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with the eu voting on plans that would see all washing-up gloves rigorously tested -- meaning prices will rise by 20 per cent -- should you stock up on before it 's too late ? alice smellie rolled up her sleeves to find out ... the original -- and best ? extra-life kitchen gloves by marigold . extra-life kitchen gloves by marigold , # 2.50 , ocado.com . the glove : thick yellow latex , with roll-top cuffs . cotton-lined for comfort . the test : rubber gloves were created in 1889 by a surgeon to protect the hands of medical staff , with the first marigolds made in 1947 for domestic use . i road-test them on a two-day-old lasagne dish that is encrusted with burnt cheese and mince . although the water is scaldingly hot , i do n't feel the heat and even use my rubber-covered fingers to chip away stubborn bits of food . bacteria bashers . anti-bac gloves by lakeland , # 2.99 , lakeland.co.uk . the glove : certified to eliminate bacteria such as e-coli , salmonella , listeria and mrsa . also recommended for skin that 's sensitive to latex or nitrile -lrb- a type of rubber -rrb- . the test : according to allergy uk , 6 per cent of us have a rubber latex allergy . but adding an anti-bacterial element seems excessive . surely you are protecting yourself from harmful bacteria by wearing a glove in the first place ? but they fit well and unlike others , these are n't too thick -- my fingers easily pick up the smallest of teaspoons from the sink . a killer pair . insulated hot food gloves , # 23.99 , wayfair.co.uk . insulated hot food gloves , # 23.99 , wayfair.co.uk . the glove : protects your hands when handling hot food .<doc-sep>the test : as well as being very expensive , these are thick , heavy and an ominous dark , shiny grey . my husband walks into the kitchen and asks : ` have you killed someone ? ' -- and they do look like something a criminal would wear to clean up a murder ! i cook chicken nuggets to perform a heat test . i try to scoop them from the baking sheet , but have to concentrate jolly hard because the gloves are so padded with insulation that dexterity is limited . but i do n't sustain any heat-related injuries , which is the point -lrb- they only withstand temperatures of up to 120c , though -rrb- . when washing up , you ca n't feel hot water , but it 's tricky picking up small objects -lrb- or even plates for that matter -rrb- . fails the teaspoon test . true blues , the ultimate household glove , # 9.99 , lakeland.co.uk . the glove : thick and latex-free . extremely resistant to strong household cleaners . the test : a very thick glove , and they feel cumbersome on . they keep my hands safe in very hot water , but the loose fit means that it 's not very easy to pick up a teaspoon . they 're also machine washable . after cleaning the downstairs loo , i pop them in a wash with tea towels . the next morning , they still are n't dry , however , so i 'm not sure i 'd recommend it . power force rubber gloves with anti-slip grip , 59p , aldi . real stinkers . power force rubber gloves with anti-slip grip , 59p , aldi . the glove : non-slip grip moulded in . the test : look and feel like the cheap option . my six-year-old says the inside ` smells disgusting ' . they 're much thinner than the others , and in hot water my hands are sticky and warm after a few minutes . i 'd recommend more expensive gloves .<doc-sep>super scourers . bizzybee scouring gloves , # 2.40 , bizzybee.co.uk . the glove : one glove has a non-scratch scouring palm ; the other is left plain for easy handling . the test : i often make bacon sandwiches and hot chocolate on a saturday morning . this means somebody -lrb- me -rrb- has to wash up a greasy pan and a milky pan afterwards . the gloves have scouring pads running up the fingers and over the top of the finger on the right hand so you can get to tricky corners . they are absolutely brilliant -- except for left-handers . moisturise while you scrub ! bizzybee multi-purpose gloves with moisturiser , # 3 , bizzybee.co.uk . the glove : latex free , with luxury lining . the test : the inside is so soft it feels like you 're wearing cashmere -lrb- to clean the house -- how posh ! -rrb- . they look elegant and are comfy , too , while my dexterity with them on is excellent . after washing up , the plates are sparkling and my hands are so soft it 's as if i had a housekeeper do the work for me . marigold extra-tough outdoor gloves . car-wash wonders . marigold extra-tough outdoor gloves , # 2.59 , ocado.com . the glove : heavy-duty rubber with extra-comfy cotton lining . the test : i do n't really ` do ' stuff outside , but i decide to wash my car , which is encrusted in mud . sure enough , the heavy-duty rubber means my hands do n't get dried out from repeated dipping in the hot water . as an extra test , i tidy up a load of leaves with my hands , which is very easy in these gloves .<doc-sep>` animal trafficking represents an enormous opportunity to people in one of yemen 's poorest regions , ' the reporter joe sheffer wrote . ' a loose network has sprung up , trading not just lions but also cheetahs , leopards , gazelles , hyenas and monkeys . ' unbelievable : when the impatient lion tries to edge away , the man grabs him by the leg and drags him towards the bucket . death wish : when the lion roars and tries to shrug free himself from the washer , the man pushes his head down and orders him to ` sit down ' brave : incredibly , the lion allowed the man to scrub his genitals and did n't flinch . where 's the rubber ducky ? the big cat appeared to relish the wash , lying on its back with its legs in the air to let the man scrub his belly .<doc-sep>lonely hearts looking for a mate have been known to go to extraordinary lengths to find the partner of their dreams . but for these people , captured in images posted on a russian dating site , those lengths might be just a bit too far . the images provide a bizarre snapshot into the worlds of the people looking for love - and in some cases a weird and wonderful view inside their minds . this girl attempts to pose seductively by a microwave , complete with knife block and cat food box on top . this lady thinks that munching on an entire watermelon is a surefire way to attract the partner of her dreams . this lady thinks that a pair of rubber gloves make a seductive accessory . -lrb- left -rrb- and -lrb- right -rrb- a swordsman displays his softer side , and an array . of weaponry , in an attempt to woo an impressed other half . in one of the hilarious pictures a woman , who has fashioned a mermaid costume from what looks like an ironed tablecloth , gazes seductively at the camera . and in another , which is designed to find the subject a date , a woman takes a bathtime selfie complete with glass of wine ... and yellow rubber gloves . sometimes homemade is n't always best : this woman created her own mermaid costume for her picture .<doc-sep>by . tim shipman . published : . 20:15 est , 4 august 2013 . | . updated : . 03:15 est , 5 august 2013 . hospitals should be run more like tv show bargain hunt to ensure the nhs gets the best value for money , a health minister said yesterday . conservative dan poulter said hospitals should take a leaf out of the book of the programme 's former host , antiques expert david dickinson . dr poulter said : ` i 'm not expecting a david dickinson at every hospital , but if we want to cut waste in our nhs and divert more money into front line patient care , the health service needs to know a good bargain when it sees one . conservative dan poulter -lrb- left -rrb- said hospitals should take a leaf out of the book of bargain hunt 's former host , antiques expert david dickinson -lrb- right -rrb- . ` the economic climate has meant that households across the uk are trying to make their money go further , bargain hunting is no longer just for the thrifty , but a commonplace part of modern life . ' in an attempt to save # 1.5 billion a year dr poulter will today announce plans to require hospitals to publish how much they pay for goods and services so that patients and the public can compare them . some nhs trusts are paying three times as much as others for prosthetic limbs , rubber gloves and syringes . in some cases hospitals spend # 56.50 for a box of 100 surgical gloves while a comparable glove is available for # 34.90 per 100 . a standard 10cm x 10cm polyurethane foam dressing is available for # 11.74 per pack of ten , but some trusts still prefer to purchase a brand that costs # 19.87 per pack of ten , a price difference of 74 per cent per pack . and while some hospitals spend just 98p on a tube of lubricant for internal examinations , others cough up # 2.77 for the same product . some nhs trusts are paying three times as much as others for prosthetic limbs , rubber gloves and syringes . health department sources say the nhs spends # 10.5 million on rubber gloves alone , a cost officials now plan to halve . the saving would fund 844 more hip replacement operations or 6,754 cataract operations every year . dr poulter , a gp himself , will announce that he is appointing a new nhs procurement champion with private sector expertise to drive down costs . he said : ` the government is putting an extra # 12.7 billion into our nhs but that money needs to be spent much more wisely by local hospitals . ` when our nhs is the single biggest organisation in the uk , hospitals must wake up to the potential to make big savings and radically change the way they buy supplies , goods , services and how they manage their estates . ` we must end the scandalous situation where one hospital spends hundreds of thousands more than another hospital just down the road on something as simple as rubber gloves or syringes , simply because they have n't got the right systems in place to ensure value for money for local patients . ` this kind of poor resource management can not go on , and this radical new strategy will help our nhs get a grip on wasteful spending to drive real change and improved procurement practices so that more of our nhs 's resources can be spent on frontline patient care . '<doc-sep>a nanotips pack costs $ 20 -lrb- # 12 -rrb- but can . be used on multiple gloves . the black version , pictured left , is designed for use with more durable leather and rubber gloves , for example . the blue version , pictured right , is specifically designed to be used on fabrics and other porous materials . the liquid is clear , these colours relate to the packaging they are sold in . shipping costs $ 3.50 and it is due to go on sale on 20 march.the company does ship internationally . the blue version is specifically designed to be used on fabrics and other porous materials , while the black version is for more durable leather and rubber gloves . the liquid is clear , the colours relate to the packaging they are sold in . the system is n't perfect , though , and the liquid will eventually wear off , and will need to be reapplied . while workers who wear gloves in their daily lives will benefit , the creators also have plans to expand into prosthetic limbs . the liquid needs to be completely dry before being used and the drying time varies depending on the thickness of the glove , and the material . canadian inventor tony yu said nanotips even works with motorcycle gloves , stock image pictured . nanotips also works with thick workman 's gloves , stock image pictured . a blue pack contains enough liquid for up to 15 fingertips , and the black version lasts for up to 30 . the system is n't perfect , though , and the liquid will eventually wear off , and will need to be reapplied . tony said : ` we do n't just want to limit it to gloves as we discovered many prosthetic limbs are unable to interact with capacitive touchscreen devices . ` because touchscreen technology is such an integral part of our society , daily interactions for anyone with prosthetic hands becomes a challenge . we would like to expand in this field by testing nanotips on a variety of prosthetics . ` our goal is to give people with prosthetic limbs the ability to easily interact with touchscreen devices . '

<t> eu voting on plans would see all washing-up gloves rigorously tested . </t> <t> prices will rise by 20 per cent . </t> <t> should you stock up on before it 's too late ? </t> <t> alice smellie puts some gloves to the test . </t>

which rubber gloves scrub up the best ?<T>

boris johnson has been pictured caught up in a dramatic mid-air scuffle as he tried to help calm an abusive passenger who had to be restrained while on a flight from kuala lumpur . the mayor of london joined efforts to restrain the man while flying at 35,000 feet . the man was described as ` off his head ' by one of mr johnson 's delegation . technology ambassador eileen burbidge yesterday tweeted a picture showing five members of the crew tackling the man : ` so impressed w/mh2 cabin crew -lrb- kuala lumpur-lhr -rrb- ; amazing professionalism/handling of passenger who was off his head . ' today , images have emerged of mr johnson in the thick of a joint effort to reason with the man . scroll down for video . boris johnson has been pictured caught up in a dramatic mid-air scuffle as he tried to help calm an abusive passenger who had to be restrained while on a flight from kuala lumpur . the mayor of london joined efforts to restrain the man while flying at 35,000 feet . the man was described as ` off his head ' by one of mr johnson 's delegation . boris johnson has been caught up in a dramatic mid-air scuffle as an abusive passenger had to be restrained . technology ambassador eileen burbidge tweeted this picture . a spokesman for the mayor told the mailonline : ` the mayor along with a number of other passengers and members of the cabin crew did make several attempts to calm the gentleman concerned but to no avail . ` we understand the gentleman was restrained by the crew and detained by police on arrival at heathrow . ' the drama unfolded as mr johnson travelled on the 13 hour malaysia air flight home from his far east tour . mr johnson was pictured beside members of crew before the flight took left kuala lumpur . the drama unfolded as mr johnson travelled on the 13 hour malaysia air flight home from his far east tour . boris rides a rickshaw after it was presented to him at the kazanah global lectures in the centre of kuala lumpur on day 6 of his tour . the man - who was believed to be english - was said to be singing loudly , before becoming abusive . mr johnson sat with him and urged him to remain calm . but after a short time he eventually became aggressive again , onlookers said . cabin crew on board the malaysia airlines flight later restrained the man after mr johnson 's pleas for him to calm down were ignored . the mayor of london , who was on the flight , joined efforts to restrain the man who was described as ` off his head ' by one of mr johnson 's delegation -lrb- stock picture -rrb- . a met spokesman said police were called at around 5.40 am to reports of a disruptive passenger on a flight to heathrow airport . the 43-year-old passenger was met by officers at 6am once the plane landed at heathrow , and was arrested on suspicion of being drunk aboard an aircraft and common assault involving a member of the cabin crew . the man was in custody this morning at a west london police station . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>a drunken airline passenger who ignored warnings from boris johnson to calm down on a flight from malaysia has been jailed for six months . david morris , 43 , became abusive mid-flight following a drunken binge on lagers , whiskey and wine and headbutted a flight attendant . the mayor of london was returning from a trade trip in the far east when he tried to intervene and warned the drunkard he might have to be restrained if he did not settle down . scroll down for video . david morris -lrb- left -rrb- was today sentenced to six months in prison for drunkenly headbutting a flight attendant . in a statement given to police on landing , mr johnson spoke of the fear in which the drunkard had put the passengers on the malaysia air flight . mr johnson said : ` myself and a few other passengers felt we needed to keep an eye on the male the whole time as we were worried about the safety of the crew and other passengers . ' i could tell people were stressed by the male 's behaviour . ' morris , 43 , of aldershot , in hampshire , was arrested by police when the plane landed on december 3 . the oil engineer had initially said he did not remember the incident . but at an earlier hearing at uxbridge magistrates ' court , he admitted assault by beating and being drunk on an aircraft . boris johnson looked on as morris was arrested when the flight arrived in london heathrow on december 3 . mr johnson told a court in a letter he was ` worried about the safety of the crew and other passengers .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 08:20 est , 4 october 2013 . | . updated : . 15:02 est , 4 october 2013 . a woman has been rushed to hospital with potentially life threatening injuries after falling head-first off the back of a new routemaster bus . the passenger , aged in her thirties , fell from the platform of the double-decker in kentish town at 7.20 am . paramedics treated her for a head injury at the scene in ferdinand street , near the junction with prince of wales road . boris bus : the new generation of routemasters were nicknamed ` boris buses ' after the london mayor boris johnson , pictured , introduced them . she was then taken to st mary 's hospital in paddington where she was in a potentially life-threatening condition . police . are investigating the accident on the no24 bus - which was heading . south on the route between grosvenor road and the royal free hospital - . at the junction with ferdinand street . it is not being treated as . suspicious . a met . police spokesman said : ` police were called at approximately 7.24 hrs on . friday 4 october to reports that a woman in her mid 30s had fallen from . the rear of a double decker bus in prince of wales road , nw5 at the . junction with ferdinand street .<doc-sep>` this is nothing to do with party loyalty and everything to do with osborne and cameron trying to destabilise boris . he saw it coming a mile off . there has been speculation that boris johnson could be offered a formal campaign role . here , the mayor of london gives his keynote speech to the conservative party conference last year . ` they want to make sure that if the tories lose , boris gets as much flak as they do and ca n't stand as leader as a break with the failed cameron-osborne regime , ' the source was quoted as saying . mr shapps , speaking on bbc1 's andrew marr programme on sunday , attempted to calm the controversy -- but suggested mr johnson should play a major role in the campaign , whatever his intentions on a return to parliament . ` boris is a guy who is able to communicate incredibly well and it would be crazy for him not to be part of the 2015 message , ' he said . ` we all think boris is a fantastic london mayor and he 's got a lot to offer . he 's doing a brilliant job in london ; his term runs till 2016 , so he 's got a little way to go , but no doubt he 'll have many things to offer . what boris does is up to boris . ' a close friend of the mayor attempted to play down the row , insisting : ` boris 's focus is on london -- it was in 2012 when he stood for a second term , it will be in 2016 when he finishes that term . ` in between , only two things matter to boris -- delivering for london , and ensuring we have a majority conservative government led by david cameron after 2015 . boris will be out and about doing all he can to make sure that happens . '<doc-sep>the mayor of london swapped kalashnikovs for cups of tea today as his visit to iraq continued into its second day . boris johnson , whose trip to the kurdish border was prompted by security concerns in london , was seen meeting locals , playing with children and chatting with officials over cups of tea . mr johnson was yesterday pictured wielding an assault rifle as he met peshmerga fighters and today called on the british government to supply them with more sophisticated weaponry . time for a cuppa : boris johnson chats to kurdistan deputy prime minister quad talabani as they settle down for a cup of tea . nice to meet brew : the mayor of london stopped to meet locals during the second day of his visit to iraq . peace : mr johnson 's visit to the region was prompted by the recent increased threat level in britain . point and shoot : boris johnson was yesterday seen wielding an ak47 during a visit to the see british troops training the peshmerga near the frontline . yesterday mr johnson was pictured laying side-by-side in the mud with peshmerga fighters , joining them in their shooting practice near the kurdish capital erbil in iraq . trying to look the part once more , the mayor of london donned a traditional head-dress as he chatted with officials - but gave away his british identity by sipping on a cup of tea .

<t> mayor of london was on the flight and joined efforts to restrain the man . </t> <t> he was described as ` off his head ' by one of mr johnson 's delegation . </t> <t> she later said man also tried to headbutt those who helped restrain him . </t> <t> drama unfolded as mr johnson travelled on the 13 hour malaysia air flight . </t> <t> a man was arrested once flight landed at heathrow and taken into custody . </t>

boris johnson trying to calm down passenger in mid-air pictured<T>

a nurse was brutally knifed to death in the street by her stalker ex-lover after she jilted him , a court heard . after the ` remorseless ' attack on 42-year-old mum-of-two naudel turner , dariusz miakienko calmly made a phone call and rolled a cigarette as he waited for police to arrive . married miakienko , 47 , began an affair with mrs turner after meeting her at the north london gp 's surgery where she worked , the court heard . as the relationship petered out he became ` obsessive ' and began stalking her when she began a new relationship with practice manager kevin mcdonald , isleworth crown court were told . dariusz miakienko , 46 , -lrb- right -rrb- is accused of killing naudel turner , 42 , -lrb- left -rrb- in a savage knife attack in a tottenham street which took place during broad daylight after their relationship ended . the jury heard her new lover even met miakienko the day before the murder and warned mrs turner to call the police as he was ` dangerous . ' when the 42-year-old left work miakienko followed her before repeatedly stabbing her in the middle of a street in bruce grove on march 19 of this year , it was alleged . peter finnigan , prosecuting , told the jury of ten women and two men the murder took place just a short walk from where mrs turner worked as a practice nurse in tottenham , north london . he said : ` the stabbing was methodic . it was extremely violent . it was remorseless and it was prolonged . when the 42-year-old victim left work , miakienko followed her before repeatedly stabbing her in the middle of a street in bruce grove on march 19 of this year , it was alleged . ` about 1pm in the afternoon naudel turner left the castle view surgery , where she worked part-time as a practice nurse and walked a short distance to nearby bruce grove . ` as she was walking along the road she was seen to be followed along the road by this defendant . ' at first mrs turner did not acknowledge she was being followed , but witnesses said she must of been aware of it as she turned around and confronted him . mr finnigan said : ` she was heard to shout to him ` leave me alone . ' she then got her phone out and tried to make a phone call . the defendant grabs her arm and she turns around and slaps him . ' miakienko then pushed her against a fence and mr finnigan added : ` he attacked her with a kitchen knife , he stabbed her and she fell to the ground and he continued to stab her . ' he said a passing motorist tried to intervene , adding : ` he pleaded with him to stop , shouting ` do n't kill her . ' miakienko , of lordship lane , tottenham , had denied one count of murder at highbury corner magistrates court . ` it did n't make any difference , he continued to stab her . ' then , after putting down the knife , he ` took out his own mobile phone and started to make a call , and one witness saw him then rolling a cigarette . ' he was then restrained by passers-by , including an off-duty cop , until police arrived , the court heard . paramedics rushed to the scene , but mrs turner died on the way to the hospital . mr finnigan said that mrs turner had lived with her husband , william , but they had become estranged in 2009 . however she lived on the top floor of the house while her husband live on the bottom floor , and they would not discuss each other 's personal relationships . describing miakienko and mrs turner 's relationship , mr finnigan said : ` he had been in this country , it seems , for about five years . ` he had been treated as a patient at castle view surgery , where naudel turner worked and they formed a relationship , an intimate relationship . ' she even helped her lover rent a flat in lordship lane , on the same street where she worked by paying his deposit and acting as his guarantor . dariusz miakienko had allegedly made a calm phone call and rolled a cigarette as he waited for police to arrive after the attack . police later recovered texts and data from the man 's phone after the murder which showed the relationship had soured and he had become obsessed with her . he said : ` members of the jury , what you might think emerges , is that he become obsessed with her . the messages can be tender and loving , and they can also be seen to be increasingly possessive and controlling . ` he believed she would leave william turner and marry him , in fact he had a wife and children himself in poland . ' ` as time passed , naudel 's interest for a continued relationship with the defendant seemed to have lessened . in fact she met another man , kevin mcdonald . ` it 's obvious that the defendant had learned about her attraction to kevin mcdonald , and did n't like it , and was jealous about it . ` he started to pester naudel with constant calls and texts . she started to discuss him to others as a stalker . ' mr mcdonald had not known about mrs turner 's relationship with the pole at first , but after discovering it he had arranged to meet miakienko . afterwards mr mcdonald ` told her to call the police as he believed the defendant was possibly dangerous . ' silver-haired miakienko was surrounded by three dock officers and was aided by a polish interpreter . miakienko , 47 , of lordship lane , tottenham , denies one count of murder . the trial continues . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>by . richard spillett . mother-of-two naudel turner , 42 , died after she was stabbed at least four times in the neck in an attack in tottenham , north london . a man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a community nurse in tottenham , north london . mother-of-two naudel turner , 42 , was repeatedly stabbed in the neck in an attack on wednesday afternoon . dariusz miakienko , 46 , of lordship lane , tottenham appeared before highbury corner magistrates today charged with the stabbing . miakienko appeared in the dock wearing a long grey t-shirt and spoke only to confirm his name through a belarusian interpreter .<doc-sep>mother-of-two naudel turner , 42 , was pronounced dead in hospital after she was stabbed at least four times in the neck in tottenham , north london . a nurse stabbed to death in broad daylight is thought to have been killed by one of her mental health patients . naudel turner , 42 , was attacked soon after she left work on wednesday afternoon . the churchgoing mother of two had screamed at her assailant to ` leave me alone ' seconds before he stabbed her in the neck multiple times with a kitchen knife . yesterday it emerged that as mrs turner slumped to the ground , some bystanders filmed the scene on their mobile phones . witnesses described how after the frenzied attack , her assailant calmly rolled a cigarette as he stood over mrs turner 's body , wiped his hands on her clothing and said : ` i told you , i told you . ' he was then seen yanking the blade out of her neck and placing it on her chest as she lay dying on the busy street in tottenham , north london . police arrested the man at the scene . mrs turner was taken to hospital , but doctors were unable to save her . her husband william , 61 , is said to be ` shell-shocked ' . he appeared distraught at the couple 's terrace home in fulham , west london , yesterday . when asked about his wife , he said only : ` she used to live here . but not any longer . ' a close friend and neighbour , who asked not to be named , said mrs turner ` doted ' on the couple 's sons , aged 22 and 19 . ` she just loved her family to pieces , ' they added . ` they 're upstanding members of the community . it 's a massive shock . she was such a gentle woman . she 's an angel . ' a police forensic team at bruce grove in north london , where a 42-year-old mother-of-two naudel turner was stabbed to death . dariusz miakienko , 46 , of lordship lane , tottenham , has been charged with murder . the friend revealed mrs turner 's attacker was thought to be an ex-patient of hers . ` i think this must have been a nutter who 's been let down by aftercare because of the cuts to the nhs , ' they said . ` someone .<doc-sep>dariusz miakienko , 46 , who is alleged to have killed mother-of-two naudel turner in tottenham on wednesday . this is the first picture of the man who is alleged to have brutally murdered a mother-of-two in a knife attack . dariusz miakienko , 46 , appeared before highbury corner magistrates court charged with the murder of naudel turner . the 42-year-old healthcare worker was repeatedly stabbed in the neck on bruce grove , tottenham , on wednesday afternoon . grey-haired miakienko appeared in the dock wearing a long grey t-shirt . he spoke only to confirm his name and age through a polish interpreter . deputy district judge kevin gladwell told miakienko : ` because of the nature of the offence , i transfer the case to the central criminal court . ` you will make your first appearance in custody on monday . ' detectives are still investigating the nature of the pair 's relationship as miakienko 's neighbours on lordship lane , tottenham , claimed they regularly saw him with mrs turner . shopkeeper burcin yurga said they came in together to buy wine . he said : ` she went to his house a lot so i thought they were in a relationship . ` when he was n't with her he would come in to buy beer . if they were together , they would buy wine . ` he did n't seem to work and she seemed to look after him . ' a local restaurant owner , who did not want to be named , said : ` they were always together , but i have n't seen her for two weeks or so mind you . ' the woman also claimed that a man in his fifties had been in recently to look for his wife . she said : ` a man used to come in here often , most weekends in fact . ` and one time i asked him what he was doing . ' police were last night asking shopkeepers near miakienko 's address for their cctv footage . mother-of-two naudel turner , 42 , died after she was stabbed at least four times in the neck in an attack in tottenham , north london . forensics at the north london scene on wednesday after the attack , which unfolded in broad daylight . an investigator at the scene . police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the attack to come forward . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>forensic officers investigate after the 42-year-old woman was stabbed in broad daylight . scotland yard appealed yesterday for those seen recording at the scene to come forward . detective . chief inspector noel mchugh said : ` mrs turner was a hard-working mother . of two boys . we now believe she knew her attacker . ` i . would like to directly appeal to anyone who may have captured images or . footage before and after the incident to contact us immediately . in . particular we would like to speak to a black male who was wearing a . white tracksuit top who witnesses saw taking images at the scene . ` i . would appeal to him or anyone else to contact us with the footage or . images they took as a matter of urgency , and not to upload them to the . internet or share them with friends as it may harm our investigation . ' dariusz miakienko , 46 , was last night charged with murder . he will appear at highbury corner magistrates ' court later today . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .

<t> dariusz miakienko was having an affair with mum-of-two naudel turner . </t> <t> when the relationship petered out he became ` obsessive ' and stalked her . </t> <t> miakienko had followed the 42-year-old when she left work on march 19 . </t> <t> he allegedly stabbed her repeatedly in the middle of a tottenham street . </t> <t> the 47-year-old then calmly called police and rolled a cigarette . </t>

nurse ` stabbed to death by her married stalker ex-lover dariusz miakienko<T>

temporary tattoos may be all the rage again thanks to beyoncé - but it seems they 're not just for humans . a new brand creates body art just for horses , helping transform equine friends into my little ponies . the glamourati stencilled designs claim to be ideal for the horse and rider who like to stand out from the crowd . scroll down for video . glittery tattoos for horses are brainchild of sally rees from coventry , who took inspiration from the ancient tradition of quarter-marking . designs are applied using stencils and last up to two weeks . the stencils transform equine friends into my little ponies , like this my little pony earth horse belle stars toy from 1982 , by hasbro . created by mother of two sally rees , 40 , from coventry , the temporary tattoos can last from a day to two weeks , depending on the glue used to apply them . the glue does n't touch the horse 's skin , so vets say it 's safe to use and the tattoos can be washed off with soap , water and a brush . sally , a former beauty spa director , came up with the idea for the sparkly marks while looking for a way to generate extra income after becoming a mother-of-two . she explains : ' i used to be the managing director of a beauty spa until 2009 when i gave it up to look after my two young children . ' i had been dabbling with different ideas to bring a bit more money in when i came across someone doing glitter tattoos at a craft fair . the glamouratti stencilled designs claim to be ideal for the horse and rider who like to stand out from the crowd . a delighted little girl stands proudly by her glittery horse . sally demonstrates how glitter is sponged onto the horse . ` my daughter fell in love with them straight away and so i started doing them at children 's parties . ` about a year ago my in-laws from ireland were visiting and knowing they have horses i just said : `` i do n't know why no-one has made these for horses '' . ` it was a light-bulb moment for me - the more i thought about it the more it seemed like a good idea . ' i started to look into it and realised there was a real gap in the market . ' a year after her eureka moment , sally has turned her idea into a fully-fledged business . she is now turning horses into real life my little ponies after inventing temporary tattoos for the animals made from glitter .<doc-sep>the savvy ` horse beautician ' has taken inspiration from the ancient tradition of quarter-marking . the art involves the hair on a horse 's rear quarter being brushed into patterns for show . sally has dubbed her venture ` quarter-marketing ' - as brands can use the tattoos to stick their logos on the horses . decoration : the temporary tattoos invented by sally rees can be applied to the horse 's hair . vet approved : the glue does n't touch the horse 's skin so it 's safe to use and the tattoos can be washed off with soap , water and a brush . different colourways suit different horses for dramatic effects . the tattoos are applied using a stencil to ensure a perfect picture , and sally said the products have been popular with horse owners and have been approved by vets . she said : ` we spent a lot of time developing an adhesive that was long lasting but easily washed off . ` we then tried out our new products on some horses at our local riding school and they were an instant hit . ` quarter-marketing ' : brands can use the tattoos to stick their logos on the horses . temporary : the pictures last a day or two weeks depending on the glue used . ` we then had a stall at a big horse show and we had queues of people waiting to get glitter tattoos on their horses . ` the glitter kits are completely safe to use - they have been given the thumbs up by vets . ` glitter and sparkle is huge in the world of equestrian accessories and now the horses can have some too . ` when the sun comes out you ca n't describe how amazing the glitter tattoos look . ' sally 's equestrian glitter tattoo kits cost between # 19.99 and # 59.99 and can be bought from her website glamouratiuk.com . riders can emblazon the horse 's name on their side using glitter . ` glitter and sparkle is huge in the world of equestrian accessories and now the horses can have some too , ' inventor sally said . popular : sally has turned her idea into a successful business .<doc-sep>beyonce , 33 , showed off temporary gold and silver body art while holidaying on a yacht in europe . she has worn more obscure designs too , such as peacock feathers on her hip and stencils on her shoulders . fashion blogger mademoiselle robot is a fan , she says : ' i first found out about the trend for metallic tattoos through instagram -lrb- which is possibly where all things pretty can be discovered -rrb- . ' a friend of mine who is a make-up artist in los angeles had used them on a shoot . after a quick investigation -lrb- read : increasingly harrassing comments to my friend -rrb- , i was in possession of my very own metallic tattoos . ' i love them because they are the perfect complement to tanned skin - long live this indian summer - and they are also the lazy girl 's best companion when it comes to accessorising . how could you say no to a built-in gaggle of bangles ? ` you can be as conservative or as creative as you want with the placement of your tattoos as well . i wear mine instead of jewellery , but i have seen some girls proudly sporting theirs in lieu of make-up at festivals and other dance parties in abandoned buildings ... ' fashion blogger mademoiselle robot was inspired by a make-up artist friend in la . celebrity make-up artist nikki wolff says : ` this new trend is fun and original and can definitely be translated onto the high street . ` although i would n't necessarily recommend colouring in your earlobes with eyeliner to go into the office , replacing your usual eyeliner with a metallic one , or pressing a little fine gold glitter into the centre of your lips over a gloss or balm is a quick , simple way to wear this trend with minimal effort . celebrity make-up artist nikki wolff recommends using mac reflects glitter to recreate a wearable effect . ` mac 's reflects gold glitter -lrb- # 17 -rrb- is perfect for this look .<doc-sep>temporary : the pictures last a day or two weeks depending on the glue used . ' i had been dabbling with different ideas to bring a bit more money in when i came across someone doing glitter tattoos at a craft fair . ` my daughter fell in love with them straight away and so i started doing them at children 's parties . ` about a year ago my in-laws from ireland were visiting and knowing they have horses i just said : `` i do n't know why no-one has made these for horses '' . ` it was a lightbulb moment for me - the more i thought about it the more it seemed like a good idea . ' i started to look into it and realised there was a real gap in the market . ' no need to be good at drawing : the tattoos are applied using a stencil to ensure a perfect picture . familiar look : the marks on the side of the horses are reminiscent of my little pony toys , right . a year after her eureka moment sally has turned her idea into a fully-fledged business . sally 's equestrian glitter tattoo kits cost between # 19.99 and # 59.99 and can be bought from her website glamouratiuk.com .<doc-sep>models ' earlobes were painted in a lacquered patent black , adding a gothic edge to the spring/summer 2015 ready-to-wear presentation on tuesday . the show 's make-up artist tom pecheux said anthony ` came up with the idea to create a piece of jewellery using makeup . ' i thought , perhaps we do n't do an earring , but a black tattoo - something that felt very graphic , because the collection is graphic , ' the artist told allure . he drew rigid shapes on each ear lobe with a felt-tip eyeliner pen , before using homeoplasmine to apply iridescent black glitter . at the anthony vaccarello show models ' earlobes were painted in a lacquered patent black . fashion fans wanting to get this look now should invest in a sharpie , or one of the packs of temporary tattoos from divine ink london , seekers of sun , flash tattoos or rosie wonders . these stencils mimic jewellery and take just 10 minutes to set after being applied with water . they then wear off gradually after a few days . dior designed a # 100 limited-edition set of temporary tattoo cuffs , earrings , chokers and bracelets made of 24-carat gold in 2012 . a set from our favourite high street brand divine ink london comes in a little cheaper at # 15 per pack . the tattoo-as-jewellery trend really took off at the beginning of summer . alessandra ambrosio and aerin lauder were the first celebrities to be spotted in them , and this month beyonce , 33 , showed off an impressive collection of temporary gold and silver body art while on a yacht around europe . the star has sported various iterations of the tattoos while on holiday including belly chains , necklaces , bracelets ; and even obscure designs such as peacock feathers on her hip and stencils on her shoulders and shins .<doc-sep>a mother of two is turning horses into real life my little ponies after inventing temporary tattoos for the animals made from glitter . sally rees , 40 , from coventry , has taken inspiration from the ancient tradition of quarter-marking whereby hair on a horse 's rear quarter is brushed into patterns for show . the former beauty spa director has dubbed her venture ` quarter-marketing ' as brands can use the tattoos to stick their logos on the horses . scroll down for video . decoration : the temporary tattoos invented by sally rees can be applied to the horse 's hair . vet approved : the glue does n't touch the horse 's skin so it 's safe to use and the tattoos can be washed off with soap , water and a brush . to apply the tattoos , two types of glue are available - one which lasts a day and one which lasts up to two weeks . the glue does n't touch the horse 's skin so vets say it 's safe to use and the tattoos can be washed off with soap , water and a brush . sally came up with the idea for the sparkly marks while looking for a way to generate extra income after becoming a mother-of-two . she explains : ' i used to be the managing director of a beauty spa until 2009 when i gave it up to look after my two young children . ` quarter-marketing ' : brands can use the tattoos to stick their logos on the horses .

<t> glittery tattoos for horses are brainchild of sally rees , 40 , from coventry . </t> <t> mother-of-two took inspiration from ancient tradition of quarter-marking . </t> <t> designs are applied using stencils and last up to two weeks . </t> <t> vets say it 's safe to use as the glue does n't touch the horse 's skin . </t>

temporary tattoos are the latest fashion trend ... for horses ⁇ make your own my little pony with stencilled glitter designs<T>

pope francis has ` sacked ' the head of his swiss guard protection detail because the pontiff views the solider as being ` too strict ' . colonel daniel rudolf anrig has been told by the vatican that his contract will not be renewed on january 31 , when it runs out . pope francis has been clearing out senior vatican officials who do not share his modest outlook on life - including one cleric dubbed ` the bishop of bling ' . pope francis , centre , has sacked colonel daniel rudolf anrig , left , who was head of the swiss guard . colonel anrig , pictured , has been told his contract will not be renewed when it ends on january 31 , 2015 . vatican watchers said pope francis , pictured , thought 42-year-old colonel anrig was ` too strict '<doc-sep>franca giansoldati , of il messaggero newspaper , told the telegraph that the manner in which colonel anrig was informed of his sacking was quite unusual . he said : ` from what we journalists have been able to reconstruct , there is a different vision between the pope who wants relationships inside the vatican to be humane , brotherly , even paternally . ` and then , there is the vision of the colonel who is the colonel of the smallest army in the world , but it is still an army , with very rigid rules , very severe soldierly . ' pope francis is believed to have been angered after he saw a young swiss guard standing outside his papal suite all night . the pontiff is believed to have told the young man to sit down , and the solider replied that he could not as it was ` against orders ' . pope francis responded by saying : ' i give the orders around here , ' and went to buy the guard a cappuccino .<doc-sep>reports of the decision to remove colonel anrig were carried in the official vatican newspaper osservatore romano . since pope francis ' election , he has sacked his number two , secretary of state cardinal bertone , three other members of the commission of cardinals , and the entire board of the financial watchdog . it is understood that pope francis was not impressed that colonel anrig had moved into a grand apartment over the swiss guard 's barracks in the vatican . bishop franz-peter tebartz-van elst of limburg , germany , known as the bishop of bling was sacked earlier this year after spending # 26million on a luxurious new residence and office complex while cutting staff . pope francis wants the corps to be run in a less military style , but swiss guards found that the commander was too rigid , sources told agency ansa .<doc-sep>the 42-year-old father of four was previously head of the criminal branch of a swiss police force , before he was appointed commander by benedict xvi in 2006 . he had previously served a swiss guard in rome from 1992 to 1994 . the pope enjoys a familiar relationship with his bodyguards . he knows them by name and asks about their families . the corps are said to keep a glass that francis drank out of when he stopped by their kitchens as a ` relic ' . swiss guards are the swiss soldiers who have served as bodyguards of the pope since the 16th century and are responsible for the security of the apostolic palace . they must be single catholic men aged between 19 and 30 , and at least 5ft 8.5 ins tall . they swear allegiance to the pope and are famous for their renaissance-style uniform , with a plumed feather in their helmet , leggings and a high ruff collar .<doc-sep>kiss : pope francis kisses a baby after celebrating his first easter mass in st peter 's square . greetings : pope francis sets off in the popemobile to make this way through the crowds during the celebrations today . pictured right , francis salutes cardinal angelo sodano -lrb- left -rrb- in st peter 's square . popemobile : pope francis greets the faithful prior to his first ` urbi et orbi ' blessing . service : pope francis arrives to celebrate easter mass at the vatican this morning . blessing : the pope was due to give his first easter speech and blessing after the mass today . former pope benedict xvi , who resigned in february , was not present . following concern that his presence in rome could undermine his . successor 's authority benedict is contemplating a return to his native . germany , according to italian media . the pope emeritus had planned to move into a cloistered convent inside the vatican . however , the italian newspaper la repubblica said that with his homeland . ` still in his heart and in his mind ' he is thinking of retiring to a . monastery in bavaria . benedict , may apparently choose to live at a bavarian shrine altötting , . to which he dedicated a page of his memoirs . this would allow him to be . near his brother georg . expectant : the faithful had already filled the square hours before the mass began in mid-morning , presided over by pope francis . mass : pope francis presided over easter sunday mass before 250,000 people in st peter 's square . communion : pope francis celebrates the eucharist during the easter service today . celebrations : pope francis leads the easter celebrations in st peter 's square today . easter mass : pope francis prior to delivering his first ` urbi et orbi ' blessing from the balcony of st peter 's basilica during easter mass . vatican : : pope francis -lrb- centre -rrb- before delivering his first ` urbi et orbi ' blessing during easter mass . preparations : st peter 's square before the easter celebrations today . standing to attention : swiss guards at st peter 's square before the easter celebrations . arrival : swiss guards make their way through the crowds at st peter 's square . history : the pope 's easter speech has been used by past pontiffs to reflect on the world 's conflicts and ills . flags : pilgrims wave an argentinian flag in honour of pope francis before the easter celebrations today . locals and tourists packed the streets of florence today , for the ` explosion of the cart ' folk tradition . a cart packed with . pyrotechnics provides a spectacle on easter sunday in the city as part of a tradition . the show is supposed to guarantee . a good harvest and business , according to the tradition . explosions : locals and tourists attend the ` explosion of the cart ' folk tradition of florence . tradition : on easter sunday , a cart packed with pyrotechnics provides a spectacle in florence . fireworks : the show is supposed to guarantee a good harvest and business , according to tradition . spectacular : the cart looks impressive even before the fireworks begin .<doc-sep>with their pantaloons and ruff collars , the swiss guards are not the most manly of personal armies . and while there is little cause for pope 's elite bodyguards to take up arms , their culinary skills at least are in demand ; they have now produced a book of favourite pontifical recipes . a new cookbook - bon appétit , swiss guard - reveals the favourite dishes of pope francis and his two predecessors , benedict xvi and john paul ii . egg and chips again ? a soldier from the vatican 's swiss guards shakes hands with pope francis . the book compiled by david geisser , a 24-year-old soldier from zurich who originally trained as a professional chef , includes delicacies from the three popes ' home nations of argentina , germany and poland . pope francis seemingly has a sweet tooth and has introduced ` dulce de leche ' , a caramelised milk pudding popular in argentina , to the vatican menu , as well as traditional latin american empanadas . john paul hankered after the polish favourite , pierogi , a stuffed pasta dish , and demanded it while recovering from a 1981 assassination attempt . benedict was keen on bavarian dishes such as wurstel salad and baked cherries with cream .<doc-sep>by . sara malm . after preaching peace , acceptance and inclusion of all faiths and sexual preferences , it is no surprise that pope francis has got himself a mini-me . pope francis has quickly become one of the most admired catholic church leaders in both the religious and secular community , which became clear during his general audience today . the pontiff kissed the child , dressed up as a little pope , as he drove through the crowd at st. peter 's square in the vatican . scroll down for video . mini-me : pope francis lifts up 19-month-old daniele de sanctis , dressed up as a pope , during his weekly general audience in st. peter 's square at the vatican . i want to see the pope : paola ciabattini , holding up her son daniele , said she had dressed him as the pope in a demonstration of affection towards pope francis . my idol and me : pope francis kept the young boy close as he greeted hundreds who has turned up to see him at the general audience . unfortunately , 19-month-old daniele de sanctis was less pleased to see the pope , and begun to cry in the strange man 's arms . daniele 's mother paola ciabattini said she dressed her son as a pope in a demonstration of affection towards pope francis . another child dressed in a similar white cassock and white skullcap was also on hand , as were kids dressed as swiss guards .<doc-sep>the man appointed by pope francis to clean up the vatican 's scandal-hit bank allegedly had a gay affair with a swiss soldier and had to be rescued after getting stuck in a lift with a rent boy . monsignor battista ricca was recently appointed as francis 's new prelate with responsibility for the vatican bank , the institute for religious works which has been hit by years of financial scandal . but according to an expose by weekly italian news magazine l'espresso , monsignor ricca 's own record is less than spotless . allegations : pope francis is pictured -lrb- centre -rrb- meeting monsignor battista ricca last month . ricca is alleged to have only got the job as vatican bank prelate after the powerful ` gay lobby ' airbrushed his cv . the publication has claimed that monsignor ricca only got the position as ior prelate after the supposedly powerful ` gay lobby ' in the vatican airbrushed his cv . according to the claims , ricca took a vatican diplomatic post in uruguay in 1999 and caused shockwaves within the church when moved his swiss army captain lover patrick haari in . the publication claims that the allegations have been confirmed by a number of bishops , priests and laity in uruguay . ricca was eventually moved to trinidad and tobago and then recalled to rome in 2002 . admission : pope francis admitted for the first time last month that a powerful ` gay lobby ' does exist within the vatican . the same year , he allegedly found himself in more hot water when he was attacked at a notorious cruising ground . soon afterward , ricca had to be rescued by firemen when he got trapped in a lift .

<t> colonel daniel rudolf anrig 's contract is not being renewed by the pope . </t> <t> pope francis believes that colonel anrig is ` too strict ' and not brotherly . </t> <t> the pontiff has recently removed a number of senior vatican officials . </t> <t> colonel anrig will step down from the swiss guard on january 31 , 2015 . </t>

pope francis sacks swiss guards chief over claims he found his manner too strict<T>

russian president vladimir putin is despised so much in one ukrainian city that his picture is regularly melded with an image of hitler and printed onto products which allow locals to urinate and wipe their bottoms on his face . adding the nazi leader 's distinctive moustache and side parting to a picture of putin 's face , the image has been posted onto urinals and printed onto toilet paper . cheeky market stall holders in the pro-european city of lviv have also printed the image onto t-shirts and bags and all sorts of other paraphernalia . a young girl carries a bag with an image depicting putin as the new hitler , complete with the nazi dictator 's iconic moustache and side parting . a range of similar items are available on market stalls in the ukrainian city of lviv , where hatred of the russian leader is high due to his support for separatist rebels in the east of the country . posters across the city of lviv compare putin 's annexation of the crimea with hitlers 1938 annexation of the sudetenland in czechoslovakia . printed toilet rolls allow the residents of lviv to wipe their bottoms on the putin 's face . peeing on putin . stickers posted on urinals use an expletive to describe the russian leader . melding their names together some of the products feature the phrase ` putler kaput , ' a clear signal of their hatred towards the russian president who has backed pro-moscow separatist rebels in the civil war which has claimed at least 4,300 lives . more chillingly , some have printed images of putin with a single , bloody bullet wound through his forehead , while others have printed swastikas onto the russian flag . posters across the city also compare putins annexation of the overwhelmingly ethnic russian crimean peninsula in march , with hitlers 1938 annexation of the sudetenland in czechoslovakia . meanwhile , urinals feature a prominently placed picture of putin with an expletive underneath to describe him . at gun ranges it is also possible to rent an ak47 and shoot specially-made putin targets , in the city which sits near the polish border . a couple walk hand in hand in hand next to a picture of putin as hitler , with the nazi leader 's distinctive moustache and side parting , along with swastika 's on his collar . a chilling bullet hole in putin 's head shows the level of hatred that many in the city of lviv have towards the russian leader because of his support for pro-moscow separatists in the east of the country . a man fires his automatic rifle at a target featuring putin 's head at a shooting range in lviv . residents of the city near the polish border in western ukraine routinely mock the russian leader . pockmarked with bullet holes , a target of vladimir putin after a shooting session at a lviv gun range . tension in the east of the country remains high despite a partial ceasefire agreement between ukrainian forces and separatist rebels which is due to start on december 5 . despite the deal brokered by the the organization for security and co-operation in europe -lrb- ocse -rrb- ukraine yesterday said a military convoy of 106 vehicles including howitzer tanks rolled into its donetsk region from russia without permission . the truce comes exactly three months after the much violated september 5 ceasefire to end the separatist rebellion which began in april in luhansk and donetsk .<doc-sep>i am a russian-speaking ukrainian . i am ethnically half-russian , as my father was born in siberia . i spent much of my life in donetsk , a russian-speaking area of ukraine . now i live in kiev . my kids speak ukrainian in school and with many of their friends , and we speak russian at home . when my son 's fourth-grade teacher talks to me , she speaks ukrainian . i respond in russian . we do n't even notice that our conversation is in two languages . i understand ukrainian but do n't speak it as easily as i speak english . i just never had any pressure to learn it . in lviv , in the western part of ukraine , most speak primarily ukrainian , but even there , i never had anybody look down on me for my russian . in the eastern and southern regions , many people speak russian , and there is absolutely no forced `` ukraineization . '' you might be asking what all this fuss is about in crimea , the autonomous region of eastern ukraine with strong ties to russia . why are thousands coming to the streets with russian flags ? it 's easy to explain . tracking the crisis in ukraine as it unfolds . many people in crimea and eastern ukraine do n't want the protection of russian president vladimir putin . but there are some who are afraid of forced ukraineization because they have been fed propaganda by russian tv channels for years . the purpose is to convince ukrainians that we are divided , not one country , and that the safest course of action for russian-speaking areas is to break away and join russia . these ideas have been cultivated since i was a child . i remember when i lived in donetsk in the '90s , how scared we were that a candidate from western ukraine would win an election and force us to speak ukrainian . but when i moved out of the area of aggressive russian information , i quickly realized i can speak russian in kiev or lviv and no one will ever be upset with me ! over our 22 years of ukrainian independence , fears of language or ethnic persecution have never come true . but they were kept alive by russian propaganda . we understand that putin is trying to escalate tension and provoke civil war in ukraine right now . he ca n't afford for a free ukraine to succeed : his own people might get an idea that it 's possible to overthrow a tyrant and build a prosperous country . u.n. security council meets to discuss ukraine crisis . putin wo n't succeed . ukrainians are wiser than that and wo n't kill each other over the nonexistent problem of language . to demonstrate that , last week , people in lviv -lrb- traditionally ukrainian-speaking -rrb- spoke only russian all day , and in response , those in donetsk -lrb- traditionally russian-speaking -rrb- spoke ukrainian !<doc-sep>sarah palin mocked president barack obama on monday for his response to the russia-ukraine crisis , saying that russian president vladimir putin 's expansionist moves have been enabled by a white house that projects weakness . ` people are looking at putin as one who wrestles bears and drills for oil , ' the former republican governor of alaska told fox news host sean hannity . ` they look at our president as one who wears mom jeans . ' palin argued that economic and trade sanctions against moscow would be useless against a russian leader who 's intent on rebuilding the soviet union one annexation at a time . ` anyone who carries the commonsense gene would know that putin does n't change his stripes , ' she said . ` he wants to exert huge power and dominance , so he has to get to those border areas and he has to capture them . ' scroll down for vdeo . palin zinged obama for wearing ` mom jeans ' while russia ¿ s president ` wrestles bears ' and projects a much tougher image on the world stage . ` mom jeans ' : obama sported loose denim in the white house while taking with putin on saturday about the situation in ukraine . putin projects strength and machismo with bare-chested riding and bear-wrestling , palin said . palin grabbed the media spotlight with a ` told-ya-so ' moment over the weekend by pointing out on facebook that she had predicted putin 's ukraine invasion six years ago . the one-time vice presidential candidate wrote a strongly worded post on friday calling out her liberal critics for mocking her . ` yes , . i could see this one from alaska , ' palin wrote . ` i 'm usually not one to . told-ya-so , but i did , despite my accurate prediction being derided as . `` an extremely far-fetched scenario '' by the `` high-brow '' foreign policy . magazine . ' during the 2008 presidential campaign , foreign policy published an article . ridiculing her prediction that if then-senator barack obama is elected . into office , russia under president vladimir putin would be emboldened to occupy . ukraine . palin 's statements on the campaign . trail came during an armed conflict that broke out between russia and . georgia over the contested territory of south ossetia . watch more of the palin interview at fox news . russain troops met ukraininan forces at an air base that putin 's military is occupying . the russian president now says he does n't intend to march into eastern ukraine , but still holds ferry terminals and other points of entry into the country 's crimea region . alarming move : russian president vladimir putin has received permission from the parliament to deploy russian troops in ukraine . ` after the russian army invaded the . nation of georgia , senator obama 's reaction was one of indecision and . moral equivalence , the kind of response that would only encourage . russia 's putin to invade ukraine next , ' palin told a crowd at a rally . held in reno , nevada , in october 2008 . palin 's gloating facebook post has been shared more than 18,000 times and has drawn more than 72,000 ` likes . ' speaking to fox news ' todd starnes , palin said : ` we can expect more of this sort of thing in a world where america is gutting its military and `` leading from behind . ''' meanwhile , conservative talk radio host mark levin tweeted : ` palin not only knows where russia is , but she knew what putin would do to ukraine with obama as president . ' palin 's self-congratulatory facebook message comes as russia appears to be poised on deploying ground forces across ukraine , ostensibly to protect russian nationals from ongoing violence , in the words of president vladimir putin . speaking at a press conference on the crisis in ukraine , president obama has warned that ` there will be costs ' if russia invades the neighboring country , where pro-russian and pro-european union factions have been fighting in the streets for the past month . palin is set to address the conservative political action conference on saturday near washington , d.c.<doc-sep>rage : ukrainian riot police face pro-russian activists attempting to block a railroad track at the central railway station in donetsk . disruption : in donetsk , pro-moscow protesters stormed the railway station and were blocking trains to kiev and lviv . u.s , european and ukrainian officials are deeply concerned about the russian military buildup on ukraine 's borders . pictured , pro-russian activists rally in kharkiv . under russia : demonstrators carry a large russian flag as they rally in donetsk today . u.s. officials have been coy about their position on a federation and insist that any changes to ukraine 's governing structure must be acceptable to the ukrainians . ukrainian officials are wary of decentralising power , fearing that pro-russia regions would hamper its western aspirations and potentially split the country apart . however , they are exploring political reforms that could grant more authority to local governments . the plan that kerry and lavrov are discussing covers ukrainian political and constitutional reforms as well as the disarmament of irregular forces , international monitors to protect minority rights and direct dialogue between russia and ukraine , according to u.s. officials , who say it has backing of ukraine 's government . kerry and lavrov have met several times in person and spoken by phone almost daily since the crisis began but have not yet been able to agree on a way forward . pictured , the unrest in donetsk . kerry and lavrov have met several times in person and spoken by phone almost daily since the crisis began but have not yet been able to agree on a way forward . the pair met last week in the hague , where kerry presented lavrov with the proposal , which was a response to ideas lavrov gave him at a march 10 meeting in london . sunday 's meeting follows an hour long phone call friday between u.s. president barack obama and russian president vladimir putin in which obama urged putin to withdraw his troops from the border with ukraine . the russian leader , who initiated the call , asserted that ukraine 's government is allowing extremists to intimidate ethnic russians and russian-speaking civilians with impunity - something ukraine insists is not happening .<doc-sep>ukraine accused russia of invasion today , after vladimir putin ordered a controversial aid convoy into the country because he could ` wait no longer ' . the russian president held telephone talks with german chancellor angela merkel and , according to the kremlin , expressed ` serious concern ' about the military escalation in eastern ukraine and admitted he had lost patience in the stand-off over the convoy . hundreds of lorries that russia claims are carrying humanitarian aid but which ukraine insists have a military purpose were sent over the border this morning without permission from the kiev government , which added that its border guards had been ` blocked ' . scroll down for video . leading the way : an official opens the gate at the border to let the first lorry across into ukraine . convoy : the first batch of trucks make their way towards the ukrainian border this morning . tensions in the six-month crisis rose to dangerous levels , as senior ukrainian officials warned that an attack on the fleet of white trucks could be staged by pro-russian militants to give a pretext for a full-scale kremlin occupation of eastern regions of the country . such a development would trigger a full-scale war on the european union 's doorstep . nato last night issued a savage rebuke of the russian move . ` it can only deepen the crisis in the region , which russia itself has created and has continued to fuel , ' warned chief anders fogh rasmussen . he suspected the convoy was not to help hungry people hit by the civil war but ` to resupply armed separatists ' . sending in moscow 's trucks was a ` blatant breach ' of russia 's international commitments and a ` further violation of ukraine 's sovereignty ' , he said . partisan locals : the trucks arrive at the russian side of the border this morning . no entry : but ukrainian border guards were allegedly ` blocked ' from intervening by russian officials . warm welcome : locals in rebel-held eastern ukraine applaud the first of the lorries in the convoy . the kremlin was guilty of ' a major escalation in russian military involvement in eastern ukraine since mid-august ' , including the use of vladimir putin 's forces . mr putin said ` further delays would have been unacceptable ' in sending the convoy due to the humanitarian catastrophe in the conflict zone .

<t> stall holders add nazi leader 's distinctive moustache and side parting to image of putin in the city of lviv . </t> <t> russia 's annexation of crimea is compared with hitler 's annexation of the sudetenland in czechoslovakia . </t> <t> hatred for the russian leader is high due to his support for pro-moscow rebels in the east . </t>

lviv , ukraine where locals shoot and urinate at image of russian president vladimir putin<T>

a california surgeon has been disciplined for removing the wrong kidney of a federal inmate and leaving him with the diseased one . the orange county register reported tuesday that the state medical board placed dr. charles coonan streit on probation for three years . the board said streit , a urologist who has had his license for 41 years , relied on memory to decide which kidney to remove because he did n't have access to the patient 's complete medical records . diseased : dr. charles coonan streit has been placed on three years probation for removing the wrong kidney of a federal inmate leaving him with the diseased one .<doc-sep>the 2012 operation at fullerton 's st. jude medical center involved a 59-year-old federal inmate . the hospital was fined $ 100,000 because ct scans were left in an office on the day of the surgery . the inmate , who was serving time at terminal island , a low-security federal prison in san pedro , underwent a second procedure to have the cancerous kidney removed . an attorney representing streit did n't reply to a message seeking comment . the register reports that streit has been barred from supervising physician assistants and is required to enroll in a wrong-site surgery course offered by the university of california , san diego school of medicine .<doc-sep>fined : fullerton 's st. jude medical center was fined $ 100,000 because ct scans were left in an office on the day of the surgery . patient : nurses and an anesthesiologist who assisted streit in the surgery told inspectors that the patient told them the wrong side when they asked him which kidney was diseased -lrb- stock image -rrb- . the board described streit 's conduct as ` an extreme departure from the standard of care , ' and listed the many aspects of standard operating protocol that would have prevented the error . streit and his assistants could have postponed the surgery until the proper records were available and could have done a renal ultrasound to determine which kidney was tumorous .<doc-sep>nurses and an anesthesiologist who assisted streit in the surgery told inspectors that the patient told them the wrong side when they asked him which kidney was diseased . cbs news reports that though wrong-site surgeries are rare , -- occurring once every five to 10 years -- they are not unprecedented . the register reports that the department of public health have fined two other orange county hospitals for wrong-site surgeries in the past seven years .<doc-sep>by . sadie whitelocks . last updated at 8:06 pm on 12th january 2012 . amy francis underwent surgery to remove a cancerous kidney but died after surgeons removed the wrong organ . a widow died on an operating table after a surgeon tried to remove the wrong organ , an inquest heard today . amy francis , 77 , underwent keyhole surgery to remove a cancerous right kidney last july . but during the operation at the royal gwent hospital , newport , her liver ruptured as it was mistakenly pulled out and , despite desperate efforts to save her , she died of internal bleeding . consultant urologist dr adam carter , admitted to the error and highlighted that as a result of the death , a modified operating procedure had been communicated ` worldwide ' . her son alan , 52 , praised dr carter for his honesty and the hospital for ` owning up ' early . following the hearing he said : ` we . appreciated mr carter 's honesty and him coming along here today and hope . that we can put it all behind us now . ' i . think that it was the honesty that saved the hospital . if we thought . that they had not answered our questions it would have been different . ` this was an honest mistake . ' retired accountant , mrs francis , was diagnosed with kidney cancer and was due to be treated after she had recovered from the routine surgery . but during the operation dr carter allowed a trainee , who had never performed the procedure before , to locate and remove the organ . as the trainee . was n't confident enough to remove the organ dr carter was forced to . take over , and during the changeover confusion occurred . when he attempted to remove the kidney he was immediately told by the anesthetist that the patient 's blood pressure was dropping and he realised his mistake . consultant urologist dr adam carter , admitted to the fatal error during an operation performed at the royal gwent hospital . two senior surgeons were called to the scene and every effort was made to save mrs francis , but they were unsuccessful . david bowen , the coroner for gwent , said : ` whilst undergoing keyhole surgery . for the necessary removal of the cancerous kidney , mrs francis 's . liver was ruptured when it was mistakenly and unintentionally identified . as the kidney and was catastrophically torn and damaged , resulting in . death . ' dr carter said he had carried out the procedure 20 times since the death without a problem . son alan said before the inquest finished : ` we accept the decision and we also accept that mr carter and his team acted in good faith to prolong my mother 's life . ` we also appreciated his honesty and wish him well for the future and hope he goes on to do other successful operations . ' over the last 40 years , the number of cases of kidney cancer has doubled in men and risen by 130 per cent in women , a trend which is believed to be linked to rising obesity figures . there were 3638 new cases diagnosed in men and 2118 new cases diagnosed in woman in england during 2007 .<doc-sep>tough penalties : dr vega vega , as well as rockhampton hospital 's director of surgery were suspended following the cases of malpractice . the health service board became concerned by comments made by a coroner about local health services and commissioned a review by vanguard health . that review highlighted three cases of negligence by dr vega vega -- including him removing a healthy testicle in one patient , the wrong kidney in another , and nicking an artery in a third . board chairman charles ware said one of the patient 's involved had to be transported to brisbane for follow-up care after surgery by dr vega vega . ` it would appear that an artery was nicked during surgery but not detected , and -lrb- the patient -rrb- later re-presented to hospital with quite substantial blood loss , ' mr ware told fairfax radio . a fourth case occurred late last month , before the urologist was stood down .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- within just a few days , ray fearing went from the height of ecstasy -- he had just gotten a much-needed kidney transplant -- to the depths of depression , after finding out his transplant would need to be removed . `` i had been waiting for 10 years to finally have a normal life , '' said fearing , a 27-year-old from arlington heights , illinois . `` when it did n't work out , for a few days i just curled inward and started losing all hope . it was not an easy time . '' what is notable about fearing 's case is not that he eventually got over his depression , or that he had an organ removed after transplantation -- those things happen . what is remarkable is the simple , altruistic gesture he made just before his doctors removed his kidney that led to what scientists are describing as a medical first . fearing donated his transplanted kidney to another patient , and the organ that had been failing inside fearing 's body thrived in the new recipient . `` when we removed that dysfunctioning kidney from ray 's environment , it recovered rapidly after being transplanted in a second recipient , '' said dr. lorenzo gallon , fearing 's doctor and medical director of the kidney transplant program northwestern memorial hospital . `` it is the first time that has happened . '' `` it 's amazing stuff , it really is , '' said dr. lynda szczech , a nephrologist and president of the national kidney foundation . `` i do n't know if this is something we 're going to get into with great regularity , but the fact that these providers were able to think outside the box to save such a precious resource is frankly amazing . '' fearing 's kidney transplant was in june 2011 , using an organ donated by his sister , cera fearing . he had been struggling for years with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis , a disease that causes scar tissue to develop in the part of the kidney that filters harmful substances . a few days after his operation , doctors took a biopsy of the new kidney and found it was quickly becoming damaged by the fsgs . the cascade of problems following the operation was swift . fearing said that soon after his operation , `` my abdomen was full of blood and very sore and -lsb- dr. gallon -rsb- told me he had to remove the kidney immediately . '' gallon said the situation , having to remove an organ to which so many hopes were now attached , haunted him . but when he realized the organ could still be viable in another patient , he decided to broach the idea with fearing . `` i said the kidney is yours , we can do whatever you want , '' said gallon , who consulted with his hospital 's ethics board before approaching fearing . `` but if we take it out , we will discard it . are you willing to allow us to see if this kidney might work for someone else ? '' fearing did not hesitate . `` there are thousands of people waiting for organs , i could n't see myself just discarding one , '' said fearing .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a single gene , called myh9 , may be responsible for many cases of kidney disease among african-americans , researchers say . dr. barry freedman , right , speaks with a colleague in a dialysis center at wake forest baptist medical center . although doctors have blamed hypertension for causing common forms of kidney disease in african-americans , new research shows that high blood pressure may not be the chief cause . `` the myh9 gene association in african-american kidney disease is the most powerful genetic cause of a common disease yet discovered , '' said dr. barry freedman , professor of internal medicine and nephrology at wake forest university , who led a team of researchers in isolating the gene . about 70 percent of african-americans with non-diabetic forms kidney disease have the myh9 gene , and many of them end up on dialysis , he said . the gene predisposes african-americans to the kidney disease that was thought to stem from high blood pressure . it also gives them a higher risk of kidney disease associated with hiv . `` this genetic finding will forever change the way that we categorize the causes of kidney disease . it has the potential to lead to new treatment options to prevent this devastating disease , '' freedman said . kidney disease is a serious health issue among african-americans , who have a fourfold higher risk of developing all common forms of it than whites in the united states . dr. bryan becker , president of the national kidney foundation , called the research `` seminal work '' in identifying a gene associated with common kidney diseases .

<t> dr. charles coonan streit has been placed on three years probation for removing the wrong kidney of a federal inmate leaving him with the diseased one . </t> <t> streit is required to take a wrong-site surgery course and is barred from supervising physician assistants . </t> <t> those who assisted streit in the surgery said the patient was the one who told them the wrong side . </t>

dr. charles coonan streit removed wrong kidney from prisoner and blamed him<T>

a company director has been found guilty of manslaughter after a steel worker was crushed to death during a # 500,000 basement conversion at a # 3.9 million london townhouse . conrad sidebottom , commercial director of construction company siday , was found guilty at southwark crown court after employee anghel milosavlevici , 37 , was killed by a falling wall during a property renovation . mr milosavlevici , a manual labourer , was killed in front of his father gheorghe as the pair carried out refurbishment works at a # 3.9 million home in fulham , south west london , in december 2010 . anghel milosavlevici , 37 -lrb- left -rrb- , was killed by a falling wall in front of his father gheorghe -lrb- right -rrb- during a # 500,000 basement renovation at a # 3.9 million townhouse in fulham , south west london , in december 2010 . the court heard details of how the incident unfolded , including how gheorghe shouted for his son to ` run ' after noticing an unsupported load-bearing wall beginning to collapse . mr milosavlevici , from walthamstow , was working in a trench at the time the wall fell , and it toppled onto him , leaving him trapped . workers tried to dig him out as his father helplessly cradled his head while he lay unconscious . however , despite the emergency services arriving within minutes , mr milosavlevici tragically died at the scene . during the trial , the jury heard that had the trench walls been properly supported , the wall would not have collapsed and mr milosavlevici would not have died . he had been employed by siday construction ltd to work on the basement renovation and the company was contracted to provide building services at the residential property , including the excavation of the basement and the underpinning of the supporting walls . the court heard how company boss sidebottom visited the site two or three times a week but failed to improve the dangerous conditions for the workers . the 46-year-old , of hertford , hertfordshire , denied unlawfully killing mr milosavlevici by gross negligence but was found guilty by jurors at yesterday 's hearing . health and safety consultant richard golding , 43 , was also found guilty of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of others . mr milosavlevici was killed as he worked in the basement at the property in fulham , london -lrb- pictured -rrb- . self-employed golding was contracted to work on the project by allday safety services ltd but he failed to properly inspect the dangerous site , directly contributing to mr milosavlevici 's death . the pair are due to be sentenced tomorrow .<doc-sep>in a statement read outside court yesterday , mr milosavlevici 's sister cristina and fiancée claudia described his death as a ` tragic loss ' . ` he was the most gentle , kind-hearted and generous man you could ever hope to meet , ' they said . ` he worked for conrad sidebottom for more than two years before he was killed , but we were shocked to hear evidence at the trial about how dangerous the site had become , and how little concern sidebottom showed for the safety of everyone involved in the excavation works . ` we hope the verdict makes other construction company directors take stock of their own working practices , and ensure that they are doing everything possible to keep their workers safe . ' the owners of the two-storey victorian semi-detached home decided to renovate their property , at a cost of # 576,000 , in 2010 . the first and second floors were to be refurbished , a new conservatory and kitchen added on the ground floor and a basement created . workers were using the traditional method of underpinning to create the basement , by digging under sections of existing walls and deepening the foundations to make the new walls . conrad sidebottom , 46 , commercial director of construction company siday , was found guilty at southwark crown court of manslaughter after failing to inspect and address the dangerous site conditions for workers . trenches were excavated adjacent to exterior walls to allow workers to dig horizontally through the earth , underneath the walls of the house and replace with reinforced concrete . however , even though the work was dangerous and the design was changed , the underpinning of the # 168,000 basement was not properly planned . workers were left to their own devices to figure out how and when they would prop up trenches to stop them collapsing . siday employee bobby risipitu told the trial he was never shown a method statement , plan or design and said workers were left to prop up trenches based on whether they felt safe . he said earth often collapsed on them when they were digging and large sections of the trench he was working in were not supported at all . workers regularly discussed the dangerous conditions , jurors heard . mr milosavlevici 's father said the gravelly earth was like digging with sand , with trenches often crumbling in on themselves .<doc-sep>mr milosavlevici , a manual labourer from walthamstow , died after being trapped by a falling wall as he worked in a trench during the renovations . the court also heard how just weeks before his death , mr milosavlevici suffered an electric shock after his shovel hit a live electricity cable that had not been cut off . jurors also heard how , in what appeared to be a money-saving decision , excavated earth was used instead of sand to mix concrete . the post-mortem examination confirmed mr milosavlevici died of severe crush injuries to his chest and abdomen , several bilateral rib fractures and severe underlying injuries to the lungs . his heart , aorta and spleen were also damaged , consistent with crushing by masonry . golding , who had the authority to stop dangerous works , inspected the site on october 26 and november 23 , 2010 , but never commented on the excavations . the safety document he drafted was also inadequate and not followed . in a police interview , he said he was shocked and insisted he had not seen the trenches which were hidden under boards . sidebottom said he briefed workers and employee patrick o'connor who he believed was supervising the build . he told police that to the best of his knowledge nothing was wrong with the site and he took no steps to improve the site despite being aware of the dangerous conditions . following the incident , a local authority building control officer found the house was potentially at danger of collapse . a dangerous structure notice was served and the property had to be stabilised by independent contractors . after the verdict , detective chief inspector tim duffield , of the met police 's homicide and major crime command , who worked closely the health and safety executive , said : ` there was overwhelming evidence that sidebottom and golding 's failure to carry out their respective roles directly resulted in the death of anghel milosavlevici . ` in this case the danger of collapse was not only foreseeable , it had been specifically identified by golding in his risk assessments . ` sadly , for anghel 's family this lapse would have tragic consequences and give rise to his untimely death . '<doc-sep>tragic : david evans , 23 , was crushed to death by a two-ton block of limestone while renovating the home of former pizza express boss , hugh osmond . the family of a builder who was crushed to death by a two-ton block of limestone spoke of their grief today as the masonry firm he worked for was convicted of corporate manslaughter . david evans , 23 , was struck by the huge rock while renovating the sprawling # 20million home of former pizza express boss , hugh osmond , near moulsford , oxfordshire . he was airlifted to hospital with ` catastrophic injuries ' to his chest and abdomen , but was pronounced dead later the same day . earlier today , cavendish masonry limited , who employed mr evans , was found guilty of corporate manslaughter by a jury at oxford crown court . the court heard that the firm had committed a gross breach in its duty of care in its management and organisation of the work on mr osmond 's 1,200-acre well barn estate . it had failed to take reasonable care in the planning and execution of those activities , the jury concluded . and now , mr evans 's family have spoken of their heartbreak over the death of their relative , whom they have described as ` profoundly honest ' with an ` infectious laugh ' . in a statement , they said : ` we . miss his smile , his infectious laugh and his profoundly honest nature . not a single day passes without us thinking of him and wondering what . his life and our lives would have been like were he here today . ` while . we know that this trial will not bring david back to us , we now know . how and why he was taken from us , how and why his promising life was cut . so tragically short and how and why he will never be able to fulfil the . potential that so many have attested to him having . ` we hope that this trial and the conclusions that are reached serve as an example to others in the industry . ' mr evans , from tilehurst , reading , had been building a ` rustic wall ' on mr osmond 's estate after being taken . on by cavendish masonry as a stonemason 's mate because he was a good worker . scene : mr evans was struck by the huge rock as he worked on the sprawling # 20million site -lrb- pictured -rrb- near moulsford , oxfordshire . he was airlifted to hospital with ` catastrophic injuries ' , but died later the same day . building work : cavendish masonry limited was today convicted of the corporate manslaughter of mr evans -lrb- left -rrb- by a jury at oxford crown court . right , mr osmond , whose home the stonemason 's mate was renovating . he was struck by the limestone slab and pinned to a set of stairs for five to 20 seconds after it . toppled from its lintel as it was being . lifted into place by a crane on february 9 , 2010 . the .<doc-sep>updated : . 04:19 est , 26 november 2013 . a man has been charged with the manslaughter of a worker 11 years after his body was found trapped under the drum of a cement mixer . the body of lee balkwell was found crushed in the machinery in july 2002 at baldwin 's farm in south ockendon , essex . simon bromley , who was his boss at the time , has been charged with unlawfully killing the 33-year-old and breaching the health and safety at work act .<doc-sep>by . anthony bond . published : . 02:54 est , 1 june 2013 . | . updated : . 05:00 est , 1 june 2013 . a father and son who ran a haulage business for 99p stores have been found guilty of the manslaughter of one of their drivers who fell asleep at the wheel . adrian john mcmurray , 54 , and adrian paul mcmurray , 36 , were convicted of the killing of stephen kenyon , from milton keynes . father-of-four mr kenyon was crushed to death when his 39 tonne renault lorry crashed into a line of stationary traffic on the southbound carriageway of the m1 . convicted : adrian john mcmurray , 54 , right , and adrian paul mcmurray , 36 , left , were convicted of the killing of stephen kenyon . the jury at st albans crown court was told the death was ` an accident waiting to happen ' as the the mr kenyon had been working for more than 19 hours and had been driving for over 13 of them . road haulage legislation states that truckers can only drive large commercial lorries for a maximum of 10 hours in a 24 hour period , and then only two days a week . for the rest of the week , the maximum time they can spend behind the wheel of a lorry is nine hours . tachographs are fitted to every large vehicle to record a driver 's activities , but in 35-year-old mr kenyon 's case two tachograph charts were being used . this practice was ` tolerated if not encouraged ' by the mcmurrays , who ran aj haulage , based in daventry , northants , the jury was told . although cabs can be fitted with two tachographs , if there is a relief driver on board , the prosecution said mr kenyon was using them both when he died and was driving longer hours that legally permitted so he could increase his earnings . at the time he had debts of around # 10,000 . friends and family noticed how tired he was and how he would often fall asleep in a chair . tragic : stephen kenyon , pictured , was crushed to death when his 39 tonne renault lorry crashed into a line of stationary traffic on southbound carriageway of the m1 . adrian john mcmurray , of daventry , and adrian paul mcmurray , from northampton , pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and failing to discharge an employer 's duty . after 16 hours and 52 minutes the jury unanimously convicted the father of both charges . they found the son guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 10 to 2 and unanimously on the second charge . it followed the accident on friday . february 12 2010 between junction 10 , the luton airport exit and . junction 9 , the exit for redbourn and dunstable . prosecutor charles miskin qc told the jury of seven men and five women the case was one of : ` gross negligence and manslaughter . ' at the time of the fatal crash , the firm worked solely for the shop chain 99p stores , delivering goods to branches up and down the country and collecting waste material such as cardboard packaging and bringing it back to the retail chain 's central depot in daventry . in the five years to february 2010 aj haulage , which had its yard at the depot , had rapidly grown from having two drivers to a fleet of 25 lorries and 40 trailers .<doc-sep>by . lydia warren . published : . 10:36 est , 13 may 2013 . | . updated : . 01:57 est , 14 may 2013 . a late-term abortionist left court in chains on monday after being found guilty of murder . dr kermit gosnell , 72 , who ran the now-shuttered women 's medical society clinic in philadelphia , had been charged with four counts of capital murder in the deaths of babies whose spinal cords he was accused of snipping to bring about their deaths . he was found not-guilty on one charge , but each of the first-degree capital murder charges could earn him the death penalty . the disgraced doctor was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of . karnamaya mongar , 41 , a refugee who died after a drug overdose following an abortion in november 2010 . scroll down for video . lock down : dr kermit gosnell , 72 , is escorted to a van leaving the criminal justice center on monday after being convicted on three counts of first-degree murder on monday in philadelphia . facing the death penalty : the late-term abortionist shook his head as the guilty verdict came in at the philadelphia court . reports noted that gosnell shook his head in disbelief as the verdict was read on monday afternoon . he . was also found guilty of conspiracy to perform abortions past . pennsylvania 's 24-week legal threshold . the jury also found him guilty . on most of the more than 200 counts of violating the state 's ` informed . consent ' law , which says there must be a 24-hour waiting period before . an abortion . they found he was guilty of murder in the deaths of babies , who had been named a , c and d for the purpose of the trial . in . earlier testimony , the court heard how a clinic employee had . photographed baby a after dr gosnell had joked : ` he 's big enough to walk . you to the bus stop . ' lock down : it took a jury in pennsylvania just ten days to find the killer doctor guilty . clinic . workers also testified that they had seen baby c , a little girl , move . her arm before her neck was snipped , bringing about her death . and . baby d was born in the clinic 's bathroom and was seen struggling to get . out of the toilet before a worker also snipped their spine . he was found not guilty in the death of baby e , who workers had said let out a single cry before the neck was snipped . dr gosnell 's attorney jack mcmahon said they were ` disappointed ' with the verdict . charged : dr. kermit gosnell , a philadelphia abortion doctor , has been convicted of murdering three babies at his clinic . he was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a patient . defense : gosnell 's lawyer jack mcmahon speaks following the verdict , which he called ` disappointing '

<t> conrad sidebottom , 46 , guilty of manslaughter at southwark crown court . </t> <t> employee anghel milosavlevici killed by falling wall during refurbishment . </t> <t> 37-year-old was killed while working at # 3.9 million townhouse in fulham . </t> <t> sidebottom failed to inspect and address dangerous conditions at the site . </t>

siday director guilty of manslaughter after worker was crushed to death<T>

the body of a woman who vanished nine weeks ago without shoes , money or her phone has been found in a utah river five miles from her home . kayelyn louder , 30 , had not been seen since september 27 , when she was captured on surveillance camera leaving her murray condo barefoot in the heavy rain . on monday , workers inspecting drainage pipes in the jordan river in west valley city found her decomposed body partially submerged . she was identified by dental records on tuesday . her cause of death is still undetermined and authorities are not sure how she ended up in the river , the salt lake tribune reported . a creek that leads to the river runs behind louder 's home but investigators believe the it was too shallow to carry her body five miles away , fox13 reported . scroll down for video . tragic : kayelyn louder , 30 , -lrb- pictured left and right -rrb- vanished from her home in murray , utah in september and her body has now been found in a river five miles away . authorities do not yet know how it got there . in the hours before she went missing , louder had contacted 911 to report a fight at a wedding and then an intruder in her apartment - although police found no evidence of either . she did not have any history of mental health issues although her father said she had experienced ' a little bit of depression ' due to her recent employment status . ` she 's been in and out of jobs for the last year , ' jesse louder told ksl after her disappearance . investigators have said that the surveillance footage shows her talking excitedly . it appears that her black chinese pug phyllis is in the video with her , but the dog was later found unharmed . after stepping out of the final frame of the footage , she was not seen again . scene : her body was found by workers inspecting pipes in the jordan river in west valley city , pictured . heartbreaking : the discovery on monday brings some closure to her family after nine weeks of searches .<doc-sep>` we do n't know what happened , ' allen robins , a private investigator for the louder family , told fox . ` no one else saw her . no one has any other details as to what had happened from when she left that frame until -lsb- monday -rsb- . ' a roommate alerted authorities after she realized she had not heard from louder , known as ` kiki ' to her friends , in a while . following her disappearance , friends and family launched a massive search for the woman through social media and raised more than $ 8,000 online to help the efforts . shortly after news that her body had been found , her family released a statement . ` we are broken hearted with the news of kayelyn 's body being found , but are also grateful to know where she is , ' it said . last sighting : she was captured on surveillance footage on september 27 but has not been seen since . loved : she had no history of mental illness but it emerged that she called 911 multiple times about non-existent crimes in the hours before she vanished . her father said she had been low about her job . ` this has been an extremely difficult 9 + weeks for all involved . we hope that through all of our efforts that she has been able to see how much she is loved and cared for . ` we are forever grateful to the volunteers who have helped us in countless ways over the past 9 weeks . we are amazed at your love and dedication to our family . ` while finding her brings some closure we still have many unanswered questions and will not rest until we are able to fully understand what happened . ' a candlelight vigil will be held in remembrance of kayelyn in murray park at 5.15 pm on thursday . see below for video .<doc-sep>a major search is underway for a missing 30-year-old woman who vanished from her home without shoes , money or a phone nearly two weeks ago . kayelyn louder , nicknamed ` kiki ' , was last seen on a surveillance video leaving her condo in murray , utah , in torrential rain at around 7pm on september 27 . at the time , she was wearing a white tank top and shorts but no shoes , her family said . she had also left behind her purse , phone , house keys , car keys , and beloved pet dog , phyllis . scroll down for video . missing : kayelyn louder -lrb- pictured -rrb- vanished from her home without money or a phone nearly two weeks ago . mystery : ms louder -lrb- right -rrb- was last seen on a surveillance video leaving her condo in murray , utah , in torrential rain at around 7pm on september 27 . left , a missing person poster lists ms louder 's nickname as ` kiki ' animal lover : at the time , she was wearing a white tank top and short but no shoes and had left behind her purse , phone , house keys , car keys , and beloved pet dog , phyllis . ` she left with just herself , ' said her father . police were first alerted to ms louder 's disappearance on wednesday after her roommate realised she had not seen or heard from her for a while . ` she left with just herself ... and it was pouring rain , ' ms louder 's father , jesse , told ksl.com . her mother , suzie , added : ` something weird is going on . it 's just not normal behavior . we 're just trying to do our best to try to find her and hope she is okay . ' mr louder said his daughter did not have a history of abnormal behavior , but admitted she had ' a little bit of depression ' due to her recent employment status . vigil : last night , ms louder 's family and friends held a candlelight vigil -lrb- pictured -rrb- in murray city park , where they prayed for their loved one 's safe return . they have also set up a facebook page to help find ms louder . hopeful : ms louder 's mother , suzie , said : ` something weird is going on . it 's just not normal behavior . we 're just trying to do our best to try to find her and hope she is okay . ' above , family and friends at the vigil . ` she 's been in and out of jobs for the last year , so it 's been a little tough for her , ' he said . since ms louder vanished from her home , her sister madi rodriguez , has been hanging up hundreds of missing person posters in a bid to locate her , . ` the only thing we can think is she ran out to maybe meet somebody or ran to another person 's condo , ' she told fox 13 : ' ` but when she would leave she would be gone for maybe an hour a or so and she would be very anxious to get back to her dog . ' concern : mr louder said his daughter -lrb- pictured -rrb- did not have a history of abnormal behavior , but had ' a little bit of depression ' due to her recent employment status . ` she 's been in and out of jobs for the last year , ' he said . desperate search : since ms louder -lrb- right -rrb- vanished from her home , her sister madi rodriguez , has been hanging up hundreds of missing person posters -lrb- including this one , left -rrb- in a bid to locate her . wiping away tears , she added : ` even if it 's the worst case scenario , that something has happened , like we need to find her body or something . ' neighbors have also expressed concern for ms louder , with one saying : ` you come out in the pouring rain with no shoes on , it just does n't make sense . something was going on . ' last night , ms louder 's family and friends held a candlelight vigil in murray city park , where they prayed for their loved one 's safe return . they have also set up a facebook page to help locate ms louder , who is described as a 5ft 8in white female with brown hair and brown eyes . distraught sister : wiping away tears , madi rodriguez -lrb- pictured -rrb- said : ` even if it 's the worst case scenario , that something has happened , like we need to find her body or something . ' police have no suspects or leads in the case , and are asking the public to help . ` we hope that getting her face and information out there might help . that someone who has seen her might be able to let us know , ' sargent mike obrey told the new york daily news . anyone with any information can contact officers at 801 - 264-2673 or the we help the missing tip line at 866-660 - 4025 .<doc-sep>by . james nye . the body of a 31-year-old woman missing since her raft overturned in colorado on saturday was found on thursday by her own brother . amanda taylor , 31 , who was living in vernal utah , was whitewater rafting on the arkansas river when she was tossed from the dinghy in the pitch black at around 10 pm when the boat missed a ramp and became stuck under a waterfall . he family rushed from their homes in wyoming to help with the rescue and taylor was discovered by her brother beau taylor only three miles from where she fell in . drowning : amanda taylor -lrb- left and -lrb- right with her sister brandy taylor -rrb- passed away on saturday in a rafting accident in colorado . family search : amanda taylor -lrb- pictured left with her sister , ruby -rrb- was found by her brother , beau , who stayed with her until search teams arrived . an autopsy performed on thursday confirmed that she had tragically drowned when she and six others lost control of their raft in rapid waters . five made it the shore and authorities rescued another 22-year-old man clinging to the raft . undersheriff john spezze said that search and rescue teams had scoured as far as 30 miles downstream and along the river 's banks for taylor , but the murkiness of the water made visibility difficult . the discovery of amanda 's body by her brother after four days of searching came after the involvement of five different local agencies . amanda taylor 's brother spotted her body hanging on a branch close to the riverbank where the south arkansas river meets the arkansas river . rafters navigate the whitewater rapids on the arkansas river near salida , colorado : the search for a utah woman who has been missing since her raft overturned saturday night in the arkansas river was called off on thursday when amanda taylor 's body found by her brother . he positively identified her when other search teams arrived and he and other family members held taylor 's body where it was found to stop it floating downstream according to the mountain mail . bess said taylor 's body must have recently floated down to where it was found after search teams had come through the area on rafts earlier . other rafter 's where much luckier than tragictaylor . david torchia , 22 , was treated for bruises and hypothermia after he clung on for dear life to the raft when it flipped over . ` that was a near-death experience i didn ' t think i ' d be getting out of , ' said torchia , who is a camp consultant at the summer at rocky mountain village easter seals camp in empire , colorado . survivors : local residents -lrb- left to right -rrb- john wallace , ashley noble , alex marzec and david torchia were involved in a whitewater rafting accident in colorado on the arkansas river over the weekend . ` we were all being tossed around . it felt like being in a washing machine , being tossed around and turned around without any control of things . ' torchia said to the toldedo blade that the waterfall kept everyone pinned under in the water and the lack of light caused confusion in reaching the shore , but that everyone was wearing a lifejacket . sheriff deputies said mr. torchia and his companions john spalvins , 54 , of alex marzec , 22 , ashley noble , 21 , jill bryant , 53 , and john wallace , 22 , set off at around 4pm to arrive at the salida boat ramp at 10pm . apart from torchia and taylor , the other five were plucked from the water and pulled to safety .<doc-sep>by . alex greig . police are searching for answers in the death of a 20-year-old woman whose body was found in provo canyon , utah on thursday morning.utah county sheriff 's deputies discovered the body of hadley boberg after her parents called to report her missing on wednesday night.a deputy found the young woman 's prized jeep wrangler near the big springs trail in south fork , provo canyon , and inside the vehicle was a man investigators say was an acquaintance of boberg 's . mysterious : hadley boberg was found dead by sheriff 's deputies thursday morning .<doc-sep>by . damien gayle . a woman in china leapt into a river in a wedding dress in a bid to appease a water god she believes took her son . yun teng , 30 , plunged into the river in suzhou city in eastern china 's anhui province after her son went missing near its banks . police said she had been ` driven to the brink of madness ' by her loss . there were no leads as to the missing boy 's whereabouts and no body has been found , but the woman was convinced he had been claimed by the river . desperation : police officer zhang cheng pulls yun teng from the water after she leapt in wearing a wedding dress in a desperate attempt to get the spirit of the river to release her son , who she believed it had taken . ` it is all very sad , ' said a police .

<t> kayelyn louder was last seen on surveillance footage wandering away from her home in the rain on september 27 . </t> <t> on monday , her body was found five miles away in the jordan river . </t> <t> it is not yet clear how it got there ; there is a creek that leads to the river behind her home , but investigators believe it is too shallow to carry her . </t> <t> before she went missing , she called 911 multiple times about non-existent crimes but she had no history of mental illness . </t>

body of missing woman kayelyn louder is found in utah river<T>

hidden behind locked gates and reserved solely for the enjoyment of a select few , it is an exclusive part of new york rarely seen by the outside world . gramercy park , in manhattan , has been off limits ever since it opened in 1831 with only the wealthy residents who live in surrounding apartments granted keys to its wrought-iron gates . but thanks to a computer programmer and his trusty smartphone , anyone can take a tour of the tranquil two-acre park - after he posted his pictures of it online . gramercy park -lrb- pictured -rrb- , in manhattan , has been off limits ever since it opened in 1831 with only the wealthy residents who live in surrounding apartments granted keys to its wrought-iron gates . thanks to a computer programmer and his trusty smartphone , the tranquil two-acre site -lrb- pictured -rrb- has suddenly become a lot more accessible . requests for filming and photography in the park are routinely turned down , while just 383 keys exist for the wrought-iron gates .<doc-sep>requests for filming and photography in the park are routinely turned down , while just 383 specially-made keys exist for the gates -- owned by those living in the 39 buildings bordering the patch of land . but shawn christopher , a former army sergeant from the pittsburgh area , gained access when he rented an apartment through airbnb during a honeymoon visit to manhattan . the room included access to one of the coveted keys -- but he was not aware he was supposed to be accompanied by a key holder when visiting the park , or that commercial photography was banned . instead , he took a series of 360-degree shots using the google app photo sphere before uploading them to the company 's maps site . now anyone can enjoy a look around the park from the comfort of their home . shawn christopher , from the pittsburgh area , gained access to the park when he rented an apartment through airbnb during a honeymoon visit to manhattan .<doc-sep>the room included one of the coveted keys -- but he was not aware he was supposed to be accompanied by a key holder when visiting the park , or that commercial photography was banned . the organisation that runs the park receives three requests a day from people wanting to take pictures inside the gates - but each request is turned down . the new york times reports him as saying : ` when i found out where i was , i thought , `` this has to be captured '' . ` the internet is all about sharing knowledge , especially these secret , hidden things . ` i just really wanted to share this with other people . it 's such a beautiful part of new york , and people should n't miss out on that . '<doc-sep>oscar wilde , the steinways and thomas edison all once had keys to the park while former presidents teddy roosevelt and john f. kennedy played there as children . celebrities including uma thurman and rufus wainwright are among those said to have access to the gardens , which are off-limits to outsiders . the newspaper says oscar wilde , the steinways and thomas edison all once had keys to the park while former presidents teddy roosevelt and john f. kennedy played there as children . celebrities including uma thurman and rufus wainwright are among those said to have access to the gardens . the report says that arlene harrison , president of the gramercy park block association , receives up to three requests a day from people wanting to take pictures inside the gates -- but that she always answers ` no ' . but she said she had no intention of asking google to remove mr christopher 's images .<doc-sep>downside ? the apartment reportedly suffers from bad natural light . spacious : the second bedroom also reveals clean , white lines . plus a mannequin . the apartment also boasts incredible views and exclusive access to gramercy park , one of the last remaining keyed private parks in new york city . new owner barrack can also take advantage of the pampering services offered by the nearby luxury gramercy park hotel . this includes a valet , butler service , housekeeping , catering , room service , event planning , personal shopping , priority reservations , fitness center , spa , and a private rooftop club . but nothing is ever perfect . apparently the apartment suffers from poor natural light and the maintenance fee is high - around $ 7,439 a month . dollylenz.com . paying for the privilege : the monthly fee for property is over $ 7,000 . untouched : according to reports , karl lagerfeld never even moved in .<doc-sep>sleek : the apartment in gramercy park boasts 2,200-square foot of space and incredible views . making a loss : fashion icon karl lagerfeld sold the apartment for $ 2 million less than the original asking price . convenient : the bathroom includes a large soaking tub , double vanity sink and separate shower . fit for the most demanding chef : the kitchen includes cherry-wood fittings and top of the line appliances . luxury : the master bedroom suite includes a full ensuite . lagerfeld first attempted to sell the exclusive pad in 2011 for $ 6.575 million , but eventually sealed a $ 4.5 million deal with investment banker sebastian barrack just a few weeks ago . chanel 's creative director purchased the sleek , sixth-floor flat at 50 gramercy park north for $ 6.69 million in 2006 . according to the listing at douglas elliman real estate , the three-bedroom property includes a entry foyer and large chef 's kitchen with top of the line appliances . other amenities include a bedroom suite with a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a double vanity sink , separate shower and large soaking tub . exclusive access : the apartment block looks over and has private entry to gramercy park .<doc-sep>luxury pad : leslie alexander , owner of the houston rockets basketball team , has paid $ 42 million for a penthouse in new york 's 18 gramercy park -lrb- pictured -rrb- . the owner of the houston rockets basketball team has paid $ 42 million for a duplex penthouse in new york city 's gramercy park . leslie alexander 's purchase has made records in real estate prices and represents the highest sale price in downtown manhattan , according to the wall street journal . the condo has 6,330 square feet of interior space with five bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths , a library and gallery . there are four terraces taking up 1,889 square feet of space , one of which faces gramercy park with views of the chrysler building . the luxury home has an outdoor infinity pool with a sun deck on one terrace and a heated whirlpool on another . both terraces open from the master bedroom . alexander , 70 , who was valued at around $ 1.2 billion , would have put a down payment of around $ 8,400,000 on the condo , with a monthly installment of $ 194,681 , including his mortgage , according to the real estate listing on streeteasy.com . in 2006 it was revealed that alexander was amongst the 400 richest people in the us . the 18 gramercy park duplex , which is located on the 17th and 18th floors , is a conversion designed by robert a.m. stern that set records for condo prices soon after it went on the market last year . lucky number 5 : the penthouse condo has five bedrooms and five and a half baths . bright and beautiful : the condo -lrb- not pictured -rrb- has great views over gramercy park . sprawling : the 6,330-square foot home -lrb- not pictured -rrb- also has a library and gallery . the building , which was a former . salvation army residence for women , was developed by zeckendorf . development and eyal ofer global holdings . they .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- for most designers showing off their latest collections at new york 's fashion week , functionality is n't a main consideration . models have been known to strut the catwalk in toppling hats , teetering heels and floor-length gowns with enough ruffled trim to sweep an auditorium . but not everyone 's focused on runway looks 365 days a year . hot fashion week commodities prabal gurung and sophie theallet are also creating uniforms for working people . this april , sephora 's beauty advisers in north america will begin wearing uniforms designed by gurung exclusively for the cosmetics retailer . women can choose between a black shift dress with a red slit and a black fitted pant suit . men get sleek black separates that also incorporate slashes of red . female staff at the rose bar in new york 's gramercy park hotel are already donning theallet 's drape dresses in spill-proof silk as part of an overall refresh of the hotel 's interiors . complete coverage : new york fashion week . the looks are the latest in a long line of collaborations that goes back at least as far as the 1960s , when airlines eagerly sought out high-end designers to give their flight staff a touch of class to set them apart . halston and pucci designed uniforms for braniff airlines in the 1960s and 1970s ; air france tapped dior and nina ricci in the 1980s . the trend was popularized among bigger corporations in the 1970s with the help of stan herman , who was president of the council of fashion designers of america for 16 years and is a pioneer of the ready-to-wear category . as the designer behind uniforms for fedex , jetblue , united airlines , twa and mcdonald 's , his creations are believed to cover more bodies than those of any other single designer . `` the most important thing is likeability , '' herman said . `` if a corporation walks around in a uniform they do n't like , they become a grumpy corporation . '' a stylish outfit also helps build a brand and incorporate the staff into the design motif of their workplace . `` art , fashion and music are all important components which shape our culture here at the gramercy park hotel , '' said damion luaiye , the hotel 's creative director . `` in building these relationships , we strive to create a place where we can work together to add a new , interesting element for our guests , whether it be new dresses for our female staff , artwork for our lobby and rose bar . '' this marks the hotel 's second uniform collaboration with a high-end designer , after a successful relationship with narciso rodriguez . the designer also benefits from experiencing a new kind of challenge , said cindi leive , editor-in-chief of glamour . `` i think designers like the uniform challenge because it 's exactly that , it 's a challenge . to work within certain parameters , it 's almost like a reality competition : ` let me see how i can take these constraints and make them look fantastic . ' '' cnn 's ethel bass and alina cho contributed to this report .

<t> gramercy park in manhattan , new york , has been off limits ever since it was set up in 1831 locked behind iron gates . </t> <t> there are only 383 keys to the two-acre park which are in the hands of those living in the surrounding apartments . </t> <t> but computer programmer shawn christopher gained access to the site while staying in apartment through airbnb . </t> <t> he was unaware he was supposed to be accompanied by keyholder and that commercial photography was banned . </t> <t> used smartphone to take 360-degree panorama shots with google app photo sphere before putting them online . </t>

now anyone can take a tour of new york 's exclusive gramercy park<T>

deep within our city sewers , a new breed of genetically mutated ` super rats ' , immune to poison , are spreading at alarming speeds . scientists have now begun charting their rapid invasion into new communities by monitoring their progress in 17 counties in the uk . genetic testing by huddersfield university has revealed that the rodents have developed a mutation that allows them to survive conventional poisons . scroll down for video . a new breed of genetically mutated ` super rats ' , immune to poison , are spreading at alarming speeds . this giant vermin was reportedly found in gravesend , kent . in counties such as berkshire , suffolk , surrey , wiltshire , hampshire and kent , all the rats tested were found to have immunity to poison . places such as shropshire and south gloucestershire had slightly less resilient rats with immunity levels at 33 per cent , and 50 per cent respectively . around 30 per cent of rats in kingston are immune to poison , in sheffield it is 40 per cent , while 75 per cent of rats in southampton are immune . a . giant , 2ft -lrb- 0.6 metres -rrb- long rat caught in liverpool . a swarm of ` super rats ' spotted across the country is expected to outnumber humans two to one by .<doc-sep>next year . while the rats have been changing , humans have been using the same anticoagulant poisons since the 1950s . research earlier this year found that the swarm of ` super rats ' spotted across the country is expected to outnumber humans two-to-one by next year . for the very first time , the tonight programme , which airs at 7.30 pm bst on itv , will show footage and images of these tested ` super rats ' . ` i think people should be concerned about these resistant rats because of public health concerns - because they carry disease and various other bacteria and viruses , ' said researchers dr dougie clarke . ` they also damage buildings ... they cost billions of pounds of damage worldwide . ' ` with the use of rodenticides , that will kill off the normal rats , and then the resistant ones will remain . ` so it 's a sort of time bomb of resistance building up over generations of rats . ' ` the fact we 've tested 17 counties and every single one of them has got resistant rats was an amazing find to us . we did n't expect to have every single county having resistant rats . ' while the rats have been changing , humans have been using the same anticoagulant poisons since the 1950s . this photo shows a huge rat that was caught in cornwall earlier this year . it measured 50cm from tail to nose . dr clarke claims communities across the country are running out of defences as the government contemplates the future of rodenticide use .<doc-sep>the most potent rat poisons are currently for professional use only and can not be used outside without special license . the decision about the future regulation of rodent poison -- mainly because of secondary poisoning to birds of prey and other animals - is expected this autumn . dr clarke explained how the costs of pest control will escalate as a result of these poison-tolerant rats . ` unless there 's new legislation for the more toxic poisons and maybe for the more lax use of them , then it will have to be the more physical forms of killing the rats , ' he said . ` the costs are going to escalate because of the monitoring and the picking off of the rats , and the dead bodies . ' jack russell max , owned by royal tunbridge wells resident mark willmott , caught one of the large rats whose numbers are increasing around the country . and the problem is not just confined to britain . other huge rodents have been caught recently in homes in stockholm and dublin . scientists have now begun charting their rapid invasion into new communities by monitoring their progress in 17 counties in the uk . pictured are the counties in which all the rats tested were immune to poison . figures have revealed that , in some regions of the uk , the number of vermin has already surged by 50 per cent since april last year . and experts believe the rat population could soar from 80 million to 160 million by the end of the year . in april , a 2ft -lrb- 0.6 metres -rrb- long rat was captured in cornwall while other monster rats have been reported in kent and in liverpool . rats thrive in damp and soggy weather - of which the uk has seen plenty during the wettest year on record . vermin are also swapping rural areas for the big city .<doc-sep>they can carry illnesses which can be passed to humans , including weil 's disease , which has flu-like symptoms initially but can lead to jaundice and kidney failure . across the country , councils have reported a rise in the number of rats being reported . birmingham has the highest number of call-outs with 5,100 in the past year . and the problem is not just confined to britain . other huge rodents have been caught recently in homes in stockholm and dublin , where one rat was trapped by pest control after terrorising an irish family in south dublin . the dublin-based ` monster vermin ' had been terrorising grace and ian walters ' home in kingswood shortly after they moved into their new flat . giant rats , the size of cows or even bigger , could one day fill a ` significant chunk ' of earth 's emptying ecospace . the terrifying scenario could become a reality as super-adaptable rats take advantage of larger mammals becoming extinct , an expert predicts . ` animals will evolve , over time , into whatever designs will enable them to survive and to produce offspring , ' said geologist dr jan zalasiewicz , from the university of leicester . for instance , in the cretaceous period , when the dinosaurs lived , there were mammals , but these were very small , rat and mouse-sized , because dinosaurs occupied the larger ecological nichesonly once the dinosaurs were out of the way did these tiny mammals evolve into many different forms . ` given enough time , rats could probably grow to be at least as large as the capybara , the world 's largest rodent , that lives today , that can reach 80 kilos -lrb- 17lb -rrb- . ` if the ecospace was sufficiently empty , then they could get larger still . '<doc-sep>experts have warned the ` mutant ' rats are on the increase across parts of the country after building up a resistance to normal toxic pellets and powders . mr moseley . said : ` normal rats are being killed off by poison , so these resistant . species are taking their place - it 's only natural that their numbers . are expanding . ' in december last year mailonline reported how west berkshire council was asking the health and safety executive to change rules on how poison is used in a bid to tackle a plage of ` super rats ' that were resistant to conventional poisons . homes in berkshire , oxford and hampshire had reported increased numbers of the ` super-rodent ' which is resistant to normal poisons and can transmit life-threatening diseases to humans and farm animals . but wildlife experts feared that if stronger poisons were allowed to be used against the rat-threat it may harm innocent local wildlife . graham chappell , from rapid pest control in newbury , who is contracted by west berkshire council , said : ` it 's becoming more of an issue now simply because of the number of rats that are being seen . ` they 've also mutated genetically and are bred to be immune to standard poisons . ` we have to start using different methods such as trapping and gassing , which can be less effective and more costly . '<doc-sep>by . sara malm . published : . 21:03 est , 11 december 2012 . | . updated : . 17:55 est , 12 december 2012 . a plague of ` super rats ' in the home counties can be wiped out only with considerably stronger poisons , it was claimed yesterday . council experts say the number of mutant rats , which are resistant to conventional poisons , is rising drastically after flooding drove them into homes and created ideal breeding conditions . west berkshire council is asking the health and safety executive to change the rules on how poison is used . mutant rodent : the ` super rat ' is immune to normal rat poison which has led to a fear that it may be unstoppable in spreading life-threatening diseases to humans and farm animals . homes in berkshire , oxford and . hampshire have reported increased numbers of the ` super-rodent ' which is . resistant to normal poisons and can transmit life-threatening diseases . to humans and farm animals . however , . wildlife experts fear that if stronger poisons are allowed to be used . against the rat-threat it may harm innocent local wildlife . the ` super-rats ' population is due to increase further as the recent flooding across many parts of britain has created ideal breeding conditions . west berkshire council is lobbying the health and safety executive for permission to use powerful rodenticides , brodifacoum and flocoumafen , which are currently limited to indoor use . graham chappell , from rapid pest control in newbury , who is contracted by west berkshire council , said : ` it 's becoming more of an issue now simply because of the number of rats that are being seen . ` they 've also mutated genetically and are bred to be immune to standard poisons . ` we have to start using different methods such as trapping and gassing , which can be less effective and more costly . ' close relation : it is hard to distinguish the mutated strain from its cousin - the brown rat - due to their shared genetic makeup and identical appearance . a study by university of reading 's rodenticide resistance action group involving testing the tails of hundreds of rats killed in berkshire and oxfordshire , found that many of the rodents were resistant to common forms of poison used by local authorities and professional pest controllers , farmers and gamekeepers . other eu countries allow use of brodifacoum and flocoumafen . outside , but attempts to make them available in britain are likely to . lead to all-out war with nature lovers who fear owls , hawks and even . dogs and cats will eat the rodents and ingest the poison . head of the study dr alan buckle said : ` we 're not allowed to use them because the regulatory body is worried about their effects on wildlife . ` my view is that we need to use the stronger poisons but we need to tell people how to use them carefully . if we can do that we can solve the problem . ' the health and safety executive is currently consulting on a european union proposal to allow limited outdoor use of certain chemicals in pest control . the results will be published next year . dr buckle found the super rats look like their non-mutant cousins , which makes it even harder to identify them . he added : ` all rats tend to carry various diseases . the reason we need to get rid of them is because they transmit diseases from themselves to humans and farm animals . they can be life-threatening . ` these anticoagulant-resistant rats carry the same diseases as other rats carry but are very difficult to control . ' no harm no f-owl : wildlife experts are worried that if outdoor usage of brodifacoum and flocoumafen is approved it may harm local wildlife who feed off rats , such as owls . a map was drawn indicating where the rats were found , including areas of farmland around henley-on-thames , caversham and sonning . exact locations have not been disclosed . the survey found the rats to be living in both urban and rural areas . farm buildings were popular habitats because the rats could live off food for livestock . dr buckle said this caused the greatest concern because the rats carry illnesses such as weil 's disease , which can be passed on to humans . it has flu-like symptoms initially but can lead to jaundice in the kidneys . he said ` if weil 's disease is not treated it 's very serious . about 40 to 50 people in the uk catch it every year . ` however , very often people go to the doctor with flu and are given antibiotics and it clears up so there might actually be more cases than we know about ' dr buckle is also concerned that wildlife including red kites , barn owls , foxes and badgers could be affected even if ` ordinary ' poisons are put down - because people will use greater and greater quantities in a vain attempt to destroy the super rats , which ca n't be killed . ` they are called super-rats but they do n't look super - they look just like any other rats . ` that 's the problem because people do n't know they are resistant and carry on using poisons that ca n't control them . ` we 're concerned that more and more of these poisons are getting into wildlife . ` if the rats have eaten the poison and stay alive , when other animals eat them , they can get secondary poisoning . it can then get passed up the food chain . ` there 's no danger to humans in the movement of this poison but there 's enough concern about it getting into wildlife . '<doc-sep>a swarm of mutant rats that are immune to poison is ` closing in ' on a wiltshire town , pest exterminators have warned . the rodents , which have been seen elsewhere in the uk over the past year , are twice as large as normal species and can not be killed with traditional substances . it comes after the discovery of one rodent at a food establishment measuring 20-inches , the largest on record for the town of swindon . scroll down for video . this rat found in swindon is the largest on record for the wiltshire town . pest exterminators have warned an influx of super rats may be on its way , with the rodents immune to traditional poisons . ` it 's a growing problem , and at the moment there 's no sign it 'll go away , ' said justin holloway who found the rat in swindon , told mailonline . ` unless you can extinguish all of the genetic line the rise of super rats is on the horizon . ' at longer than 20-inches , it is the largest to have ever been found in swindon . though the rat was killed using traditional anti-coagulant poison , mr holloway warned others that are immune to the substance will become ' a greater problem . ` one particular strain of rats were not so susceptible to rodenticides or the anti-coagulants served and , as a percentage of the total rat population , they become greater over time . ` as far as resistance is concerned , it is a growing issue and over a period of time i expect this to be a greater problem than it currently is , but establishing a time-frame is harder . ` the implication is if you are a rat and you 're not being taken on , you might enjoy a longer life and grow to a larger size , because you are not being taken down . ` if there 's a good source of food and water it becomes a larger rat . ' another of huge rodent is the width of a shovel . the rat was discovered near a river in gravesend , kent , last april . video provided by environ pest control , found here .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 06:08 est , 7 november 2013 . | . updated : . 10:33 est , 7 november 2013 . fears have been raised that the houses of parliament have been infested with a breed ` mutant ' rats which are becoming immune to traditional poisons . up to # 6,000 a month is being spent on pest control at westminster , according to figures released in response to a freedom of information request . the amount being spent on tackling pests at the commons has risen 15 per cent in the last two years . concerns have been raised that the number of rats resistant to poison is on the rise at the houses of parliament .

<t> humans have been using the same rat poisons since the 1950s . </t> <t> but rats have developed a mutation that allows them to survive poisons . </t> <t> out of 17 uk counties tested , every single one of them had resistant rats . </t> <t> reports this year suggest that rats in the uk are also becoming bigger . </t> <t> ` super rats ' are expected to outnumber humans two to one by next year . </t> <t> footage of the rats will be shown on the tonight programme , on itv at 7.30 pm bst . </t>

giant rats that are immune to poison are spreading at ` rapid speeds '<T>

a family has been left devastated following the death of their newborn baby after she contracted a herpes virus from coming in contact with someone with a cold sore . eloise lampton , who was born healthily on november 1 via caesarean at mackay hospital in far north queensland , died last week in the arms of her parents sarah pugh , 28 , and douglas lampton , 35 . the 24-day-old baby had been unknowingly infected with the herpes simplex virus while she was still in hospital in the days following her birth . eloise lampton , who was born healthily on november 1 via caesarean at mackay hospital in far north queensland , died last week in the arms of her parents sarah pugh , 28 , and douglas lampton , 35 . ` doctors initially thought it was a feeding issue . when we came home she just wanted to sleep ... she was n't a crying baby , ' ms pugh told daily mail australia . but eloise lost almost a kilo in the week after her birth and her health started to deteriorate quickly . she was taken to brisbane 's mater hospital and was placed on a machine to keep her alive as doctors scrambled to find out what was wrong . ` it all happened so quickly , like within hours . she was in the hospital and we thought she was fine , then that night we were told she might not survive the night , ' ms pugh said .<doc-sep>` the machine fully took over her whole body . it went into her arteries to pump blood . it took over her organs to let her little body have a rest . eloise was taken to brisbane 's mater hospital and was placed on a machine to keep her alive as doctors scrambled to find out what was wrong . eloise lost almost a kilo in the week after her birth and her health started to deteriorate quickly . the 24-day-old baby had been unknowingly infected with the herpes simplex virus while she was still in hospital in the days following her birth . ` everyday we 'd go in there and it was devastating to see her like that . it was heartbreaking . ` she was fully sedated but we 'd touch her and she 'd try and hold our hand . we 'd have to put lip balm on her lips and she 'd move them . ' doctors informed eloise 's parents , who have three other children , that it was the herpes virus causing their daughter 's illness after two days on the machine .<doc-sep>' i was shocked . i was devastated to know she was born healthy and then this happened , ' ms pugh said . ` they thought it could have come from me , but i did n't test positive to the disease . it was passed on through a cold sore . you have to be in contact -- kissed or touched . we did n't have any visitors at hospital . it could have been from anyone . ' doctors informed eloise 's parents , who have three other children , that it was the herpes virus causing their daughter 's illness after two days on the machine . eloise caught a staph infection in her blood while she was hooked up to the machine and doctors informed her parents there was nothing more they could do . eloise 's parents held out hope their baby would recover , but when she caught a staph infection in her blood doctors said their was nothing more they could do . ` eloise had a very large legion on her brain , her organs had shut down and they could n't be sure how she would recover again , ' ms pugh said . ` she fought right until the end . five times in one week i was told she would n't have made it . every time she would pull through . she defied the odds . she put up a very good fight .<doc-sep>her parents said despite her illness , the newborn fought right until very end of her short life . eloise had a very large legion on her brain and her organs had shut down when the life support was turned off . ms pugh hopes eloise 's death will help others to be more aware of the herpes virus and how it can effect newborn babies . ` they took the tubes out of her and we got to nurse her until she passed away . it was lovely to nurse her in that time . ' ms pugh hopes eloise 's death will help others to be more aware of the herpes virus and how it can effect newborn babies . ` sometimes you do n't even know when you 've got a cold sore . you never know what 's going to happen , ' she said . ` it 's not just cold sores . any virus could do this to a baby . '<doc-sep>a california family has won a $ 2.5 million settlement from the federal government after their daughter was killed by a drunk congressional aide they claimed was on the job the night he took the wheel while intoxicated . mallory dies , 27 , was struck and killed in december 2013 by raymond morua , a 32-year-old former aide to santa barbara democratic rep. lois capps . dies ' parents sued for wrongful death and claimed capps ' office hired iraq war vet morua despite his two prior dui arrests , a hit-and-run and an embezzlement conviction . wrongful death : raymond morua was drunk following a party he purportedly attended while ` on the clock ' as a congressional aide when he struck and killed 27-year-old mallory dies in december 2013 before fleeing the scene . denial : rep. capps also denied that morua was working for her the night he got drunk at a part before killing dies . but the dies family attorney -lrb- dies ' father matt is pictured left -rrb- argued he was . the federal government quietly settled with the family for $ 2.5 million in november . the federal government quietly settled in november , thereby avoiding a trial without admitting liability for dies ' death , reports keyt . her parents , matt and raeona dies , initially named morua , capps , and the u.s. government in its filing . however , the federal government assumed liability for capps as its employee and removed her from the amended court filing .<doc-sep>16:02 est , 12 april 2013 . a heartless mother in australia has been charged with deliberately feeding her daughter anti-cancer drugs as part of an internet scam to raise money . the little girl , aged four , is fighting a lung infection in hospital on the gold coast of queensland after being systematically poisoned for months with chemotherapy drugs . now the girl 's 22-year-old mother is in custody charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm over a 10-month period with medication she purchased over the internet . the little girl is fighting a lung infection in hospital after being systematically poisoned for months with chemotherapy drugs . police revealed the mother had posted a fund-raising page on facebook , telling people her daughter was ` extremely ill ' and claiming her daughter had a rare illness .<doc-sep>by . james rush . published : . 07:39 est , 19 april 2013 . | . updated : . 18:59 est , 19 april 2013 . tragic : newborn jessica strong was one of two newborn babies who died at the university hospital of north staffordshire after contracting a rare killer bug . two premature babies died because staff on an nhs hospital ward did not wash their hands properly , an inquest heard . jessica strong was just 11 days old when she died after contracting a bug spread from another child also being treated at the hospital . a ` breakdown in hand hygiene ' meant six babies became infected , with jessica and one other killed as a result . jessica 's mother annette this week told an inquest of her heartbreak at losing her daughter because of the ` disgraceful ' staff at the university hospital of north staffordshire . the new , # 400million ` super hospital ' has now admitted negligence contributed to the deaths of the two babies . the inquest heard how an outbreak of the bacteria serratia marcescens swept through the hospital 's neonatal ward in june last year , after it was introduced to the ward by a baby transferred from a hospital in wales . the first infant who had the bug and three others developed no symptoms but jessica and another baby , who has not yet been named , died after becoming infected . north staffordshire coroner 's court heard how jessica was transferred to the hospital in stoke-on-trent after she was born three months prematurely at george eliot hospital in her parents ' home town of nuneaton . she was making good progress but her condition suddenly declined and doctors found traces of the bug just 12 hours before she died . she was immediately given a stronger antibiotic but it was too late to tackle the infection . much-loved : jessica 's parents annette and craig strong hold their daughter before she died after an outbreak of the serratia marcescens infection . outbreak : the inquest heard how an outbreak of serratia marcescens swept through the neonatal ward in june last year affecting six premature children . despite two blood transfusions , it swept through to her spleen , lungs and brain . annette strong , 43 , told the hearing : ` she had been doing so well staff were trying to transfer her home . ` then i got a call that she had deteriorated and they had resuscitated . her . i rushed back to the hospital and the day before she died i had her . baptised . ` i was at her cot-side and she had her eyes wide open and seemed to recognise my voice . ` but by then it was clear she would not make it so i gave her a last cuddle . she was my beautiful little dot . ' staff at the hospital claimed the infection could have been spread . either by staff or parents . but mrs strong believes staff at the . hospital are to blame . ` there is no way one parent could 've contracted it and passed it on to six other babies , ' she said . ` i believe that the infection has been spread by a member of staff . it 's disgraceful and upsetting . ' infection : doctors said the serratia marcescens infection had been brought in by a baby which was transferred a month earlier to one of the unit 's 23 cots from a hospital in wales . the mother-of-two later revealed the family have instructed solicitors to take legal action against the trust . mrs strong and her husband craig are expecting another baby girl in june this year . speaking about her pregnancy she said : ` it 's absolutely fantastic but . jessica will never ever in our hearts be replaced , ' she added . the university hospital of north staffordshire nhs trust has admitted clinical negligence over jessica 's death . since the deaths it has started a new cleaning regime and has employed three nurses to ensure better standards of hygiene . staff from the hospital 's neonatal unit told coroner ian smith they were devastated they may have contributed to the deaths . neonatologist dr kate palmer said : ` this has very much hurt the staff . but it has been a wake-up call and brought a sea change in attitude and . culture to infection which now permeates everything we do . ' lead infection control nurse emyr phillips added : ` while previous audits . on the unit going back years showed excellent results , there was a . clear breakdown in hand hygiene practice which could have been caused by . staff or parents . ' recording a narrative verdict , mr smith said jessica 's death was caused . by ` extreme prematurity and infection spread by hand contact ' . an inquest has yet to be held into the death of the other baby on the ward , who died at 22 days old .<doc-sep>-lrb- people.com -rrb- -- in light of some media coverage of their daughter alexa ray joel 's recent hospital stay , her parents , billy joel and christie brinkley , have issued the following statement . in its entirety , it reads : . every parent can imagine the pain and anguish we face as parents of a daughter who is working to recover from the dangerous actions she took while suffering a devastating heartbreak . as much as we hate dignifying tabloid stories with a response , we feel we must set the record straight to protect our family . the story that ran in the new york post on december 8 , and has been subsequently spread across the internet , is filled with vicious lies and attempts to smear our character and that of our beloved daughter . we ask the public and legitimate media outlets to please `` consider the source '' and to not further exacerbate our daughter 's situation by repeating and legitimizing these false reports .

