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The horrific truth of the angora fur industry is revealed in these shocking images from a Chinese workshop. The rabbits are tied up and stretched out before workers rip out the fur by hand, leaving the rabbits bleeding in their cages. In a video recorded by PETA in China, where 90 per cent of the world's angora fur is sourced, the animals can be heard screaming in pain. Scroll down for video . Factory horror: An angora rabbit is tied up and its skin stretched as it is being cut with an electric shear . The animals are kept for two to five years, with their fur being yanked out every two-three months, according to PETA Asia. When the fur has been plucked, the animals are thrown into tiny cages to recover. Once a bunny has outlived its purpose, it is killed and skinned. ‘PETA UK is appealing to shoppers this holiday season’, says PETA UK Associate Director Mimi Bekhechi. ‘Please take the time to read the label on that sweater or scarf. If it says "angora," leave the item on the rack.’ Pain and suffering: The terror in the animal's eyes is unmistakeable as a worker with a Chinese angora trader stretches it out and yanks out its fur . Animal cruelty: The angora rabbits are alive throughout the plucking and are kept for several years, plucked every few months, before their throats are slit . Torture: The Chinese fur traders use the plucking technique as it results in better quality fur and more money . Shocking truth: The animals are constantly injured from throughout the plucking as they struggle to break free . Left to recover: After the rabbit had had all its fur yanked out it is thrown into a cage to regrow its fur in complete solitude . Rabbits who have their fur cut or sheared also suffer: during the cutting process, their front and back legs are tightly tethered and the sharp cutting tools inevitably wound them as they struggle desperately to escape. PETA reports that the traders keep the animals in solitary in barren wire cages that harm their sensitive feet. They are denied solid flooring, bedding and the vital companionship of other rabbits. In China, there are no penalties for animal abuse on rabbit farms and no standards that regulate the treatment of animals. WARNING: Content in this video has been censored. Rabbits are alive following hair removal . Locked up: The cages injure the rabbit's feet and the insanitary conditions see many of them, such as this one, suffer infections and illness . No hope: This young bunny is in the process of regrowing its fur while recovering from an eye infection in a naked steel cage . Monopoly on cruelty: An estimated 90 per cent of the world's angora fur is sourced from China .

Video reveals the cruel methods used to obtain angora fur in China . Workers tie rabbits up and yank the fur out while they are still alive . They are kept for years and have their fur ripped out every two months .

(CNN) -- U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of the current congressional session, ending his six-year term two years early. The Oklahoma Republican, 65, has been battling cancer. "But this decision isn't about my health, my prognosis or even my hopes and desires," he said in a statement. "As a citizen, I am now convinced that I can best serve my own children and grandchildren by shifting my focus elsewhere. In the meantime, I look forward to finishing this year strong." Coburn is a doctor who specialized in obstetrics before embarking on his political career. "As dysfunctional as Washington is these days, change is still possible when 'We the People' get engaged, run for office themselves or make their voices heard. After all, how else could a country doctor from Muskogee with no political experience make it to Washington?" he wrote. Before his time in the Senate, Coburn served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 through 2001, according to a biography on his website. In 2004, he was elected to serve in the Senate; he was re-elected in 2010. Coburn and his wife have three children and seven grandchildren, according to the biography. "My commitment to the people of Oklahoma has always been that I would serve no more than two terms. Our founders saw public service and politics as a calling rather than a career. That's how I saw it when I first ran for office in 1994, and that's how I still see it today," he wrote in Thursday's statement. CNN's Dana Bash contributed to this report.

Coburn will step down at the end of the current congressional session . The Oklahoma Republican has been battling cancer . He says he looks forward to finishing this year strong .

(CNN) -- Nearly 800 dogs were rescued by a Chinese animal protection group last Saturday night in the city of Zigong, in southwest Sichuan province. The Qiming Center, an animal-rights protection group in Sichuan, pulled off the rescue. Last Friday night, a volunteer tipped off the group that hundreds of caged dogs were being loaded onto trucks in Zigong and headed to various restaurants in Southern Guangxi province. The group dispatched a team of five to block the dog-trader while they posted microblogs online calling for help from animal-loving citizens. After a standoff and negotiation, the group agreed to pay the dog trader 83,000 yuan ($13,000) to secure the caged dogs' freedom, said Qiming president Qiao Wei. "It's a compromise we took in an effort to let the dogs free—they are visibly suffering for being packed in small cages with very limited space. We spent hours negotiating with the trader," Qiao told CNN in a phone interview. "Finally with the help of local government he was willing to hand over the dogs in exchange for 83,000 yuan—60,000 for personal compensation, another 20,000 for cages that we lack." Qiming volunteers are now helping settle down the dogs, according to state-run media. Dog meat has long been a popular dish in certain regions of China. But over time this cultural and culinary tradition is getting more and more unpopular, as international and Chinese animal protection organizations increase pressure against the dog meat trade. China's attitudes on pets, palates change . Most dogs rescued Saturday were severely dehydrated. Rescuers photographed and registered the dogs before tending to their health. "It's a costly work but workers at the center are trying their best to take care of the dogs. Since their arrival, only one dog has died due to respiration system failure," Qiao told CNN . Ms Teng, a Qiming Center employee, said four full-time staff have been working round the clock. On the center's official blog, the group frequently updates the dogs' latest conditions and solicits donations or voluntary assistance from animal lovers. "Some dogs were stolen, and now their owners come to us to take back their pets. Many would leave with a certain amount of money as appreciation for our work," Teng told CNN. "Once we've finished the health check up procedures, we'll start helping the dogs find new homes." Teng says through the rescue she and her fellow volunteers hope to send the general public one message: "No trading, no killing." Meanwhile, dog trading remains rife in certain regions in China due to lack of a national law on animal welfare and protection. "A major part of our work is proposing drafts of laws and regulations under which the government can effectively punish this kind of behavior," Qiao added. "Now we can only tackle the traders one at a time, and can hardly tell whether they'll go back to the business again." In April 520 dogs were saved from dinner table by Chinese animal-rights activists who stopped a truck carrying them in cages on a highway near Beijing. A 15-hour standoff between volunteers and the trader caused a temporary shut-down of nearby exits, until an agreement was reached. The truck driver let the dogs free for 115,000 yuan. The incident stirred online discussions about how far activists should go in protecting animal rights—a concept still under debate in China.

Nearly 800 dogs were rescued by a Chinese animal protection group . The caged dogs were headed to slaughter for dog meat restaurants . Dog meat is a popular dish in certain regions of China, but now under attack . In April 520 dogs were saved from dinner table by Chinese animal-rights activists .

(CNN) -- A San Francisco Giants fan who threw a banana that landed near Baltimore Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones during a weekend game said the incident was not racially motivated, but an act of frustration at his team's poor performance. Alexander Poulides told the San Jose Mercury News that he's embarrassed and shocked, but most of all apologetic for his "indiscretion." Poulides said he was unaware of the uproar until Monday morning when he turned on the news. His heart sank when heard the outcry over an unidentified Giants fan who threw a banana at Jones, who is African-American. "Oh, my God,'' Poulides said. "I threw a banana on my way out." That's when he contacted the newspaper to claim responsibility. "I'm embarrassed and shocked by the outcome,'' he said. "In hindsight, I wish I didn't do it and I apologize. I'm very sorry." Poulides grabbed the banana from a catering cart, tossing it on the field, he said. The fruit became a projectile of disgust during the ninth inning of a blowout loss on Sunday to the Orioles at AT&T Park. The team's front office said it's continuing to investigate. "The Giants have a zero tolerance policy against this type of behavior, which results in immediate ejection from the ballpark," a statement from the team said. "While we have been investigating the matter since we learned of the situation, unfortunately we have been unable to identify the person responsible. "We would like to extend our sincerest apologies to Adam and the entire Orioles organization for this unfortunate incident. "The inappropriate actions of this individual in no way reflect the values of our organization and our fans." Jones took to his official Twitter account to express his displeasure. "I want to thank whatever (expletive) threw that banana towards my direction in CF in the last inning," he posted. "Way to show ur class u jackass." MLB senior vice president of public relations Patrick Courtney told CNN Sports on Monday: "We are looking into this situation." The Orioles overcame a two-run deficit to score 10 unanswered runs in the 10-2 victory over last season's World Series champs. Jones hit a three-run homer at the top of the ninth inning to help clinch the victory. Man charged in banana throwing incident at NHL game . CNN Sports contributed to this report .

MLB to investigate incident at Orioles-Giants game Sunday . Orioles centerfield Adam Jones angry after claiming a fan threw a banana at him . Jones took to Twitter to voice his displeasure . The Giants apologize for the incident .

(CNN) -- Fifteen years ago, representatives from every nation came together to voice one common goal: to advance the global status of women in the spirit of equality. We were there in Beijing, China, when women broke their silence and a resounding message burst forth from the walls of the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women: No longer would it be acceptable to separate women's rights from human rights. Today, we are seeing a powerful momentum materialize as women in diverse regions raise their voices to claim their rights and inspire change while leading neighborhoods, villages, parliaments and nations forward. As the world navigates through an unprecedented financial crisis, economists and leaders are increasingly turning their attention to the greatest untapped reserve of innovation and resilience -- women. Progress on women's equality is reaching different regions at different paces, but we can see improvement in girls' education, workforce participation and political representation. The global net rate of primary school enrollment for girls is up to 89 percent; the number of women holding nonagricultural, paid jobs continues to increase worldwide; and women's global share of parliamentary seats is rising, now at 18.4 percent. Something much harder to measure, but maybe the most significant of all indicators, is a widespread shift over the past 15 years in the global conversation about women. Our campaign for equality has come out from the darkness of the periphery. We are moving into an age that enables progress and an environment that sustains it. For Rebecca Lolosoli, the light of change is an unsteady flicker. In her home in rural Samburu, Kenya, women who are abused or raped are cast out of their homes; the concept of women's rights is as novel as it is dangerous. She was beaten for raising her voice in dissent, kicked to the ground for promoting a woman's right to live free of violence. Out of injustice that sought to tear her down, she emerged as a courageous voice of change. Rebecca formed Umoja Uaso Women's Village, a cooperative where once-forsaken survivors of violence find healing and independence as artisans who produce vibrant jewelry. Hers is one voice among the millions threatened by a global increase in violence against women -- one in three women will experience violence in her lifetime. We are confronted with a pandemic of violence, and must address it with commensurate force and urgency. Rebecca carries the weight of unrealized human rights on her shoulders. It is our duty to help lessen her load. We must support women like her as equal partners in economic, social and political development, and recognize their ability to practice collaborative leadership and carry their communities forward with each step they take. Recently we honored Rebecca at the 2010 Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards, recognizing her strength and vision as she empowers women and shapes a future free of violence against women. If we want to promote peace and prosperity, we must begin with women. We have seen that in societies where women's rights are respected, economies are stronger, civil societies thrive and political institutions are more open and free. Our progress in the past 15 years is tenuous if it's not shared, reinforced and expanded in all spheres. We must recommit ourselves to women's equality worldwide. Now is the time to build on the momentum and advance positive change. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sally Field and Alyse Nelson.

Sally Field, Alyse Nelson say it's been 15 years since U.N. highlighted rights of women . They say women have made progress in education, employment and politics . Story of a woman in Kenya shows how victims of violence can strive for change, they say . Field, Nelson: "If we want to promote peace and prosperity, we must begin with women."

By . Daily Mail Reporter . Donald Trump had some hair trouble as he toured his newly acquired Scotland golf course by helicopter today - but his swirled dyed-blonde mop remained on his head, putting paid to rumors he sports a toupee. The property tycoon's fair locks blew in every direction as the 68-year-old's namesake chopper's propeller sent a huge gust of wind his way. Trump was visiting Turnberry in Ayreshire, one of the world's most iconic golf resorts that he purchased last month and quickly renamed 'Trump Turnberry.' He said he added his name to the resort not for his 'ego' but to make the course 'more successful.' Windy: Donald Trump had some hair trouble as he arrived by helicopter to the his newly acquired Scotland gold course on Wednesday . No toupee: His swirled dyed-blonde mop of hair remained on his head, putting paid to rumors he sports a toupee . He has pledged to spend more than $170 million to renovate the hotel that overlooks the famous course and said there will be some potential changes to it over the next few years, particularly holes nine to 11. The cost of the purchase has not been revealed but the tycoon said the hotel is debt-free and there is no mortgage on the property. At a press conference in the Turnberry hotel today, Mr Trump said he discussed the name change with 'important people' in Scotland and the world of golf and said he would not have changed it if he thought it would have a negative impact. Sitting at a large bay window overlooking the famous Ailsa course with a Trump-branded helicopter on the hotel lawn, he said: 'I looked at the name change in the form of logos and it looks so incredible. Thumbs up: Donald Trump poses beside his helicopter prior to taking a flight over his recent acquisition . You're fired: Donald Trump gives his trademark 'You're Fired' as he stands in front of the Turnberry hotel with the famous links behind him . 'One of the things that I think is good (about the Trump organization) is we have tremendous success, our buildings are tremendously successful, so if you add it, I'm not doing it for ego, I'm doing it because it's going to make the place more successful. 'If I thought it was going to hurt Turnberry I wouldn't use the name but it's going to make this great resort much more successful than it has been and that's the primary reason I'm doing it. 'If I thought it would have a negative impact, I would not do it. I want to see incredible success for this resort beyond anything else.' He added: 'I actually asked some people that are very important in Scotland, although I won't get them in trouble by saying their name, but I've spoken to very important and very powerful political people and I said "what do you think of the idea of Trump Turnberry?" Comb over: Donald Trump addresses the media on his recent acquisition, with his locks combed over his forehead . Support: Donald Trump's son Eric, right, sat alongside his father as he addressed the media on his recent acquisition while his wife Melinda, left, looked on . 'Everyone said that they would love it, I spoke to the higher-ups in the world of golf and one of them said it used to be called Westin Turnberry when the Japanese owned it, I think Trump Turnberry sounds much better.' Mr Trump was joined at the press conference by his son Eric and golf course architect Martin Ebert who highlighted the changes that could be made to the course. Turnberry is on the rota of courses that can stage the Open Championship and Mr Trump said that was a factor is his decision to purchase the resort. 'It's a magnificent tournament, I've watched it for so many years and never missed it,' he said. Crowd pleaser: Trump does his 'You're Fired' act at his newly purchased Turnberry Golf Course . This is Trump's second Scottish course . 'It's just an honor to be associated with the Royal and Ancient (golf governing body) and the tournament potentially. 'It's already had four Opens and the women are coming next year, which I consider very important, and I think the greatness of this course will lead to others, it has to. 'We have now the greatest canvass in all of golf so ultimately people can't avoid it.' It is Mr Trump's second Scottish course, following on from his Aberdeenshire resort which opened in July 2012. Plans for a second golf course, club house and hotel on the same site remain on hold amid a bitter dispute over a proposed wind farm adjacent to the resort, but Mr Trump said the current course is a success and has been a 'big boost' for Aberdeen.

The property tycoon had some hair trouble as he toured his newly acquired Scotland golf course by helicopter today . But his swirled dyed-blonde mop remained on his head, putting paid to rumors he sports a toupee . Trump was visiting Turnberry in Ayreshire, which he purchased last month and quickly renamed 'Trump Turnberry' The course is one of the world's most iconic golf resorts .

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (CNN) -- Mexican authorities have arrested a 78-year-old man on charges he killed a woman he believed was a witch who had put a spell on him. Santiago Iniguez Olivares is accused of bludgeoning Modesta Navarro Nieves and her husband at their home in the mountainous Guadalupe del Cobre community in April 1998, the Michoacan state attorney general's office said Thursday. The husband survived. Olivares had been on the run until recently, when he returned to Guadalupe del Cobre because he thought the 11-year-old murder had been forgotten, the attorney general's office said. Authorities arrested him while he was walking to a bus station, the Apatzingan Valley Information Agency said on its Web site. According to officials, Iniguez Olivares went into the woman's home, accused her of putting a witch's spell on him and started to beat her with a stick. The woman's husband then came home and Iniguez Olivares turned the club on him before fleeing, the attorney general's office said in a release. Guadalupe del Cobre is a remote village in western Mexico. This is second case in 18 months involving the slaying of someone accused of witchcraft. Authorities arrested a woman in June 2008 in central Mexico on charges that she had killed another woman for similar reasons, La Voz de Michoacan newspaper said.

Santiago Iniguez Olivares accused of bludgeoning Modesta Navarro Nieves because he thought she put a spell on him . Olivares had been on the run until recently, when he returned to the area because he thought murder had been forgotten . Authorities arrested a woman in June 2008 in central Mexico on charges she had killed another woman for similar reasons .

Peshawar, Pakistan (CNN)On the principal's desk at the Peshawar's Government High School for Boys sits a screen beaming surveillance video from around the campus. In one of the desk's drawers, within easy reach of Abdul Saeed's right hand, lies a fully loaded pistol. A teacher for 15 years, Saeed argues that bringing a gun to school reassures his students, who are still terrified after a brazen attack on the Army Public School and Degree College in December, when Taliban militants stormed the building and massacred dozens of students during a six-hour siege. "They would look to the door every time they heard a sound. Now when they see me wearing a gun, they need not worry and can focus on the task at hand, which is to educate themselves," Saeed says. Barbed wire, surveillance cameras and snipers have become a common sight in the schools of this Pakistani city. Private schools in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkua, which lies along Pakistan's northwest frontier, have been instructed by the government to arrange security guards and metal detectors. School officials remain tight-lipped about the threats they've received from militants, but stories have emerged of empty coffins being sent to principals as an ominous suggestion of the danger that could lie ahead. After the brutal attack, Pakistan Taliban spokesman Mohammed Khurrassani told CNN the bloodshed was revenge for the killing of hundreds of innocent tribesmen during repeated army operations in provinces including South Waziristan, North Waziristan and the Khyber Agency. Last month, the provincial government pledged to spend seven billion rupees ($69 million) on enhancing security at government run schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhua. However, KPK information minister Mushtaq Ghani says it is still not enough prevent in an attack on the 35,000 government-run schools in the province. So, in an extraordinary measure, the KPK government has allowed teachers with firearm licenses to keep guns at school. Umar Daraz, a mild mannered primary school teacher who has been a member of the Executive Council of Peshawar's Primary Teacher Association for more than 20 years, is shocked by the decision. "Why would you glorify guns?" he asks. "If teachers take guns into classroom it glorifies this deadly weapon in the eyes of children, and in the future it could inspire them to seek out guns, misuse them and cause more tragedies to take place." "Teachers are meant to teach," he adds. At a shooting range in Peshawar, the Khyber Pakhtunkua police force has started basic weapon training sessions for teachers interested in learning how to use firearms. Faisal Mukhtar, a police superintendent, says that one of the reasons given for arming teachers is so they can hold militants at bay during a potential attack until security forces arrive. Around 20 female teachers have already received training from Inspector Rozia Altaf. Most had never held a gun before. "The tragedy of December 16 has emboldened these women," Altaf tells CNN. "Most of them were mothers and they were helpless then -- they will be never helpless again." Regardless of the day's training, Mukhtar says none of the teachers involved have expressed interest in obtaining a gun license. Back at the principal's office, Saeed places the gun on his desk and shares his experience of volunteering at hospitals on the day of the attack. His eyes tear up as he recalls seeing schoolboys as young as 12 with bullet wounds that would not be uncommon on a battlefield. He brushes away those who criticize the decision to bring in guns to schools, saying "these are extraordinary times and we must deal with them in extraordinary ways. "After what I have seen I refuse to be helpless and unarmed if anyone comes in to attack my students the way [the militants] did in December. "We were once warriors of the chalk and the blackboard. Now we must be soldiers at war and fight for the cause of education and a brighter future for our children."

Teachers in Peshawar, Pakistan now allowed to carry guns to school . Follows December school massacre which killed 145 people, including dozens of students . Some teachers say it glorifies guns and that school is no place for firearms .

(CNN) -- A most awkward and revealing situation has emerged in the heart of Europe, forcing European governments to choose between their principles and their fears, and drawing an uncomfortable gap between Europe's words and its actions. Last July, a bus carrying tourists about to start their vacation suddenly exploded outside the airport in the Bulgarian city of Burgas. The bombing killed five Israelis -- including a pregnant woman -- and a Bulgarian driver. This week, Bulgaria's foreign minister blamed Hezbollah, saying an investigation showed the attack was carried out by two members of the Iran-linked Lebanese organization. Hezbollah denied the accusation. But Bulgaria says it discovered strong links, with "data showing the financing and connection between Hezbollah and the two suspects." The news shines a light on a most surprising fact: Hezbollah has been conducting business rather comfortably in much of Europe over the years, openly raising money for its operations. Those operations, according to countless investigations in a growing number of countries, include plotting and attempting to kill tourists, diplomats and others. Washington, which labeled Hezbollah a terrorist organization in 1995 after a series of attacks in Lebanon and elsewhere that killed hundreds of Americans, has been pressuring the European Union to do the same. But the EU has resisted. The "terrorist" designation is more than a symbolic label. The label would allow European authorities to freeze funds, control the travel of Hezbollah operatives, and otherwise do what it can to prevent more loss of life. The new secretary of state, John Kerry, urged the EU to "send an unequivocal message to this terrorist group" now that Hezbollah has been linked to an attack on European soil. American officials have told Europe that their inaction is "making it harder to defend our countries." U.S. officials accuse Iran and Hezbollah not only of conducting attacks against civilians around the world, but also of actively supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's brutal repression at home in a conflict that has already left more than 60,000 dead. Opinion: Why Obama is going to Israel . According to a new report from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, authorities in various countries have uncovered and disrupted nearly 30 different terror plots by Hezbollah or Iran's Quds Force, an arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, in the last couple of years. But Europe, incredibly, continues to waver. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton reacted to the news from Bulgaria with a clammy statement that there is a "need for reflection." Hezbollah operates in Lebanon as a powerful Shiite political party, social services organization and an intimidating, heavily-armed militia. It has strong support among the country's Shiite population and bitter opposition from Sunnis. EU officials say they fear destabilizing Lebanon, a country perennial teetering on the edge of sectarian violence. They also worry about angering Hezbollah, fearing attacks on European peacekeepers in Lebanon or terrorist attacks on European soil. Judging by recent events, that particular outcome was not prevented by their timid approach. France, in particular, has resisted upsetting Hezbollah. Paris has taken the lead in fighting extremism in Africa, sending troops against militants in Mali and declaring that it is committed to "a relentless struggle against terrorist groups." But it is somewhat less relentless when it comes to Hezbollah. The French take a special interest in protecting their influence in Lebanon, a former colonial holding. A firm Western stance against the group, however, could strengthen Lebanon's struggling pro-Western opposition, which blames Hezbollah for the assassination of many of its members, including former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. A U.N. tribunal set up to investigate Hariri's 2005 assassination indicted four Hezbollah members. The pattern is well established. Argentinean prosecutors accused Hezbollah of carrying out and Iran of planning and financing the worst terrorist attack in that country, the 1994 bombing of a Jewish Community Center, which killed 85 and injured 300. Western experts generally agree with the assessment of the former U.S. homeland security secretary, who describes Hezbollah as "the most potent terrorist organization in the world." The government of the Netherlands already declared it a terrorist group and Britain named its militant wing a terrorist entity, as if it were separate from the rest of the organization. It is funded by Iran and closely coordinates its moves with Tehran. Over the years, it has been accused of carrying out attacks throughout the world, often in collaboration with Iran. In recent months, as tensions have risen between Iran, on one side, and Israel and the West on the other, Tehran and its Lebanese ally have stepped up their activities to a feverish pace, targeting Israelis diplomats and tourists in India, Cyprus, Thailand and elsewhere. Hezbollah and Iran were linked to a plot to kill the Saudi Ambassador in Washington. Hezbollah's protective ally, Iran, is enduring harsh economic sanctions from the West over its controversial nuclear program, and a number of Iranian nuclear scientists have been assassinated, as have a few key figures in the Hezbollah hierarchy. The circumstances of these assassinations have all been murky, but there is nothing vague about the bombing of buses full of tourists. By any definition of the word it qualifies as terrorism. And clearly, the question is not just symbolic. Europe is letting Hezbollah operate on its soil. By some counts, there are 950 Hezbollah-affiliated individuals in Germany alone. Europe wants to treat Hezbollah as a legitimate political organization, but the group's actions place it squarely outside the realm of legitimacy. As long as Europe closes its eyes to this reality and allows the group to organize, fundraise and hold meetings, it is guilty not only of hypocrisy, but also of passive complicity in Hezbollah's attacks on innocent civilians. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Frida Ghitis .

Frida Ghitis: Bulgaria blamed Hezbollah in bus attack, yet EU still won't call group terrorists . She says doing so would let EU freeze group's funds, control its travel, averting attacks . But EU fears angering group, destabilizing Lebanon; let's Hezbollah raise funds in Europe . Ghitis: In letting group claim legitimacy, EU passively abetting a terrorist organization .

Her role as Queen of Spain is not one she's taken lightly since her ascent to the throne earlier this - and her appearance today was no exception. Queen Letizia, 42, spoke passionately before hundreds of people at the 25th Anniversary Ceremony of the Spanish National Transplant Organisation in Madrid. Wearing a smart but chic suit, purple and blue blouse and knotted belt, the Spanish royal exuded style, as always, at the event this afternoon. Ready for business: Queen Letizia of Spain today attended the 25th Anniversary Ceremony of the Spanish National Transplant Organization in Madrid, Spain . She wore her hair in its trademark loose style and carried a vibrant pink clutch bag as she mingled with other speakers and guests at the event. The independent royal flew solo at the presentation today and was last seen with her husband at the Real Academia Española, the official royal institution charged with overseeing the Spanish language, last week. Speaking out: The royal, who carries out numerous independent duties, spoke passionately at the event . Fresh: Despite a hectic schedule - and trip to Norway last week - the Spanish monarch looked radiant . Smart AND stylish! Wearing a smart but chic suit, purple and blue blouse and knotted belt, the Spanish royal exuded style at the event this afternoon . Meet and greet: She wore her hair in its trademark loose style and mingled with other speakers and guests at the event . Catching up: The Spanish Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality Ana Mato (L) and Queen Letizia of Spain enjoyed a quick chat . The royal couple, who were fresh from a visit to the Netherlands, were launching a new Spanish language dictionary in Madrid and had certainly dressed up for the occasion. After listening to the presentation, the couple, who had looked on intently throughout, posed for a photo with the official Spanish language dictionary, which is now in its 23rd edition. Letizia had spent the morning at the Real Casa de Correos, a Madrid palace, where she helped launch a campaign to improve public health. Pretty in purple: The thoughtful Royal had seemingly matched her top to her eyeshadow for the occasion . Entitled 'women for the heart', the initiative, which is supported by the Mapfre Foundation, aims to boost public awareness of cardiovascular health. The two events came at the end of a busy week for Letizia and Felipe, who travelled to the Netherlands on Wednesday for a meeting with their Dutch counterparts at the Noordeinde Palace in the Hague. For their part, Letizia and Felipe have enjoyed a busy four months since taking the Spanish throne on the 19th June, with several international tours, among them to France, Morocco and the Netherlands, already under their collective belt. More recently, the pair have attended events all over Spain, among them today's appointments in Madrid, and have spearheaded major national events such as Spanish National Day on Sunday. Passion: Just last week she was an event entitled 'women for the heart', which aims to boost public awareness of cardiovascular health .

Royal, 42, spoke passionately on stage . Was joined by Minister of Health, Social Services and Equality, Ana Mato . Wore tailored suit and purple blouse for occasion .

New York (CNN) -- The daughter of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was arrested after police said she shoplifted items at a cosmetic store. Caroline Giuliani, 20, was charged with one count of petty larceny after the incident at a Sephora skincare and makeup store Wednesday, the New York Police Department said. She is the younger of Giuliani's two children with his ex-wife, Donna Hanover, a television reporter and actress. Since his public divorce from Hanover and his marriage to Judith Nathan, Giuliani's relationship with his children has been strained, The New York Times reported in March 2007. He missed his son's high school graduation and Caroline's plays, The Times reported. That year, when Giuliani was seeking the Republican nomination for president, Caroline Giuliani's Facebook profile listed her as part of a group that supported then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's presidential bid. After Slate.com emailed her about it, she immediately left the group, the website reported. In August 2007, Giuliani talked about his daughter at a campaign stop in Clear Lake, Iowa. "My daughter I love very much," Giuliani said. "I have great respect for her, and I'm really proud of her. And I don't comment on children because I want to give them the maximum degree of privacy. I think children in situations like this deserve to have the maximum degree of privacy. And the best way to preserve that is, except to point out that you love them and care about them and you're very, very proud of them, just don't comment about it." Sephora representatives declined to comment. Giuliani's office did not return calls Wednesday. CNN's Leora Kapelus contributed to this report .

Daughter, 20, is charged with one count of petty larceny . Caroline Giuliani was arrested at a Sephora skincare and makeup store . She is the second of Giuliani's two children with his former wife .

By . Steve Keating, Reuters . World number one Novak Djokovic barely worked up a good sweat on another sizzling day at the U.S. Open as he strolled past Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-1 6-3 6-0 and into the third round of the year's final grand slam on Thursday. Djokovic, who has reached the Flushing Meadows final each of the last four years and won it all in 2011, needed just 88 minutes to dismiss the veteran Frenchman on a gusty Arthur Ashe Stadium court. The Wimbledon champion broke Mathieu to open the match and never eased off the gas as he swept through the last seven games to clinch an emphatic win. No sweat: World No 1 Novak Djokovic had little trouble dispatching Paul-Henri Mathieu at the US Open . 'I have nothing to complain about, I wanted to get my job done as quick as possible,' said Djokovic. 'I don't feel like I need to play long matches to get into the groove. 'I mean, I feel that I'm hitting the ball very well. Second match even better than the first one. 'Under the circumstances I think I came up with a very good performance. Stayed mentally tough and did not allow myself to get frustrated because of the wind and conditions that were obviously very tough for both of us.' It has been a smooth start to U.S. Open for Djokovic, who opened his campaign with an equally dominant display as he eased past Argentine Diego Schwartzman in straight sets . Poor: Paul-Henri Mathieu was beaten for the loss of just four games in the second round at Flushing Meadows . But things should get tougher in the third round where the Serb will run into big-hitting American Sam Querrey, who advanced with a 6-3 6-4 6-4 win over 28th seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain. 'It's logical to expect that every next match that you play in a grand slam will get tougher,' said Djokovic. 'Sam is playing in front of his crowd. I'm sure that he's going to have some good support. 'But on the other hand, if we get to play on centre court, maybe night session, that's where my experience kicks in, I think. 'I have had a lot of matches, night sessions if we get to play, as I said, and (I will) try to neutralise his serve that is his big weapon. If he serves well, he's very dangerous.' Djokovic, who had won only two matches in the hard court run-up to Flushing Meadows after getting married just days after his Wimbledon triumph, has looked like his old dominating self. Playing his first grand slam as a married man, Djokovic, who is also about to become a first-time father, had talked about a shift in priorities but underscored that he is still fully focused on the task at hand when he steps onto the court. Home from home: Serbian star Novak Djokovic has reached the last four finals at the US Open . 'My focus is there. I don't understand how the people really got what I said, but I don't think there is anything wrong,' said Djokovic. 'Actually, I think it would be much (more) wrong if my tennis is in front of my baby and my wife. 'I think there is no question about it. My full priorities and commitments and energy go to my family as much as I need to, but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to play tournaments or not going to continue on doing what I was doing so far. 'Of course I'm doing everything that I can, respecting the same daily routines that I had for many years with my team and it's working well. I have big support from my wife, from my family, from my team. We are all on the same page.' It's not too late to play MailOnline Fantasy Football… There's £1,000 to be won EVERY WEEK by the highest scoring manager . CLICK HERE to start picking your Fantasy Football team NOW! There's £60,000 in prizes including £1,000 up for grabs EVERY WEEK… . VIDEO US Open: Day four review .

Novak Djokovic defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-1 6-3 6-0 at the US Open . World No 1 will face Sam Querrey in the third round at Flushing Meadows . Serbian has reached the last four US Open finals in New York .

A New Jersey man had his left leg amputated after a drunk driver struck him and dragged him over a mile with his body protruding through the windshield, officials said. Kenneth C Moeller, 61, of Lanoka Harbor was on life support at Jersey Shore University Medical Center after the operation, following a grisly car crash in Ocean Township on Monday evening. NJ.com reports that Marcos Ortega, 33, was allegedly under the influence as he traveled north on Route 9 in a 2001 Mitsubishi Eclipse. Accused: Marcos Ortega, 33, was arrested after allegedly striking Kenneth C Moeller, 61, in a drunk driving accident and refusing to stop as Moeller lay on the hood of his car . He veered onto the shoulder of the highway, where he struck Moeller as he was walking, according to investigators. The crash resulted in Moeller becoming stuck in the windshield of Ortega's car, which the driver continued to operate for a mile and a half. It was only when Ocean Township Patrolman Kyle Flatt arrived, in response to a report of a car driving erratically, that Ortega stopped the car, authorities said. The Waretown Volunteer Fire Department and First-Aid were called and assisted police personnel with extricating Moeller. The victim was flown to the hospital with serious injuries. He was listed as being in critical condition before his surgery. Critical: The Ocean County Prosecutor's office said that Moeller required an amputation of his left leg after being taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in critical condition . The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said police conducted sobriety tests on Ortega, and found the driver was under the influence. Ortega was charged with leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash and causing serious bodily injury to another while driving under the influence, with bail set at $150,000.

Kenneth C Moeller was on life support at Jersey Shore University Medical Center after the operation . Marcos Ortega, 33, allegedly struck Moeller with his car while driving drunk . He continued driving after the crash with Moeller hanging off the car, stuck in the windshield .

(CNN)There was nothing to separate Guinea and Mali after the group stage at the African Cup of Nations so lots had to be drawn to decide which team would progress to the quarterfinals. On this occasion, luck favored Guinea, one of the nations in west Africa ravaged by the Ebola virus. It was a rare -- the last time lots were drawn at the continental tournament was in 1988 -- and unfair way to settle second place in Group D according to both managers but ultimately it's Guinea boss Michel Dussuyer and his team that will face Ghana on Sunday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Two balls, numbered '2' for second place and '3' for third place, were placed in a bowl and the rest was left to chance Thursday. "Amara Dabo, from the Finance Division of the Guinea Ministry of Sports picked the ball numbered '2' and Boubacar Diarra, president of the Mali Football Federation was the loser after picking out ball number '3,'" Africa's governing body said on its website. The outcome left Diarra in tears and former Mali international Frederic Kanoute tweeted his displeasure about the method used to separate the sides. Guinea last beat Ghana in 1977, a year after registering its best showing at the African Cup of Nations by making the final. In the three other quarterfinals: Ivory Coast faces Algeria, Tunisia plays host Equatorial Guinea and Congo meets DR Congo.

Guinea benefits from the luck of the 'draw' at AFCON . Guinea, not Mali, makes the last eight after lots drawn . They couldn't be separated on head to head, goals scored and goal difference . Guinea faces Ghana on Sunday .

(CNN) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered a temporary deployment Friday of National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. The order reflects President Barack Obama's efforts to secure the border, Schwarzenegger's office said. Last month, the governor praised Obama's proposal to deploy 1,200 National Guard personnel along the southwest border of the U.S. Of those troops, 224 would be deployed in California for up to one year. "The military forces deployed in support of this request will not be employed in a direct law enforcement role," Schwarzenegger's order said. The mission is scheduled to end on June 30, 2011. It's not the first time Schwarzenegger issued a general order directing California National Guard personnel to the border. In June 2006, the governor sent troops temporarily to support federal efforts to secure the border. Schwarzenegger's office has said the governor believes more Border Patrol agents are needed to reduce illegal border crossings, human trafficking and the influx of narcotics.

Governor responds to Obama's call for more troops to U.S.-Mexico border . The deployment is scheduled to end in June 2011 . Governor's office says more personnel would support counternarcotics operations .

By . Kieran Corcoran . PUBLISHED: . 08:49 EST, 14 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:03 EST, 14 January 2014 . Charged: Paddy Doherty, shown here in a scene from My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding . Big Fat Gypsy Weddings star Paddy Doherty has been charged with assault after allegedly attacking a man in a bar-room brawl. Doherty, 54, was arrested along with another man after a fight broke out in a pub near his caravan site. The former bare-knuckle boxing champion will appearing in court with friend Martin McDonagh, 52, as a result of the alleged brawl. Witnesses said that Doherty, who won Celebrity Big Brother in 2011, was 'covered in blood' when police came to arrest him at his caravan home, according to witnesses. The pub where the alleged fight occured is just a mile from Doherty’s luxury mobile home on Riverside Caravan Park, Queensferry, North Wales. The Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star moved there from the Duchy Road caravan site he had run for 12 years in Manchester - after saying he wanted to 'get away from what I used to be'. The men were arrested on suspicion of wounding, but were eventually charged with assault. A North Wales Police spokesman said at . the time: 'Two men aged 54 and 52 were arrested on suspicion of wounding . following an incident at a public house. 'The victim was treated at the scene by paramedics but was not admitted to hospital.' Police confirmed two men would appear at Flintshire Magistrates Court on January 27. 'They were charged on January 6 with assault relating to an incident that happened on October 30,' the spokesman said. Contestant: Doherty won the 2011 series of Celebrity Big Brother. He is pictured here at his former home in Manchester .

The former bare-knuckle boxer, 54, was charged with assault this month . He allegedly attacked a man in a pub not far from his luxury mobile home . The TV star is due in court on 27 January, along with Martin McDonagh, who was charged alongside him .

(CNN) -- Film and television actor Ernest Borgnine, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a lovelorn butcher in 1955's "Marty," has died at age 95, his manager said Sunday. The thick-set, gap-toothed Borgnine built a reputation for playing heavies in early films like "From Here to Eternity" and "Bad Day at Black Rock." But he turned that reputation on its head as the shy, homely title character in "Marty," taking home the Oscar for best actor -- one of four awards the film claimed. 1955 Oscars: A year of firsts . His manager, Lynda Bensky, said Borgnine died of kidney failure Sunday afternoon. His wife, Tova, and children were at his side at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, she said. "It's a very sad day," Bensky said. "The industry has lost someone great, the caliber of which we will never see again. A true icon. But more importantly, the world has lost a sage and loving man who taught us all how to 'grow young.' His infectious smile and chuckle made the world a happier place." Born in Connecticut to Italian immigrants, Borgnine -- originally Ermes Effron Borgnino -- began taking theater classes after serving in the Navy during World War II. Some things you may not know about Ernest Borgnine . He had joined the service after graduating from high school during the Great Depression and had been discharged in 1941, but re-enlisted after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor launched the United States into World War II. He made the move to films and then television in 1951, racking up more than 200 credits in projects ranging from the era of live television drama to the children's cartoon "SpongeBob SquarePants." He starred in the 1962-66 sitcom "McHale's Navy," was one of the original celebrities on the game show "The Hollywood Squares" and played William Holden's right-hand-man in Sam Peckinpah's revisionist Western "The Wild Bunch." He also was a regular on the 1980s television drama "Airwolf" and a frequent guest star on a variety of shows. In addition to his Oscar for "Marty," Borgnine was nominated for three Emmys -- the most recent in 2009, for a guest spot on the hospital drama "ER" -- and won a life achievement award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2010. Tova Borgnine, whom the actor married in 1973, was his fifth wife. His previous marriages included a brief 1964 union with Broadway legend Ethel Merman that lasted barely a month before the couple separated. People we've lost in 2012: The lives they lived . CNN's Douglas Hyde contributed to this report.

