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Britain 's American-made Apache attack helicopters could be cut back or even scrapped outright because the U.S. is set to upgrade it 's fleet . The Army has used Apache gunships since 2001 , seeing action in Afghanistan - where current pilots include Prince Harry and in Libya . Despite the helicopters ' successes on the frontline , defence sources suggested that the Army Air Corps fleet of 66 Apaches could eventually be cut to around 50 aircraft fit for operations . Britain 's AH-64D helicopters face becoming redundant because the U.S. has decided to stop using the model and adopt a newer variant , the AH-64E . The British Army 's fleet of Apache attack helicopters could be cut back or even scrapped outright , defence sources have admitted . That means essential technical support for the British Apache fleet will be withdrawn from 2017 . As a result , ministers must decide whether to upgrade some or all of the British helicopters to the new US standard , or to replace them outright . Defence officials and Army officers are finalising their assessment of the technical options in an exercise entitled the Apache Capability Sustainment Programme , or AH CSP . Officials are due to present ministers with a list of detailed options in the New Year , with final decisions expected in 2014 . Colonel Andrew Cash , the commander of the army 's attack helicopter force , set out the options for the Capability Sustainment Programme in a recent public lecture . ` The AH CSP is designed to address the sustainment issue that this raises , and provide the required capability , training and support out to 2040 , ' Col Cash , the commanding officer of 16 Air Assault Brigade , said . Prince Harry is shown the Apache flight-line by a member of his squadron at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan . Britain 's American-made AH-64D helicopters face becoming redundant because the U.S. has decided to stop using the AH-64D model and adopt a newer variant , the AH-64E . ` The technical options are being evaluated , and I expect a decision on the way ahead for assessment by early next year , ' the commander told the Royal Aeronautical Society . Listing the options for the programme , he said : ` Do nothing ; do the minimum ; technology insertion based on the current airframes ; update to the US AH-64E standard , or this standard but with UK-specific equipment ; or an entirely new replacement attack helicopter . ' Some analysts have suggested that the UK could decide to replace its U.S.-made Apaches with the European-made Tiger helicopter , which is currently used by the French and German armies . Military sources told The Daily Telegraph that the Tiger would be strongly opposed by British commanders , who regard it is inferior to the Apache . That means the Ministry of Defence is likely to focus on an Apache upgrade programme . However , modernising existing aircraft is often extremely costly , and insiders expect that the MoD will be unable to afford to upgrade all 66 Apaches . The MoD has refused to say how many of the Apaches will be upgraded , leaving open the possibility that some of the fleet will be left unmodified and effectively redundant from 2017 . The MoD told the newspaper : ` There are no plans to remove the Apache capability , on the contrary we plan to update and upgrade the fleet . The number required after 2017 will be taken according to operational requirements . ` Decisions regarding the future structure of the Apache fleet will not have an impact on the current operations of the Apache fleet . ' | Britain 's AH-64D helicopters face becoming redundant because the U.S. has decided to stop using it . It means technical support for the British fleet will be withdrawn in 2017 . | [[471, 603], [1797, 1950], [752, 756], [763, 849]] |
They fold up their uniforms , bid their colleagues farewell and return home from war . But for many veterans , their service continues to play a role in their lives long after they regain their civilian status . Now , a striking photo series has captured the dichotomous existence of men and women who formerly served in the US Army , Navy and Air Force . The Veteran Vision Project , created by photographer Devin Mitchell , aims to offer veterans the chance ` to speak without having to say something ' . For each image , Mr Mitchell , a 27-year-old junior at Arizona State University , travels to a former serviceman 's home and takes two pictures . Scroll down for video . Moving : This photo series , created by photographer Devin Mitchell , captures the dichotomous existence of US veterans . Above , Marine Corporal Brad Ivanchan , who lost both of his legs in 2013 after stepping on an IED while on patrol in Afghanistan , stares at his reflection . Torn apart : Marine Corporal Daphne Bye and her now-ex-husband , Marine Staff Sergeant David Bye were both diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2001 . They divorced last August after deciding it was no longer healthy for them to stay married . In this image , Ms Bye is seen holding a sign reading : ` PTSD . Divorcing but united ' while Mr Bye peers at a reflection of the couple embracing in uniform . At home with her children : For each image , Mr Mitchell , a 27-year-old junior at Arizona State University , travels to a former soldier 's home and takes two pictures.In one , the subject -LRB- such as Desarae Janszen , pictured -RRB- is dressed in uniform . In the other , they are in civilian attire . Striking : Major Patrick Lehmann , a former Army medical officer , hugs his partner as he looks at a reflection of himself dressed in uniform . Contrast : Adrienne Camille , an ex-expeditionary warfare officer with the Navy , dons a red dress and lipstick as she looks at her reflection . Affected : In this emotional picture , Brantley Hunt , who received numerous awards for his service including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation and Achievement medals , is seen resting his hands against his forehead as his reflection shows him wearing a gas mask . In one , the male or female subject is dressed in uniform . In the other , they are wearing civilian attire . Then , Mr Mitchell digitally combines the two . And the results are incredible . In some photos , veterans are beaming joyfully at their reflections , embracing their children and kissing their partners . In others , the subjects are staring solemnly at their mirror image , clearly struggling to overcome the pain and suffering they encountered in war . One image shows Marine Corporal Brad Ivanchan , who lost both of his legs in June 2013 after stepping on an IED while on patrol in Afghanistan . In his civilian half of the image , Mr Ivanchan is looking into his bathroom mirror , his prosthetics visible under his khaki shorts and his arms tattooed . In the other half , he is peering out of the mirror , a machine gunner dressed in his 7th Marine dress ` Charlies ' , the Washington Post reported . ` People connected with that picture because it showed something physical , visceral , ' said Mr Mitchell , who posts his captivating images on Instagram . Another photo depicts Marine Corporal Daphne Bye and her now-ex-husband , Marine Staff Sergeant David Bye , who have a young daughter , Sophie . Overjoyed : Air Force veterans Ryan and Brittany Miller don uniforms and pose with their daughter , Kaelyn in this digitally-altered photo . Veteran : Mr Mitchell , who lives in Los Angeles and studies sociology remotely , started his project last August after brainstorming ways to apply for grad school . Above , Major Brian McLaughlin is pictured wearing two suits : A black civilian one and his Airborne Infantry suit . Dressed up : On a dedicated Kickstarter page , which he is using to fundraise for a photo book of his images , Mr Mitchell explains how he took just a few pictures at first . After posting the photos of veterans ' ` double lives ' to Instagram and Facebook , they quickly took off , leading to ` surprising ' national exposure , he says . Above , Jennifer Marshall , a former Navy servicewoman , dons a black-and-red dress . A new life : Navy veteran Alejandro Bataille is pictured in uniform -LRB- left -RRB- and shaving alongside his partner -LRB- right -RRB- in this touching image . Serving for the US : ` As a result of this exposure , over the past seven months , I 've had the honor of photographing many veterans from all walks of life , ' Mr Mitchell writes on Kickstarter . ` The veterans who have participated have , in turn , helped me find even more candidates ' Two lives in one : Mikael Thrash , a former Navy serviceman , looks at an image of himself dressed in a red suit while sporting his uniform . Glamorous : Jennifer Hope , who currently serves with the United States Navy , strikes a pose in a glamorous dress in her reflective image . Ms Bye and Mr Bye , who served in the battles of Fallujah in 2004 and 2007 , were both diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2001 . They underwent treatment for the disorder together , but divorced last August after deciding it was no longer healthy for them to stay married . In the image , Mr Bye is stood peering at their reflection , while his ex-wife looks at the camera , holding a sign reading : ` PTSD . Divorcing but united . ' In the reflection , the couple are pictured embracing in uniform . ` When I saw Devin doing the project I was really excited . I figured why not , ' Ms Bye said . ` When you 're in the military a lot of marriages break ... and a lot of people do n't understand what the reason for it is and I thought it was important for me to say something . Single mother : Active Navy servicewoman Jennifer Morales holds her autistic young son as her professional persona observes the scene . New hair : Sergeant Darren F 's hairstyle is noticeably different in his civilian life as it was during his time with America 's Marine Corps . Different clothes : ` I 'm very excited to get this project into photo book form so more people can see the amazing stories of these veterans , ' says Mr Mitchell on his Kickstarer page . Above , Layla Webb , of the Navy , in her professional attire -LRB- left -RRB- and in her civilian dress -LRB- right -RRB- . Married : Air Force veteran Tara Batesole grins at her cat while donning a wedding dress as her solemn-looking Army persona looks on . Posing : Casey Everett , who served with the Air Force , poses in blue underwear in his bathroom mirror -LRB- left -RRB- and in Army clothing -LRB- right -RRB- . Biker : ` Over the past seven months , I 've had the honor of photographing many veterans from all walks of life , ' Mr Mitchell , who also captures images of active duty members , writes on his dedicated Kickstarter page . ` Above , Camilo Rocha , of the United States Army . ' I think it 's important for everybody to understand that even though we looked happy on the outside and that we truly did try for us and our daughter there 's only so much you can do when the issues are within yourself . ' Mr Mitchell , who lives in Los Angeles and studies sociology remotely , started his project last August after brainstorming ways to apply for grad school . On a dedicated Kickstarter page , which he is using to fundraise for a photo book of his images , he explains how he took just a few pictures at first.After posting the photos of veterans ' ` double lives ' to Instagram and Facebook , they quickly took off , leading to ` surprising ' national exposure , he says . ` As a result of this exposure , over the past seven months , I 've had the honor of photographing many veterans from all walks of life , ' Mr Mitchell , who also captures images of active duty members , writes . ` The veterans who have participated have , in turn , helped me find even more candidates . Shaving : Mikos Morrissette looks at himself shaving in Air Force uniform while donning a black leather jacket , silver watch and a cap . Serious and fun : Alyssa Boone and her sister Kayla pose solemnly in Air Force attire -LRB- left -RRB- and pull faces in their bedroom mirror -LRB- right -RRB- . Photoshopped : Navy veteran Jeffrey Mounts looks out at his new civilian self , blonde Jazmine Rice , in this cleverly Photoshopped image . Longer hair : Buddy Watson has noticeably longer hair now that he has left his job with the Navy . He is pictured wearing a brown jacket . Army veteran : Mr Mitchell , who is not a veteran and calls his work ` artistic journalism ' , has no plans to end his inspirational project yet . Surgeon : ` As time changes , so might the photos and what they are reflecting . We can only wait and see ' , Mr Mitchell said . Above , former Navy flight surgeon Shannon Stacy is pictured -LRB- right -RRB- in her new land-based role and -LRB- left -RRB- in her Navy uniform , including a large helmet . ` I 'm very excited to get this project into photo book form so more people can see the amazing stories of these veterans . ' And Mr Mitchell , who is not a veteran and calls his work ` artistic journalism ' , has no plans to end his inspirational project just yet . He hopes to continue portraying veterans and current soldiers ' bifurcated existence - including issues such as PTSD - through photography . ' I do n't interview them , all I ask is if they 're veteran and if I can come and take their picture , ' Mr Mitchell said . ` This is an opportunity for people to speak without having to say something . As time changes , so might the photos and what they are reflecting . We can only wait and see . ' The photographer , who has nearly 20,000 Instagram followers , has so far raised $ 4,915 of his $ 20,000 goal on his Kickstarter page . Explaining the project , he said : ` Veterans ' intent is to amplify voices from moments of silence . Good , bad or disturbing , when it comes to this project , people will see what is really going on . ' | The Veteran Vision Project captures dichotomous existence of men and women who formerly served for country . Created by photographer Devin Mitchell , it offers veterans the chance ` to speak without having to say something ' For each image , Mr Mitchell captures two pictures : One , of subject in uniform ; the other , of them in civilian attire . He then digitally merges pictures to produce single images , which have been shared tens of thousands of times . Photos feature Brad Ivanchan , who lost both legs in IED blast , and couple who are divorcing after battling PTSD . | [[212, 297], [677, 683], [686, 703], [747, 798], [9297, 9437], [9342, 9358], [9361, 9437], [356, 382], [385, 423], [356, 382], [426, 488], [449, 459], [462, 502], [686, 703], [706, 744], [9592, 9641], [356, 382], [385, 423], [524, 535], [632, 652], [1419, 1430], [1524, 1543], [1635, 1647], [1650, 1679], [2239, 2245], [2248, 2298], [2299, 2311], [2314, 2348], [6299, 6304], [6307, 6317], [6334, 6403], [2349, 2353], [2356, 2396], [3566, 3580], [3581, 3596], [799, 804], [807, 836], [843, 928], [2704, 2749], [2720, 2749], [2756, 2848]] |
Emma Sheppard , 33 , pictured , was jailed for two years after she admitted using homemade ` stingers ' to disable three police cars on New Year 's Eve . An eco-warrior who disabled three squad cars rushing to New Year Eve call-outs with homemade ` stingers ' wanted to ` give the police a taste of their own medicine ' . Emma Sheppard , 33 , of no-fixed-abode , left the lumps of wood , embedded with nails across the road from Emersons Green police station in Bristol . The homemade devices were hidden inside takeaway boxes and covered with leaves on New Year 's Eve last . Bristol Crown Court heard that three police cars were damaged by the improvised devices as they responded to emergency call outs , destroying four tyres and causing # 1,500 worth of damage . Sheppard , who denied she was an anarchist , later said her actions were in protest at the death of a black teenager in America , police brutality in Greece and cuts to legal aid . The carer , who admitted one charge of conspiracy to commit criminal damage being reckless as to whether life was endangered , remained emotionless as she was jailed . Judge Neil Ford QC , the Recorder of Bristol , said that anarchists in the city had caused # 20 million of damage to police , commercial buildings and mobile phone providers in the past four years . ` Responsibility in relation to these incidents has been claimed by what have been described as anarchist groups , ' the judge told Sheppard . ' I must make it clear from the start that your offending can not be linked to that course of conduct , although of course this forms a backdrop to the sentencing process in this case . ' The judge said Sheppard had been caught trying to flee the scene by police officers who spotted her acting suspiciously with another person , who has not been identified . Sentencing her at Bristol Crown Court to two years in prison , Judge Neil Ford , QC , told her : ` This was an attack carried out on New Year 's Eve when the police were likely to have a high number of calls because of revelry and drunken behaviour . ` This is particularly surprising for someone of your intelligence and behaviour . ` You targeted police officers who act to protect members of the public . ` This must be a demonstration to others that behaviour like this will be met with custodial sentences . ` Actions carried out as part of a campaign of deception will be met by very serious punishment . ' Scroll down for video . Sheppard and a second unidentified individual , left the improvised stingers outside a Bristol Police Station on New Year 's Eve , to disable any squad cars responding to an emergency call for assistance . The stingers were camouflaged in takeaway boxes covered in leaves and damaged three squad cars . Bristol Crown Court heard how Sheppard built the devices in protest at officers using them around the UK and other police incidents . The judge added : ` You have told the probation service that when you carried out this offence you had in mind a very well covered case in America of the police reaction to a black man . ` You said you had in mind police brutality in Greece and your own experiences with police at protests you had attended . ` What you have failed to take into account is who it is who it is that is there to protect the people who suffer from domestic abuse . ` The people who are there for the victims of serious violence , the people who arrive at emergency road collisions . Officers called colleagues for back-up and the three police cars accelerated out of the police station at Concorde House , a building on an industrial estate . The first driver passed over the debris but suffered a slow puncture and lost control of the vehicle as he approached a nearby dual carriageway , the court heard . The second car immediately suffered two punctured tyres and had to stop , while the third vehicle had one of its tyres punctured by the stinger despite trying to avoid it . ` The devices which had been secreted under the debris were a number of handmade stingers , fashioned from blocks of wood , ' the judge said . ` Each contained five large , prominent nails . ' Sheppard was arrested and taken to Keynsham station where officers found takeaway containers , a plastic bag and leaves in her pocket . The judge said he had received numerous glowing testimonies on behalf of Sheppard , describing her as compassionate and passionate about justice and equality . ` Your dislike of the police generally in my judgment is peculiar for someone of your intelligence and sophistication . ` It is strange for someone with your compassion to take steps to endanger police officers who act to protect members of the public . ' Prosecuting , Mark Hollier said officers called for back-up after seeing Sheppard and another person dressed in dark clothing with their faces covered . He said anarchist groups in Bristol had carried out arson attacks on buildings including North Avon Magistrates Court and at a police centre in Portishead . Mr Hollier said there was no evidence to link Sheppard to previous offences in the city but he pointed out that the stingers were also aimed against police . ` While it is a matter of fact that no harm was caused to any person the potential is manifest , ' Mr Hollier said . ` Three police cars were taken out of action . ' CCTV footage , left , captured the moment one of the squad cars was disabled by the homemade ` stinger ' while two police officers examine the scene of the incident , right , where they recover evidence of the attack . Representing Sheppard , Richard Nile said there was a ` juxtaposition ' between the caring work Sheppard had carried out and her offending . He said motivation from the attack had come from the death of a black teenager in America and police brutality in Greece . ` It is also partly her own observation of peaceful protest and what she perceived as the police going further than they should , ' Mr Nile said . ` She had come to the realisation that police used stingers on quite a wide scale . What she was seeking to do was to give the police a taste of their own medicine . ' He said his client had sought to damage one or more police cars but had not intended for further harm to be caused . Bristol Crown Court , pictured , heard that anarchist attacks have caused # 20 million of damage to the city . Mr Nile said : ` She leads a good life . She is very busy caring for other people and is involved in a number of community projects . ` This is the juxtaposition of someone who works with such compassion and conscience . ` She is not a self-styled anarchist . She puts her time to good use in her community work . ` She has formed this negative view of the police . She has strayed beyond what is reasonable and respectful and has committed this serious offence . ` She very much regrets that . She has strayed beyond what she should have done and is realising the impact of it on those around her . ` She 's quite ashamed of the way she has let everyone down . ' Detective Inspector Andy Bevan of Avon and Somerset Police said : ` We have a long and proud history of facilitating peaceful protest and also supporting people who choose alternative lifestyles . ` We respect their right to lead their lives however they choose and the large majority do so in a safe and law-abiding manner . ` Where protest crosses the line into criminality , we 'll take a tough stance in order to keep our communities safe and feeling safe . ' | Emma Sheppard left homemade ` stingers ' outside a Bristol police station . Three squad cars were disabled after they responded to an emergency call . The stingers were hidden inside takeaway boxes covered by leaves . Sheppard 's unidentified accomplice managed to escape the crime scene . She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause damage and being reckless . Bristol Crown Court that the three squad cars suffered # 1,500 of damage . Judge Neil Ford jailed Sheppard for two years earlier today . | [[368, 385], [388, 471], [2456, 2501], [2504, 2584], [2587, 2612], [3955, 4074], [63, 153], [577, 705], [2456, 2490], [2587, 2661], [2662, 2674], [2732, 2758], [5283, 5329], [472, 526], [472, 492], [531, 576], [2662, 2709], [2695, 2727], [3955, 4074], [4181, 4197], [4204, 4265], [1767, 1786], [1793, 1818], [949, 958], [965, 1024], [577, 705], [668, 672], [734, 767], [2662, 2674], [2732, 2758], [0, 13], [32, 101], [1819, 1879], [1857, 1879], [1882, 1897], [1905, 1913], [1916, 1936]] |
It is the ruthless game of property ownership , which sees the ambitious snap up sites in the most expensive areas while others make do with the cheaper , less lucrative streets . But homeowners are playing a real life game of Monopoly according to researchers who have highlighted the dramatic differences in house prices between the highest and lowest priced districts . It reveals the average home in upmarket Kensington costs some 13 times more than Blaenau Gwent in South Wales . Scroll down to search interactive map . Median house prices ranged from # 975,000 in Kensington and Chelsea , to # 72,000 in Blaenau Gwent , according to the Office for National Statistics . Over the last 20 years , homes in Kensington and Chelsea have soared by 400 per cent - compared to less than 150 per cent in Blaenau Gwent . Terraced houses in Liverpool cost less than a deposit for homes in Kensington and Chelsea , the ONS said . The Office for National Statistics has produced the Monopoly-style graphics to shed light on the vast differences in house prices between different parts of the country . The ONS said : ` For the 348 local authorities in England and Wales in 2013 , median house prices ranged from # 975,000 in Kensington and Chelsea , to # 72,000 in Blaenau Gwent . ' Throughout the period from 1995 , the council areas with the highest house prices tended to be in London and the South East , with the lowest spread across England and Wales . For instance , homes in parts of West London have soared by 400 per cent over the past 20 years - compared to less than 150 per cent in the Welsh Valleys . ` Since 1995 for local authorities nationally , the percentage difference between the highest and lowest median house prices has fluctuated considerably , ' the ONS said . ` This difference was smallest in 1995 at 517 per cent and reached nearly 1,400 per cent at its height in 2002 . ` This percentage gap has also been increasing year on year since 2006 , having fallen between 2003 and 2006 . ' A detached home in Westminster in central London now costs an average of # 3.8 million . Leeds meanwhile has the highest number of commuters outside the capital . At # 115,000 , terraced houses in Birmingham cost more than in Liverpool - but almost nine times less than in trendy Islington , north London . Despite being one of the most desirable areas to buy a house in the whole of the UK , Westminster has the highest crime rate . On average , house prices in the UK have increased by 6.9 per cent a year since 1980 -- with just seven years when the properties fell in value . In the past 35 years , the biggest increase in house prices was 25.6 per cent in 1988 , while the biggest drop was 7.6 per cent in 2009 . According to the Office for National Statistics , the average UK house price reached # 272,000 in December , which is # 2,000 less than at its peak last summer but # 1,000 more than the previous month . London prices are almost double this at # 502,000 , although this is also some way off its record high of # 514,000 last August . While prices in the capital rose by 13 per cent in the last 12 months , this is a much slower than last summer when annual house price inflation hit 20 per cent . In the surrounding counties , house price growth is rapidly catching up with London , rising by 12 per cent in the south east , 11 per cent in the east and 9 per cent in the south-west . | Office for National Statistics produces Monopoly-style house price study . Median house prices # 975,000 in Kensington and # 72,000 in Blaenau Gwent . Gap between rich and poor has been growing since 2006 , figures reveal . | [[924, 1094], [373, 429], [384, 484], [525, 592], [626, 675], [1095, 1107], [1112, 1273], [1893, 1963]] |
Hoping to keep as much of his fortune to himself , investment firm billionaire Ken Griffin , 46 , has claimed in divorce court that his wife is using their children to justify a monthly expense claim of $ 1 million . As the proceedings continue to heat up between Griffin and his estranged wife Anne Dias Griffin , things are getting particularly nasty given there are billions of dollars and at least half a dozen properties at stake . Attempting to fight back against his former bride 's demands for spousal support , Griffin listed monthly expenses that include $ 160,000 for holiday homes , $ 6,800 for groceries , $ 7,200 for dining , $ 2,000 for stationery , $ 60,000 for office space and professional staff and $ 300,000 for a private jet . It 's over ! Ken Griffin -LRB- left -RRB- filed for divorce from his wife , Anne Dias -LRB- right -RRB- , last year in Cook County Court in Illinois . So far Dias Griffin has failed to obtain the monies as part of marital maintenance , however the New York Post is suggesting she is now trying a different tact and hoping the judge will award her the monthly million bucks payout as part of her child support payments . The couple , who filed for divorce last year , have three children under 10 . In a statement , Dias Griffin said the filing is ` riddled with falsehoods and just another vindictive attempt by Ken Griffin - Illinois ' richest billionaire - to punish his family and avoid his clear responsibility under Illinois law to maintain his children 's lifestyle . ' Dias Griffin 's statement does n't dispute the dollar numbers . But she said Griffin is refusing to give the kids ` the support to which they are accustomed and entitled under Illinois law . ' She has argued that her estranged husband is required to fund the children 's lifestyle as it was during their parents ' marriage and says the expenses are simply an accounting of all the couple 's child-related expenses while they were married . Costly kids : In an escalating divorce battle , Chicago hedge-fund billionaire Ken Griffin says in court papers his wife , Anne Dias Griffin , wants $ 1 million a month for child-related expenses . Dias Griffin is seeking to nullify the couple 's prenup and claims Griffin is failing to pay adequate child support for their three kids . . Griffin has fought back at what he sees is his wifes money-grabbing attempt by using their children as an excuse . He said he has even gone above and beyond what he needs to provide and has paid expenses that are solely for Dias ' benefit , including a private chef , multiple house cleaners and a house manager/personal assistant . He said that while he declined to fund a $ 450,000 winter vacation , he did give her $ 45,000 for a winter break . Griffin said Dias is trying to fund her ` opulent lifestyle ' by saying her personal expenses should be part of child support . Crafty : In his filing , Griffin said Dias is demanding money for her own lifestyle ` under the guise ' of the children 's expenses . Lavish : The couple married at Versailles in France with performances by Cirque du Soleil and Donna Summer . Mr Griffin also attempted to further discredit his wife by saying she embellished her accomplishments while running her own hedgefund . Griffin , who is worth $ 5.5 billion , said that he was the largest single investor in the Aragon hedgefund after their marriage in 2005 until 2009 . The fund lost 5 percent in 2010 and 11 percent in 2011 . ` Under Anne 's management , Aragon lost money for four consecutive years , ' he said in the filing . Griffin has said that he is paying almost every single expense when it comes to the life of his children that include the salaries of four nannies . His wife has receved around $ 40 milllion through a prenup the couple had between them . For Mr Griffin , however , it appears enough is enough and he has now cut off Dias Griffin 's access to his credit cards and their homes in New York , Aspen , Miami and Hawaii . Ivory tower : Griffin is living in a $ 15 million penthouse at the Park Tower in Chicago during the proceedings . The couple had married for 11 years when they decided to call it a day for good in 2014 , but they separated in 2012 . Their three children are aged two , four and six . Griffin , who is estimated to be worth more than $ 5billion , is seeking joint custody . Dias , who has already secured more than $ 35million in the divorce , wants the children to herself . She is asking the court to throw out their prenuptial agreement . | Ken Griffin , 45 , CEO of $ 20 billion Chicago investment firm Citadel , filed for divorce from his wife of 11 years , Anne Dias , 44 , last year . Dias is demanding a monthly million including $ 6,800 a month for groceries , $ 7,200 a month for restaurant meals and $ 8,000 a month for gifts . Griffin 's net worth is estimated near $ 5 billion and he wants joint custody . Dias has accrued $ 35 million from divorce so far and wants sole custody . | [[748, 821], [1168, 1212], [1215, 1245], [4097, 4184], [520, 747], [3258, 3265], [3272, 3294], [4267, 4274], [4294, 4326], [4267, 4274], [4329, 4355], [4356, 4360], [4367, 4378], [4387, 4423], [4356, 4360], [4371, 4423]] |
Urgent new rules were introduced last night to protect journalists and whistleblowers from police snooping . MPs agreed to rush safeguards through Parliament before the general election to curtail the use of the hugely controversial Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act . Police will now need the approval of a judge , via an order , before they can access phone records to try to identify a reporter 's sources . Controversial : Police have obtained the phone records of dozens of journalists , which led to the sacking of three police officers who lawfully leaked information about Andrew Mitchell 's -LRB- pictured -RRB- ` Plebgate ' scandal . Newspapers , including the Daily Mail , demanded changes to the rules when it emerged that police had secretly launched spying missions to get the phone records of two journalists investigating wrongdoing by MPs . It has since emerged that police forces have viewed the phone records of 82 journalists over the past three years via RIPA , which is supposedly an anti-terror law . The system operates in secret and there is no provision for journalists to challenge it . Kent Police investigating Chris Huhne -LRB- above -RRB- used RIPA to obtain a Mail on Sunday reporter 's records . The concern was that , if newspapers ' sources are not protected , whistleblowers will be deterred from contacting the Press -- and scandals will remain secret . The new rules are a temporary measure because there was no time to change the primary RIPA legislation before the current Parliament ends on March 30 . If police wish to view journalists ' phone records they will have to give notice to the parties involved and , if necessary , make the case for disclosure in court . The Home Office said there is a commitment to introduce a law after the election to reform RIPA . The Liberal Democrats claimed the Tory side of the Coalition had been slow to act . Metropolitan Police detectives used the call records of The Sun 's political editor , Tom Newton Dunn , to find and sack three officers found to have lawfully leaked information about the Plebgate incident . Kent Police investigating the Chris Huhne speeding points scandal used RIPA to obtain the phone records of a journalist on The Mail on Sunday and one of his sources , even though a judge had ruled the source should remain confidential . In the controversy that followed , the Society of Editors and Press Gazette launched the Save Our Sources campaign , which was backed by more than 100 editors . | MPs rushed interim safeguards backed by 100 editors through Parliament . Police must now ask a judge before accessing journalists ' phone records . It came after alarm over use of ` anti-terror ' law to root out whistleblowers . Forces secretly viewed records of 82 journalists in the last three years . | [[109, 185], [2417, 2457], [2464, 2501], [274, 289], [295, 318], [274, 280], [286, 318], [430, 495], [863, 875], [884, 985], [863, 865], [876, 985]] |
A woman who survived a shotgun attack by her jealous husband but then lost her son to suicide has revealed how she had suffered domestic violence for 18 years . As she launched a campaign to help victims of domestic violence , Rachel WIlliams said : ' I was in an absuive relationship for 18 years that began when I was only 17 . ' Rachel was shot in the leg at point blank range when estranged husband Darren burst into the hairdressers in Newport , South Wales , where she was working . Mrs Williams survived the 2011 attack , but her husband then killed himself . Their son Jack , 16 , was found hanged just weeks later . Rachel Williams , who survived a shotgun attack by her jealous husband but lost her son to suicide , had launched a campaign to help victims of domestic violence . Now Mrs Williams has joined forces with a domestic violence charity , and is calling for children to be educated on healthy relationships in school in the hope it will prevent a similar tragedy . ' I was about 19 and seven months pregnant when Darren was first violent with me . He lifted me off the floor by my throat and did n't drop me until I was blue in the face . ` After he would hurt me Darren would apologise and tell me he loved me , that he could n't live without me and that he would kill himself if I left . ' I did n't know any different . Domestic violence was all I 'd known . ' Rachel Williams , pictured in hospital , was shot in the leg at point blank range when estranged husband Darren burst into the hairdressers in Newport , South Wales , where she was working . Mrs Williams , pictured with husband Darren on their wedding day , says he was first violent towards her when she was 19 , and seven months pregnant . The inquest into the death of Mrs Williams 's son Jack was told the teenager -LRB- pictured -RRB- had been struggling to deal with his parents ' break-up and had tried to remain ` neutral ' The violence continued for the next 18 years , until in 2011 , 46-year-old Darren Williams stormed Carol Ann 's Hair Stylist armed with a sawn-off shotgun after hearing his estranged wife had been having an affair , the 2013 inquest into his death was told . She was shot in the knee and two customers were injured , but Mrs Williams , then 41 , was able to wrestle the gun from Mr Williams , a 6ft 7in , 20st former bouncer , who fled the scene . His body was found in woodland shortly afterwards . Just five weeks later , Mrs Williams 's youngest son Jack , hanged himself at the same spot , after going to visit his father 's ashes . Jack 's inquest was told the teenager had been struggling to deal with his parents ' break-up and had tried to remain ` neutral ' . Mrs Williams survived the 2011 attack , but her husband then killed himself . Their son Jack , 16 , was found hanged just weeks later . The scars on Mrs Williams 's leg after she was shot in the knee by her estranged husband . But the hearing was told that relations between the mother 's and father 's sides of the family broke down after the shooting , and that Jack had gone to live with his father 's sister . Recording a verdict of suicide , Coroner David Bowen said of Jack : ` This is such a tragic death and his death should never have occurred . ' ` If my children had been taught about healthy relationships in school maybe they would have realised what was happening at home was n't normal , ' Mrs Williams said . ` Maybe they would have spoken to their teachers about what was happening in their home . ' I needed help to leave my husband , perhaps that would have happened early if there had been earlier intervention . Mrs Williams is working with the Wales Violence Against Women Action Group to encourage the Welsh Assembly to reintroduce compulsory education on healthy relationships . ` Education could have helped my sons . And it can help young women too . They need to be taught to see the signs of domestic abuse so they can leave before things go to far . ' Now in a new relationship with a man she describes as the ` total opposite to Darren ' , Mrs Williams is working with the Wales Violence Against Women Action Group to encourage the Welsh Assembly to reintroduce compulsory education as part of Violence Against Women Bill , due to go before politicians this week . The group wants one staff member in every school to receive specialist training on domestic violence , sexual bullying , consent , female genital mutilation and forced marriage , which was originally included in the bill when it was first introduced last year but has since been removed . ` There needs to be a strong program taught in schools to show children exactly what a healthy relationship looks like and what domestic abuse is and how it starts , ' Mrs Williams said . ' A program like that could save lives because women are dying every week from domestic violence . ' | Rachel Williams was shot in the leg by estranged husband Darren , 46 . He then killed himself and son Jack found hanged five weeks later . Mother calls for more education in schools to prevent domestic violence . WARNING , CONTAINS GRAPHIC CONTENT . For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 , visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details . | [[332, 409], [625, 640], [647, 695], [2821, 2837], [2854, 2911], [533, 566], [567, 576], [589, 624], [625, 640], [700, 723], [2416, 2437], [2440, 2468], [2476, 2507], [2510, 2552], [2729, 2762], [2763, 2772], [2785, 2820], [874, 948]] |
A businessman battling a deadly brain tumour believes spending up to six hours a day on his mobile phone has given him cancer . After going to hospital with a bad headache , Ian Phillips was given the devastating news he had a lemon-sized brain tumour - and has just three years to live . The 43-year-old claims his cancer was caused by excessive use of his mobile phone , as his job as an operations manager for a large firm required him to spend more than 100 hours a month making calls . As well as undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment in a bid to beat the cancer , he is receiving alternative medicine , has changed his diet , and regularly exercises . Ian Phillips , 43 , claims spending six hours a day on a mobile phone gave him a brain tumour . He now uses a bright gold receiver -LRB- pictured -RRB- to make calls . After driving himself to hospital with a blinding headache , an MRI scan revealed Mr Phillips had a lemon-sized tumour next to his right ear . The scan is pictured -LRB- it is mirrored , so the left side of the scan shows the right side of the brain -RRB- . He has also launched a campaign to make others aware of the risks of using mobile phones , which he says are particularly dangerous for children . Mr Phillips , a former rugby player , said : ' I spent my working life on my mobile . I would have two - hour conference calls some days . ` My ear would be red when I left work at the end of the day . I did n't think what it was doing to my brain . ' Mr Phillips , head of healthcare diagnostic imaging for a large global firm , was hit by a sudden blinding headache and drove himself to A&E in the middle of the night . He was given a brain scan on an MRI machine which he had installed himself just two weeks earlier at the University Hospital of Wales , Cardiff . The scan revealed a Grade 3 brain tumour the size of a lemon and Mr Phillips underwent a nine-hour emergency operation to remove most of it . But he was given the horrific news that the brain cancer could not be cured and was advised to make the most of the little time he had left . Mr Phillips said : ' I was devastated - the first thing I asked the doctors was what had caused it . ` But I knew right from the start that it was due to my excessive use of my mobile - I was on it all the time . ' I have spent a lot of time since researching this and the number of brain tumours is going up . Mr Phillips underwent a nine hour operation to remove his tumour -LRB- his scars are pictured , left and right , after the operation -RRB- . ' I am really concerned about young children using mobiles - their skulls are softer and radiation from these devices can reach their brains more easily . ' Mr Phillips has now invested in a shiny gold hand receiver which he plugs into his mobile to make and receive calls , meaning he does n't have to hold the phone to his ear . He said : ' I bought a gold one to draw attention to the potential dangers of mobiles . ` Strangers ask me why I use a hand held receiver and I tell them they would too if they had been diagnosed with a brain tumour . ' I tell people that I am convinced my cancer was caused by using my mobile up to six hours a day . ` Even my doctors wo n't argue with me when I tell them how much time I was spending on it at work . ' Mr Phillips estimates he was talking for more than 100 hours a month on his Blackberry - because of his high-pressure job . He said : ' I was a successful rugby player , extremely fit and I never got ill - not even with a cold . But now I have this . ` The irony is that the tumour was discovered on one of the diagnostic machines that I installed at hospitals all over the country . ' Mr Phillips , of Cardiff , hopes to beat the cancer with a combination of chemotherapy , radiotherapy alternative medicine , diet and ` sheer bloody mindedness ' . Mr Phillips has been forced to quit his # 100,000 a year job due to his illness , and is launching a campaign to raise awareness to the risks of using mobile phones . He said : ` They gave me three years to live but I will prove them wrong time and again . ` The tumour has shrunk to nothing once but it 's back now and I 'm having chemo again . ` But I am convinced that it will disappear again before my current course of chemotherapy is complete . ' Mr Phillips has been forced to quit his # 110,000 a year job because of his illness . The former Caerphilly RFC second row forward now spends his time with his girlfriend and his parents Norman and Lesley , mainly watching rugby and visiting the gym four times a week . He has launched a campaign to highlight the dangers of mobile phones , convinced he can inform others of the risks . He has persuaded Welsh rugby stars Rhys Priestland and Jonathan Davies to shave their heads for the Brains Trust charity he supports . He said : ' I will beat my tumour but in the meantime I need to get the message across that mobile phones can be dangerous . ' I used mine too much , I know that - but people need to be made aware of the risks and start switching to hand-held receivers . It could save their lives . ' The potential connection between mobile phones and cancer is a controversial debate . Countless studies have failed to provide a consensus about the degree of cancer risk . The key concern is that phones could cause brain tumours . The largest study to date formed part of the Million Women Study , and included around 790,000 women . It found no link between mobile phone use and brain tumours , or 18 other types of cancer . Studies on whether mobile phones cause brain tumours come to different conclusions . Another study followed more than 420,000 users over a 20-year period . It found no direct link between mobile phones and brain tumours . And another piece of research did note a link between mobile phone use and cancer of the salivary glands , but only a small number of study participants had cancerous tumours . Meanwhile another recent study suggested a possible increased risk of glioma - a specific type of brain tumour - for those using their mobiles a lot . But researchers found no increase in brain tumour risk overall . In 2012 the Italy 's Supreme Court found there was a ` causal link ' between phone use and a businessman 's brain tumour diagnosis . Innocente Marcolini , 60 , had used his mobile phone for up to six hours a day for 12 years . Oncologist and professor of environmental mutagenesis Angelo Gino Levis and neurosurgeon Dr Giuseppe Grasso gave evidence supporting Mr Marcolini 's claim . They argued that mobile and cordless phones emit electromagnetic radiation causing damage to cells and increasing the risk of tumours . But they added that many tumours do n't appear for 15 years , making short-term studies on mobile phone use redundant . Experts at the Mayo Clinic in the US note that after evaluating the evidence , members of the International Agency for Research on Cancer - part of the World Health Organisation - agreed there is limited evidence that mobile phone radiation triggers cancer . But , they warn , a series of studies can not tell the full story , and only time will tell . Oncology experts advise people who are concerned about a possible link between mobile phones and cancer to limit their phone use , or use a speaker or hands-free device . As with smoking and tobacco , the experts say it may take many years for a direct link to emerge . Consultant in medical oncology at Mayo Clinic , Timothy Moynihan , notes : ` At this point , it 's possible that too little time has passed to detect an increase in cancer rates directly attributable to cellphone use . ` The bottom line ? For now , no one knows if cellphones are capable of causing cancer . ' They advise if people are concerned that they limit their phone use , or use a speaker or hands-free device . Meanwhile Professor David Coggon , professor of occupational and environmental medicine at the University of Southampton added : ` Overall , the balance of evidence from what is now a substantial body of epidemiological and toxicological research suggests that mobile phones do not cause brain tumours or any other sort of cancer . ` Because the technology has only been widely used for about 15 years , we can not rule out the possibility of a risk that only emerges many years after exposure , but that too is looking increasingly unlikely . ' | Ian Phillips , 43 , had a blinding headache and drove himself to hospital . Was diagnosed with a grade 3 brain tumour next to his right ear . Underwent a nine hour operation to remove the lemon-sized tumour . Has been told he has three years to live and is undergoing chemotherapy . Claims using his mobile phone for hours every day caused his cancer . Now uses a bright gold receiver so he does n't press the phone to his ear . | [[128, 171], [174, 217], [839, 897], [900, 981], [1496, 1507], [1574, 1611], [1496, 1507], [1616, 1665], [839, 897], [900, 981], [1812, 1852], [218, 251], [1877, 1953], [2407, 2477], [174, 177], [218, 220], [258, 288], [499, 561], [4017, 4024], [4029, 4106], [4170, 4195], [0, 104], [79, 127], [289, 301], [312, 370], [671, 683], [691, 740], [726, 766], [2270, 2308], [3099, 3196], [3300, 3423], [3322, 3423], [6152, 6284], [6152, 6186], [6199, 6284], [6285, 6304], [6307, 6378], [767, 816], [823, 838], [779, 838], [2705, 2724], [2734, 2763], [2705, 2716], [2721, 2763], [2737, 2763], [2773, 2820], [2823, 2878]] |
Hundreds of mourners including the Danish Prime Minister have attended the funeral of a filmmaker gunned down as he tried to stop a massacre in Copenhagen last week . Finn Noergaard , 55 , was shot dead on February 14 during a seminar on free speech and Islam in the first of two attacks by a jihadi gunman who also killed a Jewish man outside a synagogue . Today Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt was among 750 people who gathered at Grundtvigs Church , Copenhagen , to pay their respects . Around 750 mourners including the Danish Prime Minister attended the funeral of documentary maker Finn Noergaard , 55 , in Copenhagen today after he was shot dead during the terror attack a week ago . Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt was pictured wiping tears from her eyes as crowds gathered at the Grundtvigs Church , Copenhagen , to pay their respects to Mr Noergaard -LRB- right -RRB- . Ms Thorning-Schmidt attended the service before joining a procession which followed the hearse carrying Mr Noergaard down a cordoned-off street . Around 40 heavily armed police were present at the service to guard members of Denmark 's Jewish and Muslim communities after a spate of deadly attacks across Europe . Jesper Lynghus , a spokesman for Mr Noergaard 's family , said : ` The last thing Finn would have wanted in this life was for an incident like this to ... push people further away from each other . ' Friends of Mr Noergaard paid tribute to the documentary-maker an hour-long ceremony before tearful mourners emerged from the church carrying a white coffin covered in flowers . They then assembled behind a hearse before the coffin was driven down a cordoned-off street . Zubair Butt Hussain , a Muslim activist and former spokesman for the Muslim Council , said : ' I think they have honoured him in a very special manner . ' According to reports of the shooting gunman Omar El-Hussein , 22 , a Dane of Palestinian origin , fired 30 bullets at the Krudttonden cafe during his attack . Around 40 heavily armed officers watched over the funeral after a spate of deadly attacks across Europe . Members of Denmark 's Muslim and Jewish communities joined together to pay their respects today after rising tensions between the two communities in recent weeks . Mr Noergaard was killed with a single shot from a M95 assault rifle , police said , before the cafe was sprayed with 27 bullets , wounding three police officers inside . Witnesses said Mr Noergaard deliberately put himself between the shooter and the cafe . In an open letter , his sisters said : ` We do not know what Finn was thinking in that situation , but we are sure it was not his own security but that of others he was concerned about . ` Finn was a human who took action when help was needed or in dangerous situations . ' Known for his documentaries , Noergaard had a special interest in the problems of integration . One of his best known works was a 2004 film about a young Australian boomerang thrower . The Finn Noergaard Foundation , set up by the filmmaker 's family to aid ` the integration of immigrants and their children ' into Danish society , had received 50,000 Danish kroner -LRB- $ 7,600 -RRB- in donations , by this afternoon . An armed police officer stands guard in front of floral tributes during the memorial service today . Mr Noergaard was killed with a single bullet to the head by Omar El-Hussein who opened fire outside a free speech event being held at the Krudttonden cafe , Copenhagen . The funeral is the last for those killed during the attack , after Dan Uzan , the Jewish security guard shot outside a Synagogue shortly after Mr Noergaard , was buried last week . Ms Thorning-Schmidt also attended that ceremony , which was watched over by police snipers while sniffer dogs patrolled on the ground . Around 500 people also attended the funeral of shooter El-Hussein , who was killed by police after opening fire on one of their cordons . Prominent Salafist campaigners such as Adnan Avdic took photographs next to his tombstone , despite the owners of the cemetery raising objections . Police say El-Hussein , 22 , shot Mr Noergaard before riddling the cafe -LRB- pictured -RRB- with 27 bullets , injuring three police officers inside . The service for Mr Noergaard comes a week after similar scenes at the funeral of Dan Uzan , 37 , the Jewish security guard killed outside a Synagogue during the same shooting spree . Around 00 mourners also arrived at the funeral for shooter El-Hussein as he was buried in a Muslim cemetery , despite protests from its owners . Meanwhile , questions mounted Tuesday over whether Danish police had done enough to prevent the February 14 attack in which Noergaard lost his life . Unnamed employees of the cultural centre told the daily Politiken that Danish police sat with their backs to the entrance drinking coffee before the venue 's staff alarmed them to the shooter outside . Swedish Mohammed cartoonist Lars Vilks - who fled into the kitchen as his permanent security detail reacted to the attack - said last week he thought Danish police had underestimated the threat against the seminar following the January Paris attacks , in which jihadist gunmen killed 17 people . | Finn Noergaard , 55 , was shot dead in Copenhagen attack ten days ago . Today 750 people attended funeral including PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt . Crowds watched over by 40 heavily armed officers after spate of attacks . | [[86, 166], [167, 181], [189, 290], [636, 696], [2261, 2328], [3316, 3391], [4089, 4095], [4118, 4181], [4660, 4682], [4692, 4717], [0, 97], [358, 422], [412, 422], [427, 456], [472, 495], [496, 608], [892, 960], [3667, 3686], [3692, 3771], [3803, 3820], [3826, 3868], [4423, 4441], [4447, 4530], [1038, 1096], [1085, 1205], [1991, 2096], [3215, 3315]] |
A stand-up comedian has been ordered to pay back more than # 6,000 in unpaid rent at a rate of just # 1 a month - which will take 546 years . Ross Wagman was told to repay his 18-month debt along with a bill for clearing rubbish to landlord Ray Wright , 68 , from Bury in Greater Manchester , after he rented an industrial unit from him . The grandfather took his case to a small claims court and was awarded the costs , but will have to live until he is 614 to see the cash . Ross Wagman was given 546 years to repay his 18-month rent debts after a court ordered he could pay it back at # 1 a month . Mr Wagman , who has written pilot episodes for the BBC , began monthly payments after the ruling last February but the payments came to a stop in October . Mr Wright claims at this point he had made just five payments - of # 5 . He said that he had been renting the industrial building to Mr Wagman 's family for the last 30 years and considered them family friends . The landlord explained that the Wagman 's operated an auctioneer business and bought in and sold items , using the property to store them . When Mr Wagman decided to leave the premises in February 2012 he still had outstanding debts and Mr Wright said he left the place in such a state he filled 18 skips with rubbish . It cost him # 2,000 to hire them and he had labour costs for the five people needed to do the work . Mr Wright said : ` When the new chap opened the doors it was an absolute shambles . Bags and goods covered all 2,700 sq ft of the unit . ` It has cost me # 900 in court fees alone . By the time he has paid that back at this rate of # 1 a month it will be 75 years . ` It 's ludicrous . What hurts the most is they were family friends and I helped them out and this is how I 've been treated . ' Mr Wagman -LRB- pictured -RRB- had rented an industrial unit from 68-year-old Ray Wright but stopped his re-payments . As well as his comedic work , Mr Wagman , from Whitefield in Greater Manchester , has also been running a wholesale button and craft pack service online called Craft Parcels since 2004 . He was a Citylife Comedy Competition 2003 finalist and is known for his ` original , unique take on the world ' , according to entertainment listing site Ents24 . Mr Wagman also runs a blog - The Monkeys All Say Boo - where he shares the bedtime stories he has read with his son . Mr Wright , who took the case back to Bury County Court last week to claim the outstanding # 6,559 , said : ` He 's still trading . I have to do without and he gets off scot-free . ` It 's been back and forth through the courts but finally a judge has cancelled the orders that had been put in place . ` It 's been a nightmare but I 'm not giving up , no way . ' MailOnline was unable to reach Mr Wagman for a comment . HM Courts and Tribunals Service said it could not discuss a judgement . Mr Wright took the claim to Bury County Court last week where Mr Wagman was ordered to pay back the debt of # 6,559 at a rate of # 1 a month . | Ross Wagman ordered to repay his 18-month debt of # 6,559 at court trial . He had rented industrial unit from Roy Wright , 68 , but stopped payments . Mr Wright was awarded costs at previous hearing but at rate of # 1 a month . He will be 614 by the time he receives the full cash sum from Mr Wagman . | [[0, 105], [142, 290], [477, 555], [477, 481], [499, 502], [509, 563], [2921, 3007], [299, 338], [717, 757], [1786, 1874], [1786, 1816], [1879, 1904], [0, 105], [339, 354], [397, 418], [548, 601], [1573, 1634], [339, 354], [435, 476]] |
Met Office workers are preparing to strike for the first time in decades this week causing possible disruption to forecasts as storms continue to batter large swathes of the country . Staff at the Met Office 's headquarters in Exeter , Devon , will walk out at 2pm on Thursday in an ongoing row over pay . Workers in Aberdeen , Edinburgh and other frontline stations will also walk out at the same time and set up picket lines for the duration of the three-hour strike . Staff at the Met Office 's headquarters in Exeter , Devon -LRB- pictured -RRB- , and at frontline stations across the country including in Aberdeen and Edinburgh , will walk out on Thursday for three hours in an ongoing row over pay . News of the strike came as forecasters warned heavy rain and possible snow was due this week . Pictured : Large waves batter the coast of Porthleven in Cornwall as storms which have lashed the country continue . It comes as forecasters predict heavy rain and possible snow will hit large parts of the country . Met Office workers belonging to the union Prospect are to strike over a continuing pay freeze which they claim is ` damaging an otherwise successful , efficient and growing business ' . However , it is feared the strike could cause disruption to the Met Office 's weather service as almost half of its employees will be unavailable during the industrial action . Prospect , which has 950 members , warned that the walkout could affect the accuracy of forecasts especially if one of the forecasting models was to break down . A union leaflet said : ` Forecasts depend on the Met Office model for accuracy . That model runs four times a day on one of the most sophisticated and complex IT systems in the country . ` People are proud to run a seamless service to the customer 24 hours a day , 365 days a week . ` The fact that people are now taking action about pay and withdrawing that goodwill shows how strongly they feel and puts the service at real risk . ' The escalating campaign of action began last Thursday when union members wrote to Business Minister Matthew Hancock , calling on him to allow the Met Office the freedom to manage its reward system and pay fairly compared to market rates . Met Office workers are to walk out on Thursday afternoon , with fears weather services could be disrupted . Pictured : A couple watch from above as huge waves lash the coast of Porthleven in Cornwall earlier today . Met Office staff believe the continuing pay freeze is ` damaging an otherwise successful , efficient and growing business ' and fear it will stop the business recruiting skilled workers . Pictured : Ilfracombe , north Devon today . In the letter , union members argued that the pay freeze was limiting the Met Office 's ability to recruit the specialist figures it requires . Workers said they fear that without the flexibility to pay fairly : . The union said it had no alternative but to take action with the three-hour strike on Thursday , but said services with implications to national security and safety of life would be maintained throughout . Gordon Hutchinson , a representative for Prospect , said : ` This is unprecedented , no one can remember the last time people went on strike here over pay - it must be decades ago . ` It shows how strongly people feel about a government pay policy completely at odds with what the Prime Minister advocates for the private sector . ` David Cameron says successful businesses should give their staff a pay rise , but wo n't allow the Met Office freedom to manage its own reward system . ' Three walkers embrace the deep snow and wintry conditions as they hike up Ben Nevis , near Fort William . The bleak conditions come as forecasters warn of further possible snow on high ground later this week . Helen Stevens , Prospect negotiator , added : ` It 's sad to see such a magnificent organisation held back by political ideology . ` First and foremost our members want the Met Office and its world class science to thrive . It ca n't do that if it ca n't recruit and retain the right people . ` Our members are reasonable people who have tried to resolve this through other means but have found the Met Office has its hands tied behind its back . ' The Met Office said it was working closely with Prospect and was ` not expecting any significant impacts ' . A spokesman added : ` We 're disappointed that some staff have chosen to take this action but we are confident our robust business continuity measures will reduce the impact of the action . ` We are pleased that the Trades Union Prospect is working with the Met Office to ensure that the threat of industrial action is mitigated for any service where safety of life is at risk , for example - severe weather warnings . ` We recognise the right of staff to take this action based on a legal mandate . ' | Met Office workers preparing to strike on Thursday over ongoing pay row . Prospect union members plan to set up picket lines for three hours at 2pm . Workers claim pay freeze is ` damaging an otherwise successful business ' Walkout could cause disruption to forecasts as storms continue to hit UK . Staff will stop acting outside their normal duties and fail to take on additional work to prevent the forecasting model from failing . The taxpayer will not get the full benefit of the # 97m invested in the service 's new supercomputer -- valued at # 2bn over the project 's lifetime -- because the Met Office will not be able to attract and retain the skills required to make the best of the facility . Women will continue to be discriminated against because the modernised pay system , designed to close the gap between men and women 's pay , is not being allowed to work . | [[0, 123], [184, 233], [236, 241], [244, 305], [523, 534], [556, 584], [623, 705], [1017, 1110], [2216, 2272], [2893, 2895], [2919, 2972], [328, 366], [407, 470], [523, 534], [556, 584], [623, 705], [1017, 1110], [2893, 2895], [2919, 2972], [1017, 1110], [1087, 1198], [2432, 2564], [2664, 2677], [2680, 2759], [0, 123], [127, 183], [706, 800], [867, 876], [883, 917], [918, 1016], [965, 1016], [1213, 1328], [1380, 1388], [1415, 1541], [2280, 2323]] |