<t> eloise lampton was born healthily on november 1 via caesarean at mackay hospital in far north queensland . </t> <t> the 24-day-old baby died last week after she was infected with the herpes simplex virus . </t> <t> she was rushed to a brisbane hospital a week after her birth when her health started deteriorating following weight loss . </t> <t> eloise was placed onto a machine that helped pump blood through her arteries and kept her organs functioning . </t>

queensland parents ' anguish after newborn daughter dies following infection<T>

struggling high streets received a boost after the government announced a long-awaited review into punishing business rates . the rise in online shopping has been credited with the demise of the high street , with more than 100 shops closing down every week across the uk . business rates , which are charged on bricks and mortar shops , have placed the high street at a further disadvantage to its online rivals . around 100 shops close in the uk every week as business moves online , with industry leaders saying unfair rates have been an ` anchor ' on growth in their sector -lrb- file . now , the chancellor has announced a review into the rates , which are based on the rental value of a building and which cost small business tens of thousands of pounds a year . business groups said the way the tax was calculated was ` outmoded , clunky and regressive ' , and that it was an ` anchor ' on growth and investment on the high street . george osborne said he would also continue to cap the increase in business rates at 2 per cent , which is below rpi inflation . and for businesses whose rateable value -- the annual rental value of the property -- is below # 50,000 , an existing # 1,500 discount on business rates will be extended for another year . firms will pay no national insurance for apprentices under the age of 25 , chancellor george osborne announced yesterday . this means businesses will not pay the ` jobs tax ' if they take on young workers and offer them employment and training . ministers hope the move will help tackle youth unemployment , with a target of getting three million young people into apprenticeships by the end of the next parliament . nearly two million have taken up such posts since 2010 -- a six-fold increase .<doc-sep>the incentive for hiring apprentices will come into force in 2016 , and is expected to cost # 105million in the first year . it will apply to all earnings up to the 40p tax rate of around # 42,000 . this maximum is to discourage firms from calling highly-paid workers ` apprentices ' as a way of avoiding tax . employers pay ni at a rate of 13.8 per cent on staff earnings . in last year 's autumn statement , mr osborne announced businesses would no longer have to pay national insurance for any workers under the age of 21 -- rules which will come into force from april next year . in a boost for small businesses looking for loans , the chancellor also extended the funding for lending scheme until 2016 . banks will receive up to # 500million at cheap rates in return for lending to small firms . the moves were praised by shops , pubs , cafes and restaurants , although many expressed disappointment that the findings for the review would not be presented until 2016 . simon tivey , of pricewaterhousecoopers , said : ` the extension of the tax relief will be welcome but i think waiting another year for any major changes to business rates will be disappointing for many . ` the business rates system has been unchanged since 1988 and , in its current form , there are lots of elements which are starting to grate . it is well overdue for an upgrade . ' while shops pay high business rates for premises in central areas and high footfall , companies such as amazon -- which has a huge warehouse in south wales , where land is cheaper -- pay much lower rates . there are also anomalies in the system which leave some large retailers and department stores paying less than smaller businesses for their high street stores . last year , the mail reported that a fashion boutique in rochdale had been forced out of its shop by sky-high business rates that saw it charged more per square metre than harrods .<doc-sep>critics also claim that because the current rateable values are based on 2008 rental prices -- at the peak of the property market -- they are no longer applicable to some areas of the uk which are still recovering from the economic crisis . stuart adam , of the institute for fiscal studies , said : ` the fact that bricks and mortar businesses are based in high-value , high-tax areas , while online retailers do not need such a physical presence , does penalise the high street . ` the business rates system is badly designed and there is lots of room for improvement . ' john longworth , of the british chambers of commerce , added : ` businesses will be encouraged by the government 's continued efforts to curb business rate increases . shops in busier areas with high footfall generally pay higher rates , but anomalies mean that one fashion boutique in rochdale was paying more per square foot than harrods -lrb- file image -rrb- . ` firms will also be pleased to hear the chancellor announce a review into the future structure of britain 's business rates system . ` this iniquitous tax is the highest in europe and a drag anchor on investment and growth . ' a study of 500 town centres across britain showed 3,000 outlets closed in the first six months of this year , while 2,600 opened . according to the valuation office agency , business rates raised # 20.5 billion last year . the money is used to help pay for local services , such as police and firefighters . emily davies . julie deane , who founded the cambridge satchel company , welcomed george osborne 's decision to review the structure of business rates and his invitation for business groups to contribute to discussions .<doc-sep>the 47-year-old sells brightly coloured leather satchels -- popular with stars such as singer sophie ellis-bextor and model alexa chung -- from four british stores and says that a big selling point for her brand is that they are manufactured in the uk . but she added that selling from the uk meant she faced pressure from competitors abroad and online who did not have to pay the same business rates and thus were able to keep costs down . julie deane , founder of cambridge satchel company , says high business rates penalise uk manufacturers . mrs deane said : ` george osborne said there would be a review of business rates overall and i think that 's a good idea . ` i 'm really hoping to see more investment in uk manufacturing and not penalising people with business rates . ` what it means when our overheads are so very , very out of kilter with other countries is that it stagnates our potential for growth . ' the business has a factory in leicestershire and each day makes more than 1,000 satchels to be sold in more than 100 countries . the former stay-at-home mother said the freeze in business rates at 2 per cent will help her firm , which has a turnover of # 13million and employs 120 staff , but she would appreciate more measures to help medium-sized businesses as well as smaller ones . ` it 's great that there 's so much support for small businesses , ' she said . ` but there 's also problems associated with being in the middle ground , as we are . ` scale-up businesses could contribute one million new jobs to the economy by 2034 , so i just hope that we can get the support we need too . '<doc-sep>by . becky barrow . and sarah harris . small firms were yesterday given a # 2.5 billion tax break on business rates in a desperate bid to stop empty shops blighting ailing high streets . the chancellor put the tax at the centre of his autumn statement as part of a six-pronged attempt to ease the financial burden on smaller enterprises . george osborne said business rates ` impose a heavy burden on businesses of all sizes ' , but he was determined to fill the vacant shops . small firms were yesterday given a # 2.5 billion tax break on business rates in a desperate bid to stop empty shops blighting ailing high streets . more than 22,000 of the nation 's shops are lying empty , a wasteland equivalent to 23 city centres the size of sheffield . under the changes : . a discount of up to # 1,000 a year for small retail businesses , such as pubs , cafes , restaurants , hairdressers , and charity shops , on their business rates bills . not all shops will be eligible , with exclusions such as high-street betting shops and payday lenders . the discount will be available for the next two years . firms will be allowed to spread their business rate payments over 12 months , rather than ten months , to spread the financial burden to help their cashflow . simon tivey , of pricewaterhouse coopers , said the chancellor must beware that the changes do not just trigger ` a merry-go-round of rate relief relocations ' .<doc-sep>by . becky barrow . and daniel martin . promise : the prime minister has vowed to find a long-term reform for the notoriously complex charging system . britain 's most hated business tax , which costs firms around # 24billion a year , will be fundamentally reformed , the prime minister claimed yesterday . david cameron said he totally understands the anger and resentment created by business rates , the corporate equivalent of council tax . speaking at the federation of small businesses conference in london yesterday , he said : ` i think we do need to look at longer term reform .<doc-sep>a shop could , in theory , move from one empty premises to another to benefit from the discount . he also said it could lead to ` a proliferation of charity shops ' because of the huge discounts of 80 per cent that they already get , with the prospect of a further # 1,000 on top . more than 22,000 of the nation 's shops are lying empty , a wasteland equivalent to 23 city centres the size of sheffield . john longworth , of the british chambers of commerce , said relentless increases in business rates have ` sucked the life out of businesses in all parts of the uk . ' he said : ` the chancellor should have been bolder , freezing business rates entirely until this pernicious tax can be properly reformed . ' liz peace , of the british property federation , said : ` the business rates regime remains one of the greatest barriers to investment in the built environment , and is fundamentally unfit for the 21st century . ' funding will now come from the companies themselves , rather than from training providers . steve radley , director of policy at the eef manufacturers ' organisation , said : ` businesses have long been calling for a revolution in how apprenticeships are funded , and today their calls have been heard . ' olivia knight at her business premises in brockley south east london - where she runs patchwork present . business owner olivia knight could save hundreds of pounds a year in the long term when employers ' national insurance contributions for workers under 21 are scrapped . she also believes new incentives for businesses to take over empty shops could help revitalise britain 's ailing high streets . the 35-year-old has two full-time members of staff and is hoping to expand her present-buying company by taking on more .<doc-sep>they say they could no longer afford the # 20,882 a year cost and were shocked to find that their bill was based on a valuation of # 375 per square metre . it meant they were charged double the # 189 per square metre that harrods pays , although the huge knightsbridge department store 's total bill is obviously far higher . ` it is just wrong , ' said mr turner-mitchell , 38 , whose boutique sells mostly to women aged 18 to 35 and has michelle keegan , who plays tina mcintyre in coronation street , among its customers . they had survived on rochdale 's main shopping street for six years before they received the bill . ` any form of taxation has to be fair and equitable . harrods should not be paying a business rate charge which is half of what they are in rochdale . ` it just can not be right . the business rates system is not fit for purpose . ' he and his 35-year-old wife are moving 25 ten to littleborough , three miles away , where their business rates will be substantially lower . the couple were not the only victims in rochdale of the much-hated rates system -- a nearby fish and chip shop has its rates based on a charge of # 945 per sq m , five times higher than harrods . mr turner-mitchell says hard-hit high street traders across the country are subsidising big london retailers . small firms say business rates -- the commercial equivalent of the council tax -- are forcing them out of business . for most , the rates bill is their third biggest expense , after rent and staff costs , and is regularly cited as the biggest hurdle they face . many are furious that , while ministers boast about cutting corporation tax , business rates are going up every year . dr adam marshall , director of policy at the british chambers of commerce , said : ` we have long known that the business rates system is flawed .

<t> business leader have branded rates an ` anchor ' to growth on high street . </t> <t> around 100 uk shops close every week as customers move online . </t> <t> tax anomalies saw rochdale boutique pay more per sqft than harrods . </t>

help for the high street with business rates tax to be reformed<T>

a booker prize winning author has scooped his latest literary honour when he received the 2014 bad sex in fiction prize . ben okri , beat the challenge of wilbur smith and bbc newsnight 's kirsty wark due to a single passage in his novel , the age of magic . the judges were impressed by the encounter between his character lao and his girlfriend mistletoe . booker prize winning author ben okri , pictured , last night won a slightly less prestigious literary award when he beat off the challenge of the bbc 's kirsty wark and wilbur smith to win the 2014 bad sex in fiction prize . the passage read : ` when his hand brushed her nipple it tripped a switch and she came alight . '<doc-sep>later in the scene , okri describes the characters as being ` adrift on warm currents , no longer of this world , ' before ending the unfortunate passage with ` somewhere in the night a stray rocket went off ' . in 1991 okri won a more welcome literary prize when he was awarded the booker prize for his novel the famished road . commenting on his latest award , okri said : ' a writer writes what they write and that 's all there is to it . ' his editor maggie mckernan said : ` winning the award is fun but a bit undignified , just like sex , assuming you do it properly . '<doc-sep>the prize , organised by the literary review magazine , was handed over to laura palmer , the editorial director of his publishers head of zeus , at a ceremony in central london . it was established in 1993 by critic auberon waugh to ` draw attention to poorly written , perfunctory or redundant passages of sexual description in modern fiction , and to discourage them ' . previous winners include norman mailer , giles coren and melvyn bragg . ben okri 's book , the age of magic , left , was awarded the 2014 bad sex in fiction award ahead of kirsty wark 's the legacy of elizabeth pringle , right , which was among the short-listed entries .<doc-sep>newsnight presenter kirsty wark is up against the winner of the man booker prize for a dubious honour in the literary world -- the bad sex in fiction award . the shortlist for the prize , created by literary review , features ten works , including wark 's novel the legacy of elizabeth pringle and the booker-winning the narrow road to the deep north by australian richard flanagan .<doc-sep>having bad sex is one thing , but writing badly about it has to be even worse for a novelist . some of the world 's greatest writers have produced cringeworthy stuff over the years when describing the act of lovemaking in their prose , and australian writer richard flanagan is the latest culprit . his literary mix of body circumnavigation , knicker elastic , a howling dog and a dying fairy penguin in his latest novel has now put him in line for an award that pays tribute to ` poorly written , perfunctory or redundant passages of sexual description ' . australian writer richard flanagan has been nominated for the bad sex in fiction award . mr flanagan 's masterpiece of love and death during the construction of the burma railway , the narrow road to the deep north , may have won the 2014 booker prize , but it has also been short-listed for something not so well-regarded : london 's literary review bad sex in fiction award .<doc-sep>by . emily davies . published : . 17:31 est , 15 october 2013 . | . updated : . 02:37 est , 16 october 2013 . winner : eleanor catton , 28 , has been awarded the 2013 man booker prize for fiction for her second novel the luminaries . fiction 's highest accolade , the man booker prize , has been awarded to its youngest ever winner . new zealander eleanor catton , aged just 28 , was awarded the # 50,000 prize for her second novel the luminaries at a ceremony in london 's guildhall last night . the plot is set in 1866 in new zealand 's gold rush and follows the tale of walter moody who stumbles into a secret meeting where 12 men discuss unsolved crimes . chairman of judges robert macfarlane commended the young author and said : ` it 's awesome . the maturity of this work exists at the level of the sentence . ` you read every sentence and you are astonished by its knowledge and its poise . ' judges acknowledged the book has a ` very slow start ' but praised miss catton 's discipline for its structure , with each section being half the length of the last . mr macfarlane said : ` it 's a dazzling work , it 's a luminous work . it is vast without being sprawling . ` it is beautifully intricate without being fussy . it is experimental you come to realise . but it does not by any means neglect the traditional virtues of storytelling . ' he added : ` its story is quite exceptionally compelling . each section is half the length of its predecessor . ` the consequence of this is a very slow start and an astonishing accelerating , quickening tilt to the narrative . ' the luminaries follows miss catton 's 2008 debut the rehearsal , and is the longest work ever to win the booker prize at 832 pages . ` it 's awesome ' : the award winning novel is set in 1866 in new zealand 's gold rush . it follows the tale of walter moody who stumbles into a secret meeting where 12 men discuss unsolved crimes . royalty : the new zealander was awarded the prize by the duchess of cornwall , left . right , miss catton poses with her partner after being crowned winner . mr mcfarlane added : ` we are thrilled . it is astonishing , it is the longest novel ever to win the man booker prize and the youngest author ever to win it . though these facts were not playing on our decision . ` it is an investment , it operates like the best kind of gold mine . you pan and the yields are huge . ` once you are on the downslope the pace . is irresistible . one can approach this as a murder mystery with seances , . corpses , law suits and puzzles . the pleasures it yields in simple ways . are immense as well . it pulls you along through . ' he joked : ` those of us who did n't read it on e-readers enjoyed a full body workout . ' it takes the title of longest winning book from hilary mantel 's wolf hall in 2009 , which was 672 pages . speech : camilla presented the man booker prize , which was open to any novel originally written in english and published in the uk , regardless of nationality . mrs mantel last year became the first woman ever to win the man booker prize twice , with her historical fiction bringing up the bodies . other titles on this year 's shortlist . included we need new names , the debut work of noviolet bulawayo ; . harvest , by british author jim crace ; a tale for the time . being , by canadian author ruth ozeki ; the lowland , by london-born . jhumpa lahiri and the testament of mary , by ireland 's colman toibin . earlier this year , it was announced . that the man booker prize would be opened up to any novel originally . written in english and published in the uk , regardless of the author 's . nationality . celebrity support : actor john hurt , pictured left with wife anwen rees-myers and , right , with actress imogen stubbs , was among the numerous celebrities to attend the event last night . famous faces : tv host anne robinson , pictured left with daughter emma wilson , also made an appearance . the award , . which is in its 45th year , has previously been largely restricted to the . commonwealth , but the changes mean us writers will be added for the . first time from 2014 . the planned changes have been met with criticism from previous winner julian barnes , who said : ` i was surprised because i had never heard anyone in the publishing world talk in favour of such a move . ` i do n't know quite where it came from - maybe from the top . maybe it 's just an example of capitalist expansionism . once you 've got one market sown up , you want to go after another . ` i think it 's generally a bad idea . i think that prizes thrive on having some restriction to them . '<doc-sep>`` the trials are extraordinarily vivid in their detail : i recall a man sentenced to death by hanging , shouting from the dock , ' i have in me three hearts and my father knows it . ' that line gives me chills . '' the previous youngest winner of the booker was ben okri , who was 32 when he won for `` the famished road '' in 1991 . fergus barrowman , new zealand publisher of `` the luminaries '' at victoria university press , said he realized on reading the manuscript he was dealing with a `` masterpiece -- a brilliant and brave and totally successful work of art . `` i knew it had the potential to go this far , but you never count the chickens in this game , '' he said . `` i think it will be a book that 's read for decades to come . '' he anticipated the win would help shine a spotlight on other new zealand writers . `` it 's certainly reminded people that the best new talent can come from anywhere in the world and often if it comes from a distant part of the world it 's fresher and more exciting . '' hilary mantel becomes first woman to win booker prize twice .

<t> ben okri won the 1991 booker prize for his novel the famished road . </t> <t> he received his latest award for a passage describing a sexual encounter . </t> <t> one couple is described by okri as ` adrift on warm currents ' </t> <t> later a character felt that ` somewhere in the night a stray rocket went off ' </t> <t> okri claimed ' a writer writes what they write and that 's all there is to it ' </t> <t> his editor said : ` it 's undignified , just like sex , assuming you do it properly ' </t>

booker prize winner ben okri takes bad sex in fiction award<T>

a crufts trophy winner who was permanently banned from keeping dogs after inspectors found more than 90 animals living in ` despicable conditions ' has moved to scotland where she will be able to own pets again . wendy hutcheson , 62 , who clinched second place in the yearling bitch category at crufts in 2007 with an american cocker spaniel , kept animals in squalor at audenshaw dogs and cats home near manchester . she was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering and failing to meet the needs of her animals and was also handed a lifetime ban on keeping animals in england and wales following a court case in october 2010 . scroll down for video . wendy hutcheson , 62 , was banned from keeping animals after she kept more than 90 pets in squalid conditions - but she has now moved to scotland where she is able to keep pets due to a legal loophole . but ms hutcheson could now dodge the ban because of a legal loophole which means the prohibition order was not extended to scotland . the woman - who now uses the name boyle - has already been reported to the scottish society for prevention of cruelty to animals -lrb- sspca -rrb- by concerned dog lovers who claims she is seen with the dog on a daily basis . a spokesman for the sspca confirmed it had investigated the claims but is satisfied that the dog is owned by ms hutcheson 's relative . but a spokesman for the rspca , which successfully applied for the ban , said ms hutcheson would not be flouting the ban by keeping an animal because it does not apply in scotland . they said : ` provision was made during the formation of the animal welfare act under section 46 that banning orders would cover scotland , as well as england and wales . ` however , this section was never implemented at the time the act was passed , and so that means the ban does not apply to scotland . ' this is one of the neglected dogs found at the pets ' home in manchester which was owned by the former crufts trophy winner .<doc-sep>when inspectors arrived at ms hutcheson 's property , the rspca seized 63 dogs , 25 cats , two rabbits and two birds . more than a third of the dogs needed to be sedated to be ` de-matted ' . in one case the matting accounted for more than a quarter of the dog 's original weight . each dog took two veterinary nurses an average of three hours to de-mat . many had breathing problems caused by the ` overpowering ' stench . one dog 's eye was so badly infected it had to be removed -- another lost 26 teeth . most of the cats had ear mites and fleas , and two had feline aids , the rspca said . animals were emaciated and their coats were caked with urine and faeces from being kept in cramped cages and pens which had not been cleaned for ` weeks if not months ' . rspca inspector vicki mcdonald said after the case : ` i 've never seen as many animals living in such horrendous conditions in all my time working for the rspca . ' i hope the sentence will ensure no further animals suffer because of ms hutcheson . ' hutcheson now lives in a quiet part of inverness a few hundred yards from her elderly and frail stepmother , marion calder . eye witnesses have seen her with a poodle in her car , going in and out of her house and her relative 's property . there is also a dogbed in the back of her blue ford ka and various dog and cat ornaments on her doorstep . she refused to comment on the lifetime ban or even confirm there was one in place .<doc-sep>inspectors found animals emaciated , while their coats were caked with urine and faeces from being kept in cramped cages which the court heard had not been cleaned for ` weeks if not months ' at first , she also denied she had a dog , but then said : ` that is my stepmother 's dog . ' but one eye-witness and dog lover jodie foster said : ' i am visiting my mother on a daily basis and see this woman almost every day , going from her house to her stepmum 's house with the dog . ` she stays a little while and then leaves with the dog . ` she ca n't be going to the vet every day . there is no doubt in my mind she is keeping the dog . ` this has been happening for around six months now . ` what is the point of a lifetime ban if she is still allowed to be near animals . ' scottish spca chief inspector iain allan said : ` we have received complaints relating to a woman residing in inverness who is allegedly breaching a ban on owning animals which was imposed in england . ` after investigating it is our understanding that the dog does not belong to her . ` the woman advised she has been transporting the dog to and from the vets for her mother as she is unable to , and we have confirmed this with the vet . ` we are satisfied the dog is being well looked after and have no concerns at this stage . we will continue to monitor the situation . '<doc-sep>by . rob cooper . published : . 11:05 est , 16 july 2013 . | . updated : . 11:26 est , 16 july 2013 . when it comes to dinner time , meals in wendy jordan 's house are a very chaotic affair with sixteen hungry mouths to feed . every evening , the mother-of-two has a small army of dogs queuing up in her kitchen waiting for their food . the kind-hearted 67-year-old shares her small three-bedroom property with 16 pets she saved from animal rescue centres . all of the animals faced being put down until the former college manager stepped in to save them . dog lover : wnedy jordan , 67 , with her sixteen pets which were all rescued from ` death row ' at animal welfare centres . full time job : wendy , who is retired , spends her days walking , grooming and feeding her pets . wendy 's home is now so crowded she ca n't even find a seat in her own front room to watch tv as they have all been taken over by her pack of pampered pets . ` my problem is that i just ca n't say no . i 'm friendly with the local dog warden and every time i hear about a homeless hound i have to take it in , ' she said . ` my house is a flurry of dog beds , balls , leads and poo bags . ` but they are very loving , they are my life . i particularly love older dogs . i hate it when people abandon them . ' feeding her 16 best friends costs so much that wendy had to sell her last house and move somewhere cheaper . full house : wendy had to sell her last property and downgrade because she was spending so much on her pets . pets : wendy can ¿ t even find a seat in her own front room to watch tv - they have all been taken over by her pack of pampered animals . and when she goes on holiday every year wendy takes the dogs with her . wendy said : ` the dogs get really excited as they can sense when we are going on holiday . ` we all go to a farm in west wales - it 's so lovely seeing them run happily down on the beach . ' wendy , of splott , cardiff , has now registered as a an official charity called kim 's home , named after the first dog she rescued . she said : ' i love having my home full of dogs - they are such loving , beautiful creatures . ' overrun : the dogs get some sleep wherever they can lay down in the three-bedroom home in cardiff . day out : some of wendy jordan 's pet dogs run along the beach .<doc-sep>by . tom gardner and becky evans . published : . 06:44 est , 15 november 2012 . | . updated : . 07:21 est , 15 november 2012 . a puppy-owner who mistreated her pet so badly it went bald and then pretended it was a stray to avoid paying vets ' fees has been banned from keeping animals for ten years . wendy bowley , 44 , wrapped six-month-old pooch rory in a blood-stained sheet and told vets she had just rescued him . the border terrier , named rory , was so ill with mange - a skin condition caused by a parasitic mite - he lost virtually all his fur and was bleeding from numerous open sores . cruel : wendy bowley , of redhill , hereford , subjected her puppy to appalling abuse , then tried to pretend he was a stray so she would not have to pay the vet 's bill , the court heard . a court heard the puppy , who was . struggling to open his eyes and was barely able to stand , had been . suffering from the painful condition for at least three months - half . his young life . yesterday , bowley from redhill , hereford , was banned from keeping pets for a decade . she was also sentenced to six-month community order and ordered to pay costs of # 175 . bowley had pleaded guilty to causing . unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to seek treatment and . mistreating a dog at hereford magistrates court in july . shocking pictures released of the puppy show the terrible state he was in before bowley finally sought veterinary treatment . abuse : six-month old rory was covered in mange and suffered bleeding open sores before finally being taken to the vets . but rather than pay , bowley pretended . she was a good samaritan in order to avoid the # 600 bill , the court . heard at an earlier hearing . prosecuting , nick sutton said bowley . took rory to a surgery on march 15 despite owning the practice money . dating back nine years . she was advised to seek help from an animal charity that offers to pay for treatment when owners are struggling but did not . bowley then took the sick pooch to . laurels veterinary surgery in hereford 11 days later , where she again . claimed he was a stray she had found in the garden . chris reed , defending , said bowley was ` in an incredibly difficult position ' because she simply could not afford the bill . he said : ` it 's not the case that mrs bowley ignored the situation . ` clearly the dog was suffering , but . wendy bowley was n't simply being cruel . she tried her best to deal with a . situation to the best of her ability . ' the court also heard that bowley had since signed the dog over to the rspca and he has now been re-homed . speaking after the case , rspca . inspector pippa boyd said : ` there is no excuse to allow a dog to be in . that condition for such an extended period . ' i am pleased to say the dog is now back to a happy and health condition and has been re-homed . ' banned : bowley was banned from keeping pets for ten years yesterday at hereford magistrates court , pictured , after pleading guilty to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal .<doc-sep>by . leon watson . published : . 12:04 est , 8 november 2012 . | . updated : . 12:46 est , 8 november 2012 . a couple have been banned from keeping pets after rspca officers discovered they were living with almost 100 cats and dogs . rspca inspectors were stunned at the squalor the couple lived in at their cumbria farmhouse - amongst dozens of dogs , cats , cattle , sheep and pigs . carlisle magistrates ' court heard that robert park , 54 , and his 57-year-old wife linda faulder-park , were living with 70 dogs as an ` indoor feral pack ' when the house was raided . squalor : a couple have been banned from keeping pets after rspca officers discovered they were living with almost 100 cats and dogs . dozens of sheep , cattle , and pigs owned by the couple were in such poor condition they had to be destroyed . but it was conditions inside the couple 's home that most shocked vets and the team of rspca inspectors who were called in to investigate . they found that the farmhouse had been transformed into a foul-smelling kennel for dozens of dogs , with the walls , floors and furniture covered in dog excrement .<doc-sep>by . alex ward . published : . 10:04 est , 18 october 2012 . | . updated : . 11:40 est , 18 october 2012 . a dog owner who used herbal remedies on her injured pets rather than taking them to the vet has been banned from keeping animals after they lost almost all their hair . susan lambert , 54 , failed to take her two german shepherds , called tee and k , to the vet after they were accidentally sprayed with sulphuric acid by a farmer treating his crops . instead , she used homeopathic remedies at home in colwall , herefordshire but within three months both pets had lost their fur . ignored rspca advice : susan lambert did not take her two german shepherds -lrb- pictured is tee -rrb- to the vet after they were accidentally sprayed with sulphuric acid . three months later they lost most of their hair . the animals were seized in may this year and hereford magistrates court heard how lambert had been initially advised by rspca officers to take her dogs to the vet after the accident . lambert was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to animals and banned from keeping animals for three years on monday . she was also fined # 600 and ordered to pay # 400 court costs . before herbal remedies : tee was happy and healthy before lambert used homeopathic remedies on the dogs rather than taking them to the vet . after tee and k were finally examined by vets , they were found to be riddled with parasitic mites that had burrowed into the dogs ' skin and caused them to suffer from severe mange , a parasitic skin infestation . when rspca officers were called later on , they were shocked when they discovered five-year-old male k had shed half his fur while eight-year-old female tee was completely bald from the neck down . tragically k was put down after vets also discovered he had an inoperable tumour . banned : lambert was banned from keeping animals for three years at hereford magistrates court -lrb- pictured -rrb- after she was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to animals . tee has made a remarkable full recovery and is being put up for adoption by an animal charity . the ruling comes as a man who beat his jack russell dog to death in a brutal attack was jailed for 150 days and banned from keeping pets for life . christopher keogh , 31 , kicked , punched and slammed one-year-old bambi against a brick wall before dumping the bloodied body in a bin . animal rights protesters colchester animal defenders demonstrated outside colchester magistrates ' court , jeering keogh as he entered on tuesday .

<t> wendy hutcheson was the runner-up in yearling bitch category in 2007 . </t> <t> she kept animals in a ` despicable condition ' at pets ' home in manchester . </t> <t> 62-year-old found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to her animals . </t> <t> but the ban does not apply in scotland , where ms hutcheson now lives . </t> <t> she has been spotted with a poodle , who she claims is her step-mother 's . </t> <t> sspca has investigated claims and says ms hutcheson is taking dog to the vets on relative 's behalf . </t>

wendy hutcheson banned for from keeping dogs moves to scotland so she can have pets again<T>

footage shows the moment a police officer pins down and repeatedly punches a disabled man as he resists arrest in a brisbane shopping centre on the weekend . the amateur video shows two police officers hold down the 20-year-old man -- who has no legs - and his 18-year-old female companion as they apprehend them . the incident took place on saturday at sunnybank plaza in the queensland capital during the city 's major police operation over the g20 summit weekend . a queensland police spokeswoman told daily mail australia that police responded to a report of a theft at a liquor store at the shopping centre . scroll down for video . police pin down and repeatedly punch a disabled man , 20 , as he resists arrest in a brisbane shopping centre . the incident took place on saturday at sunnybank plaza during the city 's major police operation for g20 . ` as a result they chased a man and a woman for a short time in the shopping centre before apprehending them , ' she said . the spokeswoman said police were still chasing details about the rest of the incident and will be providing a statement later on tuesday . the 20-year-old man , from albion north of the cbd , has been charged with two counts of serious assault on a police officer , one count of common assault , one count of stealing and one count of enter premises , nine news reported . the 18-year-old woman , also from albion , was charged with one count of enter premises , one count of stealing , one count of serious assault on a police officer and one count of hindering police . police say they responded to reports a liquor store had been robbed and a chase ensued . both will appear in court on december 4 . the five-minute video shows the disabled man swearing and resisting arrest . at one point the police officer holding him down appears to punch him in the ribs , while onlookers can be heard screaming . ` oh my god , what the hell ? ' one woman said . ` you guys are f *** wits , ' another onlooker said . the 18-year-old woman is also seen resisting arrest , knocking into chairs and tables and crying . the 18-year-old woman is also seen resisting arrest , knocking into chairs and tables and crying . ` i 'm his carer , i care for him he 's disabled , ' she told officers . later when she is pinned down she tells police : ` you are hurting me ' . at one point more backup arrives and there are six officers arresting the two people . sunnybank plaza , south of the cbd , was not included in the g20 ` secure zone ' . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>a professional boxer has left his neighbour disabled for life after attacking her because her cat defecated outside his front door . aleksandr hokhlov , 26 , punched oksana muronets to the ground and then stomped on her head after he spotted her walking home from work in the russian capital moscow . cctv footage shows hokhlov approaching ms muronets , 34 , from behind before knocking her to the ground with a single punch to the face . scroll down for video . a professional boxer has left his neighbour disabled for life after attacking her because her cat defecated outside his front door . aleksandr hokhlov , 26 , left , and right , seen punching oksana muronets in the face while she lay motionless . while the 34-year-old lies motionless on the ground , hokhlov then punches her several more times in the face before repeatedly stomping on her head . kondrat mishin , 28 , saw the attack unfold , but was too fearful to intervene : ' i was walking towards this man who was leaning over a body . ` as i got closer i saw him drag the body round by its legs and as i passed them he told me to f**k off . ' i realised that although i should have done something he would have probably attacked me too .<doc-sep>scroll down for video . stop clowning around ! a police officer exchanges words with a clown on a milwaukee street corner . brawling : the clown and the police officer throw blows in broad daylight at the intersection . at first , one officer is seen calmly talking to the man in fancy dress before the clown swings a punch and the pair end up rolling around on the ground . another officer soon arrives and the two manage to pin the clown down . mr cooper told abc7 : ` it was funny to witness , probably not so fun for the clown , but as a spectator it was pretty entertaining . ' according to authorities the clown is known for making protests outside official buildings . he was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest . not so funny now ... the police officer restrains the clown at the stoplight after he had been spraying cars with a squirt gun . circus act : the man dressed as a clown is a well-known activist in the area who often protests outside government buildings .<doc-sep>by . sara malm . published : . 05:04 est , 2 january 2014 . | . updated : . 12:43 est , 2 january 2014 . a german man had to be tied up on board an airplane after he tried to smoke during the flight and got violent when staff tried to stop him . mathias jorg , 54 , lit up several times on a 7 1/2 hour flight from singapore to brisbane and had to be detained by staff after he allegedly became aggressive . a photograph taken on the plane by a fellow passenger , show mr jorg with his legs and arms tied up , surrounded by cabin crew . held down : mathias jorg , a german national , is restrained for smoking on an international flight to brisbane , australia from singapore on january 2 . when the emirates air flight landed in brisbane just after 1am on thursday morning , mr jorg was taken into police custody . he appeared before brisbane magistrates court later the same day , charged with one count of smoking on an aircraft , one count of assaulting crew and one count of assaulting crew affecting the performance of their duty . mr jorg had to use a german interpreter during his court visit , and claimed that he had been injured during the restraining . he has been allowed bail after promising to surrender his passport to the australian federal police and make no applications for another , and that he would not leave australia or go within 100 metres of any place of international departure . on bail : mr jorg appeared before brisbane magistrates court on thursday , wearing plasters on his wrists and with a bruised forehead , where he had to relinquish his german passport . although he initially protested through his interpreter , explaining that he did n't ` trust ' the conditions of the court , he eventually agreed to give up his passport , courier mail reports . he will appear before brisbane magistrates court again on january 10 . although there is no internationally agreed convention covering restraining passengers on airplanes , what cabin crews are allowed to do to control unruly passengers is governed by the laws of the country where the airplane is registered . the decision to restrain a passenger is in the hands of the captain , who also must notify authorities at the destination and give the reason for the restraint .<doc-sep>a man with one arm has been told he can not have a disabled parking permit - unless he loses another limb . roy sowerby , 58 , was refused a blue badge for his vehicle by middlesbrough council ` because he has two legs ' . the father-of-five has been registered as disabled since losing an arm after it was crushed in an industrial accident 11 years ago . scroll down for video . ` not disabled enough ' : roy sowerby , 58 , was told by middlesbrough council that he would need to lose another limb to qualify for a blue badge parking permit . he has used a blue badge permit for his car for the last three years but when he recently went to renew it , he was told he no longer qualified . mr sowerby , from middlesbrough , finds pushing a shopping trolley extremely challenging and claims he needs to park closer to the supermarket to make it easier . he said : ` i 'd like the council to tell me how i am not disabled . they said if i lost another arm or a leg then i would qualify for one . ` so do i have to cut off my legs or my arm or my head to qualify for one ? ` they said i ca n't have one because i can carry a bag but i ca n't carry anything bulky or heavy or big . ' the blue badge scheme allows drivers to park in spaces closer to their destination and is recognised in most european countries .

<t> amateur video shows police pin down 20-year-old disabled man . </t> <t> he was resisting arrest at a brisbane shopping centre on saturday . </t> <t> his 18-year-old female companion yells ' i care for him he 's disabled ' </t> <t> the incident took place during the heightened g20 police operation . </t> <t> police were responding to reports of a liquor store robbery . </t> <t> the man and woman , from albion , will appear in court on december 4 . </t>

brisbane police pin down and punch disabled man with no legs<T>

george osborne energised the housing market yesterday by dramatically overhauling the hated stamp duty system . george osborne energised the housing market yesterday by dramatically overhauling the hated stamp duty system . delighting his party and wrongfooting labour , he made buying a home thousands of pounds cheaper for 98 per cent of families . analysts predicted the chancellor 's move -- which takes effect today -- will push property prices up almost a third by 2020 . his announcement in the autumn statement put the aspirations of homeowners at the centre of next year 's general election campaign . and it echoed his conference speech in 2007 when he bamboozled gordon brown 's labour government by saying he would raise the inheritance tax threshold to # 1million . the chancellor also offered relief for professionals paying the 40p higher rate of income tax , went after banks and tax-dodging multinationals and promised # 2billion a year more for the nhs . he laid out plans for further spending cuts that economists say will shrink the state to its smallest size in 80 years . by 2019/20 , public spending will be 35.2 per cent of national income , down from 40.5 per cent now .<doc-sep>mr osborne hailed the fastest economic growth in the advanced world -- telling mps that 1,000 jobs are created every day . the uk is expanding two-and-a-half times faster than germany and seven times the rate of socialist-ruled france . but he was forced to admit that the budget deficit is coming down too slowly and tax receipts are lower than expected , meaning more years of austerity lie ahead . the office for budget responsibility says the stamp duty reforms will lift property values and transactions except at the top end of the market , where the tax will be higher . the independent agency has raised its forecasts for house prices -- predicting they will soar 31.4 per cent between now and the start of 2020 . with the general election only five months away , mr osborne 's mini-budget was packed with crowd-pleasing measures and traps for labour , including : . it was the dramatic and unexpected reform of stamp duty , however , which electrified westminster . as well as appealing to crucial swing voters in middle england , it was designed to scupper labour 's plans to levy a mansion tax on properties worth more than # 2million . the chancellor said stamp duty had become a ` badly-designed tax on aspiration ' -- and he prompted turmoil in the housing market by announcing that his changes would take effect at midnight .<doc-sep>it means stamp duty will no longer jump dramatically at certain thresholds but will rise gradually through five bands . analysts predicted the chancellor 's move -- which takes effect today -- will push property prices up almost a third by 2020 . mr osborne said : ` it 's a fair , workable , lasting reform to the taxation of housing . today we back aspiration -- the aspiration to save , to work and to own your own home . ` it is in stark contrast to those who would hit people 's pensions and jobs and homes with higher taxes . that is an approach we entirely reject . ` instead we support people who want to work hard and get on -- and it is for their sakes that we resolve to stay on course to prosperity . ' shadow chancellor ed balls said labour would deal with the country 's challenges more fairly than mr osborne had . ` people are worse off and the fact is he has failed to balance the books in this parliament , ' he said . liberal democrat business secretary vince cable broke coalition ranks , questioning the chancellor 's plans to cut the deficit in the next parliament with ` brutal ' spending cuts rather than tax rises .<doc-sep>the figures come just days after the treasury unveiled reforms to stamp duty in a bid to reduce the tax burden on people buying homes . chancellor george osborne replaced the much-hated ` slab structure ' with a gradual system , which he claimed would benefit 98 per cent of house-movers . only those buying a home for more than # 937,500 will find themselves paying more under the new rules , he said . responding to the oecd figures last night , paula higgins , of the homeowners alliance , said : ` these are quite shocking statistics . ` taxation of people 's property is a tax on the aspirations of hard-working families and removes the incentive to buy a home . ' the figures come just days after chancellor george osborne -lrb- pictured -rrb- unveiled stamp duty reforms designed to reduce the tax burden on homebuyers . jonathan isaby , chief executive of the taxpayers ' alliance , said : ` from business rates to council tax , the treasury uses punitively high taxes on bricks and mortar to fill the holes in the coffers .<doc-sep>superfluous : the new reforms to stamp duty ` has made miliband 's mansion tax redundant ' labour 's flagship mansion tax policy has been rendered effectively redundant by george osborne 's recent stamp duty reforms , a report claims . ed miliband would impose an annual tax of thousands of pounds on people living in homes worth more than # 2million to raise an estimated # 1.2 billion a year . but the chancellor 's reforms have already increased the tax burden on high value homes by # 1.1 billion a year and mean the top 1.6 per cent of households -- with homes worth more than # 1million -- now pay 45 per cent of all stamp duty , the centre for policy studies says . the think-tank claims any further taxation on high-value property owners would be ` difficult to justify on grounds of fairness ' . its study says ` any justification for a mansion tax has been significantly eroded ' by recent stamp duty increases on high-value properties . while the reforms mean the majority of buyers save money , those purchasing homes costing more than # 937,500 will pay a higher tax bill . the maximum stamp duty charge , levied on homes costing more than # 1.5 million , is now 12 per cent compared to 7 per cent previously . separate changes have closed a loophole which allowed people to avoid paying stamp duty on an expensive home by purchasing it through a company , rather than as an individual . the report said these two changes meant the top 1.6 per cent of households pay almost half of all stamp duty collected by the taxman . it said labour 's mansion tax proposal was crude , would take no account of an individual 's ability to pay , would be expensive to administer and would raise insignificant revenues . labour 's # 1.2 billion a year estimate is equivalent to less than one-quarter of 1 per cent of current tax revenues . the think-tank warned that the tax would seriously undermine the attraction of investing in the uk to rich overseas buyers , risking a ` wider economic impact ' . it also claimed the tax would suppress property values at the top end of the market , diminishing tax receipts for inheritance tax and stamp duty . at least # 1 in every # 6 raised by a mansion tax would be lost this way , it said . tim knox , of the centre for policy studies , said a mansion tax was ` unfair , complex , uncertain and inefficient ' . george osborne 's reforms to stamp duty have already increased the tax burden on high value homes by # 1.1 billion a year and mean the top 1.6 per cent of households now pay 45 per cent of all stamp duty . he said : ` ultimately , the proposed mansion tax is little more than an appeal to envy ' , adding that it would drive ` cash poor , asset rich , households to sell their houses ' . property lawyer tom moran , at charles russell speechlys , said it would hit the middle classes . he said : ` a mansion tax , by itself , is unlikely to faze wealthy international buyers and ultra-high net worths buying in london and across the uk . ` it is actually a levy on the capital 's middle classes , particularly baby boomers who bought big cheap houses until the 1990s . many of these cash poor but asset rich older people will sell up and downsize . ' shadow chancellor ed balls has said people in homes worth # 2million to # 3million would pay # 3,000 a year in mansion tax , with the charge for properties worth more than that being revealed after the election . economists claim that it could average # 24,000 a year . some labour mps have publicly criticised the plans and party grandee lord mandelson has said it would end up ` clobbering ' people . but last night labour said a mansion tax would help pay for 20,000 more nurses , 8,000 more gps , 5,000 more home care workers and 3,000 more midwives . those who could not afford the tax upfront could have it rolled up and paid from their estate after their death .<doc-sep>hundreds of thousands of older people are living in family-sized homes which are far too big for their needs and are often too expensive for them to heat . but many are deterred from moving into smaller accommodation because of the prohibitive costs of stamp duty , which can add up to thousands of pounds . it means that large homes are being under-used which would be perfect for younger families waiting to get on the housing ladder . spacious : the move could help free up larger properties for large families . file picture . manageable : many older people are deterred from moving into smaller accommodation because of the prohibitive costs of stamp duty file picture . the chartered institute of housing is calling for stamp duty to be removed altogether when older homeowners in receipt of pension credit downsize to smaller properties . they say this would allow the country to ` make optimum use ' of available housing stock . the idea is contained in a submission to chancellor george osborne in advance of the budget next month .<doc-sep>basic rate taxpayers pay 18 per cent , while higher rate payers pay 28 per cent . mr clegg said foreign millionaires should prepare to pay more since they are fuelling a housing boom which is pricing british customers out of the market in large parts of the capital . he said : ` we certainly need to make sure that people who invest very large amounts of money into property in central london locations , which more often than not then stand empty , pay their fair share of tax in those transactions . ` that 's why we are looking at things like a differential application of capital gains tax to those transactions . ' blaming foreign investors for the house price boom , the deputy prime minister added : ` there are parts of the london property market which are entirely divorced , dislocated , from the rest of the economy , certainly the rest of london 's economy , and still more from the rest of the nation 's economy . that 's partly because they are driven by market forces which are global . ' mr clegg said ` decisions have not yet been made ' about changing the rules on capital gains tax . but senior coalition sources say the plans are highly likely to be unveiled in the autumn statement next month . another option would be for mr osborne to increase the rate of stamp duty charged on the sale of expensive properties . last year , he increased to 7 per cent the stamp duty charged on the purchase of homes worth more than # 2m and closed down loopholes that allowed buyers to avoid stamp duty by putting their homes into corporate ` envelopes ' . mr osborne was willing to do a deal on a mansion tax , but david cameron has repeatedly blocked it to avoid upsetting rich tory donors .

<t> analysts predict move will push property prices up almost a third by 2020 . </t> <t> osborne also plans cuts to shrink the state to its smallest size in 80 years . </t> <t> but he was forced to admit that the deficit is coming down too slowly . </t> <t> a # 600 hike in the personal tax allowance to # 10,600 from next april -- with higher rate taxpayers benefiting most ; . </t> <t> an end to air passenger duty on children 's flights , saving a family with three children flying to the us more than # 200 ; . </t> <t> a ` google tax ' targeting multinationals that shift profits outside the uk and a # 4billion tax hike on banks ; . </t> <t> a further squeeze on public sector pensions , saving # 1.3 billion a year ; . </t> <t> an increase in the isa threshold to # 15,240 and a right for spouses to inherit the accounts tax-free ; . </t> <t> an end to unemployment benefits for migrants with ` no prospect of work ' after six weeks . </t>

george osborne 's stamp duty reforms electrify housing market<T>

for years , all butch the boston terrier knew was a life of roaming the streets , rifling through trash cans in the hope of finding a meal . but for one week , he got to experience unwavering love thanks to alicia buzbee and her daughter kansas , who found him in pinson , alabama and threw him a party before he was put to sleep . as a puppy , the terrier had an owner and a home but , after a couple of years , the owner cast the dog out and he was left to live in the streets , al.com reported . he lived off scraps and found shelter from the frost , but a week before thanksgiving , buzbee and her daughter discovered him lying in a front yard , struggling to breathe . scroll down for video . loved : alicia buzbee and her daughter kansas found butch , a homeless and dying boston terrier , the week before thanksgiving and lavished him with attention for a few days until he had to be put down . celebration : they threw butch a ` farewell ' party where he met santa paws and opened gifts . joy : the pup , who had been abandoned by his owner years ago , dons a cute hat for his party .<doc-sep>they took him to a veterinarian at the birmingham boston terrier rescue and learned that he had almost no lung capacity , his trachea was leaking and his heart was swollen . the vet suggested he be scheduled for a ` humane euthanasia ' and the women planned a final hurrah for the dog . for a few blissful days over thanksgiving , he feasted on burgers and pumpkin pie , enjoyed playing with new toys and relished in the attention from his temporary owners . then they threw him an early christmas ` going away ' party , where he sat on santa 's lap and donned a party hat as he opened more gifts . care : the dog , who had a swollen heart , experienced more love in his last few days than he did in his life . treats : butch , pictured with kansas and friends left , took trips to petsmart for new toys and treats . at home : butch , pictured grinning with kansas , showed marked improvement during his few days of joy . the buzbees noticed that butch perked up after all the attention and was no longer struggling to breathe , so the trip to the vet was put off .<doc-sep>but a few days later , his condition worsened again . ` before he goes , i want him to look into my eyes , and i want to look into his eyes , and i want to whisper , `` i love you '' , ' she told al.com . ' i want him to hear those words and to see those faces of the people who love him . ' last saturday , she carried out her wish and put butch down with her family by their sides . she said that she was overjoyed that she could bring a few days of joy to the abandoned pup and that she saw him become hopeful in that final week . ` the heart can do so many things when it gets what it needs , ' she said . dog days : butch took a turn for the worse at the end of last week and was put down on saturday .<doc-sep>by . emily allen . last updated at 3:46 pm on 28th november 2011 . jonathan bloomfield , 37 , was filmed by a neighbour viciously punching and swearing at his 18-month-old staffordshire bull terrier , butch . a dog owner filmed punching his pet in the head has been banned from keeping animals - but now claims he should be compensated for an invasion of his privacy after the footage was posted on facebook . jonathan bloomfield , 37 , was filmed by a neighbour viciously punching and swearing at his 18-month-old staffordshire bull terrier , butch , earlier this year . the footage was posted online and went viral and his violence enraged people so much that an angry mob turned up on his doorstep and forced him to flee with his family from his home in grimsby to london . bloomfield was banned at grimsby magistrates ' court from keeping dogs for 15 years after admitting two counts of animal cruelty , but now claims he ` should be compensated for the invasion of privacy ' . the 37-year-old said he felt sorry for what he did but added : ` if my neighbour had concerns , he should have got in touch with the rspca , not made videos of my family and put them on facebook and youtube . ' i will be seeking the advice of a solicitor and should be compensated for the invasion of privacy which has left my family homeless and denied my young son a better future . ' the court heard how bloomfield claimed that he punched the dog because it had bitten his three-year-old son 's hand when taking a packet of crisps from him . he also claimed he was stressed from work and was ` sick of the dog barking ' . bloomfield said : ' i heard my son crying and he was holding his hand , saying the dog bit him . i was angry so i went out and bashed him . ` it is not in my nature to be cruel to animals and i know it was not the best way to go about things but i was upset . ' bloomfield claims to be an animal lover and insisted that his neighbours did n't like his family because they were from london . scroll down for video . the video , shot from a neighbour 's window , shows butch being kicked , . punched in the face and repeatedly hit in grimsby , north-east lincolnshire . during the court case , magistrates .<doc-sep>were warned the footage - filmed between september 9 and october 18 - . contained ` disturbing ' images . it shows butch at the back door whimpering to . be let inside the house and then being beaten twice with a . pole by bloomfield . in a . separate shot , butch is then seen standing outside the door whining when it is flung open and he flinches in fear . bloomfield grabs butch by his neck before punching him in the head and kicking him while a small boy stands . behind him , seemingly egging him on . right , a woman in a bra and trousers with a towel on her head opens the door and appears to whip the dog with a cloth . as butch cowers in terror , a pole is brandished at him from the doorway of the property . the staffordshire bull terrier was taken to grimsby blue cross animal hospital to be checked over and the rspca took hundreds of calls . next , a woman in a bra and trousers with a towel on her head opens the door and . allegedly whips the dog with a cloth before slamming the door . one shot shows the dog eventually being allowed into the house , but . not before it cowers in terror . finally , the most disturbing piece of footage shows bloomfield seemingly grabbing butch by his neck before punching the dog twice in the head and kicking him . a small boy appears . behind bloomfield , apparently egging him on . bloomfield can be heard shouting . ` shut the f**k up ' .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 07:25 est , 23 september 2013 . | . updated : . 08:24 est , 23 september 2013 . it 's that time of year again when the leaves begin to fall and the nights are drawing in . but one dog called butch likes to make the most of the autumnal weather . his owner kent petersen , from utah , had just finished raking the leaves in his back garden when the siberian husky decided he wanted to have some fun . watch butch playing in the leaves . footage shows the loveable dog gleefully burying himself in the leaf pile before dancing , jumping and prancing around . one youtube user wrote : ` two weeks to gather them into a pile . ten minutes to obliterate . ' according to mr petersen , butch is only too happy to help him rake up the leaves in his back yard . the original video was posted 10 months ago but this week mr petersen uploaded another video of his beloved dog yet again helping him in the garden . cute : butch playing hide and seek in the leaves in his owner 's garden butch .<doc-sep>having a ball : the party featured a ` grand christmas pug dog show ' , where owners showed off their pooches , as well as a funfair . a little overwhelmed ? zlenkha sowden-taylor 's dog otis looked a little shocked at the event . all too much ? one pooch looked sleepy at the christmas pugfest at actionpetz in cardiff - an indoor walking centre for mutts . the event was set up by pug-lover rob clowes in memory of his nine-year-old dog poppy - and it raised more than # 1,000 for jemima 's place animal trust , which provides emergency care for injured , homeless and unwanted animals . speaking about the christmas event , robert said : ` it was a great event and i think everyone had a lot of fun . ` we decided to organise our first pugfest back in the summer in honour of my little girl pug poppy who had recently sadly passed away . ` it was such a great success we decided to hold this christmas event . '

<t> alicia buzbee and her daughter found butch struggling to breathe in a yard in pinson , alabama the week before thanksgiving . </t> <t> they learned he 'd been roaming the streets and living off scraps for years . </t> <t> he has a swollen heart and no lung capacity and vets recommended he be put down - but the buzbees decided to give him some final days of joy . </t> <t> he feasted on burgers and met santa at a party thrown in his honor . </t> <t> his condition temporarily improved but he took a turn for the worse again and was put down on saturday . </t>

family throws christmas party for homeless dog butch before he is put to sleep<T>

a mother was killed on the pavement in front of her husband and two-year-old son after a pensioner ploughed into her in his mercedes because he mistook the accelerator pedal for the brake . geoffrey lederman , 83 , killed desreen brooks and almost crashed into the whole family as he ploughed into a wall and mounted a pavement in west hampstead in north london at 50mph . the pensioner had been driving home from a bridge game when he realised he had lost control of the powerful 3.8 litre v8 engine mercedes and deliberately steered it into a garden wall in a bid to stop it , blackfriars crown court heard . but lederman had failed to spot there were pedestrians on the pavement . he clipped the toddler 's pushchair before he crashed into mrs brooks , 33 , who was killed . desreen brooks , 33 , was walking home with husband ben brooks-dutton -lrb- left -rrb- in west hampstead when she was hit by a mercedes driven by geoffrey lederman , 83 , who had lost control of the car and appeared to have confused the brake and accelerator pedals as he steered it into a garden wall at 50mph in a bid to stop it . the powerful classic car also hit a young woman who suffered brain damage and lost an eye . lederman has been accused of causing death by dangerous driving and grievous bodily harm , which he denies . the court heard mrs brooks had been walking home with her husband , ben brooks-dutton , the boss of mischief pr , and their son jackson from a friend 's house at the time of the accident in november 2012 . witnesses described seeing lederman 's car ` screaming ' along the lane , amid a cloud of smoke before it hurtled along the footpath in west end lane at speed . lederman ploughed into mrs brooks , 33 , and also struck 23-year-old american student amy werner , who was left with permanent brain damage . lederman , who had impaired eyesight and had previously suffered a stroke , floored the powerful car and did n't brake once before hitting the women , the court heard . tom kark qc , prosecuting , said : ` over a period of just under 20 seconds it seems he accidentally put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake . ` the car was very powerful and when he realised his car was out of control , not understanding why , mr lederman deliberately steered it onto the pavement and into the front garden wall of a house . ' widower ben brooks-dutton arrived at blackfriars crown court for the trial of geoffrey lederman . jurors were shown cctv footage of the blue mercedes travelling at high speed before crossing onto the wrong side of the road , onto the path and into the women , at around 8.30 pm . mr kark added : ` the first was desreen brooks who was walking down the road with her husband and two-year-old who was in a pushchair .<doc-sep>` the car scraped the pushchair but struck mrs brooks killing her . ` the car continued on its journey and struck a young american student named amy werner and she was severely injured . ` she suffered brain injuries and lost sight in one eye . ' lederman had spent the day at a bridge conference in barnet , north london , before setting off for his west london home . he suffered minor injuries in the crash and had to be cut from the wreckage of his automatic mercedes 380sl . tests showed he had not been drinking and had a clean driver 's licence . investigators also found no mechanical faults with the car which he had bought second-hand in 1982 . mr kark said : ` there is no evidence to suggest that vehicle defects caused or contributed to the accident and neither victim caused or contributed to the collision in any way . ' moments before the crash he had stopped to check his car after ` nudging ' a pizza delivery man before carrying on his way , the court heard . mr kark said : ` he said he lost control soon after that , within seconds he seemed to be on the wrong side of the road going at almost racing car speed . ` he was tugging on the handbrake with no effect . ' in the minutes before the crash lederman 's mercedes was seen revving loudly for up to ten seconds as it sat stationary outside west hampstead underground station . lederman deliberately steered his mercedes into a garden wall , but failed to see pedestrians on the pavement . the pensioner crashed into the wall at 50mph and may have confused accelerator and brake , the court heard . investigators found he had mistakenly kept his foot on the car 's accelerator when he thought it was the brake before careering off , the court heard . london underground staff told police that they had heard a ` loud crunching sound ' seconds before . unlike modern automatic cars , the classic mercedes did not require the brake to be pressed before engaging drive .<doc-sep>mr kark said : ` it may be that when geoffery lederman engaged the drive gear when he believed he was pressing the brake or had n't realised the car had slipped into neutral . ' richard savours , a bridge partner of geoffrey lederman , told the court he found mr brooks-dutton standing over his wife , desreen , who was lying on the pavement , as she shouted for help . mr savours had taken part in a six hour bridge tournament with lederman in barnet when he overtook them on the pavement in his classic mercedes . he told the court : ' i heard a scraping noise . the car overtook us on the right hand side and was on the pavement scraping along walls of gardens , which is what the noise was . ` coming up to junction with dynham road , the car went over the junction , crashed into a wall and came to a stop . ` my wife stopped the car as the car went past us . ' i got out of the car and immediately saw a man standing directly opposite where i was standing shouting ` please help us , wo n't somebody help me ? ' ' i first thought he was hurt and then i saw a woman lying on the pavement and he was standing over her . she was lying completely still . my first thought was she might be dead . paramedics in a passing ambulance then got out to help and mr savours said it was impossible to get lederman out of the car by the door as the handle had been sheered off by scraping along the wall . lederman claimed he felt ` fine ' throughout the day and had undergone an eye test in april 2012 , adding that he did n't think he had to wear glasses as a condition of his licence but wore a contact lens in his left eye . he said he ` saw a gap ' where he could crash the car and had not seen any pedestrians , believing he had ` done the right thing ' . he told police he had n't suffered any ` medical episode ' that day and there is no evidence of a medical cause , the court heard . mr kark said lawyers acting for lederman were expected to claim he had suffered ` some sort of seizure ' before the accident . lederman , of maida vale , who has been excused from attending the trial on health grounds , denies causing death by dangerous driving and grievous bodily harm . the trial continues . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>geoffrey lederman , pictured at blackfriars crown court mowed down a woman after mistaking the brake of his classic mercedes for the accelerator . a retired stockbroker who mowed down a woman after mistaking the brake of his classic mercedes for the accelerator at 50mph has been jailed for 18 months . geoffrey lederman , 83 , had careered onto the pavement and ploughed into desreen brooks and only narrowly missed her son , as her horrified husband looked on . the 33-year-old mother , from south london , was killed and a young woman suffered brain damage and lost an eye in the crash , a court heard . witnesses described seeing lederman 's 1982 mercedes 380sl ` screaming ' along west end lane in upmarket west hampstead , north london , amid a cloud of smoke before hurtling along the footpath at speed , the court heard . ms brooks had been walking with her husband , ben brooks-dutton , a director for pr agency freuds , who managed to push their son jackson 's pram clear , but was unable to save his wife , who died of her injuries . the family of the ms brooks have since been praised for their ` courage ' . blackfriars crown court heard following the crash lederman 's doctor had bizarrely recommended he get back on the road as soon as possible . the doctor suggested this would help lederman , who has had a suicide attempt , recover his ` state of mind . ' the collision , which happened on 10 november 2012 , also left amy werner , a 23-year-old student at the university of westminster originally from vermont , seriously injured . ms werner fell into a three-week coma and now suffers from chronic cerebral damage , as well as the permanent loss of sight in one of her eyes . lederman , who was driving at up to 54mph , kept his foot on the accelerator of the 3.8 litre v8 mercedes for '19 to twenty seconds ' before running into a brick wall . he suffered a fractured sternum and had to be cut out of the car , blackfriars crown court heard . lederman , who had impaired eyesight and have previously suffered a stroke , had failed to spot pedestrians on the pavement as he tried to stop his runaway car by smashing into a garden wall . christopher donellan qc , in mitigation , said his client was genuinely remorseful for what had happened . ` for each individual , it is so devastating . we fully understand the hurt and pain experienced by mr brooks-dutton . ` what we have is a very elderly man and an episode has taken place during his drive that he was unable to sort out . desreen brooks had been walking with her husband , ben brooks-dutton , -lrb- both pictured -rrb- when lederman careered onto the pavement . lederman was driving a classic 1982 mercedes 380sl when he crashed into ms brooks -lrb- stock image -rrb- . ` he does n't know -lrb- that he should not have been driving -rrb- . we do n't have a system in this country which properly assesses people . he was on a three-year licence renewal and his doctor did n't ever suggest he should n't drive . '<doc-sep>by . ted thornhill . a chinese woman 's attempt to visit her parents to show off her new car failed miserably after she mixed up the accelerator and brake pedal while parking -- and demolished not just her car but part of her parents ' house as well . ye chia , 29 , who had passed her test last december , had not bothered to drive again until buying a brand new car this summer and packing in her husband and two daughters , aged seven and three , for a trip back home to see her parents . the trip to the house in gaoli village in the city of wenzhou in east china 's zhejiang province had gone well , until the proud daughter drove into the front garden where instead of using the brake , in her excitement at being home again she pressed the accelerator . wrecked : a chinese woman drove her brand new car into her parents ' house . mistake : it 's thought that the woman accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake . as a result the car drove at high speed into the house .<doc-sep>by . sarah dean . an elderly woman , 77 , has died after her husband accidentally reversed his car into a shed she was standing by , outside their home in mount annan , nsw . police say the 85-year-old man had returned home and was reversing into the driveway , when he appears to have accelerated into a shed and hit his wife . the woman , who had come outside to greet him , sustained serious head injuries in the accident around 9am on thursday . tragedy : an 85-year-old man was taken to hospital for mandatory tests after he accidentally reversed his car into the shed his wife was standing by . a 77-year-old woman sustained serious head injuries in the accident that occurred at around 9am on thursday . ` he basically went to put his foot on the brake when he got into the carport and accidentally pushed the accelerator , ' police inspector paul fryer told aap . ` the car took off and his wife had just walked out to greet him . ' the car smashed through a shed and hit the elderly woman . the woman was assisted by nsw ambulance paramedics but died outside her home on odea road , near the intersection of waterworth drive , 60 kilometres south-west of the sydney cbd .<doc-sep>it is unknown if the woman driving the car failed to see him or simply became flustered when she was beeped from behind , but she suddenly steps on the accelerator and runs the man over for real . hearing his screams she stops the car , which is still pinning the man to the ground , and gets out . pinned down : the driver now has the man trapped underneath her car and screaming for help . how the scenario ends and the fates of the driver and the would-be con artist are unknown . the video follows news of a brand new car that destroyed a house after being driven into it by accident . the house belonged to the parents of the female driver , who just wanted to show the car off to them . ye chia , 29 , arrived at the property in gaoli village in the city of wenzhou in east china 's zhejiang province , with her husband and two daughters , and attempted to park her shiny new white car at the front . but she accidentally stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake and demolished not just her car , but part of her parents ' house as well .

<t> geoffrey lederman crashed his powerful mercedes into two women . </t> <t> he killed desreen brooks , 33 , and left another woman with brain damage . </t> <t> lederman , 83 , lost control of mercedes as he drove through hampstead . </t> <t> he deliberately steered into garden wall and pavement to stop car . </t> <t> but he failed to see pedestrians and ploughed into mother mrs brooks . </t> <t> blackfriars crown court heard he ` floored ' car before crash and did n't once hit the brake , and may have confused the two pedals in mercedes . </t> <t> lederman denies causing death by dangerous driving after 2012 crash . </t>

west hampstead man killed woman after confusing the brake and accelerator on his car<T>

whisper any mention of medinah . forget any notion of brookline . only a miracle or a meltdown on the scale of those occasions in 2012 and 1999 can stop europe now . captain paul mcginley 's team repelled everything the visitors threw at them during a magnificent us fightback in the morning to win the afternoon foursomes 3 1/2 - 1/2 and move to the brink of victory . a four-point lead -- the same as the us held at medinah and europe had at brookline -- heading into sunday 's singles is a scenario mcginley could only have dreamed about on thursday . europe had won only two of the previous 11 series in foursomes and fourballs . sergo garcia -lrb- left -rrb- and rory mcilroy -lrb- right -rrb- embrace in celebration as they secure a point for europe in the afternoon foursomes at the ryder cup . reunited europe pairing mcilroy -lrb- left -rrb- and garcia -lrb- right -rrb- defeated us duo jim furyk and hunter mahan with two holes to spare . garcia -lrb- left -rrb- and mcilroy -lrb- right -rrb- celebrate during their ryder cup foursomes victory over furyk and mahan . tight-knit duo garcia -lrb- left -rrb- and mcilroy support each other as europe stars make their way down the fairway of the second at gleneagles . europe 's lee westwood plays his approach shot towards the eighth green during their foursomes win on saturday afternoon . here they won two more -- they never lost a single foursomes match in two sessions -- and , with the greater strength in depth and so many proven competitors , it would be a shock of monumental proportions for them not to finish the job off now . so many fabulous performances , but justin rose has undoubtedly been the european man of the tournament so far . he was brilliant by any standard in the morning as he and henrik stenson won a match laden with a record number of birdies to become the first european pair to win their first three games since lee westwood and sergio garcia in 2002 . stenson had a tight back and so sat out the afternoon . in came martin kaymer , with the pair up against the wonderful american rookies , patrick reed and jordan spieth . what a nerve-wracking occasion this proved . europe 's justin rose celebrates with fans at the end of day two after halving his match and ensuring his team 's four-point leading going into the final day . denmark 's thomas bjorn -lrb- right -rrb- hugs england 's rose after he and martin kaymer finished their match against jordan spieth and patrick reed all square . rose shows what half a point means with a fist pump and a raise of his club to the gallery after draining his putt on the 18th hole . kaymer missed three putts inside 10ft during a four-hole stretch from the 13th . reed missed from barely 3ft at the 16th . in the end , with four tired players on view , it was wholly appropriate that proceedings on this truly fabulous day should all come down to rose on the final green . a 6ft putt for a half to leave europe so close . well , you can guess what happened next , ca n't you ? lee westwood and jamie donaldson 's foursomes victory over zach johnson and matt kuchar allowed the englishman to celebrate a cherished milestone . that point , his 23rd achieved over nine ryder cup appearances , meant he went past none other than seve ballesteros on the all-time list . one more point today from the singles would see him go past colin montgomerie and draw level with bernhard langer , leaving him looking up at only sir nick faldo on 25 points . that tells you everything about what a fantastic ryder cup player he is and why mcginley gave him a wild card . lee westwood -lrb- right -rrb- clenches his fist on the 16th green at gleneagles after going two-up on us pair zach johnson and matt kuchar . team europe captain paul mcginley congratulates welshman jamie donaldson after he and westwood claimed a point in the afternoon foursomes . westwood won his 23rd ryder cup point in nine appearances to move ahead of europe legend seve ballesteros on the all-time list . westwood gets down low to help europe team-mate donaldson line up a putt on the ninth green . there were some eyebrows raised , given the decision left luke donald on the outside , but even the doubters would surely have to admit now that they were wrong . in two foursomes matches the englishman and the welshman were a combined nine under par and had just two bogeys . that 's tremendous golf by any standards . equally good were graeme mcdowell and victor dubuisson . mcginley deserves great credit for taking westwood and mcdowell to one side and assigning these two rookies to them . both the senior men gave the debutants an ideal platform to show off their skills and how they seized it . ` make no mistake , victor is the next superstar of european golf , ' said g-mac . ` he is the best partner i have had since rory mcilroy , and that 's saying something . ' and how about donaldson , making his debut at the age of 38 and mustering two points from three matches . graeme mcdowell and victor dubuisson were big winners for europe with a 5 & 4 result over us pair jimmy walker and rickie fowler . dubuisson watches on as mcdowell putts on their way to victory on day two at gleneagles . mcdowell rates his team-mate highly : ` victor is the next superstar of european golf . he is the best partner i have had since rory mcilroy , and that 's saying something ' alongside americans spieth , reed and jimmy walker , the rookies in this ryder cup have been immense . the other european success came from world no 3 sergio garcia and world no 1 mcilroy , registering their first full point and with some fine golf as well . everything was set up for a morning of good scoring , from the fourballs format to benign weather to faster greens , and trust the top players from the two continents to oblige . a slew of scoring records fell and immense credit has to go to the americans , who showed lots of heart following their disappointing afternoon on friday , when they collected just half a point . it says everything that all four american pairs were at least eight under , a formidable standard . inevitably , rose and stenson took the plaudits but there were some gutsy performances from those wearing stars and stripes . veteran jim furyk and hunter mahan contributed with the former finally beating westwood at the ryder cup at the eighth time of asking . these two have played in every ryder cup since 1997 . reed and spieth were brilliant again in demolishing thomas bjorn and kaymer and then came the late heroics from mcilroy and ian poulter against rickie fowler and walker . poulter 's nerveless play came too late to earn him an afternoon match alongside his old mate rose -- the pairings had to be in at 12.30 pm . mr ryder cup showed up at 12.35 pm but it surely left him full of confidence for today . not surprisingly , american captain tom watson retained faith in three of his four pairings for the fourballs but europe 's players are so competitively strong it 's hard to take them out twice in the same day . and so the momentum shifted , just as it had on day one . the champagne 's on ice and 50,000 people will descend on gleneagles today thinking only of heroes to acclaim . but medinah remains a fresh memory , and the ryder cup 's reputation for drama unrivalled . there 's still work to be done . europe 's henrik stenson -lrb- left -rrb- and justin rose -lrb- centre -rrb- clinched a 3 & 2 win in the morning over us pair bubba watson -lrb- right -rrb- and matt kuchar . ian poulter shows his passion after chipping in at the 15th in the morning when paired with rory mcilroy but he was rested in the afternoon . rory mcilroy retrieves and throws his ball to his caddie after sinking a putt in their halved match against rickie fowler and jimmy walker . northern irishman rory mcilroy discusses tactics with ian poulter as they paired up for the morning 's fourballs on day two . jamie donaldson and lee westwood vs zach johnson and matt kuchar - europe win 2 & 1 . martin kaymer and justin rose vs jordan spieth and patrick reed - match halved . sergio garcia and rory mcilroy vs jim furyk and hunter mahan - europe win 3 & 2 . victor dubuisson and graeme mcdowell vs jimmy walker and rickie fowler - europe win 5 & 4 . justin rose and henrik stenson vs bubba watson and matt kuchar - europe win 3 & 2 . jamie donaldson and lee westwood vs jim furyk and hunter mahan - usa win 4 & 3 . thomas bjorn and martin kaymer vs patrick reed and jordan spieth - usa win 5 & 3 . rory mcilroy and ian poulter vs jimmy walker and rickie fowler - match halved .<doc-sep>` but i 'm ready ! ' he protested . ` ca n't you see i 'm ready ? ' he thrust his iron back into his bag , and then , after a second 's reflection , he giggled like a small boy , and got on with the game . everyone chuckled , conspiring in the moment . on saturday , he could do no wrong . so on he went , intimidating tremendous players like jim furyk and hunter mahan by the sheer force of his ability . and he brought his partner , garcia , home by a handsome 3 & 2 . more heroics will be required from him on sunday , of course . more minor miracles , more shots which are beyond the scope or imagination of ordinary golfers . but there is no sign as yet that the pressure is weighing heavily upon him . indeed , he actually seems to revel in the impudent expectations . it has something to do with his youth , much to do with his talent , and just about everything to do with his personality . for at the moment , and along with the dazzlingly excellent justin rose , rory mcilroy seems to own gleneagles . he is a credit to his sport , a credit to europe , most importantly , he is a credit to moneyreagh , county down . you suspect he would settle for that . europe take a healthy 10-6 lead into sunday 's play against usa as the 2014 ryder cup gets settled . rory mcilroy of europe will be instrumental in the team 's ability to beat usa in the 2014 ryder cup . justin rose and henrik stenson vs bubba watson and matt kuchar - europe win 3 & 2 . jamie donaldson and lee westwood vs jim furyk and hunter mahan - usa win 4 & 3 . thomas bjorn and martin kaymer vs patrick reed and jordan spieth - usa win 5 & 3 . rory mcilroy and ian poulter vs jimmy walker and rickie fowler - match halved . jamie donaldson and lee westwood vs zach johnson and matt kuchar - europe win 2 & 1 . martin kaymer and justin rose vs jordan spieth and patrick reed - match halved . sergio garcia and rory mcilroy vs jim furyk and hunter mahan - europe win 3 & 2 . victor dubuisson and graeme mcdowell vs jimmy walker and rickie fowler - europe win 5 & 4 .<doc-sep>europe captain paul mcginley may regret leaving ian poulter out of saturday afternoon 's ryder cup foursome pairings after the englishman engineered a stunning fightback in the morning session . poulter lost his ryder cup opener with stephen gallacher to jordan spieth and patrick reed on day one , but the heroics he 's become renowned for in this tournament were back on show in the morning as he and rory mcilroy came from behind to halve their match with rickie fowler and jimmy walker . mcilroy will be back in action however for europe with his partner from friday , sergio garcia , as they take on jim furyk and hunter mahan in the foursomes . ian poulter celebrates chipping in on the 15th hole during the morning fourballs at the ryder cup . rory mcilroy -lrb- left -rrb- wis back with sergio garcia after finishing all-square with poulter -lrb- right -rrb- in the morning . the northern irish world no 1 tees off with his spanish team-mate at 1.30 pm .<doc-sep>jamie donaldson and lee westwood vs jim furyk and hunter mahan - usa win 4 & 3 . thomas bjorn and martin kaymer vs patrick reed and jordan spieth - usa win 5 & 3 . rory mcilroy and ian poulter vs jimmy walker and rickie fowler - match halved . jamie donaldson and lee westwood vs zach johnson and matt kuchar - europe win 2 & 1 . martin kaymer and justin rose vs jordan spieth and patrick reed - match halved . sergio garcia and rory mcilroy vs jim furyk and hunter mahan - europe win 3 & 2 . victor dubuisson and graeme mcdowell vs jimmy walker and rickie fowler - europe win 5 & 4 .<doc-sep>dubuisson and mcdowell take form into the afternoon after their upset win on day one over the duo of phil mickelson and keegan bradley , who were previously unbeaten in the ryder cup . 1315 : jamie donaldson and lee westwood vs zach johnson and matt kuchar . 1330 : sergio garcia and rory mcilroy vs jim furyk and hunter mahan . 1345 : martin kaymer and justin rose vs jordan spieth and patrick reed . 1400 : victor dubuisson and graeme mcdowell vs jimmy walker and rickie fowler .

<t> europe take a 10-6 lead over the united states into the final day of the ryder cup at gleneagles . </t> <t> the hosts take a lead that is the same margin held by the us in 2012 when europe won the ` miracle at medinah ' </t> <t> martin kaymer and justin rose halved their match us young guns jordan spieth and patrick reed . </t> <t> sergio garcia and rory mcilroy defeated jim furyk and hunter mahan 3 & 2 . </t> <t> europe 's victor dubuisson and graeme mcdowell dominated jimmy walker and rickie fowler 5 & 4 . </t> <t> ian poulter was given the afternoon off after a sensational performance in his halved morning match . </t>

rory mcilroy and sergio garcia trounce us pair jim furyk and hunter mahan as europe take 10-6 lead in the ryder cup<T>

warnings that the ` umbrella movement ' pro-democracy protests could devastate tourism in hong kong appear to be unfounded as the country saw a substantial rise in visitors in october . the uprising against the beijing government 's stalling of open elections for hong kong has led thousands of residents holding protests in the region - which have led to violent clashes with police . however , despite the ongoing tensions , the hong kong tourism board has reported a 12.6 per cent rise in tourist numbers for october 2014 compared to the same month last year . a group of occupy central demonstrators hold signs outside the central police station in sheung wan , hong kong - but tourists are not been put off visiting . a cardboard cut-out of chinese president xi jinping -lrb- centre -rrb- carrying a yellow umbrella is seen at the pro-democracy movement 's main protest site in the admiralty district of hong kong .<doc-sep>and , according to statistics , the greatest increase in numbers concerns visitors from mainland china - with an 18.3 per cent increase . beijing banned tour group visas for chinese visitors to hong kong for a week due to protests and coverage of the instability has been censored , however figures for chinese visitorshave still increased . chinese tourists have also been keen to view the pro-democracy art and take selfies in the area . the huge increase of chinese visitors has offset a slight decrease in the numbers travelling over to hong kong from the americas , australia and europe .<doc-sep>a woman carrying an umbrella is seen at the pro-democracy movement 's main protest site - despite the ongoing troubles , tourism has increased . added to this , there was also a 7.1 per cent increase in south korean and japanese visitors . more tourists means an economy boost , and sales of iphone 6s , clothing and jewellery are all said to have increased . the uk government has updated its travel advice for tourists who are thinking of heading to hong kong . it warns holidaymakers to avoid all demonstrations and to keep a keen eye on the media .<doc-sep>later , a few online commenters remarked that the protesters made hong kong look bad . `` they succeeded in nothing but making a mockery of themselves . one keeps wondering how low hongkongers can go , '' wrote user `` bolshoi '' on the south china morning post . rising tensions . tensions between mainland chinese and hong kongers have steadily increased in recent years , as more chinese nationals flood into the former british colony to buy everything from food items to apartment buildings . read more : hong kong protests take aim at ` locust ' shoppers from mainland china . last month , a group of protesters rallied in hong kong 's tsim sha tsui shopping district , hurling racial slurs at mainlanders and scuffling with police . though only 7 million people live in hong kong , the city now hosts over 50 million visitors a year , largely from china -- a number that is set to double in the next decade , according to hong kong 's secretary for commerce and economic development , gregory so . but while some fear china 's increasing presence , hong kong has also benefited from its mainland ties . according to so , tourism makes up 4.5 % of hong kong 's economy , and has `` contributed a lot in creating job opportunities . ''<doc-sep>protest backlash . the protests , however , also sparked a strong backlash . a group calling itself the voice of loving hong kong organized counter-protests in mongkok and the hong kong government has even looked at amending its race hate laws to protect mainland visitors . `` the government understands that growth in the number of tourists has a certain level of impact on the lives of hong kongers . but tourism has contributed a lot in creating job opportunities . it makes up 4.5 % of our economy , '' so kam-leung said . nevertheless , some hong kongers have expressed alarm at the strain on its resources from the influx of mainland chinese . even beijing 's top official on hong kong affairs this week acknowledged the extent of the problem , telling a closed meeting of of hong kong delegates at the annual national people 's congress in beijing that the problem `` had been taken note of . '' laws introduced last march limit the purchase of infant milk formula to just two tins for travelers leaving hong kong . a series of mainland food scandals -- most notably in 2008 when milk formula adulterated with melamine caused infant deaths across china -- has sparked an ongoing run on hong kong 's top brands . ` zero-birth quota ' the hong kong government lin 2012 also introduced a `` zero-birth quota '' policy to curb the number of pregnant mainland women having emergency deliveries in hong kong in order to gain hong kong residency and other benefits for their children . in 2011 , a record 43,982 mainland mothers gave birth in hong kong , according to local health officials , placing a massive strain on the city 's hospitals . `` protests mocking mainland visitors as locusts and protesters mimicking mainlanders by wheeling suitcases in shopping malls are over the top , '' chugani told cnn . `` but although these protests are small , they reflect the genuine feelings of many hong kong people who do n't join because they do n't want to be seen as anti-mainlanders .<doc-sep>safety concerns . travel to and within protest areas is generally safe but visitors are advised to use caution around mong kok where there have been several physical and verbal clashes between protesting students and anti-protest groups despite a police presence there . arrests have been made in the last few days from these clashes . public transportation has remained safe . getting around information . though the mtr is currently operating as normal , updates on mtr station operations are available in english on the company 's mobile app . bus updates in english can be found on websites operated by hong kong 's public bus companies , kmb and citybus/first bus . tram updates are available at hong kong tramways . read more : hong kong protest : what you need to know . ` protest tourism ' the protests have proven to be an attraction for some visitors . many tourists have taken to walking to and through protest zones independently , though tourists on private tours around protest areas have been seen . locals , tourists and supporters of the protestors have taken to `` sightseeing '' and looking for photo ops on elevated pedestrian bridges over roads near the central government offices in admiralty , where the largest protest -lrb- in terms of number of people -rrb- is taking place . the idea of hong kong protests as tourist attractions might seem surreal , but it is n't entirely new . in 2012 , lonely planet included hong kong in its list of top 10 cities to visit , recommending such exotic attractions as the star ferry , chinese fortune-telling and local protest rallies . the popular guidebook called hong kong `` china 's most liberated city '' and predicted that 2012 would be an exciting year for the city , highlighting its `` rallies infused with theatrics and eruptions of song , dance and poetry '' as it continued its push for greater democracy .<doc-sep>hong kong protests : what you need to know . both sides have demonstrated restraint , with the protesters remaining largely peaceful and the government pulling back riot police after a day of aggressive crowd control tactics . moreover , it is in the interest of both parties to maintain a low level of intensity . violent escalation by the occupy central movement would only justify an equally violent response , and international condemnation and domestic anger would follow hostile action by the police . that said , in a meeting with hong kong 's business elite , chinese president xi jinping asserted that beijing will not yield . the chinese government is aggressively censoring posts on weibo , a popular social media site -- censored posts reportedly increased five-fold over the weekend , and `` hong kong '' is now the most widely deleted search term on the social media site -- and instagram was blocked for the first time in hong kong . in the meantime , the occupy central movement has already achieved much by bringing greater attention to hong kong 's struggle for democracy . as the removal of riot police reveals , the international presence in hong kong means that beijing does not have the same freedom of action as it does on the mainland . in china , demonstrations against issues such as pollution , corruption and forced land seizures are common and under-reported , caught behind the government 's great firewall . but it is harder for the world to ignore the comprehensive and detailed reports emanating from hong kong . with their actions , the hong kong citizens are assembling the pieces for greater civil and political participation in not only hong kong but also mainland china .

<t> been a 12.6 % increase on october 2014 compared to october 2013 . </t> <t> despite warned off travel , chinese visitors up 18.3 % . </t> <t> troubles continue as ` umbrella movement ' calls for democracy . </t> <t> uk government advises tourists not to get involved in demonstrations . </t>

hong kong tourism has increased despite political protests<T>

chancellor george osborne -lrb- pictured -rrb- has announced another purge on so called ` death taxes ' widows will be able to inherit their partner 's isa without paying a penny in income tax , the chancellor has announced . in a further purge on so-called ` death taxes ' , widows or widowers will be able to save nearly # 500 a year on a # 60,000 nest-egg that has been inherited . george osborne also confirmed that spouses of deceased partners who receive payments from an inherited annuity wo n't have to pay any tax from next april . every year , anyone aged over 16 can save tax-free in a cash independent savings account . the annual allowance is currently # 15,000 , and set to rise to # 15,240 next april . but some 150,000 married savers die each year with an isa which is passed to a spouse or civil partner , government figures show . when this happens they stop being an isa -- so interest earned on them is taxed . someone who has built up more than # 60,000 in a cash isa earning 2 per cent would normally earn # 1,200 interest tax-free . but outside an isa , a basic-rate taxpayer would have to pay # 240 tax a year on this interest ; and a higher-rate taxpayer # 480 . ` this restriction was a source of deep frustration and extra cost for grieving spouses , ' said danny cox , chartered financial planner at hargreaves lansdown wealth manager . ` it 's good news for couples as most manage their money jointly , and the loss of the tax-free status on the cash has often come as a shock to the surviving spouse . ' the chancellor said this brought isa savings in line with reforms on pensions . changes to the rules on isas will give another boost to their surging popularity . scroll down for video . in july , in a bid to boost savings in a climate of low-interest rates , the limit for tax-free savings was ` supercharged ' by the chancellor -- and lifted from # 11,880 to # 15,000 . however , the amount allowed to be saved in cash had previously been limited to # 5,940 . the new flexibility introduced from july 1 allowed savers to put the whole # 15,000 allowance in cash . savers can now also switch money between cash and shares ; before the summer , you could only switch from cash into shares . since being launched in 1999 , isas have helped encourage millions to put money aside for emergency savings -- as well as boost their income in retirement . roy hamilton -lrb- pictured right -rrb- will be able to pass on the full worth of his pension to his wife julie -lrb- left -rrb- if he dies before the age of 75 . roy hamilton will be able to pass on the full worth of his pension to his wife if he dies before the age of 75 . the 65-year-old former council worker , from bristol , has taken out a joint life annuity on his # 75,000 pension pot with the help of advisers hargreaves lansdown . his 59-year-old wife julie , a seamstress , is still in work but will be able to take 100 per cent of his pension without it being taxed after his death . the latest changes level out the playing field after the budget in march allowed pensioners to take lump sums from their pension pots tax-free , but left those with an annuity worse off . mr hamilton , a grandfather of two , said : ` the reason i took out an annuity is i like the idea of a regular payment . i took out a joint annuity to look after my wife , and she 'll get 100 per cent of that after i 'm gone . ' some 23 million investors and savers have # 443billion in isas . this is roughly equally split between cash and shares . the retirement shakeup means if a loved one dies before the age of 75 , the surviving spouse wo n't pay any tax on an inherited joint annuity . the treasury is also to change tax rules to allow a joint annuity to be passed on to any beneficiary . the chancellor 's announcement on joint annuities marks the latest in a long line of radical pension reforms started in his march budget . from next april , there will be no need to buy an annuity . those aged 55 or over will be able to dip into their pension whenever they want . each time they withdraw cash , 25 per cent will be tax-free . however , they will have to pay income tax at their usual rate on the rest . the reforms also mean they will be able to leave pension cash in their will without the 55 per cent death tax , by paying into a so-called drawdown scheme . the chancellor embarked on the reforms to stop savers being locked in to annuities that can be poor value or unsuitable for their lifestyle . an extra # 2billion will be poured into the health service every year to relieve the pressure on hospitals . mr osborne said he had found the money from budget surpluses in other departments . health chiefs had warned ministers that they faced an immediate funding gap due an ageing population , expensive new drugs and a rising bill for staff pensions . in addition to the # 2billion for frontline services , mr osborne announced another # 1.1 billion for struggling gp practices over the next five years . it will be to funded by bank fines . simon stevens , the new head of the nhs in england , welcomed the cash injection . he has warned that the nhs faces a funding black hole of at least # 8billion by the year 2020 . the future of the nhs is expected to be a key battleground for may 's general election . david cameron has already promised to protect its budget from cuts if he wins . decaying churches could be restored to their former glory with the help of a new # 15million fund for repairs . george osborne announced that the cathedral renovation fund will now be extended to cover repairs to all of britain 's churches . it is hoped that the new money will help rescue the hundreds of church buildings which have fallen prey to thieves -- who have been targeting the valuable lead in their roofs . church leaders of all denominations will be able to apply for grants of between # 10,000 and # 100,000 in order to fund any repairs which are deemed to be urgent . last month more than 800 churches were listed on english heritage 's ` at risk ' list because they had fallen into severe disrepair . the bishop of worcester , the rt revd dr john inge , said that the grant would make a ` real and lasting difference ' to parishes . he added : ` a secure roof can last 100 years and will prevent gradual , and ultimately costly , decay of fabric . ' exposing the hidden mortgage fees . the government is to probe baffling mortgage fees which make it hard for homebuyers to get the cheapest deal . trade body the council of mortgage lenders has been asked to work with consumer campaign group which ? to put an end to hidden house buying fees , it was revealed in yesterday 's autumn statement . research by which ? has found that buyers can face more than 40 different layers of hidden fees when they buy a home . these include added extras such as fees for bank transfers , references and insurance . charges run on through the life of a mortgage and can even be added at the end of a loan term . because of fee confusion , just 3 per cent of buyers tested by which ? were able to correctly rank five deals in order of best value . the cml has now been told to make charges more transparent so that consumers can compare the total cost of mortgage deals . paul smee , director general at the cml , said : ` consumers need to be able to understand and compare products confidently . we welcome the opportunity to work with which ? towards measures that can make this easier for them . ' which ? executive director richard lloyd said : ` with so many people on tight budgets trying to get a foot on the housing ladder or looking to remortgage as rates rise , it 's essential that they can more easily find the best deal . ' any measures will be introduced in time for april 's budget . from april , households paying a care worker up to # 22,500 a year will not have to pay ni contributions . stock picture used . families who employ a carer will benefit from a national insurance cut worth up to # 2,000 a year . from april , households paying a care worker up to # 22,500 a year will not have to pay ni contributions . the chancellor has extended the employment allowance -- a perk already available to charities and some small businesses -- to ` help with the employment of carers who do so much ' . emily holzhausen , director of policy at the charity carers uk , welcomed the move , saying it would help those relying on carers to buy more help or cope with pressure on their finances . she said : ` this measure goes some way to reducing the cost of paying for care for families but more needs to be done to bring down the overall costs of care . there are 1.4 million people providing more than 50 hours ' unpaid care for loved ones every week . ` for those who do not qualify for social care services , the costs of care are high ... many continue without much-needed care services until they reach breaking point . '<doc-sep>this year , isa season is a dud . we compile our own independent this is money savings tables . it 's safe to say we have n't been overwhelmed with the offers trickling in . the best rate you can find on an instant access savings account is 1.75 per cent from britannia - and even then you are limited to two withdrawals a year . the next best easy access account with no limits on withdrawals , which can be opened online is from national counties building society at 1.65 per cent . you can get better rates for locking in your money , with the highest rate a 3 per cent five-year fix from skipton . but to get that you have to commit to not getting at your cash until 2019 . to find the best tax-free savings deal , bookmark this is money 's five of the best isas round-up , which is updated throughout the year . rates like this lead people to question whether it is even worth bothering with an isa . but the answer to that question is , ` yes , they make it even more important . ' this is because we are taxed on our savings interest at our income tax rate , with 20 per cent taken off by your bank and those who pay higher rate tax having to hand over the rest via their tax return . that tax eats into the rate you get , driving savings rates even lower . but in an isa you get all your interest tax-free . if you could find an instant access savings account matching that best isa rate of 1.75 per cent , which incidentally you ca n't , then after 20 per cent tax you would only really be getting 1.4 per cent and after 40 per cent tax you would get 1.05 per cent . annual isa allowances come with a use it , or lose it status . everyone can save up to # 5,760 into an isa this tax year , which ends on 5 april 2014 , it is then gone . they then get a new allowance for 2014 to 2015 , of # 5,940 . crucially , however , you can put money into a new isa and transfer all your existing isa savings pots into a new better deal if you can find one . that means savers need to do two things . firstly , make sure new savings go into an isa and that they make the most of their allowance each year and , secondly , make sure all their existing isa savings are getting the best rate possible and move them if need be . when savings rates are this bad it only makes more sense to use an isa .<doc-sep>demands by the taxman for the power to raid isas were met with a wave of opposition last night . hm revenue and customs wants unprecedented power to settle unpaid tax bills . it has already been revealed that this includes taking money directly from current accounts -- including joint accounts . but the controversial proposals would also make it possible for money to be seized from your tax-free isa whether it is held in cash or stocks and shares . the move has been widely criticised by mps and accountants who fear hmrc , which has a track record of incompetence , will target the wrong people by mistake . controversial proposals would make it possible for money to be seized from your tax-free isa by hm revenue and customs -lrb- library image -rrb- . one think-tank , the adam smith institute , said the proposals represent ` a fundamental assault on the rule of law ' and many of the victims will be ` completely innocent ' . anyone who owes # 1,000 or more in tax could be affected -- and hmrc will not even need to get a judge 's approval to withdraw the cash . the proposals were published in the budget in march and are subject to a public consultation which ends on july 29 . hmrc expects to seize around # 375million over the next four years under the direct recovery of debts powers , due to come into force next year . it predicts around 17,000 people a year will have money taken , the majority self-employed . tina riches , national tax partner at accountancy and investment firm smith & williamson , said the proposals ` provide inadequate assurance for honest taxpayers ' who risked being hit by hmrc errors . hmrc insists it will not take the money unless the person will be left with at least # 5,000 across all their bank accounts and isas after the tax debt has been paid . by including isas , hmrc 's chances of withdrawing money are significantly increased as they are hugely popular . around 23million people have a total of # 442billion saved in them .<doc-sep>by . james coney . published : . 19:30 est , 19 march 2014 . | . updated : . 19:35 est , 19 march 2014 . savers have been given a vital boost with a series of radical reforms -- including the creation of a ` super isa ' and introduction of lucrative tax breaks . from july 1 , everyone can put up to # 15,000 into a new , simpler type of tax-free savings account which will allow savers to put away almost three times more than they can currently in a cash isa . in the new account , they will be able to move their money easily between the stockmarket and regular high street deals in a bid to get the best possible return from their nest eggs . from july 1 , everyone can put up to # 15,000 into a new , simpler type of tax-free savings account . the launch of the money mail campaign on september 12 , 2012 . the treasury has called these new individual savings accounts , or nisas -- but yesterday they were already being dubbed the super isa because of the lucrative perks they bring . it marks a major victory for money mail 's get britain saving campaign , which called for one isa allowance which allows savers to move freely between cash and shares . on top of this , the chancellor declared . that around 1.5 million with small incomes that are boosted by money they . have in a savings account will get a # 1,000 tax break on their . interest . peter and karen walker -lrb- pictured with twin daughters lucy and sophie -rrb- were delighted with the chancellor 's decision to raise the annual isa allowance to # 15,000 . mrs walker , 48 , shops around for the best isa interest rates and then uses the full allowance each year whenever she can . after overcoming cancer in 2001 , mrs walker likes to save money for family holidays so she can spend quality time with her daughters . mrs walker said : ` i put anything we have to spare into savings . now that the limit has been raised we will take advantage of that and save the full # 15,000 so long as we can find a good interest rate .<doc-sep>` family holidays are really important to us . we 'll be taking the girls to disneyworld in florida over easter which will be wonderful . ' mrs walker works as an it project manager earning # 41,768 , and her husband earns # 48,400 as a transport manager . they have two cash isas at present -- a nationwide isa with a 2.5 per cent interest rate and # 5,760 in the account , and a post office isa with a 2.51 per cent rate holding # 3,000 . as well as saving , their priority is to pay off the mortgage on their # 400,000 . three-bed home in swindon . the announcements were described as a lifeline for the savings classes who have been hard hit during the recovery from the financial crisis . the prudent have seen their incomes slashed since the bank of england reduced base rate to a historic low of 0.5 per cent in march 2009 . rates on high street accounts were cut further when the government 's funding for lending scheme was introduced in summer 2012 . this gave the banks a cheap source of funds , and meant they no longer needed money from savers . campaigner group save our savers estimates savers have lost as much as # 117billion in interest since the financial crisis began . anna bowes , director of website savings champion , said : ` the prudent have been bearing the brunt of the financial meltdown , and have been for some time now . ` allowing people to put more into an account and giving them flexibility to move their money in and out of the stockmarket is a huge boost . this really is the most radical transformation of the way we save for decades . ' since isas were first introduced 15 years ago they have proved wildly popular because of the tax breaks , as you do not pay any tax on the interest or the profits you make . by the end of 2013 , # 443billion was held in these accounts , with just under half of this in cash . under current rules taxpayers can put a maximum of # 11,520 into an isa every tax year . the entirety of this allowance can be put into stocks and shares , but a maximum of half -- # 5,760 -- can be put away in cash . savers can move money from existing cash isa accounts into stocks and shares , but can not transfer the other way . this means that those approaching retirement who want to protect their savings by moving them out of the stockmarket are not allowed to do so . but with the new super isa , savers will get one allowance of # 15,000 every tax year . it will be up to them how much they want to put into each type , and they will be allowed to move between shares and cash when they like . to further boost their popularity the treasury announced that peer-to-peer lending -- through so-called lend-to-save websites -- would also be allowed to be held in an isa . with these sites a saver effectively lends out their cash directly to borrowers , cutting out the bank in the middle . and in one final helping hand that will help around 1.5 million savers the chancellor also declared that those on small income should no longer have to pay tax on the first # 5,000 of savings interest they make -- effectively handing them a # 1,000 tax break . around 189,000 will be taken out of paying any tax altogether . currently , poorer savers get a # 279 tax break as they are given a 10p rate on the first # 2,790 of interest they earn .

<t> widows will be able to inherit their partner 's isa without paying income tax . </t> <t> george osborne claims this will bring isa savings in line with pensions . </t> <t> extra # 2bn a year will be passed onto nhs to relieve pressure on hospitals . </t> <t> new # 15million fund dedicated to church repairs is to be established . </t> <t> families employing carers will benefit from a national insurance tax cut . </t>

hand down your isa to husband or wife tax-free<T>

eight families who lost loved ones in the malaysia airlines flight mh17 disaster when it was shot out of the sky in rebel-controlled eastern ukraine are preparing to sue russia , ukraine and malaysia . the boeing 777 was travelling from amsterdam to kuala lumpur on july 17 when it was downed , killing all 298 people on board , including 38 australian citizens and residents . it is not known which of the families are suing , however news.com.au reports they are from five different states across australia and will also take action against malaysia airlines . aviation lawyer jerry skinner , who is based in alaska , has taken up their case and is preparing to lodge it at the european court of human rights . scroll down for video . flowers laid out on the wreckage of mh17 in eastern ukraine after the tragic disaster in july . back in july the lawyer first told the sydney morning herald that he could potentially achieve million dollar payouts for the mh17 victims ' families , like he had obtained from libya for the families of the 1988 lockerbie disaster . ` something creative is going to have to be done here because this is too big and too complicated for the judicial system to handle on its own and it involves people who will not yield to the judicial system , such as the russians and the ukrainians , ' he said . ` what happened in lockerbie was that politics got involved and sanctions got involved and we said to the libyans , if you want to settle this , it does n't matter what the individuals did -lsb- for a living -rsb- .<doc-sep>` the parties that are the main participants here are probably the russians and their allies and also malaysia airlines . both of them bear a lot of responsibility for this . ' mo , 12 -lrb- left -rrb- , evie , 10 -lrb- right -rrb- and otis , 8 -lrb- centre -rrb- are believed to be some of the mh17 victims whose bodies were returned to australia in october . it is not known which families are suing . the boeing 777 was travelling from amsterdam to kuala lumpur on 17 july when it was downed . now , mr skinner has said he will file a ` very broad ' claim against russia , ukraine , malaysia and malaysia airlines as soon as he gets some final information from the dutch safety board . the airline has already promised to pay compensation out to the victims ' families and is liable to pay about $ 180,000 for each person killed . amongst the australian victims of mh17 were the three maslin children , whose bodies finally arrived back on australian soil in october . the bodies of mo , 12 , evie , 10 and otis , 8 , were returned to their loved ones in perth after arriving on board an raaf globemaster transport plane in melbourne . they are believed to have arrived alongside a number of other victims of the tragedy . families of the deceased were seen waiting at melbourne airport as the plane arrived and watched as the coffins were removed from the plane .<doc-sep>nsw resident sister philomene tiernan -lrb- left -rrb- was killed while on board mh17 . a firefighter sprays water to extinguish a fire , on july 17 , 2014 , amongst the wreckages of the malaysian airliner carrying 295 people . in july , the parents of the three maslin children released a statement addressed to ` the soldiers in the ukraine , the politicians , the media , our friends and family ' . anthony maslin and marite norris wrote : ` our pain is intense and relentless . we live in a hell beyond hell . ` our babies are not here with us -- we need to live with this act of horror , every day and every moment for the rest of our lives . ` no one deserves what we are going through . not even the people who shot our whole family out of the sky . ' sons , daughters , couples , parents and grandparents were all among the people who never made it home to australia after the tragic disaster . a much-loved nun from sydney 's st mary magdalene 's church , sister philomene , was on board the flight making her way home to sydney after a sabbatical in france . emma bell -lrb- right -rrb- , originally of lithgow in nsw , was a passionate teacher who was returning from a trip to europe to start the new school term in arnhem land , northern territory . jack o'brien -lrb- left -rrb- of sydney , was 25 . his family said he was ` loved so much '<doc-sep>mr horder and his wife susan , both 63 , of albany creek , were among the queenslanders aboard flight mh17 when it was shot down . shaliza dewal -lrb- left -rrb- , 45 , and her dutch husband hans van den hende -lrb- centre -rrb- were travelling from amsterdam to kuala lumpur with their three children , piers , 15 , -lrb- top right -rrb- and marnix , 12 , -lrb- top back -rrb- and daughter margaux , 8 , -lrb- top centre -rrb- . emma bell , who was in her 20s , worked with aboriginal children in a remote northern territory community and was spending the school holidays in europe before boarding mh17 in amsterdam . she was returning to the northern territory for the new term . a 25-year-old , sydney man named jack o'brien , was flying back home after enjoying a ` fantastic seven-week holiday in europe ' . and just one of the couples on board was queenslanders howard horder and his wife susan , both 63 , of albany creek . they were returning from a trip to europe after retiring . in germany , a mother of a passenger who died in the mh17 crash is already suing the ukrainian authorities for ` negligent homicide ' and # 650,000 in the european court of human rights . the german woman , whose daughter - named as ` olga l' - was killed when the malaysia airlines plane , began legal proceedings in the past week . she is seeking compensation from the authorities after ukraine failed to close its airspace to civil air traffic because of fighting with pro-russian separatists , it has been reported . ukraine 's president petro poroshenko is visiting australia next week and is expected to discuss the security situation in eastern ukraine and its impact on international relations , as well as the links between australia and his country .<doc-sep>by . sally lee . and aap . us president barack obama has sent his condolences to the families of australian victims of the mh17 disaster . mr obama has also paid tribute to aids researchers and activists who were bound for an international conference in melbourne . the president phoned prime minister tony abbott to discuss the downing of the malaysia airlines flight , which crashed in disputed territories in eastern ukraine . scroll down for video . us president barack obama -lrb- left -rrb- phoned prime minister tony abbott -lrb- right -rrb- to discuss the malaysian airline mh17 tragedy . ` the president expressed condolences on behalf of the american people to the australian families who lost loved ones on board the flight , ' a statement from the white house said on saturday . malaysian airline mh17 passengers and crew died when mh17 was downed on thursday , with 28 australians and one american , among the casualties . the talks come after abbott and australia 's representative on the united nations security council ramped up pressure on russia to de-escalate its influence over separatist forces in eastern ukraine .<doc-sep>but jerry skinner , an american lawyer and co-associate of sydney law firm lhd lawyers is now warning the mh17 families on compensation rights and risks . malaysians hold a candlelight vigil for passengers and crew of crashed flight mh17 . australian emma bell -lrb- pictured , left -rrb- and mary and garry menke were 3 of 38 australians on board flight mh17 . he explains that when a deal is registered in the european court of human rights by a german academic , in this case professor elmar giemulla , their rights to adequate compensation may be withheld . ' a lot of australian families will be unaware that this action could lock them into compensation levels that the families never approved , ' mr skinner said . although professor giemulla only represents three german families , he is still filing his action on behalf of all passengers on board mh17 . ` if he is successful , australian families who choose to pursue further damages from russia , malaysia or malaysia air could be limited or barred by a legal action they did not authorise , ' mr skinner told fairfax . thirty australians have been brought back home , as 40 australian federal police continue to work with dutch , belgian , malaysian and ukraine personnel on the investigation . a local resident in ukraine stands among the wreckage at the site of the mh17 crash . while speaking to the german media , professor giemulla said he hopes for $ 1.3 million in compensation for each victim . malaysian airlines have offered $ 5000 to each victim , which does not include the final compensation sum . discussions surrounding compensation has only just began but are expected to take years . around 20 australian families have been affected by the downing of mh17 , five of which are being represented by lhd lawyers . edel mahady -lrb- pictured , left -rrb- and grandfather of mo , evie and otis maslin , nick norris , was also on board flight mh17 . sydney kindergarten school teacher , gaby lauschet , was returning from her german homeland on the malaysian airlines flight .<doc-sep>by . frank coletta for daily mail australia . the first australian victims of mh17 will arrive home in the coming week . prime minister tony abbott has marked the resumption of parliament in canberra to announce that ` disaster victim identification is a very , very slow process -lrb- and -rrb- only this week the first australian victims are coming home to their families ' . ' i say to all their families you have the deepest sympathy of all of us , ' he told parliament . scroll down for video . wreckage from mh17 which was shot down as it flew over ukraine air-space . the australian government has pledged a memorial to all 298 victims inside the parliamentary grounds in canberra . emergency workers at the site of the malaysia airlines mh17 disaster near the village of hrabove in ukraine 's donetsk region . prime minister tony abbott says a resumption of the recovery effort will resume when security conditions in the region improve . mr abbott opened proceedings by thanking his dutch , ukraine and malaysian counterparts for their assistance in the recovery and those involved in operation bring them home which ` deployed 500 australian personnel to work with dutch and ukraine to recover , identify and repatriate remains of australian victims ' . he went on to tell how they had spent six days searching the crash site and that they had recovered further remains and a substantial amount of personnel effects but ` regrettably conditions were simply too dangerous to continue ' . but the prime minister also pledged that there will be a return to the crash site in ukraine . international recovery team experts scour the site of downed malaysia airlines flight mh17 . malaysian army soldiers return a coffin containing the body of a crew member from the ill-fated mh17 flight . distraught malaysian airlines flight crew members during the weekend 's hand-over ceremony at kuala lumpur international airport . there 's been a huge outpouring of emotions across malaysia in the past few days as the remains of victims from mh17 have begun arriving home . ` when security conditions improve and if we judge there are more remains to be recovered then recovery efforts will resume , ' he added . a permanent memorial will also be established in the grounds of parliament in canberra . ' i can announce today that a memorial will be erected in the parliamentary gardens to all who perished , especially the 38 australian victims , ' mr abbott said . ` it will be established for the first anniversary and as a reminder that we will never ever forget them . ' he also alluded to the 2 investigations which are under way , both led by the dutch . the first being the aircraft accident investigation and the second , an international criminal investigation . ` these investigations will take some time , australia has contributed experts to both of them , ' mr abbott continued . ` our nation will continue to support all who lost loved ones on flight mh17 , we will do everything in our power to ensure that this horrific act is investigated and its perpetrators brought to justice . '<doc-sep>by . marielle simon for daily mail australia . and frank coletta for daily mail australia . the first australian bodies from malaysia airlines flight mh17 have arrived home , six weeks after russian rebels reportedly shot down the flight by a missile , killing 295 people on board , including 38 australians . the operation ` bring them home ' has brought deceased couple maree and albert rizk back from amsterdam to sunbury in melbourne . a private family funeral will be held next week for the couple , who leave two children , vanessa 22 and james 21 . real estate agent , albert rizk -lrb- left -rrb- and his wife maree -lrb- right -rrb- are the first australian bodies from mh17 to arrive home from amsterdam . a private family funeral will be held next week for the couple , who have left their two children , vanessa 22 and james 21 . at a memorial service held three weeks ago vanessa and james spoke to a crowd of 1000 mourners as they awaited the bodies of their parents . ` we look forward now to the return of our parents and hope that all the families will soon have their loved ones returned to them , ' vanessa said . ` the reality is that our amazing parents albert and maree rizk are gone . we pray to god that we will have closure sooner or later . ' ` all of us will never forget ... we will love you forever , ' james said . prime minister tony abbott has marked the resumption of parliament in canberra to announce that ` disaster victim identification is a very , very slow process -lrb- and -rrb- only this week the first australian victims are coming home to their families ' . ' i say to all their families you have the deepest sympathy of all of us , ' he told parliament . scroll down for video . wreckage from mh17 which was shot down as it flew over ukraine air-space . the australian government has pledged a memorial to all 298 victims inside the parliamentary grounds in canberra . emergency workers at the site of the malaysia airlines mh17 disaster near the village of hrabove in ukraine 's donetsk region . prime minister tony abbott says a resumption of the recovery effort will resume when security conditions in the region improve . mr abbott opened proceedings by thanking his dutch , ukraine and malaysian counterparts for their assistance in the recovery and those involved in operation bring them home which ` deployed 500 australian personnel to work with dutch and ukraine to recover , identify and repatriate remains of australian victims ' . he went on to tell how they had spent six days searching the crash site and that they had recovered further remains and a substantial amount of personnel effects but ` regrettably conditions were simply too dangerous to continue ' . but the prime minister also pledged that there will be a return to the crash site in ukraine . international recovery team experts scour the site of downed malaysia airlines flight mh17 . malaysian army soldiers return a coffin containing the body of a crew member from the ill-fated mh17 flight . distraught malaysian airlines flight crew members during the weekend 's hand-over ceremony at kuala lumpur international airport . there 's been a huge outpouring of emotions across malaysia in the past few days as the remains of victims from mh17 have begun arriving home . ` when security conditions improve and if we judge there are more remains to be recovered then recovery efforts will resume , ' he added . a permanent memorial will also be established in the grounds of parliament in canberra . ' i can announce today that a memorial will be erected in the parliamentary gardens to all who perished , especially the 38 australian victims , ' mr abbott said . ` it will be established for the first anniversary and as a reminder that we will never ever forget them . ' he also alluded to the 2 investigations which are under way , both led by the dutch . the first being the aircraft accident investigation and the second , an international criminal investigation . ` these investigations will take some time , australia has contributed experts to both of them , ' mr abbott continued . ` our nation will continue to support all who lost loved ones on flight mh17 , we will do everything in our power to ensure that this horrific act is investigated and its perpetrators brought to justice . '

<t> lawyer jerry skinner will lodge their case at the european court of human rights . </t> <t> he previously obtained millions of dollars from libya for the families of the 1988 lockerbie disaster . </t> <t> 38 australian citizens and residents were killed when flight mh17 was downed on july 17 . </t>

australian families of mh17 victims to sue malaysian airlines , russia , ukraine and malaysia<T>

these are the scenes of squalor which were discovered by police when they arrived at the home of two-year-old girl who died after accidentally drinking her drug addict mother 's methadone out of a tom and jerry beaker . barry jones , 42 , and michelle king , 30 , were this week convicted of the killing of little sophie jones , who died after drinking from the cup she thought contained her favourite fruit shoot drink . when they arrived at the terraced family home in blackpool , lancashire , detectives found medication stacked next to children 's toys and filthy rooms littered with dirty washing and pushchairs . scroll down for video . these are the scenes which greeted police when they arrived at the home of two-year-old sophie jones , who died after accidentally drinking her drug addict mother 's methadone out of a tom and jerry beaker . sophie , aged two -lrb- pictured -rrb- drank from the beaker unaware it was her mother 's powerful heroin substitute . the little girl drank from the beaker unaware it was the powerful heroin substitute which her mother michelle king had been storing to sell on to fund her drug habit - in what police said was akin to ` leaving a loaded firearm in the reach of a child . ' sophie collapsed in march under the effects of the heroin substitute after an eye witness said she looked ` groggy ' and was falling over . paramedics rushed to the family home where the couple lived on benefits but despite attempting to revive her , the toddler was pronounced dead in hospital just 35 minutes later . tests later showed sophie had traces of four separate drugs in her hair including heroin , cocaine and diazepam and had been exposed to the drugs for several months . police later found a quarter of a pint of methadone and the tom and jerry beaker in the back garden . these are the scenes of squalor which awaited police when they they arrived at the terraced family home . it has emerged sophie 's father openly smoked heroin in the same room as his daughter - she had traces four separate drugs in her hair including heroin , cocaine and diazepam and been exposed to the drugs for months . three of her dummies had traces of cocaine powder on the teat . methadone was also found on an upstairs bathroom sink . the methadone had been prescribed to king as part of a drug treatment programme but she had been keeping the drug in her daughter 's tom and jerry beaker , tommy tippy cup and fruit shoot bottles with a view to selling it on to fund her own drug habit .<doc-sep>after sophie accidentally drank the substance , the couple tried to cover up their role in her death by hiding the beaker and fruit shoot bottles around the family home . they were also seen filling up a wheelie bin with nappies and drug taking equipment . king sent two text messages to jones relating to the child 's drinking cup - one reading ` all the meth bottles out back under green thing ' . another said ` do n't tip the methadone out , hide it . ' today pictures of the family 's home taken by lancashire police emerged as blackpool council confirmed a serious case review was underway into the toddler 's death . neightbours have questioned why sophie was allowed to live with tbe two drug addicts after it emerged her father openly smoked heroin in the same room as his daughter . it is believed there was no social services file into the family open at the time of sophie 's death . sophie , pictured as a baby , drank from the tom and jerry patterned beaker unaware it was the powerful heroin substitute which her mother michelle king had been storing to sell on to fund her drug habit . barry jones , 42 , and michelle king , 30 , were convicted of the killing of sophie jones at preston crown court . king admitted manslaughter and child cruelty whilst jones was convicted of unlawful killing and child cruelty . when they arrived at the family home detectives found medication stacked next to children 's toys . father of two adrian walenciej , 32 , a bar worker who lives in the same street said : ` how can there be two drug addicts with a daughter and no supervision ? ` i 'm blaming myself , thinking i could have done something and called the council . ` i 'll always think if i had done something she could still be here . i thought they were drinking a lot but i did n't know the mum was dealing methadone . ` accidents happen ; a child can reach for medicine but what they did is unimaginable . ` you hear about kids who are born with a drug addiction . maybe they had tried giving her a bit of methadone to stop her crying before and it had worked ?<doc-sep>` we do n't know what happened behind those walls , only they know . nothing will bring that little girl back . ' another neighbour said : ` that couple should be locked up for good . a child does not ask to be put in that situation . ` you do wonder whether they meant for her to drink it but only they know exactly what happened . ` people put teddies outside the front door of the house after sophie died . i put one there myself because i have children and ca n't imagine how any mum could do that to her daughter . the court heard a neighbour said in the run up to the tragedy he had often heard arguing between the adults and sophie would be heard crying for long periods . the trial also heard on march 4 king sent several text messages to a drug user reminding her that she owed her # 25 . she had also gone to buy crack cocaine before returning home . a relative saw sophie fall on two occasions and noticed that she was unsteady on her feet . king was heard to say that sophie was acting weird and barry to say ' i hope you 've not left the top off your tablets ' . blackpool council have confirmed they have launched a serious case review which is being led by blackpool children 's safeguarding board and involves agencies including the council , health service and police . the methadone was prescribed to king but she had been keeping the drug in her daughter 's tom and jerry beaker , tommy tippy cup and fruit shoot bottles with a view to sell them on to fund her drug habit . neighbours left flowers and toys outside the family home in blackpool following sophie 's death in march . three of sophie 's dummies had traces of cocaine powder on the teat and methadone was found on a sink . the couple were told to call an ambulance but they lied about taking sophie to a walk in centre and claimed the child may have drunk some cider . they also hid the beaker and fruit shoot bottles around the family home . the pair were also seen filling up a wheelie bin with nappies and drug taking equipment .<doc-sep>eventually at 11.40 pm , jones made a 999 calmly saying : ' i have a two-year-old daughter , right , and i do n't think she 's breathing - can i have an ambulance please . ' an ambulance arrived three minutes after the call and found him in the lounge performing cpr on sophie following directions being given over the phone . vomit was visible in sophie 's hair , face , chest and on the floor and appeared to contain blood . while sophie was in hospital king sent two text messages to jones relating to the child 's drinking cup - one reading ` all the meth bottles out back under green thing ' . another said ` do n't tip the methadone out , hide it . ' hidden under a green cover in the back yard police found 146ml of methadone - approximately 1/4 of a pint . police found traces of cocaine and heroin in the bins and a number of fruit shoot bottles inside the house . but hidden under a green cover in the back yard police found 146ml of methadone - approximately 1/4 of a pint and the tom and jerry beaker . they also found a large number of fruit shoot bottles at the house - one of which had traces of methadone inside . there were also traces of cocaine and heroin found in the bins . tests showed sophie 's cause of her death was inhalation of stomach contents and poisoning by methadone - less than a teaspoonful can kill a child . at preston crown court king admitted manslaughter and child cruelty whilst jones was convicted of unlawful killing and child cruelty following a trial . today detective inspector andy cribbin , of lancashire police , said : ` sophie 's death was as a direct result of the actions and neglect of her parents , the two people who should have protected her from coming to any harm whatsoever . ` her death was wholly avoidable and was brought about by their chaotic and reckless use of illegal and prescribed drugs within the family home . ` storing methadone in a child 's drinking cup is akin to leaving a loaded firearm in the reach of a child - the outcome was almost inevitable . ' blackpool council confirmed the serious case review was being led by blackpool children 's safeguarding board and involves agencies including the council , health service and police .<doc-sep>king would keep the methadone upstairs and would bring it down in a bottle with a lid on so a user could drink it and then hand it back . on march 4 king sent several text messages to one drug user reminding her that she owed her # 25 . she had also gone to buy crack cocaine before returning home . a relative saw sophie fall on two occasions and noticed that she was unsteady on her feet . king was heard to say that sophie was acting weird - with jones responding with : ' i hope you 've not left the top off your tablets ' . heroin addict , michelle king , was selling her prescribed dosage of methadone to other addicts when her child died , the court heard . the couple were told to call an ambulance but they lied about taking sophie to a walk in centre and instead suggested the child had drunk some cider . eventually at 11.40 pm , jones calmly called 999 saying his daughter had stopped breathing . an ambulance arrived three minutes after the call and found him in the lounge performing cpr on sophie following directions being given over the phone . vomit was visible in sophie 's hair , face , chest and on the floor and appeared to contain blood . at the house jones told police that his mother and her boyfriend had been at the house and had brought with them a bottle of cider . he told them that after he left he could smell cider on the sofa where sophie was sleeping and noticed that her bottom half was wet before noticing she was not breathing . mr grout-smith said that this had been a lie and had been part of a ` joint cover up ' between himself and king who had been holding back seeking medical attention in the hope sophie would sleep off the effects of the methadone . shocking : tests showed sophie had traces of four separate drugs in her hair - with three of her dummies containing traces of cocaine -lrb- pictured above , the family 's home in blackpool -rrb- . ` it is the prosecution 's case that the defendants knew that they were at fault and as the afternoon wore on sophie failed to come round , they must have known , ' he added . ` prior to the 999 call made at 11:40 there had also been an attempt to clear the house of incriminating evidence . ` the child 's drinking cup with methadone and had been put under a sheet in the back yard of the house , bins with shoot bottles in have been moved outside from the back of the house to the end of the street away from their house . ` the neighbour noticed that the water running the upstairs sink for significant period of time . ` the prosecution submit it must have been a joint attempt by both defendants to clear up the house . ` they were acting together to clear the house of any incriminating evidence they were both aware she had been put into a deep slumber had not woken up - they needed to protect themselves . police found a large number of fruit shoot bottles at the house - one of which had traces of methadone inside . there were also traces of cocaine and heroin found in the bins . ` it is significant there were no phone calls for a period of one hour between 10:45 and the 999 call at 11:40 . in the context of the usual use of phone it was an unusual silent . ' when police searched the house they found hidden under a green cover in the back yard 146ml of methadone - approximately 1/4 of a pint and the tom and jerry beaker . police found a large number of fruit shoot bottles at the house - one of which had traces of methadone inside . there were also traces of cocaine and heroin found in the bins . tests showed sophie 's cause of her death was inhalation of stomach contents and poisoning by methadone . when he was arrested and interviewed under caution jones maintained sophie may have drank cider and had become a little bit sleepy before falling asleep on his knee . both will be sentenced on december 1 .<doc-sep>killed : sophie jones died from methadone poisoning after drinking from a tom and jerry beaker in which the drug was being stored . a father has been convicted of killing his two-year-old daughter after she was poisoned to death drinking methadone which was being stored in her tom and jerry beaker . sophie jones was left to collapse under the effects of the heroin substitute several hours after an eye witness said she looked ` groggy ' and was falling over , a court heard . paramedics rushed to the family home in blackpool , lancashire , but despite attempting to revive her , sophie was pronounced dead in hospital just 35 minutes later . tests later showed sophie had traces of four separate drugs in her hair - with three of her dummies containing traces of cocaine . methadone was also found on an upstairs bathroom sink . a jury was told how sophie 's parents barry jones , 41 , and michelle king , 29 , were both drug addicts and the methadone had been prescribed to king . but she had been keeping it in her daughter 's beaker and fruit shoot bottles with a view to selling it on to fund her drug habit . both parents are now facing jail after jones was found guilty by a jury of manslaughter at preston crown court - with king having already admitted manslaughter and a further charge of child cruelty . while sophie was in hospital the couple tried to cover up the tragedy by hiding the beaker and fruit shoot bottles , the court was told . king sent two text messages to jones relating to the child 's drinking cup - one reading ` all the meth bottles out back under green thing ' . another said ` do n't tip meth out hide it ' . before jones 's conviction was secured , an earlier trial , which was abandoned , was opened by prosecutor jeremy grout smith . he told preston crown court : ` sophie died because she was exposed to the drugs as a result of the carelessness and negligence of her parents . ` both defendants take drugs every day smoking heroin and crack cocaine . the methadone was in a child 's drinking cup - a tom and jerry drinking cup . the toddler 's parents michelle king -lrb- left -rrb- and barry jones -lrb- right -rrb- allegedly knew she was unwell and tried to cover up the fact she had ingested methadone before police searched their home , the court heard . storage : the drug-addict couple kept heroin substitute methadone in the tommy and jerry beaker , pictured . in the run-up to the tragedy , a neighbour said he had often heard arguing between the adults and sophie , pictured , would cry for a very long time without being attended to . ` michelle king as a registered user of heroin was prescribed methadone as part of a drug treatment programme . ` her prescription was for two 60ml bottles on a monday and wednesday and three on a friday . ` the 4th of march was a tuesday , simple arithmetic tells you there ought not to have been 146 ml of methadone in the house or anything like it . ' ` michelle king 's supply ought to have been low . but we have evidence that instead of taking it herself was keeping it and selling it to other drug users and using the money she made to buy heroin and cocaine for herself and barry jones . ` we say they showed complete disregard for the health of the child . ` prosecution point to the gross negligence of storing such a drug in a child 's tom and jerry drink beaker - something that we submit barry jones must have known was going on and failing to keep it out of harms reach from a child only two years of age and failing to seek medical help for sophie until it was too late . a relative told the court that sophie was unsteady on her feet before her death , and that they had heard king say that sophie was acting weird and barry telling his partner ' i hope you 've not left the top off your tablets ' ` sophie , after a scientific analysis of her hair , was found to be exposed to methadone , heroin , cocaine and diazepam which she had in some way ingested over a period of several months . ' in the run-up to the tragedy , a neighbour said he had often heard arguing between the adults and sophie would cry for a very long time without being attended to .<doc-sep>by . kieran corcoran . published : . 06:23 est , 7 march 2014 . | . updated : . 06:59 est , 8 march 2014 . the parents of a dead two-year-old girl have been charged in connection with her death after she was killed by drinking methadone from her baby mug at home , police believe . sophie jones , who was described as a ` beautiful , happy little angel ' , died of organ failure after paramedics rushed her to hospital at 11.45 pm on tuesday . her drug-addicted parents , michelle king , 29 , and barry jones , 41 , were taken into custody and are due to appear in court today . dead : sophie jones , two , died after ingested methadone , police confirmed .<doc-sep>family : sophie 's parents , michelle king , centre , and barry jones , right , have been charged in connection with the death . death : sophie was rushed to hospital on tuesday evening but could not be saved . toxicology reports into sophie 's death last night revealed that she had ingested methadone before she died . although it has not been established whether it killed her , officers continue to investigate the possibility . the detective leading the investigation said that the drug could not be found in the home and called for it to be returned by anyone who may have taken it away . jones and king were charged last night with causing or allowing the death of a child by means of an unlawful act . they were remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at blackpool magistrates ' court . charged : sophie 's parents barry jones , left , and michelle king , were arrested in the wake of their daughter 's death , and were charged last night . tribute : flowers , notes , cushions and soft toys have been left outside sophie 's blackpool home , paying tribute to the toddler . gone : neighbours and friends flocked to sophie 's home to leave tributes to the toddler . at a press conference yesterday , detective superintendent paul withers called for a container methadone , which is suspected to have been taken from sophie 's home , to be returned . he said : ` we are extremely concerned that a substance may have been removed from the address on jameson street either before or shortly after the arrival of paramedics .