NEW: Borgnine died of kidney failure in Los Angeles, his manager says . Borgnine won an Academy Award for 1955's "Marty" He went on to television stardom in the 1960s in the comedy "McHale's Navy" One of Borgnine's late-in-life credits was the cartoon "SpongeBob SquarePants"

Real Sociedad captain Xabi Prieto claims the team are looking forward to starting work under 'great coach' David Moyes. Moyes will begin the task of rebuilding his reputation in La Liga after he was appointed by the Basque outfit late on Monday night, seven months after the ill-fated tenure at Manchester United which so damaged his standing as a manager was brought to a premature end. Moyes, sacked by United in April following a dismal first season in charge at Old Trafford, has been handed a one-and-a-half-year deal by the Primera Division outfit. David Moyes will be hoping he can prove his doubters wrong after an unsuccessful spell at Manchester United . Real Sociedad captain Xabi Preito (left) is looking forward to playing under former United manager Moyes . Sociedad posted this welcome banner to Moyes on their Twitter page on Monday evening . In an interview with Real Sociedad TV, midfielder Prieto described the Scot as a 'great coach, very prestigious' and said the team were 'looking forward to meeting him and working under him'. Prieto also paid tribute to Moyes' work at Everton and hoped he could achieve similar results at Sociedad. He said: 'It is very difficult to be at a club for many years as he was at Everton, a sign that he did very well, growing the club and qualifying for several years to play in Europe. 'We hope that with La Real something similar can happen, to help us grow, give us stability and improve the team.' Sociedad announced in a statement on their official website that Moyes would arrive in San Sebastian on Wednesday and would be presented to the media the following day. They had initially said the Scot would arrive on Tuesday and take his first training session on Wednesday. Moyes, whose contract with Sociedad runs until June 30, 2016, left United just 10 months into a six-year contract after being named as the successor to Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2013. At the time of his departure, United, the defending champions, were seventh in the Barclays Premier League and 23 points behind leaders Liverpool. Moyes was greeted with a 'Chosen One' banner at Old Trafford after joining the club from Everton . The Scot follows in the footsteps of John Toshack (above) and Chris Coleman in taking charge of Sociedad . Wales boss Coleman, pictured in 2007, was the last British manager to have been in charge of Real Sociedad . Moyes also left the 20-time title winners with a host of unwanted records broken during his tenure, including failing to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in almost two decades. The 51-year-old, who became the third shortest-serving manager in the club's history, won 27, drew nine and lost 15 of his 51 games in charge of United. Manchester United (2013-14) P 51 W 27 D 9 L 15 WP 53% . Everton (2002-13) P 516 W 217 D 139 L 160 WP 42% . Preston North End (1998-2002) P 234 W 113 D58 L 63 WP 48% . He has taken time to choose his next move in the knowledge that it is a crucial one. Before his United disappointment Moyes enjoyed 11 critically-acclaimed years at Everton, leading the club to five top-six finishes. The Toffees qualified for the Champions League for the first time under Moyes' stewardship - although they lost in the qualifying stages of the competition - and he also took the Merseyside club to the FA Cup final in 2009. The former Preston boss takes over a Sociedad side, who moved out of the Primera Division relegation zone on Sunday night with a 2-1 home win over champions Atletico Madrid. Real Sociedad were looking for a new manager after Jagoba Arrasate was relieved of his duties . Moyes will stand in the dugout at the impressive Anoeta Stadium in the picturesque San Sebastian . B team coach Asier Santana was in charge for that match following last week's sacking of Jagoba Arrasate. It was only the club's second league win in 11 games this season and left them in 15th place, but level on points with second-bottom Levante. Arrasate was dismissed in the wake of a hugely disappointing start to the campaign which saw Sociedad - who finished fourth in 2013 and seventh last term - win just one of their opening 10 league fixtures as well as go out of the Europa League. Ex-West Brom and Real Betis boss Pepe Mel also had been in the running to replace Arrasate, but Moyes was reportedly Sociedad's first choice. Moyes' first game in charge is set to be the trip to newly-promoted Deportivo La Coruna after the international break. Moyes becomes the fourth British manager of the San Sebastian-based outfit, following in the footsteps of Englishman Harry Lowe and Welsh duo John Toshack and Chris Coleman.

Real Sociedad captain Xabi Prieto has welcomed the appointment of former Manchester United manager David Moyes . Moyes signed an 18 month deal to take up the reins at San Sebastian . The Scotsman will take charge of training for the first time on Wednesday .

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (CNN) -- A Brazilian TV host denies authorities' charges that he orchestrated the murders of drug dealers and other criminals to generate sensational footage for his show. TV host Wallace Souza is accused of ordering hits on criminal rivals and then covering the deaths for ratings. Wallace Souza, a state legislator and former host of a police TV show called "Canal Livre," also was a drug trafficker, officials say. And to get rid of the competition -- and drive up ratings -- he would order that criminal rivals be killed and then would have his camera crews arrive first on the scene, authorities say. "In truth, they went as far as creating acts," said Thomas Augusto Vasconcelos, intelligence secretary for Amazonas state. "It's been determined that the crimes were committed in order to generate news for the program." Souza has denied the accusations, and his lawyer has criticized key testimony and questioned the investigation. "In all the investigations carried out by the public minister and the police, up to now they have not presented any technical evidence of any type," attorney Francisco Balieiro said on Brazilian TV. State officials say Souza faces charges of forming a criminal gang, corrupting testimony, drug trafficking and illegal possession of firearms. He remains free because of legislative immunity, officials say. Watch report on Souza's former show, charges he faces » . State Attorney General Otavio Gomes told the Agencia Folha news outlet that Souza's gang has been linked to six slayings. But prosecutor Pedro Bezerra told the news outlet he could not bring murder charges against Souza for lack of concrete evidence. The Amazonas State Justice Tribunal, which held a hearing on the accusations, said the criminal complaint was based on testimony by former Souza associate Moacir Jorge da Costa. After Jorge's arrest, he talked about the gang's reputed activities, including slayings. Souza's lawyer, Balieiro, said police and public ministry officials did not have standing to investigate the TV show host because he is a legislator. Furthermore, Balieiro said, Jorge's testimony was obtained in an irregular manner. According to the state public minister, who brought the charges against Souza, the legislator's son, Raphael, belonged to the criminal gang. Raphael Souza has been convicted of homicide, drug trafficking and illegal gun possession. Fifteen people connected with Souza, among them police officers and a chief, have been arrested. Souza, a former police officer who left the force more than 20 years ago after being implicated in a fuel theft case, received the most votes of any candidate in the last election in Amazonas state. His TV show went off the air last year after the investigation into his possible criminal involvement intensified. He lives in the jungle city of Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, a region of Brazil known for its prevalent lawlessness. Souza would often rail on his lunchtime show about the killings and other atrocities being committed in the area. Journalist Fabiana Andrea Frayssinet contributed to this report .

Wallace Souza is a legislator and former host of a police TV show, "Canal Livre" Authorities: Souza would order slayings, then have camera crews arrive on scene . Police also say Souza is a drug trafficker; Souza's lawyer denies the accusations . Despite charges he faces, Souza remains free because of legislative immunity .

(CNN) -- Justice was done Friday as Burkina Faso star Jonathan Pitroipa was cleared to play his part in the nation's quest for Africa Cup of Nations glory. Pitroipa, who was wrongly sent off by referee Slim Jdidi during the semifinal win against Ghana, was left devastated after being shown a red card in the 117th minute. But after Thursday's decision to suspend the Tunisian official, which followed an error-strewn performance, the Confederation of African Football has given its permission for Pitroipa to play. AFCON referee suspended . "The red card is withdrawn," CAF secretary general Hicham El Amrani told journalists after the disciplinary commission's decision. Pitroipa, who scored the only goal of the game in the 1-0 quarterfinal win over Togo, also netted during the 4-0 thrashing of Ethiopia. "I am happy because to take part in this final was my objective," Pitroipa told AFP. "Being red-carded, it was as if my dream was not going to be realized. But to know that I will take to the pitch with my teammates makes me very happy." What can we expect from the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations? And CAF president Issa Haytaou confirmed that the Rennes man will be allowed to play following an admission of error by Jdidi in his match report. "Everyone realised that this referee did not officiate well," Issa Hayatou told reporters. "They have told me the referee has sent a letter saying he got it wrong. "The referee admitted his error in his report given to the (CAF) secretary general (Hicham El Amrani) -- he recognized that he had got it wrong." The decision will come as a huge relief to the Burkinabe, which is already without injured striker Alain Traore for Sunday's final. Burkina Faso fairytale ready for one last chapter . "It is good news for Burkina Faso, for the team and especially for Jonathan because he is a player who did not deserve to be suspended," Burkina Faso coach Paul Put told AFP. "He is someone who plays with flair on the pitch and fans love to see players like that. So we are happy that CAF has made the correct decision." Before its arrival in South Africa,'The Stallions' had sought to end a run which had seen it fail to win a single game at the tournament since it hosted the event in 1998. There was little to suggest that it would fare any better this time around, winning just two of its previous 26 games, drawing six and suffering 18 defeats. Last year, Burkina Faso lost all three matches and was fortunate to make the finals after fielding an ineligible player in a qualifier against Namibia. But the Burkinabe will now go into Sunday's final at Soweto's Soccer City dreaming of pulling off a triumph with Pitroipa ready to lead from the front.

Burkina Faso will have Jonathan Pitroipa available for Sunday's final against Nigeria . Pitroipa has had his red card from the semifinal rescinded following referee's report . CAF announced that referee had sent letter saying he got it wrong . Tunisian official Jdidi Slim was suspended following his performance in semifinal .

(CNN) -- An Ohio man says he is seeking a jury trial on a charge of driving under the influence that was slapped on him after he crashed the vehicle he was piloting -- a barstool. The barstool was welded to a small metal frame attached to a five-horsepower lawnmower engine. "It was just an accident. I mean a little minor accident," Kile Wygle, 28, explained in an interview this week with CNN affiliate WSYX. His homemade vehicle was made from a barstool welded to a small metal frame attached to a five-horsepower lawnmower engine, four wheels and a lawnmower steering wheel, according to the Newark, Ohio, police accident report. Officers responding to a report of a crash with injuries March 4 said they found Wygle nursing his injuries and highly intoxicated. According to the police report, when asked how much he had had to drink, Wygle responded, "a lot." He crashed during his attempt at a U-turn while speeding down the street in front of his home -- a daring move from atop the specialized barstool even for the most nimble and sober of men. Measuring 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds, and after having consumed what he later told an officer was 15 beers, Wygle appeared to be neither. He was treated at a hospital for minor injuries. According to the police report, Wygle claims his unique vehicle can reach a speed of 38 miles per hour, though at the time of the crash he was going around 20. He entered a plea of not guilty.

Kile Wygle: "It was just an accident. I mean a little minor accident" Barstool was welded to a small metal frame and lawnmower engine . He crashed during his attempt at a U-turn while speeding down the street . Wygle told officers he had consumed 15 beers .

By . Jessica Jerreat . The wreckage of a wooden steamship carrying 106 passengers, which sank in San Francisco Bay in 1888, has been found. More than a century after the City of Chester was nearly sliced in half by a ship twice its size, sonar has located the boat 216ft below the surface. The wreckage from the bay's second-worst maritime disaster was found as oceanographers charted shipping channels before the America's Cup. Located: The wreck of the City of Chester has been found 126 years after it sank under the Golden Gate Bridge. This 2013 image provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows a multi-beam sonar profile view of the shipwreck of the iron and wood steamship . Tragic: The City of Chester was carrying 90 passengers on the 1888 trip from the San Francisco bay to Eureka. She was split in two by a ship more than twice its size, killing 16 people and becoming the bay's second-worst maritime disaster . On the day the Chester sank, killing 16 people including two children and three crew members, a dense fog was filling the bay. The Chester was carrying passengers from San Francisco to Eureka when it collided with a large immigrant ship. More . than a century after it sank, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric . Administration team has found the resting place of the doomed ship. The . crew used sonic imaging equipment to capture new three-dimensional . images of the wreckage in May last year, and released their findings . this week. 'Using a . multi-beam sonar system, crews got nice three-dimensional sound pictures . of the bottom that showed a wreck sitting upright,' James Delgado, a NOAA shipwreck researcher and archaeologist who was chief scientist for the 2010 mapping of the Titanic, said. The . shipwreck's rough location was first discovered two years after it . sank, but the sonar and renewed research into the collision has . unearthed new details. Discovery: Teams using sonar to check routes for the America's Cup found the wreckage under the Golden Gate Bridge . The sonar showed the wreck's hull rising about 18ft from the sea bed, and clearly reveals the gash in the hull which caused it to sink. When researchers looked into the background of the crash, they found tons of newspaper articles and transcripts of testimony from the accident investigation. Delgado said newspapers at the time put much of the blame for the deaths on the crew of the immigrant steamer, the Oceanic, which survived the ordeal with a few dents in its hull. Yet, NOAA scientists say much of the newspaper coverage failed to include witness accounts of heroism, and that the official investigation faulted the Chester's skipper with the accident. 'The papers initially reacted, talking about the tragedy and accusations that the Chinese crew stood by and let people drown,' Delgado said. 'But what happens is you start to see things also come out ... countering that. Some leaped in water to save a drowning child.' 'History is made up of a  lot of people who never made it into the books,' Delgado told NBC Bay Area. 'Same with this shipwreck. It was filled with everyday people who got into a situation beyond their control.' A thick fog was covering the bay on the morning of August 22, when the Chester set off, but research showed the seas were calm. But there was a big incoming tide, which created a rip current off Fort Point near the mouth of the bay, which affected the Chester's ability to move quickly. The two ships spotted each other when they were about a half-mile apart but failed to reverse their engines in time. The Oceanic's bow went 10ft into the hull of the Chester, and the Oceanic's captain kept some momentum in the ship to keep the hole plugged in an effort to give people a chance to escape. However, five or six minutes later, the Chester was gone. 'The Oceanic crew was up on the bow reaching down to survivors on the Chester, lifting them on the deck,' Robert Schwemmer, NOAA's West Coast regional maritime heritage coordinator, said. 'After the collision, in five or six minutes, the Oceanic crew went on to save a lot of people.' The sinking was the second worst maritime disaster in the Bay, after the Rio de Jeneiro struck rocks on the way into port in 1901, exploded and sank with the loss of 130 people. No attempt will be made to raise the ship but a display with the Chester's history and new images will open at San Francisco's Chrissy Field, which looks over the spot where the ship went down in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Sonar shows City of Chester standing upright on sea bed . Maritime accident killed 16 on board, including two children . Shipwreck discovered by teams using sonar to check for obstacles before America's Cup .

By . Chris Pleasance . A pair of rotting corpses have been found inside an abandoned funeral home two years after it was shut down for not cremating bodies. One of the bodies has been identified as that of Marshall Lee Allen, who died of pneumonia in 2011 aged 63. His daughter, Kimberly Wall, says the experince of trying to track down her father's remains for almost three years has sent her 'to hell and back.' Two bodies have been found inside a funeral home in North Carolina two years after it was shut down when clients complained remains were not being returned to them . The bodies were discovered after former owner Mary McLendon admitted in court on Wednesday that there was a body inside the shuttered property . Speaking to Wsoctv, she said she spent $1,500 on a viewing and cremation service for Allen at McLendon Funeral Home, but his remains were never returned to her. Police eventually tracked the body down after the home's former owner, Mary McLendon, admitted in court on Wednesday that there was still a corpse inside the property. Officers found one body wrapped in blankets inside a casket, before unexpectedly discovering another lying on a table, which has yet to be identified. Ms Wall said: 'You can't explain it. This is something I wouldn't wish on nobody. She destroyed so many lives that you can't fit back together.' McLendon . Funeral Home was closed in 2012 after clients complained that McLendon . was taking payments for cremations and burial services without . performing them. When police raided the home on that occasion, they found three bodies left inside. Police found one body wrapped in blankets inside a casket, but were surprised to discover another lying on a table. One body has been identified as that of Marshall Lee Allen, who died in 2011 . McLendon has been sentenced to between 6 and 17 months in jail after being found guilty of obtaining property by false pretenses . One of them was Richard Bennett, who had died five months before his body was found, authorities said at the time. McLendon was sentenced to 6 to 17 months in prison at Anson County court for obtaining property by false pretenses. Speaking about the trial, Wall added: 'I wish she could have been charged with murder or something because she killed a part of me when she did that.' Wsoctv also claims that McLendon had a history of violations dating back to 2006, including changing dates on death certificates, using funeral funds for her own use, and failing to refund clients. In 2010, deputies found another three dead bodies inside the funeral home that weren't properly disposed of.

McLendon Funeral Home closed in 2012 after complaints from clients . Former owner Mary McLendon has been jailed for not burying bodies . Police searched property after she admitted there was a corpse inside . Officers found that body, and were then surprised to find another . One has been identified as Marshall Lee Allen, who died in 2011 . His daughter says the experience has put her through 'hell and back'

By . James Rush . PUBLISHED: . 11:21 EST, 30 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:25 EST, 30 May 2013 . Prosecutors have admitted they 'failed' to charge a man for an attack two months before he killed his pregnant ex-fiancée and their unborn child. Unemployed alcoholic Tony McLernon, 24, lured Eystna Blunnie to her horrific end with a text saying 'Got a surprise for you, hope you like it'. The jobless computer game addict, high on cannabis, then forced the mother-to-be to the ground where he repeatedly stamped on her head and kicked her. Lured: Eystna Blunnie, left, was found dying in the street after being attacked by her ex-boyfriend Tony McLernon, right . Jailed: Tony McLernon, of Harlow, Essex, was found guilty of murder . A review by the CPS has found McLernon should have been prosecuted for an earlier assault on Miss Blunnie. The 20-year-old catering student suffered massive facial and head injuries in the murder on a housing estate in Harlow, Essex. Her unborn daughter Rose - who was due just three days later - was also killed in the savage onslaught in June 2012. McLernon had been arrested two months before the attack for strangling Miss Blunnie but the Crown Prosecution Service failed to recommend he be charged. Grace Ononiwu, chief crown prosecutor for the East of England, said the 'rational decision' would have been 'to authorise a charge' based on the CPS domestic violence policy. She said: 'For this failure to authorise a charge in relation to the April 2012 incident, I have unreservedly apologised to Mr and Mrs Blunnie in person and in writing for the distress caused by this decision.' Chilling: A CCTV image shows Eystna Blunnie walking down the street on her way to meet Tony McLernon . McLernon was jailed for at least 27 years in March when he was found guilty of murder and child destruction following a trial lasting just over two weeks at Chelmsford Crown Court. The trial heard he lured Eystna Blunnie, 20, to her death in July last year after telling friends she was trying to ruin his new relationship. When they met near her home in Harlow he jumped on her, kicked her and left her to die in a pool of blood. 'For this failure to authorise a charge . in relation to the April 2012 incident, I have unreservedly apologised . to Mr and Mrs Blunnie in person and in writing for the distress caused . by this decision' - Grace Ononiwu, chief crown prosecutor for the East of England . Ordering a minimum tariff of 27 years of a life sentence, Mr Justice Fulford said: 'It is undoubtedly the case that he brutally and repeatedly attacked Eystna Blunnie during the course of their relationship. 'He told friends he wanted her significantly harmed or killed. In April he strangled her, causing the baby distress. 'This killing was not the result of an unthinking moment of anger but instead he had contemplated the attack over a long period of time. 'The killing was truly terrible. The horrific screams heard by those nearby show the suffering and pain she suffered and for some period of time she would have been aware of the fatal consequences for herself and her child. 'He has shown not the slightest shred of remorse.' McLernon showed no emotion as he was led from the dock. When questioned by police McLernon claimed she had been attacked by two men and he had been unable to defend her. But the jury took just two hours to find him guilty of both murder and child destruction. Investigation: Police outside the home of Tony McLernon last year . McLernon had earlier told the court how he had been drinking more than 20 litres of cider and Lambrini a day and was addicted to the computer game Guitar Hero at the time of the attack. He described how he would rarely leave his bedroom, instead spending hours on end playing the Xbox game. Giving evidence, McLernon said he had been 'over the moon' about the impending birth adding that, in the days leading up to Miss Blunnie’s death, they had been getting on well. He said that his drinking and gaming habits put a strain on his relationship with Miss Blunnie. Distraught: People lay flowers on the side of a main road in Harlow near to where Eystna Blunnie and her unborn baby were brutally beaten to death . CCTV footage captured a heavily-pregnant Eystna Blunnie, a catering student and barmaid, walking through the Harlow estate to meet McLernon talking on her mobile phone. Asked if the text message was part of a scheme to tempt her to meet him, he said 'absolutely not' adding the surprise was that he had brought his dog, Alan, to see her. McLernon, who said he had suffered from depression and was prone to self-harm, denied claims he had physically abused her and previous partners.

Tony McLernon  jailed for 27 years for killing his ex-fiancée and unborn child . CPS has admitted it 'failed' to charge him for an attack two months earlier . He killed Eystna Blunnie and unborn daughter in savage attack in June 2012 .

New Delhi, India (CNN) -- India's prime minister said he has nothing to hide and would be "happy" to appear before a parliamentary panel looking into a multi-billion dollar telecom scandal. "I wish to state categorically that I have nothing to hide from the public at large, and as a proof of my bona fides, I intend to write to the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee that I shall be happy to appear before the PAC if it chooses to ask me to do so," Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in a speech at a national meeting of the ruling Congress party. "I sincerely believe that, like Caesar's wife, the prime minister should be above suspicion, and it is for this reason that I am prepared to appear before the PAC even though there is no precedent to this effect." Opposition parties have stepped up their attacks on Singh, hailed as the father of India's economic reforms, since the country's main auditor reported in November that a sale of a second-generation wireless spectrum two years ago had been carried out at below-market prices. According to the government audit, the treasury lost up to $31 billion from under-valuation of airwaves. The alleged scam, seen as the biggest to hit India in recent times, has forced the country's Telecom Minister A. Raja, to step down. Raja, member of a key regional ally of Singh's Congress party, denies the charges. But opposition lawmakers are seeking a larger probe into the 2008 phone-license awards, and accuse Singh of having not acted swiftly. India's prime minister, on his part, insists the wrongdoers will be punished. "It is my promise to you that no guilty person will be spared -- whether he is a political leader or a government official, whichever party he may belong to and howsoever powerful he may be," Singh said Monday. The damning audit report came on the heels of allegations of massive fraud in sports and real estate. Investigators are already probing complaints of financial malfeasance in the Commonwealth Games that India hosted in October. And several politicians, military officials and bureaucrats are the subjects of a separate inquiry for allegedly taking apartments meant for war-widows. CNN's Harmeet Shah Singh contributed to this report.

Opposition parties have stepped up their attacks on Singh . An audit shows government sold airwaves at under value . The audit follows massive fraud in sports and real-estate .

(CNN) -- Despite sporadic reports of violence, such as the deaths of 10 policemen in Mombasa, so far Kenyans have been keen to show a peaceful vote in the East African state. Many have taken to social media to show images of long, peaceful voting lines, proud voters with ink stained fingers, and politicians casting their votes. CNN asked Kenyans on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to show their images from voting day, and were flooded with responses. Here are some of the best. Check out the Storify on mobile and send your election experiences to iReport. .

Millions of Kenyans voting in first elections since 2007 polls marred by violence . Eight candidates are vying for the presidency . Kenyans on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook have been documenting the largely peaceful vote .

(EW.com) -- The second season of the decline and fall of western civilization "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" premiered Wednesday night on TLC — and it's safe to say that fame and fortune haven't changed the Thompson clan one lick. They're still living in a modest single-family home in tiny McIntyre, Georgia. They're still eating their special brand of locally-sourced cuisine (on the menu tonight: roadkill pig!). They're still making their own fun, breaking out buckets of butter for impromptu food fights and throwing a Dukes of Hazzard — sorry, that's Dukesy Hazzard — theme party for patriarch Sugar Bear's birthday. And, of course, they're still doing wondrous, eminently quotable things to the English language — which viewers like you can enjoy at home, thanks to TLC's helpful subtitles. What are the lines you'll be repeating incredulously over brunch this weekend? Try these: . "PECHES" -- A sign at a farm stand near the Thompson family's house. You know, like that 1996 hit: "Movin' to the country/Gonna et a lot of peches." "Not having my phone really sucks, like monkey balls. Feel like I'm back in, like, medieval times, because when they had black and white TV, when there was no cell phones, ****, I don't see how anyone lasted." -- Mama June, instantly regretting her decision to stash every cell phone in the house in an empty cheese ball bucket. "I'm kind of one of those, 'do as I say, not...' You do what I say, not what you tell me what to do." -- Mama June, admitting that she actually still has her phone. "You fart in your hand, and throw it at your enemy's face." -- Alana, a.k.a. Honey Boo Boo herself, explaining her brilliant signature wrestling move: the Cup-a-Fart. "My roadkill wish list is a rabbit, a hamster, a monkey. They go crazy. A bird, a butterfly, a porcupine. Because you can pick your teeth with the quills. And... a wild pig. Raccoon. A gopher. A helephant. A lion. This is making he hungry, too." -- Alana, describing the local delicacies she'd most like to sup upon. "Why waste money in the store when it's fresher and cleaner on the side of the road?" -- Mama June, exercising common sense. "HOG JOWL! HOG JOWL!" -- The family, chanting, as they bring their prize pig home. "It's lost." -- Pumpkin, a.k.a. Lauryn, after hiding an errant kernel of corn in her bellybutton. "This is what happens every time I leave y'all by y'all selves!" -- Mama June, arriving home to find three of her daughters literally covered in butter. So like... the trash bag outfits and wasted dairy products are a regular thing? "I like go-karts. Who don't like go-karts? Go karts rhyme with go-farts." -- Alana, a budding poet. "Caw, caw!" -- McIntyre's very own Punctuation Crow, handy as a way to punch up confessional interviews. "The can's helping you now." -- Chubbs, a.k.a. Jessica, leaving her mother to plan the Dukesy Hazzard party all by her lonesome. "Today is my birthday. Yippee. [scratches b***s]" -- Sugar Bear, American hero. "I just closed my eyes, imagined Daisy Duke, and started whacking it." -- Sugar Bear again. He's talking about a piñata. "HUMPIN TO PLEASE." -- A McIntyre sign that gives "PECHES" a run for its money. "Okay... whatev... I mean..." -- Mama June, immediately after exiting the bathroom and finding that Sugar Bear wants to have some "alone time" with her. "If you wanna romance me and you wanna get in my pants, per se — new crockpot, new deep fryer, might get you to first base." -- Mama June, explaining how to rub her the right way (and testing out her Latin skills). "I really had a wonderful birthday, but this is the best part of the day." -- Sugar Bear, on getting to spend some one-on-one time with his wife. Aww, these nuts really do care about each other! Did I miss anything? See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

Honey Boo Boo and her family are back with a new season . Mama June stashed every cell phone in the house in an empty cheese ball bucket . They threw a Dukes of Hazzard party .

By . David Mccormack . Dennis Mitchell, 45, is facing more than 20 years in prison after being charged with attempted kidnapping, in addition to soliciting prostitution in a separate incident . A Wisconsin bar has been forced to cancel its weekly Lingerie Night event after a regular customer attempted to kidnap one of the bartenders earlier this month. The incident occurred at the Eager Beaver Bar in Appleton on July 10 and lead to the arrest of Dennis Mitchell, 45. He is facing more than 20 years in prison after being charged with attempted kidnapping, in addition to soliciting prostitution in a separate incident. Mitchell . ran up to the bartender as she walked to her vehicle on July 10 and . tried to put a plastic bag over her head, reports the Appleton Post Crescent. When the woman yelled, neighbors approached and he ran away. The Thursday night tradition, during which bartenders served customers while dressed only in underwear, has now been cancelled. Owner . Christina Coon has removed all photos and mentions of previous Lingerie . Nights from the bar’s Facebook page, but denied that this was an . attempt to ‘hide or deny any events that have been held.’ ‘All photos of our Thursday night bartender photos have been deleted to ensure the safety of our employees at this time,’ wrote Coon in the message posted last Tuesday. Scroll down for video . Wisconsin bar the Eager Beaver has been forced to cancel its weekly Lingerie Night event after a regular customer attempted to kidnap one of the bartenders earlier this month . Two server at the Beaver Inn pose for the camera, although there is no suggestion that either was the girl attacked two weeks ago in the car park . 'Unfortunately it only takes one mans lack of good judgement to ruin things for all.' This isn’t enough for some locals, who are demanding that the bar be shut and have launched an Eager to Close the Beaver Facebook page. Mitchell was a regular at the bar prior to his arrest and Coon told authorities that she had previously asked him to stop photographing bartenders during Lingerie Nights. Police have also linked his truck to a solicitation of prostitution incident in May, when he allegedly offered a woman walking down the street $1,000 for oral sex, police say. Mitchell appeared in court last week and his bond was set at $50,000. He is scheduled back in court on July 24. Owner Christina Coon has removed all photos and mentions of previous Lingerie Nights from the bar's Facebook page, but denied that this was an attempt to 'hide or deny any events that have been held'

The Eager Beaver Bar in Appleton, Wisconsin, has been forced to cancel its weekly Lingerie Night event after an attempted kidnapping . Regular Dennis Mitchell, 45, is facing up to 20 years in jail after the July 10 incident . Owner Christina Coon has removed all photos and mentions of previous Lingerie . Nights from the bar’s Facebook page . She denied that she was attempting to 'hide or deny any events that have been held'

A man suspected of taking a drugs overdose was arrested after he violently attacked two paramedics - before speeding off in their AMBULANCE. The ambulance crew treating the 37-year-old patient were forced to call police yesterday after he became so violent they were unable to control him. The man assaulted the two male paramedics just before 3pm on the High Street in Bloxwich, West Midlands, after being helped from a flat to the ambulance. The damaged ambulance. A police car was also . damaged trying to stop the fleeing man and the police officer driving . needed to be taken to hospital . But before the police could arrive the man forced the paramedics out of their ambulance, jumped behind the wheel and sped off with the vehicle's back doors still open. He then drove erratically down the busy road for nearly two miles, making at least two U-turns, before crashing into a police car outside the village's Baptist Church. After being forced to stop by the collision the man was then arrested. West Midlands Police confirmed the man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault and vehicle theft. He was then held at a nearby police station. Inspector Tony Banton, from Bloxwich Police Station, said: 'The ambulance was driven off with its rear doors still open. A West Midlands Ambulance like that pictured was stolen after a man attacked two paramedics . 'It was reported being driven very erratically and we're looking into whether it may have struck other vehicles. 'A response vehicle quickly picked up the ambulance and the man was arrested within five minutes of the emergency call coming in to us. 'There was a low-level collision between the ambulance and the arresting officer's car. That officer has been taken to hospital suffering whiplash-like injuries. 'Two male members of ambulance staff were also taken to hospital as a precaution but are not seriously injured.' A man was said to have driven erratically along busy Bloxwich High Street in the West Midlands . A spokesperson for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: 'Two ambulance crew members were attacked by a man they'd been called to help, and who they believed needed hospital treatment. For them to be attacked is disgraceful. 'Thankfully they've not been seriously hurt but no doubt this was a shocking, unexpected incident, and one of our vehicles has been badly damaged and will have to be taken off the road for some time to be repaired. 'We won't tolerate any abuse against our staff. Anyone attacking ambulance crew can expect the full weight of the law to come down on them. We will do all we can to help the police with their inquiry.'

Paramedics called to man suspected of overdosing on illegal drugs . But as they tried to help him he attacked the men and drove off in vehicle . Police car collided with ambulance in a bid to stop him and officer hurt . Neither the arresting officer or the two paramedics were seriously injured . Man, 37, arrested after incident in Bloxwich High Street, West Midlands .

(CNN) -- The pilot of an air tanker battling a wildfire at Yosemite National Park died after the tanker crashed, Cal Fire said. The tanker was being used to help battle Dog Rock Fire when authorities lost contact with its pilot Tuesday afternoon, Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said in a statement. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the plane -- which had only one pilot on board -- went down near an entrance to the park. On Wednesday, officials identified the pilot as Geoffrey "Craig" Hunt, 62. "We continue to mourn the tragic loss of Craig," said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. "We know wildland firefighting is an inherently dangerous job, but Craig made the ultimate sacrifice." Video from CNN affiliate KCRA showed smoke and flames rising from what appeared to be a tree-lined ridge in a remote valley. A helicopter could be seen dropping what appeared to be water on the blaze before flying from the scene. The tanker that crashed was an S-2T, one of several aircraft that Cal Fire deploys to battle wildfires. According to Cal Fire, it bought 26 such planes from the U.S. Department of Defense in 1996 and fitted them "with modern, powerful turboprop engines" that made them "faster, safer, and more maneuverable." All but a few of those planes, equipped with a payload of retardant to drop on flames, are now being used statewide. The aircraft went down "under unknown circumstances," said Gregor, the FAA spokesman. The Dog Rock Fire was reported around 2:45 p.m. (5:45 p.m. ET) Tuesday between the park boundary and the Arch Rock entrance station. The blaze has already prompted the evacuation of 60 homes, most of them vacation rentals, in the park's Foresta area, according to Cobb.

NEW: The pilot is identified as Geoffrey "Craig" Hunt, 62 . Authorities lost contact with an air tanker while it is fighting a blaze in Yosemite . Investigators from the FAA, NTSB should arrive on site Wednesday . 60 homes have been evacuated due to the blaze, according to Yosemite spokesman .

Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez and Angel di Maria were among the Argentina players who trained at Manchester City's training ground on Monday ahead of their side's friendly match against Portugal. Manchester United star Di Maria trained on enemy territory ahead of his Argentina's encounter at his home stadium. Tevez, who has been recalled to Argentina's national team set up after missing the 2014 World Cup, trained at his former side's ground ahead of his return to Old Trafford. Angel di Maria (left) and Lionel Messi (right) both took part in Argentina's training session on Monday . Carlos Tevez (right) looks in buoyant mood during the training session at Manchester City's training ground . Javier Mascherano stands next to fellow countryman Messi after arriving at City's training complex . The Argentina players stay focused in training ahead of their showdown with Portugal . Former Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano and Tottenham winger Erik Lamela were also put through their paces by Argentina's coaching staff. Argentina will be hoping they can follow up their recent 2-1 win over Croatia on English soil when they take on Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. Former Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino has seen his side win three out of a possible four matches since taking over the reins from Alejandro Sabella. And, of course, all eyes will be on the latest installment of Messi vs Ronaldo, who have been in opposition 27 times before. The Argentine's side has been victorious 12 times and Ronaldo's seven. Messi (centre) stares into the distance Argentina's players are put through their paces . Argentina's national team - including captain Messi - warm up ahead of their match at Old Trafford . Argentina coach Gerardo Martino looks relaxed ahead of the World Cup runners-up's friendly on Tuesday . VIDEO Santos plays down Messi-Ronaldo clash .

Argentina trained at Manchester City's training ground on Monday . Lionel Messi and Co will take on Portugal at Old Trafford on Tuesday night . Argentina will be hoping to follow up their recent win against Croatia with another victory . It is the latest installment of Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo as the pair go to war over the Ballon d'Or .

By . Pat Hurst, Press Association . West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison has been freed from custody after a judge granted him bail following a private court hearing. The 21-year-old was in custody and not present at Manchester Crown Court to hear the bail application made by his lawyers. Former Manchester United midfielder Morrison is accused of two counts of common assault on his ex-girlfriend Reah Mansoor, 19 and her mother Parveen Mansoor, 39, in the early hours of last Sunday morning. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Ravel Morrison training with West Ham during pre-season . Released: Ravel Morrison has been freed on bail . Thumbs up: Morrison leaving Strangeways Prison just after 5pm on Monday . Trouble: The midfielder was jailed after being arrested for two counts of common assault . On Monday, Judge Michael Henshall granted Morrison bail. An . application to allow the press and public into court for the . hearing was rejected by the judge and the hearing went ahead in private. Morrison was given bail but his bail conditions were not given by the court following a request from the press. Victims: Morrison is alleged to have assaulted ex-girlfriend Reah Mansoor (left) and her mother Parveen . Busy: The Manchester city centre bar where the alleged incident took place is a popular choice for locals . Despite being touted as a bright prospect at Old Trafford, Morrison only appeared in the League Cup before former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson sold him to West Ham for £650,000 in January 2012. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce took him to Upton Park but he was soon shipped out to Birmingham and QPR on loan. Morrison is next due to appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Ravel Morrison has been granted bail after a private court hearing . The 21-year-old was not present at the bail application hearing . West Ham midfielder accused of two counts of common assault on his ex-girlfriend Reah Mansoor and her mother Parveen Mansoor .

By . Lillian Radulova for Daily Mail Australia . and Australian Associated Press . A disturbing video of a union official verbally abusing a building inspector at a construction site in Adelaide has emerged at the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. The commission, which is looking into allegations against officials from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), was shown the footage of union official John Perkovic yelling at Seamus Flynn, a Fair Work Building and Construction inspector. Mr Perkovic can be heard repeatedly calling Mr Flynn a 'f***ing piece of s***' in the video, in which he also appears to touch Mr Flynn's stomach while saying 'look at this gut'. Scroll down for video . The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption was shown a video of union official John Perkovic yelling at Seamus Flynn, a Fair Work Building and Construction inspector on Tuesday . During the verbal attack, Mr Perkovic stood inches from his victim's face and Mr Flynn could be heard saying 'get away from me' and 'don't touch me'. Mr Perkovic: Do you want a f****** photo, you f****** piece of s***? Mr Flynn: I'll take this further. Fair Work Inspector Angeliek Peters: Just to let you know, this is being recorded. Mr Perkovic: You gonna take it further. You're just about to have a heart attack, you're s******* yellow, you piece of s***. Mr Flynn: I can... Mr Perkovic: Go f***... and brush your teeth next time, you piece of s***, all right? Mr Flynn: (Indistinct). Ms Peters: This is being recorded so you're (indistinct). Mr Perkovic: Oh yeah. Not a coward like you, you piece of s***. Mr Flynn: Don't touch me. Mr Perkovic: Look at this gut, hey. Mr Flynn: Get away from me. Mr Perkovic: Look at this gut. Ms Peters: Guys, you knew that this was being recorded. Mr Perkovic: Look at him. Mr Flynn: Get away from me. Mr Perkovic: He's using his gut, he's using his gut, the piece of s***. You f****** coward. I'd f****** take you to school, you f****** piece of s*** . Mr Flynn has arrived to the building site to check reports that the union had entered without permits, AAP reports. In his statement, Mr Flynn said Mr Perkovic 'quickly moved towards me, saying `you f****ing maggot, what are you taking a photo of me for you piece of s***'. The video also shows Mr Perkovic saying: 'You f***ing coward, I'd f***ing take you to school, you f***ing piece of s***'. CFMEU's national construction secretary Dave Noonan, addressed the video in a press release by saying: 'Swearing on building sites is nothing new and doesn't warrant a $53 million royal commission'. Other inspectors have also reported to the commission that 'intimidation tactics' have been used against them by union officials, according to the ABC. Matthew Barr claimed that eight officials confronted him at Sydney's Barangaroo construction site less than two months ago, while Jared O'Connor told the commission that a union official called him a 'grub' and announced his mobile phone number over a megaphone at the same site. 'The threat of violence through words or conduct such as to lead another to apprehend assault itself constitutes an assault, which is an offence punishable under the laws of both New South Wales and South Australia.' Counsel assisting the commission Jeremy Stoljar said, according to the ABC. The commission also looked into the deleting of numerous emails after it had sent letters to the CFMEU on May 30, demanding extensive records be supplied within one week, including any files relating to any enterprise bargaining agreements reached with companies operated by underworld-linked businessman George Alex. Up to nine people worked to delete emails over three days at the branch, starting from June 23, 2014, to free up space on the email system and get it working again, Kylie Wray, general manager of the NSW branch of the CFMEU said. She said she asked union staff to delete an unknown number of emails after a 'disk space error' caused a crash that stopped the branch receiving external emails and denied that she wanted to delete the emails which the commission wanted to see. There had been no backup for the email system since a May 2010 firebombing of the union office. CFMEU national construction secretary Dave Noonan said in a press release after the day's hearing that the union had complied with the commission's requests. 'There has been no attempt by anyone in the union to knowingly destroy documents relevant to the Royal Commission,' he said in the press release. The hearing continues on Wednesday.

The video was shown at the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption on Tuesday . It shows union official John Perkovic repeatedly calling Fair Work Building and Construction inspector, Seamus Flynn, a 'f***ing piece of s***' Mr Perkovic also says 'look at this gut' while Mr Flynn says 'don't touch me' The union's national construction secretary Dave Noonan downplayed the footage by saying that swearing was common on construction sites .