David Tredinnick claimed medics should look to the stars to take the ` pressure ' off struggling hospitals . The NHS crisis could be solved if doctors used astrology , a Tory MP has claimed . David Tredinnick claimed medics should look to the stars to take the ` pressure ' off struggling hospitals . The MP for Bosworth in Leicestershire argued that astrology should ` have a role to play ' in healthcare . Mr Tredinnick is a member of the influential health select committee , as well as the committee for science and technology . He has also been vice chairman of the government 's herbal medicines working group . In an interview with this month 's Astrological Journal , he raised the prospect of using it to tackle problems in the NHS . He said : ` There would be a huge row over resources . ` However , I do believe that astrology and complementary medicine would help take the huge pressure off doctors . ` Ninety per cent of pregnant French women use homeopathy . Astrology is a useful diagnostic tool enabling us to see strengths and weaknesses via the birth chart . ` And , yes , I have helped fellow MPs . I do foresee that one day astrology will have a role to play in healthcare . ' Last year Mr Tredinnick suggested members of the public with health problems should turn to astrology for answers . He claimed astrology had a ` proven track record ' at helping people recover from sickness and should be incorporated in to standard medical treatments . In the new interview , Mr Tredinnick , claimed people who opposed astrology were ` racist ' . He said : ` The opposition -LRB- to astrology -RRB- is based on what I call the SIP formula - superstition , ignorance , and prejudice . ` It tends to be based on superstition , with scientists reacting emotionally , which is always a great irony . ` They are also ignorant , because they never study the subject and just say that it is all to do with what appears in the newspapers , which it is not , and they are deeply prejudiced , and racially prejudiced , which is troubling . ' The MP for Bosworth in Leicestershire claimed that almost all pregnant French women use astrology , which should ` have a role to play ' in healthcare . He added that opponents to astrology were ` bullies ' , saying : ` Astrology offers self-understanding to people . ` People who oppose what I say are usually bullies who have never studied astrology . ` They never look at it . They are absolutely dismissive . Astrology may not be capable of passing double-blind tests but it is based on thousands of years of observation . ` Hippocrates said , ' A physician without a knowledge of astrology has no right to call himself a physician , ' ` Astrology was until modern times part of the tradition of medicine . I think it is a great pity that so many scientists today are dismissive of right-side brain energy , such as intuition . ` People such as Professor Brian Cox , who called astrology ` rubbish ' have simply not studied the subject . ` The BBC is quite dismissive of astrology and seeks to promote the science perspective and seems always keen to broadcast criticisms of astrology . ' | David Tredinnick suggests astrology has a ` role to play ' in healthcare . Suggests medics look to the stars to ease pressure on hospitals . MP for Bosworth says people who oppose astrology were ` racist ' He argues that 90 per cent of pregnant French women use homeopathy . | [[0, 56], [25, 108], [192, 248], [217, 300], [301, 381], [351, 407], [618, 673], [676, 742], [1131, 1194], [2097, 2143], [2161, 2198], [0, 56], [25, 108], [192, 248], [217, 300], [301, 381], [351, 407], [618, 673], [676, 742], [810, 912], [166, 191], [301, 381], [1467, 1487], [1490, 1492], [1506, 1556], [943, 972]] |
If you have ever wondered how it might feel to be famous actor or rock star with a team of people to satisfy your every whim , then all you need is a phone . A service called Magic aims to provide users with anything they want - providing it 's legal - and all they have to do is send a text message . Once an operator receives the message , they ask follow-up questions , say how much an item will cost and arrange its delivery as quickly as possible . A service called Magic aims to provide users with anything they want -- providing it 's legal -- and all they have to do is send a text message -LRB- a screenshot from the website is shown -RRB- . Users can sign up to Magic 's service , which is currently only available in the US , by texting 408-217-1721 . The service is the brainchild of a company called Plus Labs in Mountain View , California . ` We have trained operators standing by 24/7 to answer every one of your requests , ' its website says . ` Send us a text message , and we 'll get you what you want . ' Trained operators answer the text message requests -LRB- examples are shown -RRB- and work out how to fulfill the request in the fastest and best way possible . For example , plane or rail tickets can be bought online and then emailed to the individual , while a service such as Instacart may be used to do the weekly shop . Users based in the US text 408-217-1721 with their request . Trained operators work out how to fulfil it and send a text back , asking more questions and then stating how much the service will cost , including a tip . The Californian company behind the service says it can be used for ` anything you want . As long as it 's not illegal ' . The first time someone uses it , they are send an encrypted message asking for their bank details and address etc. . These details are held by another service called Stripe , so this step can be skipped after the first use . Once a message is sent , it is left to the operator to work out how to fulfill the request in the fastest way possible . For example , plane or rail tickets can be bought online and then emailed to the individual , while a service such as Instacart may be used to do the weekly shop . ` We 'll order what you need from the appropriate service -LRB- e.g. DoorDash , Instacart , Postmates , etc -RRB- , and deal with them so you just automatically get what you want , like magic ... ' it added . The service makes money by charging a fee , or ` tip ' for its fixing service , which means that users pay two premiums for a supermarket shop , for example . But texting the number in the first place is free and Magic always tells the user the cost of using it to buy a product or service before it 's ordered . ` There are no hidden fees , and tip is included , ' the website added . Users of the service have to pay a ` tip ' for the convenience , but texting the number in the first place is free . Magic said it always tells the user the cost of using it to buy a product or service before it 's ordered -LRB- shown -RRB- . The first time an individual uses the service they are asked for their card details and address via a 128-bit encrypted link sent by text message . These details are then stored securely to make life easier afterwards . The processing of payments is handled by a service called Stripe , which means Magic does n't hold bank details itself . Bitcoin is also accepted as payment . The Magic service may seem extravagant to some , but last year , a phone from luxury manufacturer Vertu launched for # 6,750 -LRB- $ 11,380 -RRB- which comes with a 24-hour concierge service . Made of titanium , the Signature Touch handset has a screen protected by sapphire crystal and leather casing . Owners get a 24-hour concierge available via voice , email and live chat , while the built-in Vertu Life app offers exclusive access to sporting events and private members ' clubs worldwide . The Magic service may seem extravagent to some , but last year , a phone from luxury manufacturer Vertu -LRB- pictured -RRB- launched for # 6,750 -LRB- $ 11,380 -RRB- which comes with a 24-hour concierge service . Each Signature Touch phone is custom made , by hand , using grade 5 titanium and finished off with calfskin in a range of colours , including Claret Calf , Seaspray Lizard , and Jet Alligator . Its 4.7-inch , 1080p HD screen is protected by sapphire crystal and it features Digital Dolby Surround sound through its Bang and Olufsen speakers . On the rear of the device is a 13MP Hassleblad-certified camera - the firm that provided the cameras for the moon landings . The phone runs on Android KitKat 4.4 and comes with Vertu Life , Certainty and Concierge . According to the firm , the Life app is a ` passport to the world 's most exclusive events . ' Vertu 's 24-hour Concierge is a personal assistant that helps from ` tracking down a hard-to-find item to accessing tickets for high-profile events . ' While Vertu Certainty protects and encrypts calls and date , to make the handset secure and private . | Human operators read the texts and work out the best way to fulfill wishes . A text is sent telling the user how much their item will cost , for example . Item will be delivered as quickly as possible and a tip added to the charge . Service is only available in the US and only works for legal requests . | [[1024, 1184], [1075, 1089], [1110, 1184], [1410, 1474], [1914, 2034], [1939, 1941], [1953, 1956], [1966, 2034], [302, 339], [342, 346], [373, 453], [1410, 1427], [1503, 1566], [2754, 2769], [2774, 2793], [2794, 2856], [672, 688], [697, 734]] |
Killed himself : Shayne Austin was once offered immunity in exchange for his testimony against Jason Autry and Zach Adams in the Holly Bobo murder trial . A key witness in the case against nursing student Holly Bobo 's accused killers has been found dead . Lawyers for Shayne Austin said Wednesday that the Tennessee man who 'd once been offered immunity in exchange for his testimony against Zach Adams and Jason Autry killed himself somewhere outside the state . According to Austin 's lawyer Luke Evans , the offer of immunity had been rescinded at some point since Austin first made the agreement last March . Prosecutors took back the offer allegedly after discovering that Austin had not been untruthful and uncooperative . ` It 's unfortunate the government came in and made allegations without basis . People had to live with those allegations , ' Evans told WSMV . ` Mr. Austin 's position was that he was immune not just from being convicted of a crime , but charged with a crime . ' After the offer was taken away , Austin remained a person of interest in the case . An immunity hearing was scheduled for December , but had to be moved . ` They have yet to produce any specific incident to support their allegation to prove that he has been untruthful , ' Evans said of his client . Meanwhile , Adams and Autry both face charges of first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping . Zach Adams ' brother Dylan Adams is charged with raping Bobo . All have pleaded not guilty . At the time of Bobo 's disappearance , her brother told police he saw a man dressed in camouflage leading her into the woods near her home in Parsons , located about 110 miles east of Memphis . Last September , more than three years later , authorities said two men searching for ginseng found Bobo 's skull in a wooded area not far away . Bobo , a 20-year-old Tennessee nursing student , vanished in 2011 . Two suspects are set to stand trial for her slaying . However , Austin remained a suspect after prosecutors rescinded their offer of immunity on claims he was misleading them . Vanished : At the time of Bobo 's disappearance , her brother told police he saw a man dressed in camouflage leading her into the woods near her home in Parsons , located about 110 miles east of Memphis . Last September , more than three years later , authorities said two men searching for ginseng found Bobo 's skull in a wooded area not far away . Bobo 's disappearance and the subsequent lengthy search attracted national attention as authorities distributed posters with her photograph throughout the South . Prosecutors have not said whether they plan to seek the death penalty . Hearings scheduled for last month were postponed to an undetermined future date . Jennifer Lynn Thompson , Adams ' attorney , says state prosecutors have not even told her who found Bobo 's remains or where they were found . ' I do not understand what is happening , ' Thompson said . ' I have never before been involved in a case where there is no information about why my client was charged . ' In the motion to dismiss , Thompson and Fletcher Long , Autry 's lawyer , asked the judge to force prosecutors to produce ` all dental record analysis and forensic studies ' performed on the skull . Not a care in the world : Zachary Adams -LRB- center -RRB- also charged in Bobo 's murder but defense attorneys for both him and fellow accused killer Jason Autry say the prosecution has produced zero evidence of their guilt . Adams has been in jail since March and Autry has been in jail since April . At a court hearing Dec. 17 , Decatur County Circuit Judge Creed McGinley expressed concern that prosecutors had not yet provided key evidence to defense attorneys . He ordered the state to begin turning it over by Dec. 24 . Thompson says the state missed that deadline . Then , TBI Director Mark Gwyn -- who has said the Bobo investigation has been the most exhaustive and expensive in agency history -- announced he was suspending all work on the case after District Attorney Matt Stowe accused TBI agents of misconduct . Stowe took office Sept. 1 after defeating District Attorney Hansel McCadams , who had indicted Adams and Autry . The dispute was only resolved after Stowe stepped down from the case and Jennifer Nichols , a Shelby County attorney who was Stowe 's co-counsel on the case and who had worked with death-penalty cases , was appointed as a special prosecutor . She is the third prosecutor in the case , which Stowe said is unusual . All smiled : Jason Autry , charged with 20-year-old Hollly Bobo 's kidnapping and murder , smiles during a December hearing . He said the fact that multiple prosecutors have been involved , plus the complex nature of the case , have contributed to the delays . ` We 're talking about terabytes and terabytes of information , ' he said . Attorney Steve Farese , who represents the Bobo family , said the recent developments in the case are ` different ' than in other cases , and he acknowledged that the family is concerned with how the case is going . ` But they understand that this is a tedious process and they want to make sure everyone has their t 's crossed and their i 's dotted and to get this thing done right , ' Farese said . Later , Farese added : ` No one should lose focus that this is about justice . ' | Shayne Austin was allegedly ties to the 2011 murder of Tennessee 20-year-old nursing student Bobo . While he 's never been indicted along with Zach Adams and Jason Autry , his original immunity had reportedly been rescinded . It was announced Monday that he 'd been found dead , apparently from suicide , somewhere outside of Tennessee . | [[506, 613], [1956, 2043], [155, 256], [408, 464]] |
Three boxes of evidence from the investigation into the 1979 disappearance and presumed death of schoolboy Etan Patz have turned up while a suspect is on trial for the killing , and his attorney said Monday she could have to seek a mistrial or at least recall witnesses who have already testified . Alice Fontier , one of the attorneys representing Pedro Hernandez , said there were more than 1,400 pages of information on the case in one box alone . ` Given this massive disclosure at this point , in the middle of the trial , there may be issues , ' she said . ` We may need to recall some of their witnesses . We may need to move for a mistrial . ' His word : Pedro Hernandez 's lawyers say that he is mentally ill and that his statements to police that he killed Etan Patz are fiction . Now the entire trial could be in jeopardy after several boxes of evidence reemerged . Fightt for justice : Stanley Patz , at court in New York City earlier this month . The boxes were found recently at a Harlem police station that covers public housing complexes in the area , prosecutors said late last week . The location is miles from the precinct near where Etan disappeared on May 25 , 1979 , as he walked to school . Etan 's body has never been found , and he was declared dead in 2001 . The boxes contain police records from the investigation , notes from assistant district attorneys who worked on the case and handwritten memos from a detective who investigated longtime suspect Jose Ramos , who was never charged . . Some of the information involves two informants who were working with prosecutors to try to link Ramos to Etan 's death . Other boxes contain missing-person posters , records of people arrested and catalogs of files made by the original detective on the case . Assistant District Attorney Joan Illuzzi-Orbon said last week that prosecutors were working to turn over the information to the defense attorneys . They are still working on copying one box , she said Monday . Outside court , defense attorney Harvey Fishbein said it 's unclear what 's in the documents but he hopes they wo n't affect the case and he does n't want a mistrial . ` We want it resolved for Mr. Hernandez , ' he said . ` He 's been in jail for three years , so we definitely want to continue this case . ' Hernandez , a former bodega worker , pleaded not guilty to Etan 's murder after telling police he strangled the boy . Confession : Pedro Hernandez , pictured in 2012 , was seen confessing to the murder of Etan Patz in a videotaped confession . The discussion about the boxes of evidence came as jurors watched a second videotaped confession and a shaky cellphone camera video taken by police that shows Hernandez leading them from the former location of the bodega to where he said he dumped the body . In the other video , Hernandez admits to detectives that he choked the boy and put him in a bag , but he says the boy was alive at the time . He sobs while he speaks . Hernandez , most recently a resident of Maple Shade , New Jersey , confessed in 2012 to choking Etan in the basement of the SoHo convenience store where he worked as a stock clerk . He told police he put the boy 's body in a bag , stuck the bag in a box and walked it down the street , where he dumped it with some curbside trash . His defense says the admissions were the fictional ravings of a mentally ill man with a low IQ who did n't understand his right to silence . Hernandez 's defense plans to call some people involved with the investigation into Ramos , a convicted child molester who remains jailed on a Megan 's Law violation . Missing : Patz disappeared on May 25 , 1979 and was never seen again . Hernandez said he strangled the boy and put his body in the trash . | Boxes turned up last week at a police warehouse in Harlem . Only portions of the casework were turned over to accused Patz killer Pedro Hernandez 's lawyers . There are pages of information ranging from police records from the decades-long investigation to handwritten notes from detectives . | [[960, 1016], [1285, 1340], [1354, 1382], [1387, 1444]] |
Hi-tech criminals are increasingly selling live streams of child rape over legitimate chat sites and apps such as Skype for hard-to-trace virtual currencies like Bitcoin , Europol has warned . ` Criminals that sexually exploit children online are becoming more entrepreneurial with technological developments and are profiting financially , ' Europe 's policing agency said in a special report released today on the commercial sexual exploitation of children online . Compiled by Europol 's EC3 cybercrime centre , together with Eurojust , non-governmental organisations and credit card and online giants such as Google and Microsoft , the report paints a disturbing picture of rising online child abuse . Sickening : Criminal gangs recruit disadvantaged children or their own children for the abuse , which is then streamed online via websites such as Skype . The sale of child abuse live streams over legitimate chat sites or video chat apps is much harder to trace than when the abuse is sold from a website . ` The research shows that the live streaming of abuse for payment is no longer an emerging trend but an established reality , ' the report said . Criminal gangs recruit disadvantaged children or their own children for the abuse . ` These persons offer homeless children or children from their own family for the sexual abuse by individuals , live in front of a camera , in the European Union or developing countries , for financial gain , ' the report said . Filippino police recently busted a paedophile ring that streamed live rape involving children as young as six , the report said . Cryptocurrency : Hi-tech criminals are increasingly selling live streams of child rape over legitimate chat sites and apps such as Skype for hard-to-trace virtual currencies like Bitcoin . Police rescued 15 victims aged between six and 15 , and arrested 29 people including gang members and people who allegedly paid to watch the abuse in 13 countries . Over 700 other suspected purchasers of online child abuse filmed in the Philippines have been identified , Europol said . Like using legitimate , mainstream chat sites to broadcast the abuse , payment using virtual currencies such as Bitcoin also makes the criminals harder to trace than if they were taking credit card payments . Last year investigators for the first time came across child abuse being sold exclusively for Bitcoins , the report said . Police and the private sector should monitor the Internet for the growth of alternative forms of payment ` as a potential consequence of further migration from traditional payment systems to a new , largely unregulated digital economy , ' Europol said . Bitcoin operates as a two-way currency which can be exchanged for dollars , and vice versa . The notion behind it is to facilitate cheap , anonymous transactions policed by its community of users and is built around trust rather than relying on institutions like governments or banks . Bitcoin 's status as a digital currency is debatable . It is entirely a digital product but is not regulated and it has a limit of 21million , which is predicted to last until 2140 . The finite nature of Bitcoins means it performs more like a commodity , such as gold . Bitcoin first emerged in 2008 and launched as a network in 2009 . It was created by a hacker whose identity is a mystery , but is known as Satoshi Nakamoto . This is thought to be a pseudonym for the person or group who created it . Each Bitcoin is a piece of computer code that has been generated through very slow computer processing , also known as ` mining ' . Users choose a virtual wallet from one of the various providers which enables them to receive , give and trade coins from other users . Bitcoin 's can be bought from specialist online currency exchanges and online marketplaces such as eBay . | Criminal gangs are using live video-streaming sites to show child rape . They charge paedophiles Bitcoins to view the footage , Europol warned . Currency is difficult to trace , protecting the identity of those watching . Live streams also leave little to no permanent record of rape taking place . Details emerged as part of Europol 's special report on the commercial sexual exploitation of children online . | [[0, 169], [193, 242], [313, 338], [790, 799], [808, 815], [825, 860], [790, 799], [811, 860], [1472, 1581], [1619, 1790], [1995, 2039], [172, 192], [1893, 1899], [1904, 1955], [2335, 2389], [2649, 2663], [343, 393], [377, 467]] |
A carpenter looking to build and sell sheds , instead built a home fit for a hobbit . A hobbit that likes its creature comforts . Randy Jones , a carpenter for 22 years , was researching how best to build small storage buildings out of leftover materials when he came across the tiny house trend that has become so popular and spawned books , blogs and a TV show . With years of experience building log cabins he was up for a challenge on a different scale . Tiny houses have to be smaller than 500 square feet but still include all the luxuries of a larger house cleverly tucked away inside . Scroll down for video . Randy Jones originally set out to build and sell small storage buildings but came across the popular tiny house trend in his research and decided to base his first project on J.R.R. Tolkien 's description of a hobbit home . As described in the classic book ` The Hobbit ' , hobbit homes have round doors and are sunk into the ground . Jones covered the roof of his tiny home with ivy to create that effect . Jones ' first project is located , not in Hobbiton , The Shire , but in Morristown , Tennessee . Wanting to stand out from the crowd and capture part of the market , an inspired Jones decided that his first effort would be based on the hobbit houses described in J.R.R. Tolkien 's books ` The Hobbit ' and ` The Lord of the Rings ' trilogy . ` You have to compete . Anyone can build a small house that 's a carpenter , so you have to do something unique that people do n't know how to do , ' Jones told the Citizen Tribune . The 200 square foot home has wood sides , a rounded roof covered in ivy - a nod to the fact that hobbit holes are supposed to be underground - and the famous round door . Tiny houses require smart design inside , and the hobbit house manages to include a full kitchen with farmer-style sink , a full bathroom , a couch , a bed , dining table , a flat-screen TV , and a washer and dryer . Video courtesy of WATE . Jones has been a carpenter for 22 years and was keen to create something unique to grab a share of the market for tiny houses . Inside the hobbit house there is a full kitchen with farmer-style sink , washer , dryer and lots of storage . The house also has a water heater , central heating and air conditioning . The bedroom is separated from the living area by sliding doors and has a twin-size bed that flips out into a queen-size bed to accommodate two . A cozy couch on one side of the living area by the kitchen sits opposite a wall-mounted flat-screen TV . The house has all the creature comforts of a larger home . ` We put a few nicer amenities in it to catch the eye ; the sink is one of them , ' Jones said . ` The bed is a single , but it flips out to a queen . The dining room table flips up and down to save space . There is a water heater , central heat and air and everything is electric . ' Jones has ambitions to build more tiny homes once the hobbit house is sold and is exploring basing new ones on the houses in ` Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs ' and ` South Pacific ' . His imagination has no end and he has also begun thinking about building homes on barges and adding solar panels . While he aims to continue building unique homes , he will customize them for buyers as requested . The movie ` The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey ' , starring Martin Freeman -LRB- pictured -RRB- and directed by Peter Jackson , was released in 2012 and based on the book by J.R.R. Tolkein . Hobbits live in the fictional town of Hobbiton which was recreated for the filming of the movie outside the town of Matamata , New Zealand . | Tennessee carpenter Randy Jones has jumped on the trend for tiny houses by building one based on the homes described in ` The Hobbit ' The house has a round door , wooden shingles and an ivy-covered roof , but tucked away inside are all the modern conveniences of a larger home . A full kitchen , dining table , washer and dryer , sofa and flat-screen TV are found in the living area . Through sliding doors there is a full bathroom and separate bedroom which has a twin-bed that converts into a queen-sized bed . A water heater , central heating and air-conditioning are also included . Jones hopes to build more tiny houses based on other books and movies once the hobbit house sells . | [[0, 43], [46, 85], [618, 629], [756, 841], [1192, 1203], [1210, 1275], [1258, 1312], [459, 470], [515, 563], [549, 593], [953, 1025], [1551, 1590], [1593, 1721], [2527, 2585], [1768, 1938], [2092, 2201], [2422, 2526], [2277, 2339], [2277, 2288], [2344, 2421], [2711, 2736], [2202, 2211], [2217, 2276], [2819, 2868], [2871, 2915], [2871, 2876], [2891, 2945], [2921, 2937], [2950, 3051]] |
The founder of Bikram yoga has been hit with yet another sex assault lawsuit as studios begin to drop his name in the first sign his empire may be crumbling . Bikram Choudhury , 69 , has been accused of raping a student during a teacher training event in the spring of 2010 when there was a 46 year age gap between them . Jill Lawler alleged that Choudhury , whose followers include Madonna and Demi Moore , also assaulted her again after saying he would ` make her a champion ' . The lawsuit is the sixth such legal claim against Choudhury , who counts Chelsea Clinton and George Clooney among his admirers . Bikram Choudhury has been accused by another woman , Jill Lawler , right , of raping her as a teengager . Choudhury pioneered Bikram yoga , also known as ` hot yoga ' , which involves participants working out in a room heated in excess of 40C -LRB- 104F -RRB- . It has become such a success that are now around 720 Bikram Yoga schools in 220 countries including dozens in the UK . Andy Murray also put his ascent up the world tennis rankings down to Bikram Yoga and David Beckham has also reportedly tried it . But the New York Times has reported that in the U.S. , several yoga studio owners have removed Bikram from their names because they do n't want to be associated with it any more . In California , Tiffany Friedman renamed her Bikram studio Haute Yogi Manhattan Beach and began offering a different range of classes . She described Bikram as ` cultish ' and said that people believed that Choudhury ` was a guru with all these powers ' . In her lawsuit Lawler said that that at the age of just 18 she signed up for a # 6,000 teacher-training course in Las Vegas in spring 2010 . Pioneer : Choudhury , pictured , leads a yoga class in 2003 . He pioneered Bikram yoga , also known as ` hot yoga ' , which involves participants working out in a room heated in excess of 40C . At the time Choudhury would have been 64 . The lawsuit states : ` Bikram Yoga was her calling , and that her purpose was to share it with as many people as possible . ' Bikram yoga , named after and devised by Bikram Choudhury , is based on regular hatha yoga , but performed in 100F temperatures . Fans claim that it not only leaves them stronger and more flexible than standard yoga , it also helps them shed weight fast . Choudhury began practising yoga in Calcutta at the age of three , spending up to six hours a day perfecting his poses . At 13 he won the National India Yoga Championship and went on to devise the 26 ` asanas ' -LRB- poses -RRB- and two breathing methods that form the core of Bikram yoga . He claims to have been invited to the U.S. in 1973 by President Nixon to help him improve his health through yoga . He also claims to have taught yoga to Reagan and Clinton and has a legion of celebrity fans . including Lady Gaga , Madonna , Jennifer Aniston and tennis champion Andy . Murray . Choudhury says Bikram works because the 100F heat loosens the muscles , helping them to go further than they would otherwise . Yogis perform the series of poses , pushing their bodies to the limit , and are encouraged to drink vast quantities of water to replace that lost by sweat . Teachers say that if it gets too much for they , they should lie on the floor or leave the room for lower temperatures . Students , who carry a towel to mop up their sweat , are taught to watch out for danger signs including nausea , lightheadedness and dizziness . Lawler , a Canadian , says that she massaged Choudhury for hours as they watched Bollywood films together and at one point he groped her . He later apologized and said he would ` make her a champion ' . Weeks after that however Choudhury asked Lawler to come to his hotel room where he sexually assaulted her , it is claimed . The lawsuit states that Lawler continued doing Bikram yoga for years and that Choudhury 's abuse continued on multiple occasions , the most recent being in February 2013 . Lawler taught her last Bikram class in July 2014 and is now working as a waitress . She was too afraid to speak up until now , she says . In the lawsuit Lawler states : ' I went through total hell . What happened to me was awful . I 'll probably always have bad dreams . ' A previous lawsuit was filed by another of Choudhury 's followers , Sarah Baughn , who said that in the mid 2000s he whispered sexual things in her ear even though she was 38 years his junior . During one exchange Choudhury supposedly said : ` Should we make this a relationship ? I know you from a past life , and I have this feeling about you . ` In your culture , you call it love ; I ca n't love , you know that -LRB- he had lectured on his beliefs on love and marriage the night before -RRB- but that is how I feel about you . When Miss Baughn rebuffed his advances Choudhury is said to have sabotaged the her career as a yoga instructor . Mary Shea Hagebols , a lawyer for the six women suing Choudhury , said that the cases were all ` moving very quickly ' . She said : ` Any stays have been lifted , and we 're moving full steam ahead . ' Choudhury began practising yoga in Calcutta at the age of four . He went to the US in 1973 at the invitation of President Nixon who was suffering from phlebitis and at the urging of actress Shirley MacLaine . Accusers : Larissa Anderson -LRB- left -RRB- and Sarah Baughn -LRB- right -RRB- are among other who have sued Choudhury . Over the years his devotees have included Martin Sheen and Michael Jackson . He now lives in the Hollywood Hills with multi-million pound fortune and a fleet of 40 Rolls Royces . Choudhury is known for being outspoken in his self-belief and has in the past likened himself to Superman or Buddha . He once told a business magazine the key to his success was ` because I have balls like atom bombs , two of them , 100 megatons each . Nobody f **** with me ' . He has also raised eyebrows by obtaining the copyright for the 26 postures and breathing exercises that make up the 90-minute Bikram Yoga routine . In a statement Choudhury said : ` Their claims are false and dishonor Bikram yoga and the health and spiritual benefits it has brought to the lives of millions of practitioners throughout the world . ` After a thorough investigation , the Los Angeles County district attorney declined to file any sexual assault charges against Mr Choudhury or the college for lack of evidence . ' | Bikram Choudhury , 69 , has been accused of assaulting a student 46 years his junior at a teacher training event in Las Vegas 2010 . It is the sixth such legal claim against him - but he denies the accusations . He pioneered Bikram yoga , also known as hot yoga , but several studio owners have now dropped ` Bikram ' from the name to end the association . | [[0, 76], [159, 175], [178, 180], [183, 273], [279, 321], [0, 76], [481, 540], [716, 747], [736, 747], [755, 774], [1125, 1247], [1162, 1300], [1760, 1784], [1773, 1784], [1792, 1811]] |
A transgender model who recreated an iconic naked photo of Adam Levine has caused a sensation online when the image went viral . Aydian Dowling , 27 , an advocate for transgender issues , vlogger and entrepreneur , worked with Jason Robert Ballard , publisher of transgender-focused magazine FTM , to recreate the image for the magazine 's April 2015 issue . Ballard had seen similarities between Dowling 's physique and that of Maroon 5 singer and ` The Voice ' coach Levine and suggested they did a version of the 2011 pose . Levine 's picture was originally taken by Ben Riggot and published by Cosmopolitan in the UK to raise awareness of testicular and prostate cancer . His genitals were covered by the hands of his girlfriend at the time Anne Vyalitsyna . Scroll down for videos . Aydian Dowling recreated the pose made famous by Maroon 5 's Adam Levine . He is quoted as saying : ` Some areas of my body used to remind me of everything I 'm not , now they represent everything I am ' Dowling 's recreation comes with the quote : ` Some areas of my body used to remind me of everything I 'm not , now they represent everything I am . ' As the photo went viral , the response Ballard and Dowling received has been incredibly supportive . ' -LSB- W -RSB- e 've received almost unanimous support for it and our attempts at creating visibility for the trans masculine spectrum , ' Ballard told The Huffington Post . ` We by no means mean to say that this is what all transgender males look like , but this is what one of us looks like and it 's no different from our cisgender counterparts . ' ` We 've had comments saying `` he does n't look trans '' which brings up a great point on what does trans even look like ? ' he added . ` Perhaps we 're struggling so hard for our rights here because people have a false sense of who we are . So besides the entertainment factor of a sexy naked man , there is a element of positive visibility too . ' Dowling , orginally from Patchogue , Long Island , admitted to being nervous about the shoot but was keen to challenge people 's assumptions of what a trans man might look like . ` I 'm a pretty vulnerable guy , so I was a little nervous about it . I asked my wife how she would feel and we thought the cause was better than the insecurity , ' Dowling , who has been married to his wife Jenilee for three years , told Metro . Jenilee took on the role of Levine 's girlfriend , and those are her manicured hands covering up Dowling 's private parts . Dowling is on the cover of the April 2015 issue of FTM magazine , which focuses on the female to male transgender community . YouTube.com . Dowling talked about the photo going viral on his YouTube channel , A Lions Fears , on which he also documented his own transition -LRB- videos below -RRB- . In 2011 , he was chosen as one of three LGBT persons to have their stories showcased on the Emmy Nominated It Gets Better Project on MTV . Dowling and Jenilee , who live in Oregon , spoke at the time of their soon to be wedding and the challenges transgendered couples face when planning to wed. . In 2011 he also launched Point5cc , a clothing company designed to highlight transgender pride . The company also supplies free binders to those in need and offers scholarships , annually , for individual surgery funds . | Aydian Dowling , 27 , was asked to recreate the iconic photo of Adam Levine for female-to-male transgender magazine FTM . The original photo of Levine was published by Cosmopolitan in the UK in 2011 to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer . Dowling and FTM publisher Jason Robert Ballard hoped to create awareness of issues facing transgender individuals . ` We 've received almost unanimous support for it and our attempts at creating visibility for the trans masculine spectrum , ' said Ballard . Dowling documented his own transition on his YouTube channel and is also the owner of a clothing line that supports trans causes . The manicured hands belong to Jenilee , his wife of three years . | [[0, 19], [24, 70], [0, 128], [788, 862], [2549, 2561], [2570, 2623], [528, 545], [585, 675], [1143, 1166], [1169, 1243], [1246, 1379], [2731, 2733], [2739, 2795], [3130, 3190], [2273, 2287], [2292, 2334], [2343, 2358], [2429, 2458]] |
There was shock when Gone Girl -- a film that made over $ 300m worldwide -- was snubbed at the Oscars this week . Rosamund Pike , the film 's star , was nominated for Best Actress for her portrayal of Amy Dunne , who is beautiful , intelligent and seemingly innocent ; until we learn she is actually a ruthless psychopath taking revenge for her husband 's infidelity by framing her own murder . In the famous shower scene at the end of the film , jaws dropped as Rosamund slipped off her dress and revealed an envious body with incredible muscle definition . In fact , Rosamund had to undergo four cycles of weight gain and loss to suit the sequence of filming . Now , her personal trainer , professional fighter Holly Lawson , explains to how Rosamund achieved such a toned physique ... Scroll down for video . Rosamund Pike was nominated for Best Actress at the 87th Academy Awards in Los Angeles , US for her portrayal of Amy Dunne in Gone Girl . Rosamund is pictured wearing a hot red Givenchy Haute Couture gown to the ceremony . Sizzling in a slitted strapless Givenchy gown ! Check out more Givenchy designs at Neiman Marcus . Visit site . Just a few weeks after giving birth , Rosamund Pike shows off an absolutely enviable waist line in a corseted , strapless , slitted Givenchy gown . Obviously made just for her , this dress shows off her incredible almost unearthly figure ! We are absolutely entranced by the lacework but the most obvious eye catching attribute of this dress is the color . Red as roses or rubies , this will certainly make one a head turner if worn . Being a lady in red is no easy feat so we suggest styling this dress exactly the way Rosamund did : with a simple ballerina 's bun and bare collarbones . Since we 're not best friends with Riccardo Tisci , head designer of Givenchy , we do n't think we 'll be getting a custom made Givenchy gown soon . But we found some very suitable substitutes that give us all that wow factor . Faviana Strapless Sweetheart Chiffon Gown at Zappos . Visit site . Sean Collection dress at Nordstrom . Visit site . J.Crew Arabella long silk dress -LRB- Now $ 239 -RRB- . Visit site . Adrianna Papell dress at Nordstrom . Visit site . Critics were shocked when Gone Girl - which made over $ 300 worldwide - received no awards at the Oscars . Rosamund is pictured at the premiere of Gone Girl -LRB- left -RRB- and at the Critic Choice 's awards -LRB- right -RRB- in January . Different weights for different scenes . When Amy Dunne runs off in Gone Girl , she packs on a few pounds as part of her disguise , only to return with a killer bob haircut and an even more killer body . The film , which was shot out of sequence , required Rosamund to put on almost a stone and a half -LRB- 9kg -RRB- and shed it over and over again so her body was in synch with her character 's , Healthista reports . It 's an understatement to say that her trainer , Mixed Martial Arts -LRB- MMA -RRB- fighter Holly Lawson knows a thing or two about training for muscle gain and weight loss , since fighters constantly have to gain or lose weight rapidly to stay in a particular weight class . Rosamund was forced to gain 20 lbs -LRB- 9kg -RRB- in two and a half weeks during Gone Girl , and then lose 15 lbs -LRB- 6.8 kg -RRB- in ten days . She put on the weight through lifting heavy weights and then eating carbs to gain fat . In order to lose more than a stone for the final scenes of Gone Girl , Rosamund ate only protein , fat and vegetables , as well as carrying out twice daily plyometrics - resistance moves using body weight . Alkaline water is water with a pH balance of 7 or more - close to the body 's natural 7.3-7 .4 - and it 's believed to help reduce inflammation . You can buy alkaline drops that make the water more alkaline or add alkalising substances to it such as lemon or baking soda . The natural pH of water depends on where you 're getting it and it tends to range from 6-8 .5 pH. Because alkaline water has a higher pH level than plain tap water , proponents say that it can neutralise acid in the bloodstream . This apparently boosts metabolism and helps the body absorb nutrients more effectively , it is claimed . Some even say that alkaline water can help prevent disease and slow the aging process . However , researchers have not verified these claims , say doctors at the Mayo Clinic . Some studies suggests that alkaline water may help slow bone loss , but further investigation is needed to determine if this influences overall bone mineral density and if the benefit is maintained over the long term . This made Lawson the perfect person to train Rosamund and keep her at the appropriate weight for filming . ` What I did was employ a lot of the stuff I learned from fighting into the training with Rosamund , ' Ms Lawson told Healthista journalist Nicola Dall ` Asen . ` I know how far you can push the body and I knew how to bulk her up with water weight and later strip it out . ' Ms Lawson took Rosamund through four separate training cycles , to gain weight twice and to lose weight twice . The two different goals made for two very different diet and exercise regimes . When Ms Lawson was hired she had a mere two and a half weeks to help Rosamund gain 20lbs -LRB- 9kg -RRB- , but made sure that there a solid muscle foundation underneath the weight gain . ` I put a lot of lean muscle on her , then some fat on top so when she leaned out she looked really good , ' Ms Lawson said . Building muscle . She put on 8lbs -LRB- 3.6 kg -RRB- of lean muscle , to be exact . To get there as fast as possible , Ms Lawson had Pike lifting the heaviest weights possible . The workout was a basic weight lifting regime : squats , deadlifts , lunges , curls and other simple moves -- but Rosamund was maxing out -LRB- that 's lifting as much as is physically possible for you -RRB- in eight repetitions . That built a base of muscle that later became the reason for Pike 's incredible definition in the film 's ending scenes . Rosamund is no stranger to weight loss , showcasing her trim body following the birth of her second son , Atom , in December 2014 . She is pictured while pregnant with Atom -LRB- left -RRB- and after giving birth -LRB- right -RRB- , attending the Golden Globes in Beverly Hills . Rosamund 's personal trainer was Holly Lawson , a professional fighter . Ms Lawson is pictured at an awards ceremony in Hollywood , US . Gaining weight for Amy 's chubby scenes . Ms Lawson 's diet for Rosamund 's weight gain cycle included as much ` good fat ' and protein as she wanted -- foods like avocados , almond butter and salmon , and very few carbs . Ms Lawson says these fats are necessary for muscle gain and tone because they ` feed ' your muscles the proper nutrients to grow . Then , a few days before the filming day , Rosamund was allowed to go crazy with carbs and dense foods to put a layer of fat on top of all the hard work she had just done . So the next time you 're watching the movie and Amy 's looking a little chubbier than before , remember there 's a six pack under there somewhere . Slimming back down for that shower scene . Then , before the famous shower scene she had ten days to lose 15 pounds -LRB- 6.8 kg -RRB- . Both the diet and the workout changed completely - with carbs completely banned . ` That 's when she was really eating like a fighter , ' Ms Lawson said . She compares the diet for the weight loss cycle to the Paleo diet : Rosamund ate three meals a day involving a ton of leafy greens and drank alkaline water like it was nobody 's business . The workout consisted of plyometrics -LRB- resistance moves involving jumping using your own body weight -RRB- and high intensity cardio -LRB- and a whole lot of running -RRB- . Every day 's plyometrics day was different -- some days were just upper body , some just lower body , and some days were full-body workouts . These workouts involved heart-pumping and toning moves like burpees , mountain climbers , and planks , planks , planks . ` We 'd do five million variations of plank all day every day . We 'd do groupings of exercises and the last rotation was always a plank , ' she said . In the week leading up to the shower scene , Ms Lawson was training with Rosamund twice a day . The diet and workout regimes sound brutal to say the least . It 's a real testament to how a great attitude can lead you to amazing results . Pike serves as the perfect example . ` She 's really very all-in with everything she does . Once she 's in , she 's in , ' Ms Lawson said . | Oscar-nominated Rosamund had to undergo 4 intense cycles of weight gain and loss to suit the sequence of filming of Gone Girl . Holly Lawson is a professional fighter and Rosamund Pike 's trainer . Rosamund had to gain 20 lbs in two weeks and then lose it in 10 days . Lifted the heaviest weight possible to gain muscle then ate carbs to get fat . When it was time to lose weight , switched to a Paleo diet of protein and fat . 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About 20 Florida manatees been freed from a storm drain near Cape Canaveral , Florida , where they are believed to have gotten stuck in search of warmer water amid the Florida cold-snap . Rescue workers are continuing the effort to save the seacows today , but the total number of manatees stuck in the culvert is not yet known . Officials said the warmth-loving creatures , which can weigh up to half a ton , were likely following warm freshwater out of frigid seawater into the underground drains when they became stuck . Desperate rescue : Rescuers with SeaWorld and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission brought in earth moving equipment in a desperate bid to pull 17 trapped manatees out of a coastal community 's storm culvert . Workers first hauled the endangered mammals out one-by-one before winching them up to ground level , assessing them for injuries and then lowering them back into a nearby waterway . Looking for warmth : The animals were likely trying to find warmth inside the culverts , but did not have room to turn back around , nor can they swim backwards . Video footage show a rescuer comforting one manatee floating at the opening of the pipe , which was cut open during the hours-long rescue . The footage , posted online by Central Florida News 13 and Florida Today newspaper , also showed a manatee being carried in a sling to a nearby canal , where it was released to cheers from onlookers , and two other manatees being petted after being hoisted out of the water by heavy machinery . A team from SeaWorld and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have been working along with police and firefighters , since yesterday . Inside the culverts , the manatees do not have room to turn back around , nor can they swim backwards . The Sunshine State has experienced a serious cold snap in recent days and temperatures have dropped low enough to threaten the endangered mammals ' lives . Rescued : Among the first manatees pulled out were a calf and its mother . Their state of health was not immediately known but they , like all the manatees , were released back into a nearby waterway . After using earth moving equipment to pull out the manatees , a rescue worker assessed each 's health before they were lifted once again and placed back in safe waters . Not winter hard : Here , scores of West Indian manatees huddle near a freshwater spring at Three Sisters Springs inside the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Crystal River , Fla. . The warm-blooded aquatic creatures which live in the shallow confines of the river seek the warmth of the 72-degree spring water when temperatures plummet . ` It 's been cold lately and these canals are all filled with manatees , ' Satellite Beach Fire Chief Don Hughes said . ' I would n't even begin to venture a guess as to how they got into the drainage pipes . They will go wherever there 's warm water . ' Rescuers brought heavy earth-moving equipment to the Satellite Beach neighborhood , located on a barrier island along the Atlantic Ocean . Workers were expected to be there through the evening as they desperately tried to pull the creatures from what would otherwise become their grave . Among the first of the manatees , also known as sea cows , pulled one-by-one from the drain were a mother and her calf . After using earth moving equipment to pull out the manatees , a rescue worker assessed each 's health before they were lifted once again and placed back in safe waters . | At least 17 of the endangered mammals were pulled from a culvert in an Atlantic Coast barrier island community . The animals had to be pulled out from the storm drain one-by-one . Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission worked overnight . Manatees likely filed into drain in search of warmer water amid cold snap . | [[0, 75], [657, 668], [673, 746], [2957, 2989], [2992, 3046], [0, 75], [657, 668], [673, 746], [768, 805], [3196, 3227], [3255, 3287], [1527, 1654], [1657, 1674], [3047, 3100], [3047, 3054], [3069, 3108], [88, 187], [330, 498], [950, 1015], [1779, 1848]] |
George Zimmerman , the former neighborhood watch volunteer who fatally shot Trayvon Martin in a 2012 confrontation with the teenager , will not face federal charges , the Justice Department said on Tuesday . The decision , announced in the waning days of Attorney General Eric Holder 's tenure , resolves a case that focused on self-defense gun laws and became a flashpoint in the national conversation about race two years before the Ferguson , Missouri , police shooting . Zimmerman has said he acted in self-defense when he shot the 17-year-old Martin during a confrontation inside a gated community in Sanford , Florida , just outside Orlando . Martin , who was black , was unarmed when he was killed . Scroll down for videos . In the clear ? George Zimmerman , left , will not federal charges over the 2012 shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin , right , it has been claimed . Once Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder by a state jury in July 2013 , Martin 's family turned to the federal investigation in hopes that he would be held accountable for the shooting . That probe focused on whether the killing amounted to a federal civil rights violation , which would have required proof that it was motivated by racial animosity . Although Martin 's parents have said Zimmerman initiated the fight , the Justice Department said there was not enough evidence to establish that Zimmerman willfully deprived Martin of his civil rights - a difficult legal standard to meet - or killed the teenager on account of his race . This decision is limited strictly to the department 's inability to meet the high legal standard required to prosecute the case under the federal civil rights statutes ; it does not reflect an assessment of any other aspect of the shooting , ' the Justice Department said in a news release announcing the decision Tuesday . Zimmerman 's attorney , Don West , was on a flight and could n't immediately comment on the decision . Martin 's parents were too distraught after their meeting in Miami with Justice Department officials to speak with reporters , their attorney Ben Crump said . Protests : Thousands took to the streets across America after Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of 17-year-old Martin . The Justice Department 's decision not to file federal charges against Zimmerman was expected but still ' a bitter pill to swallow , ' he said . ` What they told his family and I was that because Trayvon was n't able to tell us his version of events , there was a lack of evidence to bring the charges . That 's the tragedy , ' Crump said . Later the family did release a statement in which they said they were ` disappointed ' by the findings . ` Although we are disappointed in these findings , it has steeled our resolve to continue traveling the country with the message of the Trayvon Martin Foundation which is dedicated to protecting our youth and empowering those who demand justice and peace , ' said Martin 's family in a statement . ` We remain poised to do everything in our power to help eradicate senseless violence in our communities , because we do n't want any other parent to experience the unexplainable loss we have endured . ` We will never , ever forget what happened to our son , Trayvon , and will honor his memory by working tirelessly to make the world a better place . ' Anger : Demonstrators gather in New York 's Time Square to demanded justice a day after Zimmerman was found not guilty . The February 2012 confrontation began after Zimmerman saw Martin while driving in his neighborhood . Zimmerman called police and got out of his car and approached Martin , who was returning from a store while visiting his father and his father 's fiancee at the same townhome complex where Zimmerman lived . Zimmerman did not testify at his trial , but he told investigators that he feared for his life as Martin straddled him and punched him during the fight . The decision to not prosecute Zimmerman comes even though Holder has made civil rights a cornerstone of his tenure . The Justice Department is also moving to resolve a separate high-profile civil rights case - the August shooting by a Ferguson police officer of Michael Brown , an unarmed black 18-year-old . The killing sparked weeks of protests . Days after Zimmerman was acquitted , Holder said he considered Martin 's death an ` unnecessary shooting . ' In a news release on Tuesday , Holder echoed remarks he made in the shooting 's aftermath . ` Though a comprehensive investigation found that the high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution can not be met under the circumstances here , this young man 's premature death necessitates that we continue the dialogue and be unafraid of confronting the issues and tensions his passing brought to the surface , ' Holder said . ` We , as a nation , must take concrete steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future . ' February 26th , 2012 - George Zimmerman , a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford , Florida , calls 911 to make a report of ' a suspicious person ' . He is told by officers not to leave his vehicle but disregards this . Moments later residents report hearing a gunshot and police arrive to find Trayvon Martin dead . Zimmerman tells police that he shot Martin in self-defense - is not arrested - and this noted in the police report . February 27th , 2012 - Trayvon Martin 's father , Tracy Martin , files a missing persons report when his son fails to return home.Officers with the Sanford Police Department go to the Martin household and inform Tracy that his son is believed dead - Martin identifies Trayvon Martin 's body.March 8th , 2012 - Police investigators receive a fax from the Altamonte Family Pratice that contains medical records identifying George Zimmerman 's injuries sustained on the evening of the shooting . They acknowledge a scalp wound , a nasal wound and describe ` assault by other means ' . March 12th , 2012 - Sanford Police Chieg Bill Lee explains that Zimmerman has not been charged because to date no evidence has been provided to prove his claims contrary . March 13th , 2012 - Sanford Police Department 's homicide detective Christopher Serino says that he recommends that Zimmerman be charged with manslaughter . He says that Zimmerman ` failed to identify himself ' as a neighborhood watch member on two occasions that night . He says he believed Zimmerman 's injuries to be ` marginally consistent with a life-threatening episode , as described by him , during which neither a deadly weapon nor deadly force were deployed by Trayvon Martin . ' March 14th , 2012 - The case is turned over to Florida State Attorney Norm Wilfinger . March 15th , 2012 - George Zimmerman 's fahter , Robert Zimmerman , writes a letter to the Orlando Sentinel in which he explains that his son is Hispanic and is being erroneously portrayed as a racist . March 19th , 2012 - The Justice Department and the FBI announce they have launched an investigation into the death of Trayvon Martin . March 22nd , 2012 - A petition calling for the arrest of Zimmerman , created by Trayvon Martin 's parents , garners more than 1.3 million online signatures . March 22nd , 2012 - Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee says he is to stand down ` temporarily ' as head of the department . March 23rd , 2012 - President Barack Obama makes a public announcement on the death to say that the incident requires ` soul searching ' March 24th , 2012 - Some members of the New Black Panther Party , offer a $ 10,000 reward for the ` capture ' of George Zimmerman . March 28th , 2012 - Zimmerman 's father appears on television to say that his son was forced to shoot Martin after being badly beaten by the teen . April 11th , 2012 - Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder and his new lawyer , Mark O'Mara announces that Zimmerman has handed himself over to the authorities . April 20th , 2012 - During his bond hearing , Zimmerman apologizes to Trayvon Martin 's family for the loss of their son and his bail is set at $ 150,000 . June 1st , 2012 - Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. orders Zimmerman to surrender after his bail is revoked after the prosecution shows that Zimmerman and his wife Shellie misrepresented their finances when the bond was originally set in April . June 3rd , 2012 - George Zimmerman is taken into custody at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Seminole County . June 12 , 2012 - George Zimmerman 's wife Shellie is arrested and charged with perjury . July 5th , 2012 - Zimmerman 's bond is set at $ 1 million and the next day he is released after posting 10 percent of the bond . July 18th , 2012 - George Zimmerman appears on Sean Hannity 's Fox News program to deny any wrong doing . March 18th , 2013 - Mark O'Mara opts not to seek a pretrial Stand your Ground immunity hearing for George Zimmerman . April 30th , 2013 - Zimmerman decides to waive his right to a Stand your Ground hearing and opts to go for a self-defense trial . June 20th , 2013 - An all-female jury is selected . June 24th , 2013 - The trial begins . July 11th and 12th - The State and Defense give their closing arguments . July 13th - A not-guilty verdict for George Zimmerman is announced . Protests break out across United States as people demonstrate their anger at the verdict . | The Justice Department will not be filing charges against George Zimmerman in the shooting of Trayvon Martin . Zimmerman shot Martin on Feb 26 , 2012 as he walked home after purchasing snacks at a convenience store in Sanford , Florida . Federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove Zimmerman intentionally violated Trayvon 's civil rights . Martin 's family has released a statement in which they said they were ` disappointed ' with the outcome . ` We will never , ever forget what happened to our son and will honor his memory by working to make the world a better place , ' read a statement . | [[0, 16], [135, 164], [747, 763], [773, 840], [2291, 2394], [19, 58], [71, 132], [3662, 3681], [3686, 3793], [747, 763], [773, 840], [1313, 1370], [1341, 1531], [2553, 2594], [2632, 2736], [2661, 2672], [2682, 2736], [2748, 2785], [2957, 2962], [2996, 3034], [2957, 2962], [2996, 3034], [3255, 3301], [3302, 3329], [3330, 3369], [3341, 3386]] |
Two thirds of Australia 's 2.7 million smokers are likely to die ten years earlier due to their habit , a new study has revealed . However smokers who quit by the age of 45 wipe away most of their increased death risk , the first large-scale , direct evidence on smoking and mortality in Australia has shown . Researchers from Sydney 's Sax Institute followed 200,000 Australians aged 45 and over for four years , finding death rates among smokers were about three times higher than in non-smokers . Scroll down for video . A four year study by the Sax Institute has found that two thirds of Australia 's 2.7 million smokers are likely to die ten years earlier due to their habit . Those who smoked 10-a-day were about twice as likely to die early , while a habit of 25-a-day raised the risk by up to fivefold . ` If you are smoking , the chances are it will kill you if you keep on going , ' said lead author Professor Emily Banks of Sydney 's Sax Institute and the Australian National University . ` If you are a gambler , it 's not a very good bet . The good news is that if you quit the benefits are clear and lasting . ' The 45 and Up Study , published in the journal BMC Medicine on Tuesday , is the best large-scale evidence on smoking and death in Australia and confirms recent findings from studies in both the U.S. and the UK , Prof Banks says . Those who smoked 10-a-day were about twice as likely to die early , while a habit of 25-a-day raised the risk by up to fivefold . ` It is a huge wake-up call for Australia . We know smoking is the cause of a wide range of diseases but we now have direct evidence from Australia that shows just how hazardous it is . Even ten cigarettes a day will double your risk of dying prematurely . Smokers greatly underestimate or do not understand the seriousness of these risks , ' Professor Banks said . Laureate Professor Alan Lopez , one of the study authors and the director of the Global Burden of Disease Group , praised Australia 's tobacco control measures - including heightening prices - which he said have brought smoking rates down to 12.8 per cent - the lowest in the Western world . But he said the results were a reminder that there was no safe level of smoking . Researchers f followed 200,000 Australians aged 45 and over for four years , finding death rates among smokers were about three times higher than in non-smokers . ` While Australia is a world leader in tobacco control , the battle to reduce the public health consequences of tobacco use is far from over ... While this is gratifying , it is still 13 percent too many ; 2.7 million Australians still smoke , ' Professor Lopez said . ` Our findings revealed that up to two in every three Australians who smoke can be expected to die from their habit if they do n't quit . Their risk of dropping dead at any age is three times that of non-smokers , ' he said . ` These are enormous risks and highlight the importance of government staying the course on tobacco control . Local tobacco control policy ought to be more responsive to this new and compelling local evidence , ' he said . | Two thirds of Australia 's 2.7 m smokers are likely to die 10 years earlier . Those who smoke 10-a-day are about twice as likely to die early , while a habit of 25-a-day raises the risk by up to fivefold . The Sax Institute 's study was published in the journal BMC Medicine . Researchers followed 200,000 Australians aged 45 and over for four years . | [[0, 101], [524, 681], [578, 681], [2697, 2773], [0, 101], [414, 499], [682, 747], [756, 791], [1356, 1421], [1430, 1465], [1672, 1728], [1720, 1742], [2303, 2388], [2697, 2773], [2796, 2869], [1126, 1145], [1148, 1196], [310, 400], [360, 411], [2226, 2289], [2249, 2300]] |