<t> pictures show squalid conditions sophie jones was living in before death . </t> <t> mother used children 's beakers to store methadone she planned to sell . </t> <t> youngster was seen looking ` groggy ' after drinking from cartoon beaker . </t> <t> she later collapsed and died and was found to have been poisoned by drug . </t> <t> blackpool council have confirmed a serious case review into her death . </t>

inside blackpool house where sophie jones died after drinking methadone<T>

pantone , the authority responsible for determining what hue will prove most popular in the coming year , has announced its color of 2015 : marsala . and while the new jersey-based company has been happily singing the praises of the ` hardy , robust ' red shade , the wine-inspired tone has already come under some serious fire from critics who have described it as ` boring ' , ` horrendous ' and ` just plain awful ' . ` really , pantone ? that color looks like the vomit you might have after eating a bad chicken marsala , ' twitter user gina torrecilla proclaimed , while matt nagel said : ` marsala just is n't exciting . radiant orchid was n't bad . ' scroll down for video . ` it is n't exciting ' : critics of pantone 's color of the year for 2015 , named marsala , were quick to share their opinions on the red-brown hue on twitter . fashion favorite : marsala , pantone 's color of the year for 2015 , is expected to feature heavily on catwalks and red carpets in the coming months , having already been seen on designer mikael d 's runway -lrb- r -rrb- and worn by the likes of blake lively -lrb- l -rrb- . despite the somewhat negative criticism , leatrice eiseman , executive director of the pantone color institute , insists the hue will be incredibly popular in the new year . ` hardy , robust , satisfying , fulfilling , ' she said of the shade . ` at the same time there 's a certain glamour that 's attached to this color . ' pantone 's yearly color pick often serves as a good indication of what shades to expect in the coming year from fashion , beauty , housewares , home and industrial design and consumer packaging , though some years the influence is stronger than others . the 2014 color of the year from the forecasters and industry consultants was radiant orchid , a deep tropical purple . the year before that it was emerald green , while tangerine tango was the pick of 2012 . the idea , eiseman explained in a recent interview , is not to choose a color that will necessarily ` overtake the world ' , but rather one that will leave a lasting impression on a wide variety of industries .<doc-sep>eiseman and her team travel the world to observe color at play . they see marsala being used in any number of ways , be it an accent wall in a living room or office , a swipe of eye shadow mixed with bronze for a metallic look , a throw pillow , the exterior of a car , or a bit of jewelry evoking the 1950s . beauty trends : sephora announced that it will be releasing a make-up collection inspired by marsala . from cars to carpets : pantone 's yearly color picks influence all manner of industry , from fashion and beauty to industrial design and homewares . ` it really does embody a certain amount of confidence and stability , ' eiseman added . the hue is n't a risky one and the pantone team believe it will work , whether in a nail polish , a frock on a runway or a pattern of stripes in a men 's tie or florals for table placemats or bedding . eiseman noted the versatile shade was among colors pantone flagged as spring/summer trends for 2015 earlier this year , as evidenced on the runways of herve leger by max azria , dennis basso and creatures of the wind , among other designers . as they did with radiant orchid , cosmetics favorite sephora has already announced the launch of a limited-edition collection of beauty products based on pantone and its latest pick . eiseman added that marsala has been widely used in lipstick and hair color for years . one of the color 's strengths , she said , is the ease in combining it with gray , black , beige and other neutrals . ` it 's a color that you can mix with what you already own , ' she explained . ` you can add just a touch of it . that 's the intent and purpose . it is not the color that swallows the world . '<doc-sep>the belted waist lends itself well into a slight military aesthetic , with a focus on uniformity and utility . because of this , the color palette skews toward olive , forest greens and navy . but that 's not the only color story this year : there 's soft , pure neutrals and cosmetic tones like camel and chalky whites that are juxtaposed with warm , rich tones like cognac , saffron and blood orange . the pantone color institute 's top 10 colors for fall 2015 paint a similar picture , with offerings like cadmium orange , dried herb , stormy weather and marsala , which was recently named color of the year . `` the fall 2015 palette is rooted in multifaceted , androgynous colors that can be worn to portray effortless sophistication across men 's and women 's fashion ; it is the first time we are seeing a truly unisex color palette , '' said leatrice eiseman , the executive director of the institute . and while the 1970s reign supreme , bowring wonders whether things wo n't hark back even further to a time of `` historical romanticism , '' as she calls it , with high , intricately laced necklines , empire-waisted gowns and tapestry prints .<doc-sep>it has to be bigger than that . after all , this is the one color that will supposedly express `` what is taking place in the global zeitgeist '' thus , to finally crown radiant orchid , pantone searched the world over for design and color influences , pulling ideas from entertainment to technology . and , in the end , viewing the planet as one big global community , they decided , `` welp , this is sorta where we 're at . '' purple . of course , radiant orchid marks is a drastic departure from 2013 's wild and daring color of the year , pantone 17-5641 emerald . which , i submit , looks astonishingly close to winter booger . perhaps as a return to civility , radiant orchid appears somewhat closer to 2012 's color of the year , pantone 17-1463 tangerine tango . `` can you be more specific , dave ? '' `` you know , like a tangerine tango . '' really , i have no idea what the hell any of this means . but , especially to those in the design community , it matters . and , somehow , as a brand , pantone has actually become culturally iconic . at least in certain circles . in fact , now you can literally buy accessories like mugs and iphone cases that are intentionally designed to look like a pantone color swatch . it 's sort of like getting your favorite element from the periodic table printed on something because , damn it , you love boron . but , pantone merchandise , in a way , actually makes sense . i mean , why not express and represent yourself with a color . perhaps asking one 's pantone will even become a part of our lexicon . `` hey man , what 's your pantone ? '' `` oh , i 'm not wearing pants today . '' so , in 2014 keep an eye out for purple . from fashion runways to websites to living rooms , radiant orchid is going to be everywhere . that , and winter booger . well , maybe not everywhere . but definitely under my desk . follow @jarrettbellini on twitter .<doc-sep>i 'm really not sure how i feel about the color purple . it 's elegant and regal , but part of me also wants it to die in a ditch . no offense to our mountain majesties or eggplants . but , really , purple is kind of a confused , soulless color that , deep down , wishes it was blue , yet ca n't shake the fact that somewhere down on the family tree one of its relatives had hot , unprotected color sex with red . `` i shall not deny my feelings for you . '' `` that 's great , blue . but what 's with the leather chaps ? '' love it or hate it , get used to it . purple is going to be big in 2014 , at least according to our color overlords at the pantone corporation who recently announced the upcoming color of the year : radiant orchid . with its `` enchanting harmony of fuchsia , purple and pink undertones , '' radiant orchid actually seems rather zen and peaceful . but it also sounds exotic and , dare i say , mildly hallucinagenic . trust me , someone at cu-boulder will find a way to smoke this color . now , if it all seems a little weird to you -- the fact that there even exists a color of the year -- understand that pantone , headquartered in carlstadt , new jersey , heralds itself as `` the global color authority and provider of professional color standards for the design industry . '' basically , the company name has become synonymous worldwide with color language and communication . that means a designer in denmark can say to a manufacturer in pittsburgh , `` we want all of our widgets to be pantone winter booger '' and they 'll both know exactly what that looks like . that 's assuming winter booger is actually a shade of green in pantone 's official palette . if it 's not , it should be . i have several samples under my desk . regardless , pantone 18-3224 , radiant orchid , is apparently the big color for next year . and why ? because they said so . granted , there 's a lot of research that goes into this big decision , for choosing a color of the year is slightly more involved than just asking your buddy , dave , to decide . `` orange . '' `` can you be more specific , dave ? '' `` you know , like an orange . ''<doc-sep>one of first lady michelle obama 's favorite colors , a radiant jewel-toned purple , has been chosen by pantone inc. as the color of the year for 2014 . ` it 's an invitation to innovation . the purple family offers -lrb- an -rrb- opportunity to do creative things , ' she added . the first lady is already well versed in the power of purple . from her black tie gowns to her shift dresses and skirt suits , mrs obama has made no secret of her love for jewel-toned color . ` people associate purple with creativity and originality -- and those are very valued today , ' explains ms eisemen . pantone sets color standards for commercial use by design industries . twice a year the company hosts , in a european capital , a two-day meeting of representatives from various nations ' color standards groups to select a color of the year . following this year 's pick of emerald green , the purple hue of an orchid , officially known as radiant orchid , is set to pop up in everything from fashion and beauty to home design and other consumer products . the first lady is already well versed in the power of purple . from her shift dresses to her back tie gowns and skirt suits , mrs obama has made no secret of her love for jewel-toned color . ` it 's a little different , it 's a little . off the beaten path , and it 's not a primary color , ' said leatrice . eiseman , executive director of the pantone color institute -lrb- pictured : michelle obama in an roksanda ilincic belted dress -rrb- .

<t> the color authority announced the debut of the red-brown hue earlier today . </t> <t> while the company insists the shade is ` hardy , robust ' and even glamorous , many people have taken to twitter to blast it as ` boring ' </t>

marsala , pantone 's color of the year for 2015<T>

three people were arrested after police attended a student sit-in at warwick university . west midlands police said that they were responding to an alleged assault on a university staff member . a video which was posted on youtube but has now been made private , shows police dragging a protester to the floor , and the sound of a taser can be heard . a tweet from the west midlands police account said a taser ` was drawn but not deployed . the sound is a warning sound ' . scroll down for video . police drew a taser when they attended a student sit-in at warwick university . three people were arrested after an alleged assault on university staff - but students say the response was ` disproportionate ' . above , a still from a video of the struggle . a video which was posted on youtube but has now been made private , shows police dragging a protester to the floor , and the sound of a taser can be heard . in another video an officer appears to tell protesters to ` back off or you 'll get csed ' .<doc-sep>protesters can be seen being dragged onto the floor and physically removed from the building . the group , warwick for free education , said that they were staging a peaceful sit in at warwick university 's senate house in protest at rising tuition fees and high wages for university management . however , a spokesman for warwick university , which is based in coventry , said that university security staff who were supervising the sit-in were subject to a ` shocking and unprovoked act of violence ' which forced them to call in police . a spokesman for warwick university said that university security staff who were supervising the sit-in were subject to a ` shocking and unprovoked act of violence ' which forced them to call in police . a statement on the warwick free education website alleges that activists were ` punched , pushed onto the floor , dragged , rammed by their throat into the wall and kneed in the face . ` at least 20 students were assaulted by university security and police . ' a student at the protest told the coventry telegraph : ' a police officer took out his cs spray and sprayed it in one person 's eyes and then into a crowd of about ten people .<doc-sep>' a taser was taken out and was being made to crackle by pressing the trigger , but it was n't used . ` it felt particularly disproportionate . when the police came they did n't say why they were there . ' a lot of younger students were visibly shaken and left in tears . it was quite a shock , especially considering that it was a quiet protest - we were n't even shouting . ' a spokesman for west midlands police said : ` police were called to reports of an assault at the university of warwick central campus in coventry this afternoon . ` officers arrived at senate house at 4.50 pm to find a group of around 25 students protesting about fees and a staff member reported that he had been assaulted by one of the group . ` three people were arrested from the site , one on suspicion of assault and two others on suspicion of obstructing police . ` police officers and security staff from the university worked together to ensure everyone was safe .<doc-sep>` the protest continues and officers remain at the scene to ensure there is no further breach of the peace . ' shortly before 9pm west midlands police posted two tweets on its official @wmpolice account , saying : ` the protest at the university of warwick central campus remains on-going . three people have been arrested following reports of an assault . ` during the disorder a taser was drawn and an audible and visible warning was issued to prevent further incidents . the taser was not fired . ' but a statement from warwick students ' union said the force used by officers was ` disproportionate ' . it said : ` this afternoon , a group were demonstrating for free education and entered the lobby of senate house . the police arrived and an altercation took place , the full facts of which we are still in the process of establishing . three people were arrested . ` from the footage we have seen of this incident , we absolutely believe that disproportionate force was used against protesters . we stand in solidarity with the warwick students who were unnecessarily harmed in this action . ` the sabbatical team will be attending the peaceful demonstration happening on thursday at 3.30 pm . we will also update students further with a full statement tomorrow . '<doc-sep>the university disputes the allegations and is mounting a legal challenge . but professor bassnett , the emeritus professor of comparative literature at warwick , suggested the scandal was only the tip of the iceberg and london met had ` been made the scapegoat ' for a much wider problem . in comparison : while british students pay up to # 9,000 a year in tuition fees , foreign students on the same course can be charged up to # 20,000 . while british students pay up to # 9,000 a year in tuition fees , foreign students on the same course can be charged up to # 20,000 .<doc-sep>by . damien gayle . students clashed with police in spain today during a day of protests against cuts in education funding and rising tuition fees . protesters burned bins at a top spanish university campus while thousands marched through the streets in a national strike against education cuts that has seen scores of arrests . students and schoolchildren joined rallies in madrid , barcelona , valencia , bilbao and elsewhere to condemn reforms they say will block working class youngsters from a university education . scroll down for video . students face off against the spanish national police during a demonstration against education reforms that activists say will block the working classes from university . teenagers punch the air as they clutch a sign reading ` sons of bitches ' during a demonstration in the centre of madrid , the spanish capital . protesters march in madrid on the second day of a 48-hour strike which was called by spain 's union of students against the government 's education reforms . black-clad students clutch flares as they march through the law and philosophy campus of ciudad universitaria in madrid with their faces covered . students and high school pupils shout slogans as they march through the centre of madrid in protest at the reforms which will raise university tuition fees . ` tuition , books and free transport for children of workers ' and ` we want our scholarships ' chanted crowds , as they called for the resignation of education minister ignacio wert . tensions were running high on this second day of a 48-hour strike called by spain 's union of students , after riot police last night arrested more than 50 students who had occupied a campus building in madrid , the spanish capital . in madrid , the spanish capital , and the basque cities of bilbao and vitoria-gasteiz students burned barricades and hurled stones at heavily armed riot police . in pamplona eight youths taking part . in a student march were arrested on charges of public disorder , while . four others were held in bilbao . a .<doc-sep>the hike in tuition fees has caused ` wild and dangerous swings ' in university admissions , with some institutions taking on 43 per cent fewer students that the previous year . the universities and colleges admissions service -lrb- ucas -rrb- revealed that 51,000 fewer students started degree courses last autumn - a fall of 12 per cent - after fees nearly trebled to # 9,000 a year . ten of the 24 leading universities from the russell group , including leeds , imperial college london and warwick , registered drops . hardest hit : london metropolitan university had 43 per cent fewer students starting degree courses last autumn compared to the previous year . london metropolitan university , which last year had its licence to sponsor international students revoked , suffered the biggest fall at 43 per cent . enrolment also dropped 13 per cent at the university of southampton , 10 % at the university of liverpool and 9 % at the university of sheffield .<doc-sep>by . sara malm . university students and riot police clashed in the kenyan capital of nairobi today following a protest against tuition fees . students threw rocks and debris at police , who returned fire with tear gas and crude hand-carved wooden batons in a display of shockingly violent kettling methods . kenyan authorities moved against protesters , who were marching on a highway near nairobi university , in order to get them to retreat to the campus . a young woman flees is beaten with a baton as riot police forced protesting students back into the teargas-filled buildings of the nairobi university campus in nairobi , kenya . before the storm : university students were heard shouting slogans during the initial protest march against increasing tuition fees which set off the violence . two sides : despite using violence against the students , these riot police can be seen tending to an injured man outside the university . violent methods : in order to remove the protesters from the highway next to the university , riot police fired tear gas around - and on campus , while chasing both students and staff back into the buildings using batons and crude wooden sticks , in order to detain them . as riot police moved on to the . university , they fired dozens of rounds of tear gas around and outside . the buildings , witnesses said . when innocent staff and students inside the buildings tried to escape , they were beaten by police and forced back inside . students . demonstrated in at least four cities across the country over a proposed . increase in university fees in tuesday . however , according to reports , the protest by students . from the university of nairobi , which sits just across the street from .

<t> students were staging a sit-in at warwick university in coventry . </t> <t> three people were arrested after alleged assault on university staff . </t> <t> but students say the response was ` disproportionate ' </t> <t> they claim 20 students were ` assaulted ' by west midlands officers . </t> <t> witness says a taser was drawn and students threatened with cs gas . </t>

warwick university students arrested and others threatened at tuition fees protest<T>

more than 200 truckers responded to a facebook message from a sick boy 's mother who was on the hunt for a special present for her child 's birthday . lisa welch 's 10-year-old son jorge , from jimboomba in queensland , was born with a rare condition called cortical dysplasia , causing jorge to have the same brain functions as an 18-month-old baby . the disease occurs when the top layer of the brain does n't form properly , affecting the patients ability to learn new things . sick with trawling the aisles looking for baby toys , lisa decided to take to facebook and ask the trucking community if someone was free to bring a their rig around to jorge 's house for his big 10th birthday . scroll down for video . lisa welch 's 10-year-old son jorge , from jimboomba in queensland , was born with a rare condition called cortical dysplasia , causing jorge to have the same brain functions as an 18-month-old baby . speaking to the today show lisa said she noticed that jorge responded well to trucks who passed by on the freeway and wanted to do ` something cool ' for his birthday . ' i put an ad on facebook and i said i 'll see what happens , ' she said . however she did not expect the responses she received on facebook to her sweet request . sick with trawling the aisles looking for baby toys , lisa decided to take to facebook and ask the trucking community if someone was free to bring a their rig around to jorge 's house for his big 10th birthday . jorge was granted the birthday of a lifetime after his mother organised a convoy of trucks to drive into his yard . the 10-year-old has the brain functions of an 18-month-old baby due to his illness . over 200 truckers were willing and able to bring their lorry 's to jorge 's home town . exceeding lisa 's wildest expectations . the truckers came in their droves from perth , adelaide , melbourne and townsville to brighten up jorge 's day . trucking couple melissa and tommy said they had ` tears in their eyes ' when they saw jorge 's broad smile upon their arrival . truckers melissa and tommy had tears in their eyes when they saw jorge 's happy face . jorge got to ride in the passenger seat of one of the trucks . over 200 trucks came together to give jorge his birthday wish . ` it was absolutely priceless , ' melissa said . ` there were a few tears in the eyes just watching him , it was just magical . ' they let the happy boy ride in the passenger seat of their truck , while he took in his favourite piece of machinery . jorge was mesmerised with the trucks , feeling their wheels and taking in the big machinery . the truckers made their way through the town beeping and waving to locals . jorge got his birthday wish of riding in a rig . jorge looked ecstatic to be surrounded by the magnificent trucks , touching their wheels , beeping the horn and waving at the truckers . the trucking community pulled out all the stops as the convoy made their way past jorge 's family home . many donated gifts and funds to jorge and his family as they made their way past the small town . jorge 's parents wanted to give him something special for his 10th birthday . many truckers donated gifts and funds to jorge and his family as they made their way past the small town . ' i do n't even know what to say , ' lisa said . ` thank you very much , ' the disease cortical dysplasia causes seizures and the treatment is focused on controlling the seizures . a special diet also helps children control their seizures .<doc-sep>the mother of a young michigan boy who told her he had no friends to invite to his 11th birthday party created a facebook page so family friends could wish him happy birthday - that now has more than 13,000 likes . kalamazoo mother-of-two jennifer mentioned her son colin 's 11th birthday to him and was heartbroken when he told her he did n't want to have a party because he had no friends to invite . jennifer wanted to show colin that there were many people who cared for him on his birthday , so she created a facebook page a little over a week ago , with the intention of showing it to colin on his birthday , march 9 . birthday boy : colin is turning 11 on march 9 but does n't want a party because he does n't have any friends to invite . she hoped , she said , to get about 50 responses from friends and family , but what she got was an outpouring of love and support for her son from around the world . colin was diagnosed with sensory processing disorders last year , reports wood tv , which are similar to autism and asbergers syndrome . he finds it difficult to socialize and tends to act out in certain situations .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 11:02 est , 20 september 2013 . | . updated : . 12:47 est , 20 september 2013 . the eight-year-old boy who wrote a heartfelt letter to santa claus asking for help to stop his sister being bullied at school got one of his christmas wishes early . ryan suffern 's letter made news around the world after his mother karen posted it on her facebook page over the weekend , touched that he wanted to forgo his presents to help his twin sister amber - but also heartbroken her daughter was suffering . he also asked that her favorite band big time rush come to amber 's birthday party as it would ` make her so happy ' . after seeing the letter , good morning america brought the family to new york today and while amber was being interviewed about being bullied , the band appeared from behind a curtain to surprise her . scroll down for video . serenade : amber suffern 's dream came true when boy band big time rush surprised her today after her brother ryan asked santa for an early present ` to make her very happy ' shell-shocked : amber 's mouth drops open in surprise as members of band big time rush come in to wish her an early happy birthday . shy : amber is overwhelmed as the band hold her hand and sing to her . selfless : twin brother ryan wrote a letter to santa asking for help to stop his sister 's bullying instead of getting a remote control car and a helicopter . she was visibly shell-shocked as the band members held her hand and serenaded her as an early birthday present for her , as ryan had asked in his letter to santa . but more importantly , the letter allowed karen suffern to discuss the bullying issue with rocky mount preparatory in north carolina so they could work to make school better for her daughter . the eight-year-old revealed to gma .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- a woman believed to be the world 's oldest facebook user has died at the age of 114 , her family said . anna stoehr of plainview , minnesota , gained widespread attention in october when she said she 'd had to lie about her age to sign up for the social network . facebook responded by celebrating her impressive longevity on her birthday . `` she turned 114 in october of this year and received a huge bouquet of 114 flowers from facebook after they learned that she was not able to sign up without putting in a fake age of 90 or 95 , '' harlan stoehr , her 84-year-old eldest son , told cnn on tuesday . he told cnn that his mother -- who leaves 5 children , 27 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren -- died sunday . no phone , no car , no electricity . she was born in 1900 , the year before the assassination of president william mckinley and the death of queen victoria . her family had no telephone , car or electricity at the time . facebook is n't set up to accommodate such venerable users . the network 's sign-up page only allows people to put dates of birth going back to 1905 . facebook chief executive mark zuckerberg had attempted to reach anna stoehr after his company sent an apology about the age restriction , according to her daughter-in-law marlene stoehr . `` she was not available when he had his assistant call to get hold of her because of a medical appointment , and then mark zuckerberg was out of the country so it never happened , '' she said . `` but it was an exciting time for everyone with all the attention . '' the company did n't immediately respond to a request for comment wednesday . lived on a farm until she was 112 .<doc-sep>a man with down 's syndrome was moved to tears after receiving 30,000 birthday cards from strangers around the globe after his mother 's touching appeal on facebook went viral . manuel parriseaux , from calais , france , was overwhelmed by well-wishers when he turned 30 on saturday , following his mother jacqueline 's post . the doting mother , 61 , wrote the message in french on her husband lucien 's page , but had no idea it would reach so many people . manuel parriseaux , from calais , france , with his mother jacqueline , who posted the facebook request for birthday cards . ' i would like to make a request to all my facebook friends - my son manuel is turning 30 years old on 22 november and he loves to receive cards in the post , ' said the message . ` he has down 's syndrome . i 'm writing to ask you to take a couple minutes to send him a little card and to pass this information on to your friends so the chain does n't get broken . ' i thank you all in advance for your gesture , which will make my manu so happy . ' the message struck a chord with jacqueline and lucien 's friends and many more . eventually the post was shared 120,00 times resulting in 300 birthday cards flooding in for manuel . but the post was mistaken for spam by facebook and the page was blocked .

<t> a sick boy has been given the birthday of a lifetime . </t> <t> jorge suffers from cortical dysplasia and has the mental functions of an 18-month old baby . </t> <t> his mother lisa was sick of trawling the aisles looking at baby toys . </t> <t> she wanted to give him a birthday to remember . </t> <t> lisa put a post up on facebook asking for a truck to come to her yard . </t> <t> the response was magnificent . </t> <t> over 200 trucks made their way to jimbooma from all over the country . </t>

200 truckers respond to mother 's facebook request to give her sick 10-year-old boy his birthday wish<T>

online retailing giant amazon has launched its own brand of diapers , opening a new front in retail battles - and a direct challenge to name-brands already selling on the site . amazon said the first offerings in its new amazon elements line of consumer products would be diapers and baby wipes , and that other competitively priced , ` premium ' everyday consumer products would soon follow . but the elements line is only available to members of amazon 's prime $ 99-a-year subscription club , with the lowest prices available for those who are also members of its amazon mom group , as the company seeks to push more shoppers into its membership programs . time for change : amazon is launching the line of diapers and baby wipes exclusively for its prime members to get more shoppers to sign up for the $ 99 annual program . expanding : the launch comes a year after amazon reported it was recruiting people to help create its own brand of products in the larger category known as consumables . amazon highlighted that the elements line would provide quality-conscious shoppers ` an unprecedented level of information ' on product origins and materials . ` the two things customers told us they want are premium products that meet their high standards , and access to information so they can make informed decisions , ' said sunny jain , amazon.com consumables vice president , in a statement .<doc-sep>entering the market : the first offerings in the new amazon elements line of consumer products will be diapers and baby wipes . the initial prices , including discounts to prime members and the amazon mom club , put a size 4 diaper 10 percent more expensive than the popular huggies brand . but it was about 27 percent cheaper than the premium seventh generation brand , popular with health and environmentally-conscious consumers , in the prime and amazon mom pricing . amazon has been seeking to push shoppers into prime , originally a subscription service for free shipping aimed at frequent buyers on its website . a prime subscription now gives members unlimited video and music streaming as amazon takes on powerful media groups like netflix and spotify . in some areas , prime is now offering same day delivery on groceries as well .<doc-sep>bb&t spokesman anthony chukumba who oversaw the analysis told abc : ` what it comes down to is retailers realize that to remain relevant they 've got to invest in their prices . ` they have to lower their prices to remain more competitive with amazon . ` people are not just shopping at amazon because it 's cheaper . it 's a great shopping experience , ' researchers discovered prices for a basket of 30 items at the bed bath & beyond chain were on average 6.5 per cent less than amazon 's . he said : ` we are becoming increasingly . concerned bed bath & beyond is sacrificing gross margin in order to . drive top-line growth . ' meanwhile electronics retailer best buy , . which was not so long ago being written off as an amazon casualty , has . experienced a surge in growth as they develop new tactics to compete . with internet retailers . best buy now guarantees to match its prices with amazon in a bid to customers merely using its stores as a showroom before buying the products cheaper online . quarterly results announced yesterday .<doc-sep>more customers are opting to shop from the comfort of their homes this thanksgiving weekend , forgoing the chaos of black friday for the ease of cyber monday deals , a survey has found . but web shoppers beware : for the first time , residents in california , texas and pennsylvania will be automatically charged state sales tax at the checkout on amazon and other online stores . and next year , they will be joined by shoppers in virginia and new jersey , and by january 2014 , those in nevada , indiana and tennessee . scroll down for video . getting ready : online companies prepare their warehouses ahead of a manic cyber monday . pictured , the sierra trading post fulfillment center sits stocked in preparation in cheyenne , wyoming . amazon has admitted it made # 3.35 billion in sales in britain last year - much higher than the # 207million figure that it previously showed in its uk accounts . what comes as bad news for shoppers comes as good news for amazon 's competitors , who have expressed their relief at finally ` levelling the playing field ' with the e-commerce giant , which earned a staggering $ 17.45 billion in the holiday quarter last year . other stores have claimed that amazon 's success is partly due to the fact it can undercut them by avoiding sales tax , which is as high as nine per cent in some states . the changes are coming into play after individual states have passed legislation on online sales tax after congress has failed to pass a national law . chains including walmart and target have been lobbying the bills , politico reported . ` now for a sizeable chunk of the u.s. population , amazon is playing by the same rules as the rest of the retailers , ' jason brewer , a spokesman for the retail industry leaders association , told the site . avoid the queues : by ordering bargains online , shoppers avoid the chaos of black friday . madness : shoppers position themselves for midnight openings at the clackamas town center , oregon . chaos : shoppers fight for deals in the shoe department at the columbiana centre belk in south carolina . trying : people wait in line for a best buy store in northeast philadelphia to open it 's doors at midnight . amazon has avoided state sales tax after hiding behind a 1992 supreme . court decision , which found that mail-order retailers did n't have to collect state and local sales taxes from places where they . did n't have physical operations , like factories or warehouses . the national conference of state legislatures estimates that in 2010 , states missed out on a staggering $ 8.6 billion in revenues from failing to collect sales tax from online purchases . there has been increasing pressure from companies and states to create federal internet tax law but , as this has yet to come into fruition , some states are setting up their own . in june , amazon agreed to start charging the tax in new jersey and struck deals with other states - including those where it has long had a physical presence with offices or distribution centres . this holiday season , shoppers in california , texas and pennsylvania . will be charged state sales tax for the first time . next year , amazon will include virginia and new jersey and by 2014 , nevada , indiana and tennessee . ` there are going to be fewer people who shop online solely for the sales tax benefit . ' but amazon maintains that it expects this holiday season to be its most successful yet . ` as analysts have noted , we offer customers the best prices with or without sales tax , ' said scott stanzel , an amazon spokesman . ` we collect sales tax or its equivalent in more than half of the areas where we do business and we are pleased to say we are thriving in those geographies because amazon offers low prices , vast selection and fast delivery . ' yet some retailers said they are already noticing a difference in states were amazon is collecting sales tax .<doc-sep>launched in 2005 , amazon prime is a $ 99 annual membership that grants privileges such as faster shipping and access to the company 's library of streaming movies and music . in addition to the fee , amazon likes prime members because they tend to spend more money on the site . the extended prime benefits are part of login and pay with amazon , an existing program the company has with outside retailers . companies pay a fee to amazon in return for making it possible for online shoppers to buy instantly using their amazon accounts . ascott said the relationship has been a productive one . amazon customers who put items in their `` shopping cart '' have been 34 % more likely to purchase them , he said , and spend 15 % more than non-amazon customers . but some retailers have been reluctant to give amazon a bigger hand in how their business gets done on the web . the company has been accused in the past of lowering its own prices to put the squeeze on competitors , even to the point of taking a short-term loss on some products . and tech blog re/code quotes unnamed retailers as saying they 're not inclined to advertise their products on amazon -- a component of the login and pay plan -- because they ca n't control the context in which their ads will appear . `` when we go to open a store in the mall , we 're very careful about who is around us , '' one retail executive told re/code . `` on amazon , because they are serving up customized results , our stuff may appear next to some joe schmo or third party selling similar goods at half the price . ''<doc-sep>and of course , parents are doing everything they can to meet their families ' needs with less money , but is it really at the expense of their tots ' tushes ? we would n't be surprised if other explanations beyond parents skimping on diaper changes included folks making the switch to increasingly popular cloth diapers , others pushing potty training earlier , which pampers marketer procter & gamble suggested , and even just more aggressive marketing efforts on the part of diaper cream makers and retailers . parenting.com : huggies debuts new camo designer diapers . has the economy caused you to change your diapering strategy in any way ? get 2 free years of parenting magazine - subscribe now !! copyright 2011 the parenting group . all rights reserved . reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited .

<t> suppliers had long feared amazon would eventually elbow them aside . </t> <t> amazon elements is a new line of amazon-branded ` everyday essentials ' available exclusively to prime subscribers . </t> <t> amazon 's pack of 40 diapers will sell for $ 7.99 - 19 cents a diaper compared to national brands like huggies and pampers that go for about 24 to 34 cents . </t> <t> new diapers are up to 40 cents cheaper than name brand competitors . </t>

amazon takes on other retailers with own diaper line<T>

a young elephant got thoroughly punished for his bad behaviour when he was forced to stay out in the rain while the rest of the heard sheltered under a tree . the male calf can be seen starring forlornly into the distance as thunderstorm and rain fall on the savanna . the family quarrel , preceded by what appears to be a ` trunk war ' took place in the serengeti national park , tanzania , . naughty step : a young bull elephant is made to stay out in the rain - possibly for his bad behaviour - while his family huddle under an acacia tree . the herd of elephants was captured by kelvin zhang , a scientist from los angeles , california , who was visiting the serengeti . mr zhang , 37 , said he spotted the elephants underneath the acacia tree as he was also seeking shelter from the oncoming storm .<doc-sep>he said : ' i was n't sure if these elephants were there to hide from the rain or not because i thought thick skinned animals like elephants do not usually care much about the rain . ` not until we got very close to the tree did i realise there was this little elephant calf standing alone in the rain , with all others under the tree . ' teenage tantrum : the young bull elephant appears to have been causing trouble earlier on . ` one , two , three , four , i declare a trunk war ' : the elephant and an older relative have it out . the herd of elephants was captured by kelvin zhang , a scientist from la , who was visiting the serengeti . ' i was rather intrigued by the fact he was standing away from the tree alone , where all his companions congregate , in my understanding deliberately as he had his face away from the rest of the group .<doc-sep>` it was a very interesting moment because it reflects some peculiar behaviour about these animals . ` they are highly social most of the time but like us they can have a temper or small fights . ` the calves can have their rebellious moments , and like us , they may sometimes prefer some alone time . ' muddled up : a very young elephant has had a dirty bath on the serengeti . playtime : two elephants from the same herd enjoyed some leisure time in the water 's edge before the storm .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 06:40 est , 22 december 2012 . | . updated : . 22:55 est , 22 december 2012 . from a stunning close-up of a snarling leopard to an elephant family dusting themselves down in the searing heat , this series of beautiful photographs shows african wildlife at its most awe-inspiring . photographer anup shah produced the images using remote camera , which enabled him to share an unrivalled perspective of the continent 's animal kingdom . in his project , the serengeti spy , mr shah used hidden cameras , camouflaging them to look like part of the landscape . stunning : a group of african elephants dust themselves down in the searing heat of the african wilderness . close-up : a snarling female leopard shows what she thinks of photographer anup shah 's camera . what 's this ? a curious monkey seems to spot the hidden camera and stares inquisitively into the lens as his friends go about their business of playing on a fallen tree . doe-eyed : a spotted hyena looks intently into the lens and is so close every single one of its whiskers is visible . he placed them in various locations across the african savannah in the serengeti and massai mara , and operated them from a distance while sitting in a vehicle , a technique that encouraged a fair amount of curiosity from his subjects . many of the animals seem to be staring directly into the camera or even interacting with it , such as a spotted hyena -lrb- above -rrb- and , unsurprisingly , some young baboons -lrb- further down -rrb- . mr shah 's wide angle and low level perspectives show the animals in a fascinating light , such as the huge size of an elephant 's trunk and a breathtaking picture of flamingos taking off in the lake nakuru national park in kenya . raw power : a herd of eastern white-bearded wildebeest herd hurtle through the maasai mara national reserve in kenya . little and large : a herd of zebra head away from the mara river in kenya . a baby tries to keep up with its mother . wondrous : this elephant 's long trunk is put into perspective with this wide angle shot in the massai mara national reserve in kenya . up , up and away : a flock of flamingos takes off from lake nakuru national park in kenya , with the photographer using a low level perspective to get the impressive shot . the power of a herds of wildebeest and zebras running at full pelt is captured in all its glory . the brutal side of nature is also laid bare in the shots , with an almost apocalyptic shot of a lone flamingo chick tottering on the scorched-looking mud flats of tanzania and a portrait of vultures gorging on the carcass of a zebra . the photographs have been published in a 204-page photo book titled serengeti spy : views from a hidden camera on the plains of east africa . apocalyptic : a lesser flamingo chick wades through mudflats at lake natron in tanzania , with ol doniyo lengai in the background . feast : white-backed vultures surround a carcass of a zebra in the maasai mara national reserve .<doc-sep>a vast cloud of dust is thrown up as millions of hooves stampede down the banks of the mara river in the maasai mara national reserve in kenya . one by one the charging wildebeest throw themselves into the boiling river as they make the annual pilgrimage from serengeti national park in neighbouring tanzania to greener pastures . the river crossing is fraught with danger . crocodiles lie in wait just a few yards in , hoping to snatch the younger or weaker creatures for an easy meal . journey : every year 1.5 million wildebeest make the journey from serengeti national park in tanzania to the maasai mara in neighbouring kenya . stampede : as the herd heads down the steep bank and into the water , one wildebeest throws himself into the boiling river . dramatic : a huge cloud of dust is thrown up for the banks of the mara river as a herd of wildebeest risk their lives and plunge in . leap of faith : all too aware of the dangers that lie ahead , two migrating wildebeest jump into the mara river in maasai mara national reserve , kenya , regardless . incline : a breakaway group forge a new path down the steep bank before diving into the water . out front , a pair of adults appear to be shepherding a calf across . orderly : having made their way to the edge of the river , this group form a queue before stepping into the abyss which is littered with danger for them . if that does not get them , they have to fight strong currents as they bid to make it across to the other side .<doc-sep>for now though , his days , much like those of a human child , are a whirlwind of play , cuddles and bottle feeds . ` each of the elephants rescued and in the care of the david sheldrick wildlife trust has . been orphaned , ' says brandford . ` but they now have a new herd in the form of . our unusual human-elephant family . ' tiny : little tundani is one of the smallest elephants at the david sheldrick wildlife trust 's nairobi national park orphanage . best . friends : suguta , kibo and nchan like to spend their days playing . together and will eventually live as a herd in tsavo national park when . they grow up . play time : older orphans at the david sheldrick wildlife trust 's ithumba orphanage get a lesson on how to live life in the wild . time to get up ! playful sities attempts to lever her somnolent friend kainuk out of a muddy pool for a game but without success . pile . up ! adorable baby elephants naipoki and mutara indulge in a spot of . heavyweight wrestling during playtime in the david sheldrick wildlife . trust 's nairobi nursery . cuddle : . naipoki , vuria and kihari indulge in some mutual back scratching as the . relax in the beautiful nairobi national park in kenya . bottom scratch ! adorable little orphaned elephant rorogoi takes care of an itch with the help of a conveniently placed tree in nairobi national park . bath time ! little orphan elephant orwa scratches an itch on a convenient tree during a relaxed moment in nairobi national park .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . this is the heart-stopping moment a photographer came within inches of a young cheetah when it stuck its head through her sun roof . australian bobby-jo clow , 31 , was on safari in tanzania when the juvenile started heading towards her land rover with his sibling . she carried on taking pictures as the young male dangled its paws in front of her face and smelt her hair before its mother called it away into the wilds of the serengeti national park . cheeky cheetah : the inquisitive animal pokes its head through the car 's sunroof . snarl : the animal bares its teeth after hopping on top of the car in tanzania 's serengeti national park . spot the intruder : the cheetah stands on the bonnet peering inside the car . but not until ms clow , a full-time elephant keeper at a tanzanian zoo , had leaned forward enough to capture the perfect shot , causing the cheetah to hiss and bare its teeth . she said : ` it was wildlife heaven . it was so overwhelming . i was actually crying through my viewfinder at times .

<t> young bull elephant pictured ` on the naughty step ' on the savanna . </t> <t> while his family stay dry under an acacia tree , he was left in the rain . </t> <t> the scene took place in the serengeti national park , in tanzania . </t>

elephant left in the rain as the herd steal shelter in serengeti national park<T>

an investigation has been launched into the leaking of defence minister david johnston 's travel and hospitality receipts . the defence department is probing how senator johnston and his chief of staff sean costello 's expenses were made public , the abc reports , after it was revealed they indulged in a series of expensive meals with industry officials who are chasing lucrative government contracts . dining receipts obtained by news corp journalist ian mcphedran show mr johnston , mr costello and defence industry executives spent $ 6384 of taxpayers money in pricey restaurants during november . scroll down for video . receipts showing thousands of taxpayers dollars being spent on lavish meals by defence minister david johnson have been revealed , with this $ 662 receipt from sean 's kitchen in adelaide . the revelations of the meals - often washed down with $ 200 bottles of wine - come as ordinary troops in australia 's armed services face cuts to their entitlements and a 1.5 per cent pay increase which is below the rate of inflation . a spokesman for the defence minister told daily mail australia that the spending was all within guidelines .<doc-sep>` all hospitality hosted by the defence minister and extended to foreign dignitaries or industry heads , including at the time of the albany commemoration , has been within guidelines and is consistent with previous defence ministers ' practice , ' the spokesperson said . however , the opposition 's nick champion told the abc the prime minister should take action against senator johnston . ` it 's up to tony abbott really , to do what we all know needs to be done , ' mr champion said . ` we all know it 's going to be done . this minister is either going to be demoted , shifted out of his portfolio or sacked completely and put on the backbench . ' this receipt shows some of the items indulged in at balthazar restaurant in perth on november 12 . the first lavish dinner took place on november 2 at perth 's matilda bay restaurant , where rib eye steaks , lamb and snapper along with three bottles of henschke mt edlestone shiraz at $ 190 a bottle contributed to the $ 2332 bill , news corp reported .<doc-sep>the prestigious establishment has waterfront views of the swan river . just a few days later , on november 5 , mr johnston and mr costello were in adelaide dining with bruce carter , chairman of submarine builder asc and one of the companies chasing government work , sources told news corp. . the trio polished off two bottles of $ 143 shiraz at sean 's kitchen , and two martinis at $ 20 each , according to the $ 662 receipt . defence minister david johnston -lrb- left -rrb- and his chief of staff sean costello -lrb- right -rrb- dined with industry executives hoping to secure billion dollar government contracts . these accusations come as defence personnel are facing cuts to their allowances and pay . the next stop was balthazar restaurant in perth where the $ 722 bill - again racked up between just three people - included two $ 172 bottles of omensetter shiraz , two pork fillets and a cheese platter , news corp reported .<doc-sep>for the november 12 dinner , mr johnston and mr costello shared a meal and a few drinks with ' a senior executive from austal . ' shipbuilder austal is also seeking defence work from the government according to news corp. . matilda bay in perth was revisited on november 15 where the bill racked up by seven guests at the waterfront restaurant was $ 2062 . rib eye steaks were on the menu again , as were two bottles of picardy chardonnay at $ 170 a pop . bruce carter , chairman of submarine builder asc -lrb- left -rrb- and andrew bellamy , head of wa shipbuilder austal -lrb- right -rrb- were among some of the pair 's dinner guests . the final dinner destination for november was the courgette in canberra , where mr johnston and mr costello were joined by two others , totalling $ 599 for dinner and drinks . in stark contrast , ordinary defence personnel who travel on business are afforded allowances of $ 24 for breakfast , $ 28 for lunch and $ 47 for dinner .<doc-sep>its people have just been hit with a stark austerity budget that proposes # 4.5 billion spending cuts . but israel 's prime minister does n't seem to have heard the news as he 's doubled his expenses , spending # 975,000 on luxuries such as hairdressers and shoes . benjamin netanyahu 's household expenses were revealed after the movement for freedom of information demanded his office release the details of his costs . his taxpayer-funded spending on food and hospitality went from # 39,000 in 2009 to # 88,000 in 2012 . an increase that will no doubt enrage israeli citizens was under ` representation expenses ' -- which included # 11,700 being spent on his wardrobe , shoes , make-up and hair treatment , the daily telegraph reported . another 318,000 shekels - or # 57,287 - were spent on the prime minister 's family 's private villa in the exclusive caesarea , a coastal resort , the independent reported . details of his lavish spending came after his government approved an unpopular austerity budget which will raise taxes and cut public spending in order to tackle 7bn deficit in 2012 . demonstrations across israeli cities were held at the weekend to oppose the tough measures , the guardian reported .<doc-sep>by . martin robinson . published : . 03:40 est , 18 april 2013 . | . updated : . 05:53 est , 19 april 2013 . arrests : a man and a woman have been held after cumbria 's crime commissioner richard rhodes ' expenses claims , which included limo journeys , were allegedly leaked . three whistleblowers have been arrested after details of chauffeur - driven journeys taken by a newly-elected police tsar were leaked to the press . cumbria police 's decision to launch a probe into the exposure of the # 700 trips -- made by its police and crime commissioner richard rhodes -- has provoked a major political row . last night two police staff and another man were arrested as part of the inquiry into ` disclosure of personal information ' . another police worker was suspended after agreeing to a voluntary interview . the investigation began after mr rhodes ' office responded to the publishing of his expenses bill for two trips in a mercedes by ` raising concerns ' with police . last night mps queued up to protest that the arrests stifled freedom of speech and set a ` dangerous precedent ' . liberal democrat leader nick clegg said the police had been ` heavy-handed ' and that whistleblowers should be protected . south lakes mp tim farron added : ` it is wrong to seek to silence whistleblowers in this case . details of the expenses of public officials ought to be publicly available anyway , we should n't have to rely on leaks to find these things out . ` this information was in the public interest . most councils publish this information on a regular basis so why not the police commissioner ? to arrest these staff members is high-handed , a threat to free speech and a very dangerous precedent . ' defence : cumbria police say that the commissioner is driven for his safety and the trips were stopped once he saw the cost . the row over mr rhodes ' expenses began last week when the cumberland and westmorland herald published details of the trips made by him in a hired mercedes with a driver . in one , mr rhodes and his wife travelled 25 miles for a dinner with the archbishop of york at a hotel . mr rhodes , a churchwarden , billed the public # 313 for the journey , which was not listed among his official engagements . the second journey from his office in penrith to another hotel , the pheasant inn at bassenthwaite lake , covered 28 miles in each direction and cost taxpayers # 385 . the retired headmaster -- who is paid # 65,000 as commissioner -- paid back the money after the newspaper exposed his expenses . theresa may last night urged caution over plans for secret arrests . the home secretary said the association of chief police officers should be ` very careful ' about removing the right for people to know who they detain . under guidance being drawn up by acpo on behalf of the judiciary , forces would be banned from revealing the names of those held on suspicion of crimes , to protect their reputation . even families and friends would be kept in ignorance and unable to help . mrs may told mps : ` these are not just black and white arguments . ` you have to look at them very carefully in terms of the impact that they have . '<doc-sep>by . steve doughty . published : . 09:37 est , 19 april 2013 . | . updated : . 18:52 est , 19 april 2013 . arrests : a man and a woman have been held after cumbria 's crime commissioner richard rhodes ' expenses claims , which included limo journeys , were allegedly leaked . the police and crime commissioner who reported his staff for exposing his expenses claim for a chauffeur-driven mercedes apologised yesterday -- but says he has no regrets about calling in the police . cumbria pcc richard rhodes reported the whistleblowers for telling a newspaper he had charged the taxpayer # 700 for two chauffeur-driven trips . he admitted yesterday he should have checked the cost of the trips before charging them to the taxpayer , but refused to apologise to the three people who face possible prison sentences if they are convicted of leaking details of his expenses claim . he went on to say that he would use his new # 23,000 hyundai crossover -- another taxpayer-funded perk -- in the future . cumbria police chief bernard lawson said his officers will send a file to the crown prosecution service so it can consider charges against the staff members who blew the whistle . two people have been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office and another on suspicion of perverting the course of justice . those found guilty of these offences commonly draw prison sentences of a year or more . mps from all parties have condemned the police investigation that followed after the local newspaper that received the leak , the cumberland and westmorland herald , called mr rhodes ' office to check the details of his expenses . labour mp for barrow and furness john woodcock said the affair was ` alarming ' and called for new laws to protect whistleblowers . defence : cumbria police say that the commissioner is driven for his safety and the trips were stopped once he saw the cost . theresa may last night urged caution over plans for secret arrests . the home secretary said the association of chief police officers should be ` very careful ' about removing the right for people to know who they detain . under guidance being drawn up by acpo on behalf of the judiciary , forces would be banned from revealing the names of those held on suspicion of crimes , to protect their reputation . even families and friends would be kept in ignorance and unable to help . mrs may told mps : ` these are not just black and white arguments . ` you have to look at them very carefully in terms of the impact that they have . ' critics say it is an assault on open justice and threatens to turn britain into a ` banana republic ' . ` it is time to change the law to give explicit protection to people who . shine a spotlight on the inappropriate use of public money , ' he said . ` employees in wasteful organisations should be applauded , not punished , . for taking a stand . ' the scandal broke after mr rhodes spent # 700 going to two dinners in a . hired mercedes with a driver . the trips were from his home in the south . of the lake district rather than from his office in penrith , and cost . the taxpayer # 385 and # 313 . mr rhodes made a partial apology at a press conference yesterday . he . said : ` i have made two mistakes . firstly , not checking the cost of the .<doc-sep>by . rosie taylor . published : . 04:34 est , 3 august 2013 . | . updated : . 05:03 est , 3 august 2013 . the bbc has splashed out nearly # 24,000 in hospitality and appearance fees for just ten mps , including senior former cabinet ministers . gifts to mps from the taxpayer-funded corporation include vip hospitality tickets and all-expenses paid trips abroad to film documentaries . labour mps received the biggest payments , with former home secretary alan johnson being paid # 12,000 for just 40 hours work at the bbc - the equivalent to # 300 an hour - where he has made regular tv and radio appearances . on screen : former cabinet minister tessa jowell on the bbc 's question time with actor and comedian russell brand . and diane abbott was paid # 3,278 - including # 500 for appearing on the quiz show pointless , # 600 for university challenge , # 500 for travel and an appearance on sunday morning live in northern ireland and two payments of # 839 for this week . bbc wales provided tickets in its hospitality box worth # 781 each for the wales vs ireland six nations rugby match at the millenium stadium in cardiff for labour mps nia griffith and owen smith . while peter hain , a labour mp who was born in africa , was sent on an all-expenses paid trip to south africa to film a documentary about its future , for which he received # 2,900 to cover expenses . tory mp philip davies was also sent on a paid trip to florida worth # 1,290 to make a programme about the death penalty . the payments were all declared on the . mp 's latest register of financial interests , which details income . received by mps outside their salary in approximately the last 18 . months . payments : diane abbott -lrb- left -rrb- declared two appearance fees of # 839 for being a guest on this week . cashing in : former home secretary alan johnson -lrb- left -rrb- was paid # 12,000 for 40 hours work at the bbc , while tory mp glyn davies -lrb- right -rrb- has received # 1,650 in appearance fees . payments : labour 's peter hain mp was taken on a # 2,900 trip to south africa to film a documentary , while former home secretary david blunkett was paid # 250 for appearing on sunday morning live on bbc one . other recipients of the bbc 's generosity include conservative mp glyn davies , who was paid # 900 for six newspaper reviews and # 600 for interviews by bbc news 24 , as well as # 150 , plus unspecified travel expenses , for appearing on bbc wales show pawb a ' i farn . former cabinet minister tessa jowell declared receiving # 250 for an interview and # 500 for an unspecified television appearance at the bbc , while former home secretary david blunkett was paid # 250 for an appearance on sunday morning live . tory john whittingdale was paid # 150 for an appearance on any questions . matthew sinclair , of the taxpayers ' alliance , told the sun that the spending by the bbc was ` hard to justify when budgets are so tight ' . a bbc spokesman said : ` in general , we do not pay a fee to politicians to appear on bbc programmes to talk about party political matters . if they are making a filmed report or appearing as a presenter they may be offered a modest fee . ' defending the tickets given to mps to attend the rugby match at the millennium stadium , he added : ` the box at the millennium stadium is provided to us as a result of our broadcasting deal with the welsh rugby union and is not subject to a separate payment . we invite a wide range of guests from political parties as well as stakeholders from a range of other organisations . ' diane abbott -lrb- lab -rrb- - # 3,278 for television appearances and travel . david blunkett -lrb- lab -rrb- - # 250 for a television appearance . glyn davies -lrb- con -rrb- - # 1,650 for newspaper reviews and interviews . philip davies -lrb- con -rrb- - # 1,290 in expenses for a trip to florida to film a documentary . peter hain -lrb- lab -rrb- - # 2,900 in expenses for a trip to south africa to film a documentary . nia griffith -lrb- lab -rrb- - hospitality tickets to wales vs ireland six nations match worth # 781 . alan johnson -lrb- lab -rrb- - # 12,000 for 40 hours of work for the bbc . tessa jowell -lrb- lab -rrb- - # 750 for an interview and a television appearance . owen smith -lrb- lab -rrb- - hospitality tickets to wales vs ireland six nations match worth # 781 . john whittingdale -lrb- con -rrb- - # 150 for a radio appearance .

<t> defence department launches an investigation into leaked receipts . </t> <t> receipts show $ 6384 of taxpayers money was spent on lavish dining by defence minister david johnston and his chief of staff sean costello . </t> <t> the pair entertained industry heavyweights looking to secure lucrative government contracts . </t> <t> the dinners included pricey meals and $ 200 bottles of wine . </t> <t> the receipts emerged as ordinary defence workers are facing below inflation pay rises and entitlement cuts . </t>

defence minister launches investigation after details of his $ 6000 hospitality expenses were leaked<T>

lewis hamilton is living his american dream , with rap star friends , the celebrity los angeles girlfriend and a giant bling necklace . and the championship leader , who is mobbed in austin , has even spoken about the possibility of raising a family on this side of the atlantic . ' i enjoy it here , it 's pretty cool , ' he said . ` new york is a cool place to live . i was in knoxville -lsb- tennessee -rsb- the other day . it 's beautiful , by the lake . but there is too much fast food . i 'm always thinking about where i would raise a family and i have n't figured out where that would be . lewis hamilton with his american pop star girlfriend nicole scherzinger at the gq men of the year awards . hamilton drives his way to second on the grid for sunday 's united states grand prix . ` it feels a little bit early but at some stage i want to have a family and continue the family name . ' hamilton , 29 , trains in the rocky mountains in colorado and regularly travels from his home in monaco to la to see nicole scherzinger , his pop star girlfriend . a friend of rappers , he is keen on the music industry - an interest he could now actively look to develop into a business opportunity having just parted company with simon fuller 's xix management stable . hamilton will wait until the end of the season before deciding who will look after his affairs , but non-racing concerns are sure to be a factor in that process . hamilton is a crowd favourite at the us race in austin , texas , and has talked about a life there . hamilton poses for a selfie with a fan in austin , where he is proving hugely popular . -lrb- from left -rrb- hamilton waves to the adoring crowd with pole winner nico rosberg and valtteri bottas , who will start sunday 's race in third , after their qualifying success on saturday at the circuit of the americas . he is sporting a bold new look with his giant gold necklace with a picture frame containing a warhol painting of mercedes cars . ' i designed it myself , ' said hamilton , who stopped off in new york en route to austin to appear on abc 's today show . his latest bling follows his trademark diamond earrings , a host of tattoos and a giant flat-peak cap -- a look that makes him stand out amid the more corporate and conservative world of modern formula one .<doc-sep>as for the future , bernie ecclestone has already admitted he would n't be surprised to see only 14 teams on the grid next term ... jonathan mcevoy : lewis hamilton , who joined simon fuller 's management stable to fulfil his dream of fame and riches in america , has decided to take control of his own management affairs . hamilton turned to fuller 's xix entertainment group after splitting from his father anthony after the 2009 season , but sportsmail has learned that his contract with the company recently expired . although neither side would comment on the development , an industry insider said : ` lewis is concentrating on the world championship for now and will assess how to progress with his management around new year . click on the above link for more . with just three races left , the f1 circus travels to austin for just the third time since its debut in 2012 . click here for the all the facts and stats ahead of the 17th round of the championship . with two teams down , q1 will now lose just four cars , while q2 will also lose four drivers to leave us with the usual ten-car shoot-out in q3 . that should n't be any concern for the mercedes duo , who i imagine would be devastated if they failed to even reach the front row . they are once again by far the quickest team this weekend . and lewis hamilton looks rather quick does n't he heading into qualifying ? in an ideal world , the talk should be centred around the title fight between lewis hamilton and mercedes team-mate nico rosberg . but with marussia and caterham having gone into administration before this race , the big talking points is how financially stable the sport is now we are down to just none teams . with the european season over , it 's time for the three-race fly-away finale - and we start in texas for the united states grand prix . can lewis hamilton continue his fine form and snatch pole position from nico rosberg in qualifying ? follow sportsmail 's coverage of the united states grand prix as britain 's lewis hamilton attempts to snatch pole position in austin , texas . the mercedes driver leads the drivers ' championship ahead of team-mate and rival nico rosberg , and has shown strong pace for much of the weekend to be confident of starting from the front of the grid for sunday 's race . with marussia and caterham having not flown over for the first of the final three fly-away races , just 18 drivers will compete in the slightly adjusted session .<doc-sep>austin , texas -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- lewis hamilton was the fastest racer in the west as he won the united states grand prix to add fuel to his world title chances . flags and banners bearing his name waved under sunny skies at the circuit outside the texan city of austin -- and he did not disappoint the grandstands . hamilton daringly dived up the inside of nico rosberg on lap 24 to snatch the lead from his mercedes teammate . `` nico was n't defending really and i almost caught him unaware , hamilton later said of the maneuver . `` there was n't a moment in the race when i did n't think i could get him . '' the victory was hamilton 's 10th of the season and moved him 24 points clear of his fierce title rival with two races left to go . but even if hamilton wins next week 's brazilian grand prix just ahead of rosberg , there is still a chance the 2008 champion will be denied a second title .<doc-sep>throughout the united states grand prix weekend i was in very high spirits . before the start of the season i did n't know how i would feel towards the latter part of the campaign if i was fighting for the championship . for the most part however , i have been able to enjoy the moment and i am really happy about that . i have not been looking at the past . people have been asking me about my team-mate lewis hamilton 's rhythm , his good series of results and whether it puts me on the back foot . but i 'm not thinking about that and i do n't have his history in my mind . nico rosberg says he is in positive spirits ahead of this weekend 's brazil grand prix . rosberg -lrb- right -rrb- qualified on pole for the united states grand prix but eventually was second to lewis hamilton . rosberg is trailing hamilton by 24 points in the drivers standings . rosberg has been a busy man speaking to the media ahead of sunday 's grand prix . in texas i was in full-on attack mode and you could see that during qualifying . i was really comfortable and confident and i secured pole position . f1 however , is always about adapting and unfortunately in the race the track and the car was different and i could not find the rhythm as i had done 24 hours previously . it took me too long to adapt to the different circumstances and to nail my own performance . also , when lewis overtook me for the lead of the race on lap 24 i suffered with an electrical problem , which was unfortunate and largely down to bad luck . there are two ways for me to obtain more electrical power on my steering wheel ; there is a button and a switch .<doc-sep>nico rosberg lit up the world title contest by putting himself on pole for the american grand prix , a race beset by what seems to be a fanciful threat of a boycott . the circuit of the americas was meant to suit championship leader lewis hamilton , but his mercedes team-mate rosberg was nearly four-tenths faster , giving the german hope of closing his 17-point deficit . it was rosberg 's ninth pole of the season -- against hamilton 's seventh -- yet the brit has shown again and again this season how he can rise beyond his starting position with bravura race drives . nico rosberg -lrb- centre -rrb- will start in pole position ahead of lewis hamilton -lrb- left -rrb- and valtteri bottas -lrb- right -rrb- . rosberg -lrb- left -rrb- shakes hands with his mercedes team-mate hamilton after saturday 's qualifying . mercedes ' rosberg speeds his way to claiming pole position in the united states grand prix in austin . rosberg was fastest in the second qualifying session before reinforcing his position in q3 . world championship leader lewis hamilton finished second in q2 and q3 at the circuit of the americas . ` great day , ' said rosberg . ` it was quite a challenge because the wind was changing . the weather was changing . the start will be important . ' sitting next to him on the stage as he will on the grid was hamilton , who had been fastest for most of the weekend . ` i struggled with brake balance , ' he said . ` it is potentially a problem in the race . ' the on-track action was a merciful relief amid a febrile paddock in which force india , lotus and sauber postured about staging a boycott in protest at how little , as they see it , of the sport 's revenues they get . but can we take them seriously ? it is doubtful in the extreme that they would defy bernie ecclestone in front of a tv audience of 350 million and a crowd of 100,000 in the most important marketplace in the sport . ecclestone said : ` forget all that crap . i promise you they will be racing . ' formula one has found it hard to crack america , especially after the 2005 boycott at indianapolis over safety concerns left a lingering resentment among the public towards what they see as a distinctly european series . hamilton rounds a bend at the austin circuit where he struggled with his brake balance saturday .

<t> lewis hamilton has talked about raising a family in the united states . </t> <t> the brit starts the us grand prix second on the grid behind nico rosberg . </t> <t> he trains in colorado and regularly visits his pop star girlfriend nicole scherzinger in los angeles , where he 's also friends with rappers . </t> <t> hamilton recently split from simon fuller 's xix management stable . </t>

lewis hamilton warms to the idea of his own american dream in the future ahead of united states grand prix in austin<T>

the navy is revoking former-sailor bill cosby 's title of honorary chief petty officer , saying allegations of sexual abuse made against the comedian are serious and conflict with the navy 's core values . navy secretary ray mabus and master chief petty officer michael stevens made the announcement thursday in a statement . ` the navy is taking this action because allegations against mr. cosby are very serious and are in conflict with the navy 's core values of honor , courage and commitment , ' they said in a statement . scroll down for video . losing support : the navy stripped bill cosby of an honorary title on thursday after several woman have come forward to accuse the comedian of rape . pictured above receiving the honorary title of chief petty officer in 2011 from navy secretary ray mabus , the same man who took the honor away from him on thursday . in a statement , the navy said the allegations against cosby are in conflict with the military branch 's ` core values ' . pictured again at the 2011 ceremony . cosby enlisted in the navy in 1956 and served four years as a hospital corpsman before being honorably discharged in 1960 as a 3rd class petty officer . the honorary title was presented to cosby in 2011 . the 77-year-old cosby has refused to answer questions about mounting accusations that he sexually abused several women .<doc-sep>nbc recently scrapped a cosby comedy that was under development , some of his appearances have been canceled and he has resigned from temple university 's board of trustees . former sailor : cosby enlisted in the navy in 1956 , and spend four years as a hospital corpsman before he was honorably discharged in 1960 . scores of women started coming forward to accuse cosby of rape in october , after comedian hannibal buress went on a rant about the former cosby show dad 's dark side during a stand-up set . since then , at least 20 women , including former super model janice dickinson , have publicly accused cosby of rape , with many saying he drugged them too . the allegations go all the way back to 2004 though , when a former temple university employee went to authorities after cosby groped her . the case was eventually thrown out , with investigators saying there was n't enough evidence to charge cosby , so the woman filed a civil suit instead and four 13 other women to testify about cosby 's history of sex abuse . the lawsuit was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount . unignorable : at least 20 women have come out to accuse cosby of rape since october , but the allegations go all the way back to the mid-2000s when cosby settled a lawsuit with a woman who claimed she was groped by the comedian .<doc-sep>the university of massachusetts amherst and its alumnus bill cosby have split ways amid allegations of sexual assault and rape . at least 15 women have spoken out to various media outlets accusing the comedian of sexual misconduct . `` bill cosby has agreed to resign as an honorary co-chair of umass amherst 's capital campaign . he no longer has any affiliation with the campaign nor does he serve in any other capacity for the university , '' said ed blaguszewski , a spokesman for the school . cosby got his master 's and doctorate in education from the university in the 1970s .<doc-sep>then two months ago , after comedian hannibal buress went on a rant about the comedian during a stand-up set , scores of women started coming forward to accuse cosby of rape . he has most recently been taken to court by a woman , judy huth , who claims she was just 15 when cosby raped her at the playboy mansion in 1974 . cosby 's lawyers have said she previously tried to extort him and have requested that the case is thrown out , saying the accusations are too old . accused : cosby , 77 , has been accused of rape or sexual assaults by at least 20 women since october . many of the alleged attacks took place decades ago when the women were aspiring actresses . as the allegations surfaced , nbc dropped a new project with the comedian , while netflix also shelved a one-off comedy special planned for the day after thanksgiving . he also resigned from temple university 's board of trustees , which he joined in 1982 . and on thursday , the navy announced it is revoking the former sailor 's title of honorary chief petty officer , saying the allegations against him are serious and conflict with the navy 's core values . the 77-year-old cosby has refused to answer questions about mounting accusations that he sexually abused several women .<doc-sep>the university of massachusetts-amherst has cut ties with alumnus bill cosby amid allegations by women accusing him of sexual assault . a university spokesman told the boston globe on wednesday university officials had asked cosby to step down as an honorary co-chairman of their $ 300 million fundraising campaign and cosby agreed . cosby received a master 's degree and a doctorate in education from the university . he and his wife donated several hundred thousand dollars to the university , with reports suggesting the figure to be about $ 500,000 . dropped : the university of massachusetts amherst has confirmed it cut ties with 1976 graduate bill cosby in the wake of his ever-growing sex scandal . flashback : cosby shakes hands with university of massachusetts chancellor randolph w. bromery -lrb- left -rrb- after receiving his doctor of education degree in 1977 . massachusetts attorney general martha coakley sent a letter to the university urging it to cut ties with cosby . coakley says while cosby had n't been criminally charged his association sends the wrong message when the state is focused on the prevention of campus sexual assault . ` although mr. cosby has not been criminally charged nor convicted for these actions ... i believe the volume and disturbing nature of these allegations has reached a point where mr. cosby should no longer have a formal role at umass , nor be involved in its fundraising efforts , unless or until mr. cosby is able to satisfactorily respond to these allegations , ' coakley wrote . cosby 's lawyer has called the allegations ` unsubstantiated ' and ` discredited ' .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- comedian bill cosby received an honorary rank from the navy thursday , and he had a washington audience laughing with stories from his four years in the service . cosby has been entertaining millions of people since the 1960s . cosby , whose success as a stand-up comic and actor has influenced many over the past four decades , is perhaps best known for his role as dr. heathcliff huxtable on the 1980s sitcom `` the cosby show . '' but he did n't always enjoy such success , and he said the u.s. navy gave him what he needed , when he needed it most . `` i was n't a bad boy , i was just sort of left to wander around , '' cosby , who as a young man served as a hospital corpsman , told a navy-packed auditorium . the iconic comic was in town to be recognized as an honorary chief petty officer in the u.s. navy . `` i want to welcome you to the ranks of the people that run the navy , people that make the ships sail on time , the aircraft fly , the hospitals work , '' said secretary of the navy ray mabus , who received the same honor last year . `` bill cosby has earned this . '' cosby joined the navy in 1956 and after graduating from boot camp , went on to become a navy hospital corpsman . he told the crowd joining the navy seemed like the best place for him `` to die . '' `` i do n't want to join the army because i 'll die in a foxhole in dirt ... i do n't want to be in the marine corp because you die before you get out of there , '' cosby told the laughing crowd filled with navy personnel . the biggest laugh came when cosby explained why he joined the navy . `` i want to be in the navy , because no matter how you die , you 're in the middle of the ocean and it will wash out your underpants and that will make my mother very happy . ''

<t> navy secretary ray mabus and master chief petty officer michael stevens made the announcement on thursday . </t> <t> in a statement , they wrote that the allegations are in conflict with the navy 's ` core values of honor , courage and commitment ' </t> <t> cosby enlisted in the navy in 1956 , and spent four years as a hospital corpsman before he was honorably discharged . </t>

navy strips bill cosby of honorary title amid rape allegations<T>

thirteen illegal immigrants have been found in a tanker containing plastic granules at dover 's eastern docks , in kent . the men , eleven from syria and two from afghanistan , were fit and well when border force and home office immigration enforcement officers attended yesterday . no action is being taken against the tanker 's driver . they are the latest group to be detained at dover amid concerns from the british freight industry about migrants ' increasingly desperate attempts to reach the uk from calais . scroll down for video . the illegal immigrant 's attempt to enter the uk is the latest of migrant 's increasingly desperate attempts to reach the uk from calais -lrb- stock pics -rrb- . all 13 migrants will be interviewed and passed into the care of the county 's social services department if they are found to be minors . the freight transport association -lrb- fta -rrb- has described the number of migrants attempting to enter the country illegally as a ` worsening situation ' .<doc-sep>they are now calling on the european union to bring in stricter border controls to deal with the problem . more than 3,000 people have signed an e-petition demanding the uk government helps solve the problems faced by british truckers . on september 4 , scores of illegal migrants in the french port of calais tried to force their way onto a ferry bound for england . the desperate migrants had tried to run up the myferrylink ship . about 85 people had forced their way through a gate and climbed over fences , overpowering security staff . but they were foiled when crew raised the ramp before they could get to the ferry . in the second wave , 150 illegal immigrants gained entrance to the port but were stopped by police . recently , french police have tried to break up the camps of illegal immigrants around calais , but the migrants claim they have nowhere to go .<doc-sep>they want fines of up to # 2,000 per migrant , imposed on lorry drivers and hauliers if stowaways are caught hiding in their vehicles , to be abolished . truckers have complained about armed attacks from people trying to board vehicles destined for the uk . a home office spokesman said : ` we work closely with the police to tackle illegal immigration and continue to strengthen the security of our border to stop those who have no right to enter the uk . ` if people have a genuine need of protection they should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach . ` if they are just seeking to evade immigration control they need to know that they are risking their lives and that they will get caught . ` the new immigration act makes it harder for people to live in the uk illegally . ` it makes it harder for illegal immigrants to abuse our benefits and public services , and makes it easier for us to remove them by reducing the number of appeals . '<doc-sep>earlier this year , two migrants had to be rescued from the sea after they tried to climb aboard a moving ferry as it left calais . the desperate refugees swam almost half a mile from the shore to reach the 600ft boat as it headed to dover . other migrants have risked their lives by hiding inside refrigerated lorries , clinging to the axles of heavy goods vehicles and even stowing away among a cargo of coffins . in october this year , these illegal migrants were pictured trying to board a truck in the northeastern french port of calais .<doc-sep>the body of a 25-year-old ethiopian man , senay berthay , was found in calais 's batellerie dock on march 14 and the next day a fellow ethiopian in his 20s was crushed to death by a car while hiding on a vehicle transporter . it is thought he had been among a group of three men who got on the truck and then realised it was going in the wrong direction . a french police spokesman said : ` the polish driver heard a noise and stopped suddenly . one of the vehicles on board his truck backed into the stowaway and killed him . he was left lying in a pool of blood . ' let 's go : they leap into action as the lorry slows down . but fatalities and failed attempts do nothing to weaken the remaining migrants ' resolve to reach britain . when asked why they were trying to board the lorries , one told the mail : ` we have to go to your country . take me to england . ' most of the migrants are sleeping in the main camp on a disused railway line just beside the main port where ferries go to dover . men gathered for several hours at the junction near the port , relentlessly trying to break into vehicles or get underneath to sit on the axle , but police did nothing . when a force car passed by it did not stop and no attempt was made to apprehend the men . in wait : more migrants hide behind a wall near the port . at a second location , migrants were able to get beyond the port 's perimeter fence by freely walking through an unmanned entrance before climbing up on a bank beside the road that lorries have to drive down to get on to the ferries . the men were witnessed crouching down at the side of the road , which is inside the port , before jumping out and trying to get on to lorries when they were forced to slow down because of a build-up of traffic . british lorry drivers , who are fined # 2,000 if found carrying an illegal migrant , said ` extremely light-touch ' policing by the french meant they were ` sitting ducks ' for those wanting to smuggle themselves across the channel . ahmed , 31 , from afghanistan , who is one of the migrants sleeping in more than 100 tents in the camp , said he was confident he would get to britain . ` i will get there -- i have to . i have lived in countries throughout europe since i left afghanistan five years ago , but britain is where i want to be , ' he said .<doc-sep>critics said the migrants would simply be left on the street , without even a roof over their heads . border guards meanwhile reported dozens of people hiding in shrubs along roads leading into the port , with many attempting to jump on lorries as they slowed down . a sudanese asylum seeker was killed around the same time after trying to conceal himself under the axle of a british coach in a supermarket car park . charity workers helping refugees from wars in syria and afghanistan reacted with outrage to the clear-out , blaming it on a shift to the far-right in french politics . marine le pen , president of french far-right party front national : charity workers helping refugees from wars in syria and afghanistan reacted with outrage to the clear-out , blaming it on a shift right in french politics . most of the migrants play a nightly game of cat and mouse with the police and border officials as they try to reach britain in the back of lorries . once in the uk they will claim asylum , which entitles them to state support while their application is being processed , or disappear into the black economy . four migrants died in one week alone in march this year . on march 9 an albanian man was killed on a motorway outside the town . three days later , ethiopian mesfin germa was hit by a lorry as he walked to the port . the body of a 25-year-old ethiopian man , senay berthay , was found in calais 's batellerie dock on march 14 and the next day a fellow ethiopian in his 20s was crushed to death by a car while hiding on a vehicle transporter . it is thought he had been among a group of three men who got on the truck and then realised it was going in the wrong direction . calais mayor natacha bouchart has long argued that britain 's ` generous welfare system ' is the real cause of the migrant crisis in her town .<doc-sep>it is understood that the asylum seekers were found after banging was heard from the sides of the lorry as the 7.45 am calais-dover ferry berthed at the port . seven had to be treated by medics after the group were found on p&o 's spirit of france vessel , port of dover police said . emergency services attend the scene at the port of dover in kent as 15 asylum seekers where found in a tanker on board a cross-channel ferry . it is understood that the asylum seekers were found after banging was heard from the sides of a lorry . six fire engines and some specialist equipment were sent to the scene after the startling discovery . none of those found was in a life-threatening condition and ferry services have not been affected by the alert at the kent port 's eastern docks . a port of dover police spokesman said : ` the port of dover can confirm that a critical incident is under way concerning 15 asylum seekers found in a tanker on board p&o 's spirit of france . 'em ergency services are at the scene and are dealing with the situation in close co-operation with port staff .

<t> all the men were found fit and well and have been detained by immigration . </t> <t> it is latest in increasingly desperate attempts by migrants to reach the uk . </t> <t> the freight transport association are calling for tighter border controls . </t> <t> no action has been taken against the driver of the tanker . </t>

thirteen migrants from syria and afghanistan found hiding inside tanker of plastic granules at dover<T>

winter finally arrived in parts of britain yesterday , threatening to put a chill in the tail of the hottest year for more than 350 years . widespread frosts gave the landscape a christmas card look while temperatures are forecast to plunge as low as minus 6c -lrb- 21f -rrb- overnight on saturday , with snow on high ground . but even as the cold spell began , 2014 's topsy-turvy weather had nature in a spin with cherry trees in blossom , frogs already spawning and daffodils in bloom several months early , while many of the summer 's roses are still in bloom . blanket of white : a heavy frost at dawn on the river brathay in the lake district yesterday , but 2014 has seen the warmest average temperatures since records began . chilly : temperatures will slump as low as -6 c overnight on saturday following on from -5 c last night , making it the coldest of the year so far . frosty fields : despite this wintery scene this morning forecasters say that 2014 is on track to be the warmest since records began in 1659 . retired office worker marilyn fenn was stunned to spot a daffodil blooming in her garden this week , three months early . t . he 62-year-old widow , of woodhall spa , lincolnshire , said : ` it looks so lonely , i actually feel a bit sorry for it . ' i do n't know how long it will last with the cold weather . '<doc-sep>records show that the year is set to be the warmest since records began in 1659 . the met office said average temperatures from the beginning of january to late november were 1.6 c -lrb- 2.9 f -rrb- above the long-term norm . the figures are based on central england temperature data . it has recorded monthly temperatures across an area between lancaster , bristol and london since 1659 . for the whole uk , 2014 is the warmest in records dating back to 1910 . the year 's crazy weather saw the wettest winter to strike southern england since records began in 1766 , with severe flooding in somerset , kent and the thames valley suffering extreme flooding . temperatures then hit 19c -lrb- 66f -rrb- in the south in march , when the average is 9c -lrb- 48f -rrb- . a july heatwave roared in , with temperatures in the mid-30s -lrb- over 90f -rrb- , but it was swiftly followed by the coolest august for 21 years as the remnants of hurricane bertha crossed the atlantic bringing with it downpours and flash floods -- just in time to catch the school holidays . after this , the driest-ever september preceded the warmest halloween on record . experts say that while a bitterly cold december could still knock 2014 off its top spot in the list of warmest years , this is unlikely . while all months except august have seen above average temperatures , no single month has seen a record-breaking high . instead the year has been consistently warm .<doc-sep>ca n't make its mind up : this year has seen a july heatwave followed by the coolest august for 21 years and then the driest september ever . do n't jinx it : meteorologists say that a bitter december cold snap could stop 2014 being the hottest year on record , but this is unlikely . feeling the cold : while all months except august have seen above average temperatures , no single month has seen a record-breaking high . across the world , the year is also on track to be one of the hottest , with global temperatures around 0.57 c -lrb- 1.03 f -rrb- above the average 14c -lrb- 57.2 f -rrb- from january to october , just ahead of the previous record of 0.56 c , according to the world meteorological organisation . however , the met office said that a single year 's extreme weather can not be attributed to man-made global warming . a spokesman said : ` one warm year does not necessarily say anything about long-term climate change -- these trends need to be looked at over longer timescales of several decades . ' but global warming does make it more likely to have years with hotter-than-average weather , he said . global : last year is also set to be the warmest across the globe as temperature rises pushed the average 0.57 c above the average of 14c . heating up : average temperatures from the beginning of january to late november were 1.6 c -lrb- 2.9 f -rrb- above the long-term norm .<doc-sep>by . ted thornhill . and ben spencer . published : . 09:41 est , 6 march 2014 . | . updated : . 12:42 est , 6 march 2014 . today was officially the hottest day of the year with the mercury rising to a relatively balmy 15.5 c in gravesend in kent , making it hotter than rome . what 's more , we could see temperatures climbing even higher than this over the weekend , according to the met office . the average temperature for march in the uk is 9.8 c , but temperatures will reach almost double this over the coming days . paws of fury : brown hares -lrb- lepus europaeus -rrb- seen fighting in a wheatfield as the spring weather arrives .<doc-sep>chilly winter weather is finally on its way as temperatures are set to drop next week - and we could even see the first snow of the winter . forecasters are predicting that the higher grounds in scotland could get a dusting of snow on monday night , as temperatures plummet to those typical for december . it follows a balmy november and a year of unusual weather , with this autumn on track to be the third warmest since records began . temperatures dipped to as low as -1 c in parts of the country overnight , with frost and fog due to set in next week . scroll down for video . winter is on its way as temperatures are set to drop on monday , following a balmy november . pictured is a frosty start in the peak district . highland cows in the peak district bear the brunt of the frost , which swept in this week , and it 's only set to get colder as december approaches . the coldest temperatures were recorded in scotland where it was -1.3 c in aviemore . much of england and wales enjoyed a milder night , with minimum temperatures of 7 and 8c across large parts of the country . bournemouth and southampton were warmer still at around 11c at 6am today . however a large , frosty front will sweep over the country next week after dumping the first of the winter snow in scotland . ` while all the cloud maintains itself in northern parts , there are outbreaks of showery rain in the north and subsequently the temperatures are more suppressed as it pushes its way south eastwards -lrb- over england and wales -rrb- , weakening all the while , ' said met office forecaster calum maccoll . ` we 'll see some mist and fog developing across central and south eastern england where it 'll be a dull , dull start tomorrow . ` some fog may linger while further north it brightens up later . the colder weather wo n't show its hand until monday , pushing south eastwards increasing the risk of frost . ' the weekend will be warmer than average for the time of year but temperatures will start to drop towards the december average of 6c from monday . met office meteorologist , greg dewhurst , added : ` we could possibly see a little bit of snow on the highest ground of the highlands on monday night from incoming showers . ` elsewhere , most places will be cold and dry and there will be some mist and fog about too . ' forecaster nicola maxey said : ` on saturday we are looking at highs of 13c or 14c during the day , which we will see in the south of england . we may possibly even see 15c . ` in northern ireland we are looking at highs between 11c and 12c , 9c and 11c in the north east , and similar temperatures in scotland . a cyclist heads to work in nottinghamshire as temperatures tumble . forecasters say this weekend will be warm before average december temperatures of around 6c creep in on monday - the first day of december . the average temperature for november is 9c , but this weekend will see temperatures reach a milder 11c to 12c on saturday across the uk . the cold front will start off in scotland in early hours and move slowly down , passing south west around midnight , according to forecasters . the mist rises around malmesbury abbey in wiltshire , which basks in a red light from the rising sun , as colder winter weather creeps in . a misty start for deer in richmond , south-west london , as they embrace the colder temperatures while the country heads towards winter . ` the average temperature for the uk in november is 9c , so we are still looking at above average temperatures . ` on sunday we will see a slight drop in temperatures , for example london and the south will be looking at highs of 11c or 12c , and between 10c and 11c in scotland . ` on monday we will start to see temperatures drop throughout the uk . the average temperature for december throughout the uk is 6c , so we are still looking at above average temperatures throughout the week , so for instance we are looking at temperatures between 8c and 9c in london on monday . ` but temperatures will drop slightly throughout the week , moving closer towards the average temperature for the month . ` however , we have an area of high pressure over the uk and we are likely to see nice weather throughout the week . we are looking at periods of sunshine in between the clouds , and we are looking at nice , dry winter days . ' some parts of the country could see snow on monday night as temperatures drop to december average . pictured , a foggy start in cambridge . cyclists in cambridge on a foggy november morning , where temperatures were milder than average , making it likely that this month could be one of the warmest november 's on record . a couple walk their dog in the park in cambridge as the fog hangs low . the first half of november also saw slightly higher than usual rainfall . ` we do have a weak front that comes over the uk on monday . it will start off in scotland in the early hours and move slowly down through the country throughout the day , passing through to the midlands and then it will reach the south west around midnight . ` but it is only a weak front , so its likely to be light rain we are looking at more than anything else . other than periods of light rain , it should be fairly clear otherwise . ' ` we expect to see 121mm of rain throughout the uk in the whole of november . . but , up until november 16th , we had seen 93mm of rain , which is 77 per cent of the average monthly total . ' the environment agency has two flood alerts in place in the south east . while early statistics from the met office have revealed that this autumn is on track to be the third warmest on record for the uk , but rainfall is close to average . the mean temperature between september 1 and november 25 was 10.8 c , which is 1.4 c above average , meaning it currently ranks behind 2006 -lrb- 11.4 c -rrb- and 2011 -lrb- 11.3 c -rrb- in the digital uk records dating back to 1910 . the mild conditions through autumn follow on from a generally warm year overall , with all months except august having seen above average temperatures . balmy : sun-seekers in london 's green park exactly a month ago as the mercury hit 21c in a glorious blast of indian summer sunshine . sitting and lying : visitors enjoyed the surprisingly warm weather in st james 's park , central london , as they sat among the fallen leaves . reading the paper : a man and woman at friars cliff , near christchurch in dorset , at the end of october as temperatures were balmy . just a week before the country was battered by hurricane gonzalo , which caused devastation across the country . pictured , huge waves hit the seafront in front of the famous blackpool tower on october 21 .<doc-sep>while millions of us may dream of a few days in the mediterranean heat , the reality is that we like our weather a little more on the mild side . researchers have found that the average briton 's ideal summer temperature is a moderately warm 23.5 c -lrb- 74f -rrb- -- so today 's weather should keep most of us happy . forecasters say the mercury could hit 24c -lrb- 75f -rrb- in the south , making it the hottest day of the year so far . and the sunny , dry conditions are predicted to last well into the weekend . summer 's here at last : people make the most of the hot weather at portishead open air pool in somerset as temperatures continue to soar across the uk . fun : students phe avent , 17 , amy moylett , 18 , charlotte goldstone , 17 , sophie james , 18 , and jessica harris , 18 , are pictured sunbathing at portishead open air pool . boiling : students harriet milnes , 18 , and amy smith , 17 , sunbathe . despite the warm weather today , temperatures are set to get even higher by the weekend . happy : isaac , three , from london plays in the sea on a sunny day in brighton . forecaster lindsay mears said : ` it 's going to be lovely and warm for the next five days and will get even hotter by friday . ` the beginning of summer starts on saturday and weather-wise this seems to be tying in nicely . ` it 's only the first week of summer and luckily the weather is looking up with high temperatures across the weekend . ` lunchtime today we 're seeing temperatures ranging from 18c in the south east to a slightly cooler 15c in the north . ` it reached a high of 20.2 c in derbyshire yesterday , but london is going to top that this afternoon with 24c . relaxing : people made the most of the hot weather at portishead open air . pool with temperatures hitting 24c in some parts of the country . bright : an attendant sets out deckchairs on a sunny day on brighton beach . the . rest of the week we 'll see more sunshine across the uk with highs of . 24c and we 'll be ending the week on a pleasant temperature of 25c on .<doc-sep>by . eleanor harding and amanda williams . published : . 06:00 est , 24 february 2013 . | . updated : . 14:45 est , 25 february 2013 . the arctic weather looks set to continue as forecasters warn temperatures could stay below average for most of march . the uk was feeling the chill today as parts of britain faced temperatures colder than moscow . the mercury plunged to -3 c in aberdeenshire and the bitter weather remains colder than the russian capital , which is enjoying 1c . and it looks like spring - due to officially start on march 1 - could also be on the back - burner , as the met office warns much of the next month will also be colder than usual . snow covered rooftops of castleside , county durham this morning after a weekend of heavy snow showers . parts of britain faced temperatures colder than moscow . a man stands on hownsgill viaduct over looking the snow covered rooftop of castleside , county durham . the weekend saw temperatures of -4 c -lrb- 25f -rrb- in the north of england , with several inches of snow falling along the eastern coast . a walker trudges through the snow in castleside county durham . the arctic weather looks set to continue , with the risk of below-average temperatures persisting until the end of the week - and into march . snow covered fields near castleside county durham . forecasters have warned there is no sign of spring yet , with brisk winds making it feel much cooler . and last night in loch glascarnoch , in scotland , temperatures dipped to -7.6 c overnight . moscow experienced lows of -6 c . the weekend saw temperatures of -4 c . -lrb- 25f -rrb- in the north of england , with several inches of snow falling along . the eastern coast , blown in by the so-called ` beast from the east ' weather system . despite the chill , party goers in newcastle braved . the icy pavements dressed only in high heels and skimpy dresses over the . weekend , without an extra layer in sight . the changing of the seasons will be greeted with snow flurries and frosts , forecasters have warned . the met office , which considers march 1 .

<t> frosty scenes across uk this morning after temperatures of -5 c overnight , with -6 c predicted for the weekend . </t> <t> but 2014 is set to become the hottest on record after every month except august saw above-average temperatures . </t> <t> across the globe warm weather saw the mercury pushed 0.57 c above the 14c average , which is also a record . </t>

uk weather set to see temperatures hit -6 c at the weekend<T>

a cybersecurity expert has raised the possibility that the cyberattack on sony pictures was not the work of north korea , but instead carried out by a disgruntled employee . the hacking attack saw five major new films leaked alongside studio and personnel information which included the salaries of staff and personal emails . north korea has refused to deny claims that it is behind a release and a spokesperson for the country would only say ` wait and see ' when asked if pyongyang was involved in the attack on sony just a month before its planned release of a movie about a plot to kill the reclusive state 's leader , kim jong un . cars enter sony pictures entertainment headquarters in culver city , california . a cybersecurity expert has raised the possibility that the cyberattack on sony pictures was not the work of north korea . a north korean spokesperson said ` wait and see ' on monday when asked if pyongyang was involved in the attack on sony just a month before its planned release of the interview , staring james franco and seth rogan . north korea routinely refers to the united states and south korea as hostile forces . but cybersecurity expert hemanshu nigam told the hollywood reporter that he finds it hard to believe that north korea is the perpetrator and instead thinks it is more probable that it was the actions of an employee or ex-employee with administrative access privileges . for the studio -- which has laid off hundreds of employees over the past year in an effort to contain costs -- the possibility of a disgruntled employee wreaking havoc is very real . ` if terabytes of data left the sony networks , their network detection systems would have noticed easily , ' explains nigam . ` it would also take months for a hacker to figure out the topography of the sony networks to know where critical assets are stored and to have access to the decryption keys needed to open up the screeners that have been leaked . ' culprit ? sony is currently investigating whether someone acting on behalf of north korean leader kim jong-un , possibly from china , was responsible for hacking their computer system . in addition , he says , ` hackers do n't use such things as hushmail , dropbox and facebook when they want to engage in what amounts to criminal activity . real hackers know that these sites collect access logs , ip addresses and work with law enforcement . it is possible that north korean-sponsored hackers were working with someone on the inside . but it is more likely a ruse to shift blame , knowing the distaste the north korean regime has for sony pictures . ' sony pictures ' computer system went down last monday after the cyber attack . before . screens went dark , they displayed a red skull and the phrase . ` hacked by #gop , ' which reportedly stands for guardians of . peace . the hackers also warned they . would release ` secrets ' stolen from sony . the data released so far from the apparently leaked documents has already been damaging - it revealed all the top executives at sony pictures entertainment are white and male , raising questions about control of hollywood 's film output . a spreadsheet said to show the salaries of 6,000 sony pictures employees , including top executives , reveals that of 17 earning $ 1million or more a year , just two are not white and just one is a woman . the list was leaked to a reporter at news and pop culture site fusion . sony workers reportedly saw a message appear on computer screens saying ` hacked by #gop ' , understood to be the initials of a group called guardians of peace - although some believe north korea was involved . kevin roose , reporting for fusion , who was sent a link to the data by an anonymous source , said : ` when i sorted the list by ` annual rate , ' i noticed something notable : a stark homogeneity among the people earning the most . ` based on the spreadsheet ... the employees of sony pictures with the highest annual rates appear to be nearly entirely white men . ' amy b. pascal , co-chair of sony pictures entertainment and chairman of spe 's motion picture group , is the only woman among the top 17 most-highly paid executives . minority of one : co-chairman of sony pictures entertainment amy pascal , the only woman earning more than $ 1million a year at the company , and chief executive officer of sony entertainment michael lynton . she earns # 3million a year , according to the spreadsheet , joint highest on the list , along with sony entertainment ceo michael lynton . buzzfeed reviewed almost 40gb of leaked internal data and reported it included 'em ployee criminal background checks , salary negotiations , and doctors ' letters explaining the medical rationale for leaves of absence . '<doc-sep>it reported the files also included a script for an unreleased pilot written by breaking bad creator vince gilligan as well as 'em ail exchanges with employees regarding specific medical treatments they are undergoing , while one disciplinary letter details a manager 's romantic relationship and business travel history with a subordinate . ' it even details the leaked information includes an email about the breastfeeding diet of a senior executive . technology news site re/code reported that sony and security . consultants were investigating whether someone acting on behalf . of north korea , possibly from china , was responsible . a source familiar with the matter told reuters on saturday . that sony pictures was investigating every possibility , adding . that no link to north korea has been uncovered . north korea complained to the united nations in june about . the film starring seth rogen and james franco , accusing the . united states of sponsoring terrorism and committing an act of . war by allowing production of the movie . leaked : five of sony 's movies including the hotly anticipated remake of annie have been illegally shared online in recent days . the interview is due to be released on december 25 in the united states and canada . it is a comedy about a cia attempt to assassinate north korean leader kim jong un . the pyongyang government denounced the film as ` undisguised sponsoring of terrorism , as well as an act of war ' in a letter to u.n. secretary-general ban ki-moon . ' i personally do n't care if -lrb- the movie 's -rrb- disrespectful to . kim because he 's evil . but that 's not the intent , ' rogen posted . on twitter on sunday . ` north korea has produced tons of . propaganda films that portray america 's destruction . ' in addition to annie , starring jamie foxx , which is due to hit theaters on december 19 , brad pitt 's critically acclaimed world war two movie , fury , is also being openly traded and downloaded online . by sunday morning , fury , which is still playing in theaters , had been downloaded 1.2 million times and annie had been downloaded 206,000 times from unique ip addresses , according to variety . other sony movies being downloaded include mr. turner , still alice and to write love on her arms . culver city , california-based sony pictures said in a statement yesterday that it is continuing ` to work through issues related to what was clearly a cyber attack last week . ` the company has restored a number of important services to ensure ongoing business continuity and is working closely with law enforcement officials to investigate the matter . ' along with the fbi , sony has brought in forensic experts from the mandiant division of fireeye , a silicon valley cybersecurity company , according to a source familiar with the case who did not want to be named because the companies have not yet announced the arrangement . mandiant helps companies determine the extent of breaches and repair damages . the firm has worked on other high-profile computer breaches , including one at retailer target last year .<doc-sep>the hackers who brought sony pictures to its knees over ` the interview ' are now demanding the film studio bow down further by removing all traces of the film from the web and ensure it is never released . in a new email sent to executives at sony pictures , the hackers crowed about their victory after the release of the movie was canceled . the group , calling itself guardians of peace , said it would not leak the remaining sony hacked documents it has if the company complied with their demands , cnn money reports . the company responded by taking town the website for ` the interview ' and turning the film 's youtube channel private so the videos ca n't be viewed by the public . scroll down for videos . erased : the north korean hackers have demanded that all traces of ` the interview ' be removed from the web and that the picture studio never release the film or allow it to leak online . sony pictures executives say hackers are using their secret data to hole the company hostage . the group says it will stop the leaks if the film studio scrubs ` the interview ' from the internet . however , the trailer is still available on apple itunes and the facebook and twitter accounts for the movie are online . the fbi announced on friday that it had definitively linked north korean hackers to the attack that left sony reeling . the hermit nation is believed to have lashed out at the movie studio over the final scene of ` the interview ' - a seth rogen and james franco comedy . the film depicts the violent death of north korean dictator kim jong-un . cnn money reports that the new email to sony execs said : ` now we want you never let the movie released , distributed or leaked in any form of , for instance , dvd or piracy . ' ` and we want everything related to the movie , including its trailers , as well as its full version down from any hosting them immediately . ' the hackers are holding hostage even more of sony 's data and plan to extract the company 's compliance by promising to stop the leaks . the emailed promised to ` ensure the security of your data unless you make additional trouble . ' sony says it canceled the christmas day launch of ` the interview ' after hackers posted a threat promising 9/11-style attacks on movie theaters that show the film .<doc-sep>falllout from the massive sony hack continues , this time with the report that 47,000 social security numbers have been leaked . what 's more , among those individuals who had information leaked are stars including director judd apatow and actors rebel wilson and sylvester stallone . the leaked numbers belong to both past and current employees of the studio juggernaut . scroll down for video . bad news : more bad news in the sony hack as it has been reported that 47,000 social security numbers for past and current employees were leaked . celeb victims : among those who had their information taken were rebel wilson , judd apatow -lrb- above -rrb- and sylvester stallone . staying silent : the studio has no comment on this most recent leak . the studio had no comment on this most recent leak according to the wall street journal . this shortly after it was revealed that financial records had became public that detailed how much stars like seth rogen and james franco were making , as well as studio heads michael lynton and amy pascal . the hackers also uploaded five yet-to-be-released films to file-sharing websites , including the brad pitt film fury , still in theaters , and annie , the much-anticipated remake set for a december 19 release . the company has been trying to take the videos off the internet with cease-and-desist orders . millionaires : sony pictures entertainment co-chairman amy pascal -lrb- left -rrb- and sony pictures ceo michael lynton -lrb- right -rrb- both make $ 3million a year , according to the leaked documents . pay information for more than 31,000 employees at deloitte touche tohmatsu ltd , a financial firm hired by sony , were taken in the hack as well . the pay information from 2005 revealed that there are far more men than women with high-paying salaries . the list was leaked to a reporter at news and pop culture site fusion . kevin roose , reporting for fusion , who was sent a link to the data by an anonymous source , said : ` when i sorted the list by ` annual rate , ' i noticed something notable : a stark homogeneity among the people earning the most . ` based on the spreadsheet ... the employees of sony pictures with the highest annual rates appear to be nearly entirely white men . '<doc-sep>princess beatrice has been earning $ 30,000 a year while working as an intern at sony , according to information leaked after the company was hacked . among the data released last week , which included brad pitt 's phone number , were the pay details of around 6,000 of the company 's staff . one staff member is listed as ` york , beatrice ' , which is thought to be a reference to the princess who the daughter of prince andrew , duke of york , and is sixth in line to the throne . her job title is listed as intermediate production coordinator , and her home address is recorded as being windsor , berkshire . scroll down for video . princess beatrice , pictured at this summer 's epsom derby , is being paid $ 30,000 a year -lrb- # 19,500 -rrb- to work as an intern at sony , according to pay information released by hackers last week . beatrice has been working as an intern at sony pictures since the beginning of the year after quitting her job at an investment capital firm and following a period travelling around the globe with her boyfriend . the start date released by the hackers also seems to match up with when beatrice was reported to have began working for the company at the beginning of the year . a spokesman for the palace refused to comment on the data , saying only that princess beatrice works in the business sector . the times reported that she remains employed by sony pictures . during the hack last monday , sensitive medical files , email exchanges , pay details and other private information about staff were stolen . princess beatrice , who is the sixth in line to the throne , took up an internship at sony pictures at the beginning of the year .<doc-sep>the list was leaked to a reporter at news and pop culture site fusion . kevin roose , reporting for fusion , who was sent a link to the data by an anonymous source , said : ` when i sorted the list by ` annual rate , ' i noticed something notable : a stark homogeneity among the people earning the most . ` based on the spreadsheet ... the employees of sony pictures with the highest annual rates appear to be nearly entirely white men . ' buzzfeed reviewed almost 40gb of leaked internal data and reported it included 'em ployee criminal background checks , salary negotiations , and doctors ' letters explaining the medical rationale for leaves of absence . ' it reported the files also included a script for an unreleased pilot written by breaking bad creator vince gilligan as well as 'em ail exchanges with employees regarding specific medical treatments they are undergoing , while one disciplinary letter details a manager 's romantic relationship and business travel history with a subordinate . ' the leaked information even includes an email about the breastfeeding diet of a senior executive . one aspect of the leak , which probably has the sony it team reeling , is the several spreadsheet and text documents where employees stored their passwords ... under the name ` password ' . the hack is thought to be carried out by those allied with the north korean regime , unhappy with the country 's portrayal in the film . in june , a north korean official appeared on the state-run news station to say the country would pursue ' a strong and merciless countermeasure ' if sony released the film . despite the threat , sony has continued to roll out promotion for the movie ahead of it 's december 25 release date . paydays : seth rogen took home $ 8.4 million working on the interview , compared to the $ 6.5 million his co-star james franco made -lrb- left -rrb- , according to information revealed in the recent cyber attack on sony .

<t> the hacking attack saw five major new films leaked alongside studio and personnel secrets which included the salaries of staff and personal emails . </t> <t> the leak has been extremely costly - and embarrassing - for sony . </t> <t> studio laid off hundreds of employees over past year to contain costs . </t> <t> cyber expert : theorizes an employee or ex-employee with administrative access privileges is a more likely suspect . </t>

was sony pictures data leak an inside job ?<T>

the controversial ` hands up , do n't shoot ' protest by st louis rams players has been praised by an organisation representing the city 's black police officers , it has been revealed . five players made the gesture at missouri 's edward jones dome on sunday following the decision not to indict police officer darren wilson over the death of unarmed teen michael brown . their actions , in a game against the oakland raiders , were branded ` tasteless , offensive and inflammatory ' by the st louis police officers association , which demanded a ` very public apology ' from the team . but today it has been revealed that their view was not necessarily shared by all of the city 's law-enforcement community . scroll down for video . st louis rams wide receiver stedman bailey -lrb- 12 -rrb- , wide receiver tavon austin -lrb- 11 -rrb- , tight end jared cook -lrb- 89 -rrb- , wide receiver chris givens -lrb- 13 -rrb- and wide receiver kenny britt -lrb- 81 -rrb- put their hands up to show support for michael brown before sunday 's game against the oakland raiders at the edward jones dome . the players made the gesture at missouri 's edward jones dome on sunday following the decision not to indict police officer darren wilson over the death of unarmed teen michael brown -lrb- pictured -rrb- . the ethical society of police , which describes itself as the ` primary voice of african-american police officers in st louis ' , does not have a problem with the gesture . a statement posted on its facebook page , said it ` completely supports the actions of the st. louis rams football players in which they showed support for the family of michael brown by entering the stadium with their hands up . ' ` we think that their actions were commendable and that they should not be ridiculed , disciplined or punished for taking a stand on this very important issue which is of great concern around the world and especially in the community where these players work . ' cnn reports that the group has about 220 members from the st. louis police force and that st louis police offices association has yet to respond to requests for comment . the nfl players who made the ` hands up , do n't shoot ' gesture in solidarity with ferguson protesters will not be fined nor disciplined for their actions , it has been reported . kenny britt -lrb- pictured -rrb- raises his hands in the air at the game . the meaning of the gesture has been disputed following contradictory witness accounts , some of which claim michael brown did not have his hands up . the five st louis rams footballers performed the now-famous sign on the field before the team 's game against the oakland raiders at missouri 's edward jones dome on sunday .<doc-sep>following the gesture , officials from the st louis county police association - the police union for the area including riot-stricken ferguson - demanded that the players be punished by their superiors . the team later denied claims that it had issued an apology to the organisation . it has since been revealed that the nfl will not take disciplinary action against the players : wide receivers stedman bailey , tavon austin , chris givens and kenny britt , and tight end , jared cook . the ` hands up , do n't shoot ' gesture was a reference to witness accounts of ferguson officer darren wilson 's fatal shooting of michael brown , on august 9 . some protesters claim the unarmed black 18-year-old was raising his hands in surrender when he was shot 12 times by wilson . however , the accounts have been disputed . it comes as people have been taking to streets of more than 170 u.s. cities in protest against a grand jury 's recent decision to not indict mr wilson in the fatal shooting . symbolic : the gesture - a reference to witness accounts of michael brown 's fatal shooting on august 9 - made another appearance after mason -lrb- left -rrb- scored a touchdown and was congratulated by britt -lrb- right -rrb- . shooting : officer darren wilson -lrb- left -rrb- shot dead 18-year-old michael brown -lrb- right -rrb- in ferguson on august 9 . after making the gesture on sunday , wide receiver bailey said he and his teammates decided to raise their hands in the air shortly before the game , and intended it to be something positive . a rams spokesman said on sunday that the team was not aware the gesture had been planned before the game against the oakland raiders . on sunday , wide receivers tavon austin and kenny britt came out together first , with the move obscured by a smoke machine in the upper reaches of the stadium . stedman bailey , jared cook and chris givens - all of whom are black - then came out and stood together with arms raised . after tre mason scored on an 8-yard run to make it 45-0 in the fourth quarter , the gesture made another appearance when he and britt raised their hands together . rams won the game with a final score of 52-0 .<doc-sep>st. louis rams players who showed support for michael brown 's family should be praised , an organization representing black police officers in st. louis says . `` we think that their actions were commendable and that they should not be ridiculed , disciplined or punished for taking a stand on this very important issue which is of great concern around the world and especially in the community where these players work , '' the ethical society of police of st. louis said in a statement this week . the group has about 220 members from the city 's police force in its ranks , the society 's general counsel , gloria mccollum , told cnn wednesday . it describes itself as `` the primary voice of african-american police officers in st. louis city . '' earlier this week the st. louis police officers association said it was `` tasteless , offensive and inflammatory '' when five rams players who walked onto the field sunday displaying the `` hands up , do n't shoot '' gesture adopted by protesters . the association 's business manager , jeff roorda , demanded that the players be punished and that the team issue a `` very public apology . '' `` i 'd remind the nfl and their players that it is not the violent thugs burning down buildings that buy their advertiser 's products , '' roorda 's statement said . `` it 's cops and the good people of st. louis and other nfl towns that do . somebody needs to throw a flag on this play . if it 's not the nfl and the rams , then it 'll be cops and their supporters . '' but that does n't represent the views of most black officers in the city , the ethical society of police said . the st. louis police officers association has no black officers on its governing board and `` a minimal amount of african-american members , '' the ethical society of police said . the st. louis metropolitan police department has nearly 2,000 employees , according to its website . about 30 % of the department 's commissioned officers are african-american , the society says . the ethical society of police 's statement said it `` completely supports the actions of the st. louis rams football players in which they showed support for the family of michael brown by entering the stadium with their hands up . '' a representative from the st. louis police officers association did not immediately respond to a request for comment . the rams declined to discipline the players or issue an apology , but the team sent a representative to speak with police . on monday , st. louis county police chief jon belmar claimed he had received an apology . the team denied it ever said sorry . the players said they were n't trying to stir up trouble so much as show their support for the suburb just north of the city where they play . that does n't sit well with the st. louis police officers association , which still wants its apology . cedric alexander , president of the national organization of black law enforcement executives , said his organization is n't taking a side on the matter . `` the bigger issue is healing as a community and nation and moving forward , '' he said . alexander , who 's also police chief in dekalb county , georgia , said he hopes the rams and the st. louis police associations `` can all get together to promote a sense of community that will be a role model for what we need to do together going forward in st. louis , across the country and around the world . '' complete coverage on ferguson .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- sorry seems to be the hardest word . the latest ferguson confrontation is n't taking place on the streets of the beleaguered city , but between the st. louis county police department and the st. louis rams football team -- over an apology , or lack thereof . the brouhaha started silently when five rams players took to the field sunday with their palms in the air -- showing the `` hands up , do n't shoot '' gesture used by protesters decrying the police shooting death of unarmed black teen michael brown . the st. louis police officers association was furious , saying the players `` chose to ignore the mountains of evidence released from the st. louis county grand jury '' after the jurors decided not to indict former ferguson officer darren wilson . a rams official spoke with police monday . and that 's when the he-said , he-said started . st. louis county police chief jon belmar sent an e-mail to his staff saying the rams ' chief operating officer called him monday to apologize . `` i received a very nice call this morning from mr. kevin demoff of the st. louis rams who wanted to take the opportunity to apologize to our department on behalf of the rams for the `` hands up '' gesture that some players took the field with yesterday , '' belmar wrote in the e-mail , according to the st. louis post-dispatch . but the rams said that 's just not true . `` we did not apologize , '' rams spokesman artis twyman told cnn . the team issued a statement saying the organization had `` positive discussions '' monday with belmar and other police officials `` during which we expressed our respect for their concerns surrounding yesterday 's game . '' police took issue with the rams ' saying they did n't apologize and aired their grievances on twitter . `` apology : ` expression of regret for not being able to do something '' @kdemoff : `` i regretted any offense their officers may have taken , ' '' st. louis county police tweeted monday night . the rams did n't respond to the digital jab . but others sure did . `` you guys should be more petty , '' one person tweeted . `` you 're acting like five year olds . grow up , '' another wrote . police leaders meet with rams officials . aside from the semantics of the phone call , leaders from the st. louis police officers association and the st. louis county police association met with team officials monday . the talks were `` productive but very preliminary , '' police said . they are expected to continue later in the week . `` we made some progress today and we had a healthy interaction with the rams , '' slpoa business manager jeff roorda said in a statement after the meeting . `` we feel strongly that they better understand our perspective and the perspective of the law-abiding citizens that support law enforcement . '' the rams also issued a statement , saying the team will `` continue to build on what have always been strong and valued relationships with local law enforcement and the greater st. louis community as we come together to help heal our region . '' the slpoa had called for the five rams to be disciplined , but both the nfl and the team 's head coach said that wo n't happen . `` they are exercising their right to free speech , '' rams head coach jeff fisher said . share your view . what the rams players said . the five rams players who quietly protested on the field -- stedman bailey , tavon austin , jared cook , chris givens and kenny britt -- faced a barrage of questions after their gesture . they told cnn affiliate ksdk that they came up with the idea just before the game and wanted to show solidarity with the st. louis area community . `` we wanted to do something . ... this is our community , '' cook said . the tight end said he has n't had time to go to ferguson because he 's been busy with the season and because the area is dangerous and he does n't want to get caught up in the violence . but at some point , `` definitely i will be making my trip to ferguson , '' cook said . bailey stressed that the players ' move was just a way to show support for their community . `` the violence should stop , '' he told ksdk . `` we just want it to stop . '' austin said brown 's death and the ensuing violence was `` a tragedy , period . '' `` there are things out there bigger than football , '' he said . `` and we notice that . '' complete coverage of what 's happening in ferguson . cnn 's ashley fantz , dave alsup , wayne sterling and ryan sloane contributed to this story .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a group representing police in st. louis says it 's infuriated after five st. louis rams players raised their hands sunday in solidarity with protesters upset at michael brown 's death . the st. louis police officers association says it 's `` profoundly disappointed '' with those football players who sent a silent but strong message before playing sunday against the oakland raiders . stedman bailey , tavon austin , jared cook , chris givens and kenny britt walked onto the field and raised their palms in the air , demonstrating the `` hands up , do n't shoot '' gesture that protesters in ferguson have been using for months . some say that michael brown , an unarmed black teenager , had his arms up when a white police officer , darren wilson , shot him to death august 9 in ferguson , a st. louis suburb . wilson and others say brown was not trying to surrender and in fact was attacking wilson . complete coverage of what 's happening in ferguson . a grand jury decided last week not to indict wilson , leading to protests nationwide . the football players ' action sparked widespread reaction across social media . some drew parallels between what the rams players did and the black power salute by two black olympians from the united states at the 1968 summer olympics in mexico city . reaction to the rams players ' move came as president barack obama met monday with about 50 activists , law enforcement personnel and elected officials as well as members of his cabinet to discuss what has transpired in ferguson . complete coverage of what 's happening in ferguson . the football players told cnn affiliate ksdk-tv in st. louis that they came up with the idea just before the game and wanted their action to represent a solidarity with the people of st. louis and surrounding areas . `` we wanted to do something . ... this is our community , '' cook said . cook has n't had time to go to ferguson because he 's been busy with the season and also because the area is dangerous and he does n't want to get caught up in the violence , he said . but his family members spoke to him about what 's been happening , he said . `` definitely i will be making my trip to ferguson , '' cook said . bailey stressed that the players ' move was just a way to show support for their community . `` the violence should stop , '' he told ksdk . `` we just want it to stop . ''<doc-sep>even though he has received threats , st. louis rams tight end jared cook stressed wednesday that he did not intend disrespect toward police when he and other rams players made the `` hands up , do n't shoot '' gesture before sunday 's game against the oakland raiders . cook acknowledged to reporters wednesday that he has received hateful messages on facebook . `` well , i mean that 's how people choose to operate their lives , '' cook said . `` i feel like as men , just like me and you , are communicating right now , and just like me and you are talking right now , we should be able to sit down and talk about our problems . there is no reason to send threats or to hype up a situation that 's already intensified . we can sit down and talk about our problems . if we ca n't , then let 's just agree to disagree . there 's no wrong in that . people have different opinions . people have different views . we 're grown . '' black st. louis police officers : ` hands up ' gesture by rams players ` commendable ' when asked if he had received a lot of threats , cook answered , `` absolutely . ''

<t> five players made on-field gesture before game against oakland raiders . </t> <t> actions branded ` tasteless ' by the st louis police officers association . </t> <t> but group representing black officers ` completely supports ' the gesture . </t> <t> ethical society of police in st louis says ` actions were commendable ' </t> <t> ` hands up ' gesture came after decision not to indict police officer darren wilson over the death of unarmed teen michael brown . </t>

st. louis rams ` hands up ' protest praised by city 's black police officers<T>

motorists were spared fuel price rises as the chancellor confirmed a freeze on petrol and diesel duty would go ahead as planned from april 2015 . george osborne announced he was scrapping the ` trigger-point ' for automatically putting up duty if oil prices drop below a set level , as they did recently . but yesterday 's parallel report by the office for budget responsibility suggested that duty rises could return in september 2015 and rise in line with inflation from 2016 to 2019 . relief : george osborne announced he was scrapping the ` trigger-point ' for automatically putting up duty . aa president edmund king welcomed the confirmed april 2015 freeze but said the obr report appeared to confirm the fears of 84 per cent of aa members in a recent poll who said they were concerned that motoring taxes would increase after next may 's general election . mr osborne said he was ` freezing fuel duty to help hardworking people be more financially secure ' . he added : ` action on fuel duty since 2011 will save a typical motorist # 675 by the end of 2015-16 . ' however , the obr report said : ` the next duty rate rise , planned for september 2015 , means that receipts are expected to increase by 0.3 per cent in 2015-16 . sceptical : motorists fear rises in duty in the future . ` from april 2016 onwards duty rate rises are assumed to be in line with rpi inflation , leading to receipts growth of 2.5 per cent on average between 2016-17 and 2019-20 . ' mr king said : ` today 's re-confirmation of a # 15billion investment in uk roads and the continuing fuel duty freeze puts drivers on a `` highway to hope '' after some hellish years of high fuel prices , potholed roads and only patchy investment . ` but our members were right to be sceptical about future taxes . ' rac foundation director professor stephen glaister said : ` the chancellor is pushing for more transparency in the pricing of airline tickets , so now he should also back our call for pump receipts to show how much of the price of petrol and diesel is tax . ` currently well over 60 per cent goes to the exchequer in the form of fuel duty and vat . ' rac chief engineer david bizley said : ` the negative impact of fuel duty on economic growth is now acknowledged by the treasury . ` with fuel duty already frozen until may 2015 , we had feared an early return to the fuel duty escalator system -- a deeply unpopular practice which led to a series of fuel duty hikes . ` but , for now , it appears that is not going to be the case . ' howard cox , founder of the fairfueluk campaign , said the government should investigate why pump price falls are not keeping pace with plummeting oil prices : ` there should be 7p less showing at the pumps . who is holding onto this profit ? ' motorway filling stations will soon have to post their prices in advance on roadside signs so motorists can see if there is cheaper fuel ahead . ministers were inspired by the system used in france where motorists can see the price of fuel at a variety of outlets on signposts -lrb- pictured -rrb- miles before they reach each service station . it is hoped the move will promote competition and lower fuel prices . the signs will be tested at five service stations on the m5 between bristol and exeter , with a view to being introduced uk-wide by the end of 2015 . the rac last month found motorway service stations charge 10p more a litre of petrol than the national average .<doc-sep>by . lee boyce and richard hartley-parkinson . published : . 08:17 est , 21 march 2012 . | . updated : . 18:41 est , 21 march 2012 . a planned rise in the price of petrol will go ahead as george osborne refused to freeze or reduce the amount of tax motorists pay for fuel . despite pressure from hard-pressed . motorists and businesses that rely on fuel , such as hauliers , there will . be a 3.02 p per litre hike in fuel duty from august . the move sparks fears that the country could see a repeat of fuel protests similar to those seen in september 2000 when petrol pumps ran dry during a series of rolling blockades on the country 's motorway networks . scroll down for video . breakdown of the cost of fuel from august when a 3.02 p increase will be applied . soaring fuel costs : petrol and diesel prices have rocketed in the last decade . mr osborne said : ` high oil prices have put real pressure on household budgets and on businesses . ` that is why we took action in last year 's budget to cut fuel duty so it is 6p lower than our predecessors planned . ` we . have also scrapped the last government 's fuel duty escalator of annual . above inflation rises , regardless of the oil price - and are today . confirming the fair fuel stabiliser . ` above . inflation rises will only return if the oil price falls below # 45 on a . sustained basis - currently equivalent to around 75 us dollars . ' aa president edmund king said : ` at a . time of record prices at the pumps the august increase in duty is a . budget blow-out which will force drivers off the road and could bring a . summer of discontent for many . ` we have heard much about tax . allowances but the increase in fuel duty makes no allowance for . car-dependent , rural and disabled drivers . ` only last week the prime minister . told american students that uk fuel prices would make them ` faint ' , yet . the government seems intent on inflicting more pain for no gain on . drivers .<doc-sep>by . matt chorley , mailonline political editor . published : . 03:50 est , 5 december 2012 . | . updated : . 13:08 est , 5 december 2012 . tory mps had threatened to rebel against the government if george osborne pressed ahead with january 's 3p rise in fuel duty . a 3p rise in fuel duty planned for january will not go ahead , easing the pressure on motorists who have seen prices at the pump soar . in a rare piece of good news in a grim economic statement today , george osborne has agreed not to impose the new year hike . mr osborne said he had been advised to delay the rise until april , but has instead decided to scrap it ` completely ' . however , a planned 3p fuel duty rise for april next year will be delayed until september 2013 but will go ahead . if the chancellor had gone ahead with the january rise it would have added # 2.53 to the cost of filling up a family car . experts say it will save the average driver # 7.69-a-month . he told mps : ` that is real help for the cost of living for families as they fill up their cars across the country . ' with growth sluggish and borrowing higher than expected , the chancellor has little spare cash to woo voters . but . he risked a political backlash if he had pressed ahead with the rise , . because it would coincide with rail and bus fare rises , hammering . families and commuters no matter how they get around . mr osborne used last year 's autumn statement to scrap a planned 3p rise in fuel duty for january 2012 . a scheduled rise for august was cut from 5p to 3p , but in june this year he postponed it until january 2013 . now he has decided to scrap the january rise , confirming it in today 's autumn statement in the commons . ` there is a 3p-per-litre rise planned for this january . some have suggested we delay it until april . i disagree . i suggest we cancel it altogether , ' he said . the treasury said delaying and scrapping series of fuel duty hikes means the cost of a litre of fuel would be 10p higher in 2014-15 under labour than under the coalition . ` there will be no 3p fuel tax rise this january . that is real help with the cost of living for families as they fill up their cars across the country . and it will help businesses too .<doc-sep>osborne told mps : ` next year 's fuel duty rise will be cancelled . instead of petrol taxes going up by 2 pence a litre , they will stay . frozen . ` that means . compared to the previous government 's plans , petrol will be 20 pence a . litre less . that 's # 11 less every time you fill up . a saving for drivers . over this parliament of # 680 . ' he went on : ` we 're helping those who drive a car and we 're helping those who get the train too . ` for fares next january were due to go up by 1 per cent above inflation . ` we are going to keep average fares flat in real terms . ' the fuel duty freeze is one of the key . measures mr osborne unveiled to counter labour 's challenge that the . coalition is failing to act on the cost of living crisis . in addition to scrapping the rise planned for september 2014 , the chancellor also ruled out any further rises before may 2015 . mr osborne will then have frozen duty for four years in total , at a cost to the treasury of # 22billion . in the last decade the cost of petrol at the pump has risen from 74.6 p to 130.25 p.<doc-sep>under labour fuel duty rose from 45.82 p per litre in june 2003 to 57.19 p by the time of the 2010 election . scroll down for video . petrol prices have risen sharply in the last decade , but chancellor george osborne said he was determined to hold down fuel duty until the general election in 2015 . under rises set out by labour . chancellor alistair darling it peaked at 58.95 p in 2011 , but mr osborne . then cut it to 57.95 p , and has now ruled out any further rises . two . thirds of the cost of petrol is made up of tax , either fuel duty or . vat . tax accounts for more of the cost of petrol than in any other eu . country . mr osborne . signalled his plan to freeze fuel duty at the tory party conference in . october , but at the time had not found the money to pay for it . three in five drivers have cut back on car use because of rising costs , according to the aa . a .