(EW.com) -- This "Super Fun Night" casting is, frankly, super fun. EW has learned exclusively that "Saturday Night Live" alum Fred Armisen has signed up to guest star in an upcoming episode of Rebel Wilson sitcom Super Fun Night. The "Portlandia" star will reportedly play a character named Brian Headfoot, the exasperated head of HR at the law firm where Wilson's Kimmie works. In the episode, his character is called in to broker a truce between feuding Kimmie and Kendall (Kate Jenkinson). The episode is set to air early 2014 on ABC. Armisen is not the first "SNL" alum to guest on the Wednesday night comedy. Just this week, Molly Shannon appeared on the show as a relationship guru nicknamed "The Love Lioness." See the original story at EW.com. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . © 2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved.

Armisen will appear on an upcoming episode . He is set to play the head of HR at a law firm . He is not the first "SNL" alum to guest on the show .

By . Marcus Townend for the Daily Mail . Plans for a new £10million All-Weather floodlit circuit at Newcastle, which would have opened next year, have been knocked off track by the BHA. Racing’s ruling body has refused to allow dispensation from a rule, designed to protect the sport’s diversity, which states each individual fixture must include at least two races over a mile or further which total a minimum aggregate distance of two and a half miles. Newcastle needed the permission because planning restrictions mean their new track would only have lights on its straight mile and not the round course. Out of Toon: Newcastle's plans for new All-Weather circuit have been delayed by the BHA . While the need for a new AW Flat track in the north is widely accepted, there is strong opposition to Newcastle digging up its Turf circuit. In an increasingly bitter debate, the BHA have bought some time. ARC, the largest racecourse company in Britain which owns Newcastle, described the delay to its plans as ‘unwelcome’ but insisted it will press on with the project. However, any re-submitted proposals next year are likely to see their aspirations to build an AW track competing with rival plans being formulated by Catterick. The BHA is now committed to further talks with both courses. Its chief executive Paul Bittar said: ‘There is a general consensus among stakeholders that there would be benefits to the sport from an all-weather track in the north. ‘We weighed up the advantages of introducing a floodlit northern all-weather track at Newcastle in the latter part of 2015 against the negative race planning impact and associated implications for the sport as a whole of granting an exemption to a key rule of racing. ‘As a result, the Board decided there was insufficient evidence at this time to justify granting an exemption to the rule for the 2015 Fixture List. ‘BHA will continue discussions with ARC around its plans for Newcastle, including matters relating to the existing turf track, plus other interested parties, including Catterick Racecourse. Competition: Catterick race course is expected to launch a rival bid for an All-Weather circuit . ‘This is clearly a significant issue for the long-term structure and development of British racing, and BHA is tasked with reaching the best outcome for the sport as a whole.’ ARC, limited by their planning restrictions, appear to have no scope to alter the Newcastle AW track lay-out. So, while they have more time to make their case, the facts are unlikely to alter much. But spokeswoman Susannah Gill insisted Newcastle, with the proposed development of its facilities for racegoers, remains the best option for a new AW track, saying it would be a ‘Wolverhampton of the north’. She added: ’As well as what we can offer the Horsemen, we would be a popular venue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. I am not sure Catterick would be.’

Newcastle plan new £10m All-Weather circuit to be opened in 2015 . BHA have delayed permission over rules concerning circuit length . Rival bid for AW circuit in the north is expected from Catterick .

By . Oliver Pickup . Last updated at 9:59 PM on 20th September 2011 . A girl fitting the description of Lauren Hopkins was spotted in Birmingham . Police detectives hunting for a missing 15-year-old girl fear she may have been groomed over the internet. Lauren Hopkins, from Haringey, north London, vanished on September 6 amid fears she may be in the company of older men, believed to be Asian, Scotland Yard said. Officers said they were 'increasingly concerned' for the safety of the vulnerable schoolgirl and sources said the teenager had previously been in contact with older men on the web. A girl fitting her description was seen in Birmingham 10 days ago. 'She may be with another girl she is believed to have befriended and both are vulnerable,' a spokeswoman said. 'They may also be in the company of older Asian males.' Lauren is described as white, 5ft 4ins and of medium build with shoulder-length dark hair with a faded red tint. At the time of the Birmingham sightings she was wearing a cream top and black leggings. Anyone with information is asked to call Haringey missing persons unit on 020 8345 1809.

Girl fitting teen's description spotted in Birmingham .

(CNN) -- South Korea will step up security at Incheon International Airport following a plot uncovered last week to send bombs from Yemen to the United States. The busy passenger and cargo hub serving the capital, Seoul, will inspect all air cargo coming from destinations on a list of 20 suspected terrorism-sponsoring nations following the discovery, the customs office said, according to the Yonhap news agency. On Friday, authorities in the United Arab Emirates and Britain found two packages with explosives that were destined for synagogues in Chicago, Illinois, that U.S. investigators believe may be linked to an al Qaeda bomb maker, who is thought to be in Yemen. Yemen and the United Arab Emirates are on the list of nations suspected of sponsoring terrorism, according to Yonhap. The move comes ahead of this month's G20 summit in Seoul, which will see top officials from the world's economic powers coming to South Korea. Passenger security will also be increased. "Incheon International Airport will strengthen the Security Screening at security check points and the entrance of passenger terminal for the safety of passengers," a statement on the airport's website said.

Cargo inspections to increase at Incheon Airport . Passenger security checks will also be expanded . The move comes ahead of this month's G20 summit in Seoul .

Robert Eunson nearly died when his spleen ballooned to the size of a bowling ball, weighing 5.5kg - 30 times its usual size . A pensioner nearly died when his spleen ballooned to 12lb (5.5kg) - more than 30 times its usual size and began crushing his vital organs. The organ had grown to the size of a bowling ball by the time doctors removed it. Three surgeons worked to save the life of Robert Eunson during a seven-hour operation at Furness General Hospital in Cumbria. They said the spleen was the biggest they had removed in more than 15 years, and are preparing to write a medical paper on Mr Eunson's case. In a healthy adult, the spleen is around 7cm to 14cm in length and usually weighs between 150g and 200g - around the size of a large apple. Mr Eunson's wife Catherine, 73, said she watched as her husband was 'dying in front of her eyes'. His infected spleen had begun to crush his liver, lungs, stomach and pancreas. The spleen, which is located just under the heart, helps fight infections acting as a blood filter removing old red blood cells and storing a reservoir of blood. Mrs Eunson said the organ had invaded her husband's 'whole body', was warned the 72-year-old would die if it was not removed. Mr Eunson, of Walney, Cumbria, said he is unable to thank staff at the hospital enough. 'They told me if it didn't come out I would die - but they said if I had it done I only had a 40 per cent chance of survival. 'I was in intense, constant pain down my left side. 'If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be alive now. I feel brilliant and I can't thank them enough.' In September, Mr Eunson's spleen became infected, filling with even more blood and causing the organ to stretch across the back of his lungs. He was in intensive care for days and developed pneumonia before his operation. He had to undergo seven blood transfusions within a week. Mrs Eunson, his wife of 50 years, said: 'The spleen got bigger and bigger. It was crushing his liver, lungs, stomach and pancreas. It was pushing against his ribs. 'He couldn't do anything for himself. He was just lying in a bed. It was terrible. He was literally dying in front of my eyes.' His wife Catherine, pictured with the 72-year-old, said her husband was 'dying in front of my eyes' as his massive spleen began to invade his body, crushing his vital organs . Mrs Eunson said she could not believe her husband was alive after the seven-hour operation. She said: 'I just couldn't believe it. I was scared. I honestly didn't think he was going to make it.' A team of three surgeons and as many as a dozen nurses were involved in the operation. Mrs Eunson added: 'The hospital showed me and my daughter an X-ray of his spleen from two years ago and one from when it was infected. 'We just couldn't believe the size of it. It just took up his whole body.' Mr Eunson is due to return to the hospital for a CT scan and a check-up. Mr Sanjay Panchal, consultant in General Surgery at Furness General Hospital, carried out the operation. He said: 'It was a huge spleen, the largest I have ever removed and it took us about three to three-and-a -half-hours to do the procedure. 'It is not a common operation, I have done say about 30 in my career. 'Normally the spleen weighs between 150 to 250g. Anything over 1kg is classed as a massive spleen. 'It is unusual for the spleen to be that enlarged and in this case it weighed over 5kg.' The world’s heaviest spleen removed weighed 6kg (14.5lbs) from a man in the US, according to official records. The spleen is located underneath the heart . The spleen stores blood in the body in case of emergency. Mr Eunson's 5.5kg organ weighed about the same as an average bowling ball. A normal spleen weighs between 150 and 200g - the same as an apple. It is located on the left side of the upper abdomen behind the rib cage and acts as a filter for your blood, cleansing it of bacteria, viruses and other debris. When blood flows through your spleen, white blood cells attack and remove any foreign invaders. This keeps your blood clean and helps protect against infection. Red blood cells have a lifespan of around 120 days, after which your spleen breaks them down. The red blood cell remains are transported elsewhere in your body where they are excreted or recycled. Foetuses produce red and white blood cells in their spleens. Shortly before birth the spleen loses its ability to make red blood cells and bone marrow takes over. It is possible to live without a spleen as most of its functions can be taken over by other organs. However, people without spleens are more vulnerable to infection.

Robert Eunson's spleen became infected in September, filling with blood . 72-year-old's spleen ballooned to 12lb (5.5kg) - 30 times its usual size . Healthy spleens - which store blood in case of emergency - weigh 150-200g . The spleen is located just under the heart and helps fight infections . It acts as a blood filter and a reservoir storing blood in case of emergency . Catherine Eunson said her husband was 'dying in front of my eyes' Doctors warned couple he would die if the spleen was not removed . Surgeon said it was the biggest spleen he had removed in 15 years .

(CNN) -- Acclaimed director Clint Eastwood and singer Beyonce Knowles may team up in a remake of "A Star Is Born," a Warner Bros. official said. Eastwood, the entertainment icon known for his gruff portrayals, is in talks to direct the 1937 classic, a Warner Bros. spokeswoman said. And Knowles is in negotiations to star in the film. There has been no date set for the launch of the movie which explores the relationship between a Hollywood starlet and an older aging actor. In 1937, Janet Gaynor and Fredric March starred in the film. Judy Garland and James Mason starred in a remake in 1954. Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson starred in another remake in 1976. A hugely successful recording star, Knowles also is no stranger to the big screen. She starred in the movie "Dreamgirls" in 2006 and portrayed legendary singer Etta James in the 2008 film "Cadillac Records."

Clinton Eastwood and Beyonce Knowles are in talks to work on the film . Eastwood may direct a remake of the 1937 classic . It has already been remade two other times .

It's no surprise that some folks fudge their ages to get on Facebook. Anna Stoehr did. But she's no preteen trying to sign up before the network's minimum age of 13. She cleared that mark more than a century ago. Now 113 and reportedly Minnesota's oldest resident, Stoehr is a lifelong fan of learning new things. With the help of a friend, she went to sign up for Facebook this month. According to CNN affiliate KARE-TV in Minneapolis-St. Paul, when she found the earliest birth year Facebook's sign-up page provides is 1905, she claimed to be a spry 99 years old. "You betcha," she told the station. Stoehr, who lives in a retirement community and was born before her family had a telephone, car or electricity, has gotten more plugged in since striking up a friendship with a Verizon salesman. Joseph Ramireza was selling an iPhone to Stoehr's 85-year-old son, who started talking about his mother. Ramireza said he had to meet her. "She's become something of a kindred spirit," Ramireza told KARE. He's helped her use FaceTime to video chat with friends on an iPad and has been teaching her to use email and Google search. When Facebook didn't have her birth year as an option, Ramireza helped Stoehr write a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg -- on a typewriter. "I'm still here," she said in the letter. While Facebook might not provide turn-of-the-20th century age options, the network has publicly celebrated its oldest users in the past. In 2012, then-101-year-old Florence Detlor got a tour of Facebook's headquarters and a meeting with Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. She was believed to be the oldest Facebook user at the time, though an older user was later identified. According to her Facebook page, Stoehr now has 31 friends on the site and has activated Facebook Mobile. She turns 114 on Wednesday and celebrated with a party at her retirement community on Sunday. Facebook did not respond immediately to a message seeking comment on Tuesday.

Anna Stoehr joined Facebook days before her 114th birthday . She got help from man who sold an iPhone to her 85-year-old son . Stoehr had to say she was 99 to get on the popular social media site .

If there was one thing that caught our attention in the new episode of Made In Chelsea – besides a new character with quite possibly the world’s poshest name (yes you, Miffy) – it was Binky Felstead’s svelte new figure. As filming for season six of the E4 show loomed, the reality TV star decided it was time to shed the excess pounds she gained off-screen and pack herself off to bootcamp. And now we can reveal that, following a week-long rigorous diet and exercise plan, 5ft 7in Binky has slimmed down from 10st 10lbs to 9st 10lb and has celebrated her new figure in a sizzling set of swimwear images shot in Ibiza. New physique: Binky Felstead wanted to get in shape for the new series of Made In Chelsea so she hit bootcamp and lost a stone in a week . A resident of the notoriously hardcore No 1 Bootcamp in Ibiza, she was woken every morning at 6am by loud music, and set to work flipping tyres, doing circuits and beach workouts. Then she would have a specially-prepared breakfast before embarking on two-and-a-half-hour  sessions of cross, circuit and high intensity interval training. Her calories at the camp were limited to just over a thousand per day and each meal was a blend of slow release carbs, lean protein and essential fats. Military-style hikes of between seven to eight miles filled the majority of the afternoon to maximise fat burning. Before and after: Binky has slimmed down from 10st 10lbs to 9st 10lbs through a combination of a week of intense exercise and ditching boozy nights out and kebabs . Binky lost a stone and is so . confident about her new size 10 body that she says she wouldn’t rule out any . on-screen naked shower or bedroom scenes a la Louise Thompson. As she was: Once a mainstay on the Chelsea party scene, Binky now only goes out once a week and sticks to vodka lime and soda . Despite . feeling at her best, Binky’s ultimate goal is to reach a size 8 and we . can’t help but wonder if that’s got anything to do with the fact that . she has a new boyfriend. While she won’t confirm the identity of the lucky man (OK! magazine says she is rumoured to be dating co-star Alex Mytton), she blames her new relationship on eating more. Speaking to OK! Magazine, who shot the swimwear images, Binky said: ‘Having a boyfriend means I eat a lot bigger portions. 'I get really jealous if he’s got a bigger portion to me and if I’ve eaten everything on my plate I’ll always stick my fork on his plate!’. It seems that her past relationship, whereby her ex-boyfriend called her a ‘big whale’, has had a lasting effect. She said: ‘With my ex-boyfriend I put on a lot of weight because we were going out way too much and eating a lot of takeaways, it was bad. He used to call me the big whale and I didn’t know why. ‘I actually saw him recently and he . was like: ‘You look amazing, you’ve lost loads of weight!’ So I said to . him: “You should’ve told me how fat I was!” He was like: “I did by . calling you the big whale!” I always thought he was joking, but he . bloody wasn’t!’ Once a mainstay on the Chelsea party scene, Binky only goes out once a week and sticks to vodka lime and soda. She also tries her best to avoid carbs and 2am drunken kebab pit-stops. She has revealed that she curbs her cravings by taking diet pills, Forza Raspberry Ketones. Love is in the air? Fran and Alex admit to having met up over the summer, and share a quick kiss at the pool party, but OK! magazine say Binky is now rumoured to be dating the handsome newcomer (R) She's back! Made In Chelsea returned to our screens with a bang on Monday and saw Binky (R) orchestrating a chat between former lovers Spencer (centre) and Lucy (L) For the full story on Binky Felstead's amazing weight-loss at No 1 Boot Camp get OK! magazine which is out now. BEFORE . Breakfast: Toast with butter and Bovril . Lunch: Meat and carbs all the time because they’re so easy to get - I didn’t care what I ate before. Dinner: Chicken jalfrezi curry, rice and nan breadTreats: ChocolateAFTERBreakfast: Scrambled egg and smoked salmon or spinach and Parma hamLunch: Tuna salad/ steak or chickenDinner: Chicken with no carbs - I’m a real meat eater .

Binky, 24, has dropped from 10st 10lbs to 9st 10lbs in a week . Ditched nights out on the town and kebabs for healthy, protein-rich diet . Says ex-boyfriend called her a 'big whale'

By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 7:48 AM on 15th August 2011 . The two fastest-rising stars in the race for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination were mobbed by adoring Republicans on Sunday as they attended a fundraiser in Iowa. Michele Bachmann, fresh off her win in a closely watched test vote, portrayed herself as a mainstream Midwesterner. Newcomer Rick Perry introduced himself as a common-sense executive focused on jobs. Both candidates attended the same county GOP dinner in northern Iowa one day after the race was upended by Bachmann's victory in the Iowa straw poll and Perry's announcement of his candidacy. Political stars: Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry drew vast attention at the Iowa fundraiser . And while both candidates have strong ties to the influential evangelical wing of the party and are popular with upstart tea party supporters, they told activists at the Black Hawk County GOP's Lincoln Day dinner in Waterloo that they have credibility on the party's leading priority, jobs. 'I happen to think the biggest issue facing this country is that we are facing economic turmoil, and if we don't have a president that doesn't get this country working, we're in trouble,' Perry told about 300 Republicans in Waterloo's Electric Park Ballroom. 'And I've got a track record.' Bachmann touted her experience running her family's small business in Minnesota. 'We started our own successful small company,' she told reporters. 'We know how to build from scratch, putting capital together and starting a business from scratch and building it up so that we can actually offer jobs to people.' A segment of the GOP's establishment and economic conservatives have sat on the sidelines in the early months of the race, waiting for an alternative to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Fans: Republican presidential candidate Minnesota congresswoman Michele Bachmann greets guests at the Black Hawk County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner . Winner: Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann holds up a newspaper saying that she won the GOP Straw Poll . Tea Party darling: Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann speaks outside her campaign bus . Support for Romney, positioning himself . as the Republican most associated with job creation, has been muted in . some parts of the GOP primary electorate. Perry was mobbed by dozens of reporters for his first appearance as a candidate in the leadoff caucus state. It was a sharp contrast to another part of the room, where presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, moved through the crowd with less commotion. Perry struggled to move from table to table. 'It's going to be a big time,' Perry told Cedar Falls Republican Jeanie Balthazor. In the 24 hours between Perry's announcement in Charleston, South Carolina, and his arrival in Iowa, the ground had shifted profoundly. Pleased to meet you: Republican presidential candidate Texas Governor Rick Perry greets the crowd at the Black Hawk County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner . Spotlight: Dozens of journalists photograph and record Republican presidential candidates Texas Governor Rick Perry . Welcomed: Republican presidential candidates Texas Governor Rick Perry introduces himself to GOP voters . Bachmann, a Minnesota congresswoman, . beat her home-state rival Tim Pawlenty by more than 2-to-1 in the Iowa . straw poll, an early test of caucus campaign strength. Pawlenty, a former two-term Minnesota governor, had put all his chips on a strong showing in the poll. But his distant third-place finish, behind Texas Representative Ron Paul, prompted Pawlenty to quit the race Sunday morning. Bachmann, on the other hand, rose sharply to the top of Iowa polls since launching her campaign in June, and made an aggressive push for straw poll support with evangelical pastors and Christian home-school backers. Bachmann waited on her campaign bus in the ballroom parking lot while Perry spoke at the fundraiser, and entered the hall to her trademark introduction theme, Elvis Presley's version of 'Promised Land.' Not so busy: Republican presidential candidate former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum waits to speak . Popular: Republican presidential candidate Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks at the Black Hawk County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner . A vocal opponent of the deal reached . in Congress to raise the national debt ceiling, Bachmann sought to . broaden her appeal to include budget hawks, and noted her tea party . backing to project herself as appealing to a range of voters. 'It's . a movement coming together. It's a movement of social conservatives, a . movement of fiscal conservatives, particularly on the debt ceiling . issue,' she said. But . she also stressed her opposition to abortion rights and gay marriage, . issues Perry did not touch in his remarks. 'Without social conservatives . it will be very difficult to beat Barack Obama in 2012,' Bachmann said. Pawlenty had aggressively criticised Bachmann as light on experience and accomplishment in her three terms in the U.S. House, compared with his two terms as governor in a politically divided state. Perry, Texas' longest-serving governor, is viewed as an establishment candidate who could be attractive to former backers of Pawlenty. Scrum: Republican presidential candidate Texas Governor Rick Perry talks with Cecelia and Jim Mudd of Waterloo, Iowa . Old to new: Michele Bachmann talks with Abraham Lincoln impersonator Lance Mack of Marion . Bachmann said experience as a governor - a job held by the last two two-term Republican presidents - is not a prerequisite for the White House. 'Jimmy Carter was also a governor,' she said of the former Democratic president during an appearance on ABC's This Week. ''So, being a governor and having governor-level experience isn't the number one requirement.' Perry, who headlined a prayer rally of more than 30,000 born-again Christians in Houston this month, is focusing during his Iowa introduction on the party establishment and business community. He plans to hold private meetings with GOP elected officials as he travels around the state today and tomorrow in a coach splashed with his name and the slogan 'Get America working again'. Tomorrow Perry plans to hold an economic roundtable with businesspeople in Dubuque. 'We're going to spend a lot of time in Iowa,' Perry told reporters.

Sensational welcome after Bachmann poll victory and Perry announcement . Bachmann enters to Elvis's The Promised Land . Both promise to revitalise the economy .

A woman has found a three foot boa constrictor in the boot of a second hand car she bought online. Charlie Wise from Thatcham, in Berkshire, saw the Volkswagen Golf advertised on a social networking site and bought it for £200. She had taken it home to clean and lifted the boot where she and husband Guy Wise noticed what they thought was a rubber toy curled up in the back. The three-foot long boa constrictor was found in the boot of the second hand car by Charlie Wise in Berkshire . At first Mrs Wise thought it was a rubber toy but when it stuck tongue out she realised it was a real snake . But when it flicked its tongue in and out they realised it was in fact real and slammed the boot and ran away. The 23-year-old nursery worker said: ‘I bought a car come home to clean it out as right mess to find a huge live snake in the boot. ‘It’s huge and scary.’ ‘We screamed and slammed the boot.’ After both the police and RSPCA said they were unable to help until morning, Mrs Wise called the  Berkshire Reptile Rescue, at Bracknell, and specialist Grahame Martin came out to take the snake away. Mrs Wise added: ' We called him after RSPCA and police very late at night coem and meet us to take the snake off us, and he got it out the boot of the car. 'The snake was in a very poor condition. It was highly dehydrated, and blind in one of its eyes. He is now taking care of all of its treatment. 'I think he is a credit  - he is the only bloke in our area who does this sort of thing and he really helped us out. Without him I would have to keep a snake in my house all night. He deserves all the credit for this rescue.' She rang the car's previous owner - Christopher Morrison, of Bracknell, Berkshire - who told her he had lost his three-year-old snake two months ago. The roofer and reptile collector said he was moving the snake in a cage to a friend’s house when it vanished. She was cleaning out the used car when she found the snake in the boot, which she slammed shut and fled . Mr Morrison, 29, said: ‘I lost it a couple of months ago. ‘I did have it in a cage and was moving it to my mates. It got out. ‘I checked everywhere. I had ripped that car to pieces. I thought it must have got out. ‘I wouldn’t leave it.’ Mr Morrison’s heavily pregnant girlfriend, Sammi Larkins, who co-owned the car, added: ‘We wouldn’t have sold it if we thought it was in there.’ He accepted it would not be a pleasant experience to make such a discovery.

Charlie Wise, 23, was cleaning her new car boot when she found the snake . At first thought it was toy but when it stuck tongue out she knew it wasn't . She slammed the boot and called friend who took it to reptile rescue centre . Mrs Wise called seller who said he had lost his pet snake two months ago .

By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 07:47 EST, 4 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:23 EST, 4 December 2013 . A wintry storm pushing through the western half of the country is bringing bitterly cold temperatures that prompted safety warnings for residents in the Rockies and threatened crops as far south as California. The jet stream is much farther south than normal, allowing the cold air to push in from the Arctic and drop temperatures by 20 to 40 degrees below normal levels, AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines said on Tuesday. Areas of Montana and the Dakotas were forecast to reach lows in the minus-20s, while parts of California could see the thermometer drop to the 20s. Scroll down for video . Commuters creep along the snowy highway in St Louis Park, Minnesota today as weather conditions were set to get worse later this week . Olivia Kumi braved the wintry weather by walking to work on Wednesday in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota as it turned bitterly cold following a huge storm system descending on the country . Brittany Katalenas braves snowy conditions on her walk to work in Boulder, Colorado as sub-zero temperatures set in . Sam Flaifel, left, Dave Warner, center, and Pat Riestenberg, clear snow from 400 cars in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota today. A wintry storm pushing through the Rockies and Midwest is bringing bitterly cold temperatures and treacherous driving conditions . The icy, 'Polar Express' blast was expected to be followed by another one later in the week, creating an extended period of cold weather that hasn't been seen since the late 1990s, meteorologists said. Officials warned residents to protect themselves against frostbite if they are going to be outside for any length of time. 'When it gets this cold, you don't need 30, 40 mile-per-hour winds to get that wind chill down to dangerous levels. All it takes is a little breeze,' Kines said. Snow falls on Monday afternoon in Shoreview, Minnesota as a storm hit 24 states . A tanker truck is tended to by firefighters after sliding off the snowy highway near mile marker 48 on Interstate 90 in Piedmont, South Dakota . A Department of Transportation plow clears snow from the northbound lane of Highway 85 near Jay Em, Wyoming . The storm hit the northern Rockies on Monday and Tuesday, dumping up to 2 feet of snow in the mountains and in Yellowstone National Park. Snow and ice created hazardous driving conditions throughout the West, and were a factor in a four-vehicle crash in central Montana that killed 21-year-old Chelsea Stanfield of Great Falls. Authorities said Stanfield was driving too fast for the conditions. The weather also closed a stretch of Interstate 90 on Tuesday between Sheridan and Buffalo, Wyoming. A severe winter storm system moves across the U.S. on Wednesday with more snow and sub-zero temperatures forecast for later in the week . Xia Liu, left, leads her daughter Mengyu Yu on a snowy bike ride to school on Wednesday in Boulder . Fresh snow surrounds the McPolin barn on the outskirts of Park City, Utah with 16 inches of snow expected at higher elevations . Traffic from U.S. 20 heads west over the Mississippi River on the Julien Dubuque Bridge. A heavy fog advisory has been issued for most of the Mississippi River today . In eastern Oregon, authorities closed much of Interstate 84 as trucks jackknifed in the snow. Transportation authorities in Utah and Nevada reported dozens of crashes. In the Dakotas, cattle ranchers who . lost thousands of animals in an October blizzard were bracing for the . latest wintry weather, with wind chills of 40 degrees below zero . expected by week's end. Cattle . should be able to withstand the harsh conditions better than they did . the October 4 blizzard, said Julie Ellingson, executive vice president . of the North Dakota Stockmen's Association. Grocery store employees charge the battery on a small parking lot plow as temperatures hovered around 8 degrees in Denver, Colorado . Weather maps showed adverse conditions spreading across the country for the rest of the week leaving conditions treacherous for commuters . Heavy snow was expected early this year making for the worst storm since the late 1990s . 'Cattle are a hardy species; they can . endure a lot,' she said. 'With that October storm, they didn't have . their winter hair coat yet. They've acquired some of that extra hair . that will help insulate them better.' The . cold was expected to keep pushing south and bring near-record low . temperatures to parts of California. Citrus farmers in the Central . Valley checked wind machines and ran water through their fields in . anticipation of temperatures at or below freezing Tuesday night, . followed by even colder weather on Saturday. Ryan Delaney, 9, Xander Zuech, 5, and Arianna Loons, 7, all of Duluth, Minnesota, work together to build a snowman in the front yard of the Jane Levenson Daycare . Cory Hardman plows fresh snow from the sidewalks in downtown Kamas, Utah on December 3 . However, farmers should not panic, said Bob Blakely of California Citrus Mutual, a trade association. Cold weather can be good for the crops, he said. 'Trees and fruits need some of that cold weather to harden off and prepare for late December and January,' he said. The system was pushing south, and Texans enjoying balmy 80-degree days should be seeing temperatures in the 40s by Thursday, Kines said. The cold air is expected to linger until next week then move east, where it will bring less-drastic temperature changes, he said. A woman walks dogs through the snow-covered limbs in Liberty Park in Lake City, Utah .

Areas of Montana and the Dakotas were forecast to reach lows in the minus-20s . Storm hit the northern Rockies, dumping up to 2 feet of snow in the mountains and in . Yellowstone National Park .

There have been rocks that look like traffic lights, and even a perfectly rounded stone discovered on the surface of Mars. But the latest bizarre formation appears to show a rock in the shape of a cannon. Nasa has been beaming photos from the red planet since its Curiosity rover landed in August 2012, and this latest discovery was spotted by amateur astronomer Joe White, 45, from Bristol. Scroll down for video . Nasa has been beaming photos from Mars since its Curiosity rover landed in August 2012, and this latest discovery (pictured left) was spotted by amateur astronomer Joe White, from Bristol. Mr White said: 'I think it looks like an artillery piece - but it's way too small for that really.' Stock image of a cannon pictured right . The 45-year-old space video journalist said he noticed a chuck of rock in the corner of footage while scanning Nasa's official images. He said: 'I think it looks like a gun - as in an artillery piece - but it's way too small for that really.' Last month, a perfectly rounded rock was also spotted on the Martian surface, and continuing the cannon analogy, it looks similar to a cannonball. The rover's top speed is 1.5 inches (3.8 centimetres) per second. Curiosity is the fourth rover to visit Mars. It took around seven minutes to land on the Red Planet. The rover is fitted with 17 cameras. It weighs about the same as a Mini Cooper at approximately 900kg (2,000lbs). Scientists considered 60 possible landing sites before deciding on Gale Crater. The same week, a rock shaped like a traffic light was also spotted as Curiosity roamed around the base of Mars' Mount Sharp. In the image, a set of three large rocks - admittedly with a larger fourth one as well - are shown being stacked on top of each other. They bear a striking resemblance to traffic lights on Earth. But it’s highly unlikely this same feature was built by a martian civilisation. The image was shot from the six-foot (1.8 metre) high, left-hand side mast cam on the Curiosity Rover. The 'traffic light' rock was also spotted by Mr White, who runs a YouTube channel called ArtAlienTV. ‘I saw this one and I thought “hang on, that looks a bit strange”. I think it looks like a traffic light. ‘It is hard to tell how big it would be without any point of reference, but I would estimate it was about 12 inches [30.5cm]. ‘I posted it on the internet and people said they thought it looked like a set of traffic lights too - although some people did say it looked like a totem pole.’ The Curiosity rover recently spotted a rock that looks like traffic lights on Mars (shown in the red ring in this image). Washington-based Nasa is yet to comment on the latest discovery. The finding highlights just how weird and wonderful some of the rock formations on Mars can be . The 'traffic lights' (left) were spotted by Curiosity (right) on its way to the base of Mount Sharp, a geologically fascinating region that could explain how Mars lost its wet and habitable environment. Other people have said the strange looking rock resembles a totem pole . The rock was spotted by space video journalist Joe White. Mr White said: 'I saw this one and I thought "hang on, that looks a bit strange". I think it looks like a traffic light' (stock image shown). The image from Curiosity is just one of many fascinating rocks on the red planet that resembles something we are familiar with on Earth . Just days earlier, Curiosity spotted the ball-shaped rock on the surface of Mars. Nasa said it was likely an example of Martian concretion, the process of compacting and hardening a mass of matter, according to Discovery News. Curiosity is currently at the base of Mount Sharp, which has been the target for the mission since it landed just over two years ago. The area is geologically fascinating as it contains layers that may provide an insight into the history of Mars. And, scientists hope the region might reveal how and why Mars lost what was once thought to be a habitable environment, with water flowing on its surface. This, in turn, may provide answers on the future of Earth. The discovery follows another intriguing image that showed an almost perfectly round rock on the Martian surface (shown). Nasa said it was likely an example of Martian concretion, the process of compacting and hardening a mass of matter. Continuing the cannon analogy, it also looks like a cannonball . Last month, India's first mission to Mars, the ISRO's Mars Orbiter, arrived at Mars and released its first image (shown) of the red planet's surface. 'Howdy @MarsCuriosity? Keep in touch. I'll be around' the team for the orbiter tweeted on its arrival .

The Curiosity rover has spotted a rock that looks like a cannon on Mars . Washington-based Nasa is yet to comment on the latest discovery . The finding highlights how unusual rock formations on Mars can be . Discovery follows other intriguing images that showed an almost perfectly rounded stone, and a traffic light-shaped rock on the Martian surface . Curiosity is currently at the base of Mount Sharp on the red planet .

Washington (CNN) -- It helped get him re-elected, so President Barack Obama is again employing campaign-style tactics to increase pressure on congressional Republicans to compromise to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. Failure to reach a deal means tax increases and deep spending cuts take effect in five weeks, a scenario analysts fear could push the country back into recession. While aides on both sides have been talking, no follow-up meeting between Obama and congressional leaders has been scheduled after their initial post-election discussion on November 16. Instead, Obama met Tuesday with small business owners, the first in a series of events this week intended to highlight his push for raising taxes on the wealthiest 2% of Americans while maintaining current rates for everyone else. Norquist: Rep. King 'tried to weasel out' On Wednesday, Obama meets with the chief executives of major corporations, while congressional Republicans and Democrats will talk separately with deficit-reduction gurus, including former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and Maya MacGuinneas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a bipartisan group advocating fiscal reform. The president also will meet with those described by the White House as middle-class Americans who face a major impact if higher taxes and automatic reductions in military and discretionary federal spending take hold. Obama concludes the week with a trip Friday to Hatfield, Pennsylvania, to visit a manufacturing operation and deliver a speech. Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner's office announced Tuesday that congressional Republicans will hold a series of events in Washington and home districts across the country with small business owners to frame Obama's tax policy as a threat to new jobs. The series of meetings involving all parties showed the high-profile tactics being used to demonstrate to the nation, including financial markets, that a deal can happen. Stocks closed lower Tuesday as investors grew increasingly concerned about whether Congress can adequately and swiftly address the situation. Prospects for a deal remain front and center for investors, with the U.S. economy showing more signs of improvement in its long recovery from recession. Economists point to fears about higher taxes in 2013 as a potential threat to rising consumer confidence. Asked why Obama was meeting with business leaders and traveling to Pennsylvania instead of negotiating directly with Republicans in Congress, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Tuesday it was important to bring the broader American public into the discussion. Read more: Fiscal battle over mortgage deduction . The fiscal cliff resulted from a failure to reach a deficit reduction agreement in the past two years due to longstanding differences between Democrats and Republicans on taxes -- particularly whether to extend tax cuts from President George W. Bush's administration. Obama made the issue a central theme of his election campaign, and now the White House believes the president's re-election validated his call for including more tax revenue in addressing the nation's chronic federal deficits and debt. "This topic was perhaps the most debated, the most discussed, the most analyzed, for a year," Carney told reporters on Tuesday, adding that the election result showed Americans supported Obama's approach. "To suggest that we should, now that the election's over, stop talking to the American people about these vital issues is, I think, bad advice," Carney said. Last week, Obama's former campaign manager, Jim Messina, said the president's re-election campaign and its grass-roots resources will "live on," most likely as a tool to promote the president's second-term policies. Obama for America, the name of the campaign, already released an e-mail to its distribution list in an attempt to educate readers on the president's fiscal cliff argument and to rally supporters behind him. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky complained that Obama was "back on the campaign trail" instead of "sitting down with lawmakers of both parties and working out an agreement." "We already know the president is a very good campaigner," McConnell said on the Senate floor. " ... What we don't know is whether he has the leadership qualities necessary to lead his party to a bipartisan agreement on big issues like we currently face." The president wants to let tax rates for income over $250,000 for families or $200,000 for individuals return to higher 1990s levels, while maintaining current rates for the rest of the country. He contends his plan would prevent a tax hike for 98% of Americans. Read more: Will potential FAA cuts hurt fliers? Republicans oppose increasing any tax rates, arguing that Obama's plan would hinder job growth because some small business owners who file personal returns would pay higher taxes under it. After meeting with Obama on Tuesday, three of the 15 small business owners who took part said they wanted certainty about their own tax situations while preventing middle-class Americans from paying higher taxes. Andra Rush, who founded Rush Trucking of Wayne, Michigan, said her message to Obama was that failure to extend the tax cuts to the middle class could stall what she called new economic momentum in the country. "I would have higher tax rates," Rush conceded, adding that it was more important for "ordinary Americans" to have more money to spend instead of paying it in taxes if everyone's rates go up. Karen Mills, who heads the government's Small Business Administration, said the main message to Obama in the meeting was that the owners needed certainty in their tax situations so they could plan for next year. Boehner and other influential GOP figures have declared their willingness to consider other ways to boost tax revenue as part of a broader deal that includes entitlement reforms and spending cuts. That position undermines the no-tax-increase pledge championed by anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist, which Democrats consider to be a major impediment to a deficit reduction deal. Some Republicans -- including conservative Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Bob Corker of Tennessee, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Lindsay Graham of South Carolina as well as Rep. Peter King of New York and Scott Rigell of Virginia -- have dropped their adherence to Norquist's pledge. Norquist responded harshly Monday night, telling CNN that those denouncing the pledge were breaking their commitment to voters. He targeted King for saying a pledge signed years ago no longer applied. King "tried to weasel out" of the pledge, adding: "I hope his wife understands commitments last a little longer than two years or something." According to Norquist, King knew when he signed the pledge that it applied to "as long as you're in Congress." Opinion: Don't be scared of Grover Norquist . "It's only as long as you're in the House or the Senate. If he stayed too long, that's his problem," Norquist added. To CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger, the softening tone by some in the GOP was explained by new poll numbers that showed 45% of Americans would blame Republicans for failing to avoid the fiscal cliff, while 34% would blame Obama. Republicans insist Democrats must agree to cut discretionary spending and make significant reforms to Medicare and Social Security as part of a deficit reduction deal. However, organized labor and other elements of the Democratic base oppose any major reforms to the popular entitlement programs. While some Democratic legislators express willingness to reform Medicare and Medicaid, they reject making Social Security reform part of the fiscal cliff negotiations, saying it is self-funded and therefore doesn't add to the deficit. Obama spoke by phone over the weekend with Boehner and Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, Carney said Monday, and he rejected a reporter's assertion Tuesday that no progress was taking place in efforts to avoid the fiscal cliff. On Capitol Hill, a Senate Democratic leadership aide said Monday that behind-the-scenes talks have "haven't been tremendously productive." Negotiations were not at a point "where people are huddled in a conference room with spread sheets" but are instead at the early "dancing stage," the Democratic aide said. Congressional Republican leadership aides declined to characterize the state of the talks, though one noted the fact that discussions continued could be interpreted as progress. The CNN/ORC International poll released Monday also showed that a solid majority of respondents -- two thirds -- supports the Democratic stance that any agreement should include a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. Of that total, Republicans favor such an approach by 52%-44%. Read more: House Republicans launch PR offensive on fiscal cliff . Without a deal, tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 -- when George W. Bush was president -- will expire, raising rates for everyone starting in January. In addition, spending cuts would reduce spending on the military, national parks, the Federal Aviation Administration and other government services. However, the government and Congress still would have time to prevent draconian effects from the fiscal cliff when a new Congress convenes in January. William Galston, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, called that a form of brinksmanship best avoided. "To be sure, no one believes that non-agreement by December 31 would be the end of the story. After a period of finger-pointing, discussions would resume," he wrote last week in a New Republic opinion piece. "But equally, no one knows how the failure to reach agreement before the end of 2012 would affect the dynamics of the negotiations." In addition, "we can be reasonably sure ... that national and global markets would react adversely and that businesses, which are already retreating from planned investments in new plant and equipment, would become even more uncertain and risk-averse." Read more: Time running out on debt ceiling . CNN's Ashley Killough, Deirdre Walsh, Dan Lothian, Ted Barrett, Lesa Jansen, Martina Stewart, Kevin Liptak and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

House Speaker Boehner also launches a series of events . President Obama takes his tax message to the public, again . Uncertainty over a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff causes market jitters . Tax hikes and spending cuts loom without a deal in the next five weeks .

