé Depression in Chad , an ancient lake bed where rock minerals composed of dead microorganisms are loaded with phosphorus . Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant proteins and growth , which the Amazon rain forest depends on in order to flourish . Nutrients -- the same ones found in commercial fertilizers -- are in short supply in Amazonian soils . Instead they are locked up in the plants themselves . Fallen , decomposing leaves and organic matter provide the majority of nutrients , which are rapidly absorbed by plants and trees after entering the soil . The data show that wind and weather pick up on average 182 million tons of dust each year and carry it past the western edge of the Sahara at longitude 15W . But some nutrients , including phosphorus , are washed away by rainfall into streams and rivers , draining from the Amazon basin like a slowly leaking bathtub . The phosphorus that reaches Amazon soils from Saharan dust , an estimated 22,000 tons per year , is about the same amount as that lost from rain and flooding , Yu said . The finding is part of a bigger research effort to understand the role of dust and aerosols in the environment and on local and global climate . ` We know that dust is very important in many ways . It is an essential component of the Earth system . ` Dust will affect climate and , at the same time , climate change will affect dust , ' said Yu . This volume is the equivalent of 689,290 semi trucks filled with dust . The new dust transport estimates were derived from data collected by a lidar instrument on NASA 's Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation , or CALIPSO , satellite from 2007 though 2013 . Yu and colleagues focused on the Saharan dust transport across the Atlantic Ocean to South America and then beyond to the Caribbean Sea because it is the largest transport of dust on the planet . Dust collected from the Bodélé Depression and from ground stations on Barbados and in Miami give scientists an estimate of the proportion of phosphorus in Saharan dust . CALIPSO collects ` curtains ' of data that show valuable information about the altitude of dust layers in the atmosphere . CALIPSO sends out 20 laser pulses every second , and each is only 20 billionths of a second long . Knowing the height at which dust travels is important for understanding , and eventually using computers to model , where that dust will go and how the dust will interact with Earth 's heat balance and clouds , now and in future climate scenarios . This estimate is used to calculate how much phosphorus gets deposited in the Amazon basin from this dust transport . Looking at the data year by year shows that that pattern is actually highly variable . There was an 86 percent change between the highest amount of dust transported in 2007 and the lowest in 2011 , Yu said . ` Wind currents are different at different altitudes , ' said Trepte . ` This is a step forward in providing the understanding of what dust transport looks like in three dimensions , and then comparing with these models that are being used for climate studies . ' Climate studies range in scope from global to regional changes , such as those that may occur in the Amazon in coming years . In addition to dust , the Amazon is home to many other types of aerosols like smoke from fires and biological particles , such as bacteria , fungi , pollen , and spores released by the plants themselves . In the future , Yu and his colleagues plan to explore the effects of those aerosols on local clouds -- and how they are influenced by dust from Africa . | Nasa satellite took 3D readings of dust clouds travelling . Cloud rises in the air and ties together the desert and the jungle . Wind and weather pick up on average 182 million tons of dust each year . Dust is rich in nutrients which help fertilise the forests . | [[154, 235], [183, 235], [1989, 2111], [1995, 2061], [48, 153], [183, 235], [391, 548], [410, 480], [410, 426], [485, 548], [2821, 2978], [2840, 2910], [2840, 2856], [2915, 2978]] |
Roy Stratford , 44 , was jailed for four and a half years after police caught up with his scam , but officers were unable to get any of the money back . A conman builder who scammed the elderly out of their life savings and left one woman so shocked she dropped dead from a heart attack has been jailed . Roy Stratford , 44 , was given four and a half years behind bars today after charging victims for emergency roof repairs despite having no experience in the roofing trade . In July 2013 he charged one couple # 26,000 to fix a leak , but in reality he simply spent an hour nailing a single roll of felt - which can cost as little as # 10 - across their roof . Suspecting that they had been conned , the pair , from Uxbridge , north west London , called in a surveyor to inspect the job . When they were told when Stratford had done , the wife dropped dead from a heart attack . In September of the same year Stratford conned another couple in their 80s in Hillingdon , west London , this time charging them # 16,000 for 'em ergency ' repairs to their roof . However , instead of carrying out the repairs he simply painted their chimney stack . When police finally caught up with him they connected him to a series of similar frauds across the country , but were unable to claw back any of the money he tricked out of people . Detective Constable Anji Dawson , of Hillingdon CID , said : ` Stratford is quite simply a cowboy and a coward who targeted and exploited the elderly and vulnerable for his own financial gain . ` He tricked his way into their homes and conned them out of their life savings . ' Stratford admitted two counts of fraud by false representation and was jailed at Isleworth Crown Court . Isleworth Crown Court -LRB- pictured -RRB- heard Stratford charged one couple , in their 80s , # 26,000 to fix a leak in their roof , but actually just nailed a roll of felt to it . When they discovered the con , the wife died of a heart attack . | Roy Stratford , 44 , posed as a roofer to con elderly couples out of money . Offered to carry out emergency repairs despite having no experience . Charged one couple # 16,000 for work but only painted their chimney stack . One woman died of heart attack after being told she had been tricked . | [[153, 169], [174, 219], [305, 318], [321, 375], [882, 970], [1762, 1790], [1793, 1805], [403, 477], [912, 921], [992, 1019], [1108, 1147], [153, 169], [224, 304], [792, 835], [838, 881], [1895, 1923], [1926, 1959]] |
A southwestern Missouri man has been charged with four counts of murder in the killing of three people , including a pregnant woman and her fetus . Twenty-five-year-old Brian Williams of Sparta appeared in court Tuesday and was jailed without bond on four counts of first-degree murder and armed criminal action . Investigators allege in a probable cause statement that Williams shot 27-year-old James Marsh ; Marsh 's pregnant girlfriend , 26-year-old Casey Maples ; and 40-year-old Christina Winden at a mobile home in Ozark , Missouri . Charged : Brian Williams , 25 -LRB- photographed -RRB- , of Sparta , has been charged with four counts of murder in the killing of three people , including a pregnant woman and her fetus . Court : Williams appeared in court Tuesday and was jailed without bond on four counts of first-degree murder and armed criminal action . Williams is also accused of killing Maples ' unborn child that a pathologist says was 7 or 8 weeks old . Maples was a mother of two . Authorities have n't revealed a motive . The probable-cause statement says Williams told investigators he does not regret his actions , including killing Maples with the knowledge that she was pregnant . No Remorse : The probable-cause statement says Williams told investigators he does not regret his actions , including killing Maples with the knowledge that she