<t> tax will once again be fixed at its current level in april next year . </t> <t> move hailed by motorist groups including rac , aa and fairfueluk . </t> <t> but duty rises could return in september 2015 and continue to 2019 . </t>

george osborne confirms freeze on fuel duty will go ahead as planned in 2015<T>

further grisly details have come out in court at the trial of a florida mother accused of stabbing and choking her neighbor to death before hacking the victim 's body into pieces and cooking them on her stove in a brutal , premeditated murder . a medical examiner has now revealed that the head and torso of limousine driver james sheaffer was never found , and that only 56 of his 206 bones were recovered following his slaying in april 2013 . angela stoldt , 42 , of deltona , sat motionless this week at her first-degree murder trial as details of the killing were laid out for the jury . it was also revealed that , after boiling some of the body parts in her kitchen - including a foot , a leg and both arms - stoldt allegedly had her two teenage children help dump the remains in different spots around volusia county , telling them she had hit a deer with her car . the prosecution say stoldt drugged her neighbor sheaffer before driving him to osteen cemetery in deltona , stabbing him in both eyes with an ice pick , and choking him with a cord . gruesome : angela stoldt , 42 , of deltona , sat motionless in court this week as the jury was told the details of her alleged murder of neighbor james sheaffer , following a dispute about money . gruesome murder : angela stoldt , 42 -lrb- left -rrb- , allegedly stabbed neighbor james sheaffer , 36 -lrb- right -rrb- , with an ice pick , strangled him and then tried to dispose of his body by hacking it to pieces and cooking the remains . crime scene : stoldt got into an argument with sheaffer while sitting in her car at the osteen cemetery in deltona in april 2013 . prosecutors said they will not be seeking the death penalty in stoldt 's case . in september , stold 's attorney filed a motion claiming self defense under florida 's controversial ` stand your ground ' law , but judge randell rowe iii rejected the motion . court documents obtained by daytona news-journal previously showed sheaffer , a married father of three , had asked stoldt to act as the payee on his social security disability benefits , but the 36-year-old kept overdrawing their joint account . the limo driver also wanted stoldt to ask her father for a $ 4,000 loan . on the morning of april 3 , 2013 , stoldt , with her two children in tow , picked up her neighbor from his work at blue diamond limousines and drove to her home on horseshoe terrace , where the two drank vodka and peach schnapps cocktails . but according to court filings , the mother of two spiked her neighbor 's beverage with a prescription pain medication , which she had stolen from her father knowing that it causes drowsiness , especially when mixed with alcohol . stoldt then allegedly loaded the drugged man into her car and drove to the osteen cemetery after dropping the kids off at her parents ' . husband and father : sheaffer , who was married with three kids , was stabbed in the eye and then strangled ; police were never able to locate all of his remains . while stoldt had previously claimed sheaffer ` came at her and said that he was going to kill ms. stoldt as well as her children ' , according to her strand-your-ground , prosecutor ryan will told the jury she had planned to kill sheaffer all along . she reached to the backseat for the ice pick and stabbed sheaffer in the right eye . she then grabbed a cord with two handles and used it to strangle sheaffer by wrapping it tightly around his neck , will said . after the man stopped moving , the mother grabbed the ice pick again and drove it through sheaffer 's left eye . she then wrapped the man 's head in saran wrap to keep him from bleeding all over the car interior . the news-journal reported that stoldt had bought the plastic , as well as rubber gloves , from wal-mart just hours before the killing . she then drove home , with sheaffer 's corpse propped up in the passenger seat , the ice pick still protruding from his face . will said stoldt then drove to her home and parked in the garage , where she cut up sheaffer 's body using a knife and a saw . she then moved the body parts one by one into her kitchen .<doc-sep>life and death situation : stoldt 's attorney filed a motion claiming that the woman was in fear for her life because sheaffer was threatening to kill her and her two children . ` she took him into the house piece by piece . ... the very same house she shares with her two teenage children and she cooked him in her oven and stove . she started with the oven but when the smoke and smell became unbearable she realized that she might get caught , ' will told the court . thats when stoldt allegedly began boiling some parts on the stove . sheaffer 's head and torso were not found , testified dr. marie herrmann , the medical examiner for volusia county . however a soup pot was recovered that contained sheaffer 's thigh bone , knee cap and some soft tissue , hermann testified . stoldt dumped other mutilated body parts in trash bags and disposed of them with the help of her teenage son , who was led to believe that they were getting rid of a deer his mother had killed with her car the night before . to cover up the murder , miss stoldt then buried her neighbor 's cellphone and driver 's license in different parks , and got rid of the pots and pans used to boil human flesh . when stoldt 's daughter , who is now 16 years old , asked her about the foul smell lingering in the house , the 42-year-old woman initially lied that a rat had gotten trapped inside the oven . but she eventually came clean to the girl , telling her that she had drugged and killed james sheaffer after he threatened to kill her . however , it was not until three weeks later that angela stoldt confessed to the rest of her family , prompting her sister to call 911 on april 21 because she was afraid the distraught , sleep-deprived woman might commit suicide . in the course of her questioning , miss stoldt spoke without hesitation of her attempts to dispose of her neighbor 's corpse . ` thursday is when i was cooking him . friday is when i was dumping him , ' she was quoted as saying . the woman showed little remorse for her actions , telling police she believed at the time sheaffer was going to ruin her life . ` i 'm sorry , but i put jimmie where he belonged , in my opinion at the time , ' she told detectives . ms stoldt eventually led sheriff 's deputies to various locations around volusia county to help recover james sheaffer 's remains , but officials said they were never able to locate all of sheaffer 's body parts . confrontation : sheaffer , a limo driver , allegedly attacked stoldt while sitting in her car and would not let go of her until she wrapped a cord around his neck . investigators who canvassed sheaffer 's deltona neighborhood looking for the missing man before stoldt 's confession had talked to the woman on more than one occasion . she acknowledged being friends with sheaffer and said she handled some of his financial affairs for him . she told investigators that she last saw sheaffer on april 5 and 15 , even though family members had n't seen him since april 2 . the investigation took a turn april 20 when stoldt 's sister called 911 saying that the mother of two was acting suicidal and had admitted to killing james sheaffer . the caller told the sheriff 's office that stoldt was hugging her children and saying goodbye . ` why 's she hugging her kids goodbye ? ' the emergency dispatcher asked . ` because she came to the house and she told my parents that she committed a crime and that she 's being investigated for it , ' the woman 's sister replied . ms stoldt initially declined to talk to investigators and was taken in for a mental health evaluation . but officials were able to obtain a search warrant to enter her house , where they came upon evidence indicating a crime had been committed there . a short time later , angela stoldt confessed to stabbing and strangling sheaffer , and then disposing of his body . stoldt then led investigators to a location where human remains were recovered . ms stoldt is being held without bail .<doc-sep>a florida mom convicted of cooking her neighbor after stabbing , strangling and dismembering him following an apparent money has been sentenced to life in prison . angela stoldt , 42 , will now die behind behind bars after being sentenced in volusia county on friday , but showed no remorse as the decision was handed down . authorities say stoldt tried to cremate 36-year-old james sheaffer 's body in april 2013 by putting several body parts in an oven and in pots on the stove , including a foot , a leg and both arms . when that did n't work , she put his body parts in bags and had her teenage children help her scatter them in different places near their home in deltona , telling them she was trying to dispose of a deer she had hit with the car . life in prison : angela stoldt , 42 , of deltona , showed no remorse in court friday as she was sentenced to life for murdering , dismembering and disposing neighbor james sheaffer , 36 , following a dispute about money . gruesome murder : angela stoldt , 42 -lrb- left -rrb- , stabbed neighbor james sheaffer , 36 -lrb- right -rrb- , with an ice pick , strangled him and then tried to dispose of his body by hacking it to pieces and cooking the remains . crime scene : stoldt got into an argument with sheaffer while sitting in her car at the osteen cemetery in deltona in april 2013 . the prosecution say stoldt drugged her neighbor sheaffer before driving him to osteen cemetery in deltona , stabbing him in both eyes with an ice pick , and choking him with a cord . in september , stold 's attorney filed a motion claiming self defense under florida 's controversial ` stand your ground ' law , but judge randell rowe iii rejected the motion . court documents obtained by daytona news-journal previously showed sheaffer , a married father of three , had asked stoldt to act as the payee on his social security disability benefits , but he kept overdrawing their joint account . he also wanted stoldt to ask her father for a $ 4,000 loan . stoldt relied on their financial relationship for money , but the two were platonic . on the morning of april 3 , 2013 , stoldt , with her two children in tow , picked up her neighbor from his work at blue diamond limousines and drove to her home on horseshoe terrace , where the two drank vodka and peach schnapps cocktails .<doc-sep>a florida woman accused of killing a neighbor was indicted on a first-degree murder charge wednesday after it was revealed in court that she allegedly hacked the victim 's body into pieces and tried to cremate them using her stove after drugging and stabbing him to death . angela stoldt , 42 , of deltona , was arrested in april 2013 in connection to the killing of james sheaffer and was initially charged with second-degree murder . on wednesday , a grand jury indicted her on charges of abuse of a dead body and tampering with physical evidence , on top of the upgraded first-degree murder charge . gruesome murder : angela stoldt , 42 -lrb- left -rrb- , allegedly stabbed neighbor james sheaffer , 36 -lrb- right -rrb- , with an ice pick , strangled him and then tried to dispose of his body by hacking it to pieces and cooking the remains . crime scene : stoldt got into an argument with sheaffer while sitting in her car at the osteen cemetery in deltona in april 2013 . prosecutors said they will not be seeking the death penalty in stoldt 's case . in september , stold 's attorney filed a motion claiming self defense under florida 's controversial ` stand your ground ' law , but judge randell rowe iii rejected the motion . court documents obtained by daytona news-journal this week revealed chilling new details about the 2013 murder and its gruesome aftermath . james sheaffer , a limousine driver and a married father of three , had reportedly asked his neighbor , ms stoldt , to act as the payee on his social security disability benefits , but the 36-year-old kept overdrawing their joint account . the limo driver also wanted stoldt to ask her father for a $ 4,000 loan . on the morning of april 3 , 2013 , stoldt , with her two children in tow , picked up her neighbor from his work at blue diamond limousines and drove to her home on horseshoe terrace , where the two drank vodka and peach schnapps cocktails . but according to court filings , the mother of two spiked her neighbor 's beverage with a prescription pain medication , which she had stolen from her father knowing that it causes drowsiness , especially when mixed with alcohol .<doc-sep>by . snejana farberov for mail online . a florida woman accused of stabbing her neighbor in the eye with an ice pick and then strangling him to death is claiming self-defense under the state 's controversial ` stand your ground ' law . angela stoldt , of deltona , has been charged with second-degree murder in the april 2013 killing of 36-year-old james sheaffer . the 42-year-old suspect also has been accused of abusing the victim 's body and tampering with evidence . slaying : angela stoldt , 42 -lrb- left -rrb- , is accused of killing neighbor james sheaffer , 36 -lrb- right -rrb- , with an ice pick last year - but she claims self-defense under florida 's ` stand your ground ' law . crime scene : stoldt got into an argument with sheaffer while sitting in her car at the osteen cemetery in deltona in april 2013 . a motion filed by stoldt 's attorney , and cited by the daytona beach news-journal , claimed that the woman stabbed sheaffer as the two sat in her car at a cemetery because he was threatening to kill her and her children . even after he was stabbed in the face , according to the defense , sheaffer kept coming at stoldt , who was in fear for her life . at least 22 states , among them florida , have laws on the books that allow that ` there is no duty to retreat -lrb- from -rrb- an attacker in any place in which one is lawfully present . ' these laws generally cancel a person 's duty to retreat in the face of a serious physical attack . the 2012 florida shooting death of unarmed black teenager trayvon martin and the acquittal of neighborhood watch volunteer george zimmerman sparked debate over ` stand your ground ' laws around the country . james sheaffer , a limousine driver and a married father of three , had reportedly asked his neighbor , ms stoldt , to act as the payee on his social security disability benefits , but the 36-year-old kept overdrawing the account . on the morning of april 3 , 2013 , stoldt , with her two children in tow , picked up her neighbor from work and drove to the osteen cemetery after dropping the kids off at her parents ' . husband and father : sheaffer , who was married with three kids , was stabbed in the eye and then strangled ; police were never able to locate all of his remains . life and death situation : stoldt 's attorney filed a motion claiming that the woman was in fear for her life because sheaffer was threatening to kill her and her two children . on their way to the cemetery , mr sheaffer reportedly asked stoldt if he could borrow $ 2,000 to $ 4,000 from her father . by the time the two reached the burial ground , sheaffer and stoldt got into a heated dispute over the money . ` sheaffer said that he was going to kill ms. stoldt as well as her children , ' the stand-you-ground motion stated . the limo driver then allegedly came at his neighbor swinging and grabbed her , refusing to let go . ` she grabbed the first thing she could , which was an ice pick , to protect herself . the ice pick was in a box of camping supplies that was in the backseat of her car behind her , ' the motion stated . the mother of two plunged the sharp instrument into shaeffer 's eye , but the man allegedly kept coming at her . the woman , described as fearful for her life , grabbed a cord , wrapped it tightly around the man 's neck and continued pulling until he stopped attacking her . ms stoldt then covered sheaffer 's head with saran wrap and disposed of his body . the victim was reported missing by his father the following day , but it was not until nearly three weeks later that a suicidal ms stoldt confessed to killing her neighbor and led sheriff 's deputies to various locations around volusia county to help recover his remains . officials said they were never able to locate all of sheaffer 's body parts . confrontation : sheaffer , a limo driver , allegedly attacked stoldt while sitting in her car and would not let go of her until she wrapped a cord around his neck . investigators who canvassed sheaffer 's deltona neighborhood before stoldt 's confession had talked to the woman on more than one occasion . she acknowledged being friends with sheaffer and said she handled some of his financial affairs for him . she told investigators that she last saw sheaffer on april 5 and 15 , even though family members had n't seen him since april 2 . the investigation took a turn april 20 when stoldt 's sister called 911 saying that the mother of two was acting suicidal and had admitted to killing james sheaffer . the caller told the sheriff 's office that stoldt was hugging her children and saying goodbye . ` why 's she hugging her kids goodbye ? ' the emergency dispatcher asked . ` because she came to the house and she told my parents that she committed a crime and that she 's being investigated for it , ' the woman 's sister replied . ms stoldt initially declined to talk to investigators and was taken in for a mental health evaluation . but officials were able to obtain a search warrant to enter her house , where they came upon evidence indicating a crime had been committed there . a short time later , angela stoldt confessed to stabbing and strangling sheaffer , and then disposing of his body . stoldt then led investigators to a location where human remains were recovered . ms stoldt is being held without bond on charges of second-degree murder , abuse of a dead human body and tampering with physical evidence .<doc-sep>life and death situation : stoldt 's attorney filed a motion claiming that the woman was in fear for her life because sheaffer was threatening to kill her and her two children . ` she took him into the house piece by piece . ... the very same house she shares with her two teenage children and she cooked him in her oven and stove . she started with the oven but when the smoke and smell became unbearable she realized that she might get caught , ' will told the court . thats when stoldt allegedly began boiling some parts on the stove . sheaffer 's head and torso were not found , testified dr. marie herrmann , the medical examiner for volusia county . however a soup pot was recovered that contained sheaffer 's thigh bone , knee cap and some soft tissue , hermann testified . stoldt dumped other mutilated body parts in trash bags and disposed of them with the help of her teenage son , who was led to believe that they were getting rid of a deer his mother had killed with her car the night before . to cover up the murder , miss stoldt then buried her neighbor 's cellphone and driver 's license in different parks , and got rid of the pots and pans used to boil human flesh . when stoldt 's daughter , who is now 16 years old , asked her about the foul smell lingering in the house , the 42-year-old woman initially lied that a rat had gotten trapped inside the oven . but she eventually came clean to the girl , telling her that she had drugged and killed james sheaffer after he threatened to kill her . however , it was not until three weeks later that angela stoldt confessed to the rest of her family , prompting her sister to call 911 on april 21 because she was afraid the distraught , sleep-deprived woman might commit suicide . in the course of her questioning , miss stoldt spoke without hesitation of her attempts to dispose of her neighbor 's corpse . ` thursday is when i was cooking him . friday is when i was dumping him , ' she was quoted as saying .

<t> angela stoldt , 42 , confessed to killing limo driver james sheaffer , 36 , in april 2013 by stabbing him in the face and strangling him with a cord . </t> <t> she then dismembered the slain man with a hacksaw and knife and tried to dispose of remains by cooking some of them in pots . </t> <t> stoldt 's lawyer claimed in september that she killed sheaffer in self-defense because he attacked her and threatened to kill her . </t> <t> the prosecution say it was premeditated and followed a money dispute . </t> <t> only 56 of sheaffer 's 206 bones were recovered . </t> <t> police never found his head or torso . </t> <t> stoldt 's sister turned her into police . </t>

angela stoldt who stabbed man and cooked remains ` had children help dispose body '<T>

a sydney man who allegedly claimed he was a member of islamic state before threatening to behead a police officer says the whole thing has been ` blown out of proportion ' . lamin savage , 24 , is accused of calling granville police station in sydney 's west in september and threatening to cut off the head of an officer who had arrested him for driving offences two months earlier . police say savage claimed to be a member of the islamic state when he made the call . a man has been accused of threatening to behead a police officer -lrb- generic police photo shown -rrb- . but on wednesday the 24-year-old interrupted his bail application and told the supreme court that ` things have been blown out of proportion ' . ' i just made a phone call to the cop shop to make a complaint , ' savage said while appearing via audio visual link in prison greens .<doc-sep>` it is just distressing . i do n't want my family drawn in on this . ' the refugee from sierra leone made the comments after his mother bintu savage gave evidence that she could supervise her son if he was released on bail and could post the $ 400 as surety . the court heard savage had been diagnosed with a borderline intellectual disability . he allegedly claimed to be part of the islamic state . in this photo iraqi military armoured trucks pass next to a building painted in the colors of the islamic state flag as they take up position in iraq . although the crown consented to him being released on bail , justice helen wilson said it was a ` very serious offence ' .<doc-sep>she will hand down her decision at a later date . in denying him bail at parramatta local a court earlier this year , magistrate margaret mcglynn said the facts before the court were ` of great concern ' . ` the latest charges fit info a disturbing pattern of escalating threats , ' ms mcglynn said in september . savage , who has been charged with using a carriage service to threaten to kill and three driving offences , is expected to face a local court hearing in march . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>a terrorist organisation claiming responsibility for a number of attacks in pakistan has apparently become the first foreign extremist group to pledge their allegiance to the islamic state currently wreaking havoc across syria and iraq . tehreek-e-khilafat has declared it will raise the flag of the islamic state - formerly known as isis - above south asia and khurusan , an historical islamic region comprising parts of afghanistan , iran , turkmenistan and uzbekistan . the move will be seen to bolster abu bakr al-baghdadi , the leader of the islamic state , who has garnered the nickname ` the invisible sheikh ' due to his elusive nature . pakistanie terror group tehreek-e-khilafat has declared it will now support the islamic state , which has seized vast parts of syria and iraq . pictured , a member loyal to the islamic state waves a flag in raqqa , syria . described as the world 's most wanted man , militants operating under baghdadi 's control have spread terror through syria and iraq in an attempt to form a new islamic state in the middle east . the sunni fighters , responsible for the brutal slaughter of thousands , have vowed to expand the so-called caliphate to huge swathes of europe and africa . tehreek-e-khilafat , affiliated with the pakistani taliban , said in a statement : ` from today , sheikh abu bakr al-baghdadi shall consider tehreek-e-khilafat and jihad mujahideen fighters of pakistan as one of the arrows among his arrows which he has kept for his bow . the move will be seen as a boost for islamic state leader abu bakr al-baghdadi . murderous : isis fighters force a prisoner to kneel before they execute him in front of a cheering crowd in iraq .<doc-sep>` those who were executed during the storming of the al-sheitaat area are around 300 . the rest were killed in the course of the battles , ' he told reuters on condition of anonymity to protect his identity . a member of ussud al-anbar -lrb- anbar lions -rrb- , a jihadist group affiliated to the islamic state of iraq holding up the trademark black and white islamist flag at an undisclosed location in iraq 's anbar province . civilians fleeing al-sheitaat towns had either taken sanctuary in other villages or travelled to iraq , he said . more than 170,000 people have been killed in syria 's civil war , which pits overwhelmingly sunni muslim rebels against president bashar al-assad , a member of the shi'ite - derived alawite minority , backed by shi'ite militias from iraq and lebanon . the insurgency is split between competing factions in syria , with islamic state emerging as the most powerful . tribal powers in syria and iraq have had to make the choice between fighting islamic state or pledging allegiance . on friday , a video posted on youtube showed men who said they were from the al-sheitaat towns of kishkeih and abu hammam pledging full support for islamic state . ` we say that what islamic state stands for is justice , ' a tribal member sitting in a room with dozens of other men said in a statement that was read out . the head of the al-sheitaat tribe , sheikh rafaa aakla al-raju , called in a video message for other tribes to join them in the fight against the militants . ` we appeal to the other tribes to stand by us because it will be their turn next ... if -lrb- islamic state -rrb- are done with us the other tribes will be targeted after al-sheitaat . they are the next target , ' he said in the video , posted on youtube . islamic state was condemned on friday in a u.n. security council resolution for ` gross , systematic and widespread abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law . '<doc-sep>by . mark duell . published : . 07:50 est , 6 february 2013 . | . updated : . 09:19 est , 6 february 2013 . a 16-year-old schoolboy died last night after collapsing while playing five-a-side football with friends . philip lamin , of bexleyheath , south-east london , is thought to have had a heart attack while playing in a friendly at a local goals soccer centre , which is used by his school bexleyheath academy . principal carl wakefield praised philip as ` one of the most gifted sportsmen in his year ' and said his fellow students have decided that a quiet area of school grounds should be dedicated in his memory . tragic : philip lamin -lrb- left and right -rrb- , 16 , of bexleyheath , south-east london , is thought . to have had a heart attack while playing in a friendly football match at . his local goals soccer centre . mr wakefield said : ` it is with great sadness that we have to confirm the tragic loss of a much loved student who collapsed on a football pitch on the grounds of bexleyheath academy after school . ` philip lamin , a 16-year-old student , was taking part in a friendly game of football when he fell to the ground -lrb- at approximately 4pm -rrb- . there was no form of contact with any other player . ` the ambulance service was immediately called and paramedics arrived within 10 minutes and attempts were made to resuscitate him at the scene . ' philip was pronounced dead at 6pm at queen elizabeth hospital in woolwich , south-east london . tributes : philip was praised by his principal at bexleyheath academy as ` one of the most gifted sportsmen in his year ' and his fellow students have decided that a quiet area of school grounds should be dedicated to him . mr wakefield added : ` philip was a lovely lad who was very popular with his fellow students and with staff . he was one of the most gifted sportsmen in his year . he had a wonderful smile . ' i ca n't believe that i 've heard that this guy is gone . philip lamin - the guy that was always cracking jokes , especially on the football pitch during church matches ' ishmael edwards , friend . ` students and staff are shocked and deeply saddened by the news . all students have been informed of our grievous loss at assemblies this morning and have been a credit to the academy . ' tributes poured in for philip today from friends and fellow pupils on social networking websites . ishmael . edwards said on facebook : ` i ca n't believe that i 've heard that this . guy is gone . philip lamin - the guy that was always cracking jokes , . especially on the football pitch during church matches . ` he always made me laugh . you were . growing up to be a great man . you 've made your mum so proud . we thank . god for the progress you 've made in life . we 'll all miss you dearly . ' on location : the bexleyheath academy and goals soccer centre are both on this site in south-east london . and leanne smith said on twitter : ` rest . in peace , philip lamin - you 'll never be forgotten . such a nice boy . why . you ? this world 's so cruel . only saw you today -lrb- tuesday -rrb- . ' ` philip was a lovely lad who was very popular with his fellow students and with staff . he was one of the most gifted sportsmen in his year . he had a wonderful smile ' carl wakefieldbexleyheath academy principal . another twitter user named ` nothinglikeus ' said : ` so sad to think that someone who used to make the whole class laugh is now gone - remember you for them times . rip philip lamin . ' the death was not being treated as suspicious but an inquest was due to be opened and adjourned at southwark coroner 's court . a goals soccer centres spokesman told mailonline today : ` goals soccer centres is saddened by the tragic death of philip . lamin . ` he collapsed while taking part in a school extra-curricular activity at . our site at the bexleyheath academy . our condolences go to his family and loved . ones . ' meanwhile it was also revealed that a 47-year-old man also suffered a cardiac arrest at around 9pm . last night while playing at the same goals soccer centre - just hours after the schoolboy collapsed . he was taken to king 's college hospital in camberwell , south-east london , where he was recovering . 6th february 2013 . dear parent/carer . it is with great sadness that we have to confirm the tragic loss of a much loved student who collapsed on a football pitch on the grounds of bexleyheath academy yesterday . philip lamin , a 16 year old student in year 11 , was taking part in a friendly game of football when he fell to the ground . there was no form of contact with any other player during this time . the ambulance service were called immediately and paramedics arrived within ten minutes . attempts were made to resuscitate philip at the scene as well as at queen elizabeth hospital in woolwich . sadly he was pronounced dead at approximately 6pm . philip was a fine young man who was very popular with his fellow students and staff . he was an extremely gifted and talented sportsman and was blessed with a wonderful smile . students and staff are understandably shocked and deeply saddened by this terrible news . all students have been informed in special assemblies this morning . their behaviour and attitude displayed have been a credit to the academy , their families and , above all else , themselves . the students have already dedicated a quiet area in the academy to the memory of philip . please do not hesitate to contact the academy at any time over the next few days should you feel your child requires extra support and you deem it necessary . we are very grateful for the exceptional support offered by the london borough of bexley and for the tremendous amount of messages of condolence sent through to us at this very difficult time . yours sincerelymr c wakefieldprincipal .<doc-sep>attorney general eric holder estimated this summer that there are 7,000 foreign fighters in the war-ravaged middle eastern nation . mccain was not the first of these american militants to die in syria . islamists touted the role of a 22-year-old man -- identified by state department spokeswoman jen psaki as moner mohammad abu-salha , who grew up and went to school in florida -- in a northern syria suicide bombing conducted in coordination with al-nusra front earlier this year . in colorado , conley allegedly told fbi agents that she was going to be with a member of the islamic state in iraq and syria , or isis , that she had met online . she told federal agents she had read a book called `` al-qaida 's doctrine for insurgency '' and intended to wage jihad against the united states , according to the criminal complaint . when she was arrested , conley had in her possession certification papers for first aid and nursing , the u.s. army explorers and the national rifle association , according to court documents . `` it 's a difficult time for us , '' her mother , ana conley , told cnn last month , when court documents in the case were unsealed . according to court papers , conley 's parents were aware she had converted to islam , but did not know about her interest in violent jihad . her father , john , reportedly caught shannon talking to her suitor , described as a 32-year-old tunisian man , on skype . man arrested after overseas trip , accused of sympathizing with isis . the couple asked for the father 's blessing and he refused , the court papers said . on april 1 , john called fbi to report he had found plane ticket for later that month to turkey . her daughter was arrested on a jetway while trying to board a flight to germany on april 8 , according to a criminal complaint . california man arrested , said he wanted to join isis . conley first came to the attention of authorities after the pastor and the security director at a church in arvada , colorado , called police and said she was acting suspiciously . authorities interviewed her seven times over the course of five months before arresting her at the airport . `` i think she realizes she made a terrible mistake , '' her mother told cnn . `` she was clueless . she 's just a teenager , young , with a big mouth . '' opinion : when americans leave for jihad .

<t> lamin savage , 24 , is accused of calling a sydney police station in september . </t> <t> he allegedly threatened to cut off the head of an officer . </t> <t> the officer had arrested him for driving offences two months earlier . </t> <t> he also allegedly claimed to be a member of islamic state . </t> <t> he has been charged with using a carriage service to threaten to kill and three driving offences . </t>

lamin savage accused of claiming to be islamic state member says he called to make complaint<T>

we 've all heard that age-old adage that travel broadens the mind - but does it really ? while today it 's common practice to take that gap-year abroad , exploring new places and putting off university for 12 additional months , a survey found that the majority did n't believe this year off had helped them positively develop as a person . in fact , more than a third of respondents even admitted that they struggled to make the transition from carefree lifestyle to a nine-to-five work mentality . does a year abroad really broaden your horizons ? new research of 1,000 uk backpackers says no ! student shipping specialist , 1stopship , conducted the research , finding that 60 per cent of those surveyed did n't believe that their time away had been particularly beneficial . twenty eight per cent , however , did believe they 'd changed for the better - but quickly reverted back to their old attitude when they arrived back on british soil .<doc-sep>to add more salt to the wound , 29 per cent of people questioned confessed to growing sick of their backpacking buddy 's endless stories and 12 per cent stated that their friends returned with a false sense of superiority . and those who are planning to travel post-university before joining the working world ? well , you may want to reconsider . though gap years have become increasingly popular , 60 per cent of those surveyed did n't think it had been all that beneficial to their personal development . many felt that the travelling and partying made it more difficult to transition into a nine-to-five lifestyle . thirty four per cent admitted that they struggled with transitioning into a nine-to-five lifestyle .<doc-sep>fourteen per cent admitted their stint overseas left them dreading work and feeling unprepared and 23 per cent still felt unsettled once they had landed their first job upon return . it seems as though those concerns are also reflected by employers . nineteen per cent said that their current boss viewed their time spent travelling as a negative , while 14 per cent struggled to get a job due to their lack of experience compared to non-travelling counterparts . but 39 per cent did view their experiences abroad as a positive on their cv . ian brown , from 1stopship , commented : ` while the research may seem a little damning when it comes to taking a gap year , we know from our customers -- a good proportion of whom are young people , recent school leavers or graduates -- that there can be huge benefits too .<doc-sep>when it came to employers , 19 % felt that their current boss viewed their time abroad as a ` negative ' ` we would advise anyone looking to genuinely enrich themselves , or make a positive impression on prospective employers to consider incorporating both work and travel , such as teaching or temping overseas ; this can ensure you acquire new skills , whilst also experiencing a new culture and seeing new places . ' emily moult , a former leeds metropolitan university student who spent a year teaching english as a foreign language -lrb- tefl -rrb- in france , agrees . she said : ' i reflect fondly on my year teaching abroad and think of it as a serious life-changing experience . ` not only did i get to see new places , but i was also able to improve my language skills and gain a whole host of new skills , all of which helped me enormously when it came to getting a full-time job . '<doc-sep>everyone has their reasons for travelling - be it to get the ultimate tan , taste exotic dishes or dive into history - but most of us have the same goal in mind . tripadvisor 's new tripbarometer : psychology of travel report , examined motivations behind holiday choices and found that ` enhancing perspective ' drives 71 per cent of global travellers to go on holiday . but precise motivations vary from continent to continent . north americans , for example , hope to strengthen relationships with loved ones , while europeans really just want to brag about their experiences . travellers are also nine times more likely to crave unique rather than pampered experiences , while 38 per cent of global holidaymakers expand their diets to include the new foods they tried during their travels . five per cent of travellers say a trip motivated them to get engaged or married . and it 's no surprise that holidaymakers are finding plenty of rewards from seeing the world . forty-five per cent say they are inspired to be more tolerant of others when they return home , and 37 per cent are eager to learn a new language or skill that they encountered abroad . tripadvisor study explores what motivates us to travel .<doc-sep>it 's a year out of your life that 's supposed to provide the chance to experience new cultures , learn the rigors of travel and expand your mind and horizons . more often than not though , gap year returnees pick up crippling debt , tropical diseases , questionable hairstyles and stis . now new research commissioned by student shipping specialists 1stopship reveals what we 've long suspected -- that gap years and travelling is not always the ` enriching ' experience we hope for . scroll down for video . worth leaving home for ? 62 per cent of people questioned admitted travelling did n't enrich them as a person . 1,000 backpackers across the uk were questioned on their attitudes to travelling in hindsight . the study coincides with the start of the university term where thousands return from a year abroad -- or defer studying in favour of a gap year . more than 60 per cent of people admitted it did n't enrich them as a person , while 28 per cent who originally thought they had changed for the better , revised that opinion after returning to the uk and realising they were exactly the same . tell someone who cares : 29 per cent admitted to growing sick of their backpacking friends ' stories . a lonely road : 34 per cent admitted they struggled to get back into a work routine after being overseas . nearly 30 per cent admitted to growing sick of their backpacking friends ' stories - and 12 per cent claimed that their friends returned with a false sense of superiority . the general consensus was that travelling can harm your employment prospects and actually lose you friends . 19 per cent said that their current boss viewed their time travelling negatively and more than a third -lrb- 34 per cent -rrb- admitted they struggled to make the transition to work after returning from time abroad . happy camper : 14 per cent said they struggled to get a job on their return compared to non-travelling friends . not all bad : 39 per cent of backpackers saw traveling as something that reflected well on their cv . some 14 per cent claimed their stint overseas left them dreading work and feeling unprepared and the same number had trouble getting a job because they lacked experience compared to their non-travelling fellow candidates of a similar age . despite this , a 39 per cent of backpackers saw traveling as a positive and something that reflected well on their cv . ian brown , from 1stopship , said , ` while the research may seem a little damning when it comes to taking a gap year , we know from our customers -- a good proportion of whom are young people , recent school leavers or graduates -- that there can be huge benefits too . ` we would advise anyone looking to genuinely enrich themselves , or make a positive impression on prospective employers to consider incorporating both work and travel , such as teaching or temping overseas ; this can ensure you acquire new skills , whilst also experiencing a new culture and seeing new places . '<doc-sep>money on the mind : scotland 's tourism industry will suffer if it can not continue using sterling , says one analyst . a recent survey by lj research suggests most visitors do not care if scotland is independent or not . of more than 700 international and local visitors to the uk in august , 84 per cent said their decision to visit scotland would be unaffected by the referendum results . but english respondents were twice as likely as international visitors to feel less inclined to visit . sean morgan , managing director of lj research , said : ` it is likely that scotland 's tourism industry will suffer if it can not continue using sterling , as this factor will likely act as a barrier among inbound visitors ' decision . ' scottish holidaymakers may face a reduction in availability of insurance , says columbus direct . travel blogger kath cross , who writes for the uk caravan holidays website , is n't convinced that crossing the border will be a smooth experience in an independent scotland . kath wrote : ` border controls on the border with scotland could make a uk holiday as stressful as heading abroad . ` what exactly an independent scotland might mean for holidaymakers is yet to be seen and of course it does all depend on a yes vote , but it could mean the need to change money to a scottish currency in the same way you need to when you go abroad . ` it could mean passport control for those entering and leaving the country , and in time should the scottish economy not be able to support its nhs that you may even need travel insurance to cover injury while you 're away . ' what will happen ? there are concerns about border controls , visa requirements and currency exchange rates . joe goldblatt , an expert in event tourism in edinburgh , believes tourism to scotland will boom if independence wins the vote .<doc-sep>`` i find that people who paid to volunteer abroad sort of just take pictures and hold babies , '' she said . `` it depends on your study abroad program , too . just having studied abroad is good , but there is a whole other aspect to what you did while you were there . '' that 's exactly what alexa basile tried to keep in mind when she selected her study abroad program . the state university of new york at potsdam student spent a year in australia teaching social studies to a class of nine students . it was during that immersion with her students , many of whom had behavioral problems , that she noticed her eighth-grade students were reading at a second-grade level . that inspired her to focus on more critical reading lessons . `` and that made me realize i wanted to be a literacy specialist , '' she said , which she is now emphasizing as she interviews for graduate school . like blackmon , basile puts her study-abroad experience on her resume , but she also goes in depth about her trip in her cover letter . she 's candid with interviewers about her successes and challenges overseas . `` i had times with this class that were really tough , and sometimes frustrating , '' she said . her students routinely challenged her instructions , defied her and talked back to her . `` but my very last day , i walked into the classroom and they decorated it for me and they brought me treats and toys , '' she said . `` i broke down immediately . it really proved to me they were tough , but they appreciated me . '' those frustrating and rewarding moments helped hone her classroom management skills . after basile came back from australia , she got her second student teaching job at an inner-city school in new york city . it 's exactly that sort of program involvement that idealist 's putnam says will make hiring managers care about a study abroad trip . `` be self-aware as you are doing your job and take stock in what skills you are building . it 's not just ' i go to a class and i teach the class , ' '' she said . `` be critical of the work that you are doing . '' basile , who is interviewing for graduate schools , says to approach studying abroad with realistic expectations . `` to get most out of your travel , you need to go with the mindset that you are going to do a lot of things and be involved , '' she said . `` get hands on and look for a program that has those experiences . you can be a tourist on a family vacation . ''

<t> majority of respondents felt that the year had n't been particularly beneficial . </t> <t> 60 % believe a gap year did not help them develop positively as a person . </t> <t> more than one third admitted they struggled to transition to 9-to-5 lifestyle . </t> <t> survey : 1,000 uk backpackers who spent more than 6 months travelling . </t>

does a year abroad really expand the mind ? new research says no<T>

it is one of london 's most iconic venues , but southbank 's oxo tower restaurant has been voted to have the ` most disappointing cooking ' in the 2015 edition of harden 's london restaurants guide . and hammersmith 's much-loved river cafe did n't fare much better , dubbed an ` overcrowded ' and ` impersonal place ' where ` uneventful ' dishes come at ` merciless prices ' . while celebrity favourite chiltern firehouse - frequented by cara delevingne and lindsay lohan - may be an ` amazing ' room , the hardenʼs survey found the food at andre balazsʼs hotel where ` poseurs and paparazzi abound ' actually ` meh ' . scroll down for video . the ledbury in notting hill was named london 's best restaurant after coming first in the top gastronomic experience , highest rated restaurant -lrb- food -rrb- and highest rated restaurant -lrb- overall -rrb- lists . cara delevingne and lindsay lohan have been seen at chiltern firehouse . the food at the restaurant was described as ` meh ' by the guide 's reporters . but it 's not all doom and gloom in the capital 's dining scene . the ledbury in notting hill was named london 's best restaurant after coming first in the top gastronomic experience , highest rated restaurant -lrb- food -rrb- and highest rated restaurant -lrb- overall -rrb- lists . neighbourhood restaurant chez bruce in wandsworth common was -- for the 10th year running -- voted londonʼs favourite restaurant , marking an incredible double for restaurateur nigel platts-marin who is also the backer of the ledbury . simon roganʼs relaunch of claridgeʼs dining room -- fera at claridgeʼs -- did n't go unnoticed , claiming the accolade for being the highest rated newcomer of the year . # 85 + . 1 . the ledbury , notting hill . 2 . rasoi , chelsea . 3 . pied à terre , fitzrovia . 4 . le gavroche , mayfair . 5 one-o-one , knightsbridge . # 65 - # 84 . 1 . the five fields , chelsea . 2 . hedone , chiswick . 3 . chez bruce , wandsworth common . 4 . zuma , knightsbridge . 5 . hkk , broadgate west , east london . # 50 - # 64 . 1 . sushi tetsu , clerkenwell . 2 . moro , exmouth market . 3 . dinings , marylebone . 4 . sukho fine thai cuisine , fulham . 5 . gauthier soho , soho . # 40 - # 49 . 1 . sushi-say , willesden green . 2 . lamberts , balham . 3 . jin kichi , hampstead . 4 . brawn , bethnal green . 5 . donostia , marylebone . # 39 or less . 1 . pitt cue co , carnaby street . 2 . ragam , fitzrovia . 3 . mangal 1 , dalston . 4 . santa maria , ealing . 5 . silk road , camberwell . the restaurant also placed fourth in the overall rankings for food , service and ambience , winning high praise for its ` phenomenal ' meals -- which are ` so different ' to the usual dining scene -- and ` gloriously attentive ' service . gymkhana had a great year as harden 's reporters heaped praise on the modern indian eaterie . the yearling is already londonʼs 12th most talked about restaurant thanks to its ` sensationally subtle ' cuisine .<doc-sep># 85 + . 1 . the ledbury , notting hill . 2 . bubbledogs , fitzrovia . 3 . le gavroche , mayfair . 4 . fera at claridgeʼs , . 5 . pied à terre , fitzrovia . # 65 - # 84 . 1 . the five fields , chelsea . 2 . the goring hotel , victoria . 3 . chez bruce , wandsworth common . 4 . scottʼs , mayfair . 5 . galvin la chapelle , spitalfields . # 50 - # 64 . 1 . sushi tetsu , clerkenwell . 2 . clos maggiore , covent garden . 3 . lʼaventure , st john 's wood . 4 . randall & aubin , soho . 5 . j sheekey oyster bar , west end . # 40 - # 49 . 1 . lamberts , balham . 2 . donostia , marble arch . 3 . brawn , bethnall green . 4 . sushi-say . willesden green . 5 . josé , bermondsey . # 39 or less . 1 . carom at meza , soho . 2 . the begging bowl , peckham . 3 . pitt cue co , carnaby street . 4 . paradise hampstead , south end green . 5 . meat mission , hoxton market . celeb favourite chiltern firehouse was deemed a place where ` poseurs and paparazzi abound ' gordon ramsey 's royal hospital road restaurant in chelsea is back in the top gastronomic experience list . after his disappearance from the top 10 gastronomic experience list last year , gordon ramsay mounted something of a comeback . his flagship royal hospital road restaurant -lrb- helmed by clare smyth -rrb- has returned to the list . the anchor & hope in waterloo nabbed top stop for the ninth year in the best bar/pub food list with reviewers heaping praise on the ` convivial ' south bank boozer -- with its ` hearty ' but ` superbly precise ' british cooking . by contrast , appearing on the most disappointing cooking list for the first time is ollie dabbousʼs eponymous flagship , dabbous in fitzrovia . it appears alongside marcus wareingʼs relaunched marcus at the berkeley and heston blumenthalʼs hotel dining room , dinner at the mandarin oriental . gymkhana had a great year as harden 's reporters heaped praise on its ` sensationally subtle ' cuisine . 1 . the ledbury , notting hill . 2 . le gavroche , mayfair . 3 . dinner , knightsbridge . 4 . chez bruce , wandsworth common . 5 . pollen street social , soho . 6 . pied à terre , .<doc-sep>7 . royal hospital road restaurant , chelsea . 8 . the square , mayfair . 9 . marcus , knightsbridge . 10 . medlar , chelsea . 1 . the anchor & hope , waterloo . 2 . bull & last , hampstead . 3 . harwood arms , fulham . 4 . the jugged hare , city of london . 5 . canton arms , vauxhall . 6 . the gun , docklands . 7 . ladbroke arms , notting hill . 8 . pig & butcher , angel . 9 . truscott arms , maida vale . 10 . thomas cubitt , belgravia . once again oxo tower retains its unenviable status as the home of londonʼs most disappointing cooking with harden 's reporters saying the ` lazy ' tourist trap remains ` as awful as ever ' but for the first time in 15 years it has escaped a double on the ` lists of shame ' giving up the crown to the river cafe which had the dubious honour of appearing on top of the most overpriced restaurant list . the 24th edition of harden 's london restaurants also recorded the highest ever rate of net new restaurant openings in the capital , with a whopping 148 new eateries popping up in the last year . the figure for closings , 47 , was the lowest this millennium , resulting in net openings this year of 101 -- nearly a third higher than the previous record of 75 -lrb- noted in the guide 's 2006 edition -rrb- . 1 . oxo tower restaurant , south bank . 2 . dinner by heston blumenthal , mandarin oriental , knightsbridge . 3 . colbert , sloane square . 4 . the ivy , west end . 5 . royal hospital road restaurant , chelsea . 6 . le gavroche , mayfair . 7 . balthazar , covent garden . 8 . marcus , knightsbridge . 9 . alain ducasse , dorchester , park lane . 10 . dabbous , fitzrovia . 1 . the river café , hammersmith . 2 . oxo tower restaurant , south bank . 3 . dinner by heston blumenthal , mandarin oriental , knightsbridge . 4 . royal hospital road restaurant , chelsea . 5 . marcus , knightsbridge . 6 . alain ducasse , dorchester , park lane . 7 . le gavroche , mayfair . 8 . cut , dorchester , park lane . 9 . balthazar , covent garden . 10 . pollen street social , soho . the guide 's co-founder , peter harden said : ` this exceptional level of growth is a fabulous achievement for the capital , but raises questions about its sustainability . ` it underlines london 's continued emergence as the greatest restaurant city on the planet , but -- in the 24 years in which we have tracked openings -- such highpoints have also often heralded more competitive times ahead . ' the guide collated scores from more than 65,000 reviews posted by over 6,000 ` ordinary diners ' to compile the rankings . hardenʼs london restaurants 2015 -lrb- # 12.99 -rrb- is out now in waterstoneʼs and amazon.com , and from www.hardens.com .<doc-sep>it has encountered little difficulty attracting stars from the world of showbusiness . but those required for hygiene and safety are proving harder to gain for the chiltern firehouse . the exclusive london restaurant has been given only two out of five stars by food health inspectors , meaning an improvement in the kitchen 's cleanliness is necessary . officers discovered several areas were not clean , food had not been cooked to its own recommended safe levels and large amounts of the kitchen had no soap for staff to wash their hands . david cameron and wife samantha visited chiltern firehouse on one of their ` date nights ' in june this year . the restaurant has now been criticised in a local council health and safety report . the restaurant , in marylebone , central london , has become the place to be seen for london 's elite . prime minister david cameron took his wife samantha there last month for one of their ` date-nights ' and he is not the only one . david beckham , former us president bill clinton , prince andrew , kevin spacey and kylie minogue have all dined at the popular nightspot in recent weeks but they may not have been keen to try its signature dish of crab-stuffed doughnuts had they read the report compiled by inspectors last month . it reveals the service fridge , fryer , freezer , and floor in the area which stores the kitchen 's dry food were all deemed ` dirty ' . broken glass was found on the shelves of the freezer and the fly screen that prevented insects entering where food is prepared was also judged not to be clean . there were also gaps in an external store that could have posed a risk of pests entering the kitchen . a report reveals staff were unable to effectively wash their hands as there was no soap or hot water in the basins in the kitchen 's food preparation area , pastry preparation or grill station . there was also no hot water available at the sink by the kitchen 's entrance . david beckham has become a regular at the restaurant since moving to london and nigella lawson is a fan . a spokesman for the restaurant said the points highlighted in the report have already been rectified . meals involving ` high-risk ' meats , such as beef , lamb and pork , were cooked but recorded at temperatures below safe levels set in its own manuals . inspectors criticised the restaurant for not writing down what happened to these dishes -- allowing them to tell whether it was thrown away or served to customers . the restaurant , which opened earlier this year , is part of a hotel housed in the grade ii-listed former marylebone fire station and run by andré balazs , who owns the glamorous chateau marmont in hollywood and the mercer hotel in new york . the menu by head chef nuno mendes , is not overtly expensive with most main courses costing # 25 . typical dishes include chargrilled iberico pork and blackened salmon with sea kale . other a-listers to have visited the venue include singer lily allen , supermodel kate moss , music mogul simon cowell , actress linsday lohan , former prime minister tony blair and actors bradley cooper and orlando bloom have all been photographed sneaking out of the back door . hollywood star kate beckinsale -lrb- left -rrb- and singer rita ora -lrb- right -rrb- have also been seen at the hotspot . the stream of celebrity diners has made the restaurant one of the most sought after places to eat in the capital . commenting on the food inspection , westminster 's food safety manager james armitage said : ` when we inspected the chiltern firehouse kitchens , we found a number of areas that raised concern including cleanliness and the state of repair of various ceilings , walls and floor coverings . also , several of the hand basins in the kitchen were lacking soap and hot water . ' a chiltern firehouse spokesman said : ` we are very proud of the restaurant at chiltern firehouse , and appreciate the tremendously supportive reviews it has received . ` the vast majority of the issues identified in the council report were related to the expansion of the kitchen and have already been rectified . ` we have requested a re-inspection and look forward to a significantly higher rating at the earliest opportunity . '<doc-sep>the more surprising buddy-ups of recent times , princess beatrice enjoyed a . double date last wednesday with funny man jimmy carr . the two apparent pals dined out at exclusive london restaurant zuma with their other halves . beatrice . was joined by long-term boyfriend david clark for the meal , while jimmy . was accompanied by his partner karoline copping . zuma in london 's upmarket knightsbridge is another of becker 's restaurants and describes itself as ` offering something completely new - a sophisticated twist on the traditional japanese izakaya style of informal eating and drinking . dishes . include seared , miso marinated foie gras with umeboshi compote and . moromi miso marinated baby chicken , oven roasted on cedar wood . yet . again , the website states no prices . she loves a night out ! princess beatrice seems to be an unofficial restaurant reviewer and has visited the trendiest restaurants that london has to offer , such as the chiltern firehouse , right . two weeks ago , she was . seen strolling hand-in-hand with prince harry 's ex-girlfriend cressida bonas as . they enjoyed an evening out at annabel 's - a very exclusive private members club . the week before that , at the end of april , she enjoyed a romantic night out at celebrity hotspot , the chiltern firehouse , which she has visited a few times in recent weeks . ` firehouse ' , as it is called -lrb- or hashtagged -rrb- by those who get to dine within its very exclusive confines , is the latest offering from hip hotelier andré balazs . the past fortnight alone has seen the likes of tony blair , orlando bloom , lily allen and kate moss dine there . chiltern . firehouse is part of the group owned by renowned hotelier andré balazs ' collection of bespoke , luxury hotels which include celebrity favourites the mercer in soho , . new york , chateau marmont in hollywood and sunset beach in shelter .<doc-sep>was seen leaving the chiltern . firehouse -lrb- again -rrb- , where she had been dining with friends . date night : bea is often accompanied by her long-term boyfriend dave clark . one of the couple 's favourite eateries is the chiltern firehouse . in mid-april , sarah ferguson and prince andrew dined with their daughter in london 's . fashionable east end . the happy trio had a quiet family supper at the fashionable les trois garcons on bethnal green road . it was an unusual choice for the group - edgy shoreditch , although gentrified , is n't yet a royal stamping ground . les . trois garcons is a former pub decorated with stuffed animals and . dangling handbags , and serves up dishes such as # 25 dish of poached . ballotine of chicken and lobster , and a # 21.50 organic salmon with . spinach , potato dauphine , and a champagne butter sauce . roka , mayfairla petite maisonzuma , mayfairannabel 's 45 park lanerestaurant cthe chiltern firehouse . around valentine 's day , the princess enjoyed a night out with boyfriend dave clark at famous mayfair restaurant nobu . a . notorious celebrity hangout , the young royal was at nobu at the same . time as singer ronan keating and friends but confident beatrice seemed . unfazed by the media attention , smiling for the waiting press as she . exited the pricey restaurant , loved by cheryl cole and victoria beckham . princess bea must have a penchant for japanese food , considering that over half of the restaurants she 's visited in recent weeks serve sushi and sashmini , perhaps that 's how she maintains her trim figure . while the duke and duchess of cambridge prefer a quiet night in -lrb- the royal couple were once spotted buying pizza and salad at their local sainsburys -rrb- , at least princess beatrice is representing the young royal set , showcasing some serious style credentials and helping support mayfair 's gastronomic economy .<doc-sep>by . bianca london . the duchess of cambridge better watch out , there 's another royal keen to steal her style crown . but while kate prefers thrifty high street style , princess beatrice has been channeling a high fashion look of late . last night , the 25-year-old made sure all eyes were on her as she was seen leaving trendy new marylebone eatery , the chiltern firehouse . high fashion : princess beatrice , 25 , was seen leaving the trendy chiltern firehouse last night in a stylish ensemble complete with # 2,000 arm candy . princess bea looked effortlessly chic - a look she has carefully mastered - in a # 40 asos boucle jacket with leather shoulders , black mini skirt and her favourite kurt geiger studded pumps . she complemented her outfit with a black celine handbag . the arm candy , which costs around # 2,000 , is loved by the likes of kim kardashian , coleen rooney and rosie huntington-whiteley and has fast become the most coveted tote amongst the fash pack . beatrice had been enjoying an evening at the chiltern firehouse - a new-found favourite haunt of the a-list set . earlier this week , kate moss and lily allen were seen dining at the restaurant , which is headed up by top chef nuno mendes , while kate took cara delevingne there last week . ever stylish : princess bea wore a # 40 boucle jacket from asos with leather shoulders , black mini skirt and her favourite kurt geiger studded pumps plus a coveted celine tote . good taste : bea dined at the chiltern firehouse - frequented earlier this week by kate moss . the restaurant is within the hotel of the same name by american hotelier andré balazs . the menu is fairly low-key , offering american dishes such as crab doughnuts , fried chicken with bacon infused aioli , as well as maple-glazed salmon and chargrilled iberico pork . last week , princess beatrice stole the show at the launch of a new fashion blog in london store fortnum & mason with a very classy monochromatic ensemble . she wore a tailored black . blouse which cinched at her waist and paired it with a geometrically . patterned black and white mini skirt as she posed with friend poppy delevingne . fashion 's new darling ? princess beatrice look stylish in monochrome at the launch of mrs alice in her palace at fortnum and mason last week .

<t> results out in 24th edition of harden 's london restaurants guide . </t> <t> the ledbury in notting hill crowned london 's best restaurant . </t> <t> hammersmith 's the river cafe is london 's most overpriced eatery . </t>

food at chiltern firehouse branded ` meh ' in new harden 's london restaurant guide<T>

there are renewed calls for a federal icac as australia slips out of the world 's top 10 nations known for their squeaky clean public sectors . transparency international says australia has fallen for the third straight year in its global corruption perceptions index , dropping from an impressive ranking of seven in 2012 to 11 in 2014 . australia slipped out of the top 10 for just the second time in the index 's 20-year history . transparency international australia director professor a.j. brown said the drop was ` of great concern ' the annual index measures expert and business opinion of public sector corruption across 175 countries . ` this is a real and significant drop which is of great concern , ' transparency international australia director professor a.j. brown told reporters in sydney . he said the results indicated a concern about the effectiveness of corruption fighting bodies like the nsw independent commission against corruption that recently exposed alleged rorting of donations laws by liberal mps .<doc-sep>` there are questions as to whether the icac has the right prosecution follow-up powers , ' he said . ` our assessment is that it 's not simply a question of more scandals ... the slide shows growing concern about the adequacy of responses to corruption risks , especially at the federal level . ' prof brown said australia 's position would get worse if no action was taken on introducing a federal anti-corruption body . major scandals this year included the prosecutions of reserve bank note-printing subsidiaries , allegations of widespread union corruption and the icac 's probe into alleged systemic rorting of political donation laws by liberal nsw mps . the icac said in november former state labor ministers eddie obeid and ian macdonald would be prosecuted over adverse corruption findings . denmark and new zealand were ranked as the top two cleanest countries in the world , while north korea and somalia were perceived to be most corrupt . the release of the list comes after icac said in november former state labor ministers eddie obeid and ian macdonald would be prosecuted over adverse corruption findings .<doc-sep>by . katie silver . and nina golgowski . updated : . 09:22 gmt , 5 december 2011 . the united states is ranked behind 23 countries in its scale of corruption , according to an international report released this week . new zealand comes in at number one as the least corrupt country , just before denmark and finland sharing the number two spot . the report released by german watchdog organization transparency international , ranked the 182 countries and territories according to their levels of perceived public sector corruption . ranked : the united states is ranked behind 23 countries with new zealand ranked as the least corrupt , according to the 2011 corruption perceptions index . surrounding the united states ' place at 24 , chile placed 22 and uruguay at 25 , being its only two closely competing south american countries . the bottom ranked nations , ahead of somalia . and north korea who tied at number 182 , were myanmar , . afghanistan , uzbekistan , turkmenistan , sudan , iraq , haiti and venezuela . among the top ten nations in . terms of lowest surveyed corruption , the majority are european nations with the three exceptions of singapore at number five , australia at number eight , and canada at number 10 . australia tied its ranking with switzerland . worst : somalia and north korea were tied as the ` most corrupt ' nations on earth . over all , the top 20 countries were european though bulgaria was the lowest-performing european union country , ranking at number 86 . the top performers of the americas include canada which ranked 10th , barbados 16th , bahamas 21st and then chile at 22nd . to compile the index , transparency international used reports based ` on different assessments and business opinion surveys carried out by independent and reputable institutions . ' tied : a woman stands with her child at the world 's largest refugee camp in somali which tied at 182nd as the world 's most corrupt country . the organization said perceptions alone are important to measure because corruption is so hidden , making its measurement difficult . ` over time perceptions have proved to be a reliable estimate of corruption , ' transparency international said in it 's report . the report asked questions relating to : . regionally , in eastern europe and central asia , turkey is ranked highest at 61 while turkmenistan and uzbekistan are lowest at 177 . in the middle east and north africa , qatar ranks best at number 22 while iraq is the lowest at number 175 . in sub-saharan africa , botswana ranked highest at number 32 . india fell from 87th in 2010 to 95th , ranking behind china -lrb- 75th -rrb- but in front of pakistan -lrb- 134th -rrb- in south-asian nations .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- denmark , new zealand and singapore are seen as having the least corruption in the world , according to a just-published global survey . somalia is viewed as the most corrupt country . the corruption perception index -lrb- cpi -rrb- is published annually by transparency international , a corruption monitoring organization based in berlin , germany . `` the surveys and assessments used to compile the index include questions relating to bribery of public officials , kickbacks in public procurement , embezzlement of public funds and questions that probe the strength and effectiveness of public sector anti-corruption efforts , '' said a release accompanying the 2010 cpi . countries with the highest scores on the index are viewed as having the least corruption ; countries with the lowest scores , the most . denmark , new zealand and singapore each scored 9.3 out of a possible 10 . rounding out the 10 highest scores : finland and sweden , 9.2 ; canada , 8.9 ; netherlands , 8.8 ; australia and switzerland , 8.7 ; and norway , 8.6 . japan was 17th on the list with a score of 7.8 ; the united kingdom 20th -lrb- 7.6 -rrb- ; and the united states 22nd -lrb- 7.1 -rrb- . at the bottom of the 178 countries somalia scored 1.1 , just below afghanistan and myanmar -lrb- 1.4 -rrb- and iraq -lrb- 1.5 -rrb- . among emerging economic powerhouses , brazil was 69th on the list with a score of 3.7 ; china 78th -lrb- 3.5 -rrb- ; and india 87th -lrb- 3.3 -rrb- . overall , transparency international says of the survey : `` these results indicate a serious corruption problem . `` with governments committing huge sums to tackle the world 's most pressing problems , from the instability of financial markets to climate change and poverty , corruption remains an obstacle to achieving much needed progress . ''<doc-sep>hong kong -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- while china has become the world 's second largest economy , doing business in china is now perceived to be more corrupt , according to transparency international . china dropped five spots to 80th place out of 176 countries surveyed in the 2012 corruption perceptions index . `` the world 's leading economies should lead by example , making sure that their institutions are fully transparent and their leaders are held accountable . this is crucial since their institutions play a significant role in preventing corruption from flourishing globally , '' said cobus de swardt , managing director of the berlin-based corruption watchdog . denmark , finland , new zealand , sweden and singapore topped the list as the cleanest countries to do business in the world , according to the survey released wednesday . somalia , north korea , afghanistan , sudan and myanmar ranked at the bottom . the united states was ranked 19th in the world , below japan and the uk and ahead of chile and uruguay . china is n't the only emerging economic giant to perform poorly on the index . india was ranked 94th , a step up from last year 's ranking . russia was 133rd , 10 places higher than 2011 . in europe , greece -- whose ailing economy faces tough austerity measures to meet international standards to get bailout cash -- plummeted to 94th place on the list , down from the 80th spot last year . corruption perceptions index 2012 -- top 25 . 1 . denmark . 1 . -lrb- tie -rrb- finland . 1 . -lrb- tie -rrb- new zealand .<doc-sep>` governments need to integrate anti-corruption actions into all public decision-making , ' said transparency international head huguette labelle . ` priorities include better rules on lobbying and political financing , making public spending and contracting more transparent and making public bodies more accountable to people . ' corruption in europe : greece and italy ranked worst of all eu countries for corruption , while denmark and finland topped the global list as the least corrupt countries . the survey , which was first conducted in 1995 , draws on a variety of sources that capture perceptions of corruption , including world bank and world economic forum assessments , the african development bank 's governance ratings , and transparency international 's own bribe payers survey . afghanistan , north korea and somalia were ranked the worst overall on this year 's list , all tied with a rating of just eight . denmark , finland and new zealand were thought of as least corrupt with scores of 90 . canada scored 84 , germany 79 and japan and britain tied at 74 . the united states was rated 73 , giving it 19th place , and france scored 71 . at the bottom of western european nations , greece scored a 36 , italy 42 , portugal 63 and spain 65 . all four countries are mired in recession , and both portugal and greece have received eu bailouts . riots in athens : the countries worst hit by the european financial crisis , in particular greece , are perceived to be the most corrupt in the eu . the greek numbers , which put it in 94th place on the ranking , stand out in particular , koch said . if the new 2012 methodology is applied to the 2011 results , greece fell by 14 places . ` greece , of course , at place 94 is the lowest state in the european union , ' she said . ` it 's ranked lower than countries like colombia , benin and zambia ... which gives you pause for thought . ' transparency 's managing director cobus de swardt said the world 's top economies should ` lead by example ' and ensure ` their institutions are fully transparent and their leaders are held accountable . ' ` this is crucial since their institutions play a significant role in preventing corruption from flourishing globally , ' de swardt said . 1 . denmark - 90 .

<t> the list of 175 countries is compiled by transparency international . </t> <t> it measures expert and business opinion of public sector corruption . </t> <t> australia has dropped from seventh place in 2012 to 11th in 2014 . </t> <t> north korea and somalia were perceived as the most corrupt countries . </t>

australia slips out of a list of the 10 least corrupt countries in the world ... while new zealand comes in second behind denmark<T>

a teenage rape victim fought back tears in court as the man who killed her six-year-old brother who tried to defend her was jailed for 110 years . amber andujar , 14 , was defiant in the new jersey courtroom where osvaldo rivera , 35 , was given the sentence for a catalog of crimes including murder , attempted murder and aggravated sexual assault . rivera sliced open the throat of dominick andujar , six , who tried to stop the attack after he broke into their home in camden , new jersey in september 2012 . scroll down for video . survivor : amber andujar , 14 , fought back tears in a new jersey courtroom thursday as her rapist was jailed for 110 years . osvaldo rivera , 35 , killed her six-year-old brother and slashed her throat during an attack two years ago . she still bears the scars . guilty : rivera , pictured left in a police mugshot and right in a local news report , was given a 110-year sentence . he had rejected an earlier plea bargain which would have seen him jailed for 65 years if he pleaded guilty . heroic : dominick andujar , pictured above , tried to stop rivera during the attack , but was killed . ` forever our hero : dominick 's mother , debbie , lays a wreath on the grave of dominick . jailed : rivera , pictured above weeping at a 2012 hearing , was convicted of crimes including murder , attempted murder and aggravated sexual assault . he showed no emotion at the sentencing this week . together : dominick and his sister pose for a family photograph . he was raping amber , then 12 , in a downstairs living room while holding a knife to her throat when dominick intervened . she tried to escape after he attacked , but rivera also slashed her throat - though she survived . speaking in court , amber was close to tears as she confronted rivera , the courier post reported . she said : ` today i stand here as a survivor . even though he took a part of me away , in the end , you did not win . ' rivera , bound with a chain round his waist and wearing a deep red shirt , did not speak or show any sign of emotion at the hearing , according to nj.com . he had earlier been offered a 65-year sentence in exchange for an admission of guilt , but he instead pleaded not guilty , and has denied involvement in the crime .<doc-sep>his sentence means he will not be eligible for parole for 91 years . see more family reaction at the courier post . family : dominick 's mother debbie -lrb- right -rrb- spoke on behalf of the family at the time of the thursday hearing . amber , left , is seen with her eight-year-old cousin sean and another family member . memorial : amber wore a picture of dominick , labelled ` my lil hero ' on the back of her jacket at the hearing . rivera fled the scene of the attack after killing dominick . amber was later seen running through the neighborhood , screaming for help while bleeding from the throat . emergency responders said the cuts were so deep they could see amber 's vocal cords . she later helped officers track down her rapist by telling them he was known by the nickname popeye and lived in a camden apartment . police tracked him down to an apartment in the city and found him hiding between an upturned mattress and the wall . response : police cars gather around the house where the rape and murder took place . capture : rivera was found hiding behind a mattress in a home in camden after the attack . outside the hearing , the andujar spoke of their grief , and said rivera 's lengthy sentences gives them some solace . tiarra , one of dominick 's sisters , said : ` grown men would n't do what dominick did that day . ` he 's our soldier and will forever be in our hearts until the day we die . ' his mother , debbie burgos , said : ' -lsb- rivera -rsb- is a coward , a big coward that does not take responsibility for what he did . he knows what he did . ' -lsb- dominick was -rsb- a little six-year-old boy , a baby just preparing to go to school . two days before he was going to start school we were preparing for a funeral . '<doc-sep>brave : little dominick andujar was said to have tried to save his sister from the rapist when he was stabbed . a six-year-old boy who was killed by an intruder high on marijuana had been trying to save his sister from the attacker , a court heard yesterday . dominick andujar was allegedly stabbed to death by osvaldo rivera , 31 , who was also accused of slashing the throat of the boy 's 12-year-old sister . rivera allegedly slashed the throat of the girl , who has also made an allegation of rape against him following the attack at their home in camden , new jersey , on sunday night . the girl , whose condition in hospital . has been upgraded from critical to stable , suffered a slashed windpipe . rivera , . who admitted in court to having smoked a ` wet ' combination of marijuana . and pcp before the killing , has yet to be charged with sexual assault . the alleged attack wept in court during an appearance on tuesday , where bail was set at $ 5m . during . an interrogation , rivera had asked : ` how bad did i hurt them ? ' assistant prosecutor christine shah said during the hearing . authorities have since interviewed .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . a new jersey man has been found guilty of murder and other charges in the 2012 stabbing death of a 6-year-old boy who was trying to save his 12-year-old sister as the killer attacked her in her bed . it took a camden jury less than three hours to find 33-year-old osvaldo rivera guilty of the murder of dominick andujar , as well as charges of attempted murder , aggravated sexual assault , burglary and weapons violations . about 12 a.m. on september 2 , 2012 , rivera broke into andujar 's family 's home and attacked his sister amber as she slept on the couch . guilty : osvaldo rivera will likely be sentenced to life in prison in the murder of 6-year-old dominick andujar . hero : 6-year-old dominick fought with rivera enough so that his sister could escape the attack . amber began to scream , which awoke 6-year-old dominick - and he rushed to his sister 's aid . the small boy fought with the attacker and managed to free his sister in the process . amber , who was bleeding after being slashed in the throat by rivera , ran to a neighbor 's home to call for help . she also says she was raped in the attack . rivera , however , murdered the boy - dominick 's throat was cut and he had injuries on his hands . he was found dead in the home by police . monster : rivera also has charges pending that he molested a 2-year-old boy who also lived in his neighborhood . ` he gave his life for his family , ' his mother , debbie burgos , told philly.com .<doc-sep>amber , burgos told reporters , is ` doing great . she 's a survivor . ' rivera , who likely will spend the rest of his life in prison , also has charges pending for the alleged molestation of a 2-year-old boy in august of 2012 . he will be tried separately in that pending case . prosecutors say that amber 's testimony was instrumental in convicting rivera , who used to give haircuts to the neighborhood kids . brave : dominick 's sister amber had her throat slashed in the attack but managed to survive and testify against the man who killed her brother . tragic : rivera faces a likely sentence of life in prison for the murder of 6-year-old dominick . ` it 's further evidence of what a survivor she is - at her . age that she could walk into a courtroom full of people most of which . were strangers and -lrb- recount -rrb- the most terrible things that could happen . to a person , let alone a child , ' prosecutor christine shah told reporters . ` she is an incredibly courageous girl , '' shah continued . ' i think she did it for her brother . ' shah says her office will ` aboslutely ' ask the judge to sentence rivera to life in prison . his next court date is october 23 .<doc-sep>three white teenagers have been jailed after admitting they were out hunting black people when they used their truck to run over and kill a man . deryl paul dedmon , now 22 , was sentenced to 50 years in a federal prison after the death of 47-year-old james craig anderson in jackson , mississippi . john aaron rice was also sentenced to 18-and-a-half years in jail while dylan wade butler must serve seven years after being convicted of commission of a hate crime . scroll down for video . derly paul dedmon , pictured , who has been sentenced to 50 years in a federal prison after pleading guilty to the capital murder of john craig anderson in jackson , mississippi in 2011 . dedmon from brandon , mississippi , pleaded guilty to capital murder and hate crime after mr anderson , a car plant worker in mississippi 's capital , was killed in june 2011 . he was at the wheel of a truck that ran over mr anderson in the parking lot of a jackson hotel with the incident being was caught on a security camera at the hotel . the surveillance video shows the white jeep cherokee in which rice was a passenger leaving a hotel parking lot . james craig anderson , a a car plant worker , who was killed after being run over in a hotel parking lot by a truck that dedmon was driving . less than 20 seconds later , a ford truck backs up and then lunges forward and mr anderson 's shirt is illuminated in the headlights before he disappears under the vehicle next to the curb . appearing in court , all three , wearing red prison jumpsuits and shackled at the waist and ankles , took to a podium to apologize to members of anderson 's family for their actions . dedmon said : ' i want to tell the anderson family how truly sorry i am . ' the apologies came after an impassioned condemnation of their actions from mr anderson 's sister , barbara . she said her brother 's death came ` at the hands of these strangers with eyes full of hatred . ' she added her brother ` helplessly fought to stay alive ' as he was attacked by people he did not know . prosecutors said the youths harassed or assaulted black people who they thought were homeless or intoxicated . victims were chosen because they thought they would not tell police , authorities said with the harassment beginning in april 2011 , culminating in the death of mr anderson . they pleaded guilty in march 2012 to one count of conspiracy and one count of committing a hate crime . each was sentenced to five years on the conspiracy count to run concurrent with the other . in dedmon 's case , u.s. district judge carlton reeves said the federal sentenced would run concurrent with his state sentence . the judge added : ` what these people did was ugly , painful and sad and criminal . before sentencing , he also told the courtroom that the mr anderson 's death reflected the ` inhumanity of racism ' with which mississippi has dealt throughout its history . he explained : ' `` the sad thing is these ... hunts were instigated by our children , these kids . ` the victims were targeted because of their race . these three defendants and others made a joint decision to act on racial hatred . ' john aaron rice , left , who has been sentenced to 18-and-a-half years in prison and dylan wade butler , right , who has been ordered to serve seven years in jail . meanwhile seven other defendants in the case are still awaiting sentencing . they include joseph paul dominick , william kirk montgomery and jonathan kyle gaskamp . dominick pleaded guilty to conspiracy in 2013 and faces five years in prison . montgomery , who pleaded guilty in 2012 , faces life in prison on a hate crime charge and five years on conspiracy , while gaskamp , who was n't present the night anderson died , pleaded guilty in 2012 alsofaces five years in prison for conspiracy and 10 years on a hate crime charge . others also awaiting sentence are sarah adelia graves , shelbie brooke richards , john louis blalack and robert henry rice . see full video on 16 wapt news .

<t> amber andujar , 14 , appeared in new jersey courtroom to face her attacker . </t> <t> osvaldo rivera , 35 , sentenced for murder and sexual assault in 2012 attack . </t> <t> broke into home in camden , new jersey , and raped amber at knifepoint . </t> <t> dominick andujar , six , tried to intervene but rivera slashed his throat . </t>

dominick andujar 's sister in court as rapist who killed brother is sentenced to prison<T>

a russian businessman who erected a garden fence that looks just like the gate that surrounded the buchenwald concentration camp has denied he is anti-semitic . nestor lavrov , 53 , commissioned the fence because he liked the design after seeing the images online and claims he had not realised the historical context of the words ` jedem das seine ' . lavrov claims he did not realise that the image he had seen was actually of gates put up in 1937 around one of the nazi 's first concentration camps in buchenwald , near the central german town of weimar . he said : ' i did n't know what the words jedem das seine meant , but i looked it up and found it meant `` to each his own '' . ' i like the phrase because this is my garden and it 's for me and that 's why i used it . ' ' i did n't know what the words meant ' : a russian businessman who erected this garden fence that looks just like the gate that surrounded the buchenwald concentration camp has denied he is anti-semitic .<doc-sep>nestor lavrov claims he did not realise that the design he had seen online was actually of gates put up around one of the first nazi concentration camps in buchenwald , near the german town of weima -lrb- above -rrb- . the phrase has been an idiomatic german expression for centuries and , among other examples , appears in the title of a composition by johann sebastian bach . it was not uncommon for the nazis to put propaganda slogans over their concentration camps of which the most famous was arbeit macht frei -lrb- work makes you free -rrb- that was put above the gates in concentration camps like dachau and sachsenhausen . local officials in russia have declined to act despite being made aware of the fact that the fence has been put up in the istrinsky district in western russia 's moscow oblast region . a spokesman for authorities said : ` he put the sign up on his own property and because he insists it is not anti-semitic , there is nothing that can be done . ' the businessman is not the first to use the expression and then claim they did not know its historical context .<doc-sep>walk to freedom : inmates of the german concentration camp buchenwald near weimar , germany , march to receive treatment at an american hospital after the camp is liberated in april 1945 . several modern advertising campaigns in the german language , including ads for nokia , rewe grocery stores , burger king , and merkur bank have been marred by controversy after using the phrase jedem das seine or jedem den seinen . an exxonmobil advert campaign in january 2009 also touted tchibo coffee drinks at the company 's esso stores with the slogan ` jedem den seinen ! ' the adverts were withdrawn after protest from the central council of jews in germany , although a company spokesman said its advertising contractor had been unaware of the proverb 's association with nazism . in march 2009 , a student group associated with the christian democratic union used the slogan for an education campaign in the state of north rhine-westphalia in germany , but later withdrew it due to public outcry .<doc-sep>vandals stole a bulldozer and drove it more than a mile to demolish a part of a concentration camp before setting fire to the machine to cover their tracks . some 500 yards of the perimeter fence of the langenstein-zwieberge concentration camp were demolished , as well as the gate to the underground complex it links to . the ten miles of tunnels were built with slave labour at the cost of thousands of lives in an effort to hide german industry from bomber command . burned out : the bulldozer was used to destroy part of langenstein-zwieberge concentration camp . damage : hundreds of yards of the site 's perimeter fence were destroyed in the attack . defilement : this is the damaged gate to the underground complex built with slave labour at the camp . local police were keen to play down the possibility it was a racist incident saying that various signs had been left untouched and had been no racist symbols daubed anywhere . the langenstein-zwieberge site in central germany was a sub-camp of the buchenwald concentration camp and housed 7,000 inmates from 23 countries at its peak between april 1944 and april 1945 . it has since been turned into a memorial to the 2,000 people killed there while building a huge network of underground tunnels designed to hide german industry from allied bombers . the thieves had broken into a construction site a mile from the former concentration camp , stolen a bulldozer and driven it all the way to langenstein-zwieberge before using it to attack the site . slave labour : the langenstein-zwieberge site in central germany was a sub-camp of the buchenwald concentration camp and housed 7,000 inmates at its peak between april 1944 and april 1945 . lest we forget : it has since been turned into a memorial to the 2,000 people killed there while building a huge network of underground tunnels designed to hide german industry from allied bombers . sacrilege : the thieves had broken into a construction site a mile from the former concentration camp , stolen a bulldozer and driven it all the way to langenstein-zwieberge before using it to attack the site . the site was preserved as a memorial in 1949 and opened as a museum in 1976 . last month thieves broke into the former dachau concentration camp near the southern germany city of munich and stole the iron gate from the main entrance . bearing the infamous nazi exhortation ` arbeit macht frei ' -lrb- work will set you free -rrb- , the gate is still missing despite a 3,000 eur -lrb- # 2,368 -rrb- reward posted for information leading to its recovery .<doc-sep>remembrance : a red carnation on the gate of the memorial site for buchenwald concentration camp . some 21,000 prisoners were freed by . u.s. forces in april 1945 - but 28,000 were evacuated by the germans in . the days prior to the liberation , a third of whom died from exhaustion . or being shot . around . 250,000 people from across europe were kept in buchenwald from when it . opened in july 1937 until the liberation on april 11 in 1945 , according . to the u.s. holocaust memorial museum . it . was one of the largest concentration camps in germany , although women . were not taken there until late 1943 . it was surrounded by an . electrified barbed-wire fence , watchtowers and sentries .<doc-sep>by . mark duell . published : . 21:45 est , 14 april 2013 . | . updated : . 21:45 est , 14 april 2013 . with tears in his eyes as he holds roses in his left hand , petro mischtschuk poignantly stands on the grounds of a second world war concentration camp where more than 50,000 people lost their lives . the 87-year-old ukrainian survivor of the appalling buchenwald yesterday laid flowers at a ceremony marking the 68th anniversary of the liberation of the camp outside weimar , eastern germany . jews , non-jewish poles and slovenes , religious and political prisoners , roma and sinti , jehovah 's witnesses , criminals , homosexuals , and prisoners of war died in the camp between 1937 and 1945 . emotional : former nazi concentration camp survivor petro mischtschuk , 87 , cries while holding roses in his hand during a commemoration for the 68th anniversary of the liberation of buchenwald in germany . survivor : former detainee wiktor karpus , from kiev , lays down a white rose at the memorial site for the buchenwald concentration camp near weimar in central germany yesterday . roses laid : more than 50.000 prisoners - jews , non-jewish poles and slovenes , religious and political prisoners , roma and sinti , jehovah 's witnesses , criminals , homosexuals , and prisoners of war - died there . commemorative : a white rose lies on a memorial stone at the site of buchenwald concentration camp .<doc-sep>weimar , germany -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a long narrow road winds through a thick forest up a hill called the `` ettesberg , '' on the outskirts of weimar in central germany . the ovens where tens of thousands of bodies were cremated are restored and working . the road goes on for miles through the forest , but every once in a while you see an old railway station , a tower , or an old structure withering in the german rain . this road was named `` the trail of blood , '' by inmates of the infamous concentration camp buchenwald , because of the death marches they were forced to undertake as they were deported to work as slave laborers for nazi germany 's defense industry from 1937 to 1945 . `` the trail of blood '' leads straight to the entrance gate of the former concentration camp -- a structure with a huge iron gate in the middle , a tower with a clock above , and arrest cells in the building 's wings . u.s. troops saw the horror of the nazi regime first hand when they came through this gate on april 11 , 1945 , and found camp inmates starved to the bone , many too weak to stand . `` we could n't even show our joy at this moment , which we had been waiting for so long , '' said former inmate zeev factor , recalling the day american troops came to liberate the camp . now the camp is getting ready to host president obama , who has a special relationship with buchenwald . his great-uncle charlie payne , 84 , helped liberate a sub-camp here when he was an infantryman fighting in world war ii .

<t> nestor lavrov commissioned fence after seeing gate design on website . </t> <t> jedem das seine is a german idiom which means ` to each his own ' </t> <t> appeared on gates one of nazi 's first death camps in buchenwald . </t> <t> mr lavrov claims he had no idea of historical context of the words . </t>

russian refuses to take down fence similiar to buchenwald concentration camp entrance<T>

in the battle of the heartwarming christmas adverts , one airline has gone all out to deliver festive cheer . canadian airline westjet delivered its own christmas miracle by sending santa claus to the dominican republic and spread some joy in the caribbean . westjet employees and volunteers headed to a small community and placed a surprise sleigh placed in the middle of town . westjet surprised residents of nuevo renacer , dominican republic with a gigantic sleigh in the town centre . during the day , community members all had a chance to communicate to santa via the sleigh 's video screen and tell him what they wanted for christmas this year . requests were as diverse as a new engine for a man 's motorbike taxi business to a skateboard to a horse . the next morning , the volunteers headed out shopping to gather all of the items on the community 's list . westjet then invited everyone down to the beach for a christmas party for a surprise - everything that they had asked for in personalised blue waterproof bins . except for the horse , which was hand-delivered by santa himself . they even brought in snow for the kids to play in , marking the first time that most of the nuevo renacer community had ever seen it . and if those heart-warming acts were n't enough to get you choked up , westjet assured that tears would flow by unveiling one final surprise for the poor coastal residents : a brand new community playground . after the community left their holiday gift wishes for santa , they were all called to the beach the following day . westjet volunteers had gone shopping and collected all of the items on the community 's list . ` in this community , they have to drive 20 minutes and actually pay to use a playground , so by introducing a playground , it really does create a safe environment for them to play in , ' corey evans , sponsorship , community investment and experiential marketing manager at westjet explained .<doc-sep>corey also spoke about the company 's decision to take this year 's christmas miracle abroad . ` we chose to shoot the video this year in the dominican republic because we 'd been working with our partners , live different , there since 2012 , ' he said . ` we 've really gotten to know the residents , so over the years of working with them , we 've really just identified their core values to be similar to ours . ' the airline workers surprised the community members on the beach with everything from a new motorbike engine to a washing machine to a horse . westjet is a low-cost canadian carrier , travelling to the united states , the caribbean and europe . it was founded in 1996 and is currently the second-largest canadian airline behind air canada . the brand is also known for it 's emotional christmas adverts , with this year 's christmas miracle marking the third in the trilogy . ` this was really the last chapter in the blue santa trilogy , ' corey added . and if that were n't enough , westjet also surprised the town with a brand new playground set . but do n't fret - that does n't mean that westjet is abandoning their tear-jerking holiday adverts forever . ` if our guests feel that it 's something they 'd like to see again next year , we 'll certainly put our heads together and see what we can come up with . ' last year , westjet set up a video booth where travellers could tell santa their holiday gift wishes in real-time . from there , travellers boarded their flights from hamilton and toronto , ontario , and by the time they landed at their destination , special gifts were waiting to greet them at baggage claim . in 2012 , the airline staged a gigantic holiday flash mob at the calgary international airport before a sold out flight to toronto .<doc-sep>qatar airways took second place in skytrax 's airline of the year list . singapore airlines , emirates , and turkish airlines came in third , fourth , and fifth , respectively . ana all nippon airways , garuda indonesia , asiana airlines , etihad airways and lufthansa rounded out the top ten in descending order . video source youtube . flying high ? qatar airways took second place . not to be forgotten ! lufthansa rounded out skytrax 's airline of the year top ten rankings . american airlines were also outperformed by both air canada and westjet in skytrax 's list of best airlines in north america . air canada ranked number one in that list , followed by westjet and virgin america .<doc-sep>the move could compete with europe 's biggest no-frills airline , ryanair - who have dismissed any suggestion that they would begin flights to canada , the independent reported . chris avery , westjet vice-president , network planning , alliances and corporate development said they wanted to bring discounted prices to their customers so that they can explore europe . he said : ` it is an exciting time for westjet as we bring our unique brand of low fares and award-winning guest experience to a whole new market . the no-frills deal is similar to that of ryanair 's approach , which has become europe 's biggest budget carrier . ` westjet 's innovative foray into the european market represents a willingness to do what it takes to connect canadians to the world while bringing the world to canada . ` from dublin , guests can access low-cost flights to more than 100 cities in europe . '<doc-sep>a canadian airline launching a no-frills route between north america and europe , which could trigger a battle of budget price war on transatlantic flights . westjet 's decision to drop prices on flights across the atlantic could see carriers fighting over customers keen to snap up cheap tickets . canada 's no. 2 airline will make its first trans-atlantic flight next summer , offering daily , non-stop flights to dublin , ireland from st. john 's , newfoundland with its boeing 737 aircraft . westjet airlines will make its first trans-atlantic flight next summer , offering daily , non-stop flights to dublin . introductory fares mean westjet 's passengers flying from st. john 's to dublin would pay approximately # 230 for a return flight , while tickets from toronto to dublin would cost around # 360 . this could be the beginning the first stage of a longer-term plan to extend service over the atlantic , raymond james analyst ben cherniavsky wrote in a research note .<doc-sep>gone are the days of flight attendants in miniskirts , but sexism in still alive and well in the the airline industry - as evidenced by a note a passenger left to his female pilot on a flight this weekend in canada . westjet airlines pilot carey steacy had just wrapped up a flight from victoria to calgary when cleaning crews brought her a note , written on a napkin , left behind by one of the passengers . the note , written by a ` david ' and left at seat 12 e , tells steacy that ` the cockpit of an airliner is no place for a woman . a woman 's place : a passenger named ` david ' left behind this sexist note aimed at female westjet airlines pilot carey steacy after a flight this weekend in canada . sexist : in the note , david said that a woman 's greatest honor is being a mother and that they are short moms and not pilots . ' a woman being a mother is the most honor , not as `` captain '' . we 're short mothers , not pilots westjet , ' the note continues . ` ps i wish westjet could tell me a fair lady is at the helm so i could book another flight ! in the end this is all mere vanity . not impressed . ' the note is signed ` respectfully in love , david ' . steacy , a mother of two , told ctv news that she is used to passengers being surprised that they have a female captain , but she has never been the target of such blatant sexism . her male co-pilot and the female flight attendants were equally shocked by the message . ` we did n't know what to say , ' she said .

<t> airline debuts ` spirit of giving ' advert , bringing gifts to the caribbean . </t> <t> westjet employees tricked residents into sharing their holiday gift lists . </t> <t> volunteers then threw a community party , bringing presents and snow . </t>

canada 's westjet airline releases third festive advert and brings a white christmas to the caribbean<T>

britain saw its coldest evening since last winter 's cold snap as temperatures plunged to -5 c -lrb- 23f -rrb- overnight , with more freezing temperatures forecast for today . forecasters said temperatures are likely to remain cold this week , with a chance snow could fall in parts of the north and south west by friday as britain is set to become even colder . however evidence of the mild weather of the last few months , which has put 2014 on course to be the warmest ever , still remain after daffodils were spotted growing in the uk and grapes were seen on the vine as winter officially started . scroll down for video . a heavy frost was seen in the lake district this morning after the coldest temperatures since last winter were recorded overnight in cumbria . there were snowy scenes along the river brathay in cumbria today as walkers braced themselves for more cold and possible snow on friday . despite temperatures plunging to below zero in scotland this week , grapes were found growing on the side of a house in edinburgh . while in lincolnshire the official start of winter was marked by a daffodil blooming in a garden . the mercury plunged to -5.1 c -lrb- 22.6 f -rrb- in shap in cumbria last night - the coldest temperature of this year 's autumn and winter season , which officially started on december 1 . it was even colder than in scotland , which saw -4.1 c recorded in aboyne , a village on the edge if the scottish highlands , overnight , and saw walkers enjoy the first deep snow of winter in the cairngorms in the east highlands yesterday . elsewhere in the country extra blankets and hats were needed to deal with the cold snap , with -2.6 c -lrb- 27f -rrb- recorded in bala in north wales and -1.3 c -lrb- 30f -rrb- in okehampton in west devon overnight . london was substantially warmer , with temperatures of around 2.5 c overnight , with similar expected this evening . however thursday night is expected to be even colder for much of the country , and forecasters said there was a ` slim chance ' snow could fall in parts of the pennines and north wales by the end of this week . there is also a possibility of wintry showers in exposed areas of the south as the mercury is expected to dip to as low as -2 c -lrb- 28f -rrb- during the day in bristol on friday . and a minimum temperature of -5 c -lrb- 23f -rrb- is forecast for the oxfordshire village of benson overnight , according to the met office . as the mercury plunged to -2 c in scotland , grapes were spotted growing on the side of a house where philosopher thomas carlyle once lived . mike williamson said he was shocked to discover grapes , which he planted 15 years ago , were growing up the side of his edinburgh home . in lincolnshire marilyn fenn found a daffodil blooming in her garden three months earlier and just after the official start of winter for the uk . temperatures fell on tuesday night after a warm weekend which saw giant cobwebs emerge in fields across jersey . warm temperatures on saturday led to millions of spiders taking advantage of the mild conditions to move from one place to another using huge gossamer webs . environmentalists said the appearance of the large webs was ` incredibly rare ' and had been spun by millions of money spiders on saturday . nicola maxey , a forecaster for the met office , said : ` on higher ground in the south there 's a chance that we might see some sleet , and a slim chance of snow on friday . ' cloudy and breezy weather is forecast today , with a chance of showers throughout the day as a weak weather front moves across the country . tomorrow is expected to be much more cloudy and grey , with a chance of showers in the south east and midlands which may turn to sleet by friday . ms maxey added : ` these showers could turn a bit wintry in exposed areas such as in newcastle and the pennines , but accumulations are unlikely . there is also a risk of fog patches . ' after a heavy frost there were snowy scenes this morning as photographers beat the cold temperatures and wrapped up warm in cumbria . last night 's cold snap made way for clear and calm skies this morning and a stunning early morning sunrise over river brathay in cumbria . as cumbria is bracing itself for temperatures well below freezing , the heavy frost this morning was reflected in elterwater in the lake district . picture postcard scenes of snow covered trees were seen in the lake district after shap in cumbria recorded winter 's coldest temperature . however traces of the mild months of 2014 remain after mike williamson discovered huge bunches of white grapes flourishing on the side of his edinburgh home , where thomas carlyle lived in the 1820s . mr williamson planted the grapes 15 years ago and only discovered they were growing when a window cleaner visited the home he shares with his wife hil , 64 , this week . he said : ` we do have grapes on it every year as the wall is south facing and there is good soil so it grows very well especially in this beautiful year we 've had . the grapevines are mostly just in our garden for decoration and , i must admit , we do n't really pay too much attention to it . ' experts said the appearance of the grapes was unusual , but can be explained following our warm summer and unseasonably mild autumn . a car in the peak district was covered with frost this morning and motorists are being warned to be careful as more cold weather is expected . the cold snap made for clear skies and picturesque sunrises in the peak district , but people are being warned to brace themselves tonight . gritters were out on the a66 trans pennine route tonight as temperatures are expected to dip further , making driving conditions dangerous . in lincolnshire , where temperatures have also plunged this week , grandmother marilyn fenn spotted a lone daffodil growing in her garden in woodhall spa . the daffodil , traditionally seen in spring , has appeared three months early despite the freezing temperatures of this week . others have also reported seeing snowdrops in their garden , which also usually appear in spring . this year is set to be the warmest on record after every month so far except august was warmer than the average . warm temperatures at the weekend also saw thousands of spider webs cover the countryside in jersey . as unseasonably high temperatures of hit 16c money spiders spun thousands of webs - called gossamers - to migrate from one place to another . local environmentalist mike stentiford said is was extremely rare to see the webs appear over such a wide area . last night 's freezing night in the peak district made for pink skies as the son rose and fields covered with frost as winter gets off to a cold start . thursday is expected to be a particularly wet day , with cooler temperatures meaning showers could turn into sleet and light snow showers . people in cumbria -lrb- left -rrb- are to prepare for another freezing evening tonight , while sheep were in frosty fields near roseberry topping , a hill on the border between north yorkshire and redcar and cleveland -lrb- right -rrb- , where temperatures dropped to -2 c overnight on tuesday . he said : ` it is just literally squillions of tiny money spiders and it is their way of moving from one place to another . we normally get it in one or two fields but it seemed to me that the whole of the island was absolutely covered with it . it was absolutely amazing . ' however a cold december could threaten that record , as forecasters say frost is expected this week . friday is expected to be a wetter and windier day , with stronger winds forecast for the north west . in the south east milder conditions are expected , with temperatures back to the average for december . walkers in the cairngorms , dubbed the snowiest place in britain in a recent met office survey , enjoyed the first snow of winter yesterday as they trudged through deep snow , leading to hopes of a white christmas for the uk this year . people in edinburgh woke up to a crisp morning and a pretty sun rise from arthur 's seat to edinburgh castle after the mercury plunged to -4 c . the sunrise in edinburgh this morning created a perfect silhouette for edinburgh 's skyline as people woke after a freezing cold night . in leeds light frost covered roundhay park this morning after the mercury plunged to below zero overnight and another cold night is forecast . a supply vessel moved past aberdeen harbour this morning , the only movement among the clear skies of a freezing early morning . people in aberdeen this morning woke up to a bright red sunrise , accompanied by freezing temperatures as the mercury is set to fall . the snow in scotland led to warnings being issued by police about the dangers of driving on the a939 in the cairngorms because of the recent snow and ice . and with forecasts of snow for the rest of england , comes a warning about the dangers and health risks of plunging temperatures . the onset of the colder weather has led public health england to think about their health during the cold snap - 25,000 extra people usually die in england during winter , with the elderly particularly vulnerable . the sunrise over aberdeen harbour showed clear skies as earlier risers walked their dogs and caught the sight along the coast this morning . aberdeen is set to become even colder as the cairngorms saw the first snow of winter yesterday , and temperatures plunged to -4 c overnight . a recent study by the met office found that snow has fallen 38 times in the last 52 years - meaning we can expect around half of our christmases to be ` white . ' however the traditional festive image of trees dusted in white , is more likely to be confined to christmas cards . snow settling on the ground is much rarer , and has happened just four times in the last 51 years . commuters will also be hopeful that the christmas season will not be a repeat of last year , when parts of england were drenched by heavy rain - leaving large parts of the somerset levels submerged for months .<doc-sep>by . larisa brown . published : . 03:20 est , 31 march 2013 . | . updated : . 04:17 est , 1 april 2013 . after the coldest easter sunday on record , you 'd hope for a brief respite from the arctic weather . but it seems spring is shaping up to be colder than winter was , with no sign of temperatures warming up . the bank holiday weekend was yesterday confirmed as the coldest easter since records began in 1960 , with temperatures dipping well below freezing . woolly warmer : sheep farmer sally howe with a newborn lamb at her farm in huddersfield , west yorkshire . on saturday , overnight temperatures . plummeted to -12.5 c -lrb- 9.5 f -rrb- in braemar , scotland , eclipsing the previous . record of -9.8 c -lrb- 14.4 f -rrb- on easter monday in 1986 . according . to the book daily temperature extremes for britain , the previous low . for march 31 was -10 c -lrb- 14f -rrb- at balmoral in aberdeenshire , in 1941 . the . unseasonable temperatures came as the met office confirmed march is on . course to be colder than winter this year for the first time since 1975 . wall of snow : joggers take a route alongside large snow drifts which still remain on the roads near holme moss on the edge of the peak district national park . change of the season : joggers take a route alongside large snow drifts which still remain on the roads near holme moss . the monthly average temperature until . march 26 was 2.5 c -lrb- 36.5 -rrb- , colder than december at 3.8 c -lrb- 38.8 f -rrb- , january . at 3.3 c -lrb- 37.9 f -rrb- , and february at 2.8 c -lrb- 37f -rrb- . the average march temperature in the central region used by forecasters -- the area bordered by london , manchester and bristol -- is currently 3.2 c -lrb- 37.8 f -rrb- . if this figure stays the same it will be the coldest march since 1962 . greg dewhurst , from the met office , said : ` it looks like it could be the coldest temperature experienced over the easter period .<doc-sep>britain awoke to a blanket of frost this morning after temperatures plummeted to almost -4 c on what was one of the coldest nights of the season so far . large swathes of the country experienced sub-zero temperatures as millions of people headed outside to enjoy bonfire night activities and firework displays . the coldest temperature recorded last night was -3.8 c in south newington , oxfordshire , which was closely followed by -3.7 c in topcliffe , north yorkshire . the mercury also dropped to -2.8 c in aboyne , aberdeenshire . red sky in the morning : the spectacular scene as the sun rises on this frost covered hill in malmesbury , wiltshire . britain awoke to frost today after temperatures dropped to -3.8 c in parts of the country overnight . pictured : london 's richmond park . much of the uk was greeted by cold mist this morning , including the river cray at foots cray meadows in sidcup , kent -lrb- pictured -rrb- . the met office said last night 's temperatures were some of the coldest seen so far this season . pictured : sunrise at sidcup , kent , today . a jogger embraces the chilly start as he runs through a very frosty richmond park in west london following a drop in temperature . deer stand in long frost-ridden grass at richmond park in west london as britain recovers from overnight temperatures of almost -4 c . although last year 's bonfire night was slightly colder , at -5 c , yesterday was colder than the same night in 2009 , 2010 and 2011 . forecasters at the met office said widespread frost caused by last night 's plunging temperatures would be replaced by heavy rain across large parts of the country this afternoon . severe weather warnings have been issued for parts of northern ireland , where 80mm of rain is predicted to fall within the next 24 hours , and in scotland where localised flooding is a possibility . however , despite last night 's chilly temperatures , forecasters said the mercury would rise again this week , with temperatures returning to the november average of between 10c and 12c . mark wilson , meteorologist for the met office , said : ` last night was a cold night , one of the coldest nights of the season far . ` there 's been widespread frost this morning but cloud is thickening from the west and that heralds wet and windy weather pushing through . ` if you 're in the south east , it will stay dry until after dark but elsewhere in the country it will turn wetter throughout the course of the day . ` weather warnings have been issued and in eastern parts of northern ireland we could see as much as 80mm of rain over the next 24 hours . ' despite the heavy rain forecast for much of the uk today , mr wilson said the country would experience some respite from last night 's cold weather . he said : ` tonight will be much , much milder than last night . the lowest temperature will be in the scottish highlands and that will be around 4c to 5c so much milder . ` over the coming days , temperatures are looking closer to average . last night would have been the coldest night for the next few nights . ` by day , temperatures will be in the 10c to 12c range generally . ` the weather remains largely unsettled though . ` tomorrow , the persistent rain will clear away , leaving a day of sunny spells and showers with strong , breezy winds . ` as we head into saturday , unfortunately we see a pretty wet day across much of england and wales . ` there 's a band of rain pushing up towards the north east , affecting much of england and wales during the day , but scotland and northern ireland will see the best of the weather .<doc-sep>by . daniel mills . and freya noble . capital cities on the east coast of australia have experienced their coldest winter mornings in years as temperatures plummeted over the weekend . in melbourne the mercury dropped to just above 1 degree , the coldest recorded temperature in 16 years . though the city itself managed to stay just above zero , some of the outer suburbs were a little chillier , and richard carlyon from the weather bureau told the abc the drop in temperatures was due to clear skies and light winds . scroll down for video . melbourne and sydney have woken up to their coldest mornings in years after snowfall across the weekend . the coldest suburb in the melbourne-geelong area was avalon at -3 c degrees , while further west ballarat got down to -5 c , the lowest temperature since 2002 . in the mountains the cold weather continued , and the mercury at mount bulla dropped to 8 degrees , the coldest of any of the ski resorts . it was also a frosty start in sydney , which woke up to its coldest morning in four years - with a low of 5.5 degrees . while temperatures plummeted in sydney , bushfires raged in northern nsw .<doc-sep>by . mail on sunday reporter . published : . 18:47 est , 16 november 2013 . | . updated : . 18:47 est , 16 november 2013 . britain will experience the first real taste of winter this week when freezing winds bring snow to much of the country . some of the coldest weather of the year is expected by tuesday , with bitter blasts from the arctic causing widespread frosts and plunging temperatures . wednesday night is expected to be the coldest since last winter . wrap up warm : britain will get a first real taste of winter this week with snow hitting parts of the country . by then , most parts of the country will have seen wintry showers and some high ground in the north will be shivering in temperatures as low as minus-three , with significant snowfalls . according to the met office , even cities such as manchester and leeds will experience temperatures as low as minus-two . the meteorologists are also predicting light snow in parts of the south-west by tuesday afternoon , and sleet over the pennines on wednesday afternoon . meteorologists are predicting light snow in parts of the south-west by tuesday afternoon . wednesday night is expected to be the coldest since last winter . supermarkets are anticipating a surge in sales of snow shovels and de-icers -- and traditional winter warmers such as soup and hot chocolate . met office forecaster charles powell said : ` over the past few weeks we 've experienced some warm weather , so by tuesday most people will realise that temperatures have dropped significantly . ` i would say they will feel the first winter weather on tuesday . ' however , there is some good news -- the forecasters also say temperatures should improve again by next weekend .

<t> coldest temperatures since last year were recorded last night as the mercury plunged to -5.1 c in cumbria . </t> <t> throughout the country temperatures hovered around freezing or just below , while in london 2.5 c was recorded . </t> <t> forecasters predict snow could fall by end of the week with temperatures to plummet overnight on thursday . </t> <t> but grapes and daffodils have been spotted growing around the uk , following unseasonably warm autumn . </t> <t> this year is on course to be the warmest ever after every month except august was above average temperature . </t>

britain shivers after coldest night since last winter with temperatures dipping to -5 c<T>

video has surfaced of a violent brawl at last week 's stereosonic festival in sydney , which saw one man knocked unconscious amid a flurry of punches from a group of men . the footage shows about 20 well-built men throwing punches in the mosh pit of the stage at the sydney showgrounds . security guards in high visibility shirts can be seen failing to stop the wild brawl , while surrounding punters barely bat an eyelid at the man who is lying unconscious , continuing to dance around him . video has surfaced of a violent brawl at last week 's stereosonic festival , which saw a man in blue shorts knocked unconscious amid a flurry of punches . richard calugay , who watched the fight first hand , told daily mail australia it started with pushing . ` someone pushed me in the back and the whole crowd started backing up . one of the guys king hit the guy in a blue shorts and knocked him out , and then it was on ' he said . ` the guy was knocked out cold . i saw him get carried away by his mates , and we left the stage at that point , but i heard the fight kept on going afterwards . '<doc-sep>mr calugay said security were simply outnumbered at the event . ` i think the security were reluctant to get involved because of the size of the guys and the amount of people around . they were outnumbered and did n't think it was worth the risk . ' security guards in high-vis shirts can be seen failing to apprehend the wild brawl . the surrounding punters barely bat an eyelid at the man who is lying unconscious , continuing to dance around him . stereosonic is an annual music festival with events in sydney , melbourne , brisbane , adelaide and perth . this year saw more than 81,000 revellers attend the sydney festival . mr calugay said he believes the type and the number of festival-goers set the scene for a brawl .<doc-sep>` i think stereosonic is a very alpha-male festival . there are a lot of big guys in there , and when you mix that with a crowd of that size , you have a recipe for violence . ' he said he saw other fights throughout the day that were n't filmed . the clip has received hundreds of thousands of views since being uploaded . nsw police said they were disappointed with the large number of revellers found in possession of prohibited drugs at the music festival on the weekend . there were 196 people found in possession of prohibited drugs at the festival , including mdma , cocaine , cannabis , ghb and ketamine . stereosonic is an annual festival that takes place in sydney , melbourne , brisbane , adelaide and perth . more that 81,000 revellers attended the festival in sydney this year .<doc-sep>the co-founder of the stereosonic music festival has vented his frustration at the violent thugs who started a mass brawl at sydney 's showgrounds . frank cotela took to his facebook page to lay into the ` roided up ' bros who took part in the vicious punch-up , which saw one man knocked unconscious amid a flurry of punches from a group of men . a video , which surfaced online shows about 20 well-built men throwing punches in the mosh pit of the stage . cotela lashed out at the ` muscle men ' , warning that there will be changes on the way for festival-goers who think they can ruin the day for everyone else . fight back : stereosonic co-founder frank cotela , seen here with katy perry , attacked the group of men who had started a fight at his festival . he aired his frustration on facebook about the mass brawl at sydney 's showgrounds . ` everyone is over the roid up bro 's muscle culture , ' he said . ` ca n't they just see that they are a laughing stock ... brother everyone is laughing at your shorts , singlets , fake tans , bumbags and cartoon shaped bodies ... but more importantly we are sick of the charged up violence you bring . ' cotela hinted that there may be changes at next year 's stereosonic festival , claiming organisers may profile each festival-goer at the gate and refuse entry if necessary . ` if it means that we will profile you at entry point and stop you entering - you will be stopped ! ' he said . the co-founder of stereosonic festival , which saw a man in blue shorts knocked unconscious amid a flurry of punches , has lashed out at the ` roided up ' men on his facebook page . security guards in high-vis shirts can be seen failing to apprehend the wild brawl during the video . co-founder frank cotela has warned that there will be changes at next year 's festival . the co-founder 's post comes after journalism student joel bevilacqua wrote a scathing facebook message to his followers , blasting the ` bruzzers ' for their antics and shaming them for the world to see .<doc-sep>mr calugay said he believes the type and the number of festival-goers set the scene for a brawl . ` i think stereosonic is a very alpha-male festival . there are a lot of big guys in there , and when you mix that with a crowd of that size , you have a recipe for violence . ' the co-founder 's comments come after a video appeared online showing a woman dancing naked around the festival grounds . he said he saw other fights throughout the day that were n't filmed . the clip has received hundreds of thousands of views since being uploaded . nsw police said they were disappointed with the large number of revellers found in possession of prohibited drugs at the music festival . there were 196 people found in possession of prohibited drugs at the festival , including mdma , cocaine , cannabis , ghb and ketamine . it comes just a week after the music festival displayed a number of hilarious and the most shocking videos from the festival when it hit sydney . one man was seen dancing and throwing his arms around before pulling his wallet out of his pocket and confusing it as an iphone . another woman was filmed dancing naked in the crowds , while a number of spectators looked on . stereosonic is an annual festival that takes place in sydney , melbourne , brisbane , adelaide and perth . more that 81,000 revellers attended the festival in sydney this year . stereosonic is an annual music festival with events in sydney , melbourne , brisbane , adelaide and perth . this year saw more than 81,000 revellers attend the sydney festival .<doc-sep>by . steve robson . published : . 04:51 est , 3 july 2013 . | . updated : . 09:24 est , 3 july 2013 . these are the horrific images of alcohol-fuelled robbie williams fans involved in a mass brawl during his concert at wembley stadium . shocking footage has emerged showing around 20 men and women fighting in the crowd during the former take that singer 's gig at the venue on sunday evening . the violence , which is thought to have been sparked by drinks being thrown , sees shirtless men and their partners throwing punches and kicking one another as the crowd parts in the standing area of the venue . scroll down for video . brutal : a man in a white shirt kicks out as two others brawl on the floor . violence : the fight broke out at a robbie williams gig at wembley stadium on sunday night . crowd trouble : several women are seen to try and intervene but some appear to be squaring off at each themselves . during the melee , at least one man appears to have his shirt ripped off and another is shown holding a man to the ground as he throws repeated blows . several women intervene to try and break up the fight although some are also punched and one is seen stamping on a man on the floor .<doc-sep>arrests in some recent years have eclipsed 200 and security has been beefed up since 2003 , when party-goers rioted . the university was voted the top party school in the 2011 princeton review surveys , but the institution does not sanction the event . ` up until 3 am there were less violence reports but after that we did get a few fight calls , ' an emergency services official told the athens messenger . brawl : the 27-year-old man was allegedly kicked in the head until he was left unconscious , sergeant mark ro of hollywood police told cbs los angeles . most of the arrests were for people being drunk and disorderly , but they were also for illegal drugs possession and public urination . the halloween revelry dates to the 1970s . in 2003 rioting partiers lit couches on fire , started fights and threw bottles at officers and firemen . meanwhile over in los angeles , california , a fight on hollywood boulevard saw a 27-year-old man taken to hospital in a critical condition . he was allegedly kicked in the head until he was left unconscious , lapd sergeant mark ro of the hollywood police station told cbs los angeles . but police had trouble identifying the attacker after they were called by paramedics because ` everybody was in costume ' , sergeant ro said . see video here .