Montreal (CNN)Canadian authorities are looking for at least four teenagers who may have flown to Turkey in a bid to join ISIS, a police source told CNN -- the latest in a string of such defections by Westerners lured to the Middle East fight for the Islamist group. Two of the four teenagers are women from Laval, Quebec, while at least one is a male from Montreal, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported. The teenagers reportedly flew from Montreal to Turkey in mid-January. Two days later, family members alerted the police. It's unclear where the teens are now. Three of them attended a Montreal community college that has now suspended its lease arrangement with an Islamic group after finding evidence of what administrators described as "hate speech" involving one of the group's leaders, according to a school official. One of the students took two class sessions offered by the organization, its representative, Adil Charkaoui, told reporters. He described the teenager as quiet and "very shy." "We didn't evaluate him, so really we don't know about his level in religion and in Arabic," said Charkaoui, who denied any links to radical Islam. Canadian authorities say they are looking at the possibility that other youths may have followed a similar path, but they won't say how many. Friends of one of the teenagers identified her as 18-year-old Shayma Senouci, describing her as smart, kind and "normal" -- not one to talk religion. RCMP declined to comment when asked to confirm that Senouci is among those believed to be in the Middle East. What is ISIS' appeal for young people? The disappearances are the latest example of a troubling trend for Western authorities: a steady flow of young Muslims born or raised in the West, lured to Iraq and Syria by slick propaganda churned out by the Islamist group. Some 3,400 Westerners have gone to fight for ISIS, Nicholas Rasmussen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, said in recent U.S. congressional testimony. In the Canadian case, three of the four students attended Montreal CEGEP Collège de Maisonneuve, according to an official there. On Thursday, the school said it had decided to stop leasing classroom space to an Islamic organization that provided Arabic and Quran studies. The organization, École des Compagnons, was suspended because the college found evidence of "hate speech and non-respect for our values" involving one of the group's leaders, spokeswoman Brigitte Desjardins said. "We are going to interrupt the contract we have with this organization until we have more information," she said. The agreement is less than a year old, Desjardins said. Charkaoui told reporters Friday that his organization isn't involved in radical Islam, and will sue if the college does not reverse course. "We are teaching Arabic, (the) Quran and have given half-hour (lessons on) soccer and 20 minutes about religion," he said. Charkaoui describes himself on his Twitter account as "Coordinator of the Collective Against Islamophobia Quebec, Professor, PhD student in Educational Sciences." Some students at the school interviewed by the CBC were baffled by the news that some contemporaries might go fight for ISIS. "It's shocking, I don't understand how this could happen," one student told the network. "It just makes us think, what were they thinking?" another student said. Paula Newton reported from Montreal and Kim Hutcherson wrote this report from Atlanta. CNN's Dominique Dodley contributed to this report.

Representative of Islamic group suspended by college denies any radical ties . Canadian authorities trying to locate at least four teens believed to be trying to join ISIS .

(CNN) -- South Africa's "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius is still struggling to qualify for the Commonwealth Games despite smashing his own Paralympic record in Britain on Saturday. The 23-year-old, a double-amputee, triumphed at the 400 meters T44 event at London's Crystal Palace, setting a new leading time of 47.03 seconds. Pistorius, who won the right to compete against able-bodied athletes in 2008, was a clear winner in the Paralympics-ratified race as he finished 4.61 seconds ahead of British runner-up Ian Jones. However, with South Africa due to name its team for the October 3-14 Games in Delhi later this month, time is running out for him to attain the qualifying standard of 45.95. Pistorius did not qualify for the 2008 Olympics but set his previous world 400m record of 47.49 in winning gold at the Paralympics in Beijing. He ran in a 400m B race in London on Friday night, but the damp conditions were unsuited to his carbon-fiber prosthetic limbs and he finished outside of the qualifying time with 46.93 as he placed seventh. Meanwhile, American runner Jeremy Wariner clinched his fifth consecutive Diamond League victory this season when he won the 400m in London on Saturday. The triple Olympic gold medal winner came home in 44.67 to head off Jamaicans Jermaine Gonzales (44.80) and Ricardo Chambers (45.18). His compatriot Allyson Felix followed up her 200m win on Friday by claiming a double as she triumphed in the 400m from Russia's European champion Tatyna Firova and fellow U.S. runner Debbie Dunn. Marshevet Myers won the women's 100m from fellow American Carmelita Jeter, and their compatriot Wallace Spearmon won the men's event. David Oliver romped to his fifth victory of the series in the 110m hurdles to seal a successful night for U.S. athletes.

Oscar Pistorius breaks his Paralympic 400-meters record in race in London . South African sets new time of 47.03 seconds to beat his mark from Beijing in 2008 . Double-amputee still outside qualifying time needed for Commonwealth Games . Americans Jeremy Wariner and Allyson Felix dominate at Diamond League meeting .

By . Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 20:46 EST, 30 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:50 EST, 1 October 2013 . The bride wore white; . the groom wore shackles. The marriage of Danne Desbrow and his fiancee, Destiny, came . just minutes after he was sentenced to 53 years-to-life in prison for . first-degree murder, U-T San Diego reported on Monday. San Diego Superior Court Judge Patricia Cookson officiated . at both events. She even baked a cake for the Sept. 17 ceremony, the newspaper . said. Cookson declined to respond to a request for comment from . the newspaper. Destiny Winters (left) married Danne Desbrow (right) just minutes after Danny was sentenced to life in prison . Desbrow was sentenced for the 2003 killing of Kevin Santos . after a witness with key information came forward recently. His defense . attorney argued Desbrow was defending himself in a fight. During the two-month trial, Desbrow proposed to his . girlfriend. The two met in high school but lost contact after she became . pregnant at 16, according to the U-T. They reunited in January after the mother tracked down . Desbrow so their son could meet his father. Desbrow was in jail at the time . awaiting trial. After Desbrow proposed, Cookson agreed to marry them, . according to the U-T. Cookson sentenced Desbrow to two consecutive 25-year-to-life . terms and an additional three years for threatening a witness. A decorated photo of the courtroom wedding appeared on Destiny's facebook . After the sentencing, members of the victim's family were . escorted out of the courtroom, the newspaper said. The couple's relatives were . allowed to remain. The deputies locked the doors and Cookson married the . couple. The couple kissed and Cookson went back to her chambers. Moments later, she appeared with two pieces of vanilla Bundt cake on paper . plates with plastic forks. According to UT San Diego, one witness said Cookson did not bring out the whole cake because she was leery of bringing the knife that would be used to slice pieces into the courtroom with Desbrow nearby. San Diego Superior Court Judge Patricia Cookson officiated the wedding and even baked a cake for the Sept. 17 ceremony . Destiny's wedding ring is pictured left, Danne's is pictured right . The couple sat at a table in the well of the courtroom where lawyers usually sit. Destiny only had one bite of cake. Her husband finished his. 'That is something that does not happen with great regularity,' said Jan Caldwell, a spokesman for Sheriff Bill Gore, who oversees the county jail system. 'I’ve never heard of it.' However, weddings are not uncommon in jails during regular visiting hours. Couples exchange vows through the glass that separates visitors from inmates. Danne and Destiny Desbrow get married with Judge Patricia Cookson presiding. Destiny Desbrow told the newspaper the judge baked it . herself. Danne Desbrow intends to appeal the murder conviction. He . remains in county jail pending another court hearing on a separate case in . October. 'Obviously, it was an unusual day from start to . finish,' defense attorney Steve Cline told the U-T. 'I mean, I . appreciate that she honored the request for them to marry. But, I've never seen . anything like that.'

Danne Desbrow was sentenced to 53 years to life in prison just minutes before he was married . One witness said the judge did not bring . out the whole cake because she was leery of bringing the knife that . would be used to slice pieces into the courtroom . Danne Desbrow plans to appeal his murder conviction .

By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 12:55 EST, 27 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 14:52 EST, 27 November 2013 . Court case: Lawyers for the French woman, known only as SAS, said that her religious rights were being violated by France's burka ban (picture posed by model) Lawyers for France’s Socialist government today insisted that it would be ‘undemocratic’ for European judges to reverse the country’s burka ban. The made their claims during a hearing of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in which a 23-year-old Muslim is challenging the legislation. It was introduced in 2010, and prohibits the wearing of full-face veils, with offenders facing fines of up to 125 pounds. Ramby de Mello, a British lawyer representing the plaintiff – who was only referred to her by her initials of SAS – said she currently felt like ‘a prisoner in her own country’ and that the veil was ‘as much part of her identity as our DNA is of ours’. But Edwige Belliard, for the French government, said the ban was ‘democratic’ and was backed by ‘a strong conviction among the French public’. Ms Belliard added: ‘Wearing the full veil not only makes it difficult to identify a person, it makes her indistinguishable from other full veil wearers and effectively erases the woman who wears it.’ In a statement presented to the ECHR yesterday, SAS said she is a ‘devout Muslim and she wears the burqa and niqab in accordance with her religious faith, culture and personal convictions.’ It comes as President Francois Hollande’s government firmly implements a ban which has seen ordinary housewives arrested and criminalised in court. There have also been a number of vigilante attacks on women seen wearing the veil illegally. In a related development, the Paris Appeals Court today agreed that a private nursery had been justified in firing an assistant director who refused to remove her Islamic headscarf at work. Fatima Afif was sacked from the Baby Loup nursery school, in the Paris suburb of Chanteloup-les-Vignes, five years ago under the nursery's private rules. Such measures are viewed as highly repressive by Muslims living in France, who make up a community of more than five million people. Religious dress: A statement read to the court explained that the woman wears both the burka, left which covers the whole face, and the niqab, right, which leaves a gap for the eyes (pictures posed by models) Decision: The European Court of Human Rights, pictured, is expected to rule on the case in 2014 . Mr Hollande and his ministers insist . the so-called burka ban is needed to protect France’s secular traditions . and to stop potential terrorists and thieves using veils as disguises. But the ban has increased social tensions, with Muslims complaining of increased discrimination since it was introduced. There . were serious disturbances in the Paris suburb of Trappes this summer . after a man was arrested for attacking a police officer who stopped his . wife for wearing a veil. After . the violence in Trappes, French Interior Minister Manuel Valls said: . ‘The law banning the full-face veil is a law for women - it is not for a . second a law against Islam.’ Belgium . and some parts of Switzerland have followed France’s lead in banning . the veil, while Italy and Holland are also considering outlawing it. There . have been calls for a similar ban in Britain, but David Cameron’s . government has to date shown no interest in implementing one. The ECHR is expected to make a decision next year.

Officials said the ban is backed by 'strong conviction' of French people . But the plaintiff, known by her initials SAS, said the ban was discriminatory . Those who are caught wearing a veil in public the ban can be fined £125 . The court is expected to make a decision in 2014 .

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond finally resigned as Scottish First Minister today - but will not be replaced until after cheering on Scotland against the English in tonight's crunch football match in Glasgow. Mr Salmond officially stood down in a statement to Holyrood this afternoon, paving the way for new SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon to take over tomorrow. In his last engagement as First Minister, Mr Salmond will attend tonight's clash with the Auld Enemy at Celtic's Parkhead stadium in Glasgow. Alex Salmond delivered his formal resignation statement as First Minister of Scotland in Holyrood today . After standing down he embraced his replacement Nicola Sturgeon, who will take up her position tomorrow . During a statement at the Scottish Parliament, Mr Salmond said it had been ‘the privilege of his life’ to serve in the role for the past seven-and-a-half years. Mr Salmond received a standing ovation from MSPs after delivering his final words, before being embraced by Ms Sturgeon. He said: ‘Any parting is tinged with some sorrow, but in this case it is vastly outweighed by a sense of optimism and confidence. Confidence that we will have an outstanding new First Minister. ‘Confidence in the standing and the capability of this chamber, and most of all confidence in the wisdom, talent and potential of the people of Scotland.’ In his final words to the chamber as First Minister he said: ‘Can I wish every member of this Parliament well, and wish everyone goodbye and good luck.’ He will remain in post until the start of Holyrood's business tomorrow afternoon, attending his final engagement as First Minister at the Scotland v England football match this evening. It comes after a new survey put support for the SNP at 45.8 per cent, compared with just 23.9 per cent for Labour. It is the highest ever lead recorded by the pollsters Survation. The poll for the Daily Record will pile pressure on Labour leader Ed Miliband – after finding just 2 per cent of Scottish voters completely trust Mr Miliband. The SNP’s Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: ‘This new opinion poll giving the SNP our biggest ever lead in a Survation poll for both Holyrood and Westminster elections is enormously encouraging. ‘It reflects all recent surveys in underlining the strength of the SNP vote, and is a further demonstration that Labour and the other Westminster parties are facing a major backlash in Scotland.' England and Scotland will face off tonight in tonight's clash at Glasgow Celtic's Parkhead stadium . Mr Salmond announced his intention to step down just hours after losing the independence referendum. At a press conference on September 19, he said that at the age of 59, after 20 years as SNP leader and seven years as First Minister, it was time to hand over the reins. ‘My time as leader is nearly over, but for Scotland the campaign continues and the dream shall never die,’ he told reporters at the time. Since then, speculation over Mr Salmond's political future has led to suggestions he will return to Westminster, and he is expected to make his position clear in due course. He remains MSP for Aberdeenshire East, but he could stand for a seat in the House of Commons at the general election in May. Ms Sturgeon will be formally appointed as First Minister during a selection process at Holyrood tomorrow, and will be sworn in at the Court of Session in Edinburgh on Thursday. At the party conference on Friday, her predecessor hailed her as a ‘woman of extraordinary talent’. Mr Salmond said: ‘Nicola, your contribution to where this party now stands has already been immense. Your future contribution - I have no doubt - will be to make history.’

Mr Salmond officially resigned in a statement to Holyrood this afternoon . Move paves the way for new SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon to take over . In final engagement as First Minister he will attend tonight's football clash . England take on Scotland at Celtic Park in Glasgow at 8pm . Comes as a new poll puts support for the SNP at 45.8% to 23.9% for Labour .

From wearable technology to space tourism, 2014 will be a year of significant technological leaps. We take a look through some of the most ground-breaking developments of the year ahead. Electric cars take to the track . As the name suggests, Formula E is all about electric power. The arrival of this new petrol-free motor racing competition is a significant step for both the car and the environment. Two years ago motorsport's international governing body, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), announced its ambitious plan for an electric car race that would mimic the hugely popular F1 series. As the arrival of Formula E looms, experts predict that it could have a big impact on the future of car manufacturing. Initially, the cars in the competition will be powered by enormous battery engines. Each battery weighs 200 kilograms, producing around 200 kilowatts of power. Depending on the speed, the electric engines will last anywhere from a few hours to just 25 minutes and the cars can reach speeds of up to 220 kilometers per hour. "If you look in the past, a lot of development in the car industry has come from racing," said Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag. "The transfer of technology is potentially very big." Space tourism blasts off . After a number of false starts and delays, Virgin Galactic is finally poised to lift off in 2014. Billionaire Richard Branson's planned commercial spacecraft underwent a successful test flight last year over California, making a commercial launch this year a distinct possibility. In September 2013, Branson's Virgin Galactic said SpaceShipTwo completed an important test, breaking the sound barrier as it climbed from 42,000 feet to 69,000 feet over the Mojave Desert before descended using its tilt-wing "feathering" maneuver. It was the second successful powered flight for SpaceShipTwo -- a craft designed to carry up to six passengers. Initially, Virgin Galactic flights are scheduled to be suborbital, but the hope is to take passengers further into space as the technology is refined. Already, a host of famous names have signed up to head into near orbit including Katy Perry, Stephen Hawking and Ashton Kutcher. "We couldn't be more delighted to have another major supersonic milestone under our belts as we move toward a 2014 start of commercial service," said Branson after the test flight last year. Wind power blows stronger . As scientists look to find alternatives to traditional fossil fuels, a number of major projects, including Cape Wind (in Massachusetts' Nantucket Sound) and Deepwater Wind (near Block Island, Rhode Island), are vying to become the first offshore windfarm in the U.S. Alongside power from volcanoes, waves, biomass and the sun, wind power is set to become a significant alternative energy source in 2014. Are we finally heading to Mars? A new type of engine, called the VASIMR (or Variable Specific Impulse Magnetoplasma Rocket) will be tested in space in March. If successful it is estimated that it could reduce the time it takes to get to Mars from nine months to just three months. The technology -- an "advanced plasma space propulsion system" -- will be tested by NASA on the International Space Station, taking the prospect of interplanetary exploration one step closer. Synthetic biology begins to grow . Marcus Fairs, the editor of dezeen.com, a highly influential online design magazine, says that in his view 2014's most significant emerging technologies will be in the field of synthetic biology. "This emerging field started to hit the headlines at the end of last year and will be huge in 2014," Fairs say. "It involves the creation of new types of artificial life forms that perform useful functions. At the smallest scale it could mean man-made microbes that live inside your body and detect illness; at the largest scale it could mean synthetic creatures that are released into the wild to clean up pollution or attack parasitic species." Wearable technology is on trend . Wearable technology fired some preliminary warning shots in 2013 with the release of the Samsung Galaxy Gear and Pebble smartwatches, but this year will see the arrival of a selection of truly innovative wearable devices. Most notably, Google Glass is expected to launch this year, offering head-mounted computing that could, ultimately, make smartwatches and mobile phones a thing of the past. Alongside Google's new high-tech glasses, Fairs says that in 2014 "technology will migrate onto the body as digital services are miniaturized and embedded in our clothing or worn against our skin. We already have Google Glass and wearable fitness trackers, but a vast array of services -- from health monitoring to augmented information (telling you what's around you and helping you navigate) will become commonplace." Fairs points to clothing with in-built solar panels, devices that scan your body for disease, and self-repairing trainers as some of the more exciting wearable technologies on the near horizon. Tim Meyer, Head of Strategic Planning and Communications at TRIUMF, Canada's national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics, agrees. "This year's Las Vegas CES show is revealing new wearable technology, but what we're going to see this year is the development and test-marketing of smart clothing, not just smart gadgets," Meyer says. "New fibers, new micro-sensors, and new communications protocols will allow your clothes to actually work for you and collect and process information. I suspect we'll see some fashion statements first: clothes that change shape or color. Then we'll see clothes that do computing; first step will be storing information. My socks will store today's to-do list." Dark matter . Meyer also believes that 2014 will be a significant year for physics, particularly in the search for dark matter: "Dark matter is being searched for in everyone's sock drawer as well as deep underground and with satellites. The underground experiments are likely to find something before the Large Hadron Collider turns back on to try "making" it. We could see a conclusive discovery of weakly interacting, massive dark matter particles this year. That will blow your mind." Crowd-funding comes of age . Mid-way through 2014 new laws (known as the JOBS act) will allow anybody to buy equity in start-ups through new online crowd-funding marketplaces. This will make it almost as easy for individuals to fund new technology ventures as it currently is to support a Kickstarter project, bringing a flood of new capital to fledgling tech companies. "The ability to aggregate a bunch of individuals around a common funding goal is absolutely game changing," Vince Molinari, founder and chief executive of GATE Technologies, an online trading company said. With these new laws in place, the rapid technology developments of 2014 may be dwarfed by innovations in 2015 and beyond. Watch this space.

2014 will be a year of enormous technological leaps . Launch of Formula E promises rapid development for electric cars . Virgin Galactic plans to launch tourist flights to space . Could the VASIMR engine help humans reach the moon?

(CNN) -- The future of around 2,000 Dutch soldiers serving in Afghanistan has been thrown into doubt by the collapse Saturday of the Netherlands' coalition government. Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's office said in a statement that the Labor Party had withdrawn from the government following days of talks over whether the troops should be brought home. Balkenende's center-right Christian Democratic Alliance had hoped to keep the country's troops in Afghanistan as part of NATO's International Security and Assistance Force beyond an August deadline for their return. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen asked the Netherlands to extend its mission in Afghanistan earlier this month. The Netherlands currently has 1,950 troops serving in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province as part of NATO's International Security and Assistance Force, according to the ISAF Web site. The Dutch government extended the military mission by two years back in 2007. But the Labor Party, led by Deputy Prime Minister Wouter Bos, opposed fulfilling NATO's request to extend the mission again. Bos said that the current Afghanistan policy was not sustainable, according to the official ANP news agency. In a statement to reporters, Balkenende said there was no longer a "fruitful path" for the near-three-year-old coalition between the CDA, Labor and the Christian Union to go forward. He said he would meet Queen Beatrix, the country's head of state, later Saturday to offer the resignations of the 12 Labor members of his cabinet and "make available" the 12 cabinet positions held by his own party and three held by the Christian Union. The move is expected to trigger early general elections in the country. Balkenende has led a succession of coalitions since becoming prime minister in 2002. The CDA, Labor and Christian Union entered into a coalition agreement in February 2007 following elections in November 2006. But the three parties have disagreed on several issues including Afghanistan.

Labor Party members quit the coalition government after talks fail . Speculation that the political squabble over Afghanistan could not be settled . The Netherlands has roughly 2,000 troops serving in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province .

Kennedy Space Center, Florida (CNN) -- Floating 245 miles over the Earth Tuesday, NASA engineers Michael Fossum and Ronald Garan tethered themselves to the International Space Station and paused to absorb the view. "My goodness, Mike, look down ... absolutely breathtaking," Garan said as they floated over the Yucatan Peninsula. "Welcome back to our other office." The last spacewalk of the shuttle era began about 40 minutes behind schedule. Veteran astronaut Stephen Bowen was speaking to the engineers from Houston's Johnson Space Center during the walk, which was scheduled to last just over six hours. The excursion was Fossum's seventh spacewalk and Garan's fourth, according to a NASA statement. Fossum and Garan had been at the International Space Station for several weeks before the crew from Atlantis arrived Monday on the last shuttle flight of the 30-year-old program. Members of the Atlantis crew helped choreograph the spacewalk from inside the space station, but only Fossum and Garan ventured outside. While on the spacewalk, the engineers were expected to recover a broken pump and stow it in the shuttle's cargo bay. They also planned to retrieve an experiment from the bay and mount it outside the space station before deploying another experiment, according to NASA. On Monday, the crews learned they are not in danger from an orbiting piece of debris, the space agency said. The agency had been tracking a piece of the COSMOS 375 satellite, saying it could come close to the station. But NASA said Mission Control verified that the debris will pass a safe distance from the station and shuttle. The scrap is one of more than 500,000 pieces of debris tracked in Earth's orbit, according to NASA. The space agency also announced Monday that Atlantis would stay in space one day more than originally planned. The shuttle, which was scheduled to land July 20, will now make what NASA called a night landing at the Kennedy Space Center at 5:56 a.m. July 21. Atlantis lifted off Friday on NASA's final space shuttle mission. The first shuttle, Columbia, blasted off in April 1981. Since then, space shuttle crews have fixed satellites, performed scientific studies, and ferried materials and people to International Space Station Alpha, a football field-sized construction project in orbit. In 134 missions, the five space shuttles have ferried 355 astronauts into space. When Atlantis lands, it will leave the United States with no way to lift humans into space for the first time in decades. NASA will rely on the Russian space agency to ferry U.S. astronauts to orbit. CNN's Ed Payne contributed to this report.

NEW: Engineers Mike Fossum and Ronald Garan begin excursion . NEW: Garan: "Welcome back to our other office" The Atlantis crew is delivering supplies and spare parts . The mission is the last of the 30-year space shuttle program .

(CNN) -- Get ready to bow to The Capitol. "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 1" is set to hit theaters in November, and on Wednesday, the immense fandom got a taste of what's to come. Lionsgate has released "propaganda" posters from the forthcoming film, which salute the hero citizens of Panem. Each poster contains a representative from each of the districts dressed to represent their region, along with slogans such as "Panem Today, Panem Tomorrow, Panem Forever." The studio also released a video of "President Snow's Panem Address," which sees Donald Sutherland as the villainous President Snow delivering a not-so-veiled threat to his nation. Even the YouTube description for the teaser indicates the kind of place Panem is. "CITIZENS," the description begins, "The Capitol requires your viewing of President Snow's official Panem Address, 'Together As One,' brought to you by Capitol TV in stunning 4K. "Your districts are the body," Sutherland's Snow says. "The capital is the beating heart. Your hard work feeds us, and in return, we feed and protect you." He's joined by Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark, whom fans know isn't being himself at this point in the story. The films are based on the wildly successful "Hunger Games" trilogy of young adult novels written by Suzanne Collins. The third and final book, "Mockingjay," has been split into two films. Part 1 is set to be released on November 21.

Lionsgate has released posters from "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay -- Part 1" There is also an address from "President Snow" (played by Donald Sutherland) The latest film in the hit series is set to hit theaters in November .

A New South Wales MP's latest attempt to ban the burqa across the state has been branded anti-Islamic and a political stunt. Christian Democratic Party leader Fred Nile introduced his private member's bill in state parliament on Thursday that would prohibit the wearing of the burqa and other face coverings in public. It follows similar bans in Belgium and France, and comes after his failed attempt at blacklisting face coverings in 2010. Christian Democratic Party MP Fred Nile has introduced a bill that would see the ban of burqas . While Mr Nile stressed that his bill's text did not include the words 'burqa' or 'Muslim', much of his speech to parliament about the plan focused on the burqa. He said the measures came at an 'opportune' time after Wednesday's arrest in Queensland of two men allegedly linked to terrorist groups in Syria. 'We also face the new Islamic State (IS) terrorist threat, whose black uniforms for both men and women include face coverings to prevent identification,' he told the upper house. Labor MP Amanda Fazio said the measures were 'anti-Islamic' and had more to do with Mr Nile's bid for re-election in March. His political opponents, like Labor MP Amanda Fazio, said the measures were 'anti-Islamic' 'These measures are the opposite of everything we're trying to achieve in Australia in terms of being inclusive and having a harmonious society where we respect difference,' she told AAP. Silma Ihram, from Australian Muslim Women's Association, branded the move as 'unfortunate'. '[This] is only going to further traumatise members of the [Muslim] community who are absolutely innocent and have every right to wear the fashion of their choice," she said. Under Mr Nile's plan, a person who covers their face in public would face a $550 fine and a person who forces someone else to cover their face would be hit with a $1,100 penalty. The plan allows faces to be covered under certain conditions, such as during a parade or if 'Sydney is suddenly hit by a blizzard and ski masks are the latest fashion', the MP said. Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi said the move was another example of 'conservative men trying to control what women do'. Mr Nile's move comes after two Queensland men, Agim Kruezi (left) and Omar Succrieh (right) were arrested for charges of terrorism . John Blaxland, an intelligence and security expert at the Australian National University, said authorities already had powers to ask for face coverings to be removed. He said Mr Nile's plan was unlikely to be supported by the security community. Comment has been sought from NSW Premier Mike Baird. Debate on the bill was adjourned. It comes as two Queensland men were charged on Wednesday for preparing to send fighters to join the conflict in Syria after a raid on a Islamic bookstore, a gym and seven other premises in Logan and Brisbane. The arrests followed a year-long counter-terrorism investigation by Australian Federal Police and state police. Omar Succarieh, who is the brother of Australia's first suicide bomber to die in Syria, was charged with providing funds to the terrorist organisation Jabhat al-Nusra. The 31-year-old, from Kuraby, was also charged with preparing for incursions into Syria. Further, Agim Kruezi, 21, from Boronia Heights, was charged with preparing for incursions into Syria with the intention of engaging in hostile activities as well as recruiting fighters to join the conflict.

Fred Nile has introduced a bill which prohibits the wearing of the burqa . The Christian Democratic Party leader touted it in parliament on Thursday . He stressed that the bill's text did not include the words 'burqa' or 'Muslim' But other politicians have slammed it, saying measures were 'anti-Islamic'

U.S. President Barack Obama was personally informed of phone tapping against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, which may have begun as early as 2002, according to German media. As the damaging espionage scandal widened, Bild am Sonntag newspaper quoted U.S. intelligence sources as saying that National Security Agency chief Keith Alexander had briefed Obama on the operation against Merkel in 2010. 'Obama did not halt the operation but rather let it continue,' the newspaper quoted a high-ranking NSA official as saying. Scroll down for video . Unhappy: Merkel suggested at an EU gathering that she was not placated by talks with President Obama . News weekly Der Spiegel reported that leaked NSA documents showed that Merkel's phone had appeared on a list of spying targets since 2002, and was still under surveillance weeks before Obama visited Berlin in June. As a sense of betrayal spread in many world capitals allegedly targeted by the NSA, European leaders are calling for a new deal with Washington on intelligence gathering that would maintain an essential alliance while keeping the fight against terrorism on track. Germany will send its own spy chiefs to Washington soon to demand answers. Meanwhile several thousand protesters gathered in Washington Saturday to push for new U.S. legislation to curb the NSA's activities. Swiss president Ueli Maurer warned that the scandal risked 'undermining confidence between states'. 'We don't know if we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg or if other governments are acting in the same ruthless manner,' he told the Schweiz am Sonntag weekly. Anger: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) and Brazil's Dilma Rousseff (right) have both voiced concerns over the NSA's infiltration of the online communications of foreigners . Merkel confronted Obama with the snooping allegations in a phone call on Wednesday saying that such spying would be a 'breach of trust' between international partners. The suspicion also prompted Berlin to summon the U.S. ambassador - a highly unusual move between the close allies. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported without citing its sources that Obama had told Merkel during their call that he had been unaware of any spying against her. Der Spiegel said he told her that if he had been informed of the operation he would have stopped it at once. Other media reports said that Obama's National Security Advisor Susan Rice had also told German officials the president knew nothing of the spying. Merkel's office declined to comment on what he told her during their conversation. The White House has said it is not . monitoring Merkel's phone calls and will not do so in future, but it has . refused to say whether it did previously. Bild . am Sonntag said that Obama wanted to be informed in detail about . Merkel, who has played a decisive role in the eurozone debt crisis and . is widely seen as Europe's most powerful leader. Demands: Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, . left, speaks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, right, yesterday during a . round-table meeting at an European Union summit in Brussels . Under fire: President Barack Obama, standing next to Vice President Joe Biden, speaks in the White House yesterday . German Chancellor Angela Merkel checking her mobile phone in May 2012 . As a result, the report said, the NSA stepped up its surveillance of her communications, targeting not only the mobile phone she uses to conduct business for her conservative Christian Democratic Union party but also her encrypted official device. Merkel only acquired the latter handset over the summer. Bild said U.S. intelligence specialists were then able to monitor the content of her conversations as well as text messages, which Merkel sends by the dozen each day to key associates. Only the specially secured land line in her office was out of the reach of the NSA, which sent the intelligence gathered straight to the White House bypassing the agency's headquarters in Fort Meade, Maryland, according to the report. Bild and Spiegel described a hive of spy activity on the fourth floor of the US embassy in central Berlin, a stone's throw from the government quarter, from which the United States kept tabs on Merkel and other German officials. Spiegel cited a classified 2010 document indicating that U.S. intelligence had 80 high-tech surveillance offices worldwide in cities including Paris, Madrid, Rome, Prague, Geneva and Frankfurt. If the spying against Merkel began in 2002, it would mean the United States under then president George W. Bush targeted her while she was still the country's chief opposition leader, three years before she became chancellor. Bild said Merkel's predecessor Gerhard Schroeder was also in the NSA's sights because of his vocal opposition to the US invasion of Iraq and close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. As anger simmered in Berlin, Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich sharpened his tone. 'Surveillance is a crime and those responsible must be brought to justice,' he told Bild. A poll for the newspaper found that 76 percent of Germans believe Obama should apologise for the alleged spying on Merkel, and 60 percent said the scandal had damaged German-U.S. ties. The scandal derived from documents acquired from U.S. fugitive defence contractor Edward Snowden by Spiegel. The Social Democrats' chief whip Thomas Oppermann told Bild that German MPs would now like to question Snowden. 'Snowden's accounts seem credible while the U.S. government apparently lied to us about this matter.'

Obama was personally informed the U.S. was monitoring German Chancellor Angela Merkel, German media reports . He was allegedly briefed by National Security Agency chief in 2010 . Obama let the operation continue . Earlier this week, Obama said he didn't know about phone tapping . German intelligence officials will visit Washington, Foreign Ministry spokesman says . Merkel says allegations have shattered trust in Obama administration . Top German government official to hold crunch talks with U.S. counterparts .

(CNN) -- Echoes of the 2012 prostitution scandal in Cartagena, Colombia, lie at the root of the turmoil that has upended the Secret Service, prompting the ouster of its director in the wake of security lapses. One link to the White House, involving a former unpaid intern, the son of an Obama donor, who was investigated for possible involvement in the scandal, has caused internal complaints about the fairness of the 2012 probe. The scandal eventually led to the ouster of eight employees, and discipline against a handful of others at the Secret Service. However, in the years since, current and former employees, as well as congressional investigators, have complained that White House links to the episode weren't properly investigated, perhaps for political reasons, and that the punishment against Secret Service was too severe. How to make a President safe again . The internal dissension over Cartagena is one reason why, according to current and former employees, a series of recent security lapses prompted whistleblowers to go to Congress to report the Secret Service's incomplete accounting of security lapses that have further embarrassed the agency. In the wake of the Cartagena scandal, the White House counsel's office conducted a probe, interviewing more than a dozen staffers who worked on advance preparation for the presidential trip to Colombia, according to a person close to the probe. It also reviewed a single document purporting to show that a woman had signed her name and a room number on a hotel a piece of paper that appeared to be a sign-in sheet; the room number corresponded to the volunteer's room. The paper didn't bear a logo, or any indication of being hotel stationery or official business record, according to the person close to the probe. Richard Sauber, an attorney for the former intern, says his client "categorically denies having a prostitute in his room and neither he nor his father contacted anyone at DHS or the [White House] to seek special treatment - the allegations are false and everyone involved knows they are false." The White House determined that the paper, which didn't include any official logos or stationery marks, couldn't be relied on as proof of wrongdoing. The White House investigators deemed his denial credible. The Washington Post published a story Wednesday night alleging that the incident was covered up, and citing complaints from a former investigator with the Homeland Security Department's inspector general who claimed that political interference from the White House prompted changes to be made to the DHS inspector general's report on the Cartagena incident. The Post also cited multiple government officials who argue the White House investigation into the volunteer was nowhere near as extensive as the weeks long probe into the Secret Service agents and Pentagon personnel. Can the Secret Service actually change? The person close to the internal probe disputed that there was a coverup, citing multiple media accounts of the possible White House link that have been published in the past two years. An administration official said the White House's review was thorough and that purported hotel records wrongly implicated at least two people: one, the White House intern, and the other, a Secret Service employee. The White House concluded that there was no inappropriate conduct by the intern, the official said. "We took this very seriously," the person close to the probe said. "The idea that this [investigation] was done flimsily is just not true." Complaints that Secret Service employees were treated more harshly than a White House intern overlook one fact, the person close to the probe said. The Secret Service agents implicated are armed U.S. government employees charged with protecting the life of the president and should be held to a higher standard than an unpaid White House volunteer who technically wasn't a government employee, the source argued. Despite the White House denials, inside the Secret Service, the handling of the Cartagena incident has led to dissension. Some of the Secret Service employees who were implicated were required to sign non-disclosure agreements as part of the disciplinary process, which has further aroused suspicion about the handling of the matter. According to current and former employees, low morale among some Secret Service employees is behind some of the recent lapses. And it has prompted employees to report their complaints to Congress, instead of using internal channels to report problems. Julia Pierson, the agency's director appointed to help clean up the aftermath of Cartagena, was ousted last week. Her predecessor, Mark Sullivan, under whose watch Cartagena and other lapses occurred, is now a Washington consultant. Sullivan was the subject of probes by the Justice Department's public integrity section and the Homeland Security inspector general's special investigations unit. They investigated allegations he lied to Congress when he testified that the prostitutes involved in the scandal posed no issues for U.S. intelligence agencies. Investigators determined that U.S. intelligence community had information about at least one of the women involved because of possible links to drug cartels, according to people close to the probe. The Justice Department and DHS inspector general each separately cleared Sullivan of wrongdoing. Joshua Hochberg, Sullivan's attorney, said "Questions that arose concerning Mr. Sullivan were looked at and determined to be unfounded." Sullivan recently was appointed to help the government come up with best practices in the aftermath of the Benghazi terrorist attacks. Secret Service Director Julia Pierson resigns .

The 2012 incident in Cartagena, Colombia, eventually led to ouster of eight Secret Service employees. An unpaid White House intern was working as advance staff during the trip. A person close to the White House investigation says the administration did not try to cover up the link.

By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 14:32 EST, 13 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:13 EST, 13 February 2013 . A group of workmen who panicked when a colleague fell to his death from a ladder, picked up his body, put it in their van and drove off into the country where they dumped the corpse, a coroner has heard. The builders had been working in a house in Cox Green, Maidenhead, on January 24 last year when it turned bitterly cold and decided to go to the shop to buy a bottle of vodka each. After downing the spirits at the building site, Ryszard Karpuc tried to climb down a ladder but fell, landing on his chest, breaking numerous ribs which punctured his lung. He died almost immediately. The inquest into Mr Karpuc's death heard that his colleagues then panicked, put his body in their van and drove off towards the countryside. Grizzly: Ryszard Karpuc's body was found in woodland near the village of Beaconsfield (pictured) in Buckinghamshire . However, the van became stuck, so the men took out the body and left it in nearby woodland. It was discovered four days later on Wooburn Common, near Beaconsfield, by a shooting party including Lord Burnham, the seventh Baron of Burnham and the son of . Hugh Lawson, who was general manager and deputy manager of the Daily . Telegraph in the 1970s and 80s, as well Chief Whip in the House of . Lords. Speaking at the inquest in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, Detective Sergeant Paul Quinton said: 'The weather was particularly foul and to keep warm they all decided to drink neat vodka. 'Over the course of the day the deceased and his work colleagues purchased a bottle of vodka each from a local store and shared the contents amongst themselves. 'This is believed to have resulted in high levels of intoxication.' As the men prepared to finish work for the evening Mr Karpuc came down the ladder, because the stairs had not yet been built, but fell and sustained fatal injuries to his chest. He broke a number of ribs, which punctured his lungs leading to a very sudden death. His colleagues could find no pulse and concluded that he had died - although they did not call the emergency services. 'They decided to place Mr Karpuc in a van and drive him away from the site,' said Det. Sgt. Quinton. 'It would appear that while driving down a single track road, Green Common Lane, Beaconsfield, the person driving the van tried to turn around. 'This resulted in the Mercedes Sprinter-type van being stuck between the raised banks on either side of the road, it was wedged firmly bank-to-bank. 'It's understood they decided to remove Mr Karpuc from the van and place him on the edge of a forest, so to speak. They then left the scene.' On January 28, Simon Hanbury and Lord Harry were on a shooting trip and were beating though Green Common Lane when Mr Hanbury noticed what he thought was a body. As he had his children with him, Lord Harry went to investigate further and came across Mr Karpuc. 'Lord Burnham notified the police via 999 and a number of police officers, paramedics and an air ambulance attended,' said Det. Sgt. Quinton. 'The weather was particularly foul and to keep warm they all decided to drink neat vodka' - Detective Sergeant Paul Quinton . Mr Karpuc was pronounced dead at the scene and a post mortem examination revealed that he had suffered an intrapulmonary haemorrhage in the presence of alcohol following a fall from height. A toxicology report showed he had 284mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, around three-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit of 80mg. Karen Morris, a health and safety expert who investigated the death, said that Mr Karpuc had been working with his colleagues, who were also Polish, since the end of July 2012. 'Once the death occurred, Ryszard Karpuc's colleagues appeared to panic and decided it would be best to move his body,' she said. 'They decided to take the body into the country and leave it there.' Ms Morris said that Mr Karpuc, of Seaford Road, Ealing, had fallen around two metres. She said that supervisor Michael O'Heney had been away from the site, and had not known that his workers had been drinking - or what had happened to Mr Karpuc. 'He is very shocked by this, I have no reason to believe Mr O'Heney knew there was drinking on his site, I don't think it was a regular occurrence and there is no suggestion he was condoning this behaviour," she said. A jury of seven women and four men recorded a verdict of accidental death. The hearing was also told that Mr Karpuc's . colleagues, who were not named, are the subject of legal proceedings . due to be heard at Reading Crown Court. They have been charged with obstructing a coroner. 'There are proceedings against several individuals, workmates of Mr Karpuc, who are charged not in relation to causing his death but in what happened subsequently to his body,' said coroner Richard Hulett. 'The offence is failing to report his death to a district coroner.' Verdict: accidental death. Sorry we are unable to accept comments for legal reasons.