The family of an unarmed Mexican man who was shot dead by police has hired the lawyer representing the families of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin . Relatives of Antonio Zambrano-Montes have called on the services of Benjamin Crump , a civil rights attorney , saying they want justice after he was killed while running away from officers earlier this month in Pasco , Washington state . The death has sparked two weeks of protests in the city along the Columbia River in the south eastern part of the state after video emerged showing the moment he was shot . Scroll down for video . Lawyer Benjamin Crump stands alongside Antonio Zambrano-Montes ' mother and sister and their interpreter outside a funeral home in Washington state where his body is being kept . Mr Crump comforts the victim 's mother after revealing that she fainted upon seeing her son 's dead body . Erika Zambrano holds a photo of of her father Mr Zambrano-Montes on while standing outside the city hall building in Pasco , Washington . Yesterday , Mr Crump revealed that Mr Zambrano-Montes ' mother , Agaptia Montes-Rivera fainted when he accompanied her to see her son 's body . She told reporters through an interpreter , before entering the funeral home : ' I want people to understand my pain . ` It 's really hard ... When I saw the video , I felt really bad . That 's why I asked for justice . ' Authorities say Mr Zambrano-Montes , a 35-year-old Mexican immigrant and former orchard worker , was throwing rocks at officers and a stun gun failed to subdue him . The Franklin County coroner has ordered an inquest into the death , which is being reviewed by a regional task force and the investigation is being monitored by federal authorities . In a video recording by Dario Infante Zuniga , five ` pops ' are audible and Mr Zambrano-Montes can be seen running away , pursued by three officers . Mr Zambrano-Montes , 35 , is captured on witness Dario Infante 's cellphone just seconds before he is shot dead by police . He appears to be running away from officers . The orchard worker , who was born in Mexico , had allegedly been throwing rocks at police . He is pictured turning to face three armed officers as one holds up a flashlight and two others draw their guns . Mr Zambrano-Montes is seen lying on the ground after he was shot by police at the busy intersection . As the officers draw closer , he turns to face them and more ` pops ' are heard before he falls to the ground . The killing was the fourth by Pasco police in less than a year . Officers were exonerated after similar investigations in the first three cases . Mr Crump says that Mr Zambrano-Montes spoke no English and was an immigrant living in the country illegally . He added : ` Zambrano-Montes had his hands up . Why did you have to shoot him ? ` All the young people are protesting that Antonio had his hands up based on what they saw in the video , and he had no weapons . ` And just like in New York , it shows the graphic last moments of Eric Garner 's life , here you have a video that shows the graphic last moments of Antonio 's life . ' But police said officers felt threatened and that Mr Zambrano-Montes was arrested last year for assault after throwing objects at Pasco officers and trying to grab an officer 's pistol , court records show . The death has sparked two weeks of protests in the city along the Columbia River in the south eastern part of the state . Protesters at a rally for Mr Zambrano-Montes earlier this month . Authorities have said he was not armed with a gun or knife when he was killed . Authorities have said he was not armed with a gun or knife when he was killed and whether he had a rock in his hand when he was shot is still under investigation . Two of the officers involved were white , and the other Hispanic . All three opened fire , though the number of shots has not been disclosed . Last week , investigators asked for patience as the investigation continues . Meanwhile , another attorney who says he 's representing Zambrano-Montes ' family says he wants to temporarily withdraw a $ 25 million claim filed his widow and two daughters against the city after the shooting . Attorney Charles Herrmann of Tacoma said yesterday that the claim was premature . | Antonio Zambrano-Montes ' family hire civil rights lawyer Benjamin Crump . Mr Crump also represents families of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin . Zambrano-Montes was shot dead by police officers in Washington state . Mr Crump says the victim 's mother fainted when she saw son 's dead body . Officers say he was throwing rocks at them and was being dangerous . However , victim from Mexico was unarmed and spoke very little English . A video has also emerged of the moment that Mr Zambrano-Montes died . His death has sparked two weeks of rallies and protests in the city of Paso . | [[150, 232], [585, 732], [0, 36], [58, 149], [14, 36], [41, 64], [2298, 2352], [764, 870], [782, 785], [803, 870], [1009, 1018], [1021, 1152], [1391, 1409], [1472, 1517], [2045, 2063], [2091, 2136], [3105, 3285], [14, 36], [41, 64], [0, 36], [58, 149], [2611, 2686], [514, 560], [3025, 3098], [388, 475], [3309, 3430]] |
Sukvinder Mannan , 32 , killed Rebecca McManus , 21 -LRB- above -RRB- , when he lost control of his car . A salesman is facing a ` substantial ' prison sentence after admitting killing a talented student when he ploughed his out-of-control car into a bus stop where she was stood waiting with a friend . Sukvinder Mannan , 32 , lost control of his powerful Mitsubishi Evo and crashed into Rebecca McManus , 21 , and her friend Harriet Barnsley in Smethwick , West Midlands . Miss McManus , who was waiting at the bus stop near Birmingham city centre ahead of a hen party , died at the scene from her injuries . Miss Barnsley , 21 , was seriously injured in the crash on May 31 last year . Mannan , from Dudley , West Midlands , admitted causing death by dangerous driving at Wolverhampton Crown Court today and was warned by a judge that he faced a ` very substantial prison sentence ' . The sales representative also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and admitted failing to provide a blood sample following the crash . Before court proceedings started , Judge Andrew Lockhart QC described the case as a tragedy , adding that Miss McManus 's family had suffered an enormous loss . The court heard that Mannan had previous convictions from 1999 for driving without insurance and taking a car without consent . After hearing Mannan 's guilty plea , Judge Lockhart said : ` He will undoubtedly receive a very substantial prison sentence . ' Mannan was handed an interim disqualification from driving and sentencing was adjourned for pre-sentence reports . He was bailed with strict conditions , including surrendering his passport and applying for travel documents . He was also told to live and sleep at his West Midlands address and to report every week to his local police station . Miss McManus had just finished a three-year English Literature and Creative Writing degree at the University of East Anglia -LRB- UEA -RRB- and was due to graduate just a month after the crash happened . She previously attended St Paul 's School for Girls in Edgbaston and studied A-levels at King Edward 's in Stourbridge . She had not received all of her grades from her university work but had already received a first class mark in her poetry dissertation and had seen some of her work published . Miss McManus , who was waiting at the bus stop near Birmingham city centre -LRB- pictured -RRB- ahead of a hen party , died at the scene from her injuries . Her friend , Harriet Barnsley , also 21 , was seriously injured in the incident . Her parents Gerard and Catherine McManus , from Oldbury , West Midlands , have previously spoken of their anguish at losing their much-loved daughter . Miss McManus -LRB- pictured -RRB- was due to graduate just a month after the crash occurred last year . Mrs McManus , 48 , said : ` She did not have a bad bone in her body . Everybody loved her and the last three years at university had been the best of her life . ` She was very popular and had kept in touch with everybody from her school days . ` You always worry about your children - but for me it was always about them returning home , rather than on their way to a night out . ' Mr McManus added : ` She was such an eccentric character and very individual . ` She always did her own thing and even won a debating contest when she was at school dressed as Phantom of the Opera . ' Following her death , tributes from teachers , friends and fellow students described how Miss McManus was an ` irreplaceable loss ' . Floral tributes at the scene of the crash described her as ` one of the nicest people I 've ever met ' . Lynsey Grant , who stopped to help Miss McManus shortly after the crash , left a card to her family , which said : ` We are so sorry for your pain . ` Please know that these young ladies were cared for with urgency and compassion by all at the scene . ` My heart and thoughts are with you . ' Tributes left at the scene of the crash after the incident on May 31 last year -LRB- above -RRB- described Miss McManus as ` one of the nicest people ever ' . The judge said today that her family had suffered an enormous loss . | Salesman Sukvinder Mannan lost control of car and crashed into bus stop . Rebecca McManus and Harriet Barnsley , both 21 , were waiting at the stop . Graduate Miss McManus was killed instantly after vehicle ploughed into her . Miss Barnsley also seriously injured in incident in West Midlands last May . Mannan , 32 , has admitted causing death and injury by dangerous driving . He was warned by judge that he faces a ` very substantial prison sentence ' | [[77, 105], [106, 107], [161, 254], [304, 320], [328, 371], [304, 320], [376, 426], [475, 487], [494, 549], [2314, 2326], [2333, 2388], [475, 487], [573, 610], [2314, 2326], [2433, 2470], [611, 624], [632, 688], [712, 725], [728, 806], [888, 912], [918, 979], [106, 203], [712, 725], [811, 832], [838, 883], [1338, 1373], [1376, 1395], [1400, 1464], [1398, 1464]] |
Beard-wearing militants belonging to West Africa 's brutal Boko Haram Islamic terror organisation have been dressing as women in a hopeless attempt at avoiding the attention of security officials . Nigerian defense forces liberating the town of Baga from jihadi control yesterday set up a cordon around the suburbs to help them catch any Boko Haram militants who had been unable to escape . The security workers were shocked to come across several fleeing fighters trying to pass themselves off as females by putting on layers of colourful women 's clothing - despite the fact they had refused to shave their thick jihadi beards . Hopeless : Security workers discovered several fleeing Boko Haram militants trying to pass themselves off as women by wearing female clothing - despite the fact they had refused to shave their thick jihadi beards . Caught : Nigerian defense forces -LRB- right -RRB- liberating the town of Baga from jihadi control yesterday set up a cordon around the suburbs to help them catch the women 's clothing-wearing Boko Haram militants -LRB- left -RRB- . Flames of war : A vehicle used by Boko Haram is set ablaze by Nigerian troops following the liberation of Baga . The vehicle carries the chilling black and white emblem also used by the Islamic State terrorist group . The terrorists ' attempts to pass themselves off as women were disclosed by Nigerian defense forces yesterday , following a huge operation to flush the militants out the town of Baga . A statement signed by Major General Chris Olukolade said , ` The searches are also yielding more discoveries of arms especially bombs hidden in various locations , especially Baga town ' local media outlet Vanguard reported . ` Apart from those captured in the course of fighting , many arrests of terrorists hiding in the town are being made and troops are still busy interrogating the suspects . ` Meanwhile , in furtherance of the mission to clear terrorists from all their enclaves by the military , the Nigerian Air Force has stepped up its air bombardment of identified targets in Gwoza , Bama and Sambisa forest , preparatory to other phases of the mission . ` The air strikes have been highly successful as they achieved the aims , hitting vital targets with required precision . Terrorists are now in disarray as they scamper to escape from the impact of air bombardment of their locations in the forest . Blaze : A military vehicle used by Boko Haram is set on fire by Nigerian troops near the town of Baga . Battle : Nigeria 's military said that the offensive against Boko Haram is progressing , claiming soldiers had recovered stocks of arms abandoned by insurgents fleeing the recaptured town . Firepower : A handout photo released by the Nigerian Army claims to show stocks of arms abandoned by fleeing Boko Haram insurgents recovered by Nigerian troops near the town of Baga . The news came as girl as young as seven blew herself up in a busy market in northeastern Nigeria , killing herself and four others , and fueling fears Islamic extremists are using kidnapped girls as suicide bombers . There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday 's attack , which also seriously wounded 46 people , but it bore the hallmarks of Nigeria 's homegrown extremist group , Boko Haram . The girl , who appeared to be no more than seven years old , got out of a tricycle taxi in front of the busy cell phone market in Potiskum and minutes later her explosives detonated , according to Anazumi Saleh , a survivor of the attack who suffered head injuries . Authorities were not immediately able to confirm the girl 's identity or her precise age from her remains . In recent months , Boko Haram has begun using teenage girls and young women for suicide bombings in marketplaces , bus stations and other busy areas , but the girl in Sunday 's attack appeared far younger . It is not clear whether the girls and women have set off the explosions themselves , or whether the detonations were controlled remotely . Liberators : Nigerian troops are photographed advancing to recapture the town of Baga from Boko Haram . A vehicle used by Boko Haram is pictured after being destroyed by Nigerian troops near the town of Baga . Motorcycles used by Boko Haram is pictured after being destroyed by Nigerian troops near the town of Baga . Boko Haram , whose name means ` Western education is sinful ' in the local Hausa language , attracted international condemnation when its fighters kidnapped 276 mostly Christian schoolgirls from a boarding school in the northeastern town of Chibok in April . Dozens escaped but 219 remain missing . Boko Haram has said the girls have converted to Islam and been married off to extremist fighters . Boko Haram 's violent campaign in Nigeria killed at least 10,000 people last year , according to the Council on Foreign Affairs . At least 1.6 million people have been driven from their homes in the group 's brutal five-year uprising to create an Islamic state in Nigeria , Africa 's most populous nation of 160 million people divided between mainly Muslims in the north and Christians in the south . Potiskum , the capital of Yobe state , has been the target of repeated attacks . In November , a suicide bomber disguised in a school uniform set off explosives hidden in a backpack during an assembly at a high school , killing at least 48 students and wounding 79 others . The group has indicated it may soon join up with the Islamic State group , according to a message posted Sunday on Twitter . Boko Haram began emulating the Islamic State group last August , declaring it had established an Islamic caliphate in territory it controls in northeastern Nigeria . ` We give you glad tidings that the group 's Shurah Council is at the stage of consulting and studying , and we will let you know soon the group 's decision in respect to pledging allegiance to the caliph of the Muslims , Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi , ' the group said in the message , referring to the ISIS leader . | Militants in the town of Baga in Nigeria tried to claim they were females . They wore women 's clothing but refused to shave their thick jihadi beards . Nigerian security officials discovered the cross-dressing terrorists while liberating the town of Baga yesterday . | [[0, 23], [78, 197], [440, 567], [670, 782], [1297, 1354], [1409, 1481], [0, 97], [0, 23], [78, 197], [440, 567], [572, 630], [670, 782], [787, 845], [855, 896], [937, 1059], [1297, 1354], [1409, 1481], [2792, 2874]] |
A white man has been arrested on suspicion of daubing racist graffiti across a hairdresser 's door and writing notes telling her to leave her new home as the area was ` for black sisters and brothers ' . Samantha Sunter , 24 , had taken her two young sons to see their new flat in Willenhall , Coventry , when she found the front door covered in graffiti , anti-vandal paint and faeces . A letter had also been pushed through the door telling her : ` Willenhall is black so f *** off ' while another note put on her door read : ` Black Power . Do n't stay to long or else ... ' Samantha Sunter , 24 , -LRB- right -RRB- had taken her two young sons Oscar , five , -LRB- left -RRB- and Harvey , two , -LRB- centre -RRB- to see their new flat in Willenhall , Coventry , when she found the front door covered in graffiti , anti-vandal paint and faeces . A 54-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage . A letter had also been pushed through the door telling her : ` These flats are for black sisters and brothers ' and ` Willenhall is black so f *** off ' The hairdresser found the note - which also had a gun drawn on it and the word ` oyinbo ' , Nigerian slang for white person - when moving into her home last Monday with her young sons . The hairdresser found the note - which also had a gun drawn on it and the word ` obinyo ' , a Nigerian slang word for a white person - when moving into her home last Monday with sons Harvey , two and five-year-old Oscar . The letter also stated ` Willenhall is black so f *** off ' while another one put on her door read : ` Black Power . Do n't stay to long or else ... ' Further messages read : ` We are watching you white b **** ' , and told her the area was ` black only . ' Ms Sunter had taken her sons to see their new flat in Willenhall , Coventry , when she found the front door covered in graffiti , anti-vandal paint and faeces . Ms Sunter has now fled the # 360-a-month property as a result of the abuse and has been staying with her mother . She is now waiting to move into another new home . Today , West Midlands Police said they had arrested a 54-year-old man in connection with the attacks . He is understood to be white . A force spokesman said : ' A 54-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage and was later released on police bail pending further inquiries . ' The man , who has not been named has been told to return to a police station in April . Shortly after the incident , West Midlands Police had said the incident was being taken ` very seriously ' . Housing association Whitefriars , which owns the flat , has confirmed there has also been a ` previous incident ' at the address . Speaking last week , Ms Sunter said she has lived in Willenhall for 15 years and has never experienced anything like this before . ` These people make Willenhall out to be some sort of ghetto , ' she said . ` The whole point of this is that it 's not right . I 'm not going to sit there and take it . ' I had to have a police escort away from my property and I knew I was being watched . ` You hold your head up high but it 's disgusting . ` Whitefriars were the first people I rang when this happened and when I spoke to someone they said they did n't think it would happen again . ' I think they have allowed this to happen . If it 's happened before , and they have neglected to tell me , then they have put me and my children in danger . ' Police have made door-to-door inquiries while forensics experts are studying the note . Officers are also liaising with Whitefriars . Another note left on Ms Sunter 's door read : ` Black Power . Do n't stay to long or else ... ' Further messages read : ` We are watching you white b **** ' , and told Ms Sunter the area was ` black only . ' Carmel McCarthy , director of housing and neighbourhood services , said : ` We absolutely deplore the actions reported and are working closely with the police to identify the culprit and to press for the strongest possible actions to be taken against them . ` There had been a previous incident reported at the property , which we passed on to the police for investigation . We closely monitor these events and in this case it appeared to be a one-off incident . ` As soon as Ms Sunter drew this incident to our attention , we offered her another home , which she will be moving into shortly . ` We have been working closely with Ms Sunter and the police on this incident and will continue to do so . ` Whitefriars always seeks to take strong action against any and all hate crime and we have close links with the police who work with us to investigate and prosecute these types of incidents . ' Anyone with information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 . Housing association Whitefriars , which owns the flat -LRB- pictured -RRB- , has confirmed there has also been a ` previous incident ' at the address . Ms Sunter has now fled the # 360-a-month property as a result of the abuse and is staying with her mother . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article . | Samantha Sunter discovered graffiti at her new flat in Willenhall , Coventry . Mother-of-two also found notes pushed through her front door . Police arrest man , 54 , on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage . Man , who is understood to be white , has been released on police bail . | [[388, 434], [492, 520], [940, 986], [3613, 3651], [0, 98], [850, 939], [902, 939], [2084, 2089], [2092, 2186], [2218, 2240], [2245, 2404], [2187, 2217], [2187, 2189], [2204, 2217], [2218, 2240], [2245, 2404]] |
A furious row erupted between the UK and Turkey as it emerged three runaway British teenage girls have reached Syria . Scotland Yard confirmed yesterday that the schoolgirls had crossed the Turkish border into Islamic State territory after flying to Istanbul via Gatwick Airport . Police fear the trio - named as Kadiza Sultana , 16 , Amira Abase , 15 , and Shamima Begum , 15 - are aiming to reach the terror stronghold of Raqqa where they face being married off to foreign fighters . Scroll down for video . Flight to terror : Clutching their luggage , the three teenage friends prepare to board a flight to Istanbul last week . Police believe they have now been smuggled into Syria . Smugglers in the Turkish border town of Akcakale said they had already crossed the chaotic border using false Syrian IDs and accompanied by a man claiming to be their father . One said : ` They looked like Syrian girls , they were wearing hijabs and carrying bags from the market . They followed a man who spoke Arabic so everyone thought they were Syrian . ' But a row broke out between the UK and Turkey , as the Turkish authorities claimed Scotland Yard had waited three days to tell them about the runaways . In an outspoken attack , Turkey 's deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc pinned the blame on UK police and accused them of allowing the girls to flee Britain . Lured to jihad : Kadiza Sultana , 16 , left , Shamima Begum , 15 , centre , and Amira Abase , 15 , right , at Gatwick Airport . There are fears they are to be married off as ` jihadi brides ' to Islamic State terrorists . ` It is a reprehensible act for Britain , a country famous for its Scotland Yard , to let the three girls ... leave -LRB- London -RRB- for Istanbul and then let us know three days later , ' he said . ` They have n't taken the necessary measures . The search is ongoing . It would be great if we can find them . But if we ca n't , it is not us who will be responsible , but the British . ' Mr Arinc said the girls had posed as tourists so there was no way of knowing their intentions . But Scotland Yard hit back , saying that its officers began working with Turkish authorities the day after the first two teenagers were reported missing last Tuesday . A spokesman said : ` Once we established that the girls had travelled to Turkey , police made contact with the foreign liaison officer at the Turkish Embassy in London on Wednesday , 18 February . ` Since then we have been working closely with the Turkish authorities who are providing great assistance and support to our investigation . ' Scotland Yard confirmed that the girls were now in Syria . In a statement , the force said : ` Officers from the MPS counter-terrorism command , leading the investigation into the three missing schoolgirls from east London , now have reason to believe that they are no longer in Turkey and have crossed into Syria . Route to hell : The three teenagers are believed to have travelled over ground from Istanbul to Gaizantep , before crossing the border into Syria near the Kilis crossing . Turkey has repeatedly been accused by its Western allies of failing to do enough to stop jihadis on their way to Syria . Mr Arinc 's complaints echo remarks made by Turkish officials after Hayat Boumeddiene , the wanted partner of one of the gunmen behind the January terror attacks in France , travelled undetected through Turkey on her way to Syria . Security officials say 3,400 foreign fighters , including at least 500 Britons , have travelled from Europe to Syria to fight , often via Turkey . Experts estimate about 50 are women . ` Groomed ' : Shamima Begum -LRB- right -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 , left , 16 , and Amira Abase . The trio , who all attended Bethnal Green Academy in east London , were described as ` straight-A students ' . It was revealed last week that the three were interviewed by police just two months ago , amid fears they were being radicalised . Detectives spoke to the teens after one of their classmates left for the war zone as they believed they were being encouraged to leave their homes . The schoolgirls are feared to have fled to Syria to become jihadi brides after being ruthlessly groomed online and ` brainwashed in their bedrooms ' . They walked out of their homes last Tuesday before strolling through security checks at Gatwick Airport and flying to Turkey . Police said their families , who have issued urgent appeals for their daughters to return , have been surprised and devastated by their disappearance . The news comes after Prime Minister David Cameron urged airlines and internet companies to do more to prevent radicalised British teenagers travelling to the Middle East . Earlier , the girls ' headteacher said he was ` shocked and saddened ' by their disappearance , but said police had not found evidence that they were radicalised at school . Mark Keary , principal of Bethnal Green Academy in east London , said police spoke to the girls after another student disappeared in December and indicated at the time that there was no evidence that they were at risk of being radicalised or absconding . He also said access to social media at the school was ` strictly regulated ' . A tweet sent from a Twitter account under Shamima 's name was sent to Aqsa Mahmood , who left Glasgow for Syria to be a ` jihadi bride ' in 2013 . The Prime Minister 's official spokesman said : ` We work very closely with the Turkish authorities on a whole series of security measures . We are going to continue to do so . ` It is a good , strong , constructive relationship . We are working with them on this case . ` We are going to keep working very closely with the Turkish authorities on what is a shared challenge . ' | Teenagers are now believed to have crossed Turkish border into Syria . Girls - aged 15 and 16 - disappeared from London last week . Trio believed to be travelling overland to marry jihadi fighters . Turkish authorities claim Met Police failed to alert them for three days . But Met hit back and say they shared information as soon as possible . | [[153, 270], [631, 686], [2797, 2887], [2904, 2923], [2996, 3059], [51, 97], [424, 429], [436, 485], [1501, 1505], [1510, 1578], [2902, 2993], [2996, 3015], [4223, 4369], [5403, 5415], [5422, 5467], [1098, 1173], [1130, 1199], [1200, 1222], [1225, 1299], [1731, 1764], [2068, 2090], [2100, 2156]] |
Made with Sriracha Huy Fong original hot chili sauce , this beer is sure to spice up your evenings . The bizarre creation has just hit the shelves after American brewers combined their favourite stout with renowned Thai chilli sauce Sriracha . The beer is the brainchild of staff at left-field US brewery Rogue , who decided to add the hot sauce while brewing the dark beer . That 's going to have a kick ! American brewery Rogue has created a new stout beer made made from Sriracha Huy Fong original hot chili sauce . Its makers say it naturally goes well with hot and spicy foods as well as other comfort food favourites like burgers and pizzas . The company , based in Newport , Oregon , is known for its crazy concoctions including bacon and maple beer , hazelnut brown nectar , and chocolate , peanut butter and banana ale . A 750ml bottle of Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout costs $ 13 -LRB- around # 8 -RRB- and can be bought from rogue.com . A spokesman for Rogue said : ` Put simply , Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer is the world 's first beer brewed with Sriracha hot sauce . ` The inspiration was pretty simple . We , as employees and rogues , love Huy Fong Sriracha sauce . The question almost immediately became ` why not ? ' The company is known for its creative concoctions such as -LRB- from left to right -RRB- : Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale ; Voodoo Doughnut Chocolate , Peanut Butter & Banana Ale ; Voodoo Doughnut Pretzel , Raspberry & Chocolate Ale ; Voodoo Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale and Voodoo Bacon Maple Vodka . Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale . Voodoo Doughnut Chocolate , Peanut Butter & Banana Ale . Voodoo Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller Ale . Voodoo Doughnut Pretzel , Raspberry & Chocolate Ale . Chipotle Spirit . Hazelnut Spice Rum . Voodoo Bacon Maple Vodka . Rogue Sriracha HOT Stout . ` Any chance to add more Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Sauce is a good thing . ` And it pairs so well with other spicy foods , like soups , sauces , hamburgers , pizza , chow mein and so on . ` It tastes like someone used Huy Fong Sriracha Hot Sauce while brewing a stout . ` The beer has been met by some excitement and some confusion , but everyone 's intrigued . True Huy Fong sriracha sauce fans seem to like it . ' The independent brewery prides itself on handcrafted ales , porters , stouts , lagers and spirits . On its website the makers state : ` The spirit of the Rogue brand , even the name , suggests doing things differently , a desire and a willingness to change the status quo . ' A Rogue ale , porter , stout , lager or spirit is crafted to give it unique character , innovative in its make-up and brewing a process that has not compromised quality . ` We make products for the connoisseur , the entrepreneur and the revolutionist . ' | American brewery Rogue combined stout with Thai chilli sauce Sriracha . Makers say brew goes well with foods such as spicy soups and pizza . The # 8 bottle can be ordered from the company 's website . | [[101, 243], [283, 310], [317, 375], [405, 518], [986, 1075], [2023, 2087], [519, 648], [534, 648], [830, 872], [911, 941]] |
Britain 's armed forces are ` not good enough ' to deal with the global Islamist terror threat , the former head of the military Lord Richards said tonight . In his maiden speech in the House of Lords the new peer questioned if the military was in a ` fit state ' to protect our ` way of life ' from extremists . Lord Richards -- who as General Sir David Richards was chief of the defence staff for just under three years from October 2010 -- said that the ` biggest threat confronting the free world today is that posed in my judgement by militant jihadism ' . Former head of the military , Lord Richards - formerly General Sir David Richards - warned peers that Britain 's armed forces may not be ` good enough ' to tackle Islamic extremism . But he said : ` Are our armed forces in a fit state to play their role in dealing with these and other risks to our way of life ? ` Well , my Lords , the answer must be that it is not good enough but it is some consolation that it is better than any other allied nation except the United States . ' He warned that it was not just Iraq and Syria that were threatened by Islamic terrorists . He said : ` All states are equally vulnerable , including many great Muslim nations . Lord Richards used his maiden speech in the House of Lords to call for increase defence spending . ` Rather than bickering , states should cohere to confront this threat through the adoption of a multi-dimensional strategy in which all can play a constructive part . ` This struggle will be generational and our leaders must stop seeking short term tactical solutions . ' Lord Richards called for defence spending to be increased as the economy improves . He said : ` As the economy grows , routine defence spending post 2015 must increase , as a minimum , to 2 per cent of GDP . ` If not , given the mathematics that seems stubbornly to govern defence expenditure , the size and effectiveness of the armed forces will inevitably deteriorate . ' Lord Richards also warned about the plans to replace thousands of regular soliders with part-time reservists . He said that the brave experiment over the Army Reserve must either soon be proved to work or a new solution found . ` Any additional money spent on this must not be taken from other programmes , merely robbing Peter to pay Paul . ' | Peer used maiden speech in the Lords to call for higher defence spending . Says ` biggest threat confronting free world is that posed by jihadism ' Warns it is not just Iraq and Syria that are threatened by Islamic terrorists . | [[158, 312], [1221, 1319], [1280, 1319], [1593, 1634], [1614, 1665], [313, 326], [443, 557], [1044, 1089], [1070, 1089], [1095, 1134]] |
A single mum successfully juggles the contrasting worlds of caring for her daughter and writing gay erotic fiction . Not only did Toni Griffin hate English when she was at school but she had never even considered writing a book until an idea popped into her head on the way to pick up her daughter from school about five years ago . An avid reader , the Darwin resident went home and instead of picking up a book , she opened her laptop to see if she was capable of writing a book which was when her love of writing gay erotic fiction was born . Single mum Toni Griffin -LRB- left -RRB- successfully juggles the contrasting worlds of caring for her daughter , Adara -LRB- right -RRB- and writing gay erotic fiction . Not only did Griffin hate English when she was at school but she had never even considered writing a book until an idea popped into her head on the way to pick up her daughter from school about five years ago . The 32-year-old , who released her 20th book on Valentines day , has always been into reading straight erotic fiction and one day decided to give gay erotic fiction a go . ' I really enjoyed the story and have never looked back since , ' she told Daily Mail Australia . Surprisingly , many women feel the same way as at least two thirds of Griffin 's fan base are in fact females . ' I find it difficult to explain what the attraction is - it 's just something that is for me , ' she said . ` Maybe it 's the naughty aspect or just being able to escape the pressure of their lives into a little fantasy world . ' Griffin makes a point of keeping her career as separate as possible from her 11-year-old daughter , Adara . ' I like to spend as much time as I can possibly can with her so when she goes to bed - the laptop comes out , ' she said . ` She knows she is n't allowed to read them until she is 18 but I 'm not sure she knows the full extent of the content in the books . ` So she does n't really ask any questions but she 's proud of what I do . ' Griffin makes a point of keeping her career as separate as possible from her daughter . Griffin ca n't imagine ever writing anything other than gay erotic fiction novels . Griffin said she has only ever received positive feedback in the correspondence she receives from readers . ` When I tell some people what I do they often get a stunned look on their face but then ask lots of questions - while others think it 's incredible and have a bit of a chuckle then also start asking questions , ' she said . It 's not just humans who feature in Griffin 's books with story lines including werewolves , hellhounds and vampire characters - and even a necromancer series set in and around Darwin . But Griffin does n't expect to have any of her series of books to be the next Twilight series or even 50 Shade of Grey . ' I think there is much better writing out there before they would even thinking about mine , ' she says modestly . Griffin ca n't imagine ever writing anything but gay erotic fiction novels . ` My parents and lot of other people ask if I would ever write straight erotic fiction but I do n't know if I even want to try to be honest - it does n't draw me in as much . ' Griffin 's daughter knows she is n't allowed to read her mum 's books until she is 18-years-old . Griffin says straight erotic fiction does not draw her in the way that gay erotica novels do . | Single mum of one writes gay erotic fiction and most fans are female . Toni Griffin always hated English and preferred maths at school . She came up with the idea on the way to pick up her daughter from school . The 32-year-old , from Darwin , has no desire to write about straight fiction . | [[0, 12], [88, 116], [1213, 1287], [1213, 1223], [1245, 1309], [117, 241], [717, 836], [234, 273], [266, 269], [274, 332], [829, 868], [861, 864], [869, 927]] |
Terry Brown claims he was attacked and hounded out of his home by a vigilante mob after spending a year on bail falsely accused of rape . A man was stabbed and attacked by a mob when he was wrongly accused of rape , and claims his partner suffered a miscarriage after a gang hounded the couple over the false allegations . Terry Brown , 33 , was forced to flee his home town of Basildon in Essex after Lisa-Jayne Samuels falsely claimed he had drugged and raped her , and even picked him out of an ID parade . Samuels - who had made up the lies to get attention from her mother - was jailed for 20 months after she admitted perverting the course of justice but Mr Brown claims he was made a prisoner in his own home while he spent a year on bail for the false allegations . In one incident Mr Brown and his partner , Tracey Choularton , 25 , were surrounded by a gang as they left their home and as Ms Choularton tried to flee she tripped and fell . She later suffered a miscarriage . Mr Brown was frequently targeted by angry mobs and the home he shared with his partner was daubed with graffiti on a daily basis , branding him ` scum ' and a ` rapist . ' ` We had to barricade ourselves into the house as we were terrified , ' said Mr Brown , speaking after Samuels , a mother-of-four , was jailed for the lies . ' I walked outside my house once and a group of lads just jumped me and started hitting me with fence panels that had nails sticking out . ' I was left with puncture wounds in my back and they smashed out my teeth . Eventually we had to leave Basildon as I just did n't feel safe there . ` Everyone had branded me a rapist because I had been arrested so they decided I must be guilty . ' Mr Brown now lives on Canvey Island , Essex , with Ms Choularton , 25 . ` I 've never been the same since really - I still have nightmares and ca n't go back to Basildon even though it 's my home town as I just do n't feel safe , he added . ` I 'm on anti-depressants and I have n't worked since this all started . ` I 'm a plasterer by trade but just ca n't do it anymore as I am constantly shaking . ' In one incident Ms Choularton said the couple were surrounded by a gang of 20 people near their home in Basildon , who were accusing Mr Brown of raping Samuels . Mr Brown and his partner Tracey Choularton claim they were surrounded by a gang who confronted him over the fake rape claims , and Ms Choularton fell over as she fled the group . She later suffered a miscarriage . She said : ` We were just walking down the road one morning in Basildon and a gang of around 20 people just came out of nowhere . ' I tried to run but tripped on a curb . ` We managed to get back to the house but I was bleeding a lot . ` We could n't call an ambulance as the house was surrounded so we had to wait for them to leave before we could . ` Because of her allegations I lost my baby . I just wish she understood the pain and upset her actions have caused . Terry still blames himself for the loss of our baby which is awful for him . ' Samuels was jailed for 20 months when she appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday . It emerged that the 29-year-old had falsely cried rape twice before . The court heard that she had police draw up an e-fit based on her bogus claims and had picked Mr Brown out of an ID parade . Lisa-Jayne Samuels -LRB- left -RRB- was jailed for 20 months after she admitted making the false rape claim against Mr Brown -LRB- right -RRB- in a bid to get her mother 's sympathy , and pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice . Her false claims saw 80 hours of police time wasted during the investigation . Samuels , of Southend , Essex , called 999 at 1am on October 10 , 2012 , claiming to have been raped at the town 's cliffs . She told police her drink had been spiked by her attacker , who she knew from a shelter . Eventually when CCTV showed no evidence of her being in the pub she claimed and her friends proved fictitious she admitted lying - after Mr Brown had already spent a year on bail . Recorder Anthony Abell said : ` The consequences for Mr Brown have been catastrophic . ` He has had ` dirty scummy rapist ' graffitied on his home , been attacked by a gang of thugs with a large piece of wood so that he could not speak for a couple of days and he blames himself for the loss of a child . ` He was prevented from seeing his two elder children and got so scared he sought help to move away from the area . ' Samuels was jailed and all her children were taken into care . | Terry Brown accused of rape after Lisa-Jayne Samuels made false claim . Mr Brown spent more than a year on bail until Samuels admitted lying . He was attacked by a vigilante mob and his home was targeted with graffiti . Mr Brown and his partner , then pregnant , were confronted by gang in street . His partner Tracey Choularton fled and fell , and later miscarried their child . Mr Brown said he has felt like a prisoner and was forced to flee Basildon . Samuels was jailed for 20 months for perverting the course of justice . | [[402, 465], [3313, 3464], [722, 773], [3928, 3993], [3985, 4005], [4012, 4028], [3994, 4028], [0, 111], [138, 143], [160, 213], [1036, 1044], [1072, 1113], [985, 993], [998, 1044], [2342, 2348], [2353, 2393], [4131, 4150], [4153, 4175], [4171, 4210], [138, 143], [160, 213], [138, 143], [183, 185], [220, 322], [774, 814], [817, 834], [837, 949], [2107, 2219], [2312, 2348], [2342, 2348], [2353, 2393], [138, 143], [183, 185], [220, 322], [774, 814], [817, 834], [837, 949], [950, 984], [2400, 2447], [2448, 2482], [2863, 2879], [323, 334], [342, 420], [661, 715], [1531, 1569], [1542, 1544], [1549, 1602], [4336, 4338], [4392, 4449], [562, 577], [580, 656], [3031, 3117], [3313, 3464]] |
He dodged Nazi bullets on D-Day , then was shot in the leg and was unable to move for 48 hours before being rescued . But despite risking his life for his country , 90-year-old Fred Cannon is left with just # 10 a week from his war pension because the council takes the rest to pay for his care . Yesterday the proud great-grandfather , who was 19 when he landed on Gold Beach in 1944 , said : ' I think it stinks . I 'm not being nasty and I 'm not being funny , but I 've got injuries , and they want to take it away from me . ' D-Day veteran Fred Cannon , 90 , is left with just # 10 a week from his war pension - the rest pays for his care . He is among thousands of injured former servicemen and women forced to pay for social care because they were injured on or before April 5 , 2005 . Veterans on the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme , which was introduced for those injured after April 6 , 2005 , do not have to pay towards their care . The Royal British Legion is campaigning for an end to the ` profoundly unfair ' system , and is calling on the Government to set aside funding so all injured veterans receive the social care they need . Mr Cannon , of the 2nd Battalion , Essex Regiment , was seriously injured when he and his company came under Panzer attack two weeks into the Allied assault on occupied France after the Normandy landings . He was left lying where he was until eventually being picked up by an Allied tank two days later -- and was the only member of his platoon to return home alive . The injury left him with one leg shorter than the other , which has affected his mobility . Twenty years ago , he was assessed as being 50 per cent disabled as a result of his service and was awarded a war pension as compensation . The pension is now worth # 105 per week , plus a # 54 mobility supplement . Outraged : Mr Cannon 's family , pictured together on his 90th birthday , are campaigning for a rule change so free care applies to all injured soldiers , not just those hurt after 2005 . Under current rules , veterans injured before April 6 , 2005 , must hand over most of their weekly war pension payments should they need social care . This applies to veterans of the Second World War , Korea , the Falklands , Northern Ireland and the first Iraq War . It is possible for councils to exempt the war pension from means testing for care costs -- but only 12 per cent of authorities do so . Servicemen wounded after April 2005 are entitled to keep all their payments because they are paid out of a different scheme -- the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme . Councils are instructed to fully exempt payments made under this programme from any means testing for social care . Veterans injured in service on or before April 2005 receive a War Disablement Pension and are known as War Pensioners . An estimated 4,000 injured former servicemen and women across the UK are currently being forced to use war pensions to pay carers . The Royal British Legion said some veterans are so concerned at losing their pensions if they need care they have considered moving to areas which will not take it . The Department of Health is looking at the policy and how it should be applied in the future . The former caretaker then moved into a nursing home in Dartford , Kent after a series of falls . However his family and the British Legion say the council takes all but # 10 of the # 105 to pay for the nursing home costs . He keeps the mobility payout and the council also leaves him # 24.50 a week personal spending allowance , which comes from his other pensions . Daughter-in-law Linda Cannon , 55 , a primary school teacher from Dartford , said : ' I understand care needs to be paid for but the war pension is something we feel is compensation for how he suffered while fighting for our country . ` Although his heating and food is paid for at the home the extra money could be put towards him coming home for Sunday lunch in a taxi which caters to wheelchairs ... -LSB- or -RSB- a specially adapted hotel for our yearly holiday to the Isle of Wight . He deserves one holiday a year while he still can . ' Mr Cannon 's wife Lillian , a switchboard worker at an insurance company , died of cancer in 1996 at the age of 65 . But his sons Paul , 58 , a teacher , and Brian , 62 , who is in insurance , are also angry about the money . British Legion director general Chris Simpkins said : ` Not only is it unfair that war pensioners such as Mr Cannon are treated less favourably than a veteran injured at a later date , but it 's also unfair that their compensation is seen as normal income in means tests for care . ' Hero : Mr Cannon was part of the force that stormed Gold beach in 1944 , pictured , but was shot and injured and left for two days surrounded by his dead platoon until he was rescued . Last night MPs and other veterans ' campaigners also called for an end to the loophole . MP John Woodcock , a member of the defence select committee , said : ` We owe our lives and our freedom to men like Fred Cannon , and the nation must show it values that while the D-Day veterans are still with us . ' Falklands veteran Simon Weston said : ` The importance of people serving their country did n't begin in 2005 . Everyone is entitled to fair play but the older generation of veterans is not getting that -- they are being discriminated against . ' Brigadier -LRB- Ret 'd -RRB- Robin Bacon , from The Soldiers ' Charity , said : ` The Government has recognised that injured veterans will sometimes need a lifetime of care , and this should extend to protecting their war pensions . ' A Kent County Council spokesman said : ` We follow Government guidance when assessing people who receive war pensions and need social care . This includes the ability to exercise discretion based on individual circumstances . ` While we can not comment in detail on Mr Fred Cannon 's circumstances , following representation by his family the council has exercised significant discretion in his case , with effect from January 2014 . ` The claim that he is left with just # 10 a week from his war pension is incorrect . ' A Government spokesman said : ` As part of the Armed Forces Covenant , this Government has committed to ensuring veterans get special treatment and are not disadvantaged by their service . We have been working with the British Legion to see how we can support all veterans . ' Kent County Council employs 21 senior managers earning more than # 100,000 but does not cover the care costs of injured veterans like Fred Cannon . Andrew Ireland , below right , the council 's head of adult social care , the department raiding Mr Cannon 's war pension , earns # 178,166-a-year plus expenses . The highest paid member of staff is David Cockburn , corporate director of strategic and corporate services , who is paid # 189,575 by the taxpayer . The council was heavily criticised when its former chief executive Katherine Kerswell , below left , walked away with the # 420,000 pay-off after just 20 months in charge . She left after axing 1,000 jobs at a cost of almost # 11million . The council 's accounts revealed she had received a final year package of # 589,165 , including a # 420,000 pay-off , # 139,806 in salary and a # 29,359 pension contribution . Within months she was made the Cabinet Office 's director-general for civil service reform on a salary of # 142,000 a year -- just # 500 less than the Prime Minister . | Fred Cannon , says it ` stinks ' that # 95 of his # 105 weekly pension is taken . Aged 19 he stormed Gold Beach but was shot in the leg by the enemy . He lay for two days surrounded by his dead platoon until he was rescued . After his recovery he served in India before working in the docks until 1990 . Mr Cannon moved to his care home so he was ` not a burden ' on family . But decision means that his local council pays for care from war pension . Government only offers free care to those injured in service after 2005 . | [[297, 334], [387, 391], [396, 415], [307, 334], [341, 384], [0, 31], [63, 117], [1355, 1357], [1367, 1451], [4639, 4648], [4745, 4762], [4754, 4816], [1989, 2012]] |
When a fine art photographer and her boyfriend realised that their beloved American Staffordshire Terrier , Mr Dukes , was in his final stages of cancer , they decided to take him to the beach . The 11-year-old pooch loved swimming in the family pool and they did n't want him to die before he 'd seen the ocean . Owner Zhenia Bulawka documented the trip to the seaside in Assateague , Maryland , with a series of moving photographs that she posted on a blog . Ms Bulawka described Mr Dukes -LRB- pictured -RRB- as her ` best friend and muse ' who she ` could never tire of photographing ' ` People watching ' : Ms Bulawka 's post tugged on the heartstrings of hundreds who 'd read it , with many posting messages of support and admiration . ` Ruby was the first to be let off her leash , ' wrote Ms Bulawka . ` She entered the water all on her own - proud mama moment . Except she bolted off , heading for shore upon hearing the sounds of the first crashing wave . It 's okay ... she got back in ' Ms Bulawka wrote that when they arrived ` clouds quickly rolled in , and it started to drizzle ... Who cares though ? We love the rain ! ' They feature the entire family - Ms Bulawka herself , boyfriend Christian , Mr Dukes and the couple 's other two dogs Ruby and Violet - and hundreds of people have commented on just how touching the images are . Ms Bulawka wrote on her blog post : ` My boyfriend Christian , and I took our three pups on an overnight stay at the beach . We dedicated the trip to our 11-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier , Dyuki -LRB- Mr Dukes -RRB- . He was in his final stages of Grade III mast cell cancer at the time . His most favorite activity was swimming in our family pool , but until then , he had never seen the ocean . It was a very special trip for us , and I 'm so grateful we were able to make it happen . He passed away a month later , but he put up one hell of a fight - almost two years . ' Of that poignant day at the beach , she said : ` We were the only ones around , so Ruby was the first to be let off her leash . She entered the water all on her own - proud mama moment . Except she bolted off , heading for shore upon hearing the sounds of the first crashing wave . It 's okay ... she got back in . ' Describing this photograph , Ms Bulawka wrote : ` Here 's Christian sharing his yummy roast beef sandwich with Dukes - onions removed of course ' Here Ms Bulawk is wearing a bracelet she describes as her ` favorite piece of jewelry ... a birthday gift from Christian , custom-made for me ' . She added : ` If you look closely , you can probably make out which one is Ruby , and which is Dukes - poor Violet ' On her blog Ms Bulawka posted this description of this photograph : ` Would n't you know it - the sun came back out after we left . It was n't a completely clear sky , but just enough for us to witness the most magical sunset from our hotel balcony ' Bed alert : ` Ruby ... always the first to fall asleep , ' Ms Bulawka wrote on her blog , which has been read hundreds of times . ... And Violet is ` always the first one awake ' Companionship : ` Back in time to catch some `` funnies '' on TV before calling it a night ' The photographs include shots of Mr Dukes eyeing a beef sandwich , Ruby running out of the sea and Ms Bulawka and her three dogs ` people watching ' . She continued : ` Dukes was my best friend . He was also my muse , as his passion for life served as a constant source of inspiration to me . I could never tire of photographing him . Since his passing , I 've been told numerous times `` how lucky Dukes was to have me . '' But in fact , it was me who was so lucky to have him . He was the smartest , funniest , most loyal , incredibly strong , yet equally sensitive dog - all wrapped into one perfect pittie package . ' Ms Bulawka 's post tugged on the heartstrings of hundreds who 'd read it , with many posting messages of support and admiration . Jennifer SkarLett Brown wrote : ` This is an amazing and beautiful story . I definitely understand . Animals are such an inspiration and very therapeutic . ' Another animal lover , Letisia Lopez , wrote : ` It was a wonderful thing that you did for your pet , ' Alafair Lee Robicheaux was also touched , writing : ' I am bawling , what a beautiful story , what a great vacation for a dying boy . ' Ms Bulawka added : ` Mr Dukes changed my life and I will miss him forever . ' Ms Bulawka 's full post can be seen here . ` Time for a walk ' : The three dogs get ready for an evening stroll with their adoring owners . ` The sand was so nice and cool now ' : Ms Bulawka let 's her hounds explore the beach at night . | The 11-year-old pooch loved swimming in the family pool and they did n't want him to die before he 'd seen the sea . Owner Zhenia Bulawka documented the trip to the seaside in Maryland with a series of moving photographs . They feature the entire family - Ms Bulawka , boyfriend Christian , Mr Dukes and their other dogs Ruby and Violet . | [[195, 250], [255, 313], [1475, 1546], [1649, 1707], [314, 383], [402, 460], [1138, 1286], [1227, 1349], [3251, 3312]] |
Two-tiered system : Patrons could soon pay up to $ 1 for a ` regular ' letter and up to $ 2 for a ` priority ' letter . Australia Post is set to drastically increase the cost of postage stamps by 40 cents to $ 1 - and if you want the parcel to be delivered the next day you 'll be forced to pay $ 2 . The national mail service will hike prices as part of a new two-tiered system , with the ` regular ' letter service costing $ 1 instead of 60 cents . Those letters will arrive later than the $ 2 ` priority ' service , which means you have to pay a full dollar more for high-priority correspondence . It comes after Australia Post announced a shocking half-year loss of $ 151 million , a drop of 56 per cent . The Abbott government is getting ready to soften the regulations that govern Australia Post in order for this two-tiered process to be functional . This reform would see that pensioners and concession card holders would continue to pay the standard 60c . Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour says reform - such as introducing a two-tiered pricing for its letters - is vital . The government is expected to announce its support of the motion in coming weeks . During last weeks ABC Television 's Q&A program , Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull said politicians need to move beyond slogans and do a better jobs at explaining complex reforms such as this one . Mr Turnbull then interviewed the Managing Director of the Boston Consulting Group , Nick Glenning , for his own YouTube channel . Scroll down for video . Looking at a loss : If Australia Post does not act , it is expected they will lose $ 10 billion in the coming years . The interview was uploaded to YouTube on the same day as Australia Post announced a further steep drop-off in residential mail volumes , and asked the government to support a delivery overhaul , calling the letter results ` not pretty ' . ` While Australia Post as a whole has still made a profit ... the growing letters loss is being subsidised , or covered by , the profit in parcels and retail , ' Glenning said . ` That 's not going to last for much longer and without change the company is heading for an overall loss . ' Malcolm Turnbull -LRB- right -RRB- interviews BCG Director Nick Glenning -LRB- left -RRB- for his YouTube ` Tech Talk : Reforming Australia Post ' Turnbull quizzed Glenning on the increasing of stamp costs and reducing the frequency of delivery runs to cut costs in overseas postal services who have faced the same collapse . ` The parcel market is growing , particularly where people can order things from retail eCommerce , ' Glenning said . ` However , it is a highly competitive and capital intensive business . ' Turnbull reaffirmed Glenning 's points by stating that Australia 's parcel business is benefiting from the eCommerce boom , but the parcel business is competitive and letters is a monopoly . Glenning went on to say that big players are appearing in the market with services like Japan Post and Singapore Post investing several hundred million dollars every few years to maintain a competitive position . Pensioners and concession card holders will continue to pay the standard 60c under the new reform . On being asked how much money Australia Post would lose if they did not act , Glenning told Turnbull it was an estimated $ 10 billion in the letters business overall with the losses getting bigger and bigger . Malcolm Turnbull 's ` Tech Talk : Reforming Australia Post ' has attracted over 300 views since Monday . Australia Post is to face a grilling in a senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Tuesday . The Communications Electrical Plumbing Union has said it would support sensible reforms on the condition that it 's upfront with its staff and customers . | New two-tier ` priority ' and ` regular ' letter service could be introduced . Patrons could be charged up to $ 2 to send a ` next-day ' priority letter . Regular mail would cost $ 1 and take an extra day to arrive . Reform plan comes after Australia Post announced 56 % drop in half-yearly profit with loss of $ 151m . Expected $ 10 billion loss to Australia Post in a decade if issue ignored . | [[301, 378], [965, 1080], [965, 989], [1016, 1080], [20, 27], [39, 119], [257, 300], [20, 38], [46, 81], [20, 27], [39, 119], [386, 450], [601, 683], [1577, 1641], [3269, 3372]] |
Rats have always been blamed for causing bubonic plague outbreaks in Europe , but now researchers claim they 've been unfairly maligned and that it was actually gerbils that caused repeated epidemics of the disease . The revelation comes from University of Oslo researchers who say they have compelling evidence that outbreaks of the plague , which killed millions in Europe after it arrived in the 14th century , can be traced back to great gerbils -LRB- Rhombomys opimus -RRB- from central Asia . They say that the plague-carrying fleas flourished on the rodents before making their way to Europe via the Silk Road trading route . Rat 's amazing : University of Oslo researchers say they have compelling evidence that outbreaks of the plague can be traced back to great gerbils -LRB- pictured -RRB- from central Asia . Study co-author Christian Stenseth told the BBC : ` If we 're right , we 'll have to rewrite that part of history . ' Professor Stenseth and his team drew their conclusion after using tree-ring data to establish medieval weather patterns and compared these with thousands of black death records . They found that ideal weather patterns for the spread of the plague did n't come from Europe , but Asia . Fifteen years after a warm weather spell in Central Asia , a plague outbreak would occur in Europe . This pattern continued for hundreds of years . Professor Stenseth said : ` We show that wherever there were good conditions for gerbils and fleas in central Asia , some years later the bacteria shows up in harbour cities in Europe and then spreads across the continent . ' Gerbils numbers would increase , he said , whenever a hot summer followed a wet spring . He added : ` Such conditions are good for gerbils . It means a high gerbil population across huge areas and that is good for the plague . An increase in temperature of one degree will double the prevalence of plague in the gerbil population . ' The bubonic plague remains one of the most destructive pandemics in history which peaked in Europe between 1348 and 1350 . Humans caught the plague from rats , but researchers say it was actually gerbils that were the original breeding ground for the disease . The fleas made their way to Europe in various stages . Some would have arrived via foxes that had eaten the gerbils , which then passed them onto rats , which passed them to humans . In other cases humans may have caught the disease from camels , the fleas having jumped to them from the gerbils . Filthy living conditions in 14th Britain have been blamed for allowing the Black Death to spread . It remains one of the most destructive pandemics in history which peaked in Europe between 1348 and 1350 . Experts say it reduced the world 's population from an estimated 450 million to almost 350 million in 1400 . In 1603 the killer plague returned and killed 38,000 Londoners . The symptoms of the Black Death were revolting with historians noting descriptions of fever , muscle spasms , coughing up blood and black blood oozing out of swelling lymph nodes . The most commonly noted symptom was the appearance of swollen lymph nodes on the groin , the neck and armpits , which often wept with pus and blood when they burst . Professor Stenseth 's study results appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . The symptoms of the Black Death were revolting with historians noting descriptions of fever , muscle spasms , coughing up blood and black blood oozing out of swelling lymph nodes . | University of Oslo researchers say plague came from Asian great Gerbils . They say plague-carrying fleas flourished on the animals in warm weather . The fleas were then ferried to Europe via the Silk Road trading route . Black Death reduced the population in Britain by half when it struck . | [[82, 168], [145, 216], [217, 273], [317, 340], [414, 498], [633, 647], [650, 785], [766, 820], [2096, 2135], [2112, 2192], [499, 632], [513, 632], [499, 632], [513, 632]] |
America 's favourite chocolate bar -- the Hershey bar -- is to go GM-free amid growing concerns in the US about ` Frankenstein food ' . The firm has announced that it will no longer use genetically modified sugar beet or soya lecithin in its milk chocolate bars and packs of chocolate drop ` Kisses ' . The issue has come to a head in America because of efforts to introduce a law requiring firms to label the use of GM ingredients -- as happens in Britain and Europe . Going GM-free : Chocolate brand Hershey is caving into consumer pressure by dropping genetically modified products - including GM sugar beet and soya lecithin - from the recipe of its bars and chocolate drops . The State of Vermont has voted for GM labelling to come into effect in 2016 and it seems likely to trigger a domino effect with others expected to follow suit . Once some states require the labelling of GM ingredients like sugar , corn and soya , national food chains will have little option but to adopt the policy across North America . GM crops like sugar beet , corn or maize and soya have been at the centre of concerns that the associated industrial farming practices have caused serious harm to the environment . The plants have been altered through the insertion of foreign genes that create toxins to kill insects or give them immunity to spraying with powerful chemical weed killers . There is evidence from the US that certain weeds have developed immunity to the same weed killers with the result that they are taking over many fields . At the same time , the use of sprays alongside the GM crops is thought to have caused a collapse in the population of the Monarch butterfly , which is now under threat . Last year , Tesco was criticised for selling a number of American products , including Hershey bars , Oreo Mint Cream biscuits , and Reese 's Peanut Butter Cups containing GM ingredients . The use of GM ingredients has to be included on the labels of the products sold in the UK , however -- currently -- it is not required on the other side of the Atlantic . The campaigning group , Green America , welcomed the decision by Hershey as an ` important move and great first step ' . Its Campaigns Director , Nicole McCann , said : ` As one of the leading chocolate companies in the US , this commitment will help move the rest of the companies in this sector . ` Hershey 's joins General Mills , Unilever , Post Foods , and other leading companies in responding to consumer demand to make at least some of its products non-GM . ' The GMO Inside group has led a consumer campaign to put pressure on food giants to stop using GM ingredients . Its co-chairman , John Roulac , said : ' ` Hershey 's needs to take the next step and go non-GMO with all of its chocolates , and get third-party verification for non-GMO ingredients . ' Biohazard : GM crops like sugar beet , corn or maize and soya have been at the centre of concerns that the associated industrial farming practices have caused serious harm to the environment . Hershey 's said its change to the products is part of a wider initiative to simplify ingredients used in its products and remove artificial additives . For Hershey 's Milk Chocolate and Kisses , the company will move to natural vanilla , nongenetically modified sugar and milk from cows that have not been treated with the growth hormone rBST . Director of corporate communications , Jeff Beckman , said : ` We are looking closely at every ingredient in our products and how we describe them . We will strive for simplicity with all of our ingredients , but we may not achieve it with every product . ` We are leading industry conversations with suppliers and building our manufacturing capabilities to pursue non-genetically modified ingredients . This is a long-term journey and we are starting with some of our largest and most popular brands . ` The ingredients we are transitioning to non-GM in both Hershey 's Kisses Milk Chocolates and Hershey 's Milk Chocolate Bar are sugar and soy lecithin . ' In the US , Hershey also intends to roll out ` simple snacking products ' without high fructose corn syrup or artificial colours and flavours , such as Brookside Dark Chocolate Fruit & Nut Bars . It also plans to introduce a full ingredient glossary and profiles of the firm ' s suppliers on its website . | Decision comes after Vermont votes for law requiring labelling of GM food . There are eco fears over GM crops like sugar beet , corn and soya . Hershey 's says it plans to simplify ingredients and cut artificial additives . GM food sold in the UK must be labelled to warn consumers . | [[681, 756], [1889, 1963], [1020, 1200], [2838, 3018], [3073, 3170], [3513, 3570], [303, 306], [362, 431], [1889, 1963]] |
