article
stringlengths 4.01k
9.32k
| highlights
stringlengths 44
2.35k
|
|---|---|
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
England will go into inquest mode on Monday morning and must confront the uncomfortable truth they are showing no sign of gaining ground on rugby’s leading nations, with 10 months to go until the World Cup. On Saturday they suffered a fifth successive Test defeat — the worst losing run since 2006. This was their 12th consecutive match without a win against the Springboks, also stretching back eight years. While there was talk of a narrow margin, the scoreline once again disguised glaring shortcomings — 14 English points came against 14 men and the Boks were short of their own imposing peak. Stuart Lancaster's England team is in crisis after their loss to South Africa exposed a raft of shortcomings . England celebrate Ben Morgan's try, their second while South Africa's Victor Matfield was in the sin bin . When the numbers were even, those in white were largely unable to find ways through the green wall ahead of them. Instead of building momentum for next year’s tournament, England are struggling to maintain standards set in Stuart Lancaster’s tenure as head coach. Defeats by New Zealand and South Africa have left them in crisis going into their remaining QBE series clashes with Samoa and Australia. Those fixtures must lead to an urgent upturn in performance and results, otherwise all talk of progress will be exposed as hollow. As it is, the situation is critical and here are the pressing issues that need to be addressed… . Cut out the errors . England are making too many fundamental errors in handling and kicking, along with all the other lapses in timing and discipline which led to missed scoring chances or penalties being conceded. Dave Attwood made a searing break in the first half on Saturday but delayed his pass and a certain try was squandered. Dave Attwood made an excellent break but his poor decision-making squandered a certain try . These are the margins. Even when conditions improved, there were too many fumbles and spills and misjudgments. New Zealand’s dominance is founded on superb consistency in their catch-and-pass skills. It is not a mystery formula; it comes down to accuracy when the heat is on. England lack that edge. Playing smart . This was a much-repeated theme during the post-match discussions. There was once again a lack of English composure and authority in terms of decision-making. Wrong options were taken by scrambled minds, stalked by doubts, as typified by Danny Care’s intercepted pass which led to Jan Serfontein storming clear to score from halfway, and Owen Farrell’s ill-advised attempt to launch a counter-attack from his own 22 early on. Players are selected in part due to their natural instincts but somehow these are being eroded in the Test environment. Better ability to read the flow of the game and adapt on the hoof is needed. England's players are helpless as Jan Serfontein races away after intercepting Danny Care's pass . Trouble at No 10 . The faith shown in Owen Farrell by the management has become dangerously excessive. It is turning into a blind spot. It appears that George Ford will start at fly-half against Samoa and his promotion is overdue. England have to consider other options and accept that their first-choice playmaker’s game is in tatters at the moment. The delay in removing him on Saturday was damaging. The Saracen was clearly in discomfort and his kicking from hand had become a grave problem. He appeared hesitant in attacking the opposition’s defensive line and releasing runners around him. It was noticeable how Ford — aided and abetted by Ben Youngs’ dynamic work — managed to create space after coming on. Owen Farrell has enjoyed the faith of the coaching staff but that has become dangerously excessive . Kicking woes . This is not just about Farrell, it is a more general concern in terms of the balance of the team and the lack of impact in this key area. England have spoken about their quest to deliver more contestable kicks, but the results remain mixed. South Africa caused trouble with a clever range of astute high kicks and chips into space, such as the one with which Patrick Lambie paved the way for Cobus Reinach’s try. Farrell and Care have struggled with their in-field kicking and England’s touch-finding efforts are a major concern. With a midfield combination of Kyle Eastmond and Brad Barritt, Lancaster is short of front-line kicking options. Wasted wings . Look what happened when Jonny May was given the ball in space against New Zealand — he left them in his vapour trail to conjure a superb solo try. Sadly, those moments are rare. England are simply not utilising the firepower at their disposal. May and Anthony Watson were rarely released to stretch the Springboks with their blistering pace. Conditions have played their part in the last two games — necessarily narrowing the approach — but nevertheless, the inability to free strike runners is a concern. There had been an expansion of the attacking gameplan this year, based on a clever range of distribution, but it is still all too rare that England go wide and manage to circumvent the best defences. Jonny May (left) Anthony Watson (right) were rarely given the chance to stretch the Springboks defence . Breakdown bother . The rolling maul was a productive weapon on both sides at Twickenham but England continue to suffer against teams who are more effective at rucks. The Boks won too many turnovers for English comfort as home carriers were too often isolated and support was too slow to arrive. Lancaster’s men have been unable to fight fire with fire in this regard — relying on collective force due to a dearth of established poachers. They are missing the positive breakdown impact made by Joe Launchbury and Dan Cole, among others. Dylan Hartley trudges from the Twickenham pitch after being sin-binned for stamping in a ruck . Taking ‘positives’ This phrase should be banished from the England set-up. Amid all the talk of Test defeats hurting like hell, especially those at home, there is far too much willingness to apply spin. Coaches must set the tone by refusing to take minor consolations from bad results with a view to forward-planning. A young team is chosen because it is regarded as England’s finest available line-up, in which case it must be judged accordingly. Of course there will be a background focus on preparing for the World Cup next year but in their current predicament, England’s first priority must be beating Samoa and Australia. The sole ‘positive’ on England’s radar has to be dispatching all-comers to revive their momentum. Home rule matters . The grand English plan involves Twickenham becoming a fortress ahead of the 2015 showpiece event in this country, but it’s not happening — far from it. New Zealand and South Africa expect to win in London as a matter of routine and even troubled Australia will arrive with hope later this month. Twickenham should be a fortress but major southern hemisphere nations don't fear the home of rugby . In the absence of victories, all the innovations designed to ignite the crowd at HQ and raise the volume are not really working. Players walking in from the car park inside a tight cordon of stewards and numerous flashing screens imploring England fans to ‘carry them home’ are not the factors which will terrify opponents. Twickenham is no Millennium Stadium or Ellis Park. It is no bear-pit. The only way it will become a forbidding place is by the hosts winning there and gradually building up a sense of dread in away teams.
### SUMMARY:
| England's 28-31 loss to South Africa was their fifth successive Test defeat .
They have now gone 12 matches without victory against the Springboks .
Stuart Lancaster's side is making too many errors and wasting the wingers .
Their faith in Owen Farrell at No 10 is becoming dangerously excessive . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
It's been another busy week in the world of boxing and it's only going to get busier for me between now and May 31 – Wembley Stadium is a big stadium to fill but Carl Froch and George Groves have a better chance than anyone else of filling it. More of that later, though, because for now I want to talk about a fight that would excite me just as much. I think Kell Brook would knock Amir Khan out. I'm positive about that. Now it's time to try to make the fight. That's the hard part. I have spoken to Golden Boy Promotions, Khan's people in the US, and made Khan an offer of $5million. I'm not sure if it will happen this summer because Khan seems to be under the impression that he's above fighting Kell, but that is a fight I would love to see. VIDEO Scroll down for Froch and Groves' press conference . Matchmaker: A fight in front of a massive crowd at Wembley is a dream come true . Rematch: Carl Froch (left) and George Groves will meet in the ring once more . Khan needs to decide if that payday, and a fight of that scale, is worth turning down. I think turning it down would be a massive risk on his part and I'll explain why. Kell will be warming up for his IBF title shot against Shawn Porter with a fight in Liverpool on March 15 and I can reveal here that it will be against the Mexican welterweight champion Alvaro Robles, who has 17 wins (15 KOs) and two losses. If Kell wins that, Shawn Porter will have to defend his IBF world title against him this summer. The only fight Kell would sidestep that for is Khan. Khan has a lot to lose against Brook. If he gets knocked out, and I believe he will, I think that his career is over. He thinks he can fight Adrien Broner, Floyd Mayweather and then Kell Brook. The problem with that is Brook will go off and fight Porter and if he wins that title then there is no way Khan will be getting $5m as a challenger. Take your risks Amir, but realise what you are turning down. Offer: Amir Khan has been offered $5m to fight Kell Brook . Below him? Khan seems to think fighting Brook (right) is below him . In either case, the next few months for Kell will be massive. After what he's been through, it is time something went his way. He is 28 now and is an immense talent, a wonderful boxer who has won all 31 of his fights, but the past few years have just not gone his way. He should be a world champion by now. His career was a textbook example of progression until he was meant to fight Devon Alexander for the world title in 2013. You couldn't make up what has happened since then. Talent: Brook deserves something to go his way after what happened with injuries when he was meant to fight Devon Alexander . First, Kell injures his ankle and the . fight is postponed. It gets rearranged and 10 days out Alexander pulls . out with a bicep injury. Kell was his destroying sparring partners and . ready to a job on Alexander. Alexander's withdrawal really hit Kell . hard, he lost some of his professionalism and dedication in the sport. He had a few weeks off, put on a bit . of weight. We rescheduled the fight, came back and then he had a problem . with his foot. He went to see a doctor and they said he had two stress . fractures in his foot. That was hard for him to take. Three times that . fight was cancelled! He came . back against Carson Jones and got the job done. Then he fought . Vyacheslav Senchencko and looked fantastic. At that point he was due to . fight Alexander in March or April of this year but Alexander lost to . Shawn Porter. That was never supposed to happen. Decisions: Khan wants to fight Floyd Mayweather but will be giving up a big payday if he sidesteps Brook . That was the same night Darren Barker fought Felix Sturm. I was sat watching the Porter fight with Kell in our hotel. The look on our faces. He just kept saying, 'I can't believe it'. What are the chances? But Kell is over that now. He knows he is close to getting the huge fight he deserves. He is like my special project, a fighter who I respect and rate enormously. People might have given up on him, but I believe when he gets that chance he will rule the division. He has as much talent as any fighter in Britain and more than Khan. This will be his year. Wembley is set for the biggest British boxing event of all time. I am delighted. My dream of an 80,000 capacity crowd could become a reality. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, March 10. Wembley and the FA have done everything they can the make the fight happen and it will be on HBO in America. I'm really excited. We will put 60,000 on sale initially and I am confident they will fly away. In Manchester we sold 20,000 in 12 minutes and this is five times the size of the fight. I am anticipating huge sales on day one and two. There will be a lot more more cheap seats and tickets will start at £30. I want it to be as accessible as possible. We already have 24,000 on our email alerts. If the average one of those wants three tickets, we will be well on the way to living the dream. You NEED to be part of it. Massive: Froch-Groves II will be the biggest boxing event of all time - and tickets will start at just £30 . If ever you could back a fighter to bounce back from a defeat then it would be Ricky Burns. He lost in Glasgow on Saturday against Terence Crawford, who just had too much for him. We hoped Crawford would crack under the pressure of being the away fighter – my word, it was some atmosphere - and we were keeping fingers crossed that he wouldn’t be as good as he has looked. Unfortunately he had it all and Ricky probably wasn’t at his best coming back from an injury. I had a long chat with Ricky about his future on Sunday after the fight. He wants to be back in the gym as soon as possible. He might even fight the winner of John Murray and Anthony Crolla, which I am hoping to make. There are some big domestic fights but the target for Ricky is ultimately to win back a world title. I'd back him to be on top before long. He's a warrior. Bouncing back: Ricky Burns is a fighter you can expect to recover from a defeat . Top class: Terence Crawford showed he had it all . The demand for Anthony Joshua is at an all-time high. He gets mobbed everywhere we go. One thing that made me laugh recently was going up to Scotland for his fight at the weekend. We went through security and this older lady came up to him and said: ‘I can’t believe it’s you’. Her mouth was wide open, she was totally awestruck. He was saying ‘Thanks, that’s very kind,’ but then she just said: ‘I love your new dance show on Sky 1.’ She thought he was Ashley Banjo! Mistaken identity: Anthony Joshua was mistaken in Glasgow for dancer Ashley Banjo .
### SUMMARY:
| Wembley is a big stadium to fill but Carl Froch and George Groves have a better chance than anyone .
Tickets will start at just £30, I want the super fight to be affordable .
I think Kell Brook would knock Amir Khan out - I've made Khan an offer of $5m to get in the ring with Brook .
If you ever back a fighter to bounce back from defeat it's Ricky Burns .
Anthony Joshua has a case of mistaken identity... |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
One hundred years ago this week, the First World War hospital ship Rohilla ran aground in horrific conditions off the coast of Yorkshire. Lifeboats fought through a fierce storm to reach the stricken vessel, but, after a three-day rescue mission which saved 144 people, dozens of medical staff and crew died. Yesterday a flotilla of 15 boats sailing from Whitby, North Yorkshire, marked one of the most dramatic rescues in history, lowering a wreath into the waters where 85 people died. The Rohilla ran aground 400 yards from the shore near Whitby, North Yorkshire. A total of 85 died, but 144 survived after one of the most dramatic rescue missions in British naval history . A flotilla yesterday paid tribute to those who died, as well as the rescuers - including the Whitby RNLI lifeboat crew (pictured) - involved in the Rohilla rescue in 1914 . Paying their respects: The RNLI and others laid wreathes in the waters where the Rohilla ran aground 100 years ago last week . On October 30, 1914, the hospital ship set sail from Edinburgh to Dunkirk to evacuate wounded soldiers, but would not reach the French coast. With lighthouses off and a storm raging on the north-east, Captain Neilson was unable to stop the ship from running aground on a reef about 400 yards from the coast. As it became clear that the ship was sinking, dozens of people on board the ship made the decision to try and swim to safety, but many did not make it. The conditions were so horrendous that lifeboats from nearby towns struggled for days to reach the ship, however they were eventually able to rescue 144 men and women. A total of 85 perished in one of the worst disasters in British naval history. People aboard the 15-boat flotilla of lifeboats sailed to the wreckage site to pay their respects by lowering wreathes into the water. The commemoration, organised by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), saw the lifeboats sail to the site, where a service was held to remember Rohilla's heros. Coxwain of Whitby Lifeboat Mike Russell,and mechanic Richard Dowson lay an anchor shaped wreath over the wreck of the Rohilla . Tragic: The ship was on its way to Dunkirk to rescue wounded First World War soldiers when it ran aground in 1914 . Lifeboats fought through a fierce storm to reach the stricken vessel, but, after a three-day rescue mission by the RNLI and other boats, which saved 144 people, dozens of medical staff and crew died . Tributes: Families of the doomed passengers came from all over the world to remember those who died . Families of the doomed passengers came from all over the world to remember those who died, including Steven Kirk and his wife Lorraine, who travelled from Australia to pay respects to his great grandfather George Kirk, a member of the crew who was lost in the disaster. Steven said: 'It's a great privilege to be here to share in this very special occasion. 'Even though I never knew George and his incredible story wasn't one I learned about until fairly recently, I felt it was important to be here to pay my respects to him and all the other people who died on the Rohilla.' He added: 'This has been a great honour.' Also launched as part of the flotilla was historic lifeboat the William Riley, which, 100 years ago, was lowered on a rope into the crashing waves in a bid to rescue the 229 people on board the Rohilla. The William Riley was one of six vessels which carried out the three-day mission to save the passengers. One of the first motor lifeboats, the Henry Vernon - the only vessel able to reach the last 50 survivors on board the stricken ship - also took part in the event. A plaque on Whitby's West Pier was also unveiled this weekend while a special church service was held in remembrance of the people on board the doomed vessel, names which included Titanic survivor Mary Kezia Roberts, who also survived the disaster. Whitby's RNLI museum curator Peter Thompson MBE said: 'This commemorative weekend has been a very long time in the planning and I'm proud that we have been able to pay a fitting tribute to both those who died and to those who struggled against all the odds to rescue the survivors. 'Fortunately, the weather was kind to us. We have had very different conditions to those experienced 100 years ago on board the Rohilla. 'It was very moving to be able to go out to the site of the Rohilla wreck and to remember just what it must have been like for the poor souls on board the stricken vessel, some of them waiting more than two days to be rescued. 'We must never forget stories like this one, or the people who died during one of the worst tragedies ever to take place off the Yorkshire coast.' A plaque on Whitby's West Pier was also unveiled this weekend while a special church service was held in remembrance of the people on board the doomed vessel . Twice a survivor: Mary Kezia Roberts was on board the Titanic and the Rohilla . Stewardess Mary Kezia Roberts was a stewardess on board the Titanic when it sunk on April 14, 1912. More than 1,500 people died but she, and hundreds of other people on board the doomed vessel, were rescued. She would later note that the White Star Line stopped her pay at 2.20am, the exact time Titanic sank. Not put off life at sea, the mother-of-five continued working on ships for the next two years. In 1914, she boarded the SS Rohilla. Little did she know that she would be involved in another disastrous shipwreck. As the Rohilla sank Mary Roberts was brought ashore by lifeboat, and was later quoted as saying the Rohilla sinking was worse to endure than the Titanic. Miss Roberts, one of only five women aboard the Rohilla, was among the first 17 survivors rescued by the Whitby lifeboatmen, which went back to rescue a further 18 before it too was smashed by the storm. 99 years later her trunk, which was left on the ship in the panic to escape the sinking, washed ashore. The trunk, an intriguing relic of maritime history, was recovered by the Whitby Lifeboat Museum, after its curator, Pete Thomson, spotted it for sale on eBay. He said: 'It’s spooky, the fact that I have got this here now, 99 years later. Mary Roberts carried it on to the Rohilla and then she never saw it again. 'When the sea calmed down the rocks would be crawling with people picking up items and it’s been missing for the last 99 years until it surfaced on eBay for sale a month ago.'
### SUMMARY:
| The First World War hospital ship Rohilla ran aground in horrific conditions off the coast of Yorkshire in 1914 .
Lifeboats fought through a fierce storm to rescue 144 people over three days, but 85 perished in the disaster .
A flotilla led by the RNLI laid wreathes over the spot where the ship struck a reef 100 years ago last week .
One survivor, Mary Kezia Roberts, had miraculously survived the sinking of the Titanic just two years earlier . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Jimmy Anderson roared his approval, offered a little glare but resisted the urge to have words with Ravindra Jadeja and then soaked up the adulation of his home crowd. It was the big moment of a huge bowling display from England. The man MS Dhoni tried to get banned from this fourth Test had just trapped his nemesis lbw after a superb demonstration of swing bowling and India were on the ropes at 63 for six after winning the toss and batting. They may have made something of a recovery to reach 152 all out and just about stayed in the game by dismissing Gary Ballance just before the close to leave England on 113 for three. But this was very much the home side’s day. In form: Stuart Broad salutes the crowd after taking six wickets during day on the fourth Test in Manchester . Great day at the office: Broad celebrates with team-mates after taking his sixth wicket, that of Pankaj Singh . De ja vu: The England bowler finished the day on remarkable figures having taken six wickets for 25 runs . No one more than Anderson, who was . this week cleared of all charges over his Trent Bridge spat with Jadeja, . even if he was ultimately overshadowed by strike partner Stuart Broad . as England ran riot under cloudy Manchester skies. Both . Dhoni and Alastair Cook would have batted first on an Old Trafford . pitch with pace and carry but it turned into an excellent toss to lose . because of the excellence of one of the most prolific partnerships in . English Test history. It was . Anderson and Broad who squandered perfect bowling conditions on the . first morning at Lord’s where England went on to crash to a second Test . defeat. Yet since then the . senior pair have displayed class and character to hit back at the Ageas . Bowl and then gloriously on Thursday when, particularly in the first hour, . they bowled with a pace, hostility and skill that was almost . unplayable. The sun-baked . summer has not exactly made England feel at home but the arrival of this . series in Manchester was always likely to bring the weather they have . craved. Brave stand: India captain MS Dhoni hit a defiant 71 as his team crumbled in their first innings . Looking up: Ravichandran Ashwin sends a ball high towards the boundary at Old Trafford . It was perfect weather for ducks on Thursday — a Test record six in one innings, in fact. Half a dozen Pakistan batsmen failed to trouble the scorers against West Indies in 1980, while six South Africans (v India in 1996) and six Bangladeshis (v West Indies in 2002) suffered the same fate. The record for a Test is 11 — most recently set by England and Sri Lanka at Leeds in July. 1. Vijay waddles off after nicking Anderson to Cook. 2. Kohli falls to Anderson. 3. Broad gets the plaudits after having Pujara caught at slip. 4. Anderson is jubilant after trapping Jadeja in front. 5. Kumar is castled after leaving a Broad delivery that nipped back. 6. Broad wraps things up by bowling Pankaj. The stage may have . been set but Anderson and Broad had to make the most of it, as they did . in reducing India to a scarcely believable eight for four, all four . wickets falling in 13 balls on the same score. Anderson’s . third over was a double wicket maiden as Murali Vijay and then Virat . Kohli, again failing to live up to his lofty reputation, both fell . without scoring with England’s slip fielding matching the brilliance of . their bowling. Gautam . Gambhir, thrown in here at the expense of Shikhar Dhawan, and Cheteshwar . Pujara were the other early victims, both falling to Broad, as India’s . lowest score against England, 42 in 1974 at Lord’s, looked under threat. That . they did not plumb those depths was almost totally down to their . captain, Dhoni displaying considerable guts to overcome the limitations . of his technique against the moving ball and the numerous blows to his . body. Dhoni had seen India’s . best batsman in this series, Ajinkya Rahane, fall to Chris Jordan . before the moment that Anderson will cherish more than most of his 374 . Test victims. Appeal: MS Dhoni runs between the wickets as England's James Anderson turns to the umpire in Manchester . Flying high: Chris Jordan jumps for joy after taking the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane at Old Trafford . He may have been exonerated by judge Gordon Lewis and the . decision of ICC chief executive Dave Richardson not to contest the not . guilty verdict but Anderson’s aggressive approach was still under the . microscope here. Cook had . told him to carry on cursing but Anderson was noticeably quieter, even . after trapping Jadeja with the perfect inswinger to the left-hander . after setting him up with three outswingers. Exceptional, highly skilled . bowling. That left Anderson . just nine wickets behind Sir Ian Botham’s English Test wicket-taking . record but he was unable to add to it because of Dhoni’s defiance and . the fact that Broad then blew India away. Broad . needs an operation on his right knee but he did not look hindered here . as he recorded four wicket maidens and ended up with six for 25, his . third-best Test haul. By the time Dhoni became the fifth of his six . victims, India’s captain had scored 71, with only Ravichandran Ashwin . offering much support with a hard-hitting 40 on his return to the side. India might have failed to reach three figures had Jordan and Chris . Woakes been able to offer more penetrative support but they are making . their way in Test cricket and it was understandable that England were . unchanged. India were just . about able to hang on in there, with Sam Robson failing to convince . before losing his off stump to Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Cook giving it away . with a poor pull shot against the lively newcomer Varun Aaron. Ballance . and Ian Bell were taking the Test away from India until Aaron struck in . the last over — eight of the day’s allocation were lost because of . woeful over-rates — to gain an lbw shout from Marais Erasmus who, along . with Rod Tucker, had an excellent day. Not . nearly as good, though, as that of Broad and Anderson who have given . England the perfect chance to dictate terms in this decisive Test. England's turn: Captain Alastair Cook takes to the field for his first innings during the fourth Test . Ray of hope: India bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar high-fives a team-mate after bowling Sam Robson . Impressive start: England batsman Gary Ballance cuts a ball to the boundary during day one of the fourth Test . Good innings: Ian Bell, pictured, finished the day strongly for England in Manchester, scoring 45 runs .
### SUMMARY:
| England bowler took six wickets for just 25 runs during India's first innings .
India captain MS Dhoni put up a brave individual stand, scoring 71 runs .
The visitors were all out for 152 at Old Trafford, due to the impressive bowling of Broad and Jimmy Anderson .
Alastair Cook and Sam Robson's wickets fell early on but Gary Ballance and Ian Bell struck up a decent partnership as England chased the 152 run total .
But Ballance was bowled by Varun Aaron in closing minutes at Old Trafford .
England trail by 39 runs going into the second day in Manchester . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A 63-year-old grandmother has told how going to give blood at her local healthcentre saved her life. Jan Grasham, who lives in the New Forest, was diagnosed with bowel cancer after discovering that she was anaemic when she went to donate blood. Ms Grasham had no other symptoms and strongly believes that the routine trip saved her life. Jan Grasham (centre, at the 2010 Race for Life) was diagnosed with bowel cancer after she went to give blood. While donating blood she learned that she was anaemic and was referred to her GP . She told MailOnline: ‘Giving blood turned out to be like an MOT. If I hadn’t gone I might not be here now. I am so thankful I went.’ She added: 'I feel so lucky that giving blood was something that I did regularly. 'I think it would have been quite a while before it was picked up otherwise as I didn't get have any symptoms that would have sent me to the doctor.' Ms Grasham went to give her 57th blood donation in August 2007 and was told that she was not eligible as her blood iron levels were too low. She said that initially she was not concerned about her health when nurses told her she was anaemic because she had suffered several episodes in the past. Ms Grasham (pictured with her granddaughter, Mia) underwent surgery and chemotherapy at Southampton General Hospital. She believes that giving blood saved her life as she had no symptoms of the cancer . However, the nurses told her that her iron levels were sufficiently low that she should see her GP. Ms Grasham said: ‘I went to give blood – I was a regular donor and was going to give my 57th pint. ‘I had the pinprick test and it showed up a problem. They sent it away for further tests, but I was not allowed to give blood that day, so I was a bit miffed. I had never been turned away before.’ Her doctor carried out extensive tests and within two months she had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. She said: 'When I saw the consultant it was quite a shock. My first concern was how I would tell my children. Ms Grasham (front left at a school reunion) was given the all clear after her treatment for bowel cancer but four years later, a routine scan revealed a tumour on her kidney and she had to have further surgery . 'It was all a bit surreal.' Bowel cancer can cause anaemia . because it can result in bleeding into the bowel which depletes the . body’s supply of red blood cells. Other . symptoms of bowel cancer include blood in the stools, abdominal pain, a . change in bowel habits, and unexplained weight loss. Ms Grasham underwent surgery and chemotherapy at Southampton General Hospital. Following the six months treatment she was told that there were no longer any signs of the cancer in her bowel. Just as Ms Grasham began chemotherapy, her son, 29-year-old Jonathan Grasham (pictured with his daughter, Bella), a Royal Marine Commando, was sent on his second six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan . However, . Ms Grasham says that it was a hard time as just as she began . chemotherapy her son, 29-year-old Jonathan Grasham, a Royal Marine . Commando, was sent on his second six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. Ms Grasham said: ‘It was a very hard time for the family, but thankfully he returned home safely. ‘I did not realise how debilitated I had felt until after I had finished the chemo.’ In 2009, just as Ms Grasham thought that everything was returning to normal, her daughter Lucy Coggin, 40, collapsed. Ms Coggin, who also lives in the New Forest, collapsed after finishing a workout and found that she was unable to speak. She was rushed to hospital whether she underwent four months of treatment and rehabilitation. Between Ms Grasham's cancer diagnoses, her daughter Lucy Coggin (pictured with her children, Mia and Lauren) collapsed and was diagnosed with MS. She now has no feeling in the right side of her body . After . months of tests, the mother of two young children was diagnosed with . multiple sclerosis – a disease which affects the nerves in the brain and . spine. Ms Grasham said: ‘Normally MS comes on gradually so people initially thought that she was just very stressed. ‘She had to learn to speak again and it was very strange because at first she had a Polish accent. ‘She still has no feeling in her right hand side but she can get about using a mobility scooter.’ However, this was still not the end of the family’s difficulties. Four years after her initial cancer diagnosis, a routine scan picked up a tumour in Ms Grasham’s kidney. Ms Grasham told MailOnline: 'It's all a bit surreal. Until you talk about it you don't realise what has happened in such a short amount of time.' Image shows her daughter, Lucy Coggin . Ms Grasham said: ‘It was another primary tumour so it was a bit like lightening striking twice in the same place.’ This time the tumour was contained within her kidney, so she had surgery but did not require any more chemotherapy. Ms Grasham has now been signed off by the bowel clinic but still has to have annual scans to check for kidney tumours. She said that she is now very hopeful about the future. She told MailOnline: ‘It’s all a bit surreal. Until you talk about it you don’t realise what has happened in such a short amount of time.’ To find out about Cancer Research UK’s campaign encouraging people across the UK to take one million actions to ‘Beat Cancer Sooner’, visit cruk.org/1millionactions . Mrs Grasham is not the only person to have benefited from giving blood. Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that donating blood reduces a person's risk of heart attacks, and of cancer. Research carried out by the University of California, in San Diego, also revealed that giving blood burns 650 calories per pint. It is believed that these benefits all arise from the fact that giving blood temporarily reduces a person's blood iron levels. Iron affects how thick and sticky the blood is. High iron levels cause the blood to be thicker. Raised iron levels also accelerate the oxidisation process of cholesterol. This can affect blood consistency and create increased friction as it travels through blood vessels. As this increases wear and tear to the lining of arteries it could then contribute to cardiovascular disease. Because donating blood removes some of its iron content, it may have a protective benefit if done on a consistent basis. A study published in the Journal of the National cancer Institute also links iron to an increased cancer risk as it’s believed to increase free-radical damage in the body. In line with this theory, a four-and-a-half-year study involving 1,200 people found those who made bi-annual blood donations had a lower incidence of cancer and mortality than those who didn’t. However, these benefits depend on making donations on a regular basis.
### SUMMARY:
| Jan Grasham was referred to GP after her iron level was found to be low .
This is a sign of bowel cancer because the cancer can cause bleeding into the bowel which depletes body's supply of red blood cells .
She was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery and chemotherapy .
Four years after her bowel cancer, she was told she had a kidney tumour .
Was another primary tumour and was unconnected to the bowel cancer .
She has now been free of cancer for two years . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Friends have detailed the distressing events that lead to the suspected overdose of a 19-year-old woman at a dance music festival at the weekend. Georgina Bartter, 19, was at Harbourlife festival at Mrs Macquarie's Chair near the Sydney Botanical Gardens on Saturday when she collapsed on the dancefloor. A close friend of Ms Bartter, who spent most of the day before and during the festival with her told Daily Mail Australia they first noticed something was wrong when she started shivering uncontrollably at around 4pm. Scroll down for video . Georgina Bartter, 19, died of a suspected drug overdose at Harbourlife festival in Sydney on Saturday . 'She seemed fine for a while and then she started shivering as if she was getting cold', the friend revealed. 'She started going downhill from there.' Despite friends giving her water and trying to warm her up, Ms Bartter continued to deteriorate. 'I was with her for a while, just me and her, and I was there trying to give her a hug and keep her warm', the friend said. As she got worse another friend and his girlfriend were caring for the teenager from Longueville in Sydney's lower north shore before she started convulsing around 4.40pm. The same pair then travelled in an ambulance to hospital with Ms Bartter, where she died later that night. 'It's been pretty tough for all of us,' the friend said, describing Ms Bartter as a 'bubbly' and 'friendly' girl. The family of the teenager - whose friends said she only took 'one and a half' pills - released a statement on Sunday remembering her as a 'beautiful young woman'. Friends said the teenager had taken one and a half pills before she collapsed . Family have released a statement about the teenager's death, pictured here with her mother and grandmother . The head of St Vincent's Hospital's Emergency department, Dr Gordion Fulde told Triple M that everything was done to save the economics student, who was in a critical condition when she arrived at the hospital. 'It was quickly evident the only chance of survival was to put her on a heart lung machine. This equipment mechanically gives her blood flow and oxygen,' said Dr Fulde. 'The cardiothoracic surgeon and operation theatre staff and the hi-tech machine were brought.' 'Despite care only available in a few hospitals worldwide a lovely girl died.' Dr Fulde says the team at St Vincent's Hospital remain devastated after witnessing the family's intense grief. 'The grief and devastation of the family, of the mother was indescribable.' The statement also remembered her as 'vibrant' and said the teenager's behaviour was out of character, Nine News reported. 'She was a beautiful and vibrant young woman, who was much loved and will be sadly missed, the statement read. 'She had allergies, and it was extremely out of character.' The family reportedly said, 'Georgina was allergic to drugs and never would have knowingly taken them', according to Channel Seven. An autopsy will be carried out to determine what was in the pill that contributed to her death. Officers were alerted to the unconscious 19-year-old woman as they carried out a drug operation at the event. The teen from Longueville on Sydney's north shore was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, suffered multiple organ failure and died. Witnesses recall seeing Ms Bartter 'collapse' in the middle of the dance floor and begin frothing at the mouth. Witnesses recall seeing the young woman collapse, dropping to the ground in the middle of the dancefloor where she shook uncontrollably . 'She was dancing next to us when she collapsed on the dance floor. I thought she was pretty hammered but then she just dropped to the floor,' one witness told Daily Mail Australia. 'It was shocking, you just don’t know what to do. We were all waving our arms around for a paramedic.' The three witnesses were distressed to learn that the young woman had died, but say that night they knew something was drastically wrong. 'Medics were trying to resuscitate her and she was frothing at the mouth,' the witnesses, who wished not to be named, explained. 'When she got carried out she wasn't well. Her eyes were in the back of her head and her friends were freaking out.' Two of the witnesses explain that it was 'wild' and claim they saw four people taken to hospital due to what they assume were drug-related incidents. 'She was the worst but we saw three other people taken out by ambulances.' 'I actually wondered this morning if anyone had died cos I saw that many people overdose and in a bit of a state. It was that wild.' NSW Ambulance service confirm that four people were treated from Mrs Macquarie's Chair. Two people were taken to hospital by ambulance, including Ms Bartter. The second case was an alleged assault. Two suspected drug-related cases were treated at the scene. Friends described Ms Bartter, seen here with her father, as a 'bubbly' and 'friendly' young girl . Ms Bartter, pictured with her mother and father died in hospital on Saturday night . Another witness recalls seeing the girl become ‘drowsy’ and ‘shaking’ before she collapsed. ‘Not long after she collapsed the medics were with her. She was shaking non-stop for a bit while on the ground. Very sad sight. Condolences to her family.’ Officers, meanwhile, arrested 78 people at the event for drug offences. Inspector Stewart Leggat of City Central Local Area Command asked for anyone with knowledge about synthetic substance sellers to come forward. 'The information you provide could save someone's life.' Insp Leggat warned about the dangers of taking illegal drugs, emphasising there was no quality control in their production. 'Quite simply, you don't know what you are getting - seeking a synthetic high, could result in a serious injury or death,' he said. 'If you know of a business or person who may be involved in the sale of illegal synthetic substances, please contact Crime Stoppers immediately. We don't need to know who you are, all we need is the information you have. Witnesses said they saw at least four people taken to hospital one the same day, from suspected drug-related incidents . 'The information you provide could save someone's life.' The organisers of Harbourlife, Fuzzy Events, have extended their sincere condolences to the young woman's loved ones and assure the public patron safety is a priority. 'Right now our thoughts are with her family – we can hardly imagine the pain and heartbreak they must be feeling, and they have our deepest sympathy,' the statement read. 'Harbourlife has been held annually since 2003. It has a fully equipped first aid tent with an emergency doctor, 2 paramedics, 3 first responder medics, 2 supervisors and a communications officer.' The 19-year-old was treated by paramedics at the scene and transported to St Vincents hospital, Darlinghurst where she died .
### SUMMARY:
| Georgina Bartter, 19, died from a suspected drug overdose at the weekend .
She was found unconscious during a police drug raid at dance festival 'Harbourlife'
The teenager was convulsing and her friends told police the young woman had only taken one and a half pills .
Friends say before a seizure she was shivering uncontrollably .
Witnesses told Daily Mail Australia that the teen collapsed on the dance floor and was frothing at the mouth .
The 19-year-old woman was taken to St Vincent's Hospital with multiple organ failure but couldn't be saved .
An autopsy will be carried out to determine what was in the pill that contributed to her death . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
For professional sportsman, there is not much worse than the serious injury. It makes defeats and mistakes on the field of play seem as trivial as, in the wider context, they often are. What is often overlooked, however, is the daunting nature of the recovery period. The hours of lonely rehab, the moments when competitive action seems as far away as ever and – worst of all – the often unspoken fear that the body may never quite work in the same way again. There is only cure, of course, and that is time spent back in the arena, on the field of play, in combat. Only time back in the thick of it clears the doubts from the mind and allows sporting instinct to return. On a cold night at Turf Moor, Sam Vokes took an enormous step forward with a goal that will have finally helped him feel like a footballer again. VIDEO Scroll down for Sportsmail's Big Match Stats as Burnley force FA Cup replay with Tottenham . Burnley's Sam Vokes jumps in the air after scoring his side's equaliser against Tottenham . Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm looks behind him to see Vokes' shot hit the back of the net . Kieran Trippier congratulates Vokes after the striker scores past Tottenham's Vorm . BURNLEY: (4-4-2) Heaton 6; Trippier 6, Keane 6, Mee 6.5, Laffery 6.5; Kightly 6, Marney 5, Arfield 5, Boyd 6 (Wallace 78mins 6); Barnes 5.5 (Vokes 60mins 7), Ings 6 (Sordell 78mins 6) Subs not used: Gilks, Jutkiewicz, Reid, O'Neill . Goal: Vokes 73 . TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-1-1): Vorm 6; Chiriches 6, Fazio 6, Vertonghen 6.5, Davies 6.5; Chadli 6, Dembele 6, Stambouli 5.5 (Kane 45mins 7), Eriksen 6; Paulinho 5, Soldado 5 . Subs not used: Friedel, Dier, Naughton, Capoue, Onomah . Goal: Chadli 56 . Booked: Stambouli . MOTM: Sam Vokes . Referee: Roger East 6 . Attendance: 9,348 . For the uninitiated, Vokes was one half of the centre forward partnership that propelled Burnley towards promotion from the Championship last season. While the other half, England's Danny Ings, has been busy cementing his reputation in the Barclays Premier League recently, Vokes has been recovering from a cruciate knee injury suffered last March. The Welshman's contribution this season had been 10 unremarkable minutes as a substitute in the home defeat by Liverpool on Boxing Day. Burnley manager Sean Dyche, aware of the dangers associated with the specific injury, had been holding back a player who had started to strain at his leash. Vokes was given another opportunity as his team trailed to Tottenham and, only 13 minutes after coming on, he watched a cross arrive from the right side and then simply let instinct take over, swivelling naturally to sweep the ball right-footed across goalkeeper Michel Vorm and in to the far corner of the goal. For Vokes it was a landmark moment and it may well transpire to be so for Burnley, too. For parts of this season so far, Dyche's team have looked a little short of goal scoring threat and, despite the recent efforts of Ashley Barnes, the sight of Vokes and Ings back in harness can only brighten the mood in this part of Lancashire. 'When someone has waited that long to come back from a very serious injury, this is fantastic,' said Dyche. 'We are delighted to see him back. It's very important we look after his recovery but this is a huge step on his journey.' For the neutrals, it was just good to have a story, something to talk about. For almost an hour, this was perhaps one of the worst games of football this stadium has ever witnessed. Is it possible for nothing to happen in a whole half of professional football? Perhaps not. But certainly there was nothing of significance. No shots on target, no saves (obviously) and nothing that remotely resembled progressive intelligent football. Tottenham goalscorer Nacer Chadli celebrates with Harry Kane and Mousa Dembele after opening the scoring . Chadli celebrates with his Tottenham team-mates after scoring the first goal of the match . Both managers had picked strong teams and deserve credit for that. Not until the start of the second half, though, did either team begin to do justice to the decision to take the game, and the competition, seriously. It was Tottenham who showed first after the interval and their improvement owed something to the half-time introduction of their latest hero Harry Kane. The young striker’s evening was to end badly but initially he was influential, his energy and direct running threatening to bring the best – if such a thing exists – out of the lumbering Roberto Soldado. Soldado fluffed two chances before Tottenham took a lead they perhaps deserved through Nacer Chadli in the 56th minute. Ben Davies did well down the left side and when his cross found Chadli in a yard or two of space, the Tottenham midfielder was able to take a touch before finishing powerfully and accurately from 12 yards. At that point, Burnley had shown nothing to suggest they would get back in to the game and had Kane not seen a low shot rebound back from the knees of Burnley ‘keeper Tom Heaton shortly after Chadli’s goal then that probably would have been the end of the game. As it was, Burnley sensed opportunity as the game drew on and Ings had already brought a save from Vorm prior to Vokes’ equaliser. Before the end Kane had an opportunity to add to his reputation but skewed his shot dreadfully across goal in added time. This time it was somebody else’s night. Chadli opens the scoring in the 56th minute with a left-footed strike past Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton . Heaton dives to his right but he is unable to stop Chadli's effort from hitting the back of the net . The third round FA Cup encounter between Burnley and Tottenham was played out in front of just 9,348 supporters . Chadli runs with the ball as Burnley attacker George Boyd looks on in the background . Tottenham's defenders look dejected as Burnley striker Vokes wheels away in celebration . Burnley celebrate in front of an empty stand after Vokes levels the scoring in the 73rd minute . Vokes was making just his second appearance for the Clarets since returning from a knee injury . Roberto Soldado shakes hands with Mauricio Pochettino after being replaced by Andros Townsend . Tottenham winger Townsend runs down the wing after coming off the substitutes' bench . Harry Kane removes grass from his boots during the second half of the third round FA Cup clash . Burnley boss Sean Dyche shakes hands with Tottenham's coaching staff while Pochettino looks disappointed . Burnley and Tottenham walk out on to the pitch ahead of the third round FA Cup match .
### SUMMARY:
| Sam Vokes came off the substitutes' bench to ensure Burnley remained in the competition .
Tottenham winger Nacer Chadli scored opener in the 56th minute of clash at Turf Moor .
Winner of replay will face fellow Premier League outfit Leicester City in FA Cup fourth round . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
This was brutal. This was a painful, embarrassing lesson for England in how to play one-day cricket in an age where they have been left behind in the 50-over game. One of the teams involved in Saturday's showpiece at the Melbourne Cricket Ground have every chance of winning the World Cup and it isn’t England. Australia were always going to be hot favourites in this opening match of the premier one-day tournament in front of 84,336 but this was much worse than England could have imagined. Do not be fooled by the late England runs once the tension had gone from the contest. This was an absolute demolition of Eoin Morgan’s side and their aspirations of springing a Valentine’s Day surprise, as they lost by 111 runs. England failed to win their 2015 World Cup opener as they failed to chase down Australia's score of 342 . Australia's Mitchell Marsh is congratulated by his team-mates after taking the wicket of Eoin Morgan . England captain Eoin Morgan looks dejected as he walks past Australia as they celebrate . First Australia made their highest ever one-day score against England, their murderous 342 for nine also being the most by any team against England in any of the World Cups stretching back 40 years. Then England made a pitiful attempt at making history by collapsing not against their nemesis Mitchell Johnson nor even the equally rapid Mitchell Starc but a third Mitchell in the innocuous looking reserve all-rounder Mitch Marsh. Steven Finn’s hat-trick, gained far too late to make any difference to the outcome off the last three balls of the innings, and James Taylor's classy, unbeaten 98 after the game had gone merely papered over alarming cracks. Let us be clear. It is no disgrace to lose to Australia in this World Cup. The hosts are a powerful, gifted one-day side playing a high-octane brand of cricket and it will take an extremely good team to stop them returning to this great ground for the final on March 29. England, in contrast, are a work in progress, having fallen way behind in a 50-over format which has progressed dramatically in the last two years while they have regressed because of ridiculous schedules and their prioritising of Test cricket. Yet it is disgraceful to surrender so meekly, to capitulate to the least heralded member of the Australian attack so timidly with little of the heart and character that must be a bare minimum for any England side. Morgan, pictured clipped a ball through to Australia's wicket keeper, failed to guide his side to victory . Australia's Marsh bowls during their Cricket World Cup pool A match against England in Melbourne . Australia's wicketkeeper Brad Haddin celebrates after catching out England's Jos Buttler . England would surely have hoped to show more signs of improvement than this, to have justified the quiet optimism in their ranks that has led to some of us talking hopefully of them as possible semi-finalists. Well, the flawed structure of this tournament means that this defeat does not really matter in that regard because all England will have to do to make the last eight at least is defeat Scotland, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. But this will be a massive blow to their confidence and they will not be helped by the prospect of their second game being against another very strong one-day side and a good bet to win the cup themselves in co-hosts New Zealand. The Black Caps warmed up by dismantling Sri Lanka in Christchurch. England did not help themselves. To have any hope they had to take every half chance that came their way but as early as the fifth ball Chris Woakes had dropped Aaron Finch on nought and hope seeped out of England. It was inevitable then that Finch would go on to score a match-defining hundred. It was not the only lapse by a long way. Moeen Ali got nowhere near a powerful catchable drive from David Warner, Gary Ballance, brought in at the 11th hour for Ravi Bopara, got nowhere near a skier from George Bailey and Jos Buttler could not hold on to a hard chance offered by Glenn Maxwell on 42. And to think that England’s fielding had been excellent throughout a tri-series that actually provided encouragement that they were on the up. Their collapse in the field, at least until Stuart Broad and Joe Root held difficult chances to give Finn the first two wickets of his hat-trick, was simply inexplicable. England's Steven Finn embraces James Anderson after taking the wicket of Australia's Mitchell Johnson . Australia's Aaron Finch walks past as England's team celebrates running him out during their match . Australia, in contrast, were magnificent. They are without captain Michael Clarke and, more damagingly, James Faulkner, but this is a squad brimming with one-day talent and ready to seize their moment in front of their home fans. If Finch provided the backbone to their innings with 135 they were also indebted to Glenn Maxwell for his late 66 off 40 balls at a time when England seemed to have clawed their way back towards sniffing a chance. Twice, in fact, England were still in the match, firstly when Broad took two wickets in successive balls in the eighth over, and then when Finch and Bailey fell without two overs of each other. But each time Australia powered away. Let’s clutch at some positive straws. Finn is getting back towards his full pace and finished with five for 71 while Broad is also nearing his best again. But the lack of a sixth bowler, exacerbated by the dropping of Bopara, meant that Morgan had nowhere to turn when his bowlers were suffering. The game was effectively over by the halfway mark, England’s death bowling letting them down again with an almost total mystifying lack of yorkers, but England needed to at least make a decent fist of their reply. Instead they collapsed against a man who would not even have been playing had Faulkner been fit. England bowler Stuart Broad appeals for a wicket during their cricket world cup pool A match . Australia captain George Bailey falls after he played a hook shot during their cricket world cup pool A match . Once the rapid Starc had forced Moeen into an injudicious demise it was over to Marsh, no more than a medium-pacer compared to his team-mates, to cut swathes through the England batting line-up with ridiculous ease. Only Buttler could consider himself unlucky, falling victim to a quite superb diving catch from Steve Smith that epitomised Australia’s excellence and mastery on the day. Most worryingly for England, captain Morgan suffered his fourth duck in five innings and looks painfully out of form. When Buttler went England were 92 for six and facing complete humiliation but at least James Taylor, who did himself a power of good with an innings of proper industry and innovation, and Woakes showed some fight in a stand of 92 that delayed the inevitable. The innings ended in some farce when Taylor successfully reviewed an lbw decision only for the umpires to give Jimmy Anderson run out as the pair crossed after the initial decision. Surely the ball should have been dead once the umpire's finger was raised? It only mattered to Taylor's attempts to score his first one-day international hundred. Marsh, barely believably, ended with five for 33 on a highly satisfying day for the hosts and England, meanwhile, have much to contemplate before Friday’s game in Wellington after one of their heaviest defeats in any World Cup match. Mitchell Starc runs past the crowd with his finger up high after catching out England's Ian Bell .
### SUMMARY:
| Australia defeated rivals England in front of 84,336 spectators .
Aaron Finch provided the backbone to their innings with 135 .
Australia made their highest ever one-day score against England . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Labour's public health spokesman Diane Abbott says there is a culture of 'sexting, slut-shaming and striptease' in British schools . Children are being seriously damaged by the ‘pornification’ of British culture, a senior Labour figure will warn today. Shadow public health minister Diane . Abbott will admit that the notion that overt, public displays of . sexuality were ‘enlightened liberation’ was wrong – and has instead . created a ‘prison’ for a generation of young women. Following yesterday’s warning by the . Prime Minister’s new childhood guru Claire Perry that parents must . challenge children about their text and internet messages, Miss Abbott . will agree there is a pernicious culture of ‘sexting, slut-shaming and . striptease’ in British schools. Parents are ‘struggling to cope’ and . need help to block inappropriate content on the internet and mobile . phones, she will say, adding: . ‘We need to start a national conversation . between parents and their children about sex, pornography and . technology. ‘For so long, it’s been argued that . overt, public displays of sexuality are an enlightened liberation. 'But I . believe that for many, the pressure of conforming to hypersexualisation . and its pitfalls is a prison. And the permanence of social media and . technology can be a life sentence.’’ The Labour frontbencher’s . intervention, in a speech to the Fabian Women’s Network, suggests an . emerging political consensus on the need for radical thinking on the . commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood. In yesterday’s Daily Mail, Mrs Perry, . appointed by the Prime Minister as his adviser on the issue last month, . set out a range of proposals including better systems for parents and . children to report inappropriate behaviour online, restrictions on . access to sexually explicit music videos and ‘lads’ mags’, and better . teaching of internet safety in schools. Most controversially, she insisted . parents should challenge the culture of ‘children’s rights’ which . suggests they should be able to communicate with friends and strangers . online or by text in private. Miss Abbott will today agree that parents must be put ‘back in control’. ‘I want to highlight what I believe is . the rise of a secret garden, striptease culture in British schools and . society, which has been put beyond the control of British families by . fast-developing technology, and an increasingly pornified British . culture,’ she will say. ‘There’s something wrong with a . society as a whole when children say they have no-one to turn to for . advice because their parents – outwitted by technology, and struggling . to juggle work and home life – don't really know what's going on. ‘There’s something wrong with a . society when many young girls of all classes are pressurised into . exposing themselves online, and are then humiliated. ‘There’s something wrong with a . society when most children say their sex education is out-of-touch, . irrelevant and too little too late. And where boys end up turning to . hardcore online pornography to teach them what they think they need to . know. Many young girls are being forced to conform to hypersexualisation (picture posed by model) ‘There’s something wrong with a . society that normalises children of every background “sexting” from . their bedrooms. There’s something wrong with a society that sells . T-shirts for little girls emblazoned with "future porn star", and when . padded bras, thongs and high heeled shoes are marketed and sold to . children. ‘There something wrong with a society . that has gangs of disenfranchised young men who use rape and sexual . assault as the weapon of choice.’ Miss Abbott will reject the idea that . she is ‘hankering after some rose-tinted picture of childhood’. She will . insist: ‘Do we really have to just accept things as they are? As . parents we're told - often by our own kids - that we've just got to live . with it - that the world has changed. 'But I don’t think we should . simply throw our hands up and accept the world – and the all-consuming . market - as it is. ‘We need to talk about how we put . families, and not the lowest common denominator of the market, back in . control. We’ve got to build a society based on open-minded family . values, and not ‘anything-goes’ market values. ‘Parents and teachers have a duty to . ensure that children develop a healthy view of sexuality, distinct from . this porn version that is swamping and infiltrating British life. 'Because it’s a very specific form of sexuality that’s being imposed, on . children and adults: a porn version. This is what kids are dealing with . on a daily basis. ‘Young people are accessing far harder . pornographic images than ten or 15 years ago. We have to ask, does that . influence what they themselves put out on the internet?’ Miss Abbott will say that while most . parents would not allow their children to watch an 18-rated film, they . are often ‘powerless’ when it comes to what they access online and by . mobile phone. ‘I think one of the symptoms of the . culture that has grown is that young girls and women are subject to . "slut shaming" and sexual bullying in schools. ‘It’s hypersexualized British culture . in which women are objectified, objectify one another, and are . encouraged to objectify themselves; where homophobic bullying is . normalised; and young boys’ world view is shaped by hardcore American . pornography and other dark corners of the internet,’ she will say. David Cameron's new childhood guru, MP Claire Perry wants parents to ask their children about their text messages . Labour is calling for a ‘sex education . revolution’ in schools – with lessons focused on ‘preparing young . people to form healthy, respectful, emotionally fulfilling . relationships’. Miss Abbott will also say it must be ‘easier for parents to block adult and age-restricted material across all media’. ‘Internet users should have to make an . active choice over whether they allow adult content or not. We must . look at ‘child friendly’ computers and mobile phones where adult content . is filtered out by default,’ she will say . Mrs Perry told the BBC’s Daily . Politics: ‘Parents are feeling a powerlessness about their kids’ lives. When we were growing up, if someone was phoning our houses or sending . letters to the home, parents would feel they had a responsibility to . intervene. ‘Somehow we have kind of ceded that responsibility. We feel a nervousness about becoming involved in our kids’ online lives. ‘I’ve got three children – it’s not an . easy thing to do. Of course children should have privacy in childhood, . but we have exposed them to third party dangers and almost become . complicit in that. ‘We are usually paying for these . mobile phone contracts and devices. Haven’t we got a responsibility to . monitor what’s going on? We need a return to common sense.’ Nick Pickles, director of the Big . Brother Watch campaign group, insisted there was ‘total lack of . evidence’ to support what he branded Mrs Perry’s ‘Mary Whitehouse 2.0 . campaign’. ‘Parenting is dependent on a . relationship of trust, and spying only undermines the parent-child . relationship. Whether reading a diary or reading a text message, privacy . is not something to be brushed aside in a wave of hysteria and cheap . headlines,’ he said.
### SUMMARY:
| Shadow health minister Diane Abbot claims public displays of sexuality crate a 'prison' for young girls .
Parents are 'struggling to cope' and need help to control texts and internet .
PM's advisor on childhood Claire Perry says parents feel 'powerless' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
TV watchdog Ofcom has rejected complaints that comedian Ricky Gervais's use of the word 'mong' during a stand-up show was offensive. The Office star and controversial comedian claimed that Britain's Got Talent singer Susan Boyle looked like a 'mong' during his 'Science' live show on Channel 4 last year. During a tirade about the Scots singer in October, Gervais said: 'She would not be where she is today if it wasn’t for the fact that she looked like such a f*****g mong.' Controversy: Gervais, seen here in a picture posted on his Twitter feed, branded Susan Boyle a 'mong' and repeatedly used the term on the micro-blogging site last year . Outspoken: The comedian, pictured hosting the Golden Globes last week, was described as 'exploratory and subversive' in an Ofcom ruling today . 'When she first came on the telly, I went, "Is that a mong?" You all did.' The jibes saw charity bosses write to Gervais to demand he stop using the word, which they saw is a cruel nickname for Down's Syndrome sufferers. Ofcom launched an investigation, but today cleared Channel 4 of breaching guidelines on offensive content. The TV regulator ruled that although Gervais's comments could cause 'considerable offence', they were justified in the context of a late night comedy show. Ofcom ruled that Gervais's jibes towards Susan Boyle were 'justified in the context of provocative comedy' During the show, Gervais went on to say that he didn't mean Boyle had Down's Syndrome, and argued the word 'mong' was no longer associated with sufferers of the condition. Ofcom said that in the name of freedom of expression, no word was banned after the TV watershed. However, there must be a good reason for using language many people find offensive. The regulator's own research found that many people did not know of ‘mong’ came from the term ‘mongoloid’ – an offensive term for people with Down‟s syndrome – but it ‘could cause considerable offence to those who are aware of the association’. In its ruling, Ofcom said: 'We noted that the programme began at 22:35, more than an hour and a half after the watershed, and that therefore most viewers of the programme would have been expecting stronger and more challenging content. 'The late scheduling of the programme, . and its late night comedy context on Channel 4, meant that the majority . of the audience was likely to expect the exploratory and subversive . bent of the programme in general and of Ricky Gervais's humour in . particular. 'Offensive': Gervais's previous use of the word 'mong' saw him contacted by campaigners who demand he stop using the term . The comedian has insisted the meaning of the word 'mong' has changed over time . 'We also took . into account that Channel 4 brought the challenging nature of the . content to the attention of viewers with a warning at the start of the . programme, which stated that it would contain 'strong language and adult . humour'. 'We therefore concluded that several aspects of this content had the potential to cause considerable offence. 'However, on balance, this potential offence was justified by the context of this provocative comedy routine challenging the evolution of words, as broadcast with a warning as part of a late night comedy show on Channel 4.' The broadcasting regulator did, however, issue a warning to TV bosses about the use of the word 'mong'. Although Gervais claims 'mong' is no longer a derogatory term, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) still classifies it as offensive: . Its entry states:'Mongol: A person with Down's syndrome. Now generally regarded as offensive.' The use of the word harks back to the implied similarity in appearance of those with Down's syndrome and the Mongol race of East Asia - who established an empire in much of Eurasia during the 13th century. Its un-PC usage is cited in the OED as far back as 1866: . 'I have for some time had my attention directed to the possibility of making a classification of the feeble-minded by arranging them around various ethnic standards. 'A very large number of congenital idiots are typical Mongols.' The citation is from none other than John Langdon Down - the man after whom Down's syndrome was named. It was Down's work at an asylum in Surrey in the late 1860s that led to the term 'Mongolian idiocy' being used to classify certain clinical cases. It was not until 1961 that the term Down's syndrome was first used, following consultation with genetics experts unhappy with the previous label. They said their research showed it had the potential to be highly offensive and 'great care' should be taken over its use. Gervais has been criticised by the Down Syndrome's Association for his repeated use of the word. The award-winning comedian and writer landed himself in hot water for a second time with his use of the word by repeatedly using the word 'mong' on his Twitter account and blog. After using the word on the mico-blogging site, Gervais was eventually questioned by Nicola Clark, a disability campaigner and mother of two disabled girls. Mrs Clark broke down in tears while discussing the row on Jeremy Vine's BBC Radio 2 show last October. Mrs Clark had wept while discussing the abuse directed at her daughters by people on the street using words like ‘mong’. Multi-millionaire Gervais went on to describe his use of 'mong' as 'naive' in an online conversation with Mrs Clark. Gervais then contacted Mrs Clark on Twitter to offer ‘a very public thank you’ for her ‘kind, rational and understanding words in private’ since the issue broke. Speaking about the controversy last year, Gervais said: 'I have used 'mong', but never to mean Down Syndrome and never would. 'The meaning of words change over time, 'gay' for example. 'The modern use of the word 'mong' means dopey or ignorant, it's in slang and urban dictionaries.' Channel 4 argued that Gervais was 'exploring the contemporary use of the word in a comedic context' and said he did not mean to suggest Boyle had a disability. After Gervais's use of the word 'mong' in October, Penny Green, director of Down's Syndrome charity Down's Heart Group, refuting his claim that the meaning of the word has changed. After learning of Ofcom's ruling, she told MailOnline today: It's very sad that in effect Ofcom is excusing Ricky Gervais because of the time the show was broadcast and a very loose warning about content and yet they issued a warning to TV bosses about the use of the word saying 'their research showed it had the potential to be highly offensive and 'great care' should be taken over its use.' 'It's almost like giving carte blanche to anyone to use offensive language directed at a particular group just as long as they do it at 'an appropriate time'. 'Why can't we just accept people for who they are? And if we really can't cope with their differences (usually from fear of the unknown or outdated and unrealistic stories I might add), can't we just avoid them without feeling the need to publicly poke fun at and humiliate them.' A spokeswoman for Boyle refused to comment. Representatives for Ricky Gervais did not respond to requests for comment.
### SUMMARY:
| Regulator rules insult was not offensive 'in the context of late-night comedy'
Comedian made joke in 'Science' show last year .
Channel 4 screening was 'exploratory and subversive' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The official leading the investigation into missing Flight MH370 says he is 'confident' of finding the plane, but admitted the search could take a year. Angus Houston, a retired Australian Air Chief Marshal, said it was important that the search continues with 'urgency', ahead of a meeting to discuss operations next week. Mr Houston made the comments a day after the first official report into the disappeared plane revealed air traffic controllers did not notice MH370 was missing until 17 minutes after it vanished from radar. The report also showed officials did not dispatch a rescue team until almost four hours later - despite contacting staff in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Scroll down for video . Angus Houston, the official in charge of the search for MH370, says he is 'confident' teams will find the aircraft . However, he warned passengers' relatives (file pic) that the search could take up to a year . The aerial search for floating debris has now been called off, but an underwater search is expected to take place in the area where, according to satellite data, officials believe the plane crashed. Officials from Australia, China and Malaysia will meet in Canberra next week to discuss how the search should take place. According to the BBC, Mr Houston said: 'That's a very important meeting because it will formalise the way ahead to ensure that this search continues with urgency and doesn't stop at any stage. 'The search will take probably in the order of eight months, maybe eight to 12 months if we have bad weather or other issues. Yesterday a month-old report was revealed by the Malaysian government under pressure from grieving families. Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (right) said the release was in the interests of transparency . Report: Malaysian authorities have released the five-page document almost a month after it was finished . 'But we're totally committed to find MH370 and I'm confident that with an effective search we will eventually find the aircraft.' The preliminary report, written almost a month ago and dated April 9, was meant to stay confidential but the Malaysian Prime Minister bowed to demands of families who complained the government had not done enough and published it yesterday. The report confirms the plane disappeared from Malaysian radar at . 1.21 am on March 8 with 227 passengers and 12 crew on board, and no trace of it has been found since. It was passing into Vietnamese airspace, and should have been picked up by counterparts there. But the report reveals Vietnamese air traffic controllers only . queried about it with their Malaysian colleagues at 1.38am. The Malaysian authorities then contacted area control centres in Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia and an operations centre at Malaysia Airlines, and none could find any trace of the plane. Release: As well as the report, authorities have revealed this map showing possible flight paths . Standing down: Crews from several nations searching for MH370, pictured in Perth, were called off this week . But it took another four hours, until 5.30am local time, before a Rescue Coordination Centre in the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur was activated. The report said the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which sets worldwide standards, should discuss new methods of real-time tracking to ensure a huge passenger jet is never lost again. It said: 'While commercial air . transport aircraft spend considerable amounts of time operating over . remote areas, there is currently no requirement for real time tracking . of these. 'There have now . been two occasions during the last five years when large commercial air . transport aircraft have gone missing and their last position was not . accurately known. 'This uncertainty resulted in significant difficulty in locating the aircraft in a timely manner. 'Therefore, the Malaysian Air Accident Investigation Bureau makes [its] safety recommendation to the ICAO.' Delay: A passage of the report reveals how authorities waited until 5.30am local time before launching a search . Mystery: The report confirms authorities' belief that the plane flew either north or south when it vanished . As well as the five-page report the government released other information from the . investigation into the flight. It included audio recordings of . conversations between the cockpit and air traffic control, the plane's . cargo manifest and its seating plan. Malaysia . also released a map showing the plane's deducted flight path and . a document detailing actions taken by authorities in the hours after . the Boeing 777 disappeared from radar. Another report showed Malaysia Airlines at one point thought the plane, built in 2002, may have entered Cambodian airspace. The airline said in the report that 'MH370 was able to exchange signals with the flight and flying in Cambodian airspace,' but that Cambodian authorities said they had no information or contact with Flight 370. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak last week appointed a team of experts to review all the information the government had and decide what should be made public. Tragedy: The flight had 227 passengers and 12 crew including Fariq Hamid (left) and pilot Zaharie Ahmad . Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said today: 'The prime minister set, as a guiding principle, the rule that as long as the release of a particular piece of information does not hamper the investigation or the search operation, in the interests of openness and transparency, the information should be made public.' Hishammuddin said Malaysia's military radar tracked the jet making a turn-back in a westerly direction after playing back radar data the next morning, nearly seven hours after the plane vanished from civilian radar. He said he was informed about the military discovery two hours later and relayed this to Najib, who immediately ordered a search in the Strait of Malacca. He defended the military's inaction in pursuing the plane for identification. 'The aircraft was categorized as friendly by the radar operator and therefore no further action was taken at the time,' Hishammuddin said. The cargo manifest, meanwhile, includes a receipt for a package containing lithium ion batteries, noting that the package 'must be handled with care.' Disappeared: The Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 which vanished almost two months ago without trace . Some questions had been raised in March about the batteries and whether they could explode. But Malaysia Airlines said then that they were in compliance with international requirements and classified as 'non-dangerous goods.' Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines today advised relatives of passengers who were aboard Flight 370 to move out of hotels and return home to wait for news on the search for the plane. Since the jet disappeared, the airline has been putting the relatives up in hotels, where they have been briefed on the search. But the airline said today it would close its family assistance centers around the world by May 7, and that the families should receive search updates from 'the comfort of their own homes.' The airline said that it would establish family support centers in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing, and that it would keep in close touch with the relatives through means including phone calls and meetings. Malaysia Airlines also said it would soon make advanced compensation payments to the relatives. No wreckage from the plane has been found, and an aerial search for surface debris ended Monday after six weeks of fruitless hunting. An unmanned submarine is continuing to search underwater in an area of the southern Indian Ocean where sounds consistent with a plane's black box were detected in early April. Additional equipment is expected to be brought in within the next few weeks to scour an expanded underwater area. The head of the search effort has predicted that the search could drag on for as long as a year.
### SUMMARY:
| Officials meeting Australia next week to decide next phase of mission .
Aerial search called off, but underwater search to be stepped up .
Report released yesterday details last known moments of jet on March 8 .
Reveals four-hour gap from plane going missing to search team being told .
Report recommends new worldwide standard of real-time plane tracking . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
This is the pregnant teacher who schoolboy Will Cornick wanted to murder in front of other children. The crazed 16-year-old fantasised about brutally taking the life of Sinéad Miley’s unborn child. Cornick also intended to target Andrew Kellett, his head of year, in the atrocity he spent three years meticulously planning. He stabbed Spanish teacher Ann Maguire, 61, to death in her classroom, but was not able to carry out his aim of attacking the other two staff members. Scroll down for video . Other targets: William Cornick had said he would stab pregnant Corpus Christi Catholic College languages teacher Sinéad Miley (left) and kill head of year Andrew Kellett (right) Mrs Miley, 38, is believed to have had a baby girl, and is on maternity leave. She declined to comment from her family home in South Yorkshire yesterday. On the morning he murdered Mrs Maguire, Cornick told a girl in school he intended to stab Miss Miley in the stomach ‘so as to kill her unborn child’. The court heard ‘he had not had the slightest problem’ with the teacher and there was no explanation as to why he should want to target her. Mrs Miley had been a pupil at Corpus Christi before returning as a teacher. She was close to Mrs Maguire, and her tribute to the much-loved ‘mother of the school’ was read in court. It said: ‘Ann Maguire was such an amazing woman and teacher. She taught me when I was a pupil and supported me in my career since I have been teaching at Corpus. Ann loved her job and wanted all her kids to work hard and reach their full potential.’ Murder: Cornick (left) was jailed for life with a minimum of 20 years for killing Ann Maguire (right) in Leeds . The court heard that Cornick told fellow pupils Mr Kellett, an assistant headmaster, was also on his seemingly random hit list. Again there was no known reason for his implacable hatred, although it did emerge that Mr Kellett had spoken to Cornick two months before the murder after he defied a ban on going to a bowling trip imposed by Mrs Maguire for not doing homework. When Mrs Maguire came into the meeting, Cornick stood up to walk out. This led to another meeting the next day with the teenager’s parents. It is not clear whether this incident increased his hatred of Mr Kellett. Teenage killer: Cornick, 16, sits in the dock at Leeds Crown Court during his sentencing hearing . On Monday, Cornick was given a life term and told he would stay locked up for a minimum of 20 years. Passing sentence at Leeds Crown Court, Mr Justice Coulson said experts considered him such a danger that he might die behind bars. His crime has shocked the public, leading to concerns over why he was never reported to the authorities. Yesterday Leeds City Council announced that an inquiry, dubbed a ‘learning lessons review’, would be held to report on ‘all circumstances’ surrounding the tragedy. No remorse: Schoolboy Cornick (left) had an image of the Grim Reaper (right) at the top of his Facebook page . Cornick messaged his friends on Facebook about his intentions, and his irrational fury at Mrs Maguire was known to the school and his parents. In the attack, which it emerged he spent three years planning, he brought a large kitchen knife to school and stabbed Mrs Maguire repeatedly in the back and neck from behind as she worked at her desk. Teenagers fled screaming and the teacher staggered into a corridor where she was helped into a side room by a brave colleague who put herself between Cornick and his victim. The murderer returned to his desk, saying ‘Good times’, and waited calmly to be arrested. It later emerged the then 15-year-old had sent chilling messages on Facebook in which he spoke of ‘brutally killing’ Mrs Maguire and spending the rest of his life behind bars. In one post he wrote she deserved ‘more than death more than pain’. Scene: The classroom at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, where Cornick killed Mrs Maguire in April . The inquiry will be carried out by the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board and headed by its independent chairman Jane Held, a national expert on child protection issues with more than 30 years’ experience. Mrs Held said: ‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies remain with all those affected by this tragic event. ‘Following this unprecedented incident the members of the Leeds Safeguarding Children Board have already agreed to work with the school and other agencies, to look into all of the circumstances surrounding the incident, and help with any learning for all agencies involved.’ A decision on whether to hold a serious case review – a more formal form of investigation – has not yet been made. The safeguarding board inquiry team will involve members from the council, police, health and education services. A spokesman said it was ‘very likely’ that the team’s report will be published, although it is ‘not a requirement’ to do so. ‘They will be looking at everything and talking to everybody involved,’ said the spokesman. On the morning of the murder Cornick showed other pupils knives and told them he intended to attack the teacher, but no one took him seriously enough to report him. Victim's family: (from left) Mrs Maguire's daughters Emma and Kerry and widower Don at Leeds Crown Court following the sentencing of Cornick for the teacher's murder . Although his extreme dislike of Mrs Maguire was known to the school it is not clear whether any members of staff had heard talk about his murder plan. Too harsh: Penelope Gibbs, chairman of the Standing Committee for Youth Justice, said the sentence given to murderer William Cornick was too long . The headmaster of Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds was not available for comment. Public fury over the crime was yesterday fuelled by comments from a senior youth justice campaigner, who said the sentence was too long. Penelope Gibbs, the chairman of the Standing Committee for Youth Justice (SCYJ) umbrella group of charities and campaign groups, said: ‘I don’t think a child – and he was a child – should get a life sentence because they are young, their brain is not mature and a life sentence is indeterminate, it could last forever. I think no other western European country would impose a life sentence on a teenager. ‘Do we want him to be rehabilitated? Do we want him to leave prison the lowest risk possible of causing more harm to others? Yes. How long do we need to achieve that, rather than how long do we need to punish him for. ‘We do need to punish him but I think to punish him for longer than he’s been alive for is disproportionate.’ But she received an internet backlash from parents who supported a long prison term. Emma Sutcliffe commented: ‘Mrs Maguire taught me 20 years ago, my daughter was two classrooms away when this happened. Too light a sentence? Not at all… he was on his way to attack other teachers and one of those was pregnant! He deserved to be sectioned for life to be totally honest.’ Louise Longbottom, the mother of a pupil ‘in the next classroom’, also welcomed the lengthy sentence. She said the family have to ‘live with this everyday’ and the parents have been left to ‘pick up the pieces.’
### SUMMARY:
| William Cornick killed Spanish teacher Mrs Maguire, 61, in Leeds in April .
But 16-year-old had also said he would kill head of year Andrew Kellett .
Teenager also wanted to slay pregnant languages teacher Sinéad Miley .
Police, prosecutors and council insist no one could have foreseen killing .