Ryszard Karpuc tried to climb down a ladder but fell and punctured his lung . Inquest heard his colleagues panicked and drove Karpuc's body to forest . Corpse found four days later by Lord Burnham in Buckinghamshire . Coroner told workmen had been drinking vodka before to keep warm .

They left it late again, very late, but Arsenal took more than they arguably deserved from a Premier League game for the second week running, Olivier Giroud in this case scoring the 90th minute goal that earned them a point. Everton’s Seamus Coleman and Steven Naismith had put the hosts 2-0 ahead in the first half, a score that stayed that way until the 83rd minute, when Aaron Ramsey pulled one back and set up this unlikely comeback. It will feel like a defeat to Everton and their supporters for a few days yet. Rescue point: Substitute Olivier Giroud scores a last-gasp equaliser for Arsenal against Everton . Everton: Howard, Coleman, Jagielka, Distin, Baines, McCarthy, Barry, Mirallas (Atsu 85),Naismith,Pienaar (Osman 10), Lukaku (McGeady 76). Subs Not Used: Robles, Besic, Stones, Alcaraz. Booked: Baines. Goals: Coleman 19, Naismith 45. Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Campbell 74), Ramsey, Wilshere (Cazorla 74), Ozil,Sanchez (Giroud 46). Subs Not Used: Koscielny, Rosicky, Martinez, Bellerin. Booked: Mertesacker, Wilshere, Chambers, Flamini. Goals: Ramsey 83, Giroud 90. Att: 39,490 . Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire). To Arsenal and their travelling fans, who celebrated lustily at the end, it will feel like a win. Certainly this demonstrated backbone, and that, allied with Arsenal taking their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 games, can do nothing but boost confidence. ‘We gave a great response with complete desire to come back, and the spirit was fantastic … we got a point and it was deserved,’ said Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger. He added that Everton’s goal - which replays showed to be offside, just - was ‘difficult to swallow. But we took it on the chin.’ The key tactical change that ultimately made the difference was replacing Alexis Sanchez, up front in the first half, with Giroud in the second. Wenger admitted Arsenal ‘looked more dangerous’ with the Frenchman instead of his Chilean team-mate but insisted Sanchez will find his form when fully fit. ‘He’s not completely ready physically,’ Wenger said. ‘But I’m not worried for him … when he’s at his best physically he’ll come back [to form].’ Wenger’s counterpart Roberto Martinez said: ‘For 75 minutes we gave a perfect performance … dynamic going forward, defending well … scoring two should have been enough … the disappointment was the result.’ The Spaniard, who said much the same last week after Everton drew 2-2 at Leicester, added: ‘How we can get our performances to be 90 minutes long [is crucial] … the performance overall against a very good Arsenal side was good.’ Arsenal last lost a competitive match on 6 April on this ground, 3-0 to Everton. Between then and Saturday, they won six straight Premier League games, an FA Cup semi-final and final, the Community Shield, and also drew away in midweek in the Champions League. Martinez made two changes from Leicester last week. Coleman, fully fit after injury, returned at right-back in place of John Stones. Kevin Mirallas returned in place of Aiden McGeady and played in an advanced left-sided berth in a three-man attack with Naismith to his right and Romelu Lukaku right of that. It is no secret among Everton fans that to make a sustained challenge on the top four they need to improve considerably against the ‘bigger’ teams in general, home and away. But Arsenal have grave concerns of their own when playing against top-five teams. As well as losing 3-0 in this fixture last season, they were thrashed 6-0 and 6-3 at Chelsea and Manchester City respectively and were caned 5-1 in [italics] that [off] drubbing across Stanley Park at Liverpool that set the red team from Merseyside on their tilt at the title. Arsenal did not win an away game against any of the teams finishing in the top five in the 2012-13 season, or in the season before that. It was a long ago as October 2010 that Arsenal last beat a team who finished in the top five, when they beat City 3-0. Clinical: Everton defender Seamus Coleman scores the opening goal against Arsenal on Saturday . Finding the net: Seamus Coleman heads the Toffees ahead during the late kick-off at Goodison Park on Saturday afterno . Impressive: The neat seven-man move which ended with Coleman putting Everton ahead - click HERE for more brilliant Match Zone statistics . Fortune: Romelu Lukaku appeared to foul Per Mertesacker in the build-up to Everton's second goal . Break: Steven Naismith was marginally offside before he scored Everton's second goal . Cool head: Steven Naismith doubles Everton's lead with a neat finish at Goodison Park . Cheers: Naismith celebrates scoring Everton's second goal against Arsenal . Gloom: New signing Alexis Sanchez was taken off at half-time after disappointing performance . Focused: Everton's James McAurthur challenges Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere . MINS  KM   MILES . Everton total                             107.2    66.6 . Steven Naismith                     90    11.9  7.4 . Gareth Barry                          90    11.4  7.1 . James McCarthy                     90    10.9   6.8 . Arsenal total                                110.3    68.5 . Mathieu Flamini                       90    12.5    7.8 . Aaron Ramsey                         90    11.9  7.4 . Mathieu Debuchy                     90    11.0  6.8 . Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League . Against their serious rivals, road trips have become simply bad trips. At least Saturday's had a pleasant comedown. Wenger made five changes to the starting XI who squeaked past Crystal Palace 2-1 in added time last week. They lined up ostensibly 4-1-4-1 with Mathieu Flamini the defensive shield, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Mesut Ozil on the right and left flanks of the midfield four, and Jack Wilshere and Ramsey dropping back to assist Flamini or pushing on in support of lone forward Sanchez as the situation required. Everton’s opener started with a set piece that went via Barry, Osman and Leighton Baines back to Barry, whose diagonal cross was headed home at the far post by Coleman, who breezed far to easily past his ‘marker’, Ozil. The hosts could easily have been further ahead three minutes later, Naismith feeding the ball to Mirallas, who punched it down with his chest and ran clear on goal. Just as he was about to shoot his left leg slipped enough to unbalance him significantly and his miscued his effort, which went wide. The manner in which the hosts extended their lead summed up the first half, Lukaku breaking forward and getting past Mertesacker far too easily before sliding the ball to the central Naismith. Replays showed him to be offside, but not by much and evidently not enough for the referee or his assistant to spot it, and the Scot finished the move through Wojciech Szczesny’s legs. Wenger took Sanchez off at half time, replacing him with Olivier Giroud in search of a focal point up front. His first contribution was to lash a volley over from Ramsey’s chipped supply and he had further shots wide and saved. Arsenal scored what looked like a consolation with seven minutes remaining, Ozil passing to Cazorla on the left, who weaved forward and crossed for Ramsey to convert. A long ball and a Monreal cross then set up Giroud at the end. That's pants: Giroud pulls down his shorts after missing a chance but he was to make amends late on . Hope: Aaron Ramsey gave Arsenal a lifeline with a close-range srike in the 83rd minute . Hurry up: Ramsey grabs the ball after scoring Arsenal's first goal against Everton . High point: Arsenal players salute travelling fans after grabbing precious point at Goodison Park .

Arsene Wenger used Alexis Sanchez as lone forward and took him off at half-time . Mesut Ozil was played wide on the left and was at fault for first goal . Seamus Coleman put Everton ahead with a 19th minute header . Steven Naismith made it 2-0 with a neat finish despite appearing to be offside . Aaron Ramsey gave Arsenal hope with a close-range strike in 83rd minute .

(CNN)After the Paris attacks by al Qaeda-aligned Islamic terrorists, much of the world -- even some Muslim world leaders -- seems united in the defense of free speech and freedom of religion. And at the Golden Globes recently, Hollywood declared its aversion to attacks on liberty, mocking North Korea's Kim Jong Un for trying to shut down the movie "The Interview" and announcing its united front with France against terrorism. "Je suis Charlie," said Jared Leto. "Together we will stand united against anyone who would oppress free speech," said Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Theo Kingma. George Clooney talked about the millions who marched for unity in Paris: "They marched in support of the idea that we will not walk in fear. We won't do it." The tech world, too, has pledged its support of life and liberty in the wake of the Sony hack and Paris attacks. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called for a rejection of "extremists trying to silence the voices and opinions of everyone else around the world." Google featured a black ribbon on its homepage and Apple put a banner with the words "Je Suis Charlie" on its French website. This is all very fine and good, of course. The horrific slayings of French police officers, French cartoonists and four Jews at a grocery store should be the kind of shock to the system that brings even the most disparate of groups together, and maybe even jolts them out of the false sense of security that al Qaeda's "leadership ranks have been decimated" or that Islamic extremism can be thwarted by efforts at multiculturalism. Many are united in horror, but one only needs to look back at some recent examples of other horrifying atrocities to know that mere symbolism and solidarity -- what I call the weapons of "soft outrage" -- will not be enough to stamp out terrorism in Europe or anywhere else. It's been eight months since Boko Haram militants kidnapped more than 200 teenage girls in Chibok, Nigeria, and they are still missing, despite U.S. first lady Michelle Obama's best efforts at soft outrage, joining a Twitter campaign to #BringBackOurGirls. Even though it went viral, and everyone from Hillary Clinton to British Prime Minister David Cameron chimed in, hashtag activism hasn't proven very effective in the face of violent Islamic extremism. Last week reports that a shudder-inducing 2,000 people were killed in Nigeria once again shocked Western audiences, who then learned that most of the victims were reportedly children, women and the elderly. The BBC estimates that Boko Haram now controls 70% of Nigeria's Borno state. In another corner of Africa, Darfur remains a ghastly site of untold violence and genocide that has spanned 10 years, wiped out hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. Last October there was reportedly a mass rape in the village of Tabit, Sudan, as tribal fighting rages on. But this weekend the Golden Globes honored Clooney with a lifetime achievement award, for his work in film but also for raising awareness of Darfur's plight. What has all that awareness accomplished? Not much, as the Guardian recently learned. It asked people who have lived and worked in the region "What happened to Darfur after George Clooney came to town?" As one resident put it: . "Clooney might be doing something fantastic -- tracking the movements of Sudanese troops and militias -- but for me as a person living in Darfur, in touch with what is happening on daily basis, I don't see that it has halted, or even reduced, the genocide. The killing, displacement, sexual assaults and rape never stopped." While awareness and solidarity aren't unimportant, "soft outrage" is useless in stopping terrorism and genocide. These things often require force, the kind of intervention that tends to make soft outragers uncomfortable. If Clooney, for example, truly cares about the people of Darfur (and I'm certain that he does), I would hope he accepts that "awareness" alone will not end the genocide there -- only force will. Hashtag diplomacy isn't an actual solution to a terrifying, real problem. But military intervention to "bring back our girls" or stop the horrific atrocities in Nigeria could well be. Europe must accept that unity marches and inclusion rhetoric won't protect freedom of speech or religion against extremists determined to attack them. France has recommitted to attacking ISIS in Iraq along with the U.S., but will it join in strikes against ISIS in Syria, or al Qaeda terrorists in the Arabian Peninsula and elsewhere? Silicon Valley must accept that Facebook posts and website banners won't prevent terrorists -- whether ISIS or actors like Kim Jong Un -- from attacking Western values and Western infrastructure. Will Facebook, Google and Apple support the necessary investments in our national defense that will help better protect our values and our companies? Maybe you don't believe that the United States should involve itself politically or militarily in these conflicts around the world. That's a reasonable position, even if I disagree with it. But let's not kid ourselves into thinking our soft outrage is either effective or noble. It's lovely to see all these folks "stand with France." But standing isn't doing, and the hard truth is that symbolism is no match for the fanatics who want us exterminated. Are they ready to back up their rhetoric with action?

S.E. Cupp: At Golden Globes and beyond, Hollywood denounces terrorism, genocide . She says Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton think hashtag activism helps, but it does nothing . Cupp: Left-leaners should skip "soft outrage" -- force is more likely to work .

Nick Bonnie, 30, sent a final text to his girlfriend Leah Wilkins telling her he loved her before dying of an Ecstasy overdose . A worker at Prince Charles's flagship charity sent a final text to his girlfriend telling her he loved her, just hours before dying of an Ecstasy overdose during a night out with friends. Prince's Trust employee Nick Bonnie, 30, who had been pictured with the Prince of Wales and visited Highgrove and Buckingham Palace through his work, collapsed after taking the drug while on a ‘lads’ weekend’ in Manchester in September last year. Hours before, Mr Bonnie texted his girlfriend Leah Wilkins - who had no idea her boyfriend used drugs - saying, 'goodnight, love you'. He also posed for a photo with his friends while at the rave. But Mr Bonnie - whose mother works in drug rehabilitation - had unknowingly taken almost 15 times the recreational dose of MDMA while at the rave. Soon after, he had been rushed to hospital where he died two hours later. Today, at an inquest into Mr Bonnie's death, the coroner blasted the 'morally bankrupt' dealers of party drugs as a 'heinous blot on our civilisation'. Speaking at the hearing in Stockport, John Pollard said: 'These drugs are manufactured and distributed by people who clearly have no care for the welfare of fellow human beings. 'They are morally bankrupt and form a heinous blot on our civilisation.' The inquest heard how Mr Bonnie and three of his friends had bought Ecstasy and cocaine before leaving their hometown in Stroud, Gloucestershire, for the night out at the Warehouse Project. The foursome took some MDMA and cocaine while travelling the 200 miles by car to Manchester. They also took more while getting ready for the night out at a rented apartment in Salford, before taking more as they queued to enter the club. After Mr Bonnie's death, the three friends and another member of the group were prosecuted for lying to police about where they bought the drug. Dean Neale, Paul Tabb, James Churchill and Simon Lloyd-Jones - who abstained from taking the drugs during the night - had agreed to lie to police about who had supplied the drugs. Mr Bonnie (left) who worked for the Prince's Trust, had taken drugs on previous occasions but neither his girlfriend (pictured right) nor his parents knew . Nick Bonnie (far right, in white T-shirt with red lanyard) had worked at the charity for eight years. He is pictured here with the Prince of Wales . The group concocted the story as they travelled in a taxi to Manchester Infirmary to visit Mr Bonnie, where he lay dying. They claimed they bought the drugs in the club in a 'drunken mistake', leading to police putting out urgent alerts about a possible fatal ‘bad batch’ of drugs circulating the club. Mr Bonnie's mother Pauline has previously hit out at how his friends’ lies had caused her family ‘additional anguish and unacceptable stress’ by prolonging their ordeal for more than a year. Today, Mr Neale - who alongside his friends was given a suspended sentence for their crimes - told the hearing they had concocted the story to 'protect the image of us as a group'. Mr Tabb said the group made up the lie so Mr Bonnie's death would be 'easier' for his parents' to 'get their head around'. Ms Wilkins (left) and his parents Pauline and Andy (right) were today at an inquest into Mr Bonnie's death in Stockport, where the coroner blasted drug dealers as a 'heinous blot on our civilisation' The court heard Mr Bonnie, a finance manager, had taken drugs on previous occasions, unbeknownst to his girlfriend, parents and colleagues. Mr Tabb said: 'I knew from previous conversations that they had no idea he had ever taken drugs. 'We thought it would be easier for them to get their head round it if they thought their son had made one drunken mistake. 'All of us were told we wouldn't get in any trouble for the drugs so we didn't do it to protect ourselves.' Mr Lloyd-Jones described it as 'the worst mistake I have ever made'. He added: 'We thought if they didn't say they took the drugs up with them then it would be a slap on the wrist and it wouldn't go any further. 'It only occurred after the lie that we should have told the truth.' The court heard today how the group took the drugs before heading out, but ended up splitting up from one another when the DJ finished his set. After combing the club and checking in the toilets, Mr Neale told the inquest that one of the group went back to the apartment see if Mr Bonnie had gone home. But Mr Bonnie was on his own in the venue and had been found by security manager Ivan Horsman, after crashing through a fire door. Mr Horsman told the inquest: 'He seemed to lose his footing as he came out and fell to the floor flat on his back right in front of me. 'He said his name was Nick and I could tell he was not simply drunk and he had taken something. I noticed he was clammy to the touch. 'I tried to talk to him but he was now less responsive. I remember him saying, "I can cope, I can do it". Me and a colleague took an arm each and helped him to his feet.' The worker then described how Mr Bonnie began spasming in their arms, before his speech began to deteriorate. Dean Neale, Paul Tabb and James Churchill, pictured outside Stockport Coroner's Court, today told the court about why they had lied to police about where they bought the drugs from which killed Mr Bonnie . He said: 'I could tell he was taking a turn for the worse. I kept saying "stay with me". I heard the medic say she was calling 999 and that was the last I heard until I received a phone call at 5.45am to say he was dead.' The court heard how the friends' lies unravelled when Miss Wilkins analysed her boyfriend's phone almost two months after Mr Bonnie's death. She discovered a string of texts and WhatsApp messages which revealed the group's intentions to buy drugs before the night out. In court, Churchill, 31, a a gym owner, admitted three charges of supplying controlled Class A drug MDMA, three counts of supplying cocaine and a charge of perverting the course of justice. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. Tabb, 31, and father-of-one Neale, 30, admitted possession of MDMA, possession of cocaine and perverting the course of justice by providing a false witness statement. They were sentenced to eight months, suspended for 18 months, and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work. Construction site engineer Lloyd-Jones, 29, admitted perverting the course of justice and was sentenced to eight months, suspended for 18 months, as well as 250 hours of unpaid work. Mr Bonnie died after collapsing at the Warehouse Project in Manchester (pictured) where he attended a rave . The coroner gave Mr Bonnie's cause of death as MDMA and cocaine toxicity. Tests showed a concentration of 4.42mg of MDMA in his blood. Typical recreational use normally measuring just 0.3mg. He had also had amphetamine and alcohol in his system. Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Pollard said: 'There was nothing to suggest the presence of drugs in his body was due to anything other than a voluntary act. No-one forced him. 'It was apparently for the "buzz" that he would get from them. 'I suspect that he either took too many tablets or more likely he took the powder form of the drugs and didn't know how much he was taking. 'Looking at all the facts it is very clear that while Nick had used drugs previously and that he was planning to use them again, he managed to keep this from his parents and partner. 'If they had any knowledge about this I'm confident they would have brought considerable force to bear on him.' Mr Bonnie had worked for the Prince's Trust for eight years and had attended one of the Queen's garden parties at Buckingham Palace. He had helped many young people get into work and was raising thousands of pounds for good causes, the inquest heard.

Nick Bonnie, 30, went to a warehouse rave with four friends in Manchester . He texted Leah Wilkes, who had no idea he took drugs, saying he loved her . But hours later he had collapsed and was taken to hospital, where he died . He had unknowingly taken almost 15 times the recreational dose of MDMA . His friends concocted a false story about where they had bought the drugs . They were later prosecuted for lying to police but walked free from court . His mother said lies caused 'additional anguish and unacceptable stress' Today, friends said they lied to make it 'easier' for his parents to accept . Coroner said 'morally bankrupt' dealers are 'heinous blot on civilisation' Mr Bonnie, from Stroud, Glos, worked for Prince's Trust for eight years .

When word reached Robert Snodgrass that Andrew Robertson was about to raise the Scottish quota at Hull City this summer, he immediately cast himself in the role of protective big brother. As a 21-year-old, Snodgrass had felt the weight of the world on his shoulders when he moved from Livingston to Leeds in 2008. His fellow Scot, he sincerely believed, would need all the free advice going as he embarked on life in the Premier League. Ten weeks on from extending a welcoming handshake to the former Dundee United full-back at the KC Stadium, Snodgrass’ fears for Robertson have long since evaporated. Andrew Robertson has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water since joining from Dundee United . Robertson played for Scotland U21s during their Euro 2015 qualifiers last year . To say the player has taken to the task like a duck to water is to do him a huge disservice. The same goes for his ascent to the Scotland team. From playing with Queen’s Park at Hampden to eyeing Georgia at Ibrox in a Scotland shirt in little over a year, Robertson’s story would normally be reserved for the pages of a child’s comic. As for the surrogate big brother, fulsome praise has long since replaced those early words of advice. ‘He’s a very level-headed lad,’ Snodgrass said. ‘As he’s Scottish, you feel it’s your duty when he comes down to make sure he’s okay. ‘There’s only so much you can do but he’s dealt with everything Steve Bruce has thrown at him - some big tests. You always hear about whether someone can cut it at the top. Well the only way to find out is to give them a chance. The manager has done that so fair play to him and fair play to Robbo for taking it. ‘When Andy did come down, the first thing I told him was to believe that he could cut it there. You go in there with no fear like he did, and show people what you can do. He’s got a great left foot and the way he attacks is terrific. He’s learning each day and that’s good. He’s in the gym working hard on his upper body and physique. Robertson (right) alongside his Scottish teammate James McArthur (left) last weekend . Robertson (right) played a starring role in Hull City's win over Crystal Palace at the KC Stadium last week . ‘It can only be good for Scotland when lads like that come through. He’s got a big future ahead of him. You see him on TV and he stands out straight away. Some lads are shell-shocked by the occasion and that’s one thing he’s not. He’s been terrific.” A serious knee injury sustained on his Hull debut means Snodgrass can do no more than roar himself hoarse at Ibrox this evening. If the mental anguish at being excluded from the opening four games of the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign has been comparable with the physical pain of dislocating his knee at Loftus Road, the 27-year-old has taken considerable comfort in the way Gordon Strachan and his players have dealt with his misfortune. ‘Every one of the lads in the squad has wished me all the best since my injury,’ he added. ‘Most of them have been through something similar and the manager has also been on the phone, trying to get me to the team hotel and to sit in on the meetings. ‘That shows the character of the man. He wants us all to feel part of it and I take my hat off to him. ‘It feels like a club whenever we meet up and that bodes well for the future. We might only meet five or six times each year but we’ve kept the core of the squad together, with just a few additions here and there. Robertson (left), alongside Sean Dillon (centre) and Ryan Gauld (right) after Dundee's win against Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Ibrox in April 2014 - just months before the Hull man's move south . ‘The manager has worked to get that spirit and whenever anyone new comes into the group he’s the first one to make sure that they’re involved. ‘He tells them: “Listen, you need to be part of this because we’ve got something going here so get in there and start bonding” — and that’s what happens.’ It could be said that Strachan owes Snodgrass more than any other. It was, after all, his winning goal in Zagreb a year past in June that began to turn the tanker around. The subsequent progress made has meant the tangible feeling of optimism ahead of the match this evening now has a sound grounding in reality. Reflecting on that night in Croatia, Snodgrass said: ‘I don’t know if that was just the crazy Jock mentality or whether it was down to the feel-good factor and the confidence that the gaffer has bred in us all. That patriotic thing comes out and you think: “We can do this”. ‘It’s like Manchester United players coming out and saying that they used to beat opposing teams in the tunnel because they could see the fear in their faces. ‘When you have the belief that we have now then you give yourself a better chance of winning games. ‘So many times over the years you must have sat and interviewed Scotland players and thought: “This is the same old story here”. Robertson in action for Scotland's senior team in a friendly against Nigeria at Craven Cottage . ‘But now I’m sure you’re thinking that this is our time, that you can see signs that we’re making progress here.’ The epitome of Strachan’s ‘one for all and all for one’ doctrine, Snodgrass typically parks his personal difficulties to talk up his belief in those who will face Georgia tonight. But there’s no escaping that it’s been hard. Extremely hard. For a player who hardly knew what a day without training or a week without a game was, the first serious injury of his career felt like someone switching off a light. ‘It’s quite difficult not being part of things,’ he admitted. ‘There’s no better feeling when you cross that white line, that childhood feeling comes out in you that you’re playing football. ‘For that 90 minutes you’re free, you do what you do and that’s what you’ve worked all week for. That side of things I am missing. ‘I’ll be honest, it’s been tough. But I’ll approach it each day at a time. I haven’t had big injuries, this is the first one. ‘It’s been really hard especially when you’ve got family and such. It affects everything. Anyone living with a footballer will tell you it’s difficult because one thing can set you over the edge. ‘Down there they’ve got a lot of psychologists which is really good because you can speak to people and talk to them. ‘I’ve seen many players come out saying through injuries they’ve hit depression. I don’t want that for me. ‘That’s why I’m focusing on things, being the best person I can be and trying to give everything each day in my recovery.’

When Andrew Robertson made the move down from Dundee United to Hull City, Robert Snodgrass wanted to make sure he settled in properly . Now, Snodgrass admits his work is done as Robertson has proven himself . Snodgrass thinks Robertson is a 'level-headed lad' that has dealt well with everything that Hull City boss Steve Bruce has thrown at him . In under a year, Robertson has gone from playing with Queen's Park to eyeing a place in the Scotland team to face Georgia on Saturday .

Athens, Greece (CNN) -- One of the ships in a Gaza-bound flotilla blocked by Greece tried to flee on Monday and was stopped by the Greek Coast Guard. Greece called for the immediate arrest of the ship's captain, but organizers on the ship insisted they no longer had a captain. In a tweet, organizers said "extreme damage" was done to the Canadian ship, the Tahrir. "When commandeered & towed by Greek Coast Guard it was slammed into a concrete wall," the tweet said, adding that the ship was "taking on water." They also tweeted that the travelers on board "moved up on deck are in good spirits and are not leaving the boat." Earlier in the day, the ship tweeted that it was "casting off from Greece." "The Tahrir is leaving port in Crete, and we are breaking through Israel's Gaza blockade which now extends to Greek ports," organizer David Heap said in the statement. The ship's Twitter feed carried a tweet from a journalist on board, Jim Rankin, saying kayakers were blocking the Coast Guard, and the Canadian boat had left the harbor. Minutes later, the ship tweeted, "We got about 5km (3.1 miles) away from shore. Greek authorities have taken over the boat and appear to be heading back to port." Rankin tweeted that no one was injured in the Greek takeover of the boat, and delegates were "non violent in blocking wheel house." The Greek Coast Guard issued a statement saying, "The Tahrir tried to leave the port of Agios Nikolaos in Crete without permission. The Coast Guard has intercepted the ship and it is now being taken back to the port. As a result the prosecutor's office has already asked for the immediate arrest of the captain. It is not clear if this will be extended to other passengers on board. There are an estimated 40 people aboard the ship." But the ship tweeted, "We left port without a captain. We released captain and crew from contract and sailed under control of international volunteers." No further details were given. "Our boat is surrounded by Greek police, tied up at port. Supporters from town are chanting, 'Free Gaza, Free Greece,' " the ship tweeted. The Tahrir was brought to the port of Agios Nikolaos on the Greek island of Crete. The Tahrir is one of 10 ships trying to head to Gaza despite Israel's maritime blockade. Last week, the Greek Coast Guard intercepted a U.S. ship in the flotilla, the Audacity of Hope, about 10 minutes after it left Perama, triggering an hours-long standoff. The ship -- full of activists but no humanitarian aid -- was ultimately tied up at a Greek naval facility, and its captain, John Klusmire, was arrested. The Coast Guard said Klusmire had left the mainland without permission and put passengers in danger. He will appear before Greek prosecutors on Tuesday. Greece's government offered Sunday to ship aid to Gaza -- a move the U.N. chief applauded but protest organizers and Palestinian authorities derided as insufficient. Greece's foreign ministry released a statement Sunday afternoon in which it proposed to "undertake the task of transporting the humanitarian aid, with Greek vessels or other appropriate means, through existing channels." Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis talked by phone with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who thanked Greece and expressed support for the initiative, according to a U.N. statement. "In his view, it could help to reduce tensions in the region and ensure much-needed aid is delivered to those who need it in Gaza," the U.N. statement said of Ban's views, adding the world body will "work closely with Greece, Israel and Palestinian authorities on this matter." But Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erakat said Sunday that funneling food, cement and other goods via other means, such as Greek ships, missed the point, which he said is to "immediately lift, not ease" Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza. He lauded those behind the flotilla as people "who have dedicated their time, effort and passion for a just cause." Israel says its blockade is necessary to try to halt the shipment of weapons into Gaza. Militants in Gaza have launched numerous deadly attacks against Israelis. The territory is run by Hamas, which has carried out dozens of terrorist attacks and is listed by the United States as a terrorist organization. Israel also emphasizes that it delivers large amounts of aid to Gaza. The country has mounted a diplomatic offensive to try to stop the flotilla from setting sail. The Israeli government said flotilla participants had threatened to kill Israeli military personnel should their boats be boarded. Israeli officials alleged that the participants were stockpiling sacks of sulfuric acid on boats to be used in the event of any attacks on Israeli commandos. Flotilla organizer Medea Benjamin dismissed the allegations as ludicrous on June 28, saying, "They see this nonviolent, ragtag group of ships as such a threat they're using their entire propaganda apparatus, and their diplomatic and economic clout to try to stop 300 peace activists. It's pathetic." The Middle East Quartet -- composed of officials from the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia -- issued a statement Saturday asking "all governments concerned to use their influence to discourage additional flotillas, which risk the safety of their participants and carry the potential for escalation." The Quartet added that it "strongly urges all those wishing to deliver goods to the people of Gaza to do so through established channels, so that their cargo can be inspected and transferred via established land crossings." Doing so, the group contends, is the best way to both help Palestinians and address Israel's "legitimate security concerns." Erakat said that while Palestinian leaders "support international engagement in lifting the unjust and inhumane Israeli blockade," the Quartet's statement and their opposition to the planned flotilla to Gaza skirt the broader challenges in the region. "We invite them to focus on resolving the root cause of the conflict, which is the occupation, rather than seeking ways to manage its destructive symptoms." Erakat said. CNN's Greg Botelho contributed to this report.

NEW: Travelers won't leave the boat, organizers say . "Extreme damage" to the ship, organizers say . Greece called for captain's arrest; organizers say there is no captain . The Tahrir, from Canada, has about 40 people on board, Greece says .

For more than a year the Sudanese government has been bombing and spreading terror in the country's South Kordofan state, surgically cleansing the land of the Nuba people. The government of Sudan argues it is fighting a rebellion led by the Sudan People's Liberation Movement that engineered the secession of South Sudan. Khartoum still struggles to stomach the victory of the Southerners, brought about partly by the large number of Nuba fighters who -- after decades of marginalization and political exclusion -- joined forces with the Sudan People's Liberation Army. Accordingly, Khartoum treats the Nuba people as the enemy within -- a foe whose independent spirit has never been tamed . The cost: half a million people have been displaced or severely affected by the conflict, according to the U.N.'s Humanitarian Affairs office. The most recent rash of bombings is the second time in 20 years that the Nuba people have been targets of the same Khartoum leaders -- President Omar al-Bashir and Governor Ahmed Haroun. Both men are internationally indicted war criminals, although both deny the charges. See also: Evidence of cluster munitions in Sudan . Haroun engineered attacks against the Nuba in the 90s, refined his deadly tactics in Darfur in 2004, and is now back pursuing his murderous agenda against the Nuba with even greater efficiency. I traveled to Sudan bear witness, as a journalist and a Rwandan, to a people under siege, at the war-torn border between the two Sudans, one of the most isolated regions on earth. Smuggled into the Nuba Mountains, an area closed to the world, I filmed local activists documenting the attacks being perpetrated by the Khartoum regime. Despite being bombed several times a day since June 2011, the activists remain nonviolent. Armed with cameras and the hope for a better tomorrow, they relentlessly scour their homeland collecting the testimonies, pictures and evidence to build up a case against their aggressors: their government. Our team traveled to a number of villages up to 20 km from the front line. During my time in the region I experienced bombings as regimented as prison meals. We were attacked an average of three times a day. We were filming as the scale of atrocities unfolded with excruciating precision: the bombs falling, the people hiding in caves for safety, the destruction of villages, the casualties. Every day, we experienced hunger, fear, abandonment, exhaustion and unspeakable harshness, like the Nuba people do. At a moment's notice, we jumped in and out of foxholes and crawled in caves like they do to survive. Cramped, hot and terrified, we have seen and smelled the death of children, pregnant women and the elderly; the destruction of villages, crops, schools, water pumps, mosques, churches and hospitals. In the making of "Erasing the Nuba" we were bombed 19 times and lived to tell the story of resilience of a people harassed daily by landmines and rockets, in a region transformed into ghost towns, craters and ruins. See also: U.N. seeks probe into possible war crimes in South Kordofan . A lingering smell of death and growing despair ushered us out of the Nuba Mountains. Almost 63,000 Nuba have fled to the Yida refugee camp in South Sudan. There I saw a people left to fend for themselves, a people that know they have no friends, yet determined to face their destiny with the only thing they have left: dignity. In Yida, I attended a WFP-sponsored food distribution and saw how a 3kg ration of USAID-produced sorghum was distributed for each family to eat until the uncertain next round of food supply. In Yida, a mother begged me to take home with me her three-month-old baby, whom she had delivered squatted down under a tree on a rainy afternoon. I sat with Yida's oldest resident, a 101-year-old man who journeyed on donkey back for eight days to be reunited with one of his sons. The poor man was so disoriented that he had stopped eating and talking for days at a time. His family feared that leaving him alone might drive him to commit suicide. In Yida I watched children sitting on the branches of a tree to follow a mathematics class as the open-air "classroom" was packed. It struck me to see how one adult volunteer could teach a class of children, without the use of a blackboard and chalk. There is no such thing as pens or notebooks for the thousands of children in need of an education at Yida. See also: Sudan violence amounts to war crimes . Dreams for domestic reconciliation exhausted after two decades, the Nuba are holding onto the belief that "the hearts of the international community" woven into the fabric of our shared humanity "will hear their cries." They say they have been sacrificed at the altar of peace agreements between North and South Sudan and they feel cheated by the world's inaction. "Erasing the Nuba" has captured the spirit of the Nuba people of Sudan, a minority bowed but not broken -- not by the daily hellish rain of bombs and rockets, nor by the world's complicit silence. But for how much longer can they prevail -- hostages of Khartoum and us, the international community? A group of people and their way of life is being destroyed. Why are the Nuba, the heirs of a civilization that once stretched from Cairo to Lake Victoria, asked to shake hands with Haroun, and his murderous gang of "Butchers of Khartoum"? Would one have asked European nations to make peace with Hitler? They have been forced to crawl in caves like beasts, survive on leaves and berries only to be told of a "Sudan Fatigue." Unlike Assad in Syria -- bad as he is -- only one current head of state in the world is indicted officially by a due legal process: al-Bashir. Yet many in the world are advocating the removal of Assad. Mountains of grudges and greed fuel this conflict, where humanitarian assistance is used as a pawn on the chessboard of peace negotiations. Beneath the surface, jumbles of players -- local and foreign -- are waging a merciless war against each other for the political, economic and military control of the two Sudans. There can be no peace, no security, no stability, no settlement to this conflict as long as the blood of the Nuba children, women, men and communities will be spilled. My family falling victim to the Rwandan genocides that started in 1994, and a commitment to uphold the vow made by those touched by genocide the world over to "never forget," inspired me to bring their story to light. "Erasing the Nuba" is my testimony, as a Rwandan and a journalist, to ensure these people are never referred to in the past tense. Find out more about "Erasing the Nuba" on Twitter and Facebook.

Sudanese government has been bombing South Kordofan for more than a year . Documentary shows the plight of Nuba people in Sudan . Filmmaker Yoletta Nyange says she was bombed 19 times while making the film . 'Nuba people being destroyed,' says Nyange .

(CNN) -- Thinking about death can be frightening, no matter your age or medical condition. As we get older, the reality of our own mortality tends to come into clearer focus; this doesn't make talking about death or life-sustaining treatments any less frightening though. It was fear -- stoked by certain politicians -- that led to the inaccurate and misguided "death panel" rumors that surrounded health care reform proposals last year. Beginning January 1, Medicare will reimburse physicians who advise patients, in voluntary discussions, about their preferences for end-of-life care treatment during their annual Medicare "wellness visit." This is advance care planning, and it is a good thing for seniors, their families and health care professionals. It's not new. A law passed in 2008 allowed end-of-life planning to be part of a patient's "welcome to Medicare" exam. Health care reform turned the welcome visit into an annual wellness visit. And now regulations clarify that these important discussions will be covered should the Medicare beneficiary wish to take advantage of this opportunity. Advance care planning allows a person to make his or her wishes and care preferences known before being faced with a medical crisis. Advance care planning is simply smart life-planning. Another way to think about advance care planning is that it's like planning a trip to an unfamiliar destination. If you're like many people, once you have your destination in mind, you begin mapping the route you will take to get there. Some people consult AAA or Google Maps to help them chart their course. Other people talk to friends and family members about their experiences on their trips. While people approach mapping their route in differing ways, few would expect to arrive at their destination safely and comfortably without having a well-thought out map in hand before hitting the road. Yet only 30% of Americans have a living will, a map detailing where they want their health care to go should they become unable to voice their wishes. An individual's personal wishes, beliefs and values are among the most important factors when making care decisions brought about by a serious or life-limiting illness. Such wishes and preferences can be known only if they are discussed openly. Research has shown that patient-physician discussions result in a higher quality of life for patients and their family caregivers facing the end of a life. By having Medicare cover these voluntary consultations, beneficiaries will be able to get information that will help them make their own decisions about their care and what they would or would not want at life's end. And it's only appropriate that patients should be able to have these discussions with the very physicians who have been caring for them and that these doctors be compensated for this valuable service. An advance care planning consultation is not about limiting or rationing care. It's not about hastening death. It's not about having choices made for the patient. It's not about saving money. Advance care planning is about examining options, planning and communicating the choices that the individual wants -- either to limit treatments, accept all treatments or something in between. The course charted is decided by individual patients, not their doctors, and certainly not the government. Advance care planning includes completing a living will and appointing a health care proxy. A living will charts the course for your health care, letting your family and health care providers know what procedures and treatments you would want provided to you and under what conditions. A health care proxy or health care power of attorney form allows you to choose someone you trust to take charge of your health care decisions in case you are unable to make those decisions yourself. Advance directives, as these documents are also known, can be changed as an individual's situation or wishes change. Based on my 35 years of experience running hospice programs and caring for people at life's end, I know firsthand that frank, open discussions with one's health care providers can relieve anxiety about a situation that we all will one day face. It makes sense that Medicare help facilitate this important planning. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of J. Donald Schumacher.

Donald Schumacher says many fear talking about how they want end-of-life care handled . Some politicians stoked fear with misinformation to try to derail health reform, he says . But advanced care planning gives people a say over their care before a crisis, he says . Writer: Health care professionals agree Medicare should pay for this sensible planning .

A Chicago man who served 32 years in . prison before being declared innocent in the 1980 rape and murder of a . 3-year-old girl is now facing a new murder charge. DNA evidence prompted the 2012 release of Andre Davis and an innocence declaration in the death of Brianna Stickle of Rantoul. Davis was charged Thursday in the 2013 death of Jamal Harmon. Chicago man Andre Davis, who served 32 years in prison before being declared innocent in the 1980 rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl, is now facing a new murder charge . The 53-year-old Davis is jailed without bond. NBC Chicago reports that roughly 15 months after Davis' release, Harmon was attending a party hosted by Davis' nephew at about 3 a.m. Prosecutors say the 19-year-old Harmon got into a dispute with Davis' nephew over money lost in a dice game. Assistant State's Attorney . Robert Mack said the nephew shot and wounded Harmon, and Davis later cut . the man's throat and dumped his body in an alley. A witness later told police Harmon had made sounds after being shot, letting them know he was still alive. Andre Davis, right, pictured hugging his father Richard Davis inside the Tamms Correctional Center before his release in 2012, is accused of killing a man over a dice game . The unnamed witness and Davis then carried Harmon's body to the trunk of a Cadillac, and Davis drove off telling people he was going to find a place to dump the corpse. The body was found later that day in an alley. Authorities say Harmon suffered three gunshot wounds to the face, lower neck, and left armpit. He had also been stabbed four times. Davis told one witness he cut Harmon's throat, according to prosecutors. In addition to the 1980 case, Davis has faced attempted murder, aggravated battery and weapons charges.

Andre Davis was freed in the 1980 rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl after being cleared by DNA evidence . Authorities claim he shot and stabbed Jamal Harmon 15 months after being released . Davis, 53, is being held without bond .