Julie Bishop has taken her love of emojis to another level by opting to answer a question from Today 's Karl Stefanovic by morphing her face into one of the characters . The Foreign Minister was asked if she knew what a Thermomix was after several Senators were left confused on Tuesday when the $ 2,000 cooking appliance appeared on a list of items the Governor General was after for his two residences . ` This is how it was discussed in Senate estimates yesterday ... they said they did n't know what a Thermomix is . Julie Bishop , do you know what a Thermomix is ? ' Stefanovic asked . Ms Bishop responded : ` I 'm going to answer in emoji ' as she raised her eyebrows and stared wide-eyed into the camera . ` That 's why you rock , Julie Bishop , ' Stefanovic said as he laughed hysterically . Scroll down for video . Julie Bishop was asked if she knew what a Thermomix was on live television on Wednesday and she opted to answer in the form of an emoji -LRB- pictured -RRB- . Ms Bishop has made her love of emojis clear in the past having once only responded to tweets with the characters for several hours . Her response comes after the multi-talented kitchen appliance sparked debate in a Senate hearing on Tuesday when Labor senator Joe Ludwig read through a list of kitchen appliances put forward by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove . ` You 're seeking four stick blenders , two food processors ... and you 're going to have to help me with this - a Thermomix ? ' he said . ' I do n't know what a Thermomix is . ' The Governor General 's list of appliances , estimated to be worth between $ 80,000 - $ 100,000 , are for his two residences - Yarralumla in Canberra and Admiralty House in Sydney . Committee chair and South Australian senator Cory Bernardi ridiculed Mr Ludwig , asking : ` Where have you been ? ' Ms Bishop responded to Karl Stefanovic 's -LRB- right -RRB- question by mimicking the emoji face -LRB- left -RRB- as she raised her eyebrows and stared wide-eyed into the camera . The German-designed ` twelve appliances in one ' device has an almost cult-like following with thousands of loyal users around the world . ` Queensland , ' Senator Ludwig responded . ' A kitchen aid mixer , an upright freezer , a deep fryer and a pasta machine . And what 's a Thermomix ? , ' he continued . The Governor General 's official secretary , Mark Fraser , confessed : ' I do n't know what a Thermomix is . ' ` So there are a couple of us who do n't know what a Thermomix is , ' Senator Ludwig announced . Attempting to fill the Senate 's Finance and Public Administration Committee in on the almost $ 2,000 kitchen toy , Senator Bernardi explained : ` They 're very popular amongst the home masterchefs of today . ' They can not be bought in stores and shoppers hold ` Thermomix parties ' similar to Tupperware parties where a consultant comes out to a customer 's home and demonstrates how it works to a group of their friends . There are more than 3,000 Thermomix consultants across Australia . ` Is that the elite trendies that use that , are they ? ' asked Senator Ludwig . The Governor General 's office has requested a Thermomix but the Governor General 's official secretary Mark Fraser -LRB- left -RRB- was forced to confess to Labor senator Joe Ludwig -LRB- right -RRB- he did n't know what it is . The Governor General 's -LRB- pictured -RRB- office put out a tender for $ 80,000 - $ 100,000 worth of new kitchen equipment . ` In Queensland , you may refer to them as that , I just refer to them as those who have a particular interest in cooking , ' Senator Bernardi retorted . Noticing he 'd touched a nerve , Senator Ludwig probed : ` Is that the new model or the old model ? ' ` I 'm no Masterchef myself all I know is that my team and with the expert advice of kitchen consultants have given us advice on the sorts of things our kitchen requires in order for it to function properly ' Mr Fraser said . Senator Ludwig then took the opportunity to point out how much the Governor General 's office is spending elsewhere . ` You have $ 168,000 spent on redundancies , one involuntary , you have a request for a speechwriter and a media advisor ... the previous Governor General managed not to require them . ` And now you have a couple hundred thousand spent on that amount , plus an additional amount on kitchen appliances . You wonder where the priorities are , ' he said . But Mr Fraser reasoned that they need the new kitchen appliances to maintain the ` heritage properties ' . ` We 're seeking to do so in the most efficient manner possible hence we 're seeking to replace 14 kitchen items , ' he said . The German-designed ` twelve appliances in one ' device called a Thermomix has an almost cult-like following . South Australian senator Cory Bernardi described the Thermomix as ` very popular amongst the home masterchefs of today ' | Julie Bishop was asked if she knew what a Thermomix was on Today show . The Foreign Minister opted to answer in 'em oji ' as she raised her eyebrows and opened her eyes wide . It comes after Governor General 's office asked for a $ 2,000 Thermomix . Labor senator Joe Ludwig claimed he did n't know what a Thermomix is . He read through the request for kitchen appliances during the Senate 's Finance and Public Administration Committee meeting in Canberra . Governor General 's official secretary also had n't heard of the appliance . | [[170, 286], [521, 533], [536, 582], [539, 590], [591, 610], [615, 694], [615, 644], [647, 712], [850, 965], [1908, 2005], [292, 349], [3095, 3155], [471, 520], [2314, 2356], [2373, 2382], [2387, 2422], [2452, 2454], [2459, 2490], [1229, 1295], [2314, 2356], [2373, 2382], [2387, 2422]] |
A majority of Americans who received government subsidies to help pay for their Obamacare insurance policies will have to give some of that money back when they file their tax returns , according to research published Tuesday by the tax preparation firm H&R Block . Those taxpayers will owe about $ 530 each , on average , amounting to a 17 per cent decrease in the typical tax refund . The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Feb. 9 that nearly 6.5 million people who live in the 37 states covered by its HealthCare.gov website would qualify for an Obamacare tax credit this year since htey ca n't afford to pay the full price for medical insurance . That means nationwide more than 4.5 million will see part of their April 15 refunds shaved away , according to a Daily Mail Online analysis . TAX BITE FOR MANY : Portions of about 4.5 million Obamacare insurance subsidies will have to be paid back this year . ` This is what happens when you write 3,000 page laws in the basement with lobbyists and egghead theorists managing the chaos , ' said Americans for Tax Reform chief Grover Norquist . The tax-prep assistance company based its finding on data collected from its customers during the first six weeks of 2015 , finding that 52 percent of those who got Obamacare subsidies in the form of tax credits will have to refund part of the money to the government . ` The level of payback of the Advance Premium Tax Credit is significant in that it 's costing taxpayers a large percentage of their refund -- a refund many of them count on to pay household expenses , ' H&R Block health care and tax services vice president Mark Ciaramitaro said Tuesday . Americans for Tax Reform , a conservative group that has long pushed for simpler tax laws and the repeal of the Affordable Care Act , told Daily Mail Online that the hit to Americans ' bottom lines is a natural consequence of an unwieldy addition to an already mammoth tax code . ATR president Grover Norquist called it ` another Obamacare unpleasant surprise . ' ` This is what happens when you write 3,000 page laws in the basement with lobbyists and egghead theorists managing the chaos , ' Norquist said . ' $ 530 is a slap in the face reminder that `` There ai n't no such thing as a free lunch '' . ' When Americans first used the chronically troubled Healthcare.gov website to enroll in coverage at the end of 2013 , the Department of Health and Human Secrvices used their 2012 income to determine how much of a subsidy they would receive . But many people earned more in 2013 , and still more in 2014 . For them , subsidies based on their 2012 incomes would later turn out to be too high . ` This income underreporting has led to a majority of Marketplace-enrolled taxpayers paying back a portion of the tax credit , ' Ciaramitaro said . ` The average tax refund for these taxpayers was almost $ 3,100 but it was reduced by $ 530 due to the tax credit reconciliation process . ' Norquist 's group said the people affected by the unexpected tax-day hits to their wallets are law-income earners . ` Higher income taxpayers received no tax subsidy and are n't facing this tax season surprise , ' ATR explained . ` Families of four earning less than $ 97,000 are eligible for a credit . So is a single mother with two children earning less than $ 80,000 and an unmarried/childless taxpayer earning less than about $ 12,000 . ' Families that earn even less are more likely to be enrolled in Medicaid , a taxpayer-funded medical plan whose new enrollees have comprised most of the newly insured under Obamacare . The Internal Revenue Service , which administers the Obamacare tax-credit program and collects taxes on behalf of the U.S. Treasury , is already dealing with a shortage of staff because of budget cuts . It 's unclear how that situation will affect the first year 's settling of the Affordable Care Act 's tax dust . But the iRS is already slowing down the program that audits taxpayers ' annual paperwork to recover unpaid or underpaid taxes . Last year the agency performed the fewest audits in a decade , and this year the number is expected to be even lower . ` The math is pretty simple , ' IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said Tuesday in a speech to the New York State Bar Association . ` There are fewer audits because we have fewer auditors . ' | Americans who bought Obamacare insurance in 2013 and 2014 based their subsidy calculations on their 2012 income levels . More than half of those earned more than they estimated , meaning they qualified for a smaller subsidy than what they got . Those affected are all lower-income and middle-class people who earn too much to qualify for Medicare but still qualify for subsidies . ` This is what happens when you write 3,000 page laws in the basement with lobbyists and egghead theorists managing the chaos , ' a noted anti-tax advocate said . | [[2279, 2393], [2396, 2498], [2583, 2591], [2594, 2643], [2653, 2669], [2594, 2631], [2638, 2669], [931, 1054], [929, 935], [944, 1035], [1672, 1685], [1806, 1821], [1829, 1951], [2038, 2161], [2036, 2042], [2051, 2161]] |
Fightback : Defence minister Anna Soubry denied using the C-word and threatened to sue the Mail . It was supposed to be a warts and all documentary showing what really goes on in the corridors of power . But the most explosive part of the fly-on-the-wall film about the inner workings of Parliament was yesterday dramatically edited out amid claims it showed a Tory minister shout an obscenity at Ed Miliband . Anna Soubry threatened legal action and issued a furious denial just hours before the final episode of Inside The Commons was to air on BBC Two last night . A comment that sounded like ` sanctimonious c *** ' was shouted at the Labour leader during a Commons debate last June . It appeared to come from the direction of the defence minister but she said this suggestion was ` outrageous ' . The heckling was recorded by programme maker Michael Cockerell during filming in the chamber shortly after the Queen set out the Government 's agenda . In a preview tape seen by journalists , Mr Cockerell said : ` Official television coverage , even though it is heavily restricted , has fuelled public antagonism to MPs . ` But our cameras have witnessed the unsanitised version in which MPs sometimes use the most offensive language . ' Miss Soubry could then be clearly seen and heard on the back row of the Tory benches heckling Mr Miliband . A publicist working for the production company behind the film emailed journalists on Monday claiming Miss Soubry had sworn . Miss Soubry , 58 , was alerted and denied that she had used the word . The BBC then removed the sound of the heckling from the programme and the reference to the ` most offensive language ' . Instead in his narration , Mr Cockerell referred to ` behaviour even rougher than is usually seen . ' When told about the allegation by the Mail , Miss Soubry said she planned to contact her solicitor and the Commons Speaker . Footage : Presenter Michael Cockerell 's voiceover to this footage of a Commons debate was changed , cutting out a reference to ` most offensive language ' . Instead he cited ` behaviour even rougher than is usually seen ' She insisted : ' I can absolutely assure you I have never used language like that . I would never use language like that and most certainly not in the House of Commons , nor against any opponent . ` There is no way , I am telling you now , with the volume of my voice , that I would , even if I was minded to , which I am not . I abhor the word . ` Never ever . That word is never used in the House . Outrageous . ' Miss Soubry , who has been reprimanded by Speaker John Bercow for behaviour in the Commons , said the debating chamber was noisy , but foul language was never used . When offered the opportunity by the Mail to view the footage , Miss Soubry said she had ` more important things ' to do . The BBC refused to comment on whether it had come under any pressure from Miss Soubry , her solicitor , the Ministry of Defence or the Conservative Party . Denial : Michael Cockerell denied any knowledge of the scene and said the BBC had editorial control . Mr Cockerell yesterday declined to talk about the scene when contacted by the Mail and even claimed to have no knowledge of its existence . He said : ' I do n't know what you 're talking about . I do n't recognise what you 're talking about . Anything you 're talking about is not in the programme . ` The BBC has editorial control and they make the decisions on the way the programme is cut . ' Miss Soubry , who once described herself as ` not a girl but a tough old bird ' , worked as a TV journalist before becoming a barrister . She was elected as Tory MP for Broxtowe , Notts , at the last election in 2010 . In 2013 , she apologised to Ukip leader Nigel Farage after making lewd remarks about him . There is no list of banned swear words in the Commons , but terms deemed to be unparliamentary language according to the rule book include : pharisee , swine , jackass , hooligan , blackguard , cad , ruffian and insulting dog . In November communities minister Penny Mordaunt apologised for using a Commons speech on animal welfare to say obscene words after a dare at a dinner with Navy friends . A BBC spokesman said : ` Changes can and are often made to the final version broadcast , as is the case with this episode . ' Anna Soubry : ` It is very important that you run this past your lawyers because you will not defame me ' I beg your pardon . I can be heard saying what ? No . Absolutely not . Never . Never . And if you print that I will sue you because I would never . The C-word ? No absolutely not , I would never use that word and I would never use it in the House of Commons and I would certainly never use it ... I 'm not having that . I can absolutely assure you I have never used language like that and I can equally assure you on the back row nobody , we would n't think of shouting a word like that , the foulest word . I 'm now going to ring both the press office here and at HQ , and I 'm going to ring my solicitor . I would never say that and that 's an extremely , extremely serious allegation . Never ever . That word is never used in the House . Outrageous . Forgive me because I need to make a number of phone calls , because I 'm not having that . I would never use language like that and most certainly not in the House of Commons , nor against any opponent . I do n't use that word so you better not print it . There is no way , I am telling you now , with the volume of my voice that I would , even if I was minded to , which I am not . I abhor the word . There is no way . You guys should know this . You could n't shout out language like that . No , I 'm sorry . End of debate . I would never use that word . I know that I do not use that word and if you print that I will bloody sue you because I would never use that word . I 'm going to go to the Speaker . If there 's one person , well more than one , that the Speaker would be listening to , it 's the likes of me . You heard me use the word c *** in the House of Commons ? No sir . Never . Because I do not use it in my ordinary life and I would never use it in the House of Commons and I am profoundly offended at the suggestion I ever would . I just do n't use that word and anyone will tell you that because I 'm an old feminist who hates that word . If there 's word I loathe . it 's that word . And the idea I would call anybody in the House of Commons , I do n't use the word anyway , it 's just inconceivable , I do n't do that . I am sorry I absolutely do n't . You can hear how strongly I feel . You 're telling me you 've heard me use the C-word . You really are certain ? I do not use the C-Word . Come on . You know how that place operates , you do n't sit and shout out foul language . Nobody does . I think it is very important that you run this past your lawyers because you will not defame me , sir . You will absolutely not . I would never dream shouting out the C-word of all words . The one thing you never do is shout out foul language . You do n't behave like that . We 're noisy and I do n't say we 're not , but we do n't use foul language . I put my hands up when I do something wrong , but I 'm not having this . I would never do that . I 'm not having it . This is a very serious allegation . I can assure you I do not use the C-word and I certainly do not swear in the House of Commons . None of us do . I know some people do n't like our antics , but we do not . You would n't . It 's inconceivable . You better not defame me , I will have you , and I mean that . Do forgive me , goodbye . | Anna Soubry threatened legal action and issued furious denial over claim . Row is around footage for fly-on-the-wall BBC Commons documentary . Comment that sounded like ` sanctimonious c *** ' was shouted at Miliband . It appeared to come from direction of defence minister - which she denies . When final episode aired on BBC Two last night , heckling was edited out . | [[12, 40], [69, 97], [411, 446], [411, 422], [451, 532], [1475, 1486], [1510, 1545], [208, 298], [313, 348], [359, 410], [568, 617], [620, 688], [12, 64], [689, 751], [1475, 1486], [1510, 1545], [208, 298], [313, 348], [521, 567], [1546, 1662]] |
My Kitchen Rules contestant Adam Anderson has been at the centre of controversy this week , after his ex-wife claimed in a TV interview that he 's a ` deadbeat dad ' who does n't see or support his kids . Following the explosive A Current Affair interview , TV WEEK published quotes from the former tennis professional discussing his difficult divorce , saying the situation ` is not ideal ' . ` Obviously I 'd like to spend more time with them , ' he told the magazine . Scroll down for video . ` Deadbeat dad ' ? My Kitchen Rules contestant Adam Anderson spoke to TV WEEK magazine about his difficult divorce and wanting to ` spend more time with them -LSB- his kids -RSB- ' However , Channel Seven claim the TV WEEK interview was done prior to Adam 's ex-wife 's interview earlier this week and the article has since been taken off their website . At the time the former tennis pro had said : ` Any split from a former wife is going to be tough and yeah it is tough , ' he said , adding : ` Things end because both parties are unhappy . ' ` If everything was great we 'd still be together . ' In the explosive interview , Cindy Anderson claimed the former tennis pro had n't seen his children in approximately a year and owes close to $ 40,000 in child support . Cindy also claimed her ex is friends with one of the show 's judges , Pete Evans , which she calls a ` conflict of interest ' . Old interview ? Channel Seven claims Adam 's TV Week quotes were from an interview before his ex-wife 's TV appearance earlier in the week and was not a comment on the recent claims . Owing child support : Cindy Anderson told A Current Affair on Monday night that he owes their five children approximately twelve months worth of child support , amounting to tens of thousands of dollars . A Channel Seven spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia in response to Cindy 's claims : ` This is a private matter between the parties involved . ' Channel Seven also refuted the assertion , that Adam and Pete are friends : ` They -LSB- Adam and Pete -RSB- met for the first time on the program ' . Adam 's former wife of almost 20 years , told A Current Affair on Monday night that she was speaking out on the show instead of dealing with the matter privately because , ` He has blocked my number and both his childrens ' numbers - the older two girls have phones ' . Adam 's ex said she feels no bitterness that he has moved on and re-married Carol Molloy - his partner on the Channel 7 reality show - but she claims that 's when her issues with child support payments began . Cindy also claimed that Adam used to coach My Kitchen Rules judge Pete on the tennis court and that Adam worked at Pete 's Kings Cross restaurant Hugo 's , in Sydney , after she split with him . Happier times : The couple were married for almost 20 years and had five children together . Ranging in age : Their kids are aged between eight years and 15 years of age . ` He has known Pete Evans , he knows him through tennis , through coaching him , ' Cindy told reporter Brady Halls . ` We get no financial support at all , ' she also told Brady . Cindy claims her concern is that the large sum owning to her has amassed over the past year , which she says ` worries me considerably in that my youngest is only 8 - he has many more years where he needs support from his father . ' ` The children also have no emotional support from him . He does not ring them , nor come and see them , ' she said , adding ` they do not receive a card -LSB- for birthdays -RSB- in the mail , not even a phone call . ' ` He 's never played an active , massive role in their lives anyway ... but basically his role now is non-existent , he 's pretty much wiped his hands clean of the children , ' Cindy said . Upset : The blonde single mother says she went on the show for the tell all after Adam 's allegedly blocked her calls and the numbers of their two eldest daughters . The blonde single mother also claimed that the lack of funds has reached a point where it 's ` significantly impacting on the children ' . Cindy not only took aim at Adam during the interview but also at the Child Support Agency and producers of My Kitchen Rules . ` It seems there is little they -LSB- child support agency -RSB- can do , irrespective of him being in the print that he 's working at three private schools doing tennis , irrespective of his face being on My Kitchen Rules . ` They consistently say there is no source of collection , there is no avenue for us to collect revenue , ' she said . On TV : Cindy says there is no bitterness that Adam has moved on and re-married recently , to his MKR partner Carol Molloy -LRB- pictured -RRB- . Spokesman and General Manager for the Department of Human services , who over-sees the Child Support Agency , Hank Jongen told Brady : ' I ca n't talk about individual cases but let me assure you , that we go to great lengths in order to enforce child support obligations . ' ` We will do whatever it takes to recover that money , ' he added . While Cindy claims she wrote to producers of the show to find out if he was being paid for his appearances to garnish money from his wages , she was left without a response . Channel Seven have said in their statement that they never received that letter . Friends in high place ? Adam 's ex-wife also claims the former tennis pro used to coach judge Pete Evans , a claim Channel Seven refute . | My Kitchen Rules contestant Adam Anderson spoke to TV WEEK about his difficult divorce . Former tennis pro says he 'd ` like to spend more time with them -LSB- his kids -RSB- ' Channel Seven claims the interview took place prior to Adam 's ex-wife 's interview on A Current Affair on Monday . Adam 's ex Cindy claims he owe tens of thousands in child support . The single mother also claims he knows the show 's judge Pete Evans . Cindy spoke to A Current Affair because he 's ` blocked ' her number . | [[205, 255], [258, 351], [515, 653], [396, 444], [515, 653], [515, 542], [615, 668], [707, 793], [1431, 1512], [2082, 2120], [2123, 2198], [1096, 1122], [1125, 1265], [1600, 1736], [1739, 1782], [1266, 1271], [1277, 1333], [2929, 2954], [98, 135], [2254, 2284], [3760, 3894], [3834, 3917]] |
Mohammed Bashir , 26 , wrote the offensive post while high on cannabis after speaking with friends about a break-in at his local mosque . A Muslim shopworker has avoided jail after calling for a man who broke into his local mosque to be beheaded , and offering a # 1,000 reward for whoever carried out the deed . Father-of-two Mohammed Bashir , 26 , was accused of a ` moment of madness ' after posting a CCTV image of the culprit on trading site Gumtree , along with a note reading ` Reward , Beheading ' . Bashir wrote the message while high on cannabis after a thief stole # 4,000 from the Jamia Mosque near Oldham , Greater Manchester , where he is a member , on January 4 . Oldham Magistrates ' Court heard the mosque had posted the image on their own Facebook page asking for the criminal to be identified , but after smoking drugs with friends , Bashir decided to take things a step further . Angered by the break-in the day before , Bashir , who works in a nearby Morrisons , logged on to his Gumtree account and made the offensive post , before going to pick up his daughter from school . The court was told that when Bashir sobered up shortly afterwards he went to remove the advert , only to find that it had already been deleted by Gumtree . However the message had been online long enough for a panicked shopper to take a picture of it and send it to police , after which Bashir was arrested . He later admitted the incident to police , telling them he had ` acted stupidly ' , and adding that he had been chastised by the mosque , his family and his friends . Bashir was ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work and pay a # 60 victim surcharge and # 85 fine . In mitigation , defence lawyer Naila Akhtar said her client had been married for nine years and has two children aged 3 and 6 . She said since Bashir 's arrest his name and address had appeared on an English Defence League website . Miss Akhtar said : ` Mr Bashir had admitted that this was a moment of madness and completely out of character . ` He has been condemned by the mosque , his family and his friends for his actions for which he has taken full responsibility . Oldham Magistrates ' Court heard that Bashir offered the reward after a man broke into this mosque in Werneth , Greater Manchester , where he is a member , and stole # 4,000 . ` Police have said that he has been fully cooperative and is deemed a low risk . He was not thinking of the impact this action would have especially considering the current climate . ` Police are satisfied that there is no level of extremism and his religious views are not at a level of concern . ' Miss Akhtar added : ` He says he never takes drugs or alcohol but that on this occasion after smoking the cannabis decided to post the ad on Facebook using CCTV images from the mosque Facebook page . ` Mr Bashir works two jobs , seven days a week since he was 16 , his manager even sees him as a son and she says this is totally out of character for him . ` After his job his main priority is supporting his children and his wife . His life has been considerably affected by his actions which has caused him great anxiety . Bashir said he tried to remove the post after 15 minutes , but discovered it had already been deleted . During that time a shopper had also discovered it , taken a picture , and sent it to police . ` His actions have even had a negative impact on the mosque he attends as well as others in the area . He accepts that this is his fault . ' The court heard another of Bashir 's children Elizabeth died in 2013 after she swallowed a battery in a tragic accident . Passing sentence JP Kathleen Kershaw said : ` We feel that this was a moment of madness to which you showed a good response and was very cooperative with police . We hope that we do not see you again Mr Bashir . ' Shortly after Bashir was arrested , the mosque removed the CCTV image and posted a message saying : ` We are all outraged at this despicable crime but we must act with cool heads and wisdom . ` The last thing we want is one of our own getting in trouble for something they may have said in -LRB- justified -RRB- anger . ' | Father-of-two Mohammed Bashir , 26 , was angered by break-in at mosque . Had been smoking cannabis with friends before writing Gumtree advert . Posted CCTV of suspected thief along with caption ` reward beheading ' Post was reported to police and Bashir was arrested and questioned . He was today sentenced to 80 hours unpaid work told to pay # 145 . But he avoided jail after court heard he does not hold ` extreme views ' | [[71, 137], [0, 15], [23, 70], [508, 569], [679, 685], [818, 850], [818, 850], [853, 899], [468, 491], [679, 794], [1262, 1273], [1353, 1370], [1373, 1406], [3251, 3277], [3325, 3344], [1574, 1673], [1574, 1580], [1593, 1625], [2508, 2588]] |
A huge mound of rotting rubbish has been piling up outside a home after it became a dumping ground for fly-tipping residents when the tenants moved out . The giant pile of litter , which includes dozens of black bin bags , wooden pallets and food waste , has been growing outside the property in Acocks Green , Birmingham , since the tenants left over a month ago . The rubbish mountain is so high that it blocks the majority of the front downstairs window and completely blocks the path to the front door . It also spills out onto the pavement of the residential road . Environmental officers from Birmingham City Council have ordered that the rubbish is to be removed by Thursday and plan to question neighbours over who is responsible after sifting through it . Environmental health officers from Birmingham City Council have now ordered that the rubbish is removed in full by Thursday and plan to question neighbours over who is responsible . Officers have already painstakingly sifted through some of the bin bags and have traced where much of the rubbish originated from . Councillor John O'Shea alerted the authority to the rubbish mound after receiving a complaint from a resident living on the road last week . He told MailOnline : ` The rubbish was piled high , I have never seen anything like it at a property before . ' I alerted the environmental health department and the landlord has been given seven days to move it . ` It appears the rubbish may have started piling up there from as far back as five months ago . ` Two thirds was building waste , rubble and plasterboard but the front of the pile was mainly black bag waste and looked mostly like household waste such as food containers and cans . ` In the landlord 's defence , I do n't think the black bag waste has come from that house . ` The council 's environmental health team did some bag searches and have traced the rubbish to other houses so those residents will be getting a visit . ' I have not idea why they have done that though , we have weekly collections for them . Mr O'Shea said those who were fly-tipping at the property were ruining it for other residents in the area and said the council would n't hesitate to prosecute . ` By and large our policy is to educate first but if you are somebody who is dumping on the street then we will enforce and that can involve fines and prosecution . ` We do n't have a major problem with fly-tipping but there are always little spots where people try to dump stuff . ` This is the worst case I 've seen in quite a while . ' The giant mound of litter , which includes dozens of black bin bags , wooden pallets and food waste -LRB- pictured -RRB- , has been growing outside the property in Acocks Green , Birmingham , since the tenants left over a month ago . He added : ` It 's about loving where we live . The vast majority of residents look after their homes , they do n't rubbish or drop litter , it 's just a small number who for whatever reason decide they do n't want to live like others . ` It ruins it for the others who want to keep the street nice . It 's not on . You know you 're dumping rubbish where it should n't be . There 's no excuse for it , it 's a criminal act . ` Ultimately if you do n't change your behaviour we will fine you and prosecute . ' Neighbours claimed the previous tenants had left the property in a bad state and the landlord had decided to gut the property as well as carry out building work . Retired driving instructor Tom Maguire , 74 , who lives a few doors down , said : ` The rubbish has been piling up over the last few months . ` Once people see bin bags there they put more on them and it has just spiralled out of control . ` It has been an eyesore for far too long and I was getting worried that it was going to get even worse so I am glad it looks like the message has finally got through . ' Another neighbour , who did n't want to be named , said : ` It has been in that state for over a month since the last family who were renting the property left . ` The pile has been getting higher and higher . ' I think the property was left in a bad condition and it looks like the landlord has stripped the property inside and has carried out some building work . ` The building waste is still there but our main concern was the household rubbish as we feared there could be a rat infestation . ` Fortunately the household rubbish has been cleared now . ' After being given seven days notice to move the rubbish last Thursday , the landlord has made some headway in removing the waste . The black bin bags have now been cleared but building waste still remains at the site . Part of the mound of rotting rubbish has been removed , although the landlord still has some waste to clear . Birmingham City Council said the rubbish was brought to the authority 's attention last week and said it took ` swift and robust action ' to rectify the problem . The council said the landlord has been given seven days to clear the rubbish , meaning it must all be removed by Thursday . Some of the rubbish has already been removed from the site , although much of the building waste remains outside the property . Councillor Lisa Trickett , cabinet member for a Green , Smart and Sustainable City at Birmingham Council , said : ` We are all saddened by images of fly tipped waste as this is a blight on our city and those responsible should be ashamed of their actions . They clearly have no pride in our city . ` We are working with the local businesses and communities , to create a better understanding of how they should dispose of their domestic waste , and are actively tackling fly-tipping by investigating the unscrupulous people who consider dumping waste at the roadside to be acceptable . Let me be clear , it is not . ' I know that every resident , business and visitor is horrified by this kind of anti-social behaviour and we would ask anybody that witnesses those responsible to come forward to help us bring them to justice . ` We will use all the powers available to us to take enforcement action and prosecute anyone who does fly tip in Birmingham -- regardless of whether it is garden waste , a piece of furniture or anything else -- and would encourage anyone with information on any cases to contact us in the strictest confidence . ' A builder who was working at the house today refused to comment or give the name of the landlord . The pile of rubbish started with old building materials and waste and gradually grew as fly-tippers dumped household bin bag . Tom Maguire , a neighbour , said : ` The rubbish has been piling up over the last few months ' Councillors said the rubbish is a ` blight on our city ' and said fly-tippers ` should be ashamed of their actions ' | Huge mound of rubbish dumped outside vacant property in Birmingham . Rotting rubbish pile includes building waste and black household bin bags . Litter blocks path to property 's front door and is so high it blocks a window . Council believes rubbish has been dumped at property by local fly-tippers . Landlord must remove waste by Thursday or face fines and prosecution . | [[0, 124], [154, 178], [247, 252], [255, 308], [1243, 1269], [2551, 2576], [2666, 2727], [0, 124], [172, 178], [187, 252], [154, 178], [247, 252], [255, 308], [1564, 1640], [1564, 1613], [1645, 1714], [2570, 2576], [2585, 2656], [4602, 4644], [4653, 4681], [6411, 6476], [0, 124], [154, 178], [247, 252], [255, 308], [366, 507], [403, 405], [472, 507], [1243, 1269], [0, 124], [2066, 2156], [571, 713], [765, 897], [1332, 1433], [2336, 2376], [4426, 4495], [4918, 4994], [4918, 4929], [4997, 5041]] |
A plane landing at the Dallas/Forth Worth International airport got stuck in the grass after sliding off a taxiway Monday night . The American Airlines plane was attempting to turn a corner at a slow speed when the front nose gear slid on the ice , according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman . The MD-80 plane was unable to continue taxiing to the terminal and the passengers were deplaned through the emergency exit and taken by bus before the aircraft was towed . An American Airlines plane landing at Dallas/Forth Worth International airport got stuck in the grass after sliding off a taxiway while attempting to turn a corner on Monday night . The plane 's front nose gear slid on the ice , causing the plane to veer off course . It was unable to continue taxiing to the terminal and the passengers were deplaned through the emergency exit . Flight 296 from San Antonio was carrying 63 passengers and five crew members . No one was hurt , according to NBCDFW . One passenger said the plane immediately slid to the left as soon as it hit the ground . Danelle Canales said the pilot then addressed the situation over the intercom , telling the passengers they had ` no control over the brakes ' when the plane landed . The pilot added that the brakes had been fine when they were tested . Canales said she at first did n't realize the plane had slid . Flight 296 from San Antonio was carrying 63 passengers and five crew members . No one was harmed . One passenger said the plane immediately slid to the left as soon as it hit the ground . Danelle Canales said the pilot then told the passengers they had ` no control over the brakes ' when the plane landed . Another passenger said they ` came down smooth ' , USA Today reported . ` There was n't a jolt . We kind of just glided off the runway to the left a little bit . ' ` We still had at least one wheel on the ground . ' According to NBCDFW , the cause of the plane 's slip has not yet been confirmed , but much of the area was covered in ice after receiving up to an inch of sleet overnight . Airport crew members are currently working to keep the runways and taxiways clear of ice . Taxiways are paths connecting runways to ramps and terminals . They are often used to allow planes to vacate runways more quickly . More than 1,000 flights to be cancelled at DFW on Monday due to ice weather , and 100 have already been pre-cancelled for Tuesday , according to CBS DFW . | Front nose gear of the American Airlines plane slid on the ice . Plane was unable to continue taxiing to terminal and passengers were deplaned through the emergency exit . Pilot told passengers over intercom that they had ` no control over the brakes ' when the plane landed . Another passenger said plane came down smooth and they did n't feel a jolt . DFW cancelled more than 1,000 flights on Monday due to icy weather . | [[211, 246], [249, 307], [662, 706], [709, 734], [375, 430], [748, 816], [802, 859], [1068, 1145], [1068, 1083], [1148, 1208], [1216, 1234], [1556, 1611], [1577, 1649], [1657, 1675], [1676, 1722], [1748, 1772], [2288, 2363]] |
A prestigious Sydney school erected memorial gates for a teacher who was known to be a ` notorious molester ' with the inscription ` he touched us all ' , an inquiry has been told . Former Knox Grammar School student Scott Ashton , 44 , told a royal commission hearing investigating how the Uniting Church and the private school responded to child abuse allegations , that he was left deeply confused by the tribute to the late Bruce Barrett . Mr Ashton called the art teacher a ` notorious molester ' while giving evidence to the commission on Tuesday , as he revealed the abuse he had personally suffered at Barrett 's hands in the Wahroonga school 's classrooms on Sydney 's North Shore . Scroll down for video . Former Knox Grammar School student Scott Ashton , told a royal commission hearing investigating how the Uniting Church and the private school responded to child abuse allegations , that he was left deeply confused by the tribute to the late Bruce Barrett . Pictured : Counsel assisting the inquiry David Lloyd at the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse public hearing into Knox Grammar School , Sydney . Mr Ashton said he was inappropriately touched in sight of other staff and students in the playground . In his statement , read out by close friend Gretel Pinniger who is also known as the high profile Sydney dominatrix Madame Lash , Mr Ashton said Barrett would chase and tickle his students . He told the inquiry that Barrett would occasionally wear a red tie , announcing ` watch out boys , it 's a red tie day ' to signify someone would be canned that day . On one occasion , he recalled being chased by the teacher who then requested he stay back after class . Fearing that he would be caned , Mr Ashton was instead sexually assaulted . ' I felt ashamed of my abuse . I was deeply ashamed and unable to discuss it with anyone , ' Mr Ashton said in his statement , according to News Corp. . Pictured : Justice Coate at the Royal Commission . Mr Ashton 's statement was read out by close friend Gretel Pinniger , who is also known as the high profile Sydney dominatrix Madame Lash . ` It was an issue which I avoided because any reminder of it would cause me severe stress and interfered with my ability to function and cope on a day-to-day basis . ' Despite his notoriety , Mr Ashton said everyone at the school was expected to pay tribute to Barrett , who had died young . ` The fact that he was so well regarded by the school despite being a notorious molester made me feel very confused and powerless , ' he said . Mr Ashton said he was nine when he went to Knox and from the start he was abused ` openly and brazenly ' by another teacher , Barrie Stewart . On one occasion , Mr Ashton recalled being chased by the teacher who then requested he stay behind after class . Fearing that he would be caned , Mr Ashton was instead sexually assaulted . Pictured : Her Honour Justice Coate -LRB- left -RRB- and Commissioner Atkinson at the Royal Commission . Mr Ashton said the sexual abuse he suffered led him to become a teenage sex worker . He said the sexual abuse he suffered led him to become a teenage sex worker , according to the ABC . He described another incident in which he was inappropriately touched in sight of other staff and students in the playground , saying : ` It was so common I was n't sure it was wrong for teachers to touch me like that . ' In 2009 , Stewart was convicted of five counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual assault . He was given a suspended sentence . Five former teachers have been convicted of sexual assault , however the inquiry has heard allegations against a further three staff members who have never been charged . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article . | Knox Grammar School gate was a memorial to late teacher Bruce Barrett . Former student Scott Ashton , 44 , called him a ` notorious molester ' He gave evidence at a royal commission hearing into how the Uniting Church and the private school responded to child abuse allegations . Mr Ashton said he was chased around the room by Barrett on one occasion before being asked to stay back after class and was sexually assaulted . | [[0, 64], [51, 64], [69, 130], [444, 499], [502, 552], [182, 229], [237, 365], [444, 499], [502, 552], [716, 763], [766, 894], [973, 981], [984, 1094], [558, 691], [1613, 1628], [1631, 1670], [1659, 1670], [1675, 1716], [1750, 1792], [2716, 2731], [2734, 2780], [2769, 2780], [2785, 2828], [2862, 2904]] |
Bishop of Shrewsbury Mark Davies : Bishops should ` highlight moral questions which underpin debate ' Roman Catholic bishops will today urge 4million worshippers to vote for political candidates who promote marriage . Cardinal Vincent Nichols will say that stable families and help for the frail and elderly are key planks in advice about the general election for the church 's five million British followers . The Right Reverend Mark Davies , Bishop of Shrewsbury , said yesterday : ` No-one expects bishops to offer a political programme at election time but to highlight the moral questions which underpin the public debate . ` Faced with the unprecedented scale of family breakdown and its immense human and social costs , this election debate surely can not ignore support for marriage . ` At the very foundation of society is respect for the sanctity of human life . We must n't forget the newly-elected parliament in 2015 will decide the legality of assisted suicide in our hospitals and care homes with far-reaching consequences for the way society regards the sick and the elderly . ' It contrasts with the widely-criticised manifesto by Anglican bishops last week which made no mention of marriage . Instead the Church of England said families could best by helped by outside organisations like housing associations or credit unions . Nor did the CofE bishops choose to remind voters of the difficulties of elderly people needing care nor the scourges of drugs and pornography . The Church of England election letter was the first attempt to sway voters by the Anglican bishops and was widely criticised for its focus on inequality and the alleged evils of the market economy , consumerism and the legacy of Margaret Thatcher . Roman Catholic bishops , however , have regularly given advice to churchgoers on the central issues they should consider in advance of each general election . The Catholic advice , to be launched by Cardinal Vincent Nichols , has been prepared over three months by a team of four bishops and will strongly remind voters of the need to help stabilise families . It comes at a time when family campaigners and some Tories have been calling loudly for bigger tax breaks to reward couples who marry , and an end to the tax and benefit penalties piled on mothers who choose to stay at home to raise their children . Faith : The proposals will be launched by Vincent Nichols , pictured centre with newly-ordained priests in 2011 . A bill to legalise assisted suicide is currently being considered in the Lords . The bill , put forward by former Labour Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer , would allow terminally ill patients to be prescribed poison if two doctors approve . A small tax break for married people was introduced last week in line with a promise made by David Cameron in the 2010 Tory manifesto . The concession means married couples and civil partners who are not higher rate taxpayers will be able to transfer # 1,000 of their tax free allowance to their spouse or partner . It will adde # 3.85 a week to the incomes of 1.6 million people , but analysts believe that in practice the gain will be even less for more than a million people , because for them Coalition benefit reforms will take away # 2.50 of the gain . Roman Catholic bishops will distribute half a million copies of their letter to parishes . | Advice drafted by bishops and launched by Cardinal Vincent Nichols . Bishop of Shrewsbury defended advice , saying it is question of morals . It comes after similar letter by Church of England focused on inequality . | [[1897, 1916], [1919, 1961], [1897, 1921], [1954, 2025], [2355, 2406]] |
Tokyo is hoping to cash in on its connection with Godzilla by creating a hotel dedicated to the sci-fi film of the same name . The new look Godzilla themed Hotel Gracery in Tokyo 's Shinjuku ward is dedicated to the mutant dinosaur that first destroyed the city in the 1954 film , and then went on to further destroy the city in numerous remakes over the years . In fact , the giant reptilian creature has crushed just about every famous building in Japan including Tokyo Tower and the Parliament building . The head of Godzilla pokes out of the hotel roof , meaning you 'll never forget where you are staying in Tokyo . The giant reptilian creature has crushed just about every famous building in Japan including Tokyo Tower and the Parliament building . Godzilla first destroyed the city of Tokyo in the 1954 film , and then in all the subsequent remakes . Japan , the only nation in the world to suffer atomic bombings , has a soft spot for the fire-breathing creature as representing the suffering unleashed by nuclear weapons . And according to market research , Godzilla could be a major tourist attraction for fans who would be keen to stay in the Godzilla Hotel . Inside even the toilets are Godzilla themed , and there are rooms filled with Godzilla memorabilia inside the 30 story hotel . And with a copy of the monster 's head on top of the hotel , they promise to have the best views in the city . The hotel is on the top of the Shinjuku 's Toho Cinema , where fans can watch the various Godzilla films in all their glory , and a viewing platform for fans to get up close and personal with the monster or at least its head for a selfie with a little bit extra . Godzilla could be a major tourist attraction for fans who would be keen to stay in the Godzilla Hotel . Inside even the toilets are Godzilla themed , and there are rooms filled with Godzilla memorabilia inside the 30 story hotel . Price for the rooms in the hotel which opens on 24th of April are around # 200 on weekdays and # 300 on public holidays and weekends . Hotel Gracery spokesman Eigo Ueda said : ` This Godzilla head is part of our strategy for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when many foreign tourists will visit and we want to provide the best experience to them . What better way than to appeal to tourists with a giant Godzilla figure . ' They also hoping to cash in with a further Godzilla movie set to appear in Japan next year . The announcement this week from Japanese film studio Toho comes after the success earlier this year of the Hollywood Godzilla , directed by Gareth Edwards , which grossed more than # 320 million -LRB- $ 500million -RRB- worldwide . Toho said in 2004 it had made its last Godzilla film , the 28th in the series centred on the irradiated monster , which first stomped into the world in 1954 . Over the years , Godzilla movies fell out of favour even among Japanese fans . The hotel is on the top of the Shinjuku 's Toho Cinema , where fans can watch the various Godzilla films in all their glory . Japan , the only nation in the world to suffer atomic bombings , has a soft spot for the fire-breathing creature . But the latest Hollywood Godzilla , complete with spikes down its back and a terrifying roar , received relatively favourable reviews in Japan , unlike the 1998 Hollywood Godzilla , directed by Roland Emmerich , which purist fans hated . Toho said recent innovations in computer-graphics technology were behind its decision to revive Godzilla . The Toho Godzilla is set for release in 2016 , before Edwards releases his sequel for Legendary Pictures and Warner Brothers in 2018 . The Tokyo-based company , which owns the rights for Godzilla , declined to say whether it would bring back the man-in-a-rubber suit behind the original Godzilla or rely on computer graphics - or have both . The widely praised original black-and-white ` Godzilla ' was directed by Ishiro Honda . Other directors took over for the subsequent Japanese works , which at times became absurdly comical , featuring battles with manga-like , or cartoonish , monsters . | The Godzilla themed Hotel Gracery will be in in Tokyo 's Shinjuku ward . The toilets are Godzilla themed , and the rooms are filled with memorabilia . There is a copy of the monster 's head on top of the hotel . | [[127, 231], [1222, 1298], [1828, 1904], [508, 556], [559, 620]] |
These stunning photographs show a lost vision of New York City , where streetcars barreled down Third Avenue , the Empire State Building was the tallest in town - and five cents could get you a a bag of fresh-roasted peanuts . Taken by photographer Todd Webb in 1946 , the collection of 15 black and white images show the then-bustling docks of Manhattan , the skyline as it was before glass-clad skyscrapers rose up in decades to come - and the people who called the city home . Webb was around 40 years old when the images were taken , and had just returned from a posting as a Naval Photographer in the Second World War . Scroll down for video . Old smokey days : This collection of photographs by Todd Webb has been republished - the above showing the New York City skyline in 1946 , when the Empire State Building -LRB- right -RRB- and Chrysler building -LRB- center left -RRB- were still the tallest two structures in the metropolis . Old-school : The images show yesteryear NYC transportation , including the image to the left of the now-demolished Third Avenue El train metro line , with a street car running underneath . To the right , a photograph taken at the interaction of Second Avenue and 50th Street shows the Chrysler Building standing tall , not yet surrounded by other midtown high-rises . Working man : In this famous image , taken around Battery Park in Manhtattan , shows a local tradesman selling roasted peanuts on the street for five cents a bag . From the docks : The photographs show how Manhattan 's ports and piers still thronged with trade ships . This is the scene from the Fulton Fish Market Wharf . As well as the iconic sights and architecture of the metropolis , Webb 's images also took in locals around his Harlem neighborhood , and working folk around the city . The images have been brought out of the archives and published again in a limited-edition collection by 21st Editions . According to photography experts , Webb , who won a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1955 , was notable in getting to know the subjects of his portraits before shooting - sometimes spending days talking before wielding the camera . In an introduction to the images , Harvard professor John Stauffer wrote how Webb was also unusual in taking an interest in photographing black people and interracial friendships - the kind he would have seen on the streets of Harlem around him . Although the year was blighted by the death of his mentor Alfred Stieglitz , Webb - who died in 2000 - remembered it as one of best and most productive . Pals : This photograph , called 123rd Street -LRB- Boys with Toy Gun -RRB- shows a black child and white friends playing in Harlem . Webb 's writings show how he despised racism - describing seeing ` Whites Only ' signs on a visit to the segregated South ` hard to take ' Famous : This image , published in Fortune magazine , shows the view of downtown Manhattan from the Empire State Building - then the highest view in the city . The same vista would now be dominated by the World Trade Center 's Freedom Tower . In harmony : This photograph , called ` The Circle , ' LaSalle at Amsterdam , shows a group of black and white children playing together around a pipe spraying water . Towering : This photograph , taken at the intersection of Madison Street and Pike Street , shows the view south towards the Manhattan Bridge . Harlem scenes : These photographs a hat store in Harlem 's 125th street , and the nearby offices of The People 's Voice , a weekly black newspaper , with a local standing outside . The paper had just moved offices . Fine motor : This image shows the car of Lamar Perkins , a prominent Harlem citizen and New York state 's assistant attorney general . Sneaky shot : Webb described how this photograph was taken the first time he walked over the Brooklyn Bridge - with only enough film for six frames . When he returned the next day with more , officials were enforcing a photography ban - so he had to turn back . Commerce : This image shows traders on Suffolk Street , near Manhattan 's Chinatown . Relaxing : Webb found these five boys on a street in Harlem , and asked them to pose for him - a process documented in his other photos , too . | Collection of photographs taken by Todd Webb around 1946 has been republished . The photographer , who won a Guggenheim Fellowship , captured cityscape and individual residents . NYC had a very different skyline in those days , when Empire State Building still dominated the city . | [[227, 266], [667, 785], [1801, 1811], [1854, 1920], [667, 785], [1698, 1712], [1718, 1763], [1698, 1712], [1770, 1800], [1946, 1953], [1967, 2002], [2818, 2824], [2827, 2837], [2872, 2977]] |
Queenslanders have shown their true spirit by refusing to cower after one of Australia 's worst cyclones in years thrashed its coastline . Cyclone Marcia hit the Sunshine State , ripping up trees , flooding houses and leaving thousands without power but one bold resident has displayed the sentiment of thousands with a simple sign that reads : ` Marcia you b *** h we 're still here . ' The note , written in yellow paint , was reportedly spotted on the side of a road near a BP servo in Marmor , a small town in central Queensland that became one of the worst places hit by the cyclone . Residents of the township on the Bruce Highway , about 45 kilometres south of Rockhampton , have had their homes destroyed and power cut by the natural disaster . ` We 're still here ' : This photo was taken in Marmor , a small town in central Queensland , which was devastated by Cyclone Marcia . Local resident Col Stepanoff told the ABC that the town is pulling together : ` Everywhere is a tight-knit community in time of disaster . ` You might not talk to them , just wave every now and again - but in time of disaster they come and ask if you 're all right - that 's standard everywhere . ` People get in and help each other out . ' When the cyclone hit on Friday the state 's residents flocked to social media to share their front-row views of the category five storm . Images and footage posted to social media sites show roads , backyards , and public places completely flooded with rain water , as the torrential downpour continued to lash the coast . Surfers ride waves at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast today as Cyclone Marcia intensified to a Category five . A surfer at Snapper Rocks gets ready to enter the water during the cyclone . Members of the public flock to the coast to observe the massive tide . Brisbane and the Gold Coast are experiencing wild weather conditions as Cyclone Marcia batters parts of central Queensland . Pictures of flags , trees , and tall structures leaning in the gale force wind testify to the strength of the cyclone , as well-wishers from around Australia and the world sent messages of sympathy and solidarity . Queensland locals captured the teaming ocean spilling over rocks and landing with great force on shores near houses in the path of Cyclone Marcia . But not everyone stayed indoors , with defiant surfers hitting the beach despite the howling winds . This photo shows the damage caused at Nob Creek Pottery by Cyclone Marcia , in Byfield , Australia . Steve Bishopric contemplates the damage to his bedroom at his home and business premises at Nob Creek Pottery after a number of established trees were felled by the storm and landed on their house and gallery . Residents Michael Baker and Renee Kjellgren with two of their seven children , Michael , six , and Melody , four , on February 23 , after Marcia hit their home in Byfield , Australia . The couple and their children survived the Brisbane floods of 2010/11 , only moving into this rental in Byfield one week ago . Others flouted the dire warnings from authorities to stay indoors , driving in the torrential rain and walking on the streets . A surfer who braved the raging conditions spoke to Studio Ten about his unusual morning surf . ` It 's just massive out there , no form , like soup or a washing machine , ' he said . ' I just love it , I live for it , it 's the best time to go out . ' The surfer said that he had been worried he would hit the rocks , and had smashed his board , but was determined to head out again as soon as the waves cleaned up . ` I 'm hoping it gets bigger and the best it can get , ' he said . Images of people venturing out in the torrential weather have garnered criticism from social media users . ` Dear idiots , stay out of the cyclone . We may not miss you but the people who do the rescue are valuable , ' posted one Twitter user . Images show preparations locals have made , with bottles of water , power generators , and bottles of wine . Cyclone Marcia made a landfall early this morning near Shaolwater Bay in Central Queensland . Surfers at Snapper Rocks decided to hit the waves during the cyclone . Thousands have been left without power following the storm . This surfer told Studio Ten that the surf was ` just massive ' , and the despite knocking his board on some rocks he was keen to head out as soon as the surf ` cleaned up ' ` Losers out and about in Cyclone Marcia . Are you serious no time to surf respect the oceans , ' posted another social media user . One Twitter user captured the moment two vehicles were stuck on a road on the Sunshine Coast . ` Van stuck for about 10mins before pushed out , ' the tweet read . Vehicles kept driving through the area despite the deluge , with at least 20 cars crossing the flooded roads and three needing assistance after becoming stuck . ` Madness . I called 000 . Children in some cars , ' said the Twitter user . Other images show preparations locals made for the cyclone , with bottles of water , power generators , and bottles of wine . Brisbane Airport posted this image to their Twitter as planes still take off and land at the airport . The shark , believed to be a dusky whaler , was reportedly dumped on Lennox Head Beach today after ferocious winds and tides lashed down on the tourist town . Cyclone Marcia has thrashed the Queensland coastline , ripping up trees , flooding houses , leaving thousands without power and now it has left a shark stranded on a popular beach . Cyclone Marcia crossed the coastline near Shoalwater Bay , 100km north of Yeppoon , the Bureau of Meteorology said . Emergency officials warned people to take shelter ahead of torrential rain and flooding , destructive winds and massive seas as the worst of the storm hit - with Cyclone Marcia predicted to be the most destructive cyclone in the state since 2013 . On the Gold Coast , young swimmers defied the weather and enjoyed the raging sea . Pictures of the children bathing in the currents as they spilled over the road barrier show them drenched and crouching down to wet themselves further . ` Woodlands van stuck for about 10mins before pushed out . Even then idiots kept driving through ' said this Twitter user . ` The idiots crossing flooded road . At least 20 cars crossed and 3 had to be towed/helped out , ' the post read . Cyclone Marcia predicted to be the most destructive cyclone in the state since 2013 . Images of one surfer running along an abandoned street barefoot and carrying his surfboard has garnered criticism from social media users . Shocking images have emerged of a house collapsing on Great Keppel Island , 15 kilometres off the coast of Yeppoon . The one-storey residence is built on the edge of the coast on a sand dune , and has sand bag and large rubbish bins in the surf . This house , believed to be resort accommodation , collapsed on the north side of Lord Keppel Island . Social media users have also used the platform to express well-wishes and solidarity with Queenslanders affected by the cyclone . In this image rain is seen to have burst through a window and to have flooded a carpet . | A sign was erected in one of the worst hit areas of Queensland . Residents of Marmor , south of Rockhampton , have seen homes destroyed . Elsewhere in the state people defied warnings to surf in the stormy sea . People were spotted walking along streets in the downpours . Others drove their cars through storm water . Queensland locals have flocked to social media to share their experiences . Footage and pictures show the damage Cyclone Marcia has wreaked . | [[590, 636], [668, 752], [0, 13], [25, 35], [43, 138], [1663, 1739], [2338, 2371], [3024, 3073], [3152, 3160], [3165, 3193], [4084, 4154], [5858, 5875], [5878, 5911], [5858, 5875], [5878, 5892], [5916, 5940], [3024, 3038], [3092, 3151], [3646, 3692], [3636, 3742], [3024, 3038], [3092, 3151], [4685, 4723], [1229, 1366], [139, 176], [139, 153], [179, 213], [823, 846], [853, 887], [1883, 1935], [2151, 2298], [2400, 2486], [5751, 5764], [5767, 5786]] |