Cornick had planned murder of Mrs Maguire for as long as three years . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Britain’s house price boom is showing no sign of slowing – after fresh figures released today revealed the cost of buying a house has increased 11.7 per cent over the past year. The average cost of a house in the UK hit a new high of £274,000 in August, as increases in London and the South East fuelled a nationwide jump in prices. In the capital property prices jumped by 19.6 per cent – with the average home now worth £514,000. Scroll down for video . London properties continue to pull away from the rest of the country, according to this morning's ONS figures . The average cost of a home in London is now almost twice as much as elsewhere in the country . The increasing cost of housing is making it increasingly difficult for first-time buyers to get their foot on the ladder. In August, prices paid by first-time buyers were 12.9 per cent higher on average than the same time last year. The average price for properties bought by first-time buyers increased was £210,000. England continued to see the largest house price growth across the UK – with properties going up in value by 12.2 per cent in the year to August. The cost of buying a home in Wales was up 4.7 per cent, while in Scotland prices jumped 6.7 per cent. Northern Ireland also enjoyed strong house price growth – with property values up 9.6 per cent over the year. England’s housing boom was driven by the capital – but also by East Anglia and the wider South East. In the areas around London prices jumped 12.3 per cent, while ‘the East’ region saw the cost of properties increase by 11.6 per cent. Excluding London and the South East, UK house prices increased by 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to August 2014. The North East has the lowest average house price at £154,000. London, the South East and the East all had prices higher than the UK average price of £274,000. Excluding London and the South East, the average house price across the country was £208,000. House prices are continuing to soar across the country - driven by runaway property costs in London and the South East . After a big drop in price rises during 2009 prices have carried on booming in the property market . Labour this morning raised concerns that soaring prices were making it increasingly leaving workers behind. Catherine McKinnell, Labour’s Shadow Treasury Minister, said: 'Total pay is rising at just 0.6 per cent. 'Working people whose real wages have fallen by £1,600 a year since 2010 face a further hit if the Tories win the election and cut tax credits again.' A rise in interest rates could be delayed until the middle of next year after inflation dropped to a five-year low. Cheaper travel, restaurants, books and gadgets like tablets and laptops meant the CPI rate of inflation was just 1.2 per cent in September, well below the Bank of England's target of 2 per cent, and the lowestr since September 2009. Low inflation removes any immediate pressure on the Bank to raise interest rates amid the continuing uncertain recovery in the wider economy. New figures from the Office for National Statistics show the CPI rate of inflation has fallen to just 1.2 per cent . The Office for National Statistics said the fall from 1.5 per cent in August had been sharper than expected. For the fifth month in a row food bills fell, down by 1.4 per cent year-on-year, the steepest drop since June 2002. It is the longest sustained period of flat or falling food prices since the end of 2004. Low inflation is good news for millions of families who have been struggling to cope with rising bills. Latest figures show that average wages are rising by 0.7 per cent year-on-year, so even with 1.2 per cent inflation incomes are being outstripped by rising prices. Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'It's good news that inflation remains low. Our long-term economic plan is delivering more financial security and stability for families. 'Today's inflation figures mean a big real-terms increase in the state pension next year - helping people who've worked hard all their lives.' The Bank of England targets inflation at 2 per cent but it has now been below this level for nine months in a row. With inflation falling, the Bank will be reluctant to put up interest rates amid fears it could stifle the recovery. Cheaper transport and computer prices and lower bills in restaurants were the biggest factors for the lower rate of inflation, the ONS said . Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said: 'With oil and petrol prices falling, import costs dropping due to the exchange rate, supermarkets engulfed in price wars and wage growth at a record low, it's hard to see why inflation should do anything other than fall further in coming months,. 'This more benign inflation outlook should certainly take pressure off the Bank of England to raise rates, and could even add to calls for policy-makers to do more to shore up the recovery amid signs that growth could fade in coming months. 'While a few months ago, the likelihood was growing that the Bank might need to hike interest rates in late 2014 or early next year, the data are now stacking up to suggest a hike could be delayed at least until next summer, after the general election.' ING Bank economist James Knightley said: 'With inflation substantially below the Bank of England's 2 per cent target and the eurozone growth outlook appearing to deteriorate, there is little pressure to tighten monetary policy any time soon. 'This means our February prediction for the first rate hike may be a little early.' Soaring house prices have been hitting the headlines, but there are plenty of things you can do to try and reduce the cost of buying a home. The most significant is picking the right type of mortgage for you. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of options out there, so, as well as doing your own research, this is an occasion to search out expert opinion from a good mortgage broker. First, read Mail Online's award-winning money section This is Money's regularly updated What next for mortgage rates? This outlines the current state of the market and highlights the current best buy deals. Then also check the top mortgage deals on offer currently in our best buy mortgage tables, or click through by using our helpful table (right). You should now be armed with some knowledge about what is on offer and you can use our True cost mortgage calculator to compare how different deals stack up. You should also talk to a mortgage broker. There is no obligation to go through with their recommendation and so they may not end up actually arranging the mortgage for you, but they will be able to explain your options and help you to find the best deal. Go a broker who offers advice from the whole market. Avoid brokers who offer a restricted service based on products from a limited number of lenders, and don't just simply go to your bank - unless you get lucky, you will be unlikely to find the best deal this way . This is Money has a carefully chosen partnership with mortgage broker London and Country. We have picked them because they offer a good service, with no upfront fees. Find about more about London & Country's fee free mortgage advice here. Amy Andrew, This is Money .
### SUMMARY:
| Average cost of a house in the UK hit a new high of £274,000 in August .
London homes now worth £514,000 while in North East they cost £154,000 .
Excluding the capital and South East, UK house prices increased by 7.8% .
Fall in inflation means interest rate rise could be delayed until after May . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The housewife and whistle blower at the center of the David Petraeus sex scandal and another involving General John Allen may have been hoping for some financial gain by lifting the lid on the affair, after it emerged today she and her husband are broke. Tampa socialite Jill Kelley, 37, and her cancer surgeon husband Scott owe millions to banks after the collapse of their real estate holdings in 2010. The Kelleys are currently the targets of . at least four indebtedness lawsuits and two foreclosures in . Hillsborough County, according to court records. Scroll down for video . Speaking out: Jill Kelley, the Florida housewife at the centre of the David Petraeus sex scandal has spoken for the first time and said she is an 'innocent victim' Luxurious: Residents walk past the house belonging to Jill Kelley on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa which is believed to be in foreclosure . Gossip Extra reported today that the Kelleys are fighting to keep their properties. Jill has been called the 'other woman' in the Petraeus sex scandal, which was exposed after she took . threatening emails to the FBI sent from biographer and . alleged mistress Paula Broadwell warning her to stay away from the CIA chief. Now that the state of their finances . has been exposed, speculation is rife Jill broke the scandal so she . could make money from it. Jill Kelley with her husband Dr Scott Kelley, who are said to be in financial trouble . She has now also been dragged into a second scandal after General John R. Allen, commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, has been accused of sending thousands of 'inappropriate' emails to her. Allen is under investigation by the FBI after the agency discovered between 20,000 and 30,000 pages of communication between him and the 37-year-old housewife. If he is found to have engaged in an extramarital affair - a crime in the military - he faces being court martialed, bringing a spectacular fall from grace and the end to a glittering army career that has spanned nearly 40 years. Central Bank . have a suit against the Kelleys and Kelly Land Holdings, centered on a three-story . office building downtown Tampa. Court records . show they owed the bank nearly $2.2 million, including attorney fees. In 2011, a judge ordered the property to be put up for sale. Regions Bank, meanwhile, is trying to . foreclose on the couple's historic $1.3million waterfront house, . claiming they defaulted on a $271,000-credit line with their five . bedroom house as collateral, according to Gossip Extra. It is currently worth $840,000 and though it is one of the most spectacular on Bayshore Boulevard from the outside, the 1923 built home is in need of repair. Paintwork on the home is peeling and behind the home the driveway leading to a triple garage is cracked and covered with weeds. The front lawn, where Kelley would host . catered parties attended by the military, remains immaculate but out of . sight in an alleyway running at the rear of the property rubbish is . piled high against a wall. Lawyers hired by the socialite couple would not comment on the state of their finances. Jealous: Broadwell sent Jill Kelley, far right, threatening emails warning her to stay away from Petraeus. Pictured with Kelley is her husband, Scott, and Holly Petraeus . Details: The FBI will not elaborate on the . nature of the relationship between Allen, the senior allied commander in . Afghanistan, and Florida housewife Jill Kelley, except to say that it . is 'potentially inappropriate' Jill Kelley insisted yesterday she has never been romantically involved with Petraeus but is the 'innocent victim' in the scandal. The socialite is better known in Tampa for throwing charity . parties on the front lawn of her house. In fact, Petraeus and his wife Holly marked his first celebration of the Gasparilla pirate parade on . the Kelleys' lawn. The two couples became friends after . Petraeus took over the military’s Central Command at Tampa’s McDill Air . Force Base in 2008 where Jill was a volunteer social liaison. Jill Kelley spoke with her lawyer brother as her name first became linked to the resignation of Petraeus. David . Khawam told the Washington Post his sister telephoned him on Sunday and . told him to switch on the TV because her name was all over news . broadcasts. Khawam said his sister told him she was totally innocent and was not the 'other woman' in Petraeus' life. He is quoted as saying his sister said: 'I've done nothing wrong. I am the victim here. But it still feels awful.' Friends . of Kelley, a vivacious Lebanese-born mother-of-three, known for her . love of expensive designer dresses, have told MailOnline that she is . devoted to her family and scoffed at suggestions she was romantically . involved with Petraeus. Affair: David Petraeus is pictured with Paula Broadwell, his biographer and alleged mistress . 'This other woman obviously read all the signs wrong,' said a friend who knows Kelley from their children’s private school. 'Jill is very attractive and can be touchy-feely. That’s just the way she is and there is nothing else.' Kelley, . a well-known figure on the social scene in her hometown of Tampa, . Florida, has hired the same crisis management firm Monica Lewinsky did . after the Clinton scandal and a top lawyer used by John Edwards since . being linked to the scandal. This has led to speculation that further damaging details could be revealed in the fall out from Petraeus’ resignation. Sources have revealed the emails she received from Broadwell were 'kind of cat-fight stuff'. Kelley . went to the FBI with the emails - and triggered the investigation that . led to the downfall of Petraeus and his shock resignation as CIA chief. The . source told The Daily Beast the emails were: 'More like, "Who do you . think you are? … You parade around the base … You need to take it down a . notch".' The Wall Street Journal reported that in one of the emails, Broadwell asked Kelley if her husband was aware of her actions. Another accused Kelley of touching Petraeus provocatively under a table. The source also said Kelley would often accompany Petraeus' wife Holly on shopping trips to the International Mall in Tampa. Kelley, whose husband is a top cancer surgeon, has dodged questions from the media. Before leaving her home she called police to the $1.3 million mansion to ask media to respect her privacy. She left the home in a silver Mercedes with the registration plate 'Honorary Consul' - a nod to her work as an unpaid liaison officer for the military headquarters at MacDill Airforce Base. It was during Petraeus' two years in Tampa at the CENTCOM headquarters that he became friends with Kelley and her husband Scott. The friendship continued after the general left Tampa with the Kelley’s visiting the Petaeus’s home in Washington DC.
### SUMMARY:
| Tampa socialite Jill Kelley and her husband are the target of at least four indebtedness lawsuits and two foreclosures .
Has prompted speculation she lifted the lid on affair for financial gain .
Has today been dragged into a second scandal after it emerged that General John Allen sent her up to 30,000 'inappropriate' emails . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
1. Daniele de Rossi - £100,000-per-week . 2. Gonzalo Higuain - £84,000-per-week . 3. Carlos Tevez - £70,000-per-week . As the annual salaries of every Serie A player were released on Monday, there seems to be little doubt that the Italian league is falling behind Europe's top leagues. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Serie A clubs are now spending close to a combined £500million less on wages compared with 2011 as even the league's highest earners collect far less than Premier League and La Liga stars. Paul Pogba, for example, is set to earn just £23,000-per-week net this season despite being one of the most talented young midfielders in the world and a player Juventus will no doubt hope to keep hold of. Worth more? Paul Pogba (right) will earn just £23,000-per-week from his current deal with Juventus . Juventus, however, do lead the way in money spent on wages and are the only Italian club to increase their wage bill from the 2013/14 season with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal earning upwards of £60,000-per-week. Roma star Daniele De Rossi can boast that he is Roma's highest earner with a contract worth £5.2m excluding any bonuses. Former Chelsea star and Roma new boy Ashley Cole decided to move to Italy after failing to agree a contract extenstion with the Blues and has signed up to earn around £35,000-per-week with Rudi Garcia's side. Big money: Former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez (left) is the top earner at Juventus . Love of the game: Ashley Cole (right) has taken a wag cut to join Roma and will earn £35,000-per-week . 1. Daniele de Rossi - £100,000-per-week . 2. Marco Borriello - £54,000-per-week . 3. Miralem Pjanic - £49,000-per-week . 4. Gervinho - £45,000-per-week . 5. Kevin Strootman - £43,000-per-week . 8. Ashley Cole - £35,000-per-week . 1. Carlos Tevez - £69,000-per-week . 2. Gianluigi Buffon - £61,000-per-week . 3. Arturo Vidal - £61,000-per-week . 4. Andrea Pirlo - £58,000-per-week . 5. Fernando Llorente - £54,000-per-week . 15. Paul Pogba - £23,000-per-week . Cole's former England team-mate Micah Richards decided to follow in the left back's footsteps and head to Italy in search of first-team football with Fiorentina. The 26-year-old is set to earn £26,000-per-week with his new club and becomes Fiorentina's fourth highest earner behind Alberto Aquilani, Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Gomez. Elswhere, former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic will recoup around £50,000-per-week as he shares the highest earner at Inter Milan award with Argentine forward Rodrigo Palacio, with both set to earn a minimum of £2.5m for the 2014/15 season. After a difficult three years with Chelsea, Fernando Torres has finally searched for pastures new after signing a two-year loan deal with AC Milan. At the back: Nemanja Vidic is Inter Milan's highest earner after his move from Manchester United . Cut: Fernando Torres (above) goes from £175,000-per-week at Chelsea to £60,000-per-week at AC Milan . Main man: Daniele De Rossi is Serie A's highest earner with a contract worth £5.2m excluding any bonuses . 1. Fernando Torres - £61,000-per-week . 2. Philippe Mexes - £61,000-per-week . 3. Riccardo Montolivo - £54,000-per-week . 4. Nigel de Jong - £54,000-per-week . 5. Diego Lopez - £38,000-per-week . 1. Nemanja Vidic - £50,000-per-week . 2. Rodrigo Palacio - £50,000-per-week . 3. Hernanes - £46,000-per-week . 4. Fredi Guarin - £43,000-per-week . 5. Andrea Ranocchia - £34,000-per-week . The Spanish striker slips straight into the club's highest earner spot and will collect close to £61,000 each week - nowehere near his £175,000-per-week deal in west London. The decline in wages, and perhaps the decline is Italian football is clear to see when looking at the pay of Inter's highest earner Samuel Eto'o during the 2009/10 season. Eto'o was earning a staggering £160,000-per-week at the San Siro compared to the £50,000-per-week of Vidic. Dip: Micah Richards has move to Fiorentina in search of first team football and will earn £26,000-per-week . High earner: Samuel Eto'o was on a £160,000-a-week contract during the 2009/10 season at Inter Milan . Inter's second highest earner Patrick Vieira was quite a way off Eto'o's figures but still managed to collect £84,000-per-week. The figures are also a stark contrast to that of the highest earners elsewhere with the likes of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi all earning over £200,000-per-week to ply their trade in La Liga. De Rossi's highest-earner tag is dwarfed by the Premier League's top earner Wayne Rooney, who can boast a stunning £300,000-per-week. In the money: Wayne Rooney's £300,000-per-week wages dwarf those in the Serie A .
### SUMMARY:
| Serie A reveal annual salaries of each player .
Pogba earning just £23,000-per-week net at Juve despite world-class talent .
Radamel Falcao earning £149,000-per-week at Manchester United .
Daniele De Rossi is Serie A's highest earner with £100,000-per-week deal .
Ashley Cole earning £35,000-per-week after signing with Roma this summer .
Nemanja Vidic becomes Inter Milan's top earner on £50,000-per-week .
Figures show decline in Italy's top league as Premier League and La Liga wages dwarf Italian figures .
Samuel Eto'o was earning £160,000-per-week at Inter Milan in 2009 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Inter Milan have announced the capture of Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic for next season. Sportsmail revealed how Inter had been first to react to the veteran Manchester United defender’s decision to quit Old Trafford at the end of the season. The club confirmed they had finally got their man on Wednesday and a picture of Vidic was posted on Inter's official Twitter feed along with a welcome message for the United star that read: 'Here's Vidic signing his contract. See you in June, Nemanja!' VIDEO Scroll down to watch David Moyes talk about Vidic's decision to quit Old Trafford . Done deal: Nemanja Vidic looks delighted in this picture tweeted by Inter as he puts pen to paper . A new look: Nemanja Vidic in an Inter Milan shirt, as imagined by Sportsmail . On his way: Inter Milan have announced the signing of Nemanja Vidic on a free transfer . Floored: Olympiacos' Michael Olaitan beats Vidic during the Champions League defeat in Greece . Calamitous performance: Vidic tries to stop Paulo Machado as United lose to Olympiacos . Turning his back on United: Vidic (second left) will leave Old Trafford after eight years . President Erick Thohir immediately hailed the signing as 'crucial' for the team. 'Vidic is a great champion,' he said . on inter.it. 'I am extremely satisfied with the completion of this . agreement that will bring Nemanja to Milan. 'He . is one of the strongest defenders in the world, for his . characteristics, his international experience, his charisma as a leader . will be crucial for the team and the growth of our younger players. 'He will add value to the club and will be another pillar for the construction of a great Inter. 'Finally, . I want to thank Manchester United, Nemanja and his entourage for his . availability and the professionalism shown during the negotiation . process.' An agreement has been reached on a . lucrative three-season deal that will send Vidic into . retirement on a high, in terms of status and earnings, at another of . Europe's most famous clubs. The . 32-year-old's contract that will be portrayed as being for two years, . with an option for a third, but is effectively for three seasons. He . needs to make a certain number of appearances for the third year to kick . in, but it is believed to be so low – barely double figures each season . – that it should be a formality. With . the Serbia centre back out of contract in the summer and a free agent, . he has been able to secure a salary of £3m a year after stoppages, . despite his best years being behind him. It is the equivalent of around £6m . each season, before tax and other deductions, and means he will have . earned close on £20m by the time he finishes his San Siro contract . and, in all probability, calls time on his career at the top. Backing the boys: Inter Milan fans will be watching Vidic next season at the San Siro . All smiles: Vidic announced earlier this year he would leave United in the summer . A big leap: Vidic heads in a goal for United against Inter in the Champions League in 2009 . Winner: Vidic has lifted 10 major trophies at United, including the Premier League last season . Seeking the exit? Patrice Evra (right) could also leave United for Inter in the summer . The combative defender has proved an inspired signing since arriving at Old Trafford from Spartak Moscow for £7million in January, 2006, but is in danger of bowing out on a low after a dismal season for United on the domestic front and calamitous performance in Greece last week. However, Inter are not faring too much better in Serie A where they are fifth, 11 points off the Champions League places. And Inter might not be done there, with Patrice Evra also on the Italian side's wishlist. Like Vidic Evra, 32, will also be out of contract at United in June and so far the floundering Premier League champions have showed no inclination to offer him a new one. 1981: Born October 21 in Titovo Uzice in Yugoslavia. 1996: After impressing in youth football he is signed up by Red Star Belgrade. 2000-01: Spends his first season in the professional ranks on loan at Spartak Subotica. 2001-02: Returns to Belgrade and helps them to win the Yugoslav Cup. 2002: October 12 - Makes his international debut for Serbia and Montenegro against Italy in a Euro 2004 qualifier. 2004: Under his captaincy, Red Star win the Serbia and Montenegro league and cup double. July - Moves to Russian Premier League side Spartak Moscow for an undisclosed fee. 2005: December 25 - Manchester United confirm Vidic has agreed to join them in an estimated £7million deal. Makes his debut in a Carling Cup semi-final second-leg victory over Blackburn. 2006: Misses out on playing at the World Cup through suspension and injury having been part of a back four that conceded just one goal in 10 qualifying matches. 2006-07: Helps United regain the Premier League title after forming an excellent defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand. Also plays in FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea at Wembley. 2007: November 8 - Signs a two-year contract extension to keep him at Old Trafford until 2012. 2008: Helps United to claim their second straight league title and win the Champions League against Chelsea in Moscow. 2009: Plays in every game as Edwin van der Sar sets world record of 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal. Wins a third consecutive championship title. Introduced as a second-half substitute as United defeat Tottenham in the Carling Cup final. Completes full 90 minutes in Champions League final defeat by Barcelona in Rome. October 29 - Sent off in a 2-0 loss against Liverpool. It marks the third consecutive match against the Merseysiders in which he has been dismissed. 2010: Wins second consecutive League Cup winners' medal as United beat Aston Villa at Wembley. Plays in Serbia's World Cup campaign as they exit in the first round despite beating Germany 1-0. August - Signs four-year contract extension. Named United skipper. 2011: Leads United to another championship but part of team beaten by Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley. December - Ruptures cruciate ligaments in Champions League defeat by Basle. Ruled out for remainder of season, having already missed eight weeks with a calf injury. 2012: Returns for opening-day defeat at Everton but comeback lasts just five games before forced to undergo a second operation, keeping him out for three months. 2013: Captains United to the league title - the fifth of his time at Old Trafford. 2014: Sent off in final minute of Premier League defeat at Chelsea - the sixth red card of his United career, two of which came against the Stamford Bridge outfit and three against Liverpool. 2014: February 7 - Confirms he will leave Manchester United at end of the season. March 5 - Inter Milan announce Vidic will join them in the summer.
### SUMMARY:
| Nemanja Vidic will join Inter Milan at the end of the season, Italians confirm .
Vidic 'is a world-class player' says Inter president Erick Thohir .
Serbia centre back 'is another part of the great side we are building'
Vidic's three-year deal thought to be worth around £20m .
Italian side tweet picture of Serbian signing deal . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A mother told she had just months to live says being diagnosed with cancer has made her a better, more positive person. Kate Tonner brought her wedding forward after doctors declared the disease was incurable. She says the dire warning forced her to embrace life – so she moved house, left her job and started a bucket list of things to do before she died. Now, two years on, she feels 'more alive than ever' - and credits cancer for her positive outlook. 'I've realised that the most important thing is to grab life full on,' she said. 'Before I was treading through life. Now I live in the moment - life is way too short.' Kate Tonner (pictured right with daughter Grace) brought her wedding forward after doctors warned she didn't have long to live. The now 34-year-old was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer in 2012 . Mrs Tonner and her husband Ian, a fire officer, married on December 28, 2012, at a country home in Warwickshire. She said: 'By that stage, the cancer was in my lymph nodes and doctors said "we don't think you should wait"' Not only that, the 34-year-old believes her diagnosis has led her to have more fun and excitement than many people achieve in a lifetime. Not only has she sneaked into Buckingham Palace for a garden party, she has met Prince Charles and the Queen, been on a helicopter ride and spent hours having fun with her ten-year-old daughter, Grace. The former police officer, from Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, who was medically retired from her job in 2012, said: 'Weirdly, cancer has made me more positive about life. 'It's encouraged me to embrace life.' Mrs Tonner was diagnosed with type 2B cervical cancer in March 2012 when she was 30. It followed a smear test in winter 2011. 'I had been bleeding but had ignored having a smear test because I was too embarrassed,' she said. 'But I was at the doctors for something else and mentioned that I was bleeding. 'The nurse insisted I had a smear test.' Mrs Tonner (with husband Ian) had been diagnosed with the disease after a smear test. She had initially delayed having it as she was embarrassed - but a nurse insisted she have one after she mentioned bleeding . Despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in September 2012 Mrs Tonner was given the devastating news that the cancer had spread to her pelvis and lymph nodes and was 'incurable' THINGS ACHIEVED SO FAR... Get married . Move house . Raise money for charity . Go on holiday every year . Focus more on home life . Make Grace our priority – always make time for her school pays . Go on a helicopter ride . Go to London and see West End shows . Make every half-term an adventure . After tea at The Ritz and The Dorchester . Meet the Queen . Meet Steph and Dom from Gogglebox . Get pet dog . And the last outstanding thing.... Meet the singer Will Young . Just weeks later, in March 2012, Mrs Tonner was referred University Hospital Coventry, where doctors revealed her symptoms were actually those of cancer. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, in September that year there was more bad news - the cancer had spread to her pelvis and lymph nodes and was 'incurable'. As a next step, she needed more radiotherapy. 'Doctors said I had between six and 12 months,' she said. 'They knew my wedding was in April 2013 and told me it was a good idea to move it forward.' Mrs Tonner and her husband Ian, a fire officer, married on December 28, 2012, at a country home in Warwickshire. 'By that stage the cancer was in my lymph nodes and the doctors had said "we don't think you should wait to get married". 'I had already picked my dress so it was all okay – I just handed over money and let other people organise it. 'It was a really lovely day although I was really tired. 'But we were aware we didn't have long. They had said 'six to 12 months' in October 2012 so we knew we were living on a deadline.' And it was this deadline prompted the couple to make changes. 'After the initial shock, we decided we needed to make the best of the time we had,' said Mrs Tonner. 'We moved house because we were doing up the one we currently lived in - and wanted our free time to be free.' After the initial shock of the diagnosis, Mrs Tonner (pictured at Ascot) decided to make the most of the time she had left. She compiled a bucket list and vowed to spend as much time with her family as possible . Mrs Tonner and a friend in the house belonging to Gogglebox stars Steph and Dom . She and her friends also participated in a 10km race to raise money for a cancer charity . Previously a Police Community Support Officer, she also wanted to spend as much time as she could with her family. 'We wanted our free time to be spent together and with Grace,' she said. Shortly afterwards, she had the epiphany to write a bucket list before she died - and raise money for charity. 'I did a 10km race with all my friends for a cancer charity,' Mrs Tonner said. 'We go on holiday as often as we can, we went on a helicopter ride over Warwickshire and we've been to loads of shows in London. 'We've also had afternoon tea in The Savoy and The Ritz - and every half-term is an adventure.' One of her highlights was going to Buckingham Palace for a garden party. She saw the Queen, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. She continued: 'One of my best friends is in the RAF and was invited to a garden party but unfortunately got shingles and couldn't go so I went. 'We go on holiday as often as we can, we went on a helicopter ride over Warwickshire and we've been to loads of shows in London,' Mrs Tonner added . She is now working with the cancer charity Macmillan to promote its latest campaign - to raise awareness of the estimated 550,000 people in the UK who suffer with loneliness as a result of their cancer . 'It was a fab day. The Queen was there – but I forgot to take lots of pictures.' She also visited the home of Gogglebox's posh couple Steph and Dom, who she loves. She said: 'Being diagnosed with cancer has changed me completely. 'Cancer has changed me for the better – it's made me more positive. 'I don't know what the future holds. Doctors are unsure. They didn't expect me to be here. 'It's watch and wait.' Mrs Tonner's story features in Macmillan Cancer Support's Isolation Box which will take over London Paddington Station today as part of its Not Alone campaign. The interactive box, will allow people outside to see in but stop the person inside seeing out. The aim is to raise awareness of the estimated 550,000 people in the UK who suffer with loneliness as a result of their cancer.
### SUMMARY:
| Kate Tonner, 34, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in March 2012 .
Months later, doctors said it was incurable and she had 6-12 months left .
Urged her to bring forward wedding and make the most of remaining time .
She and her family moved house, she quit work and she made a bucket list .
Says the experience of living life to the full has made her a better person .
'Before I was treading through life - now I live in the moment,' she said .
Two years after her diagnosis, she is still working her way through the list . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Judge Sonia Sotomayor, who rose from the housing projects of the Bronx to the top of the legal profession, made history Thursday when the Senate confirmed her to become the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. Sonia Sotomayor, 55, will be the first Hispanic on the Supreme Court. Sotomayor was easily confirmed in a 68-31 vote. Nine Republicans joined a unanimous Democratic caucus in supporting her nomination. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, supported Sotomayor but was not present for the vote because of illness. Sotomayor, a 55-year-old federal appeals court judge, will be the 111th person to sit on the high court and the third female justice. She will be sworn in at the Supreme Court by Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday. President Obama, who selected Sotomayor on May 26, said he was "deeply gratified" by the Senate vote. "This is a wonderful day for Judge Sotomayor and her family, but I also think it's a wonderful day for America," Obama said at the White House. Watch Obama's remarks » . Watching the final vote with friends and family at the federal courthouse in Manhattan, Sotomayor was confirmed after senators spent a final day of debate rehashing arguments for and against her. Democrats continued to praised Sotomayor as a fair and impartial jurist with an extraordinary life story. Many Republicans portrayed her as a judicial activist intent on reinterpreting the law to conform with her own liberal political beliefs. Among other things, Republican opponents emphasized concerns over her statements and rulings on hot-button issues such as gun control, affirmative action and property rights. See how Sotomayor measures up with her new colleagues » . They also raised questions about some of her most controversial speeches and statements, including her hope that a "wise Latina woman, with the richness of her experiences" would reach a better conclusion than a white man "who hasn't lived that life." Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, helped close the debate by stressing the historic nature of the nomination. "It is distinctively American to continually refine our union, moving us closer to our ideals. Our union is not yet perfected, but with this confirmation, we will be making progress," Leahy said on the Senate floor. "Years from now, we will remember this time, when we crossed paths with the quintessentially American journey of Sonia Sotomayor, and when our nation took another step forward through this historic confirmation process." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, took aim at what he claimed was Sotomayor's inability to refrain from bringing her personal political opinions to bear on her rulings. "This is the most fundamental test for any judge and all the more so for those who would sit on our nation's highest court, where a judge's impulses and preferences are not subject to review. Because I'm not convinced that Judge Sotomayor would keep this commitment, I cannot support her nomination." Several Republicans, however, bucked party leadership by voting in favor of Sotomayor. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, announced Thursday morning that he had decided to back Sotomayor after weighing a range of factors, including her education, experience and temperament. "Judge Sotomayor is not the nominee I would have selected if I were president, but making a nomination is not my role here today," Voinovich said. "My role is to examine her qualifications to determine if she is fit to serve. ... Based on my review of her record, and using these factors, I have determined that Judge Sotomayor meets the criteria to become a justice on the Supreme Court." Voinovich was joined by Maine's Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, New Hampshire's Judd Gregg, Indiana's Richard Lugar, Missouri's Kit Bond, Florida's Mel Martinez, South Carolina's Lindsey Graham and Tennessee's Lamar Alexander. Watch the Senate vote » . In a telling political sign, none of the Republicans who voted for Sotomayor is seeking re-election in 2010. Conservative activists, including the powerful National Rifle Association, mounted a concerted effort to rally GOP opposition to Sotomayor. The abortion issue also played a significant role in the nomination, with abortion-rights supporters backing Sotomayor and opponents urging her defeat. "Today's historic vote is a sign of progress for Americans who want a Supreme Court that values individual freedom and privacy," said Nancy Keenan, head of the group National Abortion Rights Action League Pro-Choice America. Charmaine Yoest, head of Americans United For Life, praised the 31 Republican senators who opposed Sotomayor for a "stunning vote of 'no confidence' in a nominee whose background of abortion advocacy and record of judicial interventionism raise serious questions about her fitness for the high court." Underlying the debate over Sotomayor was the larger political question of whether the Republican Party risked alienating Hispanic voters by opposing the first Latina nominee. The party's share of the Hispanic vote dropped sharply in last year's presidential election. "If you meet all of the challenges that you are told you need to meet and still you can be told no, despite fidelity to Constitution, the law and precedent, then it sends a tough message to us as a community," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey. Sotomayor's confirmation capped an extraordinary rise from humble beginnings. Her parents came to New York from Puerto Rico during World War II. Her father worked in a factory and didn't speak English. She was born in the Bronx and grew up in a public housing project, not far from the stadium of her favorite team, the New York Yankees. Her father died when she was 9, leaving her mother to raise her and her younger brother. Her mother, whom Sotomayor has described as her biggest inspiration, worked six days a week to care for her and her brother, and instilled in them the value of an education. Sotomayor later graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and went on to attend Yale Law School, where she was editor of the Yale Law Journal. She worked at nearly every level of the judicial system over a three-decade career before being chosen by President Obama to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court. Accepting the nomination, Sotomayor thanked Obama for "the most humbling honor of my life." After the selection, Sotomayor was touted by her supporters as a justice with bipartisan favor and historic appeal. She has served as a judge on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals since 1998. She was named a district judge by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 and was elevated to her current seat by President Clinton. Sotomayor presided over about 450 cases while on the district court. Before her judicial appointments, she was a partner at a private law firm and spent time as an assistant district attorney prosecuting violent crimes. CNN's Lisa Desjardins, Kristi Keck and Bill Mears contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: Abortion opponent praises 31 Republican senators who voted "no"
Sonia Sotomayor wins confirmation by 68-31 vote .
She will be the 111th justice, the third woman and first Hispanic on high court .
Nine Republicans join unanimous Democratic caucus in supporting nomination . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Washington (CNN) -- Monkeys on cocaine. New windows for a closed visitor's center. Modern dance as a tool for software development. A report released Tuesday by conservative Sens. Tom Coburn and John McCain cited these and 97 other projects as leading examples of misguided or wasteful spending under the Obama administration's $862 billion economic stimulus bill. Titled "Summertime Blues," the report is the third by the two senators targeting projects that they say fail to meet the job-creation goal of spending under the Recovery Act of 2009. The report highlights the extraordinary "waste and mismanagement" of taxpayer dollars, said McCain, R-Arizona. The stimulus plan "was supposed to create jobs. It does not." The "American people have awakened to the incompetency of Washington," declared Coburn, R-Oklahoma. "The rest of the federal government is filled with stuff just like this." Both senators conceded that the stimulus plan has had some positive effect on the economy, but insisted any benefit was due solely to the sheer size of the package, and that its effectiveness had been blunted due its poor design and spending choices. Coburn complained the measure was full of projects that are "stupid or inappropriate," and fail to meet "the common sense test." The plan failed to give "us the biggest bang for our buck," he asserted. The Recovery Act, which was passed a few weeks after President Barack Obama took office, was a government-funded effort to kick-start economic activity in response to the ongoing recession. It called for "shovel-ready" jobs -- from road and bridge repair and construction to scientific research and expanded broadband and wireless service -- through federal contracts, grants and loans, as well as helping state and local governments avoid layoffs and funding tax cuts. The senators' report challenged the viability or effectiveness of specific projects across the country. However, the report's use of selected information from hundreds of footnoted sources left it unclear if the brief summaries of each project told the whole story. In a previous report last January, the senators included the Napa Valley Wine Train as an example of wasteful stimulus spending without mentioning that the money was for a flood control project along the train's route, rather than the train itself. The latest edition covered a broad range of projects including construction, research, development and conservation. Topping the list was $554,763 spent for new windows at the Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center at Mount St. Helens in Washington state. The U.S. Forest Service facility opened in 1993 at a cost of $11.5 million to provide visitors with panoramic views of the scenic volcano. However, it closed in 2007 due to staffing shortages, and now is getting the stimulus funds to replace its trademark windows in preparation for use for another purpose, according to information provided by the Forest Service. "One government official likened it to 'keeping a vacant house in good repair,' while another official noted that there is hope to find some purpose for the building in the future, whether as a hotel, science camp or restaurant," the report said, attributing the information to a July 2009 article on tdn.com, a local news website. "Despite those efforts, there are no plans to use the empty space." The Forest Service information provided no timetable for the possible reopening of the visitors' center for another purpose. "The Forest Service is now reviewing several proposals for how the facility could be used in the future through a variety of public-private partnerships, including a science facility, education camp, or an overnight lodge," the Forest Service document said. Ranked second on the senators' list was a University of North Carolina at Charlotte project that received $762,372 in stimulus finds to develop a computerized choreography program, the report said. Quoting a July 6 story posted on the Charlotte-based news website WCNC.com, the report said the project involves recording dancers on video, then logging and analyzing their movements. "This will allow choreographers to explore the interactive dance without always having a full cast of dancers present," said the grant posted on the government's stimulus bill website, recovery.gov. "The system will be extended into a Web-based 'Dance Tube' application that will allow the public to engage in interactive dance choreography," the grant goes on to say. However, the senators' report initially failed to state the money was spread over three years. Again citing the WCNC.com story, it also initially said lead researcher Celine Latulipe "noted that her funding was severely restricted by the fact that the university is taking a 44 percent cut to cover 'overhead' expenses." In reality the website story said: "The money is spread over three years and Latulipe points out the university takes 44 percent overhead." After the discrepancy was pointed out by CNN, the report was changed, an aide to Coburn said. In an interview with CNN, Latulipe said the project fit the kind of research and development work called for by the Recovery Act. Through its application and further development, it could lead to audiences having an impact on performance by registering their reaction through handheld audience response devices, Latulipe said. "We'll need to develop a bunch of different software packages that never existed before," she said, adding that project employs three students part-time over its three-year span and pays for dancers and other participants in what amounts to direct economic activity. "I think it's sad that this research money that is really allowing innovation and funding students doing great research is being used as a political tool," Latulipe said. Then there is the project listed at No. 28 by the senators -- $71,623 to researchers at Wake Forest University to see how monkeys react under the effects of cocaine. Titled "Effect of Cocaine Self-Administration on Metabotropic Glutamate Systems," the project calls for monkeys to self-administer drugs while researchers monitor and study their glutamate levels, the report said. It cited a March 8 Raleigh News and Observer article that quoted Wake Forest University School of Medicine spokesman Mark Wright as saying the stimulus money would allow the university to continue a job that otherwise might have been cut. Paula Faria, assistant vice president for media relations at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, said the grant will "have significant impact on public health in regards to cocaine addiction and the issue of relapse." "It's also important to note that the applications for these grants are peer reviewed and this study was deemed of merit by a panel of scientific experts, and then reviewed by the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse before funds were awarded," Faria said in a statement to CNN. Liz Oxhorn, the White House spokesperson for the Recovery Act, called the senators' report a partisan effort intended to undermine the overall success of the Recovery Act. According to Oxhorn, new research shows stimulus money is responsible for nearly 3 million jobs and has lowered unemployment by 1.5 percent. "We'll look into each of their claims and take action if any have merit, but with more than 70,000 Recovery Act projects underway, any misguided project is just a small fraction of tens of thousands coast to coast that are rebuilding America and putting people to work," Oxhorn said. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Tuesday dismissed the GOP report as "political," and said it lacked credibility. CNN's Alan Silverleib contributed to this report .
### SUMMARY:
| McCain says the report highlights "waste and mismanagement"
A new report by two Republican senators criticizes stimulus projects .
The report says the cited projects fail to deliver what the Recovery Act promised .
The White House responds that the bill is working as planned . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- From Pac-Man to "Pretty in Pink," Dungeons and Dragons to Devo, Rush to "School House Rock": If this pop culture laundry list brings back fond memories, then do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Ernest Cline's new novel, "Ready Player One." Packed with '80s nostalgia, it is part intergalactic scavenger hunt, part romance and all heart, a love-letter to growing up geek. Described as "Willy Wonka meets the Matrix" the book takes place in a dystopian future. The year is 2044 and the real world is an ugly place. People escape their grim surroundings by accessing the OASIS, kind of like the Internet on steroids. Hidden somewhere deep inside this virtual utopia is the ultimate golden ticket, the key to unlimited fortune and power, but to find it, players will have to unlock an increasingly difficult series of pop culture puzzles. It's an addictive read. The book has become a best-seller and a movie is in the works. "Ready Player One" came naturally to author Cline. He's a self-described geek, a fan of video games, manga and Monty Python. He wrote the 2009 cult classic movie "Fan Boys," an ode to obsessed "Star Wars" fans. How serious is Cline's geek cred? He has spent the last few weeks driving cross-country to promote his book in a souped-up DeLorean. Cline's tricked out car incorporates elements from his favorite movie vehicles, including "Back to the Future," "Knight Rider," "Buckaroo Banzai" and "Ghostbusters." He's even got an "ECTO 88" personalized license plate. CNN spoke to Cline recently about his debut novel. The following is an edited transcript. CNN: What was the spark that led you to write "Ready Player One"? Cline: The initial idea for the story came to me way back in the summer of 2001. I was working a technical support job at the time, helping people use computers and the Internet, and so I spent a lot of time thinking about the future of the Internet. I believed it might evolve into a sprawling virtual universe, sort of a cross between World of Warcraft and Facebook. When I start imagining what sort of person would create such a virtual world, I pictured a Willy Wonka-esque video game designer holding a grand video game contest inside his virtual world, and the rest of the story grew out of that first idea. CNN: What was your introduction to geek culture growing up? Cline: That's hard to say. I feel like I was hit by all of geek culture at once while I was growing up in the '70s and '80s. Saturday morning cartoons like "Star Blazers" and "Robotech." Live action Japanese shows like "Ultraman" and "The Space Giants." I spent most of my childhood welded to my Atari 2600, until I got my first computer, a TRS-80. I grew up immersing myself in all of these things, and they informed my whole adolescence. CNN: You demonstrate an encyclopedia-like knowledge of '80s pop culture. It seems like a lifetime of research went into your novel. Cline: It did, in a way, because I was writing about everything I love. It took me a long time to write this novel, and I maintained my interest in the project by filling the story with things I'm passionate about. I was also being lazy, in a way, since I didn't have to do a lot of new research. Now, all of the geeking out I've been doing my entire life can retroactively be classified as "research" for my novel. CNN: Tell me about "Ready Player One" the movie. I hear you're writing the screenplay? Cline: Yes, I wrote the first draft of the screenplay adaptation earlier this year, and that's what Warner Bros. is using to find the right director. They're very excited about the reception the book is receiving, so the movie could go into production as early as next year. Fingers crossed. CNN: You also wrote the movie "Fanboys." How did that experience compare to writing your first novel? Cline: It was a lot more frustrating, because I had to give up control of the story to get the movie made, and so the end product didn't turn out exactly the way I'd hoped. That experience actually motivated me to finish "Ready Player One," because I wanted to see what would happen if I was able to have total control of my story, with no filters between me and the audience. CNN: Tell me about your "Ecto 88" DeLorean. I understand you're wrapping up a cross-country road trip? Cline: Well, I've wanted to own a DeLorean since I was 10 years old, but it always seemed like a silly daydream. Like owning the "A-Team" van or something. But once I sold my novel, it occurred to me that I could finally buy a DeLorean and us it to promote the book, since the protagonist drives one in the story. I could pose with the car in my author photo, then drive it across the country on my book tour, thus making it a business expense! It's one of the best ideas I've ever had. When I bought the car, I knew I wanted to trick it out like the DeLorean in the book, which combines elements from Doc Brown's Time Machine, KITT from "Knight Rider," the "Ghostbusters" Ecto-1, and "Buckaroo Banzai's" Jet Car. So I went on the Internet and found a Flux Capacitor, an Oscillation Overthruster, and a wide array of Ghostbusting equipment, including a screen-accurate Proton Pack (which rides shotgun). Then I installed a blue KITT scanner on the front of the car and got some personalized ECTO88 license plates. Then I took my time traveling, Knight Riding, Ghostbusting Jet Car out on the road. It was a big hit at every bookstore I stopped at on my tour. Get a guided tour of Cline's tricked out 1982 DeLorean. CNN: It seems like recently geek culture has gone mainstream. Would you agree? Does that change anything about being a geek? Cline: I have no choice but to agree. I wrote the geekiest novel in history and it's now been on The New York Times best-seller list for several weeks. From my perspective, it definitely seems that the geeks have inherited the Earth. It's changed my whole life. CNN: What are you geeking out to now? Cline: Neal Stephenson's new novel, "Reamde." I managed to snag an advance copy and I can't put it down. Mr. Stephenson is one of my favorite writers. CNN: What's next for you? Cline: Well, I've started working on an outline for a possible sequel to "Ready Player One." But at the moment, I'm working on a geeky coming-of-age movie set in the late '80s. Sort of my version of "Dazed and Confused," but instead of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, my characters are steeped in Dungeons and Dragons, arcade games and comic books. It's going to be the nerdiest coming-of-age movie ever made. Read an excerpt from "Ready Player One."
### SUMMARY:
| Ernest Cline's novel is described as "Willy Wonka meets the Matrix"
A love letter to growing up geek, it combines an intergalactic scavenger hunt and romance .
Cline also wrote "Fan Boys" movie, an ode to "Star Wars" fans . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
SAN FRANCISCO, California (CNET) -- Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, look out. Your traditional video game console business model may be in danger. Popular video games like the "Grand Theft Auto" series may soon be available on a new system. It's too early to tell how much danger, of course, but a start-up called OnLive announced a brand-new game distribution system Monday night that, if it works as planned, could change the games game forever. OnLive, which was started by WebTV founder Steve Perlman and former Eidos CEO Mike McGarvey, is aiming to launch a system -- seven years in the works -- that will digitally distribute first-run, AAA games from publishers like Electronic Arts, Take-Two, Ubisoft, Atari, and others, all at the same time as those titles are released into retail channels. The system is designed to allow players to stream on-demand games at the highest quality onto any Intel-based Mac or PC running XP or Vista, regardless of how powerful the computer. The system will also stream games directly to a TV via a small plug-in device, and players can use a custom wireless controller as well as VoIP headsets in conjunction with it. Based here in San Francisco, OnLive timed its formal unveiling to this week's Game Developers Conference, where it will be showcasing the technology and 16 initial games it will launch with. The service is currently in a closed beta, but is expected to go into a public beta this summer, and to launch this winter. According to Perlman, OnLive's technology will make it possible to stream the games in such a manner--high quality, no matter what kind of system the user has--by virtue of a series of patented and patent-pending compression technologies. And instead of requiring users to download the games, OnLive will host them all and stream them from a series of the highest-end servers. Users will have only to download a 1MB plug-in to get the service up and running. OnLive is hoping to capture a significant portion of the video game market share. In February, the industry posted one of its strongest months ever, with total sales of $1.47 billion, up 10 percent from a year ago. And in February, the Xbox, PS3 and Wii accounted for total sales of 1.42 million units. An intended benefit of this infrastructure, Perlman and McGarvey explained, is that users will be able to play streamed games via OnLive with no lag, so long as their Internet connections meet minimum thresholds. For standard-definition play, that would mean a minimum 1.5 Mbps connection, and for high-def, 5 Mbps. That's obviously an essential feature, as it's hard to imagine anyone paying for a service like OnLive, no matter what games are on offer, if the user experience is inadequate. But the company promises that as long as users have the requisite minimum hardware, operating systems, and Internet connections, they should be able to have seamless play. The upshot of this infrastructure model, Perlman said, is that OnLive is somewhat future-proof, meaning that players won't have to upgrade anything to keep on playing games on the system years into the future. Instead, the upgrades will happen on the back-end, with the company regularly boosting the power of the servers it uses to host and stream the games. And while demos always have to be taken with a grain of salt, CNET News did see a real-time presentation of OnLive on at least two different computers and on a HD TV. Game play was as smooth and lag-free as advertised . So far, OnLive has yet to make its business model public, but what seems likely is some form of subscription service, where players will pay a monthly access fee and then pay additional costs, depending on whether they want to play games once, or buy them for permanent play. The company also said that it will probably offer free trials of some or all of the games it offers, allowing consumers to decide whether they want to buy. OnLive recognizes that some players may use those trials as a way of deciding whether to buy such games from traditional retail stores, but Perlman and McGarvey suggested that as long as people are interacting with the OnLive system, they'll be happy. It's clear that OnLive is modeling its system at least somewhat after Microsoft's hit Xbox Live service. So fans of multiplayer games won't be on their own. Rather, they'll have full access to multiplayer features of games built for them. And another interesting social feature is one that will allow users to digitally watch others play games in real time. The company thinks that users will find it exciting to watch the best players in action, even if they themselves are only kibitzing. Perlman said that the concept of spectating in online game systems is, in and of itself, not new, but that OnLive presents the first time players will be able to look in on what others are playing without owning the games themselves. Another social feature in the Xbox Live mold is what are called "brag clips." These are essentially 15-second replays of game action that players can share with friends if they want to show off their prowess. This is possible, Perlman said, because OnLive is continually recording the last 15 seconds of action. All told, McGarvey said, OnLive offers a full suite of standard social features including friends, clans, rankings, leader boards, tournaments and more. From the outset, OnLive isn't partnering with any of the first-party publishers--Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, meaning that franchises like "Halo" or "Zelda" won't be available. And that makes sense, since those companies are hardly likely to want to sign up with a company whose very technology may obviate their longstanding business models. That means, Perlman and McGarvey acknowledged, that many players who sign up for OnLive's service will still maintain their consoles, and continue to buy games for them. At least for the rest of the current generation of machines, they said. But come the next generation, all bets are off, they said. And for the nine--to date--third-party publishers who have committed to being involved, McGarvey said, OnLive presents a much more efficient and profitable distribution model than the standard retail structure. That's because the system is all digital, cutting down on physical distribution costs, and because it is designed to eradicate piracy and second-hand sales, both of which are banes of the publishers' existence. Indeed, McGarvey said that OnLive has gotten strong commitments of titles from the nine publishers. That means, added Perlman, that the planned launch this winter could be accompanied by the most titles of any new gaming system launch in history. In addition, McGarvey said publishers are eager for the kind of raw data that OnLive can provide about players' usage of the games, including whether they like or dislike games, how much they play, how they play and so on. That data is hard for publishers to collect with traditional consoles, he argued. Clearly, OnLive has set an ambitious goal: dethroning the console makers as the game industry's kings. And as is always the case with brand-new and publicly unavailable technology, it is far too early to know whether the company or the service can live up to that goal. But if its demo is any indication, OnLive is definitely onto something, and given that the company has been in stealth mode for so many years, it's possible that the console makers will be caught off guard. © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. CNET, CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. Used by permission.
### SUMMARY:
| A start-up called OnLive announced a new video game distribution system .
System will digitally distribute first-run games from major publishers like EA .
Games will be streamed to TVs at the same time they hit stores .
Service expected to go into a public beta this summer, and to launch this winter . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Republican Gov. Scott Walker's convincing win Tuesday in Wisconsin was not just a victory for the governor himself, but a major triumph for conservatives in the fight to curb public employee unions. For the country's sake, however, it will be far better if this struggle remains a fight rather than all-out war. In the run-up to Election Day, the Wisconsin recall vote was widely touted on the right as the second most important election of 2012. It was ignited when Walker pushed through a budget repair bill to curb the public employee unions. One key provision prohibited the unions from engaging in collective bargaining about anything other than pay (firefighters and police were exempted). Another provision said that a civil servant can no longer be forced to join a union and pay dues; there must be freedom of choice. That set off a firestorm of protests, turning the state capital upside down. Hundreds of vociferous protesters occupied the Wisconsin Statehouse, Democratic legislators bolted to Illinois to try to deny a quorum, and tens of thousands took to the streets. For a while, it looked as if Walker had gone too far. Wisconsinites needed just 540,000 valid signatures to trigger a recall against him; they gathered more than 900,000. Public polls in May 2011 showed Walker with a dismal 42% approval rating vs. 55% disapproval. The mainstream media portrayed the recall as a huge showdown over collective bargaining rights and were often sympathetic to the protesters. Walker seemed headed toward defeat this June. But in the many months that followed, the mood clearly changed. One of us (David Gergen) spent two days recently in visits to Madison, Green Bay and Milwaukee. Sentiment was often strong for Walker, especially among small-business owners. People agreed that new laws have helped to reduce government costs at a state and local level and that the economic outlook is somewhat better. Some told stories of teachers who were happier now that they didn't have to pay union dues and had more freedom. The Wall Street Journal has reported that membership in the state's second largest public union, the American Federation of State, Country and Municipal Employees, fell from 62,818 in March 2011 to 28,745 this February; the union disputes the figure, but no one disagrees that the unions have been losing members. As Election Day approached and polls started to show Walker with a solid lead, some Democrats increasingly tried to argue that the vote wasn't really a referendum on on Walker's reforms but rather about a host of more local issues. Don't be fooled: This recall was and is centrally about the public sector union fight, and it is important. Walker survived handily in the state that gave us one of the nation's legendary progressives, "Fighting Bob" La Follette, as well as the first public-sector, collective-bargaining agreement, and it is hard to deny that the nation is speaking. And with Walker surviving comfortably, a state that favored Barack Obama by 14 points in 2008 and seemed headed for the president's column again should turn deep purple. Opinion: In Wisconsin, deep anger isn't going away . The winds of change are blowing. Public employee unions have traditionally been well-regarded since they started up a half-century ago. A New York Times poll in February 2011 showed that a considerable majority still looks upon them with favor. But in recent years -- from "rubber rooms" for teachers who can't be fired in New York City to the prison workers unions in California that helped to drive prison spending to nearly the same level as all higher education in the state -- resentments have been stirring against the power and alleged abuses of public sector unions. Too often in the past, critics argue, governors and mayors have signed on to sweetheart pension and health care deals for the unions -- the same groups who helped them get elected. Now with huge bills mounting and governments broke, a backlash is growing, led by Republican governors. Gov. Chris Christie's dust-ups with the public sector unions in New Jersey have won no awards for congeniality, but he is pushing forward and his approval has recently been as high as 59%, an astounding number in a relatively blue state. Gov. Mitch Daniels in Indiana has also enjoyed public support for his efforts to trim union power. In Ohio, voters went the other way in a November 2011 referendum, rejecting Gov. John Kasich's public sector reforms. Some see the Wisconsin vote on Walker as a rubber match victory for the reform side; Walker himself has compared his efforts to Ronald Reagan's battle with the air traffic controllers -- a pivotal moment in Reagan's presidency. Republicans are not alone in this struggle. Notably, New York's Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, has been waging a vigorous campaign to reduce the state's financial commitments to union pension and health plans, and Gov. Jerry Brown has been forced in the same direction in California. Democratic mayors, such as Rahm Emanuel in Chicago, have charged forward, too. Clearly, many of the arguments against the public employee unions have great merit. Too often in the past, just as in the auto industry, management signed onto lavish deals underpinned by rosy economic scenarios that in today's environment just aren't affordable. Trims have to be made, starting with new employees. Among ardent school critics, it is now an article of faith that teachers' unions are also blocking serious progress in K-12 education; a film coming this fall, "Won't Back Down," is much anticipated by people who want an overhaul of the system and who see it as a good depiction of the problem. But there is a difference between fixing what is broken in public employee unions and trying to destroy them. There was a time in our history when public unions were suspect -- Franklin D. Roosevelt himself once wrote that "the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into public service." In today's world, however, with growing inequalities in pay and business able to exercise so much power in politics, firefighters, police officers and teachers deserve a right to be represented, too. For those of us who support charter schools and other K-12 changes, it is equally important to recognize that engaging in all-out war with teachers' unions will wind up punishing children more than anyone else. However many charter schools there are, the fact will remain that the vast majority of lower-income students will be taught by teachers who belong to unions. And that will be true as far as the eye can see. It is far better to find ways to collaborate than to waste time in search and destroy. Emanuel is pointing the way forward in Chicago. He is cracking down on abuses -- a sanitation worker, for example, who was paid some $38,000 in the first four months of this year for overtime alone. But Emanuel is extending a hand, not a fist. "I'm not looking to beat labor. I want them to be a partner in solving" the city's problems, he told reporters. Walker's victory on Tuesday will galvanize those battling to curb the excesses of public employee unions. From them could come great progress -- as long as we don't forget to honor those who serve the public well. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of the writers.
### SUMMARY:
| Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker survived recall effort by wide margin Tuesday .
When Walker limited public worker unions rights, it caused a firestorm .
Walker's win, authors write, reveals the extent of the backlash against these unions .
Writers: Other governors are right to curb abuses, but they shouldn't crush unions . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Juventus took a giant step towards the quarterfinals of the European Champions League following a crushing 3-0 win over Celtic. Alesandro Matri's early strike and further goals from Claudio Marchisio and Mirko Vucinic completed a perfect night's work for the Italian champions. There was also success for Paris Saint-Germain, which claimed a 2-1 away win at Valencia, although it must do without star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the second leg after he was shown a straight red card. Ezequiel Lavezzi and Javier Pastore had given the French club a two goal lead at the break, but Adil Rami's late strike and Ibrahimovic's dismissal means its all to play for in the French capital in three weeks time. Lisbon Lions . While PSG might still have to sweat, no such problems are expected for Serie A leaders and two-time European Cup winners Juventus. Dressed in all black and surrounded by the cauldron of Celtic Park, Juventus headed out to face one of the most intimidating atmospheres in European football. With the majority of the 57,917 crowd clad in green and white bellowing out their support for the Scottish champion, it was clear that this night was something special. Back in the knockout phase for the first time in five years, Celtic was dreaming of the glory days when it ruled the continent following its legendary cup final win of 1967. The victory over the might of Inter Milan in Lisbon, led to the team, which was to become known as the 'Lisbon Lions', becoming the first non-Latin side to win the trophy. Managed by the legendary Jock Stein, all of the players were born within a 30 mile radius of Glasgow. On May 24 1967, Lisbon was overrun with the green and white of Celtic and not that of local club Sporting. Goals from Tommy Gemmel and Stevie Chalmers secured victory over an Inter side which had won three of the four past editions of the competition. "There is not a prouder man on God's Earth than me at this moment," said Stein following the triumph. "Winning was important, but it was the way that we won that has filled me with satisfaction. "We did it by playing football; pure, beautiful, inventive football. There was not a negative thought in our heads." That night in Lisbon is never far from memory whenever the words 'Europe' and 'Celtic' are mentioned in the same breath. They are synonomous. The success of the past generation is a reminder of how Celtic became the first British club to win the competition, a fact which supporters are quick to point out at every opportunity. But while it has dominated domestically in recent years, helped by the downfall of fierce rival Glasgow Rangers, success in Europe has been more difficult to achieve. Real Madrid, Barcelona or Manchester United: Which is the biggest club? Not since it lost to Porto in the 2003 UEFA Cup final had Celtic hit the European headlines, that was until this year and its shock victory over Barcelona. A 2-1 home win against the La Liga champions helped Neil Lennon's side qualify for the last-16 and a meeting with Juventus. While the visitor appeared favorite on paper, Celtic's home form in the Champions League has been nothing short of remarkable. In its 23 matches before welcoming Juventus, Celtic had suffered just two defeats, while winning 15 and drawing six. With the second leg in Turin on March 6 to come, the home side would have hoped to secure a result in a bid to keep the tie alive. The atmosphere suggested a gladiatorial arena, the bloodcurdling noise of Celtic Park rose as the players emerged. This was Celtic's time. Foreign owners in UK football: The good the bad and the ugly . Or perhaps not. Instead, it took Juventus just three minutes to silence one of European football's most intimidating arenas. On Sunday, Efe Ambrose was celebrating Nigeria's victory in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations -- but on a freezing February night in Glasgow he was left to rue a horrendous defensive error. It was his mistake which allowed Federico Peluso's long ball to release Alessandro Matri and the striker fired home, despite Kelvin Wilson trying to clear off the line. The shock and horror was etched across the faces of the Celtic players, but slowly and surely, those emblazoned with the green and white began to show its famous spirit. Kris Commons came agonizingly close to an equalizer when his overhead kick sailed just inches wide of the far post, while Ambrose should have netted with a free header just after the hour mark. That miss was to be severely punished as Juventus wrapped the game up with 13 minutes remaining when Matri released Marchisio, who turned Scott Brown and slotted the ball home. Worse was to come for Celtic with 83 minutes on the clock when Ambrose, who only returned from South Africa on Tuesday morning, gave away possession and Vucinic raced in to score. "We need a miracle," Celtic manager Lennon told ITV. "But it's the harsh reality of Champions League football and some of my young players will learn a huge lesson tonight. "I thought for 70-odd minutes, until the second goal, we were by far the better side -- but you can't give away goals like we gave away, sloppy." How Manchester United tried to drown the stars of Real Madrid in 1957 . On a day when wrestling was dropped from the Olympics, Lennon was frustrated with the way Juventus' defenders manhandled his players at set-pieces. Time and time again, defender Stephane Lichtsteiner was grappling with Gary Hooper and Scott Brown inside the penalty area, but nothing was forthcoming from referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco. "I'd like to ask the referee, is the game different in Spain or Italy?" Lennon said. "Every time one of my players tried to move he was held. He should have given a penalty on at least two occasions." Big spending masks age of austerity for top soccer clubs . While that win all but secures Juventus' place in the last eight, PSG faces a more difficult proposition following an infuriatingly frustrating second half performance. In front of a watching David Beckham, who is hoping to make his debut within the next few weeks, PSG showed why they should be feared in this year's competition. Leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Lavezzi and Pastore, Carlo Ancelotti's men missed several golden opportunities and could have easily scored four or five at the Mestalla. Lavezzi, who has now scored in each of his past three Champions League games, should have had a hat-trick only to miss two simple chances. Beckham to donate PSG wages to children's charity . That wastefulness was punished in the final minute when Rami bundled home from close range to give the home side hope. The tie then took another twist when Ibrahimovic was shown a straight red card for a controversial studs up challenge on Andres Guardado. "Ibrahimovic did not deserve the red card. I don't understand the decision," Ancelotti told French Canal Plus television at full time. "We played well and had chances to score more goals. It was a good team performance, but this was just the first leg. There is still the return to come."
### SUMMARY:
| Juventus claims 3-0 win at Celtic in first leg of last-16 tie .
Italian champion now in pole position to qualify for quarterfinal .
Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off in Paris Saint-Germain's 2-1 win at Valencia .
Ibrahimovic will miss the second leg on March 6 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNNMexico.com) -- Carlos and Adriana have been dating for six years, and though they don't see each other regularly, they value their relationship. A decade ago, when they didn't even know each other, Carlos and Adriana were diagnosed with schizophrenia; from that moment their love lives became a more complex issue than most people have to deal with. Adriana describes herself as an introverted woman. She is 42 years old and was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 33. "I didn't take care of myself. I didn't want to shower and I was not wearing clothes for my age," she remembers. "I was very depressed. My dad was concerned and decided to take me to a doctor." Carlos, 46, says he passed out while he was working back in 2000. He didn't realize that from that moment he was going to start experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia, a mental disorder suffered by approximately 1.5 million Mexicans. "I began to have delusion of persecution. I was very stressed," he says. "This led me to be a person that was very hard to deal with. I used to think that people knew what I was going to say, that people could read my mind. I was living in a permanent state of stress, I was paranoiac and it was horrible." The couple met in a therapy group. Adriana says she is happy now that she has someone to talk with. "I don't have a lot of people to talk with about my personal issues because they don't believe me or they don't want to help me with my deliriums," she says. Carlos was married when he was diagnosed. He says his wife didn't know "how to understand" that he was suffering from a mental disorder and that is why she decided to leave him. She doesn't allow Carlos to stay in touch with his kids. "My oldest daughter is now 19. The other two were really young the last time I saw them," he says. "They don't recognize me. A year ago my ex-wife allowed me to meet with my daughter -- she told me she was going to college to be a psychologist. I kissed her and hugged her, but she told me she needed time to understand this situation. Since then, she hasn't answered my letters or phone calls." María Luisa Rascón, a psychologist and researcher at the National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente in Mexico explains that schizophrenia is a degenerative chronic disease that alters human senses; this leads the patient to suffer delusion of persecution, to hear voices or even think that water tastes like acid. It prevents the patient from having a clear perception of what is real and what is not, she says. For Carlos, the main reason to get better is to recover his children. However, he knows that to achieve this, he will need to become financially stable again, in order to help support his children. "I lost everything because of the schizophrenia," he says. Rascón says that in some cases family members are not aware of what a patient is going through after the diagnosis of a mental disorder, and that leads them to leave them. "The family stigmatizes their sick relative because they are also suffering a social stigma; they feel pushed back and do the same to their loved one. Having a relationship while you are handling with that negative interaction of the rejection, it could be very difficult." According to the National Institute of Psychiatry of Mexico, 28% of the Mexican population has suffered from some type of mental disorder, such as emotional disorders or anxiety. The National Survey on Discrimination in Mexico made by the National Council to Prevent Discrimination in 2010 showed that 20% of people with disabilities are discriminated against. For another patient, Rocío, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1996, discrimination was a complex difficulty during her rehabilitation. She and her husband worked in the same company, but when Rocío started to show symptoms such as deliriums and hallucinations, the husband's co-workers started to joke about it, making him feel bad. He felt pressure to quit his job. After the couple left their jobs, their relationship ended because of their financial struggles. In 1994 she moved with her 4-year-old son to her mother's house. "In 1990, I started to hear voices everywhere. I tried to run away, I closed doors and windows in my house to avoid hearing them, but it was useless. I heard laughs and people gossiping about me while walking in the street. I heard them even on the TV and on the radio," Rocío remembers. The stress due to a lack of job security exaggerated her disease, she adds. Five years after she separated from her husband, her son confessed that his father was already living with another family. Rocío did not feel angry. "I felt good for him, he found happiness, something he didn't have with me." During a job interview -- a couple of years after she started her treatment -- she met her current partner. "We see each other a few times, not very often because he has a family," she says. "We keep our relation secret; my son doesn't know about it and thinks he is only a friend of mine." As part of her rehabilitation therapy, Rocío attends a radio show called Open Radio every week. It is hosted by people who previously had a mental disease and is produced by the psychologist Sara Makowski. It airs from The Metropolitan Autonomous University in Mexico City. Makowski describes the radio show as a space for dialogue, which offers a safe environment in which people suffering from a mental disorder can express themselves. In three years, Makowski says, relationships with a partner have been a recurrent topic of discussion among the participants. "The issues with love ... (are) deeply human. To listen to what they think about love is a great way to get closer to them and to understand that we are not living in distant worlds, that there are bridges that can help us go from one world to another." "We are lonely people," Rocío affirms. She is ready to find a man who hasn't suffered from any mental disorder and is willing to commit. This is not the case for another patient, Enrique, 42; he admits to being comfortable without a girlfriend. Since he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, eight years ago, he has become more social because of the workshops he has gone to as part of his rehabilitation process. "Because of the disease, I became unfriendly and shy," he says. "In my life I have made few friends, the majority in my childhood. When I was sick I felt like a monster. I didn't understand what my physical constitution was." Enrique hasn't been able to understand what happened to the 15 years of his life before he was diagnosed with a mental disorder at the age of 34. Schizophrenia made him think he could communicate telepathically with his ancestors and he was feeling that everything was an aggression against him. He says he already has overcome that phase. Now Enrique compares himself with the movie "El Bulto" ("Excess Baggage"), in which a man wakes up after 20 years in coma, without understanding that his country, his family and his world have changed. "I've never been in a romantic relationship. It is difficult to be in a relationship with someone with a mental disease; you have a lot of issues," Enrique says. "I can't be with a person like me. I would like to be with someone that didn't have a mental disorder." Read this story in Spanish at CNNMéxico.com .
### SUMMARY:
| Schizophrenia is a degenerative chronic disease that alters human senses .
Carlos lost his wife because she didn't understand his mental disorder, he says .
Enrique says he can't be with someone who also has schizophrenia . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- The passing of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez from cancer, long expected despite his condition being shrouded in secrecy, has opened a Pandora's box of questions concerning Venezuela's future. The Venezuelan constitution holds that power should have been given to the leader of the Venezuelan Assembly, Diosdado Cabello, once Chavez could not attend his own inauguration and new elections should have been held within 30 days. This did not happen. Now, Nicolás Maduro, current vice president and Chávez's hand-picked successor, will likely face divisions both from within the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and the Venezuelan military to keep his hold on power. But he also is likely to receive a challenge for the presidency from Henrique Capriles, current governor of Miranda and former presidential nominee, when and if an election is held. Conflict among the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the military and the opposition will largely determine whether Venezuela has a smooth and peaceful transition or one that descends into violence as various factions lobby for power. Since winning his first election in December 1998, Chávez dramatically reoriented Venezuela's government and economy. His efforts have particularly focused on poverty reduction, providing housing and health services for the poor. Although Venezuelan poverty data are heavily disputed, most figures show poverty has indeed fallen. World Bank statistics show a decline from 50 percent of the population in 1999 to 32 percent in 2011. Inequality has declined as well; Venezuela has the most equal income distribution in Latin America. News: Chavez leaves a revolutionary legacy . The Venezuelan economy has not fared as well, with economic growth from 1999-2010 averaging a mere 2.7%, according to International Monetary Fund figures. This stands out, given the strong economic performance of other Latin American economies during this time and high global oil prices since the mid-2000s; oil exports comprise roughly 95 percent of export earnings for Venezuelans. Despite this windfall, the Chávez government has done little to diversify the country away from its oil-dependence. At the same time, by using oil proceeds to fund social initiatives at home, support for Cuba and other regional initiatives, such as PetroCaribe, which provides oil to mostly Caribbean countries on generous repayment terms, oil production has declined nearly 25 percent since 2001. The state-owned Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. lacks capital to maintain existing production or exploit new reserves, notably the oil-rich Orinoco Belt. This, and the horrible mismanagement of the company, have destroyed what was once Venezuela's industrial shining star. And now, with Chávez's death, a power vacuum has opened in Venezuela. Under the political coalition of Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (the Democratic Unity Roundtable) and Capriles, the Venezuelan opposition is the most united it has been under Chávez. But Capriles' 11-point defeat in October's presidential election, coupled with Chávez's allies winning 20 of 23 gubernatorial elections in December, underscores the fact that the opposition still holds little power. Vice President Nicolás Maduro may not have the current president's appeal with Venezuelans, but he will still head a party with considerable influence. At the same time, the reaction of the Venezuelan military will be key to the transition. The military can be organized into three camps: one is the institutional group, focused on the effectiveness of the military and largely non-politicized, and then there is the constitutional camp. With Chávez's death, Diosdado Cabello, current president of the National Assembly, would preside over the country while new elections are called in 30 days. Speculation is rampant that Cabello, a former Venezuelan soldier who participated in the 1992 coup with Chávez, has stronger support within the military and they may push him as the next candidate. Finally, there is the pro-Chávez camp that has committed itself to the revolution and will likely follow the late president's wishes and push for Maduro. iReport: Tyrant or hero? Chávez allies have reason to be worried. Under PetroCaribe, members received generous terms for oil purchases, with payments as low as 5% of market value, and the remainder paid off through generous loan terms spread over 25 years. Even better, payment could be made in manufactured goods, with a barter system replacing payments in numerous instances. Cuba has been the prime beneficiary, receiving roughly 100,000 barrels of oil per day, which meets two-thirds of its daily requirement. If Venezuela's next leader were to end the program, or even reduce the generous terms, many countries would see a shock as import bills rise (not to mention having to face a public forced to pay much higher energy prices). Absent Chávez's leadership, the Bolivarian Alliance of the Americas might also find itself increasingly marginalized. Extra-regional actors that have recently gained a foothold in Latin America could find themselves losing influence. Iran in particular will have lost its biggest supporter in the region and may find future efforts to engage stymied without Chávez's popular support. The Russian government, which has benefited from Venezuela's recent arms purchases, will likely find itself with a reduced footprint in Latin America as well. Furthermore, other Chavez-supported regimes throughout the world, from Bashar al-Assad in Syria to the North Korean government, will likely feel the effects of his death. For the United States, oil supplies could be an important concern. While Venezuelan imports have decreased in importance in recent years, falling to 8% of imports in 2011, it remains the fourth-biggest supplier to the U.S. market. If the transition were to turn violent and exports dropped, U.S. consumers could face higher prices and U.S. economic growth could take a hit. Chavez's passing also opens questions on narco-trafficking in Venezuela. Transnational crime has flourished under Chávez, with Venezuela serving as a major hub for shipment of illegal narcotics. Not only has Venezuelan cooperation with the United States declined, the United States has also added several high-level Venezuelan officials to its Foreign Narcotics Kingpin list, including former defense minister Henry Rangel Silva, for their complicity with transnational crime organizations and support for the FARC. A prolonged struggle for power would likely give these groups even greater space to operate within Venezuela. At the same time, this could produce spillover effects in Colombia, whose recent security gains, with the help of U.S. assistance through Plan Colombia, may be tested if the FARC can move more freely between the two countries. If there is a transition and new elections are called for in the coming months, regional leaders will need to play a key role in calling for a peaceful and democratic transition. The United States -- with Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Canada -- should urge for free and fair elections. Undoubtedly, Venezuela will remain divided no matter the next president, but fair and transparent elections will help ensure the next administration has the political capital to tackle needed reforms -- from a stagnant economy to rising crimes rates, rampant transnational crime and the rebuilding of the nation's powerful state-owned oil company -- that will benefit all Venezuelans. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Carl Meacham.