By . Sean Poulter . Drivers who struggle to reverse into tight spaces need worry no more for Bosch has developed an app that will take over the entire process. The automatic parking system involves installing 12 sensors into a car which scan the road and park up, without any bumps or scrapes. So sophisticated is the technology that the driver can run the parking process from the side of the road using an app on their smartphone. Scroll down for videos . The app that parks your car: Bosch's automatic parking system involves installing 12 sensors into a car which scan the road and park a car directed by an app without any bumps or scrapes . It is thought the system will be particularly useful in Britain and Europe, where parking spaces in supermarkets, offices and public multi-storeys are notoriously tight. The automatic parking assist system was unveiled by German electronics company at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The system is the latest evidence to show that drivers will increasingly become passengers as computers take over the business of getting from A to B. In a separate development, Samsung has unveiled a new app involving its Gear smartwatch, which can communicate with and control some aspects of BMW’s new i3 electric car. Bosch Chairman Werner Struth has said he believes driverless cars will be a reality but they will arrive gradually, with this driver assistance technology marking the first step. Some car manufacturers already offer parking assist, where an on-board computer and sensors take over the process of steering while the driver pushes the brake and accelerator. However, the new Bosch design goes one step further to take over the entire process. Demonstrating the technology, Fred Sejalon, engineering manager at Bosch, said: ‘The vehicle is fitted with 12 ultra-sonic sensors and when the driver wishes to park they just have to enable the system and sensors start scanning the environment. ‘If a suitable parking space is found the driver can either stay in the vehicle or step out and, using their smartphone, let the vehicle do the rest. The system controls vehicle speed and the steering wheel and gear shift.’ The technology, which will be available next year, will also help drivers from wandering out of their lane on the motorway. The system will be pre-installed in new cars by a range of manufacturers, who have not yet been named. In theory, it may also be possible to add it to older cars, providing they have an on-board computer that allows control of the steering and gears. Samsung has unveiled a new app involving its Gear smartwatch (pictured), which can communicate with and control some aspects of BMW's new i3 electric car . Mr Sejalon said: ‘This is good for everybody, especially for parking in a traffic situation or anybody who doesn’t feel comfortable parallel or perpendicular parking, especially when the visibility is limited. ‘There is a lot of hype about autonomous driving and that is a stepping stone in that direction.’ The company is already working on the next advance in the technology, which will allow drivers to drop their car at the entrance of a car park. It will then negotiate its way through the building to find a spare space. This system - dubbed valet parking – would also allow the motorist to retrieve the vehicle by starting it up remotely with a smartphone. Bosch also unveiled technology to brake a car if it detects a pedestrian or an obstacle in the road. The automatic emergency breaking system uses a sensor mounted behind the windscreen to sense dangers in the path of the car, and halt if the driver fails to. Bosch also unveiled technology to brake a car if it detects a pedestrian or an obstacle in the road. The automatic emergency breaking system uses a sensor mounted behind the windscreen to sense dangers in the path of the car, and halt if the driver fails to brake . Xavier Zhu, a technical manager at Bosch, said: ‘The sensors works in the manner of the human eye.‘There is a camera that sees what the driver sees but can measure the distance of any obstacle, be it pedestrians or obstacles in the road, and can give a signal to the brakes to engage if the driver is not paying attention.’ This technology will come pre-installed in cars and the reaction time can be adjusted according to manufacturer specifications. BMW’s new electric car the i3 is installed with a mobile phone SIM card that links to the vehicles on-board computer. Samsung has developed an App that works with its smartphones and the Galaxy Gear smartwatch that can connect to the car’s controls. The smartwatch screen will show the status of the BMW i3’s battery charge and current drivable range, check that the doors are locked and provide alerts about the need for a service. Users can also remotely regulate the temperature of their BMW i3’s interior before getting in the car by using the touchscreen on a Samsung phone or a voice command.

Bosch unveiled its parking app at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas . The automatic parking system involves installing 12 sensors into a car which scan the road and park up, without any bumps or scrapes . Samsung also unveiled an app for its Gear smartwatch, which can communicate with and control some aspects . of BMW’s new i3 electric car .

Shakespeare is renowned for his enormous vocabulary as well as his introduction of new words to the English language - but can any modern-day writers compete with his literary skills? A New York data scientist not only proved that there are indeed contemporary lyricists that can give the playwright a run for his money, he has also discovered that they come from an unexpected source - hip hop. By comparing the works of Shakespeare with 85 different hip-hop artists, he found 37-year-old Californian rapper Aesop Rock - who used 7,392 unique words in his first 35,000 lyrics - has a wider vocabulary than the 16th century poet. Click the image below to explore the interactive graphic . Earlier this week, New York-based data scientist Matt Daniels analysed the first 35,000 lyrics of 85 hip-hop and rap artists and compared the number of unique words to those used in the first 35,000 words of Shakespeare's plays and Herman Melville's Moby Dick. In top spot was Aesop Rock who used 7,392 unique words, highlighted, while DMX sat at the opposite end of the scale with 3,214 unique words . 1. Aseop Rock: 7,392 unique words . 2. GZA: 6,426 unique words . 3. Kool Keith: 6,238 unique words . 4. Herman Melville: 6,022 unique words . 5. Canibus: 5,991 unique words . 6. CunninLynguists: 5,971 unique words . 7. RZA: 5,905 unique words . 8. Wu-Tang Clan: 5,985 unique words . 9. Roots: 5,803 unique words . 10. Ghostface Killah: 5,774 unique words . 11. Killah Priest: 5,737 unique words . 12. Blackalicious: 5,480 unique words . 13. Kool G Rap: 5,394 unique words . 13. Redman: 5,331 unique words . 14: E-40: 5,207 unique words . 15. MF Doom: 5,204 unique words . 16. Outkast: 5,212 unique words . 17. Shakespeare: 5,170 unique words . 18. Nas: 5,096 unique words . 19. Beastie Boys: 5,090 unique words . 20. Das EFX: 5,005 unique words . By comparison, Shakespeare used 5,170 unique words, putting his vocabulary alongside Beastie Boys and Outkast, while Moby Dick author Herman Melville scored 6,022, only beaten by Kool Keith, GZA and Aesop Rock. ‘Literary elites love to rep Shakespeare’s vocabulary: across his entire corpus, he uses 28,829 words, suggesting he knew over 100,000 words and arguably had the largest vocabulary, ever,' explained Matt Daniels from Undercurrent in New York. ‘I decided to compare this data point against the most famous artists in hip hop. I used each artist’s first 35,000 lyrics. That way, prolific artists, such as Jay-Z, could be compared to newer artists, such as Drake. Daniels analysed the first 5,000 words for seven of Shakespeare's works including Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth, As You Like It, Winter's Tale, and Troilus and Cressida. While for Melville, he studied the first 35,000 words used in his 1851 novel Moby Dick. All lyrics were taken from website Rap Genius, but Daniels only used lyrics current to 2012. As a result, he said this lack of recent data prevented him using a number of more recent artists such as Kid Cudi. He also admitted a few other high-profile rappers didn’t have enough official material to be included, for example, Biggie and Kendrick Lamar. According to Daniels, 35,000 lyrics is . the equivalent of between three and five studios albums, but because not . all artists have released that number of tracks, he included mixtapes. He then used a methodology called . token analysis, also known as lexical analysis which involves using a . computer to turn words into tokens that can be analysed and counted. As . Daniels explained, each word was counted once, so pimps, pimp, pimping, . and pimpin are four unique words. To avoid issues with apostrophes, for . example, pimpin’ versus pimpin, Daniels removed these from the dataset. ‘It still isn’t perfect. Hip hop is full of slang that is hard to transcribe, for example, shorty . vs. shawty, featured vocalists, and repetitive choruses.’ But he adds it’s still interesting and reveals a wide range. Aesop Rock was well-above every artist in the dataset, while the presence of Wu Tang Clan at number seven, excluding Herman Melville, was also significant. This . is because, as well as being in the top ten as a group, individual . members also feature in the top 20 with GZA at number two, Ghostface . Killah at nine and Raekwon and Method Man at 19 and 20 respectively. Daniels analysed the first 5,000 words for seven . of Shakespeare's works, illustration pictured left, including Hamlet, . Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Macbeth, As You Like It, Winter's Tale, and . Troilus and Cressida. While for Herman Melville, pictured right, he . studied the first 35,000 words used in his 1851 novel Moby Dick. Shakespeare used 5,170 unique words putting his vocabulary alongside . Beastie Boys and Outkast, and Melville scored 6,022, only beaten by Kool . Keith, GZA and Aesop Rock . In top spot on the chart was 37-year-old Californian rapper Aesop Rock, also known as Ian Matthias Bavits, pictured left, who used 7,392 unique words in his first 35,000 lyrics. While Earl Simmons, known as DMX, pictured right holding the award for Male Entertainer of the Year at the Soul Train Music Awards in Los Angeles, sat at the opposite end of the scale with 3,214 unique words . ‘Perhaps their countless hours of studio time together exposed each rapper’s vocabulary to one another,’ explained Daniels. To . further understand each rapper's vocabulary in Wu-Tang's first five . albums, Daniels selected a 3,500-word threshold to put each member was . on an equal footing. ‘U-God . and GZA clearly bolster the group’s average,’ said Daniel. 'Raekwon and . Method Man’s contributions have a lower average compared to other . members, but recognise that their data points would exceed most artists . in hip hop.’ Wu-Tang Clan made the top ten, but individual members also made the top 20. GZA is at number two, Ghostface Killah is at nine and Raekwon and Method Man at 19 and 20. To further understand each rapper's vocabulary in Wu-Tang's first five albums, Daniels selected a 3,500-word threshold, pictured. 'U-God and GZA clearly bolster the group's average,' said Daniel. 'Raekwon and Method Man's contributions have a lower average, but their data points exceed most artists in hip hop' Wu-Tang Clan perform at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore. From left to right, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, U-God, and Inspectah Deck. To explain the group's large vocabulary, Daniels said: 'Perhaps their countless hours of studio time together exposed each rapper's vocabulary to one another' Daniels also looked at where the . rappers were from, to see if there was a vocabulary divide between . southern, midwest, west and east coast states. The south had the lowest average at 4,268, while the east-coast, including 50 Cent and Fat Joe, scored highest with 4,804. Only . four of the 17 southern-based artists in the dataset were above . average, including Outkast, as Daniels explained: ‘At 15, Outkast’s deep . vocabulary is definitely a function of their style: frequent use of . portmanteau, such as ATLiens, Stankonia, southern drawl, including . nahmsayin, ery’day, and made-up slang, for example, flawsky-wawsky. 'My guess is that this is a function of crunk music's call-and-response style, resulting in more repetition of words.’ Daniels also looked at where the rappers were from to see if there was a vocabulary divide between southern, midwest, west and east coast states. The south had the lowest average at 4,268, while the east-coast, including 50 Cent and Fat Joe, scored highest with 4,804. Only four of the 17 southern-based artists in the dataset were above average, including Outkast . Daniels also discovered some of the biggest names in hip hop scored below the average. These included 2Pac on 3,790 words, Snoop Dogg on 3,974, Kanye on 3,982 and Lil Wayne on 3,743, pictured. Popular artist Drake scored 3,522. While Jay Z scored marginally higher than Nelly with 4,506 compared to 4,413 respectively . Meanwhile, Daniels discovered some of the biggest names in hip hop scored poorly and well below the average. These included 2Pac on 3,790 words, Snoop Dogg on 3,974 and Drake on 3,522. Jay Z scored marginally higher than Nelly with 4,506 compared to 4,413 respectively. The highest scoring female was Lil Kim on 4,474 unique words, followed by Nicki Minaj on 4,162 and Missy Elliott with 3,874.

New York-based data scientist analysed 35,000 lyrics of 85 hip-hop artists to find the number of unique words . He compared this to the number of unique words in the first 35,000 words of Shaksepeare’s plays and Moby Dick . William Shakespeare used 5,170 unique words putting his vocabulary alongside Beastie Boys and Outkast . While Herman Melville scored 6,022 for his novel Moby Dick, only beaten by Kool Keith, GZA and Aesop Rock . Aesop Rock came top with 7,392 unique words, while DMX sat at the other end of the scale with 3,214 unique words .

With his shaved stars dyed yellow, red-tinged mohawk and ear-to-ear grin, it didn't take long for Nasa engineer Bobak Ferdowsi to become an Internet sensation when he was pictured celebrating the Mars Curiosity landing. The scientist captivated viewers almost as much as the space mission last night. Within minutes, satirical memes flooded online and his Twitter account shot to having 27,000 followers. Mr Ferdowsi is flight director at Nasa in Pasadena, California - but unfortunately for his new fan base, he has an 'awesome' girlfriend. Scroll down for video . Star quality: Nasa engineer Bobak Ferdowsi, part of the team behind the Mars Curiosity landing, became an Internet sensation when a picture of him with stars shaved into the side of his head was beamed around the world . Mr Ferdowsi appeared to be taking his instant celebrity status in his stride, tweeting today: 'Not rdy for the attention, but happy to show it takes all types to make @MarsCuriosity ! If only my coworkers wld stop making fun of me ;)' He added: 'If my mohawk gets a few more people excited about science and this mission, that’s awesome.' Bobak studied at the internationally renowned American School in Tokyo, Japan followed by the University of Washington. Between 2001 and 2003, he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However sadly for his legions of admirers, Bobak is already dating someone. He told Buzzfeed: 'She's awesome... She’s put up with me working a lot of long hours on this project, and I . am definitely looking forward to things being calmed down a little bit . so I can actually hang out with her.' Dreamy: Engineer Bobak Ferdowsi joined Nasa after studying at the University of Washington and MIT . Space sensation: Internet memes flooded online after Bobak was spotted in the Nasa control room . When asked what his girlfriend thought about him becoming an Internet star, Bobak added: 'Hopefully she’s cool with it.' Bobak has worked as a systems engineer at Nasa's jet propulsion laboratory for nine years, playing an integral role in the Mars Curiosity landing. The scientist who describes himself as an 'exercise fiend' - is a keen . softball player and played on company teams - one called the Tom . Sellecks and another called the Toads, according to a source. Tumblr already has a 'Bobak' page, as users submit graphics and jokes based around Nasa's newest star. Along with tweets about his feelings . following the successful launch, Bobak admitted he changes his . hair for every mission. Bobak spent . the evening tweeting back to his new followers, before finally . relaxing, signing off with: 'Internet, you win this round. I'll be back . later, but thanks so much. Now going to celebrate with all my friends . and team.' Bobak Ferdowsi wipes tears away after the successful landing - meanwhile, internet stardom awaits him . The memes begin: Bobak Ferdowsi begins to take the internet by storm . Bobak tweeted about his new-found fame, as dozens of fans tweeted him about his stylish cut . ...But naturally, Bobak was concentrating more on his work - the culmination of years of intellect and mechanics to send Curiosity to another world . The Nasa team spent the last few . years working to a tight deadline during a round of budget cuts in a bid . to get the Curiosity on to Mars, culminating in the 'seven minutes of . terror' as the Curiosity headed through the atmosphere to the surface. Once it landed, the Nasa team could afford to relax a little. But now the work is back on - for the . rover is starting to beam high-definition footage back to Earth, while . scanning under the surface of the Red Planet in a bid to find evidence . of microscopic life. VIDEO: Bobak on working the Cassini mission to Saturn and how the rings excite him!

Bobak Ferdowsi now has 27,000 followers on Twitter . He says: 'If my mohawk gets a few more people excited about science and this mission, that’s awesome'

(CNN) -- The U.S. diplomatic cables obtained and released by WikiLeaks frequently rely on unnamed sources for delicate information. But one such source -- a businessman in Mozambique -- has furiously denied making remarks about high-level corruption attributed to him by a U.S. diplomat. A cable dated January 2010 sent by then Charge d'Affaires Todd Chapman at the U.S. Embassy covered allegations about officials enabling drug trafficking by accepting bribes. They were based on a source who said he had "personally seen" one senior official [who is named in the cable] "receiving pay-offs quite openly." But now that source insists such words never left his mouth. "I feel I have been used. This is all Todd Chapman's own agenda. He obviously imagined I would never read what he had written," the source told the state-run Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (AIM). Several current and former officials came under attack in the cable in question. Chapman wrote that his source had told him the country's ruling party, FRELIMO, "brazenly squeezes the business community for kickbacks." The source also supposedly called the country's president a "vicious scorpion who will sting you," and said FRELIMO and an alleged drug lord had their own clearing agent at a port. In an interview with AIM, Chapman's source admits meeting him in 2009 but says he only told the diplomat of problems he was having with his business. When asked about other things, the source said, "I just told him I didn't know. I only knew what I read in the papers." A similar case surfaced in a leaked cable from Peru. In March 2009, the U.S. Embassy in Lima sent a dispatch insinuating that a regional Army commander, General Paul da Silva, was involved in drug trafficking. The source's name was redacted, but he suggested the general was coordinating drug shipments with another man who was later arrested for smuggling drugs hidden in consignments of frozen fish. Da Silva, now the head of Peru's military, strongly denied the allegation and has threatened to bring legal action against the ambassador who wrote the cable. The wife of Zimbabwe's president has sued a Zimbabwean newspaper for $15 million following its publication of allegations contained in a leaked cable that she was linked to and profited from illegal diamond sales in the southern African country. The accusations in the Mozambique cable echo comments in several others from the country between July 2009 and January of this year. There are reports of officials routinely taking payoffs to turn a blind eye to drug shipments. One summary says bluntly: "Mozambique has been called the second most active narcotics transit point in Africa." The State Department would not comment on the leaked cables that were supposedly authored by Chapman. A profile on the networking website LinkedIn lists Chapman as now working at the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan. In a cable from November 2009, Chapman writes, "The decrease in drug-related arrests at Maputo International Airport is not attributable to improved interdiction efforts but rather increased police and customs involvement in drug smuggling. A high level law enforcement official admits most police drug seizures are not reported to his office because traffickers and police make on-the-spot arrangements to allow the drugs to continue to flow." Several attempts by CNN seeking comment from Mozambique's government were unsuccessful, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation released a statement denying the accusations. "This information does not have any support base and undermines the image, prestige and good name of the Mozambican state and its leaders," said the statement reported by Radio Mozambique. Chapman said one prominent businessman, Mohamed Bashir Suleman, was "described by multiple contacts as the largest narcotrafficker in Mozambique" with contacts at senior levels of the government. Suleman is also a donor to the ruling party. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama identified Suleman under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, and the U.S. Treasury Department subsequently sanctioned businesses he owned, calling him a "large-scale narcotics trafficker." Suleman strenuously denied the allegations in a news conference, saying he had never been involved with drugs. As for his relationship with FRELIMO, he said: "I am a member of the party, and I gave financial support for the good of the country and the good of the party." He denied receiving any favors from the ruling party and said all of his goods passed through port scanners. A cable from July 2009 said a source within FRELIMO had described a customs official as "the King of Corruption." Six months later, Chapman wrote that same official had purchased real estate "valued at well beyond what his government salary should be able to afford." The official's office told CNN he was on vacation and wouldn't be available for comment until later this month. Chapman contended that of the more than ten drug seizures during 2009, none had led to prosecutions as of January 2010. He said a senior law enforcement officer admitted most seizures aren't made public because officials ask for bribes and keep the drugs for resale. Chapman also said police told Embassy officers they weren't willing "to go after 'big fish' narcotraffickers because of their ties to senior officials." Not every official is accused of living a double standard. "Mozambique's Tax Authority (AT) has garnered a reputation for honesty and transparency," Chapman wrote in July 2009. "Mozambique most certainly is not yet a thoroughly-corrupted narco-state," he says. But, "money laundering, related government corruption (possibly even official support), and ties to South Asia mean that the problem has the potential to get much worse." Transparency International, which monitors corruption worldwide, said in a 2009 report that "the end of hostilities provided increased corruption opportunities, through the development of a market economy in the context of a weak state." CNN's Marilia Brocchetto contributed to this report.

Leaked cables have unnamed sources furious . Cables deal with alleged bribery, drug trafficking in Mozambique . U.S. State Department refuses comment on cables supposedly written by ex-charge d'affaires .

It’s unlikely the majority of us are so overwhelmed with tweets, Facebook posts, emails and texts that we need someone - or something - to reply on our behalf. However, this hasn’t stopped Google filing a patent for a system that would do just that. According to the details of the latest patent filed by a software engineer at the firm, Google’s automated system would work like a social media bot and submit posts on a user’s behalf. Would you let a robot send emails on your behalf? Google's latest patent describes a system that generates automated replies to online conversations. It would do this by scanning social networks, emails and texts to learn how to write in a way that mimics your language and tone . In August a patent was approved that could see Google tracking, and making money from, the eye movements of its Google Glass owners. The Gaze Tracking System patent shows the device tracking where the wearer looks, how long they look at an item, and even how much their pupils dilate. Information about where the user is looking could then be sent to Google's servers where an image scanning algorithm would identify what they are looking at, create a log of everything they've viewed, and potentially use this information to serve adverts. It would do this by scanning that user’s previous posts and replies on sites such as Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn, as well as their emails and texts messages, to learn how that person writes. The bot would then write replies and responses to future posts in a way that mimics that person’s usual language and tone. The more a person uses the system, the more the bot can learn the type of responses they write and this would make the suggestions sound more human and realistic. This would also potentially involve the bot scanning posts written by friends and family too, and could have significant privacy implications. Nick Pickles, director of Big Brother . Watch, told MailOnline: 'Technology like this must only ever be opt-in, . as it has the potential to allow companies like Google to harvest even . more data from your private communications to enable automatic posting . to sound authentic. 'If you regularly send a text message about a . certain type of medication or email a lawyer with words like ‘divorce’ appearing, the computer can quite easily identify you to a human . searching through the data looking for certain things. Google has already been criticised for scanning the content of emails in its Gmail service for advertising purposes so it could, in theory, do the same with posts, emails and text messages. Google has already been criticised for spying on the content of emails in its Gmail service for advertising purposes and could, in theory, do the same with this system. It would also potentially involve the bot scanning posts written by friends and family too, and could have privacy implications . Pickles continued: 'That sort of data is valuable to both governments and companies, so I’m . extremely concerned about any technology that purports to offer . convenience while in reality exposing more of our private communications . to prying eyes.' There are already bots capable of automating responses to emails, blog posts or comments but Google’s system would make the process more personalised. According to the patent: ‘There is no requirement for the user to set reminders or be proactive. ‘The system automatically, without user input, analyses information to which the user has access, and generates suggestions for personalised reactions to messages.’ However, the system wouldn’t be completely automated. A user would have to approve a suggestion made by the bot before it is posted in their name. Suggestions could also be rejected, which again would help the bot learn what kinds of posts are appropriate.

The patent was filed by a Google software engineer on behalf of the firm . It describes a system that analyses a user’s online posts, emails and texts . The system, or bot, would then generate automated replies for future posts . These replies would be written in a way that mimics that person's usual language and tone .

Microsoft is to give its Office software away for free to mobile users in a fresh bid to take on Google and Apple. The firm previously charged users of its Office suite of applications on Apple's iPad to pay a subscription to edit documents. Today it revealed iPhone versions of the apps, and a beta version of an Android version. Scroll down for video . The firm previously charged users of its Office suite of applications on Apple's iPad to pay a subscription to edit documents. New Chief Executive Satya Nadella's first major move after taking the helm in February . was to make Office available on the iPad, which has attracted 40 . million users. By downloading a free app, users could read Office documents . in Word, Excel and PowerPoint but had to buy a subscription, . starting at $7 per month, to create or edit them. From Thursday, . that will now be free. The move is the latest, and one of the most dramatic, in . Microsoft's new strategy of getting customers to use their . services regardless of device or operating system, rather than . lose them to a proliferation of free or cheap alternatives. The new strategy, led by new Chief Executive Satya Nadella, . is a recognition that the dominance of Windows and Office on PCs . has not translated to the fast-growing mobile arena, where . Apple's phones and tablets and devices running Google Inc's . Android rule. Nadella's first major move after taking the helm in February . was to make Office available on the iPad, which has attracted 40 . million users. By downloading a free app, users could read Office documents . in Word, Excel and PowerPoint but had to buy a subscription, . starting at $7 per month, to create or edit them. From Thursday, . that will now be free. Microsoft also announced on Thursday it is releasing Word, . Excel and PowerPoint apps for the iPhone for the first time, and . rolling out a test version of those apps for Android tablets, . which are expected to be released fully early next year. 'Anytime someone has an idea or an inspiration, we want to empower them to take action,' said John Case, corporate vice president, Office, Microsoft. 'With over a billion Office customers worldwide, and over 40 million downloads on the iPad, it's clear that Office applications are what people want to use to get things done.' New Chief Executive Satya Nadella's first major move after taking the helm in February was to make Office available on the iPad, which has attracted 40million users. When the iPad launch was revealed, Apple CEO Tim Cook tweeted his congratulations to the team, saying 'Welcome to the #iPad and @AppStore! @satyanadella and Office for iPad' The world's largest software company still has not released . fully touch-optimized Office apps for Windows, but hinted on . Thursday that they would be released with Windows 10 sometime . next year. Microsoft's Office suite is still the gold standard for work . applications on the PC, but easy to use, touch-friendly work . apps like Haiku Deck, Quip, Smartsheet and Evernote, plus a full . range of Google Apps, have quickly gained a following among . younger users who regularly create and consume content on mobile . devices. On Thursday, business networking site LinkedIn Corp . said it would integrate Haiku Deck - a free alternative to . Microsoft's PowerPoint - into its SlideShare platform, where 70 . million users create and share presentations. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

iPad users had to pay subscription to edit documents until today . Releasing Word,Excel and PowerPoint apps for the iPhone for first time . Rolling out a test version of apps for Android tablets .

This past year has provided us with a catalogue of major sporting incidents - with the World Cup in Brazil being the highlight of 2014 when it comes to football. Manchester United's decision to sack David Moyes was big news in April and our coverage of the summer transfer window also attracted an impressive amount of readers to our website. Away from football and Jules Bianchi's horror smash at the Japanese Grand Prix was a major talking point in October. Here, in descending order are the top 10 articles on MailOnline in 2014: . 10 - Jules Bianchi's horror smash at the Japanese Grand Prix . Back in October 2014 Jules Bianchi suffered a serious head injury following an accident at the Japanese Grand Prix. The Marussia driver required surgery following the collision with the back of the recovery vehicle on lap 43 of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka. The 25-year-old is currently having rehabilitation therapy, and while he remains unconscious he is breathing unaided. Jules Bianchi suffered a serious head injury in crash with back of recovery vehicle at Japanese Grand Prix . 9 - Serbia vs Albania match abandoned by Martin Atkinson after drone used to fly flag over the pitch leads to violent scenes . The match between Serbia and Albania was called off after home defender Stefan Mitrovic pulled down a flag carried by a drone - leading to chaos on the field and in the stands of the Partizan Stadium. It led to the arrest of the brother of the Albanian Prime Minister and Serbia were handed a 3-0 victory after their opponents were deemed to have forfeited the match. The visitors were also fined £78,000 for the incident on October 14, despite their claims of leaving the field due to being physically assaulted by Serbia fans, players and security staff. Albania forward Bekim Balaj is struck by a chair thrown by a Serbian fan as tensions boiled over . 8 - David Moyes SACKED as Manchester United manager after ill-fated stint . He was proclaimed the chosen one after he took over from arguably the greatest manager of this generation - Sir Alex Ferguson - but things didn't quite pan out for David Moyes at Old Trafford. The former Everton boss lasted just 10 months at the helm, getting sacked on April 22 2014, with United languishing in seventh place in the Premier League. While United now lie third under new boss Louis van Gaal this season, Moyes is rebuilding his reputation in La Liga with Real Sociedad. David Moyes was sacked as Manchester United manager in April with them seventh in the Premier League . Moyes started work at Old Trafford on July 1 2013 but was sacked just 10 months later . 7 - Club-by-club guide to all the business done in the January transfer window . After the end of the January transfer window we tallied up all the deals from each club and put together individual tables for you to easily access. The transfer which stood out from most in the January 2014 window was Juan Mata's £37million move from Chelsea to rivals Manchester United. Then United manager Moyes would have hoped the Spanish playmaker would give his side a much-needed lift going into the second half of the campaign, but it wasn't enough to save the Scot's job as he was sacked later in the year in April. United boss Moyes is all smiles with Juan Mata after landing the Spaniard in the January transfer window . Kurt Zouma joined Chelsea for £12.5million from Saint Etienne - but was loaned back to the French side . 6 - Club-by-club guide to all the business done in the summer transfer window . Yet again our extensive transfer round up was popular with you in the summer. Be it Alexis Sanchez's £30million move to Arsenal, Diego Costa's £32m switch to Chelsea or Radamel Falcao's season-long loan to Manchester United - there was plenty of activity involving Premier League sides in the summer transfer window. Arsenal pulled off a huge coup signing Alexis Sanchez for £30m from Spanish giants Barcelona . Manchester United made a dramatic deadline day signing in the shape of Radamel Falcao from Monaco . 5. Brazil thrashed by Germany in epic World Cup semi-final clash . The host nation were eyeing a spot in the World Cup final ahead of this match against the Germans, but those hopes would soon crumble as Joachim Low's men ran rampant. Brazil were already 5-0 down before the clock hit 30 minutes in one of the most extraordinary World Cup games of all time. Chelsea playmaker Oscar hit a consolation deep into stoppage time for the hosts, but it was too little too late as the Germans ran out 7-1 winners - eventually going on to win the tournament. Thomas Muller celebrates scoring the opening goal of the night for Germany against Brazil . Brazil players look despondent after Miroslav Klose nets his second of the night in the 7-1 thrashing in July . 4 - Neymar's World Cup injury woes . When Neymar went off injured against Colombia in the World Cup, Brazil's World Cup dreams were left in tatters. Although they won the quarter-final 2-1, there was an air of despondency around the hosts after their star man was ruled out of the rest of the tournament. Then, of course, it got worse against the Germans... Neymar lays on the floor in agony after breaking a bone in his back against Colombia at the World Cup . 3 - Olivier Giroud in trouble after picture . Giroud had to issue an apology when it was revealed he had taken a female companion back to Arsenal's team hotel ahead of their match against Crystal Palace. Married Giroud denied taking model Celia Kay back to the Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf, east London, but he was forced into making a grovelling apology to his wife when a picture by the pin-up appeared in a national newspaper. Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud had to apologise to his wife after he was pictured in a hotel by model Celia Kay . 2 - Footage emerges of Jules Bianchi's crash . We stayed on top of Bianchi's horror incident by providing our readers with video footage of the collision and an update on his condition. Marussia issued a statement thanking fans for their support and asked for 'patience and understanding' after Bianchi's accident. The moment Formula One driver Jules Bianchi strikes the recovery vehicle at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday (via YouTube / Philip Dabrowiecki / Marca.com) 1 - Summer transfer deadline day live . We provided our readers with minute-by-minute updates of the 2014 summer transfer window. Falcao's move to Manchester United and Danny Welbeck's transfer to Arsenal were ratified by the Barclays Premier League in the closing stages of the window as clubs left their business late. England ace Danny Welbeck sealed a deadline-day move to Arsenal from Manchester United .

We bring you the 10 most read stories on MailOnlineSport this year . Jules Bianchi's horror crash was one of the inclusions in our top 10 . Brazil's 7-1 thrashing against Germany and our transfer window round-ups were also popular . Our transfer deadline day live blog was the No 1 most viewed article .

(CNN) -- A body found in southeast Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday has been identified as that of former professional basketball player Lorenzen Wright, Memphis police said. The cause of death has been ruled as "homicide by gunshot wound," police said Thursday in a news release, adding that the Shelby County medical examiner used dental records to confirm Wright's identity. "Investigators continue to work around the clock to bring justice to Mr. Wright and his family," the police department said in a statement. Before that confirmation, Wright's family had already said that they were mourning his loss. Wright's cousin, Camella Logan, had released a statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper saying, "We appreciate your thoughts, prayers and condolences as they are comforting at this very difficult time." Wright, who has a home in Atlanta, was reported missing on July 22. He had been visiting with his former wife and their children in Collierville, near Memphis, investigators said. Wright was last seen at his former wife's home shortly before midnight on July 18, and a 911 call was placed from his phone in the early hours of July 19, police said. His body was found on Wednesday by Shelby County Emergency Services Search and Rescue, police said. Dewayne Benton, a Christian radio personality in Memphis, said he left work early to investigate reports his station received about the body. Benton described the crowded crime scene as somber. "Lorenzen Wright had a lot of financial problems ... but this was just horrible," said Benton. "He was one of the favorite sons of Memphis," he added. The 6-foot-11-inch Wright was a high school basketball star in Memphis, and he played professionally for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies from 2001 through 2006. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Lorenzen Wright," the team's majority owner, Michael Heisley, said in a statement on the Grizzlies' website. "We lost a member of the Grizzlies family." During his 13-year professional basketball career Wright also played with the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings and most recently with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wright did two tours with the Atlanta Hawks as well, from 1999 to 2001 and from 2006 to 2008. Former Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens said, "Lorenzen was a real congenial young man who played with a lot of enthusiasm. This is certainly a huge loss for his family and friends." "Our thoughts and prayers are with [his family] during this difficult time," said Hawks General Manager Rick Sund in a press statement released Thursday by the NBA team.

NEW: Police say the medical examiner used dental records to identify Lorenzen Wright's body . NEW: The cause of death was "homicide by gunshot wound," police say . Family and friends mourn Wright's death . Police say they are working "to bring justice" to Wright and his family .

By . Peter Allen . PUBLISHED: . 05:55 EST, 6 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:01 EST, 7 September 2013 . 'Real hatred': French police say Mr Al-Hilli kept detailed recordings of all his telephone conversations leading up to his murder while in a bitter inheritance dispute with his brother . Detectives trying to unlock the Alps murders case believe a deal involving a 'transfer of technologies' could be a key line of inquiry, it has emerged. Investigators remain baffled as to why three members of a British-Iraqi family were shot dead close to Lake Annecy, in eastern France, a year ago. But at a joint Anglo-French press briefing they said 'industrial espionage could also indicate the involvement of secret services'. The officer leading the investigation also said that Saad Al-Hilli, a 50-year-old engineer from Surrey who was among the victims, kept ‘meticulous recordings’ of all of his conversations up until the massacre. Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud, who is leading the inquiry, said a bitter inheritance dispute between Saad and his brother Zaid Al-Hilli, 54, was an important line in the investigation. Mr Maillaud said: ‘The victim recorded all his telephone conversations. We therefore have some very precise details.’ The prosecutor said Saad 'had in his possession a lot more material than his job would justify', The Mirror has reported. Mr Maillaud said: 'The theory that this relates to foreign countries and industrial espionage could also indicate the involvement of secret services. 'This is one aspect of an extremely complex investigation, one which is going to demand a lot more time.' Al-Hilli's brother Zaid was arrested in June under suspicion of conspiracy to murder, and is currently on police bail. He vehemently denies any wrongdoing. Mr Maillaud said that there was a ‘real hatred’ between the two brothers, and that Saad carried all the documents relating to their dispute on holiday with him to France last year. On September 5th 2012, he was killed in the attack by a gunman, along with his wife Ikbal, 47, and her mother Suhaila al-Allaf, 74. French cyclist Sylvain Mollier, 45, was also killed in shootings which orphaned Saad’s daughters, Zainab, eight, and Zeena, five. Grim: Yesterday a source says an 'English witness' suggested the entire Al-Hilli family was targeted by a 'mercenary' from the Balkans for just £1680 . A total of 21 bullets were used in . the killing, with none damaging the bodywork of the family BMW in which . the Al-Hillis were sitting. Instead, bullets passed straight through a car window before finding their human targets. At . least five others ended up in the body of the cyclist, Mr Mollier, with . the gunman reloading at least twice, ballistics reports suggest. ‘There was a certain form of obsession’ about the inheritance dispute, said Mr Maillaud, explaining that it concerned money and property left by the brothers’ father, Kadhim, who died in Spain two years ago aged 85. Suspect: Saad's brother Zaad Al-Hilli, 54, pictured, was arrested at his home in Surrey in June on suspicion of conspiracy to murder but has since been bailed . Mr . Maillaud said that the recorded phone conversations, together with . computer records, were being studied at length, and could provide vital . clues before Zaid is re-interviewed by police in October. But British police confirmed that Zaid was in the UK last September, and was not considered ‘the prime suspect’. Detective superintendent Nick May said: ‘The tragic events of a year ago left four people dead in appalling circumstances. ‘We remain committed to finding answers to what happened that day on behalf of their families, particularly for the two young girls who lost their parents. ‘This remains a complex inquiry and we continue to have a team of officers dedicated to supporting the investigation. ‘We have established a good working relationship with our French colleagues and are continuing to pursue a number of lines of inquiry in the UK.’ One . theory put forward by an 'English witness' says an assassin with . military experience may have murdered a British family and a French cyclist in the Alps for just £420 each. The chilling claim was made yesterday on the first anniversary of the massacre. The . source confirmed that a witness had suggested the entire . Al-Hilli family was targeted by a 'mercenary' from the Balkans who was . paid the equivalent of just £1680. British police officers involved in the . Anglo-French investigation have so far refused to comment on the . enquiry, but their counterparts in Annecy confirmed that suspicions . about a contract killing are 'high on the agenda'. ‘The victim recorded all his telephone conversations. We therefore have some very precise details' - Annecy prosecutor Eric Maillaud . French . detectives are also following up claims that a French convict was . offered '100,000 euros (£84,000 ) 'to eliminate an Iraqi settled in . England', according to claims published in the Le Figaro newspaper . yesterday. This suggests that someone may have explored a number of options before finally ordering a hit. Saad's . brother was arrested at his home in Surrey in June . on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, but has since been bailed. Zaid, . who has proved he was in the UK this time last year, denies any . wrongdoing and there is no concrete proof for any of the claims about . the killings being commissioned. But . the French now routinely leak information allegedly linking Zaid to the . murders, while attempting to close down other lines of enquiry. Annecy . prosecutor Eric Maillaud said the brothers were in dispute over their . father's inheritance, which included the £1 million family home in . Claygate, Surrey. 'Saad was scared of his brother,' said Mr Maillaud. 'It's for this reason that he changed the locks of the house.' Probe: Sources close to the investigation have suggested that the killings could be linked to an inheritance dispute within the Al-Hilli family. But no evidence has been produced to support the suspicions. This is Saad Al Hilli's home . Today . there were also claims from the French sources that the brothers had a . 'visceral hatred' for one another and that Saad's 'paranoid fear' was so . great that he kept an illegal Taser stun gun for personal protection. Saad had also started using satellite technology through his smart phone which enabled friends to track his every move. The brothers' father, Kadhim, died in . Spain two years ago aged 85, leaving several properties and the . equivalent of more than £600,000 in a Geneva account. The French now claim Zaid had attempted to 'siphon' money from the account, and to fabricate his father's will in his favour. However, Mr Maillaud admitted that . there was currently not enough evidence to charge Zaid, and that other . theories could not be discounted. The murder scene - an . isolated mountain layby - reopened a few days after the killings, and . today floral tributes were already beginning to appear where the family . BMW had been parked. Saad's seven-year-old daughter, Zainab, was beaten over the head with the butt of the suspected murder weapon - a Luger P06 in 7.65mm Parabellum. Her four-year old sister, Zeena was left deeply traumatised after hiding beneath the skirts of her dead mother in the back of the BMW for eight hours before being discovered by gendarmes. Both girls are now in the care of extended family, following a court battle with Surrey social services who wanted to keep them with foster parents. French police still believe they may still unlock the secrets of what happened through finally remembering what they saw. The horrific killings of the Al-Hilli family in one of the most scenic areas in the French Alps has baffled detectives. Since the murders a year ago, a number of theories have emerged as to why the family were slaughtered. French investigating sources believe an inheritance dispute within the Al-Hilli family could be a motive. Speculation: The killings in the French Alps have left a trail of theories. This image shows French Gendarmes close to the murder scene last year . There have also been revelations of a possible connection to the former regime of Saddam Hussein. It . followed claims that the deposed tyrant may have deposited £840,000 . into a Swiss bank account in the name of victim Said al-Hilli's father. At one stage, detectives believed they had been shot by a serial killer with a hatred of tourists. Police said they had linked the murders of the British family with the mysterious death of another tourist last July. Other . theories have speculated that the French cyclist Sylvain Mollier, a . 45-year-old nuclear industry worker, was the primary target. There have also been claims that a mystery motorcyclist seen around the Alpine beauty spot could have carried out the killings.

One year since Saad Al-Hilli, his wife and her mother were all shot dead . The Al-Hilli's daughters, Zainab, . eight, and Zeena, five, both traumatised . Kept recordings of all his phonecalls in inheritance dispute with brother . Claims a . 'mercenary' from the Balkans could have been paid to kill family . Inheritance dispute between Saad and his brother is also a line of inquiry .