was pregnant . Wished : Williams told detectives he only wished Winden 's boyfriend had been in the home so he could have killed him too . He said he only wished Winden 's boyfriend had been in the home so he could have killed him too . Williams told detectives of how he murdered the victims early Friday after forcing his way into the mobile home where he lived at one point . He described his actions as ` calm , but with a purpose . ' He told detectives that he wore a lamp shade on his head as he walked down the hallway and found Maples and Marsh asleep in the first bedroom , KYTV reports . Pregnant : Williams is charged with killing 26-year-old Casey Maples -LRB- photographed -RRB- and her unborn child . Victims : James Marsh , 27 -LRB- left -RRB- , was laying with Maples , his girlfriend -LRB- right -RRB- when Williams entered their bedroom and shot the two multiple times . He said he shot Maples multiple times as the two slept using a 9mm handgun and shot Marsh in the head and chest when he started to sit up . He then walked to the master bedroom , he told detectives , where Winden was sitting up in the bed . He shot her once in the head and left the room . He heard Marsh gasping for breath so he returned to the first bedroom and shot Marsh once more before going through the victim 's wallets to retrieve property that , he said , belonged to his girlfriend . Williams was driving a stolen white pickup truck , according to KYTV . He said he disposed of the handgun and burned the jacket he wore when committing the murders , he told police that he planned to dispose of the pickup truck by burning it . Christina : Williams said he walked to the master bedroom of the mobile home where he shot 40-year-old Christina Winden -LRB- photographed -RRB- in the head . Williams is also charged with tampering with a motor vehicle and stealing a gun . He is being held without bond and his next court date is set for March 17 . Williams is also being charged with two counts of manufacturing meth for a meth lab police found in the mobile home on Dec. 26 . Williams ' rap sheet spans back to 2008 and includes stealing and burglary , according to KYTV . He is charged as a prior and persistent offender , which could enhance the 25-year-old 's prison sentence if convicted . Mobile Home : Williams is also being charged with two counts of manufacturing meth for a meth lab police found in the mobile home on Dec. 26 . Prior and Persistent : Williams is charged as a prior and persistent offender , which could enhance the 25-year-old 's prison sentence if he is convicted . | Brian Williams , 25 , faces four counts of murder in the killing of three people , including a pregnant woman and her unborn child . Williams allegedly shot 27-year-old James Marsh ; Marsh 's pregnant girlfriend , 26-year-old Casey Maples ; and 40-year-old Christina Winden . He told detectived of how he forced his way into the mobile home and wore a lampshade on his head as he calmly walked down the hall to kill the victims while they slept . | [[0, 147], [0, 27], [105, 147], [148, 219], [148, 193], [224, 313], [540, 547], [550, 575], [600, 728], [866, 923], [1185, 1203], [1361, 1379], [2007, 2079], [0, 147], [0, 27], [105, 147], [370, 407], [540, 547], [550, 575], [600, 728], [1974, 2037], [2189, 2197], [2224, 2253], [3054, 3069], [3076, 3118], [1602, 1713], [1804, 1917], [2433, 2451]] |
A premature baby who surprised his parents when he was born 11 weeks during a holiday in New York has finally arrived to his home in the UK . Tiny baby Dax Johnston spent six weeks in the Big Apple after he was born weighing just 3lbs to Lee Johnston , 30 , and Katie Amos , 30 who were on a four-day ` trip of a lifetime ' . The anxious new parents had to wait for the all clear before they could fly their premature son home after the surprise delivery . But it was another week of careful monitoring at a British hospital before they could finally take Dax back to the family home . Premature baby Dax Johnston is finally home in Burgh-Le-Marsh with parents Lee Johnston and Katie Amos - seven weeks after his surprise birth in the Big Apple . Mother Katie was ecstatic to finally be settling back in at Burgh-Le-Marsh , in Lincolnshire , with their son . She said : ` This is the day we have been hoping and praying for since the very beginning . ` It 's a huge relief to have Dax home , I ca n't believe how quickly he 's come on in just one week - we could n't be more proud . He now weighs over 6lbs so he 's practically doubled in size . ' I feel mentally and physically exhausted so it will be great to sleep in our own bed and get Dax into a routine . ' A few weeks ago we never dreamt we would have him home so soon , it seemed like a lifetime away . The ecstatic parents were delighted to bring their little boy home from Pilgrim Hospital in Boston , Lincolnshire -LRB- pictured -RRB- where his feeds and weight have been closely monitored after arriving from the US . New mother Katie said she loved New York but admitted she would not be travelling there again if pregnant in the future after the debacle . Tiny baby Dax was just 3lbs when he was born to his British parents during their four-day trip of a lifetime in New York . ` The doctors in New York had originally said the earliest we could leave was on March 10th which was Dax 's due date so it really is a miracle . ` Both hospitals in the UK and the US have been incredible and really supportive -- we could n't have asked for better care . ` Now we can finally see him in his nursery which has been ready since before we left for New York . ' The couple , who are both personal trainers , had saved for years for their dream city break to the US but never banked on having their child there . Katie said : ` New York has become a very special place to us and we ca n't wait to take Dax in the future . We feel like we have an American family now , we met so many kind and helpful people whilst we were there . ` The Ronald McDonald House , who helped us with our accommodation , went above and beyond and even threw me a baby shower -- it was really emotional when we said out goodbyes . Katie said it was a huge relief to finally have her son home who has almost doubled in weight since he was born 11 weeks premature . After spending the first six weeks of his life as an American citizen , Dax was flown back to the UK via private jet and has now been allowed to come home for the first time . Katie and Lee had been sightseeing at Central Park when Katie unexpectedly went into labour - almost three months early . ' I definitely want more children in the future but as much as I love New York , I 've learnt my lesson and wo n't be travelling there again whilst I 'm pregnant . ' Katie and Lee had been sightseeing at Central Park when Katie unexpectedly went into labour - almost three months early . Not only did they have the early arrival of their son to contend with , but the hospital initially refused to accept their medical insurance , leaving them with a staggering $ 130,000 medical bill . Katie said : ` We were beside ourselves with worry , but we had to focus on Dax . When he was born he was so tiny and weighed just 3lbs , he needed all of our attention . ` Luckily around a week later our insurers , Allianz , re-opened after the holidays and confirmed we were covered . ` Dax was a fighter from the beginning though and did n't need any lifesaving operations . ` He had a bit of reflux which is normal and Patent Ductus Arteriosus -LRB- PDA -RRB- , but they are quite common in premature babies so nothing too serious thankfully . When Dax arrived early his parents had further concern after the hospital initially refused to accept their medical insurance , leaving them with a staggering $ 130,000 medical bill . Despite being born almost three months before he was due , ` fighter ' Dax did n't