### SUMMARY:
| Carl Meacham: With Chavez's death, Venezuela faces difficult transition .
He says Chavez helped reduce poverty, but at cost to economy as he mismanaged oil wealth .
He says now power vacuum pits opposition against Chavez-picked VP; military will be key .
Meacham: Chavez-backed regimes will feel impact; other nations must urge fair elections . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Washington (CNN) -- Declaring the U.S. goal is a successful Iraq, President Barack Obama on Monday promised economic, diplomatic and military help to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki after the last American troops leave the Middle Eastern nation by the end of the year. The two leaders met at the White House and held a joint news conference to declare the eight-year war formally over now that U.S. troops are completing their withdrawal this month. They then proceeded to Arlington National Ceremony in Virginia for a solemn wreath-laying ceremony to pay respect to the war dead. Obama said the end of the Iraq war means a new chapter in U.S.-Iraq relations, with a focus now on a "normal relationship between sovereign nations." He told the visiting Iraqi prime minister the two nations will build "a comprehensive partnership" that includes trade relations, support for building up Iraq's democratic capacity and military-to-military ties aimed at helping Iraq rebuild its air force, which was destroyed in the war against Saddam Hussein's regime. "Our goal is simply to make sure Iraq succeeds, because we think a successful, democratic Iraq can be a model for the entire region," Obama said. After the meeting, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor announced the U.S. government's intention to sell 18 more F-16 fighter jets to Iraq, doubling the initial sale of 18 announced earlier this year. Al-Maliki said he is committed to building ties. "The relationship will not end with the departure of the last American soldier," he said. At the same time, the Iraqi leader insisted his country now is completely reliant on its own security apparatus, with the help of training by U.S. and NATO forces. "We have proven success. Nobody imagined that we would succeed in defeating terrorism and al Qaeda," al-Maliki said. Also Monday, NATO announced it is withdrawing training forces from Iraq by December 31. A NATO statement said "robust negotiations" on extending the NATO training mission failed to reach agreement. The unresolved issue was granting foreign forces immunity from local prosecution, officials said. The same issue stymied earlier talks between the Obama administration and al-Maliki's government about the possibility of some U.S. training forces staying longer than the deadline for withdrawal set in an agreement dating back to the Bush administration. Both Obama and al-Maliki have political reasons for ending the U.S. military presence. Obama pledged during his 2008 campaign to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq, while al-Maliki faces internal opposition to the foreign military presence. More than 4,400 U.S. troops were killed and thousands more were wounded in the war that began in 2003. Iraqi casualties are estimated to exceed 100,000. Some U.S. conservatives oppose the end of the Iraq operation, arguing that the withdrawal of American forces leaves Iraq vulnerable to political instability from internal forces and neighbors such as Iran. "Domestic political considerations in each country have been allowed to trump our common security interests," Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said in a statement. " All of the progress that both Iraqis and Americans have made, at such painful and substantial cost, has now been put at greater risk. I hope I am wrong, but I fear I am not. It did not have to be this way, and the fact that it is has everything to do with a failure of vision, commitment and leadership both in Washington and Baghdad." As of Sunday, 6,000 U.S. troops and four U.S. military bases remained in Iraq, according to Col. Barry Johnson, spokesman for the United States Forces in Iraq. The four bases are: . • Kalsu in Iskandariya, about 20 miles south of Baghdad . • Echo in Diwaniya, about 110 miles south of Baghdad . • Adder near Nasiriya, about 200 miles southeast of Baghdad . • Basra in Basra, about 340 miles southeast of Baghdad . Iraq faces many challenges as U.S. troops pull out, ranging from human rights issues to oil deals to national stability. Obama said Monday that the United States wants to help Iraq "ramp up oil production" and is "helping to encourage international investments in that sector." He also said some military-to-military ties will continue, similar to U.S. links with some other countries, and there "may be occasion for joint exercises." The U.S. goal "is a sovereign Iraq that can protect its borders, protect its airspace, protect its people," Obama said. For his part, al-Maliki told reporters he requested military hardware from Obama, including the F-16s to help rebuild the air force. "Definitely we have raised the issue of the Iraqi need for weapons for area protection, naval and ground protection," al-Maliki said. "We have a lot of weapons, American weapons, and it requires trainers. And we received promises for cooperation from his excellency, the president, for some weapons that Iraq is asking for, especially those related to its protection of its airspace." Some analysts fear that violence could spike in Iraq as groups struggle over power in the wake of the U.S. troop withdrawal, and that the decreased U.S. presence could allow Iran to increase its influence. Meghan O'Sullivan, a Bush administration deputy national security adviser for Iraq and Afghanistan from 2004 to 2007, wrote that there is "reason to worry" in a recent analysis for Foreign Affairs posted on CNN's Global Public Square blog. "The foundations of the Iraqi state remain shallow. Divisions within Iraq's ruling elite run deep," wrote O'Sullivan, now a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. "A continued U.S. military presence would not have guaranteed peace and prosperity, but its removal increases the risks of failure in Iraq by eliminating the psychological backstop to a still delicate political system and by kicking open the door more widely to foreign interference." American officials have insisted the drastic pullback of troops does not mean an end to the U.S. government's presence in Iraq. Hundreds of nonmilitary U.S. personnel will remain in Iraq, including 1,700 diplomats, law enforcement officers and economic, agriculture and other professionals and experts, according to the State Department. In addition, 5,000 security contractors will protect U.S. diplomats and another 4,500 contractors will serve other roles, such as helping provide food and medical services, until they can be done locally. Future U.S. involvement in training for Iraqi troops is also a possibility, U.S. officials have said. Officials and analysts have said the impact of the U.S. presence will echo for years to come. "Iraqis, Americans and the world ultimately will judge us far more on the basis of what will happen than what has happened," Ryan Crocker, then-U.S. ambassador to Iraq, said in 2008 congressional testimony. "In the end, how we leave and what we leave behind will be more important than how we came." CNN's Ingrid Formanek and Catherine Shoichet contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: The United States intends to sell 18 more F-16 fighter jets to Iraq .
President Obama pledges U.S. support for Iraq following withdrawal of troops .
Iraqi prime minister: "The relationship will not end with the departure" of U.S. troops .
The United States is set to bring home all troops from Iraq by the end of the year . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Three years ago, when Scott Hamilton moved from New York to Oklahoma for work, his marriage, and all the rights that went with it, dissolved in the transition. That's because Oklahoma -- a deeply conservative place -- is one of 38 states that bans marriages between same-sex couples. To make the move, Hamilton, 52, and his husband, Wayne Johnson, 59, who got married in Connecticut in 2009 and have been together since 1991, had to come to grips with the fact their relationship would no longer matter under the eyes of the law. They had to redo their wills and create new trusts to ensure their assets would be passed smoothly if one of them were to die. If they were put into long-term care in Oklahoma, he said, the men would have to occupy separate rooms. They must file their taxes separately. And it's almost impossible for them to use the word "husband" without comment. "Well, who are you? Are you his driver?" a nurse recently asked Hamilton when he was pushing Johnson through a hospital in a wheelchair, as he related it to me. "No, I'm his husband." "Oh, good God," she said, dismissively. Oh-good-God is right. How does it make sense that a couple's love for each other would be recognized by one state and mocked in another? For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, the United States has turned into a complicated mess of 50 Americas -- most of which discriminate against them. Opinion: America is at a crossroads on gay rights . For what other group -- with the possible exception of pregnant women seeking abortions -- are state borders so important? If you're Jewish or tall or Christian or black or fat or old or poor or sad ... your fundamental rights as a human don't change if you drive from the panhandle of Idaho, where same-sex marriage is banned, into Washington state, where it's legal, or from the yellow plains of West Texas, where employees can be fired because of their sexual orientation, to New Mexico, where LGBT workers are protected from institutionalized bigotry. It makes sense speed limits and marijuana laws would differ. But not basic rights to dignity and inclusion. America deals with a host of issues that affect LGBT people -- not just same-sex marriage -- in this sloppy, checkerboard fashion. You can explore some of them with CNN's handy new "LGBT rights calculator." The point, to me, is that this patchwork of laws makes no coherent sense. Some states allow same-sex couples to adopt. Others, such as Mississippi, ban it. That leaves couples such as Sara and L.B. Bell -- whom I met on a recent trip to Mississippi, a state that, according to my calculations, ties for having the fewest protections for LGBT people -- to fear that if and when they have a child, it may be difficult for both to maintain custody. Some states protect LGBT tenants from being evicted because of who they are. Others, such as Louisiana and Montana, don't seem to think that matters. Some states let teachers talk about homosexuality in schools -- a healthy step toward ensuring future generations continue to be more accepting of all people. Others, such as Alabama, require teachers to mention "in a factual manner and from a public health perspective, that homosexuality is not a lifestyle acceptable to the general public and that homosexual conduct is a criminal offense under the laws of the state." Never mind that homosexuality is not a crime, as the U.S. Supreme Court held in Lawrence v. Texas in 2003. And that about half the nation is cool with same-sex marriage these days, a percentage that only will grow with time. Each state is so different we might as well put up signs on the borders. Welcome to Oklahoma ... Oh, you're gay??? Please turn around. We can fire you for that here. ... At least then the statutory inequalities would be visible. It seems LGBT people have already taken notice. Opinion: Gay marriage, then group marriage? A recent Gallup survey of 206,186 people found states with more accepting laws and cultures tend to have higher percentages of openly LGBT residents. Washington, D.C., for example, which allows same-sex marriage, has a 10% LGBT population. North Dakota, where laws and the culture ("Fargo" may have something to do with it, too) are less favorable, is only 1.7% openly LGBT. That may be because LGBT people in conservative states are less likely to be open about who they are, particularly with a pollster, Gary Gates and Frank Newport write in an explanation of the survey on Gallup's website. "It is also possible that LGBT adults make conscious choices to reside in certain states rather than others," they said, "but this possibility is difficult to assess and seems less likely." Plenty of gay people, Hamilton included, hope the Supreme Court, which is hearing two cases related to same-sex marriage next week, soon will expand rights for same-gender couples in this country. But even in a favorable scenario -- if California's same-sex marriage ban is invalidated, and if the federal government starts recognizing same-sex marriages -- LGBT people still will be subject to vastly different laws depending on where they live and work. Folks like Hamilton, who moved from New York to Oklahoma, might as well be going from Alaska to Russia. States, of course, shouldn't give up their right to self-governance. But when it comes to civil rights issues, they have an awful history of clinging to laws long past their expiration dates. In 1967, 16 states banned interracial marriage. The Supreme Court overturned that. Mississippi and others fought against racial integration in schools. But level heads, and courts, prevailed. I'm no legal scholar, and I'm not sure exactly what the best strategy would be for ensuring gay people are seen as equal under the law in all states. But I do know that it's far too complicated right now. Hamilton, the man who lived in New York, decided to move to Oklahoma, where he had grown up, to take a job as executive director of the Cimarron Alliance, a statewide LGBT rights group. The nonprofit asked him, he said, if he wanted a corner office in the new community center the group is unveiling this month. It has nice big windows, the group told him. Hamilton turned it down. He worries he would be targeted. Listen: Voices from the Southern closet . "We are seeing an uptick in anti-LGBT violence here," he told me on the phone. (In one instance, last year, a Tulsa man said he was beaten up because he's gay). "And I think that's part of the change process. When people feel like they're really losing their grip or their hold, oftentimes violence results." If, heaven forbid, Hamilton were to be victimized because of his sexual orientation and because he's a leader of an LGBT rights group, Oklahoma's state laws wouldn't treat it as a hate crime. On the federal level, as of 2009, LGBT people are explicitly protected. Kansas, a two-hour drive to the north, lists lesbian and gay people as specifically protected from hate crimes, but does not extend rights to transgender people. Sounds fair, right? Either we live in a nation that supports LGBT equality or we don't. But we can't have it 50 ways. The views expressed in this column are solely those of John D. Sutter.
### SUMMARY:
| John Sutter: LGBT rights break the country into 50 parts .
The Supreme Court is set to hear two same-sex marriage cases next week .
Sutter: Even if court rules for same-sex marriage, a patchwork of laws remain .
He says state borders matter more for LGBT people than others . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Want to marvel at California's giant sequoias or hike the Mount Katahdin section of the Appalachian Trail? With most of the United States' national parks still shuttered, the country's stunning state parks are getting some well-deserved attention. There are more than 7,800 state park sites around the country, attracting over 720 million visits per year, according to the National Association of State Park Directors. By comparison, the National Park Service's 401 sites had over 282 million visitors last year. Many state park visitors are repeat visitors, enjoying the state parks near where they live. Here are some of our favorites. Calaveras Big Trees State Park, California . Known for its North Grove of giant sequoias, Calaveras Big Trees State Park became a state park more than 80 years ago. Within the grove is the first redwood documented by Augustus T. Dowd in 1852, known as the "Discovery Tree" and the "Big Stump." This park is considered the state's longest continuously operated tourist site. The South Grove has a five-mile hiking trail through the sequoias. Located about 150 miles north of San Francisco, the park is open for day visitors and campers. Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee . The most popular state park in Tennessee, Fall Creek Falls State Park is about a two-hour drive east of Nashville. The park's more than 20,000 acres includes the highest waterfall in the Eastern United States, virgin hardwood timber stands and spectacular places to spend the day hiking or staying to camp. While oak and hickory trees can be found in most of the park, the gorges host tulip poplar and hemlock forests. Stone Mountain State Park, North Carolina . A National Natural Landmark, Stone Mountain features a 600-foot granite dome that doesn't disappoint the first-time visitor. Hike, fish, rock or camp surrounded by 14,000 acres of the park's forests, waterfalls and streams. (There are more than 16 miles of trails and 20 miles of designated trout waters.) Visitors can also enjoy learning about historic mountain living at the Hutchinson Homestead, which includes a blacksmith shop, meat house, log cabin and barn. Statue of Liberty, Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore to reopen . Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Florida . About 10 miles from Everglades National Park in Florida, rare and endangered tropical plants thrive in the waters of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Sometimes called the Amazon of North America, the Fakahatchee Strand is the only ecosystem in the world where bald cypress trees and royal palms share the same forest canopy. It's also home to 44 native orchid species. Animal fans might spot American crocodiles, Florida panthers and black bears, Everglade minks and Eastern indigo snakes. Water enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Even hikers can walk on trails created upon many of the raised railway beds of the old logging train that still crisscross the Fakahatchee Strand. The beds create a grid of trails, many of which are maintained for hiking. Baxter State Park, Maine . The highest point in Maine, Baxter State Park's Mount Katahdin is the northern most point on the Appalachian Trail. Katahdin is often considered the most difficult hike on the trail, and Maine is considered one of the most difficult states on the trail. Even if you're not tackling the trail, Baxter State Park requires preparation. It has incredible and difficult rock climbing, more than 200 miles of hiking trails and cold weather that will require you bundle up for your outdoor fun. Travelers looking for an easy hike can try Big and Little Niagara Falls while experienced hikers looking for a daylong trip can try the more difficult hike to Baxter Peak. Finding spirituality on the Appalachian Trail . Punderson State Park, Ohio . Once a quiet lake resort for Clevelanders looking for a break from the city, Punderson became a state park in 1951. The 741-acre park is in Ohio's glaciated plateau region and used to be buried under glacial ice. Visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, golf, swimming and hiking. In the winter, the park features a lighted sledding hill, three snowmobile trails, two cross-country ski trails and even dog sledding on the Mushers Trail. Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, Hawaii . With the arrival of Captain Cook in 1779, this is the site where Hawaiians and Westerners first had extended contact. But the bay had been settled more than 1,000 years ago, before Westerners arrived. There is much that is sacred and protected in this historical park, and visitors are asked to respect spiritual and archeological sites where ceremonial structures once stood. The Ka'awaloa Cove is home to some of the best snorkeling in the area, and it's also home to a delicate, living coral reef. Spinner dolphins also visit the bay to rest and nurse their young. The Pali Kapu O Keoua is a 600-foot high pali, or volcanic fault line and vertical sea cliff created by landslides and waves. Travelers should also avoid disturbing the natural environment for these animals and plant life, and stay away from the pali to avoid injury. Kartchner Caverns State Park, Arizona . About 55 miles from Tucson, Kartchner Caverns State Park has Arizona's tallest natural column formation below ground level (and the world's longest stalactite formation). Book the cave tour to see this remarkable underground state park -- the cave is 2.4 miles long and remained hidden until its discovery in the 1970s. Come back for above-ground introductions to camping, Halloween parties and other activities. Camping: Horror or bliss? State Forest State Park, Colorado . Northwest of Rocky Mountain National Park, State Forest State Park's 71,000 acres offer the spectacular beauty of alpine lakes, trails, forests and moose viewing. The park has more than 600 moose in residence year-round. Head to North Park, the "moose viewing capital of Colorado," to see them. There is lots of winter sports activity and six rustic cabins for rent year-round. Snow Canyon State Park, Utah . Located in the 62,000-acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve at the intersection of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin desert and the Mojave Desert, Snow Canyon State Park averages only 7.5 inches of rain annually. There's evidence that lava flowed down park canyons, filling them with basalt as recently as 27,000 years ago. The animal and plant life living within the 7,400-acre park have adapted to the desert environment. Look for protected species such as gila monsters, peregrine falcons and desert tortoises. Try camping, hiking or canyoneering. What are your favorite state parks? We know we missed some of your favorites, so please share them in the comments section below.
### SUMMARY:
| There are more than 7,000 state park sites in the United States .
Take advantage of a local state park while many federal park service sites are shut down .
Florida's Fakahatchee Strand Preserve is often called the Amazon of North America .
Pick the right state park to explore and you'll hike a bit of the Appalachian Trail . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Sanford, Florida (CNN) -- George Zimmerman apologized Friday to the family of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed African-American teen that he shot in a confrontation that riveted a nation and sparked intense discussions about race, racial profiling and gun laws. Zimmerman spoke moments before a Florida judge set a $150,000 bond that will let him get out of jail while he awaits trial. "I wanted to say I am sorry for the loss of your son," Zimmerman said in an unusual appeal directly to Martin's family before he testified in the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford. "I thought he was a little bit younger than I was, and I did not know if he was armed or not." Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, said after the hearing that his client was responding to an interview in which Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton, said she wanted to hear from the man who shot her son. "He didn't want to defend himself, he didn't want to discuss the facts of the case. He heard the request of the family, and he wanted to respond to it," O'Mara said, adding that an attempt to apologize to the family in private was rebuffed. Attorneys for Martin's family, however, called the apology a self-serving act by a man facing a life prison sentence if convicted of the second-degree murder charge against him. "This was the most disingenuous, insulting thing I've ever seen," said Martin family attorney Natalie Jackson. Martin's parents were "completely devastated" over the decision to allow Zimmerman to post bond and eventually go free, attorney Benjamin Crump said. Prosecutors had asked that Zimmerman remain in jail without bond or that Judge Kenneth R. Lester Jr. set bond at $1 million -- an amount O'Mara said the family would be unable to handle. Assistant State Attorney Bernie de la Rionda said Zimmerman's prior run-ins with a police officer and a woman who named him in a domestic violence injunction show that he is violent and a threat to the community. Lester, however, described the incidents as "run of the mill" and "somewhat mild" in approving O'Mara's request for bond. With the 10% cash payment customarily made to secure bond, Zimmerman could be freed with $15,000 from his family, attorneys said. He will likely remain in jail for at least a couple of days while his attorneys and authorities work out terms of his release, which also include electronic monitoring and other restrictions, O'Mara said. The judge told O'Mara to talk to authorities about his request to allow Zimmerman to leave Florida while awaiting trial. O'Mara said he is concerned about threats to Zimmerman's safety, as well as that of his family. De la Rionda said no decision has been made on whether to allow Zimmerman to leave the state. The decision to grant Zimmerman bond followed a hearing in which his wife and parents testified that he was a caring, nonviolent man. "I know that he is very protective of people, very protective of homeless people and also of children," Gladys Zimmerman testified by telephone. She said her son helped organize a campaign to "get justice" for a homeless man who had been beaten in Sanford, where he lived and where the shooting of Martin took place. He also ventured into a dangerous Orlando neighborhood twice a week to mentor a 14-year-old African-American boy, his mother said. She testified that she begged him not to go because of the danger. "He said, 'Mom, if I don't go, they don't have nobody,' " she said. HLN: Zimmerman wife talks publicly for the first time . Zimmerman's father, Robert Zimmerman Sr., testified that his son is not a violent man despite previous incidents discussed by de la Rionda during the hearing, including a scuffle with a police officer and a dispute with a woman. "I've never known him to be violent at all unless he was provoked, and then he would turn the other cheek," Robert Zimmerman testified. According to authorities, Zimmerman has said he killed Martin in self-defense after the teenager accosted him, knocking him to the ground and bashing his head against the concrete. Zimmerman's father testified Friday that when he saw his son the day after Martin's shooting, he was wearing a protective cover over his nose, his face was swollen, and he had two vertical gashes on his head. He also reportedly suffered a broken nose. Timeline of case . Martin's family and the special prosecutor appointed to investigate the case have rejected that argument, saying they believe Zimmerman disobeyed the instructions of a police dispatcher to stop following Martin, racially profiled him and unjustly killed him. Although details of the shooting remain murky, what is known is that Martin ventured out from the home of his father's fiancee in Sanford and went to a nearby convenience store, where he bought a bag of Skittles and an Arizona Iced Tea. On his way back, he had a confrontation with Zimmerman, who shot him. Zimmerman had called 911 to complain about a suspicious person in the neighborhood, according to authorities. In the call, Zimmerman said he was following Martin after the teen started to run, prompting the dispatcher to tell him, "We don't need you to do that." Zimmerman pursued Martin anyway. After briefly losing track of the teen, Zimmerman told authorities the teen approached him and the two exchanged words. Zimmerman said he reached for his cell phone, then Martin punched him in the nose. Zimmerman said Martin pinned him down and began slamming his head onto the sidewalk, leading to the shooting. Florida to review 'stand your ground' law . Police have said Zimmerman was not immediately charged because there was no evidence to disprove his account that he had acted in self-defense. A police report indicated he was bleeding from the nose and the back of his head. In Friday's hearing, an investigator for special prosecutor Angela Corey's office said authorities have no evidence showing who started the altercation that led to Martin's death. "Do I know? No," investigator Dale Gilbreath said when asked if he knew who started the fight. He said wounds on the back of Zimmerman's head were consistent with his skull being struck with something harder than his skull, and said under questioning from O'Mara that the object could have been a concrete sidewalk. But he said evidence in the case is not consistent with Zimmerman's account that he was able to move away from the sidewalk just before being shot. Martin was shot once in the chest at close range, Gilbreath said. De la Rionda declined to comment on most of Friday's proceedings, including Zimmerman's testimony. But he said there's more to come when the case comes to trial. "We obviously have evidence we feel we can go forward with," he said. "We did not put our entire case on today." Crump said Martin's father, Tracy Martin, wept through much of Friday hearing, and the family was distraught at the prospect of Zimmerman being able to reunite with his family. "They pray that his freedom is only temporary, because the pain he has caused this family is going to be permanent," Crump said. CNN's John Couwels contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| Investigator says authorities don't know who started fight that led to death .
Defendant's father says his son's face was swollen and had gashes the next day .
Attorneys for Trayvon Martin's family call apology "disingenuous"
George Zimmerman tells the teen's family he is sorry for what happened . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- "He's so good," Phil Everly said. We were sitting in a corner booth at a rural cafeteria in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Phil was talking about his older brother, Don. Having spent time with the Everly Brothers on the rock-and-roll road over the years, I had long noticed something: . Whenever they were performing, Phil fastened his eyes right on Don's. As they were creating their heartbreaking harmonies, he seldom looked away. I didn't want to ask him about that in front of his brother, but, with just the two of us there, I did. "I have to pay attention every second with my harmonies," Phil said. "It's like playing tennis with someone who is really great. You can't let your mind wander for even a microsecond, or you'll be left behind." When Phil died this month at the age of 74, I recalled that conversation. I first met him and Don during my years on tour with Jan and Dean; there were occasions when we found ourselves as part of shows at the same venues, sharing the same backstage areas, dining at the same pre-concert buffets. There are a lot of unlikely things that I managed to become used to during those years, but one thing I could never get over -- one thing that never ceased to feel like a dream -- was knowing the Everly Brothers. Their talent, the beauty of their voices, was something not entirely of this Earth. They were a miracle. I was still of elementary school age when, early one morning, the clock radio snapped to life and before I could open my eyes a new song sounded in the darkness: "Bye Bye Love," two voices blending in a way I'd never heard before, and it was electric, it was that kind of unanticipated jolt. The disc jockey said the singers were called the Everly Brothers, and the thought that I would ever meet them, get to know them, travel with them, would not have seemed possible. But such things, if you're very lucky, can happen. In the days after Phil's death, the tributes to him from fellow musicians made me understand anew that, as famous and accomplished as those singers are, they, too, were in awe of him. Paul McCartney said that he and John Lennon used to pretend they were the Everly Brothers: "When John and I first started to write songs, I was Phil and he was Don. Years later when I finally met Phil, I was completely starstruck and at the same time extremely impressed by his humility and gentleness of soul." Paul Simon: "Phil and Don were the most beautiful sounding duo I ever heard." Vince Gill: "I honestly believe I've spent the last 40 years, on every record I've been part of for somebody else, trying to be an Everly. ... I've spent my whole life chasing that beautiful, beautiful blend." In the five years starting in 1957 they had 25 top-40 hits -- "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," "All I Have to Do Is Dream," "Cathy's Clown," "(Til) I Kissed You," "Let It Be Me," so many others -- but the numbers are the least of it. The sound of their voices was so pure, so achingly gorgeous, that to listen was to be humbled and filled with wonder. It's not surprising at all that, across the Atlantic Ocean, of course the young-and-unknown Paul McCartney and the young-and-unknown John Lennon would listen to the Everlys on imported-from-the-U.S. records and try to be just like them. When I heard that Phil had died, I sat and did my best to recall moments in his presence, not wanting to forget a single second of them. He was soft-spoken and seemingly quite shy; there was an underlay of pain that somehow felt omnipresent, and that he didn't feel compelled to dwell upon. Music fans remember the death of Buddy Holly in 1959, but few recall the funeral. Phil did: He, not yet old enough to vote, was one of Holly's pallbearers. Whatever may have hurt and disheartened Phil, he didn't bother other people with, but you could find it in his music. The first words to a song he wrote later in 1959, and that he and Don recorded: "I've been made blue / I've been lied to / When will I be loved?" The fact that he and Don went through long periods of estrangements and silence is not a secret, but the silences ended each time a show began. The breathtaking sound of those voices intertwining was enough to bring listeners to tears. On Labor Day weekend in 1999 they made a trip together to the woods and hills of the part of Kentucky coal country where their father had gone to work in the mines at the age of 12. I was writing a column for Life magazine at the time; the Everlys invited me to come along. Don and Phil drove separate cars. I rode with Don up Route 431 in Muhlenberg County. He said: "The town where I was born doesn't exist anymore. It was called Brownie -- just a few miles from here. It was a coal mining camp. When the coal was all gone, they tore the town down." Later that day I sat in that bare-bones cafeteria with Phil, and he told me: "There's an acceptance of us here. They know who we are. They know our kin." The brothers, on the strength of their hits, found a life for themselves far from the old coal mines. But if they never quite fit in with the gleaming and glitzy rock idols who were their fan-magazine-cover contemporaries, it's probably because, as boys, they had so little in common with the others. "I had this haunted feeling all my life," Don said to me one day in Kentucky. "Of being odd man out." I told Don what Phil had said: how Phil had explained his reason for staring into Don's eyes as they sang, how Phil had said how much he admired his brother's gift. Don told me: "It's like a third person. When Phil and I sing, there are times that what comes out is not either of us, but the voice of a third person." On that trip we had been joined by the great Life photographer Harry Benson. Late one afternoon, by the shore of Lake Adela, with forest all around, the four of us watched the sun getting ready to set. There had been a drought -- little rain for summer months on end. The brothers stood there in the quiet and then Phil turned to Don, gestured toward the treeline, and said: "It's browner this year." Don, looking toward the water's surface, said: "The lake's down." The shorthand of home. Whatever friction may have divided them from time to time, they never took it out on their audiences. When I asked Phil about it -- the constant effort to excel -- he said: "We've never tried to fluff it. We've always tried to make it better." That they did. One of my favorite songs of theirs was never a major hit: "Gone, Gone, Gone." Yet with Phil's passing the thought occurs that, because of the music he and Don gave us, he, and they, never will be gone. And that long-ago question of Phil's -- "When will I be loved?" -- has an easy answer: Forever. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene.
### SUMMARY:
| Bob Greene: The Everly Brothers had a talent that was extraordinary .
In five years, they had 25 hits in the Top 40 charts, he writes .
Despite frictions between Phil and Don Everly, they were masters at working together, Greene says .
Greene: Paul McCartney and John Lennon used to pretend that they were the Everly Brothers . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- The Oregon coast can be a moody destination year-round. In the mornings, brooding fog canopies the coastal highways and storms can roll in from the Pacific, kicking up without much warning. But in mid- to late summer, the heavier rains seem to sidestep the coast and, more often than not, sunshine blinks from behind the clouds. Whale spouts are spotted from shore; seals stretch and bark on the rocks; and tourists in search of stunning Pacific Coast views are drawn to the iconic Highway 101 en masse. It's a small dot on the map between Coos Bay and Newport, but slipping by Florence, Oregon, and all this historical city offers, would be a shame. Born near the mouth of the Siuslaw River in the late 1800s, Florence was a rugged coastal frontier settlement that relied mostly on fishing and logging to power its economy. Today, the city still counts these industries as important, but these days tourism is bringing in the bling. And it's easy to understand the draw. Florence has a charming old-world downtown, the Siuslaw River curves along its edges, offering spectacular natural views, and it is located along what is arguably the most beautiful and diverse section of the Oregon Coast. 20 stunning cliffside beaches . If you're traveling north on Highway 101, you'll cross one of this community's most notable landmarks, the Siuslaw River Bridge, a stunning double leaf bascule (or moveable) bridge featuring four towering art-deco-style obelisks. A quick right turn at the end of the bridge will spool you down into Florence's Historic Old Town District, a small but charming collection of restaurants, curio shops, coffee shops, art galleries and B&Bs. Walk along Bay Street, a wide avenue with intermittent views of the Siuslaw River and well-maintained flower gardens. Here you'll see a collection of historical buildings, many of them salvaged from nearby communities and given a second life in Florence. For instance, the Waterfront Depot Restaurant & Bar is housed in an old train depot found abandoned in Mapleton, Oregon, and saved from demolition more than 40 years ago. Today, this restaurant is one of the best places to watch the river crawl by while swilling a Mango Mint Fizz -- a sublime mixture of rum, mango juice, lemon juice, simple syrup and soda. Another must-have on the menu is the dreamy crab-encrusted Alaskan Halibut draped with a chili cream sauce. After dinner, make sure to find Gazebo Park, a small, nearly hidden patch tucked away off Bay Street. This intimate enclave featuring a small dock, a bench, and, you guessed it, a gazebo is about as romantic a getaway as you'll find in these parts. Linger on a park bench until sundown and watch the stars reflect off the river. Another historical building that found new life in Florence is the Edwin K Bed & Breakfast, a two-story 1914 craftsman-style charmer with six bedrooms and a private apartment. Most rooms have views of either the river or the famous Oregon sand dunes. Nightly rates start at $165 during prime season (May through mid-October). 50 states, 50 spots: Natural wonders . One of the best times to explore Florence is in May, when the city celebrates its annual Rhododendron Festival, a tradition for more than a century. After perusing the antique shops, browsing the art galleries or visiting the Siuslaw Pioneering Museum, grab a strong cup of coffee at the Siuslaw River Coffee Roasters, a locally owned gem that roasts its own beans. The eclectic shop is housed in a converted garage and outboard motor repair shop and is where you're sure to see loads of locals crowded around tables or sitting along a beautifully recovered church pew. This is the place to be when the weather turns gloomy and the gas stove is roaring in one corner. Rain never sounds as good as when it's thumping heavy on the coffee shop's tin roof, and when the storm passes, check out the view of the river and bridge from the back deck. If you're in the mood for adventure and don't mind getting a little sand in your teeth, head south out of Florence for an off-highway vehicle tour of the famous Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. A 40-mile expanse of arid, wind-sculpted sand dunes extends from Florence to Coos Bay, Oregon, and is a complete change from the green, lush Oregon environment most people know. Here, toast-colored sand dunes tower some 500 feet above sea level, and, in select areas, off-highway vehicle rentals zoom around and over the dunes at dizzying speeds. Join one of the many off-highway vehicle tour groups in the area, but use caution: some group tours can be pretty adrenalin-fueled. It's rumored that the eerie, windswept landscape is what inspired sci-fi author Frank Herbert to pen his best-selling novel, "Dune." For a closer look at some of Oregon's favorite residents, tour the Sea Lion Caves, a privately owned nature preserve just a few miles north of Florence up Highway 101. Visitors may take an elevator down 208 feet into what's touted as the largest sea cave in America, roughly the length of a football field and 125 feet high. World's top 25 theme parks . From an observation ledge, watch the natural comings and goings of the Steller sea lions who call this enclave home. The sea lions are most likely to congregate in the grotto during the fall and winter, whereas they take full advantage of the sunnier spring and summer weather to frolic on the rock formations just outside the caves. Gray whales are sometimes spotted swimming in the area, especially in the spring and summer. Be aware that the sea lion trademark "barking" can be loud and, while they are cute, their collective odor is less than adorable. Adult tickets are $14; children 5 and older may enter for $8; children under 5 are free. Don't miss the newly renovated and working Heceta Head Lighthouse, which towers 205 feet above the Pacific and has a light beam visible 21 miles out to sea. The crisp-looking white lighthouse with red roof stands out in sharp contrast to the stunning ocean vistas all around it. Book a room at the lightkeeper's cottage, a working B&B just a few hundred feet away from the lighthouse itself. The delightful Victorian-style home features an expansive view of the Pacific, an acre of well-maintained grounds, six distinctive rooms and a hearty breakfast selection. Rooms begin at $209 during the coveted high season (May through October). In the evening, as the light begins to soften, make like a local and gather a bucket, headlamp and some waders and search the soft sands of the riverbeds for mussels and clams. Regulars have a few favorite spots including a small inlet up Highway 126 near the fork of the Siuslaw River. Even if you're not in the mood to get muddy, grab a blanket and a hot beverage and relax along the shore as you watch the bobbing lights of the clam diggers blend in with the stars. Your vacation has officially begun.
### SUMMARY:
| Florence, Oregon, boasts small-town charm and coastal attractions .
Historic buildings line streets in the small Old Town .
The nearby Heceta Head Lighthouse is a much-photographed scenic spot . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
London (CNN) -- It reads like something from a spy novel. An MI6 agent known for his mathematical genius and codebreaking talent is found dead at his home, his naked body padlocked inside a large red carrying bag stowed in the bathtub. There is no sign of a break-in or of force having been used against him. The man's Internet history betrays an interest in sex games and bondage. But DNA traces suggest other people may have been in his apartment. The mysterious 2010 death of Gareth Williams, who worked for Britain's foreign intelligence service, is a riddle that has gripped the nation. And at the heart of the mystery is a key question: Could Williams have zipped himself into the bag as part of a bizarre sexual fantasy? Or was the Cambridge-educated math whiz placed there by what family members have suggested are killers versed in the "dark arts" of espionage? At Westminster Coroner's Court, a solid red-brick building across the River Thames from the headquarters of MI6 -- where fictional spy James Bond worked -- the disturbing tale of the final hours of a man known for closely guarding his privacy has unfolded in the most public of ways. The inquest has heard that Gareth Williams was not reported missing for more than a week, despite the sensitive nature of his work, meaning many vital clues were lost to decomposition. Meanwhile, UK media have focused on revelations about the 31-year-old's apparent interest in bondage and claustrophilia, a fetish for enclosure in very confined spaces. Reports about the "body in a bag spy" detail how two experts spent days trying to figure out whether Williams, who was athletic and of medium height, could have contorted himself in such as way as to lock himself into the North Face holdall bag, with a key to the padlock inside. Video provided to the court shows one of them, Peter Faulding, folding himself laboriously into an identical bag, measuring just 32 inches by 19 inches (81 by 48 centimeters), placed in a bathtub. Faulding, who specializes in rescuing people from confined spaces, told the inquest he had tried to lock himself into the bag 300 times without success, according to the Press Association news agency. A second expert witness, also of a size and build similar to Williams, tried 100 times to re-enact the feat without succeeding. But neither ruled out definitively the possibility Williams could have somehow done it alone. A small trace of someone else's DNA was found on the bag, helping spawn all kinds of theories -- that he was perhaps drugged by a foreign spy who then locked him in the bag, or was the victim of a kinky sexual liaison gone wrong. The detail that the closets in Williams' central London flat contained thousands of dollars' worth of designer women's clothing and shoes, some of which had been worn, as well as women's wigs and cosmetics, added fuel to the fire of speculation. Another revelation came from a former landlord and landlady, who told how they had once found Williams tied by his wrists to the headboard of his bed, after he shouted for help. Williams said he had wanted to see if he could get free, landlady Jennifer Elliot told the court, but she and her husband "thought it to be more likely to be sexual than escapology," according to Press Association. Williams was recruited into the intelligence services straight from university, working with Government Communications Headquarters before MI6. The nature of his work and questions around why his spy agency bosses took so long to raise an alert about his absence have added to the intrigue surrounding his death. In a courtroom scene reminiscent of a spy thriller, his boss testified from behind a screen and was identified only as SIS F -- the Secret Intelligence Service being the official name for MI6. She apologized to Williams' family for the service's failure to act sooner, but said his lifestyle choices were not a concern for the agency, suggesting it has moved on from the rigid mores of past decades, when closet homosexuality or illicit affairs opened up possibilities for blackmail. "There is no set template for what their lifestyle should be," SIS F said of today's intelligence agents, according to the Press Association. "Individuals have lifestyle and sexual choices and sexual preferences which are perfectly legitimate." She acknowledged that Williams had made a number of unauthorized computer searches at work but played down the significance of this fact, the agency said. Williams was finally reported missing by a co-worker on August 23, more than a week after the normally punctilious employee had last shown up at work. A transcript of the call to police said Williams was last spoken to on Friday, August 13, and that calls to his home number and cell phone had gone unanswered. His sister had also been unable to reach him. The caller mentioned that Williams had "recently been pulled off of a job" and said it was unclear if he might have "taken this badly." The family's lawyer accused MI6 of showing "total disregard for Gareth's whereabouts and safety" before he was found dead at his government-provided home, Press Association reported. Concerns over national security have been a factor in the 20-month delay in holding Williams' inquest, and an agency more used to working in the shadows has had an uncomfortably bright light shone into its practices. As well as adding to his family's distress, the initial delay in reporting Williams' death means forensic specialists simply cannot answer many of the most pressing questions. Testing did not give conclusive results because the body had decomposed significantly after nine days in the summer heat of his top-floor apartment, toxicology reports posted online say. Traces of alcohol and a chemical matching the party drug GHB were found, but both can occur naturally as part of the decomposition process, one document says. Williams was teetotal, so "even a small amount of alcohol could affect cognitive capacity," it notes. A series of photographs provided by the Metropolitan Police show the tidy, impersonal interior of the spy's Pimlico home and the small, white-tiled bathroom where his body was found. A bicycle parked in the hallway is a clue to Williams' more regular passion, cycling. A glimpse through the bedroom door shows a bed half-made, clothes lying on it. But little else can be gleaned from the images. Media reports have homed in on expert testimony that despite Williams' solitary lifestyle, tiny traces of DNA from "at least two" other people were found in his apartment. But who those visitors were and whether they hold the clue to the riddle of the agent's mysterious death are yet more questions that remain unanswered. Williams' family, with whom he was close, deny that he was gay or had a secret, unorthodox sex life. They believe someone else was there either when Williams died or afterward, their lawyer, Anthony O'Toole, told a hearing held before the inquest began, and they suspect some degree of expert cover-up was involved. "The impression of the family is that the unknown third party was a member of some agency specializing in the dark arts of the secret services -- or evidence has been removed post-mortem by experts in the dark arts," O'Toole said, according to Press Association. The inquest court is expected to give its verdict on Williams' death this week, but the final chapter of his life in the shadows may never be fully revealed to his family, or the British public.
### SUMMARY:
| Gareth Williams' naked body was found in a locked bag in the bathtub of his London home .
Britain has been fascinated by revelations concerning the intelligence agent's death .
Williams had unusual sexual interests, according to his Internet history .
Agents trained in the "dark arts" of espionage may have been involved, his family believes . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Although Michelle Obama's primary White House initiative has been conquering childhood obesity, the first lady is focusing on a new area during her first official trip to China: studying abroad. Obama, who landed in China on Wednesday, is there to emphasize the importance of students learning from one another's cultures. She is making a week-long trip to visit children at several schools in three Chinese cities. The first lady took time in Beijing to answer viewer-submitted questions about studying abroad in an exclusive CNN iReport Interview. More than 350 questions were submitted to CNN iReport from students, parents and avid travelers. Several great questions made it into the final video interview, but for the questions that didn't make the cut, here is the transcript of the first lady's responses. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Click on each iReporter's name to watch the original video question. What is your most memorable cultural and travel experience? -- Ovunuchi Ejiohuo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria . Michelle Obama: I'm blessed to have so many phenomenal cultural experiences, everything from traveling to so many parts of Africa to meeting with the Pope at the Vatican to being here at Peking University. Everywhere I go, I'm always struck by the reality that we have so much more in common throughout the world, regardless of where we're born, our race, our religious beliefs. We're all striving for the best for our communities and for our families. This is why study abroad is so important. The more young people get the opportunity to travel the world, live in other cultures and learn new languages, the more they will begin to understand our shared ideals and the shared opportunities to keep moving this world forward. Studying abroad could give you an edge in the job market . How can we, as students, help push our fellow students and the next generation abroad? How can we help you in your efforts to make the United States a more worldly and open-minded nation? -- Ethan Higgins, Prescott, Arizona . Obama: I think so many people in your generation already get it in ways that people in my generation didn't get it. One thing I shared during my speech here in Peking (University) was that when I was in college, I never took advantage of the opportunities to study abroad. Some of it was because I was afraid. Some of it was because I didn't know what opportunities existed. Some of it was because I though the best thing I could do was finish my degree, get out there in the world and make money as fast as I could. But now, more and more young people are coming to college with a broader sensibility. I think that has a lot to do with the fact that people have access to the Internet. You guys are seeing the world through eyes that I never had access to when I was your age. I would just encourage you to continue to be a voice for the importance of travel and stepping outside of your comfort zones to the extent that you're mentoring other young people where you're from, going to schools, encouraging young people to learn new languages and not be afraid to try new things, even if it's as simple as going to another community and trying a different kind of food. We live in the United States of America, where there's almost every culture, every language you can imagine right here on our soil. We can start by experiencing the diversity in our own communities. One good way to do that is through service to the community. But I have the utmost of confidence in your generation. You guys are already making me and my husband very proud. Just keep up the great work. What lasting benefit does study abroad have on students once they return to the United States? -- Jack Burrus, Miami . Obama: The benefits of study abroad are almost endless. First of all, it's going to make you much more marketable here in the United States, because more and more companies are realizing that they need people with experiences around the world, who can speak different languages, who can transition easily into other cultures and people who bring to their jobs a sensibility and a sensitivity for other people. It will also make you more compassionate. We could always use more compassionate, young leaders out there in the world, people who are willing to step outside their comfort zones and be open to wiping away misconceptions. Especially for U.S. students, it's very hard to stay in your comfort zone when you're living in another country. When you're struggling with a language, new foods, learning directions, being forced to make friends and do things that you wouldn't normally do, that's going to set you up for a lifetime of value. It's going to make you a better parent. It's going to make you a better human being. I want more young people like you to take that step. Try something new, travel abroad, and if you can't travel abroad, use the Internet to see the world. How can we make foreign exchange opportunities available for all students and not just the affluent? -- Cate Thompson, Anderson, North Carolina . Obama: Great question, and thanks for your work teaching our kids. Keep it up. Making sure that all of our kids in the United States have access to opportunities to study abroad, regardless of their race or socioeconomic background, is going to be critical for us. One of the things that the President has done by promoting 100,000 Strong is work in partnership with institutions in the United States and abroad, and with U.S. companies, to increase the opportunities for more young people to study abroad, regardless of where they're from. One of the things that he and I talk about is the shared connection that we gain when we have educational exchange opportunities between countries that are enhanced by ensuring that the folks who represent the United States, represent all of the United States. Kids like me, who grew up in a working-class background, grew up in a tiny apartment and went to public schools, there's a perspective that I uniquely have to share with the rest of the world. And the same is true for a kid growing up in a rural China or a kid who is a studying in Kenya. They need to have opportunities to travel the world because they are going to be our future leaders, and their voices are one that we have to hear as we continue to develop this world and continue to tackle the challenges that we will inevitably face. Diversity is key, and we will continue to do all that we can here in this administration to continue to lift up opportunities and make them accessible for all of our young people. How do we get parents to be comfortable with the idea of their children studying abroad and supporting them in this endeavor? -- Letitia Wright of Rancho Cucamonga, California . Obama: Getting parents on board when it comes to studying abroad is key. We all as parents want the best for our kids, but sometimes it's a little hard to let them out of the nest. One of the things that we really need to do is to provide more information for parents so they have an understanding why study abroad is important, how it's going to expand the opportunities for their loved ones and how are they going to be able to afford it. Oftentimes that is a key deterrent for many families who don't have the resources they need to understand what the economic impact will be on their families and on their kids. They also need to understand more about an ever-globalizing economy and that traveling abroad is no longer just a nice thing to do; it's becoming more and more a central part of a student's educational experience. We need people like you, who have had the experience, to be spokespeople, talk about it in your churches and your communities, and the more people hear about these opportunities, the more parents will become comfortable with letting their kids go.
### SUMMARY:
| Michelle Obama launches new focus on studying abroad during China trip .
Her emphasis is on the importance of learning from one another's cultures .
Obama answered viewer-submitted questions in exclusive CNN iReport Interview .
More than 350 questions were submitted . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
CNN -- At first, no one seemed to notice the young man who walked into the hotel lobby at around 7:45 that Friday morning. Boys (whose faces are blurred out in this photo) attend a "summer camp" sponsored by Hamas. He wore a baseball cap, a backpack and dragged a wheeled suitcase behind him. He casually checked his watch as he calmly walked toward a hotel restaurant filled with Western business executives. A hotel security camera caught what happened next. In a matter of moments, the lobby was engulfed in billowing white smoke and flying debris. Another suspected suicide bomber had left his bloody mark. The bombing at the JW Marriott Hotel and the adjacent Ritz-Carlton in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 17 killed nine people, including the presumed bombers. Investigators are looking at a link between the attacks and a Muslim terrorist group fighting a "holy war" against the West. Terrorism is not confined to any faith or any culture. Terrorists are driven by varying impulses. Yet since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America, terrorism has often been associated with young Muslim men. Watch as CNN's Christiane Amanpour investigates how one madrassa student is recruited to join the Taliban » . People often assume that Muslim youth who turn to violence are ill-educated fanatics inspired by visions of meeting virgins in paradise. But that portrait is rarely true, terror experts say. "They are not crazy people," says James Jones, author of "Blood That Cries Out From the Earth," a book that examines the psychology of religious terrorism. "They [terrorist groups] won't recruit psychotic people," Jones says. "Crazy people are unstable. That's exactly what you don't want." Then who are these Muslim men and women who turn to violence? Terror experts say they are shaped by several common factors. They see no way up or out . Fathali M. Moghaddam, director of the conflict resolution program at Georgetown University in Washington, says some Muslim youth may embrace violent causes because they believe they have no chance for upward mobility in their country. "Imagine if you're a 20-year-old and you want to get on in Egypt or Saudi Arabia," Moghaddam says. "You better be connected by family or know somebody important." Many don't view politics as a plausible vehicle for social change, Moghaddam says. Their countries are often run by dictators who crush secular opposition groups -- with the tacit support of the U .S. government, these youth believe, Moghaddam says. The only opposition groups that these Middle East dictators dare not attack are those based in the mosque, Moghaddam says. Those mosque-based groups, though, tend to be open to the influence of fundamentalists. "There's no opportunity for voice, no opportunity to express yourself," Moghaddam says. "Politics is out of the question for the secular opposition -- you're either dead or go to jail." Politics, though, is part of the answer for Hamas, an Islamic fundamentalist group that rules Gaza. The group, which has admitted responsibility for attacks against Israel soldiers and civilians, won a landslide victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election. Watch a young man who chooses to join the Hamas militia » . "Some young people are inevitably attracted to the more risky positions and actions taken by a group such as Hamas because Hamas is critical of corrupt and inept dictators in the Arab world," Moghaddam says. "This resonates with Arab youth." They're driven by a sense of humiliation . Some Muslim youth may turn to violence for another reason: revenge. Basel Saleh, an assistant economics professor at Radford University in Virginia, recently studied the socioeconomic factors that helped shape 82 Palestinian suicide bombers and 240 militants. He says he knows those factors firsthand. Saleh's father's village was razed by the Israelis in 1948 and is now an Israeli settlement. He says he grew up in the West Bank where he once considered using violence to vent his anger after a group of Israeli soldiers came to his family's home unannounced and interrogated him while his younger sister cried. "But I was on the verge of getting there," he says. "I almost crossed that line." Most Palestinian youth who did cross that line weren't driven by religion, Saleh says. "Many weren't motivated by Islamic fundamentalism," Saleh says of the Palestinian militants in his study. "They were motivated primarily by personal grievances. They had been arrested, shot or seen family arrested." Saleh says some Palestinian youth who believe Israeli soldiers have mistreated their family members may feel duty-bound to retaliate with violence. Protecting one's family against humiliation is important in Middle Eastern culture, he says. "If anything is done to your family, it's personal," Saleh says. "It has to do with the honor of the family. Family is everything in the Middle East. Your honor is defined by your family." Saleh says if Israel did more to help improve Palestinians' living conditions, fewer Palestinian youths would turn to violence. "You have to open a new path for them [Palestinians]," he says. "They want freedom of movement. Give them an airport, a port. Don't demolish their schools and their universities. Pay attention to basic human rights." The anger felt by some Palestinian youth is also stoked by propaganda, says Michael Jacobson, a senior fellow in The Washington Institute's Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence. Hamas sponsors children television shows and summer camps that are designed to indoctrinate Palestinian children with the same message, Jacobson says. Watch Amanpour go inside a Hamas boys summer camp » . "From an early age, they're taught that fighting the jihad against Israel and being a martyr are great things to be," says Jacobson, author of "The West at War: U.S. and European Counterterrorism Efforts Post-September 11." Other extremist groups use another medium, the Internet, to radicalize Muslim youth, says Jones, author of "Blood That Cries Out From the Earth." Muslim youth who spend time on the Internet are exposed to sophisticated videos from terrorist groups showing Muslims being killed in places such as the West Bank, Iraq and Chechnya, Jones says. The sophisticated videos tell the life stories of young Muslims who have volunteered to be martyrs, Jones says. "There's this constant message that Islam is under attack," Jones says. "Your brothers and sisters are being killed. It's your duty to do something for them." They're driven by a need to join a cause . Jones says the appeal of terrorist groups taps into an even deeper yearning in many youth, no matter their religion or culture: the desire to give one's self to a transcendent cause. Jones, who joined civil rights demonstrations in the South during the 1960s, says he knows how exhilarating it can be for young people to join a cause that they believe demands some form of sacrifice. Any effort to turn Muslim youth away from violent groups must make a similar appeal, and come from fellow Muslims, Jones says. "We need something that has an equal amount of passion and moral seriousness that makes them believe they are making the world better," he says. "We need something with those elements but something that's more constructive than blowing yourself up."
### SUMMARY:
| Most assumptions about young Muslim terrorists are wrong, experts say .
They say those that turn to violence are shaped by several common factors .
Terror expert: 'They are not crazy people' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN)An era of fumbling for spare change and driving in circles in search for a parking space may be coming to a close. Drivers across the nation and around the world are turning to mobile apps, websites and other forms of technology to both find and pay for parking with greater efficiency. At the same time, major U.S. cities and a new wave of startups are working to simplify the parking process, perhaps marking a revolution in the parking industry, experts say. Eric Meyer, 24, lives in the Baltimore neighborhood of Canton and knows firsthand about the frustrations of parking in a busy city. A former employee at Phillips Seafood, Meyer found himself driving in circles every time he headed home from work. "Anyone who has lived in Canton or Federal Hill or a lot of these densely populated neighborhoods knows that searching for spots can be like looking for a needle in a haystack," Meyer said. So Meyer quit his job and founded the app Haystack, which allows a user who has a parking spot in the Baltimore area to offer it up for a price, usually around $3. A driver who needs a space pays and then takes the spot to complete the exchange. Cities across the U.S. are turning to similar innovative parking technologies. Just this month, Boston's Transportation Department announced plans to develop an app, expected to launch in the fall, letting residents pay for parking straight from their smartphones. The city of Evanston, Illinois, recently initiated a similar pilot program. Miami Beach partnered with ParkMobile and ParkMe in May to launch apps that help drivers find and pay for parking spots. And Chicago will be expanding its pay-by-phone parking service, ParkChicago, to all its 36,000 parking meters by the end of the summer after piloting the app since April. "What we're seeing is a demand from our consumers to offer a level of convenience that really heretofore hadn't been the hallmark of the parking industry," said Casey Jones, spokesman for the International Parking Institute, the largest trade association for parking professionals and the parking industry. The U.S. and beyond . So why, beyond the growth of mobile payments in general, are these mobile parking apps catching on? Christina Martinez, marketing director of the app, website and in-car service Parkopedia, attributes the trend to the recent growth of U.S. urban populations. "People are moving back into cities," Martinez said, "and they need parking spots." According to the International Parking Institute's 2013 report, the U.S. cities leading the way in parking innovation include San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. And although some apps are only available in select U.S. cities, others have expanded their usage nationally and even internationally. ParkMe provides data, availability and payment information for on- and off-street parking in more than 1,800 cities and 32 countries, according to its website. And ParkMobile, which was developed in 1999 in Europe, has since spread to the United States -- where it boasts 2.5 million members -- along with Canada, Australia and New Zealand, said Laurens Eckelboom, ParkMobile's executive vice president of business development. In general, compared to Europe, the United States has been a bit slower to adopt the concept of newer parking technologies, Eckelboom said. Parking has historically been more of a challenge in Europe where cities are generally more densely populated, but the U.S. is catching up quickly, he said. Legal threats . This new era of parking enables drivers to save time on the road and reduce the nation's carbon footprint, experts say. It's also transforming the parking industry, Jones said, illustrating a shift from cash-based to mainly electronic payment methods. But not everyone is thrilled with the emergence of these apps -- most notably, cities that make money from parking meters and, yes, parking fines. San Francisco, for example is experimenting with a pilot project that lets residents feed parking meters through credit, debit and public-transit cards. Sensors enable people to search for open spaces through a mobile app. San Francisco's city attorney has threatened to sue MonkeyParking, a startup whose app lets users pass along their parking space for a fee, if they don't shut down by July 11. Two other parking startups, Sweetch and ParkModo, will also face similar cease-and-desist demands this week, according to the city attorney's office. The attorney, Dennis Herrera, also sent a copy of his cease-and-desist letter to Apple, which makes the app available in its App Store. He argues the apps amount to illegally selling a public commodity. Supporters say the apps let users share information about parking spaces, not the spaces themselves. Besides, anyone can already text or call a friend and tell them a space is about to open up, they say. Convenience and conservation . Bryce Robertson, 20, of Highland Park, Illinois, uses the PassportParking app when he parks at the train station. This way he doesn't need to carry spare change, is notified when time on his parking space is running low and can then refill it remotely. "My drives to the train station sometimes can cut it really close to where if I had to manually pay for parking, I would have missed my train," Robertson said. "As long as I check my space number when I'm running from my car to the train, I can pay for parking while on the train." Parking apps like ParkMe and SpotHero also let drivers compare prices of different parking spaces -- and prevent them from building up parking ticket fees. That's what inspired Jeremy Smith to launch SpotHero, a website and app that allows drivers to reserve parking and get discounts in garages in select cities. "I had racked up about $5,000 in parking tickets," said Smith, co-founder and COO of the company. "I realized if I was reserving my parking online, I could be solving my own problems." The other plus side is the environmental impact, experts say. The less drivers idle, cruise and search for parking, the less the negative impact on the environment, said Kevin Blomberg, ParkMe's director of communications. The future of parking . The next step in this emerging trend may be in-car services that allow drivers to find and pay for parking spaces. "When you're in your car, that presents a problem because you have to stop, pull over and start typing, or you're driving and texting, and it's not legal and it's dangerous," said Martinez of Parkopedia. "When you're driving around, you don't want to be late, and you don't want to have to pull out different apps when you won't know which one does what." That's why companies like Parkopedia and ParkMobile have partnered with automakers like Ford and Volvo to allow drivers to access parking services, some of which are voice-activated, from inside their vehicles. Six more similar partnerships are in the works for ParkMobile, according to Eckelboom. Eckelboom isn't completely sure what is yet to come in terms of parking technology, but he has pondered one possibility: . "Connected vehicles are a valuable extension," Eckelboom said, "but in the end you could also think about wearables (such as Google Glass). Maybe that will be another ... (way) to let you start a parking session."
### SUMMARY:
| A new wave of startups are working to simplify the parking process .
Apps let drivers find and rent coveted parking spaces in crowded cities .
Motorists can book spots in advance and pay from their phones, saving time .
Cities across the U.S. are turning to similar innovative parking technologies . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
It's the war that never really ended -- leaving the Korean peninsula splintered in 1953. The brutal war that raged 60 years ago killed more than two million Koreans, separated thousands of families, and created the world's most heavily fortified border. It also drew the alliances that exist today. The armistice agreement that ended the war is a truce, rather than a peace treaty. Starting on Tuesday, North Korea threatened to dismantle the armistice, as it has done so in the past. In 2009, North Korea said its military would no longer be bound by the agreement because South Korea was joining a U.S.-led anti-proliferation plan. In 2003, Pyonyang's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) announced that it may have "no option" but to stop honoring the armistice because of the United State's "persistent war moves." This time, KCNA declared that come March 11, North Korean forces will "completely declare invalid" the armistice agreement, because "the U.S. imperialists and the south Korean puppet forces" have violated it. It cited joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises as "an open declaration of a war" and slammed the countries using its trademark colorful language. "The U.S. is, however, working with bloodshot eyes to swallow up the DPRK (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name), not content with having incurred the pent-up grudge of the Korean people which can never be settled. What matters is that the South Korean puppet forces steeped in worship and sycophancy toward the U.S. are dancing to its tune," KCNA said. The latest flare-up stems from tougher sanctions passed in the U.N. Security Council against North Korea in response to its nuclear test on February 12. Pyongyang carried out its third nuclear test, despite international condemnation. Here's a look into the tension between the Koreas and why a Cold War conflict still affects global dynamics. Causes . For most of the first half of the 20th century, Japan controlled the Korean peninsula as its colony. By the end of the World War II as Japan neared defeat, the allies agreed to an independent Korea. The United States and Soviet Union divided postwar occupation of Korea along the 38th parallel and the two sides were ideologically opposite. To the north was Kim Il-Sung, the grandfather of North Korea's current leader, Kim Jong-un. As a communist guerrilla leader, Kim Il-Sung had trained in Moscow and resisted Japanese rule in Korea and Manchuria. With revolutionary credentials, he was favored by the Soviets. In the south, a separate election in 1948 brought Rhee Syng-Man, a U.S.-educated independence advocate who was intensely anti-Communist, as the first president of the Republic of Korea. Both Rhee and Kim wanted to unify the peninsula under their respective governments. Tensions festered between the two sides, backed by their respective superpower allies. How the war broke out . On June 25, 1950, a surprise attack by North Korean soldiers who crossed the 38th parallel easily overwhelmed South Korean forces. The United States leapt to the defense of the South. As South Korean, U.S. and U.N. forces fought back and gained ground into North Korea, Chinese forces joined the war on the North's side later that year. The fighting continued until the signing of the armistice in July 1953. The terms of the armistice included the creation of the Demilitarized Zone, a heavily fortified 155-mile long (250 kilometers) 2.5-mile wide line separating the two countries. The toll of the war included about 1.2 million deaths in South Korea, 1 million deaths in North Korea, 36,500 deaths for U.S. troops and 600,000 deaths for Chinese soldiers. The Korean rivalry . Immediately after the war, the North became economically prosperous with the backing of the Soviet Union. However, as the USSR collapsed in the 1990s, so did the North Korean economy and the rice rations distributed to its people disappeared. A famine in the 1990s is believed to have killed as much as 10 percent of the population. In stark contrast, South Korea had a turbulent start after the war with autocratic leadership and struggled as one of the poorest economies in the world. But the country's economy gained ground in the late 1960s, which is now heralded as a model for economic miracles. It now ranks as the fourth largest economy in Asia. President Park Chung Hee was one of the founders of modern Korea who took power after a coup d'etat and ruled with a heavy hand for 18 years before his assassination in 1979. Some in South Korea regard him as the cornerstone of the country's present prosperity; others view him as a dictator. His daughter, Park Geun-hye became the new president of South Korea last month. She took office with a pledge to keep South Korea safe against the threat of an increasingly hostile North Korea. Tense relationship . In the last 60 years, diplomacy between North and South has zigzagged from conciliatory to bellicose. During more friendly times, the two countries arranged emotional family reunions for those separated by the war in 2000, their leaders shook hands in a 2007 Pyongyang summit and ran freight trains across the border. South Korean president Kim Dae-jung won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts for "peace and reconciliation" with North Korea, although his legacy remains mixed. But periods of rapprochement have been counterpointed by violence, with incidents such as the 1983 bombing that killed members of the South Korean cabinet visiting Myanmar and another bombing in 1987 that blew up Korean Air Flight 858, killing all aboard. Despite investigations that found that North Korea carried out both attacks, the government in Pyongyang has steadfastly denied involvement. More recently, the North shelled the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong leaving two marines and two civilians dead. Pyongyang claimed Seoul provoked the 2010 attack by holding a military drill off their shared coast in the Yellow Sea. That same year, North Korea was also accused of sinking a South Korean warship, killing more than 40 sailors. The incidents caused widespread anger in South Korea. Relations have remained fraught, especially after North Korea's nuclear testing last month, which the South Korean government has denounced as "an unforgivable threat to the Korean peninsula's peace and safety." China, a long-standing ally to North Korea since the war, backed the UN resolution for more sanctions against the nation. The sanctions target uranium enrichment and luxury goods -- aimed at North Korea's ruling elite. China has previously resisted strong sanctions on the Kim regime, which it supports economically. In a Financial Times editorial that received significant attention in Asian media, Deng Yuwen, a senior editor of the Study Times, the journal of China's Central Party School, urged China to "re-evaluate its longstanding alliance with the Kim dynasty." "Even if North Korea was a useful friend during the cold war, its usefulness today is doubtful," Deng wrote.
### SUMMARY:
| A brutal civil war 60 years ago drew the alliances that exist today .
North Korea has threatened to end armistice in the past .
War killed more than 2 million Koreans, separated thousands of families . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed a wide-ranging gun bill into law Wednesday that has critics howling and proponents applauding. House Bill 60, or the Safe Carry Protection Act of 2014 -- which opponents have nicknamed the "guns everywhere bill" -- specifies where Georgia residents can carry weapons. Included are provisions that allow residents who have concealed carry permits to take guns into some bars, churches, school zones, government buildings and certain parts of airports. GeorgiaCarry, which lobbied for the bill, calls it "meaningful pro-gun legislation," despite it being watered down from the group's perspective. Still, the group has lauded the legislation, which will go into effect July 1. Americans for Responsible Solutions opposed the bill, calling it "extremism in action." Wednesday's signing came at an open-air picnic area along a creek in Ellijay, in northern Georgia. It opened with a prayer, the singing of the national anthem and a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance. Hundreds of people filled more than 25 picnic tables, while others stood. Many were openly carrying handguns, and some wore National Rifle Association hats and buttons proclaiming, "Stop Gun Control" and "Guns Save Lives." The bill, which easily navigated the state Legislature -- by a 112-58 vote in the House and a 37-18 tally in the Senate -- also earned the support of Democratic state Sen. Jason Carter, the grandson of ex-President Jimmy Carter and a 2014 gubernatorial candidate. Calling it "a great day to reaffirm our liberties," Deal said the law allows residents to protect their families and expands the list of places where they can legally carry firearms, while allowing certain property owners, namely churches and bars, to make judgments on whether they want worshippers and patrons carrying guns. "The Second Amendment should never be an afterthought. It should be at the forefront of our minds," Deal said while touting his NRA endorsement for governor and "A" rating during his 17 years in Congress. The governor said the law "will protect the constitutional rights of Georgians who have gone through a background check to legally obtain a Georgia Weapons Carry License. "Roughly 500,000 Georgia citizens have a permit of this kind, which is approximately 5 percent of our population. License holders have passed background checks and are in good standing with the law. This law gives added protections to those who have played by the rules -- and who can protect themselves and others from those who don't play by the rules." Americans for Responsible Solutions opposed the original bill that GeorgiaCarry pushed for, and while the group is pleased that the version Deal signed Wednesday doesn't allow guns on college campuses or in churches, except in certain cases, it feels the legislation "takes Georgia out of the mainstream." "Among its many extreme provisions, it allows guns in TSA lines at the country's busiest airport, forces community school boards into bitter, divisive debates about whether they should allow guns in their children's classrooms, and broadens the conceal carry eligibility to people who have previously committed crimes with guns," said Pia Carusone, the group's senior adviser. "So it is no surprise that while being trumpeted by the NRA as the 'most comprehensive' gun bill in state history, the legislation ... was opposed by Georgia law enforcement, county commissioners, municipal leaders, and the Transportation Security Administration for its potentially harmful impact on Georgians' safety." While the bill says no one is allowed to carry a firearm past an airport's security screening checkpoint, it allows guns in other areas, including "an airport drive, general parking area, walkway, or shops and areas of the terminal that are outside the screening checkpoint." TSA spokesman Ross Feinstein would not say how the law might affect its agents at Georgia airports, particularly Atlanta's, the world's busiest, but he said, "Individuals who bring firearms to security checkpoints are referred to law enforcement and are subject to criminal penalties. However, TSA has the ability to impose a civil penalty." Another provision of the new law allows firearms into any government building that is open for business and doesn't have security personnel restricting access or screening visitors. Some critics have said it was hypocritical to allow guns in so many places but not the state Capitol. Deal addressed that perception in a question from reporters, saying the Capitol fell under a wider statewide provision that affects many government buildings, and it's "a uniform carved-out area all across our state." The law also allows Georgians to carry guns into bars and churches as long as the property owner hasn't banned them. Anyone bringing a gun into a church that prohibits them won't be arrested but could pay a fine up to $100, the law says. New York church to give away AR-15 semi-automatic rifle . One church that won't be allowing parishioners to carry weapons is Atlanta's historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, which remembers well the 1974 shooting deaths of a deacon and Alberta Williams King, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s mother, in its sanctuary. The Rev. Raphael Warnock, the church's senior pastor, said a deranged man who had access to guns but not health care was behind that shooting, a circumstance that still resonates today. The shooting would have been even more tragic "had everyone been packing that day," Warnock said. "The message of today's bill signing is very clear: Our politicians, tragically, are owned by the gun lobby," he said. "No one asked for this bill but the gun lobby, and still, we're here. ... We will remind them in November that they work for the people." Most churches throughout the state are focused on social issues, such as better health care and education, Warnock said. "I don't know of a single pastor in the state of Georgia who has been lobbying to have guns brought into their churches," he said. "When we say pass the peace, we mean P-E-A-C-E, not the P-I-E-C-E." The law will also allow the carrying of firearms by any "duly authorized official of a public or private elementary or secondary school or a public or private technical school, vocational school, college, university, or other institution of post-secondary education or a local board of education." Deal also touted how HB60 would allow soldiers to obtain a carry license at age 18 if they've completed basic training and are either actively serving or have been honorably discharged. "If they're old enough to hold a gun in defense of our liberties, then they're old enough to hold a gun, and they shouldn't have to wait until they're 21." Other notable provisions of the law allow hunters to use silencers and suppressors when the owner of the property where they're hunting is aware they're using such a device; permit gun owners who have had their licenses revoked to apply for a new license after three years; restrict access for anyone whom a court has deemed mentally incompetent or insane, or anyone involuntary committed to a mental institution; and forbid police officers who see a resident carrying a gun to ask for their permit unless they're committing a crime. Opinion: We will fight the NRA with common sense .
### SUMMARY:
| Pastor says he will not allow guns in Atlanta church, blasts politicians behind bill .
Hundreds attended Deal's signing ceremony, some openly carrying handguns .
Law will allow Georgians to carry guns into some bars, churches and government buildings .
Critics say law takes state "out of mainstream," while proponents call it "meaningful" |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Mark Duell . Last updated at 5:44 AM on 8th February 2012 . Under investigation: The FBI is probing possible criminal violations by Rupert Murdoch's staff . Rupert Murdoch's media empire is today under a stepped-up U.S. investigation and FBI inquiry into possible violations by employees of a U.S. law banning corrupt payments to foreign officials. But U.S. investigators have found little to substantiate allegations of phone hacking inside the country by the media mogul’s journalists, law enforcement and corporate sources said. The FBI is probing possible criminal violations by Mr Murdoch’s staff of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a law intended to curb payment of bribes by U.S. companies to foreign officials. If any action was pursued by U.S. authorities against Murdoch employees, it would most likely relate to . the FCPA, a U.S. law enforcement official told Reuters. If the company is found to have . violated the FCPA, Murdoch's News Corp, which has its base in New York, . could be fined up to $2million and barred from U.S. government . contracts. Individuals who took part in the . bribery could face fines of up to $100,000 and five years' jail. Executives could be liable if they authorised bribes or knew about the . practice but failed to stop it. In practice, U.S. authorities have . usually settled FCPA cases in return for large cash payments from . companies, who can sometimes avoid legal admissions of guilt. Home: If the company is found to have violated the FCPA, Murdoch's News Corp, which has its base in New York, pictured, could be fined up to $2million and barred from U.S. government contracts . Much of the evidence was handed over . by the company, who have set up a clean-up unit in London and hired . lawyers in Britain and the U.S., some of whom are FCPA specialists, . company sources said. The U.S. Justice Department and . Securities and Exchange Commission also have jurisdiction to pursue . civil cases against alleged violators of the law. Bloomberg reported last year that . Justice Department prosecutors sent News Corp a request for details on . alleged payments which journalists made to British police officers in . return for news tips. Sources close to News Corp have . discussed the Management Standards Committee of News International . (MSC), the unit set up to deal with phone hacking and related . investigations. It has for some time been concerned . about the consequences of U.S. investigations of possible FCPA . violations, the sources said. Both News International and News Corp . declined to comment. Last July, the company retained Mark . Mendelsohn, who served as deputy chief of the Fraud Section in the . Criminal Division of the U.S. Justice Department. Hacking claim: Law enforcement and corporate sources said no evidence had turned up that journalists from Mr Murdoch's now defunct News of the World sought to hack into voicemail messages of victims of 9/11 . Mr Mendelsohn, now in private . practice, was internationally respected as an architect of the DOJ's . Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement programme. News Corp sources confirmed that the . Management Standards Committee was also working with Williams & . Connolly, a prominent Washington law firm specialising in white-collar . crime cases. U.S. authorities reportedly found nothing to support claims that potentially illegal reporting tactics allegedly widespread in Britain were also employed by Mr Murdoch’s journalists in the U.S. Law enforcement and corporate sources said no evidence had turned up to corroborate a Daily Mirror accusation over journalists from Mr Murdoch's now-defunct News of the World. The Mirror claimed the NOTW reporters sought to hack into voicemail messages of victims of the Al Qaeda 9/11 attacks on the U.S. The Mirror is a competitor of Mr Murdoch's London tabloid, The Sun. The New York Times reported last year . that one of the lawyers working on the News Corp case was Brendan . Sullivan, a Williams & Connolly partner. He is known for his public defence of . White House aide Oliver North during Congressional investigations into . an arms-for-hostages scandal during the time of U.S. President Ronald . Reagan. News Corp announced last month that . another Williams & Connolly partner, Gerson Zweifach, would become . its top new in-house lawyer. He is also expected to join the MSC. Company sources said that, via the . MSC, News International was routinely sharing with its outside lawyers . evidence which had been uncovered of suspected questionable practices. Among evidence turned over by the . company to British authorities are emails and financial records which . allegedly chart the payment of more than $158,000 to police contacts, . mostly in small sums. A company source said the records . showed many or most of the payments intended recipients were listed in . company records under false names. Arrested but not charged: To date, no criminal charges have been filed against any of the individuals arrested over the past year, who include former News International CEO Rebekah Brooks, left, and Andy Coulson, right . London's Metropolitan Police has been . probing suspected abusive practices which journalists at the News of the . World and other Murdoch London papers allegedly routinely employed in . recent years. British detectives are conducting . three parallel investigations. One inquiry, known as Operation Weeting, . is investigating alleged phone hacking. A second inquiry, Operation Tuleta, is . probing computer hacking claims. The third, Operation Elveden, is . investigating allegations that journalists paid police officers bribes . in return for tipoffs. The head of the three investigations said this week she was increasing the number of police looking at police payments. London police have arrested 30 people, . including journalists and police officers, in connection with its three . journalism-related investigations. Long story: Current probes trace their roots back to the 2006 arrests, and guilty pleas, of NOTW royal reporter Clive Goodman, left, and private detective Glenn Mulcaire, right on phone hacking charges . Last month, four current and former . journalists on The Sun, as well as a serving police officer, were . arrested in connection with Operation Elveden. Sue Akers, the officer in charge of . all the investigations, said on Monday that 14 people so far had been . arrested in connection with Operation Elveden. But she indicated that more investigators were likely to be added to the inquiry, which she said still had some time to run. To date, no criminal charges have been . filed against any of the individuals arrested over the past year, who . include Rebekah Brooks, a former CEO of Murdoch's London papers. Andy Coulson, a former Murdoch editor . who became top media adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron, was also . arrested but not charged to date. However, current probes trace their . roots back to the 2006 arrests, and guilty pleas, of NOTW royal reporter . Clive Goodman and private detective Glenn Mulcaire on phone hacking . charges.
