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### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Katie Davies . PUBLISHED: . 10:06 EST, 23 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:51 EST, 23 February 2013 . The innocent taxi passenger killed in Thursday's dramatic Las Vegas strip shooting has been named today as Sandi Sutton-Wasmund, a mother-of-three, who had twice survived breast cancer and was described as 'the heart and soul' of her community. Family and friends spoke of their grief today upon learning that the former chamber of commerce worker and shop-owner from Maple Valley, Washington, was one of the innocent bystanders killed in a pile up that followed a drive-by shooting in the resort. Aspiring rapper Kenneth Cherry, 27, was shot dead in his Maserati in the gun attack on Thursday at a busy Las Vegas intersection overseen by some of the resorts best known hotels. Scroll down for video . Devastated: Sandi Sutton-Wasmund's husband James, pictured with his wife, has been left devastated by her death alongside the couple's three teenage children . Breast cancer campaigner: Sandi Sutton-Wasmund, pictured with one of her children, survived breast cancer twice. Her mother and sister were killed by the disease leading her to tirelessly fundraise for cancer charities . Community favorite: Sandi Sutton-Wasmund was a dedicated mother to her three children, pictured with her daughter and youngest son left, but also gave her time to the Maple Valley community . As he accelerated to try and escape . the spray of bullets at around 4.20am he sped through a red light and . smashed into six other vehicles, including the taxi. It was immediately engulfed in flames . killing driver Michael Boldon, the sole carer of his elderly mother, and . passenger Sutton-Wasmund, who was in town on business. Innocent: Cab driver Michael Boldon was killed along with his passenger when the Maserati slammed into his taxi . Today it emerged Cherry had hauntingly sung the lyric: 'One mistake change lives all in one night' on one of his tracks according to Fox News. Sutton-Wasmund, 48, was in town for a trade show to buy clothes for her co-owned womenswear shop The Dazzled Dame. She was described as 'the heart and . soul' of her Washington community yesterday while one of her husband's . colleagues tearfully said: 'This woman was everything to this . community'. She leaves behind her husband James, a 17-year-old son Austin, 12-year-old daughter Sarah and an 11-year-old son Hunter. Family-centered Sutton-Wasmund who grew up . locally lovingly posted pictures of her family on Facebook as well as . images from her work as a tireless breast cancer campaigner. She lost her mother to the disease in . 1990, an older sister in 2005 and saw another sister diagnosed in 2010. She was herself a two time survivor and was desperate to raise much . needed funds for research into the disease. Writing about why she was taking part . in a 3-day walk in Seattle, she said: 'My daughter and I were driving in . the car the other day and she asked . me, "Mom, am I going to get Breast Cancer?" That's the reason I decided . to walk . the 3-day. Why? Because Everyone Deserves a Lifetime. Especially my . daughter . and all our families that we love and want to have with us forever. We . can only Pray that this family is done!' Last night her son Austin conveyed . his grief by simply posting a picture of him and his mother hugging at a . breast cancer fundraising event. A statement was released by the family today to King5. 'On behalf of Sandi’s family, Sandi was a loving wife, mother, . daughter and sister,' it said. 'Her innocent and tragic loss will be felt by all of . those who knew and loved her and by the community at large. Her family . appreciates the outpouring of love and support, and respect for privacy . shown throughout this very difficult time." Sandi was being driven by Michael . Boldon, a 62-year-old taxi driver and grandfather who had moved to Vegas . to care for his 93-year-old mother a year and a half ago. At the scene: The taxi exploded during the pileup in Vegas . Fireball: Smoke and flames billow from the burning taxi cab at the intersection of Flamingo Dr and Las Vegas Boulevard . He was remembered as a bubbly car enthusiast. Boldon's sister, Carolyn Jean Trimble told Fox news: 'Everybody just loved him. When that car hit that cab, Mike had to be in there talking and laughing.' Police are still hunting for the men inside a black Range Rover who opened fire on Cherry's $120,000 silver sports car. The car had blacked-out windows and a temporary paper license according to the authorities . Investigators believe the incident . followed a fight in the valet area of the Aria Resort and Casino . following a rap concert at the hotel. An unidentified passenger in Cherry's . car escaped with minor injuries to his arm - neither he nor Cherry are . believed to have fired any shots. He was said to be in Las Vegas . pursuing his music career and had recently posted to videos on YouTube - . in one he sings about hiding a gun in his sports car, police have not . said if he was armed on Thursday. Aspiring rapper: Kenneth Church aka Kenny Clutch bragged about keeping a pistol in his $120,000 Maserati in his songs . The shooting took place just two blocks . from the spot where rapper Tupac Shakur was infamously gunned down. Cherry's family said he was a 'decent kid' and was not involved in any kind of crime. The aspiring rapper from Northern California had no criminal record . 'I want to make it clear that my son was no gangster or nothing like . that,' his father, also Kenneth, said. 'He moved to Vegas about six year . ago and he was writing music and rap.' Officials say . the shooter remains armed and dangerous. As well as the three fatalities, a further five were injured in crash. British tourist Mark Thompson, who . was visiting from Manchester said that the scene was something straight . out of an action movie. 'This doesn't happen where we come from, not on this scale,' he said. 'We get stabbings, and gang violence, but this is like something out of a movie. Like "Die Hard" or something.' The charred wreckage of cars is seen this morning on Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Avenue as police investigate Thursday morning's deadly events . Authorities say at least one person in a Range Rover shot at people in a Maserati that then crashed into a taxi cab .
### SUMMARY:
| Sandi Sutton-Wasmund was revealed today as the innocent taxi passenger killed in Thursday's dramatic Last Vegas shooting pile-up .
The mother-of-three from Maple Valley, Washington, was visiting the resort on business when gunfire broke out between passengers of a black Range Rover SUV and a Maserati .
The Maserati crashed into her taxi at 4.20am causing it to burst into flames killing her and 62-year-old driver, Michael Boldon .
Rapper Kenneth Cherry, who was driving the sports car, was also killed in the incident as police still hunt for the gunman .
One of his songs contains the haunting lyric: 'One mistake change lives all in one night' it emerged today . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Jill Reilly . PUBLISHED: . 10:05 EST, 10 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:31 EST, 10 May 2013 . Jimi Hendrix wanted Sir Paul McCartney to form a supergroup with him – and be its bass player. He sent a telegram inviting the Beatle to join forces with him, jazz trumpeter Miles Davis and drummer Tony Williams in 1969, as the Fab Four were breaking up. It read: ‘We are recording and (sic) LP together this weekend. How about coming in to play bass?’ It was sent to McCartney at The Beatles’ Apple Records HQ in London on October 21, 1969, and told him to get in touch with producer Alan Douglas. Beatles aide Peter Brown replied on his behalf, telling Hendrix that McCartney was on holiday in Scotland and not due back for another two weeks. The telegram is on display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Prague. The telegraph reads: 'We are recording and LP together this weekend," it says, complete with a typographical error. "How about coming in to play bass stop call Alan Douglas 212-5812212. Peace Jimi Hendrix Miles Davis Tony Williams' Vacation: Beatle aide Peter Brown replied on McCartney's behalf, telling Hendrix the following day that McCartney was on vacation and not expected back for another two weeks . But less attention has been paid to the bass player they were trying to recruit. This tantalizing detail about the super . group that never was - jazz standout Tony Williams would have been on . drums - is contained in an oft-overlooked telegram that Hendrix sent to . McCartney at The Beatles' Apple Records in London on Oct. 21, 1969. 'We are recording and LP together this weekend,' it says, complete with a typographical error. 'How about coming in to play bass stop call Alan Douglas 212-5812212. Peace Jimi Hendrix Miles Davis Tony Williams.' The telegram, advising McCartney to contact producer Douglas if he could make the session, has been part of the Hard Rock Cafe memorabilia collection since it was purchased at auction in 1995. Still it has only generated attention in recent months with the successful release of 'People, Hell & Angels,' expected to be the last CD of Hendrix's studio recordings. Come to light: The telegram only generated attention in recent months with the successful release of 'People, Hell & Angels,' expected to be the last CD of Hendrix's studio recordings . The telegram advises McCartney to contact a producer he could make the session with Miles Davis, left, But McCartney had gone his family to their farm in Scotland to escape exposure to a rumour that he had died in a car crash and been replaced by a lookalike. 'It's not something you hear about a lot,' Hard Rock historian Jeff Nolan said of the telegram, now displayed at the restaurant in Prague. 'Major Hendrix connoisseurs are aware of it. It would have been one of the most insane supergroups. These four cats certainly reinvented their instruments and the way they're perceived.' French promoter and Hendrix fanatic Yazid Manou, who has researched the telegram, says it offers a glimpse of what might have been. 'It's amazing because of the names of the people,' he said. 'Of course that didn't happen, but the telegram brings us something to dream about. This is a document, proof that they had an idea to do an album.' The telegram raises more questions than it answers. It's not clear if McCartney was even aware of the unusual, apparently impromptu invitation to rush from his London base to New York for the planned session. Beatle aide Peter Brown replied on McCartney's behalf, telling Hendrix the following day that McCartney was on vacation and not expected back for another two weeks. The invitation came at an extremely awkward moment for the Beatles' bassist. It was sent the same day a prominent New York City radio station gave wide exposure to a rumor that McCartney had died in a car crash and been replaced by a lookalike. The bizarre story, supposedly supported by hints on Beatles records and album covers, briefly gained worldwide credibility. Timing: The telegram came at a time when the Beatles were falling apart due to business and artistic conflicts that likely would have been exacerbated by McCartney appearing on a record with Hendrix and Davis . Its dark nature apparently prompted the exasperated McCartney to retreat with his family to their farm in Scotland. It also came at a time when the Beatles were falling apart due to business and artistic conflicts that likely would have been exacerbated by McCartney appearing on a record with Hendrix and Davis. McCartney was also still bound by a songwriting partnership with John Lennon that might have further complicated the release of any McCartney-Hendrix-Davis compositions. And then there is the question of what the proposed group would have sounded like. Davis was moving away from his jazz roots toward a fusion-based sound. He said in his autobiography that by 1968 he was listening primarily to James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone and, particularly, Hendrix - musicians joined by a love of syncopated funk not found on Beatles' tracks. It is not clear either how McCartney's melodic, subtle bass playing would have made its presence felt in a band that included Hendrix' guitar and Davis' trumpet. 'At first, though, it sounds really weird and off the wall. But on second thought it makes perfect, Hendrix-type sense to chuck in someone who's a great musician but comes from a different tradition,' said Hendrix biographer Charles Shaar Murray. 'I regret this never actually took place. ... it would have been magnificent.' McCartney is the only one of the four musicians who is still alive. World tour: McCartney's spokesman said the former Beatle is too busy on his world tour to comb his memory for his thoughts about a telegram sent more than four decades ago . His spokesman, Stuart Bell, said the former Beatle is too busy on his world tour to comb his memory for his thoughts about a telegram sent more than four decades ago. In his autobiography, Davis said he and Hendrix occasionally jammed together at his apartment in New York City and tried to get into the studio to record but were hampered by financial matters and by their busy schedules. Murray and others maintain that Davis wanted $50,000 up front to attend the session. The Juilliard-trained trumpeter Davis described Hendrix, who learned his chops backing up the Isley Brothers and others, as a self-taught 'natural musician' who could not read music but was able to pick up complicated pieces in the blink of an eye. Davis says in the book that he and arranger Gil Evans were in Europe planning to record with Hendrix at the time of his death in London. 'What I didn't understand is why nobody told him not to mix alcohol and sleeping pills,' Davis wrote. Hendrix's death dashed their plans to record together, with or without McCartney. Eddie Kramer, the engineer who produced most of Hendrix's music, said there will always be speculation about what might have been. 'I think it would have been phenomenal,' Kramer said. 'Lord knows where it may have gone; those huge egos in the studio at the same time! I would have loved to have done that one. But it was not to be.'
### SUMMARY:
| Telegram advises McCartney to make contact if he could make the session .
But McCartney had gone with his family to their farm in Scotland .
Unclear if McCartney ever saw the telegram as his aide replied . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Emily Sheridan and Kimberley Dadds . PUBLISHED: . 09:49 EST, 28 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:44 EST, 29 May 2013 . As far as celebrity feuds go, it seems Kelly Brook and Katie Price's is set to continue a while longer. Glamour model Katie has now upped the spat by warning Kelly that her boyfriend Danny Cipriani will never be faithful to her. Price, also known as Jordan, reignited her bitter war of words with the TV presenter, 33, on Twitter on Tuesday night, claiming the rugby star is always trying to contact her, days after Kelly mocked her recent marriage to Kieran Hayler on Celebrity Juice. It's war! Katie Price, pictured in Shoreditch on . Saturday, and Kelly Brook, pictured in London last week, have reignited . their war of words . The 35-year-old mother-of-three lashed out at Kelly, writing: '@IAMKELLYBROOK pick up the phone if you hav a prob instead of hiding behind a tv screen to bully me! '@IAMKELLYBROOK ask danny about his emails & texes sent to me behind your back which ill show you kieran agrees he will never be faithful.' Katie's comments come after Kelly made fun of her third marriage on Celebrity Juice on Thursday, when host Keith Lemon asked the panel: 'What did Katie Price do for her husband on their wedding day?' Claws out: Kelly Brook has started to ignore Katie Price's tweets, but the glamour model has warned Danny Cipriani will 'never be faithful' to her . Kelly replied: 'Did she burn my calendar hanging on his wall?' When a fan tweeted Katie about the joke, she replied: 'I'm sure kelly wouldn't be laughing if I said the things Danny Cip said to me about her in the bedroom when I was with him hahaha (sic).' Kelly then hit back and implied that she was still in touch with Danny, when he briefly dated Katie in October 2011, despite living with then-boyfriend Thom Evans at the time. She wrote: 'No but I did laugh when he turned up at my house driving your car the next day ;) I don't think you know anything.' On Tuesday night, Katie thanked Kelly for confirming that Danny had driven her car 'without a license and insurance'. It's all kicking off: The two women started battling on Twitter after Celebrity Juice . She then teased fans that she would reveal all about her brief fling with the rugby player in her upcoming autobiography. But Brook has been ignoring Katie's last comments, instead choosing to post pictures of her holiday with Danny instead. The models have been embroiled in a bitter feud since Kelly reunited with Danny in February and Katie called her a 'heffer'. She . added: 'Rumour has it she's been hanging out with our mutual ex Danny . Cipriani. Knowing him, I guess she's probably been doing a bit of . comfort eating.' Kelly and Katie seemed to have reached a ceasefire recently after weeks of trading barbs. However, the rift between the two models is back on and seems to have reached a new level after the latest bout of tweets started over the weekend. The row was fired up again on Thursday night on Kelly's last episode of Celebrity Juice, when she mocked Katie's recent marriage to Kieran Hayler. Naughty: Kelly couldn't resist another dig at Katie on her last episode of Celebrity Juice last Thursday . When someone tweeted Katie telling her she was being 'mugged off hard', she responded: 'I'm flattered she must be obsessed with me as has to keep mentioning me.' When one Twitter user included Kelly . and Katie's handles in her message, it ended up creating an online . dialogue between the rivals. On Friday night, Katie initially refrained from replying to Kelly's comment directly, she did retweet a comment from a follower suggesting Kelly should keep quiet. The tweet, by @TysonPrice4 read: '@IAMKELLYBROOK Why don't you leave @MissKatiePrice name out of you're mouth u stupid b**ch !!!' Katie briefly dated Danny in October 2011, (during a break from ex-fiance Leandro Penna) who has since reunited with Kelly in February this year. Unimpressed: Katie retweeted an offensive comment about Kelly . Kelly and Danny originally dated from 2008 until 2010, before she went on to have a two year romance with his former Wasps teammate Thom Evans. However, Kelly returned to her ex just weeks after splitting from Thom in January 2013. The row between Katie and Kelly kicked off in February this year, when the former accused the brunette model of looking heavier after seeing photos of her shooting her New Look swimwear campaign in Miami. She wrote her column in The Sun: 'The pictures of Kelly modelling her latest New Look swimwear range in Miami don't seem to be airbrushed and I'm FLABbergasted to see how big Kelly really is. 'You're a heffer (sic), Kelly, but still a hot one.' She even suggested Kelly was 'comfort eating' because she was seeing her ex-boyfriend Danny again. Soon after, Kelly responded, accusing the mother-of-three of being 'rude'. Shared history: Kelly is now dating her ex-boyfriend Danny Cipriani again, who briefly dated Katie in October 2011 . She said: 'I actually wish her all the best. It's sad isn't it? I think it's a bit sad... 'I think girls can get away with having a bit of meat on our bones; I don’t mind a wobbly arm or a bit of cellulite.' However, a few days later, Kelly couldn't resist making a pop of Katie on Celebrity Juice, when she compared her to the character Magda from the hit movie There's Something About Mary. When asked by host Keith Lemon what she would do if Katie was there, she replied: 'What, Magda from There's Something About Mary?' Magda was the fiftysomething, sun-worshipping next door neighbour of Cameron Diaz's character Mary in the hit 1998 comedy. Fling: Katie and Danny at Thorpe Park in Surrey in October 2011 during their brief romance . Played by actress Lin Shaye, she was known for her bleached blonde hair, permatan and caked on make-up... not unlike Katie. That fired up Katie even more, who . posted a zoomed-in photo of Kelly's naked breasts, which had been taken . on holiday in St Barts in 2008. However, Kelly responded with another dig a few weeks later on the ITV2 show, when she played a game where an image of Katie's swimsuit-clad figure had been projected over her. Unaware of Katie's body being projected across the green screen she had stuck her head through, Kelly eventually realised who she was supposed to be and asked: 'Do I talk a lot of s**t?'
### SUMMARY:
| Kelly reignited feud when she mocked Katie's recent marriage to Kieran Hayler .
Katie tweeted Kelly must be 'obsessed' with her and alluded to the model's bedroom skills with their mutual ex-boyfriend Danny Cipriani .
Price then added further messages asking Brook to ring her and warning her Danny will never be faithful . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Caroline Graham and Sharon Churcher . PUBLISHED: . 16:09 EST, 28 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:35 EST, 29 April 2012 . With her long serge habit, make-up-free face and closely cropped hair hidden by a traditional wimple, she appears indistinguishable from her fellow Benedictine nuns. Sister John Mary is devoted to a never-ending ritual of worship and work at her convent with the 36 sisters who follow the Rule of St Benedict on an isolated 400-acre farm. It’s a life she was called to but it is hardly one the 44-year-old glamorous blonde seemed destined for when she worked in London at Conservative Party HQ - with her ambitious young boyfriend David Cameron. The ex who found God: Sister John Mary features in new documentary God is the Bigger Elvis . Sister John Mary’s real name is Laura . Adshead. She is a former pupil of £24,000-a-year Cheltenham Ladies’ College, from where she went up to Oxford - meeting Mr Cameron when they . were young undergraduates. Laura . dated him from the spring of 1990 until summer 1991, and while he . worked at Conservative Central Office, she went on to become the then . Prime Minister John Major’s correspondence secretary. Then . their lives took different turns. Mr Cameron was selected for political . stardom, while Laura left politics to study at the Wharton business . school in Philadelphia. She . became an executive in Manhattan for Ogilvy & Mather, the . advertising agency that inspired the television drama Mad Men - but the . stresses of success, and, perhaps, of personal rejection, finally proved . too much for her. She descended into a world of drinking . and addiction before finally finding salvation in God at the abbey in . the Connecticut hills, three hours north of New York City. New life: Laura at the abbey, in smart dress and pearls, before becoming Sister John Mary . ‘I . did think my life would progress on the normal tracks of meeting . someone, marrying, having children, but that’s not the path that God has . led me,’ Sister John Mary says in a new documentary revealing her . story. Photographs are shown of her when she was a young woman, posing in a leopard-skin top, dragging on a cigarette and savouring a glass of wine. But she admits that her lifestyle then brought her little except loneliness. She says: ‘I feel like I tried most things in life that are supposed to make you happy. That journey took me down into alcoholism and drug addiction.’ It has been suggested that her downward spiral may have started soon after her break-up from the future Prime Minister. In a 2007 biography of Cameron, a former colleague of the pair at Conservative headquarters recalled Laura being granted a ‘period of compassionate leave’ to recover from the heartbreak. Past life: Laura before she found God . The authors say Mr Cameron was also . shaken by the split and its aftermath, and add: ‘Perhaps as a result of . the fall-out from his affair with Adshead, Cameron thereafter dated . women outside politics.’ Laura later went out with the historian Andrew Roberts, one of Mr Cameron’s friends. When . she moved to New York to work as a strategic planning director at . Ogilvy & Mather, she found herself part of a social whirl that . included aristocratic Europeans and American trust fund heirs. Newspaper . diaries chronicled her presence at society events - at one polo match . she mingled with Prince Albert of Monaco, Estee Lauder’s granddaughter, . Aerin, and a billionaire polo-playing friend of Prince Charles, Peter . Brant, who is married to model Stephanie Seymour. She spent freely, renting a £15,000-a-month summer home with pool and tennis court in the exclusive enclave of The Hamptons on Long Island, regarded as the summer seaside playground of America’s wealthy elite. But by 2008 she had apparently become overwhelmed by problems with substance abuse, and declared that she had decided to become a nun. She recalls: ‘I remember having to tell my mother, “I’m going to join the abbey,’’ and she said, “Yes, I can see this world has no real meaning for you any more.’’ I looked at this place and saw women who had what I wanted. ‘You make a decision here to surrender your life to God.’ Laura seems to have embraced the lifestyle wholeheartedly. The film shows the formal ceremony that she went through in order to join the order of nuns. She is seen dressed in a smart fuchsia . dress and knotted pearls - then happily allowing the sisters to untwist . her long blonde hair from a bun and cut it back. A wimple is then placed around her head before she is introduced to the congregation by her new name. ‘This is the only place I could see myself being - because this is where it’s at,’ she says. She is seen at prayer, weeping with . emotion. ‘She really is committed to the abbey,’ said a source who met . her at a service to which the public were admitted. ‘Her mother and . sister were at the service. The nuns chanted in Latin. It was very . beautiful.’ Last week, . answering a telephone call from The Mail on Sunday, the convent’s . porter, Mother Deborah Joseph, described how, as a novice, Laura must go . through an apprenticeship known as ‘formation’. Laura took her vows four years ago, but formation lasts for as long as five-and-a-half years. Only at the end of this apprenticeship will she be eligible to take holy orders and assume the title of ‘Mother’. Ex: David Cameron in 1987, during his time at Oxford . Asked whether Sister John Mary could speak, Mother Joseph said she was too busy to come to the phone, explaining: ‘She’s out of the house and on the land. She’ll be busy until Vespers.’ To outsiders, the regime at the Abbey of Regina Laudis may seem harsh. The first bell of the day rings at 2am to announce Matins. Then it clangs at first light, again at 8am for Mass and then at regular intervals until Vespers, at 5pm. Chores for interns such as Laura include mopping the chapel floors, tending a herd of dairy cattle and scrubbing the pails that senior nuns use to churn butter. Laura is embracing the lifestyle, despite the apparent hardships. ‘A monastic life, this is where the struggle is,’ Laura says in the film. ‘There’s no way out. You don’t get to leave and go to a movie. ‘You don’t get distraction from all the human emotions. It’s like this hothouse where things get worked out.’ The film featuring Laura is called God Is The Bigger Elvis, the title referring to the convent’s Prioress Mother Dolores and her former life, which was also glamorous. She is a one-time Hollywood starlet, Dolores Hart, who appeared with Elvis Presley in two of his films, Lovin’ You and King Creole, before entering the order in 1963. Happy couple: The Prime Minister married Samantha in June 1996 .
### SUMMARY:
| She dated Cameron in the 1990s while working at Conservative Party HQ .
It's thought he was so shaken by their split that he never romanced someone in politics again .
By 2008 she had apparently become overwhelmed by problems with substance abuse . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . David Martosko, U.s. Political Editor . A convicted bribe-taker in President Barack Obama's political backyard, and at least two other public servants accused of felonies, are seeking office in Tuesday's Illinois Democratic primary elections. Former Chicago city alderman Isaac 'Ike' Carothers spent 28 months in prison for taking bribes, and was released in March 2012. He's running for commissioner of the Cook County board, among the most powerful positions in the Chicago metropolitan area. Carothers followed the family legacy established by his father, who once held the same position before going to prison for official corruption. The younger Carothers accepted a $9,000 bribe, and was accused of committing to accept another $100,000, from a man who wanted help securing government approval to open up at least five restaurants in Chicago's two commercial airports. He also accepted home repairs worth $40,000, plus campaign money and sports tickets, in exchange for fixing a zoning case. Chicago Alderman Isaac 'Ike' Carothers, chairman of the Chicago City Council's police and fire committee, pleaded guilty to corruption charges in 2010, but he's itching to get back into city politics . The Chicago way? Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison 18 corruption convictions, including trying to to auction off President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat . He was also fond of setting aside high-paying summer government jobs for his children and paying them out of specialized slush funds. 'All of us [aldermen] have family members on the payroll," the younger Carothers told the Chicago Tribune n 2009. Two other high-profile Democratic politicians with serious corruption problems are on primary ballots in Illinois. State Representative La Shawn K. Ford is running for re-election – unopposed – despite facing a criminal trial on bank fraud charges stemming from his business activities before he ran for office in 2006. He was indicted in late 2012. He has been charged with bank fraud for allegedly lying in 2006 on a $500,000 application for a line of credit. Ford claimed he would use the money to fix up decrepit real estate in Chicago, but prosecutors say he used the money to pay for his personal expenses. Ford is running unopposed in his primary. And Derrick Smith, another Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, faces a possible 10-year prison sentence in connection with a $7,000 bribe he allegedly accepted from a man who said he wanted a letter of recommendation for a $50,000 grant to open a day care center. It was a set-up, though, orchestrated by a campaign worker who was an FBI informant: The day-care plan never existed. Illinois Reps. La Shawn Ford (L) and Derrick Smith (R) are running for seats in the state legislature despite clouds of corruption, and both are favored to win . Mel Reynolds, a former congressman who went to prison for having sex with a 16-year-old campaign volunteer, ran for the jailed Jesse Jackson Jr.'s old U.S. House seat in 2012 on a campaign theme of 'redemption,' but was beaten handily . The Illinois House expelled Smith in 2012 after criminal charges were laid against him, but months later he won back his seat in a special election. As his trial date looms, he's running again and is favored to win. Democrat Michael Madigan, the powerful Illinois house speaker, is supporting both Smith and Ford. 'We're backing the incumbents," Madigan spokesman Steve Brown told Reuters, saying both men are innocent until proven guilty in court. 'That's how America works,' Brown said. An aide to an Illinois Republican congressman told MailOnline on Tuesday that the GOP won't likely reap political benefits from Democrats' lapses. 'I wish we could take advantage,' he said, requesting anonymity, 'but Illinois is a blue state and a universe unto itself. It would be easier for us to land on the sun than to get a Republican elected to those seats.' 'And when you have sitting politicians scratching each others' backs within their own political machine, it's hard to throw the bums out.' George Ryan, the corrupt former Illinois governor, spent five years in prison for official corruption before his release in 2013 . Not every Democrat in positions of power is helping the ethically challenged candidates, however. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is urging voters to shy away from Ike Carothers. But the convict is hoping for a clean slate. 'I believe in a God that believes in second . chances,' Carothers told a television audience in December. 'And I hope that the voters in this [Chicago] district will give me a . second chance.'. The situation in Illinois is 'a terrible indictment' of the local political culture, added former Chicago Alderman Dick Simpson, now a University of Illinois at Chicago professor. 'There is still a patronage-based political army on the West Side of Chicago.' Illinois politicians are famous for playing fast and loose with the public's trust: U.S. Justice Department statistics rank Chicago as the nation's most corrupt city. Since 1976 there have been 1,531 public corruption convictions in that one city, and the problem extends to the state capital of Springfield. Former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich is serving a 14-year prison sentence for political corruption after he was convicted of trying to sell an appointment to the U.S. Senate after Barack Obama assumed the presidency. Blagojevich replaced Republican Gov. George Ryan, who spent five years in federal prison for racketeering. The exception that proves the rule? President Barack Obama doesn't appear tainted by the smarmy politics in his home town, but ethical challenges of a different kind are dogging him in his second term . Ryan's crime involved taking bribes from unqualified truck drivers in exchange for providing them with hauling licenses while he was Illinois Secretary of State. Expanding Illinois' smarmy legacy, Jesse Jackson Jr., a former state representative and son of the civil-rights leader Jesse Jackson Sr., pleaded guilty last month to misusing $750,000 in campaign funds to fund his and his wife's lavish lifestyles. The younger Jackson's purchases included a $43,350 gold Rolex watch. He will be sentenced later this year. Former Illinois Congressman Mel Reynolds' corruption chronicles, however, may be the state's most colorful and disturbing. Reynolds went to prison in the 1990s for the statutory rape of a 16-year-old campaign volunteer, and for bank fraud. He was arrested in Zimbabwe in Feburary after allegedly making 100 pornographic films and taking 2,000 naked pictures in hotels. Mere possession of pornography is a crime in that African nation. But a judge dismissed the charges weeks later and deported him, back to Illinois.
### SUMMARY:
| A former Chicago alderman left prison in 2012 after serving 28 months for bribery and tax fraud, and is running for Cook County commissioner .
His father, also a former Chicago alderman, once did his own stretch of prison time for corruption .
A state representative faces bank fraud charges, and is running, unopposed, for the nomination to keep his seat .
Another state lawmaker is accused of taking a $7,000 bribe, and has already been expelled from the legislature once – but was re-elected . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Jonathan McEvoy . I have . seen Bernie Ecclestone reduce grown men to giggling sycophancy. It is . not intimidation that does it – at least not in my experience – but . charm. He is only 5ft 3in in his socks but he has a charisma that fills a . room. Hearing the evidence he gave this week in Munich at the start of a five-month bribery trial that may strip him of his sport, as well as his liberty, I was reminded of this knack. Asked whether he was divorced or married, he replied: ‘Both.’ I can envisage his usual squinting look of befuddlement and hear his dead-pan, sotto voce delivery. ‘I like to remember the divorce bit,’ he added with emphasis. Humour, usually in the form of a one-liner, has been one of his great weapons through the 60 years and more in which he transformed himself into a billionaire. An eye for a deal is another obvious part of the arsenal. D-day: Bernie Ecclestone arrives at court as he faces trial in Germany . No laughing matter: Ecclestone is flanked by his lawyers as he arrives at court in Munich . His line in Munich took me back to the High Court in London at the end of last year. There, he was asked about the hypothetical idea of paying millions to buy off a blackmailer who alleged erroneously that he had cheated on his ex-wife, Slavica. Pressed on whether he would really do that, he said: ‘You haven’t met my wife.’ While we’re on the subject of Ecclestone’s wit, here is what he told me in 2012 about his daughter Petra’s £5million wedding: 'I had to do something at the time that upset me. I had to give her away. I’d rather have sold her.’ In the same interview, I asked him when he thought he would hand over Formula One. ‘Past 100, I’m definitely out,’ he said. ‘I don’t know who should do it – honestly there’s nobody I despise enough that I would wish this on them.’ Asked on another occasion when his autobiography would be published, he responded: ‘The morning after I die. And the first 12 copies will go to the Inland Revenue.’ Last month when asked what he thought of the quieter new engine noise, he said he would like the sound to be louder, before adding Frankie Howerd-style: ‘I wish I could get it up.’ Not everyone will find all the jokes to his or her taste. Fine. They are often distinctly un-PC. Certainly, the next two examples will offend many sensibilities but I include them to give a true flavour of the man. Asked about the merits of having a female driver in Formula One, he opined: ‘What I would really like is to find the right girl, perhaps a black girl with super looks, preferably Jewish or Muslim, who speaks Spanish.’ And questioned about Danica Patrick, who made her name racing in America, he said: ‘You know, I’ve got one of these wonderful ideas that women should all be dressed in white like all the other domestic appliances.’ Humour: Ecclestone is well known for his wit and one-liners . In fairness, he could laugh at himself as easily as others. After being mugged, he posed, his face black and blue, for a watch advert under the banner: ‘See what people will do for a Hublot.’ (I’m not counting his remark that he admired Hitler for being ‘able to get things done’ as a quip; he actually meant that one.) Bernie Ecclestone has said and done many stupid things, he has looked old-fashioned and, to some minds, bigoted, yet his sense of mischief has unmistakably drawn in many people. In the early days his charm opened doors for him, a second-hand car dealer, to play chemmy with the likes of Cubby Broccoli, Lord Beaverbrook and, at least once, Lord Lucan. It enabled him to do deals nobody else had the chutzpah to attempt. And it means he still has a direct line in to presidents, prime ministers, small-town dictators, titans of industry, the good, the bad and the dangerous. Paddock power: Ecclestone remains in charge of Formula One despite his advancing years . But, as he learned when Mr Justice Newey published his scathing judgment in the previous High Court hearing, the quips do not make a jot of difference in the legal matters at hand, namely whether he bribed a German banker to sell the sport at a reduced price so he could continue running it. That is why it is best for him that he will not be giving evidence directly in Munich, but only through his lawyers. For once, it’s not jokes that can save Bernie. There has been discussion, including on the Daily Mail’s back page, about when precisely Ecclestone’s absolute control over Formula One was irretrievably broken. Having to stand down from the F1 board to fight charges in Germany was a big moment. So, too, was the verdict of Mr Justice Newey, who, to elaborate on the item above, found in Ecclestone’s favour on a technicality but condemned his evidence as unreliable. Might I suggest another significant moment, which has yet to materialise? It is when he no longer decides who gets a paddock pass, the entree to the sport’s inner sanctum. It is said that even Donald Mackenzie, chairman of CVC, the sport’s owners, is beholden to Bernie’s patronage on this one. He who hands out the passes, holds the power. A thought to ponder as we approach next week’s 20th anniversary commemoration of Ayrton Senna’s death. Many rank the brilliant Brazilian as the finest of all drivers; he is certainly a contender for the accolade. But I wonder whether, in general, those who survived their careers should not be granted greater recognition than those who perished. Remembered: Ayrton Senna was killed 20 years ago next week . Memories: Pictures of Senna are seen on a fence at the site where he died at the race track in Imola . After all, in eras past, survival was the ultimate achievement. As well as luck, it took skill to live – to assemble a dependable team around you, to feel impending malfunction before it killed you, to ensure you ran off the track as infrequently as possible. Discuss. One piece of vaguely Senna-related trivia. Lewis Hamilton went behind his dad’s car to cry when he heard his idol was dead, so one might think his helmet has been yellow for most of his career in homage to Senna. No so. He was told to wear yellow so his fretful father could spot him among fellow young karters. Nonetheless, what chance Lewis returning to a full yellow helmet as a mark of respect to Senna at the next race, in Spain? It would be a heartfelt touch. Yellow is the colour: Lewis Hamilton wore such a helmet so his dad could spot him when he was younger . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
### SUMMARY:
| Ecclestone is only 5ft 3in in his socks has a charisma that fills a room .
An eye for a deal is another obvious part of his armoury .
Ecclestone laughs at himself as much as he laughs at others .
He has a direct line to presidents, prime ministers and small-town dictators .
Bernie hands out the paddock passes, and so holds the power .
Ayrton Senna a great but should living be recognised as well as the dead?
Lewis Hamilton wears yellow helmet because he dad told him to . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Sam Webb . Edward Davenport, AKA 'Fast Eddie', was convicted of conspiracy to defraud and jailed for seven years and eight months. He is expected to pay back £12m of the estimated £40m he stole . A self-styled Lord who led the life of an international playboy while masterminding a huge loan swindle may have to repay just a fraction of his £40m criminal empire, a court heard today. Lord Edward Davenport, 47, has been released from prison after appeal court judges heard he is gravely ill following a kidney transplant. The conman, born Edward Ormus Sharington Davenport, had been jailed for seven and a half years in 2011 but the Court of Appeal recently reduced the term as an 'act of mercy'. Davenport once hosted lavish parties at his £10m mansion and boasted of befriending guests including supermodel Kate Moss and Princes William and Harry. But the socialite, dubbed Fast Eddie, was exposed as a cynical fraudster who duped victims out of their life savings through bogus start-up loan schemes. He promised millions of pounds which never materialised after he had pocketed the administration fees and advance payments. Princess Diana's wedding dress designer Elizabeth Emanuel was one who fell prey to Davenport's scheme, losing her life savings as a consequence. Davenport and his lieutenants, Peter Riley and Borge Andersen were jailed in 2011 for the scam, which entrapped entrepreneurs from as far afield as India, Canada and Dubai. The fraudster was not at Southwark Crown Court today for the start of his confiscation hearing. He may only have to pay back £12m - despite claims he may have made more than £40m through the six-year con. Alex Chalk, prosecuting, said: 'There has been a lot of toing and froing - many, many hours have been spent on both sides seeking to narrow the gap. 'We took the view that it was in the public interest to arrive at the figure of £12m'. He said Davenport should also be forced to pay a further £1.9m in compensation to the 51 victims he swindled between 2003 and 2009. But Andrew Campbell-Tiech, defending, said any compensation should be taken out of the £12m sum ahead of the civil action and heavy prosecution costs Davenport faces. Fraudster: There were at least 51 victims of the scam, including one who paid £285,000 to arrange a loan of over £150m, but no funds were ever forthcoming . 'Anything Davenport has left over after £12m, anything left would first be the subject of prosecution costs and thereafter, there would be a plethora of disappointed clients of the former Davenport empire and civil proceedings. 'A plethora of civil litigation swirls round his head'. The court heard Davenport has since been the subject of litigation from HSBC for his criminal dealings, revealed in bank accounts, property, and profit from his enterprises. He has also auctioned his mansion in plush Portland Place in central London, which he bought from the Sierra Leone government for just £2m. Davenport enticed his victims who a website boasting of his champagne and sports-car lifestyle and a £100m property portfolio in Britain, Thailand and Monaco. He even lent his 110 room west London mansion for an Agent Provocateur advert featuring Kate Moss, and for scenes in the Oscar-winning movie The King's Speech. Davenport arriving at Southwark Crown Court during the trial. Davenport had to undergo regular dialysis from December 2012, but remained handcuffed throughout . The court heard that there is still disagreement on Davenport's remaining assets, with the defence estimating the figure at £13.4m and the prosecution putting it at just over £14m. Mr Chalk said the defence only decided to bring down their figure on Tuesday after they commissioned a new survey on one of Davenport's properties, valuing it £635,000 below its previous estimate. The two sides had been in agreement over a £14m figure since June last year. Davenport's defence team had previously argued that he should repay as little as £8m, and that his mansion on Portland Place should not be part of proceedings. Judge Peter Testar said: 'This can't go on. It's three years since the conviction and there have been all sorts of difficulties along the way'. Davenport claimed to be a familiar face in 'exclusive venues across the world' and had 'extensive business interests.' His web page boasted: 'Welcome to the website of Edward Davenport, one of London's most flamboyant and best known entrepreneurs as well as a true English gentleman from an established British family.' Among the stars Davenport was pictured with on the site's gallery were actors Hugh Grant, Jeremy Irons, Jude Law and Steve Coogan; music mogul Simon Cowell; rapper 50 Cent, with whom the defendant is shown comparing watches, designers Vivienne Westwood and Jimmy Choo; New Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell and current Lord Chancellor Ken Clarke; Rolling Stones Mick Jagger and Ronnie Wood and other celebrities such as Jordan, Anna Kournikova, Jean-Claude Van-Damme and Ozzie Osbourne. One of his victims, Miss Emanuel, agreed to surrender 65 per cent of her company in return for a £1.5million investment, but Davenport demanded £20,000 in up-front fees. She told his trial: 'He knew I was at rock bottom and he wanted to screw me out of every penny. 'It was unbelievable that he had made all these contacts and bought a title to give him credibility when he was just a common con man. He fully deserves his sentence.' Judge Telstar ruled that Davenport's assets stand at £13.9m and that £12m would be confiscated under the Proceeds of Crime Act. A further ruling on whether Davenport should pay a further £1.9m in compensation to his victims will be made tomorrow. 'I'm not going to make this decision today so I'm going to have to reserve my decision until later,' said Telstar. 'I make the finding, with agreement with both parties and with absolute and entire assurance from those taking instruction, that the benefit to these crimes was £12m, which will be confiscated. 'I make the further finding that the available sum of assets is £13,943,000'. The court heard that the £12m confiscation order against Davenport would mean his victims may not receive any compensation if they won claims against him in the High Court. Judge Telstar added: 'When I make my full ruling on whether the defendant should pay a further £1.9m I will examine at whether I can insert a clause so that victims who win civil litigation against him can have monies from the £12m sum diverted to them'. Davenport, formerly of Portland Place, central London, was convicted after a trial of conspiracy to defraud. The hearing continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
### SUMMARY:
| Lord Edward Davenport may pay back just £12m of the sum he swindled .
He fleeced investors from as far afield as India, Canada and Dubai .
The socialite was jailed in 2011 but was released because of ill health . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Neil Ashton . Follow @@neilashton_ . Frank Lampard was at England’s team hotel in Manchester with Chelsea team-mates John Terry, Joe Cole and Wayne Bridge when he first met Jose Mourinho. That was in 2004, when England were preparing for the European Championship in Portugal and Mourinho was a Champions League winner with Porto. It was the start of a special relationship. Mourinho convinced Lampard and the rest of that team he would turn them into winners after years of near misses under Claudio Ranieri. Sure enough the midfielder, who confirmed yesterday he is leaving Chelsea after 13 years, went on to pretty much sweep the board. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Frank Lampard preparing for the World Cup . Special bond: Frank Lampard and Jose Mourinho first worked together back in 2004 . Success story: Mourinho and Lampard formed a successful partnership at Chelsea . Reunited: Lampard final season at Chelsea was also Mourinho's first season back at the club . Time to say goodbye: Frank Lampard applauds the Chelsea fans at the end of the season . £11m Fee paid by Chelsea to West Ham for Lampard in 2001. 19.8.01 Date of his Chelsea debut in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle. 211 Goals for Chelsea, making him the club’s all-time leading scorer. 648 Appearances for Chelsea. 164 Consecutive Premier League games played in after his Chelsea debut, a record for an outfield player. 150 Only midfielder to have scored 150 or more goals in the Premier League. 2005 Came second in the FIFA player-of-the year and Ballon d’Or, named writers’ player of the season. 2008 Won UEFA club midfielder of the year award. 3 Times named Chelsea player of the year: 2005, 2006, 2010. He won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, Europa League, four FA Cups and two League Cups with Chelsea, since joining from West Ham for £11million in 2001. His biggest regret is that he has not had a chance to say goodbye to the 40,000 fans who worship him at Stamford Bridge. He broke the great Bobby Tambling’s club goalscoring record when he hit the 202nd and 203rd goals of his Chelsea career against Aston Villa in May 2013. He leaves with a tally of 211, having finished top scorer four times, winning the club’s player of the year award on three occasions. Lampard’s appetite for the game remains undiminished. The legs may be tiring after 15 years at the top, but he wants to carry on beyond the World Cup. The . forthcoming tournament will be his last hurrah in an England shirt - he . is likely to retire from international football upon their exit - but . his club career will continue. The England vice-captain turns 36 on June . 20. It is time for something new. Lampard . read the signs last season, when there were ruthless changes under . Mourinho and regular appearances on the substitutes’ bench. Life on the . sidelines is not for one of English football’s modern greats, who . commands respect and recognition wherever football takes him. Fresh faced: Lampard crossed London to join Chelsea from West Ham in 2001 . Title winner: Lampard won three Premier League titles with Chelsea . Euro star: Lampard won both the Champions League and Europa League in his time at Chelsea . Think . of Alessandro Del Piero’s love affair with Juventus, the Old Lady of . Turin, or Paolo Maldini’s emotional attachment to AC Milan. Lampard has . earned his place in Chelsea folklore. He . has won admirers for his devotion to the sport and his ability to score . so many goals, sometimes under almost intolerable pressure. In 2008, . days after his mum Pat passed away, he scored from the penalty spot in a . Champions League semi-final against Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool. A . few weeks later, when Avram Grant led the team out in Moscow’s . Luzhniki Stadium for the final, he scored Chelsea’s equaliser against . Manchester United. That time, he ended up with a loser’s medal after . Chelsea lost in a shootout. Landing the big one: Lampard and Chelsea won their first their first Premier League title in 2005 . Cup of joy: Lampard and John Terry celebrate winning the FA Cup in 2007 after beating Manchester Unied . Long serving pair: Both Lampard and Terry have served Chelsea well during their most successful period . Silver lining: Lampard celebrates with the League Cup in 2007 . Another cup: Lampard celebrates with the FA Cup in 2009 . The . following year, infamously, he phoned James O’Brien’s radio show on LBC . after the presenter claimed he had ‘let down his kids’ following a . split with model Elen Rives. Not . only did O’Brien fail to realise it was the anniversary of Lampard’s . mum’s death, but the player’s children, Luna and Isla, spend three . nights a week with their father at his Knightsbridge home. They are a . major consideration for him now that he is on the verge of moving to New . York City. Record breaker: Lampard with his golden boot presented by Bobby Tambling in recognition of his 203 goals for Chelsea . Not seeing eye to eye: Lampard did not get on with ex-Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas . Big part of his life: Lampard will think of daughters Isla and Luna before making a decision on his next move . Mourinho wanted Lampard to stay and had encouraged the midfielder to start taking his coaching badges. In . the coach’s first season at Chelsea, he approached Lampard after . training to tell him he had become the best midfielder in the world. Lampard revealed in his autobiography that it propelled him to even . greater heights. By then he stood shoulder to shoulder with Andrea . Pirlo, Steven Gerrard, Xavi and Andres Iniesta. He . remained loyal to Chelsea when Mourinho tried to lure him to Inter . Milan in 2009. It was a close call but Lampard opted to stay at Stamford . Bridge, fulfilling all his ambitions with the club on a mind-boggling . contract worth £150,000 a week. He . only fell out with one manager — Andre Villas-Boas — during a . disastrous seven-month spell at Chelsea in 2011-12. Lampard finished . that season by lifting the Champions League trophy in the Allianz Arena . after the final against Bayern Munich. The following year, under interim coach Benitez, Chelsea won the Europa League with victory over Benfica in the Amsterdam Arena. That was the last trophy Lampard won with Chelsea, but his legacy will live on. At 35, he is a true giant of the game.
### SUMMARY:
| Lampard will go down in Chelsea history as one of the best players to play for the club .
Holds the club record of goals scored with 211 in 648 games .
Midfielder won 13 trophies during his 13 years at Stamford Bridge . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Last week Sony transformed London’s OXO Tower to look like a PlayStation controller and not to be outdone, today Microsoft has gone one better. The Washington-based firm has taken over the whole of London’s Leicester Square and renamed the landmark Xbox One Square. A giant Xbox stage has been built for the first ever live concert in the square, signs have been replaced and people have dressed up as game characters to celebrate the midnight launch of Microsoft's new Xbox One console. Square deal: The Washington-based firm has taken over the whole of London¿s Leicester Square and renamed the landmark Xbox One Square . Crowds: Thousands of gamers are expected to queue in tonight¿s rain to buy the follow-up to 2005¿s Microsoft Xbox 360 . Publicity stunt: Even the street signs in Leicester Square were replaced for the launch . The console costs £429.99 and comes with a redesigned, advanced Kinect motion sensor. The Xbox One plays games, videos and is called an ‘entertainment device’ rather than a gaming console. Its built-in apps include Skype, Netflix, Wuaki, TED and more. The Kinect 2's new cameras and sensors are so sensitive that they can . pick up a user’s heart rate from minute changes in the colour of their . skin. Users can also build up a 3D scan of their face, which is then used to create a personal avatar or games warrior. Other . improvements to the Kinect sensor include being able to tell which . muscles are in use while the player uses an app, and . determine how much force is being applied. Thousands of gamers have queued in the rain to buy the follow-up to 2005’s Microsoft Xbox 360. And now the patient gamers were rewarded for their waiting. Charlie Pulbrook is the first person in the UK to buy the new Xbox One, while 34-year-old Gareth Owen from Cessnock in Glasgow was the first person in his city receive the new console. Around the world people have queued up to get their hands on the latest Xbox, with actors wearing costumes from games to promote the sale. But the privilege of having the latest update on the games market comes at a price. The console costs £429.99 and comes with a redesigned, advanced Kinect motion sensor. A number of fans, VIPs and journalists were given tickets to the launch event in Leicester Square and a number surprise celebrity guests are expected. There will be similar events taking place in New York and Los Angeles featuring music from Deadmau5 and rapper Macklemore. The console goes on sale at 500 shops across the country, including 300 Game stores which will open at midnight especially for the launch. Queues began forming at 7.30am outside Game’s Xbox store in Shoreditch, east London, and other similar queues were spotted at the Westfield Stratford store. Charlie Pulbrook gets his hands on the first Xbox One in the UK at the Trocadero Leicester Square, which was renamed Xbox One Square to celebrate the moment in video game history . Hundreds of fans applauded Charlie Pulbrook, who was the first person in the UK to buy the new Xbox . Patient Gareth Owen from Cessnock in Glasgow was the first to receive his new Xbox One in the city - and wrapped up warm for the wait . Actors dressed as characters from the Xbox One game 'Ryse: Son of Rome' walk through Times Square as they arrive at the midnight launch in New York . Xbox characters dressed as Roman soldiers stand at attention outside the Best Buy Theater in Times Square . Tesco will . sell the consoles on a first-come first-served basis at more than 100 . of its Extra stores from midnight. However, not everyone will be able to get their hands on the must-have gadget. Amazon announced earlier this month . that pre-orders up to 13 November would not arrive before Christmas and . retailers are warning there will be a shortage. The . Xbox One is going head-to-head with Sony’s new PlayStation 4, which . goes on sale in the UK next week at £349.99 - £80 cheaper than its . rival. The Xbox One plays games, videos and is called an ‘entertainment device’ rather than a gaming console. Microsoft took over the square with a giant Xbox stage, pictured, for the first ever live concert in the square. Performances were from Katy B and Plan B to celebrate the midnight launch of the new Xbox One console . Scary: Zombies give members of the public a taste of what is to come this evening . Flashy: Part of the set up features a sports car on a round stage. Around 500 retailers will start selling the new console at midnight . Last week, Sony made London's OXO tower, pictured, look like PlayStation controller. The console goes on sale in the UK on 29 November . While the new Kinect has had a number of upgrades. Its new cameras and sensors are so sensitive that they can pick up a user’s heart rate from minute changes in the colour of their skin. Users can also build up a 3D scan of their face, which is then used to create a personal avatar or games warrior. The console is the first new Xbox to launch in eight years, while Sony has not updated its PlayStation since 2007. Phil Harrison, a corporate vice president at Microsoft, said: ‘We’re proud and excited that Xbox One is going to be the biggest launch in Xbox history. ‘Xbox One is a complete, all-in-one . system which has the best games, the best online service in Xbox Live, . the best entertainment experiences and is built for the future. 'Pre-orders from fans across the UK are at unprecedented levels.’ Tesco's Home Entertainment Manager, Stephen Owusu, said: ‘The launch of the . Xbox One is a massive event for millions of gamers around the world and . the console is sure to top many Christmas present lists this year. ‘The . last Xbox console – the Xbox 360 – was launched eight years ago so . there has been a lot of expectation and talk from gamers about this . latest version. 'If the U.S. launch is anything to go by these will fly . off the shelves.’ Test drive: The Xbox One plays games, videos and is called an ¿entertainment device¿ rather than a gaming console - gamers get a sneak preview . Trying it out: A gamer plays the console on a giant screen in the Square earlier today . A number of fans, VIPs and journalists were given tickets to the launch event in Leicester Square last night and it was illuminated in the iconic Xbox green colour, pictured . To celebrate games including thriller Dead Rising 3 that will be available on the new Xbox One console, people dressed up as zombies will also be at the launch event in Leicester Square, pictured . Microsoft unveiled its Kinect sensor, pictured top, as part of its Xbox One event in June. The sensor will be sold with the new console, pictured centre, and both were available from midnight at stores across the UK . Microsoft's next-generation Kinect sensor is able to detect and monitor a person's heart rate from around four feet away - without touching them. As blood passes through a person's body, the skin changes colour ever so slightly. The camera can recognise these changes to establish how fast the blood is pumping .
### SUMMARY:
| Leicester Square in London has been renamed Xbox One Square .
Signs have been replaced and lights have been set up in iconic Xbox green .
A giant Xbox stage has been built for the first ever live concert tonight .
Similar events are taking place in New York and Los Angeles . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Paym has the the potential to eventually link up every current account in the country with a phone number so transferring cash is as easy as texting (pictured) Transferring money to friends and family has got considerably easier since the days when writing cheques was the only option, but until now it still required knowledge of people’s bank details. A new mobile payment service is set to make life easier as it has the potential to eventually link up every current account in the country with a phone number. The Paym service has just launched and is initially available for use by 30million people in the UK. It enables people to transfer money by using mobile phone numbers and can be used by customers of the Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Cumberland Building Society, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Santander, TSB and Danske Bank. By the end of the year, a total of 40 million people will be able to access Paym, when Clydesdale Bank, first direct, Isle of Man Bank, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Yorkshire Bank come on board. By that point, Paym will be available on more than nine out of 10 current accounts. Paym, which is pronounced as ‘pay em’, has been described as the first industry-wide collaboration in the UK, which could potentially link up every bank account with a mobile number. Although it is anticipated that many people will use Paym to make small payments to friends and family, they will be able to transfer at least £250 a day under the scheme if they want. Some banks and building societies will have a higher daily limit. People need to actively register their mobile number alongside a nominated current account in order to receive money into that account through Paym. Scroll down for video . The service has just launched and is initially available for use by 30 million people in the UK. It enables people to transfer money just by using mobile phone numbers and can be used by customers of the Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Cumberland Building Society, Halifax, HSBC (pictured) Lloyds Bank, Santander, TSB and Danske Bank . Register your mobile number and the current account you would like your payments made into. Your friends can then pay money directly into your current account using just your phone number - without a sort code or account number. The service can be accessed using an updated version of current baking apps. Upon sending money, you will be asked to confirm the name of the recipient, check the amount and press send. The person making the payment will receive notification that the payment has been sent and the receiver will see the money in their account. At launch, customers of the Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Cumberland Building Society, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Santander, TSB and Danske Bank will be able to use the service. By the end of last week, more than 300,000 people had already registered to be able to use the service. People do not have to register for Paym in order to send money through the service, although their bank or building society does need to be taking part in the scheme in order for them to do this. The service will allow people to transfer cash payments on their mobile by using the recipient's phone number rather than needing to know their bank account number and sort code. It will be integrated into their existing mobile banking or payment app. To make a payment, a user can either select the contact they wish to pay from their phone or key in their mobile number. The app will ask them to confirm the name of the recipient and the amount before the money is sent. Adrian Kamellard, chief executive of the Payments Council, which is overseeing the initiative, said: ‘Paying someone back just got easier for millions of people. Paym is another safe and easy option to pay friends and family.’ Payments made through the service are made at the same speeds as existing current account, online and mobile payment services. Easier: The service will allow people to transfer cash payments on their mobile by using the recipient's phone number rather than needing to know their bank account number and sort code. It will be integrated into their existing mobile banking or payment app that can be used on the go (pictured) Paym enables people to transfer money just by using mobile phone numbers without knowing account numbers or sort codes. The service is initially available to 30million people in the UK but by the end of the year that number will rise to 40million. Paym will then be available on more than nine out of 10 current accounts. Paym, which is pronounced as ‘pay em’, has been described as the first industry-wide collaboration in the UK, which could potentially link up every bank account with a mobile number. Payments made through the service are made at the same speeds as existing current account, online and mobile payment services. Around £1billion payments are expected to be made using Paym by 2018. Some commentators have predicted this will mark the end for cash, cheques and high street banks. More than 94 per cent of adults now own a mobile phone and strong growth in mobile payments technology has already made it easier for people to leave their wallets at home. Barclays' Pingit app, which launched just before the 2012 Olympic Games, picked up 2.5 million regular users in just 18 months. Pingit, which is available to both Barclays and non-Barclays customers, also allows people to make payments using just mobile phone numbers. Another mobile payments scheme called Zapp is set to launch this autumn and is backed by the company behind Link cash machines. Nationwide . Building Society has confirmed its intention to join the Paym scheme in . early 2015 while Metro Bank and Ulster Bank are also finalising their . launch plans. Last . week, the Payments Council announced that people who accidentally send . money to the wrong bank account will be able to get better help in . clawing it back by the end of next month. A new voluntary code will mean that people get quicker and more consistent help from their bank or building society after they have alerted them to a wrong payment, although someone who raises such a claim is not guaranteed they will get their money back. Popular: More than 94 per cent of adults now own a mobile phone and strong growth in mobile payments technology has already been seen. Barclays' Pingit app, which launched just before the 2012 Olympic Games, picked up 2.5 million regular users in just 18 months A Barclays sign is pictured . David Richards, co-founder of British Big Data firm WANdisco, told MailOnline that banks expect some £1billion of payments to be made using Paym by 2018, with nine out of 10 users using the system. Some commentators have predicted this will mark the end for cash, cheques and high street banks, he said. A Carphone Warehouse spokesperson said: 'Customers are looking for faster and easier ways to organise their lives and keep their finances in order; it seems inevitable that future smartphones will need to feature payment options as standard. 'We’ve seen a rise in the number of customers looking for handsets that feature payment options, such as contactless payment. When coupled with further developments in m-commerce, such as the network-operated mobile wallet ‘Weve’, this trend shows no sign of slowing.'
### SUMMARY:
| Paym service is initially available for use by 30 million people in the UK and enables people to transfer money using mobile phone numbers .
Every current account in the UK could be linked with a phone number so people won't need account numbers and sort codes to make payments .
Customers of the Bank of Scotland, .
Barclays, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, .
Santander, TSB and others can use Paym at launch .
By the end of last week, more than 300,000 people had already registered to be able to use the service .
Banks expect some £1billion payments to be made using Paym by 2018 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
It took only one ball of the first one-day international against Australia on Friday for England to be handed a rude reminder of the size of the task that awaits them here in the tri-series and the World Cup that follows. Once Ian Bell, who made 187 just two days ago, was trapped lbw by a rapid Mitchell Starc at the Sydney Cricket Ground, much of the optimism England garnered from two near perfect warm-up performances began to evaporate. When James Taylor followed two balls later and England then crashed to 33 for four it seemed as though this was simply a continuation of the Ashes tour from hell that reached its nadir on this same famous old ground a year ago. Ian Bell (left) was dismissed off the bowling of Mitchell Starc (centre) in the first ball of the match . Pat Cummins (second left) celebrates taking the wicket of Joe Root, who was caught behind . Jos Buttler (left) appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of David Warner, who went on to reach a century . Thank heavens then for Eoin Morgan who made a welcome return to form and once again appeared galvanised by high office as he single-handedly saved England from one of the total humiliations common place here last winter. Yet a century from the new England one-day captain that augers well for the battles ahead was never going to be enough to stop Australia showing that they will be very much the team to beat in the World Cup that begins next month. Once David Warner got in the groove that tormented England all too often during the 5-0 thrashing Australia’s domination was clear against an attack worryingly lacking in variation and incapable of defending a sub-standard 234. As it was, Australia cruised to a win so comfortable they were able to gain a bonus point and demonstrated that they remain a formidable one-day machine even without injured captain Michael Clarke and the rested Mitchell Johnson. Eoin Morgan, England's one-day captain, top scored for the visitors with 121 runs against Australia . Warner bats during the opening match of the One Day International Tri Series between Australia and England . Warner and Aaron Finch (right), Australia's opening batsman against England, take to the field on Friday . Back to the drawing board? Not really, because England were always likely to be a one-day work in progress here with only a puncher’s chance of competing for a tri-series that also includes India and the premier 50-overs tournament. Yet they will want to do much better than this, starting when they meet that other one-day powerhouse in India in Brisbane on Tuesday and then when they face Australia yet again in Hobart next Friday. It was somehow inevitable that Bell would fail here after showing against a Prime Minister’s XI that he can produce the type of dynamic, substantial innings that has been beyond so many Englishmen in 50-over cricket. England may have breathed a sigh of relief that they did not have to face Johnson here but instead came another left-arm bowler with the pace, hostility and skill to rip the heart out of their innings before it had barely begun. England's Chris Woakes (third left) celebrates with his team-mates after taking the wicket of Finch (left) Morgan proved his worth as England's one-day captain when he came in at five to top score for the visitors . Ravi Bopara (right) plays a sweep shot on his way to 13 runs off 18 balls for England against Australia . Starc appears to have added the priceless ability to swing the ball back into right-handers to his armoury and here he was simply too quick for both Bell and Taylor as England made the worst possible start to their busiest ever year. There was a suspicion that Bell may have got an inside edge onto his pad but the replays were inconclusive and not even the Decision Review System that will not be used in this tri-series at India’s insistence would have saved him. By the time Morgan came to the crease England were in disarray – welcome to the captaincy, Eoin – but at least he was able to steady his ship and hit his first century since this time last year in Brisbane. It was desperately needed. No-one else had an answer to Starc, the equally rapid Pat Cummins, the left-arm variations of James Faulkner and even the mediocre spinner in Xavier Doherty who England were unable to attack. Shane Watson, Australia's number three, plays a shot... he eventually scored 16 runs off 20 balls for the hosts . Steve Smith watches on as his shot flies away towards the boundary at the Sydney Cricket Ground . Morgan leads the England players on to the field as a St George's Cross flies in the background . When Chris Jordan hung around with his captain long enough to add 56 for the eighth wicket England at least looked like they would reach the relative riches of 250 and give themselves something to bowl at. But Starc returned to dismiss Morgan for 121 and last man Steven Finn in successive balls and England had wasted 13 deliveries after being bowled out within 50 overs for the 10th time in their last 13 one-day internationals. Where Australia have plenty of bowling options Morgan had no choice other than to rely an attack lacking a left-armer of his own and even their main one-day spinner in James Tredwell, surprisingly left out on a worn SCG pitch. Warner’s one-day record pales into insignificance compared to his Test and Twenty20 statistics but he loves being a thorn in England’s side and once he had negotiated the two new balls there was absolutely no shifting him. Morgan gathered his England squad together to give a team-talk before they took to the field . Fans dressed up in the sun to enjoy the One Day International match of Australia against England . A view of the MA Noble and Don Bradman Stand shows the ground bathed in sunshine on Friday . England left out Jimmy Anderson to give him more time to recover from his knee problem but in his place Finn was again a shadow of the bowler who looked among the best one-day performers in the world in New Zealand in 2013. Clearly the problems that led to Finn being sent home from the Ashes tour with his action in disarray have not totally been solved yet and Finn did well to escape injury when he clattered into the stumps after losing his footing. The much improved Chris Woakes was quicker than Finn and provided encouragement with four wickets but the decision to keep Stuart Broad away from the new balls suggests he too has not fully recovered from knee surgery. The end came with more than 10 overs to spare but only three wickets in hand after Warner, who could have been given out lbw to Moeen Ali on 51, had been dismissed for 127 within sight of the winning post. England will hope Australia prove just as difficult to beat when they face India in Melbourne on Sunday, leaving them to battle it out with MS Dhoni’s side for a place in the final. Yes, this is a reality check but it was always expecting a lot for England to hit the ground running against Australia in this series. At least Morgan, who must have a good World Cup for England to have any chance, is back in business.
### SUMMARY:
| England won the toss and opted to bat first against Australia in Sydney .
It started badly for the tourists as Ian Bell was bowled with the first delivery .
And it went from bad to worse as James Taylor was given out lbw after the third ball, leaving England struggling on 0-2 .
Eoin Morgan came in with England on 12-3, and top scored with 121 .
England posted 243 all out in just shy of 48 overs against Australia .
Australia opener David Warner impressed as he raced to a century .
Warner top scored with 127 before being caught by Bell late on .
Australia confirmed the victory with 61 balls remaining in the innings . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A Nigerian heiress, whose father is said to be one of the world’s wealthiest men, has set her sights on becoming the next Rihanna. Ambimbola ‘Bim’ Fernandez, the daughter of gemstone entrepreneur and former UN ambassador Antonio Deinde Fernandez, has celebrated the release of her first single by sitting down for an interview with the New York Post. The 24-year-old, who is based in New York, told the paper that she has embarked on her career without the help of her dad, who is reportedly worth a staggering $8.7 billion. The heiress: Ambimbola 'Bim' Fernandez, 24, is the daughter of one of the world's wealthiest men who has been valued at $8.7 billion . She did, however, admit that he gives her a hefty monthly allowance which pays for her luxury Manhattan apartment among other living expenses. Speaking to the paper in her New York City home, which is flanked by original artworks by Picasso and Dr Seuss, Ms Fernandez explained: ‘I think that, unfortunately, everyone’s perception of socialites has been pretty accurate so far, which is what I want to change.’ Miss Fernandez’s first single ‘Let’s Take It Naked’ was released today on SMH Records’ site, with an iTunes roll-out expected soon. She cites Rihanna as one of her biggest musical inspirations. ‘Money can’t buy a record deal,’ she said of her situation. ‘It can’t buy good music. You can either sing or you can’t.’ 'Unfortunately, everyone’s perception of socialites has been pretty accurate so far, which is what I want to change' A song about nakedness is perhaps a little more explicit than what one would expect from a well-heeled socialite, but Miss Fernandez says that ‘it’s not even that racy of a song! 'It’s very poppy, like, “I think you’re cute! Do you like me? So let’s get naked!” I want it to be that song where it’s like, “Turn that song on! Let’s get ready! Let’s do shots!”’ In November, she signed her record . deal with SMH and is now topping off negotiations for her reality TV . pilot called Gold Blooded to be picked up by a major network. Her only prior professional music . experience was a vocal cameo in Cobra Starship’s 2009 album Hot Mess – a . feature she booked after meeting the band’s lead singer Gabe Saporta . backstage at a show. Her record label says that Miss Fernandez has not put any of her own money into the music project. In fact, Miss Fernandez appears to be more down to earth than one would expect. She told the New York Post that she grew up not knowing how rich she was. She attended college at Oxford Brookes University in England for just a few weeks before dropping out because 'everyone was way too snobby - I couldn't do it,' she said. Singing career: Ms Fernandez has embarked on a singing career, and counts Rihanna as one of her biggest musical inspirations . Judging from Twitter, it seems that Miss Fernandez even enjoys a good bargain. In July she tweeted: 'Favorite time of the year. 80% off sales everywhere!' Miss Fernandez is actually very active on Twitter, where she currently has more than 35,000 followers. She has used the social networking site to keep her fans informed of her record's progress, as well as her reality show. Her father, 80, owns four residences: . A mansion in Larchmont, New York (where Miss Fernandez also resides), a . home in Brussels, a palace in Nigeria, and a French chateau that was . once owned by Napoleon. Mr Fernandez is apparently transported between each of his homes on one of his three private jets. While he was born of royal tribal blood, his fortune appears to be entirely self-made through a . series of diamond and gold mines across the Central African Republic. His family counted Nelson Mandela and Kofi Annan as good friends. When . Mr Mandela died late last year Miss Fernandez shared photos of her posed . as a young child with the former South African President. She wrote on Instagram: 'It is . with great heartfelt sorrow to receive the message of Uncle Mandela's . passing to glory. We, the Fernandez children have lost an exceptional . Uncle & the world, a great man. Rest in Peace. [sic]' Miss Fernandez's father is notably reclusive for fear of abduction and robbery. He . is so private that blog entries written about him across the internet . almost describe him as a mythical-type person. Figures regarding his . exact wealth, properties, and other assets appear to be widely rumored . and disputed. Some even say that he owns up to six private jets and will not eat in a restaurant unless the establishment is completely cleared out so that he can dine alone. 'People think I’m exactly like Paris . Hilton, that I do nothing... I hope . they’re not right' Miss Fernandez’s starkly different outlook on publicity and self-promotion has worried her father. ‘He’s . terrified because I’m his baby - especially with [me] revealing [my] . wealth. And me being alone in the country, he’s terrified of someone . kidnapping me and holding me for ransom,’ she said. ‘He also just doesn’t want people taking advantage of me because I have been sheltered my whole life.’ Last year, Miss Fernandez finally decided to see-out her life-long dream of a singing career after her mother, Aduke, died of colon cancer. Her illness followed a bitter divorce with Mr Fernandez, which became headline-making news for its very public division of assets, including their many mansions,. During the 2004 divorce, it came to light how Mr Fernandez and Aduke had never been legally married in their 20-year relationship, which was previously unknown to her. Mr Fernandez had not divorced his prior wife until 1990, meaning he was still married during their Nigerian wedding ceremony (and therefore it was non-legally-biding). Headed for TV too: Miss Fernandez is currently shopping her reality TV show pilot to be picked up by a major network . Despite Mr Fernandez's extreme wealth, reports say that he fought tooth-and-nail to protect his assets in his divorce from Aduke - even asking her to pay him back millions of dollars for the renovations made to their shared residences. At the time, an anonymous source told the Sunday Times: 'Aduke believes she spent 20 years married to a man that has become her enemy and that what she is going through now is an attempt to prevent her existing without him. 'He has been presented as an honorable person who can do no wrong, while Aduke is just the greedy wife. But the property in New York is owned jointly and the château is in her name.' Despite her legal battles, the Aduke tried to protect her children during her divorce. Abimbola appears to maintain a close relationship with her father, and tweeted about spending Christmas with him in Belgium. She sees her album's release as an opportunity to prove her own potential. ‘People think I’m exactly like Paris Hilton, that I do nothing, I don’t work for myself, I don’t take my own money, I just spend my dad’s money, and I’m a spoiled brat. I hope they’re not right.’
### SUMMARY:
| Ambimbola 'Bim' Fernandez, 24, is the daughter of reclusive gem tycoon Antonio Deinde Fernandez .