By . Luke Salkeld and Chris Greenwood . Last updated at 12:00 AM on 20th February 2012 . The killing of a country vicar has been linked to the murder of a widow following the arrest of a ‘dangerous’ suspect, police said yesterday. The Rev John Suddards was killed in his home six weeks after the body of Betty Yates was discovered at her secluded riverside cottage. Both had been stabbed. A police spokesman confirmed that the murders, which took place about 60 miles apart, had been ‘formally linked’ after Stephen Farrow, 47, was  arrested early yesterday. On Saturday, detectives issued an urgent appeal to help find Farrow, who was described as a ‘dangerous’ suspect who exploits the charity of the church. Drifter: Police have arrested Stephen Farrow, 47, (left) over the murder . of Rev John Suddards (right), after they were led to him at an address . in Folkestone, Kent, by a tip off from the public . They warned the public not to approach him under any circumstances and instead to dial 999.Mr Suddards, 59, was found stabbed to death in St Mary’s vicarage in the market town of Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, last Tuesday. The clergyman had admitted to his congregation that welcoming strangers was a ‘risky’ part of his job. Similarities: Betty Yates was found stabbed to death at her home in Bewdley, Worcestershire, on January 2 . Mrs Yates, 77, was beaten with her own walking stick and stabbed in the neck at her isolated home in Bewdley, Worcestershire on January 2. The retired teacher’s body was found two days later. She had lived in the cottage on the banks of the River Severn for more than 30 years. A spokesman for West Mercia Police said Farrow was being transferred into the custody of officers investigating Mr Suddards’s death following his arrest in Folkestone, Kent. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Jamieson of West Mercia Police, which is investigating the case of Mrs Yates, said: ‘We would like to thank Avon and Somerset Police for their help in our investigation. We have been working with them to examine similarities between the deaths of Betty Yates and the Reverend John Suddards.’ He had said earlier of the Betty Yates investigation: ‘We will continue our unrelenting efforts to bring the offender responsible for this dreadful crime to justice.’ Detective Chief Inspector Simon Crisp of Avon and Somerset Police, who is leading the investigation into Mr Suddards’s murder, praised those who had contributed to Farrow’s arrest. ‘I would like to thank the public and all those who have helped us to find him,’ he said. ‘It was as a direct result of assistance from a member of the public that we were able to locate this man and we would like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude.’ He had said of Farrow earlier in the weekend: ‘His favoured form of transport is the bus although we cannot exclude other types of public transport, or hitchhiking or walking. ‘We know that he would seek shelter in a tent that he has with him or he may purchase. Crucially, he may also seek to exploit the charity of the church community.’ Dawn raid: The house on Black Bull Road where police swooped and arrested Farrow at 4.20am Sunday morning . Police continued their inquiries outside the vicarage where Rev Suddard's body was found . The community of Thornbury has been shattered by the death . Farrow is said to have used a variety of names and travelled extensively across the UK. He was arrested two days  after about 300 people attended a special service in Thornbury to remember Mr Suddards. The former barrister had been at the parish for just seven months, but had worked as a vicar for 22 years. Vicar John Suddards, pictured at a Christening, admitted he was at risk during a sermon because of the type of people he took in . Police attend the scene outside the vicarage next to St Mary's church, where the vicar's body was found by builders . Tragedy: St Mary's Church in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, where Rev Suddards has taken over as vicar last July . The Bishop of Gloucester,  the Right Reverend Michael Perham, paid tribute to a ‘good man and faithful minister’. Farrow’s is a second arrest following the vicar’s death. On the day Mr Suddards’s body was discovered, a 43-year-old man was arrested and questioned before being released on bail. Earlier this month, a man was arrested and questioned by police investigating the murder of Mrs Yates. He was later released on bail. Forensic teams were called in after Mr Suddards was found soon after 10am on Monday . Police search the roadside near the vicarage where Mr Suddards was apparently killed . 'He was much loved': Rev John Suddards previously worked at St Nicolas Church in Witham, Essex . Last month, Mrs Yates’s son and daughter made an emotional appeal for help to bring their mother’s killer to justice. Appearing with her brother David Yates, Hazel Costello said: ‘We are completely bewildered as to who could carry out such a savage attack on our mother. That this should have happened in her home makes this even more difficult to bear.’ Anyone with information about either of the killings should call Avon and Somerset or West Mercia Police on 101.

Reverend John Suddards' death is linked to the murder of Betty Yates, 77 . Mrs Yates was beaten with her own walking stick and stabbed in the neck . The two murders took place about 60 miles apart . Stephen Farrow, described as 'dangerous', was arrested early yesterday . Arrest came after officers were tipped off by a member of the public . Police had warned public not to approach him 'under any circumstances' Reverend John Suddards was found stabbed to death last week .

(CNN) -- "What # are you at?" The brief e-mail arrived late on the morning of January 24. I keep looking at it. It was from Jeff Zaslow. We first became friends more than 25 years ago. We got together as often as we could when we found ourselves in the same town, usually for long, laughter-filled dinners; Jeff, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, in recent years became the author of multiple big bestselling books, most of them on inspirational themes. "What # are you at?" He was going to be making appearances for his latest book, "The Magic Room," and he had looked at his schedule and saw that he had a few days between speeches in the South. He knew that I'd been holed up in a hotel on the west coast of Florida, trying to get some writing done. He was going to take those two days between speeches to join me and just hang out. So we talked on the phone, and arranged the days. Today -- Sunday, March 4 -- is the day he was to arrive. On February 10, on his way back to his home in suburban Detroit from a book signing in Petoskey, Michigan, the night before, Jeff was killed instantly when, according to police, his car skidded on a snowy road and was hit head-on by an oncoming semitrailer truck. He was 53. Jeff's wife, Sherry, his three daughters, Jordan, Alex and Eden, and his parents, Harry and Naomi, have suffered an unfathomable loss. The obituaries and tributes written by his friends and colleagues have all centered on Jeff's never-ending thoughtfulness and compassion. The tributes have been entirely accurate; the constancy of Jeff's kindness was one of life's rarities. Today, when Jeff should have been arriving for our time together, I'd like to pass on a lesson from him that I believe can be used to great effect by anyone, regardless of his or her line of work. It has to do with the book that first made him a bestselling author, "The Last Lecture," written with Professor Randy Pausch of Carnegie Mellon University. The book was a publishing phenomenon: 5 million copies sold in the English language alone, translations into 48 languages around the world. Some people thought that Jeff got lucky with that book. But luck had nothing to do with it. In early September 2007, Jeff was working on a Wall Street Journal column about a trend he was hearing about at U.S. universities. Professors were thinking what they might say if they had to deliver one last lecture, and were in fact giving those lectures, summing up what had been meaningful in their lives. As he was reporting the piece, Jeff learned that a professor at Carnegie Mellon -- Pausch -- was going to give what might literally be his last lecture. Pausch was dying from pancreatic cancer. It was going to be inconvenient for Jeff to go from Detroit to Pittsburgh for the speech; there was a problem with the price of the flight, and the schedule, and he also had obligations to attend to in Michigan that day. It would have been much easier just to call the professor and get a quote, or have the university send him an audio or video recording of the lecture. Remember: Jeff didn't even know, at that point, whether Pausch's lecture would warrant a whole column. But he got up that morning in Detroit and -- Jeff being Jeff -- decided that he really ought to see for himself. He was an established and respected Wall Street Journal staff member; no one at the paper would have faulted him for doing a quick interview with Pausch on the phone. Jeff got in his car and drove more than 300 miles from Detroit to Pittsburgh to sit in the audience and listen to the speech. A five-hour drive there, and then a five-hour, 300-mile drive back. It paid off spectacularly, of course. The column -- moving, tender, insightful -- was a sensation, and the book that he ended up writing with Pausch gave Jeff a new career in the top echelon of American authors, and provided financial security for his family. But -- and this is what is important -- it was nothing he didn't do all the time. In his work, he always went the extra step -- the extra hundred steps. He never took the easy way. I remember, seven or eight years ago, well before "The Last Lecture," Jeff had come to Chicago to interview an old-time vaudeville performer. To the best of my recollection, the newspaper story was going to have something to do with audiences, or audience reactions. The old performer was going to be one sliver of a longer piece. An easy phone-call interview. But Jeff didn't do things that way. He flew to Chicago and, suitcase in hand (he hadn't checked into his hotel yet), met me at the restaurant where we had arranged to have dinner. At one point we talked about why, at this stage in his career, he still pushed himself so hard. He said he just wanted to look into the man's eyes when he interviewed him the next day. He felt the story would be a little better that way. At the end of the meal we went to the coat-check window; they had taken Jeff's suitcase down a long flight of stairs to store it on a basement level. Jeff didn't want the young woman to have to carry it up the stairs, so he went down to get it. I stood there and watched as he came up the steep flight of stairs, visibly weary, huffing, sweating, lugging the heavy bag; we looked at each other and both of us burst out laughing. "Look at you," I said. "You look like 'Death of a [cuss-word-adjective] Salesman.'" "I know," he said. "Why do I do this?" We both knew the answer. He did it because it was the right way to do a job. And it doesn't matter what a person does for a living. It can be the lawyer who stays late to look up a few more citations of case law, to give his client the best possible chance. It can be the teacher who goes over the lesson plan one more time, adding something vital to it at midnight, even though the students or the school administrators will never be aware of the effort she has put in. It can be the factory worker who takes it upon himself to check the specifications a third and fourth time, wanting to be absolutely certain that the product will be as close to perfect as humanly possible. Does it always pay off, as Jeff's 10 hours on the road paid off with "The Last Lecture"? Of course not. It hardly ever pays off that big. Most times, your boss, your colleagues, your own family will never know that you put in the extra effort when you didn't have to. But you'll know. That's what counts. And when the day finally comes when you have your big success, when you get your big break, it won't be because you made the extra effort once. It will be because you made the extra effort every time. Jeff did. And that's the lesson I'd like to pass on for him. Especially today. The silence at the dinner hour tonight is going to be awfully loud. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bob Greene.

Bob Greene says he heard from friend, Jeff Zaslow, 2 weeks before his death in a car crash . He says writer Zaslow's integrity, both personal and professional, was inspiring . He once drove hundreds of miles for a story that he easily could have "phoned in" Greene: Over and over in his life, he took extra steps to get it right -- a lesson for us all .

(CNN) -- The death toll from violence in South Sudan is "heavy," the United Nations said Tuesday, and thousands of people have sought refuge in the organization's compounds in Juba. Gunfire rang out again in the capital of in Africa's newest nation just hours after the country's President said his forces had halted a coup attempt. Clashes, which began on Sunday evening, have left hundreds in urgent need of medical care, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said. Gerard Araud, the French representative to the United Nations and the current President of the Security Council, said precise figures on the death toll weren't available. "But it's heavy," he said. "It's dozens and dozens, scores of casualties, it's really not a minor incident." Officials at the United Nations are "extremely concerned" about the violence, Araud said, due to the high number of casualties and because the fighting appears to be between different ethnic groups in South Sudan. On Tuesday, sporadic gunshots were heard in the area of Tonping, the U.S. Embassy said on its Twitter feed, quoting U.N. radio. It recommended that U.S. citizens currently in the country depart immediately. Women and children carrying bags, kettles, pots and basic belongings arriving at a U.N compound to seek shelter could be seen in pictures posted on the U.N. mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) Facebook page. Araud said Tuesday evening that around 15,000 to 20,000 civilians were taking refuge in the two UNMISS compounds in Juba, putting a strain on supplies of medicine, food, water and security resources. In a televised address Monday, South Sudan President Salva Kiir blamed soldiers loyal to his sacked deputy Riek Machar for starting the fighting Sunday evening. Dressed in fatigues, he said the government was in full control of the capital and announced a nighttime curfew. Ten people were arrested in connection with the foiled coup, according to a statement posted Tuesday on the South Sudan government website. Hundreds in need of medical care . The ICRC said it was providing Juba's two major hospitals with support, such as wound-dressing materials, to cope with the heavy influx of patients. More than 300 people have been admitted to Juba Teaching Hospital and Juba Military Hospital over the past two days, it said. "We know there are more people who need care, but they are having difficulty reaching healthcare facilities because of the security situation and the lack of available transportation," Felicity Gapes, an ICRC delegate leading the medical response on the ground, said in a statement. "Staff in both hospitals have been working around the clock, but they are struggling because of the sheer volume of patients and the severity of the injuries." The United Nations said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke with Kiir by phone Tuesday, expressing his concern about the fighting. He urged "all parties to cease hostilities immediately, and called on the government to exercise restraint in the management of the situation and to guarantee the protection of all civilians regardless of their ethnicities." Deep-running tensions . Kiir's dismissal of his Cabinet in July further inflamed deep tensions between his Dinka community and Machar's Nuer community. South Sudan formally split from Sudan in 2011 following a referendum, after decades of conflict. Numerous armed groups remain active in the oil-rich country. UNMISS said Hilde F. Johnson, special representative of the U.N. secretary-general, called on "all parties in the current situation to refrain from any community-motivated violence." "At a time when unity among South Sudanese is more needed than ever, I call on the leaders of this new country and all political factions and parties, as well as community leaders to refrain from any action that fuels ethnic tensions and exacerbates violence," Johnson said. Juba's international airport remained closed. And with phone networks sketchy, embassies were turning to social media to stay in touch with their citizens, mainly calling on them to stay home and avoid unnecessary movement. The State Department said U.S. citizens currently in South Sudan should leave immediately, and it ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel from the country. "The Embassy is also suspending normal operations until further notice and cannot provide routine consular services to U.S. citizens in South Sudan," it said. The African Union said it was "deeply concerned" about the events in South Sudan, urging the government, leadership and other stakeholders to exercise maximum restraint and avert any further escalation. Editors' Note: This article has been edited to remove plagiarized content after CNN discovered multiple instances of plagiarism by Marie-Louise Gumuchian, a former CNN news editor. CNN's Jamie Crawford, Neda Farshbaf, Sara Mazloumsaki and Nana Karikari-Apau contributed to this report.

NEW: "It's dozens and dozens, scores of casualties," the head of the U.N. Security Council says . NEW: About 15,000 to 20,000 civilians have fled to United Nations bases in the city, he says . State Department says U.S. Embassy suspending normal operations until further notice . Sporadic gunfire still rattling Juba, diplomats say .

By . Kieran Corcoran . Thief: Michelle Roberts, 45, admitted stealing from her own relatives at a wake for her dead uncle . A woman who robbed her own family at a wake for her dead uncle has been jailed. Michelle Roberts, 45, rifled through the handbags of mourners at an event to commemorate her uncle, Fred Rousell. She took several bank cards, £80 in cash as well as £300 of John Lewis vouchers from relatives at the event in Southend, Essex. Roberts was called 'mean and despicable' as she was given a six-month prison sentence after admitting theft and fraud. Basildon Crown Court heard how she used the stolen cards to spend more than £400 on an online shopping spree from Asda and a music website. She even tried to convince her widowed aunt that she had cancer in an attempt to collect money from her in the guise of charity donations. Roberts, from Greenwich, South East London, had sneaked into a kitchen during the wake to pilfer their belongings. She pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and three of fraud. The court heard that she took advantage of grieving relatives and broke her family apart at the wake in 2011. Jamas Hodivala, prosecuting, told the court: 'For the last two years Mrs Rousell feels unable to put her husband to rest because of the incident . 'Obviously the incident caused her great upset and distress and, because Mrs Rousell's family were previously very close, she feels the family relationship has been broken as a result.' Handing her the six-month jail sentence, Judge Jonathan Black said: 'I deal with these offences in detail because they fully reflect the mean and despicable way you committed the offences. 'Despicable': Roberts, pictured above covering her face as she leaves court, was criticised by the judge for taking advantage of her grieving relatives to steal their money . Guilty: Roberts admitted four charges of theft and three of fraud at Basildon Crown Court (pictured) 'You used time of great grief of Mr Rousell’s family to steal from vulnerable family and friends.' Steven Fitzpatrick, mitigating, told the court his client should not be jailed as she suffers from depression and anxiety. But Judge Black jailed Roberts for six months before defiantly telling her: 'Your manipulative behaviour has even extended to those people who wrote this report.' The case comes a year after Roberts escaped a jail sentence at Dartford Magistrates’ Court for bogus charity collecting around pubs in Kent.

Michelle Roberts, 45, rifled through handbags at wake in Southend, Essex . She took £80 cash and also spent £400 online using stolen bank cards . Admitted four counts of theft and three of fraud at Basildon Crown Court . Was called 'despicable' by judge, who gave her six months in prison .

Madrid (CNN) -- The judge investigating the train crash that killed 79 people last July is expanding the preliminary charges to include numerous top officials of the state railway infrastructure company, Adif, for alleged negligence, a Tuesday court order shows. Judge Luis Alaez Legeren wrote that five Adif officials in charge of track and signal security, along with the current and two former Adif presidents, will face preliminary charges because there was no safety system that would have compensated for any human error by the train driver. The prime suspect remains the driver, Francisco Jose Garzon, who already faces preliminary charges of 79 counts of homicide by professional recklessness. The judge's latest order states that the passenger train was going more than twice the speed limit when it derailed on a curve near the northwest city of Santiago de Compostela. In addition to 79 fatalities, some 170 passengers were injured. Just before the crash, the driver took a phone call from another official on the train to discuss the train's route farther north on the journey, the judge wrote. An Adif spokeswoman said the company had no immediate comment about the judge's order, and company lawyers were studying it. In the eight-page order sent by the court to reporters, the judge cites various security systems in place along the section of track where the accident occurred. But he adds it appears that Adif officials did not adequately mitigate all the predictable scenarios of human error by the driver. Since the accident, the speed limit at the curve has been reduced from 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph) to just 30, Adif has confirmed. Last week, Spanish newspaper El Pais exclusively obtained audio of the driver's first, desperate phone call, while injured and still trapped inside the engine, to the train's control center. The court said it did not release the audio, but there are several parties to the case who may have had access to it. In the audio, the driver told his control center he "got distracted" and was going 190 kilometers an hour when he should have been doing 80. News media reported that part of the conversation in the days after the crash, citing officials, who blamed excessive speed for the crash. But the audio recording also contains allegations by the driver that were not widely reported weeks ago, namely his contention that he had warned authorities about what he called the dangerous curve. "I had already told security it was dangerous, that one day we were going to eat it, and it happened to me," the driver, Garzon, is heard telling the control center in the audio recording. A few moments later he added, "Oh God, I had already told the people from security that it was very dangerous. We are human ... and this can happen... that this curve is inhumane. Understand? If there was a warning light ..." For weeks, the judge has been investigating other potential causes for the accident, beyond the train's excessive speed. In the court order Tuesday, he also asked Adif to provide the names of all company board members and all rail security senior officials, since December 2011. That's when the section of track where the accident occurred, and its security systems, went into operation.

Preliminary charges in the Spain train crash will now include top railway officials . Judge Luis Alaez Legeren is adding the charges because the train lacked a safety system . He notes there were systems in place at various places, but driver error was not anticipated . The crash took the lives of 79 people and injured some 170 .

(CNN) -- Four men and three women have been arrested in connection with shootings that left two Louisiana sheriff's deputies dead and two others wounded, police said Friday. Their arrests, and the preliminary charges they are facing, follow a pair of allegedly linked shootings early Thursday in LaPlace, a community of about 30,000 people located roughly 25 miles west of New Orleans. Five of those arrested are now in jail, while the two others remain hospitalized for treatment of gunshot wounds, Louisiana State Police spokesman Melissa Matey said Friday. St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Michael Tregre called the slain and wounded deputies "heroes" and described those arrested as "some very violent individuals." "The people that (the deputies) lost their lives for, that we have in custody, I believe are some of the most violent, evil people on the planet," Tregre said Friday. All the charges levied against the suspects, thus far, apply to the first shooting that occurred around 5 a.m. in a parking lot near the Bayou Steel plant in LaPlace, according to police. A man there shot Deputy Michael Boyington from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office -- who was directing traffic at the time -- several times, Tregre said Thursday. Despite his injuries, Boyington told dispatchers about the suspect. His description, along with a civilian report of a speeding car, led responding officers to a nearby trailer park, the sheriff said. Col. Michael Edmonson, superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, said Friday that investigators have determined that five of those under arrest were in the car that sped from the scene. Boyington is at University Hospital in New Orleans, where Tregre said he had visited him and found him to be "very good, upbeat, very positive, very strong." A law enforcement source who was not authorized to speak on the record said Thursday that the deputy had been shot in the shoulder and is expected to survive. "He just wanted me to tell everyone that he'll be back to work Monday," Tregre said Friday. Brian Lyn Smith, 24, will be charged with attempted first-degree murder of a police officer tied to Boyington's shooting, police said. Four others -- 44-year-old Terry Smith, 22-year-old Derrick Smith, 28-year-old Kyle David Joekel and 21-year-old Teniecha Bright -- each face charges of being a principal to attempted first-degree murder of a police officer. Chanel Skains, 37, and Brittney Keith, 23, have been charged with being an accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, authorities said. Brian Smith and Joekel will be formally charged after their release from the hospital, according to information released Friday by the parish sheriff's office. "Once ... the hospital says, they're OK and they can leave the hospital, believe me, they're going straight to jail," Edmonson said of the two hospitalized suspects. All those facing charges lived in one of three nearby addresses on the same street in LaPlace. And they could face additional charges tied to the second shooting later Thursday at a trailer park in that same city. In that incident, deputies who had gone there to investigate the initial shooting were questioning two people when a man ambushed them, Tregre said. Multiple weapons were used and at least 20 shots were fired in this shooting, according to Edmonson. St. John the Baptist Sheriff's Deputies Brandon Nielsen, 34, and Jeremy Triche, 28, were killed in the gunfire. Nielsen was married with five children and Triche had a wife and a 2-year-old son, Tregre told reporters. Deputy Jason Triche -- who is not related to Jeremy Triche -- was wounded in that shooting, according to Louisiana State Trooper Evan Harrell. Jason Triche is "recovering very, very well" at LaPlace's River Parishes Hospital, where Tregre visited him and said he believes that he was taken off a ventilator Friday and "couldn't really speak, but he could write." As to the overall investigation, the state police superintendent stressed Friday that "there are a lot of things that we don't know and that we will find out," vowing that authorities will "very tediously, very delicately" compile evidence and interview witnesses. "We'll build our case on what we know now, (including about) the individuals in the car. And now we are going to work our way back to the scene where those two deputies were killed," Edmonson said. "It's going to take us a while to do that." The slain and wounded sheriff's deputies will be honored Friday at a candlelight vigil, which starts at 8 p.m. (9 p.m. ET) in front of the Percy Hebert Building in LaPlace, Tregre said. In addition, the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans will be lit in blue Friday night and there will be a moment of silence to remember Nielsen and Jeremy Triche before the New Orleans Saints take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in an NFL pre-season game, according to the sheriff. CNN's Rick Martin contributed to this report.

NEW: The suspects are "some of the most violent, evil people on the planet," sheriff says . NEW: 5 of those arrested were in a car that sped from the first shooting, state police say . A Louisiana sheriff's deputy directing traffic was shot and wounded, police have said . A short time later, 2 responding deputies die and another is hurt in a nearby shooting .

By . Lucy Osborne . They look just like any two adoring young sisters. But three-year-old Rosie Mulchinock and five-month-old Daisy have been ‘genetically designed’ in a laboratory to beat an incurable disease that runs in their family. In a first of its kind in the UK, the pair were born from embryos that were screened by scientists to ensure they would not suffer Huntington’s disease. Rosie (left) and Daisy (right) Mulchinock were both 'genetically designed' in a laboratory to ensure they would not develop an incurable disease that runs in their family. They are pictured with their parents Karen and Phillip . Their mother Karen, who has the killer disease herself and has already watched it kill her father, knew that if she were to have children there was a 50 per cent chance of passing it on. But thanks to this new ‘designer’ technique called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) - where only healthy embryos are inserted back into the womb and unhealthy ones discarded - sisters Rose and Daisy have been born free from the disease. It is believed to be the only case in the UK where two babies in the same family have been born using this method. Mrs Mulchinock, 35, a procurement team retailer, said: ‘It is probably the greatest achievement of my life - giving them a life where they don’t have to face an uncertain future.’ Huntington’s disease is a hereditary disorder of the nervous system which affects the brain, usually when the victims are in early middle age. ‘Knowing that they will never develop this devastating condition is the best feeling in the world. I can’t thank the doctors enough. Scientists were able to select healthy embryos and to implant these into their mother's womb to remove the risk of them having Huntington's disease . ‘This disease stole our father away from us. He was diagnosed with it in his late 50s and we had to watch as his behaviour changed, his balance went and his personality completely changed.’ She added: ‘Knowing that I am going to develop the disease too, like my father did, is difficult and we don’t talk about it much. Preimplantation . genetic diagnosis is available to couples who are at high risk of . having a child with a genetic or chromosome disorder. The aim is to obtain and fertilise some eggs which, when they have developed into embryos, can be tested for the abnormality. Up . to two unaffected, healthy, embryos can then be transferred to the . mother's womb in the hope they will implant and she will become . pregnant. If this is successful, she will have a baby without the condition. Source: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust . ‘We will have to face it in the future but for now, we just want to concentrate on bringing our family up.’ PGD has caused controversy in recent years, with critics condemning it as ‘meddling with nature’. Many people believe that life begins at conception and the destruction of embryos just because they are not completely healthy is ethically wrong and equates to the destruction of a person. But Mrs Mulchinock, from Derby, believes their motive was justified. She said: ‘Our only other option was if I became pregnant, to have the baby tested at 12 weeks and then make a decision whether to keep it. ‘Or to go ahead without any testing at all and just hope for the best. So we decided we wanted to try PGD instead.’ The couple had one course of treatment at a hospital in London in 2006 which was unsuccessful and then they went to CARE Fertility in Nottingham in November 2009. Mrs Mulchinock underwent a cycle of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and doctors found that half the embryos had the defective gene. Two were selected which were free from the condition and put back into her womb and the rest discarded or donated to scientists in order to carry out research. Mrs Mulchinock knows that she will develop Huntington's disease and her father died of it so she wanted to ensure that her children were not at risk as well . Two weeks later she found she was pregnant, and the pregnancy went smoothly. Rose was born in August 2010 at the Derby Royal Hospital. The couple then had another attempt two years later, but that was unsuccessful. It was on their third attempt that she managed to conceive again. Huntington's is an incurable disease caused by an inherited faulty gene, which produces a protein called Huntingtin. It's not known how, but the gene causes widespread damage to the nerve cells in the brain, causing a range of symptoms. Sufferers can exhibit emotional and mental changes such as mood swings, clumsiness, lack of motivation, aggression and depression which, in the early stages, can often be written off as simple personality traits. Later, they develop physical problems such as the shakes or nervous tics, then weight loss and muscle weakness which leave the patient unable to swallow, speak or move. Every sufferer has a different rate of deterioration, but it is a fatal condition. Huntington's is estimated to affect around 8,000 people in the UK. In adults the symptoms usually appear between 35 and 50, although until a blood test was introduced around 20 years ago, it was very difficult to diagnose it at an early stage. She said: ‘This time we only had one embryo which was free from the disease, so it really was the only and only chance we had.’ Mrs Mulchinock added: ‘To have done it successfully a second time was the most amazing feeling. ‘We have managed to stop this disease now in our family, as it can’t be passed any further down the line. ‘Now they can live their lives to the full. ‘We can’t thank the doctors enough for giving us the chance of having a healthy family.’ Colleen Lynch, Molecular Geneticist from CARE Fertility said: ‘We are not aware of another case like this in the UK. 'It is extremely rare, and it’s a massive weight off the minds of this family to know that their little girls have been born free from such a terrible disease. ‘It’s a disease that devastates families, and to have eradicated that disease from this family by using this technique is wonderful.’ PGD also has the potential to screen for genetic issues unrelated to medical necessity, such as intelligence and beauty, and against negative traits such as disabilities.

Karen Mulchinock has Huntington's disease and it also killed her father . She knew if she had children naturally there was a 50% they'd have it . Daisy and Rosie were conceived using pre-implantation genetic diagnosis . This allowed doctors to only select healthy embryos to implant . They are thought to be the only siblings in the UK to both have been conceived in this way .

By . David Kent . PUBLISHED: . 08:44 EST, 2 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 10:33 EST, 2 March 2014 . Former England and Arsenal footballer Sol Campbell feels he should have been England captain for 10 years . Sol Campbell has branded the Football Association institutionally racist and claimed that he would have been England captain for 10 years if he had been white. The former Tottenham, Arsenal and Portsmouth defender, who won 73 caps with England, makes the claim in his autobiography, which is published later this month. In it, he says he was overlooked for the captaincy because of the colour of his skin. Campbell said: 'I believe that if I was white I would have been England captain for 10 years. 'I don't think it [the situation] will change because they don't want it. It's all right to have a black or mixed race captain of the Under 18s or Under 21s but not for the full national side. 'There is a ceiling and, although no one has ever said it, I believe it's made of glass. 'Michael Owen was made captain ahead of me and I thought, "What's going on here?" I think the FA didn't want me to have a voice. 'Owen was a fantastic forward but nowhere near being a captain. I've asked myself many times why I wasn't [named captain]. I keep coming up with the same answer. It was the colour of my skin.' Campbell was England captain for three friendly games in 1998 and 2005 but never received the captaincy long term. Paul . Ince and Rio Ferdinand have also captained the side in short spells and . Ferdinand was captain going into the last World Cup finals under Fabio . Capello - before injury ruled him out. But England have never had an . established black captain. It is understood the FA is not planning to respond directly to the allegations. Campbell was England captain for three friendly games in 1998 and 2005 but never received the captaincy long term . Former FA executive director David Davies, who was at the organisation when Campbell was a player, said he was 'surprised' by the former defender's allegations and believed they were 'wrong'. 'I am surprised by this because the reality is that in my time the managers selected the captain,' he told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme. 'I never - and to my knowledge nobody else in the FA - ever sought to influence them. 'My belief is (the allegations) are wrong. I also have to say I am quite proud, along with a number of people of that era, of setting up (anti-discrimination campaign group) Kick It Out in football . 'Progress was made, I would love to talk to Sol about this story and this concern and this upset he has about why he wasn't the England captain. Back then: Campbell celebrates scoring against Sweden in the 2002 World Cup . Former FA executive director David Davies said he was 'surprised' by the former defender's allegations . 'He clearly is upset about that time and he feels that perhaps he should have been, he would believe, more seriously considered as the England captain.' Paul Ince - 7 caps . Sol Campbell - 3 . Rio Ferdinand - 7 . Ashley Cole - 1 . Players who have received the captain's armband during the course of a game are not considered official England captains. These players have worn the captain's armband during the course of a match: . Emile Heskey, David James, Joleon Lescott . Sven-Goran Eriksson was the England manager Davies worked with most during his time in charge of the FA. Asked if the Swede had ever consulted him on who should be captain, Davies added: 'I have no recollection of that whatsoever.' He added: 'Sometimes I might have been surprised who was made the captain on particular days. I wasn't surprised when Tony Adams was made the captain by Terry Venables. I wasn't surprised when David Beckham was made the captain by Peter Taylor and then confirmed by Sven.' However, it will raise the issue of . race once again for English football's governing body, following a week . in which the FA disciplinary panel were criticised for accepting that . Nicolas Anelka had not intended to be anti-semitic when performing the . now infamous 'quenelle' salute after scoring for West Brom against West . Ham last December. The FA . have also been criticised for the length of time it took to charge . Anelka and for the leniency of a four-game ban incurred by John Terry . after an FA disciplinary panel found that he had racially abused Anton . Ferdinand. Teammates: Sol Campbell and Alan Shearer in 1996 . Influential: The former Tottenham, Arsenal and Portsmouth defender won 73 caps with England . In charge: Emile Heskey (left) and David James (right) have been given the armband during a game . Finally: Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole captains England against Ireland in May after earning 100 caps . Leading the pack: Rio Ferdinand (front centre) is the only black player to be England's official leading captain .

Campbell claims the FA is 'institutionally racist' 'If I was white I would have been England captain for 10 years' Former Spurs, Arsenal and Portsmouth defender won 73 England caps between 1996 and 2007 . 'Michael Owen was a fantastic forward but nowhere near being a captain'

By . Emma Glanfield . Jason Scotland-Williams, 34, completed the marathon in just over three hours - knocking more than four hours off his time last year of seven hours 24 minutes . A London Marathon runner - who completed the second half of the race quicker than Olympic champion Mo Farah - is under investigation following claims he jumped over a barrier to slash 10 miles from the route. Jason Scotland-Williams, 34, completed this year’s marathon in three hours eight minutes - knocking more than four hours off his time last year of seven hours 24 minutes. The aspiring model, from Hammersmith, London, ran the first half of the marathon in two hours and seven minutes – an average time for an amateur athlete. However, he ran the second half of the race in just one hour and one minute – quicker than Olympic hero Mo Farah who completed the same stretch in one hour and five minutes. It means Scotland-Williams finished the race in an impressive three hours and eight minutes – putting him in the top six per cent of competitors. However, online forums are awash with claims the runner cheated his way to the super-fast time, with some speculating he jumped over a waist-high barrier at the halfway point at Tower Bridge. It is alleged he jumped the barrier separating the 13-mile marker from the 22-mile point and hid in the crowds while runners looped round Canary Wharf and doubled back. It is claimed he then jumped back into the race, joining a leading group of runners, and sprinted his way to the finish. The official London Marathon website logs his progress around the first half of the course, giving updates for every 5kms he completed. However, it only gives estimated times at the 25km, 30km and 35km markers – which has prompted critics to believe he either cheated his way to the finish by dodging those checkpoints or that his chip failed to activate at those points. Jason Scotland-Williams, 34, above, from Hammersmith, London, faces claims he cheated after completing the second half of the marathon in one hour and one minute - quicker than Olympic champion Mo Farah . London Marathon organisers are investigating Jason Scotland-Williams' time after he ran the second half of the race in just over an hour. Internet forums are awash with claims he jumped over a barrier in the Tower Bridge area . Jason Scotland-Williams' result suggests he ran the second half of the race in just one hour and one minute – quicker than Olympic champion Mo Farah, above,  who completed the same stretch in one hour five minutes . However, his chip was working as he passed the 40km point and the finish line – which reveals he completed the last 13 miles in just one hour and one minute. Forum users have questioned the runner’s speedy time, suggesting it would have been a ‘miracle’ if he managed to complete the second half of the race in such a short space of time. One user, Chris Pearson, posted on a forum on Runners World: ‘First half seems fair enough.  Second half is nothing short of a miracle. ‘It is possible that he ran easy for the first half, then went all out in the second half. ‘However, it would need a chip malfunction at 25, 30, and 35k for this to have happened. ‘It would also mean that he is capable of running a half at just over 60 minute pace, which again is possible if he was a World class elite runner, but certainly not after doing a 13.1 mile warm up.’ Scotland-Williams had posted numerous photos on his Facebook profile of him wearing his marathon medals and showing off his supposed athletic ability. However, the page was closed down this morning . Results on the London Marathon's official website show Jason Scotland-Williams completed the race in three hours eight minutes. However, they also show estimated times were given at the 25K, 30K and 35K markers . Another user, Millsy1977 - a fellow marathon runner - said: ‘If it was legit he would have sped past me on Birdcage walk. I know I was tired but I think I'd have noticed someone 4.30 miling.’ Another marathon runner, Darryl Morris, said: ‘I saw Jason just after Tower Bridge and he was absolutely smashing it’, before adding: ‘Just noted the barrier skip … that would make complete sense as to why I saw him there, looking so fresh!’ And Ryan T said: ‘If he did cheat then I think a ban is in order, I worked very hard for my time this year, did a sub 3:30 for my first marathon and went through a lot of pain in the last three miles, if people are skipping out miles then shame on them!’ Virgin Money London Marathon confirmed Scotland-Williams’ results were being investigated. A spokesman told The Sun: ‘We have anti-cheating measures during the event, and then post-event when we analyse split times from points around the course. ‘Runners found to have cheated are removed from results and banned from future events.’ Jason Scotland-Williams, 34, completed this year's marathon in just over three hours - knocking more than four hours off his time last year of seven hours 24 minutes . Scotland-Williams, who wore a V for Vendetta mask during last weekend’s race, has taken part in the London Marathon for the last six years. He had posted numerous photos on his Facebook profile of him wearing his marathon medals and showing off his supposed athletic ability. However, his profile was removed from the social-networking site this morning. This year he was running to raise money for deaf-blind charity Sense. A spokesman for the charity said: ‘An allegation that a runner cheated at the London Marathon has been brought to our attention. ‘We are urgently investigating and would be very disappointed if this was true.’ The Sun reported it tried to contact Scotland-Williams but was told to ‘f*** off’. MailOnline has contacted Virgin Money London Marathon for a comment but organisers have not yet responded.

Jason Scotland-Williams completed race in three hours eight minutes . His time was four hours quicker than last year when it took seven hours . The 34-year-old ran second half of the marathon quicker than Mo Farah . Internet awash with claims he jumped halfway barrier at Tower Bridge . London Marathon organisers confirmed his result is under investigation .

John Terry will stay at Chelsea after Jose Mourinho confirmed he will sign a one-year extension at the end of the season. Terry, 34, who most recently signed a one-year contract extension back in May 2014, is one of only three players, alongside Branislav Ivanovic and Eden Hazard, to have started all of his side's league games this term. And he is set to be rewarded for his fine form, producing stellar performance after performance, with the Blues currently sitting seven points clear at the top of the Premier League. Jose Mourinho says John Terry will sign a new one-year deal with Chelsea at the end of the season . Terry's Chelsea career will prolong into an 18th season following the news he will sign a contract extension . Terry has enjoyed a brilliant season and hopes to continue his career at Stamford Bridge for another year . Debut: Aston Villa (H), October 28 1998 . Appearances: 656 . Honours: Three Premier League titles, Five FA Cups, Two League Cups, Two Community Shields, One Champions League, One Europa League . 'John accepted that we go year-after-year, with a smile,' said Mourinho. 'He accepted the challenge and he won it and he is winning the challenge and the right to get one more year. 'That is what the club wants, that’s what John wants and that is going to happen.’ The news means Terry's Chelsea career will prolong into an 18th season, with both parties keen on getting the deal over the line. The centre-half accepts Chelsea’s policy of awarding 12-month extensions to players over 30, but wants to remain at Stamford Bridge despite that. Terry, the former England captain, made his first-team debut for the club back in October 1998 against Aston Villa in the League Cup, and has since gone on to make another 655 appearances. The 34-year-old (middle) made his debut for Chelsea in October 1998 in the League Cup against Aston Villa . Terry lifts the Premier League as the Blues celebrate title success in April 2006 . The veteran defender celebrates yet another Premier League crown in May 2010 after a 8-0 win over Wigan . Chelsea fans idolise their skipper, who they commonly refer to as 'captain, leader, legend' He is also the club's most successful captain of all time, leading the club to three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and a Champions League success. Elsewhere, Chelsea recently tied Hazard down to a five-and-half-year contract extension, news which Terry described as 'the most important for the club'. Mourinho added that he does not expect to sign a new contract himself, although he ruled out the possibility of leaving Stamford Bridge in the near future. ‘I have two more years of my contract,' he said. 'I am not waiting for offers, I am not going to give any space for speculation or for interest from other clubs. I want to stay, I don’t want to go. ‘I don’t need an new contract right now. It is a non-story because I said from the beginning that I will stay while Mr Abramovich wants me to stay.’ Terry holds aloft the Champions League trophy after Chelsea saw off Bayern Munich in May 2012 . The centre-half celebrates FA Cup and Community Shield success with former Chelsea man Frank Lampard . Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Chelsea's game against Burnley on Saturday, Mourinho also raised concerns over the treatment Hazard received in the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, as he was fouled a record-breaking nine times. He said: 'Hazard is a lucky boy not to be injured. During the game I was aware of the number of fouls, but I was aware that every time he had the ball he was surrounded and fouled. 'The dimension on the fouls, some of them were really dangerous. He is a lucky kid - he is fair and honest, he deserves to be honest. 'He deserves that luck, the kind he got at Stoke for example. He is honest, he is loyal, he does not provoke opponents and does not start doing tricks to provoke people and create emotional reactions. 'In this moment the fouls are over the line. I am proud of him by being honest on the pitch and I leave it with the authorities to do something.' Marco Verratti goes in with studs showing during PSG's Champions League clash with Chelsea . The Italian midfielder went in with two feet against  Chelsea's Eden Hazard on Tuesday night . The 24-year-old was fouled a remarkable nine times during Chelsea's clash with PSG .