A ` road rage ' murder suspect has claimed that he was acting in self-defense when he shot dead a 44-year-old mother last month . Erich Nowsch , 19 , was arrested last Friday , a little more than a week after Tammy Meyers was fatally wounded by gunfire that police say came from a silver car that pursued the nurse and her 22-year-old son , Brandon Meyers , to the cul-de-sac outside their Las Vegas home . However Nowsch 's lawyers , brothers Conrad Claus and Augustus Claus , said after their client 's first court appearance on Monday that they do n't believe the case involved road rage . The lawyers plan to review police reports and video evidence before talking more about Nowsch 's defense . Scroll down for video . Erich Nowsch Jr. appears in a Las Vegas courtroom for his initial court appearance on Monday in Las Vegas . Nowsch remains jailed following his arrest on Friday on murder , attempted murder and other charges in the February 12 shooting that fatally wounded 44-year-old Tammy Meyers outside her home . Robert Meyers , left , the widower of Tammy Meyers , attends a hearing for his wife 's accused killer , Erich Nowsch Jr. in court on Monday . Nowsch 's lawyers told ABC that they believe he was acting in self-defense . They later told CNN that Tammy Meyer 's son , Brandon , pointed a gun at Nowsch before the shooting began and said that his client had received death threats . However the victim 's husband , Robert Meyers , said he thinks his wife realized she was in danger , and was fatally wounded after trying to lure a vehicle and motorist who threatened her away from her home . That 's not road rage , that 's intentional , Meyers said in an interview after a court appearance by the suspect , his 19-year-old neighbor , Erich Milton Nowsch Jr. . ` My wife was followed home and murdered , ' Meyers said . Meyers ' theory adds yet another dimension to a case already marked by stunning revelations and conflicting accounts from police and the Meyers family . Initially , the family said Tammy Meyers was shot in the head after a confrontation with another motorist while she drove her teenage daughter home from a late-night driving lesson at a neighborhood school . The public was told that Brandon Meyers grabbed his gun and came out of the house , firing back at the fleeing silver car . Last week , family members and police revealed that Tammy Meyers dropped her daughter at home and went back out with her son and the family 's green Buick Park Avenue sedan to find the motorist who frightened her earlier . Erich Nowsch Jr appears in a Las Vegas court on Monday . A March 10 preliminary hearing will determine if he should stand trial . What followed was a tire-squealing confrontation with a silver car and gunfire several blocks from the Meyers home . No one was injured . Then , the fatal shooting on the cul-de-sac several houses from the Meyers home . ' I do n't know what she saw , ' Robert Meyers said on Monday . ` She 's dead . I ca n't ask her . But this was intentional - to kill the person in the green car . ' Mr Meyers said that the story of what happened that night has been so confused as all the facts did n't come out immediately . He told ABC : ` My son was very hurt , thinking I was going to blame him for his mom going down , and he did n't come forward with all the things . ' Mr Meyers said his daughter has helped him get a clearer picture of what went on . According to the widower , a suspect , who is still at large , stood in front of the hood of his wife 's car and threatened to kill her and his daughter . Mr Meyers added : ` And after that , my daughter said my wife spun out to get away from this guy right on this street . ` My daughter said my wife was going as fast as she could . ... My wife was as great driver . She came from a good stock of drivers . ' Las Vegas police are n't commenting about the changing accounts , and are n't addressing whether Tammy Meyers ' death resulted from a random road-rage shooting as it first appeared . Captain Christopher Tomaino told the media Friday that police were still looking for an accomplice who was with Nowsch , and questions about the case will eventually be answered . Robert Meyers , 49 , was out of state when the shooting happened . He said on Monday his wife and Nowsch knew each other -- well enough for the teen to hitch up his saggy shorts when Tammy Meyers approached him in the neighborhood park , so she would n't have to tell him to do so . It 's not clear if they recognized each other during the shootings . Robert Meyers said Nowsch was probably familiar with the family 's Buick , but might not have seen it since the windows were tinted dark last summer . Nowsch is charged with murder , attempted murder and firing a weapon from a vehicle . He did not speak and did not enter a plea when he appeared in a Las Vegas court on Monday . A March 10 preliminary hearing will determine if he should stand trial . Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson would then decide whether to seek the death penalty . ` Nothing is off the table , ' he told KTNV . Police said Nowsch told friends he was at the park and became alarmed by a vehicle he thought was following him , so he called a friend to pick him up . Las Vegas police say Nowsch bragged to his friends several hours after the shooting that he ` got those kids , they were after me , and I got them ' . Nowsch showed his friends a .45 - caliber handgun and told them he fired several shots in the first encounter and 22 shots in the cul-de-sac , according to the police report . Robert Meyers and police said Brandon Meyers fired three shots during the second shooting . It was n't clear if he hit a silver Audi with Nowsch and at least one other person inside , police said . Nowsch -LRB- left -RRB- is charged with the murder of Tammy Meyers -LRB- left and right -RRB- , attempted murder and firing a weapon from a vehicle last month . Nowsch lived with his single mother and her one-month-old daughter about a block from the Meyers family home . Tammy Meyers served as a mother figure to youngsters about the same age as her children , now 15 to 22 years old , Meyers said , and two Meyers sons attended high school with Nowsch . Meyers said that at least once , Tammy Meyers gave the teen $ 20 when he said he was hungry . Meyers also recalled Nowsch earning pocket money washing cars outside the Meyers family home . The teen and the neighborhood mom may have seen each other in passing the weekend of February 7-8 , when Tammy Meyers walked the family dogs in the park where Nowsch often sat at a picnic bench with other teens , Robert Meyers said . ` Bunch of troublemakers , ' Robert Meyers said . ' I would n't allow my kids to hang out with them . ' But he denied there was any bad blood . Las Vegas police spokesman Larry Hadfield said investigators are still trying to locate the silver vehicle 's driver , who has not been identified . | Erich Nowsch , 19 , was arrested last Friday , a week after Tammy Meyers , 44 , was fatally wounded by gunfire outside her Las Vegas home . Nowsch 's lawyers said the case was not road rage and they believe their teenage client was acting in self-defense . The victim 's husband said ` she was followed home and murdered ' Nowsch has been charged with murder , attempted murder and firing a weapon from a vehicle . The district attorney is considering seeking the death penalty if the case goes to trial . | [[43, 129], [130, 142], [145, 147], [150, 174], [209, 221], [234, 252], [832, 894], [935, 959], [973, 1024], [0, 77], [43, 129], [543, 592], [1167, 1243], [1199, 1243], [1782, 1822], [1782, 1791], [1814, 1822], [1827, 1840], [3425, 3449], [832, 838], [897, 959], [4702, 4731], [4702, 4708], [4734, 4770], [4702, 4708], [4755, 4787], [5776, 5788], [5872, 5899], [5776, 5788], [5893, 5936], [4953, 5008], [5016, 5051], [4953, 5051]] |
Members of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy say they will have to be forcibly removed from the site of a multi-million dollar redevelopment after receiving an eviction notice on Friday . The ` peaceful protest ' was established in response to the commercial development of an area of land called ` The Block ' in Redfern , Sydney , which protesters claim to be Indigenous land . The eviction notice was issued by the Aboriginal Housing Corporation , accusing the protesters of trespassing on land pigeon-holed for a retail and commercial redevelopment since last year . Protest : Aboriginal community members are accused of trespassing in long standing feud with the Aboriginal Housing Corporation who have issued a notice of eviction to remove them from redevelopment site . The eviction notice issued by Mick Mundine to protesters on Friday giving 48 hours to leave or risk being forcibly removed . The Pemulwuy project has been approved for commercial and retail redevelopment of the site . It consists of student accommodation for 154 people , a childcare space for 60 , a gymnasium , a gallery and affordable social housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families . Many protesters , such as the embassy 's founder Jenny Munro , say the land is being stripped from the indigenous community in an effort to push Aboriginal people out of Redfern . ` The development of commercial and student housing does not assist the housing needs of our people in any way , shape or form , ' Munro told Daily Mail Australia . Not giving up : Jenny Munro , a 59-year-old Wiradjuri woman , set up the tent embassy with community members in Redfern on May 26 2014 . Not happy : Although the group has been promised affordable housing for aboriginal families , protesters believe the site wo n't benefit the wider indigenous community . Jenny says a scheduled meeting for Tuesday was cancelled by the Aboriginal Housing Corporation due to to heavy media presence . She welcomes the eviction challenge saying their ` peaceful protest ' will not be going anywhere . ` They will have to move us physically , ' she said in a statement . Mick Mundine , chief executive officer of the Aboriginal Housing Company , says the land is private and as long as they are occupying it , it 's simply trespassing . Controversy : Chief Executive Officer if the Aboriginal Housing Company Mick Mundine -LRB- pictured left -RRB- with police as indigenous community members band around a fire at the Redfern site -LRB- pictured right -RRB- . Flyers posted in the Redfern area attacking Aboriginal Housing Company CEO Mick Mundine for his role in the redevelopment . Mr Mundine , who leads the push for the Embassy 's removal , says the development will improve social conditions and ensure ` Aboriginal people enjoy the same standard of living as all other Australians . ' Protesters are doubtful of their future inclusion as developers had previously advertised that Aborigines had moved out of the suburb as well as stipulations that housing will not to be offered to those with a criminal history . This means many socially disadvantaged members of the aboriginal community would be excluded from the redevelopment . | Aboriginal protesters claim site in Redfern , Sydney , is Indigenous land . Developers want to build student flats and affordable housing on the site . Aboriginal families say the plans do not benefit the community . Protesters have held up development of site for nearly a year . New eviction notice accuses them of trespassing on private land . ` They will have to move us physically , ' says Aboriginal Tent Embassy . | [[308, 315], [344, 373], [989, 1142], [1753, 1828], [0, 181], [43, 47], [58, 181], [374, 393], [445, 504], [653, 692], [697, 770], [0, 181], [2056, 2094]] |
A mother and her young daughter were left terrified after a charging rhino smashed into their car during a family day trip to a safari park . Vicky Liggins , 26 , was driving through West Midlands Safari Park , in Worcestershire , with her 19-month-old daughter Evelyn and sister Beth Rees when the incident occurred . She said the Asian rhino , which weighs about the same as a car at two tonnes , charged at her Mitsubishi Warrior and shunted it with such force that the back wheels lifted off the ground . Vicky Liggins , 26 -LRB- right -RRB- , was driving through West Midlands Safari Park , in Worcestershire , with her 19-month-old daughter Evelyn and sister Beth Rees when the two-tonne rhino -LRB- left -RRB- charged at her vehicle . The animal caused # 500 worth of damage to her car including scratches and damage to the rear panels , a broken back light and dents . She said the trio were left ` absolutely petrified ' by the incident at the safari park . The bank worker , from Dudley , West Midlands , said the trio were left ` absolutely petrified ' by the ordeal and said the large animal had caused more than # 500 worth of damage to her car . She said : ' I dread to think what would 've happened if we 'd been in a smaller , lighter vehicle . ` As we drove past the three rhinos , I thought they were too close . ` These animals are two tons - they weigh more than a car ; they 're dangerous . ' I did n't notice the rhino behind my car until it hit the vehicle with its horn . ` We were all really frightened . It then shunted us from behind with such force that the back wheel lifted off the ground . ` We were absolutely petrified . I thought the rhino was going to pierce the back panel and smash through the rear windscreen . ` We could n't drive away because of the rhinos in front . ` My daughter was in tears and the sad thing is that she loves animals . ' Ms Liggins said a range worker eventually came to their aid and helped move the rhinos from the scene . However , her car was left with a smashed back light , a crumpled rear and dents to the driver 's side . The bank worker has criticised West Midlands Safari Park for not issuing an immediate apology and said the park should install barriers to stop damage to cars -LRB- right -RRB- . She said her daughter -LRB- left -RRB- had been left terrified . West Midlands Safari Park gave Ms Liggins a # 250 goodwill voucher following the incident and apologised . She is now calling for barriers to be installed at the safari park to prevent the rhinos wandering in front of vehicles . She said : ` It was one very scary and expensive day . ` As a member of the public you do n't expect to be hit by a massive animal like that . ' I want the public to understand the dangers of safari parks . Even with so called `` rangers '' on site , it is n't safe . ' The mother also criticised the way managers at the park handled the attack , which happened three weeks ago . ' I received no immediate apology and was referred to the `` terms and conditions '' , ' she said . The family were driving through an area where three rhinos were living when one of them charged at the car . West Midlands Safari Park apologised for the incident and handed Ms Liggins a goodwill voucher of # 250 . A spokesman added : ` The highlight of a visit to West Midland Safari Park is to drive amongst free-roaming animals and to get the chance to feed some of them . ` In addition , we also offer a guided minibus tour for a small extra charge . ` We welcome many , many thousands of visitors during the course of a year without mishap and , therefore , we are very sorry that was n't so on this particular occasion ' . The safari park , which describes itself as the ` best tourist attraction in the West Midlands ' , has more than 180 species of animals in its four-mile drive-through safari . | Vicky Liggins was driving through safari park when rhino charged at car . Her 19-month-old daughter Evelyn was in the vehicle along with her sister . Trio said they were ` absolutely petrified ' as two-tonne rhino shunted the car . It used such force that car lifted off wheels , causing # 500 worth of damage . West Midlands Safari Park has apologised and offered # 250 goodwill token . | [[0, 74], [58, 141], [142, 155], [163, 208], [509, 522], [548, 593], [680, 741], [3077, 3084], [3091, 3153], [0, 74], [58, 141], [328, 343], [352, 396], [386, 396], [399, 444], [680, 741], [877, 966], [886, 966], [1020, 1061], [1052, 1061], [1064, 1077], [1498, 1529], [1530, 1576], [1623, 1653], [2271, 2335], [2304, 2335], [437, 463], [469, 508], [742, 842], [967, 982], [1082, 1159], [1582, 1620], [2336, 2442], [2367, 2442], [2336, 2361], [2430, 2442], [3154, 3207], [3154, 3179], [3212, 3259]] |
Tremors have reportedly hit a Florida city at least three times . Coral Gables residents have told local media they 've felt the shaking inside their homes . Authorities so far have yet to figure out what 's behind the tremors . Scroll down for video . Residents : Matt Meehan , left , and Boo Zamek , right , have both said they 've felt shaking inside their Coral Gables homes . Matt Meehan , who lives in the city , told CBS Miami - which first reported on the shaking - ` These windows started ratting like this . And I 'm looking around , and I have a little cat -LSB- that -RSB- went running in the other direction . ' ` My first thought was earthquake , ' he told the television station . Another resident , Boo Zamek , told the CBS affiliate it was a ` very low , um , very subtle vibration ' and called it ` strange , curious . ' A spokeswoman for the Coral Gables police department , Kelly Denham , told Daily Mail Online that police received two reports in the past four weeks regarding the ` loud explosion-type noises , ' as well as a third report shortly before 11am Tuesday . Officers have checked out the sounds each time , Denham said , but they have so far been unable to locate their source . ` We have no idea what those noises are , ' Denham said . What 's going on ? Authorities so far have yet to figure out what 's behind the tremors . Incidents : The tremors reportedly took place in this stretch of Coral Gables , Florida . A spokesman for the US Geological Survey said the agency had no recent earthquakes reported in Florida . Meanwhile , Bill Orlove , a representative for Florida Power & Light -LRB- FPL -RRB- , told Daily Mail Online ' I can tell you that our electrical equipment was working properly in the Coral Gables neighborhood during the time when customers were experiencing loud noises . We have no reports of outages and no equipment issues during that time . ' CBS Miami pointed out that a sonic boom reportedly took place Saturday - and reported that the times for the boom and the Coral Gables tremors failed to match . In that case , the American Meterological Society -LRB- AMS -RRB- said more than 230 reports came in of a fireball . Many of the reports came from central and northern Florida . Earlier this month , tremors and noises were also reported in St. Johns County , according to First Coast News . A St. Johns County Sheriff 's Office -LRB- SJCSO -RRB- spokesman spoke to the television station at the time , and attributed the noises to being sonic booms from military flight training . | Tremors have hit Coral Gables , Florida , at least three times . Residents have told local media they 've felt the shaking inside their homes . Authorities so far have yet to figure out what 's behind the tremors . | [[0, 65], [1372, 1437], [66, 157], [117, 157], [265, 299], [310, 319], [325, 380], [265, 299], [320, 380], [158, 169], [177, 228], [1158, 1211], [1289, 1300], [1308, 1359]] |
An Aussie schoolboy has been astonished to discover a koala ` trying to steal ' his car , sitting happily in the front of the vehicle with his four little paws gripping the steering wheel . Victorian man Michael Box was putting out the bins when he first spotted the intruder sitting contentedly in the front seat of his son Sam 's car . ' I think he was trying to take the car ! My son 's lucky he took the keys out of it , ' Box joked to 3AW . Scroll down for video . ` Get in loser , we 're going shopping ' : The koala looked completely at home behind the wheel of the 4WD . It is entirely possible that he assumed he had not been spotted , given the car is painted in camouflage tones . The cuddly koala was caught red-handed but remained shameless in his pursuit . It is entirely possible that the koala assumed he had not been spotted , given the car 's camouflage tones . Nevertheless he refused to budge , determined to work out how to take the car for a spin . ` He was quite calm , I got within three feet of him and he was n't concerned , he was just looking around , ' Box told 3AW . Mr Box 's 15-year-old son Sam drives the Land Rover down his long driveway every morning . Sam meets school bus at the front of their 200-acre sheep farm in Maude , 30 kilometres from Geelong and then drives the car back down the driveway at the end of the day . 15-year-old son Sam Box drives the Land Rover down his long driveway every morning to meet the school bus at the front of their 200-acre sheep farm in Maude , 30 kilometres from Geelong . When Sam hopped off the bus that afternoon , he was surprised to discover the car was already occupied with the koala still hoping to go on a joy ride . When Sam hopped off the bus that afternoon , he was surprised to discover the car was already occupied with the koala still hoping to go on a joy ride . It was at that point that the koala realised the jig was up . Sam took a few photographs whilst the marsupial eyed him up and down . `` I opened the door and he just got out and walked away , ' Sam told 9news . com.au . The cheeky criminal took shelter in the nearest tree , perhaps plotting his next car-jacking attempt . ` You see koalas around here , but not too often in the car ! ' joked his father . The cheeky criminal walked out of the car casually and took shelter in the nearest tree , perhaps to plot his next car-jacking attempt . Father Michael Box and his 15-year-old son Sam say they see koalas frequently but ` not too often in the car ! ' | A koala was found in the front seat of a 4WD with his paws on the wheel . He sat there for most of the day , seemingly set on working out how to take the car for a joy ride . Michael Box from Maude , Victoria insists : ` He was trying to steal the car ! ' His 15-year-old son Sam was delighted with the discovery and amused when the koala climbed out of the car casually when they opened the door . | [[139, 189], [880, 912], [915, 970], [1656, 1700], [1809, 1853], [0, 87], [340, 395]] |
Getting money out of the hole-in-the-wall wo n't be such a dull experience for the next few weeks as six ATMs have received a funky makeover across the city to get into the spirit of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival . Following such a positive reaction to last year 's GAYTMs , the selected ANZ machines are back brighter and better than ever complete with rainbow-coloured receipts for the customers . As if that was n't fabulous enough - some of the GAYTMs play dance music that is motion-activated , as well as display messages including ` Hello darling ! ' and ` Push my buttons ' with one machine on Oxford Street displaying a glittering disco ball to really get you in the mood . Six ATMs have received a funky makeover across the city to get into the spirit of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival . The selected ANZ machines are back brighter and better than ever complete with rainbow-coloured receipts . Some of the GAYTMs play dance music that is motion-activated with one machine on Oxford Street displaying a disco ball to really get you in the mood . ANZ 's Australia Division Diversity Council chair Mark Hand , and ANZ staff member David Beks dressed in drag as his alter ego Anzabella to launch the machines including one that celebrates the Dykes on Bikes at Pitt St , one for the bears on George St while the ATMs on Oxford St are in honour of the drag queens , The Sydney Star Observer reported . ` Building an inclusive culture at ANZ is not just important to our staff , but to our customers and the communities in which we work , so we 're very proud to be able to mark our ninth year of sponsorship and the second year as Principal Partner by bringing back GAYTMs , ' Mr Hand said . ` It 's very exciting to bring a new element to the GAYTM campaign this year by involving not just Sydney but communities across Australia . ` It gives Australians far and wide a chance to show their support for diversity and also to celebrate Mardi Gras . ' ` The only GAYTM in the village ' campaign will see one Australian town awarded a GAYTM during Mardi Gras . This year , the initiative will also venture outside Sydney 's borders with ` The only GAYTM in the village ' campaign , which will see one Australian town awarded a GAYTM during Mardi Gras . Australians can vote for the location they would like to see host ` The only GAYTM in the village ' by visiting the GAYTM website or the ANZ Facebook page . Once again , ANZ is donating ATM operator fees for non-ANZ cardholders from its GAYTMs during the festival to Twenty10 , a not-for-profit organisation working with and supporting people of diverse genders , sexes and sexualities , their families and communities . While , ATM operator fees from ` The only GAYTM in the village ' will be donated to a charity near its location . Australians can vote or the location they would like to see host ` The only GAYTM in the village ' by visiting the GAYTM website or the ANZ Facebook pag . | Six GAYTMs are set up in Sydney printing out rainbow-coloured receipts . ATMs got funky makeover for Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival . Some ATM screens will play dance music and display disco balls . While other machines will carry messages of support for the festival . ` The only GAYTM in the village ' campaign will see one Australian town awarded a GAYTM during which the public can vote for . ANZ is donating ATM operator fees for non-ANZ cardholders to Twenty10 . | [[98, 231], [232, 289], [292, 416], [831, 937], [910, 917], [918, 937], [98, 231], [700, 830], [723, 739], [747, 830], [423, 489], [619, 699], [938, 1056], [1992, 2097], [2191, 2218], [2225, 2269], [2234, 2289], [2290, 2327], [2447, 2457], [2460, 2565]] |
Oprah Winfrey had to go to the bathroom so badly that she knocked on the door of a random office in Los Angeles and asked if she could use the facilities . Max Lloyd , the executive producer of blog WorldWideKat , was working around 10.30 pm on Thursday when Ava DuVernay , the director of Oscar-nominated Selma , approached it . ' I have Oprah and she really has to pee ! ' the director said . ` Can she use your bathroom ? ' Scroll down for video . Unexpected visitor : Max Lloyd -LRB- right -RRB- was working late in Santa Monica when Ava DuVernay came up to him and asked if Oprah -LRB- left -RRB- could use the bathroom . Ms Winfrey was giving Ms DuVernay a lift back to her car at the Santa Monica building , where she had been working earlier that day before party hopping , according to the New York Post . The media mogul then popped out of a black SUV to heed nature 's call . WorldWideKat 's other executive producer Kat De La Fuente was in New York at the time and posted about the event on Instagram . Emergency emissary : Selma director Ms DuVernay -LRB- pictured -RRB- asked Mr Lloyd to let Ms Winfrey use the facilities after an evening of party-hopping . Calling Ms Winfrey an inspiration , she said it was the ` most surreal moment of my life and I was n't even there ' . ' I swear if Max had n't taken this photo I would n't have believed it in a million years . ' The run up to and aftermath of Sunday 's Academy Awards ceremony featured a number of Oscar-related events that led stars such Ms DuVernay and Ms Winfrey out on the town . The talk show host had a supporting role in Best Picture nominee Selma , and presented the award for best adapted screenplay to Imitation Game writer Graham Moore . A more dignified occasion : Ms Winfrey presented the award for best adapted screenplay to Graham Moore . | Star was driving with Selma director Ava DuVernay in Santa Monica . DuVernay asked blogger Max Lloyd if her friend could use the bathroom . Director had been working in WorldWideKat 's building earlier that day . Pair who worked on Selma were reportedly party-hopping before Oscars . | [[54, 57], [116, 155], [395, 424], [1015, 1033], [1084, 1171], [687, 690], [715, 779], [1470, 1475], [1476, 1555]] |
She set the internet on fire last year by claiming to have an extra asset . But 21-year-old ` Jasmine Tridevil ' became the subject of intense scrutiny after extraordinary images suggested she had become the first woman in the world to have an artificial third breast fitted . Then last week the wannabe pop star - real name Alisha Hessler - from Tampa , Florida broke her silence to insist she 's not a hoaxer , defiantly claiming : ' I know my breasts are real and I do not care what anybody thinks . ' But Daily Mail Online has now obtained secretly filmed images that prove once and for all that Hessler is lying . These photos -- taken by a specialist thermal imaging camera - show her third breast is indeed a fake . Scrutinized : Many commentators have claimed the third breast is a wearable prosthetic , especially as Tridevil once reported a ' 3 breast prosthesis ' stolen when her bags went missing at Tampa Airport in 2014 . Proof at last : Body heat pictures through a simple thermal imaging camera . Red indicates normal body temperature due to blood flow . Blue means no blood flow - and there is none at the ` third breast ' Uncovered : German television journalist Hans Huebner -LRB- right -RRB- took the footage showing how the third breast could not actually be a real one . A surgically implanted third breast -- which she claims to have forked out $ 20,000 for - would have blood circulating around it . But as these video stills show the breast in the middle is blue , a sign that there 's no heat in this area , while the rest of her body is warm red . The images were shot by German TV network RTL during an interview in October last year . RTL 's Miami based producer and investigative reporter Hans Huebner told Daily Mail Online that Hessler 's fake breast is simply a hoax designed to boost her chances of becoming a reality TV star . ` These images are absolute proof that Jasmine Tridevil is a liar , we exposed her as a fake , ' he said . ` We scheduled an interview with Jasmine in October last year but we were obviously skeptical as to whether her claims were genuine . ` Every plastic surgeon in the world was saying that they would n't do this type of surgery . ` So we discussed how we would shoot the interview and we came up with the idea of renting a thermal camera . ` My cameraman went to Home Depot and rented a Thermal Imaging Camera for $ 100 . ` He filmed the interview as normal but secretly used the thermal camera as well . ' During the interview Huebner said he pressed Hessler on the truth to her claims . Questionable : Jasmine Tridevil claimed : ' I know my breasts are real and I do not care what anybody thinks . ' Before and after : Tridevil pictured at the age of 16 -LRB- left -RRB- and more recently -LRB- right -RRB- after what she claims is surgery but which is today exposed as a fake . ` She insisted it was genuine but by the end she cut the interview short , she did n't like my questions and got angry , ' said Huebner . ` She said , ` this interview is over ' and walked out . ' Huebner said that after the interview aired on RTL -- Europe 's largest domestic television network - he received a ` nasty ' email from Hessler . ` She sent me this nasty email saying it was us who were faking it , ' he said . After Hessler 's story broke last year many commentators claimed the third breast was a wearable prosthetic - especially as she reported a ` three breast prosthesis ' stolen when her bags went missing at Tampa Airport in 2014 . But Hessler continued to stand firm claiming it was a real implant . In an interview last week she said : ` Getting a third breast was not always my plan - I just had the idea two years ago . ` People always have something to say . They will criticize it or will love it and ask for a picture . ' Hessler admits not all the attention she gets is complimentary , adding : ` If I go to a park where there are children , parents will give me dirty looks . ` But if I go to a bar it seems like everybody loves it . ' Hessler insists she was rejected by more than 50 doctors who feared violating ethical codes before she found a willing surgeon who would perform the procedure . She says the medic took tissue from her abdomen and used it to fashion the third breast - a procedure commonly used for normal breast enhancements . Now , she has hired a camera crew to follow her around Tampa , Florida , documenting the ` struggles ' she faces as a three-breasted woman . While the procedure is possible , surgeons are barred from carrying out any operations that could be harmful to ` human dignity ' . The ethical code outlined by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons dictates that ` the principal objective of the medical profession is to render services to humanity with full respect for human dignity . ' Cosmetic surgeons are under strict guidelines to solely ` enhance the norm ' of a patient 's body . | Jasmine Tridevil has become a phenomenon through claims she had third breast implanted in surgical procedure . Tridevil - real name Alisha Hessler - has repeatedly denied she is perpetrating a hoax . But the thermal video camera footage taken with a $ 100 device shows that there is no blood in her so-called third breast . German network RTL took the footage and shared it with Daily Mail Online after Hessler repeated claims that she really did have three breasts . | [[1293, 1328], [1377, 1380], [1383, 1393], [1293, 1328], [1389, 1423], [619, 631], [635, 686], [644, 679], [682, 703], [619, 722], [1071, 1075], [1108, 1137], [2307, 2321], [2345, 2388], [1575, 1663], [3505, 3545]] |
Disgraced Alex Rodriguez reported for a New York Yankees pre-season training camp two days early and apologized for taking performance-enhancing drugs that led to him being banned for an entire season . The 39-year-old slugger took his physical and worked out at the Yankees pre-season training complex in Florida , two days before the squad was due to report back . His impromptu practice came three days ahead of the first scheduled team workout and he faced a flurry of media questions before the arrival of his team mates . Alex Rodriguez is put through his paces after reporting early for New York Yankees pre-season training in Florida . The 39-year-old is preparing for his comeback after being banned for an entire season as a result of taking performance-enhancing drugs . His impromptu practice came three days ahead of the first scheduled team workout at the minor league facility in Tampa . ` A-Rod ' was among more than a dozen players suspended last year as a result of the Biogensis clinic scandal , which saw steroids and human growth hormone distributed to players . He received the longest ban , in part because of an attempt to impede a Major League Baseball investigation into the matter . He told reporters at the camp in Tampa : ` Obviously it was a rough year . I 'm excited that 's behind me . ` Right now I 'm just focused on making this team . I 'm here early to get a jump start . I 'm confident if I stay healthy I can do some good things . ` A-Rod ' was among more than a dozen players suspended last year as a result of the Biogensis clinic scandal , which saw steroids and human growth hormone distributed to players . Rodriguez shakes hands with some of the Yankees ' coaches after finishing his batting practice . He missed the entire 2014 season due to a drugs ban . ' I made a mistake . I served a big penalty personally and professionally . ' I served the time . I tried to use the time productively . I paid my penalty . I 'm moving on and focusing on 2015 . ` There were plenty of mistakes in a lot of ways . I cringe sometimes when I look at the things I did . No mistake that I made has any good answer or justification . ` I 've created a big headache for a lot of people so I do n't blame whoever is mad at me . ' Rodriguez , a three-time American League Most Valuable Player , was originally given a 211-game ban but it was later reduced to 162 games , the entire 2014 campaign . Rodriguez said the layoff might help his fitness by not putting his body through a season or risking injury . Rodriguez , a three-time American League Most Valuable Player , was given a 162 game ban , the longest after an attempt to impede a Major League Baseball investigation into the drugs matter . When he went to enter the facility in Tampa , Florida , the sportsman was surrounded by fans and waiting reporters and photographers . He told the media gathered at the training ground '' I made a mistake . I served a big penalty personally and professionally ' He added : ` The time off has benefitted me . I feel healthy and ready to go . ` It 's the first time I get a full year off and get to train instead of rehab . ` It 's going to take some time for me . I have n't faced live pitching in a long time . It 's one of the hardest things to do in sports . We 'll see how it goes . I 'm up for the challenge . ' Last week , Rodriguez issued an open letter of apology to fans , teammates , the Yankees and Major League Baseball for his actions as he begins to try and work his way back onto a team that he helped to a World Series crown in 2009 . A Yankees fan , who had been waiting at the training facility shakes hands with Rodriguez after he signs her ball . A young supporter in Yankees uniform gets his baseball signed by Rodriguez after finishing his pre-season workout . The Yankees set to pay him $ 61 million over the next three seasons and manager Joe Girardi is expected to evaluate how well he can play at other fielding positions and designated hitter . He added : ` I 'm willing to try whatever Joe wants me to try . It 's a process . It 's going to take some time . I 'm going to put in a lot of work . ` Winning a world championship . That 's the best-case scenario . That 's why we 're all here . ` And the worst-case scenario ? `` Not winning a world championship . ' Although his achievements have been tainted by admissions of doping both recently and more than a decade ago for Texas , Rodriguez has 654 career home runs , six shy of Willie Mays for fourth on Major League Baseball 's all-time homers list and 108 off the record 762 hit by Barry Bonds . | Alex Rodriguez shows up for Yankees pre-season training two days early . Was seen practicing his batting and catching in an impromptu work out . ` A-Rod ' has been on sidelines during 2014 while serving a 162 game ban . Came after it was found he had been taking performance-enhancing drugs . Told waiting reporters at the camp that he apologizes for his ` mistakes ' | [[0, 96], [367, 447], [528, 643], [528, 542], [568, 643], [782, 902], [1650, 1659], [1708, 1746], [0, 24], [101, 202], [644, 781], [644, 659], [677, 680], [690, 781], [1747, 1800], [2533, 2542], [2588, 2621], [0, 24], [101, 202], [644, 781], [644, 659], [677, 680], [690, 781], [1210, 1248], [1803, 1821], [2860, 2912], [2913, 2931]] |
An angry Jetstar passenger says he was forced to sit beside a drunk man who touched his girlfriend ` sexually ' before masturbating to porn on his computer mid-flight . Nathan Paterson , 29 , was travelling from Narita , Japan to the Gold Coast on board a Jetstar flight with his girlfriend on December 6 when the incident unfolded , news.com.au reports . The trouble started four hours into the flight when Mr Paterson 's girlfriend told him the drunk Japanese man next to them was touching her in a ` sexual manner ' . Nathan Paterson , 29 , was travelling from Narita , Japan to the Gold Coast on board a Jetstar flight with his girlfriend on December 6 when the incident unfolded . ' -LRB- He -RRB- felt her twice down the right side of her body from her shoulder down past her buttocks and thigh , ' Mr Patterson said . The 50-year-old man repeatedly apologised after being confronted and Mr Paterson said that 's when he noticed he smelt of alcohol and had a stash of bottles filled with vodka . Flight attendants were notified and the alcohol was confiscated , but Mr Patterson said the man was quick to grab another bottle of vodka from the overhead locker . ` The man then started to make me feel very uncomfortable by staring at me and talking to me in an aggressive nature in Japanese , ' he said . Cabin crew confiscated the second bottle of alcohol and the man reportedly became aggressive . He then got out his laptop and a pornographic magazine before pulling his pants down to masturbate on and off for three hours . The 50-year-old Japanese man got out his laptop and a pornographic magazine before pulling his pants down to masturbate on and off for three hours . Mr Paterson said he did n't notify the flight attendants as he was concerned about everyone 's safety , but claims staff noticed and did n't act . The couple reported the man to Australian Federal Police when they landed and he was charged with offensive and disorderly behaviour on an aircraft and was fined $ 2,125 . They put in a complaint to Jetstar after the incident saying attendants did n't ask if they wanted to move or apologise for the passenger 's behaviour . Jetstar said they had investigated and placed the man on their no fly list , which means he ca n't take a Jetstar or Qantas flight in future . ` Clearly this was a distressing incident and we regret that one of our passengers was subjected to the deplorable behaviour of another passenger on-board , ' a spokesperson said . | Nathan Paterson was travelling from Japan to the Gold Coast on Jetstar flight on December 6 with his girlfriend . Japanese man touched his girlfriend inappropriately four hours into flight . He smelt strongly of alcohol and staff confiscated his stash of vodka . Man gout out his laptop and pornographic magazine to masturbate on and off for three hours . Couple reported him to police at airport and he was charged and fined . | [[60, 71], [76, 98], [112, 168], [356, 402], [443, 516], [894, 981], [60, 71], [76, 98], [112, 168], [1405, 1532], [1475, 1484], [1490, 1506], [1515, 1532], [1533, 1681], [1624, 1633], [1639, 1655], [1664, 1681], [1829, 1906]] |
Hair on 2,000-year-old mummies has helped reveal what Paracas people in Peru ate in the weeks before their death . A team of archaeologists used the remarkably well-preserved strands to study the diets of 14 individuals unearthed at the Paracas Necropolis of Wari Kayan . During the last months of their lives , they appear to have eaten primarily fish and plants , such as corn and beans . Hair on 2,000-year-old mummies has helped reveal what ancient people in Peru ate in the weeks before their death . During the last months of their lives , the Paracas individuals appear to have eaten primarily marine products and plants , such as maize and beans . Professor Kelly Knudson at Arizona State University made the discovery after focusing on carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of keratin in the hair . Animals that are high on the food chain tend to have high nitrogen isotope values , according to a report in Live Science . Nitrogen isotope values in seawater and sea plants tend to be greater than those on land . The scientists also looked at the type and number of carbon isotopes . Most plants , such as legumes and fruits , make C3 , while a corn produces C4 . The numbers indicate different ways plants photosynthesise energy from the sun . The research conclude the mummies ate a mixed diet of both C3 and C4 plants . Archaeologists used the ancient strands of hair to study the diets of 14 individuals unearthed at the Paracas Necropolis of Wari Kayan . Paracas comes from the Quechua word para-ako meaning ` sand falling like rain . ` By using small samples of hair from these mummies , we can learn what they ate in the months and weeks before they died , which is a very intimate look at the past , ' said Professor Knudson . Human hair grows slowly and around 0.4 inches -LRB- 1cm -RRB- represents four weeks of a person 's life , the researchers claim . The team said their diet not only provides insight into health , but also indicates where people lived and travelled , as well as offer clues about their daily lives . They were also either geographically stable or , if they travelled between the inland highlands and coastal regions , continued to consume fish . ` What is exciting to me about this research is that we are using new scientific techniques to learn more about mummies that were excavated almost 100 years ago , ' said Professor Knudson . ` It is a great application of new science to older museum collections . ' The Paracas culture was an Andean society that existed between approximately 800 BCE and 100 BCE . The Paracas culture was an Andean society that existed between approximately 800 BCE and 100 BCE.They had an in-depth knowledge of irrigation and water management and made stunning contributions in the textile arts . Pictured is an example of one of the textile pieces found alongside the mummies . Paracas comes from the Quechua word para-ako meaning ` sand falling like rain ' . They had an in-depth knowledge of irrigation and water management and made stunning contributions in the textile arts . When the Paracas Necropolis was first discovered in 1927 by Peruvian archaeologist Julio Tello , each mummy was bound in a seated position ; found with burial items , like baskets or weapons ; and wrapped in a cone-shaped bundle of textiles , including finely embroidered garments . Since the sampled individuals were mostly male , Professor Knudson suggests that future research may involve more females and youths . The researchers also plan to further examine artefacts and mortuary evidence to build context for data on the Paracas people 's diet . Careful not to damage the well-preserved body of the woman , archaeologists have kept her in the same state . More than 1,000 years ago , this 50-year-old woman was laid to rest in a ceremonial ritual in the ancient settlement of Pachacamac , near Lima , Peru . The mummified skeleton , which was found in a vast burial site just yards from the long-abandoned civilisation 's temple , was discovered in a foetal position . Careful not to damage the well-preserved body of the woman , archaeologists have kept her in the same state she was found in . The mummy was revealed to the public at the Musee de Confluences , in Lyon , in December . More than 80 skeletons and mummies - including infants who appeared to have been killed for ritual reasons - were also found in a spectacular 1,000-year-old tomb at the site in 2012 . Beyond these bodies , a further 70 skeletons and mummies - all in the fetal position - were lying around , most of them still wrapped up . The thousands who lived in the ancient town , which existed between the years 800 and 1450 , followed the god Pacha Kamaq - who they believed created the first man and first woman . The townsfolk , who built 17 pyramids , merged with the Incas as they conquered much of South America . | Scientists studied diets of 14 mummies found at the Paracas Necropolis . They focused on carbon and nitrogen analysis of keratin in hair strands . Nitrogen isotope values in seawater tend to be greater than those on land . They discovered that culture loved fish and probably did n't travel much . Carbon analysis helped reveal the types of plants the people consumed . | [[0, 114], [115, 219], [205, 271], [391, 505], [1332, 1416], [1402, 1468], [656, 806], [713, 806], [931, 1021], [931, 981], [987, 1021], [0, 114], [391, 505]] |
A sophisticated tunnel has been discovered near a major sports venue and a university in Toronto , sparking new terror fears as Canada remains on edge over the threat of possible extremist attacks . A municipal worker was walking through woods close to the city 's Rexall Centre last month when he spotted a piece of corrugated metal on the ground , the public broadcaster CBC said on Monday . After lifting up the metal , he uncovered the passageway , also situated near York University . It was around seven meters -LRB- 23 feet -RRB- long , 2.5 meters -LRB- eight feet -RRB- tall , and was lit by an electric generator . The walls and ceilings had been reinforced and tools had been left inside . Officials also discovered a set of rosary beads and a Remembrance Day poppy , both nailed to a wall , according to reports . Scroll down for video . Concern : This sophisticated tunnel -LRB- pictured -RRB- was discovered near York University and the Rexall Centre -LRB- pictured -RRB- in Toronto , Canada , one of the venues for July 's Pan American Games , reports said on Monday . Entrance : The tunnel was about seven meters -LRB- 23 feet -RRB- long and 2.5 meters tall and was lit by an electric generator . The walls and ceilings had been reinforced . Above , a ladder is pictured leading to the tunnel . Sophisticated : Although national security officials have been alerted to the tunnel , there was no immediate suggestion that it posed a threat to the Rexall Centre , it is reported . Above , another shot of the tunnel . Mystery : This photo shows a section of the tunnel , which was discovered by the municipal worker last month . Vanue : A municipal worker was walking through woods near York University and the Rexall Centre -LRB- pictured -RRB- last month when he spotted a piece of corrugated metal on the ground , lifted it up and found the passageway . Toronto is hosting the Pan American Games in July and the Rexall Centre is one of the venues . The facility is also used for major tennis events . In August , it will host the Rogers Cup women 's contest . The competition , presented by National Bank , is an ATP World Tour 1000 tennis tournament . It is one rung below Grand Slam contests , including Wimbledon and the US Open . This year , it will feature some of the world 's best women 's tennis players , including Serena Williams , Petra Kvitova , Eugenie Bouchard , Caroline Wozniacki and Svetlana Kuznetsova . Although national security officials have been alerted to the tunnel , there was no immediate suggestion that it posed a threat to the Rexall Centre , CBC said . Excavated dirt sits near entrance of the tunnel , while police do not believe was being used for the drug trade . Hidden : This photo shows the cover used to hide the tunnel , which has sparked fresh terror fears in Canada . Evidence : Toronto is hosting the Pan American Games in July and the Rexall Centre is one of the venues . The facility is also used for major tennis events . Above , police photos showing the sophisiticated tunnel 's interior . Press conference : Toronto 's Deputy Police Chief Mark Saunders speaks to the media about the tunnel , which was found near York University and the Rexall Centre in Toronto , during a press conference on Tuesday . Finding : Officials also found these rosary beads -LRB- pictured -RRB- and Remembrance Day poppy inside the tunnel . Authorities have now filled it in the passageway , but police were tight-lipped about what its purpose might have been . CBC said authorities had ruled out the possibility of it being a drug lab . Canadian authorities are currently on alert following two Islamist-influenced attacks last year that resulted in the deaths of two unarmed soldiers in Ottawa and Montreal . Officials are also aware that some Canadian Islamists have traveled to Syria to join Isis . This year Canadian-based open source intelligence research group iBRABO tracked a female jihadist from Canada to Isis strongholds in Syria using the ` geo-tagging ' function in her cell phone and her Twitter posts . Location : This graphic shows the location of the tunnel in related to the Rexall Centre in Toronto , Canada . Terror fears : Chief Saunders speaks to the media about the uncovered tunnel , which has since been filled in . Exhibiting the evidence : Authorities have now filled it in the passageway , but police were tight-lipped about what its purpose might have been . CBC said authorities had ruled out the possibility of it being a drug lab . Tweet : Toronto Police Sergeant Chris Boddy posted this lighthearted tweet following the tunnel 's discovery . A recent video by the Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgent group has also raised tensions . In it a masked man threatened Canada 's massive West Edmonton Mall , along with a mall in the United States and a major shopping district in Britain . Shebab carried out a bloody attack and takeover of a mall in Nairobi in September 2013 that killed at least 67 people . In a video distributed on Twitter Saturday , the group ran a documentary-style account of the Kenya attack . It was followed by an appearance by a masked fighter who suggested similar attacks could be carried out on other malls in the United States , Canada , Britain and France . Winner : In August , the Rexall Centre will host the Rogers Cup , which will feature some of the world 's best tennis players , including Serena Williams -LRB- pictured after winning the tournament at the facility in August 2013 -RRB- . Games : Team USA enters the stadium during the Opening Ceremony for the XVI Pan American Games at Omnilife Stadium in 2011 in Guadalajara , Mexico . Toronto is hosting the Pan American Games in July . ` If just a handful of mujahideen fighters could bring Kenya to a complete stand-still for nearly a week , just imagine what the dedicated mujahideen could do in the West to American or Jewish shopping centers across the world , ' the militant said . ` What if such an attack were to occur in the Mall of America in Minnesota ? Or the West Edmonton Mall in Canada ? Or in London 's Oxford Street ? ' he said . The video was picked up by SITE , a group that monitors jihadist websites . The Mall of America , located in Minnesota and reputedly the country 's largest with 40 million visitors a year , said it had taken extra security measures in response to the threat by the Shebab , a Somalia-based insurgent group . The Mall of America -LRB- pictured -RRB- , located in Minnesota and reputedly the country 's largest with 40 million visitors a year , said it had taken extra security measures in response to the threat by the Shebab . ` Enhanced security measures to include additional personnel have been implemented and all information is being monitored , ' said the police department for Bloomington , the Minneapolis-St Paul suburb where the shopping center is located . ` At this time , there is no credible threat associated with Mall of America , ' it said , adding that the facility was a ` very safe place ' . Johnson said the threat was indicative of a new type of homegrown threat and requires careful tracking of people suspected of supporting militant groups . The Rogers Cup is played on hard courts and will be held from August 8 to 16 . | Tunnel was uncovered by municipal worker near Toronto 's Rexall Centre . Worker had spotted a bit of corrugated metal on ground and picked it up . Passageway was around seven meters -LRB- 23 feet -RRB- long and 2.5 meters tall . Set of rosary beads and Remembrance Day poppy were nailed to a wall . Rexall Centre is one of the venues for the Pan American Games in July . In August , facility will host the Rogers Cup women 's tennis tournament . Players will include Serena Williams , Petra Kvitova , Eugenie Bouchard . Tunnel , also close to York University , has now been filled in by officials . Comes as Canada is on edge over threat of possible extremist attacks . Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab group threatened Canada 's West Edmonton Mall . | [[0, 96], [1568, 1583], [1590, 1641], [3137, 3155], [3162, 3225], [4073, 4161], [295, 347], [1775, 1827], [490, 566], [1094, 1172], [700, 709], [715, 775], [778, 799], [3277, 3286], [3292, 3383], [1924, 1964], [2890, 2930], [5645, 5696], [2017, 2075], [5259, 5265], [5268, 5277], [5280, 5322], [7174, 7188], [7218, 7252], [2250, 2259], [2262, 2437], [5303, 5324], [5331, 5418], [0, 96], [436, 450], [458, 489], [3384, 3395], [3401, 3432], [4223, 4249], [4268, 4284], [4311, 4322], [4328, 4359], [0, 22], [99, 198], [2740, 2749], [2755, 2824], [3581, 3676], [4637, 4643], [4644, 4649], [4650, 4679], [4707, 4773]] |
When Christine Reid answered her telephone on Tuesday morning she was calm and collected as she uttered the words ' I wake up with Today ' . Moments later , the mother-of-five from San Remo on Sydney 's Central Coast was breathless and in tears as the Channel Nine 's Today show 's hosts erupted in celebration . The 45-year-old had just won herself the life changing sum of $ 100,000 . Scroll down for video . Christine Reid , a mother-of-five from Sydney 's Central Coast , won $ 100,000 on Channel Nine 's Today show . The 45-year-old was breathless and in tears as Channel Nine 's Today show hosts erupted in celebration . ` Thank you , ' Ms Reid , who entered the competition 22 times , could be heard stammering before breaking down into tears . She revealed that the lucky day fell right on her 15-year-old daughter Breanna 's birthday , adding ` she can have anything she wants for her birthday now ' . Ms Reid told Daily Mail Australia that the money would change her life , allowing her to fix up her home and visit her family . ` My mum passed away six years ago and she left me enough money to buy a house . I could n't buy a house in Sydney so I bought one in the Central Coast but I did n't have any money to do anything to it , ' she said . ` Thank you , ' Ms Reid , who entered the competition 22 times , could be heard stammering before breaking down into tears . Joined by her younger daughter Breanna and son Brodie in the background , Ms Reid revealed that the lucky day fell right on her 15-year-old daughter 's birthday before adding ` she can have anything she wants for her birthday now ' She said the money will allow her to travel to Sydney to visit her eldest children and her newborn grandchild . ` The plumbing in my en-suite has been broken for the last two and a half years , the faucet in the kitchen sink is really loose , my neighbour wants to put colour bond fences in and I ca n't afford that - well I can now ! ` My eldest kids and grandkids live in Sydney and I have n't been able to visit them so now I can ! ` My eldest daughter just had a second baby so I can see them now - I can really do a lot , it 's really life changing . ' The single mother revealed that a holiday was also in order , admitting that she had n't been away since 1998 with her mother . Ms Reid -LRB- left with her first grandchild -RRB- explained that the money would mostly go towards perfecting her family home , saying she only just managed to buy the property with the money her late mother -LRB- right -RRB- had left her . Aside from paying off some bills , Today revealed that the sum of $ 100,000 could buy a single diamond ring from Tiffany & Co. or a particularly flashy Porsche . Otherwise it can buy 66 television screens , 66 pairs of Loui Vuitton shoes , 25,000 cups of coffee , 115 iPhone 6s or five first class trips around the world . Aside from paying off a mortgage and sorting out bills , Today revealed the real value of $ 100,000 . The sum could buy a single diamond ring from Tiffany & Co. or a particularly flashy Porsche . Otherwise it could buy 66 television screens , 66 pairs of Loui Vuitton shoes , 25,000 cups of coffee , 115 iPhone 6s or five first class trips around the world . But Ms Reid is just happy to transform her life into what she says is ` the usual stuff that I suppose everyone else does ' . ' I was right in front of the TV and I knew it was me , but all I was thinking was ` remember what you have to say and do n't get it wrong ' , ' she said . | Christine Reid , 45 , won the prize after entering Today show 's competition . Answering the phone calmly with ' I wake up with Today ' , she then breathlessly broke down into tears , repeating ` thank you ' She said she would use the money to fix her family home and visit her relatives in Sydney . Ms Reid said the lucky win fell right on her 15-year-old daughter 's birthday , adding ` she can have anything she wants for her birthday now ' | [[411, 425], [476, 514], [0, 74], [0, 65], [79, 115], [92, 136], [141, 154], [157, 273], [522, 590], [627, 638], [643, 650], [692, 751], [1256, 1267], [1272, 1279], [1321, 1380], [950, 959], [984, 1038], [1613, 1724], [1622, 1724], [2299, 2312], [2323, 2491], [752, 902], [770, 822], [770, 783], [845, 906], [1455, 1579], [1556, 1610]] |
Allegations : Ellen Pao is suing the firm Keliner , Perkins , Caulfied and Byers , claiming she was subjected to discrimination after she broke off an affair with a male colleague . Reddit 's chief executive his set to testify in a trial against her former employers , claiming she was harassed after ending a relationship with a married colleague and was the victim of a male dominated culture . Ellen Pao , 45 , has accused Silicon Valley firm Kleiner , Perkins , Caulfield & Byers of discriminating against her and creating an environment where female colleagues were urged not to complain . Pao claims she was pressured into having sex with a co-worker who is believed to have had a strong influence over the way Kleiner partners viewed her . After she ended the relationship , Pao claims he retaliated against her for five years . She was excluded from important meetings , email chains and company dinners because women ` kill the buzz ' of such festive occasions , according to the lawsuit . Kleiner fired Pao in 2012 - six months after she filed her lawsuit . Pao claims she was forced out because of her discrimination complaints . The firm counters that she was let go because of poor performance . The firm had hired her in 2005 to serve as chief of staff for senior partner John Doerr . He helped direct early investments in Google , Amazon and a long-list of successful technology companies . Doerr is a Google board member and serves on President Obama 's Economic Recovery Advisory Board . Pao holds an undergraduate degree from Princeton University and graduated from the Harvard University law and business schools . Her lawsuit seeks unspecified damages , but during a court hearing on February 2 , a lawyer for Kleiner told a judge that Pao is seeking $ 16 million for back pay and future wages lost . The firm is seeking to limit any possible damages by arguing that Pao is well-compensated in her current position as interim CEO of the popular social media company Reddit and has n't suffered financially since leaving Kleiner after filing her lawsuit . The firm denies Pao 's accusations and defends its record with women employees . They say that her affair was consensual and Pao never complained about the conduct of her colleague until she hired a lawyer five years later . The firm insists she was let go because she clashed with co-workers and did n't like her job . Menlo Park-based Kleiner , Perkins did not submit the case to an arbitrator to decide behind closed doors and has made it clear in court filings that it intends to paint Pao as an unpopular underperformer often caught up in office drama who was paid more than many of her male peers . Beginning of the case : Pao -LRB- right -RRB- and attorney Alan Axelrod walk to their courtroom before the start of her trial at San Francisco Superior Court , California . ` For some reason , there 's always some team controversy swirling around Ellen , ' one of her annual reviews stated , according to a court filing by the firm . ` At any moment in time , Ellen is not getting along with someone . ` This case is a wakeup call , ' said longtime Stanford University law professor Deborah Rhode , who teaches gender equity law . ` The case has sparked a much-needed debate about gender inequality regardless of its merit . ' Opening statements are expected to start Tuesday and the trial is expected to last four weeks in San Francisco Superior Court . Rebutall : The firm denies Pao 's -LRB- pictured at court -RRB- accusations and defends its record with women employees . Women hold 15 percent to 20 percent of the technology jobs at tech giants Google , Apple , Facebook and Yahoo , according to company disclosures . The companies acknowledge needing to do more to hire female engineers but largely attribute the problem to cultural issues that discourage girls and young women from taking classes needed to pursue careers in computer coding and website design . Venture capital firms are even more slanted toward men . A 2011 survey by the National Venture Capital Association found women accounted for 11 percent of investors . A study released last year by Babson College in Massachusetts found that women filled just six percent of the partner-level positions at 139 venture capital firms in 2013 , down from 10 percent in 1999 . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article . | Ellen Pao has accused Kleiner , Perkins , Caufiled & Byers of discrimination . Claims she was overlooked for promotion in a male-dominated culture . Pao , 45 , had an affair with a colleague who had influence with partners . After she ended the relationship , she said he spent five years retaliating . When she complained to her bosses in , she was allegedly overlooked for promotions and pay rises as a result . She was fired in 2012 . The firm have refuted her allegations , claiming she was fired because she clashed with co-workers and did n't like her job . | [[14, 80], [0, 11], [83, 181], [397, 406], [409, 501], [0, 11], [83, 181], [182, 197], [278, 281], [352, 396], [0, 11], [83, 181], [182, 207], [269, 347], [595, 656], [640, 656], [661, 716], [0, 11], [83, 181], [182, 207], [269, 347], [747, 779], [782, 835], [0, 11], [83, 181], [999, 1067], [1068, 1140], [1079, 1140], [1068, 1140], [1141, 1208], [1141, 1158], [1164, 1167], [1176, 1208], [2075, 2109], [2300, 2394], [2317, 2394], [3446, 3510]] |