Her father is reportedly valued at $8.7 billion . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Steve Jobs's tangled family of a forgotten father, long-lost sister and love child means lawyers may face a delicate task breaking up his $8.3billion fortune. The 56-year-old co-founder and former CEO of Apple is widely seen as one of the world's greatest entrepreneurs - and he died just outside the top 100 world’s richest billionaires. But behind the iconic Californian's wealth and fame lies an extraordinary story of a fragmented family. Husband and wife: Steve Jobs leans his forehead against his wife after delivering the keynote address at an Apple conference in San Francisco, California, in June 2011, months before his death . Mr Jobs, of Palo Alto, California, is survived by his sisters Patti Jobs . and Mona Simpson, his wife Laurene Powell Jobs and their three children . Eve, Erin and Reed. But his family is far from straightforward. He was adopted as a baby and, despite his biological father's attempts to contact him later on, remained estranged from his natural parents. In his early twenties Mr Jobs became . embroiled in a family scandal before his days of close media scrutiny, after he fathered a love child with his . high school sweetheart Chrisann Brennan. Ms Brennan, who was his first . serious girlfriend, became pregnant in 1977 - and he at first denied he was the . father. She gave birth to Lisa Brennan-Jobs in 1978 - and in the same year Mr Jobs created the 'Lisa' computer, but insisted it only stood for 'Local Integrated Software Architecture'. The mother initially raised their . daughter on benefits. But he accepted his responsibilities two years later after a . court-ordered blood test proved he was the father, despite his claims of being 'infertile'. Relatives: Mr Jobs did not meet his biological . sister Mona Simpson, left, until he was aged 27. Lisa Brennan-Jobs, . right, was his love child with longtime girlfriend Chrisann Brennan in . 1978 . Ms Brennan-Jobs has made a living for herself, after graduating from Harvard University, as a journalist and writer. 'My father was rich and renowned, and . later, as I got to know him, went on vacations with him, and then lived . with him for a few years, I saw another, more glamorous world' Lisa Brennan-Jobs . She was eventually invited into her . father's life as a teenager and told Vogue . that she 'lived with him for a few years'. 'In . California, my mother had raised me mostly alone,' Lisa wrote in an . article for Vogue in 2008. 'We didn’t have many things, but she is warm . and we were happy. We moved a lot. We rented. 'My . father was rich and renowned, and later, as I got to know him, went on . vacations with him, and then lived with him for a few years, I saw . another, more glamorous world.' Biological dad: Abdulfattah Jandali, 80, a casino boss, has said he wanted to meet his son but was worried about calling him in case Mr Jobs thought he was after money . Mr Jobs was born to Joanne Schieble and Syrian student Abdulfattah Jandali before being given up for adoption. Mr Jandali was a Syrian student and not married to Ms Simpson at the time of Mr Jobs's birth in San Francisco, California, in February 1955. She did not want to bring up a child out of wedlock and went to San Francisco from their home in Wisconsin to have the baby. Mr Jobs is thought never to have made contact with his biological father. Mr Jandali, 80, a casino boss, has said he wanted to meet his son but was worried if Mr Jobs thought he was after money. Tributes: Flowers adorn the sidewalk outside the home of Steve Jobs in Palo Alto, California, today . He had always hoped that his son would call him to make contact - and had emailed him a few times in an attempt to speak. Mr Jandali once said he 'cannot believe' his son created so many gadgets. 'This might sound strange, though, . but I am not prepared, even if either of us was on our deathbeds, to . pick up the phone to call him,' he said. Ms Schieble and Mr Jandali then had a second child called Mona Simpson, who became a novelist. Ms Simpson is an author who once . wrote a book loosely based on her biological brother. She lives in Santa . Monica, California, with her two children and was once married to . producer Richard Appel. Couple: Jobs and his wife Laurene Powell (pictured at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in March 7, 2010) met in 1989. They have three children together - Eve, Erin and Reed . But . Mr Jobs did not actually meet Ms Simpson until he was aged 27. He never . wanted to explain how he tracked down his sister, but she described . their relationship as 'close'. Mr . Jobs was adopted by working-class couple Clara and Paul Jobs, who have . both since died, but they also later adopted a second child - Patti . Jobs. He later had the Ms Brennan-Jobs love . child with his longtime girlfriend Ms Brennan in 1978. He . met his wife Laurene Powell in 1989 while speaking at Stanford's . graduate business school and he had three children with her - Eve, Erin . and Reed. Residence: Jobs had lived in Palo Alto, California at this sprawling home, estimated to be worth $2.6 million . They married in 1991 and Reed was born soon after. He is their oldest child, aged 20. Mr . Jobs registered an incredible 338 U.S. patents or patent applications . for technology and electronic accessories, reported the International . Business Times. He was believed to have driven a 2007 Mercedes Benz SL55 AMG, which was worth around $130,000 new at the time. His 5,700 sq ft home was a 1930s Tudor-style property with seven bedrooms and four bathrooms - and it is estimated by CNBC to be worth $2.6million. Mr Jobs also owned a huge historic . Spanish colonial home in Woodside, which had 14 bedrooms and 13 . bathrooms, located across six acres of forested land. Namaste: The 56-year-old co-founder and former CEO of Apple is widely seen as one of the world's greatest entrepreneurs . But he later had it knocked down to make way for a smaller property after a long legal battle. His charitable giving has always been a secret topic, just like most other elements of his lifestyle. Mr Jobs reportedly declined to get involved with the Giving Pledge - founded by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to get the wealthiest people to give away at least half of their wealth. But he is rumoured to have given $150million to the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of California in San Francisco, reported the New York Times. It is cancer organisations that are most likely to be supported if any charities are in his will, as he died on Wednesday at the age of 56 from the pancreatic form of the illness.
### SUMMARY:
| Apple co-founder survived by two sisters, wife and their three children .
But he also had love child Lisa Brennan-Jobs with Chrisann Brennan .
His Syrian biological father never had conversation with Jobs as an adult . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
It is easy to pick on Juan Mata. He is not blessed with pace, he’s not a big player and he comes across as a quiet, humble guy. But you cannot argue with what he produces on the pitch. He came off the bench to save Manchester United against Crystal Palace and he must be wondering what more he has to do to play regular football at Old Trafford. Juan Mata (right) hits the ball through a crowd of Crystal Palace players to score Manchester United's winner . Mata celebrates his goal, just minutes after he came on as a substitute . The Spaniard readies himself to replace Adnan Januzaj but Mata is better then being a super sub at United . 11 - Juan Mata has been involved in 11 goals in his last 15 PL games for Man United. He has scored nine and set up two. There is no doubting his quality — this is a player with a World Cup and European Championship to his name. But he found himself surplus to requirements at Chelsea and now seems to be in a similar position at Manchester United. You have to credit him because he never causes a fuss or has a bad word to say. But make no mistake. He wants to play football. He is too good to be a super sub at United and if he doesn’t get some more action, I could see him moving on or maybe even back to Spain. AUSTIN'S IN DREAMLAND . Every weekend people up and down the country wake up and dream of playing football in the Premier League. That’s why Charlie Austin’s is such a great story. Five years ago he was playing non-league football for Poole. Now he is rubbing shoulders with the likes of Sergio Aguero. He looks like he’s loving each second in the Premier League and he deserves every bit of it. Charlie Austin does a chicken dance - part of a dare organised by Soccer AM - after his goal on Saturday . The QPR striker slides the ball under Joe Hart to make it 1-0 and carry on his good recent form . 12 - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) 10 - Diego Costa (Chelsea) 8 - Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) 7 - Saido Berahino (West Brom) 6 - Charlie Austin (QPR); Nacer Chadli (Spurs); Graziano Pelle (Southampton): Daifra Sakho (West Ham) For some players, life can be too easy, especially if they get huge wages at such a young age. After the journey he has been on, there’s no danger of Austin not appreciating where he is. He is a throwback but he is a quality player. I worried when he missed a penalty on the opening day but he has proved himself with some fantastic goals. He still has work to do, but he wants to improve and I like that about him. He certainly needs to work on his goal celebration! His dance was part of a dare organised on Sky’s Soccer AM programme, but he had to have a couple of cracks at it after having a goal disallowed. His rise up the leagues has been a dream but it just goes to show that sometimes it’s never too late to make it in the big time. Austin heads in one of two disallowed goals he scored in the draw against City . Austin looks as if he is loving it in the Premier League and the only way is up . CHELSEA'S CASE FOR THE DEFENCE . Much of the focus on Chelsea this season has centred around their attacking power: Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard. It’s easy to pick out and praise the players who are firing in the goals. But their defensive unit has been just as important, if not more so, in their success so far. At the moment it looks like they have the perfect combination of goalkeeper and back four. John Terry is still a huge player for them and is obviously doing a fine job of improving Gary Cahill alongside him. Branislav Ivanovic is solid as a rock at right back and Cesar Azpilicueta did brilliantly to set up Costa’s goal at Anfield. Thibaut Courtois is a huge presence behind them and Nemanja Matic must be a dream to have in front of your back four, always protecting the defence and putting out fires. At the end of the Liverpool game Chelsea’s defenders came together for a huddle. If they keep that unit working for the rest of the season they will be hard to stop. Chelsea's defensive players have not had as much praise as the likes of Eden Hazard (third right) but they have been integral to their club's charge to the top of the Premier League table . John Terry (second right) looks as if he is straining every sinew in his bid to keep Liverpool at bay . CITY HAVE TO MIND THE GAP . Sergio Aguero aside, City have been poor this season. At times they have been a one-man team. It was a fantastic game against QPR but whatever Manuel Pellegrini says, they were lucky to escape Loftus Road with a point on Saturday. They had a slow start last season — they were six points off the top at the same stage — and came back to win it. But the landscape of the league has changed. Chelsea look so strong and if City aren’t careful they could be out of the running before they know it. The international break has come at a good time because they desperately need something to change and soon. Sergio Aguero scores his second goal of the game against QPR - at times City look like a one-man team . City are struggling at the back and Martin Demichelis (second right) scores an own goal at Loftus Road . A MASTERCLASS FROM MONTERO . The South American invasion is in full swing in the Premier League, but not many people would have expected an Ecuadorian to upstage a Chilean on Sunday. Alexis Sanchez looked like he had won it for Arsenal, but Swansea completed a magnificent fightback thanks in no small part to Jefferson Montero. He put on an exhibition of old-school wing play. He was strong, quick and went past Calum Chambers at will. It’s not a game the young defender will want to watch back, but he should do so he can learn from the experience because Montero was magnificent. Jefferson Montero (left) was superb for Swansea against Arsenal and gave Calum Chambers a torrid time . A MUCH NEEDED WIN TO BOOST BURNLEY . It has been a rough ride for Burnley on their return to the Premier League. I’m a fan of Sean Dyche and what he’s done at the club, but they really needed a result to kick-start their season, which they got against Hull. Ashley Barnes (centre) is congratulated by George Boyd (right) after scoring the winner against Hull . Burnley need last season's strike pairing of Danny Ings (left) and Sam Vokes back together . 47 - goals scored by Danny Ings and Sam Vokes in all competitions in 2013-14. It’s all well and good getting draws but what they really needed was three points on the board. At times they have defended well this season and kept a clean sheet against Hull, but what they really need is goals. They miss Sam Vokes, who was so deadly with Danny Ings last season. Once Vokes returns from injury, he will be desperate to fire Burnley up the league. VIDEO Dyche delighted with first win of the season .
### SUMMARY:
| Juan Mata just wants to play at Manchester United - he could move .
Charlie Austin is loving each second of playing in the Premier League .
Chelsea's defence have been integral in power surge to the top .
Manchester City have to mind the gap at top of table .
Swansea's Jefferson Montero produced a masterclass against Arsenal .
Burnley's win against Hull was much-needed - now they must score more . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
People in China are undergoing risky surgery in order to make their voice more masculine or feminine . People in China are undergoing risky surgery in order to make their voices more masculine or feminine. Voice operations are the latest in a booming cosmetic surgery market, with doctors offering the procedures reporting that demand for the surgery has risen steadily in recent years. Several clinics now offer people the surgery - which was traditionally carried out on patients undergoing a sex change. This is despite the known risk that surgery can cause loss of voice altogether, as well as pneumonia. Academics say the rising popularity of these procedures shows the pressure Chinese people are under to conform to gender stereotypes. One person who has had the surgery is Lu Xiang, 23, who endured years of being mocked for his 'girly' high pitched voice. 'For many years, my classmates and colleagues made fun of me because of my voice, calling me a sissy,' Lu told Global Times journalists. 'I couldn't get a girlfriend either. 'Women didn't see me as a real man, and instead treated me like one of their female friends because of my girly voice.' Lu's voice did not drop during puberty and in his job as a call centre operator, he was frequently mistaken for a woman. People also assumed he was gay because of the way he spoke. So despite the potential risks of the surgery, he decided to go ahead and have an operation which would make his voice lower. It involved cutting a segment of cartilage from his larynx and injecting Botox into his vocal cords. Mr Alasdair Mace, an ENT surgeon at Charing Cross hospital in London, told MailOnline that Botox causes the vocal chords to become shorter and more loose, deepening the voice. Mr Mace carries out around two ‘voice surgeries’ a month, usually on patients undergoing a sex change, or patients with a defect in their voice through birth or injury. He said Lu's case is unusual because normally females transitioning to becoming male who are hoping for a deeper voice would be given testosterone therapy which works well to deepen their voice's pitch. Mr Alasdair Mace, an ENT surgeon at Charing Cross Hospital in London, carries out two 'voice surgeries' a month, usually on patients undergoing a sex change, or patients with a defect in their voice through birth or injury. Here, he explains to MailOnline how a procedure to lower the pitch of the voice would work... Mr Mace said: ‘The pitch of the voice is determined by length, the thickness, and the tension of the vocal chords. ‘You can stretch the vocal chords - the thinner they become, the higher the voice will go. ‘The thicker and the more lax the vocal chords, the deeper you’ll go. ‘Botox makes the chords shorter, flatter and more floppy, deepening the voice. ‘The chords are also attached to a bit of horse-shoe shaped cartilage called thyroid cartilage. ‘If you cut a little bit of cartilage out and drop it back, this shortens, stiffens the chords and the voice will become deeper.’ He added that the Botox injection is usually temporary. ‘It’s a vacuous aim if you inject it into the vocal chords because it’ll wear off. So they keep having to come back.' He added that the procedure carries well-known risks. He said: ‘If you have too much you weaken the chords so they can no longer come together and you’ll lose your voice. ‘The reason we have vocal cords is originally to protect the lungs from things going down the wrong way. ‘There’s a risk of causing pneumonia by paralysing them. 'People having the procedure would have to know about the risks: losing the voice, the chest infections.’ Lu underwent a surgical procedure presumably because he was already male and so testosterone therapy would not be appropriate.. He explained how the procedure works: ‘The vocal chords are attached to a bit of horse-shoe shaped cartilage called thyroid cartilage. ‘If you cut a little bit of cartilage out and drop it back, this shortens, stiffens the chords and the voice will become deeper.’ ‘Injecting Botox makes the chords shorter, flatter and more floppy, deepening the voice. However, he added that the Botox injection is usually temporary. ‘Botox paralyses muscles. You use it for wrinkles; It only works for three to six months. Which is why people have to keep going back for more. 'It’s a vacuous aim if you inject it into the vocal cords because it’ll wear off. So they keep having to come back for more injections.' Patients risk losing their voice temporarily, and catching chest infections, he added. He said: ‘If you have too much you weaken the chords so they can no longer come together and you’ll lose your voice. ‘The reason we have vocal cords originally is to protect the lungs from things going down the wrong way. Even animals who don't speak have vocal chords for this purpose. ‘There’s a risk of causing pneumonia by paralysing them. People having the procedure would have to know about the risks: losing the voice, the chest infections.’ One Chinese doctor says he has performed more than 200 vocal surgeries over the last four years. Huang Yideng, a doctor from The Chinese People's Liberation Army 118 Hospital, said most people who came to him for surgery were men like Lu with a high-pitched voice but wanted to sound more 'manly'. Women with low-pitched voices who wanted to sound more 'girly' also opted for the procedure. One manager at a centre that carries out the operations said demand for the surgery from China has risen in recent years. Zhou Meiling, a manager of the Yeson Voice Center in South Korea, said four years ago about 20 Chinese clients came to the clinic each year. Last year, around 100 Chinese patients visited, she said. Scroll down for video . One 23-year-old man had a procedure which involved cutting a segment of cartilage from his larynx and injecting Botox into his vocal cords. He wanted to sound deeper after years of his 'girly' voice being mocked . Many were seeking to improve their competitiveness in the job market. Different procedures exist, but one option is to place titanium plates between the throat muscles, causing the vocal chord to stretch, raising the pitch, the Telegraph reports. An incision can be made in the vocal chord, or part of it can be burnt away with a laser. This causes scarring which stiffens the chord, making the pitch higher. Many might dismiss such cosmetic surgery as a symptom of vanity, but some academics blame rigid Chinese gender roles. 'Gender is performed, in the sense that men are expected to behave in ways that conform to preconceived ideas of masculinity, and women are expected to behave in ways that conform to preconceived ideas of femininity,' Chen Yaya, of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. People who already have normal voices, but still seek vocal surgery are doing so out of pressure to conform more fully to gender stereotypes, she said. She added: 'Our society needs to be more inclusive of differences within genders, so that people with unconventional voices or other characteristics that don't conform to their gender stereotype won't be pressured into the pain of surgery.'
### SUMMARY:
| Chinese people undergoing surgery to make voices masculine or feminine .
Surgery is usually offered to people undergoing a sex change .
However it is known to carry the risk of losing the voice altogether .
Numbers of people opting for surgery has increased in recent years .
Academics say people feel pressured to conform to rigid gender roles . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Wedding and party season fast approaches and if you're stuck for cake inspiration - bored of tired old fruit cake and marzipan, like most of us - there is a ghoulish alternative. Annebel de Vetten, nicknamed Annabel Lecter, is the go-to baker if you want something truly memorable. A tower of birds' skulls, for example, or a startlingly lifelike hairy hog's head. Annabel runs the Conjurer's Kitchen in Birmingham and specialises in the kind of cakes you won't find in your local bakery. Brain food: Annabel has become famous for her terrifyingly realistic cakes - a motley collection of dead baby heads, skinned birds, rodent skulls, blood soaked intestines and human brains, pictured here, made out of marshmallow . Baker Annabel said: 'When people look at my cakes, they recoil in disgust, but it's funny watching their expressions as they bite into a bit of intestine and realise it tastes like chocolate cake' Pig's dinner: These remarkable pig's heads are delicious cakes. 'You should never be afraid to try things,' says alternative baker Annabel De Vetten . Anna De Vetton makes jaw-dropping cakes, such as this tiered skullcake, at her Conjourer's Kitchen in Kings Heath . Annabel - nicknamed Annabel Lecter by her friends - only began baking four years ago, and now spends around 30 hours on each of her terrifying but delicious masterpieces . The . ghoulishly creative baker, 42, has become famous for her terrifyingly realistic cakes - a motley collection of dead baby heads, skinned birds, rodent skulls, blood-soaked intestines and human brains. Annabel only began baking three years . ago, but now spends around 30 hours making each one out of sponge cake, . icing, marshmallows and chocolate, and sells each for upwards of £400. She said: 'When people look at my cakes, they recoil in disgust, but thankfully when they taste them, they love them. 'But it's funny watching their expressions as they bite into a bit of intestine and realise it tastes like chocolate cake.' Turkey dinner cake, made by Anna De Vetten of Conjourer's Kitchen in Kings Heath . Jackalope cake, left, and Buffalo Bill's 'suit made from real girls' cake, right, (vanilla cake, with dark chocolate ganache and black cherry filling) Internal surgery cake, left and shrunken head cake, right, are just two of the weird and wacky cakes made by Anna De Vetten of Conjurer's Kitchen in Kings Heath . She . continued: 'With stuff like the life-size baby's heads, which are made . from white chocolate and therefore look kind of dead, it obviously isn't . to everyone's taste - but they're certainly different and that's not . always a bad thing. 'You should never be afraid to try things.' Annabel began cracking eggs and creaming . butter just three years ago as she baked her own wedding cake when she . tied the knot to magician Thom, 48. After the cake, featuring a little . magician on top instead of a bride and groom, went down a storm with . guests, she quit her job as a sculptor to set up her own bakery, . Conjurer's Kitchen. She . said: 'I started off just making cakes that were magician-themed, but I . started getting more gruesome requests - and things just escalated into . making dead baby heads and human hearts. 'My . cakes resemble human organs, mummified heads and life-sized skulls - . they're for people with a sweet tooth but a strong stomach.' Frightfully good: Annabel de Vetten, pictured here, from Kings Heath has made an edible tiger at her Conjurers Kitchen. Prices for her cakes start at £75 . Coffin cake! Annabel has also made a serial killer cake and an unusual bondage-themed wedding cake . Leaning towards more unusual and creatively decorated cakes, Conjurers Kitchen's creations range from 'artistic to anatomical,' such as the Cold Cuts Cake, left, or the Croc Hudson, right . She added: 'I just sort of fell into . this business. I didn't make my wedding cake with the mind to get into . baking, we only had a small budget for our ceremony and I thought it . would be a bit of fun and a penny-saver. 'But the cake came out really well and I had a lot of fun doing it. It just went from there and now I love my job. 'My . family are so supportive of my gruesome cakes business - they would . probably find it weirder if I made pretty and girly cakes because that . just isn't me.' Not advised for a children's birthday party: Annabel de Vetten's cakes are sponge, decorated with icing sugar, chocolate and marshmallow, and sell for upwards of £400 . Shudder: A skinned human face cake - one of the gruesome creations of Annabel de Vetten from Birmingham . Last remains: A sliced face cake made by Annabel is eaten off a plate and reveals that it really is just cake inside the very thick decorative icing . Annabel has since created a serial killer cake and a bondage-themed wedding cake. Her website, Conjurerskitchen.com, lists her past projects, gives you tips and ideas for your cakes and welcomes any suggestion - no job is too big or small for Annabel. On the website's blog, Annabel writes about her most unusual requests and experiences. Dead birds and hooked beaks: Annabel fell into her business by accident, after making the cake for her wedding three years ago and receiving requests from guests for similar cakes . 'I based one cake on the bejewelled skeletons of saints displayed in churches throughout Europe. 'Of course my jewels were entirely edible, as well as the rest. 'I pretty much used every sweet edible material under the sun; cake, chocolate, buttercream, marzipan, sugar paste, hard candy and sugar balls. 'It was devoured by over 100 visitors pretty quickly! It was a fantastic evening and a marvellous event to be a part of.' Annabel said: 'My family are so supportive of my gruesome cakes business - they would probably find it weirder if I made pretty and girly cakes because that just isn't me' Blood and guts and gore: 'I started off just making cakes that were magician-themed, but I started getting more gruesome requests - and things just escalated into making dead baby heads and human hearts' Slice, ma'am? A mummy cake, another of Annabel's ghoulish desserts . Meet the maker: Annabel, pictured left hard at work, only began baking four years ago .
### SUMMARY:
| Annabel de Vetten, 42, from Birmingham, is nicknamed Annabel Lecter .
Charges upwards of £400 for her decorated sponge creations .
Former sculptor only began baking three years ago .
Her first was her own wedding cake when she married magician Thom .
Her wedding cake had a little magician on top, instead of bride and groom .
Her company is called Conjurer's Kitchen . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The findings of a potentially explosive investigation into a massive leak of highly confidential documents stolen from the heart of the Vatican are to remain top secret, it has emerged. Pope Benedict XVI launched a . probe into the so-called 'Vatileaks' scandal which erupted after his former butler . released private papers taken from the papal chambers. Italian newspapers have been rife with unsourced reports claiming the dossier produced by three cardinals looking into the incident unearthed an underground network . of senior clergy who have organised gay homosexual parties and faced . blackmail. Scroll down for video . Top secret: Pope Benedict XVI decided that the contents of an investigation in to the scandal dubbed 'Vatileaks', in which private papers were stolen from the Vatican, will remain confidential . But the current Pontiff - who earlier this month shocked the world by announcing his retirement - has now ruled that only the next Pope and the three cardinals will get to see the contents. According to the Vatican, the Pope today met with Spanish Cardinal, Julián Herranz; Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, a . former archbishop of Palermo; and the Slovak cardinal Jozef Tomko - nicknamed 'the 007 Cardinals' by the Italian media - in private. A statement from the Vatican said: 'The Holy Father has . decided that the acts of this investigation, known only to himself, . remain solely at the disposition of the new pope.' Thanking the cardinals for their investigation, the statement added: 'Their work made it possible to detect, given the limitations and . imperfections of the human factor of every institution, the generosity . and dedication of those who work with uprightness and generosity in the . Holy See.' No confirmation or denial: Vatican spokesman Father Lombardi . The Vatican had rubbished Italian media reports alleging the pope's resignation is linked to a secret dossier claiming there is a 'gay network' inside the clergy. It even accused the Italian media of spreading 'false and damaging' reports in an attempt to influence cardinals who will meet . in a secret conclave next month to elect a new pope. La Repubblica newspaper had carried lurid claims about the report into the . 'Vatileaks' scandal which was presented to the Pontiff on or . around December 17. The report came in two volumes, . 'hard-bound in red' with the title 'pontifical secret'. They launched the probe after the . Pope's butler, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested and charged with stealing . and leaking papal correspondence revealing how the Vatican was a centre . of intrigue and infighting. La Repubblica claimed Pope Benedict . XVI quit because could not face the repercussions of dealing with the . 300-page dossier - the first Pontiff to resign in 700 years. The paper says that the investigation . alleges a gay lobby exists within the Church, and has some sort of . control on the careers of those in the Vatican. The report is quoted as saying: 'The cardinals were said to have uncovered an underground gay network, whose members organise sexual meetings in several venues in Rome and Vatican City, leaving them prone to blackmail. 'They included a villa outside the Italian capital, a sauna in a Rome suburb, a beauty parlour in the centre, and a former university residence that was in use by a provincial Italian archbishop.' La Repubblica says that the cardinals described a number of 'factions' in their report, including one in which individuals were 'united by sexual orientation'. The newspaper also alleges the dossier states that members of this group were blackmailed by laymen with whom they entertain relationships of a 'worldly nature'. Sent to South America: Ettore Balestrero has been promoted, according to the Vatican spokesman . It quoted an unnamed source said to . be close to the report's authors: 'Everything revolves around the . non-observance of the sixth and seventh commandments.' The . seventh commandment forbids theft, while the sixth forbids adultery, . but is linked in Catholic doctrine to the proscribing of homosexual . acts, explained the Guardian. The dossier will stay in a secret papal safe and delivered to Benedict's successor when the Pope leaves office, claims La Repubblica. The pope himself has said merely that he doesn't have the 'strength of mind and body' to carry on and would resign Feb. 28. The Vatican claims the reports are an attempt to influence the election of the next pope. The . Vatican secretariat of state said the Catholic Church has for centuries . insisted on the independence of its cardinals to freely elect their . pope - a reference to episodes in the past when kings and emperors . vetoed papal contenders or prevented cardinals from voting outright. 'If . in the past, the so-called powers, i.e., States, exerted pressures on . the election of the pope, today there is an attempt to do this through . public opinion that is often based on judgments that do not typically . capture the spiritual aspect of the moment that the church is living,' the statement said. 'It is deplorable that as we draw . closer to the time of the beginning of the conclave ... that there be a . widespread distribution of often unverified, unverifiable or completely . false news stories that cause serious damage to persons and . institutions.' Tribute: Catholics gather to watch the Pope in one of this last public appearances . Some Vatican watchers have speculated . that because the Vatican bureaucracy is heavily Italian, cardinals . might be persuaded to elect a non-Italian, non-Vatican-based cardinal as . pope to try to impose some reform on the Curia. Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico . Lombardi said the reports 'do not correspond to reality' but the pope . and some of his closest collaborators have recently denounced the . dysfunction in the Apostolic Palace. Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, for . example, criticized the 'divisions, dissent, careerism, jealousies' that . afflict the Vatican bureaucracy. He made the comments on Friday - the . penultimate day of the Vatican's weeklong spiritual exercises that were . attended by the pope and other officials. Benedict . too has made reference to the divisions in recent days, deploring in . his final Mass as pope on Ash Wednesday how the church is often . 'defiled' by attacks and divisions from within. Last Sunday, he urged . its members to overcome 'pride and egoism'. On Saturday, in his final comments to . the Curia, Benedict lamented the 'evil, suffering and corruption' that . have defaced God's creation. But he also thanked the Vatican bureaucrats . for having helped him 'bear the burden' of his ministry with their . work, love and faith these past eight years. The Vatican's attack on the media . echoed its response to previous scandals, where it has tended not to . address the underlying content of accusations, but has diverted . attention away. During the 2010 explosion of sex . abuse scandals, the Vatican accused the media of trying to attack the . pope; during the 2012 leaks scandal, it accused the media of . sensationalism without addressing the content of the leaked documents.
### SUMMARY:
| Benedict XVI launched probe into massive leak of stolen private papers .
Outgoing Pontiff ruled potentially explosive report will remain top secret .
Only next Pope and '007 Cardinals' who conducted investigation know contents .
Italian media says dossier alleges clergy were 'united by sexual orientation'
Vatican has hit back at the 'false and damaging' media reports . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Tips on how to make tea or coffee and fry bacon are among the recipes in a cookbook for WWI soldiers that has been published for the first time in 100 years. Hundreds of thousands of young men who had never been near an oven or kettle in their lives were given the guide when they headed off to war in 1914. But the British Army Cook Book didn't just show how to cook simpler items, it also provided tips on how to stretch the meagre wartime rations into meals like beef curry and toad-in-the-hole for an entire platoon. Young soldiers were armed with the British Army Cook Book on their way to war. Recipes showed how to stretch meagre wartime rations into proper meals. Many men had never cooked before in their lives. In the left picture, a group of WW1 soldiers are given a desert cookery lesson. In the right picture, a WW1 soldier cooks his evening meal . Each soldier was allowed 10 ounces of meat and eight ounces of vegetables a day and frontline 'chefs' were expected to provide tasty and nutritious meal with these small amounts. Recipe suggestions in the book include roast meat and Yorkshire puddings, Irish stew, meat pie, Turkish pilau and various soups. There is even a section dedicated to deserts with entries like jam rolls, bread and butter pudding and treacle tarts. The dishes might sound tempting but in reality those on the frontlines would have had to rely more on powdered foods because fresh produce often took too long to reach them. The cookbook was first launched in 1910, four years before war against Germany broke out . Like an idiots' guide to cooking, the book instructed soldiers how to make coffee and tea in war zones and explains the various ways of cooking food, from roasting to frying . The cookbook included a guide to the various vegetables sent to troops, with instructions on how to prepare them and what to serve them with. It notes 'carrots should always be sent up to table with boiled beef' and suggests boiling onions so that they are 'deprived of much of their pungent, volatile oil'. Like an idiots' guide to cooking, the book instructed soldiers how to make coffee and tea in war zones and explains the various ways of cooking food, from roasting to frying. The cookbook was first launched in 1910, four years before war against Germany broke out. It was produced by the Army School of Cookery, which had been set up in Aldershot, Hants, in 1885. Those stationed on the Front Line received an allowance of 4,193 calories daily, while those further back in the lines of communication were allocated 3,472 calories per day . The dishes in the recipe book might sound tempting but in reality those on the frontlines would have had to rely more on powdered foods because fresh produce often took too long to reach them . The 1914 British Army Cook Book has been printed by Amberley Publishing for the first time since it was first issued 100 years ago. It is on sale now for £9.99. Hazel Cochrane, from Amberley, said: 'The original manuscript dates from 1910 and was published by the British War Office prior to the war, following the establishment of the Army School of Cookery in Aldershot in 1885. 'This may have been as a consequence of changing attitudes to soldiers' diets nearing the end of the nineteenth century. 'There was an increasing recognition that a well-fed solider was a long-term investment that produced better results on the battlefield.' The 1914 British Army Cook Book has been printed by Amberley Publishing for the first time since it was first issued 100 years ago. It was produced by the Army School of Cookery, which had been set up in Aldershot, Hants, in 1885 . She continued: 'Changes to soldiers' diets included an increase in the allowance of fresh meat and bread that was allocated to soldiers at the beginning of the century . 'It was an attitude reflected in the meat stew recipes and tips on producing fresh bread. 'The cookery school was represented by soldiers taken from around the country, who were trained to make the best of the uncompromising conditions of the battlefield. Biscuit Pudding: . Ingredients for 60 men: 10lbs biscuit crumbs, 4lbs flour, 3lbs sugar, 3lbs suet, 41 tablespoons lemon or lime juice, pinch of salt . Method: Thoroughly dry the biscuits, then crush with a rolling pin. Soak in cold water for about 15 minutes. Remove all skin from the suet, then chop very fine. Add the flour, sugar, salt and lime juice to the soaked biscuits. Stir well together with sufficient water to make a stiff paste. Grease some basins and boil or bake until done. Time allowed for cooking depends on the size of the pudding. Fried bacon: . Cut the bacon into thin slices, trim away the rusty part and cut off the rind. Put into a cold frying pan, that is to say, do not place the pan on the fire before the bacon is in it. Turn it two or three times and dish it on a very hot dish, poach some eggs and slip them on to the bacon without breaking the yolk and serve quickly. 'This included how best to keep fires alight through the incessant wind and rain of war as making tea and coffee in adverse weather conditions was not an easy feat. 'There was a heavy reliance on meat and bread in the British Army and meals were not varied, with vegetables often consisting of just potatoes. 'Despite the promise of fresh meat and bread that the changes proposed, a soldier's diet may have varied depending on where they were stationed.' Each soldier was allowed 10 ounces of meat and eight ounces of vegetables a day and frontline 'chefs' were expected to provide tasty and nutritious meal with these small amounts . The cookbook included a guide to the various vegetables sent to troops, with instructions on how to prepare them and what to serve them with . She continued: 'It is certainly true that a better diet was possible away from the front line, where foraging through the French countryside was possible, but those on the front line did receive the most amount of food. 'Those stationed on the Front Line received an allowance of 4,193 calories daily, while those further back in the lines of communication were allocated 3,472 calories per day. 'The recipes in the book focus on making the most of what soldiers had, something relevant to modern-day families feeling the pinch of the recent recession. 'Something can be learnt though from recipes with a heavy reliance on cheap cuts of meat and easy to grow vegetables that had to last through harsh winters. 'An interesting feature of army cooking highlighted in the book is that the meat from fat was extracted to make dripping, which was used as an aid for frying and in the absence of butter, an example of how important it was to use every aspect of the meagre supplies provided.' There is even a section dedicated to deserts with entries like jam rolls, bread and butter pudding and treacle tarts . The cookery school was represented by soldiers taken from around the country, who were trained to make the best of the uncompromising conditions of the battlefield .
### SUMMARY:
| Young soldiers were armed with the British Army Cook Book on way to war .
Recipes showed how to stretch meagre wartime rations into proper meals .
They included beef curry, toad-in-the-hole and treacle pudding . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Exotic tour: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are again heading to a deserted paradise island, only 18 months after their honeymoon in the Seychelles . Most couples can’t hope to manage a second honeymoon until retirement – if at all. For the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, however, it’s come around rather more quickly. Only 18 months after their honeymoon on the exclusive North Island resort in the Seychelles, the couple are again heading to a deserted paradise island – this time in the South Pacific. Kate and William will spend a night . on privately owned Tavanipupu island, famed for its crystal waters and . luxury hand-thatched bungalows, as part of their first official tour on . behalf of the Queen. Before . that the couple will travel to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Borneo and the . Solomon Islands, ending their nine-day trip on the South Pacific realm . of Tuvalu, the fourth smallest country in the world. They’ll . get up close and personal with wild orangutans, have an orchid named . after each of them and face the challenge of being carried from a plane . in a garlanded canoe. It . will be the biggest test yet of Kate’s much-praised fashion sense, as . she will need up to 30 different outfits, including one for a trek to . the jungle. The Queen is believed to be lending her several pieces of jewellery including, possibly, one of her favourite tiaras. Her . famous locks will be also well cared for – Prince Charles is privately . footing the bill for a freelance hairdresser to travel with them. And the couple have hired a private jet – paid for by the taxpayer – for part of their trip. Sources . said it would be ‘absolutely impossible’ to travel to remote Tuvalu and . the Solomon Island otherwise. The Queen is still sovereign of both . countries. The tour has been organised to mark the Diamond Jubilee and many of the stops were chosen personally by the Queen. The . couple will also visit the Commonwealth nations of Singapore and . Malaysia on behalf of the British government to strengthen diplomatic . and trade links. Perfect beaches: The royal couple spent a night on the Tavanipupu Private Island Resort . Fit for royalty: The 'majestic' bed in one of the luxury bungalows where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stayed . It's a hard life: William and Kate will sail by traditional war canoe to the Tavanipupu Private Island Resort, which is known as one of the South Pacific's 'best kept secrets' Idyllic: The view from one of the verandas on privately owned Tavanipupu Island . Luxurious: One of the hand-thatched bungalows on the resort where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to stay . In . Singapore, where they land on September 11, William and Kate will be . afforded the honour of having an orchid named after each of them in the . Botanic Gardens. They will . then head to Malaysia, staying in the capital Kuala Lumpur, where the . duchess will give her first foreign speech abroad, at a hospice. The couple will also attend a glitzy dinner hosted by the country’s king in his palace. Then . they will fly on to Sabah, the Malaysian part of Borneo, and travel . deep into the jungle at Danum Valley, where they hope to climb into the . rainforest canopy and see wildlife including the endangered orangutan. On September 16 they will make their way to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. The . couple have been told to expect a colourful welcome – complete with . chanting warriors – followed by a drive to the capital in an . open-topped vehicle decked in fresh flowers. Paradise: The Royal couple will take in Tuvalu, a Polynesian island located midway between Hawaii and Australia which is one of the most remote inhabited places on the globe . The Royal treatment: The couple will be carried from a plane in a garlanded canoe just like the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were during their visit to Tuvalu in 1982 . Animal watching: William and Kate will get up close and personal with wild orangutans in Borneo . Getting back to nature: The Duke and Duchess will also head deep into the jungle in the Danum Valley in Borneo . Another . traditional state dinner also beckons, although this one takes the form . of an outdoor island feast with meats cooked in underground barbecues. And . then, just when the endless rounds of smiles and handshakes may have . got a little too much, they will be whisked off to paradise – in a . traditional war canoe. The five-star Tavanipupu Private Island Resort is known as one of the South Pacific’s ‘best kept secrets’. It . says it offers ‘decadent king-sized beds, some of the best food on the . planet, crystal clear water teeming with life, a relaxing massage over . the water [and] “real” local people who wait on you hand and foot … in . one of the wildest places left on earth.’ The 37-acre island, discovered by Europeans in the 19th century, was once a coconut plantation owned by Norwegian traders. In . the 1970s it was bought by English interior designer Dennis Bellote and . his late partner Keith Paske, who turned the overgrown island into a . luxury five star resort. Poignant: The couple will be given the chance to view an orchid named after William's late, mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, which she never got to see . Stop off: On September 16 they will make their way to the Solomon Islands, which despite consisting of nearly 1,000 islands across 11,000 square miles, have a population of little over half a million . It . is currently up for sale for just over £7.5million. The royal couple . are believed to be staying there as guests of the Solomon Islands . government, which is anxious to promote tourism in the area. It . is expected they will stay in a £300-a-night hand-thatched bungalow . favoured by honeymooners which has been built over the crystalline . waters of the Coral Sea and boasts a ‘majestic’ king-sized bed carved . out of bamboo. Each of the resort’s eight bungalows has a personal attendant who can be summoned with a tap of a tribal drum. Aides . confirmed yesterday that the couple hope to do a little snorkelling . before retiring to bed for an early start to Tuvalu the following . morning. The Queen last visited the island in 1982 when she was carried ashore with Prince Philip from Britannia in a canoe. This time William and Kate will arrive by plane but the locals are still determined to continue the custom. ‘We have really have no idea what to expect,’ their private secretary admitted yesterday. The . couple will be given a tour of the ten mile square island, including . the coconut tree that was planted by the Queen on her last visit. But . it will be rather less luxurious than their previous stop. The island . is plagued by ants and large rats, and the infrastructure is so limited . that the couple will stay in only the most basic of hotels.
### SUMMARY:
| Couple will take in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Borneo, the Solomon Islands and tiny South Pacific realm of Tuvalu .
They are set to see wild orangutans, have orchid named after each of them .
and face challenge of being carried in garlanded .
canoe .
Kate to take personal hairdresser with her on tour to ensure she is picture perfect at all times . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Poisoned former KGB spy Alexander Litvinenko was effectively a triple agent working for MI6 and the Spanish secret service, it was claimed yesterday. He was on the payroll of MI6 and had a handler called ‘Martin’, a barrister for his widow Marina said. The Spanish secret service was also bankrolling his espionage activities and both stipends were paid into a joint bank account he held with his wife, it was said. 'Murdered': Litvinenko was hospitalised after the radioactive substance, Polonium-210, was allegedly put in his tea. He died three days after this picture was taken on November 20, 2006 . A pre-inquest hearing yesterday was . told that the Government has ‘established’ Moscow has a case to answer . that Mr Litvinenko was assassinated in London. Mr Litvinenko was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 while drinking tea at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair. As he lay dying in hospital, . ‘reluctant to tell police that he was an MI6 agent’, he handed . detectives the mobile phone number of his MI6 handler ‘Martin’, the . hearing conducted by High Court judge Sir Robert Owen was told. The death of 43-year-old Mr . Litvinenko, a fugitive from the Putin regime, in November 2006 plunged . Anglo-Russian diplomatic relations into deep freeze. Determined: Marina Litvinenko, the widow of former spy Alexander, arrives at Camden Town Hall in London today . Former KGB agents Andrei Lugovoy and . Dmitry Kovtun, who met him at the Millennium Hotel, are prime suspects . in the murder. Both deny involvement. The Crown Prosecution Service wants to charge Lugovoy, but Russia refuses to extradite him. Mr Litvinenko’s widow believes MI6 . failed to protect her husband. Her QC, Ben Emmerson, told the hearing at . Camden Town Hall in North London: ‘Mr Litvinenko had been for a number . of years a regular and paid agent and employee of MI6 with a dedicated . handler whose pseudonym was Martin.’ He said that, at the behest of MI6, Mr . Litvinenko was also working for the Spanish security services, where . his handler was called ‘Uri’. Mr Emmerson said the inquest should . consider whether MI6 failed in its duty to protect Mr Litvinenko against . a ‘real and immediate risk to life’. He suggested there was ‘an enhanced . duty resting on the British Government to ensure his safety when tasking . him with dangerous operations involving engagement with foreign . agents’. He said Mr Litvinenko was supplying the Spanish with information on organised crime and Russian mafia activity in Spain. Mr Emmerson said: ‘It is Marina . Litvinenko’s belief that the evidence will show that her husband’s death . was a murder and that Andrei Lugovoy was the main perpetrator.’ The QC . claimed Mr Litvinenko and Lugovoy were working together and had planned . to travel to Spain to deliver information about links between the . Russian mafia, the Kremlin and the country’s President Vladimir Putin. ‘He had a separate telephone for . contacting Martin and by the time of his death he also had a separate . direct phone for contacting Lugovoy,’ he said. When Mr Litvinenko fell ill – but . before he realised he was slowly dying from polonium – he phoned Lugovoy . from his bed in University College Hospital to say that he could not . make the trip. Escape: Alexander Litvinenko and his wife Marina after fleeing to London on November 4, 2000 . In a further twist, it was claimed by a . lawyer acting for Russian dissident billionaire Boris Berezovsky that . Lugovoy was actually double-crossing his spymasters at the Kremlin. Mr . Litvinenko died three weeks after being poisoned by the radioactive . isotope. An inquiry set up after his death said . secret Government documents, which included material submitted by . Scotland Yard and intelligence agencies, showed that the Russian state . did have a case to answer. The extraordinary claims are expected to plunge relations between Britain and Russia to a new low. Hugh Davies, counsel to the inquest, . said: ‘Our assessment is that the Government material does establish a . prima facie case as to the culpability of the Russian state in the death . of Alexander Litvinenko.’ Memories: Widow Marina Litvinenko with her husband Alexander Litvinenko on their wedding day in 1994 . Mr Litvinenko, 43, was allegedly poisoned while drinking tea during a meeting with former KGB contacts at the Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square, pictured, in November 2006 . He added the evidence ruled out the . involvement of Chechen terrorist groups, the Spanish mafia, Russian . exile Mr Berezovsky and the British Government in his death. Mr Davies said assessments of material submitted by the Government had shown no evidence it had failed to protect him. Until now, the Russians have remained . at arm’s length but yesterday the Kremlin indicated it would like to . become an ‘interested party’ when the full inquest begins next year, . giving its own QC the chance to make submissions and cross-examine . witnesses. Mr Emmerson said the evidence amounted . to a ‘state-sponsored assassination’ by Moscow. At yesterday’s hearing, . he also cited evidence from a Wikileaks cable which quoted Mr . Litvinenko saying Putin was implicated in the nation’s mafia and that . Russia was a ‘mafia state’. Neil Garnham QC, representing the Home . Office, told the hearing he could ‘neither confirm nor deny’ whether Mr . Litvinenko was employed by British intelligence services. After the hearing, Mrs Litvinenko said . she was ‘hopeful’ the full inquest would answer her questions, . especially about Moscow’s alleged involvement. The full inquest, . beginning on May 1, will be held before Sir Robert Owen who has been . appointed assistant deputy coroner. Alexander Litvinenko fled to Britain after accusing senior officials in Moscow of ordering a number of assassinations. The former KGB officer was granted asylum with his wife and son in 2000 and allegedly started working with both MI5 and MI6, revealing secrets on the Putin regime. Mr Litvinenko, 43, is also believed to have worked with other European intelligence agencies and he wrote a series of books in which he accused the FSB – the successor to the KGB – of carrying out terror attacks and murders to help get Vladimir Putin into power. Keen for information on the Russian mafia, he met two former FSB men, Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitry Kovturn, at the Millennium Hotel in Mayfair, on November 1, 2006. Hours later, he collapsed at home and began vomiting. He was admitted to hospital three days later.Litvinenko, who lost his hair because of the radiation, released a statement blaming ‘barbaric’ Putin for involvement in his poisoning. He died on November 22. Police went to Moscow to interview Lugovoy and Kovturn, but Russia refused to extradite Lugovoy, triggering a diplomatic row in which both countries expelled diplomats.
### SUMMARY:
| Former KGB agent introduced to Spanish intelligence services by MI6 .
Alexander Litvinenko advised on link between Russian Mafia and government .
Spy was poisoned after allegedly having tea with former KGB colleagues .
Family claim he may have been poisoned in bid to silence him or as warning . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The lifeless body of a young girl lies in the street, an innocent victim of a series of suicide bomb attacks that today tore through the heart of the Syrian city of Aleppo. The youngster pictured in a blood-stained rubble-strewn street is one of at least 40 victims of this morning's blasts, which could signal a new stage in the civil war. In a sign of the growing intensity of the bitter conflict between rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, the town's main Saadallah . al-Jabari Square was rocked by four explosions - the likes of which have so far been mainly limited to the capital Damascus. And with fears of further attacks, the young girl's body - a potent symbol of the collateral damage each side is prepared to risk - has been left untouched in the street as locals fear further bombings. Scroll down for video . Innocent victim: This young girl was one of those killed in a series of bombings in Aleppo, Syria . Scenes of destruction: Men stand amid wreckage after three blasts ripped through Aleppo's main square. A severely wounded boy is treated by doctors in one of the city's last standing hospitals following the bomb blasts . Meanwhile, a Syrian shell has hit a home in neighbouring Turkey, killing at least five people, including a six-year-old boy. Abdulhakim Ayhan, mayor of the Turkish . town of Akcakale along the Syrian border, said the boy and a woman were . among the dead in shelling. Angry townspeople marched to the mayor's office to protest over the deaths. Meanwhile, a government official blamed the . 'terrorist' rebels for the coordinated assault on Aleppo's mainsquare, which is controlled by Assad loyalists. A fifth explosion was reported only a few hundred metres away in Bab al-Jinein, near the Chamber of Commerce and an officers' club. The area is on the fringes of the Old City, where a number of running battles have been fought. The anonymous official earlier stated that 29 people were killed and 70 injured in the explosions, but the latest report from the opposition say at least 40 are dead and more than 90 injured. Syrian pro-government television station Al-Ikhbariya TV showed footage of massive destruction from the scene of the blasts. It described them as the work of 'terrorists', a term the government uses to describe rebels fighting to topple Assad. The station showed footage of four dead men, including one dust-covered body being pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building and loaded onto the back of a pickup truck. It earlier said two car bombs had been used in the attack. Survivors: A father and son seek treatment and refuge following the suicide bombings that rocked Aleppo this morning . A young girl with a bloodied leg waits to be looked at by doctors at the city's last remaining hospital . Annihilation: Tall buildings were gutted in the blasts, which may have been car bombs. Ominous: This image shows smoke rising from buildings following the explosions . Rescue: Friends of a severely wounded man brave the battle to rush him to hospital in Aleppo . The station also broadcast footage of . three dead men disguised as soldiers in army fatigues who it said were . shot by security forces before they could detonate explosive-packed . belts they were wearing. One appeared to be holding a trigger device in . his hand. Many of the buildings on the square had their facades ripped off and a crater stood in the road. 'It was like a series of earthquakes,' said one shaken resident. 'It was terrifying, terrifying.' He added the officers' club and a hotel were almost completely destroyed. Aleppo-based activist Mohammad Saeed said the explosions went off minutes apart. 'The area is heavily fortified by security and the presence of shabiha,' he said, referring to pro-regime gunmen. 'It makes you wonder how car bombs could reach there,' he added. Destroyed: This photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, shows the effect of the rebel attacks . Ruins: A road in Aleppo is a mass of debris following today's attacks . Debris: A bulldozer removes the wreckage of a building flattened by the blast. Aleppo has been the scene of fierce fighting. Aftermath: Cars were destroyed by the chain of explosions, which are believed to have killed at least 40 people. The square is in a . government-controlled district in western Aleppo, Syria's largest city, . which is now split in two with forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad . mainly in the west and rebels in the east. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for . Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground, said most of the casualties were members of . the regime forces. Fighting only with light weaponry, rebels have resorted to bomb attacks in areas still controlled by President Assad. Several large protests in support of the president have been held in Saadallah al-Jabari Square. A pro-Assad Lebanese paper said on Tuesday that the president was visiting Aleppo to take a first-hand look at the fighting and had ordered 30,000 more troops into the battle. It said Assad would remain in the city. Havoc: Civilians survey the scene of destruction. The square has been the scene of pro-Assad rallies. Fear: Civilians preparing to flee a residential area affected by the four explosions. The Syrian government blamed 'terrorists'. Opposition activists say 30,000 people have been killed in the 18-month-old anti-Assad uprising, which has grown into a full-scale civil war. For much of the revolt, Assad has retained a grip on Aleppo with many rich merchants and minority groups there, fearful of instability, remaining neutral while protests spread. Rebels mounted a new offensive last week to seize the city, and over the weekend fires started by the combat gutted the historic market in the Old City, a world heritage site. One of the bombs caused a large crater in the surface of the road. The damage to the surrounding area was extensive. Nightmarish: A body is wrapped in a cloth and loaded on a pickup truck in the wake of the explosions. Smoke rises over Saif Al Dawla district in Aleppo. UN chief Ban Ki-moon has made a strong appeal to Syria's foreign minister to stop using heavy weapons against civilians. During the course of the . 18-month-uprising against Assad, suicide and car bombings targeting . security agencies and soldiers have become common in Syria, particularly . in the capital, Damascus. But Aleppo has been spared from such bombings and from the mayhem that . struck other Syrian cities, particularly in the first year of the . revolt. Then, in February, two suicide car bombers hit security . compounds in Aleppo's industrial centre, killing 28 people. Collateral damage: A mortar bomb fired from Syria hit Turkey's southeastern border region of Akcakale, killing five . Man down: A police officer was injured when several Syrian shells landed inside Akcakale, in Turkey .
### SUMMARY:
| WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT .
Five explosions tear through pro-Assad district of Aleppo .
Government releases disturbing footage and blames 'terrorists'
Reports say more than 90 injured on top of deaths .
Security forces kill three suicide bombers, according to pro-government TV .
Shell fired in Syria hit a village in neighbouring Turkey, killing at least five people, including a six-year-old boy . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Arrested 19 times: Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, had an extensive rap sheet in multiple states, documents reveal . The murderer who assassinated two NYPD officers threatened to shoot a pair of Con ed workers, who tried to tackle him - raising his gun and shouting: 'You want some of this?' The unnamed men had been working in Bedford-Stuyvesant - close to where Ismaaiyl Brinsley gunned down officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos at around 3pm on Saturday. The shocked workers witnessed the depraved killer ambush and open fire into the passenger's side of the police car and decided to follow him in their Con Ed truck as he fled the scene. Despite Brinsley still holding his silver Taurus semi-automatic - the brave men confronted him on the street and attempted to stop him, the New York Post reports. They only backed away when Brinsley raised his gun and threatened to shoot them - and they watched as he ran into the Myrtle/Willoughby G train subway station nearby. The Con Ed workers were able to tip off police as to Brinsley's whereabouts and have been commended for their efforts. One law enforcement source told the New York Post: 'That’s how the cops knew he was in there.' When police pursuing Brinsley ran into the subway station, the killer, who had been standing on the platform waiting for a train, turned the gun on himself. Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, is said to have asked passers-by to follow him on Instagram saying to some 'watch what I'm going to do' before killing the two men. The 28-year-old had earlier posted to the social network boasting that he would take the lives of two policemen. Scroll down for video . NYPD officers: The gunman fired a fatal round of bullets at Wenjian Liu (left) and Rafael Ramos (right) Followed him: Two Con Ed workers who witnessed Brinsley shooting the police officers tailed him in their truck and bravely attempted to stop him . Brave: The Con Ed employees jumped out their truck (like the one pictured) and tried to tackle Brinsley - but he raised his gun and threatened to shoot them, forcing them to back away . He wrote: 'I'm Putting Wings On Pigs Today. 'They Take 1 Of Ours... Let's Take 2 of Theirs #ShootThePolice #RIPErivGardner (sic) #RIPMikeBrown. 'This May Be My Final Post. I'm Putting Pigs In A Blanket.' Just hours later, he walked up behind the patrol car of officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, parked up in Brooklyn, then fired four bullets at their heads, 'execution style'. It has since emerged Brinsley had already been arrested 19 times for offenses including concealing a weapon, disorderly conduct, and trespassing. 'Funny and intelligent'? A close friend of killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, described him as a nice guy and said he was cowardly for lashing out at officers . Charges: He was detained for, among other things, disorderly conduct, theft, and concealing weapons . Before: This picture and chilling message was posted on the alleged shooter's page two hours beforehand . He had also threatened to hang himself, and had been disowned by his mother and two sisters for being violent and aggressive. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce revealed a timeline which began with the shooting of an ex-girlfriend near Baltimore, and ended with Ismaaiyl's suicide on a subway platform. Describing the final moments, caught on surveillance cameras, he said: 'We have found on one of our videos two males who spoke with the perpetrator just prior to the event. Tributes: Dozens of flowers were left on the sidewalk near the site of the killing yesterday . Tributes: NYPD badges were seen strewn among the mementos, including Christmas wreaths and holly . 'He asks them three things: For their gang affiliation, he asks them to follow him on Instagram, then he says "watch what I'm going to do". 'He then walks north down on Tompkins, past the two officers in the car, circles back around, goes across the street, then comes up behind the officers.' Boyce added: 'His mother ... states he had a very troubled childhood and was often violent. His mother expressed fear of him and she hasn't seen him in one month. Grief: Residents and NYPD officers gather around a memorial during a vigil for the two murdered cops . Shared loss: A message of condolence is lit up by candlelight at the memorial to the NYPD officers . Fallen colleagues: Four NYPD officers pay their respects at the makeshift memorial during last night's vigil . Two men release a sky lantern as demonstrators gathered in Central Park for a candlelight vigil and march . 'Brinsley attempted suicide in the past and attempted to hang himself a year ago.' He has served jail time in Georgia and Ohio and it has also emerged today that has admitted to suffering mental health problems in the past. During a court hearing in Georgia's Cobb County in 2011, Brinsley was asked whether he had been in an institution or undergone treatment by mental health professionals, according to the New York Times. He answered yes. Police today revealed a timeline of Ismaaiyl Brinsley's movements on a day that began with the unauthorized entry into his ex-girlfriend's flat and ended with his suicide in a Brooklyn subway station: . 5.30am . Enters apartment of ex-girlfriend Shaneka Thompson in Owings Mills, Maryland with a key he should not have had. They argue. 5.50am . Brinsley fires a single shot at Thompson, reportedly into her stomach. He flees with her cell phone. 6.05am . Brinsley calls Thompson's mother to apologize for shooting her. He claims it is an accident, and that he hopes she lives. 6.35am . Baltimore County Police begins monitoring him. They track Thompson's cellphone to the I-95 freeway, where he is believed to have been riding a bus. During the journey he keeps phoning Thompson's mom, and reveals he is headed to New York City. 10.50am . Brinsley arrives in New York City, in the West Side, and rides the subway to Brooklyn. 12.07pm . He throws away Thompson's phone in the Barclays Center. The NYPD later recovered it. Investigators are unclear where he goes between midday and the killings at 2.47pm. 1.30pm . Baltimore County Police send the NYPD a fax alerting them to Brinsley and his intentions. By the time it filters down to the rank-and-file, he has already struck. 2.47pm . Brinsley identifies his targets in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, tells passersby to watch, then fires four shots at them. As he flees he confronts two Con Edison drivers, who chase him in their truck and point officers in their direction. He runs into the Myrtle/Willoughby G train station, where he shoots himself dead on the platform .
### SUMMARY:
| Brave men watched in horror as Ismaaiyl Brinsley ambushed the two cops .
After seeing him open fire and flee the scene, they followed in their truck .
Tried to tackle him in Brooklyn street but Brinsley threatened to shoot them .
Con Ed workers were commended for tipping off police to his whereabouts . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The manned version of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is ready to undergo a series of crucial safety tests in a bid to return America to manned spaceflight. Nasa hopes the capsule, dubbed Dragon V2, will be ready to take astronauts to and from the International Space Station by 2017. SpaceX recently posted two photos of the test vehicle on Twitter, writing: 'America's next-gen crewed spacecraft is almost ready for a test flight. Pad abort vehicle shipping to Florida shortly.' Scroll down for video . The manned version of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is ready to undergo a series of crucial safety tests. Nasa hopes the capsule, dubbed Dragon V2, will be ready to take astronauts to the ISS by 2017 . The 'pad abort' trial, which will take place in the next few weeks, will reveal how the Soyuz-replacement will behave if there is a problem during launch. Former astronaut Garrett Reisman explained that during the test, Dragon will sit on a truss structure instead of a Falcon 9 rocket. 'We're going to have a crash-test dummy inside and a prototype seat, so we'll get data from that,' Reisman said. 'We're going to have a very flight-like propulsion system as far as everything that goes into the abort, including the avionics, which are going to be identical to the avionics we plan for the flight vehicle.' The 'pad abort' trial, which will take place in the next few weeks, will reveal how the Soyuz-replacement will behave if there is a problem during launch. Pictured a flight engineers preparing the prototype craft . SpaceX recently posted two photos of the test vehicle on Twitter, writing: 'America's next-gen crewed spacecraft is almost ready for a test flight. Pad abort vehicle shipping to Florida shortly. Eight SuperDraco rocket engines will push the spacecraft away from the truss platform, launching it several thousand feet into the air. Three parachutes will then unfurl and the Dragon will, hopefully, land the Atlantic Ocean just offshore Cape Canaveral. If all goes to plan, the second test will see SpaceX' Dragon 2 take to the sky on a Falcon 9 rocket. In September, Nasa revealed that Boeing and SpaceX will both build America's first private spacecraft to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Boeing will be the first commercial company to carry a Nasa astronaut to space in July 2017 under a contract with the US space agency, followed by its competitor SpaceX, officials said last month. Nasa is funneling billions of dollars to both companies so that they can replace American access to the orbiting International Space Station after the US space shuttle program was retired in 2011. The announcement of $4.2 billion for Boeing and $2.6 billion for SpaceX was made in September 2014. However, a legal challenge by Sierra Nevada -- which was developing a space-shuttle-like vehicle called Dream Chaser and was closed out of the competition -- meant that officials could not reveal many details until now. Commercial Crew Program Manager Kathy Lueders said at a press conference in Houston, Texas that Boeing would be the first to make two contracted missions to carry Nasa astronauts, since it has completed two milestones so far, and SpaceX just one. The long-awaited $6.8bn deal to replace the Space Shuttle and end reliance on Russia's Soyuz craft was revealed at the Kennedy Space Center, where launches will take place from 2017. Under the deal, Boeing will be given $4.2 billion and SpaceX $2.6 billion. Nasa hopes it will spur private development in space. 'Ideally several years from now there will be other laboraties where people will be going - that's the vision of a commercial space industry,' said Nasa administrator Charles Bolden. The contracts include at least one crewed flight test per company with at least one Nasa astronaut aboard to verify the rocket and spacecraft system can launch and dock to the space station. Once each company's test program has been completed successfully, each contractor will conduct at least two, and as many as six, crewed missions to the space station. SpaceX and Boeing said last month that they are on track to carry out their first manned test flights to the space station in 2017. U.S. manned launches ended with the retirement of the space shuttles in 2011. Until SpaceX and Boeing begin flying crews from Cape Canaveral, Nasa astronauts must continue to hitch rocket rides with Russia. Nasa's commercial crew program manager, Kathy Lueders, said the average price for a seat aboard the SpaceX Dragon and Boeing CST-100 capsules will be $58 million. That compares with $71 million a seat charged by Russia under its latest Nasa contract. If all goes to plan, the second test will see SpaceX' Dragon 2 take to the sky on a Falcon 9 rocket. Elon Musk, chief executive officer of SpaceX, left, sits with guests inside the Manned Dragon V2 Space Taxi in Hawthorne, California . Former astronaut Garrett Reisman explained that during the test, Dragon will sit on a truss structure instead of a Falcon 9 rocket. Pictured is a prototype model of the Dragon craft . 'I don't ever want to have to write another check' to the Russian Space Agency after 2017, said Nasa Administrator Charles Bolden, a former shuttle commander. 'If we can make that date,' he said, referring to 2017, 'I'm a happy camper.' Unlike the Russian charge, the $58 million per-person cost estimate includes a fair amount of cargo to be flown aboard the SpaceX and Boeing spacecraft, along with four crew members. The Russian Soyuz holds a maximum of three people, with at least one a Russian to pilot the craft. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said the future enhanced Dragon capsule could carry five astronauts — one more than Nasa's stipulated four - and still meet all the cargo requirements. The Hawthorne, California, company, led by billionaire Elon Musk, was the space station's first commercial shipper. It's been successfully delivering supplies since 2012 with the Dragon. Boeing's CST will take crews of seven people to the ISS and other destinations from 2017, it was revealed . Boeing's vice president and general manager for Houston-based space exploration, John Elbon, said an unmanned test flight of the CST-100 capsule in 2017 will be followed a few months later by the first crewed test flight. That first manned mission will include one Boeing test pilot and one NASA astronaut, he said. SpaceX said an unmanned test flight could occur as early as 2016, followed by a crewed flight in 2017. Bolden has previous said Nasa wouldn't be able to do deep-space exploration if it was still saddled with getting supplies and people to low-Earth orbit. 'We're about going to Mars,' he said. The Boeing capsule, interior view of a prototype pictured, will be able to seat a crew of seven and it will also be able to take cargo into orbit. It is in direct competition with SpaceX's manned Dragon capsule .
### SUMMARY:
| The pad abort test will take place in Florida in the next few weeks .
Test will reveal how craft will behave if any problems during launch .
Eight rocket engines will push spacecraft away from a truss platform .
There will also be a test dummy placed inside the Dragon V2 spacecraft .
Nasa says it hopes the capsule will be ready for flights to the ISS in 2017 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The manager at the New Orleans hotel where Brian Williams was camped out during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 has poured cold water on the version of events that the NBC News anchor has been retelling in recent years. Currently off the air after he admitted to lying about being hit by enemy fire in Iraq in 2003, a number of Williams' other seemingly outlandish claims over the years are now coming under increased scrutiny. Serious questions have been raised about the credibility of his claim that he saw a body or bodies in the floodwaters of New Orleans' French Quarter, an area that experienced very little flooding. Scroll down for video . Brian Williams' recollections of his time in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina has had further scorn poured on it by the manager of the hotel where he stayed back in 2005 . Myra DeGersdorff, manager of the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, has rubbished Williams' claims that his life was in danger and that the hotel was 'overrun' by gangs . Now the manager of the five-star Ritz-Carlton where Williams was staying at the time has spoken out to rubbish claims repeatedly made by Williams in the years since. 'Maybe he misremembered,' Myra DeGersdorff told The Washington Post. 'I'm not going to judge him, because it was such an unpleasant week and there were times to be concerned. … And when there is that kind of concern you can misremember. 'And maybe he was out there, and it wasn't impossible he could have encountered a body, but I don't think it was in the French Quarter. The French Quarter only got inches of flooding.' DeGersdorff recollections – backed up by numerous other New Orleans residents – contrast sharply with Williams' story. 'When you look out of your hotel room window in the French Quarter and watch a man float by face down, when you see bodies that you last saw in Banda Aceh, Indonesia and swore to yourself that you would never see in your country...I beat that storm. I was there before it arrived. Williams' reporting from New Orleans received countless plaudits and helped earn NBC a Peabody Award but is now being reevaluated with some skepticism following his Iraq war story climb down . 'I rode it out with people who later died in the Superdome,' he said in an interview in 2006, just a year after the hurricane. DeGersdorff, who was awarded the Ritz-Carlton President's Award for her handling of the hurricane, also denies claims that Williams repeated in an interview with Tom Brokaw last year in which he claimed gangs had 'overrun' the hotel. 'There absolutely was looting in the French Quarter,' DeGersdorff recalled. 'But I wouldn't say they were gangs. … They were primarily individual looters or two or three buddies attempting to break into camera stores; it was unpleasant.' She said 'on more than one occasion,' the looters tried to get inside. At one point, they did 'breach a door,' but were 'immediately' chased out. There were 'maybe one or two of them,' she said. Williams also told his version of events to historian Douglas Brinkley for his 2007 book, The Great Deluge. Currently off the air after he admitted to lying about being hit by enemy fire in Iraq, a number of Williams' other seemingly outlandish claims are currently coming under increased scrutiny . Red Bank, New Jersey, 1970s . In a 2011 interview Brian Williams recalled his time as a teenage volunteer firefighter during which he saved a puppy. However in a 2005 Esquire interview, Williams had claimed to save not one but two puppies. In the same Esquire interview Williams also revealed that he had been mugged at gunpoint while selling Christmas trees in the sleepy New Jersey town in which he grew up. A number of locals have questioned the credibility of his claim that someone ‘stuck a .38-caliber in my face.’ Iraq War, 2003 . Over the years Williams has told multiple versions of a story about being in an army Chinook during the Iraq War in 2003. Last month he claimed his helicopter was hit by ground fire, an allegation he was later forced to admit was false after an outcry from soldiers who were present. Williams issued an on air apology. ‘Nobody's trying to steal anyone's valor,’ he wrote on Facebook. Hurricane Katrina, 2005 . Williams has told several stories about his experiences reporting from New Orleans. He has claimed to have seen a dead body float past the window of his hotel in the city's French Quarter – even though the area wasn't flooded. The accuracy of other Katrina claims, including that he caught dysentery drinking the floodwaters and that his hotel was ‘overrun’ with gangs, have been called into question by others who were there. Israel, 2006 . In a 2007 interview with Fairfield University Student Television, Williams recalled ‘Katyusha rockets passing just underneath the helicopter I was riding in.’ In fact he was nowhere near enemy fire and in a broadcast segment filmed that day he described a helicopter under fire a distance away. Boston, 2006 . A navy vet has accused Williams of lying to skip an event honoring members of the armed forces so that he could appear on Saturday Night Live. On the day of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society event the NBC News anchor told organizers that a 'pressing engagement' meant he wouldn't be able speak at the dinner, but later that evening he appeared in a walk-on role on SNL's Weekend Update. Williams' claim that he caught dysentery from drinking floodwaters while reporting on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 has also been rubbished . According to Brinkley, Williams told him that 'armed gangs had broken into the 527-room hotel, brandishing guns and terrorizing guests. 'Williams, in fact, had seen his first corpse floating down Canal Street from his eighth-floor window earlier that day. Then fever consumed him.' DeGersdorff also questions Williams' claim about suffering dysentery and recalls that the anchor turned down the offer of medication that she had stockpiled in advance of the storm. 'He may have simply misremembered. But I can tell you no one broke out in the hotel with dysentery,' she said. Katrina occurred just months after Williams replaced Tom Brokaw as NBC News' anchor and his reporting from the devastation received countless plaudits and helped earn NBC a Peabody Award. In their face-to-face interview last year Brokaw had praised his replacement, saying that with his reporting during Katrina that Williams 'took ownership, if you will, of the anchor chair'. In their face-to-face interview last year Tom Brokaw had praised his replacement, saying that with his reporting during Katrina Williams gad 'took ownership, if you will, of the anchor chair'
### SUMMARY:
| The manager at the Ritz-Carlton where Williams' was based during Hurricane Katrina has rubbished several of his claims about his stay .
Myra DeGersdorff denies that her hotel was 'overrun' by gangs as Williams has repeatedly claimed since .
She also said it is unlikely that he could have seen a body floating in the French Quarter since the area experienced very little flooding .
'I'm not going to judge him, because it was such an unpleasant week… And when there is that kind of concern you can misremember,' she said .
Williams is currently off the air after he admitted to lying about being hit by enemy fire in Iraq in 2003 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A raging sandstorm has swept into Israel, Palestine and Lebanon causing the worst Israeli air pollution in years and whipping up huge waves in the Mediterranean Sea. The storm, make up of accumulated dust carried from the far reaches of the Sahara Desert in North Africa, also engulfed Cairo for a second day. Israel's Environmental Protection Ministry said air pollution levels were the country's worst in five years and the storm would last into tonight. Scroll down for video . Hazy: This is how the Egyptian capital Cairo looked from above today after it was engulfed by a sandstorm for a second day running . Pollution: Israel's Environmental Protection Ministry said air pollution levels were the country's worst in five years. This is the scene in Jerusalem, looking out to the Dome of the Rock (centre) Satellite: This image from NASA taken on February 1 shows the dust storm sweeping over the Mediterranean Sea towards Turkey and Greece . Another image from February 7 shows the dust and sand sweeping over the Mediterranean from Algeria, Tunisia and Libya . Cairo: The sandstorm hit Egypt after unusually warm and sunny weather for a February day, and the sky over downtown Cairo turned yellow and blotted out the sun, limiting visibility . Israeli airports spokeswoman Liza Dvir said flights to and from the Red Sea resort city of Eilat were temporarily grounded due to the weather, though planes still flew through the country's main international hub, Ben Gurion Airport outside of Tel Aviv. Israeli police said more patrols would be on hand to respond to emergencies brought on by the weather. In Beirut, Lebanon's capital city, strong waves broke fences, tiles and tore away part of its corniche overlooking the Mediterranean. The storm also brought heavy winds, rain and snow to the mountains. Lebanese weather forecasters said the wind reached speeds of 60mph. Gaza: Palestinians walk along a coastal road in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City during a sandstorm on Wednesday February 11 . A Palestinian in the al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City stands in the storm, which has caused the worst air pollution in some areas for years . Capital city: The strong sandstorm first reached Egypt yesterday (February 10), temporarily closing Cairo International Airport to incoming flights . Palestinians stand on the shore of the Mediterranian sea in al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City as huge waves caused by the storn batter the coast . Dust and rubble: A Palestinian man walks in the remains of his destroyed house during the sandstorm in Gaza City's al-Shijaiyah district . Even Prince Charles, who was on a visit to Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, was left windblown and relieved to be on firm ground after his plane experienced a tricky landing. When Charles stepped off his chartered jet, he told Sultan that the landing had been 'bumpy' and he stuck his arms out and waved them up and down. The combination of a strong crosswind and the dust storms meant the pilots had a more difficult touchdown than expected. Swirling dust also plagued the visit to Al-Khuraibah, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Lihyan, and other archaeological sites in and around Al-Ula . As Charles and the Arab prince walked to a 6th century settlement at Al-Khuraibah, where walls still stand three feet high, a small dust storm sprang up and briefly engulfed the entourage of the two princes. Charles joked: 'Do you mind if I keep my sunglasses on? The dust will get in my eyes.' Pictured: Gaza City. Israel's Environmental Protection Ministry said air pollution levels were the country's worst in five years . Breathing in: A group of children in Gaza City, where the sandstorm was expected to last into the night . Murky: Dust and sand swirl around one of the city's many buildings destroyed by the 50-day war between militants and Israel last summer . The strong sandstorm first reached Egypt yesterday, temporarily closing Cairo International Airport to incoming flights and the weather front caused strong waves to crash into the coast, resulting in the closure of two seaports. Ihab Mohieddin, head of the Egyptian aviation authority, said departures from Cairo's airport were undisturbed, but arrivals were closed to flights for nearly 70 minutes after vision was reduced to about 165 yards. Mohieddin said during the closure of Cairo's airspace, four flights were diverted to another airport, while a fifth returned to Amman, Jordan. The country's second-busiest airport outside of the city of Alexandria was closed to arrivals and departures, and flights were diverted to other airports unaffected by the storm, he added. Protection: A man covers his face to protect it from the sandstorm in a suburb of southwest Cairo, where the airport was temporarily closed to incoming flights . Storm: Schoolchildren run home through the sandstorm in Cairo where Cairo International Airport was temporarily closed to incoming flights . Refugee camp: The storm, make up of accumulated dust carried from the far reaches of the Sahara Desert in North Africa, reached as far as Gaza City . Severely reduced viability caused traffic in Egypt's capital city Cairo on Tuesday February 10, while Alexandria and nearby Dekheila ports were closed because of the weather . The storm, made up of accumulated dust carried from the far reaches of the Sahara Desert in North Africa, also engulfed Cairo for a second day . The sandstorm hit Egypt after unusually warm and sunny weather for a February day, and the sky over downtown Cairo turned yellow and blotted out the sun . The state news agency said Alexandria and nearby Dekheila ports were also closed because of the weather. Waves crashed into the shore of the Sinai Peninsula near the resort town of Dahab, forcing lifeguards into the Red Sea to rescue swimmers and divers. A Japanese diver, who was caught in high waves, was pictured being pulled to safety by a friend in the town. The sandstorm hit Egypt after unusually warm and sunny weather for a February day, and the sky over downtown Cairo turned yellow and blotted out the sun, limiting visibility. Rescued: Waves crashed into the shore of the Sinai Peninsula near the resort town of Dahab, forcing lifeguards into the Red Sea to rescue swimmers and divers . The strong sandstorm first reached Egypt yesterday and during the closure of Cairo's airspace, four flights were diverted to another airport, while a fifth returned to Amman, Jordan . Iconic Nile: A businessman walks beside the world's longest river in Cairo, which was engulfed in a sandstorm on Tuesday February 10 . Egypt's second-busiest airport outside of the city of Alexandria was closed to arrivals and departures, and flights were diverted to other airports unaffected by the storm . Cairo Tower: The raging sandstorm swept through Egypt, as well as Israel, Palestine and Lebanon, causing air pollution and whipping up huge waves .