<t> a video has surfaced of a wild brawl at stereosonic festival last weekend . </t> <t> the footage shows about 20 men throwing punches in the mosh pit . </t> <t> one man is seen lying unconscious , ignored by other partygoers . </t> <t> security guards appear to stand on the sidelines of the brawl . </t>

beefed up blokes get into brawl during a gig at stereosonic in video<T>

a group of pranksters ' comedy ` gangsta ' sketch went horribly wrong after police mistook their toy guns for real ones . the four men had been filming a stunt in enfield , london , for their intagram and you tube pages which involved two of the group brandishing the fake guns before holding them to their friend 's neck . but the joke quickly backfired after a member of the public mistook the toys for real weapons and reported them to police . the camera was still rolling when armed officers arrive shouting at them to ` drop the gun , drop the gun . ' the group of pranksters hold the fake guns to their friend 's neck as part of their comedy ` gangsta ' stunt . but the sketch quickly becomes very real for the four men after police are called and order them to lie on the ground and surrender their weapons . the friends attempt to explain they are filming and the guns were fake but the officer forces them to lie down on the ground and surrender their weapons . he can then be heard reporting to a back up team saying : ` four recovered - at least two firearms . ' police confirmed that armed officers had attended and arrested the group who were later released without charge . the three minute clip has now been viewed almost 300,000 times since it was added on november 30 . one of the stunt men , who posted the clip on youtube on november 30 , wrote : '' we was filming a short sketch for my instagram page , using plastic toy guns as props . a member of public must of saw us and called the police . the video has split opinion online over the police 's response . lauren cassinia wrote on the youtube video 's comments : ` that was excessive . they dropped their guns as soon as they were asked to and everyone but the cameraman got on the floor when asked . ` there was no need for the language either . all it would have taken was a quick check once they 'd been handcuffed and it would have been so much less violent . but then it 's understandable for the police to be scared since they do n't have guns . ' but gustaf smythe-richards added that : ` guns are n't toys . ' youtube user madsaltyskills wrote : ` in america they would of got shot with no question asked lol . ' dale of hope added : ` in the cops defense ... if they treated every situation with exposed firearms as ` they 're probably just filming ' , we 'd have a lot of dead people on our hands . so i 'm glad they took the ` better safe than sorry ' route . ' ` rightly so . especially with all the stuff going on over in the states . ` we should have been more responsible . definitely pooped myself a bit tho haha ! ` let this a lesson to everyone , do n't play with plastic guns in public . ' -lrb- sic -rrb- . possession of imitation and toy firearms can in certain circumstances amount to a criminal offence . the four men , all in their late twenties and early thirties , were arrested on november 29 at around 2pm . another member of the group posted on instagram : ` what a mad day ... ca n't lie tho i was shook and fully nearly lost my life if i held the gun any longer i was a goner . ` all for me and my boys filmin a robbery sketch for insta . ' -lrb- sic -rrb- . a spokeswoman for london metropolitan police said without officers knowing if the guns were real or fake they had to follow protocol . ` four men aged 27 , 28 , 30 and 30 were arrested at the scene and taken to an east london police station , ' she added . ` two imitation firearms were recovered at the scene . ` all suspects were interviewed and provided the same account . they explained that they were using the imitation guns to make a film . ` the suspects showed remorse and were later released with no further action being taken . ' the four men , all in their late twenties and early thirties , were arrested on november 29 at around 2pm . one of the members of the stunt later warned people on his instagram account not to play with plastic guns in public .<doc-sep>by . ryan lipman . published : . 03:34 est , 13 march 2014 . | . updated : . 17:12 est , 13 march 2014 . the prank was supposed to highlight societyâ $ ™ s unwillingness to help a person in need . but it proved exactly the opposite when one of the pranksters was punched in the face by a passing bystander . the stunt , the latest from jackass-style group reckless youth , involves a mock-mugging at an atm . one member withdraws cash before being approached by another , balaclava-clad member who demands the money . a third member hides and films the fake robbery , and the reaction of bystanders . it was supposed to bring the sydney-based group â $ `` made up of daniel maran ,19 , and robert milazzo and george proestos , both 16 â $ `` online fame and notoriety . but it all went horribly wrong when one bystander , who thought he was witnessing a genuine robbery , punched proestos in the face . scroll down for video . three men attempted to stop what they believed was a robbery , only to learn afterwards that it was supposed to be a joke . the attack left the prankster covered in blood and nursing a suspected broken nose .<doc-sep>when two famous czech actors agreed to pose as disabled police officers and stop people for ` speeding ' , it seemed like an innocent enough prank . but the charity video went horribly wrong when one of the men they flagged down suffered a heart-attack , upon hearing it was a candid camera stunt . the men have since claimed they intended to gauge people 's reactions to being pulled over by disabled policemen , in a bid to raise awareness . scroll down for video . prank : the two famous czech actors dressed up as disabled police officers -lrb- pictured -rrb- to gauge people 's reactions to being pulled over for speeding . horror : the stunt went horribly wrong when one man had a heart-attack , upon hearing it was a prank . good intentions : petr ctvrtnicek told an appeal court : ` the aim was to help disabled people and we did it in good faith ' one was in a wheelchair while the other used crutches , in the video organised by charity konto bariery . jan potmesil , 48 , and petr ctvrtnicek , 50 , were given suspended sentences in october last year for their involvement in the prank . a district court in the czech capital prague has since acquitted the actors of the crime of impersonating a police officer . mr potmesil told the appeal court : ` it was not our aim -lsb- to harm someone -rsb- and i am really , very sorry about it . ' i thought that we were doing something good and we thought that everything would be all right . ' fellow actor petr ctvrtnicek said : ' i agree . the aim was to help disabled people and we did it in good faith . ' the charity video , which was filmed in 2012 in prague , was due to air on czech national television . the court in prague initially found both actors guilty of using impersonating the police because they wore uniforms and were carrying out police activities . stunt : jan potmesil -lrb- left -rrb- , 48 , and petr ctvrtnicek -lrb- right -rrb- , 50 , dressed as police officers in a tv prank for a czech television station - to gauge people 's reaction to being pulled over for speeding . the charity video , which was filmed in 2012 in prague , was due to air on czech national television . they replied by pointing out that the police uniforms were not real , and they thought it was obvious it was just a sketch and not a real police action . mr ctvrtnicek slammed the czech television station for failing to protect them , saying : ' i would like to advise all my colleagues to take lawyers to dressing rooms of televisions or film studios . otherwise the same thing will happen to them . ' and mr potmesil followed : ' i am really sorry about it . i did not expect that people would n't recognise us . ' after the verdict overturning the conviction was announced , the public gallery erupted into cheers of support from fans of the pair and family .<doc-sep>another hopeful candidate said he was fat - so easier to aim at . justin toohig , owner of ukpaintball.co.uk , said : ` this incredible response is the last thing we expected when we posted the advert . vacancy : ukpaintball , which is no longer accepting applications , posted this notice on their website . ` we could n't have predicted that so many people in the uk and beyond would want to get shot for a living . ` we 've had individuals hoping to secure the job including an ex-army soldier boasting previous experience of guns and weaponry , a paintballing enthusiast who has indulged in his hobby all around the world and an ex-magician 's assistant who was once almost shot for real in an illusion that went horribly wrong . ` it 's going to be a real struggle attempting to whittle down the thousands of applicants to just one . we have been so incredibly inundated with amazing candidates wanting the job that we are now considering an x factor-style bootcamp for the a final 10 , to see just who can handle being shot for a living . '<doc-sep>by . misty white sidell . vogue creative director grace coddington was temporarily banned from instagram over the weekend for her first post on the platform - a self-portrait sketch of her bathing topless . ms coddington , 73 , known by fashion fans for her starring role in the 2009 documentary the september issue , joined instagram on friday and quickly accumulated a few thousand followers . but by the weekend , her account had gone dark -- purportedly due to the sketch , which was created to promote online auctioneer paddle 8 's ` no clothes ' charity auction . locked down : vogue magazine 's creative director grace coddington -lrb- pictured -rrb- had her instagram account briefly frozen after she posted a topless sketch of herself on friday . instagram , of course , has a strict no-nudity policy that has led to similar bans placed on accounts from rihanna and model anja rubik . today however , ms coddington 's account was restored . instagram claims that its blocking of ms coddington 's account was an accident , and that the app 's personnel made a mistake while processing a complaint against the photo . a representative for instagram told the cut : ` when our team processes reports from other members of the instagram community , we occasionally make a mistake . ` in this case , we wrongly removed content and worked to rectify the error as soon as we were notified . we apologize for any inconvenience . ' in the brief time that her instagram was dark shut down , at least one member of fashion 's elite shared an instagram post to show their support for her . offending content : this sketch , drawn by ms coddington to promote a paddle 8 charity auction , is what caused her account to be frozen . w magazine fashion director edward enninful posted a photo of the cover for ms coddington 's first book , grace , writing : ` grace coddington 's instagram is no longer active because of her 1st post , the nude self portrait !!!!!! grace will be back soon with a new account xoxo stay posted ! #gracecoddington #legend ' now with her account back in working order , ms coddington has posted a new sketch to address her profile 's shut down . hitting back : after her account was restored , ms coddington uploaded this sketch in which her famous cats are facetiously blacked out . earlier today she posted one of her famous cat sketches with a black bar facetiously drawn over one of the feline 's lower halves . its cheeky caption read : ` good grief pumpkin , mother drew a nude selfie for her very first instagram . no wonder they shut her down ... she is much fatter than that . '

<t> four jokers were using toy guns for a comedy sketch in enfield , london . </t> <t> a member of the public saw and believed the stunt calling the police . </t> <t> armed officers arrive and order them to lie down and surrender weapons . </t> <t> the group are arrested but later released without charge . </t>

instagram pranksters ' attempt to record ` gangsta ' sketch goes horribly wrong as police mistake their fake guns for the real thing<T>

brazilian police solved a gangland execution after stopping a teenager for speeding , and discovering horrific footage of the killing on his mobile phone . motorist levon valencia puga , 16 , was found to have no driving licence and was driving a car that did not belong to him , and as a result police decided to arrest him and take him in for questioning . but back at the police station when they checked his mobile phone , they found a video which showed the shocking execution of another teenager who was killed for apparently being a snitch . scroll down for video . horrific : footage police found on a mobile phone shows marcos vinicius caixeta monteiro being executed , with one of the suspects filmed stamping on his head .<doc-sep>shocking : the teenager tried desperately to get away but was gunned down as he fled . the killing took place in a remote area on the outskirts of the municipality of goiania . executed : the boy is shot at point-blank range in the head . the shocking video shows teenager marcos vinicius caixeta monteiro , 18 , in the back of a car with three other men . the car has been identified as monteiro 's own vehicle , and he had apparently been forced into the back by the trio who are then seen driving to a remote area on the outskirts of the municipality of goiania , in the central brazilian state of goias . the teenager looks extremely worried after the trio tell him he is going to die because he is a snitch , and had given information to police that led to a criminal being arrested .<doc-sep>when the car stops , he climbs out and tries to run away from the vehicle off-camera before three shots ring out . cold-blooded : the clip shows a hand gun being loaded with bullets . scared : monteiro looks extremely worried as the men tell him that he is going to die for being a snitch . the video then shows one of the three men walking up to the young man lying on the ground , who is clutching his head , and stamping on him repeatedly . they then reload the gun before a second man shoots him point-blank range in the head , with at least one of the bullets missing and thudding into the earth . they then walk back to the car , discussing everything calmly as if nothing has happened .<doc-sep>puga is heard on the video saying : ` go with god ' . a police spokesman confirmed the arrest and said they were still trying to identify and arrest the other two men shown in the video . local police chief kleyton manoel dias said : ` one of the most shocking things about this case is that the arrested driver really did n't seem bothered when the video was discovered . he was completely calm and described what happened , and gave all the detail we wanted without showing any emotion at all . ' the family of the dead teenager meanwhile said they wanted justice and added : ` he did not deserve to die like this . ' sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 15:03 est , 24 august 2012 . | . updated : . 16:31 est , 24 august 2012 . detectives investigating the gangland execution of a dancer who appeared in a video with x factor judge tulisa contostavlos have charged three men with his murder . reece james menzies was shot dead after a gang burst into a flat last month and fired a bullet into his head . the 21-year-old , known as stylie , had recently travelled 100 miles from his home in wembley , north west london , to boscombe in bournemouth , dorset . shot in the head : three men have been charged with the murder of reece james menzies -lrb- pictured -rrb- in a suspected gangland execution . reece james -lrb- left -rrb- had appeared in a controversial music video with x factor judge tulisa -lrb- right -rrb- , in which she made a ` c ' shape with her hand , a sign associated with a gang . his body was found at around 2.30 am on wednesday , july 25 , at an address in roumelia lane . a spokesman for dorset police said : . ` detectives investigating the alleged murder of a man in bournemouth . have charged three men in connection with his death following the advice . of the crown prosecution service . ` three london men , aged 22 , 24 and 33 , . have been charged with the murder of reece james menzies and will . appear before bournemouth magistrates ' court tomorrow morning . ' the three men were arrested at addresses in london and folkestone , kent , on tuesday morning . detective chief inspector kevin . connolly , of the major crime investigation team , said : ` the three men . have been in custody for the last 72 hours and they have all been .<doc-sep>the teen who stands accused of murdering her socialite mother in indonesia and dumping her body in a suitcase has named her unborn child stella , according to the baby 's lawyer . heather mack , 19 , is facing execution by firing squad in bali , indonesia , if found guilty of killing sheila von wiese-mack , 62 , whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase outside a luxury hotel last august . the inmate is currently seven months pregnant and is due to give birth on april 1 to a little girl - which already has its own lawyer - vanessa favia . scroll down for video . prison : heather mack , 19 , is facing execution by firing squad in bali , indonesia , if found guilty of killing sheila von wiese-mack , 62 , whose body was found stuffed in a suitcase outside a luxury hotel last august . suitcase : a policeman inspects the suitcase where the body of sheila von wiese-mack , 62 , was found inside at the police station in nusa dua on the indonesian resort island of bali . favia said mack is naming her baby stella , after a family member . in another development in the high-profile case , a judge has ruled that the teen can have any lawyer she can afford . she allegedly wants to hire ary soenardi , the bali lawyer rejected by cook county judge neil h. cohen last week as mack sought cash from her $ 1.56 million trust fund to pay her legal bills . according to lawyers , soenardi is known for representing ' a number of international drug smugglers , but has never before tried a murder case .<doc-sep>he seemed like an ordinary suburban man and father of four , but ali reza sonmez was abducted and murdered in an execution style killing and his body dumped in a river across a state border . nsw police are now acting on the possibility that 44-year-old sonmez may have had a secret , dark past , and have travelled to south australia to investigate the posting of a mysterious letter interstate . it is almost 28 years since the disappearance of sonmez , a disabled pensioner of turkish descent who lived quietly with his family in mildura , victoria . mr sonmez left his home at around 5pm on january 23 , 1986 . witnesses saw him walking along the footpath of ninth st , mildura , past the mobil service station . scroll down for video . gangland killing : ali sonmez was abducted and murdered execution style in january 1986 , and the killing of this father-of-four has confounded police for nearly three decades . lonely spot : turkish-born ali sonmez , 44 , disappeared off a street in merbein , victoria and his bullet-ridden body was found by fishermen at a lonely spot on the darling river -lrb- pictured -rrb- three days later . do you know this man : police released this snapshot -lrb- above -rrb- of this as yet unidentified man who is possibly of turkish descent . the photo was found in the glove box of murdered ali sonmez 's car following his murder . about 90 minutes later , mr sonmez was seen 11km away , outside the post office in merbein , a tiny town northwest of mildura on the banks of the murray river . a witness saw him argue with a man who was standing on the street with two women .<doc-sep>the first half of england games in the stands studying the video . technology and reporting back to hodgson at half-time . england 's itinerary for this summer 's world cup in brazil . the barclays premier league stopped clubs installing tv monitors and laptops in the dug-outs , mainly to avoid pressure on officials after slow-motion replays and different camera angles highlifht poor decisions . but mobile phone technology is advancing at such a rate that video experts in the stands can quickly and easily send replay clips and statistical information to those sitting on the touchline . the trick is to identify the information which is both useful and easily digested . england also have liverpool 's sports scientist barry drust in brazil and arsenal 's nutritionist james collins , who will have an important role because of the high temperatures . collins will be expected to keep the players ' bodies well hydrated and balanced with different minerals and electrolytes using energy bars , supplements , recovery drinks and post-match food .

<t> police found shocking footage on the mobile of levon valencia puga . </t> <t> the 16-year-old had been pulled over for speeding by police in brazil . </t> <t> they found footage on his phone of another teenager being executed . </t> <t> the clip showed a teen being shot in the head at point blank range . </t> <t> the suspects involved told him he was being killed for being a snitch . </t>

gangland execution video in brazil found on teen 's mobile after being stopped for speeding<T>

a new pop-up store in manhattan will sell its products for the price of a post to any social media account . the velcro brand holiday hackshop has declared monday , december 15 , its ` social currency day , ' when customers can pay for select items with ` retweets , posts and more ' in which the brand is mentioned . though the company is still determining exactly what they will be ` selling ' based on stock , a representative told mailonline the products will be worth around $ 5 each . welcome to the hackshop ! velcro brand is hoping to get more followers on social media sites by running a holiday pop-up shop in lower manhattan where customers are encouraged to post about their experience . will you tweet for these ? on monday , december 15 , customers can pay for select velcro brand products by posting to social media sites like facebook , instagram and twitter . items customers can potentially buy include garland ties , holiday decor wrap and adhesive fabric strips . to further encourage social media activity , the store is offering daily giveaways for customers who post about it on instagram , with prizes like ebooks , one-night stays at resorts and kitchen appliances .<doc-sep>the shop will also be offering free gift wrapping and photos with santa , diy craft stations and special events throughout its run . the boutique , which is located at 199 lafayette street in new york 's trendy soho neighborhood , will be open every day through december 19 from 8 am to 8 pm . enter to win ! the brand is giving away a prize every day to one lucky winner who posts about the brand on instagram . this is made of what ? all of the decor at the pop-up shop - including these lamps - was made using velcro brand products . velcro , which was invented in 1948 , is hoping to shed its image as a product strictly for fastening , according to the company 's publicist . to ramp up its efforts , velcro brand recently enlisted hgtv star sabrina soto as its spokesperson for the next two years . though the product has been a household fixture since it was introduced commercially in the 1950s , the company did n't launch its first e-store until earlier this year .<doc-sep>the transaction . for investors , bitcoins will be treated like other commodities , the irs said . if they increase in value , you have to pay capital gains taxes after you . sell them . if they lose value , you can recognise a capital loss . created . in 2009 , bitcoin is an online currency that allows people to make . one-to-one transactions , buy goods and services and exchange money . across borders without involving banks or other third parties . in february , tokyo-based mtgox , one of the largest bitcoin exchanges , filed for bankruptcy . bitcoins have become popular with libertarians , technology enthusiasts and speculators . regulators worry about criminals using them to avoid detection . in february , one of the largest bitcoin exchanges , mtgox , based in tokyo , filed for bankruptcy , adding to mistrust of the currency . supporters say problems at the exchange were isolated .<doc-sep>the study by debenhams found the rates offered at airports over a week seven per cent lower over a week , when compared with buying in advance on the high street . headed to a spanish beach ? change money in advance and save 25 pounds to pay for a meal in most resorts . with an estimated 850,000 travellers obtaining currency just before they fly - that 's a potential substantial saving which would pay for a meal of two in most resorts . ` people quite rightly spend weeks preparing for their holiday , comparing the cost of flights and accommodation to get the best value , but many forget about the cash they need when they reach their destination '' said director of debenhams personal finance , mike hazel . ` leaving it to the last minute really is a bad choice if you are looking to get the most from your hard-earned pounds . ' high street best for foreign currency rates : debenhams adds 15 new travel money bureaus in next two months . and it seems confidence is up among british travellers this year . more than three-quarters of holidaymakers intend to take the same amount of currency or more on their travels as last year , according to the holiday confidence index - compiled by the institute of travel and tourism , the university of wolverhampton and pollster yougov .<doc-sep>if you have a rogue euro or five leftover from your last holiday , you 're not alone . a new survey claims britons are hoarding a whopping # 3bn in unused foreign currency . two thirds of britons admit to squirreling away their foreign currency after a holiday , rather than converting it back into to pounds . two thirds of britons admit to squirelling away their foreign currency after a holiday , rather than converting it . the average household has an average of # 110.45 in leftover cash post trip , which according to the study , by zopa , a peer-to-peer lending company , adds up to # 2.92 billion worth of discarded currency . shockingly , only 13 per cent of people bother to exchange money when they return from a holiday , so most of it ends up down the back of the sofa - and only 16 per cent of those asked said they plan to use it the next time they go away . two-thirds of people questioned said they had two or more types of foreign currency at home . seventy-nine per cent of people admitted to having euros , 43 per cent had us dollars , seven per cent had canadian dollars and swiss francs , six per cent had australian dollars and finally five per cent had thai baht . lazy : shockingly , only 13 per cent of people bother to exchange money when they return from a holiday . a zopa spokesman said it is best to convert your money straight into the next currency you will need , to avoid the cost of exchanging it into pounds and then back again . if you are returning with notes , it 's wise to exchange the currency back into sterling and reinvest it . if you find yourself with superfluous coinage post holiday , plenty of charities run schemes allowing travellers can donate unwanted foreign currency to them .<doc-sep>the research found 45 % of australians have travelled overseas in the past 12 months and on average have $ 221 in foreign currency sitting at home as a result . ` mastercard has seen a 70 % growth in prepaid cards since the beginning of 2013 . in fact , 1 out of every 5 dollars australians spend overseas on their mastercard cards is now on a prepaid travel card . ` people do n't need to rifle around in desks and drawers every time they head overseas , trying to find their leftover notes and coins , ' mr cartwright said referring to the prepaid travel cards . mr cartwright said people feel safer when they are n't carrying around large amounts of cash and he believes prepaid cards avoid the hassle of dealing with conversion rates and commission costs while on holiday . the study predicts the habit of leftover currency will decline in coming years , as travellers embrace prepaid travel cards , which allow them to get a refund on leftover currency or save it until the next trip . the australian dollar has fallen from 95c against the us dollar in july , to around 87c today prompting would-be holidaymakers to act now and start using travel cards . ` another benefit of a prepaid travel card is that it allows you lock in the exchange rate on the day the card is loaded . as australians watch the dollar decline , many are deciding to buy now before it drops any further , ' mr cartwright said .

<t> the velcro brand holiday hackshop has declared monday december 15 its ` social currency day ' </t> <t> products , which usually cost $ 5 apiece , can be purchased with retweets and posts that mention the velcro brand . </t> <t> items customers can buy include garland ties , holiday decor wrap and adhesive fabric strips . </t>

velcro holiday hackshop allows you to pay with ` social currency '<T>

the defendant -lrb- pictured outside blackfriars crown court today -rrb- , from north london , denies one charge of stalking and one charge of sexual assault . a television personality was sent sinister emails about the murder of jill dando from a stalker who later gave her a ` sloppy kiss ' outside the o2 arena , a court heard today . the woman received hundreds of messages from the man , with some referring to domestic abuse and ms dando 's murder . other messages suggested she leave her husband to marry him and have his child . the woman , who is a household name but can not be named for legal reason , was subjected to a campaign of harassment over social media and email for more than a year during which the man , who also can not be named , claimed they were having a ` cyber affair ' . the trial at blackfriars crown court today heard how the harassment even saw the defendant visit the tv studios where the woman worked to deliver gifts . it culminated in him kissing her at a public event . max hardy , prosecuting , said : ` this case concerns obsessive behaviour on the part of the defendant directed towards a television presenter . ` this obsessive behaviour manifested itself in the defendant 's use of the social network site twitter , in email communications and attending at her workplace and written communication to her address . ` that behaviour went far beyond the respectful enthusiasm of a fan . ` he caused her significant alarm or distress that had a substantial effect on her day-to-day life . ' the court heard how the defendant began contacting the celebrity about her programmes and she replied out of courtesy , although the messages then became increasingly personal .<doc-sep>the presenter , who is in her 40s , made a statement to police in december last year , shortly before the man was arrested . mr hardy said : ` she recalled the first communication from him being a tweet sent in january 2012 . ` she had just been on television and the tweet was saying `` you look lovely i simply have to say so '' . ' she began receiving emails to her work address , again replying to the messages out of respect for her fans . the messages took another turn in february 2012 , when the man began speaking about his personal issues and invited her to go the david hockney exhibition at the royal academy in london . in the march of the same year , his messages took a sinister turn with an email referring to a segment on claire 's law , which was brought in to help victims of violent domestic abuse . he also attached the first chapters of his autobiography and his mobile number asking for her to call him . she stopped replying to the messages , but days later , on march 15 , he wrote to her again with the chilling reference to murdered presenter jill dando . mr hardy said : ` the email contained a transcript purporting to be a telephone call from someone called sue and he referred to the discovery that jill dando , the tv presenter , had been murdered . '<doc-sep>the crimewatch presenter was shot dead , aged 37 , outside her home in fulham , west london , in april 1999 . mr hardy continued : ' -lsb- he wrote -rsb- ' i hope that wa n't too freaky a start to the day , do n't let it be s *** e , that 's like a one-in-a-million thing anyway . -lrb- sic -rrb- ' the email was passed on to the station 's security and he was blocked from emailing any of its email address . blackfriars crown court -lrb- pictured -rrb- heard how the woman was subjected to a campaign of harassment over social media and email for more than a year during which the man claimed they were having a ` cyber affair ' however , he continued to message her through third parties , the court heard . another email , sent in march 2012 , described his love for her and blamed a co-presenter for being blocked from the email system . mr hardy said : ' -lsb- the email -rsb- is a declaration of love and adoration for her and suggests that she divorces her husband , marries him and they could have a child together . ' he carried on contacting the woman saying they were having a ` cyber affair ' and invited her to use an anonymous messaging system . the court heard that although the harassment began in early 2012 , he stands charged with the crimes from november that year , when stalking became a criminal offence .<doc-sep>jurors were told the alleged stalker was not accused of threatening violence against the celebrity , although his obsessive communication caused her ` serious alarm or distress ' . the court also heard how in december 2012 , he visited the tv studios where she worked to deliver hand-warmers and a christmas card and letter , but was turned away . the celebrity chose to go to the police after the defendant approached her at an event at the o2 and kissed her , jurors were told . mr hardy said : ` he thrust a copy of a programme into her hands and asked her for an autograph then , in her words , `` landed a sloppy wet kiss on my cheek '' . ` she tried to shrug it off but over time decided to take it to the police . ` that 's what prompted her to install further security measures and alter her activities . ' the alleged stalker , from north london , denies one charge of stalking and one charge of sexual assault . the trial continues . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>walking free : a stalker , pictured but can not be named , subjected his tv star victim to a campaign of ` serious alarm and distress ' but was still able to walk free today . a ` sad ' loner who stalked a tv personality and made sinister references to the murder of jill dando before trying to kiss her outside her office was spared jail today . the middle-aged fantasist bombarded the presenter with 517 tweets and scores of emails , texts and phone calls declaring his love for the woman . both parties can not be named for legal reasons . the stalker dreamed of sweeping the victim off her feet on ' a white charger ' before getting her ` happily pregnant ' and believed they were having a ` cyber-affair ' . judge john hillen qc said he lived ' a sad , lonely and isolated existence ' , and told him at the end his trial at blackfriars crown court it was just ' a continuation of your stalking and obsession ' . but the man was still allowed to walk free after mr justice hillen gave him a suspended sentence . his trial heard how had terrified the star with messages with bizarre references to crimes including the jill dando murder , which the victim made her ` blood run cold ' and left her fearing for her life . the crimewatch presenter was shot outside her home in fulham , west london , in april 1999 , aged 37 , and her killer has never been found .<doc-sep>the stalker , who now has a permanent restraining order , claimed in court : ' i wanted to start a conversation about the jill dando killing , and why nobody ever talks about it ' . but the tv personality spoke of her horror at the message , saying : ` for any woman on television - the name jill dando - it strikes terror into your heart , that if you are on screen and you are on tv , you are going to get targeted . reading that , my blood runs cold ' . she also described to the court an unwanted kiss on the cheek at a charity event at the o2 arena , which prosecutors claimed amounted to sexual assault . ' i felt humiliated wiping that -lsb- saliva -rsb- off my cheek ' , the victim said . but the obsessive argued it was a ` flamboyant air-kiss ' to say thanks for an autograph , and that his behaviour was not sexually motivated . the stalker - who described himself as ` cheeky ' - even tried to bring hand-warmers to her office as a gift and sent her an inscribed edition of romantic novel the scarlet letter for christmas . as a result , bosses insisted she stop taking public transport and police advised her to step up her home security . the stalker , who was one of the first prosecuted under the tougher protection of freedoms act 2012 , was convicted after a trial at blackfriars crown court .<doc-sep>a well-known female television personality has today told how she was left ` frustrated ' by police officers probing a stalker who had sent her emails about murdered presenter jill dando . the household name slammed the handling of her case , saying some officers ` did n't have the faintest idea ' of how to deal with ` cases involving harassment against women ' . the well-known presenter , who can not be named for legal reasons , said she was left ` repulsed ' after her stalker allegedly kissed her on the cheek at an event at the o2 arena , london . the well-known tv presenter , who can not be named for legal reasons , has criticised the police handing of her case after she was kissed on the cheek by her stalker -lrb- pictured , face pixelated -rrb- at the o2 arena last year . she claims the man asked her for an autograph while she was waiting to go on stage with her colleagues last year , before he leaned in for a kiss which left her ` smeared with saliva ' . the stalker , who also can not be identified , had previously bombarded the woman with hundreds of tweets and a stream of emails , claiming they were having a ` cyber affair ' . he also urged her to leave her husband and marry him instead , the court was told . giving evidence at blackfriars crown court this morning , the celebrity criticised the police response to the alleged sex assault . she said : ' i was frustrated by the pace of the police investigation . ` the officers who brought the case to court have been excellent , but there were officers before who i have to say did n't have the faintest idea of how to handle cases involving harassment against women . ' she told the jury she was moments away from joining other big names on stage for the charity event at the o2 arena in east london when the approached her . she said : ` he lunged at me with such a wet kiss - i had to wipe it off afterwards . saliva was smeared across my cheek . the woman , who is a household name , told blackfriar 's crown court -lrb- pictured -rrb- that some officers ` did n't have the faintest idea of how to handle cases involving harassment against women ' ' i felt humiliated , not only has he come in to make close contact , he has smeared this saliva on my cheek . i felt repulsed by it . ' the presenter made the claims during cross-examination by karen walton , defending , who suggested the kiss was an innocent ` peck on the cheek ' or ' a very flamboyant air kiss . ' however , the celebrity replied : ` he has written in emails how he wants to be my cyber husband , he wants to marry me and be my husband . ` he has talked in explicit terms about me so of course there is a sexual element to what he did . ' she reported the incident to police and television network bosses subsequently banned her from taking public transport to work . the man denies one count of stalking and another of sexual assault . the trial continues . sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>but instead police focussed their investigation on barry george , the loner who lived near ms dando 's home in fulham , west london , and who seemed obsessed with guns . he was convicted of her murder in 2001 and jailed for life -- before being freed on appeal in 2008 . at his first trial , mr george 's barrister , michael mansfield , qc , contended that one possible motive for the killing was a serbian death squad taking revenge for the bombing of a belgrade television station . mr mansfield produced a national . criminal intelligence service report which said that after the bombing , . the serbian warlord arkan put out a contract on sir john birt , then bbc . director-general . haunting : a cctv image of jill dando shopping just 40 minutes before she gunned down outside her home . murder scene : police officers cordon off jill dando 's road in fulham , south london , following the shooting in april 1999 . branka prpa said her husband slavko curuvija -lrb- both left -rrb- was killed two weeks before ms dando by the same serbian hit man . shortly after ms dando death an anonymous caller with a serbian accent phoned the bbc and told then head of news tony hall -lrb- right -rrb- he ` was next ' barry . george , now 51 , also known as barry bulsara , was charged with jill . dando 's murder in may 2000 , 13 months after she was shot dead with a single bullet to the head . a . year after he was charged and after several delays to the beginning of . his trial , a jury convicted him of her murder at the old bailey in july . 2001 .

<t> television personality subjected to campaign of harassment , court heard . </t> <t> woman , a household name , bombarded with emails and online messages . </t> <t> man allegedly gave her a ` sloppy kiss ' during an event outside the o2 arena . </t> <t> the accused , from london , denies a charge of stalking and sexual assault . </t>

television personality ` was sent sinister emails about the murder of jill dando by stalker '<T>

a judge is issuing an arrest warrant for a 77-year-old utah man who police say was sunbathing nude in his backyard next to a mormon church parking lot . court records show the $ 5,000 cash-only warrant was issued tuesday after myron lee kipp failed to show up at a court hearing in his lewdness case . kipp has pleaded not guilty to seven misdemeanor counts of lewdness , four involving a child .<doc-sep>according to a probable cause statement , police were called to kipp 's home on march 5 after witnesses saw him sunbathing naked in his backyard . according to public records , kipp owns a home on east 200 n road , next to the farmington chapel mormon church . not suitable for church : an arrest warrant has been issued to a utah man who was charged with lewdness for sunbathing nude in his backyard , in view of adults and children standing in an adjacent church parking lot . those witnesses included three adults and four children standing in the adjacent parking lot of the chapel .<doc-sep>kipp was allegedly visible since he had a chain link fence with no privacy slats . when police confronted kipp , he told an officer ` he was sun bathing and that it was his property and he could do it if he wanted , ' the record states . that 's when police forced kipp to dress , arrested him and took him to jail .<doc-sep>defense attorney william albright did n't immediately return a message seeking comment . the view : above , kipp 's backyard is seen backing up to the church parking lot . he allegedly told responding officers that it was his property and he could sunbathe ` if he wanted ' on the run ? the arrest warrant was issued tuesday after 77-year-old myron kipp failed to appear in court . above , a view of the man 's address in farmington , according to public records .<doc-sep>germans are often considered to be more at one with nature than us prudish brits . and now residents of the country 's third-largest city have been given the go ahead to strip off for all over sunbathing sessions in six designated spaces . according to a report in theatlanticcities.com the six urban naked zones are located in parkland , offering privacy , but also only minutes away from the busy city centre . all over tan : munich has introduced six urban naked zones in the city for nude sunbathing . the ` zones ' were introduced following the expiry of statewide laws controlling nude sunbathing last year . the city 's huge public park the englischer garten has been a nudist hang-out since the 1960s , with it 's schonfeldweise -lrb- ` beautiful meadows ' -rrb- area being earmarked by nudist travel site naturisttravel.net as one of the must-visit places in the country .<doc-sep>a nude woman sunbathing in austria caused a crash on the road below when she positioned her naked body out of a window while she was sunbathing . the nude woman was snapped by student gregory shakaki lying on her window ledge with her legs dangling out of a third floor window in vienna . mr shakaki said : ' i thought i was suffering sunstroke when i saw it . ' scroll down for video . a nude woman sunbathing in the austrian capital vienna caused snarl ups on a major road when she positioned her naked body out of a window to get the maximum out of the sun 's rays . motorist michael kienast told local media : ' i was behind two guys who had a fender bender because the motorists in front took their eyes off the road to glance up at the view . ` the young woman was obviously keen on getting some sun in a place where it does n't usually shine ! ' i heard the guy who was rear-ended shout to the motorist who had hit him : ` did n't you look where you were supposed to be going ? ' ` the driver who hit him said : ` sorry , i was distracted , ' and pointed up to the window where the woman was lying . the guy who was hit then said : ` oh , right , i see what you mean ' . ' meanwhile on the other side of the world another naked woman caused a stir today when was . she was photographed on of the balcony of the rio hotel the england squad are staying in . several cars were blocking the road before police arrived , but by then she had disappeared inside and closed the windows . ' meanwhile on the other side of the world another naked woman caused a stir today when was she was photographed on of the balcony of the rio hotel the england squad are staying in . the woman , who was completely nude , walked out of the sliding doors attached to her room and stood by the railings . she then walked back to her room before finally pulling out a black lace top .<doc-sep>` in this we give way for everyone to go to the beach however they choose ' , she explains . ` as many will want to go to a clothing-required beach , they will definitely have the choice within more than 3.1 miles of land , not to mention neptune beach and other surrounding beaches as well ; and for those who recommend clothing optional , they may now have the option also . ' haulover beach is currently the only . beach in florida where nude sunbathing is officially allowed but . sunbathers dare to bare on several other beaches in the sunshine state , including apollo . beach , playalinda beach and hobe sound beach . ms anderson now plans to hold a naked photo shoot to publicise her petition and says she will post the images on a facebook page dedicated to the campaign called the nudement . but she said she has struggled to find somewhere she could carry out the shoot legally . no tan lines here : angela anderson wants jacksonville beach sunbathers to be able to go skinny dipping as they do on haulover beach . she told wjct news : ` it 's out of the way a little bit because it was hard to find someone with a big enough yard and on private land . ' but mr latham dismissed the idea in an interview with news4jax.com : ` quite frankly , it 's contrary to the objectives of creating a family-friendly jacksonville beach . ` my recommendation to anyone who would do that is to find some private property somewhere where you can do that . ' he referred to the fact that there were several topless and nude beaches in europe and said that american sailors looked forward to visiting them . but when they got there they discovered not models but members of the general public , aged from six to 60 , which he said was ` not quite as pleasant as you might think ' .<doc-sep>by . snejana farberov for mail online . disturbing behavior : chad monroe , 34 , was charged with stalking and unlawful posting of a message online after his ex-girlfriend complained to police that the man has vowed to make her life a living hell by posting nude photos of her on facebook . a michigan man was charged with stalking after police said he posted nude photos of his former girlfriend on facebook with the intent of driving the woman to suicide . chad monroe , 34 , of bay city , was arraigned last week on counts of misdemeanor stalking and felony unlawful posting of a message online . when interviewed by police , the man allegedly informed them that his lawyer had told him that he had the right to disseminate naked photos of his former girlfriend online . the suspect was ordered held on $ 35,000 and barred from having any contact with his ex-girlfriend .

<t> a judge in farmington , utah has issued an arrest warrant for 77-year-old myron kipp when he failed to show up in court for the lewdness case . </t> <t> according to police , three adults and four children standing in their church parking lot saw kipp sunbathing naked in his backyard on march 5 . </t> <t> when confronted by officers , kipp said : ` it was his property and he could do it if he wanted ' </t>

utah man charged for sunbathing nude in his yard<T>

while opposition leader bill shorten continues to criticise the abbott government 's policies , he was unable to reveal how his party plans on dealing with australia 's economic challenges . mr shorten declined to go into specifics , in an interview on wednesday night with leigh sales on abc 's 7.30 program , saying he could n't provide ' a three-word slogan ' just yet . despite this , he reiterated his one solution for the nation as : ` go for growth ' but failed to further elaborate . although he admits there is an ` appetite ' among australians to hear some of labor 's policies , he was adamant they were not going to be unveiled until 2015 . he further agreed with sales when she said the ` jury 's still out ' on him and his policies , saying ` if there was an election next saturday , then you might be right ' . scroll down for video . bill shorten admits there is an ` appetite ' among australians to hear some of labor 's policies but was adamant that they were not going to be unveiled until 2015 . mr shorten was quick to address the current government 's wrongdoings , saying its budget has problems . but when sales questioned how the opposition leader planned on addressing some of these issue , he did not express any specifics . ' i just ca n't give you a three-word slogan , ' he told sales . ` in good time before the next election , we 'll detail all of our policies . i know you 're not going to be particularly surprised if i do n't reveal our full election manifesto tonight . ' while opposition leader bill shorten -lrb- left -rrb- continues to criticise the policies of the current government - run by prime minister tony abbott -lrb- right -rrb- - he was unable to reveal how his party plans on dealing with australia 's economic challenges . when sales put it to mr shorten this may cause uncertainty among australians on their alternative prime minister , he responded : . ` well our challenge - if there was an election next saturday , then you might be right , but there is n't . i would like there to be an election sooner than three years . i do n't think this country can afford three years of tony abbott . ' he continued to say his party is working hard on its policies which will be announced throughout 2015 .<doc-sep>by . sarah dean . and aap . tony abbott 's perceived strong response to the malaysia airlines disaster has seen him achieve a ratings boost equal to any since the election campaign . but labor is still the most popular party and rival bill shorten has also received a boost in support from voters for the bipartisanship he has shown in standing with the prime minister in the aftermath of the mh17 tragedy . prime minister abbott 's 12-point jump in net voter satisfaction is his best result in three months , according to the latest newspoll published by the australian . scroll down for video . tony abbott 's perceived strong response to the malaysia airlines disaster has seen him achieve a ratings boost . the rise in support for the prime minister more than reverses the popularity setback he copped after the delivery of his widely criticised may budget , which saw thousands of people march in capital cities around australia in protest that it was ` unfair ' . the boost lifts mr abbott to equal billing with opposition leader mr shorten as the nation 's preferred leader after 12 weeks on the outer . mr abbott and mr shorten have put their usual fights aside during the handling of the mh17 tragedy which killed 298 people , including 37 australians . opposition leader bill shorten supported mr abbott while delivering a statement on the mh17 malaysia airlines plane crash . prime minister tony abbott spoke to opposition leader bill shorten after delivering a statement on the mh17 tragedy . mr shorten has echoed the prime minister by saying : ` we must see the victims identified , the bodies returned , the police investigation undertaken and those responsible brought to book ' . ` if we ever in australia thought that australia was a small country far away without a place in global affairs , this illusion has been dispelled . ' while the support for the leaders has risen , the poll also shows there has been almost no change in the standing of the parties in the past fortnight , with the coalition and labor both recording a primary vote of 36 per cent . the poll shows voters approve of the performance and leadership shown by both mr abbott and opposition leader bill shorten in the aftermath of the mh17 tragedy . the greens hold 12 per cent and the palmer united party and the independents sit at 16 per cent . in the two-party-preferred stakes , labor still enjoys a lead of 54 per cent to 46 per cent . mr abbott 's satisfaction rating has risen five points to 36 per cent while dissatisfaction with him has fallen seven points to 53 per cent . newpoll was taken by 1157 people to assess how recent events may have impacted the politician 's popularity but the next election will probably not be held until april 2016 .<doc-sep>in contrast of the prime ministers words , a number of people attended the event to protest some of the government 's policies , including its treatment of refugees . ` they should have been protesting when 1200 people died at sea under the previous government 's policies . ` that was a disaster and we do n't intend to have that happen under our watch . ' mr abbott also admitted at the conference , that it had been an ` interesting week ' in the senate , after the palmer united party 's last minute antics put the kibosh on the government 's plans to repeal the carbon tax by thursday . but instead on focusing on pup leader clive palmer 's involvement , he pointed to labor 's reluctance to to rid australia of the tax . ` sure mr palmer has three senators , but mr shorten has 25 , ' mr abbott said . ` and we know that mr palmer will change his mind by monday , but bill shorten will still be there come monday , come tuesday , come next week , come next month , come next year , supporting putting your power prices up . smiling every time your power bill increases . ' sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>uncommitted -lrb- -2 -rrb- 22 % . two-party preferred . labor -lrb- -2 -rrb- 52 % . coalition -lrb- +2 -rrb- 48 % . while there has been some dissatisfaction with the government 's new metadata laws , this seems to be tempered by its back-flip in watering down the racial discrimination act . the poll indicates the prime minister 's focus on international affairs is the main reason behind him taking back the lead as preferred prime minister over opposition leader bill shorten . it also shows his standing as preferred pm has improved by six points since june , while mr shorten 's has fallen by eight , a 14 point turnaround in favour of the pm . however , his dissatisfaction rating has also climbed , up one point to 54 % . the coalition 's primary vote has risen four points to 40 % in the past fortnight but is still 5.6 points lower than its election-winning result of 45.6 % . labor 's primary vote dropped for the second consecutive poll and is down two points to a three-month low of 34 . tony abbott with his dutch counterpart mark rutte . mr abbott has enjoyed increased voter support back in australia as he visits the netherlands , to discuss repatriation of the australian victims of malaysia airlines mh17 disaster . opposition leader bill shorten pictured with his wife chloe bryce . the alp leader has lost ground on tony abbott in the preferred prime minister stakes in the latest newspoll . in two-party-preferred terms , labor continues to lead , 52 to 48 , that 's a 5.5 % swing to the alp since the election . the greens gained one point to 13 , while independents and other parties dropped from 16 to 13 .<doc-sep>tasmanian senator lisa singh wiped away tears as mr faulkner shared stories of whitlam 's political career . labor mp kate ellis was visibly upset as her colleagues remembered gough whitlam as a friend and mentor . mr faulkner spoke of his first election campaign back when whitlam swept to power . ` my first election campaign as a very active young party member was in 1972 when 23 years of conservative government was swept away and of course `` it 's time '' became part of our language , ' he said . ' i will never forget the excitement and the enthusiasm of that election and neither will so many others who ... knew that the surging tide of labor support was not only about a change of government but about changing the country for the better . ' labor leader bill shorten told the caucus on tuesday that whitlam had maintained a ` certain grandeur ' to the end . ` gough 's was a truly australian life and a life lived truly for australia - be it in uniform , or in parliament , in the prime ministership and around the world , ' he said . ` gough did not just want to serve our nation , he wanted to transform it utterly and permanently and he most certainly did . ' labor leader bill shorten told the caucus on tuesday that whitlam maintained a ` certain grandeur ' to the end . bill shorten and john faulkner agreed whitlam was an ambitious force for australia . whitlam , who was a caucus member for 26 years , re-imagined australia as a ` prosperous , modern , multicultural nation where opportunity belonged to everyone ' . despite the sacking of his government in 1975 , the former prime minister did not carry an ` anvil of hatred ' . ` in defending tolerance and defending democracy , whitlam defined his character and his values and our nation 's , ' mr shorten said . reflecting on the famous ` it 's time ' election campaign , mr shorten said it was always time for being more generous and inclusive . ` it 's always time for courage and leadership to create and seize opportunity . ' the caucus passed a resolution marking the life of the former prime minister and stood for a minute 's silence .

<t> opposition leader bill shorten was unable to reveal how his party was going to deal with australia 's economic challenges . </t> <t> he told leigh sales on abc 's 7.30 program he will unveil his party 's policies next year . </t> <t> mr shorten was quick to criticise the abbott government 's wrongdoings . </t>

bill shorten agrees that ` the jury 's still out ' on him as he fails to answer questions on labor 's policies for the next election<T>

floyd mayweather , who earns over # 60million per year , has been named as the highest-paid athlete by american business magazine forbes . the unbeaten american boxer , who has recently showed off his wealth in a series of posts on twitter , is the world 's richest sports star having earned # 66m in 2014 following fights against canelo alvarez and marcos maidana . real madrid star gareth bale , signed by the european giants in the summer of 2013 , is the highest-earning brit in the list following his # 80m switch to the spanish capital . unbeaten american boxer floyd mayweather has been named the highest-paid athlete by forbes . mayweather has recently showed off his wealth on social media having earned over # 60million from two fights . real madrid star gareth bale , pictured against liverpool on tuesday , is the highest-earning brit on the list . superstar cristiano ronaldo , bale 's real madrid team-mate , is second on the list having earned over # 50m . ronaldo , one of the world 's biggest sporting names , made over # 17m from endorsements alone . f1 star lewis hamilton is the top-earning englishman in the list in nineteenth place with earnings of # 20m . however , only three women are named on forbes ' top 100 list and all three are tennis stars .<doc-sep>maria sharapova is 34th with earnings of just over # 15m , li na - who was forced to retire through injury in september - is 41st with earnings of # 14.8 million while world no 1 serena williams earned # 13.85 million in 2014 and is 55th in the table . serena williams and maria sharapova , pictured with mayweather , are two of three women in the top 100 . superstar cristiano ronaldo - bale 's team-mate at the bernabeu - is second on the list having raked in just over # 50million after his champions league success last term . the portugal international 's endorsements with nike , samsung and toyota , amongst others , reportedly earned the 29-year-old # 17million this year . barcelona talisman lionel messi is fourth . tiger woods and roger federer , two of this century 's biggest sporting names , have made the vast majority of their money this year through endorsements , not winnings . golf star tiger woods and tenbnis champion roger federer made most of their money from endorsements . basketball stars lebron james and kobe bryant are third and fifth in the list respectively whilst nfl star matt ryan , rafael nadal and phil mickelson complete the top ten . fifteen football stars feature on the list , including zlatan ibrahimovic , neymar and manchester united pair wayne rooney and radamel falcao . luis suarez , who joined barcelona in the summer , was named the 100th highest-paid athlete following a stellar season for liverpool as the frontman 's goals helped the reds finish second in the premier league and earned him the football writers ' association 's player of the year award .<doc-sep>not known for his modesty , five-division world champion floyd mayweather has posted a video on the internet flaunting his wealth . the short clip , which was uploaded to his instagram account , shows piles of $ 100 bills covering a table in the centre of the room . the undefeated champion , meanwhile , can be seen sitting back playing with his phone while wearing a cap that says ' $ 1m ' . floyd mayweather posted a video of him showing off his money on his instagram account . mayweather was recently revealed to be the highest paid athlete in the world on the latest forbes list . earning over # 66m last year , mayweather beat stars such as cristiano ronaldo -lrb- # 50m -rrb- and lebron james -lrb- # 45m -rrb- to top the list . even more remarkably , the american boxer earned that sum from just two fights and no endorsements . mayweather was the only representative of his profession in the top 10 and the only member of the list to have received the entirety of his earnings from his winnings and non-sponsorship salary . it is approximately the 842nd time he has posted a picture of cash on instagram -lrb- ok , maybe a bit of exaggeration -rrb- . unbeaten american boxer mayweather was been named the highest-paid athlete by forbes magazine . mayweather has recently showed off his wealth on social media having earned over # 60million from two fights .<doc-sep>another day in the life of floyd mayweather and that means another opportunity to show everyone just how wealthy he really is . after uploading a photo of stacks of $ 100 bills covering his table on his instagram account on friday , the undefeated boxing champion went one better on saturday by revealing his latest purchase - a gold bentley golf cart . but what was more surprising was the recipient of the bentley - his 15-year-old son koraun ! floyd mayweather poses for a photo with his son koraun on his birthday in his new gold bentley golf cart . unbeaten american boxer mayweather was been named the highest-paid athlete by forbes magazine . mayweather has recently showed off his wealth on social media having earned over # 60million from two fights . mayweather is all smiles as he watches the san antonio spurs match against the los angeles lakers on friday alongside friend fabolous . the pair posed for a photo in the golf cart with mayweather posting the picture on instagram attached with the message : ` my son @kingkoraun wanted a bentley golf cart for his 15th birthday so i made it appear . stay on the look out for his gift for his 16th birthday ! ' while most teenagers dream of hitting the road in expensive sports cars , mayweather is more than prepared to make this a realty as early as possible for koraun - just as soon as he reaches the legal age to drive in america . when your dad 's nickname is ` money ' though - and is the highest paid athlete in the world - it 's probably just to be expected .<doc-sep>floyd mayweather jnr has been named the world 's highest-paid athlete in 2013 by forbes magazine . the pound-for-pound no 1 , who has won all 46 of his fights as a professional , made $ 105million -lrb- # 62.5 m -rrb- for his last two fights , against saul ` canelo ' alvarez and marcos maidana . mayweather , 37 , beat cristiano ronaldo to top spot with basketball star lebron james in third . scroll down for top 10 list . flash : floyd mayweather jnr , in his # 1.8 m bugatti veyron , leaves the nba basketball finals game in miami . mayweather also topped the list in 2013 with $ 85m -lrb- # 51m -rrb- , ousting tiger woods who been no 1 for the previous decade . ` i 'm humbled and extremely fortunate to be recognized by forbes as the highest-paid athlete once again , ' said mayweather . ` i 'm doing something that no other athlete is doing , promoting myself and seeing my hard work pay off in the form of record-breaking numbers . it 's all about hard work and dedication which is so important and a key part of my financial success . ` i 'm grateful for my family , team and fans . being able to take care of my family is my number one priority and the level of success that i 've achieved allows me to give them the best . i look forward to stepping into the ring in september and doing what i do best . ' mayweather will return to the ring on september 13 , possibly in a rematch with maidana who ran him close in las vegas last month . the five-weight world champion has banked at least $ 25m -lrb- # 15m -rrb- for his last nine fights since he beat oscar de la hoya in the most-watched boxing fight in history in 2007 . flush : mayweather jnr flashes the cash as he leaves the nba basketball finals . glamour : mayweather jnr and female friend at the nba basketball finals game in miami . champion : mayweather jr , with pop star justin bieber , celebrates victory over canelo alvarez . lucrative : mayweather jr made $ 105m from his fights against saul ` canelo ' alvarez and marcos maidana . he has earned almost $ 400m -lrb- # 238m -rrb- since turning professional in 1996 and is the second athlete to earn more than $ 100m -lrb- # 59m -rrb- in a year , after woods . mayweather did so by spending just 72 minutes in the ring over two fights . meanwhile , real madrid star ronaldo leads a group of 15 footballers in the top 100 . his endorsements with the likes of nike and samsung total $ 28m -lrb- # 17m -rrb- . miami heat 's james is the nba 's biggest endorsement star thanks to deals with nike , mcdonalds and coca cola .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- `` unbelievable '' and an `` explosion '' is how floyd mayweather is selling his tangle with saul ` canelo ' alvarez in las vegas . whether mayweather 's ambitious billing of the bout will transpire remains to be seen , but what is not in doubt is the fight will generate the biggest purse in boxing history -- $ 41.5 million for mayweather , already one of the world 's highest-paid athletes . the man regularly described as the best pound-for-pound fighter will earn even more cash saturday in the sport 's showbiz home by claiming a share of pay-per-view takings . `` this fight is truly unbelievable , '' mayweather , who briefly unseated tiger woods as forbes ' best-paid athlete , in 2012 , told cnn . `` man , this is all excitement . canelo is young , strong , dedicated to his craft . i 'm a legend in the sport . `` canelo wants that no. 1 spot . myself , i want to remain at the top . so it 'll be an explosion . '' alvarez , promoted by one of mayweather 's past arch-rivals , oscar de la hoya , is the latest challenger to attempt to end the 36-year-old 's unblemished record . de la hoya wo n't be at the mgm grand supporting his charge , though , having entered rehab this week . following mayweather 's defeat of robert guerrero in may -- the former 's first fight after spending two months in jail in connection with an incident of domestic violence -- he improved to 44-0 . de la hoya , ricky hatton , arturo gatti and miguel cotto are among those who have been unable to down the technically proficient american , while a mayweather-manny pacquiao blockbuster has yet to materialize . but alvarez comes in undefeated , too , compiling a record of 42 victories and a draw .

<t> cristiano ronaldo and lionel messi make the top five highest-paid athletes in latest forbes list . </t> <t> gareth bale is the leading brit while lewis hamilton is the highest-paid englishman in nineteenth place . </t> <t> fifteen footballers are named including luis suarez and wayne rooney . </t> <t> only three women - tennis stars maria sharapova , serena wiliams and li na - make the top 100 . </t>

floyd mayweather the highest-paid athlete in latest forbes list while gareth bale is the leading brit ... but only three women make top 100<T>

the winner of the miss world pageant has addressed the historic oxford union debating chamber to tearfully clarify that beauty queens can not save the planet . megan young , who was crowned miss world 2013 , became tearful as she addressed some of the sharpest minds in student academics to defend pageants against critics of the industry who say they demean women . she told the prestigious union , which has hosted nelson mandela , albert einstein , mother teresa , and the dalai lama : ` people are saying you 're miss world you should save the world , and to be honest , we ca n't really save the world as a whole , we 're doing it part by part . we 're not superman . we 're human too . megan young -lrb- pictured -rrb- , who was crowned miss world 2013 , became tearful as she addressed some of the sharpest minds in student academics to defend pageants against critics of the industry at the oxford union . she addressed the historic oxford union debating chamber to say that it was hard , but that beauty queens can not save the planet . ms young , who was crowned when she represented the country of her mother 's birth , the philippines , was helped at the debate by competitors for the miss world 2014 title - including miss england , carina tyrrell , who is a final year medicine student at cambridge university . before the discussion , tyrrell defended the competition from criticism that women are judged more on their looks rather than their brains . ` you are surrounded by women who represent their countries . these are role models , they are role models to young women and role models to society . ' before she spoke to the crowd , miss young and this year 's contestants were given a tour of the university 's centuries-old buildings , where some of the world 's most celebrated scientists , writers and academic minds have studied .<doc-sep>miss young and this year 's contestants were given a tour of the university 's centuries-old buildings , where some of the world 's most celebrated scientists , writers and academic minds have studied . miss young was helped at the debate by competitors for the miss world 2014 title - including miss england , carina tyrrell -lrb- pictured -rrb- , who is a final year medicine student at cambridge university . tyrrell defended the competition from criticism that women are judged more on their looks rather than their brains . ' you are surrounded by women who represent their countries . these are role models ' but miss young admitted she was feeling nervous about her speech in the chambers . ` i 'm a bit nervous , of course we 're in the oxford university and we 'll be with the oxford union , so for me to just step into this campus and be in this area where very famous people -rrb- have been , it 's an honour and i 'm just very excited and nervous at the same time . ' once the tour was finished miss young and the miss world contestants made their way to the oxford union , where they were also joined by the 1953 winner denise perrier . miss south africa and miss united states then delivered speeches before a busy union . once the tour was finished miss young and the miss world contestants made their way to the oxford union , to field questions . after the speeches the miss world contestants and students left the union . but some were left feeling flat by the level of debate .<doc-sep>` miss world allows women the chance to represent their countries . it allows us the chance to lead . miss world is not a celebrity , she is an ambassador . she tells women all around the world again that it 's okay to have an opinion . she makes changes happen . she identifies problems and she finds solutions . she changes the world , ' said miss united states , elizabeth safrit . the contestants then fielded questions from students and miss young became quite emotional as she recalled what the hardest part of being miss world has been . ` and what ... it hurts really , it really does hurt and sometimes you just ca n't help but cry . i 'm sorry i 'm getting really emotional because you know i 've been through so many countries and it 's just so difficult seeing them in this position and you know people are saying you 're miss world you should save the world , and to be honest , we ca n't really save the world as a whole , we 're doing it part by part . we 're not superman . we 're human too . ' getting some tips : this year 's contestants meet the current miss world as the competition returns to london . after the debate the miss world contestants and students left the union . but some were left feeling flat by the level of debate . oxford university student , kate welsh , said : ' i was a bit disappointed that it did n't have more of a debate , was n't formed throughout the evening , perhaps , on the kind of moral issues behind having what 's still fundamentally a beauty pageant . ` and having women from such privileged backgrounds being supposedly representative of their countries , ' said ` all of us here just came to prove that it 's a lot more than just pretty faces behind us . whether it 's a story or here for a reason , for a personal reason . '<doc-sep>by . simon tomlinson . published : . 05:39 est , 4 may 2012 . | . updated : . 09:42 est , 4 may 2012 . rapped : madeline grant -lrb- pictured -rrb- has been find # 120 for bringing oxford university 's union into disrepute after sparking a sexism row by boasting about her breasts during her election campaign for the post of librarian . an oxford university student who boasted about her ` great ' breasts in a bid to win votes in an election has been fined # 120 for bringing its prestigious union into ` disrepute ' . former model madeline grant was campaigning for the post of union librarian when she sparked a sexism row by making references to her cleavage in her manifesto . the 19-year-old , who is reading english literature and languages at st hilda 's college , declared in her campaign posters : ' i do n't hack , i just have a great rack . ' her comments triggered howls of protest about her ` sexist ' attempt to sway votes . isabel ernst , president of the union , said miss grant had been fined # 120 for bringing the union into ` disrepute ' by speaking out in the national press . miss grant defended her election campaign in the daily mail in march by claiming that the offending remark had been a satirical joke to liven up the historic debating society 's notoriously ruthless elections . she said she altered her manifesto the next day to remove it , but the draft version was formally displayed in the union for a day and was picked up and published by the student newspaper cherwell . a spokeswoman for the union said : ` miss grant spoke to the national press while on the committee without permission from the president , which is against union rules . ' she said miss grant had been a member of the standing committee , but lost her seat after what turned out to be an unsuccessful bid for the higher position of union librarian . the spokeswoman confirmed miss grant has since resigned from the union . the oxford union was founded in 1823 and is one of the oldest debating societies in the world , with membership costing # 200 for life . past presidents include william gladstone , william hague , boris johnson and michael heseltine -- and everyone from albert einstein to michael jackson has appeared there . breached protocol : according to the union , the 19-year-old former model -lrb- pictured -rrb- broke the rules by speaking to the national press while a member of the committee without seeking prior permission from the president . backing : her mother , bbc presenter and former world champion in real tennis , sally jones , has been supportive of her daughter 's plight , saying she was ` very much a feminist ' miss grant , the daughter of a . property developer , won a place at oxford while attending # 10,000-a-year . king edward vi high school for girls in birmingham . she . is in her second year studying at st hilda 's college , founded in 1893 . as a hall for women , although it has also admitted men since 2008 . in her manifesto , rather than dwelling on weighty suggestions for running the library , her policies included being committed to helping members ` pull ' , or find a sexual partner , as well as the claim that she once had ` a hug 'n' kiss from johnny depp ' and had dated ` a shady japanese businessman ' to gain sponsorship for a ball held at the union . a union member said at the time : ` while this manifesto is clearly meant to be humorous , it shows a distinct lack of judgment . ` it is deeply saddening to see women objectifying themselves in manifestos . ' prestigious : the oxford union -lrb- above -rrb- was founded in 1823 and is one of the oldest debating societies in the world . past presidents include william gladstone , william hague and boris johnson . speaking to the daily mail in march , . she said : ' i thought my statement was really funny when i wrote it . i . wanted to do something provocative . ' i . wrote it in a hurry , i did it last-minute in a couple of days . but as . soon as i handed it in , i realised it might be offensive to some people , . so i rewrote it . the idea that i 'm an anti-feminist is rubbish . ' she said her manifesto was changed by replacing the ` rack ' comment with : ` i 'm just here for the craic ' , as in the irish expression for fun . miss grant 's parents , who live in a # 460,000 sprawling detached farmhouse in ashorne , warwickshire , have been supportive of their daughter . her father , john grant , 71 , is a retired civil engineer who has sat on the boards of numerous construction firms and property companies in warwickshire . her mother , sally jones , 57 , is a bbc journalist and former world champion in real tennis , the forerunner of lawn tennis . she said madeline was ` very much a feminist ' . two years ago , her mother wrote an article for the daily mail about madeline 's experience as a would-be fashion model . aged 16 , she modelled for a couple of designers at london fashion week . but a year later , after her concerned mother had encouraged her to eat more , she was told her 9st frame was too large for modelling -- despite being 5ft 11in tall .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 10:22 est , 8 august 2012 . | . updated : . 12:26 est , 8 august 2012 . when kellie wells crossed the finish line of the 100m hurdle olympic event yesterday , she won more than the bronze . miss wells finally accomplished what she set out to do when she was just a teenager who turned to the track to find herself and overcome the tragedies that befell her . as a high school sophomore , she left home after her mother 's fiancée raped her - a difficult decision for anyone - but it was compounded by a horrific accident a month later in which both jeanette wells and richard gomes were killed . she has used her position in the world . of sports to promote empowerment for survivors of abuse , saying . confidently ' i always tell people you do n't have to be a victim . ' scroll down for video . finish : when kellie wells crossed the finish line of the 100m hurdle olympic event yesterday , she won more than the bronze . journey : miss wells finally accomplished what she set out to do when she was just a teenager and turned to the track to find herself and overcome the tragedies that befell her . triumph : as a high school sophomore , she left home after her mother 's fiancee raped her - a difficult decision for anyone - but it was compounded by a horrific accident a month later in which both jeanette wells and richard gomes were killed . miss wells began her olympic career as a gangly younger girl chasing her older sister tonni in her family 's richmond , virginia , neighborhood . she fell in love with track , using the long practices and intense workouts as an escape from her abusive stepfather , according to espn . her talent and determination were the perfect mix and she began competing fiercely , though tragedy was not far behind . in an interview with nbc , she spoke of the abuse she suffered at the hands of mr gomes . power : she has used her position in the world of sports to promote empowerment for survivors of abuse , saying confidently ' i always tell people you do n't have to be a victim ' childhood : miss wells began her olympic career as a gangly younger girl chasing her older sister tonni in her family 's richmond , virginia , neighborhood . strength : she fell in love with track , using the long practices and intense workouts as an escape from her abusive stepfather . family : when she was 16 , she says those abuses escalated to rape . miss wells , right , turned to her mother , left , but was met with silence . she said that he would become increasingly intimate with her , demanding that she stay by his side at all times and would insist she be disrobed when receiving a punishment from him . when she was 16 , she says those abuses escalated to rape . she turned to her mother , but was met with silence . she moved into a friend 's home for her safety . a month later both her mother and her rapist were killed in a crash . ' i know my story is very common to a lot of people , and it 's swept under the rug a lot , ' she said to the telegraph . ` if i can help at least one person and show you do n't have to be a product of your environment , you do n't have to keep secrets , and you do n't have to hide , that would be amazing . ' strength : she moved into a friend 's home for her safety . a month later both her mother and her rapist were killed in a crash . trial : she remained very private about her personal life until 2008 . while attempting to qualify for the olympics in beijing , she was injured and sidelined from competing . miss wells used the time to reflect . the star athlete struggled to cope with the horrific loss and again turned to track to make something positive out of such an unimaginable circumstance . ' i could go on for hours about the things i wish with her and what could have been different . but ... if things would have turned out different , i wonder would i be here , ' she wrote on her blog . ' i wonder would i be in this position to inspire so many people and to try to help so many women and young girls fight against the rage ... the rage that may be inside them and the rage that comes from someone else . ' will : she wrote an impassioned post on her blog and took control of her history . center stage : australia 's sally pearson , left , kellie wells , center , and compatriot dawn harper , right , wait for their times after finishing the women 's 100m hurdles final during the london 2012 olympic games . celebration : kellie wells celebrates at the end of the the women 's 100m hurdles final at the athletics event during the london 2012 . she remained very private about her personal life until 2008 . while attempting to qualify for the 2008 olympics in beijing , she was injured and sidelined from competing for the year as well as for most of the 2009 season . miss wells used the time to reflect on everything that had happened . ` people do n't listen to the girl in . fifth or sixth place who is not making teams . they listen to the person . who is successful , and if i 'm successful it means i can share my story . with girls and boys and women who will look up to me . ` kellie wells . ` when i could n't run , i had to figure out another way to deal with it , ' she told nbc . she wrote an impassioned post on her blog and took control of her history . ' i am not my past , ' she said . ` people do n't listen to the girl in fifth or sixth place who is not making teams . they listen to the person who is successful , and if i 'm successful it means i can share my story with girls and boys and women who will look up to me . ' the joy of taking home a medal yesterday overwhelmed the gracious athlete . ' i have n't slept . and i ca n't . i 'm still floating ! ' she tweeted . ' i did it . i got medal . omgg ! ' she finished third behind compatriot dawn harper and sally pearson .<doc-sep>by . martin robinson . published : . 11:14 est , 18 april 2013 . | . updated : . 11:52 est , 18 april 2013 . case : rafal nowak is accused of murdering 23-year-old business analyst catherine wells-burr for her six-figure life insurance policy . a ` possessive ' polish factory worker accused of murdering his british girlfriend had tearfully begged her : ` do n't leave me ' in the months before he allegedly killed the 23-year-old , her father told a court today . rafal nowak , 31 , was frightened that catherine wells-burr would leave him before he smothered her at their home in chard , somerset , a jury heard . it is alleged nowak then left their home before his lover anna julia lagwinowicz , 32 , and her uncle tadevsz dmytryszyn , 38 , removed her body and burned it in a nearby field . the three polish nationals deny murdering bath spa business graduate in september last year . bristol crown court today heard evidence from her father philip wells-burr , who worked at the numatic factory in chard alongside his daughter and her partner . he described nowak , who has a wife and son in poland , as ` possessive ' and that the pole would bombard business analyst miss wells-burr with phone calls . catherine 's parents said they treated nowak ` like a son ' and allowed him to sleep ` at the end of their bed ' and comforted him after their daughter 's death , the court was told . in a statement given to police , mr wells-burr said : ' i felt he was quite possessive of her . she did n't get out with her old friends much . ` it was too much calling when she was supposed to be working . ' family : philip wells-burr , catherine 's father , arrives at bristol crown court to give evidence , accompanied by jayne wells-burr -lrb- centre -rrb- , catherine 's mother , and leanne wells-burr . mr wells-burr also recalled witnessing nowak cry when he thought miss wells-burr was going to leave him , months before her death . the witness said nowak had become upset when miss wells-burr had a heated telephone conversation with her mother , something that prompted the polish national to believe his partner was going to leave him . mr wells-burr said : ' i said to just leave them be -lrb- miss wells-burr and her mother -rrb- , let mother and daughter sort out their problems . ' he said he later saw nowak crying about the situation and told him to ` grow up ' . ` catherine was n't very happy , ' mr wells-burr said . ` that 's when he came downstairs all sorry , begging and saying : `` do n't leave me '' . ' the court heard how nowak 's former partner anna . lagwinowicz -lrb- left -rrb- and her uncle tadevsz dmytryszyn -lrb- right -rrb- dumped miss . well-burr 's body in a car which was then set on fire . the court heard a previous attempt to kill the 23-year-old bath spa university graduate on september 10 had to be cancelled at the last minute when miss wells-burr 's sleep was disturbed by a phone call from a wrong number . the court heard concern was raised for miss wells-burr -lrb- pictured -rrb- when she did not arrive at numatic international , where her parents , sister leanne and boyfriend nowak also worked . earlier that day , nowak and miss wells-burr had been for sunday lunch around at her father 's house . he told the court the pair had acted differently that day , they were n't their usual ` lovey dovey ' selves . prosecutors allege the trio created a fake trail of text messages with a ` mystery man ' , implying miss wells-burr was having an affair with an unidentified man who was responsible for her death . but police quickly identified clues allegedly pointing to nowak , the ` bitter ' and ` jealous ' lagwinowicz and her doting uncle . the court was told nowak was arrested soon after the investigation was launched , but went to stay with mr wells-burr when he was released on bail . asked whether nowak ` had ever mentioned catherine ' during the day he was with the grieving father , . mr wells-burr replied : ` not once . ' the court heard concern was raised . for miss wells-burr when she did not arrive at numatic international , . where her parents , sister leanne and boyfriend nowak also worked . richard . smith qc , prosecuting , said nowak initially told a colleague he had not . heard from miss wells-burr and stated she had received a text saying . ` if i ca n't have you nobody can ' from a mystery man . he . later recounted the text to her parents , phil and jayne , at the factory . as they gathered to work out where miss wells-burr was , while her . sister leanne went to their home in chard to look for her . mr . smith said : ` she was n't answering her phone , she had n't come in and her . car was n't there . nowak and catherine 's parents set off in a car to . -lsb- their home -rsb- and met leanne there . prosecutors allege nowak smothered miss wells-burr with a pillow as she lay sleeping in their new home in chard , somerset in september last year , bristol crown court -lrb- pictured -rrb- has heard . ` the police were contacted . she was nowhere to be found . as they waited the arrival of the police nowak spoke to jayne . ` he . said `` i lost my world , i have lost my future '' . it struck jayne as being . rather odd at the time because by that point catherine was missing . ' police . discovered miss wells-burr 's body in her red ford focus car a few hours . later and arrived to break the news to her parents . mr smith added : ` leanne and nowak waited in the kitchen . nowak remarked that he felt they were both suspects . ' officers arrested nowak later that day but released him due to his alibi and a lack of other evidence . mr smith added : ` he was released to spend the night with the parents of the girl that he had murdered . ` they welcomed him back and let him sleep at the end of their bed , worried about him . ' but he was later re-arrested and charged with her murder after officers uncovered the ` evil ' plan , mr smith said . the three defendants did not confess to their part in the killings when interviewed by police . nowak , of willow way , chard , lagwinowicz , of south street , taunton , and dmytryszyn , of holway avenue , taunton , deny murder . the trial continues . sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons .<doc-sep>she beat 120 international contestants each deemed to be not only the most beautiful in their home countries , but the best example of what it means to be a modern woman . so , who is rolene strauss - aka miss world 2014 - and is she really one of the world 's most eligible women ? this year 's crop which made it to the final in london - the city where the competition started 63 years ago - far from being the stereotypical ` dumb beauty queens ' , were pretty and polished . scroll down for video . winning : south african rolene strauss , 22 , was last night crowned miss world 2014 in a glittering ceremony in london . so who is rolene and what was it that ensured she cinched the crown ? the majority hold a university degree , as well as juggling a vast array of interests , hobbies and charity work . miss strauss - whose first runner up was miss hungary , edina kulcsar , and second runner up was miss united states , elizabeth safrit - is the perfect example of that . miss south africa , 22-year-old rolene strauss , was crowned miss world 2014 at the contest 's glitzy final in london on sunday , with an estimated billion viewers watching on tv around the globe . medical student strauss clasped her hands together in surprise and was crowned by the outgoing miss world , megan young of the philippines , to huge cheers in the excel exhibition centre . talented : medical student strauss was crowned by the outgoing miss world , megan young of the philippines , to huge cheers in the excel exhibition centre . she pipped her fellow contestants to clinch first place in an action-packed three weeks that included a sports , top model and beach fashion competition , a talent contest , beauty with a purpose round and a debate at the oxford union . rolene 's principle passion is medicine . the beauty queen is a fourth year medical student and science is clearly in her blood . her parents are a doctor and nurse , and in a pre-taped interview for the pageant , rolene said that becoming miss south africa and miss world and studying medicine were her ` childhood dreams ' . ` everyone in my town called me little dr strauss , ' she said . ` because i was always the little curly-headed girl running around behind my dad in the hospital . ` i 'm a test tube baby and i believe my passion for health was born with me , ' she added .

<t> miss world megan young , tearfully told union she could n't save the world . </t> <t> some of the sharpest minds in student academics watched her defend pageants against critics of the industry who say they demean women . </t> <t> the prestigious debating chamber has hosted nelson mandela , albert einstein , mother teresa , and the dalai lama . </t>

miss world at the oxford union but wells up as she admits she ca n't save the world<T>

if this technology firm 's office is anything to go by , workplaces of the future will be cleaner and greener . decos ' headquarters in the netherlands looks like something from a sci-fi film and is entirely paperless - even down to the toilets . energy is supplied by nearby wind farms , its fleet consists of dozens of electric vehicles and employees use apps and ` shower toilets ' . the office -lrb- pictured -rrb- was built for noordwijk-based technology firm decos by inbo architects . decos said it is so committed to environmentally sustainability it has removed all paper from its office - even toilet roll . the building was designed by inbo architects . decos said it is so committed to environmentally sustainability that it has removed all paper from its office . the minutes for meetings are taken and organised using decos ' own minute app , available for free from the apple app store . shower toilets are a cross between a traditional toilet and a bidet . they are fitted with an integrated nozzle in the basin of a traditional-looking toilet . the shower function is started by pressing a button on the side of the basin . the nozzle extends and sprays warm water .<doc-sep>a dryer function is then used to remove the water . decos has installed aqua clean shower toilets from german-based gerberit . all contracts are signed using e-signatures and documents are never printed . business cards are banned , and any post is returned as decos demands only digital communication . even toilet paper and tissues are forbidden . instead , its 60 employees use geberit aqua clean ` shower toilets ' . shower toilets are a cross between a traditional toilet and a bidet . an integrated shower function is started by pressing a button , and a nozzle extends that sprays warm water . a dryer function is then used to remove the water . energy for the building is supplied using a nearby wind turbine park , and all new company cars are electric or hybrid . the building covers 29,900 square feet -lrb- 2,500 square metres -rrb- and cost $ 2.84 million -lrb- # 2.2 million -rrb- to complete .<doc-sep>instead , decos 60 employees use geberit aqua clean ` shower toilets ' -lrb- pictured -rrb- . an integrated shower function is started by pressing a button , and a nozzle extends that sprays warm water . a dryer function is then used to remove the water . its futuristic design was inspired by star wars -lrb- a sandcrawler is pictured -rrb- , and is said to have been designed to resemble a ` meteorite in an alien moon landscape ' the company 's paperless commitment means it saves more than 16 trees per year -- equivalent to a tonne of paper . the company is now turning its attention to building robots , developing machine learning products , and launching new collaboration tools to help other companies digitalise and go paperless . ` the building is designed as a meteorite in an alien moon landscape , as a symbol for our creativity and innovative strength , ' said the firm . ` -lsb- it has -rsb- slanting walls , because we do not need cabinets . we work at flex-stations in open office gardens with glass partitions . ' the company 's paperless commitment means that decos saves more than 16 trees per year - equivalent to a tonne of paper . the company is now turning its attention to building robots , developing machine learning products , and launching new collaboration tools to help other companies digitalise and go paperless . ` we do n't miss paper at all , ' minute managing director roel noort said . ` not only have we implemented technology services that replace all need for paper , but , in doing so , we 've actually increased the efficiency , organisation , and sustainability of our company . ' energy for the building is supplied using a nearby wind turbine park , and all new company cars are electric or hybrid . the building covers 29,900 square feet -lrb- 2,500 square metres -rrb- and cost $ 2.84 million -lrb- # 2.2 million -rrb- . the building has slanting walls , because the firm said it does n't need cabinets , and employees work at flex-stations in open office gardens with glass partitions -lrb- pictured -rrb- .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- while it 's a form of transport few of us see , shipping packs a punch as a polluter . according to a recent study , shipping accounts for around 3 % of global co2 emissions . not surprising when you consider that the engines of the world 's estimated 90,000 cargo ships are in use 24 hours a day while traveling . futuristic concepts for container ships powered by alternative energy range from windmill-powered propellers to banks of vertical metal sails . even though most are still on the drawing board , one concept is starting to be viewed seriously by the shipping industry . airfoil design . called the `` vindskip , '' the norwegian design uses the high sides of its container ships as sails , turning the whole vessel into a wind-assisted airfoil . designed by lade as , the oslo-based company says the hybrid merchant ship -- which would still have a liquefied natural gas-powered engine -- could achieve fuel savings of 60 % and reduce emissions by 80 % . it 's the brainchild of terje lade , who used his skills as a speed sailor to develop his aerodynamic design . he says the futuristic container ship works more like an airplane than a conventional sailing ship . he said : `` in the era of christopher columbus , for example , he would have used what became known as trade winds but his ship was quite different from the vindskip because he would have been sailing with the wind -- he could n't sail into the wind .<doc-sep>by . chris parsons . published : . 06:13 est , 21 august 2012 . | . updated : . 06:57 est , 21 august 2012 . with in-built wi-fi , a 3d television and its own weather station , it 's clear this beach hut is no ordinary seaside shed . infact , the makers of the futuristic wooden white dwelling claim it is britain 's most high-tech beach hut , thanks to a raft of devices which make it more technologically advanced than the average family home . the 10ft by 8ft hut in shoreham , west sussex , has been kitted out with 15 top-of-the-range gadgets . kitted out : the beach hut in shoreham has gadgets including a 3d tv , wind-powered lighting and its own weather station . best of the best : the futuristic hut features kit worth tens of thousands of pounds . i do like to be beside the seaside : sand lovers in this beach hut would barely need to go outside , such is the extent of technology inside .<doc-sep>an east pennsylvania high school has outlawed toilet paper from the boys bathrooms - forcing students to check it out of the school 's office as and when they need it . the new rule , intended to cut vandalism at the mahanoy area high school , has been criticized by some parents who say students are too embarrassed to publicly ask for tissue . one mother said she had heard of students leaving school claiming to be sick so they could go home and use the toilet there . toilet roll control : principal of mahanoy area high school has introduced a ban on tissue in the boys toilets in his school , pictured . instead male students need to register and collect paper from the school office . principal , thomas smith , defended the measure at a school meeting on thursday saying vandals had ` destroyed ' toilets over the years blocking them up with toilet paper and sometimes even books . ` we 've had serious destruction to our bathrooms for the past two years , ' mr smith said , according to the republican herald of potsville .<doc-sep>by . sarah griffiths . published : . 08:03 est , 2 september 2013 . | . updated : . 06:22 est , 6 september 2013 . mclaren , one of the uk 's automotive success stories , celebrates its 50th birthday today . the f1 company started life in a small suburban office but now employs some 2,000 workers based in its futuristic , multimillion pound factory , where f1 cars are built and tested , as well as mclaren 's road cars . engineers are currently finishing the first batch of the firm 's # 866,000 p1 supercars that are due to be delivered to lucky customers next year . the f1 company started life in a small suburban office but now employs some 2,000 workers based in its futuristic factory where road cars including the 12c -lrb- pictured -rrb- are built . mclaren 's technology centre houses some cutting-edge facilities including a wind tunnel -lrb- pictured -rrb- and formula one driving simulators . mclaren 's headquarters , which includes the f1 factory , was designed by architect sir norman foster and opened by the queen in 2004 . it houses some cutting-edge manufacturing facilities including its factory , wind tunnel , simulators , r&d centres for the f1 team as well as the top secret centre where the mclaren road cars are developed . in 1993 mclaren . automotive , launched the f1roadcar , which 20 years on , . it is still regarded by many as the greatest supercar of all time . more .

<t> the office was built for noordwijk-based technology firm decos . </t> <t> firm has removed all paper such as letters , files and even toilet roll . </t> <t> instead , employees use apps , digital signatures and ` shower toilets ' </t> <t> its futuristic design was inspired by structures in star wars . </t> <t> building is powered by energy from wind farms , and its fleet is electric . </t>

this futuristic decos office in noordwijk is powered by wind and has banned toilet paper<T>

sir alex ferguson was a keen spectator as the second day of the ryder cup got into full swing . the former football manager and proud scot cheered europe on as they looked to extend their 5-3 advantage over usa . sir alex , famous for his motivational abilities during 26 hugely successful years in charge of manchester united , was called in by europe captain paul mcginley to gee up his troops with an inspired pep talk .<doc-sep>sir alex ferguson -lrb- right -rrb- watches on during the morning fourballs at gleneagles . the former football manager gave an inspirational speech to europe 's players before the start of the ryder cup . in a more sombre setting sir alex ferguson -lrb- left -rrb- attended the funeral of sandy busby with sir bobby charlton .<doc-sep>world no. 1 rory mcilroy revealed the 72-year-old told the players how to deal with expectation and to embrace the favourites tag . sir alex showed up at gleneagles a day after attending the funeral of sandy busby , son of legendary former manchester united boss sir matt busby . the 76-year-old passed away on monday evening .<doc-sep>sandy busby claimed earlier this summer that his father would 've been delighted with the appointment of louis van gaal as manchester united manager . click here for more . a host of manchester united legends gathered for the funeral of sandy busby - the son of former old trafford manager sir matt - on friday . sir alex ferguson , bryan robson and steve bruce were among the mourners for the service held in chorlton , manchester as were united icons sir bobby charlton and denis law . tributes poured in for busby after the 76-year-old died suddenly at his home in hale barns on monday evening after a reported heart attack . sir alex ferguson and sir bobby charlton both attended the funeral of sandy busby in manchester on friday . sandy busby , son of former man united boss sir matt , passed away aged 76 on monday evening .<doc-sep>sir alex ferguson congratulated the victorious europe ryder cup team after paul mcginley 's side triumphed 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 at gleneagles . despite the us team threatening a comeback on day three on sunday , europe strolled to victory and retained the ryder cup . ferguson , the former manchester united manager who addressed the european team on tuesday evening with a motivational speech , hailed the achievement : ` i 've been excited all day put it that way . the fans were spectacular and they were great to the usa team . i think that 's special . ' europe ryder cup captain paul mcginley raises the ryder cup as the squad celebrates retaining their title . sir alex ferguson encourages world number one rory mcilroy before his first shot in the singles on sunday . mcginley shares his notes with sir alex ferguson as the pair discuss events on the final day of the ryder cup . ferguson has attended the whole week as gleneagles as captain paul mcginley recruited his expertise , and told the europe team on tuesday how to deal with expectation and embrace the favourites ' tag . regarding his speech ferguson said : ` it was just a general chat with them all i think i got more out of it than they did . it was great to be in their company . ' after europe 's triumph the scot added : ` the margins were so small . you have to say this was the most special type of golf you 'll see . ' sir alex ferguson has been at gleneagles all week enjoying the action as part of the europe team 's set up . sir alex ferguson met the european team ahead of the ryder cup and gave out a few words of advice .<doc-sep>by . derek lawrenson for the daily mail . apart from golf , perhaps the only other thing all 12 european players plus their captain paul mcginley have in common is a love of football . so you can imagine the reaction when sir alex ferguson walked into the team room at gleneagles last evening . it did n't matter , of course , that only two of them supported manchester united ; that rival clubs including liverpool , arsenal , real madrid and bayern munich all had their supporters . sir alex ferguson meets the european team ahead of the ryder cup in gleneagles starting on friday . the european team showed togetherness and high spirits as they gathered in a huddle after a photocall . lee westwood enjoys a moment to himself in his european gear ; the englishman made his debut in 1997 . it 's all fun and games at the first practice round as graeme mcdowell pulls the ears of martin kaymer . sir alex ferguson arrives at gleneagles ahead of giving a motivational speech to the european team . former united manager ferguson , a big golfing fan , will seek to get the european team geed up before friday .<doc-sep>tv presenter and united fan eamonn holmes added : ` sandy busby 's death so unexpected . thoughts to his lovely family . ' busby -lrb- right -rrb- , pictured with philip jackson at the ` believe ' premiere , passed away at his home in hale barns . sir matt busby -lrb- right -rrb- holds the european cup winners cup with sir alex ferguson back in 1991 . sandy busby , pictured in action against everton -lrb- right -rrb- , represented blackburn rovers as a player . sandy remained a keen supporter of the club and lent his full backing of new manager louis van gaal 's appointment this summer .

<t> keen golf fan sir alex ferguson attended day two of the ryder cup at gleneagles . </t> <t> europe captain paul mcginley asked the former manchester united boss to give a motivational pep talk earlier in the week . </t> <t> europe looking to build on their 5-3 lead over usa . </t> <t> his appearance comes a day after attending the funeral of sandy busby , son of legendary manchester united boss sir matt busby . </t>

sir alex ferguson enjoys ryder cup at gleneagles a day after attending sandy busby 's funeral<T>

hüseyin burak tuzer sees the sights everyday that holidaymakers usually only dream of , paragliding along the coast of ` paradise . ' the 28-year-old spends his days soaring in the skies above fethiye and oludeniz in turkey and photographing the spectacular views - now , bringing a few lucky tourists in tow . his ` true love ' has led him to a role at sky sports paragliding , the oldest paragliding school in the country . scroll down for video . paraglider hüseyin burak tuzer sees the sights from a vantage point that tourists have only dreamt about - until now that is ! hüseyin , who works with sky sports paragliding , takes adventurous tourists into the clouds to experience the turkish coast like never before . hüseyin said : ' i was six years old when i had my first tandem paragliding with my older brother , murat tuzer who was and still is a real role model for me . ` he has around a thousand free fall experiences . ` he has been a professional paraglider and instructor for more than twenty-five years . the 28-year-old spends his days soaring in the skies above fethiye and oludeniz in turkey and photographing the stunning views . huseyin was just six years old when he went on his first tandem-paragliding ride with his older brother . huseyin offers tourists the opportunity to take once in a lifetime selfies high above the mountain ranges and clear blue waters . ' i spent my childhood looking at his photographs of parachuting and paragliding . ' i did my first solo paragliding flight when i was sixteen . ` it 's a true love and passion for me . ' i spent my childhood looking at photographs of parachuting and paragliding , ' says huseyin of his inspiration . even on cloudy days , huseyin 's incredible photographs make fantastic keepsakes . huseyin encourages the tourists he takes up into the sky to take photos of anything they want - including their hands -lrb- right -rrb- . the photographs that huseyin has taken have been posted on social media and he has about 4,500 followers on instagram . ` my photography and flying is my calling , my profession . ' the photographs hüseyin has taken have been posted to social media and he has 4,500 followers on instagram . ` i 'm living through what i have always dreamt about , ' he added . ` i 'm living through what i have always dreamt about , ' the man says of his breathtaking lifestyle . with arms wide open ! visitors often spread their arms like an eagle when taking a sky-high snap . ' i do n't photograph subjects , ' huseyin insists . ' i photograph the way that they make me feel ' ' i do n't photograph subjects ; i photograph the way they make me feel . ' i have around four thousand tandem and solo paragliding flights . ` each and every single one i enjoyed to the end . ' loads of experience ! huseyin estimates that he has done about 4,000 tandem and solo paragliding flights in total . the best part of his unorthodox job ? ' i have made many friends from different countries all around the world , ' he says . he said : ` thanks to my tandem flights i have made many friends from different countries all around the world . ` in ölüdeniz-fethiye , turkey , it is doubtless one of the paradises on earth for both regular sea and sun lovers as well as paragliders . ' hüseyin flies every day for eight months and has a break during november and april , the winter months in turkey , but he prefers to spend his time travelling and exploring . he recently spent four months in nepal , where he flew over pokhara lakeside hundreds of times . turkey is a ` paradise on earth for both regular sea and sun lovers , as well as paragliders , ' he says . hüseyin flies every day for eight months and has a break during november and april . on his time off , he often travels himself . whether photographed at sunset -lrb- left -rrb- or mid-day -lrb- right -rrb- , the resulting photographs are simply stunning . ' i hope to become a source of inspiration for someone someday , ' huseyin says . ` only then i can consider that my mission is accomplished ' ` my latest adventure abroad was to travel to nepal , ' he said . ' i had spent four amazing months in nepal and flew over pokhara lakeside for more than 300 times . ' ` with the wind under my wings and the lenses of my camera , i am just hoping to become a source of inspiration for someone someday , ' hüseyin added . ` only then i can consider that my mission is accomplished . '<doc-sep>by . sophie jane evans . published : . 14:03 est , 19 january 2014 . | . updated : . 05:23 est , 20 january 2014 . these stunning photos show three explorers paragliding over some of pakistan 's most breathtaking landscapes . petar loncar , veselin ovcharov and francois ragolski spent six weeks soaring above the karakoram mountain range bordering pakistan , india and china . they can be seen paragliding at more than 20,000 ft over beautiful valleys , secluded villages and some of the world 's highest peaks . scroll down for video . breathtaking landscape : explorer petar loncar , 27 , from serbia , soars above the karakoram mountain range , which spans the borders between pakistan , india and china . stunning views : mr loncar and his fellow explorers veselin ovcharov and francois ragolski spent six weeks paragliding at more than 20,000 ft over the range . impressive feat : they can be seen flying over some of plant earth 's highest peaks , including k2 -lrb- the world 's second highest mountain -rrb- , masherbrum and rakaposhi .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- three suspected al qaeda terrorists arrested last week in spain appear to have been interested in targeting a gibraltar-area shopping mall in a strike that was likely intended to coincide with the london olympic games , an analyst says . police deduced this from the declaration of a paragliding instructor who had dealings with the group and the contents of a video they recovered from the suspects , according to fernando reinares , a senior international terrorism analyst who was briefed by spanish security services on the investigation . `` attacking in or near gibraltar during the olympic games apparently was for them a feasible alternative to what they , and their corresponding organizational leadership , perceived as a much more difficult operation , that of attempting an act of terrorism in london , '' reinares told cnn . while the planned execution date of their alleged plot is still not clear , any attack on or near british soil during the olympic games would have generated intense global publicity . video : preventing 7/7 style attack at olympics . spanish police believe that one of the targets of the alleged cell could have been a commercial complex named `` puerta de europa '' in algeciras , just across the strait of gibraltar from the british overseas territory , reinares told cnn . spanish security services suspect their plan may have been to attack the area around the british territory on the southernmost tip of spain from the air , reinares said . a paragliding instructor told police saturday that cengiz yalcin , the alleged cell 's turkish facilitator , asked to be able to take pictures of a gibraltar shopping mall `` at all cost , '' said reinares . spanish security suspect the cell was testing a remote-controlled plane as a potential bomber . spanish investigators found a video in which yalcin was flying a remote-controlled airplane , according to reinares . the footage showed the plane , which was about three meters long , being maneuvered into a descent . two packets were then seen dropping from either wing of the plane following his command . `` in the images he ca n't help expressing his joy for the successful try , '' reinares told cnn . `` terrorists innovate and adapt to security measures , we have to always keep this in mind , '' he added . read more : london 's olympic security headache . it is not the first time that terrorists have sought to use remote controlled aircraft in terrorist plots . in july , rezwan ferdaus , a massachusetts resident inspired by al qaeda 's ideology , pleaded guilty to a september 2011 plot to fly a remote-controlled plane into the pentagon and u.s. capitol with high explosives . two chechen-russians -- eldar magomedov , also known as ahmad avar , and muhammad adamov -- whom spanish security services suspect had been tasked with carrying out an attack , were arrested on a bus traveling toward france .<doc-sep>by . leon watson . published : . 06:53 est , 9 december 2013 . | . updated : . 07:19 est , 9 december 2013 . a photographer emerged smiling after being hit by a boulder while paragliding as she tried to get a perfect action shot of an extreme stunt . krystle wright , who has travelled the world in the pursuit of her dangerous stunts , suffered multiple injuries while taking pictures in pakistan . the 26-year-old , from queensland , australia , was left with internal bruising , tendon damage , two fractures , a torn ligament and 10 stitches above her eye following a nasty accident . daredevil photographer , krystle wright suffered multiple injuries while taking breath-taking extreme paragliding snaps . krystle wright took to the air on a dual paraglider and flew at a stomach-churning 18,000 feet to capture the awesome images . miss wright vows to return to pakistan to . complete the project and said that although she loved her job some . aspects of it were certainly dangerous . miss wright took to the air on a dual paraglider and flew at a stomach-churning 18,000 feet to capture the awesome images . due to the dizzying height she was hooked up to an oxygen bottle but just six days before the end of the trip she hit a bolder and blacked out following a bad take-off . she was carried down 600ft of sherpa trails before being stretchered across a makeshift bridge and enduring a seven hour car journey to the nearest hospital . despite this set back miss wright vows to return to pakistan to complete the project and said that although she loved her job some aspects of it were certainly dangerous . she said : ` when things are moving at a face pace , it 's amazing how the mind can work as adrenaline takes over and you do your best to deal with the situation at hand . ` the drive to the military hospital took roughly seven hours on some of the most roughest roads so every jolt in the road would cause me severe pain throughout my bruised body . the 26-year-old from queensland , australia , was left with internal bruising , tendon damage , two fractures , a torn ligament and 10 stitches above her eye . argentinian red bull pilot hernan pitocco on the ground after miss wright 's accident . miss wright was carried down 600ft of sherpa trails before being stretchered across a makeshift bridge and enduring a seven hour car journey to the nearest hospital . miss wright said : ` the drive to the military hospital took roughly seven hours on some of the most roughest roads so every jolt in the road would cause me severe pain throughout my bruised body ' argentinian red bull pilot hernan pitocco performs a wingover high above the karakoram range in north pakistan . ' i did my best to not focus on time . i knew if i let myself think of time , then it would cause me extra stress since the whole process took half a day to get to the hospital . ` so i just focused on remaining calm and keeping my mind either empty or distracted which was the best thing i could do . ' i go to some extreme lengths to get the shot but it 's also calculated risks . there is no point risking your life and sometimes you need to pull back when the situation is dangerous . spectacular : krystle wright will stop at nothing to get the perfect picture and suffered multiple injuries while taking these breath-taking extreme paragliding snaps . miss wright took to the air on a dual paraglider and flew at a stomach-churning 18,000 ft to capture the awesome images . ` it 's hard to describe on how far i 'd exactly go as every situation is different though i will continue to keep travelling to the far corners of the globe to bring back incredible images . ` i 've always believed in trusting my gut instinct . if something does n't feel right , then i wo n't do it . ` while taking pictures at such a high altitude my hands became numb and i thought it was frost bite beginning to come on . ' i took my hand out of my mittens and began to thrash it around inside my down jacket and as the blood began to rush back into my hand , i experienced ` the screaming barfies ' i wanted to scream as the pain was so intense . ` the other danger of flying at altitude , and especially spending extended lengths of time at altitude is hypoxia , we flew with oxygen bottles to prevent this from happening . ` no doubt there is risk in what i do . the important thing is to keep yourself as safe as possible and try to take calculated risks but sometimes mother nature will reign supreme . ` the injuries i 've sustained have n't put me off one bit though . if anything , it 's only inspired me more to keep pursuing what i love to do . ' i think it 's incredibly important to learn and grow from it rather than letting it destroy you and put you off from your dreams and aspirations . ` when people ask me what i do for a living , it almost feels strange to say what i do is work because i enjoy it so much . '<doc-sep>when a man tells me to `` trust him , '' my typical reaction is to run . when he tells me this while trying to get me to jump off a swiss mountain with only a paragliding sail to stop me from plummeting to earth , i should run even faster -- even if he does look like keanu reeves . instead , i ignore my irrational fear of heights and rational fear of men using bad cliches , take a running leap then gasp as the sheer terror subsides and i find myself soaring into the alpine air . below me the swiss countryside unfolds like a map , with stunning views of the peaks of eiger , monch and jungfrau , and the waters of brienz and thun lakes . it turns out the worst part of my first-ever paragliding flight -- made in tandem with an instructor resembling the star of `` the matrix '' -- was the apprehension beforehand . it took me a while to build up the courage to even sign up for the flight , after but several hours of watching other people effortlessly winging their way over the glaciers from beatenberg to interlaken , i decided to do it . still nervous , i opted for the tamer version of the rides on offer . versions aimed at thrill seekers involve extreme aerobatics or high altitude james bond-style takeoffs at schilthorn , the 2,970 meter -lrb- 9,700 feet -rrb- peak where `` on her majesty 's secret service '' was filmed . stuffed penguin . there 's even a ride that allows fliers to make a grand entrance at a mountaintop restaurant , but with my aeronautic jitters , i could see this ending in disaster . once aloft and floating serenely , i apparently can do no wrong , according to my instructor . all i need to do is sit tight , he says , which is just as well considering i feel like a stuffed penguin thanks to the layers of padding i 'm wearing . i get a chance to catch my breath and take in the staggeringly huge panoramic vista , which is great as long as i do n't look down too often . during the flight , my instructor takes pictures with a wide angle camera attached to an extendable pole , all of which turn out the same thanks to the tortured smile plastered on my face . he explains that the trick to staying for long periods is to find rising air currents known as thermals and circle around in them to gain height . early mornings , he says , are best as the weather is more predictable . after that little tutorial , he offers to show off some nifty tricks . we 're in midair , dangling from a scrap of crescent-shaped nylon fabric . what could possibly go wrong ? we do a quick , sharp dip to the left , followed by another to the right . hit the ground running . before my dislodged heart can creep back to its original lodgings , we do a 360-degree turn . the pirouette is fantastic except that even when we stop spinning , my world does n't . this is n't an experience for the faint of heart or full of stomach , but we survive to glide peacefully over alpine pastures , tiny chocolate box houses , lakes and grazing sheep . to land , we have to stand up in the harness and be prepared to hit the ground running , a fact that gets me panicking all over again . `` you can do it , '' deadpans keanu . the worst that can happen , he says , is i 'll graze a knee or break a leg . we manage , though i spoil the effect somewhat by crumpling into a heap and doing an excellent imitation of a beached whale . this is n't enough to dampen my spirits though , especially since i 'm now the proud owner of a certificate proving my pluck . the spectacular flight over switzerland will always be a good reminder that one can overcome fear with willpower . within reason , of course , i 'm not about to jump off anything attached to a flimsy parachute just yet . not even for anyone who looks like keanu reeves . how to get in the air . there are several paragliding options involving scenic train rides , gondola rides and thematic flights . the classic . tandem flight with instructor from beatenberg to interlaken . skywings ; +41 79 266 8228 ; chf175 -lrb- $ 193 -rrb- . scenic railway/hiking route . fliers can take the scenic gornergrat railway or hike up to a route that overlooks the monte rosa and theodul glaciers . alpine adventures zermatt ; takeoff from riffelberg ; available until october 19 , 2014 ; +41 79 643 6808 ; chf150 -lrb- $ 166 -rrb- . view of the national ski piste . from the top of the national ski piste , this flight heads out toward the sunnegga restaurant , as skiers tear down the all-year runs below . alpine adventures zermatt ; takeoff from blauherd ; available until october 5 , 2014 ; +41 79 643 6808 ; chf150 -lrb- $ 166 -rrb- . klein matterhorn . launching from the klein matterhorn -lrb- altitude 3,883 meters -rrb- involves taking the highest ski lift in europe to one of the highest lift-accessible takeoff points in the world . the reward is n't just a view of switzerland but a chunk of northern italy on a flight that soars above mighty glaciers , glacial ski runs and the trockener steg restaurant . alpine adventures zermatt ; takeoff from klein matterhorn ; available all year ; +41 79 643 6808 ; chf280 -lrb- $ 309 -rrb- . the breithorn experience . this experience involves a guided climb of two hours from klein matterhorn up to breithorn -lrb- more than 4,000 meters -rrb- . views of switzerland and italy , tumbling icefalls and glacial scenery guaranteed . not for the unfit . alpine adventures zermatt ; +41 79 643 6808 . romantic ride on a traditional cog railway . this evening flight starts with a ride on a traditional cog railway followed by a 20-minute hike . twin paragliding ; +41 79 622 5100 ; takeoff from schynige platte ; chf200 -lrb- $ 220 -rrb- . the james bond experience . this trip reaches schilthorn via gondola , then flies through the mountains with an exceptionally close view of the eiger , monch and jungfrau . offered by : twin paragliding ; +41 9 622 51 00 ; skywings ; +41 79 266 8228 ; flystar , +41 79 354 5251 ; takeoff from schilthorn . valley of waterfalls . this one starts at the top of the valley of waterfalls in the mountain village of murren and takes in steep rock faces and cascading rivers . skywings ; +41 79 266 8228 ; takeoff from murren ; available all year ; chf180 -lrb- $ 199 -rrb- . long stairs flight . a cable car takes fliers to the top of europe 's longest stairs at niesen . the flight path passes the castle of spiez to land next to a vineyard on the edge of lake thun . flystar ; +41 79 266 8228 ; takeoff from niesen ; chf260 -lrb- $ 287 -rrb- . paragliding courses . verbier summits , run by twin brothers and professional stunt pilots , offer courses ranging from taster to speed flying . verbier summits ; +41 79 710 9132 ; from chf160 -lrb- $ 177 -rrb- .

<t> everyday hüseyin burak tuzer sees breathtaking sky-high views that most tourists only dream of . </t> <t> now , the adventurous paraglider is taking visitors up with him for once in a life time views of the turkish coast . </t> <t> once in the air , he also snaps photos of his tandem-flight partner , snapping incredibly unique ` selfies ' </t>

paragliding instructor snaps images of tourists soaring above the turkish coastline<T>

this is the shocking scene that confronted a student when he discovered a car windscreen smashed to pieces by a swan . university of hull undergraduate tim barrass , 20 , was on his way to morning lectures when he noticed the car had been damaged . the windscreen was smashed and had buckled slightly and there was a prostrate swan lying next to it on the pavement . university of hull undergraduate tim barrass was on his way into lectures when he noticed his neighbour 's car had been damaged - and spotted a swan lying next to it . mr barrass immediately called the rspca who soon arrived at the scene and took the swan to a rescue centre , but so far vets have been unable to work out how the swan managed to smash into the car . they believe the swan could have collapsed mid-flight - or may even have flown straight into the windshield . the black renault clio was parked on a residential street in the student area of the city . mr barrass , a third-year history student , told student newspaper the tab : ` i 'd only been awake for ten minutes so i rubbed my eyes to double check it -lsb- the swan -rsb- was real . ' i presumed it was dead , but then it started honking and that 's when i noticed the car next to it with the windscreen smashed in . mr barrass said his friend vicky price was gutted it shattered her windscreen . he said : ` it could have thought it was a river and when it 's coming down , it must be pretty hard for a big bird like that to stop .<doc-sep>` it must have been a pretty hard impact , it was a big thing too . i know you get birds flying into windows but it should n't have hit a car . ` when i saw the damage i went round ringing on all the houses to see whose car it was because the owner might have thought someone had vandalised their car . ` when i realised it was vicky 's car , i told her . she was gutted . ' he added : ` she lives on the next street over but parked on our road because there were no spaces . ` she said the windscreen is a total right off - it 's just bad luck . ' rspca vets put the swan down because its injuries were so severe - they have not been able to find out out if the bird fell or flew into the car -lrb- pictured are the rspca headquarters in horsham , west sussex -rrb- . ` trying to be sherlock i deduced it must have fallen onto the car and bounced off . ' an rspca spokesman said : ` we were called to an incident in hull where an adult swan had fallen from the sky and crashed in to a car windscreen on tuesday morning . ' the swan 's chest injuries were so severe vets were unable to find the original reason for the swan 's collapse . the representative added : ` sadly the injuries the swan sustained in the fall were very severe and on vets advice he was put to sleep .<doc-sep>` it is a mystery as to why this happened and the only thing we can put it down to is exhaustion . ' the queen 's swan keeper said the may have mistaken the wet road for a river in the sun 's early morning glint . professor chris perrins , who has been her majesty 's warden of the swans since 1993 , said : ` especially in dawn and dusk they mistake the wet road for a river and try and land on it . ` at this time of year when the sun 's low and the roads are wet the rspca and swan rescuers get called out quite regularly to roads where they have crashed . ` they should n't fly into cars but it can happen . ' as the first person to be the warden of the swans he has met the queen several times and is in charge of the annual swan upping , where the birds are counted in a census . the former oxford researcher added : ` they are at the top end of the limits for a flying bird they can only take off really slowly and they do n't have much ability for sudden manoeuvres . ` when the sun 's coming up or going down and it 's wet , the road can have a glint . that 's my bet for what happened . ' mr barass , who shares his home with five other students , added : ' i rang my flatmates after the rpsca , they do n't usually get out of bed until ten but they woke up straight away when they got the phone call from me . ` they saw the photo and thought it was totally bizarre . '<doc-sep>by . jill reilly . published : . 10:31 est , 12 december 2012 . | . updated : . 13:08 est , 12 december 2012 . a brazilian woman was so enraged by her cheating husband that she took a hammer to his car . in video footage recorded last week in . sao paulo , the scorned woman is seen smashing in the windshield and bonnet of a honda civic with a hammer . the flame-haired woman is cheered on by a crowd , who seem to be more entertained than concerned with her violent antics . scroll down for video . revenge : a brazilian woman was so enraged by her cheating husband that she took a hammer to his car . damage : she smashes in the back windscreen completely and leaves the front windshield with several holes . in the video which has been posted on youtube , the woman is seen circling the black car which is parked in the street . as a crowd gathers around her she becomes more irate in battering the vehicle , although no-one tries to stop her . many bystanders whip out their phones and film the damage the woman is causing . according to sao paulo police , she was seeking revenge after learning that her husband was cheating on her , although her spouse is nowhere to be seen . anger : the car 's bodywork is peppered with dents and holes . enraged : as a crowd gathers around her she becomes more irate in battering the vehicle , although no-one tries to stop her . job done : at the end of the clip , the watching crowd whistle and cheer as she picks up her handbag from the road and strides away to a taxi . she smashes in the back windscreen completely and leaves the front windshield with several holes . the car 's bodywork is peppered with dents and holes and has several long scratches across the paint . at the end of the clip , the watching crowd whistle and cheer as she picks up her handbag from the road and strides away to a taxi .<doc-sep>a turn for the weird : the footage shows the pedestrian starting to sprint directly toward the car , setting off panic inside the car . when he reaches the car , he leaps onto the hood in a superhero-esque dive and bashes his head into the windscreen . the glass smashes and the man collapses onto the road . it appears the opportunist was attempting to get some sort of payout for his efforts , earning him the label of an ` insurance scammer ' in the video description . the bizarre act was caught on a video camera mounted on the dashboard of the car .<doc-sep>horrifying : it then span 180 degrees through the air and the rear of the small hatchback went flying into their windshield . horror : in a split second the windscreen smashes as the family scream out in horror . it then span 180 degrees through the air and the rear of the small hatchback went flying into their windshield . in a split second the windscreen smashed the family can be heard screaming out in horror . the impact of the smash dislodged the camera and it can be seen swinging in place . kang and his family only suffered minor injuries while the driver of the daewoo also made it out alive . kang 's description of the incident , translated via google by car scoops said : . ` car accident who is 71 years old man , he said he drove to sleep ... thank god willing , our family is finally nothing serious , physical pain is inevitable , more distressed that children who suffered child frightened -lrb- fear of a psychological trauma -rrb- , these need time to recover . ' i usually have to teach children , the car must be wearing a seat belt habits , be there to minimize the damage . however , the accident vehicle suddenly fly out , really a chance to react . '<doc-sep>a toddler in china falls into shot at great speed and smashes into a parked car but somehow manages to survive in this alarming footage . the poster of the video on newsflare , china recorder , says the child was aged three and fell from the third floor of a building in kunming , the capital and largest city in yunnan province . the cctv security video is over in a flash but the drama is packed in .

<t> student tim barrass on his way to morning lectures when he spotted swan . </t> <t> bird appears to have fallen from sky and smashed into car with force . </t> <t> mr barrass initially thought the swan was dead - until it started honking . </t> <t> but injuries were so severe rspca vets decided to put the bird down . </t>

mystery as swan ` falls from the sky ' and smashes car windscreen in hull<T>

a domestic worker in south africa is just two rounds away from wining the prestigious masterchef title , while raising awareness of the ` forgotten army ' of servants working in the nation 's homes . siphokazi mdlankomo , 39 , from cape town , is one of the favourites to win the competition after judges quickly recognised her ability to cook and balance flavours . ms mdlankomo , who is known as sipho ' on the show will take on a former advertising executive , a train driving assistant and a life skills lecturer in the show 's semi-final . scroll down for video .<doc-sep>siphokazi mdlankomo , pictured , has reached the semi-finals of the south african masterchef competition . the domestic worker , centre , has amazed the show 's judges and received massive support from the public . according to south african television station dstv : ` sipho , a domestic worker from cape town , is the embodiment of the popular adage that `` dynamite comes in small packages '' . this pint-sized cook is out to prove that domestic workers are not second-class citizens ; that their role in south african households should be held in equal regard to any other profession out there . ` on her first day in boot camp , sipho had to think on her feet when her original plan of making a consommé did n't work out -- but she kept her cool and made a beautiful aioli to accompany her perfectly pan-fried angelfish .<doc-sep>` on day 2 , she displayed an impressive skills base once again by making a succulent parma wrapped chicken breast with cauliflower mash and provencale sauce . the judges quickly noticed that siphokazi 's talents lie in her vast knowledge of different cooking styles -- from classic to modern -- coupled with the ability to combine and balance flavours effortlessly . ' in south africa , one in six working women are in domestic service and many of those are black people working in white households . the judges have been wowed by some of her creations , pictured , and her ability to balance delicate flavours . speaking in advance of her latest challenge on thursday , ms mdlankomo said : ` being a domestic worker is just like any other job , which you should be proud of doing . it is a profession from which you earn your income . there are many domestic workers out there , who like me , have hidden secrets , talents and passion . no job should prevent you from following your dream . '<doc-sep>according to the guardian , ms mdlankomo has been with her employer liz andreasen for the past nine years . ingrid engelbrecht , a spokeswoman for masterchef sa , said : ` people have loved her from the start . it 's an inspirational story . ` many people have domestic workers who are considered part of the family , but domestic workers have never been showcased on television . ` siphokazi 's story is the same as millions in south africa who are raising a family and cooking for a family along with their own . many people have been thrilled to see her on tv and doing so well . '<doc-sep>a year later torode made public his relationship with 41-year-old spooks star faulkner , who he met while she was cooking her way to victory in 2010 's celebrity masterchef . faulkner has described her relationship with torode , which blossomed after the pair split from their former partners , as ` really new , really lovely ' . she told the mail last september : ` john and i were friends . neither of us thought of it as anything else until ... ' i do n't know how things change , but something does . he asked me on a date . we went out for dinner . then it was slightly different . ` i 'm really , really happy . john and i are having such a nice time but we 're taking things slowly . there are lots of other people to consider . ' torode with his ex-wife jessica : the pair ended their marriage ` by mutual consent ' after breaking up in 2011 . faulkner 's ex-husband chris hoghill , who played tony king in eastenders , moved out of their marital home in early 2012 . the pair share custody of an adopted daughter , billie , who is six . torode has four childre , two with his ex-wife jessica and another two from a previous relationship . she has previously insisted that there were no sparks between her and torode when they first met filming celebrity masterchef . cook : faulkner holds the celebrity masterchef trophy after winning the series in 2010 . she met torode , a judge on the programme , during filming . ` when i met john he was a judge on a show i loved and i was petrified of him . he was brilliant and gave us all tips so you did n't want to let him down , ' she said .<doc-sep>by . alasdair glennie . a-list offspring : jason connery is returning to our screens in celebrity masterchef . back in the eighties , he became a television heart-throb as robin hood . now sir sean connery 's son jason is returning to our screens , but with an apron instead of a bow and arrow ... in celebrity masterchef . and the 51-year-old is not the only lesser-known relation of an a-lister to grace the line-up of this year 's cookery competition . sophie thompson , the younger sister of oscar-winning star emma thompson , is also taking part . miss thompson , 51 , is not as instantly recognisable as her sister but has had supporting roles in hits such as four weddings and a funeral , emma and eat , pray , love .<doc-sep>the 41-year-old , now the proud mother of an adopted daughter and dating masterchef host john torode , has spoken of her struggle to start a family and the heartbreak of failed ivf . miss faulkner said : ` it 's a really , really tough process . i do n't think people have any idea until they go through it . ` it 's not just the physical stuff -- it 's the emotions and the hormones that are pumping through your body . ` you 're on this whole trip of desperation for a baby and you 'll do anything . i was determined that i would be a mother . ' she underwent four rounds of treatment , at a total cost of # 35,000 . in an interview in the lady magazine , she added : ` i said i 'd give ivf three goes , and i ended up doing four . i spent all of my savings . but also mentally , i could n't go through it again . ' miss faulkner , who starred in bbc show holby city and won celebrity masterchef in 2010 , married actor chris coghill in 2005 , three years after they met on the set of the drama burn it . they began trying for a child , but she suffered an ectopic pregnancy at six weeks which left her with only one working fallopian tube . miss faulkner decided to seek private fertility treatment when she was in her early-30s . she would have been eligible for free nhs treatment but chose to pay to avoid long waiting lists . couple : lisa has been dating masterchef host john torode since october last year .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 14:14 est , 24 april 2013 . | . updated : . 01:47 est , 25 april 2013 . masterchef bosses have been criticised by viewers for allowing contestants to get away with ` stomach-turning ' hygiene standards on the show . viewers of the hit bbc1 programme , hosted by judges john torode and gregg wallace , say they have been turned off the cookery contest by the contestants ' kitchen habits . in one episode , viewers watched as a contestant 's sweat dripped into a sauce , while in another a female chef 's long hair was seen dangling over her lamb tagine . masterchef bosses have been criticised after viewers complained about a contestant 's sweat dripping into a sauce . elsewhere , a female chef 's long hair was seen dangling over her lamb tagine . masterchef judge john torode speaks to the contestants during one of the episodes . other turn-offs included contestants wearing jewellery and nail varnish in the kitchen and cross-contamination of food .

<t> siphokazi mdlankomo , 39 , has reached the semi-final of masterchef . </t> <t> the domestic worker from cape town is tipped to make the final . </t> <t> she said she is proud of her job and wants to be an inspiration to others . </t> <t> she added : ` there are others like me with hidden talents and passion ' </t>

masterchef 's siphokazi mdlankomo is two rounds away from winning<T>

the lib dem business secretary attacked the tories ' economic plans , which involve slicing another # 24billion from public spending . vince cable has publicly denounced george osborne 's plans to slash the budget deficit within four years , and urged his party to oppose ` brutal ' spending cuts . in an extraordinary intervention which puts further strain on the coalition , the lib dem business secretary attacked the tories ' economic plans , which involve slicing another # 24billion from public spending during the next parliament . he claimed whichever party is in power next year will have to raise taxes , and even said he agreed with labour that the next government should borrow more . mr cable said he ` did not recognise ' the chancellor 's plan to eliminate the deficit and run a surplus by 2018-19 . he also said : ` we do have differences in emphasis . the tories would like to cut spending rather more brutally than we think is necessary or desirable . ' his attack came as his party 's leader nick clegg shunned the autumn statement yesterday .<doc-sep>in a highly unusual move , the deputy prime minister chose to stay away -- and instead flew 300 miles to penzance to talk to locals about flood defences . senior lib dems have warned him that he needs to distance himself from the tories in the run up to the general election -- though mr clegg insisted his decision was not a snub . mr cable confirmed he had asked the office for budget responsibility to map out a different forecast for the lib dems which contained fewer spending cuts . he added ` all parties will have to increase taxation whether they say so or not ' . on eliminating the deficit , he told lbc radio : ` i 'm not sure i recognise the figures and the dates you are talking about . the budget deficit also includes borrowing for capital investment . ` we think if there are good capital investments ... for infrastructure and the government earns a proper return for the taxpayer , we should invest in it . ' asked if this meant he agreed with labour 's ed balls , he replied : ` we do agree with them on that particular issue , and we differ from the tories . ' government sources said mr cable had ` erupted ' yesterday morning and told fellow lib dems , including chief treasury secretary danny alexander , that they had not signed up to the conservatives ' spending plans beyond the general election .<doc-sep>mr cable said he ` did not recognise ' chancellor george osborne 's -lrb- pictured -rrb- plan to eliminate the deficit and run a surplus by 2018-19 . on air , mr cable said the lib dems were committed to the deficit reduction plans until may . he denied he had ordered his civil servants not to co-operate with treasury officials . tory backbencher andrew rosindell said : ` i do n't think any sensible person believes borrowing more money is the right approach for the country . ' mr alexander also distanced himself , saying : ` it 's not the job of the office for budget responsibility to set out the differences between parties . ' mr clegg said his decision to stay away from the chancellor 's speech was ` not a snub ' , but ` a nice change to get out of the westminster bubble and say what this autumn statement means to people ' .<doc-sep>when vince cable -lrb- pictured -rrb- spoke at the cabinet meeting , george osborne looked ` stormy ' , a source said . the chancellor has repeatedly said in his budget speeches that because of the strength of the british economy he has been able to borrow money more cheaply than most of our european competitors : the highest rates -- known as bond yields -- are charged by the city to countries with the greatest chance of going bust . but at the cabinet meeting , mr cable said : ` i ca n't help noticing that the bond yields of france and italy are now on a par with ours . ' however , sources close to mr osborne insisted : ` there was an exchange , but in it cable agreed with george that the eurozone economies still pose a destabilising risk to the british economy . in fact , it is one of the few things george and vince do agree about . ' mr osborne has repeatedly argued that low uk bond yields represent a pat on the back from investors for his spending cuts . last week , the yield on ten-year bonds was 1.3 per cent for the uk , compared with 1.5 per cent for italy and 0.5 per cent for france . last night , a senior conservative source said that mr cable had irritated tory ministers in recent months by using meetings to praise the performance of the french economy under president francois hollande . like ed miliband , hollande has criticised ` the economics of austerity ' , as practised by mr osborne , arguing that europe needs a ` different way forward ' to deal with the debt crisis . mr cable declined to comment last night .<doc-sep>the lib dems signed up to government spending plans in private but now ` slag them off ' in public , george osborne claimed today as a coalition row erupted over the scale of cuts needed . the chancellor hit back at lib dem vince cable who has claimed tory plans to dramatically reduce spending were ` wholly unrealistic ' . nick clegg was also forced to deny trying to distance himself from his own government after snubbing mr osborne 's autumn statement for a photocall in cornwall . scroll down for video . chancellor george osborne , pictured at a bently motors factory in crewe today , hit back at lib dem criticism of his spending plans . mr osborne used his statement yesterday to reveal the deficit has halved since 2010 . but the office for budget responsibility warned only 40 per cent of the cuts needed have been made so far . the tories have made clear they would seek to balance the books through spending cuts alone , with cutting welfare the top priority . but mr clegg has branded the approach ` complete and utter nonsense ' and insisted there must also be tax rises . and mr cable said he had made ` very , very clear ' his opposition to tory plans to achieve the goal by cutting departmental budgets and welfare , without increasing taxes on the wealthy . the business secretary said his conservative colleagues wanted to cut public spending ` rather more brutally than we think is necessary or desirable ' and their plans were ` simply not realisable ' . the lib dem criticism triggered a furious response from mr osborne . he told sky news : ` in private , they sign up to all these decisions and then in public they slag them off . but that 's for them to explain to you . ' lib dem deputy prime minister missed the autumn statement in the commons yesterday to visit flood defences in penzance , cornwall with local mp andrew george -lrb- left -rrb- . lib dem business secretary vince cable said he had made ` very , very clear ' his opposition to tory plans to achieve the goal by cutting departmental budgets and welfare , without increasing taxes on the wealthy . mr osborne also mocked mr clegg 's decision to visit flood defences in penzance instead of being in the commons yesterday . ` he can choose to be anywhere he wants in the country , ' mr osborne said . mr clegg denied trying to distance himself from the measures announced yesterday . speaking during his weekly phone-in on lbc , he said : ` i 've been doing autumn statements and budgets for five years now and sitting dutifully there . and , by the way , of course i have worked on this meticulously for weeks . ` everything in that autumn statement is in there because we have agreed it and i fully support it . ` but , then i had a choice - did i listen to ed balls in the house of commons or did i go out and talk to normal people ? ' public spending as a share of the entire economy will fall to just 35.2 per cent by 2018-19 , according to the office for budget responsibility 's forecasts of spending cuts . spending by government departments will fall to just 12 per cent of gdp . if health , schools and foreign aid are protected , other areas will be severely squeezed . george osborne clashed with radio 4 presenter john humphrys . george osborne today hit out at the bbc 's ` hyperbolic ' coverage of spending cuts , accusing the broadcaster of predicting the world would fall in . the chancellor clashed with radio 4 today programme host john humphrys about questions on the state of the country 's finances .<doc-sep>vince cable today took aim at the leaders of the other main parties , claiming the tories are merely ` ukip without the beer ' . he also poked fun at ed miliband 's labour party as pursuing french president francois hollande 's brand of ` socialism without the sex ' . in a well-received speech at the lib dem conference in glasgow , mr cable also accused chancellor george osborne of ` lying ' by claiming he could balance the nation 's books without tax rises . and he called for more open immigration to britain , insisting migrants from both inside and outside the eu have brought ` tangible benefits ' to the uk . scroll down for video . business secretary vince cable made clear his ongoing discomfort with sharing power with the tories , accusing them of ` arrogance ' and being ` obsessed ' with cuts . mr cable used his speech to announce a higher minimum wage for apprentices and a review of the law for up to 1million workers who ` fall through the cracks and do n't currently have full employment rights ' . but he turned his fire on both labour and the conservatives , as the lib dems try to make a clear pitch to voters to prevent a wipeout in 2015 . mr cable said the two party conferences had helped the lib dems to understand their opponents better . ` the tories are reinventing themselves as ukip but without the beer , while the labour party is offering us hollande socialism , but without the sex . ' he insisted the lib dems had joined the coalition to rescue the economy , and have plenty to be proud of . but he made clear his ongoing discomfort with sharing power with the tories , accusing them of ` arrogance ' and being ` obsessed ' with cuts . he insisted the deficit ` has to be dealt with ' but rejected plans set out by tory chancellor george osborne last week for the full # 25billion needed to eradicate the deficit to come entirely from spending cuts . mr cable insisted the lib dems had joined the coalition to rescue the economy , and have plenty to be proud of . mr cable said ed miliband 's labour party is offering voters the socialism of french president francois hollande -lrb- right -rrb- ` but without the sex ' the tories also came under fire , with mr cable claiming david cameron 's party is ` obsessed ' with spending cuts and is no more than ` ukip without the beer ' mr cable said key public services like legal aid , local government , policing and defence have already been ` cut to the bone ' . he went on : ` the tories are ideologically obsessed by cuts because they see it as a way of destroying public service and the welfare state , which they detest .<doc-sep>by . simon walters . and brendan carlin . liberal democrat cabinet minister danny alexander was accused last night of positioning himself to succeed nick clegg after he appeared to initiate a power struggle with vince cable . business secretary mr cable is furious that treasury chief secretary mr alexander is demanding to be the party 's main economic spokesman at next year 's general election . lib dem mps have accused mr alexander , 41 , of using the issue to further his ambition of taking over in the event that the party flops at the polls and mr clegg is forced to resign . danny alexander -lrb- left -rrb- was accused of positioning himself to success nick clegg after beginning a power struggle with vince cable -lrb- right -rrb- . colleagues believe that mr cable still harbours leadership ambitions . he regrets not standing against mr clegg in 2007 , but opponents say that he has left it too late . at 70 , mr cable is nearly 30 years older than mr alexander . there is an even bigger gulf in their politics . mr alexander is a robust ally of chancellor george osborne and was recently embarrassed by a tory mp 's suggestion that he had abandoned his lib dem roots and ` gone native ' since joining the treasury . by contrast , mr cable has attacked mr osborne 's ` austerity ' cuts , led demands for a mansion tax and applauded the rise in immigration .