Chelsea manager confirms that all parties want to see captain stay . John Terry has accepted challenge of year-by-year one-season contracts . Jose Mourinho says he is not signing a contract himself but will be staying . CLICK HERE for all the latest Chelsea news .

Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) -- Rival tribesmen armed with arrows and machetes clashed at dawn Friday, leaving 32 dead in renewed violence in southeastern Kenya, the Red Cross said. At least 30 more were injured in the clashes between Pokomo and Orma tribes in Tana River district, the Kenya Red Cross said in a statement. Casualties included women and children, it said. Read more: Kenyan DJs fast to promote peace . Deputy police chief, Robert Kitur, said preliminary reports show the attack killed at least 28 people. The number of those injured is still unclear, he said. Pokomo tribesmen initiated the attacks, according to Khadija Kuresha, a human rights activist in the area. Both sides have engaged in retaliatory clashes in recent months. It's unclear what triggered the latest clashes, but the two groups have fought for years over grazing rights, land and water sources. Pokomos are largely farmers while the semi-nomadic Orma tribesmen mostly tend to livestock. The former have accused the latter of grazing cattle on land that does not belong to them. Violence between the two escalated after an August confrontation killed more than 50 people in the same region. Kenya has dispatched hundreds of officers to the area in recent months, but authorities in the east African nation have been criticized for failing to stop the carnage.

Red Cross: Clashes between Pokomo and Orma tribes leave 32 dead . Both sides have fought for years over grazing rights and water . Attackers used various weapons, including guns and arrows .

"Piers Morgan Tonight" airs weeknights on CNN/US at 9 p.m. ET and on CNN International at 0200 GMT (live simulcast), 1200 GMT, and 2000 GMT and HKT. CNN -- Andrew Lloyd Webber told CNN's Piers Morgan that Michael Jackson wanted to play the title role in the film version of "The Phantom of the Opera." According to Webber, the King of Pop came to see the Broadway show multiple times -- years before the film came out -- and he and Jackson had spoken about a potential "Phantom" movie role. However, Webber said, "People in those days were very worried that a film, if it was made, would destroy the Broadway or the West End show, and everybody would just go and see the movie. In fact, it's been proven to be completely the other way around. If you make a movie, it's just a great help for the theater. But goodness knows what it would've been like." The seven-time Tony-winning, four-time Grammy-winning composer of musicals including "Phantom," "Cats," "Evita" and "Jesus Christ Superstar," among others, is a guest on Friday's "Piers Morgan Tonight." Webber also recalled another legend who had an interest in portraying the Phantom -- Sammy Davis Jr. Webber recalled being introduced to Davis by Liza Minnelli while in the south of France. "I have never felt so ashamed in my life," said Webber, who said he was skeptical about Davis' ability to fill the role at first. "For 2½ hours I heard one of the most consummate performances I've ever heard, and he ended up doing 'The Music of the Night.'" Webber told Morgan he had hoped to get Davis to open the production on the Toronto stage but it did not work out. Webber also told Morgan the story of how "Phantom," which is billed as the most successful musical of all time, came to be. Webber's fiancee at the time, performer Sarah Brightman, had been offered a role in a theatrical farce based on the "Phantom" novel by Gaston Leroux. Several months later, Webber bought a used copy of the novel at a book fair in New York. Today, Webber's musical version of "The Phantom of the Opera" is coming up on its 25th anniversary. A celebration concert in London is planned. The musical that catapulted Webber and lyricist Tim Rice to fame, "Jesus Christ Superstar," was called "blasphemous" when it hit the stage in the 1970s. "We never wrote 'Superstar' to be in any way shocking," said Webber. "We wrote it because we wanted to write the story of the man. And in fact, we really wanted to write a love triangle, because the whole thing was -- did Judas Iscariot have God on his side?" Morgan pointed out the irony of "Jesus Christ Superstar" causing a controversy when "The Book of Mormon" -- a musical that takes a cynical look at faith -- has just won multiple Tonys. Webber also told Morgan that "Superstar's" breakout song, "I Don't Know How to Love Him," was originally entitled "I Long for Kansas Morning." When Morgan suggested that narrative was the key to the longevity of his productions, Webber agreed, and pointed out that "Cats" was a "collection of poems by T.S. Eliot about cats that he wrote for his godchildren. Well, that was quite different, and we stitched them together with a vague story that we discovered that his widow had that he wrote, which was a sort of, forgive the pun, cat's cradle." Webber told Morgan that the moment in his career that remains in his mind the most and that he would re-live if possible is actress Betty Buckley's performance of the song "Memory" on opening night of "Cats" on Broadway. Webber's current project is a stage revival of "The Wizard of Oz." He and lyricist Tim Rice have written several new songs for the production, which will also include the songs from the film. The musical will star Michael Crawford in the title role. A longtime colleague of Webber's, Crawford originated the Phantom role on stage. When Morgan asked Webber why he selected "Oz," and how he knew it would fare well with a modern audience, the composer said, "The trick with those is you've got to find a character to cast that the public knows. "And of course, the role of Dorothy is something that everybody knows. And that's why we started with that. But interestingly with 'Oz,' it's never really worked in the theater before. And we looked at it very carefully, and came to the conclusion that what people had been trying to do was to stage the film, whereas what you really had to do is to go back and rethink it." Webber said if he were casting his all-time "dream" musical, it would star Elvis Presley, but of all the people he's worked with in real life, Glenn Close as Norma Desmond in his production of "Sunset Boulevard" would be the hardest act to follow. Watch Piers Morgan Tonight weeknights 9 p.m. ET. For the latest from Piers Morgan click here.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is working on a stage revival of "The Wizard of Oz" Webber's musical "The Phantom of the Opera" turns 25 this year . His song "I Don't Know How to Love Him," was first named "I Long for Kansas Morning"

George Osborne last night claimed a qualified victory over the European Union as he declared Britain will only have to pay half of its controversial £1.7billion budget surcharge. But the Chancellor faced an immediate backlash from critics who said he was taking credit for a discount that would always have been offered. Mr Osborne said the UK would make two payments next year totalling £850million instead of £1.7billion in a lump sum by December this year. Scroll down for video . Chancellor George Osborne yesterday after announcing that Britain will only have to pay half of its controversial £1.7billion EU budget surcharge . The Chancellor said the agreement was ‘far beyond what anyone expected us to achieve’ and a ‘result for Britain’. But the European Commission hit back, claiming it had always intended to apply the complex budget rebate system to the payment, dramatically reducing the bill. Critics accused Mr Osborne of ‘smoke and mirrors’. Treasury officials firmly disputed that account, saying Britain had to ‘work hard’ to ensure the most generous calculation possible using the traditional rebate formula was applied and for the discount to be given in advance, rather than a year in arrears as is usual. The deal struck last night means that Margaret Thatcher’s budget rebate, which she negotiated in 1984, will be applied to the one-off demand for extra payment. The controversial surcharge was landed on Mr Cameron at a Brussels summit last month. EU budget rules allow for member states’ payments to be adjusted based on revisions to assessments of their economic performance. The latest review of the economies of EU member states since 1995 showed Britain had done significantly better than previously thought – triggering the huge bill. David Cameron angrily insisted the UK would pay nothing by the December deadline and called yesterday’s emergency meeting of finance ministers in Brussels for the overall sum to be renegotiated. David Cameron angrily insisted the UK would pay nothing by the December deadline and called the emergency meeting of EU finance ministers . The UK will now pay the smaller sum in two interest-free instalments in July and September 2015. The Chancellor said: ‘We have worked intensively and constructively with the vice president of the Commission and with the other member states and today I can say this: instead of footing the bill, we have halved the bill, we have delayed the bill, we will pay no interest on the bill and if there are mistakes in the bill we will get our money back.’ Kristalina Georgieva, vice president of the European Commission, said: ‘The adjustments for the UK means that UK has to pay more, but also that as a result of this increase, the UK rebate will go up.’ Asked if the rebate had been in doubt, the EC vice-president said: ‘No, absolutely not.’ But Government sources claimed the Commission was seeking to save face and avoid controversy with other member states by suggesting the rebate was always going to be applied. The Prime Minister, attending a meeting of the leaders of Nordic and Baltic states in Helsinki, said: ‘These negotiations have gone well for Britain. The Chancellor has done well.’ Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has called George Osborne's announcement as all 'smoke and mirrors' Challenged that the lower figure was inevitable because of the rebate calculation, Mr Cameron insisted: ‘This was far from inevitable. The bill has been halved, the bill has been delayed, no interest is being paid on the bill and we’ve changed the rules so that this can’t happen again and that is very good news.’ But Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said: ‘David Cameron and George Osborne are trying to take the British people for fools. Ministers have failed to get a better deal for the British taxpayer. Not a single penny has been saved for the taxpayer compared to two weeks ago when David Cameron was blustering in Brussels. ‘By counting the rebate Britain was due anyway they are desperately trying to claim that the backdated bill for £1.7billion has somehow been halved. But nobody will fall for this smoke and mirrors.’

George Osborne declares Britain will only pay half of EU budget demand . Chancellor explained UK would only pay £850million instead of £1.7billion . But critics say he is taking credit for a discount that would always be offered . David Cameron had said Britain would not pay the bill by December deadline . Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls calls the plan all 'smoke and mirrors'

By . Joshua Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 19:16 EST, 22 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 11:26 EST, 23 February 2013 . An American man is accused of poisoning and trying to kill another . student while studying at Scotland’s elite St. Andrews University and is now . fighting extradition from the U.S. Alexander Hilton, of Princeton, Massachusetts was partying . with some fellow students in March 2011 when Scottish authorities say he gave . one of them a bottle of wine laced with methanol, a deadly chemical found in anti-freeze. Dangerous liaison: Alexander Hilton, an American from Massachusetts is accused of trying to poison follow American Robert Forbes (left) while attending Scotland's elite university St. Andrews in 2011 . According to court documents, Hilton then urged his victim . to drink the entire bottle ‘all in on go.’ The student, also American, reportedly did what he was told . and in the ensuing days experienced debilitating symptoms of dizziness and . balance problems, blurred vision, aching, wheezing, and severe headaches, and . even temporary blindness. Hilton was arrested by American authorities last week under . the U.S. extradition treaty with the United Kingdom. Nearly too late: Forbes (pictured) reported temporary blindness and other serious symptoms after drinking with Hilton . ‘It's an attempted murder case…and we can't lose sight of . that," Assistant U.S. Attorney David D'Addio told the judge in a bail . hearing in which Hilton’s lawyer argued his client is mentally ill but denied . any wrongdoing. Dangerous game: During a drinking game, Scottish authorities claim Hilton urged Forbes to drink an entire bottle of wine laced with deadly methanol . Court documents also allege the victim, Robert Forbes of . Virginia, would have died from methanol poisoning had he not sought treatment . when he did and that now, nearly two years after the incident, Forbes still has . not fully recovered his vision. ‘In the opinion of the treating doctors,’ runs the . complaint, ‘the high levels of methanol in his blood would have resulted in death . had he not received medical attention and treatment.’ Scottish police reported finding in the course of the investigation an internet search for 'methanol mixed with ethanol' on Hilton's computer and a plastic funnel and measuring jug that Hilton had purchased. Hilton reportedly left Scotland for the U.S. at the urging of St. Andrews authorities shortly after . the incident and attended a school in New Mexico for a year. His attorney, Norman Zalkind, says Hilton left the school . and returned to his native Massachusetts to live with his parents once he . learned Scottish authorities were lodging charges against him. Zalkind says Hilton made this move so that he could turn himself . into American authorities in the event of an extradition attempt. Elite: Hilton is accused of trying to poison another student at St Andrew's University in Scotland . Possible evidence: A search of Hilton's computer at St. Andrew's revealed a search for 'methanol mixed with ethanol' say investigators . Now that extradition is a real possibility and Hilton and . his attorney are in the process of fighting it. While arguing for bail on behalf of his client, Zalkind told . the judge Hilton has a lifelong history of mental illness and is ‘going to get . sicker and sicker’ while he waits behind bars for an extradition hearing. He also argued the extradition itself should be voided . because it fails to guarantee Hilton his constitutional rights as an American. According to ABC News, Zalkind said Hilton ‘functions okay’ with the help of therapy and medication when he’s at home with his parents. No ruling regarding bail was immediately made by the judge. An . extradition hearing is set for March 7.

Alexander Hilton is accused of trying to kill fellow American Robert Forbes by poisoning him during a drinking game in 2011 . Back in the US, Hilton maintains his innocence but is now trying to avoid extradition to Scotland by claiming he suffers from mental illness and will be denied his American rights in the UK .

A bungling thief was arrested for robbery after she went back to the shop she had raided to pick up a mobile phone she had dropped. Amanda McGorian claimed she had a gun and demanded cash from two women workers at the Spar on Chester Road in Sunderland. But Newcastle Crown Court heard the 27-year-old dropped her mobile phone while escaping with money from the till during the raid on September 29. Amanda McGorian claimed she had a gun and demanded cash from two women workers at the Spar on Chester Road in Sunderland . She returned 15 minutes later and asked officers at the scene: 'Can I just get my phone and say sorry to the lasses.' McGorian, of Penshaw, was arrested and admitted robbery. Judge James Goss QC told her: 'Not only did you cause considerable fear to the young girls who were looking after that shop, performing a public service, but you did your level best to get yourself locked up by doing that. 'You didn’t have a gun but they weren’t to know that and you can imagine they would be frightened by you making that threat in the circumstances. 'It was a drunken, stupid criminal act on your part and I hope you realise that now.' The court heard one of the workers, who was 21, had been employed at the store for just two weeks when McGorian went in an and demanded cash. But Newcastle Crown Court (pictured) heard the 27-year-old dropped her mobile phone while escaping with money from the till during the raid on September 29 . After making repeated requests for money, McGorian said: 'Do I have to get my f****** gun out.' Prosecutor John Brennan told the court: 'That changed the whole atmosphere and they were frightened whether she had a weapon or not.' The newly hired worker said she was unsure if she could ever go back to work in the shop and said she had burst into tears after the raid. Christopher Rose, defending, said alcohol is at the root of McGorian’s problems. Mr Rose said: 'She needs some supervision. 'She realises the need to change.' McGorian was sentenced to eight months behind bars, suspended for two years, with supervision, alcohol treatment programme requirement and a three month night time curfew. The judge told her: 'You have been given a chance. You won't get another chance.'

Amanda McGorian claimed she had a gun and demanded cash from till . But the 27-year-old dropped her mobile phone while escaping with money . She returned 15 minutes later and asked officers for her phone back . But McGorian, of Penshaw, was arrested and admitted robbery .

A tugboat captain has been jailed after one of his crew died during a violent storm. Martin Richley, who also owns the 31ft tug, admitted putting his crew at serious risk when they sailed out on February 3, 2013. They were towing a motor cruiser from the River Medway to Brighton when the towline snapped in the severe weather. Steven Trice, 55, from Medway in Kent, attempted to reattach the line, but fell overboard and was lost at sea. His body was recovered 11 weeks later near Beachy Head, East Sussex. A sailor died after falling overboard when trying to reattach a towline on the tug. His body was found 11 weeks later at the foot of cliffs at Beachy Head, Eastbourne (pictured above) Richley, 39, was sentenced to eight months in prison at Southampton Crown Court on Friday. Earlier the Marine Accident Investigation Branch described Mr Trice's attempt to reattach the line as 'extremely dangerous'. 'It was a desperate and ill-considered measure brought about by the use of poor towing practices, a disregard of the weather forecasts and a lack of planning, risk assessment and emergency preparedness, its report said. In passing sentence His Honour Judge Ralls Q.C said . 'This was a catalogue of disasters, Mr Richly was prepared to take a chance*. it was a disaster waiting to happen after a series of bad decisions.' Captain Andrew Rudge, MCA Area Operations Manager said; . 'This was a tragic incident that should not have happened. Mr Richley should not have accepted to take on the tow as he was ill equipped, unqualified and his vessel was not suitable.' The boat's captain was jailed at Southampton Crown Court (pictured) after admitting putting his crew at risk .

Martin Richley admitted putting his crew at risk during dangerous 2013 sail . The 39-year-old was sentenced to eight months in prison on Friday . Steven Trice fell overboard when trying to reattach the boat's towline . The 55-year-old's body was found 11 weeks later after washing ashore .

Who could have believed that a Hollywood movie directed by an African-American that examines more than 60 years of socio-political history through the life of an African-American White House butler would have happened, much less been released toward summer's end? And that it would become the talk of the nation as both "Oscar bait" and cultural signifier? Oh... and make more money in its opening weekend than anybody, including its producers, expected? Even before it opened nationwide Friday, "Lee Daniels' The Butler" seemed far more than just another Hollywood period melodrama. In a summer where racial reckoning manifested itself in major and minor events (the George Zimmerman verdict and the Paula Deen sideshow), the movie promised to be a kind of cultural signpost, an occasion for still more soul-searching and commemoration leading to this month's 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. It even became grist for a rare front-page essay last week in the Washington Post written by film critic Ann Hornaday, who declared the movie a groundbreaker for being the "first major feature film to capture the full sweep and scope of the civil rights movement." 'The Butler' reflects America's racial conversations . The movie's thoroughgoing publicity campaign made it an unavoidable fact of life, thanks largely to its female lead, Oprah Winfrey, who through boisterous appearances on almost every nationally-televised talk show made herself as unavoidable a fact of life as she was when she had her own nationally-televised talk show between 1986 and 2011 -- which somehow seems a lot longer ago than it actually is. Oprah's hard work likely wasn't targeted at movie critics -- though if you go by the Rotten Tomatoes website that assesses critical consensus, "The Butler" has reaped a 73 percent "ripe"(as in positive) score -- though it's also true that even some of those positive reviews are mixed in nature. While even some of the negative reviews have good things to say about the acting, especially from Forest Whitaker in the title role of circumspect presidential servant Cecil Gaines and Winfrey as his saucy, unsettled easy spouse Gloria, even some of the positive reviews take to task some of the heavy-handed melodramatic flourishes applied to the story by Daniels, whose previous work, 2008's "Precious" and last year's "The Paperboy", drew critical wrath for what were viewed as wretched, maudlin excesses. "The Butler" itself may not have been every critic's idea of a masterpiece. But its advance hype (did I mention all the Sunday supplement covers?) was certainly some kind of masterly work of art; the kind whose only precedent for an African-American-made commercial film was the buildup orchestrated in large part by Spike Lee for his 1994 biopic, "Malcolm X." Did it work? Put it this way: The most optimistic forecast for "Butler's" opening weekend was $15 million. It has so far earned more than $25 million, easily outdistancing such late-season action franchises as "Kick Ass 2" ($13.5 million). Though no industry pundit expects it to pass the magic blockbuster borderline of $100 million, "The Butler" has already achieved enough capital, in money and buzz, to make people wonder whether it heralds yet another surge in serious commercial films about African-American life, past and present. 10 secrets of 'The Butler' We've been down this road before; several times, in fact, since the early 1990s when the emergence of Lee, John Singleton ("Boyz n The Hood") and other young filmmakers-of-color heralded a renaissance of minority movies. What's happened since those days has been at best a static, fitful process of advancement for black Americans in film with many in Hollywood convinced that movies with black-related themes are at best niche-market items with little if any staying power in a global movie bazaar where generic action movies and romantic comedies allegedly deliver bigger bangs for the buck. We will, as always, see. Whatever the future holds for "Lee Daniels' The Butler", one groundbreaking fact remains: Somehow, someway, a commercial feature film about the civil rights era was made by a black director with a predominantly black cast without a major white character being the focus of the narrative. So far, it's working. And that means that, for the moment, anything's possible.

Gene Seymour: Opening weekend success of 'The Butler' surprising . He says it comes at a time of national reckoning on race, with Zimmerman, Deen . Movie reviews mixed, but hype masterly. Does it mark renaissance of black films? It's stunning that a film by and about blacks, civil rights made such a splash .

By . Pat Hurst, Press Association . Former Manchester United manager David Moyes is in the clear police said after he was investigated over an alleged bar-room bust-up. The fiery Scot was spoken to by police after claims made by builder Josh Gillibrand, 23, that he had been attacked at a wine bar in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Officers were called to the upmarket Emporium bar in the rural market town following a report of the altercation on the evening of May 21. It is understood the 51-year-old Moyes had been socialising with his friend, Blackburn Rovers managing director Derek Shaw. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Arsene Wenger and Man United fans views on Moyes sacking . Fiery: The former Manchester United and Everton manager was known to have a quick temper . Witnesses reported Moyes, who had been sacked by Manchester United the previous month, was abused by a group of drunken young men shortly before he entered the bar. Mr Gillibrand denied that he or his friend were involved in the abuse but told The Sun he 'felt like I was going to die', as trouble allegedly flared. Police said at the time there were, 'a number of differing accounts' of what happened. Lancashire Police has confirmed no further action will be taken against any party. His way: Legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson hand-picked David Moyes as his successor as United . Doomed: Many United supporters felt that Moyes always had an impossible task following Ferguson . A spokesman said: 'After careful consideration of all the circumstances in this case it has been decided that no further action will be taken against anyone. 'A thorough investigation has been carried out and everyone identified as having been involved in this incident or having witnessed it have provided accounts to the police. 'All these accounts were given voluntarily, it has not been necessary to arrest any person. These accounts have been considered and it has been decided that this is the most appropriate course of action.' Moyes was dismissed by Manchester United last April following a poor season after he replaced the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson. Spectator: David Moyes enjoying watching a spot of football after being sacked by Manchester united .

David Moyes was investigated by police after a bar fight . Former Everton and Manchester United manager was cleared . United finished seventh under Moyes after Sir Alex Ferguson retired .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 22:10 EST, 8 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 05:30 EST, 9 September 2013 . More than a thousand former members and officials of Boy Scouts of America gathered this weekend to create a Christian-based alternative to the BSA. Its goal is to counter what the new groups says is the 'moral free-fall' of the nation, and 'raise a generation of faithful husbands, fathers, citizens and leaders,' organizers told the national inaugural convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The move comes in response to the Boy Scouts of America’s recent repeal of a restriction that denied membership to youth based on sexual orientation, which will take effect at the start of next year. New group: Over 1,200 disgruntled former Boy Scouts of America officials descended on Nashville, Tennessee this weekend, in order to launch a new, 'Christian-based' alternative to the BSA, as it voted earlier this year to lift its ban on gay members . Christian centered: Trail Life USA is the culmination of months of planning and prayer following the Scouts¿ decision this summer to permit openly homosexual members, turning its back on more than 100 years of being biblically straight . 1,200 people from across the United States met for a two-day conference to select the name, logo and uniforms of the new organization, now called Trail Life USA. The group has captured widespread attention because of its other mission — to provide a robust alternative to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Cofounder John Stemberg says the organization will have a 'prominent faith component' and become a 'masculine outdoor program to raise young men.' 'Most of us are coming from a highly-structured environment that has 103 years of culture and language and program and symbols… and we are starting from scratch,' he told NBC. Decisions: This weekend members decided on a name and a logo for the new activity group . At the opening session, John Stemberger, chairman of the board of Trail Life USA, teased the crowd saying he would not be surprised if there were 'spies' from Grapevine, Texas — BSA’s home base — in the audience. Trail Life USA’s name, drawn from more than 300 options, was carefully vetted and is intended not to be political or controversial, organizers said. 'Trail' refers to a pathway and being outdoors, but also symbolizes the passage of life, where there are moral choices, and right and wrong paths, said Mr. Stemberger. 'Our whole life is about the trail, both in the outdoors and in the journey of life as believers,' he said. 'So Trail Life is a way of life that is centered on following Christ in the outdoors.' Founder: John-Stemberger began Trail Life USA in response to the Boy Scouts of America's decision to allow gay youths to remain in the scout movement . Organizers also unveiled the new Trail Life USA logo: It features a circle with a sun, mountaintops with a path, and a male figure with a hand extended over his head, beckoning others to follow. Mr Stemberger, who founded OnMyHonor.net in response to BSA’s vote in May that reversed the organization's long-standing ban on openly gay youth among its ranks, says the organization will become 'a program that we believe will be stronger, safer and more principled in every way.' He told NBC in July that, while the new organization would allow gay members, it would not permit them to 'flaunt' their sexual orientation. 'There is not going to be any kind of a witch hunt in our organization for people and what their sexual orientations are,' he clarified. We’re going to focus on sexual purity not sexual orientation.' Zach Wahls, an LGBT activist, Eagle Scout, and founder of Scouts for Equality, was saddened by the departure of so many families from the BSA. He also questioned Trail Life USA’s intentions of allowing gay members. Changes: Boy Scouts of America announced earlier this year that it is lifting the ban . on gay members and thus allowing anyone regardless of their sexual . orientation to enjoy the benefits of the youth programme . Angry: The decision, which still denies adults from serving as Scout . leaders, has upset conservative groups who believe that . gays should not be allowed in the BSA at all . 'You still cannot discuss sexuality . within the BSA,' Mr Wahls told NBC. 'That hasn't changed and that will . not change, and so, it's really a distinction without a difference that . they're trying to make here.' 'Scouting is for all young men,' Mr Wahls said. Trail . Life USA will be inclusive of boys, regardless of religion, race, . national origin or socioeconomic status, and accept boys who are . experiencing same-sex attractions or gender confusion. However, . it will not admit youth who are open or avowed about their . homosexuality, and it will also not admit boys who are not 'biologically . male' or boys who wish to dress and act like girls. The . new organization is modeled after the American Heritage Girls, an . 18-year-old organization that is 'Christ-centered' and is 'seen as an . alternative to Girl Scouts,' according to the group's website. Adult . leaders of Trail Life USA will be Christians who sign a statement of . faith and submit to background checks. Both boys and adults will be . required to adhere to a code of conduct. The . goal is to 'become the premier organization that honors God and builds . some great young men,' Mark Hancock, one of the board members told The Washington Times.

1,200 gathered this weekend to choose the name and logo of the new organization . Formed in response to gays being allowed in the Boy Scouts of America . New Trail Life USA group aimed at young Christian men . Gays will be allows in new group so long as sexuality is not 'flaunted'

By . Sophie Jane Evans . PUBLISHED: . 17:43 EST, 3 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:59 EST, 3 December 2013 . Guilty: Nathaniel Flynn is facing life in jail after admitting murdering his 84-year-old grandmother and trying to kill a nine-year-old boy . A man is facing life in jail after admitting murdering his 84-year-old grandmother and trying to kill a nine-year-old boy. Nathaniel Flynn, 26, stabbed to death retired headmistress Louisa Denby at their shared home in Shipley, West Yorkshire. He then tried to kill the schoolboy - who cannot be named for legal reasons - as he played at a local skate park. Today, police said they had no idea what drove Flynn to commit the 'brutal and frenzied' attacks. Julian Briggs, from CPS Yorkshire and . Humberside’s Complex Casework Unit, said: 'This defendant is responsible . for two vicious and unprovoked attacks. 'It has not been possible to establish what drove Flynn to commit these awful crimes. 'He . has now admitted his responsibility and pleaded guilty to charges of . murder and attempted murder. 'We hope this brings some measure of comfort . to the families of both victims.' Flynn, . from Shipley, was due to go on trial next week, but admitted the . charges at Bradford Crown Court this . afternoon. Flanked by four prison officers in the dock, he wore a . blue shirt and jeans and was joined by members of his family. He showed no emotion as he confessed to murdering his grandmother, before stabbing the terrified schoolboy who had been playing nearby. Murder: Louisa Denby, 84, left, was stabbed to death by her grandson, right, at their shared home in Shipley . Scene: The 'brutal and frenzied' attack took place at Ms Denby's home in Shipley, West Yorkshire (above) Speaking after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Nick Wallen, of West Yorkshire Police, . said: 'Louisa Denby was subjected to a brutal and frenzied attack at the . hands of her grandson Nathanial Flynn. 'To this day we still have no idea why he attacked her. 'Louisa was a lady, adored by her family, who had only ever shown her grandson love and kindness. 'Having murdered his grandmother, Flynn then targetted and attacked a young boy as he played in a skateboard park. Attempted murder: Flynn then tried to kill a nine-year-old schoolboy as he played at a local skate park (above) Standing guard: A policeman stands at the skate park where the boy was stabbed in the arm by Flynn . Horrific: Today, police said they had no idea what drove Flynn to commit the violent attacks . 'He was stabbed through the arm and it was only through sheer luck that he wasn’t murdered by Nathanial Flynn on that day. 'On . behalf of West Yorkshire Police I would like to pay tribute to the . people of Shipley who assisted the police to quickly detain and arrest . Nathanial Flynn. 'I would also like to thank all of those members of the local community who provided the police with witness statements.' Case: The 26-year-old is due to be sentenced at Bradford Crown Court, pictured, on December 18 . Flynn also faced two other charges, which will remain on file, the court heard. It is believed his mother, who lives in America, will fly over to the UK to attend his sentencing on December 18. The schoolboy's father is also expected to be present. Addressing Flynn today, Mr Justice Keith said: 'There is only one sentence I can pass and that is a sentence of life imprisonment.'

Nathaniel Flynn, 26, stabbed to death his grandmother Louisa Denby . He then tried to kill a nine-year-old boy at nearby skate park in Shipley . He is due to be sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on December 18 . Judge has warned Flynn he is facing a sentence of life imprisonment .

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign 13-year-old French goalkeeper Nicolas Tie. The youngster from FC Poitiers is already 6ft 1in tall and has been watched by Manchester City and Arsenal. He is unable to sign terms for Chelsea until he is 16 years old in 2017 but will be allowed to visit their Cobham training complex in Surrey every holiday. Chelsea already have Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech as options in goal but will add Nicolas Tie . Chelsea have only just brought in Courtois as their new No 1 but are already planning for the future . Tie was spotted by scout Guy Hillion who has helped Chelsea recruit Eden Hazard and Gael Kakuta. The teenager is regarded as a prospect who could eventually rival and replace Thibaut Courtois, 22, who is establishing himself as No 1 ahead of Petr Cech. Cech's future is uncertain with Roma and Real Madrid among those clubs showing an interest in him. Both Cech and Courtois played in Chelsea's 2-0 win over Arsenal after the latter was taken off injured . Cech could make a move in January with Real Madrid and Roma both showing an interest in the keeper .

French youngster will sign with Chelsea when he turns 16 in 2017 . Tie currently plays for French club FC Poitiers and is 6ft 1in tall . Chelsea saw off interest from Manchester City and Arsenal to sign him . Tie will play at the club's Cobham base during holidays until he is of age .

Delhi (CNN) -- Appearing alongside some of Bollywood's biggest stars like Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan is a dream for many aspiring young actors in India. For the beautiful U.S.-born, UK-raised Indian actress Jiah Khan, it became a reality when she was still a teenager. Driven by ambition and discipline, Khan rose through the ranks of a notoriously cut-throat industry for 10 years, acting in blockbuster films like "Ghajini" and "Housefull." However, what seemed to be a glittering career ended in tragedy last week when Khan's mother found her body hanging in her Mumbai home. Police told journalists they are treating the 25-year-old's death as suicide. The film industry is in shock. "She had the naturalness that does not come easy for a first timer... I am distraught that she ended her life," blogged Amitabh Bachchan, who starred in her debut film. "Never ever seen a debutante actress with more spunk and more spirit than Jiah when I was directing her," tweeted veteran filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma. While scandal and intrigue is common in Bollywood, suicide is rare. Some in the industry are now beginning to ask what could have driven someone with so much potential to such despair. On Monday, Khan's mother gave the police what appears to be Khan's suicide note, police said at a news conference. Addressing an unnamed person -- possibly her boyfriend -- Khan wrote: "If you are reading this I might have already left or about to leave. I am broken inside. You may not have known this but you affected me deeply to a point where I lost myself in loving you. Yet you torture me everyday." Suraj Pancholi, the 21-year-old son of Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi, was Khan's boyfriend. He has since been arrested by Indian police on suspicion of abetting her suicide. The note added: "Things were looking up for me here, but is it worth it when you constantly feel the pain of heartbreak, when the person you love wants to abuse you or threatens to hit you or cheats on you...throws you out of their house when you have nowhere to go?" Khan also claims in the note she was forced to have an abortion. "I was scared of getting pregnant but I gave myself completely. The pain you have caused me everyday had destroyed every bit of me, destroyed my soul... I aborted our baby when it hurt me deeply." Pancholi attended Khan's funeral along with many other Bollywood stars. It is unclear if he will be prosecuted. In past rulings the Indian Supreme Court has said that to convict a person for abetting suicide, it has to be shown that they instigated it. Pancholi has not responded publicly but his mother spoke to local media denying the charges. Meanwhile, Khan's mother says she is determined to fight for justice. Speaking to CNN's sister network CNN-IBN, she said: "He hit my daughter, he tortured her. I saw bruises on her body. I saw the pain and humiliation she must have gone through. The evidence is with the police. She did not have any emptiness in her life. I am angry, I am in pain." Khan appeared in three films, two of them blockbusters, but she hadn't been in a movie since 2010.

Indian police are treating actress' death as suicide . Jiah Khan's mother found her body at her home last week . Khan left a suicide note pouring out private details of her life . Police have arrested her boyfriend on suspicion of abetting suicide .

KERALA, India (CNN) -- Mata Amritanandamayi is known as the "hugging guru." Some days, she will sit for up to 20 hours straight as tens of thousands of devotees line up to feel her embrace and hear her whisper motherly advice. Mata Amritanandamayi, aka the "hugging guru," embraces everyone she meets in an effort to spread love and healing. Followers come from all over the world to Amma's ashram, or spiritual center, in Kerala, South India, to get a hug; many choose to stay. "There are two types of poverty in the world, financial poverty and the poverty of love; the second is more important," says Amritanandamayi, who goes by Amma, which means "mother". Amma grew up poor, in the same seaside village on the southern tip of India where she built her ashram. Villagers believed she could cure sick cows. As a young girl, she was known to take what little food her own family had and share it with others. Although Amma shies away from describing herself as psychic or magical, some followers think she is divine. "I have only one feeling," says Navaratnama, a young girl from Mangalore, who traveled 11 hours on a train to see Amma. "That I have touched God." Navaratnama says she hopes to become pregnant and decided to make the journey to Kerala after Amma appeared to her in several dreams. Followers flock to Amma's hugs » . Amma greets her followers with a steady gaze and a smile; she listens to their concerns or sometimes just hugs them. Many are too emotional to speak. On a typical weekend day, some 30,000 followers visit the ashram to feel her embrace. Amma says her message to each person she meets is love. "I want to awaken motherhood in both men and women," Amma says, referring to selfless love. "Motherhood is something that is fast disappearing from the world." Roughly six months each year, Amma leaves her ashram and travels the world, holding meetings in hotel ballrooms in major cities in the United States, Europe and South America. From these places, she gathers even more devotees, many of whom visit her ashram in India as volunteers. Gautam is a fair-haired, freckle-skinned 31-year-old from California who has been living at the ashram for eight years. Before Amma renamed him, he was known as Brian Harvey and worked at Yahoo. "Before I met Amma, I think it was the typical American lifestyle of living for myself, trying to make myself as comfortable as possible," Gautam says. He was attracted by Amma's emphasis on selfless service to others, he says. Gautam now dresses all in white and works for free as one of Amma's aides. He has even picked up the local language, Maylayalam. The ashram is mix of foreigners and locals working side-by-side. They send out Amma's newsletters, serve guests in the cafe (one for Western food, one for Indian food) and organize the thousands of visitors who come for a day, a week or several months. Roughly 80 percent of India's 1.1 billion people are Hindu. The religion's rituals vary, but generally they are performed by male priests and consist of offerings of sweets, incense, fire and flowers. Amma's ashram is rooted in the Hindu tradition, but not tied to it. Here you will find female priests conducting ceremonies in the temple. A picture of Jesus hangs in Amma's private quarters. Visitors of all denominations are welcome. Amma has no formal education, and her philosophy is not of the intellectual kind. She teaches love of neighbor as a means to self-fulfillment and peace. Service, rather than study, is the focus of her work. Unlike many Hindu gurus, Amma does not preach any particular spiritual practice, such as yoga, meditation or chanting. "Fundamentally, what everyone needs is mental strength and self-confidence, to manage the mind just as we manage the outside," she says. An Indian newspaper reported that Amma's income was around $80 million last year, although her representatives would not confirm this figure. The money comes from private donations and the sale of books and CDs. Much of this money is in turn given away to help the poor or the those affected by natural disasters. Amma has donated millions of dollars to help the victims of the tsunami in South Asia and Hurricane Katrina in the United States. She also runs a series of homeless shelters in 38 American cities. "I have no desires, no pleasures," she says. E-mail to a friend .

Mata Amritanandamayi's religion is rooted in Hinduism but not tied to it . She uses hugs as a way to minister to people and teach service to others . She believes the lack of love is more significant than financial poverty .

(CNN) -- A relaxing day at Southern California's famed Venice Beach took a deadly turn Sunday afternoon when a powerful lightning bolt struck the water, killing one person and injuring at least 13, emergency officials said. The sudden lightning strike at Venice Beach caused panic as people tried to get out of the water and off the beach. The Los Angeles County coroner's office confirmed one man in his 20s died at a local hospital after he was rescued from the beach. But it's too soon to say whether he died from "a lightning strike, drowning or being trampled by the crowd," according to John Kades with the coroner's office. "The day started out clear, but there were storms in the forecast for the region on Sunday," CNN meteorologist Sherri Pugh said of the isolated thunderstorms that swept through the Los Angeles area. The lightning hit the water and the beach at 2:51 p.m. PT (5:51 p.m. ET), according to spokeswoman Katherine Main of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Emergency responders assessed the condition of at least 13 victims -- all of whom were either in or near the water -- at the scene. Of those, seven adults and one teenager were transported to local hospitals. One was listed in serious conditions and six were listed in fair condition by late Sunday afternoon . The National Weather Service in Los Angeles tweeted around the time of the strike that "cloud to ground lightning" had been reported in nearby Marina del Rey and at the Los Angeles International Airport. Witnesses tweeted they saw a huge bolt of lightning strike the area, with one Twitter user describing an explosion that blew off nearby roof tiles. Lightning also struck Catalina Island on Sunday. Los Angeles County Sheriff Sgt. Robert Berardi said a man was hit by a lightning strike near a golf course. He was taken to a local hospital, treated and later released. Lightning fatalities are pretty rare in California. Between 1959 and 2012, 31 people died after they were struck by lightning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In comparison, there were 468 deaths from lightning strikes in Florida during the same time period, followed by 215 in Texas. The National Weather Service has compiled a list of lightning safety tips on its website. There is no safe place outside during a thunderstorm or when lightning strikes, the agency said. To reduce the risk of injury or even death during severe weather, people planning outdoor activities of any kind should have a safety plan. At the first clap of thunder, the weather service said anybody outdoors should run for shelter or for their vehicles and they should remain sheltered for at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder is heard. When visiting the beach, where there is limited shelter available for taking cover during a thunderstorm, the weather service advises people to run for their cars at the first sign of thunder or lightning in the distance. The agency also warns against taking cover under the beach picnic shelters. It says water, wet items, like ropes and metal objects, including fences and poles, are big dangers during lightning storms because water and metal are both great conductors of electrical currents. The weather service also offers these tips for minimizing the risk of getting struck by lightning: Avoid open fields and hilltops, stay away from tall, isolated trees or other tall objects, set up camps in lower lying areas and remember tents do not offer protection from lightning. There is also professional lightning detection equipment available that issues alerts when lightning is approaching an area. The weather service said it's a good investment for outdoors sports groups or other outside events. Lightning strikes in Colorado park kill 2 people in 2 days . Fire lieutenant resuscitated after lightning strike in Ohio . CNN's Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

A man in his 20s was killed in a lightning strike at California's Venice Beach . Emergency responders treated 13 people injured in the storm . Thunderstorms were in the forecast before deadly lightning strike . Fatalities from lightning strikes are rare in California .