### SUMMARY:
| Sandstorm swept into Israel, Palestine and Lebanon causing air pollution and whipping up huge waves .
Storm is made up of accumulated dust carried from the far reaches of the Sahara Desert in North Africa .
Israel's Environmental Protection Ministry said air pollution levels were the country's worst in five years .
Flights to and from the Red Sea resort city of Eilat have been temporarily grounded due to the weather .
Storm first reached Egypt yesterday, temporarily closing Cairo International Airport to incoming flights . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Friday's launch of the iPhone 3GS could usher in an innovative and lucrative new era for those who create applications for the popular device, developers and industry observers say. This woman in an iPhone costume was among the crowd outside an Apple Store in New York City on Friday. The phone's upgraded hardware, combined with a new operating system, will allow developers to design apps that wouldn't have worked on previous models of the iPhone. For example, developers said, the iPhone 3GS is the first iPhone with a video camera, which could inspire apps that edit or mix video clips. Other developers are eyeing the new phone's built-in compass or its "push notification" feature, which pings users with messages even if its instant-message application is not open. "Apple has given us all these new tools," said William Kasel, founder and CEO of Jumpfox, a San Francisco, California-based company that makes mobile apps. "And I can't wait to see what developers come out with in the next six months. The new features really take [the phone] to a whole new level." Apple fans in the United States and seven other countries lined up Friday morning to be among the first to get their hands on the new iPhone 3GS, billed as the fastest, most feature-laden iPhone yet. iReport: Buying an iPhone 3GS? Lines outside Apple's 211 retail stores in the United States were generally shorter than for last July's debut of the iPhone 3G, probably because owners of that phone balked at paying upgrade fees to wireless carrier AT&T or could simply update their devices by downloading the iPhone's new 3.0 operating system. The buying process also seemed smoother than last summer's iPhone launch, which was marred by slow-moving lines and a flood of customers trying to activate their phones at once. According to reports on Twitter, many iPhone 3GS buyers were able to activate their phones faster and more smoothly than last year. The new iPhone contains a processor that Apple claims is more than twice as fast as its 3G model, plus a video camera, voice control, longer battery life and a built-in compass. It comes with an upgraded operating system -- which Apple released Wednesday for download onto older iPhones -- with 100 new functions, including the ability to copy and paste text. But the phone's biggest game-changer, observers say, may be new software that allows iPhone users to make purchases within applications. On previous versions of the iPhone, applications linked users to Web sites where they could buy consumer goods or other items. With the new iPhone 3.0 operating system, users can shop entirely within apps designed specially for the phone, which promises to make for smoother transactions. App developers love this new function. Until now, they earned money only when people bought applications through Apple's App Store, or from selling ads within the apps themselves. But now, for example, a game developer could charge users a few extra dollars to access higher levels of a video game. Other apps could allow users to locate the nearest movie theater, and then buy tickets. "It's a whole new revenue stream," said Brian X. Chen, who writes about consumer technology for Wired.com. Chen believes the new feature could help iPhone app developers achieve long-term profits instead of hoping for an App Store "one-hit wonder" that sells well and then disappears. "This could be absolutely huge for a lot of people," agreed MG Siegler, who writes for TechCrunch, a popular technology blog. "There's a lot of money to be made there, I think." Siegler believes another bonus of the iPhone 3GS's new software is its ability to interact with special accessories via Bluetooth and the phone's dock connector. To cite one example that Apple showcased at a recent 3.0 event, a diabetes app could hook up with an insulin meter, allowing a diabetes patient to check his or her glucose levels. Developers already are customizing apps for the new iPhone. Jumpfox is hoping to launch BuzzBuy, its PayPal-like e-commerce widget, as an iPhone 3GS app this summer. And ScrollMotion plans to introduce an upgraded version of its Iceberg reader, which will allow iPhone users to download more than 50 magazines, 170 newspapers and 1 million books to their devices for reading on the go. "We love the new 3.0 functionality," said Josh Koppel, a ScrollMotion co-founder, who also believes the phone's copy-and-paste feature will help students and other readers get more use from the Iceberg app. "A new way to monetize on this magical device ... is the best thing we could have asked for." The popular phone went on sale Friday in the U.S. and Canada plus six European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Watch iPhone buyers lined up in London » . About 300 people stood outside the flagship Apple Store on New York's Fifth Avenue waiting for the doors to open Friday morning. In Atlanta, Georgia, more than 100 people were in line early Friday outside an Apple Store at Lenox Square mall. "It doesn't seem like it's the Apple fanatics [this time]. It's moms and dads," said Robin Cutshaw, 51, who lined up for previous iPhone launches in 2007 and 2008. An IT specialist, Cutshaw said he travels everywhere with his iPhone and once even used it to work remotely from a beach in Brazil. "It doesn't go in the shower with me, but that's about it," he said. Some who had preordered phones were frustrated by how slowly their line moved outside the Atlanta store. But Marc Kagan, 31, said that buying his new phone took him about three hours, much less than the 10 hours it took last year. Customers encountered problems activating their new phones last July because demand overwhelmed Apple's iTunes servers. But on Friday, Kagan said it took Apple employees about 15 minutes to activate his phone in the store. "It went pretty smooth. I think they're a little more organized this year," he said. AT&T stores, Best Buy and Wal-Mart also are selling the iPhone 3GS, although preorders through AT&T and Best Buy sold out before Friday. Advance buzz about the iPhone 3GS has been largely positive. In a review, CNET gave it a four-star, or excellent, rating. Compare the iPhone 3GS to three other smartphones » . An iPhone 3GS with 16 gigabytes of storage sells for $199 with a new two-year AT&T contract; one with 32G capacity will cost $299. Since June 8 Apple has been selling the iPhone 3G model for $99 -- half its original price. Apple has sold more than 17 million iPhones since the iconic device hit the market in 2007. Apple's phones are the second-best-selling consumer smartphones in the United States, according to the NPD Group, an online market-research firm. See a chart tracking iPhone sales » The launch comes less than a week after rival Palm unveiled its much ballyhooed Pre smartphone on the Sprint network and Research In Motion announced it will debut the new BlackBerry Tour on Sprint and Verizon in the coming months. CNN.com's John D. Sutter contributed to this story.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: Friday's launch could usher in a new era for mobile apps, observers say .
NEW: New software allows iPhone users to make purchases within applications .
NEW: Lines at Apple's stores were shorter than for last July's debut of the iPhone 3G .
Phone went on sale at 7 a.m. ET in the U.S. and Canada, following European launch . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- When Keren Charles works with teenage girls in Atlanta as part of her job at Operation Prom, she relies on her upbeat, positive nature and styling expertise to get her through an occasional tough appointment. "I admit there are some who are very specific and will not try anything other than what they want," Charles says, "Those I really have to work harder with and I'll try and find something to please them." But Charles says many of the girls that come to her are so excited to just get a prom dress that they put away any preconceived notions. "The majority of my young ladies that come in are open. They trust me, they trust my opinion and they're able to find something that they really like." As was the case with 19-year-old high school student Zyna Williams, who came to Charles to find a dress a week before her prom. Zyna is getting her dress for free because of the work of Operation Prom, a nonprofit organization that helps teens in financial need, or who are sick or disabled, get formal wear for no cost. After selecting a few bright colors from her collection in her equally brightly colored private studio, Charles gently encourages Zyna to try on strapless dresses, a style she wouldn't normally choose. "Again I always advise the young ladies that come in just to try on a dress because some things don't have great hanger appeal," Charles tells Zyna, "but once you put it on you will probably fall in love with it, so let's just try." Zyna ended up choosing a short, white, strapless dress that day to attend the Alpharetta High School prom, with Charles throwing in accessories and a free hair and makeup session. For Zyna's family, it couldn't have come at a better time. Zyna's adoptive mother, Yasaland King, says an expensive prom dress was just out of reach for her. She's a single mom with two other children and adopted Zyna, who has cerebral palsy, 2½ years ago. They came to the Atlanta Chapter of Operation Prom last year, and this year are again amazed by the outreach of the organization. King says Charles and Operation Prom are doing a phenomenal job of helping parents who are not fortunate enough to spend thousands of dollars on the whole prom experience for their children. Not having thousands of dollars for prom is something that Charles can certainly relate to. There was a time when Charles herself had to face starting over with very little. In August 2005, Charles thought what many in New Orleans did at the time. That Katrina was just another storm so she's take a break for a while and visit friends and family in Atlanta. It turned out to be anything but just another storm. Because they left everything back home in Louisiana, Charles and her family had to make a new life in a new city. "Coming (to Atlanta) and having to start over, it was a tedious experience for my family, but I've grown up with some very strong women so there's nothing that we can't tackle." After Katrina hit and Charles finally got back on her feet, the economy dealt her a second blow. Charles lost her job working as a corporate trainer, and says after those experiences she decided that she never wanted to feel like she was backed up against a wall with nothing to fall back on. "I think with Katrina and moving here to Atlanta I always said to myself, I don't want to ever not have a second option." Now styling girls like Zyna is just one part of Charles' busy schedule. She has a full-time job as the owner of Fashion Envy, a formal dress boutique in Atlanta. She is also a personal stylist and shopper. The styling goes hand in hand with her job as the Atlanta chapter director for Operation Prom. Charles does "wardrobe audits" with her clients and encourages them to donate dresses that are sitting in their closets. She also rents dresses to clients for formal occasions and donates those, as well. Charles says she got involved with Operation Prom so she could reach out to young women in the community and use her talent in the fashion industry to help people. As a business owner and a "promologist," Charles is one of many chapter directors making a difference for Operation Prom. Formed in New York in 2005, Operation Prom was born when founder Noel D'Allacco saw a need in her own community in Yonkers. "I was an event planner and I was meeting with brides and bridesmaids who had these gorgeous bridesmaid dresses that they spent a lot of money on that they were never going to wear again," D'Allacco says. This discovery inspired her to start collecting those unused dresses and donating them her alma mater, Saunders High School. Now Operation Prom has several chapters across the country, each one with their own "promologist," a term D'Allacco says she came up with to describe the chapter directors because "they know everything there is to know about prom." And Operation Prom's reach goes far beyond just dresses. This year they paired with the Men's Wearhouse to offer free tuxedo rentals for guys. It's just another way D'Allacco and her promologists try to think of every angle that may be an added expense for teens. "We want them to have the entire prom experience so it's not just the tuxedo, it's not just the dress. If we can purchase their ticket for them, we'll do that as well," D'Allacco says. "If they need transportation we'll try to seek out local limousine companies or taxi services." Everything that Operation Prom gives to students is free, but it does come at a price. Operation Prom requires that teens who receive their services fill out an application showing that they're in good academic standing and are eligible to graduate. D'Allacco adds that the organization does require that students demonstrate financial need, but she says she also realizes that with today's economy, many families are facing tough times. "As long as they complete an application they can come to one of the dress giveaway events," D'Allacco says. Preparing thousands of dresses across the country is a tall order for Operation Prom, so they hold fundraisers, work with retailers and rely on personal donations and a huge army of volunteers to keep afloat. A night of glitz and glamour isn't reserved just for students struggling financially. Operation Prom also reaches out to a hospital in the Bronx, where each year they transform the cafeteria in to a dance hall. They give the 13- to 18-year-olds patients the total prom experience for one night including, dresses, tuxes, hair, makeup and dancing. "Some of the patients there have told their nurses that they completely forgot they were in the hospital, completely forgot they were sick for that night they had so much fun." D'Allacco says her all her chapters also work with their local Departments of Social Services. Through the social workers, Operation Prom is paired with students who are in foster care or are wards of the state to provide them with formal wear, as well. Beyond just dresses and tuxedos for a high school rite of passage, D'Allacco says Operation Prom has always been meant for much more. When she created the organization, she decided PROM would stand for Providing Resources, Opportunity and Mentoring. To fulfill that goal, Operation Prom grants one $1,000 leadership scholarship per year and also holds school-supply drives. For Zyna Williams and Keren Charles, the simple thrill of matching the right dress with the right girl is something they both leave feeling good about. "It definitely made me feel really good because this is what our mission is," says Charles. "We want to make young ladies have a dream prom."
### SUMMARY:
| Operation Prom helps teens in need get formal wear for no cost .
Keren Charles collects dresses to donate to teenagers who can't afford them .
The nonprofit was formed in New York in 2005 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Oak Creek, Wisconsin (CNN) -- As community members sought emotional healing in the wake of the shooting spree at a religious service, police said Tuesday they had not identified a motive or found any telltale writings or note left by the gunman. Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards also said family members of Wade Michael Page, 40, have not reported observing any warning signs. Page, an Army veteran who neighbors say played in a far-right punk band, was the lone gunman in the Sunday rampage at a Sikh temple, Edwards said. Page was shot to death by police responding to the attack. According to Edwards and the FBI, authorities have received tips that Page might have links to the white supremacist movement, but nothing had been confirmed. "We may end up with just a lot of facts on what he is involved with, who he may be associated with, but we may never know that motive, because he died, and that motive died with him," Edwards told CNN's "The Situation Room." The chief also said, counter to speculation, Page did not have a 9/11 tattoo. While the FBI has said Page never was the subject of an investigation, he was mentioned in a small number of federal law enforcement reference files in cases going back seven years, a law enforcement official told CNN on Tuesday. The official said there is no information to suggest that investigators wanted to open a case on Page, but did not have the evidence to justify it. While Page might have been sympathetic to a certain ideology, there was no evidence he had committed a federal crime prior to the Wisconsin shooting, the official said. The official did not provide details about the nature of the cases in which Page's name was mentioned. For a third consecutive night, mourners and supporters held a vigil Tuesday night to remember the six victims, pray for the wounded and grapple with grief and shock. People lit candles in an Oak Creek park and stood together in solidarity. Remembering the victims . Tales of heroism, putting others first . The Sikh American community called for a national moment of silence on Sunday. A posting on the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund's website asked for observances at churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship. It said the community hopes such a gesture "will send the message of blessings for all, and that we stand united against hate and intolerance and as part of a common humanity." Bernard Zapor -- the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agent in the investigation -- said Monday that the 9mm semiautomatic handgun with multiple ammunition magazines used by the attacker had been legally purchased. Page bought the gun on July 28 at the Shooters Shop in West Allis, Wisconsin, and picked it up two days later. The shooter bought ammunition there and used the shop's range. Shop manager Eric Grabowski and owner Kevin Nugent told CNN Tuesday that surveillance video of Page buying the gun and using it in the range two days later has been turned over to investigators. The suspect did not exhibit unusual behavior while in the store, Grabowski said. The magazine for the handgun holds at least 17 bullets. Explainer: Who are Sikhs? According to a man who described himself as Page's old Army buddy, the attacker talked about "racial holy war" when they served together in the 1990s. Christopher Robillard of Oregon, who said he lost contact with Page more than a decade ago, added that when Page would rant, "it would be about mostly any non-white person." Page, born on Veterans Day in 1971, joined the Army in 1992 and left the service in 1998, according to Army spokesman George Wright. Page's service was marked by "patterns of misconduct" and he received a general discharge due to "discreditable incidents," according to a Pentagon official. Robillard said Page was pushed out for showing up to formation drunk. John Tew, manager of a Harley-Davidson motorcyle store in Fayetteville, North Carolina, told CNN he fired Page from his parts coordinator job in 2004 because Page "had a big problem with authority" and with working with women. Tew said he found an application for the Ku Klux Klan on Page's desk the day he was dismissed. A University of Nebraska at Omaha professor told CNN's "AC360" on Tuesday evening that he knew Page while doing research on extremist groups about 10 years ago. Page told him he started identifying with neo-Nazis during his time in the military, Pete Simi said. The former soldier told him he believed the deck was stacked against whites, Simi said, adding he believed Page drank excessively. Two neighbors of Page identified him in photos that showed him playing in the far-right punk band "End Apathy" with Nazi flags hanging near him. The gunman's former stepmother spoke of a very different Wade Page she once knew before losing touch with him more than a decade ago, when she and Page's father divorced. "It's like I don't even know that person," Laura Page said of more recent photos of Page. "It is not someone I ever could possibly know or be associated with." She told CNN that the Page she knew was gentle and loving and had black and Hispanic friends. Sikh community continues to blend in, stand out . Sunday's attack in Oak Creek occurred 16 days after a gunman killed 12 people and wounded scores at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. The six victims of Sunday's attack were identified by police as five men -- Sita Singh, 41; Ranjit Singh, 49; temple president Satwant Singh Kaleka, 65; Prakash Singh, 39, and Suveg Singh, 84 -- and one woman, 41-year-old Paramjit Kaur. A wake and visitation are scheduled for Friday morning. The wounded police officer, identified as 51-year-old Lt. Brian Murphy, also was in critical condition after suffering nine gunshot wounds, the police chief said, and had a "promising," but long, recovery ahead. A Sikh human rights group said it would give Murphy a $10,000 reward. Sunday's attack occurred about 10:30 a.m., when temple members were reading scriptures and cooking food in preparation for the main Sunday service and community lunch. According to witnesses, the gunman started shooting in the parking lot, killing at least one person. He then entered the temple and continued firing, they said. Oak Creek Mayor Stephen Scaffidi said that he spoke with Aurora's mayor to get some advice on how to cope with the tragedy. "He gave me some pointers and some suggestions on how to not only deal with the immediate, but how we deal with the next few weeks," Scaffidi said, pointing out that the Colorado town was in its third week of coping. "We're not going to let this define us; we'll never let it define us," Scaffidi said. "There are a lot of great people here, and we're not going to let this get in the way." Six people were killed in a shooting rampage. Share your thoughts and remembrances. CNN's Brian Todd, Carol Cratty, Mike Mount, Ed Payne, Scott Bronstein, Ted Rowlands, Tom Cohen, Shawn Nottingham, Susan Candiotti, Deborah Feyerick, Phil Gast and Ben Brumfield contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: Prayer vigil held in Oak Creek .
Wade Michael Page was not subject of FBI probe, law enforcement official says .
Police haven't found any message, writings left by Page .
Researcher says Page told him about identifying with neo-Nazis . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Not too long ago, the African stage belonged to Moammar Gadhafi. In flowing robes and wraparound sunglasses, he crisscrossed the continent in flashy caravans as throngs of supporters waved and cheered from the roadsides. Fellow African leaders bestowed upon him endearing nicknames: "brother leader," "king of kings of Africa." And Libya was among the African Union's largest contributors, paying dues for some of the 54 member nations. But Gadhafi's regime now sits in ruins, leaving sub-Saharan Africa without a major investor who disbursed billions of dollars for roads, mosques and luxury hotels. "He was known for handing out large sums of cash. Wherever he thinks he can buy friendship, he hands out large sums of cash," said Richard Dowden, executive director of the Royal African Society, a London-based group that aims to foster a better understanding of the continent. "His investments bought him loyalty. It's a very African thing to do: 'He helped us, so let's help him'" In Niger, which has given refuge to his son, Saadi Gadhafi, the ousted leader's influence is evident. A gleaming mosque built by the Libyan government in the 1970s stands tall in the capital of Niamey. Thousands attend prayers at the mosque -- a valuable gift to the poor Muslim country where crowds pack into limited worship spaces. Next door in Mali, Gadhafi funded the construction of a popular mosque in the capital Bamako, and helped pay for a Malian government complex that's under construction. Gadhafi also poured money into neighboring Chad and Burkina Faso as well. Such investments sealed Gadhafi's clout in sub-Saharan Africa. It came as no surprise that some leaders were initially reluctant to endorse the new Libyan interim government, analysts say. "Whoever ... builds infrastructure, provides cheap products for markets and loans to support government initiatives will always have an influence over Africa affairs," said Ayo Johnson, director of Viewpoint Africa, an organization that sells content about Africa to media outlets internationally. Another reason many in the continent backed Gadhafi was self-preservation, analysts say. "Some African leaders think that if they don't support Gadhafi now, next time round it could be them and who will take them in?" Johnson said. "This move guarantees some protection should there be an uprising in their countries ... they can count on each other." For their part, some continent leaders say they did not rush to recognize the new Libyan leadership because the international community overstepped its boundaries. South African President Jacob Zuma, who joined the African Union in recognizing the new leadership last month, said NATO's military intervention in Libya undermined efforts by the pan-African body to find peaceful solutions for member states. In Africa, Gadhafi's influence extended beyond his generosity. His ideas and eccentricity were also a big draw, analysts say. During his term as chairman of the African Union in 2009, he renewed his calls for a "United States of Africa" that would use a single passport, a single military and a single currency. He had proposed a similar concept for Arab unity, but was rebuffed. "The Arab world did not like him, and he had no choice because they were not as easy to push around," said Abdul Raufu Mustapha, a professor of African politics at Oxford University. "He turned to sub-Saharan Africa... They had a lot of struggling nations" So, while some sub-Saharan African leaders considered Gadhafi's vision of a unified Africa unrealistic, they nevertheless hailed it as one advocating pan-African cooperation. "He sang the liberation song very well, and a lot of people connected with that because that still strikes a chord," Dowden said. Also propelling Gadhafi's popularity in the region: his anti-Western tirades. "Both Gadhafi and Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe dare to stand up against the West ... they are seen as Africa bad boys and wear their medals with pride," Johnson said. "He who stands up and shouts the most is usually revered." Johnson described Gadhafi as "the rogue school bully" who, despite the fact that his actions may not be condoned, commands respect for challenging the status quo. And there were plenty of Gadhafi investments that were condemnable, analysts say. His support of brutal dictators, such as former strongman Charles Taylor of Liberia, helped intensify the bloodshed in the region, Dowden said. Taylor, who led Liberia from 1997 to 2003, is accused of fueling a bloody civil war in his nation and neighboring Sierra Leone that led to widespread murder, rape and mutilation. Gadhafi is also accused of helping arm Arab militias in Sudan's violence-wracked Darfur region. And he backed rebel groups in several countries including the Tuaregs in Mali and Niger, who were responsible for violence in the 1990s. The new Libyan government has said it believes the Tuareg tribe is currently protecting the fallen leader. "Gadhafi supported a lot of West African revolutions that led to a lot of bloodshed and civil wars," Dowden said. "He funded and helped create those revolutions." During Libya's civil war, the gambit paid off. As rebel forces advanced, seizing town after town, Gadhafi called in fighters from non-Arab nations for backup, analysts say. Some fighters are from countries "beholden to him" and those fleeing the grinding poverty in their homelands, Mustapha said. On the other hand, Gadhafi also financially supported the African National Congress in its fight to end apartheid in South Africa, according to Dowden. "Even while he was funding rebels, he was also funding liberation movements. We cannot take that from him," Dowden said. This dichotomy makes Gadhafi's legacy in the continent a tricky one, analysts say. "Whoever writes the final chapter will have a difficult balancing act with a man who has a complex schizophrenic relationship with the world," Johnson said. "Love him or hate him. Madman or god?" So what awaits Africa now that Gadhafi is no longer in power? "There are two big elephants in the room," said Robert Taiwo, director of Whitespace Advisory, a global firm that works with companies looking to invest in Africa. Will Gadhafi's absence lead to gaps in infrastructure investment in some of the countries? And if so, how will those countries cope? "According to the World Bank, the infrastructure funding gap in Africa is approximately $31 billion per year. It also appears that Gadhafi has invested in some of the poorest and most fragile regions in Africa," Taiwo said. In the long run, the international community may have to step in to fill the gaps, he said. But for now, the ripple effects are already reverberating. In Niger, long a recipient of Gadhafi's largesse, a road funded by the ousted leader lies unfinished. CNN's Nic Robertson contributed to this report from Niamey, Niger .
### SUMMARY:
| Some African leaders bestowed endearing nicknames on him .
They included "Brother leader" and "King of kings of Africa"
The toppled ruler was among the largest contributors to the African Union .
He disbursed billions of dollars for mosques, roads and luxury hotels in the continent . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- When the world's leading marathon runners bid to win Olympic gold on Sunday, they would do well to draw inspiration from one of the greatest athletes in the history of track and field. The 42-kilometer race through the streets of London will mark the 60th anniversary of Emil Zatopek's triumph at the Helsinki Games, which completed a triple which is unlikely to ever be repeated. The 29-year-old Czech had already won the 5,000 and 10,000 meter golds and, remarkably, was running the marathon for the very first time. In a host country with a reputation for long-distance running -- Finland's former gold medal winners Paavo Nurmi and Hannes Kolehmainen had lit the Olympic Flame in 1952 -- Zatopek's amazing feat had added resonance, and the crowd chanted his name in unison as he ran into the stadium in splendid isolation. The winning time of two hours 23 minutes and two seconds was also his third world record of the Games in just over a week. The closest any athlete has come to match Zatopek's triple was indeed a Finn, Lasse Viren, who won the 5,000-10,000 double at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and finished fifth in the marathon. For modern-day distance runners, despite their advanced training techniques, the notion of running the Games' three longest running events in a little over a week would be out of the question -- especially with the men's marathon coming just a day after the 5,000m at London 2012. Golden couple . Zatopek died in 2000, aged 78, but is still survived by his widow Dana Zatopkova, who also won the javelin event at the Helsinki Games, just minutes after her husband had burst clear of three rivals to take a dramatic 5,000m final. They were truly the golden couple of athletics, but had first met in their native Czechoslovakia as both started to make their mark in their chosen sport. "I knew him before all the awards. And he always said it's good we married because it was only after that that he won any of his medals," Zatopkova told CNN. She still works actively to ensure Zatopek's legacy is never forgotten -- and supported Vlastimil Sroubek, who organized a special week of races to mark the 60th anniversary. "I wanted to call it 'Zatopek's Olympics' but I wasn't allowed to use the word Olympics. So instead I called it 'Zatopek's Golden Week' even though it's over eight days, because in those eight days he won his medals," Sroubek said. Zatopek was not a pretty runner, he ran with a tortured style, his head lolling from side to side, but he was a trendsetter, the first to really push the limits in training. He famously donned army boots to run in the winter snow and added weights for extra resistance. "It is at the borders of pain and suffering that the men are separated from the boys," he once said. Grueling sessions . The harder he trained, the more success came -- and Zatopek was no man for half measures. By legend his most grueling session was to run 400 meters -- one lap of a conventional running track -- 100 times, all at speed. Nearly a marathon on sprint efforts, so it was no wonder when he eventually ran the distance competitively he took it in his stride, asking the pre-race favorite, Jim Peters of Britain, if they were running fast enough as they contested the lead. After bursting clear of Peters, the incredible Zatopek had energy enough to chat with journalists who were following the race by car. Zatopkova put his ability to train and compete so ferociously down to his upbringing, taking up an apprenticeship at 14 after failing to make the academic grades to continue his studies. "He had a hard youth. He was working for the Bata shoe company and it was really hard, their training. And their philosophy was, 'When there is a barrier don't go around it, go over it.' So this is the philosophy which characterizes Emil Zatopek -- hard work and when you have a goal, solve it, do it," she said. Helsinki was to prove the peak of his achievements, and by the time of the next Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956 other athletes, copying his training techniques and refining them, had come on the scene. Zatopek, nursing an injury, came sixth in the marathon behind his longtime rival and friend Alain Mimoun of France. Eventual retirement . He retired from competition the following year, but he continued to be involved in track and field, playing the generous host when visitors came to Prague to compete in races or to seek advice. Australian Ron Clarke, who broke 17 world records in the 1960s but never won a gold medal in a major championship, stayed with Zatopek and Zatopkova and was treated to more than their legendary hospitality. Zatopek took him to the airport and as they said goodbye, pushed a parceled gift into Clarke's hand. When he later opened it, Clarke was dumbfounded -- it was one of Zatopek's golds from Helsinki. This generosity of spirit and consideration for his fellow man extended to Zatopek's political beliefs. He was an outspoken supporter of the Prague Spring, as the Czech government of Alexander Dubcek demanded freedoms while still a client state of the Soviet Union. After Soviet tanks brought a bloody end to the reforms in 1968, Zatopek was eventually stripped of his position as a colonel in the Czech army. As Zatopkova recalled it was not an immediate demotion, because with the 1968 Mexico Olympics taking place, Zatopek was in the media spotlight. National hero . "Right around the Olympics he was a national hero, it was not possible for the government to punish him. But later during the Soviet occupation he was working as a dustbinman. He got his punishment," she said. After the Iron Curtain came down, Zatopek was reinstated to his former eminence by Czech president Vaclav Havel in 1990. He lived out his days in the modest apartment he shared in Prague with his wife, suffering in his later years during a long period of ill health. In 1998 they celebrated their golden anniversary; Zatopek asked Dana to marry him during the 1948 London Olympics where he had won gold in the 10,000 and silver over 5,000. By coincidence they shared the same birthday, September 19, 1922 and his proposal was unique and typical of the man. "So, we were both born on the same day," he told her. '"What if, by chance, we were also to get married on the same day?'" Loved by millions, Zatopek sadly passed away at the turn of the century. His funeral in the Czech capital was attended by many leading figures from the world of sport. In his memory, the International Olympic Committee commissioned a statue of Zatopek in the grounds of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. He is the only athlete to be so honored, and he surely deserved it.
### SUMMARY:
| Emil Zatopek won three gold medals at 1952 Olympics in Helsinki .
Legendary Czech claimed the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon treble .
His wife Dana Zatopkova also won javelin gold in Helsinki .
Zatopek's medals are kept in the national archive in Prague . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- To help keep the peace with her in-laws during holidays, Julia Smith adopted a rule several years ago about talking politics: Don't do it, and don't take the bait if anyone starts in. Her relationship with her father-in-law in particular had always been fraught with tension, said Smith, who asked that her name be changed to preserve family relations. She was the "screaming liberal from New York" who'd corrupted his Texas-bred son into moving to "Taxachusetts" and voting Democrat. As far as she was concerned, he was a good ol' boy who didn't like to talk politics as much as preach his views. Her resolve was put to the test three years ago at Thanksgiving dinner, right after Barack Obama was elected president. She was picking at her turkey when, she says, her father-in-law suggested an act of violence toward Obama. She attempted to keep cool by gathering her children and leaving the table. But then he repeated it at dessert. "I finally said to him, 'you can't use that language in front my children.' Then he told me, 'you can't tell me what I can say in my home.' That led to a tirade with all kinds of four-letter words and him storming out," she said. "Before this, I just tried to ignore him, change the topic or walk away. But this comment ... it couldn't be ignored," she said. Unfortunately, things haven't been the same since, she says. They haven't spoken in more than two years, and he refuses to visit her family, though her mother-in-law visits regularly. Smith's case represents an extreme example of a Thanksgiving horror story, but most of us have one. The holidays tend to bring out the best and worst in people, especially among those we love. But as election season heats up, politics becomes an increasingly common topic around the dinner table ... as if we needed more stress when visiting family. "Politics is dangerous because people identify so closely with their beliefs. For my father-in-law, it wasn't just who he would vote for but a part of who he was, and if you disagreed with his political beliefs, it was like it was a rejection of him," Smith said. "For some people, political beliefs become too much a part of their personality, who they are, and they can't separate them from a person. That's where we ran into trouble, because I truly wanted to get along with this man, even though I didn't agree with him on most fronts. I still wanted to have a loving relationship for the sake of our family." Politics may not be an easy topic for families with diverging viewpoints, but that doesn't mean it's off-limits, said etiquette expert Anna Post of the Emily Post Institute. In fact, people don't need to agree as long as they're capable of respectful back-and-forth, as opposed to testy debate. "When people are willing to listen, which means not dominating the conversation and allowing yourself to be open to another idea, it can work," she said. "You may already know what the other person's going to say, but letting their voice say it is where respect comes in." Avoiding anger in your tone is another way to keep things healthy and family-functional, she said. "It's about respect, not making judgments and not using words that carry judgments. Given what a big deal the political conversation is, I think it's one worth making an effort over." With some, a respectful conversation just isn't in the cards, and we usually know who those people are, Post said. Identify the people who are your triggers, and be proactive in your conversation choices: Set the agenda and the tone, and don't let it be politics if you already know that a lively conversation won't come out of it. Another key consideration is what you hope to achieve by engaging in such a discussion. Are you there to change their mind or talk about what's going on in the news? If it's the former, you're probably barking up the wrong tree, and you may damage the relationship in the meantime, she said. It goes both ways, of course. If it becomes clear that someone is not just listening but trying to convert you, have some exit phrases on hand to end the conversation or lead it elsewhere, she said. Something like "we'll have to agree to disagree" or "I'll consider what you said" are good ways to get someone to let go and move on, Post said. If the conversation proceeds, choosing your words wisely could mean the difference between a lively back-and-forth and an uncomfortable standoff, she said. "Don't assume other people believe what you believe. People will casually mention something about a candidate or a position or a piece of news and mention it in a way that clearly states a position and assumes everyone agrees with it. That can be deeply uncomfortable and, depending on the position, leave someone stifled in a conversation," Post said. In other words, leave the punditry to the pundits and focus on positions you can defend with facts instead of catchphrases. "In your own language with politics, cleansing it of idioms can make it more about facts and not opinions," she said. "The goal is to avoid polarizing language. For example, ask someone what they think about health care rather than 'Obamacare.' Talk about the facts you know as opposed to 'I can't believe those guys are always pulling that stuff.' It makes a big difference." Not everyone goes by the same facts in the digital age, so even assuming that your facts are the ones everybody agrees on can land you in risky territory, said Jodi R.R. Smith, author of "From Clueless to Class Act: Manners for the Modern Woman." As much as you can prepare for the ones you love, a few variables inevitably pop up, such as the new significant other, the exchange student or the friend without a place to go. "If someone brings home a new love interest, I'm going to hold back a little bit and say, 'what do you think of the debates so far?' so I will be able to gauge the new person's political leanings," she said. "If we agree, that's great. I can launch into personal philosophies. If we don't agree, I will ask a couple of innocuous follow-up questions to see if this is someone who can have civilized political discourse. Maybe they can educate me, and it won't sway my vote, but it will make me a more well-rounded human being. If person gets red in the face and voice starts to rise, I will say, 'that's interesting. So, have you seen this new film?' " If you're the one hosting dinner, lay down some ground rules and let guests know what to expect, especially those who are easily agitated by opposing viewpoints, Smith said. Tell your liberal parents that you're inviting friends from the young Republicans campus group. You might also consider sitting them on the same side of the table so they can't make eye contact, she said. Setting ground rules for all guests is a new part of Smith's routine ever since that fateful Thanksgiving dinner three years ago. Politics are off-limits as a topic of discussion, especially if alcohol is being served. She wishes it didn't have to be this way; she also wishes that she had a better relationship with her father-in-law, she said. "Hopefully, sharing my story will let others know they're not alone. I also hope it makes people think about what they say and how they say it, especially when it comes to politics."
### SUMMARY:
| It's possible to talk politics with family over turkey in a respectful conversation, experts say .
Anna Post: Avoid polarizing language; focus on positions you can defend with facts .
Know your limit, and devise an exit strategy if conversation takes turn for worst, Post says .
Keep in mind that not everyone agrees on same set of facts, expert says . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
London (CNN) -- The award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the international chemical weapons watchdog helping to eliminate the Syrian army's stockpiles of poison gas, recognizes the dangers and difficulties that the body faces. A team from the OPCW and the U.N. has been in Syria since October 1, and oversaw the first destruction of chemical weapons equipment this week. On Sunday, Syrian personnel used "cutting torches and angle grinders to destroy or disable a range of items," the OPCW said. "This included missile warheads, aerial bombs and mixing and filling equipment." Given the danger the inspectors face, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon this week described the joint OPCW-U.N. mission in Syria as "an operation the likes of which, quite simply, have never been tried before." The joint mission is tasked with eliminating all chemical weapons in the country by midyear 2014. "These developments present a constructive beginning for what will nonetheless be a long and difficult process," OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu said. Mission impossible? Securing Syria's chemical weapons wouldn't be easy . There are many more sites to inspect and the OPCW experts face significant dangers in working in a country riven by a protracted civil war. The U.N. resolution that authorized the mission capped a month of dramatic diplomacy between the United States and Russia. That deal averted an American military strike over allegations the Syrian government used sarin nerve gas in an August 21 attack on a Damascus suburb. U.S. officials said at least 1,400 people died in the attack. Syria denied responsibility, blaming rebel forces. The Norwegian Nobel Committee tweeted that the prize was awarded not because of Syria "but because of its long standing work." However, in a statement it said that recent events had underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons. It also pointed the finger at certain states for failing to observe an April 2012 deadline to destroy their chemical weapons. "This applies especially to the USA and Russia," it added. The need to rid the world of chemical weapons was underlined by events in Libya, said CNN's Nic Robertson. Former dictator Moammar Gadhafi tried over many years to destroy his stocks under the terms of an international treaty, but after his removal from power in 2011 and the ensuring turmoil, Libya's remaining weapons spread throughout the region. Arms treaty . The OPCW, based in The Hague, in the Netherlands, is the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international arms control treaty. The Chemical Weapons Convention entered into force in April 1997, at which point 87 states had ratified it -- and the work of the OPCW to implement its provisions began at that point. According to the treaty's wording, signatories are "determined for the sake of all mankind, to exclude completely the possibility of the use of chemical weapons, through the implementation of the provisions of this Convention." Sixteen years later, more than 100 additional states have ratified the treaty. In September, Syria became the latest nation to ask to join the convention. It is due to enter into force in Syria on October 14, when it will become the 190th member state. Aside from its work on disarmament, the OPCW aims to prevent the proliferation of chemical weapons through the inspection of chemical production facilities and monitoring of transfers of toxic chemicals and their precursors. The OPCW's experts have monitored the cataloguing and destruction of chemical weapons in countries ranging from the U.S. and Russia to Libya. They have also worked in Iraq, which was the first time its inspectors were sent into a live battlefield. "We try to get as much information as we can about what we are doing," Franz Ontal, OPCW's head of inspector training, recently told CNN, during an exclusive visit to the organization's lab and staging facility in the Netherlands. "We want to know what the target site looks like; we want to know what we are after. The information we get is what's going to inform the inspectors about the kind of protective equipment they are going to wear." Ontal showed CNN around the OPCW's warehouse and explained the inspectors' rules of operations. Once they have located the site of a possible chemical weapons attack, the inspectors use special electronic detectors to give them an initial readout of the type of chemicals they might be facing, and in what concentration. Two different machines, using different technologies, are used to increase confidence in the result. In addition to chemical experts, the inspection team also includes munitions experts. That's because they may be dealing with unexploded ordnance. In addition, shell remnants often contain traces of the chemical residue inspectors are looking for. Ontal said inspectors rarely find chemical agents in their pure form, but, crucially, they can detect residues even if only fine traces are left. "The holy grail for environmental sampling is the pure agent, the agent itself. [But] that might not be practical; we do not expect to find agent by the time we arrive. So we need to look for secondary evidence. That could be munitions fragments, or the delivery device itself, or whatever they used to deliver the agent. Munitions fragments can inform us of many things; they can still hold agent, if there is some liquid left." Identifying the munitions and the delivery device can also assist the investigative process, by providing clues about who might have been behind the attack. Reactions . The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, which won the peace prize last year, tweeted its backing, saying: "Congratulations @OPCW! #NobelPeacePrize is a powerful recognition of your important role in curbing the use of chemical weapons." And NATO's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen sent his support: "Congratulations to @OPCW for winning #NobelPeacePrize! OPCW doing difficult but essential work in eliminating #WMD #CW in #Syria" Some took exception to the award though. Nadim Houry, deputy director of Human Rights Watch for Middle East/North Africa tweeted: "I would have thought 2013 would have been a year for soul searching at OPCW not accolades." And Blake Hounshell, deputy editor of Politico magazine, made a dig at the expense of U.S. President Barack Obama, a previous Peace Prize laureate: "OPCW owes this prize to the use of chemical weapons and the 2009 winner's subsequent threat to bomb Syria." Tawakkol Karman, a Yemeni human rights activist who won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, described how the award inspired her battle against injustice. "The peace prize meant so much for me and my Yemeni people and the youth of the Arab Spring who were fighting dictatorship and corruption," she wrote in an email to CNN before the announcement was made. "There will be no deviation or turning back no matter how much violence and suppressions we face and no matter how many bullets and bombs are directed towards the chest of peaceful activists who are full of love and peace. No matter who wins the prize this year, I believe that both that person and his organization are worthy of respect and our trust. The Nobel Peace Prize has helped us to view the future with optimism."
### SUMMARY:
| Nobel Peace Prize goes to Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons .
Award recognizes dangers and difficulties that body faces -- not because of Syria .
U.N. chief says mission in Syria is "an operation that has never been tried before"
OPCW has since '97 sought to implement ban on production, storage of chemical weapons . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Ever wonder what your toddler would say about your homemade baby food if she had an acid tongue and a Twitter account? Bunmi Laditan thinks she knows. Laditan's tweeting alter ego, the Honest Toddler, has been making followers guffaw at the wry observations of a semi-fictional baby pundit for about a year now. Laditan, a social media and online marketing manager based in Montreal, works from home so she can be with her children. She is set to release "The Honest Toddler: A Child's Guide to Parenting" in May. Inspired by her spunky daughter, Tali, Laditan began a Twitter account that expressed what might really be going through her toddler's mind during a particularly tantrumy week. "She had the ability to speak, but if she could fully articulate, what would she say?" Laditan wondered. Clearly, many of her nearly 200,000 Twitter followers would like to know the same thing and get a kick out of Laditan's interpretation. CNN reached out to Laditan to find out why toddlers are so sassy, how Twitter fits into modern motherhood and what makes it all worthwhile. An edited transcript of the talk is below: . CNN: What gave you the idea to do Honest Toddler? Laditan: My 3-year old, who was 2 at the time, we were having a really hard time. I have an older child, I've been through the toddler stage before, but I think I blocked it out of my memory. She was being defiant and I was busy with work, and literally it was the worst week we'd ever had. I just started (The Honest Toddler) for fun. I was so surprised by the response. Not in a million years did I think a bunch of people would read it. CNN: Working moms wear a lot of hats. What did you do before "supervising," as your book cover says, The Honest Toddler? Laditan: I began in social media ... nowadays the first place you go, in terms of a really quick sense of community, is online. Just because it can be really hard to get in the car and find the mom group. It was difficult for me to navigate (being a mother). Wanting to read about motherhood, work-at-home moms, writer moms. Can I still have a career? How do I do it? How are other people managing? So I began taking a real interest in the parents online, and since my background is in marketing, I really wanted to incorporate that in how I would earn an income from home. So I began doing social media for companies. One was "Tasty Baby," who made online organic baby food, and from there, I kept working and expanding and taking classes and working with other PR firms, learning how to do my job better. I've always loved writing, but "I can love it, it's just not going to be my bread and butter," is how I always felt. But I wanted to keep writing, so I wrote for sites like "Mothering," "iVillage," "Huffington Post," and really just enjoyed it. CNN: There seems to be a lot of very seriously toned parenting media on the Internet these days, and The Honest Toddler is anything but. Why do you think that is? Laditan: I get that there has to be an authority source. I've been in that mode, too, when writing. I think it's about trying to regain control and trying to help people feel as if there is a how-to. Even though at this point we all know there really isn't any one way. At one point or another you realize, there is no one way to do it, it's going to be messy, we can pretend all we want with our Instagrams and Facebook photos that it's all going great. But it's a struggle, so we do have to support each other and give each other a little bit of slack. CNN: Honest Toddler is pretty unique with regards to the content on Twitter, too. Laditan: I've seen Sarcastic Rover or when people tweet from the perspective of an inanimate object or animal, and I think they probably match up much closer to Honest Toddler than most parenting tweets. I think it's that different perspective. One of the reasons I believe it's popular -- and I don't think it has anything to do with me or my writing ability or anything like that -- is it has to do with parents who have already wondered what their kids are trying to say. Who have already thought, I know, if my child had the ability to articulate, they would say something like that. They have the opinions of people long before they have control of their bowels. They really believe we are on the same level. They believe we are peers. They see their mother and father as the ones who take care of them and where they go for comfort, but they really believe they have an equal vote. CNN: That's a lot of sass for such a tiny human. Are toddlers sassy? Laditan: Toddlers are ... people without filters. They're exactly like us but they don't have all the etiquette and social norms. So they say things that we would say if we didn't fear the social consequences. CNN: How much of The Honest Toddler is rooted in the real life experiences of your children that you observe? Laditan: Much of it is. I'm scared to say how much because I know that -- one of the reasons I love being anonymous is because that didn't feel like I would be judged. Not for my lack of parenting but just the situations are so crazy. And I know those situations happen to other people, too. On Friday, I was tweeting about Tali's ear infection and going to the pediatrician's office. She told me right away, "I don't like the doctor." And I knew it was going to be a struggle. CNN: At the end of the day, what makes a parent's struggle worth it? Laditan: The number one thing that really makes it all OK is knowing that it won't last forever. When you contextualize any difficult experience, that's what makes it bearable. With my first child, I had no idea what a contraction would feel like. Only what I'd seen on TV, like TLC, all these women screaming, 'I'm going to rip in half, this is going to be terrible!' But one woman (in a prenatal class), who had six kids said, 'You can handle 10 seconds of anything.' And she said the worst part of a contraction will probably last around 10 seconds. And when I was actually in labor, I thought of that. Knowing that made it bearable. It's the same thing when both my kids are still in their pajamas, crying, we're late for school, I'm thinking, "Great, now we're going to have to go to the secretary's office and she's going to see that they're late again and that I'm not dressed, and I have weird stuff in my eyes from sleeping so I obviously didn't wash my face or brush my teeth before I drove them there." I'm thinking all those terrible things and then I think, "They're going to grow up and I'm not going to be doing any of this and I know I'm going to miss it, and they're going to want to be with their friends and not with me." So that's what makes it doable. That's what makes me able to appreciate it and be able to laugh about it.
### SUMMARY:
| Writer Bunmi Laditan is the woman behind The Honest Toddler feed on Twitter .
Nearly 200,000 Twitter users follow the dry observations Laditan's alter ego .
Her experiences with an ornery 2-year-old inspired The Honest Toddler .
Laditan will release a book based on the Twitter account in May . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- So goodbye. Nobody wanted it to end this way -- the embarrassment and humbling of a side which has brought so much joy to the world. "You cannot consider that this generation is finished," said Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso ahead of its crunch game against Chile. "On the contrary, we are still alive." But Alonso's words rang hollow Wednesday as Spain sank to a 2-0 defeat by Chile at the Maracana -- almost as if this generation has now received the last rites. Dumped out of the World Cup after just two group games on the same day that King Juan Carlos abdicated his throne and signed it over to Prince Felipe, the nation's footballers have now relinquished the crown they once wore with distinction. Those fortunate enough to have a ticket for the potential dethroning came wearing red -- Chilean red. Even before kickoff, there was a sense of something special -- a wind of change, a new era about to be ushered in. This was a moment nobody wanted to miss -- including the 85 Chilean fans who were apprehended by military police after trashing the stadium's media center. While the spine tingling a capella version of the Chilean national anthem galvanized those in white with a call to arms, Spain shrunk away almost apologetically. It was left to Eduardo Vargas and Charles Arranguiz to put the final nails in the coffin-- both men scoring in a high-octane first half. There was no fightback -- no last stand, no heroics from Spain. Those who had once thrilled and mesmerized for so long, slowly and silently slipped away into the Rio night. This was not a mere collapse -- this was an implosion of seismic proportions. "We cannot complain we did not deserve to go out, they were better than us," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque told Spanish TV. "The team showed character, we pressed forward but we had little luck in front of goal. "We were certainly inferior to our rivals here at the finals. It is not the moment to think about the future. Little by little we will make the necessary assessments." Spain had left Salvador last Friday, beaten, thrashed and humiliated after being dismantled with ruthless efficiency by a Dutch side set on revenge following its defeat in final four years ago. It was a defeat which not only brought a shattering halt to the domination it had enjoyed on the international stage -- it was a defeat which signaled the end of an era. For the past six years, this Spanish side has thrilled those who marveled at its tiki-taka passing and ability to make the game look so effortless. For so long a perennial failure, its victory at the 2008 European Championship finals ushered in a period of almost flawless football. Victory at the 2010 World Cup was secured courtesy of a win over the Netherlands, while it retained its European crown comfortably two years later. But the signs of weakness have been growing ever since it was swept aside in last year's Confederations Cup in Brazil. The 3-0 defeat by the host nation in the final shocked not only seasoned observers but also those who had believed Spain's domination would surely continue. A year on, and the weaknesses which were so ruthlessly exposed were laid bare for all to see. After the 5-1 defeat by the Dutch, the Spanish players spoke of how this current generation were not yet finished. Cesc Fabregas, the Chelsea midfielder, philosophized over how this occasion would mean "life or death" for his side. But while coach del Bosque would have hoped to revitalize his team by resuscitating his ailing players, Chile arrived hoping to inflict the mortal wound. Where Chile appeared hungry and sprightly, Spain looked slow, cumbersome and leaden footed. The removal of Xavi, for so long the dominant force of the Spanish midfield, already hinted at the start of something drastic. Gone too was Gerard Pique, the Barcelona defender, who endured a difficult time against the Dutch -- not that he was alone. While 11 men in red Spanish shirts made the short walk onto the Maracana field, their minds appeared to be clouded, fuzzy, full of the doubt. No more so than goalkeeper Iker Casillas -- the captain, the man who despite having not featured regularly for club side Real Madrid kept his place in the team. A dismal showing in the previous game had led to calls for him to be replaced -- but on form or not, there was nothing he could do about Chile's opening goal. Jorge Sampaoli's side, playing with a joyful and often naive innocence, roared into action with a thrust which would not look out of place on the dancefloor of a club in Santiago. With 20 minutes played, Chile's ability to combine pace and intricacy cut through the Spanish defense and Vargas rounded off a wonderful flowing move. The goal came with a sense of inevitability -- Chile, roared on by the majority of the stadium, were rampant. Where Spain faltered, Chile stood strong. Where Spain was wasteful, Chile cradled possession like a mother holds its small child. Where Spain sporadically threatened, Chile moved to strike down each and every attack. For a World Cup champion to exit the tournament at the group stage is not unheard of -- France were embarrassed in 2002 and Italy barely competed four years ago as it exited with a whimper. But neither of those teams managed to dominate like this Spanish side. Perhaps had Spain managed to arrive at the interval just one goal behind it may have been different -- but what transpired was nothing short of disastrous. With three minutes of the half remaining, the much maligned Casillas, the man who lifted the trophy four years ago, all but relinquished his and Spain's grip on the crown. Alexis Sanchez's 20-yard free kick appeared simple enough to save but Casillas contrived to punch the ball straight into the path of Aranguiz, who fired home from close range. That self-inflicted wound proved fatal -- Spain never recovered. It tried to fight back, Sergio Busquets missed a great opportunity from five-yards and striker Diego Costa, one of the biggest disappointments of the tournaments, also went close. But it was more in hope than expectation. Each and every time Chile moved forward, Spain fell away seemingly unable to cope with the pace of its opponents. Mauricio Isla should have rubbed salt in Spanish wounds with 20 minutes remaining only to send his effort wide of the post with the goal gaping. Del Bosque even sent on Koke as substitute -- a man whose surname is Resurrección. Not that it mattered -- the curtain had already been brought down, the mourners had left -- the cortege was already on its way. Cameroon 0-4 Croatia . Cameroon suffered a nightmare evening in Manaus as it exited the World Cup with a whimper. Two goals from Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic ensured Croatia won at a canter after Alex Song was sent off for Cameroon. Ivica Olic gave Croatia the perfect start, turning home from close range after 11 minutes. Cameroon was reduced to 10 men when Song inexplicably elbowed Mandzukic -- and Ivan Perisic added a second eight minutes later. Mandzukic headed home a third just after the hour mark before clinching his second of the evening to seal the rout. The result leaves Croatia needing to defeat Mexico in its final Group A game to qualify for the last 16. Cameroon will finish its campaign against host nation Brazil on Monday.
### SUMMARY:
| World champion Spain is out of the tournament .
Spain beaten 2-0 by Chile in Rio de Janeiro .
Eduardo Vargas and Charles Aranguiz scored the goals .
10-man Cameroon also out after Croatia loss . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- The new North Tower is finally high enough to partially restore the skyline I used to see when I stepped outside my home in Greenwich Village. It was a glorious sight before September 11, 2001. Two shiny towers created a reference point for miles around, giving Manhattan the center of its compass, just like the Eiffel tower does in Paris or the Capitol Building in Washington. I pointed out the new one to my little girl, Luna, this morning on the way to school. "This is how we know we're walking west," I told her. "Because the tower is to the South." "Is that like the one that fell down?" she asked. Yes, I thought to myself, it actually is. When you make your way around upper Manhattan, there is an easy north-south, east-west street pattern to show you the way. But when you hit Greenwich Village, the streets go every which way. Before September 11, 2001, the easy way to find true north was to use the towers as a reference point. After that day, the compass just spun, as the city struggled to figure out which way to go. I had walked out of my apartment that day to see my tower, my reference point, with a burning hole punched deep inside its face. For the next few hours I ran around downtown reporting for CNN on a series of horrific events -- people leaping to their death, buildings collapsing, debris burning, and firefighters at odds with a fire that wouldn't go out. I lived alone back then, so when I finally went home a full day later I didn't have to explain to anyone why the absence of that tower made me feel as directionless as the city around me. And for many years, I walked back out my door beneath the empty sky and made my way north by mere habit. Triple-amputee veteran gets 'smart' home on September 11 . Luna was born in 2005, four years after the attacks, as the city was just finding its way. It speaks volumes about something when you can't explain it to a child. So I was happy that I wouldn't have to do that for a few years, although somehow her presence made it easier to chart a new course. September 11, 2005, was a beautiful, bright and sunny day. It was Primary day and I walked to vote, carrying Luna in a baby Bjorn. It was funny to see her tiny hands stressing to push the metal levers in the ballot box. By the time she could walk, the same Hudson River parks where ambulances had carted off the injured had been replaced by water parks and swing sets. She loved a particular duck pond where debris had sat idle for months. That year was also the fifth anniversary, but she didn't watch TV yet, so her youth spared me the annual reading of the names and the moments of silence. That year we also took her on her first plane trip and her tiny hands left prints on the window ovals as she marveled at the reflections of the sun. Note lets family know 9/11 victim went down fighting . By the time she was 3, the yellowing "Missing" posters that had dotted Greenwich Village in the days after the attack had been replaced by tiles painted by schoolchildren and strung along a chain link fence near our home. When she was 4, the nearby hospital shut down, closing the emergency room where stretchers had lined up to wait for the survivors that never came. The next year she started kindergarten at the school across the street. It was a hard day for me because the attacks had happened on the first day of school. A father shooting video of his kindergartener had given me the tape of his daughter's first-day smiles interrupted by the roar of a plane and a series of terrible images that replayed endlessly on TV. Our daughter wore a shiny pink raincoat on her big day as I took pictures of her disappearing into a sea of smiling schoolchildren marching into P.S. 41. Later that year, I invited one of the firefighters I'd connected with on September 11 to visit her class. She didn't tell the kids about her work on September 11; she just taught them to stop, drop and roll if they ever smelled smoke. Photos: Ground zero now . When she entered the first grade last year, the New York Public Schools had a curriculum about September 11 and we were warned to tell our children what had happened. The idea was to explain that some bad people had crashed planes into buildings and many of our neighbors had died. It seemed such a straightforward way to tell a story that ended with some 1,300 orphans, ensuing wars and economic mudslides. But it was enough for her. The school curriculum discussed how communities come together in times of tragedy and explains the role of flowers in grieving. How to honor a Muslim first responder? That same year, we took her to ground zero for the first time, to see what is now the 9/11 Memorial grounds. I had toured it with Michael Arad, the architect, for a CNN story before it opened, but it's amazing what details you notice when you see something through the eyes of a child. Every piece of that memorial seems to reflect the images of the Twin Towers -- the rectangular stones on the walkways, rectangular lamp posts and grates, the slatted benches and big rectangular grass pits. She loves the sounds of the waterfalls in the tower footprints and the way the shadows bounce off the walls. It is a place of memory, not mourning, and it carries a sense of peace. The city has travelled such a distance and my 6-year-old understands what happened there, but doesn't know enough to feel sad. We took her again a few months ago and pointed out how the names were cut out of the metal plates surrounding the footprints. I showed her the computers that let you print out cards of the victims. You can search them by name or place. We searched for people I knew and printed their cards. Then we looked for people from countries with which we have a connection. We chose a Colombian, and went to pay our respects. A man beside us was tracing the name of his son onto a piece of thin white paper. This time she did look sad. So did I. Today, Luna's teacher read them "Fireboat" -- the story of the John J. Harvey, a powerful 1931 retired Fire Department vessel called into action on September 11 to ferry away survivors and fight the fires. I remember that old, sad boat and how it rallied that day, pumping water for 80 hours when the fireplugs went dry. Her teacher said it was the only thing that seemed age appropriate. They wondered why someone would fly planes into buildings if they knew they were going to die. The teacher said that made zero sense to them. Then school ended and it was a beautiful day again. How schools should handle 9/11 in class . On TV, the names of the dead were read and the polling booths got ready for another Primary. After school, some artists are taking over the school yard for a memorial event that will raise money to move the painted memorial tiles to a museum. Perhaps we will go to the school yard after I pick her up. It's just west of our house, north of the towers. You can tell how to get there by looking downtown. How do you talk to the children in your life about tragedies? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
### SUMMARY:
| Rose Arce was a reporter on the ground in New York after the September 11, 2001, attacks .
Arce struggled to explain the attacks to her daughter when she was old enough .
She and her daughter, Luna, visit the September 11 memorial and Luna learns more in school .
The attacks changed the landscape of their neighborhood and their lives . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Washington (CNN)Jeb Bush revealed his strategy for dealing with the polarizing foreign policy legacy of his brother: Make a quick declaration of independence then pivot to a searing attack on the failings abroad of President Barack Obama. "I love my father and my brother. I admire their service to the nation and the difficult decisions they had to make," Bush said Wednesday in Chicago during the first major foreign policy speech of his prospective Republican presidential campaign. "But I am my own man." The appearance offered Bush a chance to show how he will balance a desire not to dismiss George W. Bush's presidency while insulating himself from Democratic attempts to paint him as a clone of the man who led the nation into a bloody, prolonged era of foreign wars. Bush did concede that the previous Bush administration made "a mistake" by not providing security for Iraqis in the wake of the U.S. invasion in 2003. But he also argued that his brother's surge strategy forged political stability in Iraq that Obama squandered in his eagerness to get American troops home. It's too early to tell whether Bush's appearance answered the key question facing his campaign: Can a third man with the name "Bush" win the presidency in a nation exhausted by war and suspicious of dynasties? But his message seemed clearly tailored towards the activist base of the Republican Party, which likes its foreign policy hawkish, and has significant doubts about Bush on issues including immigration reform and education which could hamper his chances of winning the primary race. Democrats quickly tried to stamp out any progress Bush had made with the wider electorate which he would ask to entrust him with U.S. national security if he becomes the GOP nominee. "Today, Jeb Bush made his first foray into explaining and attempting to recast his foreign policy," said DNC spokeswoman Holly Shulman. "But despite Jeb Bush's claim that he will be his 'own man', there is little evidence that Jeb Bush's foreign policy agenda is much different than his brother's." She added: "Embracing decisions that made the world more dangerous, and then trying to shift the blame -- that's the Jeb Bush Doctrine." Bush is not the first presidential candidate forced to differentiate himself from a powerful predecessor in a desire to strike out on his own. Vice President Al Gore famously declared he was his "own man" as he tried to shuffle out of the shadow of Bill Clinton's impeachment shame in 2000. Obama jabbed Hillary Clinton in 2008 over her famous husband's intervention in the campaign, saying he could not sometimes tell who he was running against. She responded: "I'm here. He's not." Bush is a more cerebral, cautious character than his brother and his speech lacked the bristling rhetoric of George W. Bush which Democrats often decried as a symptom of cowboy diplomacy. But the hawkish global vision he laid out sat squarely in the muscular foreign policy that has dominated the Republican Party since his brother went on the offensive following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Bush made a case that Obama was being misled by Iran on nuclear talks, said the president had been too soft on Russia, sided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the row over his address to Congress and condemned the administration's opening to Cuba. He said Obama's failure to do a deal to keep U.S. troops in Iraq created a "void" exploited by extremists. "This administration talks, but the words fade," Bush said. "They draw red lines, and then erase them. With grandiosity they announce resets and then disengage. Hashtag campaigns replace actual diplomacy and engagement." Bush offered few surprises. This was exactly the kind of speech a prospective GOP presidential candidate would be expected to make 21 months before a general election. Bush made a case that Obama's politics had tipped the world into chaos, played to the GOP's base and avoided unveiling new policies that could get ripped to shreds in the long months on the campaign trail. Despite the inclusion on list of foreign policy advisors released by his camp of Republican gurus James Baker and George Schultz, Bush had little in common with the subtle internationalism of his father George H.W. Bush. "The great irony of the Obama presidency is this, someone who came to office, promising greater engagement with the world has left America less influential in the world," Bush said. "Everywhere you look, you see the world slipping out of control," Bush said, blaming Obama for the rise of ISIS, the breakdown of Iraq and Syria, Iranian dominance of the Middle East and and Russia's belligerence. "Under this administration, we are inconsistent and indecisive. We have lost the trust and confidence of our friends. We definitely no longer inspire fear in our enemies," Bush said, in a speech delivered at such a breakneck pace that he at one point confused Iran and Iraq. This was clearly an act of political positioning rather than an attempt to chart a meaningful foreign policy strategy. "We policy wonks like wonkish speeches and politicians like political speeches," said Justin Logan, head of the foreign policy program at the Cato Institute. "There was nothing very surprising about the speech. I think there would be nothing very surprising about President Jeb Bush's foreign policy. This was a do no harm speech." Bush did little to deviate from Republican foreign policy orthodoxy. He said a strong economy was crucial to U.S. national security, advocated increased military spending, rebuilt alliances with NATO members and in Asia and an effort to reengage with traditional U.S. friends in the Middle East like Egypt. While he repeatedly criticized Obama, he did not say if he would use military force against Iran if nuclear diplomacy failed or make a decisive intervention into the debate about whether to deploy ground troops to Syria to help fight ISIS. He did however advocate arming Ukraine. It was the kind of speech that every single Republican running for president is likely to give during the campaign -- with the possible exception of the more isolationist Rand Paul. The goal seemed to be to show Bush could be trusted with national security but was not extreme. And it likely did little to scare off other possible Republican candidates -- especially someone like Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who is positioning himself as a foreign policy expert. "Nobody is going to be running for eight more years of Obama foreign and defense policy," said James Jay Carafano of the conservative Heritage Foundation. "Everybody is going to sound like they are not a neo-con and not an isolationist. This would check the box of what you would expect a responsible speech to sound like." Bush argued that he had come by his foreign policy views in a grounding in global affairs that started when he lived overseas with his wife Columba in Venezuela. As governor, he said, he led multiple trade missions to Latin America and had visited Israeli five times. He said he had "forced" himself to visit Asia four times a year to experience the region's explosive growth -- and complained that people he met said Obama's Asia "pivot" policy was all talk and no action. He ended his speech with a message to Republican isolationists and Obama's foreign policy backers. "America does not have the luxury of withdrawing from the world," Bush said. "Our security, and our prosperity, and our values demand that we remain engaged and involved in -- often distant places," he said. "We have no reason to apologize for our leadership, or our interest in serving the cause of global security, global peace, and human freedom. Nothing and no one can replace strong American leadership." CNN's Ashley Killough contributed to this report .
### SUMMARY:
| Bush balances brother's Iraq war legacy and his political hopes .
Slams Obama on everything from ISIS to Cuba .
Few specifics in speech . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Angela Levin . PUBLISHED: . 17:33 EST, 2 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:51 EST, 2 March 2013 . Identical twins Andrew and Christopher Watson shared an extraordinary intuition. Throughout their schooldays, their interests and talents were as indistinguishable as their looks. So when, tragically, Christopher was left trapped in a vegetative state after a horrific car accident when the boys were just 16, Andrew knew that as his twin, he was the right person to speak on his brother’s behalf. And in 2009, three years after the crash, it was Andrew who made the heart-wrenching decision to end his brother’s life. After the accident in 2006 Chris initially still had some brain activity and would respond to simple commands . Twins Andrew (left) and Chris (right) shared an intuition which Andrew felt keenly when Chris was in a coma . With the full support of his mother . Helen and older sister Emma, Andrew went to the High Court seeking . permission to withdraw Christopher’s nutrition and hydration. Two years . later, after tests were completed, the court agreed and on December 7, . 2010, Christopher died peacefully in a hospice. It is only now that Andrew, 23, feels able to talk about what happened and his role in the decision. ‘Every . time I saw Chris, it was like looking at a mirror image of myself,’ he . says. ‘It was like watching myself die. But if it had been me lying . there, I’d have wanted him to do the same. ‘I feel very empty without him. As . though I have lost a part of myself. But the extraordinary thing is the . moment he died, without realising it, I seem to have taken on his . mannerisms. 'Apparently I now walk, cough and laugh just like him. I have told Mum I shall now have to live for the both of us.’ Andrew and his mother Helen (right) decided three years later that ending life support was the right thing to do . Andrew (left) and his twin Chris (right) pictured with their mother Helen on a family holiday as children . Andrew . and Christopher, from Lutterworth in Leicestershire, were boarders at . Kingham Hill School in the Cotswolds at the time of the accident. They . had spent the weekend with family friends nearby. Their parents – . Peter, an accountant, and Helen – were divorcing and it was a difficult . time. Alastair Godfrey, 19, . the son of the family friend, offered to drive the twins and another . schoolfriend, Hannah Jenkins, back to school on the Sunday evening of . April 30. Christopher and . Andrew piled into the back of Alastair’s Renault Clio. Hannah sat in . the front. Andrew put on his seatbelt, Christopher did not. ‘Alastair . drove along the narrow country roads and into the school grounds,’ Andrew recalls, ‘but we went over a hill too quickly and smashed into a . 4x4 driven by one of the school’s groundkeepers. Identical twins Andrew (left) and Chris (right) Watson at the age of four . ‘I remember spinning around in the car and was then unconscious for a few minutes. ‘When I came around, I decided to get help from school and as I wandered down the road, I saw Chris lying curled up about 15 yards from the car. He was breathing but it was very shallow. ‘I was in such a state of shock, I initially couldn’t work out why he was there. It was only later I heard he had been thrown out of the car. ‘He and Alastair, who tragically died that night, were quickly taken away by ambulance. ‘Another ambulance took Hannah – who fortunately wasn’t too badly hurt – and me to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. 'I had some internal bruising. Chris was taken to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. After a week, Mum told me that he wasn’t in good shape so I went to see him.’ Andrew pauses and looks down at his hands in his lap. ‘I couldn’t stay with him for more than five minutes on that first occasion. ‘I don’t think anyone can understand what it is like seeing your identical twin like that because it looks as if it is you. ‘He had two massive black eyes, his head was shaved and there were tubes attached to him everywhere. It could so easily have been me, if I hadn’t put my seatbelt on, and I felt knocked off my feet for a long time. I sat and cried in the hospital waiting room. ‘It was also so heartbreaking to realise that something like this could happen in a blink of an eye. ‘One minute we were having a laugh on the way back to school and the next... ‘I gradually got more used to seeing him and on regular occasions while he was in an induced coma, I would hold his hand and talk to him and the nurses would tell me his blood pressure went down and he seemed more relaxed. That helped relax me. ‘I stayed at boarding school, but thought about him all the time. Because of our telepathic connection, when I couldn’t sleep or felt very agitated, I knew something was wrong. 'I would then phone Mum to ask about him and it usually turned out that he had had an epileptic fit. It was the weirdest experience. Andrew (left) and Chris (right) pictured with their sister Emma in 2005, one year before the accident . 'Chris still had some brain activity initially and would respond to simple commands, but sometimes when I thought I’d seen something, the nurses said they hadn’t.’ Shortly afterwards, Christopher was operated on for a ruptured stomach and from then on tests recorded zero brain activity. As well as developing epilepsy, Christopher had several strokes. His immune system shut down and he suffered from meningitis, MRSA and chest and urinary infections. In 2008, Andrew, his mother and sister met doctors and they mentioned that withdrawing feeding was an option. Andrew felt positive about the idea. ‘It was heart-wrenching to watch Chris’s physical deterioration. He had no dignity and could not communicate, which is no way for anybody to live,’ says Andrew. Christopher (left) and Andrew (right) with their sister Emma . ‘Mum signed a “Do not resuscitate” order and we took the decision as a family to withdraw feeding and let nature take its course. I had to force myself not to focus on the emotional side, as I didn’t want Chris to feel any of that when I went to see him. ‘I believed strongly that as Chris couldn’t make the decision for himself, I had to think for him. When you see someone who could do everything become completely helpless, you know it is no way to live.’ The court agreed in November 2010 that feeding could be withdrawn but the family then ran into another problem. ‘The lady who ran the care home in Leicester where Chris spent three years said she didn’t think it was the right thing to do and wouldn’t allow it to happen there. So we had to find a hospice to move him to. ‘At the hospice, he survived for ten days and died early on December 7. Mum went into his room first and I caught a glimpse of him through the door. It made me feel I had been hit by a giant stone. ‘But I told myself I had to go in. I said a final goodbye and a final “I love you” then left in disbelief – because I had lost the most important person in my life.’
### SUMMARY:
| Twins Andrew and Christopher Watson were in the same car accident .
Christopher wore no seat belt and was left in a coma from age of 16 .