Bristol-based designers have created a concept 3D printer that combines facial recognition with a hot plate and layers of batter -LRB- concept illustrated -RRB- . Forget selfies burnt into toast and marshmallows printed with your portrait , the next trend will be to have your face immortalised on a pancake . A research and design team has created a concept 3D printer that combines facial recognition with a hot plate and layers of batter to create complex images . And the printing has the capability to be perfectly timed using algorithms so the lighter and darker tones of the face are captured , and cooked , with precision . The idea was developed by research and innovation experts at Bristol-based Kinneir Dufort . It uses Computer Numerical Control -LRB- CNC -RRB- technology to convert online designs into numbers , similar to coordinates on a graph . This is combined with embedded face recognition and tracking software to ` print ' layers of batter directly onto a hot plate . In particular , the concept technology uses a digital camera combined with image processing libraries to perform face tracking and extraction . Kinneir Dufort has developed bespoke software that is capable of turning this into contours for the batter dispenser . The darkest areas would be deposited first , through four distinct shades to the lightest areas . Once applied to the hot plate , the batter would start to cook and change colour meaning that as subsequent layers were laid down , the printer would add different tones to the image . The firm said : ` Achieving the perfect result is a delicate balance between batter viscosity , speed of application and maintaining the correct temperature on the plate . And prototyping director Ian Hollister added : ` The real challenge was to create a program that enables the picture to be completed from start to finish within the exact timescale for the overall pancake to cook . ` Too little time and the darker tones would n't be achieved , too long and the pancake would burn . ' The concept uses Computer Numerical Control -LRB- CNC -RRB- technology to convert online designs into numbers , similar to coordinates on a graph . Dubbed ` interactive eating experience ' , the machine is currently a tongue-in-cheek concept but the firm told MailOnline the technology -LRB- mock-up example illustrated -RRB- is possible . Dubbed ` interactive eating experience ' , the technology is currently a tongue-in-cheek concept but the firm told MailOnline the machine is possible . ` All of the 3D printing of food will be possible soon ; we are just dipping our toes in the water in relation to the capabilities , ' explained Bronwen Rolls from Kinneir Dufort . ` We can create the software , we could create final product eventually , but at this moment we are very much at the conceptual stages . ` Our next field of interest is how we can take chocolate and sugar and work with them as they are potentially a more interesting candidate to work with as they could yield greater structural qualities . ` Why stop at the pancake and faces , we could one day print chocolate forms of whole heads ? ' Miguel Valenzuela , from Oslo , Norway , recently built a 3D pancake printer using Lego called PancakeBot . The father-of-two wrote on an Indiegogo page that his unique invention was inspired by his daughters , and he built the contraption to help inspire children to become interested in engineering . The original idea came in 2010 after Mr Valenzuela read about a British designer who created a pancake stamping machine also made out of the plastic bricks . Videos posted to YouTube show the machine ` printing ' words and designs such as hearts and galloping horses onto a griddle below . Miguel Valenzuela , from Oslo , Norway , recently built a 3D pancake printer using Lego called PancakeBot . Videos posted to YouTube show the machine ` printing ' words and designs such as hearts and galloping horses onto a griddle below -LRB- grab pictured -RRB- . | The idea was developed at research and innovation firm Kinneir Dufort . It uses Computer Numerical Control -LRB- CNC -RRB- technology to convert online designs into numbers , similar to coordinates on a graph . This is combined with embedded face recognition and tracking software . Layers of batter would then be ` printed ' in stages onto a hot plate . Dubbed ` interactive eating experience ' , the idea is currently a tongue-in-cheek concept but the firm told MailOnline the technology is possible . | [[632, 723], [724, 862], [732, 774], [786, 824], [2027, 2174], [2044, 2086], [2098, 2136], [863, 932], [0, 142], [310, 440], [863, 867], [915, 990], [2298, 2366], [2273, 2346], [2468, 2518], [2778, 2836]] |
Greece has been forced subject itself to a number of austerity measures in order to get a four-month extension to its bailout , despite an election promise not to compromise . Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his left-wing Syriza party swept to victory in the general election last month after promising to end the austerity measures imposed by the eurozone . Greece 's reform plan , which was approved by its EU creditors today , backed down on key leftist measures and promised that spending to alleviate social distress would not derail its budget to repay the $ 240billion bailout deal . Change of plans : Greece 's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras , pictured today , has been forced to go back on his election promise to end austerity measures implicated by the eurozone , in order to extend the bailout . Mr Tsipras based his election campaign on a pledge to renegotiate the bailout deal and reverse many of the reforms that eurozone creditors demanded in exchange for keeping Greece financially afloat since 2010 . Just last week , Mr Tsipras was ignoring calls from across Europe to compromise on the plan to extend the bailout and promised the electorate that Athens would not climb down from its pre-election pledges . ` We are not in a hurry and we will not compromise , ' Mr Tsipras told his party 's lawmakers in parliament last week . ` We are working hard for an honest and mutually beneficial deal , a deal without austerity , without the bailout which has destroyed Greece in recent years , a deal without the toxic presence of the -LRB- bailout inspecting -RRB- troika . ' He also promised that a labour bill which had previously been scrapped by EU and International Monetary Fund lenders , would soon be presented alongside another one to deal with the ` humanitarian crisis ' in Greece , he said . Backing down : Just last week , Mr Tsipras , leader of the left-wing Syriza party , promised the Greek parliament that Athens would not climb down from its pre-election pledges . Despite these promises to his parliament last week , Mr Tsipras has been forced to concede defeat and undertake a list of reforms to prevent Greek from possible bankruptcy . In its list of reforms , the Greek government pledges not to roll back any privatizations that have already been completed and to ` respect the process , according to the law , ' of any tenders that have already been launched . Privatization was one of the elements of Greece 's bailout that Mr Tsipras ' Syriza party had promised to cancel . It has also promised to combat tax evasion and corruption , reduce bureaucracy , review public spending , modernize the pension system , reform the judicial system and address rising poverty through measures that have ` no fiscal effect . ' The letter is a general outline of policies and does not include any figures or specific details on how the policies will be achieved . Greece 's creditors in the 19-country eurozone , the European Commission , European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund , approved the list of reforms on Tuesday . The approval of Greece 's list of proposed reforms came following a meeting by the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs at the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday . ` The three institutions agreed to start the process with this . They thought it was a serious enough list and all the countries have just agreed with that in the meeting so we can start , ' said eurogroup president Jeroen Dijsselbloem on RTL television . Though the reform measures were welcomed , the eurozone ministers said Greece had to take further steps to flesh out the details . ` We call on the Greek authorities to further develop and broaden the list of reform measure , ' the eurozone said in a statement . So far , the reform list ` is sufficiently comprehensive to be a valid starting point , ' EU Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici wrote . ` We are encouraged by the commitment to combat tax evasion and corruption ... as well as to pursue reforms to modernize the public administration . ' Moscovici said he would work ` with the new administration to elaborate what are at the moment still general commitments and transform these into clear policy actions . ' | Greece 's list of austerity reforms approved by eurozone creditors . Country 's bailout has now been extended by four months . PM Alexis Tsipras won election on promises to end austerity . Last week , PM promised not to compromise on election pledges . | [[361, 384], [391, 429], [2890, 3018], [3021, 3062], [3063, 3240], [81, 125], [176, 315], [176, 236], [289, 334], [809, 859], [136, 175], [1037, 1047], [1138, 1226], [1255, 1277], [1282, 1346], [1849, 1859], [1901, 1995]] |
Scientists have warned massive agricultural expansion in Tanzania could lead to a ` perfect storm ' for human plague transmission by encouraging an increase in the number of disease-carrying rats . A new study published yesterday in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene by researchers from the University of California found that the expansion of crop lands by 70 per cent over recent years has caused the number of plague-carrying rodents to double . Rats which live in human areas are also particularly competent hosts for plague and are more likely to interact with humans , increasing the chance of humans being bitten by plague-infected fleas . Scroll down for video . A study found the expansion of croplands in Tanzania has caused the number of disease-carrying rats to double in recent years - increasing the chance of humans being bitten by plague-infected fleas . In the report scientists linked an increase in corn fields -- necessary to feed an expanding population -- to a 20-fold rise in the population of African rats in northern Tanzania . These rats transmit deadly diseases to humans , including Lassa fever and plague . Hillary Young , a University of California professor and a lead author of the study , said : ` We found that introducing maize production in natural areas appears to create a perfect storm for plague transmission . ` Local farmers often then store this harvested corn next to or inside their homes - baiting in the hungry field rats and increasing opportunities for human infection . ` These kinds of conditions are what breed outbreaks . ' The report warned these numbers could rise as new wilderness areas become farmland and rat populations increase . Though less deadly than Ebola or other epidemics , plague -- caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis is fatal in more than 30 percent of cases if left untreated , the study said . The bubonic plague remains one of the most destructive pandemics in history which peaked in Europe between 1348 and 1350 . As Africa 's population soars , and food demand increases , scientists , farmers and politicians will have to balance the need for more farmland with concerns over the spread of disease , the scientists added . Most of the plague outbreaks recorded since 2000 have taken place in Africa . A recent outbreak in Madagascar saw 263 people infected and 71 deaths . In Tanzania , there have been over 8,000 cases over the last 30 years , including 675 deaths , The International Business Times reported . The scientists studied three areas of northern Tanzania where plague outbreaks have been documented in the past and where maize production has expanded over recent times . Concluding , the authors said : ` Lessons learned from this case are also broadly important for understanding the dynamics of other zoonotic diseases in this era of rapid landscape change . ' Bubonic plague is one of the most devastating diseases in history , having killed around 100million people during the ` Black Death ' in the 14th century.Drawings and paintings from the outbreak , which wiped out about a third of the European population , depict town criers saying ` bring out your dead ' while dragging trailers piled with infected corpses . It is caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis , which uses the flea as a host and is usually transmitted to humans via rats . The disease causes grotesque symptoms such as gangrene and the appearance of large swellings on the groin , armpits or neck , known as ` buboes ' . It kills up to two thirds of sufferers within just four days if it is not treated , although if antibiotics are administered within 24 hours of infection patients are highly likely to survive . After the Black Death arrived in 1347 plague became a common phenomenon in Europe , with outbreaks recurring regularly until the 18th century . Bubonic plague has almost completely vanished from the rich world , with 90 per cent of all cases now found in Africa . However , there have been a few non-fatal cases in the U.S. in recent years , while in August 2013 a 15-year-old boy died in Kyrgyzstan after eating a groundhog infected with the disease . Three months later , an outbreak in a Madagascan killed at least 20 people in a week . A year before 60 people died as a result of the infection , more than in any other country in the world . Outbreaks in China have been rare in recent years , and most have happened in remote rural areas of the west . China 's state broadcaster said there were 12 diagnosed cases and three deaths in the province of Qinghai in 2009 , and one in Sichuan in 2012 . In the United States between five and 15 people die every year as a result , mostly in western states . | Expansion of crops has caused 20-fold increase in population of African rat . Rodent is carrier of the plague and Lassa fever - which is similar to Ebola . Scientists warn this combination is a ` perfect storm ' for a plague outbreak . Bubonic plague killed around 100 million people during the 14th century . | [[23, 197], [198, 468], [347, 468], [691, 698], [705, 850], [1073, 1155], [1156, 1169], [1242, 1246], [1249, 1370], [2878, 2892], [2946, 3009]] |
A British teacher who went on to become the Grand Master of the Order of Malta has taken the first step towards becoming a saint . The Vatican have officially opened a cause for the sainthood for Andrew Bertie , a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth II , who died in Rome in 2008 . Bertie was the first Englishman to be elected to the post of Grand Master of the Knights of Malta , which comes with the title of prince and is equivalent to a cardinal , in the Order 's 900 year history . He will now be known as a Servant of God . But to become a saint it must now be shown that he demonstrated ` heroic virtue ' during his life . Honour : Andrew Bertie -LRB- pictured with Pope Benedict XVI -RRB- was the first Englishman to be elected to the post of Grand Master of the Knights of Malta , which comes with the title of prince and is equivalent to a cardinal . Mission : Andrew Bertie -LRB- pictured with Pope John Paul II -RRB- will now be known as a Servant of God . But to become a saint it must now be shown that he demonstrated ` heroic virtue ' during his life . In order to become a saint , two miracles attributable to him would have to be found . Bertie reformed the order recognising the importance of its diplomatic corp and built up the numbers of their humanitarian ambassadors . He founded the order of young volunteers in the UK . Friends say he showed signs of heroic virtue , one of the primary requirements for sainthood , and led an ` exemplary ' life . Matthew Festing , the current Grad Master said : ` His personality was quiet -- that famous British reserve ! -- but he had a natural authority and a serenity deeply rooted in his Christian beliefs . He also had a fine sense of humour -- a quiet amusement at the ridiculousness of much of life . ` Those who were privileged to have worked around him were always aware of his calmness and his profound faith , ' he added . Taking the first step : The Vatican - headed by Pope Francis - has officially opened a cause for the sainthood for Andrew Bertie , a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth II , who died in 2008 . Talks : Andrew Bertie -LRB- pictured right and left with Cuban leader Fidel Castro -RRB- reformed the Knights of Malta , recognising the importance of its diplomatic corp and built up the number of humanitarian ambassadors . Friends said he would be ` gasping ' if he knew he was on track for sainthood . ` His modesty would find it difficult to cope with , ' one said . Ampleforth and Oxford-educated Bertie taught languages at Worth school after a spell as a journalist and in the army . He joined the Knights of Malta in 1956 and then , in 1981 , became a professed Knight , living under solemn vows of poverty chastity and obedience . He would regularly tend to the sick himself he and was even known to work anonymously in a Rome hospital as a ward orderly , according to friends . Bertie was on his father 's side a grandson of the 7th Earl of Abingdon , and on his mother 's , of the Marquess of Bute - a direct descendant of the Stuart line of monarchs . | Andrew Bertie was the first Englishman to be elected to the post of Grand Master of the Knights of Malta . Role comes with the title of prince and is equivalent in stature to a cardinal . He 'll be known as a ` Servant of God ' until the Vatican makes him a saint . But before they can , the Church must find two ` miracles ' attributable to him . Bertie was a distant cousin of Queen Elizabeth II and died in Rome in 2008 . | [[0, 17], [22, 78], [0, 130], [280, 377], [638, 786], [372, 377], [386, 416], [421, 448], [781, 786], [795, 825], [830, 859], [486, 528], [870, 967], [1097, 1154]] |
Wesleyan University 's president has urged students to ` turn in the drug dealers ' after 12 people - 10 students and two visitors - were hospitalized after taking party drug ` molly ' . In a letter to the campus President Michael Roth said : ` If you are aware of people distributing these substances , please let someone know before more people are hurt . ' The school became aware of the problem early on Sunday morning after several students showed up seeking treatment at a Middlesex Hospital near the campus . The president of Wesleyan University -LRB- pictured -RRB- has urged students to ` turn in the drug dealers ' following a rash of hospitalizations among people who took a party drug known as molly over the weekend . In his letter Roth included a telephone number students can call to make a confidential report . ` These drugs can be altered in ways that make them all the more toxic . Take a stand to protect your fellow students , ' he wrote . Two students were described as being in a critical condition and were airlifted for treatment in Hartford , 20 miles north of the campus in Middletown . Two others were taken by ambulance to Hartford Hospital in a serious condition and four more were expected to be released from Middlesex yesterday , Roth said . Molly is a term used to describe a refined form of Ecstasy , a synthetic drug also known as MDMA . It can drive up body temperature and cause liver , kidney or cardiovascular failure . Dr. Mark Neavyn , chief of toxicology at Hartford Hospital , said users who believe they are taking molly are often receiving different kinds of designer drugs with ranges of purity and potency making the health risks unpredictable . He said testing is underway to confirm what drugs the Wesleyan patients took . ` When we see these people in the emergency department and they claim to have taken molly , we do n't pay attention to that word anymore . Molly is a term used to describe a refined form of Ecstasy , a synthetic drug also known as MDMA . ` It 's so commonly not MDMA , we just start from square one and say it 's some sort of drug abuse , ' Neavyn said . Wesleyan health officials said in a campus-wide email on September 16 that students had been hospitalized after taking molly . Students were urged to visit the school 's health center if they had questions or concerns . Some of the students who required medical attention over the weekend had attended a rave at the school 's Eclectic Society social house . Middletown police Chief William McKenna said his department was pursing information about a ` bad batch ' of the drug . ` Our first and foremost goal is to obtain information on the batch of Molly that was distributed to the students on the campus , ' McKenna said . ` This information is critical in ensuring the recovery of those students affected . ' The school 's administration have asked students to check on their friends and make sure they are n't in danger . In the last five years molly has made its way into popular culture , helped by references to it by entertainers such as Madonna , Miley Cyrus and Kanye West . The drug 's dangers became more clear after a rash of overdoses in recent years . Over the last few years , drugs sold under the name molly have ` flooded ' the market , said Rusty Payne , a spokesman with the Drug Enforcement Administration . In some states there has been a 100-fold increase - the combined number of arrests , seizures , emergency room mentions and overdoses - between 2009 and 2012 , according to DEA figures . The drug is marketed to recreational drug users who believe it is less dangerous than its predecessor , which was often cut with other substances . A total of 12 people - 10 Wesleyan students and two visitors - received medical attention over the weekend after taking what id believed to be party drug Molly . Police believe a bad batch may be in circulation . | So far 12 people have been hospitalised - 10 students and two visitors . Two students remain in critical condition after being airlifted to hospital . Students are believed to have ingested party drug molly - a type of Ecstasy . Police say they are looking into reports students took ` bad batch ' of drug . University 's president is urging students to identify the drug dealers . A confidential telephone line has been set up for students to call . | [[43, 51], [57, 81], [84, 130], [114, 130], [133, 182], [516, 674], [3740, 3752], [3755, 3818], [3692, 3853], [961, 1021], [961, 973], [1012, 1066], [1114, 1182], [668, 674], [679, 730], [1275, 1333], [1832, 1862], [1912, 1970], [3692, 3853], [3817, 3853], [2486, 2605], [2531, 2605], [0, 81], [43, 51], [57, 81], [84, 130], [187, 240], [245, 346], [516, 674], [731, 827], [750, 827]] |
Prosecutors will not file charges against three Los Angeles police officers who fatally shot an unarmed , disabled veteran on live television after a car chase . Brian Newt Beaird , a 51-year-old disabled National Guard veteran , was struck by 13 bullets in downtown Los Angeles on the night of December 13 , 2013 . Local news stations carried live pictures of the high-speed police pursuit and its bloody aftermath . One of the people who watched Beaird go down in a hail of bullets was his father . The City Council has approved payment of $ 5 million to Beaird 's family to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit . Three police officers that shot dead unarmed veteran Brian Newt Beaird , pictured , on live TV in December 2013 will not face charges . Brian Beaird -LRB- left -RRB- , 51 , was shot 13 times by police after an hour long police chase through Los Angeles . His father , Billy -LRB- right -RRB- , saw his son die live on TV when police opened fire . In a letter dated January 29 obtained by The Associated Press in a public records request , prosecutors wrote that there is insufficient evidence to prove officers did n't act in self-defense or the defense of others when they killed Beaird on December 13 , 2013 . The officers will be disciplined for their actions after Chief Charlie Beck determined two months ago that they had violated department rules for deadly force and their actions were not reasonable . The officers have been assigned home pending discipline without pay , said Commander Andrew Smith , a department spokesman . Officers Armando Corral , Leonardo Ortiz and Michael Ayala did not immediately respond to requests for comment , but have previously said that they believed that their lives were in danger . Police chased Beaird in his Corvette for nearly an hour , claiming he had been driving erratically . The chase only came to an end when Beaird hit another car , pictured left . The driver suffered serious injuries in the crash and Beaird 's car ended up spinning onto a sidewalk . The shooting followed a nearly hour-long nighttime pursuit for allegedly reckless driving that ended when the Corvette hit a car at an intersection , seriously injuring the other driver , and then spun onto a downtown sidewalk . Beaird 's father , Billy Beaird , watched live as his son , a National Guard veteran , staggered out of the Corvette , briefly raised his hands , was fatally shot multiple times in the front and back , and fell to the ground . The officers will be disciplined for their actions after Chief Charlie Beck determined two months ago that they had violated department rules for deadly force . The district attorney 's office analysis states that because of Beaird 's movements , the officers lost sight of his left hand and feared he might be reaching for a weapon . Beaird was shot 13 times and the analysis found that the three fatal gunshots were as he was falling or had fallen to the ground . A coroner 's toxicology screen found Beaird had marijuana , methamphetamine and cocaine in his system as well as an antidepressant drug , the document states . The letter cites the chaotic and tense scene , the officers ' inability to see his hand and delayed reaction time as factors that defense attorneys could cite had impacted the situation . ` Given the fact that the entire incident from Beaird exiting the car until the shooting ceased lasted less than six seconds , such defense testimony would create reasonable doubt as to whether the officers were unjustified in continuing to shoot after the suspect had turned and even fallen to the ground , ' it states . The letter notes that an administrative decision requires a lower standard of proof and that an officer 's compelled statements while usable by the department for internal actions can not be used in criminal prosecution . Beaird was discharged from the National Guard in 1988 after undergoing surgery for a brain tumor and needed regular medical care . The family 's attorney , Dale K. Galipo , said he was paranoid at the time of the chase . ` He could n't understand why the police were chasing him , and he did n't know what to do , '' Galipo said . ` He called his family during the pursuit and asked what he should do . And they told him he should pull over ... and he said `` I 'm afraid '' and kept going . ' | Prosecutors will not file charges against three LAPD officer who fatally shot an unarmed , disabled veteran on live TV after a car chase . Brian Beaird , 51 , was struck by 13 bullets after an hour long car chase through downtown Los Angeles . Prosecutors said that there is insufficient evidence to prove that the officers did n't act in self-defense . The officers will be disciplined for their actions for violating department rules for deadly force . Beaird had marijuana , methamphetamine and cocaine in his system as well as an antidepressant drug when he was killed . His family , including his father who saw him shot on live TV , were awarded $ 5 million by the City Council to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit . | [[0, 75], [42, 75], [88, 103], [630, 638], [644, 687], [617, 638], [729, 752], [872, 882], [911, 963], [162, 179], [220, 306], [753, 771], [790, 871], [1744, 1799], [2025, 2114], [964, 975], [1056, 1180], [1229, 1330], [1286, 1364], [1331, 1387], [2481, 2582], [2538, 2641], [2947, 3082], [425, 435], [440, 483], [418, 435], [484, 500], [501, 616], [557, 563], [574, 616], [872, 882], [911, 963], [2254, 2270], [2288, 2311]] |
With DNA and computer records , policing has come a long way in the last century . But one thing remains eerily similar - the humble mugshot . These 1880s photographs were among the first of their kind , showing a host of sepia-printed criminals staring into the camera and holding up their hands to show tattoos or missing digits . Inspired by the work of French criminologist Alphonse Bertillon , who was the first to take ` standardised ' photographs so convicts could be told apart , the images feature in a new exhibition which documents our fascination with forensic science . Scroll down for video . Eerie : These mugshots , taken from 1883 to 1889 at an unknown prison , are among the first of their kind . The technique of standardising photos - with similar clothes and background to spot distinguishing features - was pioneered by the French criminologist Alphonse Bertillon . Flip book : An photofit book from 1970 provided by the Metropolitan Police . In 1938 Jacques Penry , a facial topographer , began to develop a system of illustrations to identify facial features , which later became a bank of photographic images used to help witnesses record the details of suspects . This system replaced the ` Identikit ' that used line drawings on overlaid acetate sheets , and gradually expanded as more police forces introduced the system . For instance , the selection of white male features comprised 204 different foreheads and hairstyles . Cracked : The fractured skull of a murder victim who suffered repeated blows with a blunt instrument sometime in the 1960s and reconstructed . Behind every crime is a trail of evidence , of shattered bones , bloodied tiles , empty shell casings , of sketches and mugshots . Physical remnants of foul deeds , waiting to be found and pieced together to convict the guilty . This is the stuff of forensic science , and now the exhibition in central London has honed in on the fascination by showcasing a collection of original evidence , footage and instruments from real cases throughout history . ` Forensics : The Anatomy of Crime ' , which opens at the Wellcome Collection this week , includes the shattered skull of a murder victim , a brain damaged by bullet holes and a floor where a murdered man was found . Visitors are also able to walk into a working mortuary fridge , read original autopsy index cards and view a bullet used in a suicidal shooting - as well as the fatal wound it caused . In one installation , visitors will be confronted with the sounds from an autopsy of a murder victim and view the tools used by pathologists . The spring exhibition also features sketches from the site of a murder attributed to Jack the Ripper as well as authentic weapons used in a murder . Skeleton : These bones are from an installation by Jenny Holzer named Lustmord , which means sexual murder involving rape in German . It consists of 312 bones and 33 engraved with silver rings engraved with lines from a text and present three perspectives on sexual violence : those of the perpetrator , the victim and observer . They were made during the conflict in Yugoslavia and signify the acute physical and psychological damage caused by major war crimes and human rights abuses in 1994 . Crime scene : These 105 ceramic tiles and concrete floor was the site of the murder of Luis Miguel Suro , the artist friend of Teresa Margolles - who spent several years working the morgue in Mexico City and is concerned with the consequences of widespread violence in Mexico . He was murdered Guadalajara , Mexico in 2004 , but the motive is not known . These two sections of human brain -LRB- left -RRB- are from a young man who committed suicide by shooting himself through the temple . He lived for two days but died from his injuries in the 1960s . The specimens show that the bullet created a blood track through both brain hemispheres , causing associated haemorrhage . The skull -LRB- right -RRB- is one of the many authentic human remains on display at the forensic exhibition in London . This exhibit shows the bullet from a suicide shot and the flesh wound -LRB- inside box , left -RRB- in the 1960s . When a bullet passes through the body , heat from the gun 's discharge causes cauterisation , creating blackened area around the wound . The two segments of scalp show the entry and exit wounds , along with the offending bullet , which passed through the man 's head and subsequently became lodged in a nearby wall . The large-calibre bullet -LRB- 0.455 -RRB- was fired from a Webley MK VI service revolver . Mexican artist Teresa Margolles has displayed a section of the tiled floor on which her close friend was found murdered . The crime scene ` signifies the absence of the person and emphasises loss ' , according to the Wellcome Collection . The gallery is divided into five sections including ` The Crime Scene ' , which investigates the different techniques of recording the location of a crime and its power both as a repository of evidence to be examined and a haunting site of memory . This department also includes the work of Mr Bertillon , whose ` God 's Eye View ' format , taken from above , brought rigour to the field . He also standardised the method of taking the criminal 's photograph face on and in profile , which would be added to their file card . Ken Arnold , head of public programmes at the Wellcome Collection , which recently underwent a # 17.5 million said : ` Forensics reminds us of the human body 's extraordinary capacity to leave traces beyond death and disappearance . Visitors are also able to walk into a mortuary fridge , part of an artwork by Sejla Kameric exploring the missing victims of the Bosnian war of 1992-5 . They can also hear the sounds from a real life autopsy and view tools used by pathologists . ` Forensics : The Anatomy of Crime ' opens at the Wellcome Collection this week and includes this working morgue refrigerator . From a space for viewing corpses in Paris -LRB- the word morgue comes from morguer , ` to peer ' -RRB- to the virtual autopsies afforded by MRI , CT and 3D scanning , the morgue offers a vital space for questioning the dead . These forensic instruments would have once been used in post-mortems but are now on display for the public in a free exhibition on Friday . The display allows members of the public to see first hand the evidence from what happens after a victim dies , to how the perpetrator is caught . ` This unsettling truth is both the focus of an astonishing range of scientific enquiry and fertile territory for the cultural imagination . ' Lucy Shanahan , curator , said : ` This exhibition gives alternative views of the forensic process from the CSI detections of popular fiction and television , whilst exploring the cultural fascination that the disciplines of forensic medicine inspire . ` Our journey from crime scene to courtroom takes in pioneers of scientific techniques that have revolutionised the way in which crimes are investigated , and offers visitors unexpected encounters with the changing relationship between medicine , law and society . ' The free exhibition opens Thursday and runs to June 21 . These autopsy notes are from celebrity pathologist Sir Bernard Spilsbury , and have been displayed for the first time at the new exhibition . This book , ` Murder the Result of Various Injuries : Atlas of Legal Medicine ' , was written by Eduard Rittervon Hofmann in 1898 . It explains that in an external examination the surface of the body is inspected and any irregular signs , scars , lesions or abnormalities as a result of disease or trauma are noted . In addition , the appearance of livor mortis -- discolouration caused by the settling of blood under the skin -- is assessed . Also known as lividity orhypostasis , this transformation is usually apparent half an hour to two hours after death , fully developing within 12 hours . The gallery is divided into five sections including ` The Crime Scene ' , which investigates the different techniques of recording the location of a crime and its power both as a repository of evidence to be examined and a haunting site of memory . From the Romanforum to the Old Bailey the exhibition closes with the space which brings together themany strands of forensic medicine , either as a conclusion to an investigation , or tocontest previous convictions . The free public gallery opens on Thursday at the Wellcome Collection in central London and will be on display until June 21 . Pictured , the art installation entitled Lustmord by Jenny Holzer . | A new exhibition called ` Forensics : The Anatomy of Crime ' will open at Wellcome Collection in London this week . It includes a brain damaged by bullet holes , the floor where a murder victim was found and a mortuary refrigerator . A 19th century photo album full of mugshots features suspects showing their hands for distinguishing features . | [[2079, 2084], [2095, 2137], [3955, 4037], [5820, 5840], [5843, 5885], [8372, 8458], [2190, 2233], [2226, 2233], [2240, 2266], [2267, 2328], [2267, 2275], [2369, 2439], [2452, 2552], [2595, 2616], [2622, 2665], [3254, 3343], [4360, 4419], [4621, 4683], [5560, 5651], [5808, 5817], [5890, 5933], [143, 166], [204, 296], [143, 166], [274, 332]] |
A father-of-three was so angry that his teenage daughter had defied his rules about going on social media sites and then had etched the name of a boy she met online on her arm that he ordered she remove it with a heated knife . The 45-year-old beat his daughter with a belt , striking her in the face and on the arms and legs after he discovered the 14-year-old from Solihull had met a boy on Facebook and become so infatuated she used a pin to scrawl his name on her arm in a makeshift tattoo . The ` zealous ' assault was only discovered when a teacher at the girl 's school noticed her injuries . When asked about the incident the father still did not understand what he had done wrong . A 14-year-old girl was beaten with a belt by her father after he discovered she had defied his orders to go on Facebook , and had met a boy online and etched his name on her arm . The man ordered her to remove the makeshift tattoo with a hot knife and was given a suspended prison sentence after admitting child cruelty . He admitted a charge of child cruelty and was given a six month suspended sentence . Birmingham Crown Court heard that the child , who can not be named , had been banned from using social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter by her father . But she started chatting online with a boy , and was so infatuated that she used a pin to prick out his name on her arm . Graham Russell , prosecuting , told the court the makeshift tattoo was eventually seen by her mother , who then called her father . Mr Russell said the girl had run upstairs and tried to hold the bedroom door against her father but realised it was futile . After admitting what she had done , her father told his wife to fetch his belt which he then folded in two . Judge James Burbidge said the actions of the father were ` zealous and frankly brutal ' in response . ` At that point he began hitting his daughter indiscriminately , the blows landing on her legs , hands and body , ' said Mr Russell . During her ordeal , during which she was also struck in the face , the teenager tried to move around on the bed and use a pillow as a shield . But the ` brutal ' attack continued , the court was told . The assault only came to light after a teacher at the girl 's school was told what had happened , and alerted the police and social services . When later quizzed , the victim 's father apologised but said he did not know what he had done wrong . Mark Jones , defending , said the man was now aware that it was wrong , and had seen the effect on his daughter . Judge James Burbidge QC told the 45-year-old father : ` You were responsible for chastising your child in a way that was zealous and frankly brutal . The level of violence that was displayed against her was significant . She was still crying for some considerable time after you struck her many times with a belt . ` She was then clearly in need of medical attention . She had done no more than , no doubt , many a child of her age , falling fond of a particular individual and etching their name on her arm . ' He said the man deserved a prison sentence but he knew a custody term would probably harm his children even more . Judge Burbidge sentenced the father to six months , suspended for 18 months , and ordered him to do 80 hours unpaid work . He and his 41-year-old wife had previously both admitted a charge of child cruelty . The mother was handed a one-year community order . | A 14-year-old girl from Solihull was banned from using social media sites . But she defied her parents and went on Facebook , meeting a boy online . Girl became so infatuated she etched his name on her arm with a pin . Makeshift tattoo was discovered and her father beat her with a belt . He also ordered daughter to remove the etched name with a heated knife . | [[332, 375], [1098, 1257], [1132, 1141], [1165, 1257], [346, 401], [753, 810], [691, 709], [811, 837], [1262, 1300], [0, 149], [228, 240], [406, 495], [691, 709], [842, 870], [1262, 1265], [1307, 1379], [2941, 2949], [2978, 3053], [2913, 2916], [3022, 3053], [228, 273], [691, 766], [1848, 1893], [2707, 2715], [2721, 2746], [2765, 2778], [2786, 2858], [2765, 2768], [2773, 2858], [144, 149], [154, 227], [871, 938]] |
A controversial politician who responds to ` hate mail ' with profanities has defended his fiery responses , telling Daily Mail Australia he should not have to quietly cop ` obnoxious ' abuse . Senator David Leyonhjelm has recently fired back at email correspondents who ` get under his skin ' , saying one read : ` DILLIGAF ' - an acronym which stands for ` Do I Look Like I Give A F *** ' . It was n't the first missive containing cursing - in January Mr Leyonhjelm replied to an activist 's email referencing Hitler with the response : ` Go f *** yourself you communist turd . ' ` If you 're polite to me , I 'll be polite to you , ' said Liberal Democratic Party senator in an interview with Daily Mail Australia . Scroll down for video . Outspoken : Senator David Leyonhjelm often fires back at email correspondents who are ` obnoxious ' to him . The Senator has caused a stir with his views about guns and animal rights in the past year , causing him to receive extensive amounts of hate mail . ` There 's a small group of people out there who think it 's their duty to be obnoxious to politicians . ` Some get quite astonished when this politician bites back at them . ` Somehow there 's this perception I should just cop it . ' I do n't mind people disagreeing with me . I have no problem with that at all . ` It 's part and parcel of the job . They can disagree as enthusiastically as they want . ` What I do n't have to accept is obnoxious abuse ' . The libertarian senator 's swearing provoked one email writer to start a change.org petition questioning the professionalism of his responses . ` This man is a liberal senator not a child - he 's a servant of the state - yet this is how he privately talks to his constituents , ' wrote animal rights activist Shane Briant , who said he received a sweary email . But the senator said that while he rarely responds with profanities and deletes most ` hate mail ' , he does not have to report to a major party and can be himself . ` The vast majority of people who send me an email are polite and get a polite response . It does n't really matter if -LRB- I -RRB- disagree with them . ' ` Very occasionally , very rarely , something is thoroughly obnoxious and it gets under my skin . Senator Leyonhjelm said that former cricketer Glenn McGrath should ` be proud of your contribution to the conservation of African wildlife ' Recent tweets : Senator Leyonhjelm has been outspoken in defence of McGrath . ' I do n't have a party hierarchy to worry about . I do n't care what Tony Abbott thinks or Bill Shorten thinks . I can be myself . ' The NSW senator was elected at the 2013 Federal election and has stirred debate with his pro-gun position -LRB- he believes more Australians should be armed for self defence purposes -RRB- and same sex marriage -LRB- which he is in favour of -RRB- . Mr Leyonhjelm said he had received hate mail about both issues . He has stirred controversy more recently with remarks about greyhound live baiting and cricketer Glenn McGrath . Discussing the greyhound scandal with the ABC , he said : ' I think -LRB- stopping -RRB- cruelty is the argument . We 're not interested in shutting down businesses and industries . After pictures emerged of the famous cricketer standing of a dead elephant on a South African hunting trip at the weekend , Mr Leyonhjelm took to Twitter . ` Glenn McGrath - be proud of your contribution to conservation of African wildlife . Trophy hunting saves species . ' And the emails have come streaming in . | Senator David Leyonhjelm said he fired back at ` obnoxious ' email with ` DILLIGAF ' Acronym stands for : ` Do I Look Like I Give A F *** ' He told an activist in January : ` Go f *** yourself you communist turd ' Mr Leyonhjelm explained : ` If you 're polite to me , I 'll be polite to you ' ` This man is a liberal senator not a child ' , one activist said . | [[0, 106], [194, 231], [238, 266], [194, 218], [232, 266], [194, 218], [296, 339], [800, 820], [825, 851], [329, 339], [346, 373], [393, 536], [541, 548], [610, 632]] |
Trawling through the water with a magnet , schoolboy James Cork had only expected a modest haul of scrap metal . But , last week , the 16-year-old from Somerset stumbled across a rather more shocking discovery -- a hidden cache of 40 deadly weapons . The arsenal of rusting and grubby guns dating back to the Second World War included a Browning .50 machine gun , which could take down a helicopter , and an M16 assault rifle . An expert has suggested the guns may have belonged to the IRA and could have been dumped when they were meant to be declaring their arms in 2001 . A teenage metal detector discovered 40 weapons dumped in the Somerset Levels when trawling the water with a magnet . Some of the guns may have belonged to members of the IRA , experts said . The teenager from Street had taken up the unusual hobby of magnet fishing six months ago , but had only managed to salvage the odd bit of scrap metal . But while combing Greylake on the Somerset Levels with a rope and a strong magnet tied to the end , he and a friend suddenly came across a 40-strong haul of terrifying weapons . In the 1980s weapons and explosives were smuggled across the Irish Sea by the IRA in ferries or small boats . Members chose the most remote areas on England , Wales and Scotland to hide them as they planned to take their fight to the mainland . Sources at the time said that they were then stashed in forests and hills across Stirlingshire and in the Uplands of Scotland . Sites in north Wales were also chosen . In England weapons were also dumped in the Midlands and also all along the south coast , making rural Somerset a likely spot for an arms cache . Among them were parts of a Nazi MG 42 light machine gun , which has a 600m killing range , and a Czech SA23 9mm submachine gun . He told The Sun : ` I was shocked . I 've never found anything like this before . There were a few whole weapons , but not many . Some were machine guns , pistols and revolvers . And there was a massive machine gun on a stand . ` There was a fisherman getting quite angry as I was disturbing the water . But when he saw what I pulled out , he came and helped . ' Though he threw most back into the water , he took one of the guns -- thought to be a 1930s Smith & Wesson .38 - home to play with . However when his mum Katherine saw him playing with the gun , she called 999 and an armed police arrived minutes later . The 37-year-old said : ` Nothing illegal is allowed in the house . ` But I did n't think I 'd be dealing with one of my kids holding a gun . I said , `` Bring it downstairs , leave it in the kitchen and do n't touch it '' . ' James Cook , 16 , said he had ` never found anything like it before ' . A fisherman helped the teenager pull the haul of weapons out of the water . Among the guns was an M16 Rifle dubbed the Widow Maker -LRB- top -RRB- by British troops fighting the IRA in Ulster . A handout image of the deadly gun used by IRA troops in the battle for Northern Ireland . Another of the weapons found by the teenager is thought to be a Nazi MG 42 used in Germany in the second half of the Second World War -LRB- file image -RRB- . Police dredged the river the next day to recover the rest of the weapons . A spokesman for Avon & Somerset Police said : ` None of the weapons were complete , and they were extremely rusty and very old . All of the weapon parts have been or are being destroyed . ' An expert suggested that the weapons could have been used by the IRA during The Troubles and may have been dumped when Republicans were meant to be declaring their arms in 2001 . Former SAS sergeant and author Andy McNab , who served in Northern Ireland during 1979 , said the weapons could have been used by the IRA during The Troubles . He said : ` This must be a terrorist bundle . That 's because there are weapons for various ranges -- from close assassination ones to the Browning that could take out a helicopter or Land Rover . ` A large machine gun barrel means it could be the IRA . Were they included when they declared their arms ? Or were they held back in case they did n't get a deal they wanted ? ' . Experts said some of the rifles may have been used by IRA fighters during The Troubles . Above , British troopers fight on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry . | James Cork stumbled across cache of weapons in the Somerset Levels . The 16-year-old was trawling the water with a magnet when he found guns . Experts say some of the 40 weapons may have belonged to the IRA . Among them were parts of a Nazi MG 42 and an M16 assault rifle . IRA hid guns and explosives all over the UK mainland during The Troubles . | [[575, 665], [922, 999], [1018, 1095], [2993, 3026], [0, 40], [575, 665], [611, 691], [922, 999], [1018, 1095], [213, 250], [428, 516], [692, 748], [751, 765], [3406, 3577], [3426, 3494], [3585, 3615], [3674, 3744], [4123, 4211], [4136, 4211], [1654, 1709], [2774, 2805], [2982, 3004], [3027, 3056], [213, 250], [1509, 1560]] |
Savings have fallen to a record low as thousands of families fail to put away any money at the end of each month , figures show . Savings have fallen to a record low as thousands of families fail to put away any money at the end of each month , figures show . High house prices and poor wage growth has led to a dramatic fall in the amount that families are saving into pensions , bank accounts and investments . Growing confidence in the economy has also deterred people from savings because they believe their job is secure and their home will grow in value . But experts warned that Britain faced a ` savings crisis ' and said many would be left in pension poverty . This year , total households will save just 5.4 per cent of their take-home pay -- the lowest percentage since records began 18 years ago . This is just half of the proportion saved in 2010 when households put away 11 per cent of their salary after tax , official figures show . By 2019 , this will have plunged further to 4.8 per cent , according to forecasts by the Office for Budget Responsibility . The International Longevity Centre -LRB- ILC -RRB- , which analysed the data , said Britain was in the middle of ' a lost decade ' of savings , which would not end until at least 2020 . In 2010 , mass redundancies saw savings hit a 12-year high as people squirrelled away their money amid fears they could lose their job . But since then , savings have fallen sharply as people increased their level of credit card debt and taken on larger mortgages . House prices have soared by double digits in many parts of the country , meaning many have large home loans , while below-inflation pay rises have compounded the problem . Experts said last night that such poor savings risked leaving many with an inadequate income in retirement . Ben Franklin , at the ILC , told the Mail : ` People are spending more , rent and house prices have risen , but wages have stagnated . ` We have had a consumption-driven recovery , with people buying more , but without the pay rises accompanying that . ` This means many are struggling to put something away at the end of the month , so they are saving less money into their pension or bank accounts . ' Figures show that , on average , employees contributed just 2.9 per cent of their salary into a money purchase pension every month , while those in a gold-plated final salary pensions pay 5.9 per cent . Experts warned that Britain faced a ` savings crisis ' and said many would be left in pension poverty . ` For many , this is not enough for an adequate retirement income ' , Mr Franklin added . ` We have a lost decade of savings which could turn into two or three decades . ` If people do not start saving more , there will be a generation of people in their 20s , 30s and 40s who are significantly worse off in retirement than their parents . ' Anna Bowes , of rate tracker website Savings Champion , said workers were deterred from saving by record low interest rates . She said : ` People are looking at the rock-bottom rates and thinking it is not worthwhile to save . ' She said there had been a shift away from saving in recent decades , adding : ` For many older generations , there was a savings culture and they were not as keen to get into debt . ` Now , people are in a lot of debt from a young age if they go to university , so they do not get into a habit of saving until much later . ` The fall in savings is a ticking time bomb . ` If people do not save now then what will they do when they reach retirement ? ' . Auto-enrolment has seen millions of workers automatically entered into a workplace pension in the last three years . In 2012 , the Government introduced new rules which forced bosses to pay into a pension for their employees . Steve Webb said that auto-enrolment had helped to reverse a long-term decline in the number of people saving into a pension . He said : ` If you leave it to people -LSB- to save themselves -RSB- then it is n't go to happen , and that is the point of auto-enrolment . ' But he said the drop in savings also symbolised increased confidence in the economy , saying : ` After the 2008 financial crash , people became quite risk adverse and savings went up quite dramatically . ` Now people feel more comfortable and , while they may be saving less , they might be looking at the rising value of their house as an asset . ' | Thousands of families fail to put away any money at the end of each month . Britain is facing ` savings crisis ' and many could be left in ` pension poverty ' Total saved by families is at lowest level since records began 18 years ago . Growing confidence in the economy has deterred people from saving . | [[39, 112], [169, 242], [2061, 2137], [566, 669], [1073, 1123], [1152, 1214], [1697, 1805], [1726, 1805], [2413, 2516], [2433, 2465], [2413, 2420], [2433, 2440], [2472, 2516], [3411, 3457], [670, 679], [682, 749], [781, 809], [413, 446], [2692, 2723], [4042, 4121]] |
Australian jihadists do n't want to come home from Syria - they just want to win or die in a bloody fight for apparent religious glory . That 's according to a purported British jihadist in Syria fighting for Jahbut al-Nusra -LRB- JN -RRB- , which is considered a terrorist organisation under Australian law . ` No1 wants to return , here it is victory or shahada -LRB- martyrdom -RRB- all way , ' said apparent militant Abu Basir Jabh Nusra in an online exchange about Australians with former terror suspect Zaky Mallah . The foreign fighter described ` ozzies ' who had joined the fight as ` wonderful brothers ' and praised their ` cracking accent ' . ` No1 wants to return , here it is victory or shahada all way , ' said the apparent militant , who used this picture to identify himself . Zaky Mallah , pictured , was the first Australian charged with terrorism offences but was later acquitted and regularly provides comment to the media . He has shared pictures of himself and others in military fatigues and in his online accounts has said he previously lived in the United Kingdom . The exchange came about as Abu Basir was questioned by Mallah about his interactions with Australian fighters . Mallah was the first Australian charged under terrorism offences in 2003 but he was acquitted following two years in maximum security prison . ` I 've been in this jihadi world for the past 15 years . I know a real jihadi from a fake jihadi , ' said Mallah , who supports JN because it fights Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad . Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced a series of counter-terrorism measures , including stripping some Australian foreign fighters of their citizenship , on Monday . Jihadist group : Jahbut al-Nusra members are pictured posing on a tank on the front lines in May 2014 . One of several pictures shared by the purported Jahbut al-Nusra fighter . ` We will ensure returning foreign fighters are prosecuted or closely monitored using strengthened control orders , ' Mr Abbott said . The government is concerned that returning fighters would use their military experience overseas in terrorist actions on home soil . Recent government figures say 110 Australian fighters have joined Islamic State . Terrorism expert Professor Greg Barton told Daily Mail Australia the number of Australians who have fought for Jabhut al-Nusra is unclear . Many have changed allegiances from al-Nusra to rival organisation IS , he said , including killed Australian militant Mohammad Ali Baryalei . | Australian jihadists described by purported fighter as ` wonderful brothers ' ` No1 wants to return -LRB- home -RRB- , here it is victory or shahada -LRB- martyrdom -RRB- ' The insight came out in an exchange with ` acquitted terrorist ' Zaky Mallah . | [[523, 612], [0, 136], [51, 136], [312, 331], [339, 385], [657, 676], [684, 716]] |
Vladimir Putin has said that a war between Russian and neighbouring Ukraine is unlikely and that he hopes it ` never happens ' . Speaking to Russian state TV , the President called a military conflict between his country and Ukraine ` an apocalyptic scenario ' . This comes as an international security watchdog has warned of several breaches of the ceasefire agreed between Ukranian state troops and separatist rebels . Anti-war : Vladimir Putin , pictured yesterday , called a military conflict between his country and Ukraine ` an apocalyptic scenario ' , adding that he hopes it ` never happens ' ' I think that such an apocalyptic scenario -LSB- war -RSB- is unlikely and I . hope this will never happen , ' he told a reporter with Russia . State TV company . This weekend 's prisoner swap between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels took place after Putin agreed to use his influence on the separatists during a conference call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel , French President Francois Hollande and Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko . Today , Putin said he did not see the need for another meeting with the leaders of France , Germany and Ukraine on resolution of the conflict . This follows a statement by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , that although the current cease-fire has ` very significantly ' lowered the level of military exchanges in Ukraine , violations are still taking place . Lamberto Zannier , head of OSCE , said Monday there have been a number of violations in the south , and some limited incidents around the town of Debaltseve and around the Donetsk airport , both seized by separatists . Vladimir Putin , seen at a wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier , during the ` Day of the Fatherland 's Defender ' - celebrations yesterday , said he ` did not see the need ' for more peace meetings . Zannier called the agreed ceasefire ` the best chance ... to de-escalate and bring this conflict to an end , ' but he stressed that ` there is work to be done . ' Today , Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine said they have begun a large-scale pullback of heavy weapons in line with the peace plan . The claim by Eduard Basurin , a top rebel commander , could n't immediately be confirmed . Michael Bociurkiw , a spokesman for the observer mission that is monitoring the fighting in eastern Ukraine , said he could n't comment until receiving monitors ' reports at the end of the day . The peace plan that was signed February 15 calls for heavy weapons to be pulled back by each side from the front line by 25 to 70 kilometers -LRB- 15 to 45 miles -RRB- , depending on their caliber . Disturbing the peace : The OSCE has reported that although the cease-fire has ` very significantly ' lowered the level of military exchanges in Ukraine , violations are still taking place . Pro-Russian : Locals greet separatists during a rally to mark the ` Defender of the Fatherland Day ' in Donetsk , following several reports of cease-fire violations . The cease-fire has been troubled by violations , leading to concern that it would n't solidify and that fighting would continue . A rebel website cited Basurin as saying about 100 122-mm howitzers would be moved on Tuesday . There was no immediate comment from the Ukrainian side , but military officials have said that they wo n't pull back weapons until a cease-fire fully takes hold . On Tuesday , military spokesman Lt. Col. Anatoliy Stelmakh said rebels had shelled the town of Popasna seven times and launched one barrage on the village of Luhanske . Stelmakh also said rebels tried to storm Ukrainian positions near the southern village of Shyrokyne , which is near the strategic Azov Sea port of Mariupol . Concerns persists that rebels aim to take Mariupol to help establish a land corridor between mainland Russia and the Crimean peninsula that Russia annexed last March . | Putin says a war between Russia and Ukraine is ` unlikely ' Russian President called possible war ` an apocalyptic scenario ' Security watchdog OSCE warns of several breaches of cease-fire . | [[0, 124], [29, 87], [263, 311], [277, 359], [1190, 1273], [2679, 2847], [2848, 2859], [2962, 3014]] |
A night of boxing descended into violence this weekend when the supporters of rival boxers stormed the ring and began throwing punches of their own . Security was overrun as supporters of Sheffield super bantamweight fighters Uzair ` The Nightmare ' Najib and Muheeb ` Flashy ' Fazeldin brawled inside the squared circle . The bedlam continued on the canvas even with the ring announcer screaming for calm and warning that the contest would be disqualified if peace was not restored at the Octagon Theatre in Sheffield , South Yorkshire . Scroll down for video . Brawl : Supporters of Uzair ` The Nightmare ' Najib and Muheeb ` Flashy ' Fazeldin brawl inside the boxing ring at an event hosted at the Octagon Theatre in Sheffield , South Yorkshire , on Saturday night . Unseemly : The bedlam began seconds after Najid 's defeat and continued on even with the ring announcer screaming for calm and warning that the contest would be disqualified if peace was not restored . Violence broke out moments after Fazeldin stopped Najib in the first round of their fight for the Central Arena title . There was animosity between the fighters ahead of Saturday night 's event , which was headlined by Ross Burkinshaw , who KO 'd Belgian Benjamin Smoes , also in the first round , for a European title . That bad blood exploded into violence seconds after Najib 's quick defeat , with the fighter going down just one second before the end of the first round . ` The disgraceful scenes went on for only a couple of minutes , but they brought shame on an otherwise superb night of boxing , ' reported the Sheffield Telegraph . Answering a question posed by Mike Tyson 's official Twitter account about a video circulating online of the brawl , Najib said it was ` just over-passionate fans who got a bit crazy . ' ' -LSB- B -RSB- een receiving lots of apologies and hope my boxing journey has n't been halted , ' he added . Face-off : There had been animosity between the two super-bantamweight fighters before the event ; bad blood which exploded within seconds of Najib 's defeat just one second before the end of the first round . Shouting : Fighting continued in the ring for several minutes . Promoter Dennis Hobson said those responsible had been trying to steal some of the limelight from the professional fighters . Rough and tumble : A fight fan falls to the canvas . Mr Hobson said he had already spoken to a supervisor from the British Board of Boxing and pledged that it can never happen again . Bedlam : A frame from a smartphone video of the incident shows the scale of the brawl inside the ring . Glory : The night was headlined by Ross Burkinshaw , who KO 'd Belgian Benjamin Smoes for a European title . In the short clip , promoter Dennis Hobson tells crowd he would not represent any boxer in the future whose fans brought disorder to his shows . ` If you want to sort something out , do it outside , not in here , ' he told them . Afterwards Mr Hobson said those responsible had been trying to steal some of the limelight from the professional fighters . He added he 'd already spoken to a British Board of Boxing supervisor and pledged that it can never happen again , reported Sheffield 's The Star . | Supporters of Uzair Najib and Muheeb Fazeldin clashed after their fight . Brawl broke out seconds after Fazeldin stopped Najib in the first round . Najib said on Twitter it was ` just over-passionate fans who got crazy ' | [[60, 90], [112, 149], [972, 1091], [278, 322], [781, 827], [972, 1091], [1005, 1091], [1293, 1366], [2010, 2019], [2026, 2120], [1731, 1776], [1756, 1776], [1781, 1798]] |
Business class passengers can now expect a lot more than just a good nights ' sleep . The world 's most opulent airlines are treating their working passengers to the kind of services you 'd expect only in First . Fly Qatar Airways , and you 'll get meals and snacks lovingly prepared by international chefs such as Nobu Matsuhisa , Tom Aikens , Vineet Bhatia and Ramzi Choueiri , who have multiple Michelin stars between them . Fancy a drink ? You can head straight to the lounge , where a luxurious central bar is adorned with fresh flowers and chandeliers are finished in gold . Scroll down for video . Business class passengers flying with Emirates are welcome to prop up the lounge bar during their flight . Etihad Business flyers get bed that fully reclines , as well as the ability to adjust the firmness of the seat , in-seat massage and lighting , all at the touch of a button . There 's a personal 18-inch touch screen TV with noise-cancelling headsets . With Emirates , Business travellers on A380 and Boeing 777 aircrafts will get a lie-flat bed - and all Business travellers have access to laptop power , a side table for work and their own personal mini-bar . For those feeling more sociable , there 's an onboard lounge stocked with the finest champagnes and a bar tender for on demand cocktails . Food on Emirates is prepared by award-winning chefs who have honed their technique in order to preserve the original flavours of each ingredient and retain its nutritional value . From grilling to the sous-vide technique , the emphasis is on epicurean eating - so Business flyers do n't need to be weighed down by one too many bread rolls during their flight . A typical menu might be a seafood collection , followed by a tender lamb noisette , and an assortment of the finest boutique cheeses from around the world for dessert - all served on Royal Doulton china on a tray laid with fine linen . Qatar Airways ' onboard lounge features a curved central bar adorned with fresh flowers and chandeliers finished in gold . Cathay Pacific Business passengers are served meals in designer white porcelain , along with stemless wine glasses , to allow their wine to breathe . Meanwhile , Singapore Business class passengers can expect Tattinger Prelude `` Grands Crus '' for the champagne service , as well as the famous Singapore Airlines satay , tableware from Givenchy and occasion cakes for honeymoons , as an example , that the crew presents on the plane . The Air New Zealand Business Premier cabin boasts a sumptuous leather armchair converts to a fully lie flat bed , with memory foam mattress . The chef serves up a host of mouth-watering treats from hotcakes for breakfast to char-sui duck for dinner , and there 's a lengthy wine list featuring New Zealand wines to complement all meals . Air New Zealand 's chef serves up a host of mouth-watering treats from hotcakes for breakfast to char-sui duck for dinner . Cathay Pacific Business passengers are served meals in designer white porcelain , along with stemless wine glasses , to allow their wine to breathe . Singapore airlines offers Business travellers the chance to select main dishes , such as Lobster Thermidor , before they board their flight . Cathay Pacific also offers Business passengers a side cabinet complete with vanity mirror , which doubles as a cabinet privacy divider . With Emirates , all Business travellers have access to laptop power , a side table for work and their own personal mini-bar . As well as a fully reclining beds , Etihad 's Business class passengers get a personal 18-inch touch screen TV with noise-cancelling headsets . | Fully reclining seats have become the norm for Business class passengers on the world 's most luxurious airlines . Now passengers can expect sous-vide gastronomy , Royal Doulton china , personal mini-bars and massage chairs . Not to mention 18-inch TVs to lobster thermidors on demand and snacks prepared by Michelin-starred chefs . | [[86, 182], [2032, 2111], [2930, 3009], [237, 265], [249, 377], [1312, 1363], [2610, 2716], [2806, 2929], [3080, 3186], [3521, 3628]] |