need any lifesaving operations and has already doubled in weight since the birth . ` The next problem was getting Dax a passport , we just wanted to get him home so we went for an American one as this was considerably faster . ` When we had it in our own hands it was a huge milestone then we just needed the okay for him to fly . ' Fortunately for the family they were able to fly home over a month early thanks to having their own private jet . They were given the all clear by Lenox Hospital in New York on the Thursday evening and arrived back in the UK two days later . At Pilgrim Hospital in Boston , Lincolnshire , his feeds and weight were monitored for a week before he was finally allowed home . Katie said : ` We only had a short window to get Dax home as Pilgrim Hospital had a bed for him but this could change at any minute . From the minute we were told we could leave everything was a blur . ` We had to pack and gather all of our things before being transferred directly to our plane by an ambulance . We landed and took off in total eight times as we had to stop off three times to refuel before we made it back to East Midlands airport . After the family were given the all clear by Lenox Hospital in New York and secured the youngster a passport , he was flown back to the UK on the couple 's private medical jet and has now been released from a UK hospital to see his home for the first time . The couple are now looking forward to showingoff Dax son to their family and friends who are yet to meet him . ` It was n't a private plane like you 'd imagine , it was very cramped but it had all the things Dax needed for his big journey home . ' The couple are now looking forward to showing off their son to their family and friends who are yet to meet him . Lee said : ` It 's great having the little man home , we can finally get him into a bit of a routine . We 're now organising a big welcome home party for him to thank everyone . ` It 's so nice being able to pick clothes from our whole wardrobe again and have all of our home comforts . The thing me and Katie have been looking forward to most is being able to sleep in our bed with Dax by our side . ` He seems to be settling in really well so I 've now gone back to work as someone needs to pay the bills . ` We could n't be happier , Dax is coming on in leaps and bounds and has surpassed all of the doctor 's expectations . Our next mission is for Dax to get big enough so we can take him back to meet his new adopted American family . ` We have promised to keep in touch with all of the people who helped him on his journey , and they 're all excited for him to go back . ' | Baby Dax finally came home seven weeks after he was born in New York . He had arrived 11 weeks early during his parents ' holiday to the Big Apple . Tiny Dax was just 3lbs when he born to Katie Amos and Lee Johnston . He spent first six weeks in US before being flown to UK on a private jet . But Dax had to spend another week being monitored at British hospital . Now his ecstatic parents have finally been able to bring their baby home . | [[0, 16], [21, 141], [0, 109], [118, 141], [0, 97], [102, 141], [142, 255], [586, 696], [703, 746], [1749, 1843], [2897, 2966], [2969, 2972], [3018, 3072], [0, 16], [21, 141], [0, 109], [118, 141], [0, 97], [102, 141], [142, 255], [1749, 1843], [2812, 2819], [2829, 2896], [4230, 4264], [4358, 4413], [4414, 4470], [142, 255], [1721, 1843], [3764, 3817], [3820, 3852], [0, 16], [21, 141], [0, 109], [118, 141], [0, 97], [102, 141], [142, 255], [2897, 3013], [2897, 2966], [2969, 2972], [3018, 3072], [5654, 5751], [5763, 5829], [461, 524], [5072, 5101], [5104, 5202], [0, 16], [21, 141], [0, 109], [118, 141], [0, 97], [102, 141], [532, 550], [556, 585], [586, 696], [703, 746], [1362, 1460], [2897, 2966], [2969, 2972], [3018, 3072]] |
A young female teacher who began an affair with a sixth-former at one of Britain 's top boarding schools has been banned from the classroom for life . Ruth Vaughan , who was 24 at the time , first kissed the pupil and exchanged phone numbers with him in June 2013 during his leavers ' ball at the # 30,000-a-year Oakham School in Rutland . Although she did not teach the boy , she got to know him when she helped with the co-ed school 's cadet force , a professional conduct panel hearing was told . The sixth-former -- named only as ` Student A ' -- claimed he began a sexual relationship with Miss Vaughan in July 2013 . Banned : Ruth Vaughan is no longer allowed to teach after having an affair with an 18-year-old . However Miss Vaughan , a newly qualified design and technology teacher who started at the school in September 2012 , insisted that she did not have sex with Student A until his second week of university . Miss Vaughan , who gave evidence to the hearing via videolink from Saudi Arabia where she now lives , accepted that the relationship was inappropriate even though the teenager had left the school , and expressed regret at her actions . She was found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and banned indefinitely from teaching in any school , sixth-form college , youth accommodation or children 's home in England . Alan Meyrick , who chaired the hearing in Coventry , said : ` The panel considered that the relationship with Student A was borne out of the position of trust that Miss Vaughan was in as a teacher in Student A 's school -- despite him having recently left . ' He added : ` Miss Vaughan 's obligations would not have changed overnight . This was indicated by the school policy preventing social media interactions with former pupils until September 1 after the pupil left the school . ` If such interaction was prevented , it is apparent that a relationship would also have been a serious breach of the school 's policies , practices and ethos . ' The hearing was also told that Miss Vaughan bought two other underage Oakham students alcoholic drinks in a pub . But the panel did not consider the action to be blameworthy , as she was unaware that they were under the age of 18 . Mr Meyrick went on to say : ` There was no indication that Student A was vulnerable . ' But he added : ` I am satisfied that the conduct of Miss Vaughan fell significantly short of the standards expected of the profession . ' Work : Vaughan was a design and technology teacher at Oakham School , a # 30,000-a-year boarding school . One of the most distinguished schools in the country , Oakham has a long and noble history . It was founded by Archdeacon Robert Johnson in 1584 , and later became the first public school to go online in 1995 . The school - whose Latin motto in English means ` And , like runners , they pass on the torch of life ' - has a proud history of sporting sucess . Notable former pupils in the world of cricket include England 's Stuart Broad and former national team captain Percy Chapman , who skippered the team between 1926 and 1931 . The school has also produced several rugby union stars such as former England player Lewis Moody , current national player Tom Croft , Gloucester 's Rob Cook and Leicester Tigers ' Matt Smith . Crista Cullen , who was part of Team GB 's bronze-winning hockey team at the London 2012 Olympic Games , also attended the school . Other noted former pupils in the world of showbiz and entertainment include Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay , comedian Miles Jupp and actor Matthew Macfadyen . | Ruth Vaughan hooked up with 18-year-old Oakham pupil at a leavers ' ball . She went on to have a sexual relationship with him in the following months . 24-year-old has now left elite public school and is banned from teaching . | [[0, 22], [27, 104], [151, 163], [218, 339], [632, 644], [651, 719], [500, 545], [551, 622], [0, 150], [1578, 1581], [1589, 1604]] |