Andrew let him go after three years and is only now able to talk of trauma . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 15:01 EST, 21 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 05:22 EST, 22 December 2012 . Releasing balloons outside the church in Bethel, Connecticut on Friday, eight-year-old Jake Hockley bid a somber farewell to his little brother, a victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. Six-year-old Dylan Hockley, who moved from England two years ago, was remembered at a funeral in Walnut Hill Community Church, a week after became one of 26 victims gunned down at the school. His parents paid tribute to their energetic, loving son in the service before helping Jake release the purple balloons - Dylan's favourite colour - as their faces were etched with pain. As mourners arrived at the church, they were handed an order of service crammed full with colourful, smiling photos of the family's fondest memories with the young boy. Scroll down for video . Pain: Nicole and Ian Hockley stand with Jake, 8, following the funeral of their youngest son Dylan, 6 . For his little brother: Jake Hockley is pictured releasing purple balloons in remembrance of his brother . To the heavens: The balloons fly above the church on Friday afternoon as the congregation stands below . American-born Nicole and her . British-born husband Ian previously spoke about their 'gorgeous angel' who was found dead in the arms of his favourite teacher, Anne Marie . Murphy. The special needs teacher, who was laid to rest following her own funeral in New York on Thursday, had tried to shield the young boy from the bullets, but also lost her life. The Hockleys said they took 'great comfort' in the knowledge that son Dylan did not die alone as the gunman went on his murderous rampage through the school. They hailed Dylan's teachers, including principal Dawn Hochsprung, psychologist Mery Sherlach and his class teacher Vicki Soto, who also died in a desperate bid to protect the pupils. Remembered: Dylan, who moved to the U.S. from England two years ago, is pictured on his order of service . Celebrating a young life: Further happy family photographs adorn the inside of the order of service . Loved: More images show the life of the young boy who loved playing tag and cuddling with his family . 'We cannot speak highly enough of Dawn . Hochsprung and Mary Sherlach, exceptional women who knew both our . children and who specifically helped us navigate Dylan's special . education needs. 'Dylan's teacher, Vicki Soto, was warm and funny and Dylan loved her dearly. 'We . take great comfort in knowing that Dylan was not alone when he died, . but was wrapped in the arms of his amazing aide, Anne Marie Murphy. 'Dylan loved Mrs Murphy so much and pointed at her picture on our refrigerator every day. 'Though . our hearts break for Dylan, they are also filled with love for these . and the other beautiful women who all selflessly died trying to save our . children.' Brave faces: The Hockleys stay silent and close as they mourn the loss of their youngest family member . Hurt: Bagpipers play as Nicole Hockley, center, and her son Jake look on at the end of the funeral . Comfort: Two sobbing women embrace outside Walnut Community Church in Bethel on Friday . Tears: Mourners, wearing Dylan's favourite colour, purple, cry as they leave the church service . Saying goodbye: A funeral was held at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel on Friday for Dylan Hockley . Heroic: Dylan, left, was found wrapped in the arms of his teacher Anne Marie Murphy, left, who also died . Remembering their son, Mr and Mrs . Hockley added: 'Everyone who met Dylan fell in love with him. His . beaming smile would light up any room and his laugh was the sweetest . music. 'He loved to cuddle, play tag every morning at the bus stop with our . neighbors, bounce on the trampoline, play computer games, watch movies, . the color purple, seeing the moon and eating his favorite foods, . especially chocolate. 'There are no words that can express our feeling of loss. We will always . be a family of four, as though Dylan is no longer physically with us, . he is forever in our hearts and minds. We love you Mister D, our special . gorgeous angel.' They said Dylan was learning to read and was 'so proud' when he read them a new book every day. Tribute: A procession leaves a church after the funeral of the school's behavioural therapist Rachel D'Avino . Service: The casket of Miss D'Avino is carried into the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Connecticut . Heartbroken: Mourners struggle to contain their tears as they leave the funeral mass for D'Avino on Friday . Heroes: Miss D'Avino is pictured left. School psychologist Mary Sherlach, right, was also laid to rest today . The . Hockleys moved into . a house on the same street as the mother of the gunman. They said their . boys flourished in the town and the family's happiness had been . 'limitless'. 'We . specifically chose Sandy Hook for the community and the elementary . school,' they said. 'We do not an shall never regret this choice.' Following an almost unbearable processions of funerals in Newtown this week, three other young students were laid to rest. Funerals . were held for six-year-olds Olivia Engel and Madeline Hsu and . seven-year-old Grace McDonnell, while there were visitations for Emilie . Parker, six, and Josephine Gay, seven. The . school's psychologist, 56-year-old Mary Sherlach, and behavioural . therapist, 29-year-old Rachel D'Avino, were also laid to rest. Missed: Olivia Engel, 6, will also be laid to rest today. Mourners pay their respects at her wake on Thursday . Innocent: Funerals were also held for Madeleine Hsu, 6, and Grace McDonnell, 7, on Friday . Victim: A funeral was also held for Olivia Engel, six. In the service, speakers recounted her last moments where a police officer picked her up while she was still alive and told her 'I love you' Pain: Women embrace after observing a moment of silence nearby Sandy Hook Elementary on Friday . Miss D'Avino, who was remembered at a funeral in her hometown of Bethlehem, Connecticut, died just two days after her longtime boyfriend asked her parents for her hand in marriage. He was going to propose to her on Christmas Eve. After the massacre, it emerged that Miss D'Avino, who only began working at the school this fall, tried to draw the shooter away from children at the school, but was killed in the process. Her friend Lissa Lovetere said teaching special needs children was a calling for Miss D'Avino. 'She had that gift, that maternal instinct. She cared for people,' Ms Lovetere told MailOnline on Sunday. 'Working with special needs children was her forte.'
### SUMMARY:
| Funerals also held for Olivia Engel, 6, Madeline Hsu, 6, Grace McDonnell, 7 .
The school's psychologist, 56-year-old Mary Sherlach, and behavioural therapist, 29-year-old Rachel D'Avino, were also laid to rest . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Ellie Zolfagharifard . PUBLISHED: . 05:11 EST, 20 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 10:20 EST, 20 September 2013 . A bride was so desperate to look good in her wedding photos that she shed seven stone over the course of her engagement. Former snack addict Sam McGinlay, 28, swapped bacon rolls and crisps for fruit and veg and began a gruelling exercise regime of cycling and high-intensity workouts after her partner Brian McGinlay proposed. In just 11 months, Mrs McGinlay shrunk so much that she had to alter her £750 wedding dress to bring it in from a size 20 to a size 12. Sam McGinlay, 28, married Brian McGinlay, 31, last month after losing seven stone in a 11 months. She was a size 20 at the time of her engagement (left) and dropped to a size 12 by the time she got married (right) She said: 'Shortly after Brian proposed I went to a dressmaker to try on dresses with my mum, Barbara. 'I tried to pretend I was happy squeezing into a size 20 dress, but the truth is I was heartbroken. I never imagined I would be a fat bride. 'I had really horrible thoughts of me looking like a whale as I waddled down the aisle. 'So I went from eating around 3,500 calories a day to a much more balanced diet which helped me to exercise regularly.' Mrs McGinlay struggled to breathe during exercise - even walking on the beach with her son Aiden was a chore . Sam McGinlay and Brian McGinlay pictured shortly after they got together in 2005. 'I was convinced we looked weird together because Brian was so slim,' said Mrs McGinlay . Mrs McGinlay took on a largely sedentary office job when she was 17 and, after a year of desk snacks and little exercise, her weight had increased from her natural 11 stone to 15 stone. Mrs McGinlay struggled to control her eating impulses over the next decade. 'Crisps were one of my weaknesses. I ate packets and packets, but told myself I wasn’t doing myself any harm. 'I remember at age 18, weighing myself before a big night out with my best friend, and the scales tipped 17 stone. It was so embarrassing. 'I was bored and self-conscious and in need of cheering up, and that just made me crave fatty, sugary foods even more.' Mrs McGinlay underwent a gruelling exercise regime to fit into her size 12 dress for her wedding day . Mrs McGinlay and Mr McGinlay married on August 3rd at the Three Kings function centre near Falkirk, followed by a honeymoon to the Trossachs in Scotland. At this point, Mrs McGinlay had lost 11 stone . She met Brian McGinlay, 31, through friends in the year 2000 and they began dating in 2005. Mr McGinlay said: 'I didn’t care what size Sam was, it was her personality I was attracted to. 'But I could see she was unhappy. There were times I could not bear to see her so upset.' Mrs McGinlay, who works at an accountancy firm, said: 'I was 18 stone and convinced we looked weird together because Brian was so slim. 'I looked awful in holiday photographs. I was ashamed to look so overweight compared to my friends.' The birth of the couple’s son, Aiden, in December 2009, pushed Mrs McGinlay’s dieting plans down her list of priorities. Mrs McGinaly, left, on a work night out with colleagues before she lost the weight. Mr McGinlay said: 'I didn¿t care what size Sam was, it was her personality I was attracted to.' Mr and Mrs McGinlay pictured during a recent meal out. They met through friends in the year 2000 and they began dating in 2005 . 'I told myself that breastfeeding meant I could not diet. Aiden came first, and that was that. 'I’d lost a small amount of weight a year before giving birth, but around the time of our five-year anniversary, when Aiden was three months old, I was back to size 20.' Mr McGinlay proposed with a white gold ring set with a cluster of diamonds, and Mrs McGinlay knew it was time to take action. She said: 'I had tried losing weight before, but now I was truly determined. I knew I needed the support of other people, so I joined exercise classes and slimming groups. 'I began to enjoy high-intensity exercise like Metafit cross-training which involves springs, lunges, squats and plank holds, and Zumba. 'I spent at least two and half hours a week on my bike, and went for frequent 10 kilometer hill walks.' The couple pose for pictures after their wedding on August 3rd. Forklift driver Mr McGinlay also went on a reduced calorie diet in support and lost two stone . Before her weightloss revelation, Mrs McGinlay would tuck into a bacon roll and creamy coffee for breakfast, followed by a cheese and mayonnaise sandwich for lunch and, for dinner, huge portions of hearty meals like meat with patties and bread and butter. Snacks would include thick crisps and sweets. The new Mrs McGinlay enjoyed a cup of tea with rich tea biscuits and a banana for breakfast, a wafer-thin ham and light cream cheese sandwich on wholemeal bread with a yogurt for lunch and portion-controlled reduced-fat curry for dinner, with grapes for a snack. Forklift driver Mr McGinlay also went on a reduced calorie diet in support and lost two stone. He said: “Sometimes Sam would be upset because she would attend slimming class and would not have lost any weight. 'But I helped her by reminding her she was converting fat into muscle. 'She was much happier and it was wonderful to see.' Before her weightloss (left), Mrs McGinlay would tuck into a bacon rolls and creamy coffees for breakfast. Now Mrs McGinlay (left) typically starts her day with a cup of tea, rich tea biscuits and a banana . 'It was amazing to dance with Brian at the reception without getting out of breath,' said Mrs McGinlay. Mrs McGinlay said: 'It was tough going but my Zumba teacher, Carol, was amazed by my progress. She called me the "ever-shrinking woman".' Eventually, Mrs McGinlay began seeing the fruits of her labour. By Christmas 2012 she had shrunk to a size 14 and by April she had reached her 11 stone target - a weight loss of seven stone. Mrs McGinlay and Mr McGinlay married on August 3rd at the Three Kings function centre near Falkirk, followed by a honeymoon to the Trossachs in Scotland. 'It was amazing to dance with Brian at the reception without getting out of breath,' said Mrs McGinlay. 'I was so proud when I was able to pack a size 12 bikini into my holiday packing. 'I don’t even recognise the person in the old photographs.'
### SUMMARY:
| 28 year-old Sam McGinlay married her partner Brian in Falkirk, Scotland .
During her engagement she dropped from a size 20 dress to a size 12 .
She swapped her 3,500 calories-a-day diet for fruit and veg and a gruelling exercise regime . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Lucy Waterlow . PUBLISHED: . 06:48 EST, 19 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:38 EST, 19 November 2013 . Every year on Strictly Come Dancing, the stars taking part reveal how they dropped pounds thanks to rehearsing and performing and they leave the show the fittest they've ever been. Now Strictly professional dancers Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite, along with former contestant Mark Foster, want to help the show-loving public get the same results by launching a dance workout called FitSteps. The 45 minute class is similar to Zumba - so you don't need a partner - and it includes moves from Latin and ballroom dances. Scroll down for video . Workout: Former Strictly contestant Mark Foster, left, and professional dancers Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite want to get the nation fit one step at a time . No need for a partner: Natalie leads a class demonstrating the dance moves for participants to follow . It provides an all-body workout with energetic moves from the Jive, Cha Cha and Samba included to raise the heart . rate. Meanwhile, a range of slower movements and postures from the . Waltz and the Rumba use muscular strength to tone the torso, arms . and legs. Natalie, 33, told the MailOnline: 'It's an intense workout but because you're concentrating on learning the steps and having fun dancing, you don't notice how hard you're working.' She added: 'What's also exciting about it is . you're learning a skill as we teach the basic foundation of ballroom and Latin American dancing. You don't even need to try and convince . your reluctant partner to join you, as you'll be working out alongside a . whole class of like-minded people. You'll get fit, boost your . confidence, make friends and have a great time doing so.' Join in: The classes are operating at 700 venues around the country . Natalie has been dancing since she was three-years-old and she said the classes are suitable for adults of all ages (they're working on launching a separate FitSteps class for children). She said participants can burn up to 600 calories a session and those already taking part in the classes around the country have been seeing the results. Nesta Lopez, who attends classes in Dagenham, Essex, said: 'It's the best thing I've done in years. The support, the atmosphere, drive and fun keep me coming back. The first time I tried it I thought to myself, "this is something I will never get right", but class after class, the steps got easier and more achievable. 'I'm enjoying myself and best of all my body is getting firmer. so I've said "goodbye love handles" and my bum is lifted like never before. I am feeling much more confident in my own skin.' Many celebrities who have taken part in the BBC show also attest that they've slimmed down thanks to dancing. Convert: Olympic swimmer Mark, right, said he loved learning to dance and lost weight when he appeared on Strictly. He joined forces with Ian and Natalie to help other people have the experience he enjoyed . The Strictly effect: This year's contestant Susanna Reid, left, has already lost 7lb, while John Sergeant dropped two stone when he took part in 2008 . One contestant this year, Susanna Reid, has admitted she's lost 7Ib so far and in previous series, actor Ricky Groves and presenter John Sergeant shed more than two stone each. And it's not just their waistlines that benefit from taking part, many of them also come away with a newfound love of dancing thanks to being taught by a professional. It's something Olympic swimmer Mark Foster experienced after his appearance on the show in 2008. 'I had a great time when I was on the . show but when I realised how . much weight I'd lost, I wanted to explore the concept of getting fit . through stepping,' he said. 'After speaking to some professional fitness colleagues and then . reaching out to Natalie, it turned out that Ian had already been . working on a similar concept, so after much discussion and development . we joined forces and FitSteps was born.' Ian added: 'The great thing about FitSteps is that . it’s varied. Because of the differences in techniques and . tempo of the dances, the postures are grouped together to create . different effects on the body and achieve the results you want. There's . absolutely no way you’ll have as much fun pounding the treadmill as you . will learning to Jive.' Dance into shape: Up to 600 calories can be burnt per class as moves from Latin and ballroom routines are learnt . Natalie said the classes teach the same basic dance moves that the celebrities learn when they first sign up for Strictly. It's only when they've started to master these that their professional partner will teach them the choreographed routines. The Australian dancer - whose biggest success on Strictly came when she reached the final with Hollyoaks actor Ricky Whittle in 2009 - said it's rewarding to be able to reach so many people through FitSteps. She explained: 'I love dancing, it's good for the heart, the soul and the mind. Dancing is in my blood and I love teaching the celebrities I've worked with on Strictly. But you are only teaching one person. These classes allow us to reach thousands of people and help them get fit while having fun.' FitSteps classes are being run in 700 locations around the country in gyms and community centres as well as at Champneys health spas and . Rosemary Conley Clubs. But of course Natalie, Ian and Mark can't teach all the classes themselves so 1,200 licenced instructors have been trained in order to deliver the workout. Missing the show: Natalie Lowe on last year's Strictly with cricketer Michael Vaughan. She's had to sit out this year as she recovers from a foot injury . Looking head, Natalie said they plan to launch the children's classes as well as aqua FitSteps (the workout in water) and 'golden era' FitSteps - a class at a slower pace focusing on ballroom dancing to music from the 30s and 40s. Natalie has been unable to take part in this year's Strictly after suffering from a foot injury and so has been a keen - if not a little jealous - viewer instead. She said: 'I'm gutted I couldn't take part in this year's series after getting two stress fractures in my foot. I've been resting and recovering so there's a chance I might be able to take part in the group numbers towards the end of the series. But I will have to see how I am, I want to make sure I'm recovered so I'm definitely back next year.' When it comes to who'll make the final this year, she thinks it's too close to call. 'The competition is heating up,' she exclaimed. 'The girls like Abbey and Susanna have been great from the start but now the boys are upping the ante as Patrick and Ashley are improving every week. I couldn't pick a winner.' To find a FitSteps class near you, visit www.fitsteps.co.uk .
### SUMMARY:
| Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite have launched FitSteps with Mark Foster .
Dance classes provide a workout that burns calories and tones body .
Participants learn moves from Latin and ballroom dances .
You don't need a dance partner to take part .
Classes operating at 700 venues across the UK . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 01:47 EST, 18 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:06 EST, 18 November 2013 . The owner of New York City's famed Carnegie Deli has revealed an even greater betrayal by the woman who stole her husband: she also stole her recipes. Marian Levine, 63, has already filed a lawsuit against her husband Sandford Levine for giving his lover, former Carnegie Deli waitress Penkae Siricharoen, a rent-stabilized apartment in the block Levine owns above the deli on Seventh Ave. Now she says her husband paid for his lover's Queens restaurant, made mortgage payments on the $600,000 home she bought in Queens on her waitress's wage, paid for plastic surgery to her eyes and nose and gave her access to Carnegie Deli's famous recipes for cheesecake, pastrami and corned beef. 'Cheating husband': Marian Levine, left, is suing her husband, Sandford Levine, for giving an apartment she owns to his lover for too low a rent . 'Get out': The owner of Carnegie Deli on 854 Seventh Avenue in New York City wants her husband's lover to move out of the building . According to the New York Post, Penkae Siricharoen's relatives opened a restaurant in Thailand which was originally called Carnegie Deli Thailand but later changed its name to New York Cheese Cake after taking a tour of Carnegie Deli's New Jersey plant where all the deli's cured meats and cheesecakes are produced. Levine says she was unaware that her 'trade secrets' had been shared with the Thais, who have received rave reviews online for their authentic New York cheesecake and huge pastrami sandwiches. The New York Post reports that Marian Levine is seeking a divorce from her husband after discovering the depths of his betrayal. Marian and Sandford Levine married in 1991. She says his affair with Siricharoen has been going on for a decade, and was an open secret among the staff at Carnegie Deli. 'Everybody knew but me,' Levine told the Post. Siricharoen, 61, is a Thai immigrant who worked for the deli for many years. Deli dupe: Levine says this Thai restaurant is using her family's Carnegie Deli secret recipes . She was originally hired by Levine's father, who left the restaurant to his daughter Marian Levine when he died and was friendly with the Levines, even joining them on vacation. According to the Post, Levine remained ignorant of her husband's affair and financial dealings until he began urging her to sell the deli last year. She hired a private investigator who uncovered the affair and other secrets. Siricharoen left Carnegie Deli in 2008 to run her Queens restaurant in 2008, but remained on the payroll long after. 'Somebody punched her in,' Levine told the New York Post. 'She was making $750 a week as a manager even though she wasn’t there.' The lawsuit . Levine has filed in Manhattan Supreme Court claims her . husband of more than two decades, Sandford Levine, 71, gave Siricharoen a rent-stabilised apartment in her building on . Seventh Avenue for $975 a month for 15 years. Famous: The deli, which has been around for 76 years, is known for its pastrami and corned beef sandwiches . Celebrity hangout: Celebrities and high-profile people have been known to visit the deli, including the likes of Taylor Swift, left, and President Obama, right . Partners: The Levines ran Carnegie Deli together for many years. Now the wife is suing her husband . The . apartment would go for $3,000 a month on the open market and the suit . calls the deal Sandford’s ‘way of providing a gift to Siricharoen with . whom he was having a romantic relationship’. Levine . accuses the pair of having ‘conspired’ to cheat her out of money she . was rightfully owed under the lease, and asks a judge to throw the . 15-year deal out. The . 76-year-old deli, famed for its corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, has . been visited by many celebrities, including the likes of President . Obama, Woody Allen, Taylor Swift and Henny Youngman, according to the New York Daily News. Levine inherited the deli from her father Milton Parker and ran it with her husband for several years. Sandford even became the face of the restaurant, carrying a business card that read, ‘MBD – Married Boss’s Daughter’. Family business: Levine inherited the deli at 854 Seventh Avenue from her father, Milton Parker. Her husband's lover lives in one of the building's apartments for $975 a month . Movie director Woody Allen, left, and comedian/violinist Henny Youngman, right, were also seen eat a pastrami sandwich at Carnegie Deli in Manhattan, New York . Marian also inherited the apartment building that houses it, 854 Seventh Avenue, after her father’ s death in 2009. The suit seeks to get Siricharoen, who is from Thailand, out of the building altogether, on the grounds that she used a ‘false identity’ to rent the apartment. It says she is in the U.S. illegally, and rented the apartment using documents that belonged to her deceased sister. The status of the Levines’ relationship is unknown. The suit says the couple, who tied the knot in 1991, is still married, but also refers to Sandy Levine as a ‘former employee’. TV stars: Marian and Sandford, pictured, hosted a reality show from 2011 to 2012, called Family Pickle, which showcased their life running the restaurant . It accuses him of having ‘engaged in dishonest, intentional, willful, wanton and reckless misconduct while he was employed by plaintiff’. The suit says he and Siricharoen carried on an ‘extramarital affair and romantic relationship’ from ‘approximately 1998 to the present’. The Levines starred in their own short-lived reality show between 2011 and 2012 called Family Pickle, which showcased their efforts to run the restaurant. In a bio on the show's website, the pair are described as 'a perfect match: equal in drive, bluster, and passion. Though their head-to-head battles are a matter of daily routine, their bond is like nuclear fusion: as unbreakable as it is fiery hot.' According to the Post, Sandford Levine and Penkae Siricharoen are living together in a $1 million house in Boca, Florida.
### SUMMARY:
| Marian Levine, 63, owner of Carnegie Deli, says her husband gave his lover secret family recipes .
She is suing her husband Sandford, 71, and his Thai lover, Penkae Siricharoen, 61 .
She says he also gave an apartment to his lover in the building she owns on Seventh Avenue at a stabilized rent of $975 a month for 15 years .
She claims Siricharoen is in the U.S. illegally and used false documents to rent the apartment .
Levine says her husband gave Siricharoen money to buy a restaurant and a $600,000 house . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Laura Kemp . PUBLISHED: . 16:38 EST, 22 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:15 EST, 23 January 2014 . After spending just 30 minutes at my desk, I'm already rosy-cheeked and glowing. Not from the joy of settling down to get some work done on my latest novel, but because I'm using the very latest fitness import from the U.S. as I type. Treadmill desks - a small treadmill you plonk under your existing desk, or a table with an inbuilt one - have gone down such a storm with big corporations like Google and Facebook that they are now making their way over here. Set at about 2mph (the pace of a slow walk) they burn up to 150 calories an hour while not distracting you from your work. Their soaring popularity is thanks to growing research that says sitting down all day is killing us. Just last week a study found that middle-aged women who are inactive for 11 hours a day are 12 per cent more likely to die prematurely and nearly 30 per cent more at risk from heart disease. Scroll down for video . Walk while you work: Laura tests out the Office Fitness desk . Sitting affects the body in a number of negative ways. For a start, your calorie-burning rate plunges by a third to around one calorie a minute, and you produce fewer of the enzymes that affect how fat is stored and sugar processed, leading to weight gain. High blood pressure, some cancers, diabetes and even depression have all been linked to sedentary lifestyles. And thanks to computers, TVs, laptops and cars, the average person now spends 12 hours a day sitting down. Add seven hours of being horizontal while we sleep, and that leaves very little time for being upright. So could these radical new work stations be the answer? As a 39-year-old, work-from-home mum who struggles to find time to go to the gym - or even leave the house - I jump at the chance to try the Office Fitness desk (£899). I'm 5ft 4ins and 9st 7lbs so I could do with shifting a few pounds, and sitting leaves me feeling lethargic and bloated. My enthusiasm dims somewhat after two fiddly, expletive-ridden hours of assembling the thing in my lounge. But once I've stepped on to the treadmill, which stands under a height-adjustable desk in place of a chair, my excitement began to build. Job training: Standing up for three hours a day, five days a week, will burn 750 extra calories, which over a year equates to running ten marathons . Like mothers the world over, I'm used to juggling several tasks at once, but work and exercise is a new one for me. With a '3-2-1', the monitor provided a countdown and I was off on a 2 mph stroll. Admittedly that's very slow, but any faster and it would be impossible to tap away on the keyboard at the same time, and I would probably fall off the treadmill from the effort of coordinating brain and legs. It takes me about 15 minutes to get used to the motion, and each time I lose my balance, I have to hold on to the desk and spend a few minutes correcting my mistakes from hitting the wrong keys. It's a lot like learning to drive - trying to move your feet independently of your hands. There is also the problem of dizziness when you step off the treadmill, but that is short-lived. However, that night, I slept far better, found it easier to get up in the morning and felt far calmer during the day. Hard labour . The treadmill was invented in 1818 as a 'human hamster wheel' to punish prisoners . By day three, that initial vertigo had been replaced by a feeling of real achievement as I dismounted, knowing I'd woven some exercise into my busy day without much effort or disruption. In fact, I'd walked a total of 15 miles without even realising it. When you've got the hang of it, you don’t forget you're walking on a treadmill, but it feels totally normal. It's only when a child or husband walks in laughing at the sight of you that you realise you do look a little ridiculous. It's a small price to pay, however, for being able to burn off biscuits tone muscles, improve posture and boost metabolism. The statistics are impressive: standing up for three hours a day, five days a week, will burn 750 extra calories, which over a year equates to running ten marathons. Apparently there are benefits to your mind and productivity, too. Working at a standing desk can apparently increase your output by 10 per cent because your mind is more focused when your body is upright. Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway and Benjamin Franklin were all advocates, albeit without any treadmill device underneath. I certainly found my work rate increasing - when I would have taken a break if I'd been sitting at a desk, I felt so caught up in the rhythm of the treadmill that I carried on. The noisy whirr of the belt slid into the background after a while, and I was able to immerse myself in my writing. But since you're advised to spend no more than two to three hours a day on the treadmill because of the risk of repetitive strain injury, I eventually had to step off. Our writer soon got the hang of working and walking but the equipment is bulky to keep in a house . My apparatus is just one of the many products exploding on to the market after the American Medical Association recommended businesses offered their employees alternatives to sitting. Now there are standing and bike desks, Swiss ball chairs and even table-tennis meeting tables. Google is one company in California's Silicon Valley that offers its staff alternatives to seats. Facebook is another, with design recruiter Greg Hoy telling the Wall Street Journal that workers' energy levels soared when they used standing desks, and his own 3pm energy slump had long gone. But it's likely we'll have to wait a while for most British bosses to see standing at work as anything other than a gimmick. The ultimate test is whether I'd I buy one of these gadgets myself. If I was lucky enough to live in a mansion, the answer would be yes, because size is definitely the issue. The desk I tried was super-heavy and 1.8m long. It needs a permanent home, preferably in a spare room-cum-office, and its beech finish won't be to everyone's taste. But having it in the house does encourage other family members to use it and improve their fitness, too. I even caught my six-year-old son, Paddy, having a go while playing on the iPad. Once the novelty had worn off though, he wasn't at all pleased that his 'football pitch' - otherwise known as the lounge - had disappeared under this unwieldy contraption. A quick word of advice for anyone taking the plunge - remember to tell anyone who phones you that you're on a treadmill in case they think they've caught you in a marital tryst. And if you're going to drink coffee, invest in a tightly lidded mug. Laura Kemp's new book, Mums On Strike, is out now, published by Arrow, for £7.99 .
### SUMMARY:
| Apparatus is a small treadmill you put under your existing desk .
Allows you to workout as you work .
Facebook and Google among companies providing such alternative desks .
Writer and mother Laura Kemp put one to the test . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
PUBLISHED: . 05:34 EST, 27 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:50 EST, 27 February 2014 . Hillary Clinton has praised the governor of Arizona after she vetoed a bill that would have let businesses refuse to serve gays and lesbians on grounds of religion. The former U.S. Secretary of State spoke to an audience at the University of Miami yesterday, and addressed an estimated audience of 6,100 people. Highlighting the issue, Mrs Clinton, 66, said that Republican governor Jan Brewer 'recognized that inclusive leadership is really what the 21st century is all about.' Hillary Clinton has applauded Arizona governor Jan Brewer's decision to veto the religious rights bill . She added that all countries, including the U.S., must allow 'full participation' for women. 'I believe strongly that the more we can get people to participate, to have a stake in the future, the better off we will all be,' she added. Students listening to the speech cheered when they heard Mrs Clinton's comments. Hillary Clinton (left) was welcomed by the University of Miami's President . Donna Shalala (right) and received a warm reception at her speech there . Ms Brewer vetoed Arizona's controversial religious rights bill, after facing a deadline to decide whether to sign it on Saturday. The controversial politician faced enormous pressure to veto the legislation, even from within her own Republican ranks after the bill set off a national furor over gay rights and religious freedom.' 'My agenda is to sign into law legislation that advances Arizona,' Ms Brewer said at a news conference. 'I call them like I seem them despite . the tears or the boos from the crowd.' Decision time: With the clock ticking for Arizona Governor Jan Brewer finally decided to veto controversial SB 1062 on Wednesday. Here, the governor is seen mid-veto in a photo she posted to Twitter . The governor said she gave the legislation careful deliberation in talking to her lawyers, citizens and lawmakers on both sides of the debate. The bill backed by Republicans in the Legislature was designed to give added protection from lawsuits to people who assert their religious beliefs in refusing service to gays. But opponents called it an open attack on gays that invited discrimination. Gay rights supporters were delighted when they heard the official news of the veto signing at a rally held in Phoenix yesterday. Gay rights supporters David Martinez, right, hugs Christopher Heinl, after they learn Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has vetoed SB1062 . The bill has thrust Arizona into the national spotlight after both chambers of the state legislature approved it. As the days passed last week, more and more groups, politicians and average citizens weighed in against Senate Bill 1062. Many took to social media to criticize the bill, calling it an attack on gay and lesbian rights. Prominent Phoenix business groups said it would be another black eye for the state that saw a national backlash over its 2010 immigration-crackdown law, SB1070, and warned that businesses looking to expand into the state may not do so if bill became law. Facing pressure? Three Republicans who had voted for the bill last week quickly changed their minds and said in a letter to Brewer that while the intent of their vote 'was to create a shield for all citizens' religious liberties, the bill has been mischaracterized by its opponents as a sword for religious intolerance.' Here, the governor announces the veto at a Wednesday press event . Companies such as Apple Inc. and American Airlines and politicians including GOP Sen. John McCain and former Republican presidential nominee were among those who urged Brewer to veto the legislation. Brewer . was under intense pressure to veto the bill, including from three . Republicans who had voted for the bill last week. They said in a letter . to Brewer that while the intent of their vote 'was to create a shield . for all citizens' religious liberties, the bill has been . mischaracterized by its opponents as a sword for religious intolerance.' SB . 1062 allows people to claim their religious beliefs as a defense . against claims of discrimination. Backers cite a New Mexico Supreme . Court decision that allowed a gay couple to sue a photographer who . refused to document their wedding, even though the law that allowed that . suit doesn't exist in Arizona. Republican Sen. Steve Yarbrough called his proposal a First Amendment issue during a Senate debate. 'This . bill is not about allowing discrimination,' Yarbrough said. 'This bill . is about preventing discrimination against people who are clearly living . out their faith.' Celebration: Cheers erupted amid protestors of the bill after Brewer's announcement was made . Surprised? Many feared the outspoken and often controversial governor might sign the bill into law as she dragged her feet with the Saturday deadline to veto looming . Democrats said it was a veiled attempt to legally discriminate against gay people and could allow people to break nearly any law and cite religious freedom as a defense. 'The heart of this bill would allow for discrimination versus gays and lesbians,' said Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix. 'You can't argue the fact that bill will invite discrimination. That's the point of this bill. It is.' The bill is similar to a proposal last year brought by Yarbrough but vetoed by Brewer, a Republican. That legislation also would have allowed people or religious groups to sue if they believed they might be subject to a government regulation that infringed on their religious rights. Yarbrough stripped that provision from the bill in the hopes Brewer will embrace the new version. Civil-liberties and secular groups countered that Yarbrough and the Center for Arizona Policy, a powerful social conservative group that backs anti-abortion and conservative Christian legislation in the state and is opposed to gay marriage, had sought to minimize concerns that last year's bill had far-reaching and hidden implications. Good business? The 2015 Super Bowl will proceed as planned in Glendale's University of Phoenix Stadium. Before the veto, NFL officials said the bill would put their decision to play in the state into question . Yarbrough called those worries 'unrealistic and unsupported hypotheticals' and said criminal laws will continue to be prosecuted by the courts. The Center for Arizona Policy argues the law is needed to protect against increasingly activist federal courts and simply clarifies existing state law. 'We see a growing hostility toward religion,' said Josh Kredit, legal counsel for the group. Similar religious-protection legislation has been introduced in Ohio, Mississippi, Idaho, South Dakota, Tennessee and Oklahoma, but Arizona's plan is the only one that has been passed by a state legislature. The efforts are stalled in Idaho, Ohio and Kansas. The push in Arizona comes as an increasing number of conservative states grapple with ways to counter the growing legality of gay marriage. Arizona's voters approved a ban on gay marriage as a state constitutional amendment in 2008. It is one of 29 states with such constitutional prohibitions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Federal judges have recently struck down those bans in Utah, Oklahoma and Virginia, but those decisions are under appeal.
### SUMMARY:
| Former First Lady of the United States backs Jan Brewer's decision .
Brewer faced a Saturday deadline to choose whether to sign the bill and enormous pressure to veto even within her Republican ranks .
The Bill set off a national row over gay rights and religious freedom .
Business leaders feared Arizona could lose investment if the bill was signed, similar to the immigration crackdown of 2010 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 21:20 EST, 10 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 08:06 EST, 11 February 2014 . America's vast surveillance infrastructure has been glimpsed for the first time after an artist took photos of three of the United States' most powerful intelligence sites - including the NSA - and making the images available to the public. The photos were taken last year by Trevor Paglen, who used a helicopter to shoot the top-secret bureaus at night, Gawker reported. The shots were published this week in the inaugural issue of new digital magazine The Intercept. The three agencies captured are the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The National Security Agency (NSA): . With a 2013 budget request of approximately $10.8 billion, the NSA is the second-largest agency in the U.S. intelligence community and is headquartered in Fort Meade, Maryland . Up until these photos were released, the media have been forced to use images of the NSA headquarters provided by the NSA themselves, which are thought to have been taken in 1970s . The National Reconnaissance Office: The NRO is in charge of developing, deploying and operating secret reconnaissance satellites and is headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia. Spooky: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is responsible for collecting, analyzing and distributing intelligence derived from maps and imagery. According to documents provided by Edward Snowden, the NGA's budget request was $4.9 billion last year ¿ more than double its funding a decade ago. It is headquartered in Springfield, Virginia . Paglen said he took on the project because, as classified documents exposed by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden dominated headlines for the last eight months, the one image being used by the media in the accompanying stories was one provided by the NSA themselves. The image, available on Wikipedia, appears to have been taken in the 1970s, Paglen said. 'My intention is to expand the visual vocabulary we use to 'see' the U.S. intelligence community,' Paglen explained to The Intercept. 'Although the organizing logic of our nation's surveillance apparatus is invisibility and secrecy, its operations occupy the physical world. 'Digital surveillance programs require concrete data centers; intelligence agencies are based in real buildings; surveillance systems ultimately consist of technologies, people, and the vast network of material resources that supports them.' Outdated: This image of the NSA headquarters in Fort Meade and used in many of the articles featuring Edward Snowden, is believed to have been taken in the 1970s. The facility, just outside of Baltimore, has been expanded extensively and received billions of dollars of grants . Crucially, Paglen has donated the images to the public domain and made them available on Flickr and Wikimedia Commons. He wants people to know the agencies exist, and to feel civic ownership over them in the same way they feel ownership over their local library. 'The scale of NSA's operations were hidden from the public until August 2013, when their classified budget requests were revealed in documents provided by Snowden,' Paglen said. 'Three months later, I rented a helicopter and shot nighttime images of the NSA’s headquarters. 'I did the same with the NRO, which designs, builds and operates America’s spy satellites, and with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), which maps and analyzes imagery, connecting geographic information to other surveillance data. 'The Central Intelligence Agency—the largest member of the intelligence community—denied repeated requests for permission to take aerial photos of its headquarters in Langley, Virginia.' More:The Utah Data Center, near Bluffdale, was rumored to be one of the sites where personal data extracted by the NSA was stored . Storage: An aerial photograph shows the center . Stash: The government has been tight-lipped about what will be stored in the center's four 'data halls' In June of last year, photos emerged of the one million square-foot, $1.9 million facility being constructed by the government in the Utah Valley. The release coincided with the revelations that U.S. intelligence agencies had been extracting audio, video, photos, e-mails, documents and other . information to track people's movements and contacts. Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, . YouTube, Skype, AOL and the lesser known Internet company PalTalk were revealed as all involved in the program PRISM, which the government insisted was for national security. Officials were tight-lipped about what would be stored at the Utah Data Center based in Camp Williams, on the Salt Lake-Utah County line. Plans released by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the time of its construction showed the center had four 'data halls' to store information and two substations to power the facility. Powerhouse: These images were released last year as it emerged the government is secretly collecting the telephone records of millions of Verizon customers, as well as data from companies including Facebook and Google . The spy center is estimated to have cost $1.9 billion and is said to employ 100 to 200 . permanent employees. The . PRISM program was launched in 2007 with the blessing of special federal . judges under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It has been described by NSA officials . 'as the most prolific contributor to the president's Daily Brief' and . the 'leading source of raw material', the Post reported. In practice, if collection managers in . the NSA's Special Source Operation Group, which manages PRISM, have . suspicion that their target is a foreign national engaged in terrorism . or a spy, they move ahead to draw in all the data which would often net in information on the suspect's contacts. President Obama has maintained that data mining 'was worth us doing' to halt national security threats . 'I think it’s important to understand . that you can’t have 100 percent security and then have 100 percent . privacy and zero inconvenience,' President Barack Obama said of the program last year. 'We’re going to have to . make some choices as a society.' Obama said the PRISM program does not . involve monitoring the email content of U.S. citizens or anyone living . in the U.S., and he repeatedly stated that both programs - the phone . spying and PRISM - have been approved by Congress. Since then, Obama has revealed a 'series of concrete and substantial reforms' he believes will address public concerns. The proposals include changing the controversial section 215 metadata program, and what Obama described as the 'unprecedented' extending of rights around monitoring to non-US citizens outside of America. Obama contrasted the NSA's data collection with how corporations like Google mine metadata for information around which advertising campaigns can be built. However, 'the standards for government surveillance should be higher' the President conceded, admitting that 'history has too many examples of when trust has been breached'.
### SUMMARY:
| Revelations that U.S. intelligence agencies had been extracting personal information from people across the country were exposed by NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden last year .
The one photo the NSA have provided of their headquarters in Fort Meade, which is thought to have been taken in the 1970s .
Inspired by the 'invisibility' of the U.S. intelligence community, artist Trevor Paglen rented a helicopter and took photos of three of the most powerful intelligence sites in the country .
He has released the images into the public domain so that people can understand the agencies exist . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Joel Christie . An Ivy League lawyer convicted of beating and strangling his girlfriend to death in their Queens apartment has been sentenced to life without parole, a judge ruled Tuesday. Jason Bohn, 35, was found guilty last month of first-degree murder in the brutal June 2012 slaying of Danielle Thomas, a financial analyst for Weight Watchers who was killed in the Astoria home she shared with Bohn. She died of neck compression and blunt-force trauma, had lacerations on her face, mouth and chest and was found lying in a bath full of ice. Before the sentence was handed down, the court heard from Thomas' family, with the words of her grandmother, Juanita Hardgrove, causing Bohn to break down in tears, The New York Post reported. Scroll down for video . Life without parole: Jason Bohn (left), was found guilty of strangling his girlfriend Danielle Thomas (right) and will be behind bars for the rest of his life . Sentenced: Jason Bohn, pictured, was emotional in court on Tuesday . Guilty: Bohn apologized before he was sentenced, saying 'I don't know what to say. I don't know how this happened' Emotional: Bohn is seen tearing up in court in this photograph as he apologizes to the family of slain girlfriend Danielle Thomas . 'I’m a cancer survivor, and I thought that hearing I had cancer would be the worse news until I got that call that you murdered my precious Dani,' Hardgrove said. 'Only a bully and coward would do this to such a beautiful woman. 'We couldn’t even see her face in the casket to say goodbye because of what you did to her body but her spirit will last with us always.' Thomas' mother, Jaime Thomas-Bright, said that despite being a victim of constant abuse at the hands of Bohn, her daughter still wanted to marry the man she loved. 'I once asked Danielle three weeks before you killed her if you’d propose what she’d say,' Thomas-Bright said in a victim’s impact statement . 'And she smiled and said ''yes''.' Thomas' grandmother Juanita Hardgrov, pictured, said in court 'Only a bully and coward would do this to such a beautiful woman' Heartbreaking: Jamie Thomas-Bright, Thomas' mother, said 'Life will never be good for me ever again' 'Life will never be good for me ever again. 'I’ll never get to be a grandmother and, Judge Aloise, I think I would have been a great grandma. I dread getting old.' Bohn tearfully apologized before he was sentenced, saying, through tears: 'I don't know what to say. I don't know how this happened.' What made the murder of Thomas even more harrowing was how close she came to escaping her dangerous partner. Weeks prior to her death, Thomas told police Bohn had beaten her a month earlier, leaving her on crutches and with two black eyes, NBC New York reported. He called her cellphone while she was at the police station and Thomas put it on speaker, allowing detectives to hear Bohn threaten to bash her skull in and 'hunt her down like a dog'. Weeks prior to her death, Thomas told police Bohn had beaten her a month earlier . Convicted: Bohn reportedly broke an order of protection when he killed girlfriend Danielle Thomas in 2012 . Bohn and his defense team claimed it was manslaughter, but the jury did not believe them . Captured: Bohn is brought into Queens Supreme Court in handcuffs on July 23, 2012 after the body of his girlfriend was found. He has been sentenced to life without parole for her murder . Brutal death: Danielle Thomas had moved from Florida to New York to be with her boyfriend in Queens . Bohn was arrested that day and Thomas was granted an order of protection. Charges of assault and aggravated harassment were pending against him when she died. Prosecutors revealed in Janaury that, on the night she died, Thomas had returned home to protect her dog, Schnoozer, even though a friend had offered to take her to a hotel. Prosecutor Patrick O'Connor told the jury panel that Bohn had threatened to kill the black-and-white pooch in the past, and Thomas rushed home in a bid to save her pet. ‘It was for the love of her dog,’ the prosecutor said. ‘She was afraid for her dog.’ One of the most compelling pieces of evidence an unintentional voicemail, wherein Thomas could be heard saying 'I can't breathe' as Bohn strangled her. Loss: Bohn blamed Thomas' lying, stress, . alcohol and his own abusive past for the murder; in court, the . prosecution said the 27-year-old rushed home to protect her dog, . Schnoozer (right), from Bohn . On the chilling recording, a man . believed to be Bohn relentlessly questions why Thomas made a phone call . to a number with a 508 area code. Bohn is then heard strangling the 27-year-old before letting go as she pleads with him and tries to answer his questions, DNAinfo New York reported. She struggles to breath as she answers over and over: 'I don't know... Jason, I love you.' He then replies: 'You have five seconds and then...and then I'm going to kill you. He continues: 'I'm going to let you up and then you need to answer quickly or else you die... Danielle, why did you call that number? 'Danielle you are so stupid. You think I'm going to stop, I won't stop.' It is unclear whether the voicemail came from the victim or alleged killer's cellphone. Missed: Bohn, right, had been violent in the . past and Miss Thomas (pictured left with a relative) had a protection . order against him at the time of her death . Neighbors called police to check on Thomas after hearing a fight and her dead body was found in the ice-filled bathtub. Beside it were two handwritten notes written by Bohn. One pledged his love for her, while the other said: 'It was an accident. It was an accident.' Bohn had fled the couple's apartment in Queens with his girlfriend's phone, which he used to assure her family she was fine. He was eventually tracked down at a restaurant in White Plains. Bohn's attorney, Todd Greenberg, . previously said his client had been suffering from emotional . disturbances, but wouldn't say whether his client had a history of . mental illness. They had . tried to convince the jury toward a lesser charge of manslaughter, using . stories of childhood abuse, but it failed to sway the jury. Bohn is now expected to die in prison. Grim discovery: Danielle Thomas' body was found in the Queens apartment in a bath full of ice in June 2012 after neighbors called the police following the noisy fight . Murder scene: Thomas was found murdered in a bathtub of ice at the couple's Astoria, New York home .
### SUMMARY:
| Jason Bohn, 35, has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his live-in girlfriend, Danielle Thomas, 27 .
Thomas died of neck compression and blunt-force trauma and was found in the bathtub of their Queens apartment in June 2012 .
At the sentencing hearing Tuesday, Thomas' grandmother called Bohn 'a bully and a coward'
Her mother said life 'will never be good for me ever again'
Bohn said to them: 'I don't know how this happened'
Bohn and his defense team claimed it was manslaughter but the jury didn't believe them . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . John Greechan . They came from near and far, the great and good of football, to pay tribute to one of their own. But this was no occasion for revelling in tales of past sporting glories. Instead, and quite rightly, the funeral service for Sandy Jardine concentrated more on the man than on the footballer. John Greig was mentioned as an enduring friend first, team-mate second. The recollection of a young Jardine spending his first Rangers bonus on a fur coat for his mum, meanwhile, said more than any list of medals ever could. On a bitterly cold morning in Edinburgh, hundreds gathered at Mortonhall Crematorium not because Sandy Jardine was famous as a Rangers, Hearts and Scotland player. They turned out to show their respect for a man who, as the Reverend John Shields made clear, valued ‘love, loyalty and respect’ above even the most glittering prizes on offer during his career. Honour: Sir Alex Ferguson and Walter Smith arriving to pay their respects at Jardine's funeral . Tribute: Scottish rock singer Rod Stewart sent a touching note to the former Rangers fullback . Past and present: Rangers legend Ally Dawson (left) and current club captain Lee McCulloch arrive . Greig, the . Greatest Ever Ranger, was one of the pall bearers on a day that saw . some of the Scottish game’s most well-respected figures in attendance. Sir Alex Ferguson chatted with Walter Smith and Willie Henderson, Celtic . were represented by Peter Lawwell, Billy McNeil and Bertie Auld, while . neither Gordon McQueen nor Joe Jordan would have even considered missing . the occasion. Of . course, plenty more of Jardine’s old team-mates from the class of ’72 . were in attendance, the Cup Winners’ Cup victory that bound them . together in the 40 odd years since only a small part of the affection . they felt for Sandy. Hearts . were represented, too, in the shape of current boss Gary Locke and . former manager Craig Levein, while the entire Rangers first team – . including coach Ian Durrant, on crutches – arrived together. Jardine’s . love of music was evident even before the hearse arrived, with speakers . outside the main chapel relaying recordings of My Girl and This Old Heart of Mine, while he was borne into the chapel to How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You. The . service itself began with an apology of sorts, the Reverend Shields . explaining that he would be using both of Jardine’s Christian names – he . was Sandy to the outside world but always Billy to the family – . throughout. The . minister having begged forgiveness for any confusion caused, he . proceeded with a ceremony that was quietly religious, although the . volume did rise as mourners joined in a rendition of The Old Rugged . Cross. Club men: Rangers manager Ally McCoist (left) and former assistant manager Archie Knox also attended . Respects: Rangers legend Colin Jackson arrives ahead of the funeral of former team-mate . One mourner outside Mortonhall Crematorium holds the order of service ahead of the funeral . The . eulogy was delivered by best friend Davie Ross, who said: ‘The three . things that Billy loved most were football, friends and family. ‘We all know about Billy, or should I say Sandy, Jardine’s reputation as a legendary Rangers and Scotland footballer. ‘To . all football fans, no matter where their allegiances lay, he will be . remembered as one of the greatest ambassadors of the game. ‘He was a wonderful player who played to win but played fairly, and bore no grudges once the final whistle was blown. ‘To . the legions of Rangers fans, he will quite rightly be remembered not . only for his football ability but as someone who served the club with . great distinction and loyalty – particularly through the recent . financial crisis. ‘If you read a newspaper in the past week, you’ll all know the statistics about caps and trophies won. ‘As Ally McCoist said, though, I’d rather talk about the man than the footballer. ‘So it’s Billy, the family friend. Not Sandy, the Rangers legend.’ Legend: Jardine was a Rangers hero and won 38 caps for Scotland between 1971 and 1980 . Grief: Rangers fans laid hundreds of fans in tribute to their former defender. Mention . was made of Jardine’s childhood in Edinburgh, his love of cards and . golf, and his refusal ever to forget his old pals when he hit the big . time. To . illustrate just how grounded the young up-and-coming footballer was at a . time when his head might easily have been turned, Ross – who recalled . Jardine’s daily commute to training in the company of Greig, a firm . friend until the end – revealed: ‘He signed for Rangers in 1964 and his . first bonus was paid in cash. ‘Billy . sat on the bus tightly holding his pocket, because he was terrified . that he might lose the money. But he took it home and bought his mum a . fur coat.’ There . were laughs, as Jardine would have wanted, with one tale about he and . former Rangers chief executive Martin Bain getting confused between . sinks and urinals in a restaurant at the top of the Eifel Tower . thankfully short on detail. Jardine . did a great deal with his close-knit group of childhood pals, including . travelling to watch the Masters a few years ago – and scoring tickets . for the 100 metres final at the London Olympics. Ross, . with a nod to his old friend’s renowned turn of pace, recalled: ‘When . Usain Bolt flashed past the winning post, Billy announced that, 45 years . ago, he would have given him a run for his money. Aye.’ Tragedy: Former Rangers Chief Executive Martin Bain struggles to hold back tears . Emotional: McCoist during a minutes silence for Jardine before Rangers' last match . Thanks . were offered to the many friends who had visited with Jardine in the . few months since he was told that the cancer he’d battled so bravely . since November 2012 was now terminal. And, . of course, much of the focus was on his wife, Shona, children Steven . and Nicola, as well as the seven grandchildren who brought him so much . joy on those days out at East Links Country Park. Ross, . who paid tribute to the NHS and the Macmillan Cancer Support staff who . helped his friend, added: ‘Billy’s strength of character and courage was . beyond belief. Never once did we hear him complain or ask: “Why me?” ‘In . all the years I’ve known him, Billy was never one to talk about . himself. He’ s got two ears and one mouth – and he uses them in that . proportion. ‘We should make sure that his memory lives on in all of us. He was simply the best.’ Shields, . who spoke movingly about Jardine’s integrity, honesty, tolerance and . remarkable commitment to self-discipline, treating his body like a . temple, followed readings and poems by leading mourners in the singing . of My Way. The . order of service for the day summed up the collective feeling of so . many present, a picture of Jardine on the back accompanied by the words: . ‘A legend in his lifetime. In our hearts forever.’
### SUMMARY:
| Former United boss joins Rangers stars to pay his respects .
Sir Alex called him 'one of the greatest players ever to wear the jersey'
Jardine died last week of cancer aged 65 .
Full-back played almost 800 times for Rangers and won 38 caps for Scotland . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Wills Robinson . and Peter Allen . The Queen has arrived in the centre of Paris to have a flower market renamed in her honour, marking the end of a three-day state visit to France. Yesterday on the 70th anniversary of the . D-Day landings, she spoke of her pride at the courage of the Allied . forces who invaded Europe on June 6, 1944. Now the people of Paris have given the monarch her very own tribute by renaming the market near Notre Dame Cathedral as Marche aux Fleurs - Reine Elizabeth II. Blossoming diplomacy: The Queen walks around the flower market, renamed Marche aux Fleurs - Reine Elizabeth II, with French President Francois Hollande and Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo (left) Royal seal of approval: She unveiled the plaque at the entrance to the market as The Duke of Edinburgh (far left) watched in the background . Gesture: She receives flowers as she walks around the flower market the day after leading commemorations in Normandy . Entourage: The Queen looks at the array of flowers in awe as she walks alongside the French President and the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo . Flowers: The Queen walks in front of the entrance to a Paris Metro Station on the final day of a three day State Visit . Royal accolade: The Queen arrives at City Hall, along side Paris' mayor Anne Hidalgo, where she will have a flower market named in her honour . She arrived at city hall alongside the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, on the last day of her tour with the Duke of Edinburgh. Also at the flower market will by Olympic Gold medallist Sir Bradley Wiggins, the first Briton to win the Tour de France. He will be with a team of charity cyclists who are supporting the Forces' organisation Help For Heroes. In unprecedented scenes in an area eternally associated with the French Revolution of 1789, Her Majesty received the honour from the city's Mayor . 'This reflects the enormous affection of Parisians. It gives me great joy to give this lovely flower market your name,' said Ms Hidalgo, as a clearly moved Queen and Prince Philip looked on. They were completing the last day of a hugely successful State Visit, which included attending the D-Day 70th anniversary commemorations in Normandy on Friday. The new square, opposite the city's law courts and close to Notre Dame Cathedral, will now be called 'Marche aux Fleurs- Reine Elizabeth II' - or 'Flower Market - Queen Elizabeth II'. Entrance: The monarch walked down a red carpet, followed by her husband The Duke of Edinburgh, the day after she led tributes on the 70th anniversary of D-Day . People of Paris: She was greeted by a large crowd near the Notre Dame Cathedral. Behind her, Prince Philip speaks to Paris deputy mayor Bruno Julliard . In bloom: She holds a bouquet as she walks around the market with a Union Jack draped behind her . Despite the excited crowds cheering . on the Queen, who was dressed in light pink dress and hat, not everybody . was happy about the new name. Left . wing councillors said it was 'ridiculous' that an unelected monarch was . getting such an accolade in a republic which executed most of its . royals more than 200 years ago. They . are particularly angry because the decision was approved by two . Socialists - Ms Hidalgo and President Francois Hollande, who also . attended this morning's ceremony. Danielle . Simonnet, a councillor representing the Party of the Left (PG) suggested that it would have been far better to honour a 'hero' of the . 1789 French Revolution, such as Maximilien de Robespierre. Ms . Simonnet said: 'Without any sign of a vote, Paris honours the Queen of . England while the city is still not capable of honouring a French figure . of the Revolution such as Robspierre.' Ms . Simonnet was also angry that Ms Hidalgo had paid tribute to abdicating . King Juan Carlos of Spain earlier this week, with the Queen's new market . topping a terrible week for republicanism. She . said: 'Frankly, the mayor of the City of Light, of the capital of the . great French Revolution, can't it send out a message more republican . that this one of deference to the royal vestiges of the old Europe?' Jean-Bernard Bros, of the PRG Radical Party of the Left, tweeted that the decision to honour the Queen was 'questionable'. Banquet: Last night she attended a state dinner at the Elysee presidential palace with French President Francois Hollande alongside Prince Philip . The . flower and bird market has been a Paris landmark since it was first set . up in 1808, on the Ile de la Citi - the island in the Seine where . ancient Paris was founded. It . remains the heart of Paris, and is just across the road from the . Conciergerie, the former prison where Marie Antoinette, the last . pre-Revolutionary Queen of France, was held as Prisoner No. 280 before . she was guillotined in 1793. Despite . the row, flower stall workers said they were delighted by the new name. 'It's a great honour - we are super happy that our market will now be . named after the Queen,' said Ahmel Ganot, 49. Elizabeth . first came to Paris in 1948 as a newlywed Princess, and as Queen had . previously visited in 1957, 1972, 1992 and in 2004. This . time, she arrived by Eurostar on Thursday, before visiting landmarks . including the Arc de Triomphe, where she laid a wreath at the Tomb of . the Unknown Soldier. Sharing a joke: During the international ceremony on Sword Beach in Ouistreham, Normandy, yesterday, she was seen laughing during a conversation with Danish Queen Margrethe . Remembrance: After laying a wreath at the British war cemetery in Bayeux, she steps back and bows as she remembers the soldiers who fell on the Longest Day in 1944 . Following the anniversary commemorations in Normandy on Friday, she attended a state banquet hosted by President Hollande. In . a hugely warm and affectionate toast, he described the Queen as someone . who personified the saying 'Keep calm and carry on' - a phrase he . repeated in French and English. The . Queen, in turn, delivered a whole speech alternating between the two . languages, as she recalled her first visit to Paris as a newlywed in . 1948 'just four years after D-Day'. She . said she retained a 'great affection for the French people' and . expressed 'sorrow and regret' about those whose lives were lost fighting . for freedom during the Second World War. Her Majesty said that both Britain and France still had a 'particular role' to ensure 'peace and security around the world.' The . Queen quoted from Rudyard Kipling's poem, France, saying: 'First to . follow Truth and last to leave Old Truths behind - France beloved of . every soul that loves its fellow-kind!' After . their visit to the flower market today, the Queen and Prince Philip . returned by plane to Britain, where they are expected to attend the . Derby horse race at Epsom. The Queen travelled . to the French coast with the Duke and spent the day with other heads of . state honouring the actions of veterans and their fallen comrades.
### SUMMARY:
| She arrived at City Hall alongside Paris' mayor Anne Hidalgo to have a flower market named after her .
Her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied her after attending a state banquet at the Elysee Palace last night .
Yesterday she led tributes to Allied soldiers who served on the beaches of Normandy at the British war ceremony . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Martin Samuel . It’s the group from hell, right? We’ve got no chance. Even that gentleman from the Football Association reckoned so. Drew a finger across his throat when the draw was made. We’ll be home before the business end of Wimbledon begins. Anyone for tennis? So let us start with that gloomy grab-bag of presumption. England do not have to steer a path through what the locals would call the inferno in Brazil this month. Even of late, they have had it worse, and qualified. In 2002 in Japan, for instance, Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad were up against Sweden, who they had not defeated since 1968, Argentina and Nigeria. Even in the last campaign, the 2012 European Championship, England faced France, Sweden again and the hosts, Ukraine. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Gerrard say the squad has more confidence than four years ago . Group of death: Greg Dyke's slit-throat gesture showed what he thought of England's World Cup chances following the draw but he couldn't be more wrong . They made it through that time, too. Group D – Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica – sounds harder than it is, and not least because the matches come in precisely the right order. England could have had it better when the names came out of the hat, obviously, but they could not have improved on the schedule, a visit to tropical Manaus aside. It is, frankly pointless, however, complaining that a Brazilian World Cup is taking the team beyond its comfort zone into the Amazonian rainforest, as that is what a World Cup outside the Eurozone will always do. There will be heat, humidity, relatively remote locations and steps into the unknown and the sooner English football realises that and stops whinging about the weather every time a major tournament arrives, the more seriously this country will be taken as a competing nation. Not every competition can be held in Germany. And we stunk that joint out, mostly, in 2006 if you remember. So: Italy, Uruguay, Costa Rica – in that order. Got lucky there, didn’t we, whatever the FA’s resident drama queen might say. What if the fixtures had been reversed? Costa Rica in Manaus first, Italy last. Tricky, that. No fear: Wayne Rooney and England struck lucky with their group and should reach the last eight . The first game of a tournament is invariably cagey and Roy Hodgson, England’s manager, is not a natural risk-taker. Yet Costa Rica demand to be beaten, and beaten well, if goal difference is going to come into play as it often can in a tight group. England would be stepping into the unknown. Would 1-0 do? What if it was a draw? And imagine a draw, with Italy to play last. Glenn Hoddle took England to the 1998 World Cup by getting a result against the Italians, but his requirement was a draw in Rome. The fact is, England are playing Italy at precisely the right time, first – and in a location that offers equal disadvantage to all. When Dennis Bergkamp signed for Arsenal in 1995, Sir Alan Sugar, then in his capacity as chairman of Tottenham Hotspur, wondered how the expensive new arrival would fare when the cold weather kicked in. Downbeat: Antonio Cassano's Italy haven't won for seven games and on Wednesday drew with Luxembourg . June 14 - Italy, Manuas (11pm) June 19 - Uruguay, Sao Paulo (8pm) June 24 - Costa Rica, Belo Horizonte (5pm) *All times BST . This appeared to be a world view based on all of Italy being the temperature of Sardinia in July. Bergkamp was arriving from Milan, where a real fur coat is still a fashion accessory at the opera. It is fair to presume that nobody wears fur to the famous Teatro Amazonas opera house in Manaus. Turin, where Italian champions Juventus are based, hosted the Winter Olympics in 2006. Amazonian Brazil is just as inhospitable to most Italian players as it will be to their English opponents. Cesare Prandelli, Italy’s coach, has been working in sweat boxes and attempting scientific exercises in energy conservation just the same. And Italy are, by their footballing nature, cautious to begin with. It is another reason to play them first. Since the war, Italy have been involved in 14 opening fixtures at World Cups and for a supposed footballing powerhouse, have won just half of them. No great shakes: West Brom reject Diego Lugano (left) is Uruguay's captain - which says it all . They have never won any opening group game by more than two goals in that time – not even against Haiti in 1974 – and three of those seven wins have been achieved by a single goal margin. Faced with a dangerous opponent, Italy most often draw – against West Germany in 1962, Poland in 1982, Bulgaria in 1986, Chile in 1998 and Paraguay in 2010. Italy versus England in Manaus is the shortest price of any group game at the tournament to be a 0-0 draw: 7-1. Backing the stalemate is usually a mug’s game because a goal at either end kills the bet, but enough fancy it here for the bookmakers to lay at unappealing odds. Why? Italy are outs of sorts, haven’t won since September and drew 1-1 with Luxembourg in a friendly last week. They are perceived as cautious starters, Hodgson is perceived as cautious. Conditions in Manaus will be oppressive. Easily beatable: Costa Rica keeper Keilor Navas might have a lot of work to do during the tournament . In 13 World Cups England have only lost two opening games. Both times they made the quarter-finals . The pace of the game will be slow, wary, exhausting. If it gets to 70 minutes without a goal all instincts will be to settle. And, having not lost to the most difficult group opponents, England would be on their way. Uruguay are no great shakes. They have a great player, in Luis Suarez and one not far behind in Edinson Cavani, but five teams from nine in South America qualified for this tournament and Uruguay were last through the door via a play-off with Jordan. Nobody knows what shape Suarez will be in come June 19 in Sao Paulo, either. In other words they are beatable. A South American team on its own continent will always be a test but while the ordinary Diego Lugano, formerly of West Bromwich Albion, captains Uruguay, this not a match to be feared, but taken on. Difficult start: Sven Goran Eriksson's England had a tougher group in 2002 than the current team have . Leaving Costa Rica, by which time England’s destiny may be known. If England need to win, they should win. If they need to win by a margin, that should not be beyond possibility either. Qualify and one from Colombia, Ivory Coast, Japan and Greece await in the next round. Jose Mourinho tipped England to reach the last eight, at least, and he is no poor judge. England should have every reason to anticipate and experience the colour and warmth of football’s spiritual homecoming without fear or despair. Nobody is predicting triumph – but disaster should be equally foreign to this campaign. We can have a go. We should have a go. What would be the point otherwise?
### SUMMARY:
| England have had worse qualifying groups in previous tournaments .
Italy will be as unused to the Manaus climate as Roy Hodgson's men .
England have Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in the right order .
The Italians have won just half of their 14 World Cup opening matches .
Jose Mourinho picked England to get to the last eight . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Nick Constable for The Mail on Sunday . Kadian Harding, pictured, died after the brakes failed on his bicycle just hours after he had sent it in for a service to a shop in Marlborough, Wiltshire . It was a tragedy that is every parent’s nightmare. As Thomas Harding looked on in helpless horror, his 14-year-old son’s bicycle careered out of control and into the path of a van, killing him instantly. Witnesses described how the boy, Kadian, pumped desperately at his brakes as he hurtled down a steep hill toward the busy road, but to no avail. Now grief-stricken Thomas and his wife Debora have launched a £300,000 High Court action against a bike shop that serviced the brakes on Kadian’s cycle just hours before the fatal accident, claiming negligence. The accident is a moment that will haunt Thomas for ever. ‘I am reliving what happened every day, every moment,’ he said. Thomas, Kadian and four others had been enjoying a bike ride through the Wiltshire Downs on a beautiful July day when tragedy struck. After the inquest, Thomas explained: ‘The path narrowed and became overgrown. We slowed down. My head was down, avoiding rocks and roots. But when I looked up, Kadian was suddenly way ahead, the gradient had become steeper, the track rockier, and then, incredibly, I saw him struck by something moving left to right. One moment he was here, then he was gone.’ The accident happened just 30ft in front of him. ‘I dropped my bike and ran on to the road,’ he recalled. ‘Kadian was lying on the road. He looked like a young boy again. He wasn’t moving. And then I was howling. Crouched a few yards away, hands over my face. Wailing.’ A coroner later ruled that there had been a ‘complete catastrophic failure’ of the front brake, and only partial functioning of the rear. But inquest rules prevented him attributing blame. The family are now suing Acceler8, the Marlborough bike shop that examined Kadian’s brakes just hours before the crash. Philip Birkett, owner of Acceler8, accepts that Kadian had come into the shop and asked him to look at the gears and the rear brakes. Giving evidence to last year’s inquest, he said: ‘I stand by my work and everything I did was correct. When that bike left the shop it was in a perfectly safe condition.’ Debora Harding, pictured, described her son Kadian as 'a teenager on the brink of manhood' He conceded he did not hold any qualifications for repairing bikes but said he ‘never felt the need to do so – I feel comfortable with my abilities’. Mr Birkett adjusted the gears, replaced a worn rear brake cable and reset the rear brakes. Kadian, of Steep, near Petersfield, Hampshire, had spent his savings on the ‘long haul trucker’ touring bicycle, which he had assembled himself. Thomas, a writer and an experienced cyclist, had taken the bike for a ride two days before his son’s death. He felt the brakes were ‘functioning’ but not ‘optimal’ – and told his son to get them checked out. He said at the inquest: ‘I specifically said, “We are really concerned about the brakes. You must get the front and back brakes looked at.’ Kadian told his father that Acceler8 looked over all the brakes and replaced a cable. ‘I didn’t have a go but I did try both front and back brakes,’ Thomas told the inquest. ‘I noticed they were much firmer now.’ That same afternoon – July 25, 2012 – the party went for the fateful ride. Describing the moments before the crash, Mr Harding told Wiltshire coroner David Ridley: ‘We weren’t going that fast. We were cycling in tandem, then he was suddenly ahead of me. ‘It made no sense that Kadian wouldn’t stop because you could see the road and there was plenty of time to stop.’ A witness, Richard Knowles, who lives nearby, said he heard the schoolboy screaming and saw him pumping his brakes. ‘He was standing up on the pedals,’ said Mr Knowles. ‘He was applying so much force to his brakes that he was trying to keep the bike stable. ‘I think I said to him words to the effect of “Come off.” He made no attempt to steer off the path. He made no attempt to come off the pedals and put his feet on the floor.’ Thomas has given an insight into the pain the accident has caused to his family in a newly published book, Kadian Journal, which gives an emotional and honest account of the accident, its aftermath and memories of his son’s life. ‘You could say that Kadian had been born from a bike,’ Thomas has said. He and Debora met in 1987 as they took part in an American coast- to-coast ride with about 30 students. Debora was not on the ride which claimed her son’s life, as she was in Washington DC, where she was chief executive of a bicycle company. In the book, Thomas writes movingly of the moment that they removed the stabilisers from a four-year-old Kadian’s turquoise cycle as he sat with plastic knee-guards over his corduroy trousers. Tom Harding, right, said he asked his son Kadian, second left, to get the brakes on his bike checked professionally, pictured with his mother Debora, left and 12-year-old sister Sam, front right . ‘As he wobbled and gathered speed to complete a childhood rite of passage, he cried in delight, “I’m doing it. I’m doing it.” ’ The book is just one of the ways the Hardings are keeping Kadian’s memory alive. They have set up a website in his honour and are working with cycle charity Sustrans to promote safer cycling routes. As well the lawsuit – brought under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 via their solicitors, Leigh Day – the Hardings have been campaigning for new legislation that mechanics should be qualified before they can be employed in bike shops. They raised the issue at the inquest, but the coroner dismissed it, saying he did not believe the Government should create more red tape for small businesses. A ‘To let’ sign currently hangs over the Acceler8 store in Marlborough, with neighbouring traders saying it closed for business a month ago. Both parents – who also have a daughter, Sam, two years younger than Kadian – have paid moving tributes to their son in newspaper articles. Debora has written: ‘Those who knew him say he had an extraordinary mix of social skills and intelligence for his age... He was a young teenager on the brink of manhood and had all the promise of being an amazing contributor to the world.’ And Thomas has said: ‘The day after Kadian died, my wife and I woke up in a terror. Is it true? Is he gone? How can it be possible? That our generous, kind, smart, quirky, assured, beautiful boy could be gone. ‘The pain was massive, unbearable. How were we supposed to live in this world?’ Now he and his wife can only wait for a judge to decide whether negligence cruelly tore their son away.
### SUMMARY:
| Kadian Harding careered out of control when the brakes on his bike failed .
The 14-year-old boy crashed into a van after he tried to pump the brakes .
The youngster had sent his bike into a repair shop earlier for a service .
Now his father his suing the shop for negligence after the fatal accident . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
'You're too fat,' is something no woman should ever have to hear in the workplace. But for Ashley Graham, who has made a living for the past fifteen years modelling in the plus size clothes market, the insult is a regular occurrence. In the last 12 months, the 27-year-old from Nebraska has been elevated to the ranks of supermodel - gracing the cover of Elle earlier this year and featuring in both Love magazine and Teen Vogue this month. Supermodel Ashley Graham has launched a lingerie range (featured in pic) across Europe for plus-size women after being taunted all of her life over weight. The American is hoping to encourage women to embrace their curves . But that doesn't meant that the model is treated with kid gloves - her size means she is regularly subjected to a whole host of verbal abuse both outside and inside of the industry. She said: 'I have been in, I've been out, I've been too fat, I've been too thin, I've been too ethnic, I've been too white, I've had people tell me I'm too ugly. 'You really have to have thick skin to be (plus-size) in this industry.' But after decades of completely ignoring overweight women in fashion, film and music, Ashley believes that the tide is finally changing thanks to more and more women speaking out about their needs being ignored. She has just launched her own 19-piece lingerie range for plus-sized online retailer Navabi, with bras starting at 36DD and going up to 44E. With the average British woman in the UK now a size 16, Ashley hopes we are seeing an end to a clothing market focused solely on the perfect size ten. Ashley wants more fashion houses to use curvy models so that the general public can see themselves represented on TV and in magazines . She said: 'To see the changes in this industry is phenomenal and I'm excited to see where it's going. 'I really feel that curves are in and everything that I do on Instagram is #curvesarein. '(As plus size models) we go on the runway castings as much as we can for the high end designers that have never done plus-size before. 'And for the beauty adverts - just because I'm plus-size doesn't mean that I can't do a beauty or hair campaign. 'I was on the cover of Elle at the beginning of the year, I have done some editorial for Harpers Bazaar and I'm in Love Magazine and Miss Vogue right now, so it's happening. 'That's when you know the industry is changing.' Often, change starts with prominent public figures taking a stand and Ashley believes that British singer Adele is one of the stars that have really helped push the cause of curvy women in the western world. Although Ashley is larger than your average model, she maintains a healthy and active lifestyle . She said: 'With Adele, people aren't looking at her and saying that's a big girl who can sing, they're just saying that's Adele. 'But it's still something lingering over people's minds. 'Melissa McCartney is still only cast for big girl roles - I think that there is still that struggle in TV and film but she is still getting very high-profile roles.' However, there is still most of the work to be done,in the last two Fashion weeks - during February this year and the most recent one last month - Ashley maintains that all of the big fashion houses did not want to use anybody plus-size on their catwalks. She said: 'In February's fashion week and this fashion week, no high end designers wanted to use plus-size. 'There was a backlash - they saw us and they thought we were great, but they also said they were't ready to work with us yet. Over years of working in fashion, Ashley Graham has worked out how to dress to best flatter her figure - she enjoys both accentuating her hourglass figure (left) and wearing slouchy clothes (right) 'So while they see the curves and the plus-size, there aren't any high end designers putting curves on the catwalk yet. 'But things are going to be changing soon, the fact that they are open to seeing plus-size models at castings - that's a big deal.' Ashley is most concerned about pushing through a change because she believes is is something that normal women need to see - plus-size women being admired and welcomed by the media and fashion - in order to feel good about themselves. She said: 'I think seeing plus-size women on catwalks gives normal women confidence by knowing that there are actually people their size. 'They want to see themselves in the magazine - whether they are 13 or 45, they want to see someone representing them on a billboard, in a magazine or in a campaign. Ashley Graham for Navabi bra collection left to right: Padded bra, £39, Non-padded Full Coverage bra, £39, pearl bra, £39, lace bra, £39. Bra sizes range from 36DD to 44E . Ashley Graham for Navabi pants collection, each £17 . 'It's important for women to see body diversity in the community reflected in the media and you can tell it's wanted.' 'I have talked to multiple girls in different high schools with some other plus-size models, I also just went to a weight loss camp in upstate New York and it was really interesting because there were girls from a US size six (UK 10) and some as a US size 22 (UK 26). 'These girls couldn't believe that there were these models who were plus-size, who were excited about their curves and who were in the media. 'They don't know that it exists and they were excited and they said to us, 'Thank you for making me feel so incredible about my body. 'I don't have role models like this but you have created one for me.' Dress for your body type - trends don't necessarily matter . Buy classic pieces that you can wear in five or six years time - your wardrobe will grow immensely . Be confident to show off your hourglass figure . If you feel good in an outfit then it shows - Ashley would rather be half an hour late than not feel good in what she's wearing for the day . 'To have 13,14 and 15-year-old girls say this was so nice and it really makes me want to do something about the fashion industry.' And while Ashley is full of positivity about women embracing their bodies, the model maintains that she is extremely anti-overeating. Over the years, being a plus-size model has made her a figurehead for the anti-fat brigade, with people accusing her of making the world an unhealthier place by promoting curvy bodies. She said: 'I absolutely hate that. To the people who say I am pro-obesity, I laugh in their face. 'I am pro-health and I am pro-diversity. 'If you look on my Instagram page, you can see that I work out constantly and I have a workout video coming out that shows you how to work out and keep your curves. 'I work out three-four days a week but I can modify my eating to kind of what I want, I also like green juices and healthy salads. 'I just happen to be big boned and have an extra layer of meat on me.' Ashley Graham's lingerie range is available at navabi.co.uk .