The differences are subtle enough to easily fool an untrained observer . But a large quantity of fake money , predominantly $ 50 notes , has flooded Australian cities as outlaw bikie gangs turn to counterfeit money after a major police crackdown on robbery , drugs and firearms . Authorities believe elaborate printing presses are behind a much bigger flow of illegal money , which is being used in conventional consumer purchases but also to pay for drug deals between revival gangs , sparking reprisals . Senior NSW police have told Daily Mail Australia the burgeoning multi-million-dollar operations are a ` serious concern ' . Scroll down for video . Can you pick the fake ? NSW Police have released a comparison of $ 50 bills to Daily Mail Australia , with the version at the top being the genuine note and the bottom is a counterfeit version picked up in a recent raid . Queensland Police tracked a Bandidos bikie-gang inspired counterfeit ring south across the NSW border and made this seizure of almost $ 2million worth of fake money on that state 's south coast last year . Police recover evidence during weekend raids on the premises of an outlaw motorcycle gang in WA . State police have been working closely with the Australian Federal Police as they crackdown on the new wave of criminal activity by outlaw motorcycle gangs , including counterfeit and drug rings . Authorities are now uncovering the phoney money on a regular basis across New South Wales , Queensland and Victoria , as well as the ACT . In Sydney alone , there are more than 50 suburbs now on the police watch list after illegal currency was reported , mostly in the western suburbs , but the fraudulent flow of bills stretches south to Bargo and Robertson , north to Manly and Umina and through to Bondi in the eastern suburbs . Similarly , in Victoria , the most recent investigations have located the fake cash across Stawell , Ararat and Ringwood . With police in Queensland ` winning the war ' on outlaw bikie gangs in the areas of theft , counterfeit money is fast becoming the weapon of choice for criminals , alongside the drug trade . A massive $ 2 million bust last year by Queensland Police at Warilla on the NSW South Coast did put a slow on the production and flow of counterfeit dollars , according to Detective Superintendent Mick Niland , the head of the state 's anti-bikie gang task force . The real deal . Printing presses at Australia 's official producer , Note Printing Australia Limited , which is located on a 26 hectare site at Craigieburn in Victoria , 25 kilometres north of Melbourne . Qld Police Det Supt Mick Niland says the collaboration between states and the AFP is proving a success in the chase for the counterfeit crime syndicates . While at left is an example of one of the fake bills picked up by Victoria Police recently when they arrested three people at Stawell ` following a prolonged investigation into the circulation of counterfeit money ' Sealed bundles of legitimate $ 20 bills are produced by the official printing hall in Craigieburn in Victoria . More than 20 properties were raided across Queensland , leading to the arrest of 18 people alleged to have links to the Bandidos bikie gang . ` It certainly slowed them down , we seized a lot of the cash they 'd produced and a lot of their assets , ' he told Daily Mail Australia . ` We 've had a few seizures since in the thousands of dollars but now they 're looking at other areas again . ' ` The National Anti-Gang Squad is a very important part of us targeting and dismantling these criminal gangs , it 's very much united and committed in the fight . ` And it 's right across the country . It is a multi-pronged approach with unprecedented level of co-operation , we are of course working in closely with the AFP to dismantle these crime gangs . ` We will be relentless in our efforts against them regardless where they are operating in Queensland . ' It is so serious an issue , the Australian Federal Police Currency Team and the Reserve Bank of Australia -LRB- RBA -RRB- ` have entered into a working agreement for the administration of counterfeit currency ' . ` All currency related matters are co-ordinated and administered from a central location by the AFP with administrative support provided by the RBA , ' the AFP said in a statement . As the upsurge in illegal notes took hold in New South Wales late last year , Detective Superintendent Katsogiannis , the Commander of the state 's Fraud and Cybercrime Squad urged the community to be on the lookout . ` We have seen an increase in the number of counterfeit banknotes being reported to police , ' Det Supt Katsogiannis said . Reports doubled from month-to-month at one stage in late 2014 . ` While the notes we 've seized have been from a range of denominations , the vast majority are fifty and one hundred dollar notes . ' Queensland Police believe they broke up a counterfeit syndicate when they arrested members of an outlaw motorcycle gang and recovered almost $ 2million worth of fake bills . The RBA states that ` printed sheets are then guillotined into individual banknotes and transported through computer-controlled machines for final counting , removal of imperfect banknotes , and banding ' Evidence : NSW Police say this is among the fake money they uncovered during an operation in Lithgow . After the cutting process , ` the final stage of the process sees the finished banknotes shrink-wrapped , moved onto pallets and stored in a strong-room prior to distribution around the country ' The counterfeit bills have most recently surfaced in Lithgow , on the western slopes of the Blue Mountains , at a number of local businesses . A 21-year-old man was arrested and later released and was assisting police investigations . A joint police operation led to the arrest last October of one man , aged 23 , after a range of businesses across NSW , Victoria and the ACT alerted authorities to the use of counterfeit $ 50 bills . The Reserve Bank says that : Historically , Australia has one of the lowest rates of counterfeiting in the world . Most people will never see a counterfeit . Even so , it is vitally important that people are aware of the security features included on Australia 's banknotes . ' ` All Australian banknotes have similar security features , though their location can vary . To determine if a suspect banknote is a counterfeit , it is best to compare it with a banknote that is known to be genuine . ' 1 Feel the banknote , Australian banknotes are printed on plastic , they are difficult to tear and will spring back after being scrunched . 2 Check the clear window . Make sure the window has n't been added on and the printed image ca n't be easily rubbed off . Also look for embossing on $ 10 , $ 20 , $ 50 and $ 100 banknotes . 3 Look for the star diamond-shaped patterns are printed inside a circle on both sides of the banknote . When held up to the light , they form a seven-pointed star . 4 Check the shadow image . The Australian Coat of Arms should appear on the bank note when it is held up to the light . 5 Look for the microprinting . Under a magnifying glass , tiny words can be seen in the top left corner of the $ 5 banknote and near the portraits on other banknotes . Source : RBA . ` Some of the counterfeit notes we 've seized have been printed on paper , and some on plastic . All genuine banks notes are printed on a special form of plastic , ' Det Supt Katsogiannis said . ` As for the counterfeit notes printed on plastic , they feel slightly thicker than genuine bank notes . ` Furthermore , the clarity of the images on the counterfeit plastic notes is not as sharp as it is on genuine ones . ' The New South Wales locations where the counterfeit notes have been uncovered since July last year include : Ashfield , Balmain , Bankstown , Bargo , Blacktown , Bondi Junction , Bowral , Broadmeadow , Camperdown , Canley Vale , Caringbah , Chatswood , Colyton , Doonside , Epping , Glebe , Gundagai , Hurstville , Ingleburn , Kogarah , Liverpool , Manly , Marrickville , Marsfield , Milperra , Mittagong , Moss Vale , Mount Pritchard , North St Marys , Parramatta , Penrith , Punchbowl , Pyrmont , Robertson , Rooty Hill , St Marys , Strathfield , Surry Hills , Sydney CBD , The Rocks , Umina Beach , Werrington and West Ryde . The Reserve Bank states that there is just one official printing press for Australia 's currency , ` Australia 's banknotes are printed by Note Printing Australia Limited which is located on a 26 hectare site at Craigieburn , Victoria , 25 kilometres north of Melbourne ' . Security there is of the highest order . ' -LRB- The -RRB- main production building is a purpose-built four-storey , reinforced concrete structure . . the site is bounded by high-security perimeter fencing , has an armed guard force protecting it around the clock and is supported by a range of highly sophisticated electronic security and surveillance devices . ' The RBA says it 's a simple exercise to check whether you 're handling real money or fake . 1 Is it plastic ? 2 Look for the coat of arms 3 Diamond-shaped patterns are printed inside a circle on both sides of the bank note , if you hold the note up to the light , the patterns should line up perfectly to form a seven-pointed star 4 And finally check the clear window which should be an integral part of the banknote and not an addition . Check that the white image printed on the window can not be easily rubbed off . Victorian Police say this note from an arrest at Ararat is clearly identifiable as a fake . Australian banknotes are printed on sheets of polymer substrate in the NPA printing hall ` using various printing plates , processes , machines and inks ' . ` Different sized sheets are used for each denomination , ' the RBA reveals . ` The first printing process involves the background colours and patterns being printed onto both sides of the polymer sheets at the same time . these machines can print up to 8,000 sheets per hour . ` Separate print runs are required for each side of the sheet . The resulting raised print is one of the important security features of Australia 's polymer banknotes . ` Serial numbers are then added to the sheets using a letterpress printing process . ` In a final print run , the banknote sheets are given two coats of a protective over-coating ink using an offset printing press . This overcoat contributes to the extended durability of polymer banknotes as it protects the printing . It also helps to keep the banknotes clean . ` Printed sheets are then guillotined into individual banknotes and transported through computer-controlled machines for final counting , removal of imperfect banknotes , and banding . ` The final stage of the process sees the finished banknotes shrink-wrapped , moved onto pallets and stored in a strong-room prior to distribution around the country . ' The Australian Crime Commission estimates that ` serious and organised crime costs Australia $ 15 billion every year ' . Victoria Police recently seized numerous counterfeit notes after executing a warrant at a house in Ringwood North . They located a number of $ 100 and $ 50 notes on this occasion . | A record number of fake bills have been picked up across three states in the past six months . Police say outlaw motorcycle gangs are now increasingly focused on different types of drugs and counterfeit money . Elaborate printing presses are believed to be head-quartered in western Sydney and northern Queensland . The majority of the notes are $ 50 and investigators admit ` there is a lot of it happening across many local commands ' Queensland Police busted a $ 2million counterfeit ring across state borders but that has n't stopped the flow . | [[1378, 1389], [1394, 1516], [77, 107], [137, 228], [170, 279], [1181, 1377], [1258, 1377], [2025, 2094], [3898, 3932], [1378, 1397], [1409, 1516], [4810, 4868], [11139, 11203], [877, 894], [983, 1082], [2124, 2280], [2124, 2215], [2283, 2332], [4897, 5044]] |
Medical marijuana may soon be available to Orthodox Jews in New York as rabbis work with companies seeking to sell kosher edibles to Jewish patients in the state . New York 's Orthodox Union is in discussion with companies aiming to provide kosher , edible marijuana products to Jews in the state -- but only those with medical needs , the Jewish Daily Forward reports . The medical marijuana is expected to go on sale next year . Marijuana : Medical marijuana may soon be available to Orthodox Jews in New York as rabbis work with companies seeking to sell kosher edibles to Jewish patients in the state -LRB- stock image -RRB- . Rabbi Moshe Elefant , COO of the OU 's kosher certification agency , told the Forward that the agency would have no problem certifying medical marijuana because of its clear medical benefits . Elefant said the OU was approached several weeks ago by a company with marijuana factories in Colorado , where both the medicinal and recreational use of the drug are legal , according to the New York Post . Kosher certification is not necessary for the plant itself , according to the Forward , but medical marijuana patients will not be allowed to smoke it due to Health Department regulations in the state where companies are vying for licenses to grow and sell the drug . Instead , patients will have to ingest it in other ways , such as food , drinks , or capsules , which require kosher certification for Orthodox patients . While many Orthodox rabbis seem to accept medical marijuana , the same can not be said for their stance on recreational use of the drug . Medical : While many Orthodox rabbis seem to accept medical marijuana , the same can not be said for their stance on recreational use of the drug . Edibles : Patients will have to ingest marijuana in ways such as food , drinks , or capsules , which require kosher certification for Orthodox patients -LRB- stock image of marijuana gummy edibles -RRB- . Rabbi J. David Bleich , an authority on medical ethics at Yeshiva University in New York , told the Forward that while medical marijuana is ' a perfectly acceptable use of a plant that grows in God 's garden , ' recreational use of the drug would be solely for pleasure purposes , and is ` certainly not that to which a Jew should aspire . ' But , he added : ' I ca n't tell you the 614th mitzvah is thou shalt not smoke pot . ' This effort marks one of the latest endeavors among Progressive Jews -- as opposed to traditional Orthodox Judaism . Progression : Many progressive Jews view the legalization of marijuana as a social justice issue arguing that drug policy in the U.S. criminalizes otherwise law-abiding citizens . Ean Seeb , owner of a Denver , Colo. marijuana dispensary , is one of several Jews who pushed for the legalization of marijuana in the state where the drug was legalized in 2012 . ` We have shown here in Colorado that you can effectuate social change without the world crashing down on you , ' Seeb said . He compared the Jewish involvement in marijuana activity to that of its involvement in the civil rights movements of the 1960s and prohibition in the alcohol industry , according to Forward . Many Progressive Jews view the legalization of marijuana as a social justice issue arguing that drug policy in the U.S. criminalizes otherwise law-abiding citizens . Marijuana is legal in nearly half of the U.S. and a handful of states allow recreational use of the drug as well . | Kosher , edible marijuana products are expected to be sold to Jews in New York in the next year . The state 's Orthodox Union is in discussion with companies seeking a kosher stamp of approval to sell the marijuana edibles . While Orthodox rabbis seem to accept medical marijuana , they do not have the same view about recreational use of the drug . | [[0, 26], [30, 98], [0, 17], [22, 78], [89, 163], [213, 296], [371, 430], [371, 392], [405, 430], [443, 469], [473, 541], [443, 460], [465, 521], [532, 622], [0, 26], [30, 98], [89, 163], [164, 222], [213, 296], [443, 469], [473, 541], [532, 622], [1461, 1514], [1455, 1486], [1517, 1592], [1603, 1634], [1609, 1662], [1663, 1740]] |
A 14-year-old accused of the murder of his mother and sister allegedly told detectives ' I want people to die , ' hours after they were both killed when a severe fire swept through their home . Samuel Vonachen was said to have made the confession after fire fighters discovered the bodies of his mother , Karla Jo , and 11-year-old sister , Audrey , huddled together in a bedroom . The pair were rushed to hospital where they were declared dead a short time later . His father Steven Vonachen , escaped the inferno in Hutchinson , Kansas , in September 2013 . Samuel Vonachen , now 15 , allegedly confessed to starting a fire at his family home that killed his mother and sister . The teenager was said to have told detectives ' I want people to die , ' after the fire in Hutchinson , Kansas . Vonachen 's sister , Audrey , 11 , and his mother , Karla Jo , both died in hospital after being rescued from the inferno . The teen , now aged 15 , allegedly said ' I did it , ' as detectives pointed out the flaws in his story , according to Hutchnews.com . The alleged video confession was played during a preliminary hearing , ahead of the teenager 's trial for two counts of premeditated first degree murder , attempted first-degree murder , and aggravated arson . ' I did it , ' he said in the video played to the court , the news site reported . ' I want people to die.People are awful . Everyone is awful , but I 'm not . ' Vonachen , now aged 15 , also reportedly explained to detectives how he had taken a gas canister from the garage and poured the liquid over several rooms before setting it alight . He said it ` did n't matter who lived and died , ' according to Hutchnews.com . As the family home was engulfed in flames Vonachen dialed 911 to report the blaze using the made-up name of Dominique Deets . During the police interview , pictured above , Vonachen also reportedly explained how he had taken a gas canister and poured the liquid over several rooms . When later questioned about why he did n't alert his family to the fire and used a made-up name he told police he did n't know and was scared . When officers arrived at the home Vonachen could not be found and was later arrested by police walking along the side of the road . He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 2 . Scene : The remains of the Vonachen family home after the severe fire ripped through the property . Charred : The first floor was fully engulfed in flames that were shooting out of the windows . The mother and her daughter were found together in the bedroom . | Samuel Vonachen , 14 , allegedly confessed to killing his mother and sister . Karla Jo and Audrey Vonachen died in blaze at family home in Hutchinson . He is due to stand trial in the US later this year for the double murder . Also faces attempted murder and arson charges in relation to blaze . | [[0, 86], [194, 246], [194, 209], [219, 338], [629, 644], [650, 680], [918, 928], [943, 957], [960, 968], [126, 140], [148, 193], [126, 130], [141, 193], [629, 644], [650, 680]] |
Evidence from more than 6,600 rape kits that went untested for years in Houston , Texas , have turned up 850 hits in the FBI 's nationwide database of DNA profiles . But as the city marked a major step in its $ 6 million effort to address the backlog , officials admitted that there were some cases where suspects committed other sex crimes while evidence that could have identified them sat untested . So far charges have been filed against 29 people , six of whom have been convicted , since the city launched an effort in 2013 to test 6,663 rape kits . Some of the kits date back as far as 1987 . Testing was completed in the fall , and the results have now been uploaded to a database used by investigators nationwide to compare DNA profiles of possible suspects , Mayor Annise Parker said . A rape kit that has been examined and sealed at a crime lab in Los Angeles . Untested kits like this sit in storage all over the country potentially allowing offenders to commit other crimes . ` This milestone is of special importance to rape survivors and their families and friends because it means their cases are receiving the attention they should have years ago , ' Parker said at a news conference . Police are continuing to review the matches to see if charges can be filed in other cases . In the cases where prosecutors have won convictions , defendants have received sentences ranging from two to 45 years in prison . One case was dismissed after the victim decided not to pursue the case . In some of the 850 matches the correct person had already been convicted . Houston Mayor Annise Parker said that the backlog ` is not a Houston problem . It 's not a Texas problem . It 's a nationwide issue that built up over years and years ' Rape kits include biological samples and physical evidence gathered from sexual assault victims that are later processed to see if they match a suspect 's DNA . Testing results are uploaded to the FBI 's Combined DNA Index System , or CODIS . A hit means that a suspect 's DNA already was in a national law enforcement database in connection with an earlier crime . Of those that went on to commit other crimes , while it is likely that they could have been identified at the time because their DNA was already in CODIS , it is difficult to tell if kits would have contained enough to provide an accurate profile given available technology . ` Now that the testing of these kits is complete , we know that it 's up to us to finish the job and to seek justice for these victims . The ball is in our court and we will do our best to put the people who are responsible for these heinous crimes behind bars for as long as possible , ' Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said . Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson aims ` to put the people who are responsible for these heinous crimes behind bars for as long as possible ' In the case that led to the 45-year prison sentence , Eddy Montiel , 33 , plead guilty to aggravated sexual assault , the Houston Chronicle reported . According to court documents , the assault occurred in May 2003 . He broke into the victim 's East End home in the morning and woke her , asking for money . When the victim , 38 at the time , said she did n't have any and attempted to fight him off , Montiel began smothering her with a pillow . She pleaded with him to stop , asking him ` how can you do this , do n't you have a mother , ' he then raped her , occasionally brandishing a pocket knife . When he left , he took her cell phone and ripped the house phone off the wall . The victim was afraid to call the police because she worried it might affect her immigration status , but a coworker convinced her to call in the assault , and she agreed to take a sexual assault kit test . It is unclear why her kit went untested , but while it sat , Montiel went on to commit and be convicted of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit sexual assault . He was also later sentenced for two aggravated sexual assault cases and indecency with a child . Experts say Houston 's backlog -- and similar backlogs in other U.S. cities -- are due in part to the high cost of testing which can run from $ 500 to $ 1,000 per kit . Advocates argue that the lack of testing signals that sex crimes have n't always been law enforcement priorities . Mayor Parker advocates the work of Houston 's specially designed taskforce as a model for other cities to follow . More than 12,000 kits went untested for years in Memphis , Tennessee , which is facing a lawsuit from rape victims as it tries to test the kits . In Detroit , prosecutors discovered more than 11,000 rape kits in an abandoned police warehouse in 2009 , and Cleveland prosecutors have sent their entire 4,700-kit backlog for testing . ` This is not a Houston problem . It 's not a Texas problem . It 's a nationwide issue that built up over years and years , ' Parker said . | Over 6,600 rape kits went untested for up to three decades in Houston . The city launched a $ 6 million effort to clear the backlog resulting in 850 hits in the FBI 's DNA database . But officials admit that some suspects went on to commit other sex crimes while evidence that could have convicted them sat untested . So far charges have been filed against 29 people leading to six convictions and sentences ranging from two to 45 years . Similar backlogs can be found in cities across the country with 12,000 untested kits in Memphis , 11,000 in Detroit and 4,700 in Cleveland . | [[24, 39], [45, 79], [0, 39], [82, 165], [173, 227], [205, 220], [228, 250], [170, 196], [253, 298], [253, 262], [277, 355], [341, 402], [873, 988], [954, 988], [2111, 2116], [2122, 2152], [403, 451], [454, 485], [488, 529], [1295, 1307], [1347, 1424], [2885, 2893], [2899, 2953], [4041, 4116], [4079, 4116], [4120, 4163], [4440, 4496], [4586, 4596], [4599, 4689], [4692, 4772]] |
Old Man Winter has dropped so much snow in North America in the last few months people are running out of places to put it all - so they 're tunneling through it instead . Pictures of snow tunnels have been popping up on social media for the past few weeks and they will probably keep coming as long as the Siberian Express and other storms continue to roll in . Here are a few stories of the next generation of Mole People - the Snow People ... Scroll down for video . There has been so much snow in parts of North America that people have resorted to tunneling through it . A team of diggers spent ten hours digging a tunnel -LRB- pictured -RRB- to make the Wellington T station in Medford , Massachusetts , accessible to bikers and commuters . When the tunnel through the snow was completed , it was about 40-feet long and big enough to bike through . Even though some of the tunnels are n't that long , they still took a lot of work to create and maintain . A Canadian couple got nearly two stories of snow in their backyard , so they only way to get to their cars was to dig . Marcel Landry of Prince Edward Island was out digging for nearly seven hours before completing a snow tunnel that reached his car . The tunnel Landry created was 25-feet long and six-feet high in some places , the Journal Pioneer reported . He originally started with a smaller tunnel , but realized it could collapse on him . In order to determine which direction to dig , he used the emergency button on his keys to make his car horn go off . Humans are n't the only creatures who are embracing snow tunnels during the cold this winter . Pictures of snow tunnels have been popping up on social media sites like Instagram for the past few weeks . Some diggers are choosing to go with a more open-air version of the snow tunnel this winter . Many of the snow tunnels that have been dug this winter will stand until the weather starts to warm up . His fiancee Stephanie Collicutt took photos and assisted with the work . Landry said : ` I 've never seen anything like this . ` Once it started looking like a tunnel I just started having too much fun with it . ' I laughed all night . ' After the pictures of the tunnel began circulating on social media , a crew showed up to assist with the snow excavation , The Guardian reported . The tunnel was basically ruined during several hours of digging , but the cars are free . Landry said : ` It 's a relief . ` It 's hard to believe between five of us we -LRB- only -RRB- got that much done in a whole afternoon . ' I ca n't imagine how long it would have taken me by myself . We 're pretty grateful . ' Landry and Collicutt are n't the only people to dig a snow tunnel . It was n't exactly the ` Big Dig ' the town is known for , but some Bostonians used the tunnel technique to unearth a popular path that was buried by a substantial snow pile . A team of diggers led by Ari Goldberger and his friend Shadron Davis spent about ten hours digging a tunnel on the Wellington Greenway to make the Wellington T station in Medford , Massachusetts , accessible to bikers and commuters . When they were finished , the tunnel was 40-feet long . Some New England residents are using their shovels to dig tunnels instead of dig out their cars and homes . Dogs do n't have to use tunnels to commute , but that does n't mean they do n't enjoy going through them . This snow tunnel probably did n't take ten hours to dig , but it is still an example of the latest winter trend . The snow tunnel stood for two days before it mysteriously collapsed , according to Mashable . Goldberger said : ` I 'm guessing it was kind of a cover-your-ass type move from the MBTA -LSB- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority -RSB- . ` It was definitely a fun thing ... have n't you always wanted to make a giant giant snow tunnel ? ` Given the opportunity , I might do it again , but I really hope that the opportunity does n't present itself . ' Another Massachusetts man is n't digging tunnels through the ` historic Boston snow ' - he 's selling it . Kyle Waring started ShipSnowYo.com so people in cold areas could send snow to friends and family members in warmer climates to let them experience the white stuff , Boston.com reported . He started off selling snow-filled water bottles for $ 19.99 -LRB- shipping included -RRB- and has moved on to selling six pounds of snow for $ 89 . People have been buying the chilly commodity . Waring said : ` It seems to be corporations paying for the $ 90 product as a funny gesture , where the $ 20 one is regular consumers . ` At this rate , it 's going to be July until the snow melts . ` I 've thought about taking this idea and running with it for other seasonal items . Maybe I 'll ship some fall foliage . ' A man created ShipSnowYo.com for people to send snow to friends and family members in warmer climates . Kyle Waring first started selling snow-filled water bottles for $ 19.99 -LRB- shipping included -RRB- but has moved on to selling six pounds of snow for $ 89 . | Pictures of snow tunnels have been posted on social media in recent weeks . Canadian couple dug a 25-foot long and six-foot high tunnel in their backyard . Man used keys to set off his car horn to figure out which way to dig in snow . One tunnel in Massachusetts took ten hours to dig and measured 40 feet . One man is now shipping and selling ` historic Boston snow ' from Bay State . | [[172, 256], [1622, 1729], [2167, 2233], [2290, 2313], [1214, 1289], [1409, 1411], [1418, 1453], [1456, 1526], [576, 632], [747, 793], [796, 844], [1082, 1190], [2876, 2893], [2945, 3010], [2957, 3109], [3110, 3133], [3136, 3165], [3950, 4056]] |
Modern Family beauty Sofia Vergara and her sexy fiancé Joe Manganiello have been forced to postpone their wedding due to Magic Mike XXL . The honey-haired actress , 42 , and Joe , 38 , revealed they had planned to tie the knot this summer - but instead will now say their ' I Dos ' later this year.The red-blooded pair got engaged while on vacation in Hawaii in December after six months of dating . And speaking at the glittering Vanity Fair Oscar bash on Sunday night , Sofia , clad in a form-fitting Zuhair Murad sky-blue gown that she said was so tight ` it 's killing me ' , told Daily Mail Online : ` We wanted to get married this summer , but Joe is going to be busy working . Scroll down for video . Wedding postponed : Sofia revealed she and Joe had planned to tie the knot this summer - but instead will say their ' I Dos ' later this year . The couple engaged while on vacation in Hawaii in December after six months of dating . Zuhair Murad S/S 2015 Ready-to-Wear gown . See rest of the collection here ! Visit site . Colombian bombshell Sofia Vergara once again stunned on the red carpet as she attended this year 's Vanity Fair Oscar party on the arm of her fiance , Magic Mike actor Joe Manganiello . Wearing a dress from Zuhair Murad 's Spring/Summer 2015 Ready-to-Wear collection , Sofia was the third celebrity to wear the designer to the Oscars , joining Jennifer Lopez and Chrissy Teigen in turning heads on the read carpet ! Pale blue is n't the easiest color to wear and can wash some people out , so the added embellishments and embroidery on this dress is perfect for adding a touch of va va voom . Below we bring you our favorite embellished pale blue dresses from across the web - we especially love the ASOS Embellished sleeve maxi and the Virgos Lounge off the shoulder number . Virgos Lounge Greta Off Shoulder Maxi Dress With Embellished Bodice . Visit site . ASOS Embellished Sleeve Pleated Maxi . Visit site . Jarlo Petite Caden Lace Detail Halter Neck Maxi Dress . Visit site . Joe will be busy this summer promoting his new film , the sequel to Magic Mike with Channing Tatum . ` Hopefully we will do it later this year , we want to do it when we can make time for a honeymoon . ' The pair were wrapped around each other at the party , where the A list crowd included Beyonce and Jay Z , Jennifer Aniston and Oscar winners Julianne Moore and Eddie Redmayne . Joking about having had an illicit liaison inside the photo booth , their chemistry was there for all to see . And speaking about their upcoming wedding , Joe - who recently wrapped filming on Magic Mike 2 with Channing Tatum - said : ' I would love to get married this summer , but I 'm going to be too busy promoting my male stripper movie ! ' Asked how it differs from the first movie , Joe said : ` It 's incredible , you 'll watch it and you wo n't remember the first film . ' And asked about any comparisons between Magic Mike and 50 Shades of Grey , Joe laughed : ` It 's a different vibe , this is fun and sexy . ' | Steamy couple Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello got engaged in December after dating for six months . They had planned to tie the knot this summer . The wedding is now set for later this year so Joe can promote Magic Mike XXL , in which he co-stars with Channing Tatum as a stripper . Honeymoon to follow ! | [[0, 137], [0, 70], [88, 137], [298, 399], [852, 927], [917, 920], [928, 939], [138, 177], [185, 279], [607, 643], [728, 831], [2604, 2618], [2621, 2625], [2630, 2669], [2628, 2669], [0, 137], [0, 70], [88, 137], [138, 162], [258, 298], [708, 715], [797, 851], [2011, 2062], [2114, 2153], [2575, 2618]] |
A tractor-trailer driver may have been lost when he turned on to tracks and caused a fiery collision with an LA commuter train on Tuesday . Four people were critically injured and several carriages overturned in the early morning derailment in Ventura County , California . A total of 28 passengers suffered injuries when four cars of a Southern California Metrolink train tumbled onto their sides after slamming into a truck which burst into flames . There were no fatalities but passengers suffered spinal , head and neck injuries along with fractures . Authorities said the truck driver , a 54-year-old man from Yuma , Arizona , had ran off but was later arrested . Scroll down for video . nvestigators are seen behind police tape as they walk past the mangled truck that was hit by a Los Angeles-bound Metrolink train in Oxnard , California on Tuesday . There were no fatalities following the crash of a commuter train which was on its way to Los Angeles but 28 people were injured , four in a critical condition . A fiery collision engulfed a tractor-trailer which was hit by a Metrolink commuter train in the early hours of Tuesday in Ventura County , California . A Metrolink train derailed Tuesday morning after it collided with a truck on the track in Ventura County . The truck driver , who has not been named , was being treated at a local medical center for minor injuries . He is being questioned by police . Officials initially said that the driver had stopped his produce truck on the tracks and the accident was ` avoidable ' . However at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon , Oxnard police Officer Miguel Lopez said the man may have accidentally turned on to the tracks and become stuck became he did not know the area . When police first responded to the scene they found the tractor-trailer ` engulfed in flames ' . Once fire crews extinguished the blaze , police found the cabin of the truck empty . It was also not clear if the truck was carrying any produce at the time of the crash . A patrol cop later found a ` disorientated man ' walking along the side of the road and who was confirmed to be the driver . Authorities described the driver as ` unsettled ' but would not say if he was under the influence of alcohol or substances . It was also unclear if the driver was properly licensed . A Southern California Metrolink commuter train derailed early on Tuesday morning following a smash with a truck which then burst into flames . A firefighter crawls out of a derailed passenger train carriage at the scene of a Metrolink accident today . A firefighter climbs into the wreck of a Metrolink passenger train that derailed in agricultural country 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles . Video shot from a helicopter revealed train carriages overturned after the crash . Some 28 people were injured according to officials . The force of the collision had forced one of the carriages on to the highway in Southern California , just northwest of LA . The charred remains of a tractor-trailer which ended upon train tracks in Southern California on Tuesday . Some commuters from the derailed train were treated at the scene in California following the early hours collision with a tractor-trailer . Footage from a news helicopter showed firefighters treating numerous people at the scene in California . The collision happened around 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles , California in the city of Oxnard . The crash was reported at 5.44 am on Tuesday , according to officials . Some 51 people were traveling on board the train to LA at the time . According to the LA Times , three of the four train carriages had a ` crash energy management ' . Metrolink 's website explains that since 2010 , 117 new cars used by the rail company have had the latest safety technology which included redesigned seats , work tables and ` energy absorbing ' zones at the ends of cars . One overturned train carriage was lying half on the tracks and half on the highway running parallel to the train line . Some passengers were treated in triage areas set up at the scene while others were taken by ambulance to local hospitals . Firefighters and emergency responders were seen treating numerous people at the scene , ABC7 reported . Metrolink 's website says the train was on a run from Ventura County to Los Angeles . Metrolink tweeted : ` VC Line 102 to Los Angeles is stopped between Oxnard & Camarillo due to striking a vehicle on the tracks . ' The company canceled trains on the line on Tuesday and encouraged commuters to seek alternative transport . The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a ` go-team ' on Tuesday to the scene of the accident . The scene is in Oxnard , about 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles . Prior to Tuesday 's collision of a Metrolink train with a tractor-trailer in Ventura County , the Southern California rail company has had several major accidents . Tuesday 's accident left around 30 people injured but no fatalities , according to fire chiefs . In 2002 , two people were killed and 22 other passengers seriously injured when a BNSF freight train hit a Metrolink train in Placentia , California , head-on . Three years later , a crash in Glendale , California -LRB- pictured right -RRB- , killed 11 people and left more than 100 injured with 40 passengers left in a serious condition . A Metrolink passenger train hit a vehicle on the tracks , jackknifed and smashed into a freight locomotive and a Metrolink train traveling the opposite way . The driver of the vehicle left on the tracks in 2005 was charged with 11 counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole in June 2008 . In 2008 , 26 people were killed and 135 injured when a train collided with a Union Pacific freight train and toppled carriages in the Chatsworth neighborhood of LA. . The driver of the tractor-trailer which was on the tracks reportedly ran off but was caught , authorities said . Firefighters attend to injured passengers at the scene of a Metrolink accident on Tuesday morning . Firefighters raced to the scene shortly before 6am on Tuesday after a commuter train hit a tractor-trailer . Fire crews fought the blaze at the intersection of train tracks and a highway with water and foam . Fire trucks raced to the scene in what was being described by fire officials as a multi-casualty incident . | Four cars of a Metrolink commuter train overturned after slamming into a truck on tracks in Ventura County northwest of Los Angeles . Truck driver , 54 , from Yuma , Arizona , was not in cab of truck and later found wandering away from the scene . The crash was reported at 5.44 am on Tuesday and left 28 injured . The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a ` go-team ' to the site on Tuesday . | [[0, 139], [180, 258], [274, 425], [747, 769], [775, 831], [1019, 1155], [1171, 1277], [1220, 1277], [2319, 2430], [2462, 2562], [2610, 2637], [2643, 2711], [2712, 2794], [2750, 2794], [2996, 3013], [3020, 3079], [3080, 3219], [3325, 3388], [4261, 4320], [4736, 4900], [5338, 5393], [5704, 5711], [5760, 5815], [6099, 6139], [2011, 2094], [5818, 5851], [5876, 5894], [274, 425], [963, 985], [988, 992], [2795, 2847], [2795, 2809], [2823, 2847], [3426, 3470], [4901, 4950], [5931, 6030], [4560, 4668]] |
With a front measuring just 47 inches wide , ` the Wedge ' has certainly earned its name and place in the record books . The unique house in Millport in the Isle of Cumbrae in Scotland has been dubbed the narrowest in the world for its slim frontage . It has made the Guinness Book of Records and has just gone on the market for # 85,000 . And despite its narrow frontage and shape , current owner Peter McBride insists there is enough room - especially as the house gets wider as you go through to the back . The Wedge -LRB- front door pictured centre -RRB- has the narrowest frontage of any house in the world and has just gone on the market for # 85,000 . It is named in the Guinness Book of Records because of its slim frontage . Mr McBride bought the house in 2001 with his late wife Judy after the couple were attracted to the property 's distinctive shape , likened to a wedge of cheese . ' I heard all about the house when it last went up for sale back in 2000 and was being talked about on the radio , ' the retired businessman told MailOnline . ` After we heard about it my wife and I came to have a look and we bought it straight away . ' The property has been named the Wedge because it gets wider as you go through the house towards the back and is shaped like a wedge of cheese . It has one bedroom and bathroom as well as a lounge , kitchen area and inner hall . Mr McBride said he has decided to sell the property following the death of his wife five years ago . June -LRB- left -RRB- and George Allison -LRB- right -RRB- sold the house in 2001 , and got it into the Guinness Book of Records . The Allisons show how the interior of the house has earned its nickname ` The Wedge ' for its tapering shape . The Wedge , pictured in 2000 with former owners the Allisons , gets wider towards the back of the house . He added : ' I think it is just time for me to move away now . ` The sea is just 30 yards away , so you get beautiful sea views . ' Mr McBride said he has not been forced to buy special furniture for the Wedge , but has equipped the house with narrower chairs . At its widest point towards the rear the house measures 22ft long by 11ft wide . In an advert for the property the description reads : ` Uninterrupted sea views , would be of interest to a wide spectrum of purchasers early viewing highly recommended . ' Mr McBride bought the property from George and June Allison in 2001 . The house was put on the market for # 27,000 but Mr McBride declined to say how much he paid for it . Current photos of the Wedge show there is enough space for a double bed and storage in the bedroom . Mr McBride said the house gets larger as you go to the back because of its wedge shape , giving enough room . The retired businessman praised the sea views from the property while estate agents have advised viewings . When the Allisons bought the property in the 1980s they had no idea that it could make the record books . It was only drawn to their attention when a friend noticed that another house in the south of England had claimed to be the narrowest in the world . The couple got The Wedge measured and it earned its place in the Guinness Book of Records for the world 's narrowest frontage of a house . The house may hold the place at the moment , but is closely followed by other properties across the globe contending for the ` narrowest ' title . Squeezed into a tower block in Warsaw , Poland , houses measure just under 60 inches wide and go back almost 40ft into the block . And in Brighton Iain and Rachel Boyle rent out a house which measures six foot wide and is in the Hollingdean area of the city . They bought the property for # 8,000 more than 15 years ago . | The Wedge in Millport in Isle of Cumbrae has narrowest frontage in world . It measures just 47 inches wide and was nicknamed for its unique shape . Property has one bedroom and gets wider as you go through to the back . Peter McBride lives in the house in Scotland and said there is enough room . House boasts sea views and has place in Guinness Book of Records . It has been put on the market for offers of more than # 85,000 . | [[121, 251], [3127, 3227], [800, 862], [1610, 1720], [1632, 1693], [1696, 1720], [457, 509], [1150, 1293], [1196, 1254], [1721, 1730], [1784, 1826], [384, 466], [47, 56], [59, 120], [1479, 1483], [1567, 1609], [1927, 1956], [2726, 2833], [252, 254], [297, 339], [510, 536], [616, 658]] |
Indonesia 's vice president says they will reimburse Australia 's $ 1 billion in tsunami relief aid if it 's ` deemed not humanitarian ' after Tony Abbott 's tough talk on clemency for the Bali Nine was taken as a threat . Vice President Jusuf Kalla said Australia was one of 56 countries to send aid to Indonesia when the Boxing Day tsunami hit in 2004 , but the government was ready to pay back the money if that 's what the country wanted , the Jakarta Post reports . ` If the aid is deemed not humanitarian in nature , we will pay it back , ' he said . Scroll down for video . Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the government was ready to pay back the $ 1 billion in aid for the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004 if that 's what the Australia wanted . Mr Abbott has been widely criticised for reminding Indonesia about the $ 1 billion that Australia provided as he urged mercy for death row drug smugglers Andrew Chan -LRB- back -RRB- and Myuran Sukumaran -LRB- front -RRB- . Mr Abbott has been widely criticised for reminding Indonesia about the $ 1 billion that Australia provided as he urged mercy for death row drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran . The comments sparked a sharp rebuke from the Indonesian government , with the country 's foreign affairs ministry spokesman , Arrmanatha Nasir , hitting back by saying ` no one responds well to threats ' . Indonesians also started a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #CoinForAustralia to gather coins to return to Mr Abbott after he suggested the country should ` reciprocate in this way at this time ' . Mr Kalla said the coin collection campaign was an expression of people 's emotional response to Mr Abbott 's statements . The Prime Minister later clarified his remarks saying he was simply reminding Indonesia about the ` strength and depth ' of the friendship between both countries . Indonesians started a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #CoinForAustralia to gather coins to return to Mr Abbott in response to his comments last week . Mr Kalla said the coin collection campaign was an expression of people 's emotional response to Mr Abbott 's statements . Furious Twitter users took to the social media site to display their donation to the refund campaign for Mr Abbott , claiming Indonesia does not need Australia 's help and should not be indebted to the country . Foreign Minister Julie Bishop , who has been leading a carefully crafted campaign to spare the Bali Nine ringleader 's lives , admitted on Tuesday Mr Abbott 's comments were seen as unhelpful in Indonesia . ' I spoke to the vice president to make it quite clear that the PM did not intend to link it in an unhelpful way , ' she told the ABC on Tuesday . ` We are there when Indonesia needed us . Vice President Kalla accepted that that 's the way the words should be taken . ' In the latest development , lawyers for the two men are launching a last ditch review of the presidential rejection of their clemency pleas . Mr Abbott , pictured with Indonesian President Joko Widodo , later clarified saying he was simply reminding Indonesia about the ` strength and depth ' of the friendship between both countries . Sukumaran -LRB- left -RRB- and Chan -LRB- right -RRB- were due to be transferred this week from Bali to a high-security prison on Kambangan island ahead of their execution . Foreign Minister Julie Bishop , who has been leading a carefully crafted campaign to spare the Bali Nine ringleader 's lives , admitted on Tuesday Mr Abbott 's comments were seen as unhelpful in Indonesia . Ms Bishop said she did n't want to say anything publicly which could affect the outcome of that appeal . In the meantime the government continues to make appeals at every level of Indonesia 's government , she said . Sukumaran and Chan were due to be transferred this week from Bali to a high-security prison on Kambangan island ahead of execution . | Vice President Jusuf Kalla says Indonesian government is ready to pay back $ 1 billion in aid to Australia . Australia was one of 56 countries to give relief after 2004 tsunami . Tony Abbott reminded Indonesia about aid as he urged mercy for Bali Nine drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran . Comments were widely criticised and seen as ` threat ' by Indonesia . Indonesian 's started Twitter campaign to gather coins to give back aid . Mr Abbott later clarified Australia has always been a friend of Indonesia . | [[0, 99], [360, 406], [581, 707], [223, 288], [276, 341], [103, 134], [137, 198], [845, 962], [1069, 1159], [143, 222], [747, 834], [971, 1053], [1160, 1226], [2338, 2367], [2495, 2544], [3325, 3354], [3482, 3531], [1366, 1377], [1383, 1460], [1851, 1940], [1687, 1850], [2957, 2966], [3018, 3150]] |
Neil Patrick Harris may have been the host , but Sunday night 's Academy Awards ceremony had n't even started before John Travolta stole the show . The actor , who famously fluffed Frozen singer Idina Menzel 's name at last year 's Oscars , grabbed all the social media heat again by sneaking up on actress Scarlett Johansson on the red carpet . Travolta , 61 , approached Scarlett from behind and kissed her on the cheek , while sliding his hand around her waist . The surprising smooch , and Johansson 's amused reaction , was captured with one click of the camera . And the rest , as they say , was history . Scroll down for video . Sneak attack : Actor John Travolta , who fluffed Frozen singer Idina Menzel 's name at last year 's Oscars , grabbed all the social media heat again by sneaking up on Scarlett Johansson on the red carpet . I ai n't sayin ' he 's a gold digger : A flurry of memes have since erupted after Travolta 's kiss , including this one with rapper Kanye West . A flurry of memes have since erupted after Travolta 's kiss . They feature Kanye West , the Statue of Liberty and even Travolta kissing himself , dressed up as his character Edna Turnblad from the movie-musical Hairspray . A number of world leaders , including Kim Jong-Un and Vladimir Putin , also get a chance to receive the Pulp Fiction star 's smooch . But the famously affectionate Joe Biden makes sure to cut in on the Scarlett action himself . Who said three 's a crowd ? Travolta garnered even more attention Sunday night after he was reunited with Menzel , who he mistakenly introduced last year as ` Adele Dazeem ' , and proceeded to continually stroke her face . The actor must have heard about it , because he later said : ` Apparently I played with her chin too much ' . Dancing with myself : Travolta gets to shake it with his character Edna Turnblad from the movie Hairspray . Give me your cheek ! Travolta puckers up and wraps himself around the Statue of Liberty . What do you mean three 's a crowd ? Famously affectionate Vice President Joe Biden gets in on the action . Kim Jong Un-happy : The 61-year-old actress plants a kiss on the North Korean dictator in this meme . Angel on my shoulder : Is it a miniature John Travolta or a giant Vladimir Putin ? V-J Day in Times Square : One of the country 's most iconic kisses , that is ... until Travolta came along . Sorry Uma Thurman , there 's a new girl in town : Travolta replaces his famous Pulp Fiction dancing partner . | Travolta approached Scarlett from behind and kissed her on the cheek . At the same time slid his hand around her waist . The surprise smooch and Johansson 's amused reaction were captured in a picture that has since become a gold mine for memes . Memes also include landmarks , movie characters and political figures , including a jealous Joe Biden . | [[346, 354], [362, 393], [346, 354], [398, 421], [346, 354], [430, 465], [466, 522], [525, 568], [881, 909], [918, 986], [881, 898], [910, 986], [987, 1015], [1024, 1048], [2096, 2177]] |
Inappropriate : Ellen Pao claims she received pornographic materials from her male colleagues while working for Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner , Perkins , Caulfield & Byers . Pictured above outside court on Tuesday . The trial of a high-profile sex bias lawsuit in Silicon Valley began Tuesday with a lawyer for a former junior partner at a venture capital firm claiming his client was denied a promotion because of her gender and then fired when she complained . In his opening statement , lawyer Alan Exelrod said plaintiff Ellen Pao was discriminated against in the male-dominated culture of Kleiner , Perkins , Caulfield & Byers -- the defendant in the case that has sparked debate over the treatment of women in the high-tech and venture capitalist arenas . Exelrod said Pao , 45 , had received erotic poetry and sketches of nude women from a senior partner at the firm , and another male employee interfered with her work when Pao broke off an affair with him . The firm has denied wrongdoing and said Pao was a poor performer who did n't get along with her colleagues . An attorney for the firm was expected to give an opening statement later in the day . Pao is seeking $ 16million in damages . The trial in San Francisco Superior Court could last four weeks . The jury includes five men and seven women . Venture capital firms provide much of the startup funds for tech companies and have a reputation as being even more insular and male-dominated than the companies they help launch . ` This case is a wakeup call , ' said longtime Stanford University law professor Deborah Rhode , who teaches gender equity law . ` The case has sparked a much-needed debate about gender inequality regardless of its merit . ' Women hold 15 to 20 percent of the technology jobs at tech giants Google , Apple , Facebook and Yahoo , according to disclosures by the companies . The firms acknowledge needing to do more to hire female engineers but largely attribute the problem to cultural issues that discourage girls and young women from taking classes needed to pursue careers in computer coding and website design . High-stakes : Pao is currently suing her old firm for $ 16million , claiming she was discriminated based on her gender . Pictured on the right during her days working at Kleiner Perkins with senior partner John Doerr , who she served as chief of staff to . Venture capital firms are even more slanted toward men . A 2011 survey by the National Venture Capital Association found women accounted for 11 percent of investors . A study released last year by Babson College in Massachusetts found that women filled just 6 percent of the partner-level positions at 139 venture capital firms in 2013 , down from 10 percent in 1999 . Kleiner fired Pao in 2012 -- six months after she filed her lawsuit . She had been hired in 2005 to serve as chief of staff for senior partner John Doerr , who helped direct early investments in Google and Amazon and who currently serves on President Barack Obama 's Economic Recovery Advisory Board . Pao left the administrative position with Doerr in 2010 to become a junior partner with full-time investment duties . Pao claims she was excluded from important meetings , email chains and company dinners because women ` kill the buzz ' of such festive occasions , according to the lawsuit . Long fight : Pao 's trial against Kleiner Perkins could last as long as four weeks . Pictured above with her attorney Therese Lawless -LRB- left -RRB- during a lunch break on Tuesday . Bad blood : Pao has also revealed that she had an affair with a married colleague who took vengeance on her career when she later broke up with him . Pictured above outside court on Tuesday . | Ellen Pao , interim CEO of Reddit , is currently suing her old venture capital firm Kleiner , Perkins , Caulfield & Byers for $ 16million . She claims she was discriminated on at the Silicon Valley company based on her gender . On Tuesday , Pao 's lawyer gave opening statements , revealing that male colleagues inappropriately gave her erotic poetry and nude drawings . Kleiner Perkins maintains that they did not wrong Pao , painting her as a disinterested employee who did n't get along with her co-workers . | [[100, 187], [1176, 1215], [2137, 2153], [2160, 2188], [2123, 2134], [2137, 2140], [2144, 2188], [384, 439], [2123, 2134], [2191, 2243], [16, 147], [230, 320], [477, 501], [504, 645], [776, 783], [800, 887], [1021, 1089]] |
Paris is on alert for a new terror attack after ` at least ' five drones were spotted illegally flying around city landmarks , including the Eiffel Tower , Bastille Square and the U.S. embassy building . Unmanned aircraft were also spotted flying overnight near the French capital 's Place de la Concorde and the Invalides military museum , where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried . French security sources where unable to catch the operators of the drones , which are typically fitted with video recording equipment and can be used for surveillance of a terror target to assess security levels and any spikes in pedestrian football ahead of a planned attack . Fear : Drones were spotted flying near the Invalides military museum , where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried . Alert : Paris is on alert for a new terror attack after ` at least ' five drones were spotted illegally flying around city landmarks , including the Eiffel Tower -LRB- right -RRB- and the U.S. embassy building -LRB- left -RRB- . New threat : French law bans small , civilian drones from areas such as nuclear facilities , which are protected by a no-fly zone that spans a 1.6-mile radius and a height of 1,000 metres . The above drone crashed on the grass near the White House in the United States last month . The first drone sighting was near the US embassy in the French capital at around midnight . Between then and 6am the Eiffel Tower , Bastille Square , the Place de la Concorde and the Invalides military museum ` were also flown over ' , a security source said . ` It could be a coordinated action but we do n't know for now , ' the source , who asked not to be identified , added . ` We did everything to try and catch the operators but they were not found , ' another source close to the investigation said . France has experienced a series of mysterious drone appearances in the last few months . On January 20 , a pilotless aircraft briefly went over the presidential palace in Paris , while around 20 drones were earlier seen flying above nuclear power plants . However until Tuesday ` there have never been so many drones appearing in one night , ' the security source said . Location : At some point between midnight and 6am , drone aircraft were spotted flying near Bastille Square . Tourist hotspot : The first drone sighting in the French capital was around midnight . Shortly after an unmanned aircraft was seen flying near the Place de la Concorde . The emergence of drones comes amid warnings by terrorist groups that they will attack the city , following January shootings which left a total of 20 dead , including three terrorists . ` They could be seen throughout the night , but nobody knows who were operating them , ' said a police source in the capital . A specialist police aviation unit tried to establish who was at the controls , but there have been no arrests . There have been other mysterious drone flights across Paris , but this is the first time that such a concentrated number have been seen above so many potentially vulnerable targets . The US embassy has been threatened by numerous groups in the past , from Al-Qaeda to Algeria 's Armed Islamic Group . French law bans small , civilian drones from areas such as nuclear facilities , which are protected by a no-fly zone that spans a 1.6-mile radius and a height of 1,000 metres . Despite a heightened security alert over the risk of Islamist attacks in France , police so far have been unable to identify who is behind the drone activity . Experts say that the small unmanned craft would not pose a threat if crashed into a hardened nuclear facility . Fightback : Earlier this month France unveiled its latest weapon against the growing menace of rogue drones buzzing through their nation 's skies : another drone , with a net . Caught : In a demonstration in La Queue-en-Brie , east of Paris , the mesh-wielding flying machine was shown snaring a DJI Phantom 2 drone - the same brand as one which crashed onto the White House lawn last month . France has barred six ` would-be jihadists ' from leaving the country after discovering their plans to travel to Syria and join the Islamic State terror group . It the first such travel ban under a new law aimed at preventing French Islamic radicals travelling to the vast swathes of Syria and Iraq currently under the control of Sunni extremists . French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve says some 40 other French citizens will face travel bans in the coming weeks . He did not reveal the identity of the six people whose passports have already been confiscated . The bans are the first since a sweeping anti-terrorism law passed in France last year . The government is especially worried since attacks in Paris last month killed 20 people , including three gunmen claiming ties to Islamic extremists in Syria and Yemen . An Interior Ministry official says the passports and ID cards of the six have been declared invalid for six months - a measure that can be extended for up to two years . The news comes just days after Cazeneuve said he asked Google , Facebook and Twitter to work directly with French officials during investigations and to immediately remove terrorist propaganda when authorities alert them to it . Earlier this month France unveiled its latest weapon against the growing menace of rogue drones buzzing through their nation 's skies : another drone , with a net . In a demonstration flight in La Queue-en-Brie , east of Paris , the mesh-wielding flying machine was shown snaring a DJI Phantom 2 drone - the same brand as one which crashed onto the White House lawn last month . The U.S. Secret Service was sent scrambling by the unexpected intrusion , but France has already faced dozens of drone overflights over sensitive sites . Mystery drones have buzzed nuclear plants , military installations and even the presidential palace in recent months , as fears run high of terror attacks linked to the Islamic State terror group . Concerned at the new technology , officials have asked scientists and companies to develop ways to monitor and detect intruding drones and their remote-control pilots ; analyse and track their flight paths ; and ultimately neutralise the drones , either temporarily or permanently , with the least collateral damage possible . Last October it emerged that holidaymakers who are planning to fly a camera-equipped drone in Paris ' tourist zones risk spending time in jail and being slapped with a hefty fine . An Israeli tourist found out the hard way this week when he was arrested in front of Notre Dame Cathedral while flying a drone above some of Paris ' top attractions . | Unmanned aircraft were seen flying over tourist hotspots in French capital . Appeared in ` at least ' five locations in the city between midnight and 6am . Security officials were unable to catch the operators of the drone aircraft . Civilian drones are thought a serious security risk and are banned in Paris . They are used to access security levels of a target before a terror attack . | [[48, 192], [204, 338], [820, 896], [825, 844], [858, 943], [1873, 1886], [1889, 1960], [2166, 2173], [2207, 2264], [2265, 2280], [2283, 2351], [2352, 2434], [2352, 2386], [2396, 2434], [5685, 5691], [5696, 5760], [6519, 6633], [6467, 6469], [6579, 6633], [48, 192], [820, 896], [1275, 1366], [1367, 1404], [1407, 1508], [2265, 2280], [2283, 2351], [408, 451], [3420, 3497], [1006, 1083], [3161, 3238]] |