<t> vince cable 's attack on tories will further strain coalition relations . </t> <t> he agreed with labour about borrowing and tax cuts . </t> <t> meanwhile , clegg shunned autumn statement yesterday . </t>

vince cable turns on george osborne to denounce ` brutal ' cuts<T>

after a week of wild weather experienced throughout the country , victorian residents have taken to social media to mock the overturned lawn chairs and rattling windows caused by two minor earthquakes felt in melbourne . after two people were struck by lightning in sydney as ferocious storms swept through nsw , victorians had their own spate of natural phenomena , dubbed by locals as ' #melbournequake2014 ' . the underwhelming experience of the 3.2 magnitude earthquake just after 6am on thursday prompted social media users to declare a ` we will rebuild ' campaign , posting pictures of minor inconveniences caused by the quake . scroll down for video . the underwhelming experience of the 3.2 magnitude earthquake just after 6am on thursday prompted social media users to declare a ` we will rebuild ' campaign . after two people were struck by lightning in sydney as ferocious storms swept through nsw , victorians had their own spate of natural phenomena , dubbed by locals as ' #melbournequake2014 ' geoscience australia seismologists confirmed that the quake struck the melbourne suburbs of pakenham and berwick , 56 kilometers from the cbd , with some residents woken up by the shake , but many more residents reported thinking the earthquake was thunder . many residents living right in the epicentre reported sleeping through the incident or barely registering that a seismological current was running through their suburb . one resident posted a picture on facebook of an overturned lawn chair with the caption ` we will rebuild ' , with other users accusing friends ' movements for making the ground shake , or suggesting the quake was caused by a resident sending out ` good vibes ' . other social media users suggested that the rumble may have been a result of locals sexual activity , ` rocking beds ' and ` shaking the suburb ' . social media users were quick to claim that they had ` been part of quake wake 2014 ' , posting sarcastic comments about ` living through ' the thursday morning earthquake . many residents living right in the epicentre reported sleeping through the incident or barely registering that a seismological current was running through their suburb . an ' i survived the berwick earthquake ' facebook page was reportedly started , using a photograph of an overturned lawn chair captured in a similarly minor earthquake from 2012 . social media users were quick to claim that they had ` been part of quake wake 2014 ' , posting sarcastic comments about ` living through ' the thursday morning earthquake . ` horrific tales of lattes being spilt in pakenham , stay strong melbourne we 'll get through this together ' said one twitter user . an ' i survived the berwick earthquake ' facebook page was reportedly started , using a photograph of an overturned lawn chair captured in a similarly minor earthquake from 2012 . duty seismologist marco naldomi from geoscience australia said that there had been in excess of 700 reports from those living around the epicentre , but that no one had been hurt or recorded any property breakages . ` there have been no reports of damage , but people have reported couches shaking or chairs falling over , ' mr naldomi said . ` some residents reported hearing a bang or a loud rumble , of windows rattling , but given the population in the area it 's not surprising that we 've had so many reports . '<doc-sep>the interest in the quake continued with social media users in new zealand ridiculing the minor earthquake , commenting that australians complaining about earthquakes was akin to kiwi 's complaining of heat waves . ` where were you when the earthquake hit !? you know , the one that happened the day after that other one , ' asked one social media user . victorian residents have flocked to social media to mock the overturned lawn chairs and rattling windows caused by two minor earthquakes felt in melbourne . on wednesday morning victoria experienced another earthquake , hitting the gippsland suburb of korumburra , which the seismologist said experiences quakes much more frequently . ` where were you when the earthquake hit !? you know , the one that happened the day after that other one , ' asked one social media user . mr naldomi said that the area of pakenham does not often experience earthquakes , with only eight on record including the quake on thursday morning . ` earthquakes happen along faultlines , cracks in the earth 's crust . that stress is released every now and then in form of earthquake along weaker part of faultlines , ' mr nadomi said . ` the immediate area outside the epicentre is very seismically quiet , and today 's earthquake was the largest on record , ' mr naldomi said . ` earthquakes happen along faultlines , cracks in the earth 's crust . that stress is released every now and then in form of earthquake along weaker part of faultlines , ' he said . ` from this we could infer that that there may well be a faultlines in the area but that it is minor , outside of the ring of fire in the state 's south which is a much larger faultline . ' ` there are much more active faultlines in the gipsland area , but it 's unlikely the two earthquakes are related . ' lightning strikes at sydney harbour on wednesday afternoon as a severe thunderstorm warning is issued for a number of areas across new south wales . firefighters finally put out the fire about 9pm , almost three hours after it started . earlier in the week , two people were struck by lightning as severe thunderstorms swept through sydney causing flight chaos and traffic delays . luckily only minor cases , a man in his 20s was hit by lightning in hazelbrook , in the blue mountains while another person was struck in cabramatta in sydney 's southwest , said an ambulance spokeswoman . the bureau of meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning on wednesday afternoon for areas near parramatta , sydney olympic park and richmond . the bureau warned the storm was moving towards the north east and was forecast to hit hornsby , sydney city , the harbour bridge and the northern beaches . the new south wales capital was plunged into darkness by 5.30 pm but by 7pm the worse of the storm seemed to have passed although at least 13,000 homes in the blue mountains , hawkesbury , southern highlands and western sydney regions were still without power .<doc-sep>the fire broke out just after 6.30 pm on wednesday after being struck by lightning . dark smoke is seen billowing over the inner-city of sydney , covering the harbour bridge from view . firefighters evacuated 40 units near the substations as they waited for the power to be shut off . the commute home for many sydneysiders was thrown into disarray with ferries stranded as they were unable to dock and traffic was brought to a standstill on the harbour bridge . one driver described the scene on the bridge as a ` car park ' . lightning also wreaked havoc in pyrmont - in sydney 's inner-city - with an electrical substation catching alight after it was hit . large amounts of dark smoke was seen billowing out of the building just after 6.30 pm , but it has since been extinguished . it took 20 firefighters around two hours to put out the fire and while authorities are n't sure what caused it , they think it may have been due to lightning . the fire proved tricky for firefighters who were prevented from using water to extinguish the substation blaze as it had about 11,000 volts of electricity running through it , superintendent ian krimmer said . storms stopped traffic on the harbour bridge as the east coast was pelted by wild weather . lightning strikes were seen all over sydney as the skies fell dark across the city . in this picture , a lightning strike looks to just miss a playing flying over the city . nsw ses is currently working at mittagong , in the southern highlands of nsw , where 40 requests for assistance have been received after the area was flooded with 30mm of rain in only 20 minutes . social media users captured images of storm clouds rolling in and lighting strikes in the distance . captured footage of a lightning strike hitting sydney during wednesday 's storm . this one struck near the inner-city near sydney harbour bridge . instead , they worked to protect surrounding buildings , which included a five-level residential block , until the energy provider isolated power to the site . fire and rescue nsw evacuated 40 units as they waited for the power to be shut off , fortunately there were no reports of injury .<doc-sep>emergency crews have received more than 80 phone calls about fallen trees and power lines by across the sydney area , sending out more than 80 fire trucks and 300 firefighters to various jobs . nsw ses is currently working at mittagong , in the southern highlands of nsw , where 40 requests for assistance have been received after the area was flooded with 30mm of rain in only 20 minutes . according to live traffic nsw , five roads were flooded by 6pm , including the great western highway springwood , old windsor road and seven hills road . train services were closed on the t1 western line between richmond and clarendon , ` due to lightning strikes at clarendon affecting signalling , ' transport nsw stated . fire and rescue nsw had received more than 50 phone calls about fallen trees and power lines by 5:30 pm . large amounts of dark smoke was spotted billowing out of a building at pyrmont in sydney 's centre during the storm , after lightning struck an electrical sub station and sparked a fire . social media users instantly took to sharing photographs of the storm 's affect in their area . buses operated as a replacement service between stations , however heavy traffic in the richmond area caused delays . there was also heavy traffic delays in strathfield due to flooding . the storms also caused some delays to flights out of sydney airport with qantas and virgin confirming that its domestic and international runways had been closed since 5.15 pm . qantas said about 10 flights had been affected , some by up to two hours . by 7pm , a virgin spokeswoman said its flights had returned to normal with the runways reopening . social media users instantly took to sharing photographs of the storm 's affect in their area . further south in mildura in victoria , residents posted photos of hail the size of a 20-cent piece pelting the town . the bureau of meteorology predicted large hail stones , damaging winds and heavy rainfall , which could lead to flash flooding , at around 5pm for the areas of gosford , sydney , wollongong , nowra , armidale and orange . by 6:40 pm , the bureau of meteorology had cancelled their severe storm warning . nsw rural fire service shared this photo of the number of lightning strikes that have struck across the state . the bureau of meteorology has predicted large hail stones , damaging winds and heavy rainfall , which could lead to flash flooding , for the areas of gosford , sydney , wollongong , nowra , armidale and orange .<doc-sep>no saturday selfies : followers missed out on their regular dose of kardashian . panic overtook social media addicts when . the site went down around 9:30 this morning , with many posting . tongue-in-cheek comments about the selfie-snapping coachella crowd .<doc-sep>` ca n't believe eddie hemmings trotted out the `` black guy looks like samuel l jackson '' line . i mean , come on , ' @matthewriley81 . ` eddie hemmings utterly embarrassing himself on national tv once again ... claiming his comments were tongue in cheek makes it worse #dinosaur , ' @supernovaphil88 tweeted . but hemmings hit back at his online detractors later in the game . hemmings -lrb- pictured -rrb- was slammed on twitter but he hit back at his online detractors , saying : ` pity some people do n't have things better to do on a sunday night ' hemmings said he ` tongue-in-cheek ' suggested hounsou looked a little bit like samuel l. jackson -lrb- pictured -rrb- . ` off the field we do have of course russell crowe with his hollywood friends , ' he said . ` the gentleman there who i tongue-in-cheek suggested looked a little bit like samuel l. jackson but i can tell you it 's the man who played juba in russell crowe 's oscar-winning movie the gladiator . ` his names ' djimon hounsou , he 's an actor model from america , a big pal of russell 's , came up here on the helicopter ride with him and apparently social media has lit up with certain comments this evening .<doc-sep>from now on news anchors will be able to give only vague instructions as to where to find information online , such as `` follow us on social networking sites . '' french bloggers have been up in arms on twitter and some have even composed tongue-in-cheek ways to get round the ban . one suggested : `` find live coverage of the trial on our thread on the platform which spreads messages of 140 characters '' french commentators have been speculating on the real roots of this regulation . matthew fraser , a social networking expert and author of `` throwing sheep in the boardroom , '' a book looking at the online social media revolution , believes the ban could be a sign of defiance against anglo-saxon cultural domination . `` in my mind , '' he said , `` if it had been a french social networking site then nobody would have wanted it to be regulated , but because these sites symbolize the united states , regulation is there . '' this is not the first time anglicized , internet-related vocabulary has been banned in france . in 2003 the use of the word `` e-mail '' was forbidden in all government literature . this was due to the toubon law , which tries to protect the purity of the french language from anglicized words and phrases .<doc-sep>by . chris wheeler for mailonline . among the messages doing the rounds on social media after southampton 's defeat at liverpool on sunday were a number suggesting that james ward-prowse had just earned himself a move to anfield . however tongue-in-cheek the comments , they might not have gone down particularly well with those saints fans still smarting at the way their team has been pillaged by liverpool boss brendan rodgers this summer . rickie lambert , adam lallana , dejan lovren have all departed st mary 's for merseyside while luke shaw moved to manchester united for # 27million . there is still plenty of cause for optimism on the south coast , however . the conveyor belt of young talent that has produced the likes of gareth bale , theo walcott and alex oxlade-chamberlain in recent years has discovered another gem in ward-prowse . young star : james ward-prowse earned praise for his performance against liverpool at anfield on sunday . moved on : croatian defender dejan lovren joined liverpool from southampton this summer for # 20m . in the stands : former southampton player adam lallana watches his new club liverpool in action on sunday .

<t> a minor earthquake was recorded on thursday morning in the melbourne suburbs of pakenham and berwick , 56 kilometeres outside the cbd . </t> <t> the 3.2 magnitude earthquake was the second in two days , with a 3.4 magnitude earthquake in gippsland on wednesday . </t> <t> social media users were quick to dub the experience #melbournequake2014 , posting photos of minor inconveniences such as overturned lawn chairs and spilled coffee . </t> <t> a ` we will rebuild ' campaign started on twitter , with many users tweeting that they had ` lived through ' or were ` multiple earthquake survivors ' </t> <t> geoscience australia said there had been over 700 reports of the earthquake from residents but no damage . </t>

melbourne residents ' tongue-in-cheek social media messages over minor quakes<T>

there is no doubting the skill and craftsmanship of his artwork . but simon beck 's masterpieces are n't created with a paintbrush or easel . instead , the 56-year-old 's canvases are the sprawling ski slopes of the alps , and he creates his intricate patterns by running in snowshoes across the snow . scroll down for video . simon beck has spent the past decade decorating the mountain range with his spectacular artworks , which can measure up to 100m x 100m -- the size of two football pitches . the artist has spent the past decade decorating the mountain range with his spectacular artworks , which can measure up to 100m x 100m -- the size of six football pitches . it means that mr beck can cover a total of more than 25 miles during each piece of work . each image takes up to 12 hours to design and make , with simon currently produces about 30 snow drawing each year . his work has also led him to publish a book of his designs , inspired an underwear range , and seen him branch out into etching drawings on beaches .<doc-sep>each image takes up to 11 hours to design and make , with simon currently produces about 30 snow drawing each year . his work has also led simon to publish a book of his designs , inspired an underwear range , and seen him branch out into etching drawings on beaches . the artist favours a level site with a depth of about nine inches of powdery snow to make sure his art looks best in photographs , which he takes from either an aircraft , summit or a ski lift . his most intricate designs include the koch snowflake , a sierpinski triangle as well as abstract cubes and spirals . he uses an orienteering compass to create the perfect geometric designs . each pattern is crafted by mr beck alone in the skiing town of les arcs , in the french alps , where he lives during winter . mr beck , went to millfield school and studied engineering at oxford university . in 1974 he won the british orienteering championships . he has spent most of his adult life working as a freelance orienteering mapmaker and has now created around 175 designs after ploughing his first at christmas in 2004 . his most intricate designs include the koch snowflake , a sierpinski triangle as well as abstract cubes and spirals . he uses an orienteering compass to create the perfect geometric designs .<doc-sep>mr beck , who studied engineering science at oxford university , said many of his patterns can equal the effort needed to climb halfway up mont blanc . his work has proved so popular that new zealand clothes label icebreaker launched the art of nature simon beck collection -- a range of undergarments inspired by his designs . he uses what he describes as a ` kind of reverse orienteering ' to plot his intricate paths before walking along the route in a pair of snowshoes . most of mr beck 's patterns are crafted in the skiing town of les arcs , in the french alps , where he lives during winter . he said : ` the main reason for making them was because i can no longer run properly due to problems with my feet , so plodding about on level snow is the least painful way of getting exercise . mr beck said many of his patterns can equal the effort needed to climb halfway up mont blanc . he first plans out the pattern on graph paper , then surveys the site and judges where the major points of the design should be , and starts at one of those points . from the centre he calculates the distance to the other points and walks out and back from the centre using either pace counting or a measuring tape to determine the number of steps he needs to take . the artist favours a level site with a depth of about nine inches of powdery snow to make sure his art looks best in photographs , which he takes from either an aircraft , summit or a ski lift . the designs only last until the next heavy snowfall .<doc-sep>he added : ' i usually keep at it until i get too tired , using a headlamp if it gets dark first . it takes typically until i ca n't go on , but that can depend . ` the setting-out serves as the warm-up then the real training is completing the design . once this second stage is started , i put on my personal stereo . ' the artist from bracknell , berkshire added : ` most of the time i travel round the alps and hike up mountains , aiming to be on the summit at sunset for good photos . ` my feet are in a bad way but if i can keep my weight off the front of my feet things are not too bad . ` often i am copying designs i have found , like crop circles or well-known mathematical figures , or repeating designs i have made earlier but failed to get good photos of . ` some designs i am commissioned to do require a lot of study as to the best way to create it , and this process can take several hours . ` the main danger is having a minor accident skiing down at night after i have finished drawing . ` or running out of steam , if you push yourself too hard at the end of it . it is quite frightening how quickly you can run out of steam . ' more of mr beck 's work can be seen on his facebook page at www.facebook.com/snowart8848 .<doc-sep>he creates large , mathematical patterns that have varying effects when viewed from different angles and as the day progresses , his creations take on new aspects . he typically makes his mind-blowing designs in france , where he lives during ski season , and documents them afterward with awe-inspiring photographs . mr beck said : ` most of the time i travel round the alps and hike up mountains , aiming to be on the summit at sunset for good photos . my feet are in a bad way but if i can keep my weight off the front of my feet things are not too bad . ` often i am copying designs i have found , like crop circles or well-known mathematical figures , or repeating designs i have made earlier but failed to get good photos of . ` some designs i am commissioned to do require a lot of study as to the best way to create it , and this process can take several hours . ' shapes in the snow : skiers stop to take a look at one of mr beck 's creations . he uses a compass and measuring tape to plot his course . vortex : the artist creates large , mathematical patterns that have varying effects when viewed from different angles and at different times of the day .<doc-sep>these snowy ` crop circles ' look like they took ages to create . no chance , then , that the imprints were made by alien lifeforms leaving behind remarkable patterns for us to gaze at . instead , they are the work of a lone artist who has spent up to ten hours a day trudging around a french ski resort . the intricate patterns are huge - some span the equivalent size of six football pitches . out of this world : a giant artwork created by british artist simon beck on a frozen lake using only his feet in les arcs , france . spectacular : some of the large designs span the size of six football pitches . resort : mr beck creates the patterns while wearing snowshoes . huge : each pattern is crafted by mr beck alone in the skiing town of les arcs , where he lives during winter . they are created by british artist simon beck while wearing snowshoes and come in a range of designs from snowflakes and spirals to cubes and more abstract creations . each pattern is crafted by mr beck alone in the skiing town of les arcs , in the french alps , where he lives during winter . and he uses an orienteering compass to create the perfect geometric designs . mr beck , an orienteer leader , has created hundreds of the artworks after ploughing his first at christmas in 2004 . he uses what he describes as a ` kind . of reverse orienteering ' to plot his intricate paths before walking . along the route in a pair of snowshoes . he said : ` the main reason for making . them was because i can no longer run properly due to problems with my . feet , so plodding about on level snow is the least painful way of . getting exercise . ` gradually , the reason has become photographing them , and i am considering buying a better camera . ' natural shelter : mr beck has created hundreds of the artworks after ploughing his first at christmas in 2004 .<doc-sep>by . kerry mcdermott . published : . 11:11 est , 19 august 2013 . | . updated : . 01:44 est , 20 august 2013 . this spectacular image is the work of an artist who ignites gasoline in mid-air and captures the explosion of flames on film . rob prideaux , 45 , photographs fire and smoke and then creates patterns from the results in his efforts to shape one of nature 's ` uncontrollable phenomena ' . the san francisco-based artist captures the fire in the split second its visible using highly arcane methods , then adopts more modern technology to manipulate his images into mind-boggling patterns . flaming heart : the artist creates spectacular patterns and shapes - like this fiery heart - using his images of flames and smoke . ` uncontrollable ' : photographer rob prideaux ignites gasoline in mid-air - capturing the result flames to spectacular effect . ` fire is pretty uncontrollable , ' said mr prideaux . ` the mid-air explosions have defied all attempts at wrangling so far . the shot with the loop of fire was created with steel plates between the camera to try to shape it , ' he added . highlights of the series .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- if you frequent the pistes of the french alps , you may see more than just skiers and snowmen scattered around the trails below . for the last 10 years , british artist simon beck has been decorating snow-covered lakes and mountainsides with massive geometric designs , often based on fractal patterns , using his footsteps as his implement . beck 's snow drawings have attracted attention and opportunity beyond the les arcs ski resort in france where he got his start . this year alone , he 's delivered ted talks in austria and cyprus , collaborated with new zealand clothing brand icebreaker on a series of garments , and has seen his international facebook following grow to 280,000 . now he adds snow art , a book of over 200 photos he has taken of his work , to his list of accomplishments . from engineering , to orienteering , to art . beck 's journey to art was unconventional . he was working as an orienteering cartographer when he made his first snow drawing , and before that the oxford graduate was an engineer . he created his first snow drawing , a star on a lake near his apartment at les arcs , to pass the time after a day of skiing in 2004 . `` when i did my first drawing , i had no idea how good it was going to look , '' he says . `` it 's just so unusual and unique . no one else is doing anything like it . '' but it was n't until five years ago , when he recognized the toll that his frequent orienteering trips had taken on his feet , that he started to take his drawings seriously . `` i realized that it would probably be better to do something a bit easier than orienteering , and do something less painful , '' he says . snow drawing went from an occasional hobby to his primary form of exercise during the winter months . one hundred and fifty snow drawings later , quite a few things have changed . where he was once restricted to scouting locations and photographing his work from mountain tops and ski lifts , he can now afford to work out of an aircraft if he chooses ; instead of winter boots , he now wears snowshoes . his work has gone from a fairly solitary pleasure to something enjoyed by thousands online . however , his techniques have remained the same . beck still walks as many as 30 km across distances as large as six soccer fields , counting each pace as he would while orienteering , armed with nothing but a compass and a map he designed himself . a single drawing can still take as long as 12 hours to realize .

<t> british artist simon beck , 56 , spends 11 hours creating his masterpieces . </t> <t> each piece measures up to 100m x 100m -- the size of two football pitches . </t> <t> simon has created around 175 designs after ploughing his first in 2004 . </t> <t> his work has inspired an underwear range and he also works on beaches . </t>

artist creates patterns across the alps by running in snow shoes<T>

a series of moving portraits show both sides of living with disabilities in india . british photographer graeme robertson travelled to rajasthan with sightsavers , a charity that helps visually impaired people to carry on with their lives as independently as possible . he photographed several blind or partially-sighted people living in the indian state for the put us in the picture campaign - sightsavers ' policy campaign to influence the uk government 's foreign aid policy . the campaign wants to make people aware that although people with disabilities have the same needs and rights to health , education and employment as others , they are one of the most excluded groups in society , particularly in the poorest countries of the world . a series of moving portraits show difficulty that people like sankarlal -lrb- left -rrb- and dallu -lrb- right -rrb- have with living with disabilities in india . the photos are part of sightsavers charity 's put us in the picture campaign . it wants disabled people included in all uk international aid programmes . they want the department for international development to make sure people with disabilities participate in , and benefit from , all international development programmes . some of the people that graeme photographed have benefitted from one of the sightsaver 's inclusion projects . the projects help people to rebuild their lives in many ways , including giving advice on how to apply for loans and disability support from the government , training for work that does n't require full sight and also general building of confidence . but the campaign also covered the plight of those who have so far received no help and the heartbreaking isolation that this can cause , with people wholly dependent on the charity of families . read on to hear the stories of some of those who took part in the project . shyam : . shyam , 36 , has been visually impaired for the past 15 years . he said : ' i was n't born blind , but became blind later . the doctor said i have glaucoma and the cornea ca n't be repaired . i can see black , white , yellow . i can make out colours from a distance . i can see the moon but not the stars . ' he says he is treated with pity and contempt by other people , with many laughing if they see him stumble in the street . he adds that sometimes , ` people spread thorns on the street so it hurts more . ' shyam , 36 , has been visually impaired for the past 15 years . he is treated with pity and contempt by other people , with many laughing if they see him stumble in the street . he adds that sometimes , ` people spread thorns on the street so it hurts more . ' he continues : ` in all families , even my own , people think you 're useless . in society , if you have no money and no work you 're considered a burden and people wo n't talk to you . ' shyam has dreams to start a business , get a small house and have a wife and family of his own but his poor eyesight is preventing that from happening . he said : ` in this village there is no opportunity . if i had money i would go to the city . i can do any job . i cook for myself and clean the house so why ca n't i work ? ' i would like to have kids but the community does n't believe in marriage if you 're not working and earning . ' sankarlal : . sankarlal 's sight began to deteriorate in his early teens , as a result of cataracts in both eyes and by the time he was 14 he was completely blind , and treatment to fix the problem was unsuccessful . he married his now-wife gomati and had three children , but was frustrated few job opportunities were available to him . he said : ' i used to sit inside the house and my wife used to go to work and support me . ' sankarlal 's life changed when he joined a group funded by sightsavers for people with disabilities . their purpose is empowerment -- informing people of their rights and supporting them to gain skills and employment . sankarlal 's sight began to deteriorate in his early teens , as a result of cataracts in both eyes and by the time he was 14 he was completely blind , and treatment to fix the problem was unsuccessful . an organisation funded by sightsavers helped him to apply for a loan to start his own business . the organisation helped him to apply for a loan to start his own business , which started off as a mobile shop on a bicycle . it then expanded to a building next to his house that sells larger products like vegetables and pulses and has a refrigerator for cold drinks . he said : ` now i earn myself . before people thought i was unproductive , they pitied me , but now i stand on my own legs . ` my family think i am one of them and can do what they do . '<doc-sep>sankarlal : . sankarlal , a 60-year-old man from the rajasthan district of bikaner lost his sight in 1984 after someone threw acid into his face . he said : ' i have lived two lives . but it 's okay , it happens . many people are blind from birth . i could , at least , see for 30 years . ' following the attack , his disability and appearance meant he was ashamed to leave the house . sankarlal , a 60-year-old man from the rajasthan district of bikaner lost his sight in 1984 after someone threw acid into his face . times were tough until they received support from a government self-employment scheme for people with disabilities , which allowed him and his family to open a shop in their home . he used to tend buffalo , whose milk he would sell to a cooperative dairy , but had to give this up , so his son , hansraj , supported the family by running a rented shop . times were tough until they received support from a government self-employment scheme for people with disabilities , which allowed them to open a shop in their home . nowadays , the whole family -- sankarlal , his wife chawlidevi , hansraj and his wife , and their two children aged 10 and 12 -- help to run the store . anuradha : . anuradha , who 's now 32 , was only one year old when she fell into a fire , badly burning her hands and face . for a few years she was unaware of having any disability , but when she started school she noticed people would stare at her and it affected her confidence . ' i felt ugly , ' she says . ` when people asked what happened i did n't know what to say . ' a few decades passed and anuradha was still suffering from a lack of confidence . anuradha , who 's now 32 , was only one year old when she fell into a fire , badly burning her hands and face . she saw an advert for a disabled people 's organisation by chance and is now her division 's leader . she 'd left her husband , and was trying to support her two children -lrb- son raj , 10 , and five-year-old daughter mohita -rrb- by working as a teacher , but was barely getting by . she saw an advert by chance in a newspaper about a meeting of the local dpo -lrb- disabled people 's organisation -rrb- and was curious to find out more . when she attended , she met ` brothers and sisters , people like me , ' and realised that , like them , she could do things for herself and others . ' i got to know i could get a pension and travel pass . ' from these small steps anuradha 's confidence grew and she now has a job as leader of the dpo . dallu : . dallu , who 's 28 , lost her sight after contracting smallpox at the age of seven . she lives with her father and other family members -- because they worry about her getting hurt , she rarely goes out . she said : ` because of my blindness , when i move around even inside the house sometimes i fall or hit the wall . ' she now only goes out a couple of times a year . dallu , who 's 28 , lost her sight after contracting smallpox at the age of seven . she lives with her father and other family members -- because they worry about her getting hurt , she rarely goes out . although she 's married , dallu does n't see her husband . her mother used to look after her , but died two years ago . she 'd love to be able to do things for herself , like filling a bucket of water to take a shower , but says her family have to do it for her . she said : ' i ca n't do anything and i do n't want to do anything . if you put the cot there and tell me to sit there i will do it . ` i 'd like to go out and be in the community but i just feel like it ca n't happen . ' to find out more go to sightsavers.net .<doc-sep>problem solving : shubham wants to develop a desktop braille printer that costs around $ 350 and weighs just a few pounds , compared with current models that can weigh more than 20 pounds . next steps : an affordable printer would allow the visually impaired readers to print out letters , household labels , shopping lists and short reading materials on paper in braille . the company aims to have a prototype ready for blind organizations to test this summer and have a braigo printer on the market later this year , niloy banerjee said . ` this braille printer is a great way for people around the world who really do n't have many resources at all to learn braille and to use it practically , ' said henry wedler , who is blind and working on a doctorate in chemistry at the university of california , davis . wedler has become an adviser to braigo labs . an affordable printer would allow the visually impaired readers to print out letters , household labels , shopping lists and short reading materials on paper in braille , said lisamaria martinez , community services director at the san francisco lighthouse for the blind , a nonprofit center that serves the visually impaired and prints braille materials for public agencies . ' i love the fact that a young person is thinking about a community that is often not thought about , ' said martinez , who is visually impaired . shubham is too young to be ceo of his own company , so his mother has taken the job . ` i 'm really proud of shubham . what he has thought , i think most adults should have thought about it , ' malini banerjee said . ` and coming out of my 13-year-old , i do feel very proud . '<doc-sep>atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- as little tatyana larbi , aka little miss muffett , sings about selling her cotton and twigs to the `` sister pigs , '' you can tell the young girl is enjoying her moment in the limelight , even if she ca n't see the audience 's response . the mother of brooke stegall , 5 , says opera gave her visually impaired child new confidence . the set and costumes are pretty basic . most were made by parents and volunteers . but that does n't matter to the beaming mothers , fathers and grandparents in the audience . the fact that these 10 children are performing this day is enough for them . all of the actors in the pumpkin pickle pop cookies opera are visually impaired 4 - and 5-year-olds . two are blind , and the others have varying degrees of sight . all are students in atlanta 's center for the visually impaired begin program . but today is their last day here , and performing this 20-minute opera is their `` thank you '' to their families . watch an awe-inspiring opera performance '' `` these parents work so hard to make this happen , '' said anne mccomiskey , director of the program . she is very aware of the efforts that both the children and the parents put into the program .<doc-sep>atlanta , georgia -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- as little tatyana larbi , aka little miss muffett , sings about selling her cotton and twigs to the `` sister pigs , '' you can tell the young girl is enjoying her moment in the limelight , even if she ca n't see the audience 's response . the mother of brooke stegall , 5 , says opera gave her visually impaired child new confidence . the set and costumes are pretty basic . most were made by parents and volunteers . but that does n't matter to the beaming mothers , fathers and grandparents in the audience . the fact that these 10 children are performing this day is enough for them . all of the actors in the pumpkin pickle pop cookies opera are visually impaired 4 - and 5-year-olds . two are blind , and the others have varying degrees of sight . all are students in atlanta 's center for the visually impaired begin program . but today is their last day here , and performing this 20-minute opera is their `` thank you '' to their families . watch an awe-inspiring opera performance '' `` these parents work so hard to make this happen , '' said anne mccomiskey , director of the program . she is very aware of the efforts that both the children and the parents put into the program .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- should blind people be granted gun permits ? the question entered the crosshairs of some gun control advocates over the weekend , after a report about iowa issuing permits to buy and carry firearms to people who are legally blind . that 's legal under the federal gun control act of 1968 , which limits who can get guns nationwide . people who were convicted of crimes and served time for more than a year , people addicted to controlled substances and anyone who has been committed to a mental institution are among those who are n't allowed to possess firearms . each state has different rules governing gun permits . in iowa , at least , the visually impaired can get permits to carry firearms in public , the des moines register reported on sunday . that 's for good reason , jane hudson , the executive director of disability rights iowa , told the newspaper . she said blocking visually impaired people from getting weapons permits would violate the americans with disabilities act .

<t> series of moving portraits show difficulty of living with disabilities in india . </t> <t> photos are part of sightsavers charity 's put us in the picture campaign . </t> <t> it wants disabled people included in all uk international aid programmes . </t>

moving photos reveal plight of the visually impaired in rajasthan<T>

a nuclear power plant in ukraine suffered a technical error which caused a drop in electricity supplies in the war-torn country , it emerged today . the plant 's operator announced on monday that a problem had occurred with a power-generating unit at the site . but prime minister arseniy yatsenyuk provoked further concern today when he referred to the incident during a cabinet meeting . nearly 30 years on , ukraine still struggles to deal with legacy of the chernobyl nuclear disaster which caused thousands of deaths . scroll down for video . nuclear fault : the zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is the largest in europe and suffered an accident earlier this week , according to premier arseniy yatsenyuk . volodymyr demchyshyn , the energy minister , said a short circuit at a power-generating unit in the zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant -lrb- npp -rrb- plant led to a drop in electricity production . but he insisted that the fault posed no danger and the plant would return to running as normal on friday . ` there is no threat ... there are no problems with the . reactors , ' he said , adding that the accident affected the power output system and ` in no way ' was linked to . power production itself . in vienna , the international atomic energy agency said it . had no immediate comment on the report .<doc-sep>under an international . convention , adopted after the 1986 chernobyl accident in what . was then soviet ukraine , a country should notify the iaea of any . nuclear accident that can impact other countries . the explosion and fire at the chernobyl power plant , the world 's worst nuclear accident , was caused by human error and a series of blasts sent a cloud of radioactive dust billowing across northern and western europe . volodymyr demchyshyn , ukraine 's energy minister , briefed the media on the accident during a news conference , insisting everything at the plant will be back to normal on friday . ukraine , belarus and russia , have estimated the death toll at only a few thousand as a result of the explosion while the environmental group greenpeace says the accident will eventually cause up to 93,000 extra cancer deaths worldwide . interfax news agency said a 1,000-megawatt reactor was housed in the bloc at zaporizhzhya where last friday 's accident occurred . mr demchyshyn said the affected bloc had been provisionally disconnected from the electro-energy system though its reactor continued to work normally . ` its power output is not being used . i think that the problem will be resolved by friday , ' he said . the accident has had an impact on ukraine 's energy system , but mr demchyshyn said he would ask the major industrial consumers to impose a ` voluntary restriction ' in energy consumption . ukraine produced more than 60 million tonnes of coal last year , making it self-sufficient in electricity and coal . separatist fighting in the donetsk and luhansk regions since june has halted production at 66 coal mines , however , leaving ukrainian power plants without enough raw materials .<doc-sep>ukraine was forced to shut down a reactor at its biggest nuclear power plant yesterday following an ` electrical malfunction ' , the second such incident in the space of a month . one of six reactors at the zaporizhia power station in the south-east of the country was automatically disconnected by the plant 's ` internal defence mechanism ' at 6am yesterday morning . workers managed to repair to the fault and the reactor was reconnected to the power grid at 22:35 , the plant 's operator 's npp said in a statement . shutdown : the zaporozhiya nuclear power plant in southern ukraine where one of six reactors was automatically taken off-line yesterday following an electrical fault .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . published : . 11:02 est , 19 july 2012 . | . updated : . 01:59 est , 20 july 2012 . japan 's nuclear safety watchdog has ordered an investigation into claims the country 's only active nuclear power station is positioned above a tectonic fault line . geologists believe the oi plant in fukui prefecture is at real risk of earthquake if the tectonic plates it sits on suddenly shift . the news comes at a sensitive time for the japanese nuclear industry - less than 18 months after a tsunami struck the nuclear power station at fukushima , causing a meltdown . the earth 's crust under the oi nuclear power plant in fukui , western japan , will be examined over claims it sits on an active fault . japan shut down all its nuclear power stations after the fukushima disaster so safety checks could be carried out . in june prime minister yoshihiko noda ordered the kansai electric power company to restart the reactors at oi , amid fears of summer power shortages in japan . the first reactor was fired up a few weeks ago and a second is planned to restart later in july .<doc-sep>tokyo -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a japanese power company restarted a nuclear reactor this week , the first to come back online since a march earthquake and tsunami in the nation . the march 11 disasters sparked a nuclear crisis and a backlash that postponed plans to reopen reactors shut down because of damage , inspections or unrelated technical problems . kyushu electric power co. said it has started generating electricity from the no. 4 reactor late tuesday at the genkai nuclear power plant in western japan . the reactor was taken offline in october after technical problems .<doc-sep>earlier this month another of zaporizhia 's reactors was taken off-line after it suffered a short-circuit leading to widespread blackouts . the plant , which is the largest nuclear power station in europe and the fifth largest in the world , supplies around 40 per cent of ukraine 's nuclear power and was switched on in 1984 . the incident has revived memories of the 1986 chernobyl disaster - the worst nuclear power station accident in history in which 31 people were killed and large amounts of radiation released into the environment . a statement on the zaporizhia plant 's website said radiation levels around the facility remained at normal levels and that the accident was being investigated .

<t> plant operator announced short circuit in power-generating unit at the site . </t> <t> led to drop in electricity supplies , but minster insists it posed no danger . </t> <t> ukraine still struggles to deal with legacy of chernobyl nearly 30 years on . </t>

ukraine 's nuclear power plant suffers technical fault<T>

as the entire country is in mourning for the tragic loss of phillip hughes , their hearts are also going out to young bowler sean abbott who attended today 's funeral for the much-loved cricketer . possibly the biggest day of the young cricketer 's life , the 22-year-old was surrounded by his cricketing family at the macksville recreational centre in macksville in northern nsw on wednesday . wearing a navy blue suit and dark sunglasses , he was accompanied by his girlfriend , brier neil , who did not leave her grief-stricken partner 's side throughout the heart-wrenching service . scroll down for video . possibly the biggest day of abbott 's life , the 22-year-old was surrounded by his cricketing family at the macksville recreational centre . abbott 's girlfriend , brier neil , did not leave her grief-stricken partner 's side throughout the service . abbott has received overhwelming love and support during the past eight days since the tragedy . abbott was the unfortunate player who delivered the bouncer that struck hughes in the neck during the sheffield shield clash at the sydney cricket ground last tuesday .<doc-sep>the 22-year-old has received overwhelming support from the entire cricket community including hughes ' own family who told daily mail australia the day before the funeral on tuesday that they were looking forward to seeing abbott and embracing him with open arms . a family member expressed the empathy they felt abbott 's unbearable situation . ` we ca n't wait to see sean abbott tomorrow and give him a big kiss and hug , ' the family member told daily mail australia at the time . ` we just want to tell him it was freak accident and he can not think he had anything to do with it . ` no one is blaming him . we want to hug him and tell him that everything is okay . ' united in arms : the devastated look on abbott 's face says it all - pictured right . former australian test star dean jones greets grief-striken sean abbott on wednesday .<doc-sep>possibly the biggest day of the young cricketer 's life . the courageous young man returned to training on tuesday with his new south wales blues team mates today who rallied around the player at a training session at the scg . ` it 's the whole squad that really needs everyone 's support , ' a spokeswoman for cricket nsw told daily mail australia . ` we want to keep supporting them as a group there were a lot of phillip 's friends in the team , ' she said . late last week , friends and mentors at the baulkham hills cricket club , the north-western sydney institution where abbott discovered his talent for cricketas a young boy , joined countless australians in rallying around the up-and-coming-cricketer . when one of ` sabs 's ' team-mates dropped a crucial catch as a youngster , he was always the good sportsman who would pat them on the back and reassure them it would be ok , they said . a distraught abbott leaves st vincent 's hospital in sydney after the news of hughes ' passing .<doc-sep>the courageous young man returned to training on tuesday with his new south wales blues team mates today who rallied around the player at a training session at the scg . ian chatman , who managed abbott 's junior team for about eight years and witnessed his first century , told daily mail australia he was a grounded young man who was ` loved by everyone , and still is . ' ` he was really loved by his team-mates , and he cared about them as well , ' said mr chatman , who said abbott would be ` devastated ' by tuesday 's events . ` he was always making sure that you know , if someone dropped a catch , he 'd be over there patting them on the back saying , `` do n't worry about it , it 's okay '' . ' hughes ' sister megan and australian skipper michael clarke both consoled the devastated cricketer in the immediate aftermath of his friend 's death . and they were far from alone . prime minister tony abbott and opposition leader bill shorten both spoke in support of the struggling cricketer . former australian national test captain adam gilchrist tweeted : ` may those footprints in the sand now support another young man in need . #seanabbott ' .<doc-sep>` all parties felt that given the enormous outpouring of support at last wednesday 's funeral , a state memorial service would no longer need to be held , ' new south wales premier mike baird said . ` last wednesday 's funeral in macksville was a wonderful service and a fitting tribute to phillip 's life and it was a privilege to be a part of it . sean abbott received warm embraces from his nsw team-mates ahead of a training session on monday . preparing to launch into action . sean abbott inspects the pitch prior to a training session for nsw . sean abbott was among the mourners at phillip hughes ' funeral last week . the young fast bowler is set to playing cricket for the first time since hughes ' death in a new south wales vs queensland game starting tomorrow . young fast bowler sean abbott in full flight . he sat out the resumption of grade cricket but is set to play again for new south wales on tuesday . abbott , who made his international debut in october , returned to training with nsw last tuesday and was among the more than 5000 mourners at hughes 's funeral the next day in the northern nsw town of macksville . hughes ' death sent shockwaves through the international cricket community , and senior australian players have conceded that returning to the playing field has been a challenge . there has been speculation abbott may be too traumatised by hughes ' death to make a full and effective return to the sport . abbott has been supported by all parts of the cricket community , including hughes ' family and australian captain michael clarke . sean abbott pictured after visiting phillip hughes in hospital after the batsman was fatally injured by a bouncer abott bowled during a south australia-nsw game last month . hughes ' former opening partner for australia , simon katich -lrb- left -rrb- was among the cricketers who were quick to console sean abbott after the phillip hughes tragedy . mourners singled out sean abbott at hughes ' funeral , offering words of comfort for the grieving fast bowler . legends of the game , including dean jones -lrb- left -rrb- , sought out sean abbott immediately after the accident and at the funeral to provide support . cricket nsw said all players , abbott included , were given the opportunity to decide when they want to return to playing . the scg wicket where hughes was struck has been retired by groundskeepers and will not feature again during australia 's summer of cricket . trauma experts say the impact of hughes 's death might not sink in for abbott for weeks . but they also say that returning to training and competition , if he 's surrounded by supportive team-mates , could help him recover quicker from any psychological damage . phillip hughes died on november 27 after suffering a head injury two days earlier while batting for his adopted state south australia against his home state new south wales two days earlier . the pitch on which phillip hughes was stricken by a bouncer will no longer be used this summer . hughes ' grieving south australian team-mates are also yet to decide if they will play tasmania in the next round of the sheffield shield . ' i would n't recommend -lrb- the players -rrb- stay away -lrb- from the sport -rrb- at all , actually , ' said michael burge , director of the australian college of trauma treatment . ` they just need to be taking into account that they may be a little bit awkward or not quite on their game as they were for a few weeks . ' sean abbott and his partner brier neill pictured in the procession through the streets of hughes ' hometown of macksville after the batsman 's funeral .<doc-sep>sean abbott was among the mourners at phillip hughes ' funeral last week . the young fast bowler is set to playing cricket for the first time since hughes ' death in a new south wales vs queensland game starting tomorrow . young fast bowler sean abbott in full flight . he sat out the resumption of grade cricket but is set to play again for new south wales on tuesday . team officials named abbott in the side but said he would have the final call on whether he plays or not . hughes collapsed after being struck in the neck by an abbott bouncer in the shield match between south australia and nsw at the scg on november 25 . he died two days later . abbott , who made his international debut in october , returned to training with nsw last tuesday and was among the more than 5000 mourners at hughes 's funeral the next day in the northern nsw town of macksville . hughes ' death sent shockwaves through the international cricket community , and senior australian players have conceded that returning to the playing field has been a challenge . there has been speculation abbott may be too traumatised by hughes ' death to make a full and effective return to the sport . abbott has been supported by all parts of the cricket community , including hughes ' family and australian captain michael clarke . sean abbott pictured after visiting phillip hughes in hospital after the batsman was fatally injured by a bouncer abott bowled during a south australia-nsw game last month . hughes ' former opening partner for australia , simon katich -lrb- left -rrb- was among the cricketers who were quick to console sean abbott after the phillip hughes tragedy . mourners singled out sean abbott at hughes ' funeral , offering words of comfort for the grieving fast bowler .<doc-sep>legends of the game , including dean jones -lrb- left -rrb- , sought out sean abbott immediately after the accident and at the funeral to provide support . cricket nsw says all players , abbott included , will be given the opportunity to decide when they want to return to playing . the scg wicket where hughes was struck has been retired by groundskeepers and will not feature again during australia 's summer of cricket . trauma experts say the impact of hughes 's death might not sink in for abbott for weeks . but they also say that returning to training and competition , if he 's surrounded by supportive team-mates , could help him recover quicker from any psychological damage . phillip hughes died on november 27 after suffering a head injury two days earlier while batting for his adopted state south australia against his home state new south wales two days earlier . the pitch on which phillip hughes was stricken by a bouncer will no longer be used this summer . hughes ' grieving south australian team-mates are also yet to decide if they will play tasmania in the next round of the sheffield shield . ' i would n't recommend -lrb- the players -rrb- stay away -lrb- from the sport -rrb- at all , actually , ' said michael burge , director of the australian college of trauma treatment . ` they just need to be taking into account that they may be a little bit awkward or not quite on their game as they were for a few weeks . ' sean abbott and his partner brier neill pictured in the procession through the streets of hughes ' hometown of macksville after the batsman 's funeral .<doc-sep>63 not out . phillip hughes in dashing action during his final innings for south australia versus nsw . merv hughes thoughts turned to sean abbott : ` my heart goes out to him , a young man early in his career , a promising young bowler . ' ` again i have met him a couple of times , i do n't know him all that well but i could n't even begin to imagine how he 's feeling or what he 's going through . ` it 's up to the individual and possibly time , you hope that he -lrb- abbott -rrb- does n't hold himself to blame because it was just a tragic incident . ` many bowlers have run in , over time , bowling short balls at batsmen and have hit batsmen and been worried about it . it 's very , very , tough for him - there 's no doubt about that - i ca n't even begin to imagine . ' ` my heart goes out to him , a young man early in his career , a promising young bowler , ' merv hughes said of sean abbott . ` you hope that he does n't hold himself to blame because it was just a tragic incident . ' he told daily mail australia that ` there has not been a more sad and sombre time ' . ` when phil hughes got hit last week , you know that it was going to be fairly critical when three games of cricket are called off as a result . ` since his passing on thursday just the outpouring of grief and feeling of sadness , i ca n't remember anything like it in any sport , to be honest . ` just a young man taken so tragically , obviously he had a big future -- to have played 26 test matches at the age of 25 , to have accomplished what he had accomplished he was a very promising player and certainly the australian selectors invested a fair bit of time on him and the view was that he was going to play a very big part in the cricket going forward . ' merv hughes has turned his hand to writing and acting in his post-cricket career . post-retirement merv hughes played his part as an australian selector and was part of the panel which brought phillip hughes into the international fold . since then he has turned his hand variously to writing , including his new book ` merv hughes ' 104 cricket legends ' , as well as some acting and television work . ` i 've made a living out of cricket and while i have n't played for 20 years -- you can go deep into it and cricket has given me the life i 've got , ' merv hughes said . ` i 'm the first to put my hand up and say i was very fortunate with the way that i was seen as a cricketer and to go out and about now and be recognised is great . ' december 14 , 2012 . phillip hughes plays another trademark shot for australia in the test match against sri lanka in hobart .

<t> all eyes were on bowler sean abbott at phillip hughes ' funeral . </t> <t> the 22-year-old wore dark sunglasses and a navy blue suit . </t> <t> his girlfriend , brier neil , did not leave his side throughout the service . </t> <t> hughes family was expected to meet with abbott while he was in town . </t> <t> family said the day before the service that they would embrace him . </t> <t> courageous young man returned to training with team mates on tuesday . </t>

sean abbott at phillip hughes ' funeral ca n't contain his grief<T>

two u.s. army recruiters are facing charges of unlawful sex with a minor after , police say , the two had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old they met while recruiting at a florida high school . christopher glenn doner , 30 , and john back , 33 , reportedly met the girl earlier this year while recruiting at harmony high school , the orlando sentinel reports . the two had both been in sexual relationships with the girl for several months , at the same time , and both asked her to stop seeing the other one but she did not , twis lizasuain , sheriff 's spokeswoman , told the newspaper . relationship : christopher glenn doner , 30 , -lrb- left -rrb- and john back , 33 , -lrb- right -rrb- are accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old they met while recruiting at a florida high school .<doc-sep>both men are married with children . doner and back frequently visited high schools to recruit students to join the military . neither are permitted to recruit anymore . the victim 's mother contacted authorities after she found text messages on the 17-year-old 's phone from the two army recruiters , according to fox orlando .<doc-sep>doner : doner -lrb- above -rrb- was arrested tuesday and charged with 10 counts of unlawful sex with a minor ; he posted bail wednesday and was released . harmony : the recruiters met the teen while recruiting at harmony high school -lrb- above -rrb- earlier this year . investigators say the sexual encounters never occurred on the school 's campus , but occurred in a home , a hotel , and in the teen 's car , fox reports . the victim reportedly told investigators the relationship was consensual .<doc-sep>doner was questioned by authorities in november and admitted that his relationship with the teen was wrong and said he would end it , according to wkmg . doner was arrested tuesday and charged with 10 counts of unlawful sex with a minor ; he posted bail and was released wednesday . detectives are working with investigators in michigan to track down back who relocated earlier this week . back will face two counts of unlawful sex with a minor and will be extradited to florida because of the felony warrant , wkmg reports . back is aware of the charges .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporters . published : . 15:10 est , 31 july 2013 . | . updated : . 07:09 est , 1 august 2013 . arrest : laura elizabeth whitehurst , 28 , allegedly had sex with three high school students . a high school teacher whose baby is fathered by one of her 16-year-old students pleaded guilty to six sex charges in court today . laura elizabeth whitehurst , 28 , had been . charged with 41 counts of sex and oral copulation with a minor in . alleged crimes that took place in redlands , los angeles . whitehurst admitted having sex with three of her students despite initially pleading not guilty to all charges . she pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful sex with a minor and two counts of oral copulation with a minor . the remaining charges were dismissed during a hearing at san bernardino superior court on wednesday morning , nbc reports . she agreed to a sentence of one year in jail , five years of probation and a lifetime registration as a sex offender and sex offender counseling . whitehurst was arrested earlier this month after the mother of the boy - now 17 - reported their alleged year-long relationship and subsequent birth of their child to police . the citrus valley high student is believed to have been present at the birth . she met him while acting as his adviser at the school . her attorney , james gass , told news media outside the courtroom yesterday that whitehurst wanted to retain custody of her baby girl , whom he confirmed had been fathered by the victim . when she was first arrested he told reporters she was just a ` clean-cut american girl ' and was having a hard time being in jail - which is evident from her recent court pictures . after that , two more former students have come forward to claim they had a sexual relationship with whitehurst .<doc-sep>a virginia math teacher already charged with having sex with a 17-year-old boy she taught has now admitted to sleeping with as many as four students . erica mesa , 27 , was slapped tuesday with three charges stemming from a sexual relationship she had with a student at colonial forge high school in stafford , authorities said . in court documents , investigators now say she has admitted to having sexual encounters with four students ages 16 to 18 , wjla reported . most of the trysts allegedly happened in mesa 's home in nearby fredericksburg , while one of the incidents happened in her suv . two of the students confirmed they 'd had sex with the married geometry teacher , according to the station . virginia math teacher erica mesa , 27 , has admitted to having sex with four male students , authorities say . workplace scandal : mesa allegedly met her underage lover at colonial forge high school , where both she and her husband worked as teachers . officials at the high school were tipped off by anonymous phone call informing them that the geometry and statistics teacher allegedly had sex with a male student in february , may and september . an investigation revealed that the male student was 16 years old when the relationship began last winter .<doc-sep>a female high school teacher from virginia has been accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student . erica mesa , 27 , of fredericksburg , has been charged with three counts of custodian indecent liberties and solicitation of a minor using a computer . the stafford county sheriff 's office announced tuesday that the math teacher and coach at colonial forge high school may also face additional charges stemming from her alleged affair with the teenager . bad teacher : erica lynne mesa , 27 , pictured left in her booking photo and right a few years ago , a teacher from virginia , is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old high school student . workplace scandal : mesa allegedly met her underage lover at colonial forge high school , where both she and her husband worked as teachers . officials at the stafford school have received an anonymous phone call informing them that the geometry and statistics teacher allegedly had sex with a male student in february , may and september . the rumors about the illicit tryst also made it onto social media , reported nbc washington . an investigation conducted by the stafford county sheriff 's office , the school superintendent and child protective services has revealed that the victim was 16 years old at the outset of his sexual relationship with erica mesa last winter . investigators also found out that the 27-year-old math teacher , who is married , allegedly sent nude photos of herself to her underage lover using her cell phone . erica mesa has worked at colonial forge high school since 2009 . she has been placed on administrative leave . her husband of two years , keith mesa , works as a social studies teacher and head volleyball coach at the same school . wedded bliss : erica mesa , nee manning , married keith mesa -lrb- left -rrb- in 2012 after three years of dating . co-workers : mrs mesa taught geometry while her husband of two years worked as a social studies teacher and head volleyball coach . according to the couple 's wedding site , the two got married july 21 , 2012 , in michigan . erica mesa , nee manning , graduated from concordia university ann arbor , where she studied secondary education with concentration in math and biology , and played volleyball . the michigan native met keith mesa in 2009 when she took a job opening at colonial forge , working as a geometry teacher and assistant junior varsity coach . although she wrote online that at first she could not stand her future husband because he was ` set in his ways ' and ` intense , ' not before long the two started dating and got engaged two years later . erica mesa is currently being held without bond at the rappahannock regional jail .<doc-sep>` we 're a tight-knit little family . everybody knows each other . we 're missing the kids in church and maybe . this will drive them back into the church where they belong . i hope it . does . ' harlan was released from jail on wednesday after posting $ 100,00 bail . he will be arraigned november 5 . changed future : the community on mt pleasant has been left shocked by the charges against the sports star . school : he was arrested without incident outside his high school , pictured , and released on bail . authorities began investigating harlan and two other suspects , a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old , last month after the girl told her mother she thought she was pregnant , wkrn reported . she was four-and-a-half weeks pregnant when the pregnancy was terminated , authorities said . they have not given any indication on who fathered the child . the teenagers allegedly had sex with the girl on separate occasions in july but police would not reveal how they met the child . harlan was arrested without incident outside the high school . the other teenagers have not been named because of their ages but have been released to their parents .

<t> christopher glenn doner , 30 , and john back , 33 , are facing charges for having sex with a girl they met while recruiting at a high school . </t> <t> the men were in a sexual relationship with the girl , at the same time , for several months and both asked the girl to stop seeing the other one . </t> <t> authorities are trying to track down back who moved to michigan earlier this week . </t>

two married servicemen face charges for having sex with girl , 17 , they met at a high school recruitment drive<T>

a man has been shot in the leg and arrested because he was unable to load # 185,000 of stolen cash onto his motorbike during a bank robbery getaway . cctv footage shows the man in huludao , china , trying to load the bag of cash weighing 13 stone onto the back of his motorbike after holding up a security guard at gunpoint . however , he visibly struggles to carry and lift the bag - which contained 1.77 million chinese yuan - around # 175,000 . scroll down for video . cctv camera footage shows the man dragging the heavy bag of cash across the ground towards his parked motorbike . another picture , taken from a different camera , shows the security guard dragging the heavy bag of cash through the bank 's revolving doors just prior to when he was held up by the robber . the camera footage shows the robber , who was not named , ambushing a security guard who was carrying the bag of cash through the bank 's revolving doors , sky news reported . using a replica gun , he manages to scare the guard away before taking the bag and starting to drag it across the carpark to a waiting motorbike . however , another camera reveals him struggling to even lift the bag , let alone balance it on top of the fragile-looking motorbike . it is then he was surrounded by police , shot in the leg and arrested . he later told police : ' i hate myself for doing that . how could i do such a thing ? ' i will treat my parents and my wife kindly if one day i 'm let out of prison . ' the bank robber pictured in his hospital bed where he was taken after being shot in the leg during the failed heist . during a filmed interview from his hospital bed , the man admits guilt at having tried to rob the bank .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- jim nicholson could 've just handed over the cash . instead , he gave the would-be robber a run for his money -- and paid for it . the 30-year-old bank teller said the suspect , dressed in black and wearing sunglasses , walked up to his counter at the key bank branch in suburban seattle , washington , demanding he fill the man 's bag with cash . `` so i grab the bag ... i threw it on the floor , '' nicholson told cnn radio . he said he demanded the robber show him a weapon . when he realized there was none , nicholson said , he lunged at the robber , chased him down the street , pinned him down and waited for the police .<doc-sep>by . snejana farberov . published : . 12:49 est , 1 november 2012 . | . updated : . 12:50 est , 1 november 2012 . a suspected robber in missouri learned the hard way that you do n't mess with a bank president - especially one who 's packing a colt .380 pistol at all times . david thompson , 58 , who has stood at the helm of peoples bank and trust in the city of troy for the past 36 years , turned the tables on a would-be robber wearing a halloween mask by pulling a gun on him in the parking lot and detaining him until police arrived . ` i did n't have time to get scared , ' thompson , a life member of the national rifle association who supports concealed-carry laws , told the st louis post-dispatch . armed : bank president david thompson , 58 , followed and restrained a robber who made off with $ 5,000 from his bank in troy , missouri . scene of the robbery : the people 's bank and trust in troy , where david thompson has been president for 36 years . clear warning : a notice on the front door of the bank makes it clear that staff carry concealed weapons - as the would-be assailant found out to his cost . ` i was excited . your adrenaline pumps . he robbed a bank , he menaced my employees , and i do n't allow that . ' thompson later learned that the suspect who attempted to hold up the bank on tuesday , identified as 58-year-old donald lee , was one of his customers . the brave bank president said he was surprised that someone would try to rob the establishment since there is a notice on the front door clearly indicating that ` lawful concealed carry permitted on these premises . ' police said at around 2.30 pm on tuesday , a man in a chucky mask walked into the bank at 430 east wood street and demanded that tellers hand him all the money they had . thompson was in his office when his receptionist alerted him to the situation playing out in the lobby . when . the banker looked out , he saw a man wearing a heavy jacket and a mask . walking away from the tellers carrying a red bag with $ 4,779 in cash . that . is when thompson , who has a black belt in martial arts , jumped into . action , following the man outside and locking the door behind him so as . not to put anyone else at risk . bank robber : donald lee , 58 , was a customer at the bank . he walked in wearing a chucky mask and demanded all the money in the bank . he made off with $ 4,779 . frightening : lee , seen here on cctv footage , pretended he was carrying a firearm and demanded money . it later emerged he was unarmed . hold-up : the bank clerk handed over nearly $ 5,000 . the robber was followed by bank president david thompson , who restrained him at gunpoint until police arrived . there were about 60 employees in the three-storey building and a few customers in the bank at the time . thompson then drew his colt .380 pistol and ordered lee to get out of his car . when the 58-year-old suspect reached into his jacket as if he had a gun , thompson told him : ` sir , you do n't want to do that or this will end badly . ' the quick-thinking banker grabbed lee 's hand and got him out of the ford pickup truck , after which he stood guard over the alleged crook and prevented him from fleeing . by that point , another bank employee , who also had a concealed weapon on him , came out of the building and helped thompson keep an eye on lee until police arrived about a minute later . pursuit : mr thompson is seen following lee into the bank 's car park , where he restrained him with a colt .380 pistol . unfazed : mr thompson , an nra member , said he did n't fear for his personal safety in pursuing the assailant . during the police search , thompson found out that lee had a debit card from peoples bank and trust , which he received when he opened an account there six months earlier , according to the lincoln county journal . police also revealed that he was not armed . lee has been charged with first-degree robbery , and his bail bond has been set at $ 50,000 , cash only . peoples bank and trust was last robbed in the 1930s , but all the employees receive training on handing emergency situations like this one every year . in the aftermath , thompson praised his tellers for remaining calm and handling the robbery by the book . the banker added that at no time was he worried for his own safety because according to him , the robber appeared ` frail and slow-moving . ' lee told police he 'd gone to the bank only to trick or treat . according to a neighbor , the 58-year-old moved to troy from oklahoma about a year ago to live with his daughter and grandchildren , and he may be suffering dementia or alzheimer 's .<doc-sep>` he had his hand in the plastic bag , ' he told cbs2 . pearce then grabbed the suspect 's arm and called his bluff . ` pow ! i clocked him . he went back a little bit , he came at me again , i hit him again , ' he said . police said 29-year-old suspect jacob williams was not armed and was arrested on the spot . pearce broke and fractured his hand in several places taking the suspect down . pearce told reporters that williams attempted to hold up the branch by claiming he had a gun when it was simply his hand in a plastic bag . jacob williams , left , was arrested by police after he was tackled by herb pearce , right , on tuesday . despite having no health insurance and not knowing how he 'll pay to get his injury treated , pearce said he has no regrets about stepping in . ` i 'll be darned if some junkie is gon na come off the street and take my -lrb- money -rrb- . i put too many hours to get that ... paycheck . so i 'm not gon na let him take my money , ' said pearce . pearce has asked chase to pay his medical bills , but he said the bank refused because their insurance provider does n't cover it . a spokesperson for the bank told cbs2 that they 're still looking into the incident . video : good samaritan stops bank robber with bare hands .<doc-sep>` the strange thing was , he said `` sorry '' to me then ran off . it makes me think that he must have known me because why would you rob someone and then say sorry for it ? ` it does n't make any sense . ' the robber demands all the money in the shop till , which mrs greenwell later said totalled about # 80 . after taking all the cash , the robber then inexplicably says ` sorry ' to mrs greenwell . the cctv footage then shows him fleeing the store , with all the shop 's takings stored in a plastic bag . northumbria police said money was handed over and the man left the shop with the cash in a small plastic bag . the suspect was tall and had a slim build . he was wearing a black balaclava over his face , a yellow hoodie with the hood up , blue jeans and dark footwear . stills from the cctv showed the robber to be armed with what appeared to be a gun before he made off with the cash , passing two customers on the way out . mrs greenwell , who is married to paul , a 44-year-old taxi driver , said : ` one of the customers tried to follow the robber in his car while the other looked after me while i dialled 999 .

<t> bank robbery foiled after thief is unable to make off with bag of cash . </t> <t> he was shot and arrested because he could n't fit the loot on his motorbike . </t> <t> cctv camera footage shows him struggling to lift the large bag . </t> <t> afterwards he said he would behave should he ever be released from jail . </t>

chinese bank robber arrested because cash bag was too heavy to carry<T>

just days after the fbi urged members of the military to clear their social media accounts of anything that might draw attention to them for fear of an isis attack in the homeland , one very important members of the armed forces has gone out and ignored their request . medal of honor winner dakota meyer , who served in the marines for four years , has used both his twitter and facebook to taunt members of isis , calling them ` cowards . ' and now , many around the country are applauding his actions . scroll down for video . standing strong : medal of honor winner dakota meyer has ignored the fbi 's request to not taunt isis on social media . proud soldier : meyer served for four years in the marines .<doc-sep>wo n't back down : on twitter , meyer invited isis members to his book club . ` when i start having to change my life because i 'm worried about something that could happen to me , that means terrorism is winning , '' he told abc news . ` that means terrorism is working . ' he then added , ' i refuse to let these idealistic , radical bullies change the way that i live . ' fbi officials had released this warning on monday in fear there may be a copycat attack in the united states similar to the one that happened this past october in canada , when two soldiers were killed in two separate incidents by young men who claimed they were isis followers in the span of just one week . meyer does not seem to be concerned though , posting his first amusing threat to twitter on tuesday , which showed him smoking a pipe and reading a marine handbook .<doc-sep>` wonder if any isis members want to drop by and join my book club , ' wrote meyer . he also wrote on tuesday , in a post on the website scout , ` if isis is using social media to track me , that 's a dream come true in my book . these guys are a bunch of bullies that just prey on the weak . ' ' i ca n't travel over there anymore now that i 'm out of the marine corps , so having them come to me would help out a lot . isis targeting the u.s. military is like a sheep targeting a lion . hopefully one of these a ** holes actually shows up . they 'll definitely get more than they want at my place ! ' he then closed by saying , ` i 'll take the responsibility to be the liaison for the military . i live in columbia , kentucky -- oops , is that too much information ? oh well . ' they wo n't win : meyer also said if he backs down that would mean ` terrorism is winning '<doc-sep>american hero : meyer received his medal for repeatedly entering a kill zone in afghanistan and saving 36 troops . meyer was awarded the medal of honor in 2011 after repeatedly charging into a kill zone during a 2009 ambush in kunar province , afghanistan in search of four of his missing soldiers . he was able to rescue 36 troops and kill eight taliban attackers despite being shot in the arms . he was not however able to save his four fellow soldiers and friends who he went in search of , though he did make sure to go back and carry each of their bodies to safety . ` because of your humble example , our kids -- especially back in columbia , kentucky , in small towns all across america -- they 'll know that no matter who you are or where you come from , you can do great things as a citizen and as a member of the american family , ' said president obama at his ceremony .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . last updated at 9:13 pm on 15th september 2011 . president barack obama today recognised the sacrifice of a courageous u.s. marine by giving him the nation 's highest military award , the medal of honor . in a solemn ceremony in the white house 's east room , mr obama told the family and friends of sgt dakota meyer how , in a conflict that has produced thousands of american heroes , the 23-year-old 's extraordinary tale of courage stands out from the rest . meyer charged through heavy insurgent gunfire on five death-defying trips in an armoured humvee to save 13 marines and army soldiers and another 23 afghan troops pinned down by withering enemy fire . he personally killed at least eight insurgents despite taking a shrapnel wound to one arm as he manned the gun turret of the humvee and provided covering fire for the soldiers , according to the military . stoic : president barack obama awards the medal of honor to former marine cpl dakota meyers , 23 , from greensburg , kentucky . valor : meyer ran through enemy fire to recover bodies of fellow troops in afghanistan . honoured : president obama shakes hands with dakota meyer at the end of the ceremony . dakota meyer ` placed himself in the thick of the fight ... again , again , and again , ' president obama said , recalling the events of september 8 , 2009 , when meyer defended his fellow soldiers in far-off kunar province , afghanistan during an ambush attack . ` you did your duty , above and beyond , ' president obama said . ` because of your honor , 36 men are alive today . ' meyer , now a civilian , also accepted the medal in honor of four comrades who did not survive the attack . the white house said meyer is the third living recipient of the military decoration for actions in afghanistan or iraq . he is the first marine so honoured with the medal . his hero 's moment , however , was his . darkest day . meyer lost some of his best friends the morning of the ambush . ` it 's . hard , it 's ... you know ... getting recognised for the worst day of your . life , so it 's ... it 's a really tough thing , ' meyer said prior to the ceremony , struggling for . words . meyer 's slain comrades will be memorialised in hometown ceremonies at his request . the ceremony comes after an informal meeting between meyer and president obama on wednesday , when the two men were pictured having a beer on a patio outside the oval office . united : u.s. president barack obama , first lady michelle obama and former u.s. marine dakota meyer walk to the east room of the white house for the today 's ceremony . welcoming : u.s. president barack obama and first lady michelle obama greet members of former marine dakota meyer 's family after meyer was awarded the medal of honor . casual : president obama and sgt meyer having a beer on a patio outside the oval office on wednesday , after meyer requested the informal meeting . brave : in this undated photo released by the u.s. marines , sgt dakota meyer poses for a photo while deployed in support of operation enduring freedom in ganjgal village , kunar province , afghanistan . ready to fight : in this undated photo released by the u.s. marines , sgt meyer poses with a machine gun while deployed in support of operation enduring freedom in ganjgal village , kunar province , afghanistan . in arms : in this undated photo released by the u.s. marines , then cpl dakota meyer , now a sgt -lrb- second from r -rrb- poses for a photo while deployed in support of operation enduring freedom in ganjgal village , kunar province . landlocked : a satellite image highlights kunar province , afghanistan where the deadly ambush occurred on september 8 , 2009 . white house spokesman jay carney tweeted : ` over the weekend , . the president 's staff called meyer in preparation for thursday 's medal . of honor ceremony at the white house . meyer asked the staffer if he . could have a beer with the president . potus invited dakota to come by . the white house this afternoon . '<doc-sep>by . thomas durante . updated : . 19:12 est , 15 december 2011 . in a ceremony at the white house in september , president obama told family and friends sgt dakota meyer 's tale of courage and heroism . the president described how sgt meyer charged through insurgent gunfire on five trips in a humvee to save 13 marines and army soldiers and another 23 afghan troops pinned down by withering enemy fire . he personally killed at least eight insurgents despite taking a shrapnel wound to one arm as he manned the gun turret of the humvee and provided cover for the soldiers , according to the military . exaggerated ? military documents reportedly claim that the deeds of sgt dakota meyer described by president obama and the marines are inflated and in some cases , not true . but a journalist embedded with the soldiers who survived the firefight , as well as sworn statements from the military and sgt meyer himself , suggest those stories may be inflated accounts . a mcclatchy reporter said that the . chronicle of the deeds that sgt meyer is said to have performed are full . of errors and in some cases , did n't even happen . for one , the claim that sgt meyer shot eight taliban insurgents dead can not be substantiated by the driver of the vehicle he was driving in , who testified that he only saw sgt meyer shoot one . mcclatchy also found that there 's no evidence to support that sgt meyer saved 13 u.s. marines and soldiers , as the marine corps claims . why ? because 12 americans , including the embedded journalist , were ambushed - and four of them were killed in the battle . the . reporter 's first-hand account of the firefight also showed that the . soldiers who did survive were saved - not by sgt meyer - but by u.s. choppers that flew in to . help . in addition , military medal historian . doug sterner told mcclatchy that it 's unlikely that the marines would . release the story of a battle based on sgt meyer 's account . stretching the truth : a military historian argues that many medal of honor recipients like sgt dakota meyer have been commended on exaggerations of their deeds . sterner said : ` give me a break . a recipient is responsible for writing his narrative ? i have never heard of such a thing . ' sterner . added that the meyer case is not alone , as many other medal of honor . recipients have been commended on exaggerations of their deeds . he said : ` did this man deserve the medal . of honor ? if the answer to that is yes , then the details of the . citation become secondary . but we do need to keep the record as . accurately as we possibly can . ' but despite the claims , there is no . evidence to support that sgt meyer was falsely nominated for the honour , as seven witnesses reportedly support the fact that he risked his life repeatedly during the mission . in afghanistan , meyer was part of a security team supporting a patrol moving into a village in the ganjgal valley on the day of the ambush . on thursday , president obama defended the medal of honor recipient , despite the mcclatchy report about the account of his bravery . press secretary jay carney said thursday the award was based on sworn testimony , reviewed by the marine corps , and obama ` remains very proud ' of meyer and his ` remarkable acts of bravery . ' the marine corps told mcclatchy it was also standing by its citation . produced in sgt meyer 's medal of honor nomination process . sgt meyer declined to comment . the revelations are the latest in a string of controversy for the marine .<doc-sep>by . james rush . published : . 09:51 est , 15 december 2012 . | . updated : . 11:09 est , 15 december 2012 . beaten up : medal of honor recipient dakota meyer has allegedly been assaulted by an 18-year-old in kentucky . a us marine who received the nation 's highest military award for valour is recovering after being attacked by a teenager . sgt dakota meyer , who received medal of honor from president barack obama last year , has been recovering after allegedly being attacked in kentucky . police have arrested 18-year-old kanissa'a thompson , who has been charged with second-degree assault , in connection with the incident . former marine sgt meyer was awarded the medal of honor last september , two years after the young corporal saved 36 lives during a six-hour ambush in afghanistan . he is the third living recipient of the award for actions in iraq or afghanistan . fox news has reported how he was injured in the fight which took place early sunday at the red barn event rental , near colombia , kentucky , which is used to host events including wedding receptions and class reunions . he is reported to have told the news channel that he was hit over the head with a bottle and then kicked and beaten while on the ground by a group of up to ten or more people before he woke up in hospital with three staples in his head . according to reports , sgt meyer was injured badly enough to be treated at a local hospital .<doc-sep>washington -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- a marine who defied orders and braved a blizzard of enemy fire to recover wounded and dead fellow american and afghan troops during a six-hour firefight in afghanistan received the medal of honor thursday from president barack obama . `` i know that you 've grappled with the grief of that day , that you have said that your efforts were somehow a failure because your teammates did n't come home , '' obama told dakota meyer , who became the first living marine to be recognized with the nation 's highest military honor for actions in afghanistan or iraq . `` but , as your commander-in-chief , i want you to know it 's quite the opposite . you did your duty above and beyond , and you kept the faith with the highest traditions of the marine corps that you love . '' `` the award honors the men who gave their lives that day , and the men who were in that fight , '' meyer said , according to a marine newsletter . `` i did n't do anything more than any other marine would . i was put in an extraordinary circumstance , and i just did my job . '' the incident began before dawn on september 8 , 2009 , as a patrol made up of afghan forces and their american trainers were making their way on foot up a narrow valley in kunar province to meet with elders in a village . meyer was about a mile away when taliban fighters ambushed the patrol , firing from three sides , obama said . meyer and staff sgt. juan rodriguez-chavez could hear the ambush over the radio as the taliban fighters unleashed a firestorm from nearby hills , obama said . soon a number of men were killed and several afghans and americans were pinned down , including four members of meyer 's team , obama said . `` four times , dakota and juan asked permission to go in ; four times they were denied , '' obama said . `` it was , they were told , too dangerous . '' but meyer and rodriguez-chavez left their relatively safe location and jumped into a humvee , with meyer manning a gun in the turret , his body and head fully exposed to a rain of fire from ak-47s , machine guns , mortars and rocket-propelled grenades , obama said . as they reached wounded afghan soldiers , meyer jumped out and loaded them into the humvee , then drove them back to safety , obama said . `` those who were there called it the most intense combat they had ever seen , '' the president said . for a second time , the men drove back into the hail of fire to pick up more wounded afghans ; when one gun jammed , meyer and rodriguez-chavez switched to another vehicle , obama said . on their third trip , they found a group of wounded americans `` desperately trying to escape the bullets , '' obama said . `` juan wedged the humvee right into the line of fire , using the vehicle as a shield . with dakota on the guns , they helped those americans back to safety as well . `` dakota later confessed , ' i did n't think i was going to die ; i knew i was , ' '' obama said . `` still , they pushed on . '' they made a fourth trip , and then a fifth . on the fifth trip -- now accompanied by others -- they reached the bodies of the four members of meyer 's team . `` dakota jumped out and ran toward them , drawing all those enemy guns on himself , bullets kicking up the dirt all around him , '' obama said . `` dakota and the others who had joined him knelt down , picked up their comrades and , through all those bullets , all the smoke and all the chaos , carried them out , one by one . '' meyer agreed to accept the medal in their names : 1st lt. michael johnson , staff sgt. aaron kenefick , petty officer third class james layton and gunnery sgt. edwin johnson . `` i was a failure , '' meyer told cnn last fall . `` my guys died . that was my whole team . '' neither obama nor the marines saw it that way . a defense official with knowledge of the award process last fall said that just before he retired , the u.s. marine commandant , gen. james conway , recommended meyer for the nation 's highest award for bravery . the actions of meyer , 23 , saved the lives of 13 u.s. marines and soldiers and 23 afghan soldiers , according to the marines ' medal of honor account . he also is credited with killing at least eight taliban insurgents during the incident . for his role in the battle , staff sgt. juan rodriguez-chavez received the navy cross , the second-highest decoration that may be bestowed on marines . meyer , who serves in the inactive ready reserve of the u.s. marine corps reserve as a sergeant in his home state of kentucky , said in november that he did n't want to discuss details of the incident because it was still difficult to think about . on wednesday , obama and meyer had a beer together on the patio outside the oval office . according to a series of tweets by white house spokesman jay carney , when a member of obama 's staff called meyer over the weekend to prepare , `` meyer made a special request . ... meyer asked the staffer if he could have a beer with the president . '' meyer is only the second marine to earn the medal of honor from the current wars . in april 2004 , marine cpl. jason dunham was leading a patrol in an iraqi town near the syrian border when a person in a vehicle dropped a grenade . dunham hurled himself on top it , using his helmet to try to blunt the force of the blast . he died eight days later and received the honor posthumously . cnn 's larry shaughnessy contributed to this report .

<t> dakota meyer , a medal of honor winner , has taken to social media to write amusing taunts to members of isis . </t> <t> in one twitter post he invites isis members to his book club , and on facebook he labels them ` cowards ' </t> <t> this just days after the fbi urged military members to be careful on social media for fear of an attack on the homeland . </t> <t> meyer says he refuses to back down because that would mean ` terrorism is winning ' </t> <t> meyer was awarded the medal of honor for returning to kill zone in afghanistan repeatedly in 2009 and saving 36 troops when he was just 21 . </t>

medal of honor winner dakota meyer taunts isis on twitter<T>

a pair of burmese migrant workers have been charged in connection with the brutal murder of two british tourists at a luxury thai beach resort . david miller , 24 , and hannah witheridge , 23 , were found mutilated on sairee beach on the after attending a party on the island of koh tao in september . autopsies showed both had suffered severe head wounds and witheridge had been raped , before their bodies were discovered near the resort known for world-class scuba diving . scroll down for video . hannah witheridge and david miller were brutally murdered on the island of koh tao in thailand this summer . burmese migrant workers zaw lin and win zaw htun , both 21 , have been charged with the murders . they claim they were tortured by thai police before they confessed to the crime . the pair were working in the country illegally . burmese bar workers zaw lin and win zaw htun , who were working in the country illegally , have now been charged by thai prosecutors with with conspiracy to murder , conspiracy to rape and robbery , according to deputy police chief spokesman colonel kissana phathanacharoen . neither man appeared at the provincial court on the island of ko samui and they will have an opportunity to enter a plea at the next hearing , he added . they are also entitled to request bail at any time , he said . police claimed the men confessed to the killings in october , adding that the dna evidence matched that of the two suspects . prosecutors have said other evidence includes close-circuit television footage linking the two to the crime . but there has been international concern about the way the case has been handled by the thai authorities . the pair , both 21 , have admitted they were drinking beer and playing guitar near the scene where witheridge from great yarmouth and miller from jersey were found on september . they could be sentenced to die by lethal injection if they are convicted . the backpackers ' bodies were found in the surf on sairee beach -lrb- pictured -rrb- in the early hours of the morning . but they claim that their initial confessions were extracted by beatings and threats and it was reported that a burmese embassy official later formally retracted their statements to police . amnesty international has called for an investigation into the allegations , citing a lawyer from the burmese embassy legal team who said he had been told that police had beaten one suspect and ` threatened him with electrocution . ' the foreign office has also expressed concern to thai authorities about whether the investigation was conducted properly and british detectives also flew to the country to observe and assist the thai investigators with the case , last month . along with the torture allegations , police have also been criticised for failing to secure the crime scene and releasing several names and pictures of suspects who turned out to be innocent . they were also condemned after they paraded lin and htun in front of cameras shortly after the had made their confessions . a lawyer for the pair also said key witnesses are too afraid to come forward , hampering his clients ' defence as they prepare to enter a plea . ` this case is not fair , ' nakhon chomphuchat , head of their thai legal team told the afp . ` they were migrant workers so witnesses do not dare to testify -lrb- for the defence -rrb- . ` we have many disadvantages ... we still have not seen the prosecutors ' evidence , we just have to fight as best as we can , ' he added . royal thai police major general suwat jaengyodsuk defended the investigation before the country 's human rights commission yesterday , according the bangkok post . insisting the dna tests and arrests had been handled by the book he said there had been no torture at any time during the investigation , the paper reported . witheridge , a student at the university of essex , was described by her family as ' a beautiful , intelligent , loving young woman who poured joy into the lives of all who knew her ' . mr miller finished studying civil and structural engineering at leeds university in june , where he was on course to achieve a first-class degree . his family said he was a ` hard-working , bright and conscientious ' young man who would be ` sorely , sorely missed . ' sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>the two burmese men accused of murdering two british holidaymakers on the holiday island of koh tao appeared in court for the first time yesterday . zaw lin and win zaw htun , both 21 , are charged with three offences - conspiracy to murder , conspiracy to rape and robbery - in connection with the deaths of david miller , 24 , and 23-year-old hannah witheridge . a plea to postpone the start of the pre-trial hearings was rejected after defence lawyers wanted a delay to allow more time to prepare , according to the bbc . scroll down for videos . win zaw htun , left , and zaw lin , second right , the suspects in the killing of two british tourists , are escorted by police officers as they leave koh samui provincial court in surat thani province , southern thailand , yesterday . hannah witheridge -lrb- left -rrb- and david miller -lrb- right -rrb- were murdered while backpacking in thailand in september but the foreign office is concerned about the way the thai authorities have handled the investigation . it comes after a thai diplomat was summoned to the foreign office amid concerns about the widely-criticised police investigation into the murders . mark kent , the british ambassador to thailand , said on twitter he had taken part in a three-hour meeting with thai police , the burmese ambassador and a ` delegation ' on the koh tao murders . foreign minister hugo swire told thai charge d'affaires nadhavathna krishnamra there was ' a real concern ' in the uk over the way in which the deaths of miss witheridge and mr miller have been dealt with . zaw and win , both migrant workers employed in bars on koh tao , were paraded in front of the cameras and forced to take part in a reconstruction of the killings after apparently making confessions . but those confessions were then apparently retracted , with a statement from a burmese embassy lawyer claiming the suspects claimed police tortured them into incriminating themselves . thai police denied the claims , but amnesty international has demanded an investigation into them and further allegations of abuse made by members of the burmese migrant worker community on koh tao . there are widespread rumours on social media that the real perpetrators are thai mafia who are being protected by police .<doc-sep>burmese investigators have said they believe the myanmar migrant workers accused of murdering two . british tourists in thailand are innocent , but witnesses who . might be able to prove this are too afraid to testify . zaw lin and win zaw htun are on trial for the murder of 24-year-old david miller and the rape and murder of hannah witheridge , 23 , on the island of koh tao in september . the migrant workers , both 21 , . initially confessed to the murders but later retracted their . confessions saying they had been beaten and threatened by thai . police . zaw lin -lrb- left -rrb- and win zaw htun -lrb- right -rrb- are on trial for the murders of two british tourists on the thaii island of koh tao in september . but thai police deny those accusations and say they have . solid evidence , including dna evidence , against the two men who . were arrested in october . a committee set up by myanmar 's embassy in thailand to . investigate the case said they had interviewed about 40 myanmar . nationals who were working on koh tao at the time of the . murders . some of those interviewed were ` strong witnesses ' who might .<doc-sep>the son of an influential village chief on koh tao has been forced to take a dna test after rumours swept the thai island that he murdered two british backpackers there last month . warot tuwichian , 22 , handed himself in to police yesterday after he was accused on social media of killing hannah witheridge , 23 , and david miller , 24 , on september 15 . he underwent tests at four different hospitals . the university student is the son of hat sairee village chief woraphan tuwichian , who owns ac bar where the two murdered tourists had a quarrel with some men before being killed later that night . a doctor takes a swab from warot tuwichian 's mouth after he handed himself in after he was accused of killing hannah witheridge and david miller . raped and murdered : the battered bodies of british backpackers hannah witheridge -lrb- left -rrb- and david miller -lrb- right -rrb- were found on the southern thai island of koh tao on september 15 . burmese nationals zaw lin and win zaw tun have already been charged with the murders , but some have claimed they were framed to cover up warot 's involvement . however , initial tests at the the institute of forensic science at the police general hospital , did not match the dna in semen retrieved from the scene where miss witheridge was raped before being killed . police are still waiting for the results of tests on samples taken by chulalongkorn memorial hospital , siriraj hospital and ramathibodee hospital . they said their results will be made public no later than saturday . mr miller and miss witheridge 's battered bodies were found on the southern island of koh tao on september 15 . thai police claimed a breakthrough in their investigation of the double murder when they said dna from the accused migrant workers matched samples taken from the body of one of the victims . prawut thavornsiri -lrb- right -rrb- and national police chief somyot poompanmoung -lrb- left -rrb- with warot tuwichien -lrb- centre -rrb- during a press briefing in bangkok on the koh tao murder cases . the university student is the son of hat sairee village chief woraphan tuwichian , who owns ac bar where the two murdered tourists had a quarrel with some men before being killed later that night . were they framed ? burmese migrants zaw lin and win zaw tun participate in a crime re-enactment of the murders of two british tourists in koh tao , but later recanted their confessions . thaiand 's premier has now ordered a second dna test on the men amid criticism of the police investigation . they said both men had also confessed and forced them to re-enact the killings in bizarre scenes before the world 's media . but last week the men , both in their 20s , retracted their confessions alleging they were obtained under duress . criticism of the police handling of the case has swirled both in thailand and overseas . ` we will allow suspects to take another dna test , ' prime minister prayut chan-o-cha told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting . ` if they think that the previous tests were unfair we will conduct a second test . ' it was not immediately clear if the accused had requested a second dna test . tun tun htike -lrb- left -rrb- and may thein -lrb- second left -rrb- , the parents of win zaw tun gesture to members of the media as they arrive at the lawyers council of thailand under the royal patronage in bangkok . relatives of the two burmese suspects meet with a lawyer as they campaign for their release after the pair recanted their confessions , saying they were made under duress . thai authorities have strongly denied using the pair as scapegoats , insisting the case is built on solid evidence showing the dna of the accused from initial tests matches samples taken from witheridge 's body . british police have been allowed to observe the investigation after the uk expressed concerns and offered to help with the probe . before the murders , thailand was already struggling to restore its tarnished image as a tourist haven after a may coup saw martial law imposed across the country . the murders have dented tourism , which accounts for nearly 10 per cent of gross domestic product , at a time when thailand is still under martial law after a may military coup that had already kept some tourists away .<doc-sep>a second dna test will be conducted on two burmese men accused of killing a pair of british tourists in thailand amid fears the suspects may have been framed , the thai premier said today . zaw lin and win zaw tun were charged with the murder of david miller , 24 , and the rape and murder of hannah witheridge , 23 . the pair 's battered bodies were found on the southern island of koh tao on september 15 . thai police claimed a breakthrough in their investigation of the double murder when they said dna from the accused migrant workers matched samples taken from the body of one of the victims . were they framed ? burmese migrants zaw lin and win zaw tunthai participate in a crime re-enactment of the murders of two british tourists in koh tao , but later recanted their confessions . thai ; and 's premier has now ordered a second dna test on the men amid criticism of the police investigation . raped and murdered : the battered bodies of british backpackers hannah witheridge -lrb- left -rrb- and david miller -lrb- right -rrb- were found on the southern thai island of koh tao on september 15 . they said both men had also confessed and forced them to re-enact the killings in bizarre scenes before the world 's media . but last week the men , both in their 20s , retracted their confessions alleging they were obtained under duress . criticism of the police handling of the case has swirled both in thailand and overseas . ` we will allow suspects to take another dna test , ' prime minister prayut chan-o-cha told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting . ` if they think that the previous tests were unfair we will conduct a second test . ' it was not immediately clear if the accused had requested a second dna test . tun tun htike -lrb- left -rrb- and may thein -lrb- second left -rrb- , the parents of win zaw tun gesture to members of the media as they arrive at the lawyers council of thailand under the royal patronage in bangkok . relatives of the two burmese suspects meet with lawyer as they campaign for their release after the pair recanted their confessions , saying they were made under duress . thai authorities have strongly denied using the pair as scapegoats , insisting the case is built on solid evidence showing the dna of the accused from initial tests matches samples taken from witheridge 's body . british police have been allowed to observe the investigation after the uk expressed concerns and offered to help with the probe . before the murders , thailand was already struggling to restore its tarnished image as a tourist haven after a may coup saw martial law imposed across the country . the murders have dented tourism , which accounts for nearly 10 per cent of gross domestic product , at a time when thailand is still under martial law after a may military coup that had already kept some tourists away .

<t> david miller and hannah witheridge murdered on koh tao on sept. 15 . </t> <t> migrant workers zaw lin and win zaw htun have been charged . </t> <t> thai police claim they confessed and their dna was found at the scene . </t> <t> lin and htun claim they were beaten before admitting to the crime . </t> <t> neither man attended court to hear the charges against them . </t>

burmese migrant workers charged british backpackers on koh tao murders<T>

a british businessman who escaped jail by fleeing dubai after having an affair with a married mother has returned to the country to try and get the conviction quashed , mailonline can reveal . brian clark was convicted in dubai misdemeanours court in 2009 of having illicit sex with marnie pearce . ms pearce , a 46-year-old british mother-of-two , was convicted of adultery in the strictly islamic united arab emirates when her husband ihab el labban accused her of cheating on him . she was jailed for three months and lost custody of her two sons in a notorious case that made headlines around the world . scroll down for video . jailed : marnie pearce made headlines around the world when she was jailed for adultery after allegedly having an affair with brian clark in dubai . she then lost custody of her two sons . counter claim : ms pearce claims that her husband , ihab el labban , above , made up the adultery claim to win custody . she then went on to allege that it was he who was having the affair . in an ironic twist , ms marnie 's husband then moved in with the american woman she said he was having an affair with - but escaped scot-free . and in the latest development in the six-year saga , oil-worker mr clark is trying to get the case quashed because more than five years have passed since the original conviction . his lawyer yousuf hammad told dubai misdemeanours court : ` my client is a married man and a father and lives a happy and stable life . his family depends on him . ` he was sentenced in absentia more than five years ago . we ask the court to dismiss the case due to time lapse . ' ms pearce was embroiled in a lengthy , bitter and eventually futile battle with her husband to keep her children . the pair married in a dream wedding in the seychelles in 1999 but not long after their sons laith , now 13 , and zaid , 10 , were born , the marriage fell apart .<doc-sep>according to ms pearce , a former florist and teaching assistant , they split acrimoniously after she discovered he had been having an affair with american former actress tonya thompson , 52 . the u.s. businesswoman met mr el labban , 47 , while visiting dubai in 2007 . his wife said she threw him out after discovering a love letter from miss thompson . but her nightmare began in march 2008 when mr el labban told police it was she who was having an affair . anguish : ms pearce was caught on video handing over the boys after going on the run for a month with them . adultery is a criminal offence in the uae and ms pearce contends her estranged husband hurled accusations in a bid to win sole custody of their children . police who raided her family home found her having tea with mr clark , the brother of ms pearce 's friend , who was visiting dubai . despite her claims the friendship was innocent and she had only met mr clark three times , officers seized five used condoms and emails . the condoms bearing her dna -lrb- although mr clark was never tested -rrb- were enough to seal her conviction in november 2008 , although she maintained they were planted by mr el labban , a former executive with pharmaceuticals firm procter & gamble . she appealed and had the sentence reduced to three months in february 2009 . crucially though , she lost custody of her sons . she went on the run for a month to enjoy a few last precious moments with her children , but then handed over the sobbing boys in heartrending scenes outside dubai criminal courts and gave herself in . ' i was searched and most of my personal items were confiscated , ' she said on her release . ' i had to beg the woman guard to let me keep five photos of the children . ' i was strip-searched . i felt so humiliated . ' during her time in prison , she shared cells with murderers and prostitutes and lost nearly a stone .<doc-sep>the thought of seeing her boys again kept her going . ` speaking to them on the phone kept me sane , ' she said at the time . ` yet at one point , ihab would n't let me . it was torture . ' she insisted : ' i have done nothing wrong . i am a good mother and while my ex-husband would not hurt a hair on the children 's heads , what he is doing is wrong . love quadrangle : mr el labban married tonya thompson in 2010 and has set up home with her in florida . ' i never had an affair . this all feels unreal . i knew i would be going to prison and just wanted four weeks with my babies so i could spend as much time with them as possible and so they would know i never intended to leave them . ' mr el labban , meanwhile , contended : ' i am the victim in this . marnie has done horrible things . ' she was eventually released and her compulsory deportation order waived so she could stay in dubai and have access to the children . mr el labban , in the meantime , married miss thompson in 2010 and moved in with her in orlando - but not before bringing a civil lawsuit claiming emotional and psychological damage and being awarded # 3,500 compensation from ms pearce . in the latest twist , mr clark is pushing to get the case thrown out . mr hammad told the court : ` the defence will not discuss the details of the crime considering it is more than five years old . ` we are seeking to have the legal action halted against the defendant and have the case dropped . my client 's family is waiting for him . ' just why he is seeking to face justice after all this time is unclear .<doc-sep>by . emily allen . published : . 06:51 est , 9 october 2012 . | . updated : . 08:45 est , 9 october 2012 . a naked rambler has won a long battle to overturn his conviction for causing distress to a female dog walker who said she saw his genitals . naturist nigel keer , 42 , will now be continuing his nude hiking - once the weather warms up - after a panel of judges gave a list of reasons to quash his conviction .<doc-sep>sacked nottingham forest boss stuart pearce turned down an offer from owner fawaz al hasawi to stay at the club in an advisory role -- on a day six more employees left the city ground . it is understood pearce was offered a senior role , initially believed to resemble a director of football position . in a significant development , chief executive paul faulkner quit in the light of pearce 's dismissal and al hasawi 's failure to consult him over the appointment of new manager dougie freedman . stuart pearce turned down an offer from nottingham forest 's owners to stay on as a director . nottingham forest chief executive paul faulkner resigned less than 24 hours after pearce was sacked . assistant manager steve wigley , first-team coach brian eastick , goalkeeping coach tim flowers , physio dave galley and head of recruitment john marshall were all shown the door as freedman began to shape his staff .<doc-sep>suspended : attorney wallace bock , left , and accountant irving kamsler , right , committed ` shocking ' tax fraud which meant miss clark , who died aged 104 in may , had an irs bill of $ 90million , ruled judge kristin booth glen . angry : judge kristin booth glen called them ` unfit to serve ' mr bock and mr kamsler allegedly did not file federal gift tax returns for miss clark from 1997 to 2003 when she gave gifts worth $ 56million , reported msnbc . the taxes would have been $ 41.5 million . the duo also made her pay for tax returns that were not filed and did not tell her about unpaid taxes or possible penalties even though she could have afforded them , the court heard . they were also said to have lied to the irs and the public administrator and submitted tax returns which they knew were fraudulent . this raises the possibility of criminal charges being brought . mr kamsler , 64 , of the bronx , new york , is a registered sex offender who tried to distribute ` indecent materials ' to teenage girls in an aol chat room . mr bock , 79 , is from queens , new york . vacant : the mysterious clark estate in santa barbara , california , which has been empty since 1963 . it is worth more than $ 100 million . for sale : le beau château , in wealthy new canaan , connecticut , is only an hour from new york city but miss clark had never visited the property . windfall : hadassah peri received a staggering multi-million payment from miss clark when she died . the duo were paid thousands of dollars a month for responsibilities that included dealing with the heiress 's taxes .<doc-sep>john pearce , archaeology lecturer at king 's college london , said in an article about the discoveries published in the journal britannia : ` one theory is that those scenes that show sexual activity have an apotropaic power , because they make you laugh so that wards off the evil eye . ' another amateur archaeologist stumbled across a penis with a pair of wings that has been carved from animal bone , while a hollow gold pendant in the shape of a penis was also discovered . lover : this hollow copper bust is believed to depict antinous , the greek lover of the emperor hadrian . ` rare ' : this unusual brooch in the shape of a leaping dolphin could have been worn by a man or a woman , experts say . mr pearce said a three-dimensional dolphin brooch - which could have been worn by either a man or a woman - found in essex was particularly unusual , according to foxnews.com . the lecturer said he had been unable to find an example of another one like it . the hollow copper bust depicting a bare-chested young man was discovered near market rasen in lincolnshire . while experts ca n't be certain it is of hadrian 's lover antinous , the hairstyle closely matchs other statues that are known to be of him . the affair between hadrian - who ruled from ad 117 to 138 - and greek antinous was widely known and would not have been perceived as unusual at the time . when antinous died in egypt in ad 130 , the grief stricken emperor ordered that he be deified , and statues of his dead lover sprung up throughout the empire . artefacts : phallic symbols were a common theme in roman art . the practice of amateur treasure hunters searching for artefacts in england and wales is controversial , with some critics arguing it could lead to potential archaeological sites being disturbed and the loss of provenance information . the government backed public antiquities scheme records all findings in an online public database .

<t> brian clark was convicted five years ago in uae of having illicit sex . </t> <t> his lover marnie pearce , 46-year-old british mother-of-two , was jailed for three months for adultery after going on the run for a month with her sons . </t> <t> they were taken away and now live with her former husband - she claims that he made up the accusations to get custody of the boys . </t> <t> ihab el labban then took up with american woman he was allegedly having an affair with in case that made headlines across the world . </t> <t> clark fled uae before sentence but is now back trying to clear his name . </t>

marnie pearce 's lover brian clark returns to dubai to quash conviction<T>

an iranian photographer has captured the desperate lives of south asian labourers who travel to dubai in the hope of building a future for their families - but find only squalor , low wages and backbreaking work in stifling heat . farhad berahman 's pictures were taken in sonapur , the unofficial name for a work camp on the outskirts of dubai , located far away from the luxury , soaring skyscrapers and vast wealth that the united arab emirates city is renowned for . ` sonapur ' - ironically , the name means ` city of gold ' in hindi - is home to more than 150,000 workers , mostly from india , pakistan , bangladesh and china . scroll down for video . an iranian photographer has captured the harsh lives endured by the migrant workers building dubai 's ever-growing skyline . pictured is a huge dirty kitchen at the sonapur camp where many of them live . the gas pipelines were built by the labourers and not subject to safety laws . unhygeinic : a man guts fish in filthy conditions in a sonapur kitchen . misery : farhad explains that several workers have their passports seized at the airport , and are forced to work extremely long hours in blistering heat for very little pay . sonapur is now home for more than 150,000 workers , mostly from india , pakistan , bangladesh and china . grim living standards : jahangir , 27 , from bangladesh , has worked as a cleaner for the past four years . he earns 800 aed -lrb- # 139 -rrb- a month and sends 500 aed -lrb- # 87 -rrb- to his family . he uses the rest of the money for rent and food . soaring : thirty years ago , almost all of dubai was a desert but it has become one of the main trade hubs and tourist destinations in the region . thirty years ago , almost all of dubai was a desert but it has grown rapidly become one of the main commercial hubs and tourist destinations in the region . the photographer has visited dubai many times and has watched it grow in size and wealth . the 33-year-old says there is an unspoken understanding that there are three different classes of people in dubai - the emiratis , the expats and , at the bottom , the labourers who built the city . farhad explains that several workers have their passports seized at the airport and are forced to work extremely long hours in blistering heat for very little pay . they are taken to sonapur - which is not on the map - so they can be better controlled by employers . he spoke to one labourer called jahangir from bangladesh . the 27-year-old has worked as a cleaner for the past four years and earns 800 aed -lrb- # 139 -rrb- a month and sends 500 aed -lrb- # 87 -rrb- to his family . he is forced to survive on what little remains . left , traders display their wares at sonapur . right , workers are forced to clean themselves using spartan sanitation . labourers seek to make extra cash at the weekends by setting up food stalls and trading with fellow migrants . improvised fun : labourers enjoying a game called carrom , similar to billiards , which they built themselves .<doc-sep>gruelling : the labourers usually work 14 hours where in summer the temperature goes over 50c . western tourists are told not to stay outside more than five minutes . every evening , the hundreds of thousands of young men who build the city are driven to vast concrete wastelands to work . these labourers are working on luxurious boats in a shipyard in jaddaf . these boats are used mostly for tourism and can fetch $ 3,755,000 . farhad explains : ` people come to this land to make their future and benefit from the huge investments in construction and oil . ` there are many luxurious hotels and world-renowned structures which labourers have built over recent years . ` the employer usually takes their passport as soon as they arrive at dubai airport and they are all sent to sonapur . ` the labourers usually work 14 hours where in summer the temperature goes over 50c . ` conversely , it is usually advised for western tourists not to stay outside for more than five minutes in summer . ` according to the government 's laws , work places should close down during this kind of temperature in order not to harm labourers and their health , but the government often does not even announce the right weather temperature . ' harrowing : their accommodation is cramped , filthy , sweltering and often overrun with vermin . yet many ca n't leave . the secret vegetable market within sonapur is a cheap place for labourers to provide themselves with vegetable and fruits . when farhad arrived he saw dozens of men sitting around the courtyard on broken furniture , cooking in dirty kitchens and stray animals skulking around . he added : ` the rooms are 12ft by 12ft with six beds and accommodate six to eight people . food is usually cooked using gas cylinders in terrible condition . ` one of the chinese workers stopped me , took me to his room and showed me a sign he had written on some wood . it read : ` dear boss i am working in your company already 1 year , my contract was expired but i can not get my salary all 4 month less . i must go china soon , please pay for my money . ' pleading : a chinese worker has written a message for his employer begging them to pay him and let him go home .<doc-sep>makeshift : using a broken mirror and stationed next to a bin , a barber sets up shop . muslim labourers during their evening prayer . farhad believes that the stories of labourers are extremely important . shahroukh , who enjoys a better standard of living than other workers , gets ready before heading out to work at a decoration company . the expats who enjoy high incomes will likely never experience the dark side of dubai , where the labourers ' suffering is hidden from the media . farhad says he was so moved after seeing it for himself that he decided to create the photo series . he said : ' i did not try to get permission since these areas are restricted to the public and i was sure i would be unsuccessful since the uae does not wish to show this aspect of their country . ` so , i took pictures at night when it was much easier to hide from security . as soon as i started meeting labourers and getting to know them , i realised they were scared of me . ` after a while one of the labourers who could speak english told farhad they were afraid he was from the government . devotion : labourers heading back to their rooms after evening prayer . the mosque inside sonapur is one of the few well-maintained buildings . ali sadam , 24 , has been working as cleaner for the past two years and lives with five roommates in sonapur . he added : ` most of the time i slept in my car and waited until it got dark so i could do my work . ' in spite of his efforts , the photographer was arrested by security and questioned . ' i pretended to be a lost tourist and the security wanted to report me to the police since the labourers ' area is forbidden to photograph . ' they let him go . the iranian photographer hopes that this series will make people think twice about what goes on around them , and if they are moved by the suffering they might be encouraged to do something to help . ' i think treating humans so cruelly is against their human rights and yet it still exists around us , ' he said . ' i ca n't tell anyone what to think of the images , but i believe they speak for themselves . '<doc-sep>it took a conversation with a friend to spark the idea of using ahmed 's knowledge of the dubai food scene to set up walking tours . she thought she would only have to do a two-week tour-guiding course before she got started but she had n't reckoned on dubai bureaucracy -- resembling some ancient desert defensive system . `` there are a lot of checks and balances , which is good for keeping out rogue operators , but it stifles creative ideas , '' she says . `` the system is designed for veterans , and makes it extremely hard for an outsider to try anything . '' or fry anything . the irony is that frying pan adventures -- finally launched in january 2013 -- offers precisely the more unusual sorts of experiences dubai tourism chiefs are trying to promote . dubai goes countercultural . that 's right : dubai is brushing out the hair gel , washing off the fake tan , putting the gold jewelry in a back drawer and going a little countercultural . in a bid to hit a target of 20 million tourists a year , the city-state 's department of tourism and commerce marketing wants to pump a lot more money into what it calls cultural and heritage tourism . aka : things you can do in dubai that do n't have `` seven-star '' tacked in front of them . so , ahmed could soon be riding a wave . already she 's having to turn people away to keep the small group ethos . when tourists hate tourists . she seems to have discovered an important and potentially lucrative truth : tourists often do n't like other tourists . `` they get wildly excited when they see a restaurant with no one like them in it , '' she says . like at abshar -lrb- al maktoum road , +971 4233 0555 -rrb- an iranian restaurant on the first floor of a non-descript mini-mall . it 's one of ahmed 's favorites -- for its freshly made eggplant dip , bread sliding out of a roaring oven on wooden paddles and its rich fesenjoon stew of chicken , pomegranate and walnut . manousheh fans , get in touch . see frying pan adventures for tour dates and to book .<doc-sep>dubai , united arab emirates -lrb- cnn -rrb- -- if you look at dubai , there is the modern side and the traditional side , but they all interact with each other . if i 'm in the car , i can go from one place to another and see different backgrounds , different people and different surrounding -- and for me this is always interesting to show in my work . i have seen it growing -- more buildings , hotels and lots of architecture being constructed all the time . it has changed rapidly over the past 10 years . i think i am lucky to see it all happen because now if there is an extra building , i would not really notice it ! i have seen it all change . it is part of who i am . there is always that other side of dubai where it is very simple , humble and down-to-earth , regardless of who you are . i think it is always important to see the original dubai , how it used to be , and a lot of it is still there . i do n't mind having these modern architectural buildings . it was more of a desert over here with tents and small houses , so there was n't really much to preserve . our job was to build more and i think dubai has that balance where there are the old and the new areas . i 'm very interested in artisans of the region because few of them exist . i always like to work one-to-one with craftsmen and recreate what they are making . i try and look for traditional materials . i would take a traditional material and maybe wrap it around a formula one car ... or fit it on an art platform in a new way . i would call myself a multidisciplinary designer -- i use more than one medium at the same time .<doc-sep>` at the same time , it is a city where residents are extremely internet savvy and this service would benefit them as well . ` there are also residents in dubai who use the maps on a daily basis in their movement . moreover , the regional office of google is based in dubai . ' uae is among the top countries in the region for internet usage , with over six million of the 9.2 million population using the internet . abdul hakim malik , director of geographic information systems at dubai municipality , which worked with the company on permissions for the project , said street view will indirectly promote tourism to dubai . a google street view car with a camera mounted on its roof maps the streets of central london . he said . ` tourists are very much interested before they visit dubai to see what dubai looks like in real life . ` when they go to google maps and see 360 degrees all around important and popular streets , i think this will be interesting for them . '<doc-sep>the botox brigade . diamond notes that these days , `` there is no paucity of plastic surgeons '' in dubai . according to the emirates plastic surgery society , their membership has jumped from 60 in 2006 to 150 this year . in fact , there are more cosmetic surgeons per citizen in the uae than in either brazil or the united states -- two nations lauded for their love of the scalpel . `` the market is very saturated , '' notes dr. luiz toledo , a plastic surgeon who moved his practice to dubai from brazil in 2005 who is also on the scientific committee of the emirates plastic surgery society . `` every day i get emails -lsb- from surgeons -rsb- saying , ' i heard dubai is good for business . i want to come and visit , do some work , then come back home . ' everybody thinks dubai is this mecca full of rich people . they think they 'll come over and find gold on the streets . it 's not like that ; it 's hard work , '' he says . despite the influx , experts say demand for plastic surgery is on the rise . according to the dubai health authority -lrb- dha -rrb- , in 2012 , medical tourists made up 8.7 % of total health sector revenue , with many seeking cosmetic procedures . `` the industry is growing very fast , '' notes vasilica baltateanu , founder of dubai plastic surgery consultancy vasilica aesthetics . she says the city 's healthcare market is expected to grow 11.4 % over the next two years . a beauty smorgasbord .

<t> photographer farhad berahman 's striking photos document the lives of south asian labourers who travel to dubai . </t> <t> they live in squalid conditions , work in searing heat and often can not leave as their employers keep their passports . </t>

the side of dubai that they do n't want tourists to see<T>

ever get the feeling someone 's trying to make a monkey out of you ? by the dejected look on bili the chimpanzee 's face he thinks tesco are doing just that -- after they stopped selling discount bananas to his sanctuary . fortunately for the 33-year-old chimp , jan garen , who runs the wales ape and monkey sanctuary in abercave , near swansea , took a more proactive approach to the problem . scroll down for video . the monkeys at wales ape and monkey sanctuary , in abercrave , near swansea , appeared unimpressed by tesco 's decision to cancel its supply of waste food to the centre . however , it has now changed its mind . mrs garen used to drive to tesco to buy cut-price waste fruit , vegetables and other produce , until last september staff abruptly told her the special deal was over .<doc-sep>she wrote to the store manager asking for an explanation . but when none came she posted the letter on facebook . it said : ` it was very disappointing to be told that tesco will no longer support the sanctuary . i have telephoned and left a message for you but having heard nothing i am writing instead . ' as she waited weeks for an answer , thousands read her post -- and many threatened to boycott tesco . tesco said it had changed its policy on supplying waste food and did n't want the monkeys to become ill . she was eventually told the supermarket had changed its rules because it did n't want the monkeys to become ill from eating out-of-date food . she said : ` there is no way we would feed the monkeys anything we thought might put their health at risk . ' tesco has insisted that it can no longer provide eggs , yoghurts and other fresh foods . but it has relented on discounted fruit and veg -- and a steady supply is back on the menu again .<doc-sep>the fruit , veg and other fresh waste food is given to the 90 monkeys and apes who live at the sanctuary . the ape sanctuary spends about # 5,000 a year on waste food from the supermarket for the monkeys . the ape sanctuary has bought waste food from tesco at 10 per cent of the retail price for several years . however , the supermarket giant said it would continue to supply fruit and veg , but not eggs and yoghurts . .<doc-sep>by . sean poulter , consumer affairs editor . and lucy crossley . britain 's biggest supermarket tesco has sparked a price war over milk , by slashing prices to just # 1 for a four pint carton . britain 's biggest supermarket tesco has sparked a price war over milk , by slashing prices to just # 1 for a four pint carton . the new lower price undercuts rivals sainsbury 's and morrisons by 39p and makes it as cheap as asda , with the chain using milk as a key weapon to win back customers who have deserted to rivals . tonight the chain 's website was proudly proclaiming its cut-price milk , displaying the new price on its homepage along with the slogan ` prices down and staying down ' . reducing the price of milk is part of a . wider set of cuts on food essentials by the supermarket , including some to the price of fruit and vegetables , . which form a package claimed to deliver savings of # 200million . the . reductions are being financed by a cut in tesco 's profit margin and are . part of a shift from short term promotions to permanently lower prices . tesco . is taking drastic action to win back shoppers and market share after . many people switched away from the uk 's biggest grocer to budget chains . like aldi and lidl . asda . already sells milk at the low price of # 1 for four pints , however the . move by tesco will put pressure on sainsbury 's , morrisons and the co-op , . to follow suit . just last week tesco 's chief executive philip clarke admitted the chain had failed to help customers during the economic downturn , and announced price cuts on food essentials , as well as a fuel save scheme enabling club card holders to save on the price of petrol . he told investors : ` the least affluent customers and middle income families are being forced to make choices . ' mr clarke added : ` businesses which do n't change with the times do n't succeed and . we did not change enough , not enough for our customers . but now we have . changed . ' reducing the price of milk is part of a wider set of cuts on food essentials by the supermarket , including some to the price of fruit and vegetables , which form a package claimed to deliver savings of # 200million . tesco is taking drastic action to win back shoppers and market share after many people switched away from the uk 's biggest grocer to budget chains like aldi and lidl . four-pints of semi-skimmed milk . tesco # 1 -lrb- was # 1.39 -rrb- . asda # 1 . waitrose # 1.39 . sainsbury 's # 1.39 . morrisons # 1.39 . 800g white sandwich loaf . tesco # 1.30 . asda # 1 . waitrose # 1.30 . sainsbury 's # 1.30 . morrisons # 1.30 -lrb- for a white split tin loaf -rrb- . bag of cox 's apples . tesco # 1 -lrb- minimum 5 per pack -rrb- . asda # 1 -lrb- 600g -rrb- . waitrose # 2 -lrb- minimum 6 per pack -rrb- . sainsbury 's # 1.50 -lrb- minimum 6 per pack -rrb- . morrisons 99p -lrb- minimum 5 per pack -rrb- . mr clarke also said that the company will do . away with ` frivolous ' price promotions to a regime of permanent lower . prices on food essentials bought every week . he . said : ` prices must get better and must be more stable . frivolous . promotions must end and trusted ones should be in place and that will . start now . ' the uk managing director , chris bush , .<doc-sep>guarantee the chain 's future after it posted losses of # 176million . asda , tesco and sainsbury 's all pledge they will match morrisons prices , . so will inevitably be drawn into a price war . tesco . has made its own price cuts in recent weeks , with the cost of a . four-pint carton of milk cut from # 1.39 to # 1 and reductions on some . fruit and vegetables . battle : aldi and lidl have been gaining in market share thanks to increasingly price-conscious customers . tesco 's cuts had already seen it promise # 200million in short-term savings but will now have to go much further . retail experts at one city firm described the scale of the reductions promised by morrisons as like ` getting the bazooka out ' . the . firm , founded in bradford in 1899 , admitted that the price cuts will . hit profits by more than # 300million a year over the next three years . but . chief executive dalton philips said the ` big four ' chains had lost . millions of customers and billions of pounds in sales to aldi and lidl , . and needed to catch up . the . grocery sector is facing the biggest structural shift ` since the 1950s . and the advent of supermarkets ' as shoppers -- even those not struggling . financially -- turn to budget stores , he said . ` the biggest challenge . that we face is that there has been a fundamental change in how . consumers view discounters . ` they are no longer going to them out of . necessity . the perception has changed and there is a new price norm . ' a . study suggested this week that the big four have lost sales worth . # 4.4 billion a year over the past three years . the cost of living squeeze . saw millions of middle-income shoppers switch to the budget chains -- .<doc-sep>said price cuts on everyday essential foods have been brought forward . specifically to match the low figures at firms like aldi and lidl . addressing the growth of aldi and lidl , mr clarke told the telegraph : . ` you ca n't ignore them . no retailer can . you have got to have sharper . prices and better quality . but you ca n't just be them , because you are . not them . ' tesco claims its . reduction on milk , plus others on carrots , tomatoes , onions , peppers and . cucumbers , will save many customers # 100 a year . however , the . national farmers ' union -lrb- nfu -rrb- fears tesco 's aggressive initiative to . slash the price of milk will come at the expense of its struggling . members . any . resulting dairy price war could drive down the figure that the nation 's . dairy farmers get for their milk , cheese , butter and cream . farmers fear the . move sends out the wrong signal by portraying milk as a cheap commodity . food , rather than a high quality and important food worthy of a strong . price . the supermarket ran . into a similar furore with farmers in 2008 when it began selling . standard fresh roasting chickens for just # 1.99 each -- a saving of . # 1.31 . the chain said the . temporary deal would help shoppers on a budget , however farmers then , as . now , warned it was devaluing an important food produced to high . standards . tonight the chain 's website was proudly proclaiming its cut-price milk , displaying the new price on its homepage along with the slogan ` prices down and staying down ' the store gets its milk from some 700 . farmers who are members of the tesco sustainable dairy group -lrb- tsdg -rrb- . the . reduction on shelves will not affect them because they price they get . is based on a formula that gives them enough to cover the cost of . production plus a premium . nfu dairy board chairman mansel raymond said tesco was devaluing milk , and called on other retailers to resist a price war on milk and dairy foods . the nfu fears the reduction will fuel a general drive towards price cuts that will affect a wider group of dairy farmers . its . dairy board chairman , mansel raymond , said : ` what on earth are we doing . devaluing milk ? this sends the completely the wrong message . ` i would have expected more leadership from tesco . ' mr raymond called on other retailers to resist a price war on milk and dairy foods . dairy . farmers get paid about 17p a pint for milk at the farm gate . for many . this means they are producing milk at a loss , which has forced a number . out of business . tesco . insisted the milk price cut is both fair to shoppers and farmers . its . commercial director , john scouler , said : ` we care about our milk and . where it comes from , which is why we set up the tsdg . ` we . promise that our farmers will always be paid a fair and independently . agreed price for their milk , so they can invest in the future of their . farms and provide higher welfare standards for their cows . ` when our customers buy their milk at tesco , they can be confident that it 's responsibly sourced and at a fair price for all . '<doc-sep>by . fiona macrae science correspondent . learning from others : chimps learn how to peel and break into fruit from watching others , scientists found . it is not just humans who are fascinated by watching others cook -- chimps also pick up tips on how to prepare food . a study found that just as people learn new cookery techniques by watching celebrity chefs , chimps learn how to crack and peel fruit by studying their companions . researcher bruce rawlings said : ` it is almost like they are watching the top chef and picking up information . ' learning from others is an important part of building up cultural traditions -- an ability thought of as being fundamentally human . however , the portsmouth university research suggests that it may actually date back more than six million years , to the time when chimps and humans shared a common ancestor . the researchers videoed three groups of chimps as they were fed hard-shelled fruit in a zambian wildlife orphanage .

<t> ape and monkey sanctuary regularly bought cheap waste food from tesco . </t> <t> used waste fruit and veg to feed 90 monkeys at sanctuary near swansea . </t> <t> but tesco stopped delivery over concerns monkeys could get ill from food . </t> <t> supermarket giant has now confirmed it will continue to provide to centre . </t>

chimps get the hump as tesco stops supplying them with cut-price fruit<T>

now this is a man who loves his job ! a plumber from dundee has become an overnight sensation thanks to a hilarious video - filmed by his co-worker - which catches him in the middle of an epic dance sequence . mark topen was caught showing off his moves to a robert miles song - when he should have been working . the 52-year-old plumber spoke to the evening telegraph after the video hit the internet on thursday , saying : ` i 'll admit that it was a bit embarrassing at first , but i suppose that is what is funny about it and i can see that now . ` it 's not something i would do all the time because it can be disrespectful to do it in people 's homes but this house was empty . ' i definitely think that it helps that i have a character where i can get away with it . a dundee plumber has become an overnight sensation after a co-worker recorded him dancing on the job . ` sometimes the job can be stressful , so it 's good to take the pressure off if you can . ' in the amusing footage , mark , known to his friends as toby , really gives it his all - even performing an impressive spin at one point . still , becoming something of a local celebrity has all been a bit ` unbelievable . ' he said : ` it 's been amazing and i have received so many calls and texts from people telling me they have seen it online . mark topen was understandably embarrassed upon learning he 'd been discovered , but soon laughed it off . ` in one day i had over 100 people text me to say they 've seen the video and could n't help but laugh . ' i have been stopped by people in kfc and mcdonalds , asking for an autograph which is quite surreal . ` it 's good to know that people are laughing with me and not at me . ` my wife works at the meganni franklyn salon on clepington road and said that everyone in there has found it funny . '<doc-sep>gary harkins and jim mcalister brought an internet viral to life on saturday , when they celebrated a dundee goal against motherwell with their version of a randy orton ` rko ' . harkins had just scored dundee 's second goal at fir pirk , to help end a run of four straight defeats , when he and mcalister brought the move to life . as harkins stood with his arms aloft , mcalister pretended to grab him by the head and throw him to the floor in the iconic wrestling slam . gary harkins celebrates scoring for dundee to put them 2-0 up against motherwell at fir park . jim mcalister grabs his teammate by the head as the pair perform the randy orton ` rko ' move . the internet sensation , which has recently been applied to various videos of people falling over , features orton throwing someone to the ground ` out of nowhere ' . and the wrestler himself seemed to approve , tweeting ` nice celebration , work on your form ' to dundee 's official twitter account . dundee went on to win 3-1 , lifting them to seventh in the scottish premiership after ten games . randy orton shows off the famous move inside the ring , and the rko has become an internet sensation . harkins is slammed to the ground ` out of nowhere ' as dundee celebrate wwe style .<doc-sep>an acrobatic grandmother has proved you 're never too old for a change of career after taking up pole dancing at the age of 60 and becoming an internet sensation . sun fengqin , of nanjing , china , decided to try the raunchy sport after watching several videos and becoming fascinated by the beauty and athleticism . she said : ` pole dancing is a special kind of dance . scroll down for video . never too old : grandmother sun fengqin has become an internet sensation after taking up pole dance at the age of 60 .<doc-sep>randy orton even tweeted that dundee duo gary harkins and jim mcalister needed to work on their form when they attempted to bring the internet viral to life . the internet sensation , which has recently been applied to various videos of people falling over , features orton throwing someone to the ground ` out of nowhere ' . jim mcalister grabs his teammate by the head as the pair perform the randy orton ` rko ' move .<doc-sep>katy perry 's attorneys have taken a bite out of an artist 's bid to sell small figurines of the dancing sharks that stole the spotlight during the pop star 's super bowl performance . after the stumbling and uncoordinated sharks became an overnight internet sensation , fernando sosa , 31 , joined in on the web frenzy and worked up a design of a three-inch ` left shark ' made with a 3d printer . his handiwork hit the shapeways.com marketplace on tuesday - and by wednesday afternoon , the orlando-based artist had sold ten to 15 sharks at $ 24.99 each . after katy perry 's back-up dancing , stumbling and uncoordinated sharks became an overnight internet sensation , fernando sosa , 31 , worked up a design of a three-inch ` left shark ' made with a 3d printer . sosa 's handiwork -lrb- above -rrb- hit the shapeways.com marketplace on tuesday and by wednesday afternoon , the orlando-based artist had sold ten to 15 sharks at $ 24.99 each .