### SUMMARY:
| The American has been regularly told she is too ugly or fat for jobs .
The 27-year-old is now one of the world's most successful models .
She is on mission to make women embrace their curves not be embarrassed .
Ashley has launched underwear range, with bras going up to 44E in Europe . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
'Liverpool Football Club exists to win trophies' proclaimed the legendary Bill Shankly, and so far every manager at Anfield in the last 50 years has followed the mantra and collected silverware – except the unpopular Roy Hodgson. To avoid remaining a second member of the very exclusive and unwanted club, Brendan Rodgers must beat Bournemouth in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night, which will take his club into the semi-finals and within reaching distance of that elusive cup. For all his good work at Anfield, Rodgers has not been able to show off something tangible on a lap of honour. Even taking into account football's fickle nature, the fall in his stock has been remarkable. Brendan Rodgers (centre) takes Liverpool to Bournemouth for a Capital One Cup quarter-final on Wednesday . Steven Gerrard and his Liverpool team-mates are enduring an awful season in the Premier League . Roy Hodgson did not win a trophy in his short spell as Liverpool manager and was soon sacked . Less than eight months ago comparisons with Shankly himself were being made as Rodgers took Liverpool within touching distance of their first league title for 24 years. But since then Luis Suarez has left, Daniel Sturridge been injured, Raheem Sterling stopped scoring, Simon Mignolet made errors and Steven Gerrard slipped. To fill the gaps, Rodgers signed nine players at a cost of £117million, none of whom have been a success, particularly strikers Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert. Raheem Sterling is another player suffering this season, and the forward has not scored for 21 games . Eddie Howe's Championship-topping Bournemouth side lie in wait in the quarter-final at Goldsands Stadium . There are unresolved contract issues over Sterling, Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson and no words of encouragement for the manager from owner John W Henry just a few months after he handed the Ulsterman a new long-term contract. Rodgers knows that more than at any other club Liverpool fans judge their managers by trophies. Shankly got the ball rolling in a style that fulfilled his wish to 'make the people happy'. His successor Bob Paisley took domestic dominance into Europe and became the first manager to win the European Cup three times. Joe Fagan then won three trophies in one season – something even Shankly and Paisley hadn't managed. Bill Shankly started Liverpool's dominance of English football, and poses here with the FA Cup in 1974 . Bob Paisley continued Shankly's work, winning three European Cups - this was his first in 1977 . Joe Fagan managed to win the European Cup, League Championship and League Cup in 1984 . Kenny Dalglish won Liverpool's first league and FA Cup double as player-manger in 1986 . Bill Shankly (1959-74) League championship 1964, 1966, 1973 . FA Cup 1965, 1974 . Uefa Cup 1973 . Bob Paisley (1974-83) European Cup 1977, 1978, 1981 . League Championship 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983 . League Cup 1981, 1982 1983 . Uefa Cup 1976 . Joe Fagan (1983-85) European Cup 1984 . League Championship 1984 . League Cup 1984 . Kenny Dalglish (1985-91) League Championship 1986, 1988, 1990 . FA Cup 1986, 1989 . Graeme Souness (1991-94) FA Cup 1992 . Roy Evans (1994-98) League Cup 1995 . Gerard Houllier (1998-2004) FA Cup 2001 . League Cup 2001, 2003 . UEFA Cup 2001 . Rafael Benitez (2004-10) Champions League 2005 . FA Cup 2006 . Roy Hodgson (2010-11) None . Kenny Dalglish (2011-12) League Cup 2012 . Brendan Rodgers (2012-?) None... so far . As player-manager, Kenny Dalglish then won the club's first league and FA Cup double, in 1986. In recent times Liverpool have been surpassed by Manchester United as the country's top team. But it hasn't stopped their managers from collecting silverware altogether. Graeme Souness won the FA Cup in 1992 with a young Steve McManaman to the fore; Roy Evans' side collected the 1995 League Cup; Gerard Houllier delivered a cup treble in 2001; Rafa Benitez unforgettably won the Champions League in Istanbul; and Dalglish won the League Cup at Wembley in his only full season in charge second time around. The one exception was Hodgson, sacked after six dismal months in January 2011. Rodgers is certainly regarded with far more respect than Hodgson and his achievements at the club are impressive. But it will mean little or nothing in Liverpool's illustrious history without a trophy to show for it. 'I want a trophy this year,' said Rodgers on the club's pre-season tour of America. With the Champions League gone and Premier League very, very unlikely, this is his best chance. It won't be easy of course. Bournemouth are tipped to win promotion to the top-flight this season under their bright young manager Eddie Howe and have improved rapidly since January, when Liverpool won an FA Cup fourth round tie 2-0 at Dean Court. But while Bournemouth are better than at the start of 2014, Liverpool's form suggests they are not. Their two goalscorers that day aren't available now, with Victor Moses at Stoke City and Sturridge out of action since August with a variety of muscular injuries. It is time for others to step up, Lambert perhaps, or Sterling, who has gone 21 games without a goal for club and country. 'Liverpool are still the overwhelming favourites,' said Bournemouth skipper Tommy Elphick. Rodgers better hope they start playing like favourites. In its own way, this match is as important as the recent Basle and Manchester United games. The man who polishes cups at Anfield is beginning to feel redundant. VIDEO 'Liverpool taking all the cups seriously' - Rodgers . Graeme Souness was not able to continue Liverpool's remarkable success, but still won the FA Cup in 1992 . Roy Evans may have underachieved as Liverpool boss but he lifted the League Cup in 1995 . Gerard Houllier won a stunning cup treble in 2001, including the FA Cup at the Millennium Stadium . Rafael Benitez (right) was the mastermind behind Liverpool's unforgettable 2005 Champions League triumph .
### SUMMARY:
| Liverpool travel to Bournemouth for Capital One Cup tie on Wednesday .
League Cup represents serious chance for Brendan Rodgers to win trophy .
Rodgers is under pressure due to slump in Premier League form and early exit from Champions League .
Every Liverpool manager since Bill Shankly has won a trophy, except one .
Roy Hodgson was the exception - and he was sacked after six months . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Russian diplomats are to demand access to a boy and a girl from Russia whose American parents want to reverse their adoption, claiming the children are 'mentally ill'. Vladimir Putin's commissioner for children's rights has told MailOnline that the move by the unnamed couple from New York, as 'despicable' and said his country's consul must be allowed to see its citizens. The couple have gone to court to ask a judge to end their legal parenthood of the 12- and 14-year-old, who are being cared for in state mental health facilities in New York. They claim that when they adopted the children six years ago, via two adoption charities which then worked in Russia, they were not told the children had severe mental problems, and were falsely told they were brother and sister. Russia's children's rights commissioner Pavel Astakhov (left), a key aide to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin (right), has said Moscow's diplomats will demand access to two Russian children adopted in the US whose parents want to overturn the adoption, claiming the boy and girl are mentally ill. Case: A Long Island couple has asked a judge to void the adoption of their Russian-born children because they suffer from serious mental disorders. Above, a file picture of Russian orphans in Rostov-on-Don . The couple claim that although the children were reportedly described by the agencies as 'healthy and socially well-adjusted' siblings, the opposite was the case . A judge is to begin hearing their case next month. Their identities have been kept secret by the court. However, Russia's Children's Rights Commissioner Pavel Astakhov has now called for immediate access to the children, and accused the parents of failing to bring them up properly. Astakhov made clear he wants the Russian consul in New York to meet the children, though under present arrangements there was no way they could come back to Russia until they reach the age of 18 and choose to do so. 'They remain two underage citizens of Russian Federation,' he said. 'They are protected by our laws. The Russian consul has a right to meet them, to access them. This is what must be done right now - to get access to these children. 'This is what the Russian Consulate in New York must be occupied with now ~ to meet and chat with them. 'There is little chance to bring them back to Russia. The Americans will not give them away. The children can go back only when they reach the right age and make such a decision.' Astakhov also accused the parents of 'covering their inconsistency by blaming the poor children, who have already been placed in a psychiatric clinic. This is despicable'. He claimed the children have been labelled and are imprisoned in mental institutions. 'This is deceit,' he said. 'They want not merely to surrender the children, they are seeking to cancel adoption, alleging the children's diagnoses were somehow concealed from them,' said Astakov. 'This is utter nonsense,' he said. 'The American couple had a complete dossier on each child and had the right to consult any doctor. They could have sought additional medical opinions if they had wished.' The children were adopted in April 2008 through two U.S. agencies - Spence-Chapin and Cradle of Hope. The parents are now asking Nassau County Surrogate's Judge Edward McCarty III to dissolve their adoption of the youngsters, dubbed Child A and Child C, who are now aged 12 and 14 respectively. Case: In an unusual move, Nassau County Surrogate's Judge Edward McCarty III (pictured) has agreed to keep the courtroom open, citing public interest in the 'disturbing facts' surrounding the adoption . Orphans: Judge McCarty III said around 20 per cent of Russian children adopted in the U.S. suffer from developmental problems, while 18 have died through violence by their new parents (file picture) His outspoken comments come as relations between the US and Russia are at their lowest ebb since the Cold War, with adoption an especially sore issue. In 2013, Russia approved legislation dubbed the Dima Yakovlev law, which imposed a ban on the adoption of Russian children by American nationals. The law is named after a Russian toddler who died of heatstroke in 2008 after his American adoptive father left him in an overheated car for hours. Russian officials allege at least 19 Russian-born children have died at the hands of their US adoptive parents since 1999. He claimed that there were no such problems with other Western countries where parents had adopted Russian children. 'I think it is to do with the American mentality, their lifestyle and stereotypes,' he said. 'This is the way "the right family" should be, "the right children" should be, 'the right relations' between parents and children. 'This is where all these dramatic stories with adopted Russian children are coming from. 'Each time we hear one and the same thing - alcoholic conception syndrome, lack of affection syndrome. These are two topics they always make big [about Russian children when adoptions go wrong]. 'And the third reason, which is becoming popular now as a motive of rejecting the child, is that 'it can't be controlled and he is a danger to our life and security'. The parents are asking Nassau County Surrogate's Judge Edward McCarty III to dissolve their adoption of the youngsters, dubbed Child A and Child C, who are now aged 12 and 14 respectively. And in an unusual move, Judge McCarty III has agreed to keep the courtroom open, citing public interest in the 'disturbing facts' surrounding the adoption. Home: The parents, who are from Long Island (pictured), New York, adopted the youngsters, then aged six and eight, in 2008. The children, now aged 12 and 14, are currently living in state mental health facilities . The case was first reported by the New York Law Journal. The judge said an estimated 20 per cent of Russian children adopted in the U.S. suffer from developmental issues, making the hearing one of wide public interest. If this particular adoption is dissolved, the children would become wards of the state, which could see them either remain in mental facilities or be eligible for foster care. Speaking in court, attorney Irene Steffas said: 'If agencies had to warranty that children are in good health, agencies would shut down.' But she added that adoptive parents should be entitled to 'every doctor’s report, every shred of evidence about the child’s health and background.' Adam Pertman, president of the National Center on Adoption and Permanency, agreed that parents must receive accurate records so they are prepared for the challenges their children will face. 'They don’t get sufficient training. And they don’t get the support and services they need,' he said. Over the past two decades, more than 60,000 Russian children have been adopted by Americans, at a total cost of around $330million. In 2013, Russia banned U.S. couples from adopting its children in a move that was widely seen as retaliation for a controversial bill that President Barack Obama signed into law in December 2012. The couple's attorney and the two agencies involved have declined to comment to MailOnline.
### SUMMARY:
| Couple, from Long Island, adopted children, then six and eight, in 2008 .
At time, the youngsters were reportedly described as 'healthy' siblings but parents say they are now mentally ill - and not brother and sister .
Parents have gone to court to overturn the adoption in rare legal move .
Russian officials now want access to the children who are in state mental health facility, saying 'they are our citizens'
Aide to Vladimir Putin tells MailOnline parents are shirking their responsibility amid row with US over adoption . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A teenager suffered three heart attacks and temporarily 'died' on her bathroom floor after she downed ten high-caffeine Jagerbombs on a 'two-for-one' promotion night. Jayde Dinsdale, 18, was drinking the Jagermeister spirit and energy drink shooter, which cost £2.20 for two, on a night out with friends, in Yeovil, Somerset. But as the alcohol wore off, the high levels of caffeine in her system took control of her heart rate - causing it to accelerate dangerously out of control, medics have since said. Scroll down for video . Jayde Dinsdale in hospital after she was put into a coma following a night out where she drank 10 Jagerbombs and suffered three heart attacks . Miss Dinsdale, 18, downed the shots - made of Jagermeister spirit and energy drink - on a two-for-one night out with pals. But after the alcohol wore off the caffeine in her system took control of her heart rate - causing it to accelerate dangerously out of control . Her family believe the drinks caused her heart rate to race out of control. The blonde teenager was placed into a medically induced coma for 52 hours and spent three weeks in hospital . Her parents desperately performed CPR on their daughter as she suffered two cardiac arrests at home in their bathroom. Miss . Dinsdale - who had another heart attack in the following hours - was . put into an induced coma and spent three weeks in hospital before medics . fitted an internal defibrillator. She is now warning other young . people to avoid the drinks which combine a shot of spirit . Jagermeister and half a can of energy drink. One can of energy drink typically contains 80mg of caffeine, around the same as two cans of cola and slightly less than a mug of instant coffee. Miss Dinsdale said: 'I think it is pretty bad that people sell these drinks. Her parents desperately performed CPR on their daughter as she suffered two cardiac arrests at home in their bathroom . 'You've no idea how much caffeine is in them and how dangerous they can be. 'I hope people will think twice about drinking energy drinks – they could be deadly.' The teenager arrived at the nightclub sober just before midnight on January 31, having just finished work as a party rep. She said she thinks she had around ten drinks - each containing half a can of energy drink - before heading home at 2am. Eight . hours later, Jayde was washing her face while talking to mother . Natalie, 38, when she suddenly started shaking and collapsed. Mrs Dinsdale said: 'She was her normal bubbly self and was telling me about the night while in the bathroom. 'Then all of a sudden her chest jolted and she fell to the floor and hit her head on the bath and radiator. 'I put her in the recovery position and stabilised her, but she started having another fit. I screamed for my husband. Miss Dinsdale showing the scar where she had an internal defibrillator fitted . 'Her pulse was very faint and she started to go purple. 'She was dead on the bathroom floor – it’s a miracle that Jayde is still with us.' Father . Darryl, 38, performed CPR he learned from the Vinnie Jones British . Heart Foundation advert, while Eliesha, 12, held her sister’s head. Miss . Dinsdale was taken to the intensive care unit at Yeovil District . Hospital where she was put in a 52-hour coma to protect her brain and . heart after she suffered a third arrest. Her body was cooled to just 32 degrees to protect her brain and her family faced an agonising wait to see if she would recover. Mrs Dinsdale said: 'She was covered in tubes. Nothing can prepare you for seeing your child like that.' When . she came to she was fitted with an implantable cardioverter . defibrillator (ICD) which will shock her heart if it stops again. After . coming out of intensive care, the relieved teenager gave her dad a . medal inscribed with 'Dad of the year 2014 – for saving my life'. Now her family are pleading with others to avoid high-caffeine energy drinks. College . student Miss Dinsdale, who can't remember anything of the night or . following day, said: 'The doctors have said it was all to do with the . energy drinks. 'Alcohol slows your heart rate but the energy drinks speed it up. 'That's why I was able to come home and sleep ok, but when the alcohol totally left my system at 10am, my heart stopped. 'I'm . quite glad I don't really remember it all. But now I am looking at how . much caffeine is in energy drinks, I just can't believe they are on . sale.' Mr Dinsdale, added: . 'This could have happened to anyone. It wasn’t caused by alcohol, it was . the amount of caffeine in her body. It's shocking the amount of . caffeine in those drinks.' Medics . said that while most people can tolerate caffeine in moderation, . 'excessive consumption' can lead to seizures, strokes or sudden death. Consultant . emergency physician at Yeovil District Hospital, Dr David Maritz, said: . 'Given the potential for harm as seen from reviews and reports of . toxicity in medical literature, it suggests children and young adults, . especially those with predisposing medical conditions, are potentially . at risk from some serious adverse effects from excessive consumption of . energy drinks.' One in ten British teenagers consumes four to five energy drinks a week . High in sugar, cleverly marketed and sold in supermarkets and shops alongside regular soft drinks, it's easy to see why young people in their masses have taken to energy drinks. Last year, a major study found our children have one of the highest consumption rates in Europe. One in ten British teenagers consumes four to five energy drinks a week. Worryingly, younger children are following suit: one in four under-tens - 24 per cent - has had at least one energy drink in the past year, compared with the European average of 18 per cent. Now, experts are calling for them to be banned from sale to youngsters. In a paper last year, Dr Jack James, editor of the Journal of Caffeine Research, says caffeine should be regulated just like cigarettes and alcohol. 'Although caffeine has been widely considered to be benign, awareness is increasing that its consumption is associated with substantial harm, including fatalities and near-fatalities,' he wrote. 'How many caffeine-related fatalities and near-misses must there be before we regulate?' In January month, a government adviser compared energy drinks with drugs, and urged schools to ban them. Some schools have done so, with many teachers complaining the drinks affect behaviour and concentration. And a 2011 study in America reported on a number of cases where excessive caffeine consumption in energy drinks had been associated with effects such as 'seizures, mania, stroke and sudden death'. The researchers warned that high caffeine drinks were particularly risky for children with existing conditions such as heart arrhythmias, diabetes or mood and behavioural disorders, which may be undiagnosed.
### SUMMARY:
| Jayde Dinsdale, 18, was drinking shots on a two-for-one drinks promotion .
But as alcohol wore off, the high levels of caffeine in her system took control .
Suffered cardiac arrest and was put in coma as medics battled to save her .
She is now campaigning to warn of dangers of high caffeine drinks . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Professor Pollock's son Hamish, 14, suffered a shattered cheekbone playing rugby (stock picture) When the phone rang at work, that Wednesday afternoon 11 years ago, I thought it would be a routine call. Instead, I got the news no mother ever wants to hear: my elder son, Hamish, then just 14, was in hospital, badly injured. He had been hurt while he should have been safe at school, playing a rugby match. Feeling sick, I rushed to be by his side. He had a shattered cheekbone, caused by contact with another player’s knee. His face looked distorted and his eye socket was hanging down. He was in a lot of pain and he couldn’t eat or drink except through a straw. In addition, he was concussed and disoriented. The surgeon said his injury was equivalent to that suffered by someone going through a car windscreen. As a mother, naturally I was horrified, but seeing his battered form stirred another thought, equally disturbing. I am a public health doctor — Professor of Public Health Research and Policy at Queen Mary, University of London. How common, I wondered, were such injuries in children? And how dangerous a sport was rugby? Should it be something that children are forced to play at school? After all, it wasn’t the first time Hamish had been injured playing rugby. A year earlier, he’d broken his leg, with the long-term result that he still has to wear a special insole in his shoe. And at just eight years old, he’d broken his nose. When he broke his leg and cheekbone we were living in Edinburgh, and I thought of all the young boys and teenagers I saw in plaster on the streets, and hobbling up and down the school drive. Most of all, I thought of my old friend, a fellow doctor, who was injured in a rugby match aged 24, leaving him paralysed from the neck down. Now, after a decade of research into the risks of playing rugby at school, I have published a book for parents: Tackling Rugby, What Every Parent Should Know About Injuries. Rugby is a very dangerous game, which should not be compulsory in any British school, says Professor Pollock . What I discovered while writing it was both shocking and extremely worrying, and it led me to the conclusion that rugby is a very dangerous game, which should not be compulsory in any British school. According to the International Rugby Board, there are 1,900 rugby union clubs in England, with 362,319 pre-teen male players and 698,803 teen male players —1,061,122 in total. School rugby injuries can be severe. At the more minor end are bruises and sprains. Then there are more serious injuries: fractures, torn ligaments, dislocated shoulders. Most serious of all are the concussions, the spinal cord and head injuries. Benjamin Robinson, 14, from Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, died in 2011 after he collapsed on the pitch . Then there are the fatalities: children like Benjamin Robinson, 14, from Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, who died in 2011 after he collapsed on the pitch. Even though he had suffered a concussion following a collision, he played on for 25 minutes. A second blow to the head killed him. During my research, I found that there is a culture of letting boys play on with a concussion, despite the fact that it can leave them brain damaged, and can prove lethal. Earlier this year a court heard how Lucas Neville from Dublin, became disabled after playing a school match despite having concussion. But even though such serious injuries do occur on school rugby pitches, I learned that nobody in the UK is collecting data about them. Rugby injuries are under-reported and badly-reported, usually not reported at all. A&E departments no longer collect data on the cause of injuries — the Government stopped funding it. How can we prevent injuries if we don’t know what they are or how often they occur? Schools and all the Rugby Unions should be collating this data. So, as part of my research, I undertook a pilot study of six schools in Edinburgh in 2009. I found that over the course of a season, the average risk of injury to a player is 17 per cent, or one in six, and in other studies, in some schools it is as high as one in three. In our small study, in just 193 matches there were 37 injuries. Of these, 20 required A&E attendance, and 65 per cent prevented further participation in the sport for three weeks or more. If you knew your child was taking this big a risk, would you still want them to play rugby? My son Hamish stopped playing rugby for ever after his third injury. I made it clear that I didn’t want him to play again and he agreed. Although he had successful surgery, he had to have time off school, and it was months before he could get back to playing the trombone or taking part in sport. The accident shook him up, knocking his confidence. He knew that next time, he might not be so lucky. When I told my younger son, then 11, that he couldn’t play rugby either, he was furious. Over the course of her research and campaigning, Allyson has had a lot of support from doctors and from parents, but also faced a hostility . Eventually, he accepted it, but it was hard for him. Even though he’d seen his brother’s injuries, he didn’t understand the risks; children think they’re invincible. I had to take on the full force of the school’s disapproval, too. Over the course of my research and campaigning, I’ve had a lot of support from doctors and from parents, but I’ve also faced a hostility. This is a hugely emotive subject. People are passionate about rugby. Some people say I am advocating a nanny state, but it’s the State that picks up the pieces when children are injured, in terms of NHS care, special education support and social services. To my horror, I’ve also faced personal abuse for my views, much of it from anonymous men who pepper their emails with swear-words. They say I have no right to comment on rugby, because I’m a woman who has never played the game. That’s ridiculous: I research and write about cancer, but I’ve never had cancer either. Many parents write to Professor Pollock asking how they can stop their rugby-loving sons playing, following nasty injuries . Many parents write to me asking how they can stop their rugby-loving sons playing, following nasty injuries. Only yesterday, at 3.30am a father emailed me, saying: ‘My son is concussed in hospital, how do I stop him from playing rugby again?’ I’m not calling for a ban on rugby at school. I’m calling for parents to be given information so they know the risks, and I want to see rugby made safer for children, with an end to scrums and tackles — where nearly all the injuries occur. I’d like school rugby to become touch rugby, instead of contact rugby. All injuries should be recorded, and none should be acceptable or seen as ‘an act of God’. Most of all, children should be safe at school. Tackling Rugby, What Every Parent Should Know About Injuries by Allyson Pollock (Verso Books) is published September 29, priced £9.99.
### SUMMARY:
| Professor Pollock's son Hamish, 14, suffered a shattered cheekbone .
And at just eight years old, he’d broken his nose .
Benjamin Robinson, 14, died in 2011 after he collapsed on the pitch .
Professor Pollock has spent a decade researching the risks of playing rugby .
She has written a book for parents to warn them of the dangers . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A Russian convoy of trucks carrying tanks towards the Ukraine border has been seen returning without its cargo... fuelling fears that Vladimir Putin is already gathering his army in the country. The convoy of 13 military transporters had been carrying fearsome T-90 tanks and infantry vehicles through Russia's Rostov region towards the border. The following day, the same trucks were seen returning empty. The images are certain to alarm the West, which fears Putin's forces are placing fighters and heavy weaponry across the border into rebel-held regions of Ukraine. Scroll down for video . The military transport convoy, totalling 13 vehicles, was seen a few miles from the border . A T-90 tank being carried towards the Ukrainian border in a military transporter convoy . Many of the same transport vehicles were photographed driving away from the border the following day . The images are certain to alarm the West, which has accused Putin of supplying weaponry to rebels in Ukraine . The empty transporters photographed leaving the area days after they arrived with military equipment . The number plates of the trucks matched those of trucks spotted carrying equipment towards the border . The vehicles carrying tanks were seen heading in the direction of where Putin's 'humanitarian convoy' is located . All the vehicles' plates have the number 21 on them, indicating they are from the former North Caucasus Military District, now part of Russia's Southern Military District . Today the eastern city of Donetsk - once a staunch separatist stronghold - turned into a war zone as clashes between opposing forces intensified. Rebels were seen firing as they made their way through a car park, while in an area near the rebel headquarters building, residents fled when shelling began nearby. Shops closed early, and cars with gunmen inside sped through the streets, ignoring red traffic signals. A few hours earlier, fighting broke out in Makiyivka, a neighbourhood on the eastern edge of Donetsk that until Tuesday had not seen any combat. A resident of Makiyivka who gave his name as Svyatoslav said he had seen separatist fighters turning back an ambulance from the scene of the fighting, telling the crew there was no one left alive for them to treat. 'They're having to retreat, they're not able to stand their ground the way they want to,' he said of the rebels. The conflict has been plagued by accusations Russia is supplying troops and military equipment to the separatists across the border. Number plates on seven of the trucks seen today matched those seen carrying the tanks towards the border yesterday. All the plates also carry the number 21 on the right hand side, indicating they are from the former North Caucasus Military District, including strife-torn Chechnya and Dagestan, which is headquartered in Rostov-on-Don. It is now part of Russia's Southern Military District. The tanks and infantry fighting vehicles were seen 21 miles from the border and heading towards it. This is close to the frontier post where Russia's stalled 'humanitarian aid' convoy is holed up. A man repairs a broken window in his home in Khartsyzk, located about 24km from Donetsk . Residents wait inside a makeshift bomb shelter in Makiyivka as fighting breaks out across the town . Ukrainian forces today pressed on with their offensive in the east despite claims fleeing civilians have been killed . Kiev has refused so far to permit almost 300 trucks to enter its territory amid suspicions the vehicles - army lorries painted white - have a military purpose. Russia strongly denies this, arguing it is vital that the 2,000 tons of aid - including grain, sugar and baby food - is urgently needed in war-ravaged areas. The fighting in eastern Ukraine has taken a heavy human toll and has climbed today after a refugee convoy was hit by a rocket attack last night. Fifteen bodies have so far been removed from the scene - it is understood the convoy of buses and cars was packed with civilians fleeing heavy fighting between Ukrainian government forces and separatist rebels near Luhansk. Ukrainian government forces blame the attack on pro-Russian separatists they are battling in the area around the rebel-held city, while the rebels have denied responsibility. The United Nations says an estimated 2,086 people, including civilians and combatants, have been killed in the four-month conflict. That figure has nearly doubled since the end of July, when Ukrainian forces stepped up their offensive and fighting started in urban areas. Luhansk has been largely cut off for weeks and is now in its 17th day without water and regular supplies of electricity which have hit mobile and landline phone connections. A statement issued by the press service of the Luhansk municipality painted a picture of misery and fear for its inhabitants. 'Overnight there was fresh shelling. The centre of the town has seriously suffered particularly near the central market ... As a result of the armed clashes civilians have been wounded and killed. There is further destruction (of buildings),' it said. 'Bread is being sold from vehicles, with big queues forming ... Interrupted supplies of food, medicines and fuel to Luhansk is a particularly acute problem.' Meanwhile, president Vladmir Putin is due to meet Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko next week for the first talks between the two in months. Government forces have pushed on with a punishing offensive designed to win back the east . A diplomatic solution would have to resolve a contradiction: with his troops advancing and victory possibly within reach, Poroshenko has little incentive to offer the kind of compromises that would allow Putin to achieve a face-saving deal. The offices of the Ukrainian and Russian presidents said both men would attend a meeting in the Belarus capital, Minsk, on Aug. 26, which is also to be attended by EU officials, and the leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan. Officially, the meeting concerns relations between the EU and a customs union involving Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, but Ukraine will top the agenda. The meeting will be the first between Putin and Poroshenko since a fleeting encounter in Normandy, France, in June at commemorations of the World War Two D-day landings. European officials say privately that they will keep up pressure on Putin to not support the rebels, but at the same time Ukraine has to be persuaded not to ruthlessly press home its advantage on the battlefield. That could humiliate the Kremlin and force it into an unpredictable reaction, officials say. The conflict, which began when street protests put a Western-leading leadership in power in Kiev against Moscow's wishes, has dragged relations between Russia and the West to their worst level since the end of the Cold War. It has also triggered a round of trade sanctions and retaliatory measures which are hurting fragile economies both in Russia and in European Union states. Russia annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea earlier this year. Since then, Kiev and its Western backers say Russia has been arming the anti-Kiev rebellion in Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine, an allegation that Moscow has denied. Ukrainian forces load a Grad multiple rocket launcher near the eastern city of Shchastya in Lugansk . Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists have been fighting in Lugansk for several days . Ukranian soldiers passing through the trenches dug to hold their position near Shchastya . Rubble sits beside a damaged building in Lysychansk, a city retaken by Ukrainian forces late last month . Refugees pictured crossing into Russia from Ukraine in Russia's Rostov region .
### SUMMARY:
| New pictures show empty transport convoy returning from the border .
Same convoy was seen yesterday heading towards border carrying tanks .
Images suggest Putin's forces are placing fighters and weapons in Ukraine .
Putin and Ukrainian president due to talk next week for first time in months . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
It may have been over 4,500 years since the Great Pyramid of Giza was built, but it still remains a mystery as to how the last of the world’s ‘seven wonders’ was constructed. Now physicists have suggested a new theory of how the blocks could - or at least should - have been moved with minimal effort. The method involves rolling large 12-sided chunks of limestone from local quarries. Roll with it! Researchers suggested strapping wooden rods to a scale block representing one of the massive cuboids used to build real pyramids in order to turn its profile from a square to a dodecagon (pictured) In an experiment, they have shown that transforming the rock cuboids into dodecagons - 12-sided shapes - makes them easier to move. The Great Pyramid is made from 2.4million limestone blocks weighing around 2.5 tonnes each and it is thought that workers moved around 40 blocks a day, leading experts to assume that ancient Egyptians must have had a technique for shifting them relatively easily. Joseph West, a physicist at Indiana University, suggested the technique of strapping wooden rods to the building blocks in order to turn its profile from a square to a dodecagon. His idea centres around reducing both the drag and the amount of effort needed to move the blocks as well as the pressure exerted on the ground. The Great Pyramid of Giza (pictured) is made from 2.4million limestone blocks weighing around 2.5 tonnes each. There are many theories about how slaves managed to drag them miles from quaries . There are conflicting theories as to how the ancient Egyptians constructed pyramids and techniques probably developed over time. An illustration of the 12th Dynasty Tomb of Djhuihotep shows 172 men pulling a statue along on a sledge, leading some experts to suggest that huge block needed for the pyramids were transported using the same technique. This theory has been built on, with some experts suggesting that roads were coated in a layer of water to make them slippery and easier to slide sleds along. Some experts have suggested that workers rolled stones along. Dr H Parry said a cradle-like machine could have been used, while another expert suggested wooden curves could have been fitted to each block to make cylinders. Historical accounts suggest that ramps were built for workers to carry blocks up the structure, but an engineer recently put forward the idea that the giant structures were built from the inside out. While not as easy to roll as a cylinder, the new shape would have been easier to move than a cuboid. ‘The rods form the corners and new faces that transform the square prism into a dodecagon which can then be moved more easily by rolling than by dragging,’ Dr West wrote in the study. His team tested their idea on a scale model. Their concrete blocks measured 8 inches (20cm) square and 16 inches (40cm) long, weighing in at 66lbs (30kg). They fixed three chunky pieces of dowel to each rectangular face of the block and then tied a rope to the top of it. The physicists measured the force required to roll the block and said that that a coefficient of dynamic friction equal to 0.3 was needed for a steady rolling motion. This means that a team of workers or slaves would only have needed to apply a force 0.15 times the weight of the stone to drag it along by the rope. They also worked out that 50 men would be needed to move a block weighing 2.5 tonnes at a speed of 20 inches (50cm) per second. ‘For full scale pyramid blocks, the wooden rods would need to be posts of order 11inches (30cm) in diameter, similar in size to those used as masts on ships in the Nile,’ they wrote in the paper. It has previously been suggested that the Egyptians strapped circular rockers to blocks needed to build the pyramids, (pictured) turning them into cylinders, but experts think this method could have damaged roads . Dr West wrote: ‘In this configuration, static friction acts in the direction of the desired motion, rather than opposing the motion. ‘In effect the block and rope combination becomes a 2:1 pulley, though the pulley was not yet formally known to the Egyptians at that time.’ Other theories as to how the slaves could have moved vast blocks effectively, include dragging them on sleds and lubricating roadways with water so they could be slid along. Dr West’s method may have proved more convenient for labourers, who could have reused the rods and wouldn't have needed to collect water from the Nile. It has previously been suggested that the Egyptians strapped circular rockers to blocks to turn them into cylinders, iO9 reported. But experts have discounted the technique because the cylinders would have exerted so much pressure on roads that they would have rapidly worn them out. Egyptians built an inner core of zigzagging ramps, using smaller, lighter blocks while the larger outer casing stones were placed on the outside using scaffolding, according to one engineer . For centuries it's been thought that the ancient Egyptians built their huge pyramids by hauling heavy granite blocks up specially crafted ramps. But in December, a Newport engineer called Peter James branded the idea ‘impossible’, claiming the ramps would need to have been a quarter of a mile long or else they would have been too steep to carry the large blocks up. He believes, instead, that the Egyptians built an inner core of zigzagging ramps, using smaller, lighter blocks while the larger outer casing stones were placed on the outside using scaffolding. This means the pyramid was built up in layers and the top would have been built using scaffolding on the outside. Peter James and his company Cintec are experts in construction and have been restoring the Egyptian pyramids for the past 18 years. Mr James told the MailOnline: ‘Looking at the pyramids from a builder’s point of view, and not an archaeologist’s, it’s clear that the current theories are nonsense. ‘Just look at the numbers. Under the current theories, to lay 2 million blocks, the Egyptians would had to have laid a large block once every three minutes. ‘It would have been impossible to build the pyramids using ramps around the outside, too, because they would have ended up being larger, in some cases, than the pyramids themselves. ‘Plus, what happened to the ramps once the pyramids were finished? I believe the Egyptians built the pyramids like a modern-day builder builds a house. ‘They would have set out the four corners a pyramid, like the four corners of a house. They then would have built four access points in the centre of the pyramid. ‘Next they would have established where the burial chamber would need to be built, and that would have been built using granite. ‘Starting from the walls of the burial chamber, the Egyptians could build ramps using the lighter, smaller rocks in zig-zags around the structure, placing these rocks on top of each other as they go in order to build the pyramid up in layers. Heavy blocks could then be either pulled up these ramps on sledges, or placed on the outside using scaffolding made from timber and lashings.’
### SUMMARY:
| Physicists at Indiana University, has suggested that the men who built the pyramids should have transformed blocks into dodecagons .
They could have done this by strapping wooden rods onto the blocks .
The shape would have enabled them to roll the heavy stones along .
Experts don't claim that the ancient Egyptians used this technique, but say that it would have saved them time and effort .
They worked out that 50 men would be needed to move a block weighing 2.5 tonnes at a speed of 50cm per second . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Another woman has come forward to claim that she was drugged and raped by Bill Cosby. Therese Serignese, of Boca Raton, Florida, says in a new interview that when she was just 19-years-old Cosby gave her some pills after a show in Las Vegas, and she later came to and found the actor having sex with her. This as Carla Ferrigno, wife of Incredible Hulk star Lou Ferrigno, has revealed that Cosby tried to sexually assault her at a party when she was just a teenager. Scroll down for video . Victim: Therese Serginese (above) is the fourth woman to come forward to claim she was drugged and raped by Bill Cosby . Same story: Serignese says Cosby (above) gave her pills when she was just a teenager at his show in Las Vegas, and that he was having sex with her when she came to . Lines up: Serignese's story of being a teen when she was drugged and raped by Cosby is very similar to the stories told by two of his recent accusers . Serginese met Cosby in 1976 before he was set to perform a standup set at the Hilton in Las Vegas. Cosby offered the teenager a ticket, and later invited her to the afterparty. Then, he offered her some pills. 'I took them, didn't know what they were didn't even ask. I just was intimidated I guess and I took them,' Serignese told WPTV. Andrea Constand - A Temple University employee, she claimed in 2006 that Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in his Philadelphia-area mansion two years earlier. Cosby eventually settled this suit out of court as the prosecution said they had 13 Jane Does who would testify Cosby did the same to them in the past. Barbara Bowman - Bowman told MailOnline that Cosby raped and drugged her back in 1985 when she was a 17-year-old aspiring actress. Bowman was one of the 13 Jane Does in the 2006 trial against Cosby. Joan Tarshis - Tarshis claimed that she was just 19-years-old when Cosby drugged and raped her twice in Hollywood back in 1969 while she was working as a writer for him. Janice Dickinson - The supermodel said in an interview that Cosby asked her to come to Lake Tahoe and talk about a television role in 1982, but ended up drugging and raping her. Tamara Green - Green, who first came forward in 2005 told MailOnline that she was an aspiring actress in the 1970s when Cosby gave her pills and pretended to care for her while she had the flu, but instead sexually assaulted her. Therese Serignese - Also one of the 13 Jane Does, she says she was 19 when Cosby drugged and raped her in Las Vegas after one of his shows. 'Then my next memory is feeling drugged and him having sex with me.' Despite this, she ended up staying with Cosby, living in his penthouse for weeks, but eventually she moved out and later married. She did however take up Cosby on his promise to pay her $500 if she went to school and earned good grades. After attending nursing school, and doing well, she got word to go down to Western Union. In the end, she got $10,000 from Cosby. That did not change what happened however, and Serginese was one of the woman who came forward after another woman publicly detailed what happened to her, claiming that she too was drugged and raped by Cosby . That is when Serignese became Jane Doe 10 in the civil suit brought against Cosby by Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee who claimed he had drugged and sexually assaulted her in his Philadelphia-area mansion two years earlier. In the end 13 woman would come forward to make similar claims in the trial, though the statue of limitations had run out on their own cases. That case was eventually settled out of court. Now, Serignese has a message for Cosby. 'I'm gonna say to Bill Cosby. You do owe me an explanation for why you did this to me,' she says. 'I want an apology. I want you to apologize for hurting me. I want you to apologize for taking advantage of me.' Being heard: Serignese says she wants to make sure Cosby knows what he does was not acceptable . He responds: This as Cosby has recently said he has 'no comment' about recent rape allegations . Meanwhile, Carla Ferrigno has become the most recent woman to claim that she was almost sexually assaulted by the star, saying the event happened at a party in 1967. In an interview on the John and Ken Show, Carla says Cosby lunged at her and forcefully kissed her at a party when she was just a teenager - and his wife was home. Speaking with MailOnline after the interview, she said, 'I feel so bad for these women. I was the lucky one.' She added, 'I mean "lucky" in that he didn't harm me. It harmed me emotionally all my life but he didn't physically harm me.' Another victim: Carla Ferrigno, wife of Incredible Hulk star Lou (above) also said on Wednesday that Cosby tried to sexually assault her in 1967, when she was just a teenager . Showing support: Actor Stacey Dash tweeted her support for Cosby on Wednesday . Carla would go on to marry Lou in 1980, and said she did not even share this story with him until five years ago. Also on Wednesday, actor Stacey Dash showed her support for Cosby, tweeting that he never assaulted her when they worked together, and that he was a mentor to her. Meanwhile, Cosby finally gave some response to these recent allegations in an interview with the AP on November 6, saying he had 'no response' and 'no comment.' With his wife Camille by his side, he then asked that that section of the interview not be shown. Prior to Serignese's claims, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis and supermodel Janice Dickinson all came forward in the past few weeks to publicly say they were drugged and raped by Cosby. Cosby has never been convicted on any of these charges. These allegations are already having a major impact on his work however, with Netflix postponing the airing of his new comedy special, Bill Cosby 77, which was due to air the day after Thanksgiving, and NBC pulling the plug on a comedy project they were developing with the Cosby Show star. Cosby has also had scheduled appearances on talk shows including The Queen Latifah Show and Late Night With David Letterman cancelled in the wake of these allegations. TV Land has also stopped airing repeats of The Cosby Show.
### SUMMARY:
| Therese Serignese has become the fourth woman in the past month to come forward and say she was drugged and raped by Bill Cosby .
Serignese, from Boca Raton, Florida, says she met Cosby as a teenager in Las Vegas in 1976, and that he gave her pills .
She says her next memory was feeling drugged and waking up to find Cosby having sex with her .
Carla Ferrigno is also coming forward to say Cosby tried to sexually assault her at a party in 1967 when she was just a teenager .
Ferrigno says the actor forcibly kissed her at the party, held at his home while his wife was present .
This as a video interview of Cosby responding to claimsof rape has just been released, which shows him saying he has 'no comment' and 'no response' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Jailed: Rhiann Burnie has been jailed for two years and eight months at Burnley Crown Court for attacking her boyfriend of a year Shane McMullen . A 'sinister' young mother stabbed and battered her boyfriend because he failed to call her every two hours on a night out, leaving him so badly injured paramedics believed he was dead, a court heard yesterday. Rhiann Burnie, 21, punched bricklayer Shane McMullen, 23, then knifed him in the shoulder before lighting up a cigarette and mopping up blood as he lay on the floor clinging to life, the jury at Burnley Crown Court was told. The prosecution claim she flew into a rage about him going to an engagement party and leaving her at home with her two-year-old daughter. Despite the wound severing a major artery and causing significant blood loss, Mr McMullen survived but has suffered memory loss and has nightmares of being stabbed again. A jury was told he had been attacked simply because he forgot to ring her 'every couple of hours' as she demanded. Burnley Crown Court was told the couple had been in a relationship for a year and initially was 'happy and healthy' yet a 'darker more sinister side' of Burnie's character emerged, said Miss Rachel Woods, prosecuting. Burnie had on two previous occasions turned on him with a knife with Mr McMullen having to wrestle them off her, it is alleged. She had also smashed doors and furniture during heated arguments and had revealed she had been advised to attend anger management courses. Miss Woods added: 'She revealed a different side of her character, a volatile side, an aggressive side, an unpredictable side where she would lose her temper and damage the property and furniture, doors, in a fit of rage. 'No sooner would she blow up she would calm down. In flashes of temper the knife would come out and then matters would calm down - Mr McMullen had little realisation what lay ahead.' Mr McMullen saw the previous threats as empty and never thought she was capable of using a knife. He would often leave the house to let her cool down. But the stabbing occurred in April after Mr McMullen was invited to the party at Burnley Football Club's Turf Moor ground in Lancashire. Couple: Shane McMullen with partner Rhiann Burnie, who puffed on a cigarette while mopping up his blood as he lay on the floor of their home . Miss Woods added: 'It is quite apparent that she was very keen to know exactly what he was up to that evening. She had ran out of credit on her own mobile phone and so she kept his so that they could continue contact throughout the evening. Violent: Mr McMullen suffered the life threatening injuries because he hadn't called Burnie 'every couple of hours' like she had wanted . 'He telephoned her and spoke to her before he went to the party not causing any difficulty at that stage. He made the error of not keeping in contact with the defendant.' The court heard Mr McMullen arrived at Burnie's home in Burnley after the function and she was said to be 'not best pleased'. She was so annoyed she punched him in the face fracturing his nose and leaving him with a black eye. She then went to the pub and continued drinking at a friend's house before returning home at around 3am. On arriving back she taunt Mr McMullen telling him that she had been with another man. He got up and dressed before making an attempt to leave. But as he did so Burnie took the kitchen knife and attacked him in a 'fit of rage, or jealousy, or control,' added Miss Woods. Mr McMullen staggered into the backyard where he was found in the backyard with a blood soaked shirt. Police arrested Burnie but she initially claimed her boyfriend had come home injured, before suggesting there must have been an intruder at the house. She also refused 'point blank' to tell officers Mr McMullen's name, instead giving a false, foreign name despite police needing to call a next of kin. She then claimed she hadn't realised how serious his injuries were and only sought help when she looked out of a back window and saw him turning grey and eyes rolling. Miss Woods said: 'She claims that she was unaware that he had a serious injury and thought about turning the lights off and going to bed. She told the police she had a cigarette and she mopped up the blood in the kitchen.' 'The defendant did later accept that when she got back she was still annoyed and cross that he had left her alone whilst he was enjoying himself. 'She accepts that she had gone upstairs to the bedroom where he was sleeping and taunted him and tried to get a reaction out of him claiming she had just been with another man. 'There was a row in which she claims she was pinned down on the bed by him by her wrists, because he was angry and shouted. She accepted he didn't hit or hurt her.' In a video taped interview Mr McMullen said: 'I went to the engagement do with all my mates and I forgot to ring her. I remember just coming round in hospital. I think my brain shut down.' Relationship: The couple had been happy but the court heard of Burnie's 'sinister' side and she had on two previous occasions turned on him with a knife . He said of the relationship: 'It was good up until eight months. She just started going loopy like screaming and shouting all the time and throwing stuff about in the house, breaking stuff then I would have to fix it. Victim: Shane McMullen told the court: 'She just started going loopy like screaming and shouting all the time and throwing stuff about in the house' 'We'd argue when rough, after we'd been out, then it started happening when we were out and then it was getting worse and worse, we'd argue about little things. 'She would throw anything, like a plate, I thought 'what a nutcase' but she always calmed down. We would be arguing and she would go to hit me, she thought I had been looking at her mates if we were out. If I couldn't calm her down I used to go for a walk. 'She picked up a knife before but I never felt threatened. I thought she might have slashed me, I never took much notice because I never felt threatened. 'She got a knife and started waving it around, I said 'what are you doing', she started pointing it about. I was a bit paranoid. This is when it was getting ropey and I was thinking 'this isn't going to work'.' He said he had repaired the bedroom door four times after she broke it by kicking and pushing it through. He said: 'Every time we had an argument she would do that so I would have to repair in. I just think she needs to sort her anger problems out. She used to say people told her to go for anger management, she never really went into it.' 'I have the odd nightmare about being stabbed, not by her, by other people, someone comes and sits on me and stabs me in the chest. I've had it more than once, it makes me wake up. I just try and block it out.' Burnie denies wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm but admits the lesser charged of unlawful wounding. The trial continues. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
### SUMMARY:
| Rhiann Burnie punched and stabbed Shane McMullen after a night out .
Injuries so severe that paramedics who treated him thought he was dead .
Mr McMullen has suffered nightmares about being stabbed since attack .
Burnie tried to attack him on 2 previous occasions with a knife, court heard .
Defendant denies wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Four passengers were injured today after a plane was blown off the runway amid 80mph winds, as Britain braces itself for days of grey skies and heavy downpours. The twin-propeller Saab 340 was attempting to take off from Stornoway Airport on the Isle of Lewis just before 8.30am when strong gusts caused it to veer off the tarmac and nose-dive into the grass, sparking a major investigation. It came as a deep Atlantic depression whipped Machrihanish, Argyll, with 77mph winds, while gales of 71mph were detected in Edinburgh. Depsite a wind warning remaining in place for the Shetland Islands - where gales of around 75mph are expected until about 11pm tonight - forecasters say the wind will continue to ease this evening. But it will still be a weekend of miserable weather for most people, as a band of low pressure sweeps across the UK tomorrow, drenching the southern and central areas with up to 15mm rain. High winds caused a plane to veer off the runway as it attempted to take off at Stornoway Airport on the Isle of Lewis this morning . The twin-propeller Saab 340 was carrying 28 people and had been due to fly to Glasgow at 8.35am. Four people were injured . The incident involving a Saab 340 aircraft operated by Loganair happened at 8.33am today, amid winds of up to 80mph in Scotland . A passenger had a miracle escape after the barrier to a car park blew through the window of their Renault Clio in Ellesmere Port . Meanwhile, top temperatures will be above average for this time of year, with the mercury expected to reach a balmy 13C in the south west. London, which is around 10C today, will see highs of around 9C, while temperatures could reach 6C in Scotland and up to 7C in northern England. Today's windy weather wreaked havoc across the country, with most areas experiencing gales of at least 40mph. The Loganair flight, which was carrying 28 people, had been due to fly to Glasgow at 8.35am but remained grounded as two people were taken to Western Isles Hospital with minor injuries. Police said two men were taken to hospital, while two women sustained minor injuries, but declined medical assistance. An investigation has now been launched into the incident and a spokesman said normal operations should resume once the plane has been removed from the runway. The Stornoway area had seen gales of around 40mph, while there were also winds of 69mph recorded in Yorkshire. Amid the strong winds, a passenger had a miracle escape when a car park barrier smashed through a vehicle’s windscreen at a shopping centre in Ellesmere Port. Police said both the driver and passenger of the gold Renault Clio escaped unscathed after the incident at the Cheshire Oaks centre. This rare natural atmospheric phenomenon was captured on the North Yorkshire and County Durham border yesterday evening . An almost-complete rainbow was spotted at night near Hutton Magna. It is known as a 'Moonbow' The phenomenon is caused by the moon's light being reflected and refracted off water droplets in the air . A stunning rainbow shone onto a herd of cows in the Peak District, Derbyshire, as the grey sky loomed behind . The car was being driven in to a car park at the time of the incident and the large barrier, which was open at the time, came crashing in to the vehicle and through a passenger window at the rear of the car. A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: 'At around 2:15pm on Thursday 1st January 2015 officers were called to an incident on Stanney Woods Avenue, Longlooms Road East in Ellesmere Port involving a car which had been hit by piece of the road barrier. 'The car, a gold Renault Clio was damaged when the barrier swung out into the middle of the road smashing through the passenger side of the windscreen. The driver of the vehicle and passenger were both uninjured in the incident.' Despite the strong gusts, yesterday was one of the warmest New Year's Days on record, with blue skies across most of the country leading to a clear evening. In County Durham, one walker spotted a 'moonbow', a rare natural atmospheric phenomenon in which a rainbow appears at night. The phenomenon, spotted at Hutton Magna, is caused by the moon's light being reflected and refracted off water droplets in the air. A couple made the most of the clear blue skies and sunshine in the market town of Helmsley, North Yorkshire this morning . The pair walked their Labrador through Duncombe Park, amid balmy temperatures which are above average for this time of year . There were clear skies and warm temperatures this morning at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, as many parts of the UK were whipped by high winds . Rutting deer were spotted at Chatsworth this morning. Despite cold night-time temperatures, there is no immediate sign of another cold snap . This three-day forecast shows a clear day today, followed by heavy rain over many parts of central and southern England tomorrow . But tonight will see the last of the clear skies, as a band of low-pressure sweeps across the UK tomorrow, bringing up to 15mm of rain across most of Wales and south and central England. Those living in northern England will escape the worst of the wet weather and could see some sunshine. But forecasters say there could even be some snow on high grounds, including the Lake District, Snowdonia and the Pennines. Meanwhile, top temperatures will be above average for this time of year, with the mercury expected to reach a balmy 13C in the south west. London, which is around 10C today, will see highs of around 9C, while temperatures could reach 6C in Scotland and up to 7C in northern England. On Sunday, most parts of the country can expect to see some sunshine, particularly in the east of England. But there will be heavy rain in western areas, while the mercury will drop by around two degrees in most parts of the UK. Britons should also be braced for some cold nights, with an ice warning in place for most of Scotland tonight, where temperatures could plunge to -6C. Dan Williams from the Met Office said there could also be patchy fog early tomorrow and Sunday morning, due to the cold temperatures. Night-time temperatures in North Wales could reach -5C, while the Midlands and the south will remain at just above zero. However, there is no immediate sign of another significant cold snap, the Met Office said. Next week looks to be more unsettled, with high temperatures, followed by strong gales on Wednesday. Leon Brown, meteorologist at The Weather Channel UK, said a very deep Atlantic depression will pass just south of Iceland by the middle of next week bringing gales over the north on Wednesday and some heavy rain too. That rain will move southwards late Wednesday to Thursday and will be heaviest over West Wales and western England, he added.
### SUMMARY:
| Twin-propeller Saab 340 was attempting to take off at Stornoway Airport on the Isle of Lewis just before 8.30am .
Strong gales caused Loganair plane carrying 28 people to veer off tarmac before nose-diving into the grass .
Atlantic depression brought 77mph gusts to Edinburgh and Argyll, while 69mph winds were recorded in Yorkshire .
Winds expected to ease today, but there will be wet weather misery for southern England and Wales tomorrow . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A Vietnam veteran on death row has lost his appeal for clemency after he claimed he was suffering from PTSD when he shot dead a young sheriff's deputy. Andrew Howard Brannan, 66, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 7pm on Tuesday at the state prison in Jackson, Georgia. Brannan was convicted in the 1998 slaying of 22-year-old Laurens County sheriff's deputy Kyle Dinkheller, a married father of a young daughter. Scroll down for video: Warning graphic content . Andrew Brannan, pictured in an undated photo taken during the Vietnam War. He is due to be executed on Tuesday despite pleas for clemency from his lawyers who said he has suffered from long-term PTSD . Dinkheller stopped Brannan after he was caught on January 12, 1998 driving at 98mph. The officer demanded he take his hands from his pockets after he pulled him over on a rural road. Brannan, who was 49 years old at the time, then began cursing, dancing in the street and saying 'shoot me' before he grabbed a gun, rushed at the deputy and shot him nine times while he attempted to call for backup. Lawyers for the Vietnam veteran said the shooting was tied to mental illness that can be traced directly to his military service and argued he should be spared execution - but lost their 11th hour appeal on Monday. In a statement, CBS reported, Brannan's family said they were 'profoundly disappointed' that the appeal to save his life had failed. Through his lawyers, they said that '[t]he death of Deputy Sheriff Kyle Dinkheller was a terrible tragedy. 'Executing a 66-year old decorated Vietnam veteran with no prior criminal record who was seriously ill at the time of the crime only compounds the tragedy.' According to the convict's lawyers, Brannan was diagnosed in 1991 as being '100-per cent disabled' by PTSD. Five years later, he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder disorder, according to CBS. At the time of the shooting, the veteran was not on any medication, his current lawyers said, blaming his previous legal team for not making more of his mental history at his trial where a plea of insanity was rejected by the jury. Andrew Brannan, 66, was found guilty in 2000 of murdering 22-year-old sheriff's deputy Kyle Dinkheller (right) The horrifying moment that Brannan shot dead the officer was caught on his patrol car's dashcam. On the tape, Dinkheller pulled Brannan's truck over for speeding in Laurens County, Georgia around 5.30pm. Officer Dinkheller repeatedly asked the suspect to remove his hand from his pockets - in response, Brannan danced around and sang, appearing to mock the deputy. The 66-year-old then cursed and yelled at the deputy and proclaimed that he was a 'goddamn Vietnam combat veteran'. The suspect then ducked inside his pickup truck, pulled out a M-1 carbine rifle and began firing at the deputy. The two men exchanged shots, leaving Brannan with a wound to the abdomen while Dinkheller was shot nine times. Dinkheller can be heard screaming on the dashcam tape as Brannan closed in on him and delivered one last shot at point-blank range before yelling: 'die f*****'. In a sickening image from the patrol car dashcam, the suspect can be seen sneaking around the car with his rifle to where the officer lay injured and firing again . Deputy Dinkheller was gunned down by Brannan in 1998 after he pulled the man over for speeding . The two exchanged shots and Brannan suffered a wound to the abdomen while Dinkheller was shot nine times, during the incident caught on the officer's dashcam . The suspect was found during a search the next morning and taken into custody. Officer Dinkheller left behind an expectant wife and 22-month-old daughter when he died on January 12, 1998. Deputy Dinkheller's son was born in early September 1998. Earlier this month, the fallen officer's father, Kirk Dinkheller, wrote on Facebook: 'January 12, 2015 it will be 17 years since my son Kyle was murdered in the line of duty and on January 13, 2015 his killer will finally be held accountable. 'Nothing will ever bring my son back, but finally some justice for the one who took him from his children and his family.' At his 2000 trial, Brannan, who had no prior criminal record, pleaded guilty by reason of insanity. However a court-appointed psychiatrist said Brannan was in his right mind when he killed Dinkheller. The psychiatrist also said Brannan may have killed the 22-year-old officer because he felt he was being disrespectful. The veteran's own psychiatrist was not called as a witness at the trial. Brannan pleaded guilty by reason of insanity which was rejected by the jury. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. His attorneys have tried numerous times - three appeals, four petitions, and five motions - to avoid execution, saying that the veteran's damaged mental health led him to killing Dinkheller. Brannan served as a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army in Vietnam after volunteering in 1968. He received commendations and a Bronze Star for his service as an officer. According to CBS, he acted as a Forward Observer - directing fire at the enemy, near the Laos border. A fellow veteran, Ray Chastain, wrote a letter for his friend to the parole board. It read: 'During the period when Lieutenant Brannan served, the Forward Observer had the shortest life expectancy of any category of soldier in Vietnam.' In their last effort, the defense team asked the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute his sentence to life without parole because Brannan has a mental disorder. The attempt failed. The 66-year-old's execution will be the first in the U.S. of 2105 if it takes on Tuesday evening after he has spent 14 years on death row. Brannan's lawyers filed an appeal with the Georgia state Supreme Court on Tuesday morning and expect a decision shortly. If that appeal is denied, they will take their case for a last try to the U.S. Supreme Court. Brannan (photographed) served as a first lieutenant with the Army in Vietnam and received commendations and a Bronze Star for his service as an officer .
### SUMMARY:
| Andrew Brannan, 66, set to be executed at 7pm on Tuesday in Georgia for killing a sheriff's deputy in 1998 .
Brannan's attorneys appealed on Monday saying the veteran was '100 per cent disabled' from PTSD and was not on meds at time of shooting .
A fellow vet told board that Brannan volunteered for Vietnam and held a position 'with the shortest life expectancy of any soldier'
Brannan's family said the death of Deputy Kyle Dinkheller was a tragedy 'which would be compounded by the veteran's death'
On the officer's patrol car dashcam, Brannan can be seen dancing around during a traffic stop, before pulling out a rifle and shooting cop nine times .
As Brannan closed in on the deputy and shot him at point-blank range, he yelled 'die f*****' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Free woman: Nawal Msaad, 27, pictured after she was cleared of funding ISIS jihadists at the Old Bailey, has revealed that she has been stopped from leaving the UK by anti-terror police . A student cleared of trying to smuggle ISIS cash from Britain to Syria in her knickers has said an anti-terror squad has now stopped her boarding a plane to see her unwell grandmother. Nawal Msaad, 27, 'could not stop crying' as she was questioned by ten police officers at Gatwick and missed her flight to Tangier in Morocco on Sunday. The singer, who was dubbed 'The Jihottie' online during her terror trial, believes she is on a British watch list despite not having extremist views and being cleared of any terror charges during a four-week trial last summer. Last year she was caught with £16,000 in euros stuffed in her underwear at Heathrow as she attempted to board a flight to Istanbul, but a jury agreed that she was tricked into being a mule by an old school friend. But the new incident at Gatwick on Sunday means she is unable to get on with her life. She told the Evening Standard: 'I noticed around 10 officers came to the gate and I jokingly said, 'Are you all here for me?' 'I explained that I was visiting my sick grandmother, and that either way I don't need an excuse to go to Morocco — my family are from there. I couldn't stop crying I was so upset'. After 35 minutes of being searched and questioned her flight departed without her. She said: 'I'm really annoyed personally. They were apologetic as usual, but they'll just do it again. They said they would get me on another flight, (but) there are no direct flights for a few days so I have to wait.' Police was stopped under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, used by police to establish if an individual is linked or involved in terrorism. Sussex Police said today: 'On Sunday afternoon a woman due to depart Gatwick Airport on an outbound flight for Tangier was briefly stopped and interviewed by Sussex officers at the Airport under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act. 'She was spoken to for 35 minutes and in the meantime the flight departed without her. 'We apologised for the fact that she had missed her flight and made efforts to find her an alternative flight but to no avail. We therefore supplied her with a rail warrant to enable her to return to her UK address that evening. We also offered to fund her eventual flight. 'The reasons for stopping passengers under Schedule 7 are not disclosed but specific suspicion of involvement in terrorism offences is not required. The woman was not detained under the Act, a procedure which only takes place after one hour has elapsed.' Miss Msaad's arrest and trial alongside her former friend Ama lEl-Wahabi threw her into the spotlight. Scroll down for video . Emotional: Miss Msaad broke down after the trial as she said she was 'physically and mentally weak' after the case and sobbed as she described her latest ordeal . CCTV: Miss Msaad was caught when the cash dropped down into her knickers as she walked through Heathrow . Anger: Police at Gatwick spoke to her and searched her for 35 minutes as her flight took off . Police believed she was due to hand the £16,000 in her pants over to a jihadi - but in fact she believed it was a deposit for a house in Turkey and was being offered a free holiday if she took it. Miss . Msaad, whose model looks have earned her the nickname 'jihottie' on . social media sites, wept as she was cleared. The London Metropolitan . University human resources management undergraduate appeared during the . trial to be a most unlikely jihadi sympathiser. Attending . the Old Bailey dressed in tight-fitting shirts, high heels, pink . lipstick and thigh-skimming skirts, the glamorous brunette appeared to . relish the limelight. She posted regular updates on social media of what . she was wearing to court. Other images on her profile showed her . modelling jewellery and wearing short black dresses for nights out. During . her trial, she was seen flirting with a defendant in another case, . provoking a reprimand from a judge after the besotted man was seen . waving at her in court. After she was cleared Miss Msaad, born . in London to Moroccan parents, accused police of targeting her because . she was a British Muslim. 'Anyone . out there who knows me will know I do not have any extremist views or . support terrorism nor do I have any jihadist affiliations,' she said. 'I . can't help but wonder if I had been called Natalie from Surrey whether . the authorities would have pressed terrorism charges against me.' 'Stitched up': Nawal Msaad, 27, left, was cleared of funding terrorism despite being caught with 20,000 euros handed to her by friend Amal El-Wahabi, 27, right, who was found guilty of the same charge . Anger: Nawal Msaad, pictured leaning on a car, believed she may have targeted because of her race and religion and was held for a month in custody after he arrest . Miss . Msaad met Amal El-Wahabi, 27, who gave her the money and is also of Moroccan descent, when they were . pupils at Holland Park School in West London and the pair remained . close. She told jurors she was 'stitched up' by her friend who promised . her £790 to take the 20,000 euros to Turkey in January. Wahabi told her the cash, in 500-euro notes, was to pay a deposit on a house in Turkey and fund a beauty therapy business there. But . in reality, the hairdresser was preparing to join her 30-year-old . drug-dealing husband Aine Davis on his terrorist crusade, taking their . two infant sons with her. Wahabi, . was described by her own barrister as a 'foul-mouthed, phone addicted, . weed-smoking kaffir' collapsed, screaming, 'No, I can't breathe' as she . was convicted of funding terrorism. She was jailed for 28 months and claimed she thought her husband, whom she met at a West London mosque when she was 19, was helping an aid convoy in Syria. But . police found extremist videos sent by Davis, a former Tube driver with . drug and firearm convictions. He also sent a message featuring the flag . of terrorist group ISIS, with the slogan: 'Allah prefers the Mujahadeen . over those who remain behind.' Wahabi responded: 'Be beside you until . the day you die.' Police . found photographs on Wahabi's phone of Davis posing with an AK-47 along . with other fighters. She sent him a picture of their son in a jihadi . headscarf.
### SUMMARY:
| Nawal Msaad, 27, 'could not stop crying' after anti-terror police stopped her .
Last year she was cleared of funding ISIS by smuggling cash in her pants .
Now stopped boarding flight to Tangier in Morocco to see unwell relative .
'I noticed around 10 officers came to the gate and I jokingly said, "Are you all here for me?",' she said .
Miss Msaad was searched and questioned by police using Terrorism Act .
Flight to Morocco left without her and she is still yet to leave the UK . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Alleged Sydney terrorists Omar al-Kutobi and Mohammad Kiad are being protected from other prisoners inside Silverwater Jail, after being subjected to threats since their arrival. Al-Kutobi, 24 and Kiad, 25, were arrested on terror charges on Tuesday and did not apply for bail during a brief video link hearing in Central Local Court on Thursday. Daily Mail Australia has learned that they are now being held in protective custody inside Silverwater, which has a long-held reputation for being among the toughest prisons in New South Wales. A police source revealed that 'these guys are typically cared for in a different way to the general population’. 'Anyone like them, who are accused of these sorts of offences, will come under particular attention (in jail).' Scroll down for video . Mohammad Kiad, 25 (left), and his Iraqi born housemate Omar Al-Kutobi, 24, were arrested on terror charges in their shared squalid granny flat at Fairfield in Sydney's south-western suburbs on Tuesday. They are believed to be in protective custody inside Silverwater Correctional Complex after being the subject of death threats . Kiad is said to be a keen weightlifter, the 25-year-old removalist sharing selfies of himself at the gym . Accused pair al-Kutobi and Kiad ham it up in a photo while relaxing at home. Prison officials would not be drawn if the pair are now 'under watch' in jail after threats from other inmates . Silverwater Jail - is considered one of the toughest correctional facilities in Australia - it's where alleged terror suspects Mohammad Kiad and his flatmate Omar al-Kutobi are being held until their March court appearance and are believed to have been subjected to threats by fellow prisoners since they were taken into custody . However, Correction Services refused to be drawn on the matter when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. ‘Due to legal advice we are unable to provide any detail because of privacy concerns, so we can neither confirm nor deny the claims.’ Nor would they comment on suggestions the pair had expressed concern for their safety behind prison walls or that a third party had made a request on their behalf to have them protected from harm from the general population. Kiad and his Iraqi born housemate Omar, al-Kutobi, were arrested in their shared squalid granny flat on Tuesday, 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. 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. The pair appeared briefly via video from Silverwater Prison, dressed in their prison greens, on Wednesday. Their legal aid appointed barrister, Deone Provera, said they will be seeking bail when the matter returns to court on March 16. Kiad was arrested on Tuesday with his flatmate al-Kutobi, just hours before an alleged plan to undertake a beheading attack in central Sydney . Kiad was granted a visa under the family and spousal visa arrangements and is believed to have been receiving welfare payments . Crown prosecutor Michael Allnut leaves Fairfield Local Court after the first mention on Wednesday of charges against Omar Al-Kutobi, 24, and Mohammad Kiad, 25. They have both been charged with one count of "do act in preparation/planning for terrorism act" and refused bail after being arrested in anti-terror raids in Sydney's south-western suburbs . Government investigations into how al-Kutobi and Kiad were able to reside in Australia and receive welfare payments continues. It's been claimed al-Kutobi, an Iraqi national, flew into the country on a fake passport and was given a protection visa. All this comes amid claims, by some lawyers, that statements made by Prime Minister Abbott in parliament could prejudice a fair trial. Adam Houda has told the ABC that 'he (the Prime Minister) wants to milk this situation politically for all it's worth'. 'He's poisoning the minds of potential jurors out there. We have rules for a reason, to ensure fairness in courts.' The PM's office, however, insists he revealed details surrounding their arrest, with the full knowledge and consent of the Australian Federal Police. During Question Time in parliament, Mr Abbott gave a graphic description of the disturbing video. He explained that one of the men made threats about carrying out an attack on Australia and stabbing victims in their 'kidneys' and 'livers', whilst 'kneeling before the death cult flag with a knife in his hand and a machete before him'. The PM also informed parliament that the man on the video said: 'I swear to almighty Allah, blond people, there is no room for blame between you and us. We only are you, stabbing the kidneys and striking the necks.' Their Fairfield home, a granny flat in Sydney's south-west (pictured). The pair was living in squalid conditions and al-Kutobi, it's been revealed, flew into Australia in 2009 as an Iraqi national using another person’s passport . The Prime Minister read from a statement in parliament, describing information surround the pair's arrest. 'Kneeling before the death cult flag with a knife in his hand and a machete before him, one of those arrested said this: 'I swear to almighty Allah we will carry out the first operation for the soldiers of the caliphate in Australia'," Mr Abbott said . However, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) has also issued a statement about Mr Abbott's comments, saying they would not affect their role. It reads: 'Given the concern for public safety that attaches to allegations of terrorism, senior government officials are often briefed on major counter-terrorism investigations.' 'They sometimes choose to provide additional information to the public as they see fit. 'The CDPP forms its own view about the evidence in any given case. In stark contrast to the images of him in gym gear and shiny pants, other pictures show Kiad wearing traditional white Islamic clothing and headpieces . 'The comments made by the Prime Minister in this case will not have any impact on the CDPP's role or function, especially as this is in the very early stages of the matter, and any jury trial is unlikely to take place until much later in the year.' Social media accounts of one of the two men charged with plotting a terrorist attack involving large knives revealed he was a fashion-loving weightlifter with a keen eye for expensive jewellery. Pictures of Kiad on his Facebook page, who was believed to be working as a removalist until his recent sacking, 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. Al-Kutobi was granted citizenship in 2013 and was apparently studying to be a nurse. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
### SUMMARY:
| Sydney terror suspects are being protected from other prisoners in Silverwater Jail .
Omar al-Kutobi and Mohammad Kiad have been subjected to threats since being taken into custody on Tuesday .
Daily Mail Australia has learned that 'they are being cared for in a different way to the general population'
Lawyers claim the pair may be denied a fair trial after Prime Minister revealed details of the alleged threats in parliament .