A major car accident on the Sydney Harbour Bridge has caused chaos amongst commuters , with traffic stretching back to Sydney 's city centre . All lanes of the bridge have reopened after the multi-vehicle crash but roads around the city remain in gridlock . The six-vehicle accident occurred just after 6.45 am , closing all northbound lanes plus two of the five southbound lanes on the bridge . Emergency crews cleared the accident by 8am but all roads approaching the CBD have been affected causing peak-hour chaos for commuters . Motorists have been urged to take the ferry or train . Two people were hurt in the accident and have been taken to hospital , an ambulance spokesman said . Scroll down for video . A major car accident on the Sydney Harbour Bridge has caused chaos amongst commuters . Traffic was at a standstill southbound heading onto Harbour Bridge and into Sydney 's centre . ` Inquiries are continuing after a crash on the Sydney Harbour Bridge this morning , ' police said . ` The crash , which involved a number of vehicles , occurred shortly before 6.45 am . A number of people are being assessed on site by ambulance paramedics . ' One patient is in a serious condition and has been taken to St Vincent 's Hospital , while the other is going to Royal North Shore with minor injuries , an ambulance spokesperson told AAP . Transport Management Centre is advising motorists to expect significant delays throughout the morning 's peak rush . City bound buses that normally travel over the Sydney Harbour Bridge are dropping passengers at North Sydney train station , with some buses are delayed up to one hour . City bound buses using Victoria Road and the Anzac Bridge are also delayed up to one hour due to heavy traffic . All lanes of the Sydney Harbour Bridge have reopened after a multi-vehicle crash but roads around the city remain in gridlock . A person was stretchered away from the scene by paramedics on Wednesday morning . The crash , which involved a number of vehicles , occurred shortly before 6.45 am . A taxi and a van appear to have been involved in the multiple-vehicle pile up . Ambulance crews were quickly on the scene at Sydney Harbour Bridge . | Multiple vehicles were involved in the crash on Wednesday morning . All northbound lanes on the bridge were shut and two southbound . The lanes reopened at 8am but long traffic lines continued . Citybound buses on the Harbour Bridge were terminated at North Sydney Station . | [[258, 310], [895, 977], [998, 1007], [1016, 1045], [1956, 1965], [1974, 2003], [2040, 2056], [2064, 2114], [303, 310], [313, 341], [258, 282], [313, 395], [215, 257], [1386, 1462], [1831, 1873], [1463, 1531]] |
A plus-sized athlete who wrote a blog post about curvy competitors has hit back at critics who say she is promoting obesity . Leah Gilbert , from Newcastle - 160 kilometres north of Sydney - in New South Wales , trains for half marathons and weighs in at 90 kilograms . The fitness instructor penned a piece for fitness blog Sportette called ` I 'm Plus Size and I 'm an Athlete ' with the purpose of trying to change change people 's perception of trimness equalling fitness . Leah Gilbert , 36 , is a fitness trainer who penned a blog post called ` I 'm Plus Size and I 'm an Athlete ' But along with the positive reactions she was criticised for encouraging people to be obese , which Ms Gilbert insists was not her goal . The 36-year-old has addressed the backlash on her blog , Body Positive Athletes . The response has been shared more than 2,000 times on Facebook so far . In it Ms Gilbert acknowledge with the good feedback comes the negative as well . ` There was the anticipated argument that in being satisfied with how my body functioned for me at my racing weight of 90 kilograms I was actively promoting obesity , ' she wrote . The Newcastle woman -LRB- left -RRB- said big , strong and power players - such as NRL player George Rose -LRB- right -RRB- - were not accused of promoting obesity . ` In discussing the history of ... weight divisions in both running and triathlon , I was glorifying a group of people who were too `` lazy '' to work hard to achieve normal weight and wanted it ` easy ' when it came to competition , ' she said . Ms Gilbert questioned why male athletes did not face the same criticism as their female counterparts . ` There is a lot of double standards sometimes as far as what strengths are celebrated in males sports that are n't celebrated as much in female sports by society , ' she told Daily Mail Australia . On her blog , Ms Gilbert expands : ` When a younger boy presents a larger form , there tends to be -LRB- albeit stereotypical -RRB- conversations around what a great prop or front rower he would make . ` Big , strong , powerful -LSB- NRL -RSB- players such as Paul Gallen and `` Big Georgie Rose '' become their role models . A number of T20 Big Bash stars such as Craig Simmons also present a larger form and are respected for their strength and power , not to mention our top rugby union players such as Benn Robinson . The blog post garnered a positive response but also attracted negative ones , which Ms Gilbert has addressed in a new piece . The endurance athlete questioned why male athletes did not face the same criticism as their female counterparts . ` Funnily enough , I do n't think I have heard many of these players questioned over their roles in the promotion of obesity . ' Despite some of the negative feedback , Ms Gilbert said she was happy her message had been spread . ` The result that I 'm seeing from me working on message is people are getting more active , ' she said . ` The message I 've been working on is creating a positive response among most people and I just think our health situation is at such a crisis level that we should try some other approaches rather than -LSB- fat -RSB- shaming . ' I actually have some good statistics from the National Eating Disorder Collaboration that say why it 's good to give our adolescent girls in the shapes and size in their role models . ` In one of their recent reports , 70 per cent of adolescent of females said they had some sort of body dissatisfaction . ' Ms Gilbert also cited a Mission Australia report that said body image was the third biggest concern for teenagers . ` It makes me really passionate about getting a range of role models of all different shapes and sizes and abilities so we can keep them in sport , ' she said . ` They should view their body from a functional perspective than as an aesthetic . It takes them from a small waist point of view to a `` what I need to do to perform in my chosen sport '' view . ' | Leah Gilbert penned a blog post about being plus-sized and an athlete . She trains for half marathons and sprint triathlons , and weighs 90 kg . Ms Gilbert 's ` I 'm Plus Size and I 'm an Athlete ' post got positive feedback . But with it also came her critics who accused her of promoting obesity . The fitness instructor , 36 , has defended her position in another post . Ms Gilbert questioned why male athletes , such as NRL player George Rose , did not face the same criticism as their female counterparts . She believes young people should view their body from a functional perspective than an aesthetic one . | [[0, 90], [270, 334], [478, 490], [498, 571], [501, 518], [523, 574], [126, 138], [212, 218], [242, 269], [973, 1092], [478, 490], [498, 571], [501, 518], [523, 574], [2379, 2421], [83, 90], [95, 125], [626, 629], [645, 679], [2379, 2392], [2431, 2504], [270, 334], [478, 490], [498, 571], [501, 518], [523, 574], [726, 780], [1555, 1657], [1581, 1657], [2505, 2618], [2542, 2618], [3772, 3852]] |