### SUMMARY:
| But U.S. investigators have found little to substantiate allegations .
FBI probing possible violations of U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act .
If company violated .
FCPA, News Corp could be .
fined up to $2million .
Individuals in bribery could face $100,000 fines and five years in prison . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Larisa Brown . PUBLISHED: . 06:58 EST, 9 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:59 EST, 9 December 2012 . Nannies have played an important role in the Royal household for generations. Prince William was so attached to his nanny Olga Powell, who was at his side throughout his childhood, that he cancelled four high-profile engagements to be at her funeral earlier this year. But the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge plan to break with royal tradition by not employing a full-time nanny. The couple are determined to be 'hands-on parents' and Kate is planning to look after her child without the help of someone 24 hours a day. Break with tradition: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, pictured in November, are wanting to be 'hands-on' parents . Unusual: Prince William in his pushchair with his nanny Olga Powell in Regent's Park in London in 1984. Despite growing up with a full-time nanny, William and his wife Kate are not to employ full-time help . Kate and Wills may . employ a part-time nanny who will fulfill the role as a 'babysitter' by . looking after their baby when they have to attend events. But Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton will also be there to lend a hand as much as possible. One of the couple's friends said: 'Catherine and William are . determined to be hands-on parents.' 'Her parents are very excited about the baby and will help out . as much as possible.' 'They will, probably, use a part-time . nanny to help them out when they have to attend events and don’t have a . babysitter, but they don’t want a full-time nanny.' Their decision not to employ a full-time nanny will be a major break with royal tradition. But it is not first time the royal couple have decided to forgo the services of full-time help. The couple do not employ any staff at their home in North Wales, where the Duke serves as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot at Anglesey, apart from a cleaner who visits weekly. Kate has spoken of how she enjoys doing the cooking and household chores. In contrast, Kate Middleton was cared for by her mother Carole, pictured together in 1982, and did not have a full-time nanny . And at university William and his housemates took it in turns to do the cooking and shared household chores - including shopping for food. The Duke of Cambridge's nannies played such an important role in his life that the son of one of them, Tom Pettifer, was a page boy at the royal wedding. Tom, William's godson, is the youngest son of Alexandra Shân 'Tiggy' Pettifer, known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke, who was hired as a nanny to Harry and William . after Charles and Diana announced their separation. Tiggy . helped comfort the princes after their mother's death in 1997. She was so close to the boys after their parents’ divorce that she, memorably, . once described them as 'my babies'. She retired from the Prince of Wales's service when she married in October . 1999. In October, William attended the private funeral of his former nanny Olga Powell, cancelling four high-profile engagements in the north east, which his wife had to attend alone. The Duke of Cambridge's nannies played such an important role in his life that the son of one of them, Tom Pettifer, pictured, was a page boy at the royal wedding . Mrs Powell was at his side through both childhood and the most important days in his adult life. The loving, but strict nanny, was widely credited for having a massive impact on the lives of both Prince William and Harry as they were growing up. Mrs Powell, who was widowed after just six years of marriage when she was 52, came to work for Princess Diana when Prince William was just six months old. Although very loving, she was renowned for not taking any nonsense from the young boys, and famously would give them a clip around the ear if they were ever naughty. Former Royal nanny Tiggy Pettifer, who was hired as a nanny to Harry and William after Charles and Diana announced their separation . Another nanny, Barbara Barnes, was sacked by Diana when William was four because she envied their strong bond. In world's apart, Kate Middleton was brought up by her mother, Carole, a former air stewardess who spent her early years in a council flat in Southall, an unfashionable London suburb. The woman considered to be most influential in the Prince of Wales's life was his beloved nanny Mabel Anderson, employed by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to care for their four children. She had such a special place in the hearts of the Royal family that she was called upon to represent the Duke of York at a funeral at the Chapel . Royal, in St James’s Palace, earlier this year. Mabel's 80th birthday party was arranged by Charles to take place at the royal residence, Clarence House. When she retired, Charles secured her a lifelong grace-and-favour home in a wing of Frogmore House, Windsor Great Park, and personally supervised its re-decoration using his own designer. Mabel, who was once described by the Prince of Wales as 'a haven of security, the great haven', was said to be a great friend of the Queen's. The Queen met Mabel, a policeman's daughter from Elgin, . Scotland, in 1949 after she replied to an advertisement, not . knowing it was from the royal household. It was to be an assistant nanny to help the then Princess . Elizabeth who was pregnant with Charles. Despite her lack of formal . training, Mabel, at 22, was chosen by the future Queen because Her . Majesty liked her quiet, unassuming manner. It was Mabel who put the children to bed, told them stories, . patched up their cuts and bruises and hit upon the idea of teaching . the royal corgis hide and seek with Princess Anne so that she . wouldn't miss Charles when he started school. She even sent Charles bottles of Vosene shampoo for his dandruff . at boarding school. 'Haven of security': Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, on his way to nursery school with his nanny, Mabel Anderson in 1980 . Each . Christmas, Prince Charles sends a chauffeur-driven car to take Mrs . Anderson . to Sandringham, where she is treated like a cherished member of the . family rather than an employee. A St James’s Palace spokesman said: 'It is too early to say whether the Duke and Duchess will employ a nanny.' The news comes as it was revealed by the Mail on Sunday the couple are considering skipping Christmas at Sandringham and may instead spend December 25 with Kate’s parents Carole and Michael. Charles on his second birthday in 1951 with nanny Mabel Anderson, who became a close friend to the Queen . ‘It is being discussed but has not yet been decided,’ said a source. ‘Carole is keen for Kate to spend Christmas with the family. It will be their last Christmas at the family home before the Middletons move house. ‘At home Kate will be able to relax and put her feet up. Christmas at Sandringham can be very busy and stressful with everyone arriving. There is always lots going on, big dinners and lots of outfit changes to contend with.’ The family have reportedly bought a £4.7 million, seven-bedroom mansion.
### SUMMARY:
| Duke and Duchess determined to be 'hands-on parents'
Royal couple may employ part-time nanny to help when they attend events .
Carole and Michael Middleton expected to help with babysitting . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 11:28 EST, 26 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:24 EST, 26 August 2012 . With white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters and unadulterated solitude, a private island is most people's vision of paradise. But all may not be as it seems as a number of private islands languish on the market and experts warn that some buyers are realizing that the hassle of living on one is more than it is worth. There are now 600 islands up for sale around the world, according to experts, from the Caribbean to the chillier waters of northern Scotland, ranging in price from $50,000 to $100 million. The number of isles on the market has jumped three-fold since 2006. A number of stunning island properties have also been on the market for some time. The spectacular Petra Island near New York City has been for sale for years, and comes complete with a stunning home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The price is only available on request. Allen Island off the coast of Washington state first appeared on the market for $25m in 2005 and the owners are now asking $13.5m. Island broker Farhad Vladi told The Sunday Times: 'Some celebrities are getting out of the the market as quickly as they can.' But any dampening of enthusiasm from buyers has not deterred realtors, as this summer more stunning island homes have hit the market including Florida's Little Bokeelia island which is on sale for $29.5million. It appears that the rich and famous who stump up the millions required for their own Robinson Crusoe experience, haven't bargained for trouble in paradise - which often includes no electricity, bureaucratic red tape, endangered species and exorbitant maintenance costs. Lap of luxury: Petra Island, '15 minutes by helicopter' from New York City, has languished on the property market for years despite having buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright . Suitable for a Bond villain: The price of Petra Island is only available on request (but if you need to ask, you probably can't afford it) Rocking pad: Petra Island has a 1,200-square-foot cottage completed in 1949 to the specifications of the legendary designer Frank Lloyd Wright . Quirky: The homes on 11-acre Petra Island incorporate stone, cement and mahogany and are considered architectural masterpieces . British TV presenter Ben Fogle has also warned of the dangers of island ownership. 'A lot of people get seduced by the island dream without thinking of the realities,' he told The Times. He said people forget about the high maintenance costs of islands - including the large amount of rubbish being washed ashore. Some 12,000 islands have been put up for sale in the past 100 years - but only one thousand have been fully developed to make for comfortable living. Problems include establishing power to remote locations, dealing with off-season storm damage, wild animals and untamed jungle or forest. Endangered species take precedence over indulged celebrity owners. The . lack of amenities to create the luxury to which they have become . accustomed, appears to have been a stumbling block for several super-rich . island owners. Nicolas Cage got rid of his $3million . Leaf Cay in the Bahamas after an endangered reptile put paid to his . hopes for a luxury home. Singer Celine Dion is reportedly trying to sell her island in Canada for close to $30million - although hers does come with a French-style chateau thrown in. And following the amicable split of Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, Little Halls Pond Cay in the Bahamas could be on the market after it was reported that neither party was interested in keeping the idyllic spot. Microsoft . billionaire Paul Allen discovered that all the technology in the world . didn't make it any easier to have his island near Seattle fitted with . electricity. Allan . Island was bought in 1992 by Allen and is currently on the market for . around $13million for which a buyer will get 292 acres, an airstrip, . dock and luxury log cabin. Paradise lost: Allan Island near Seattle, which belongs to the co-founder of Microsoft Paul Allen, was put up for sale for around $13million after the billionaire couldn't bring electricity to it . Isle be off: Paul Allen is said to be off loading Allan Island for around $13 million because he has been unable to bring electricity to the island . Cabin in the woods: The island owned by Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen comes with a luxury home . Relatively easier on the bank account is Jonathan Island, a secluded getaway in Rhode Island. For $1.4million, it has a protected wildlife sanctuary along with a modern two-bedroom cottage. If your tastes are a little grander then . Little Hawkins Island, Georgia has been heavily developed with a . spacious home featuring wraparound porches, swimming pool and dock - . although it is reflected in the price tag of $20million. Petra Island, a 15-minute jaunt from New York City (if you have a helicopter that is), has been on the market for several years. The 11-acre island has two properties designed by the celebrated Frank Lloyd Wright incorporating mahogany, cement and stone into the striking structures. A cottage was finished in 1949 while the larger, 5,000 sq ft residence was completed in 2007 from drawings. The price of Petra Island is only available on request (but if you need to ask, you probably can't afford it). Florida's Little Bokeelia Island combines a picturesque property with blissful solitude - but there is nothing small about the price tag. The 104-acre island will set you back $29.5million. Boat required: For those who want to get away from everyone, Jonathan Island is one of 600 islands up for sale around the world . Getting away from it all: Jonathan Island, in Rhode Island, is on the market for $1.4million and has its own cottage and wildlife sanctuary . On the dock of the bay: Jonathan Island is said to be easily accessibly due to its location on well-protected Point Judith Pond . No neighbors: The solitary cottage on Jonathan Island allows the owner absolute solitude . Life of luxury: Little Hawkins Island, Georgia has been heavily developed with grand home, swimming pool and dock although it is reflected in the price tag of $20million . Southern style: The estate on Little Hawkins Island has been heavily developed adding to its hefty $20million price tag . A-list lifestyle: Complete with chandeliers and luxury interior design, staying on Little Hawkins is far from roughing it in a beach shack . Not so small price tag: Little Bokeelia Island in Florida is on the market for an eye-watering $29.5 million . Picturesque: There is a Spanish-style villa built on the vast island with tiled courtyards and balconies . Great escape: Those with a couple of million to spare can join the Hollywood elite by purchasing their own island like Little Bokeelia . Tucked away: The serenity of island life appeals to many but three times as many islands have been put up sale since 2006 with high maintenance costs to blame .
### SUMMARY:
| 600 islands on the market around the world - ranging in price from $50,000 - $100 million .
Petra Island in New York, which has property designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, available for undisclosed sum . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Becky Evans and Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:48 EST, 9 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:54 EST, 10 April 2013 . U.S. defenses could intercept a ballistic missile launched by North Korea if it decides to strike, the top American military commander in the Pacific said on Tuesday, as the relationship between the West and the communist government hit its lowest ebb since the end of the Korean War. Amid increasingly combative rhetoric from Pyongyang, Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, said North Korea's pursuit of nuclear weapons and long-range ballistic missiles represents a clear threat to the United States and its allies in the region. The admiral said Kim Jong Un, the country's young and still relatively untested new leader, remains unpredictable after using the past year to consolidate his power. Scroll down for video . Resolve: U.S. Pacific Command, Navy Admiral Samuel Locklear III, testified at the Senate Armed Services Committee that the American military was prepared to intercept a missile launched by North Korea . But Locklear told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he was confident that the U.S. military can thwart North Korea if it chooses to act. He made clear that any U.S. decision would be contingent on where the missile is headed, information that the U.S. could ascertain fairly quickly. He said North Korea is keeping a large percentage of its combat forces along the demilitarized zone with South Korea, a position that allows the North to threaten U.S. and South Korean civilian and military personnel. According to state run media out of North Korea, the nation says it is ready for war with the U.s. 'Hundreds of thousands of troops are poised for a war carrying nuclear war equipment,' North Korea's KCNA news agency said. Threat: A large number us military bases are within range of the new missiles - shown here . Nascent technology: A map from the Federation of American Scientists and the Center for Non-proliferation Studies shows that North Korea's missiles cannot even reach India about 3,100 miles away . North Korea has warned all foreigners to leave South Korea as Kim Jong-un's government continues to increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula . North Korea is preparing to launch a mid-range missile launch tomorrow from its east coast, officials in Seoul have claimed – hours after foreigners living in South Korea were warned to leave the country. The chilling forecast came as thousands of North Koreans held a mass waltz today to celebrate the father of madman dictator Kim Jong-un. Women dressed in brightly colored traditional costume danced with their partners in front of the Monument to the Foundation of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang. Meanwhile the Communist government issued a stark warning about the prospect of war, saying: 'We do not wish harm on foreigners in South Korea should there be a war.' Thousands of North Koreans dance in Pyongyang in celebration of their former leader Kim Jong-Il . The event came as Pyongyang warned foreigners to leave the South, saying the two Koreas are on the verge of civil war . It added: 'The situation on the Korean . Peninsula is inching close to a thermo-nuclear war. Once a war is . ignited on the peninsula, it will be an all-out war, a merciless, . sacred, retaliatory war waged by the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic . of Korea).' North Korea has warned all foreigners . to evacuate South Korea today because the two countries are on the eve . of a nuclear war - as Japan set up a huge new anti-missile system in . Tokyo. Foreign . companies and tourists in the South have been told to leave as Kim Jong . Un continues to ramp up tensions on the Korean Peninsula. South . Korean President Park Geun-hye said today that she is exasperated by . the 'endless vicious cycle' of hostile behaviour from the North. Japan has responded to continuing threats from Pyongyang by deploying missile interceptors in key locations around Tokyo. Japan has deployed missile interceptors across Tokyo as precaution against North Korean attack . Japan's chief cabinet spokesman said the government is 'doing all we can to protect the safety of our nation' Yesterday, chief cabinet spokesman Yoshihide Suga said: 'We are doing all we can to protect the safety of our nation.' North . Korea has made repeated threats against Japan in the past weeks and there . are fears the country, an ally of the U.S., would be in range of its . missiles. Japan's Defence Ministry has deployed Air Self-Defense Force's PAC-3s as a precaution against possible ballistic missile tests. Analysts see the latest warning from the North's Korean Asia-Pacific Peace Committee as an attempt to raise anxiety in Seoul and believe a direct attack on the capital as unlikely. Observers say a torrent of North Korean prophesies of doom is partly meant to win Pyongyang-friendly policy changes in Seoul and Washington and to boost the image of leader Kim Jong Un. Japan's Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles have been deployed at three bases in the country . South Korean soldiers on exercise near the border as they prepare for possible attacks by the North . The South Korean president has expressed exasperation at the 'endless vicious cycle' of hostile behaviour . Last week, North Korea told foreign . diplomats based in Pyongyang that it will not be able to guarantee their . safety as of Wednesday. It . halted work at a factory complex jointly run with its neighbour . yesterday and 75 managers from the South are preparing to return home. Only about 400 South Korean managers remained at the Kaesong industrial complex, just north of the Demilitarized Zone today. One manager said he and his colleagues are relying on instant noodles but plan to stay to watch over company equipment while food lasts. President Park said the closure of the facility will scare foreign investors away from the North. A South Korean soldier sets up a barricade on the road connecting South and North Korea at the Unification Bridge . About 75 South Korean managers will cross the border today after the North closed the Kaesong complex . She said: 'North Korea should stop doing wrong behavior and make a right choice for the future of the Korean nation.' More than 120 South Korean companies operated at Kaesong and they issued a joint statement urging North Korea to reopen. 'If this situation continues, companies will face the risk of going bankrupt,' said Yoo Chang-geun, a vice president of the Corporate Association of Gaesong Industrial Complex. After an emergency meeting on Tuesday in Seoul, representatives of the companies said in a joint statement that they hope to send a delegation of small and medium-sized companies to North Korea in hopes of reopening the complex. The statement also appealed to South Korea to take a 'mature, embracing posture' and work out all available measures to help normalize Kaesong's operations. Meanwhile, a shipping container was seen outside the North Korean Embassy in Ealing, London today, sparking rumors that the ambassador may soon be pulled out of the UK.
### SUMMARY:
| Commander of U.S. Pacific Command says the U.S. can intercept a missile launched by North Korea .
Pyongyang told foreigners and tourists to leave South Korea .
North Korea said the two countries are on the eve of a nuclear war .
Japan deployed missile interceptors around Tokyo in case of attack .
Jointly run factory in Korean Demilitarized Zone remains closed today .
South Korean President Park Geun-hye exasperated by 'endless vicious cycle' of hostile behavior from North Korea . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Lizzie Edmonds . PUBLISHED: . 08:55 EST, 12 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:52 EST, 12 September 2013 . Unknown: The murder of teenager Claire Tiltman in 1993 has never been solved . Detectives investigating the 20-year-old murder of grammar school girl Claire Tiltman are searching a house today as part of the on-going case. Claire, 16, was stabbed to death in an alleyway in January 1993 as she went to a friend’s house to study in Dartford, Kent. The youngster was stabbed in a frenzied attack and she staggered out onto a main road where she collapsed. She was seen by a passer by who raised the alarm. She died at the scene. Despite a huge police investigation, Claire’s killer has never been brought to justice. Kent Police announced today they were carrying out a search warrant on a house in Stone, near Dartford, Kent. It is thought the address was where Colin Ash-Smith lived at the time of Claire's murder. Ash-Smith was questioned by Police in 1993 but never charged. No arrests have been made during the current investigation. A Kent Police spokesman said: 'Officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate Cold Case Investigation Team conducted a search warrant at an address in Myrtle Place, Stone, near Dartford, Kent, on Thursday September 12 as part of their on-going enquiries into the historic murder of Claire Tiltman. 'It is standard practice that undetected murders such as Claire’s will be reviewed regularly. The activity on Thursday September 12 is part of that ongoing review.' Investigation: Police today search a house in Myrtle Place, Stone, in connection to the murder of Clare Tiltman . Inquiry: The house is thought to . be where Colin Ash-Smith lived at the time of Claire's murder. Mr Ash-Smith was questioned after Claire's death but never charged . Early this morning, five police vans arrived at the property, which is in a quiet cul-de-sac, and forensic officers began their search. Neighbour James Monks, 65, a retired salesman said: 'I looked outside at about 8am and saw all these police vans parked outside, then more and more police turned up. 'I've no idea what was happening but now I know it's to do with Claire Tiltman.' Throughout the morning, police removed several evidence . bags and put them into the back of a police van at the semi-detached . cottage-style property. The father of Colin Ash-Smith still lives in the house, but there is no suggestion any of the occupants are under suspicion. Today, . Aubrey Ash-Smith, stuck two fingers up to reporters who were gathered . outside his house and said: 'The police have searched here twice before. I wish they would stop hounding us and leave us alone.' Evidence: Officers take several bags from the property during the raid . Search: Boxes of evidence are taken from the semi-detached property earlier today . Mr Ash-Smith also protested his son's innocence. Claire’s parents Cliff and Linda never gave up hope their daughter’s killer would be convicted. Linda died from cancer in 2008 aged 56 and Cliff died of cancer in September last year aged 63. Claire was their only child. Family: Aubrey Ash-Smith outside the house police investigated this morning . Speaking from his bed in a nursing home in January 2012, Mr Tiltman said: 'It would mean everything to me to find out, after all these years, who did this to Claire. 'It has been a long time, but I’ve never given up hope and never will. 'I can’t begin to put into words how this has affected our family. 'Claire has gone and her mum has gone - there is now only me.' Kent Police said that no arrests have been made today. The force marked the 20th anniversary of Claire's murder in January this year with a renewed appeal for information. Loss: Linda and Cliff Tiltman, the parents of Claire pictured here at the time of her death in 1993, died not knowing the killer of their daughter . Chief Superintendent Neil Jerome, the divisional commander for North Kent was a police constable on patrol in Stone when Claire was killed. He said in January: 'I remember getting the initial call and being told it was an accident that had happened. 'Obviously when we arrived at the scene things quickly changed to a serious assault. 'There was very little to go on in the early stages, . 'I was tasked to look around the neighbourhood to see if there was anyone around, anyone covered in blood, any witnesses, but there was nothing.' Scene: An archive photograph taken in 1993 shows bunches of flowers left at the place of Claire's murder in Dartford, Kent . He added he was also on duty during Claire's funeral and believes there is someone out there who knows what happened to her. He said: 'A huge amount of effort went into those early stages, it was a busy night, an area which would have mainly been used by local people. 'It's sad that an entire family has been wiped out. Claire's parents have gone to their graves not knowing who killed their daughter. 'There must be witnesses who haven't come forward, who are getting older now. Do they want to go to their graves with that vital piece of information?' Location: A photograph taken in 1993 of a police tape cordon at the scene the scene of Claire's murder . Claire's best friend Lisa Gribbin, who said Claire was often known as Tilt, said: 'We have a strong feeling that with both Claire's parents now gone, there is a need to carry on the fight to find her killer and finally get some justice for our dear friend. 'My eldest daughter has just turned 16 and I look at her and realise just how young Tilt was and how much she had taken away from her and her family and also us as her friends. She had her whole life ahead of her. 'You can never get over or forget what happened. Your life is forever changed. 'Our hope is that the person who knows what happened on that day will come forward allowing Claire, Lin and Cliff to finally get justice and for Tilt's murderer to be punished for taking her life so cruelly and destroying her family. Search: Officers search for clues near to the site of Claire's death a few days after her murder . To mark the 20th anniverary of Claire's murder, Detective Superintendent Rob Vinson from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate who is leading the cold case investigation into Claire's murder said: 'I have always maintained that the killer was a local person and that someone knows who he or she is. 'Last year, a good man [Cliff, Claire's father] went to his grave without ever seeing justice being served for the murder of his only daughter. 'This isn't the end of our investigation; we have always maintained that someone has information about this murder and we will continue to investigate it. 'I hope that this event may prompt someone to finally come forward with the key piece of information that we need to identify Claire's killer and help us bring this case to a successful conclusion.'
### SUMMARY:
| Claire Tiltman, 16, stabbed to death in an alleyway in Dartford, Kent .
Was on the way to a friend's house to study when attacked .
Despite huge Police investigation, killer has never been brought to justice .
Police today searched a house in Stone, Kent following new lines of inquiry . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Joanna Hall . PUBLISHED: . 16:04 EST, 18 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:04 EST, 18 May 2013 . Next time you are out on a busy street, look around you. There will, no doubt, be people walking and going about their daily business. So far, so ordinary. But stop for a moment to really watch. Hunched over, shoulders tense, arms unmoving, heads often bowed – the simple act of movement seems a struggle for many. And that is because they are not walking correctly. I admit it sounds ludicrous – starting to walk is a milestone most of us pass shortly after our eighth month of life, usually with the help of our parents. But, typically, bar a little self-taught fine-tuning, there ends the lesson. Getting off on the right foot: Sports scientist Joanna Hall, right, and her client Karen Walsh, left, go through their paces . As adults, a life spent sitting at a desk, struggling around with heavy bags and wearing all kinds of lovely-looking but unforgiving footwear takes its toll on our posture. Just as we often sit incorrectly, we also walk incorrectly. The knock-on effect? An epidemic of joint pain – in particular bad backs – affecting millions of us. About eight in ten of us have one of more bouts of lower-back pain at some time in our lives. One Department of Health survey suggested that 15 per of adults are in continuous pain from a bad back. With this in mind, I first set about . researching efficient and posturally correct ways of practising the . everyday activity of walking. I . studied sport science at Loughborough University, so I have a strong . research background – and I drew from studies in the world of . physiology, biomechanics and fitness disciplines such as Pilates. I now . teach a simple way to master walking that is, I believe, the most . beneficial way of moving. I became my own guinea pig after . having my first child. I didn’t want to do the same level of exercise I . undertook previously – I used to jog for miles. Just from walking, my . thighs got leaner, my waist tapered in, my bottom was lifted and I . eradicated my saddlebags. I . can promise it will do for you what it has for hundreds of my private . clients: walking daily will help you shed up to 10 lb in less than a . month. Even if you don’t lose that much straight away, you will look . slimmer, dropping more than a dress size. Karen Walsh, 42, lives in West London with her husband Richard, 46, a photo editor, and their two children, aged six and three. She says: ‘I started walking two years ago. I was playing tennis with a friend in Battersea Park when I caught sight of a leaflet advertising Joanna’s method. ‘At the time, my daughter was just a year and a half old and I was desperate to get back some energy. ‘I’ve never needed to lose weight but I wanted to tone up. Joanna was an inspiration – amazingly fit and toned, and she glided rather than waddled along. It was great fun – and everything was explained to us on a one-to-one basis. ‘After just two weeks I could feel a difference. My bottom and upper thighs were much firmer. As a freelance projects manager – I work for milliner Philip Treacy – I need a regime that works with a busy life and children. Now, I try to walk twice a week with a girlfriend. ‘I lost 10lb and have kept it off, but more importantly I stand taller and my body feels honed from top to toe.’ You must make one diet tweak: no starchy carbs after 5pm. There’s no need to go to a gym, use expensive equipment or even to get sweaty. This isn't power-walking, which involves all kinds of strange hip wiggling. Read this guide for everything you need to master the technique: your new walking style will look fast, smooth and fluid – and you’ll feel dynamic and buzz with energy. HOW DOES IT WORK? The principle of my method is simple. It is based on correctly aligning the fascia – the connective tissue in the body, which starts just below the skin. In the 1990s, anatomists discovered that the fascia encases, separates and envelops every part of our physiology – muscles, organs and blood vessels. It’s like a net that holds us together. The theory is currently supported by many chiropractors, podiatrists and sports scientists. So by holding the body correctly as you exercise, you are effectively shrink-wrapping the muscles within the fascia and working the body from the inside out. By aligning the body properly, posture is corrected and movement becomes fluid while discomfort –such as back pain – lessens. The body benefits from correct postural alignment in three ways: . WHY WALK? The NHS scheme Live Well recommends that ideally we all walk 10,000 steps a day (about five miles), which burns up to 450 calories. But on average we walk only about 4,000 steps a day. It takes about ten minutes to walk 1,500 steps. Professor Tudor Locke, an American academic specialising in physical activity, suggests that walking fewer than 5,000 steps a day indicates a sedentary lifestyle. A 2010 Government report about sedentary behaviour showed that it is associated with higher mortality overall, heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. WALK TO BEAT DIABETES AND BOOST MENTAL HEALTH . Aside from improvements in posture, . higher calorie expenditure and protection for the joints, there are a . host of other health benefits to be gained from walking. CANCER . Ten thousand cases of breast and . bowel cancer could be prevented each year if more of us took a brisk . walk every day. Just 45 minutes of daily activity at a moderate level . could prevent about 5,500 cases of breast cancer a year in the UK. DIABETES . The Centers for Disease Control and . Prevention (CDC) in the US produced a fact sheet called The Relationship . Of Walking To Mortality Among US Adults With Diabetes, which states . that those with diabetes who walked for two or more hours a week lowered . their mortality rate from all causes by 39 per cent. HIGH CHOLESTEROL . A study was published suggesting that . low-intensity exercise such as walking improves insulin sensitivity and . blood lipid levels better than an hour-long high-intensity workout. MENTAL HEALTH . Charity Mind advocates walking to . relieve stress, improve sleep quality and fight depression, since . physical activity causes the brain to release endorphins – chemicals . that improve mood. DEMENTIA . Researchers from the Boston Medical . Center who studied people in their early 60s found that those with a . slower walking pace were one-and-a-half times more likely to develop . dementia.
### SUMMARY:
| Sports scientist Joanna Hall teaches a way to walk that aligns the body .
The technique can help alleviate back pain and help shed the excess pounds .
Cosmetically: by targeting the fascia, body shape is streamlined.
Functionally: back, knee, hip and neck discomfort are alleviated as joints are correctly aligned.
Posturally: as movement quality increases, you look more agile, stand taller and look younger.
Joanna Hall’s Walkactive Programme: The Simple Yet Revolutionary Way To Transform Your Body, For Life is published by Piatkus on June 6. joannahall.com . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 11:03 EST, 5 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:04 EST, 5 December 2013 . One afternoon in October, in the watery no-man's land between Thailand and Myanmar, Muhammad Ismail vanished. Thai immigration officials said he was being deported to Myanmar. In fact, they sold Ismail, 23, and hundreds of other Rohingya Muslims to human traffickers, who then spirited them into brutal jungle camps. Roma Hattu, a Rohingya Muslim woman who is nine months pregnant and been displaced, experiencing labour pains. Myanmar authorities have begun segregating minority Muslims from the Buddhist majority . As thousands of Rohingya flee Myanmar to escape religious persecution, an investigation in three countries has uncovered a clandestine policy to remove Rohingya refugees from Thailand's immigration detention centers and deliver them to human traffickers waiting at sea. The Rohingya are then transported across southern Thailand and held hostage in a series of camps hidden near the border with Malaysia until relatives pay thousands of dollars to release them. Three such camps were found, two based on the testimony of Rohingya held there, and a third by trekking to the site, heavily guarded, near a village called Baan Klong Tor. Thousands of Rohingya have passed through this tropical gulag. An untold number have died there. Worried: Bozor Mohammed from the Rakhine state in Myanmar listens during an interview at his house in Kuala Lumpur . Some have been murdered by camp guards or have perished from dehydration or disease, survivors said in interviews. The Thai authorities say the movement of Rohingya through their country doesn't amount to human trafficking. But in interviews for this story, the Thai Royal Police acknowledged, for the first time, a covert policy called 'option two' that relies upon established human-smuggling networks to rid Thailand of Rohingya detainees. Ismail was one of five Rohingya who said that Thai immigration officials had sold him outright or aided in their sale to human traffickers. Myanmar Rohingya Muslims shout as police place them at the court's detention house in Medan, North Sumatra, on December 4, 2013 . A woman and her children visit their husband and dad of Myanmar Rohingya Muslims at the court's detention house in Medan, North Sumatra . 'It seemed so official at first,' said Ismail, a wiry farmer with a long narrow face and tight curly hair. 'They took our photographs. They took our finger prints. And then once in the boats, about 20 minutes out at sea, we were told we had been sold.' Ismail said he ended up in a camp in southern Thailand. So did Bozor Mohamed, a Rohingya whose frail body makes him seem younger than his 21 years. The camp was guarded by men with guns and clubs, said Mohamed, and at least one person died every day due to dehydration or disease. 'I used to be a strong man,' the former rice farmer said in an interview, as he massaged his withered legs. A Thailand Immigration Police van carries a group of Rohingya Muslims to a port outside Ranong city on October 30, 2013 . A Thai fishing boat plies the invisible maritime border between Thailand and Myanmar, with the hills of Myanmar visible in the background . A guide walks through the woods outside a suspected human trafficking camp near Baan Klong Tor in southern Thailand . Mohamed and others say they endured hunger, filth and multiple beatings. Mohamed's elbow and back are scarred from what he said were beatings administered by his captors in Thailand while he telephoned his brother-in-law in Malaysia, begging him to pay the $2,000 ransom they demanded. Some men failed to find a benefactor in Malaysia to pay their ransom. The camp became their home. 'They had long beards and their hair was so long, down to the middle of their backs, that they looked liked women,' said Mohamed. What ultimately happens to Rohingya who can't buy their freedom remains unclear. A Thai-based smuggler said some are sold to shipping companies and farms as manual laborers for 5,000 to 50,000 baht each, or $155 to $1,550. 'Prices vary according to their skills,' said the smuggler, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The site of a suspected human trafficking camp is seen near Baan Klong Tor in southern Thailand October 30 . The Arakan Project, a Rohingya advocacy group based in Thailand, says it has interviewed scores of Rohingya who have passed through the Thai camps and into Malaysia. Many Rohingya who can't pay end up as cooks or guards at the camps, said Chris Lewa, Arakan Project's director. Presented with the findings of this report, Thailand's second-highest-ranking policeman made some startling admissions. Thai officials might have profited from Rohingya smuggling in the past, said Police Maj-Gen Chatchawal Suksomjit, Deputy Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police. He also confirmed the existence of illegal camps in southern Thailand, which he called 'holding bays'. A tent is seen in the woods outside a suspected human trafficking camp near Baan Klong Tor, in southern Thailand on October 30, 2013 . Tarit Pengdith, chief of the Department of Special Investigation, Thailand's equivalent of the FBI, was also asked about the camps discovered. 'We have heard about these camps in southern Thailand,' he said, 'but we are not investigating this issue.' Besieged by a political crisis and violent street protests this week, Thailand faces difficult questions about its future and global status. Among those is whether it will join North Korea, the Central African Republic and Iran among the world's worst offenders in fighting human trafficking. A Thai police immigration post is seen in the port city of Ranong in southern Thailand October 30, 2013 . Men stand in boats crossing the invisible maritime border between Thailand and Myanmar near the Thai port city of Ranong . Bozor Mohammed from the Rakhine state in Myanmar speaks to a reporter about his leg being injured during an interview at his house in Kuala Lumpur . The signs are not good. The U.S. State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report ranks countries on their record for combating the crime. For the past four years, Thailand has sat on the TIP Report's so-called Tier 2 Watch List, the second-lowest rank. It will be automatically downgraded to Tier 3 next year unless it makes what the State Department calls 'significant efforts' to eliminate human trafficking. Dropping to Tier 3 status theoretically carries the threat of U.S. sanctions. In practice, the United States is unlikely to sanction Thailand, one of its oldest treaty allies in Asia.
### SUMMARY:
| Thousands of Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar to escape persecution .
Those captured are transported across southern Thailand and held captive .
Human traffickers are keeping them hidden in brutal jungle camps .
They are hidden near the border with Malaysia until relatives pay thousands of dollars to release them . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 16:06 EST, 1 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:46 EST, 1 December 2013 . The mother of Rosie Kremer, who died of an undiagnosed brain stem tumour just hours after giving birth, has been thanked by the woman who received her kidney. Rosie, 24, died six hours after her baby was born. Throughout her pregnancy doctors had insisted she was suffering labyrinthitis, an inner ear infection. Mother Lesley, 57, together with sisters Ruth, 30, and Joanne, 28, took the agonising decision to allow Rosie's organs to be donated and eight people's lives were saved as a result. Overwhelmed: Lesley Kremer, with grandson Bobby, is the mother of Rosie Kremer, who died of an undiagnosed brain stem tumour after giving birth. She has been thanked by the woman who received her daughter's kidney . Loss: Rosie, 24, died six hours after her baby was born. Throughout her pregnancy doctors had insisted she was suffering labyrinthitis, an inner ear infection . Mrs Kremer, from Penrith, Cumbria, who is bringing up grandson Bobby, says she received a 'massive boost' when a three-page letter arrived from the anonymous recipient. It tells how the married mother-of-two's health had been deteriorating for 15 years before Rosie saved her life. It was quickly followed by messages of gratitude from her daughter and husband. She said: 'I absolutely bawled my eyes out when I got them, all of the family did. 'It made it seem real and it was lovely. For somebody to say "I'm alive because I have been given your daughter's kidney", was just amazing. 'It is a massive comfort to know she has had her life back and I'm so glad. She seems like such a nice person.' Mrs Kremer says she received a 'massive boost' when a three-page letter arrived from the anonymous recipient . The letter says: 'I was so frightened but it's a strange feeling knowing that some kind-hearted person had made the choice to help a stranger and I was that scared but so, so grateful. 'What a testament to this wonderful woman to want to help others this way. 'Since the transplant, my life has changed so much and my outlook on life is more positive. 'I have far more energy, chores are manageable and I'm awake for long enough to find out what's happening in my children's lives. 'I remind myself every day how lucky I am and try not to allow myself to get low or angry about the unimportant things.' The anonymous mother signs off by vowing to take the very best care of Rosie's gift. She says: 'I now have a life back that I had forgotten I had. 'The illness kind of creeps up over the years and you forget what you were able to do. 'I'm doing my very best to look after my wonderful, unique gift your loved one has shared with me and I intend to continue to do so. 'Again, thank you so much and I thank your special lady, who is in my thoughts every day.' Mrs Kremer agreed for her daughter's heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver, stomach and bowel to be donated following her death on May 29, 2012, as a tribute to her late husband, Peter, who died of cancer 11 years ago. He had always wanted to be a donor but was unsuitable due to his illness. In September, she accepted the Order of St John Award on behalf of Rosie which recognised her gift and she believes it is only Bobby and the organ donation which has kept her grief from becoming too much. She said: 'It is a positive at a time when we need as many positives as we can get. 'It is difficult to believe I am not going to see her again. The whole process with organ donation was massively comforting. 'She died, but at the same time something amazing was happening. It got us through those days, otherwise I don't know how we would have coped.' In Scotland and England, people must choose to join the Organ Donor Register but in Wales a new law which comes into force in 2015 will mean people will have to opt out. Mrs Kremer has joined the calls for it to be introduced in England. She added: 'I want to get people to think about joining the Organ Donor Register and it is an important time to show how worthwhile it is.' Joy: Lesley (left) with Rosie in Lanzarote , 2004, two years after Lesley's husband Peter diedHappier times: Lesley (left) with Rosie in Lanzarote , 2004, two years after Lesley's husband Peter died . She says Rosie lost two stone during pregnancy, was violently sick, slurred her speech and started to lose coordination of her limbs. Yet she says that at no point during the last two months of her life did any of the 23 doctors who saw her indicate that she was gravely ill. Lesley said she later learned that even an hour before her death Rosie could have made a full recovery if her condition had been correctly diagnosed and fluid had been drained from her brain. Mrs Kramer is now suing North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages Cumberland Hospital, in Carlisle. Rosie, who worked as a nursery nurse, and lived in Penrith, began suffering a loss of appetite, headaches, dizziness and sickness, early on in her pregnancy. She was declared brain dead at 10.30am on 29 May 2012. Less than six hours earlier, at 4.30am, doctors delivered her baby boy, who she'd already named Bobby Peter, at 29 weeks. He weighed 2lb 14oz. Rosie had been transferred to Newcastle. Mrs Kremer agreed for her daughter's heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, liver, stomach and bowel to be donated following her death as a tribute to her late husband, Peter, who died of cancer 11 years ago . Lesley said: "The care she received was appalling. There was no joined-up care. She was sent home twice from hospital. 'There was a note somewhere about cranial pressure, but despite all her symptoms nobody ever diagnosed a tumour. They weren't looking at the overall picture. 'Towards the end she was crying in pain and begging to die. 'Even then nobody was prepared to believe it was anything other than labyrithitis. 'I just kept asking people to help her. She became a zombie, she said the pain was so bad she wanted to die. 'Rosie had had a lot to deal with. She lost her dad to cancer when she was 14, and was very badly affected by it. 'Yes, she was drama queen, and she was a bit of a hypochondriac and she was scared that something would happen to her.' Rosie spent the last five weeks of her life in bed, unable to sit up or use her hands. A CT scan carried out after brain death revealed a very large brain stem tumour on the right side. Mrs Kramer said: 'I honestly didn't know what was the matter, but everyone seemed convinced she was just having a bad pregnancy. 'It didn't have to kill her. If somebody had spotted it she would have been fine, she would have recovered.'
### SUMMARY:
| Rosie Kremer, 24, died from an undiagnosed brain tumour .
Her family allowed her organs to be donated, saving the lives of eight .
One wrote to her mother, thanking her for 'wonderful, unique gift' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 07:30 EST, 3 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:38 EST, 3 March 2014 . With Gravity clearing up at the Oscars, you might think that nothing could top Sandra Bullock and George Clooney antics in space. But Nasa has just outdone Hollywood by releasing these mind-blowing real life ‘Gravity’ images revealing incredible scenes of Earth, astronauts and space shuttles. While Alfonso Cuaron’s film relies heavily on computer-generated imagery, the space agency has shown that our galaxy is far more beautiful than anything a film director could create. The city lights of Spain and Portugal define the Iberian Peninsula in this photograph from the International Space Station (ISS). Several large metropolitan areas are visible, marked by their relatively large and brightly lit areas, including the capital cities of Madrid, Spain - located near the centre of the peninsula. The astronaut view is looking toward the east . The ‘Gravity: Nasa’s real-life images from space’ series uses photos taken over the last several years and covers everything from space walks to the final landing on Earth. Some of the most stunning are of views from the International Space Station of our planet by night. In one image, the city lights of Spain and Portugal are clearly visible. Several large metropolitan areas can be seen, including the capital city of Madrid. The bright sun greets the International Space Station in this November 22 scene from the Russian section of the orbital outpost, photographed by one of the astronauts . Mission Specialist Bruce McCandless II, is seen further away from the confines and safety of his ship than any previous astronaut has ever been. This space first was made possible by the Manned Manuevering Unit or MMU, a nitrogen jet propelled backpack. McCandless went free-flying to a distance of 320 feet (98 metres) away from the Orbiter. This image was taken in 1984 . The thin line of Earth's atmosphere and the setting sun are featured in this image photographed by a crew member on the International Space Station while space shuttle Atlantis (left) From 220 miles above Earth, one of the . Expedition 25 crew members took another night time photo featuring the . bright lights of Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt on the Mediterranean coast. The Nile River and its . delta stand out clearly and, on the horizon, the airglow of the . atmosphere is seen across the Mediterranean. Nasa . also takes a look back at landmarks in spacewalks, such as that set by . mission specialist Bruce McCandless II over two decades ago. In . a 1984 image, McCandless is seen further away from the confines and . safety of his ship than any previous astronaut has ever been. The thin line of Earth's atmosphere and the setting sun are featured in this image photographed by a crew member on the International Space Station while space shuttle Atlantis remains docked with the station in 2009 . Ed White made the United States' first spacewalk on 3 June 1965 during the Gemini 4 mission (left) Sandra Bullock floating in space (right) Most of the images from the film were created using computer software . This unique photographic angle, featuring the International Space Station's Cupola and crew activity inside it, other hardware belonging to the station, city lights on Earth and airglow was captured by one of the Expedition 28 crew members. The major urban area on the coast is Brisbane, Australia. The station was passing over an area southwest of Canberra . Expedition 27 Flight Engineer Cady Coleman peeks out of a window of the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft shortly after she and Commander Dmitry Kondratyev and Flight Engineer Paolo Nespoli landed southeast of the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 . This . space first was made possible by the Manned Manuevering Unit or MMU, a . nitrogen jet propelled backpack. McCandless went free-flying to a . distance of 320 feet (98 metres) away from the Orbiter. But . it’s not just space flight that can provide moving views of an . expedition. Candid shots of astronauts coming back down to Earth reveal . the how arduous space flight can be. Last . night, Gravity swept the board at the 86th Academy Awards with seven . Oscars, including best visual effects, cinematography and original . score. From 220 miles above Earth, one of the Expedition 25 crew members on the International Space Station took this night time photo featuring the bright lights of Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt on the Mediterranean coast. The Nile River and its delta stand out clearly as well. On the horizon, the airglow of the atmosphere is seen across the Mediterranean . This montage of three frames shows the Soyuz TMA-17 spacecraft as it lands with Expedition 23 Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineers T.J. Creamer and Soichi Noguchi near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 . Astronaut Sunita L. Williams, Expedition 14 flight engineer, used a pistol grip tool as she worked on the International Space Station in the first of three spacewalks slated to occur over a nine-day period. During the 7-hour 55-minute spacewalk that took place in 2007 . A picturesque line of thunderstorms and numerous circular cloud patterns filled the view as the International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 20 crew members looked out at the limb (blue line on the horizon) of the Earth . A close-up of Astronaut John Grunsfeld shows the reflection of Astronaut Andrew Feustel, perched on the robotic arm and taking the photo. The pair teamed together on three of the five spacewalks during Servicing Mission 4 in May 2009 . Commenting on the . film last year, Mark Uhran, who retired in 2012 as a Nasa director for . the ISS, said: ‘My first reaction was that the cinematography was of . spectacular realism. ‘I’ve . never seen that done before. I’ve never seen a Hollywood filmmaker . actually be able to capture that clarity and resolution of the space . station and shuttle.’ But while Gravity may have received Uhran’s seal of approval, these images show that fact is much more stunning than fiction. With his feet secured on a restraint on the space station remote manipulator system's robotic arm or Canadarm2, NASA astronaut Mike Fossum (frame centre) holds the Robotics Refueling Mission payload, which was the focus of one of the primary chores accomplished on a six and a half hour spacewalk on July 12 2011 . Russian support personnel work to help get Expedition 29 crew members out of the Soyuz TMA-02M spacecraft shortly after the capsule landed with Expedition 29 Commander Mike Fossum, and Flight Engineers Sergei Volkov and Satoshi Furukawa in a remote area outside of the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan, on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 .
### SUMMARY:
| Space agency has outdone Hollywood by releasing stunning images of our planet and ISS workers inspired by film .
Images include city lights as seen from space, astronauts making repairs and shots of them coming back to Earth .
Last night, Gravity swept the board at the 86th Academy Awards with seven Oscars, including best visual effects, cinematography and original score . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Francesca Chambers . The White House formally submitted an emergency request to Congress on Tuesday for $3.7 billion in additional funding for security measures and humanitarian efforts at the U.S. border with Mexico. Nearly half of the money the White House is asking for would go toward providing housing and medical services for illegal immigrant children. Another third would go toward the Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency. But only $116 million of the $1.1 billion set aside for ICE would be used to deport the unaccompanied minors at the center of the humanitarian crisis on the border. The bulk of that money the White House wants Congress to appropriate to ICE, $879 million, would go toward detaining and deporting adults who are accompanied by children when they cross the border. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . President Barack Obama wants $1.1 billion for humanitarian services for illegal immigrant children but only a tenth as much for efforts for deportation costs . Today's request follows a letter from the president to congressional leaders last Monday outlining the challenges the administration is facing on the border. In that letter, the president indicated that he would like to see changes to a 2008 trafficking law that the administration says is slowing down its deportation efforts and additional money appropriated to various agencies that handle illegal immigration. The president said would be reaching out to Congress when it returned from recess this week with a specific sum. White House . officials told the Associated Press that they planned to ask Congress for more than $2 billion on Tuesday. When the final language came back today, the president asked for nearly double that amount. Among the requests for emergency funding were: $45 million for an additional 40 teams of immigration judges, $295 million for Central American countries to address the root causes of mass migration of children to the U.S. and $5 million for a campaign to discourage parents in Central America from sending their children with smugglers. Crisis: More than 47,000 unaccompanied children have entered the country illegally since Oct. 1, including 9,700 in the Month of May alone . Hot seat: Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said Sunday that 'we need to find more efficient, effective ways to turn this tide around' Missing . from the White House's petition were detailed changes to the 2008 law the administration has consistently blamed for the humanitarian . crisis on the border. That law, passed by a Democrat-controlled Congress, was meant to provide protection for children brought into the U.S. as part of human trafficking schemes, mostly related to the illicit sex trade. In the absence of a move on Capitol Hill, the federal government has no choice but to treat the deluge of illegal immigrant children arriving from Central American countries the same way. That process can take weeks or months and tie up resources – including U.S. Border Patrol agents – making the border even more porous. The White House's chief spokesman admitted Monday that most on the tens of . thousands of unaccompanied illegal immigrant children crossing the . U.S.-Mexico border are unlikely to qualify for humanitarian relief . that would prevent them from being sent back from their home countries. However, the 2008 law requires that illegal immigrant children who come to the U.S. from non-contiguous . countries are provided due process before they are sent back home. President . Barack Obama told congressional leaders in his letter last week that his . administration would seek an amendment to the law that would allow the . Department of Homeland Security more latitude to fast-track deportations of children from Guatemala, El Salvador and Guatemala. He did not include specific language his administration would like to see added to the law at that time, and all the president said on the matter in a . letter accompanying his budgetary request today is that the administration . would continue to work with Congress to make the previously recommended . legislative changes. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest . said this afternoon that senior White House administration officials and . and senior-level congressional leaders had been in talks since last . week about changes to the law but they had not yet come to an agreement. Earnest was unable to explain what changes to the law the administration would like to see Congress make, saying only that the White House is seeking additional authorization for greater discretion in enforcing that law. However he did say the administration is not proposing to eliminate due process or medical screenings for illegal immigrant children. What steps the administration intends to have Congress cut out of the processing requirements for illegal immigrant children to be sent back home if not one of the main requirements is clear as mud. In a statement addressing the president's request for additional funding, Michael Steel, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, told reporters: 'The Appropriations Committee and other Members, including the working group on the border crisis led by Rep. Kay Granger, will review the White House proposal. 'The Speaker still supports deploying the National Guard to provide humanitarian support in the affected areas - which this proposal does not address,' he said. Asked about both Boehner and Texas Governor Rick Perry's calls for the president to send the National Guard to Rio Grande river area in Texas, Earnest said, 'There already has been made a historic investment in border security, and we're seeing the benefits of that investment along the border.' Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - $1.1 billion$116 million would pay for transportation costs for unaccompanied minors.$109 million would support other immigration and customs enforcement efforts.$879 million would pay for detention and deportation of adults traveling with children who enter the United States illegally, including the expansion of alternatives to detention programs and prosecution capacity. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection - $433 million$364 million would pay for operational costs$29 million would be appropriated to CBP to expand its role in Border Enforcement Security Task Force programs.$39.4 million would go to increasing air surveillance of the border. Department of Justice - $64 million$45.4 million would go toward hiring approximately 40 additional immigration judge teams.$2.5 million would be used to expand a program that provides legal assistance to adults and guardians of children in the immigration court system$15 million would help fund legal representation for children in immigration proceedings$1.1 million would be used to hire additional immigration litigation attorneys . Department of State and Other International Programs - $300 million$295 million would go to Central American countries for repatriation and reintegration efforts, border security and programs that address the root causes of mass migration.$5 million would support media campaigns in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras explaining that unaccompanied minors will not receive amnesty in the U.S. This category of money would also support youth leadership development programs. Department of Health and Human Services - $1.8 billionAll of this money would go toward caring for illegal immigrant children who cross the border and includes money to fund additional housing facilities and medical treatment. Source: The White House .
### SUMMARY:
| The White House wants Congress to give it billions to pay for a variety of programs targeted at illegal immigration determent and enforcement .
Included in its request is $1.1 billion to provide humanitarian care to the hundreds of illegal immigrant children who cross the border every day .
Hardly any of the money would go toward deporting unaccompanied minors .
The executive branch is working with Congress to change a 2008 law aimed at trafficking victims that is holding up deportations of immigrant children .
A Democrat-controlled Congress passed the measure in 2008, and now the White House wants a loophole to deal with the children at the border . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Will Stewart . and Simon Tomlinson . Children have become pawns in the escalating civil war between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian fighters as new battles raged overnight in the besieged city of Slavyansk. Pictures emerged of a protest with children holding signs begging the Kiev forces to halt their assault in the city, the epicentre of pro-Moscow resistance in the east of the country. Ukraine claims that the pro-Russian 'terrorists' are using children and women as 'human shields' in Slavyansk, basing themselves in residential buildings. One sign held by children read: 'If we die, millions of people will not forgive you.' On the frontline: Ukraine claims that pro-Russian 'terrorists' are using children and women as human shields in Slavyansk, basing themselves in residential buildings . 'Do not kill us': Pictures have emerged of a protest with children holding signs begging Ukrainian forces to halt their assault in the besieged city of Slavyansk . Begging: Signs held by the children included the messages: 'If we die, millions of people will not forgive you', 'Soldier, do not shoot' and 'God how I want to live' A . report accidentally posted on a Russian government website suggested as . few as 15 per cent of Crimeans voted in favour of being annexed to . Moscow, it has been claimed. The . document, which was quickly taken down, reportedly appeared on the . website of the President of Russia's Human Rights Council. It . apparently revealed there was only a 30 per cent turnout of which half voted for annexation, it was reported by Forbes which cited . claims by major Ukrainian news website TSN.ua. The . figure of 15 per cent is vastly lower than Vladimir Putin's claims that . 97 per cent had voted in favour with an 83 per cent turnout. The TSN report does not link to a copy of the report. However, . Forbes says there is another report called Problems of Crimean . Residents on the Human Rights Council's website that contains estimates . of the March 16 vote. The . report states that 50 to 60 per cent voted for unification with a turnout . of 30 to 50 per cent, which leaves a range of 15 to 30 per cent of Crimeans . opting to join Russia. Others pleaded: 'Soldier, do not shoot', 'God how I want to live', 'Do not kill us' and 'Take away the Grads', a reference to BM-21 launch vehicles. Automatic gunfire and explosions were heard overnight amid suspicions that pro-Russian forces are seeking to break out of the encircled city where there are reported to be food and medical shortages. It came as the Russian Foreign Ministry today called on Kiev to immediately stop 'the use of force against its own people' in the unrest. In a statement, it said: 'The illegitimate authorities in Kiev go on crudely trampling on widely-recognised rights, with the connivance of their Western patrons.' Earlier, Ukrainian forces seized the rebel-held city hall in the eastern port city of Mariupol overnight, driving out pro-Russian activists, then withdrew, making no attempt to hold onto the building, witnesses said. Ukraine's Channel 5 television said earlier the Ukrainian National Guard had seized the administrative centre in Mariupol, a mainly Russian-speaking city of half a million and key component in the self-declared breakaway People's Republic of Donetsk that will hold a referendum on secession this weekend. However, the Ukrainian flag, hoisted by the police, was taken down and replaced by the separatists' Donetsk People's Republic flag after just three hours. Witnesses said the soldiers left after smashing furniture and office equipment. The smell of tear gas hung in the air inside the building which was largely empty in the morning, except for activists in gas masks clearing debris. 'God how we want to live': Automatic gunfire and explosions were heard overnight amid suspicions that pro-Russian forces are seeking to break out of the encircled city . Grip of civil war: The U.S. has vowed more sanctions on Russia, accusing Vladimir Putin of seeking to annex more of Ukraine by 'bogus' secessionist referendums in Donetsk and Lugansk regions . Pawns: Trouble has also spread to the southeastern city of Mariupol, with separatists burning tyres and men in military uniforms without insignia setting up checkpoints . Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov . also issued his latest withering attack on the Ukrainian authorities, . accusing them of seeking to hide the cause of the inferno in Odessa in . which 42 perished. 'What happened in Odessa on 2 May is clear fascism,' he said. 'We will not allow the facts to be . swept under the rug like the ruling coalition is presently trying to do . by closing the investigation from the general public. 'We . will push for the truth. We will push so that all of the evidence that . was given by witnesses and tell the story of the magnitude of the . tragedy that is being consciously hushed by the authorities, so that not . one piece of truth remains uninvestigated and that it is all made . public.' Flashpoint: A pro-Russian supporter shouts at Ukrainian policemen in Mariupol after reports that Interior Ministry troops had briefly taken back control of and evicted protesters from the city administration building . Shove off! A pro-Moscow supporter confronts a Ukrainian policeman in Mariupol, a mainly Russian-speaking city of half a million . Quick turnaround: Pro-Russian activists celebrate as Ukrainian policeman leave the state city building in Mariupol after guarding it for just a few hours . Trudging off: Ukrainian policemen walk in line as pro-Russian rebels take over an administration building in Mariupol . Acting Ukrainian Prosecutor General Oleh Makhnitsky is to invite international experts to investigate the deadly fire. The U.S. has vowed more sanctions on . Russia, accusing Vladimir Putin of seeking to annex more of Ukraine by . 'bogus' secessionist referendums in Donetsk and Lugansk regions. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, accusing Putin of 'calling the shots', . warned: 'This is really the Crimea playbook all over again, and no . civilized nation is going to recognize the results of such a bogus . effort. 'We flatly reject this illegal effort to further divide Ukraine. 'We . are not going to sit idly by while Russian elements fan the flames of . instability instead of fulfilling the commitments that we made.' The . U.S. will apply new tough sanctions aimed at entire sectors of the . Russian economy, said assistant secretary of state, Victoria Nuland. Firepower: Pro-Russian rebels brandish weapons as they try to block a military base of riot police in Donetsk . Pro-Russian insurgent gunmen surrounded a military base in Donetsk and said they were holding negotiations with commanders inside to ensure that they did not join forces with government-allied groups .
### SUMMARY:
| Explosions and gunfire heard in rebel-held city of Slavyansk overnight .
Prompts fears pro-Moscow troops are trying to break out of encircled city .
Pictures emerge of children holding signs begging Kiev forces to retreat .
One placard read: 'If we die, millions of people will not forgive you'
Russian minister accuses Kiev of covering up cause of fire that killed 42 .
Putin accused of trying to annex more of Ukraine with 'bogus' referendums .
Number of Crimeans who voted for annexation 'as low as 15 per cent' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Tom Mctague, Mail Online Deputy Political Editor . and Tamara Cohen . His fellow ministers were wrestling with the Ukraine plane crash crisis and the escalating violence in the Middle East. But Nick Clegg left the worries of the world behind yesterday – to spend three hours baking and drinking shots of tequila on daytime television. As the Cobra emergency committee met to discuss Flight MH17, the Deputy Prime Minister was on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch with minor celebrities including Millie Mackintosh of reality show Made In Chelsea and X Factor contestant Cher Lloyd. Drinking: Nick Clegg (left) enjoyed a 'Commonwealth cocktail' and three shots of tequila with Tim Lovejoy (centre) and Simon Rimmer (right) on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch . Down it goes: The . Deputy Prime Minister was criticised for appearing on the show while . British victims of the missile attack in Ukraine have yet to be . recovered . He was treated to a tequila tasting, . in which he sipped three varieties of the fiery Mexican spirit well . before lunchtime, pronouncing one to be ‘very smooth’ and another . ‘peppery’. In another . segment, the Lib Dem leader was taught how to make an avocado cake, and . discussed his free school meals policy while mixing and whisking the . ingredients in a bowl. This . was followed up with more booze – a ‘Commonwealth cocktail’ of . ingredients from 71 countries, which Mr Clegg said was ‘not bad at all’. He also named his . favourite vinegar – balsamic – and shared a tray of empanada, a Spanish . speciality cooked by his wife Miriam and carrying the words ‘Sunday . Brunch’ in dough. Miriam had done most of the work, he said, adding: ‘I assisted throughout. I brushed the thing with egg and chopped and diced.’ But . his efforts were deemed ‘ridiculous’ by Lib Dem activist Charlotte . Henry, who wrote a blog entitled: ‘As the world burned, Nick Clegg . cooked.’ On Saturday the Deputy PM tweeted a picture of himself with an empanada with 'Sunday Brunch' baked in . Tory and . Labour MPs expressed surprise that Mr Clegg, a member of the National . Security Council, was able to devote so much time to the show. Labour MP Grahame . Morris said: 'Nick Clegg displays an alarmingly cavalier indifference . given the seriousness of the situation. He is supposed to be Deputy . Prime Minister, not a contestant on Master Chef.' John Mann added: 'It . sums up Clegg's priorities.' The appearance came as David Cameron held crisis talks with world . leaders over the crisis in Ukraine. The . Prime Minister spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the . French President Francois Hollande, before the Foreign Secretary Philip . Hammond held an emergency meeting of the Government's Cobra committee at . 1pm. But . Mr Clegg, attempting to boost his poll ratings as the party heads for . disaster in the next general election in May, spent the morning on TV. Mr . Clegg's aides defended his decision to appear on the show. A spokesman . said it was a long-standing commitment and that he did not miss any . meetings on the crisis. Mr Clegg tweeted this picture of himself on the show alongside hosts Mr Lovejoy and Mr Rimmer . The . programme, which Mr Clegg’s spokesman said had more than a million . viewers, changed the format for its high-profile guest by interviewing . him about why he went into politics and how his party had fared in . coalition. Asked about Flight MH17, he said it was ‘just heart-breaking’ and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. He also said he was always on duty and that ‘with modern technology … people can always reach you’. The Deputy PM was able to speak to an audience which does not usually watch politics shows . His . spokesman said the Cobra meeting was just for the Foreign Secretary and . officials, not other ministers, but Mr Clegg had been briefed on it. Asked about the weekly sessions of Prime . Minister's Questions, Mr Clegg said: 'I think the whole thing has become . a complete farce.' He added: 'It might have had its time once but this is a place where you can't call people by their name, you have to call them "right honourable blah blah blah" or if they have a legal background you have to say "right honourable, learned", if they are actually in the Army it's even worse, you have to say 'right honourable, learned, gallant". 'It's just people... shouting at each other, it's a very concentrated, gladiator, sort of spectacle. 'There are some people who might like it, my own view is most normal people - and most normal people don't follow the ins and outs of politics - find the whole thing totally off-putting. 'This is a place, Westminster, where some of the pomp and ceremony is all right but some of it is just so out of date. This is a place which had a 19th-century shooting gallery but didn't have a creche until quite recently. 'That tells you everything you need to know about a place that is still, by my view, far too stuck in the past.' Defending the decision to form the coalition, he said: 'You can, if you want, stand on the sidelines and throw stones and feel completely pure and you never have to take a difficult decision, you never have to face a difficult dilemma. 'I actually think if I had done that, if my party had done that, actually you would think "are we ever going to step up to the plate or not?" 'I personally think the history books will look back and realise that back then, back in 2010 after those debates and everything, people had to step up to the plate because we needed to clear stuff up.' Mr Clegg has faced a barrage of criticism, and his party has suffered in local and European elections, since 2010. Mr Clegg used the show to attack Prime Minister's Questions and share his sympathy with the victims of the MH17 missile attack . The Lib Dem leader said: 'Politics at the end of the day is about the marriage of your ideals, which you have got to hold on to, but also practicality. Sometimes, frankly, they don't fit perfectly well together." Asked if he had been ready for the attacks he faced in Government, Mr Clegg said: 'It's like any job. You can't prepare for it completely until you start, until you actually do it. 'I absolutely knew that if the Liberal Democrats, for the first time in their history, either went in with Labour or the Conservatives you would really annoy a whole bunch of other people, by definition, because you have got this very polarised, pendulum swing politics - it's either the red team or the blue team and suddenly you've messed it up by the yellow team getting in there as well. 'Did I really imagine some of it would be quite as vitriolic? Perhaps not, but you can't spend all your life answering back to people who just want to insult you, you have just got to get on with the job, and that's what I try to do.'
### SUMMARY:
| Deputy PM criticised for spending hours on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch .
While the MH17 crisis grew the Lib Dem leader drank tequila with celebs .
Clegg brought in an 'empanada' made by his Spanish wife Miriam .
DPM's aides say appearance on show a long-standing commitment .
He will attend tomorrow's Cobra meeting on crisis in Ukraine . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Jonathan O'Callaghan for MailOnline . Deep in a Russian forest lies a secretive training facility intended to prepare people for a voyage into space. Few outsiders have ever seen it with their own eyes - but one photographer has now gained rare access to the heart of the Russian space programme. Mitch Karunaratne took the snaps of the highly secret Star City complex - known in Russian as Zvezdniy Gorodok - inside forests around 30 miles (48 kilometres) from Moscow. Photographer Mitch Karunaratne from London has taken rare photos of Russia's Star City. The facility is located deep in a forest about 30 miles (48 km) from Moscow Pictured is a Sokol spacesuit used by cosmonauts when travelling to and from space . The centre, run by the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), is in a closed town where the legendary cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin trained. 12 April 1961 - First human in space (Yuri Gagarin) 5 May 1961 - First American in space (Alan Shepard) 16 June 1963 - First woman in space (Valentina Tereshkova) 21 July 1969 - First human on the moon (Neil Armstrong) 7 June 1971 - First manned space station (Soyuz 11/Salyut 1) 12 April 1981 - First manned space plane (Space Shuttle/STS-1) 20 November 1998 - Construction of the International Space Station (ISS) begins . 15 October 2003 - First Chinese taikonaut in space (Yang Liwei) In fact it was previously named after Gagarin and his family still live within the area of the centre. Today - despite the area no longer being a military zone in 2008 - it remains difficult for outsiders to gain access. 'I grew up as self-proclaimed space fanatic - I was born in 1969 - and a photograph of Neil Armstrong landing on the moon has always hung in every house I've ever lived in and I've met Buzz Aldrin,' said Mr Karunaratne, from London. 'I grew up in the era of Star Trek and Star Wars and the Clangers, however the Russian space programme was always on the fringes, always mysteriously out of reach I felt. 'Star City is up and running and still the main space training centre for all international cosmonauts and astronauts visiting the space station as well as the centre for the Russian space programme. 'It is located about 30 miles [48 kilometres] east of Moscow, set within a deeply wooded area and it doesn't appear on any maps or have road signs. 'It is a "closed" town - and very tricky to get access to and has a heavily guarded border and access is for residents and space trainees.' The Star City facility is located deep in a forest about 30 miles (48 km) from Moscow . Star City is used to train astronauts and cosmonauts for missions to space. Shown here is a centrifuge, which is used to test how cosmonauts respond to the intense G-forces experienced in take-off and landing . Training facilities like these are used by agencies to prepare astronauts for missions in space. Seen here are mock-ups of modules from the ISS, which cosmonauts use to familiarise themselves with the layout before they travel to the space station . The Sokol spacesuit, shown, was first introduced in 1973 and is still in use by cosmonauts today. It is only worn during take-off and landing, however, and is used to keep astronauts alive in the event of their spacecraft depressurising. For spacewalks a separate Orlan suit is used . The centre was established in the 1960s and was originally called the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre. Since then it has trained at least 400 astronauts - or cosmonauts as they are called in Russia - from more than 30 different countries.' 'All personnel involved in the Soviet and Russian space programme, and their descendants have the right to live here,' Mr Karunaratne continued. 'It houses both space training installation buildings, as well as accommodation, shop, church and a school. Yuri Gagarin's family still live here.' Mr Karunaratne said inside the complex there were several life-size mock-ups of the International Space Station used for training. One is even submerged in a swimming pool where cosmonauts can practice their space walks, although Mr Karunaratne was not allowed to take photos in this area. Seen . here is a mural of historic Russian space achievements. On the left is . the short-lived Buran shuttle that completed one unmanned flight in . 1988. In the middle is Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial . satellite, which launched in 1957. On the right is Buran attached to the . Energia rocket that took it to space . The facility is used to prepare astronauts and cosmonauts for trips to the ISS (pictured) Shown here is a mock-up of the Soyuz spacecraft used to take astronauts to the ISS. The Soyuz family of spacecraft has been in operation since the 1960s, although it has been continuously upgraded since then . Shown here is a statue of Yuri Gagarin, who on 12 April 1961 became the first human ever to travel to space. Star City was once also known as the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre . The centre also contains technology from the history of Russia's space endeavours (shown). There is also a mock-up of the ISS in a swimming pool cosmonauts can use, although Mr Karunaratne was not allowed to take photos in this area . 'All cosmonauts from the Soviet space programme and then the Russian Federation Space Agency have trained at this facility,' he added. 'The facility has a very lived in look, but is cared for with such obvious pride. The heart and soul of the Russian space programme, and indeed the Russia people, can be felt very profoundly here. 'Dreams of outer space have been a constant in Soviet society since the 1920s, which have survived perestroika and the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991. 'Access was limited, and although I was able to walk around with my guide freely I was not able to take photographs [everywhere]. 'The image of the lake Yuri Gagarin helped to dig, the supermarket where all goods are plentiful and cheap, the washing of the current space team pegged to a green nylon rail - will forever be those images I wish I had taken.' 'It is a "closed" town - and very tricky to get access to and has a heavily guarded border and access is for residents and space trainees,' said Mr Karunaratn. Shown is a mock-up of a docking module on the ISS . The facility apparently has a very lived in look but is 'cared for with pride' according to Mr Karunaratn. Seen on the left are some interconnected mock-ups of ISS modules at Star City, while on the right is Nasa's own ISS mockup at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center .
### SUMMARY:
| Mitch Karunaratne has taken rare images of Russia's Star City .
The facility is located deep in a forest about 30 miles (48km) from Moscow .
It is used to train astronauts and cosmonauts for missions to space .
Established in 1960, it has trained more than 400 space travellers .
The pictures reveal mock-ups of the ISS and spacecraft used for training .