They will apply for bail when the case returns to court on March 16 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- On the eve of what was to become the biggest sale ever of a Chinese contemporary painting, Trevor Simon wanted to get the word out about "Execution," a painting he had hidden from everybody. The painting had been stored in a London warehouse for more than a decade after arriving from Hong Kong. "Not a single person in the world had seen it other than me for more than a decade," said the 36-year-old investment banking strategist by phone from London on Thursday. That includes his mother and the woman he loves. Beijing artist Yue Minjun's painting, inspired by the bloody crackdown on Tiananmen Square in 1989, sold for 2.9 million pounds ($5.9 million) Friday night in London. The sale exceeded the 2.15 million pounds ($4.37 million) paid in June for the previous record, Yue's "The Pope." Simon remembers seeing the oil painting at Manfred Schoeni's gallery in Hong Kong during the late 1990s and how it fascinated him at first sight. "As soon as I saw it, my whole self changed," he said. "I realized that this stood for everything that was going on at the time, so I was stunned into silence literally. I saw what was happening in China. I was rising in banking, and I saw an execution of people who were smiling. "I saw that was what was going on in banking." Schoeni and Simon were already on friendly terms, and Schoeni had wanted to show him "Execution," which had been covered up. But when Simon insisted he wanted the painting, he recalled Schoeni telling him it wasn't going anywhere and was not for sale. But Simon said he would not leave and remembered saying: " 'Fine, have a drink with me.' And maybe I loosened his head a bit. After a couple hours, I struck a deal." A junior investment banker in his 20s at the time, Simon would spend $250,000 Hong Kong dollars ($32,200), or two-thirds of his annual salary, on "Execution." The painting reflected what he felt was going on in the world in which he worked: a soulless place. "While you can apply a good mind, the job eats your life. You spend 14 hours in the markets. A week in Paris, a week in London running around. No life. My girlfriend didn't want to be with me: 'I can't have you.'" She'd leave him and has since become engaged to someone else, he said. "It was not only an image of an execution of characters in front of the walls of Tiananmen, but an execution of me," he said, describing himself as "committed to this painting." Under the terms of the deal he struck with Schoeni, the painting was to be "out of sight for five years" and shipped to London, Simon explained. He described the painting -- at 3 meters (10 feet) wide and 1.5 meters (5 feet) high -- as "monumental," "physical," and "like a wall." He put "Execution" in a box, shipped it out of Hong Kong to London. "And it hasn't moved since that day. It's in a crusty warehouse behind a main road." He finds a key distinction between "Execution" and Francisco de Goya's "The Third of May, 1808: The Execution of the Defenders of Madrid" and Edouard Manet's "The Execution of the Emperor Maximilien of Mexico." In those, he said, "that's murder, true assassination of a political figure. But here [with "Execution"], it's far more potent. Because they're killed by culture." The laughing was a "response to unimaginable persecution," he said. "You don't know what the hell else to do. You're nervous. You're not laughing, 'Ha ha hee hee.'" As for the underwear, Simon said, "You're stripped down, you're defenseless. Even worse, you're being shot with cultural forces, not bullets." And while the man on the far right of Manet's painting cocks the gun and delivers the coup de grace, the figure in "Execution" has a similar role, said Simon. "He's wearing a generic T-shirt -- the guy who's delivering the last shot to be delivered into the heartland of Chinese heritage." Yue's painting was in keeping with "cynical realism," the term coined by art critic Li Xianting to describe post-Tiananmen artists disillusioned by and critical of Chinese society, Simon said. When asked if he, as a young 20-something, ever harbored doubts or questioned his sanity about dishing out a large portion of his salary for this work, Simon replied: "No, no, no, no. I knew. I stood there. You just know. You just absolutely know beyond all doubt that the theme is something special. "This art was a representation of all the ambition and all the anxiety that had been held back behind the Chinese wall and was now allowed to live, allowed to go free. "I knew without a millionth of a doubt that that was the story of China on canvas." Simon said he would probably cry if he and Yue met. "He's an immensely brave man, anyone who paints like this. None of his paintings are as politically dangerous as this." Simon left the painting in a box in the warehouse and never brought it out or hung it up, despite having other work elsewhere in his house. For one thing, Schoeni was murdered in 2004 in the Philippines. Simon felt that it was because Schoeni was involved in championing the works of people from "repressive" countries. The painting became a mental crutch for him. He determined that he would walk out on the most important job he could think of in investment banking, one that earned him more than a million dollars a year. "The painting helped me leave the job because I could see a country being executed and surviving, and so maybe I could too," he said in a follow-up email. Simon had left Hong Kong for "the lion's den," as he put it, in London, where he felt further "executed by the politics and chaos one step below the top rung of the bank." The very top was where the more rational and humanity prevailed, he said. "All the rest is scratching and positioning and seldom is the best thing done." He'd leave his job. That was five years ago, and while he is still involved in finance, he works on his own now, he said. Selling the painting brings Simon full circle to being "un-Executed," he said. Yue's got a new museum and is being recognized by the Chinese government. "He's no longer repressed by China. And I'm no longer repressed by commercial ambition. It's about doing it the right way," Simon said. "The value of this piece is not the dollar value. It's lovely to have that extra money. But the real value, should I die tomorrow morning, has already been placed in my heart," he said. "I'm not laughing at being shot at. What I'm most proud of is the courage to live. "God gave me talents. I'm going to use them for good, not for money. Not for trading." But first, he plans to get the girl back.
### SUMMARY:
| Beijing artist Yue Minjun's "Execution" sold for record 2.9 million pounds ($5.9M)
In the painting, Simon saw metaphor for himself and his life in the bank world .
Simon spent two-thirds of his annual salary on the painting in the 1990s .
Under deal, Simon kept painting out of sight, shipped it out of HK to London . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(AOL Autos) -- A directive recently handed down by a Detroit-area suburban mayor has ignited the latest round of a seemingly endless debate -- one that always burns with more intensity in the home of the Big Three than anywhere else. Many residents in the Detroit, Michigan area are auto workers. Thousands have been laid off recently. It's the debate that relates to cars and goes something like this: "Buy American!" vs. "I'll buy what I want!" That debate sometimes, but not always, begins as a civil conversation. But the Detroit area has been hit hard in the last five years by the ongoing, sometimes enormous financial losses posted by the Big Three. The Big Three's financial woes have had a direct impact on the Michigan economy with hundreds of thousands of layoffs and/or buyouts. Given that so many of the state's workers have lost their jobs -- and in some cases, their homes - it sometimes doesn't take long before the car debate escalates into an emotional one. That can lead to angry name-calling and insults - like many of the reader comments that flooded the online edition of the Detroit newspaper that first reported a controversial story. AOL Autos: Best new car deals this month . This latest round of the discussion was inspired by a decision made by Jim Fouts, the mayor of Warren, Michigan, a large Detroit suburb and Michigan's third-largest city, and where a good portion of the residents are (or were) autoworkers. In mid-August, Fouts told his department heads, which amount to 40 or 50 of the city's more than 700 employees that he "expects" the next car they buy will be an American model. More to the point, he expects them to drive General Motors or Chrysler vehicles, since both companies have various manufacturing or assembly plants in Warren -- not to mention GM's sprawling Tech Center -- and therefore are the city's two highest taxpayers. Fouts, who drives a 2001 Chrysler Concorde himself, isn't being draconian about it. That is, he hasn't ordered his appointees to run right out and dump their Hondas, Toyotas, Saabs or Audis immediately. "But I strongly suggested that the next car they buy should be an American one, and that I had an equally strong expectation that they will do so," Fouts said. "Legally, since they are 'at-will' employees, I have the right to mandate, and an expectation that they will meet that mandate." AOL Autos: Best hybrid SUVs . Some have accused Fouts of over-stepping his authority by "butting in" to his employees' private lives, while others have given the policy a hearty "thumbs up." "Some of them are not enthusiastic about it," Fouts said, noting that one department head currently drives a Mercedes-Benz vehicle. "But many of these department heads make more than $100,000 a year, and I told them that they might not be able to enjoy the economic comforts they currently enjoy if it were not for the amount of taxes that GM and Chrysler pay to the city. AOL Autos: Luxury cars with the best MPG . "I think of it as 'economic patriotism.'" Fouts said he did not know how many of his department heads currently drive imports, although one of his appointees, Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer, guessed that about 90 percent of the appointees already drive American-made cars. "But the ones who are not happy about this -- well, they won't talk to [reporters] about that, because they know how I feel about it," said Fouts. Dwyer, who drives a Jeep Cherokee, supports the mayor's "buy American" expectation. "I believe that, the way the economy is that Americans should be buying American cars. And, as department heads, I think it's important for us to be setting an example for the other city workers." AOL Autos: Safest cars . One of the reasons usually cited for the U.S. automakers' loss of market share are consumer perceptions that imports are higher in quality -- although several recent surveys by various research groups have revealed that Detroit carmakers have closed the "quality gap" in recent years to the point that it is almost negligible. And the handful of Detroit-area residents/natives we talked to about the "Buy American" debate had no complaints about the quality of their American-made cars - or their foreign-made ones, for that matter. One is Tracy Balazy of Dearborn, Michigan - the Detroit suburb that is home to the Ford Motor Company's world headquarters. AOL Autos: Most popular crossover vehicles . "I drive a 2000 Saturn, because it was cheaper than a Honda," Balazy said. "And other than brakes and the usual things, I've had no problems with it, and it now has 101,000 miles on it." Balazy has an interesting take on the topic of whether we should feel compelled to "buy American," when it comes to cars, however - and whether we should be instructed to do so. "The average American probably spends a lot more on other things - clothes, household goods, you name it - than on cars. I think it's hypocritical for someone to tell everyone to 'buy American' as it pertains to cars, but then take advantage of the great prices on imported goods at say, Wal-Mart," Balazy said. "I've passed up many good deals, and have abstained from buying a lot of consumer goods I've wanted over the past year, just to avoid buying foreign-made products." Ken Reibel, a Michigan native who's lived in Milwaukee for more than 20 years, drives a 2002 Mazda Protégé, while his wife motors around in a 2001 Toyota Corolla. "We bought both of them used, from neighbors," he says. "They've both been good runners. No serious problems. The Protégé is a sweet ride. "But I'm not even sure what it means to 'Buy American' anymore," says Reibel. "Ford has a huge stake in Mazda, and Japanese automakers build most of their cars for the American market right here in the U.S., with American labor. It's easier to 'Buy American' if you're purchasing a shirt or case of beer. But cars are different. I'm sure if you disassembled a Chevrolet Malibu or a Ford Windstar you would find an appalling number of foreign-made components and assemblies." Gary Galusky is a Detroit-area native/resident who gives high marks to quality of his American-made vehicle. For the last couple of years, Galusky has actually maintained two residences: one in Dearborn and one in Sutton's Bay, in Northern Michigan - a five-hour drive. "I make that commute regularly, about every three weeks, in a 2005 Ford Escape that I bought new. It now has 103,000 miles on it, and it's never required anything other than ordinary maintenance," says Galusky. Conrad Sutter grew up in Harper Woods, a Detroit suburb just a few miles from Warren, and now lives in Richland, in western Michigan. Sutter says he agrees with the "Buy American" sentiment. "I believe what the mayor of Warren is doing is okay," says Sutter. "I wouldn't suppose there are a lot of Apple Computers being purchased in Redmond, Washington (home of Microsoft Corp.), either. "Nothing wrong with that."
### SUMMARY:
| Detroit mayor sparks debate when he tells employees to buy American cars .
Big Three's financial woes have had impact on Michigan economy .
Customer: Hypocritical to buy American cars then buy other imported goods .
Differences in quality between American and foreign are negligible . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(OPRAH.com) -- Joan Hornig's jewelry comes from the heart. And 100 percent of the profits go to a charity of your choice. When she was in college, Joan Hornig set a big goal: to earn enough money by age 50 to allow her to give back to the world. In 2003 she met that goal, two years ahead of schedule. Because Hornig, 54, came from a modest background, she learned to design her own jewelry, modeling her pieces after the bold, fanciful antiques she admired in luxury boutiques and museums. Six years ago, when a friend casually said, "I love your necklace," Hornig replied, "Thanks, I made it." That prompted the friend to call another friend -- who just happened to be a merchandise manager at Bergdorf Goodman -- and say: "I'm looking at something that should be in your store." Hornig went back to her New York City apartment, gathered up all the necklaces, bracelets, and earrings she'd made (stored in Tupperware containers in her china cabinet -- "I didn't even know there was such a thing as a jewelry roll"), and took them into the Fifth Avenue store. "The Bergdorf people said, 'We like these things, but are you a business?' I said, 'I believe I can be a business.'" They offered her a trial run, and her first "collection" sold out in five days. The secret to her success? "I think jewelry should do for women what a beauty parlor does," Hornig says. "Enhance them." Oprah.com: How to get gorgeous this season . But Hornig, who worked in the lucrative field of private equity investing, didn't start designing jewelry to make a profit, so she devised a novel business model: Each piece she sells comes with a card explaining that she will give 100 percent of her profits to the charity of the buyer's choice. "To my children, Paul Newman wasn't an actor -- he was a philanthropist who made salad dressing," she says. "But he chose the charities that would profit from Newman's Own. I wanted to go one step further and let people choose their own cause." Through sales of her jewelry, the Joan B. Hornig Foundation has donated close to $750,000 to more than 600 causes, including hospitals, dance companies, schools, and the environment. "People ask, 'Why wouldn't you want to keep the money?'" she says. "They think success is measured by what you put in your pocket. I get to create beautiful things that make a difference for people. There isn't anyone who's been made richer by this experience than me." Oprah.com: Where to shop for a change . The silver bullet . Liberian refugee Lovetta Conto transforms used munitions into objects of beauty. Even as a small child, Lovetta Conto knew she wanted to be a fashion designer. But when she told people, they'd laugh. "They said, 'You live in a refugee camp, and you think that's going to happen?'" she says. "But I always pictured myself in a higher place, growing up like a beautiful flower out of a mud pit." Lovetta, now 17, spent a decade in the Buduburam refugee camp in Ghana, home to 47,000 people, mostly Liberians fleeing their country's civil war and its aftermath. "I often went hungry, and there was no clean drinking water," she says. "Girls were selling themselves to survive, and there was a lot of rape." But three years ago, Lovetta's talents had a chance to bloom: She was granted a Strongheart Fellowship, under a Liberian program designed to help gifted young people who have been orphaned or uprooted by war create businesses to benefit their communities. Today she designs Akawelle (the name is a combination of aka, for "also known as," and wel'le, the word for "love" in Kpelle, Lovetta's tribal language), a line of delicate jewelry made from the spent bullets of her country's war. Half of all profits from the sale of the jewelry goes to the Strongheart House, a home in Robertsport, Liberia, for displaced children and other Strongheart fellows. Lovetta herself was displaced when she was only 8 months old: After rebels attacked, she and her father, Larry, fled their town in central Liberia (her mother was out at the time, and Larry assumed she had been killed). "We walked for one week," he says. "We crossed rebel territory, slept in the bush. If I saw a breastfeeding mother, I would appeal to her to please give Lovetta milk." After years of moving to escape the fighting, they settled at Buduburam. Lovetta lived with other families while her father looked for work. Cori Stern, founder of the Strongheart Fellowship, met Lovetta when she was just 12 and remembers how self-assured she was, even then. When officials said there was no need to build a school for disabled students because there were none in the camp, "Lovetta said, 'No -- my best friend is blind, and they won't let him go to school because he can't see,'" Stern recalls. "The men did not like having a little girl go against what they were saying." Stern brought Lovetta to the United States in 2006 to attend school. In Buduburam, Lovetta's schooling had been sporadic, and she did not learn to read until 2007 (despite the late start, she finished the entire "Twilight" series in six weeks). Still, the visit to the United States was bittersweet. Lovetta was shocked to see homeless people in a country of such abundance and thought it unfair that some should have so much while others had so little. She also couldn't understand why Americans did not do more to help her country's refugees: "It made me angry that this whole world was here when I was in my darkest moment, and no one came to help." Oprah.com: Meet the one-man international aid organization . By turning bullets into things of beauty, Lovetta is doing her part to help. Since 2007 Akawelle has sold more than 400 necklaces and raised almost $20,000. Lovetta has also spoken at schools across the United States, and her necklaces have attracted fans like Halle Berry and Angelina Jolie. "I wear one, and my kids have her necklaces, too," says Jolie. "It was an opportunity to teach them about remarkable people like Lovetta, and pass on her message of love and tolerance." Lovetta also wants her message to be one of hope: "I believe that whatever you go through, there is always new life, a new beginning. So even a bullet that has killed someone can be the same one to help a new generation." Oprah.com: One man's record-breaking blood donations . By Aimee Lee Ball from O, The Oprah Magazine, December 2009 . Subscribe to O, The Oprah Magazine for up to 75% off the newsstand price. That's like getting 18 issues FREE. Subscribe now! TM & © 2011 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
### SUMMARY:
| Joan Hornig made a fortune in business and focuses on jewelry to fund charities .
Profits from her necklaces, bracelets, earrings go to charity of buyer's choice .
Lovetta Conto escaped Liberia's civil war to grow up in a refugee camp .
Half of her jewelry profits go to shelters for displaced children . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- A Texas man who is a self-proclaimed supporter of Anonymous says he's joining the hacking ring's purported fight against one of Mexico's most violent drug cartels. Barrett Brown, 30, told CNN that in the next two days he expects to receive thousands of e-mails naming alleged Zetas drug gang affiliates that he's been told were taken by hackers from a Mexican government website. "It's possible this is all a big hoax, (but) I'm more involved in this because of the possibility of striking a blow against the Zetas. ... The issue to me was more about how do we do this operation. I'm intent on what we could do with the information when we release it," Brown told CNN in a telephone interview Thursday. The Dallas resident, who describes himself as a former member of Anonymous and has frequently spoken publicly about his involvement in Anonymous activities, posted a YouTube video Wednesday explaining why he planned to join the effort. "I've decided to support the operation, which I understand is controversial for a number of reasons. In this case, there are lives hanging in the balance, in that those who are identified are likely to be killed," Brown says in the video, leaning back in a leather desk chair as he smokes a cigarette. He told CNN he learned about the so-called OpCartel after Mexican members of Anonymous reached out to him in an online chat forum. In the video, Brown says he wants to help Mexicans in their effort to stop cartel violence. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says more than 43,000 people have died in drug-related violence in Mexico since December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon began a crackdown on cartels. Some Mexicans have decided to take matters into their own hands, Brown says, doing what they can to stop the Zetas. Is Mexican cartel the next 'Anonymous' target? "It's Mexicans themselves who started this operation, who conceived it. It's not a bunch of stereotypical computer geeks sitting somewhere else in safety. These are people on the ground," he says. The purported threat against the Zetas began in early October with an online video of a masked man warning that the names, photographs and addresses of cartel supporters in the Mexican state of Veracruz can be published "if necessary." The video demanded the release of a member of Anonymous who had allegedly been abducted by the Zetas in Veracruz. A website purporting to be an official site connected with Anonymous in Latin America said early Friday the person who had been abducted had been released, "bruised ... [but] alive and well". CNN could not verify that the abduction took place or that the alleged kidnap victim had been released. A Veracruz government spokeswoman said no such kidnapping complaint had been registered with local officials. This week, another video purportedly from Anonymous surfaced, vowing to continue the campaign -- but warning of the possible risks. "This is not a video game. It's a dangerous operation that puts at risk the lives of you and your loved ones. Don't identify yourself as a member of Anonymous. You should never do it, but even less right now," a masked man in that video says. It's unclear whether Anonymous is behind either online video, or what the organization plans to do. The hacking group has no clear leader and no central official website. The website claiming to be an official site connected with Anonymous in Latin America also said Friday that no information on the Zetas would be released -- for now. "A message has been sent to us, that if Anonymous reveals a name related with the cartel, the family of the kidnapped Anonymous member will suffer the consequences, for every cartel name that is revealed, 10 people will be put to death. ... The collective Anonymous has decided by consensus that the information that we have available will not be revealed for the time being, now that we understand that we cannot avoid the threats that involve innocent civilians that don't have anything to do with our actions," the site said. But other online posts -- which CNN was also able to independently verify -- have said the operation is moving forward. "Looking over the forums of Anonymous discussions, it is clear that there has been disagreement over whether or not to pursue and publicize information on the cartels," Ben West, a tactical analyst for the STRATFOR global intelligence firm, wrote in an e-mail to CNN Thursday night. "Many Anonymous members seem to be aware of the threat that the Mexican cartels pose and seem disinclined to risk the consequences of incurring the cartels' wrath." Earlier Thursday, a security analysis from the intelligence firm said it seemed likely that some members of the organization would move forward with the purported plan. "Anonymous' collective nature means activists can select the actions they participate in, including Operation Cartel. It would only take one dedicated individual to continue the operation," the analysis said. Brown, the Texas man, said he planned to use a computer database to methodically sift through the e-mails he receives, verify them with the help of an experienced journalist and a cartel expert and then possibly release names -- or entire e-mails -- in small batches over time. "If we have 100 names, we'll release 30 or 40 names that seem right," he told CNN. Brown's online video -- which showed his face and was posted under his own name -- is notably different than many Anonymous posts, which commonly feature men in Guy Fawkes masks. He told CNN Thursday that he was not afraid to come forward. "I don't feel I should be. I should have the right and the ability as someone who is a fairly public person to work to ID criminals in a foreign country without having to worry about being murdered," he said. Brown also said he had weighed the possibility of wrongly identifying someone, or causing killings. "Both my grandfathers were bombers in World War II (and) they killed innocent people and did it with less information. I'm more confident about the ratio. I'd be surprised if many people (in the e-mails) were incorrect," he said. While whether -- and who -- Anonymous planned to attack remained unclear, some self-proclaimed members of the group were already declaring at least one victory. Last week and this week a former Mexican state prosecutor's website was apparently hacked, with bold letters stating he "is Zeta." Late Thursday night, the website featured a picture of a Mexican Day of the Dead offering and the words, "Anonymous Mexico OpCartel continues." In the past few years, Anonymous has taken credit for disrupting a number of prominent websites, including those of PayPal, Master Card, Visa and the Church of Scientology. In September, the group claimed it was targeting the Mexican government, launching attacks on a range of official websites, including those of Mexico's defense and public safety ministries. The Zetas started with deserters from the Mexican Army, and quickly gained a reputation for ruthless violence as the armed branch of Mexico's Gulf cartel. It split off into a separate drug-trafficking organization last year. In recent months, the Gulf coast state of Veracruz has become a frequent site of clashes between armed groups as drug-related violence grows. In September, 35 bodies were abandoned in a roadway during rush-hour traffic in a popular tourist area there, two days before a meeting of high-ranking state prosecutors and judges. CNN's Rene Hernandez, Doug Gross and Nick Valencia contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: A website claims an alleged abduction victim has been released .
NEW: The website also says Anonymous is not releasing information for the time being .
Barrett Brown says he expects to receive e-mails naming Zetas affiliates .
Analyst: Inside Anonymous "there has been disagreement" about the purported plan . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Tucson, Arizona (CNN) -- Gabby Giffords will never be the same after being shot through the head little more than two years ago. Yet one thing hasn't changed, ironically, is her appreciation for guns. For the former congresswoman who is now at the center of the debate over gun control and background checks, target practice is still a form of entertainment. In the back yard of her mother Gloria's house, located deep in the Arizona desert, Giffords' husband, Mark Kelly, uses planting pots and water bottles as targets. Giffords watches from the patio above with her mother, cheering him on. "Excellent!" exclaims Giffords. "Excellent!" repeats her mother. And Kelly isn't shooting with just any kind of gun. It's a 9mm Glock, the same kind Jared Loughner used to shoot Giffords while she greeted constituents in front of an Arizona supermarket. "In that case it had a magazine that held 33 rounds," said Kelly. "He shot 33 rounds. Every round hit somebody, we think." This gun belongs to Giffords. It was a gift from her husband several years ago, before she was shot. "Well, Gabby used to like shooting a gun, too," Kelly said when asked how recreation for him can still be shooting a gun after his wife was shot though the head. "Yes," Giffords adds. "She didn't want to get rid of it," said Kelly. Gabby and Mark: The new 'Bradys' of gun control . Nevertheless, allowing CNN's cameras to exclusively capture Kelly shooting a gun with Giffords looking on is meant to help advance their political cause: curbing gun violence. They hope to show that Giffords and Kelly are legitimate gun owners and credible messengers for tightening gun restrictions. The speed of background checks . Kelly also showed off a gun he recently bought -- videotaping the transaction -- for the sole purpose of demonstrating how easy it is to get a background check, and why he and Giffords want the checks expanded to private sales such as gun shows. "When we timed it, it took 5 minutes and 36 seconds, not a lot of time. You could do the same thing at the gun show where people are currently not subject to background checks in most states," said Kelly. 'Stronger, better, tougher': Giffords improves, but she'll never be the same . Giffords and Kelly formed their organization -- Americans for Responsible Solutions -- in January, the second anniversary of the shooting that left Giffords partially paralyzed and robbed the once-articulate politician of her gift of speech. "Optimistic!" Giffords exclaimed. One word. But a clear answer she gave to describe how she sees the odds for gun restrictions to pass. "I am, too," said Kelly. "Especially when we're talking about universal background checks." Sandy Hook . The Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting in Connecticut last December spurred them to take a stand. She paused. The brain damage from her own gunshot wound makes it difficult for her to find words, even "Sandy Hook." "Sandy Brook," said Giffords several times, before finally getting the word right by repeating her husband. "Sandy Hook," said Kelly. "Hook," Giffords finally said. "Sandy Hook Elementary. You know, it's something we just can't -- you know, 20 -- 20 first graders," Kelly said, as Giffords chimed in. "First graders died ... awful." Being politically realistic . Following recent mass shootings, the couple originally called for a ban on assault weapons and limits to high-capacity magazines. This year, Giffords made a dramatic plea to senators, asking them to be "bold" and "courageous." But the couple admits there are limits on what is politically realistic. "Background checks," said Giffords, when asked to name the single most important move Congress could make right now. Reid to force a vote Thursday on debating gun proposals . Giffords has learned to navigate an iPad for e-mail with her left hand, because her right hand is paralyzed. But most of her communicating with former colleagues -- pressing them for new gun laws -- goes through Kelly, and most of it is on the phone from their home in Arizona. Kelly notes that when they visited congressional offices in February, she didn't have to say much to make her point. "When Gabby sits in their office and tells them how important a universal background check bill is, they -- they hear that. And she's a former colleague. She was doing her job, you know, like they do every single day, when she was nearly killed," said Kelly. Representing a 'red' district . When Giffords was in Congress -- she represented her largely Republican Arizona district on the Mexican border -- filled with voters who expected her to defend their gun rights. She pushed to overturn a gun ban in the District of Columbia, and voted to allow guns in national parks. Exclusive: Gabby Giffords still appreciates gun culture . A conservative Democrat herself, she knows first-hand how politically hard it is for her former colleagues to support gun restrictions. "Yes, it's tough," said Giffords. A big part of what Americans for Responsible Solutions is trying to do is raise enough money and gain enough influence to be a counterweight to the powerful NRA. When they press senators to support background checks, they tell them they will spend money in their states to back them up and support them. They said their money -- their organization is a super PAC that can raise unlimited funds -- is coming both from small donors on the Internet and large wealthy donors who are writing big checks. Stopping 'a bad guy with a gun' What does Giffords think of the National Rifle Association's argument that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun? "It doesn't work. It doesn't work!" she exclaimed. But, realistically, had she not been shot, would the pro-gun congresswoman have been open to voting for stricter gun laws? "Yes. Yes," Giffords said. Biden: Gun vote opponents in a 'time warp' She tried to describe her politics when in Congress. "Middle of the road," she said. "Straight in the middle." There is no question the gun culture is deeply ingrained in Giffords. She still exposes herself to guns, even after her near fatal shooting. What is it like to hear gunshots go off? Does it startle her? "No. No," said Giffords. "I think that's because Gabby doesn't remember the gunshot going off the day she was injured, right? You don't remember that?" Kelly asked Giffords. "No," Giffords affirmed. Since Giffords is right-handed, and that hand is paralyzed, she is limited in what she can do with her left hand. That has made joining her husband in target practice impossible. Would she want to shoot a gun again? "We've talked about it. Gabby has actually held it. (She) hasn't shot one since she's been injured, but, a few days ago, she was actually trying to aim with it, with her left hand," said Kelly. Does she want to work towards being able to shoot? Is it a priority? "Not really," said Giffords. "Not at the top of the list." added Kelly. Giffords is seen as a good spokesperson for new laws to curb gun violence, even though she can't speak very well. "It stinks," Giffords responds. Again, two words which speak volumes. CNN's Ted Barrett contributed to this report .
### SUMMARY:
| Former Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot in the head two years ago .
Today, with her husband, she crusades for tougher gun laws .
She lost the use of her right arm and has limited vision . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(EW) -- If second place is the first loser, then this week that's a pretty great place to be. Warner Bros.' literary adaptation "The Great Gatsby" stunned the industry with a magnificent $51.1 million debut. Of course, that number wasn't large enough to take down Disney's superhero sequel, "Iron Man 3," which topped the box office for a second weekend with $72.5 million, but it's impressive nonetheless. Ah, the summer movie season: when films actually make money! (Provided that they're not called "Peeples.") "Iron Man 3," which had the second best opening of all time last weekend with $174.1 million, fell 58 percent in its second frame — a slimmer drop than "Iron Man 2" managed (59 percent) but a heftier one than "The Avengers" scored (50 percent). "Iron Man 3's" gargantuan $72.5 million weekend gave it a sizzling $17,400 per theater average from 4,253 locations and lifted its domestic box office total to $284.9 million after just 10 days. Internationally, the film is proving even more invincible. The $200 million Marvel title has now earned $664.1 million overseas, led by massive business in Asia. "Iron Man 3′s" top two international markets are currently China ($95.3 million) and Korea ($54.1 million), and it has become the highest grossing film of all time in both Indonesia and Malaysia. Worldwide, "Iron Man 3" has grossed a truly jaw-dropping $949 million, guaranteeing it will surpass $1 billion sometime this week. EW review: 'The Great Gatsby' In second place, Baz Luhrmann's roaring '20s drama took in $51.1 million — the third best opening weekend ever for a film that didn't hit No. 1. (In 2004, "The Day After Tomorrow" debuted with $68.7 million but trailed "Shrek 2." In 2009, "Sherlock Holmes" started with $62.3 million but couldn't overtake "Avatar.") The glossy F. Scott Fitzgerald adaptation, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire and Joel Edgerton, broke out at the box office despite middling reviews and a "B" CinemaScore grade. "This exceeded all our expectations," says Dan Fellman, Warner Bros.' head of domestic distribution, who claims that scheduling the adult-oriented literary drama between blockbusters like "Iron Man 3" and "Star Trek Into Darkness" helped it stand out. Indeed, "Gatsby" appealed to a different audience than most May action-spectacles. Whereas "Iron Man 3" was dominated by male viewers last weekend, "Gatsby" played to a core demographic of adult women. According to Warner Bros., ticket-buyers were 59 percent female and 69 percent were above the age of 25. When asked what drew those ticket buyers, Fellman says the film's Jay-Z-curated soundtrack definitely built buzz, but ultimately it came down to someone else: "Three little letters: L-E-O." 'The Great Gatsby' soundtrack and the rich history of the rock star composer . "The Great Gatsby's" marketing has relied heavily on Leonardo DiCaprio's mug — and with good reason. DiCaprio has become one of the most exciting movie stars working today without ever signing up for a major franchise or donning superhero spandex. "Gatsby's" healthy debut marks his second best opening weekend ever, behind only 2010′s "Inception," which started with $62.8 million. Hot on the heels of "Django Unchained," which wrangled $162.8 million total, DiCaprio is riding high at the box office. But "Gatsby's" debut also marks a career high point for Australian director Baz Luhrmann. Before this weekend, the polarizing filmmaker's best opening weekend belonged to his sweeping romance "Australia," which bowed to $14.8 million in 2008. "The Great Gatsby" easily clobbered that figure, and it will quickly become his highest grossing film ever, surpassing "Moulin Rouge," which danced its way to $57 million total in 2001. Of course, "Gatsby" was undoubtedly Luhrmann's most expensive project, too. The film, which was shot in 3-D, cost about $105 million to produce (and reportedly would have cost about $190 million without Australian rebates), though audiences weren't overly excited about the 3-D effects. Only 33 percent of ticket sales were for 3-D showtimes. Michael Bay's directorial effort "Pain & Gain" wound up in third place in its third weekend with $5 million, marking a slim 33 percent drop. The Paramount film, which stars Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson, has now earned $41.6 million against a slim $26 million budget. Shane Black and 'Iron Man 3': Who knew the 'Lethal Weapon' screenwriter would turn out to be a thrilling director? Tyler Perry's latest producing effort, "Peeples," bombed in fourth place with a terrible $4.9 million from 2,041 theaters, making it the first true misfire associated with the Tyler Perry brand. The filmmaker only produced the movie (he typically writes and/or directs and/or stars in his films), but distributor Lionsgate marketed the film on his name, preceding its title with "Tyler Perry Presents." Fortunately, "Peeples," which stars "Scandal's" Kerry Washington alongside Craig Robinson and David Alan Grier, only cost the studio about $15 million. Audiences issued the film an unimpressive "B-" CinemaScore grade. "42," now in its fifth weekend, almost surpassed "Peeples" (and it still could once final figures are released). The $40 million Jackie Robinson biopic earned $4.7 million, bringing its total to $84.7 million so far. Along with "Gatsby," "42" has been an encouraging performer for Warner Bros., which suffered misfires like "Beautiful Creatures," "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" and "Jack the Giant Slayer" in early 2013. 1. "Iron Man 3" -- $72.5 million . 2. "The Great Gatsby" -- $51.1 million . 3. "Pain & Gain" -- $5 million . 4. "Peeples" -- $4.9 million . 5. "42" -- $4.7 million . Check back next weekend for full box office coverage of "Star Trek Into Darkness," which earned an impressive $31 million from just seven international territories this weekend and will easily beam itself atop the domestic chart come Friday. See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.
### SUMMARY:
| "The Great Gatsby" had a magnificent $51.1 million debut at the box office .
But that number wasn't large enough to overcome "Iron Man 3"
That movie came in first place with $72.5 million . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Boston (CNN) -- If you lived in South Boston from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s, you either loved or loathed Whitey Bulger. He could be colorful and generous, or, if you were his enemy, it is said he could be cutthroat and cruel. In a federal courtroom in Boston on Wednesday, James "Whitey" Bulger, who spent more than 16 years in hiding, finally faced the judicial system. Charged with murder in the killings of 19 people, Bulger, wearing jeans and a green, long-sleeved T-shirt, listened intently as prosecutors and his lawyers gave opening statements. With references to Robert Kennedy, La Cosa Nostra and the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the trial of Boston's most famous fugitive got under way. Bulger, 83, who prosecutors said was the head of the Irish mob in Boston for nearly two decades, sat slightly hunched, watching grainy black-and-white surveillance videos of him as he appeared more than 30 years ago, trimmer and only slightly balding. In one of the clips, Bulger punches the air and uses his fingers as guns as he animatedly talks to several mob associates. Describing Bulger as a "hands-on killer," prosecutor Brian Kelly told the jury Bulger "did the dirty work himself." He described how Bulger ruthlessly shot one mob associate after attempts to strangle him failed because the rope he was using was too thick. "You want one to the head?" Bulger reportedly said. "Yes, please," the victim was said to have answered. Describing another killing, Kelly said, "Death came calling in the form of Whitey Bulger," who allegedly lured his victim to a phone booth and then opened fire, along with partner Steve "The Rifleman" Flemmi. The trial is expected to take up to three months and has the potential to reveal sensational details about the mob and FBI corruption, especially if Bulger chooses to testify. His attorney, J.W. Carney, portrayed Bulger not as a killer but as the head of a successful criminal enterprise of drug trafficking, extortion and loan sharking that brought in "millions upon millions of dollars." His client would not leave his "comfort zone" to kill someone in another state, as prosecutors allege. Carney took aim at rogue FBI agents and police who were on "Bulger's payroll," both to protect him and to alert him to impending wiretaps, surveillance efforts and indictments. The government will try to show that Bulger committed crimes while working as an informant for the FBI, revealing to the feds the mafia's secrets and corrupting them in the process to ignore his crimes. Bulger never worked as an informant, Carney said, adding that "the worst thing" a person of Irish descent could do would be to inform. But the defense acknowledged for the first time that Bulger was involved in drug trafficking and that he made millions of dollars from it. The defense blamed the cooperating witnesses for the killings, saying they are falsely blaming Bulger for their own acts. Carney urged the jurors to be skeptical about the credibility of the government's planned witnesses. "Would you believe them beyond a reasonable doubt when you add the unbelievable incentives the government has given them?" he asked. Bulger rose to the top of the notorious Winter Hill gang, prosecutors say, before he went into hiding for more than 16 years after an FBI agent told him in December 1994 that he was about to be indicted on federal racketeering charges. But Carney claimed Bulger fled not because he was given the heads up on an impending indictment, but because he heard on the radio that federal agents were rounding up mobsters, an account heard for the first time ever. Bulger was captured in Santa Monica, California, two years ago, living under a false name with his girlfriend in an apartment in the oceanside city. At his July 2011 arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the 19 murder charges and 13 other counts. In the pretrial hearings, Bulger had argued he was given immunity by the FBI and a former prosecutor. A judge dismissed the claim, saying any purported immunity was not a defense against the crimes Bulger faces. Besides the slayings, Bulger is accused of using violence, force and threats to shake down South Boston's bookmakers, loan sharks and drug dealers. The Irish mob allegedly laundered its ill-gotten gains through liquor stores, bars and other property it owned in South Boston. "The guy is a sociopathic killer," Tom Foley, the organized crime investigator who spent most of his career with the Massachusetts State Police trying to put Bulger behind bars, told CNN in 2011. "He loved that type of life. He's one of the hardest and cruelest individuals that operated in the Boston area. He's a bad, bad, bad guy." Tracking suspects down: Some landmark U.S. manhunts . Former Boston Globe reporter Dick Lehr, who wrote a book about Bulger, described him as a coldblooded killer whose gang went to lengths to avoid detection. "When they killed someone -- this is pre-DNA -- they pulled the teeth out, cut the fingers off, tried to make it so the victims, if they were discovered from their graves, couldn't be identified. There's just no bottom. It doesn't get much uglier than someone like Whitey Bulger," Lehr said. Few people knew Bulger was a rat. FBI agent John Connolly, who was raised in the same housing projects as Bulger, cut a deal with the alleged mob figure in 1975. Bulger would give information about the Italian mob -- the FBI's prime target -- authorities said. Protected by the rogue FBI agent, Bulger got names of other informants who had dirt on him and rival gang members, people he is accused of killing. He knew when police were watching, knew when they were moving in. After he fled Boston, he spent more than a decade on the FBI's Top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list before his 2011 capture. His girlfriend, Catherine Greig, was sentenced to eight years in prison last summer for helping him evade capture. Connolly is serving a 50-year sentence for second-degree murder and racketeering. Prosecutors plan to call as many as 80 witnesses. Among them will be Connolly and Flemmi, who was also an informant for the FBI. He is serving life terms without parole but avoided a possible death sentence by cooperating in the hunt for Bulger. On Wednesday, Carney called Flemmi "a psychopath without a conscience." Other former Bulger associates are expected to be called by the prosecution. Last August, Carney said his client planned to testify. "At this point in his life, his goal is to have the truth come out regarding how he was able to act with impunity for so long in the city of Boston," Carney told CNN affiliate WCVB-TV. CNN's Ross Levitt and Deborah Feyerick reported from Boston, Almasy reported and wrote from Atlanta, Ann O'Neil and Michael Martinez contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| NEW: James "Whitey" Bulger was a "hands-on" killer, prosecutor says .
NEW: Defense attorney says he was a criminal but not a killer .
He has pleaded not guilty to 19 murder charges, other counts .
The 83-year-old was captured in 2011 after 16 years in hiding . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- An Alabama man convicted of raping his former neighbor and friend was sentenced November 13 to 20 years in a state penitentiary on the lead charge, and 10 years each on the lesser offenses. Except that he wasn't. The victim, Courtney Andrews, told CNN she was outraged by the sentencing. "I don't know how any of this is possible." Austin Clem, 25, was convicted of one count of forcible rape and two counts of second-degree rape for attacks that Andrews said started when she was 13. "Honestly, I didn't understand when I first heard the sentence," said Andrews, now 20. "I was expecting him to spend a long time in prison." She said she hadn't talked about the abuse because of threats. "I had to grow up at a very, very young age, and I know what it's like to have your life threatened and that no one will understand me." Even though the sentencing order says on its face that Clem will serve his time in a state penitentiary, that same order adds that he will serve none of his time in a state penitentiary. People are outraged. Moreover, they are confused. Was this a legal sentence? If so, was it a moral sentence? 'Suspended' sentences: When 'incarceration' means anything but . People have every reason to be confused. Sentencing statutes are routinely complex, and Alabama's is no exception. Most state sentencing schemes follow a common theme, arriving at an individual's punishment based on the 1) gravity of the offense; and 2) the defendant's prior record; which can then be aggravated or mitigated by any other factors the court wants to consider. Lately, in light of the Marissa Alexander case, mandatory minimum sentences have been harshly criticized. "Mando-mins" as they are sometimes called, force a judge to sentence a minimum number of years, preventing a judge from considering the individual defendant's unique circumstances, and showing mercy where appropriate. The Austin Clem case highlights the issue at the other end of the spectrum: whether judges can have too much discretion in sentencing convicted felons. In the Clem case, the judge's discretion came from his authority to impose a "split sentence." Let's look at the lead charge and the sentence, taken verbatim from the order of sentence: "Count I- Twenty (20) years in the State Penitentiary, split sentence, to serve two (2) years in [a community-based program], balance suspended and placed on three (3) years supervised probation." Yes, you read that right. It essentially says: Twenty years in prison -- except that it will be zero years, and none of it in prison. The judge likely relied upon Section 15-18-8 of the Alabama Code, which explicitly gives judges discretion to suspend a significant portion of a defendant's sentence. A suspended sentence is incarceration in name only: The defendant will serve that time out of custody. Clem received 20 years. In this jurisdiction, for sentences between 15 and 20 years, it appears that a mandatory minimum applies: The judge must order at least three and up to five years, and then may suspend the rest. Here's where it gets strange: The Alabama Supreme Court has held that even the incarceration portion of a split sentence (the three-year minimum) may be suspended. So 20 years can mean zero years. Why give so much discretion to judges? In Alabama, the rules of procedure direct judges to consider alternatives to long prison terms. Why? The rules cite skyrocketing costs associated with actual confinement and call attention to prison overcrowding. That prison overcrowding leads to uncertainty: In other words, the judges don't know that the prison can even accommodate their sentence, so they might as well mete out a sentence that can actually be carried out. An illegal sentence vs. an immoral sentence . For many, it doesn't matter that this might have been a legal sentence. The outrage is directed not at the legality, but the morality of the punishment. Did the judge have a moral obligation to incarcerate Clem? What would you have done? Would you have given credence to the defense's argument that the sex was consensual? Is it more important to you as a judge that Clem get the counseling that sex offenders desperately need? Or is it more important that he be isolated from society? The idea of punishment for criminals is justified by a few different goals. Incarceration serves to quarantine criminals and protect the rest of us in society from them. Another goal of punishment is rehabilitation. Like it or not, most sex offenders will eventually serve their sentences and be back on the street. Given the risk of repeat offenses, rehabilitation of these felons could be the most critical factor in protecting society. But punishment also recognizes simple retribution as a goal. Retribution is the idea that a punishment should, in theory, be equivalent to the crime. While retribution can also achieve vengeance, it serves a more practical purpose. A society that fails to punish offenders risks citizens taking matters into their own hands -- which threatens the stability of the society itself. So, if you are a retribution-type judge, you'd probably sentence Clem to long-term incarceration -- even though the legislature has effectively told you that, because of overcrowding, he might not serve that whole sentence. If you are a rehabilitation-type judge, or you worry about Clem's dependents, you might do as this judge did, and focus on the rehabilitation, with the idea that more progress can be made on the outside than on the inside. As long as the sentence is legal, as a judge, the choice is yours: Do you focus on retribution? Or rehabilitation? One thing is for certain, you may not agree with the judge's sentence in the Austin Clem case. Indeed, the prosecution in this case is not going gently into the good night. The prosecution has now asked an appeals court to fix what it calls an illegal sentence, claiming the judge had no authority to impose the two-year minimum, and should have at least imposed the three year minimum. That appears to be a correct reading of the law. Of course, if the judge can suspend the entire sentence anyway, including the mandatory minimum, is it a distinction without a difference? The prosecution also claims that felons convicted of first-degree rape are excluded by law from community-based programs, because rape is so fundamentally a crime of violence. If the judge misread the law here, the prosecution may succeed. If so, the court will have to resentence Clem -- but if the judge can still suspend the entire sentence, could Clem get an even better deal? If you can't accept it, then your beef is not only with the judge. Your beef is with the Alabama legislature and the Alabama courts that enacted not only the rules, but warned the justice system that it simply could not accommodate prison terms. Your beef is with the same prisons that don't have enough beds, leading to the crisis. Finally, your beef is with the Alabama Supreme Court, which sanctioned this practice. Because even if this sentence is ultimately legal, you may still conclude that it is an immoral one. Unfortunately, there's no appeals court for that. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Danny Cevallos.
### SUMMARY:
| An Alabama man was sentenced to no prison time for rape conviction .
Danny Cevallos says Alabama law, rules give judges discretion to suspend prison terms .
He says even if the sentence is legal, it may not be a moral one .
Cevallos: People who object should blame legislature and courts, in addition to judge . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Beijing (CNN) -- In China online popularity can sometimes spell trouble. Charles Xue realized that recently when he was arrested in Beijing on charges of soliciting prostitutes. Xue's supporters claim he is being singled out because of his online activities. Xue, 60, is a Chinese-American businessman and blogger, whose regular musings about issues such as corruption and political reform have made him hugely popular -- he has more than 12 million followers on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like micro-blogging site. But he has also caught the attention of authorities. His arrest, prominently reported in state-run media, is widely seen by Chinese netizens as part of a government crackdown on the spread of rumors on the Internet. On Friday, another well-known microblogger was reported to have been detained. Dong Rubin was being held on charges of mis-stating his company's registered capital, according to a statement from his lawyer reported by the South China Morning Post. China has more Internet users than any other country, with more than 500 million people online, and an estimated 300 million microblog users. Although the services are censored -- with sensitive terms blocked and posts deleted -- the speed with which information can be disseminated has proven a headache for Beijing. While the microblogs have been used to disseminate false information such as extraterrestrial sightings, they have also become a forum for spreading news of scandals, protests and venting public anger at incidents such as the 2011 Wenzhou bullet train crash, when the response from authorities was heavily criticized online. After that incident, which focused public opinion against authorities, a senior Beijing official visited the headquarters of Sina and urged the Internet firm to curb the spread of "false information." Counting re-tweets . Since then the authorities have even quantified what constitutes such a crime. "Internet users who share false information that is defamatory or harms the national interest face up to three years in prison if their posts are viewed 5,000 times or forwarded 500 times, under a judicial interpretation released on Monday," the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported this week. If a netizen posts a single message deemed as slanderous, for instance, and it's viewed more than 5,000 times, or re-tweeted or shared more than 500 times, it may be considered as a "serious case" punishable under China's libel law. The authorities have not been slow to take action. Last month Beijing police closed down an Internet marketing company and arrested four of its employees for publishing posts attacking Lei Feng, a "selfless" People's Liberation Army soldier who became the subject of an official propaganda campaign after his death more than four decades ago. The police said the company, Erma, has long used salacious and provocative posts about public figures and institutions to "rock" the Internet and drive traffic to certain sites, the South China Morning Post reported. Earlier this year, journalist Liu Hu was arrested after publicly accusing a senior official of negligence. Prior to his detention, Liu used his real Weibo account to make repeated allegations against Ma Zhengqi, deputy director of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and former vice-mayor of Chongqing, a bustling metropolis in southwest China. The police have said only that Liu was suspected of fabricating and spreading rumors. Persecution . According to Nicholas Bequelin, a senior researcher with Human Rights Watch, China's state media may say the campaign is aimed at combating fraud, hoaxes and defamation, but in reality "it is more a political persecution of critics of the party and the government." But why the crackdown now? It is prompted in large part by the uncertainty caused by China's slowing economic growth and by the current leadership transition in China, said Jeremy Goldkorn, founder and editor of Danwei, a China-focused blog and media research firm. "These factors have caused the party to return to the Leninist tactic of stepping up information controls, and to the Maoist practice of asking 'who are our enemies?' and 'who are our friends?' which is why some social media personalities now find themselves in trouble," he said. Shaping opinions . Another factor is that China's massive Internet-savvy population consists mostly of young people who go online for online games, e-commerce and social networking. Each day, tens of millions of people use micro-blogging services such as Weibo to share information. Among them are celebrity bloggers like Xue— business tycoons, movie stars, writers and commentators— who have millions of "followers," giving them enormous influence in shaping the opinions of such a large and mobile population -- a real worry for the Beijing government anxious to avoid an erosion of its control. As a result -- no doubt influenced by the online whistle blowers exposing official malfeasance -- the new administration of President Xi Jinping is pursuing an anti-corruption campaign, vowing to target those who put the party and state in jeopardy. "Xi was forced to accelerate the drive by a steady drum beat of Internet revelations that forced the regime to sack and try a series of mid-level officials to demonstrate to a deeply cynical public that it was willing to act against rampant corruption and arrogance of power," said Andrew Wedeman, author of "Double Paradox: Rapid Growth and Rising Corruption in China." "The contradictory response to the media, bloggers and whistle blowers reflects the regime's fear that it might be losing control of the campaign," Wedeman said. "It cannot afford to let the Internet keep driving the campaign. It cannot lose control over the choice of targets." Internet regulation . Yet even advocates for change accept not all accusations made online are accurate. "You have a need to regulate the Internet," said Bequelin. "There are a lot of unsavory things happening in China, such as unscrupulous PR companies mounting campaigns against another company just to offer their service to put an end to it. But the best disinfectant is sunlight. If you have a free press, then these rumors just get dragged out naturally." Because many Chinese citizens do not trust the state-run media to expose any wrongdoings of the party, Bequelin said, they turn to Weibo. Meantime, the authorities are trying to assuage concerns that the drive against rumor-mongering could muzzle legitimate whistleblowers. A recent Xinhua report quoted Sun Jungong, a spokesman for China's Supreme Court, pledging that "netizens who help expose corruption online will not face charges, even if their posts are not 100% accurate." Still, the campaign may be intimidating some bloggers. "When posting on Weibo, some bloggers joke about it by adding words like 'be kind to me, don't forward more than 500 times'," said a Chinese journalist who requested anonymity. "Others are having fun forwarding nonsensical messages, press releases or Weibo postings from government accounts more than 500 times." "At some point, the government will need to declare victory and pull back," said Wedeman, a professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln who has focused on the issue of corruption in China. "So long as it cannot control the flow of rumors and charges on the Internet, it cannot begin to draw the campaign to a close without looking like it is sweeping things under the rug."
### SUMMARY:
| Chinese government involved in crackdown on the spread of rumors on the Internet .
They are targeting sharing of false information that is defamatory or harms national interest .
Bloggers, users with huge numbers of followers, influence under the official spotlight .
Critics believe the crackdown is a politically-motivated campaign against free speech . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
New York (CNN) -- Pro basketball is a staple of American athletics, taking its place with Major League Baseball and the National Football League as one of the pre-eminent U.S. sports leagues. And it's big business, too, pumping tens of millions of dollars into the U.S. economy. So the owner of the Brooklyn Nets raised eyebrows this week when he said he planned to transfer ownership of the team to a company in Russia -- at a time when tension between the U.S. and Russia is at its highest level since the end of the Cold War. That raised two questions: Will it happen? Does it matter? The billionaire owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, Monday reiterated his year-old intention to transfer the Brooklyn Nets ownership base to Russia, but has since toned down his rhetoric. "This is a long process which may or may not come to fruition and nothing is imminent," Prokhorov's company, Onexim Sports and Entertainment, which owns the NBA basketball team, said in a statement released via the Brooklyn Nets. "Of course, no steps in this direction could or would be taken without the full knowledge and approval of the NBA." On Monday, the 48 year-old Russian national told reporters in Moscow, "I have already stated that I will transfer the basketball club (under the Russian jurisdiction)," according to Russian news agency ITAR-Tass. Not so fast, the NBA said, telling CNN the transfer has yet to begin. "The Nets are owned by Mikhail Prokhorov through a U.S.-based company," Mike Bass, executive vice president of NBA communications, told CNN. "We have received no official application, nor is there a process under way through our office to transfer the ownership of the Nets to another company." If an application to change ownership was submitted by the Nets, 75% of NBA team owners -- or 23 of 30 -- would have to approve the move, Bass said. He said that the NBA's Board of Governors (the 30 team owners) would have to decide whether there are any issues with the transfer of ownership application. Currently, the NBA has no rules prohibiting a foreign company from owning an NBA team. The back-and-forth comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin pushes Russian businessmen to "de-offshore" companies owned abroad. Last week, Putin stressed the importance of bringing the companies home and making them pay Russian taxes to help grow the economy, according to the Kremlin website. "Entrepreneurs need to understand their responsibility," Putin told a group of Russian businessmen last week. "Our priority stance is that Russian companies have to be registered here, in their home country and have a transparent ownership structure." Onexim Group is described as a private investment holding company that owns or manages various metals companies, financial companies and media outlets, as well as the Nets, according to the site. In recent weeks, Washington has imposed sanctions on senior Russian officials and what officials called "cronies" of Putin, as well as a bank, after warning Putin against annexing Crimea from Ukraine. President Barack Obama also signed an executive order that authorizes his administration to target Russian companies vital to the economy, including financial services, energy, metals and mining. When asked about the idea of a basketball team transferring its ownership to be based in Russia, the State Department declined to comment. Onexim says the discussions to move the Brooklyn Nets under Russia's jurisdiction began in the spring of 2013. At the time, Prokhorov intended to run for public office and the move was an attempt to comply with Russian laws regarding political candidates. "Mikhail was not in any way tying it to the current political situation," Ellen Pinchuk, director for international projects at the communications adviser group Mikhailov & Partners, said this week. Prokhorov called the move "an outstanding opportunity to use NBA technologies for the step-by-step development of basketball in Russia," according to ITAR-Tass. Alexander Kliment, director of Russia research and emerging markets at Eurasia Group, a global political risk and consulting firm, said there is a basic agreement between Putin and oligarchs permitting them to make money as long as they stay out of government. They're also expected to comply with government demands, he said. "Prokhorov is falling into line with the Kremlin's broader emphasis on returning the assets of Russia's wealthiest businessmen back to Russia," Kliment said. "There's a political dimension to that: to ensure that the wealthiest are as dependent on him as possible and as independent of the west as possible." Russia's oligarchs always had to balance keeping assets at home versus abroad, Kliment said, but pressure has been increasing. "For a long time the political risk of keeping assets in Russia appeared to be higher, but in the past month that has shifted because of pressure from both the Kremlin and the White House," Kliment added. Courtney Brunious, associate director of the USC Marshall Sports Business Institute, said such a move in the sports world could be complicated by the current political situation. "Any type of moves that take into consideration the residency of who owns the team would be impacted by whatever laws in the country in which they reside and any type of sanctions that currently or could potentially be placed on a country, such as Russia," Brunious said. If NBA team owners gather to discuss the transfer they have to consider the best interest of the league and owners, as well the ramifications of ownership change, he said. "Anyone that has a background, like Prokhorov, that could be aligned with sanctions, needs to be taken seriously," Brunious said. He added: "The NBA as a whole wants draw from a large audience. They want to focus on the talent and competition on the court, they don't necessarily want to link up with geopolitical issues." "Unless the move raises issues with the league or the U.S. government, Nets fans probably shouldn't be worried. As long as the Nets ownership group is financially sound and not running afoul of those groups, the team won't likely feel much of an impact," Brunious said. Prokhorov became principal owner of the Nets in 2010. He bought 80% of the team, as well as a 45% stake in the Barclays Center, the iconic new facility the team has called home since 2012. The Brooklyn Nets are worth $780 million, the 5th most valuable franchise in the NBA, according to Forbes. Prokhorov -- worth $10.4 billion, the 120th richest person in the world and the 11th richest in Russia, according to Forbes -- gained his wealth through minerals and metal investments in the years after the fall of communism in the early 1990s. He's got a reputation as a financial sage. "I like business, it's my profession," Prokhorov told CNN's Matthew Chance in 2011. "I spend, like, 15 hours a day in the office. It's the great joy in my life, and I never think about money." Prokhorov has shown interest in politics in the past, and even ran for president in Russia as an independent against Putin in 2012. At the time, some saw him as too close to the regime in power. Many Russians suspected the Kremlin put Prokhorov up to garner some legitimate votes without being a true threat to Putin, giving the impression that the contest was fair. CNN's Leigh Remizowski, Quand Thomas, Jillian Martin and Frederik Pleitgen contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| Russian billionaire owner of Nets considers ownership move to Russian jurisdiction .
The move is "not in any way tying it to the current political situation," the owner's rep said .
Obama signed an order that can target Russian companies vital to its economy . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- In 2011, Brittany Miles considered food to be her enemy. Having been tormented by schoolmates for being overweight since she was 7, she decided to fight back the only way she knew how. At the beginning of her senior year of high school, at a size 18, Miles began compulsively dieting and exercising. By the time she started college the following year, she was down to a size 4 and was obsessed with losing weight. "Our society and my peers told me that I wasn't loveable when I was fat. That when I was fat, I couldn't be anything else," said Miles, now a senior and a biology major at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. "So, I was determined to be the farthest thing from fat possible." She began what she called a war against calories, and it quickly spiraled out of control. She limited herself to 400 to 600 calories and did 90 minutes of intense cardio daily. Yet at her lightest, Miles never dropped below a size 4. "Just because my bone structure stopped me from being the size 00 everyone pictures, doesn't mean that I wasn't in an incredibly unsafe and unhealthy place," she said. Although she was 15 pounds underweight, no one caught onto her habits because they were too busy praising her for her weight loss. "We constantly push people to lose weight, but sometimes that's not right for everyone," Miles said. In the United States, some 20 million women and another 10 million men suffer from a clinical eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia, according to the National Eating Disorder Association. Many people also struggle with some form of body dissatisfaction or unhealthy eating behaviors that can lead to the development of clinical disorders. Studies suggest half a million teens are suffering from eating disorders, and that their concerns about weight begin as young as 6. Going to extremes: Eating disorders in America . Miles says she didn't treat her body like she loved it when she began to lose weight. "I deprived it, punished it and tortured it," Miles said. "I was convinced that a smaller dress size was the key to happiness." Breaking the cycle . The day after Miles moved into her college dorm, she said hello to a girl down the hall who was moving in with the help of her family. Her hall mate's sister noticed that Miles was unnaturally thin. A recovering bulimic who was studying to be an eating disorder psychiatrist, the sister had a feeling about Miles and asked the hall mate to keep an eye on her. After only a few months, the hall mate realized that Miles wasn't in a good place, mentally or physically. Her restrictive diet and obsessive exercise was obvious, so she confronted Miles on the issue, finally allowing her to get it all out. "The thing about eating disorders is that you realize you have one. You don't need someone to tell you that you're sick," Miles said. "What I needed was someone to understand and to help me understand that weight gain was OK." The process was slow and difficult. She spent the first six months convincing herself that things such as pizza and chocolate were OK -- that eating them wouldn't be the end of the world. Over time, she began to exercise less, eat more and reshape her attitudes toward food and her body. "During recovery, you realize that you have to make a choice," Miles said. "You can choose to try and fit some predetermined mold, or you can focus on being the happiest and healthiest, both mentally and physically, version of yourself." While Miles said starting her recovery was the hardest thing she's done, she also knows it was necessary to get her life back. She found support in an online community, a judgment-free zone where she could voice her fears. Miles says that the people she communicated with weren't experts but real people who had been where she was and could share their own experiences. She's gained 60 pounds since she began recovery and has maintained her weight for 15 months now. Currently wearing between a size 10 and 14, she says the most important part is that she's happy and her body seems to "like to be this weight." "At the end of the day, weight doesn't even really matter in an eating disorder because it's a mental disease," Miles said. "Yes, there's a physical manifestation of this mental illness, but it's not a problem that stems from your physical health." A complex illness . Many people with eating disorders don't look like they have one, said Claire Mysko of the National Eating Disorder Association. It's important to remember that there's no universal picture of how anorexia or bulimia manifests itself physically, she says, and that a person can be struggling mentally without looking "sick." "Eating disorders are complex illnesses with complex roots," she said. "There's a strong cultural influence to be thin, and many people are vulnerable to that." Most people can't overcome an eating disorder on their own and need professional help. On its website, the association offers several options to find help, such as phone support, live chats with counselors and referrals for treatment and support groups. There's a link between issues such as depression or anxiety and eating disorders, Mysko said. The media and popular culture often push the message that thinness is the solution to any and all problems, she said, and a person suffering from depression can be easily influenced by that. Mysko oversees Proud2BeMe, a site working in conjunction with her eating association that was formed in 2011 in response to the increasing use of the Internet to promote eating disorders and unrealistic body images. "There's a proliferation of messages on social media and a steady stream of images that promote weight loss," Mysko said. "But we're also seeing an increase in online communities that have positive messages and offer support to those suffering from eating disorders." For more fitspiration, subscribe to our Flipboard magazine . Another upside to social media is that users have the ability to curate their own feeds, choosing the people and groups that they want to appear in their news feed. For someone in recovery or struggling with an eating disorder, the ability to "turn off" the negative pictures and messages can be a big step in the right direction, Mysko said. "There's no straight line to recovery," she said. However, the first step is reaching a place where they want help and seeking that support from friends, family or through a doctor or counselor. Paying it forward . Miles now hosts a site on Tumblr that encourages people to embrace their bodies and reminds them that eating disorders don't manifest themselves in a certain appearance. She said beginning her own blog was her way of supporting other people in her situation, especially those who recover to be plus-sized. She no longer sees food as her nemesis and eats what makes her happy, not letting calories control the choices she makes. She's proud that she's experienced foods that she wouldn't have dared to eat during her illness. "People who don't know me look at me now and see a 'before' photo. Little do they know that I'm an 'after' photo over 14 years in the making." Now 21 and loving her body, she's no longer the insecure 7-year-old who was bullied at school. "I believe that body positivity is for everyone. There is no weight limit or fitness test in order to be happy with yourself."
### SUMMARY:
| Never a size 0, Brittany Miles says her eating disorder went unnoticed for years .
Her recovery involved both mental and physical changes .
Now she tells online followers that loving your body is the key to happiness . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Christy Wolford describes her first child, Lauren, as a wedding gift. She also says it was her daughter who saved her life. Wolford found a lump in her breast while she was breastfeeding. Had she not been weaning Lauren, she probably wouldn't have noticed that something was unusual with her breast, let alone have had it checked out. Wolford was only 28. "When you're in your 20s, you think you're invincible," she said. At first she thought she might have a clogged milk duct, but she went to the doctor anyway. What followed were mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and then the diagnosis: She had breast cancer. Doctors told her other bad news: She had an 80% to 90% chance of being sterile after her treatment. She and her husband, Bubba, really wanted another child. They were hoping for a son to carry on the family name. "That was shocking. ... It was a very hard pill to swallow," Wolford said. Luckily, she found another option: an ongoing clinical trial designed to help preserve a woman's fertility during chemotherapy. The study's results were published Friday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago. Hope in a trial . Since there would be about a month between surgery and chemotherapy, her doctor initially suggested that the couple seek fertility treatment. That way they could set aside embryos to be used later. The Wolfords thought about it, but the treatment's $30,000 price tag was too much. They also struggled with what they felt was a moral dilemma of what they'd do with the embryos they didn't use. Ultimately, they decided that fertility treatments weren't for them. It's a good thing, too: Wolford later learned that she had hormone-negative cancer. The fertility drugs she would have needed for egg harvesting could have made her cancer worse. When Wolford went in for her treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, she learned about the clinical trial, which is funded largely by the National Institutes of Health. "Honestly, I don't know if my poor husband even had a vote in this. I saw it as my only hope," she said. Trial researchers wanted to know whether the drug goserelin (brand name Zoladex) could preserve the fertility of hormone-negative cancer patients. "It's a drug that suppresses ovarian function or puts the ovaries at rest," said the lead study author, Dr. Halle Moore. Goserelin is normally prescribed to women with advanced hormone-positive breast cancer to put them into menopause and stop estrogen production, which can fuel cancer growth. Studies have shown high rates of return of menstrual function, Moore says, but there have been no conclusive trials looking at ovarian function over the long term. A new approach . The goal of the trial was to temporarily halt ovarian function and then assess it two years after treatment. "Basically, if the ovaries are inactive, then they would hopefully be less sensitive to the chemotherapy effects," said Moore, a breast cancer specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. More than 200 women between the ages of 18 and 49 were recruited for the trial. All were given standard chemotherapy, but half added goserelin to their treatments. Wolford was in the latter group. "I put my ovaries into menopause, without the chemotherapy doing it first, with the hope that (the ovaries) would wake up afterwards," she said. She had to get an injection one week before starting chemotherapy and then once every four weeks as long as she was on chemo. "The drug is actually quite painful. It's like a shooting a rice grain into your abdomen," Wolford said. Wolford's chemotherapy lasted six months, finishing in September 2006. Her menstrual cycle returned about four months later. "Obviously, at that point, it doesn't mean that you're ovulating, and at that point, we were trying to figure out what to do next for our family," Wolford said. A life change . Two months later, she was laid off from her job. Believing Lauren would probably be their only child, the couple decided to open a preschool in Colorado, "because if we can't have more children, then we'll spend time with other parents' children," Wolford sasaid. In late 2008, they decided to see if they could get pregnant again. When Wolford informed her doctors at MD Anderson, they asked her to come in for more tests, particularly because triple-negative breast cancer has the highest recurrence rate five years after diagnosis. Only 135 women (including Wolford) met the criteria for ovarian function testing at the two-year mark, and among those patients, researchers found that 22% of the women in the chemo-only group had premature ovarian failure, compared with 8% in the group that also got goserelin. "That's a two-thirds reduction," Moore said. Researchers also found that the women in the goserelin group were nearly twice as likely to have a successful pregnancy. Wolford was one of them. She found out she was pregnant in February 2009 and believes she delivered the first baby in the goserelin group. Alexander was born eight months later. 11 myths fertility doctors hear . Then came Everett and finally baby Lukas. All told, among the 218 women enrolled in the trial, 22 patients in the goserelin group became pregnant, compared with 12 in the chemotherapy-only group. An important post-cancer issue . "Finding a simple and accessible way to protect fertility in young breast cancer patients while not harming cancer outcomes is an important issue," said Dr. Lori Minasian, deputy director of the National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Prevention and one of the study's co-authors. "I think this is convincing enough that we can use this standard practice" (for women with hormone-negative breast cancer), Moore said. MD Anderson breast cancer expert Dr. Jennifer Litton, who was not involved in the study, cautions that the study size was small. She says the research does show that it's not harmful to take goserelin to preserve fertility. But she suggests "for patients who are sure they want to have children after chemotherapy, it is still imperative to meet with a reproductive endocrinologist to understand all their options and not just rely on goserelin." More research needed . Although the study results are narrowly applicable to hormone-negative breast cancer, the concept may have broader applications in other cancers, said Dr. Clifford Hudis, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and a breast cancer expert at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Moore agrees, saying that goserelin may also be applicable with cancers that are treated with similar chemotherapy drugs, like lymphoma, but that more research is needed. Wolford is now almost nine years cancer-free. Her message to other young women in a similar situation: Be strong. It's a hard road fighting cancer, she says, but do your research and consider participating in clinical trials that could help you and other women in the future. "To have the life you always hoped to have -- it's a really huge thing," she said. "It was definitely a painful experience, but the upside was my three sons, and I would do it again in a heartbeat." IVF helps Nigerians overcome infertility stigma .
### SUMMARY:
| Treatments for cancer increase chances for a woman to become sterile .
Women who added one drug in trial were nearly twice as likely to get pregnant .
Goserelin may be useful after treatment for other cancers, study author says . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- Payday lenders aren't the most scrupulous of operations. Preying on the desperation of people who don't have enough money to make it to their next payday, these lenders dole out short-term loans with exorbitant interest rates, forcing already cash-strapped customers deeper into debt. And while many have tried to reform the payday lending industry, we're still awaiting the right answer. Ram Palaniappan has a new approach. He wants to solve the problem at its root, by eradicating the payday altogether. According to Palaniappan, the real culprit here is the very concept of the payday. The way he sees it, there's no reason people who already have done their work should have to wait several days, or even weeks, to get the money they've rightfully earned. So, in May, Palaniappan launched ActiveHours. The Palo Alto startup, which recently raised $4.1 million, makes an app that allows hourly workers to immediately access pay they've already earned, without having to wait for their employer's standard pay cycle. What's more, there are no fees. Instead, ActiveHours makes money on tips, asking users to pay what they want. "We're trying to build something that's completely aligned with the consumer, unlike what people are used to today in typical financial services, where it's, in some ways, adversarial," he says. Palaniappan is far from the only entrepreneur who sees opportunity in creating an alternative to the payday loan. LendUp, for instance, has raised $64 million to offer loans with lower interest rates that become cheaper over time. ZestFinance, launched by an ex-Googler, is similar. But even these players still rely on fees, both for profit and protection. In this demographic, after all, there tends to be a high rate of delinquency, so even the most upstanding lenders typically account for those losses upfront. But with its no-fee model, ActiveHours is a radical departure. It's also riskier. The company is betting that when given the choice, its customers -- already struggling financially -- will still pay for the service it provides. "Some people look at the model and think we're crazy," Palaniappan says, "but we tested it and found the model is sufficient to building a sustainable business." Unlocking the Money You've Already Earned . This is not Palaniappan's first financial services company. In 2004, he launched RushCard, a startup that allowed people without access to a traditional bank account to get their paychecks loaded onto a prepaid ATM card. The goal was to offer the so-called "under-banked" an alternative to going to Western Union or other check cashing businesses, which take a large cut of every transaction. While Palaniappan was working at RushCard, though, he learned that an employee working in the call center had recently taken a payday loan. He immediately wrote her a personal check and told her to pay it off as soon as possible. "I didn't want anyone who worked for me to have to use payday loans," he says. That's when he realized that there should be an easier way for employees to unlock the money they'd already earned. When he left RushCard in 2012 after selling it to a private equity firm, he began experimenting with ways to automate such a service. It's a complex process that requires verifying who an employee is, where he works, how much he's worked, and what his hourly wage is. Then there's the equally difficult process of integrating with banks to deposit and withdraw funds from each user's existing bank account. Palaniappan and several of his RushCard team members spent about a year developing the technology and launched the app publicly in May. Back then, ActiveHours was handling transactions for employees from 100 different employers. Today, it's 250 employers, including the likes of Best Buy, Starbucks, and even major banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America. How It Works . Employees can sign up for Active Hours on their own, providing their bank account number. They use the app to upload a photo of their electronic time sheets (paper time sheets aren't allowed). ActiveHours knows which systems are used by most employers, so it uses a photo of the system to verify the timesheet is real and checks the hours logged against past deposits made into the user's bank account. ActiveHours also uses geolocation to ensure the user was at work when he took the photo. Once a user has been approved, he can see how much money he's already earned and transfer any percentage of it into his bank account. ActiveHours essentially gives the user a cash advance and deposits it into the user's account the next day. When payday rolls around, ActiveHours withdraws the same amount from the user's account. And at the end of it all, users can opt to pay ActiveHours a couple bucks -- or nothing at all. Unusual as that may sound, Palaniappan isn't the only one who believes in the concept. ActiveHours has caught the attention of Ribbit Capital, a financial services investment firm that typically only invests in late stage companies. According to Micky Malka, founder of Ribbit Capital, what Palaniappan and his crew are building is so special, though, the firm was compelled to join ActiveHours' seed round. "It's a very powerful concept," Malka says. "As we move into this on-demand economy, your payroll should be the same way." The Threat of Abuse . Still, not everyone is as convinced. According to Adair Morse, assistant professor of finance at UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, ActiveHours is a smart idea that's meeting a very real need for low cost alternatives to payday loans. And yet, she says, ActiveHours may be overly vulnerable to abuse. Although people are only borrowing money they've already earned, Morse says it's still possible that when ActiveHours tries to withdraw money from a user's account on payday, the money will already be gone. Then, there's the fact that ActiveHours relies on donations, meaning it's susceptible to what economists call the free rider problem. "People assume someone else is better able to step up and contribute," she says. "This whole idea of donations sounds great, but we're talking about people who are constrained. They don't have savings. They have debt." And, if the donation model doesn't work, Morse points out, ActiveHours reserves the right to change its fee structure at any point. But Palaniappan says that, so far, such abuses have not been a major issue. The bigger problem, he says, is convincing people ActiveHours isn't just another payday lender tricking people into a cycle of debt. "People aren't used to the model, so they think it's too good to be true," he says. "They're judging us with a standard that's completely terrible. What we're doing is not too good to be true. It's what we've been living with that's too bad to be allowed." Read more from WIRED: . What Exactly Is in McDonald's Famous French Fries? Why Your Best Thinking Always Seems to Happen in the Shower . People Around the World Pose With Everything They Eat in a Day . Creepy Photos of Russia's Crumbling Communist Architecture . Subscribe to WIRED magazine for less than $1 an issue and get a FREE GIFT! Click here! Copyright 2011 Wired.com.