Blissed out beaches ; partying under the stars and poolside cocktails . The southern most tip of the US may be known for its hedonistic lifestyle , but there 's more to it than wild nights out and parading sun-worshippers stretched out in the golden sand . Miami is a haven of interconnected oceanfront cities , urban hubs , charming villages and tropical parks . From people-watching on Lincoln Road , South Beach , to getting a caffeine hit at super-hip Panther coffee in Wynwood , find out which zone is most you . The Miami skyline from Bayside . There 's a lot more to it than cocktails by the pool and dancing 'til dawn . Which Miami is most you ? Take the quiz : . 1 . It 's the weekend . What do you do ? A -- Green juice , paddle-boarding and brunch ahead of a big night out . B -- Artisan coffee with a bearded pal -LRB- who 's in a band -RRB- and the latest Ai Wei Wei exhibition . C -- Head to the hills with nothing but your guitar ; camp under the stars ; just be . D -- Hit Fendi and Sephora . Hope to appear in a Get the Look column . The colorful walls of Wynwood are a canvas for some of the world 's best street artists . 2 . What do you do for a living ? A -- Finance . Good job you 're on the big bucks , someone has to support that Sazerac habit . B -- Part-time food vlogger , part-time model , part-time VJ . Oh , and artist . C -- Tree surgeon / yoga teacher / ceramicist . D -- Fashionista / stylist . 3 . Who would play you in a film about your life ? A -- Male : Ryan Reynolds , female : Blake Lively . B -- Male : James Franco or Jared Leto , female : FK Twigs or Zooey Dechanel . C -- Male : Hugh Jackman , female : Drew Barrymore . D -- Male : David Beckham , female : Victoria Beckham . Vizcaya museum and gardens in Coconut Grove : a gorgeous 1900s villa with Italian renaissance gardens . 4 . Your ideal gift consists of : . A -- Something shiny , sexy and expensive . B -- A Lomo camera , some new canvases or an ironic T-shirt . C -- Walking boots , a watering can or maybe some bongos . D -- Anything by Tadashi Shoji . 5 . Your ideal date would be : . A -- Being picked up in speedboat , four bars , two clubs and sunrise on the beach . B -- Cruising the latest pop-up galleries , street food and some silent world cinema . C -- A romantic picnic under the stars , somewhere in the sticks . D -- Front row seats at New York Fashion Week , wedged between Beyonce and Kanye West . As well as its art -- there are over 130 art galleries -- the Design District is also a high end shopping Shangri-La . 6 . What 's in your fridge ? A -- Tonic water and a lime . B -- Some locally cured meats , a jar of pickles , Kimchi and some home-brewed beer . C -- Mung beans , hummous , foraged mushrooms . D -- Two bottles of Moet and Chandon and seven diet cokes . 7 . When you 're at the beach you : . A -- Play volleyball wearing very little ; jetski . B -- Read The Catcher in the Rye . C -- Swim ; Thai Chi ; delight in nature . D -- Model your latest Heidi Klein two-piece . 8 . Your ideal holiday is : . A -- Monaco , The Hamptons , Mustique , Courchevel . B -- Trekking Afghanistan , Nicaragua , Taiwan . C -- West coast Australia , India . D -- Tulum , Paris , Milan , LA. . The Miami of postcards ; The ` American riviera ' is all glamour , glitz and sea spray . From volleyball on the beach to people-watching on Lincoln Road , this is Miami 's number one place to see and be seen . Its ten miles of beach are buzzing with life in all guises from eccentric locals to posing models and A-list celebrities . But there 's more to it than white sands and beautiful people . Along Ocean Drive , rainbow art deco buildings line the shore and tourists snap the impressive Versace Mansion ; Washington Avenue bursts with world-class boutiques and restaurants and Espanola Way looks like its straight from a movie set . Hungry ? South Beach has everything from beachside casual to gourmet . Grab a Cuban dinner at Havana 1957 , or hit CJ 's Crab Shack or Hosteria Romana for the best lasagne you 'll ever taste . As dusk falls , the lights sparkle and South Beach comes alive ; so get your dancing shoes on , the party lasts until the sun comes up . The walls of Wynwood are a canvas for the world 's best street artists . This uber-hip neighborhood lives and breathes art ; Art Basel pop-up parties are held here each year , there are over 70 galleries , museums and collections - as well as hordes of achingly hip boutique shops - and creative types buzz around it like bees to a honeypot . The Shoreditch of Miami is at the center of a gentrified renaissance . At its heart is The Bakehouse Art Complex , a studio and gallery space for local artists and self-proclaimed incubator for artistic creativity . And the artistry extends to Wynwood 's growing number of excellent eateries . Pride & Joy serves up barbecue , beer , and bourbon or try Kush Wywood for burgers and craft beers . Panther Coffee is a speciality coffee roaster , serving up cold brew coffee . For something stronger , the Wynwood Brewing Company is Miami 's first for locally handcrafted beers . Hit Gramps for live bands , DJs and hardcore Dark and Stormy cocktails . Once home to tie-die and psychedelia , these days Coconut Grove is all about the outdoors , easy life . A small , bohemian , laid back village on Biscayne Bay , where residents spend days out on the water and peacocks wander through the streets . Sail boats , charter boats and paddle boards bob on the shore , and five parks around the bay make it a perfect spot for nature lovers . No visit is complete without a visit to AC 's famous ice truck , for ` icees ' and hot dogs with sauerkraut . In North Grove , you 'll find Vizcaya Museum and Gardens , a gorgeous 1900s European style villa with Italian renaissance gardens and woodlands to explore . The area is also home to the Barnacle historic state park , the oldest original house in Miami . As well as its art -- there are over 130 art galleries -- the Design District is also a high end shopping Shangri-La . Label lovers can stroll through luxury closet staples like Prada , Louis Vuitton and Christian Louboutin , as well as one-off boutiques and kooky home décor stores . In less than ten years , the area has become home to high-brow design and there are plans for yet more growth . For luxury , hit En Avance , where you 'll find lingerie , makeup , candles , clothes , jewelry and books . Or go edgy at menswear boutique Apt 606 with brands like Alexander Wang and Helmut Lang . Whatever you 're after , there are more than 55 high-end design stores to peruse . | America 's southern most tip is more than just a hedonistic party capital . The Magic City has a thriving art scene and is perfect for nature-lovers . From South Beach to the Design district , find out which is area is most you . | [[72, 145], [152, 256], [551, 627], [551, 603], [608, 615], [617, 627], [364, 400], [403, 414], [484, 517], [628, 653]] |
The shocking moment a driver was forced off the road when he was cut off by a lorry has been captured in a terrifying dash-cam video . Jim McLaughlin was driving his van to work when a huge articulated truck pulled into the road ahead of him , apparently without checking for oncoming traffic . He immediately took evasive action and swerved his vehicle onto the grassy verge , coming to a stop as the lorry continued down the road without stopping to check Mr McLaughlin was unhurt . Scroll down for video . Danger : Jim McLaughlin captured video of himself being forced to take evasive action when a lorry , pictured here approaching from the right , pulled out in front of him . Sudden : The lorry pulled out onto the road in the Scottish Highlights and cut Mr McLaughlin off . Video captured by a camera mounted on the van 's dashboard shows that the lorry driver would have had a clear view of the road before pulling out . Mr McLaughlin , who was travelling from his home in Inverness to his fruit and veg business in the Highland town of Tain , has now posted the video on YouTube in a bid to shame the driver . ' I was just driving along listening to music on my way to work and I saw the guy coming from the right side , but I assumed he would