There are also pieces of memorabilia from Russia's space history . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A naked man is Tasered without warning as he is strip-searched in a police cell. Daniel Dove, 23, is struck in the chest and collapses to the floor in agony as the stun gun continues to deliver a 50,000-volt shock. CCTV footage of the incident was leaked yesterday after a chief constable refused to publish it despite a judge saying he should. The officer who fired the Taser, PC Lee Birch, 30, was cleared of assault this week but now faces a police inquiry for gross misconduct. He remains on duty. Mr Dove was arrested at 2am on December 23, 2012 on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly after being thrown out of a nightclub in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. This footage shows the moment PC Lee Birch sent Daniel Dove crashing to the floor of the police cell, Tasering the suspect after he threw his underpants in the police officer's face . The 23-year-old was escorted into the cell by three police officers, for a strip search . Mr Dove had been arrested on December 23, 2013 for being drunk and disorderly outside a nightclub in Trowbridge, Wiltshire . He claims police pushed him into a puddle on the ground as they handcuffed him and took him to Melksham police station. The carpenter was put in a cell, where PC Birch – holding his Taser behind his back – began a strip search. Mr Dove said he felt humiliated and flicked his wet boxer shorts at the officer’s face. The CCTV footage shows PC Birch instantly swinging his arm round and firing the Taser. In court, PC Birch admitted his life had not been under threat, but he ‘would not wish to restrain a naked man’ and used the Taser instead. A jury cleared him of assault and misconduct in a public office. Mr Dove was charged with assaulting PC Birch and another officer during his arrest but the case was dropped. He says police chiefs initially ignored his official complaint but PC Birch and four other officers now face a misconduct inquiry. Yesterday, Mr Dove said: ‘I’m hopeful that he’ll be punished for what he did but I’m not too optimistic given that a court didn’t find him guilty.’ During the CCTV recording PC Birch can be seen to unclip his Taser from his holster within seconds of entering the cell. He then continues to conceal it behind his back throughout the strip search before deploying it - holding the trigger for seven seconds. Mr Dove crashes to the ground where PC Birch grabs the boxers and throws them at the wall, before shouting 'you have assaulted me, don't do that again'. During the week-long trial Mr Dove told the court he was compliant throughout his arrest and gave PC Birch no reason to open fire. Feeling 'humilated' as he removed his underpants Mr Dove hurled them in PC Birch's face in a 'split second' fit of temper, he told a court . PC Birch, who responded by drawing his Taser gun from behind his back zapping Mr Dove with the 50,000-volt weapon, was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and misconduct in public office . PC Birch, who held on to the trigger for seven seconds while Mr Dove fell to the floor, was acquitted on both charges by a jury at Bristol Crown Court . Despite a judge ruling the horrifying footage could now be released to the media, Patrick Geenty, Wiltshire's Chief Constable, objected. The video was later leaked to ITV West Country by a concerned member of the public . PC Lee Birch was cleared of the charges against him at Bristol Crown Court this week . He said: 'I was compliant up until a point when I felt like I was being humiliated, I was stripped completely naked and put on my knees with hand cuffs on. 'PC Birch asked me to get naked in a strip search, which I did. 'You feel quite embarrassed, when I took them off it was a split second thing, I did it because I was annoyed.' He added: 'I was not aware he had a Taser, he didn't tell me he had it or that he intended to use it. 'As soon as I flicked my pants at him he pulled his arm up from behind his back and shot me with it. 'He has not pulled it from a holster and said "I will shoot you", he has just pulled it from behind his back and shot me. 'I didn't have any time to react or move, by the time I saw it. 'I don't know why he used it, I couldn't exactly move because there were three guys there so for him to use that on me was a bit irrational.' The trial heard how Dove was arrested . in the early hours of December 23, 2012 outside a nightclub in . Trowbridge, Wiltshire after clashing with another man. Bouncers called police when he refused to cooperate and he was detained for being drunk and disorderly. During the arrest he allegedly tried to punch PC Birch and kneed his colleague PC Reed in the groin. Dove was then taken into custody at Melksham where he was escorted to a cell by PC Birch and two other officers to be searched. The . court heard how PC Birch unclipped his Taser from his holster within . seconds of entering the cell with the two others and held it behind his . back throughout. PC Birch is seen grabbing the boxers and throwing them at the wall, before shouting 'you have assaulted me, don't do that again' at Mr Dove . During the week-long trial Mr Dove told the court he was compliant throughout his arrest and gave PC Birch no reason to open fire . PC Birch told the court he was 'not looking for an excuse to use the Taser' and said he believed it was 'reasonable and proportionate and not motivated by anger or malice' The jury saw CCTV footage of Dove, who admitted drinking four pints of Fosters and two Jagerbombs, struggling with PC Birch. PC Birch told the court he was 'not looking for an excuse to use the Taser' and said he believed it was 'reasonable and proportionate and not motivated by anger or malice'. He now faces an internal inquiry and investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. A Taser is an electroshock weapon that uses electrical current to inhibit voluntary control of muscles, causing neuromuscular incapacitation. A person struck by a Taser experiences stimulation of his or her sensory nerves and motor nerves, resulting in strong involuntary muscular contractions. They were introduced as non-lethal weapons to be used by police officers to aphrend fleeing, belligerent or potentially dangerous suspects. A Police Executive Research Forum study from 2009 revealed officer injuries drop by 76 per cent when a Taser is used. Critics have argued that Tasers and other high-voltage stun guns can cause cardiac arrhythmia in susceptible suspects, which can lead to heart attack and death in some cases. Those susceptible to the reaction are sometimes healthy and unaware of their susceptibility.
### SUMMARY:
| PC Lee Birch was cleared of assault at Bristol Crown Court this week .
PC Birch, 30, zapped Daniel Dove after the suspect threw his pants at him .
Mr Dove, 23, was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly .
Court heard he felt 'humiliated' when stripping for search and reacted .
He hurled his dirty underpants at PC Birch hitting him in the face .
Taser gun deployed for seven seconds rendering Mr Dove immobile .
Footage was leaked by a concerned member of the public . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Pippa Middleton arrived for Prince George of Cambridge's christening yesterday in a couture coat that colour coordinated with Kate's outfit - as well as her nephew's christening gown. The Middleton sisters both chose to wear cream for the historic occasion, with Pippa opting for a 'trapeze' coat and 'Paris' dress by British designer, Suzannah Crabb. That Pippa, 30, matched her sister and nephew's gown was no coincidence. Suzannah revealed that the socialite had worked with her over the last few months to create the perfect outfit. Scroll down for video . Months in the planning: Pippa asked British designer Suzannah Crabb to help create her outfit for yesterday's historic occasion . Stylish aunty: Pippa follows her mother and brother into the service wearing a 'trapeze' coat made from Italian wool with Emmy shoes and a hat by British milliner Edwina Ibbotson . Pippa and James speak with the Archbishop of Canterbury as they arrive at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace. Pippa gave a reading during the service . Proud grandparents: Pippa arrived with Carole and Michael Middleton . Magic Moment: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their young son, but the Middleton's business has been accused of cashing in on this relationship . The designer said she undertook 'hours of research into the history of royal christenings' to create something truly fitting of the occasion. She . said: 'We aimed for understated beauty, drawing inspiration from a . 1960s coat dress that I bought in LA, among other vintage looks and . archive pieces. 'The outfit had to be both . beautiful and appropriate from the length of the hem, to the style of the millinery and the subtle colour and cut. 'Lace has . been a popular fabric choice by significant guests at royal christenings since . 1926 and a dress in a style similar was worn by Princess Victoria of Sweden to . the christening of her daughter Princess Estelle in 2012.' The . designer worked with Pippa to create a bespoke version of the cream . coat, made from Italian wool with a blush pink trim and oyster silk . lining. But a similar version is on sale for £750. Suzannah also designed a cream version . of her lace 'Paris' dress for Pippa to wear yesterday. A similar navy style . costs £950 from her website. For an event the royals had been at pains to describe as ‘intimate’, low key and private, it was all rather, well … public. Within ten minutes of Pippa Middleton’s arrival at her nephew’s christening, the designers who made her outfit issued press releases about where the items could be purchased. British designer Suzannah spoke of the ‘hours of research’ that had gone into Miss Middleton’s outfit. Not far behind was a triumphant announcement from designer Catherine Walker that the Duchess’s mother, Carole, was sporting one of her coat dresses. Spokesmen for both companies declined to say yesterday whether the women received a discount – directly or indirectly – in return for generating publicity for their brands. A spokesman for Catherine Walker said: ‘This is not something that is ever commented on or discussed.’ The designer describes the dress as 'a modern shift, with a suitably high neckline and simple, clean lines, . finished in French lace.' Pippa teamed her outfit with a jaunty hat by British milliner Edwina Ibbotson, shoes by Emmy and carried a peach clutch bag - all put together with Suzannah's expert eye for style. Suzannah is a favourite designer of Pippa as she has worn her dresses on numerous occasions including society weddings. The designer said it was a 'dream come true' when Pippa approached her about her outfit for the christening. Pippa was saw the outfit take shape over several bespoke fittings and Suzannah said she was a joy to work with. Still smiling: Kate's sister Pippa Middleton leaves Kensington Palace after the christening of Prince George at the Chapel Royal in St James' Palace . Longstanding relationship: Suzannah Crabb, left, has dressed Pippa before as she wore this green dress by the designer to a society wedding in 2011, right . Special occasion: The Duchess of Cambridge carries her son Prince George after his christening . Popular choice: Kate, Pippa, George and Camilla, right, all wore cream but the Queen brought some colour to the proceedings in a blue coat and matching hat . She said: 'Creating a couture dress and frock coat not only for the occasion of the royal christening, but for Pippa Middleton, who is so naturally elegant and stylish is a commission that every designer dreams of. It's so exciting that British fashion has such a champion.' As well as Pippa, Suzannah has designed for Princesses . Beatrice and Eugenie and pop stars Paloma Faith and Marina and The . Diamonds. As Pippa arrived for the service yesterday, she stopped to chat and shake hands with the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, who will baptised the three-month-old prince. She smiled broadly for the cameras as she arrived at St James's Palace with her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and brother, James. Pippa smiles for the cameras as she's driven from the service . The magazine columnist, whose brunette hair was swept off her face in a half-up style, was not joined by her stockbroker boyfriend Nico Jackson, 35. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were keen for yesterday's service to be an intimate, family affair - despite the worldwide interest - and only 24 guests were invited. Pippa is not one of the prince's godparents but will take a prominent role in his upbringing as his only aunty. Along with Prince Harry, she was given a key role during the service as the Duke and Duchess asked their brother and sister to give readings at the christening. Pippa read the first lesson, from the Gospel of St Luke, Chapter 18, verses 15-17. Pippa gained notoriety as maid of honour at the royal wedding after causing a stir in her figure-hugging bridesmaid's dress that saw her dubbed 'her royal hotness'. 'It's startling to achieve recognition on account of your sister, brother-in-law and bottom,' she admitted in her party book Celebrate. James Middleton risked comparison with his nephew’s namesake, King George V, by showing off a bushy beard at the christening yesterday. But not everyone was convinced that the Duchess of Cambridge’s brother mastered the beard as well as the Queen’s grandfather. On Twitter, it was described as ‘vast’ and ‘prolific’, while one user wrote: ‘James Middleton. What is that beard?!’. Another user wrote: ‘You’d think James Middleton would have shaved his beard, not look like he’s just spent three months at sea.’ The 26-year-old was seen with a full beard last month while out with girlfriend Donna Air. Observers suggested Mr Middleton, who owns a cake-making business, could be trying a more mature look for television presenter Miss Air, who is eight years his senior. Similar: James Middleton (right) risked comparison with his nephew’s namesake, King George V (left)
### SUMMARY:
| Pippa Middleton wore coat and dress by British designer, Suzannah Crabb .
Arrived at St James's Palace with her parents and brother .
She gave a reading during the service .
Suzannah said Pippa wearing her designs was 'dream come true'
She describes socialite as a 'champion' of British fashion . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Moree farmer Ian Turnbull made verbal threats against Glen Turner two years before 'he deliberately executed him by shooting him in the back' a judge has said in court while refusing the wealthy grazier bail. 'I'm an old man. I don't care. I can do anything I want' police say Turnbull told Mr Turner on June 28, 2012. Turnbull is charged with the murder of the 51-year-old father of two, accused of shooting the environment officer during an alleged land clearing dispute, on a public road at Croppa Creek, near Moree in northern NSW. Justice Anthony Blackmore said the threat to Mr Turner was said in the context of 'if you have any respect for your life you will not interfere'. Scroll down for video . Moree farmer Ian Turnbull (pictured right), is charged with the murder of 51-year-old father of two compliance officer Glen Turner (pictured left). 'I didn't mean to kill him',' Turnbull's wife Robeena told the court her husband said her, adding 'he appeared as though he was somewhere else' Environment and Heritage compliance officer Glen Turner, 51, was allegedly shot in the back by wealthy farmer Ian Turnbull after the father-of-two served an illegal land clearing notice. Turnbull's wife Robeena June Turnbull (pictured) at King st Court . 'I simply cracked,' Mr Turnbull told his wife Robeena, heard the court on Thursday. He told her as he sat on the verandah of their property and waited five hours for the police to come and arrest him . Turnbull sat defiantly with his arms folded as Justice Blackmore went further to say that he believed the farmer had 'considerable means' to leave the country and to live well. He also said that he was still a threat to the community and to all officers working, as Mr Turner had been, for the Office of Environment and Heritage. 'He had threatened him [Turner] before and ultimately ends up shooting him.' 'He does have very significant financial means, much more than the ordinary person ... he is able to escape the jurisdiction and live out the rest of his life comfortably.' 'He is charged with the murder of a public official.' 'The facts of the case are virtually overwhelming,' said the judge. Justice Blackmore said Turnbull had shown no remorse, telling a prison psychologist ' it was the deceased that was at fault'. He said that 'moreover the dispute between [Turnbull and the environment department] is not over. 'He is a danger to all environment officers if released on bail. He is also a danger to the community.' Croppa Creek is in NSW's 'golden triangle,' a fertile area of land rich in farming history . Compliance officer Glen Turner, 51, was allegedly shot in the back by wealthy farmer Ian Turnbull. His wife Robeena June Turnbull told the court her husband said, 'I simply cracked' Glen Turner, 51, was shot dead on a dirt road near Moree in northern NSW in the early evening of July 29 . Ian Turnbull has been refused bail at the NSW supreme court on Thursday . 'He deliberately threatened the deceased prior to the event.' 'What bail conditions could deter a mam who is prepared to execute a public official.' On the evening the elderly farmer allegedly murdered the NSW environment officer, he went home and told his wife he 'simply cracked'. He sat looking 'wretched ... just blank' after shooting Glen Turner on July 29, his wife Robeena told the Sydney court early on Thursday. 'I simply cracked,' he told her as he sat on the verandah of their property and waited five hours for the police to come and arrest him. 'I didn't mean to kill him',' Mrs Turnbull told the court her husband told her, adding 'he appeared as though he was somewhere else'. Turnbull has been in custody since July 29, the day of the killing in the state's north. Robeena Turnbull, who has been married for more than 50 years to the 79-year-old, told a NSW Supreme Court bail hearing her husband arrived back at the family's homestead about 6.30pm. He didn't shower or change his clothes, instead, he sat down in a chair and told her he was going to wait for the police, the court heard. Robeena June Turnbull (pictured) told the hearing that she had visited her husband, Moree farmer, Ian Turnbull, in jail every weekend since his arrest for accused murder . Glen Turner's family have been devastated by their loss . Mrs Turnbull told the hearing that she had visited her husband in jail every weekend since his arrest, a 12-hour round trip that involves driving to Brisbane, where her son lives, flying to Newcastle and renting a car for the final leg to Cessnock Correctional Centre. She said her husband had difficulty walking and that she could see he was in pain, adding he suffered from peripheral neuropathy, which meant he needed a wheelchair in prison. 'He said he could only walk about 10 feet and then he would crumple to the floor,' Mrs Turnbull said. 'But (he only expresses discomfort) when I ask him. He doesn't come out complaining.' The court heard that Turnbull would stay with relatives on Sydney's north shore if released on bail. At a previous court hearing, police had alleged the farmer was armed with a loaded rifle and had told Mr Turner he would be leaving Croppa Creek that day in a body bag. Mr Turner was shot on a dirt road in the early evening as he and another environmental officer were carrying out unrelated duties on Talga Lane, near Moree. 'I simply cracked,' Mr Turnbull told his wife Robeena (pictured), heard the court on Thursday. He told her as he sat on the verandah of their property and waited five hours for the police to come and arrest him . Turnbull, who appeared via audio visual link from Cessnock prison on Thursday dressed in prison greens, looked haggard and had his arms crossed. He pressed his lips together and looked grim, occasionally glancing away from the camera as his wife gave evidence. Prominent Sydney barrister, Tony Bellanto, QC, appeared for Mr Turnbull. Mr Bellanto cited Mr Turnbull's medical conditions, including a pacemaker in his heart, chest pain, angina and difficulty in walking, as well as offering a $300,000 surety. Mr Turner and Ian Turnbull had been involved in a long-running dispute over land clearing in the area, where Turnbull and his family own several properties with large tracts of cropping land. Following the shooting, Mr Turner's family said they were devastated by his early passing and would remember him as a loving husband and father to his two young children, aged nine and 10. The incident generated widespread debate on native vegetation legislation, and came after years of mounting tension between farmers, environmentalists and governments about landowners' rights to clear vegetation for cropping. A year before the fatal shooting, Turnbull had pleaded guilty to illegally bulldozing nearly 500ha of trees and was facing a hefty fine and a potential legal bill of more than $300,000.
### SUMMARY:
| Moree farmer, Ian Turnbull has been refused bail in the NSW supreme court .
The court heard the 79-year-old made verbal threats against compliance officer, Glen Turner, two years before he shot him in the back .
'I simply cracked' said the Moree farmer, to his wife Robeena, the court heard .
The wheat farmer had been in a long-running dispute over land clearing . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Life lessons: Author Elizabeth Kesses wasn't confident growing up . The pressure of trying to achieve an unrealistic 'ideal body' is one that has long plagued girls through their teenage years and beyond. It's something author Elizabeth Kesses is familiar with having struggled with her own appearance and self confidence growing up in Athens and London. After graduating from Oxford and establishing a successful career in advertising, it's only now at the age of 40 she is finally feels more secure in her own skin. As a result, she has overhauled her life by moving to France and becoming a writer. She has written three self-esteem books for young girls called The Ugly Little Girl Trilogy and is supporting Body Confidence Week, which culminated in the Body Confident Awards at the House of Commons last night. Here, she reveals the six things she wishes she had known when she was a young girl struggling to make her way in the world... 1. If others say you're ugly, a loser, a swot... it's only because they are somehow threatened by you . I went to a bitchy girls school and I realise now when I talk to some of the girls in my year that they actually remembered me as the clever one who got to date the nice boys. But at the time, I believed any bad words that were said about me. Somehow their vision of me was more important than my own. I know now that everyone brings their stuff, their jealousies and insecurities - so take everything with a huge pinch of salt. 2. If you please others the whole time you'll never end up pleasing yourself . As a teenager, I chose to go to Oxford University in part for my parents. I loved it there but I felt constantly under pressure in such an academic environment. I then chose advertising as a career as I needed a proper job with money and status, so that others thought I was 'doing well'. Pressure to look good: Elizabeth advises young girls to focus more on their personality than their appearance . I married my boss because he was older, established and my friends/family would think he was a good catch. Deep down none of these decisions were right for me. I had no idea what I wanted, so I chose what everyone else wanted for me. In the end you'll rebel. I did at the age of 35. I'm now doing what I believe in - I write, I moved to France to be with my French husband and I chose not to have kids. None of these are particularly popular choices but they are who I am and that's more important. 3. Laughter lights up a room, not fake eyelashes and hair extensions . I used to obsess about being fat, ugly, short, frizzy-haired, and I thought everyone was horrified when I walked in a room. I couldn't flick through a teen mag without feeling inadequate. The pressure for girls today is even greater with websites dedicated to 'thinspiration', the obsession with image on social media and the relentless pursuit of perfection in the fashion world. Now I know that most people aren't looking at that one spot or unkempt eyebrow or thighs that touch. Most normal nice people don't care - they worry about what's on the inside. Feelings of inadequacy: Teens should talk to someone if they feel down . 4. If there is something you really want to do... then just do it . Never give up, if it's your true passion, your gift will happen. I loved ballet, I had the chance to do it professionally but reason prevailed and I focused on my academic studies. I'm sure it wasn't my vocation but denying myself the chance to explore it has left a pain, a form of nostalgia. Every time I go to see the Nutcracker at Christmas I get a twinge in my heart. I also loved writing as a little girl but the path to doing that seemed complicated and uncertain - yet now I'm a published author. 5. If someone's bullying you or if you're feeling down... talk to someone . I used to bottle up a lot of my feelings, pretending all was OK and I carried on smiling so I didn't disappoint or worry anyone. Having been through therapy I appreciate the well worn phrase 'a problem shared is a problem halved'. Issue needs to be taken seriously: More should be done to help young people with low confidence . 6. Low self-esteem IS a serious issue . From the age of ten to about fifteen I went through a gawky stage. Like most other teens, I believed I was so much uglier, so much geekier than everyone else. It made feel very alone and miserable. I suffered from lack of self esteem in my late teens becoming anorexic and I still struggle with bouts of low confidence. It's time for the nation to take seriously the issue of low self-esteem as it is one of the biggest threats to a woman's well-being. It is time confidence-building and self-belief were formally incorporated as part of the school curriculum, that media changed the beauty conversation and that girls are given every chance in the world to be happy. I'm glad this is now being addressed with the launch of Body Confidence Week. Education in schools and colleges Winner: The Self Esteem Team . The Self Esteem Team has worked with about 40,000 teenagers, both boys and girls, as well as parents and teachers delivering tailored body confidence lessons focused on self-esteem and good mental health. Education outside schools and colleges winner: Girlguiding . As the biggest membership organisation for girls and young women, Girlguiding was praised for a long-term commitment to developing girls’ body confidence, training up 250 peer educators to deliver their 'Free Being Me' programme. Healthy eating winner: The Jamie Oliver Foundation . The Jamie Oliver Foundation was selected for its pioneering approach to improving the UK's relationship with food through focused work with schools and communities. Physical activity winner: Youth Sport Trust . Youth Sport Trust was selected for its Girls Active programme, which used sport to not just increase girls' participation in P.E but in doing so, improved their body image and self-esteem. Responsible media and advertising winner: The Guardian . Chosen for its Body Image column on the website. Responsible beaut winner: Lancôme and the partnership with Lupita Nyong'o . Judges said it was 'inspiring to see a big beauty brand working with a non-westernised, dark skinned, African American woman'. Responsible fashion winner: ASOS Curve . ASOS Curve was commended for enhancing women's confidence through their affordable, fashionable clothes that they can feel good in. Dove self-esteem award winner: Breast Cancer Care and Jill Hindley, Heather Shekede and Ismena Clout . This campaign featuring Ismena and Jill showing their mastectomy scars and Heather posing with a letter to her body written on her back was praised for being an inspirational, honest, self-esteem boosting campaign for women experiencing breast surgery. Body confidence campaigner winner: Susie Orbach, psychotherapist, writer and UK convenor of www.endangeredbodies.org . Susie Orbach was selected for igniting the debate on body confidence and was regarded as a pioneer of the whole movement. Body confidence individual award: 'People's choice' winner: James Partridge, CEO Changing Faces . James Partridge was selected by the public for his ongoing advocacy on the subject of accepting one's appearance both as an individual and as founder of charity 'Changing Faces' which supports and represent people with disfigurements of any cause.
### SUMMARY:
| Elizabeth Kesses struggled with self confidence growing up .
She thought she was ugly and developed an eating disorder .
Made decisions to please other people instead of herself .
Now she has learnt the error of her ways .
Written Ugly Little Girl Trilogy to help others .
Is supporting Body Confidence Week . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
David Cameron is contemplating sending his eldest daughter to an inner-city comprehensive so she can receive a 'normal education' David Cameron is contemplating sending his eldest daughter to an inner-city comprehensive so she can receive a 'normal education'. Mr Cameron, who had a privileged education at Eton College, has reportedly visited several state schools in the capital in his quest to find a suitable secondary school place for 10-year-old Nancy. The Prime Minister is understood to have visited The Grey Coat Hospital Church of England School, an all-girls comprehensive three-quarters of a mile from Downing Street, according to the Telegraph. Chief whip Michael Gove famously chose Grey Coat Hospital school for his daughter Beatrice's secondary education while he was education secretary. Mr Cameron and his wife also visited Holland Park School – one of the first comprehensives in the UK – earlier this week, according to the Times. The school is usually more associated with Labour grandees such as the late Tony Benn and also has up to six former pupils who have either left Britain to become Islamic jihadists in the Middle East or were linked to Islamic terrorism. Despite being in two of the wealthiest boroughs in the capital, both schools are described as 'ethnically diverse' and have intakes from some of London's most deprived areas. The Grey Coat Hospital Church of England school - the local secondary school to Number 10 - has two-thirds of pupils from 'a wide range of minority ethnic backgrounds'. Nancy and Beatrice Gove attended the same primary school in Kensington, central London and it is thought Mr Cameron has been discussing his decision with Mr Gove. Mrs Cameron - who was educated at Marlborough College - has also reportedly told friends she is keen for Nancy to have a 'normal education'. A friend told the paper: 'Her children's lives are abnormal enough. Being in a state school is a nice antidote to that. 'You get to meet normal children from normal houses whose fathers don't go off and spend the weekend with Angela Merkel.' Scroll down for video . The Prime Minister is understood to have visited The Grey Coat Hospital Church of England Comprehensive School (left), an all-girls comprehensive where Michael Gove (right) sent his daughter Beatrice . Despite its proximity to Number 10, The Grey Coat Hospital Church of England school has two-thirds of pupils from 'a wide range of minority ethnic backgrounds' In its latest Ofsted report, published in 2009, the school was rated as 'outstanding' - the top ranking given by the education watchdog. Grey Coat's intake is described as 'diverse with two thirds of students from a wide range of minority ethnic groups, of which the largest are groups with Black African or Black caribbean heritage'. It adds that 'one third of students speak a first language other than English but very few are at an early stage of learning English.' The 12-page admissions criteria describes how each of the 151 place for Year 7 students is decided upon. According to the criteria, 15 of the 151 places will be awarded to girls with an aptitude for languages; 80 to practising Church of England families and 28 to 'Churches Together' faiths. Governors allocate 25 per cent of the places to girls of above- average ability, 50 per cent to those of average ability and 25 per cent to students of below-average ability. Mr and Mrs Cameron are also considering Holland Park, one of the first comprehensives in the UK, which has up to six former who have left Britain to became Islamic jihadists in the Middle East or were linked to Islamic terrorism . The remaining 28 places will go to children with siblings at the school, and girls living in the surrounding parishes. But the school has been criticised in the past for being an 'elite' state school. After Mr Gove announced his daughter would become a pupil there, research by the Fair Admissions Campaign found 14 per cent of children are eligible for free school meals, compared with an average of 33 per cent locally. It also claimed it was in the 'top 1 per cent of the least socio-economically inclusive secondary schools in England'. Michael Gove’s daughter Beatrice won a place at Grey Coat Hospital School earlier this year, making him the first Conservative education secretary to send his child to a state secondary. George Osborne, the chancellor, removed his children from a state primary to send them to a private prep school. David Willets, the universities and science minister, also caused controversy when opted for private schools Godolphin and Latymer and St Paul’s. When Tony Blair was Prime Minister, he attracted controversy by sending his children to the Roman Catholic London Oratory school. Critics said it selected by parental interview, which favoured the professional middle classes. In addition, he and his wife, Cherie, used teachers from the independent Westminster school to give his sons Euan and Nicky extra tuition. The Prime Minister has constantly had to battle sceptics who feel his education at Eton College makes him ill-equipped to represent ordinary voters. And Mrs Cameron is the daughter of Sir Reginald Sheffield – a landowner descended from Charles II. She attended the fee-paying Marlborough College in Wiltshire, where the Duchess of Cambridge was also educated. But her time studying fine arts at the University of the West of England in Bristol apparently convinced Mrs Cameron that her children would benefit from exposure to people of different backgrounds. The move would see Mr Cameron become the first Tory Prime Minister to send his child to a state school while in Downing Street. Other options are thought to include St Marylebone School in central London and Lady Margaret School in Parsons Green, west London. Mr Cameron has now visited Holland Park School in Kensington - dubbed the 'Eton of Comprehensives' - twice, including at an open day this week. The school counts Hollywood actress Anjelica Huston and Mr Benn’s children among its alumni. With a catchment area including some of the wealthiest homes in the capital, around 60 per cent of pupils at Holland Park come from ‘a wide range of ethnic backgrounds’, according to Ofsted, and speak English as a second language. Six former pupils of the school have travelled to Syria, three of whom have been killed in fighting. One appeared on a video in the summer appealing for more recruits from the UK to join Islamic State’s ‘golden era of jihad’; one woman was found guilty in August of fundraising for terrorism and her female co-defendant, who was in the same year as her at Holland Park, was cleared of the same offence. Mr Cameron has spoken openly in the past about his plans to send his children to state schools, . During a question and answer session at the John Cabot Academy in Bristol in November 2012, Mr Cameron said: ‘I would like my children to go to state schools, that’s my intention, and I think what’s happening in the state school system is really exciting. ‘What we’re seeing is something we should have seen years ago which is the flowering of more choice, more competition, more diversity and crucially higher standards. I want my children to be part of that and I’m very heartened by what is happening.’ A Number 10 spokesman said: 'As with other parents at this time of year, the Prime Minister and Mrs Cameron are looking at various schools for their daughter to go to next September.'
### SUMMARY:
| PM reportedly toured The Grey Coat Hospital Church of England school .
School, less than a mile from Downing Street, is an all-girls comprehensive .
Michael Gove's daughter Beatrice also attends the school in Westminster .
PM also considering Holland Park, usually associated with Labour grandees .
He has previously spoken of his wish to send his children to state school .
Mr Cameron has had to battle critics over his privileged education at Eton . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
'Explosive' revelations pinning some of the blame for the Libor-fixing scandal on the Bank of England are expected when Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond gives evidence to MPs on Wednesday. Traders apparently 'mistakenly' believed the Bank was happy for them to fix the rate, following a telephone call between Mervyn King's deputy Paul Tucker and a 'senior' Barclays manager now reported to be Mr Diamond. The Bank of England has categorically denied anything to do with fiddling the rate which banks borrow money at - which in turn affects how much they charge borrowers on products including mortgages and credit cards. Scroll down for video . 'Explosive': Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond (left) could give testimony about his discussions with the Bank if England, whose deputy governor is Paul Tucker (right) The Daily Mail revealed on Saturday that rumours were swirling in Whitehall about what discussions the Bank and the Treasury had with banks about Libor. The rate acts as a crucial indicator of the health of the banking sector, and therefore the wider economy. In 2007, experts began to express concern that the rate was rising, suggesting banks were becoming wary of lending to each other. According to two separate official reports prepared on both sides of the Atlantic, a senior Barclays official and a senior figure at the Bank talked on October 29, 2008. WHAT IS LIBOR? It . stands for the London interbank offer rate and is the interest banks . charge to borrow from each other. Banks rely on this money to lend to . customers and businesses. Its equivalent in Europe is called Euribor.HOW DOES IT AFFECT ME? The . rate banks pay to raise money affects how much they charge on loans and . mortgages. An increase in Libor can add hundreds of pounds to . households’ annual mortgage repayments or a loan to a small business. This . was seen with dramatic effect in the run up to the financial crisis, . when Libor soared and lenders raised their rates. It is also used as the . benchmark for trillions of pounds in complex financial investments. Three-month sterling Libor from 2006 to 2012: The rate broadly runs in line with the UK base rate except for the crunch period in 2008 and in recent months . HOW IS IT SET? The . rate is set every morning by a panel of banks and overseen by trade . body the British Bankers’ Association. Each bank sets the rates at which . it believes it can borrow, from overnight to 12 months. There are 150 . Libor rates, spanning ten currencies and 15 time periods.WHAT HAS BARCLAYS BEEN DOING? Barclays’ traders speculating on movements in interest rates were manipulating Libor in an effort to make huge profits. Its . traders were conspiring with the ‘submitters’ at the bank which lodge . their Libor rates every morning. Depending on the way they were betting, . traders would urge these submitters to increase the Libor rate or lower . it. Barclays’ traders also . conspired with ex-employees working at other banks to try to influence . their Libor submissions. During the financial crisis Barclays also . fiddled the figures to dupe the market into thinking it was more . financially sound than it was. Libor . is often seen as a barometer of how healthy a bank is. Just as . customers with bad credit records have to pay higher interest rates, . banks which are deemed in poor financial health are charged more to . borrow. Barclays became . anxious that its Libor rate was higher than many of its peers and that . they were fiddling the figures. It decided to join the party.ARE ANY OTHER BANKS DOING THIS? It is likely this is just the tip of the iceberg. Barclays is just the first to get caught. For . the last two years a dozen regulators on three continents have been . combing through the files of more than 20 banks involved in the rate . setting process. Swiss bank . UBS is understood to have already suspended a number of traders, as has . the Royal Bank of Scotland. Lloyds, and HSBC last week said they were . helping the Financial Services Authority with its inquiries. The Bank official is alleged to have asked why Barclays’ Libor submissions were higher than those of other banks. The Financial Services Authority’s report on Barclays published on Wednesday said Mr Tucker spoke with a senior Barclays manager now known to be Mr Diamond on October 29 in a routine telephone call. In it, he made ‘no instruction for Barclays to lower its Libor submissions’. But the report added: ‘However, as the substance of the telephone conversation was relayed down the chain of command at Barclays, a misunderstanding or miscommunication occurred. ‘This meant that Barclays’ submitters believed mistakenly that they were operating under an instruction from the Bank of England (as conveyed by senior management) to reduce Barclays’ Libor submissions.’ Casting his mind back: Mr Diamond, who is facing calls to resign, is understood to have a 'different recollection' of discussions between Barclays and the Bank to that held by Mr Tucker . Submitters are the managers who give borrowing data to the British Bankers Association’s Libor-setting committees. The FSA report refers to ‘a telephone conversation between a senior individual at Barclays and the Bank of England during which the external perceptions of Barclays’ Libor submissions were discussed’. Under scrutiny: Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond (left), with Marcus Agius, who is resigning as the bank's chairman . According to the BBC’s business editor Robert Peston, no contemporaneous minute or recording of the conversation was made, but Mr Diamond and Mr Tucker ‘have different recollections of it’. US documents conclude that Mr Tucker did not give any instruction to artificially depress the interest rates. A Bank of England spokesman said: ‘It is nonsense to suggest the Bank of England was aware of any impropriety in the setting of Libor. ‘If we had been aware of attempts to manipulate Libor, we would have treated them very seriously.’ But the fact that the pair were talking about Libor at a time when Barclays was submitting false information will leave Mr Diamond, who is due to testify to Parliament on Wednesday, facing difficult questions. The conversation could also prove awkward for Mr Tucker, who is a leading candidate to succeed Sir Mervyn King as governor next year, as well as prompting questions about whether the Treasury had any similar discussions with the banks. Business Secretary Dr Cable said yesterday that the public wanted to see bankers prosecuted if they had committed criminal offences, and revealed that ministers would launch a consultation this week on criminal sanctions for directors of failed banks. ‘If there has been criminal activity people must be brought before the courts,’ he told Sky News. Dr Cable added: ‘[The public] just can’t understand why people are thrown into jail for petty theft and these guys just walk away having perpetrated what looks like a conspiracy.’ However, Lord Turner, chairman of the FSA, said Libor-fixing did not fall foul of the current law. A Bank of England spokesman confirmed that Mr Tucker was one of the parties involved. He said: ‘The call referred to in the report was one of many regular market calls made by the Bank of England, in this case by Paul Tucker.’ A Barclays spokesman declined to comment.
### SUMMARY:
| Phone call between 'Bob Diamond' and Paul Tucker is said to have led to traders 'mistakenly' believing they had Bank of England backing to fix Libor .
Barclays chief executive Mr Diamond could give 'explosive' evidence about his discussions with the Bank when he appears before MP on Wednesday . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
To those around her Eleanor Holmes was a brilliant schoolgirl and talented musician with everything to live for. But she was secretly battling inner demons – and the only clue to what was troubling her so deeply came in a haunting song she wrote about a girl’s hidden worries about her looks. Shortly after writing the song Eleanor, 15, killed herself, tormented by pressures to be thinner and prettier and to get on with all her friends. Scroll down for video . Elle Holmes, 15, took her own life after pressures to be thinner and prettier and to get on with her friends . Leigh Holmes (centre) whose teenage daughter Elle (left) died after a tragic accident has revealed that her daughter had been visiting pro-anorexia websites before her death . The lyrics of the song Mirror, Mirror . include the lines: ‘Mirror mirror don’t you see, What you show her is . deadly, You killed that little girl.’ Her family had no idea . anything was wrong and say she must have suddenly felt overwhelmed by . her worries and snapped. After her death they discovered that she had . secretly browsed sick ‘pro-ana’ websites – which promote anorexia and . bulimia – and had made herself sick after eating and had self-harmed in . the days before her death on May 26. Eleanor’s mother Leigh, 40, said . her daughter had shown ‘no sign’ of depression and was filmed laughing . in a family video hours before she died. ‘I don’t know why my loved, . brilliant, popular, talented, funny baby made that decision,’ said Mrs . Holmes, a teacher at an international school in China. ‘She left no . note. She said nothing to the little brother she adored. No word to her . boyfriend, or her close inner circle of friends. ‘There was no . long-suffering depression, or slow descent into despair. The spiral into . darkness seemed to occur over just a few short hours as her mind became . overwhelmed and she simply snapped.’ She added it was only through ‘forensically mining’ her daughter’s computer she discovered her hidden concerns. ‘Her . secret internet history revealed many of the pressures of modern life, a . desire to be skinnier, prettier, have different hair. There were secret . accounts on pro-ana websites,’ she said. Eleanor was a star student . with dreams of becoming a child psychologist. She had taken GCSEs a year . early, was captain of her school’s swimming, netball and football . teams, played three instruments and had volunteered helping orphans in . Tanzania. She wrote and performed her own songs, often accompanied on . the drums by brother Oliver, 13. Among them was Mirror, Mirror. On the . night of her death, Eleanor – who was also known as Elle – received . texts with a Gothic-style image of skulls and nooses from a friend and . sent texts asking whether another friend whom she had fallen out with . had ‘given up on her’. Mrs Holmes said: ‘Elle appears to have started . becoming distressed and began texting a friend, a blameless young . artist who also was exploring her own demons, who could not have known . the state of mind Elle was in from such short digital messages, carrying . none of the nuance or body language of a real conversation. ‘We can . only imagine what dark tunnels Elle’s mind took her down from there . onwards, but roughly two hours later, my wonderful baby died – leaving . me heartbroken.’ Elle loved to sing and recorded a track called Mirror Mirorr which the family hopes will become a world wide hit . Elle Holmes, from Bootle, Merseyside, had also been self-harming, covering her injuries with chunky accessories, her mother revealed. She was in Beijing at the time of her death . Before she died in May, Elle recorded a song that Ms Holmes now wants to share to bring hope to other youngsters struggling across the world and raise funds for teens in crisis . Mrs Holmes added: ‘Elle was a dream child: funny, . mischievous, caring about her family, committed and openly loving to her . mum and her little brother. But, clearly, she did have hidden demons. ‘If this could happen to my kid, it could happen to anyone.’ The . family live in China because Mrs Holmes works at the British School of . Beijing but are originally from Bootle, Liverpool. A Chinese inquest . found the cause of death to be asphyxiation. Mrs Holmes is now in . talks with singer Anita Prime from New Zealand to record a version of . Mirror, Mirror to help support girls struggling with their body image. The record will raise money for teenage mental health charity Papyrus. To donate in Eleanor’s memory visit: www.elleaholmes.com. Family . friend Sheree Brown wrote a blog warning parents of the dangers of . technology, especially in teenagers’ rooms at night. She said: ‘Mobile . devices and the such allow too much into what should be their “safe . place”.’ ■For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457909090, visit a local Samaritans branch or go to www.samaritans.org. ■For support and advice on battling eating disorders, contact b-eat: For the Adult Helpline, call 0845 634 1414. For the Youthline, please call 0845 634 7650. There is also a Youthline email service at [email protected] . She’s just your average girlLost in her own fantasy worldNo one gets in, no one gets outShe looks out her bedroom windowAnd watches the butterflies fly awayDreaming of happiness and blissBut what she doesn’t knowShe’s fighting a losing battleWhat she doesn’t know is she’s her own enemyMirror mirror on the wallShe ain’t the fairest of them allBut what you’re showing her has left her coldMirror mirror don’t you seeWhat you show her is deadlyYou killed that little girlTragic and beautifulYet it’s all just hidden from herUnder a mask, a voice, lightsShe turns her monsters into painIn the hope it would all go awayNow she’s trapped, lost, aloneNow she’s realisedHer battle is a war one sidedNow she’s realised that she’s her own enemyMirror mirror on the wallShe ain’t the fairest of them allBut what you’re showing herHasn’t left her coldMirror mirror don’t you seeWhat you show her is deadlyYou’ve killed that little girlShe reaches for the helping handYet she fears that she’ll soon slip backBut she’s got no other choicesHer mind, it binds with another, and the voice it’s goneforeverFinally happy, finally freeMirror mirror on the wall, she is the fairest of them allAnd hopefully soon she’ll see it tooMirror mirror she now seesThe beauty and power that is sheThat little girl is running back towards herMirror mirror on the wallShe is the fairest of them allAnd hopefully soon (hopefully soon) she’ll see it (she’llsee it too)Mirror mirror we all seeThe beauty and power that is sheShe’s just another tragic beautyMy beautiful tragedy .
### SUMMARY:
| Elle Holmes had been battling 'hidden demons' and visited 'pro ana' sites .
The controversial sites encourage eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia .
Her mother Leigh Holmes is trying to release a song Elle wrote before death .
The 15-year-old was in Beijing at the time of death where inquest was held . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A motorcyclist recorded the terrifying moment he veered off Britain's most dangerous road and tumbled down a 40-foot cliff - before escaping with only minor injuries. Jack Sanderson, 21, was riding his 600cc Kawasaki Ninja along a notorious stretch of the Cat and Fiddle road in the Derbyshire Peak District when it slewed out of control and veered off the road. A camera fitted to his helmet captured Mr Sanderson's view as he was thrown off his machine and repeatedly somersaulted down the hill. Scroll down for video . Jack Sanderson was filming his ride through the Derbyshire Peak District when the accident happened . The video shows him riding through winding country roads before narrowly missing a car and plunging over the edge . Anyone watching the film would fear the worst but, after the tumble, the amazing footage shows Mr Sanderson getting to his feet, dusting himself down and clambering back up the hill to greet concerned onlookers who had stopped to help. He cheated death with just mild concussion and a cut hand - caused when he grabbed some barbed wire as he walked to safety. The motorbike, which stopped at the top of the ridge, was written off and is being sold off for parts. Now Jack’s brush with death has become an internet sensation after he posted the video of the 60 mph near-miss on You Tube, where it has gathered more than 100,000 views. Mr Sanderson, an engineer from Knutsford, Cheshire, said: 'I can’t believe I walked out of that, not even with a broken bone. 'When I went over the ridge I was like helicopter spinning. I thought, this is it. I’m a gonner. After rounding a bend, Mr Sanderson's bike veers onto the wrong side of the road into the path of an oncoming car . Faced with a choice of hitting the car head-on or crashing over the edge, he steers off the road and towards the steep hill below . Sky and trees then swirl in the footage as Mr Sanderson tumbles down the 40-foot hill . The video shows the horrific moment Mr Sanderson spins down the hill, smashing through bushes and undergrowth . The camera finally comes to a rest in some long grass at the bottom of the hill after the fall . Mr Sanderson said the world went 'black and white' as he fell down the hill and time appeared to slow down . He said drivers and other bikers at the scene couldn't believe it when they saw him get up after the 40-ft fall . 'My bike stayed at the top of the ridge and I continued down. If my bike had followed me and crushed me, I would not be standing here today.' Mr Sanderson was was enjoying a Saturday ride when he under-steered on a corner and careered into the path of an oncoming Honda car. He added: 'I was going round the corner and I was going wider and wider and wider. When I saw the first bit of the car I knew I was in trouble. 'I chose to go off the cliff, rather than hit the car - it was the best thing I could do. I thought that was me dead. 'I opened my eyes at the bottom of the hill and everything was black and white. 'It was either hit them and possibly kill them or swerve off the ridge possibly killing myself. It is amazing how much time you actually have in those situations, or how slow time goes by.' Motorbike enthusiast Mr Sanderson said he 'thought he was a gonner' when he went over the edge . He went to hospital after the incident but only sustained mild concussion and a cut on his hand from some barbed wire . The couple in the silver Honda pulled over at the side of the ridge to check on Mr Sanderson only to be left stunned when he clambered up the cliff and said: 'I’m ok.' Mr Sanderson added: 'They were so gobsmacked to see me standing there, they could not believe it. ‘By the time they had got back to where it happened I popped back over the ridge. 'They were obviously very worried indeed. I did apologise to them as that must have been a dreadful ordeal for them. I suppose I felt somewhat invincible because I didn’t even have a broken bone and I walked away.' Mr Sanderson went to hospital the day after the incident last month and apart from some mild concussion and a cut on his hand from some barbed wire he unhurt and sent home the next day. Mr Sanderson hopes others will learn from his mistake. He said: 'I put it on You Tube as a kind of deterrent to others not to be as stupid as I was. 'I always have a Go-Pro camera on my head, it’s just for fun normally - but also there if anything more serious happens like this. 'For some reason I always go wide on that corner and I did it again and it nearly cost me my life. The Cat and Fiddle Road is one of the most dangerous roads in the country, mainly for bikers.' Mr Sanderson has put the video online as a warning to other motorcyclists to take care . He wants others to learn from his horrific experience in an area known for fatal motorcycle crashes . More than 100,000 people have seen his shocking video since he posted it online . He thinks that if his bike had not stayed at the roadside it could have landed on top of him and crushed him . The Cat and Fiddle road in Derbyshire has been branded Britain's most dangerous after a series of fatal accidents, many involving motorcyclists . 'It’s worth putting the video up on You Tube - even with the negative comments, if it stops others making the same mistake as me. 'It’s amazing how many people have seen the video. I put it on there as a warning to others as much as anything. I’m a good rider and we often think we are better than we are. If you are going to be stupid things like this will happen.' The A537 Cat and Fiddle Road between Macclesfield, Cheshire, and Buxton, Derbyshire has been repeatedly been branded Britain’s most dangerous due its severe bends and steep drops. The Road Safety Foundation charity report compared accident rates with the amount of traffic using the road and also found many of the crashes involved motorcyclists. The reports began in 2002 and since then the A537 has been top in eight out of 12 reports. There were 44 serious or fatal crashes on the seven-mile stretch of road between 2007 and 2011. Between 2002 and 2006, there were 35. Road safety experts have said the route’s 'grim reputation' is also part of the problem with bikers and motorists seeing it as a 'challenge.' Motorcycle friendly crash barriers have also been installed on one of the worst affected parts of the route. But Buxton mechanic Gary Ward, who recovers many of the vehicles after accidents on the road, said: 'Many of the crashes involve motorcyclists going too fast.' 'They often end up going down grass banking or hitting a wall - sometimes people do get away with scratches and bruises but most the time they are seriously injured. If they are going over 50mph it can be pretty bad for a biker.'
### SUMMARY:
| Jack Sanderson was riding in the Peak District when the accident happened .
He lost control on a bend and, after missing a car, tumbled over the edge .
Footage shows the 21-year-old somersaulting down the 40-foot drop .
But, incredibly, he survives almost unharmed and walks back up the hill .
The video was shot on a helmet camera which he uses to record his rides .
He admitted that, when he went over the edge, he thought he 'was a gonner' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Letters show how 'shaky' Hitler's hold on power was at times and how . unpopular the Second World War became among the German masses . Letters written by ordinary Germans to Adolf Hitler during the dark days of Nazi Germany have been discovered in a Russian archive. The fascinating correspondence, which will surprise many with their critical tone, begins in 1924 and goes right through to the Fuhrer’s last days as he cowered in a Berlin bunker in 1945. The documents, which were found in a Russian archive, have now been translated into English and reveal a side of the Nazis that is rarely considered. Support: Gustav Jaindl of Vienna wrote this letter to Hitler thanking him for the integration of Austria into the greater German Reich. His letter is among those recently found in a Russian archive and which are now published in a new book . Fan mail: A decorative telegram to Hitler declaring 'loyalty and love' sent in 1937 from a Dr Otto Hellmuth . Tribute: Erwin Walther composed the 'Heil Hitler, Heil' march for his beloved Fuhrer . They show how the popularity of Hitler's National Socialists party was carefully managed as support grew among the German population - and beyond. But, more surprisingly, the letters . also show how 'shaky' Hitler’s hold on power was at times and how . unpopular the Second World War became among the masses. His office even received, and replied to, letters from Jews complaining about his party's increasingly anti-Semitic stance. Chillingly, the British editor of a . book publishing the correspondence, Letter To Hitler, claims the . collection shows how a similarly totalitarian regime could emerge today. Dr Victoria Harris said: 'Some letters from people who idolise . him are totally fawning, but you get the impression from the others . that he could easily lose his approval. 'The biggest lesson I learned was how shaky his popularity was and how the regime had to work hard to maintain popularity. 'What is chilling is that you can see how he built his support and how you could see it happening elsewhere.' Lotte Kaiser wrote this Mothers' Day card for Hitler. 'Unutterably great thanks to Adolf's parents for giving birth to Our Fuhrer', she gushed . Young admirers: Susi and Daisy from the Sudetenland thank Hitler for having 'freed us and brought us into your beautiful Reich' Document: An eulogy from the Basalt works of Radebeule in praise of the Fuhrer . The Nazis carefully filed all the letters that their leader received, copied the replies and filed those as well. The letters grew in number through . the 1930s as the Nazi party became more powerful, and include thousands . wishing Hitler a happy birthday. The correspondence includes letters . from Jews unhappy with his policies, and from others pointing out to . Hitler what he ought to be doing. From Mrs von Ponief in 1930 . As early as 1925 the direction of the National Socialist party was being questioned, especially its lack of religious revival. Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess responded . to one such enquiry by stating that religious revival was not among the . goals of the Nazi Party. Hess replied to another correspondent in 1925 who asked whether Hitler drank. The reply was: 'Mr Hitler does not . drink alcohol, except perhaps a few drops on very exceptional occasions. He does not smoke at all.' Support for anti-Semitic policies was received from a Mrs von Ponief in 1930. She wrote: 'In order to do completely . Jew-free work, we must require our members to agree not to buy from . Jews, in this way we can gradually succeed in driving Jews out of . retailing and thus put the middle-class back in the saddle.' International appeal: A bizarre book from the Austrians of Argentina declaring their approval of Hitler . Frankfurt mayor Freidrich Krebs sent his best to Hitler for the New Year in the form of a medieval manuscript . Awed: Lottie H wrote a poem to Hitler worrying that he worked too hard . The letters also show how well . Hitler’s book Mein Kampf was doing, and in 1932 his publisher wrote to . him: 'Between the beginning of this year and 21 May we have been able to . sell a total of 29,385 copies of your work. Therefore we are crediting . you with a payment of 21,157.20 marks...' Another writer wanted permission to market 'Hitler Cigarettes', but the offer was declined. One letter from a Jew showed how integrated into German society they were and how the discrimination surprised them. Heinrich Herz wrote: 'But what I . cannot say I am satisfied with is the one-sided treatment of thousands . of my co-religionists, whose feeling and thinking are just as German as . mine. 'How much I should like to help build up my beloved Fatherland, if only an opportunity to do so were offered me.' In 1934, as Hitler built up a head of . steam, the fawning letters grew in number and included this from . Stanislaus Jaros, who wrote: 'I am prepared, like my father, even to . sacrifice my life, when Germany is involved and you, my Leader, call.' As war approached, correspondents . kept asking for peace. In 1938, Josef and Elli Jablonski wrote: 'It . makes us happy and glad to know that peace exists and will remain.' Treasure trove: The box in the Russian archives that contained the Hitler correspondence . The correspondence has been gathered in new book Letters To Hitler . As the Second World War headed to its . conclusion many wrote to Hitler with ideas for new weapons, but the . letters asking for autographs and showing declarations of support fell . to zero. But some remained faithful unto the . end, like Justizrat W von Zezschwitz, who wrote: 'But it may be granted . to your prudent, temporising leadership, as we all confidently hope it . will, at the right moment, with fullest health, to put a compelling halt . to the enemy who has penetrated so far into German lands in the East . and the West.' Dr Harrissaid: 'Through . the 1930s the letters grow in number and Hitler received many before . the elections in 1933. And he got thousands on his birthday. 'The high point was in 1938 and then the numbers of letters dropped off quite suddenly when the war started in 1939. 'In the 1930s, the letters show veneration and excitement but also strongly-worded criticism. 'People wrote to complain about . specific aspects of his policies. In 1934, he received a letter from a . Jew who was not practising, but still had the confidence to write. 'Surprisingly those who complained . often received feedback and it is clear that the regime realised the . importance of popularity. 'Hitler said that popularity was the . most important aspect of authority and by replying to the letters the . regime was giving the illusion of paying attention. 'And the longer the war went on the more they needed to enhance their popularity. 'It is also clear what a strategic . error it was to start the war because the people saw Hitler as someone . to bring peace and they didn’t want to go to war. 'And they did feel able to write to . Hitler about it and the letters were carefully filed away and copies of . replies that were sent were filed alongside the letters. 'There is even one objecting to a relative being sent to Auschwitz.'
### SUMMARY:
| Correspondence includes adulatory and critical letters from 1924 to 1945 .
Letters were found in Russian archive .
They have now been translated into English and published in a new book .
Letters show how 'shaky' Hitler's hold on power was at times and how .
unpopular the Second World War became among the German masses . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The Duchess of Cornwall shone in a floor-length evening gown last night and today the duchesses, queens and princesses of Europe dressed to impress too at the inauguration of King Willem. The new Queen Maxima looked sensational, and very regal, in a dramatic electric blue gown with matching shawl and sash, her hair in an elegant up-do and with a stunning crown placed atop her head. Camilla, too, chose blue for the grand occasion but her icy Bruce Oldfield gown was more pared down than many of the other bold and glamorous looks on display in Amsterdam. Dresses in bright colours such as coral and hot pink, tomato red, lilac and forest green sashayed in to the Nieuwe Kerk church like royal jewels. After Queen Maxima the Dutch princesses came out on top with the most eye-catching gowns of the day. Princess Annette opted for a structured body-con style monochrome fishtail dress somewhat reminiscent of a dress Beyoncé wore to the Met Ball in 2011 while her husband Prince Bernhard looked equally fashionable, if a little informal, working a light stubble, messy hair and thick-rimmed glasses. Dutch princess Laurentien stepped out in a fitted peep-hole number accessorised with matching netted hat and silk shawl. Dutch King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima arrive to attend a religious ceremony at the Nieuwe Kerk church in Amsterdam . Queen Maxima looked sensational in a dramatic electric blue gown with matching shawl and sash, her hair in an elegant up-do with a stunning crown placed atop . Dutch Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette arrive at Nieuwe Kerk church (left) and (right) Dutch Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien . Princess Mathilde and Prince Philippe of Belgium depart the Nieuwe Kerk (left) and (right) Prince Maurits of the Netherlands and Marie-Hélène Angela van den Broek . Princess Mathilde of Belgium and Marie-Helene Angela van der Broek of Orange-Nassau stepped out in shades of pink. While princess Mathilde went for a sugary coral pink in simple fabric and cut, Marie-Hélène opted for a hot fuchsia in heavy lace. Her dress was still fitted and she topped her outfit off with a matching pill box hat and small clutch bag. Her peep-toe shoes also matched in colour perfectly. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden opted for nude - the colour being the safest thing about her outfit. She looked sensational in a thigh-split fitted frock and large matching hat. She added matching stiletto platform shoes and a clutch bag. Her husband Prince Daniel look understatedly chic with his thick rimmed glasses and slicked back hair, paired off nicely with a crisp bow tie and shiny shoes. Princess Sophie of Bavaria went for a bright mint number with matching headband and shawl. Her black clutch bag stood out in contrast along with her red sash. Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia (c) Princess Alexia (l) and Princess Ariane with guests arrive to attend the inauguration . Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden (left) and (right) Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and Princess Sophie of Bavaria . Crown Prince Billah and Crown Princess Sarah of Brunei (left) and (right) Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan . The Duchess of Cornwall looked royally stylish in an ice blue frock . The Duchess has earned plaudits for her regal style during the visit and was yesterday wearing an ice blue gown by designer Bruce Oldfield and matching feathered headdress by Philip Treacy that was an exact replica of the one she wore on her wedding day. While it is not unusual to see royal males wearing a cabinet-full of medals, Camilla was also sporting a vast array of regalia. On her left shoulder was her Family Order, a portrait of the Queen as a young woman set in diamonds and suspended from a ribbon. The brooch used to pin her sash to her shoulder is a piece of her personal . jewellery while her pearl and diamond choker is a Parker Bowles family . heirloom. George IV started the formal practice of presenting Family Orders and the practice has been continued by his successors. Each sovereign commissions a unique portrait of themselves which is suspended on a different coloured ribbon - George V used white, George VI favoured rose pink while the Queen's is chartreuse yellow. The Orders are now worn on formal occasions by female members of the Royal Family only, although more than one Order can be worn at the same time. For example, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother wore the Orders of both The Queen and George VI. Camilla’s royal blue sash with a cross suspended from it and the bejewelled star pinned on her waist are all part of the insignia of a Grand Dame Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. The Queen awarded her daughter-in-law her highest personal honour last year to mark her seventh wedding anniversary to Prince Charles. The Order was founded in April 1896 by Queen Victoria and honours are in the Queen's personal gift, independent of Downing Street. They are given by the head of state to people who have served her or the monarchy in a personal way. As a Grand Dame Cross Camilla boasts the letters GCVO after her name (as do several other senior female royals including Princess Anne, the Countess of Wessex and the Duchess of Gloucester). Announcing the news last year palace sources told the Mail that the award recognised the Duchess's hard work as a member of the monarchy. At a time when most women her age would be looking forward to a slower pace of life, she now carries out hundreds of royal engagements each year.Camilla has also taken on a wide range of patronages and travelled extensively overseas with the prince on official visits. Of course Charles was no slack in the style stakes today either, wearing the Admiral of the Fleet Full Ceremonial Uniform with sword, medals and the Cross of the Order of the Crown (the Cross of the Order of the Crown is awarded by the Dutch Sovereign for service to the Dutch Royal Household). In the boldest frock of all, Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco arrived at Nieuwe Kerk church in a dramatic forest green silk and velvet dress and super high gold heels. The raven royal wore her hair half up half down allowing her curls to cascade down her back. Her attention commanding choice of outfit was somewhat Medieval in style with heavy embroidery and plenty of gold accents. Spain's Princess Letizia and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway went for delicate dove grey dresses with matching hats. Their flapper influence was clear through Letizia's sheer beaded top and Mette-Marit's beaded head piece. Our very own Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall of Britain (left) and (right) Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark . Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco arrives at Nieuwe Kerk church in a dramatic forest green dress and super high gold heels . Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan (left) and (right) Dutch Princess Christina and her son Bernardo . Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia (left) and (right) Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway .
### SUMMARY:
| Royals battled it out in the fashion stakes at the inauguration for King Willem-Alexander .
Dutch princesses gave others a run for their money in hot red and fitted fishtail dresses - with stylish husbands .
Queen Maxima stole the show in an electric blue gown and cape .
The Duchess of Cornwall looked elegant in an understated blue gown by Bruce Oldfield and Philip Treacy headpiece . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Britain's ageing House of Lords has just two peers under the age of 40, but 29 members who have turned 90, new analysis reveals. Amid fresh debate over whether peers should be axed in favour of an elected chamber, new figures show more than half of its members are over 70. Lib Dem peer Lord Tyler, who is 73, said it was proof Parliament is being used as 'London's best day centre for the elderly' with 'mediocre' people clocking in for £300-a-day, tax free. Scroll down for video . There are just two peers in their thirties, but 29 or are 90 years old or older, new analysis shows . Campaigners argue the need for reform has grown as political parties have packed it with more and more members. The average age for men in the UK is 38 and women 40, according to the 2011 Census. But the average age in the House of Lords is well over 70. It means that half the population is aged under 40, and not represented in the upper house of Parliament. Just 16 per cent of people in the UK is aged over 65, but more than half of the Lords are over 70. The figures were compiled by Lord Tyler, a former Lib Dem MP and supporter for Lords reform. Writing for MailOnline, he warned: 'The Lords gets bigger, staler and less legitimate with each passing day.' While some peers worked hard to improve the nation's law-making, 'there are also quite a lot of mediocre people picking up £300 a day (tax-free!) just for turning up and shuffling off,' he claimed. 'No amount of flummery about what 'noble' Lords they are makes up for it and for a century liberals have been attempting to stop the rot.' The oldest peer is former Labour Chancellor Lord Healey (97) and the youngest is David Cameron's Big Society tsar Lord Wei (37) Businesswoman and Apprentice star Karren Brady, aged 45, joined the House of Lords as a Tory peer this month . Labour leader Ed Miliband this month unveiled his own plans to abolish the upper chamber and replace it with an elected senate. He said that he wants to ensure the new body properly represents all the towns, cities, regions and nations that make up the United Kingdom. But the plans drew an angry response from the Liberal Democrats who bitterly accused Labour of joining with Conservative MPs to wreck their plans to reform the Lords two years ago. The Lib Dems argue the coalition committed to Lords reform when it was formed in 2010, but the Tories failed to deliver. According to the figures, there are no peers in their twenties and just two in their thirties. The youngest peer is Conservative Lord Wei, 37, a former adviser to David Cameron who championed the Big Society. The oldest is Lord Healey, the former Labour Chancellor and deputy leader, who turned 97 in August. Labour leader Ed Miliband this month called for reform of the Lords, but is accused of blocking a previous attempt to replace it with an elected senate . The largest group are the peers in their seventies, numbering 290 in total, followed by the sixty-somethings (249) and those in their eighties (136). Labour has said that it would summon a constitutional convention early in the next parliament to consider how an elected senate would be established - including whether it could have specific regional representation functions. Each region of England, as well as the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, would hold meetings before the convention where people would be asked for views on the functions of the new body, as well as the most appropriate form of election. But Lord Tyler accused Mr Miliband of forgetting that 'it was he who played party games with right-wing Tory MPs to torpedo' plans for reform. 'Without his shameless, spineless partisanship in 2012, British citizens would be preparing to choose the first elected members of the Lords in just seven months' time,' Lord Tyler added. Lib Dem peer Lord Tyler warned that the Lords gets bigger, staler and less legitimate with each passing day . Statisticians have discovered one sliver of society in which octogenarians substantially outnumber those in their forties. It's one half of Parliament and London's best day centre for the elderly – the House of Lords. An appointment to the Lords is a job-for-life given disproportionately to those who live long and well. The result: the average age remains stubbornly over 70. Even with 183 new appointments since 2010, and a stonking 408 under Brown and Blair, there are only 32 members of the Lords under fifty, but still 165 over eighty. 29 of them are in their nineties while only two are a day under forty! Plenty of peers seriously decide whether or not to challenge the government in close votes based on whether doing so will affect their plans for dinner. Of course there are a lot good people working very hard: I know many of them. But there are also quite a lot of mediocre people picking up £300 a day (tax-free!) just for turning up and shuffling off. No amount of flummery about what 'noble' Lords they are makes up for it and for a century liberals have been attempting to stop the rot. Yet Ed Miliband burst out of his paper bag last week to discover the urgency of reform as though he stood at the very beginning of history, with nothing behind him. He wants the Lords to be 'truly a Senate of the Regions and Nations of our whole country.' What a good idea! The Coalition Cabinet proposed exactly that in a Government Bill just two years ago. Ed seems to have forgotten that it was HE who played party games with right-wing Tory MPs to torpedo it. No more able to lead his party than a rat could herd cats, he decided to take a cheap shot at Nick Clegg – the one thing Labour MPs all agree they like doing. Knowing he would sink the best chance of democracy for decades, Ed piously claimed to support reform 'in principle' but refused outright to back ANY timetable motion to get it through the Commons. Without his shameless, spineless partisanship in 2012, British citizens would be preparing to choose the first elected members of the Lords in just seven months' time. Why should anyone believe he is serious now? Labour promised democracy for the Lords again and again in their manifestos in 1997, 2001 and 2005. With big red Labour single-party majorities of 179, 167 and 66 – over thirteen long years – all they produced was bookshelves full of committee and commission reports. Miliband could list his manifold failings in the dust they all gathered. The record is clear. The Lords gets bigger, staler and less legitimate with each passing day. Yet when it comes to the crunch, Labour leaders always choose their right to plonk pensionable donors and trade unionists into Parliament over the right of the people to choose their legislators. Miliband has already shown that for him, as for his predecessors, patronage trumps principle. Given half a chance, he will again. Paul Tyler is Liberal Democrat Constitutional Affairs Spokesman in the Lords .
### SUMMARY:
| More than half of members of the House of Lords are over 70, figures show .
The average age for men in the UK as a whole is 38 and for women is 40 .
Analysis shows just two peers are under 40, but 29 are aged 90 or over .
Lib Dem Lord Tyler says it gets 'bigger, staler, less legitimate' by the day . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Krokodil Victim? Justin McGee died in November last year and now authorities in Oklahoma suspect that he may have perished as a result of his use of krokodil . Worried authorities are working to determine if the flesh eating drug krokodil has claimed its first victims in America, after the gruesome death of an Oklahoma father-of-four and his friend. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics suspects that Justin McGee, 33, died as a result of complications from his use of the potent new drug that eats the body from inside out. Both McGee and his unidentified friend had such horrific skin damage that they were treated in the hospital burns unit their deaths said Dr. William Banner, director of the Oklahoma Poison Control Center. If it is confirmed that McGree perished using the terrifying new drug, which is responsible for thousands of deaths in Russia and is made from codeine and gasoline, it will represent a serious escalation for the spread of krokodil which is being dubbed the 'poor man's meth'. 'We were reluctant to publish it,' Dr. Banner tells The Verge. 'But now that it’s out there, we really want the message to be, ‘This is an end game move. This is going to kill you.’ McGee was admitted to hospital in Oklahoma City in November and died of a heart attack, but his autopsy results revealed evidence of krokodil use - including the tell-tale symtom of missing and rotting scaly, reptilian-like skin - hence its name. 'His skin was missing,' said McGee's friend Chelle Fancher to Koco.Com. Watched a friend die: Chelle Fancher said the drug killed her best friend, Justin McGee . 'The doctors say it ate him from the inside out. It wasn't until the next day that they told us that is was krokodil meth. 'Everything that touched him took his skin off.' Initially, McGee's condition was a mystery to doctors who airlifted him from his hometown of Duncan to a larger hospital in Oklahoma City. 'They said, ‘Chunks of his skin are falling off and they can’t get an IV in,' said his sister-in-law Lesia McGee to The Verge. Krokodil, which is similar to heroin and originated in Russia 10 years ago, turns users into zombies and the homemade concoction can be up to 10 times cheaper than heroin and is created by mixing codeine with gasoline or oil. The drug is made of readily available ingredients such as codeine, iodine and toxins such as gasoline, industrial cleaning oil, lighter fluid and paint thinner. Users filter and boil ingredients together, then inject the drug. The results are catastrophic. Spreading: There have now been at least eight cases of the skin-rotting Russian drug krokodil reported in the US, according to medical professionals and at least two resulted in death . The autopsy on McGee showed he was positive for desomorphine, the active ingredient in codeine, but doctors also found morphine, methamphetamine, and amphetamine. However, at his funeral, McGee's friends, one who has since also died because of suspected krokodile use, told Lesia that they were indeed using krokodil after finding the recipe online. 'It’s manufactured very similar to methamphetamine and that's where some people may call it krokodil meth, but what it is, it’s an opiate similar to heroin,' said Mark Woodward of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN). The OBN has been looking into the drug since Quincy’s death last November. 'It’s possible right now that we have two deaths, and those could be just two that we are aware of,' Woodward said. Officials with the OBN confirmed both of those victims were men from Duncan, Oklahoma. Fancher said the two men were friends. She said Quincy was a father of four young children. 'Their dad is gone because someone chose to make an evil drug,' Fancher said. 'I was there when he took his last breath. No family member should ever go through what we saw him go through.' This Russian man is suffering the side-effects of Krokodil use. Doctors say there are users of the drug in Chicago just weeks after first known cases in U.S. were reported in Arizona . Gaping wounds: This heavily blurred image shows the effects of krokodil on users leaving skin rotting hanging off their body . Continual use of krokodil, Russian for crocodile, causes blood vessels to burst, leaving skin green and scaly and eventually causing gangrene. In Russia around 30,000 people die from the affects of the drug every year. It is thought abouta quarter of a million people in the country are now hooked on the poison. Despite this, Dr. Banner told The Verge he believes the drug to be 'self-limiting' - addicts will likely die within two years, not spread the drug and warned against any scare-mongering of an epidemic. 'This is a poor man's drug,' said Dr. Banner. 'It is kind of the end of the road. They run out of money, they’re horribly addicted. They cook it, inject it, get high, wake up and want more.' While the Drug Enforcement Administration is not confirming any cases of deaths of usage of the drug, they have admitted they are aware of investigations in Oklahoma, Arizona, Utah and Illinois. And in another sign the drug is spreading across the nation, following reports of krokodil abuse in both Arizona and Chicago, Illinois, the drug is now believed to have hit New York. A source has claimed that the drug is being sold in at least two nightclubs in New York City’s hip Meatpacking District. Krokodil fears: Unconfirmed reports suggest that the drug has spread to New York City after previously being reported in Illinois and Arizona . The Verge reports that Sal Ramirez, who witnessed the effects of krokodil while serving in the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan, saw a man being throw out of Le Bain for selling the drug, and was approached by a deal at Westway, who reportedly tried to sell him krokodil and clean syringes in the bathroom. The announcement comes after a worrying wave of some victims injecting themselves with krokodil because they think it is heroin, doctors said. The first instances of its use in the U.S. were recorded in Arizona last month. It is already widely used in Russia. Three cases have now been reported in Chicago and doctors say two of the women did not even know they had been sold the drug. The victims were all aged between 18 and 25 and come from middle-class backgrounds. Pictures and videos of users in Russia show blackened fingertips, large open wounds, and even exposed bone where skin has fallen off. Prolonged or even short-term use can damage blood vessels, muscle, cartilage, and bone, and amputation is frequently the only way to save a patient’s life. Doctors have warned of the horrifying side effects of the homemade drug, which is said to give a more powerful high than heroin. The flesh rotting that is specific to the drug occurs directly at the injection site, often leaving users with wounds to their feet or arms.
### SUMMARY:
| Justin McGee of Duncan, Oklahoma died in agony in November after a suspected case of krokodil overdose .
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics is trying to determine if 'Krokodil' was involved in the deaths of McGee, a father of four, and an unidentified friend .