### SUMMARY:
| New service lets workers access pay they've already earned, before payday .
Instead of charging fees or interest ActiveHours allows users to pay what they want .
The service is only available to hourly workers . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Washington (CNN) -- The year 2012 was supposed to herald Hillary Clinton's swan song, a golden departure amid speculation that she might consider another run at the presidency in 2016. Instead, the outgoing Secretary of State has found herself and her agency at the center of a scathing report about bloody attacks on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, which left four Americans dead, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. On Wednesday, four State Department officials, including two who oversaw security decisions at the diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, were disciplined after a review of security failures there, senior State Department officials told CNN. One resigned, while three others have been placed on administrative leave and relieved of their duties, said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. An independent review released Tuesday cited "systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies" at the agency Clinton heads. The review board completed its investigation this week. Clinton received a copy of the report on Monday and said in letters to the heads of those committees that she accepted every one of its recommendations, including strengthening security, adding fire safety precautions and improving intelligence collection in high-threat areas. Benghazi siege: The ambassador's last minutes . Citing health reasons, Clinton delays testimony . Clinton, who had been recovering from stomach flu last week and a concussion following a fainting spell, informed the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees over the weekend that, at the advice of her doctors, she would be unable to testify at upcoming hearings about the deadly events in Benghazi. In her place, deputies Thomas Nides and Bill Burns testified on Thursday. Read more about the Benghazi hearing . Initially, that did not sit well with some members of Congress, especially Republicans, who have been highly critical of the Obama administration's handling of the Libya attack. CNN Poll: Majority dissatisfied but don't think administration misled on Benghazi attack . "I know that Secretary Clinton was unable to be able to testify tomorrow in an open setting," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, told reporters Wednesday. "I do think it's imperative for all concerned that she testify in an open session prior to any changing of the regime. I think that that's very important for her, I think it's very important for our country, and I think it's very important to really understand sort of the inner workings of the State Department itself." Clinton to testify before House panel in January . However late Wednesday, House Foreign Affairs Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, indicated that Clinton will indeed testify in front of the committee sometime in mid-January. Ros-Lehtinen issued a statement saying, "We still don't have information from the Obama administration on what went so tragically wrong in Benghazi that resulted in the deaths of four patriotic Americans. We have been combing through classified and unclassified documents and have tough questions about State Department threat assessments and decision-making on Benghazi. This requires a public appearance by the Secretary of State herself. Other Cabinet secretaries involved should also be held publicly accountable." Lawmakers are right to demand answers of Clinton, said David Rothkopf, editor of Foreign Policy magazine. "Hillary Clinton must take her fair share of responsibility for the mismanagement that led to the Benghazi disaster. And I believe she has. Her response to it, the appointment of a serious review effort led by (Ambassador Thomas) Pickering and (Adm. Mike) Mullen, its swift, thorough and unflinching completion of its duties and her acceptance of all its recommendations has been a textbook case of how to handle a crisis responsibly," Rothkopf said. Sizing up Kerry as secretary of State . It is a crisis that has left an indelible mark on the careers of several high profile Obama administration officials. Rice attacked for Benghazi comments . U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice withdrew her name from consideration to become the top U.S. diplomat after drawing heavy criticism from Arizona Sen. John McCain and other Republicans over her public statements about the Benghazi attacks. In a letter to Obama, Rice said the Senate "confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive, and costly — to you and to our most pressing national and international priorities. That trade off is simply not worth it to our country." Clinton praised Rice as a capable leader and insisted "she made very clear in her appearances that the information was subject to change, as more facts were gathered and analyzed by the intelligence community" in a press conference at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) conference in Dublin earlier this month. Disciplinary actions at State . Eric Boswell, assistant secretary of diplomatic security, has resigned his post. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security Charlene Lamb is among the other three officials placed on administrative leave pending further action, a source told CNN. Boswell and Lamb oversaw security for the Benghazi mission. Lamb testified before Congress about the security precautions. Documents show Lamb denied repeated requests for additional security in Libya. State Department resignations follow Benghazi report . But there is no reason to think Clinton's presidential prospects are dimmed, political experts say. Positive public support . Before the report came out, Clinton had enjoyed wildly popular approval ratings in nationwide polls. A Bloomberg National Poll released this month showed 70% of Americans have a mostly or very favorable view of Clinton, with 24% holding a mostly or very unfavorable opinion of the nation's top diplomat. Similar polls from Politico/George Washington University, ABC News/Washington Post and the Siena College Research Institute showed consistent high marks. "The report certainly isn't the 'hail and farewell' Hillary Clinton hoped for, and it isn't pretty. But two points: Clinton has been in the national public eye for 20 years, so any new piece of information is put into a much larger context. That will help her," said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. Though the Benghazi attacks will likely come up should Clinton venture a presidential run, the impact will have lessened, Sabato said. "Think about 2012 when Benghazi was a fresh issue. How much did it help the GOP in the end? Somewhere between nada and zilch. Only a small portion of the electorate seemed interested, and overwhelmingly, they were already voting Republican," Sabato said. "I have a hard time believing that Benghazi will make much difference after the passage of four more years." Rothkopf agrees. "I do not believe the Benghazi case will have any impact on her presidential prospects. No one in public life for as long as she has been has an absolutely blemish-free record, and hers is vastly more distinguished and blemish-free than most," Rothkopf said. "Further, truth be told, the misfires prior to Benghazi really occurred much farther down the food chain within the State Department," he said. "Suggesting errors in judgment regarding a particular post in a particular country fall within the direct purview of the Secretary of State is a gross misreading of the nature and demands of her job." CNN's Dana Davidson, Dana Bash, Elise Labott , Adam Levine and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to step down from her Cabinet position in January .
A review oF Benghazi cited "systemic failures" at the State Department .
High-ranking State officials have resigned or been disciplined .
If Clinton runs in 2016, the sting of the Benghazi report will have lessened, experts say . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN) -- The rollout of the Affordable Care Act has been filled with problems and controversy. Facing entrenched opposition from a Republican Party that has been determined to subvert the program from the moment it passed, President Barack Obama has frustrated supporters by continuing to offer the GOP plenty of ammunition for their attacks. The website for purchasing health care has been an embarrassment. The contradictions between Obama's promises about everyone being able to keep their existing coverage and the reality that millions of Americans would not be able to do so has raised memories of President George H.W. Bush's famous "Read My Lips" pledge. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has admitted that the enrollment numbers will fall well short of what was expected. While it is true that the challenges facing the program have received much more attention than the successes, the problems are impossible to ignore. There are many reasons for Obamacare's troubles, ranging from the failure of White House officials to adequately prepare for the launch of the website to the successful Republican efforts to undermine its operations, including the refusal of many governors to establish exchanges in their own states. But a large part of the problem was the underlying ideological outlook that shaped the original proposal. The ACA was a product of a kind of half-baked liberalism that has been popular among many Democrats for several decades. Since the 1990s, many Democrats have settled for jerry-built proposals that shy away from direct and aggressive federal intervention. Many Democrats have concluded that in the current era, the only domestic programs that stand a chance of passing Congress are those that rely on the participation of market-based actors, limited federal funding and heavy federal-state collaboration in the administrative process. Conservatives have been very effective at defining the national agenda throughout these years, defending the argument that government is the problem, as Ronald Reagan famously said, and nurturing a political coalition that has continually pushed liberals into the corner. In response, many Democrats concluded that the best strategy was to veer toward the center. They have pushed programs that create incentives for Americans to do certain things within the private market, rather than just offering those services themselves directly through the government. While many domestic programs in the United States included this kind of mix throughout the 20th century, in recent decades Democrats have embraced this approach even more aggressively for fear that anything more sweeping would die in Congress. While there are good political reasons behind this approach, it has also come at a huge long-term cost to the strength of the programs, and Obama is now paying the price. Foremost, these mixed public-private programs have trouble building strong public support. Their complexity makes it difficult for politicians to excite the public and explain the benefits to constituents. Often the benefits are hard to discern for most Americans who see a patchwork of regulatory policies. The complexity allows opponents to characterize the programs in unfavorable terms, even spreading false information without strong pushback. President Bill Clinton learned this in 1993 when his market-based proposal for health care was turned by Republicans into a state-centered monstrosity and went down to defeat. The contrast with Social Security is striking. Under President Franklin Roosevelt's program, created in 1935, the federal government directly sends paychecks to the elderly. Americans have always understood the benefits they receive. The clarity of the funding, with a payroll tax paying for benefits, has also been important in creating a sense of ownership among workers that has pushed them to support the program for decades. The other problem with half-baked liberalism is that it provides many points for opponents to weaken measures after they have passed. The implementation process becomes a nightmare. We have seen this with the Dodd-Frank legislation that established a relatively weak regulatory infrastructure filled with loopholes that has allowed the financial services sector to continue to engage in highly risky behavior. Another example is the fact that Obama's economic stimulus program in 2009 did not include the kinds of public works jobs that defined the success of the New Deal for many Americans. Mixed public-private programs often fail to address the underlying forces causing a problem, while giving private industry a chance to reap profits off the policy. This is what critics said of the Empowerment Zones of the 1990s, a style of urban policy that had limited effect on revitalizing impoverished urban areas. The ACA has been no different. The legislation required states to set up federal exchanges and mandated that the federal government would create an exchange of its own for individuals living in states that lacked their own system. This design allowed Republican governors to block the creation of state exchanges and intensify the pressure on the federal government to handle the program. Congress didn't devote to ACA the funding that was needed to handle this task. ACA also relies on the expansion of Medicaid to provide coverage to the uninsured. But the legislation left itself open to legal challenge and the Supreme Court allowed states to opt out of this expansion. The result is that in many states, the future of the uninsured remains up for grabs. Rather than providing insurance directly through a public option, the legislation instead relied on a mandate to force qualified individuals to purchase private coverage through exchanges. The risk is that premiums continue to stay high and that access to the programs continues to remain problematic, all of which will make ACA look like less of an improvement than many hoped for. The design of the program will also likely strengthen the government-health care complex that has grown since the creation of Medicare. The president has been notably quiet in criticizing the insurance companies in recent weeks. As Politico reported, one White House official said, "Their interests are aligned with our interests in terms of wanting to enroll targeted populations. It is not that we will agree with everything now either, but I would say for some time now there has been a collaboration because of that mutual interest." The government also tied its own hands in regulating costs by backing down from original proposals to regulate drug prices. In a recent article in National Affairs, Johns Hopkins University political scientist Steven Teles writes about "Kludgeocracy in America," which he defines as the nation's tendency to offer complex and byzantine policy solutions to the most pressing policy problems. The solutions we offer are temporary and short-term fixes to long-term problems that leave no one satisfied and often intensify distrust of government. According to Teles, if the government chose cleaner solutions to big challenges such as health care and education, "government would be bigger and more energetic where it clearly chose to act . . . but smaller and less intrusive outside of that sphere." The stakes of fixing the health care mess are enormous for the President as well as for liberals who want to prove that government is capable of handling big problems. But the policy problems should also be a wake up call for liberals that it might be worth fighting for something bigger next time around. It was not inevitable that Obama chose the path that he did. Despite the conventional wisdom, there is plenty of evidence that liberalism remains quite strong in the body politic -- based on ongoing support for specific programs like Social Security, strong electoral performance of Democrats in 2008 and 2012 on campaigns that emphasized progressive themes and the miserable approval ratings of the GOP. While it is true that the perfect should not be the enemy of the good in American politics, it is also true that sometimes a fight for the perfect is one worth having and could produce results that only strengthen the case for more. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julian Zelizer.
### SUMMARY:
| Julian Zelizer says rollout of Obama's health care plan has been filled with problems .
He says the Affordable Care Act was product of timid liberalism, a trend in past decades .
Zelizer: Liberals have shied away from arguing strongly for government solutions .
Programs such as Obamacare are complex, require cooperation of states, private industry, he says . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Milford, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- Whew. After 48 days of living with helicopters, heavily armed police officers, the rumors and constant questions -- where is he? -- the people of northeast Pennsylvania can finally relax. The manhunt for Eric Matthew Frein, accused of killing a Pennsylvania state trooper, is over. Heavily armed U.S. marshals captured Frein on Thursday night and turned him over to state police, who slapped the slain officer's cuffs on him, put him in the back of the trooper's squad car and sent him back to the barracks where the ambush occurred. "We just thought it was fitting," State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan said. Frein, 31, is charged with first-degree murder and other charges in a September 12 ambush outside the state police barracks in Blooming Grove. He's accused of killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson and wounding Trooper Alex T. Douglass before melting into the thick Pennsylvania woods. Authorities had worried the survivalist and military buff with a reported history of cop hatred might go out in a violent standoff. In the end, he gave up without a fight. His capture ended a lengthy search that burned through some $10 million, according to the county prosecutor, and likely as many nerves. "It actually felt like I was in a war zone a couple of weeks ago, and it was hard to sleep for a few nights, worrying about where he is," resident Mark Denny told CNN affiliate WNEP-TV. The capture . The squad of 13 U.S. marshals -- armed like a military special operations squad -- found Frein at an abandoned airport near Tannersville, authorities said. Frein hadn't been spotted. He was discovered as part of a "routine sweep through the woods," State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens told reporters. And he wasn't armed at the time of his capture, according to police, much to the relief of authorities who feared a violent showdown. When marshals surprised him in a field near the airport, he obeyed their orders to get down on his hands and knees and told them who he was, Noonan said. There was no struggle, Pike County District Attorney Raymond Tonkin said. Investigators searching the area did find a cache that included a sniper rifle, Noonan said. The rifle appears to be consistent with casings gathered during the investigation, he said. Frein was in good physical condition when he was captured, apart from a cut on his nose that he had before the marshals found him, according to Noonan. He looked "healthier than I would have expected," Noonan said. "He's been stashing food, he's been staying out in the woods," Noonan said. "He had a lot of locations he knew how to hide in. And also, he had been preparing himself by participating in these re-enactments, especially in the Vietnam era, where he specifically trained himself and trained with other people to hide in the woods and avoid detection." Officials said they were unsure how long he had been hiding at the airport. Opinion: Were cops out of line in trooper-killing arrest? Court appearance . During his court appearance Friday Frein looked thin, with the cut on his nose and abrasions on his forehead. His left cheek was swollen. His voice was strong as he answered, "Yes I do," to a Pike County judge's question if he understood the charges against him, which include first-degree murder and criminal homicide of a law enforcement officer. About 30 police were in the room for the 10-minute hearing. Tonkin, the district attorney, said he plans to seek the death penalty. Frein is being held in the Pike County Correctional Institute in Lords Valley. In an interview with CNN on Friday, Gov. Tom Corbett said he expects authorities to make sure Frein stays safe. "I'm sure they will have all precautions taken, not only for his well-being from other inmates but from himself, too," Corbett said. Motive unclear . Tonkin declined to say what, if anything, Frein has revealed about the attack that left Dickson dead and Douglass critically wounded. Douglass has since been released and is continuing to recover, according to police. After his arrest, Frein made statements implicating himself in the shootings, according to a law enforcement official who was briefed on the capture. Authorities also found his diary, but contents of that document haven't been revealed. Authorities have not discussed a motive but have said Frein has talked and written about hating law enforcement. "I've characterized his actions in the past as pure evil, and I would stand by that," Tonkin said Friday. A review of his computer hard drive shows he had planned an attack for years, authorities said. According to the criminal complaint against him, Frein searched the Internet going back to 2012 for information related on placing supply caches, police manhunt techniques and how to evade them and other topics. "Eric Frein had a mission that was to attack law enforcement," Noonan said. "If he got out of those woods, we were very concerned that he would then kill other law enforcement. And if not them, civilians. That's why we had to keep the pressure on." There was no indication that anyone was helping Frein, who was "quite well-prepared," Noonan said. 'A celebration' Frein's arrest punctured the thick tension that had blanketed the region for weeks. "It's been a long seven weeks," Corbett said on CNN's "New Day." During the search, some outdoor activities were curtailed and some schoolchildren didn't go out for recess. "It's just exciting and we're happy. We didn't go out of school for weeks for recess," resident Shannon Juirad told WNEP. And then there was the question of Halloween. At least one community, Barrett Township, canceled trick-or-treating as the search dragged on, instead suggesting children show up at a school parking lot to collect candy under the supervision of local and state police. But with Frein in custody, the trick-or-treating will go on as normal, said Barrett Township Board Chairman Ralph Megliola. "I'm ecstatic -- and just in time for Halloween!" Megliola said. Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough lifted the temporary prohibition on hunting and trapping activity in all areas that had been affected by the manhunt. Outside the police barracks, residents held a sign reading, "Way to Go PSP." Passing motorists slowed, also offering words of encouragement for the Pennsylvania State Police. "We all have children and we were afraid to go outside, we were afraid to do anything," one woman told CNN affiliate WBRE-TV. "I can't even explain what I'm feeling right now, this is awesome. We are so proud of our Pennsylvania State Police, their hard work," another said. "Now it's a celebration," one woman wearing a "Barrett Proud" shirt told WNEP. CNN's Miguel Marquez reported from Milford, Pennsylvania, and CNN's Michael Pearson reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Jethro Mullen, Dana Ford, AnneClaire Stapleton, Joe Sutton, Pamela Brown, Rob Frehse, Susan Candiotti, Shimon Prokupecz, Faith Karimi and Evan Perez contributed to this report.
### SUMMARY:
| Eric Frein implicated himself in shootings after arrest, law enforcement source says .
Frein searched for information about how to elude manhunts, criminal complaint says .
He was captured by a U.S. marshals team .
Frein was cuffed with the handcuffs of the state trooper he is accused of killing . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Fifteenth-century Arabs were the first to cultivate coffee and a Frenchman was behind the 1843 debut of the world's first commercial espresso machine. There have been a few leaps forward since then. "People are more and more interested in where the beans come from, and how they're harvested and roasted," says New Zealand barista champion Nick Clark of Wellington's Flight Coffee. "There are so many variables involved in producing a great cup of coffee these days, and the industry has had to evolve to meet growing consumer expectations." The world's best coffee cities are those where the coffee isn't just good -- it's great. Have you got a favorite coffee city? Top coffee shop? Share your coffee love in the comments below. London . Aussies and Kiwis opened the city's first espresso-focused coffee shops (such as Flat White and Kaffeine) a decade ago and they've been popping up across the city ever since. "London still has a long way to go with café service, but in the past five years there's been so much growth, which is a great thing to be part of," says Estelle Bright, head barista at London's Caravan. Local order: Flat white or cappuccino. "London is still in the grip of the flat white craze, but cappuccinos are similarly popular," says Bright. Top shops: East London boasts the highest concentration of quality coffee shops and cafes. Allpress, Climpson & Sons and Caravan are standouts. Melbourne . "The coffee culture in Melbourne is just incredible," says reigning World Barista Champion Pete Licata, from the United States. Coffee is such an integral part of the Melbourne lifestyle that the city even hosts an annual coffee expo. Local order: Piccolo latte. While lattes, cappuccinos and flat whites remain popular, piccolo lattes (made with less milk so the espresso tastes stronger) are the drink du jour. Top shops: "It's nearly impossible to find a bad cup of coffee in Melbourne," says Licata. For real coffee purists, there's Axil Coffeehouse Roasters in Hawthorn (322 Burwood Road), Auction Rooms in North Melbourne and Dead Man Espresso in South Melbourne. Hidden Secrets Tours runs café culture walks. Reykjavik, Iceland . After the Dutch, Scandinavians have the highest coffee consumption per capita in the world. While Finns drink the most among Scandinavians, Icelanders are also coffee crazy. "Not too long ago, cafés in Reykjavík were more about the food," says Kristin Thora, a barista at Icelandic institution Kaffitar and reigning National Cupping Champion. "You'd have coffee and cake and didn't mind how the coffee was as long as the cake was good. "Then, about 25 years ago, people started to care about how their coffee was served." With Iceland's lack of commercial coffee behemoths, smaller businesses have had a chance to flourish. Now you can hardly walk a city block without passing a coffee shop. Local order: Latte or cappuccino. "Drip coffee is popular in the home, but Icelanders tend go to coffeehouses for espresso-based drinks," says Thora. Top shops: With seven coffee shops and a roaster to its name, Kaffitar is the closest thing Iceland has to a coffee chain. Stofan and Kaffismidja are hipster faves. Rome . Coffee is so much a part of Italian culture that you'll rarely encounter a local who doesn't drink it. But believe it or not, it's not always that easy to find a decent espresso in Italy, with critics whispering that Italians have been resistant to adopt modern barista techniques. But with the best of the nation's baristas calling it home, Rome is your best bet for a quality cup. Local order: Espresso. Custom dictates that milky coffees can only be consumed at breakfast, anyway. Top shops: Rosati in Piazza del Popolo, Sant' Eustachi by the Pantheon or Giolitti, a few blocks west of the Trevi Fountain, are crowd favorites. Singapore . "Coffee has always been an integral part of Singaporean life, but we've only recently embraced modern espresso technology," says Jovena Loon of Café Hopping Singapore. "Locals have become so obsessed with latte art that it has become a basic criteria for a good café." Local order: Latte, mocha or cappuccino. Top shops: Jovena recommends Strangers' Reunion in Chinatown, Dutch Colony in Pasar Bella marketplace, and Bukit Timah and Chye Seng Huat Hardware in Little India. Seattle . If there's one American city that's consistently ahead of the game, it's Seattle. The green mermaid is only a small part of the hometown coffee scene. "Coffee is our liquid sunshine in Seattle," says Joshua Boyt from Victrola Coffee Roasters, one of the city's best cafes for coffee geeks. "Passion for the product, coupled with the sheer number of coffee shops across the city, has created a culture of constant improvement through competition and camaraderie." Local order: Espresso, cappuccino or a single-origin pour. Top shops: Victrola Coffee Roasters in Capitol Hill, Empire Espresso in Columbia City and Seattle Coffee Works downtown are all solid picks. Vienna, Austria . They're such an important part of Viennese culture that the city's coffee houses were listed by UNESCO in 2011 as an Intangible Heritage. But modern coffee connoisseurs such as Vienna coffee blogger Lameen Abdul-Malik of From Coffee With Love admit that the standard of coffee in these beloved institutions, which act as public living rooms where people come to chat, read newspapers and eat strudel, are lagging in terms of coffee technology and service expectations. Perhaps not for long. "Since Vienna hosted the World Barista Championships in 2012, and new-style independent coffee shops began to open up, the quality of espresso drinks is steadily improving," says Abdul-Malik. Local order: Espresso or cappuccino in a new style cafe. Or a Vienner melange (similar to a cappuccino, but usually topped with cream) in a traditional coffeehouse. Top shops: Abdul-Maliuk recommends Caffe Couture, Essenti or Coffee Pirates. Demel serves traditional coffee and marvelous cakes. Wellington, New Zealand . While the ubiquitous flat white was purportedly invented in Sydney, the drink was perfected in Wellington, where it's become the nation's unofficial national beverage. "Wellington-ites really know their coffee, and there is a very high standard being served around the city," says Clark. "Wellington is also a small city; there's a lot of interaction between consumers and professionals, which helps our industry to improve and grow." Local order: Flat white. It's a religion. Top shops: It's tough to find a bad coffee in New Zealand. Some of Wellington's best coffee shops include Flight Coffee Hangar, Memphis Belle and Lamason Brew Bar. Have you got a favorite coffee city? Coffee shop? Share the coffee love in the comments below.
### SUMMARY:
| After the Dutch, Scandinavians have the highest coffee consumption per capita in the world .
Coffee culture in Melbourne "just incredible" says reigning World Barista Champion .
Singapore is Asia's coffee capital .
Seattle? Of course! |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
A common benchmark in the United States for determining when a driver is legally drunk is not doing enough to prevent alcohol-related crashes that kill about 10,000 people each year and should be made more restrictive, transportation safety investigators say. The National Transportation Safety Board recommended on Tuesday that all 50 states adopt a blood-alcohol content (BAC) cutoff of 0.05 compared to the 0.08 standard on the books today and used by law enforcement and the courts to prosecute drunk driving. "Most Americans think that we've solved the problem of impaired driving, but in fact, it's still a national epidemic," NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said. The idea for a tighter standard is part of a safety board initiative outlined in a staff report and approved by the panel to eventually eliminate drunk driving, which accounts for about a third of all road deaths in the United States. NTSB looks to technology to end drunken driving in the U.S. Hersman said progress has been made over the years to reduce drunk driving, including a range of federal and state policies, tougher law enforcement, and stronger advocacy. But she said too many people are still dying on America's roads. The board acknowledged that there was "no silver bullet," but that more action is needed at the federal and state levels. "In the last 30 years, more than 440,000 people have perished in this country due to alcohol-impaired driving. What will be our legacy 30 years from now?" Hersman asked. "If we don't tackle alcohol-impaired driving now, when will we find the will to do so?" Lowering the rate to 0.05 would save about 500 to 800 lives annually, the safety board said. Under current law, a 180-pound male typically will hit the 0.08 threshold after four drinks over an hour, according to an online blood alcohol calculator published by the University of Oklahoma. That same person could reach the 0.05 threshold after two to three drinks over the same period, according to the calculator. Supreme Court rules against police in drunk driving case . Many factors besides gender and weight influence a person's blood alcohol content, and many states outlaw lower levels of inebriation when behind the wheel. The NTSB investigates transportation accidents and advocates on safety issues. It cannot impose its will through regulation and can only recommend changes to federal and state agencies or legislatures, including Congress. But the independent agency is influential on matters of public safety and its decisions can spur action from like-minded legislators and transportation agencies nationwide. States set their own BAC standards. The board also recommended on Tuesday that states vastly expand laws allowing police to swiftly confiscate licenses from drivers who exceed the blood alcohol limits. And it is pushing for laws requiring all first-time offenders to have ignition locking devices that prevent cars from starting until breath samples are analyzed. In the early 1980s, when grass-roots safety groups brought attention to drunk driving, many states required a 0.15 BAC rate to demonstrated intoxication. But over the next 24 years, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other groups pushed states to adopt the 0.08 BAC standard, the last state falling in line in 2004. The number of alcohol-related highway fatalities, meanwhile, dropped from 20,000 in 1980 to 9,878 in 2011, the NTSB said. Drunk-drive blood tests divide Supreme Court . In recent years, about 31 percent of all fatal highway accidents were attributed to alcohol impairment, the NTSB said. "I think .05 is going to come. How long it takes to get there, we don't know. But it will happen," said the NTSB's Robert Molloy, who helped guide the staff report. For some, the vote struck close to home. NTSB board member Robert Sumwalt noted that one of his relatives had been killed by a drunk driver and another is serving a 15-year sentence in a related death. Many of the recommendations "are going to be unpopular," Sumwalt said. "But if we keep doing what we're doing, we're not going to make any difference." The NTSB cited research that showed most drivers experience a decline in both cognitive and visual functions with a BAC of 0.05. Currently, more than 100 countries on six continents have BAC limits set at 0.05 or lower, the safety board said. The NTSB has asked all 50 states to do the same. CDC: Teen drinking and driving rates cut in half . A restaurant trade association, the American Beverage Institute, attacked the main recommendation, saying the average woman reaches 0.05 percent BAC after consuming one drink. The group said it based that conclusion on a chart it said was used by auto safety regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But NHTSA told CNN on Tuesday it no longer uses that chart "as there are many variables" that contribute to an individual's level of intoxication. A new NHTSA chart shows a person with a 0.05 BAC level experiences "reduced coordination, reduced ability to track moving objects, difficulty steering, (and) reduced response to emergency driving situations." A beer industry trade group said it would examine NTSB's recommendation for lowering the blood-alcohol threshold. "However, we strongly encourage policymakers to direct their efforts where we know we can get results: by focusing on repeat offenders and increasing penalties on those with BAC of (0.15) or more," said Joe McClain, president of the Beer Institute. The safety board also recommend that NHTSA provide financial incentives to states to carry out the changes. NHTSA, which oversees highway safety as a federal regulator and analyzes traffic crash data, said it would work with any state that wants to pursue a lower BAC standard to "gather further information on that approach." At Tuesday's meeting, the safety board also championed laws allowing police to confiscate a motorist's license at the time of arrest if the driver exceeds a BAC limit, or refuses to take the BAC test. Some 40 states already use the administrative tool, which the NTSB believes is effective because it is swift and immediate. And the board recommended more widespread use of passive alcohol sensors, which police can use to "sniff" the air during a traffic stop to determine the presence of alcohol. The sensor is capable of detecting alcohol even in cases where the driver has attempted to disguise his breathe with gum or mints. If the sensor alerts, it is grounds for more thorough testing. The NTSB recommended last December that states require ignition interlocks for all DUI offenders and said states should improve interlock compliance. Tuesday's recommendations were timed to coincide with the deadliest alcohol-related crash in U.S. history. On May 14, 1988, a drunk driver drove his pickup the wrong way on Interstate 71 near Carrollton, Kentucky. The truck hit a school bus, killing 24 children and three adults. More than 30 others were hurt. What sways teens not to drink, drive? Stories, not stats .
### SUMMARY:
| For a decade, 0.08 has been the blood alcohol benchmark to consider a driver intoxicated .
National Transportation Safety Board would like to see a nationwide 0.05 level .
The board would also like to see swifter action on taking away offenders' licenses .
Restaurant, beer industries say focus should be on repeat offenders . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The United States and its allies are working to stop what they regard as an ominous trend: attacks against NATO-led troops by Afghan security forces or others clad in military or police uniforms. The assaults, called green-on-blue or insider attacks, have spiked this year, causing the deaths of 39 International Security Assistance Force troops -- including two in Farah province Friday. An estimated 101 NATO troops have been killed in green-on-blue attacks since May 2007 across Afghanistan, military analyst Bill Roggio said Friday. Roggio, managing editor of the Long War Journal blog, which reports and analyzes terror issues, said green-on-blue attacks have caused around 13% of coalition deaths this year. Of the green-on-blue attacks since 2007, about 40% of the deaths have occurred this year and 35% occurred last year, Roggio said. More U.S. soldiers killed amid Taliban claim of infiltrating Afghan forces . U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he is concerned that the attacks will damage coalition and Afghan partnership efforts. Speaking at a Defense Department news conference Tuesday, he discussed measures to stop the acts by improving intelligence and vetting of security force recruits. "Our enemies have attempted to undermine the trust between the coalition and Afghan forces, and in particular they have tried to take credit for a number of so-called green-on-blue or insider attacks that have taken place this fighting season," he said. "Make no mistake about it. I'm very concerned about these incidents." One measure to combat the attackers is a "guardian angel program," Panetta said. That "involves identifying one individual who stands to the side so that he can watch people's backs and hopefully identify people that would be involved in those attacks," he said. Pentagon changing lingo to 'green-on-blue' in growing threat . Panetta cited increasing "the intelligence presence" to obtain "better information with regards to these kinds of potential attacks." He also mentioned increasing the counterintelligence presence to "identify those threats." For example, a NATO official quoted in a column co-authored by CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen said that the increase of counterintelligence officers is designed to "ferret out Taliban double agents." Panetta also said the military is using and reviewing a "thorough" and "eight-step" vetting process. "We're doing forensics on the particular instances that occur in order to make sure, you know, how that process -- that vetting process operated and what we can do to improve it," he said. Another measure to fight the attacks is "implementing a notification process" for alerting people to threats. And another is that all troops at NATO headquarters in Kabul now must carry loaded weapons around the clock, CNN has learned. Panetta said Gen John Allen, the chief NATO commander in Afghanistan, is meeting with village elders to discuss the issue. Village elders "are the people who usually vouch for individuals. They have to sign something that vouches for the character of individuals, and he's going back to them to ensure that that's being done properly." "All of this requires action both by the United States and coalition forces and by our Afghan partners who also face this insider threat. We shouldn't forget that the Afghans themselves are targets of these kinds of attacks, as well," he said. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared at the news conference with Panetta. Allen is convening a conference of senior coalition commanders, and Afghan security ministers are having a summit on the issue, Dempsey said. He stressed that Afghan security forces are also suffering from the same trend and noted that President Hamid Karzai has condemned the attacks. He cited an instance where Afghan soldiers who were killed when they came to the aid of their American counterparts in one of the attacks. Official: Man in Afghan security uniform kills 3 U.S. troops . "There's far more stories about the positive relationship than there is about this particular insider attack trend, but it is one that we have to remain seized with and focused on," he said. "Unknown but important, they've discharged hundreds of soldiers who did indicate ... that some of these young men had the capability to be radicalized, either by virtue of travel back and forth to Pakistan, by literature, by language, by music." Nevertheless, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar has claimed that fighters are infiltrating Afghan security forces to attack NATO-led forces on their bases. "Many Afghans in the rank and files of the enemy have shown a willingness to help the (Taliban) in a shrewd manner," said a statement posted on militant websites Thursday and obtained by SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors the activities of militant groups on the Web. "As a result, the foreign invaders and their allies at their military centers and bases are suffering crushing blows by these heroic soldiers." Panetta said that "one of the reasons the Taliban is targeting in this manner, we believe, is the success that our Afghan partners are having on the battlefield. The reality is, the Taliban has not been able to regain any territory lost, and so they're resorting to these kinds of attacks to create havoc." And, Panetta said, there's "no one source" for the attacks. Some are people "who, for one reason or another, are upset and suddenly take it out. We've seen that here in the United States oftentimes." Sometimes, they are people who aren't Taliban but become radicalized, he said. "They use cell phones to tune into various, you know, stations that provide incentives for that type of thing. And so we've seen some of that take place in some of these attacks. And then others, you know, have some Taliban ties," Panetta said. "It's difficult to kind of draw any kind of firm conclusion as to just exactly, you know, whether this is kind of a pattern, a broad pattern. As a matter of fact, at least from everybody I've talked to at this point, you know, these seem to be incidents that are taking place and oftentimes caused by different backgrounds of the individuals involved." Bergen, who wrote the column for CNN and the New America Foundation with Jennifer Rowland, said the "motivations of about half the attackers are difficult to classify because the perpetrator is either dead or has fled. Citing media accounts, Bergen and Rowland say many of the "green-on-blue" attacks appear to have occurred after quarrels between Afghan and international troops, or because the Afghan soldier has "personal grievances." They cite a Department of Defense report in April that said "investigations have determined that a large majority of green-on-blue attacks are not attributable to insurgent infiltration of the ANSF [Afghan National Security Forces,] but are due to isolated personal grievances against coalition personnel." They said one military behavioral scientist who interviewed more than 600 Afghan soldiers and policemen last year "found they held overwhelmingly negative perceptions of Western soldiers." "The Afghan security forces aired grievances ranging from NATO soldiers' supposedly indiscriminate fire that killed civilians to the public searching of Afghan soldiers outside NATO bases, as well as U.S. soldiers urinating in public or cursing at their Afghan counterparts," according to the authors. Another cause of the increase in the attacks over the past two years is the growth of the Afghan army and police force, Bergen and Rowland say. Afghan police officer fires on NATO troops .
### SUMMARY:
| The coalition has formed a "guardian angel" program .
Counterintelligence has been bolstered to finger Taliban double agents .
The forces are working to improve their recruit vetting process .
Analysts say "personal grievances" have caused many of the attacks . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN)"That's the ugliest bird I've ever seen." The statement doesn't so much roll off my tongue as it stumbles out of my mouth as I look at the scrappy tufts of feather on the leathery head of a marabou stork. Others on the boat mutter similar sentiments. "It's one of the Ugly Five," says Amos, our captain and guide on an afternoon safari cruise at Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana's Okavango River Delta. His enthusiasm feels exaggerated for such a hideous bird. Safaris tend to focus on the so-called Big Five -- lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinos, elephants -- but the Ugly Five makes for a fun alternative for anyone who's already checked off the safari stars. The list runs like a cast call for the "Lion King's" least majestic animals: marabou stork, hyena, vulture, wildebeest and warthog. And we're here to meet them all. Marabou stork . The marabou stork doesn't just rely on its looks -- it's also got a scent thing going down. "They can grow up to five feet long," says Amos as we get close enough to see the scabby-looking beak of one these large birds. "And be glad it's not close enough that you can smell him." Everyone, except our guide, cringes as the bird spreads its malodorous 12-foot wings and takes off from a tree, giving us a full view of its underbelly and wrinkly throat sack. The Okavango Delta is one of two breeding grounds for the marabou stork. During mating season, the birds are known to eat live prey, including adult flamingos. The stork also goes by the name of the "undertaker bird" in recognition of the grim but important role it plays in the Delta -- reducing diseases and cleaning up the ecosystem by devouring rotten carcasses. Hyena . One the next morning's bush walk, we get lucky in spotting a hyena. We're certainly luckier than the smelly dead animal it's devouring. "Your nose is the strongest tracker of game," says Amos. Apparently, your ears are the second, but we're alerted to the hyena's presence not by its notorious cackling laugh but by the sound of the bones it's crunching. We peer over the brush to see a spotted hyena with its snout in the stomach of an impala. Before anyone can ask, our guide says: "It probably didn't steal this meal from lions. Hyenas are very successful hunters." The hyena registers low on the cuteness meter. This one couldn't get any more ugly unless it was covered in blood. Which it is. My friend Anja, disagrees, claiming that hyenas are so unattractive they're actually endearing. "They're only ugly because they're villains in movies," she says. Showing me a photo of a hyena cub her sister took in South Africa's Kruger National Park, she adds, "The babies are so cute!" That's debatable, but they certainly get uglier with age. As we're watching, our hyena pulls its bloody face out of the carcass, revealing its elongated neck, hunched gait and dirty, scrappy fur. Vulture . With one of the strongest jaws in the animal world, hyenas don't leave much for scavengers. Even so, where there are carcasses, there are usually vultures. While the marabou is the only species of stork on the list, the entire vulture family can claim membership to the ugly club. Circling overhead in a flying "kettle" (unusual collective noun alert!), the vultures we see aren't too bad to look at. Their wings silhouette magnificently against the blue sky. The illusion is broken when a few fly down to compete with the hyena for impala meat, revealing that though they have the wings of an eagle, they have the face of Freddy Kruger. It's no surprise the bird's hooked beak and hunched stature have inspired a marvel comic villain. "Their ugliness is efficient," says Amos. (He says that about all the Ugly Five.) The curved beak is effective in ripping meat, according to our guide. The vulture's ugliest feature, the featherless head and neck, is easy to keep clean after eating carrion. Logistically, it makes sense. Esthetically, it's the stuff of nightmares. Warthog . The warthog is another case of practicality over prettiness. These wild pigs are plagued with useful but unappealing warts on both sides of their faces, landing them firmly in the ugly crowd. The protuberances protect the faces of male warthogs when they fight, even if they do look like surgery gone wrong. Warthogs are plentiful in the Okavango Delta. Anywhere out of scent-range from carnivores, we see warthog families digging for roots with their front knuckles. Together with warts, shaggy mohawks down their backs and uneven body hair, the warthog is the least appealing pig in the delta (although their roasted ribs are delicious.) They're shaped like torpedoes with pig noses. Their bodies seem disproportionately stocky in comparison to their skinny legs and short necks. As we're watching a mother and two babies, someone in our group steps on a twig and spooks them. We're treated to the beautiful sight of warthog butts with tails straight up in the air. Wildebeest . During an afternoon heading out from the Delta's Moremi Crossing resort in a mokoro dug-out canoe, we cross paths with the last of the Ugly Five: wildebeest. As we slosh from one end of the small herd to another, a dozen weary black faces with straggly manes stare us down, perhaps concerned we might try to eat them. Because they're one of the most populous safari animals -- and not much to look at -- many people don't bother to photograph them, says Amos. As the unpretty cousin of the more elegant eland and gazelle, the wildebeest is a peculiar genetic mishmash. It has the head of a buffalo, body of an antelope and tail of a shaggy horse. Its elongated face is connected to a dirty-looking neck fringe and features a mouth shaped, and used, like a lawnmower. Murky gray bodies decorated with black and white markings add to the unkempt appearance. "Its ugliness is no problem for mating, they're practically blind," Amos laughs. Getting There . The only way to get to Moremi Crossing is by small plane, followed by a five-minute boat ride. The guided cruise, bush walk and mokoro rides are part of all-inclusive packages for guests. Accommodations include luxury tents, outdoor showers and nightly hippo serenades. Moremi Crossing, Maun, Botswana; +267 686 0023; from $335 per person .
### SUMMARY:
| Ugly Five safaris track down wildebeests, marabou storks, hyenas, vultures, warthogs .
Guided tours explore the wetlands and savannahs around Botswana's Okavango River Delta .
Most of the animals' ugliness is practical, according to guides, helping them catch or devour prey . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
(CNN)As a non-sports aficionado, my attraction to game day festivities has been solely food focused. So naturally, I noticed how potato chips have taken less and less space on the snack table to make room for tortilla chips and guacamole. Although potato chips continue to be the top-selling salted snack in terms of pounds sold, tortilla chips have been increasing in sales at a faster pace than potato chips, especially during this time of year, according to Tom Dempsey, CEO of the Snack Food Association. And, it's not just tortilla chips selling at such high rates either. Make homemade tortilla chips . Tortillas -- not the chips but the round flat breads used to wrap burritos - have been outselling hamburger and hot dog buns at supermarkets and retail food stores since 2010. And salsa has been the new ketchup since 2008, according Jim Kabbani, CEO of the Tortilla Industry Association. One of the factors that contributes to that growth is immigration. As the Latino population grows, so will the variety of foods that cater to them. Especially since the Mexican-American population makes up the largest Hispanic group in the United States. Another factor that plays into the growth is that non-Hispanics have become more adventurous eaters, and companies want to cater to that, Kabbani said. While Mexican food in the United States has become ubiquitously American as apple pie, the backstory of how the crispy golden corn chip became the go-to snack chip hasn't really been told. In an effort to tell that story, nationally syndicated columnist of ¡Ask a Mexican! Gustavo Arellano wrote the book "Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America." In the early 1900s, tortilla chips were already being manufactured and distributed to local restaurants in southern California but were never really a big deal. In fact, their creation was even an afterthought. These tostadas, as they are called in Mexico, were made from leftover tortilla dough. Go figure. It wasn't long before Frito-Lay executives noticed how everyone in those southern California restaurants was gobbling up tostadas, so they decided to make the chips, too. They called their product "Doritos," Spanish for "little golden things." Although few consider Doritos a tortilla chip, under all that cheesy seasoning is an oppressed golden tortilla chip - the first to be launched nationally in the United States. Shortly thereafter, tortilla chips made by other companies started to gain popularity - mostly driven by the rise of salsa, refried beans, and guacamole. But when nachos made their debut, it took tortillas chips to the next level. Side note: Nachos were a delicious accident. When two American customers walked into his restaurant in Mexico, head waiter Ignacio "Nacho" Ayala couldn't find the chef so he threw together some random ingredients and called them "Nacho's Special," Arellano said. And the rest is history. Today, every NFL stadium and Major League Baseball offers nachos. They're the third-largest concession seller overall, after popcorn and soda, outselling even hot dogs, Arellano notes. The rapid rise of nachos and guacamole persuaded Frito-Lay to make their own light, airy, slightly unseasoned tortilla chips. The American company named them "Tostitos" and marketed them as "authentic." Frito-Lay then hired Mexican-born, U.S.- raised actor Fernando Escandon - who had a slight Spanish accent - to do a series of commercials and it worked. It didn't hurt that Escandon also owned two Mexican restaurants either. "Tostitos remains the biggest brand ... and it all started in the mid-1970s as a way to offer a more authentic alternative than Doritos," Arellano told CNN. "Through clever marketing, they took over the tortilla chip business." Doritos still continue to be the best-selling tortilla chips and Tostitos and Tostitos Scoops follow - all under the Frito-Lay empire. Who invented the tortilla chip? The origin of the tortilla chip gets a bit complicated because like every tale in history, there are two sides to every story. While many have credited Rebecca Webb Carranza as the inventor and innovator of the tortilla chip, the Tamalina Milling Company claims its family's tortilla company made the famous corn chips long before that, Arellano wrote in Taco USA. Jose Bartolome Martinez, owner of the Tamalina Milling Company, claims he was the first to produce masolina to make tortillas, where you would only have to add water and masa emerged. All that production meant excess masa so Martinez decided to make tortilla chips as to not be wasteful. The Martinez family only recently donated materials to trademark the Tamalina brand of tortilla chip. While the tortilla chip's history is still a bit blurry, Frito-Lay's heavy marketing and branding has been so influential that many people refer to tortilla chips as "Tostitos," even if they aren't buying the Frito-Lay brand. Potato chips keep things interesting . Not only does Frito-Lay have the corner on the tortilla chip market, but it owns the leading potato chip brands: Fritos, Baked!, Ruffles and, their most popular brand, Lay's. And they aren't taking the rise of the tortilla chip lightly. "Potato chip companies have become creative in their advertising, even going as far as changing the shape of their chips to triangles or mixing ingredients to make a hybrid chip," Kabbani said. In 2014, consumers could even name their flavor as part of Lay's "Do Us a Flavor" contest, which got a lot of bizarre entries. Kettle Brand is one of the few companies that isn't owned by Frito-Lay, and even though potato chip sales fell below tortilla chips recently, the company has focused its energy on two vital chip components: structure and flavor. "The thick-cut and crunch of our chips also means they stand up really well against popular dips that have a tendency to make other chips crumble," Kettle Brand's brand manager Marc McCullagh told CNN. Kettle Brand has also built up a reputation for bold flavors - Maple Bacon, Sweet & Salty, Sriracha and Sweet Chili Garlic - and McCullagh said they'll keep doing that to keep up with the competition. While they're known for their kettle-style potato chips, Kettle Brand also sells tortilla chips, which they market as the "healthier alternative." "Unlike other plain tortilla chips brands, we focus on all-natural, organic and carry non-GMO ingredients," McCullagh said. After all, who wouldn't want to get a piece of the tortilla chip's multibillion-dollar industry that is exponentially expanding year after year? To each their own, I say. Granted, I'm not complaining. I love tortillas chips and potato chips, in every shape, size and flavor. But I'm keeping an eye on the snack table in case these tostadas make a full-blown culinary takeover during game day. This post originally ran in January 2014 .
### SUMMARY:
| Tortillas outsell hamburger and hot dog buns .
Tortilla chips are increasing in sales faster than tortilla chips .
As the Latino population grows, so will the variety of foods that cater to them . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
The United States and North Korea have long found themselves locked in a bitter cycle of escalating and deescalating tensions but the current cyber conflict may be especially hard to predict. CNN's Wilfred Chan discussed this with Mike Chinoy, a longtime North Korea expert who has traveled to the country 17 times, Senior Fellow at the U.S.-China Institute at the University of Southern California, and CNN's former Senior Asia Correspondent, whose new book "The Last POW" tells the story of the detention in North Korea of 85-year-old American tourist Merril Newman. There were reports Tuesday that North Korea's Internet was down, the disruption coming amid a growing war of words between the United States and North Korea over a cyberattack on Sony Pictures. Do you think the United States disabled North Korea's Internet in retaliation for the Sony hack? Chinoy: I'm not convinced that the U.S. government was behind the outage of the North Korean Internet. The issue though is not whether it was or it wasn't, the issue is what the North Koreans think it was. And I think it's safe to assume, unless they themselves took their system offline for their own security -- which is not impossible -- they'll be looking to respond. And if the U.S. government actually took down North Korea's Internet, that has its own implications. Because if the United States is officially engaging in cyberattacks then it implies North Korea can do it to us, and everybody else can do it to everybody else. How does the Sony hacking saga complicate the situation between the United States and North Korea? It's a brave new world. We now have a situation where it's entirely possible you've got third-party hackers possibly helping the North Koreans in the original Sony hack, entirely possibly taking down the North Korean Internet, who are beyond the control of any government. And that makes it much, much harder to assess. Part of what makes this dangerous is there are no agreed rules of the road in terms of cyber warfare in the way there are existing broad rules of the road for other security issues -- even if they are frequently violated. We're absolutely in uncharted territory. And we're in uncharted territory with pundits and the political class outraged in the United States, and a new, unknown North Korean leader in a system that we don't understand the dynamics of very well. So that's a worrisome combination. Do you think North Korea hacked Sony? I don't think the President of the United States would've been given talking points that so explicitly blamed North Korea if the U.S. government didn't have very high confidence there was a North Korean connection. Now, whether or not the North Koreans explicitly gave the order and then farmed it out to teams of people in China or elsewhere, we don't know enough about the decision-making process. How sophisticated are North Korea's hacking capabilities? We know they have a robust cyber capability. The North Koreans have devoted a lot of resources to giving themselves a lot of cyber capabilities. Their broader security strategy has changed under Kim Jong Un -- there's a heavy focus on nuclear, cyber, and asymmetrical warfare capabilities, which enables them to reduce expenditures on a conventional military. North Korea is the weaker, smaller power, and asymmetrical warfare is the approach of choice. The North Koreans are not suicidal. If they were responsible for the Sony attack, they targeted a specific company for a specific reason. It's hard for me to imagine they're going to take out the U.S. power grid. How do the United States and North Korea view each other right now? There's layers and layers of hostility and mistrust. Ever since the Korean War, the United States has seen North Korea as this dangerous, threatening country and there's always been concern when the North Koreans do something aggressive. In North Korea, based on my 17 visits there, what comes through clearly is the reverse image. They feel under siege from the United States. They are convinced that the American goal is to do them in, to bring them down. They feel alone and beleaguered and they're determined to keep their system afloat at all costs. The North Korean strategy has always been brinksmanship -- tit for tat, you hit me, we hit back harder. Part of their playbook is to make people think they are more extreme, they are crazier. A lot of it is rhetoric -- one of the challenges in situations like this is how to judge rhetoric. So when they threaten to attack the White House and so on, you have to be careful not to take it literally. Could this hacking crisis continue to escalate? Look, in 1976, North Korean soldiers crossed the demarcation line at Panmunjon, killed two Americans with axes, and we didn't go to war. In 2010, the North Koreans sank a South Korean ship, killing dozens of South Korean sailors, we didn't go to war. In 2010 when they shelled Yeonpyong island and killed South Koreans, we didn't go to war. We're going to go to war because they hacked a movie production company? I mean, you know, let's have a little bit of perspective about it. That being said, this has created a kind of perfect storm of a real threat with cyberattacks, with implications in terms of what else might happen. There's tremendous political pressure on the Obama administration to do something, even though the toolkit is somewhat limited. And what's new here is this is the biggest crisis since North Korea's youthful leader Kim Jong Un came to power three years ago. How could this play out in the long run? One of the likely responses is going to be accelerated moves toward a North Korean nuclear test. Lost in all the day to day headlines about Sony is the bigger strategic security picture which is the North Koreans are moving full speed ahead to enhance their nuclear capability. They've got a plutonium program, they've got a uranium program. Each time they do a nuclear test they move further toward having the capability to miniaturize a warhead. Once they can miniaturize a warhead they've definitely got medium range missiles. They've tested a long range missile, though it's not clear how well it works. There is nothing happening to constrain that. What worries me is there hasn't even been an attempt in the last couple of years to talk about this. Without a diplomatic agreement for them to curtail or roll back their nuclear program, they will soon have in a period of time, it's hard to judge how long, a larger nuclear arsenal, the ability to miniaturize a warhead, and a delivery system that can reach the continental United States. Then it gets really scary. Short of going to war and taking down the North Korean regime, it's very hard to see how you reverse that, unless you get back into some kind of negotiating process, and that seems very unlikely. There's a big debate still over whether we should talk to them. My sense is the North Koreans still would very much like to talk to the United States. But the Obama administration has not been in the mood to do it. Obama has just done this major initiative with Cuba, he's been talking to Iran, but in security terms the North Koreans are scarier. Unlike Iran, North Korea's got the bomb and Pyongyang uses overheated rhetoric which makes the Iranians sound moderate in comparison. There's very little evidence that sanctions work in terms of changing North Korea's behavior to what the United States wants. So that just makes the whole thing more dangerous. READ MORE: An excerpt from Mike Chinoy's new book, "The Last POW"
### SUMMARY:
| Chinoy: Hacking has created a dangerous, unpredictable situation .
There are no agreed upon rules of the road in terms of cyber warfare .
North Korea has invested significantly in its cyber warfare capabilities . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Kevin Wang always had the teaching bug in him. After graduating from UC-Berkeley in 2002 with a degree in electrical engineering and computer science, he turned down industry jobs to teach in the Bay Area. A few years later he got a masters degree in education from Harvard and then went to Microsoft to work as a software developer. But he couldn't stop teaching. Before he arrived at the office every morning, Wang drove to a nearby high school and taught first-period computer science. He told colleagues and friends about his experience and recruited them to teach in local schools. The word spread. In 2009 Wang launched Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS), an initiative that places high-tech professionals as part-time teachers in high schools. Wang's goal was to see to it that every high school in the country has a computer-science course. He thought he might need to quit his job to manage the growing effort. But he didn't have to. Microsoft offered to support Wang, asking him to devote all his workday time to it. The company's decision to incubate the TEALS program stems partly from founder Bill Gates's longstanding interest in promoting education, Microsoft's broader philanthropic focus and a pressing, industry-wide need for more engineers. "America produces the best computer engineers in the world," said Wang, "but we just don't have enough." Which is why TEALS has over 100 volunteers covering 35 schools in seven states, and is now mounting a big push in New York City. Falling behind? In February of this year, Gates joined Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and other tech titans in a video by nonprofit Code.org to encourage interest among young people in programming. Demand for top tech talent also has prompted the industry to lobby the State Department to give out more H1-B visas to highly skilled foreign-born immigrants. In April, Zuckerberg penned an op-ed in the Washington Post calling for revised immigration policies so that U.S. companies can better attract the most talented foreign-born computer scientists. Computer science is the third highest-paying bachelor degree, right behind computer engineering and chemical engineering. While the average starting salary for computer science college graduates is $64,400, industry insiders frequently cite higher figures. In large or competitive companies like Google or Facebook, starting salary for the cream of the crop college graduates is nearly $100,000, not counting bonuses or stock options. Despite the financial appeal, there aren't enough computer programmers entering the U.S. workforce to fill the estimated 150,000 new computing jobs that will be produced every year for the next decade. This adds to anxiety among industry professionals and policy leaders that the U.S. could fall behind other countries in innovation if it doesn't foster education in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Part of the problem is that the U.S. lacks enough computer science teachers, said Wang. Recent graduates with a computer science degree are far more likely to go into the tech industry, where offers are more lucrative. Early exposure to computer science can lead students to develop an aptitude or liking for the subject, apply for opportunities like tech internships, and pursue it as a career path. But even as technology becomes an integral part of most people's lives, fewer computer-science courses are being offered in high schools. Perhaps as a result, computer-science tests account for just 0.69% of all high school AP tests taken. And yet knowledge of computer programming is becoming more critical in the workplace. "Computer science is permeating every industry and every field, and its importance will only grow," said Wang. "Whether it's biology, finance, architecture, or a host of other disciplines, a basic computer literacy is critical." TEALS in NYC . That the U.S. produces so few graduates in a field that will grow in importance makes the demand-supply problem only more urgent. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, never one to shy away from national issues, tried in 2011 to jumpstart the city's tech scene with the proposal to build a world-class engineering campus. When the mayor's office heard about TEALS after The New York Times ran an article about it in fall 2012, officials reached out to Wang and asked him to bring the program to New York City. With help from the mayor's Office, TEALS began setting up and recruiting volunteers. In March, Wang appeared at a New York tech meetup to invite the city's tech community to get involved. A plug from venture capitalist and blogger Fred Wilson also helped generate interest. Interviews with applicants, conducted jointly with nine participating high schools, started this month. Wang is curious to see how the composite of the volunteer force shapes up since few major technology companies are headquartered in New York City. Selected volunteers will go through an intensive training program in the summer so that they can use a standardized curriculum and learn how to manage classrooms by the fall. Since tech professionals often have flexible working hours, the program places them in first-period classes, which usually ends shortly after 9 a.m. Volunteers are paid a small stipend to cover transportation costs. But as Wang put it, "No one is doing this for the money." Jeff Tyson, a Microsoft employee, began teaching at a Seattle school last September and tries to appeal to students' creativity. "If there is one thing we try to avoid in our class, it is (being) boring. We often try to show how deeply computer science has altered our world," he said. "We even have some students who plan to code artistic projects. I think Steve Jobs was spot on when he called computer science a liberal art." Bad numbers, big gains . About 80% of TEALS' volunteers are Microsoft employees, part of a push by the company to address the dearth of engineering talent in the U.S. The program is also part of the Microsoft YouthSpark initiative, which seeks to provide better access to education for young people worldwide. For Donald Hense, CEO and founder of the Friendship Public Charter Schools in the Washington, D.C., area, TEALS was a boon. "We were excited that it could help us identify extremely qualified teachers to staff a very difficult field," he said. "We specifically pushed for STEM courses in our schools. Kids are judged on ability, and the ability to code is going to help them a long way in tomorrow's world." The numbers suggest Wang has an uphill battle. In 2012, only 61 students took advanced-placement computer science in the entire state of Utah, for example. In the nation's capital, it's the same number. But Wang is taking an optimistic view. "The numbers are so bad that anything we can do is a huge, huge gain," he told CNN. Wang needs more students like Adrian Chavez, a senior taking a TEALS AP course at Hazen High School in Renton, Washington, who said, "It is a dream of mine to someday work as a software engineer or programmer graphic artist in video games." What would really help, Wang said, is if states recognized computer science as a core requirement rather than an elective. "It really should be the fourth science course in high school, right beside biology, physics and chemistry," he said. "If the next generation in this country is going to compete successfully for 21st-century jobs, they're going to need to know computer science."
### SUMMARY:
| The TEALS program seeks to develop more computer-science students in the U.S.
The United States has a shortage of qualified computer engineers .
Despite tech's growing role in society, few high schools offer computer-science classes .
TEALS now has over 100 volunteers covering 35 schools in seven states . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . UPDATED: . 02:28 EST, 20 June 2011 . Her TV show may have been axed. But that didn't stop All My Children star Susan Lucci letting her hair down for the glitzy Daytime Emmy Awards last night in Las Vegas. The 64-year-old actress took a gamble, wearing a cleavage-boosting short white dress as she took to the red carpet. White hot: All My Children star wore a racy, cleavage-boosting dress to the Daytime Emmy Awards in Las Vegas last night . She was joined there by her only . daughter, daughter Liza Huber, 36, who looked elegant in full-length . green dress and was certainly dressed more conservatively than her . mother. Grandmother of three Lucci has been on the show All My Children since its inception in 1970. However it was announced earlier this . year that the American soap will be cancelled due to poor ratings after . more than 40 years on the air. Fellow ABC soap One Life to Live is also bowing out for the same reason. Support: The 64-year-old was joined by her daughter Liza Huber, a one-time soap actress and, right, posing with former Today Show host Meredith Vieira . Icon: Lucci played the role or Erica Kane in the American soap for more than 40 years. It will air for the last time in September after being axed over falling ratings . Lucci, who plays diva Erica Kane, became more famous for an off-stage drama when she was . nominated for 18 years for a Daytime Emmy Award as best actress without . winning - until she finally took home a trophy in 1999. There were no wins for her last . night, though, although her co-star Brittany Allen, 25, who plays Marisa . Chandler, did take the honour for Outstanding Younger Actress in a . Drama Series. All My Children - which will air for the last time in September - was nominated for six awards in total, taking home one award. One Life To Live, which finishes . filming in January, scooped no gongs - but was nominated for Outstanding . Drama Series Directing Team. It turned out to be a tie, with The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless taking home the honour. Taking to the stage: She joined actor Shemar Moore to present a gong for outstanding lead actress in a drama series . Winfrey, . who recently ended her lauded talk show after 25 years, will be . honoured for changing the face of daytime television during the show . hosted by Wayne Brady and broadcast live on CBS. The 38th . annual ceremony honouring everything from soap operas to game shows to . talk shows was to see a parade of stars like nominees Philbin and . Meredith Vieira joining Winfrey on the way out. Philbin is . leaving his syndicated chat fest later this year, and he could retire . with a trophy, having been nominated for best talk-show host. Vieira ended her five-year run on the Today show earlier this month. The Bold and the Beautiful was named best drama at the Daytime Emmy . awards for the third consecutive year during the ceremony. What a peach: The honour was awarded to Laura Wright of the daytime show General Hospital . Big win: The directing team of the Bold and the Beautiful, winners of outstanding drama series award, pose in the press room . The Ellen DeGeneres Show' won the prize for . entertainment best talk show for a second year, and Dr. Oz took the best . informative talk show for the first time. Ben Bailey of Cash Cab was named best game show host for a second year. He was late taking the stage at the Las Vegas Hilton, admitting that he was in the bathroom when his name was called. The . best talk show host prize was a tie between Oz Mehmet of Dr. Oz and . Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa of The Regis and Kelly Show. Quiz mainstays Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune shared the Daytime Emmy for best game show. All together: The entire cast of the Bold and the Beautiful seen here in all their finery with their awards in hand . In . the soap categories, two stars of The Bold and the Beautiful also won . awards - Heather Tom for supporting actress and Scott Clifton for . younger actor. The lead acting awards went to Michael Park for As the World Turns and Laura Wright for General Hospital.The . Bold and the Beautiful also won the directing award, in a tie with The . Young and the Restless, which won the writing prize in its own right. The . other acting prizes went to Jonathan Jackson for his supporting role in . General Hospital'and to Brittany Allen as younger actress in All My . Children. Soap star Tracey E. Bregman opted for a plunging beige gown while Brittany Allen looks delighted as she holds her award for outstanding younger actress in a drama series for All My Children . Legend: Oprah accepted her achievement Emmy award via video link . Wayne Brady hosted the ceremony, which included the . presentation of career achievement awards to Oprah Winfrey, and . game-show hosts Alex Trebek and Pat Sajak. Winfrey accepted her honour by sending in a video. The . red carpet brought out the stars at the event, which seemed more like a . bittersweet goodbye, with Oprah Winfrey, Regis Philbin, All My Children . and One Life to Live leaving the daytime airwaves. Full length and fabulous: General Hospital star Kimberly McCullough and, left, Sylvester Stallone's wife, former model Jennifer Flavin . Stars from . The Young and the Restless, including nominee Tricia Cast and Tracey E. Bregman, thrilled fans as they walked the carpet in the middle of the . Las Vegas Hilton casino. Fans pointed cameras and screamed, drowning out the jingling of slot machines as gamblers oblivious to the glamour played on. Cheers went up for Marlee Maitlin, runner-up on Celebrity Apprentice, and Jennifer Flavin, wife of Sylvester Stallone. Here come the boys: Dr. Mehmet Oz, left, accepts the outstanding talk show host award, Ben Bailey accepts the outstanding game show host award for Cash Cab and, right, Journalist Anderson Cooper speaking on stage . Colourful evening: Cast members from the Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil show perform onstage . Drama series - 'The Bold and the Beautiful' Lead actor in a drama series - Michael Park, 'As the World Turns . Lead actress in a drama series - Laura Wright, 'General Hospital' Supporting actor in a drama - Jonathan Jackson, 'General Hospital' Supporting actress in a drama - Heather Tom, 'The Bold and the Beautiful' Younger actor in a drama series - Scott Clifton, 'The Bold and the Beautiful' Younger actress in a drama series - Brittany Allen, 'All My Children' Game show (tie) - 'Jeopardy!' and 'Wheel of Fortune' Game Show host - Ben Bailey, 'Cash Cab' Talk show (informative) - 'Dr. Oz' Talk show (entertainment) - 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show' Talk show host (tie) - Mehmet Oz, 'The Dr. Oz Show'; Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, 'Live with Regis and Kelly' Drama series directing team (tie) - 'The Young and the Restless' and 'The Bold and the Beautiful' Drama series writing team - 'The Young and the Restless'
### SUMMARY:
| Actress makes most of Las Vegas night after show is axed .
The Bold and the Beautiful was named best drama .
Oprah honoured with a career achievement award . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Anna Edwards . PUBLISHED: . 04:12 EST, 13 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:23 EST, 13 September 2012 . Every child's first birthday is a milestone occasion, and one that is celebrated by delighted parents. But for premature baby Shayne Welsh, his first birthday is not only a milestone, but a miracle. Shayne was declared dead by doctors for 25 minutes after he stopped breathing - but miraculously came back to life. He stopped breathing in an incubator a day into his life, after being born at just 26 weeks, when he failed to breathe without the help of a ventilator. Survivor: Kerry holds Shayne when he is just a month old at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton . Doctors and nurses battled to stabilise Shayne as he fought for life struggling to breath with his barely formed lungs . Miracle boy: Shayne looks on at his first birthday cake - which no one expected after his heart stopped for 25 minutes . Tiny Shayne Welsh was born weighing just 1lb 14oz but has since gone from strength to strength . Nurses at New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, could not revive him and informed parents Kerry, 39, and Simon Welsh, 44, the toddler had passed away. But as they prepared for a chaplain to christen the baby they noticed he still had a faint heartbeat and rushed him back into intensive care. Now he has celebrated his first birthday surrounded by family and friends, overjoyed he has developed so fast he is the same as any other one-year-old boy. Kerry and Simon from Walsall, West . Midlands, who had been trying for a baby for 18 years and had six . miscarriages said his life was meant to be. Kerry . said: 'The nurses told us he had gone and that there was no vital signs . of life. I asked them to keep trying but they said it was no use. Tiny: His parents were devastated to learn their little boy had died - but his heart started beating again and the little boy, seen here aged one month, grew stronger and stronger . What a trooper! Shayne plays happily just before his first birthday last week, a year after he was given up for dead . Boy wonder! Shayne has celebrated his first birthday surrounded by family, who are overjoyed he has developed so fast he is the same as any other one-year-old . 'We held him for 20 minutes taking it in turns and saying our goodbyes thinking we’d lost Shayne forever. 'They said there might still be movement in him from the gasses in his body but he was there and just still. We had no idea he would start breathing again. 'We wanted him christened and as they took him away the nurses rushed back a few minutes later and said he was breathing again. 'We watched them rig him back up to the ventilator and oxygen. 'I just turned around stunned and I literally slid down the wall in shock. 'Simon and I couldn’t believe it. We think it was maybe moving him so much in preparation for the christening that re-started his heart. After 18 years of trying for a baby, Simon and Kerry were thrilled when Shayne - seen here in a high dependency care - pulled through . Milestone: Simon, Kerry and Shayne at his christening, months after nurses told them that their little boy died . 'Being that small how could he survive? At that age you haven’t developed proper lungs. It’s amazing he came back. 'The nurses said he’s fighting back but we just don’t know how long for. 'It was still 50/50 for weeks he would make it through but he did.' He has has been labelled ‘the event’ by staff at the hospital after the amazing back from the dead incident that doctors say they have never witnessed. Medics can still not understand how Shayne, who weighed just 1lb 14oz at birth, had the lung capacity to breathe again after his heart stopped. But after reviving him and keeping him on a ventilator and oxygen for the eight weeks after the incident, he pulled through to now live a healthy first year. Nothing gets in his way: Tiny Shayne died in an incubator a day into his life at just 26 weeks old and nurses could not revive him - but now he is fighting fit after his miraculous recovery . Growing up fast! Shayne, seen at nine months old at his playgroup, 'fought all the way and he¿s here now a beautiful baby' He also survived four blood transfusions, bleeds on the brain and a hole in the heart which is common to premature children. Kerry and Simon first lost a child in 1996 but did not discover until 2001 that Kerry had polycystic ovaries that meant it was unlikely she could be pregnant with a child for longer than 37 weeks. Despite the concerns, she endured a normal pregnancy with Shayne for six months until September 12 last year when he arrived with no warning. Kerry said: 'I had back ache and doctors said they suspected it was an infection and to put my feet up and get some rest. Shayne will have tests for the next four years on his eyes and ears to ensure his early arrival in life does not hinder his development . Kerry said: 'After 18 years of heartache and even the second day of his life and what we went through, I wouldn¿t change it for the world' 'Within hours though I was fully dilated and they said the baby’s head is ready to arrive. It was a bolt from the blue. 'They said he had a 60 to 70 per cent chance of survival but it all depended on him breathing on his own. 'I never bought anything baby wise in the lead up to his birth, I didn’t want to tempt fate and we chose not to know if it was going to be a boy or a girl. 'Before we conceived they told me the more weight I lost the better the chance I would have of mothering a child so I set about losing as much as possible. 'We lost twins in 2002 and then had four other miscarriages. 'But after 18 years of heartache and even the second day of his life and what we went through, I wouldn’t change it for the world.' Shayne was allowed home first time on November 30 last year, 11 weeks after his remarkable recovery. He has only had to return once since for a bout of tonsillitis. He will have tests for the next four years on his eyes and ears to ensure his early arrival in life does not hinder his development. Otherwise, he now happily plays at his local nursery with children his own age. Kerry said: 'If you don’t tell people, they’d never know just how premature he was. He was crawling and sitting up before many children his age do and he’s all set to start walking in the next few weeks. 'The hospital was fantastic. We cannot praise the staff there enough for they did for us and Shayne. 'He fought all the way and he’s here now a beautiful baby. 'We hope this gives hope to people that their premature children can survive.'
### SUMMARY:
| Kerry and Simon Welsh, who had been trying for a baby for 18 years and had six miscarriages, said Shayne's life was meant to be .
After being told he had died, they prepared for a chaplain to christen the baby, but then noticed he still had a faint heartbeat .