come to a stop , ' the 52-year-old said . ` But then I just saw the truck come right across and nearly crash into me . I thought I was dust . Everything seemed to happen very fast and incidents like this have happened at this junction in the past . Shock : The lorry was going at a high speed and did not appear to see Mr McLaughlin 's van . Emergency : The van driver swerved out of the way of the lorry , dislodging snow from the roof of his vehicle . ` After the incident I drove after him and he stopped in a lay-by three or four miles on where I explained to him that he nearly killed me and after that he apologised . ' I ride a motorbike too and people do it all the time because they 're harder to see , but I do n't know how you can miss a van . ` The whole point of putting the video online is because people have been trying to get something done about that junction . ' I have seen so many close shaves there myself and you draw your teeth in , but I think this one was the closest . It is happening every week and someone will eventually get killed . ' Visibility : Mr McLaughlin 's windscreen was hard to see through as he swerved onto a grassy verge . Blind ; The lorry ignored the near-miss accident and simply carried on down the road . Local councillor Maxine Smith said : ' I have seen the video and it is just terrible . The thing is , there are near misses at this junction all the time . ' I get emails weekly about this and fortunately this driver saw it coming and took evasive action , which was lucky because there was a lorry coming up behind as well . ' I think with evidence like this it is crucial that people send in their accounts of things like this happening . ' A spokesman for Police Scotland confirmed they were aware of the incident . G A McKenzie , the company which owns the lorry , refused to comment on the video . | Jim McLaughlin was driving his van to work in the Scottish Highlands . A huge articulated lorry pulled out directly in front of him from a side road . Mr McLaughlin was forced to drive off the road and onto a verge . He filmed the whole incident with a surveillance camera on his dashboard . | [[135, 294], [162, 294], [58, 83], [135, 294], [162, 294], [600, 607], [653, 681], [691, 752], [295, 297], [334, 375], [518, 594], [2332, 2419], [799, 839]] |
It may be known as the red planet , but sunsets on Mars are blue . Nasa has released a new video on the social media site Vine showing the sun dipping towards the Martian horizon , captured by its exploratory rover Opportunity . The time-lapse video of the eerie sunset was created by piecing together images taken by Opportunity . The images show a darker , dustier sky than here on Earth that perhaps loses some of the romance that often accompanies sunset on our own planet . Two strange , cloud-like plumes reaching high above the surface of Mars have created a stir among scientists . The plumes were seen rising to altitudes of over 155 miles -LRB- 250 km -RRB- above the same region of Mars , and could help explain what makes up the Martian atmosphere . It is thought that they could be made of particles of water or carbon dioxide or perhaps an aurora shimmering above the poles . Past surveillance by scientific orbiters have suggested Terra Cimmeria to have a ` strip ' with a strong but localised magnetic field . If this is the case , the Martian ` aurora ' would be a remarkable 1,000 times brighter than its equivalent on Earth . But ` both explanations defy our current understanding of Mars ' upper atmosphere ' , scientists admit . And rather than turning the sky a deep orange , as happens on Earth , the setting sun gives the sky a deep blue tinge . Although much of the surface of Mars is a deep red colour , it is this thick dust that also turns the sunset blue . However , Dr John Bridges , a planetary scientist at the University of Leicester who studies Mars , warned that the cameras on the Opportunity rover may not be conveying the true image . He said : ` We do have to be a little careful with the colour produced by the cameras on this rover as they are a false colour image . ` What is very striking though is how much smaller the sun appears compared to here on Earth . ` Taking images like this can teach us a great deal about the atmosphere on Mars . ` Most of the dust is in the troposphere , which is about 40km up on Mars . ` There is a lot of effort to find out how high up dust clouds can get up on Mars - particularly after some cloud-like plumes were spotted that appear to be much higher in the atmosphere than we thought dust can go . ' The sun appears just five eighths of the size it does on Earth when viewed from Mars while thick dust in the atmosphere filters out the red light from the sun , giving sunsets a deep blue colour , as pictured above . Scientists say sunset on Mars would have a blue light , however , as the red dust in the atmosphere filters out much of the red light from the sun . As the sun dips lower in the sky , its light has to travel through the lower layers of the atmosphere where the dust is thicker . On Earth our own atmosphere scatters blue light creating the red and orange shades that light up the sky at sun down . It is not the first time Nasa has shown the world what a sunset on Mars would look like and it released a longer video in 2010 . Opportunity has seen around 3940 sunsets since it arrived on Mars . Scientists use the cameras of the Opportunity rover , shown above in an artists impression , to study the sunsets on the red planet to help them quantify how much ice and dust is in the atmosphere of the red planet . From the surface of the red planet the sun appears about five eighths of the size it is when seen from the Earth . The red planet receives just 40 per cent of the light we experience on Earth , meaning the sky appears much darker as the sun begins to fall towards the horizon . However , twilight can continue for up to two hours after the sun has set - far longer than on Earth - as sunlight is scattered around to the night side of the planet by the abundance of dust high in the atmosphere . The average length of a day on Mars is about 24 hours and 37 minutes . Scientists running the mars rovers take occassional images of the Martian sunset to help them determine how high into the atmosphere the Martian dust billows . They low angle of the light also makes it easier for them to see ice clouds that can form in the sky . At 141,610,000 miles from the sun , the average temperature on the surface of Mars is around -66 °C -LRB- -87 °F -RRB- . Nasa 's Opportunity rover has traveled close to the same distance as an Olympic marathon during its mission as can be seen in the image above which charts its path across the Martian surface over the past 11 years . | Nasa 's Opportunity rover captured the sunset from the surface of Mars . Dust in the atmosphere scatters red light making the sunset appear blue . The effect produces an eerie yet beautiful contrast to the orange landscape . Twilight on Mars can continue for up to two hours after the sun has set . Opportunity has experienced 3,940 sunsets during its mission to Mars . Scientists use the Martian sunsets to study dust and ice in the atmosphere . | [[159, 178], [181, 228], [40, 66], [1320, 1369], [1430, 1485], [2372, 2439], [2442, 2475], [2513, 2551], [2567, 2646], [3694, 3804], [3596, 3639], [159, 178], [181, 228], [3025, 3092], [3093, 3103], [3186, 3246], [3195, 3309], [3876, 3886], [3895, 4025], [3916, 4035]] |