Suspected krokodil use has been noted from Utah to Illinois and attempts to sell it in Manhattan have also been reported . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
She has been hailed as a worldwide fashion icon with millions of women rushing out to emulate her style every day. And now it seems that even her husband William is taking style tips from his fashion-forward wife after he stepped out wearing a matching pair of trainers to hers. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were out in force today to support the Paralympic Games- of which they are both ambassadors- wearing the Team GB Adidas Supernova Glide 4 Running Trainers. The vivid red/metallic silver trainers are available for £87.11 and Kate was the first of the young Royals to get her hands on a pair over the Olympics a few weeks ago. His and hers: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge look like the perfect sporty couple as they leave the Velodrome in matching red trainers (Kate was the first to get her hands on the red Adidas Supernova Glide 4 Running Trainers) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cheered as they watched British gold medal favourite Sarah Storey break a world record in the individual pursuit at the packed Stratford venue . The young Royals have been an integral part of cheering on Team GB's Olympic teams and they got into the spirit with a Mexican wave today . Prince William and Kate wore patriotic outfits with Kate opting for a red version of her husband's blue shirt as they watched the event . The Duchess of Cambridge cheered on the competitors at the velodrome and was joined by Deputy Chairman of British Rowing Annamarie Phelps, her husband Prince William and Lady Louise Windsor . Their biggest fan: Kate later got into the spirit of things as she took in the swimming action at the Aquatics Centre . Hiding: The Duchess of Cambridge hid behind a piece of paper as she watched Team GB's Jonathan Fox in action alongside Tim Hollingsworth, Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association . New friends: Kate was later seen laughing and smiling with two members of the public as they cheered on Team GB's Paralympians . Kate and William cheered on Team GB at . both the cycling and goalball and looked like the idyllic sporty couple . in their matching patriotic Team GB polo shirts. Despite a late night at the . spectacular Paralympic Opening Ceremony the couple looked fresh-faced as they cheered on competitors at the . velodrome for the cycling event on day one of the Paralympic Games. The . two cheered as they watched British gold medal favourite Sarah Storey . break a world record in the individual pursuit at the packed Stratford . venue - before joining the Duchess of Wessex and her daughter Lady . Louise Windsor in a slow motion Mexican Wave, much to the delight of the . noisy 6,000-strong audience. In contrast, the Cambridges had earlier visited the Copper Box venue to watch goalball - parts of which are played in silence. At the velodrome, Kate and William were joined by the Deputy Chairman of British Rowing, Annamarie Phelps, Lady Louise Windsor and Sophie, Countess of Wessex as they took their seats in the stands and cheered on the cyclists. She and William both showed their . support with patriotic outfits, Kate opted for a red Team GB polo neck, . whilst her husband went for blue. She paired the polo with a casual pair of navy jeans and wore her hair in her trademark curled look. The couple seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the first of the events they are set to attend over the next 11 days as they studied the programmes and chatted with their fellow onlookers. Kate displayed her close relationship with the Queen's granddaughter, Lady Louise Windsor as she leaned in to talk to the young Royal during the event. Kate, William and Harry, all of whom are official . Paralympics GB ambassadors, will watch three days of sport over the 11 days but are . expected to miss the closing ceremony. In front of the Duke and Duchess of . Cambridge, Storey clocked three minutes 32.170 seconds to advance to the . gold medal ride-off of the three-kilometre event, with compatriot . Crystal Lane progressing to the race for bronze by qualifying fourth in . 3mins 59.220secs. Storey . has won seven Paralympic titles since making her debut in Barcelona as a . swimmer in 1992 and is aiming to add to her collection in London. It was the 34-year-old sixth Paralympic Games, and looks set to be her most successful yet. Manchester girl Sarah was born without a functioning left hand after her arm became entangled in the umbilical cord in the womb. Sarah Storey of Great Britain rode to success in the Women's Individual C5 Pursuit qualification round on day 1 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Velodrome where she was cheered on by the Royals . The Royal couple, who are both ambassadors of the Paralympic Games, studied their programmes and chatted away during the event. Kate also paid particular attention to Lady Louise Windsor and leaned in for an intimate chat with the young Royal . Despite a late night at the Paralympic Opening Ceremony last night, Kate and William looked in high spirits as they laughed together in matching patriotic outfits . Prince William, Kate, Lady Louise Windsor and Sophie, Countess of Wessex look on on day one of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Velodrome . Paralympian cyclist Sarah Storey who was born without a left hand rode to success today. It is her sixth Paralympic Games and looks set to be her most successful yet . At the Olympics, all three were . ‘parachuted’ into the most sought-after events, sometimes just minutes . before the British team or athletes won their gold medals, before moving . on to the next big event of the day. A Palace spokesman blamed the royals’ work commitments and said that William and Kate would also be busy . preparing for their tour of the Far East and the Pacific, which departs . on Monday, September 10, the day after the closing ceremony. While William is at work as an RAF search and rescue pilot, the Duchess will also watch swimming and athletics. Prince . Harry will attend the swimming next Monday, before visiting Paralympics . GB House. He will be the only one of the three to visit the official . headquarters of the Paralympic Games, compared to visits by all three . during the Olympics. Last night, Kate dazzled at the Opening Ceremony as she joined Queen . Elizabeth, Prince Edward, his wife Sophie the . Countess of Wessex and Prince William as well as David and Samantha Cameron. Kate . looked elegant in a recycled coat dress by DAY Birger et Mikkelsen . featuring gold embroidery, which she teamed with her favourite nude £185 . LK Bennett heels and a sparkling clutch. The Duchess has worn the dress on at . least two previous occasions, including Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall's . wedding last year and also in 2006 at the nuptials of Laura Parker . Bowles at St Cyriac's Church in Lacock, Wiltshire . The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a reception at the Olympic Stadium ahead of the opening ceremony for the London Paralympic Games 2012 . Cheering on the athletes: David Cameron and his wife Samantha join Kate and William in the stands . Showbiz roundup! Kate & Naomi dazzle in Venice & Duchess of Cambridge proves she's the golden girl .
### SUMMARY:
| Duke and Duchess of Cambridge join the 6,000-strong velodrome crowd in a Mexican Wave .
Royal couple cheer as they watch gold medal hope Sarah Storey smash a Paralympic record in the individual pursuit . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Phil Neville has admitted working as a commentator is harder than he thought after hundreds of viewers complained about his on-air performance during England's World Cup opener with Italy. Neville, a former player whose career included stints at Manchester United and Everton, was criticised for his lack of emotion and 'monotone' style during the game. Many viewers took to Twitter to criticise him, with several joking that England physio Gary Lewin who was stretchered off after injuring his ankle had actually 'fallen into a coma' listening to Neville. Scroll down for video . The BBC has received hundreds of complaints about former England player Phil Neville's commentary . A BBC spokeswoman said there were 445 complaints after Saturday night’s game, which pulled in a peak audience of 15.6 million viewers. Neville, 37, told Radio 5 Live today: 'I think the biggest thing I learned is that co-commentary is harder than what I thought it was going to be. 'I welcome all the feedback you get and it's a welcome to the social media so you come in after a game you're hyped up, its just like playing doing a co-commentary, you're focused for 90 minutes, you turn your phone on and you’re getting some lovely messages. 'But I’m really looking forward to the game on Thursday, I’m back in the co-commentary booth and I will get better. It was my first live gig and I'm just glad I helped everybody sleep back home.' Neville, who said he 'really loved' working as a commentator, said: 'The feedback is [that] the content I put out was quite good, obviously the feedback is I need to show a little more excitement so I think you’ll see that on Thursday night.' Julie Neville has defended her husband, Phil, after his commentary of England's World Cup match with Italy was criticised as 'dull' and 'boring' by fans on Twitter . She told her 21,000 followers that Phil is 'good at talking' and tried to deflect attention onto the pitch . Fellow broadcaster Danny Baker was among his critics, but said the BBC should share the blame . He . said: 'Phil Neville has acknowledged he wasn't great during England . commentary. But what were the BBC doing giving him THAT game to "learn . his craft"?' The BBC . said Neville, who has received broadcasting training, was 'an important, . well-respected member of our team' and would 'continue to play a key . role throughout the tournament'. His next appearance is expected to be as a studio guest for tonight's game between Iran and Nigeria. On Raheem Sterling: 'It's so important he takes that ball and dribbles it past those Italian midfielders.' On England: 'We want our players to be on the front foot tonight.' On Danny Welbeck miss: 'Danny will be disappointed that he didn't hit the target there.' Before the game: 'I always like looking at people in the warm-up, looking in their eyes.' On Gary Lewin's injury: 'Anything can happen when everyone jumps on top of one another.' The BBC revealed the number of complaints after Neville's wife, Julie, defended her husband on Twitter. The mother-of-two replied to one of the few fans praising her husband, posting: 'ha ha - he is good at talking!!' Tweeting during the game, she then tried to divert attention away from his voice and on to the football pitch, by adding: 'Nerve wracking watching this match though.' When the fan responded by saying the 'Neville brothers are taking over' and predicting an England win, she replied: 'We have everything crossed.' Julie, who runs her own healthy food . website, WinNaturally.com, and has written a book of 50 Top Tips for . Optimum Health, was praised on Twitter for putting up with her husband's . voice. After . England supporters spent nearly two hours listening to his co-commentary . on Saturday night, many suggested she deserves a medal. Wayne French tweeted: 'Dear Julie Neville, I'm putting you forward for an MBE. You deserve so much.' Another website user suggested she might find a health supplement to energise her husband's performance in the commentary box. Some fans linked physio Gary Lewin's injury to Neville's dull performance in the commentary box . Broadcaster Mary Ann Sieghart branded the former Everton midfielder's voice 'talking Temazepam' South Warwickshire police joined others on Twitter mocking BBC co-commentator Phil Neville . Despite also working for the BBC, comedian Danny Baker joined the backlash against the former player . Former Liverpool and Germany star Didi Hamann was among the stars criticising Neville's commentary . Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle also got in on the act, posting this joke to his 1.5million Twitter followers . The couple have been married for 14 years and have two children, a son Harvey, and daughter, Isabella. The . BBC has backed Neville and insisted he will remain in their commentary . team for the tournament, co-commentating on three more live games and . both for England's further group games for their highlights show. The . decision prompted comedian Alistair McGowan to comment this morning: . 'He won't be used for another full England game until the group stages . so we've probably heard the last of him.' Jeremy Clarkson and his Top Gear colleagues have been behind some the biggest controversies for the BBC. Clarkson saw the corporation receive nearly 5,000 complaints in 2011 when he said striking workers 'should be shot' on the One Show. The BBC was hit with more than 2,200 angry emails and phone calls earlier this year when viewers complained of 'mumbling' actors in costume drama Jamaica Inn. Following the European elections last month, the corporation got more than 1,000 complaints about giving too much prominence to Nigel Farage and his Ukip party. And political problems also struck last March when 600 viewers complained about presenter Eddie Mair's 'aggressive' grilling of Boris Johnson, during which the London mayor was branded 'a nasty piece of work'. Neville, providing co-commentary . alongside BBC regular Guy Mowbray, was compared by one viewer to the . computer HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey during the game. He was even mocked by the police, with the South Warwickshire force’s official Twitter feed providing a string of safety advice based on his disastrous performance. 'At least we know Phil Neville won’t stir the crowds in the pubs into a frenzy. Drink sensibly,' read one message, while another claimed officers 'will be playing recordings of Phil Neville all night to keep the streets all calm and sleepy'. Some fans asked whether it was possible to fire a commentator at half-time, while former Liverpool midfielder Didier Hamann wrote: 'If Phil Neville reads his Twitter feed he may not come out for the second half.' Neville seems to have taken the comments in good spirits. He tweeted last night: ‘Sometimes you have to take the criticism – it will only make me better. Thanks for the feedback (ahhahaha)!’
### SUMMARY:
| Fans panned ex-Everton midfielder's performance in commentary box .
They brand him 'robotic', 'boring' and 'dull' during England vs Italy match .
He admits job is 'harder than I thought it was going to be' today .
BBC has received hundreds of complaints since Saturday night broadcast .
But wife Julie rallies to his side, telling fans she thinks 'he's good at talking'
Comments come as some fans say she deserves an MBE for tolerating voice . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A Chinese billionaire is believed to be the mystery purchaser of one of Sydney's most exclusive high end properties. Xu Jianyin, chairman of the real estate group Evergrande, is listed as China's 15th richest man with $7 billion worth of wealth to his name, according to the Hurun Report. The 56-year-old is reported to have paid about $39 million for the Villa del Mare mansion at 63-67 Wolseley Rd Point Piper in Sydney's east, according to Fairfax. Scroll down for video . The Villa del Mare, 63-67 Wolseley Rd Point Piper in Sydney's east, was sold to a mystery buyer on October 7 . The buyer is believed to be Xu Jianyin, the chairman of real estate group Evergrande . Mr Xu is listed as China's 15th richest man with $7 billion worth of wealth, according to Hurun's rich list . Positioned to take full advantage of the panoramic harbour views, the mansion was put on the market by its previous owner, recruitment agent Julia Ross, in August this year before it was snatched up a secret buyer in early October. LJ Hooker's real estate agents in Double Bay refused to reveal information regarding the sale or buyer when questioned by Daily Mail Australia. However, Mr Xu was reported to have been in Sydney around the time that the mansion was sold. The company listed on the Villa del Mare's settlement papers, Golden Fast Foods Pty Ltd, is also believed to be linked to his company Evergrande, according to Fairfax media. Chinese investors were the highest foreign investors in Australian real estate – both commercial and residential – between 2012 and 2013, making up almost $6 billion worth of sales, according to the Foreign Investment Review Board's Annual report. Foreign buyers made up 16.8 per cent of the demand for new residential properties in the third quarter of 2014 while Chinese foreign investors spent almost $6 billion on commercial and residential real estate in Australia between 2012 and 2013 . They were followed by Canada and then the US, whose foreign investors spent just under $5 billion each on the Australian real estate market in this period. Foreign buyers made up 16.8 per cent of the demand for new residential properties in the third quarter of 2014, according to the National Australia Banks' Quarterly Residential Property Survey, with the figure expected to rise by 0.5 per cent in the next year. 'Foreign non-residents or short term visa holders can invest in Australian real estate only if that investment adds to the housing stock. This generally occurs by acquiring new dwellings, off-the-plan properties under construction or yet to be built, or vacant land for development,' Foreign Investment Review Board's website states. Principle agent at Laing and Simmons Double Bay, Danny Doff, told Daily Mail Australia that he estimated Chinese foreign investors made up approximately one in every 20 high-end residential property sales in Vaucluse. 'They tend to go for properties with the best views in town - iconic views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House and anything of the harbour - and all up on top of the hill, so looking over everything. They like big blocks of land and tend to like new houses,' Mr Doff said. Mr Xu is is believed to have paid about $39 million for the Villa del Mare non-waterfront mansion . The prestigious home is positioned to take full advantage of the panoramic views of Sydney harbour . Its's sweeping courtyards and manicured gardens have been designed with a Mediterranean feel . Mr Doff revealed that in his experience, Chinese foreign investors often bough high end properties for anywhere between $5 million to $30 million and, more often than not, would buy up a property before it even hit the market. 'They prefer to buy things off market because they don't like competing,' Mr Doff said. He said he currently has about three 'really keen' Chinese families in his contact book through a number of Chinese agents that, 'if I found the right property for, they'd buy it in a heartbeat.' 'All the other agents that sell these top end properties probably have a collection of these buyers as well,' Mr Doff said. The home features six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a number of living areas on 1500 square metres of land . An entertainment bar and an infinity pool are some of the more luxurious features of the home . Two of the more recent properties that Laing and Simmons Double Bay sold to foreign Chinese families include 9 Hillside Ave Vaucluse, which sold for $14 million in June, and 30 Kings Road Vaucluse, which was bought for $11.7 million last month. Paul Pfeiffer, from RT Edgar in Toorak, Victoria, told Daily Mail Australia that he is a strong advocate of Chinese national investment, claiming it leads to the creation of jobs and residential property development. '60 per cent of the properties that I sell over $5 million would be sold to either local Chinese buyers or Chinese nationals in the areas of Stonnington and Boroondara, which consist of suburbs such as Kew, Balwyn, Canterbury, Hawthorn and Toorak,' Mr Pfeiffer said. 'In my 20 years of experience in property, I have never sold a property to a Chinese national that has been left vacant, unless it is only a land purchase, where they are required under the foreign investment legislation to redevelop the property within six months. 'This ensures the creation of jobs for our workforce, which in turn helps stimulate our local economy.' LJ Hooker's real estate agents in Double Bay refused to reveal information regarding the sale or buyer . The previous owner of the property, recruitment agent Julia Ross, is listed as number 20 on BRW's Rich Women list, with an estimated wealth value of $65 million . The prestigious Villa del Mare features six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a number of living areas, a bar and an infinity pool all set on 1500 square metres of land. Its sweeping courtyards and manicured gardens have been designed with a Mediterranean feel while a full view of Sydney's Harbour can be found in almost every room. But despite all its glamour, the property has been on and off the market since 2011, when Ms Ross put it up for sale before hastily taking it down. Ms Ross bought the grand non-waterfront residence for $21.5 million in 2005 before finally committing to part with her home in August of this year. This year, the recruitment queens has moved up a spot to number 20 on BRW's Rich Women list, with an estimated wealth value of $65 million.
### SUMMARY:
| Xu Jianyin, the chairman of the real estate group Evergrande, is believed to have bought the Villa del Mare in October .
Mr Xu Jianyin is listed as China's 15th richest man, worth $7 billion .
Chinese foreign investors spent almost $6 billion on commercial and residential real estate in Australia between 2012 and 2013 .
Danny Doff, from Laing and Simmons Double Bay, estimates one in 20 high-end residential property sales in Vaucluse go to Chinese foreign investors .
He said most of his foreign Chinese clients tend to go for large, new properties located on high hill points with iconic harbour views .
Paul Pfeiffer, from RT Edgar in Toorak Victoria, said 60 per cent of the properties that he sells over $5 million are sold to Chinese buyers .
The Villa del Mare features six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and a number of living areas on 1500 square metres of land . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Even by football’s frenetic standards, the rise of Raheem Sterling from problem child to national treasure in under 12 months has been rapid, just like his acceleration on the pitch. A year ago this weekend, he was a late substitute for Victor Moses in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw at Swansea City, still to be entrusted by manager Brendan Rodgers as a regular first-teamer. Today, it’s a vastly different story. He is Liverpool’s go-to man following the departure of Luis Suarez. The undisputed centre of attention at Anfield for Saturday’s tea-time kick-off against Aston Villa. Raheem Sterling has scored two goals in three games already for Liverpool so far this season . Raheem Sterling slots home to give Liverpool the lead against Tottenham, a game they won 3-0 . Raheem Sterling scored Liverpool's first goal in their 2-1 win over Southampton on the opening day . Raheem Sterling promotes The Sims 4 . Sterling is also the major cause for optimism about England’s future. Still only 19 but with plenty of life experience already behind him — he is already a father — Sterling puts his fantastic form down to a conscious decision to be less inhibited on the pitch. ‘Maybe 12 months ago, I wouldn’t want to get on the ball as much if I’d made a mistake. But now I’m a bit more confident,’ he says. ‘If I lose the ball I want to get on it as quickly as possible and make up for it, whereas before I would hide away and maybe only look for the ball 10 minutes later. I don’t want to give the defenders any break. ‘I sat down with my agent and went through my youth-team video footage. I saw that when I started, I’d get on the ball and within two touches would turn straight away and look to attack my opponent, but when I got into the first team, I would go for the safer option. So I went back to basics where I needed to be on the front foot and the defenders on the back foot.’ In the flesh, you are quickly reminded this is still a kid, albeit one who has had an eventful journey to this point. At our interview at Aintree racecourse to promote EA computer game The Sims 4, he appears nonplussed by the sudden wave of love being thrown in his direction. Raheem Sterling was one of few positives for England at their miserable World Cup campaign . Raheem Sterling slots home one of his two goals against Arsenal at Anfield last season . This is a lad who left his birthplace of Kingston, Jamaica, to live in England at the age of five. Growing up on a tough north-west London estate overlooked by Wembley stadium, his mum took him to play his first organised football game at the age of 10, essentially to keep him out of trouble. One teacher told him starkly he’d either become a star footballer or end up in prison. At 15, he took the biggest decision of his life, to leave QPR for Liverpool and get him away from the malignant influences in London. Regular goalscoring is his next challenge and two in his first three games of the season for Liverpool suggests he’ll crack that too. Pushed to explain why his development has been so meteoric, he also points to a meeting with Rodgers around this time last year. He’d just been cleared at Liverpool crown court of assaulting a former girlfriend when the Liverpool boss stated privately and publicly he needed ‘stability in his life’. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers and Raheem Sterling talk during a training session at Melwood . Sterling took a good look at himself, decided to stop going out every time friends asked and dedicated himself to being a professional. In December, he started to be given a run of games. He was unplayable when he scored twice in a 5-1 win against Arsenal in February. By the end of the season, his performances were regularly eclipsing Suarez and he was the only England player to return from the World Cup with his reputation enhanced. ‘Going into training each day, coming home and going back to training. That’s been it for me over the last 12 months,’ he says. ‘I have tried to live, sleep and eat football as the manager has told me to do. ‘When the time is right, I have a laugh and a joke with my friends on a day off, but I have had to make sacrifices and in that sense it’s been a huge step forward, completely different to how it was before. I was 18 when the manager spoke to me. I realised I’m not like any other teenager. I can’t be doing stuff any other 18 or 19-year-old was doing. I knew I had to make changes, to ensure being the best I could be.’ Surprisingly, and a little unconvincingly, Sterling insists he is not a naturally confident person. By that he probably means he would rather let others talk him up rather than do it himself. Brendan Rodgers told Raheem Sterling that he needed stability in his life and to focus on football . Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez celebrate during a game against Norwich last season . ‘I am not saying I don’t think I’m good, but I’m not the type of player to have an ego or big myself up. ‘It’s been a quick turnaround for my career but that is football. It changes within seconds. I am now focusing on going to the next level. I’m determined it is only a matter of time before I get there.’ It says a lot for his growing maturity that both Rodgers and Roy Hodgson trust him to play at No 10, arguably the most important position on the pitch. Gareth Bale, for example, was much older before he was switched inside from the wing. ‘I prefer the No 10 position, but I’m still developing and not quite the complete player to play there. ‘Every time I get in there I try to take the responsibility of creating and scoring goals. I enjoy that.’ Hodgson must agree. He devised a diamond system for England’s crunch game in Basle specifically to get Sterling on the ball as much as possible. There will be a chance to compare Sterling’s progress with Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo when Liverpool play Real Madrid in the Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and their Real Madrid team-mates train in the Spanish capital . ‘Ronaldo has always been an idol to me,’ says Sterling. ‘But I’m not going to say any more because every time I mention a name, people say I’m comparing myself to them! Everyone wants to be like the best in the world.’ While Sterling keeps social activity to a minimum these days — ‘I’m not really a drinker’ — he does allow himself one ‘vice’, social media. ‘Why am I on Twitter? Well, I am 19 and need something to get away from football sometimes,’ he smiles. ‘It’s a way of having a laugh and a joke with my friends. You scroll past the provocative messages if they come in.’ Rodgers will be happy for him to carry on tweeting at least as long as England’s most talented teenager carries on with his otherwise ‘boring’ life of home-training ground-home. Raheem Sterling is a ‘Playful Creative’ on The Sims 4 personality test. What’s your Sims 4 personality? Take the test and buy your copy of the game NOW at thesims.com .
### SUMMARY:
| Sterling has developed into a key player for Liverpool .
The teenager's rise in the last 12 months has been rapid .
Sterling is now also a big part of England's future .
Youngster has thrived in a central attacking role at Liverpool .
He was told by Brendan Rodgers he needed 'stability' in his life . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
They drink champagne with breakfast, have liposuction in lieu of dieting and think nothing of spending £86,000 on an impulse bought Range Rover. Meet the UK's flashiest families, for whom life is all about spending their hard-earned cash on just about anything that takes their fancy. Designer shopping sprees, doggy wardrobes that cost £10,000 a year to maintain and expensive boys toys such as diggers and jetskis are all among their favourite purchases - and they couldn't care less if people think their lavish lifestyles are tacky. Big spenders: Robin and Noelie Goforth spend their millions on yachts, clothes and cosmetic surgery . One such family is Doncaster couple Robin and Noelie Goforth who made their millions from a series of businesses selling everything from cars to property and even leather coats. Mr Goforth, who is now retired, made his first million aged 35 and now spends his days relaxing with a glass of champagne beside his own private fishing lake. Wife Noelie still works, albeit running one of her husband's fisheries, and when she's not doing that, spends her time indulging in lavish shopping sprees or splashing out 'the cost of a couple of cars' on cosmetic nips and tucks. Ship ahoy! The Goforths dressed in their sailing finery during a visit to their £375,000 yacht . 'Nobody's given it to us, we're not lottery winners,' she insists. 'I get up every day and I work.' Nevertheless, she's happy to admit that she loves spending money and says her wardrobe of designer clothes includes many that she's never worn. 'I don't want to be the richest woman in the graveyard,' adds the blonde, who describes her look as being 'like a Russian hooker. 'I just want to spend it and enjoy it.' Someone who would agree wholeheartedly with that assessment is Lizzie Cundy, the WAG turned gossip column fodder, who with Noelie and Robin, appears in a Channel 5 documentary entitled Britain's Flashiest Families. In it, she is seen enjoying a shopping trip in which she spends the equivalent of £131 a minute, all while gushing about her celebrity lifestyle - and her A-list friends. 'It's easier to say who isn't a friend,' she boasts. 'Eva Longoria was a friend and I'm friends with Alex Gerrard [the blonde wife of Liverpool footballer Steven Gerrard]. 'Mickey Rourke I'd class as a friend. Tom Cruise is another.' But while she enjoys hobnobbing with the stars, what Cundy really loves is spending and she says her red carpet lifestyle is the reason for her splurges. 'I love the red carpet lifestyle,' she explains. 'People say, "Oh that girl, she'd go to the opening of an envelope". I'd go to the opening of a Tampax box! Yes, I do love a free event.' This means dresses - and lots of them. 'I probably have to get three designer dresses a week, just because I'm going to three events a week and I have to look good,' she says. Another fan of a designer shopping spree is Leanne Couch, a mother-of-four from Newport in Wales. Splashing out: Leanne Couch spends nothing on her children but £10,000 a year on her pet dog Lucy . Wardrobe: The pet has a huge wardrobe of designer clothes and five beds - but sleeps on Mrs Couch's . But the beneficiary of her luxury spending habits isn't one of her children or even herself. Instead, her earnings are lavished on her bichon frise dog Lucy, who owns a vast wardrobe of designer clothes, as well as five different dog beds. 'I don't spend any money on the kids,' she explains. 'But Lucy will get something new every week. There are still things with tags on in her wardrobe.' In total, Ms Couch spends around £10,000 a year on her pet pooch and has a shopping list that includes beauty treatments, designer clothes and dog nappies that cost £40 a pop. 'She's had some amazing bling items over the years,' says Lucy's besotted owner. 'I love bling, I always have done and so does Lucy. A pearl lead - gorgeous!' A penchant for bling is something she shares with both Cundy and the Goforths, all of whom revel in splashing out on anything that shimmers, sparkles or shines. Cundy is seen casually buying a gold sequinned dress for £4,800 before swanning off to choose a new car - an £86,000 top-of-the-range Range Rover that comes complete with a mini fridge for her lipgloss collection. Mrs Goforth, meanwhile, spends her spare cash on designer labels - and lots of them. 'I spend my pocket money on designer labels,' she beams. 'I wouldn't say I live for them but I near enough live for them. I like shoes, the Louboutins, I like Chanel bags. I love Chanel, I love Dolce & Gabbana, I love Versace.' She also loves cosmetic surgery and has spent thousands on keeping her looks in tip top condition. 'One of my great loves in life is cosmetic surgery,' she gleefully admits. 'It is important to keep looking nice and look nice for my husband. Celebrity friends: Lizzie Cundy says she has scores of A-list friends including Eva Longoria and Tom Cruise . Expensive tastes: Cundy goes on shopping sprees that see her splash out the equivalent of £131 a minute . 'I've got friends who have put on weight and then you think, "Why are you surprised that your husband left you?"' But staying trim isn't always easy for Mrs Goforth who cheerfully reveals that she can't be bothered to diet. Instead, she shifts the excess pounds with a casually purchased bit of liposuction. 'I'm having lipo because I'm throwing a dinner and I've got a new dress to fit into,' she explains. 'What's a girl got to do? I don't have time to diet.' Needless to say, this doesn't come cheap. 'I could not put a price on how much my husband has spent on my cosmetic improvements,' she confesses. 'It's been a few quid... You could buy a couple of cars with what I've spent at least.' Happily for husband Robin, there are some compensations, not least the £375,000 yacht he has just snapped up for the couple to enjoy. 'We've got the house, the land, the fabulous businesses and the supercars,' he beams. 'The yacht is the icing on the cake.'
### SUMMARY:
| Flashy families have millions in the bank and the spending habits to match .
Among them are Noelie and Robin Goforth from Doncaster in Yorkshire .
Mrs Goforth has spent 'the cost of two cars' on cosmetic surgery alone .
Mr Goforth has champagne for breakfast and has bought a £375,000 yacht .
Others include Leanne Couch who spends £10,000 a year on her pet dog .
Lizzie Cundy is another and boasts of A-list friends such as Tom Cruise .
Britain's Flashiest Families, tonight at 10pm on Channel 5 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
When lawyer Alice Biggar made her new year's resolutions, it wasn't to give up alcohol or go to the gym more. Instead the 26-year-old took on a challenge that would see her living off recycled butcher's bones, foraging for wild berries and eating food destined for the supermarket bin in her hometown of Southampton. Miss Biggar decided to live below the poverty line for a month, and has challenged herself to live on £1 a day throughout January. Scroll down for video . Alice Biggar, a lawyer from Bristol, has launched a challenge to feed herself on just £1 a day and said raiding reduced aisles in supermarkets and surviving on own brand tinned food and foraging for berries is the key . The task has seen her raiding the reduced aisles of supermarkets and even managing to get free recycled bones from a butcher's shop. She said: 'I wanted to challenge myself for the new year, so I made my resolution to be less wasteful with money and live below the poverty line on £1 a day.' While she admits some of her meals have not been the finest in cuisine, Miss Biggar said she has managed to survive 28 days so far by living on tins, including tins of curry, and lots of cheap packaged items such as pasta and supermarket own-brand soups. She even triumphed in her search among the aisles to find an oyster, reduced to just eight pence. Pictured on day one of the challenge Miss Biggar said she was struggling with some of the budget products . But she said the biggest task has been finding fresh vegetables at low prices. She said: 'My best buy was probably a huge bag of parsnips for 4p which I incorporated into a Burns Night supper. I've also visited Skipchen in Bristol - a restaurant which serves only food intercepted from supermarket bins, and I've been foraging for wild berries.' Miss Biggar has charted her progress on her own blog, and said it has become suddenly popular as people appeared to like reading about her struggles to enjoy some of her budget meals. Day 1- Breakfast: cornflakes + office milk . Lunch: warburton thins + pate . Dinner: lasagne (40p) + cucumber (7p) Treat: few slabs of value choc (35p for bar) + live oyster (8p) Day 2 - Breakfast: porridge + water . Lunch: frozen toast from week 1 with 'Brussels pate' + 3 remaining fish fingers . Dinner: fresh egg noodles (10p) + value sweet and sour (30p) + broccoli (10p) Treat: reduced doughnuts x 2 . Day 3 - Breakfast: cornflakes (30p) + value yoghurt . Lunch: burns night – haggis (£1) potatoes (15p) parsnips (4p) swede, leeks carrots (15p) Dinner: leftover sweet n sour noodles . Miss Biggar said own brand soups have helped her feed herself within the tight budget she set . Treat: reduced doughnuts x 1 . Day 4 - Breakfast: porridge + office milk . Lunch: skeleton soup + no bread . Dinner: parsnip (4p reduced) made into roasted chips and chilli (tinned) Treat: apple, chocolate buttons . Day 5 - Breakfast: 30g of coco snaps + milk . Lunch: Vegetable soup and out of date pitta . Dinner: Spag bol (tinned) Treat: Value onion rings . Day 6 - Breakfast: 30g of coco snaps + office milk . Lunch: Tin of questionable chicken soup + 1 pitta . Dinner: spaghetti hoops on toast . Day 7 - Breakfast: 30g of coco snaps + office milk . Lunch: Tin of tomato soup + 1 pitta . Dinner: 250g penne pasta + half carton passata + two onions + four hotdogs + black pepper borrowed from housemate’s cupboard . The blog documents the highs and lows of her progress - including on day 10 when her dog Dexter stole some treasured reduced doughnuts, saved as rare treats to help her cope during the month long challenge. In a post on day 10 she wrote:' It's lunchtime and the curry noodles make an appearance, another student classic. 'At 25p a pack they're a reliable filler and perfectly edible, if a little beige. Utilising vegetarian chicken flavouring it's a tick in the ethics box but a fail on the quest for protein and fresh food.' Miss Biggar said doing her shopping on a weekly basis helped, setting herself a maximum budget of £7 which forced her to shop creatively and not waste any items. 1. Buy supermarket own brands for your staples, for example large bags of pasta. 2. Cook meals in bulk - such as casserole and save portions. 3. Get to supermarkets for prime reducing times, usually between 7pm and 9pm. 4. Don;t be afraid to ask supermarket workers if something is due to come down in price later that day. 5. Try something new - such as foraging or venues like Skipchen, a venue in Brighton that serves food past it sell by date that has been rescued from a sure path to supermarket and restaurant dustbins. 6. Don't stick religiously to best before dates, use your own judgement to test some items rather than automatically throwing them out. 7. Stock up on tinned goods, such as own brand soup. Three weeks into the challenge Miss Biggar said she felt she was getting to grips with how to keep her meals low cost and had learnt some tricks, such as foraging for her own berries and making her breakfast at work so she could take advantage of work milk. She wrote: 'Week 4 and I'm starting to get this budget strategy nailed, a combination of bulk cooking and raiding the whoopsie aisles for fresh food bargains seems like the way to go. 'I recognise that getting to the aisles at the optimum time in order to get my snout in the trough can be a bit of a barrier to fresh produce within the budget. It certainly isn't necessarily always practical for those with families or those who work at those times. The lawyer has also posted recipes for her some of her creative menus - including for 'skeleton soup' which she makes from a base of recycled chicken bones, donated from her local butcher. Miss Biggar is completing the challenge to raise money for the Trussell Trust, which aims to tackle poverty in the UK and Bulgaria. Miss Biggar has lost seven pounds by completing the challenge but insists she has not gone hungry. She says while it has been a good experience, she is looking forward to being able to treat herself again. 'I would recommend everyone tries the challenge for a week - it makes you realise how much we waste on food and it really does make you appreciate what you have,' she added. 'On a personal note though, I'm looking forward to having a wine, take-away and film night.'
### SUMMARY:
| Alice Biggar decided to take on a challenge to feed herself for £1 a day .
Lawyer said the key is surviving on supermarket own brand food .
She has foraged for berries and even got free recycled bones for soup .
Miss Biggar sticks to £7 weekly shopping budget and throws nothing away .
She said hardest part of month-long challenge is finding fresh vegetables . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Probe: HSBC is alleged to have helped wealthy customes hide their cash and assets from the government to avoid paying their full tax bills . HSBC helped 7,000 wealthy Britons avoid millions of pounds in tax using secret 'black' accounts based in Switzerland, it was alleged today. Britain's biggest bank used its Swiss private banking arm to help their super-rich clients evade tax and also advised them how to stay one step ahead of UK tax law. It was revealed after a whistleblower leaked details of 30,000 accounts holding £78billion between 2005 and 2007, with a quarter said to be held by Britons. Hollywood stars, royalty, Europe's richest families as well as relatives of dictators and people implicated in cases of African corruption are also said to held an account to help them evade tax. In one example, HSBC's Swiss bankers were prepared to help Emmanuel Shallop - a man later convicted of dealing in blood diamonds. Offshore accounts are not illegal but they are often used as a way of hiding earnings from HM Revenue and Customs. However, deliberately hiding money to evade tax is illegal. But even though 1,100 people who had not paid what they should have done were identified, five years later only one person has been prosecuted. HSBC has today admitted wrongdoing in Switzerland but said that it has now 'fundamentally changed' since then. Claims the bank routinely used its Swiss operations to help clients shield their true value from the taxman were revealed by a BBC Panorama investigation, which found: . Panorama will air on BBC1 tonight and has seen thousands of leaked accounts showing how bankers helped clients – nearly 7,000 of them British – to avoid taxes. Some account details were stolen by a computer hacker in 2007 and were presented to HMRC in 2010. Scandal: HSBC's Swiss bank, pictured in Geneva, allowed its clients to withdraw bricks of cash, allowed clients to conceal undeclared 'black accounts' and gave accounts to criminals and corrupt businessmen . The Tories and Lib Dems seized on the revelation to question the role of Ed Balls, who was City Minister from May 2006 to June 2007. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Mr Balls and Ed Miliband, a former Treasury adviser, should 'admit that they let the banks run riot on their watch'. Conservative Treasury minister David Gauke said Panorama 'throws a spotlight on the opportunities for tax evasion on the eve of the financial crash in 2007'. He added: 'It is for HSBC to explain what they did to ensure their clients complied with the tax law. But it is for the City Minister in years up to 2007, Ed Balls, to make an urgent statement about what he knew about all this and why the then government allowed tax avoidance and evasion to take place on such a scale. 'Since 2010 we have closed many of the loopholes exposed in this report and specifically taken action to get back money lost in Swiss Bank Accounts.' However, Labour frontbencher Rachel Reeves insisted revelations about HSBC did not emerge until 2010, so it was not something that Mr Balls could have taken action on. Shadow financial secretary to the treasury Cathy Jamieson said: 'HMRC were made fully aware of these practices back in 2010. There are serious questions for the Chancellor to answer about why just one person out of over a thousand have been prosecuted in five years. 'And why the Government's Swiss tax deal has been such an embarrassing flop, raising a fraction of the amounts initially boasted of by ministers.' 'Tax avoidance and evasion harms every taxpayer in Britain, and undermines public services like the NHS.' The banking documents which form the expose have now become the biggest banking leak in history, The Guardian reported. Among them are the revelations HSBC's Swiss bank allowed its clients to withdraw bricks of cash, allowed clients to conceal undeclared 'black accounts' and gave accounts to criminals and corrupt businessmen. The Tories and Lib Dems said the revelations raised questions about the role of Labour's Ed Balls, who was City Minister from May 2006 to June 2007 . The man in charge of HSBC at the time, Stephen Green, was made a Conservative Peer and appointed to the government . HMRC says that £135million in tax, interest and penalties has now been paid by those who hid their assets in Switzerland. HSBC claims that since the documents were leaked, it has radically overhauled its private banking business and reduced the number of Swiss accounts by almost 70 per cent since 2007. The man in charge of HSBC at the time, Stephen Green, was made a Conservative Peer and appointed to the government. Conservative Treasury minister David Gauke said Panorama 'throws a spotlight on the opportunities for tax evasion on the eve of the financial crash in 2007' Lord Green was made a Minister eight months after HMRC had been given the leaked documents from his bank. He served as a Minister of Trade and Investment until 2013. Lord Green told Panorama: 'As a matter of principle I will not comment on the business of HSBC past or present.' But Panorama spoke to a whistleblower who said HSBC had still failed to implement changes when she worked there in 2013. Sue Shelley, who was the private bank's head of compliance in Luxembourg, said: 'The verbal messages were great but they weren't put into practice.' She was sacked after raising concerns and an unfair dismissal tribunal ruled in her favour. Labour MP Margaret Hodge, chairman of the Commons public accounts committee, says they still need to be much tougher with those who seek to avoid tax. She said: 'I just don't think the tax authorities have been strong enough, assertive enough, tough enough in securing for the taxpayer the monies that are due.' Mrs Hodge accepted that many of the activities took place while Labour was in power. 'I think that times have changed and we have to move on. You have to remember in times past public finances were not under such tension, there weren't so many demands on them, you didn't have the deficit.' She said former trade minister Lord Green, who previously ran HSBC, faced 'serious questions'. 'Either he didn't know and he was asleep at the wheel, or he did know and he was therefore involved in dodgy tax practices,' Mrs Hodge said. 'Either way he was the man in charge and I think he has got really important questions to answer.'
### SUMMARY:
| Offshore accounts are not illegal but using them to hide earnings is .
1,100 people still said to owe HMRC unpaid tax but only one prosecuted .
Account details stolen by a hacker in 2007 were given to HMRC in 2010 .
HSBC says it's cut the number of Swiss accounts by nearly 70 per cent .
Tories and Lib Dems question role of Ed Balls who was City Minister 2006-7 .
Labour insists revelations about HSBC's operations only emerged in 2010 .
HSBC helped clients to hide money from domestic tax authorities in secret 'black' accounts .
Accounts were held by the rich and powerful, as well as criminals and corrupt businessmen .
Bank's staff allowed clients to withdraws large bundles of cash and emails reveal they were aware the account holders did so because they were 'under pressure from the tax authorities' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The social media accounts of one of the two men charged with plotting a terrorist attack involving large knives on Wednesday, have revealed the extremist was a fashion-loving weightlifter with a keen eye for expensive jewellery. Pictures of Mohammad Kiad on his Facebook page show him sporting expensive watches and suits as well as taking numerous selfies while at the gym. In contrast to the snaps of him in shiny sparkling tight pants, other pictures show him wearing traditional white Islamic clothing and headpieces. However in person, the 25-year-old nurse who worked as a removalist has been described as a quiet man who never mentioned his religion, according to Fairfax. Mr Kiad and his Iraqi born housemate Omar Al-Kutobi, 24, were arrested in their shared squalid granny flat at Fairfield, western Sydney, on Tuesday afternoon, where a police raid allegedly uncovered a machete, a hunting knife, an Islamic State flag and a video featuring both the men, with one recorded making threats of carrying out a terrorist attack. Both men arrived in Australia from the Middle East seeking a better life as refugees but allegedly became radicalised in recent months, it has been claimed. Scroll down for video . Mohammad Kiad, 25 (right), and his Iraqi born housemate Omar Al-Kutobi, 24 (left), were arrested on terror charges in their shared squalid granny flat at Fairfield on Tuesday . On Thursday, accused terrorist Kiad accidentally appeared briefly in court. Kiad popped up on screens at Central Local Court by audio visual link from Silverwater prison, where he is being held with his co-accused Omar al-Kutobi in western Sydney. He was dressed in prison greens, wore glasses and his beard was trimmed close to his face. Bail applications by both men were set aside on a farcical day of hearings at Central when a power blackout and then a computer failure delayed proceedings. Mohammad Kiad's name was read out by the Commonwealth prosecutor and he was brought into the audio visual room at Silverwater prison by mistake. Deone Provera, a solicitor assisting Legal Aid in the two men's representation, did not require either man's appearance. Mr Provera had their release applications set down for March16. Commonwealth DPP prosecutor Kay Marenos said the brief of evidence against the men was four pages long 'but that is likely to change' and included photographs and a short video. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton told the Today Show on Thursday Kiad, from Kuwait, and Al-Kutobi, from Iraq, were granted refugee status. Al-Kutobi was granted citizenship in 2013 and was studying to be a nurse after he arrived in Australia by plane in 2009. The Daily Telegraph alleges a senior intelligence source has confirmed he arrived in the country with false documentation. Facebook pictures of Kiad, who immigrated to Australia from Kuwait in 2009, revealed his fashion interest and showed him sporting expensive watches and suits as well as making some strange fashion statements . A keen weight-lifter, the 25-year-old removalist also shared selfies of himself at the gym . Mr Kiad entered Australia in 2012, where he had worked as a nurse - but when he arrived in Australia he found he could not transfer his skills. He was granted a visa under the family and spousal visa arrangements and recently took up a job as a removalist but was fired and was on the dole at the time of his arrest, it has been reported. Mr Dutton told the Today Show: 'We've stopped the boats now and we need to make sure they remain stopped.’ However, Today Show host Karl Stefanovic pointed out: 'This guy came by plane though.’ Attorney-General George Brandis told parliament on Wednesday: 'Significantly, police also located a video recording of one suspect kneeling in front of an ISIL (IS) flag, with the knife and machete, making a politically-motivated statement, threatening to undertake violent acts with those weapons.' A Sydney police station and officers on the street were revealed to have been the the targets with attacks scheduled for just before midnight on Tuesday, Channel Nine reported. In contrast to the snaps of him in shiny pants, other pictures show him wearing traditional white Islamic clothing and headpieces . Pictures of the duo from mid-2013 show them poking faces and smoking shisha together. Mr Al-Kutobi was granted citizenship in 2013 and was studying to be a nurse while Mr Kiad, originally from Kuwait where he immigrated from in 2009, was reported to have been recently fired from his removalist job. While some neighbours told Fairfax that he was 'friendly', 'open minded about religion' and 'never talked about Islam', others admitted he and Mr Al-Katobi had begun acting differently after the anti-terror raids in western Sydney last September. 'He began wearing a scarf, just like ISIS and Mohammad, he grew a long beard,' Neighbour Michael David said of Al-Kutobi. 'I heard them praying in there [the granny flat] and reading the Koran,' said Mr David, who speaks Arabic. Ms Jeisele-Brown said the pair had fallen out with another neighbour over the last month or two for 'speaking sharp' and that she had been upset with them after finding a religious picture of hers dumped in the rubbish bin. Pictured smoking shisha in mid-2013: The mens' neighbours said they mostly kept to themselves but admitted their behaviour had changed drastically in the last few months following police raids in western Sydney and the Martin Place siege . 'I had been in hospital having chemotherapy and when I came back home my picture of Jesus Christ was missing,' she said. 'I found it in the rubbish. I don't know who dumped it but I thought ... I didn't say anything.' Neighbours Teresita Heisele-Brown said she had noticed that after the Martin place siege, the two men had had lengthy discussions in Arabic and had watched a lot of television, perhaps coverage of the a siege. She said when the police came around to arrest the pair, Mohammad had pretended he didn't speak English. She said detectives had made the men lie on the ground while they handcuffed them. Their home, workplaces and cars were all searched by police. On Thursday, accused terrorist Kiad accidentally appeared briefly in court. Their Fairfield home, a granny flat in Sydney's west (pictured) NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn and Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Michael Phelan said two men have been arrested on terrorism charges . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
### SUMMARY:
| Mohammad Kiad, 25, and Omar Al-Kutobi, 24, were arrested on terror charges in their shared squalid granny flat at Fairfield on Tuesday .
Pictures of Mr Kiad on social media revealed he was fond of fashion and took selfies at the gym .
Contrasting photos showed him dressed in traditional Islamic clothing .
His roommate, Mr Al-Kutobi was a nursing student who was granted his Australian citizenship in 2013 .
Neighbours who described them as being quiet and kind, said the two men's behaviour had changed drastically over the last few months .
A police raid allegedly uncovered a machete, a hunting knife, an Islamic State flag and a video of them making threats of carrying out a terrorist attack .
The men will apply for bail on March 16 .
Kiad accidentally appeared briefly in court via video link from Silverwater prison on Thursday . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Well past its prime the dilapidated Grade II listed Victorian landmark at 95 Piccadilly in London is set for a rebirth as a four-bedroom residence that will boast a price tag of £70million. The exclusive location overlooking Green Park, and the fact Buckingham Palace is a close neighbour, are among the reasons that justify such an eye-watering sum for the building that was most recently the members-only American Club. But in its heyday, the building was among the most impressive homes in London and part of the same Piccadilly Estate that was home to the Duke of Cambridge between 1829 and 1850 and Lord Palmerston during his term as Prime Minister. Grade II-listed Victorian landmark, 95 Piccadilly, is set for a rebirth as a four-bedroom home worth £70million . The exclusive residence overlooks Green Park and is on the other side of the park to Buckingham Palace . It became The American Club soon after the group's first meeting in 1918 and the men's only clique for US expats remained tenants until the 1980s, when a long-running fixed rental lease expired. Despite being a grand icon of Victorian architecture, the former home built in the early 1800s has been empty for almost 30 years and in recent times has looked worse for wear. Water ingress, dry rot and vermin infestation have left the Mayfair mansion in 'poor condition' and with 'extensive damage', hardly befitting the grand company it keeps. But along with the neighbouring In and Out Club, the main part of the Piccadilly Estate at No 94, No 95 was bought by the billionaire Reuben brothers as part of a £130million deal in 2011 and they now have approval for significant works to be carried out. Paul Davis and Partners have been commissioned to redevelop 95 Piccadilly and return it to its original purpose as a single family home with four bedrooms. Planning permission has been granted by Westminster Council to completely refurbish the home, change the layout and create a new basement level which will feature a swimming pool and spa. While in bad condition, the historic fabric and plan form of the principal rooms remain largely intact, many of which have grand features including impressive fireplaces, high ceilings and a stunning central staircase. Along with the neighbouring In and Out Club, the main part of the Piccadilly Estate at No 94, No 95 was bought by the billionaire Reuben brothers as part of a £130million deal in 2011 . A beautiful central staircase remains in impeccable condition but the place over all is significantly rundown . When completed, 95 Piccadilly will have a passenger lift, while an additional staircase will be built to access the new basement, which will include a swimming pool, lounge, gym and spa. The basement will feature a large kitchen and dining room, wine cellars and staff accommodation. The ground floor has the grand entrance lobby, and reception room along with the sitting/media room. All these rooms are dominated by huge pillars and high ceilings. When completed, 95 Piccadilly will have a lift, and an additional staircase will be built to access the basement . The American Club, a men's only club for US expats, occupied by the building from 1918 to the 1980s . On the first floor, there is a principal front room, rear dining room, a pantry and study while the second floor will be one giant suite and boast a huge master bedroom, which has its own private living room, a walk-in wardrobe, two bathrooms and a master study. There are three further super-sized bedrooms - all of which will have large en-suite bathrooms and dressing rooms - on the third floor, while the top floor will have a family room and outdoor terrace. This image of the study shows the extensive water damage and dry rot in the house . The result will be a four-bedroom home worth around £70million, making it 400 times more expensive than a typical house in England and Wales, with stamp duty expected to be in excess of £8.3million. Becky Fatemi, managing director of Rokstone estate agency, is certain the property will be stunning when ready. She said: 'I think we're talking about it being a £70million home and that's being conservative. The refurbishment will be to a very high standard and you're overlooking the park. This is what people are looking for. 'To refurbish a place like this, you'll be looking at spending between £800 and £1,000 per square foot and this includes furniture. 'It is likely whoever wants to buy will want to be able to move straight away. They want an ease of life. "Turnkey" properties allow this.' David and Simon Reuben, who are worth around £9bn, have made a fortune in the property market. When complete, that property which has also been known as Egremont House, Cholmondeley House and The Naval and Military Club, is expected to be able to fetch more than £200million and take the crown as London's most expensive home. Before World War II, the road was known for its private homes. Number 145, which was destroyed during the war, was a 25-bedroom mansion which was the childhood home between 1927 and 1937 of HM Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret. After World War II, due to the lack of offices in the City of London, Piccadilly became a commercial road lined with hotels, the Japanese Embassy, offices and plush clubs. Peter Wetherell, chief executive of Mayfair estate agency Wetherell, believes the area is being transformed back into a prime residential area. A sketch dated 1885 of the first floor dining room at 95 Piccadilly, once one of London's grandest homes . The rundown interiors of the home's soon-to-be grand bedrooms, once developed by the Reuben brothers . He said: 'Booming residential values are driving the transformation of the thoroughfare back into a super-prime residential address with a series of trophy properties, super-luxury apartments and penthouses in the pipeline. 'These mansions also provide great economic benefits through refurbishment and architectural restoration, the trickle-down effect of wealth does work in property restoration.' Fatemi added it would be difficult to say who exactly will be looking to buy a home like 95 Piccadilly with the mansion likely to have a broad appeal to the wealthiest home buyers. 'Mayfair isn't typical of most prime areas of London,' she said. 'I don't think you can categorise exactly who might buy it. You don't just get super-rich Middle-Eastern and Russian buyers. 'There are also a lot of UK and American buyers who will be interested in a home like this. 'What is interesting about properties like this one is that they were originally very grand residences and they are being returned to their original purpose. 'Mayfair, in particular, is going back to what it was like in the 1800s. 'At the moment I have three to four people looking for £50 million-plus homes but there is a shortage of choice. I think when this will be completed, it will be stunning. An uber home.'
### SUMMARY:
| 95 Piccadilly will become a four-bedroom home worth £70million .
Formerly the American Club, the building has been vacant for 30 years .
Billionaire Reuben brothers bought it and No 94 for £130 million in 2011 .
No 94 was home to Duke of Cambridge and Prime Minister Lord Palmerston . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A stunning Georgian townhouse which was once the home of romantic British poet Lord Byron is to be restored to its former glory – a £45million eight-bedroom mansion. The Grade II-listed building, which is called No.139 Piccadilly and is situated in London's Mayfair, was home to Lord Byron in 1815 and it was where he wrote some of his famous works including Parisina and The Siege of Corinth. However, in the 20th Century the elegant townhouse was converted into office space and original fittings were replaced with modern décor. Now, after years of being used by office workers, the building is to be transformed back to its original state, with the addition of a swimming pool, sauna, gym, roof terrace and staff quarters. The Grade II-listed building, which is called No.139 Piccadilly and situated in London's Mayfair, was home to Lord Byron and was where he wrote some of his famous works including Parisina and The Siege of Corinth . In the 20th Century, the elegant townhouse was converted into office space and original fittings were replaced with modern décor. It will now be converted back into an eight-bedroom £45million mansion . The project will be carried out by billionaire property investors David and Simon Reuben, who already have an impressive property portfolio across the capital, including five office and residential properties in Mayfair and Battersea Heliport. The brothers, who were born in Bombay, have a fortune of more than £7billion and are among the top 10 richest people in the UK. Westminster City Council approved the conversion and granted planning permission on the condition that the brothers pay £500,000 towards the council's affordable housing fund. As well as the instalment of a swimming pool and gymnasium, the works will also see the building extended to a total of 17,800 square feet. Daniel Smith, of Motcomb, who is an architecture working on the conversion, told The Telegraph: 'There are some magnificent rooms there. We will be undertaking a careful, considered, scholarly restoration of the interior and exterior.' The property (left) has been bought by billionaire property investors David and Simon Reuben (pictured right) The property has had a host of famous owners, most notably Lord Byron and the Duke of Queensberry. Lord Byron, who became an overnight star thanks to his lengthy poem, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage, lived in the property in 1815 when he married and later separated from Annabella Milbanke, with whom he had a daughter. Following the split, and Lady Byron running off with their child, he wrote: 'The moment that my wife left me I was assailed by all the falsehoods that malice could invent or slander publish; ... there was no crime too dark to be attributed to me by the moral (?) English, to account for so common an occurrence as a 'separation in high life.' Inside the property is a grand marble staircase, leading to to the first floor (left) while a huge skylight allows the sun to shine through on a bright day (right) The house was given modern-decor in the 20th century but retained some features such as the fireplace (left) and the detailing around the doors (right) The house still has Georgian detailing around door frames but it is due to be restored to its full former glory . 'I was thought a devil, because Lady Byron was allowed to be an angel!' In 1816, less than a year after the split and amid rumours surrounding his suspected relationship with half-sister Augusta, the poet fled England and never returned. No. 139 Piccadilly was later owned by the Duke of Queensberry, who was better known by his nickname 'Old Q.' It is believed that he used to sit on a balcony of the property and watch women as they passed by. Lord Byron was an English romantic poet . Lord Byron, born George Gordon Noel in 1788, was an English romantic poet who wrote some of the most famous works in history. The sixth Baron Byron, born in London – who inherited his title at just three-years-old, when his father died – shot to fame almost overnight in 1812 when his lengthy narrative of 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' was published. Lord Byron, who spent his early years in Aberdeen, attended Harrow School and Cambridge University before spending two years travelling around the Mediterranean in 1809. He returned to England two years later and it was within 12 months that the first two parts of 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' were released – making his name. Following his fame, more of his works were published including The Giaour, The Bride of Abydos (1813), Parisina and The Siege of Corinth (1815). The poet's life was not without controversy, however, and in 1814 his half-sister Augusta gave birth to a daughter – rumoured to be his. He also indulged in an affair with Lady Caroline Lamb, who famously called him 'mad, bad and dangerous to know'. A year later he married Annabella Milbanke, with whom he had a daughter, but the couple split in 1816. The same year, following the separation, rumours surrounding his suspected relationship with half-sister Augusta and amid claims of debt, Lord Byron fled England and never returned. He travelled to Belgium and then on to Switzerland before moving on to Italy, where he lived for more than six years. During his time in Venice, he wrote some of his most notable works, including 'Don Juan' (1819-1824), but was also plagued by rumours of several affairs. Mary Shelley, with whom he shared a house in Italy for a time, was said to be appalled at his behaviour, after he worked his way through countesses, chambermaids and aristocrats' or cobblers' wives. After his time in Italy, Lord Byron chose to move to Greece, where he joined insurgents fighting against the Ottoman Empire. He paid for the refitting of the Greek fleet and refunded part of the ragged revolutionary army after arriving in Greece in 1823. Lord Byron was eventually buried near to his ancestral home – Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire (above) He died a year later of pneumonia in Messolonghi in western Greece, where a cenotaph is said to contain his heart. His support for the Greek cause helped inspire young men from Britain, Italy and the United States to join the uprising. Greece won its war of independence in 1832 following the intervention of the Great powers: Britain, France and Russia. Though Byron enjoyed hero status in Greece, he was shunned in Britain. Westminster Abbey in London refused to bury his remains in its Poets' Corner because of his Bohemian lifestyle. His body was instead buried near to his ancestral home – Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire. In 1938, the vicar of Hucknall, worried by persistent rumours that Lord Byron's grave in Hucknall churchyard in Nottinghamshire was empty, gained permission to open it. Inside he found Byron's perfectly embalmed body.
### SUMMARY:
| Former London home of romantic British poet Lord Byron to be converted .
Grade II-listed Mayfair building to be transformed into eight-bed mansion .
No.139 Piccadilly to also have swimming pool, sauna, gym and roof terrace .
Townhouse was occupied by poet in 1815 and was where he wrote works .
Later converted to office space in 20th Century but has now been bought .
Billionaire property investors David and Simon Reuben to carry out project . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Very few things will make my skin crawl more than listening to someone totally misrepresent the famous "I Have A Dream" speech the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave on August 28, 1963. It's clear that far too many people haven't bothered to actually read or listen to the speech. Instead, folks -- especially those who likely would have branded King a Communist, a socialist, a Marxist or a racial hell-bent on destroying America -- love to tout King's "content of character" line in order to push back against a variety of issues, especially affirmative action. Just today, I saw a press release from Project 21, a coalition of black conservatives, suggesting that a rally planned Saturday by a radio talk show host and Fox News personality is akin to King's 1963 march. Coby Dillard, a member of Project 21, is quoted as saying, "The dream of King -- that every person be judged by their character rather than their color -- is one of the tenets that makes our nation honorable in the minds of people around the world. King's legacy is a gift to us all, and no one person or organization holds claim to his work and his message. I can think of no better way to honor him by renewing our shared commitment to uphold those principles that have held our country together throughout history." It's clear that Dillard, and so many others, hasn't read a history book or other publications surrounding the march and instead loves to continue to spread falsehoods, misrepresentations and outright fabrications stemming from the Washington march. First, we need to stop calling it the March on Washington. It was officially called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. If you leave off the "Jobs and Freedom" part, it sounds like black folks just went for a walk that day. Upset with the lack of economic opportunities for blacks at the time, as well as the voting rights injustices, the organizers wanted to put pressure on Congress and the President Kennedy administration to put their muscle behind a comprehensive civil rights bill. No, the 1963 march had nothing to do with some hokey values espoused by a radio/TV windbag. It was a day to assemble a mass of people to represent a show of strength and to get leaders in Washington to listen to the urgent need across the country. Second, we continue to misrepresent King's speech as the "I Have a Dream" speech. As CNN's Soledad O'Brien reported in the special "MLK Papers: Words That Changed a Nation," the speech was never called that. It was actually titled "Normalcy: Never Again." In fact, the "I Have A Dream" portion, which represents the bottom third of it, wasn't in the original text. As Soledad reported, King often gave variations of the "Dream" portion of the speech, and on that day, he was encouraged by gospel great Mahalia Jackson to tell the audience about his "dream." There is no doubt that his soaring oratory about the need for racial harmony continues to send chills down our spines today, but if we as a country get so excited and wrapped up in the "dream" sequence, we forget the economic nightmare King painted in the top two-thirds of the speech. When I give speeches, I often tell folks that the "I Have A Dream" portion is the "hoop" part, which is when the pastor begins sing, scream and shout when he/she has finished the sermon. But the real measure of a sermon is the scripture, which serves as the thesis. So let's get to the meat -- or the purpose -- of King's 1963 speech. At the top, he lays out the vision of slaves being freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, yet 100 years later, "One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land." Then he makes clear that the purpose of going to the Lincoln Memorial is to "dramatize a shameful condition." "In a sense, we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check," King said. "When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. "This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the 'unalienable rights' of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked 'insufficient funds.' "But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice." King then began to talk about the "fierce urgency of now," laying out the treacherous conditions upon which black people lived in, and having to deal with violence and the trampling of their rights. He laid bare the despair of not being able to stay in hotel rooms, having to drink out of segregated water fountains and the lack of voting rights. Then King launches into the portion about his "dream." Folks, the fulfillment of King's dream wasn't about getting along. It was about every man and woman being afforded equal rights and an opportunity to find a job, raise their family and not have to suffer from brutality. His speech wasn't partisan or political; it was prophetic and about prosperity. How is it relevant today? If anyone wants to model that march, then stop with the ego-driven nonsense and focus on pushing Congress to enact a jobs bill so Americans can work. Tell Democrats and Republicans to stop playing footsy with lobbyists and looking out for Wall Street's interests. Tell leaders in Washington to give a damn about the poor of this country, from the hills of West Virginia to the dusty roads in Alabama. Tell some Republicans to stop their shameful condemnations of Americans who can't find a job. For the nearly 250,000 who gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, it wasn't about ego; it was about results. There was no partisan agenda; it was one where whites and blacks refused to stand idly by and watch black Americans denied an opportunity to thrive in this country. In the final five years of his life, King fought for equal pay for sanitation workers in Memphis and was planning a Poor People's Campaign for DC to highlight the economic injustices. Please, take the time to go and read or listen to the speech. Understand the context. Examine the overall mission. And don't try to pimp and pervert King's prophetic word so you can score some political points. And that goes for a charlatan, even if they have a TV or radio show, who seeks to align themselves with King's momentous and radical speech 47 years ago. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Roland S. Martin.
### SUMMARY:
| Roland S. Martin says the famous speech is often misrepresented .
He cites a rally set for Saturday in Washington as one example .
Two-thirds of speech paints picture of an economic nightmare, he says .
The best move today would be to push for a jobs bill, Martin writes . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
London (CNN) -- Extremist Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and four other men departed England on Friday night destined for the United States, hours after the High Court in London ended a years-long legal battle by ruling the men could be extradited "immediately." Two planes left the British Air Force base Mildenhall with al-Masri, Khaled al-Fawwaz, Adel Abdul Bary, Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan so they could face trial in the United States, Home Secretary Theresa May said in a statement. "We have worked tirelessly -- alongside the U.S. authorities, the police and the prison service -- to put plans in place so that tonight these men could be handed over within hours of the court's decision," May said. "It is right that these men, who are all accused of very serious offenses, will finally face justice." Earlier Friday, Judge John Thomas ruled that the British court's decision authorizing the extradition of the men could not be appealed and said it "may proceed immediately." The charges against al-Masri include conspiracy in connection with a 1998 kidnapping of 16 Westerners in Yemen, and conspiring with others to establish an Islamic jihad training camp in rural Oregon in 1999. He could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted. The UK Home Office earlier welcomed the High Court decision, and May said in her statement "that these men ... used every available opportunity to frustrate and delay the extradition process over many years." The U.S. Embassy in London said it was "pleased" by the court's ruling. "All of these defendants will be guaranteed the same rights provided to American citizens charged with crimes in the U.S. They will be afforded a full opportunity to challenge the evidence against them in U.S. courts," an embassy statement said. The suspects' lawyers had sought to persuade Thomas and a second senior judge to prevent the extradition on medical and human rights grounds. It had already been approved by British courts, the European Court of Human Rights and Britain's home secretary. Thomas said the judges are satisfied that the European court had not fallen into error "and was justified in drawing the conclusion that it did." It was "unacceptable" that extradition proceedings should take so long, he said. They should last "months, not years," he said. The five men had taken every possible effort to prevent their extradition, he added. The legal process in the case of al-Fawwaz and Bary has lasted 14 years. Read more: BBC apologizes to Queen Elizabeth over Abu Hamza revelation . In a statement read out on his behalf outside the court, Ahmad -- who has been detained without trial since 2004 -- claimed a moral win. "Today I have lost my eight-year and two-month battle against extradition. I would like to thank all those over the years who supported me and my family: lawyers, politicians, journalists and members of the public from all walks of life," it said. "By exposing the fallacy of the UK's extradition arrangements with the U.S., I leave with my head held high having won the moral victory." His father, Ashfaq Ahmad, said the UK police, prosecutors and judiciary had "colluded to implement a pre-determined decision which was made in Washington." He added: "We will never abandon our struggle for justice and the truth will eventually emerge of what will be forever remembered as a shameful chapter in the history of Britain." Read more: Court clears way for cleric Abu Hamza's extradition . The ruling followed a three-day last-ditch hearing this week. Lawyers for al-Masri told the court their client suffers from deteriorating mental health and was unfit to plead. However, the judges dismissed that argument in Friday's ruling. "There is nothing to suggest it would be unjust or oppressive to order his extradition," Thomas wrote. The cases of Babar Ahmad and Talha Ahsan are both linked to a website called azzam.com, which U.S. prosecutors say was run by the two men to support terrorism around the world. Meanwhile, Al-Fawwaz and Bary are accused of being al Qaeda associates of Osama bin Laden in London during the 1990s. Lawyers for al-Fawwaz presented evidence, including some arising from an interview by British intelligence officers with an al Qaeda informer, which they say discredits the case against him. Read more: Abu Hamza extradition ruling marks end of era for radical cleric . Presenting medical reports, lawyers for Bary said he had a deteriorating mental illness, making him unfit for detention in a high-security Supermax prison, where he is expected to be held if sent to the United States. But in his ruling, Thomas said there was a clear prima facie case against both Bary and al-Fawwaz. He also dismissed the medical argument put forward by Bary's lawyer against extradition, saying: "It is clear to us that there has been no material change in the psychological condition of Abdul Bary." Lawyers for Ahmad and Ahsan presented what they said was fresh evidence to support their calls for the two men to be charged with similar terrorism-supporting offenses in Britain, rather than have them face trial in the United States. The U.S. and British governments strongly contested the five suspects' submissions. Lawyers for the British government described the arguments as an abuse of the legal process. Al-Masri is one of the highest-profile radical Islamic figures in Britain, where he was already sentenced to seven years for inciting racial hatred at his north London mosque and other terrorism-related charges. Born in Egypt in 1958, he traveled to Britain to study before gaining citizenship through marriage in the 1980s. A one-time nightclub bouncer in London's Soho district, al-Masri -- also known as Mustafa Kamal Mustafa -- has said he lost both hands and one eye while fighting against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He often wore a hook in place of one hand. In 1997, al-Masri became the imam of a north London mosque, where his hate-filled speeches attacking the West began to attract national attention and followers, including Richard Reid, the so-called "shoe bomber" who attempted to blow up a Miami-bound passenger airplane three months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Al-Masri has called the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center "a towering day in history" and described bin Laden as "a good guy and a hero." He also described the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003 as "punishment from Allah" because the astronauts were Christian, Hindu and Jewish. Al-Masri faces 11 charges in U.S. courts. "As in the UK, legal counsel will be provided at the expense of the U.S. government if the defendants do not have the resources to pay themselves," a U.S. Embassy briefing note on the extradition said. "The U.S.-UK Extradition Treaty also forbids use of the death penalty for anyone extradited from the UK." CNN's Dan Rivers and Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: The 5 men departed Friday night for the U.S., the UK Home Secretary says .
NEW: "It is right that these men... will finally face justice," she says .
Radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri and 4 others had battled against extradition .
The father of suspect Babar Ahmad says they will continue fight for justice . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara took control of state-run television and attacked the residence of Laurent Gbagbo on Friday as Ivory Coast's bloody, four-month battle for political power appeared to enter its final stages . Artillery and mortars joined the cacophony of gunfire Friday in Abidjan, the nation's commercial center and largest city, witnesses said. French and United Nations troops beefed up their presence on the streets to fill a security vacuum. "The situation on the streets has deteriorated to such an extent that it's just become too dangerous to go outside," said Henry Gray, a field coordinator with the humanitarian medical group Doctors Without Borders, who called his organization while in lockdown. "There's a lot of pillaging and looting going on, and if you're out on the streets, you're basically a target." And the violence isn't isolated to Abidjan. At least 800 people were killed Tuesday in the fight for control of Ivory Coast's western city of Duekoue, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday. The whereabouts of Gbagbo, who refused to cede power after a disputed November election, were not known. The French ambassador to Ivory Coast said on France Info radio that Gbagbo's residence was empty. U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said the U.N. mission in Ivory Coast has been in contact with both Ouattara and Gbagbo in an effort to ensure a peaceful resolution. "I cannot confirm anything about any exit of Laurent Gbagbo," Haq said. Gbagbo adviser Abdon Bayeto blamed the United Nations and global leaders including France and the United States for Ivory Coast's bloodshed by recognizing Ouattara as the legitimate president. Ouattara knows he lost the election, Bayeto said, adding that Gbagbo is a true democrat. "For 30 years there was no trouble in the country," he said. "We are going to be victorious." The chances for that victory appeared slim Friday after pro-Ouattara forces launched a massive offensive in a final push to oust Gbagbo. Gbagbo had been expected to appear on state-run television, but the embattled president has not been seen in public for days and the TV network -- accused of having incited post-election violence -- went dark Friday after pro-Ouattara forces attacked the building and took control. Ouattara, the internationally recognized president, had been confined to a United Nations-protected hotel in Abidjan. Gbagbo's siege of the hotel ended Thursday after pro-Ouattara forces carried a nationwide offensive to Abidjan. Ouattara declared evening-into-morning curfews for Friday and Saturday in Abidjan. Ouattara's interior minister also announced on radio that the air and sea borders of the country would be sealed until further notice. It will be only "hours, maybe days" before Gbagbo falls, predicted Ouattara's spokesman, Patrich Achi. "The army does not want to fight for Laurent Gbagbo." The African Union called again Friday for Gbagbo "to immediately hand over power." "Gbagbo's days are numbered because he overstayed his welcome," Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga told CNN. Odinga has served as the African Union's main negotiator in Ivory Coast. "The will of the Ivorian people must finally prevail." Events in Ivory Coast are sure to have critical implications for the immediate region and all of Africa. The nation had been on the rebound from a 2002 civil war and the elections last year inspired expectations that the cocoa-producing nation would embark on a new chapter that would take it closer to becoming a stable democracy. But the post-election chaos does not bode well for other African nations struggling to become stronger democracies. And thousands of people have crossed into neighboring nations including Liberia, which is trying to hold onto its own fragile peace. An Abidjan resident told CNN that most of the city's 4 million residents were huddled inside their homes Friday with no access to information since national broadcasting was off the air. The resident was not identified because of security reasons. "Armed gangs are out on the street and there is a real atmosphere of fear out in the community, particularly in the poorer areas," Gray said. "It's weird, because Abidjan is actually a really nice city with well-maintained roads and nice bridges and big buildings." Documentary filmmaker Seyi Rhodes said Abidjan, a city that never slept before the turmoil erupted, was empty and bleak. International journalists covering the conflict did not dare venture out from their hotel Friday. Abidjan has become a city divided where it is difficult to decipher loyalty, Rhodes said. "There is nothing now," said Rhodes, who had visited the city before the conflict. "Abidjan is a shadow of its former self." The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reported an exodus of more people Thursday. "Heavy fighting, widespread human rights abuses and fear of war have already forced up to 1 million people to flee their homes in Abidjan," the report said. Some 500 foreigners, including 150 French citizens, sought refuge Thursday at a French military camp, said a spokeswoman for the French Defense Ministry. A Swedish employee of the United Nations was killed in Thursday's fighting in Abidjan, said Joakim Larsson, a spokesman at the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "She was in her home when she was hit by a bullet which killed her," Larsson said. Before Friday's revelation of the 800 or so deaths in Duekoue, human rights monitors had documented the deaths of 462 people -- some in heinous fashion -- and warned Abidjan is on the brink of catastrophe. "The international community must take immediate steps to protect the civilian population," said Salvatore Sagues, Amnesty International's researcher on West Africa. Republican Forces wrested control of much of Yamoussoukro and other key cocoa-producing and port cities earlier in the week before marching to Abidjan, the commercial center of Ivory Coast. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights reported Friday that the agency had received "unconfirmed but worrying reports" that Republican Forces have been committing human rights violations in their advance to Abidjan, especially in the Guiglo and Daloa areas in western Ivory Coast. Among the complaints were arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment of civilians. Similar abuse accusations have been leveled at Gbagbo's men in Abidjan, the agency said. Concerned about the rising tide of violence, the U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Wednesday to impose sanctions on Gbagbo, his wife and three associates, as well as give U.N. peacekeepers more authority to protect civilians. The U.N. resolution demands that Gbagbo step down immediately and that all state institutions, including the military, accept Ouattara as president. It also authorizes U.N. peacekeepers "to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate to protect civilians under imminent threat of violence." CNN's Zain Verjee, Carey Bodenheimer, Christabelle Fombu and Moni Basu contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: At least 800 people were killed Tuesday in the Ivory Coast, the Red Cross says .