<t> mark topen caught on camera by his coworkers while dancing at a job site . </t> <t> the 52-year-old plumber showed off many impressive moves - even a spin . </t> <t> upon discovering he 'd been recorded , mark simply laughed it off . </t>

dundee plumber becomes internet sensation after he 's caught dancing on the job<T>

fernando alonso 's relationship with lewis hamilton appears to be back to full strength after behind-the-scenes footage emerged of the pair embracing following the final race of the season in abu dhabi . alonso left mclaren under a cloud at the end of the 2007 campaign after falling out with the british team and hamilton as they battled for the title in the briton 's debut year . but alonso , who will re-join mclaren next season after ending his five-year relationship with ferrari , congratulated hamilton , his father anthony and girlfriend nicole scherzinger in the mercedes motorhome following the briton 's world championship triumph in the desert . fernando alonso congratulates lewis hamilton after the briton sealed this year 's f1 title in abu dhabi .<doc-sep>alonso kisses nicole scherzinger in the mercedes motorhome after hamilton clinched the championship . hamilton poses with rihanna and his girlfriend nicole scherzinger in london earlier this week . hamilton won the final race of the season to beat mercedes team-mate nico rosberg to the formula one crown and join alonso as a double world champion .<doc-sep>alonso and hamilton are seen entering into a conversation during the brief video before his popstar girlfriend nicole pays tribute to alonso 's beard . the mclaren hierarchy will meet on thursday to discuss the identity of alonso 's team-mate next season with danish driver kevin magnussen likely to be retained in favour of jenson button . hamilton crosses the start-finish line to win the abu dhabi grand prix and seal his second formula one title .<doc-sep>and hamilton believes alonso will be better prepared to work under mclaren boss ron dennis after his acrimonious exit from the team seven years ago . ` it is an interesting decision with the team , but i wish him all the best , ' said hamilton . ` fernando has grown a huge amount over the years , both as a driver and maturity wise as well . ` and , having the experience previously with ron , he will definitely have a much better handle on it and wo n't be in a tricky situation like last time . '<doc-sep>video scroll down to watch nico rosberg previews the f1 season finale in abu dhabi . lewis hamilton posted a snap of his girlfriend nicole scherzinger to twitter on ` woman crush wednesday ' hamilton and nico rosberg will go head-to-head in the final race of the season to decide the championship .<doc-sep>formula one champion lewis hamilton returned to england for a night of glamour at the british fashion awards with girlfriend nicole scherzinger . hamilton is still riding high after picking up his second world championship in abu dhabi just over a week ago . the 29-year-old has been part-taking in an array of media commitments since being crowned champion and is clearly enjoying more time with scherzinger , who is normally based in america . formula one champions lewis hamilton with girlfriend nicole scherzinger at the british fashion awards . hamilton , who won the f1 title by 67 points over team-mate nico rosberg , came face to face with the german for the first time this weekend since the season finale . the mercedes pair took part in the manufacturer 's stars and cars event in germany where they celebrated their constructors ' and drivers ' titles with their devoted fans . hamilton and rosberg completed some demonstration laps around a temporary track around the german firm 's museum before the pair mingled with the dedicated fans who supported them all season . hamilton continued to celebrate his f1 title win in london on monday night with partner nicole scherzinger .<doc-sep>but after the first round of pit stops , the technical problem on the normally ever reliable red bull of the two-time champion came to light . mclaren 's jenson button overtook fernando alonso of ferrari for the final podium position late in the race to retain second spot in the championship behind vettel . abu dhabi winner lewis hamilton went out with a faulty gearbox in the second mclaren as he bid unsuccessfully for back-to-back victories . but few could begrudge webber his belated win , repeating his 2009 success at the same circuit and his seventh career triumph in f1 .<doc-sep>formula one champion lewis hamilton has been dumped by nicole scherzinger . the pair had been together seven years but the 36-year-old singer has left hamilton due to the pressures of a long-distance relationship . a source close to the star told mailonline : ` it was a mutual decision . the long distance kept them apart for long periods of time . lewis hamilton and nicole scherzinger , pictured in monaco , are reportedly no longer an item after they split . formula one champion hamilton has reportedly been dumped by scherzinger - pictured here celebrating his title triumph at last season 's abu dhabi grand prix .

<t> alonso paid brit hamilton a surprise visit in the mercedes motorhome . </t> <t> the former mclaren team-mates embraced following hamilton 's victory . </t> <t> alonso also congratulated anthony hamilton and nicole scherzinger . </t> <t> he will re-join mclaren next term after ending his relationship with ferrari . </t>

watch fernando alonso congratulate lewis hamilton and nicole scherzinger after f1 championship triumph at abu dhabi gp<T>

shot and killed : tamir rice , 12 , who was holding an airsoft pistol in a park in cleveland , ohio . st louis county police is mired in fresh killer cop controversy after a post on the force 's official facebook page appeared to blame a 12-year-old black boy for the police shooting that killed him . tamir rice was playing with a toy gun when he was shot dead by a white officer in cleveland last week . the tragic incident further fueled the anger and protests that have raged in the wake first of a grand jury 's failure to indict ferguson officer darren wilson for the shooting of michael brown and , now , a second grand jury 's failure to indict the nypd officer daniel pantaleo for his fatal chokehold arrest of eric garner . today , the st louis force has been slammed for the posting titled , ` kids will be kids ? ' which warned parents , ` your children should have rules for a toy gun that mirror the rules for a real gun . ' scroll down for video . weapon : tamir rice was captured on cctv with an airsoft pistol which had no orange muzzle guard . ` gun ' : the airsoft replica of a colt handgun which was taken from tamir rice after he was shot . official account : this was the message posted by officer dilks on st louis county police 's official twitter today . lengthy : the facebook posting by the officer which has now been deleted . it said was not about ` whether it was a justified shooting ' but was accused of ` victim blaming ' the facebook posting which was tweeted on the department 's official feed continued , ` warn them that these ` toys ' do look like real guns and could result in getting the police called on them . the police may get called to respond to a ` child with a gun ' ... if the type of gun is in question by the witness the police will respond as though it is a real gun . ' the post read by many as victim-blaming went onto provide ` tips ' for how a child should behave in such a situation . ` do not run away . they need to no longer have the gun in their hands , throw it away from them . they need to comply with officers instructions . they may be ordered to lie down on the ground . ' within minutes of tweeting this posting at 7.59 am the st louis county police city of fenton precinct department whose officer wrote the post was facing demands to have their twitter account closed down . critics dammed the post as ` heartless ' and ` victim blaming ' and described the officers as ` psychopaths . ' later in the day chief jon belmar used the same page to apologize for the post . ` the post conveyed the message that my officers respond to calls involving a child with a gun with indiscretion and little regard for life , ' he admitted . ` the intention of the post was to inform citizens about the potential danger of airsoft or pellet guns resembling real guns . ` however , the post was a misguided communication strategy and was offensive to many people . ` as chief of police , i apologize to tamir 's family and anyone who was offended by the post . ` while the post did not originate from the chief 's office and i was unaware of its presence prior to its release , i realize the message was insensitive to tamir 's family and the sorrow they are currently experiencing . ' but the fenton officer who wrote the post has defended his actions . neighborhood cop aaron dilks said ' i too was a kid , and i would have done the same thing as tamir rice did . officer aaron dilks , who used the official st louis county police twitter and facebook accounts to post on the shooting of tamir rice . profuse apology : chief jon belmar used facebook to repudiate the earlier post and admit that it suggested his officers do not care about young lives . mourned : 12-year-old tamir rice was buried yesterday after being shot by officers last weekend . fatal moment : cctv shows the 12-year-old reaching towards the airsoft gun in his waistband . ' i was allowed to go play with guns and have bb guns - we did n't have airsofts at the time . the point of ` kids will be kids ' is that 's what kids will do ... ` the point of putting -lsb- the post -rsb- out was to educate and make sure something like this does n't happen in the city of fenton or in our area . ' as for rice , dilks added , ` it 's a tragedy . it 's a shame that a child got shot . i guess that 's all i should probably say about it . ' the post has now been removed from the facebook page and the link deleted from the force 's official twitter feed . a spokesman for st louis county police disowned the posting and described it as unauthorized . the force was preparing to issue a statement at time of writing .<doc-sep>another user said the former mayor ` double downs on blaming black community for police problems ' . last week giuliani caused a stir by suggesting more white officers were needed in certain neighborhoods to keep black people from killing one another . he did , however , admit there was ` more unfair interaction ' between police officers and people in black communities . scroll down for video . in his most recent interview giuliani said responsibility for ending unnecessary shootings , rested with both police and the wider community . while the police force needed to be more diverse and better train their staff , ` just as much , if not more , responsibility is on the black community to reduce the reason why the police officers ' were assigned to black neighborhoods . giuliani went on to say he had changed his mind about the need for body cameras because he believes they would show that 90 or 95 per cent of police shootings are justified . giuliani made the remarks after being shown a video of an officer in cleveland killing 12-year-old tamir rice as he was holding an airsoft pellet gun . demonstrators protest outside the edward jones dome st. louis missouri yesterday over the policing shooting of brown on august 9 .<doc-sep>tamir rice , 12 , was shot dead by cops in cleveland on november 22 while carrying a pellet gun . the family of a 12-year-old boy who was carrying a pellet gun when he was shot by a cleveland police officer have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit . the federal lawsuit filed on friday against the city and two officers said the police acted recklessly when they confronted tamir rice outside a recreation center . surveillance video , released by police , shows tamir being shot within two seconds of a patrol car stopping near him at a park on november 22 . it showed the boy reaching in his waistband for what police later discovered was an airsoft gun , which shoots non-lethal plastic projectiles . tamir died the next day . police have said rookie officer tim loehmann believed the boy had a real firearm . the shooting has sparked several protests across the city . tamir was laid to rest on wednesday . two hundred mourners , many wearing white ` r.i.p. tamir ' t-shirts , paid their respects to the young boy at his funeral service at mount sinai baptist church . the boy 's mother , samaria rice , hid behind sunglasses as she took her seat next to the boy 's father , leonard warner , and their daughters , while mourners pored over photographs of tamir . during the service , the boy 's great-uncle called for people to fight for change through peaceful protest and called for the congregation to give tamir a voice . scroll down for video . heartbroken : samaria rice , center , leaves the funeral services of her son tamir rice in cleveland on wednesday , 10 days after he was shot by a police officer who thought he was carrying a real gun . tragic : pallbearers carry out the 12-year-old boy 's casket from gaines funeral home on wednesday .<doc-sep>president barack obama publicly addressed the martin case , as he did last summer 's shooting of brown -- an unarmed teenager shot to death by white police officer darren wilson . a st. louis county grand jury declined to bring charges against the officer , leading to days of unrest in ferguson , missouri . `` i was -lrb- sure -rrb- they would indict the officer that shot my son without a video tape , '' mcspadden said . `` you had so many witnesses . '' the death of rice , a 12-year-old boy shot last month by a cleveland officer after police allegedly mistook the child 's air gun for a real firearm , has also drawn national attention . the cuyahoga county medical examiner 's office said friday it has ruled the death a homicide . samaria rice , his mother , said she found out about the shooting after two boys knocked on her door . `` the police shot your son in the stomach , '' she recalled one of the boys saying . one of her daughters was handcuffed and thrown into the back of a police car when she protested the shooting , said samaria rice . she described going out to the street and seeing her son on the ground and `` nobody ... doing anything '' to help him . one of the tamir 's sisters screamed , `` they killed my baby brother ! ''<doc-sep>the mother of tamir rice , the 12-year-old ohio boy fatally shot by police who believed he was carrying a gun , has said her son was never given a chance to follow officers ' orders . samaria rice said her son was shot before he could respond to orders after the police pulled up next to him on a cleveland playground and a rookie officer fired within two seconds . rice said she wants the officer charged with murder and she called on authorities to make sure young officers do n't ` ignore the training . ' samaria rice has said her son tamir , 12 , was shot before he could respond to orders after the police pulled up next to him on a cleveland playground and a rookie officer fired within two seconds last month . rice said that when she tried to get close to her bleeding son , officers ` pushed me back , telling me to chill out or they were going to put me in the police car ' police say officers were responding to a call november 22 about someone possibly carrying a gun . tamir had an airsoft gun , which shoots nonlethal plastic pellets . they say tamir did n't respond to commands to raise his hands before officer timothy loehmann fired his weapon . they also meant to stop the patrol car farther from tamir but the vehicle slid on the grass , the cleveland police union has said . in an interview with the associated press on monday , rice she found out later that tamir was handed the fake weapon by a girl at the playground . she said police also put tamir 's 14-year-old sister in handcuffs as she rushed to help her mortally wounded brother that day . rice 's attorney , benjamin crump , told ap interview that the two officers could have defused the situation - by talking to the boy from a distance instead of pulling up next to him on the grass and firing . an internal cleveland police investigation is underway and the results will be turned over to the local prosecutor , who will present them to a grand jury . the fatal encounter was caught on surveillance video . clutching crump 's hand , the teary-eyed mother said on monday she knew exactly where her son had gone before the shooting . police say officers were responding to a call november 22 about someone possibly carrying a gun - but tamir had an airsoft gun , which shoots nonlethal plastic pellets .

<t> officer from st louis county police posted on twitter and facebook about death of unarmed cleveland , ohio , boy shot and killed by officers . </t> <t> tamir rice had airsoft pistol in his waistband when police answered 911 call and shot him within two seconds of arriving . </t> <t> officer aaron dilks posted ` warning ' on official st louis county police facebook page and twitter account telling parents of dangers of airsoft . </t> <t> he was accused of ` victim blaming ' and posting was deleted by st louis county police . </t> <t> force was first to investigate officer darren wilson over death of michael brown and has been involved in policing protests after shooting . </t> <t> police chief apologizes for message and says he is praying for tamar . </t> <t> he admits : ` the post conveyed the message that my officers respond to calls involving a child with a gun with indiscretion and little regard for life . ' </t>

st louis police accused of ` victim blaming ' over tamir rice official posting<T>

former england footballer michael owen has been inundated with critical messages after starring in a ` sexist ' new car ad . in the ad , which was made on behalf of his local car dealership , owen , who is married to childhood sweetheart louise bonsall , compares women to luxury cars and goes on to boast about the ` dozens ' of jaguars he owns . ` you 've got to go for looks to start with , ' said the star in the clip , before adding : ` then you look inside . it 's probably similar to girls is n't it ? awkward ! in the new advert former footballer michael owen compares women to luxury cars . ` the look attracts you to start with and then you get to know them a bit more , i think it 's the same with cars . ' andrew north , a director at alexanders prestige , the dealership behind the ad , defended owen 's statement when contacted by mailonline . ' i think it 's a fair comparison , ' said mr north . ` you are attracted to the outside but ultimately , it 's what 's on the inside that counts and that 's what he was trying to say . ` we actually filmed three hours of footage so that was just a very small part of it . ' the cringe-making video , which is set to a classical soundtrack , begins with owen , 34 , standing in the middle of the garage surveying the cars around him . during the two-minute ad , he goes on to make several more gasp-worthy claims . what a stunner : michael films in front of his new range rover , hopefully alexanders prestige offered him some sort of a discount . it 's a done deal : michael shakes hands with car dealer andrew north after receiving his new range rover . ` i 've owned quite a variety of cars over the years , ' he says . ` my first car being a rover coupe , -lsb- i then -rsb- progressed to a bmw , aston martin , ferrari and range rovers . it 's great to come back home so to speak . ' i had a deal with jaguar for a long time as well , so probably had a dozen jaguars and a few others . ' he continued : ` you know , you grow with cars i was never going to get a ferrari at 18 or something . you wait until you 've earned your stripes so to speak . ' owen - who was once reported to have a net worth of # 40million - was clearly unaware that for most , the stumbling block to jaguar ownership is not being too young but being unable to afford the # 170,000 price tag . not content with that , owen added : ` in football there is a hierarchy so if you go in with a nicer car than someone who has played a 100 games and played for his country then you 'll be quickly slapped down and told to sell it . alan patridge ? many have compared former england star michael 's punditry to the fictional character alan partridge . star striker : michael owen celebrates a goal during the the 2002 world cup . ` you have to grow your car organically as i say with how you 're doing on the football pitch . ' defending his star , mr north added : ` michael was a pleasure to work with . we have known him for years and he have previously worked with him and his family through the equestrian side of the business . ` he was very happy to take part in the advert and we will be working with him again . ' ' i met the chaps andy and alex -lsb- of alexanders prestige -rsb- , ' added owen , ` and we 've done a bit of business in the horsey world as well and obviously they picked a really nice one for me . ` i 've driven range rovers before but it 's probably eight , 10 years ago so the new model is lovely and i ca n't wait to put some miles on it . ' when he 's not promoting car dealerships , owen - who during his career enjoyed stints at liverpool , real madrid and manchester united - works as a footballing pundit but has seen his efforts compared to alan partridge . chaps chatting : michael chats to andrew north one of the directors of the company . away you go : at the end of the advert michael got to drive off in his brand new range rover .<doc-sep>he was recently slammed for an ` excruciating ' and ` sexist ' advert which saw him compare women to luxury cars . but now former england footballer michael owen is back with a ` staggeringly boring ' advert for spey whisky which has been branded the ` worst ever made ' and ` agony to watch ' . in his trademark monotone , the striker claims he always celebrates his wins with spey whisky and encourages others to keep the secret by turning to the camera and uttering a toe-curling ` shhh ' . the advert opens with the former liverpool player looking through photographs of the glory days before saying : ` playing as a striker i was relentless in my pursuit for explosive force and speed . scroll down for video . former england footballer michael owen has been lampooned for a new advert for spey whisky which sees him turn to the camera and say ` keep the secret , shhh ' in his trademark monotone , the striker claims he always celebrates his wins with spey whisky . ` now i 'm enjoying a different milestone in life . i 've learnt the beauty of slowing down and to savour it all minute by minute . ' owen was chosen to act as a ` trojan horse ' for whisky producer speyside distillers so their product could reach the chinese market due to his popularity in the country . but the company 's first advert intended for the chinese audience has been deemed ` agony to watch ' by uk viewers .<doc-sep>the short clip sees the footballer , clad in a top hat and smart suit , leading a horse out onto the racetrack . the advert opens with the former liverpool player looking through photographs of the glory days , pictured after scoring a goal during the fifa 2002 world cup qualifier against germany . the former footballer is married to louise owen -lrb- right -rrb- and they have four children together , pictured at a unicef gala dinner . spey launched its no-age-statement spey whisky michael owen 1412 in taiwan in december last year to mark the star 's birthday . the former footballer was also inundated with critical messages after starring in an advert made on behalf of his local car dealership , alexanders prestige , in december . in the advert he said : ` you 've got to go for looks to start with , ' said the star in the clip , before adding : ` then you look inside . it 's probably similar to girls is n't it ? ` the look attracts you to start with and then you get to know them a bit more , i think it 's the same with cars . ' michael owen and speyside distillers were unavailable for a comment when contacted . he was also inundated with critical messages after starring in an advert made on behalf of his local car dealership , alexanders prestige .<doc-sep>a man 's world : sexism was used to sell every luxury brand , from van heusen ties to tipalet cigarettes . ` men are better than women ! ' this advert for sweaters said wives were ' a bit of a drag ' on a mountain . the advert for volkswagen boasts of the firm 's hard-wearing cars , beginning simply : ` women are soft and gentle , but they hit things ' . and one for drummond sweaters proclaims : ` indoors women are useful - even pleasant . on a mountain they are something of a drag ' . the vintage pieces look shockingly out of date now , but they will be far from the last adverts to be deemed sexist . last year an advert for renault cars was banned in britain for having a little too much ` va va voom ' - in other words , multiple close-ups on the breasts and bottoms of burlesque dancers . and a u.s. commercial for hair removal product veet prompted outrage earlier this month by suggesting women were manly if they chose to keep their body hair .<doc-sep>surrey chief executive richard gould said : ` we are not at all pleased by the cuts or the short notice given . budgets were set for 2015 last september . it is artificially dampening down investment in cricket and how can we compete with other t20 competitions around the world with these restrictions ? at the same time england players ' salaries have gone up and up . ' the ecb say the move is to encourage home-grown talent , of which yorkshire , bankrolled by ecb chairman elect colin graves , have the most . bt sport pundit and former liverpool striker michael owen in a bizarre new advert for spey whisky . owen signed a three-year deal last june to become a global brand ambassador for spey . forget the awfulness of the bt sport promotion ` the cool people to watch football with ' , topped by the michael owen thumbs-up which has inspired brighton to make their own version . even worse is owen 's awkward monotone online advert for spey whisky , panned as one of the worst commercials ever . owen signed a three-year deal last june to become a global brand ambassador for spey but even bt sport colleagues are giving him stick .

<t> former england footballer has been inundated with criticism over ad . </t> <t> has been likened to alan partridge over ` sexist gaffe ' by twitter users . </t> <t> owen makes awkward boasts about having owned dozens of jaguars . </t>

michael owen is slammed after comparing women to luxury cars in new advert<T>

manchester city 's players have plenty of reasons to smile after their 4-1 win against sunderland on wednesday night but they were in far more sombre mood ahead of kick-off at the stadium of light . in another of their popular christmas videos , the club 's media department challenged six of manuel pellegrini 's first-team to avoid laughing during funny youtube clips . david silva , pablo zabaleta , eliaquim mangala , aleksandar kolarov , martin demichelis and edin dzeko agreed to take part , with mixed results to say the least . manchester city defender pablo zabaleta was one of six players to take part in the youtube challenge . striker edin dzeko struggles to compose himself before being shown four funny videos .<doc-sep>summer signing eliaquim mangala also showed his sense of humour by taking part in the festive video . city 's stars took turns to sit in front of a laptop and watch a quartet of hilarious clips posted on the internet 's most popular video-sharing site . dzeko did n't get off to a good start , finding it difficult to compose himself before the play button had even been clicked . and the bosnian striker did n't last much longer , eventually letting out a giggle towards the end of the first baby-themed clip as zabaleta also bowed out early on in the competition . the second video , a clip showing a baby chuckling at sheets of paper being torn , failed to claim any victims but the straight faces did n't last long .<doc-sep>argentine defender zabaleta ca n't stop himself from laughing at a clip of a baby pulling a stern face . martin demichelis eventually cracked up when shown a video of a man hurling himself into a wall . another hilarious baby clip meant spanish midfielder david silva bowed out at the final video . demichelis could n't stop himself laughing at a man inexplicably launching himself into a wall , while silva and mangala cracked when shown a baby attempting a kung fu impression .<doc-sep>that left kolarov , famed for his hard exterior after his not-so-festive rendition of jingle bills two years ago , as the winner . after being informed that he 'd completed the challenge and that the clips were the best city 's media team could find , the defender responded : ` this one ? not for me . where is my present ? ' that could well be the easiest victory a city player has this season . aleksandar kolarov was left unimpressed with the videos and easily stopped himself from laughing .<doc-sep>manchester city 's slow start to the barclays premier league season was due to poor preparation , according to full back pablo zabaleta . the argentinian full back , who has once again been a crucial part of city 's defence this season , blamed the champions ' disappointing early-season form on a lack of fitness in the club 's squad . but zabaleta insisted that city , who are on an eight-game winning run in the league , are now back to their best as they hunt down chelsea . pablo zabaleta celebrates with david silva after helping manchester city extend their winning run . zabaleta claims his team-mates were under-prepared at the start of the season , but are now ready to shine . ` from the beginning of the season some of the players were not physically 100 per cent , ' said zabaleta . ` but now we look so much better . ` it was hard becasue we probably did n't have enough rest and it was n't a very long pre-season , ' added the argentine , who played in last summer 's world cup final . ` now i think everyone has improved . that 's why we have got better as a team - and we have to keep playing at this level . ` in the way we want to play , we were lacking some intensity and concentration . it cost us a few points . ' zabaleta hailed manchester city 's team spirit after making it eight wins in a row against crystal palace . silva -lrb- right -rrb- opened the scoring with a deflected shot during manchester city 's 3-0 defeat of crystal palace . however , going into the busy christmas period city , who were once nine points behind leaders chelsea , are now just three points off top spot . city travel to west brom on boxing day hoping to keep the pressure up on the premier league 's top side . and zabeleta believes jose mourinho 's team are bound to drop points during the festive fixtures . the likes of yaya toure made slow starts to the city title defence , but have started to show their best form . ` even if chelsea are winning games and looking solid , it is normal to have a point of the season where you can lose points . ` it will be very hard to play on the 26th and 28th within 48 hours of one another . '<doc-sep>pablo zabaleta proved he 's made of stern stuff after playing on in manchester city 's 2-2 draw at home to burnley , despite suffering a gruesome-looking injury . the full back took a nasty blow to the face after an accidental clash of heads with team-mate eliaquim mangala - as the duo challenged for an aerial ball in the first half . images , not for the faint-hearted , show the city medical team applying three stitches to the argentine full-back , who was cut above his left eye . manchester city 's pablo zabaleta had to play part of their match against burnley with a bandaged head . zabaleta -lrb- right -rrb- cut his head open after an accidentally clashing with team-mate eliaquim mangala -lrb- centre -rrb- . goalkeeper joe hart -lrb- left -rrb- and mangala -lrb- right -rrb- tend to zabaleta as he holds his head in agony . the 29-year-old was laid stricken on the floor as the city medical team attended his bloody injury . zabaleta 's on-field treatment included an injection into his forehead from the manchester city medical team . zabaleta -lrb- centre -rrb- lays still as the city medical staff patch him up with a bandage around his head . the 29-year-old played the remainder of the game with a bandage wrapped around his head . despite his injury , zabaleta wo n't be the only city player with a sore head after they threw away the chance to close the gap to one point on league leaders chelsea . the hosts took a two-goal lead at the etihad stadium courtesy of david silva and fernandinho before george boyd and ashley barnes replied for the clarets after the interval . city boss manuel pellegrini accused his players of complacency after the match and will be demanding his side produce a better display when they host sunderland on new years day . the full back soon returned to the action as city were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw at home to burnley . a bandaged zabaleta -lrb- left -rrb- gets to grips with jason shackell during sunday 's premier league encounter .<doc-sep>luis suarez appeared twice for liverpool at manchester city 's ground last season , but failed to score . friends reunited . few sets of players know each other better than these two . five played together for argentina in the world cup final -- martin demichelis , sergio aguero , pablo zabaleta , lionel messi and javier mascherano . neymar , fernandinho and dani alves are brazil team-mates , as are david silva , jesus navas , sergio busquets , xavi and andres iniesta with spain . there was one spectator sporting a rather snazzy line in headgear at the etihad . sir alex ferguson was visiting his old ` noisy neighbours ' but seemed to be keeping his opinion on city 's performance under his hat ...<doc-sep>manchester city defender pablo zabaleta is confident the champions can keep the pressure right on chelsea this christmas . chelsea top the barclays premier league heading into the festive programme but with city right on their tail . the londoners , who held a nine-point advantage over city at one stage last month , are now just three points clear after their chief rivals hit form . pablo zabaleta hailed manchester city 's team spirit after making it eight wins in a row against crystal palace . the right back celebrates with david silva after setting up the spain international 's opening goal . city have won their last eight games in all competitions - one short of a club record - and confidence is soaring with the indifferent results of october and november now firmly in the past . zabaleta said : ` that -lrb- run -rrb- shows the spirit that this team has at the moment . ` when you think of two months ago , when we were not playing our best football , we kept working hard and i think at the moment the confidence is back and we are playing much better football . ' i think that , at christmas , spirit is always crucial to try and win all the games , because it can make a big difference . it is especially the case for the top squads and the players that can rotate , because it will be very hard to play on the 26th and the 28th within 48 hours . manchester city players visited manchester children 's hospital on tuesday . england goalkeeper joe hart was deemed to have safe enough hands to be left holding the baby . ` we are looking to win those games . even if chelsea are winning games and looking solid , it is normal to have some point of the season where you can lose points . ` belief is what you need to keep going until the end . '

<t> six manchester city players took part in the christmas challenge . </t> <t> manuel pellegrini 's men were shown four hilarious youtube clips . </t> <t> edin dzeko among those to laugh at the first hurdle . </t> <t> city celebrated a 4-1 victory at sunderland on wednesday night . </t>

david silva , pablo zabaleta and manchester city team-mates challenged not to laugh during funny youtube clips ... but who managed to keep a straight face ?<T>

yesterday we brought you what we thought were the most awkward christmas photos of all time , but overnight , more snaps have surfaced of families grimacing in seasonal attire . as families start sending out their christmas cards , many - like tony and cherie blair earlier this week - will have opted for the personal touch , printing seasonal snaps featuring loved ones , children and pets . but as the former prime minister and his barrister wife 's annual greeting proves , festive portraits have the potential to inspire more ha ha ha 's than ho ho ho . these pictures show the cringe-inducing lengths some parents will go to produce the ultimate holiday greeting even if that means stripping off , cuddling bizarre pets , dressing in matching tartan or even donning pvc . one family even braved the winter chill to strip down and show off their brand new hot tub . scroll down for video . as families start sending out their christmas cards , many will have opted for the personal touch , printing seasonal snaps featuring loved ones , children and pets . these pictures show the cringe-inducing lengths some parents will go to produce the ultimate holiday greeting even if that means stripping off , cuddling bizarre pets or dressing in matching tartan and pvc . this family braved the winter chill to strip down and show off their brand new hot tub . one father dresses up as his own baby -lrb- left -rrb- while another little one is decorated in a straitjacket of fairy lights -lrb- right -rrb- . resembling a snap from an office party , this family strip off for a naughty festive portrait . bad santas with a black eye , matching christmas jumpers and dad naked by the dinner table , these photographs are definitely on the naughty list . there are a few turkeys in this festive photo album as the most wonderful time of the year is captured in all its awkward glory . some went even further , dropping the swimming trunks and bikinis , favouring a fig leaf - instead of mistletoe - to cover their modesty in saucy family shot . one family attempted to pose as santa and his reindeer but just ended up looking like a disjointed human centipede . while others demonstrated that pets such as budgies , a duck and birds of prey and are always risky props . others covered up in the retro-styled christmas jumpers that are all the rage at the moment but some of these festive frights are more suited to halloween . a pair of playfighting siblings are captured mid-scrap in an angelic studio-style setting . two none-the-wiser sisters perch next to a sinister-looking santa claus . this father christmas appears to be dozing off as the baby on his knee looks worried . the pole seems the ideal spot to capture that wholesome family photo -lrb- left -rrb- , meanwhile one member of the family on the right has decided she 's having none of it . this toddler dressed as a gingerbread man is pulling her angriest face but still looks adorable . although even the worst woollen wear ca n't match one family 's own tie-dye fashion disaster . they at least took the trouble to co-ordinate their clobber . one dad decided to ruin his relative 's festive memories by secretly getting his kit off just before he said cheese . the smile on children 's faces at christmas often makes the months of work that parents put in to finding the perfect present all worth it . but instead their kid 's terrible tantrums and tears have been turned into cherished memories in these pics . one naughty boy was even wrapped up in christmas lights as a punishment - santa surely did n't visit him that year . even old mr claus himself has been risking the sack with a few creepy pictures . some people go all-out when it comes to dressing up , like this family of festive presents . a greetings card from a loved-up couple -lrb- left -rrb- and a pair of siblings who seem to have the holiday mixed up -lrb- right -rrb- . one little girl knows how to get her own way when it comes to sharing , as proven in this family shot . these children are wondering why on earth mum and dad brought them to see father christmas - clearly not fans . this family ditched the christmas sweaters and opted for just a fig leaf to cover their modesty . st. nicks were snapped letting beards slip , dozing after a few too many sherries and one bad santa even boasted a black eye . this album of awkwardness certainly proves the saying you can ` pick your friends but you ca n't pick your family ' is true . nothing looks quite as uncomfortable as matching outfits , except , of course , when just one member of the family decides to just dispense with clothes altogether . but perhaps it 's worth treasuring these photos , as next time you feel a little embarrassed about being in a family snap at christmas , you will remember it could be a lot worse . awkwardfamilyphotos.com has been top of the tree for priceless family memories since it was set-up by childhood friends mike bender and doug chernack . share your awkward christmas family photos ! send us your name , location and picture to femail@mailonline.co.uk . awkwardfamilyphotos.com has been top of the tree for priceless memories since the site was set-up by mike bender and doug chernack . something 's roasting by an open fire but it 's not chestnuts ... a father-of-two sheds his clothes in this funny family christmas shot . mum goes for a pvc santa outfit complete with garter belt , left , while , right , proud parents showcase their children 's swimming talents . dad , put it away ! you can tell who likes to sleep naked in this family photo where all members - bar one - are wearing pyjamas . these children are not too happy to be meeting father christmas . one little girl sulks while another bursts into tears . this family attempts to resemble santa and his reindeer but proves that just because you can photoshop your snaps does n't mean you should . spot the odd pet out : this dog 's owners are absolutely quackers about budgies and birds - even insisting the duck look straight at the camera . it may be true that owners and their dogs look alike - but dress the same too ? it 's still not clear where the doll fits in in this surreal tableau . who 's game ? welcome to the house where children cuddle dachshunds while their mullet-haired parents show off the family 's birds of prey . tartan army : this family captures the moment when each member is a head taller than the other - and willing to wear a red plaid nightie . the strangest father christmas jumpers , left , and the most forced christmas smiles -lrb- or grimaces -rrb- , right , we 've ever seen . forced into red onesies and wearing glasses that time and taste forgot - who can blame the children for their stony expressions ?<doc-sep>ben redhead , from firebox.com , said : ` we 're pretty big fans of giant confectionary , so we jumped at the chance to stock this behemoth bar . ` who needs christmas pudding when you 've got this tucked away in the kitchen ? ` it 'll be the gift that keeps on giving for snickers fans through christmas and beyond . ' the huge bar measures 25cm -lrb- 9.8 inches -rrb- long , 6.5 cm -lrb- 2.6 inches -rrb- wide , and 4.5 cm -lrb- 1.8 inches -rrb- high . a standard bar - costing around 60 pence - weighs 52.7 g and contains 250 calories . firebox say it is ` perfect ' as it is , but have also suggested their customers to try it deep fried . giant : the wrapper is around 11in long and the bar itself is just over 10in .<doc-sep>by . bianca london . published : . 08:29 est , 12 december 2013 . | . updated : . 12:14 est , 12 december 2013 . as millions of brits flock to the shops and spend hours - or sometimes minutes - labouring over the perfect gift for their loved one , it seems that their efforts may well be futile . a new survey has revealed that nearly half of us are preparing to fake a positive reaction to an unwanted gift in order to avoid upsetting a loved one 's feelings this christmas . from the ` long-suffering ' to the ` faking it face ' , femail and body language expert judi james are here to help you decipher the 12 telltale faces you could be witnessing on christmas morning . not impressed : if your woman pulls the ` disappointed face ' -lrb- left -rrb- she is not happy ; while the ` long-suffering ' face -lrb- right -rrb- says ` thanks for the socks ... the same pair you 've bought me for the past ten years ' fuming : only 0.4 per cent of people have witnessed the ` rage face ' but it is the worst of the lot - and quite easy to spot . judi showed over 2,000 . people photographs of the twelve faces and asked them to pick the . ones they recognised most when giving gifts to friends and family . the ` happy face ' topped the list , with 64 per cent recognising it , followed by the ` love face ' -lrb- 37 per cent -rrb- and the ` curious face ' -lrb- 19 per cent -rrb- . other popular faces were the ` omg face ' , the ` disappointed face ' and the ` fake it ' face . win ! men , if your lady displays this ` happy face ' it means she is delighted with her christmas gift . what does her face say ? the ` love face ' -lrb- l -rrb- , which is the second most popular face , means she adores her present , while the ` curious face ' -lrb- r -rrb- means she is intrigued . oh em gee ! the ` omg face ' means she is shocked , but in a good way . the research found that , surprisingly , mum is the most likely person to be on the receiving end of the ` fake ' smile , with nearly 1 in 5 people claiming she is responsible for the majority of unwanted christmas gifts . thankfully , amidst the faking , there will be genuine delight with almost two thirds of people claiming to see happy reactions from their gift giving efforts , and a third seeing a love face . however , it seems there is a degree of awkward uncertainty among some gift recipients with one in five claiming to have witnessed a curious face as the reaction to their gift . judi explains : ` being put on the spot to open a gift in front of friends and family can be a stressful situation , so it 's natural for people to ` fake it ' in order not to hurt a loved one 's feelings . not convinced : the ` faking it ' face -lrb- l -rrb- is one to look out for this year , and the ` styling it out face ' -lrb- r -rrb- probably means she does n't take your gift seriously . behind the smile : the ` guilty face ' -lrb- l -rrb- and the ` suspicious face ' are two to look out for this year . ' a lot of time and effort normally goes into buying christmas gifts , so it 's probably the one time of year that a white lie is ok ! ' . but how can you truly tell if someone is delighted or not ? judi maintains that it 's all in the smile . ` when it comes to knowing whether someone is truly happy with their gift look closely ; the smile is usually spread evenly across the face , with a subtle display of upper and lower teeth and the eyes are narrowed slightly into a crescent shaped eye-smile . ` on the other hand , when we perform a white lie , we are often guilty of over-acting ; look for over the top wide eyes and a wide open mouth displaying upper and lower teeth with a hand on the chest , ' she advises . so how do you ensure you do n't get a ` fake smile ' ? men , take note . here are the year 's most unwanted christmas gifts . topping the list is bubble bath -lrb- 37 per cent -rrb- , ill-fitting clothes -lrb- 29 per cent -rrb- , ornaments -lrb- 27 per cent -rrb- and perfume or aftershave that smell awful -lrb- 24 per cent -rrb- . women are more likely to want to bin the bubble bath than men , with over a third -lrb- 39 per cent -rrb- saying it 's the item they 'd least like to receive , compared to only 18 per cent of men . for men its socks that are the most undesired christmas gift with 27 per cent listing this as the top no-go gift , compared to only 10 per cent of women , found the survey by american express gift cards . the happy face 64 per centthe love face 37 per centthe curious face 19 per centthe omg face 16 per centthe disappointed face 7 per centthe fake it face 6 per centthe styling it out face 5 per centthe guilty face 5 per centthe suspicious face 4 per centthe long-suffering face 4 per centthe tantrum face 1 per centthe rage face 0.4 per cent . bubble bath -lrb- 37 per cent -rrb- . ill-fitting clothes -lrb- 29 per cent -rrb- . ornaments -lrb- 27 per cent -rrb- . perfume or aftershave that smell awful -lrb- 24 per cent -rrb- .<doc-sep>just like the family in the video , boots uk is inviting the nation to celebrate all of the special people in their lives this christmas with the launch of the #specialbecause campaign . the beauty giant are encouraging brits to share the reason why they love a certain someone with the hashtag #specialbecause . a spokesperson for boots said : ` we know that for our customers giving the perfect christmas gift offers much more than just the present itself , it is a way for them to show how much they care . this christmas we want to inspire our customers to celebrate the special people in their lives , not just by giving the perfect gift from boots , but by sharing the reasons they matter for the whole nation to see . ` be it the best friend who always takes your late night phone calls , the brother who 's your babysitting backstop , or the colleague who makes the office cheery , this year at boots we have a special gift for everyone , from the smallest of stocking fillers to the most luxurious of beauty treats . ` that 's what #specialbecause is all about ... making those who make us feel good , often in the smallest or simplest of ways , realise just how special they are . '<doc-sep>we know you 're starting to panic . with just a few weeks left in the holiday season , you still need christmas gift ideas for some of the people on your list : the babysitter you want to keep happy , the co-worker you drew in the office secret santa exchange , the in-laws who have everything , the new niece or nephew who already seems to have so much for such a tiny person . stop the freakout : try this list for inspiration . you can pick up most of these gifts on your way home tonight ! gifts for young people . the infant . gift-giving philosophy : this is the perfect time to give a keepsake . shopping strategy : jewelry stores , arts and craft stores , high-end department stores , local gift boutiques , home decor stores and big box stores will likely have the gifts you want . examples : sterling silver keepsakes , personalized shadow box for booties or a rattle , cashmere baby blanket , heirloom quilt , engraved snow globe or jewelry box . the teenager . gift-giving philosophy : teens are throwing off the trappings of their childhoods , but usually retain a sense of whimsy . meanwhile , they 're experimenting with some newfound freedoms . indulge them . shopping strategy : young-adult oriented retailers like urban outfitters , bath and body stores , technology stores like the apple store and radio shack , department stores and big box stores will likely have the gifts you want . examples : think about perfume or cologne , a pocket dj mixer , department store makeup , cute headphones with animal ears , furniture made out of skateboards , a cardboard unicorn head trophy , a massive nail art kit , leather duffel bag , semiprecious jewelry , zombie survival kit or swiss army knife . gifts for family and friends . the distant relative . gift-giving philosophy : you see them maybe once a year . time to play up your family ties and think outside the normal retail haunts . shopping strategy : photo stores and copy stores are useful for reproductions of family heirlooms ; they can help reproduce your photos or old home movies , and often sell items like frames and archival boxes . monogrammed gifts can also be found in local boutiques , big box stores , kitchen supply stores and home decor stores like pottery barn . examples : reprint a family photo and frame it for them . copy great aunt ree 's recipe cards so everyone can eat that fruitcake . try a monogrammed item with your common name . the in-laws , or your love interest 's parents . gift-giving philosophy : you want your in-laws or significant other 's parents to feel comfortable around you , so give them the gift of comfort . shopping strategy : high-end department stores , sleep specialty stores , big box stores , bath and body stores , home goods stores like restoration hardware and even some drugstores will likely have the gifts you want . examples : try micro-fleece or down-filled robes , cashmere slippers , a heated sofa throw , essential oil or lavender eye pillow or a pajama warming pouch .

<t> tony and cherie blair 's annual christmas greeting has been ridiculed since being unveiled this week . </t> <t> but they 're not the only ones , as old photos show other families ' ill-judged snaps over the years . </t> <t> pictures from the awkward family photos blog feature bizarre poses , weird pets and misguided nudity . </t>

the christmas gift that keeps on giving ⁇ more awkward family photos<T>

spain is steadily becoming a nation of ` ghost towns ' - with empty apartment blocks , streets and weed-filled gardens where bustling communities were supposed to move . entire housing estates built during the country 's boom years have been left abandoned , bricked up and now on sale for almost half their original price . one such settlement is sesena , dubbed the manhattan of madrid for its towering apartments and proximity to the capital , where 30,000 people were due to live . loneliness of the long-distance ruuner : a jogger in the shadows runs past empty apartment blocks in sesena , a 45-minute drive south of madrid , where 30,000 people were due to live . of the 13,000 homes due to be built , only 5,100 were completed - most of them now uninhabited and the spaniards who bought them as investments now competing to offload them for huge losses . spain 's housing market crash and economic implosion have turned what was supposed to become a vibrant suburban paradise for young spanish couples and their children into one of the most visible monuments of the country 's boom gone bust . such modern-day ghost towns have become a familiar part of the spanish landscape , abandoned shells left to slowly decay . the number of foreclosure proceedings skyrocketed during the economic crisis . barren plains : landscaped areas , which were due to be built on , lie . vacant on the outskirts of ghost town sesena as the spanish housing . crisis continues to take its hold . nearly 530,000 were granted by courts from 2008 through september of 2011 , most to banks taking homes , housing developments and vast tracts of land for residential and commercial real estate projects that may never become reality . the banks were ordered this month by the recently elected centre-right government to set aside billions of additional euros to cover these toxic real estate assets valued at 175billion euro just as spain teeters on the edge of what could be a lengthy recession . spain now has more than 5million people -lrb- 22.9 per cent of its residents -rrb- out of work - and recent growth data suggests the situation is only going to get worse . the country 's economy shrank , by 0.3 per cent , for the first time in two years in the fourth quarter of 2011 . economists believe it is the start of what could be a prolonged slump as madrid implements harsh austerity measures to deflate a massive budget deficit . the country already has the highest unemployment figure in europe . rbs economist nick matthews said : ` some countries in the eurozone may just avoid a recession , but that may be more difficult for spain . ` given the need for fiscal consolidation in the country and the pressure that puts on domestic demand , it 's going to be very difficult for spain to avoid recession . ' economic output in the 17-nation single currency area fell 0.3 per cent in the fourth quarter from the third , official data showed yesterday as the sovereign debt crisis crushed a recovery and looked set to push the bloc in to a mild recession . the italian economy joined belgium , greece and portugal in formal recession having already shrunk in the third quarter of 2011 . purchasing data from markit for january showed a slight improvement for the spanish manufacturing and services industries , but it may not be enough for an economy that has been in recession or close to stagnation for almost five years . spain had been growing at an above-average rate since the country entered into the eurozone monetary union 12 years ago , but the boom was largely due to the housing expansion fuelled by cheap loans and has been struggling since the 2007 crash . experts say the government 's new provisions for real estate holdings will almost certainly prompt the banks to sell holdings at firesale prices , forcing property values down much more than the 22 per cent that they have dropped since the financial crisis hit europe in 2008 . in sesena and other ghost developments around spain , some banks are already trying to unload finished apartments at discounts of up to 50 per cent of their original prices . but that is hurting untold numbers of spaniards who invested savings and took out big loans to buy property they thought they would be able to sell for more money or rent . satellite cities that never ended up with populations are not spain 's only problem . around madrid and across the country , there are vast subdivisions carved out of farmland complete with paved roads and streetlights but only weeds where houses were supposed to be built . half-built apartment buildings stand idle in suburbs rich and poor . with unemployment at a eurozone high of 23 per cent , there are simply fewer buyers - and young spaniards are increasingly trying to find work abroad . in december alone , sales were down 25.3 per cent compared to the same month in 2010 , the government reported last friday . ` this is the problem : who is going to buy these homes ? ' said jose luis alvarez arce , head of the economics department at the university of navara . it could take years for the banks to clean up their assets and relieve a growing credit crunch affecting individuals and businesses , some of whom never got caught up in the spanish real estate craze in which most citizens bought real estate as an alternative to savings accounts , investment funds and retirement plans . the boom and bust has been so profound that the impact is changing the spanish mentality about real estate , said fernando encinar , head of research at spain 's most popular real estate website , idealista.com . younger spaniards , he said , for the first time do not believe parents who have told them for decades that they should always buy instead of rent and treat real estate as an investment that will never go bad . the age-old saying in spain that prices never go down or not for long ` is now broken ' , encinar said . no neighbours : one resident of sesena bought a three-bedroom apartment with a terrace for 185,000 euro but is now stuck in a city that has no public transport or even a pharmacy . ` we 're starting to see people who must sell with losses they would have never accepted in the past , ' encinar said . ` and some of these homes are never going to be sold . ' spain 's development ministry estimates there are 687,000 unsold new homes for sale . other studies put the number as high as 1.6 million in the nation of 47million , where 80 per cent of the population already lives in owned homes , a rate much higher than nations like france , germany , italy and the united states . there is no government figure for used homes for sale , but estimates range into the millions . the value that the banks put on the property just is n't real , ' alvarez said . ` and as a result the banks do n't trust each other , they are n't lending to each other and if they do n't lend to each other there 's no credit for spaniards . ' juan carlos caballero bought his three-bedroom sesena apartment with a terrace overlooking the residents ' pool in 2008 for 185,000 euro after his retired father jumped into the real estate action to buy the same style of apartment at a lower pre-construction price . landlord 's nightmare : a chauffeur who bought a property in sesena has dropped his rental value by a third but said finding anybody to move in ` like winning the lottery ' father and son were both convinced housing prices would continue to rise as they had since the mid-1990s . they now are stuck with homes in a development that does not have a pharmacy or good public transport to madrid . the only pizza restaurant is open just three nights a week and on saturday afternoon when there are enough clients to justify operating , and the roast chicken takeaway only opens friday nights and saturday afternoons . apartment blocks have ground floor commercial space for small businesses so people can walk to buy whatever they need . but most units are sealed by brick walls scrawled with cell phone numbers of owners offering to sell or rent them . tough decisions : spanish prime minister mariano rajoy is having to implement massive budget cuts to save the country from bankruptcy . the 33-year-old caballero , an unemployed chauffeur , last rented his apartment for 750 euro a month two years ago , and is now asking just 500 euro per month . similar apartments are being offered at 375 euro monthly , but he is asking for more because his is in immaculate condition with new furniture and appliances . his father , jesus , is offering his apartment for sale at 108,000 euro , meaning he stands to lose tens of thousands of euros in a bid for retirement cash now that he 's reached age 67 . but banks selling foreclosed property in sesena have smaller apartments listed as low as 65,000 euro . ` selling or renting now is like winning the lottery , ' said the younger caballero , who lives with his parents and shells out 500 euro of his 700 euro monthly unemployment cheque to pay his mortgage and other apartment costs . in the town of yebes more than an hour 's drive from madrid , 9,000 apartments and small houses were supposed to be built in a bucolic country setting next to a high-speed train station so workers could get downtown in less than 20 minutes . but only 1,500 were finished before developers went broke , 3,000 people live there instead of the projected 30,000 and government officials never launched the train service . ` the station is built , the trains are bought but they never started running , ' said mayor joaquin ormazabal . the 240,000 euro home he bought would now sell for about half the price . the population in yebes is increasing somewhat as banks sell off foreclosed properties at low prices , but ormazabal said it could be decades if ever before the rest of the land is developed . ` nothing 's going to happen until the spanish economy comes back , ' he said . ` right now no one is thinking about building anything in spain . ' carlos velazquez , sesena 's mayor , said the development fiasco has one positive side : spanish real estate speculators are n't snapping up apartments any more in his town . those that are buying ` are people who are going to come here to live , pay their taxes and want the place to be nice for their children . '<doc-sep>by . sarah johnson . published : . 16:47 est , 26 november 2012 . | . updated : . 16:48 est , 26 november 2012 . at its peak , it was a bustling town manufacturing millions of wooden doors to cater for the housing boom in spain . but all that 's left now is a ghost town with an abandoned factory that is a stark reminder of more prosperous times . villacanas is one of the many former buoyant industrial spanish towns that is now struggling with huge unemployment problems . stark : the sun rises over villacanas , 55 miles from madrid . at its peak , it was a buoyant manufacturing town making millions of wooden doors . abandoned : the terrain of the mavisa door factory is strewn with rubbish . during the boom years , the factory employed 5,700 people and produced seven million wooden doors a year . destroyed : material is scattered around an old working bench inside the abandoned mavisa door factory . since its closure , the town of villacanas has been struggling with huge unemployment problems . between 2001 and 2007 , spain was leading the property boom in europe with prices increasing annually at an average of around 13 per cent . around 800,000 houses were being built a year and the people of villacas were part of spain 's middle class enjoying high wages and permanent jobs . during the construction boom , the majority of doors used with the new developments were made in this small industrial town . approximately seven million doors a year were once assembled at the mavisa factory which employed a workforce of almost 5,700 people . desolate : the state of the mavisa door factory is a stark reminder of more prosperous times when the population of villacanas was part of spain 's middle class enjoying high wages and permanent jobs . bleak outlook : a man crosses an old bridge leading to the other side of the railroad track in villacanas . times now are different from the boom years when spain was building some 800,000 houses a year . shutting up shop : a market salesman packs up his unsold vegetables after a day on the local market . empty : a neon sign illuminates on a bar in calle mayor . the town has been left desolate with the villacanas industrial park now empty and redundant . quiet : a pedestrian crosses the street devoid of traffic . with spain in the grip of recession and the housing bubble burst , villacanas is typical of many former buoyant industrial spanish towns now struggling with huge problems . then the economic downturn hit in 2008 .<doc-sep>by . daily mail reporter . they were among the most poignant symbols of the recession , hundreds of unfinished irish housing estates that had to be abandoned following the credit crunch of the late 2000s . but now demolition has begun on some of the last of the remaining ghost estates , built during the economic boom of ` celtic tiger ' years but now deemed ` not economically viable ' . between the mid-1990s and 2007 , irish developers flocked to build new homes , spurred on by the easy availability of credit , cheap labour from eastern europe and a vibrant dublin property market . bulldozed : the last remaining units on the glenatore esate in athlone , ireland , where in 2012 a two-year-old boy was killed after breaking through a fence onto an unfinished development , are being torn down . not economically viable : a contractor stands in the rubble of the glenatore ghost estate . thousands of housing estates built during the celtic tiger boom years were abandoned following the late 2000s recession .<doc-sep>by . phil vinter . published : . 07:54 est , 26 october 2012 . | . updated : . 09:56 est , 26 october 2012 . a haunted ruin where the ghost of king charles i 's executioner is said to roam at night is going under the hammer for # 75,000 . almost 250 years old the grade ii listed building has been described by estate agents as a folly - a building in the form of a castle or temple originally constructed to satisfy a fancy or conceit . the ruins , in the village of dinton , near aylesbury , in buckinghamshire are rumoured to be haunted by the ghost of john mayne . this haunted ruin where the ghost of king charles i 's executioner is said to roam at night is going under the hammer for # 75,000 . the ruins , in the village of dinton , near aylesbury , buckinghamshire are rumoured to be haunted by the ghost of john mayne . mayne , who was also known as the dinton hermit , used to live in a nearby cave in the 17th century . he was once secretary to oliver cromwell and local legend has it that he executed charles i on january 30 , 1649 . mayne fell out of favour with charles ii during the restoration and was stripped of his wealth .<doc-sep>by . steve nolan . published : . 11:15 est , 30 october 2013 . | . updated : . 12:08 est , 30 october 2013 . spain has finally emerged from a two-year recession with figures showing that the country 's economy grew in the last quarter in spite of extremely high unemployment . burgeoning exports saw the economy grow 0.1 per cent in the third quarter , according to figures from the national statistics institute released today . but economists still warned that the road to recovery will still be a tough one for the eurozone 's fourth-biggest economy and that unemployment , which is still just under 26 per cent , will remain exceptionally high for at least another five years . recovery : spain is the latest eurozone country to exit recession as figures show its economy grew by 0.1 per cent in the last quarter . meanwhile , house prices in the irish capital dublin are rising faster than they were during the height of the property boom , just months after the country 's economy emerged from recession .

<t> spain has highest jobless rate in europe with 22.9 % unemployed . </t> <t> sesena , dubbed manhattan of madrid , supposed to have 30,000 residents . </t> <t> but only 5,100 of 13,000 homes built ... and prices now half original value . </t>

spain haunted by ghost towns built during boom years as unemployment tops 5million<T>

a white man who was the police chief in a small south carolina town has finally been charged with murder in the 2011 shooting death of an unarmed black man after being denied a ` stand your ground ' defense . richard combs worked in eutawville when 54-year-old bernard bailey , a retired corrections officer , came to the town hall to complain about a ticket his daughter had received over a broken taillight in may 2011 . following an argument , combs issued bailey an obstruction of justice warrant , and bailey stormed out of the building . bailey got into his truck in the parking lot and began backing up as combs opened the driver 's door of the pick-up . indicted : former eutawville police chief richard combs -lrb- left -rrb- shot 54-year-old bernard bailey twice in the chest and once in the shoulder after bailey entered town hall with a ticket complaint . richard combs , the former police chief and sole officer in the small town of eutawville , listens in court with his lawyer john o'leary on thursday december 4 , 2014 , in orangeburg , south carolina , as he is charged . scene : bailey walked into the parking lot of the town hall after combs served him with an arrest warrant and the two briefly fought at bailey 's truck before combs started firing in may 2011 . the chief told investigators he felt his safety was threatened and began firing his gun . combs fatally shot bailey twice in the chest and once in the shoulder . after a delayed investigation , a grand jury indicted combs on wednesday , the same day a new york grand jury refused to indict an officer in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man . it 's more than a week after a grand jury refused to indict an officer in the death of unarmed michael brown in ferguson , missouri . combs ' lawyer maintain the officer feared for his life . prosecutors say he was the aggressor . investigation : family and friends of bernard bailey say the investigation into his death dragged on too long .<doc-sep>crime scene : combs ' lawyer maintain the officer feared for his life . prosecutors say he was the aggressor . the indictment against combs says the former police chief ` unlawfully used deadly force ... shooting and killing bernard bailey , when deadly force was not necessary , ' during the confrontation , according to the times and democrat . ` there was no need for mr. combs to act as he did on may 2 , 2011 , when mr. bailey refused service , as mr. combs expected would happen , ' the order stated . ` mr. combs should have allowed mr. bailey to leave and enlisted the assistance of other officers or serve the warrant at court as originally planned . ' combs was placed on administrative leave after the shooting . he was eventually fired . if found guilty , combs faces up to 10 years in prison . beareaved : dorris and briana bailey , the wife and daughter of the victim , were awarded $ 400,000 in a wrongful death lawsuit earlier this year . eutawville 's population is just over 300 people . about one-third of the population are black . friends and family of bailey - a walmart manager - have complained that the investigation into his death dragged on too long . in october 2012 , the family filed their own lawsuit naming combs , the town , and the police department in a wrongful death case , according to abc news 4 . earlier this year they received $ 400,000 from the town as part of the settlement .<doc-sep>a south carolina judge declared a mistrial this morning in the case of a white ex-police chief charged with murder for shooting dead an unarmed black man in 2011 . the jury in orangeburg deliberated for 12 hours before telling circuit judge edgar dickson early on tuesday that they were deadlocked . nine of the jurors voted to convict the former cop , richard combs , while three were not convinced of his guilt , prosecutor david pascoe said . combs , a former eutawville police chief , was charged after shooting 54-year-old bernard bailey three times in may 2011 as he tried to arrest him on an obstruction of justice warrant in the town hall parking lot . pascoe , who argued that the warrant had been trumped up , said on tuesday that he will evaluate his case but plans to try combs again . it is not yet clear when that will happen . scroll down for video . mistrial : former eutawville police chief richard combs sits with lawyers during his murder trial last week . early on tuesday , the judge declared a mistrial after the jury could not agree on his guilt . ` i 'm going to take a little time , but we 're going forward , ' pascoe said . defense attorney wally fayssoux , who maintains combs is innocent , said it had been a long week . ` we 're disappointed we did n't get a result , but i think both sides feel that way , ' fayssoux said . the defense said that the shooting had nothing to do with race and argued combs fired in self-defense when he was caught in the door of bailey 's moving truck as he tried to arrest him . during closing arguments , pascoe said combs frequently changed his story to match the evidence and was confident he would never be held responsible for killing bailey because he was a cop .<doc-sep>the 2011 killing of an unarmed black man by a small-town police chief in south carolina was a senseless act of violence and the officer must be convicted of murder because everyone should be treated the same under the law , a prosecutor said wednesday . but a defense lawyer said former eutawville police chief richard combs was trying to serve a lawfully obtained arrest warrant and the legal system would not work if people could just leave instead of being taken into custody . opening arguments started wednesday in combs ' murder trial . he faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted . ` senseless ' : solicitor david pascoe said in opening statements tuesday that bernard bailey was ` gunned down in an absolutely senseless act of violence ' by eutawville police chief david pascoe in 2011 . unarmed : bernard bailey was shot and killed by new police chief richard combs outside the eutawville town hall in may 2011 . combs was indicted shortly after grand juries produced no indictments against white officers in the deaths of unarmed black men in ferguson , missouri , and in new york . he was the third white officer indicted in 2014 in a shooting of an unarmed black man in south carolina . both sides agree combs shot bernard bailey outside eutawville town hall in may 2011 after an argument over a ticket for a broken taillight the chief gave to bailey 's daughter a few days earlier . combs ' lawyer , john o'leary , said the chief had a warrant to arrest bailey on an obstruction of justice charge after the argument over the ticket and people ca n't just leave when they are being arrested . as a small-town police chief , he did n't have a stun gun or pepper spray , so he had no choice but to fire his gun as bailey tried to back away with combs in the truck . solicitor david pascoe said bailey was ` gunned down in an absolutely senseless act of violence , ' shot three times as he simply backed out to escape an escalating situation . pascoe told jurors combs must follow the law , even if he is a police officer . ` whether he wears a badge or not , the law must treat everyone equal , ' pascoe said . a jury of seven blacks and five whites was seated tuesday evening . combs ' attorneys had asked to move the trial to another county , but later withdrew their request .<doc-sep>jason polanco , 23 , is charged with attempted murder and robbery . long before he allegedly opened fire in a wild shootout that left a pair of nypd cops injured , 23-year-old jason polanco was already one to promote anti-cop violence . polanco , who was arrested on attempted murder charges tuesday , routinely posted messages with political or social commentary on his instagram . in one of those posts , a few months ago , he added a picture captioned ` stop police brutality ' -- complete with a shocking call for violence against cops . ` maybe there should be a stand your ground law for civilian against abusive & -lsb- corrupt -rsb- authorities , ' the suspect wrote . ` same way they empty a full mag on us , empty a couple on them . ' he signed his message with a reference to michael brown , the unarmed black missouri teenager whose shooting death by a white police officer sparked months of protests and riots nationwide .<doc-sep>two albuquerque police officers were charged with murder monday in the shooting death of a knife-wielding homeless man that led to sometimes violent protests and a federal investigation into the city 's police force . the decision to bring murder charges occurred at a time when police tactics are under intense scrutiny nationwide , fueled by the fatal shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old in ferguson , missouri , and the chokehold death of another unarmed man in new york city . grand juries declined to charge officers in those cases , leading to large protests . acknowledging the frustration over the secrecy of the proceedings in those cases , the albuquerque district attorney said she would bypass the grand jury process and instead present the murder case to a judge at a preliminary hearing that will be open to the public . caught on camera : james boyd , 38 , left , is shown during a standoff with officers in the sandia foothills in albuquerque , new mexico before police fatally shot him . murderers ? swat team member dominique perez -lrb- right -rrb- and former detective keith sandy -lrb- left -rrb- fatally shot james boyd , a mentally ill homeless man who had frequent violent run-ins with law enforcement and they 've now been charged with murder . ` unlike ferguson and unlike in new york city , we 're going to know . the public is going to have that information , ' district attorney kari brandenburg said . police said swat team member dominique perez and former detective keith sandy fatally shot james boyd , a mentally ill homeless man who had frequent violent run-ins with law enforcement . video from an officer 's helmet camera showed boyd appearing to surrender when officers opened fire , but a defense lawyer characterized him as an unstable suspect who was ` unpredictably and dangerously close to a defenseless officer while he was wielding two knives . '

<t> former eutawville police chief richard combs indicted over the shooting death of bernard bailey , 54 , in may 2011 . </t> <t> bailey went to the town hall to dispute a ticket and combs served him with an arrest warrant for obstruction of justice . </t> <t> bailey tried to leave , got into his pick-up in the parking lot and backed out . </t> <t> combs opened the truck 's door and the two fought . </t> <t> combs then shot bailey three times . </t> <t> he faces 10 years in prison . </t>

carolina cop richard combs charged with murder in unarmed man shooting<T>

no sooner has the pressure eased on one captain than it is being felt by another . the news that alastair cook will miss sunday 's fourth one-day international in colombo because of over-rate indiscretions has paved the way for eoin morgan to take the reins . since morgan is without a half-century in 15 one-day innings , the timing may not be ideal . but coach peter moores is hoping his temporary promotion will act as a ` catalyst ' for a player who will need to be at his impish best if england are to have any chance of challenging for the world cup next year . eoin morgan is on a wretched run of form but will captain england in colombo on sunday . morgan 's latest failure , out for a single as he hooked a short ball from angelo mathews straight to deep backward square leg during england 's restorative five-wicket win over sri lanka in hambantota on wednesday night , felt like the act of a player wondering where his next score is coming from . morgan trudges off after being dismissed for one in the third odi against sri lanka . but england regard him as crucial to their gameplan of scoring heavily in the last 20 overs of an innings . and no player in the current squad has made more than his six centuries in the format . ` he 'll be very disappointed that he has n't yet managed to impact on the series , ' said moores . ` he 's a top-flight one-day player . maybe the captaincy will be a nice catalyst for him , and allow him to take his mind off himself and just go out and play . ' the travails of cook , who was suspended for one game after twice failing in the last 12 months to keep his bowlers up with the required rate -- against india at cardiff in august and now in hambantota -- have masked morgan 's own struggles . and morgan 's have been the more surprising . a naturally gifted striker of the ball , with an eye for the improbable , he has looked recently like a magician shorn of his wand . moores said : ` the frustration for him will be how he 's got out a couple of times . you do n't go away from your basics . you do the things you know have worked in the past . you 've got to believe in yourself . maybe the captaincy can be a healthy distraction . ' there is frustration , too , that cook has been forced out of a game having just presided over a victory that has unexpectedly dragged england back into this seven-match series . and while 's cook 's 34 from 42 balls had a familiar air about it -- getting in , then getting out , with moeen ali apparently playing a different game at the other end -- moores insisted his under-fire captain had been ` timing it beautifully ' . morgan will take the reins as alastair cook -lrb- left -rrb- is banned for slow over rates in hambantota . morgan and cook in 2014 -lrb- odi innings . alastair cook . matches : 17 runs : 470 high score : 56 . average : 29.37 strike rate : 71.97 . hundreds : 0 fifties : 1 . eoin morgan . matches : 18 runs : 489 high score : 106 . average : 27.16 strike rate : 81.63 . hundreds : 1 fifties : 2 . the trick now will be to ensure that the hambantota result is not a one-off , and sri lanka are expected to be boosted on sunday by the return of the vastly experienced mahela jayawardene , who missed wednesday 's match because it was his young daughter 's birthday . but moores spoke of laughter on the team bus after the game -- rare enough on this tour to merit a mention -- and of the opportunity created for others by cook 's enforced absence . alex hales will open with ali after being given a chance last night at no 3 at the expense of ian bell , and the vacant slot in the line-up could be taken by james taylor , the nottinghamshire batsman who was one of the stars of the new royal london one-day cup last summer . the england coach confirmed that cook would resume the captaincy for the fifth game of this series , which dealt with the mischievous suggestion that the tourists may stumble across a successful formula without him . but , as moores said : ` we 're still trying to identify our best team . ' the awkward truth is that it may not include the man earmarked to lead england at the world cup .<doc-sep>england may have ditched alastair cook but there is no guarantee that it means they will now be playing the dynamic , twenty20 style one-day cricket that has enthused the rest of the cricketing world . sportsmail understands there is just as much chance of ian bell , reprieved in the world cup squad at cook 's expense , walking out to open the batting with moeen ali against australia at melbourne on february 14 as there is the more explosive alex hales . england do not think their tactics are wrong going into a world cup but more that cook was no longer the right man at the top of the order to fulfil them . video scroll down to see national selector james whitaker on cook 's omission . alastair cook looks dismayed after being dismissed in the final odi of the series against sri lanka . eoin morgan has replaced cook as england 's 50-over skipper despite his own poor form . there also remain reservations over whether hales can prosper in the longer game against two new balls , after his technique was exposed by india last summer . cook , meanwhile , revealed he was devastated to miss out on a place in the world cup squad . speaking on saturday , he said : ` i am gutted to be left out of the world cup squad and it is likely to take me a while to get over the disappointment . that said i wish peter moores , eoin morgan and the lads all the best for the world cup . i would also like to thank all the players and fans who have supported me as one-day captain . ' sportsmail understands ian bell has as much chance as opening the batting as alex hales at the world cup . alastair cook after the defeat by sri lanka , his final match as england one-day captain .<doc-sep>england performed a spectacular u-turn on friday night by sacking alastair cook as their one-day captain less than two months before the world cup . only five days after they insisted that cook would lead them in the showpiece one-day tournament , england dramatically changed their minds and ditched the man they have invested so much in over the last year . eoin morgan will now lead england at the world cup which starts in february and will be held in australia and new zealand . alastair cook after the defeat by sri lanka , his final match as england one-day captain . cook 's form was horrendous - he had n't scored an odi century since june 2012 . eoin morgan is set to replace cook as england 's 50-over skipper despite his own poor form . cook ultimately paid the price for a prolonged run of poor 50-over form which has seen him average just 30 over the last two years at a pedestrian strike-rate of 73 and lead england to five one-day defeats in their last six series . yet it still came as a shock when it emerged on friday night that england were going to make a last-gasp change at the top because they have stuck with their man through thick and thin during a traumatic year for english cricket . last sunday england coach peter moores , who has backed cook emphatically since replacing andy flower in april , said ahead of england 's last one-day international in sri lanka : ` if you ask my opinion , cook will be captain at the world cup . ' then on monday , just before england 's last defeat in their 5-2 series loss , managing director paul downton added : ` i would be extremely surprised if he 's not captain at the world cup . ' now , with england leaving for a triangular series against australia and india ahead of the world cup in just over a fortnight , the selectors have risked embarrassment by flying in the face of that faith they showed in cook .<doc-sep>alastair cook was said to be devastated on saturday over his sacking as one-day captain just two months before the world cup but england insist he simply is not worth his place in the one-day team any longer . england wielded the axe in ruthless fashion on the man they have put such faith in at the end of a dismal seven-match tour of sri lanka where his highest score was just 34 . now they have turned to eoin morgan , himself in worse form than cook during 2014 , to somehow spearhead a challenge for a world cup in australia and new zealand that england will start as rank outsiders . video scroll down to see national selector james whitaker explain cook 's omission . alastair cook after the defeat by sri lanka , his final match as england one-day captain . cook 's form was horrendous - he had n't scored an odi century since june 2012 . eoin morgan has replaced cook as england 's 50-over skipper despite his own poor form . cook took the decision badly when paul downton , the managing director , and national selector james whitaker visited his buckinghamshire home late friday afternoon to deliver the news . the man who was charged with leading england 's new era in the bitter fall-out of their ashes shambles was unceremoniously dumped even though there were repeated public reassurances that he would take them to the world cup . the scale of his feeling was revealed in the ecb 's confirmation of the news on saturday that broke on friday when cook said : ` i am gutted to be left out of the world cup squad and it is likely to take me a while to get over the disappointment . that said i wish peter moores , eoin morgan and the lads all the best for the world cup . i would also like to thank all the players and fans who have supported me as one-day captain . '<doc-sep>` he has been key to our preparation , ' said morgan of the man who left sri lanka after that world twenty20 win over india when he was head-hunted by england . ` he knows their guys inside out . ' morgan , england 's key one-day batsman , will have the job of utilising that knowledge as captain while broad continues to recover from a knee injury . the irishman will almost certainly be confirmed as permanent twenty20 captain later this summer when broad is expected to stand down . inside knowledge : morgan and coach peter moores -lrb- left -rrb- speak with former sri lanka mentor paul farbrace -lrb- right -rrb- . that could be just the start for captain morgan who , if he manages to cement a test place , remains the only viable alternative to alastair cook should things go badly for the england skipper this summer . ` leadership roles are something i 'd want to take on , ' said morgan . ` i think my strengths would be to stay calm in high-pressure situations and to make good decisions . i think i have a reasonably good cricket brain , too . ' england will need both morgan 's brain and his bat if they are going to get that all-important win to set them up for the summer .

<t> alastair cook suspended for fourth odi against sri lanka . </t> <t> eoin morgan will captain england despite his poor run of form . </t> <t> irishman has n't scored a ton in his past 15 odi innings . </t>

eoin morgan set to captain england after alastair cook ban and peter moores hopes being skipper can be a catalyst for irishman<T>

a 43-year-old mother has died in a house fire in mount helen , near ballarat . police originally feared the woman and her son and daughter , both 21 , had died in the blaze but they have been safely located , the ballarat courier reported . a neighbour said she heard a ` whooshing ' noise like a firecracker and a loud explosion before the fire started at about 1.30 am on friday . two women and a man feared dead in house fire at mount helen , victoria . next-door neighbour margaret bell witnessed the explosion and called 000 . ' i got up to grab a drink of water and i went back to bed , ' ms bell told daily mail australia . ` then i heard a noise , you know how when a firecracker goes off it makes that whooshing sort of a noise , then that stopped and i heard a big explosion . ' ms bell got out of bed and looked out her window to see the house in flames so she called the fire service . she added that the family had moved to mount helen from ballarat just over one week ago . ` i 'd spoken to the lady and her son , she was telling me a bit about herself , ' she said . a body has reportedly been found but not identified and a mother , 43 , and her son and daughter , both 21 , are still unaccounted for . ` they 'd moved out here because it 's nice and quiet out here . ` it 's really sad to think they might have been in the house . ' detective senior sergeant dave hermit said two dogs were found dead at the property . the fire took 20 firefighters 90 minutes to bring under control , and the house was completely destroyed . country fire authority operations officer kade dowie said investigators believed the family were in the process of moving into the home . ` investigations are continuing but the story from the neighbours is that they 'd only recently moved in , as in last weekend , ' mr dowie told daily mail australia . mr dowie said the scene was handed over to the police forensics and arson squad on friday morning but crews struggled to access inside the property . ` the intensity of the fire caused the ceiling and roof to collapse , which is causing difficulty with extinguishing and accessing , ' he said . the cause of the fire is not yet known .<doc-sep>published : . 04:18 est , 25 may 2012 . | . updated : . 04:21 est , 25 may 2012 . the father of three young children who were murdered with their mother died from a single gunshot wound to the head , an autopsy has shown . police identified the man , who is at the centre of a murder-suicide investigation in salem , oregon , involving five family members , as 27-year-old nikolai lazukin . his body was found on tuesday in a car in cottage grove , 80 miles south of a fire-damaged house where his wife and three children were found dead . scroll down for video . foul play : a mother and her three young children were found dead after fire-fighters were called to the scene in an early-morning house fire . authorities said the wife and two of the children had been shot , and an infant asphyxiated . neither police nor deputy state medical examiner larry lewman would officially call the death a suicide and would not release any other details of the investigation . firefighters who entered the burning home discovered the bodies of infant sefi lazukin , one-year-old zoe lazukin , three-year-old angelica lazukin and the children 's 26-year-old mother , natalya lazukin . more than 100 people gathered for a memorial service outside the home on wednesday night . a youth group from the slavic christian church in salem , where the family worshipped , tied balloons to a fence , and the crowd sang amazing grace in russian . ` they were all wonderful , ' said irina thompson , a relative of nikolai lazukin by marriage . ` nik was so good with the kids . i ca n't understand why this would happen , but sometimes people change . ' investigators search in the front yard of a home where the bodies of the woman and children were discovered . grim discovery : a man in this red car was found in cottage grove , 80 miles away from the burned home . the woman and children were discovered early on tuesday when salem firefighters responded to a house fire located in the 2800 block of fisher road northeast .<doc-sep>a woman who was found dead in a house fire on tuesday was actually strangled , an autopsy from the local medical examiner 's office found . erica rodriguez , a 40-year-old mother of three , died of strangulation , not the fire that destroyed her oak forest , illinois , home this week , officials said . her home at 153rd and central caught fire on tuesday at about 9.30 am . murdered : erica rodriguez , a 40-year-old mother of three , died of strangulation , not the fire that destroyed her oak forest , illinois , home this week , officials said . fire fighters found ms rodriguez dead inside after being alerted by passersby , according to the chicago sun-times . her husband , martin rodriguez , 48 , was severely burned and his throat was slashed . a local police chief said mr rodriguez was being treated at a local medical center and is currently being hospitalized in ` critical condition . ' investigators were finally able to talk to him on friday , police said . found dead : fire fighters found ms rodriguez dead inside her oak forest , illinois , home after being alerted by passersby . the couple 's three children , ages 6 , 15 , and 17 , were at school during the fire . police say they are now staying with a family member . the cause of the fire is not known and no suspects have been named . illinois state fire marshal and south suburban major crimes task force are investigating the homicide . ` we are committed to bring all investigative resources together to solve this homicide , ' oak forest police chief greg anderson said . ` the entire family of erica rodriguez needs to know who could have committed such an act and who is responsible . ' house fire : rodriguez 's oak forest home caught fire on tuesday at about 9.30 am . children safe : her three children , ages 6 , 15 , and 17 , were at school during the fire .<doc-sep>northolt , harrow , and hillingdon fire stations attended the blaze at 12.15 pm . the area around the petrol station was sealed off for nearly two hours while the firefighters battled to control the blaze . nobody was injured as a result of the fire but the cause of the blaze is under investigation . the fire in ickenham was the second major incident in the middlesex area that police had been called out to deal with in 24 hours after a mother and her two young children were found dead at a house in west ruislip . tributes were left at the house to the woman , aged 34 , and her two ` lovely girls ' , named as prisha , aged four , and jasmine , aged nine , whose bodies were found on friday . paramedics were called to the semi-detatched property but were unable to help the young family . an inquest into the deaths is expected to be opened and adjourned next week . the family 's next of kin have been informed .<doc-sep>by . ashley collman . arson : a rhode island grand jury indicted corrine latraverse -lrb- pictured -rrb- wednesday on charges she purposely burned down her woonsocket home . a rhode island mother of three allegedly burned down her house to spite her longtime boyfriend , one day after she caught him cheating . corrine latraverse , 30 was indicted on charges of first-degree arson in providence court on wednesday for the incident which injured two firefighters and killed a cat . a patrolling police officer was the first to report the fire that broke out in the woonsocket house around 4pm on march 15 . officer scott breguet found latraverse with her three children - ages two , nine and 12 - safely outside the home with their two dogs . latraverse 's hair was singed and she had burn marks on her jacket . the family was taken to rhode island hospital and treated for smoke inhalation . though it was a multi-family building , no one else was inside at the time of the fire . witnesses told officer breguet that ` they overheard other neighbors talking about how corrine had told people on the way out of the house that she had burned the house down with a can of gas '

<t> body of mother , aged 43 , found after house fire at mount helen in victoria . </t> <t> her son and daughter , both aged 21 , have been accounted for . </t> <t> the family were in the process of moving into the home , neighbours said . </t> <t> witnesses say they heard an explosion about 1.30 am and called police . </t> <t> cfa firefighters extinguished the flames but the house was destroyed . </t>

mother found dead but two children safely located after house fire<T>

japanese technology giant honda unveiled their first robot nearly 30 years ago . while innovative for its time , the model , dubbed e0 , was little more than a pair of metal legs and could take five seconds to complete a single step . since then the robot has come a long way - undergoing a series of developments and redesigns that have made it slicker , faster and more robust . and this week honda showcased its latest offering : a talking , smiling robot friend named asimo that can play football , climb the stairs - and even pour you a drink . scroll down for video . from slow to slick : the e0 robot , left , unveiled in 1986 , could take up to five minutes to complete a single step . since then , honda have released a series of redesigns - culminating in the latest asimo , pictured right . honda 's humanoid robot , ascends a staircase as it makes its uk debut at the wired conference in london . new look : in 1991 , honda added some colour to their robot when they unveiled the ` e4 ' -lrb- left -rrb- . two years later , arms were added to create the p1 -lrb- centre -rrb- . while the p3 , debuted in 1997 , looks a lot more like the asimo . asimo -- which stands for advanced step in innovative mobility -- is eventually intended to help people in various situations of need , such as the elderly , or those in disaster zones . the latest version of the robot made its uk debut at the wired conference in london on thursday , during a demonstration that showed off his skills with both balls and drinks . he is ' a little bit of a show-off ' , according to vikki hood , of honda motor europe , who helped asimo showcase his remarkable range of talents . asimo has 34 motors to help him perform different types of human movement -- such as tilting , balancing and navigating -- including a sensor in his wrist which tells him to release a grip . using the visual information captured by the two cameras in its head , asimo can detect the movement of multiple objects , assessing distance and direction . standing at 4.3 feet -lrb- 1.3 metres -rrb- the gentle-handed robot can also hold a soft paper cup to pour liquid without squashing it . it can also predict the direction a person will walk and instantly take an alternate path to avoid a collision . ` he absolutely loves the audience response to what he can do . ' honda began the project in 1986 , when they created the e0 robot , which had no torso and took up to 5 seconds to complete a single step . in comparison , the new asimo can run at up to 9km an hour . asimo has 34 motors to help him perform different types of human movement -- such as tilting , balancing and navigating -- including a sensor in his wrist which tells him to release a grip . it can even recognise the faces and voices of multiple people speaking simultaneously . using the visual information captured by the two cameras in its head , asimo can detect the movement of multiple objects , assessing distance and direction . its human-like hands can open a bottle , pour a drink and carry goods while also expressing sign language . standing at 4.3 feet -lrb- 1.3 metres -rrb- the gentle-handed robot can also hold a soft paper cup to pour liquid without squashing it . during the demonstration , asimo climbed stairs , ran in a circle and switched from running , walking and hopping without stopping - something his predecessor could not do . on the head son ! asimo can even kick a football using his updated physique . it can also predict the direction a person will walk and instantly take an alternate path to avoid a collision . smiley-faced asimo speaks english and japanese and can carry a tray , push a cart and even play football . it is also equipped with technology that enables it to maintain its balance even if its gently pushed or pulled . 34 motors allow asimo to move , and dance , like a human . the robot is powered by a 51.8 v lithium ion -lrb- li-ion -rrb- battery and can operate for approximately 40 minutes on a single charge . parts of the technology developed by honda for the asimo project have been used to help clean-up efforts at the stricken japanese nuclear plant fukushima , but in the humanoid robot , upgrades have focused on making asimo better understand the world around himself . without giving any time targets for when he might actually be available for domestic use , hood admitted ` we still have a long way to go before introducing asimo into the home -- we do not put a fixed time line on it ' . engineers are working on improving his physical capabilities , his dexterity and his ability to lift weight so that he can be helpful in the home . hood said : ` there is still a lot of work that needs to be done around people 's acceptance of robots and identifying what their role in society will be . ` for us as a japanese company , and looking at japan where it has an ageing population , we see asimo as perhaps helping to look after your elderly parents who live with you , helping your children with their homework and also helping with the daily chores . ' she did not rule out that asimo might one day be available from an electronic shop alongside other domestic appliances . he is ' a little bit of a show-off ' , according to vikki hood , of honda motor europe , who helped asimo showcase his skills . earlier the year , satoshi shigemi , chief engineer , asmio , said : ` for the first time in europe , honda is demonstrating the all-new asimo - the latest generation of honda 's remarkable research into humanoid robotics . ` previous generations of asimo have demonstrated incredible fluidity and speed of movements . ` the all-new asimo takes this mobility , task performing ability and interaction with people to the next level and moves honda one step closer to its ultimate goal of developing a robot that can be a helper to people in need . ' honda said that asimo is still in development and there are no existing plans to commercialise the robot .<doc-sep>by . ellie zolfagharifard . pub workers and baristas could face an uncertain future after honda unveiled a talking robot - which can open and serve drinks . pub workers , cafe owners and baristas could face an uncertain future after honda unveiled a talking robot - which can open and serve drinks . asimo is the world 's most advanced ` humanoid robot ' with tokyo-based honda first starting work on it in 1986 . the latest generation asimo has improved intelligence , enhanced hand dexterity and can run forwards and backwards , climb and descend stairs , hop and even jump . asimo , which stands for advanced step in innovative mobility , will even recognise the faces and voices of multiple people speaking simultaneously . using the visual information captured by the two cameras in its head , asimo can detect the movement of multiple objects , assessing distance and direction . its human-like hands can open a bottle , pour a drink and carry goods while also expressing sign language . standing at 4.3 feet -lrb- 1.3 metres -rrb- the gentle-handed robot can also hold a soft paper cup to pour liquid without squashing it . at full pelt , asimo will run at 5.6 mph - an increase of 1.8 mph over its predecessor . scroll down for video . standing at 4.3 feet -lrb- 1.3 metres -rrb- the gentle-handed robot can also hold a soft paper cup to pour liquid without squashing it . pictured is a montage of the different gerations of asimo robots built by honda starting for the first in 1986 on the left and ending with the 2014 all new asimon on the right . it can also predict the direction a person will walk and instantly take an alternate path to avoid a collision . smiley faced asimo speaks english and japanese and can carry a tray , push a cart and even play football . it is also equipped with technology that enables it to maintain its balance even if its gently pushed or pulled . the robot is powered by a 51.8 v lithium ion -lrb- li-ion -rrb- battery and can operate for approximately 40 minutes on a single charge . using the visual information captured by the two cameras in its head , asimo can detect the movement of multiple objects , assessing distance and direction .<doc-sep>asimo can predict the direction a person will walk and instantly take an alternate path to avoid a collision . the latest advancements take honda a step closer to creating a robot for practical use in the home or workplace . pictured is asimo taking people through its development history . honda said asimo is still in development and there are no plans to commercialise the robot . the latest advancements takes honda a step closer to creating a robot for practical use in the home or workplace . satoshi shigemi , chief engineer , asmio , said : ` for the first time in europe , honda is demonstrating the all-new asimo - the latest generation of honda 's remarkable research into humanoid robotics . ` previous generations of asimo have demonstrated incredible fluidity and speed of movements . ` the all-new asimo takes this mobility , task performing ability and interaction with people to the next level and moves honda one step closer to its ultimate goal of developing a robot that can be a helper to people in need . ' honda said that asimo is still in development and there are no existing plans to commercialise the robot . tired of arduously making your own cocktail when you get home after a hard day of work ? then you might want to invest in yura , a concept from ukrainian design student herman haydin that will make your drink and then fly it to you . the robot drone bartender cap apparently make a healthy cocktail , tea or coffee with accurate numbers of calories for your body . the ambitious design is just one among dozens of finalists in the competition that also includes robot fish that clean your clothes and free-floating fridge bubbles . ` the main idea in the yura concept is making custom cocktails or fresh juices for you , ' says harmin , from the kyiv national university of construction and architecture . once a drink is poured on a flat surface the robot picks the beverage up and flies it to you . yura , named after a ` fine barman ' at harmin 's university , would be in the form of a parrot ar.drone . water and other liquids stored on the robot would be temperature-controlled , so it could be heated or cooled as needed . a logo on the side of the robot would show you how much liquid is inside and also its temperature . the ` smart brain ' of the robot , which is wi-fi enabled , could respond to voice commands . and yura could also to tell you the number of calories , carbohydrates , fats and proteins in your drink . ukrainian design student herman haydin has revealed his idea for flying robot bartenders -lrb- shown -rrb- . called yura the concept is part of the 2014 electrolux design lab contest . the flying drones would be capable of making hot and cold drinks and then serving them .<doc-sep>tokyo -lrb- cnn -rrb- how we view robots -- and the inevitable robotics revolution that we 've been promised for so long -- depends largely on our background . for me , as an american , robots will be inherently linked with star wars as a kid , but later with the unstoppable android that was the terminator . so , while i can dream of a cute , trashcan-sized companion , the fantasy is also coupled with an inherent fear that it may one day rise up and attempt to exterminate me . for many japanese people , robots were a staple of pop culture growing up . from osamu tezuka 's astro boy -lrb- known here by his original name , which translates as mighty atom -rrb- in the 1950s and 60s , to the towering , martial robots of the `` gundam '' and `` evangelion '' universes , to name but a few , robots have long held a special place in the collective imagination . robot pioneers . so it really is no surprise that the country is on the leading edge of robot technology , and a visit to the national museum of emerging science and innovation , known as miraikan -lrb- future hall -rrb- in tokyo really drives home the point . here , visitors can interact with asimo , the honda-developed android that can run , perform tasks , and interact with people . honda first unveiled asimo a decade ago , and even today it remains a futuristic vision of what robotics may one day hope to achieve on a consumer scale . miraikan also houses other , interactive automatons that show glimpses of what life might be like in 15 , 20 , or 30 years . there 's otonaroid , who looks like a young japanese woman with silicone skin , flowing hair , and blinking eyes . and then there 's kodomoroid , an android newscaster that reads headlines to museum visitors , and telenoid , a creepy-looking communication device that allows you to `` speak '' to friends or loved ones who are far away -- and feel as if you are sitting with them . you can hold and hug the telenoid , and it hugs you back with its little stubs for arms . while giant fighting space robots may be a while off -- although engineers are reportedly planning a moving , 60 ft tall gundam -- japan is betting big that robots will have a greater place in our lives in the years to come . help at home . from housework helpers which can ease the burden of a range of daily chores -- like twenty-one , the multipurpose home care droid currently under development at tokyo 's waseda university . with a humanoid upper body and wheeled base , it boasts a dexterity and mobility that would be helpful in any number of tasks , including assisting the elderly . shigeki sugano and his team have the vision of putting robots in everyone 's homes . he tells me it will be decades before robots are mass-produced the way cars are today , but what is being developed today could well become commonplace in the future .<doc-sep>the movement of the robot follows the movement of a computer mouse and the wheel can be used to raise and lower the machine 's arm . the uarm can be controlled with a mouse and a desktop computer using a windows app . the company is also working on an ios and android app too so that the robot could be operated using smartphones with a bluetooth connection . the robot 's arm mirrors the movement of a mouse so that when a user scrolls down using the wheel of a mouse , the arm of the robot is lowered . operators can also programme in x , y and z coordinates so that the robot can perform specific actions without a person controlling the robot 's servo motors directly . the design of the diminutive robot , which is made from either acrylic or wood , is inspired by the industrial robot arm irb460 . uarm can be customised to suit the needs of its user . here it is pre-programmed to move items around and shows off its dexterous grabbing action . chinese inventors created the miniature desktop robot that can pour drinks , fetch items and even play the xylophone -lrb- pictured -rrb- . ufactory 's kickstarter page says : ` robots are awesome , and would n't it be nice if everybody who wants a robot arm can actually afford one ? after all , $ 50,000 -lrb- # 30,160 -rrb- is kind of a lot of money . this is when we , the ufactory come in . ' a spokesman for the company said uarm will be able to be customised to suit the needs of its user . ` you can add a led to make a computer-controlled desk lamp or install it on the arm on a mobile robot chassis base and move it around . or even play music on a xylophone , ' he said .

<t> japanese technology giant honda unveiled first robot nearly 30 years ago . </t> <t> this week , it showcased asimo - a robot that can climb stars and dance . </t> <t> latest model can also pour drinks and communicate with sign language . </t> <t> it is eventually intended to help elderly or those in disaster zones . </t>

asimo the football playing , disco dancing robot who can even pour you a drink<T>

a cash-strapped mother-of-four has revealed that she is planning to fund christmas by selling her breast milk . rebecca hudson , 26 , from manchester , appeared on this morning and revealed that she has so far made # 3,700 . the entrepreneurial mother came up with the idea after realising that she was producing more milk than her youngest child milly , now one , needed . scroll down for video . entrepreneurial : rebecca hudson , 26 , from manchester is selling her own breast milk .<doc-sep>she sells the milk for # 12.50 a bottle and has amassed a devoted group of eight clients , among them a bodybuilder . the manchester mother also admitted that some clients purchase the milk to use for ` sexual purposes ' . ` what they do with the milk is up to them , ' she said . ` i 'm not going to discriminate . there 's no difference for anyone who wants to use the milk , from a bodybuilder to someone who wants to use it sexually . ' she also used her appearance on the itv flagship show to hit out at those who say drinking breast milk is revolting , saying that drinking the substance is completely ` natural ' . selling well : ms hudson says she has so far made # 3,700 and has eight devoted clients .<doc-sep>not bothered : ms hudson says she has no problem with people using the milk for ` sexual purposes ' ` some think drinking breast milk is disgusting , ' ms hudson explained . ` that 's their problem . it 's natural and full of vitamins . ' she also revealed how much she makes from her unusual business . ` for a 5oz bottle , i would make # 12.50 , ' she told a clearly impressed philip schofield . ` so for a usual pop can , that would be # 27.50 . i 've made over # 3,000 . the exact figure is around # 3,700 or something . ' ms hudson is n't the first person to make a profit from breast milk . mommy milk creations was set up by mother-of-three allicia mogavero earlier this year and uses the substance to make jewellery .<doc-sep>each piece is made by hand and takes up to five hours to create . ms mogavero then sells the jewels for $ 160 -lrb- # 97 -rrb- each . so popular has the company become , ms mogavero has a 12-month waiting list . mothers can also pay to have their own breast milk used in the jewellery . money-making : another mother , allicia mogavero , has also hit on a novel way of monetising milk - jewellery . expensive : ms mogavero sells her creations for $ 160 -lrb- # 97 -rrb- each and has a 12-month waiting list .<doc-sep>by . claire bates . women in the uk and u.s are selling their breast milk online , despite serious concerns that it could be harmful for babies . mothers are using community forums , including facebook , to make some quick cash out of their extra milk . buying breast milk is tempting to new parents struggling to express their own , as it provides babies with better protection against illnesses and allergies compared to formula . mothers are selling their excess breast milk to make some quick money on a classifieds website . websites such as onlythebreast.com appear to answer this need , saying : ` our discrete breastfeeding breast milk classified system . makes it possible to sell or buy breast milk in a clean , private way . ' donor mothers list their milk under the age of their baby and if they can provide fresh milk on demand . a search around the site reveals women from essex to newcastle are offering it either fresh or frozen for around # 1 per fluid ounce , while $ 2 per ounce is the standard rate in the u.s. . the site has 14,000 members . the website 's founder glenn snow said . he set it up after his wife chelly said she wanted to sell her extra . milk to give her some spending money as a stay-at-home mother . ` she found many mother looking to buy . breast milk online because it was not available through their hospital . or breast milk bank , ' mr snow told mail online . ` so chelly asked me to build a site dedicated to moms that want to share their breast milk with babies in need . ' mothers can donate and receive breast milk for free via milk banks . these . centres store breast milk for babies whose mothers ca n't breastfeed . however , they give priority to babies who are sick . new mothers buy and sell breast milk on various social networks including facebook . the . banks collect expressed milk from pre-screened mothers who have a plentiful supply and a baby under six-months old . it is then pasteurised before it is offered to nearby hospitals . but today doctors in germany warned new parents against privately obtaining their baby 's food through social networks such as facebook . the professional association of pediatricians said that although breast is generally the best option for newborns , mothers unable to breastfeed should not turn to the internet . ` donors can be taking medicines or drugs , have infectious illnesses like aids or hepatitis , ' wolfram hartmann , president of the association , said . ` nobody can check whether the unknown . mother 's milk is harmless for the particular child ' he warned , adding . that the milk 's quality could also be affected during its . transportation . the warning follows a report by the . online edition of german news weekly der spiegel and the association 's . own research , it said . mothers are counselled to use formula milk only when they ` move on ' from breast-feeding . it also warned that a newborn 's nutritional needs differed from those of a baby even of several weeks or months old . ` the milk of a woman who already has an older child does not contain the right nutrient composition for a newborn , ' it added , and said women who were unable to breastfeed should use special powdered milk . although websites such as onlythebreast.co.uk says families can take precautions such as asking for medical documents showing the donor has a clean bill of health , this is n't mandatory . mr snow insisted : ` the mothers are very good at screening each other . ' he added : ` these doctors reports always fail to mention that a large percentage of the donors on our site have been milk bank approved and/or have undergone blood tests assuring the safety of their milk . ' professor mitch blair , officer for health promotion at the royal college of paediatrics and child health , said : ` we encourage women to breastfeed where possible -- as it can have real health benefits for both mother and child . ` for mothers who are unable to breastfeed , but want to give their children breast milk , the nhs breast milk bank provides a safe outlet for them to do so . ` we would strongly recommend using these official nhs milk banks rather than buying breast milk from other sources over the internet . ` it 's crucial that the milk is checked thoroughly for substances that could be harmful to the baby , that it is pasteurised properly and that it is transported safely - and only through official milk banks can we be sure that 's the case . ' selling breast milk also throws up ethical questions , as one mother found when she expressed an interest in selling hers on netmums . one member asked why she would n't donate something that was ` free to make ' , while another responded : ' i can not believe someone would want to profit from a mother & baby 's misfortune .<doc-sep>josie cunningham said she will sell her breast milk to new mothers and men with ` milk fetishes ' last week she sparked fury among mothers after saying breastfeeding was ` vile and borderline incest ' . and now unemployed nhs scrounger josie cunnignham has revealed she will sell her breast milk in her latest cash-grabbing venture . the unemployed mother-of-three , who made headlines after smugly revealing she had received a # 4,800 breast enlargement from the nhs , welcomed a daughter last month after flirting with the idea of selling tickets to her child 's birth . when questioned by followers on twitter last week whether or not she was breastfeeding baby grace nieve , the 24-year-old from leeds said she found the act ` vile and borderline incest ' .<doc-sep>by . katy winter . over the last few years we 've seen increasingly weird and innovative new uses being found for breast milk : women are selling their breast milk online ; there 's cheese churned from breast milk on sale - and even ` baby gaga ' ice-cream made from expressed milk , created by gourmet company the icecreamists . and now there 's soap . the bars - fashioned into rabbits , . teddies and tortoises - are being sold online in china on e-commerce . website taobao by an anonymous mother . the new mother in question came up with the concept when her son refused to breast feed , . and , wanting him to still have some of the benefits , decided to mould . the expelled milk into soap to rub on his skin . the unnamed mother has shaped her breast milk soap into cute animal shapes to sell on the taobao website . while there is no medical benefit in rubbing the skin with breast milk , the unnamed mother found her soaps were popular with family and friends and decided to sell them online . people have attempted to harness the benefits a mother 's milk gives to her baby . this entrepreneurial move was so . successful it has apparently prompted other mothers to follow suit , with . one claiming to have sold over 300 bars on taobao . however , . there has been a backlash from chinese doctors against the growing fad , . with want china times even claiming in their report that the soap could .<doc-sep>quite separately , breast milk has also become the latest trendy ingredient in the continuing search for increasingly outré foods . the internet is overflowing with recipes for everything from breast milk crepes to rice pudding . businesses selling breast milk products include a trendy covent garden ice cream emporium , the icecreamists , which recently launched ` baby gaga ' ice-cream -- a dessert made from human breast milk , mixed with vanilla and lemon , then frozen and served in a martini glass with a rusk . it was briefly banned by westminster council because of health concerns , but has now been reinstated . child development expert dr rebecca chicot of the association of infant mental health doubts that products made with human milk have much benefit for healthy adults , other than novelty value . she says : ` human milk has been honed over thousands of years to provide babies with optimum nutrition . it also contains antibodies and human growth hormones , which babies need in order to support their immune system and promote their best growth . breast milk has also become the latest trendy ingredient in the continuing search for increasingly outré foods . ` however , ice cream and certainly cheese production involves processing the milk , so it 's unclear if it will still retain the properties in fresh breast milk . in any event , adults will not specifically `` need '' the ingredients found in breast milk as they have got mature immune systems . ' breastfeeding expert charlotte young , founder of milkmatters.org.uk , believes that a lot of our squeamishness over adults drinking breast milk simply derives from the idea breaking cultural norms . ` most of us in the uk are happy to drink cow 's milk -- from a random muddy cow in a field , but not the same species , which is a bit odd . yet some asian cultures find our mass consumption of dairy products , like cow 's milk and cream , icky . ` i am more concerned that women selling breast milk for profit could result in fewer voluntary donations to the nhs . premature babies who could otherwise be saved with it , may have to go without . ' retired midwife and breast-feeding specialist clare byam-cook , author of what to expect when you 're breastfeeding , says it 's disturbing that breast milk is no longer respected and reserved for its natural purpose . in addition , she worries that the breast milk trade is fuelling the idea that all healthy women are overflowing with milk , and that there is something wrong with those who are not . trendy covent garden ice cream emporium , the icecreamists , recently launched ¿ baby gaga ¿ ice-cream ¿ a dessert made from human breast milk , mixed with vanilla and lemon , then frozen and served in a martini glass with a rusk . ` lots of mothers hardly have enough milk to feed their babies as it is , let alone to sell online , ' says clare . ` just like prize dairy cows , some women are genetically blessed with that ability . others can only produce small amounts . selling your milk online is a way for some women to boast that they 're good at something other mothers struggle with . there is a lot of competitiveness out there . ' clare believes the mass market in human milk also distracts from the real issue : that not enough women are breastfeeding in the first place . ` in this country , 65 per cent of babies are bottle-fed by the time they are six weeks old . twenty per cent of women never try , ' she says . furthermore , by diverting breast milk from the very infants it is meant for , we could also be interrupting the bonding process . after all , the simple act of a mother breastfeeding her child not only gives her child the healthiest start in life , the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother 's body also creates a bond between them -- something that should surely be sacrosanct . indeed , across civilisations and throughout history , breastfeeding has been considered to be the most intimate of acts ; one which many mothers find deeply moving and personal . as clare says : ` let 's not forget that breast milk is , first and foremost , for babies . it 's a shame to commercialise something so precious and important in our children 's lives . ' the story of the immaculate conception may be familiar to churchgoers the world over . but it does n't usually involve an anteater . this rare biological phenomenon is the talk of the town in connecticut , where a female anteater called armani has given birth despite not having mated for 18 months . as the anteater 's gestation period is just six months , staff at the leo zoological conservation center were initially baffled by the arrival , thinking it something of a miracle . they have since discovered that armani had an ` embryonic diapause ' whereby an egg fertilised during her mating period was put ` on hold ' in her uterus . fortunately , the infant anteater archie has suffered no ill effects for his time in storage .

<t> rebecca hudson , 26 , from manchester has made # 3,700 so far . </t> <t> has eight regular customers including a bodybuilder . </t> <t> says some clients buy the milk to use for ` sexual purposes ' </t> <t> began selling milk after producing more than baby daughter could drink . </t>

cash-strapped mother selling own breast milk to fund children 's christmas<T>

actor larry lamb claims the gopo supplement has banished the surging pain he felt in his knees and hips when running . determined to stay fit and healthy , actor larry lamb turned to running . entering his sixth decade , the star of eastenders and gavin and stacey fame , laced up his trainers once more . having suffered painful back ache in his younger years , the now 67-year-old has for the last decade religiously performed half-an-hour of stomach crunches every day to ensure his core was taught to relieve any strain on his back . but at the age of 60 , with his back pain ` well and truly under control ' , he began to suffer twinges and burning sensations surging through his knees and hips . refusing to give in to the pain . he experimented to try and ease his discomfort . despite shelling out for proper running shoes and enduring daily doses of raw cod liver oil , the pain persisted . it was n't until larry happened upon an article outlining a new drug-free supplement , that he found his answer . gopo is a supplement , containing a unique part of a rose hip , which helps tackle joint pain . it claims to be the only product of its kind to contain a high level of gopo - a key component of the rose hip , which is thought to play a valuable role in the care of joints and joint tissues . and the supplement contains high levels of vitamin c , which is thought to boost the immune system and help the body form collagen , which aids joints . larry told mailonline : ` it has changed my life . i have to say , it 's just incredible . ' around 26 million people across the uk suffer back pain , with many more afflicted by joint inflammation and damage . a recent survey found 90 per cent of people suffering back pain rely on paracetamol to ease their agony . it comes as another piece of research , published in the lancet , concluded the painkiller is no better than a placebo at speeding recovery . it has prompted experts to call for a change in the advice given , to consider whether it is appropriate to recommend paracetamol as a treatment for back pain . scroll down for video . having been active throughout his life to combat back pain , when he took up running again in his early 60s , larry started to suffer sharp pain in his knees and hips . ` in my early 60s i started to notice problems with my hips -- just the occasional twinge here and there -- and like most , i ignored the pains and got on with it , ' he said . ` however , my left foot , back and knees also started to give me gyp - especially my back , which was becoming increasingly painful and stiff . i 've always lived a very active life and i put my aches and pains down to my age and the travelling i do for work . ' larry recently toured around europe and tunisia for a channel 5 programme exploring and telling the story of the birth of the roman republic . the 67-year-old star of gavin and stacey took up running again in his early 60s determined to stay fit and healthy . but for the first time in his life he was struck by niggling joint ache . larry , who played archie mitchell in eastenders , told mailonline that after trying proper running shoes and various supplements , including daily doses of raw cod liver oil , he discovered gopo , made from rosehip . determined not to slow down , the father-of-four , who revealed he does stomach crunches for an half-an-hour every day to keep his abs in shape , said he realised he needed to invest more time and care looking after himself . after buying hi-tech running shoes , but still suffering the pain , he turned to various supplements . he said : ` i 'm conscientious about my health , as an older father -lrb- his youngest daughters are 11 and 15 -rrb- it is your job to run around after your children even if your body is telling you otherwise . ` i 've never been one for extreme sports , but i did start running six years ago in a bid to look after myself a bit better . ` however , i had to put it to one side as my knees worsened and the pain became unbearable.it was a pain i have never felt before . larry said the rose hip supplement has ` changed my life ' and since taking it he has suffered no pain at all . ` it dawned on me that a hip or joint replacement at my age was a possibility , but it was something i desperately wanted to avoid . ' the 67-year-old first tried cod liver oil , taking it in its raw form , but admitted : ` there 's no charm in cod liver oil ' . but after reading an article by arlene phillips , a past judge on strictly come dancing , larry said he learned of the supplement gopo . the clinically-proven supplement is specially cultivated from natural rose hip . it also claims to be the only product of its kind to contain high levels of gopo - the key rose hip component which is thought to play a valuable role in the care of joints and joint tissues . larry said : ` it has changed my life . i have to say , it 's just incredible . ' since starting the supplement three months ago , he said he has not felt one twinge or shooting pain , ` not even one ' , he added . ' i started taking gopo after hearing that rose hip works wonders for joint pain -- and i can honestly say i have never felt better . ` within six weeks i noticed a difference , and it definitely helped me scramble across the roman ruins . ` not only has gopo eradicated the pain i had in my hips and knees , it has also improved my overall wellbeing ; i now feel ready to take on my next physical challenge . ` now my joints are so supple , if i did n't have two left feet , i 'd put my name down for strictly come dancing ! ' and his are sentiments backed up by the professionals . dr rod hughes , consultant rheumatologist at st peter 's hospital in surrey , said drug-free alternatives to painkillers are effective in treating back pain . he told mailonline : ` there is a large body of evidence supporting the use of gopo - a compound derived from rose hip - in musculoskeletal conditions , with research indicating that it can effectively relieve acute exacerbations of chronic back pain . ` the natural anti-inflammatory properties of gopo make it a viable replacement to paracetamol in cases of non-specific lower back pain , without the risk of harmful side effects . ' gopo joint health is the only product of its kind to contain gopo - a key component of the rose hip , which is thought to ease joint pain . gopo is made from 100 per cent specially cultivated natural rose hip . it is the only product of its kind to contain a high level of gopo - a key component of the rose hip , which is thought to play a valuable role in the care of joints and joint tissues . rosehip contains a high concentration of vitamin c - 50 per cent more than oranges . it makes rose hip very effective at boosting the immune system , is commonly used to help treat colds . vitamin c is also essential for the normal collagen formation , needed to promote health bones and cartilage . it contains powerful antioxidants which act to combat free radicals in the body , which trigger damage to the hips , joints and other areas of the body . the herbal medication is thought to have anti-inflammatory properties . it contains polyphenols and anthocyanins , which are thought to ease joint inflammation and prevent joint damage . gopo was discovered more than 20 years ago in denmark , and significant levels can only be gathered if the rose hips are dried using a special patented process . it has been available in denmark for 10 years , and this year was launched in the uk . a pack of 120 5g tablets costs # 17.99 . patients take four a day . and professor andrew moore , a leading researcher in pain at the churchill hospital in oxford , added : ` paracetamol is far from an innocuous drug . ` there may be some patients who will benefit from its use , but they will be very few in number . ` risk of harm will outweigh the benefit for those patients who are not getting pain relief . ' osteopath at physical balance hampshire , ian harrison , added that gopo helps reduce swelling , which causes joint pain . he said : ` while there are all sorts of back problems , pain is always the common denominator - if people can manage their pain , it will help them keep moving and that is key to breaking the back pain cycle . ` gopo works to reduce swelling and the pain associated with it . ` we see a lot of patients with back pain but in many instances it may only be mild pain or it could be a reoccurring problem that could be self-managed . ` people should always check serious problems with a healthcare professional , but there are steps they can take on their own to avoid falling into the back pain trap . ' a study published in the lancet found paracetamol is no better than placebo in the treatment of low-back pain . a recent study published in the lancet concluded that paracetamol is no better than a placebo at speeding recovery . the research questioned the universal endorsement of paracetamol as the first choice painkiller for low-back pain . low-back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide . national clinical guidelines universally recommend the painkiller as the first choice analgesic . the paracetamol for low-back pain study -lrb- pace -rrb- randomly assigned 1,652 people , with an average age of 45 and suffering acute low-back pain , to receive four weeks of paracetamol . one group was assigned a regular dose , three times a day , another took the drug as needed , while a third group received a placebo . all participants were followed up after three months . no difference in the length of time it took participants to recover was found between the three groups . the study authors , said : ` paracetamol also had no effect on short-term pain levels , disability , function , sleep quality , or quality of life . ' dr christopher williams , from the george institute for global health at the university of sydney , in australia , said : ` simple analgesics such as paracetamol might not be of primary importance in the management of acute lower back pain . ` the results suggest we need to reconsider the universal recommendation to provide paracetamol as a first-line treatment for low-back pain , although understanding why paracetamol works for other pain states but not low-back pain would help direct future treatments . '<doc-sep>cuddled up , nose to nose , this image of a young calf and his lamb best friend could have come straight from the pages of a children 's story . buddy the calf and larry the lamb , who are both six-months-old , have become inseparable farmyard friends since they were both orphaned on the same day . and the pair 's close bond has saved them from the slaughterhouse , after warming the hearts of the foster family , who own the farm in hassop , derbyshire where the unlikely pals spend their days frolicking in the fields . scroll down for video . best friends : buddy the calf and larry the lamb become farmyard friends for life after they were both orphaned on the same day . cheeky : buddy and larry poke out their tongues as they play in the fields surrounding their farm in hassop , derbyshire . ` they were both orphaned on the same day so they were thrown together as the orphans of the family , ' said lucinda foster , whose family owns the farm . ` since then , they 've become inseparable . they hate being without each other .<doc-sep>this fox seemed uninterested in entering the corridors of power however , and soon disappeared into a neighbouring street . last month , it was reported that george osborne 's cat , freya , had been banished from his 11 downing street residence because it did not get on with the chancellor 's dog , lola . in 2011 , the sight of the prime minister 's cat , larry , became well-known in downing street after it was brought in to deal with a rat problem . the pet , which has its own spoof twitter account , was later retired amid claims he was n't catching enough vermin . a police officer guarding the prime minister 's central london home watched as the fox strolled past . a visitor to downing street is confronted by the creature , which became trapped in the gated-off road for a few minutes late this morning . after scampering around the famous street for several minutes , the animal disappeared into the capital .<doc-sep>by . peter allen . last updated at 12:43 am on 30th august 2011 . ` furious argument ' : tilly lamb was allegedly rowing with her husband before she fell to her death . witnesses heard a ` furious argument ' before a british mother of four plunged from a third-floor holiday apartment in a moroccan resort , it emerged yesterday . tilly lamb , 43 , was seen lying fatally injured and semi-clothed on the ground before her husband roger , 47 , appeared briefly to check her pulse . he then went back into the two-bedroom flat in essaouira , on the west coast of the north african country , where their four sons aged nine to 16 were sleeping . they were to be orphaned four days later when mr lamb fell to his own death from the second-floor balcony of a nearby luxury hotel . the startling revelations emerged as police in morocco were accused of trying to cover up the circumstances surrounding the deaths . despite a criminal inquiry being launched , the # 30-a-night flat where the family were staying is still being rented to holidaymakers . a daily mail reporter and photographer were yesterday shown around the spacious apartment in the town 's ancient medina area , popular with bohemian tourists looking to taste north african culture . an examination of the 3ft by 4ft window from which mrs lamb fell seemed to contradict police claims that she ` stumbled and lost her footing ' in the early hours of august 17 . not only would the bottom of the window have been at waist level when mrs lamb was standing on the floor , but a high wooden balustrade would have prevented her from falling . there was no damage to any part of the window . the flat 's owner , majid naimi , said : ` the only way out of the window is if someone climbs out or is pushed . there is no way it was just an accident . ' mr naimi , 24 , rented the flat to mrs lamb for 900 dirhams , or around # 70 , for three days . recalling his first meeting with the family , he said : ` mrs lamb appeared very relaxed and happy . ` she said she wanted to stay for three nights with her husband and sons . on the second night of their stay i got a phone call in the middle of the night saying there had been a terrible incident , with mrs lamb falling head first on to the street below . an examination of the flat by a daily mail . reporter makes a mockery of police claims that mrs lamb stumbled from . the third floor window -lrb- left -rrb- as there is a waist high balustrade to . prevent people from falling . death fall : roger lamb died four days after his wife when he fell from a second-floor balcony at a luxury hotel . ` there had been a furious argument . heard by neighbours a few minutes beforehand . i spoke to mr lamb the . next day and he was very calm and relaxed . the boys were in agony , . however -- they were crying and were very distressed . fatally injured : tilly lamb reportedly had a furious row at the flat she was holidaying in before she fell to her death . ` mr lamb went to the beach to swim . he and the boys completed their three-night stay , and then checked in at . the nearby sofitel hotel . ' mrs lamb died in hospital three days after her fall , and her husband plunged to his death the following day . jamal dabi , 23 , was near the flat at 12.30 am on the night of the first tragedy when he heard ` terrible screams ' . he told the mail : ` the english woman .<doc-sep>him . nathan moxon , . prosecuting , said : ` he stepped backwards to avoid the defendant , fell to . the floor and felt what he described as excruciating and unbearable pain to his left hip . ' mr bell , 46 , avoided jail after the trial at teesside crown court , pictured , because his father said he was doing well in treatment for alcoholism . police were called and bell was arrested at the scene . his dad was taken to hospital where x-rays revealed he had a fractured hip . bell had drunk half a bottle of whisky and four cans of strong lager that day .