A quick-thinking diving instructor used plastic sandals as a makeshift splint after a woman drove a quad bike off a 60ft cliff and shattered her leg . Melanie Simmonds , 31 , from Farnborough , Hampshire , was on a cheap holiday with her boyfriend Jay Buckley in Kefalonia , Greece , when they decided to hire the vehicle instead of taking a taxi . But the former care worker said that while she was in the driving seat the wheels locked and she was unable to steer , leaving them hurtling down the cliff , stopping short of the water 's edge . Melanie Simmonds , pictured with her then boyfriend Jay Buckley , on the quad bike which they later crashed . She frantically rung the last number in her phone which went through to the driving school and one of the instructors - Peter Tovey - was able to rush to their side . Miss Simmonds said : ` I 'd been wearing cropped jeans and underneath my bones jutted through bloodied flesh on my left knee , right shin and ankle . ` The diving instructor was with us in minutes using his flip flops as splints on my shattered bones . ` When the ambulance arrived I was put on a stretcher and winched slowly up the cliff face . It took 30 minutes and felt like I was screaming forever . ' Miss Simmonds in hospital after the incident in which she suffered a broken nose and hand a multiple fractures to her legs . Plaster casts were put on her legs in a Greek hospital soon after she crashed off a 60ft cliff on the quad bike . Miss Simmonds had suffered multiple breaks in both legs , a broken finger and fractured nose in the accident , which happened in June 2010 . Mr Buckley , who she has since split from , sustained only minor injuries . The crash was not deemed anyone 's fault but the couple were not covered for quad biking in their insurance . She explained : ` Taxis were so expensive so I suggested we hire a quad bike to get back . They were so cheap to hire for the day . ` We 'd seen other people do it and they looked fine . We both strapped on our helmets . I was in the driving seat with Jay holding on to my hips . ' I was enjoying the scenery of the stunning coastal road with a steep drop down with sheer cliffs on one side . The crash happened in Kefalonia , Greece , in June 2010 during a cheap holiday break for the care worker . Miss Simmonds during a dive on the trip . The last number she had called was the driving school so when she crashed she called them and an instructor was sent to rescue her and her ex-boyfriend Jay Buckley . The diving instructor took off his flip-flops and made a makeshift splint to support her leg until emergency services could arrive and airlift her to hospital . ` But as we drove along , I spotted a sharp corner up ahead . I turned the handlebars into it . But as I tried to turn out again , the wheels seemed to lock . ' I was helpless as we plummeted off the cliff . If I had n't been wearing my big camera bag on my back I think I would have been paralysed or worse , as it protected my back . ` The next thing I knew I was lying at the bottom of the cliff on the shore , with the bike in the sea and water lapping at my arm - if I 'd landed a yard away I would have drowned . ' She was told that Greek doctors could only do the minimum to help and they pulled her bones back together and gave her painkillers . After 10 days she was allowed to leave but needed to remain stretchered . Miss Simmonds said : ` Getting back to the UK was a nightmare . I had to spend 16 hours in an ambulance and we reserved nine seats on the plane back . ' The return trip took two days and cost # 8,000 , which was 26 times more than the # 300 trip initially cost them . Her nose was split in two in the incident and she underwent a number of operations to fix it . Pictured after her second surgery . Miss Simmonds was left in a wheelchair -LRB- right -RRB- for six months and had to have her leg put in a brace -LRB- left -RRB- . A doctor told her she will never regain full strength in her legs again . Pictured right , Miss Simmonds getting ready to dive while on the holiday that left her in hospital . She had to have a metal rod through the whole bone in a second operation , which left her right leg bruised . After landing at Heathrow airport , Miss Simmonds was taken to Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey . She said : ` Family rushed to see me and I 'd never been more pleased to see them . Doctors found I had multiple breaks in both legs , a broken finger and a broken nose . ' I needed a metal rod in my right leg , a plate in my left knee and another in my nose . The doctors there were absolutely brilliant . ' I was just so grateful . I 've never appreciated the NHS so much . ' After 11 days in hospital , she was allowed home but still needed seven operations . A close-up of one of the deepest wounds -LRB- left -RRB- and Miss Simmonds -LRB- right -RRB- before she went diving while on the # 300 Greece trip . Miss Simmonds -LRB- left -RRB- cycled 250 miles in a charity race for the Halow Project , which she now works for , in May 2013 after recovering from her accident . ' I was in a wheelchair for six long months . Doctors said I 'd never regain full strength in my legs . I could walk but not run long distances . ` People told me I was lucky to be alive , but it did n't feel like it . I left my job and spent my days at home feeling low . ' A year after the accident , Miss Simmonds started working with The Halow Project , a local charity for young , disabled people and now has a new partner Craig Ifaia , 31 . Miss Simmonds said : ` Looking back , I would n't change what happened . I believe everything happens for a reason . Without it , I would n't be who I am today . ' I would n't have a job I love , or be confident that I can take on anything . It 's been a long road , but I refuse to let that holiday disaster shatter my dreams . ' | Melanie Simmonds , 31 , was on cheap holiday in Greece with her boyfriend . Pair decided to hire a quad bike instead of taxi but did not have insurance . Miss Simmonds was driving when wheels locked and she could n't steer . They crashed down the side and Miss Simmonds legs were left mangled . She called last number on phone and was put through to diving school . Peter Tovey strapped her leg with his sandal before she could be airlifted . Her leg had multiple fractures and she had broken her finger and nose . She spent six months in a wheelchair and will never regain strength in leg . | [[151, 191], [206, 247], [2188, 2219], [2231, 2294], [289, 348], [1730, 1794], [1852, 1885], [353, 467], [1255, 1273], [1283, 1286], [1314, 1353], [1468, 1523], [655, 704], [0, 91], [750, 786], [789, 821], [1261, 1273], [1283, 1309], [1255, 1273], [1283, 1286], [1314, 1353], [1468, 1523], [1468, 1481], [1546, 1576], [3660, 3701], [4388, 4474], [4402, 4436], [3791, 3862], [3921, 3994], [3935, 3994], [5083, 5126], [5127, 5184], [5140, 5184]] |
When it came to choosing the perfect ensemble for a visit to Dents glove factory in Wiltshire , there was one accessory the Duchess of Cornwall just had to wear -- a pair of Dents gloves . Ever the diplomat , Camilla arrived at the factory , which is a short journey from Highgrove , with her hands encased in a cosy black leather pair . She was there to see the glove-making process in action and if she could n't resist skating quickly past a display featuring the skins of peccary pigs used to make the gloves , it was a different story when Ruby the dog appeared . The Duchess of Cornwall wears a black pair of Dent gloves for an official visit to the factory today . Camilla presents a long-service certificate -LRB- and a canine cake -RRB- to Ruby the rescue dog at Dents glove factory . The pet , which belongs to Dent 's chief executive , Deborah Moore , had been brought to the factory to meet the Duchess and take part in a reception for those with a long history of service . Ruby , who has been coming to the factory each day for more than a decade , joined other long-standing members of staff and , like them , was presented with a special certificate . Camilla , the owner of several pet dogs herself , could n't resist crouching down to give the dog a pat and exclaimed : ` How very well behaved she is ! ' as she did so . Thirteen-year-old Ruby , a black Labrador , was then given a slice of a specially made doggy cake by the Duchess , which the pet swiftly wolfed down . Good dog ! Camilla pats Ruby on the head as he tucks into his special canine cake . Hands on : The Duchess gets to grips with a glove cutting machine at Dents factory . Resplendent in navy blue tartan , the Duchess chatted animatedly as she swept through the museum . She was shown by a member of factory staff , right , a skin from a peccary pig , which is used to make the finest leather . The moment came at the end of a visit which had also seen the Duchess tour the factory 's museum , accompanied by local staff -- some of whom have been working at the factory for more than 50 years . Given the factory 's long history of producing gloves for royalty and famous names alike , it was far from being an onerous one and , as with the Duchess herself , the accessories remain popular with the royal family -- in particular , the Queen . One of Her Majesty 's pairs , the ones she wore to the 1953 Coronation , were on display , as was another pair once owned by Queen Victoria . Further pairs once belonged to racing driver Stirling Moss , Trafalgar victor Admiral Horatio Nelson and , oldest of all , Elizabethan explorer and courtier , Sir Walter Raleigh . After the Duchess visited the factory , she headed over to the offices of Community First - a Wiltshire based initiative that aims to tackle disadvantage , where she was presented with a bouquet of flowers -LRB- left -RRB- . Shortly before she headed into the building , Camilla was caught up in a strong gust of wind -LRB- right -RRB- . Ever the professional , the Duchess continued to smile as her hair was swept sideways by the blustery weather . The Duchess , who was making the first of two visits in Wiltshire today , certainly appeared to enjoy it and chatted animatedly as she swept through the museum , resplendent in a navy blue dress . Inspecting a pair of gloves dating from 1507 , she expressed her amazement over the length of the fingers -- a big fashion trend in the early Stuart period . ` I ca n't get over how long they are ! ' she said . Another pair of gloves picked up by the Duchess belonged to Admiral Nelson , although in a grisly twist , they still had blood on them . But with another engagement to attend , Camilla soon had to depart -- this time bound for Devizes where a visit to Community First 's new offices awaited . Camilla , Duchess of Cornwall , Patron of Community First -LRB- right -RRB- meets Community First 's Chief Executive Philippa Read -LRB- left -RRB- and student Emma Adlahm -LRB- centre -RRB- during a visit to the new offices of Community First . Camilla , Duchess of Cornwall , cuts a cake with Jaret Wrintmore , 12 , during a visit to Community First . Founded in 1965 , Community First is a Wiltshire based initiative that aims to tackle disadvantage and improve the quality of life for people living in the county . Camilla 's day was n't entirely without incident , however , with the February breeze getting the better of her as she arrived at the Beacon Business Centre in Hopton Park , Devizes . Luckily , the Duchess appears to have deployed the Queen 's trick of having tiny weights added to the hem of her skirts and was spared what could have been an embarrassing moment . Camilla looks on as Janet Jay , right , inspects a just-made leather glove . Dents was founded by master craftsman John Dent in Worcester , England , in 1777 . Thanks to his meticulous workmanship and eye for creativity , Dents soon developed a reputation as a leading leather glove company . From the beginning , it used only the very finest English leather and perfected techniques of cut and fit which became world famous as ` Dents ' secret fit ' . Its gloves and accessories were soon being sought by the famous and fashionable in Paris , New York , Montreal and Sydney . Now sold in more than 30 different countries around the world , the gloves remain popular in every strata of society and make regular appearances on TV , most notably on ITV drama Mr Selfridge . They are also the glove of choice for Daniel Craig 's James Bond and last appeared on the silver screen during Skyfall . As Camilla 's visit , and the opening of the factory by Princess Anne four years ago , reveals , the gloves are almost enormously popular with the royal family . Dents also produces the coronation gloves , including those worn by George VI and Elizabeth II . | The Duchess toured the Dents glove factory in Warminster . Ruby the rescue dog was presented with certificate for long service . Historic glove company was founded in 1777 in Worcester . | [[569, 671], [772, 793], [987, 991], [1118, 1167], [4764, 4824], [4837, 4846]] |
Workers cut down a 60-year-old tree in a couple 's garden after misreading a map and trespassing on their property . Gary Taplin arrived home to find a pile of logs where his 30ft false acacia had been standing for six decades outside the house in Witham , Essex . He is now planning to sue the housing association which wrongly chopped down the historic tree . Anger : Gary Taplin arrived home to find that a 60-year-old tree in his garden had been chopped down . Attractive : The tree , circled , had stood next to Mr Taplin 's home since the 1950s . It is thought that workmen were supposed to be targeting three younger trees which stand a few yards from the family 's home on a patch of communal land . But they apparently read the map wrongly and stepped over a small fence to enter Mr Taplin 's private garden . The 52-year-old engineer said : ` My wife cried because it was so shocking and upsetting . ` It was a lovely old tree . It gave us privacy and was a real feature of the house and garden . I used to prune it and look after it . It was such a shock to see it had gone . Demolished : Workers initially cut down the tree and left the remains in Mr Taplin 's garden . Error : The contractors apparently meant to cut down the trees standing on communal land , but instead stepped over a fence into Mr Taplin 's garden . ' I have asked for an explanation on how they got it wrong . All the trees were marked with numbers so I ca n't understand how they got the wrong one . ` They have n't only cut down our tree but they were trespassing by being on our land without our knowledge or permission . ` There were still tree parts in our garden nine days on - they should have been cleared away . ' Father-of-three Mr Taplin , who has lived in the house for 28years with his wife Julia , fears the value of the property will be affected by the loss of the tree , and is planning to take legal action over the blunder . Devastated : Mr Taplin and his wife Julia were upset about the loss of their 60-year-old tree . Damage : The homeowners say their garden is not the same without the majestic false acacia . Greenfields Community Housing Ltd has admitted its contractors cut the tree down by mistake and apologised to the family . A spokesman said : ` Greenfields and our contractors have offered our sincere apologies to Mr Taplin and his family for the removal of the tree . ` We are currently working with Mr Taplin to do all we can to try to resolve the situation . ' | Gary Taplin arrived home in Witham , Essex to find false acacia cut down . Housing association contractors apparently misread map after being told to chop down trees on communal land . Mr Taplin plans to sue association for trespassing in his garden . He fears that the home where he has lived for 28years will fall in value . | [[370, 464], [0, 116], [0, 7], [58, 116], [265, 267], [284, 361], [572, 579], [594, 707], [712, 748], [1190, 1270], [2116, 2207], [265, 274], [284, 314], [265, 267], [271, 314], [1707, 1732], [1875, 1926], [1707, 1734], [1739, 1773], [1707, 1732], [1796, 1868]] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.