NEW: A witness says, "If you're out on the streets, you're basically a target"
Laurent Gbagbo has refused to cede power since a disputed November election .
Forces loyal to Alassane Ouattara attack Gbagbo's home and take control of state TV . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- An Australian radio network at the heart of a hoax targeting Prince William's pregnant wife canceled the show responsible for the prank on Monday, expressing deep regret for the death of a nurse who took a call from the DJs involved. The two DJs "will not return to the airwaves until further notice," the statement from the network, Southern Cross Austereo, said. The company also suspended all prank calls, pulled advertising and ordered a comprehensive review of relevant policies and processes. The DJs, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who were impersonating Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, called the hospital Tuesday and gained some information about the condition of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge -- which they subsequently played on air. On Friday, the nurse who transferred the call through to the ward, Jacintha Saldanha, was found dead after apparently committing suicide. "First and foremost we would like to express our deep and sincere condolences to the family ... for their loss. We are very sorry for what has happened," Rhys Holleran, the network's chief executive officer, said in Monday's statement. "We don't claim to be perfect and we always strive to do better. We have initiated a detailed and rigorous review of our policies and procedures to inform any improvements we can make." Greig and Christian also apologized in interviews with the Australian TV shows "A Current Affair" and "Today Tonight" on Monday. "There is nothing that can make me feel worse than what I feel right now," Greig said on "Today Tonight." Christian told "A Current Affair" the prank had become "a tragic turn of events that I don't think anyone could have predicted or expected." "I'm still trying to make sense of it all," he said, offering "our deepest sympathies" to Saldanha's family. Opinion: Why airing the prank call was wrong . London's Metropolitan Police have contacted Australian authorities in relation to the call, but "are not discussing about what or with who" they're talking, a spokesman told CNN. A spokeswoman for New South Wales Police in Australia told CNN: "As the investigation into the death of London nurse Jacintha Saldhana continues, New South Wales Police will be providing London's Metropolitan Police with whatever assistance they require." Ben Barboza, Saldanha's husband, expressed grief over his wife's death in a post on Facebook: "I am devastated with the tragic loss of my beloved wife Jacintha in tragic circumstances, She will be laid to rest in Shirva, India." Saldanha's daughter posted a photo of herself with her mother and wrote: "I miss you, I loveeee you. Jacintha saldanha." The chairman of the hospital where the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge was a patient slammed the Australian radio station's decision to broadcast the recorded prank call as "truly appalling" on Saturday, . "King Edward VII's Hospital cares for sick people, and it was extremely foolish of your presenters even to consider trying to lie their way through to one of our patients, let alone actually make the call," wrote the chairman, Simon Glenarthur. "The immediate consequence of these premeditated and ill-considered actions was the humiliation of two dedicated and caring nurses who were simply doing their job tending to their patients. "The longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words." Glenarthur called on the radio station to take steps "to ensure that such an incident could never be repeated." Read more: Nurse's death casts glare on 'shock jocks' The Australian Communications and Media Authority, the country's media regulator, has not yet commented on the case. However, it will be "engaging with the licensee, Today FM Sydney, around the facts and issues surrounding the prank call," said the regulator's chairman, Chris Chapman. News of Saldanha's death broke Friday, with the hospital saying she "was recently the victim of a hoax call." London's Metropolitan Police said that Saldanha, 46, had living quarters in central London provided by her workplace. Police said they were notified Friday morning that a woman was found unconscious at the address. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are treating the death as "unexplained." A postmortem examination will take place on Tuesday, police said Monday. A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said Saturday that he "thinks this is a very sad case and his thoughts are with her family and colleagues." Throughout the controversy surrounding the hoax, authorities did not identify the nurse. Her identity was released after her death. Audio of the call posted online suggests a woman spoke briefly to the DJs before she put the call through early Tuesday morning to the ward where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for acute morning sickness. "They were the world's worst accents ever," Greig told listeners Thursday. "We were sure 100 people at least before us would've tried the same thing. ... We were expecting to be hung up on. We didn't even know what to say when we got through." A tweet from 2Day FM last week after the incident described it as a "hilarious prank." Read more: Radio pair apologizes for duchess prank call . Off the air, Greig and Christian tweeted about the practical joke on Thursday and earlier Friday, promising "more on the #royalprank." The pair's Twitter accounts were taken down late Friday. Some listeners applauded the prank, like one who identified himself as Guido on the station's Facebook page and wrote, "It is only a joke people! it was great i love it!!!" Others were outraged, with negative comments outnumbering positive ones on 2DayFM's Facebook page even before the nurse's death. "Your stunt was done at a time in this country where there is paranoia about the intrusion of the media into people's lives," Gary Slenders wrote. "I know you will say it is harmless fun, the management of 2DayFM will say that it won't happen again, but this is exactly where the phone hacking scandal started." The outcry grew exponentially after the hospital confirmed Saldanha's death, leading the Coles supermarket chain to remove all its advertising from 2DayFM. "This death is on your conscience," reads one Facebook post. Several accused the two DJs of having "blood on your hands." Saldanha's family released a statement asking for privacy and directing questions to police. She is survived by her husband and two children. "We as a family are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Jacintha," said the statement, released by police. Saldanha worked at King Edward VII's Hospital for more than four years, and she was described as an "excellent nurse," well-respected by co-workers, the hospital statement said. The hospital "had been supporting her throughout this difficult time," it said. A St. James's Palace spokesman said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death. "Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha's family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time." Separately, a palace spokesman told CNN: "At no point did the palace complain to the hospital about the incident. On the contrary, we offered our full and heartfelt support to the nurses involved and hospital staff at all times." CNN's Ed Payne, Brad Lendon and Nick Thompson contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| The Australian radio network suspends all prank calls .
A review of relevant policies and processes is being conducted, the company says .
Nurse Jacintha Saldanha was found dead after taking the prank call on Catherine . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Cairo (CNN) -- For a second day, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy's home was not spared from the wrath of protesters who remain unconvinced of his defense of recent controversial decisions. Dozens of protesters threw rocks and glass bottles at the home in Sharkia province Friday and tried to push aside a police barrier, said Alaa Mahmoud, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry. Two policemen and several protesters were injured, and four people were arrested. Protesters also made their message clear at the presidential palace in Cairo, where thousands broke through a barricade and sprayed graffiti on the palace walls. Guards at the palace did not engage the protesters. Crowds also gathered at Cairo's Tahrir Square but were largely calm, unlike the night before. In remarks Thursday night -- his latest since the bloodiest stretch in two weeks of political unrest -- Morsy refused to back off the controversial edict he issued or his nation's upcoming constitutional referendum, saying he respects peaceful opposition to his decisions but won't stand for violence. On Friday, Egyptian Vice President Mahmoud Mekki told CBC, a private Egyptian TV station, that Morsy would consider postponing the referendum, so long as there are no legal challenges to the postponement. The president has agreed to delay the vote for expatriates until Wednesday, said chief of staff Refaa El-Tahtawy. That vote was previously set for Saturday. During his Thursday speech, the president condemned those involved in the clashes -- referring specifically to those with weapons and who are backed by members of the "corrupt ... ex-regime." He promised they'd be held accountable. Opinion: Morsy miscalculating Egyptians' rage . "(They) will not escape punishment," the president said in a televised speech. Yet Morsy's threat not only failed to mollify many protesters on the streets, it further enraged them. Activists camped in the square chanted "Leave! Leave! Leave!" as the president talked. And minutes after the speech ended, the Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Cairo was "ablaze," state TV reported, citing witnesses. The Islamist group said on its website and Twitter that the building had come under "a terrorist attack," with hundreds surrounding it. By early Friday, there was no sign of a fire or significant damage. The National Salvation Front, an umbrella group of opposition organizations, called for large-scale demonstrations against a government it says has "lost legitimacy," said the group, as reported by the semiofficial al-Ahram newspaper. Such a call for action -- and the sustained presence in Tahrir Square -- suggests activists are undaunted by threats from Morsy and members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group tied to him. The group was banned under longtime President Hosni Mubarak but is now Egypt's dominant political force. On Twitter, the Brotherhood has said it will hold opposition figures "fully responsible for escalation of violence & inciting their supporters." iReport: Bloody clashes around Egyptian presidential palace . Adel Saeed, a spokesman for Egypt's newly appointed general prosecutor, said Friday morning that Hamdeen Sabahi, Mohamed ElBaradei and Amr Moussa are being investigated for allegedly "conspiring to topple" the government. All three are well-known internationally -- with ElBaradei being a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Moussa a onetime head of the Arab League -- and are now being probed for their role in the opposition against Morsy, who defeated all three in this year's presidential election. ElBaradei said on Twitter: "I call upon all the national forces and figures not to participate in a dialogue that lacks all the basics of a truthful discourse. We support a dialogue that is not based on the policy of arm-twisting and forcing the status quo." During an interview with Al-Arabiya, an Arabic news network, ElBaradei called on Morsy to postpone the referendum vote and to "rescind the constitutional declaration." He added that "only then will the opposition engage in dialogue." Those taking part in the protests around the North African nation say the scenes are similar to those of the 2011 uprising that led to Mubarak's ouster. This time, they say, dissent is being vigorously stamped out by Morsy's backers in government and on the street. Specifically, they spoke of thugs with knives and rocks chasing activists, presidential backers belittling opponents and pressure from various quarters to go home and be quiet. "It's exactly the same battle," said Hasan Amin, a CNN iReporter. A November 22 edict by Morsy, in which he made his decisions immune to judicial oversight until a new constitution is voted upon, set off the latest wave of political unrest. And it's been growing -- and growing more violent -- in recent days. Opposition leaders have been clear in saying what would mollify them: Morsy must roll back his edict granting himself expanded presidential powers and must postpone a December 15 referendum on a proposed constitution, which they say doesn't adequately represent or protect all Egyptians. Morsy previously said the edict was necessary to defend the revolution, and his administration has insisted the proposed constitution was drafted legally. If people vote it down, the president said Thursday night that he'd form a new assembly to draft another constitution. Yet opposition activists haven't shown any indication that they trust Morsy on that or other counts. They accuse him of consolidating power for himself and the Muslim Brotherhood, in part by having an Islamist-dominated group push through the draft constitution. This internal strife has helped transform the area around the presidential palace in Cairo into a war zone. Streets littered with rubble and burned cars were defined by barbed-wire barricades, patrolling soldiers, parked tanks and armored personnel carriers. Read more: The factors driving Egypt's unrest . Beyond the popular unrest, Morsy's inner circle was shaken when Rafik Habib, the deputy head of the Freedom and Justice Party, resigned Thursday, party spokesman Ahmed Sobe said. Habib did not give a reason. His resignation brings to five the number of presidential advisers who have left in the past two days. It is the first, however, from the Freedom and Justice Party. Egyptian judges and media organizations also staged strikes to show their displeasure with the situation. And 11 organizations representing lawyers, journalists, writers, actors, musicians and tour guides said Morsy and the Muslim Brotherhood were behind the violence, al-Ahram reported. The group said it would call for Morsy's ouster if the administration failed to protect protesters and "fulfill the aspirations of the January 25 revolution," the newspaper said. Vice President Mekki asked critics Wednesday to submit their proposals for improving the constitution, and Morsy invited political opponents to a meeting Saturday at the presidential palace. If you're in Egypt, please send us your photos and videos and share your story, but stay safe . Reza Sayah and Ian Lee reported from Cairo; Greg Botelho reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Saad Abedine, Michael Pearson, Karen Smith, Amir Ahmed, and journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy also contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: President Mohamed Morsy would reportedly consider postponing a referendum vote .
Protesters break barricade at the presidential palace in Cairo .
Dozens throw rocks and bottles at Morsy's home in Sharkia province .
Morsy says those responsible for violence must be punished . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Boston (CNN) -- Widespread power outages and transit delays marked the start of a challenging week for millions of residents of the Northeastern United States, where a freak October snowstorm dropped more than 2 feet of snow in some places. Close to 1.7 million customers in five states remained without power Monday evening, and officials warned it could be Friday before power is back on everywhere. Utilities throughout the region reported significant progress in restoring power, but the cold, snowy conditions and house-by-house nature of the damage was slowing work, officials said. At least 13 deaths have been blamed on the weekend storm, which prompted emergency declarations from the governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts, and also put Halloween trick-or-treating plans in jeopardy. President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration for Connecticut on Monday, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts. About a dozen Massachusetts cities have postponed Halloween celebrations, according to CNN affiliate WGGB. At least 20 Connecticut cities and towns, including the capital city of Hartford, canceled events or asked parents to wait until later to take their kids trick-or-treating, according to CNN affiliate WFSB-TV. Even Gov. Dannel Malloy and his wife, Cathy, said they will be leaving the lights off. "No amount of candy is worth a potentially serious or even fatal accident," the governor said in a statement. In Worcester, Massachusetts, officials asked residents to postpone celebrations until Thursday, when temperatures are expected to climb to 60 degrees. Trick-or-treating, the city said, would "put families and our youth in harm's way as they negotiate piles of snow and downed limbs." In Springfield, Massachusetts, school officials announced classes would be canceled for the week. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said some roads in the state are expected to ice up again after dark, and he warned that downed power lines continue to pose a threat. "It was a particular challenge not just because it comes unseasonably soon, but because there are leaves on many of the trees, which caused a number of limbs to come down on power lines," he said. Some of the heaviest snow fell in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, but snowfall amounts of at least a foot were recorded from West Virginia to Maine. The Berkshire County community of Peru, Massachusetts, received 32 inches of snow during the storm. "I never have seen this, and I've lived here all my life, and that's more than 90 years," 92-year-old Genevieve Murphy of Westfield, Massachusetts, said in an interview with CNN affiliate WWLP-TV. Aaron Kershaw in Mahopac, New York, about 50 miles north of Manhattan, told CNN he was using a 4,000-watt generator to provide power for his family of five. The wet, heavy snow brought down a number of trees while coating the area in a thick blanket of white. "Thank God no homes, cars, people, etc. were harmed," he said. "But Mother Nature left us beautiful scenery." About 1,300 people were staying in Massachusetts shelters, state officials said. In Connecticut, 50 shelters were open, Malloy said. With no electricity and no heat at home, Jessica Taylor took her six children and spent the night in a shelter in the Hartford area. "We've been eating meals here," she told CNN affiliate WTIC-TV. "They've been serving us, taking good care of us." Connecticut power officials said Monday that about 748,000 people were still without power, down from a peak of more than 900,000. "It's all hands on deck," said Mitch Gross, a spokesman Connecticut Light and Power, the state's largest utility. "We have a lot of work to do." Power crews from across the country are converging on the state to help restore power, according to Gross, who said every town that Connecticut Light and Power serves was adversely affected in some way by the storm. In Massachusetts, state officials said utility crews had come from as far as Louisiana and Texas to help. Patrick said utility crews had made a 23% dent in the number of buildings without power as of Monday morning. "A 23% reduction overnight is pretty great, but we have a whole lot more to do and a few days yet before power will be restored to everyone," Patrick said. About 478,000 people remained without power Monday evening, according to officials. Elsewhere, about 202,000 customers were without power in Pennsylvania; 116,000 in New Jersey and 127,000 in New York, according to figures from emergency managers and power companies in those states. Thousands also lost power in New Hampshire, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia. Kimberly Lindner of Chappaqua, New York, said the family whiled away the hours by building a "jack-snow-lantern." "It's October, and there are 12 inches of snow on the ground," she said in a submission to CNN's iReport. "But the kids think it's great. They've been playing outside all day and really don't care that there is no power. Why not make the best of things and have some family time in the snow? A snowman without a head, a jack-o'-lantern without a body ... enough said." For others, however, the unexpected storm brought unexpected misery. Airline passengers left stranded by the storm spent a restless weekend night on cots or airport floors. "Whatever kind of system they had, it completely and utterly broke down," said passenger Fatimah Dahandari, who spent a night in Hartford, Connecticut's, Bradley International Airport while trying to get to New York. "It looks like a refugee camp in here." Passengers stuck on jet for hours . As of Monday, authorities reported at least 13 deaths attributed to the storm. Three people died in Massachusetts, Patrick said, including a Lunenberg resident who died in a fire and a resident of Hatfield who succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, apparently from an improperly vented generator. The third death happened in Springfield when a man in his 20s ignored police barricades surrounding downed power lines and touched a metal guardrail, which was charged, city fire department spokesman Dennis Legere said. At least four people died in Pennsylvania -- two of them in a crash Sunday on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, CNN affiliate KYW-TV reported. A third death happened in Temple, when an 84-year-old man was resting in his recliner Saturday and part of a large, snow-filled tree fell into his house and killed him, according to a state police report. The fourth death was blamed on carbon monoxide poisoning, after the victim in Lehigh County used a charcoal grill to heat a home, said Ruth Miller, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Four people also died in New Jersey because of the storm, police said. Two were killed in motor vehicle accidents, one in Bergen County and one in Passaic County, while two others died after trees fell on their cars. In Connecticut, two people died, including a motorist involved in a traffic accident in Hebron. CNN's Marina Landis, Leslie Tripp, Ashley Hayes, Miguel Susana, Chris Boyette, Greg Morrison, Sara Weisfeldt, Elizabeth Cherneff, Susan Candiotti, Ivan Cabrera and Dominique Debucquoy-Dodley contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: Power outages fall to about 1.7 million in five states .
Deaths attributed to storm rise to 13 .
Trick-or-treat postponements spread through Northeast .
Roads could ice up again, and fallen power lines remain a risk, officials say . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- A Hezbollah commander suspected in some of the deadliest terrorist attacks of the last 25 years and a reputed role model for Osama bin Laden has been killed in Syria, Hezbollah TV said Wednesday. Hezbollah released this undated photograph of Imad Mughniyeh. Imad Mughniyeh died in an explosion in a residential section of the Syrian capital, Damascus, said Hezbollah's television station, Al-Manar. Hezbollah blamed Israel for the killing, but Israeli officials denied involvement. "Israel rejects the attempt by terrorist elements to ascribe to it any involvement whatsoever in this incident," Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said in a statement. The FBI said it was awaiting official confirmation of Mughniyeh's death and the details. "If this information proves true, it would be good news in the ongoing fight against terrorism as one major terrorist will no longer be around to commit additional acts of terror against Americans and others in the world," FBI Special Agent Richard Kolko said. U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called Mughniyeh "a cold-blooded killer, a mass murderer and a terrorist who was responsible for [ending] countless lives." Watch the possible repercussions of Mughniyeh's death » . "The world is a better place" without the Hezbollah commander, McCormack said. Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said in a statement: "We welcome the news that Imad Mughniyeh's life of terror has finally come to an end. From Beirut to Dhahran, he orchestrated bombings, kidnappings and hijackings in which hundreds of American service members were killed. Hopefully, his demise will bring some measure of comfort to the families of all those military men he murdered." Intelligence sources described Mughniyeh as one of the craftiest and deadliest terrorists in the world who managed to elude capture for decades by changing his appearance and covering his footsteps. Western intelligence agencies long suspected Mughniyeh in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, that killed 63 people. He also is suspected in the truck bombing that year of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, an attack that killed 241 people and preceded the U.S. military withdrawal from Lebanon. Before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, U.S. officials blamed Mughniyeh for the deaths of more Americans around the world than any other terror suspect, CNN reported in 2001. A month after the attacks in the United States, the FBI debuted its Most Wanted Terrorists list with Mughniyeh on it. Mughniyeh was not suspected of involvement in 9/11, but he was a role model for bin Laden, who used the 1983 Marine barracks bombing as a standard, CNN terrorism analyst Peter Bergen said. "Because if you think about the attack, pretty much immediately afterwards President Reagan ordered the United States out of Lebanon, and so that's the model bin Laden wanted to implement everywhere, attack the United States in places like Yemen or in Kenya, or in Tanzania, or even the United States itself and it will pull out of the Middle East." Mughniyeh had been involved in training both terrorists in Iraq and some of the Shiite militia there, including elements of Moqtada al Sadr's army, two U.S. intelligence officials told CNN. The officials were not authorized to speak for attribution. Mughniyeh also had a role in the 2006 kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers just prior to the outbreak of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel in Lebanon, one of the officials said, and was involved in planning Hezbollah's military operations during that conflict. Mughniyeh was involved in providing 50 tons of weapons to Palestinian terrorists in 2002, that official said. Authorities blame Mughniyeh for the June 14, 1985, hijacking of TWA Flight 847, which gripped the attention of TV viewers around the world for more than two weeks. Hijackers seized the plane as it traveled from Athens, Greece, to Rome, Italy, forcing it to land at the Beirut airport. U.S. Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem was shot and killed during the 17-day ordeal. Kurt Carlson, a TWA 847 passenger who was badly beaten, recalled that Mughniyeh "looked like really a fanatic." "As he talked about Israel, the tone of his voice kept rising, until finally he was just screaming and his eyes were glassy, and we didn't know what he was going to do," Carlson said. "I mean, I thought he was just going to pull out a gun and start shooting." Flight 847 may have been the one careless move that the man in the shadows made. Mughniyeh reportedly left a fingerprint on the plane, gaining him a place on the FBI's most wanted terrorist list with a $5 million bounty on his head. Western intelligence agencies also suspect Mughniyeh in the early '90s bombings of the Israeli Embassy and a Jewish cultural center in Argentina that killed 119 people; and the kidnapping of Western hostages -- two of whom were killed -- in Lebanon in the 1980s. Israel had come close to finding Mughniyeh before and killing him, said Yossi Melman, an intelligence reporter for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. In 1992, intelligence agents tracked him and his brother to a Beirut garage. "They shadowed his brother and planted the bomb in the garage, knowing that Imad Mughniyeh would arrive there, but he was late and the bomb exploded and the brother was killed. Probably they missed him by a few minutes," Melman said. A former head of Israel's intelligence agency said Mughniyeh's unseen hand apparently struck the first blow in the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, a militant group based in Lebanon that seeks to establish a fundamentalist Muslim state. Former Mossad chief Danny Yaton said Mughniyeh appeared to be responsible for the attack that killed eight Israeli soldiers and the abduction of two others, triggering Israel Defense Forces operations in Lebanon. U.S. authorities tried to seize Mughniyeh on at least two occasions -- in France in 1986 and in Saudi Arabia in 1995, CNN reported. Former CIA officer Robert Baer said Mughniyeh was "head and shoulders above any other terrorist in the world." Mughniyeh reportedly destroyed all records and documents describing his past. He was believed to have been born in 1962, growing up in the Shiite neighborhoods of Beirut. Palestinian militants recruited him as a teenager, and he eventually was in Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's elite guard. The 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon apparently further inflamed Mughniyeh's hatred for the Jewish state. E-mail to a friend .
### SUMMARY:
| State Department, FBI welcome news of militant's death, await confirmation .
Terror experts call Imad Mughniyeh a role model for Osama bin Laden .
Mughniyeh dies in Syrian blast, according to Hezbollah TV .
Mughniyeh suspected in 1983 Lebanon bombings, 1985 plane hijacking . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Outside the windows of a C-130 cargo plane, the ocean spreads out in all directions. Somewhere below, it is believed, are the remains of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, which disappeared on a journey from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. But a sighting has eluded searchers so far, and the mystery surrounding the plane grows. "This is still a search and rescue operation as far as the Malaysian government is concerned," CNN's Saima Mohsin said as she accompanied the crew of the C-130. The military plane was flying at just 500 feet above sea level, with searchers peering out the windows. All that could be seen on the water were rescue ships, also on the mission. Search aircraft were covering an area of about 12,500 square nautical miles. Local fishermen have even been asked to help. "Crucial time is passing," David Gallo, with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "That search area -- that haystack -- is getting bigger and bigger and bigger." Indeed, that search area grew Tuesday. A senior Malaysian Air Force official told CNN that Flight 370 was hundreds of miles off course, traveling in the opposite direction from its original destination and had stopped sending identifying transponder codes before it disappeared. If correct, those ominous signs could call into question whether someone in the cockpit might have deliberately steered the plane away from its intended destination, a former U.S. aviation investigator said. "This kind of deviation in course is simply inexplicable," said Paul Goelz, former managing director of the National Transportation Safety Board. Nearly three dozen aircraft and 40 ships from 10 countries have so far failed to find any sign of the aircraft, which took off from Kuala Lumpur shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday (noon Friday ET). The Boeing 777-200ER was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members. Gallo described what will happen once some debris from the aircraft is found, though he stressed there's still no evidence the plane hit the water. "Once a piece of the debris is found -- if it did impact on the water -- then you've got to backtrack that debris to try to find the 'X marks the spot' on where the plane actually hit the water, because that would be the center of the haystack. "And in that haystack you're trying to find bits of that needle -- in fact, in the case of the flight data recorders, you're looking for a tiny little bit of that needle," he said. 'Not hopeless' According to the Malaysian Air Force official, who declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media, the plane's transponder apparently stopped working at about the time flight controllers lost contact with it, near the coast of Vietnam. The Malaysian Air Force lost track of the plane over Pulau Perak, a tiny island in the Strait of Malacca -- many hundreds of miles from the usual flight path for aircraft traveling between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing, the official said. If data cited by the source is correct, the aircraft was flying away from Beijing and on the opposite side of the Malay Peninsula from its scheduled route. Previous accounts had the aircraft losing touch with air traffic control near the coast of Vietnam. Rescue officials have expanded the search area. "What I'm seeing here is clearly they have no idea," said CNN aviation correspondent Richard Quest. "They know roughly the area, but even there they are starting to scrabble around as to -- was it going in this direction? Had it turned round?" Quest described the search as "extremely painstaking work," suggesting that a grid would have been drawn over the ocean and that teams are combing the area, bit by bit. Although the work is challenging, he is confident that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 will be found. "It's not hopeless by any means. They will find it," Quest said. "They have to. They have to know what happened." U.S. officials expressed frustration Tuesday with the way the search has been handled. "To me, every minute counts here. And that was such a key point -- that the plane actually reversed course and was flying back over Malaysia toward Indonesia. Why wasn't that made known? Why weren't jets scrambled? Why wasn't an alert put out on that immediately?" said Rep. Peter King, chairman of the House counterterrorism and intelligence subcommittee. "So far they seemed to have dropped the ball at every level. I hate to be the Monday morning quarterback, but it appears as if they've basically done nothing right so far," he said. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers echoed King's comments when he spoke to CNN's Erin Burnett. "The Malaysians have not been fully cooperative in making this a scientific search pattern using all the assets very wisely. So you start out in one place, and you're 500 miles away the next day. That tells me that they've got a lot of gaps to try to fill," he said. 'Still a mystery' Gallo, of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, speaks from experience. He helped lead the search for the recorders of Air France Flight 447, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009. The Air France flight was en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris when communications ended suddenly from the Airbus A330, another state-of-the-art aircraft. It took four searches over the course of nearly two years to locate the bulk of Flight 447's wreckage and the majority of the 228 bodies in a mountain range deep under the ocean. It took even longer to find the cause of the disaster. In 2011, the aircraft's voice recorder and flight data recorder were recovered from the ocean floor after an extensive search using miniature submersible vehicles. "In this case, I thought for sure -- in a highly trafficked area where there's lots of air traffic, lots of ship traffic, not far from shore -- that for sure this would be a more rapid finding of some remnants of the plane -- but nothing," Gallo told CNN's Blitzer, comparing the Malaysia Airlines and Air France flights. Cmdr. William Marks of the Navy's U.S. 7th Fleet also spoke to Blitzer. He said the Gulf of Thailand is "pretty much saturated," but that the Strait of Malacca is "not quite" because "it's harder to get things over there." Marks spoke by phone while aboard the USS Blue Ridge, which is assisting in the search. "It's not a matter of if we can see something. We certainly can. We've picked up small wooden crates on our radar. We've picked up something as small as a soccer ball or a basketball. So we can see if things are out there. "Now this is U.S. Navy technology -- not everyone has this same technology," he said Tuesday. A day earlier, Marks told Blitzer the search area was growing on account of currents and the wind. "It's a very large search area, but still a mystery -- still a lot of question marks." Interpol 'inclined to conclude' Malaysia Airlines disappearance not terror . Two mystery passengers add to intrigue in airliner's disappearance . Who travels with a stolen passport? Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370: What we know and don't know . CNN's Saeed Ahmed contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| "We've picked up something as small as a soccer ball (on radar)," an official says .
CNN rides along with searchers on plane .
Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared four days ago .
Nearly three dozen aircraft and 40 ships have so far failed to find any sign of the aircraft . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- "This here ain't no protest song or anything like that, cause I don't write no protest songs." -- Bob Dylan, Gerde's Folk City, New York, April 1962 . Bob Dylan and Joan Baez perform at a civil rights rally in Washington, D.C. in 1963 . It was in typically oblique fashion that Dylan launched "Blowin' in the Wind" on the world. A song takes on a life of its own once it has left a musician's private domain and even if he didn't see it as a protest song, it has certainly been interpreted as one by its listeners. It has become one of the most recognized political songs of popular culture and its release on the 1963 album "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" arguably marks the pinnacle of the protest song as a cultural force. Today Dylan really doesn't write protest songs and hardly, it would seem, does anyone else. But is this because there is a dearth of politically-motivated singers, or has the public simply lost its appetite for protest? "There was a particular genre of songwriting which Dylan represented in the sixties and seventies which doesn't continue in quite the same way," says Professor John Street, head of Politics at the University of East Anglia and author of "Politics and Culture." "If the protest song is defined by the lone voice with a guitar, then it probably has declined, even though people like Billy Bragg and so forth strive to keep it alive." In his brief sojourn as leader of the counterculture's political awakening, Dylan was following in a tradition for protest in folk music that had existed for centuries. Folk practitioners such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger used their music in the 1940s and 1950s to support the burgeoning labor movement and to speak out against Senator Joseph McCarthy's purge against "Un-American" behavior. But the roots of protest music can be traced back to as early as the 14th century in England where the "Cutty Wren" was taken up as the rallying call for the Peasants' Revolt of 1381. The protest song crossed the Atlantic and many were written during the American War of Independence. Nor did the protest song die when Dylan eschewed overtly political song-writing. When Dylan stepped across the electric fence, the protest song made the leap with him. Suddenly, in a world where the counter culture was brushing the brim of mainstream culture, even rock n' roll, which hitherto had limited itself to the subjects of love, sex, cars and dancing, was overflowing with political messages; Jimi Hendrix played a version of the "Star-Spangled Banner" which was interpreted by many as an anti-Vietnam statement. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young wrote "Ohio" after four students were killed by members of the Ohio National Guard at an anti-war demonstration at Kent State University. In soul music, artists such as James Brown with "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" and Marvin Gaye with his album "What's Going On" became spokespersons for the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. This carried over into the 1980s with hip hop acts such as Public Enemy protesting against the endemic racism and poverty faced by the black community in America. Meanwhile in the UK, the punk movement took on the mantle of political protest from its folk and rock forebears, with groups such as The Clash criticizing racial disharmony in British society. But as the new century approached it seems as though the appetite for using music as a tool for protest diminished. Parallels can be drawn between the political climate of the 1960s and today: a fear of communism has been supplanted by a fear of terrorism and even George W. Bush himself has pointed out similarities between the Vietnam War and the conflict in Iraq. It would seem like a ripe time for the protest song to make a comeback. While the Iraq war has seen some of the 1960s' stalwarts re-emerge, with Neil Young calling for George W Bush to be impeached and Bruce Springsteen releasing an album of thirteen covers of protest songs by Pete Seeger, none of yesterday's stars wield the same influence with today's young as they did when they were at their peek. Some mainstream pop stars have made stabs at political songs. In 2006 Pink released the single "Dear Mr President," an open letter to George W. Bush criticizing some of his policies, on her album "I'm Not Dead". But the song was only released as a single in Europe and Australia, leaving her open to criticism that releasing an anti-US foreign policy song in Europe, where opinion had already largely turned against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, was virtually riskless. But it seems musicians are still flexing their muscles in the political sphere, only the protest comes dressed in different clothes, with a new hard-nosed approach that matches the nous of politicians. Rock stars are no longer part of the counter culture. They are immensely wealthy members of the establishment, with the weight of large corporations behind them, and they are using their insider influence to lobby on behalf of their cause. The focus has shifted to fighting global poverty and climate change, with musical events such as Live 8 and Live Earth, and while they may not be singing songs of protest, pop stars are using their presence at these global events to push for change. "The idea that we should listen to people like Bono and Geldof on Africa is in a part a product of the thought that musicians were not merely crafters of nice tunes but were actually serious commentators on our world," says Street. "The kind of people who might have sat on the outside looking in are now so establishment, they're acting as pressure groups within the system." In fact, Geldof has pointedly lambasted the protest song, claiming it has little or no power to effect change. He told Rolling Stone magazine that the protest rock served out by the Clash, who headlined the 1978 Rock Against Racism festival at Victoria Park in London was "a laughable farce" and that "the rhetoric of pop revolution was too easy." It was this same line of thinking that led him to dismiss the idea that African bands should play at Live8 because they were African: they should only appear if they were popular, he argued, as it was the ability to attract large crowds who would rally behind the push to cancel world debt that would persuade public opinion wary G8 leaders to bend from their course. While the Live 8 concerts were met with cynicism by some - "for many of the people listed in this line-up... it's a chance to get on world-wide television, sell a load of albums and feel very pleased with yourself at the end of the day," said Janet Street-Porter in the UK's Independent newspaper - they succeeded in bringing on board the world's media and in exerting pressure which led to the cancelling of debt for the world's poorest countries and $50 billion in aid promised. But according to a report by DATA (Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa), the G8 have since "shuffled at half-pace on aid, and fell backwards on trade". The legacy of Live8 will determine which relationship between music and politics is the most effective. E-mail to a friend .
### SUMMARY:
| Protest songs date back to 14th-century Britain and the Peasants' Revolt .
Bob Dylan represented the protest song culture in the 60s and 70s .
Marvin Gaye carried protest into soul; Public Enemy took it to hip-hop .
Bob Geldof claims the protest song no longer has power to effect change . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- It's not a phrase that usually gets said out loud, but you have to feel sorry for Cristiano Ronaldo. The Real Madrid player has just finished the season of his life, winning Spain's La Liga while vanquishing the club's hated Catalan foes Barcelona. He scored more goals than he ever has before too, 46 in the league to be precise, and 60 overall. Yet even though Madrid finished nine points clear of second place, it is Barca's Lionel Messi that still gets all the attention. "Some people say I'm better, other people say it's him, but at the end of the day, they're going to decide who is the best player," Ronaldo told CNN in an exclusive interview before this weekend's Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Chelsea at Munich's Allianz Arena. "At the moment ... I think it is me," he laughs. "Sometimes (the comparisons with Messi) makes me tired ... for him too because they compare us together all the time. Messi breaks Barcelona's all-time scoring record . "You cannot compare a Ferrari with a Porsche because it's a different engine. You cannot compare them. He does the best things for Barcelona, I do the best things for Madrid. "I think we push each other sometimes in the competition, this is why the competition is so high. This is why Madrid and Barcelona are the best teams in the world because everyone pushes each other, not just me and Messi but other players." Good cop/bad cop . Perhaps Ronaldo is right. The world needs the "good cop/bad cop" routine of Messi and Ronaldo to bring the best out of both them. It might be the reason why neither has set the world alight on the international stage. But while Messi is hailed as a secular saint, Ronaldo is derided for his self-confidence, some would say over-confidence. How does he cope with the vitriol he provokes in opposition fans? "Sometimes, you have to put on a mask. You cannot smile every time for all the people. It's impossible, I cannot do that," he says. "This is not my type of personality. And people really don't know me. And I do it for that because I don't want every person to know me, just close friends ... you know, my friends, teammates. These people know me very well. Other people, to be honest, I really don't care about that." Still, such has been Madrid's dominance in the league that Ronaldo is entitled to feel, if not exactly sycophantic praise, then at least recognition of his and his team's achievements. "My high point (in my career) is to win the title here in Madrid, La Liga," he explains. Clasico win gives Real the edge over rivals . "(It) was my first time, so I was so happy because it's my best moment here in Madrid, the most important trophy. In terms of individual, it was great for me, the goals that I scored, to break my own record ... to do 100 points in the Spanish league which is a record too. It's phenomenal. "For me this is the most difficult league in the world. To compete with Barcelona, as everyone knows is very complicated and we beat them. Nine points ahead ... so it was an amazing year." In Barca's shadow? Barcelona. It is the shadow that follows not just Ronaldo, but also Real coach Jose Mourinho, who has also had a remarkable season in Spain. You could argue it is a shadow that follows the city of Madrid around too. "The points speak for themselves," Ronaldo replies when asked about the rivalry. "Nine points separated Madrid and Barcelona; it's a lot here in Spain. We played better than them this year, I'm sure about that. I remember we went there one month ago and we won 2-1...nobody can do that, it's very difficult so we deserve to win the league. We are better than them at the moment, but we have to respect them because they are a great team too." Now there has never been a better time for Real Madrid to break the spell of Barcelona. With coach Pep Guardiola gone and questions being raised about the age of the Barca squad, Ronaldo believes that Madrid could go on to do something special, with the "Special One" at the helm. Drained Guardiola quits Barca . "As a person (Jose Mourinho's) a humble guy ... he's very simple. We joke all the time, with funny stories all the time. It's great. In terms of coaching, he's completely different. He's so serious, so professional." For Ronaldo, Mourinho has proven himself to be the best coach in the world. "This is why he wins the titles that he won. Because for me, not just because I work with him, but he's the best because of what he does: the tactics, everything around the players, the motivation ... and you know, the titles speak for themselves. He won in every country that he's passed, so I think that's great. I think nobody ... two or three coaches do that in their lives, so we have to appreciate that." The worst day . Yet the season has not been without its disappointments. It may well have delivered the greatest single triumph in Ronaldo's career so far, but it also delivered its nadir -- losing to Bayern on penalties in the Champions League semifinals. Ronaldo missed a spot-kick during the shootout as Real's wait for a record-extending 10th European title spilled into its second decade. "To be honest, it was one of the worst days in my career so far," he admits. Ronaldo, Real Madrid suffer heartache . "It's always tough when you lose something, when you lose on penalties. But I'm not really worried about that because if I didn't score the two goals most of the players aren't going to shoot the penalties, so I have to appreciate what I did in the Champions League, what I did for the club." The dream Madrid-Barcelona final didn't happen. Instead we have a final that no one could predict. On the one hand a Bayern Munich side that unexpectedly fought back to knock out Madrid. On the other hand a Chelsea side that shocked Barcelona, the world, and one suspects, even themselves. Who does Ronaldo think will win? "Most people think that Bayern is going to win easily. I don't think so," he says, perhaps remembering the battles he had with Chelsea while playing for Manchester United in the English Premier League. "Don't forget that Chelsea beat Barcelona, which is very, very tough. It will be an interesting game. I don't know which team is going to win. I'm not going to bet on anything because Chelsea is very strong. They defend well, they have a good counterattack. Bayern is a fantastic team too, so it will be a good game." In 12 months' time he will hope to realign the order of things and play in the 2013 Champions League final. For now he'll have to make do with being the best player in the best league with the best manager in the world. Should you feel sorry for Cristiano Ronaldo? So far everything seems to be going just fine. To celebrate the release of the documentary Castrol EDGE Presents Ronaldo Tested To The Limit for free on iTunes, fans were given the chance to challenge the player live through Facebook in a new test #RonaldoLIVE . To see if Ronaldo had the strength to perform against his fans see www.youtube.com/castroledge .
### SUMMARY:
| Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo talks to CNN's Pedro Pinto .
He has won the Spanish title, scoring 46 goals, a record for him .
Ronaldo says that he believes he is better than Lionel Messi .
He believes Jose Mourinho is the best coach in the world . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
London, England (CNN) -- An interview with a Swedish footballer playing in his home country's fourth tier usually only engages the interest of the most parochial of soccer fans, but when Anton Hysen agreed to speak to a local magazine last month, it unexpectedly created headlines from Brazil to China. The 20-year old midfielder -- a former under-17 Swedish international now playing for Utsiktens BK of Gothenburg, a team that rarely attracts crowds of more than a few hundred -- made history as well as headlines. "I am a footballer and [I am] gay. If I perform as a footballer, then I do not think it matters if I like girls or boys," he told Swedish football magazine Offside. In a heartbeat Hysen became the world's only current professional footballer to go public on being gay, breaking the game's last taboo. Homosexuality in professional sport remains a controversial issue. But as attitudes have changed, sportsmen and women like Martina Navratilova, arguably the greatest women's tennis player of all time, to basketball's John Amaechi, have publicly announced their sexuality despite the pressure from both the locker room and the prejudice of fans. Yet whilst tennis, basketball, cricket and even rugby union have acknowledged the presence of gay players, football has been oddly, and stubbornly, resistant. Even in the past six months, for every Mario Gomez or Manuel Neur -- two German internationals who have urged gay players to go public -- there's a Vlatko Markovic, the head of the Croatian Football Federation, who told Croat newspaper Vercernji List that: "While I'm president of the Croatian Football Federation, there will be no homosexuals playing in the national team ... thankfully only normal people play football." And FIFA president Sepp Blatter was caught out too when he joked that gay supporters should refrain from having sex at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Homosexuality is illegal in the emirate. Football lags behind . But why is it that soccer, which has waged a largely successfully battle against racism and sexism in western Europe, remains one of the few bastions of homophobia in sport? The answer according to the "Justin Campaign" -- a group that campaigns for more tolerance for homosexuality in football -- is the fear of reprisals from fans. "Football, with its roots in working-class male culture, has always had a far more aggressive and vocal support," explains spokesman Alan Duffy. "That's not to say that middle class people aren't racist or homophobic. Simply that often they will keep their views to themselves. Footballers receive crowd abuse for everything and anything. Fans now know not to openly express racist views at grounds. We need to get to a stage where they know that homophobic chanting is unacceptable too." The campaign is named after the only other professional footballer, aside from Anton Hysen, who went public about their sexuality. Fashanu was a promising young English striker who in 1981 became Britain's first £1 million ($1.6 million)black player when he signed for then-European Cup winners Nottingham Forest. In 1990 he came out after a British newspaper planned to run an expose of Fashanu's affair with a politician. But according to gay activist and friend Peter Tatchell, the pressure of leading a double life, coupled later with the abuse he received from supporters everywhere he played, left an indelible mark. "During that decade of closeted double life he found it immensely difficult to cope with the strain of hiding his gayness in the macho world of football," he recalled. "Justin suffered racism too ... they would make monkey noises and gestures, and throw bananas on the pitch. But it was the anti-gay prejudice that ultimately dragged him down." Fashanu never fulfilled his potential and drifted down the divisions. In 1998, after falsely believing that a warrant had been issued for his arrest in the U.S. following allegations of a sexual assault, Fashanu hanged himself. He was 37 years old. According to the Justin Campaign, the experiences of Fashanu, and the vitriol it unleashed, has made it harder to persuade high-profile footballers to come out. Only last year, the English Football Association (FA) delayed the launch of a viral video tackling the issue of homophobia in the game when it emerged that every footballer and agent the FA approached had declined to endorse it. "I suspect agents and clubs shied away from it," Peter Clayton, chair of the FA's Homophobia in Football advisory group, told British newspaper the Daily Mail. "A player coming forward to appear in it would feel he might ignite more vitriol." Agents or fans? Indeed, new research has suggested that it is the football clubs and football agents themselves, rather than the fans, that might be the real barrier to players coming out. Dr Ellis Cashmore, professor of culture media and sport at Staffordshire University, conducted an anonymous survey of over 3,000 fans and footballers, and discovered that 91% believed that only a player's performance on the pitch mattered, whilst just 9% believed that a player's sexuality posed a problem. "Before we did the research the big homophobia barrier was fans and the players didn't want to confront hostile fans," Dr Cashmore told CNN. "But they [the fans surveyed] said that they thought it was the clubs, because no clubs want to take a risk because they feel it will hurt the brand of the club." It was sentiment echoed by Max Clifford, a UK media impresario who last year revealed that he represented two gay Premier League footballers but urged them to stay in the closet. "Do I think it's right? Of course not ... It's a very sad state of affairs. But it's a fact that homophobia in football is as strong now as 10 years ago." Dr. Cashmore agrees. "They [football clubs and agents] have read Max Clifford's remarks. Agents make money from commission. Agents will ask players: 'We have $6.5 million in endorsement contracts, would it damage your reputation [to come out]?' It's how they think about this. By nature they are cautious. You have two conservative forces here. Clubs who are institutions and agents who want to protect their own income streams. Many of them reluctantly concede that perception." The English FA believes it is now on the right track when it comes to dealing with homophobic abuse, perhaps even setting the stage for a footballer to follow Anton Hysen. "The FA is communicating with experts in tackling homophobia on a regular basis ...there is an FA strategy in place to implement those over the next 12 months and beyond," explained the FA's Matt Phillips. The next Hysen? Some, like Dr. Cashmore, believe that far from being a barrier to earning money, an openly gay player would be able to significantly raise their profile, an experience borne out by the interest in Anton Hysen's story. But even with the changing attitudes in society, gay footballers still look as much to the experiences of Fashanu as Hysen. "Would a player face the same vitriol as Justin? It's hard to say," said Duffy. "He may well do. But there would be also many many more words of encouragement. Something that would help and something that Justin didn't get, unfortunately."
### SUMMARY:
| Anton Hysen, a fourth division Swedish footballer, recently declared he was gay .
He became only the second professional footballer to do so .
The first, Justin Fashanu, hanged himself in 1998 .
CNN looks at the reasons why sexuality remains the last taboo in football . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- William Fox-Pitt sounds rather like a character straight out of the pages of a novel and, at times, his life has played out like one. He used to teach the "Queen of Pop" Madonna how to ride a horse, while his first wife left him for his arch-rival on the three-day eventing circuit, Andrew Nicholson. It is a career beset by tragedies too -- of riders and horses -- that made him think twice about climbing back into the saddle. But now happily married for a second time, the Briton has three children and a myriad of victories. At the age of 45, the world No.1 is still riding and is still desperately seeking that elusive Olympic gold medal. "If I'd won gold at London 2012, it might have been different," Fox-Pitt, who won team silver at his home Games, adding to the bronze he won in Beijing four years earlier and another silver secured in Athens in 2004, tells CNN. "That would have been a good time to think I'll kick back. But I'm still living the dream over again. "Of course, there's the sense that I've used up a lot of good luck in an obviously dangerous sport. But if you're doing something you love, it's worth the risk. "In the front of your mind, there's that sense you could have a prang and end up in a mess. But this is a calculated risk. If your number is up crossing the road, riding a horse or getting in the car, that's how it is. It certainly makes everything feel more fragile." It is 23 years since Fox-Pitt thought about walking away from the sport altogether. Competing at the prestigious annual Badminton event in the UK, his mount Briarlands Pippin lost a shoe just before a fence, slipped, flipped over at the fence and had to be put down because of a broken neck. For all the bravado required for such a dangerous sport, Fox-Pitt talks of that moment as though the emotional wounds are still raw. "I was really quite damaged by that," he recalls. "I remember being very unsure whether I thought this was a good sport. I've had some bad falls, times when I've woken up in the air ambulance, I've had friends that have died doing this. "And yes you do ask yourself, 'what on earth are you doing?' But if you're going to break your neck, you might as well be doing something you love. Thankfully I'm still hanging in there." This is not the rider nor family man brushing off the obvious repercussions of a fall, but rather the elite athlete in him knowing that he cannot spend too much time dwelling on the what ifs of his sport. That sport reached its nadir in 1999 with five rider deaths in as many months, a period Fox-Pitt described as a "freak year". Improvements in safety have steadily come into force in the proceeding 15 years, with collapsible fences and inflatable jackets for riders. But while Fox-Pitt wants to be safe, he does not want to entirely eradicate the inherent dangers of horse and man riding over gargantuan fences, often at breakneck speeds. "I think there has to be an element of risk, otherwise no one would want to do it," he explains. "It's a bit like Formula 1. I'm sure the guys are the same before a race -- at the start of the cross-country I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach. It's the excitement, the anticipation and the nerves. It's a very raw feeling ahead of what you're hoping to conquer." The Briton, who was educated at Eton, where Princes William and Harry and British Prime Minister David Cameron among others attended, is bemused as to how he has made it to the pinnacle of his sport. Modest to the core, he says: "I never thought this would happen. When I started competitively I was quite average. Riding was just a family thing to do." But that modest beginner has managed to become the golden boy of eventing, something which seemed to catch the attention of Madonna when she was married to Guy Ritchie and living in the UK. "Well, I'm not sure it was because of what I'd achieved but just simple geography that she approached me -- she lived nearby with Guy Ritchie," Fox-Pitt says. But how was it teaching the notoriously volatile "Queen of Pop" how to ride? "It was a very enjoyable and surreal experience," Fox-Pitt, who taught her for two or three years, says. "When she arrived, no one could quite believe it was happening and there is something about her that's quite extraordinary, but it was also all very normal, she was very normal. "Horses are great releases for people and I think the riding was just that for her. Needless to say she took it very seriously. She's quite feisty and we had a few, how should I put it, heated debates about stuff. It was a fun time but it's all in the past now." Similarly in the past is Fox-Pitt's previous life with Wiggy, his first wife, who left him for Nicholson, the New Zealand horseman who is currently ranked second in the world. Fox-Pitt, however, can now look back on the separation and laugh. "It was a bit like something out of Eastenders," he says. "I can see people like to make a lot of the rivalry and that's good for the sport. It adds an interesting twist to something that can often be dull I guess. "It's someone that the media and people supporting make quite a hoodoo about and that can be quite tiring. Everyone seems to have their team -- his or mine. I guess it's fun for most people." The relations between the pair are understandably still frosty because of their personal and professional lives, while there are few words exchanged between the two riders, except for the odd congratulations should one get the upper hand on the other. Yet there is so much more to Fox-Pitt than the remarkable horseman that he is. There is his indomitable mother, Marietta, who spurred him on to ride and would not accept his occasional decisions to quit. There are the contradicting aspects of him -- that he is part of the bloodline of William Pitt, British Prime Minister in the 18th Century, which contrast to the black eye he sported after sumo wrestling at his bachelor party, prior to his second marriage to the television presenter Alice Plunkett. But first and foremost, he is known for pulling off the ultimate equestrian juggling act, mastering the three complex disciplines of dressage, cross-country and show jumping. Quite how much longer he will ride is a question he cannot answer. Rio de Janeiro 2016 is an obvious cut-off point but, then again, so was London 2012. "I really had to do London -- if I hadn't that would have been devastating -- and in many ways everything else is a bonus," Fox-Pitt adds. "It takes a long time in eventing to build up your business, horses and sponsors and to finally make some money. My horses wouldn't retire and I'm not sure I could see someone else ride them. "I could do without the sick feeling in my stomach before a big event but I'm not done yet. I'm still having fun."
### SUMMARY:
| Fox-Pitt risks life and limb in his bid to remain the world's No.1 three-day event rider .
He has toyed with quitting the sport after the deaths of close friends and horses .
When Madonna lived in the UK, he used to teach the "Queen of Pop" how to ride .
His heart is now set on winning a so-far elusive Olympic gold medal in 2016 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
When a college girlfriend called to tell me she was dating someone new, I asked the standard, superficial questions any 20-something pal would: . "How tall?" "He's a foot taller than me!" "What does he do?" "He's actually just finishing up school." "He's in your master's program?" "Not quite." At the time, a year ago now, he was 20 and she was 23. Mrs. Robinson she's not; their three-year age difference isn't exactly shocking. It makes sense that two students (she was earning a master's degree and he was working toward his bachelor's) would meet working a part-time job. Yet, during a recent gathering of girlfriends, she seemed to be the target of as many cougar jokes as Mariah Carey was in 2008 when she married Nick Cannon. (At 32, Cannon is a decade younger than the singer.) It probably didn't help that, at the start of their relationship, my friend's suitor couldn't legally accompany her to the bar. "It makes people really uncomfortable for some reason," she said in response to my own mindless cougar quip. As the public becomes accustomed to tales of 40- and 50-year-old women who date younger men, 20- and 30-something women who do the same are still regarded as a strange species. In popular parlance, these young lovers of even younger men are dubbed "pumas." Take actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, for example. After announcing her engagement to 23-year-old baseball player Cutter Dykstra last week, the 31-year-old took flak in some online comment sections. "I can't imagine being 31 and relating so much to a 23 y/o male...they are too immature still!" said one commenter. Another called Sigler "a mini cougar." One People.com commenter even suggested that 2013 was "the year of the 'young-er cougar,' " noting that race car driver and model Danica Patrick, 30, is dating fellow driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 25. Three to five years hardly calls for puma and cougar jokes, said Hugo Schwyzer, a professor of history and gender studies at Pasadena City College. If it were the women who were three to five years younger, he added, people would say it's the perfect age gap. "The biggest obstacle (these couples) are going to face is this enduring myth that boys develop more slowly than girls," Schwyzer said. "We just repeat that as if that's absolutely true. It is developmentally largely true when dealing with infants and toddlers ... but once you get to adulthood, you know, 18 is 18." Of course, as far as "The Twilight Saga" is concerned, 18 isn't always 18. While Bella jokes that she's "not really into the whole cougar thing" regarding a guy two years her junior, her seemingly teenage vampire boyfriend is actually more than 100 years older than she is -- and that's not creepy at all? As more Hollywood actresses and models, such as Eva Longoria, date younger men, the unwarranted stigma surrounding such relationships will fade, matchmaker Patti Stanger said. But for now, a Celebuzz gallery titled "Hollywood's cougars" includes Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. She's four months older than he is. Stanger's general rule of thumb for dating, regardless of who is on the winter end of the May-December romance, is "10 up, 10 down." If a couple is 11 years apart in age, she said, "don't cry. It's no big deal. But if you go 15, you're screwed." Stanger has also mentioned this notion on her reality show, "The Millionaire Matchmaker," which is in its sixth season on Bravo. On the series, she often takes on male and female clients who are looking for someone significantly younger than they are. When that happens, Stanger added, cultural references are lost and one person assumes the caretaker role, which can be a problem when that person is the woman. "When you do 15 years, when you do Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, it's going to run its course," she added. "It can't last when the woman is older than the man. When the man is older than the woman, unfortunately, there is a double standard and it does last. Especially in different cultures ... that is the norm because a man is supposed to provide and guide for his woman." The puma and cougar debate also has a place among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender daters, though the lines are blurrier. When 26-year-old actress Amber Heard and 36-year-old photographer Tasya van Ree went public with their relationship in 2010, age wasn't at the forefront of reports the way it was for Carey and Cannon. "Opinions on age difference run the gamut from fearful to desirable," author Dave Singleton wrote regarding the gay community in his Match.com column, "Ask Dave." "There's no hard and fast rule on whether age differences sink the love boat," Singleton wrote. "But age is definitely a factor when you date someone. ... In my research with gay men for my book, 'The Mandates: 25 Real Rules for Successful Gay Dating,' I never met one who described a date without telling me the guy's age first." As Schwyzer says, "The problem is largely cultural at this time. ... (There will be) jokes about robbing a cradle. The expectations are somehow that (a woman is) not capable of being with a grown man and has thus chosen to date someone who our society thinks of as a boy." In October, London-based video blogger Emily Hartridge, 28, posted a video about the benefits of dating a younger man. The comedic vlog listed reasons such as "younger guys try harder to please you" and "you get to feel more in charge" among the perks. Another plus for some career-driven, powerful women in their 20s and 30s, Schwyzer said, is that millennial men tend to be more open about gender roles. "For decades women have moved into traditionally male spaces," he added. "With some millennial guys ... we're not seeing more guys who are feminine, but flexible." For my friend, the best thing about dating a younger man -- at least her younger man -- is that there's no noticeable age difference at all. I can pick on her all I want for dating someone the same age as my younger sister. And I'll probably continue to do so -- out of love, of course. But truth be told, there's less of a cultural gap between her and her younger beau than there was between my last boyfriend and me. At six years my senior, he was behind the wheel of a car while I was still riding around the neighborhood on my Razor scooter. At least my "cougar" friend and her juvenile boyfriend can both recall growing up listening to cassette tapes, playing video games on the original PlayStation, and watching Bill Clinton deny that he had "sexual relations with that woman" -- even if one of them wasn't quite sure what that meant at the ripe old age of 6.
### SUMMARY:
| After announcing her engagement to a 23-year-old, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, 31, took flak .
20- and 30-something women who date younger men are seen as strange by some .
In popular parlance, these young lovers of even younger men are dubbed "pumas" |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN)Said and Cherif Kouachi, who are the leading suspects in Wednesday's attack on the magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, grew up in a world of poor job prospects, life in the French equivalent of the projects and prison time that is not untypical for the French "underclass," which is disproportionately Muslim. On Friday, the two brothers were killed in a shootout with police, achieving their goal of a supposedly heroic "martyrdom." Before they died, one of the brothers spoke on the phone to a journalist from the French news network BFM saying, "We are just telling you that we are the defenders of Prophet Mohammed. I was sent, me, Cherif Kouachi, by al Qaeda in Yemen. I went there and Sheikh Anwar Al-Awlaki financed my trip... before he was killed." Anwar al-Awlaki was a Yemeni American cleric born in New Mexico who spent much of his life in his native United States, but he left in 2002 when he became the subject of intense FBI scrutiny. He traveled first to the United Kingdom and then to Yemen, where he joined al Qaeda, eventually rising to become the head of its operations to target the West. Al-Awlaki was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Yemen in September 2011. Cherif Kouachi, the younger of the brothers had dreams of being a successful rapper that fizzled and later worked in a series of menial jobs, including as a pizza delivery guy. He fell under the spell of a militant cleric in the 19th arrondissement, a gritty immigrant-dominated suburb of northeastern Paris that has little in common with the glamorous French capital city that is known to tourists. He was arrested by French authorities in 2005 when he was about to leave to fight in Iraq. He planned to travel to Iraq via Syria. This appears to be quite significant as the pipeline of Western "foreign fighters" traveling to Syria and then to Iraq during this time period was dominated by "al Qaeda in Iraq," which was a precursor both of the Nusra Front, which is al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and also of ISIS, which broke away from al Qaeda early last year. He was sentenced to three years in prison in 2008 for recruiting fighters to join in the Iraq War alongside the notorious leader of the al Qaeda affiliate there, Abu Musab al Zarqawi, but didn't serve any time after the conviction; the judge ruled that his pretrial detention had been enough. Nonetheless, Cherif's time in prison awaiting trial seems to have not only solidified his radicalization, but also connected him to people who were important in French militant circles While in pretrial detention, Cherif met Djamel Beghal, who was in prison for his role in an attempted attack against the U.S. Embassy in Paris in 2001. Cherif and Beghal became friends and in 2010, when Beghal was released, he and Cherif allegedly planned the jail break of another radical Islamist who was serving a life sentence for his involvement in the bombing of the Musee d'Orsay train station in Paris in October 1995 that wounded 29 people. But prosecutors couldn't prove the conspiracy, and Cherif was released. Cherif Kouachi: 'I was ready to go and die in battle' While there is no particular economic profile of terrorists -- some are from privileged backgrounds and others are not -- it's interesting to note some of the similarities between the Kouachi brothers and the Tsarnaev brothers, who are alleged to have carried out the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013. The Tsarnaev brothers grew up in a working-class household in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The elder brother Tamerlan had dreams of becoming a world-class boxer but was unemployed when he carried out the Boston attacks. He had traveled to Dagestan in Russia in 2011 in an attempt to meet up with militants there. He also felt alienated from American society, telling an interviewer, "I don't have a single American friend." The Tsarnaevs were influenced by the jihadist propaganda of Awlaki. The Tsarnaevs, however, are not typical of American Muslims. For Muslims in the United States the "American Dream" has, on average, worked fairly well. They are as educated as most Americans and have similar incomes. This is often not the case for the Muslims of France, who make up the largest Muslim population of any country in the West. Consider that around 12% of the French population is Muslim, but as much as an astonishing 70% of its prison population is Muslim. According to a researcher at Stanford University, Muslim immigrants in France are two-and-a-half times less likely to be called for a job interview than a similar Christian candidate and Muslim incomes are around 15% below their Christian counterparts. Many Muslims, such as the Kouchai brothers, live in grim banlieue --suburbs of large French cities—that are not dissimilar to projects in the United States where there is little in the way of opportunity; they live divorced from mainstream French society. According to the Renseignements Généraux, a police agency that monitors militants in France, half of the neighborhoods with a high Muslim population are isolated from French social and political life. The French term for these neighborhoods is "sensitive urban zones," where unemployment averages 45%. In short for French Muslims, there is no "French Dream," nor, of course, any "EU Dream." It's also small wonder then that France has supplied more foreign fighters to the war in Syria -- around 700 -- than any other Western nation, including, possibly, one of the Kouachi brothers. After a series of bombings in France in 1995 carried out by militants with links to the former French colony of Algeria that included the Musee' d'Orsay attack, French authorities enacted harsh anti-terrorism laws that allow prosecutors to charge the mere intention to commit an act of terror as a crime and also to hold those suspected of such crimes for up to three years as prosecutors investigated their cases. Since then, France has been effective at thwarting terrorist attacks -- largely due to these laws and a robust intelligence service -- and only a few terror attacks, such as those that occurred this week have been successful. The laws, however, did not inhibit people from traveling to countries in the Middle East to join groups like ISIS and al Qaeda. Indeed, it did not stop Said Kouachi, the older of the two brothers involved in Wednesday's attack, from traveling to Yemen to train with al Qaeda in 2011. Charlie Hebdo attack: What we know and what we don't . Because of the recent travel of hundreds of French fighters to the Middle East, the French Parliament adopted new anti-terrorism laws in November to prevent French nationals from traveling abroad to fight. A travel ban can be imposed on French nationals when "there are serious reasons to believe that someone is planning to travel abroad to take part in terrorist activities..." The ban is effective for at least six months but can be renewed for up to two years. The law also allows for blocking websites that "glorify terrorism" in an attempt to counter radicalization online. With so many hundreds of French Islamist fighters traveling to the Middle East, hopefully, these kinds of measures will help to counter the kind of violence that took place in Paris over the course of this week.
### SUMMARY:
| Peter Bergen: As with some other French Muslims, the brothers were marginal, economically and socially .
He says they became active in Middle East causes, had contact with other prisoners . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Hours after a lone gunman murdered 20 school children in Newtown, Connecticut, last December, President Barack Obama took a vow. "We're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics," he said. In the year since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, gun control advocates have seen their primary legislative objective fall short in Congress. They have, instead, turned to states in an effort that has yielded some success. Officials in Connecticut released a report on Monday summarizing the investigation of the Newtown shooting, but whether it will advance the gun-control agenda is unclear. The school tragedy has faded further from the national conversation, especially in Washington where Obama has lost political clout following his reelection and everything going forward will be seen through the prism of next November's congressional midterms. Following the shooting, the debate in Washington centered on expanding background checks, which failed in the Senate. Related: Sandy Hook report looks at shooting . The Obama administration then announced limited executive reforms in place of tougher laws. And a number of states, such as New York, California and Connecticut, put in place new background check limits as well as other measures restricting magazine capacity and types of firearms legally available. But other states, mostly controlled by Republican legislatures, took the opposite approach. For example, Alaska pursued a so-called "nullification" law that would, in theory, make it illegal to enforce any federal firearms regulations in that state. Looking for momentum . Both sides in the gun control debate remain energized and have vowed to continue to fight for their own priorities and to vociferously oppose the other. Proponents of stricter gun laws still back Obama's calls for a new national status quo. Related: Haunted by the Newtown massacre, police officer faces firing over PTSD . Advocates for tougher gun laws look to build on last April's Senate vote on a bipartisan proposal to expand background checks. It won majority support, but failed to gain the 60 votes necessary to break a Republican filibuster. "Our job is to continue to apply persuasion and pressure," said Mark Glaze, executive director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group backed by outgoing New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has spent millions backing gun-control candidates. For the nation's most established group advocating stricter gun laws, expanding background checks from sellers with a federal firearms license to all purchases -- including private sales at gun shows -- is the one and only priority. Brian Malte, senior national policy director for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, noted that several states have passed background check bills, including Nevada. Key to expanding the field of states enacting tougher gun regulations, Glaze said, is highlighting that most gun murders in the United States -- more than 11,000 in 2010 -- are not national events but killings that never make news. Among those trying to create a grassroots effort to force change is Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Established one day after the Newtown shooting, founder Shannon Watts said her group is the only one with an established grassroots network, one pushing for background check bills in states like Washington, Minnesota and Oregon. "There are a lot of states to look at in this next legislative session," Watts said. Second Amendment defense . But to those who frame the argument around the Second Amendment, Obama symbolizes an anti-gun liberal focused on taking away their constitutional right to self-defense. Erich Pratt, an official with Gun Owners of America, criticized the President as the single biggest threat to the Second Amendment, but added that gun owners are more motivated because of Obama's vow for new restrictions. The response of the National Rifle Association, the most visible gun rights advocacy group, to efforts to expand background checks is firmly rooted. "We will fight them every step of the way," said NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam. When it comes to gun-control advocacy, "none of their proposals will make us safer," Arulanandam said. The NRA argues that existing laws should be enforced and that the United States should improve mental health treatment rather than seek to restrict constitutionally protected rights. Gun rights activists postulate that something like background checks would not have stopped many of the high profile mass shootings in recent memory where weapons were obtained legally, with a background check. Groups advocating for stricter laws counter that hundreds of thousands of firearms sales have been stopped at the point of purchase because of a failed background check. One of the most common solutions to gun violence offered by Second Amendment supporters is the phrase championed by NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," he has said. For schools, that means proposals for armed guards in every facility as well as other security measures. Also key to preventing mass shootings and a priority in the near future, said Pratt of GOA, is eliminating so-called "gun free zones," places like schools where firearms are not allowed. They believe if teachers at Sandy Hook or office personnel at the Washington Navy Yard -- where a dozen people were killed in a mass shooting in September -- were armed, then they would never have been targeted in the first place because gunmen go after "soft" targets. "The first responders are the ones that have a gun pointed at them," Pratt said. For Pratt, hand in hand with allowing more guns in more places is preventing federal intrusion -- especially through nullification laws that seek to stop federal interference in state gun rights. Moreover, Pratt said the group is working to help convince the Senate not to approve the United Nations arms treaty signed in September by Secretary of State John Kerry. "We think we have the votes to stop it," Pratt said. Gun rights advocates worry that the treaty's recommendation to track gun sales would lead to a national database of firearms owners, what they fear to be a slippery slope away from gun confiscation, the ultimate Second Amendment rallying cry. Political calculation . The biggest chilling factor politically appears to be the successful recall elections of two Colorado Democrats earlier this year after they helped pass legislation enacting tougher gun measures. Both were in Democratic-leaning districts, which gun control activists illustrate as proof positive that the Second Amendment is not a partisan issue. Advocates for stricter gun measures point out that despite the recalls, the Colorado law still stands. Regardless of the setback in the Senate last spring, Malte said history is on the side of advocates of stricter gun measures, noting that it took years and multiple votes to finally pass the first background check bill. He noted that most public opinion polls show an overwhelming majority of Americans favor expanded background checks. "We don't have to convince the country. We have to convince the lawmakers," said Pia Carusone, executive director of Americans for Responsible Solutions, the group founded by former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was severely wounded in an Arizona shooting. Just as they lament one loss in recent months, advocates of stricter gun laws are also celebrating a victory, hailing the campaign win of Terry McAuliffe as the next governor of Virginia. "He actually won on it," Malte said of McAuliffe's platform that included gun control. The prospects for McAuliffe to pass any gun control bills in the state remains in doubt, however, in a state that is largely rural and steeped in gun culture.
### SUMMARY:
| Newtown shooting killed 20 elementary students, jolted the nation .
Obama pursued tougher gun control measure, which stalled in the Senate .
Focus has shifted to states; both sides in the debate are energized .
Recall of legislators in Colorado, midterm elections color issue in 2014 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Al Qaeda's affiliate in Yemen -- al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula -- strongly rebuked ISIS in a video released Friday, declaring ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's declaration of an Islamic caliphate to be illegitimate. The statement, delivered by one of AQAP's top clerics -- Harith bin Ghazi al-Nadhari -- is a significant setback to ISIS efforts to assume leadership of the global jihadist movement a week after groups in Egypt and Libya joined the ISIS fold. ISIS and al Qaeda's top leadership in Pakistan had a bitter falling out earlier this year, and al Qaeda and ISIS fighters have been fighting each other in Syria, but AQAP had until now stayed above the fray, calling for both sides to reconcile and pool resources to strike the United States. But when al-Baghdadi declared in an audiotape released last week his Islamic State had expanded to Yemen, as well as other Middle Eastern countries, it was too much for the AQAP leadership to stomach. By claiming Yemen for his caliphate, al-Baghdadi had called into question the very right of AQAP to exist as a separate and autonomous jihadi group, leaving its leadership no choice but to push back. "We did not want to talk about the current dispute and the sedition in Syria... however, our brothers in the Islamic State ... surprised us with several steps, including their announcement of the caliphate [and] they announced the expansion of the caliphate in a number of countries which they have have no governance, and considered them to be provinces that belonged to them," al-Nadhari stated, according to a translation by the SITE intelligence group. "The announcement of the caliphate for all Muslims by our brothers in the Islamic State did not meet the required conditions," al-Nashari argued, because other jihadi groups were not consulted. The cleric also criticized ISIS for "going too far in interpretations in terms of spilling inviolable blood under the excuse of expanding and spreading the power of the Islamic State." And in a repudiation of al-Baghdadi's claim to supremacy among jihadis, he reaffirmed the group's pledge of allegiance to al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and Taliban leader Mullah Omar. In forcing AQAP to publicly choose sides, al-Baghdadi appears to have badly miscalculated. AQAP leader Nasir al Wuhayshi, despite being named the number two of al Qaeda globally by al-Zawahiri last year, had been careful not to weigh in publicly on the dispute between al Qaeda and ISIS, restricting himself only to a poem he released in July praising his Egyptian boss. In February, the general command of al Qaeda declared it had severed ties with ISIS because of its insubordination and its brutal tactics against fellow Muslims. By then, Jabhat al Nusra, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and ISIS were already fighting each other in parts of northern Syria. Although U.S airstrikes against both groups in recent weeks have led to ceasefires and some cooperation at the local level against moderate rebel groups, relations have remained tense. AQAP divisions over ISIS . The AQAP leadership's rebuke of ISIS is not likely to go down well with all its members. Wuhayshi had avoided previously criticizing al-Baghdadi because he feared it might exacerbate divisions inside his own group. ISIS's rapid territorial expansion in Iraq and Syria electrified many jihadis in Yemen, and led to disagreements within the group. "We have discussed that which resulted from the dispute and the infighting in Sham (Syria) with debate and argument ... however, we pardoned those who raised such issues," al-Nadhari acknowledged in the video released Friday. Everything to know about the rise of ISIS . In January, one mid-level AQAP figure -- Mamoun Hatem . -- tweeted his support for ISIS as its feud with al Qaeda heated up, prompting speculation of discord within its ranks. This past summer, Abdul Majid al Raymi, a leading Yemeni Salafi-jihadi preacher long admired by AQAP, also came out in support for ISIS, asking his large number of followers in Yemen to do the same. The U.S. air campaign against ISIS further boosted the popularity of ISIS in Yemeni jihadi circles, prompting AQAP to release a message of solidarity. "Their blood is our blood, and their wounds are in our hearts, and supporting them is a duty upon us. Once we find a way to afflict America, we will follow it, Allah permitting," the group stated in a statement posted on Twitter on August 14, and translated by SITE. Even in disagreement, respect . All this has made AQAP leaders tread carefully. Even in rebuking ISIS, AQAP's al-Nadhari was careful to refer to al-Baghdadi respectfully as "sheikh." The cleric expressed hope that divisions between ISIS and Nusra could be healed and left the door open for fences to be mended between AQAP and ISIS if al-Baghdadi withdrew his fatwa claiming Yemen for his caliphate. "We express our utmost joy to having received good news about what we heard of signs of stopping the infighting among the mujahideen in the Sham front [Syria]," al-Nadhari stated. Despite the possibility of growing discord within AQAP, there are no signs of any immediate threat to Wuhayshi's leadership. To date, no senior leader within AQAP has broken ranks and come out in favor of ISIS. Wuhayshi, by all accounts, remains exceptionally popular with the group's rank-and file-fighters, who have been energized by a call to arms to fight Shia Houthi fighters who recently took control of Sana'a. But AQAP's rebuke of ISIS increases the chances of a splinter group emerging. Last week, a group calling itself Mujahideen in Yemen recorded a tape pledging loyalty to Baghdadi. Egyptian terror group pledges alliance to ISIS . For ISIS, the rebuke by AQAP is a significant setback after recent wins elsewhere in the region in its jockeying with al Qaeda for pre-eminence in the global jihadi movement. Last week, Ansar Beit al Maqdis, an increasingly powerful Egyptian group based in the Sinai, declared allegiance to al-Baghdadi, as did veteran Libyan ISIS fighters who have taken control of Derna, a major town in eastern Libya. Small splinter factions of the Pakistani Taliban and al Qaeda in North Africa, as well as a group of fighters in Saudi Arabia, also declared their support. The AQAP move may see the Yemeni group step up cooperation with Jabhat al Nusra in Syria. U.S. officials believe AQAP has shared sophisticated bomb-making technology with the Khorasan Group, a Nusra-linked outfit of veteran al Qaeda operatives plotting terrorist attacks against Western aviation. The prospects of ISIS also receiving such bomb-making know-how from the Yemeni group appear to have dimmed. Why ISIS is spreading across Muslim world .