<t> supplement gopo contains rose hip which helps ease joint pain . </t> <t> actor larry lamb told mailonline the capsules have ` changed my life ' </t> <t> father-of-four began suffering hip and knee pain when he started running . </t> <t> keen to stay fit and healthy , 67-year-old was eager to exercise regularly . </t> <t> but suffered painful twinges and a burning sensation he 'd never had before . </t> <t> after taking gopo for three months he claims he 's not had any pain at all . </t> <t> he told mailonline : ` it really is incredible . it 's changed my life ' </t>

larry lamb claims rose hip has banished his ` unbearable agony '<T>

for the first time in recent memory , the sack race is a non-starter . those premier league bosses who looked a dead cert for the chop at the tail end of the last season have done enough to survive so far . sam allardyce , wanted out by west ham fans for the majority of the past year , has seen a miraculous turnaround at upton park , with his happy hammers sitting fifth . paul lambert , despite a good start to the campaign , has overseen another villa slide but remains in the hot seat and was even given a brand-spanking new four-year deal in september . chris hughton was sacked on december 6 , 2010 despite leading newcastle to the premier league . paul lambert -lrb- left -rrb- is still under pressure , but alan pardew has recovered well at newcastle . newcastle fans imploring the club to sack the manager earlier in the season . alan irvine at west brom hangs on , while alan pardew fought through the calls for his head at the start of the campaign to guide newcastle to five premier league wins in a row . ian porterfield was sacked as chelsea boss on february 15 , 1993 ; the longest time between the season starting and a sacking in top flight history . if those hanging by a thread keep hold of their jobs by monday , it will be the first time since 1996 that the premier league has reached this stage of the season without a sacking .<doc-sep>chris hughton lost his job at newcastle , somewhat surprisingly , on december 6 , 2010 , just months after he guided them back to the premier league from the second tier . a weekend survival would cast memories back 18 years , when roy mcfarland was axed as bolton boss on january 2 , 1996 . happy new year , roy . the record for the longest season of bosses clinging on for dear life is 1992-93 . chelsea held fire until after they exchanged valentine 's day gifts with ian porterfield before getting rid on february 15 , 1993 . irvine and leicester 's nigel pearson lead the sack race with the bookies , and both will want to get to christmas without their p45s . west brom sit in 16th place with just three wins all season , and irvine 's side travel to hull city on saturday , with their man at the helm steve bruce also in the danger zone with just one win in 13 games this term . newly promoted leicester go to aston villa on sunday , with the fans just starting to turn against pearson during the difficult winter period . the axe could be about to fall ... 2-1 alan irvine . 3-1 nigel pearson .<doc-sep>7-1 steve bruce . 8-1 harry redknapp . 8-1 paul lambert . 12-1 neil warnock . 15-1 brendan rodgers . 20-1 gus poyet . 20-1 mauricio pochettino . 20-1 manuel pellegrini .<doc-sep>25-1 sean dyche . 33-1 arsene wenger . 50-1 garry monk . 50-1 alan pardew . -lrb- odds courtesy of coral -rrb- . could brendan rodgers be the first high-profile boss to depart the premier league . west brom boss alan irvine has called on fans to show their support rather than booing during games . leicester manager nigel pearson positions himself in the stands , where he is surrounded by supporters .<doc-sep>arsenal manager arsene wenger has criticised the sacking of tim sherwood and claimed the high turnover of managers will affect the quality of the premier league . tottenham boss sherwood became the second premier league manager to lose his job this week , following west brom 's decision to part company with pepe mel on monday . wenger is the longest-serving manager in the premier league and has outlasted 10 permanent spurs bosses since his appointment in 1996 . video scroll down to hear arsene wenger criticise the quick rotation of managers . sad : arsene wenger has voiced his disappointment in the sacking of tim sherwood -lrb- right -rrb- by tottenham . secure : wenger is the longest-serving manager in the premier league , having been at arsenal since 1996 . during . his six months in charge at white hart lane , sherwood pleaded to be . given the time to develop tottenham into a side capable of challenging . arsenal for a place in the top four but was dismissed after delivering a . sixth-placed finish . rather . than bask in the failure of another spurs manager , wenger instead . chose to highlight the high turnover of managers and warned arsenal 's .<doc-sep>i am hearing : such is the vanity of top flight footballers that at chelsea 's cobham training ground there is now a ` resident ' teeth-whitening dentist . i am also hearing : if west ham and sam allardyce part company at the end of the season then gus poyet is a leading candidate to replace him . i bet : west ham are 25-1 with corals to beat arsenal on sunday . that 's got to be worth the cost of a skinny latte for the potential return of a bulls eye . btw : i 'm still baffled why the premier league felt it appropriate to stage a minute 's applause ahead of boxing day matches in memory of the so called truce match which allegedly happened at the first christmas of the world war i. can anyone actually provide proof such a game occurred ? actually , i understand it could have been there were several impromptu ` kickabouts ' on several fronts from belgium to greece . west ham players line up for a minute 's applause ahead of their boxing day defeat at chelsea . but in essence it 's one of the myths that have run out of control . moreover why does the corporate football machine of the premier league think they can ` own ' this story in a manner where it seems they say : ` we unite the world ' . it is estimated around 15million people died as a consequence of the 1914-18 conflict . i ca n't see any reason to clap about that . certainly not for reflected glory . i-say : it had been the longest time from the start of a premier league season for a manager to be sacked since 1996 , when roy mcfarland was ousted by bolton . but on saturday the seal was finally broken as neil warnock was shown the door by crystal palace . now warnock is not everyone 's cup of tea . indeed i know of some people in the game who would happily punch him on the nose . crystal palace sacked manager neil warnock -lrb- centre -rrb- after the 3-1 boxing day defeat by southampton . but to be axed so soon after being appointed at the start of the season after tony pulis parted company with the club having ` fallen out ' with supremo steve parish before a ball had been kicked ? seems rash . yes , parish will point to the fact that last season getting rid of ian holloway and appointing pulis in the autumn saved the club 's premier league bacon . he might be proved correct again . on the other hand , if the now parted warnock was such a mistake one has to wonder at the rationale of recruitment at palace . palace co-chairman steve parish -lrb- right -rrb- has seen two managers come and go since august . but of course the trend in the modern game is for boardroom chiefs to sack the manager the moment the natives get restless on the basis of acting before the natives turn on , well , them . looking back the often maligned martin edwards arguably did the best bit of service for manchester united from busby to best et al when he stood by alex ferguson when it seemed after nearly four years - not six months - the wheels appeared to be falling off . and the rest , as they say ... if warnock is the wrong man now then he was the wrong man in august . parish has done a good job in helping turn palace around . but if he is not careful he will put the club back into a tail-spin again .<doc-sep>luis suarez bit a man last year but has been the player of the season so far . if it goes well on the pitch your problems can be quickly forgiven . newcastle acted quickly to punish pardew so it seems they want to keep him . with a ready-made excuse this would have been an easy time to sack him and i feared for pardew : it 's a lot easier to dismiss a manager than it is to get rid of a player worth # 50m . but it looks like the club are standing by their man , for now at least . fine : pardew was fined # 100,000 by the club for his actions . all credit to stoke for the way they beat arsenal . they can add that to impressive home wins over chelsea and man united and a good draw with man city , but it is clear arsenal are missing aaron ramsey . at the start of the season his driving runs and goals took arsenal to the top of the table and they need him back asap . they also miss theo walcott 's pace , and it was a shame that he was in the studio with me on saturday rather than on the pitch working his magic . missing : arsenal are missing the drive and goals of aaron ramsey -lrb- below -rrb- . sparkling : ramsey was in brilliant form earlier this season before he was struck down with injury . when spurs signed roberto soldado i thought they had a real player on their hands . you do n't score the goals he did in la liga without quality . for whatever reason it 's not quite worked out for him but now he has one i would not be surprised at all if he goes on a scoring run . relief : tottenham striker roberto soldado scored his first goal of 2014 . felix magath might be the first german manager in the premier league , but there is one in the championship who has his side flying . since taking over uwe rosler has nine wins in 14 league games with wigan and has taken them from 15th to sixth . do n't be surprised if he is the next german managing in the top flight . struggling : the premier league 's first german manager , fulham 's felix magath , is still languishing at the bottom . flying high : wigan boss uwe rosler has nine wins in 14 since taking over .<doc-sep>by . paul donnelley for mailonline . you would think the point of a ` race ' is to try to come first . but not if you 're entering this year 's ` four-legged ' and wheelbarrow events at a wiltshire village carnival - which have been hit by health and safety edicts . the four-legged race through the village of pewsey - which sees teams of three competitors tying a leg to each other - has traditionally involved pit-stops at four pubs . changes to the 2003 licensing act means that competitors in the races are not allowed alcoholic refreshments . but this year those trying to win the race will have to go teetotal if - according to police - they do n't want to fall foul of the licensing act , which bans the drinking of alcohol ` at speed ' . the organisers of thursday 's event have decided that they are going to stay in line with the law to avoid the risk of prosecution , so competitors will have to stick to water or a soft drink . those entering the wheelbarrow race the following thursday will have to obey the same restrictions as they pass by the four pubs . but entrants for both events will be able to stop for as many drinks as they want , downed at whatever speed they wish , if they pledge to complete the course very slowly . ` the races have been going for 33 years and we 've only had one person fall out of a wheelbarrow which is n't bad going , ' said a local councillor . the snail 's pace events will start five minutes after the teetotal races . the drinking ban has angered some residents in the close-knit community where the two-week-long carnival has been going on for generations without any trouble . jerry kunkler , a wiltshire councillor and landlord of the village 's moonrakers pub , said `` it 's all to do with health and safety which i do n't always agree with . ` we live in a nanny state and it 's the minority that the rules are in place for and the majority are the ones that have to pay .

<t> if the premier league does n't have a sacking by monday it will be the longest start to the season without a cull since 1996 . </t> <t> chris hughton was sacked on december 6 , 2010 from newcastle . </t> <t> before him , roy mcfarland was sacked as bolton boss on january 2 , 1996 . </t> <t> 1992-93 saw the longest period without a sacking ; ian porterfield was n't axed by chelsea until february 15 , 1993 . </t> <t> alan irvine , nigel pearson and paul lambert are all under pressure . </t>

premier league sack race has been going at snail 's pace ... this could be the longest start without a chop since 1996<T>

nikola zigic has rejoined birmingham city five months after leaving the club . the 6ft 8in striker has been granted a work permit and has signed until the end of the season to provide gary rowett with another attacking option . zigic , whose contract worth # 65,000 per week was a burden as birmingham struggled last season , left in july but remains popular with club staff and is now on vastly reduced terms . nikola zigic , pictured scoring against stoke city , has resigned for birmingham city . the serbian striker left birmingham at the end of last season after his contract expired at the club .<doc-sep>zigic cost # 6million when he signed from valencia in 2010 and was on wages of # 65,000 a week . age : 34 . clubs : aik backa topola -lrb- 1998-2002 -rrb- , mornar -lrb- 2001-02 -rrb- , fk kolubara -lrb- 2002-03 -rrb- , spartak subotica -lrb- 2003 -rrb- , red star belgrade -lrb- 2003-07 -rrb- , racing santander -lrb- 2006-07 -rrb- , valencia -lrb- 2007-10 -rrb- , birmingham city -lrb- 2010-14 , 2014 - -rrb- . club appearances : 470 . club goals : 241 .<doc-sep>birmingham appearances : 148 . birmingham goals : 36 . serbia caps : 57 . international goals : 20 . the 34-year-old , originally signed for # 6million from valencia in 2010 , will not be available for saturday 's championship match at blackpool , however , as he needs to attain a working visa .<doc-sep>he will fly to his native serbia on thursday to have his application processed in belgrade . this can take up to a week . it is hoped he will be available for the championship match against reading at st andrew 's on december 13 . zigic , part of the 2011 league cup-winning side , had been training with birmingham since november and the club are delighted he has re-signed . director panos pavlakis said : ` we welcome him back home . we know how happy he is to be here again and enthusiastic about making a contribution . ' rowett had said previously : ' i think he will bring something different to us , that 's what we are looking at - we want different players in the building and not similar players to what we have got . ' zigic , scoring against ipswich town , has returned to his native serbia in order to get a work permit .<doc-sep>by . simon jones for mailonline . nikola zigic is the surprise name being linked with arsenal as arsene wenger searches for a solution to olivier giroud 's injury . the 6ft 8in striker is a free agent having left birmingham when his lucrative contract finished in july . reports in his native serbia say zigic is due to travel to london for a medical ahead of signing a one year deal . the one obstacle will be whether he can gain a work permit as zigic has not played for his national side in recent months . video scroll down to watch arsene wenger refuse to rule out buying a striker . shock : nikola zigic has been linked with a move to arsenal as arsene wenger tries to solve his striker shortage following the injury to olivier giroud .<doc-sep>zigic deal does n't have appeal to arsene . there has been a stampede worthy of a new primark store since it became clear olivier giroud would be out until the new year , with agents offering centre forwards ranging in quality from rademal falcao -lrb- wanted by real madrid and very expensive -rrb- to nikola zigic -lrb- not wanted by birmingham and also very expensive -rrb- . zigic 's agent milan calasan said : ` wenger called me and told me he wants to bring zigic to arsenal . you can not reject an offer like that but zigic is the one who must decide . ' however , asked about the possibility of signing the 6ft 7in serbian , wenger responded : ` who ? zigic ? no . ' wanted : radamel falcao has been offered to arsenal along with nikola zigic , who is n't wanted at birmingham .<doc-sep>blackpool came from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw at home to gerard houllier 's aston villa . forward gabriel agbonlahor gave villa the lead on 10 minutes after being released by england striker darren bent . the visitors ' lead lasted only four minutes after elliot grandin 's near-post header gave ian holloway 's team an equalizer . villa finished the match with 10 men after cameroon midfielder jean makoun was given a red card for a dangerous tackle on dj campbell . birmingham city further eased their relegation worries with a 1-0 win over stoke city . serbia striker nikola zigic grabbed a stoppage-time goal to hand the blues a second successive league win . blackburn rovers were held to a goalless draw at home to newcastle united . the tynesiders remain in 10th place , while blackburn stay in 11th . both teams have 32 points .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- birmingham city upset arsenal 2-1 to win the english league cup at wembley sunday , ending a 48-year wait for a major trophy . the defeat prolonged arsenal 's six-year wait for silverware of their own , having gone into the final as overwhelming favorites . serbian striker nikola zigic put birmingham ahead after 28 minutes before robin van persie equalized six minutes before halftime . the match looked headed into extra time until substitute obafemi martins scored a last-minute winner .

<t> nikola zigic has scored 36 goals in 148 appearances for birmingham city . </t> <t> the serbian striker has resigned for the club until the end of season . </t> <t> he was released in july but will return to squad once he gets work permit . </t>

nikola zigic rejoins birmingham city five months after being released by club<T>

jenson button is feeling ` really comfortable ' over his future no matter which way the dice may fall at mclaren . a decision from the team as to whether button or kevin magnussen will partner the returning fernando alonso next year is likely to be announced on friday . it follows a board meeting on thursday involving group ceo ron dennis and two other primary shareholders in tag co-owner mansour ojjeh and mahmood hashim al kooheji , ceo of mumtalakat , bahrain 's sovereign wealth fund . video scroll down for mark blundell : i would choose to have alonso and button . mclaren drivers jenson button -lrb- left -rrb- and kevin magnussen address the crowds at edinburgh on thursday . button and magnussen are vying to partner former ferrari driver fernando alonso at mclaren in 2015 . dennis has kept everyone waiting on tenterhooks for an announcement as he has opted to evaluate every aspect of his two drivers and take on board opinions , even though the final decision is his alone . it is understood magnussen will get the nod , with button switching to sportscars and a crack at the world endurance championship where good friends and two other former formula one drivers in mark webber and anthony davidson currently ply their trade . davidson even became a world champion in his own right last month when he and toyota team-mate sebastien buemi , another ex-f1 driver , claimed the wec crown . such a move would represent a good step for button , even though he would love an additional year at mclaren working alongside alonso .<doc-sep>the 34-year-old englishman appeared in good spirits as he entertained the crowds in scotland on thursday . fernando alonso pays tribute to his ferrari team in abu dhabi after ending his stay with the italian outfit . ` it 's a weird time , ' said button speaking at a johnnie walker ` responsible drinking ' event in edinburgh . ` it 's the end of the season , we have n't got a race for many months , and i have had time to reflect on many things . ` the great thing is i 've had my family and my mates round , so there have been a lot of people to talk to about it , to discuss . ` it 's been an important week , but a really good week . i 'm now really comfortable , and whatever happens i will have a great year next year . ` new challenges are exciting , whether it 's in formula one with mclaren alongside an exciting team-mate , or whether it 's elsewhere . ` so i 'm good , but i just want to get it done . i want to hear the decision - as we all do - so we can all move on in whatever direction . ' button speaks to the assembled media about his future . button can understand mclaren pursuing a big name such as alonso in light of honda 's arrival as power-unit supplier after a seven-year absence from f1 , and their desire for a marquee name .<doc-sep>but he feels it a pity mclaren could not keep faith with himself and magnussen given the rapport he has developed with the young dane . button added : ` i 've spent some time with kevin over the past couple of days , and it 's been really nice doing that . ` this situation has been difficult for both of us , but we 've shown over the last couple of days that we work so well together . ` it 's such a shame we wo n't be working together in the future in terms of being team-mates . ` but we 're both very grown up about the situation and we 'll both deal with it whichever way it goes . ' button does have irons in the fire , and whilst nothing is signed as he awaits dennis ' decision , he is looking forward to the future . ` there are options , but nothing set in stone yet , ' added button . ` what i can say is i 'll definitely be racing next year , and in a series i 'll be very excited to race in , so there 's no worry of me not racing next year . ` if it 's a new challenge it will be exciting , if it 's in formula one it will be very exciting as well because that will be a new challenge with honda . ' video driving for ferrari ' a unique experience ' - vettel .<doc-sep>button 's 2014 team-mate kevin magnussen is also waiting to hear his fate on thursday . dennis held a board meeting last thursday with two other primary shareholders in tag co-owner mansour ojjeh and mahmood hashim al kooheji , ceo of mumtalakat , bahrain 's sovereign wealth fund . it has since taken dennis the last few days to finally arrive at a conclusion , ending the agonising wait for button and magnussen . only last week button said : ' i just want to get it done . i want to hear the decision as we all do so we can all move on in whatever direction . ' at stake is button 's 15-season f1 career , although it is understood he has irons in the fire should dennis opt for magnussen . button won the world title with brawn back in 2009 and has been at mclaren since 2010 . the 34-year-old briton is lined up for a seat in the world endurance championship , with toyota understood to be leading the pursuers . button said : ` i 'm now really comfortable , and whatever happens i will have a great year next year . ` new challenges are exciting , whether it 's in formula one with mclaren alongside an exciting team-mate , or whether it 's elsewhere . '<doc-sep>jenson button 's future is set to be decided at a mclaren board meeting on thursday . that is the day when team executives will convene to decide on the driver line-up for 2015 , with button and kevin magnussen both waiting to discover whether they will be retained or let go . mclaren group chief executive ron dennis said following the season-ending abu dhabi grand prix : '' i 've not made up my mind yet , but -lrb- the decision on the driver line-up -rrb- is not mine alone , and anyway , it would n't be appropriate . video scroll down to go behind the scenes at mclaren hq with jenson button . jenson button -lrb- above -rrb- has come to the end of his five-year contract at mclaren . ` any decision has to be supported by the shareholders and the board . ` it 's pretty understandable we 're looking at two people , and there 's a broader choice than kevin and jenson , but nevertheless whatever the decision , it wo n't be taken until -lrb- the board meeting -rrb- . '<doc-sep>by . ian parkes , press association . jenson button concedes his years of experience have taught him to be ` massively relaxed ' about his formula one future . ahead of this weekend 's italian grand prix at monza , button is currently in limbo as he waits for mclaren 's top brass to make a decision on the team 's driver line-up for next season . out of contract in a few months ' time , button faces the prospect of his 15-year run in the sport coming to an end . in the balance : jenson button 's formula 1 future is uncertain beyond the 2014 season . in the driving seat : driving his mclaren , button tours in free practice at monza ahead of the italian grand prix . rumours of mclaren attempting to poach fernando alonso or sebastian vettel , despite both being tied to their respective contracts with ferrari and red bull , have been rife of late . button , however , takes it all in his stride as he said : ` i 've been racing in f1 for 15 years . you go through a lot in your career , you hear a lot of b ******* . ` initially it 's annoying , but then you 're like ` you know what , i 've been here before , been in this situation before , heard it before ' . ` so you just get on with your job , and i love racing in formula one . ` every time i jump in a car i do the best job i can - and it does n't matter who it 's for or where it is - i do the best for myself , the team and the fans . ` that 's not going to change because you never do a half-hearted job , you always do the best you can , you want to beat your team-mate and you want to beat every single guy out there .<doc-sep>jenson button has revealed he held an ` interesting and encouraging ' conversation with ron dennis about the future direction of mclaren at the weekend . button 's personal future has been in the spotlight of late as mclaren group chairman and ceo dennis has yet to make a decision with regard to a driver line-up for next year . mclaren have been linked with moves to fernando alonso and sebastian vettel , whilst dennis even suggested over the weekend he was keeping a close eye on the situation at mercedes and the battle between nico rosberg and lewis hamilton . meeting : jenson button , pictured with ron dennis in 2011 , held positive discussions with the mclaren chief . positive talks : button is happy to have discussed his future with mclaren chief dennis . with button out of contract at the end of this year , it means the 34-year-old is in limbo , although dennis has promised a decision will be made by the final grand prix in abu dhabi in late november . promisingly for button , he has confirmed he ` spent a lot of time with ron ' over the course of the italian grand prix weekend . button said : ` forgetting the driver situation with kevin -lrb- magnussen -rrb- and myself , it was good to talk about the future of the team , the direction it is going and how it is performing . ` it was all interesting and encouraging , which comes on the back of the last couple of races in particular which have been good in terms of atmosphere within the team . ` that 's not just with ron and the drivers , but the rest of the management and the direction the team is going and the improvements being made . there 's a nice feel about the place at the moment .

<t> button keen to hear whether he will be racing for mclaren in 2015 . </t> <t> british team had board meeting on thursday to discuss whether button or kevin magnussen will partner fernando alonso next season . </t> <t> button will call time on his 15-year career if mclaren do not offer him deal . </t> <t> he 's explored other options including the world endurance championship . </t>

jenson button : i want to hear the decision about my mclaren future so we can all move on in whatever direction<T>

beach baby : kate did take george with her on holiday to mustique in january . the duke and duchess of cambridge are facing a public backlash for going on a second honeymoon without seven-month-old prince george . the couple have flown to an exclusive resort on the maldives , leaving their baby with carole and michael middleton -- plus his own security detail -- at their berkshire mansion . but the decision sparked a storm on social networking sites mumsnet and twitter . critics said they were wrong to leave the young prince for so long , while others were concerned about the extravagance of their stay only a few weeks after the whole family , including george , went to mustique . the couple arrived at cheval blanc randheli on noonu atoll , on thursday for a week-long break . packages there , including flights , can cost # 6,799 a person . some people questioned how prince william , already condemned for boar hunting in spain last month , was able to take time off from his ten-week agriculture management course at cambridge university . one mother , who uses the blog name louloutheshames , posted on mumsnet : ` seriously ? think this might turn public opinion against them . . . seems its just one long holiday for the d and d of cambridge . ' another blogger called crazy spaniel remarked : ` well they need a holiday -- him to recover from the shooting holiday in spain a couple of weeks ago , and her to recover from the mustique holiday last month . i think she may even have put on a posh frock and `` worked '' for a couple of hours in between . no wonder they 're exhausted . ' katienan wrote : ` i like them but am shocked by this , just makes me think they are the same old royals . . . ca n't imagine choosing to be so far from my baby for so long , ' while another contributor said : ` these two really p *** me off . ` life 's one long holiday ' . frogwatcher42 added the ` arrogant ' couple might ` finally break the royal family ' . paradise : hotel cheval blanc in the maldives where the royal couple are enjoying a romantic break . however the couple also had some support . one mother of two said : ` if the baby is in good hands , why not ? he is first -lsb- grandson -rsb- for doting gps -lsb- grandparents -rsb- and probably has a very competent nanny . if i could afford a holiday every few weeks without the baby , i 'd take them too . ' others said ` each to their own ' . next month the royal couple embark on a three-week tour of new zealand and australia -- this time accompanied by george . kensington palace have declined to comment on a private holiday . yes says karren brady . businesswoman and mother of two . as a mother she has been branded selfish , uncaring , shameful and unusual . what nonsense . the duchess is none of those things . and , quite frankly , i believe she has made totally the right decision . when my daughter was seven months old i took her on holiday to america . i had more luggage than a family of ten , what with sterilisers , bottles , formula , nappies , every possible piece of medical equipment i might remotely require plus clothes , sun creams , prams , car seats , sun umbrellas and a selection of toys . she screamed the whole way there , so much so that i contemplated drinking my own body weight in red wine . the time difference played havoc with her body clock , and mine , and i found i 'd left certain toys at home she wanted . it was possibly the most stressful week of my life . the truth is travelling with a baby , especially when aeroplanes are involved , is rarely a pleasant experience . ` you can only have a good time in the maldives if you like the person you are with as , other than swim , sunbathe and eat , there is nothing to do ' kate , we are told , wants to spend . quality time with her husband , and i admire this because marriage , like . children , is a lifetime commitment and you have to work at being good at . it . and trust me , . i 've been to the maldives , and you can only have a good time if you like . the person you are with as , other than swim , sunbathe and eat , there is . nothing to do . the duchess is being far from selfish . she has left her child with its loving and doting grandparents ; she has n't dropped him off at battersea dogs home . nor is she uncaring -- she has made a decision that her son is better off in his usual routine than being dragged to a small island in the heat . ` kate is now a member of the royal family , and while their ways may seem formal to her , she has embraced them wholly and willingly ' the truth is that as a predominantly . stay-at-home mum she spends many hours of quality time with her son , and . probably far less quality time with her busy husband . and while it 's probably true that , as one of the thoroughly middle-class middletons , her natural instinct may have been to rarely let her baby son out of her sight during his formative years , the fact is that kate no longer resides among her own class . she is now a member of the royal family , and while their ways may seem formal to her , she has embraced them wholly and willingly . in the long term , george will benefit from her decision to make her marriage a priority because , as children will tell you , they are far happier in a household where both parents love each other than in a household where they do not . and this is a household where even a blind man can see there is much love . we also forget that kate and william are young , newly wed , new parents and face a lifetime dedicated to public service , so we know that it 's not easy for them to avoid the media . we also know what happened the last time they went on holiday . is it any wonder they have had to take over a whole island to ensure they get some privacy ? my daughter will soon turn 18 ; she has no recollection of the nightmare trip to america . in the years between then and now there have been many business trips on which she has not accompanied me . my advice to kate ? do n't let guilt hold you back . fast forward to when george is 18 . so , he did n't go to the maldives with you , and probably missed many other official trips besides . but he will have your strengths , your independence and will have benefited massively from the loving home you and his father are providing . in fact , he will be just fine . and who knows , maybe kate and william are working on a little princess ! no says anne atkins . writer , broadcaster and mother of five . when our second child was a few weeks old i accepted a weekend 's work with a theatre company . wanting to be professional , i left my baby at home . as soon as i arrived i realised my mistake . a child of that age will sleep through anything , she would n't have been any trouble and someone would have cuddled her if she 'd woken while i was working . her breastfeeding never fully recovered , and she was the only one of our children who needed bottles before she was weaned . this was something she minded very much when i told her years later . of course parents need time to themselves . when ours were young we would spend one evening a week alone . but let 's face it : kate and wills are not going to be alone . if i was to be surrounded by security men , press officers and so on , i 'd include a nanny or two and take my baby too . we have an odd trait in northern europe that i call generational apartheid . unlike those in more relaxed southern climes , we behave as if we really do n't like our children . the couple arrived at cheval blanc randheli -lrb- pictured -rrb- on noonu atoll , on thursday for a week-long break . packages there , including fights , can cost # 6,799 a person . we park them with babysitters , send them upstairs when we have friends round . i sometimes wonder why the british have children at all , we complain so much when they 're home for the holidays . and much as i love and admire the queen , no reign is entirely without error , and i suspect hers perhaps came when her children were very young . for instance , leaving the young charles and anne behind when she went to australia for two months . how did they cope , knowing their mother 's subjects came before they did ? at school , i had a wonderful history teacher , margaret chamberlain . she often challenged our thinking , and one day criticised elizabeth i for not continuing the tudor line . we leapt to good queen bess 's defence : she was far too busy being a brilliant monarch . ` but providing an heir , ' mrs chamberlain said , ` is part of being a good monarch . by leaving no clear succession , she let her people down . ' raising the next generation of royals was part of elizabeth ii 's job . considering the chaos they went on to make of their own relationships , this was perhaps not her finest hour . after that weekend without my baby , i never did it again . i took them all over the place : breastfeeding during a lecture i gave , or over dinner after question time . our youngest visited the richard and judy studio at three days old . i was far happier , and like to think they were too . of course prince george 's grandparents are competent : that 's not the point . how will the parents feel if anything goes wrong and they ca n't comfort him ? come on kate ! your middle-class , nurturing family gave us more confidence than the windsors . we do n't need you to be grand and cool . take your babies -lrb- and nannies -rrb- with you next time , and enjoy yourself even more .<doc-sep>however , with their upcoming tour of australia and new zealand signalling the start of more frequent public engagements , sources claim the royal couple is eager to secure an aide . the pair faced a barrage of criticism when they flew off on their second honeymoon last week . the couple have flown to an exclusive resort on the maldives , leaving their baby with carole and michael middleton -- plus his own security detail -- at their berkshire mansion . but the decision sparked a storm on social networking sites mumsnet and twitter . critics said they were wrong to leave the young prince for so long , while others were concerned about the extravagance of their stay only a few weeks after the whole family , including george , went to mustique . william and kate always said they want to be hands-on parents but their list of duties is growing . kate 's mother carole and william 's former nanny jessie webb have previously helped out with childminding . the couple arrived at cheval blanc randheli on noonu atoll , on thursday for a week-long break . packages there , including flights , can cost # 6,799 a person . some people questioned how prince william , already condemned for boar hunting in spain last month , was able to take time off from his ten-week agriculture management course at cambridge university . however , a number of other commenters said the move may suggest they have already found a nanny to care for him while they are gone . clarence house declined to comment .<doc-sep>by . rebecca english . laughing as she carries her baby son in her arms , kate middleton clearly enjoyed taking son prince george on his first foreign holiday . kate jetted out to mustique just over a week ago with the six-month-old , leaving husband prince william at home to continue his studies at cambridge . the image was captured by a freelance photographer as she was disembarking a british airways flight in st vincent before catching a private jet to the exclusive caribbean island . scroll down for video . happy holiday : kate middleton and george after arriving in the caribbean for their winter break .<doc-sep>by . mia de graaf . reports the couple have employed a professional nanny come as the family prepares for their first official tour . the duke and duchess of cambridge have hired a spanish supernanny for prince george , it has been claimed . prince william and kate have chosen a nanny said to be in her mid-thirties who has worked for high-society families for two decades . the news comes as photos emerged this weekend of the eight-month-old prince with a childminder in hyde park , as his parents holiday in the maldives . a friend of the unnamed nanny told hello ! magazine : ` she has worked with other prominent high-society families in the past . ` it was from there that the cambridges heard of her and hired her . ` she is not married and does n't have a boyfriend as her life is totally dedicated to the family she is working with . ` she is known for being totally professional - married to the job . ' william and kate have made clear they intend to be hands-on parents . they have often enlisted the help of kate 's mother carole middleton , as well as occassionally employing william 's former nanny jessie webb .<doc-sep>perfecting the class act , kate is pictured as ` posh eliza ' , at the ambassador 's party . a friend told the sun : ` kate was very shy around him because she had a huge crush on him for years . ' after . leaving st andrew 's school she went to marlborough college before . meeting prince william while studying at st andrews university in . scotland . they married in 2011 and had their first child prince george in july last year . but while she may have struggled with the accent , she took to being a lady like ' a duck to water ' kate was said to be very shy around her co-star because she had ' a huge crush on him for years ' , a source said . my fair lady is a musical based upon george bernard shaw 's pygmalion . she is one of the most famous commoners to become part of the monarchy . she . grew up in bucklebury , berkshire , where her parents , michael and carole . middleton , run a mail-order business selling toys and games for . children 's parties . the couple met when he was a flight dispatcher and she was an air stewardess both working for british airways . sources confirmed last night that prince william has opted out of the holiday this year as he is on a ten-week course at cambridge university studying agricultural management . before meeting prince william , kate middleton reportedly took a fancy to the downton abbey actor while at school . time for tea : andrew opposite elizabeth mcgovern , as lady cora , in the hit tv series . treading the boards : kate middleton performing in murder in the red barn while at school in 1995 .

<t> duke and duchess of cambridge have flown to a resort on the maldives . </t> <t> they left baby george with carole and michael middleton in berkshire . </t> <t> critics said they were wrong to leave the young prince for so long . </t> <t> others were more concerned about the extravagance of their stay . </t> <t> the whole family , including george , went to mustique just a few weeks ago . </t>

kate middleton and prince william face protest storm after leaving george at home for maldives getaway<T>

south africa captain jean de villiers says he is hopeful of being fit for the world cup in england in september after having reconstructive surgery on his left knee on thursday . de villiers , 33 , dislocated his kneecap in the 12-6 defeat by wales in cardiff on saturday and early estimates suggested he would be out of action for at least eight months . ` the procedure went well but at this stage it is difficult to determine an exact return in terms of time frame , ' team doctor craig roberts said in a statement .<doc-sep>jean de villiers is hopeful of being fit for the world cup following reconstructive surgery on his left knee . de villiers dislocated his kneecap in the 12-6 defeat by wales in cardiff on saturday . ` the use of an artificial graft should speed up his rehabilitation and hopefully increase his chances of making a successful return . '<doc-sep>de villiers said his sights were set on getting back in time for the world cup . ` my focus will now be on the arrival of our third child in the coming days , ' he added .<doc-sep>` thereafter it will be about recovering as soon as possible so i can start with my rehabilitation . i will do everything in my power to get to england . ' the 33-year-old is hoping the use of an artificial graft will speed up his rehabilitation .<doc-sep>south africa captain jean de villiers faces a race to be fit for next year 's world cup . de villiers was carried off during the springboks ' 12-6 defeat against wales in cardiff on saturday after twisting his left knee and suffering a dislocated knee cap . scans shortly after the match revealed significant ligament damage , and 33-year-old de villiers was assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon in cape town on monday , who advised that the centre requires surgical reconstruction of the knee . video scroll down for sportsmail 's big match stats from wales vs south africa . jean de villiers was carried off the millennium stadium pitch on a stretcher on saturday . the springboks captain dislocated his knee after twisting his leg during a challenge on saturday . de villiers saw a specialist on monday to find out whether he has a chance of playing in the world cup .<doc-sep>springboks team doctor craig roberts told www.sarugby.net that 106 times-capped de villiers ' absence from rugby ` would probably be at least eight months ' . south africa kick off their world cup campaign against japan in brighton on september 19 next year . ` we are currently consulting with the best specialists in south africa to determine the best way to approach the surgery , as there are potentially a few options available , ' roberts said . wales ' dan biggar -lrb- left -rrb- and rhys webb -lrb- right -rrb- tackle south africa 's de villiers on saturday . ` it 's imperative that the best course of action is decided on so that jean can start recovery and rehabilitation as soon as possible to give him the best chance to be fit for the world cup . ` at this stage it 's still difficult to determine how long he will be out of action , but it would probably be at least eight months . '<doc-sep>by . mike dawes . victor matfield will captain south africa in their test matches against wales and scotland this month . matfield , 37 , retired from playing after the 2011 world cup , but returned to action earlier this year after signing a deal with the pretoria-based bulls . the towering lock will take over as skipper from centre jean de villiers , who is sidelined for eight weeks because of a knee injury . experienced : veteran lock victor matfield will captain south africa against wales and scotland . sidelined : regular captain jean de villiers will resume the armband when he returns from injury . matfield , who has won 110 caps , will take the helm for saturday 's appointment with a world xv in cape town . ` victor 's appointment as interim captain is something i thought long and hard about , and it was n't an easy decision to make , ' springboks coach heyneke meyer told south african rugby 's official website . ` the three candidates we considered - victor , bismarck du plessis and fourie du preez - were all very strong options . ` it 's only a short-term appointment as jean will take over as captain again once he 's recovered from his injury . ` victor was a logical option . he knows the pressure associated with being springbok captain , as he 's been there before , and he has vast captaincy experience at all levels of the game . ' south africa face wales in durban on june 14 , then nelspruit seven days later , while they meet scotland in port elizabeth on june 28 . wise choice : south africa coach heyneke meyer said matfield was the obvious candidate for the role .<doc-sep>jean de villiers -lrb- l -rrb- claims that the springboks are already thinking ahead to the rugby world cup . the springboks beat both their antipodean rivals in their last two games of the southern hemisphere 's rugby championships and de villiers said the boost in confidence has meant a reinvigorated squad at their training camp . this week south africa 's squad will work on both conditioning and ` getting the details right , ' added de villiers , who recently collected his 100th international cap . ` it 's not often we get a chance to prepare both at this stage of the season .

<t> jean de villiers dislocated his kneecap against wales on saturday . </t> <t> de villiers looked set to be out for eight months . </t> <t> south africa captain aiming for world cup return next year . </t>

jean de villiers hoping to be fit for world cup following reconstructive surgery on his left knee<T>

a prostitute has told a court of the moment her ` boyfriend ' - and father of her child - shot dead a client , who was the grandson of henry ford . dijana kilic took the stand as the key witness connecting danyell thomas , 36 , to the murder of john dahlinger , 56 , in grand rapids , michigan , in october last year . she told the jury at kent county circuit court yesterday that thomas - who also acted as her pimp - broke into her client 's home , fired a shot and later confessed to shooting the victim in the head . thomas denies murdering father-of-two mr dahlinger after he was unable to pay for ms kilic 's services . prostitute dijana kilic testified against her former pimp danyell thompson as part of her plea agreement . danyell thomas enters the courtroom on the third day of his trial in grand rapids , michigan . john dahlinger was found dead by his longtime fiancee melanie yanchuk at their grand rapids condo . if convicted , thomas faces life in prison without parole for felony murder , conspiracy to commit armed robbery and felony use of a firearm . she described the ` sexless ' encounters with mr dahlinger that led to his death , reported michigan live . ' i was n't really thinking that day , ' she said . ' i did n't really believe he 'd come in with a gun . ' jurors heard ms kilic met businessman mr dahlinger , in the fall of 2013 when she saw him smoke crack in a group at a northeast side trailer park - and then again on october 8 after he contacted her through an ad online . ms kilic said he paid her nearly $ 1,000 for her time when they met at a hotel on 28th street - but all they did was talk and use drugs . she admitted trying to slip a drug in his drink , but he did not pass out . in court , ms yanchuk wept as said she far as she knew dahlinger , a father-of-two , did not use drugs or prostitutes . danyell thomas , left , is accused of murdering dahlinger in october 2013 . he was allegedly shot after he could not pay prostitute dijana kilic , right , after she performed a strip tease at his home . and when she met him a second time on october 16 - the night mr dahlinger died - it was thomas who drove her home afterwards . this time , she gave him heroin with the hope he would pass out , but as she modeled underwear for him , he asked her to perform a sex act with a friend while he watched . she said she refused . during the encounter , she exchanged numerous text messages with the accused , who asked her repeatedly if mr dahlinger had money - indicating the pair planned to rob mr dahlinger and anyone else at the property . the texts allegedly sent from ms kilic suggest that mr dahlinger was waiting for one of his sons to bring money . and many of the messages from thomas ended with the phrase ` ftp 2014 ' - which ms kilic said meant ` f *** the police ' . she said thomas then came in with a gun and pointed it at both her and at mr dahlinger . she claims she ran out of the room and the heard a single gunshot after mr dahlinger said the words : ' i did n't do anything ' . as they drove home , she told the court thomas confessed to the shooting , but said it was accidental . they then visited the gun lake casino in wayland in a bid to establish an alibi for the time of mr dahlinger 's death . ms kilic told the court she began working as a stripper at the age of 20 and later stepped up to prostitution . she gave details about text messages exchanged between her and thomas on the night mr dahligher died . in the messages shown to the court , the accused asked her repeatedly if mr dahlinger had money - indicating the pair planned to rob the businessman . the pair were arrested two weeks later and ms kilic 's fingerprints were found all over the scene of the crime . despite thomas 's please , ms kilic co-operated with the police and accepted a plea deal - which led to thomas being charged with felony murder . after pleading guilty to armed robbery , she was sentenced to one year in prison - but only spent a few months in kent county jail , and agreed to testify against thomas . she helped police officers recover a .357 magnum allegedly belonging to thomas from a river - which was linked to bullet fragments recovered at the scene . as part of the plea agreement , her testimony can not be used against her . the court heard she began working as a stripper at 20 and later moved to prostitution using a website where she would meet up with men . she insists she never had sexual intercourse with her client - even though her adverts claim she was ` very open minded ' and ` aimed to please ' . she said thomas , who she lived with in north wyoming , was ok with her sex work under those conditions . according to the kent county prosecutor 's office , part of the plea also deal included allowing ms kilic , a bosnian immigrant , to stay in the country . soon after the homicide , ms kilic found she was pregnant by thomas and gave birth to his son . barb bechtel comforts john dahlinger 's son mike during danyell thomas 's murder trial yesterday . the victim 's fiancee melanie yanchuk , center , sits with mike dahlinger in the courtroom . mr dahlinger 's late father has always claimed he was the illegitimate son of henry ford following an alleged affair the car manufacturer had with his young secretary . the victim 's mother , barbara dahlinger - who was married to john sr. - has previously confirmed the claim . ` yes , my husband was the illegitimate son of henry ford , ' she told detroit news . ` so what if it 's true ? everybody knew it back then . ' i lived it . my son lived it . and there 's nothing to be gained by rehashing all this again . the ford motor co. owes us nothing . ' sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .<doc-sep>by . anna edwards . published : . 06:39 est , 6 august 2013 . | . updated : . 14:23 est , 6 august 2013 . a gunman shot a businessman dead and injured his son before turning the weapon on himself . peter thompson , 59 , died and his son john was shot in the legs during the attack at their farm in east kilbride at around 8.10 am today . john , 36 , survived and was able to drive to a nearby pub despite his wounds to raise the alarm . scroll down for video . attack : riding school boss john thompson , left , was shot dead at his farm but his 36-year-old son john , right , survived and managed to drive to a nearby pub to raise the alarm . armed police officers attend the scene of a triple shooting at meadowhead farm in auldhouse . emergency services found mr thompson and the 53-year-old gunman dead at meadowhead farm in auldhouse , south lanarkshire . john thompson is recovering in . hairmyres hospital in east kilbride where his condition was described as . stable . the 53-year-old , who was a registered firearms owner , is not related to the other two men . mr thompson and his son ran the farm . which had been closed at the weekend due to an infectious disease scare . involving one horse . a floral tribute left at the scene read : ` rip peter . a true gentleman . you will be sadly missed . ' police also said armed officers had .<doc-sep>brinsley fires a single shot at thompson , reportedly into her stomach . he flees with her cell phone . 6.05 am . brinsley calls thompson 's mother to apologize for shooting her . he claims it is an accident , and that he hopes she lives . 6.35 am . 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 . 10.50 am . brinsley arrives in new york city , in the west side , and rides the subway to brooklyn . 12.07 pm . 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 2.47 pm . 1.30 pm . 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 . 2.47 pm . 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 .<doc-sep>enters apartment of ex-girlfriend shaneka thompson in owings mills , maryland with a key he should not have had . they argue . 5.50 am . brinsley fires a single shot at thompson , reportedly into her stomach . he flees with her cell phone . 6.05 am . brinsley calls thompson 's mother to apologize for shooting her . he claims it is an accident , and that he hopes she lives . 6.35 am . 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 . 10.50 am . brinsley arrives in new york city , in the west side , and rides the subway to brooklyn . 12.07 pm . 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 2.47 pm . 1.30 pm . 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 . 2.47 pm . 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 .<doc-sep>by . michael zennie and associated press . published : . 15:23 est , 31 december 2012 . | . updated : . 17:45 est , 31 december 2012 . a 74-year-old man charged with killing two teenage tenants walked into their apartment and said he was going to shoot them before following through on his threat , authorities said today . james pak did not enter a plea during a . brief court appearance on monday afternoon in york county superior court . in alfred , maine . pak is charged with two counts of murder after the deaths of 19-year-old derrick thompson and his girlfriend alivia welch , 18 . pak is being held without bail . shootings : james pak , 74 , appears in york county superior court in alfred , maine today charged with the murders of his teenage tenants . an affidavit says pak also shot thompson 's mother twice but she survived by pretending to be dead . thompson and welch , along with thompson 's mother and her six-year-old son , were living in an apartment attached to pak 's home .

<t> admitted prostitute dijana kilic took the stand as a key witness connecting danyell thompson to the murder of john dahlinger . </t> <t> mr dahlinger was shot dead in his grand rapids , michigan , home last year . </t> <t> court heard ms kilic 's ` boyfriend ' and pimp shot him and confessed to her . </t> <t> she accepted a plea deal in exchange for testifying for the prosecution . </t> <t> as part of the deal , her testimony can not be used against her . </t> <t> if convicted , thomas faces life prison without parole for felony murder , conspiracy to commit armed robbery and felony use of a firearm . </t>

dijana kilic tells court of moment danyell thompson shot dead john dahlinger<T>

there is clear scientific evidence that the benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks , a landmark report has declared . a debate has long raged over the ethics of the procedure - and some men believe it has affected their sexual function or satisfaction . but u.s. officials have now said the medical evidence supports having the procedure . the announcement came in new long-awaited draft guidelines released by the centers for disease control and prevention -lrb- cdc -rrb- . this is the first time the u.s. government has released such a report on circumcision , where the foreskin around the tip of the penis is cut away . guidelines : u.s. medical experts have declared there is now clear medical evidence to support circumcision . while the guidelines stop short of telling parents to get their newborn sons circumcised , they are very clear on the health advantages . ` that is a personal decision that may involve religious or cultural preferences ' , said the cdc 's dr. jonathan mermin , who oversees the agency 's programs on hiv and other sexually transmitted diseases .<doc-sep>the procedure is done because germs can grow underneath the foreskin . cdc officials say circumcision can lower a man 's risk of sexually-transmitted diseases , penile cancer and even urinary tract infections . the new guidelines are the result of seven years of work , after a cluster of influential studies in africa indicated circumcision might help stop spread of the aids virus . ` the benefits of male circumcision have become more and more clear over the last ten years , ' said dr aaron tobian , a johns hopkins university researcher involved in one of the african studies . but the guidelines are important , because the rates of newborn male circumcision have been dropping , he added . in the new guidelines , the cdc says there is now strong evidence that male circumcision can : . studies have not shown that circumcision will reduce an hiv-infected man 's chances of spreading the aids virus to women . and research has not found circumcision to be a help in stopping spread of hiv during gay sex .<doc-sep>the guidelines say circumcision is safer for newborns and infants than for older males , noting the complication rate rises from 0.5 per cent in newborns to nine per cent in children ages one to nine . minor bleeding and pain are the most common problems , experts say . cdc officials are recommending doctors tell parents of baby boys of the benefits and risks of circumcision - but does not detail how that information should be presented . because circumcision can be beneficial to men as well , the cdc says information about the procedure also should be given to sexually active uncircumcised men - especially men considered to be at higher risk of catching hiv , the report says . however the guidelines , which the public will be able to comment on for the next 40 days , are likely to draw intense opposition from anti-circumcision advocacy groups . ` this is a passionate issue for them and they feel strongly that circumcision is wrong , ' said dr douglas diekema , a professor of pediatrics at the university of washington . the thinking on circumcision has swung wildly over the years . while it has been practiced by jews and muslims for thousands of years , it did n't become common in the u.s. until the 20th century .<doc-sep>controversial : the new guidelines , which state how the procedure can cut risk for hiv , stds and penile cancer , are expected to draw intense opposition from anti-circumcision advocacy groups . by one estimate , only 25 per cent of u.s. male newborns were circumcised in 1900 . it gradually became the cultural norm , and in the 1950s and 1960s surpassed 80 per cent . but then the trend reversed . this was partly to do with changing demographics , as the u.s. population grew to include larger numbers of mexican-americans and other ethnic groups that did n't traditionally circumcise their children . also , opposition to the procedure grew from advocates who decried the pain , bleeding and risk of infections to newborns , the associated press reports . their message was aided by the internet and by the neutral stance of physicians groups - including , for a time , the american academy of pediatrics . by 2010 the newborn circumcision rate was down to about 58 per cent , according to one cdc estimate . but even as the circumcision rate dropped , more medical evidence came in supporting it - particularly three rigorous and influential studies in africa that looked at the spread of hiv and other sexually transmitted diseases in circumcised and uncircumcised men and their partners .<doc-sep>`` for example , if a condition called hypospadias is present , in which the infant 's urinary opening has not formed normally , your doctor will probably recommend that your baby boy not be circumcised at birth . in fact , circumcision should be performed only on stable , healthy infants . '' and the procedure , the aap said , `` is safest and offers the most health benefits if performed during the newborn period , '' it said . newborn circumcision `` should be performed by trained and competent providers , using sterile techniques and effective pain management , '' it said . dr. susan blank , chairwoman of the task force that produced the aap policy statement and technical report , said it 's ultimately up to the parents . `` parents are entitled to medically accurate and non-biased information about circumcision , and they should weigh this medical information in the context of their own religious , ethical and cultural beliefs , '' blank said . aap : health benefits of circumcision outweigh the risks . she said parents should speak to a doctor about benefits and risks and `` discuss who will perform the circumcision . '' `` it 's a good idea to have this conversation during pregnancy , and to learn whether your insurance will cover the procedure , so you have time to make the decision , '' blank said . the american college of obstetricians and gynecologists has endorsed the policy as well . `` this information will be helpful for obstetricians who are often the medical providers who counsel parents about circumcision , '' said dr. sabrina craigo , md , the college 's liaison to the aap task force on circumcision . `` we support the idea that parents choosing circumcision should have access to the procedure . '' decline in circumcisions could cost billions .<doc-sep>the wider u.s. population adopted the practice due to potential health benefits , such as reducing the risk of urinary tract infections in infants and cutting the risk of penile cancer and sexually transmitted diseases , including hiv . still , the practice has been the subject of heated debate , including efforts to ban circumcision in san francisco and germany . the american academy of pediatrics said last august that the health benefits of infant circumcision outweigh the risks of the surgery . the national center for health statistics offered little explanation in the report for the falling rates but said fluctuations over the years followed changes to the american academy of pediatrics ' assessment of the procedure 's medical value . the center 's findings were based on annual discharge data of between 7,000 and 12,000 newborn boys at between 250 and 550 u.s. short-stay , non-federal hospitals . in western states , the rate dropped to 40.2 per cent in 2010 from 63.9 per cent in 1979 , the center said .<doc-sep>yoram unguru , a jewish pediatrician , hailed the decision , saying authorities should protect children `` from the consequences of unwise decisions . '' `` in my mind , the amendment does n't go far enough -- getting parental consent for circumcision in general , that 's appropriate and sufficient , but consent for the metzitzah b ` peh should not be allowed , '' he said . it `` should not be performed , period . '' top pediatrics group : benefits of infant circumcision outweigh risks . members of the orthodox community blasted the decision , calling it an infringement of constitutional rights .<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- scientific evidence shows that the health benefits of circumcising baby boys outweigh the risks , america 's top pediatrics group said monday . but the `` benefits are not great enough to recommend routine circumcision , '' the american academy of pediatrics said in a policy statement , and the decision to circumcise should be up to the parents in consultation with the child 's doctor . `` scientific research shows clearer health benefits to the procedure than had previously been demonstrated , '' said the group , which represents 60,000 pediatricians in the united states and canada . it also said the health benefits are great enough for insurance coverage . a debate has emerged over the practice . circumcision , the removal of the foreskin from the penis , is a religious rite commonly practiced by jews and muslims and is a widely accepted and common medical practice . but staunch critics of the procedure say it is not medically necessary and carries the risk of complications and pain . why i did n't circumcise my sons . `` scientific research shows clearer health benefits to the procedure than had previously been demonstrated . according to a systematic and critical review of the scientific literature , the health benefits of circumcision include lower risks of acquiring hiv , genital herpes , human papilloma virus and syphilis . circumcision also lowers the risk of penile cancer over a lifetime ; reduces the risk of cervical cancer in sexual partners , and lowers the risk of urinary tract infections in the first year of life , '' the group said . johns hopkins university researchers recently concluded that the rates of hiv and other sexually transmitted diseases are likely to climb as american parents increasingly leave their baby boys uncircumcised . `` the medical benefits of male circumcision are quite clear , '' said dr. aaron tobian , an assistant professor of pathology at johns hopkins and lead author of the study published in the archives of pediatric and adolescent medicine . `` but while the medical evidence has been increasingly more positive , male circumcision rates in the u.s. have been decreasing . '' mom : why i chose circumcision for my boys . but such benefits may not trump `` other considerations for individual families . '' the study also says the procedure poses rare risks such as `` bleeding and swelling . '' `` although the evidence also is clear that infants experience pain , there are several safe and effective ways to reduce the pain . if the baby is born prematurely , has an illness at birth , or has congenital abnormalities or blood problems , he should not be circumcised immediately , '' the aap said .

<t> brief procedure involves cutting away the foreskin around tip of the penis . </t> <t> officials say it can lower a male 's risk of sexually-transmitted diseases , penile cancer and even urinary tract infections . </t> <t> new guidelines released by u.s. centers for disease control prevention . </t> <t> expected to draw opposition from anti-circumcision advocacy groups . </t> <t> cut a man 's risk of getting hiv from an infected female partner by 50 to 60 per cent . </t> <t> reduce their risk of genital herpes and certain strains of human papillomavirus by 30 per cent or more . </t> <t> lower the odds of urinary tract infections during infancy , and cancer of the penis in adulthood . </t>

benefits of circumcision ` outweigh the risks ' official report declares<T>

the start of the ski season is about to get underway . but if you thought all the action happened out on the slopes , you can think again . for a minority of super-rich holiday makers , the real entertainment is to be found back in the palatial chalets that dot the world 's most exclusive resorts . scroll down for video . a week at the sprawling nine-bedroom swiss chalet owned by billionaire businessman sir richard branson will set you back an eye-watering # 112,000-a-week . the stunning accommodation on offer at rental company ultimate luxury chalets feature swimming pools , saunas , cinemas , hot tubs and even nightclubs . other include wine cellars , state of the art spas and fully-equipped gyms . but if you want to hire the most exclusive properties at destinations including verbier in switzerland and val d'isere in france , you 'll need to be among the world 's highest earners . a week at the sprawling nine-bedroom swiss chalet owned by billionaire businessman sir richard branson will set you back an eye-watering # 112,000-a-week . chalet n , located in the austrian ski resort of lech , is said to ` set the benchmark for true alpine over-indulgence ' one of the most impressive properties in the ski chalet rental market worldwide , it is an opulent chalet that comes complete with a team of chefs and butlers . as well as its own spa and ` wellness centre ' , chalet n features massage beds , a private hair stylist , steam showers , indoor swimming pool , a library , dual outdoor hot tubs , its own bar and a billiard room . situated on a quiet road just 250m from the main ski lifts and backing onto one of the returning pistes , the lodge is in a perfect location for the slopes . guests are attended to by a team of 12 staff . the property features a mini ice rink , indoor swimming pool , outdoor jacuzzis and a luxury spa . the lodge can accommodate up to 18 adults in nine bedrooms and up to six children and young adults in a specially designed bunkroom . chalet n , located in the austrian ski resort of lech , is said to ` set the benchmark for true alpine over-indulgence ' . sir richard branson 's luxurious swiss chalet features swimming pools , saunas , cinemas , hot tubs and even discos . guests at the lodge chalet are attended to by a team of 12 staff , while the property features a mini ice rink , indoor swimming pool , outdoor jacuzzis and a luxury spa .<doc-sep>undoubtedly one of the most impressive properties in the ski chalet rental market worldwide , it is an opulent chalet that comes complete with a team of chefs and butlers . as well as its own spa and ` wellness centre ' , it features massage beds , a private hair stylist , steam showers , indoor swimming pool , a library , dual outdoor hot tubs , its own bar and a billiard room . the property costs up to # 384,000-a-week to hire . the edelweiss chalet in the courchevel 1850 resort is a towering eight-bedroom property that has become one of the most sought after alpine retreats . the edelweiss chalet in the courchevel 1850 resort is a towering eight-bedroom property that has become one of the most sought after alpine retreats . able to sleep 16 people , the edelweiss chalet was only built in 2012 and is located next to the bellecote piste . guests will need to splash more than # 400,000-a-week for a seven night stay . the # 79,000-per-week marco polo chalet in val d'isere is described as offering guests ` 700sq meters of alpine chic ' it features a vast balcony complete with panoramic views of la face piste , a bbq and outdoor heated seating . able to sleep 16 people , it was only built in 2012 and is located next to the bellecote piste . each bedroom has its own en suite bathroom and the two master suites measure 100sq meters each and come complete with private dressing rooms . its spa area takes up a whole floor and includes a state of the art gym , a double massage room and a swimming pool . there is a 50m ² ski room opening directly onto the bellecote piste , while the chalet is so big it even has a lift to take guests between floors . zermatt peak , situated in the swiss resort of zermatt , is said to ` set a new precedent in luxury chalet accommodation ' the 4.5 metre floor to ceiling windows in the lounge offer spectacular views , while the interiors ` ooze style , luxury and panache ' the courchevel 1850 resort also features the stunning six-floor le petit palais chalet . guests can use the beauty salon and sprawling spa , with the chalet costing # 188,000 for a seven-night stay . on the ground floor there is a 130sq meter nightclub with a dj booth , dancefloor and bar , which can fit 100 people . the chalet costs a staggering # 431,000-a-week to rent . the marco polo chalet in val d'isere is described as offering guests ` 700sq meters of alpine chic ' . the property can accommodate 12 guests in its six en suite bedrooms .<doc-sep>it features a vast balcony complete with panoramic views of la face piste , a bbq and outdoor heated seating . the price is not surprisingly out of the reach of many val d'isere visitors , costing # 79,000 per week . zermatt peak , situated in the swiss resort of zermatt , is said to ` set a new precedent in luxury chalet accommodation ' . sleeping 18 people , the chalet truffe blance in verbier , switzerland , is referred to as a ` vision of grandeur and elegance ' based on an 17th century italian residence , it spreads over 3,000 sq meters , while its spa is said to have been inspired a the roman empire . it also has a 15m indoor pool . the 4.5 metre floor to ceiling windows in the lounge offer spectacular views , while the interiors ` ooze style , luxury and panache ' . it features its own masseuse , steam room , sauna and jacuzzi . it also has a cinema , library and and a private chef . it can accommodate up to 15 guests and comes at a cost of up to # 113,000 for seven night 's hire . the courchevel 1850 resort also features the stunning six-floor le petit palais chalet . it has a total of seven bedrooms and again includes its own nightclub and cinema room , while the master suite measures 855sq ft , and takes up an entire floor of the property . guests can also use the beauty salon and sprawling spa and costs # 188,000 for a seven night stay . sleeping 18 people , the chalet truffe blance in verbier , switzerland , is referred to as a ` vision of grandeur and elegance ' . based on an 17th century italian residence , it spreads over 3,000 sq meters , while its spa is said to have been inspired a the roman empire . it also has a 15m indoor pool . an exotic turkish hammam displays extravagant domes derived from the ottoman architecture . surrounding the hammam , pool and relaxation area are nine treatment rooms , a finnish sauna , 20-seat home cinema , sushi and vodka bar , private nightclub and pool table . the wine cellar has underwater windows looking out into the pool . but such luxury does not come cheap , and guests will need to spend up to # 172,000 per week to hire the property . www.ultimateluxurychalets.com .<doc-sep>in the rental market luxurious chalets such as chalet jasmine are par for the course . it peaks at # 48,000 -lrb- chf62 ,475 -rrb- per week . chalet jasmine : there 's a fur lined cinema room for putting your feet up in after a long days ' shredding on the verbier pistes . the 3,000 sq m property sleeps 20 people , has nine fireplaces , heated wood floors , a library and italian wall cover silks . to top it off , the wine cellar has underwater windows from which you can watch swimmers as you sip fine wine . wine caves and rooms are a common feature in chalets in verbier , like this one , so guests can choose the perfect wine to pair with dinner . chalet jasmine : the resort , located in south-western switzerland in the canton of valais , has the highest price premium of all alpine resorts . other prime properties typically cost # 14,700 per sq m and an entry level family chalet will set you back between # 1.29 million -lrb- chf2 million -rrb- and # 1.6 million -lrb- chf 2.5 million -rrb- . permanent spots in the underground car park in the town centre cost # 97,000 -lrb- chf150 ,000 -rrb- . in the rental market luxurious chalets such as chalet jasmine through bramble ski are par for the course . it peaks at # 48,000 -lrb- chf62 ,475 -rrb- per week , sleeps 12 has a indoor hot tub , hammam , sauna and spa.there 's a fur lined cinema room for putting your feet up in after a long days ' shredding and a well stocked wine cave . nearly 100 lifts and more than 400 km of ski runs for all levels of expertise spread across the 4 valleys ski area . victoria beckham -lrb- left -rrb- in a red outfit skiing in 2004 and prince harry -lrb- right -rrb- with a friend prepares to throw a snowball from a hotel balcony . despite its small size the village knows how to throw a party .<doc-sep>by . mia de graaf . published : . 16:42 est , 7 october 2013 . | . updated : . 09:51 est , 8 october 2013 . north korea will unveil a multimillion-dollar ski resort to demonstrate that the country - often painted as isolated and poverty-stricken - is as civilised and advanced as anywhere else . masik pass , a winter wonderland of luxury chalets , ski runs and sleigh rides , will open to the public on thursday despite facing a tumult of opposition from swiss , austrian and french resorts that refused to provide ski equipment . it is billed as a key feature in the nation 's bid to boost tourism as the economy flounders and . civilians suffer one of the lowest standards of living in the world . multimillion-dollar project : they have set to building ski lifts themselves after switzerland refused to provide theirs . the complex of ski runs , sleigh rides and luxury chalets are far from finished but will open on thursday . while few north koreans could afford a . trip to masik pass , near the country 's east coast , the leadership could offer visits as a reward for . loyalty or exceptional work - although just 0.02 per cent of the population -lrb- 5,500 people -rrb- can ski .<doc-sep>a skiing holiday is not always about the slopes . at least , not for everyone - and not entirely for me . if that sounds enticing , then pretty megeve in the french alps is for you . it is dotted with wooden chalets and has its own alpine village scene going on : bars serving jazz with hot wine , interior design shops with rustic furniture and shaggy throws , a giant christmas tree in the main square which stays up all season , horse-and-carriage rides , michelin-starred restaurants , wonderfully cossetting hotels and aristocratic heritage . fabulously fashionable : megeve has been a magnet for chic skiers since the twenties . how megeve looks now is partly down to baroness maurice de rothschild - or baroness mimi , as she was known . in the twenties , the baroness - determined to create a glamorous resort which would rival st moritz - alighted upon the savoyard farming village beneath mont blanc . she and a young architect , henry jacques le meme , built the first ski chalet , le meme , now a hotel , then 200 further chalets . early ski-lifts , a golf course and airport followed . after world war ii , so did the smart set , the author and artist jean cocteau and brigitte bardot among them . so popular and prestigious was the resort , cocteau referred to it as the ` 21st arrondissement of paris ' . plenty of reasons to blow the budget : megeve 's shops are just as alluring as its ski slopes . cocteau 's favourite spot was the hotel mont blanc , now owned by hotel firm sibuet . here , in the art deco resturant with its cocteau mural , you can slip into a more sultry era . megeve has plenty to recommend it . first , it 's just over an hour 's drive to geneva airport , so you can pop over for the weekend , as the fur-clad couples from manchester tell me they do all winter long .<doc-sep>by . william turvill . published : . 04:17 est , 21 december 2013 . | . updated : . 09:24 est , 21 december 2013 . tourists spend thousands of pounds going on skiing holidays every year , but there is always the temptation to spend a day or two off the slopes -- and these stunning chalets show exactly why that is . with bubbling hot tubs , champagne receptions and roaring fires , these beautiful properties are reason enough to journey to forget christmas in rainy britain and jet off to the french alps . set in deep snow , these chalets -- rating among the best in the region -- offer a cosy refuge from the cold outdoors . holiday luxury : what better place to warm up than this bubbling hot tub at chalet twenty26 in morzine . and for when you want to dry off , there 's a canadian sauna room . inside : above the haute-savoie resort , chalet twenty26 offers stunning views up the valley , which can be appreciated from inside or out on the balcony . outside : the five-star chalet has five en-suite double bedrooms , a large decked terrace and a roaring fire inside . cosy : logs are stacked high for the fire in this cosy living area , with spacious and comfortable sofas and a soft cow hyde on the floor . snow-covered : potentially accommodating for ten people , chalet twenty26 will set guests back # 1,695 a week - or # 695 a week for two people . sky high : people spend thousands of pounds every year travelling to the french alps for a week or two of skiing . lounging around : often , though , the chalet accommodation can be the highlight of a trip to the region .

<t> the edelweiss chalet in courchevel is the world 's most expensive chalet . </t> <t> it costs a staggering # 431,000-a-week to hire and has its own nightclub . </t> <t> a seven-night stay at sir richard branson 's swiss chalet costs # 112,000 . </t> <t> the luxury chalets features swimming pools , saunas , and private chefs . </t>

inside the world 's most opulent ski chalets that 'll set you back up to ⁇ 430k a week<T>

former arsenal midfielder ray parlour has backed thierry henry to replace arsene wenger as manager at the emirates one day . the frenchman 's future is uncertain after he left new york red bulls at the end of the mls season and has been linked with a return to arsenal in a coaching capacity and parlour has backed him to take the top job in the future . henry is arsenal 's record goalscorer and wenger is keen to add him to arsenal 's backroom team . thierry henry has left new york red bulls and could return to arsenal in a coaching capacity . henry is arsenal 's all-time record goalscorer with 228 goals for the club . parlour told talksport : ` i think he will definitely get involved with arsenal . i certainly believe , one day , if he really wants to be a manager , he will be manager of arsenal . ` he was such an intelligent player . arsene wenger used to have a meeting on a monday with the players after a game and thierry would always have his say . he would make some great points , not just about forwards , but about defending and how we defend as a team . ` he always had that charisma to be a manager . and look at his name around the world . people would want to play for him and he would attract big players . ' arsene wenger is keen to add henry to his backroom team . ray parlour believes that henry is a future arsenal manager .<doc-sep>arsenal legend robert pires has tipped thierry henry and carlo ancelotti as potential future arsenal managers when arsene wenger eventually moves on . pires does not think wenger should leave the emirates stadium any time soon , but feels that either his former team-mate or the real madrid boss should be among the candidates to replace him when he does . the 41-year-old , who played for arsenal between 2000 and 2006 , told goal.com , ` who is the perfect replacement ? thierry henry ? he understands football and arsenal . i do n't know , but i like carlo ancelotti . but that 's my opinion , it does n't mean arsenal need ancelotti at this time . ' winger robert pires played for arsenal between 2000 and 2006 , winning two premier league titles . pires has tipped his former team-mate thierry henry as a potential candidate to replace arsene wenger .<doc-sep>rudi garcia could be the right man for the job at arsenal should they choose to part ways with current manager arsene wenger , according to ray parlour . airing his views in a q&a on sportlobster.com , the former gunners midfielder spoke about garcia 's credentials as a manager as wenger 's future at the club grows more and more uncertain . ` that will be the hardest decision the club have to make . they need to have a replacement lined up , ' parlour wrote . former arsenal midfielder ray parlour thinks rudi garcia could be a good appointment as gunners manager . garcia -lrb- right -rrb- has taken roma to second in serie a with a shot at winning their fourth scudetto trophy .<doc-sep>arsene wenger believes thierry henry deserves to be honoured by arsenal beyond the statute depicting him outside the emirates . the gunners boss enjoyed henry in full flight and at his best after landing him from juventus . the france striker is arsenal 's greatest ever goalscorer and announced his retirement from football earlier this week . thierry henry became such a legend in north london that he earned his own statue at the emirates stadium . arsenal legend henry has retired from football to become a pundit with sky sports .<doc-sep>arsene wenger is brimming with confidence ahead of the new season , following sunday 's emphatic 3-0 win against manchester city in the community shield . the arsenal boss watched his side pick apart manuel pellegrini 's side at wembley with an attacking verve that is sure to get gunners fans excited for the next campaign . after the match , wenger warned his premier league title rivals that he is armed with his most dangerous attacking unit for years . video scroll down to watch sanchez and sanogo link up brilliantly in training . winning smile : arsenal captain mikel arteta -lrb- centre -rrb- holds aloft the community shield on sunday . happy viewing : gunners boss arsene wenger believes he has arsenal 's most attacking front line in years . video arsenal keen to push on after community shield victory . ` three , four , five years ago we lost a big player every year , ' he said . ` in the last two years we 've added players like mesut ozil and alexis sanchez . i have more attacking options than i 've had for a long time . ' the signing of # 30million forward sanchez has bolstered the fa cup winners impressive front line , giving wenger plenty of food for thought when all of his charges are fit . too good : alexis sanchez -lrb- right -rrb- joined arsenal in a # 30million deal from barcelona this summer . stunning strike : striker olivier giroud scored goal of game in arsenal 's 3-0 win against manchester city . welcome addition : world cup winner mesut ozil -lrb- centre -rrb- began pre-season training with arsenal on monday . world cup winners lukas podolski and mesut ozil started their pre-season training on monday , while the wenger can call upon olivier giroud , aaron ramsey , santi cazorla , alex oxlade-chamberlain and theo walcott when he returns from injury . in light of wenger 's comments , sportsmail reviews the frenchman 's attacking power during his 18 years at arsenal . 1997/98 . main men : nicolas anelka , dennis bergkamp , marc overmars ray parlour , ian wright . wenger 's second season at the club was a successful one winning the premier league and fa cup to complete the second league and cup double in the club 's history . with a stalwart defence , wenger could utilise the talents of ian wright , ray parlour and dennis bergkamp alongside new signing marc overmars and nicolas anelka . bergkamp performed the role of the team 's catalyst with 22 goals in all competitions for the gunners , with wright and overmars also reaching double figures . for many gunners fans , overmars winning strike at manchester united in their 1-0 victory to help them turn around a 12-point deficit on the way to the title will never be forgotten . talented : anelka emerged on to the scene at arsenal before earning a move to real madrid . club legend : ian wright -lrb- left -rrb- will go down as one of arsenal 's all-time greats after a superb spell at the club . 2001/02 . main men : dennis bergkamp , thierry henry , nwankwo kanu , freddie ljungberg , robert pires , sylvain wiltord . after watching perennial domestic rivals united win the premier league title three-years running , it was arsenal 's time to be crowned england 's best in another glorious season for the north london outfit . still utilising the skills of bergkamp , wenger had made further additions since the 1997-98 season with henry , kanu , ljungberg , pires and wiltord all joining the club since then . the result ? another premier league and fa cup success as arsenal won their second league and cup double in five years - with the title sweetly sealed at old trafford . henry scored 24 goals in the league , while ljungberg doubled arsenal 's lead against london rivals chelsea in their 2-0 fa cup triumph . triumph : theirry henry , robert pires and sol campbell -lrb- left to right -rrb- lift the premier league trophy in may 2002 . euphoria : sylvain wiltord scored the only goal of the game as arsenal clinch the title at old trafford . 2003/04 . main men : dennis bergkamp , thierry henry , freddie ljungberg , robert pires . arguably the greatest team ever to grace the premier league era , the 2003/04 arsenal team will forever be written in the history books . dubbed ` the invincibles ' the gunners went unbeaten during the entire premier league campaign as they ended the season as champions . winning 26 games and drawing 12 , arsenal 's top goalscorer for the third year running was thierry henry - who scored 39 goals in 51 games . the frenchman was given the accolade of pfa players ' player of the year by his fellow peers and the fwa footballer of the year by the football writers . to date nobody before or since has been able to match the gunners feat in the premier league . top class : dennis bergkamp brought sheer brilliance to arsenal 's attack during his spell at the club . diminutive : freddie ljungberg scored goals a plenty for the gunners during his nine-year spell at the club . world class : thierry henry will forever go down in arsenal folklore with his goalscoring prowess . 2007/08 . main men : emmanuel adebayor , nicklas bendtner , eduardo , cesc fabregas , alexander hleb , tomas rosicky , robin van persie , theo walcott . a season of hope and promise that all changed during one lunchtime kick off at birmingham city . the gunners never fully recovered from their 2-2 draw at st andrews in february in a league campaign that saw them challenge all the way for the premier league title . club icon henry had left for barcelona before the season began , but wenger looked to have remedied the blow with the arrival of eduardo and with cesc fabregas becoming ever more influential in midfield . eduardo scored 12 goals in 31 games before breaking his leg in a horrible challenge with birmingham defender martin taylor . in the croatia international 's absence emmanuel adebayor continued to deliver the goods for the emirates faithful in a breakthrough season for the togo forward . adebayor ended as the club 's highest scorer in all competitions with 30 goals as wenger 's side finished third in the league . top gun : emmanuel adebayor was arsenal 's top scorer in the 2007/08 season with 30 goals in all competitions . skillful : rosicky impressed for the gunners in his second full campaign with the club . younger days : walcott emerged onto the scene for southampton before signing for the gunners in 2006 . 2008/09 . main men : emmanuel adebayor , andrei arshavin , nicklas bendtner , cesc fabregas , samir nasri , tomas rosicky , robin van persie , theo walcott . fourth place , uefa champions league semi-finalists , fa cup semi-finalists and league cup quarter-finalists is all arsenal had to show for in another season that the gunners just came up short . summer signing samir nasri proved a hit in his debut season at the club , while euro 2008 star man andrei arshavin showcased all his talents against liverpool . the russian playmaker who joined from zenit st. petersburg in february 2009 scored all four of arsenal 's goals in a 4-4 draw at anfield in a man-of-the-match performance . with fabregas continuing to pull the strings also ; strikers adebayor , nicklas bendtner and robin van persie all finished the season in double figures . delirious : nasri -lrb- right -rrb- and fabregas -lrb- left -rrb- celebrate after the former netted his second goal against man united . confident : van persie got into double figures as arsenal finished in top four . four and out : andrei arshavin was instrumental in arsenal 's thrilling 4-4 draw at liverpool in april 2009 .

<t> thierry henry could return to arsenal in a coaching capacity . </t> <t> wenger is keen to add the striker to his backroom team . </t> <t> arsenal announced he was new york red bulls on monday . </t> <t> henry has not yet revealed his future plans after leaving new york . </t>

thierry henry will replace arsene wenger as boss of arsenal , according to ray parlour<T>

mile jedinak admits it is becoming difficult for crystal palace players to come to terms with recent refereeing decisions which have gone against the club . the eagles ' skipper was sent off in the 3-1 reverse to sunderland on monday night after seeing his side have two legitimate penalty claims turned away by referee phil dowd . santiago vergini was lucky to avoid conceding a first-minute penalty when he brought down fraizer campbell , with patrick van aanholt tangling with wilfried zaha in what could have been easily given as a spot-kick . video : scroll down for neil warnock 's views on his side 's penalty claims on monday night . mile jedinak -lrb- left -rrb- was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on jordi gomez late in the match . jedinak is sent off by referee phil dowd for his second bookable offence of the night . the crystal palace skipper leaves the pitch at selhurst park on what was a miserable night for the home night . as it turned out neither were given and steven fletcher put the black cats ahead before the break and , despite palace drawing level courtesy of a wes brown own goal , jordi gomez and fletcher struck either side of jedinak 's red card to seal a second barclays premier league win of the campaign . ' i think we gave them two soft goals , ' said jedinak . ` apart from that i thought we were really good . ' i think they -lrb- the penalty claims -rrb- were both pretty clear to be honest with you , so , there 's not a lot i 'm going to comment on in that sense , but he -lrb- dowd -rrb- made both decisions and we have taken the brunt of them . it was unfortunate - both times . fraizer campbell goes down under a challenge by santiago vergini but the home side did not get a penalty . neil warnock was unhappy with the decision not to award a penalty and made his feelings known to dowd . ` it 's disappointing when you do n't receive the decisions and particularly so early on , particularly when you 're on top . you 're not going to cry over that , but when they are that obvious it 's a little bit difficult . ' the defeat saw palace drop to 17th in the table , with only a better goal record keeping neil warnock 's side outside of the relegation zone .<doc-sep>the 65-year-old revealed after the match that jedinak had apologised for his sending off and labelled the two bookings as ` silly ' - with the australia midfielder now ruled out of saturday 's trip to manchester united . ` he -lrb- dowd -rrb- decided to give me a yellow on the first one which for whatever reason , the second one i got caught in him it looked like he was right behind me and he 's deemed it a yellow card , ' jedinak added . ` i 've got to accept that now , i 'm disappointed within myself to be missing the game and not being a part -lrb- of it -rrb- with the boys on saturday . sunderland manager gus poyet -lrb- left -rrb- congratulates two-goal hero steven fletcher after the black cats victory . ` we 've got a game in five days ' time , everybody has got to be ready and prepared . it 's an opportunity for somebody else to step in and whoever is fit and available to be ready and i think the boys are going to give a good account of themselves . i have no doubt about that . ' the win at selhurst park was sunderland 's second of the season and manager gus poyet will be hoping the result banishes the embarrassment of an 8-0 thrashing at southampton two weeks ago . gomez grabbed his first league goal for the wearsiders since his summer move from wigan and the spaniard is hoping to build on the victory when they welcome everton to the stadium of light on sunday . ` it 's a very good result for us , ' he said . ` it was much needed and it 's an important three points on the board . i 'm very happy to get my goal but more so with the team performance and final result . ` we 're now looking forward to playing at home on sunday in front of the fans , turn in another performance and get another three points . ` our fans were brilliant . it has been tough for them lately after the last two results but they backed us in their numbers and they deserve to enjoy this result , they are very important for us and did us proud here . ' one downside on the evening for sunderland was a shoulder injury suffered by van aanholt during his challenge with zaha . the former chelsea full-back was taken straight to hospital and poyet confirmed after the match that the dutchman had suffered a dislocation .<doc-sep>finally , sunderland have had a happy monday . after 12 years and 21 games , they won a match on a monday , clinching a vital win against crystal palace . but while gus poyet enjoyed his start to the week , the same ca n't be said of neil warnock . the palace boss left incensed after referee phil dowd failed to award his side what looked a clear penalty inside the opening 25 seconds . video scroll down to get all the facts and figures as sportsmail brings you the big match stats as sunderland beat crystal palace . steven fletcher ensures the three points are going back to the north east with sunderland by adding a third goal in injury time . jordi gomez -lrb- left -rrb- celebrates after scoring what proved to be the winner for sunderland before fletcher -lrb- far right -rrb- added a third . gomez lets fly with his left foot with a little over 10 minutes remaining to earn sunderland all three points . gomez watches as the ball nestles in the corner of the net to put sunderland back in front in their relegation battle . crystal palace -lrb- 4-4-2 -rrb- : speroni 7 ; kelly 6.5 , hangeland 6.5 -lrb- gayle 84 -rrb- , dann 7 , ward 7 ; zaha 7 , jedinak 7 , ledley 6.5 , bolasie 5.5 ; campbell 6.5 , chamakh 6.5 -lrb- puncheon 76 -rrb- . subs not used : mariappa , doyle , hennessey , mcarthur , bannan . booked : jedinak . sent off : jedinak . goal : brown 55 -lrb- og -rrb- . manager : neil warnock - 6.5 . sunderland -lrb- 4-3-2-1 -rrb- : pantilimon 7 ; reveillere 7 , o'shea 7 , vergini 6.5 , van aanholt 6.5 -lrb- brown 37 , 7 -rrb- ; larsson 7 , cattermole 7 , gomez 7.5 ; buckley 7 -lrb- bridcutt 82 -rrb- , fletcher 8 ; wickham 6.5 -lrb- altidore 78 -rrb- . subs not used : johnson , mavrias , graham , mannone . booked : pantilimon , cattermole , buckley . goals : fletcher 31 , 90 , gomez 79 . manager : gus poyet - 7 . ref : phil dowd -lrb- staffordshire -rrb- - 4 . att : 23,212 . warnock is already in hot water with the fa over comments made about referee craig pawson following the defeat by chelsea last month . and he may find himself in further trouble after another rant after last night 's loss .<doc-sep>` i think everyone knows it was a penalty , i think the only chance we 've got of getting a penalty at the moment is if a player picks up the ball and throws it at the referee , ' said the palace boss . ` we are at manchester united next , i do n't think we 'll get many decisions there . major decisions change games and major decisions have n't gone for us . ' there 's no doubt about it , sunderland got away with one , and poyet knew it too . ` it was time for us to get a little bit of luck , ' said the sunderland boss . ` we 've not had much so far this way . what 's important is that we take advantage of that luck and win the game . ` it means a lot -- it means more than anyone can think . it 's been a difficult couple of weeks . ' spectators were still finding their seats as the night 's main talking point unfolded . there looked to be no danger as marouane chamakh flicked on scott dann 's hoist forward , but as sunderland hesitated in dealing with the second ball , fraizer campbell burst past john o'shea into the box . santiago vergini lunged but failed to make any contact with the ball before taking campbell 's legs away from him . selhurst park rose to its feet fully expecting a penalty , but dowd waved palace 's appeals away . warnock was less than impressed . you can only wonder how he felt when he saw the replays . it was as clear a penalty as you 'll see this season . in the aftermath , the palace boss approached fourth official mike jones . not long after , dowd made his way over to the palace bench for a word with warnock . having conceded 10 goals in their last two games , poyet would have been content to see his side on level terms after 30 minutes.he 'd have been ecstatic three minutes later as sunderland took the lead . fraizer campbell goes down in the box under a challenge by santiago vergini but the home side 's penalty appeals were turned down . palace manager neil warnock was unhappy with the decision not to award a penalty and made his feelings known to phil dowd . crystal palace 's fraser campbell back heels the ball into the danger area which lead to wes brown turning the ball into his own net . brown watches as he inadvertently directs the ball past his own keeper to level the score at selhurst park . costel pantilimonin in the sunderland goal can do nothing as the ball is sent past him by his team-mate brown . brown watches as the ball nestles in the back of the net to draw crystal palace level against sunderland . pantilimon and brown hold an inquest over the own goal that brought crystal palace level against their relegation rivals . there was a hint of offside as patrick van aanholt collected the ball down the left -- but as palace appealed for a free-kick the dutchman found steven fletcher , who leaped highest to plant a header past julian speroni . palace had a second penalty appeal dismissed by dowd two minutes after fletcher 's goal when van aanholt collided with wilfried zaha down the right . again , the sunderland player made little or no contact with the ball . if warnock was angry at his side 's first failed penalty shout , he was apoplectic with this one . but in dowd 's defence , replays showed that the tangle occurred just outside the box . the incident was van aanholt 's final contribution , as he was carried off after lengthy treatment following the collision with zaha . palace 's predicament could easily have worsened before the break as the black cats were denied three times by speroni ; fletcher , vergini and wickham all denied by the argentine .<doc-sep>oliver has been talked about as a potential official during the 2018 world cup in russia . phil dowd was pilloried for failing to spot serious penalty box grappling by marcos rojo and chris smalling on branislav ivanovic and john terry during united 's draw against chelsea on sunday . and dowd has been given the monday night game between crystal palace and sunderland at selhurst park . meanwhile , mike jones will take charge of the west london derby between chelsea and qpr , with andre marriner overseeing liverpool 's trip to newcastle . like our manchester united facebook page . phil dowd - taking charge of crystal palace vs sunderland - has been given something of a demotion .<doc-sep>steven fletcher heads home the opening goal for sunderland at crystal palace in the first half at selhurst park . scotland striker fletcher peels away after his stunning header put the black cats in front against neil warnock 's side . fletcher takes the plaudits from the crowd as he ensured sunderland went into the break with a narrow lead in london . fletcher is joined by his sunderland team-mates as they celebrate the opening goal in front of their travelling support . mins pld km miles . crystal palace 113.1 70.3 . joe ledley 90 11.4 7.1 . martin kelly 90 11.1 6.9 . wilfried zaha 90 11.0 6.9 . sunderland 116.2 72.2 . garcia-penche 90 12.0 7.5 . sebastian larsson 90 11.7 7.3 . lee cattermole 90 11.2 7.0 . ten minutes into the second half , palace grabbed a deserved equaliser . zaha was at the centre of it , tormenting sebastian larsson before standing up an inviting cross to campbell at the far post . the former sunderland striker 's powerful header was brilliantly saved by costel pantilimon , but the keeper was helpless as wes brown diverted campbell 's back-heel from the rebound into his own net from two yards . but having dragged themselves back into the clash , palace slumped to defeat after a miserable final 10 minutes . jordi gomez smashed home a 20-yard drive in the 79th minute to send the travelling support into delirium , mile jedinak heaped further misery on the home side as he was sent off for a second yellow card for a foul on gomez before fletcher , put clear by liam bridcutt , added a third . sunderland 's patrick van aanholt is taken off on a stretcher and was replaced by wes brown for the visitors . crystal palace fans protest at the perceived greed of the premier league during their monday night clash with sunderland . palace fans also protested about a potential 38th game being played abroad as they watched their side take on sunderland . stewards closed in quickly on those who unfurled the banner , the group is known as the holmesdale fanatics . crystal palace captain mile jedinak was shown a second yellow card for a challenge on gomez late in the match . jedinak is shown his marching orders to compound palace 's misery on a night they were well beaten by sunderland .

<t> mile jedinak was sent off by referee phil dowd for two bookable offences during crystal palace 's 3-1 home loss to sunderland on monday night . </t> <t> the defeat saw palace drop to 17th in the premier league table . </t> <t> sunderland won on a monday for the first time since april 2002 . </t> <t> eagles boss neil warnock revealed after the match that jedinak had apologised for his sending off during the game . </t> <t> australia midfielder jedinak is now ruled out of saturday 's trip to manchester united . </t>

mile jedinak frustrated with recent refereeing decisions after phil dowd turned down two legitimate penalty claims during crystal palace 's defeat to sunderland<T>

an airport employee was allegedly assaulted by a man with his backpack tuesday morning . the incident took place at 6:22 am at a security checkpoint inside boston 's logan international airport , massachusetts state police said . the 74-year-old victim - who has not been publicly identified by authorities - talked to 53-year-old eric s. brandhorst as he kneeled on the ground , state police said in a release . brandhorst 's backpack ` was too large to fit inside a guide rack for appropriately-sized carry-on luggage , ' it stated . confrontation : eric brandhorst allegedly assaulted an airport worker after she told him his backpack was too big and pointed out a place where he could check it instead .<doc-sep>assault : state police say this photo shows brandhorst walking away after striking the 74-year-old woman . the woman indicated a place where brandhorst could check his backpack instead after he got on his feet , massachusetts state police said . ` suddenly , and with no further conversation , the approximately 6-foot , 200-pound -lsb- brandhorst -rsb- swung the backpack with both hands from his right shoulder into the left side of the victim 's face , knocking her down , ' the release said . nearby trooper dana cresta saw the assault took place and got brandhorst down on the ground , according to massachusetts state police .<doc-sep>brandhorst faces assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a person age 60 or older charges , the release said . he reportedly said he had been ` aggravated ' and ` made a mistake ' while speaking to state police at his booking . both the woman 's left eye and left side or her face were bruised , and she told authorities she had hip , knee and shoulder pain , massachusetts state police said . massport firefighters looked at the woman before she was taken to a hospital . stopped : nearby trooper dana cresta saw the assault took place and got brandhorst down on the ground .<doc-sep>by . david mccormack . a united airlines flight from nashville to houston was forced to turn around on sunday after a 43-year-old woman threatened another passenger who asked her to turn her cell phone off . lashonda lee williams , 43 , is alleged to have told another female passenger , ` i kill white people like you . ' she was arrested for assault by cops after the flight had returned to its gate at nashville international airport . lashonda lee williams , 43 , is alleged to have told another female passenger , ' i kill white people like you ' and was arrested for assault . according to a court affidavit obtained by the smoking gun , another female passenger asked williams to ` turn off her cell phone due to the aircraft being in flight . ' investigators noted that williams told the other passenger -- named as k. colleen coult , 50 - that she would follow her upon reaching houston ` and find out where she lived . ' the comments ` created fear in coult for her safety , ' the affidavit notes . a united flight attendant told cops that williams 's statements ` were causing anxiety and fear throughout the cabin . ' after being booked into the davidson county jail , williams was released on $ 3000 bond . she is scheduled for a june 25 county court appearance . a united airlines flight to houston was forced to return to nashville international airport , pictured , on sunday after a 43-year-old woman threatened another passenger who had asked her to turn her cell phone off .<doc-sep>by . james rush . the drunk passenger who stripped naked on the airport tarmac and challenged an airline captain to a fight has been identified as former postal worker robert scheer . mr scheer , 52 , was caught on camera as he stripped off at manchester airport after arriving on an easyjet flight from malta . he can be seen challenging the plane 's captain to a fight before being slapped across the face by his female companion , believed to be partner karen grisdale . scroll down for video . robert scheer has been identified as the drunk passenger who took his clothes off at manchester airport . he also urinated on the side of the terminal one building in front of a shocked crowd before being ` dry tasered ' - where the weapon is placed in direct contact with the target and activated - and arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly . it is believed trouble began mid-flight when the traveller , who appeared drunk , became abusive and started swearing at fellow passengers . a witness who asked not to be named said : ` he 'd had an altercation with other passengers and the captain had come down the plane to calm him down . ' after coming off the plane , down the steps and on to the tarmac , he stripped to his black underpants and gestured towards the pilot .<doc-sep>a married mother was subjected to repeated body scanning at an airport after being told by one employee that she had a ` cute ' figure . ellen terrell was travelling with her husband charlie when she was stopped by airport security and told she had been ` randomly selected ' for screening by the transportation security administration -lrb- tsa -rrb- . mrs terrell , from dallas , texas , believes that she was exploited and felt ` totally exposed ' for the benefit of male employees viewing the scanned images , which give a detail image of the naked body , in a back room . violated : ellen terrell -lrb- right -rrb- who has two sons , was travelling with her husband charlie -lrb- left -rrb- from dallas airport when she was asked to go through the tsa body scanner three times by airport staff . she told cbs 11 that she was asked by a female employee : ` do you play tennis ? ' when she said that she did n't and asked why , the airport worker responded : ` you just have such a cute figure . ' mrs terrell , who is an it executive , was then asked to stand in the full body scanner for a second time at dallas international airport . remarks : mrs terrell was told she had a ` cute ' figure by a tsa employee before being repeatedly scanned . after . being made to stand in the machine , which uses radiaton , for a third . time , mrs terrell heard the female employee say into her microphone : . ` guys , it is not blurry , i 'm letting her go . ' the terrells believe that she was subjected to sexual harassment - and they . are not alone in their worries . the passenger screening program at airports has had frequent complaints that not all passengers are screened in the same way . in reaction to this , the tsa has replaced the machines which give a detailed outline of individuals ' figures for a more generic shape . more than 600 advanced imaging technology -lrb- ait -rrb- units have now been installed at 140 airports across the u.s. on the updated machine , the passenger and the tsa worked both view the image together which lights up on screen if it detects a problem . the need for a separate tsa officer viewing the image in another room is no longer required . a spokeswoman for tsa told mailonline : ` the new images are very generic and really focus on the privacy of the passenger . they see the same image as the staff . ' the images of passengers are not . stored or print and can not be transmitted . they are deleted from the . system once they have been viewed . those who fly are not required by law . to pass through ait screening - but if they opt out , they will receive . alternative screening , including a physical pat-down . mailonline . was awaiting a response from the tsa as to how many complaints the agency had received . from passengers about the older machine invading their privacy . mrs terrell did not file a complaint because she did n't realise that she could , according to cbs . in november , european countries said it would not install the scanners until their risks had been properly assessed . the controversial scanners emit low radiation doses but research has suggested . up to 100 u.s. airline passengers a year could get cancer from them . under the microscope : ellen terrell , pictured with her husband charlie , said she felt ` totally exposed ' during her full body scan at dallas airport . the tsa has continued to defend the safety of the x-ray devices , saying they expose passengers to the same radiation as two . minutes on a flying plane . ` guys , it is not blurry , i 'm letting her go . ' tsa female colleague into her microphone after mrs terrell was scanned three times . the agency also said that more than 300 dangerous or illegal items have been found on . air passengers since 2010 , reported forbes . the first x-ray body scanner was . developed in 1992 by steven w. smith . he sold the technology and rights . to rapiscan systems , who now manufacture and distribute the device . fears about the health risks were . raised in the u.s. as far back as 1998 when the machine known as the . secure 1000 was evaluated by a panel of radiation safety experts brought . together by the food and drug administration . wife and mother : mrs terrell said that she felt male employees in a back room were looking at the scanned image which gave a detailed look of her body . harassed : mrs terrell from dallas said that a female employee told her she had a cute figure before she was repeated screened . in november 2010 a female passenger claimed she was made to feel ` like a terrorist ' for bringing breast milk she had pumped earlier through security at phoenix airport . stacey armato had 12 ounces of breast milk with her and as per tsa guidelines , she requested the milk not be passed through the x-ray scanner because of possible radiation . last october , a tsa agent faced dismissal after finding a sex toy in woman 's bag and leaving her a note saying : ` get your freak on girl ' . they all expressed concerns about the . machine because it violated a longstanding principle that humans should . not be x-rayed unless there is a medical purpose . the machine 's inventor told panelists that machine would most probably not be widely used for many years to come . now there are 600 units in 140 airports across the u.s. . the tsa was introduced in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to increase security on transport in america . the agency has been criticised for . its heavy-handed tactics . on january 11 , an airline passenger was . stunned three times with a taser gun after he refused to complete an . airport screening check and ran into a secure area . edwin . barton , 26 , arrived at sacramento international airport on an inbound . flight last month . when mr barton realised he had left belongings in the . secure area and would need to return , employees told him he would need to be . scanned again . modified : the old advanced imaging technology scanner -lrb- left -rrb- and the improved version which is less invasive -lrb- right -rrb- . protective measures : the tsa was introduced after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 to improve security at american airports . he then . became argumentative and picked up his bag and ran . a sheriff 's deputy . then chased after him with a taser gun and stunned him once , but mr . barton tried to pull out the barbs so the deputy stunned him two more . times . he was booked into sacramento county jail , where he was being held on misdemeanor charges of suspicion of obstructing a peace officer and unlawfully accessing the secure area of an airport .<doc-sep>by . mark duell . last updated at 9:34 pm on 25th july 2011 . an airline worker was accidentally shot at a ticket counter by a passenger trying to check a hunting rifle for a flight , police said . edward deubler , 65 , of harvey , near new orleans , was trying to check the rifle with an employee at the united airlines ticket desk . but the gun discharged at the louisiana airport and the bullet struck a counter before shrapnel hit an employee in his leg , police said . airport : edward deubler was trying to check a hunting rifle with an employee at a united airlines ticket desk when it discharged , police said -lrb- file picture -rrb- . the incident happened on monday morning at louis armstrong new orleans international airport in louisiana , reported the times-picayune . deubler has been issued with a misdemeanour summons for negligent injury , a jefferson parish sheriff 's office spokesman said . the bullet fragmented when it hit the counter and a piece of shrapnel went into the employee 's leg , reported wdsu . he was taken to a hospital but his injuries were not life-threatening . rifle : the gun allegedly discharged at louis armstrong new orleans international airport and shrapnel hit an employee in his leg -lrb- file picture -rrb- . a transportation security administration -lrb- tsa -rrb- spokesman told the times-picayune that guns are allowed in checked baggage . but they must be declared during the ticket counter check-in process , unloaded and in a hard-sided locked container . ` we are reviewing the circumstances surrounding this incident , ' a tsa spokesman said . three teenagers were arrested last month by police in the same city after a car chase that ended in a shooting outside the same airport .

<t> the alleged assault took place at 6:22 am at a security checkpoint inside boston 's logan international airport . </t> <t> eric brandhorst allegedly hit the woman with his backpack after she indicated a place where he could check it . </t> <t> both the woman 's left eye and left side of her face were bruised , and she told authorities she had hip , knee and shoulder pain . </t>

passenger arrested for hitting female airport worker , 74 , after she told him he had to check his backpack<T>

crystal palace manager neil warnock is set to escape further punishment from the fa following his rant after monday night 's defeat by sunderland . the south london club were denied a clear penalty inside the opening 25 seconds after santiago vergini fouled fraizer campbell in the box . warnock was furious with the decision and let his feeling be known after the clash saying : ' i think everyone knows it 's a penalty , the referee says he has n't seen it , but he is in a great position . fraizer campbell is brought down by santiago vergini but phil dowd did n't give crystal palace a penalty . warnock complains to dowd but the palace manager will not be punished for his post-match outburst .<doc-sep>' i think the only chance we have of getting a penalty at the moment is somebody picking the ball up and throwing it at the referee . it 's so disappointing when you 've played so well . ` even with the second -lrb- penalty appeal -rrb- one with wilfried zaha . it might be on the edge of the box but they have given a goal kick . it bewilders me . ` we are going to old trafford on saturday , we wo n't get many decisions there i suppose ? on another night , major decisions change games - and in the last couple of weeks we 've had major decisions go against us . mile jedinak was shown a second yellow card for this foul on jordi gomez as palace finished with ten men .<doc-sep>jordi gomez fires home for sunderland as gus poyet 's team beat palace at selhurst park . ' i said to the fourth official : `` how does it feel when you see you 've made a mistake . '' he said : `` it hurts . '' so there will be one or two people hurting tonight . ` they -lrb- the decisions -rrb- get you the points , the assault on julian speroni at west brom when we were 2-0 up and cruising , and zaha 's penalty there . tonight , you wo n't get a clearer penalty than that , the defender 's just taken his legs . ` you can see it clearly , they should be simple decisions for top class -lrb- referees -rrb- , we are talking about the premier league - the best in the world - so i do n't understand it .<doc-sep>warnock is already facing an fa charge for his comments about referees after defeat to chelsea last month . ` it 's no good speaking to mike riley or anything is it ? we were told we should appeal more , but i ca n't see appealing anymore making a difference , can you ? ' the fa have been made aware of the comments , but it is understood warnock will not face disciplinary action . he is already facing an fa charge following comments made about referee craig pawson following the defeat to chelsea last month .<doc-sep>finally , sunderland have had a happy monday . after 12 years and 21 games , they won a match on a monday , clinching a vital win against crystal palace . but while gus poyet enjoyed his start to the week , the same ca n't be said of neil warnock . the palace boss left incensed after referee phil dowd failed to award his side what looked a clear penalty inside the opening 25 seconds . video scroll down to get all the facts and figures as sportsmail brings you the big match stats as sunderland beat crystal palace . steven fletcher ensures the three points are going back to the north east with sunderland by adding a third goal in injury time . jordi gomez -lrb- left -rrb- celebrates after scoring what proved to be the winner for sunderland before fletcher -lrb- far right -rrb- added a third . gomez lets fly with his left foot with a little over 10 minutes remaining to earn sunderland all three points . gomez watches as the ball nestles in the corner of the net to put sunderland back in front in their relegation battle . crystal palace -lrb- 4-4-2 -rrb- : speroni 7 ; kelly 6.5 , hangeland 6.5 -lrb- gayle 84 -rrb- , dann 7 , ward 7 ; zaha 7 , jedinak 7 , ledley 6.5 , bolasie 5.5 ; campbell 6.5 , chamakh 6.5 -lrb- puncheon 76 -rrb- . subs not used : mariappa , doyle , hennessey , mcarthur , bannan . booked : jedinak . sent off : jedinak . goal : brown 55 -lrb- og -rrb- . manager : neil warnock - 6.5 . sunderland -lrb- 4-3-2-1 -rrb- : pantilimon 7 ; reveillere 7 , o'shea 7 , vergini 6.5 , van aanholt 6.5 -lrb- brown 37 , 7 -rrb- ; larsson 7 , cattermole 7 , gomez 7.5 ; buckley 7 -lrb- bridcutt 82 -rrb- , fletcher 8 ; wickham 6.5 -lrb- altidore 78 -rrb- . subs not used : johnson , mavrias , graham , mannone . booked : pantilimon , cattermole , buckley . goals : fletcher 31 , 90 , gomez 79 . manager : gus poyet - 7 . ref : phil dowd -lrb- staffordshire -rrb- - 4 . att : 23,212 . warnock is already in hot water with the fa over comments made about referee craig pawson following the defeat by chelsea last month . and he may find himself in further trouble after another rant after last night 's loss .<doc-sep>neil warnock is under investigation by the fa for his comments about referee craig pawson following crystal palace 's home defeat by chelsea on saturday . the fa are looking at the interview during which warnock claimed pawson had been looking to ` even up ' the teams by sending off damien delaney two minutes after showing a red card to chelsea defender cesar azpilicueta . neil warnock looks on prior to the barclays premier league match between crystal palace and chelsea . warnock claimed the officials had been influenced by the chelsea players , including john terry , on saturday . the palace manager also claimed the officials was influenced by the chelsea players and inferred they had been operating double-standards , failing to book john terry but showing delaney the first of his two yellow cards for a similar foul . the fa must rule on whether any of his comments have questioned the integrity of pawson and his assistants , before deciding to charge him , issue an official warning or say there is no case to answer . in his press conference , warnock told reporters : ` they buzzed me down from upstairs saying it 'll be evened up if we 're not careful . delaney should n't have given him a chance but it was wrong that four or five chelsea players surrounded the referee .<doc-sep>neil warnock has been charged with misconduct by the football association for his post-match comments in the media about the performance of referee craig pawson during crystal palace 's defeat at home to chelsea . swansea manager garry monk has escaped a charge -- at least for now -- but has been ordered to explain his stinging verbal attack on referee michael oliver after his side lost at stoke . warnock has until 6pm on monday to respond to his charge , which revolves around claims that pawson had not refereed from an ` even platform ' , allowing john terry to escape a yellow card and then booking damien delaney for a similar offence . delaney was later sent off . neil warnock has been charged with misconduct by the fa in relation to comments made after chelsea defeat . a despondent garry monk walks off at full-time after swansea are beaten 2-1 by stoke in the premier league . ' i thought he was influenced by one or two things , ' said the palace boss . ` john terry 's booking ; if that 's one of my players , it 's a booking . i do n't understand why it 's not an even platform . ' the fa 's disciplinary chiefs have examined interview footage this week and issued the charge today . ` it is alleged that warnock 's post-match comments constituted improper conduct in that they implied the match referee was motivated by bias ; and/or brought the game into disrepute , in contravention of fa rule e3 -lsb- 1 -rsb- , ' said an fa statement . warnock allegedly shouts at his players at full-time not to shake the referee craig pawson 's hand . garry monk has escaped a charge but has been ordered to explain his comments to the fa . he has a long history of disciplinary trouble with the authorities for his comments on referees but this is his first charge since returning to the touchline in august . monk fiercely criticised referee oliver for a penalty decision during swansea 's 2-1 defeat stoke . he has not been charged but has been asked to explain his comments and a charge could still follow . monk branded oliver 's penalty decision ` disgusting ' and added : ` how he can not see that 's a blatant dive is beyond me ' .<doc-sep>neil warnock plans to be more boring in the future to avoid any further football association raps . the crystal palace boss was fined # 9,000 for comments he made about referee craig pawson following his side 's defeat at chelsea last month . the 65-year-old had a personal hearing on wednesday after denying the charges after saying that pawson had been ` influenced ' by chelsea players to send off damien delaney shortly after the blues had seen cesar azpilicueta dismissed . neil warnock -lrb- right -rrb- was fined # 9000 on wednesday for his comments about a referee . warnock has said he will be ` boring ' when he speaks to the media after a game from now on . warnock , who has not seen his side win since a 2-0 victory over leicester on september 27 , was also warned as to his future conduct and intends to steer clear of saying anything of note any time soon . `` i 'm going to be boring from now on , '' he said . '' -lrb- i will -rrb- give you nothing to write about . i know journalists appreciate my comments , but they are not the ones who pay the fines . `` the media is part of my job and i have a lot of acquaintances who are journalists and i know how hard they work , so i will always come out and do press conferences . `` you just have to learn about the timing of things with the tv . twenty minutes after a game is very soon so you have to get your thoughts together . '' warnock 's comments were made after crystal palace 's 2-1 defeat to chelsea in october . warnock could have fallen foul of the fa for questioning decisions in the two matches either side of the chelsea defeat , with the loss at hull and a 2-2 draw at west brom also seeing him question certain decisions . he then saw palace lose 3-1 at home to sunderland on monday night in a game where the eagles were denied at least one clear penalty . the former sheffield united and leeds boss reined in his comments following the defeat as he struggles to work out what would constitute an fa charge , having seen swansea 's garry monk avoid a fine for his remarks after a soft penalty was awarded in their game at stoke . `` you have to watch what you say otherwise you are going to get fined , '' he added . `` what i said , i could have changed maybe two or three words and i would n't have got charged . `` my wife , for example , saw the garry monk thing and said , ` do n't you ever do anything like that or i will be mad at you ' . i told her this week , ` but he did n't get charged , darling ! '' ' warnock takes palace to old trafford on saturday looking to move away from the relegation zone with a victory against a manchester united side that is also in desperate need of points .

<t> crystal palace were denied a penalty for foul on fraizer campbell . </t> <t> warnock says refereeing decisions are costing his side points . </t> <t> crystal palace boss already facing fa charge for previous comments . </t>

neil warnock escapes further fa charge after slamming referee after crystal palace 's defeat to sunderland<T>

russia has agreed to reopen a major cold war listening post on cuba that was used to spy on america , it was reported today . moscow-based daily kommersant claimed russia and cuba have struck a deal ` in principle ' after president vladimir putin visited the island last week . citing several sources within russian authorities , the respected daily wrote : ` the agreements were finalised while president vladimir putin visited havana last friday . the former russian listening station at lourdes some 20 miles south of havana is seen in this december 2000 . it was mothballed a year later but could reopen , it is reported . moscow dismantled its radar stations in lourdes in 2001 as part of cutting back military installations abroad . the stations were built in 1964 after the 1962 cuban missile crisis . satellite dishes for the lourdes radar station , which was russia 's biggest covert military outpost abroad . around 1,500 russian engineers , technicians and soldiers observed submarine activity from the base built in 1964 . the signals intelligence facility near havana at torrens , also known as lourdes , was the largest russian sigint site abroad , but has been mothballed since 2001 . it covered a 28 square-mile area with 1,000-1 ,500 russian engineers , technicians , and military personnel working at the base . russia had closed the lourdes spy base south of havana on putin 's orders to save money and due to a warming of relations with the u.s. after the september 11 attacks . but moscow has since shown a new interest in latin america and its cold war ally cuba and relations with the west have deteriorated amid the ukraine crisis . the base was set up in 1964 after the cuban missile crisis to spy on the united states . just 155 miles from the u.s. coast , it was the soviet union 's largest covert military outpost abroad with up to 3,000 staff . russia 's president vladimir putin -lrb- left -rrb- hugs cuba 's president raul castro after a meeting at the revolution palace in havana last week . raul castro welcomed vladimir putin , where they met to discuss bilateral agreements . before that , both presidents participated together to a flower offering to the sovietic international soldier mausoleum . it was used to listen in to radio signals including those from submarines and ships and satellite communications . ` all i can say is - finally ! ' one russian source told kommersant of the reported reopening . the defence ministry and military high command declined to comment on the report to kommersant . ahead of putin 's visit to cuba last week as part of a latin american tour , russia agreed to write off 90 per cent of cuba 's debt dating back to the soviet era , totalling around $ 32 billion . russia paid cuba rent of $ 200 million per year to use the base in the last few years it was open . a former head of russia 's foreign intelligence service , vyacheslav trubnikov , told the newspaper the base would strengthen russia 's international position . ` lourdes gave the soviet union eyes in the whole of the western hemisphere , ' he said . ` for russia , which is fighting for its lawful rights and place in the international community , it would be no less valuable than for the ussr . ' putin 's spokesman dmitry peskov was not immediately available for comment on wednesday .<doc-sep>the hi-tech listening post russia used to spy on the united states from cuba may once again gather intelligence , according to a russian newspaper report . the kommersant business daily on wednesday said the lourdes signals intelligence facility , which was mothballed in 2001 , would reopen as part of a deal struck by russian president vladimir putin and cuban president raul castro . putin visited cuba on friday to strengthen ties with the island and lauded a recent deal that forgave over $ 30 billion in soviet-era debt that cuba still owed its former communist ally . during the daylong visit to cuba , putin and raul castro announced agreements on a wide variety of issues , including a pact to safeguard each country 's national security . cuban and russian officials and a u.s. state department spokeswoman would not comment on the report of the reopening of the base . if lourdes reopens , it is not clear how soon the defunct facility will again be operational or how much russia would pay to be able to monitor u.s. telecommunications from cuba . after the collapse of the soviet union , russia paid a reported $ 200 million each year to maintain lourdes . when the facility was closed in 2001 , it further strained russian and cuban relations . part of the sprawling facility has been turned into a computer science university , but many of the soviet-era buildings have fallen into disrepair . trees and bushes have grown around collapsed buildings and goats hunting for food wander around the once top secret and tightly guarded facility . a university official who only gave his name as benjamin said he doubted russia could restore lourdes to its role as a cutting edge listening post just off u.s. shores . `` look around here , '' he said , gesturing at the mounds of rubble and trash , `` not even in their dreams . ''<doc-sep>-lrb- cnn -rrb- -- east versus west , capitalism versus communism : the cold war lasted from the end of world war ii until the fall of the soviet union in 1991 . yet this war was at its height in the 1960s . that 's the decade the cuban missile crisis played out , the united states entered the vietnam war to fight communist forces there , and president john f. kennedy sent a team of cuban exiles into cuba 's bay of pigs to try to overthrow leader fidel castro . here are five other momentous events of the 1960s cold war that you might not know : . 1 . the soviets shot down an american plane and captured the pilot . the united states had been flying u2 spy planes over the soviet union for some time to see if the soviets were aiming missiles at america and to snap photos of local newspaper headlines . the cia told president dwight d. eisenhower that its sophisticated aircraft , which reached altitudes of up to 70,000 feet , could not be shot down . but on may 1 , 1960 , u2 pilot francis gary powers disappeared on a flight over russia . powers had been shot down and captured , and soviet leader nikita khrushchev made the wreckage a public exhibition . a humiliated eisenhower was forced to admit the united states had , in fact , committed espionage . 2 . nikita khrushchev threatened to `` bury '' america . three days after meeting fidel castro for the first time , khrushchev visited the united nations on september 23 , 1960 . the soviet leader believed communism was the future and that america needed to be contained . in his address to the u.n. general assembly , the soviet leader threatened to `` bury '' america . 3 . jfk did n't mention a single domestic issue in his inaugural speech . newly elected john f. kennedy felt his job was to run the cold war and defeat the russians , which he made clear in his january 20 , 1961 , inaugural speech , stating : .<doc-sep>in a scene out of the cold war , cuban president raul castro and ailing brother fidel met with the current leader of the communist island 's longtime economic benefactor , the state press reported saturday . during a daylong visit on friday , russian president vladimir putin and his counterpart signed a slew of agreements expanding cooperation between the two countries . putin also visited with fidel castro at his home outside havana . pictures released in cuban state media showed the men standing and a smiling , with putin placing his hand on castro 's arm . castro was sidelined in 2006 by a mystery gastrointestinal illness and no longer holds official duties , but he still regularly greets visiting heads of state . cuba was the first stop on putin 's latin american tour , which will take him to argentina and rio de janeiro , brazil , for the world cup final game on sunday . russia is set to host the next world cup in 2018 . on saturday , argentina president cristina kirchner tweeted a picture of her shaking hands with putin . `` argentina is russia ´ s main strategic partner in latin america , the united nations and the g20 group , '' putin said hours before departing for his trip to latin america , according to the telam news agency of argentina . in an interview with the cuban news agency prensa latina , putin said the `` latin american nations that struggled for their independence inspire our deepest respect for their autonomy and their right to self-determination . '' `` today , cooperation with the latin american nations is one of the key orientations and prospects of russian foreign policy , '' putin told prensa latina . `` multilateralism in world affairs , respect to international law , strengthening of the central role of the u.n. and sustainable development are the principles that bring us together . '' last week , russian officials agreed to forgive 90 % of the more than $ 30 billion cuba still owed russia . the remaining $ 3.5 billion would be paid back over a space of 10 years and reinvested in cuba . `` it 's a great sign of the generosity of russia towards cuba , '' raul castro said in video released of the agreement signing with putin . the two countries announced they also would cooperate more closely on energy , security and health matters . the head of the russian oil drilling consortium rosneft accompanied putin on the trip , and cuban officials announced that the firm would help them explore for oil off the island 's northern coast . several international companies have drilled for a massive reserve of oil cuban officials believe lies about 50 miles off their shores , but so far all have come up dry . cuba and russia once enjoyed one of the firmest cold war alliances , but that special relationship between ended abruptly with the collapse of the soviet bloc at the start of the 1990s . the loss of supplies from oil-rich russia along with the end of favorable trade and aid that once propped up cuba 's ailing economy plunged cuba into an severe economic crisis . in an interview published in the cuban communist party newspaper granma on friday , putin promised a new era of closer relations with cuba . `` we are disposed to recover lost possibilities , '' putin said . following the crisis in ukraine , russian officials said they were looking to establish new naval bases in handful of countries , including cuba . while cuban officials have said little about the russian overtures , they have several times allowed a russian spy ship to dock and resupply in havana 's port . it remains to be seen how significantly the two countries can aid one another as both cuba and russia deal with flagging economies and the impacts of u.s. trade sanctions . `` they are looking at ways to rebuild the relationship but it 's not that easy anymore , '' said marc frank , author of the book `` cuban revelations . '' `` russia is no longer the soviet union while cuba is still a cuba . it 's a communist country while russia really is not . '' according to granma , fidel castro discussed with putin his research into growing food in tropical and subtropical climates as a way to fight the effects of global warming . many cubans said they remembered the relative economic security that the alliance with the soviet union brought and welcomed a renewed russian presence on the island . the child of a cuban father and russian mother , andrei shevsou in 2013 opened the havana restaurant tavariche , which serves russian food and is filled with mementos of the soviet era in cuba . `` one country is cold , the other is hot . we have different food , different ways of thinking , '' he said . `` but we found common ground because -lsb- we -rsb- lived through historic times together . '' google executives promote internet freedoms on cuba visit .<doc-sep>three men accused in the latest russian spy case did n't hide behind fake identities and were n't stealing military secrets . the evidence even suggests they were annoyed that their assignment was n't more like a james bond film . their alleged plot to dig up ` economic intelligence ' on possible banking penalties and alternative energy sources may not be the stuff of hollywood movies , but u.s. authorities insist the case is proof that russian spying is thriving in america more than two decades after the end of the cold war . it also shows the time and resources the u.s. still throws at those suspected of being putin-era spies , using methods developed before many of them were born : listening bugs , hidden cameras and intercepted phone calls . scroll down for video . over twenty years after the cold war : defence attorney sabrina shroff speaks as evgeny buryakov sits in court in new york on january 26 . authorities say buryakov 's activities , as well as those of his alleged cohorts igor sporyshev and victor podobnyy , indicate a continued russian spy presence in the country . real threat : u.s. attorney preet bharara says the threat of russian espionage is real , over 20 years after the end of the cold war . ` russian spies continue to seek to operate in our midst , ' u.s. attorney preet bharara warned after the arrests last week . russian foreign ministry spokesman alexander lukashevich countered by accusing u.s. authorities of manufacturing a spy scandal as part of its ` anti-russian campaign . ' annemarie mcavoy , a fordham law professor and former federal prosecutor , said the latest case should n't be taken lightly .

<t> facility at lourdes was the largest russian listening post abroad . </t> <t> it was mothballed in 2001 after relations with the u.s. warmed . </t> <t> but relations with the west have deteriorated amid the ukraine crisis . </t> <t> moscow has also shown a new interest in latin america and cuba . </t> <t> last week , russia agreed to write off 90 per cent of cuba 's debt . </t>

russia ` to reopen cold war cuban listening post used to spy on america '<T>

liverpool 's players were back in training on thursday as they aim for their third consecutive premier league win against sunderland at anfield . brendan rodgers ' side host the black cats on saturday , four days after goals from adam lallana , steven gerrard and jordan henderson gave them three points away at leicester . reds stars including the fit-again mamadou sakho and rickie lambert were among those to take part in thursday morning 's session at melwood . defender mamadou sakho -lrb- right -rrb- tussles with youngster seyi ojo -lrb- left -rrb- during training on thursday . dejan lovren -lrb- right -rrb- holds off a challenge from harry wilson as liverpool prepare to face sunderland . brendan rodgers -lrb- left -rrb- watches his squad in training with coaches mike marsh -lrb- centre -rrb- and colin pascoe . dejan lovren , who was dropped for the victories against stoke and nigel pearson 's side , appeared in good spirits as he enjoyed a laugh despite being out of favour . the croatian and rodgers ' first-team stars were also joined by a number of the club 's youth players , with jerome sinclair , lloyd jones and jordan rossiter among those to get a chance to impress . one player still missing from training is mario balotelli , who has missed liverpool 's last three premier league games with a groin problem . speaking at his pre-match press conference , rodgers said of balotelli : ` he 's working with the medical team on a daily basis . i trust the team of people here that look after the injuries . hopefully he 'll be available sooner rather than later . ' balotelli has been the subject of controversy this week after he appeared to delete an instagram post which included an anti-semitic message , something rodgers was n't interested in discussing . raheem sterling , martin skrtel and rickie lamber -lrb- from left to right -rrb- warm up at chilly melwood . under pressure goalkeeper simon mignolet makes a save as he gets puts through his paces . rodgers -lrb- centre -rrb- watches on as jose enrique -lrb- right -rrb- runs with the ball during a drill on thursday morning . ` he 's still very much a liverpool player but he 's injured at the moment and there 's nothing more to add , ' said the former swansea boss . ` he 's not fit to play and my concentration is on players who are fit and available to play and that 's my only thinking at the moment . ' there was better news on the fitness on philippe coutinho and jose enrique , who should both be available for the visit of gus poyet 's men . rodgers added : ` philippe coutinho had a slight issue with his knee during the week but he should be ok for the weekend . ` jose enrique is back in . we are having to manage jose and his games , but he has trained and should be available for the weekend . everyone else , it is as it was . ' summer signing lovren enjoys a laugh as he moves a training aid during the reds ' session . mignolet -lrb- left -rrb- leaps into the air to punch a ball clear while under pressure from spanish defender enrique . alberto moreno will be hoping to start against the black cats after coming off the bench against leicester .<doc-sep>liverpool defender glen johnson is likely to be out for about a month after picking up a groin injury against manchester united on sunday . javier manquillo could be set for an extended run if manager brendan rodgers reverts to a flat back four having experimented with three centre-backs against united . johnson will now miss the capital one cup quarter-final against bournemouth , along with mario balotelli .<doc-sep>italian striker balotelli has been charged under fa rule e3 which concerns controversial comments . charity group show racism the red card were encouraged by balotelli 's immediate apology on social media . balotelli , who is currently out with a groin injury , enjoys a laugh during liverpool 's win against stoke . ` mario balotelli has been charged by the fa in relation to a recent posting on social media . ` it is alleged the liverpool player breached fa rule e3 -lsb- 1 -rsb- in that his posting was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper . ` it is further alleged that this is an ` aggravated breach ' as defined by fa rule e3 -lsb- 2 -rsb- as it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief . ` the player has until 6pm on 15 december 2014 to respond to the charge . ' a liverpool spokesperson said : ` we acknowledge the fa 's decision and the player will work through the process to answer the charge . while that process is ongoing , the club will not be making any further comment . ' nicolas anelka was given the minimum five-match suspension and an # 80,000 fine in february for making a quenelle gesture during west brom 's game with west ham last december . he was later sacked by the club . by contrast , benoit assou-ekotto was banned for three matches and fined # 50,000 for congratulating anelka via twitter on making the gesture , which is viewed as being anti-semitic . since joining liverpool from ac milan for # 16million , balotelli has rarely been out of the headlines , thanks to his poor form , swapping shirts with real madrid defender pepe at half-time during a champions league game and questions about his attitude . he will miss saturday 's game against sunderland at anfield as he recovers from a groin problem that he suffered on international duty . this is a crucial period for the club and brendan rodgers is adamant there will be no distractions . he said : ` sunderland is a big game . basle , manchester united away , the league cup game the week after . it 's a period of big games . i need to choose a team that 's going to be fit and fresh . ' balotelli apologised for his instagram post , insisting it was meant to be ` anti-racist with humour ' qpr defender rio ferdinand was given a three-match suspension by the fa in october for an offensive tweet .<doc-sep>mario balotelli donned personalised gloves showing a skull with a blonde mohican and ` mb45 ' written on the forehead as the striker prepared for real madrid with his liverpool team-mates at anfield . the italian is yet to score for liverpool in the premier league but the 24-year-old will hope to be a nuisance against cristiano ronaldo and co in the champions league on wednesday night . liverpool manager brendan rodgers has a decision to make whether to select balotelli against the european champions , with striker daniel sturridge sidelined by a calf injury for ` two to four weeks ' . video scroll down to watch real madrid announce their squad for the liverpool game . mario balotelli wore personalised gloves showing a skull with a blonde mohican and with ` mb45 ' written on . liverpool 's emre can -lrb- from left to right -rrb- , balotelli , raheem sterling and philippe coutinho train at anfield . balotelli passes the ball under pressure from rickie lambert at anfield before real madrid visit on wednesday . brendan rodgers watches over the liverpool training session at anfield on a blistery tuesday .<doc-sep>mario balotelli will be given a final chance by liverpool manager brendan rodgers despite growing disenchantment within the club over the italian 's form and off-the-field difficulties . balotelli is currently out of action with a groin injury and faces a ban of up to five matches after being charged for posting a ` racist and anti-semitic ' message on social media . he 's only managed to score twice since joining liverpool from ac milan for # 16million at the end of the last transfer window , and has attracted controversy wherever he has played . he was once described by jose mourinho as ` unmanageable ' . video scroll down to see rodgers speak out on balotelli 's recent controversy . mario balotelli has failed to live up to expectations since arriving at anfield for # 16m this summer . manager brendan rodgers has backed his decision to take a gamble on the italian firebrand .

<t> liverpool host sunderland at anfield on saturday , kick-off 3pm . </t> <t> brendan rodgers put his players through their paces in training . </t> <t> mamadou sakho , philippe coutinho and jose enrique all fit . </t> <t> but mario balotelli is still ruled out with a troublesome groin injury . </t>

liverpool train for sunderland clash as brendan rodgers confirms mario balotelli will miss the game with a groin injury<T>