After dying in his incubator when he was born at just 26 weeks, Shayne is now a happy, healthy boy . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Luke Salkeld . PUBLISHED: . 17:40 EST, 26 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 03:24 EST, 27 December 2012 . Tinkerbell and Nemo have long been family favourites as characters on the screen. But it seems they are now becoming family members - as parents choose them as names for their children. The Disney characters’ names - from Finding Nemo and Peter Pan - are some of the less traditional monikers given to babies born in 2012. Characters: Tinkerbell (left) and Nemo (right) are now being chosen by parents as names for their children . Others include Buzz-Bee, Storm, River, Blade, Zico and Diesel. In a few years’ time these youngsters could be listed on a classroom register with Sailor, Wade, Zed and Hendrix. And they could end up being friends with . Bliss, Star, Pyper, Kizzie and Buttercup, which have all been recorded . on birth certificates over the last 12 months. The unusual names feature on a list compiled by parenting website Bounty.com of names given to the 430,000 babies born in the UK this year. But traditionalists need not fear, as the most popular names given to both boys and girls sound a great deal more familiar. In the overall top 100 lists Harry came top for boys with Jack in second and Charlie in third place. Amelia has overtaken Olivia as the most popular girls’ name with Emily third. A spokesman for Bounty said yesterday as the lists were released: ‘Parents are being creative and wanting their children to stand out from the crowd with unusual names. ‘Some parents chose unusual names because they don’t want their child to share the same name as others at school. The desire for Classroom "standout" is certainly a growing trend.’ School friends: Sailor, Wade, Zed and Hendrix could end up being in the same class as Bliss, Star, Pyper, Kizzie and Buttercup, which have all been recorded on birth certificates over the last 12 months (file picture) She continued: ‘The vast majority of parents acknowledge that their children will probably have an easier ride in the playground if they choose a more traditional name, which is why more conservative names such as Harry and Amelia win out overall.’ The most popular names of 2012 in the boys list are Harry, Jack, Charlie, Oliver and Alfie. The rest of the top ten is made up of Riley, Jacob, James, Thomas and Ethan. In the girls list Amelia is top followed by Olivia, Emily and Jessica. In fifth place is Sophie closely followed by Lily and Mia. Ava, Isla and Ruby complete the top ten. The spokesman added: ‘Today’s baby trends change quickly and names that first seem unusual can quickly become common in the classroom. ‘Just a few years ago Ava and Isla were relatively unheard of as a baby girl’s name yet this year they are both in the top ten. ‘Likewise for boys, there is a growing trend for ‘old man’ names, especially those that are given a contemporary spin by using the nickname for the traditional variation like Alfie, Archie, Bobby, Charlie, Frankie and Freddy. ‘Generally speaking, whatever name a child is given they usually grow up to make it their own.’ 1. Harry2. Jack3. Charlie4. Oliver5. Alfie6. Riley7. Jacob8. James9. Thomas10. Ethan11. Joshua12. Max13. George14. Noah15. William16. Tyler17. Archie18. Daniel19. Logan20. Leo21. Oscar22. Mason23. Lucas24. Jake25. Dylan26. Joseph27. Henry28. Samuel29. Freddie30. Harrison31. Finley32. Alexander33. Jayden34. Isaac35. Lewis36. Ryan37. Adam38. Theo39. Benjamin40. Harley41. Alex42. Luke43. Matthew44. Edward45. Callum46. Liam47. Toby48. Tommy49. Harvey50. Jamie51. Connor52. Bobby53. Nathan54. Jenson55. Ollie56. Sebastian57. Michael58. Frankie59. Finlay60. Kai61. Ben62. Blake63. Zachary64. Aiden65. Cameron66. Aaron67. David68. Arthur69. Luca70. Jude71. Sam72. Leon73. Dexter74. Owen75. Kyle76. Kayden77. Louis78. Rhys79. Evan80. Taylor81. Rory82. Stanley83. Caleb84. Zac85. Elliot86. Reuben87. Bailey88. Kian89. Jackson90. Louie91. Billy92. Sonny93. Seth94. Olly95. Reece96. Bradley97. Hugo98. Hayden99. Cody100. Elijah . 1. Amelia2. Olivia3. Emily4. Jessica5. Sophie6. Lily7. Mia8. Ava9. Isla10. Ruby11. Grace12. Evie13. Poppy14. Sophia15. Isabella16. Chloe17. Freya18. Ella19. Lucy20. Daisy21. Millie22. Charlotte23. Isabelle24. Eva25. Lola26. Layla27. Holly28. Scarlett29. Maisie30. Molly31. Lilly32. Erin33. Summer34. Ellie35. Lexi36. Sienna37. Alice38. Phoebe39. Megan40. Hannah41. Lacey42. Emma43. Brooke44. Florence45. Rosie46. Imogen47. Katie48. Amy49. Abigail50. Elizabeth51. Leah52. Jasmine53. Gracie54. Georgia55. Sofia56. Bella57. Matilda58. Anna59. Amber60. Amelie61. Faith62. Esme63. Madison64. Hollie65. Willow66. Maya67. Maddison68. Bethany69. Isabel70. Evelyn71. Elsie72. Darcy73. Zara74. Paige75. Niamh76. Julia77. Eliza78. Rose79. Annabelle80. Tilly81. Mollie82. Heidi83. Lauren84. Rebecca85. Zoe86. Eleanor87. Skye88. Harriet89. Maisy90. Martha91. Caitlin92. Alexis93. Mya94. Scarlet95. Emilia96. Lexie97. Kayla98. Darcey99. Isobel100. Keira .
### SUMMARY:
| Disney characters' names are modern monikers given to babies in 2012 .
Others are Buzz-Bee, Storm, River, Blade, Zico, Sailor, Wade and Diesel .
Bliss, Star, Pyper, Kizzie and Buttercup all recorded on birth certificates . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
Set of seven pictures feature landscapes and wildlife images from Kate's jungle adventure . They follow yesterday's security bungle as pictures of William at work were released on the same site containing sensitive information . The images include an endangered orangutan and scenery snapped from a plane . By . Toni Jones and Rebecca English . PUBLISHED: . 13:28 EST, 19 November 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:57 EST, 22 November 2012 . She is one of the most photographed women in the world. So sometimes it must be nice for the Duchess of Cambridge to be the one behind the camera – as these pictures prove. Kate took the photographs in September, when she and Prince William visited Borneo, and they were published on the couple’s website, www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org, yesterday. Kate and William spent a day at the Danum Valley Research Station to highlight the work being undertaken to protect the rainforest and its wildlife, including the orang-utan. A keen amateur: The Duchess of Cambridge taking aim on a previous trip . The Borneo rainforest is one of the oldest rainforests in the world and the Duke and Duchess visited it during their Diamond Jubilee tour to South East Asia and the South Pacific . The pictures capture the couple's . awesome surroundings in the jungle and include photographs taken on their . private walks through the Borneo forest as well as images captured while . the Duke and Duchess were flying to the Solomon Islands. The couple travelled into the jungle . to the research station in the Malaysian state of Sabah where they were . hoisted more than 40 metres up into the rainforest canopy to see the . eco-system. They also saw orangutans during their time on the island and Kate captured one of the endangered species in silhouette. The . trip to Borneo took place at a testing time for the couple, in the . midst of the publication of pictures of the Duchess sunbathing topless . on holiday in France. The Duke and Duchess flew over this palm oil plantation on their way to the research station. These plantations are vital to the production of many products used in daily life, from cooking to biofuels . The Borneo rainforest provides natural habitats for many species of birds and animals. Most notably the endangered Borneo Orangutan. The Duke and Duchess were fortunate enough to spot one during their short visit . The Duchess of Cambridge, who is a keen photographer, took the shots on her own camera during the visit . Mount Kinabalu is the highest point in Borneo, this image was taken by Kate as the couple flew to the Solomon Islands . The website was recently redesigned and it relaunched on Novermber 3rd to coincide with the their Royal Highness’s Diamond Jubilee tour to Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand. The site is designed to bring . together information from three individual websites, . www.princeofwales.gov.uk, www.dukeandduchessofcambridge.org and . www.princehenryofwales.org and features a 'Life in Pictures' section with many rarely seen archive photos, a children's section and even YouTube clips. More features focusing on the many . different elements of Their Royal Highness’s work and lives such as Royal Gardens, . Sustainability, The Duchy of Cornwall, Literacy and The Royal Foundation . of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The site was recently redesigned as a way to bring together information on the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and features a rarely seen archive photos, a children's section and even YouTube clips . This picture was taken as Kate and Wiliam were travelling by car through the rain forest in Danum Valley in Malaysia and does not even begin to give a sense of the size of these jungle giants, which are truly one of Nature's most awesome sights . They follow the release yesterday of never-before-seen photographs of Prince William in his role as a search and rescue helicopter pilot. There were red faces at the palace . though as the publicity exercise back-fired as it emerged that sensitive . information was visible in four of the shots. The Ministry of Defence was yesterday . forced to reset the user names and computer passwords of dozens of RAF . staff following the embarrassing security blunder. The . pictures, taken by an RAF photographer, had been intended to show off a . ‘day in the life’ of the prince on base as Flight Lieutenant Wales at . RAF Valley on Anglesey, north Wales. This photo of a jungle clearing was taken by The Duchess during her and The Duke's private walk. In rare clearings, when the sunlight does shine though, it creates the most spectacular effect through the architectural structures of the trees and leaves . This photograph was also taken on a private jungle walk. Every tree is itself a kingdom of creatures and plant life with a surrounding atmosphere of light and noise and humidity . Creative Kate, who has a degree in the history of art, is a keen supporter of the arts as reflected in her first Patronages and volunteer activities since becoming Duchess of Cambridge. It is understood her photos were taken on a Canon G12, which retails for about £285. In January she became patron of the National Portrait Gallery and her first official solo engagement without husband William was at a Lucian Freud preview at the gallery in February this year. She has also become a patron of the Art Room, a charity that works with children to increase their self-esteem, self-confidence and independence through art. The charity’s emphasis is on teaching life skills while encouraging children and young people to both relate and engage with each other. Harry Page has worked as a Fleet Street staff photographer on two national titles for over 30 years. In that time he has travelled the world covering major news stories, royal tours & celebrity events. He says: ‘It’s a good first effort and full marks to her for putting them out there and inviting critique, that is very brave as an amateur, but technically they are not brilliant. ‘It looks like the pictures have all been take in colour and then turned to black and white, meaning they lose a lot of impact. ‘She was in a lush rainforest in a beautiful part of the world which would have been filled with amazing colours and shades so to lose all of that is a real shame. ‘Black and white pictures can be more interesting but here it adds nothing to the picture. ‘My least favourite shot is the one of the orangutan – I thought Rod Hull’s Emu had curled up and died on film. ‘But some of the jungle shots are good, and she definitely shows potential. ‘My advice to her is to get some proper lessons from a professional photographer. ‘She is in such a privileged position and will spend the rest of her life travelling around the world with unique access to the most amazing sites, a few professional pointers would enable her to make the most of her potential.' The trip to Borneo took place at a testing time for the couple, days earlier a French magazine had published pictures of the Duchess sunbathing topless on holiday in France. Kate, though remained cool and calm as she was pictured at the Assyakirin Mosque in Kuala Lumpur before heading in to the jungle . The royal couple were hoisted up a 42 metre rainforest tree during their visit (this picture is not part of Kate's photography collection)
### SUMMARY:
| Set of seven pictures feature landscapes and wildlife images from Kate's jungle adventure .
They follow yesterday's security bungle as pictures of William at work were released on the same site containing sensitive information .
The images include an endangered orangutan and scenery snapped from a plane . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Simon Walters, Mail on Sunday Political Editor . PUBLISHED: . 18:47 EST, 9 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:53 EST, 9 March 2013 . Theresa May has pledged to scrap the Human Rights Act if the Conservatives win the next election . Defiant Theresa May yesterday stepped up her campaign to become Tory leader by confirming her plan for the UK to break free of the shackles of European judges. She also suggested smashing the ‘state monopoly’ of schools and hospitals by letting them make a profit – and demanded a new crackdown on unions. Labour accused the Home Secretary of revealing a ‘secret Right-wing agenda’ to privatise education and the NHS, and to attack unions. And they said quitting the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) would backfire. In a speech at Westminster dubbed her personal ‘leadership May-nifesto’, Mrs May said if the Conservatives were to regain popularity, they had to produce ‘radical’ new policies. Her comments reinforce claims by her allies who say she is on course to follow in the footsteps of Britain’s first female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. Mrs May’s proposal that the UK must consider quitting the ECHR was first revealed by this newspaper last week. Throughout the week, she refused to comment on the matter, as a feud erupted between her Tory supporters and opponents. It also fuelled claims that she is secretly preparing a leadership challenge if David Cameron loses the next General Election, due in 2015. An increasingly confident Mrs May broke her silence at a Tory rally yesterday. It was time to stop criminals getting off scot-free because of human rights laws, she said, declaring: ‘All options – including leaving the ECHR altogether – should be on the table.’ Adopting the mantle of ‘the new Maggie’, Mrs May said it was time to consider boosting standards in education and health by letting schools and hospitals make a profit. Aides denied it amounted to privatisation, pointing out schools and hospitals would continue to be ‘free at the point of use’. Mrs May said the case of hate preacher Abu Qatada, who was denied bail at his latest hearing today, highlighted the need for Britain to change its human rights laws . On quitting the Strasbourg-based . ECHR, Mrs May said: ‘We need to stop human rights legislation . interfering with our ability to fight crime and control immigration. ‘That’s why the next Conservative Government will scrap the Human Rights Act.’ To cheers from Tory activists, she . continued: ‘We should also consider very carefully our relationship with . the ECHR and the Convention it enforces. ‘When Strasbourg constantly moves the . goalposts and prevents the deportation of dangerous men like Abu . Qatada, we have to ask ourselves, to what end are we signatories to the . Convention? Are we really limiting human rights abuses in other . countries? I’m sceptical.’ It undermined Britain’s national interest and its own Supreme Court, the Home Secretary maintained. ‘By 2015 we’ll need a plan for . dealing with the European Court of Human Rights. And yes, I want to be . clear that all options – including leaving the Convention altogether – . should be on the table.’ Similar drastic measures to improve public services should be studied, she said. The Coalition had already given parents and patients more choice but had not gone far enough, Mrs May insisted. Tory MP Peter Bone said that Theresa May's speech 'went down very well' ‘I expect our reform agenda to become . even more radical. Yes, the State should make sure that public services . are available to all and free at the point of use. ‘Yes, the State should regulate those services to make sure they’re provided everywhere and offer high standards. ‘But too often the State is a poor . provider of services, and its monopoly over the delivery of those . services must end. A future Conservative Government should increase the . number of charities, companies and co-operatives that deliver frontline . services. ‘If allowing them to make a profit . means we have a more diverse supply side and better outcomes, then we . should consider it with an open mind.’ Mrs May dismissed claims that people ‘don’t want choice, they just want better services’. She said: ‘Why should choice be the preserve of the rich, who can afford to go private? ‘Why is it assumed that wealthy parents and patients are capable of making choices, while nobody else is? ‘It will be left to the Conservatives . to break the state monopoly, to open up public services, and give . everybody – not just the rich – the freedom to choose what is right for . themselves and their families.’ Mrs May also called for new curbs on . unions. She said: ‘It’s not just freedom from the State we need to think . about. We need to think about freedom from vested interests. That means . taking on trade unions resistant to change.’ Last night Tory MP Peter Bone said: . ‘There is no vacancy at the moment but clearly in the future, the Home . Secretary will be a very credible candidate. ‘She has run her department very well . and it’s extraordinarily difficult to be Home Secretary. She has . handled it very well. She has widespread support in the party. ‘Her views on human rights rules and reports that she wants to pull out of the ECHR went down very well with party members.’ By ROBERT VERKAIK, Legal Affairs Editor . A pensions row has broken out between top judges, including Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Government . The wealthiest judges in the country . are using human rights laws to challenge the Government over cuts to . their gold-plated pensions worth hundreds of millions of pounds. A secret dossier leaked to The Mail on Sunday reveals how Lord Judge, the Lord Chief Justice and . Britain’s most senior judge, is spearheading an unprecedented attack on the Government’s authority over public finances. Judges have instructed top barristers to advise them on using human rights laws to sue Ministers who have reduced pensions in line with those paid to senior civil servants. In the past, judges have not contributed to a pension that pays them half their former salary plus a lump sum pay-off. The changes will result in them contributing for the first time and paying tax on the income the pensions provide. The 100-page dossier exposes the ferocity of the dispute between the Government and the judiciary which could spark a constitutional crisis. In one draft of a letter intended for the Lord Chancellor, Chris Grayling, the judges use the threat of court action to try to get their way. ‘It would be in nobody’s interest for these issues to be resolved by litigation . . . however, you will understand that the possibility of recourse to the courts cannot be ruled out.’ Judges earn up to up £240,000 a year. Lord Judge’s annual pension will be £119,922 and he will get a lump sum payment of more than £250,000 when he retires later this year.Lib Dem MP John Hemming questioned how the case could be properly heard in court. He said: ‘Natural justice requires people do not sit in judgment in their own case. It is difficult to see how an application by the judiciary to quash changes to their own pension payments can be handled without a conflict of interest.’ Neither the senior judiciary nor the Government would comment on the matter.
### SUMMARY:
| ...And fuels leadership speculation with radical 'privatised schools' plan .
Home Secretary was speaking in front of Tory activists .
Said legislation restricts UK's ability 'to fight crime and control immigration'
Could go further and withdraw from European obligations on rights entirely . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 17:25 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:14 EST, 23 April 2013 . A tour of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum begins in a bright area representing his early domestic agenda, but with one turn, visitors find themselves in a darkened room surrounded by chilling reminders of the September 11 terrorist attacks. This contrast, symbolizing Bush's abrupt shift in priorities less than eight months into his first term, is among the most poignant exhibits at a museum being dedicated this week that also chronicles the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, the Florida recount and various other historical events. Bush told The Associated Press last week that he wanted to make sure the part of the museum devoted to 9/11 was powerful enough to remind visitors of how much the world changed that day. '43': The George W. Bush Presidential Center, which includes the library and museum along with the 43rd president's policy institute, will be dedicated Thursday on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas . 'It's very emotional and very profound,' Bush said. 'One of the reasons it has to be is because memories are fading rapidly and the profound impact of that attack is becoming dim with time, and we want to make sure people remember not only the lives lost and the courage shown but the lesson that the human condition overseas matters to the national security of our country.' The George W. Bush Presidential Center, which includes the library and museum along with the 43rd president's policy institute, will be dedicated Thursday on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. All the living presidents, including President Barack Obama and Bush's father, George H.W. Bush, plan to attend. It will open to the public on May 1. Thursday: The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, pictured, in Dallas opens to the public on May 1 . 9/11: A large part of the exhibit is dedicated to the 9/11 terrorist attacks . World Trade Center: Twisted steel beams from the devastated World Trade Center site in New York are displayed in the museum area at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas . Memorabilia: Various campaign memorabilia is shown in the museum area at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas . The museum uses everything from news . clips to interactive screens to artifacts to tell the story of Bush's . eight years in office. A container of chads — the remnants of the famous . Florida punch cards — is part of an exhibit about the 2000 election, . which Bush won after the Supreme Court ordered Florida to stop its . recount process more than a month after Election Day. In the 9/11 display, called the 'Day of Fire,' video images from the attacks flash around a twisted metal beam recovered from the wreckage of the World Trade Center. The exhibit also includes the bullhorn Bush used days later to address a crowd of rescue workers at ground zero: 'I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.' Longtime Bush adviser Karen Hughes was standing just a few feet away from the president when he began making the unplanned speech. Hughes said she remembers turning to Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Joe Allbaugh and saying, 'That's going to be in his library someday.' Brendan Miniter, who served as the liaison for the Bushes as the museum's exhibits were developed, said the idea was to present the facts and 'let them speak for themselves.' He said they also did not want to shy away from more controversial aspects of the administration. 'I suspect that people would have thought that we wouldn't have talked about say enhanced interrogation techniques or the decision to create the prison in Guantanamo,' he said, adding that former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is featured in a video about why the administration felt both were necessary. Remembered: The museum uses everything from news clips to interactive screens to artifacts to tell the story of Bush's eight years in office . Katrina: Hurricane Katrina is another major event that is remembered in the museum . Free people: In this photo taken April 16, 2013, an exhibit displaying various images of freedom and democracy are seen in the museum area . Football: A football presented to president George W. Bush by the University of Texas Longhorns among the items . Visitors also are taken through a timeline of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. A display at the end makes the case against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, including that he ignored 17 United Nations Security Council resolutions demanding he disclose his weapons programs and fired at British and American pilots monitoring the U.N.-imposed no-fly zone. The exhibit also acknowledges the biggest controversy about the justification for war: No weapons of mass destruction were found. A 'Decision Points Theater,' lined with rows of interactive screens, seeks to put visitors in the shoes of a president. It provides facts for them to decide such questions as whether to invade Iraq or provide bailout money during the financial crisis. 'It's conflicting,' Miniter said. 'You go to the Capitol Hill and somebody will say you need to provide some resources to stabilize the financial industry, and then somebody else will say no, work let it work itself out, don't do anything.' First pets: Statues of Barney, left, and Miss Beazley, the beloved Scottish Terriers of president George W. Bush and Laura Bush, are included in the exhibit . Letters: Letters written from around the world and sent to the White House offering thoughts and prayers after the 9/11 attacks are displayed in the museum area of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas . Dedication: The George W. Bush Presidential Center, which includes the library and museum along with 43rd president's policy institute, will be dedicated Thursday on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas . Open: The museum will open to the public on May 1 . A 'Freedom Wall' in the museum features pictures including a soldier greeting children, former first lady Laura Bush supporting women's rights and the Bushes meeting with freedom advocates. The impact of AIDS around the world — a focus of Bush's international outreach efforts — is illustrated with a large map of the world. Small photographs of the faces of those suffering from the disease are placed into the shapes of the continents of the world, with those with more AIDS cases, including Africa, looming larger. The museum also features a section on life at the White House, displaying a ball that obviously got some heavy use by the Bushes' late dog Barney. A full-scale replica of the Oval Office leads outside to an actual rose garden. The center also features a 15-acre park recreating a Texas prairie. Bush said his focus will continue to be the George W. Bush Institute, which has featured programs focused on education, economic growth, global health and human freedom. Through the institute, his activities have included yearly bike rides with wounded military veterans and traveling to Africa as part of an effort among several groups to fight cervical and breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. He also recently took up oil painting, inspired by former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Bush, who was the 43rd president, signs his works '43.' 'I'm a beginner and I tell people that the signature on my paintings is worth more than the paintings,' Bush said.
### SUMMARY:
| The George W. Bush Presidential Center, .
which includes the library and museum along with the 43rd president's .
policy institute, will be dedicated Thursday on the campus of Southern .
Methodist University in Dallas .
It will open to the public on May 1 . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 12:33 EST, 10 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:48 EST, 10 June 2013 . A 23-year-old Lakeside, Florida man has been arrested for the murder on May 28 of drag queen and Whitney Houston impersonator Anthony Lee, whose stage name was South Beach Wanda. Deandre Tolliver was arrested for first-degree murder and armed robbery in Lakeside on Saturday, the same day Anthony Lee was put to rest. Investigators say they were able to link the car used in the murder to Tolliver, but are still looking for two accomplices. Slain: Anthony Lee, 49, also known as drag queen South Beach Wanda (left), was shot dead in Tampa, Florida. Deandre Tolliver (right), 23, has been arrested for first-degree murder and armed robbery . According to Tampa police Tolliver, 23, was one of three suspects who arrived in a dark colored Dodge Magnum at 3911 East Genessee St where Lee was staying to care for a sick friend. Consummate performer: 'I'm a comedian. Don't sit in the front row if you don't want to be picked on. I'm different. There's nobody on the Beach like me,' Anthony Lee told the Miami New Times in '98 . The Miami New Times said Lee was . cooking dinner at his friend's house the night of May 28 when a suspect . knocked at the door. Lee opened the door and was shot five times at . point blank range. Police believe it may have been a case of mistaken . identity. According to Bay . News 9, police think the house was targeted, but it is unclear if the . bullet was meant for someone else, or if the case was a botched home . invasion. A neighbor heard the commotion and ran to help, but Lee's injuries were too grave and he died at the scene. 'I [saw] him fighting for his breath. I was trying to help him breathe before the police came,' Jeremy Judkins told Bay News 9. Tolliver is already on probation . after serving six months in prison for assault with a deadly weapon. Police aren't saying exactly what Tolliver's role in the shooting was, but he is . facing charges of murder in the first degree and armed robbery. At Hamburger Mary's, a Ybor City . institution where Wanda was a regular performer, owner Kurt King, . employees and friends of Lee gathered to hold a fundraiser on Thursday . to help pay for his funeral. Crime scene: Lee went visit an ailing friend at 3911 East Genesee in Tampa when he was gunned down by a stranger who came knocking on the door . Towering personality: At six-foot-six without heels, when Anthony Lee became his alter-ego Wanda, people couldn't help but take notice . 'I was just shocked,' King, who had known Lee for 22 years, told the Tampa Bay Times. 'I heard about it 20 minutes after it happened. I . didn't believe it until a friend called me and said it was true.' As Wanda, Lee would often take the stage at Hamburger Mary's resplendent in his favorite blond wig and sequinned gown to lip sync to Whitney Houston. King said investigators told him that Lee was cooking dinner at his female friend's house when the suspects arrived. Larger than life: Sadly, South Beach Wanda, or Sobe Wanda, has something else in common with her idol Whitney Houston - they both died too young in tragic circumstances . 'It was just like Wanda to be cooking for somebody,' said James Bailey, . a friend and bartender at Hamburger Mary's. 'She was always cooking for . us.' The funeral was held on Saturday at the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa. 'Today we laid him to rest and GOD answered my prayers and TPD did their job,' Lee's sister, Barbara Lee-Thomas, wrote in a Facebook post. 'My GOD will answer prayers.' Beloved: Wanda was famous for her balloon-filled bust-line and comical drag performances . Wanda performed her swansong at Hamburger Mary's the Thursday before last. King said Wanda's career was long and successful, with gigs up and down the country. She first worked for King in 1991, and the two formed a close friendship over the years. Wanda was known for her Whitney Houston obsession, snarky one-liners and outrageous antics including donning a dress made of tampons and jumping into a pool. Fabulous: Wanda was known for her high-necked, long-sleeved, sequin-encrusted gowns . 'She was very funny, hanging from the . rafters and swinging, having fun. She impersonated Whitney Houston, . wore balloons instead of a bra. When she was in the show, it was a show . of her own,' said King. At . Thursday's fundraiser, a dozen fellow drag queens performed. Each began . their performance with their fondest memory of Wanda, which was often of . a memorable insult Wanda had thrown their way. 'We just want justice to be done,' said Power Infiniti, a fellow drag queen whose first meeting with Lee involved being laughed at. 'He thought I looked a hot mess,' said Infiniti. Head and shoulders above: Friends and colleagues of Wanda are mourning her loss as Deandre Tolliver, 23, faces murder charges for the shooting death of Anthony Lee . 'We’d been friends for, like I . said, 17 years and we actually got to know each other when I was first . starting out as a club kid in South Beach,' he recalled to Bay News 9. The pair were together just over a week ago in Ybor City. 'The next thing I hear is that he is dead was a shock to say the least,' he said. He and Lee had exchanged text messages just hours before. Kind words: One of Lee's sisters remembered her brother as a warm person who genuinely loved people . 'He was very strong,' Power Infiniti . said. 'He told it like it was and he was very forthright. If he loved . you, he loved you fiercely and he was an amazing friend.' 'She was in my wedding, she caught the bouquet. And then took her wig off, and went for the garter,' wrote South Beach nightlife impresario Eric Milon's wife, Stacy of Wanda, in the comments section of the Miami Herald. Police . records show Tolliver has a violent history with a string of offenses . to his name, beginning in 2004 when he was arrested on drug charges by . Polk County deputies. Other . arrests include aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated assault, . battery, burglary, marijuana possession, grand theft, resisting arrest . and failure to appear in court. He was in state prison from July 2011 . until January 2012 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, was on . probation at the time of his latest arrest. Anthony Jerome Lee is survived by three sisters and four brothers and numerous nieces and nephews. According to his friend King, the siblings' mother died just a few weeks ago.
### SUMMARY:
| Anthony Lee, 49, was gunned down in Lakeside while at a friend's home .
Deandre Tolliver, 23, has been charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery .
Two accomplices are still at large .
Police believe Lee was not the target of the shooting .
Lee, also known as South Beach Wanda, was a fixture on the Florida drag scene . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . David Mccormack . PUBLISHED: . 21:08 EST, 28 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 21:35 EST, 28 November 2013 . The kind-hearted New York police officer who hit the headlines a year ago when he famously bought a pair of boots for a homeless man has got his just deserts – a promotion at work. Larry DePrimo won a host of fans last November when a photograph of him kneeling down to give a pair of boots to a homeless man in Times Square went viral and sparked a massive response, with thousands on social media hailing him as an example of the transforming impact of a simple gift. On Tuesday, DePrimo who was nicknamed Boots by his colleagues after last year's incident was promoted to detective. Scroll down for video . Reason to celebrate: Kind hearted NYPB officer Larry (Boots) DePrimo has been promoted to detective a year after he made nationwide news for buying a barefoot homeless man a pair of boots . Act of kindness: Hundreds of thousands of people expressed their appreciation for Officer Lawrence DePrimo last November after the NYPD posted this photo of him on Facebook . ‘It’s a dream come true, this shield is one of the most coveted shields I think in the country, maybe even the world,’ he told the New York Post. ‘I look down and it’s still unreal to me.’ In the wake of last November's incident, DePrimo had appeared on the Today show, where he had credited his . grandfather with instilling in him the importance of generosity. ‘I really didn’t think about the money,’ he said. ‘I said, I don’t care what the price is. We just got to help him out.’ DePrimo had also described the media attention his good deed received as . ‘surreal and extremely humbling.’ DePrimo said he hasn’t seen 'homeless' Hillman since his act of kindness . last November, but said he would still like to meet up with him . ‘It’s . a great experience,’ he said last year. ‘I think it’s a lot about the people, . though, because you see such great comments. People are saying that . their faith in humanity is restored and that’s the biggest thing that I . can take away from all of this.’ The homeless man was later identified as Jeffrey Hillman, 54. He was spotted just days later without the famous boots which he claimed might get stolen if he wore them. Hillman has been . spotted as recently as March still shoeless and with a . sign that reads 'HOMELESS' while panhandling for money in . the streets of Manhattan, even though he lives in a Bronx apartment. DePrimo hasn’t seen Hillman since his act of kindness, but said he would still like to meet up with him. 'Hopefully I’ll be able to meet him and see how’s he doing,' DePrimo said. 'I’d shake his hand and ask him if he still wants to grab that coffee or some dinner.' Responding to a need: Officer DePrimo said he was patrolling Times Square in the heart of Manhattan when he came across the man, who was huddled next to a storefront with nothing on his feet . Though . that famous incident gained DePrimo a lot of recognition, his father, . also Larry DePrimo, was quick to point out that it wasn't the only . reason that he was promoted. 'It’s . important to remember Larry is not becoming detective today because he . done something nice a year ago, his service record also speaks for . itself too,' he said. When DePrimo appeared on the Today show last November he was joined by Jennifer Foster, the 911 dispatcher from Pinal County, . Arizona, who had captured the heartwarming photo on her phone and then . emailed it to the NYPD. 'I knew what I was looking at,' she said. ‘I knew it was remarkable.’ CCTV footage captures the moment that DePrimo purchased the pair of winter boots for the homeless man . DePrimo has cited the influence of his grandfather in motivating him to step forward to engage with the man in need. 'The true inspiration was my . grandfather, and he told me when I was much younger, "If you are going . to do something, do it 100 percent. And do it, or don't do it at all,'" DePrimo said. 'And I think that stuck with me my entire life.' DePrimo was on counter terrorism . patrol in Times Square on the night of November 14, 2012, when he encountered the . homeless man who was huddled next to a storefront with nothing on his . feet. The 25-year-old told . CBS that he spotted the man shivering on the cold pavement. 'I went up . to him and I said, "Buddy where's your socks, where's your shoes?"' DePrimo said. New York Police Officer Lawrence DePrimo and Jennifer Foster, the woman who captured the moment he gave a barefoot homeless man a pair of new boots, were interviewed on the Today show last November . 'He said, "It's okay officer, I never had a pair of shoes." And that to me - it took me back a few.' 'It was freezing out and you could see . the blisters on the man’s feet, I had two pairs of socks and I was still cold.’ He watched the man stand up and walk slowly, painfully, down the cold pavement of the sidewalk on the balls of his feet. The . officer went into a nearby Skecher's store and found a $100 pair of . winter boots that he believed would keep the man warm through the . winter. Jose Cano, the assistant manager at . the Skechers store in Times Square, said he discounted the Alamar . Terence shoes from $100 to $75 as he was 'inspired'. Mr Cano, 28, said: 'I've worked in the city for about 10 years and no one’s really sort of taken that sort of initiative.' Snug: A worker at Skechers shows off the type of boot donated to the homeless man . Officer DePrimo said he keeps the $75 receipt from the . boots in his bullet-proof vest, as a reminder that even when things are . tough, some people have it tougher. ‘The . two things that really stuck out in my mind that night was how cold it . was and that this was the most polite gentleman I ever met, and I knew I . had to help him,’ he told TODAY. DePrimo . said he only told his family about the incident at the time, and was . surprised when a friend told him the photo was posted on the internet . some time later. He has . been on the NYPD for 2 1/2 years and is assigned to the Sixth Precinct, . encompassing Greenwich Village and the West Village, and lives on Long . Island with his parents. At the time DePrimo received a set of cufflinks from Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly as thanks for his acts of kindness.
### SUMMARY:
| Officer Larry DePrimo won a lot of fans last November after a photo of him giving boots to a homeless man went viral .
On Tuesday DePrimo, 25, was promoted to detective .
Following last year's heart-warming incident, DePrimo was nicknamed Boots by his co-workers .
Jeffrey Hillman, 54, has been .
spotted as recently as March still shoeless and with a .
sign that reads 'HOMELESS', though he has a Bronx apartment .
DePrimo hasn't seen Hillman since his act of kindness, but said he would still like to meet up with him . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Maneesh Pandey and Shibaji Roychoudhury . PUBLISHED: . 19:44 EST, 14 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 22:01 EST, 14 December 2013 . Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung has recommended President's Rule in Delhi . It's going to be President's Rule for Delhi, with Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung in charge. Top sources in the L-G's office have told Mail Today that President Pranab Mukherjee has been advised that no party is in a position to form the government in the state. "A file has been sent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan recommending President's Rule," the source told Mail Today. The move came very shortly after Aam Aadmi Party's Arvind Kejriwal met Jung and asked for 10 more days to clear the fog hanging over government formation and set an 18-point charter of demands for the Congress and BJP to accept their support. But it seems that the academic-turned-administrator is in no mood to waste the electorate's time and energy any further and wants to set the administrative process rolling, which has been in cold storage since the code of conduct came into force ahead of the Delhi elections. A top official told Mail Today: "The L-G has recommended the President's rule, but with a difference. The city under the recommended President's rule administered by the Delhi L-G will go back to pre-1993 days when there was no Assembly and it did not have advisors for the then-L-G. "The current L-G is of the firm view that Delhi is a small state which can be managed without such advice, bearing an indirect load on the state exchequer." This really means that the Jung will be effectively administering the state till there are fresh polls, which could be with the general elections next year. The L-G appears to be responding to the need for urgency being expressed in the Capital to get a government going, with questions being raised about the intentions of political parties. With the results of assembly polls a week old now, the political situation of the Capital continues to be uncertain, with neither BJP nor AAP consenting to form the government. Silence . The BJP has been maintaining a constant silence under the guise of a "fractured mandate" and has kept itself aloof of the political churning. The AAP, meanwhile, has been keeping Delhiites guessing with its own set of demands for both BJP and Congress. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal had quite a lucrative offer - complete unconditional support to form the Government in Delhi from the vanquished Congress. Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal addresses the media after meeting Delhi's Lieutenant-Governor in New Delhi . Even on Saturday, after meeting Jung, Kejriwal has taken a conditional stand to form the Government and has put the onus on the Congress and BJP, asking for 10 more days. But nothing concrete is expected, says a top government source, particularly after Congress MLAs pointed fingers at AAP for "shirking the moral responsibility to respect the Delhi mandate". The AAP chief has also written to both Sonia Gandhi and Rajnath Singh asking their stand on 18 demands for developmental work in Delhi that the AAP intends to see through, if they want to be part of the government in Delhi. Many within the Congress and BJP have rubbished the 18 demands as "delaying tactics". The move is also being seen as an attempt to put the government ball into the hands of the larger parties. Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmad on Saturday said the Congress will take a few days to reply to the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) letter setting conditions for forming the government in Delhi. "We will examine the letter and will get back to Arvind Kejriwal in a day or two," Ahmad said soon after Congress president Sonia Gandhi forwarded him the letter by Kejriwal. Congress leaders Arvinder Singh Lovely (left) and Haroon Yusuf (right) at a press conference at ITO in New Delhi . Ahmad had earlier written to Kejriwal about the readiness of the Congress to support an AAP government from outside. However, the Congress's Delhi MLAs hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over its reluctance on forming the government in Delhi. They accused the AAP of shirking off responsibility. In a direct attack against Kejriwal, Congress MLA Haroon Yusuf slammed the party's 18-point questionnaire to Sonia Gandhi, saying that that by doing so, Kejriwal and his party members were ridiculing the democracy. "We had expressed before the L-G, our willingness to support the AAP from outside just to ensure that the public mandate is respected. "However, this act by the AAP whereby they wrote to the Congress, imposing conditions on executive matters, is unreasonable. Today they have written to the Congress, will they write to the United Nations or American President Barack Obama next?" Yusuf asked. Reacting on the issue, another Congress MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely said: "These conditions deal with issues that are a state government's prerogative. So if the AAP comes to power, they must bring about these changes. Why do they then need to impose them upon us? Did they ask us before making these promises?". Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel has accused the AAP of playing 'dirty politics' Shibaji Roychoudhury . The BJP'S Delhi unit, which is upset with the AAP's 18-point agenda, has charged that the latter's leader Arvind Kejriwal is playing "dirty politics to hog the media attention". Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel said: "The AAP is simply trying to be in the limelight and divert the attention of Delhiites with silly acts. What does it mean by the 18-point letter sent to us? If the AAP forms the government, it can regulate and implement whatever the party plans to do in Delhi". Goel alleged that the AAP's 18-point agenda is a ploy to distract the attention of voters from the fact that the party is shirking its responsibility though it is in a position to form a government. "The AAP doesn't want the people to realise that it will be held responsible for the inconvenience caused to them if Delhi goes to re-polls," he said. Several BJP workers wondered why the AAP convener had sought 10 days' time from Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. "If the party is firm that it will not form the government, why does it need 10 days' time to come to a conclusion? What are AAP workers aspiring to achieve?" a senior Delhi BJP leader asked on condition of anonymity. BJP leaders also criticised the AAP for being fickle-minded. "The party had made it clear that it would not take support from anyone. Then Prashant Bhushan made a statement saying if the AAP could lend support to the BJP in Delhi if its demands were met. "After that Kejriwal said under no circumstances the AAP would be associated with corrupt parties such as the BJP and the Congress. Now, he is again back with his dirty games," Goel added.
### SUMMARY:
| Kejriwal asks Lt-Gov Jung for 10 more days to form government .
AAP leader puts ball in big parties' courts with 18-point charter of demands .
Jung impatient to form President's Rule immediately .
Delhi may have to go to the polls again at General Election . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Deni Kirkova . PUBLISHED: . 11:15 EST, 20 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 17:28 EST, 24 January 2014 . A brand new digitally animated Tetley advert featuring the Tetley Tea Folk premieres tomorrow night during Splash!. Gaffer, Tina and Sydney - and a whole cast of aliens - star in the London-based clip which will have its first screening during the ITV show from 9pm. The Tetley Tea folk are back on the boil boasting new digital makeovers 40 years after first appearing on British television to cheer the nation up this January. You can watch the ad first exclusively here on MailOnline... Scroll down for video . Relaxed as ever, gentle northerners Gaffer and Tina put the kettle on while chaos unfolds . Alien ships hover above famous London landmarks such as the River Thames, London Eye and Big Ben . The loveable trio try their hands at diplomacy as they aid talks between the Prime Minister and a host of alien invaders (dubbed Krogs) in their TV comeback after a four-year tea break. Gaffer the governor, assistant Sydney and tea taster Tina help diffuse tension with a quality cuppa as alien ships hover above famous London landmarks such as the River Thames, London Eye and Big Ben. Since their inception in 1973, the Tetley Tea Folk have starred in over 60 campaigns and the latest instalment in the genre has been created using pioneering Legacy and Softimage XSi technology – the same technology used in Hollywood blockbuster, The Hobbit. The return is part of a £1.8m campaign designed to show the difference a good brew can make to folk with busy lifestyles. Time, Gaffer and Sydney make a nice cup of tea for their alien guests . The loveable trio try their hands at diplomacy in their TV comeback . The premiere coincides with the new . 'Brew Monday' research from Tetley on what is typically known as Blue Monday - the most depressing day of the year. We may be faced with bills, rain, debts diets and abstinence, but Tetley hopes to fight back . against the January Blues by revealing a nice, simple cup of tea is still the nation's favourite drink. They found 80 . per cent of Britons agree a brew and a biscuit is the best is to lift your . spirits. TV . psychologist Judi James investigated the nation's love of tea and found . more than twice as many Britons would cheer up a friend in need with a . cuppa first . over a glass of wine. The modern Tetley Tea Folk bring their down-to-earth Northern charm back to British TV . Tetley Tea Folk have been around for 40 years . Furthermore, it seems the days of the . masculine stiff upper lip are gone, as almost half of British men now . encourage their partners to offload problems and emotions onto them. 'Waking up on Blue . Monday is never going to sound life-enhancing,' says Judi James. 'Brew Monday has a . completely different ring to it though. Associating Mondays with a cup . of tea suggests comfort, cosiness, happiness and sociability, all the . things that can help ward off a bout of the blues,' she says. The characters return with a new digitally-animated advert to cheer the nation up this January . Tetley introduced the Tea Folk brass brand in 1980, and with it launched the revolutionary round bag in 1990 . With . more than 34 billion cups of tea consumed in the UK every year - that's more than 165 million cups every day - the nation's love affair with a brew . remains strong. Since their inception in 1973, the . much-loved Tetley mascots have become a national institution, . and the brand remains one of the most popular teas in the UK. They introduced the Tetley Tea Folk . brass brand in 1980, and with it launched the revolutionary round bag in . 1990 with an Elvis-style tune ('Don't be a tea bag . square'). Despite their nine year beak between 2001-2010, the Tea Folk's journey marks the development of tea-drinking habits . across the country. 1. Over 34 billion cups of tea are consumed in the UK every year . 2. Tetley tea is consumed in 10 million kitchens across Britain and 36 million cups of Tetley are drunk each day . 3. 1973: Gaffer brews up for the first time on UK TV screens (that's four decades ago!) 4. 67: the number of TV ads that the Tetley Tea Folk have starred in since 1973 . 5. 30m Tetley Tea Folk items sold to tea lovers... in 5m homes around the world . 6. 1990: an Elvis-inspired Gaffer celebrates the launch of the Round Bag . 7. 2001: The Tetley Tea Folk take a 'tea break' from our TV screens . 8. 2010: Gaffers leads their return with a brand new look! 9. 100 per cent natural... Tetley tea leaves are simply picked, cut and . dried – nothing is added and each blend is quality tested at least 8 . times . 10. 175 years of Tetley Black/Original being a nation's favourite great tasting cuppa . Gaffer, his trusted assistant Sydney . and friendly tea taster Tina, have featured in 67 different ads in the last four decades, where a tense situation is usually eased by a cup of Tetley's. And the gang are taken out of their comfort zones once more in the new commercial which takes place in an eerie, apocalyptic London. The latest installment of their adventures hits the small screen on January 25 and features new digital . animation and a variety of visual effects. It captures a number of . London landmarks including the River Thames, London Eye and Big Ben, as . aliens take over and the government seeks shelter in a secret underground . bunker. Tension ensues . when the aliens confront the Prime Minister and this moment is diffused . by the arrival of a certain squeaky tea trolley. Since their launch in 1973, the much-loved Tetley mascots have become a national institution . Tea Folk make it all better with a cuppa . Gaffer, his trusted assistant Sydney and friendly tea taster Tina, have featured in 67 different ads . Just on time, The Tetley Tea . Folk, led by bespectacled boss Gaffer, return to help ease the . situation and make time for a little conversation over a quality cuppa tea. 'The message is . simple,' says a Tetley representative. 'In the midst of busy, often pressure-filled lifestyles, it's . time for us all to stop and share a little quality time over a mug of . the UK's favourite hot drink.' Tea Folk are back for an alien invasion adventure in London - the premiere is this Saturday .
### SUMMARY:
| Tetley Tea Folk celebrate 40 years with digitally animated ad and new study .
Launched with the slogan Tetley make tea bags make tea .
Cup of tea and biscuit is best way to lift spirits, say more than 80% Britons .
More than 34 billion cups of tea consumed in the UK every year . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Ian Drury . Shot in neck, with blood spilling over his throat, machine-gunner Simon Moloney knew he had to return to the fight or his comrades would be over-run by the Taliban. So, just minutes after thinking he had been fatally wounded, he was back in the heat of battle and helping to repel a ferocious attack. He only quit 90 minutes later after being ordered to by his commanding officer. Scroll down for video . Lance Corporal Simon Moloney, of the Blues and Royals, fought on despite being shot in the neck during a battle with the Taliban. Lance Corporal Moloney is pictured receiving medical treatment on the frontline . The soldier was one of 117 servicemen and women who received awards for gallantry . Lance Corporal Moloney and Lance Corporal Masters were among 12 British soldiers taking part in a dawn raid. Speaking about the shot, which hurled him from the roof of a building, Lance Corporal Moloney, said: 'It winded me like I've never been winded. I was thinking, "I've been shot in the neck, it's game over". I figured I had minutes left' Lance Corporal Moloney said Lance Corporal Masters' quick decision to help him on the battlefield saved him. He said: 'We're like family. He saved my life' Lance Corporal Moloney (left) was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, and was honoured alongside Corporal Wesley Masters (right), the medic who saved his life. Corporal Masters, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, was awarded the Military Cross . Lance Corporal Moloney’s heroism – and that of medic Wesley Masters who patched him up so he could keep fighting – was revealed as the two friends were awarded medals in the operational honours list, published today. They are among 117 servicemen and women who received awards for gallantry. Most go to troops who served with 1 Mechanized Brigade in Afghanistan between April and October last year. The two men were among 12 British soldiers taking part in a pre-dawn raid on the Taliban in their stronghold of Yakshal in Helmand province on July 4 last year. Lance Corporal Moloney, from St Albans, Hertfordshire, and another machine-gunner were covering a patrol from the roof of a mud-walled compound. At around 6am the battlefield ‘just erupted’ with as many as 30 insurgents opening fire from all around, he said. Minutes later he was struck by a tracer round which hurled him from the roof. Lance Corporal Moloney, 23, said: ‘It winded me like I’ve never been winded. I was thinking, “I’ve been shot in the neck, it’s game over”. I figured I had minutes left.’ Guardsman Ronan Boyce, if the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, was Mentioned In Despatches in the latest Operational Honours and Awards list after he fought off a surprise enemy attack before going on to uncover several potentially booby-trapped insurgent weapons caches in Afghanistan . Major Geoffrey Brocklehurst (left) of the Royal Regiment of Scotland has received the Military Cross after he led a rifle company in an area dominated by insurgents in Afghanistan. And Corporal William Mills (right) of the Riffles who also received the Military Cross . Lance Corporal Jake Foster of The Royal Tank Regiment who has been Mentioned In Despatches after he risked his life to pull a colleague from the wreckage of a burning armoured vehicle . Sapper James McDermott (left) of 36 Engineer Regiment who has been Mentioned In Despatches after his selfless action and quick thinking saved the life of an Afghan soldier. And Captain Michael Kennedy (right) of HQ 38 Group, The Royal Corps of Engineers who has received the Queen's Gallantry Medal after risking his life to defuse a bomb that was within minutes of being detonated by Afghan insurgents . Corporal William Mills, of 4th Battalion, The Rifles has been awarded the Military Cross in the latest Operational Honours and Awards list for his service in Afghanistan . Corporal Mills pictured on a mission, serving in Afghanistan . Incredibly, the bullet passed though his neck behind his windpipe, also missing the arteries to his head. ‘When after a couple of minutes I was not dead and I could still talk I started to get a better feeling,’ he said. ‘We had to crack on. They were pushing quite hard so it was either maybe die or definitely die because they would have over-run us.’ Some 300metres away, Lance Corporal Masters and his comrades were pinned down by Taliban gunmen when they received the radio message telling them: ‘Man down.’ Acting with selfless disregard for his own life and disregarding orders, Lance Corporal Masters dashed across open ground under heavy fire while carrying 60kg of equipment to reach his fallen friend. The soldier, from Somerset, said he was forced to improvise with field dressings because ‘you don’t normally expect someone to survive a shot to the neck’. He said: ‘But he [Moloney] said to me, “Do what you need to do, I have to get back in”.’ Lance Corporal Moloney said: ‘As soon . as Wes came I was completely at ease – I was quite happy then, that I . was going to survive and that he had it in the bag.’ Despite . his throat injury, Lance Corporal Moloney continued shouting critical . information to his comrades which enabled them to win the firefight. Even when a helicopter arrived to evacuate him, he had to be ordered to . get aboard rather than staying in the battle. He returned to Britain for treatment but was back on the frontline less than a month later. Lieutenant Alexander Floyd who has been Mentioned in Despatches after he defended a bridge over a 24-hour period to allow engineers to clear it of IEDs in Afghanistan . Lance Corporal Sinead Dodds, with her brother Josh, who received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery after she gave life-saving first aid to two injured comrades following a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan . Chief Petty Officer Neil Halsey (left) from the Royal Navy has received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery and Flight Lieutenant Charles Lockyear (right) received the Distinguished Flying Cross at the ceremony . The RAF's Flight Lieutenant Charles Lockyear (left) who has received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Master Aircrew Robert Sunderland (right) was Mention In Despatches . As for Lance Corporal Masters’ quick decision to help him on the battlefield, he said: ‘We’re like family. He saved my life.’ Lance Corporal Moloney, of the Blues and Royals, receives the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross – the UK’s second-highest award for valour – and Lance Corporal Masters, 25, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, won a Military Cross. A woman soldier who saved the lives of two colleagues after their vehicle was blown up by a suicide bomb received a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery. Lance Corporal Sinead Dodds, 21, helped the injured driver of the Mastiff and then dragged her wounded commanding officer to safety from the wrecked vehicle and began giving him first aid after the blast in Helmand.
### SUMMARY:
| Servicemen and women were honoured at the latest Operational Honours and Awards .
Lance Corporal Simon Moloney was shot in the neck during a dawn raid .
With blood spilling over his throat the machine gunner fought on .
Medic Lance Corporal Wesley Masters patched him up 'saving his life'
Lance Corporal Moloney said: 'We had to crack on. They were pushing quite hard so it was either maybe die or definitely die' |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Bianca London . She has topped Maxim and FHM’s world’s sexiest women polls and modelled for fashion’s biggest names. Yet Rosie Huntington-Whiteley says she tries to ignore her status as a sex symbol and admits she definitely doesn’t feel like one. ‘It's a totally subjective opinion and not something I pay all that much attention to,' she told Vogue.co.uk. 'I certainly don't feel like one! I really don't take it too seriously to be honest, but I understand that it's part of my public image.' New range: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley smoulders modelling her new nightwear range for M&S but admits she doesn't see herself as a sex symbol, even though she regularly tops world's hottest women polls . Go to bed with Rosie: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley unveils her new sleepwear range with M&S . The 26-year-old, who was scouted by Profile Model Management when she was sixteen, said she loves her job but admitted it can be both exhausting and unsettling. She does, however, believe that the greater the reward, the more sacrifices that have to be made. The Devon-born supermodel, who will star alongside Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron in 2014's Mad Max: Fury Road, shared her tips for success with the fashion bible. ‘Drive, balls, attitude, humour, . manners, tact, wit, confidence, independence, fearlessness, opinions, . and a great understanding of yourself. I have that found all of these . things take time to acquire and much of it is a part of becoming a . woman,' she said. Rosie, who . cites Princess Diana, Beyonce and Rihanna as women she admires, was . speaking at the launch of her new sleepwear range for M&S. Modest: The 26-year-old, who has been working with M&S for just over a year, said she loves her job but admitted it can be both exhausting and unsettling . Beauty sleep: The new range, which is priced between £14 and £149, is a mix of cable knits, soft cashmere and cosy pyjamas . She's back! Rosie's lingerie range for M&S has been its most successful underwear line ever . After the stellar success of her . lingerie range with Marks and Spencer, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has now . branched out into nightwear. The . supermodel is hoping to help women get their beauty sleep in style with . her luxurious new range of cashmere capes, silk dressing gowns and soft . snoods. Rosie was in store yesterday to unveil her new collection for Autograph. She stayed loyal to the High Street mecca by donning a £299 fitted animal-print leather skirt from one of their ranges, which she teamed with a classic black top and sophisticated black court shoes. The sleep range features a £149 pure cashmere jumper with detachable snood, as well as satin reverse pyjamas, which come with a more reasonable price-tag of £35. In August, Rosie celebrated her one-year anniversary as a designer with the high-street store. She celebrated by releasing her autumn 2013 collection of sophisticated and luxurious underwear pieces. Luxurious jersey T-shirt, £14 . Luxurious jersey T-shirt, £14 . Pure cashmere jumper with detachable snood, £149 . Jersey chemise with removable cups, £19.50 . Satin reverse pyjamas, £35 . Cashmere belted pyjama bottoms, £99 . Speaking . at the time, she said: 'I can’t quite believe it’s been a whole year . since the Rosie for Autograph launch, it’s gone so fast!'. It has been a busy month for the model. She recently took to the catwalk . at the Balmain show during Paris Fashion Week and was spotted . landing at LAX airport in the U.S. on Sunday morning. Model behaviour: Rosie showed off her model looks as she unveiled her collection at M&S Marble Arch in London's capital . On-trend: Rosie stayed loyal to the High Street giant by donning a £299 fitted animal-print leather skirt from their range, which she teamed with a classic black top and sophisticated black court shoes . Celebration: Rosie, who hails from Devon, recently celebrating her one-year anniversary as a designer for M&S . In her spare time, Rosie has . been working . extensively with personal trainer James Duigan - creator of the Bodyism . system and bestselling author of The Clean and Lean diet - in order to . keep her body . in perfect shape. But . while Rosie clearly enjoys a work out, Duigan, who has also worked with . Elle Macpherson and Nigella Lawson, maintains her strict diet is one . of the reasons she’s able to maintain her incredible figure. ‘Rosie makes a mean guacamole which . is a filling and nutrient-dense snack,’ he told news.com. ‘About half an . avocado a day is the perfect way to include fat-fighting in your diet.’ But despite eating healthily, Devon-born Rosie admits she isn't a fan of faddy diets. Speaking . to Vogue, she said: ‘I’m not really one for fad diets, I like to keep . things simple. I grew up on a farm, so if I want to detox or shed some . weight or eat cleanly I’ll cut out carbs and refined sugars. So that’s . my tip for eating well: Nothing extreme.’ The British star admits to . being a huge fan of physical exercise and does her best to squeeze her . work-outs in as often as possible. Showcase: Rosie was joined by models in her designs yesterday. The range includes stylish nightwear and comfy cashmere . Happy to be here: Rosie is passionate about her lingerie range with M&S and spends hours perfecting every piece that goes on sale . ‘I . love exercise,’ she said. ‘For me, all my confidence starts there – . with my exercise. It’s not just about being in shape, it also improves . my well-being. ‘I feel better about myself, it boosts my confidence. And that for me is where the beauty regime starts, in the gym.’ Rosie also criticised . the fashion industry's lack of guidance for young models, revealing an . agent once told her to eat 'a single piece of sushi a day'. In a recent interview with The Observer newspaper talking about her early career in modelling, she . said: 'I felt that there was never anything for me, no workshops, no . people letting you know how you should be eating or what you should be . wearing to castings.' Looks like Rosie managed to muddle through on her own quite successfully... Secret behind that physique: Rosie has been working extensively with personal trainer James Duigan- creator of the Bodyism system and bestselling author of The Clean and Lean diet - in order to keep her body in perfect shape . Past collections: Rosie has been working with M&S for a year now and her lingerie collection is one of their most popular ever .
### SUMMARY:
| Model, 26, cites Rihanna and Beyonce as women she admires .
Yesterday unveiled nightwear range of cashmere jumpers and silk pyjamas .
Celebrated one year anniversary as designer with store in August . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Daily Mail Reporters . Johnny Weir's ugly public breakup with husband Victor Voronov has become an equally out-there reconciliation. The flashy figure skater has fired back at Voronov's demands for a public apology with a bizarre and explicit post-nuptial agreement, reports TMZ. The 5-page document includes a list of no-no's like extramarital sexting and mutual masturbation, denies each the right to be 'in close range' of any exes and requires bi-yearly STD tests from both parties. Peace...with stipulations: Victor Voronov recently demanded a public apology from Johnny Weir as part of the couple's reconciliation and now Weir has hit back with a very specific and explicit, 5-page 'post-nup' agreement . The agreement addresses what was one of the juicier headlines to come out of the couple's bitter battle: cheating. Voronov at one point accused Weir publicly of engaging in threesomes outside the marriage and cheating with a porn star. The post-nup says those things are off-limits, as are aggressive flirting, oral sex and hookup via social apps like Grindr. While presumably legally binding, the agreement does not cease to be crafted in the most Johnny Weir of ways. Come a long way: Voronov snapped this picture of a bite mark Weir allegedly left on hjis arm during an especially heated fight prior to the divorce filing. Now, as long as everyone follows the rules, such gnashing fights should never happen again . A section about 'ultimatums' in the relationship ends with a loophole for the champion skater. 'If I give you one more day to get your bank records to me,' it reads. 'Then I want to have a free f*** of anyone I want.' The nasty divorce battle had been publicly escalating since February. Johnny . was reportedly set to move back into their home over the weekend, but . only if the figure skater agreed to publicly apologize to Voronov, TMZ reported. Voronov's agreement also stipulates that Weir's mother Pamela must stay out of the couple's private life and personal finances. According to the report, . Weir was planning to move back into their home as early as Monday but . the couple were seen bickering over their own reconciliation agreement, which likjely gave the skater the idea for his own legally binding document. Weir filed for divorce from . Voronov, whom he married at the end of 2011 after just months of dating, . in February while working as a commentator for NBC at the Sochi . Olympics. Pettiness aside: The couple's bickering revolved around ownership of designer bags and other valuables including a Faberge egg. Voronov at one point claimed his figure skater husband held their dog Tema hostage . The split . sparked a series of bitter digs - from Weir claiming Voronov destroyed . his beloved Birkin bags, and Voronov claiming his ex sent text messages . to gay porn star Michael Lucas and engaged in threesomes. Voronov . accused his estranged husband of sending a 'hateful' and 'disgusting' email and filed court papers saying Weir had violated a temporary . restraining order by sending the email. 'Johnny sent Victor a disgusting, . hateful email which violated the no contact order as part of the . temporary restraining order he got last week,' a source told Radar. Voronov had the restraining order put . in place after an incident on March 5 in which Weir allegedly hit him on . the arm and threw a wooden Russian doll at him. 'So . on Monday, Victor filed a police report with cops in Rutherford, New . Jersey,' the source added. 'Johnny could be in very serious legal . trouble if the judge finds him in contempt for violating terms of the . temporary restraining order.' Voronov, . 29, claims Weir committed multiple acts of adultery - including an . affair with an unidentified Chicago club owner. He also says Weir is . holding their dog Tema hostage. Nasty divorce: Weir, pictured naked on his show Be Good Johnny Weir, was accused by Vornonov of sending nude photos and steamy messages to men online, and his husband also has nude images of him . Nasty divorce: Weir said he was not concerned about his ex sharing naked images of him following the split. He claimed Voronov physically and emotionally abused him . In legal documents obtained by . TMZ, Voronov alleges Weir forced him out of the closet and that he . married him because his life with a Georgetown-educated lawyer would . make compelling reality TV. In . addition to the allegations of adultery and cruelty, Voronov is also . requesting a judge to force Weir to return property the lawyer claims . the Olympian took from him. These . include 20 furs - including a $125,000 coat made from sable - a . crocodile Celine bag, 40 Balenciaga bags, one green and one orange . Hermes Birkin and 12 Chanel bags. The source also added that Weir 'categorically denies' the adultery allegations. In . an interview with Access Hollywood, Weir made his own swipes at his ex, . claiming his non-practicing attorney husband was often abusive towards . him and relied on his money. He claimed he was struggling with a 'personal hell' of an emotionally and physically abusive partner. 'Sochi . was one of the hardest times in my life,' he said. 'When I was on the . broadcasting, I escaped my own personal hell that I was living in. 'My . husband was behaving very erratically. The majority of the time off . camera I was in tears. I was on the phone. I was fighting. I was not in a . good place.' Olympic favorite: Weir was a hit as he commentated on the Sochi Olympics with Tara Lipinski earlier this year - but he has said that behind the scenes he was struggling with his demanding husband . He added that . their fights involved wrestling - and that it sometimes got out of . control, including the incident in which he bit Voronov, who called the . police. A picture of the alleged bite appeared on TMZ and shows a deep gash on a man's forearm. Weir . officially came out as gay in his memoir Welcome to My World in 2011, . citing a recent string of gay suicides as his reason to be open about . his sexuality. On New Year's Eve that year, he married Voronov. But in February, he told Access Hollywood that the relationship could be fiery. 'A . marriage between two guys is different than what I imagine a marriage . between a man and a woman [to be],' he said. 'I mean, we're both . constantly trying to fight to wear the pants in the relationship. It's . constant fireworks. It's very boom, boom, boom.' Happier times: Voronov and Weir on their wedding day in 2011 and (right) out and about in Manhattan .
### SUMMARY:
| The .
document sites a list of extramarital no-no's like sexting, oral sex, .
mutual masturbation, aggressive flirting and social media hookups .
Weir .
and husband Victor Voronov must submit to bi-yearly STD screenings and .
denies each the right to be 'in close range' with a lover from their .
past .
Weir and Voronov are reconciling after a highly public break-up turned ugly in February . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Jeff Powell . Follow @@jeffpowell_Mail . The fighter for whom Amir Khan was so unceremoniously dumped by Floyd Mayweather believes his elevation to next month’s Money fight has spared the boxing public a night of expensive tedium. Marcos Maidana, not content with having gate-crashed Khan’s party, has added insult to the Englishman’s wounded pride by saying: ‘If Amir had got this fight it would have been very boring.’ Since the one thing Khan has never been accused of is being unexciting, that requires explanation. When pressed Maidana adds: ‘Both he and Mayweather are pure boxers. So, unlike me, neither of them would go on the attack.’ VIDEO Scroll down to watch Floyd Mayweather offering tickets in true Pretty Boy style . Attack: Marcos Maidana will fight Floyd Mayweather and will have a go at the American . Pure boxer: Amir Khan's style would be cancelled out by Mayweather which could lead to a boring bout . Outfought: Khan beat Maidana four years ago when the pair met in Las Vegas . Down but not out: Khan put Maidana on the canvas with a lethal body shot but the Argentinian got up and fought on . He does not mean to be disrespectful to the young man from Bolton, who inflicted one of just three defeats on his 37-fight record. He is talking styles and says: ‘Khan was one of the biggest fights of my career and also one of the toughest in my life. He’s a very good boxer.’ So good that four years ago in Las Vegas he staved off Maidana’s challenge for the world light welterweight title he held at the time despite being caught by one of the massive punches which have given the Argentine 31 knockouts in his 35 wins. Despite his reputation for having a suspect chin, Khan survived that blow and several more big shots in that late round to take a unanimous decision. Now he has lost to Maidana his May 3 date in Vegas with Mayweather. Not only that, he has to accept appearing on the undercard at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a non-title fight against the awkward former champion Luis Collazo. Not that Maidana is bothered about that, even though he admitted he was surprised to be a late choice for Mayweather, saying: ‘Like everyone else I thought Khan had it.’ As we talked, hours before Manny Pacquiao’s brilliant righting of that wrong decision against Tim Bradley, his concern was with how to deal with the No 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Where Khan is lightning fast, the perceived wisdom is that Maidana is not quick enough to seriously trouble Mayweather. To which he says: ‘We’re working on speed every day and I’m getting quicker. But it’s not all about that. I’m also training harder than ever before so I can keep the pressure on Mayweather. I have that one-punch KO power in both hands but I won’t only be going for the head. ‘Most of Floyd’s opponents have done that but his defence is so good. I will be putting some of my power into a lot more body shots than he usually gets.’ Putting his Money where his mouth is: Mayweather chose to face Maidana rather than Khan on May 3 . Also, as the underdog, he will ignore the ridicule he expects to come his way from the Mayweather camp, saying: ‘I’m prepared to put up with them laughing at us. As we did before beating Adrien Broner.’ It was that upset victory over Broner which enabled Mayweather to deny Khan his promised opportunity and bring in the more orthodox Maidana. But the man called El Chino recalls how Mayweather took more punches from Miguel Cotto in their recent fight and says: ‘It looked as if at his age (37) Floyd might be slowing just a little. Cotto caught him a lot and I have more power than him. I’ll be throwing a lot of punches, like against Broner. I will catch Floyd at some point and when I do I will finish him.’ Is he oblivious to the 10-1 odds currently against him the casinos on the Strip? ‘I like being the underdog,’ he says. ‘I know it will be a very difficult fight but I enjoy to give surprises.’ He is also fighting for his nation. Much of the conversation revolved around Carlos Monzon, the greatest of all Argentinian fighters, Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. National heroes: Boxer Carlos Monzon and footballers Diego Maradona (below left) and Lionel Messi (below right) are revered in Argentina . Maidana says: ‘They are all great heroes in my country. People talk about them all the time, me included. ‘But now I’m fighting for the pride of Argentina and when I beat Mayweather it will be an historic victory for my country.’ For the moment, at least, that is an opportunity being denied Amir Khan. Even in the hardest game there is room for humour. Tim Bradley, shortly before Saturday’s thrilling re-match with Manny Pacquiao, declared that his mobility had been restricted by foot injuries in their first fight in which he was given that controversial decision. And he blamed it on not wearing socks. Socks symbol: Tim Bradley in training before his defeat by Manny Pacquiao at the weekend . Freddie Roach, the PacMan’s fabled trainer, could not resist.He sent Bradley a box of socks and a letter which, including the deliberate misspellings, read: ‘Is it really your feetal position that these injuries occurred because you did not wear socks? ‘Though many members of the media think this excuse sounds like a hose job, I for one do believe you. To me you are boxing’s No 1 sox symbol. ‘Think of me as your sole supporter. I hope the enclosed gift helps with the heeling process.’ Bradley, gentleman that he is, took in good part. Heeling process: Freddie Roach sent this light-hearted letter to Tim Bradley after the American's complaints . Saturday brings Scott Quigg’s chance to reclaim some of the super-bantamweight limelight, following Carl Frampton’s KO victory in a world title eliminator. Quigg, already the WBA ‘regular’ world champion, defends that title against Pan African title holder Tshifhiwa Munyai. Once both he and Frampton have alpha-belts around their waists, the stage will surely be set for another Battle of Britain. Quigg v Munyai will be live on Sky Sports on Saturday night. Bernard Hopkins continues to defy the laws of nature. On Saturday night, at the age of 49 and already the oldest world champion, he hopes to break the age record for unifying titles. Hopkins, the IBF light-heayweight champion, takes on Kazakhstan’s Beibut Shumenov, the WBA belt holder in Washington. Rolling back the years: Bernard Hopkins in training as he tries to become the oldest fighter to unify titles . A 55th victory in 62 fights will propel him on beyond 50 to even bigger fights. As he says: ‘I’m always making history now.’ In truth he has never been the most exciting fighter to watch – but catch him while you can. Hopkins v Shumenov will be live on BoxNation on Saturday night.
### SUMMARY:
| Marcos Maidana says Amir Khan and Floyd Mayweather are 'pure boxers'
Argentine says he will 'go on attack' against Mayweather .
Maidana working on his speed before May 3 bout with Mayweather .
Freddie Roach has fun by sending letter and socks to Tim Bradley . |
### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE:
By . Adam Crafton . Follow @@AdamCrafton_ . Six years have now passed since the Champions League final hosted two English teams and 10 English players in the glittering Luzhniki Stadium. These days, such an event would feel an outer-world experience, as though an illusion that this nation could ever enjoy such worldly superiority as it did when Manchester United and Chelsea slugged it out on that dramatic night in Moscow. English clubs have had their moments since, Chelsea battling courageously and improbably to win the competition in 2012, but recent years have been exercises in containment, rigidity, ill-discipline and usually, hard-luck stories. VIDEO Scroll down to see Steven Gerrard reveal he is "broken" my World Cup failure . Gone: England have been eliminated from the 2014 World Cup after losing their first two Group D matches . Minority: Joe Hart (left) and Gary Cahill (right) were two of just four England players, starting against Uruguay, who played Champions League football last season . Chelsea against Atletico Madrid, Arsenal against Bayern Munch, Manchester United against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. Three English semi-finalists in three consecutive seasons between 2006 and 2009, playing a confident and dominant brand of football now feels a lifetime away. It is as though English teams no longer feel comfortable in their own skin, reverting only to stifling tactics on the showpiece occasion. Now, finally challenged to rediscover an attacking verve, the England team went gung-ho, liberating the restraint that has strangled the national culture in recent years. History: Six years have passed since two English team battled it out for the Champions League in 2008 . Failed: Roy Hodgson (left) and Steven Gerrard were unable to lead the Three Lions into the World Cup last 16 . Sidelines: 11 players in the England squad to played in the Champions League last season but five haven't kicked a ball in Brazil . It may explain the giddinness and . faltering concentration that engulfed Roy Hodgson's side following . equalisers in both matches, almost as though many of these players were . on work experience before the main event in two years. It is a . very sad time for English football when a World Cup in Brazil - a once . in a life-time opportunity for many of us, we would presume - is tossed . away so liberally. England . should have done more. Uruguay had been beaten by Bolivia, Costa Rica . and even those whipping boys Spain in the past couple of years. Italy . went into this World Cup on the back of draws with Armenia, Denmark, . Luxembourg and Nigeria. The . debate will rage over whether England underperformed or whether this is . simply an England team that does not possess the requisite pedigree for . the world stage. It may well be a bit of both. Consider this for a . moment: just four of the players that started the match against Uruguay . have started a Champions League match in the last two seasons. The . Premier League is a fine breeding ground but it simply does not provide . that very same brutal induction into the unforgiving and ruthless . nature of football at the highest level. England conceded goals from a . corner and a goal-kick at this World Cup, the final blow from Luis . Suarez a goal transplanted from the Hackney Marshes scrapbook for its . amateurish, child-like simplicity. Learning curve: The likes of Adam Lallana and Luke Shaw have just 10 England caps between them . Experience: All 11 of Germany's starting line-up against Ghana were in the Champions League last season . Dip: Could the Three Lions be suffering from English team's poor performances in Europe? Look elsewhere at this World Cup and it becomes clear that major European experience is needed. Taking into account the most recent starting XIs selected, England possess less players from last season's Champions League than Holland, Portugal, Brazil, France, Belgium, Italy, Argentina and Germany. On Saturday, Argentina started with eight, Germany with all eleven. Of course, there are no guarantees. Spain's entire squad of 23 participated in last season's Champions League and they are on the first plane home. Then again, they can take comfort in two European Championships and a World Cup in the last six years. Louis van Gaal's exciting Holland squad has just nine Champions League players in their 23-man squad but in Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Nigel de Jong, they arguably have the form players in the world at this moment. England's finest never threatened to reach such a level. Mistake? Chelsea duo Frank Lampard (left) and Ashley Cole have years of Champions League experience but the latter wasn't even selected by Hodgson . Ever-present: Chelsea have been the only English team to perform in the Champions League and won the competition in 2012 . Even amongst those who have dined on the continent's top table in recent times, question marks remain. Of . the starters against Uruguay, Wayne Rooney is England's best but he has . scored just three Champions League goals in the last two seasons and . has not inscribed his name into a knockout match since Manchester United . 2011 final defeat by Barcelona. Danny Welbeck has his qualities but he . will never decide a football match alone. Gary Cahill is not the same . player without John Terry beside him. Joe Hart's Manchester City have barely been exposed to the knockout-stages of the European competition. Not good enough: Manchester United were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich . Stalwarts: Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League for the 17th consecutive year but the Gunners are yet to win the trophy . So maybe there should be little surprise that for all England's flirtation with attacking aspiration - and that is all it was, a shimmy across the dance floor, an awkward chat-up line and then the abrupt put-down - England rarely appeared at ease at this World Cup, rarely in control of their own fate. Once again, England gave notice that they fear, rather than relish, such a stellar stage, frightened to seize the occasion in the way that the Chileans, Ghanians and Costa Rican's have done. The hazard signs have been flashing for some time now, the European malaise now reflected in a national team that is shorn of quality, devoid of self-belief and happy to do little more than hop along for the ride. The manager and players will bristle at the suggestion but the noises from the FA - Alex Horne suggesting that mere qualification for the World Cup constitutes success, Greg Dyke irritatingly backing Hodgson on the day England exited the competition - only contributes to the feeling that English football increasingly appears to be apathetic, out of ideas, and suffering yet another crisis of confidence. Pedigree: 65.2% of the Brazil World Cup squad took part in Europe's biggest competition last season . Regular: Eight of Argentina's starting 11 against Iran could draw from Champions League football in 2013/14 . Exception: All 23 players in the Spain squad played Champions League football last season, but that didn't stop La Roja from crashing out of the World Cup . Goodbye: Sergio Ramos (left) and Diego Costa stand dejected at Spain are knocked out of the World Cup .
### SUMMARY:
| Only four players in England's starting line-up against Uruguay took part in Champions League football last season .
Wayne Rooney, Gary Cahill, Danny Welbeck and Joe Hart were the only players to play in Europe's biggest competition .
11 players in England squad played in the Champions League last season - five haven't kicked a ball in Brazil .
82.6 per cent of Germany's squad enjoyed Champions League football during the 2013/14 season . |
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