### SUMMARY:
| Al Qaeda group in Yemen rebukes ISIS .
Leaders unhappy with al-Baghdadi caliphate plans .
AQAP reaffirms allegiance to head of al Qaeda . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Wil Longbottom . Last updated at 12:03 PM on 13th December 2011 . U.S. Congress has frozen $700million in aid to Pakistan until it gives assurances it is combating the spread of homemade explosives in the region. Calls are growing in the U.S. to penalise Pakistan for failing to act against militant groups and, some argue, helping them. Relations between the two countries are already at rock bottom after a number of U.S. drone attacks have killed Pakistani civilians and the secret raid in which al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed in May. Scourge: U.S. Army soldiers secure a road after an IED exploded during a patrol in Logar, Afghanistan. Fertiliser used in making the explosives is being smuggled from Pakistan . Pakistan is one of the largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid and the cutback announced is only a small proportion of the billions in civil and military assistance it gets every year. Salim Saifullah, chairman of Pakistan's Senate foreign relations committee, warned ties could worsen further after the decision. He said: 'I don't think this is a wise move. It could hurt ties. 'There should instead be efforts to increase cooperation. I don't see any good coming out of this.' Militancy: Fuel trucks burn in Bolan, Pakistan, after an insurgent attack. The U.S. has suspended $700million in aid until Pakistan can give assurances on the spread of IEDs . Deteriorating ties: A man burns a U.S. flag with a picture of President Barack Obama on it in Peshawar, Pakistan. Relations between the two countries have hit rock bottom . Suspicions: Senator John McCain has said fertiliser used in many of the IEDs targeting coalition troops in Afghanistan originates from two factories in Pakistan . Homemade bombs, or improvised . explosive devices (IEDs), are among militants' most effective weapons . against U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan as they struggle to . fight a resurgent Taliban insurgency. Many are made using ammonium nitrate, a common fertiliser smuggled across the border from Pakistan. The U.S. wants 'assurances that Pakistan is countering improvised explosive devices in their country that are targeting our coalition forces', Howard McKeon, a House Republican, said. Some $20billion of security and economic aid has been allocated to Pakistan by the U.S. since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001 - much of it in the form of reimbursements for assistance in fighting militants. But U.S politicians have expressed increasing frustration with Pakistan's efforts in the war. There . have been proposals to make U.S. aid to Pakistan conditional on more . cooperation in fighting militants such as the al Qaeda-linked Haqqani . network, which Washington believes operates out of Pakistan. Cause for complaint? As the U.S. stepped up its attacks on Taliban insurgents, the numbers of civilian deaths have increased in Pakistan, particularly after strikes by drones . 2001 - Pakistan becomes an ally in the war against terror after the September 11 attacks . 2009 - U.S. launches strategy to destroy al Qaeda holdouts in Pakistan and prevent insurgents crossing the border into Afghanistan. Pakistan also launches military offensive targeting militants in Waziristan. U.S. Congress agrees $7.5billion five-year aid programme to strengthen civilian and military ties with Pakistan . 2010 - Number of Predator drone strikes in border region is greatly increased, but attacks kill civilians which sparks bad feeling against the U.S . January, 2011 - CIA contractor Raymond Davis arrested for killing two men in Lahore. U.S. calls for him to be released amid massive protests in Pakistan. He is freed in March after $2.3million in 'blood money' is paid to victims' families . May, 2011 - Secret Navy Seal raid in Abottabad succeeds in killing al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Pakistan is furious is was not consulted, but U.S. accuses intelligence service ISI of holding back information . July, 2011 - U.S. delays $800million in military aid over failures in security cooperation . September, 2011 - Admiral Mike Mullen accuses Pakistan of supporting insurgent groups, including al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani network. Pakistan strongly denies the comments . December, 2011 - U.S. Congress freezes $700million in aid over Pakistan's failure to prevent spread of homemade explosives into Afghanistan . Pakistan . says it is doing all it can to fight al Qaeda and the Taliban and has . lost thousands of soldiers since it joined the U.S. led war 10 years . ago, some at the hands of coalition troops. Islamabad has accused NATO of . deliberately killing 24 Pakistani soldiers in an air strike near the . Afghan border last month and shut down supplies for foreign troops in . anger. Former general and security analyst . Talat Masood said: 'I think the Pakistan side will understand the type . of signal that is coming, which shows it's not only a question of aid. 'The . whole attitude of the U.S. and the relationship will be affected by . these measures because they know Pakistan will not be in a position to . control smuggling.' Republican Senator John McCain said . last week: 'The vast majority of the material used to make IEDs used . against U.S. forces in Afghanistan originates from two fertiliser . factories inside Pakistan.' A Congressional Research Service . report in October said the Pakistani factories, owned by one of the . country's biggest companies, Pakarab, have been producing over 300,000 . metric tonnes of ammonium nitrate per year since 2004. The . U.S. has urged Pakistan to strictly regulate the distribution of . ammonium nitrate to Afghanistan. So far, Pakistan has only produced . draft legislation on the issue. Analysts say U.S. demands will be tough to meet because of rampant corruption on both sides of the porous border that makes smuggling easy. One businessman explained how easy it is to get through security. "We pay a 1,200-rupee ($13) bribe to the Pakistani Frontiers Corps on the border for every car carrying fertiliser," said Kamal Khan in the border town of Chaman. "Fertiliser is smuggled on trucks, pickup trucks, motorcycles, bicycles and donkey carts.' Pakistan's fragile economy is heavily dependent on agriculture, so cutting down on fertiliser output would hurt the sector. The provision freezing $700 million in aid was agreed upon by leaders of the armed services committees from both parties in the House and Senate, including Mr McCain. It is part of compromise legislation authorising U.S. defence programmes expected to be approved this week, Mr McKeon said. The bill would also require the Pentagon to deliver a strategy for improving the effectiveness of U.S. aid to Pakistan, he said.
### SUMMARY:
| Fertiliser used in many IEDs targeting coalition troops comes from two factories in Pakistan .
Pakistan warns decision will further worsen already bad ties between the two countries .
NATO air strike which killed Pakistan soldiers and secret raid which killed Osama bin Laden exacerbate frosty relationship .
U.S. has given $20bn in military and economic aid to Islamabad since Afghanistan war started in 2001 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 04:32 EST, 3 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 17:58 EST, 3 April 2012 . A hairdresser has lost 15st after she discovered a sleep disorder which caused her to stop breathing hundreds of times a night was at the root of her massive weight gain. Michelle Shufflebotham was forced to quit her job after her sleep apnoea led her to nod off while she was cutting a client’s hair. Unaware the potentially deadly condition was depriving her of sleep every night, Michelle ballooned to 27st after the illness left her depressed and exhausted. For 12 years, mother-of-two Michelle suffered from the sleep disorder which meant she would stop breathing in her sleep for up to ten seconds at a time. Severe: Michelle's sleep deprivation made her depressed and exhausted, and saw her balloon from a size 14 to a size 34 in the space of ten years . When diagnosed, it was revealed she . fell short of breath a shocking 666 times in just four hours after she . ballooned from a size 14 to a size 34 in the space of just ten years. Michelle, 40, from Stoke, Staffs., would doze off up to 20 . times in a day and, as her weight crept, up her problems increased. Eventually a doctor told her she had just one year left to live. Now, . after £9,000 bariatric surgery to reduce the size of her stomach, . carried out on the NHS, Michelle, is a healthy 12st . and is finally able to enjoy a decent night’s sleep, thanks to the fact that her dramatic weight loss has helped prevent the collapse of the upper airways that causes the breathing stoppages. Michelle said: 'I would just never sleep at night time, which meant I would doze off anywhere, anytime during the day. 'It started when we went on holiday over 10 years ago. I constantly felt tired, but didn’t think it was anything serious. Suffocating: Michelle's sleep apnoea meant she stopped breathing for more than 10 seconds at a time up to 666 times a night . 'But it got worse and worse, I had no energy and just piled on the weight. 'The scariest point was falling asleep cutting a customer’s hair. It was awful. It would also happen in front of my friends. 'Sometimes they would spray cold water in my face to wake me up. I was so embarrassed.' Michelle . would fall asleep whilst holding hot drinks or travelling on the bus . and would often fall off the sofa in front of her daughter’s friends. The condition even caused her to drop the scissors she was holding and nod off while she was cutting a client’s hair. Embarrassment forced her to give up work completely and the irregular rest saw her self esteem fall to an all time low. Michelle ended up gorging on comfort foods, eventually tipping the scales at 171 kilos in 2008. Medics discovered she had just 35 per cent of the the oxygen she required in her lungs meaning she struggled to walk and was forced to sit down to do any household chore. With little energy and a body mass index of 59, she agreed to the life-saving weight loss surgery in 2009. Sleep apnoea is a reduction or pause of breathing during sleep for 10 seconds or more. Doctors at University Hospital of North Staffordshire said they had never seen a case of the condition as bad as Michelle’s. She said: 'I also suffered from polycystic ovaries and was mentally and physically exhausted all the time. 'I became a prisoner in my own home. I was just a recluse by the end, I was so big I couldn’t do anything. My self esteem was just so low, I would cry all the time. 'I would sit on a stool to do anything and didn’t go up the stairs at home for years. If I needed anything, I would get the kids to go. 'To do my washing I would wheel myself in a chair from the washing machine to the dryer. Walking a few paces was a nightmare. 'When they gave me a year to live I knew I had to have the operation.' Now that she is 15 stone lighter, Michelle still keeps a pair of size 30 shorts in her wardrobe as a reminder of her former miserable existence. She says her children Jade, 19, and Carl, 17, have enjoyed seeing her change her habit of calling out for takeaways most nights of the week - after she had no energy to cook. Husband Carl, senior, 42, had also became overweight and was frustrated at having to do all of the family’s shopping. After weighing 15 stone having given birth to her two kids, Michelle said the condition overtook her attempts to be slimmer. Unhealthy: Michelle Shufflebotham's sleep apnoea affected her health so much that she gained 27st and fell asleep up to 20 times a day - even when standing up . She admits she was in denial about . her weight and by 2007 would just focus on what she would eat next to . ignore her tiredness and health problems. She said: 'I was a bad yo-yo dieter. I would go to the slimming classes, lose a stone, then give up and gain three back on. 'As . a family we’re all now a lot healthier than we used to be. But I was . just lazy. My friends never had the heart to say you need to do . something. 'When my daughter’s friends saw me fall asleep and fall off the sofa they were in fits of laughter. 'The . few times I went out I would get a taxi, sit on a stool for a few hours . where I had gone to and come home again extremely depressed. 'Getting clothes to fit me was expensive and I lost so much pride in my appearance that I would slob round the house in a big nightie most of the day. 'It was only when I went to my GP and burst into tears that we started to get the ball rolling to having the operation.' Michelle now loves clothes shopping, going for nights out again and hitting the gym three times a week after the successful surgery. She has also returned to her job cutting the hair of friends and family and hopes to return to full-time work at a salon soon. Declined: As Michelle's weight crept, up her problems increased. Eventually a doctor told her she had just one year left to live - and she decided to go for gastric surgery to reduce the size of her stomach . But she is shocked she would now not qualify for the NHS procedure in the future if new rules are brought in because she does not suffer from a range of other illnesses. She said: 'As this is such a life-saver I cannot believe the health bodies are thinking about reducing the number of people likely to have the procedure. 'I can’t believe that only two years ago I was always falling asleep on the bus and having to sit on a stool to cut someone’s hair. 'I owe my life to the bariatric surgery and all those at the hospital who treated me. 'If this rule change goes through then I will feel so sorry for those who will miss out because it was the best thing to happen to me.'
### SUMMARY:
| Michelle Shufflebotham would stop breathing a shocking 666 times a night .
The mother-of-two would doze off up to 20 times a day - even when standing up .
Michelle, 40, had gastric surgery and as the weight dropped off, her apnoea subsided . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 10:40 EST, 11 August 2011 . This is the face of the mystery man who confronted a gang of rioting yobs but was battered to almost death and left on a life-support machine. Richard Mannington Bowes, 68, is currently in a coma after he tried to stamp out the fire which thugs started in a supermarket bin in Ealing, West London. He remains in a critical condition in hospital today after suffering serious head injuries on Monday night on Monday evening. Speaking from the scene of the attack, Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane said he has been unable to contact the victim's family and appealed to the assailant to turn himself in. Attacked: Richard Mannington Bowes, 68, (left) was critically injured after the riots in Ealing. Right, the suspect that police are hunting in connection with the attack . The victim, whose identity was . established only when locals recognised his description and officers . used his keys to enter his house, remains critical on a life support . machine. Mr McFarlane said the investigation could turn into a murder inquiry. The . detective described the scenes surrounding the attack. He said a . handful of officers, not wearing protective gear, arrived at 10.45pm to . reports of looting at the Arcadia shopping centre. The . half dozen officers were massively outnumbered by scores of thugs and . called for back-up as they were showered with missiles, including . bottles. 'There was some suggestion he was attacked because he was stamping out fires that had been started,' said Mr McFarlane. 'An officer saw Mr Bowes being knocked over and attacked and they called for assistance. Officers arrived and they were able to drive the mob off.' The injured 68-year-old was then taken to hospital. Mr McFarlane said the attackers 'clearly did not like what he did or said'. Mr Bowes was found without a wallet or phone so officers faced an uphill struggle to identify him. Help: Richard Mannington Bowes, left, is assisted by Peter Firstbrook and a police officer during the riots in Ealing . Horrific: Mr Mannington Bowes lies injured on the floor and fire rages around him after attempting to put out the flames lit by rioters . Concern: A police officer and another man come to the victim's aid in one of the most horrifying pictures to emerge from the rioting . Mr McFarlane said the victim, who is . originally from Bournemouth, 'clearly kept himself to himself and . appears to be a very private man'. 'I am desperate to get in touch with any of his family,' the officer said. He added that police have footage of the incident. A man who stepped in to save a . battered man who has set upon by youths in Ealing has told how he . dragged the victim away from a raging fire. Peter Firstbrook, 60, knelt with the . Richard Mannington Bowes and bravely ushered away the feral youths who . rampaged through Ealing on Monday night. Father-of four Mr Firstbrook dragged the Mr Mannington Bowes' body away from the fire as it quickly engulfed his leg. Mr Mannington Bowes' is currently in a coma after he tried to stamp out the fire which thugs started in a supermarket bin. Mr . Firstbrook said: 'There were about 120 youths. One of them, a big black . lad in his early twenties, approached me and said something along the . lines of: 'There's one of your lot over there and he's injured.' The documentary film-maker said that the man was beyond the rioters and so he knew he had to push past them. Suspect: Police have released this CCTV image of the man they want to talk to over the attack . 'When I saw him, I realised the man's leg was almost in the fire so I tried to drag him to safety,' he told the Telegraph. 'I . couldn't move him so I got three young lads from the crowd. They also . seemed quite concerned and helped me drag him to an alleyway. Then they . disappeared. 'I checked his pulse and his airways and tried to talk to him, but he was unconscious and had blood coming from his ear.' Mr Firstbrook said that Mr Mannington Bowes had no visible external injuries which lead him to believe that his wounds were internal. Police have now identified the man. His phone and wallet were stolen in the attack and it is believed that he lived alone. He is now in a critical condition in hospital after suffering serious head injuries during the attack. Officers from Scotland Yard are currently trying to trace his next of kin. Mr Mannington Bowes was attacked at about 10.45pm after remonstrating with teenagers who were setting fire to two industrial bins outside a shopping centre. Police officers who tried to aid the Mr Mannington Bowes were then pelted with missiles including bottles and bricks. Riot squad officers who rushed to the scene had to push back the mob to reach the injured man while being attacked. A line of officers then held back the yobs as paramedics arrived. Detective Chief Inspector John McFarlane said: 'I need the assistance of the community who may have witnessed the attack on this innocent man, to come forward and provide information or images they may have recorded on mobile devices. 'This information could be crucial in bringing those responsible for this terrible crime to justice.' He said the victim was 'violently assaulted and knocked to the ground' as he tried to extinguish the fire, and added: 'Police officers who were under attack by the mob drove them away and pulled the victim to relative safety and rendered first aid with the assistance of members of the public in an attempt to save his life. 'Again I urge these people to speak to us as they may have valuable information.' Aftermath: A burnt out car sits next to Ealing Green following the night of riots, and right, a cone is stuck in a a damaged window at the Arcadia shopping . Clean up: A shop owner sifts through stock that was damaged during the riots in Ealing . Police have also released CCTV footage of a man suspected of carrying out the attack. The . suspect, a black man with a big build, is seen wearing a white t-shirt . with writing on the front and a dark-coloured jumper over his shoulders . in the images. Mr Mannington Bowes attacker is believed to have earlier looted a supermarket in the affluent west London suburb. Detective . Chief Inspector McFarlane said: 'Through CCTV we have identified a . strong suspect. I know that on seeing these images of him people will be . able to identify him. 'If you know who this man is please contact my incident room. If you are this man in the CCTV, do the decent thing and give yourself up.' The aftermath of the attack was caught on camera as the man, in a checked shirt and apparently wearing glasses, lies face down on the ground. A resident has also described how he helped put out fires after the man was attacked by rioters. Tom Wakeley, 31, said he and his neighbours ran out of their flats in Ealing with fire extinguishers and bottles of water to help douse the flames in wheelie bins. Mr Wakeley said: 'I started noticing sirens at about 9pm, and there were a lot of hoodies around. From about 10pm you could guess it was going to kick off, there were a lot of them walking around and it was getting a bit sinister.'
### SUMMARY:
| Critically injured 68-year-old man named as Richard Mannington Bowes .
Peter Firstbrook, 60, pushed through line of yobs to reach victim .
Father-of-four gave first aid in bid to save Mr Mannington Bowes' life . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 13:10 EST, 10 August 2011 . A NATO helicopter crashed in eastern Afghanistan this morning, just two days after 38 people were killed in another Chinook crash. Officials said there were no apparent casualties on board the ISAF helicopter, which mad a 'hard landing' in the volatile Paktia province. An investigation is underway but it appears there was no enemy activity in the area at the time, confirmed ISAF spokesman Lieutenant Colonel David Doherty. A NATO helicopter made a 'hard landing' in Paktia province, a volatile area in Afghanistan's east, today. There were no reported casualties. File picture . Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid . claimed in a text message sent to Reuters that the Islamist group had . shot down the helicopter, another Chinook, in the Zurmat district of . Paktia, killing 30 American soldiers. The Taliban often exaggerate claims in . attacks against foreign troops and Afghan security forces and . government targets, although they correctly identified the number killed . in the weekend's Chinook crash in Wardak. The Wardak crash accounted for the largest single loss of foreign forces in 10 years. A worrying surge of military deaths is being matched by record casualties among civilians, who continue to bear the brunt of a war that appears to have become bogged down despite claims of success from both sides. Afghan men shout anti American slogans during a protest over the deaths of two men in Ghazni, west of Kabul, Afghanistan, today. On Monday, three hundred angry Afghans took to the streets in central Ghazni province carrying the bodies of two people they claimed had been killed during a raid by ISAF troops. Civilian casualties caused by foreign troops hunting insurgents have long been a major source of friction between Kabul and its Western backers. U.N. figures show such casualties hit record levels in the first six months of 2011, although it blamed 80 percent of them on insurgents. NATO officials are still investigating the cause of a helicopter crash two days ago that killed 38 people, including 30 U.S. soldiers, seven Afghan commandos and an Afghan interpreter. Of the dead, more than 20 were US Navy Seals from the elite unit that killed Osama Bin Laden. The Taliban claim to have shot down that troop-carrying CH-47 Chinook helicopter in central Maidan Wardak province and a U.S. official in Washington, who asked not to be identified, said that helicopter was believed to have been shot down. Dead: Lt Cmdr Jonas Kelsall was one of the lives lost in the central Maidan Wardak province crash two days ago . 'We're still not aware of the cause of the incident, this is a very vital part of the investigation,' said Brigadier General Carsten Jacobsen, senior spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). 'The area in which the helicopter was operating was known to be not free of insurgents,' he told a news conference. ISAF has imposed a security crackdown on the area while the grim task of recovering the aircraft and the bodies of those killed is completed, although some residents have complained about some of the measures that have been taken. Graphic locates Wardak province in Afghanistan, where the Taliban shot down a US helicopter . 'I can only advise (civilians) not to try to approach the site of the crash while the investigation is ongoing,' Jacobsen said . At least another seven ISAF troops were killed in a ghastly 48 hours for the coalition. Four were killed in two separate attacks on Sunday, including two French legionnaires. The spike in casualties -- at least 383 foreign troops have been killed so far this year, almost 50 of them in the first week of August -- comes at a time of growing unease about the increasingly unpopular and costly war. U.S. and NATO officials issued statements vowing to 'stay the course' in Afghanistan after the deadly weekend Chinook crash but the recent devastating death toll will likely raise more questions about how much longer foreign troops should stay in Afghanistan. Afghan President Hamid Karzai spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama by telephone overnight and shared condolences over the Wardak crash, Karzai's palace said in a statement. 'The U.S. president thanked the Afghan president and emphasised the fight against terrorism, which is a threat for security in the region and the world, and said the people of Afghanistan and the U.S. unitedly stand against the terrorists and their sacrifices will be never forgotten,' it said. The deaths came barely two weeks after foreign troops began the first phase of a gradual process to hand security responsibility over to Afghan soldiers and police. Afghan President Hamid Karzai spoke with . U.S. President Barack Obama by telephone overnight and shared . condolences over the Wardak crash . Excluding the latest, and worst, crash, they are:June 28, 2005: U.S. helicopter is shot down in eastern Kunar province during a rescue operation, killing 16 special operations troops.April 6, 2005: U.S. Chinook helicopter crashes in a sandstorm near eastern Ghazni, killing 15 American troops and three civilian contractors.May 5, 2006: U.S. Chinook helicopter crashes while attempting a night landing on a small mountaintop in eastern Kunar province, killing 10 U.S. soldiers.September 21, 2010: U.S. Army Blackhawk crashes in southern Zabul province, killing nine troops on board, including four Navy Seals.February 18, 2007: U.S. Chinook carrying 22 U.S. soldiers crashes in southern Zabul province, killing eight and injuring 14. That process is due to end with the last foreign combat troops leaving at the end of 2014, but some U.S. lawmakers are already questioning whether that timetable is fast enough. Karzai has already said 'enemies of Afghanistan' -- the Taliban and other insurgents -- want to disrupt the process. In Ghazni, deputy police chief Mohammad Hussain said almost 300 people had gathered to carry the bodies of what they said were two civilians to the provincial governor's office after an overnight raid by ISAF in the Khogyani district. ISAF earlier said there were no reports of civilian casualties but Jacobsen said a man had fired on an ISAF patrol from inside a house with his family around him. 'We are very much certain that ISAF could not be aware that the man was shooting from a house where his family was inside,' Jacobsen said, adding that an investigation was underway. On Sunday, Karzai ordered an investigation into a NATO air strike that allegedly killed eight civilians in volatile southern Helmand province on Friday. U.N. figures show that 1,462 Afghan civilians were killed in conflict-related incidents in the first six months of 2011, the deadliest period for civilians since the Taliban were toppled by U.S.-backed Afghan forces in late 2001. Foreign military deaths also hit record levels in 2010 with 711 killed, with 2011 following a similarly bloody trend.
### SUMMARY:
| NATO reports no casualties .
Taliban claim responsibility for 'hard landing'
Demonstrations after claims civilians were killed in night raids .
Incidents come barely two weeks after foreign troops began first phases of withdrawal from Afghanistan . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Damien Gayle . PUBLISHED: . 11:29 EST, 31 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:53 EST, 31 January 2013 . Google has finally treated the internet users to a tour of the Grand Canyon... but it doesn't look like the barren and dusty land pictured in postcards. Instead the eagerly awaited expansion of Street View showcases one of the seven wonders of the world as a lush and green expanse with extensive woods. The internet search company in October sent staff lugging backpack-mounted Street View cameras to capture the views around the trails of the geological scar that carves a swathe across Arizona. Those images have now been processed, stitched together and turned into panoramic, scrollable images available to view on Google Maps. The view towards Phantom Ranch: The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon ('Ongtupqa' in the Hopi language) a holy site and made pilgrimages to it. Outstanding natural beauty: Grand Canyon . Impact site: Google has also released a range of panoramas of the trails around nearby Meteor Crater . The collection includes more than 9,500 panoramas taken from the most popular hiking trails along the Grand Canyon's south rim and nearby Meteor Crater. With a click of the mouse, Internet users are transported virtually for a 360-degree view of locales they may have read about only in tourist books and seen in flat, 2D images. Google Maps product manager Ryan Falor said: 'Whether you’re planning an upcoming hike, or want to learn more about the Earth’s geological history, Google Maps can help. 'Today, we’re releasing panoramic imagery of one of the world’s most spectacular national monuments: the Grand Canyon. 'These beautiful, interactive images cover more than 75 miles of trails and surrounding roads, making our map of this area even more comprehensive, accurate and easy to use than ever before . 'Take a walk down the narrow trails and exposed paths of the Grand Canyon: hike down the famous Bright Angel Trail, gaze out at the mighty Colorado River, and explore scenic overlooks in full 360-degrees. 'You’ll be happy you’re virtually hiking once you get to the steep inclines of the South Kaibab Trail. The South Kaibab Trail: For thousands of years, the Grand Canyon area has been continuously inhabited by Native Americans who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. Google's unveiling of its Grand Canyon Street View marks the publication of pictures taken by its novel Trekker camera system. The backpack-mounted device, pictured right, captures images every 2.5 seconds with 15 cameras that are 5 megapixels each. Around . the Grand Canyon, GPS data is limited, so Google must compensate with . sensors that record temperature, vibrations and the orientation of the . device as it changes . A . removable hard drive on the trekker stores the data gathered. Images . will then be stitched together and made available to users in a few . months . Google . has said it nos wants to deploy them at national forests, the narrow . streets of Venice, Mount Everest and ancient ruins and castles. 'You’ve . seen our cars, trikes, snowmobiles and trolleys—but wheels only get you . so far. There’s a whole wilderness out there that is only accessible by . foot,' Google said last when it unveiled Trekker last summer. 'Trekker solves that problem by enabling us to photograph beautiful places such as the Grand Canyon so anyone can explore them. 'All the equipment fits in this one backpack, and we’ve already taken it out on the slopes.' 'And rather than drive a couple hours to see the nearby Meteor Crater, a click of your mouse or tap of your finger will transport you to the rim of this otherworldly site.' A steep-sided natural scar on the . Arizona landscape carved by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is 277 . miles long, up to 18 miles wide and, in parts, up to a mile deep. It exposes nearly two billion years of . the Earth's geological history as the river and its tributaries cut . their channels through layer after layer of rock. For . thousands of years, the area has been continuously inhabited by Native . Americans who built settlements within the canyon and its many caves. The Pueblo people considered the Grand Canyon ('Ongtupqa' in the Hopi language) a holy site and made pilgrimages to it. The . Grand Canyon virtual tour is the latest evolution in mapping technology . for the company, which has used a rosette of cameras to photograph . thousands of cities and towns in dozens of countries for its Street View . feature. Google's cameras . already have taken users to narrow cobblestone alleys in Spain using a . tricycle, inside the Smithsonian with a push cart and to British . Columbia's snow-covered slopes by snowmobile. The project began in 2007, with five . U.S. cities mapped out with 5MP cameras mounted on Google's now-famous . Street View cars. Since then its cars, now equipped with 75MP cameras, . have driven more than 5million unique miles of road across every . continent. Google Street . View now covers more than 3,000 cities across 45 countries - and even a . slice of Antarctica complete with the southern continent's resident . penguins. Another side revealed: Google's latest offering reveals that it doesn't look like the barren land pictured in postcards . Contradiction: Previous images of one of the seven wonders of the world show it as a barren and dry habitat . But these images . of the Grand Canyon are the first to be taken by the company's Trekker . platform, which allows workers on foot to collect 360 degree imagery . with a back-pack mounted camera system. 'Our team strapped on the . Android-operated 40lb backpacks carrying the 15-lens camera system and . wound along the rocky terrain on foot, enduring temperature swings and a . few muscle cramps along the way,' Mr Falor said. Google's . Trekker cameras capture images every 2.5 seconds with 15 cameras that . are 5MP each. A removable hard drive on the trekker stores the data as . it is gathered. GPS data . around the Grand Canyon is limited, so Google was forced to compensate . with sensors to record temperature, vibrations and the orientation of . the device as it changes. These details were essential to developers . given the job of stitching them back together into seamless, scrollable . panoramas. Hikers that were . on the Grand Canyon trails when the data was gathered have had their . faces blurred - an attempt by Google to ensure privacy. The . company came in for fierce criticism in Europe and Australia after it . emerged that it had scooped up and stored information transmitted over . unsecured wireless networks while capturing images for Street View. The . Grand Canyon is just the start of Google's plans for the Trekker . backpacks. The company has said it wants to deploy them at national . forests, to the narrow streets of Venice, Mount Everest and to ancient . ruins and castles.
### SUMMARY:
| First official publication of images taken by Google's Trekker backpacks .
Features 9,500 panoramas taken around the canyon and Meteor Crater .
But canyon looks surprisingly lush instead of showing barren rock . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Martin Jay In Beirut . PUBLISHED: . 13:37 EST, 23 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:04 EST, 25 March 2013 . Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has resigned . Lebanon edged closer to a state of civil war today when President Michel Suleiman formally accepted the resignation of the prime minister, who stepped down blaming government infighting during a time of rising sectarian tensions. Prime Minister Najib Mikati submitted his . written resignation to the president after announcing he was stepping . down the day before, taking the nation by surprise. Suleiman asked that . his government assume a caretaking role while a new government is being . formed. Najib Mikati was seen by many Lebanese . as a diplomatic peace broker between the political parties, if not a . ‘sell-out’ moderate by his own Sunni group. The Harvard-educated . billionaire worked with Hezbollah and regularly came under fire to . resign from the Sunni-led opposition since October of last year, when a . security chief and nine others were killed by a car bomb in Beirut. His resignation throws Lebanon into . uncertainty, following recent weeks of numerous car bombs, . kidnappings and regular shoot outs between confessional groups, and threatens to leave a void in the state's highest ranks amid sporadic violence enflamed by the war in neighbouring Syria. The atmosphere in Beirut is tense, with four tanks being moved to the Sunni heartland in . Beirut on Friday night just an hour before the . resignation was announced. They were later removed but few are able to talk of ‘inevitable’ war in a country once called the Switzerland of the Middle East. Many fear that . the political vacuum will be replaced with wide scale sectarian murders . as Lebanon struggles to retain, officially, its ‘neutral’ stance to . Syria’s bloodshed – a theatre of sorts which Mikati represented and . upheld to the end. Some believe his resignation was the result of pressure from US diplomats who have made it clear that the only way to secure peace for the country is to get Hezbollah out of the Lebanese government. Carnage: Mikati worked with Hezbollah and regularly came under fire to resign from the Sunni-led opposition since October of last year, when a car bomb exploded in Beirut . Lebanese Red Cross personnel are seen at the site: Cars and buildings were wrecked in the attack which left ten dead . Lebanese media speculated that his decision to step down was based on ‘insinuations’ from the US and its allies to clear the way for an anti-Hezbollah majority, but Mikati in his speech denied the allegations, stressing that it was a ‘personal choice without any intervention from anyone.’ Soha Yazbeck, a Shia office worker, . said: ‘This is a game which all the political groups have agreed to . beforehand so he can be elected again as Prime minister after the . elections. The Lebanese people expected this and resignation was his . only option to come back’. His resignation, some argue, could affirm that elections, in June, will take place. Mikati . stepping down opens the way for what is expected to be prolonged . political horse trading as parliamentary blocs try to build a majority . coalition to choose a new prime minister. Mikati . added after his meeting with Lebanon's president: ‘I hope that this . resignation will provide an opening in the existing deadlock and pave . the way for a (political) solution.' Pressure: Some believe Mikati's resignation was the result of pressure from US diplomats who want Hezbollah (Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah pictured) out of the Lebanese government . Mikati . has been prime minister since June 2011, heading a government dominated . by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its allies, many of whom . have a close relationship with Syria. This has sparked clashes in Lebanon as many believe that Hezbollah provides the Assad regime with . fighters who move across the border and fight Lebanese Sunnis who side with the rebels there. The government's . main rivals is a western-backed coalition headed by former Prime . Minister Saad al-Hariri, son of Rafik Hariri, who was also Prime . Minister and was killed in a truck bombing in 2005. The 57-year-old's resignation came against a backdrop of his continued battle with Hezbollah as he failed to convince the Shia militant group to keep a Sunni security chief in office and create an electoral body to oversee parliamentary elections in June. He stepped down on Friday in protest of the parliament's inability to agree on a law to govern elections set for later this year, as well as the refusal by Hezbollah and its allies in the cabinet to extend the tenure of the country's police chief, Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, who at 58 is about to hit the mandatory retirement age for his rank. Rival: The government's main opposition is a western-backed coalition headed by former Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri . Rifi, like Mikati, is a Sunni Muslim who is considered a foe by Hezbollah. In his speech Friday, Mikati said that if Rifi is not allowed to stay on, his departure would send the police department into ‘a vacuum.’ Underpinning the political crisis are Lebanon’s sectarian politics and the fact that the country's two largest political blocs support opposite sides in Syria's civil war. Lebanon and Syria share a complex network of political and sectarian ties, and many fear that violence in Syria will soon spread to Lebanon. Clash: Gunmen who support and oppose Bashar Assad (pictured) clashed in Tripoli on Friday . There were signs of rising tensions before the resignation. Gunmen who support and oppose Syrian President Bashar Assad clashed Friday in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, leaving six people dead and more than 20 wounded, according to the state-run National News Agency. Clashes between the Sunni neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, which supports Syria's rebels, and the adjacent Alawite neighborhood of Jabal Mohsen, which supports Assad, have broken out repeatedly in recent months. Assad is Alawite, a Shiite offshoot sect. Also in Tripoli, the Lebanese army said a soldier was killed and several others wounded during an army raid to capture several gunmen. Former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, a close political ally of former Sunni PM, Saad Hariri who has frequently called for Mikati to step down, said his resignation ‘opens the possibility of fresh dialogue’ between Lebanon's political camps. Public opinion today in Beirut was varied. Elie, 41, unemployed argued that ‘some sort of dialogue should start between [the two main political coalitions] otherwise, clashes will intensify up North and spread and no one will be able to stop it sliding into civil war’. Elie, who didn’t wish to be identified, added that Mikati’s resignation ‘will be seen as a significant victory for Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the US who want Hezbollah out of office’.
### SUMMARY:
| Unexpected resignation throws country into uncertainty at a critical time .
Threatens to leave void in state's highest ranks amid violence enflamed by war in Syria .
Najib Mikati seen by many as peace broker between political parties .
Lebanese media speculated decision to step down based on insinuations from US to clear way for anti-Hezbollah majority .
Mikati denied allegations saying it was 'personal choice without any intervention from anyone' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:04 EST, 20 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:04 EST, 20 April 2013 . Controversial: Anthony Seldon says that Michael Gove is wrong and that children need longer school holidays . Michael Gove said this week that he wants to see shorter school holidays and longer school days. The long summer holiday, he believes, is the product of a 19th Century agricultural economy and has no place in the 21st Century. He wants pupils to compete with Asia, where students work harder and longer. As always, Gove is right in intent but imperfect in execution. I so admire the Education Secretary’s guts and zeal. Every week this pugilist force of nature comes up with a pronouncement which delights or enrages the country. The BBC would be much duller if it wasn’t devoting hours of its output talking about the latest Gove-ism. This weekend sees people slugging it out on each side of the ‘holiday and hard work’ debate. But he is plain wrong to think he will improve schools or the lot of children by shortening holidays. He wants more school time and less home time, because he thinks pupils will work harder and exam results will improve, with holiday time en masse given over to lessons. I am all in favour of longer school days, which would also help working parents, but not for the reasons Gove advocates. Children need extra time in school to experience enrichment in the arts, sport and character education. Too much time in class and pupils switch off, or they become too tired for homework – a key part of the discipline of learning. As a headmaster I know it is counterproductive for students to spend more than five hours a day in lessons. Exam results have improved massively in the schools I’ve run, not because I have extended time in lessons, but because of better teaching and smarter learning. This is where Gove should focus. So we need longer school days, but, in the state sector, longer holidays, too. It is shortening school holidays which harks back to the 19th Century. Great school lessons are available at home on computers and students benefit from independent study – both of which can be done in the holidays. Holidays benefit parents and teachers, too. Improved results come from teachers who are highly motivated. Play time: Anthony Seldon believes that time away from school benefits children and staff . A major incentive to join the profession is the prospect of a six-week summer holiday in state schools, as well as two weeks at Christmas and Easter. Most teachers don’t squander this time, but use it to enrich their minds, travel, read, attend courses, and simply to relax. They deserve it. Gove’s change would undermine the fabric of family life. The opportunities holidays provide for the young – to explore, go on visits and attend activities – are invaluable. More purposeful pursuits should be available for children during the holidays. The Education Secretary greatly admires independent schools, which achieve results far outstripping state schools in Britain, and indeed the schools in the Far East and in Scandinavia which he so admires. But we do so with much longer holidays than state schools enjoy. Reforms: Michael Gove wants to cut school holidays . At Wellington College we have 19 weeks of holidays, compared to 13 in state schools, which Gove wants to cut still further. And why on earth are we trying to emulate Asia anyway? When this country’s economy led the world in the 19th century, we did not do so by copying anyone else. Here again, Gove is drawing the wrong lessons from this time. Delve into it deeper and you find that Asian schools are dull, dull, dull – it is why their governments are looking to Britain’s best schools. That’s why we should start leading the world with our education, and learn from our best independent and state schools, rather than merely trying to follow others and spending vast amounts of public money on jaunts studying schools abroad. For me, the school holiday debate sets major alarm bells ringing. If Michael Gove doesn’t start listening soon, he will put his achievements in education policy since 2010 in jeopardy. The week of Baroness Thatcher’s funeral provides a historical perspective from which Michael Gove can learn. I worry that he is only listening to an-ever narrowing circle of those who tell him what he wants to hear. Thatcher fell into that same trap and look what happened to her. Gove is the greatest success story of the coalition Government. He is driven by a profound passion to enhance educational opportunities for all pupils, regardless of social class and the schools in which they learn. He believes children have lost out because policy has been driven in the interests of education providers – the teachers, university education departments, the administrators and local authorities – rather than the children themselves. He is right, and his campaign is magnificent in its ambition. Lady Thatcher was one of Gove’s heroes, and more than any other cabinet minister in this Government, he is driven by a Thatcherite determination to drive his policy through, confront vested interests and defeat them. Like Lady Thatcher, he has taken on the unions and they are resisting, threatening strikes and mayhem. But Gove will not stop until he has consigned them to history, as Thatcher did Scargill and the National Union of Mineworkers. Long breaks: Wellington College has 19 weeks of holidays, compared to 13 in state schools, which Gove wants to cut still further . He has built on Lady Thatcher’s work with her introduction of the national curriculum. He believes rigour and scholarship have been sucked out of many schools. Too many teachers, he believes, patronise children by underestimating their academic depths. ‘La-la subjects’ take precedence over real ones, such as modern languages, maths and physics. Each child must have a solid core of factual knowledge. He has gone further than Lady Thatcher in working to bring outstanding young people into the profession and taking on failing schools. All work and no play: Mr Seldon thinks that pupils switch off if they are in class too long . He is moving teacher training out of universities and into schools, and is working to encourage the brightest and best undergraduates to become teachers. Thatcher took the academically strongest children out of state schools and put them in independent schools with her ‘assisted places’ scheme. This demoralised state schools. Gove instead wants to affirm the state sector, but to make schools more independent of local authorities by them becoming ‘academies’ or ‘free schools’. Thatcher would have applauded, even though she dared not make this move. I support and admire all these efforts. But if Gove wins an A* for his objectives and effort, he achieves a B/C for execution. He wants to remain Education Secretary for all five years of this Government to embed changes which the next government would never dare undo. But to embed change, you need to carry people with you. Many of his supporters feel bruised and confused by his pace of change and by the lack of clarity. Many parents, teachers and heads are on your side, Michael. Don’t spurn us. Thatcher learned from her predecessor, Ted Heath, that you have to introduce change step-by-step. Praise heads and teachers more, and don’t fight on all fronts. Let those who want to run extra courses in the holidays do so, but don’t impose shorter holidays on the whole system. My advice is a long summer holiday this August: you’ll see the value.
### SUMMARY:
| Michael Gove said this week that he wants to see shorter school holidays .
But Anthony Seldon, master of Wellington College, disagrees . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Jaymi Mccann . PUBLISHED: . 09:43 EST, 24 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:40 EST, 24 May 2013 . Sydney Cawsey was 13 year and nine months old when he worked as a cook on a merchant navy vessel during World War One. The boat, which was mastered by his father John, would transport troops from Devon to Guernsey. But, on March 1917, the young boy and his father were both killed when the boat was brutally shelled by a German submarine. Father and son: Sydney (left) worked as a cook on the merchant navy boat that his father John (right) mastered . The pair's heroic story has come to light as medal posthumously awarded to them are to be auctioned this summer. Sydney worked as a cook on a 172 tonne . wooden schooner called the S.V. Reward. The father and son were part of a crew transporting troops and coal from Falmouth in Devon to Guernsey when they came under heavy fire by a German UC-72 submarine. Sydney received the British War Medal and Mercantile Marine War Medal posthumously and is one of the youngest recipients of the awards. Auction: Medals awarded to Sydney Cawsey and his father John Carter Cawsey posthumously will go on sale . Sydney's mother Polly. She had two other son's die young, including a three-year-old that died at sea . He was among 10 other boys aged under . 15 who served in the merchant navy during the Great War. Meanwhile John gained the Torpedo Badge medal, which he was posthumously awarded for his service on a different vessel. The schooner, a ship with two or more masts, was built in 1878 by Troon Shipbuilding Co in Scotland. Figures show 14,287 British merchant navy sailors died during World War One. The deadly German UC-72 submarine downed 38 ships during the war using a deadly combination of torpedoes and mines. Both . sets of medals, along with bronze plaques given to their relatives . after they died, will go under the hammer at Maxwells Auctioneers in . Stockport in July. Medal . expert Andrew McCann, who is handling the sale, said: 'Only a handful of . boys Sydney's age would have served in the merchant navy. 'There has been some confusion over his age, because his descendants who gave us the lot believed him to be 15. 'But records in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission show him to be 14. Family portrait: Sydney Cawsey (left) with older brother Jack (right). The 13-year-old was a cook on the ship . Sydney Cawsey was awarded the British War Medal, which was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I. It was given to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had served between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918. It was later given to those involved in the min clearing the years afterwards. One side of the silver disk features King George V bareheaded effigy, facing left, while the other side shows St George, on horseback with a shirt sword. There were 6,500,000 of these medals issued. The 13 yeah old was also given a mercantile Marine War Medal, which was as awarded by the Board of Trade of the United Kingdom to members of the Merchant Navy. The bronze medal also features King George, but the reverse show a a merchant ship sailing through stormy seas, an enemy submarine sinking and a sailing vessel in the background. Sydney's father John was awarded the Torpedo Badge medal for services on a different vessel during he war. 'However, when we dug further we saw that the 1911 census put his birth year as 1904, which would make him 13 years and nine months old - one of the youngest sailors in the war. 'The fact he died with his father makes it such a poignant story, because in all my years of historical study we have never encountered a similar instance.' Sydney and John were sailing with ship's mate John Mactaggart Taylor, Dubliner Andrew McLoughlin, and Edward Campbell who was born in Barbados. Despite the risks of attack from enemy submarines John's wife Mary Anne and his daughter would sometimes accompany them on their trips up and down the channel. The medal collection is expected to fetch £600-£800 at auction but could reach a higher price. Mr McCann added: 'We've put a relatively low estimate on it I would say, but with something like this the sky's the limit. 'There are loads of medal collectors out there, and a lot with a story like this will inevitably attract a lot of attention. 'We've got them from descendants of the family, who for whatever reason feel no connection to the pieces. 'It's surprising how common it is for families to sell off heirlooms you think would have priceless sentimental value.' The Cawsey family experienced a huge amount of tragedy in the early 1900's. Sydney's older brother, who shared . his name, died in his infancy and another brother died at sea when he . was just three years old. John Carter Cawsey and Sydney Cawsey are both commemorated on the Merchant Navy Monument at Tower Hill, London. Their names are also recorded on the war memorial in their home town of Appledore, North Devon. Remembrance: Sydney Cawsey and John Carter Cawsey are remembered on a war memorial in Appledore, Devon . Sydney Cawsey and John Carter Cawsey are remembered on a war memorial. Sydney is one of the youngest victims of the conflict . For King and country: Many young boys replied to Lord Kitchener's call for volunteers . While a 13-year-old boy at war was an unusual sight, World War One brought out the patriotic side of the nation. This led tens-of-thousands of men to answer Lord Kitchener’s call for volunteers, and to sign up at their local recruitment office. The swell in national pride encouraged thousands of underage boys who were willing to lie about their age and identity to try and get a piece of the action. You had to be 19 to legally sign up to go to war, if you were 18 you could enlist but not go abroad. But, come the start of The Great War, recruitment officers took the role that it a young man wanted to enlist and was physically able to do so, then there was no reason to stop him. It is impossible to know for certain how many boy soldiers there were during World War One, but it is thought that as many as 250,000 underage boys enlisted and went abroad. Some young boys not only lied about their age, but their name as well. This ensured that worried parents could not track their sons down and report them to their commanding officer. Even gravestones in war grave cemeteries show the ‘official’ ages, or the ones that the boys claimed to be. It is thought that by the end of the war, many of the young boys who were so desperate to fight for King and country had been injured or killed. History Learning Site .
### SUMMARY:
| Sydney Cawsey was aged 13 years when he died alongside his father John .
He worked as a cook on a wooden schooner called the S.V. Reward .
They came under heavy fire by a German UC-72 submarine in March 1917 .
He was awarded a British War Medal and Mercantile Marine War Medal .
His father, aged 39, was given a Torpedo badge Medal for other services .
The medals were awarded posthumously and are expected to fetch at least £600-800 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 12:19 EST, 1 November 2011 . A young Asian bride was drugged and held prisoner by her family after she broke off an arranged engagement to her first cousin and secretly married another man, a court heard today. Naila Afsar, 23, was also threatened with death, assaulted and abused by angry close relatives after they discovered she had wed Afsar Saddiq without telling them, it was alleged. She was given a milky drink laced with a prescription-only sedative in a bid to put her to sleep while they took her back to the family home - and away from her new husband, it was said. Shamim Akhtar, Naila's mother (left), and sister, Saima Mahmood (right), are accused of drugging the Asian bride after she broke off an arranged marriage . Mr Saddiq, meanwhile, was visited by Naila Afsar's family, who told him his new wife would not be returning before stealing his mobile phone to stop the couple keeping in contact, a jury heard. Naila Afsar's mother Shamim Akhtar, 58, father Mohammed Khan, 57, her elder brother Shamrez Khan, 34, all from Bradford, West Yorkshire, and her sister Saima Mahmood, 30, and her brother-in-law Zahid Mahmood, 36, both of Accrington, face a string of charges. They all deny false imprisonment, kidnap and two charges of administering the drug lorazepam with intent, in January last year, after claiming in a police interview they were trying to help Naila 'resolve a domestic situation'. Mr Jonathan Dickinson, prosecuting, told Burnley Crown Court Naila Afsar's family wanted her to marry her first cousin, who lived in Denmark. Naila became engaged to him in May 2009, but she realised they were not suited to one another and in July 2009, called it off. 'Her family was upset with her and that was, perhaps, putting it mildly,' said Mr Dickinson. 'The complainant ran away from the family home and went to live with a friend in Newcastle, thinking the defendants could not reach her.' Naila's father, Mohammed Khan, 57, left, and brother Shamrez Khan, 34, are also accused of drugging and kidnapping her after she secretly married another man . Mr Dickinson said that while in Newcastle, she met Mr Saddiq, they got on well and were wed in November 2009 at a local mosque, without her family knowing. 'The family found out soon after and towards the end of November, Naila Afsar visited the family home in Bradford with her new husband to introduce him to her family, in the hope of resolving their differences,' added the prosecutor. 'It wasn't an overwhelming success, but Naila Afsar said she would return to Bradford at the end of November, for Eid. 'She did so and was put under a lot of pressure from her family, who were not happy about her having broken off the engagement and married a man they did not know or approve of. The prosecutor said when the alleged victim went to Bradford for Eid, she was threatened and abused by her relatives, who wanted her to separate from Mr Saddiq or divorce him and start a relationship on a different footing, in accordance with their wishes. Mr Jonathan Dickinson, prosecutor . Naila Afsar disagreed and went to live in Newcastle with her husband, determined to have no more contact with her family. On the morning of Sunday, January 17, last year, the newlyweds were in bed at their home, when they heard banging on the doors and the door bell being rung continually, the court heard. They heard Shamrez Khan shouting in an aggressive way and he then appeared in their bedroom. The other defendants, apart from her father, were in the living room and at first they were pleasant, acting as if it was a perfectly normal thing for a family to do. Saima Mahmood tried to pressure her to go back to Accrington, promising no harm would come to her and telling her if she wanted to return to Newcastle she would be allowed to go back straight away. Naila agreed to go to Accrington with them and to stay just one night at their home. Accused: Naila's family all denied kidnap and administering drugs with intent at Burnley Crown Court . At the Accrington property, there was only Mrs Afsar, the Mahmoods and their young children present, everyone got on well, she felt comfortable and said she would stay another night and go home on the Tuesday. The prosecutor continued: 'It seems that that evidence reveals that her sister Saima Mahmood used the closeness of their relationship, really to trick her into coming back to Accrington and then staying, so that the family could exert more pressure on her with relation to her marriage and her relationship with Mr Saddiq.' Unbeknown to the alleged victim, her mother, her brother and brother-in-law had travelled back up to Newcastle in the middle of the night, confronted Mr Saddiq and collected Naila Afsar's belongings, including her passport. When Naila Afsar awoke on the Tuesday morning, she found she could not get hold of her husband, despite the fact they had been in regular contact. Mr Dickinson said it transpired Shamrez Khan had threatened Mr Saddiq, tried to punch him and told him his wife would be staying in Bradford and wouldn't be going back. Mr Saddiq's mobile phone was also taken from him. Akhtar and Shamrez Khan then turned up in Accrington with the alleged victim's belongings and told her they had been up to Newcastle, spoken to Mr Saddiq and 'effectively sorted him out'. Shamrez Khan took his sister's mobile phone, hit her twice across the face and threatened to kill her, the court heard. Naila Afsar wasn't prepared to tolerate the way she was being treated and said she wanted to go back to Newcastle. Saima Mahmood once again tried to win her sister's trust and told her she was prepared to take her back to Newcastle that same day. She then persuaded her sister to have some warm milk and immediately after drinking it, Mrs Afsar felt dizzy, was repeatedly sick, everything became blurred and she couldn't keep her eyes open. The prosecutor said the alleged victim lost track of time and had very little recollection of the next few hours. She remembered her father Mohammed Khan arriving in Accrington and felt herself being led to a car, but the next thing she recalled after that was the police knocking on the window of the vehicle. By that stage, 9.05pm, she was at a petrol station in Baxenden, Lancashire, in Zahid Mahmood's car. He was driving and she and her father were in the back. Mr Dickinson said: ' According to the police, she appeared intoxicated, extremely drowsy and they thought she needed to be taken to hospital. 'Blood and urine samples were taken from her, analysed and the drug lorazepam was found, consistent with her having been given a dose of this drug some time in the hours leading up to those samples being taken.' The court heard the defendants were arrested on January 20, were interviewed and all claimed they had only been trying to help Naila Afsar out in resolving a domestic situation. The trial continues. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.
### SUMMARY:
| Naila Afsar's family 'wanted her to marry first cousin who lived in Denmark'
Elder brother 'hit sister with her mobile phone and threatened to kill her' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Emma Innes . PUBLISHED: . 13:13 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:16 EST, 3 December 2013 . A teenager suffers from a condition that she says makes her look like she is nine months pregnant every time she eats. Rachael Harley has a problem with her digestive system which means her stomach swells and leaves her in tremendous pain. The 19-year-old was diagnosed with abdominal adhesions - bands of fibrous tissue between her organs - earlier this year. Rachael Harley, 19, has a problem with her digestive system which means she says she looks nine months pregnant every time she eats . Every time she eats her stomach balloons so much that people think she is pregnant. She has now been in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary since October and doctors don't know what to do to treat her problem. Rachael, of Balmedie, said: ‘My weight's gone up and down in a very small space of time. ‘I put on weight after surgery, but it did get down to six stone at one point because I couldn't eat. ‘My mum couldn't bring herself to look at me. I was just bones. ‘But every time I do eat, I look about nine months pregnant. Somebody in the hospital canteen actually asked me how far along I was. Rachael has abdominal adhesions - bands of fibrous tissue between her organs - which cause her extreme pain . ‘I didn't even know what to say. I . felt so awful that I lied. It's horrible. It feels as though my stomach . is about to stretch open.’ Rachael's problems began when her stomach suddenly swelled overnight and she was rushed to hospital on April 28. She had various tests and scans but doctors could not determine what was wrong. The teenager was released from hospital a few days later after she seemed to get better. But the crippling pain and swelling came back and she was readmitted later in the week. After a range of tests could not show what was wrong, an investigative operation in July finally revealed Rachael was suffering from adhesions, bands of fibrous tissue, on her bowel and appendix. They were removed and Rachael, who worked as a supervisor at clothes shop Warehouse before she became ill, returned home. But her symptoms soon began to resurface. She said: ‘Originally the adhesions were intertwined and were cut out. ‘They were causing an obstruction in my bowel and my organs were struggling to move about. ‘Everything was just fantastic and I started eating again. I went home and was looking forward to returning to my course. ‘But it didn't last long and I never got back to anything. I was put on different medications and even tried nerve-blocking injections, but nothing seemed to help. ‘Then eventually about eight weeks ago, I was taken back into hospital.’ Doctors have been at a loss with what to do, fearing that more investigative surgery could make her problems worse. Rachael said: 'Every time I do eat, I look about nine months pregnant. Somebody in the hospital canteen actually asked me how far along I was' Due to the seriousness of her condition, Rachael has now been in hospital since October, but she vows to remain positive. She . said: ‘Unfortunately, now a little down the line we are back to square . one. We believe that the adhesions have returned and are day by day . possibly causing damage to my bowel, stomach, gallbladder and fertility . organs. ‘I am unable to eat much and am deteriorating again. We are losing faith in the NHS doctors and in the care that I am receiving here in ARI. ‘You have to keep your spirits up, but it's difficult. I've managed with my mum to get into town in a wheelchair a few times. ‘I go clothes shopping, even though I can't wear them because my stomach swells so much.’ Rachael had to leave her photography course at Aberdeen College because she has missed classes through her illness. Rachael had surgery to remove the fibrous bands in her stomach but they soon returned and they are now threatening her reproductive organs - she fears she may have to have a hysterectomy . And she also had to turn down a place at London Metropolitan University to study fashion buying. But . she is now trying to raise money for specialist treatment which she . hopes will give her back her life – and she wants to train to be a . midwife. She said: ‘I've missed out on so much. I see photos on Facebook of all of my friends out enjoying themselves. It's heart-breaking. ‘After being in hospital now though, I want to be a midwife. I don't want to waste time. ‘Getting the right treatment would give everything back to me and my family. It would be brilliant. I want to start 2014 afresh.’ Rachael is hoping to raise enough money to pay for treatment from a private adhesions specialist in London, who would have the expert knowledge to investigate. Surgeons in Aberdeen have run out of options for treating Rachael - they fear if they perform another operation it will make the problem worse . Generous friends and family rallied round and have already raised almost £2,000 in just two days. Rachael said: ‘I can't believe how supportive everyone has been, especially in December. ‘It was a last chance thing and it's given me so much hope.’ If the tissues inside the body become injured, the immune system triggers a response that involves forming bands of scar tissue, called adhesions. This usually occurs after surgery. Most of the time, the adhesions don't cause any problems. However, sometimes the scar tissue can cause the bowels to stick together. This can cause it to become partially blocked - this causes pain and vomiting. Adhesions can also pull the fallopian tubes out of place causing infertility. Causes of adhesions include appendicitis, endometriosis, an infection and STIs. The main forms of treatment are surgery and painkillers. Source: BUPA . In London, a barrier mechanism would . be inserted to help prevent the adhesions from returning and hopefully . allow Rachael to carry on with a pain-free life. The . teenager believes that the adhesions formed and attached themselves to . her bowel and appendix after she suffered from appendicitis. They normally develop in patients after they have had surgery, but doctors believe that Rachael was born with the condition. She said: ‘My stomach doesn't empty fast enough so it just swells up. I can eat little things like snacks but when it's really bad I can barely even take in water because I just feel sick. ‘Other people I have spoken to [with the condition] are having to get hysterectomies because the adhesions have spread so much. ‘The pelvic pain I have is really severe and we're worried about mine. ‘We found out online that when you have them congenitally that there's 93 per cent chance of them coming back.’ Rachael now wants to raise as much money as she can in the hope that she can travel down to London for the surgery next year. The cost of the surgery and all the tests involved will be about £4,000. To support Rachael visit fundrazr.com .
### SUMMARY:
| Rachael Harley has bands of fibrous tissue between her organs - each time they're removed they return and are threatening her reproductive organs .
Every time she eats her stomach swells and she feels sick .
She has been in hospital since October but doctors are at a loss as to how to help her - she is now trying to raise money for private treatment . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Paul Thompson . PUBLISHED: . 10:47 EST, 29 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:56 EST, 29 June 2013 . The teenager who was the last person to speak with Trayvon Martin was a reluctant witness who did not want to give evidence. Rachel Jeantel told friends she was apprehensive about taking the stand and had to be persuaded by state prosecutors to appear. Friends said the 19 year old had to be coaxed into appearing as the star prosecution witness in the trial of George Zimmerman.Scroll down for video of the witness . Rachel Jeantel told friends she was apprehensive about taking the stand and had to be persuaded by state prosecutors to appear . On Friday Jeantel clashed with Zimmerman's defense attorney Don West - replying 'That's retarded sir' to one of his questions . 'She did not want to be there, no way,' said a friend who knew Rachel from Norland High School in Miami, Florida. 'She was not happy to take part. She did not want to do it, but out of respect for Trayvon's parents agreed to go to the trial.' According to friends, prosecutors made frequent trips to see Rachel at the three bedroom condo she shares with her mother in Miami Gardens, Florida. The teenager alluded to her reluctance to appear in court in a tweet message that has since been deleted. Friends said 19-year-old Rachel had to be coaxed into appearing as the star prosecution witness in the trial of George Zimmerman. Witness Rachel Jeantel smiles towards the end of her second day testimony during George Zimmerman's murder trial for 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Seminole circuit court in Sanford, Florida . She sent a message talking about 'jackass lawyers on my ass.' The tweet - along with others about underage drinking and getting high - have since been deleted. Rachel was on the phone with 17 year old Trayvon when he told her he was being followed as he walked back to his father’s home in Sanford, Florida. While billed as the prosecution star witness in the opening week of the trial her credibility has been tested. The teenager admitted lying about her age and attending the dead teen's funeral. She was involved in testy exchanges with defense attorney Don West, at one point telling him 'That's retarded, sir' in reply to one of his questions. Until her appearance at the trial she was simply known as Witness No 8. The teenager, who admitted to lying about her age and attending the dead teen's funeral, has involved in testy exchanges with defense attorney Don West . The fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, 17, by George Zimmerman took place on the night of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida . Cursive: Rachel Jeantel's letter to Trayvon's parents, which was written by a friend but signed by her . 'I was on the phone when Trevon [sic] decided to go to the corner store It started to rain so he decided to walk through another complex because it was rainy to [sic] hard. 'He started walking then noticed . someone was following him. Then he decided to find a shortcut cause the . man wouldn't follow him. Then he said the man didn't follow him again. 'Then . he looked back and saw the man again. The man started getting closer. Then Trevon [sic] turned around and said Why are you following me!! Then . I heard him fall. 'Then . the phone hung up. I called back and got no response. In my mind I . thought it was just a fight. Then I found out this tragic story. 'Thank . you, Diamond Eugene' The teen was also forced to admit . that a letter she wrote to Martin's parents after the 17 year old's . death had been written by a friend. Rachel . told the court in Sanford, Florida, she was only able to read out her . name from the letter and was unable to understand cursive writing. Jeantel . said she wrote the letter for the teen's parents so she could give her . account of his last phone call before being shot dead in February 2012. She told the packed courtroom that she never intended for it to be made public. The . letter said: 'He started walking then noticed someone was following . him. Then he decided to find a shortcut cause the man wouldn't follow . him. Then he said the man didn't follow him again. 'Then . he looked back and saw the man again. The man started getting closer. Then Trevon [sic] turned around and said Why are you following me!! Then I heard him fall. 'Then . the phone hung up. I called back and got no response. In my mind I . thought it was just a fight. Then I found out this tragic story. Thank . you.' Friends who live . near her home in Miami Gardens, Miami, describe Rachel as a 'good soul' who got mixed up with the wrong crowd and failed to graduate from High . School. She is . believed to have left school at the age of 16. School officials at . Norland High School refused to comment about the 19 year old's . attendance record or confirm she was a student at the school. Friends . who know Rachel said the teen, who prefers to be known by her nickname . Diamond Dee, would have been left shattered by her time in the witness . box. When asked about why she lied about not going to the funeral, she said: 'I felt guilty...I was the last person that talked to their son', before breaking down in tears . Clean-up: More than 40 tweets were removed from Rachel Jeantel's Twitter account which spoke about alcohol and getting high . Testimony: Rachel said Trayvon told her he was going to try to lose the man and go home, but Zimmerman kept following him . Rachel has not been allowed to make contact with her friends by phone while a witness in the trial. 'I'm sure she feels bad, feels humiliated,' said Francina Belloit. 'It was nasty what happened to her in the trial. 'They made her look as if she were on trial. It was not right.' Dee . Jackson, who knows the family, said she had to turn off the television . watching Rachel being quizzed by the defense attorneys. 'They're just drilling her and then the parents were like getting upset so I didn't want to see anymore,' she said. Rachel, who is off Haitian descent, was born in Miami and grew up in North Miami. Eight years ago the family moved to Miami Gardens and Rachel attended Norland High School. One . friend told MailOnline that Rachel was absent often from school after . getting mixed up with a wrong crowd she had met through her older . brothers. 'Her attendance wasn't the best,' said the friend. 'She liked to party and have a good time but that does not make her a bad person.' One friend told MailOnline that Rachel was absent often from school after getting mixed up with a wrong crowd she had met through her older brothers .
### SUMMARY:
| Rachel Jeantel was the last person to speak to Trayvon Martin before he was shot by George Zimmerman .
Prior to taking the stand she was billed as the star witness for the prosecution .
The reluctant witness has given a faltering display appearing annoyed and confused at times .
On Friday she clashed with Zimmerman's defense attorney Don West - replying 'That's retarded sir' to one of his questions .
Tweets she made prior to the case about underage drinking and drugs have been deleted since she took the stand .
Friends say she is a 'good soul' who got mixed-up with the wrong crowd and didn't finish school . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 08:51 EST, 22 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 15:11 EST, 22 January 2014 . It has been revealed that two armed officers left the area where a shooter opened fire at a Los Angeles airport last fall just minutes before he started his spree and killed one security screener and injured three others. The new details also note that the armed officers did not tell a dispatcher about their impromptu break as they are required to do. The Los Angeles Airport Police Department officers were outside Terminal 3 when authorities say Paul Ciancia opened fire with an assault rifle in an attack targeting Transportation Security Administration officers. Scroll down for video . On the scene: Police were able to shoot, injure, and take hold of shooter Paul Ciana after he opened fire inside Terminal 3 of Los Angeles International Airport on November 1 (pictured) As terrified travelers dived for cover, TSA officers — who are unarmed — fled the screening area without hitting a panic button or using a landline to call for help. It took a call from an airline contractor to a police dispatcher, who then alerted officers over the radio — a lag of nearly a minute and a half, the officials said. The officials who revealed the damning details to the Associated Press requested anonymity, saying they were briefed on the shooting but were not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation. Before officers could get to the scene, Ciancia fatally wounded TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez and then headed to the screening area where he shot two more agents and a traveler, authorities said. Ciancia was subdued after being wounded by officers in the gate area of the terminal. When the shooting started, the two officials say one of the armed officers assigned to the terminal was at or just outside an adjacent terminal. One of the officials said the officer was on a bathroom break and the other foot-beat officer was in a vehicle on the tarmac outside Terminal 3, headed for a meal break. The new details about the whereabouts of the two officers come as authorities review the overall response, including whether emergency medical personnel were forced to wait longer than necessary to remove Hernandez so he could be taken to a hospital. The AP earlier reported that Hernandez did not receive medical care until 33 minutes after he was shot. A coroner's release said he was likely dead within two to five minutes. Crowd control: It has now been revealed that two armed airport police officers were meant to be in the area at the time of the shooting but had taken unannounced breaks, leaving the unarmed TSA agents in the area alone . Departmental procedures require that officers notify a dispatcher before going on break and leaving their patrol area in order to ensure supervisors are aware of their absence and, if necessary, a relief unit can be brought in to cover their area. Airport police union chief Marshall McClain said the two officers assigned to Terminal 3 still were in position to quickly respond to the shooting. He said he'd spoken with both and confirmed one was ‘going to the restroom or coming back from the restroom’ and the other was headed out on a meal break but still within his patrol area. ‘He hadn't gone on break yet. He was going to go on break,’ McClain said. What typically happens is, ‘if you're going to go on a lunch break, you get to your location and you tell them that you're there.’ Officers often do this in order to maximize their lunch break so they don't lose time while traveling. Within a minute of the dispatcher's call, that officer had stopped someone who ran out of the terminal and the other officer was heading toward the shooting, McClain said. Mayor Eric Garcetti told the AP in an interview that he's watched surveillance video and received briefings on the investigation. While officers were able to take Ciancia into custody within five minutes of the shooting, he said, ‘It could have been a lot worse.’ Response: The dispatcher's alert over police radio brought an officer on a Segway, another on a bike, one on a motorcycle, two in a patrol car and one on foot, said one of the law enforcement officials (pictured on November 2) Whatever the investigation's conclusions, Garcetti said, ‘I want to make sure that in any terminal, there's always somebody there, that a bathroom break doesn't result in somebody, even for a few minutes, being out of the action.’ According to investigators, Ciancia, originally from Pennsville, New Jersey, arrived at the airport on November. 1 with the intention of killing TSA workers. Authorities have said Ciancia had a grudge against the agency, but they have not indicated what prompted it. After entering the terminal, police say Ciancia pulled a semi-automatic rifle from a duffel bag and began spraying the area with gunfire. Hernandez was mortally wounded and became the first TSA agent to die in the line of duty. The dispatcher's alert over police radio brought an officer on a Segway, another on a bike, one on a motorcycle, two in a patrol car and one on foot, said one of the law enforcement officials. Two of the first responding officers shot Ciancia, who survived and now faces murder and other charges. Airport Police Chief Pat Gannon lauded his officers for what he called a swift and brave response to a gunman. He said he was ‘comfortable with what the officers were doing at the time that the shooting occurred and their ability to respond to the incident.’ ‘It's not about who was or was not there and how that all occurred,’ Gannon said. ‘Those officers responsible for that terminal were there as quick as anybody else was to deal with those particular issues. They were not goofing off.’ Airports are allowed to make their own security plans for armed officers, as long as they follow basic guidelines and get their plans approved by the TSA. An updated policy at LAX was outlined last April in an internal memo that was obtained by AP and verified by one of the officials. Officers assigned to the terminals must inform supervisors when they want to take a break. ‘Absent exigent circumstances, (the units) shall not leave the assigned terminal area without prior authorization and a relief unit,’ the memo stated. In an important change, officers no longer were required to remain at a podium by the screening area: in an effort to make security plans less predictable, they are allowed to roam the terminal provided they can respond to an emergency at the screening station within three minutes. TSA Officer Victor Payes, who works at the airport and is president of the local union, said removing the officers from the podiums at the screening stations has been unnerving for screeners. ‘They're not there, and you're saying to yourself, 'Oh, hopefully nothing happens right now,' Payes said. Erroll Southers, a former FBI agent who was chief of homeland security and intelligence at LAX from 2007 to 2010, said the combination of the officers being away and the policy change gave Ciancia the soft target he wanted. Had officers still been stationed at the screening area, ‘that arguably would have put them in a position to know about the incident and respond to it in a much more reduced time span,’ he said.
### SUMMARY:
| Two armed officers didn't tell their dispatcher that they were going on breaks, new details from the investigation reveal .
Paul Ciana walked into LAX's Terminal 3 minutes later and took an assault rifle out of his bag and started firing, targeting TSA agents .
TSA agents fled the scene without hitting the panic button which would have alerted police .
Dispatcher learned about the shooting a minute and a half later after an airline contractor called it in, and then it was radioed over to nearby police .
One TSA agent died- the first ever in the line of duty- and three others were injured, as well as the shooter who was hit twice by police and survived . |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.