A bank manager said he and his mother were strapped to supposed explosives after two masked suspects broke into their home on Monday morning . The man said he was then forced to drive the suspects to the Achieve Financial Credit Union in New Britain , Connecticut , which , sources say , the suspects planned to rob . It was n't until officers responded to the home invasion call in Bristol and found a woman tied to her bed , with an explosive placed underneath , that they realized the two incidents were connected . Police said they have not yet determined if the bank manager is a victim or a suspect . The manager of Achieve Financial Credit Union -LRB- pictured -RRB- and his mother were strapped to supposed explosive devices after two masked suspects broke into their Bristol , Connecticut home Monday morning . Police found the man sitting outside the bank alone in a car with a device still strapped to his body . Officers cleared the area and brought in the FBI , bomb squad and SWAT team . The mother was found at the home -LRB- pictured -RRB- tied to her bed , with a device underneath . Although police have not identified the man , public records show the house belongs to credit union CFO Matthew Yussman . Sources say the suspects told Yussman he would have to 'em pty the vault ' , but that he was able to call a co-worker who notified police . When police arrived at the scene they found the man sitting alone in a car outside the Credit Union , the explosives still tied to his body . The man said the intruders threatened to kill both him and his mother if he did not take cash out of the credit union , according to the Hartford Courant . The suspects had disappeared by the time police arrived . Although he has not yet been identified by police , public records show the home in Bristol belongs to credit union CFO Matthew Yussman , according to WFSB . Neighbors told say he lives at the house with his mother . The man was kept in the vehicle while officers ` cleared the area of residents and shut down nearby roadways , ' New Britain Police Chief James Wardwell said during a press conference . Public works trucks were brought in as ` shields ' because , according to Wardwell , they would be large enough to withstand a blast or ` keep a vehicle from fleeing ' . After the device was removed from the man 's body and turned over to the FBI , he was handcuffed and taken to the hospital for evaluation . Both devices were determined ` not to be real ' , according to NBC Connecticut . Police said they are searching for multiple suspects and neither the man nor his mother were injured . The bank manager is being interviewed and is still under investigation , according to Wardwell . ` We 're considering all possibilities , whether or not he was coerced , doing something against his will , or a suspect , ' he said . New Britain Police Chief James Wardwell said the man was kept in the vehicle -LRB- pictured -RRB- while officers ` cleared the area of residents and shut down nearby roadways ' Wardwell said the man was then handcuffed and taken to the hospital -LRB- pictured -RRB- while the device was handed over to the FBI . Both devices have since been determined to be fakes . The bank was surrounded for hours by the FBI , bomb squad and SWAT team and nearby schools were placed on a soft lockdown . Several city blocks were also closed , sending nearby areas into gridlock . By mid-afternoon Wardwell declared the threat to be over . New Britain mayor Erin Stewart likewise declared on Twitter that the situation was cleared . She wrote that it was ` not fully resolved ' but that there were no injuries and the public was not in danger ` at this point ' . Wardwell said the manager of the bank -LRB- pictured -RRB- is still being investigated . ` We 're considering all possibilities , whether or not he was coerced , doing something against his will , or a suspect , ' he said . | Man was forced to drive the suspects to Achieve Financial Credit Union in New Britain , Connecticut , which they planned to rob , according to sources . His mother was tied to a bed , with another device planted underneath it . Police found him sitting outside bank alone in a car , still wearing the device . Both devices have been determined to be fakes and police said they are still investigating if the man is a suspect or a victim . Public records show house belonged to credit union CFO Matthew Yussman . | [[143, 249], [274, 285], [288, 317], [0, 132], [318, 320], [335, 343], [395, 462], [607, 658], [678, 758], [678, 688], [703, 783], [1026, 1071], [820, 894], [886, 923], [1363, 1462], [1363, 1395], [1465, 1504], [519, 606], [531, 535], [545, 606], [2432, 2477], [3160, 3213], [3160, 3172], [3200, 3213], [1147, 1222], [1791, 1854]] |
A shooting rampage by a Fort Hood soldier has left four people dead and one wounded in the nearby town of Killeen . Police believe Atase Griffa shot dead his neighbors after his wife Dawn , 28 , fled to their house on Sunday . He then dragged Dawn back to his own home and killed her and himself , authorities say . Giffa , who had a recent history of domestic quarrels with his wife Dawn , 28 , went to a neighbor 's home , opened fire , then forced her to return home with him , police spokeswoman Carroll Smith said . ` He shot a couple of people , took her , forced her back to the residence , then shot her and shot himself , ' Smith said . Scroll down for video . Horrific : Atase Giffa , -LRB- right -RRB- who had a recent history of domestic quarrels with his wife Dawn , 28 , -LRB- left -RRB- went to a neighbor 's home , opened fire , then forced her to return home with him before killing her and himself . Sad : Police suspect that Dawn Giffa , 28 , was fatally shot by her husband , Fort Hood soldier Atase Giffa , on Sunday . Police located Lydia Farina , 31 , and Larry Guzman , 40 , slain at Farina 's home . A third victim , a 41-year-old woman , in that home was injured and remained in serious condition Tuesday . Her name was not released . Police discovered the bodies of Giffa , 30 , and his wife at their own home nearby . Officers recently had been at the Giffa house for a domestic disturbance , according to Smith . She had no immediate details on the prior call . Fort Hood officials issued a statement Tuesday saying Atase Giffa was from Clarkston , Georgia , and enlisted in 2009 as an automated logistics specialist . He and Dawn Giffa , who was from Kingston , Ontario , met while he was stationed at Fort Drum , New York , according to the Watertown , New York , Daily Times . History of disturbances : Officers recently had been at the Giffa house for a domestic disturbance . She had no immediate details on the prior call . Fort Hood officials issued a statement Tuesday saying Atase Giffa was from Clarkston , Georgia , and enlisted in 2009 as an automated logistics specialist . Police responded to a 911 call about a disturbance just before 10.30 pm on Sunday night and found Guzman , Farina and the third victim at a home . A witness informed officers the Giffas had been at the house and then went to their home two doors down . The Killeen Police Department said : ` Shortly thereafter shots were heard coming from inside that residence . ` The Tactical Response Unit -LSB- TRU -RSB- was deployed to the scene and several attempts were made to speak with the male however they received no response . ` The TRU Officers made entry into the house at 12:26 am and located the male and female deceased with gunshot wounds . ' The Giffas have a son , Keoni , who is three years old , according to CKWS . They met while Atase Giffa was stationed at Fort Drum near Watertown , New York , and moved to Texas about a year ago . Dawn Giffa , whose maiden name is Larson , is originally from Canada . Her father is traveling to identify her body and get his grandson . During the incident in Killeen , Texas -LRB- above -RRB- , Larry Guzman , 40 , and Lyida Farina , 31 , were also killed . The Giffas have a son , Keoni , who is three years old . He will be going to Canada to live with his grandparents . A GoFundMe page has been created to help the family . A woman who apparently knows the Larson family wrote : ' I just wanted to add that Donnie will be bringing his grandson home to Kingston soon , and Keoni will be very shocked and confused by this big change in his life . ` Anyone who wants to donate items to make his transition easier can drop them off at the Mansion , or our home , and i 'll make sure Donny Larson and his daughter Cierra receive them . ` He is only three years old , so toys , children 's books , furniture for his new room , a snow suit , winter boots and size three/four boys clothing will help him feel welcome and comfortable . ' Fort Hood did not immediately release Atase Giffa 's rank and unit , the Killeen Daily Herald reported . A neighbor who asked not to be identified said : . ` We could hear women crying and screaming , ' ` It was unreal . Horrible . ` It was something I 'll never forget . ' Another neighbor described the situation as ' a complete tragedy ' . The deadly shooting was the second murder-suicide this year in Killeen . | Police in Killeen , Texas remain unsure why Atase Giffa killed his neighbors Sunday before killing his wife Dawn , 28 . Two other victims were Lydia Farina , 31 , and 40-year-old Larry Guzman while a still unidentified woman remains in critical condition . The Giffas had a son , three , who will go to Canada to live with grandparents . | [[116, 182], [316, 321], [396, 422], [924, 993], [1079, 1091], [1099, 1124], [1125, 1139], [1193, 1232], [3099, 3194], [3202, 3220], [2763, 2817], [3221, 3242], [3237, 3242], [3257, 3277], [3278, 3336], [3298, 3336], [3800, 3826]] |
A piece of graffiti featuring the names of three young sisters who may have fallen victim to the 1515 plague has been discovered on the wall of a medieval church . The names of Cateryn , Jane and Amee Maddyngley were found scrawled near the front door of All Saint 's and St Andrew 's Church in Kingston , near Cambridge , by amateur archaeologists . The writing , which features their names and date , shows they left their mark on the village church in 1515 -- as the country was hit by an outbreak of the bubonic plague . The medieval graffiti , showing the names of Cateryn , Jane and Amee Maddyngley -LRB- pictured -RRB- , was discovered on a wall of All Saint 's and St Andrew 's Church in Kingston , near Cambridge , by by amateur archaeologists . The markings of Cateryn , Jane and Amee Maddyngley -LRB- pictured with the markings coloured in -RRB- stretch back to 1515 and have been discovered for the first time by Norfolk and Suffolk Medieval Graffiti Survey volunteers . It was found hidden under lime wash which was removed by Norfolk and Suffolk Medieval Graffiti Survey volunteers . Archaeologist Matt Champion said the three girls were almost certainly children because their names have not been listed as adults in any parish records . Other records reveal that members of their family were tenant farmers who had lived in Kingston since at least 1279 . Centuries ago it was common for individuals to scrawl their names in churches as they were unable to afford memorials . Mr Champion , who is working with a team which studies medieval graffiti , said their project had shown that church plague graffiti was far more common than previously thought . He said the elite and wealthy were remembered with monuments while graffiti remembered the ` common voice ' . He said : ` The most heart-breaking inscriptions are those that refer to long-dead children . ` This one is particularly emotive because it 's the names of three girls who all died in the same year . ` These people often could n't afford to have themselves memorialised and in some cases this graffiti could have been the last mark of their life and that is heart-breaking . ' Although no records show how the girls died , it is believed they fell victim to the Black Death . One of the inscriptions discovered by Norfolk and Suffolk Medieval Graffiti Survey volunteers at the Cambridge church was a prayer , asking for God to have mercy upon the soul of an individual called ` Watton ' Another inscription was that of a ritual protection marks -- also known as witch marks - which wards off evil . During their time spent uncovering the works in the church , the team also found a number of other inscriptions including ritual protection marks -- also known as witch marks - which are said to ward of evil spirits . Other inscriptions show figures of armed men and prayers to those who had fallen ill from the plague . The plea ` God save us ' was also found scrawled across the church in Steeple Bumstead , Cambridgeshire , and is believed to be dated back to 1348 . The Reverend Dr Alexandra Clarke , of All Saint 's and St Andrew 's Church , said the discovery of the graffiti was pleasing . She said : ` None of us knew about the graffiti so it has added something to our local knowledge and it 's very exciting . ` The church is full of absolutely fascinating historical details . It has stunning 14th Century wall painting and there is a lot of graffiti chiselled in the tower - which was used by a school for years . ' Churchwarden Peter Reynolds added that the new discovery was ' a bit mysterious ' for the church , which is open every day to visitors . He said : ` This is a new discovery . The group that came are experts who used cameras and equipment to find the graffiti . A lot of it is n't visible to the naked eye . ' The project to unearth medieval graffiti was set up in 2010 and is the first attempt to survey pre-Reformation graffiti in churches since the late 1960s . Pictured : An example of graffiti from Ashwell church , Hertfordshire . Peter Reynolds , Churchwarden of All Saints and St Andrew 's Church , and the Reverend Dr Alexandra Clarke -LRB- together above -RRB- said the discovery was ` exciting ' and ` adds something to the village 's local knowledge ' The 1515 outbreak of the bubonic plague started in London and quickly spread across south east England . At the time , Cambridge University suspended its classes and large gatherings of people were banned from attending public events . Children were particularly hard-hit and their bodies were usually hastily buried in unmarked graves . The graffiti project was set up in 2010 and is the first attempt to survey pre-Reformation graffiti in churches since the late 1960s . Volunteers use digital cameras and powerful lamps to reveal previously hidden or faded markings . At least 60 per cent of the 650 churches surveyed in Norfolk , Suffolk and north Essex have been found to contain ` significant amounts ' of graffiti and volunteers have recorded up to 500 pieces in many of them . The project has confirmed that most of the medieval graffiti was created during times of pestilence such as the Black Death of 1349 and subsequent outbreaks of plagues . The bubonic plague is one of the most devastating diseases in history , having killed millions of people during the ` Black Death ' in the 14th Century . It resulted in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people in Europe between 1346 and 1353 and claimed thousands of other victims during the dozens of additional outbreaks later down the line . Drawings and paintings from the Black Death , which wiped out about a third of the European population , depict town criers shouting ` bring out your dead ' while dragging trailers piled with infected corpses through the streets . The plague is caused by a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis , which uses the flea as a host and is usually transmitted to humans via rats . It causes grotesque symptoms such as gangrene and the appearance of large swellings on the groin , armpits or neck , known as ` buboes ' . The bubonic plague kills up to two thirds of sufferers within just four days if it is not treated . However , if antibiotics are administered within 24 hours of infection , patients are highly likely to survive . After the Black Death arrived in 1347 , the plague became a common phenomenon in Europe , with outbreaks recurring regularly until the 18th Century . Bubonic plague has now almost completely vanished from the western world , with 90 per cent of all cases now found in Africa . However , there have been a few non-fatal cases in the U.S. in recent years , while in August 2013 a 15-year-old boy died in Kyrgyzstan after eating a groundhog infected with the disease . Three months later , an outbreak in a Madagascan killed at least 20 people in a week . A year before 60 people died as a result of the infection , more than in any other country in the world . Outbreaks in China have been rare in recent years , and most have happened in remote rural areas of the west . China 's state broadcaster said there were 12 diagnosed cases and three deaths in the province of Qinghai in 2009 , and one in Sichuan in 2012 . In the U.S. between five and 15 people die every year as a result , mostly in western states . | Medieval graffiti unearthed on church wall reveals names of three sisters . Names were scrawled in 1515 as country was hit by plague outbreak . Writing has now been discovered in Cambridge by amateur historians . Other inscriptions discovered include a ` witch mark ' and prayers for the ill . | [[11, 62], [0, 19], [97, 163], [164, 320], [351, 400], [403, 459], [525, 546], [549, 610], [525, 604], [620, 721], [755, 811], [873, 982], [1873, 1946], [40, 108], [351, 400], [403, 459], [463, 524], [826, 877], [4269, 4326], [4269, 4308], [4331, 4373], [2255, 2278], [2373, 2385], [2466, 2523], [2578, 2636], [2639, 2647], [2653, 2723], [2700, 2723], [2732, 2752], [2899, 2921], [2924, 2985]] |
After a string of failed romances , Stefani Germanotta -- aka Lady Gaga - is finally engaged to the man of her dreams - Chicago Fire star Taylor Kinney . What does he have that her other guys did n't ? Well , take a look for yourself in these Daily Mail Online exclusive modeling photos taken in 2011 . ` When she met Taylor on the set of her 2011 music video , You and I , he was cast as the mad scientist opposite her bizarre mermaid character and by the end of the six minute video -- the two were shown getting married . Who would have imagined that scene might actually play out in real life ? ' says a friend of the couple . ` Stefani never thought she 'd find lasting love . But she never stopped hoping it would happen . ' Strike a pose : Taylor Kinney did this modeling session while he was co-staring in The Vampire Diaries . He won his role as Lieutenant Kelly Severide in Chicago fire the following year . When Gaga met Taylor on the set of her 2011 music video , You and I , he was cast as the mad scientist opposite her bizarre mermaid character and by the end of the six minute video -- the two were shown getting married . Eyes wide shut : Taylor plants a smooch on his lady love . The couple got engaged on Valentine 's Day . Alexandre Vauthier Custom Ensemble . Shop the current collection at Luisa Via Roma . Visit site . We 've seen the transformation right before our very eyes . Somewhere under the bizarre outfits , strange makeup and wild wigs there was a style star waiting to emerge and now she has arrived . It looks like finding love and settling down with her hunky hubby-to-be has affected Lady Gaga 's taste in fashion and we like what we see . Back in September the Born This Way singer wore a custom Alexandre Vauthier ensemble to an event for Harper 's Bazaar . Draped in a black and white blazer with a plunging neckline and sheer skirt , the neutral palette was pretty tame . But leave it to the newly engaged crooner to spice things up with a thigh-high side slit and fishnet stockings . Sometimes old habits die hard . Gaga 's couture creation is not available to the masses , but you can score other items from the brand at Luisa Via Roma . Want this designer look on a high street budget ? Shop our edit of monochrome blazers below starting at just $ 60 . Alice + Olivia Oliver Draped-Lapel Blazer at Saks Fifth Avenue . Visit site . DKNY Two-tone Crepe Blazer at The Outnet . Visit site . Missguided Monochrome Cropped Blazer . Visit site . Nell Two-Tone Buttoned ` Kara ' Blazer at Bluefly . Visit site . Gaga , 28 , was instantly attracted to 33-year-old Kinney 's dark good looks and blue eyes when they met on location in Nebraska . But she was surprised when he planted an unscripted kiss on her lips during the shoot . ` There was a steamy scene between them , and Taylor just reached over and kissed her , ' says the friend . ` When the director yelled , ` cut , ' she asked him why he 'd kissed her , since it was n't part of the script , and he just gave her this sexy smile and walked off . She knew then and there they were going to hook up . ` These two are really in love . And they 've found a way to make their relationship work despite the fact he 's often stuck in Chicago shooting ` Fire , ' and she 's out on the road . ` They understand they are on two separate journeys and they allow each other the space to do what they have to do . That way , when they come back together , there are always fireworks . ' According to the friend , the singer was totally taken by Taylor , who plays Lt. Kelly Severide on Chicago Fire . ` Taylor and Gaga are not only lovers , they are best friends , ' says the pal . ` He is totally supportive of her career , her bizarre way of dressing and her freaky performances , and she loves the fact he 's an adventurer who likes to surf , paddleboard , hike in the mountains , sky dive and ride fast motorcycles . She also appreciates his great sense of humor and she loves how he 's super sexy , while still being so sensitive that he cries when she sings love songs . ' Sensitive : Taylor posed for these sexy snaps and a friend tells Daily Mail Online that it 's not only his sex apeal but his sentimental heart that won Gaga over . Taylor further endeared himself to his lady love in early 2013 when she broke her right hip and suffered a labral tear that required surgery . ` During the six months it took Stefani to recover , he was constantly by her side , pushing her around in the wheel chair and waiting on her hand and foot , ' says another source . ` And he encouraged her to heal herself through exercise , yoga and meditation . She also loves the fact he fell in love with Stefani , not her famous Gaga persona . ' The source says Gaga 's parents , Joe and Cindy Germanotta , also adore Taylor . And they are thrilled over their daughter 's engagement . ` Last fall , after three years of togetherness , Joe asked Taylor what his intentions towards his daughter were and the following weekend , Taylor booked a table at her parent 's New York restaurant , Joanne Trattoria , and showed them he meant business . ' In front of her folks , and a few close friends , Taylor announced it was his intention to marry Stefani , and that he wanted her parents to know he was serious . Then , on Valentine 's Day he returned to the restaurant to purpose . Life follows art : Lady Gaga portrayed a bride all in white while Kinney wears a white tuxedo forYou and I . It was on the set of the first video in July 2011 that Gaga first met the hunky actor . Bethrothed : Gaga proudly showed off her stunning heart-shaped diamond engagement ring on Monday after accepting her boyfriend Taylor Kinney 's marriage proposal on Valentine 's Day . Like aprayer : Gaga attended a service at the Grandview United Methodist Church in his hometown in Pennsylvania with Taylor in December . ` Taylor got down on one knee in front of Mr. and Mrs. Germanotta to ask for their daughter 's hand in marriage , ' says the source . ` Joe and Cindy were thrilled to be part of the proposal and Joe even brought out a few bottles of Dom Perignon Champagne to toast the occasion . ' And a source says the happy couple ca n't wait to marry and have kids . ` Taylor and Stefani are planning to marry later this year , ' says the source . ` And they want to have children right away . They would love to have at least three kids , because they both come from large families . ' Super rich Stefani -- who according to Forbes Magazine earned $ 33 million over the past eight months -- is obviously a real catch for her actor beau . ` But take one look at Taylor and you know right away that Gaga did n't do too badly either when it comes to finding love , ' the source added . | Lady Gaga , aka Stefani Germanotta , got engaged to the hunky Chicago Fire actor on Valentine 's day . She 's had a string of failed romances but the sparks flew between the twosome on the set of her 2011 music video You and I . She was surprised when he planted an unscripted kiss on her lips during the shoot . That same year , Taylor posed for these sexy photos . Gaga loves how he 's super sexy , while still being so sensitive that he cries when she sings love songs . | [[0, 33], [36, 71], [74, 84], [93, 153], [0, 33], [36, 54], [77, 137], [1198, 1242], [0, 33], [36, 71], [74, 84], [93, 153], [0, 33], [36, 54], [77, 137], [310, 365], [305, 359], [372, 406], [918, 1020], [2766, 2805], [2682, 2765], [2812, 2818], [2841, 2851], [2931, 2947], [2950, 2985], [4074, 4107], [3954, 3984], [3993, 4059]] |
The capital has seen several days of crazy clothing both on and off the catwalks as some of the world 's best designers showcase their wares during London Fashion Week . But fittingly , one of the most bizarre shows of the week came right at the end of the style event - with a show by Marko Mitanovski . The Serbian designer hosted one of the most jaw-dropping collections at the Freemasons ' Hall earlier today . Scroll down for video . Marko Mitanovski showcased a bizarre collection at London Fashion Week earlier today , sending the models down the catwalk painted from head-to-toe in black paint . Models painted from head to toe in black paint were sent down the catwalk in leather and latex designs that were inspired by nature and architecture . The ghoulish-looking models had most of their features completely hidden by the shiny oils , which were then accessorised with black facial jewels . In contrast , the final model sent down the catwalk was painted in a bright white . Marko told Modaterra.com that his inspiration for the theme of the show came from the outside world , saying : ' I was inspired by nature , birds , skeletons and architecture . ' I worked with sculptures for this collection and jewelry design . It was how I created the pieces with latex and leather . ' Marko Mitanovski covered models in black paint and black facial jewels . At the end of the show , he set down a single model covered from head to toe in white paint . The designs were inspired by birds and architecture . While his collection was based on many different influences , Marko 's choice to paint the models in black came simply down to his tastes in colour . He said : ' I chose to do the whole collection in black because it 's my favourite colour . -LSB- This collection -RSB- is about celebrating life in a weird way , I do not believe it 's dark - It 's about something mystical , not about something that is negative . ' Marko also revealed that the reason behind finishing the show with a model painted in white was simply because it contrasted with the other models . He said : ` The last collection closed the show with someone using only white , so I decided to do the same this season . ' Marko hoped to create a mystical allure using the black body paint . Only a few of the models were free to walk down the catwalk without any body paint . The Serbian designer is known for creating sculptural and theatrical creations . The London-based fashion maven , whose designs have been worn by the likes of Paloma Faith , Skunk Anansie , Katie Melua and Immodesty Blaize , is known for his sculptural and theatrical creations . His biggest celebrity fan though , is Lady Gaga , who even wore the designer 's creations on her Monster Ball world tour . Gaga 's ex-stylist Nicola Formichetti saw his collection at London Fashion Week in 2009 and got in contact to ask if he would help with costumes for a photoshoot they were doing for W magazine , the partnership then grew from there . Marko told lanciatrendvisions.com : ` Nicola Formichetti saw my collection and asked me to make costumes for Lady Gaga 's shoot for Q Magazine . ` Then we did some more costumes for interludes of her Monster Ball Tour , as well as for her Android Telephones campaign and many other projects . ` Lady Gaga 's influence in fashion definitely helped me in getting bigger international exposure , but it 's also thanks to her team . ' The single white model was designed to create a contrast among the women painted in black . A huge team of stylists and make-up artists were on hand to create the bizarre catwalk looks . Adding the jewels and make-up took hours for each model . Many of the models had their features obscured by the dark paint . | Marko Mitanovski showcased a bizarre collection at London Fashion Week earlier today . The Serbian designer sent models down the catwalk covered from head-to-toe in black paint . His clothing designs were made from latex and leather and were inspired by nature and architecture . | [[186, 304], [439, 523], [439, 455], [526, 561], [550, 603], [604, 706], [1292, 1364], [1575, 1619], [2203, 2271], [2225, 2271], [3488, 3516], [604, 706], [689, 706], [712, 754], [1018, 1087], [1018, 1037], [1090, 1096], [1101, 1164], [1099, 1164], [1233, 1289], [1244, 1289], [1459, 1512]] |
Wonga announced today it would make a third of its total workforce redundant after it was forced to cap its interest rates on payday loans . The lender will shed 325 jobs after the Financial Conduct Authority said the interest they could charge for loans would be a maximum 100 per cent of its total cost from January 2 . Previously businesses like Wonga , Quickquid and the Moneyshop would lend small amounts of around # 50 to # 3,000 for short periods of time at rates which could run up to 6,000 per cent a year . A typical Wonga loan used to be # 150 lent over 18 days and a customer would then pay back # 183.49 including interest and charges at an APR of 5,853 per cent . The FCA said a cap was needed to better regulate the industry , but experts have said that the new cap could sink the industry completely . Job cuts : Wonga announced today it would make a third of its total workforce redundant after it was forced to cap its interest rates on payday loans . In a series of New Year clampdowns the FCA decided that payday lenders are also no longer allowed to roll over a loan more than twice and they can make only two unsuccessful attempts to claw money back out of a borrower 's account . And default fees have been capped at # 15 pounds rather than the average # 40 paid now . It came as another watchdog decided that all payday lenders will be ordered to put their deals on comparison websites in a move that could save Britain 's 1.8 million customers at least # 60 a year . Problems : Chairman Andy Haste said Wonga will become less profitable after new regulations so must shed 325 jobs . The Competition and Markets Authority -LRB- CMA -RRB- has said that a lack of price competition between lenders has led to higher costs for borrowers in yet another clampdown on the industry . Wonga said today the job cuts were necessary and hundreds will be told if they are redundant after a 30 day consultation period . The move will save around # 25million over the next two years . Chairman Andy Haste said Wonga will become smaller and less profitable in the near term as it introduces changes to make sure it lends ` fairly and responsibly ' . He said : ` Wonga can no longer sustain its high cost base which must be significantly reduced to reflect our evolving business and market . Regrettably , this means we 've had to take tough but necessary decisions about the size of our workforce ' . It is expected a phased reduction in jobs will mainly affect teams that support the UK business from London , Dublin , Cape Town and Tel Aviv , eventually leaving Wonga with a UK-related workforce of around 325 people . The remaining roles are expected to be based in London and Cape Town , with plans to close the Tel Aviv office by mid-2015 and the Dublin office by mid-2016 . New rules : Payday lenders such as Wonga have been subject to a raft of new regulations over the last year . Last month there was uproar when Wonga escaped prosecution for sending out fake legal letters designed to put pressure on customers who were behind on their loans . The City of London police announced that Britain 's biggest payday lender would not face criminal charges over the scandal , despite admitting it was in the wrong . Last June , the City watchdog announced that Wonga had agreed to pay # 2.6 million in compensation for the letters which it sent to 45,000 struggling borrowers from non-existent law firms . At the time , the firm was blasted by consumer groups and MPs , who demanded to know why the company and its executives were not being fined or prosecuted over the harassment . Subsequently , the City of London police agreed to look into the case , however the force said there was insufficient evidence to take action . Wonga also promised to compensate all the thousands of victims , but large numbers are still to be paid . Meanwhile the Competition and Markets Authority -LRB- CMA -RRB- demanded at least one payday lender comparison following a 20-month investigation into the payday lending market , . They say it is essential so consumers can better understand interest rates , late fees and other charges . The watchdog , which has been talking to price comparison websites about the issue , said it believes that at least one website , and possibly more , will emerge which people can use to compare the cost of a payday loan . If this does not happen , lenders will be obliged to set up a price comparison website which is authorised by regulator the Financial Conduct Authority -LRB- FCA -RRB- . Picture of Britain : Research published after a 20-month investigation found that around a third of payday loans were paid back late or not at all . The CMA 's report , released today , said that while comparison websites uSwitch and MoneySuperMarket ruled themselves out of opening a new sites , others may be willing . Gocompare said it would consider launching a payday loans comparison service on its website , as would Comparethemarket.com and Confused.com . The CMA has estimated that the UK 's 1.8 million payday loan customers could typically be up to # 60 a year better off if it was easier for them to shop around . The FCA also told the CMA that it had had approaches from websites which were interested in operating an authorised payday loan price comparison website . An average of 880,000 households a month took out a payday loan last year , according to research from consumer group Which ? Which ? executive director Richard Lloyd said : ` The payday lending market has been rife with poor practice but today 's proposals , alongside the Financial Conduct Authority 's price cap and tougher supervision , are a step in the right direction to make lenders start to compete on price and treat customers fairly . ` We now want to see the regulators turning their attention to unfair practices and excessive fees in the wider credit market , including unauthorised overdrafts . ' Clampdown : The payday industry has been looked up as part of a 20-month investigation aimed at making their businesses fairer and more transparent . March 2013 : The UK 's biggest payday lenders are threatened with being put out of business after a damning report uncovers evidence of ` widespread irresponsible lending ' . The Office of Fair Trading 's -LRB- OFT -RRB- report is the culmination of a large-scale probe into the sector , including spot-checks on household names such as Wonga . June 2013 : The OFT refers payday lenders to the Competition Commission for a full-scale inquiry , saying it has found ` deep-rooted ' problems . It finds some firms ' business models appear to be based around customers taking out loans which they are forced to roll over because they can not afford them . August 2013 : The OFT says almost half the lenders who were ordered to prove their business practices are up to scratch have thrown in the towel , with 19 out of 50 firms it investigated deciding to call it a day . February 2014 : City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority -LRB- FCA -RRB- publishes a finalised set of rules for when it takes over supervision of the payday lending market in April , along with the rest of consumer credit . FCA chief executive Martin Wheatley says the rules will ` give us strong new powers to tackle any firm found to be overstepping the line ' . March 2014 : Payday lenders face a new inquiry to see how sympathetic they are when customers struggle to pay back their debts , the FCA announces . The FCA says it wants to see whether payday firms and other high-cost short-term lenders are putting too much focus on profits rather than consumers ' interests . April 2014 : Supervision of the whole payday lending industry passes from the OFT to the FCA . The FCA immediately starts putting its tough new rules into action , including forcing payday firms to provide financial health warnings in emails , online and in texts and signpost people to free debt help . June 2014 : The Competition and Markets Authority -LRB- CMA -RRB- releases provisional findings from its competition investigation and says that payday loan borrowers are paying around # 60 a year over the odds because of problems shopping around . It suggests setting up an independent price comparison website for payday customers . The FCA announces that Wonga is to pay # 2.6 million in compensation after chasing struggling customers with fake legal letters in order to pressurise them into paying up . Between October 2008 and November 2010 , the firm sent correspondence to about 45,000 customers in arrears from non-existent law firms threatening legal action . July 2014 : The payday industry comes under more new rules overseen by the FCA . From July 1 , payday firms have to include risk warnings in television advertising . They are also banned from rolling over a loan more than twice and they will only be allowed to make two unsuccessful attempts to claw money back out of a borrower 's account using a type of recurring payment known as a continuous payment authority . The FCA proposes a cap on payday lending , meaning that from January interest and fees on new loans , including those rolled over , must not exceed 0.8 % per day of the amount borrowed . October 2014 : Competition and Markets Authority -LRB- CMA -RRB- announces plans that will force payday lenders to sell their products through impartial comparison websites as part of a new clampdown by the watchdog . November 2014 : The FCA announces its new cap starting from January 2 . February 2015 : The Competition and Markets Authority says payday lenders will have to put their deals on comparisons sites . | Interest rates for all payday lenders were capped at 100 % from January 2 . Wonga and others were sometimes charging up to 6000 % APR on loans . Lender is now cutting 325 of its jobs because of falling profitability . Watchdog has also demanded all deals must be on comparison sites . Move could save 1.8 m customers # 60 a year in interest , fines and charges . | [[16, 140], [177, 321], [845, 969], [9413, 9426], [9429, 9484], [462, 470], [477, 516], [517, 537], [577, 587], [594, 677], [0, 76], [16, 140], [141, 226], [829, 905], [845, 969], [1562, 1583], [1587, 1607], [2554, 2629], [1303, 1419], [3845, 4021], [9195, 9207], [9210, 9412], [9485, 9498], [9501, 9610], [1410, 1419], [1425, 1491], [4989, 5133]] |
Doctors said even just drinking half a glass of wine could stop babies breathing for up to two hours . Pregnant women are being urged not to drink at all after a study found that just half a glass of wine can stop their baby breathing and moving for up to two hours . The research , which reveals the dangers of just one unit of alcohol , flies in the face of NHS guidelines . These imply it is safe for pregnant women to continue drinking as long as it is not more than one or two units , once or twice a week . Experts claim British women are being given insufficient advice , and compared the toxins in alcohol to those in Thalidomide -- the infamous drug for morning sickness that caused severe birth defects in the 1950s and 60s . Professor Peter Hepper , who carried out the study on the effects of low-level alcohol in pregnancy -- the first of its kind in the UK -- said : ` If women drink just one unit of alcohol , the baby 's breathing and movement stop for up to two hours after that . That 's not normal -- the baby should be continually active . ' The professor , from Queen 's University Belfast , looked at 18-week scans of pregnant women who drank on average two-and-a-half units a week -- equivalent to a 200ml glass of wine . He noticed the foetuses stopped moving and breathing , then they suddenly jumped and turned themselves over . Speaking to ITV 's Exposure programme , which will air next week , he said the jolts suggested the babies ' brains were not developing properly . ` The only safe -LSB- alcohol -RSB- level is zero , ' he added . Dr Mary Mather , a consultant paediatrician , said British women were being ` deprived ' of information about the dangers of drinking while pregnant . In the US , Canada , Australia , New Zealand , Spain , Switzerland and the Netherlands , pregnant women are told not to drink at all . Dr Mather said : ` Alcohol is a poison ... it 's toxic to developing tissue . It 's also what doctors call a teratogen . The best known teratogen is Thalidomide . It 's in the same category of drugs . ' Sir Al Aynsley-Green , a professor of child health at University College London and a former Children 's Commissioner , said : ` Exposure to alcohol before birth is the single most important preventable cause of incurable brain damage . Doctors compared drinking to the drug Thalidomide , prescribed to mothers in the 1950s and 60s who were prescribed the drug during pregnancy . Their babies were born with severe birth defects . Above , Simone Ilger , a Thalidomide survivor . ` There is insufficient reliable information that can help women make these important decisions . ' It is estimated that as many as one in 100 babies born in Britain have physical defects or behavioural problems caused by their mother 's drinking . This is known as Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the condition lasts for life . Dame Sally Davies , the chief medical officer for England , is currently reviewing the guidelines on safe drinking for all adults , including pregnant women . Her new advice is due this summer . The Department of Health said : ` Our advice is that pregnant women or women trying to conceive should avoid drinking alcohol . If they do choose to drink , to minimise the risk to the baby , they should not drink more than one to two units of alcohol once or twice a week and should not get drunk . ' | NHS guidelines say pregnant women can drink one or two units at most . New study says even just half a glass of wine could damage a baby . Scientists say babies stop breathing for up to two hours if mother drinks . Experts compared drinking to Thalidomide which caused birth defects . Exposure : When Pregnant Women Drink is on ITV next Tuesday at 9pm . | [[451, 487], [0, 80], [103, 173], [160, 267], [268, 280], [289, 336], [736, 758], [765, 835], [0, 80], [37, 102], [160, 267], [736, 758], [874, 878], [883, 990], [925, 997], [513, 520], [583, 637], [2292, 2341], [1367, 1392], [1401, 1419]] |
Five British MI-5 officers testified in a Brooklyn court in wigs and makeup at the trial of accused al Qaeda operative Abid Naseer on Tuesday . A federal judge had approved the unusual attire in order to protect the agents ' identities and had also ruled that courtroom sketches of the officers must be portrayed with only ` blank faces ' and ` generic hair ' . The U.S. government has accused Naseer of taking part in a plot to carry out bombing attacks in the United States and Europe . Five British MI-5 officers testified in a Brooklyn court in wigs and makeup at the trial of accused al Qaeda operative Abid Naseer on Tuesday . A federal judge had also ruled that courtroom sketches of the officers must be portrayed with only ` blank faces ' and ` generic hair ' A female agent -- referred to Agent 1488 - gave evidence wearing a 50s style bob , heavy eye makeup and red lipstick . The agent , in her 20s , also wore glasses , black heeled boots and a revealing low-cut top as she described how she followed Naseer around Manchester and Liverpool in England in 2009 . She also appeared to be adjusting her accent to further disguise her identity and mostly spoke in cut glass English - which occasionally sounded more working class . The other agents who gave evidence were all male and described how MI5 gave code names to Naseer 's associates including ` Glass Pendant ' , ` Undercurrent ' and ` Happy Skater ' . The first agent was called 1661 and was an Asian man in his 20s who wore black wig with a side parting that was tucked behind his ears . He also wore glasses , a dark suit and had grown a beard . Under questioning by the prosecution , he spoke with a Northern accent and introduced himself as working for the ` British security services ' as a surveillance officer . One of the other agents was also an Asian man in his 20s who was identified as agent 1498 , who wore a ruffled black wig , glasses and a dark suit . One of the other agents was also an Asian man in his 20s who was identified as agent 1498 , who wore a ruffled black wig , glasses and a dark suit . Rather than appearing behind screens , the judge had decided to was better for the officers to wear disguises so that jury members could see their facial expressions and body language , and thus assess their credibility . U.S. District Judge Raymond Dearie had also ordered media sketch artists at the trial of Pakistani-born Naseer to refrain from detailed portrayals of the officers with Britain 's domestic counterintelligence agency , calling them ` committed , lifelong operatives . ' ` The situation is grave , ' Dearie said in a court hearing . He had earlier told prosecutors not to go overboard with the disguises because ` I do n't want situation comedy in the courtroom ' . Prosecutors have called their testimony essential , saying their surveillance of Naseer from 2009 made them the only witnesses to activities he undertook to prepare for an attack in Manchester , England , which ultimately was never carried out . The first agent was called 1661 and was an Asian man in his 20s who wore black wig with a side parting that was tucked behind his ears . He also wore glasses , a dark suit and had grown a beard . Dearie had previously at prosecutors ' urging approved a variety of steps aimed at protecting the officers ' identities , including identifying them only through numbers and the use of wigs and ` light ' make-up . Dearie 's order that artists draw Naseer with ` blank faces , generic hair , ' came despite objections from some members of the media who called the wigs protection enough . But Zainab Ahmad , a prosecutor , said not all of the officers would be wearing wigs . Naseer , 28 , faces up to life in prison if convicted of providing and conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda and conspiring to use a destructive device . Prosecutors say Naseer was leader of an al Qaeda cell plotting an attack on Manchester . Naseer is accused by the U.S. government of taking part in a plot to carry out bombing attacks in the United States and Europe . Another cell conspired to bomb the New York City subway system , while a third planned to attack a Copenhagen newspaper . Naseer was initially arrested in Britain in 2009 along with a dozen men on suspicion of plotting the Manchester attack . No charges were brought , and a British court blocked Naseer 's deportation . Naseer was re-arrested by British authorities in 2010 after the United States indicted him , leading to his extradition in 2013 . Naseer , who faces life in prison if convicted , is representing himself . He has pleaded not guilty and has said he went online and used email to find a wife , not contact an al-Qaeda handler . | Five British MI-5 officers are set to testify in wigs and makeup in the New York trial of accused al Qaeda operative Abid Naseer on Tuesday . A federal judge has also ruled that courtroom sketches of the officers must be portrayed with only ` blank faces ' and ` generic hair ' The members of Britain 's domestic counterintelligence agency are ` committed , lifelong operatives ' and the move is to protect their identities . Naseer is accused by the U.S. government of taking part in a plot to carry out bombing attacks in the United States and Europe . | [[0, 143], [0, 26], [89, 143], [489, 632], [489, 515], [578, 632], [769, 783], [787, 876], [799, 809], [812, 887], [769, 887], [144, 159], [240, 357], [633, 766], [664, 766], [2308, 2515], [3448, 3496], [2397, 2522], [2533, 2549], [2552, 2573], [362, 425], [419, 488], [3944, 4009], [4003, 4072]] |
Draped in the blue velvet robes of the Order of the Garter and with a plumed hat in his hands , at first glance the Duke of Winsdsor looks every inch a king . But in this extraordinary photograph -- which has never been seen before - the silver-haired former Edward VIII is not posing in state in one of the royal palaces of Britain . Instead , he stands squinting in the sun in the back garden of his French country house , replacing the ceremonial garter around his calf with a blue ribbon . Scroll down for video . The Duke of Windsor poses in his Order of the Garter robes in a photograph that has never been seen before . This picture is part of a stash of three photo albums capturing decades of the duke 's life with wife Wallis Simpson , the Duchess of Windsor , which has remained hidden until now . It appears in the new issue of Hello ! magazine , along with earlier photographs from the albums , that are being published for the first time . Filled with intimate shots up to the former king 's death in 1972 , the three albums give a hitherto-unseen glimpse into Edward 's life as Prince of Wales , King Edward VIII and then duke . After the duke 's death in 1972 they passed into the possession of his gardener , Henri Gay , 90 , who said he had a close working relationship with his royal employer . Mr Gay told the magazine : ` We shared a passion for gardening and nature that cut across the difference in our social backgrounds . ' As the Prince of Wales , Edward poses with future wife Wallis Simpson and dogs at Fort Belvedere , Windsor . The Duke and Duchess of Windsor 's former country home La Moulin de la Tuilerie in Gif sur Yvette , south west of Paris , from 1952 to 1972 . An official photographer shoots Prince Edward -LRB- left -RRB- posing in his Garter robes in Buckingham Palace after his investiture in 1911 at the age of 17 ; the Illustrated London News pictured King Edward VIII in garter robes -LRB- right -RRB- . The caption notes he was depicted as the Prince of Wales , and the picture is a water colour replica of an artist 's oil painting which hung in the Guildhall Portsmouth measuring 9ft by 6ft . Mr Gay , who is retired and lives near Montpelier , was head gardener at Le Moulin de la Tuilerie , the Windsor 's country retreat southwest of Paris , for seven years from 1966 . He told Hello ! that after the duke 's death in 1972 , the duchess gave him the photo albums on her last visit to the house before it was sold - and she generously left him $ 10,000 in her will . For him , the volumes initially held sentimental value but as the years passed he began to realise their historical significance . The intimate snaps of the Duke of Windsor are in this issue of Hello ! Magazine . The gardener , who worked for the couple with his wife Renee , said he was the photographer behind the picture of the older , silver-haired duke posing in the historic garb in front of , what looks like , a farm building . Mr Gay said : ` On one occasion he called me over to take a picture of him in his robes . ` It was in the garden where he had installed a mini-golf course . He loved mini-golf . ' Interestingly , two parts of the official ceremonial robes are missing : he is not wearing the gold link-chain ` collar ' and he has tied a blue ribbon around his leg rather than the official garter . According to Hello ! , the first album of the collection passed to Mr Gay , is labeled The Fort after the Duke 's home in Windsor , Fort Belvedere and seems to track his growing passion for the thin , abrasive American woman , as she features in almost every shot . Other snaps capture Edward 's brief time as king as well as a Mediterranean cruise he took with Wallis . The photos are just another glimpse into the life one of the most controversial royals who courted scandal with his fast-living set in the 1930s and refused to assume a life of duty when he became king . In fact , on becoming king 20 January 193l , he caused a constitutional crisis just months into his reign by seeking to marry Wallis Simpson , an American socialite who had divorced one man and was trying to divorce another . Preferring to marry Wallis , Edward abdicated after 326 days , becoming the shortest-reigning monarch in British history . In an address to the nation , he said : ' I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as king as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love . ' After his abdication , his younger brother Albert took the throne - and the name George VI - while his wife Elizabeth became queen , and their eldest daughter Elizabeth , first in line for the throne . The newly-titled Duke of Windsor married Wallis in a private ceremony on 3 June , 1937 , at Château de Candé near Tours , France . The new king forbade any members of the royal family to attend the wedding and denied the Duchess of Windsor the styling of ` Her Royal Highness ' , which added to the strained relationship between the Windsors and the rest of the royals . Edward hoped to settle in Britain after a couple of years of exile in France but his brother George VI threatened to cut off his allowance if he returned to Britain without an invitation . During the war , he was installed as the Governor of the Bahamas but afterwards he and the duchess returned to France where they spent the rest of their lives , becoming international socialites in Paris and New York . While relaxing at Le Moulin , the only property the couple would own , Edward and Wallis hosted the biggest stars of the day including Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton , Aristotle Onassis , Maria Callas , Marlene Dietrich and Cecil Beaton . The Duke and Duchess of Windsor and the era in which they lived continues to fascinate , with Madonna 's film W.E focusing on the couple 's love affair and the Oscar-winning King 's Speech highlighting the relationship between his brother the Duke of York and then George VI and his speech therapist . The Duke and Duchess of Windsor , who had been married for 12 years , pictured here in 1949 at Victoria Station . The Order of the Garter is the oldest British Order of Chivalry and was founded by Edward III in 1348 . It is said to have been founded when at a court ball , a lady lost one of her garters and King Edward bent down , picked it up and - amid blushes and laughter - tied it around his own leg with the remark : ` Honi soit qui mal y pense ' which means , ` Shame on him who thinks this evil ' . The phrase is now the Order 's motto . The Order consists of the monarch and 24 knights and honours men and women -LRB- permitted to join the order in 1987 -RRB- who have served the nation or the sovereign . Members of the royal family are also permitted to join in addition to the 24 knights and include Prince Philip , Prince Charles , Princess Anne , Duke of York , Earl of Wessex and Duke of Cambridge . St George is the order 's patron saint and St George 's Chapel , Windsor is its spiritual home . The ceremonial robes have changed and evolved over the years but today the insignia includes the following items : . For more information visit and churchill-society-london . org.uk and royal.gov.uk . | Extraordinary new photograph of former Edward VIII shows him dressed in Order of the Garter robes . He poses in sunny garden of his French country house , with a blue ribbon - rather than a garter - around his calf . The shot is part of three private photo albums which has emerged 43 years after the duke 's death . | [[0, 93], [518, 592], [1732, 1857], [1860, 1929], [345, 422], [3256, 3334], [627, 680]] |
Defying the Republican-run Congress , President Barack Obama rejected a bill Tuesday to approve construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline , wielding his veto power for only the third time in his presidency . Obama offered no indication of whether his State Department will eventually issue a permit for the pipeline , whose construction has become a flashpoint in the U.S. debate about environmental policy and climate change . Instead , Obama sought to reassert his authority to make the decision himself , rebuffing GOP lawmakers who will control both the House and Senate for the remainder of the president 's term . Scroll down for video . President Barack Obama , seen here during a meeting with Emir of Qatar , Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday , formally vetoed legislation approving construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline this afternoon . ` The presidential power to veto legislation is one I take seriously , ' Obama said in a brief notice delivered to the Senate . ` But I also take seriously my responsibility to the American people . ' Obama vetoed the bill in private with no fanfare , in contrast to the televised ceremony Republican leaders staged earlier this month when they signed the bill and sent it to the president . House Speaker John Boehner said Republicans were ` not even close ' to giving up the fight and derided the veto as a ` national embarrassment . ' The move sends the politically charged issue back to Congress , where Republicans have n't shown they can muster the two-thirds majority in both chambers needed to override Obama 's veto . North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven , the bill 's chief GOP sponsor , said Republicans are about four votes short in the Senate and need about 11 more in the House . Still , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated that he would try to bring more Democrats over to his party 's side on the issue in an attempt to overturn Obama 's veto by March 3 . ` Even though the President has yielded to powerful special interests , this veto does n't end the debate , ' McConnell said . ` Americans should know that the new Congress wo n't stop pursuing good ideas , including this one . ' Although the veto is Obama 's first since Republicans took control on Capitol Hill , it was not likely to be the last . GOP lawmakers are lining up legislation rolling back Obama 's actions on health care , immigration and financial regulation that Obama has promised to similarly reject . ` He 's looking at this as showing he still can be king of the hill , because we do n't have the votes to override , ' Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma , a vocal opponent of Obama 's climate change agenda , said in an interview with the Associated Press . ` If he vetoed this , he 's going to veto many others that are out there . ' First proposed more than six years ago , the Keystone XL pipeline project has sat in limbo ever since , awaiting a permit required by the federal government because it would cross an international boundary . The pipeline would connect Canada 's tar sands with refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast that specialize in processing heavy crude oil . Republicans and the energy industry say the $ 8 billion project would create jobs , spur growth and increase America 's independence from Mideast energy sources . Democrats and environmental groups have sought to make the pipeline a poster child for the type of dirty energy sources they say are exacerbating global warming . ` This misguided Keystone XL bill , pushed by the fossil fuel industry , has met its just and expected doom , ' Rhea Suh , president of the Natural Resources Defense Council , said in a statement following news of Obama 's veto . ` The president got it exactly right , ' she said . ` Congress should stop wasting any more time pushing dirty energy projects that would worsen climate change and threaten our air , water and land . ' On behalf of Friends of the Earth , the organization 's president , Erich Pica , also thanked Obama for striking down the Keystone legislation . ` The veto sends a strong message to Congress that the government should represent the interests of the American people instead of Big Oil . ' House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio , seated , held a public ceremony to sign the bill authorizing expansion of the Keystone XL pipeline just before Congress left for a week-long recess on Feb. 13 . Republicans did not send the legislation to Obama until Tuesday , however . He quickly vetod it in private . It was only the third veto of Obama 's presidency . For his part , Obama says his administration is still weighing the pipeline 's merits , and he has repeatedly threatened to veto any attempts by lawmakers to make the decision for him . The president 's spokesman told reporters today that the veto was not the president taking ' a specific position on the pipeline itself . ' Rather , it is him handing off the decision to experts within the administration . ` It does not represent a final disposition of the Keystone project , ' White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said . In a statement to Congress today explaining his veto , Obama said he was opposing the bill because ` this act of Congress conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest -- including our security , safety , and environment . ' That message was all but lost on Republicans , who accused Obama in a barrage of attacks on Tuesday , of playing politics and kowtowing to environmental groups . Recently elected Georgia Sen. David Perdue called the president 's veto ` ridiculous . ' Louisiana 's senior senator , David Vitter , contended that the move was ` just sheer political spite . ' The Senate GOP Conference sent reporters an email blasting Obama as the ` obstructor in chief . ' ` There is simply no reason whatsoever for the president not to approve this project that will create thousands of jobs for American workers and put our country one step closer to energy independence , ' Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander said . Texas Rep. Bill Flores said Obama was putting the ` priorities of radical environmentalists ahead of the needs and priorities of hardworking American families . ` President Obama 's veto is a triumph of politics over common sense , ' Pennsylvania Rep. Lou Barletta said . ` His own State Department completed five reviews , totaling more than 22,000 pages , and concluded that the Keystone XL Pipeline is a project that will create jobs , and actually improve safety and the environment . ` The only possible reason to oppose the project is politics , ' he concluded . The president 's spokesman told reporters today that the veto was not the president taking ' a specific position on the pipeline itself . ' Rather , it is him handing off the decision to experts within the administration . The GOP-controlled House passed the bill earlier in February on a 270-152 vote , following weeks of debate and tweaks in the Senate to insert language stating that climate change is real and not a hoax . Republican leaders in Congress delayed sending the bill to the White House until they returned from a weeklong recess , ensuring they would be on hand to denounce the president when he vetoed the bill . The veto forced Republicans , still reveling in their dramatic gains in the midterm elections , to confront the limitations of being unable to turn their ideas into law without the president 's consent - despite the fact they now control both chambers of Congress . Republican leaders were mulling a number of potential next steps . In addition to trying to peel off enough Democrats to override Obama 's veto - an unlikely proposition - Republicans were considering inserting Keystone into other critical legislation dealing with energy , spending or infrastructure in hopes that Obama would be less likely to veto those priorities , Hoeven , said . ` We 'll look to see if we can get some more bipartisan support , ' the North Dakota lawmaker noted . Obama last wielded his veto power in October 2010 , nixing a relatively mundane bill dealing with recognition of documents notarized out of state . With the Keystone bill , Obama 's veto count stands at just three - far fewer than most of his predecessors . Yet his veto threats have been piling up rapidly since Republicans took full control of Congress , numbering more than a dozen so far this year . The president has said he wo n't approve Keystone if it 's found to significantly increase U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide , the chief greenhouse gas blamed for global warming . A State Department analysis found that the tar sands would be developed one way or another , meaning construction of the pipeline would n't necessarily affect emissions . The Environmental Protection Agency earlier this month called for that analysis to be revisited , arguing that a drop in oil prices may have altered the equation . | It is only the third veto of Obama 's presidency ; with Republicans now in control of both chambers of Congress it 's unlikely to be his last . The White House had said many times that the president would not sign the legislation - he believes the State Department should make the decision . The veto was not the president taking ' a specific position on the pipeline itself , ' Obama 's spokesman told reporters today . Keystone backers do not make up a large enough majority of the House or Senate to overturn a veto but Republicans plan to try . | [[38, 140], [38, 60], [143, 210], [647, 669], [799, 894], [2288, 2322], [4528, 4579], [6921, 6945], [7002, 7052], [7549, 7593], [8254, 8338], [8339, 8447], [38, 140], [4766, 4903], [4819, 4894], [4991, 5056], [5061, 5108], [6698, 6835], [6751, 6826], [7661, 7663], [7673, 7777]] |
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