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### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: A grandmother on disability benefits was pulled before the courts on fraud charges after she was accidentally overpaid £30,000 - because officials couldn't read the handwriting of a doctor who examined her. Driving test examiner Angela Paisey, 57, had been seen by a consultant after being forced off work with a debilitating arterial disease which required surgery on her legs. But the senior medic’s scribbled report was so illegible, civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who tried to read it mistakenly believed Mrs Paisey was entitled to the highest level of mobility and carer payments and waved through £500 per month in welfare handouts. Scroll down for video . Fraud charges against Angela Paisey (pictured) were thrown out when the officials' blunder was revealed . Mrs Paisey (pictured) said she had endured a 'living hell' since her house was raided by police last year . The blunder went unnoticed for five years until a work colleague of Mrs Paisey tipped off investigators at the DWP that she might be being paid too much benefits and officials began investigating her. Last week Mrs Paisey, from Eccles, Greater Manchester was due to face court on benefit fraud charges but the case was thrown out by a judge after civil servants admitted they had sanctioned the payments after misreading the doctor’s report. Today she told how she had endured a ‘living hell’ since her house was raided by police in June last year. She had been suspended from work for 15 months whilst the case was investigated. Her peripheral vascular disease is now so severe her leg problems have become inoperable while the case has gone through the courts. 'I could have been sent to jail simply because someone couldn’t read a doctor’s handwriting,' she said. 'I just assumed I was getting the right amount because the doctor filed his report and you trust a doctor’s opinion. 'It’s been horrendous and a 16-month living hell - but it seems the DWP don’t care that my reputation has been completely tarnished. They made me feel like a criminal and it was awful. 'The bottom line is it was the DWP that should be blamed for giving me the money. I didn’t know the criteria for how much I would get - it was all in the consultant’s report and for whatever reason the DWP couldn’t read it.' Pictured are Mrs Paisey's swollen legs during a 2009 holiday. She suffered from a debilitating arterial disease which required surgery . Anglea Paisey's case was processed under a now outdated benefit scheme called the Disability Living Allowance. The allowance, which was devised for adults aged 16 to 65, could be claimed by those suffering from disabilities which affected their day-to-day lives. Criteria for receiving the allowance was based on the disability's effects on the individual's life, rather than the type of condition or its symptoms. Under this system, which continues to be slowly phased out, benefits were often granted as indefinite. In many cases the recipients' conditions improved to a point where the benefit was no longer necessary - but the lack of subsequent case reviews meant they continued receiving money. A new scheme has since been introduced to try and provide better scrutiny around disability benefits. Known as the Personal Independence Payment, to be granted benefits under this scheme a more objective assessment with the prospective recipient takes place which requires a face-to-face consultation with a medical professional. The scheme also includes regular individual case reviews so if an individual's condition worsens or improves the amount of money they receive can be reassessed. The roll-out of the Personal Independence Payment began across wider Britain in June last year. Mrs Paisey, a blue badge holder, had initially been twice turned down for Disability Living Allowance but applied for a third time in October 2008 when a further operation on her leg left her unable to walk more than 100 yards unaided. She went to see the consultant who assessed her mobility and then filed his handwritten report with his recommendations to the DWP to help them decide how much benefit Mrs Paisey was entitled to. Later she was able to return to work full-time but was able to continue claiming the benefits as benefits staff left them open-ended, rather than subject to a yearly review - a service usually reserved for those who have lost a limb or are confined to wheelchairs. After the DWP were alerted, investigators began filming her as she worked at driving test centres in Blackpool, Preston and as far as London. In all she received £29,303 in Disability Living Allowance. Mrs Paisey added: 'I initially applied for DLA because I thought I might be entitled to it. I applied for the right for mobility and the girl from the DWP phoned me and said "I don’t think you are claiming enough". She asked a couple of questions and said "leave it with me" and I got it at the highest rate. Mrs Paisey (pictured) mistakenly received a total of £29,303 in disability payments . 'I had been refused benefits altogether before. They refused and I asked for a review and they refused it again. Then I had my third major operation so I decided to apply again. I applied and they gave me it at the highest rate. As it’s off the consultant’s report I thought I must be even worse than I think I am. 'They gave me it for an indefinite period but I didn’t think anything was the matter. The benefit claim was awarded on the premise these people knew what they were doing but apparently I’m supposed to be psychic. I never saw any reason to question the doctor’s report and had no correspondence with the DWP regarding my benefits apart from her annual statement. 'I said I didn’t need any care and the consultant even put self-care is okay on the report, yet the DWP said I was entitled to care payments and I had no reason to question it. 'Everyone at work knew I was on benefits. It wasn’t a secret. I explained what I had been through. Why would I hide it? It was legitimate as far as I was concerned. 'They had been filming me at work to try and prove I could do more than I claimed. I had said I couldn’t walk more than 100 yards and that was always the case. I used to come down the stairs and out to the car - about 20 yards. They filmed me for five or six months all over the country to try and gather some evidence. I didn’t have a clue this was going on. 'What’s really frightening is that when they arrested me they put me in the police station and searched my house, took my laptop and phone and got me in a room with just the duty solicitor and it was very intimidating. 'They were saying I was fraudulent from the off, which I never was. That night I could have said "it’s fair, you have me", because they frighten you so much. 'It’s got to be the DWP who are to blame. They are saying I should never have had benefits but they couldn’t prosecute me because it was their error. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Innocent until proven guilty? That’s how I feel. In the police station everyone treated you as guilty right from the off. I don’t know where innocent until proven guilty comes from.' At Blackpool magistrates court, 18 driving test centre managers from all parts of the UK were due to testify against Mrs Paisey. But when doubt was raised about the way her claim had been handled by the Government, the prosecution offered no further evidence and the case was dismissed by District Judge Peter Hollingworth. Mrs Paisey now faces a tribunal on October 7 to see if the DWP will pursue their case further and make her repay the money. A DWP Spokesman said: 'This case relates to the old system of Disability Living Allowance which is an outdated benefit with many claimants on indefinite awards without systematic on-going checks. 'That is why we have introduced the new Personal Independence Payment with a face to face assessment and regular reviews. This is to ensure the benefit is more objective and support better targeted at those who need it most.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. ### SUMMARY:

Angela Paisey was seen by consultant after undergoing surgery on her legs . But the report was so illegible DWP civil servants could not read it correctly . They then mistakenly waved through £500 per month in indefinite benefits . It went unnoticed for five years, after which an investigation was launched . Mrs Paisey was monitored and filmed at work to build evidence against her . But a judge threw out fraud charges after the officials' blunder was revealed .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: A young mother died from cervical cancer after doctors were accused of missing the signs of her disease nine times and refusing her a smear test, saying that at 20 she was too young. Keely Devine had complained of pain in her hip and abdomen, as well as heavy bleeding, following the birth of her son Jayden. She visited her GP to discuss her symptoms more than six times and attended hospital three times in two-and-a-half years, but was repeatedly told that she had an infection and given antibiotics. Scroll down for video . Tragic: Keely Devine, 23, (pictured in hospital) died from cervical cancer after doctors were accused of missing the signs of her disease nine times and refusing her a smear test, saying that at 20 she was too young . Miss Devine was also fitted with a . contraceptive coil to try and alleviate the heavy bleeding and discharge . she was experiencing. But despite her repeatedly raising concerns about . the pain she was experiencing, her family say she had no physical . examinations and was refused a smear test on the grounds that she was . too young to have this. By the time she was diagnosed with cervical cancer it was too late. She had a large tumour measuring 5cm x 6cm x 3cm which was obstructing her cervix and the cancer had spread into her pelvis. Just . three years after she first reported her symptoms after the birth of . her son in September 2010, she was dead at the age of 23, having spent . the last four months of her life on the Teenage Cancer Ward at St James's Hospital in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Miss . Devine, of of Armley, Leeds, was diagnosed with cervical cancer on . January 4, 2013 and began a six week course of radiotherapy and . chemotherapy a few weeks later on February 19. Battle: Miss Devine visited her GP to discuss her symptoms more than six times and attended hospital three times in two-and-a-half years, but was repeatedly told that she had an infection and given antibiotics . The gruelling treatment caused her to suffer side effects such as severe sickness, vomiting and weight loss. By May 2013, the cancer had begun to affect her bowel and bladder and she was admitted to Hospital because of extreme constipation. On June 13, Miss Devine's family were told that there was nothing more doctors could do to treat her cancer, and that her condition was terminal. She remained in hospital until she died on 7 September 2013. Now her mother Alexandra Dickinson has instructed specialist medical lawyers to investigate if more could have been done by her GP and Accident and Emergency doctors to diagnose Miss Devine earlier and potentially treat her cervical cancer. 'As a family we are still coming to terms with losing Keely and in such tragic circumstances,' said Ms Dickinson, who is now looking after three-year-old Jayden. All women aged between 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening, with women aged between 25 and 49 encouraged to be tested every three years. The starting age was raised from 20 in 2003, because it was found that cervical screening in younger women can do more harm than good. Cervical cancer is linked to infection caused by the human . papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause abnormalities in the cells of the . cervix. In the majority of cases the immune system clears the infection, . but in a small number of women the abnormalities persist, and may turn . into something more serious - and if they are not treated can develop . into a cancer. Cervical abnormalities associated with HPV infection are very common in . women under 25, but are rarer in older women, while in the majority of . cases abnormalities in young women go away by themselves. If younger women were screened, many would test positive for abnormalities, and would be sent for unnecessary treatment to remove the affected cells. This treatment may increase the likelihood of a women having a premature baby if she later becomes pregnant, and the treatment process can also cause the affected woman significant anxiety. Cervical cancer is extremely rare in women under the age of 25 with just 2.6 cases per 100,000 women. The Advisory Committee on Cervical Cancer Screening (ACCS) reviewed evidence over the risks and benefits of screening younger women in 2009, but decided to keep the age limit of 25. The International Agency for Research on Cancer also recommends that women should not commence cervical screening before the age of 25. Source: NHS . 'She . had her whole life ahead of her and was looking forward to watching . Jayden grow up. Instead her life was cut short and now I hope we can . find answers as to why this could happen to my daughter and find out . why, after she repeatedly complained to doctors about the pain and . discomfort she was experiencing, that she was not diagnosed sooner. 'It was heartbreaking to see her struggling with her illness as it took hold in the last few months of her life. She was incredibly frightened and in a great amount of pain. 'She began to struggle to communicate with us and was finding it increasingly difficult to cope with her deterioration. She became wheelchair bound and extremely weak. She wanted to spend time with Jayden, but she didn't want him to see and remember her in so much pain and distress. 'Before she died, Keely was studying for a qualification in health and social care as she wanted to become a social worker. She was determined to gain this qualification so that she could give Jayden the best life possible.' Ms Dickinson said that by suing the NHS for negligence, she hoped to find out if more could have been done to diagnose Miss Devine's cervical cancer earlier. 'No other young girls or mothers should have to go through what she did,' she said. NHS smear tests are currently offered to women aged between 25 and 64, with NHS guidelines stating that the 'condition is very rare in women under 25.' The NHS website adds: 'All women aged between 25 and 64 are invited for cervical screening. Women aged between 25 and 49 are invited for testing every three years, . and women aged between 50 and 64 are invited every five years. 'Being screened regularly means that any abnormal changes in the cells . of the cervix can be identified at an early stage and, if necessary, . treated to stop cancer developing. 'It is estimated that early detection and treatment can prevent up to 75per cent of cervical cancers.' 'This is a heartbreaking situation as Keely was only 23-years-old when she died and also leaves behind a young son,' said Rachelle Mahapatra, of Irwin Mitchell's solicitors - which is representing Ms Dickinson. 'In . the couple of years before her death Keely had made multiple visits to . her GP and the hospital and we are investigating if more could have been . done to spot the cervical cancer earlier. 'Although . cervical cancer in young women is rare our specialist medical law team . has dealt with a number of cases involving women in their twenties from . across the country whose cervical cancer was initially missed by . doctors. Decline: Just three years after she first reported her symptoms, Miss Devine was dead, having spent the last four months of her life on the Teenage Cancer Ward at St James's Hospital in Leeds . 'Delays in promptly . diagnosing and treating cervical cancer can have devastating . consequences and it is vital that doctors focus on the symptoms rather . than the age of a woman when deciding whether or not it might be cancer. 'In . this case we are still in the early stages of our investigation as her . devastated family just want answers as to what happened during her care. 'They . know nothing can turn back the clock but, this case is about . highlighting any potential issues and lessons that can be learnt to . hopefully prevent other young women from suffering as Keely did.' A spokesman from the NHS said she was unable to comment on any individual cases. ### SUMMARY:

Keely Devine, 23, first complained of symptoms after birth of son in 2010 . She visited GP six times and went to hospital three times before diagnosis . By the time she was diagnosed a large tumour was blocking her cervix . The cancer had also spread into her pelvis and affected her bowel . She underwent chemotherapy but doctors were unable to save her . Mother-of-one spent the last four months of her life on a hospital ward . Her family are now suing the NHS for neglect .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Barack Obama today continued to pile pressure on Congress to extend tax cuts for the middle class, saying a rates hike would be like getting a 'lump of coal' for Christmas. In the first of a series of campaign-style speeches designed to sell his solution for the 'fiscal cliff', the President argued that Republicans should extend existing Bush-era tax rates for households earning $250,000 or less, while allowing increases to kick in for the wealthy. However, Republican leader John Boehner described the state of negotiations as a 'stalemate' and criticised Obama for not making a serious offer on a deal. Scroll down for video . Appeal: Barack Obama went to a K'nex factory in the Philadelphia suburbs as part of a national tour . The President was touring a toy factory in the Philadelphia suburbs when he said the GOP and Democrats alike needed to 'get out of our comfort zones' to forge an agreement. He urged the public to pressure their local members of Congress to pass the middle-class tax cut extension as quickly as possible. Pointing out that every American family will face a tax hike on January 1 if no deal is reached, Obama said: 'I'm assuming that doesn't sound too good to you. That's sort of like the lump of coal you get for Christmas. That's a Scrooge Christmas.' He insisted he was ready to sign a deal straightaway, joking, 'There are no shortage of pens in the White House and I carry one around for an emergency, just in case.' Speaking out: The President said a middle-class tax hike would be like a 'lump of coal' for Christmas . The President was clearly in a comic mood as he quipped that he was 'keeping my own naughty and nice list' to determine which members of Congress would get sets of K'nex, the toy which is made at the factory in Hatfield where he was speaking. He also took a dig at Joe Biden, who was pictured shopping at Costco on Thursday, saying: 'He wanted to buy some of this stuff, but I told him he had too much work to do. I wasn't going to have him building roller coasters all day long.' Also on Thursday, an effort made on behalf of Democrats Thursday to avert the looming fiscal cliff turned out to be fruitless. The White House made an offer to House Republicans that aides familiar with the talks panned as ‘a joke’, ‘an insult’ and ‘a complete break from reality,’ according to CBS News. One Republican aide familiar with the offer that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House congressional liason Rob Nabors presented to Boehner confirmed the Democrat leaders said their proposed $4trillion package would raise $1.6trillion in tax revenue up front. House Republicans called that number too high and too extreme to be offering this late in the game with only a month left before the deadline. Joking: Obama was clearly in a comic mood despite the seriousness of the upcoming 'fiscal cliff' Democrats said they would give in on $400billion in spending cuts from entitlement programs like Medicare in exchange for the added tax revenue. Boehner slammed that number right after the meeting at a press conference though he would not say what the number should be. ‘No substantive progress has been made between the White House and the House, in the two weeks since Obama welcomed congressional leaders at the White House,' Boehner said. Democrats swiftly countered that any holdup was the fault of Republicans who refuse to accept Obama’s campaign-long call to raise tax rates on upper incomes. At the White House, presidential press secretary Jay Carney said, ‘There can be no deal without rates on top earners going up.’ Taking a confrontational, at times sarcastic tone, he said, ‘This should not be news to anyone on Capitol Hill. It is certainly not news to anyone in America who was not in a coma during the campaign season.’ Making a list: Obama promised to give K'nex to members of Congress who co-operate with the White House . With barely a month remaining until a year-end deadline, the hardening of positions seemed more likely to mark a transition into hard bargaining rather than signal an end to efforts to achieve a compromise on the first post-election challenge of divided government. Boehner suggested as much when one reporter asked if his comments meant he was breaking off talks with the White House and congressional Democrats. ‘No, no, no. Stop,’ he quickly answered. ‘I’ve got to tell you, I’m disappointed in where we are, and disappointed in what’s happened over the last couple weeks. But going over the fiscal cliff is serious business.’ Republican aides provided the first description of the White House’s offer, although Democratic officials readily confirmed the outlines. Under the proposal, the White House is seeking passage by year’s end of tax increases totaling $1.6 trillion over a decade, including the rate hikes sought by Obama. In addition to seeking tax increases totaling $1.6trillion over a decade, Obama also asked for approval by year’s end of $30billion to renew expiring jobless benefits, $25billion to prevent a looming January 1 cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients and an undisclosed amount to help homeowners hit by the collapse in real estate values. Counterattack: John Boehner claimed that the Democrats had not yet offered a credible deficit deal . The White House also wants a new stimulus package to aid the economy, with a price tag for the first year of $50billion, as well as an extension of the Social Security payroll tax cut that is due to end on December 31, or some way to offset the impact of its expiration. In political terms, the White House proposal is a near mirror image of what officials have said Republicans earlier laid down as their first offer — a permanent extension of income tax cuts at all levels, an increase in the age of Medicare eligibility and steps to curtail future growth in Social Security cost-of-living increases. In exchange, the GOP has offered to support unspecified increases in revenue as part of tax reform legislation to be written in 2013. The GOP said the White House was offering unspecified spending cuts this year. Those would be followed next year by legislation producing savings from Medicare and other benefit programs of up to $400billion over a decade, a companion to an overhaul of the tax code. For the first time since the November 6 elections, partisan bickering seems to trump productive bargaining as the two sides maneuvered for position. Ready to make an offer: Timothy Geithner sat down for talks with congressional leaders on Thursday . At issue is a bipartisan desire to prevent the wholesale expiration of Bush-era tax cuts and the simultaneous implementation of across-the-board spending cuts. The potential spending reductions, to be divided between military and domestic programs, were locked into place more than a year ago in hopes the threat would have forced a compromise on a deficit reduction deal before now. Economists in and out of government warn that sending the economy over the ‘cliff” would trigger a recession. To avoid the danger, Obama and Congress are hoping to devise a plan that can reduce future deficits by as much as $4trillion in a decade, cancel the tax increases and automatic spending cuts and expand the government’s ability to borrow beyond the current limit of $16.4trillion. In the first few days after the elections, Boehner said he was willing to accept a deal that included new revenues, a long-time Democratic demand, and Obama has said he will sign on to savings from Medicare, Medicaid and other benefit programs that Democrats have long defended from proposed Republican cuts. At the same time, both sides have worked to tilt the bargaining table to their advantage. As part of that effort, Obama travels to Pennsylvania on Friday to campaign for his tax proposal. Boehner, who will begin a second term as House speaker early next month, has appealed to his rank and file to remain united. At a closed-door meeting this week, he displayed polling data that showed the public would rather see loopholes closed than rates raised as a means of raising revenue for the government. At the same time, there are tremors within the GOP ranks, with a small number of Republicans saying they are willing to let tax rates rise at upper incomes in view of the election returns, and others predicting legislation to that effect would pass the House if put to a vote. ### SUMMARY:

Urged Congress to pass extension of tax cuts for the middle class . President warned of a 'Scrooge Christmas' if taxes go up across the board .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: For the first time since the 9/11 attack, the federal government has recognized that people who lived near Ground Zero and first responders got cancer from toxic dust from the scene. The National Institute for Occupational . Safety and Health announced the findings ahead of the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attack tomorrow. The institute is responsible for deciding whether cancer . should be among the illnesses covered by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health . and Compensation Act. Around 50 cancers are included. The ruling means thousands of people who are sure they got sick in the aftermath of the outrage will be eligible for compensation. Tragedy: An estimated 3,000 people were killed when the terrorists hijacked passenger jets and flew them into the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington on 9/11 . Deadly fumes: The Zadroga Act did not cover cancer because there was not enough evidence linking it to the toxins emitted at Ground Zero after the terrorist attack . Legacy: James Zadroga, with his daughter, inspired a law to compensate 9/11 rescue workers exposed to toxins at the site . Michael Barasch, a lawyer who represent thousands of first responders and residents, told the New York Post: 'There’s new scientific evidence that dust is what is now linked to not only the respiratory illnesses, but all these cancers.' John Walcott, an NYPD detective who was . diagnosed with leukemia in 2003 after working months at Ground Zero and . the Fresh Kills landfill said: 'It’s a bittersweet thing. It took 11 years to do what should have been done a long time ago.' The Zadroga Act - named after NYPD Detective James Zadroga, who died age 34 after working on the World Trade Center pile - was passed into law two years ago. Under the Act $2.8 billion was set aside to compensate people made ill by exposure to toxins at the site. Another $1.5 billion has been allocated over five years to fund the World Trade Center Health Program, which treats and monitors about 40,000 first responders. Analysis showed that the substances in the dust from the collapse of the World Trade Center's twin towers included cement, gypsum, asbestos, glass fibers, calcium carbonate, lead and other metal particles and toxins. It is believed that exposure to this dust through the lungs and skin has contributed to the asthma, gastrointestinal problems, and possibly the increased cancer risk experienced by rescue workers, especially those who were on the site immediately after the attack, when the cloud of debris dust was its thickest. The pH of the dust was very high, meaning it was highly alkaline and extremely caustic. Asbestos causes lung and other types of cancer, while lead and other heavy metals can be toxic to the brain. Dr Philip Landrigan, dean for global health at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, said:  'A lot of the respiratory diseases and the gastroesophageal reflux disease we're seeing in the 9/11 responders is the direct consequence of inhaling this toxic dust. '"It lands in the sinuses and bronchial tubes, causing irritation, redness and swelling.' Source: ABC . It originally did not cover cancer because there was not enough evidence linking it to the toxins emitted at Ground Zero. 'To me, it's common sense. If you . breathe in toxic fumes, you're going to get cancer,' said U.S. Rep . Carolyn Maloney, a Manhattan Democrat who helped author the bill. But even Maloney conceded that it is . difficult to find hard data proving the connection between cancer and . the dust at ground zero. That's why in crafting the Zadroga Act, . lawmakers were careful to include mechanisms that would allow for . illnesses to be added based on new scientific research. This was despite thousands of responders claiming top be sick because of their part in the rescue efforts. About 400 first responders or people who lived near the site have died from cancer since 9/11, according to the most recent estimates. With the inclusion of cancer in the program, there will be more victims seeking compensation yet no increase in the $2.77billion fund - meaning individual rewards will be lower. Thomas Gilmartin, a smoker who suffers from lung disease and sleep apnea, told the Post: 'They’re going to add cancers, but are . they going to add more money to the fund? 'It’s crazy. Every . time, we gotta fight. It’s two years since Obama signed that bill and . nobody’s got ten cents.' The Victim Compensation Fund’s special master, Sheila Birnbaum, has been responsible for evenhandedly . distributing $2.7 billion to ground zero responders and others who . became ill after being exposed to dust and ash from the smoldering ruins . of the World Trade Center. Attorney: Sheila Birnbaum has been responsible for evenhandedly distributing $2.7 billion to Ground Zero responders and others who became ill after being exposed to dust and ash from the smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center . Toxic: Many of the first responders and those who labored at the site in the months following the attacks suffer from a variety of respiratory ailments after working at the World Trade Center site . Choking: People, seen masking their mouths from the pitch-dark dust, run World Trade Center's collapse . She will be permitted to spend only $875 million of the fund’s total in the first five years after the initial payments begin. Jeff Stroehlein, a 17-year firefighter who worked on Ground Zero, was diagnosed with brain cancer in March 2011 . After those five years pass, people with valid claims will begin to receive their remaining portion of the additional $1.9 billion. In the two years since the law was passed, about 40,000 responders and survivors receive monitoring and 20,000 get treatment for illnesses as part of the World Trade Center Health Program. With time still left to submit claims, some people are holding out in the event that they become sick in the near future. Others are waiting until the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health officially adds 14 broad categories of cancer to the list of conditions covered by the fund. Recently diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma, 55-year-old Brian Casse hopes he can secure money from the fund to support his wife and children in case he takes a turn for the worst. Casse, a retired firefighter who helped clear away the mountain of rubble at ground zero, believes there's little doubt his work at the site is responsible for his illness. 'You've got people in this city who went down there and did what we had to do. And a lot of us got sick because of it,' Casse said. 'To make us now fight for this money, it's not right. In the grand scheme of things, this money's a drop in the bucket.' Victim: Mr Stroehlein was one of 40,000 construction workers, firefighters and police officers who labored on what became known as the Pile, the mountain of debris that had been the twin towers of the World Trade Center . Jeff Stroehlin was one of 40,000 construction workers, firefighters and police officers who worked tirelessly on what became known as the Pile, the mountain of debris that had been the twin towers of the World Trade Center. In March 2011, Mr Stroehlein was diagnosed with a rare lymphoma, a cloud-like mass on the front of his brain. The tumor was unusual in being a primary, the disease commonly spreading to the brain from another part of the body . He underwent months of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant last August. His last four MRIs have showed no sign of the cancer, he told Long Island Newsday, but he fears it is only a matter of time until it comes back. 'This isn't just for me,' he said of the coverage. 'This is for everybody else. First of all, I'm lucky enough to be talking to you. But what about the guy who could lose his house trying to pay his medical bills?' ### SUMMARY:

The National Institute for Occupational . Safety and Health is expected to announce the findings tomorrow . About 400 first responders or people who lived near the site have died from cancer since 9/11 . The Zadroga Act originally did not cover cancer because there was not enough evidence linking it to the toxins emitted at Ground Zero .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: With his wife and child close at hand, Army Maj. Chad Wriglesworth battled skin cancer for more than a year before dying at age 37. 'It was long and painful and awful,' said Aimee Wriglesworth, who believes the cancer resulted from exposure to toxic fumes in Iraq. Yet the 28-year-old widow from Bristow, Virginia, seized a chance to recount the ordeal and its aftermath to a researcher, hoping that input from her and her 6-year-old daughter might be useful to other grieving military families. This Dec. 16, 2014 photo shows the wedding photo of Army widow, Aimee Wriglesworth, and her late husband, Chad, on display in her home in Bristow, Va. She is one of hundreds of widows sharing their stories of bereavement for a new study . 'To be able to study what we felt and what we're going through - maybe this will help people down the line,' Wriglesworth said. By the hundreds, other widows, widowers, parents, siblings and children are sharing accounts of their grief as part of the largest study ever of America's military families as they go through bereavement. About 2,000 people have participated over the past three years, and one-on-one interviews will continue through February. The federally funded project is being conducted by the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Maryland-based Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The study is open to families of the more than 19,000 service members from all branches of the military who have died on active duty since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, regardless of whether the death resulted from combat, accident, illness, suicide or other causes. 'We've been impressed by how many people who've had this experience really want to let us know about it,' said the leader of the study, Dr. Stephen Cozza. 'They want to talk about what happened - to provide information that will help them and people like them in the future.' Aimee Wriglesworth is hopeful that the study will provide new insight on how best to support young families like hers. 'A lot of things that are helping us now come from Vietnam, Korea, World War II,' she said of existing assistance programs. 'But now it's a whole new world of military losses. Studying us is really important.' About half of the participants are providing saliva samples that will be used for genetic research, aimed at determining if certain genetic makeups correlate with the duration of the grieving process and the levels of stress and depression experienced as it unfolds. Some previous research has suggested that a certain gene variation is associated with greater risk of 'complicated grief,' especially in women. Cozza said a final report isn't expected until 2017, and he is encouraging more survivors to sign up for interviews before the cutoff date in late February. 'Our interest is understanding what these families need,' he said. 'Recognizing the need will allow us to make better policy recommendations as to what sort of services would be appropriate for them.' The questionnaires and face-to-face interviews are being handled by eight field researchers based in regions spanning the country. Jill Harrington, the senior field researcher, said the team members are experienced in dealing with grief and well-versed in military culture. "For the families of the fallen, whoever they talk to, they want to be able to trust," Harrington said. "We have a highly trained group of folks who know how to listen and how to be patient." Army widow, Aimee Wriglesworth, poses for a photo next to a display of some of her late husband's awards and artifacts in her home in Bristow, Va. While bereaved military families share much in common with other grieving families, there are distinctive aspects to many military deaths. Whether in combat, or by accident or suicide, they often occur suddenly, and many of the deceased are in their 20s or 30s. 'These are young families - a lot of single parents raising kids alone,' said Harrington. 'When someone dies young, there's a loss of the future. How do you live with that loss in your life?' Some insight on that question will be provided by the roughly 100 children, ages 6 to 18, who are participating in the study. Most are the sons or daughters of deceased service members; a few are younger siblings. 'Many of these children, when their parent died, were very young and didn't know them well,' said Cozza. According to preliminary findings, he said, a factor helping them weather the loss was having pride in their departed parent's military service. The web site for the study encourages bereaved parents to let their children participate, while acknowledging that the one-on-one interviews, lasting 90 minutes to three hours, cover sensitive matters. 'The field researchers are trained to recognize when a child is upset and will periodically ask your child if he/she is okay to continue,' the web site says. 'If your child becomes upset, he/she can decide to stop the interview at any time.' Among the children taking part is Aimee Wriglesworth's daughter, Savannah, who was 5 when her father died at home on Nov. 20, 2013. Family photos from the preceding days show Savannah cuddling up with him as he lay stricken in bed. Chad Wriglesworth initially joined the Air Force and was deployed to Iraq in 2008. He transferred to the Army in 2009, and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. According to his wife, he began reporting lumps on various parts of his body starting in 2011 and was diagnosed in 2012 with Stage 4 melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. The military, without being more specific, ruled that the major's death occurred in the line of duty; his wife believes the cancer was caused by his exposure to toxic fumes fromopen-air 'burn pits' in Iraq that were used to destroy waste at U.S. bases. Another study participant is Ryan Manion Borek, whose brother, Marine Lt. Travis Manion, was killed in combat in Iraq in 2007. Borek now heads a foundation named after her brother, which seeks to assist veterans, as well as families of fallen service members. A stuffed animal wearing the dog tags of the late Army Major Chad Wriglesworth on the chair where he died of cancer in Bristow after returning from deployment in Afghanistan . Borek expressed hope that the study's findings will reflect the wide range of ways in which survivors respond to the deaths of their loved ones. 'We don't all fit into the same box,' she said. 'That's the beauty of doing a study like this - we can begin to understand all the different ways people are dealing with their loss.' A video produced by the research team conveys the breadth of the study, featuring brief interviews with some of the survivors who decided to participate. They include a Marine Corps officer, Lisa Doring, whose Marine husband died in a helicopter crash near their base in Iraq; a mother whose only son, an Army private, was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan; and a couple whose son, serving in the Coast Guard, committed suicide after what they described as sustained bullying and harassment. Of all the active-duty deaths in the period being studied, about 13 percent were suicides. Accidents accounted for 35 per cent, combat 30 per cent, illness 15 per cent and homicide 3 per cent, according to Cozza. One of the major partners for the study is the Arlington, Virginia-based support group known as TAPS - the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. It was founded in 1994 by Bonnie Carroll two years after her husband, a brigadier general, died in an Army plane crash. Carroll said she was heartened that the study encompassed all types of deaths, even including service members responsible for murder-suicides. 'Regardless of how the person died, at some point in their life they stepped forward to raise their right hand and say `I will protect this nation,'' Carroll said. ### SUMMARY:

About 2,000 people have participated over the past three years, and one-on-one interviews will continue through February . By the hundreds, other widows, widowers, parents, siblings and children are sharing accounts of their grief as part of the largest study ever of America's military families as they go through bereavement . The study is open to families of the more than 19,000 service members from all branches of the military who have died on active duty since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: From a beheading in Iraq to the hard-line repression of religious freedoms in Sudan, a string of extremist acts in recent weeks have raised the worrying spectre of a new era of Islamic fundamentalism spreading across the world. Over the last month, the world's media has been awash with gruesome images of barbarism - pulled into sharp focus in recent days with the barrage of horrific videos and hate-filled messages pouring onto the internet from Sunni militants in Iraq. But it is far from restricted to that country alone. In just the last few days: . Global fundamentalism: Some of the countries spanning two continents . where extreme Islamic acts have been perpetrated in recent days and . weeks . Another form of religious extremism has also gained widespread attention and subsequent outrage in Sudan, where a mother was handed the death sentence for marrying a Christian and was forced to give birth in shackles in prison. Mariam Yehya Ibrahim was released after an international outcry, but yesterday was re-arrested and charged with fraud as she tried to leave the country with her American husband, Daniel Wani, and their two children. The Sudanese authorities claim she failed to use her Muslim name on her travel documents. Just tonight, an explosion in a Nigerian shopping mall killed at least 21 people and injured 17 more as the nation prepared to watch its football team play Argentina in the World Cup. People watched on as smoke filled the sky after an explosion at a shopping mall in Abuja, Nigeria, just hours before the start of tonight's World Cup match against Argentina, which killed at least 21 people . A suicide bomber killed himself and wounded several security officers at a hotel in Raouche, Beirut, close to the Saudi Arabian embassy . Firefighters spent the day tackling the blaze at the Duroy hotel after the bomb attack - the latest in a series of terrorism attacks carried out in the past few days around the world . Witnesses said the blast - just an hour before tonight's match - left body parts scattered around the Emab Plaza in an upmarket district of Abuja. No one has yet claimed responsibility but the attack bears the hallmarks of Boko Haram extremists. At the same time, firefighters were tackling a blaze at a hotel in Raouche, western Beirut, after a suicide bomber killed himself and wounded several security officers, close to the Saudi Arabian embassy. Also yesterday, the highest court in Malaysia upheld a ban on Catholics using the word Allah to refer to their own god in what some experts fear is the latest step in a creeping Islamisation of the country. Disturbing: An ISIS militant holds the prisoner's head as he prepares for the execution while a young boy (circled) watches on just a few feet away . Taking no prisoners: Footage posted on YouTube appears to show ISIS militants carrying out summary executions on dozens of captured soldiers in Syria . In Libya, voters were heading to the polls for parliamentary elections which they hope will bring in a government that can clamp down on violence at the hands of a patchwork of militias, including Islamic extremists, that continues to grip the country since the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi. Meanwhile, the lightning insurgency by Sunni militants ISIS threatens to overthrow the Shia-led Iraqi government and even break up the entire country as it seeks to create an Islamic state. Andreas Krieg, a Middle East security . analyst at King's College London in Qatar, said he had noticed a rise in . extremism in recent weeks and months, but said Islam wasn't to blame. He . told MailOnline: 'All the empirical evidence shows that it is on the rise. You're seeing it in all the headlines, then you're . looking at Iraq, you're looking at Syria, you're looking at Nigeria. 'But . in all three cases this has nothing to do with Islam. I think people in . the West may think it is because they feel alienated by Islam. There is alot of Islamaphobia.' Horrific: Twin attacks in Kenya claimed by Al Shabaab, left at least 60 dead. Five people were killed in another attack a few days later . Attack: Nigerians are calling for action after Boko Haram militants are said to have kidnapped a further 91 people after snatching nearly 300 schoolgirls two months ago . Mr . Krieg said more and more communities - often disillusioned by austerity . or other grievances - have turned to religious groups as an alternative . to secular regimes in recent years. He . said: 'When communities become disenfranchised - and lot of them are . muslim - they use Islam to further their particular cause. 'They adhere to a radical interpretation of Islam, but it has nothing to do with the religion.' ISIS, in particular, appear to relish their growing publicity, increasingly courting online platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to promote their hate-filled agendas of murder and oppression. Professor Lee Marsden, international terrorism expert and head of East Anglia University's School of Political, Social and International Studies, said: 'Images of brutality perpetrated by these terrorist groups are being circulated around the world on an unprecedented scale. 'While the levels of brutality seen here by ISIS and al-Shabaab are no different from what we have seen them do before, the way they are publicising their acts of terror is wholly new.' Cruel: Mariam Yehya Ibrahim poses hours after her release with her husband, Daniel (left) and her children, Martin (on Daniel's knee) and baby Maya and all those who bravely fought for her freedom in Sudan after she was sent to death row for marrying a Christian . Ongoing civil war in Syria adds further instability to the fragile Middle East. In nearby Afghanistan, . Taliban insurgents hellbent on destroying the first peaceful transfer of . authority, ordered voters not to participate in the weekend's general . election. And in further blow to the global fight against terrorism, Nigeria's former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, said the 200 schoolgirls taken snatched from the classrooms in the village of Chibok by Bokok Haram in northeast Nigeria in April may never return home. Boko Haram, which wants to set up an Islamist caliphate in Africa's largest economy, has fought back against an army offensive and killed thousands in bomb and gun attacks, striking as far afield as the central city of Jos and the capital Abuja. ‘I believe that some of them will never . return. We will still be hearing about them many years from now,’ Obasanjo told the BBC's Hausa-language radio service last week. ‘If you get all of . them back, I will consider it a near-miracle...' ### SUMMARY:

Internet flooded with images and videos of executions from Sunni militants aiming to topple Iraqi government . At least five die in Kenya attack just days after Al Qaeda-inspired group Al Shabaab kill 60 in twin massacres . Islamist militants Boko Haram feared to have snatched 90 villagers in Nigeria after kidnapping 300 Christian girls . Attacks between Christian and Islamic militia in Central African Republic 'risk creating conditions for genocide' Sudanese woman freed from death row for marrying a Christian is re-arrested for not using her Muslim name . Middle East security expert: 'All the evidence shows that extremism is on the rise - but Islam is not to blame' Footage has emerged showing armed militant children as young as eight watching as an Iraqi prisoner is executed by ISIS, while another shows a captured Iraqi police officer being beheaded; . At least five people have died in an attack on Kenya's coast just days after Al Qaeda-inspired terror group Al Shabaab kills 60 in twin massacres; . Islamist militants Boko Haram are feared to have snatched 90 villagers in the same area of Nigeria where they seized nearly 300 Christian schoolgirls two months ago; . A human rights group has warned that revenge attacks between Christian and Islamic militia in the Central African Republic risk creating conditions for a genocide reminiscent of Bosnia in the 1990s. Just last night, an explosion in a Nigerian shopping mall killed at least 21 people and injured 17 more as the nation prepared to watch its football team play Argentina in the World Cup . Also yesterday, a suicide bomber killed himself and wounded several security officers at a hotel in Raouche in Beirut, close to the Saudi Arabian embassy .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: The BBC is a profligate and inept organisation that has lost public trust after a series of scandals, MPs will say today. In a landmark report, the MPs paint a devastating picture of an organisation that has blown millions and tries to be ‘all things to all people’. Bosses are also accused of blaming others for their blunders and showing ‘a mind-set completely out of kilter with public sector principles’. The MPs, who sit on the Commons culture committee, say the £145.50-a-year licence fee is anachronistic and failure to pay it should no longer be a criminal offence. Scroll down for video . Dark past: Former BBC star Jimmy Savile in 2006 with Helen Boaden, now Director of BBC Radio . Their 166-page report, Future of the BBC, says the corporation has squandered hundreds of millions of pounds, handing out sky-high pay-offs to sacked staff and wasting massive sums on vanity projects. And they highlight a ‘bleak period’ in the 1970s and 1980s when presenters including Jimmy Savile carried out scores of sex attacks, including rapes, on BBC premises. ‘We do not see a long-term future for the licence fee in its current form,’ the report concludes. Under fire: Tony Hall, current Director-General of the corporation. The BBC has been heavily criticised in the 166-page report, called 'The Future of the BBC' To be presented in Parliament this afternoon, it recommends that: . Last night John Whittingdale, who chairs the committee, said: ‘When an organisation is in receipt of nearly £4billion of public money, very big questions have to be asked about how that money is provided and spent, and how that organisation is governed and made accountable. ‘In the short term, there appears to be no realistic alternative to the licence fee, but that model is becoming harder and harder to justify and sustain.’ The Tory MP said the corporation made a valuable contribution to public life, but that it needed to examine its size and scope, and cut certain services. Critical: Conservative MP John Whittingdale said that while tje corporation made a valuable contribution to public life, it needed to examine its size and scope, and cut certain services . He added: ‘The BBC has tried for too long to be all things to all people – with the rapid changes in communication and media technology and markets and changing audience needs and behaviours, this no longer works. 'It should tailor its output to what it does best, and not stray into areas that can and should be left to commercial providers to do well. BRITAIN risks losing the ‘global information war’ as the BBC World Service is out-gunned by foreign state-backed broadcasters. MPs said the corporation’s long-established foreign arm could struggle to compete against other networks because of changes to its structure and funding. ‘At a time when countries like Russia and China are increasing their investment in media, including services aimed at the UK, we believe that the World Service has an increasingly important role in what is a global information war,’ their report said. ‘Given its new funding and oversight arrangements, we fear the importance of the World Service could be diminished.’ Until last April, the World Service received a separate grant from the Foreign Office – but the foreign arm is now funded by the licence fee. ‘It is pointless and wasteful having an organisation receiving that kind of public funding competing with – and potentially crowding out – other providers.’ Anyone watching programmes when they are broadcast requires a television licence, regardless of whether they use a TV or a computer. However, there is no legal requirement to pay for watching the same programmes online on catch-up services such as iPlayer after they have aired. The MPs call for urgent changes that would force people to pay for the iPlayer service, for example by blocking non-subscribers. The corporation must ‘prepare itself’ for the licence fee to be abolished altogether in the 2020s, the report says. The levy should be replaced by a flat-rate charge, payable by all households. A spokesman for the BBC said: ‘This report confirms the importance of the BBC in national life and recommends maintaining and modernising the licence fee, something we have said is necessary. ‘We’re grateful to the committee for endorsing our record for efficiency and maintaining the quality of programmes and services, and note members overwhelmingly voted against moving to a subscription funding model.’ The BBC Trust said it was ‘seeking to address’ some of the problems highlighted in the report. The committee took evidence over two years from former BBC bosses and from the public. SEND IN THE AUDITORS TO CUT DOWN ON WASTE: MPs say public have lost faith in bosses because of spending scandals . The National Audit Office must be given unfettered access to the ‘profligate’ BBC’s books to ensure it isn’t squandering public money, say MPs. A succession of spending scandals has ‘dented’ public faith in the broadcaster, their report said, and confidence needs restoring.. Expensive: Broadcasting House in London now costs £89million a year to run – a third of the cost of running the total BBC estate – yet it houses just a fifth of its staff . The NAO has already censured the BBC over the £2billion it has spent on three costly building projects, including its £1billion London headquarters, which was delayed by four years and went £107million over budget. Broadcasting House now costs £89million a year to run – a third of the cost of running the total BBC estate – yet it houses just a fifth of its staff. THE BBC should own up to its mistakes and end a culture where bosses try to blame others for their errors, the report claims. It says the Corporation is ‘beset by problems of its own making’, but instead of dealing with them openly, its senior managers point the finger at other people. ‘[There have been] notable failures and underperformance in certain areas which the BBC has not always been ready to acknowledge until well after the fact,’ it said. The BBC and the BBC Trust should also stop attempting to bury information that could cast the Corporation in a negative light, it added. ‘In our view, the BBC Trust and the BBC Executive have often tended to highlight favourable performance figures over the less favourable...The BBC should aim to be a better, more transparent, self-critic.’ Meanwhile, the Corporation has written off nearly £100million on a Digital Media Initiative technology project, so badly mismanaged that director general Tony Hall decided to scrap it three years in. The BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, also squandered public funds. In 2007, it bought the travel publisher Lonely Planet in a deal worth £130million. However, it failed to make a success of the business, and sold it off at an £80 million loss six years later. The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee said: ‘The Digital Media Initiative was found to have been mismanaged on a large scale and was dropped having delivered few benefits at a loss of £100million. ‘BBC Worldwide’s move into risky commercial activities, not in line with the BBC’s core public service remit, led to a similar loss.’ It added: ‘Given the financial problems in the current charter period which dented the BBC’s reputation, the NAO must now be given unrestricted access to the BBC if it is to provide assurance that the Corporation is spending money wisely and trading fairly.’ MPs also slammed the BBC over the £369million in pay-offs it has handed to departing staff. A BBC spokesman said: ‘The NAO already has extensive access to the BBC’s affairs and recently produced a report commending the savings we have made on our properties.’ ### SUMMARY:

Landmark report blasts BBC as inept and say it has lost public confidence . They say corporation has wasted hundreds of millions of pounds . Senior bosses accused of blaming others for their blunders . Highlights period in 70s and 80s when some presenters preyed on teens . The corporation’s governing body, the BBC Trust, be replaced with a more rigorous public service broadcasting commission; . The National Audit Office be given unfettered access to the BBC’s books to ensure it spends wisely; . Bosses should start taking responsibility for their mistakes; . The corporation should stop trying to do everything and drop services that threaten to crowd out rivals; . BBC cash should help pay for public service content on rival platforms. The Public Accounts Committee yesterday separately raised questions over Rona Fairhead’s role as chairman of the BBC Trust, as she has also sat on the board of the scandal-hit HSBC bank since 2004.

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Paris (CNN) -- Reaction to the arrest of International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn ranged from concern to outrage to sadness Tuesday in France, where one politician said he was the victim of a "lynching" and others cautioned against what they see as a rush to judgment. Underscoring the cultural differences between France and the United States, many French recoiled from images of Strauss-Kahn, who is charged in the alleged sexual assault of a New York hotel housekeeper, in handcuffs and in court -- photographs that would be prohibited under French law to protect the presumption of innocence. Some French speculated about whether he was the target of a political setup, while others questioned what they see as a rush to judgment by U.S. authorities and the American media. "There's a general feeling of a media, a judicial fury -- of a lynching," Jack Lang, France's former minister of culture and education and a Socialist Party lawmaker, told Europe 1 radio. Lang called the American justice system "inhumane." "For 48 hours now, only the side of the accusation has been heard ... and the versions given by police have been contradictory," he said. "The refusal to allow him out on bail, when no violent crime has been committed -- even in America suspects are usually let go on bail if a violent crime has not been committed." Strauss-Kahn's defense attorneys have insisted he is innocent. Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman on Monday called the case "very defensible." "The forensic evidence, we believe, will not be consistent with a forcible account, and we believe there is a very, very defensible case, and he should be entitled to bail," Brafman said during the hearing Monday. A judge disagreed Monday, decreeing Strauss-Kahn a flight risk and denying him bail. He is currently housed in New York's Rikers Island jail complex. Strauss-Kahn's arraignment was televised and clips played on various networks. "Perp walks," in which defendants -- accompanied by police -- walk in front of photographers handcuffed are standard fare in America. "That is not the case in France," where cameras are not allowed in courtrooms, the head of the Socialist Party, Martine Aubry, told reporters Tuesday in Paris. A 2000 law prohibits the publication of photos of a defendant in handcuffs or in court. Aubry said many of her colleagues were "shocked" at what they saw. "Since yesterday we've been overwhelmed by the images and also by the charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn," she said. "So we are here to say what we have always done unanimously for the last three days, to remind everyone first of all of the presumption of innocence." She took no questions from reporters. "I think that for Americans it's the normal procedure, so there's nothing shocking about these pictures, but in France it's true that these pictures are very shocking for us, because in France we don't have the right to show images of a man who is charged but not yet convicted," French resident Veritas Galabova, who works in finance, told CNN on Tuesday. "... It's two cultural points which are different." Benoit Hamon, spokesman for the Socialist Party, said, "It's very bizarre, strange for us to see one of our leaders between two American cops, like in a movie." Some French also said they believe investigators moved too quickly to arrest Strauss-Kahn, who was pulled off a plane to Paris in police custody hours after the alleged incident took place in a $3,000-a-night suite at New York's Sofitel hotel. "There is a real feeling that there's a rush to justice here," said Nathan King, a correspondent for France 24 television network. However, Linda Fairstein, former head of the Manhattan district attorney's sex crimes unit, defended the investigators, saying if the special victims unit "had probable cause ... they did the only thing that they could do, which was to stop this man before he left the country." Strauss-Kahn was widely considered a leading contender to be put forth as the Socialist Party's presidential candidate and face President Nicolas Sarkozy in next year's election. "If you are pro-Sarkozy, you are happy," French teacher Paul Verite said Tuesday. "If you're not pro-Sarkozy, you have many worries, because it was clear that he was the one with the most chance of beating Sarkozy." Verite said he believes the timing is suspect. "It makes more sense that it was a setup than that he's really guilty," he said. "It could happen, but it's quite strange for something like this to happen a year before the presidential election." Explaining the impact of the news in France, King said, "If John Edwards had won the nomination for the Democratic Party to run for president and then find out everything we know now and add a criminal element to it -- you get how big that is." Edwards, a former U.S. senator from North Carolina, admitted in January 2010 that he had fathered a child with his mistress. Many French also said they feel Strauss-Kahn hasn't been given a chance to present his side of the story adequately, King said. "We have a tradition in France ... not to judge one way or the other until the real facts have been clearly established," Galabova said. "For the moment, we have only heard the side of the accusation, and I'm not saying that's not true, but simply that we haven't heard the opposing side and the defense's side, so I think we really have to wait for the real facts to understand what happened." The Socialist Party's Aubry told reporters, "So far, we have only heard accusations from the prosecutor. That is the law. They are following it. There you go. It's not our (system). And we are waiting for that other voice, the one of Dominique Strauss-Kahn and his lawyers, which we will hear in the days to come." The Socialist Party, meanwhile, insisted Tuesday it will not be deterred from its efforts to win back the presidency in 2012. Presidential primaries will be held on schedule, said Hamon, the party spokesman. France typically has a laissez-faire attitude toward extramarital affairs, even if they result in children. News like that involving Edwards or former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who acknowledged Tuesday he fathered a child a decade ago outside of his marriage, doesn't cause much of a stir. When the scandal involving President Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky broke during the 1990s, many French said it proved Clinton was strong and could lead the country, King said. The late French President Francois Mitterrand fathered a child during a long-term affair. When asked about it by reporters, King said Tuesday, that Mitterrand responded, "Yes, of course, but it's my private life." "The cultural difference is fascinating," King noted. However, criminal charges in the Strauss-Kahn case may decrease the French tolerance, King said. "I think the French press knows the difference here," he said. "They've long put up with affairs and not reported them ... but this is criminal." In addition, sympathy for Strauss-Kahn may be eroded, King said, by allegations from French politician Anne Mansouret, who said following Strauss-Kahn's arrest that he attacked her daughter, French journalist Tristane Banon, in 2002. Mansouret said she cautioned her daughter not to report the alleged incident to police out of concern it might adversely affect her career, as Banon was just starting out in journalism. Banon's attorney told CNN Monday they are considering filing a police complaint in light of the charges against Strauss-Kahn. Strauss-Kahn's attorneys have not responded to CNN requests for comment on the 2002 allegations. In arguing against allowing the IMF chief to go free on bond Monday, prosecutors said during his arraignment they believe Strauss-Kahn has engaged in "similar acts" at least once before. CNN's Ivan Watson, Saskya Vandoorne, Alanne Orjoux and Catherine Clifford contributed to this report. ### SUMMARY:

Many French find pictures of a handcuffed Dominique Strauss-Kahn disturbing . One French politician compares the case to a "lynching" Some French says Strauss-Kahn should be able to present his defense sooner . The Socialist Party pledges to forge ahead with presidential primaries for 2012 .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- Syria's President Bashar al-Assad looks more isolated with each passing day as his regime continues a bloody eight-month crackdown on pro-democracy protests. His Arab neighbors signaled their displeasure with him this week by suspending Syria from the Arab League, a stinging blow for a nation that sees itself at the heart of Arab concerns. Jordan's King Abdullah went a step further, telling the BBC he would step down if he were al-Assad, an unusually blunt assessment that followed Western calls for al-Assad to go. And Turkey, formerly an important ally and trading partner, threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Syria as the European Union moved this week to extend sanctions against more members of al-Assad's circle. This week, the conflict inside Syria entered a new era when army defectors attacked pro-government targets. That ratcheted up the pressure even more -- the Russian foreign minister was widely quoted as saying attacks on government buildings in Syria resembled "civil war." So can al-Assad cling to power? Or will he become the fourth leader forced from office in the Arab Spring, following in the footsteps of ousted leaders of Egypt, Libya and Tunisia? Analysts say that the odds are stacked against Syria's president. Steven A. Cook, Hasib J. Sabbagh senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said it is hard to predict what might come next for al-Assad -- but the pressure is on. "The kind of traditional support he had externally is clearly crumbling," Cook said. "His prospects this week are worse than they were last week." Emile Hokayem, senior fellow for regional security at the Bahrain office of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, thinks it highly unlikely al-Assad will hang on to power. Three main factors will likely contribute to the downfall of Syria's president after 11 years in power, he said. One is that he has lost legitimacy in the eyes of his own people. "It's hard to see how he would recover his legitimacy after killing almost 4,000 of his countrymen," said Hokayem. The United Nations puts the toll of deaths at well over 3,500 since protests began. Second is the economy, as sanctions imposed by the West and Turkey start to bite. This matters, said Hokayem, because al-Assad may struggle to keep the support of the country's urban and business elites in Damascus and Aleppo if the economy is failing. The third factor is security, despite al-Assad's mobilization of the military. Unlike previous challenges to the al-Assad regime, "this time it's the Syrian people leading it and very clearly regime change is their goal and they are not going to accept anything less," Hokayem said. Shashank Joshi, an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI), also doubts al-Assad will survive -- but says it is far from clear what might follow. The Arab League's decision to suspend Syria, after Damascus failed to abide by a peace deal that had been brokered earlier with the 22-nation league, signals a shift in views that would have looked extremely unlikely even a month ago, he says. The regime's military is also increasingly over-extended as those fighting against it find footholds in Lebanese and Turkish soil, he said. Turkey might also choose to intervene more directly, perhaps by creating a buffer zone along its long border with Syria or providing weapons to the rebels, he said. At this point, descent into civil war could be as likely a scenario as a clean change of regime at the top, he said. Nonetheless, Joshi cautioned against thinking the 46-year-old's grip on power will be loosened immediately, pointing to the example of Iraq's former dictator, Saddam Hussein. In 1991, he said, Hussein had just lost a major war, had two no-fly zones, U.N. sanctions and an oil embargo imposed on his country, was facing an enormous Shia uprising in the south, and endured overwhelming diplomatic isolation. "And yet he survived for 12 years," Joshi said. "Regimes that are used to being isolated, that are used to being under sanctions and under pressure, can be extremely resilient." Joshi also points out that while al-Assad may well be forced out, that doesn't necessarily mean the regime will fall with him. Bashar al-Assad is not as well entrenched as was his father, the late President Hafez al-Assad, who ruled with an iron fist for three decades -- and it's possible other members of his ruling Alawite sect might decide to throw their hat in with his brother Maher, an army commander, or parts of the military instead, Joshi said. "They might even decide to get rid of Bashar al-Assad to save themselves, and portray it as a concession, or compromise," he said. He cites the example of Egypt, where the Arab Spring uprising may have forced President Hosni Mubarak from power in February but the military leadership has not yet handed over power to a democratically elected government. Salman Shaikh, director of the Brookings Doha Center, also predicts that al-Assad will eventually go -- but that his regime will cling on for as long as possible, with Syria following the example of Libya rather than that of Tunisia, where ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia. Shaikh sees "the makings of a very powerful coalition" lined up against al-Assad, uniting the Arab nations, Turkey, the United States and Europe, which could move "quite forcefully" to sanctions. And al-Assad has few friends to whom he can turn for help. One key question is how long Syria can still count on the support of Russia, a historic ally and a major arms supplier to Damascus. Moscow, which sold $3.8 billion of weapons to Syria last year -- 10% of its total arms sales, is "giving a lifeline" to al-Assad at the moment, said Shaikh, largely by delaying international action. If Moscow opposes efforts to impose U.N. Security Council sanctions on Syria, as anticipated, international efforts to present a unified stance -- as on NATO action to protect civilians in Libya -- will be thwarted. "The same action can be viewed as a just war or an act of imperial aggression depending on whether Russia allows a U.N. resolution to be passed," Joshi said. Germany, France and Britain will hand in a draft U.N. resolution Thursday condemning the Syrian government's actions, a German diplomatic spokesman in New York told CNN on Wednesday. Diplomats from Arab countries are considering co-sponsoring the resolution. An attempt this week by a Syrian opposition group to persuade Russian officials to shift their position and demand al-Assad's resignation appears to have gone nowhere, with Moscow instead reiterating a call for peaceful dialogue to resolve the situation. China also has a history of opposing U.N action but appears at the moment to be hedging its bets on Syria, probably in the interests of stability in the region, Joshi added. Iran has in the past few days given a strong statement of support for al-Assad, Shaikh of the Brookings Doha Center said, but Tehran may still in the end be pragmatic and seek to build ties with the Syrian opposition. Perhaps the biggest danger ahead, the analysts say, is that whether al-Assad goes or not, Syria is teetering on the brink of civil war, as opposition elements such as the Free Syrian army turn to arms to combat pro-government forces. Such violence lessens the chance of a peaceful resolution to the uprising and smooth shift to democracy -- and will undoubtedly lead to greater loss of life. "We are entering into a new phase now in the Syrian situation," said Shaikh. "We are seeing a greater militarization. "I think the window for an orderly transition is over and now it will be a mixture of international pressure and whatever support is given to these protesters and even those fighting against the regime. "The main game for the foreseeable future will focus on the protection of civilians, and measures to ensure that, as we saw in the Libyan case." CNN's Joe Sterling contributed to this report. ### SUMMARY:

The Arab Spring has forced three leaders from power so far . Syria's president could go, too, some analysts say . Unrest that has roiled Syria for months took a turn this week . Syria's Arab neighbors have joined the West in criticizing the Syrian leader .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (Entertainment Weekly) -- For nine years, "CSI" star William Petersen has had it all. And that was exactly the problem. William Petersen says he's become "too comfortable" at "CSI," and that it's time to go. "The reason I'm leaving is because I'm afraid I'm becoming too comfortable," says Petersen. "It's 'CSI' -- they pay me a lot of money, and I don't have to work very hard anymore. I've got it all figured out. And I just realized, God, as an artist, I'm going to atrophy. You do anything for nine years, it becomes somewhat rote. I didn't want to be on the show because they were paying me money and I liked the money. I didn't want to be on the show because it saved me from having to go look for other jobs. Just didn't want it. It was too safe for me at this point. So I needed to try and break that, and the way to do that, for me, is the theater." So, with his final "CSI" episode scheduled to air Thursday on CBS, Petersen is saying goodbye to the show that made him very, very famous and very, very rich. He's now living in Chicago, where he's resumed a career as a theater actor. Leaving fame and fortune behind in the name of artistic integrity? There's a novel concept for Hollywood. But still, isn't he just a little sentimental about parting ways with a character that has defined him since 2000? "I won't miss Grissom," says Petersen matter-of-factly. "It was a complete life for me that's reached its end, and it's reached it in the right way, I think. So I won't miss Grissom. And I hope that the audience won't miss him either." As a producer on the drama since its debut in 2000 and an exec producer since 2004, Petersen is one of the highest-paid actors on television (earning a reported $600,000 per episode). Over the years, he's watched his show turn into a ratings powerhouse and -- with syndication and spin-offs -- a veritable billion-dollar industry for CBS, which will no doubt feel the pain of Petersen's departure. Petersen has definitely left his mark on this crime scene. From the moment in 1999 when he persuaded creator Anthony E. Zuiker to change Gil's last name from Sheinbaum to Grissom, to the spring of 2007 when he began to map out his character's much-anticipated exit, Petersen has played a significant role in the direction of his hit show. "The first day I met Billy, before filming the pilot, he said to me he wanted to re-create an ensemble feel of a theater company, to have that type of collaboration," says executive producer Carol Mendelsohn. "It's not the easiest road to take, to have true collaboration." However, she feels Petersen's insistence on teamwork "has been an essential element to our success, on every level." Petersen, who's unapologetic about his occasional my-way-or-the-highway antics, says he wanted a producer title to ensure that the cast and crew always had an advocate. "Otherwise, it's completely unbalanced because everything is tilted toward the network and the studio and the writers. It can't just be generals. You have to have a few lieutenants. That's where I came in." Naturally, then, it was Petersen -- and not producers or the network -- who decided when and where Grissom would finally step outside the yellow tape. "For years, Billy had been saying he wanted to go, so we knew that one day he'd ask to be written out," says Mendelsohn. "We had a game plan for a long time." Petersen and the writers were set on hammering out an exit strategy that would seem organic to the world of forensic science. That's where the real-life Grissoms came into play. "You talk to all of the CSIs we know, and they all have a short [career] life," says Petersen. "They can do this for a while and then they all try to become techs (advisers) for our show! None of them want to go back down an alley and process fingerprints on a garbage can anymore." The long goodbye officially began in November 2007, when Gil's fiancee Sara (Jorja Fox) fled Las Vegas for destinations unknown, and it continued with the tragic shooting death of Warrick (Gary Dourdan) in October of the following year. In fact, Petersen should have been gone by now: Warrick's death and Grissom's swan song were originally scheduled to air by last May, but the 100-day writers' strike shortened the season, so there wasn't enough time to tell all the stories Petersen wanted -- including the return of the Miniature Serial Killer and Melinda Clarke's dominatrix, Lady Heather. Postponing his farewell not only put some much-needed space between the high-profile exits of Fox and Dourdan, it also gave the show's creative team plenty of time to find Petersen's successor. After putting out feelers to an impressive roster of stars (Kurt Russell and John Malkovich were approached), the producers set their sights on Laurence Fishburne, who hasn't starred on TV since playing Cowboy Curtis on "Pee-wee's Playhouse" back in the '80s. While Fishburne is known on screen as a cool character, his first days on set last September -- as research pathologist--turned-college professor Dr. Raymond Langston -- revealed anxiety underneath that calm demeanor. "CSI's" Marg Helgenberger recalls how the 47-year-old actor rode his motorcycle to work on the first day and ended up clutching his helmet during a meeting with the writers. "He said, 'I'm just gonna hang on to this because I'm kind of nervous,"' she remembers. "It was really sweet. I think he feels the weight of the challenge of taking over that part. I mean, obviously it's not the same part as Gil, but that character was indelible and well-liked -- all that stuff that Billy was." Adds Fishburne, "Billy was the daddy of the whole thing and Daddy was leaving. Then in comes Uncle Fish. A lot of people didn't know what to expect." When Petersen's final day of shooting arrived on October 10, about 200 members of the show's cast and crew assembled on the "CSI" soundstage to watch his character's last stroll through the dimly lit lab. Though everyone knew that Petersen wasn't gone forever -- he'll retain his producer title and he's promised to return for the occasional episode, though that probably won't occur until next season -- it didn't make his departure any less significant. Co-star Helgenberger can't even think about the "painful" day without tearing up. "I couldn't stop crying," she says. "It was hard. I'm having a hard time now, because, you know, we had a great nine years together. It's just over. It's the end of an era." First things first, though: The man with the beard still has to take his final bow, though nobody's revealing how. But an even bigger cliff-hanger is what will happen to the show after he's gone. "I'm sick he is leaving," says one EW.com poster named Betty. " 'CSI' is Gil." Jasmine puts it more bluntly: "Once Grissom is gone from the original 'CSI,' so am I." As he looks forward to the next chapter in his career, Petersen hopes viewers will adopt his attitude about Grissom's exit: no tears necessary. "I think there's a way for the audience to remember him, like losing a great co-worker they've known for years," says the actor, who hasn't ruled out starring in another TV show -- someday. "He didn't die in a plane crash, he didn't get a brain tumor. He's out there." For Entertainment Weekly's complete cover story, and more information on "CSI," click here. CLICK HERE to Try 2 RISK FREE issues of Entertainment Weekly . Copyright 2009 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc. All rights reserved. ### SUMMARY:

"CSI's" William Petersen has last episode Thursday . Show's star leaves at the top of the heap -- but he was ready to go . "CSI" adding new character played by Laurence Fishburne .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Tucson, Arizona (CNN) -- Shot in the head less than a week ago, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords continues to make positive progress, her husband and doctors told CNN in exclusive interviews on Thursday. The chief of neurosurgery at Tucson's University Medical Center said that Giffords' eye movements suggest the congresswoman is experiencing "glimmers of recognition." "That tracking of the eyes tells you a whole lot more, that she's aware of her surroundings to some extent," Dr. Michael Lemole told Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent. "She's trying to engage that reality." Giffords opened her eyes briefly for the first time Wednesday, with her husband, her parents and other members of Congress in the room, and continued to open them on Thursday. "It was extraordinary," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, who was holding Giffords' hand when she opened her eyes on Wednesday. "It was a miracle to witness." The incident occurred shortly after President Barack Obama had visited Giffords in her hospital room. "I think she realized the president of the United States was there, but I'm not sure she knew why," Mark Kelly, Giffords' husband, told CNN Thursday in an exclusive interview. Giffords' breathing tube could be removed as early as Friday, Kelly said. Less than an hour after his Wednesday visit, given permission to disclose the information by Kelly, Obama electrified a memorial-service crowd and a national television audience by revealing one of the most promising pieces of news about Gifford's condition to emerge since an assassination attempt against her on Saturday. Giffords was squeezing and stroking Gillibrand's hand, as doctors previously said she had been able to do. Giffords "absolutely could hear everything we were saying," Gillibrand said. "And Debbie (Wasserman Schultz, D-Florida) and I were telling her how much she was inspiring the nation with her courage, her strength, and we were talking about the things we wanted to do as soon as she was better." Gillibrand mentioned having another night out with Giffords and her husband for beer and pizza. And Wasserman Schultz recounted telling her, "Come on, you've got to get better, because we expect you up in New Hampshire this summer" at Wasserman Schultz's vacation home. "And just as I said that, that's when she suddenly was struggling to open ... her eyes," Wasserman Schultz said. "First just a little bit. And the doctors couldn't believe it. They said, 'This is such a good time.' " Kelly saw her struggling, Gillibrand said, and he and the others began to encourage her, saying, "Open your eyes, Gabby. Open your eyes." And Giffords did. Her right eye remains bandaged, but Giffords is opening both of them, doctors said Thursday . "She took a moment to focus, you could see she was focusing," Gillibrand said. "And then Mark said ... 'Gabby, if you can see me, if you can see me, give us a thumbs-up ... She didn't only give a thumbs-up, she literally raised her entire hand." But Giffords didn't stop there, Gillibrand said. She reached out and grabbed her husband "and is touching him and starts to really choke him like she was really trying to hug him." He asked her to touch his wedding ring, "and she touches his ring, then she grabs his whole watch and wrist and then the doctor was just so excited, he said, 'You don't understand ... this is amazing what she is doing right now and beyond our greatest hopes.' " "It was, as you can imagine, a glorious moment," said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who was also in the room. Of the six patients the hospital is still treating from Saturday's shooting, Giffords is the only one in critical condition. Four others are in fair condition, and the sixth was being released from the hospital Thursday, said Dr. Peter Rhee, medical director of the University Medical Center's trauma center. Giffords remains in critical condition because doctors are worried about her losing ground, said Lemole. Giffords' doctors spoke exclusively to CNN Thursday about the first moments after her arrival at the hospital. "My first response was I grabbed her hand, leaned into her an said 'Ms. Giffords, you're in the hospital, we're going to care for you, please squeeze my hand' and she did," said Dr. Randall Friese, a trauma surgeon. "I got the impression that she was trying to communicate but was frustrated by the fact that she couldn't communicate," he said. In some of his first public comments since Saturday's shooting, Giffords' husband told CNN he was in Houston when he got a call saying that his wife had been shot. Worried that a commercial flight would take too long, Kelly, a NASA astronaut, flew in a friend's plane to Arizona and met Giffords in the intensive care unit after surgery. A 9-year-old girl, Christina Green, and Arizona's chief federal judge, John Roll, are among the dead, along with Gabe Zimmerman, a Giffords staffer. A funeral mass was held for Green on Thursday. Also Thursday, first lady Michelle Obama released an open letter to parents about the shooting. "In the days and weeks ahead, as we struggle with these issues ourselves, many of us will find that our children are struggling with them as well," she wrote. "The questions my daughters have asked are the same ones that many of your children will have -- and they don't lend themselves to easy answers." "But they will provide an opportunity for us as parents to teach some valuable lessons -- about the character of our country, about the values we hold dear, and about finding hope at a time when it seems far away," the first lady continued. Authorities say Giffords was the target of the shooting. Twelve other people suffered gunshot wounds, the Pima County Sheriff has said, while others were injured trying to flee the scene. Tucson resident Jared Lee Loughner, 22, is facing federal charges in the attack. A bag that is believed to belong to Loughner contains the same kind of ammunition as was used in Saturday's massacre, authorities said Thursday. Even when Giffords' prognosis was grim, she has consistently defied the odds and met or exceeded expectations. The next step, doctors told reporters Thursday, is the removal of Giffords' breathing tube. She is breathing on her own "with very little support," Rhee said, but he wasn't sure when the tube might come out. Giffords is "becoming more and more alert at this time," he said, telling reporters she acts like someone waking up in the morning -- yawning and rubbing her eyes. She has been opening her eyes more often since Wednesday, Lemole said. "This is all very encouraging," he said. "... It is a significant move forward." Rhee said Giffords has been undergoing physical therapy, in which staffers sit her up with her legs dangling off the side of the bed. When asked, she can move both legs, straightening them out, he said. Safeway, which owns the grocery store where the shooting took place, took out a full-page ad in Tucson's Arizona Daily Star newspaper Thursday, saying it is proud to be part of a community that cares so deeply about one another. The company is working to reopen the store, it said. Doctors have cautiously described Giffords' recovery as going according to plan, so far absent of any complications or issues, and have said throughout that she has been able to communicate when they lessen her sedation and allow her to awaken. Lemole said he was in the room when Giffords opened her eyes, saying it might have been the "unexpected familiarity" of having close friends visit that perhaps Giffords wasn't expecting. "This is the part that doctors, I think, have the hardest time with -- those intangibles in medicine," he said, referring to the role that family and friends can play in prompting patient progress. "Miracles happen every day," Lemole said. "... A lot of medicine is outside our control." CNN's Steve Dolce contributed to this report. ### SUMMARY:

NEW: Surgeon says Giffords responded to request to squeeze his hand before surgery . Doctor: Giffords' eye movements suggest "glimmers of recognition" Giffords' husband: "I think she realized the president" visited her Wednesday . Gabrielle Giffords opens her eyes with friends in the room on Wednesday .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- She's laid down the law in female skiing for the past five years, now Lindsey Vonn is pondering legal action in her quest to test herself against the men. The International Ski Federation (FIS) blocked her bid to challenge the sport's top male stars at a recent meeting in Canada, but as Vonn has proved throughout her glittering career to date she's no quitter. Speaking exclusively to CNN ahead of an Alpine World Cup event in Val d'Isere, France, the finest female skier of her generation insisted this fight wasn't over. Vonn said: "I was definitely disappointed with their decision. After discussing with them my request they seemed pretty positive and optimistic that we could find a solution and then I got their answer and they were completely against it. "I don't want to make a big stink out of it but I feel like their response that I can't race with the men simply because I'm a woman was definitely gender-biased so I'm going to do what I can and hopefully make something work. "So right now I'm looking into options -- my father is an attorney so I'm just seeing if there's any options, legally, that I can take." It is a brave person who pits their wits against Vonn. The 28-year-old already has a cabinet stuffed full of silverware, including Olympic gold at Vancouver in 2010, and is officially the second most successful female skier of all time. Vonn is renowned in Europe's skiing heartlands and a bona fide star in North America but she claims a battle with the male fraternity would elevate the sport to new heights in her homeland. She responded to the FIS ruling in typical fashion by sweeping all three downhill events at Lake Louise in Canada, despite crashing during one, and all that on the back of recovering from a stomach illness which left her hospitalized in November. Vonn was also on the podium at the most recent meeting in St. Moritz and is third in the overall standings as she strives for a fifth career Alpine World Cup title. But as she continues her preparation for this weekend's meet at Val d'Isere, her other goal has clearly not been forgotten. "I don't see Lindsey giving up anytime soon, that's for sure, she'll try another avenue," said 1992 Olympic champion Kerrin Lee-Gartner, who thinks Vonn would have finished around 20th had her wish to race the men at Lake Louise been granted. "She's doing this for her but with that she also appreciates what it'll do for skiing in North America and the United States. People know who she is but they don't really understand the depth of her greatness." U.S. women's head coach Alex Hoedlmoser agrees with Lee-Gartner. The Austrian, himself a former national giant slalom champion, says Vonn's commitment sets her apart from her competitors. "It's obvious that she has put all of her energy into the sport in the last five years," Hoedlmoser explained to CNN. "That makes her special. She's living for her sport. She's prepared like nobody else going into races. That makes a difference." After her new-season successes, the Minnesota native now has a career total of 57 victories, pushing her ahead of Switzerland's Vreni Schnieder and into second on the all-time win list. Only legendary Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proll remains ahead of Vonn, on 62 career victories, a tally that, barring injury, surely she will surpass. "Moser-Proll was an unbelievable champion and won a lot of races at that time," added Hoedlmoser. "But there wasn't the same competition then. "The sport is getting more complex, it is harder to break those records. I think she [Vonn] is the greatest so far and it is a matter of time before she breaks those records." Vonn, a four-time Alpine World Cup champion, lobbied the FIS to race the men at Lake Louise as it is one of the few meets in the skiing calendar where males and females compete on the same slopes. But a diktat from the sport's governing body ruled "one gender is not entitled to participate in the races of the other." "It's not like I'm getting 20th every day and saying I want to race the men," Vonn told reporters in Canada. "I try to let my skiing speak for itself. "I don't know exactly where I'd stack up, but that's kind of the whole point, to see where I stand and see how much farther I can push my skiing because the men, they're skiing is the best in the world hands down. That's where I want to get my skiing to be." A perfect illustration of Vonn's supremacy came at the venue that starts the weekend as Lake Louise, and ends it as Lake Lindsey. "She was near-perfect the first day," Lee-Gartner explained. "On the second day she made a major mistake and it was almost disastrous, she had her tails of her skis in the net, she was almost sideways and she still won by half a second. "It's difficult for her to maintain the elite level of focus throughout the season. For Lindsey she is very goal orientated, she feeds off any doubt whatsoever. She says it fuels her fire and makes her go." Vonn is not alone in her quest, and she points to female golfer Anneka Sorenstam as an inspiration in her battle. The Swede, who won 72 times on the LPGA Tour and triumphed in ten major championships, took on the men at a PGA Tour event back in 2003. Prior to the tournament, three-time major winner Vijay Singh said Sorenstam "didn't belong" at the tournament. She eventually shot four-over-par and missed the cut, but tied for first in driving accuracy during her first round. Vonn had previously told the New York Times: "I'd like to have one chance in my life to race against them. Annika Sorenstam did it in golf and paved the way for women. I'm not asking for World Cup points. I just want the chance to compete." Lee-Gartner says there are plenty of male competitors on the tour who support Vonn's desire but also some who joke she should be allowed to see how she gets on against them on the notoriously treacherous Kitzbuhel track in Austria. But, the FIS aside, there is almost total uniformity within the sport that skiing would benefit from the huge media interest any showdown would attract. "The more I reflect on who she is, what she's done and how great it would be for this sport, in my opinion it is a marketing opportunity that FIS should be taking," Lee-Gartner added. "I realise in Austria, Switzerland, alpine skiing is one of the premier sports they watch, they don't necessarily have an issue getting people interested in the sport. "Anytime there's an athlete's presence and profile has surpassed the sport in that nation, which hers has in North America, I think we'd be crazy not to use that opportunity she's handing to us on a platter." Vonn is already the most successful skier the United States has ever produced, and should she overtake Moser-Proll's record, only one person could claim to have more wins than her -- Sweden's male legend Ingemar Stenmark, on 86. Of Vonn's quest to cross the gender boundary, Hoedlmoser said: "That's something she really wants, she sees it as the next level of ski racing. She wants to see how far up she is, that's the only goal. "She can compete with them, it all depends on the snow preparation, what the conditions are. We have situations in training where she trains against men. She's never done it in a race situation and I think that's where she really wants to be." Vonn is backed by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association and now seems determined to head down legal avenues to pursue her dream of sharing a slope with the men. Lee-Gartner added: "I'm not sure if FIS will be able to say yes because they do things in a very old fashioned way. But she's a pioneer and for the first of anything it takes a little bit longer to break the barrier down." ### SUMMARY:

Skiing sensation Lindsey Vonn is considering legal action in her bid to race men . The 28-year-old American is the second most successful female skier of all time . Skiing's governing body rejected her request to take on the men at Lake Louise . Vonn has four Alpine Skiing World Cup titles to her name and an Olympic gold medal .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Jinan, China (CNN) -- The trial of disgraced Chinese Communist Party high-flyer Bo Xilai concluded Monday with a dramatic final flourish as he accused the former police chief who brought about his downfall of having a crush on his wife. Bo's politically sensitive corruption trial has brought forth a plethora of rich, eye-opening details about the apparently lavish and emotionally fraught life of his family and inner circle, giving Chinese people insights into how some of the ruling elite live. But at the same time, doubts have arisen about the completeness of the account of court proceedings provided by Chinese authorities. Still, over the past five days, the court has heard allegations of adultery, a punch to the head, squabbles over a villa on the French Riviera and attempts to cover up the murder of a British businessman. Was Bo's trial truly transparent? As the trial wrapped up Monday, the prosecution called for Bo to be strictly punished over the charges of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power. The court in the eastern city of Jinan said the verdict would be announced at a later date. Bo, a charismatic and divisive leader when he was in power, has kept up a steady attack on the case against him throughout the hearings. In comments Monday published by the court, Bo complained that "not even the worst TV script writers could come up with such plots" as some of the bribery accusations. But he then proceeded to describe a storyline worthy of a soap opera, suggesting a romantic link between two figures who played central roles in the drama that ended his political career. The people in question are Wang Lijun, Bo's former police chief in the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing, whose failed attempt to defect to the United States in February 2012 precipitated the crisis that shook the Communist Party to its foundations; and Gu Kailai, Bo's wife, who is now in prison after a court convicted her last year of murdering Neil Heywood, a British businessman and associate of the Bo family. Prosecutors accuse Bo of threatening and improperly firing Wang after learning of Gu's suspected involvement in Heywood's murder. Five things not to have missed . A punch or a slap? Wang, who is now serving a 15-year prison sentence for multiple offenses, said in testimony over the weekend that upon learning of the suspicions, Bo punched him in the head, bloodying his mouth and causing a "discharge" from his ear. Wang told prosecutors that Bo's physical violence against him, as well as the disappearance of his aides and investigators, led to his decision to seek refuge in the U.S. diplomatic mission in Chengdu. Bo denies punching Wang, claiming it was just a slap. And over the weekend, he questioned Wang's reliability, saying "this man has extremely bad character and lies on the spot." In his statement Monday, Bo offered a new explanation for Wang's attempted defection. "The true reason of Wang Lijun's flight was because he had a crush on Gu Kailai and he couldn't get over it," Bo said, alleging that Wang had confessed his feelings to Gu and "slapped himself eight times." In written and video testimony shown in court last week, Gu linked Bo to some of the crimes the prosecution alleges. Bo responded by suggesting that as she'd already been convicted, she lacked credibility and was seeking a more lenient sentence. The allegation of Wang's feelings for Gu added a fresh layer of intrigue to the case, which has drawn widespread interest on Weibo, China's Twitter-like microblog service. The court's official Weibo account, which provided updates on developments inside the courtroom, now has more than half a million followers. How and why Chinese politician veered off script . Doubts about the court's reporting . But with journalists from the international news media denied access to the courtroom, the comprehensiveness of the court's version of events is in question. The official microblog reported only selected parts of what transpired during the trial, two individuals with detailed knowledge of the court proceedings told CNN. The microblog leaves out some parts that may put Bo in a good light, they said. Some of Bo's courtroom comments expunged from the official account include his detailing of threats made against him and his family by investigators, the sources told CNN. During his incarceration, according to those sources, Bo said investigators warned him of the possibility of his wife's execution and his son's arrest, and told him about the cases of other prominent officials -- one of whom confessed and was spared and another who did not cooperate and was executed. Bo spoke for almost half an hour on Monday, much longer than what the court transcripts show, according to the sources. They said after Bo delivered his closing remarks, five family members in court stood up, clapping and saying: "Well said, Xilai! We will always be with you." Despite the restrictions on the flow of information, Chinese state-run media have highlighted the microblog disclosures as a new level of transparency. "They see this as an opportunity to present China as a country where rule of law is developing and where the judicial system is becoming more mature," said political commentator and columnist Frank Ching. "But at the same time, they want to have some control." Timeline: Bo Xilai scandal . 'A good legal mind' Based on the information that the court has divulged, Bo has come across as a combative defendant, denying allegations against him and attacking the credibility of prosecution witnesses. "I think he has performed very well in court," Ching said. "He seems to have a good legal mind and has been able to argue his own case very well." But despite his assertive performance, many observers still expect him to be convicted in a legal system where the Communist Party controls police, prosecution and courts. Bo appeared to acknowledge his likely fate during his final statement Monday. "There are times when I felt weak, because I know I'm doomed and there's no escape for me," he said. "Ending up in prison, I have mixed feelings toward the rest of my life." Trial by social media . The rise of a princeling . Bo is a princeling, a term that refers to the children of revolutionary veterans who boast of political connections and influence. His late father, Bo Yibo, was a revolutionary contemporary of Chairman Mao Zedong and the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. Over the past three decades, Bo rose to power as a city mayor, provincial governor, minister of commerce and member of the Politburo, the powerful policy-making body of the Communist Party. With the help of Wang, he was credited with a spectacular, albeit brutal, crackdown on organized crime during his time as the top party official of Chongqing. Bo's populist policies drew admirers and detractors, but he ultimately ran afoul of party power brokers. Long underwear from the 1960s . His high profile and connections among the nation's ruling elite have made his case an extremely delicate matter for Chinese authorities. The court hearings have included plentiful details about the jet-set lifestyle led by Bo's wife and youngest son, which prosecutors allege was funded by rich businessmen to secure influence from Bo. The favors mentioned include a villa in the South of France, and trips to destinations around the globe for the son, Bo Guagua, who is now living in the United States. Bo Xilai has denied he knew details about where the money was coming from. And on Monday, he sought to play up his Spartan credentials. "I have no interest in clothing," he said. "My thermal long underpants were bought by my mother in the 1960s." Nonetheless, the portrait that has emerged of Bo, his family and their former position near the top of the Chinese system has proved revealing. "Since the founding of the Communist Party and the People's Republic, this has been the only time that connections among the party, government, judiciary, politicians' private lives, as well as power and interests, are explained in such a clear, public and entertaining way," the dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei wrote on his Twitter account. CNN's Steven Jiang reported from Jinan, Jaime Florcruz reported from from Beijing, and Jethro Mullen reported and wrote from Hong Kong. CNN's David McKenzie in Jinan contributed to this report. ### SUMMARY:

The trial concludes after five days of hearings in the eastern city of Jinan . Bo accuses his former police chief of having a crush on his wife . Two sources say the court hasn't disclosed the full proceedings . Some key parts that may put Bo in a good light have been left out, they say .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- When you think back to your favorite TV memories, often music is intertwined. Whether it's the theme song from "Gilligan's Island," "M*A*S*H," "Cheers" or "Batman," it's often the thing people remember more than anything else about a show. But were they ever on the same level with, say, the themes from "Star Wars" or "The Godfather?" Over the past decade, we've seen the rise of television as prestige entertainment. And we've had memorable theme music to go along with it, from "The Sopranos" to "Dexter" to "Mad Men." Two of the most noteworthy themes from the recent era, "Battlestar Galactica" and "The Walking Dead," come from the mind of young Emmy award-winning composer Bear McCreary, who has been in demand ever since "Battlestar." For example, he won that Emmy for the Starz TV series "Da Vinci's Demons," and most recently, he's composed the theme for the high-profile network series "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and the upcoming Starz series "Black Sails." McCreary recently spoke to CNN about what goes into TV music in the 21st century, and whether it now stands shoulder to shoulder with movie scoring. CNN: How did you first find yourself in this line of work? Bear McCreary: I've never wanted to do anything else for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I loved film and television and loved music. I was always keenly aware of music in film and television, more so than anyone else I knew. When I'd go see a movie, my friends would talk about the cool spaceships (and later, the hot chicks). But for me, I would talk about how Jerry Goldsmith used the French horns instead of the English horns to signify a different character, or what Danny Elfman or Elmer Bernstein was doing. These were my heroes growing up, so it never occurred to me to do anything else with my life. It was predestined almost. I'm very lucky that I got into it, because there's literally nothing else I would be interested in doing in my life. My first project was "Battlestar Galactica," which put me on the map in a big way in science fiction. Even the horror and suspense genres, action shows -- I do a lot of work in that environment. When (creator) David Goyer called me about doing "Da Vinci's Demons," it was the first time I was asked to do a historical period piece, so I leapt at the opportunity. One of the things that makes it different -- when you're doing regular TV, or science fiction especially, you can't really argue with how music sounds. You can do whatever you want. It doesn't mean it's always tasteful, but there's no right or wrong. I really wanted to embrace the restrictions of that time period -- Renaissance instrumentation, Renaissance melodies -- I really wanted to evoke that period. The problem was Goyer wanted to do the opposite of that. It was a very modern adventure show. What ended up happening is actually a hybrid of both ideas. We ended up with this unique hybrid. When you hear it, ends up sounding like the show -- it doesn't sound like anything else. CNN: At what point in the process of making a TV episode is the music composed? McCreary: I definitely know what's coming. I'm aware of where the stories are going. But ultimately that's to get some preliminary ideas in the back of my mind. I look at the finished video to figure out what it needs -- are there shortcomings? Are there storylines not quite being communicated? And that's when I sit with the showrunners and get from them what they want the audience to feel and what stories they want to track. Then I go back to my studio to add all that narrative connective tissue in a language that still stays true to the sound of the show. CNN: "The Walking Dead" has a memorably haunting theme. How did you approach making music for the apocalypse? McCreary: It's funny, I had dealt with the end of the world in "Battlestar Galactica," "Caprica," "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." Even with "Eureka," I had done it. After a while, I had a feeling, wow, I'm the end of the world guy! With "The Walking Dead," I wanted to focus on the opposite of that. I wanted to let the apocalyptic events unfold naturally. I try to focus on the actors' performance and try to support them. They're the ones who react -- they are us. When Rick crawls out of the hospital for the first time among all the bodies, the music -- given what he's seen and probably smelled at that time -- is pretty reserved. And that I think also heightens the tension. Horror is a particularly tricky genre for television. It's hard enough to scare an audience and keep them on the edge of their seat for two hours. You really have to pull out a lot of tricks to do that. We're on hour 50 of "The Walking Dead" and these producers are keeping people on their toes, and keeping things fresh and keeping it scary. So a subtle approach helps that, because when you have a really long duration story, you want to conserve your energy as much as possible. CNN: What is your favorite type of scene to score? Your most challenging scene? McCreary: It's very hard to say. I thrive on diversity. Action scenes are fun until you do a million of them. Emotional scenes are great until you get too many in a row. My favorite type of scene is one that has layers to it, narratively. I like scenes that when I look at them, it's not obvious what the music should be doing. Should it be scary? Should it be funny? What is the character thinking? If the slightest shift in the music will make you feel sympathy to one person over another, that's really fun and that puts the composer in a powerful position. There was a cue in "The Walking Dead" -- in the third season, the fourth episode, a major character died. I'm a bit of a method actor when I write, I can't write music for a scene without completely taking myself to this emotion and trying to channel my feelings into music. When people watched it, they were gutted and heartbroken when they saw this scene. I had to watch it probably 70 times. I would be weeping sometimes, my stomach hurt. I was truly miserable doing that scene. But the key turned out pretty good and moved people. Those sort of scenes are not fun to do. The process is not my idea of a good time, but the rewards are much higher. CNN: What are your favorite TV themes of all time? McCreary: The first TV theme that really popped up for me was "The Simpsons." Danny Elfman's interesting, harmonic take, using the tritone, which sounded a little weird. I remember picking that up on the piano and wondering why that note was weird. What stoked me as a kid was "Mission: Impossible." It is in 5/4. It is one of the handful of famous television theme songs that are not in 4/4 or 3/4. No one realized what they were hearing. It's very sophisticated scoring. CNN: Where do you think TV music is today? McCreary: (TV has) been a proving ground for actors, writers and directors. It's changing -- it's less the training ground to hone your skills and go onto movies. Now, you get good at your skill and you get onto really incredible television shows. The scores on TV are so satisfying. For me -- to take it back to "Da Vinci" -- it feels like a bit of a renaissance in the industry. CNN: I saw that they recently created an instrument based on Leonardo da Vinci's design -- a hybrid of a piano and cello. McCreary: I heard about the designs on the codex for this and planned to build this and do something with it for a future episode, having no idea this guy had built it. Of course I was thrilled when this went up on the social media radar. It just puts Leonardo as a pop culture figure in the mainstream -- though he never really left. The mechanics are different, like a rotating keyboard and the hurdy-gurdy engine. David Goyer and I are talking about it and we've got some ideas cooking. ### SUMMARY:

Music and theme songs continue to be among the most memorable parts of TV . With the arrival of prestige TV series, music on television is also gaining in esteem . Young Emmy-winning composer Bear McCreary sees a "renaissance in the industry"

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- A Florida judge revoked bond Friday for George Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin. Seminole County Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. ordered Zimmerman to surrender to the county sheriff no later than Sunday afternoon. Lester accused Zimmerman of having misrepresented how much money he had when his bond was originally set in April. Prosecutors say he had $135,000 at the time Zimmerman's wife, Shellie, told the court, under oath, that they were indigent. The prosecution cited as evidence recorded telephone conversations that Zimmerman had with his wife prior to the hearing. The conversations were recorded while Zimmerman was being held in the Seminole County Jail after being charged with second-degree murder on April 11. He has pleaded not guilty and has been free on bail. Martin, 17, was fatally shot February 26 while walking in a Sanford, Florida, neighborhood where he was staying during a visit with his father. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, told police he shot the teenager in self-defense. "The defense, through Mrs. Zimmerman, lied to this court about the amount of money that they had," said trial prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda. "I don't know what words to use other than it was a blatant lie." Outside the courthouse, a lawyer for the family of Martin said Friday's decision is significant. "Judge Lester's finding that George Zimmerman was dishonest is very important because his credibility is the most important thing in this entire case," Benjamin Crump told reporters. The killing spurred protests among people who criticized police handling of the investigation and said Martin, who was unarmed and carrying a bag of Skittles and an Arizona Iced Tea at the time he was killed, was racially profiled. The teen was African-American; Zimmerman is Hispanic. In court documents, State Attorney Angela B. Corey also said that Zimmerman had two passports, and the passport that he surrendered to the court at the April hearing was one that Zimmerman had reported stolen on March 8, 2004. That passport was valid until May 2012, Corey said. Zimmerman was issued a second passport on March 26, 2004, and that one is valid until 2014, she said. The prosecutor asked the court that Zimmerman be ordered to surrender the second passport to authorities. But Lester appeared to accept the explanation from Zimmerman's lawyer that his client had given him the second passport, and the lawyer simply forgot to hand it over to authorities until Friday. Regarding Zimmerman's finances, Corey alleged that in the recorded phone calls in April the couple "spoke in code to hide what they were doing" regarding the money in a credit union account belonging to the couple. The money was apparently donated by members of the public to Zimmerman's website. Zimmerman "fully controlled and participated in the transfer of money from the PayPal account to defendant and his wife's credit union accounts," Corey said in court records. "This occurred prior to the time defendant was arguing to the court that he was indigent and his wife had no money." In late April, Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara, said that the money raised by the website was put into a trust account that the attorney controls. But Corey stated Friday in the court documents: "The money still belongs to defendant and he can demand it at any time." Court papers provided a partial transcript of a phone call allegedly showing the code used by Zimmerman and his wife on April 16: . Zimmerman: "In my account do I have at least $100?" His wife: "No." Zimmerman: "How close am I?" His wife: "$8. $8.60." Zimmerman: "Really. So total everything how much are we looking at?" His wife: "Like $155." The prosecutor said the judge "relied on false representations and statements" by Zimmerman and his wife when the court set his bond at $150,000. He was required to post only 10% of that. Corey argued that the court should revoke the bond or increase it "substantially." Lester appeared angry that the court had not been told about the money. "Does your client get to sit there like a potted palm and let you lead me down the primrose path?" he asked Zimmerman's lawyer. "That's the issue." O'Mara told CNN on Friday night that he had discussed the judge's decision with Zimmerman, who was not in court on Friday. "He's frustrated because he now has to come out of hiding," O'Mara told CNN's Anderson Cooper. "You need to realize we're still talking about a 28-year-old who's being charged with a crime he does not believe he committed, and his whole life has been turned upside down, so I think that it all needs to be kept in context." O'Mara added that he hoped the judge's revocation of bond would be temporary. "We're going to have a conversation with the judge to try to explain it away. Hopefully, that will be worthwhile and we're going to get back out on bond." Meanwhile, Zimmerman's defense team and prosecutors were both on the same side in court Friday afternoon fighting media companies' request to release more information in the case. Prosecution and defense lawyers argued that a host of material should remain sealed. Opinion: Shooting wasn't a case of racial profiling . The intense public attention on the case is a chief reason certain information should remain out of the public eye, de la Rionda said in a motion filed earlier this month. He argued that releasing too much "will result in this matter being tried in the press rather than in court, and an inability to seat a fair and impartial jury in Seminole County." De la Rionda also voiced worries about witnesses being "reluctant to testify" for fear that their privacy would be violated and other witnesses being "harassed by media representatives." Specifically, the state wants the names and addresses of witnesses kept out of the public record. It asks for the same for crime scene and autopsy photos, a 911 recording of the incident, and cell phone records of Martin, Zimmerman and one witness. De la Rionda is also requesting a judge seal statements Zimmerman made to law enforcement officers, some of which may be used against him at trial because they were "inconsistent with the physical evidence and statements of witnesses." New documents shed light on Martin killing . O'Mara filed his own motion agreeing with the prosecution's desire not to release material. He said the defense wants 1,000 e-mails received by Sanford police to be sealed, plus statements by Zimmerman. He asked that text messages, e-mail messages or journals made by the defendant be kept private, at least until they can be reviewed. Scott Ponce of the Miami-based law firm Holland & Knight argued for more disclosure on behalf of various newspapers, TV stations and their parent companies. The opposing arguments were laid out in motions filed in advance of Friday's hearing. This week, Ponce filed responses to the prosecution and defense positions, addressing them point by point. "The broad secrecy the state seeks ... is not supported by statute, constitution or case law, and it certainly cannot be justified in this prosecution," he said. Ponce argued that civilian witnesses' names and addresses cannot be sealed under Florida's public records law, because they would not be "defamatory" or "jeopardize the safety" of a witness. He said the state hasn't proven anyone is in jeopardy. The contested cell phone records may be reviewed and, if need be, have parts redacted, but they shouldn't be withheld entirely, he said. Ponce said Zimmerman's statements to police should not be treated as "confessions," which would not be made public before trial. The judge expressed sympathy for the prosecution and defense attorneys but said, "The law is against us." He noted that the law in Florida "favors full, complete, open disclosure." Lester said he would review the discovery request and release material "in a redacted fashion." HLN's Josey Crews, CNN's Michael Martinez and InSession's Nancy Leung contributed to this report. ### SUMMARY:

Zimmerman is ordered to surrender within 48 hours . He is charged with murder in the death of Trayvon Martin . Media lawyers want more information released about the case . The prosecution and defense are both fighting to keep material sealed .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Kiev, Ukraine (CNN) -- Tensions in Ukraine escalated sharply Thursday, with Russia embarking on new military drills near the border after Ukrainian forces said they killed five pro-Russian militants. Ukraine's Interior Ministry said Ukrainian forces killed the militants during operations to take down pro-Russian activists' roadblocks around the southeastern city of Slavyansk. The Russian response was swift. Russian President Vladimir Putin said "if the Kiev regime has started to use the army against the population inside the country, it, beyond any doubt, is a very serious crime." There would be "consequences" for those making the decisions and for relations between his and Ukraine's governments, Putin said at a media forum Thursday, according to state TV channel Russia 24. Shortly afterward, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia would conduct military drills in response, reported Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. "We are forced to react to such a development in the situation," Shoigu is quoted as saying. "Starting today, exercises of battalion tactical groups from the Southern and Western military districts will begin near the borders with Ukraine." Ukraine issued a 48-hour deadline for Russia to explain its military drills, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Thursday. The ministry did not say what Ukraine would do if Russia does not comply. Ukrainian acting President Oleksandr Turchynov had strong words for Moscow, accusing it of "openly threatening" his country with its troop buildup on Ukraine's eastern border. Kiev's security operation is intended to protect peaceful citizens, he said, but in response Russia "coordinates and openly supports terrorist killers with weapons in their hands" in eastern Ukraine. "With no reason to do so, the Russian leadership allows itself to boldly interfere in the internal affairs of Ukraine," Turchynov said. "Russia supports terrorism in our country at the state level." Top U.S. officials -- including President Barack Obama -- on Thursday vowed more punitive international actions targeting Russia's economy if Moscow, in their view, continues to escalate rather than de-escalate the situation. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called Russia's actions "a full-throated effort to actively sabotage the democratic process through gross external intimidation." "If Russia continues in this direction," he added, "it will not just be a grave mistake, it will be an expensive mistake." According to senior U.S. officials, additional U.S. sanctions against Russia could come as early as Friday. Among the targets for the new sanctions are key Putin allies, high-profile Russian oligarchs and possibly Russian institutions and companies, the officials told CNN. The new sanctions "will be an escalation," said one U.S. official. More violence in eastern Ukraine . Fresh clashes Thursday only underscored the volatility of the situation, especially with a reported 40,000 Russian troops positioned near the Ukraine border. That includes the killing of the five pro-Russian militants and the destruction of three checkpoints around Slavyansk, according to the government in Kiev. A police officer was also injured, the Interior Ministry said. Meanwhile, Stella Horosheva -- a spokeswoman for the self-appointed pro-Russian mayor of Slavyansk, Vyacheslav Ponomaryov -- said an attack at an impromptu roadway checkpoint outside the city took the life of one pro-Russian militiaman and wounded another. The pro-Russian unit at the checkpoint told CNN that armored vehicles came to the roadblock but didn't fire, with locals setting fire to tires to prevent them from passing. The unit said a sniper killed one member of the "self-defense" group and injured another on their way home from an overnight stint at the barricade. Ponomaryov, visiting the site, also said a sniper killed one of the pro-Russian activists. The government accused Ponomaryov of threatening to kill anyone possessing a leaflet that the Interior Ministry says asks people "to keep the peace, ... not obey illegal orders" and stay inside. CNN hasn't independently confirmed reports of threats against Slavyansk residents. Slavyansk isn't the only city in the eastern Donetsk region -- where some have tried to declare independence from Ukraine -- on edge. Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov accused roughly 70 attackers of trying to take weapons from a Ukrainians military unit in the town of Artemivsk. Security forces fended off the attack. There was also unrest in the eastern city of Mariupol. Turchynov announced pro-Russian protesters had been pushed out of its city hall. But one of those demonstrators, Irina Voropayeva, claimed that an assault on City Hall by what she said were extreme-right Ukrainians failed. Ukraine's Interior Ministry later stated about 30 people armed with baseball bats entered the building early Thursday demanding the occupiers. As the two groups clashed -- leaving five injured -- police tried to separate them. Five people were injured. Obama: U.S. 'teed up' to impose more sanctions . This kind of violence isn't what optimists expected over a week ago, after the United States, Russia, the European Union and Ukraine agreed to a deal that, among other things, called for illegal groups to disarm and vacate occupied buildings in return for amnesty. The situation has only deteriorated since then, as has the war of words. Speaking in Tokyo, U.S. President Barack Obama again ruled out any military solution in Ukraine but warned that the United States is "teed up" to impose further sanctions on Russia if it does not abide by the April 17 deal. "There was some possibility that Russia could take the wiser course after the meetings in Geneva," he said. "Instead, we continue to see militias and armed men taking over buildings, harassing folks who are disagreeing with them, and destabilizing the region, and we haven't seen Russia step up and discourage that." Kerry sounded off against Russia later Thursday, reeling off what he called positive efforts by Ukraine's government to implement the Geneva deal while rapping Moscow for having "refused to take a single concrete step in the right direction." He pointed to "peaceful protesters ... armed with grenade launchers and automatic weapons," self-defense group members wearing "brand new matching military uniforms and speaking in dialects that every local knows comes from thousands of miles away" and the reported arrests of Russian intelligence operatives in Ukraine." Through its actions and "propaganda," Moscow has attempted to undermine "a legitimate political process with the barrel of a gun and the force of a mob that couldn't be achieved any other way," said Kerry. "It is clear that only one side, one country, is keeping its word," he said. "... The world, sadly, has rightly judged that Russia has put its faith in distraction, deception and destabilization." But Russia sees things differently, saying that according to the international deal, Kiev must take responsibility for disarming the right-wing ultranationalists that Moscow blames for violence. "We don't have any doubts that the first step must be done by the Kiev authorities," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference. He accused the West of treating leaders in Kiev like "angels" while blaming Russia for the unrest. Putin, speaking on Russia 24, said the events unfolding in eastern Ukraine demonstrate that Moscow's decision to support the Crimean people, who voted to join Russia last month in a referendum condemned by the West, was right. "Otherwise they would have witnessed the same events as eastern Ukraine and surely even worse," he said. "So, this is another proof that we have acted correctly and on time." Lavrov: U.S. 'running the show' in Kiev 'without any scruples' How will the Ukraine crisis end? Five possible scenarios . Dutch fighter jets intercept 2 Russian bombers in their airspace . CNN's Victoria Butenko reported from Kiev; CNN's Ben Brumfield wrote and reported from Atlanta and Laura Smith-Spark from London. CNN's Alla Eshchenko and Tim Lister reported from near Slavyansk and Gul Tuysuz from Kiev. CNN's Greg Botelho, Elise Labott, Arkady Irshenko, Boriana Milanova and Gabe LaMonica contributed to this report. ### SUMMARY:

NEW: Additional U.S. sanctions against Russia could come as early as Friday, officials say . Kerry: Russia will make an "expensive mistake" if it doesn't de-escalate situation . "Russia has put its faith in distraction, deception and destabilization," he adds . Russian defense chief plans military drills in response to Kiev's action, report says .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Los Angeles (CNN) -- AEG dropped its claim Monday for a $17.5 million insurance policy for Michael Jackson, just days after e-mails revealed the concert promoter had doubts about Jackson's health at the time they were applying for the insurance. AEG lawyer Marvin Putnam told CNN later Monday the move has been in the works for months and is not connected with the controversy over the e-mails. A Lloyds of London underwriter sued AEG and Michael Jackson LLC after Jackson's death, claiming they failed to disclose information about the pop star's health and drug use. "In exchange for AEG withdrawing its insurance claim, underwriters agreed to dismiss AEG from the case and to waive any costs recoverable from AEG," said Paul Schrieffer, attorney for the insurance underwriter. "The insurance case continues against the Michael Jackson Company LLC for, among other things, rescission of the policy due to nondisclosures of Michael Jackson's prior drug use." Source of leaked Michael Jackson e-mails identified . The Michael Jackson estate, which controls Michael Jackson Company LLC, is still pursuing the insurance payout, its lawyer said Monday. Jackson died of an overdose of a surgical anesthesia in combination with sedatives on June 25, 2009, according the the Los Angeles County coroner. Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty last year of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death. A controversy over the insurance claim erupted last week after the Los Angeles Times published e-mails which the insurance lawyer said had not been provided to him despite a year of discovery in the case. Randy Phillips, the president of AEG Live -- the concert-promotion branch of AEG -- called Jackson's death "a terrible tragedy" in one e-mail written weeks after he died, adding "but life must go on." "AEG will make a fortune from merch sales, ticket retention, the touring exhibition and the film/dvd," Phillips wrote. In fact, AEG Live was allowed to sell Jackson tour merchandise and share in the profits from the documentary "This Is It," produced from rehearsal video. The e-mails suggest AEG Live's president saw Jackson's problems first-hand the day the pop star was to appear at the O2 Arena to publicly announce the shows. "MJ is locked in his room drunk and despondent," Phillips wrote in a March 5, 2009, e-mail to AEG Live's parent company, the paper reported. "I (am) trying to sober him up." "I screamed at him so loud the walls are shaking," Phillips wrote. "He is an emotionally paralyzed mess riddled with self-loathing and doubt now that it is show time." The promoter blamed London traffic when Jackson was 90 minutes late for the announcement that day. "He's as healthy as he can be -- no health problems whatsoever," Phillips told CNN two months later to refute reports Jackson's health was threatening the concerts. The Los Angeles Times story, however, said the e-mails indicated major doubts about Jackson's ability to perform. "We cannot be forced into stopping this, which MJ will try to do because he is lazy and constantly changes his mind to fit his immediate wants," AEG Live executive Paul Gongaware e-mailed to Phillips. Jackson's missed rehearsals in June triggered concerns in e-mails that he was slow in learning his dance routines and would have to lip-sync on stage, the newspaper reported. "MJ is not in shape enough yet to sing this stuff live and dance at the same time," one e-mail from the show's music director read, the paper reported. A production manager wrote: "He was a basket case. Doubt is pervasive." A loud warning from show director Kenny Ortega, who worked closely with Jackson on previous tours, came in mid-June, just over a week before his death. Ortega wrote to Phillips that Jackson had "strong signs of paranoia, anxiety and obsessive-like behavior" and suggesting they bring a "top psychiatrist in to evaluate him ASAP." Previously on CNN.com: Jackson family drama . "It is like there are two people there. One (deep inside) trying to hold on to what he was and still can be and not wanting us to quit him, the other in this weakened and troubled state," Ortega wrote. "I believe we need professional guidance in this matter." Ortega testified at Murray's trial about his concerns about Jackson's frail condition and missed rehearsals. It resulted in a meeting six days before Jackson's death in which Murray assured the promoters he would have Jackson ready for rehearsals that next week. An e-mail from Phillips after that meeting said he had confidence in Murray "who I am gaining immense respect for as I get to deal with him more." "This doctor is extremely successful (we check everyone out) and does not need this gig, so he (is) totally unbiased and ethical," Phillips' e-mail said. A wrongful-death lawsuit, filed by Jackson's mother and his three children, contends that AEG contributed to the pop star's death by pressuring him to prepare even though the promoters knew he was in a weak condition and by its hiring and supervision of Dr. Murray. "Defendants did not hire Dr. Murray nor were they responsible for the death of Michael Jackson," AEG lawyer Putnam told CNN last week. AEG's lawyer accused Katherine Jackson, the children and their lawyers of leaking the e-mails to a reporter, in violation of a court order, despite a claim of responsibility by someone else. Howard Mann, who partnered with Katherine Jackson on a book about her family, acknowledged to CNN last week that he gave the documents to Times reporter Harriet Ryan. Mann was involved in a bitter copyright dispute concerning that book with Jackson's estate at the time he gave the reporter the documents, but the lawsuit was settled last week. Mann said he obtained the documents from various sources, but none of them came from the Jacksons or their lawyers. Some of the documents were part of discovery in other cases, including the criminal trial of Murray, he said. AEG lawyer Marvin Putnam, who said Tuesday that he had "unequivocal evidence" showing that Michael Jackson's mother and her lawyers leaked the e-mails, has asked the judge in the wrongful-death suit to punish Katherine Jackson with fines and exclude the e-mails as evidence in the case. "The documents released to the press were given to Mrs. Jackson and her attorneys -- and to no one else -- confidentially in discovery and subject to a court order," Putnam said Tuesday. On Thursday, he called it "convenient that Howard Mann -- a longtime business partner of the Jackson family -- has come forward in this fashion." AEG served a subpoena on Mann, ordering him to testify under oath about the source of the e-mails, on Friday, Putnam said. "Whether these documents were leaked through an intermediary or directly by Mrs. Jackson and her counsel, this remains an egregious violation of the court's order requiring immediate sanctions and an investigation," the AEG lawyer said. Putnam accused Jackson and her lawyers of leaking the documents -- despite that their "publication hurts her son's memory and her grandchildren more than anyone else" -- because they "know they cannot win on the law and are losing control over the case." "After months of discovery, plaintiffs now know what we have known all along -- there is nothing to support their claims," the AEG lawyer said. Jackson lawyer Kevin Boyle said the admission by Mann that he was the source of the e-mails should settle the matter. "He (Mann) definitely never received any documents from Katherine, Prince, Paris, or Blanket Jackson, nor from their lawyers in the wrongful death suit against AEG," said Jackson lawyer Kevin Boyle. Prince, Paris and Blanket Jackson are Michael Jackson's children. Boyle criticized AEG's lawyers for their haste in pointing the finger at the Jacksons. "AEG made these accusations against the Jackson family and their lawyers apparently without doing even the most rudimentary investigation," Boyle said. "We are further disturbed that the motion for sanctions filed by AEG was given to the press before it was served on Katherine Jackson or her counsel." ### SUMMARY:

NEW: AEG's decision is not connected with the e-mail controversy, it's lawyer says . E-mails leaked last week show concert promoters' doubts about Michael Jackson's health . A Lloyds of London underwriter insured Jackson's concert for $17.5 million . Jackson died two weeks before his London shows were set to begin .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: PUEBLO, Colorado (CNN) -- Orphan Train rider Stanley Cornell's oldest memory is of his mother's death in 1925. Stanley Cornell, right, and his younger brother, Victor, were adopted from an "Orphan Train." "My first feeling was standing by my mom's bedside when she was dying. She died of tuberculosis," recalls Cornell. "I remember her crying, holding my hand, saying to 'be good to Daddy.' " "That was the last I saw of her. I was probably four," Cornell says of his mother, Lottie Cornell, who passed away in Elmira, New York. His father, Floyd Cornell, was still suffering the effects of nerve gas and shell shock after serving as a soldier in combat during WWI. That made it difficult for him to keep steady work or care for his two boys. "Daddy Floyd," as Stanley Cornell calls his birth father, eventually contacted the Children's Aid Society. The society workers showed up in a big car with candy and whisked away Stanley and his brother, Victor, who was 16 months younger. See the Cornell family album » . Stanley Cornell remembers his father was crying and hanging on to a post. The little boy had a feeling he would not see his father again. The two youngsters were taken to an orphanage, the Children's Aid Society of New York, founded by social reformer Charles Loring Brace . "It was kind of rough in the orphans' home," Cornell remembers, adding that the older children preyed on the younger kids -- even though officials tried to keep them separated by chicken wire fences. He says he remembers being beaten with whips like those used on horses. New York City in 1926 was teeming with tens of thousands of homeless and orphaned children. These so-called "street urchins" resorted to begging, stealing or forming gangs to commit violence to survive. Some children worked in factories and slept in doorways or flophouses. The Orphan Train movement took Stanley Cornell and his brother out of the city during the last part of a mass relocation movement for children called "placing out."Watch Cornell share ups and downs of his family story . Brace's agency took destitute children, in small groups, by train to small towns and farms across the country, with many traveling to the West and Midwest. From 1854 to 1929, more than 200,000 children were placed with families across 47 states. It was the beginning of documented foster care in America. "It's an exodus, I guess. They called it Orphan Train riders that rode the trains looking for mom and dad like my brother and I." "We'd pull into a train station, stand outside the coaches dressed in our best clothes. People would inspect us like cattle farmers. And if they didn't choose you, you'd get back on the train and do it all over again at the next stop." Cornell and his brother were "placed out" twice with their aunts in Pennsylvania and Coffeyville, Kansas. But their placements didn't last and they were returned to the Children's Aid Society. "Then they made up another train. Sent us out West. A hundred-fifty kids on a train to Wellington, Texas," Cornell recalls. "That's where Dad happened to be in town that day." Each time an Orphan Train was sent out, adoption ads were placed in local papers before the arrival of the children. J.L. Deger, a 45-year-old farmer, knew he wanted a boy even though he already had two daughters ages 10 and 13. "He'd just bought a Model T. Mr. Deger looked those boys over. We were the last boys holding hands in a blizzard, December 10, 1926," Cornell remembers. He says that day he and his brother stood in a hotel lobby. "He asked us if we wanted to move out to farm with chickens, pigs and a room all to your own. He only wanted to take one of us, decided to take both of us." Life on the farm was hard work. "I did have to work and I expected it, because they fed me, clothed me, loved me. We had a good home. I'm very grateful. Always have been, always will be." Taking care of a family wasn't always easy. "In 1931, the Dust Bowl days started. The wind never quit. Sixty, 70 miles an hour, all that dust. It was a mess. Sometimes, Dad wouldn't raise a crop in two years." A good crop came in 1940. With his profit in hand, "first thing Dad did was he took that money and said, 'we're going to repay the banker for trusting us,' " Cornell says. When World War II began, Cornell joined the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He shipped out to Africa and landed near Casablanca, Morocco, where he laid telephone and teletype lines. Later he served in Egypt and northern Sicily. While in Italy, he witnessed Mount Vesuvius erupting. It was on a telephone line-laying mission between Naples and Rome that Cornell suffered his first of three wounds. "Our jeep was hit by a bomb. I thought I was in the middle of the ocean. It was the middle of January and I was in a sea of mud." With their jeep destroyed and Cornell bleeding from a head wound, his driver asked a French soldier to use his vehicle to transport them. The Frenchman refused to drive Cornell the five miles to the medical unit. "So, the driver pulled out his pistol, put the gun to the French soldier's head and yelled, 'tout suite!' or 'move it!' " Cornell recalls. Once he was treated, Cornell remembers the doctor saying, "You've got 30 stitches in your scalp. An eighth of an inch deeper and you'd be dead." Cornell always refused to accept his commendations for a Purple Heart even though he'd been wounded three times, twice severely enough to be hospitalized for weeks. He felt the medals were handed out too often to troops who suffered the equivalent of a scratch. His younger brother served during the war in the Air Force at a base in Nebraska, where he ran a film projector at the officers' club. As WWII was drawing to a close, Stanley Cornell headed up the teletype section at Allied headquarters in Reims, France. "I saw [Gen. Dwight] Eisenhower every day," he recalls. On May 7, 1945, the Nazis surrendered. "I sent the first teletype message from Eisenhower saying the war was over with Germany," Cornell says. In 1946, the 25-year-old Stanley Cornell met with his 53-year-old birth father, Daddy Floyd. It was the last time they would see each other. Cornell eventually got married and he and his wife, Earleen, adopted two boys, Dana and Dennis, when each was just four weeks old. "I knew what it was like to grow up without parents," Cornell says. "We were married seven years and couldn't have kids, so I asked my wife, 'how about adoption?' She'd heard my story before and said, 'OK.' " After they adopted their two boys, Earleen gave birth to a girl, Denyse. Dana Cornell understands what his father and uncle went through. "I don't think [Uncle] Vic and Stan could have been better parents. I can relate, you know, because Dad adopted Dennis and me. He has taught me an awful lot over the years," Dana Cornell says. Dana Cornell says his adoptive parents have always said that if the boys wanted to find their birth parents, they would help. But he decided not to because of how he feels about the couple who adopted him. "They are my parents and that's the way it's gonna be." Stanley and Earleen Cornell have been married 61 years. She is a minister at a church in Pueblo, Colorado, and is the cook at her son's restaurant, Dana's Lil' Kitchen. Stanley Cornell believes he is one of only 15 surviving Orphan Train children. His brother, Victor Cornell, a retired movie theater chain owner, is also alive and living in Moscow, Idaho. ### SUMMARY:

Stanley Cornell is one of a few "Orphan Train" riders who are still living . Children without parents in eastern U.S. were transported west for adoption . Cornell and brother adopted by Texas farm family; he later adopted 2 boys himself . The Orphan Trains aimed to provide better lives for homeless kids .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Rick Santorum's decision to drop out of the Republican presidential race came after he spent the holiday weekend evaluating the race with his family, who were grappling with the latest hospitalization of his 3-year-old daughter Bella. Santorum's path to the nomination hinged on three puzzle pieces falling neatly in place, multiple sources close to the campaign told CNN, a prospect that grew dimmer with each passing day. The campaign, eagerly looking ahead to a slew of conservative leaning states that vote in May, had hoped that Texas would adjust its proportional primary rules and award its treasure trove of 155 delegates on a winner-take-all basis -- but Texas Republicans dismissed the idea. Santorum was also hoping that Gingrich, who has also been competing for the same conservative anti-Romney voters, would drop out of the race, something the former House Speaker shows no signs of doing. Finally, the campaign understood that a victory in Santorum's home state of Pennsylvania on April 24 was crucial. Romney's poll numbers have lately creeped up in Pennsylvania and his campaign was in the process of unleashing a more than $2 million negative ad blitz against Santorum across the state, but Santorum aides said they remained confident that they would pull out a win on their home turf. His campaign reported it was nearly $1 million in debt last month and would have been forced to drain its campaign account to compete with Romney and his allies on the costly Pennsylvania airwaves, another factor in Santorum's decision. Where do religious conservatives go? "The Romney team was putting a lot of money out there," said one Santorum adviser who did not want to be named discussing internal decision-making. "The budget was a factor." Despite trailing in the delegate count, Santorum vowed as recently as last week to remain in the race until one candidate reached the 1,144 delegates needed to capture the nomination. However, during a conference call with his wife, Karen, campaign manager and staff before his announcement on Tuesday, Santorum said the decision was based on personal and political factors, according to a Santorum source. A campaign adviser also said the financial state of the campaign probably played a role in the conclusion. "We made a decision over the weekend that while this presidential race for us is over for me and we will suspend our campaign effective today, we are not done fighting," Santorum said during his speech in Gettysburg on Tuesday. "We will continue to fight for those voices for those Americans who stood up and gave us that air under our wings." He also acknowledged the decision was not entirely political, saying the past weekend was a "time of prayer and thought" as he and his family cared for his daughter Isabella, the youngest of Santorum's seven children, who suffers from Trisomy 18, a chromosomal condition. Santorum's organization announced they were halting campaign events on Friday because the candidate's three-year-old daughter Bella was admitted to the hospital. Bella, the youngest of Santorum's seven children, suffers from a rare chromosomal disorder called Trisomy 18, which causes severe medical and developmental problems. Santorum's departure leaves rival Mitt Romney with a firm grasp on the nomination but also deep wounds left to heal within the GOP. Priebus: "Time heals some wounds" Santorum spoke to Romney before Tuesday's speech, according to a Republican source. But Santorum aide Hogan Gidley told CNN an endorsement of the former Massachusetts governor "is not a inevitability." Gidley said Santorum and Romney are attempting to schedule a meeting to discuss an endorsement and that the latter would like it to occur "sooner rather than later." Santorum entered the race with a voting record in the House and Senate of a staunch social conservative and presented himself on the campaign trail as the alternative to more moderate candidates, who he said had compromised their ideals for political expediency. More recently, he elevated his fire directly at Romney, labeling him a flip-flopper on conservative issues including abortion rights, cap and trade and government mandated health care. He also repeatedly accused the former executive of failing to tell the truth. "For somebody who is maybe the weakest candidate we've every had on the pro-life issue to attack the leader of the pro-life cause is absurd," Santorum said at a forum in Troy, Michigan on February 25. "He glosses over and doesn't even tell the truth....Here is a guy who is the ultimate flip-flopper running for president, and he's attacking me for not being principled? That doesn't wash." Santorum officially announced his candidacy on June 6, 2011, and quickly began airing radio ads in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, the first three states to vote. Soon after his official announcement, he told CNN that his bid would be based on a consistent conservative record. "I think I stand out because I have been a consistent conservative, someone who has been a leader, someone who's had the courage to lead on a variety of hot-button topics before they were popular, like entitlement reform. I've been a leader on that," he said. In August, when his candidacy was barely making waves in key early voting states, Santorum maintained his effort would take a long view of the race, saying at a rally, "This is the little-engine-that-could campaign." He was eclipsed first by Michele Bachmann's entry in the race, then Rick Perry's. When those two faltered, Herman Cain became the conservative favorite. As Cain was faltering amid accusations of sexual harrassment, Newt Gingrich was the last conservative to slingshot past Santorum, taking a lead over Romney in polls in November and December. At GOP presidential debates throughout the fall, Santorum was mostly marginalized as the most questions went to the top-tier candidates. In the months leading up to Iowa's caucuses, Santorum became the first GOP presidential candidate to visit all of Iowa's 99 counties, often sporting what became his signature look (and the butt of jokes): a sweater vest bearing his campaign's logo. Despite all that time in Iowa, Santorum didn't see substantial traction in polls until January as Gingrich withered in the heat of negative ads from Romney's campaign and a super PAC that supports him. And on election night in Iowa, it looked like Santorum had narrowly missed his first surprise victory in the race when initial counts showed he had come eight votes short of beating Romney. The narrow miss was enough to energize conservatives to contribute to the cause and give Santorum a spike in fundraising. And his conservative rivals began to fall. Bachmann dropped out of the race the day after Iowa. Two weeks later, the certified vote in Iowa showed that Santorum had actually won there and Perry dropped out of the race later that same day. Gingrich then won in South Carolina and Romney won in Florida and Nevada, states that Santorum largely ignored to concentrate on more conservative voters down the road. That strategy paid off when he stunned Romney by sweeping Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri all on the same day and changed the trajectory of the race. Romney, who had begun to take on the air of the Republican nominee by focusing on President Barack Obama rather than Republican rivals, had to turn his focus back toward his challenger and built up a nearly 400-delegate lead in the race to the 1,144 needed to clinch the nomination. Zelizer: The real race is now on . Despite increasingly long odds, Santorum maintained throughout the last weeks of March that he would stay in the race, citing flawed delegate math and upcoming contests that looked to be in his favor. "Our delegate calculation has Gov. Romney far below 50%," Santorum said on March 19 on CBS. "We think there's a lot of primaries coming up, including Pennsylvania my home state, where we can make some big delegates. Texas will be another great state for us. We feel very good that we're going to continue to win and do well." A senior Santorum source said that Bella's hospitalization was a major factor in the decision to bow out. "When you have enough time with your adrenaline down, you start to think about what's really important," the source told CNN. Sitting in the hospital with his daughter for the second time during this campaign put that in perspective for Santorum, the source said. ### SUMMARY:

Santorum made his decision after evaluating the race with his family . Campaign hoped that Texas would become a winner-take-all state . Santorum also wanted Gingrich out of race, but he shows no sign of quitting . Financial issues also played a role in Santorum's decision .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: If you thought the Red Wedding was rough, "Game of Thrones" promises more blood and brutality when it returns to HBO for its fourth season on Sunday night (April 6). The season picks up in the aftermath of the devastating wedding reception from hell, which proved, in case it was still unclear to anyone, that in the world crafted by novelist George R.R. Martin in his "A Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy series, no one is ever safe. Unlike some series, this season does not take long to heat up. In King's Landing, brutal King Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) is due to be married in an elaborate affair that will bring together a slew of characters, some old and some new, to -- er -- celebrate. So, yes. A wedding in Westeros. What could possibly go wrong? For one, siblings-with-benefits Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Cersei (Lena Headey) are back together for the first time since Jaime was captured, and partially butchered, in season three, with all the awkwardness that entails. We've already seen that Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) ends up in major trouble (what else is new?) and that new character Oberyn Martell (Pedro Pascal) -- will be attending the joyous occasion with less-than-love in his heart for the Lannisters. As for our other main players: . Daenerys (Emilia Clarke), with an army of freed slaves at her back and a trio of increasingly formidable dragons to keep in line, confronts the promise, and pitfalls, of her ascent to true power. After narrowly missing a longed-for reunion with her family, Arya (Maisie Williams) and The Hound (Rory McCann) face what comes next. As bits of her back story come together, Arya will become arguably season four's first true scene stealer. At The Wall, the coming war between the wildlings and the Night's Watch simmers to a boil, with Jon Snow (Kit Harington) caught awkwardly in the middle. Look for this conflict to spur some of the epic battle scenes the series, and Martin's novels, are known for. And what of the White Walkers? Elsewhere, Stannis (Stephen Dillane) is down but not out after his defeat on the Blackwater and turns increasingly to the creepy "Red Priestess" Melisandre (Carice van Houten) for answers. Bran, with Hodor and friends, continues his mystical trip north to seek what his "green dreams" really mean. And, for those of us who can stand to look, we'll see the continuing travails of poor, tortured Theon Greyjoy. In September, I hosted a pair of panels at DragonCon with cast members from the show. James Cosmo (Lord Commander Mormont), Burn Gorman (Karl, the Night's Watchman whose actions lead to chaos at Craster's Keep) and Natalia Tena (wildling Osha) talked about what it means to be a part of the massively popular series. Below are some excerpts from those panels: (Editor's Note: Contains spoilers for season three of the show.) On what has made the show beloved by so many fans: . Cosmo: If I knew that, I'd be a really rich man. I have worked on lots of historical stuff, but I think "Game of Thrones" ticks so many boxes for so many people. And its production values are so high, continuously. It's just set a new standard for that sort of television. As far as identifying what it is, I think these shows come along once in a lifetime that people just embrace and it becomes something really special. The books that George Martin had written were so well-loved by so many people, and (show runners) David Benioff and Dan Weiss brought that to the screen so beautifully. Tena: I think it's because it's got that "Lord of the Rings" magic, with just a hunk of sex and death thrown at it. And I think that's something we all have a link to and it's also how I imagine the medieval world to be -- brutish and short and sexual. Cosmo: When you said that it was "Lord of the Rings" with great sex and violence thrown at it -- well, the sex bit missed me. I am the only guy there who's got this crew of guys and we're all celibate. On the intense fan reactions to the show: . Tena: When you're working you don't think about what something means. You're just thinking about playing a moment, and a truth. I can see now that it means a lot to so many people and that's humbling. But in the moment you're just trying to do the best job you can. Cosmo: When we were doing it, I had no concept about how huge it was going to become. I don't know if anyone did. But from reading the part of Mormont, I just loved the character. He was the one who stood out to me as a man of such innate dignity. It was just a joy to play. On memorable moments from the set: . Tena: We skinned a rabbit. ... (A forest ranger) just plunked a rabbit in front of me and Ellie (Kendrick, who plays Meera Reed) and he showed us how to do it. And, it was fine. But when we did it on the day, after skinning 40 rabbits and pulling their heads off ... all of it congealed. It was a hot day and by the end of the day, I had flies all over my hands. I did go a bit mad. I had, like, three showers. Everyone thinks fish smell and you don't really think about meat. Meat, by the end of the day, is horrible. I felt like Lady Macbeth. I was, like, "Out, damn spot!" Pulling their heads off as well -- that was pretty interesting. We ran out of rabbits, so sometimes we had to kind of plunk bits of the bodies back together. It was a special day. Gorman: I wanted to talk about pig s***, if that's all right. That's what I noticed most in Ireland. It's like this really glamorous show and I turn up and it's like, literally, 3-feet depth of pig mess everywhere. I couldn't believe it. I only had a week there and I was like, "I'm done." On how he learned his character would die . Cosmo: I'm a dedicated fly fisherman. I fish quite a lot up in Oregon for steelhead. And my fishing buddy who's a few years older than me, Bo -- he hasn't read many books in his life. But when I said I'm doing this thing, "Game of Thrones," he said, "Oh, man. I'm going to get these books." We'd be standing up to our waist, trying to catch steelhead in the river ... and he'd say, "Well, I got to Chapter 23 last night. You're still there, kid." And then it came to book three and he says, "I can't see you anywhere, man. He's not talking about you." So that was my conduit to learning where my career was going -- this old guy standing next to me while we were fishing. On the show's Emmy Award-winning costumes . Cosmo: As you get helped into the leggings and the big leather chest piece and then the cloak, you can feel the sort of gravitas of the character coming. Even the way you walk is informed by these things that drag along behind you; you're almost pulling your cloak behind you. Costuming is a hugely important part of building the character and I wouldn't have it any other way. It does help, although at times it can be a bit annoying and cumbersome. It must have been about 50-60 pounds when it was on. As you see, I'm a lightweight kind of guy (his agency says he is 6-foot-1 and weighs about 240 pounds). But I know when I was wearing all the costume and I was about to get on my horse, he looked really, really unhappy. Tena: With every single character you play, your costume is your outward appearance to the world. ... That immediately determines how the world, and you yourself, see you. ### SUMMARY:

"Game of Thrones" returns to HBO on April 6 for its fourth season . The fantasy epic promises more surprises, and blood, after the "Red Wedding" Actor: "GoT" has set a new standard for television . Stories from the set include dead rabbits and pig manure .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Matt Souveny was feeling overwhelmed by the unworn clothes languishing in his closet when he began poking around Reddit's menswear forums, where style-conscious men debate different shoe leather and denim brands, or bravely seek constructive feedback on how a suit fits. Souveny, a Canadian Air Force pilot, got into discussions about what to wear if you could only choose one outfit for the rest of your life, a popular topic on such forums. It was hypothetical at first, but as the list grew, Souveny decided he had enough intel to turn into a real-life experiment. "I'd been trimming it down over the past year, but after that conversation on the Internet, it really struck me that I don't need all this stuff," he said. As of June 1, Souveny has pledged to pare down his wardrobe to 10 articles of clothing for the next year, excluding socks, underwear and outerwear. The list includes: one pair of pants, one pair of shorts, two T-shirts, one button-down, one sweatshirt, one pair of sneakers, one pair of boots, a blazer and a belt. He declared his intention in May to wear one outfit for one year in a blog post titled "minimalism." The timing couldn't be better, he said. He and his wife were moving to a smaller home, and he would be on parental leave from the Air Force for six months, freeing him from the daily obligation to wear a flight suit. It was also a way for him to start experimenting with how to live with less overall, he said. "We've found over the past year that having less stuff can actually allow you more freedom. Instead of spending free time sorting stuff, or organizing stuff, or searching through stuff for other stuff, you can hopefully spend more time doing things that you want to be doing," he wrote. Most of us aspire to de-clutter our lives at some point. Shunning all material possessions is a big leap for most, but slimming down one's closet is an easier first step. Popular minimalist fashion movements include the 10-piece capsule, the five-piece French wardrobe and Project 333, which invites participants to dress with 33 items or less for three months. When people recognize the benefits of fewer choices in their closets, they start thinking about how to apply the philosophy to other areas of their lives, said Courtney Carver, creator of Project 333. "It's sort of the gateway drug for further simplicity, because that's where we start each day," Carver said. Carver began Project 333 in 2010 to simplify her life while dealing with the onset of multiple sclerosis, and ended up inspiring a movement that continues to gain momentum. Project 333's Facebook page, which has more than 12,000 likes, features stories from people around the world participating in the challenge. Inspired by Project 333, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Alison Sherwood started her own version earlier this month, the Tiny Closet Challenge, and invited readers to join her. So far, 30 have signed up from around the world . "The simplicity of a minimalist wardrobe really appealed to me. I wanted to give it a try and see how it would affect my perspective on things like style, spending habits, materialism and contentment. I have two little kids -- ages 2.5 and 9 months -- so I don't really have time in the morning for trying on outfits and staring into my closet," Sherwood said. "I tend to have a hard time getting rid of clothes even if I never wear them, because of guilt that I spent money on them or because I'm afraid I might want or need them at some point. I want to prove that I can let go of those clothes and be perfectly fine." So far, it's working out, she said. She saves time in the morning and laundry is easier. When temperature fluctuations struck, she layered tops to stay warm. "It's nice only wearing my favorite clothes and jewelry, and not feeling guilty for neglecting other clothes I may not like as much," she said. "I feel a sense of calm when I look in my closet. It's stressful when there are clothes jammed into every available space, especially when you have a toddler who might come in and start tearing clothes off the hangers when you're trying to get ready. Now there is breathing room in my closet and it makes me feel like I'm starting the day with some semblance of organization and control." Cutting back completely changed Carver's life. After being separated from her clothing those first three months, she realized most of it didn't matter to her. Today, she continues to use only 33 clothing items (not including underwear, sleepwear or workout clothing) at a time, reassessing her wardrobe every three months to cycle in seasonal necessities from a single container into her closet. She still makes purchases to replace items in her closet, but she's more thoughtful about them, she said. The minimalist philosophy has extended to other areas of her life. After deciding that she could do with much less in the kitchen, the living room and elsewhere in her home, she moved from her 2,000 square-foot home into an apartment. She also left her job in advertising to focus full-time on consulting with others to streamline their lives and businesses. Parting with clothing, even clothing you hate, is hard, said Jillian Quint, managing editor of PureWow.com, an online publication geared toward women's interests. Start by asking: Does it fit? Does it look good on me? When was the last time I wore it? If you can't answer "yes," "yes," and "within the last year," the item has to go, she said. If you really want to rock a minimalist closet, it helps to invest in quality pieces that do double, triple or quadruple duty, Quint said. Think a crisp white blouse, a black blazer and a perfectly fitting pair of jeans accompanied by shoes and accessories to bring in more color and current trends. But the first step is overcoming the fear that "it could never work for me" and starting small. Don't get rid of anything at first, Project 333's Carver recommends. Hold onto everything and gradually shed the items you didn't realize you were missing during the experiment. Everyone has different reasons for paring down their wardrobe. For some, like Carver, the goal was to reduce stress and clutter. For others, it's part of an effort to focus on quality over quantity. Consumers are demanding a return to high-quality items that can stand the test of time, Quint said . "We're in an era of examining our carbon footprint. Nobody wants a closet that looks like a landfill," she said. Souveny's motivation falls into this camp. "I tried to find brands that embody this whole idea of making high quality products out of the best materials available," he said. And, it shows in the bill: $2,703, as one Redditor estimated the total cost of Souveny's 10 pieces, most of which are made in North America. Each piece of clothing was selected for its versatility and durability in different weather conditions and social environments, Souveny said. He avoided denim because it was too "casual" but he didn't want to wear a suit all year, leading to a wardrobe consisting of mostly synthetic fabrics that keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. It helps that some clothing brands heard about his plans and donated clothing to his experiment. Still, he says, he chose clothing by brands that he already owned or was likely to own, making the experiment not too far removed from reality. "The way I justify buying higher quality items is in buying less and buying the best I can afford," he said. "My closet is full of cheap clothes that will never wear out because I never wear them. The items that I saved for and sought after, however, get plenty of loving wear." His exercise isn't meant to be prescriptive for everyone, he said. "This was just a fun experiment for me to see how long things last," he said. "Who knows, maybe it'll inspire others to think about how minimalism could work in their closet." ### SUMMARY:

Matt Souveny has pledged to wear only 10 articles of clothing for a year . For those interested in downsizing their lives, the closet is an easy first step . Closets are "gateway drug for further simplicity," Project 333 founder says . Start small and don't get rid of everything at once, experts advise .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Jonathan Pollard, the former U.S. intelligence agent who was convicted of spying for Israel, could be released before the Jewish holiday of Passover as part of efforts to save Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, an Israeli official involved in the talks told CNN. Suggestions for deals for Pollard's release have been floated over the years but have not materialized. Passover starts on April 14. Talk of Pollard's possible release came as Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Israel on Monday to try to mediate a dispute between Israel and the Palestinians over the release of Palestinian prisoners. Kerry was in Belgium on Tuesday. He was expected to go back to Israel on Wednesday and to visit Ramallah, West Bank, but a senior State Department official told CNN that trip is no longer happening. Kerry stated Tuesday night that "no agreement has been reached with respect to any prisoner" -- be it Pollard, whom he was asked about, or anyone else -- though talks involving all parties are ongoing in hopes of reaching a broader agreement. "At this point in time, no agreement has been reached with respect to any prisoner, not even the ones that at this moment are at issue in terms of the transfer. The Cabinet in Israel has to vote. I'm not sure exactly when that might take place or not. So there is no agreement at this point in time regarding anyone, or any specific steps, there are a lot of different possibilities in play," Kerry said. "It is difficult, it is emotional, it requires huge decisions, some of them with great political difficulty," he continued. "... We are continuing, even now ... to find the best way forward." White House spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday that President Barack Obama hasn't decided whether to release the convicted spy at Israel's request. "The Israelis frequently raise this issue, and they have raised this issue in our discussions," Carney said. "Beyond that, I'm not going to get ahead of the work that Secretary Kerry is doing and the conversations that he's having." Pollard's possible release was being discussed as part of a broader agreement that has not been finalized, according to sources familiar with the talks. In exchange for the release, the sources have said that Israel would have to make significant concessions to the Palestinians, which could include a settlement freeze, the release of additional prisoners beyond the current group in dispute and an agreement to continue peace negotiations beyond the end-of-April deadline. Pollard was convicted in 1987 of spying for Israel and is serving a life sentence in the United States. His imprisonment has been a source of tension between the United States and Israel. 27 years later, Pollard case remains a diplomatic thorn . Parameters . The Israeli official said the parameters of a deal still emerging include negotiations with the Palestinians continuing into 2015, and an agreement that during that time, Palestinians would refrain from taking their case to international bodies. However, Mustafa Barghouti, a Palestinian lawmaker who met Monday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss Kerry's efforts, said the Palestinian leadership believes the Israelis are making claims of an "emerging deal" to create an impression that a breakthrough is imminent so that when it falls apart, it can be blamed on the Palestinians. Barghouti doubted the notion that the Palestinians were on the verge of signing a deal and said Abbas is increasingly convinced that Israel is not interested in any process that would lead to Palestinian statehood. According to the Israeli official, though, a fourth Palestinian prisoner release would go ahead and would include Israeli Arabs, the official added. An additional 400 Palestinian prisoners would be released. Israel would determine those to be released, and they would not have blood on their hands, the official added. Regarding settlements, there would not be a total freeze, but "Israel will act with great restraint," he said. But in what one nongovernmental organization's director called "a blow to the American efforts in trying to achieve an agreement between the Israelis and Palestinians," Israel pushed forward Tuesday with tenders for new settlement construction in Gilo, in East Jerusalem. "Israel today re-announced pushed tenders for 708 new settlement units in Gilo that were originally published in November," said Hagit Ofran, director of Peace Now, an Israeli NGO that monitors Israel's settlement construction in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The Israeli official said Jerusalem would not be included in the provision calling for no tenders for new housing in the West Bank, although work would proceed on tenders already issued, the official said. The halt on new tenders refers to housing only. Construction of other infrastructure, such as roads and hospitals, he said, would continue. Asked about the talks and a possible release, Asher Mivzari, a spokesman for The Free Jonathan Pollard Committee, said the committee was not "reacting to the news." "Their message all along has been that Jonathan Pollard should have been freed a long time ago and this should be an outcome of justice in the American legal system," he said. Separately, a spokesman for Cabinet Minister Uri Ariel confirmed he had said he was against the release of "murderers" in exchange for Pollard. Opinion: Trade a spy, get Middle East peace? Parole consideration . Israel has in the past tried to link Pollard's release to peace negotiations. Current and former U.S. officials and experts have suggested the United States government might tie his release to a comprehensive peace deal between the Israelis and Palestinians. Pollard is up for parole consideration in November 2015, and the United States is running out of time to use his possible release for leverage with Israel. Carney, the White House spokesman, said on Monday that it is a "complicated issue" and declined to "get into details" about the negotiations. "And with regards to Mr. Pollard, he is a person who was convicted of espionage and is serving his sentence, and I don't have any update on his situation," Carney said. But the fact the United States is apparently willing to discuss his release before even a framework agreement has been reached between the parties shows the extraordinary efforts Washington is making to salvage the troubled negotiations. When asked whether Pollard was a topic in Kerry's talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki stuck to the White House line and said she had no updates on his status. Talks hit a snag . The peace negotiations, which began in July, have hit a snag over whether Israel will agree to release more than two dozen prisoners, including 14 Arab Israelis whom Israel considers terrorists. They were scheduled to be freed on March 29, and now Palestinian negotiators are threatening to end the negotiations over the delay. Israel has already released three groups of prisoners, most of whom have served lengthy prison terms for attacks on Israelis. But this final release is especially contentious because it includes convicted murderers. Netanyahu has said he would seek approval for any further releases with his Cabinet, which has been critical of the previous releases. Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon told CNN he will resign if Israel goes ahead with the prisoner release, and other Likud Party members in the Cabinet, along with members of the HaBayit HaYahudi Party, which has 12 members in the Knesset, could join him, creating a political crisis. Netanyahu has also said he would not release any more prisoners if Abbas did not agree to continue negotiations and to stop threatening to seek recognition for Palestinians before international bodies. A new possible stumbling block in the overall talks arose Tuesday, when Abbas signed 15 requests to have his government join international organizations, according to Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghouti. Asked about this development, Kerry said none of the organizations that Abbas asked to join "involved the U.N." Furthermore, he scuttled any thought that this could derail negotiations while insisting that the key players remain engaged. The United States is ready and willing to play a significant role, Kerry said. Still, Kerry stressed that it's the Israelis and Palestinians who will ultimately decide if a deal gets done. "In the end, this is up to the parties," he said. "... The leaders have to make the decisions." Opinion: The truth about Pollard . ### SUMMARY:

Kerry is no longer traveling to the Mideast on Wednesday, source tells CNN . Kerry says there's "no agreement" with regards to any prisoner . Pollard is a former U.S. intelligence agent convicted of spying for Israel . Palestinian lawmaker says no deal imminent, alleges Israeli ruse .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 09:58 EST, 4 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 02:38 EST, 7 October 2012 . A bizarre feud between two families over who owned a £50,000 horse turned violent when three women were attacked with a whip in their own stables, a court heard. Dorothy Rugg-Easey, 71, and her former stablehand Gemma Beavis, 36, had been rowing over valuable pure-bred mare Stella for over a year. Yard owner Ms Rugg-Easey said she loaned breeding horse Stella to Ms Beavis but agreed the valuable horse would be kept on her property and Beavis would visit to ride her. The contested horse: Former stablehand Gemma Beavis who claims she was given a valuable pure bred mare called Stella . Attacked: Dorothy Rugg-Easey, left, her daughter Liz, centre, and her granddaughter Jess who were assaulted by a friend of Ms Beavis, John Thompson. Ms Beavis said she knew nothing about the incident . But in August last year Stella, a Morgan breed, disappeared from Ms Rugg-Easey’s farm and turned up at another local stables. Ms Beavis claimed Ms Rugg-Easey had agreed to let the horse be moved elsewhere but Ms Rugg-Easey accused her of taking the animal without permission. Ms Rugg-Easey’s family called police asking for help and begged Ms Beavis to return the horse, but to no avail. Eventually fed-up Ms Rugg-Easey and her family hatched a late-night plan to get her prized horse back by lifting the gate at the stables of its hinges and walking the horse home. But the feud came to a head when Ms Beavis’s close family friend John Thompson, 58, broke into Ms Rugg-Easey’s stables in Blean, Kent, in the early hours of August 11 this year. Prized possession: The pure bred horse called Stella was worth £50,000 . Canterbury Magistrates’ Court heard . Thompson beat Ms Rugg-Easey, her daughter Liz, 43, and granddaughter . Jess, 17, with a three-foot horse whip. The . drunken attack only came to an end when Jess’s fiance Josh Mapp, 20, . ran in shouting ‘you don’t hit women’ and tied Thompson up with a rope. Thompson avoided jail on Monday when he was handed a suspended sentence at Canterbury Magistrates’ Court after admitting three counts of assault by beating. He was jailed for 160 days, but the sentence was suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 150 hours' unpaid work and must pay £250 compensation and £85 costs. Ms Beavis denies any involvement or knowledge of Thompson's actions. But incredibly, both families now claim they have had the steed stolen from their stables by the other family. They are due to have another showdown in the courts after Ms Beavis lodged a private claim for the animal against Ms Rugg-Easey. Ms Beavis, a mother-of-four who works . as a cleaner, said: 'I kept Stella at Dorothy’s stables for a while . before asking if I could move her to another stables half a mile down . the road. Dorothy said yes. 'Then I started getting solicitors’ letters saying I had to bring Stella back. She claimed the horse was on a . life-time loan agreement. 'I refused to give the horse back as I believed I rightfully owned her. Ongoing battle: Mother of four Gemma Beavis, pictured with Stella, has made a private civil court claim for the horse against Ms Rugg-Easey . 'We were good friends, I did some . mucking out for her. She knew I could not afford a horse and I was . extremely grateful that she gave me Stella. 'I do not know what made Dorothy change her mind. 'I do not want to fight with the . woman. It is sad that it has got like this. It has hit my family hard . too, my children are very upset and I am suffering from stress. 'She is making me out to be a horse thief and saying I do not look after horses properly.' Both Gemma Beavis, pictured with Stella and Dorothy Rugg-Easey claim to own the horse . But . great-grandmother-of-three Ms Rugg-Easey insists she is the victim and . has not slept properly since being beaten with the horse whip. Speaking . after the hearing, Ms Rugg-Easey said: 'I have CCTV on my stables and . when I was woken by the dogs barking I was up in a flash. 'I grabbed a three-foot schooling whip and went to see what was going on. 'This . big brute of a man was leaning on the stable door and when I asked him . what he was doing he snatched the whip and starting hitting me with it. 'I was lying on the ground in my nightie with my legs kicking. 'I think he should have gone to prison and for a long time. I truly believe he came to get me and take the horse.' Liz, a fitness instructor, came to her mother’s aid during the incident. After . the court hearing she said: 'It must have been just after 1am. I could . hear mum screaming and crying and thought ‘the old girl has finally lost . it.’ 'When I saw him . [Thompson] with the whip I thought I could calm the situation down but . as soon as I went outside - and I was only wearing a long T-shirt and . pair of knickers - he just punched me in the face.' The feud started last year when natural health scientist Ms Rugg-Easey, who owns the small livery yard and Morgan stud farm, was forced to give up Stella when she was diagnosed with vertigo and doctors banned her from riding. She says she entrusted Stella with former employee Ms Beavis under the agreement that she would be able to monitor her care at her stables. But on the night of August 14, 2011, Stella, who Ms Rugg-Easey had owned for seven years and schooled for five, was taken from the farm. Canterbury Magistrates¿ Court (above) heard Thompson beat Ms Rugg-Easey, her daughter Liz, 43, and granddaughter Jess, 17, with a three foot horse whip . The horse was kept away from the farm at another stables for almost a year before Ms Rugg-Easey took her back on August 7, 2012. Ms Rugg-Easey claims Stella was worth around £50,000 when she loaned her, but when she got her back she was lame and now only worth around £2,000. Then just four days after winning back her horse Ms Rugg-Easey, her daughter and granddaughter were attacked by drunk Thompson when he appeared in their stables. Ms Rugg-Easey and her daughter, who was left with a black eye and whip marks after the attack, have now installed infra-red CCTV cameras at their home. She said: 'I was told it would cost me 15 to 30 grand in legal expenses to prosecute her for stealing my horse - so I had no choice but to get her back myself. 'I put thousands of hours into schooling her and looking after her properly. Now she is lame.' She added: 'She was worth £50, 000 when I loaned her. Now she is probably worth less than 2, 000 - or just butcher meat. 'It’s unbelievable that I have to keep going to court to prove I own a horse which I clearly do and have all the paper work for.' ### SUMMARY:

Dorothy Rugg-Easey, 71, and her former stablehand Gemma Beavis, 36, fell out over a disagreement on who owned a valuable pure bred mare . Ms Rugg-Easey and two of her relatives were attacked by a friend of Ms Beavis, John Thompson, with a whip at their Kent home . Thompson was given a suspended sentence at Canterbury Magistrates Court - Ms Beavis denies any knowledge of the assaults . Ms Beavis has now lodged a civil claim for the horse called Stella .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 05:37 EST, 22 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 06:48 EST, 22 April 2013 . Seven days after the Boston Marathon bombings, the city plans to mark the traumatic week with mournful silence and a return to its bustling commute. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has asked residents to observe a moment of silence at 2.50pm local time today, the time the first of the two bombs exploded near the finish line. Bells will ring across the city and state after the minute-long tribute to the victims. Paying tribute: Two-year-old Wesley Brillant of Natick, Massachusetts, stands in front of a memorial to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings near the scene of the blasts on Boylston Street . Victims: A tribute to MIT police officer Sean Collier, who was shot dead by Boston bomb suspects Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, and MBTA officer Richard Donahue who was injured in an ensuing shoot-out . Many Boston residents are returning to the workplaces and schools for the first time since a dramatic week came to an even more dramatic end. Authorities on Friday had made the unprecedented request that residents stay at home during the manhunt for suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. He was discovered that evening hiding in a boat covered by a tarp in suburban Watertown. His older brother Tamerlan was earlier killed during a getaway attempt. 'It's surreal,' said Barbara Alton, as she walked her dog along Newbury Street. 'But I feel like things are starting to get back to normal.' In another sign of progress, city officials said they are beginning the process of reopening to the public the six-block site around the bombing that killed three people and wounded more than 180. The announcement came Sunday, a day when people could still watch investigators at the crime scene work in white jumpsuits. Probe: Investigators look for evidence on Boylston Street at the scene of the Boston Marathon bombings . Bringing a city together: Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has asked residents to observe a moment of silence at 2.50pm today, the time the first of the two bombs that exploded near the finish line . Tsarnaev remained hospitalised and unable to speak, with a gunshot wound to the throat. He was expected to be charged by federal authorities this week. The 19-year-old also is likely to face state charges in connection with the fatal shooting of MIT police officer Sean Collier in Cambridge, said Stephanie Guyotte, a spokeswoman for the Middlesex District Attorney's office. A private funeral was scheduled Monday for Krystle Campbell, a 29-year-old restaurant worker killed in the blasts. A memorial service will be held that night at Boston University for 23-year-old Lu Lingzi, a graduate student from China. City churches on Sunday paused to mourn the dead as the city's police commissioner said the two suspects had such a large cache of weapons that they were probably planning other attacks. After the two brothers engaged in a gun battle with police early Friday, authorities found many unexploded homemade bombs at the scene, along with more than 250 rounds of ammunition. Police Commissioner Ed Davis said the stockpile was 'as dangerous as it gets in urban policing.' 'We have reason to believe, based upon the evidence that was found at that scene - the explosions, the explosive ordnance that was unexploded and the firepower that they had - that they were going to attack other individuals. That's my belief at this point.' Davis told CBS's 'Face the Nation.' On 'Fox News Sunday,' he said . authorities cannot be positive there are not more explosives somewhere . that have not been found. But the people of Boston are safe, he . insisted. Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev are ethnic Chechens from southern Russia. The motive for the bombings remained unclear. Sen. Dan Coats of Indiana, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, . said the surviving brother's throat wound raised questions about when he . will be able to talk again, if ever. The . wound 'doesn't mean he can't communicate, but right now I think he's in . a condition where we can't get any information from him at all,' Coats . told ABC's 'This Week.' It was not clear whether Tsarnaev was shot by police or inflicted the wound himself. In . the final standoff with police, shots were fired from the boat, but . investigators have not determined where the gunfire was aimed, Davis . said. Terror: The first of two explosions rocks the marathon, followed by the second 12 seconds later . Detonation: The moment the second of the two bombs goes off as hundreds of marathon runners pass by . In an interview with The Associated Press, the parents of Tamerlan Tsarnaev insisted Sunday that he came to Dagestan and Chechnya last year to visit relatives and had nothing to do with the militants operating in the volatile part of Russia. His father said he slept much of the time. A lawyer for Tamerlan Tsarnaev's wife told the AP Sunday night that federal authorities have asked to speak with her, and that he is discussing with them how to proceed. Attorney Amato DeLuca said Katherine Russell Tsarnaev did not suspect her husband of anything, and that there was no reason for her to have suspected him. He said she had been working 70 to 80 hours, seven days a week, as a home health care aide. While she was at work, her husband cared for their toddler daughter, he said. The younger Tsarnaev could be charged any day. The most serious charge available to federal prosecutors would be the use of a weapon of mass destruction to kill people, which carries a possible death sentence. Massachusetts does not have the death penalty. Many Boston residents are returning to work and school for the first time since the dramatic hunt for the Tsarnaev brothers that ended with the death of the elder sibling Tamerlan (left) in a shoot-out and the capture of Dzhokhar, who remains critical in hospital . A week of fear: Dzhokar Tsarnaev was found hiding in a boat in a backyard in Watertown, Boston, after a massive hunt involving thousands of police and FBI and armoured vehicles . Across the rattled streets of Boston, churches opened their doors to remember the dead and ease the grief of the living. At the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, photographs of the three people killed in the attack and a Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer slain Thursday were displayed on the altar, each face illuminated by a glowing white pillar candle. 'I hope we can all heal and move forward,' said Kelly McKernan, who was crying as she left the service. 'And obviously, the Mass today was a first step for us in that direction.' A six-block segment of Boylston Street, where the bombs were detonated, remained closed Sunday. But Mayor Thomas Menino said Sunday that once the scene is released by the FBI, the city will follow a five-step process, including environmental testing and a safety assessment of buildings. The exact timetable was uncertain. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was tracing the suspects' weapons to try to determine how they were obtained. Neither of the brothers had permission to carry a gun. Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas said it was unclear whether either of them ever applied for a gun permit, and the applications are not considered public records. But the younger brother would have been denied a permit based on his age alone. Only people 21 or older are allowed gun licenses in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, surgeons at a Cambridge hospital said the Boston transit police officer wounded in a shootout with the suspects had lost nearly all his blood, and his heart had stopped from a single gunshot wound that severed three major blood vessels in his right thigh. Richard Donohue, 33, was in critical but stable condition. He is sedated and on a breathing machine but opened his eyes, moved his hands and feet and squeezed his wife's hand Sunday. ### SUMMARY:

City to pay respects at 2.50pm, the time of twin detonations at finish line . Bells will ring out after minute-long tribute to three dead and 180 injured . Residents return to work and school for first time since week-long manhunt . Ended with death of Tamerlan Tsarnaev in fierce shoot-out and capture of his brother Dzhokar, who is critical in hospital . Also accused of shooting dead police officer and critically injuring another . Dzhokar faces death penalty under terrorism charges 'to be filed this week'

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . David Mccormack . and Associated Press . Angry residents in Charleston, West Virginia, have post disturbing photos online of the contaminated water flowing from their taps as they attempt to flush their pipes clean in the wake of last Thursday's chemical spill. It is almost a week since more than 300,000 West Virginians were left without water after a storage facility leaked several thousand gallons of a coal-processing chemical located upstream from the town's water treatment plant. While the water ban has now been partially lifted and some residents have been allowed to run their water in order to 'flush' the system, many are still waiting for officials to tell them their tap water is safe. Scroll down for video . The photo was taken on the first day that residents in Zone 1 where told they should run the taps in their home in order to 'flush' the system . A number of local people have documented the effects of the chemical spill on the water coming out of their taps in a series of photographs which show discolored and oily water which some have described as smelling like antifreeze. So far, about 40 percent of West Virginia American Water's customers have been allowed to use their water again after a chemical spilled into the Elk River on Thursday, state officials said on Tuesday night. Customers are asked to flush out . their systems before using the water again. Officials cautioned the . water could still have an odor, but they claim it is safe. More than 200 restaurants have reopened where the ban has been lifted, said Amy Shuler Goodwin, a spokeswoman for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, and all hospitals but one had running water by Tuesday, Tomblin said. The exception was Boone Memorial Hospital in Madison, the governor said. 'Here's what the oily tap water looks like in West Virginia & smells like antifreeze strongly,' tweeted Maria Armada . There were still some areas on the edges . of the water system with chemical levels exceeding the acceptable . amount, said West Virginia National Guard Adjutant Gen. James A. Hoyer. Schools in all four counties in the . affected areas remain closed on Wednesday. Tomblin did not provide a . timeline for when school will resume. The emergency closed schools, restaurants and businesses because they, along with about 300,000 residents, were told not to drink, shower or even wash clothes with the contaminated water. Matthew Davis said his neighborhood was still waiting for the ban to be lifted. After rinsing off at a nearby creek last week, he finally enjoyed a hot shower on Tuesday at his fiancee's house 30 minutes away. Davis, 21, had his wisdom teeth removed just before the water ban. ‘Pretty much all I had was Coke, and that hurt,’ Davis said. Officials cautioned that even water that was deemed safe may still have a slight licorice-type odor, raising the anxieties of some. Al Jones of the West Virginia department of General Services tests the water as he flushes the faucet and opens a rest room on the first floor of the State Capitol in Charleston on Monday . Erin Brockovich, who helped the illness-plagued town of Hinkley, California win $300,000,000 after a chemical company poisoned their drinking water announced she will lend her expertise in West Virginia . Beverly Farrow also took a shower for the first time on Tuesday morning after nearly five days without water. She got the call on Monday night from the water company saying it was OK to flush the water systems. ‘I thought, “Oh my gosh, here we go,” and all of the faucets went on. Of course, I have not brushed my teeth or rinsed my mouth with the water yet, I'm still kind of waiting on that.’ Bobbi Holland, another Edgewood resident, went to wash her face Monday night after flushing out her system. ‘It smelled stronger than ever and I was like, “Oh no,” but I thought, “I'm tired, I'm just going to bed.” But when I woke up this morning, there wasn't any odor,’ she said on Tuesday. However one homeowner showed just how toxic and flammable the water still was on Sunday by setting on fire a glass poured from his kitchen tap. West Virginia's top law enforcement officer on Wednesday vowed a full investigation of a chemical spill that contaminated tap water for hundreds of thousands of people. 'Water should not look like this': Steven Adams took this photo on Jan 10, the day after the warning was given not to use the tap water . Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said there was a lot of speculation surrounding the spill into the Elk River at Charleston, the state capital, on Thursday that shut off water to more than 300,000 people. 'We had an absolute unmitigated disaster here for six days now where people are without water. This is not only utterly unacceptable. It's outrageous on every level,' Morrisey told CNN. He said that his investigation would be designed to ensure that another such spill never happened again, and local, state and federal officials all shared responsibility. 'We're going to look under the hood, we're going to uncover all the rocks and we're going to let the sunlight in,' Morrisey said. Water distribution stations continued to hand out water and the water company said it could be days before the entire system is back. Officials lifted the ban in a strict, methodical manner to help ensure the water system was not overwhelmed. The water crisis started on Thursday when a chemical used in coal processing leaked from a Freedom Industries plant into the nearby Elk River. Workers inspect an area outside a retaining wall around storage tanks where a chemical leaked into the Elk River at Freedom Industries storage facility in Charleston . Complaints came in to West Virginia American Water about an odor and officials discovered the chemical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol was leaking out of a 40,000-gallon tank. Federal authorities, including the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, have opened an investigation.Only 14 people exposed to the contaminated water were admitted to the hospital, and none were in serious condition. The chemicals removed from Freedom Industries' Elk River site have been shipped to another facility that the company owns, said Jimmy Gianato, state Department of Homeland Security director. The facility is in nearby Nitro, not near a water source, Gianato state officials said late on Tuesday. Environmental activist Erin Brockovich came to Charleston after she said she received thousands of online requests to visit and look into the spill. Brockovich said she believes officers from the company responsible for the spill should face criminal charges. ‘It would've cost so much less to identify the leak, report the leak, fix the leak instead of ignore the leak. This is going to be hundreds of millions of dollars,’ she said. A resident of Charleston, West Virginia set a glass of tap water on fire to show the level of toxicity from a chemical contamination . A Charleston couple conducted a water experiment where they were able to set it on fire following its contamination with 4-methylcyclohexane methanol - which is used to clean coal . During the water ban, some people had put plastic bags . around faucets so that they will be reminded not to use the water while . others left town to take a shower and find an open restaurant. Water . distribution centers handed out bottled water and trucks with large . tanks of water filled up containers for people to take home. So far, only ten people exposed to . the contaminated water were admitted to the hospital, and none were in . serious condition, Health and Human Resources Secretary Karen Bowling . said. The chemical, even in . its most concentrated form, isn't deadly. However, people were told they . shouldn't even wash their clothes in affected water, as the compound . can cause symptoms ranging from skin irritation and rashes to vomiting . and diarrhea. ### SUMMARY:

Residents in Charleston, West Virginia, have posted photos of the poisoned water that has been pumped into their homes . As much as 7,500 gallons of toxic chemical 4-methylcyclohexane methanol spilled into Elk River, near the state's largest water treatment intake . Ban slowly being lifted and 40 percent of West Virginia American Water's customers have been allowed to use their water again . Schools in the . affected areas remained closed on Wednesday . West Virginia's top law enforcement . officer has vowed that there will be a full investigation into the chemical spill .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Sam Webb . If anyone deserved a kiss last night, it was Germany's World Cup wizard Mario Gotze ... and fortunately for him, his lingerie model girlfriend was in place to pucker up. Ann-Kathrin Brommel was first on the pitch to congratulate the 22-year-old hero behind the 113th-minute goal that saw his nation lift the World Cup for a fourth time in 60 years. The 24-year-old beauty raced over the touchline after the final whistle blew and threw her arms around the national hero's neck and gazed deeply into her eyes before kissing him passionately on the lips. Few of us will ever know what is like to be a national hero, adored the length of breadth of their home country and assured a place in history. But Mario Gotze most assuredly will. Scroll down for video... Winning: Gotze hugs his girlfriend Ann-Kathrin Brommel after his historic victory . Congratulations: Mario Goetze of Germany kisses girlfriend Ann-Kathrin Brommel after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match between Germany and Argentina at Maracana on July 13, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil . Reflection: Germany's Mario Goetze (L) has his picture taken by model girlfriend Ann-Kathrin Brommel after they won their 2014 World Cup final against Argentina at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro July 13, 2014 . The attacking midfielder calmly took the ball on his chest before slotting past Argentina keeper Sergio Romero, sending the German nation into a frenzy - once again kings of the world. Man of the . match Gotze said: ‘It’s unbelievable. I scored but I didn’t really know . what was happening. ‘A dream has become a reality and we are going to . have a great party. It is absolutely sensational. ‘It wasn’t a simple tournament for me. I owe a lot to my friends and family.’ But who is the young German superstar, who has now half-volleyed his way into the annals of global footballing history? King of the world: Mario Gotze of Germany celebrates after scoring the winning goal the 2014 World Cup final match between Germany and Argentina . Victorious: Mario Gotze appeared mesmerised by the World Cup, which he and Ann-Kathrin held together at the German football federation after party last night . He was born in the town of Memmingen, Bavaria. His father Jurgen Gotze, was a professor at the Dortmund University of Technology. His girlfriend is the glamorous German lingerie model Ann-Kathrin Brommel. Indeed, Brommel, 24, and Gotze's relationship was first made public by the two in very revealing pictures taken on a yacht in Ibiza in late 2012. Having been together for the past two years, Brommel has told Germany's GQ magazine that she is still enjoying simply being Gotze's girlfriend and has no desire for anything more serious at the moment. Holiday fun: Gotze were pictured getting frisky while aboard a yacht in Ibiza, Spain, in 2012 . Fun times: Gotze showed his cheeky side as he attempted to throw his laughing girlfriend into the sea . Young love: The pair seemed very much in love as she fed him strawberries on the decks of a luxury yacht . Stunning: Ann Kathrin Brommel poses for a selfie prior to her boyfriend, Mario Gotze's stunning volley to win the 2014 World Cup for Germany on Sunday in Rio, Brazil . Serious: Ann-Kathrin Brommel launched her modeling career as a teenager and hail from the northwest of Germany . Singer: Brommel, 24, is also a part time popstar in Germany and has released two songs to chart success . Relaxed: Ann Kathrin Brommel has been in a relationship with Martio Gotze since 2012 . Ann-Kathrin Brommel congratulated her boyfriend following his stunning half-volley against Argentina to win the World Cup for Germany . 'Someone whose purpose in life it is to be the wife of someone I cannot understand,' said Brommel in September. 'Although . I am also the girlfriend of Mario Gotze, but I have my own personal . goals I want to achieve. Otherwise I could not be more happy.' Some of these life goals include her part-time pursuit of a musical career. Celebrations: Germany's Mario Goetze and his girlfriend Kathrin Brommel (L) carry the twin daughters of teammate Jerome Boateng, Soley and Lamia, at the end of during their 2014 World Cup final against Argentina at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro . Pride: Mario Gotze receives a kiss from his girlfriend, Ann Kathrin Brommel following his victorious goal in the World Cup final . The model, under the stage name of Trina B, has released two songs: 'This is Me', in 2010 and 'Body Language' in 2011. She has also revealed that she is a huge fan of Beyoncé Knowles and the work-life balance the American has achieved. 'Music is just a hobby of mine. I sing because I enjoy it. And not because I have a voice like Beyoncé,' said Brommel in the same interview. The beauty is also an avid reader and counts the Harry Potter series and tear-jerker, Fault in Our Stars as some of her favorite reads. Biggest fan: Brommel has followed her boyfriend and his German team-mates across Brazil over the past month and is seen here watching his team's narrow 2-2 draw with Ghana in Jun . Beginning modelling at the age of 16, Brommel hails from Emmerich in the northwest of Germany and is surely set to step into the big-time now that her boyfriend has achieved lasting international fame. Gotze played for Borussia Dortmund between 2009 and 2013, winning the Bundesliga title in 2010-11, and was a member of the team which reached the 2013 Champions League Final. In April 2013, the committed Christian moved to Bayern Munich for £29million, making him the second-most expensive German player, behind Mesut Ozil, who moved to Arsenal for a club-record fee of £42.5 million. Gotze earns an estimated £5.5m at the club. The moment that will echo through eternity: The moment he put the ball past Argentinian keeper Romero to secure the victory . Former German Football Association's technical director Matthias Sammer describes Gotze as: 'One of the best talents that [Germany's] ever had.' He played in his first match for Germany against Sweden, on November 17, 2010, coming on in the 78th minute in a goalless draw, making him the youngest German international since Uwe Seeler. Interestingly, Gotze, along with André Schürrle who ran onto the pitch at the same time, is the first German players to be born in a reunified Germany. Good work: German head coach Joachim Loew (left) embraces Mario Gotze. Right, in action with Bayern Munich . Mario Gotze celebrates winning the German league title at the end of the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Nuernberg in 2011 . Burgeoning talent: Mario Gotze (left) poses during the U16 German national team presentation at the Sportschule Wedau in 2007 in Duisburg, Germany. Right, the attacking midfielder gazes skyward after the goal . His first goal for Germany was against Brazil on August 10, 2011 and he made his tournament debut in Euro 2012 after coming on as a substitute against Greece. Football fans across the globe will have first taken note of this rising talent after the opening match against Portugal, winning the penalty kick for Germany's opening goal on his World Cup debut. Germany eventually won 4-0. At just 22, it appears this new footballing light will only continue to shine even brighter. ### SUMMARY:

Mario Gotze made history with a calmly-taken 113th-minute winner in Rio De Janeiro's Maracana stadium . He is already known to football fans across Europe and is now a star throughout the world . Bayern Munich player is a firm Christian - with a lingerie model girlfriend called Ann-Kathrin Brommel . She was first on the pitch to congratulate the 22-year-old behind the goal that saw his nation lift the World Cup .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: When looking for advice on how to add value to your home, the first place to go is right to the top. Sound opinion can be hard to come by, so Daily Mail Australia asked one of the leading experts in the industry for an insight into the often murky waters of property improvement. Kevin McCloud, host of lauded series Grand Designs, has a vast and impressive knowledge base when it comes to exactly what makes a property stand out. Iconic Australian architectural elements include the use of a verandah, whether this is a wraparound or just on one side. 'They [verandahs] have become an instant calling card for Australia. In architecture the sun is often a conscious design element, where the sun is shaded from the inside of the building,' McCloud said. 'There's a big push in the UK for houses that are influenced by Australian architecture,' McCloud said. Kevin McCloud, host of lauded series Grand Designs, has a vast and impressive knowledge base when it comes to exactly what makes a property stand out . The British designer, writer, and housing developer is currently in Australia for the launch of Grand Designs Live Home Show, and took some time out with Daily Mail Australia to reveal his tips for adding value to your home. The event is the ultimate home show for those who are looking for ideas and inspiration for all areas of your home, whether the focus is small spaces or complete overhauls, something McCloud has seen up close for over 25 years. McCloud, a giant in the world of architecture and design, said that Australia offered a veritable array of climates and environments, making it a unique and exciting country to build in. 'I think first of all, that Australia is such a varied place to be,' said the designer. 'It's not one climate and one place. From the country to the city, from Queensland to Tasmania, there is so much difference.' 'Some will have a much cooler climate and have sea breezes, and then another will have mountain temperatures. This means that the architecture is so radically different depending on where it is.' The property in Balmoral, Queensland, makes use of the shade element of Australian architecture the country's design is well known for . Shade house in Byron Bay: 'It's not one climate and one place. From the country to the city, from Queensland to Tasmania, there is so much difference,' said McCloud . McCloud, a giant in the world of architecture and design, said that Australia offered a veritable array of climates and environments, making it a unique and exciting country to build in. 'Some will have a much cooler climate and have sea breezes, and then another will have mountain temperatures. This means that the architecture is so radically different depending on where it is.' McCloud said he is envious of Peter Maddison, the host of Grand Designs Australia, because of the amazing landscape and unique elements that the country has to offer for potential designs. 'It's hard to identify one style of design in Australia. There isn't one quality I could pinpoint, and there are such wonderful quirks to the country.' 'Travelling around cities like Sydney and Melbourne I was very struck by how the conventional typography was so different.' McCloud identified elements such as deep masonry and overhanging verandahs as quite iconic Australian design elements. 'They have become an instant calling card for Australia. In architecture the sun is often a conscious design element, where the sun is shaded from the inside of the building.' 'This extends to contemporary 1960's and modern architecture. There's a big push in the UK for houses that are influenced by Australian architecture,' McCloud said. An art deco property in Caulfield, Victoria. The designer said that architectural movements such as art deco are experiencing a resurgence in Australia, and was a 'badge of Australian' architecture, as well as appearing in pockets all over the world such as Miami, Prague, Portugal and South American and South Asian countries. 'It's such a rare and beautiful and odd thing,' McCloud said of the art deco movement, which influence the architecture of this Sandringham property in Victoria . 'The UK didn't get to expand on [art deco] in the same way as Australia- and in New Zealand there are whole towns modeled on the style. It's got a really strong foothold in this part of the world,' said McCloud . 'I have a lot of people saying, 'Oh I want my house to look like this house from Australia,' and there's a real fascination with tiny shacks, and corrugated iron sheds. Transient materials from which so much of Australian architecture is made from historically.' McCloud said that British-born Australian architect Glenn Murcutt, who has won international awards for his designs, drew heavily upon these influences. The designer said that architectural movements such as art deco are experiencing a resurgence in Australia, and was a 'badge of Australian' architecture, as well as appearing in pockets all over the world such as Miami, Prague, Portugal and South American and South Asian countries. 'It's such a rare and beautiful and odd thing,' McCloud said. 'It's a style of architecture that Australia can certainly claim to have taken to heart and made their own,' 'Art deco in the UK was born into such a dismal and dim time, in the recession period after the great war.' 'The UK didn't get to expand on the style in the same way as Australia- and in New Zealand there are whole towns modeled on the style. It's got a really strong foothold in this part of the world.' Zero carbon houses, like this propery in Campbelltown, Adelaide, are the future of Australian design, said McCloud. Sustainability is going to be a strong focus in design in the next decade, said the designer. A 'shed house' on the Sunshine Coast: 'I have a lot of people saying, 'Oh I want my house to look like this house from Australia,' and there's a real fascination with tiny shacks, and corrugated iron sheds. Transient materials from which so much of Australian architecture is made from historically,' said McCloud. The future of Australian architecture is going in a vibrant and dynamic direction, according to McCloud. 'As a visitor in this country it can be hard for me to put my finger on the pulse of design, but more increasingly the direction of the 'shed design' is cropping up. There are great experiments of modernism from the 60's enjoying a revival in the hands of much younger architects.' Sustainability is going to be a strong focus in design in the next decade, said the designer. 'We you start to design in a country like this, because sustainability naturally focuses on using the local environment to cool and draw energy from, you are going to get a much wider variety of designs being created because of the different climates.' And what are the key ways to improve the value of your house? McCloud identified five steps for prospective property sellers to ensure you make the most of your property. 'The first is to employ good people- from designers to architects, from builders, project managers, and carpenters. Whatever the scale of your project, employ people who see the world the way you do,' he said. 'Secondly, don't get too hung up on price, but do pay attention to personal recommendations. Get friends or people you know to tell you who is worth hiring, and use local people.' 'Next, spend money on the bones of the building. Focus on the structure, the airtightness, the quality. You can always revisit the plumbing or kitchen, and most people do, but to revisit the structure is very tricky.' 'Spend money on things you touch. We live in a very visual world, and we forget that we really judge the quality of things through our fingers. It's like dining in a fine restaurant, you want it to be a pleasure. Focus on door handles, switches, tiles. Make sure they are durable, a pleasure to use and move.' 'Lastly, whatever you do, do with conviction.' With these timeless gems of advice, McCloud said, adding value to your house is much simpler. For more advice, the Grand Designs Live Home Show has design and styling options for all projects, and is running at the Sydney Exhibition Centre from the 24th - 26th October. McCloud said that British-born Australian architect Glenn Murcutt, who has won international awards for his designs, such as the above property, drew heavily upon these influences. 'Whatever you do, do with conviction,' said McCloud. ### SUMMARY:

Verandahs, art deco architecture, shade houses and 'shed' inspired designs are all iconic design elements . The designer, writer and house developer said that Australia has such a varied landscape and climate that Australian designs are often hard to pin down but often influence overseas architecture . He predicts that sustainability will be a strong focus for Australian design in the next decade . His top tips for adding value include asking for recommendation for services and investing in the 'bones' and tactile elements of the property .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Where there’s 'Smoke' there’s OJ. The 66-year-old disgraced gridiron great has hired himself a fellow felon - Willie Hartwell, aka Smoke - to protect him in prison. OJ has been worried about attacks from aggressive inmates at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada, where he has been incarcerated since 2008. He fears there are prisoners who want to make a name for themselves by hurting 'The Juice,' especially on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the brutal murders of his ex-wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goldman. 'He found the biggest guy who is in great shape and willing to fend off the bullies to help OJ out -- but, of course, it comes at a price,' a close friend revealed. My Bodyguard: Willie Hartwell, aka Smoke, will be watching OJ's back. 'He found the biggest guy who is in great shape and willing to fend off the bullies to help OJ out -- but, of course, it comes at a price,' a  friend revealed . Smoke is only 44-years-old, he's 6' tall, weighs 180 pounds and his physical build is described as 'large' on the Nevada Criminal Identification Demographics records. And he's prepared to watch OJ's back for a few favors. 'Obviously, OJ can't give Smoke any cash money but since he still gets bucks from his books every month through his family and from his female fans, Smoke tells  OJ what he wants from the commissary -- extra food, toiletries, stamps to send out letters, magazines - and OJ will get it for him! 'And OJ has also promised if he is paroled in 2017 and Smoke is still there he will continue to put money on his books until he is paroled and help him when he gets out, like if he needs a place to crash for a while.' 'OJ even told Smoke he may hire him as a bodyguard when they are both free because the world is just as dangerous as prison life is for him! But he joked he will pay him in it cash instead of cookies, an extra blanket or cup-a-soup noodles!' Willie 'Smoke' Hartwell was jailed in in 2002 for armed robbery with a deadly weapon and kidnapping. This was not his first time in the slammer. The kidnapping charges were dropped in a plea deal and he was sentenced to 10-25 in the medium security prison in Lovelock, Nevada, where he later met OJ in 2008. OJ who was also convicted for armed robbery and kidnapping. Flabby: OJ is not the football powerhouse he once was, not by a long shot. He has high blood pressure, diabetes and his knees are so banged up from playing football he can barely walk . As reported exclusively by MailOnline last week, Fred Goldman, the father of Nicole's friend  who was murdered with her on that hot June night, revealed OJ had been attacked several times. Goldman says that he had heard a couple of rumors about Simpson, so he called the District Attorney's office in Nevada to find out if they were true or not. The first was that OJ was beaten up in prison.  He found out the former NFL star was hit hard in his chest by another inmate but it was nothing serious. The second rumor was that 'someone in the prison found OJ attractive.' The DA told him the prison officials reported back 'We know nothing about THAT!' -- but their tone was very tongue-and-cheek. When Fred pressured the DA and asked 'what does that mean?' the DA responded; 'it means exactly what you think it means.' Goldman said the DA gave him the impression that OJ had, indeed, been sexually attacked. 'When OJ first arrived at Lovelock he was treated like royalty by the prisoners because they watched this guy play football for years so they were big fans.  But after all the fanfare wore off and OJ was treated just like everybody else by the guards he became a target,' the family friend added. Fairytale turns horror story: Oj and Nicole were divorced when stabbed to death. Her neck was cut from ear-to-ear with her head almost severed from her body. She was 35, the mother of Sydney and Justin Simpson . 'Over the past couple of years OJ started having some problems because of all of the scuttlebutt between the prisoners about his appeal and possible parole so they feel his days are numbered and they wanted to get some stuff from him or make a name for themselves before he left for good. 'Some of the inmates started harassing OJ, forcing him to get them some things from the commissary and attacking him when the guards were not looking.' OJ is not the football powerhouse he once was, not by a long shot. He has high blood pressure, diabetes and his knees are so banged up from playing football he can barely walk. His excessive weight gain adds to all of these problems. 'So a younger guy could take OJ down with very little effort and some of them want to be the one to literally bring OJ to his knees before he can get out of there in a few year,' the friend continued. 'But OJ has something the other inmates don't and that's a lot of money on his books every month so he 'hired' Smoke to literally play defense for him inside the prison.' And he picked the right guy. No escape: The Lovelock Correctional facility is out in the middle of the Nevada desert and backed up against sky scraping mountains . 'Now we are in the summer months and it gets really hot in the Nevada desert so OJ feels free to hang outside in the prison yard and coach one of the prison baseball teams while eating ice cream on the bench because Smoke is right there making sure nobody bothers OJ.' OJ has a sweet tooth that he has a hard time controlling so when he's not wrapping his mouth around an ice cream sandwich, one of his favorites, he's may be 'lifting' a few extra cookies from the chow hall! As previously reported last year, OJ filled up his shirt with oatmeal cookies but he was busted by a prison guard on the way back to his cell after lunch. Initially the guard thought OJ was trying to smuggle in a cell phone or some other sort of contraband so he was flabbergasted to find 'the juice' had packed his shirt with cookies! The guard yelled out; 'Simpson! Hold it right there!'  Once the guard opened up his shirt and started throwing the cookies onto the floor the other prisoners began to hoot, howl and fall over with laughter!   OJ stood there there with a goofy grin on his face, totally embarrassed. A father's grief: Fred Goldman (right), father of Ron. a friend of Nicole's who just happened to drop by her confo to return her mother's glasses, keeps tabs on OJ and says he was attacked twice. One was a rape. But this is what his life has become -- OJ's new normal -- and it will be that way for at least another three years when he will be up for parole in 2017. Lovelock Correctional Center is located about 5 miles from the tiny town of Lovelock, Nevada, about 93 miles from Reno.  The correctional facility is out in the middle of the desert and backed up against sky scraping  mountains on one side and facing a the Interstate highway on the other, which is 2 miles away, so it is literally impossible to escape without being quickly detected. Lovelock houses mostly medium custody general population inmates, but there are some close custody protective segregation inmates as well as separate unit housing a small number of minimum custody inmates.  The total capacity for Lovelock is approximately 1,680 inmates. ### SUMMARY:

OJ Simpson, 66, incarcerated at medium security Lovelock Correctional Center, is afraid prisoners out to make a name for themselves are gunning for him . He's already been attacked twice, according to Ron Goldman's father Fred, who likes to keep tabs on OJ . OJ tapped convict Willie 'Smoke" Hartwell to be his bodyguard. He's six feet tall and weighs 180 . Smoke gets paid in snacks, toiletries and magazines from the commissary. OJ has a fat prison bank account is no longer in shipshape. He is overweight and has high blood pressure and diabetes .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: A Kansas community saw its suburban peace of mind slip completely away over the weekend after two popular high school girls soccer teammates killed themselves within two days of each other. Ciara Webb, 16, was found dead in her Olathe home Friday afternoon after taking her own life via an as yet unrevealed method. Students at Olathe Northwest High who didn't already know of the tragedy were horrified to hear the news Monday morning. During the following school period, officials dropped another bomb: Cady Housh, also a junior, had thrown herself in front of a train two days after learning of her friend Ciara's suicide. Scroll down for video . Shocked community: Olathe, Kansas high school juniors and soccer teammates Cady Housh (right) and Ciara Webb (left) committed suicide within just two days of each other over the weekend . Sad: Cady Housh tweeted this ominous message on Sunday, the very day she decided she, too, would end her own life . On Sunday, presumably just before her decision to step in front of a barreling locomotive in Lenexa, Kansas around 8pm, Cady posted what would be her final message to the world. 'Worst weekend of my f***ing life,' the teen wrote. She would then retweet a message of hope that a friend had posted, one that urged the mourning 'to hold on.' However, the emotional young woman would not be able to do so herself. In the first period class at Olathe Northwest, the school's 1,700 students were informed of Webb's untimely death. Already, Webb's close friends and teammates on the Ravens girl's soccer team had posted notes of grief, confusion and terrible sadness on social media. Tragic: Housh (left) threw herself in front of a train on Sunday, two days after her soccer teammate Ciara Webb (right) had taken her own life at her Olathe home . Tragedy struck at Olathe Northwest High after, within just two periods at the beginning of their day, students and teachers learned they'd lost two girls, both juniors, to suicide . Many also included photos of Ciara. The 16-year-old blonde--called CiCi by friends--looked like a perfectly well-adjusted teen. Friends began including a hashtag, #ripCW, with their prayers, remembrances and photos. Students would learn the following period that they'd need yet another somber hashtag. 'You dreaded going into the hallways,' ONW high student Katie MacDonald told the Kansas City Star. 'Class was fine, because I'm a freshman. But when you went into the hallways, that's when people that knew (the first victim) were there.' Reports from inside say that some teachers were even seen to burst into tears once the news broke. On Sunday, by which time most if not all of those who were close with Ciara had learned of her death, Cady Housh was seen by a freight train engineer in Lenexa. She was standing on the tracks in the locomotive's path. The engineer summoned authorities but could not stop the train. What could have caused it? Friends of the girls expressed their grief on social media, on the same sites that still show the beautiful, smiling faces of Cady and Ciara (left and right) Mourning: Friends were left stunned by the one-two-punch of the girls' suicides. The hashtag #ripCW cropped up on Twitter and Instagram soon after Ciara's suicide, only to be followed all too soon after Housh's death by the tag #ripCH . Lenexa police and first responders were called to the scene in the Kansas City suburb shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday. The girl was taken to a hospital and later died. Soon, the Olathe Northwest students and other friends of the girls in the area were adding #ripCH to their already wrenching tweets and Instagram photos. Also blonde and with an undeniably charming smile, photos of Cady carry no hint of the deeply gruesome act she'd soon find herself driven to. Cady and Ciara have left their families, their classmates, and their teammates in a state of utter shock. 'This amazing family will forever be missing two very important pieces, we love you guys, rest easy babies #ripCW #ripCH,' tweeted a friend of the girls' Haley Kuehn, who would later write, 'This is a living hell. Dustin Edde, who identifies himself as Ciara's brother on Facebook, posted a heartbreaking message to the late teen on Facebook Saturday. 'Love you so much Cici, wish I could find a time machine if anyone has one let me use it please. RIP little sister,' he wrote. Dear ONW Families: . I wanted to follow up with all of our families related to the tragic information we have had to share with you regarding the suicides of two students here at ONW. First I want to share with you how the events unfolded here at ONW this morning, the action that we took immediately to support our students and staff, and most importantly , I want to leave you with a strong request that you have a very heartfelt conversation with your son or daughter this evening . As you are aware, we opened ONW yesterday to any students in need of support or just needing a place to go and be with friends after learning on Friday evening of the death of Ciara Webb. This morning we met with our staff at 7:30 to brief them on the incident from Friday. They were provided with resources for talking with and supporting students. Qualified counselors, social workers, school psychologists, school resource officers from ONW, other schools/community resources were available for students upon their request or if any adult noticed that a student was struggling. Each student was told in their first hour about the death of Ciara Webb. Devastated parents: Ciara Webb's father Jason Webb (left) posted a touching photo of himself to Facebook after his daughter's suicide, making it his profile picture . After the ONW administration was notified of the death of Cady Housh, we asked that staff share the new information with their second hour class. After that announcement many additional students sought out the support and counsel from our crisis team of qualified personnel. Students were told that they could call their parents. Many parents called to check their students out of school. Care was taken to ensure any student that was leaving campus had a parent with them or they were in direct contact with their parents. Many students have remained here at school, with classes continuing as planned and with staff and resources available to them throughout the day. We are in constant communication with those on the band trip in New York. Please know care and support is being provided to them as well! Here is my request for all parents for this afternoon or evening - please have a heartfelt conversation with your student about these tragedies and specifically about suicide. Have this conversation with your son or daughter tonight – you know them best. Ask them how they are feeling, be non-judgmental, and avoid any gossip related to details of the deaths or causes. Keep communication open and maintain high supervision and knowledge of their whereabouts. It will be vital that you are closely monitoring your student's social media accounts for messages being sent and received. Include in your conversations tonight these messages: . - Suicide is a horrible decision and is not an option. - There is nothing they could have done or said to change the outcome of these tragic deaths. - Emphasize that suicide is not the way to handle problems, no matter how big or how painful. - Help is available. Talk to a parent, a teacher, any trusted adult. - If they know of a friend that is struggling, let an adult know as soon as possible. ONW is here to support our students and our families in any way needed. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the administrators or staff. School will be in session tomorrow. ONW is a safe place for them to be – surrounded and supported by their teachers and friends that care deeply for each of them. Counseling and support will continue to be available for any students in need throughout the week. Again, please do not hesitate to call or email with any questions or concerns. We are one Raven Family! Gwen Poss, Principal . SOURCE: KCTV . ### SUMMARY:

Ciara Webb took her own life in her Olathe, Kansas home on Friday . Her heartbroken friends immediately took to social media to vent their grief and confusion . On Sunday, Webb's friend Cady Housh had thrown herself in front of a train in nearby Lenexa, Kansas - she died at a hospital soon thereafter . Students already horrified at learning the news of Webb's death at the start of school Monday soon had to be informed of the loss of Housh .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: A mother whose 12-year-old girl is stranded on the crippled Carnival cruise ship has seen the girl for the first time in a week as she waved from the top deck of the stricken vessel. The emotional reunion came as Rebekah Poret waved frantically at CNN helicopters hovering over the ship as her mother Mary watched a television screen and spoke with the girl over the phone. 'I love you,' Rebekah told her mother. 'I . can't wait to see you. I can't wait to be back home.' 'I love you too. I . promise I'm going to have a nice snuggly blanket for you when I see . you,' Mary said, telling her daughter they could go to McDonalds. 'Anything you want to eat tonight is yours.' Mrs Poret is . waiting in Mobile, Alabama, where the Carnival Triumph . is expected to dock by 11 p.m. after five days . stranded at sea. Her daughter said she cannot wait to be back on dry land. Missed: Rebekah Poret is pictured with her mother, Mary, who is waiting for her in Mobile, Alabama . 'It feels a lot better because . I know that we're one step closer to being back home,' Rebekah said, . adding: 'But we're still so far away. I can't wait to get back.' Rebekah spoke to CNN to reveal her daily hell dealing with . 'horrible smells', cold temperatures and not knowing when she's going to . get her next meal. She is on the ship with her father, Larry, her 10-year-old friend Allie Taylor and Allie's father Carmel. 'When . I wake up in the morning, I ask my dad, "Can I go back to sleep again?" because I want another day to pass so bad,' Rebekah told CNN as she . tried to stay warm. She said one of the biggest struggles is getting food - and not knowing if there will be any warm food by the time they reach the front of the line. Allie said they have been eating cold sandwiches. First sighting: Rebekah Poret, 12, waves from the top of the Carnival cruise ship as her mother watches coverage by CNN - allowing her to see her daughter for the first time in a week . Struggle: Rebekah, in yellow, told CNN that she was suffering through cold temperatures and little food . Rebekah added that a smell from the . bathrooms is also insufferable, and lingers on every deck of the ship, . which is carrying more than 5,000 people, including passengers and . staff. Distressed . passengers have previously spoken of sewage sloshing around in hallways . and dripping down the walls, flooded rooms and an unbearable stench. 'The bathroom situation is horrible,' Rebekah said. 'Some toilets are working and some of them are not working. On some parts of the ship it smells . horrible but right here on deck five it doesn't smell too bad but you . still know it's there.' Her father Larry Poret added: 'We were asked to use plastic bags to go to the bathroom and then used the shower. Sewage is going from one floor to the next... Passengers are wading in it.' Allie also said the conditions are unbearable, and admitted she 'had to do my business in a can'. The cold is also getting her down - especially as she admitted to CNN that she forgot to bring a jacket on board as she assumed the climate would be tropical. She said there is no heat inside the vessel. Staying strong: The young girl said is has been hard not knowing when they will get their next meal . Heading home: She will be reunited with her mother, right, when the vessel docks in Alabama tonight . Thankfully her friend Ally gave her a . spare and many people are wearing bathrobes to ward of temperatures . reaching 46 degrees Fahrenheit outside the ship. 'They're trying to make the best of it . but you can see how much they really dislike the situation,' she said. 'And how . could you like the situation? You really can't.' Even though the ship is slowly being tugged to the shoreline, she said she feels as if they are making no progress. 'I know we're moving a little bit but I really don't feel anything,' she said. Mary Poret, who is waiting for her daughter and ex-husband in Mobile along with Allie's mother, previously told CNN that she had had sporadic contact with Rebekah. Stranded: Ten-year-old Allie Taylor is also stuck on the Carnival Triumph with her father and the Porets . Apart: Her mother, Kimberly McKerreghan, left, is also waiting in Mobile for her daughter's return . The Carnival Triumph is expected to dock tonight in Mobile, Alabama between 8pm and 11pm (ET). Custom and borders patrol agents are currently sailing out to meet the ship to speed up the process when the boat finally docks. Carnival said that 200 staff members, including a 'care team', will be highly visible at the port to help their exhausted and grubby passengers. Medical teams will also be on hand for anyone who needs health care. They will first set foot in a terminal which has been disused for more than a year. Despite landing in Mobile, a city which has hundreds of hotel rooms and two airports, passengers will then either board buses directly to Galveston or Houston in Texas. The other option is to spend the night in a New Orleans hotel room. Those who opt to stay in New Orleans will catch flights to Houston on Friday. Guests have already indicated which option they prefer to Carnival. Carnival VP Terry Thornton said today that it as not 'logistically feasible' for passengers to remain in Mobile because of the volume of flights required. Carnival said it will cover all transportation costs. 'She was hysterical, crying hysterically,' Mrs Poret said. 'She was scared. She don't know what was going to happen next. 'And what broke my heart the very most was her saying, "Mommy, I don't . know if I'll ever see you again," and that's really hard to hear from . your 12-year-old daughter.' The Carnival Triumph is expected to finally reach dry land on Thursday between 8pm-11pm (ET). The ship is now in view from shore - . but those on board are being forced to wait up to ten hours before they . land in Mobile as the powerless ship battles high winds and strong . currents. The boat is crawling along at the rate of six to seven knots, about the pace of a lawnmower. It . is a further frustration for the 3,143 passengers and 1,086 crew . members who have endured four days stranded at sea in the Gulf of Mexico . after a fire in the engine room crippled the power system. On . the top deck, a 'shanty town' has sprung up with passengers sleeping on . sun loungers, wrapped in bedsheets to stay warm as temperatures dropped . to 46F. Despite the fact . it rained all night, passengers opted to sleep outdoors because the . stench of sewage has become so unbearable on board. Medical teams are stationed at the docks to help any passengers who might need emergency healthcare. Doctor Jorge Rodriguez said the Trumph was a 'floating petri dish' because of the combination of circumstances on board. He . told CNN: 'So far there hasn't been an outbreak of anything, but ... it's in the Gulf. It's warm. You don't have sanitary conditions, so . hopefully they'll get back to shore ... before anything breaks out.' Long journey: The ship has been stranded for an extra four days after an engine fire broke out on Sunday . Plea: The Edmond family stuck on Carnival hold a sign after days of poor food and no showers . Carnival said in a statement late on Wednesday that passengers would be helped through customs by 200 staff members at the scene. They were also being given the option of boarding buses directly to Galveston, Texas, or Houston, or spending the night in a hotel in New Orleans, where the company said it booked 1,500 rooms. Those staying in New Orleans will be flown on Friday to Houston. Carnival said it will cover all the transportation costs. ### SUMMARY:

Rebekah Poret waved at CNN helicopter as mother watched on TV . Mary Poret is waiting in Mobile, Alabama where the ship will dock tonight . Carnival Triumph has been stranded at sea since an engine fire knocked out the power; passengers have described unbearable conditions on board .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Remarkable new images from the Rosetta spacecraft have revealed the surface of its comet like never before. In the pictures an incredible amount of detail can be spotted - including boulders on the surface and dust moving across plains. The images come as Esa prepares to attempt to land a probe on the comet in two weeks. Esa, headquartered in Paris, has released new images of Rosetta's comet (mosaic shown). They reveal fascinating details on the surface including boulders. Sand dunes can also be seen on the comet's surface . The latest images of comet 67P/C-G were taken from a distance of 9.8km from the comet’s centre and revealed in a blog post by Esa. Four new images have been released, which have been combined into one mosaic image. In those images the scale is about 26 inches (66 cm) per pixel. The mosaic covers about 3,940 to 4,430ft (1,200 to 1,350 metres) on the comet’s surface. Towards the upper left of the image is an area of bright material that was cast in shadow in previous images, possibly at the base of a cliff. A recent landslide of sorts may have uncovered this material. Esa adds though that the brightness of the images is a little bit misleading, as the comet is actually blacker than coal. In order to make features visible the images are grey-scaled and also set to a high contrast to make them appear brighter. It's thought some sort of landslide may have revealed bright material seen at the bottom of this image under what appears to be a cliff. This image and the next three were used to make he mosaic . Esa is preparing to attempt to land a probe called Philae on the comet in two weeks . The images also take another look at a pyramid-like rock on the comet. This was named Cheops by Esa after the pyramid on Earth. It is seen here as the largest boulder just left and down of the centre . Esa adds though that the brightness of the images is a little bit misleading, as the comet is actually blacker than coal. In order to make features visible the images are grey-scaled and also set to a high contrast to make them appear brighter . 'Also not seen previously in this much detail are the two boulders just below the centre of the mosaic, one of which takes on a heart-shaped appearance from this angle,' Space Science Editor Emily Baldwin write for Esa on the blog. 'Zooming in reveals hints of a layered structure and both objects seems to be appearing from beneath the dusty layer, just like some of the smaller ‘boulders’ around them.' Within the images can also be seen a mysterious pyramid-shaped rock that was previously spotted by Esa. It can be seen just above the middle in the mosaic. At around 82ft-tall (25 metres), the structure is one of the larger boulders seen on the comet and could help scientists better understand its history. Boulder Cheops, taken by Rosetta’s OSIRIS camera on 19 September , from a distance of 17.7 miles (28.5km) In this image released on 18 October, meanwhile, sand dunes can be seen drifting down the centre . The 'pyramid' stood out among a group of boulders on the lower side of 67P/C-G's larger lobe – an area that has reminded scientists of the famous pyramids at Giza near Cairo in Egypt. Esa named the structure Cheops, after the largest of those pyramids, the Great Pyramid, which was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Cheops around 2550 BC. Rosetta has spent 10 years chasing down comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and is now in orbit around the 'ice mountain', edging in closer to its surface each day. For a sense of scale, the comet is about three times the size of Ben Nevis and Rosetta is the size of a car with 105ft (32 metre) wings. The 'pyramid' stood out among a group of boulders on the lower side of 67P/C-G's larger lobe – an area that has reminded scientists of the famous pyramids at Giza near Cairo in Egypt . A patchwork of images of comet 67P from a distance of 10.5 miles (16.9km) from the centre of the comet . Rosetta took an incredible selfie of its 131ft (40 metre) solar wings gleaming against the darkness of space last week. In the background is the duck-shaped comet, Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, with its distinct 'head' and 'body' clearly visible . As Rosetta continues to survey and monitor the comet's surface in the next months, the scientists will be looking for clues to better explain the formation of the comet. Last month a 2.4 mile-wide (4km) region on the 'head' of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was revealed as the spot for the daring landing of Rosetta's Philae probe. The high-risk manoeuvre on November 12, if successful, will be the first time in history that a probe has been landed on a comet. Scientists at mission control in Germany hope the spider-like probe will send back data that could answer questions on the origin of Earth's water and perhaps even life. But they've warned that the landing should be seen as an 'exciting extra' on the Rosetta mission as the mission carries a 'high risk'. The recent decision that the mission is 'go' for Site J confirms the timeline of events leading up to the landing of Philae on Rosetta. Rosetta will release Philae at 08:35 GMT/09:35 CET on 12 November at a distance of approximately 14 miles (22.5km) from the centre of the comet. The landing will be about seven hours later at around 15:30 GMT/16:30 CET. During the seven-hour descent, Philae will take images and conduct science experiments, sampling the dust, gas and plasma environment close to the comet. It will take a 'farewell' image of the Rosetta orbiter shortly after separation, along with a number of images as it approaches the comet surface. It is expected that the first images from this sequence will be received on Earth several hours after separation. Once safely on the surface, Philae will take a panorama of its surroundings. Again, this is expected back on Earth several hours later. The first sequence of surface science experiments will begin about an hour after touchdown and will last for 64 hours, constrained by the lander's primary battery lifetime. Longer-term study of the comet by Philae will depend on for how long and how well the batteries are able to recharge, which in turn is related to the amount of dust that settles on its solar panels. In any case, it is expected that by March 2015, as the comet moves closer in its orbit towards the Sun, temperatures inside the lander will have reached levels too high to continue operations, and Philae's science mission will come to an end. The Rosetta orbiter's mission will continue for much longer. It will accompany the comet as it grows in activity until their closest approach to the Sun in August 2015 and then as they head back towards the outer Solar System. The reconstructed-colour image indicates how dark the comet really appears. On average, the comet's surface reflects about four per cent of impinging visible light, making it as dark as coal . Last month a 2.4 mile-wide (4km) region on the 'head' of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was revealed as the spot for the daring landing of Rosetta's Philae probe (illustration shown).The high-risk manoeuvre on November 12, if successful, will be the first time in history that a probe has been landed on a comet . ### SUMMARY:

Esa, headquartered in Paris, has released new images of Rosetta's comet . They reveal fascinating details on the surface including boulders . Sand dunes can also be seen on the comet's surface . And it's thought some sort of landslide may have revealed bright material . Esa is preparing to attempt to land on the comet in two weeks . The images also take another look at a pyramid-like rock on the comet . This was named Cheops by Esa after the pyramid on Earth .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Owen Farrell is 23. It is worth emphasising that point, because he is often wrongly perceived as a seasoned veteran and that is not helping him. Four years ago, he was on loan at Bedford, in the Championship. Now, he has played 28 Tests for England, represented the Lions and – as befitting an accelerated career path – finds his international credentials being cast into doubt. Amid the rush to lambast the Saracens fly-half for his poor form on England duty last month, it is appropriate to consider the context. Firstly, he was a victim of circumstances beyond his control. Secondly, he will feature prominently at next year’s World Cup, providing he is not injured. Owen Farrell (left) poses with his team mates after England's 26-17 win over Australia in November . Farrell (right) has been criticised for his underwhelming form in England's Autumn international fixtures . Without doubt, Farrell was off-colour at Twickenham, during the defeats against New Zealand and South Africa. Without doubt, he deserved to be dropped to the bench – if not further – for the series-ending victory over Australia, following a hit-and-miss shift at inside centre against Samoa. But to write him off would be ludicrous. As a dogged competitor, he will relish vying with his good friend, George Ford, for the England No 10 shirt that he has lost, for now. Mark McCall, Saracens’ director of rugby, has defended his man, by claiming that Farrell was ‘rusty’ going into the November campaign. That is a colossal under-statement. After a month out injured, he had played one full and unconvincing match before earning an immediate England recall. Mark McCall, Saracens' director of rugby, has said Farrell was 'rusty' ahead of England's November fixtures . The bottom line is that he should not have been picked to face the All Blacks. He wasn’t ready. As McCall said: ‘He played one 80 minutes and was asked to face New Zealand, which is a pretty tough ask.’ Another under-statement. In fact, it was an impossible task. Stuart Lancaster and his assistants needed an alternative plan, but they didn’t feel they had a viable one to fall back on. Ford had missed the summer tour of New Zealand, so he hadn’t been exposed to the furnace-heat of a Test match in the balance. Freddie Burns and Danny Cipriani had deputised well, but neither had been included in the senior squad in late October. The extenuating circumstances went further back. First, Charlie Hodgson retired from Tests and then Toby Flood decided that a move to Toulouse was more appealing than playing second fiddle to the rookie. So the safety net had been removed. In lieu of genuine experience, Farrell assumed the mantle of the veteran in his position, despite his relative youth. Time and time again, Lancaster was forced to consider the doomsday threat of being forced to find a replacement, and that unwelcome scenario came to pass last month. Ford seized his opportunity with aplomb. He played flat to the line and showed his ability to unlock defences with astute distribution, tactical kicking, pace and footwork. Farrell does not have all those attributes in his repertoire, but neither did Jonny Wilkinson and it didn’t stop him becoming the country’s iconic, World Cup-winning hero. Stuart Lancaster decided to drop Farrell in place of Billy Twelvetrees for the international against Australia . Like Wilkinson, Farrell is a ‘Test match animal’. In a position often populated by more delicate artists, he is made of steel, with a warrior spirit and armed with cold composure as a supreme goal-kicker, despite the competitive fire that rages within. What he needs now is game after game after game at fly-half for Saracens, to rediscover his missing sharpness, while further honing his efforts to feel at home playing flat to the line. It may actually help him that Ford has earned Lancaster’s trust, as it reduces the risk that he will be assessed differently to others. To start a Test, he must be ready; fully fit and playing well. At the age of 23, he is no veteran. He cannot slot back into the old routine without preparation. Farrell will be an international match-winner again, of that there can be no doubt, but England have learned the hard way that he needs to be handled with care, like all their other assets. Irish rugby is on a roll. Amid the after-glow of a triumphant autumn campaign for Joe Schmidt’s national team, the country’s union – with government backing – will today outline plans to host the 2023 World Cup. On the field, Ireland will surely go into the Six Nations as favourites to defend their title after beating South Africa, convincingly, and Australia last month. Their prospects at next year’s World Cup appear increasingly bright. Yet, the audacious 2023 hosting plan may be doomed, despite being a united north-south bid, and even allowing for potential use of Gaelic sports venues, including the towering Croke Park in Dublin. The USA may enter the fray and global rugby authorities will be desperate to open up that huge market, while South Africa, Italy and Argentina are all thought to be interested. Jonathan Sexton (centre) in action for Ireland in their 26-23 win against Australia last month . The 2011 tournament in New Zealand generated modest revenue and England are having to make up the short-fall with the lucrative 2015 extravaganza. Twickenham is drowning in logos and general commercial over-load in the increasing effort to maximise profits. To avoid such a scenario again, the chance of smaller nations being awarded the hosting rights have surely faded to nothing. In the modern era of meticulous professionalism, there is still room for the primal, powerful concept of motivation by irritation. Sale have been irked by Saracens’ attitude ahead of tomorrow’s European Champions Cup clash in Salford. Steve Diamond, their fiery director of rugby, said: ‘We’ve been written off. Saracens have already openly stated on TV after their defeat at Munster that they will pick the bonus points up against Sale. Steve Diamond is upset with the attitude shown by Saracens ahead of their clash with Sale . It was one of the players who showed it to me and it is being used as a little tool.’ One Sale player suggested that Saracens are known for being ‘arrogant’ and that the hosts will be fired-up to make a mockery of their rivals’ perceived superiority complex. It is shaping up to be a feisty, niggly, abrasive encounter. Quote of the week . Leicester’s director of rugby, Richard Cockerill, was on vintage comedy form as he reflected on Tom Croft’s delayed return to action after injury, saying: ‘Crofty was in the 23 last weekend, but his wife decided to have a baby. Leicester's director of rugby Richard Cockerill was in hilarious form talking about Tom Croft becoming a dad . 'He’s a proud dad of Victoria. It took long enough – started Friday and finished Saturday afternoon! 'For some reason they wanted to have the baby at the General hospital rather than the Royal Infirmary (close to Welford Road), so he couldn’t even pop across the road to play, then pop back again. 'That’s the reason they built the hospital there!’ Last Word . England and Wales players will hurl themselves into European club combat this weekend, their bodies still shattered from four Tests in succession last month. It is too much of a strain. The clubs cannot be blamed for picking their leading men for key continental fixtures which could make or break their season – especially as they have been without those players since late October. Twelvetrees (second right) and his England team-mates should have an extra break after their exertions . By and large, the club directors of rugby and coaches demonstrate a commendable desire to manage the work-load of their internationals. The stark fact is that four Tests in November is excessive and is driven by financial considerations. It requires the IRB, or World Rugby – as they now wish to be known – to strictly regulate the congested calendar. Each European nation should play two Tests against leading southern-hemisphere countries and one against a Tier Two side every autumn, before an obligatory rest week for all players involved. Less games = less injuries = a better product. Rocket science, it most certainly isn’t… . ### SUMMARY:

Owen Farrell would benefit from people realising how far he has come . Four years ago, he was playing Championship rugby with Bedford . He needs to rediscover his match sharpness with Saracens game time .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Lionel Messi needed just two goals to reach a career total of 400, but instead he provided two brilliant assists, with Neymar the beneficiary both times as Barcelona’s South American duo put Athletic Bilbao to the sword. The final member of what will become Barcelona’s fearsome attacking trio, Luis Suarez, watched on from the sidelines as he continues to serve his suspension, with breakthrough star Munir El Haddadi starting for the third consecutive game instead, putting in a lively display. Luis Enrique opted to leave centre-back Gerard Pique on the bench, instead pairing Javier Mascherano, back from suspension, with Jeremy Mathieu, back from injury. Neymar, meanwhile, also began among the substitutes after his midweek exertions for Brazil. VIDEO Scroll down to watchLuis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar star as FC Barcelona release slick new season promo . Brazilian forward Neymar, a second half substitute, scored a brace to hand Luis Enrique's side victory at the Nou Camp . Neymar scored two goals in five minutes for Barcelona, both goals were set up by Argentine team-mate Lionel Messi . Neymar has had an impressive couple of weeks - first captaining Brazil to a 1-0 win over Colombia (where he scored the winner) and now with a brace against Athletic . Barcelona: Bravo, Montoya, Mascherano (Pique 46), Mathieu, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Munir (Neymar 63), Messi, Pedro (Sandro 77). Subs: Ter Stegen, Xavi, Sergi Roberto, Adriano. Booked: Busquets. Goal: Neymar 80, 84. Athletic Bilbao: Iraizoz, De Marcos, Gurpegui, Laporte, Balenziaga, Susaeta (Ibai 64), Iturraspe, Benat (Unai Lopez 64), Mikel Rico (Viguera 83), Muniain, Aduriz. Subs: Iago Herrerin, San Jose, Iraola, Etxeita. Booked: Aduriz. Referee: David Fernandez Borbalan. Attendance: 80,081 . Enrique scored a hat-trick against Athletic in a 7-0 win at the Nou Camp back in the 2000-01 season, but Barcelona are still finding their rhythm under the Asturian and we may have wait a while to see a similar demolition. The match started at a high tempo, with Claudio Bravo being forced to swipe away a cross from the left after a smart Ander Iturraspe interception started the move. But Barcelona responded well, with Munir firing wide of the top left corner shortly afterwards, before Pedro had an effort from close range well saved by Gorka Iraizoz. Barcelona fans sang for independence after 17 minutes and 14 seconds, as they usually do. It had more meaning today, shortly after Catalonia’s national day, with a special canvas draped down one stand of Camp Nou as a nod to it. The teams were both wearing ‘nationalist’ kits, with Barcelona’s red and yellow striped ‘senyera’ shirt representing the Catalan flag, while Athletic sported green, white and red, the colours of the Basque Country’s Ikurrina flag. Munir had another great chance around 20 minutes in, lashing over the bar from the edge of the box, when he should have hit the target. And after 40 minutes he could have had a free run at goal, but his first touch was poor. Instead he rolled the ball to Messi, whose shot was blocked. In between the two Barcelona chances there were two strong penalty claims for Barcelona. The first saw Munir barged into from behind by the goalkeeper Iraizoz. The ball fell to Messi on the edge of the box, but instead of giving a penalty or waving play on, referee David Fernandez Borbalan gave Athletic a free kick. The second saw veteran defender Carlos Gurpegui shove Munir to the ground and then tumble over himself. Again, Borbalan saw no infringement. A couple of minutes before the interval a cross from the left came all the way though the box and Ivan Rakitic thumped it at goal, but Iraizoz was equal to it. He was on hand again to deny Munir smartly from almost underneath the crossbar, before the teams went in goalless. Barcelona's talisman Lionel Messi is challenged by Athletric Bilbao's French defender Aymeric Laporte during their league match at the Nou Camp . Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona players walk out on to the pitch as pro-independence supporters hold up letters which spell out 'We will be free' New Barcelona signing Ivan Rakitic slides in on Athletic Bilbao's Mikel Balenziaga at the Nou Camp . Mascherano was hooked at half-time after taking a boot to the head from Athletic striker Aritz Aduriz mid-way through the first half. The forward was deservedly booked for his high foot misdemeanour. Barca came out from the break like they meant business and within a few minutes had the ball in the back of the net. Jordi Alba cut the ball across from the left as Munir burst into the box and fired home, but it was ruled out for offside. Munir was behind Alba when he played the ball, so it was the wrong decision. The suspended Luis Suarez was watching on from the stands and would have relished some of the opportunities that Munir and Co passed up. Enrique decided enough was enough, and brought on Neymar for the youngster. La Masia's latest talent, Munir El Haddadi has made his debuts for Barcelona B, Barcelona and Spain Under 19 and 21, and Spain in 2014 . Athletic midfielder Ander Iturraspe dribbles with the ball as Barcelona pair Javier Mascherano and Martin Montoya close him down . Three-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi heads the bull under pressure from Athletic Bilbao defenders at the Nou Camp . The Brazilian almost had an instant impact, but was chopped down on the edge of the box. Then he lashed wide from 25 yards and would have been set for an easy tap-in, but for a rare misjudged ball by Andres Iniesta. Neymar recovered the loose ball and tried to find Messi, but the excellent Aymeric Laporte cut it out. Excellent that is, until his poor pass straight to Sergio Busquets, which the midfielder fed to Messi. The Argentine looked up and split Athletic’s defence, leaving Neymar just to stroke it past Iraizoz. Athletic hadn’t been able to muster much going forward, but Iker Muniain’s splendid dribble left Pique in a tangle, but the defender recovered his balance to deny the tricky forward. It was all they could offer, before Barcelona’s South Americans combined again to put the game out of reach. A typically brilliant solo dribble by Messi took him into the box, before the Argentine flicked the ball back to Neymar. The Brazilian took a touch to steady himself, then another to plant the ball in the bottom right corner and settle the game. While there is still more to come from Enrique’s Barcelona side, in terms of fluidity and attacking edge, he will be delighted with his 100 per cent record so far. And the clean sheet is their third from three La Liga games this season, matching a record they last achieved in 1993 – when their third game was also against Athletic Bilbao. Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Gorka Irazioz organises his defenders as hosts Barcelona prepare to take a corner . If Dani Alves had featured against Athletic it would have been his 300th game for Barcelona but, due to a knee proble for the Brazilian, Martin Montoya played instead . Young prospect Munir El Haddadi had a host of chances against Athletic, as well as a couple of penalty appeals, but was eventually substituted for Neymar . Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi finds himself in a familiar position, surrounded by opposition players . ### SUMMARY:

Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 . Knee injury prevented Dani Alves from making his 300th appearance for Barcelona . Munir El Haddadi started for Barcelona but missed a host of chances . Neymar came on as a substitute and scored a brace to hand Luis Enrique's side victory . Lionel Messi set up both of Neymar's goals . Victory keeps Barcelona top of La Liga .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: It opened to great fanfare promising spectacular views across London, but the first guests of the Shangri-La in The Shard got rather more than they bargained for. A design fault appeared to give the ultimate 'peeping Tom' view into other rooms, with guests complaining about unwanted sights and the Shangri-La hastily erecting some modesty blinds. So perhaps it is unsurprising that the luxury hotel on The Shard's 34th to 52nd floors has been voted the worst hotel opening of 2014 by expert reviewers at Luxury Travel Intelligence. The global members organisation put together its ultimate list of the best and worst hotel openings of 2014, with London accommodation taking the top spot in both lists. While the Shangri-La at The Shard was voted worst, with the capital's boutique hotel Han Yard taking third place, the independent Beaumont hotel in London's Mayfair was praised for its Art Deco-inspired rooms and perfect service and took first place for the best hotel opening of the year. Andy Murray's Cromlix House was also praised by the organisation, taking 10th place in the best hotel openings list and praised for creating 'a stand out country house hotel experience, enhanced by warm and caring staff, who are mostly locals.' So, who else got it right this year and who got it wrong? Here we give you the best and worst new luxury hotels of 2014..... The worst of the lot: A design fault at Shangri-La means guests can look into neighbouring rooms . Best of the best: The Beaumont in London opened in September and was deemed 'perfect' by LTI's experts . THE BEST . 1. Beaumont, London . Opened by Chris Corbin and Jeremy King, famed for their dining empire including London's The Wolseley, the Beaumont was their long-awaited foray into the hotel world. LTI said it was no surprise that the hotel opening was pushed back several times, so that everything would be perfect. And experts concluded that 'perfect it is'. They said: 'In fact it feels like it has been there forever, and the Art Deco inspired rooms and suites are warm and welcoming. The Colony Grill Room is outstanding and deservedly one of the hottest reservations in town.' The Club Lounge of The Beaumont. The hotel came first in the list of best new luxury hotel openings of 2014 . Entrance Lobby, The Beaumont: Hotel's opening was pushed back to ensure everything was perfect . 2. Portrait, Florence . This luxury boutique hotel has unbeatable views of the Ponte Vecchio. And LTI loved the huge rooms and suites. Couture shoemakers Salvatore Ferragamo own it – and the family have poured heart, soul and money into what is a wonderful property. Portrait in Florence: This luxury boutique hotel has unbeatable views of the Ponte Vecchi . Andy Murray's Cromlix hotel was praised for its country atmosphere and charming local staff, putting it in 10th place . Third place: Lowes Regency Hotel had a lengthy refurbishment but is an iconic property in a superb location . 1.) Beaumont, London . 2.) Portrait, Florence . 3.) Loews Regency, New York . 4.) Four Seasons, Moscow . 5.) Maalifushi, Maldives . 6.) Cape Weligama, Sri Lanka . 7.) Raffles, Istanbul . 8.) Four Seasons, Dubai (Jumeirah Beach) 9.) Waldorf Astoria, Amsterdam . 10.) Cromlix House, Scotland . *According to research by LTI (Luxury Travel Intelligence) 3. Loews Regency, New York . OK, so this is not really a new hotel as such – but the lengthy and well-executed refurbishment has revealed a property that is new in many regards. This iconic property still offers a superb location and some of the largest rooms and suites in the city. The experts love the lighter, cleaner lines of the décor. 4. Four Seasons, Moscow . As Four Seasons continue their prolific global expansion, it would be easy for the brand (and LTI) to become a little blasé. But they rarely put a foot wrong. Here, they have created a wonderful, warm and luxurious hotel in a stunning location. It’s a shame that they couldn’t get the spa (set to be one of the best in Moscow) ready in time for the opening – an oversight, which marks them down in our books. 5. Maalifushi, Maldives . A little isolated, compared to most of the top resorts, and on a tiny piece of atoll real estate, just 800 metres by 200 metres, thereby delivering a real Maldives experience. Wonderful island chic accommodations, a great spa and plentiful in/on water activities make this our new favourite Maldives destination. Fourth: Four seasons in Moscow 'rarely put a foot a wrong' and have created a 'warm and luxurious hotel' Fifth: Maalifushi in Maldives has 'chic accommodations' and a 'great spa' as well as water activities . 1.) Shangri-La, London . 2.) SLS, Las Vegas . 3.) Ham Yard, London . 4.) Park Hyatt, New York . 5.) ME, Ibiza . 6.) ME, Mallorca . 7.) One and Only, Hayman Island . 8.) The Brando, French Polynesia . 9.) Peninsula, Paris . 10.) Waldorf Astoria, Dubai . *According to research by LTI (Luxury Travel Intelligence) THE WORST . 1. Shangri-La, London . What views! We're not talking about the amazing London skyline stretched out below you from your room – but, rather, those direct views into neighbouring rooms. And when you can see them, you know they can see you too... This disastrous design fault has already been well documented by the global media, but we have witnessed it first hand on two occasions and it is very disconcerting. The hotel’s solution has been to fit blinds, but then you are in just another hotel room, which completely erodes the whole purpose of staying here, in one the tallest building in Europe, as room décor and size is only on par with the average London 4/5 star hotel. 2. SLS, Las Vegas . SLS Miami failed to impress us, but after three days at SLS Las Vegas we would have returned to the Miami location in a heartbeat. There is so much wrong here – including poor location, poor management and many of the hotel’s dining and entertainment options failing to draw the crowds, meaning shutdowns (or limited opening hours). Second worst: SLS  was deemed to have a 'poor location, poor management' and fails to 'draw the crowds' Many of SLS's dining and entertainment options failed to 'draw the crowds' meaning limited opening hours . 3. Ham Yard, London . We are long-standing fans of the wonderful hotels created by Tim and Kit Kemp. But this one sadly falls well short of their usual high standards. It has a feel of a pop up and appears unfinished and lacking in warmth and character. The overall exterior look is very corporate and jars with the unique character of Soho. In time it could blossom – and if anyone can achieve this it is the Kemp duo. They have their work cut out on this occasion. 4. Park Hyatt, New York . There is much to like about this property, but after three visits we have one important issue, which seems to have gone unaddressed (so far) – and that is noise levels. Traffic and construction noise, from insufficient glazing, is a major design flaw at this 24-hour location – with huge implications. Fourth worst: Despite having much to like, experts thought Park Hyatt was noisy from 'insufficient glazing' 5. ME, Ibiza . The ME brand disappoints yet again. We have real issues here with poor management, service and food. And we are also surprised at how such a major financial investment could be followed by such low standards. ### SUMMARY:

LTI Luxury Travel Intelligence sent experts to grade all new luxury hotels . Best new property was The Beaumont in London, second was Portrait . Worst hotel was Shangri-La in London as guests can see into other rooms . Second worst was SLS in Vegas and third came Ham Yard Hotel in London .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: There may be many things we don't understand about the universe, but one thing we can be certain of is that the speed of light cannot be exceeded. Right? Not necessarily, according to one scientist. He claims that a certain effect may be capable of producing the illusion that 'spots' of light travel faster than lightspeed. And his research says that when this occurs, the spots produce a phenomenon known as a 'photonic boom'. A scientist from Michigan Tech University studied faster than light effects. Dr Robert Nemiroff said a laser swept across the moon (telescope laser shown) will appear to break light-speed. This is because it will move from one end to the other before light on the surface could make the same journey . The controversial study was carried out by physics professor Dr Robert Nemiroff from Michigan Tech University, and he recently presented his research at the 225th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle. He claims that if you shine a powerful enough laser pointer on the moon from Earth and sweep it across the surface, the 'spot of light' could appear to move faster than the speed of light. This is because, in this hypothetical scenario, if another person standing on a moon attempted to shine a light across the moon at the same time, it would take longer. When a plane travels faster than the speed of sound, the sound waves it creates are unable to propagate away as normal and instead build up, creating a sonic boom of noise. A similar effect can also be observed with regards to light, emitting something known as Cerenkov radiation in the process. Note that this is different to the 'photonic boom' effect described by Dr Nemiroff. The Cerenkov radiation effect occurs when something travelling at, or near, the speed of light in a particular medium - such as air - moves into a medium where the speed of light is slower - such as water. In air, the speed of light is about 984 million feet (300 million metres) per second. In water, however, it is less at 738 million feet (225 million metres) per second. This means that if particles move from air to water they can break the speed of light in the water. The moment they do this they slow down to the new speed, but in the process release a particular type of radiation - known as Cerenkov radiation. The effect occurs in nuclear reactors, which are encased in water. When neutrinos leak out, they slow from the speed of light in air to that in water. In the process they emit Cerenkov radiation, which appears as a blue glow. 'The stream of particles (photons) from your laser pointer can sequentially impact the moon so that another light beam - confined to the surface of the moon - could not keep up,' Dr Nemiroff told MailOnline. In his paper he explained that, although light takes about 0.0116 seconds to cross the moon, a person standing on Earth can sweep a laser pointer across the moon's surface in less time. Such sweeps in the universe are known as 'superluminal sweeps' - superluminal meaning faster than light. And when this spot first strikes the moon, Dr Nemiroff said it can create a flash to an observer, which he calls a photonic boom. Although not the same as a sonic boom, this would be an indicator that the spot is moving faster than the speed of light. Dr Nemiroff further explained that the 'spot' moving across the moon is not actually a physical object - so it is not breaking any laws of physics. 'Each photon that strikes the moon is unconnected to other photons that strike the moon,' he said. But while the photons in the beam move at the speed of light, the spot itself seems to move faster. 'Nothing physical is moving faster than the speed of light,' he added. 'In this sense, the superluminal motion inherent in a photonic boom is an optical illusion brought about by the timings of unrelated photons striking - and being scattered by - the moon. 'One analogy is the sonic boom as when a supersonic airplane flies by overhead, people at different locations will hear the sonic boom at different times.' This graphic reveals the effect in action. It takes light about 0.0116 seconds to cross the moon, said Dr Nemiroff, but a person can sweep a laser pointer across the moon's surface in less time . The laser effect is only a trick - but it could reveal hidden details.When the light first hits the object it creates a 'photonic boom'. Comparing this to the sweep of light over the surface could reveal properties of the object it is striking. For example, sweeping light over an asteroid thousands of times could reveal its mass . While the laser beam on the moon analogy might seen simplistic, it is actually relevant to other events in the universe. Namely, pulsars, rapidly rotating neutron stars, may sweep their own beams across cloud of dust and gas and creating the superluminal effect. 'The photonic boom effect has never yet been identified as such out in the cosmos,' Dr Nemiroff said. 'One reason is that no one has thought to look for it. The research says the effect probably occurs and should be looked for.' When a superluminal sweep occurs, it is thought to start with a flash known as a 'photonic boom' - so-called because they are analogous to sonic booms and breaking the sound barrier. The crux of Dr Nemiroff's research is that by comparing these sweeps with the scattering of the beam, characteristics on the origin of the beam - and the object it is striking - can be observed. For example, to reveal the size and surface features of asteroids passing near Earth, a laser beam could be swept across the rock's surface thousands of times a second. Each sweep would create a photonic boom and, recorded with high-speed cameras, could map out major features on the asteroid. A similar phenomenon is observed in pulsars shining on dust clouds (illustration shown). Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of light, and the glow they create on dust clouds has been observed by astronomers. The sweeping motion could appear to travel faster than light, according to Dr Nemiroff . Dr Nemiroff said photonic booms could be observed in the universe, such as in Hubble's Variable Nebula, pictured. Here, he said shadows cast by clouds moving between a bright star may reflect dust and move so fast that they might create photonics booms visible for days or weeks . The physics that create a photonic boom is tied to the faster-than-light sweep speeds of the illuminating spots and shadows. Specifically, a flash is seen by an observer when the speed of the scattered spot toward the observer drops from above the speed of light to below the speed of light. The phenomenon is possible only because the spots contain no mass and so cannot only move faster than light, but decelerate past the speed of light without violating Einstein's theory of special relativity. The effect hinges on the interplay between the time it takes for a sweeping beam of light to cross an object, and the time it takes for the light beam to traverse the depth of the object. 'Photonic booms happen around us quite frequently - but they are always too brief to notice,' said Dr Nemiroff in a separate press release. 'Out in the cosmos they last long enough to notice - but nobody has thought to look for them!' When neutrinos leak out of nuclear reactor, they are travelling above the speed of light in water and briefly break the 'light barrier'. As they slow, they release something called Cerenkov radiation, which appears as a blue glow. Pictured is the glow from the Idaho National Laboratory's Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) core . Photonic booms should not be confused with the well-known Cerenkov radiation, which is emitted when an object breaks the speed of light in a particular material. The speed of light is different in various mediums - for example, it moves slower through water than it does in air. So, if a particle moving at the speed of the light in air moves into water, it produces the radiation as it slows to below light speed. This effect can be observed in nuclear reactors, which are kept underwater. ### SUMMARY:

Scientist from Michigan Tech University studied faster than light effects . He said a laser swept across the moon can appear to break light-speed . This is because it will move from one end to the other before a beam on the surface could make the same journey . The effect is only a trick - but it could reveal hidden details . Similar phenomenon could be observed in pulsars shining on dust clouds . When the light first hits the object it creates a 'photonic boom' Comparing this to the sweep of light over the surface could reveal properties of the object it is striking . For example, using high-speed cameras to observe a light moving over an asteroid thousands of times could reveal its mass .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: EBay has become the go-to place if you want to clear out your wardrobe, or buy second-hand gadgets. But the online auction site is also a hub for antique dealers to sell myriad ancient artefacts from 6th century Athenian pottery to 20th century Japanese Kimonos. Buyers can purchase authentic coins, clothing and relics at the click of a button, with some items being offered in excess of $65,000 (£45,000). Antique dealers are using the California-based online site to sell ancient artefacts from 6th century Athenian pottery to 20th century Japanese kimonos. Buyers can also purchase authentic coins, clothing and relics at the click of a button, with some items (such as this Roman bust) being offered for $68,000 (£45,000) After it launched in 1995, eBay was criticised for stealing business away from traditional auction houses. It has more than 155 million users around the globe and its reach has extended beyond household items to larger products. Quirky items, such as wedding dates, houses and even a woman's virginity have also been listed. In 2012, a handwritten letter by Albert Einstein was sold by an anonymous owner to an unknown online bidder for $3,000,100 (£1,964,200). In the so-called 'God Letter,' Einstein discussed religion, tribalism and his disbelief in a biblical God. The anonymous seller bought it from Bloomsbury Auctions in London in 2008 for $404,000 (£264,500). In 2012, a handwritten letter by Albert Einstein was sold by an anonymous owner to an unknown online bidder for $3,000,100 (£1,964,200). In the so-called 'God Letter,' Einstein discussed religion, tribalism and his disbelief in a biblical God. The anonymous seller bought it from Bloomsbury Auctions in London in 2008 for $404,000 (£264,500). This started a trend which led to eBay launching and expanding its Collectables and Antiques category. A search for 'Roman' in the Antiques category today, for example, shows almost 22,000 listings, with one listing of a Roman bust being offered for $68,000 (£44,500). Other items that have sold on eBay in the past 30 days include a 19th Century Chinese silk embroidery costume court hat and helmet from the Qing dynasty. It sold for $3,081 (£2,021). This item was listed by London Oriental Gallery - an online store that currently has Arabic manuscripts, Ottoman seal marks and miniature paintings from India for sale. The store offers returns made within 14 days, and lists the condition of items, but there is no mention of guaranteed authenticity. The store does, however, have a positive feedback rating of 99.3 per cent, suggesting it is a reputable seller. Palmyra Heritage also made $1,849 (£1,212) from the sale of a 1st to 8th Century BC 'eyes ensemble' taken from an ancient Egyptian mask (pictured). It came from a private Brooklyn collection and was acquired in the 1940s. The online store guaranteed its authenticity . A search for 'Roman' in eBay's Antiques category shows almost 22,000 listings. This ancient Roman marble figure, said to represent Telamon is currently being offered for $65,000 (£42,720) EBay store Palmyra Heritage recently sold a 6th century BC Athenian Lekythos pot decorated with images of Heracles (left) for $1,354 (£888). The listing said the pot had previously been part of the estate of surgeon Dr Elmet Belt. A Greek amphora from 520 BC (right) was later sold by eBay member herberta36 for $981 (£644) This 2nd century AD seated figure from a private French collection sold for $487.80 (£319.00) Last month, an online eBay store called Palmyra Heritage sold a 6th century BC Athenian Lekythos pot decorated with images of Heracles for $1,354 (£888). The listing explained the pot had previously been part of the estate of surgeon Dr Elmet Belt, and its authenticity was guaranteed. Palmyra Heritage also made $1,849 (£1,212) from a recent sale of a 1st to 8th Century BC 'eyes ensemble' taken from an ancient Egyptian mask. Meanwhile, a Greek amphora from 520 BC was sold by eBay member herberta36. The seller said the item was part of a European collection from 'a research chemist based in Austria' and was sold with a certificate of authenticity. It sold for $981 (£644). An Egyptian heart scarab from 900 BC made of quartz recently sold for $426.83 (£279.00), and a 2.5-inch (6.5cm) tall statue of a baboon made between the 7th and 11th centuries was bought for $425 (£279). In the Clothing and Apparel section of the site, an original 1890's Native American Sioux dress was recently sold by member tatersoup for $2,203 (£1,444). A quartz Egyptian heart scarab (left) from 900 BC recently sold for $426.83 (£279.00). A 2.5-inch (6.5cm) tall statue of a baboon (right) made between the 7th and 11th centuries was bought for $425 (£279) The dress is made of blue trade Cloth with white trim and has a yoke of dentalia – or tusk - shells. A vintage, hand-embroidered Japanese kimono, made between 1900 and 1940, then sold for $1,067 (£699). As with any sale, eBay will act as mediator and offers a resolution centre for anyone who feels an item was misrepresented. But purchases are made without being able to inspect items, unlike at a physical auction house. Other items that have sold on eBay in the past 30 days include a 19th Century Chinese silk embroidery costume court hat (pictured) and helmet from the Qing dynasty. It sold for $3,081 (£2,021) In the Clothing and Apparel section of the site, an original 1890's Native American Sioux dress (pictured) was recently sold by member tatersoup for $2,203 (£1,444). The dress has a yoke of dentalia – or tusk - shells . In what could be considered a sign of eBay's popularity in such markets, the online site teamed up with Sotheby's last year to offer access to web auctions from the fine-art dealer. Sotheby's offers its own online auctions, but was said to have wanted to attract a wider range of customers. At the time, Sotheby's said it didn't believe eBay could reach the highest of its high-end customers, but it could help expand the middle of its market. This includes auctions that sell between $5,000 (£3,270) and $100,000 (£65,000). These pieces of jewellery were recently found by a metal detectorist in the UK. They are said to date back to the Roman Empire, between 200AD and 400AD, and are being sold on eBay by Mosquito Bay Trading . ### SUMMARY:

Dealers are using the site to sell ancient relics, clothing, coins and pottery . Items range from 6th century Athenian pottery to 20th century kimonos . In many cases, the antiques sell for between $400 (£262) to $1,000 (£655) However, listings during the past 30 days have exceeded $65,000 (£44,500)

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: The start of the ski season is about to get underway. But if you thought all the action happened out on the slopes, you can think again. For a minority of super-rich holiday makers, the real entertainment is to be found back in the palatial chalets that dot the world’s most exclusive resorts. Scroll down for video . A week at the sprawling nine-bedroom Swiss chalet owned by billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson will set you back an eye-watering £112,000-a-week . The stunning accommodation on offer at rental company Ultimate Luxury Chalets feature swimming pools, saunas, cinemas, hot tubs and even nightclubs. Other include wine cellars, state of the art spas and fully-equipped gyms. But if you want to hire the most exclusive properties at destinations including Verbier in Switzerland and Val D’Isere in France, you’ll need to be among the world’s highest earners. A week at the sprawling nine-bedroom Swiss chalet owned by billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson will set you back an eye-watering £112,000-a-week. Chalet N, located in the Austrian ski resort of Lech, is said to ‘set the benchmark for true Alpine over-indulgence’ One of the most impressive properties in the ski chalet rental market worldwide, it is an opulent chalet that comes complete with a team of chefs and butlers . As well as its own spa and ‘wellness centre’, Chalet N features massage beds, a private hair stylist, steam showers, indoor swimming pool, a library, dual outdoor hot tubs, its own bar and a billiard room . Situated on a quiet road just 250m from the main ski lifts and backing onto one of the returning pistes, The Lodge is in a perfect location for the slopes. Guests are attended to by a team of 12 staff. The property features a mini ice rink, indoor swimming pool, outdoor Jacuzzis and a luxury spa. The Lodge can accommodate up to 18 adults in nine bedrooms and up to six children and young adults in a specially designed bunkroom. Chalet N, located in the Austrian ski resort of Lech, is said to ‘set the benchmark for true Alpine over-indulgence’. Sir Richard Branson's luxurious Swiss Chalet features swimming pools, saunas, cinemas, hot tubs and even discos . Guests at The Lodge chalet are attended to by a team of 12 staff, while the property features a mini ice rink, indoor swimming pool, outdoor Jacuzzis and a luxury spa . Undoubtedly one of the most impressive properties in the ski chalet rental market worldwide, it is an opulent chalet that comes complete with a team of chefs and butlers. As well as its own spa and ‘wellness centre’, it features massage beds, a private hair stylist, steam showers, indoor swimming pool, a library, dual outdoor hot tubs, its own bar and a billiard room. The property costs up to £384,000-a-week to hire. The Edelweiss chalet in the Courchevel 1850 resort is a towering eight-bedroom property that has become one of the most sought after Alpine retreats. The Edelweiss chalet in the Courchevel 1850 resort is a towering eight-bedroom property that has become one of the most sought after Alpine retreats . Able to sleep 16 people, the Edelweiss chalet was only built in 2012 and is located next to the Bellecote piste. Guests will need to splash more than £400,000-a-week for a seven night stay . The £79,000-per-week Marco Polo chalet in Val D’Isere is described as offering guests ‘700sq meters of Alpine chic’ It features a vast balcony complete with panoramic views of La Face piste, a bbq and outdoor heated seating . Able to sleep 16 people, it was only built in 2012 and is located next to the Bellecote piste. Each bedroom has its own en suite bathroom and the two master suites measure 100sq meters each and come complete with private dressing rooms. Its spa area takes up a whole floor and includes a state of the art gym, a double massage room and a swimming pool. There is a 50m² ski room opening directly onto the Bellecote piste, while the chalet is so big it even has a lift to take guests between floors. Zermatt Peak, situated in the Swiss resort of Zermatt, is said to ‘set a new precedent in luxury chalet accommodation’ The 4.5 metre floor to ceiling windows in the lounge offer spectacular views, while the interiors ‘ooze style, luxury and panache’ The Courchevel 1850 resort also features the stunning six-floor Le Petit Palais chalet . Guests can use the beauty salon and sprawling spa, with the chalet costing £188,000 for a seven-night stay . On the ground floor there is a 130sq meter nightclub with a DJ booth, dancefloor and bar, which can fit 100 people. The chalet costs a staggering £431,000-a-week to rent. The Marco Polo chalet in Val D’Isere is described as offering guests ‘700sq meters of Alpine chic’. The property can accommodate 12 guests in its six en suite bedrooms. It features a vast balcony complete with panoramic views of La Face piste, a bbq and outdoor heated seating. The price is not surprisingly out of the reach of many Val D’Isere visitors, costing £79,000 per week. Zermatt Peak, situated in the Swiss resort of Zermatt, is said to ‘set a new precedent in luxury chalet accommodation’. Sleeping 18 people, the Chalet Truffe Blance in Verbier, Switzerland, is referred to as a ‘vision of grandeur and elegance’ Based on an 17th century Italian residence, it spreads over 3,000sq meters, while its spa is said to have been inspired a the Roman Empire. It also has a 15m indoor pool . The 4.5 metre floor to ceiling windows in the lounge offer spectacular views, while the interiors ‘ooze style, luxury and panache’. It features its own masseuse, steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi. It also has a cinema, library and and a private chef. It can accommodate up to 15 guests and comes at a cost of up to £113,000 for seven night’s hire. The Courchevel 1850 resort also features the stunning six-floor Le Petit Palais chalet. It has a total of seven bedrooms and again includes its own nightclub and cinema room, while the master suite measures 855sq ft, and takes up an entire floor of the property. Guests can also use the beauty salon and sprawling spa and costs £188,000 for a seven night stay. Sleeping 18 people, the Chalet Truffe Blance in Verbier, Switzerland, is referred to as a ‘vision of grandeur and elegance’. Based on an 17th century Italian residence, it spreads over 3,000sq meters, while its spa is said to have been inspired a the Roman Empire. It also has a 15m indoor pool. An exotic Turkish hammam displays extravagant domes derived from the Ottoman architecture. Surrounding the hammam, pool and relaxation area are nine treatment rooms, a Finnish sauna, 20-seat home cinema, sushi and vodka bar, private nightclub and pool table. The wine cellar has underwater windows looking out into the pool. But such luxury does not come cheap, and guests will need to spend up to £172,000 per week to hire the property. www.ultimateluxurychalets.com . ### SUMMARY:

The Edelweiss chalet in Courchevel is the world's most expensive chalet . It costs a staggering £431,000-a-week to hire and has its own nightclub . A seven-night stay at Sir Richard Branson's Swiss chalet costs £112,000 . The luxury chalets features swimming pools, saunas, and private chefs .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- The crib in Ellen Darcy's Boston home has sat empty for more than a year. And in suburban Washington, Laura Teresinski has prepared a nursery for a baby that may never arrive. Guatemala has announced it will conduct a case-by-case review of every pending foreign adoption case. They and thousands of prospective parents, eager to adopt children from abroad, have found themselves in an emotional legal limbo since two of the most popular countries for international adoptions -- Guatemala and Vietnam -- recently halted their programs. Now would-be mothers and fathers around the United States wonder what will become of their quest to adopt a child -- a pursuit that can fray nerves, cost up to $30,000 and span several years. Guatemala announced this month that it would conduct a case-by-case review of every pending foreign adoption case. That put on hold the adoption plans of about 2,000 American families. The crackdown comes amid reports that some in Guatemala coerce mothers to relinquish their children for adoption -- or steal the children outright and present them as orphans. Similar accusations have arisen in Vietnam. After the United States accused adoption agencies there of corruption and baby-selling, Vietnam said in April that it would no longer allow adoptions to the United States. "My husband and I were absolutely devastated," Teresinski said. "Adoptive parents have put a lot of emotional energy and a lot of financial resources in the process." Vietnam's decision affects several hundred families. Families in the United States adopted 4,728 children from Guatemala and 828 from Vietnam last year. The halt in adoptions from those two nations unfolds against the backdrop of a dramatic rise in international adoptions in the United States. The number of foreign-born children adopted by U.S. families more than tripled from 1990 to 2004, when it reached a high of 22,884, though the figure has declined slightly each year since. In 2007, the U.S. granted visas to 19,613 children so they could join an adoptive family in the United States, according to U.S. State Department figures. About 70 percent of those children came from four countries: China, Guatemala, Russia and Ethiopia. A few other countries have also halted foreign adoptions at various times, including Kazakhstan and Togo. Yet the suspensions in Vietnam and Guatemala have had the biggest impact -- they're two of the 10 countries that send the most children to adoptive homes in the Unites States. Fear of fraud stirs heartache . For Darcy, the review seems more detrimental than helpful. Her adopted daughter, Carolina, remains in a Guatemalan foster home with three dozen other babies. Darcy worries that keeping Carolina, now 15 months old, in a foster home will harm her early development. "She's not getting one-on-one care by a consistent caretaker," Darcy said, adding later, "Nobody is looking at this as a violation of the kids' human rights except for these (American) parents." Guatemala, which until now has had little to no oversight of its foreign adoptions, has the highest per capita rate of adoption in the world. Nearly one in 100 babies born in Guatemala wind up living with adoptive parents in the United States, according to the U.S. consulate in Guatemala. While adoptive parents in the United States undergo rigorous screening, adoptions in Guatemala had been processed by notaries responsible for determining whether the babies were relinquished voluntarily. They also arrange foster care and handle paperwork -- notaries in Latin America tend to have more legal training than notaries in the United States. Both Guatemalan and U.S. officials fear the system leads to practices such as paying birth mothers for children or, in some instances, coercion. Officials in both countries say gaps in regulations and the high sums of money at play -- adoptions can cost up to $30,000 -- may have created unintended incentives in a country where the State Department estimates that 80 percent of the population lives in poverty. The Guatemalan government has said its review could take a month or longer. As for the American families, they can only wait. "I think it's overkill," said Darcy, who was matched with Carolina last March and was approved to adopt the girl last winter -- typically one of the last steps before the actual adoption is complete. "No adoptive parent wants to adopt an abducted child -- a child that wasn't voluntarily relinquished -- but to keep them as hostages is unacceptable," Darcy said. Guatemala plans reforms . U.S. officials say they sympathize with the parents, but that reviews like the one in Guatemala are in the best interest of the children. "We feel for them, it's a tough situation," said a State Department official who is not authorized to speak on the record. "(But) they'll have the comfort of knowing American parents in the future who adopt from Guatemala will get children from a system that has all the safeguards in place so that children are not exploited," the official said. In the past, Guatemala required birth mothers to sign a document in court saying they were relinquishing their child. They were not required to reveal their reasons. Now the government may require the presence of the birth mother and child. The goal is to verify identification and make sure the mother is giving up her child voluntarily. Cleaning up Guatemala's adoption system is a step toward complying with the standards of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, an international agreement that governs adoptions from one country to another. About 70 nations have signed the convention, which seeks to ensure legitimate foreign adoptions. The United States joined the international convention last year, and rules governing adoptions from one signatory nation to another took effect April 1. The United States has stopped issuing visas to Guatemalan children after that date, blocking their travel to America -- at least until concerns are addressed. "We're not pointing fingers at American parents," the State Department official said. However, the review and changes in Guatemala will ensure that it "does not become a fertile ground for (wrongful) practices on any person, particularly children, who have not been orphaned." To offset corruption, the U.S. Embassy has added its own requirement: That birth mothers appear with the baby to request a visa for the baby. In August, officials also began requiring two DNA tests to confirm the identities of mother and child. Still, the Guatemalan solicitor general's office has identified at least 80 cases of adoption irregularities, including baby stealing and false DNA tests. And the Guatemalan chief prosecutor's office recently launched a criminal investigation into the two laboratories contracted to take DNA samples from birth mothers and children. 'Serious irregularities' in Vietnam . Similar concerns of corruption recently emerged in Vietnam, where investigators had found "serious adoption irregularities," according to a report by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. Documents had been forged or altered, the embassy said, and some parents were paid, tricked or forced into giving up their children for adoption. In some cases, the embassy said, children were offered for adoption without the knowledge or permission of their parents. The Vietnamese government has denied the accusations. Even so, it said in April that it would terminate its adoption agreement with the United States, saying it won't accept applications after July 1. The program is scheduled to end September 1. Parents in the United States who were matched with an adoptive child in Vietnam before July 1 will be allowed to adopt that child. Prospective parents who had invested time and money, but had not been matched with an adoptive child, appear to be out of luck. Private adoption agencies insist that nearly all adoptions from Vietnam are problem-free, and they want the adoptions to continue. "It's hard to let go, because we know we can advocate for these children and make a real difference," said Linda Brownlee, executive director of the nonprofit Adoption Center of Washington, which places children for adoption from Russia, China, Cambodia and Vietnam. She hopes the United States and Vietnam reach an agreement so that adoptions can continue. "Without it, I think children are going to be harmed. They are going to die needlessly, and there is going to be trafficking," Brownlee said. ### SUMMARY:

Guatemala and Vietnam say corruption, baby-stealing at heart of crackdown . Nearly one in 100 babies born in Guatemala are adopted by U.S. parents . Crackdown puts children's well-being at risk, adoption advocates say .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) -- Seven Republican presidential contenders faced off Monday in one of the first debates of the primary season, offering policy ideas and criticism of President Barack Obama to try to separate themselves from the competition almost 17 months before the 2012 election. With Obama intent on re-election, Republican viewers were paying particularly close attention to try to determine which candidates can defeat an incumbent who won in 2008 with strong support from independent, minority and young voters. Some of the contenders made news in the debate, with conservative Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota announcing she filed her papers Monday and would soon declare her formal candidacy for president. "We're going to win," Bachmann said of Republican chances in the 2012 vote, drawing applause from the GOP audience at St. Anselm College's Sullivan Arena. "Make no mistake about it. President Obama is a one-term president." Dressed in dark suits, the candidates offered brief introductions in lieu of opening statements that emphasized their experience and values. The tone remained direct but cordial throughout the two-hour debate, with candidates focusing their strongest criticism for Obama. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the early front-runner in polls after his unsuccessful bid for the GOP nomination in 2008, maintained a steady drumbeat of criticism of Obama, saying the president's policies have failed and the administration erroneously thinks it knows what is best for the economy. "He's failed the American people both on job creation and the scale of government, and that's why he's not going to be re-elected," Romney said, while Bachmann said Obama's economic report card "right now has a big failing grade on it." Bachmann also lambasted Obama's Libya policy, calling it "substantially flawed" and noting the United States still is uncertain about whether al Qaeda figures are part of the Libyan opposition trying to oust Moammar Gadhafi. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum said Obama had "turned his back on American allies and he has embraced our enemies," while Texas Rep. Ron Paul called for an end to drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan, saying "our national security is not enhanced by our presence over there." In the end, all praised each other, with Romney declaring that any of the seven on stage would be a better president than Obama. But CNN iReporter Charlotte Durden, an unemployed realtor and computer teacher from Long Beach, California, took issue with that notion. "I think that we, the American people, should be upset that these seven candidates have all of the answers and, if they were president ... the county would be in a better place," according to Durden, who said she typically votes Democratic. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Monday showed Romney grabbing the support of 24% of Republicans and independents who lean toward the GOP. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin came in second at 20%, followed by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the rest of the field. Palin and Giuliani, who have not announced that they will join the race, did not participate in Monday's CNN/WMUR/New Hampshire Union Leader debate. Participants were declared presidential candidates Romney, businessman-turned-talk show host Herman Cain, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Paul, Santorum and Bachmann. The debate included questions from journalists, audience members and voters at gatherings across the state, which will hold the first presidential primary next year. Romney is the heavy early favorite in New Hampshire due to his time as governor in neighboring Massachusetts. Moderated by CNN's John King, the debate covered major domestic and foreign policy issues including economic policy, deficit reduction and the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. Answers illuminated key differences between the candidates. For example, when asked about a controversial Republican proposal to overhaul the government-run Medicare health insurance program for senior citizens, Gingrich cautioned against an extreme step akin to the Democratic health care reform law unanimously opposed by GOP legislators. He made similar comments when he kicked off his campaign last month and had to backtrack then under heavy Republican criticism, and on Monday night he moderated his stance by supporting the overall proposal with some modifications. The other candidates generally backed a major structural reform of Medicare. Gingrich, Pawlenty and Cain all drew applause by declaring their support for right-to-work legislation passed in some states that halts required union membership, and Pawlenty defended his economic plan introduced this week that was based on 5% annual growth, which has rarely been achieved in modern U.S. history. "This idea that we can't have 5% growth in America is hogwash," Pawlenty said. "It's a defeatist attitude. If China can have 5% growth and Brazil can have 5% growth, then the United States of America can have 5% growth. And I don't accept this notion that we're going to be average or anemic. So my proposal has a 5% growth target." As the current favorite, Romney faced criticism from his fellow candidates. Santorum, an ardent foe of abortion, said it was important to look at a candidate's record when asked about Romney's policy switch from a pro-choice stance as Massachusetts governor to a pro-life stance in the 2008 campaign and today. Voters looking at candidates should consider "the authenticity of that candidate" and look at the record over time to see "what they've been willing to fight for," Santorum said, touting his own pro-life credentials. Romney responded by saying that he believed "people understand that I'm firmly pro-life," adding he would support Supreme Court justices who follow the Constitution rather than "legislate from the bench" and that he believed in the sanctity of life from beginning to end. Pawlenty, meanwhile, avoided an opportunity to repeat his criticism of health care reform in which he tied Obama's health care law to Romney's health care legislation in Massachusetts, coining a word: "Obamneycare." When pressed on Monday, Pawlenty declined to repeat the phrase with Romney standing nearby. While Romney was a focus of attention at the debate, Gingrich had the most to prove after last week's exodus of 16 top aides from his campaign less than a month after he formally announced his 2012 bid. The outgoing staff cited the candidate's questionable work ethic and fundraising ability as their reason for abandoning the campaign. Gingrich has vowed to continue and sought Monday to use his strong skills as a debater to demonstrate that his candidacy is still viable. When asked about immigration reform, Gingrich angrily rejected the narrow definition of the question, saying candidates should avoid giving a yes or no answer on such a complex issue. Also in the field Monday was Paul, who tried to appeal to a national audience in his third presidential bid. Paul has devoted and energetic followers, but he is thought to be somewhat out of the mainstream of GOP politics thanks to his calls to scale back U.S. military efforts abroad and his attempts to get rid of the Federal Reserve. But in the aftermath of the 2010 midterm elections, which saw Republicans make gains up and down the ballot after running campaigns built on scaling back the size of government, Paul insists that Republicans are moving toward his proposals. Santorum, Bachmann and Cain are all well-known in social conservative circles and now are vying for the support of that key voting bloc. All prompted applause Monday with forceful statements on red-meat conservative issues. Cain repeated that he would be uncomfortable with a Muslim in his Cabinet unless he was sure it wasn't one "trying to kill us," while Santorum and Bachmann backed a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and woman. Santorum, however, broke from most of the other contenders by backing the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy barring openly gay military personnel. CNN iReporter Egberto Willies challenged the value of the entire debate, saying it "lacked intellect." "We heard nothing but talking points," he said. "We've given these guys a platform to spill talking points that ultimately will never solve America's problems." CNN's Paul Steinhauser, Peter Hamby, Tom Cohen, Mark Preston and Ed Payne contributed to this report. ### SUMMARY:

Debate ends on lighter note with candidates praising each other . Santorum questions Romney's pro-life commitment . Bachmann announces she filed papers to run for president . Debate begins with criticism of President Obama .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- Ringo Starr walks into the hotel suite at the Beverly Hills Hotel carrying a brown paper bag. It's his sack lunch, and he's packed it himself. He's also driven himself to the hotel and arrived alone -- no entourage, no bodyguard, no assistant, no fuss. It's fitting that CNN's interview with the iconic music star is taking place at an iconic hotel, which is like a second home to the former Beatle. This is where the Fab Four stayed when they first came to Hollywood in 1964, no doubt trailed by dozens of screaming girls and photographers as they ushered in the British Invasion. Looking at least a decade younger than his 71 years, Starr settles into the corner of a couch and talks about celebrity then vs. celebrity now -- this from the perspective of a man who has been famous for nearly 50 years. "I feel like it's harder now for the celebrities," he tells CNN Entertainment Correspondent Kareen Wynter. "There was no one bigger than us, and we were put upon. Then, Paul and I would go on holiday, or John and I would go on holidays, and we'd be fine. Now you can't go anywhere. The celebrity of today is so documented that I think it's a lot harder now. We had it easy. We thought it was hard, but not compared to today." In 2012, his star hasn't waned. It has just taken on a comfortable glow. As one of two surviving Beatles, people are treating him like a living treasure -- and these days, he and Paul McCartney seem to be treasuring each other. Starr remains touched that Macca showed up at his 70th birthday party at Radio City Music Hall. "I had no idea he was coming," he recalls. "He jumped up to do the Beatle track, 'Birthday.' Nobody told me that he snuck in, and that he rehearsed with the band." In recent weeks, Starr has been busy promoting "Ringo 2012," his 17th solo album. He produced it himself and recorded it in Los Angeles with a number of his buddies, including producers Don Was and Dave Stewart and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, who also happens to be his brother-in-law. Below is a portion of CNN's conversation with Starr about his new CD, his relationship with McCartney and whether there will ever be a Beatles reunion. CNN's Kareen Wynter: What was your inspiration behind the new album? Ringo Starr: The inspiration behind the CD is that's what I do. I love to play, I love to hang out with musicians and I like to make records, actually. I like to write songs, and I like to collaborate with other writers. It generally keeps me busy. When I'm not doing that, I like to paint, I like to watch TV, I like to go to the cinema, I like to do all that stuff. But I LOVE hanging out with musicians and playing my drums. CNN: What drives you after having such a long career? Starr: You get up in the morning and you start the day. I like to get up early, and I don't like to get up and get right at it. I like to sort of work my way into the day, and then whatever comes along, I say 'yes' or 'no' to. CNN: Does anything shock you anymore? Starr: Nothing shocks me, no -- not on TV. It is how it is now. It's a pity that a lot of the reality singing shows -- somebody gets a shot for a minute, and even the winner seldom lasts more than a year. I played a lot of hours to get where I am, and it was a gradual build-up. So to go from nothing to the biggest thing in life -- you can't handle it. It was hard enough, and thank God, there were four of us to keep each other in some sort of reality. We all went mad separately, but we had each other, and we all came through gradually. So I think we were blessed that way. CNN: You got me on, "We all went mad separately." Starr: Well, we did, because we all had our moment, and then John or one of them would look at me and say, "Excuse me?!" and pull you back, you know? CNN: Do you miss those days? Four instead of two? Starr: Well, of course I miss them. We were great friends, and we played a lot together, and we went through the madness together. There were only four people who understood what we went through, and it's down to two now. There is nothing I can do to change that. I would like to be able to change it, but I don't have that power. CNN: Can you put the rumors to rest: Will there be a Beatles reunion at the 2012 Olympics in London? Starr: How can there be? Oh no, I'll be here. I'm already booked in America. CNN: Paul said you may want to do it. Starr: Paul can do it. CNN: But it's not the same without you. Starr: Well, he is doing quite well without me. He is doing OK. CNN: You're part of the act. Starr: Well, we had a great time at my birthday. He surprised me in New York, and he jumped up to do the Beatle track "Birthday," and I was not going to miss that so I just ran to the drum kit, and that was fun. We have played a couple of times together. We did the David Lynch show a couple of years ago, so we have done that. But I will not be at the Olympics. I have to be very definite about that because they will say, "Oh, is he coming? Isn't he coming?" No, I am not going -- but to all the athletes, "Peace and Love!" CNN: What about in the future? Starr: Well, the door is open that Paul and I might play together, but it is not like a reunion. It is not going to be the Beatles, you know? They have those crazy ideas that maybe we could use their children. It is never going to happen. CNN: What is your relationship with Paul like? Starr: It's good. After all of the time, everybody has ups and downs. So we have ups and downs, but it is very up right now. I am so pleased for him and Nancy. We love Nancy. CNN: Their wedding was beautiful. What was it like seeing them walk through those chapel doors? Starr: Great. It was great, and he seems really happy and that is good. As I said, we love Nancy, so I think it's a great moment for him. CNN: How would you describe Nancy? Starr: Very down to earth. Very easy. She mixes right in and she loves music, so it can't be bad. And, you know, she is a very beautiful woman. Regal is a great word. Regal Nancy. CNN: The Beatles came up during a tumultuous time. Do you see any parallels between that period and what's happening today? Starr: As we all know, the world is going through a change, especially in Egypt and the Arab countries. America had to go through its change. England has been through several changes. France has been through a really big change. So it is just part of life, and God bless them. And it is great to see there is a lot of this (gives peace sign) going on in the world, and that is what it's about. We would love to be able to say, "OK, it's a peace and love takeover." But usually whoever is in power, as it seems, is injuring a lot of its own people. CNN: You really represent your "Peace and Love" theme. What do you hear from young people when they approach you? Starr: A lot of young people love "Peace and Love." I mean, they would like it to be that way. That is the way we all thought. But a lot of work goes into it. I just keep it going because it is a second in my life to think, "Peace and Love." How great is that? So if you put all of those seconds together, then soon you have got some time and it will make a change. CNN: What's next for you? Starr: Well, I think you tackle that as it comes along. I am making records, I am going on tour, and then I am off to do whatever else I want to do. So I have a very good life. ### SUMMARY:

In recent weeks, Ringo Starr has been busy promoting "Ringo 2012," his 17th solo album . "The inspiration behind the CD is that's what I do," Starr says . Starr says he and Paul McCartney "might play together, but it is not like a reunion"

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- Like any good businessman, Dick Clark saw his opportunities and took them. When rock 'n' roll was establishing itself as the new pop music, Clark was there on the ground floor, taking over a Philadelphia dance party TV show called "Bandstand." When "Bandstand" proved to be a valuable tool for promoting new artists -- and, not incidentally, sanitizing them for Mom and Dad's approval -- Clark made sure it did its job, especially after it went national as ABC's "American Bandstand." As his career continued, he replaced the stodgy Guy Lombardo as the face of New Year's Eve, challenged the Grammys with the American Music Awards, filled daytime with quiz shows and prime time with variety programs, and was always on the lookout for the next big thing. Clark, who died Wednesday, became a force in the music industry and used his leverage to expand to television, radio and real estate. "America's Oldest Teenager" he may have been called, but behind that youthful countenance were the brains of a born entrepreneur. "I knew being a performer does not necessarily carry with it a lot of longevity. That's why I became a producer," Clark, who had a degree in business from Syracuse University, once said. Even his critics had to agree -- perhaps grudgingly, perhaps admiringly -- that he was nothing if not shrewd. In 1968's "Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom," his insightful history of pop, rock critic Nik Cohn dismissed Clark as "an all-American choirboy" who reigned as the father of "highschool," the squeaky-clean Paul Anka-Connie Francis-Frankie Avalon pop music that dominated the late '50s and early '60s. Cohn expressed little love for the music of highschool, but he obviously respected Clark's abilities. "You'd be making no wild guesses to imagine that he was one of the very richest men in pop," Cohn wrote. "Godly or not, he sure had his head screwed on." AC360: The business of being Dick Clark . That's the thing about Dick Clark -- he made no apologies about catering to the mainstream, even if it meant shaving off the rough edges of what could be a very rough music. When Lloyd Price's version of "Stagger Lee" was climbing the charts, Clark refused to have him on until a cleaner version could be recorded. "His audience could not be exposed to a song which celebrated gambling and murder," wrote Dave Marsh in his book "The Heart of Rock and Soul." The song was cleaned up, Clark booked Price, and "Stagger Lee" went to No. 1. He was in the business of family entertainment -- a broadcaster in the truest sense of the term, says John Covach, a rock historian and chair of the music department at the University of Rochester. "He was able to position himself in the center of the television and music industry in the way that allowed him to have a career that spanned a half a century," Covach says. From Clark to Kirshner to Cornelius . In that respect, he inspired a number of contemporaries and followers, including Don Kirshner, who started as a song publisher and later expanded to record labels, TV shows and other programming; Don Cornelius, a onetime salesman and journalist whose "Soul Train" became the crown jewel of his own broadcasting empire; and, of course, Ryan Seacrest, who started as a disc jockey and now hosts and produces television shows. "If you're presenting pop music on TV, in some way Dick Clark is the person who opened the door," says Joe Levy, editor of Billboard magazine. Purists may find it easy to criticize these men, says Kovach, but appealing to the mainstream not only means the largest possible audience -- it means influencing the dialogue. "That was Berry Gordy's strategy, too -- taking his black singing groups and getting them to a white audience," Covach says, referring to the Motown Records founder. "He took a lot of criticism for having sold out the blackness of the music in search of a more mainstream audience." But by doing so, Motown gained a larger following -- and influenced generations of musicians. On the other hand, there was Alan Freed, the raucous DJ who was among the first to call the combination of R&B, country and pop music "rock 'n' roll." Freed, Covach observes, was the more important figure in rock's early years. While Clark was gaining a national foothold for the Philadelphia-based "Bandstand," Freed was already hosting a national radio show, appearing on a television show and producing movies. But Freed was a more abrasive character than the smooth Clark, and he was more upsetting to the era's establishment. (His prime-time TV series was canceled after African-American singer Frankie Lymon was seen dancing with a white teenage girl.) When the payola scandals of the late '50s engulfed the music industry -- DJs and music business types were given bribes to play certain records -- both Freed and Clark were subjects of scrutiny. But the scandals helped ruin Freed -- he was hurt by negative publicity -- while Clark divested himself of his music business interests and was praised as a hard-working young businessman, Covach says. It also prompted Clark to diversify, says Levy. "The lesson learned was, 'I need other business interests,' " he says. "And that's the model he created." Turning on adults . Clark wasn't the first to use his talent for entertaining as a springboard to bigger things. Bing Crosby invested in recording equipment, TV stations and horse racing; Gene Autry became a movie producer, rodeo businessman and baseball team owner. But it was Clark who saw the promise in combining pop music, television and the marketplace -- an audience of teenagers and their parents. "He found that while teenagers avidly watched ['Bandstand'], adults also tuned in to see the teens dance," says Covach. That bore dividends when "The Twist" started catching on: Clark had a new recording of the Hank Ballard song made by newcomer Chubby Checker and helped make it a hit. It topped the charts twice, the second time because adults got into the craze: A famous picture of the era shows Jackie Kennedy doing the Twist. For all the criticism aimed at Clark, he didn't always play it safe. Levy recalls seeing Public Image Ltd., the prickly band led by former Sex Pistol John Lydon, on "Bandstand." The show provided TV debuts for Chuck Berry, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Otis Redding and Jerry Lee Lewis. Clark even changed the fortunes of Lewis' failing, raucous song "Breathless" by using it in a promotion with "Bandstand" sponsor Beechnut gum. "Dick Clark bridged a color gap at a time when there should not have been one, giving musical life to black artists that may not have had a chance," Stevie Wonder -- another "Bandstand" debut -- said in a statement. And, along with the endless awards shows and music-variety packages, Clark also produced a show starring Weird Al Yankovic, a documentary with George Plimpton and the great TV movie "Elvis," directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell as The King. Moreover, his shows were usually fun to watch. The Golden Globes are regularly disparaged for the outsize influence of the tiny Hollywood Foreign Press Association, but its show -- produced by Clark's production house -- is often considered more entertaining than the Oscars. Nowadays, Seacrest is probably Clark's closest model; the youthful "American Idol" host has acknowledged as much in many interviews, and in recent years he joined Clark as host of ABC's "New Year's Rockin' Eve," which Clark established in 1972 -- two years before Seacrest was born. But though Seacrest has been aggressive in going from DJ to "Idol" host to Kardashian family/reality show producer, he's got a long way to catch his mentor: The Museum of Broadcast Communications estimates Clark's company produced more than 7,500 hours of programming. It's an impact that will continue to be felt, says Levy: "He had a real influence on the music business and on the television business." We're still dancing to his beat. ### SUMMARY:

Dick Clark was a businessman first, entertainment talent second . Others, including Don Cornelius and Ryan Seacrest, modeled careers on Clark's . He was often criticized for mainstream appeal, but he didn't always play it safe . Clark produced more than 7,000 hours of TV programming .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- Any pedometer will count how much you've walked, but a good, connected mobile app can push, encourage and sometimes even shame you into putting down the milkshake, getting out of the beanbag chair and meeting a fitness goal. Sensors that record data about your fitness, daily routines, vital signs, weight or sleep habits have been around for years, but at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the spotlight is on devices that wirelessly sync data to the cloud and smartphone apps and how they use that information to effectively promote and maintain good health. Digital health tech is a booming area at CES this year with 210 booths in the section reserved for health technology companies. It's a mixed bag of activity trackers, health insurance companies, smart scales, disease management tools and sports gadgets. Wearable sensors have become smaller, cheaper and more powerful in the past few years. More recently, low-energy Wi-Fi and Bluetooth synching capabilities have made syncing to smartphones, cracking open a world of product possibilities. On the show floor, sensors popped up in watches, wrist bands, belt clips, underwear and bra clips, in-ear headphones, fitness equipment and adhesive patches you wear on your skin. Many device makers said it was only a matter of time before they show up in everyday clothes, maybe even in your body. Here are some ways health tech is helping people now: . Encouraging physical fitness . The biggest booths are for the fitness trackers. Pedometers, devices that count steps and distance, have been around for hundreds of years; they were first introduced to the U.S. by Thomas Jefferson. But recent technology has inspired a digital resurgence for the lowly pedometer, with tricked-out new devices that also track calories, how many stairs you climb and sleeping patterns. Fitness tracker company Fitbit unveiled its latest product, the Fitbit Flex, at CES. The $100 wristband comes in a variety of colors, is waterproof and has no display other than a tiny row of dots that light up. It automatically uploads data to your iPhone, Samsung Galaxy Note II or Samsung Galaxy S III every 15 minutes. Once synched, the data is displayed on the app or website as colorful graphs, your progress charted and goals outlined. The smartphone app acts as the hub for your Fitbit, as well as the company's Aria smart scale. If food is something you need help monitoring, you can keep detailed logs of your meals to calculate how many calories you've consumed. "It's not about the numbers, but how you can be motivated," said Fitbit's Woody Scal. Fitbit has integrated effective coaching and training tricks to keep users on track. For example, it can send encouraging or taunting text messages or e-mails and award badges, depending on what motivates you. It also acts as a little social network, letting you connect with and compete against friends. The teeny Fitbug Orb fitness tracker also records steps and sleep, but this round device is designed to fit into an assortment of holders, including a watch band or underwear clip. It also has an app and online coaching services but will only cost $50 when it comes out this summer. French company Withings debuted its newest smart scale at CES, the Smart Body Analyzer, which measures weight, body fat and your heart rate. A healthy home environment is important for health, so the scale tracks air quality, measuring Co2 levels and room temperature. The data is sent wirelessly to an iOS or Android device. The scale will be available in early 2013 and cost $150. Keeping kids healthy . Can video games be used to keep kids healthy? UnitedHealthcare, the largest health care provider in the U.S., thinks it's possible. According to the CDC, 17% of children and adolescents from 2 to 19 in the U.S. are obese. Investing in kids' health now and lowering that percentage could save all health insurance companies money down the line. UnitedHealthcare just launched a test program in three schools using a popular video game to encourage exercise. It partnered with the makers of "Dance Dance Revolution" on a gym-class friendly version of the popular dancing game. Up to 48 kids recreate the dances displayed on a large screen, while sensors in the wireless dance platforms record data about how well they are doing. The information is tracked over time and shared with the school, parents and the kid so everyone can see their progress. The idea is to make working out fun and gym class something to look forward to. "We want to get it into areas where there are limited options for physical activity," explained Robert Plourde, the vice president of innovation and research and development at UnitedHealthcare. The company is also working on an interesting beta project that turns an Xbox Kinect into a physical therapy coach. It counts reps and monitors the body's movements to ensure the exercises are being done properly. The GeoPalz ibitz PowerKey activity tracker and paired mobile app are just for kids. The $50 pedometer, counts steps as "keys," which are points that can be collected to win prizes on Amazon, unlock game levels and earn badges. Parents can check in on their kids' progress on their own smartphones. A headset that detects the brain's electrical activity is being used to improve children's mental health. NeuroSky's $149 Focus Pocus game, released last year, helps people with ADHD hone concentration and impulse control skills. Players don the a headset and place an attached sensor on their forehead, which can tell when they are concentrating or distracted. As they play the wizard-themed game, they are rewarded for focusing and completing tasks. Trials of the game saw improvement in concentration after a period of training. More recently, Puzzlebox used the same technology to power a toy helicopter. Less therapeutic and more just cool, the Orbit flies up when you concentrate and can drop back down when you break concentration. The product, which started as a Kickstarter campaign, costs $189 and will begin shipping soon. Monitoring the chronically ill and seniors . Some of the most promising developments in the health tech area are for people with chronic issues such as heart failure, Parkinson's, hypertension or diabetes. With the right sensors and apps, they can take a reading at home and transmit data to the cloud, where their doctors can monitor progress and look for red flags that they might miss during a short office visit. Ideal Life's connected systems include small devices that measure blood glucose, blood pressure, heart rates and oxygen saturation, and it has a scale specifically for congestive heart failure patients. At CES, the company announced it was teaming up with ADT on an integrated alert system. These remote health management services are appealing to hospitals, doctors and health programs because they can cut down on costly medical care by catching issues early and helping people avoid trips to the emergency room. But all that data being collected is valuable in other ways. Providers can amass the anonymous data for all patients to look for trends, assess programs and fine-tune treatment programs. Having an outsider be notified of changes in health is also helpful for senior citizens living on their own. Instead of the classic emergency buttons worn around the neck, sensors can alert care givers to anything out of the ordinary. They don't even need to be health sensors. Connected home systems such as Lowe's Iris can be programed to send a text message when a senior doesn't do a regular activity such as opening the fridge or turning on a light. A final smartphone-connected gadget for seniors (or anyone who takes a lot of pills) is the clever uBox. This round, functionally designed box reminds people when it's time to take their pills with a combination of beeps, blinking lights and smartphone reminders. If they've already taken the pill for that time period, the box remains locked so anyone who is forgetful or suffering from dementia won't take a double dose. The uBox will notify family members or health care providers if a dose is skipped. The company, founded by MIT engineers, is raising money on Indiegogo. ### SUMMARY:

At the Consumer Electronics Show, there are 210 companies in the digital health area . Sensors are smaller, cheaper and can transmit data about your health to smartphone apps . New games and pedometers aimed at kids are the latest tools for fighting childhood obesity . Sensors to monitor the health of seniors and sick people share data with doctors, family .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- It is now more than 20 years since pro-democracy grassroots organizations led struggles that eventually resulted in the overthrow of long-serving authoritarian regimes in many countries in Africa. Since the 1990s, there have been significant improvements in the transition to democratic governance in Africa. However, there have also been some major reversals. Click on the interactive map above to find out more about Africa's governments. Unfortunately, some pre-1990 incumbent leaders (for example, Paul Biya of Cameroon and Robert Gabriel Mugabe of Zimbabwe) remain in power, despite efforts by the opposition to unseat them. In addition, Mali, which had made significant progress toward deepening and institutionalizing democracy, suffered major regression, first, by the capture and subsequent occupation of the northern part of the country by a group of separatist rebels, and second, by a military coup that ousted its democratically elected government. Soldiers also intervened in Guinea-Bissau, suspended government institutions and proceeded to engage in activities that seriously undermined the rule of law. Meanwhile, violent mobilization by ethnic and religious groups continue to negatively impact governance in Nigeria, Central African Republic, Kenya, Uganda, and Madagascar. The failure of national institutions to grant adequate protection to individual liberties continues to plague countries such as The Gambia, where a U.N report says several prison inmates were executed last year without due process of law, and South Africa where the police last year used deadly force against miners who were exercising their rights to strike. See also: New violence clouds future for South African mines . Despite these setbacks, there have been significant and spectacular achievements in the continent's struggle to deepen and institutionalize democracy. Ghana continues to lead the way. First, after the country's president, John Atta Mills, died in office in July 2012, he was succeeded, as required by the constitution, by the country's vice president, John Dramani Mahama. Second, in December 2012, the country held competitive, fair and peaceful elections, which were won by Mahama. He was subsequently sworn in as the country's president. Finally, Ghana has also shown significant leadership in openness and transparency in government. In 2003, Ghana committed to the extractive industries transparency initiative and has since emerged as a leading example of how governments can minimize corruption in the management of public revenues from the extractive sector. Read also: What Ghana can teach the rest of Africa about democracy . Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Guinea and Malawi have made some gains as they move steadily towards democratic governance. Ivory Coast, after a violent and extremely bloody civil war, inaugurated a new president, followed by the development of new laws and institutions, especially those dealing with corruption and openness and transparency in government. In addition, the country now has a fully functioning legislative assembly, and the country's security situation, previously worsened by sectarian strife, has improved significantly. Sierra Leone, whose institutions were destroyed by a long and brutal civil war, has seen restoration of many national institutions and a return to the rule of law. This is exemplified by the fact that the country's 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections were free, fair and peaceful and the results were accepted by the people. The winners went on to form a government which continues to rule the country in peace. Senegal also held elections in 2012, which resulted in the peaceful transfer of power. Since taking office, the new president, Macky Sall, has made significant efforts to improve openness and transparency in government, as well as force public officials to be accountable to the constitution and the people. Lesotho's governance system was strengthened by successfully conducting fair and free elections, which resulted in the peaceful transfer of power. Both Malawi and Guinea saw some improvements in their governance systems -- in Guinea, opportunities for civic dialogue improved significantly and in Malawi, the death of the sitting president was not followed by bloody chaos; instead, as required by the constitution, the vice president, Joyce Banda, was inaugurated the new president. The Arab Spring brought significant improvements to governance structures in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The tragic death of Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi, by self-immolation, brought about a grassroots political movement among Tunisians that effectively overthrew the country's authoritarian ruler, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali. This movement, which was subsequently nicknamed the Arab Spring, spread to Egypt and Libya, resulting in the ouster of long-serving dictatorships in those countries as well. Elections, considered fair and free, have since been held in all three countries and each now has a democratically elected government. Nevertheless, many groups within these countries, especially those which historically have suffered exploitation and persecution at the hands of their governments (e.g., ethnic and religious minorities, and women) have expressed the fear that although these new regimes came to power through democratic elections, they are likely to reject or abandon democracy once they have had a chance to consolidate their power bases. Already, such fears appear to be coming true in Egypt, where the new president, Mohamed Morsy, has already engaged in extra-constitutional practices to grab more power for himself. In addition, the elected parliament was dissolved by the anachronistic supreme constitutional court, and the new constitution was hurriedly drafted and done so through a top-down, elite-driven, non-participatory process. As a consequence, what had started as a dynamic grassroots-led program to transform Egypt's laws and institutions and produce a more effective and relevant governance architecture, has degenerated into a struggle by entrenched interests, led by Morsy and his Freedom and Justice party, to further entrench themselves politically and economically. In Tunisia, the revolution, which since the ouster of Ben Ali had been progressing well, despite opposition from several Islamist groups, suffered significant regression following the brutal and cowardly assassination of Chokri Belaid, a secularist and staunch critic of the ruling Islamist-led government of Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali. Meanwhile, the brutal assassination of the U.S. ambassador and the wanton destruction of property in Benghazi, the cradle of the Libyan revolution, is indicative of a still-born transformation, one that had failed to create institutions capable of guaranteeing the rule of law in Libya. The struggles of grassroots organizations in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt are symptomatic of what needs to be done throughout Africa to deepen and institutionalize democracy. Read also: Western-style democracy 'not suitable for Africa'? The many individuals that participated in North Africa's grassroots revolution to replace authoritarianism with democracy are frustrated because their revolutions did not achieve their critical goals -- reconstruction and reconstitution of anachronistic and dysfunctional state systems inherited from the ancien régimes to provide legal and judicial systems that guarantee the just rule of law. That is, laws and institutions that protect individuals' rights, including protecting all citizens from violence directed at them either by state or non-state actors, and enhance people's ability to engage in productive activities to create the wealth that they need to fight poverty and improve their living conditions. Such laws are consistent with the provisions of the universal declaration of human rights and other international human rights instruments. These revolutions, as has been the case in other African countries, were hijacked by entrenched opportunists, whose main interest is in preserving the status quo, so that they can continue to use these anachronistic state structures to enrich themselves at the expense of their fellow citizens. In order to advance the transition to democratic governance in Africa, as well as minimize the chances of regression, each African country must engage all its relevant stakeholder groups in state reconstruction through democratic (i.e., bottom-up, participatory, inclusive and people-driven) constitution making to produce institutional arrangements that adequately constrain civil servants and political elites, enhance the ability of each country's diverse population groups to coexist peacefully, and create economic and political environments that maximize entrepreneurial activities and the creation of wealth. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Mukum Mbaku. ### SUMMARY:

Last 20 years have seen gains, reversals in transition to democracy in Africa, says John Mukum Mbaku . He says Ghana continues to lead the way, Mali and Guinea-Bissau have suffered setbacks . Arab Spring brought improvements, but more change is needed . Each African country must engage in democratic constitution making, says Mbaku .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion walked into the darkness of Bus C in a parking lot in Orlando, Florida, last fall in the hope of gaining respect from his fellow band members. On November 19, Champion and the rest of the band were in Orlando for the Florida Classic football game, the last game of the football season. It would be Champion's last chance of the year to endure the "cross over," the name for the process of being fully initiated into the band. According to witnesses, Champion first endured a pummeling with fists and bass drum mallets as he sat in what the band describes as the "hot seat." The drum major then would have to "cross over," making his way through a gauntlet of punches, drumsticks and mallets toward the back of the bus. The bus rocked back and forth violently as other band members lined the aisle, witnesses said, with some grabbing onto his body, trying to keep him from reaching the back of the bus, a signal that he'd made it through. Champion eventually would make it to the point where he could touch his hand to the back wall, but he would never make it back to his hotel. Champion, 26, died last year because of "hemorrhagic shock due to soft tissue hemorrhage, due to blunt force trauma," the Orange County medical examiner said. More than 2,000 pages of police interviews with witnesses and defendants who were aboard the bus on the day of Champion's death paint the first full blow-by-blow account of what happened on the night they say Champion and two others were hazed. Florida A&M band fraternity charter revoked after hazing investigation . Champion's roommate Keon Hollis told police that the initiation process went against everything that the drum major believed in. Champion didn't want to go through with it, but decided he had to in order to earn respect, Hollis told police. "If you want to be somebody you have to do it," band member Ryan Dean said. Hollis had taken a shot of alcohol before heading down to the bus that night with Champion. Lissette Sanchez, one of the female band members, was first to run through the gantlet. She had also earlier endured a beating in the "hot seat," a ritual which band members said usually happened three times on different occasions before you could "cross over." FAMU's band director steps down amid hazing death controversy . "You're bent over and they just like play cadences on your back," band member Evan Calhoun told police about the "hot seat." Others described the "hot seat" beatings as more intense on other occasions. They said a band member would sit, head between his or her knees, be covered with a blanket to make it impossible to see, and then be beaten with drumsticks or bass drum mallets for a few minutes. Upperclassmen in charge of organizing the ritual are normally packed into the back of the bus, making that the most brutal part of the gantlet, band members said. The older members instructed others not to hit Sanchez near the kidneys during the gantlet, because she suffered from medical problems. Sanchez said she was "basically unconscious" after the routine. As she sat in the back of the bus recovering, it was time for Keon Hollis to face the group. "It was a lot of people. It was really dark on the bus," Hollis told police. "It had to be at least maybe like 15 people." Hollis began the process, as others had, by taking off his shirt in preparation for the ritual. He said that as he struggled to get past the band members, he was slapped with open hands, beaten with straps and a comb, and kicked. He then stayed at the back of the bus, trying to regain his composure and breathing after being winded. When he walked back to the front of the bus, before vomiting in the parking lot, his fellow band members hollered and clapped in celebration -- a signal that he had truly completed the initiation. Then, it was time for Champion, who as a drum major was subject to a bit more pummeling, some fellow band members said. Since drum majors were considered to be the police of the band, it wasn't surprising if someone snuck in a shot while they had a chance. Band member Benjamin McNamee said that Champion was prepped before his run, hit in the chest before he ran the gantlet. One band member described Champion as looking anxious right before the initiation. Harold Finley said right before Champion made his way through the crowd, someone shouted to "send the n****r through." As he made his way past each member, he was hit and punched. Some people tried to help push him through, while at least one girl tried to hold him back, the way a linebacker would, to make the gantlet more difficult, band members said. At least one person tried to climb over several seats to get another shot at him. "When that person gets to you, I mean, you can choose to do whatever you want," Finley said. Band member Ryan Dean said he was trying to shout words of encouragement as the drum major made his way through punches. "I was just yelling, 'Go! Come on, man, you can do it,'" he said. At one point Champion fell down into one of the seats. One band member was "holding into the rails and kind of just jumping up and down" while Champion was lying in that seat, according to the documents. Someone also grabbed him in a bear hug before Champion pushed through and made his way to about two feet from the end of the bus. "I see people are kicking him," band member Jonathan Boyce told police. "So I grab him to try and keep everybody off of him. I put my body around his body." When Champion finished the ritual, Boyce sat him down on the floor of the bus. He asked for some water, and Boyce gave him a Gatorade. He seemed fine at that moment, right after the ritual, Boyce said. After all three members had passed the initiation, many of the band members got off the bus and headed back toward the hotel. That's when Champion started to panic, Boyce said. "He was having trouble breathing ... and like he couldn't see but his eyes were open," Boyce said. Champion passed out and Boyce said he checked for a pulse. The drum major still had a pulse and was still breathing, so Boyce went upstairs to get someone else to help. Soon after he left, Boyce got a call that Champion was no longer breathing. Band member Marcus Fabre told police that around that time, he heard that after senior band members found out Champion was not moving, they panicked. "The upperclassmen that initiated the hazing went around the hotel asking for alcohol to rub down (Champion's) body - take off fingerprints," he said he was told. A few band members began doing CPR on the drum major. "They was calling his name and (Champion) wasn't saying anything," band member Darryl Cearnel said. As Cearnel did CPR, others went into the hotel to look for an automated electronic defibrillator. "He started vomiting when I was giving chest compressions," Cearnel said. Paramedics showed up soon after, took over compressions and rushed Champion to the hospital. Many of the students said that late that night they began receiving calls or texts that Champion had died. They frantically struggled to figure out exactly what had happened. Almost all of the band members said they never had any intention of injuring Champion or swore they hadn't directly taken part in the beating. Last of 11 charged with felony hazing in FAMU case turns herself in . Four students were expelled from the school, and another 30 were dismissed from the band soon after Champion's death. A law enforcement investigation resulted in charges being brought against 13 people. Eleven individuals each face one count of third-degree felony hazing resulting in death. Each is also accused of two counts of first-degree misdemeanor hazing. State law provides a prison term of up to six years for those facing the more serious charges. Two people each face a single count of misdemeanor first-degree hazing. Sentences in such cases typically call for up to a year in jail. FAMU said it has taken steps to eradicate the problem, and after Champion died the university's board of trustees approved an anti-hazing plan that includes an independent panel of experts to investigate hazing allegations. ### SUMMARY:

Witnesses paint violent blow-by-blow account of Robert Champion's hazing . Two other band members also went through "cross over" ritual on band's Bus C . Drum major said he was having trouble breathing, passed out after initiation . Champion died after hazing incident; medical examiner ruled death a homicide .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Atlanta, Georgia (CNN) -- In one chair sits a rural retiree, his financial security shot in the slump, a humble Southerner who's never thought much about politics. In another seat is a born Northerner, an inner-city native, a relative of a civil rights giant. And nearby, circling a table, are an economist, an artist, a onetime John McCain supporter and a long-haired guy who's rich in Woodstock memories. Meet these members of the Coffee Party Movement, an organically grown, freshly brewed push that's marking its official kickoff Saturday. Across the country, even around the globe, they and other Americans in at least several hundred communities are expected to gather in coffeehouses to raise their mugs of java to something new. They're professionals, musicians and housewives. They're frustrated liberal activists, disheartened conservatives and political newborns. They're young and old, rich and poor, black, white and all shades of other. Born on Facebook just six weeks ago, the group boasts more than 110,000 fans, as of Friday morning. The Coffee Party is billed by many as an answer to the Tea Party (more than 1,000 fewer fans), a year-old protest movement that's steeped in fiscal conservatism and boiling-hot, anti-tax rhetoric. This new group calls for civility, objects to obstructionism and demands that politicians be held accountable to the people who put them in office. Are you at a Coffee Party gathering? Share your images, story . "The government has become so broken that the will of the people has been lost in the political game," said Stacey Hopkins, 46, coordinator of the Atlanta, Georgia, chapter. "And the only voices you're hearing are the ones of those who are screaming the loudest. They have a right to their views, but they don't have the right to speak for all Americans." At a recent Coffee Party planning meeting at Manuel's Tavern, an Atlanta political institution, about 40 people gathered to speak for themselves. They brought their own stories of why they were there. The one who was "never active in this stuff" Politics? It never spoke to John Purser, who's preferred the simple life. At 69, he lives in a two-room house on a rural dirt road in Carroll County, drives a 26-year-old Ford pickup and takes odd jobs to get by. He cuts grass, chops wood and does handyman work. Earlier this week, he freed a bird from someone's house and "got paid with a bottle of whiskey," he said with a laugh. He doesn't need much. Never has. But Purser, who worked in maintenance for Delta Airlines for 30 years, has seen the little security he might have had -- his retirement money, for example, and his home's value -- fall apart in recent years. And he just doesn't understand why some fancy executive should earn millions. His own daddy made $12 a week building roads for the Work Projects Administration during the Great Depression. "Our country was a hell of a lot worse off then, and we came together, and we did something," he said. "I'm not that smart. I don't know the dollars and cents. But I'm just looking for something different." The Atlanta coordinator . Hopkins was 5 when she stared at the two water fountains: one marked "colored," the other "white." The New Yorker was somewhere in Virginia at a train stop with her mother and grandmother, and, well, she'd never drunk colored water before and figured white was what she wanted. But her grandmother yanked her away from that water, muttering something about her getting them all killed. That moment, and her childlike understanding of what it meant, stuck with Hopkins and has driven her ever since. The stay-at-home mom used to work in the real-estate mortgage field but left when she became disheartened by the industry. She feels hopeful about the people who are re-engaging in and taking ownership of the political process. "President Obama is stifled by a dysfunctional Congress. When he was on the campaign trail, he used the word 'we' a lot. He cannot do this alone. He needs our help," she said. "Americans are waking up across the board. ... Not everyone is cut out to be an activist. But everyone can do something." The young fiscal conservative . When other kids were watching cartoons, Alex Oxford tuned in to news programs. For as long as the Marietta, Georgia, high school senior can remember, he's been drawn to politics. He's 17 and can't vote, but he's long volunteered for campaigns. The self-described libertarian and fiscal conservative was, and in some ways still is, a supporter of the Tea Party. He initially backed Sen. John McCain for president in 2008 and isn't, himself, comfortable with the idea of a public option in the health-care system. But the direction Oxford has seen the Tea Party take recently has him concerned. He can't help but think it's being hijacked by social conservatives and the far right, he said, and as a gay man who's committed to gay rights, it may not be his cup of political tea. So he's pulled up a chair at the Coffee Party to see what it can offer. Next to him is a college Democrat leader wearing a T-shirt that reads: "I'll hug your [picture of an elephant] if you kiss my [picture of a donkey]." "I never feel uncomfortable stating my opinions," but it was "sort of ironic. They wanted free discussion of the issues but didn't want to talk about the conservative side of things," Oxford said after the planning meeting. "I think it was great, but I'd like to see more conservatives and libertarians." The disillusioned Obama supporter . "As a Southern woman, I was taught that discussing politics and religion is ill-mannered," said Darlene Jones-Owens, 53, of Carrollton, Georgia. But she became an involved and vocal Democrat when she "realized that America had been lied to about Iraq, that our military uses torture, and when I heard John McCain sing 'Bomb, bomb, bomb Iran.' " She said she began registering voters for the Democratic Party, canvassed her neighborhood to talk about issues that had become dear to her and endured "icy stares and insults." Unable to find Obama bumper stickers and other materials where she lives, the University of West Georgia lecturer and a friend ordered them in bulk and made sure others had access to them. "I am looking for a group of informed thinkers who might be able to impact the obstructionism we now have in D.C.," she said. "I've gotten really disillusioned with the lack of change that's happened. ... There are a lot of people looking for something different. We have a lot more in common than we realize." The man Aunt Rosa called "baby" Tony Anderson likes to say he was born into an organization. He has a twin brother and learned early on what it meant to work with others. Through church involvement and his family, the Detroit, Michigan, native gleaned more. His great-grandmother's first cousin was the legendary civil rights activist Rosa Parks, whom he grew up calling "Aunt Rosa." He remembers her telling him, " 'You know, baby, you're not special. You're unique,' " and that's a distinction he appreciates today. To be special means you deserve more, your own category; everyone, on the other hand, is unique and has something to offer. The 27-year-old social entrepreneur and nonprofit consultant works in sustainability. While a political philosophy major at Morehouse College in Atlanta, he started the Let's Raise a Million Project, which set out to bring low-income black communities into the green movement one compact fluorescent light bulb at a time. He calls himself a "political realist" who never expects change to happen in a flash. He didn't put that on Obama, and he looks at the Coffee Party with cautious optimism. "I think that space is definitely onto something," he said. It's "another way to start a conversation. That's what I really like." ### SUMMARY:

Freshly brewed Coffee Party Movement kicks off with global gathering Saturday . Group calls for civility, end of obstructionism, accountability by politicians . Planning meeting shows diversity in political, racial, socioeconomic backgrounds . "We have a lot more in common than we realize," one Atlanta participant says .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Anderson, South Carolina (CNN) -- Marco Rubio came to South Carolina this week hoping to win over the kind of conservative hardliners who turned on him last year as the Senate immigration reform bill he sponsored hit a roadblock in the Republican-controlled House. By the time Rubio addressed a massive GOP fundraiser here on Monday evening, it wasn't his right flank he had to worry about. The Florida senator and likely presidential candidate was the headline speaker at a "Faith and Freedom" barbecue fundraiser for Rep. Jeff Duncan, the tea party-backed congressman who represents what many Republicans consider the most conservative House district in the state. After a succession of speeches from South Carolina Republican notables like Sen. Lindsey Graham and Gov. Nikki Haley, Rubio took the stage in Anderson to applause, but was quickly interrupted by a group of protestors -- self-identified DREAMers, young immigrants brought to the country illegally as minors -- who loudly heckled the senator for abandoning last year's sweeping immigration package when it was met with harsh resistance on the right. For an ambitious Republican looking to prove his conservative bona fides and rub out the stain of working with Chuck Schumer and Harry Reid, the interruption was something of a gift. A plugged-in Republican operative turned to a reporter and observed dryly, "I couldn't think of a better way to make Rubio look good in South Carolina." The audience of nearly 1,200 conservatives jeered the protestors as Rubio waited for them to be escorted out of the Anderson Civic Center, scolding them in the process. "We are a sovereign country that deserves to have immigration laws," Rubio said. "You're doing harm to your own cause because you don't have a right to illegally immigrate to the United States." The crowd cheered him on. One elderly audience member shoved a protester as he weaved his way through the tables. Another, 73-year old Army veteran Turk Culberson, angrily stalked them out of the building, clutching his cane as if it were a baseball bat. "I let my temper get the better of me," Culberson said after the incident. "But there was no place for that kind of thing. If you don't want to hear what he has to say, don't come." Rubio plunges into immigration debate . The remainder of Rubio's speech cemented his standing with the deeply Republican crowd. A member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees, Rubio has championed a muscular foreign policy and tapped hawkish neoconservative thinkers as his foreign policy advisers. He spent much of the evening lambasting President Barack Obama's handling of overseas affairs, from the Middle East to Asia. "If you want to know the state of the world today, it is chaos," he said. He pivoted to cultural issues, blasting tax laws that discourage marriage and a culture that regards divorce as no big deal. "The most important job we have is not congressman or senator or governor," he said. "It's family and mother and husband and wife." Though several attendees said they had lingering questions about his immigration stance and wanted to hear more from him in the coming months, most of the Republicans who spoke to CNN complimented his speech. "That crowd was with him 100%," said MaryAnn Riley, a longtime member of the Spartanburg County Republican Women. Riley, though, cautioned that she was open to supporting other potential Republican presidential candidates, naming Rick Perry and even former GOP nominee Mitt Romney as possible choices. Duncan, who fiercely opposed Rubio's immigration efforts in 2013, said the senator "will have to explain" his position to South Carolinians if he seeks the GOP nomination. But Duncan had kind words for the man who graced his fundraiser. "Marco Rubio believes in faith and freedom," he said. Graham, a fellow hawk in the Senate, was more generous in his remarks. He described Rubio as "the son of Ronald Reagan when it comes to national security." Just as important as Rubio's public appearance were the carefully-curated private meetings that his advisers arranged prior to the dinner speech. South Carolina back in 2016 spotlight . In his first trip to South Carolina since addressing a GOP fundraiser in Columbia two summers ago, Rubio spent the day in a series of closed-door sessions with influential local activists and potential financial backers, specifically courting the Christian conservatives who dominate grassroots Republican politics in the South Carolina upstate. Rubio advisers organized a meeting for the senator with senior officials from Bob Jones University, making Rubio the first Republican presidential contender to cultivate leaders at the famed Christian university. He also entertained questions from over 40 social conservatives at the Greenville home of Lisa van Riper, the well-connected president of South Carolina Citizens For Life. Tony Beam, the host of a drive-time Christian talk radio show that broadcasts throughout the upstate, said Rubio spoke for 10 minutes about "bedrock conservative values" while at Van Riper's home, stressing his opposition to same-sex marriage, before taking questions. Beam said he was "very moved" by Rubio's remarks, comparing the 43-year old Cuban-American to Ronald Reagan. "I was very impressed with his grasp of the issues," Beam said. "But the thing that impressed me most was his optimism and belief in America, the kind that I first heard from Ronald Reagan when I was a kid in college. That's what I've been searching for. That's something that's missing in conservative messaging today. I was very moved." Rubio, too, held a Greenville fundraiser for his political operation, Reclaim America PAC, which has so far spent half a million dollars on behalf of Republican candidates in 2014. The event attracted donors and business leaders from around the state, as well as another member of the South Carolina congressional delegation, Rep. Trey Gowdy. Still, Rubio brushed off questions about his presidential aspirations in a session with reporters, giving them a pat answer about waiting until after the midterms before making a decision about a White House run. He did take a moment to bash Hillary Clinton, the putative Democratic frontrunner. "She is responsible for at least four of the six yeas of this disastrous foreign policy," he said. "She was the secretary of state, the chief foreign policy officer of the Obama administration at a time when it is now universally accepted that his policy is a fiasco." That comment drew a feisty retort from Clinton allies, who accused Rubio of pandering to "right-wing extremists." "He flip-flopped on his own immigration bill to keep them satisfied, thinks minimum wage doesn't work and said Medicare and Social Security 'weakened us as a people,'" said Adrienne Watson, spokeswoman for the pro-Clinton super PAC Correct The Record. "Americans are looking for a leader like Hillary Clinton to unite us, increase mobility and move our country forward." As for the immigration flare-up earlier in the evening, Rubio stuck to his guns, saying that a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants is impossible without first securing the border and then re-structuring the current immigration system. "I don't know of anyone in Washington who has taken more criticism for supporting elements of what they are asking for," he said. "But what they are asking for and insisting upon is unrealistic. This notion that we are going to pass some kind of blanket amnesty is not realistic." Outside the civic center, one of the immigration hecklers -- Charlotte, North Carolina, resident Oliver Merino -- promised to hound Rubio with similar protests wherever he goes. Merino, a member of the DREAM Organizing Network, a group that works to halt immigrant deportations, scoffed at the notion that Rubio could win over Hispanic voters if he secures the Republican nomination. "He wants people like me to be deported," Merino said. "He doesn't stand with our community. We want people to know that. Wherever he goes, we will let him know that." With Congress divided, Obama to go his own way on immigration . ### SUMMARY:

The Florida senator is a likely candidate for the GOP presidential nomination . He was a speaker at the "Faith and Freedom" barbecue fundraiser Monday night . Group of DREAMers heckled him during his speech . Conservatives liked what they heard, but want him to explain his views on immigration .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- Few places on earth do pride better than Merseyside; pride in the region, pride in its people, and pride in its sport. So when The British Open comes to town it feels like everyone is here to celebrate. After record crowds made the pilgrimage to this corner of the Wirral Peninsula in 2006 to watch Hoylake's first major for 39 years, it was stamped as "The People's Open." It's a tag that has stuck. "You don't want to be lofty here because people will knock you off your perch," Royal Liverpool's 2006 captain Andy Cross told CNN of Merseyside. "You must be who you are and not try to be someone else. "If there is one thing we want the people who visit us to take away with them it is that they felt they were welcome." Liverpool's most famous exports The Beatles once sang "money can't buy me love" and that certainly isn't an issue at Hoylake -- there's plenty going round for free. Some golf courses can feel stuffy to the point of asphyxiation, but not this one. Not only are spectators pitching up in droves, their enthusiasm is off the charts. Exchanges between marshals and spectators have the jovial air of two mates chatting down the pub. True Tiger Woods complained about fans' use of mobile phones during his first round, but perhaps that could be attributed to thousands of people's enthusiasm to see the man who took the title eight years ago. Even the stony-faced Royal Navy marshals tracking various groups round the course can manage a smile in between admonishing the odd spectator for trying to grab a snap of a star on their phone. Such is the passion for sport in this region that 5,000 hardy souls turned up four days out from the start of The Open, just to watch a clutch of players practice. Bumper galleries . When the Wirral welcomed back golf's oldest major championship for the first time since 1967 eight years ago, 230,000 attended across the four days -- an English record. Just 142,036 were present at Muirfield in Scotland last year, an undoubtedly beautiful golf course but one that elicits a different pitch to Hoylake. Ahead of the Royal and Ancient's September vote on whether to admit female members for the first time, Muirfield is one of only three clubs on The Open rotation to remain male only. That heralded a wave of negative press this time last year. Hoylake, however, isn't having to withstand anything like that. You only need look at 2014's patrons to notice the difference. Walking around the links you are just as likely to encounter the red of Liverpool or the blue of Everton -- the city's two English Premier League soccer teams -- as heavily branded golfing apparel. At 22 this is Mark Budd's third Open championship but his first visit to Hoylake. "It's such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere here, people can't do enough for you," he said. "Some places can be a bit snooty but there's none of that here." Pete Squires is one of those locals helping to make visitors feel welcome. "It's important for us not to just give a good account golf wise, but also as a region," the 45-year-old said. "There an immense sense of pride at having The Open here and that's reflected in the attitude. No one here acts better than anyone else and that's exactly the way it should be." Home favorite . Merseyside loves nothing better than one of its own, especially someone with a story to tell like John Singleton. The resin factory worker thought his pro career had vanished due to injury but after giving it another crack he qualified for The Open at a course just a stone's throw from his home. During his first round he often diverted towards the gallery to high five one of a small army of friends and family who have come to support him at his first major tournament. Even the 30-year-old's fiancée Lucy Johnson walked all 18 holes with him despite being eight months pregnant. "I can't tell you how much I've felt at home already," Singleton told CNN before teeing off Thursday. "It's so close to home. I've got so many friends and family here, you walk on the tee and everyone is cheering. I've been having a good laugh with people and that takes all the nerves away. "They are so happy I'm here playing it just takes the pressure off you. It's a great feeling to have." Tough times . Perhaps there is an extra helping of pride because the past has seen bouts of severe hardship. A toxic social and economic climate in the early 1980s saw pitched battles between the public and police. The riots prompted a leading minister in the ruling Conservative government of the time to suggest that Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher abandon Liverpool to a destiny of "managed decline." Instead she dispatched Michael Heseltine northwards, a Tory grandee who would become known as the "Minister of Merseyside", and he helped trigger a wave of regeneration that would help transform the city's landscape. "The Scousers (as people from Liverpool are known) don't actually look at people's background, they look at what they do, so Heseltine is a hero around here," explained Cross. "After the 1981 riots, Heseltine brought businessman round in buses to show them what could be done. He set in store all the good things that have happened to Liverpool. "When he was given the freedom of the city two years ago politicians from all sides were queuing up to pay homage to him and that indicates the public here look at what people do, not necessarily what they say." Woods' two-shot win in 2006 also resonated deeply on Merseyside. It was Hoylake's first British Open for 39 years and a lot graft had gone into making this, the second oldest golf course in England, fit to stage it. A glorious return . While infrastructure and space had always been an issue, heritage wasn't. Built in 1869, this was the setting for the first ever Amateur Championship in 1885 and the first ever international match -- between England and Scotland -- in 1902. It hosted one leg of the most feted feat in golf — Bobby Jones' "impregnable quadrilateral" in 1930 when he clinched all four major titles on offer in the same season. And it was the scene for Roberto Di Vicenzo's only major win in 1967, the first by an Argentinean. Then came those years in the wilderness. By the time Woods and his peers rolled up to Liverpool eight years ago the entire city was fit to burst. Golf's oldest major didn't disappoint, and neither did the weather. While ticketing, stewarding and layout were planned in meticulous detail the skies above were the one thing the club couldn't control. It has always been a factor in these parts. The old saying goes 'If you can't see the Welsh coast across the peninsula it's raining. If you can, then it's about to." But that week the unfamiliar bedfellows "heatwave" and "Liverpool" knitted together divinely. Ever browner, scorched earth offered such firm terrain that 14-time major champion Woods used his driver just once all week, preferring instead to shape his irons round Hoylake's contours. As captain that year it was Cross' responsibility to hand the fabled Claret Jug to Tiger, the third he has claimed in an illustrious roll call of victories. "It was a fairytale Open for us," Cross explained. "A return after 39 years, the event was watched by record crowds under beating sunshine. "We had the world's greatest golfer at that time -- unarguably -- win the oldest and most revered major championship in golf on our own territory. You can't get more fairytale than that." "The other wonderful thing I remember about it was the great sense of community spirit. The Open, while it has its global impact and interest, is actually a great community tournament. "There's about 10,000 people working here this year in one sense or another, many of them volunteers simply doing it for the love not the money." ### SUMMARY:

The last time The Open Championship came to Hoylake it was dubbed 'The People's Open" A relaxed vibe at the course differentiates it from other venues . Open organizers the R&A estimate attendances for 2014 will reach 200,000 .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: As "The Walking Dead" approaches its fall finale on Sunday, fans have two big questions on their minds. First, they have been waiting weeks to see how Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) will react to the news that his closest friend Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride) has been banished from the prison where the survivors have holed up. Next, they want to know how the Governor's (David Morrissey) apparent coming attack on the prison (with a tank, no less) will affect the survivors, especially Daryl, who has not had any big scenes for the better part of a month. After all, Daryl-inspired GIFs and fan art abound online, and Reedus fans' perfect-for-a-T-shirt battle cry is "If Daryl Dies, We Riot." So watch out, Gov. Reedus barely appeared in the first season of the show, but by season two, the legions of zombie fans were infected with Daryl mania. Officially the coolest customer in the apocalypse, the crossbow-wielding Daryl takes out "walkers" with arrows, earning more fans every time. It seems that surviving just becomes him. Zombie fans ravenous for more at 'Walking Dead' convention with Lincoln, Reedus . This season has been a tough one for Daryl, having felt betrayed by Bob, and of course, the aforementioned banishment of Carol. (And that's after losing brother Merle last season.) CNN spoke to Reedus about what makes Daryl, and the actor behind him, tick. CNN: When did you first realize that this character had a special following all his own? Reedus: I started recognizing it gradually from the beginning. I got a lot of girl love after that "Cherokee Rose" speech (in Season 2). I don't know, I guess it keeps growing gradually. When you're shooting, you don't know what's going on because you're in Georgia, and you're shooting. Then you go somewhere like a Comic-Con and it's, "Holy moley, that's a lot of people." Now I get a lot of love everywhere I go. So I guess it's a gradual thing. CNN: Daryl fits right in in the apocalypse in rural Georgia. How do you like filming there? Reedus: I love it there. We shoot down in Senoia, Georgia. I like even further south than Atlanta. I'm a huge Georgia fan. I ride my motorcycle just about every day, and I drive through the country, the back roads, where there's no cars, just cows and trees and grass. I love it, it's heaven on Earth down there. CNN: Daryl's importance on the show has grown over the seasons. How has he evolved? Reedus: In the first season, everything came out of the side of Daryl's face. He didn't really look you in the eyes. He kept moving; he was walking behind everybody and couldn't sit still and he was so uncomfortable. Now he looks you directly in the face, and he can stand perfectly still. I don't think he was proud of who he was. He was set in his ways, and he was doomed to this life and didn't really know it. He's got this reverse thing than the rest of the members of the group have. He can fend for himself, he can hunt and make it on his own. I've gotta find the glue that keeps him with all these people. He's starting to make connections with people for the first time. The relationships he's forming with these people and this feeling that people need him. I think he feels good about it. He hates what's going on and people can die any second, but at the same time, he's finding things out about himself. CNN: Do you stick around to watch scenes you're not in? Reedus: When Lori died, the whole cast was there to watch it happen, same with T-Dog. We watch each other and support each other, especially in the big scenes. I don't find out things I don't need to know about, other than just supporting people. CNN: Last season, Daryl briefly reunited with his brother Merle. What was that like to play out? Reedus: There's this interesting thing when we did that arena scene. The Governor brings me in there and rips that hood off. Then I see Merle and I actually back into the Governor. It's not just like you're seeing a ghost, but it's almost like you stepped into your comfort zone and liked it. But then you're back in that reality where you're used to being the one under the thumb, the one kicked around. It's not written the way we do it. The nuances are the actors' nuances. We could have all gone in there and said the same words and been like caged wolverines. You could have played it that way, but you play it how you feel it and you talk with the writers and directors. You collaborate and make it different for a reason. I wanted to go into that playing it as small as possible. The more I whimper, the more he looks at me like "This is my fault, what have I done?" It's more than just "oh my God, shock, it's you!" You have to play the sympathy and ties that keep those people interested and thinking of each other. The smaller I play it, the more big brother he is. That sad, desperate thing makes it more interesting than "We'll kill everybody in this room!" You have to be tough and scared the same time. I tried to play that dude like he's always had to fight and his back's always against the wall. CNN: Any particularly favorite scenes over the years? Reedus: There's the one where Daryl is walking behind Rick, and getting baby formula for "Lil' Asskicker," and he says, "I want to thank you for what you've done," and he says, "It's what we do." That's one. There's the one with Carol in the trailer when he hands her the rose and does the "Cherokee Rose" speech. That came out of nowhere. I don't think he really realized what was going on. There's one where he's walking away from Rick, and says he's better off on his own. When Merle pulls the shirt off and sees all the scars, that next five minutes is another one. Everything you say and do is important, so nobody really wastes time. You can take every scene you've done and they're all different facets of his character. CNN: Were you originally interested in the fact that this is a zombie show? Reedus: I kind of got late to pilot season, and I never really thought about doing a TV show before, I was doing movies. I read all these pilots, and they were doctor drama, buddy roommate drama, lawyer drama and they were so similar and this one just stuck out. I read it, and I didn't even see zombies in it, to be honest. The characters are what drew me into it. Then I saw who was attached to it, and it was Frank Darabont and Gale Anne Hurd and AMC. And I was only really watching AMC shows. It just had all these elements that were too good. I didn't see zombie show or monster show, I just saw top quality A-list people and a script that was far better than all the other ones. I love that Andrew (Lincoln's) character (Rick Grimes) is always making mistakes. If he just solved things, it would be boring. Frank gave him this note that he's up on this tank and there's all these zombies around and he finally gets out and jumps off the tank to run away, and twists his ankle. Frank told him, that's your character. That's so interesting. CNN: What about the possibility of romance between Carol and Daryl? Reedus: I like that Carol and Daryl recognize in each other that they're damaged. It's better than "Cue the music, let's make out." CNN: Now that you have a few years under your belt, what scares you now? Anything but zombies? Reedus: Disease scares me, death scares me. The way Greg Nicotero does those zombies, you see the dying, scared lost sad person behind the monster. That's what makes the monster scary. ### SUMMARY:

Norman Reedus has become a breakout star on TV's No. 1 show, "The Walking Dead" Reedus first noticed big fan reaction after "Cherokee Rose" episode in 2011 . Reedus was attracted to "Walking Dead" because of the script, "didn't see zombies"

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: If something can connect to a network, it can be hacked. Computers and phones are still popular targets, but increasingly so are cars, home security systems, TVs and even oil refineries. That was the message at this year's Black Hat and DefCon computer security conferences, which took place last week in Las Vegas. The annual conferences draw a mix of computer researchers and hackers who present the latest bugs and vulnerabilities they've discovered. It's a combination of public service, business and sport. These are some of the more popular targets covered at this year's conferences. By drawing attention to them, the "white-hat" hackers hope to encourage greater security from the various manufacturers and industries, and more vigilance from consumers. Typically, the presenters inform manufacturers of bugs ahead of their talks so the companies can fix the issues before they are exploited by criminals. Remote-controlled cars . Someone hacking your computer can be an inconvenience. Someone hacking your car can be deadly. A pair of presentations on hacking cars kicked off the DefCon conference on Friday. Australian hacker Zoz outlined the security issues fully autonomous cars will face and said car-hacking is inevitable. Autonomous vehicles like cars and drones are essentially robots, and they rely on sensors to operate. He said a hacker could theoretically take complete control of a car over wireless networks or trick its various sensors into feeding a motorist false information about location, speed and the proximity of other cars or objects. Fully driverless cars are still a few years away, but computerized systems are common in vehicles on the road today. Electronic control units can control a range of car functions, including braking, accelerating and steering. They manage security features, in-car displays and even seat belts. Researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek, funded by a grant from the U.S. military's DARPA, looked into what kind of damage hackers could do to a car by taking control of a Toyota Prius and a Ford Escape. To access the systems, they had to physically connect a computer to the cars through a diagnostics port. They wrote custom software that let them hijack the cars' systems. Once in control, they disabled brakes, changed the display to show incorrect speed or gas levels, and messed with the steering and seat belts. They were able to kill the engine and toy with with less consequential features like the car's horn and lights. Toyota played down the wired demonstration and said it is focusing on security measures to prevent wireless attacks. Compromising smartphones . Attacks on personal computers used to be the bread and butter of cybercriminals, spawning a lucrative industry of black-market malware and the anti-virus programs that fight them. The next big target is smartphones. Mobile devices are not impervious to attacks, even though walled-off app stores have kept much of the malware at bay. Kevin McNamee demonstrated how a piece of malware could turn an Android smartphone into a "spy phone" that remotely monitors its owner, sending information on the location, communications and content, like photos, back to a third party. The hack isn't new, but McNamee managed to inject the malicious code into popular apps like "Angry Birds." Once it was installed, the user would have no idea that their phone was acting as a remote surveillance device. Verizon "femtocells" -- small boxes used to extend cell service -- were hacked by security researchers at iSEC Partners to intercept calls and any other data sent over cellular networks like texts, images and browsing history. The wireless carrier issued a fix for all its femtocells, but researchers say other networks could still have the same issue. With $45 in hardware, researchers Billy Lau, Yeongjin Jang and Chengyu Song turned an innocent-looking iPhone charger into a tool for gathering information such as passcodes, e-mails and other communications, and location data directly from the smartphone. Apple thanked the researchers and said it is deploying a fix for the bug in its iOS 7 software update, which comes out this year. The too-smart home . Thanks to cheap, low-power sensors, anything in your house can become a "smart" device, helpfully connecting to the Internet so you can control it from a computer or smartphone. Smart home security devices have the potential to cause the most damage if hacked, and two separate demonstrations showed how to break in by opening "smart" front-door locks. Another unsettling trend at the conferences was spying on unwitting people through their own cameras. Home security cameras could be disabled by someone who wanted to break in, or they could be turned into remote surveillance devices. One researcher showed how she easily took over the camera stream on a child's toy from a computer. Researchers Aaron Grattafiori and Josh Yavor found bugs in the 2012 model of the Samsung Smart TV that allowed them to turn on and watch video from the set's camera. Samsung said it had released a software update to fix the issue. (Many security experts suggest placing a piece of tape over any cameras you don't want surreptitiously watching you, just to be safe.) Hackers get personal . Even in the wake of this year's NSA revelations, a homemade surveillance device that sniffs out pieces of data from your various computing devices, even when they're not online, is disturbing. Brendan O'Connor, who runs a security firm and is finishing a law degree, has created such a device, dubbed CreepyDOL (DOL stands for Distributed Object Locator; "Creepy" is self-explanatory). The device cost $57 to make and consists of a Raspberry Pi computer, a USB hub, two WiFi connections, an SD card and USB power inside an nondescript black case. Computers and phones act as tracking devices and leak information constantly, according to O'Connor. When plugged in, CreepyDOL detects nearby phones and computers and uses them to track people's location and patterns, figuring out who they are, where they go and what they do online. To demonstrate the device without breaking any laws, O'Connor showed his own information as sniffed out by one of the devices. Using a gaming engine and Open Street Maps, he hovered over his dot on a map. It brought up his name, e-mail address, a photo, the dating website he used, details about his devices and the locations he visited in town. In a worst-case scenario, as imagined by O'Connor, a miscreant could plug in one of the devices under any Starbucks near a capital building to pick up the scent of a state senator and wait for them to do something compromising. "You find somebody with power and exploit them," said O'Connor. The creation is remarkable for how simple it is. It's likely others have similar knowledge and setups that exploit the same security flaws in applications, websites, devices and networks. Industrial facilities . The most frightening targets highlighted at the conference were the opposite of personal. Critical infrastructure such as oil and gas pipelines or water treatment plants are potential targets for hackers. Many industries are controlled with supervisory control and data acquisition, or SCADA, systems. The systems are older, installed at a time when people weren't concerned about cyberattacks, and connect to the Internet over an unsecured network protocol. The reason the systems are online in the first place is so that they're easier to monitor. Some, like oil pipelines, are often in remote locations. Multiple demonstrations at the conferences showed just how simple it is to hack energy systems. Researchers Brian Meixell and Eric Forner staged a mock hack of an oil well using pumps and a liquid container filled with teal liquid. They got into the system, turned the pumps on and off and overflowed the containers by feeding the system false data. If it happened on an actual oil well, the hack could result in an environmental catastrophe, according to the researchers. It's possible to shut down an entire industrial facility from 40 miles away using a radio transmitter, according to researchers Carlos Penagos and Lucas Apa. They demonstrated injecting fake measurements, causing the device that received them to behave differently. For example, someone could trigger a water tank to overflow by faking an abnormally high temperature. The industries and U.S. government are aware that industrial systems are vulnerable, but their remoteness and age make upgrading difficult and expensive. There is no built-in system for releasing software patches, like there is with personal computers. ### SUMMARY:

Security researchers showed the latest phone, home and car hacks in Las Vegas . Smartphones were hacked through chargers, malware and femtocells . Some cameras in computers, toys and smart TVs can be secretly viewed by third parties .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: At least 14 people, including a general, were killed Thursday when a Ukrainian military helicopter was shot down by "terrorists" near Slovyansk, acting President Oleksandr Turchynov told Parliament. Turchynov said the chopper, which was carrying soldiers for a troop rotation, was shot down with a Russian rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Militants in the rebel stronghold claimed responsibility for downing the helicopter, a spokesman for the militants said. The aircraft had flown there from Kramatorsk, he said, where the Ukrainian military has a substantial presence. The large loss of life will be a major blow to the Ukrainian military, which on Monday toughened its approach to the separatist movement when it launched a fierce assault on militants who'd taken control of part of Donetsk airport. Also in Slovyansk, the self-declared mayor said pro-Russia separatist militants are holding four European observers who have been missing since Monday. But he declined to say where. "Our militants got them," Vyacheslav Ponomarev said Thursday. "They were detained because they didn't respect my request. I asked them not to leave Donetsk (city). They decided they were smarter and could come here." Ponomarev added that the monitors from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe were not being held in the town. They also are not "exchange material," he said, indicating that they were not being held to swap for separatists detained by Kiev authorities. Ponomarev said he had been in contact with the OSCE, and they were assessing the situation. He said he would probably release the monitors soon but wouldn't say when. On Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebynis said that a pro-Russia group was holding the monitors and that negotiations for their release were "in process." The four team members, who are Swiss, Turkish, Estonian and Danish, were on a routine patrol Monday east of Donetsk city when last heard from, according to the OSCE. The last time an OSCE team went missing in the Donetsk region, its members also turned up in the hands of the militant separatists in Slovyansk and were described by Ponomarev as "prisoners of war." They were freed just over a week later. There were fears Wednesday for the safety of another group of 11 monitors who went missing after being stopped at a roadblock in Marinka, west of Donetsk city, but the group later re-established contact with the OSCE. The OSCE said Thursday that the 11 had been abducted for seven hours by a dozen-strong armed group but were released. Separatists: Bodies to be returned to Russia . Dozens of pro-Russia separatists were killed after Ukrainian security forces launched their assault on Donetsk International Airport on Monday, following the militants' seizure of a terminal. The military's move -- only hours after President-elect Petro Poroshenko declared his election win -- was interpreted by some as an indication that he will take a tougher stance as he seeks to unify the country. Now, the grim task of returning the dead to their families is under way. At least 33 Russian citizens are among the militants killed during the violence, a spokesman for the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic told a CNN team at the morgue. The bodies have been identified, and there is an agreement with the local police to escort the remains back to Russia soon, several separatist representatives said. The bodies will be taken across the border to the southwestern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. From there, they will be transported to different cities according to where they are from, reportedly including Moscow and Grozny in the Russian republic of Chechnya. The CNN team at the morgue in Donetsk city saw at least 10 coffins. The separatist spokesman at the morgue said the men were volunteers from across Russia who had come to help stand with the separatists against the authorities in Kiev. The spokesman also said that there are still about 15 bodies left at the airport that the separatists haven't been able to collect or identify. About 20 of those killed are Ukrainian, he said. The Donetsk mayor's official website put the airport death toll at 40 Tuesday, including two civilians, but did not specify how many were separatists. But the separatist spokesman said the death toll could be as high as 70. If confirmed, this would make Monday the deadliest day in Ukraine since the bloody clashes in Kiev's Independence Square, or Maidan, which triggered the ouster of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych in February and led to the current spiral into violence in the east. The separatists have until now insisted that their movement is homegrown, so their very public acknowledgment of so many Russian citizens among those killed Monday marks a shift in approach. It could be intended to goad Moscow into a response at a time when the separatist movement is under pressure to find a way forward and has shown signs of division within its ranks. Kiev and the West have accused Russia of coordinating and supplying the separatists, a claim Moscow has denied. Russia has said it will respect Sunday's election results. On Thursday, a U.S. official with direct knowledge of the latest intelligence said 30,000 Russian troops that had been amassed along the Russia-Ukraine border have been moving back to their home bases over the last several days. About 10,000 troops -- mainly infantry -- remain along Russia's border with eastern Ukraine, the official said, and there are some signs those troops will be pulling back as well. NATO this week also reported signs that some Russian troops near Ukraine's eastern border may be preparing to pull back. The United States has been using satellites to track Russian troop movements for weeks, and both the United States and NATO have released imagery to bolster their case that Russia had amassed tens of thousands of troops along the border. Several U.S. officials have said it appears the Russians have decided to try to work with the new Ukrainian government, but officials also point out that it wouldn't take much to bring a large number of Russian forces back to the border via transport aircraft at any time. Governor in talks with separatists . Serhiy Taruta, the billionaire governor of Donetsk, acknowledged in a CNN interview in Kiev that a Ukrainian military operation was under way in the Donetsk region, but he was unable to comment further. Taruta said he was in talks with pro-Russia separatist leaders in the region to try to calm the situation, adding that the aim was to "reach real understanding," rather than just a deal. "We are having dialogue, which is dragging out because they seem to have a constant rotation of their leaders, but I hope that in the final analysis we will reach an agreement and reconciliation to work together," he said. Taruta has met with Poroshenko in Kiev, he said, adding that the President-elect will visit the Donetsk region "we hope in the first half of June." Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Donetsk People's Republic said that some barricades were being cleared away from in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk city that the separatists have made their headquarters for weeks. She said that separatists were "cleaning up" and "instilling order" and that a news conference would soon explain more. Earlier, militants surrounded the building and said they were searching it for looters but explained little more. Russia and Ukraine bicker in U.N. meeting . Clashes in eastern Luhansk . Amid the ongoing tensions, Ukraine's National Guard base in the eastern Luhansk region was attacked Wednesday by what the country's Interior Ministry described as "terrorists." "There have been losses among military personnel as well as among the attackers," a statement from the ministry said. The Luhansk region is, with neighboring Donetsk, at the heart of the separatists' bid to declare independence from Ukraine. Eastern Ukraine was a key support base for Yanukovych, and many people there oppose the authorities in Kiev, favoring closer ties instead to Russia. Ukraine: Fierce fighting closes Donetsk airport, claims dozens of lives . Opinion: Free elections good for Ukraine, but could be bad for Putin . ### SUMMARY:

U.S. official: Tens of thousands of Russian troops along border have been moving back . Acting president says Russian grenade launcher downed helicopter . Donetsk governor says he is in talks with separatist leaders, aims to calm situation . Self-declared separatist mayor of Slovyansk says militants hold 4 missing OSCE monitors .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Washington (CNN)Finally, something went right for the United States in the Middle East. Relief is palpable in Washington over the well-planned and seamlessly executed transfer of Saudi Arabia's throne to King Salman bin Abdulaziz, 79, following the death of his 90-year-old half brother King Abdullah. The kingdom, despite signaling rare public dissent with the Obama administration over Iran and the Arab Spring, is a fulcrum of U.S. diplomacy in a region where Washington is struggling to adapt to dissolving national borders, chaotic change and sectarian carnage. Never mind that the U.S. is the world's foremost democracy and the transfer of power in Saudi Arabia was from one autocrat to the next. Saudi Arabia is crucial to U.S. goals on counter-terrorism, the campaign against ISIS and Al-Qaeda, the free flow of energy that sustains the global economy, as a counter-balance to Iran and as a sponsor of the long frustrated quest for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. In a sign of the kingdom's importance to the United States, President Barack Obama made hurried plans to call in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after his trip to India to pay his respects to Abdullah and his family and to meet with King Salman. Originally, Vice President Joe Biden was to have made the trip. The message from Washington is clearly : Long live the new king. The regal choreography in Riyadh is especially welcome to the White House as it contrasts with events just across the border in Yemen, another key ally where a US-backed government crucial to its anti-terror campaign has just been toppled to rebels supported by Iran. James B. Smith, who served as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia between 2009 and 2013, said there should be no concern in the administration that Salman's ascension will jeopardize U.S. relations with the deeply conservative kingdom. Lines of succession . "We know Salman well, he was governor of Riyadh for the better part of 50 years, he is well known to the US government. I see no break in the U.S.-Saudi relationship," Smith said. Salman vowed just hours after the death of Abdullah, that the kingdom "would continue adhering to the correct policies which Saudi Arabia has followed since its establishment." State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the allies had a "long history of cooperation. We don't have any indication that that cooperation will change." Saudi watchers in Washington were impressed and reassured by the line of succession outlined by Salman in an apparent effort to solve a dynastic riddle and send a signal of continuity to the outside world. He named Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, one of scores of posssible candidates, as deputy crown prince, a move which puts him second in line to the throne and establishes a future transfer of power from the sons of the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, who have ruled the country since the 1950s, to a new generation. "I think for the near term, continuity is going to be the centerpiece here," said Daniel Benjamin, a former coordinator for counter-terrorism at the State Department, now at Dartmouth College, told CNN. "There is now a member of the generation of the grandchildren who is second in line, he is a very close friend of the United States ... so I think there is a lot of hope the relationship will stay on an even keel." Prince Mohammed, now behind the King's brother Prince Muqrin, 69, in the line of succession, is a frequent visitor to the United States and has presided over Saudi Arabia's anti-terrorism program. He narrowly escaped an assassination bid by Al-Qaeda in 2009. The succession plan was viewed as particularly important following unconfirmed reports that Salman has been in ill health himself, apparently having suffered a stroke. Tom Donilon, pointman for US relations with Saudi Arabia when he was Obama's National Security Advisor, praised Abdullah as a "solid" ally who had ensured two decades of stability in the kingdom. He also said that the late King's survivors had done a "pretty effective job of indicating stability with a quick annoncement with repect to succession, continuity of policy." He told "The Lead" with CNN's Jake Tapper that Mohammad, known as MBN in the United States was "a very, very competent person who is essential in terms of our joint efforts to combat terrorists." Periods of tension . Though there is relief at the apparent stability in Riyadh, relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia in recent years have have often been troubled. There was a tense period a decade ago, after it emerged that 15 of the 19 hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks originated from Saudi Arabia. Critics, including some in the U.S. government, faulted Saudis for backing jihadists movements throughout the region for geopolitical reasons. The Saudi government has also balked at U.S. criticisms of its human rights record and political system. Questions about Iran . More recently, Saudi Arabia, the key Sunni power in the Middle East, has not hesitated to make clear its concern about Obama's quest to improve relations with its mighty Shia foe Iran, with which it is fighting various proxy struggles. Saudi leaders were dismayed to learn about a secret backchannel of talks between the administration and Iran which built on the election of "moderate" Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in 2013 to launch an effort at rapprochment between Tehran and Washington. '"I think that the concern remains among the Saudi leadership about an agreement that is going to be at their expense," said David Ottaway, an author on Saudi Arabia and senior scholar at the Wilson Center. Some analysts believe that the Saudi government could react to what it would see as a bad nuclear deal between world powers and Iran -- which left the Islamic Republic with some capacity to enrich uranium or produce plutonium -- by looking to find its own nuclear capability -- perhaps with assistance from Pakistan. Saudi princes took to the op-ed pages of US newspapers in 2013 in a highly unusual move to complain that a nuclear deal was a "dangerous gamble." The Saudi government also made clear its deep anger with Obama's last-minute decision not to launch planned air strikes on Syria to punish the Bashar al-Assad regime's use of chemical weapons the same year. Saudi Arabia has also been frustrated at how long it has taken the United States to begin training opposition fighters in Syria. Anger at Obama comments on the Arab Spring . The Saudi government also registered anger at the Obama administration's embrace of Arab Spring uprisings, which led to the ouster of allies like Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Obama appeared to make an oblique reference to those differences in a statement honoring Abdullah on Thursday as a "steadfast and passionate" believer in US-Saudi relations as a force for stability. "As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions," Obama wrote. In recent years, the Obama administration has attempted to assuage Saudi fears. The US president made a visit to Riyadh last year, on a trip that was widely seen as an attempt to mend fences. Saudi Arabian pilots, reportedly including one of Salman's sons, Prince Khaled, helped carry out the first air attacks on ISIS in Syria last year. Saudi Arabia also approved of Secretary of State John Kerry's exhaustive but ultimately futile efforts to keep Israel and the Palestinians talking. And White House spokesman Josh Earnest said that an underpinning of those efforts, an Arab Peace Plan framed by Abdullah would stand as his lasting memorial. Smith said that the relationship between Riyadh and Washington was now better than it had been earlier in the administration. "A key element of our relationship with the Saudis over the years has been transparency, not always in public but we have done a good job in talking to each other," he said. "When you leave your allies out of the conversation and they don't understand your negotiating position or don't understand how you are going to enforce an agreement. they are left to their own conclusions. "I think we are doing a lot better at that." ### SUMMARY:

US relieved at succession plan roll-out after King Abdullah's death . Saudi Arabia a key anti-terror ally in volatile region . But tensions still simmer with Riyadh over Iran .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: The overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi has had a messy and often confused aftermath, as rival groups jostle for a stake in the new Libya after four decades of dictatorship. But while the realities of Libya's new order remain murky, for the country's Berber minority, the task ahead is clear. The removal of the old regime has cleared the way for a renaissance of their ancient language and culture that were brutally suppressed under Gadhafi's hardline rule. Known in their native tongue as Amazigh, or "free man," the Berbers are the indigenous inhabitants of North Africa, whose culture predominated in the region prior to the 7th century Arab invasion. But Gadhafi's ideology stressed the unity of all Libyans under an Arab identity, and any efforts at Amazigh cultural expression during his rule were effectively forbidden. Those among the country's Berber minority -- there is no reliable census data, but most estimates place it at about 10% of the population -- who attempted to promote their rights or cultural heritage would find themselves persecuted, sometimes even killed. Berbers were unable to publicly speak or publish books in their language, Tamazight, or display symbols such as the Amazigh flag. "You couldn't teach it in schools, you didn't have university departments for Amazigh research, or have Amazigh TV stations or radio," said Mazigh Buzakhar, a Tripoli-based Berber activist. "Even children's names -- there was a law which banned any names that were not Arabic or Islamic. They (the Gadhafi regime) forced you to change your child's name." Buzakhar has personally felt the brunt of the regime's hostility to Berber culture. In December 2010, prior to the revolution, he and his twin brother were arrested in their Tripoli home, on suspicion of "working and collaborating with foreign intelligence." Their real crime, according to Buzakhar and Amnesty International, was advocating for Berber cultural rights, evidence of which was found by police in the form of banned Amazigh texts, smuggled from abroad, in their home. Read also: Will Gadhafi's defeat bring new freedom to Libya's Berbers? The pair was held for months in a cell designated for prisoners facing life sentences or execution, where Buzakhar said his brother was blindfolded and kicked by guards, when in February the revolution began. A riot erupted at the prison and, along with other prisoners, the brothers escaped. "We were very lucky," said Buzakhar. Having escaped from prison, Buzakhar headed for the Nafusa Mountains, a traditional Amazigh stronghold where the Berber population would become heavily engaged in fighting with Gadhafi's forces, gaining the upper hand more swiftly than their counterparts in the east of the country. Buzakhar started a media communications center, and set about producing the first ever journal published in Tamazight. Initially a crudely produced newsletter, printed on sheets of A4, "Tilelli" ("Freedom" in Tamazight) became a more professional publication when Buzakhar relocated to the capital following the fall of Tripoli. Written in Tamazight, Arabic and English, it has a print run of 3,000, and a focus on promoting Amazigh culture and language, by reprinting ancient works of poetry, as well as more modern works by writers such as Said Sifaw al-Mahrouk. "Tilelli" is just one element of the flowering of Amazigh culture to have taken place in the wake of Gadhafi's downfall. Tamazight is being taught by cultural associations, can be heard on radio stations, and read on signs written in the Tifinagh alphabet at shops and other public places. The Berber flag -- comprised of blue, green and yellow horizontal stripes, superimposed with a red Tifinagh character symbolizing a "free man" -- is displayed proudly, and Amazigh music is performed at festivals around the country. "After 40 years of having a complete lack of this kind of expression, there's a real enthusiasm for it," said Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International's North Africa researcher. "What we see is the Amazigh gathering together and celebrating their culture, having various festivals, making links between towns. They're filling up the space they were denied for several decades." But despite their new-found freedom of cultural expression, some Berber activists remain anxious about their community's position in the new Libya. When an interim government was announced in November without a single Amazigh minister, Berbers reacted with disappointment. Fearing their community was being marginalized, a group calling itself the Libyan Amazigh Congress announced it was suspending all relations with the National Transitional Council (NTC). Read also: Syrian artists fight Assad regime with satire . Many Berbers were frustrated by the sense that their strong military contributions in overthrowing Gadhafi -- Juan Cole, a history professor at the University of Michigan, labeled them "among the central Libyan heroes of the revolution" -- had gone unrewarded, said Buzakhar. "They used us to progress and make a progress in advance to get Libya liberated," Buzakhar said. "But once things were liberated, the message has been: 'Thank you so much, we used you and that's it.' To us, it's like a betrayal by the NTC." In this climate, some Berbers fear their cultural rights may not receive the constitutional protections they seek. Libya's interim "constitutional declaration," drawn up by the NTC to provide a framework for the transition to an elected government, pledged that the state would protect the linguistic and cultural rights of "all components" of Libyan society. But while upholding Arabic as the official language, the declaration stated that Libya's other languages "shall be deemed national ones" -- falling short of the level of recognition sought by Berber activists. Buzakhar said Tamazight's "deep-rooted" history as a native language -- which significantly predated Arabic's arrival in North Africa -- meant that regarding it as anything less than an official language was illogical. Berbers wanted Libya's new leaders to accord Tamazight a similar status to that which it held in Morocco, where it is estimated more than half of the country's 32 million people speak Berber dialects. In 2011, Tamazight became an official language in Morocco, taught alongside Arabic in schools. But it remains to be seen what provisions would be contained in the new constitution, to be drafted by a committee chosen by the newly elected congress, said Eltahawy. Any broader recognition of Libyan Amazigh cultural rights would require overcoming greater barriers than the legacy of Gadhafi's suppression and scapegoating, said Buzakhar. "Our problem is not only the 42 years of the former regime. Our problem is 1,400 years of Arab or Islamist mentality that has been brought to North Africa itself. It's a mentality problem, not only with the common people but in the heads of the politicians." He said although there were generally good relations between Libyan Arabs and Berbers, their rejection of pan-Arabist ideology and insistence on a distinct Amazigh identity made them a continued target for criticism. Some political leaders were still inclined to emulate Gaddafi by casting suspicion on the Berber community for personal gain. But Buzakhar said although Libya's Amazigh renaissance did not enjoy the state support exhibited in Morocco and Algeria, he was optimistic the Berber culture would continue to flourish. "What's different from Algeria and Morocco is that the consciousness of the Amazigh people is stronger in Libya, because we've paid the price," he said. "We have had martyrs who gave their lives to preserve their language, and ensure they are part of the political environment of the new Libya for generations to come." Follow the Inside the Middle East team on Twitter: Presenter Rima Maktabi: @rimamaktabi, producer Jon Jensen: @jonjensen, producer Schams Elwazer: @SchamsCNN, writer Tim Hume: @tim_hume and digital producer Mairi Mackay: @mairicnn. ### SUMMARY:

Libya's indigenous Berber population had their culture suppressed under Gadhafi . Also known as Amazigh, they could not even give their children Berber names . Amazigh culture is blossoming in post-Gadhafi Libya . But activists fear that their culture and language will not be protected in the new Libya .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: What if this is it? After 13 days of searching amid fears that Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 may never be found, investigators said Thursday that satellites have beamed down a ray of hope -- images of a debris field floating in the southern Indian Ocean that may show wreckage of the jet. It was not immediately clear just how long it would take before investigators could track down just what those images are. Still, "It is probably the best lead we have right now," said John Young, a spokesman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Australian authorities poring over images that were shot Sunday spotted the debris floating in one of the world's most remote places -- the southern Indian Ocean more than 1,500 miles off the southwest coast of Australia. The images were brought to the authority's attention Thursday morning, it said. The find warranted attention from the Australian Prime Minister. "Two possible objects related to the search have been identified," Tony Abbott told parliament. But satellites have been wrong about Flight 370 before. And Australian authorities warn that the pictures, too, could end in a goose chase and disappointment. If the photographs do show wreckage of the Boeing 777-200ER that departed Kuala Lumpur on March 8 and never arrived in Beijing, what would be next? Locate . The first mission is to find the "blob," as Young called it. One piece of the debris is 24 meters (79 feet) long. "The size and fact that there are a number located in the same area really makes it worth looking at," he said. He urged caution. "Our experience is that there is debris out there -- from ships, for example, falling overboard," he said. "I don't want to speculate about what they are until we get there and we see them." One expert said that might happen soon. "I would say a day -- guessing," said Capt. Timothy Taylor, president of Tiburon Subsea Services and an ocean search expert. Time is critical, given that the batteries powering the pings emanating from the plane's voice and data recorders go dead after about 30 days. "There's a clock ticking," Taylor said. "Maybe 18 days left." Overcome complications . Complicating the search -- which the Australian Maritime Safety Authority suspended Thursday night and will resume Friday morning -- is the fact that the debris field is probably far away from where it was when it was spotted in satellite images shot four days ago. "It could have drifted a thousand miles," he said. And he noted, too, that the debris may be unrelated. "It could be just a false lead," Taylor told CNN's "New Day." John Blaxland, senior fellow at Australian National University and an expert on Australian radar, agreed. "I'm a little bit pessimistic," he told "New Day." He said the debris might be one of the ubiquitous cargo containers carried by ships around the world. "It's not at all inconceivable that that's exactly what it is," he said, adding that other satellites have been steered to the area to get a better view. "The problem now is we don't know exactly where" it is, he said. And poor visibility has not helped. "It's still really hard, in this kind of environment, to pick out these little semi-submerged blips," he said. "You're looking for something that is potentially not even there anymore." Search . Four planes were involved in Thursday's search, which covered 8,880 square miles (23,000 square kilometers) about 1,600 miles (2,500 kilometers) southwest of Perth, according to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. An Australian plane has flown over the area, and more planes were on their way, including at least one from the United States and one from New Zealand. But the planes burn much of their fuel just to get to the remote spot, leaving them little time to search. "We are in the most isolated part of the world," Australian Defense Minister David Johnston told Sky News. If pilots do find the field, they would drop a buoy to mark the spot and to transmit data to help ships find it, aviation expert Bill Waldock said. But the area is known for high winds, and white-capped waves could obscure any debris, he added. And on top of that, a storm in the area may have foiled one flyover. The crew of a Royal Australian Air Force P-3 Orion was unable to find the objects, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said in a tweet. Clouds and rain made things hard to see. Eyeball . "What we're looking for is a confirmation that it does belong to the aircraft, or it does not," Young said. If a ship reaches the suspected wreckage, it would take some of it back to land for inspection, he said. But the expanse of ocean contains a mass of floating garbage from around the world, which could mingle with any plane parts. Recover . In a stroke of luck for investigators, a Norwegian merchant cargo vessel carrying 19 sailors and a cargo of cars reached the suspected debris location and is pitching in on the search. "All men are on deck to continue the search," said Erik Gierchsky, a spokesman for the Norwegian Shipowners Association, in a telephone interview with CNN, adding that they were planning to work through the night in shifts, using lights and binoculars. "It's OK weather, with some fog," he said. The 755-foot (230-meter) Hoegh St. Petersburg is owned by Hoegh Autoliners. It had been headed to Melbourne, Australia, from South Africa when it diverted to help in the search, he said. Its presence opens great possibilities, said former CIA counterterrorism expert Jeff Beatty. It could serve as a base for the salvage teams, especially if it is equipped for helicopter landings, which Gierchsky said might be possible, given that the ship has a flat deck. If refueled in the air, the choppers could carry divers to the ship, and they could search for any debris. Asked how long it would remain on site, Gierchsky said, "It will be there as long as required ... at least all of tomorrow." Another merchant ship arrived in the area Thursday evening, the maritime authority said. In all, six merchant ships have aided in the search since an appeal was issued Monday night. And the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Success was en route to the search area on Thursday. The issue of the remaining lifetime of the batteries powering the cockpit recorder and flight data recorder looms. They were stored inside the tail of the jetliner. If the tail is found, it may have to be disassembled. French rescuers have underscored to Malaysia's leaders the importance of finding the recorders quickly, said Hishammuddin Hussein, Malaysia's acting transportation minister. After Air France Flight 447 went down in the Atlantic in 2009, it took two years and a special submarine for investigators to find them. Malaysia does not have that submarine technology, which makes finding the data recorders before the signals fail all the more important, he added. Analyze . The recorders could be invaluable to investigators trying to find out what happened to the flight. The flight data recorder holds about 17,000 pieces of information, said David Soucie, author of "Why Planes Crash: An Accident Investigator Fights for Safe Skies." And then there is the cockpit recording. Though it keeps only two hours of recordings, it too could prove key. "The last two hours of what happened before this aircraft impacted could be really important to determine whether or not there was foul play," he said. Keep an open mind . The searchers have not put all of their resources into hunting for the tantalizing debris. On Thursday, four aircraft continued to search along the northern corridor, and 25 aircraft and 18 ships were searching along the southern corridor, Hishammuddin said. "Until we are certain that we have located MH370, search and rescue operations will continue in both corridors," he said. China was using 21 satellites to search within its borders, the airline said. LIVE: Updates on the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner . ### SUMMARY:

"It's OK weather, with some fog," Shipowners Association spokesman says . Australian satellites have spotted a field of debris floating in the Indian Ocean . First, searchers must find the debris and mark the spot . Second, they must see the debris to determine if it is from Flight 370 .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 8:04 AM on 29th June 2011 . After the sweltering heat yesterday at Wimbledon, violent thunderstorms disrupted play at SW19 today as parts of Britain were battered by heavy rain. Temperatures had soared to 33C yesterday, with trains cancelled and queueing chaos as massive crowds rushed to South London to see Andy Murray in action in the baking heat. But as southern parts of the country braced themselves for flash flooding following the hot spell, the women's quarter finals were heavily disrupted as rain stopped play. Riding out the storm: Four diehard tennis fans sit on the steps at the bottom of Murray Mount as rain disrupts Wimbeldon . Taking cover: The normally packed Murray Mount had a lot more spare space today as rain kept many fans away . Queueing in the rain: Fans determined to visit SW19 braved the torrential downpours . Heavy downpours arrived shortly before the 1pm scheduled start of play, as tournament officials said there would be a delay of at least one hour. Covers went on the courts and the Centre Court roof was moved into place so that play could continue. But the rain was so relentless at Wimbledon that as it pounded down on the £80m Centre Court roof, the umpire had to shout to make himself heard during play. In Sabine Lisicki's quarter-final against Marion Bartoli, a sudden burst of thunder made Lisicki jump as she walked towards the baseline. Write caption here . Taking cover: Staff on Centre Court take no chances and cover the surface before the roof is moved into place . 'Shame about the weather': Colin Montgomerie gestures across Centre Court as rain briefly disrupted play while the roof was moved into position . Newly crowned U.S. Open winner Rory McIlroy enjoys a sport on a different kind of green as he takes in the action from the Royal Box on Centre . Royal approval: Princess Beatrice - minus any kind of headwear - watched the tennis with boyfriend Dave Clark . Ministers have asked Network Rail to . explain how train passengers were left 'stranded in very uncomfortable . conditions' in ultra-high temperatures. A series of incidents on mainline . services led to delays and cancellations last night and again this . morning as temperatures touched 32C. NR said a number of incidents had . nothing to do with the hot weather and it was not correct to say that . the infrastructure could not cope with a heatwave. Among the passengers whose services . were disrupted were those on National Express East Anglia trains, where . there were overhead wire problems. An NR spokesman said: 'There has been an assumption that everything that has gone wrong was due to the heat. 'But we had incidents that were nothing to do with the heat, such as broken-down trains and trespassing on the line.' He went on: 'It's not right to say the infrastructure can't cope with the heat.' The match on Centre Court was the . only one able to continue in the wet weather, but that did not stop . hundreds of diehard fans watching the action from under umbrellas on . Murray Mount. Although there was guaranteed action on Centre Court, play on Court One was heavily delayed by the unrelenting rain. The Court One programme began with Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova's match against 32nd-seeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova, with unseeded Austrian Tamira Paszek second on against Belarusian fourth seed Victoria Azarenka. Elsewhere, lightning struck electrical signalling on train lines in Southall which affected commuters leaving Paddington. Lightning strikes meant delays of up to 90 minutes on services in the Welwyn Garden City and Hertford North areas of Hertfordshire. Passengers affected were on trains run by the East Coast, First Capital Connect, First Hull Trains and Grand Central companies. Passengers travelling on Heathrow Express trains to the airport were among those whose journeys were disrupted. Another lightning strike was at signalling at Petersfield in Hampshire. This led to 45-minute delays to South West Trains' services between Guildford in Surrey and Portsmouth Harbour. There were also disruptions to one of the UK's busiest airports after lightning hit an air traffic control tower. The incident, at Gatwick airport in West Sussex at around 2pm, led to the temporary failure of some ground-based systems. Planes continued to land but there were no departures for around half an hour. No one was hurt and there was no structural damage. Parts of the country are bracing themselves for flash flooding today after forecasters predicted heavy rain and thunderstorms in the wake of the heatwave. The Environment Agency and Met Office have warned of localised flooding in London, the South East and eastern England, saying up to 40mm of rain could fall in the space of a few hours. Hail storms are also expected as the weather makes an abrupt U-turn following the hottest day of the year so far yesterday. Brollies all round: The wet spell at SW19 has followed several days of uninterrupted play following glorious sunshine . Rain stops play: Wet weather hammers down outside Centre Court following high pressure caused by yesterday's heatwave . Still smiling: The constant rain didn't stop this couple from enjoying themselves with a drink . Running for cover: Groundstaff are expertly trained in getting the Wimbledon courts covered within seconds, while right, more rain-swept fans brave the wet weather . The Environment Agency has issued a flood alert for rivers in the London Boroughs of Lewisham, Bromley, Greenwich and Croydon, with up to 30mm of rain predicted. Surface water flooding could also occur in other regions hit by heavy storms. TODAY: . Warm with heavy showers or thunderstorms possible in southeast England . and East Anglia. Elsewhere, a much fresher-feeling day, though with . showers developing in some central and northwestern parts through the . afternoon. TONIGHT: . Most places dry overnight, with showers becoming confined to the far . southeast and northwest. Turning locally rather cool under clear skies . in central and western parts. WEDNESDAY: . A fine day for much of the UK, with sunny spells and a moderate . westerly breeze. Scattered showers are possible in many areas, most . frequent in the north and west. THURSDAY TO SATURDAY: . Generally dry with sunny spells on Thursday. Turning cloudier with . occasional light rain in northern and western areas during Friday and . Saturday, but staying fine elsewhere. Feeling warm in sunshine. An Environment Agency spokesman said: 'Environment Agency staff are on 24-hour alert and teams are monitoring river levels as the band of rain moves across the country. 'The public are encouraged to tune in to local media for weather forecasts for their area and to keep an eye out for signs of surface water flooding.' The threat of heavy rain comes after . temperatures soared in a heatwave that saw the mercury reach 32.8C in . Gravesend, Kent, in the hottest day of the year so far. A . Met Office spokesman said the 'sheer volume of rainfall falling in such . a short space of time' in some areas could lead to surface water . flooding in some places. But the extremely dry spring, which . has left some parts of east and central England officially in a state of . drought, means that most rivers are at low levels and are unlikely to . flood. According to MeteoGroup, showers and thunderstorms are expected in south east England and East Anglia during this morning. Temperatures in London are not . forecast to climb higher than 23C, while the west and the north will . even see the weather turn chilly. Tom Tobler, a forecaster at . MeteoGroup, said: 'There will be heavy showers and thunder storms . developing in South East England and East Anglia during the morning. 'There will be a risk of localised flash flooding but during the afternoon and evening the storms should clear eastwards.' Temperatures in London and the South East are forecast to drop to 20C later in the week and to 19C elsewhere in the UK. It wasn't just the tennis: Fans take cover as rain stopped play at the Oval during England's One Day International against Sri Lanka . Wet outlook: Head groundsman Bill Gordon and reserve umpire Nigel Llong Wet outlook: Head groundsman Bill Gordon and reserve umpire Nigel Llong assess the conditions at the Oval . ### SUMMARY:

Temperatures across southern England 10C lower than yesterday . Flights from Gatwick suspended by lightning strike .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 9:19 PM on 5th December 2011 . It appeared to be business as usual for Jeremy Clarkson today after he was spotted sharing a joke with fellow Top Gear presenter James May in China. Despite the apparent banter, Clarkson, 51, showed signs of strain as he shot the new series of Top Gear in Beijing. The controversial host - already under fire for suggesting public sector strikers 'be shot in front of their families' last week - hit the headlines again over the weekend amid growing concerns about his 'vulnerable state of mind' and the precarious state of his 18-year marriage. He also provoked a fresh storm of protest after describing people who kill themselves by jumping under trains as 'selfish'. Something funny? It seemed to be business as usual for Jeremy Clarkson, left, as he shared a joke with fellow Top Gear presenter James May, right, during filming in China . One senior . BBC insider, who asked not to be named, said Clarkson . wasn’t in ‘the best possible place at the moment’ in his personal life. He added: ‘There is a feeling that . he’s in a more vulnerable state than he should be and that’s why his . judgment isn’t A-grade at the moment.’ But there is some good news for Clarkson - despite sparking fury with his outburst, his DVD sales have soared, according to HMV. The DVD titled Powered Up, which sees Clarkson and the Stig in the south of France while searching for his 'favourite car of the year', is set to become a Christmas favourite. An HMV spokesperson told the Guardian: 'We've found in the past that controversy involving artists, with all the media coverage this generates, can boost sales of their products.' Industry experts have suggested that the incident would boost sales up as much as 50 per cent across online and high street sales. Strained: Despite the apparent banter Clarkson, left, did show signs of strain as he waited to film the new series of Top Gear in Beijing . Action: Clarkson last week jetted off to China amid a public outcry over his comments about striking public sector workers on The One Show . Nine months ago, allegations surfaced that the presenter had been having a 14-month . affair with events organiser Philippa Sage, who works for a company . which helped produce the Top Gear Live show. Two . months later, the millionaire presenter was forced to deny reports he . had been thrown out of the marital home in Chipping Norton, . Oxfordshire, by his wife after he wrote about the delights of living in . an unfurnished flat in Central London. The next day, Clarkson said that . he had simply been using the flat as a bolt-hole while he was filming in . London. Clarkson, who is reportedly paid £1million a year by the BBC, used his weekly column in The Sun newspaper to expand on comments he had made about suicide, which were aired during the same edition of The One Show last Wednesday. At the . time these were overshadowed by his joke about the strikers, which has so . far attracted 31,000 complaints to the BBC. But in his newspaper column Clarkson wrote that ‘foxy woxy and the birds’ should be left to ‘nibble’ at the ‘gooey parts’ of people who die by jumping in front of trains. Three of the country’s leading mental health charities said they would complain to the Press Complaints Commission about the remarks, which they said intruded on private grief and breached PCC guidelines which restrict what newspapers can report about suicides for fear of encouraging copycat incidents. The One Show immediately issued an on-air apology for the star’s remarks about suicide but did not address his comments about strikers. Further outcry: However the presenter caused yet more outrage after writing about suicide in his newspaper column on Saturday . It was widely assumed that Clarkson had also apologised for the remarks. But he denied having done so in his column on Saturday. Corporation bosses had hoped the apologies would draw a line under the storm but Clarkson’s decision to return to the subject of what he called ‘Johnny Suicides’ in his newspaper column has only plunged him deeper into controversy. Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said: ‘Jeremy Clarkson’s article in The Sun is extraordinarily tasteless and shows an utter lack of understanding of the tragedy of any suicide. ‘Many people who have contemplated suicide seriously or lost loved ones will be shocked by his insensitive tone and needless graphic detail.’ Under the heading ‘Think of the poor driver before your leap in front of Ivor’, Clarkson said he had every sympathy with those who felt the need to take their own lives. Controversial: Jeremy Clarkson makes his headline-hitting comment on BBC's The One Show . But he went on to argue that suicide . victims who ‘hurled’ themselves in front of trains were selfish and . disruptive because they inconvenienced other members of the public. He . wrote: ‘It is a very selfish way to go because the disruption it causes . is immense. And think of what it’s like for the poor train driver who . sees you lying on the line and can do absolutely nothing to avoid a . collision.’ Clarkson then bemoans the fact that trains which are involved in a collision with a person must stop until the full aftermath of the incident has been dealt with and all remains have been recovered from the vicinity. He wrote: ‘The train cannot be moved nor the line re-opened until all of the victim’s body has been recovered. Marriage problems: Clarkson with his second wife, Frances . ‘This is the part I don’t understand. It’s not like the poor soul is going to get any better. ‘Change . the driver, pick up the big bits of what’s left of the victim, get the . train moving as soon as possible and let foxy woxy and the birds nibble . away at the smaller, gooey parts that are far away or hard to find.’ Clarkson advises potential suicide victims to kill themselves quietly and privately. Clarkson's first wife: Alex Hall married him in 1989 but the couple separated a year later . Catherine Johnstone, the chief . executive of the Samaritans, which is campaigning to reduce the number . of suicides on the railway network, said the comments in the column went . beyond what he had said about suicide on The One Show and were far . worse than anything he had ever said about striking  public sector . workers. She said: ‘His . notion that suicide is a selfish act shows how little he knows about . the subject because, if he did, he would know that when a person . attempts suicide they are so distressed that they genuinely believe . their families will be better off without them. 'The fact that he has . chosen to add fuel to the flames of the comments he made on The One Show . again beggars belief. ‘It’s one thing to joke about people on strike, it’s in an entirely different realm of poor taste to joke about  suicide.’ Clarkson’s column also sparked an avalanche of complaints on Twitter and other social networking sites. One fan tweeted: ‘Please stop. Shooting the strikers is one thing, but this is pretty indefensible. Beware sarcasm in print.’ Another added: ‘Really shocked by the  “train suicide” comments. Used  to like Jeremy Clarkson. Not so much now.’ But there were some signs of  support . on Twitter and elsewhere. Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain,  of Maidenhead . Synagogue, said: ‘I am totally sympathetic to the black depression that . overtakes  those who commit suicide, and  certainly want to prevent any . future ones, but Clarkson has done us a favour by saying out aloud that . while people have the right to end their lives, they should not do so in . a way that scars others.’ The BBC declined to comment on Clarkson’s column in The Sun. A . BBC spokesman was unable to comment on anything relating to the . presenter’s private life and was unable to reach Clarkson because he was . in China. ### SUMMARY:

£1m-a-year Top Gear star spotted sharing joke with James May in Beijing . Presenter sparks new fury with 'let foxy woxy eat the gooey parts' of rail suicide victims in Saturday newspaper column . Meanwhile BBC source cites Clarkson's 'vulnerable state' and marriage trouble for misjudged comments on The One Show . Denies he apologised for saying strikers 'should be shot' BBC has so far received 31,000 complaints for his controversial comments .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Tom Gardner . PUBLISHED: . 08:21 EST, 19 April 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:44 EST, 19 April 2012 . The astonishing power enjoyed by the Chinese politician's wife in the frame for murdering British expat Neil Heywood emerged today. Gu Kailai, the prime suspect in the murky case which has seen Prime Minister David Cameron demand answers, is said to have terrified those around her and behaved like 'an empress'. Her husband Bo Xilai, 60, rose up the ranks of the Communist Party with an incredibly successful anti-corruption, sweeping gangs from the streets and reducing levels of crime. But his wife, 50, was an equally strong figure as details of a confrontation at the Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel - where Heywood, 41, was poisoned last November - would appear to confirm. Gu, furious when a waiter's pleas to noisy diners to quieten down went unheeded, called the local police chief, Wang Lijun, a close ally of her husband, and summoned him into action. A source close to Chongqing officials explained how, minutes later, he stormed into the restaurant at the hilltop hotel, brandishing his pistol and threatening the rowdy eaters. Suspicions: Police believe Gu Kailai, left, had businessman Neil Heywood, right, poisoned after he threatened to expose her plan to move millions of dollars abroad . Officers have now begun analysing . hours of CCTV footage taken from the hotel - said to be a favoured . location for Gu to hold secret business meetings - for clues. The new revelations come amid claims Gu is suffering from bone cancer and has only a short time to live, according to the Hong Kong Standard. Sources claim her terminal diagnosis . provoked a transformation of her personality leading to her be accused . of ‘promiscuity’ and flirting around. This is the latest claim to call into question her character. A close friend to Heywood said he . privately confessed that Gu Kailai was ‘mentally unstable’ and behaved . like an unforgiving ‘empress’. In conversations three years before his death, Heywood admitted that her behaviour had grown increasingly erratic. Private: Mr Heywood's body was found at the three-star resort - the same hotel where Mr Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, the prime suspect in his murder is said to have shown her power by getting the local police chief to subdue rowdy diners . Torn apart: Gu Kailai with her husband and former Chongqinq leader bo Xilai with their son Bo Guagua . He told one friend that she was . comporting herself ‘like an old-fashioned Chinese aristocrat or . empress,’ according to the Guardian. She is one of the 39 people have now been arrested in a series of raids over several months on officials linked to . politician Bo – once tipped as a future Communist Party leader. Those arrested are believed to include billionaire Xu Ming, one of China’s richest men. Police believe he was poisoned after he threatened to expose a plan by Gu to move millions of dollars abroad. Of the various unproven claims to have emerged in the case, it has been suggested that Heywood was helping to launder that money - and even that he was having an affair with Gu. Gu and Wang are in custody and Bo has not been seen in public since March, when he was dismissed as boss of Chongqing. Even by the standards of Chinese police, Wang was known as an aggressive officer. He built his reputation in the northeast province of Liaoning, where Bo was governor in the early 2000s. Wang, 52, is an ethnic Mongolian. His father was a railway worker and his mother a textile worker. He boxed as a teen, served in the People's Liberation Army for three years and worked as a forestry official before becoming a policeman in 1984. His crime crackdown in the northeast town of Tieling won him national acclaim. Zhou Lijun, a screenwriter, spent 10 days with Wang in Tieling in 1996 while working on a screenplay for a TV series about his exploits called ‘Iron Blooded Police Spirits’. Questions remain: It is thought that Mr Heywood was killed in one of the mountain-top hotel's £600-a-night villas, but details of his demise are sketchy . According to Zhou's account in a . Chinese newspaper, Wang had a flair for the dramatic. He would drive to . crime scenes in a Mitsubishi jeep modified to carry a double rack of . lights on its roof so the locals would know ‘Chief Wang’ was on the . case. He would leap atop the car, draw his . gun and fire shots in the air after arriving on the scene. On a night . raid of hair salons thought to be fronts for prostitution, Wang rushed . into one and threw a young man with dyed yellow hair to the ground. After a police search for evidence . yielded nothing, he told them to take the youth to the police station, . saying, ‘A man with hair like that can't be any good.’ Bo brought in Wang to lead a crackdown . on organised crime in Chongqing after he became the city's Communist . Party chief in 2007. The two men became close, said a source in . Chongqing with access to city officials. ‘The anti-organised crime campaign was . like a two-man skit,’ said the source. ‘But then they made the . anti-crime campaign so complicated and turned it into a campaign, a . movement, that was politicised and expanded, and then there were so many . erroneous cases and cases of torture,’ the source said. Suspicious: The reception area of the Nanshan Lijing Holiday Hotel in Chongqing, China, where British businessman Neil Heywood was found dead, apparently poisoned after threatening to expose the corrupt dealings of the wife of Communist Party chief Bo Xilai . Since the downfall of Bo and Wang, . several people who were targets of that campaign have come forward with . stories of intimidation, torture and forced confession. Tales of yet more eccentricities emerged. Wang would turn up at police stations . deep in the night to catch officers sleeping, bawl them out and then . storm out, said a Chinese businessman who met Wang several times at city . functions. He also demanded continuous supplies of fresh flowers and . towels, said another source with access to city officials. A former colleague of Wang's in . northeast China said he would sometimes perform the autopsies on . executed convicts himself because he claimed he wanted to see if ‘their . hearts were black or red’. As Wang's crime crackdown grew, the campaign created enemies in the rank and file, as well as in leadership circles. Wang's dragnet led to the city's . former justice chief and deputy police chief, Wen Qiang, being executed . in 2010 for protecting gangs, accepting bribes, rape and property scams. Wang also jailed dozens of policemen and defence lawyers in the name of . cracking down on organised crime. State media said he wore a bullet-proof vest after gangs put out a hit order on him. More threatening was scrutiny from on . high. Central government anti-graft investigators in 2011 began looking . into accusations he accepted bribes from and promoted a subordinate when . he was police chief of Tieling from 2000 to 2003, several sources said. Wang became anxious and sought help. According to accounts previously . reported by Reuters, Wang feared that Bo, keen to preserve his chances . for promotion, would abandon him after authorities began probing Wang's . past. Wang was extensively involved in . bugging and surveillance using sophisticated equipment acquired as part . of Chongqing's campaign against organised crime, and also used those . capabilities to monitor Bo and those around him, said a source in . Beijing with close ties to officials. The official allegations against . Bo, Gu and Wang have not mentioned any bugging . accusations. Late last year, problems with the . Heywood case surfaced. Wang learnt that some of his officers were . refusing to sign off on the police report, which said he had died of . natural causes. ### SUMMARY:

Gu Kailai summoned the police chief who brandished gun to subdue rowdy restaurant diners . Incident happened at the same hotel where later British businessman Neil Heywood would be found dead from suspected poisoning . Details emerge as state police reveal 39 people have been arrested over the murder - including one of China's wealthiest men .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . David Williams and Louise Eccles . PUBLISHED: . 11:03 EST, 6 August 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 07:14 EST, 7 August 2012 . Britain's showjumping golden oldies cantered to victory yesterday in a thrilling jump-off – ending a 60-year wait for an Olympic triumph. For the four man team of Nick Skelton, Peter Charles, Scott Brash and Ben Maher – with an average age of 40 – it was also a victory over adversity. Two of the quartet overcame serious injury, including a broken neck and fractured back, and a third faced up to the heartache of his marriage ending. Scroll down to hear from Peter Charles . Thrilling jump-off: (From left to right) Gold medalists Nick Skelton, Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Peter Charles celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Team Jumping on Day 10 . Golden wonder: Hello Sanctos, the horse ridden by Scott Brash, rears as the crowd cheers during a victory lap after Great Britain won the gold medal for the equestrian team show jumping . Skelton, 54, had a hip replacement . last year and admits to ‘having a problem walking about’. But that . didn’t stop the veteran of six Olympics jumping clear on nine-year-old . stallion Big Star in front of a capacity crowd of 23,000 after Team GB . had finished tied with the Netherlands. His feat was then matched by Maher, . 29, on Tripple III.  Brash, 26, and two Dutch riders then had faults . after knocking down fences – leaving Charles riding Vindicat needing to . go clear in the riding equivalent of a penalty shootout. The 52-year-old, who had competed in . two earlier Olympics for Ireland, did not disappoint and held his nerve . to huge roars of approval from the jubilant crowd as he went clear, . punching the air as he completed his historic round. Incredibly, six years ago he had . feared he might not ride in competition again after a serious fall . ruptured his spleen, shattering three ribs and breaking a vertebrae.. Golden Boys! (From left) Nick Skelton, Ben Maher, Scott Brash and Peter Charles with their gold medals after winning the Team Jumping competition . Peter Charles, riding 'Vindicat W', salutes the delirious home crowd after jumping a clear round in the team showjumping final . Scott Brash in action on 'Hello Sanctos' in this afternoon's competition . For Maher, the victory will have been . particularly sweet after difficult weeks that saw his former wife, model . Kathleen Baker, marry again shortly before the Olympics at a lavish . ceremony at the Dorchester. The couple divorced after just 22 . months of their own marriage, in July 2011, and within four months Miss . Baker was engaged to her new lover Justin Widdowson, whose . multi-millionaire parents own Skelton’s horse Big Star. Mr Widdowson is believed to have met . Miss Baker through the equestrian world and their friendship blossomed . while she was still married to the international rider. That heartache could be put to one . side yesterday as Skelton, Maher, Brash and Charles doffed their hats . before dismounting to collect their medals to the roars of an adoring . crowd. Charles leaps over the replica of Tower Bridge, the last fence in the jump-off . Charles clears a fence modeled on Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament during his round . Another London-themed fence on the Greenwich course, inspired by a classic red London bus. Charles makes light work of it . Nick Skelton riding his horse 'Big Star' during the Team Showjumping final . Ben Maher on 'Tripple X' at Greenwich Park . Greenwich goes wild: Fans cheer as Scott Brash of Great Britain riding Hello Sanctos jumps . Their golds swinging around their . necks, they then remounted for a lap of honour. But one was not enough . and they went round again, savouring the hurrahs of the crowd. It was Britain’s first Olympic . showjumping gold since Helsinki in 1952 when Colonel Harry Llewellyn on . Foxhunter famously led the British team to victory on the final day – . GB’s only gold medal there – and the first showjumping medal of any kind . in 28 years. A delighted Skelton, who overcame a . broken neck and hip replacement to continue as one of the world’s . leading showjumpers, said: ‘I’m speechless, unbelievable. What a place . to do it. I have never seen people like it. Unbelievable. The lads have . done great. It’s a dream come true. Absolutely brilliant. Great for the . country, great for our sport. It’s taken all these years.’ Charles doffs his cap to the frenzied crowd after coming through a tense jump-off . Scott Brash and Hello Sanctos clear a fence en route to gold medal success in the Team showjumping . The British quartet of (from left) Skelton, Maher, Brash and Charles leap on to the top step of the medal podium . He then grabbed BBC presenter Clare . Balding and gave her a bear hug and a kiss on her cheek. Miss Balding . seemed a little taken aback but quickly regained her composure to . continue with the broadcast. The gold comes after the silver for . Zara Phillips and the three-day eventing team last week. The British . equestrian team is likely to have further medal success today when the . dressage team of Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte . Dujardin go for gold. Skelton, who will go for a second gold . in the individual event, said he was more nervous watching his . team-mates than riding himself. ‘I wish I could have gone four times,’ he joked. Britain went into yesterday’s second . day tied for second place with Holland, Switzerland and Sweden, three . penalties behind leaders Saudi Arabia, the eventual bronze medal . winners. But at the end of an enthralling second round they shared the . lead with Holland, which set up the astonishing finale. Skelton and Scotsman Brash, riding . Hello Sanctos on his Olympic debut, had both jumped clear, while Maher . had an unlucky fence down and Charles collected five faults. Final Dutch rider Gerco Schroder would . have won the competition in ‘normal time’ had he jumped clear, but four . faults then took it into extra time . Smiles all round as the British team soak up the crowd's acclaim . Leaping into the history books: The team's stunning achievements will be commemorated with this special stamp . At 54, Nick Skelton is our oldest gold medal winner for more than 40 years. A remarkable feat considering he retired 11 years ago after breaking his neck in two places in a fall.He described the experience as hearing ‘a loud crack, literally in my head’. The fall caused a ligament to snap, tearing a piece of bone away from his spine. A year after he had titanium screwed into his head, he was back in the saddle. ‘If it had been just 5mm different, I’d have been dead,’ he said. ‘When they told me I’d never ride again I was in shock. You’ve done it all your life and then it suddenly just stops. ‘In the end it was down to my stallion, Arko III. I knew he could do everything. He was my incentive and inspiration. So when a German doctor said I could ride again, that was enough for me.’ Since then Skelton, who has also had a hip replacement and two knee operations, has won medals at seven championships. His team-mate, Peter Charles, is two years younger at 52 and has also recovered from a serious spinal injury. He ruptured his spinal sheath and broke a vertebrae and three ribs in a fall in 2006. Born in Liverpool to an Irish mother, he had spent 20 years jumping for Ireland. But after recovering from his fall in 2007, he decided to switch nationality and become a British rider. ### SUMMARY:

First showjumping gold for Great Britain since 1952 won in jump-off against the Netherlands . Peter Charles holds his nerve to ride clear after Nick Skelton, Ben Maher and Scott Brash record just one penalty between them . Gold is Britain's 17th of the Olympics and 39th overall .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Leslie Larson . PUBLISHED: . 14:14 EST, 24 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:36 EST, 25 September 2012 . Emotions were running high at the Baltimore Ravens/ New England Patriots game on Sunday night and a fan chant of 'Bullsh*t,' aired live on NBC during primetime, had some saying the network had violated FCC standards. The expletive eruption from Ravens fans, enraged by non other than the league's replacement refs, was just one in a series of incidents at the NFL match at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore - including a random fan in a cape rushing the field and both coaches being punished for belligerence toward the infamous replacement refs. Baltimore enthusiasts cried out 'Bullsh*t' in the game's fourth quarter, when Ravens coach John Harbaugh received a penalty for 'unsportsmanlike behavior' when he knocked into a ref as he tried to call a time-out. Scroll down for video. Not happy: Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh (left) gets into it with a referee and Patriots coach Bill Belichick similarly ripped into the league's replacement refs, who have been the object of ridicule this season . The clearly comprehended curse word was repeated by the audience for several moments and though . the FCC initially said they were looking into whether NBC was negligent in airing the taunts . during their coverage on Sunday Night Football, the agency now says there won't be a fine. 'It's the loudest manure chant I've ever heard,' NBC sportscaster Al . Michaels said during the coverage in response to the audience chant against the refs, who . have been the object of ridicule by fans and NFL coaches alike. The FCC, headed by Julius . Genachowski, typically won't punish a network for a 'fleeting expletive' but since the shouts on Sunday were easily heard and lasted for several . minutes, some thought the Peacock Network could face a fine. But a FCC representative told TMZ, 'There’s never been any penalties imposed for obscenities inadvertently heard over air.' And a Ravens rep was equally nonplussed by the incident. 'We’re . certainly aware of it. Normally, our crowd is one of the most . enthusiastic and respectful home audiences in all of sports,' Senior . Vice President of Public and Community Relations for the franchise, . Kevin Byrne, said. Random: A fan rushed the field on Sunday at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore donning a cape with the head of comedian and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres. He said the stunt was to support anti-bullying causes . If at first you don't succeed: The cape wearing fan had tried his field rushing stunt at an Orioles game in April . After . the game, the coach claimed he accidentally bumped into the ref when he . was trying to get the man's attention to call a time-out. 'I . guess I didn't understand how he interpreted it, but what we're told is . to get the timeout where they can see it in front of their face in . those situations,' Harbaugh, 50, told reporters after the game. 'That's . what I've been told for five years going into this game. I think he . took it as bumping him. I didn't mean to bump him. I wanted to call a . timeout, so I apologize for bumping, but the intent was to call a . timeout.' But Sunday's coach/ref scuffles are just the latest in the replacement ref controversy. The . NFL locked out the regular officials this June, after their contract . expired, and negotiations with the NFL Referees Association over salary . and benefits have yielded little progress. This is the first time since 2001 that backups have been called in and fans, coaches and players have been complaining that the substitutes are not passing muster. Rookie: Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker kicks the game-winning field goal in the final moments of the Ravens/Patriots game in Baltimore on Sunday . Victory: Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, left, celebrates his game-winning field goal with teammate Arthur Jones after the Ravens win . Sunday's game seemed like a comedy of errors - starting with a streaking fan whose mission who strutted his stuff but all in the name of charity, he claims. The . intruder, Mark Harvey, stormed the field donning a cape emblazoned with . the face of Ellen DeGeneres, a baseball cap and briefs, in footage uploaded to YouTube, in order . to raise awareness of the dangers of bullying. Harvey has pulled this stunt before, at an Orioles game in April, and he even has a website to raise awareness for his anti-bullying efforts. After the streaking side-show and the call against Harbaugh ignited the crowd, a last minute move by the Ravens further set off a coach, this time for the opposing team. The . Ravens ended up winning the game by 31-30 but only after Baltimore . rookie Justin Tucker kicked a 27-yard field goal that barely landed . within bounds. Refs ruled Tucker's goal was in but the Patriots weren't having in. Patriots . coach Bill Belichick openly questioned the ruling and grabbed a ref by . the arm, angrily opposing what he called an arbitrary ruling, as the official walked off the field. Bittersweet: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith reacts after kicker Justin Tucker kicked the winning field goal on Sunday. Smith chose to play in the game though his younger brother died over the weekend . The incident could earn Belichick a fine but he played down the controversy at a post-game press conference. 'That's . what we're going to try to work on. Talk to the officials about the way . they called the game. Talk to the league about the way they called it. I . don't know. But we just have to go out there and try to play the best . we can,' he said. If he is fined, he won't be the first coach to face a punishment for appealing a ref's decision this season. Denver . Broncos coach John Fox and Atlanta Falcons coach Jack Del Rio were . slapped with a league fine of $20,000 for arguing with officials on the . sidelines last Monday. With . the ref controversy playing out, the NFL released a . statement last week in support of the replacements - praising them for . 'performing admirably' and telling coaches and players that abuse of the . field officials won't be tolerated. 'Officiating . is never perfect. The current officials have made great strides and are . performing admirably under unprecedented scrutiny and great pressure. As we do every season, we will work to improve officiating and are . confident that the game officials will show continued improvement,' the . statement said. In mourning: Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith, whose 19-year-old brother died over the weekend, chose to play despite his personal tragedy. He scored two touchdowns for the Ravens on Sunday . 'I don't care what the league fines me, these [replacement] refs are terrible,' one unnamed NFL head coach told ESPN. On a somber note, the Ravens community savored Sunday's victory in support of their wide receiver Torrey Smith. Smith's . 19-year-old brother, Tevin Jones, was killed in a motorcycle accident . over the weekend and he chose to still proceed in the game and ended . up scoring two touchdowns for his team. 'It . was tough emotionally. I didn't know how I would hold up. I was telling . my teammates a minute ago that this is new territory for me personally. I never really had to deal with a death in the family, let alone my . brother. It's part of life and, due to my teammates and my family and . friends, I'll be able to get over it,' he told The Baltimore Sun after . the game. ### SUMMARY:

Baltimore fans lashed out when Ravens coach John Harbaugh was penalized for 'unsportsmanlike behavior' for bumping into ref . NBC aired clearly audible shouts, possibly violating FCC standards for decency, but the agency says the network won't face a fine . Emotions ran high during Sunday's game, with coaches for both teams ripping into replacement refs . Ravens claimed victory over New England Patriots, 31-30, with last minute field goal .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Robert Verkaik . PUBLISHED: . 16:11 EST, 13 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 16:14 EST, 13 October 2012 . Speaking out: Soldier Andy Julien, pictured, survived a friendly-fire attack and has accused Ministers of covering up the Army's failure to issue equipment that could have saved the lives of his colleagues . A soldier who survived a friendly-fire attack has accused Ministers of covering up the Army’s failure to issue equipment that could have saved the lives of his colleagues. Andy Julien has made his claims ahead of a landmark court ruling that could pave the way for wounded servicemen or grieving families to sue the military over ‘avoidable’ deaths or injuries. The former trooper was in a Challenger II tank when it came under fire from another British Challenger II on the fourth day of the 2003 Iraq War. Corporal Stephen Allbutt and Trooper David Clarke died in the attack, while Trooper Julien and Lance Corporal Dan Twiddy suffered severe injuries. All four were serving with the Queen’s Royal Lancers attached to 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Court papers seen by The Mail on Sunday show that the Ministry of Defence had leased 47 state-of-the-art satellite recognition sets from the US which were capable of tracking friendly tank movements, but it failed to deploy them in the conflict. The surviving servicemen and Cpl Allbutt’s widow Debbi claim the Government tried to cover up this failure by denying them information. They allege they were obstructed from seeing witness statements by other tank crews that revealed breakdowns in communication. Later this month the Court of Appeal will rule on whether 27-year-old Mr Julien – who was medically discharged from the Army in 2004 – L/Cpl Twiddy and Mrs Allbutt have the right to sue the MoD for negligence. Mr Julien, from Manchester, who is now an accounts manager and is speaking for the first time about the friendly fire incident, says there was a lack of equipment, ranging from the high-tech tank-identification units to simple desert combat uniform. He remembers how, after he was injured, a corporal delivered a brutal assessment of his condition: ‘The good news is you are still alive but the bad news is that I can see your bones protruding through both your legs.’ And he can recall in vivid detail the horror and confusion as the first round struck his tank while he and  L/Cpl Twiddy were resting on top of the vehicle because of the heat. ‘People were shouting, “Get in the tank,” ’ he said. ‘Someone was saying, “Come on, quick get in the tank, he’s dead, he’s dead.” I suspect they were making reference to me because I couldn’t move and I couldn’t talk. ‘I just remember a buzzing noise in my ears and loads of screaming and shouting around the tank. I couldn’t hear Stephen [Allbutt, who had been inside the tank with Trooper Clarke] any more. I was just hearing Daniel [Twiddy] shouting and screaming. Corporal Stephen Allbutt, left, and Trooper David Clarke, centre, died in the attack, while Trooper Julien and Lance Corporal Dan Twiddy, right, suffered severe injuries . ‘I was on the back deck of the tank at that point. I wasn’t in any pain but I knew there was something up with my legs because there was like a warm sensation. Daniel shouted at me and called my name.’ Then he remembers his attention turning to the tank, where the turret was engulfed in flames. ‘I was focused on Trooper Clarke and Stephen [Allbutt]. I started calling their names but there was no response. While I was trying to crawl off the tank I remember hearing an explosion, like a second round, which blew me off the tank and caused me an injury to my head.’ As he lay on the ground he could see another tank coming towards him. ‘If I had remained there the likelihood is it would have run over me. I just had to crawl out of the way of the tank. There was a third round, which hit our tank. ‘This one exploded right near the hull, near the hatch, which then caused all the ammunition in the tank to go up. At first I thought we were under enemy attack but then a sergeant said, “It’s friendly fire, it’s friendly fire.” ‘I thought it was the Americans. When I heard it was another British tank I was really angry, because all this training that they said they were supposed to provide, plus the kind of tank we were in, someone should know how to spot one of those tanks at night-time. ‘There was a lack of equipment, even standard gear like desert combats. We were going out in green combat gear. Friendly identification tracking equipment was not in place although it was available.’ The American army was actually using it. There was other equipment that was readily available, which came to light after further investigations by his solicitors that could have been provided – identification and orientation equipment. Horrific: The soldiers were in a Challenger II tank similar to this pictured when it came under fire from another British Challenger II on the fourth day of the 2003 Iraq War . ‘It has always been a struggle to get information and documents from the MoD. While I was in the forces it was, “Anything that happens in the Army stays in the Army.” Everything has taken place behind closed doors. 'When I was trying to get information on the equipment, there were people who had expertise in that field who could provide that information but weren’t able to do so because they had contracts with the MoD.’ Mr Julien’s allegations were echoed at Stephen Allbutt’s inquest in 2007, in which coroner Andrew Walker concluded the deaths and injuries were ‘completely avoidable’ and blamed the Army for poor communication. The injured soldiers and Mrs Allbutt were given permission by a High Court judge to bring a claim of negligence against the MoD. But the Government has instructed top barristers, at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds, to block this in the Court of Appeal. The claimants also now fear that controversial plans to bring in ‘secret courts’ to hear cases involving sensitive material will serve only to further obstruct their fight for justice. Shubhaa Srinivasan, of Mr Julien’s solicitors Leigh Day & Co, said: ‘Families of soldiers are frustrated in their attempts to seek truth and justice at the very outset under the Army’s Board of Inquiry rules, which preclude victims and their families from participating. Frustration: The injured soldiers were given permission by a High Court judge to bring a claim of negligence against the MoD. But the Government has instructed top barristers, at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds, to block this in the Court of Appeal, pictured . ‘In the Allbutt inquest the soldier’s family and the two injured soldiers were not provided with a full unredacted copy of the Board’s findings and an accompanying explanation. This is fairly common.’ She said that at the inquest the MoD had taken an obstructive approach by censoring nearly all of the Board of Inquiry material and other relevant investigations. Accusing the MoD of ‘a lack of openness and transparency’, she said: ‘We had to fight hard to get crucial material unredacted and it was only done after the coroner also insisted. ‘For example, the Royal Military Police had interviewed several soldiers [who were the crew in the firing tank] as they had been investigated for gross negligence. ‘The interview transcripts were withheld under the pretext the MoD needed to get permission from the soldiers before providing them. ‘Although such documents were ultimately provided, this was very late in the day. The victims are left with a feeling that they need to fight for every bit of information.’ The MoD, which declined to comment on the case, argues that the questions surrounding military equipment and operational deployment are matters for Parliament rather than the courts. It also says that if the court finds in favour of Mr Julien and the others, it will have a damaging effect on morale. ### SUMMARY:

Claims made ahead of court ruling that could pave the way for wounded servicemen . or grieving families to sue the military over ‘avoidable’ deaths . The former trooper was in a Challenger . II tank when it came under fire from another British Challenger II on . the fourth day of the 2003 Iraq War . Corporal Stephen Allbutt and Trooper . David Clarke died in the attack, while Trooper Andy Julien and Lance Corporal . Dan Twiddy suffered severe injuries .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Ray Massey . PUBLISHED: . 21:25 EST, 25 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:17 EST, 26 September 2012 . If the drudgery of the daily commute has lost its charm, businessman Jeremy Paxton may have the high-octane antidote. He's started doing his treks to the office on an amazing water-powered jet pack that appears to owe more to the technology of James Bond and Buzz Lightyear than the Clapham omnibus. Instead of getting the car out of the garage or heading to the bus stop, he straps on the device, which uses water pressure to lift him up to 30ft in the air and propel him along horizontally at speeds of up to 25mph. Scroll down for demo!... To infinity and be-Bond! Jeremy Paxton shows off his 007-style jet pack which he uses to commute to work . Water way to travel: The jet pack can lift Mr Paxton up to 30ft in the air and propel him horizontally at speeds of up to 25mph . He says the 40-mile journey from his riverside boathouse home in Marpledurham near Reading to his office at the Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds is possible because the River Thames and waterways run direct between the two. Though he does have to walk the last three minutes to his office. Mr Paxton, 51, has also been asked to be the UK's 'test pilot' and to compile a 'Pilot User Guide' for other would-be customers. But the fun comes at a price. The jet pack, which is imported from Germany where it is made under license from American company JetLev, will set you back a cool £115,000 – enough to buy an Aston Martin V8 Vantage for 007 and still have change for a few gadgets. Who needs the car: The 51-year-old uses the device to travel from his riverside boathouse home in Marpledurham near Reading to his office at the Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds . A practical plaything: Depending on the pilot's weight, a JetLev Flyer can top speeds of 30mph and cruise for between two to three hours before refueling, with a range of around 80 miles . The jet pack is not a rocket. Instead it operates on the same principle as a giant pump by generating huge amounts of water pressure to provide a thrust similar to that of a fireman’s hose. Mr Paxton, whose business interests include the Lower Mill Estate in Gloucestershire, an upmarket 600-acre waterside community of eco-friendly luxury second-homes in the Cotswolds, said: 'I’m the first person in Britain to buy one. I just like alternative means of transport. 'It’s a different way to commute. It’s better than sitting in a traffic jam or being stuck on a crowded train. It’s environmentally-friendly. 'It’s fantastic fun and it’s not complicated to operate. I often commute to London by train and sometimes take my boat to the station. I have a pilot’s licence and fly planes and helicopters. Why not this?’ 00-heaven: The jet pack, designed by Chinese-born Canadian Raymond Li, was inspired by the one used by James Bond in the opening scenes of the 1965 film Thunderball (right) A Toy Story: The jet pack is not too dissimilar to the backpack used by Buzz Lightyear (right) The jet pack comprises a number of key parts. First, there is the pack itself which resembles the one used by James Bond in Thunderball or by Buzz Lightyear in the movie Toy Story. This is connected to a 33ft hose which in turn is connected to a boat-like flotation device, inside which is a 250cc four-stroke petrol motor. The 'boat' is the pump generator and sits in the water sucking up vast quantities of water which are then forced through the hose and into the jet nozzles on a special lightweight carbon-fibre frame weighing 30lbs strapped to the pilot’s back. The sheer force of this jet lifts the pilot off the ground or out of the water. He or she then controls the speed by a motor-cycle-style twist-grip on one of the handles. Direction is just like flying and depends on the pilot shifting his or her weight. The maximum altitude is limited by the length of the tube, which also limits the distance from water a pilot can travel. A digital fly-by-wire system is used to . control the throttle which the makers say make flight controls simple, . light and intuitive. Mr Paxton added: 'It’s entirely buoyant so it won’t sink. You can go 30ft high or hover over the water – even walk on the water. 'If . you want to go right you put down your right hand you can do tight . turns. After a few goes, you get the hang of it It’s like riding a . bicycle. You have a "kill switch" around your wrist to cut the power.' Inspired by the jet pack used in the . opening scenes of Thunderball, the Jetlev is the brainchild of Raymond . Li, a Chinese-born Canadian who first . sketched out his concept on a yellow Post-it Note in 2000 and spent the . next 10 years developing it. The makers say that, depending on pilot weight, a standard JetLev Flyer could top speeds of 30mph and cruise for between two to three hours before refueling with a range of around 80 miles. It can accommodate pilots of 1.5metres to 2metres in height and between 40kg and 150kg in weight. Mr Paxton is himself a keen flyer who has his own aeroplane and helicopter. Earlier this month, he abseiled down London’s new Shard skyscraper with the Duke of York in aid of charity. The makers say basic skills can be mastered in just 15 minutes though intermediate skills will take between one and 10 hours. Pioneer: Mr Paxton has been asked to be the UK's 'test pilot' and to compile a Pilot User Guide for other would-be customers . Price: £115,000 . Maximum altitude: 30ft . Top speed: circa 30mph . Cruising duration: 2 to 3 hours . Range:Around 80 miles . Weight of jet-pack harness: 30lbs . Jetpack height: 3ft 2in . Width: 2ft 11ins . Length: 2ft . Power: 250cc four-cylinder petrol engine . ‘Boat’ length: 10ft 7 inches . Height: 2ft 3 inches . Weight: 649 lbs . Jetlev’s website notes: ‘As soon as sufficient lift is applied, you and the jetpack become weightless and levitate in the air and even small amounts of force will move or turn you. 'You will feel some pressure from the saddle and the trapeze, but usually no more than from riding a bicycle.’ But pilots must be 18 years old. And Jetlev cautions: ‘You must be a good swimmer and should not feel uncomfortable having your face in the water from time to time. 'You should not have a fear of heights. 'You should be in good health and physical condition. 'You should have no history of any heart conditions and flying is not advised for women who are pregnant.’ Last month, hotel manager Grant Engler, 25, and his fiancé and Amanda Volf tied the knot in the world’s first jet pack wedding at a ceremony in the U.S. They each flew to the beachside ceremony at Newport Beach in California wearing Jetlev water-powered jet pack. After exchanging vows the newlyweds performed an airborne first dance - above the water - to Frank Sinatra’s ‘Come Fly With Me’. The daring couple, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, became engaged on an adventure holiday to Mexico in April. ### SUMMARY:

Jeremy Paxton, 51, uses £115k device to make 40-mile journey along Thames . Can lift him 30ft in the air and propel him forward at speeds of up to 25mph . Inspired by contraption used by James Bond in 1965 film Thunderball . Mr Paxton: 'It’s better than sitting in traffic jam or stuck on crowded train'

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Tom Worden In Barcelona . PUBLISHED: . 17:10 EST, 2 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 18:14 EST, 2 February 2013 . Screen siren: Gina Lollobrigida posing for publicity shots in 1961 . Gina Lollobrigida’s ex-lover Javier Rigau told for the first time last night of his ‘devastation’ after the . Italian film star accused him of faking their wedding. He insisted that they had married in secret in 2010 and said he has never had any interest in Ms Lollobrigida’s £35 million fortune – substantiating his claim by revealing he signed two financial agreements before the wedding. The former screen goddess, 85, last week claimed he was a ‘vulture’ who duped her into marrying to get his hands on her money. But Mr Rigau, a Spanish businessman himself said to be worth £36 million, said: ‘It’s monstrous. She knows we are married and I have never been interested in her money. I am an independently wealthy businessman and I have earned every penny I own. We signed two financial agreements before the wedding. ‘One was a separation of assets, so although we are married we have our own independent assets. The second was a pre-nuptial agreement so I stand to earn absolutely nothing from the  marriage.’ Ms Lollobrigida has claimed to Italian police that she had discovered  Mr Rigau had used fake documents to carry out a marriage by proxy without her knowledge just over two years ago. In such a ceremony, an absent bride or groom’s vows can be spoken by someone else on their behalf. But Mr Rigau insisted they married out of love and enjoyed a healthy physical relationship despite a 34-year age gap. In an exclusive interview at his sprawling mansion in one of Barcelona’s plushest neighbourhoods, Mr Rigau, 51, claimed they were happily married, albeit secretly, until just two weeks ago. Mr Rigau said: ‘We have been together for almost 30 years and Gina wanted to get married. We were madly in love. ‘It’s devastating for me to hear her speaking about me the way she is. I am a very private person and I am only speaking about this because Gina has said some very hurtful things publicly in the press. ‘I believe she has been turned against me and against everyone else who loves her – her family and friends – by a new adviser. It breaks my heart to hear her speaking about me the way she is.’ MR Rigau’s claims add a new twist to a story so bizarre it is worthy of any Hollywood blockbuster. Ms Lollobrigida, once described as ‘the most beautiful woman in the world’, was one of cinema’s biggest names in the Sixties. The actress first met Mr Rigau, a debonair entrepreneur from Barcelona, at a party in Monte Carlo in 1984.Despite their age difference, they fell in love and had a passionate romance. The couple lived a glamorous, jet-set lifestyle, moving between homes in Rome, Sicily, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. They made plans to marry in New York in November 2006, and later changed the plan to wed in Rome in January 2007. But the wedding was called off because Mr Rigau could not cope with the media spotlight. To the outside world, the relationship was over. Leading man: Javier Rigau with Gina, left, and Maria Gabilondo, the woman who says she stood in for Gina at her wedding, right . But Mr Rigau, who drives a Rolls-Royce . Silver Cloud, now claims they could not bear to be apart and got back . together four months later, keeping their relationship secret to avoid . publicity. He said they decided to marry by proxy to avoid the media attention their previous wedding plans had attracted. That account is in stark contrast to the actress’s version of events. She . has accused him of being a fraudster who conned her into signing proxy . wedding papers in order to inherit her fortune on her death. Ms . Lollobrigida, who lives in Rome, revealed her claims about the ‘fake . wedding’ in an interview with an Italian newspaper last week. She . said: ‘This vile person married me by proxy, without my knowledge and . without my permission, in order to inherit my estate after my death.’ In . another interview with the Daily Mail, she said she wanted Rigau jailed . over the ‘fraud’. The . former sex symbol said she discovered the marriage after stumbling . across documents on the internet published by a disgruntled ex-business . partner of Mr Rigau. However, . Mr Rigau said Ms Lollobrigida flew to Barcelona in August 2010 with her . lawyer Giulia Citana to sign an agreement to marry by proxy. The papers . were signed in front of a notary at the five-star Princesa Sofia Hotel . near FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou football ground, he said. He added the proxy marriage took place on November 29, 2010, at the Sant Vicenc church in Sarria, where Mr Rigau lives. A . mutual friend, Maria Pilar Guimera Gabilondo, 72, from Barcelona, stood . in for the actress at the ceremony, which was attended by eight guests. Last night she revealed Ms Lollobrigida asked her to be her stand-in at . the wedding. Wedding venue: Mr Rigau says the couple got married by proxy at Sant Vincenc church in Sarria, Barcelona, in 2010 . ‘She asked me . to represent her at the church because she wanted to keep it secret . from the press,’ Mrs Gabilondo told a newspaper. Mrs Gabilondo said that she and Mr Rigau, who is a family friend in Barcelona, went with Miss Lollobrigida to see a notary to sign the legal papers. ‘Of course I thought it was strange that she didn’t want to attend her own wedding, but if a woman like that asks, you don’t say no,’ she added. ‘I’ve met her many times when she visited Javier in Spain and I’m astounded she now claims to know nothing about me or the wedding.’ Mr Rigau, whose full name is Francisco Javier Rigau y Rafols, said: ‘The idea Gina did not know she was getting married is preposterous. ‘She was as keen as I was to marry. That’s why she flew to Barcelona to sign the papers. ‘Unfortunately, over the past two years Gina has been getting some very bad advice. She has fallen out with her son Mirko, her 18-year-old grandson Dimitri, her lawyer and many friends. I was the last person left from her inner circle and now she has been turned against me. ‘I last saw her in Rome two weeks ago and everything was fine. She never mentioned any problems.’ Mr Rigau, who owns a property company in Spain,  says she is denying knowledge of the wedding because of the influence of her new manager , 25-year-old Andrea Piazzolla. Sizzling: Gina Llobrigida was one of the sex symbols of her day when she starred in films alongside Frank Sinatra and Humphrey Bogart during the 1950s and 60s . The mystery deepened on Friday when Ms Lollobrigida’s former lawyer, Giulia Citani, told The Mail on Sunday that the marriage did take place. Speaking from her office in Fiumicino, near Rome, she said: ‘You have to remember Gina is 85 so she sometimes has trouble remembering things but I can tell you she is legally married. There is legal documentation in Spain which proves that she agreed to be married and that the ceremony took place. ‘I don’t really want to go into too much detail as I can’t betray my lawyers’ oath – also I no longer represent Gina as we had a disagreement. ‘I accompanied Gina to Barcelona and documents were signed at the Italian consulate which authorised the marriage and this document was used for the marriage. ‘Gina is confused and perhaps doesn’t remember what happened.’ In Rome The Mail on Sunday approached Ms Lollobrigida’s 64-year-old son Mirko, from her first marriage to Slovenian Mirko Skofic, but he refused to comment. ### SUMMARY:

Javier Rigau says couple married at church in Barcelona in 2010 . Claims they agreed to secret ceremony to avoid press intrusion . Family friend Maria Gabilondo, 72, stood in as proxy . 'The idea Gina did not know she was getting married is preposterous'

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . James Nye . PUBLISHED: . 22:09 EST, 29 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:51 EST, 30 May 2013 . Worryingly for a man who controls a rogue state and regularly threatens nuclear war with America, North Korean dictator Kim Jung Un is 'socially awkward' and struggles to make eye contact when meeting anyone new. That is the verdict of the documentary crew who traveled with eccentric sports legend Dennis Rodman to the secretive communist nation in late February where he infamously declared himself a 'friend for life' to the 29-year-old despot as they bonded during a basketball game. Indeed, the surreal trip was more bizarre than anyone could have first imagined - as details emerged of Rodman serenading Kim with Frank Sinatra's 'My Way' at a dinner reception to mark the game but not before they had heard a female North Korean pop band play the theme song to 'Rocky' on electric violins. Scroll Down for Video . Former NBA star Dennis Rodman speaks to the media at the Pyongyang Airport before he leaves North Korea Friday, March 1, 2013 - VICE Media's Ryan Duffy is visible to the right . The brainchild of Brooklyn based media company VICE, the trip was ostensibly to follow the Harlem Globetrotters to the reclusive and repressive nation as they staged an exhibition basketball game. Incredibly, the crew had no idea it would meet the reclusive country's young leader, Kim Jong Un, until he showed up at a basketball game it was filming with Rodman - which led to the unlikely bromance between the pair. The crew from VICE discovered that Kim Jung Un loves basketball so much that he overlooked his government's antipathy for VICE founder Shane Smith, who had made two critical documentaries on North Korea, and personally invited the crew in. Smith wasn't allowed back but VICE's Ryan Duffy accompanied Rodman and three members of the Harlem Globetrotters traveling basketball troupe. Asked yesterday about the meeting that forms the center point of their documentary, Duffy said that Kim Jung Un was 'socially awkward' - but not as weird as Rodman who does not once speak to the camera - even though VICE organized the entire trip. Instead, he is only seen as a distant figure, wearing dark sunglasses and a baseball cap. Friends Forever: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un hugging former NBA player Dennis Rodman following the basketball game between the Harlem Globetrotters team and North Korean University of Physical Education players . This undated publicity image released by HBO shows former NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman, with North Korea's Kim Jong Un (left and right) at a basketball game from an episode of the documentary series 'Vice' Harlem Globetrotters players and North Korean University of Physical Education players belonging to the Hwaebul basketball team at the Ryugyong Jong Ju Yong Gymnasium in Pyongyang, North Korea on February 28th this year . Tourist: Former NBA star Dennis Rodman (C) visits the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang in this picture released by North Korea's KCNA news agency on March 1, 2013 . Duffy quickly learned his place: One of the first things one of his 'tour guides' told him was, 'I know who you are. I don't like you and I don't like your company,' he said Wednesday. to the New York Daily News. The crew was told when it could turn on its cameras and when they had to be off, and feared landing in a North Korean prison if it didn't comply, he said. The crew went through an elaborate week-long organized tour of North Korea's capital of Pyongyang, visiting a well-stocked mall with no other customers and the country's version of Sea World. At one point, it was shown a classroom with students sitting behind computers, but only one person either knew how or was allowed to use one of the machines. One student sat before Google's home page and never searched for anything, just moving the cursor back and forth randomly. To see more footage from Dennis Rodman's visit click here . Bizarre: Retired U.S. NBA basketball player Dennis Rodman (C) poses with his team members after arriving in Pyongyang with his VICE documentary screw - Ryan Duffy is seen right . Waving: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un waves as he gives field guidance to the August 25 Fishery Station under the Korean People's Army Unit 313, in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency in May . Busy Working: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presides over an urgent operation meeting on the Korean People's Army Strategic Rocket Force's performance of duty for firepower strike at the Supreme Command in Pyongyang in March . The tour was taken in the hopes of catching one or two glimpses of the real North Korean people, which the group finally achieved toward the end when its minders let the bus stop at a park and the Globetrotters played around with some of the kids, helping them learn to spin a basketball on their finger. Duffy said the group was surprised when Kim arrived to watch what was essentially a pickup basketball game with the Globetrotters and some members of a North Korean youth team. Rodman didn't play; he sat in the stands watching with Kim. After the game, the VICE crew and players were rushed across Pyongyang unexpectedly for a dinner with Kim and other members of the North Korean government. Rodman was only in the country for two days for the Vice show but he and Kim Jung Un got on so well that Rodman was able to reveal stunning snippets of the dictator's life. He said to journalists after he returned that Kim Jung Un- the ruler that Rodman called a 'kid'- has a young baby girl and that he heard Kim's wife talk all about her at length during his trip to the exiled regime. Icon: Dennis Rodman in his heyday at the Chicago Bulls is broadcast to the throng of grey clothed North Korean supporters in Pyongyang before the exhibition match featuring the Harlem Globe Trotters . The 51-year-old athlete also told how the North Korean leader likes 80s disco music, is humble and normally wears normal clothes when not appearing for cameras. Host and executive producer Shane Smith attends the "Vice" New York Premiere at Time Warner Center on April 2, 2013 in New York City . The description that Rodman is touting comes in direct contrast to the widespread understanding of the dictatorial leader and the military rogue state that constantly threatens nuclear war. 'It was insane, they treat him like a god. But Kim is not one of these Saddam Hussein-type characters that wants to take over the world,' Rodman told The Sun. 'His grandad built all this s**t and then his dad built some more s**t but he is a normal guy,' Rodman told The Sun. Rodman revealed other details about the lavish trip, including the contents of the 15-course banquet (fish, noodles, and meat), the décor of the palace (‘marble everywhere’) and the height of Kim’s wife, Comrade Ri Sol-ju (5’5” which is ‘quite tall for a Korean’). The trip was apparently a major success, and Rodman has already accepted a second invitation to visit Kim again for six days in August. Although Rodman was key to securing the visit and played the most prominent role of any of the visiting Americans, he's only a bit player in VICE's documentary. Smith said Rodman declined to be interviewed about the trip by VICE afterward. The American group brought in some basketballs and basketball equipment to distribute to young North Koreans, but wasn't asked for anything else by its hosts, Smith said. VICE hasn't spoken to anyone in the Obama administration about the trip, he said. During the trip, the administration had refrained from commenting about it. HBO and VICE have not agreed to continue its series of news documentaries beyond this season, but the arrangement is likely. HBO said the show gets solid ratings, while VICE said the network gives VICE valuable exposure beyond the young audience that traditionally follows its product. ### SUMMARY:

The documentary crew that accompanied Dennis . Rodman to North Korea over the winter says it had no idea it would meet . the reclusive country's young leader, Kim Jong Un . Media company VICE arranged the trip and invited Rodman after its first choice, Michael Jordan, expressed no interest . They were entertained for two days by the reclusive dictator - who struck up an unusual friendship with Rodman .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Mark Duell . PUBLISHED: . 05:21 EST, 26 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:18 EST, 26 June 2013 . A Government-backed scheme offered young people career advice on how to earn up to £48,000 a year working in the sex industry, it was revealed today. Tips offered by the Business Wales website - backed by the Welsh Government - included how to become a stripper as well as running a lap dancing club and escort agency. They were among hundreds of ‘start up business ideas’ and said that strippers and lap dancers could ‘expect to earn an average £232 per evening’, with annual incomes ‘from £24,000 to £48,000’. Bringing in the money: The website said that strippers and lap dancers could 'expect to earn an average £232 per evening', with annual incomes 'from £24,000 to £48,000' Tips: Screen grabs from the Business Wales website which offered advice on being a lap dancer or stripper . Users interested in setting up an . escort agency were advised that ‘the escorts provide companionship to . the client when attending events such as a formal dinner or the . theatre’. It said clients typically include single businessmen and women who hire an escort to ‘accompany’ them to events and holidays. ‘Escort . agencies usually have several escorts on their books,’ the factsheet . said. ‘Agencies charge escorts an ‘introduction fee’ of between 25% and . 55% of what the client pays to the escort’. While . it went on to say that it was an offence for an agency to ‘incite escorts . to act as prostitutes’ the guide provided links to websites offering . ‘transsexual post-operation and submissive escorts’. Career guidance: Users interested in setting up an escort agency were advised that 'the escorts provide companionship to the client when attending events such as a formal dinner or the theatre' Investigation: The gaffe came to light during First Minister's questions in the Senedd - which saw several opposition parties raise their concerns . The gaffe came to light during First . Minister’s questions in the Senedd - which saw several opposition . parties raise their concerns. 'Stripping . is degrading for women and the Welsh Government should not the . promoting the view that sexually exploitative work is an acceptable . career' Jocelyn Davies, Plaid Cymru AM . Plaid Cymru AM Jocelyn Davies said: . ‘I’m certainly not a prude, but it is hard to understand how the Welsh . Government can believe it is acceptable to provide information to help . women become strippers or run a lap dancing club, which is classed as a . sex establishment. ‘While . jobs are difficult to find and money is tight, should the Welsh . Government be effectively facilitating these activities by putting . information on their website? ‘Stripping . is degrading for women and the Welsh Government should not the . promoting the view that sexually exploitative work is an acceptable . career.’ Her remarks were echoed by Lib Dem Eluned Parrott and Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies. No longer there: After the issue was raised in the Senedd, the sections about stripping, lap dancing and escort agencies were removed from the site . Stripper: The guide said that it was an offence for an agency to 'incite escorts to act as prostitutes', but provided links to websites offering 'transsexual post-operation and submissive escorts' Miss Parrott said: ‘These are perfectly legitimate businesses - however I was very surprised to learn that these factsheets are offered to young people via a link on the Welsh Government’s Big Ideas Wales website, which is aimed specifically at youth entrepreneurs. 'The adult entertainment industry is a field that is appropriate for adults, but not one that should be marketed as an aspirational career opportunity to potentially vulnerable young people' Eluned Parrott, Lib Dem AM . ‘The adult entertainment industry is just that - a field that is appropriate for adults, but not one that should be marketed as an aspirational career opportunity to potentially vulnerable young people.’ And Mr Davies added: ‘While we should all be free to choose our own career paths, the Government has a duty to put safeguards in place protecting the most vulnerable.’ After the issue was raised in the Senedd, the sections about stripping, lap dancing and escort agencies were removed from the site. Wales First Minister and father-of-two Carwyn Jones told AMs he had had just been informed of the website ‘10 minutes ago’ but promised his officials would be investigating the matter. ON STRIPPERS . Strippers and lap dancers can expect to be paid an average of £232 per evening and earn between £24,000 and £48,000, according to the Welsh Government-backed guide. 'Some strippers will remain in underwear but others may become completely naked' Male or female strippers, it says, perform choreographed dance routines while removing items of clothing - ‘some strippers will remain in underwear but others may become completely naked’. Aspiring actors, models and artists may use stripping as a source of extra income while they try to establish themselves in the entertainment industry, the factsheet advises. Tips include training in dance, kiss-o-grams or pole-dancing.ON ESCORTS . Clients typically pay between £120 and £150 per hour for ‘an escort's time and company’, it advises. Single businessmen and women typically hire an escort to accompany them to dinner or the theatre. 'Any sexual activity between a client and escort is outside of the agreed escort service' Agencies charge escorts an introduction fee of between 25 per cent and 55 per cent, with some agencies flying escorts overseas to meet clients. ‘While it is legal for agencies to provide escorts for companionship and conversation only, it is an offence for an agency to cause or incite their escorts to act as prostitutes,’ it adds. ‘Any sexual activity between a client and escort is outside of the agreed escort service, a private matter and not connected with the agency.’ON LAP DANCES . Fancy running your own lap dancing club? There is a factsheet for that too. 'The majority of customers at lap dancing clubs will be male and venues are particularly popular with stag parties' Club owners will first need a sex establishment licence from their local council. Local residents can object to lap dancing venues if they feel they are in an inappropriate area. ‘Dancers usually work on a self-employed basis and pay the club a fee to use its premises. A club will need to recruit suitable dancers for its customers and can use a dancer recruitment agency to do so,’ it adds. ‘The majority of customers at lap dancing clubs will be male and venues are particularly popular with stag parties. Groups may wish to hire areas of the club to host private parties.’ ON SEX SHOPS . Sales of adult toys and lingerie were reported to have surged during the recession, with UK consumers now spending £315million a year in sex shops, according to the advice. Emerging trends include new luxury sex . toys that target a high-end, largely female market and have become more . commonplace thanks to changing attitudes. 'These luxury toys can cost anything from £100 upwards and sales have been strong despite the recession' ‘These luxury toys can cost anything from £100 upwards and sales have been strong despite the recession,’ it says. Budding erotic boutique owners will need to get a sex establishment licence from their local council, depending on what they sell. A typical budget for fixtures and fittings comprises of mannequins for displaying lingerie (£80 each), wall display units (£60 for 10), changing cubicles (£162) and full-length mirrors (£150). Refunds on items, including underwear, latex clothing and sex toys that have been worn or used do not have to be given on grounds of hygiene, it adds. ### SUMMARY:

Tips offered by Business Wales included how to run escort agency . It said strippers and lap dancers earn 'average of £232 per evening' Links to sites for 'transsexual post-operation and submissive escorts' Wales First Minister Carwyn Jones promises gaffe will be investigated .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Ashley Collman . PUBLISHED: . 15:21 EST, 18 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:20 EST, 18 October 2013 . When 22-year-old Sheena Morris was found hanging from a dog leash in her Florida hotel room on New Year's Day, Bradenton Beach police ruled it a suicide. But that's something Sheena's mother Kelly Osborn could never accept. In the five years since her daughter's death, Osborn has been relentless in championing her daughter's case - insisting that investigators take a look at evidence that could lead to charges against Sheena's then 48-year-old boyfriend Joseph Genoese. With officials close to making a decision on whether to classify Sheena's death as a homicide, her mother's fight will be featured tonight in an hour-long episode of ABC's 20/20. Mystery: 22-year-old Sheena Morris (above) was discovered hanging in her hotel room on New Year's Day 2009, but her mother has been fighting for the last five years to get her case reclassified as a homicide . Searching for the truth: Sheena's mother Kelly Osborn (pictured left with her daughter) has always believed that her daughter's then 48-year-old boyfriend Joseph Genoese (right) had something to do with her death . In the special, Ms Osborn explains all of the different factors that led her to believe her daughter didn't commit suicide. Shortly before her death, Sheena renewed a magazine subscription, wrote a rent check and renewed her AAA membership for the year. Sheena was in Bradenton Beach to spend New Year's Eve with her fiance, Genoese. That night they went to dinner at a restaurant across the street and then returned to their room at the Bridge Walk Resort on Anna Maria Island. Ringing in the New Year: Sheena and her boyfriend had dinner on New Year's Eve before returning to their room at the Bridge Walk Resort on Anna Maria Island where neighbors later reported hearing them fighting . Love/hate: A friend described both Sheena and Genoese as stubborn, and said they would often butt heads . Then after midnight, guests in an adjacent room called 911 after hearing a fight in the couple's suite. 'She wasn't the type of person to back down,' friend Rena Carideo said. 'He clearly wasn't the type of person to back down, so they butt heads more often than not.' When police arrived, they passed Genoese on his way out. Sheena was in the room with her two dogs but didn't give any details about the fight. According to the account on the family's website, Justice4sheena.com, Sheena called the police department close to her home in Hillsborough County at 2am because she wanted officers to check it over. In a taped recording, the young woman's voice can he heard saying he was 'going to ruin her apartment because she ruined his life'. The Justice4Sheena site also has pictures she took on New Year's Day after their fight, recording her injuries. Evidence: Pictures posted on the Justice4Sheena page show images of her injuries she documented after their New Year's Day 2009 fight . The next day Ms Osborn got a call from Genoese who told her about the fight and how he was having a hard time reaching her. Some 13 hours after Sheena's 911 call, police entered the hotel room and found her hanging from one of her dog's leashes in the bathroom. 'Getting a notification like that is...physically and mentally, the worst, most horrifying event you could have in your life,' Ms Osborn said about learning of her daughter's death. From the beginning Ms Osborn suspected that Genoese had something to do with Sheena's death because he lied to her the fist time they met. When he introduced himself, he said he was 35 when he was really 42. Seeds of distrust: When Sheena first introduced her 42-year-old boyfriend to her mother, Genoese lied and said he was 35 . Three days after Sheena's death, Ms Osborn met with Genoese alone in her garage and warned him that she would find out the truth. 'This isn't over,' she said. 'Sheena didn't commit suicide. You can make this as easy or as hard on me, and yourself, as you would like.' Ms Osborn has kept true to that promise. Over the last five years she has put her real estate career on the back burner while focusing all of her spare time on Sheena' case - collecting police reports, 911 call transcripts, autopsy reports and crime scene photos. How did she get there? One crime expert noted that there was sand caked on Sheena's feet at the scene, but no traces of the sand anywhere on the ground in the bathroom or just outside the bathroom . She's also studied other suicides, looking for patterns such as the presence of drugs and alcohol in the system. Sheena tested below the legal limit for alcohol. There's one thing that really stands our to her about the picture of Sheena taken at the crime scene. 'Sheena and I, we wore the same mascara. I knew that...if you cry with this mascara on, that mascara just clumps up, your eyelashes are all clumped up and...hers were perfect.' Crime experts have spotted some other holes in the case. Veteran crime reporter Lee Williams pointed out that there's sand caked on Sheena's feet but no traces of sand in the shower, on the bathroom floor or on the floor outside the bathroom. Holes in his story: Genoese claimed to return to his apartment in Tampa after the fight, but his toll pass has no record of being charged for a return trip . 'Either Sheena was carried in there, postmortem and hung, or she somehow levitated into that room,' Mr Williams said. And then there's the case of Genoese who apparently returned to his apartment in Tampa that night. He gave investigators his toll pass but there was never any record of it being charged on the return trip - leading Ms Osborn to believe he never left. Initially Genoese wasn't named as a person of interest because Marcos Claudio, a tenant at his apartment, had seen him returning home that night. 'I have people that saw me that night,' Genoese said. 'What would be my motive?' 'I'm being victimized because I cared for someone,' he added. History repeating? A photo posted in June 2011 no the Justice4Sheena page shows Genoese in another hotel, with a new woman . But in April 2012 Mr Claudio revised his statement, saying he couldn't be sure when he saw Genoese coming home because he had been drinking on New Year's Eve. Lately, Ms Osborn's hard work is finally starting to pay off. After asking three independent forensics experts to review her daughter's case, they all agreed that it was not a suicide. She brought those three affidavits to the medical examiner who reclassified the death as 'undetermined pending further investigation'. Justice: Recently, Ms Osborn's hard work has paid off and she got the medical examiner to reclassify her daughter's death from suicide to 'undetermined pending further investigation' A year ago, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement decided that the case should be reopened. The case into Sheena' death is ongoing but a decision is expected soon from the Bradenton Beach police on whether to keep the suicide ruling, or reclassify the death as homicide and press charges against a suspect . The 20/20 story on Sheena airs tonight at 10pm. ### SUMMARY:

Sheena Morris, 22, was discovered hanging in her hotel bathroom on New Year's Day 2009 . Initially her death was reported a suicide, but her mother Kelly Osborn always believed it was a homicide . Ms Osborn has worked hard for the last five years to find the real truth behind her daughter's death . She believes that her daughter's fiance Joseph Genoese is responsible . Last year she convinced the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to reopen the case . After enlisting three independent forensics experts to review the case, their affidavits caused the medical examiner to reclassify Sheena's death from suicide to 'undetermined pending further investigation' A decision from police officials on whether to reclassify Sheena's case as a homicide and press charges on a suspect is expected soon .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Matt Chorley and Sam Webb . PUBLISHED: . 05:49 EST, 2 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:42 EST, 3 December 2012 . The threat of a huge boycott by customers forced coffee giant Starbucks into paying tax in the UK, Treasury minister Danny Alexander admitted today. After months of HM Revenue and Customs being accused of being too lenient on multi-national firms who find ways to avoid paying tax, the Lib Dem Cabinet minister said the change of heart of 'more of a reflection' of coffee drinkers threatening to take their custom elsewhere. The company, which has paid just £8.6million in corporation tax in the UK over 14 years - and none in the last three - is seeking to deflect a consumer boycott and increased taxman scrutiny by voluntarily increasing the amount it pays. Starbucks has been trading well but pays little in UK tax because of legal accounting techniques . The move comes amid a storm of anger . surrounding the low levels of UK tax paid by Google, Amazon and other . major international corporations. A damning report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee today accuses HM Revenue and Customs of being ‘way too lenient’. Starbucks, which has more than 700 outlets in Britain, has now met with HMRC officials to discuss increasing the amount of tax it pays. Mr Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: 'The comments by Starbucks this morning where they’ve said they want to come to the Treasury and HMRC to talk about their affairs is perhaps more of a reflection of something quite new which is the consumer pressure that has been put on those companies. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said 'people pressure' forced Starbucks into paying tax in the UK . 'They’ve reported that they’ve had lots of pressures from their customers and that’s a good thing. 'It’s good that the public exercises its rights there but what we can do as a government is put more resources at the disposal of HMRC to make sure they have the ability to get under the skin of what it is that companies and rich individuals too are doing in the tax system.' Currently Starbucks pays a 'royalty fee' to a sister company in Holland for the right to use the Starbucks brand and recipe, allowing it to benefit from the country's tax regime. This legal accounting tactic helped Starbucks sidestep an estimated £5m corporation tax bill last year. A spokeswoman said: 'Starbucks is committed to the UK for the long term and we  have invested more than £200m in our UK business over the past 12 years. Starbucks has complied with all the tax laws in this country but has regretfully not been as profitable as we would have liked. 'We have listened to feedback from our customers and employees, and understand that to maintain and further build public trust we need to do more. 'As part of this we are looking at our tax approach in the UK. The company has been in discussions with HMRC for some time and is also in talks with The Treasury. We will release more details later in the week.' Paid handsomely: UK director John Culver (left) was paid £3.8million over two years and owns £4.7million in shares, while Ex UK boss Cliff Burrows (right) now oversees the firm's Americas operation and has shares worth £7.2million. Mr Osborne is promising that HMRC . will be given an extra £154million over the next two years to help . crack down on tax avoidance. The Treasury forecasts this will claw back . £10billion over the next five years. HMRC’s ‘affluence unit’ will also . recruit 100 extra investigators to clamp down on tax-dodging by the . rich. The Chancellor plans to bolster the . Inland Revenue team that deals with multinationals amid widespread . condemnation of big-name firms like Starbucks, Google and Amazon after . it emerged they pay little or no corporation tax in the UK. Mr . Osborne told BBC 1's Andrew Marr Show: 'I think you can do two things. One is you can enforce the taxes we have got and I am going to be . announcing tomorrow extra investment in the part of the Inland Revenue . that tackles tax avoidance by multinational companies. 'Second, . you make sure internationally we have the right rules and it is . actually Britain who has been working with Germany and France to get . those rules on the international table. 'It will be a big priority for the G7, G8, which we host next year. Labour MP Margaret Hodge, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said HMRC looks 'way too lenient' in dealing with multi-national firms . 'So we are doing those things but let me just say we can't tackle this by pricing Britain out of the world economy. 'If we make our taxes less competitive that will just mean more companies stay out of Britain.' Ministers are privately irritated by the tone of today’s PAC report, which they say ignores recent improvements by HMRC, which has already been given an extra £900million to tackle tax-dodging. The cross-party committee of MPs describes the tactics used by multi-nationals to avoid tax as ‘outrageous’, but ‘widespread’ as a result of lax enforcement. They say the issue accounts for a quarter of the £32billion-a-year tax gap – the difference between the tax HMRC is due and the amount it receives, adding that while the practice of pushing profits overseas into tax havens such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands is legal, it is also ‘immoral’. The committee’s Labour chairman Margaret Hodge said: ‘The inescapable conclusion is that multinationals are using structures and exploiting current tax legislation to move offshore profits that are clearly generated from economic activity in the UK.’ She added: ‘HMRC should be challenging this but its response so far to these big businesses and their aggressive tax-planning has lacked determination and looks way too lenient.’ The report says international firms have ‘an unfair competitive advantage over British businesses which have no choice but to pay their corporation tax’. But Mr Alexander hit back at Ms Hodge: 'I would say to Margaret I welcome what she’s saying this morning, if her party when it was in government  had taken these issues more seriously we’d have a good deal tougher set of rules to be implemented now.' Last month it emerged that Starbucks has been able to pay handsome wages to its most senior staff over the past three years. It was reported that finance chief Troy Alstead, who owns £6.8million of shares, was paid £5.7million, and founder Howard Schultz £33million – he also owns shares, worth £545million. Ex-UK boss Cliff Burrows who now oversees the firm’s Americas operation and has shares worth £7.2million, earned £6.5million. UK director John Culver was paid £3.8million over two years and owns £4.7million in shares. Bosses of Google, Amazon and Starbucks were recently grilled by MPs over how they managed to pay little or no corporation tax on their UK operations. All three denied they were engaged in aggressive tax avoidance. Howard Schultz (left) was paid £33million on top of the £545million worth of shares he already has.  Finance chief Troy Alstead (right), who owns £6.8million of shares, was paid £5.7million . At the time, a Starbucks spokesman said: ‘Corporation tax is a tax on profits and although we would very much like to and are moving in the right direction, we just don’t make a profit in the UK yet. ‘Starbucks does however pay a number of . other taxes in the UK. For example, we directly contribute more than . £25million to £30million per year to the Exchequer in various taxes, . including employers’ National Insurance contributions and business . rates.’ ### SUMMARY:

Global coffee giant attempts to ward off backlash over accounting methods . Paid just £8.6m corporation tax in 14 years, despite £3bn in sales but has now 'met with taxman to discuss paying more' Starbucks has only posted a profit from UK business once in 15 years . Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander says u-turn is the result of 'public pressure'

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Lizzie Smith and Amelia Proud . PUBLISHED: . 10:57 EST, 1 August 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 16:54 EST, 1 August 2013 . Giuseppe 'Joe' Giudice, the husband of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice, still owes his former business partner $260,000 for his part in a 2007 mortgage scam. Joe Mastropole has never seen a cent of the cash a judge ordered Giudice to pay after he forged Mastropole's signature on a mortgage document. Speaking in the wake of Giuseppe and Teresa Giudice's indictment on 39 counts of fraud and tax evasion, Mastropole said that he had never expected to get any of the money because the couple's income was 'fraudulent, untraceable and untaxed.' Toning . it down: Teresa Giudice, 41, and her 43-year-old husband Joe wore pared . down looks to face fraud charges in New Jersey on Tuesday . Speaking to Radaronline.com, Mastropole said that, 'I think his money is untraceable, so it will be hard for me to collect any debt.' Monica Chacon, the attorney for Mastropole in the 2007 case said that Giuseppe used 'gang' tactics to intimidate her client. Joe Mastropole has never seen a cent of the cash a judge ordered Giudice to pay after he forged Mastropole's signature on a mortgage document. 'Someone blew out seven windows at our office the same day we filed in court,' Chacon revealed to Radaronline.com. 'They were shooting slingshots with marbles. Of course we didn't catch Joe doing it, but my and my husband's office and Joe Mastropole's office were both targeted the same day we filed in court. 'It wasn't a coincidence.' Despite these claims, there is no evidence at all to suggest that Giuseppe Giudice was the culprit for breaking the windows. 'They just don't care!' Chacon added. 'They do what they want, and they say what they want, and figure that someday they'll deal with the implications.' On Tuesday Teresa Giudice and her husband, Giuseppe 'Joe' Giudice were released on a combined $1million bail after making initial court appearances on Tuesday on federal fraud charges. The couple were ordered to surrender their passports and to confine their travels to New Jersey and New York. Joe Giudice could be deported to Italy if convicted because he is not a U.S. citizen. Teresa, 41, and her 43-year-old husband had toned down their usual flamboyant look to wear differing shades of slate suit, the reality TV queen even had her famous hair slicked back into a sensible ponytail as she walked into Martin Luther King Jr. courthouse in Newark, New Jersey. Members of the press swarm Giuseppe "Joe" Giudice, 43, center left, and his wife Teresa Giudice, 41, center, of Montville Township, N.J., as they walk out of Martin Luther King, Jr. Courthouse . Teresa, 41, and her 43-year-old husband had toned down their usual flamboyant look to wear differing shades of slate suit . Standing by her man: Joe Giudice's mother Filomena told a reporter is was 'none of her f****** business' when asked about the possibility Joe could be deported . Joe's father flips off photographers as the couple return to their parents' home after being released on $1million bail . As they walked out of court and a reported peppered the couple with questions about Joe's possible deportation, his mother Filomena stepped in and responded: 'None of your f****** business.' Joe then slapped away a camera as he walked - even though his lawyer scolded him, 'Don't do that.' The couple were charged in a 39-count . indictment Monday with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, bank . fraud, making false statements on loan applications and bankruptcy . fraud. They are accused of exaggerating . their income while applying for loans before their TV show debuted in . 2009, then hiding their fortunes in a bankruptcy filing after their . first season aired. Authorities . allege the couple submitted fraudulent mortgage and other loan . applications from 2001 to 2008, a year before their show debuted on . Bravo. Prosecutors said the couple submitted fake W-2s, tax returns and . bank account information to lenders. Not their finest hour: The attention loving couple looked shy and withdrawn as they arrived . Five of the 36 counts of the indictment relate to false tax documents and income statements that the couple allegedly filed . Centre of attention: But this is one shade of limelight that won't flatter a girl's skin . Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy . Prosecutors . allege the Giudices received about $4.6 million in mortgages, . withdrawals from home equity lines of credit and construction loans. Joe . Giudice, an entrepreneur, also failed to file tax returns for the years . 2004 through 2008, when he is alleged to have earned nearly $1 million, . prosecutors said. During that time his income allegedly fluctuated . wildly; the indictment states he made $323,481 in 2005 and $26,194 in . 2006. Teresa Giudice's . attorney, Henry Klingeman, said she would plead not guilty. Joe . Giudice's attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment. In a statement, Teresa said she supports her husband and wants to resolve the charges as soon as possible. Facing the music: The couple's charges are serious and could carry a hefty sentence . Mayhem: The couple were mobbed as they left the hearing after posting $1 million bail . Free for now: The couple arrived back to their mansion after their hearing . 'I . am committed to my family and intend to maintain our lives in the best . way possible, which includes continuing my career,' she said. In . their 2009 bankruptcy filing, the couple said they were $11 million in . debt. They stated their monthly take-home pay was $16,583, but $10,000 . was from 'monthly assistance from family members' and Bravo income. It . also said they owed $2.2 million in mortgages, $13,000 to Neiman Marcus . and Nordstrom and nearly $12,000 to a fertility clinic. The . most serious charges the couple face, bank fraud and loan application . fraud, carry a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 . million fine. If convicted, they could face a maximum sentence of more 50 years in prison. Facing jail: The Giudices found fame on The Real Housewives Of New Jersey . Teresa's attorney says she will plead not guilty and that 'we look forward to vindicating her.' Giudice, . who appeared on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live on Sunday to discuss . her truce with brother Joe Gorga and sister-in-law Melissa, also issued . her own statement on Monday saying 'today is a most difficult day for . our family.' She explained: . 'I support Joe and, as a wonderful husband and father, I know he wants . only the best for our lovely daughters and me I am committed to my . family and intend to maintain our lives in the best way possible, which . includes continuing my career. 'As a result, I am hopeful that we will resolve this matter with the Government as quickly as possible.' The show is in its fifth season on Bravo. A network spokesman had no comment. Fame hungry: Teresa, with Andy Cohen and therapist 'Dr V' yesterday, is expected to appear in court on Tuesday . Large family: Joe and Teresa with their children Audriana, Gia, Gabriella and Milania back in March . ### SUMMARY:

Former business partner of Joe Giudice claims he is still owed $260,000 six years on from mortgage fraud . Joe and Teresa Giudice face a maximum sentence of up to 50 years behind bars if convicted . Charged with 39 separate crimes ranging from tax evasion to bank fraud .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Mark Duell . Dozens of flights were cancelled this morning at London Heathrow as the world’s third busiest airport was engulfed by thick fog. Some 85 flights at the five-terminal airport in West London were axed and there were delays to other departures and arrivals. Fog also caused disruption at Cardiff Airport. In addition, problems were reported at Land's End, Manchester and Edinburgh airports due to low visibility. It came as Government experts warned people in Britain to be braced for ‘very high’ levels of air pollution over the next few days. The East of England and Midlands are the worst-affected areas today but large swathes of England and Wales will see high levels of pollution tomorrow. Up we go: An aircraft is surrounded by fog as it takes off at London Heathrow Airport. The Met Office has issued a pollution warning of 10 out of 10 for today and tomorrow . Arrival: An aircraft is surrounded by fog as it comes in for landing at Heathrow Airport in south-west London . Delays and disruption: Planes take off and land in fog at Heathrow Airport in West London, as heavy fog covers many parts of the South East . Misery: Passengers queue in Terminal 5 to re-book their flights after fog has led to delays and cancellations at Heathrow Airport, west London . Stuck in the airport: A check-in information board at Terminal 5 after the weather has led to delays and cancellations at Heathrow . It has been caused by a combination of . light south-easterly winds, the continental air flow and dust which has . blown up from the Sahara desert. The . Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’s pollution forecast . said north-west Norfolk should experience ‘very high’ air pollution. Other . parts of East Anglia will experience ‘high’ levels and parts of . south-east England and the Humber region will experience ‘moderate’ pollution. However, tomorrow experts are anticipating ‘high’ or ‘very high’ air pollution levels across much of England and Wales. Tricky: Thick fog enveloped the south of England today, causing hazardous driving conditions. Pictured is the scene in Bournemouth . Arriving over the road: Planes land in fog at Heathrow Airport, west London, as heavy fog covers many parts of the south east . Poor visibility: A lady walks through heavy fog on Heol Briwnant in the Rhiwbina area of Cardiff, South Wales. The fog follows a weekend of warm weather . Spooky scene: Surfers were struggling to pick the perfect wave on Bournemouth beach in Dorset today as thick fog enveloped the south coast . Hard to see: It will become warm inland today, while the south coast remains cooler with an onshore breeze. Bournemouth beach is pictured . Misty: The pier was hard to spot on Bournemouth beach today as thick fog enveloped the south coast . Still out: Thick fog enveloped the south of England today. Pictured is the scene in Bournemouth. where, the conditions did not deter these hardy surfers . Beautiful scene: The fog cleared to leave a sunny day in London. Pictured is a dog walker enjoying the weather, surrounded by spring flowers in Regent's Park . All yellow: Marigold Brown (left), one, poses among daffodils in Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, and student Chiara Spadafora (right) enjoys the weather in Regent Park . Pretty: Evelyn Johnson, aged five, and her sister Bridgette, aged three, walk amongst daffodil blooms at Whitegate Daffodil Walk at Foxwist Green Farm in Cheshire . Nice day for it: A man enjoys his lunch in the sunshine on the promenade in Dover, Kent . And the high levels of pollution are expected to continue across East Anglia and the Midlands on Thursday. AIR . ROADS . TRAINS . But the air pollution is expected to ebb away by Friday. Last weekend, some people found their cars to be covered in a light coating of red dust. The Met Office said that a large amount of sand and dust was swept up by storm winds in the Sahara Desert. Experts . said that the airborne particles of dust were blown north to the UK . where they combined with our warm air and were deposited during showers. Meanwhile a woman and her dog had to be rescued by the Solent Coastguard after becoming cut off by the rising tide in thick fog. The . woman's husband called 999 at 8am, reporting that his wife was cut off . and in a distressed state on Appley Beach in Ryde, Isle of Wight. The . woman was contacted on her mobile phone but she was already up to her . waist in the water and disorientated as to her precise whereabouts. Britain was covered in fog this morning as the country prepared for . another warm spring day with maximum temperatures of 20C. The . fog and low cloud seen this morning will thin and break to allow for . sunny periods, although North Sea coasts may see fog linger throughout. It will become warm inland, while the south coast remains cooler with an onshore breeze, and the warmest part of the UK is expected to be London. Later in the day today, a few showers . will push into the south-west and Northern Ireland with the risk of a . few rumbles of thunder. The . Met Office has forecast a ten out of ten level of air pollution for . London for today and tomorrow, warning of one of the worst smogs of the . year. Forecast: Tomorrow and Thursday, heavy showers or longer spells of rain will push north across western parts of the UK, with the risk of isolated thunderstorms . Walking through: A foggy morning at Ravenscourt Park in Hammersmith, west London, as the capital was shrouded in heavy fog . Eerie: A commuter walks across Ravenscourt Park in Hammersmith, west London, ahead of a day in the capital that was expected to see 20C temperatures . Blue skies: A foggy start over Hyde Park in Central London, ahead of what promises to be another warm spring day in the capital . Starting out: Low-level smog during sunrise over Tower Bridge and the River Thames in London. High levels of pollution and poor air quality are forecast . TODAY . TOMORROW . THURSDAY . People with lung problems and the elderly have been advised to avoid strenuous exercise - and healthy adults told to reduce exertion outdoors. Tomorrow . and Thursday, heavy showers or longer spells of rain will push north . across western parts of the UK, with the risk of isolated thunderstorms. It . will be largely fine and warm elsewhere on those two days, with high . temperatures of 21C in London, but foggy and cool around North Sea . coasts. Friday will see . cloudy conditions with outbreaks of rain clearing, then becoming dry and . brighter, while there will be a dry start on Saturday before rain. Temperatures climbed to a summery . 20.9C (69.6F) in St James’s Park in Central London on Sunday, which was . the hottest day of the year so far. That . temperature was matched on Sunday in Santon Downham, Norfolk. The . previous high this year was 20.5C (68.9F) in Gravesend, Kent, on March . 9. The balmy spell is . driven by tropical winds arriving from Africa, making temperatures . across the UK higher than average for this time of year. In . late March 2013, Britain was shivering in snow and temperatures of . minus 10C (14F). There were 4ft drifts in the North and 20,000 homes . lost power. ### SUMMARY:

Some 85 flights cancelled at London Heathrow and disruption is also reported in Cardiff and Edinbugh . Woman and dog rescued after becoming cut off by rising tide in thick fog on beach in Ryde, Isle of Wight . Government experts warn people to be braced for 'very high' levels of air pollution over the next few days . Fog and low cloud this morning will thin and break for sun, although North Sea coasts may see fog linger . It will be warm inland, while the south coast remains cooler - and the warmest part of UK will be London . Later in the day, a few showers will push into the south-west with the risk of a few rumbles of thunder . Tomorrow and Thursday, heavy showers or longer spells of rain will push north across western parts .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Tara Brady . Helicopters, airplanes and firefighters have been struggling to contain wildfires that have killed 15 people, devastated more than 2,000 homes and left 8,000 homeless in Valparaiso, Chile. A 15th body was found today and the toll of destroyed homes has risen to more than 2,150 . As smoke rose from smoldering ruins all over the picturesque coastal city, many compared the scene to Dante's inferno. Scroll down for video . Destroyed houses are seen after a fire burned several neighbourhoods in the hills in Valparaiso city, northwest of Santiago . Residents survey damage after a fire raged in the hills in Valparaiso city, northwest of Santiago. At least 15 people were killed and 2,000 houses destroyed over the weekend by a fire that devastated parts of the Chilean port city of Valparaiso . Aerial view of the aftermath of a fire at Mariposas hill, Valparaiso, Chile. Fires they thought were contained 24 hours after they started on Saturday kicked up again with Sunday afternoon's winds . Emergency responders struggled today with outbreaks from a deadly blaze that tore through parts of an historic Chilean port city . Destroyed: A man reacts as he sees that his house was devastated by a huge fire in Valparaiso, Chile . Some people made their way home after days without sleep, only to discover ruins. The . fires, so hot they created their own fierce winds, consumed a few . entire neighborhoods. In other districts, some houses stood unscathed . but remained in danger from glowing embers carried by the shifting . winds. 'We are looking at . the largest air operation ever assembled against a fire like this,' Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said. She said the blazes had grown to 'dimensions never before seen.' Chile's . forestry agency predicted it would take three weeks to completely stamp . out the fires, which began Saturday in a forested ravine and quickly . spread into ramshackle housing on one of Valparaiso's 42 hills. A helicopter empties a bucket of water to fight a fire in Valparaiso that has killed 15 people, injured 500 and destroyed 2,000 homes . Helicopters, airplanes and firefighters struggle to contain wildfires that have devastated 2,000 homes and left 8,000 homeless . People comfort each other after a fire devastated an area of Valparaiso, Chile. Hot ash rained down over wooden houses and narrow streets. Electricity failed as the fire grew, turning the night sky orange and reducing neighborhoods on six hilltops to ashes . Valparaiso is a picturesque oceanside city of 250,000 people surrounded by hills that form a natural amphitheater . Residents are seen among the remains of houses after a fire burned several neighbourhoods in the hills in Valparaiso city, northwest of Santiago . Chile's forestry agency predicted it would take three weeks to completely stamp out the fires, which began Saturday in a forested ravine and quickly spread into ramshackle housing on one of Valparaiso's 42 hills . Emergency responders struggled on Monday with outbreaks from a deadly blaze that tore through parts of an historic Chilean port city . Hot . dry winds blowing out to sea whipped embers onto other neighborhoods on . six densely populated hills where people live in poorly constructed . homes without municipal water or sewer connections, fire hydrants or . streets wide enough for emergency vehicles. On Monday, there was no end in sight. Helicopters were flying without pause, dumping water on hotspots. Aid . was flowing in from all over Chile to Valparaiso, where evacuees . crowded into eight shelters. Hundreds of young volunteers climbed hills . carrying bottles of water and shovels to help victims search the ruins . of their homes. 'We're . going to rebuild right here. Where else would we go?' said Carolina . Ovando, 22, who lost the humble home she kept with three small children. Schools were closed, some of them damaged by fires and others jammed with evacuees. Hotspot: Fires they thought were contained 24 hours after they started Saturday kicked up again with Sunday afternoon's winds and raged out of control, threatening more neighborhoods . Exhausted: Firefighters take a break as they struggled for a second night to contain blazes that have killed 15 people, injured 500, destroyed 2,000 homes and forced 10,000 people to flee . Dense housing: With no municipal water or fire hydrants to use, routes to the blazes blocked by narrow streets jammed with abandoned vehicles and countless embers being stoked, fire crews could do little but watch some neighborhoods burn . Picturesque: Valparaiso is a picturesque oceanside city of 250,000 people surrounded by hills that form a natural amphitheater . Powerless: From the sky, 20 helicopters and planes were mobilized to drop water on hotspots, but firefighters were still forced to stand by and watch as neighbourhoods burned out of control . House on fire: ost of the people live in the hills, and the city owes its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to their colorful homes, built on slopes so steep that many people commute using staircases and cable cars . Danger: What's beautiful in postcards can be dangerous for those who live there: Many people have built on land not fit for housing, and entire communities lack municipal water connections . Navy . officer Julio Leiva said Monday that the death toll rose to 15. Most of . the bodies were too badly burned to identify without DNA tests, the . national forensics service said. More than 500 people were treated at . hospitals, mostly for smoke inhalation. Bachelet . coordinated the emergency response with her Cabinet, cancelling a trip . to Argentina and Uruguay. She asked Chile's neighbors for backup in case . of other fires, freeing Chilean planes and helicopters to join the . fleet in Valparaiso. Argentine . Foreign Minister Hector Timerman promised to collaborate with rescue . teams and water-dumping planes. From the Vatican, Pope Francis sent a . message sharing his prayers. Tragedy: Three of the 15 victims were identified, and the others are so badly burned that DNA tests will be done . Fire emergency: Chile's emergency response system generated automatic phone calls to each house in danger as the mandatory evacuations expanded . Blocked roads: Many people stuffed their cars with possessions after getting these calls, and streets quickly became impassible . Stuck downhill: Water trucks and firefighters were stuck downhill as people abandoned their vehicles and ran. Some carried television sets and others took canisters of natural gas, fearing an explosion if flames reached their homes . Heightened security: Some 1,250 firefighters, police and forest rangers battled the blaze while 2,000 sailors in combat gear patrolled streets to maintain order and prevent looting . Bachelet . put the entire city under military rule, and 5,000 firefighters, . police, forest rangers, soldiers, sailors and civil defense workers . joined the response. Cars were banned from streets leading up eight of . the Valparaiso's hills so emergency vehicles could get through. Valparaiso is an oceanside city of 250,000 people surrounded by hills that form a natural amphitheater. The . compact downtown includes Chile's congress and its second-largest port, . and the city owes its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site to the . colorful homes built on slopes so steep that many people commute using . stairs and cable cars. But . what's beautiful on postcards can be dangerous for those who live . there: Many people have built on land not fit for housing. 'We . are too vulnerable as a city. We have been the builders and architects . of our own danger,'Valparaiso Mayor Jorge Castro said Sunday in an . interview with Chile's 24H channel. ### SUMMARY:

The fires erupted on Saturday in a hilltop residential area of Valparaiso, 70 miles northwest of capital Santiago . 20 helicopters and planes have been mobilized to drop water on hotspots, but officials say work is far from over . Schools were closed today in the city, since some were damaged and others were overflowing with evacuees .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Daily Mail Reporter . A 23-year-old woman claims she has 15 personalities - and must buy Christmas presents for all of them. Kimi Sands suffers from a rare condition called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which results in her different personalities taking control of her body at any given time. She has spent hundreds of pounds buying gifts for all 15 of her personas, which include Japanese chef Satou, 22, exercise-addict Fiona, 17, and four-year-old twins Jack and Safyer. Scroll down for video . Changeable: Kimi Sands, 23, with partner Chris. She suffers from a rare condition called Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), which results in her different personalities taking control of her body at any given time . Ms Sands, 23 from Cardiff, said: ‘Christmas is a bit more expensive for me than for others because obviously I have so many people to buy for. ‘Including myself, there are 16 individuals to get presents for. These can be anything from alcohol for the older personalities to teddies for the kids.’ Ms Sands’ condition, DID, is commonly known as multiple personality disorder. People who have DID can experience shifts of identity as separate personalities and each identity may be in control of their behaviour and thoughts at different times - each with a distinctive pattern of thinking, needs and desires. Young: Kimi as Jack, aged 4, who is twins with Safyer, right. She has spent hundreds of pounds buying gifts for all 15 of her personas . Mixing it up: Kimi as exercise-addict Fiona, aged 17 (left) and as Ashy, aged 23, from Yorkshire . Ms Sands’ personas started to develop . when she was three years old but it was not until she reached the age of . 20 that she was diagnosed with DID by a psychotherapist at The . Pottergate Centre for trauma and disassociation in Norwich. Her personality switches can last anything from a few minutes to several days at a time, which is typical of the condition. She . can become personas such as Yorkshire man Ashy, 23, flamboyant . Essex-born Koumi, 17, genderless Finn, 14, and a party-loving bisexual . called Theodore, aged 15. Ms Sands’ partner, Chris Lee, 24, said the festive season can be a struggle for the couple financially as there are so many individuals to buy presents for. He said: 'It’s hard. We’re a couple . but at the same time, we have this internal family. You’ve got to pay . for gifts for everyone else,’ he said. Different ages: Kimi as bisexual Theo, aged 15 (left) and as 25-year-old Abigail (right). Her condition, dissociative identity disorder, is commonly known as multiple personality disorder . Kimi as Fyn, aged 14 and right, as Kitten, who is 'very secretive'. Her personality switches can last anything from a few minutes to several days at a time, which is typical of the condition . Mr . Lee is usually buys the presents for Kimi’s younger personalities, as . they prevalently tend to get 'overexcited' during shopping trips. ‘The kids go mental in the toy store and want to buy everything,’ he said. ‘It’s . funny because when I’m queuing at the till with My Little Pony figures, . people often mistakenly assume that I’m buying presents for my . children.’ However the pair believe the money and effort is all worth it. Mr Lee said: ‘Giving the presents to everyone is so much fun. The kids are ecstatic and emerge from Kimi immediately. ‘But then it’s very difficult to make one personality leave so you can give the next gift to another one.’ Ms . Sands added: ‘I lose a lot of time when my alters take over. When I was . at school, Ashy attended it in my place quite regularly. Kimi as Aimee, who has not disclosed her age and as her 'normal' personality. Her personas started to develop when she was three years old but it was not until she reached the age of 20 that she was diagnosed . ‘In that time, he got with all of my female friends. When I returned, rumours were going around that I was a lesbian! ‘Teenager Theodore takes advantage of the fact that I have an age identification card and goes out drinking. ‘I’ve lost whole evenings because of him and I wake up the next morning with terrible hangovers,’ she said. It is not only at Christmas that Ms Sands has to spend money on her other alter egos. ‘You have to make a lot of compromises . when you have 15 personalities. I have to stock my wardrobe with . different clothes for everyone. The boys would be angry if they had to . wear dresses. ‘I also have . to make sure that there’s always vegan food in the fridge for Fiona. It’s complicated making sure everyone’s diet is catered for,’ she said. Variety: Mr Lee said that he has come to love all of Ms Sands' personalities in different ways and is able to have a night out with the boys, as well as taking the younger 'kids' to the zoo . Mr Lee said that he has come to love all of Ms Sands’ personalities in different ways and is able to have a night out with the boys, as well as taking the younger ‘kids’ to the zoo. However they retain a strict rule of no romantic intimacy between Mr Lee and Ms Sands’ other personalities. She explained: ‘It’s mostly just me with Chris. Although sometimes I allow him to kiss and cuddle Koumi, who is gay. Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is the most complex dissociative disorder and is also known as multiple personality disorder (MPD). Some people see it as a personality disorder, although it is not. The defining feature is severe change in identity. People who have DID can experience the shifts of identity as separate personalities. Each identity may be in control of their behaviour and thoughts at different times and each has a distinctive pattern of thinking and relating to the world. Dissociation can affect a person's perception, thinking, feeling, behaviour, body and memory. The impact of dissociation varies from person to person and may change over time. How well a person appears to be coping is not a good way of telling how severely affected they are. A person's sense of reality and who they are depends on their feelings, thoughts, sensations, perceptions and memories. If these become disconnected from each other, an individual's sense of identity, their memories and they way they perceive themselves in the world will change - and this is what happens to sufferers of Dissociative identity disorder. SOURCE: Mind . ‘Some of my alters are romantically involved with each other though. Theo is going out with Finn. ‘Theo has his own Facebook profile and asked Finn to join the social network so they could be in a relationship together online,’ she added. Ms Sands, a part-time artist, wants to educate more people about the disorder and regularly uploads videos on YouTube featuring her other personalities. ‘Every time you see a DID sufferer in a film, they are portrayed as evil. I often have to explain to people that I’m not an axe murderer!’ she said. ‘I want to deliver a positive message through my videos.’ Ms Sands does not let her condition get in the way of life and tries to remain optimistic about it. She says: ‘Yes it’s a painful disorder but there are so many happy bits to having DID. ‘I always have company. There is someone by my side all the time.’ A spokesperson for Mind, the mental health charity, said: ‘Dissociative identity disorder is the most complex dissociative disorder. 'You may experience shifts of identity and each one may be in control of your behaviour and thoughts at different times. Every identity you have has a unique pattern of thinking and way of relating to the world. ‘If you are experiencing these symptoms then we would urge you to talk to a family member or friend about how you’re feeling or seek help from your GP or a psychiatrist. 'A health professional can assess your symptoms and discuss all your treatment options with you.’ More information and help can be found at the charity’s website. ### SUMMARY:

Kimi Sands suffers from a rare condition . called Dissociative Identity Disorder . Results in her . different personalities taking control of her body at any time . She has spent hundreds of pounds buying gifts for all 15 of her personas . Says her boyfriend Chris, 24, loves all of her personalities .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: By . Rebecca Camber . and Mario Ledwith . and Eleanor Harding . Victim: Breck Bednar, 14, who was allegedly stabbed to death by a man he met off the internet . The teenage son of a millionaire was stabbed to death by a ‘predator’ he met online who groomed him through video games, it was claimed yesterday. Breck Bednar, 14, said he was going to a sleepover at a friend’s house on Sunday night. But secretly the teenager – who was said to be addicted to online computer games – travelled by train to the flat of an 18-year-old stranger who it is believed he had played with over the internet. Hours later, the church-going youngster was found dead by police at a flat in Grays, Essex – 30 miles away from the family home in Caterham, Surrey – after being knifed in the neck. Paramedics tried to revive him but he died at the scene. Lewis Daynes, an 18-year-old computer engineer, appeared in court yesterday charged with murder, and was remanded in custody. Last night it emerged that Breck’s family had alerted police as early as December that their son was being targeted over the internet. The case has now been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for investigation. His mother Lorin LaFave spoke of her fears that a ‘predator’ had preyed on her son via a secretive gaming forum. Miss LaFave, 47, a US-born teaching assistant and school governor said in an internet post: ‘Breck was a clever, good and helpful boy. ‘Like most teenagers, socialising, computers and games were what he enjoyed. ‘The problem was a predator who was trying to control his ideology about religion, government, family, education. Breck looked up to him because of his interesting manner and computer skills. ‘Breck couldn’t see the bad and when I pointed out his obvious lies, they were overlooked by Breck, his friends, and unfortunately the police. Breck may have been shy when we saw cousins over three years ago, however he is actually very calm, clever and confident young man. Unfortunately too confident and independent to believe my warnings.’ Yesterday Breck’s American father Barry paid tribute to his ‘happy, gentle and smart boy’. Victim: Breck Bednar, 14, who was found with stab wounds in Grays, Essex, after telling his parents he was going for a sleepover near his home in Caterham, Surrey. Right, his mother Lorin LaFave . Family home: The detached property in Caterham, Surrey, which Breck Bednar lived in with his parents . Scene: The 14-year-old boy was rushed to hospital after being stabbed in this block of flats in Grays, Essex. He was later pronounced dead . The 49-year-old, who works for . investment firm Tandem Partners, and who owns a £1million flat in Canary . Wharf as well as a £600,000 home in Surrey, said his son appeared . ‘excited’ after returning from a school trip to Spain. He . said: ‘I last saw him on Sunday. He was a happy, gentle and smart boy. He had been in Spain for ten days and he was excited to see us and be . home again.’ The schoolboy’s . cousin Tanner Barth said Breck was ‘addicted’ to video games and had . stopped going to church and turned against his parents after meeting a . man on the internet. In an internet post, he wrote that Breck was an ‘incredibly smart, funny, and cute 14-year-old boy’, before adding: ‘Despite this it was very difficult for him to make friends and he would often avoid social interaction. ‘So, like myself and many others he turned to his computer and the internet for entertainment. ‘He loved to play video games and may have even been a bit addicted to them. He ended up meeting someone who he thought wanted to be his friend. ‘Soon a man began telling him that his parents hated him, and that God isn’t real, and that he shouldn’t go to church. Friends of 14-year-old schoolboy Breck Bednar told yesterday how he would spend hours speaking to online ‘friends’ – often late at night – who he had never met in real life. As they played videogames on the internet, they would use a computer program called Teamspeak 3 to chat to each other. The software allows computer users to make free calls over the internet in a similar way to a conference call. Users often wear a headset with an integrated microphone so they can talk as they play online with several other gamers. Private chat channels can also be set up by groups which are accessed by invitation only. Teamspeak is free to use but there is a fee if someone wants to block other users from joining in. Breck is thought to have been a keen player of violent videogame Battlefield 4, which thousands of teenagers play online. Last night Hannah Broadbent, of online protection charity Childnet, said: ‘Young people should bear in mind that it’s not always easy to spot a groomer. 'Often they might be chatting about things you are interested in and you might not realise. You can never be completely sure that a person is who they say they are on the internet. ‘The most important thing is that young people can tell someone if someone makes them feel uncomfortable online. ‘And never meet up in person or share any personal information. If they are contacted by someone who makes them feel uncomfortable it’s important to report it. ‘It’s really important that we educate young people so they know how to navigate the risks.’ Probe: A forensics officer can be seen entering the flats in Grays, Essex, yesterday where the 14-year-old schoolboy was found seriously injured on Monday. He later died . Probe: A forensics officer is seen in Grays, Essex, today as police carry out a murder investigation . ‘Breck became distant, stopped going to church and quit his extracurricular [activities] altogether. ‘They tried talking to him and helping him to no avail. ‘Two nights ago, Breck told his father that he was going to his friend’s house for a sleepover a couple of blocks away. ‘He ended up taking a train down to Essex, about two hours away to meet a man he had been talking to over the internet. ‘Early the next morning, the police found his body.’ Breck’s aunt Lisa Barth described the boy as ‘absolutely wonderful’ and said his death was a ‘senseless, disgusting tragedy’. And Christopher Curtis, headmaster of St Bede’s School, a Christian comprehensive in Redhill, Surrey, where Breck went to school, said: ‘Breck was a bright and hard-working student who was a real pleasure to teach. ‘His tutor describes him as a model student. A conscientious young man with a great deal  of potential.’ 'Murder': Breck Bednar is thought to have travelled from his home in Caterham, Surrey, to Grays, Essex . It is understood the schoolboy was part of a gaming group run by Daynes called FEP squad, which had around eight members, all thought to be around age 14, and some of whom had never met  in person. Eventually almost all the members left and joined a different group, but Breck stayed. Yesterday neighbours described how an ashen-faced teenage boy was led away from the Essex flat where Breck was found after arriving on Sunday night in a taxi. They described Daynes as an ‘extremely quiet’ loner who moved into the property 18 months ago with the help of his grandparents, who paid for his rent and bills. A spokesman for Surrey Police said: ‘Surrey Police is working with Essex Police following the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy from Caterham in Grays, Essex on Monday, February 17. ‘Due to recent contact Surrey Police had with the victim’s family the case has been referred to  the Independent Police Complaints Commission.’ Probe: A police van is parked outside the block of flats in Grays, Essex, which Breck Bednar travelled to . Cordon: Police tape around bins outside the block of flats which have been cordoned off while police investigate the alleged murder . Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. ### SUMMARY:

Breck Bednar 'told his parents he was going to a friend's house overnight' But he instead went to Grays, Essex, and was stabbed to death, it is claimed . The schoolboy's American father Barry is a Surrey-based oils futures trader . Lewis Daynes, 18, appears in court charged with murdering the schoolboy .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Whether or not Kate Middleton is officially overdue is subject to much speculation, but one thing is for sure: reporters covering the royal birth are overdue some sleep. Some royal correspondents, including NBC anchor Natalie Morales, have been camped out in front of the Duchess . of Cambridge's hospital of choice, St Mary's, for days and even weeks with very . little news to dine out on. In the absence of a royal baby . and uncharacteristically scorching temperatures in London, reporters . have had to find ways to cool down and fill in the hours - and the results have been . entertaining. Knit wit: Natalie Morales knits baby booties to pass the time outside the Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital in London . When in Rome: NBC's Natalie Morales eats fish and chips and drinks a pint of ale beside the tents and deck chairs set up outside St Mary's hospital . Desperate measures: Amy Robach and Lama Hassan, for want of a royal baby story, interview Getty Images photographer Chris Jackson . Top trumps: NBC anchor Natalie Morales holds up her 'top trumps' car outside the Lindo wind of the St Mary's Hospital in London . Practice interviews: The GMA crew weren't the only members of the media resorting to interviews with other journalists, as the palace has remained quiet about baby news . As the world waits with bated breath, U.S. reporters in London to cover the big story are, well, more bored than anything else. Kate’s due date was widely reported as being last Saturday, July 13, and the . world's press has been  stationed outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's . Hospital in London ever since to ensure they don't miss the . new arrival. But the only confirmation from Kate has . been that she was due in ‘mid-July’. Since babies can are most often born within a week either side of the 40-week mark, It could days yet before the baby comes. All this brings no comfort to the the media in limbo outside the Lindo. 'Have this baby already, Kate, please?' implored Morales on NBC's Today on Friday, though she didn't look too miserable as she partook of fish and chips and a . pint of bitter from her chair outside the hospital. “There are people everywhere. I don’t know what they are doing, but (they’re here) all the time, anytime — morning and night,” Lea Fortunato, a researcher at Imperial College London’s Faculty of Medicine, next door to the hospital told the National Post. She said that reporters are there when she arrives for work and there when she leaves. 'They started camping last week. I didn’t think they would camp!' said Million Moyo, a deputy manager in the emergency ward of St Mary’s. 'Most people [at the hospital] are really intrigued.” Inside the metal barricades enclosing the world's media to keep them off the roads, members of the press are starting to go a little stir-crazy. Last week, a camera operator from NBC set up a betting pool based on the baby's sex, the day the baby will arrive and what time. Not satisfied with that small entertainment, he attached bright neon 'for sale' tags to the ladders left behind by photographers the night before. 'Post Partum Ladder Sale,' read one tag. “Will Swap for a Mars Bar,' read another, reported the National Post. Idle hands: One bored cameraman has been keeping himself busy . Expectant: Natalie Morales does a little reading in the wait for the royal heir's birth . Sweet relief: Ice-creams are handed out to the media waiting in the uncharacteristic sweltering heat in London for Kate Middleton to give birth . In for the long haul: A tent is set up in the media waiting area outside the hospital where Kate Middleton is set to give birth . Still no sign of baby: But broadcasters continue to put out updates outside the Lindo Wing . Time for baby: Clocks posted up in NBC's camp show both New York and London time . Making headlines: It will be front page news once the royal baby is presented . Sitting, waiting: With no news on the status of the royal birth, journalists are idling away the time outside St. Mary's hospital in London . Morales has been knitting a pink bootie live on NBC’s flagship Today program. ‘I . think it may be even bigger news at home than it is here,’ she said, . adding: ‘Once Kate goes into labor, we’ll be sleeping . right here.’ Morales may have a point: . 'Americans are obsessed with the birth of the royal baby,' pop culture expert Katrina Szish told Today. 'Not only is it . not just a phenomena we don't have in the United States but it really is . a fairytale come true,' she said. Mingling with the locals: Amy Robach (right) and Lama Hassan (left) of ABC's Good Morning America pose with some London bobbies outside the Lindo Wing . Nothing doing: In the absence of any Royal baby news, reporters are starting to interview each other - here, Robach and Hassan interview SKY TV's Royal Correspondent Paul Harrison . Killing time: Media had already gathered in force by 13 July . Waiting game: The world's press has been camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London for a fortnight, and social media is continually awash with rumours that Middleton has gone into labour . Keeping cool: Reporters recording pieces to camera are a common sight outside St Mary's now, and all appear polished despite the heat and long fruitless hours waiting . Waiting on Katie: A member of the media wiles away the time reading . Any moment now: A cameraman keeps the lens focused on the hospital as the media camp waits for royal baby . Meanwhile, Kate, . 31, stayed at the home of her parents Carole and Michael Middleton in . Berkshire last weekend, while William played in two long-standing . charity polo matches. Adding to the rumors, tip-offs and fevered speculation, the Duchess of Cornwall dropped a . tantalizing hint on Monday that the wait could soon be over, telling . well-wishers she expects the little boy or girl to arrive imminently. Camilla revealed during a visit to a . children's hospice near St Austell, Cornwall: 'We are all just waiting . by the telephone. We are hopeful that by the end of the week he or she . will be here.' However, last Wednesday the Queen appeared to suggest that the baby was already late. She told a 10-year-old schoolgirl on a trip to Cumbria: 'I would very much like it to arrive because I’m going on holiday . soon... I wish it would hurry up.' Outside the hospital are scores of people, not just media, who are anxiously awaiting for the royal arrival. Pat and Norman Bate took two months to . get to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington because the retired fruit and . veg merchants travelled from their Liverpool home to London via . Britain’s canal network  at four mph. Their 55-foot canal boat Ellie May, is moored just behind the royal . hospital, filled with bagfuls of cards and presents for the baby, and its cabin draped with bunting. ‘As soon as we heard Kate was pregnant, I . said that we should aim to get there for the birth, so we left home on . May 1,’ Mrs Bate said. ‘And we hope to be here as long as it takes. After . all, we’re not paying for a hotel.’ Prime position: Terry Hutt, who has been living on a bench outside the hospital for over a week waits patiently . A retired carpenter from Cambridge has been a familiar fixture at major . royal events for years, always dressed head to toe in Union Jack clothes . beneath a Union Jack umbrella hat. The Royal Family, he says, know him . as ‘The Umbrella Man’. Terry, . 78, has been here so long that, a few days ago, he felt compelled to . take himself back to Cambridge for a bath and a change of clothes. He . then returned to London with enough spare Union Jack kit to last him as . long as it takes. ‘What’s another week?’ he says. ‘It’s not boring and it gives my wife a rest from me.’ ### SUMMARY:

World's press has been camped outside the Lindo Wing for a fortnight . No one knows for sure when Kate's due date is - or was . Reporters are finding ways to fill in the interminable hours stationed outside the hospital . Once Kate goes into labor, reporters expect to be keeping vigil 24 hours a day .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: City executive Rona Fairhead will appear before a Commons select committee next week before a final decision is reached over the BBC Trust role . The Government’s preferred candidate to take over as the BBC’s first female chairman is to face a grilling from MPs. City executive Rona Fairhead will appear before a Commons select committee next week before a final decision is reached over the BBC Trust role. The former head of the Financial Times group has been approved by the Prime Minister to succeed Lord Patten. If confirmed in the post, she will be paid £110,000 a year for a three-day working week. But Tory MP Philip Davies, a member of the culture, media and sport select committee, said she faced questions over her role as a non-executive director on the board of banking giant HSBC. The banking group was fined £1.2billion in 2012 for breaching US money-laundering laws and was described as the ‘bank of choice’ for Mexican drug gangs. Mr Davies said: ‘I want to know what she knew about that scandal and what she did to try to prevent it and what she did to investigate it. ‘Second, there is a question mark over her lack of experience in broadcasting and the regulation of broadcasting, which are obviously key elements of being the BBC Trust chairman.’ Another member of the committee, Conor Burns, has suggested ministers were ‘determined’ to appoint a woman to the role. Mr Davies added: ‘We need to ask if she only got the job because she is a woman. I am not saying that Rona Fairhead is the wrong candidate, but our job as a committee is to ask searching questions of any candidate who is put forward for this job.’ The 53-year-old mother of three could also face questions over her political links, having been appointed as a British business ambassador by David Cameron earlier this year. She was a non-executive member of the Cabinet Office board but stood down when she was selected as the preferred candidate to chair the BBC Trust. Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood was on the preliminary interview panel for candidates for the BBC Trust role. Her husband Tom, a director of the private equity firm Campbell Lutyens, is a former Tory councillor in the West London borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The Government has stressed that she was selected following ‘an open recruitment process’ overseen by an independent public appointments assessor. Tory MP Philip Davies, a member of the culture, media and sport select committee, said she is facing questions over her role as a non-executive director on the board of banking giant HSBC . After questioning Mrs Fairhead on Tuesday of next week, members of the Commons select committee will vote on whether they believe she is a suitable candidate and their decision will be put before Mr Cameron for final approval. She was chairman and chief executive of the Financial Times for seven years and received a £1.1million pay-off when she left last year. As well as her HSBC role, she is a non-executive director of soft drinks giant PepsiCo. The BBC will consider whether any of her external roles could represent a conflict of interest. Mrs Fairhead holds a first-class degree in law from Cambridge University and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. She was recently tipped as a future chairman of Barclays. According to the Sunday Times, Mrs Fairhead expressed a willingness to consider changes to the BBC licence fee when she was interviewed by Culture Secretary Sajid Javid. She said: ‘The BBC is a great British institution packed with talented people, and I’m honoured to have the opportunity to be chairman of the BBC Trust.’ Lord Patten announced in May that he would be standing down as chairman of the BBC Trust following heart surgery. The previous frontrunner to succeed him, Lord Coe, pulled out of the race because he said he could not balance the job with his other commitments. Mother they called Airhead who fought all the way to the top . By GUY ADAMS . Rona Fairhead was made chairman and chief executive of The Financial Times in 2006 . When you shatter glass ceilings, it helps to have thick skin. That’s something Rona Fairhead has had to learn the hard way on her journey to the brink of becoming the first woman to lead the BBC in its 91-year history. At the Financial Times, where she was made chairman and chief executive in 2006, boorish male journalists nicknamed her ‘Rona Airhead’, in the belief that she owed the job to gender-based tokenism rather than talent. Now, male MPs are making similar noises, with Conor Burns, a Tory who sits on the Commons committee that will vote on her appointment, expressing ‘enormous’ regret ‘that the Government seems determined to appoint a woman simply because it’s a woman, rather than go out and find the best person’. Others, including Conservative Philip Davies, have voiced concerns about her involvement in recent pay-off and money-laundering controversies and lack of experience in broadcasting. There are also dark rumours of political cronyism. Mrs Fairhead, who was educated at Yarm Grammar School and still speaks with a hint of her native Teesside, is married to wealthy merchant banker Tom Fairhead, who is a former councillor and senior figure in Kensington and Chelsea Tory circles. The couple, who have two teenage sons, and a teenage daughter, live in a £4million home in Holland Park, West London. They are friendly with George Osborne and his wife, Frances. Mrs Fairhead’s links to the Cameroonian establishment extend to her agreeing to become one of the PM’s ‘business ambassadors’. She also sat on the board of the Cabinet Office alongside Sir Jeremy Heywood, Britain’s top civil servant, who is regarded as the most powerful backstage fixer in Downing Street. Strangely, given the need for the BBC appointment process to be seen as unimpeachable, Sir Jeremy happens to have been the most senior member of the selection board which interviewed her for the new job. Quite what the members of the Commons culture, media and sport committee will make of this incestuousness when they interview her next week is anyone’s guess. Yet if history is any guide, Mrs Fairhead, will take criticism on the chin. She has, after all spent the last 30 years on a sharp-elbowed climb through the boardrooms of corporate Britain. A tenacious professional, who cut her teeth as a management consultant, she has spent the past two years battling breast cancer, while holding down directorships of PepsiCo and HSBC, along with the Cabinet Office role. Former Whitehall mandarin Ian Watmore yesterday described her as ‘a class act… tough, ethical and likeable’. She is on the brink of becoming the first woman to lead the BBC in its 91-year history . Mrs Fairhead joined the Financial Times, as chief financial officer in 2002, and began to achieve public prominence as a protégé of Marjorie Scardino, who had in 1997 become the first female FTSE 100 chief executive as boss of the title’s parent firm, Pearson. Mrs Fairhead’s time at the FT’s helm, from 2006 onwards, saw the newspaper become hugely-profitable. But she decided to leave the company in 2012, after failing to be appointed to succeed Dame Marjorie. Although the move was voluntary, the firm gave her a pay-off of £1.1 million, and allowed her to keep millions more in share options. That prompted a shareholder rebellion which saw 37 per cent refuse to endorse Pearson’s remuneration report. The controversy has eerie parallels with that which engulfed the BBC Trust last year, over revelations that senior managers had been given £1.4 million in unnecessarily big pay-offs. Mrs Fairhead, who describes her hobbies in Debrett’s as ‘skiing, scuba diving, flying and family’, has never publicly discussed the affair. If confirmed in her new post, she must not only restore public confidence in the credibility of a BBC Trust severely compromised by the Jimmy Savile affair, but also oversee negotiations for the renewal of the Corporation’s charter, which is due to expire in 2016. It’s an unenviable job, but – as woman with a meteoric career and as a member of Bournemouth Flying Club – Rona Fairhead will relish the challenge. ### SUMMARY:

Rona Fairhead will appear before a Commons select committee next week . Will face questions before final decision is reached over her BBC Trust role . Was non-executive director at bank during money-laundering 'scandal' HSBC was described in 2012 as the 'bank of choice' for Mexican drug gangs .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: At least two of the three babies whose skeletal remains were found in a filthy Massachusetts home may have been alive 'for some period of time', a court heard today. Both bodies were found wearing diapers and one-piece infant outfits in closets in the vermin-infested Blackstone home, assistant district attorney John Bradley said at a pretrial hearing for Erika Murray in Uxbridge District Court. Murray, 31, has been held without bail since her arraignment last month on charges of fetal death concealment, witness intimidation and permitting substantial injury to a child. Scroll down for video . At least two of the three babies whose skeletal remains were found in a filthy Massachusetts home of Erika Murray may have been alive 'for some period of time', prosecutors said in court. Pictured: Murray enters the courtroom for her arraignment at Uxbridge District Court earlier this month . Ramon Rivera III, boyfriend of Erika Murray, in Uxbridge District Court today. Rivera, has not been charged in connection with the discovery of the infants' remains, but faces drug charges for allegedly growing marijuana in the home's basement . She did not appear in front of the judge, who set her bail at $1 million. Murray’s attorney Keith Halpern said she is spending about 23 hours a day in isolation for her safety. In August the state Department of Children and Families removed four children ranging in age from six months to 13 years from Murray's home in about 50 miles southwest of Boston along the Rhode Island border. They were discovered after her 10-year-old son went to a neighbor's house and asked for help in quieting a crying baby. The state Department of Children and Families removed four children ranging in age from 6 months to 13 years from Murray's home in August after her 10-year-old son went to a neighbor's house and asked for help in quieting a crying baby . After interviewing the older children, police got a search warrant and went back to the house, where they found the skeletal remains of one baby with a full head of hair in a backpack in the closet of an upstairs bedroom . The neighbor found the youngest child, a six-month-old covered in feces and a three-year-old child. Neither child has birth records and both are severely malnourished  - the infant is extremely sensitive to sunlight and the three-year-old cannot walk, has poor muscle tone and only makes a few sounds. Today Bradley told the court both of them are developmentally delayed, reports CBSBoston. 'The pediatrician determined that the two had been profoundly neglected. 'The muscle tone of the three-year old was such that it appeared she had spent most of her young life on her back,' said Bradley. Police investigators work outside a home after they discovered the remains of three infants inside a home filled with bugs and trash including dirty diapers piled several feet high, in Blackstone, Massachusetts . Emergency personal in protective clothing fold a tarp on the street in front of a house where the bodies were found . Blackstone code enforcement officer Bill Walsh said when he walked inside the smell was overwhelming, reports the Boston Herald. The second floor looked like a landfill and was 'unbearable.' He said the hidden upstairs were like 'jellyfish,' covered in feces and maggots surrounded by hundreds of dirty diapers. Murray arrived at the house and agreed the children should not live in the home, but did not seem to be upset they would be removed from her care and appeared more concerned about her cat which had disappeared. After interviewing the older children, police got a search warrant and went back to the house, where they found the skeletal remains of one baby with a full head of hair in a backpack in the closet of an upstairs bedroom. After discovering those remains, police obtained another search warrant. Murray in court last month. She did not appear in front of the judge, who set her bail at $1 million . Murray is led out of the district court in Uxbridge, Massachusetts following her arraignment last month . During the second search, they found the remains of two other babies in another bedroom, also inside a closet. The state medical examiner is trying to determine whether they were newborns or fetuses. Murray's attorney, Keith Halpern, has said he believes Murray is suffering from a mental illness. Today the Boston Herald reported that Murray gave birth to her first child in 2001 after meeting her partner, Raymond Rivera who was seven years older, when they both worked at McDonald's. The young family lived with her parents, but when she became pregnant again aged 21 they moved to Rivera's sister's three-bedroom house in Blackstone and she moved out. Friends and family told the news outlet this is when Murray's mental health began to deteriorate. Wearing baggier clothes and not inviting people into her home, she became pregnant twice more, giving birth at the house - it was the bodies of those babies which investigators found. She then gave birth to two more children - the three-year-old and the six-month-old baby. Halpern says that he believes Murray secretly gave birth to those children because her boyfriend didn't want any more kids than the two they already had together, the 10-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. Murray's boyfriend and the father of the children, Ramon Rivera, has not been charged in connection with the discovery of the infants' remains, but faces drug charges for allegedly growing marijuana in the home's basement . The basement of 23 St. Paul Street in Blackstone when investigators visited the home in late August . Initially Murray kept them hidden upstairs when Rivera, 37, was home. She told police that it was only in the summer she told Rivera and her two eldest children of their existence but insisted that she was babysitting them. He is thought to be the father of all seven children, but did apparently did not know he had two younger children, according to investigators. Today in court Halpern insisted it did not make sense that he did not know about the conditions in the house. 'There are parts of this story that make absolutely no sense,' said Halpern, reports CBSBoston. 'It makes no sense particularly given how small this house was, that he could've lived in this house and shared this bedroom and not realized that there were these two that shared the house with him.' Rivera, has not been charged in connection with the discovery of the infants' remains, but faces drug charges for allegedly growing marijuana in the home's basement. Prosecutors also said that the charges against Murray could be upgraded once a grand jury investigation concludes. The Blackstone Board of Health condemned the house where Murray, Rivera and the children lived and are planning to demolish it later this month. Investigators working in the small house had to wear hazardous material suits. 'The house is filled with vermin,' the prosecutor said in August. 'We have flies. We have bugs. We have used diapers, in some areas, as much as a foot-and-a-half to 2-feet high.' Marilynn Soucy, 68, who lives a few doors down, said she was still in shock at the news in the neighborhood where she has lived for 35 years. 'I am so disgusted. It hasn't really registered in my head yet,' she said. 'My husband and I raised seven children. We have 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. I cannot imagine hurting a child.' She said she and her husband, Bob, had rarely seen the couple who lived in the house for at least three years, or their children. She said they occasionally saw the 10-year-old, a boy, playing outside or the woman sit on her porch. Soucy said she never heard any major complaints about the couple, other than her grandkids noted once that the house smelled bad. The two older children are staying with a paternal grandparent, while the two younger ones are receiving medical attention under foster care. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. ### SUMMARY:

Erika Murray, 31, charged with fetal death concealment, witness intimidation and permitting substantial injury to a child . Officials took custody of four children from the Blackstone home in August . Skeletal remains of baby with a full head of hair found in a backpack . Remains of two other babies in another bedroom, also inside a closet . The house has been cleared out and condemned . She did not appear in court and is in isolation 23 hours a day for her safety .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: A mother-of-two nearly died after developing blood poisoning just days after giving birth to her second child. Samantha Cousans, from Sheffield in South Yorkshire, was placed in a coma, her life hanging in the balance as sepsis ravaged her body causing the flesh in her legs to die. For 11 days the mother-of two, who had yet to meet her newborn daughter Megan Rose, fought the vicious condition. When she finally woke, Mrs Cousans was left paralysed after losing muscle function while lying in the medically induced coma. Today, against the odds, Mrs Cousans has made a full recovery, and is now enjoying looking after her two daughters, Olivia, five and Megan now 18 months. Samantha Cousans, 31, from Sheffield was struck down with life-threatening blood poisoning just days after giving birth to baby Megan Rose, now 18 months . The blood poisoning surging through her body caused necrosis - where the body's flesh dies due to lack of oxygen reaching the tissue . She was also left paralysed because her muscles wasted away from being in a coma for so long . Mrs Cousans said: 'After giving birth to Megan I was so excited to be at home, Olivia was so happy to have a baby sister and it should have been a wonderful time. 'But within days my health deteriorate rapidly. 'I felt sick all the time and was so weak - I couldn't even hold Megan as she felt so heavy in my arms. 'When I eventually went to hospital my family were told I might not make it through the night, it was that serious. 'When I came around after my coma I couldn't believe what was happening to me - and being paralysed was very scary. 'But my girls gave me the motivation to keep going and recover quickly, and my husband, Chris, was amazing. 'I'm so lucky - I was very close to losing my arms and legs - and even my life. 'I'm so glad I'm still here to be a mum for my girls.' Mrs Cousan's first daughter, Olivia Grace, had been a Caesarean, so when she went home she thought being exhausted and weak was usual after a normal birth . Mrs Cousans received five different skin graft operations and had physiotherapy to learn to walk again . Sepsis is a common but potentially life-threatening condition. It is triggered by an infection, and causes the body's immune system to go into overdrive. It causes widespread inflammation, swelling and blood clotting. It can lead to a significant fall in blood pressure, which can compromise blood flow to vital organs, including the heart, brain and kidneys. If not treated quickly, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death. Each year in the UK, it is estimated more than 100,000 people are admitted to hospital with sepsis and around 37,000 people die as a result of the condition. Early symptoms include: . In more severe cases a person is likely to suffer: . Source: NHS Choices . Mrs Cousans was suffering from sepsis, a life-threatening blood poisoning that kills 37,000 people in the UK each year. The poison was forcing her organs to fail and was causing necrosis - the death of body tissue - to her legs. Doctors put Mrs Cousans into a medically induced coma while they worked to drain her body of the poison that was killing her. She was left with scars and parts of her muscles missing because the poison prevented oxygen flowing to the tissue, killing the body's flesh. Mrs Cousans said: 'When I came around from the coma I knew something was wrong but I wasn't totally sure. 'It was a huge shock to realise I couldn't move. 'Because I'd been in a coma for so long I'd lost all the use of my muscles - I couldn't even move my fingers. 'It was horrible because I still hadn't held Megan properly, they just had to lie her next to me. 'I had to have five different skin graft operations on my legs too and then I had to learn to walk again. 'There was just so much to deal with.' Mrs Cousans first became ill the evening after Megan was born. She said: 'Megan was born early in the morning and by the evening I was at home. 'But I began to feel very weak and tired - not myself at all. 'Olivia had been born by C-section, so as I'd never gone through a natural birth before I wasn't sure what to expect, I just thought that the way I was feeling was totally normal. Mrs Cousans was in hospital for 11 weeks, and found it difficult to be away from her daughters. 'I hated being away from them, I was worried all the time and I knew I was missing out on watching them grow up - especially with Megan,' she said . Daughters Olivia Grace, five and baby Megan Rose, 18 months came to visit their mother in hospital and took her scary appearance 'in their stride' Mrs Cousans said her girls gave her the motivation to keep going and her husband Chris was 'amazing' 'But as the days wore on I was getting worse and worse. 'I was constantly thirsty and just totally exhausted - I could barely get out of bed. 'It was only when, six days later, a nurse came out to me, that she took one look at me and told me to get to the hospital immediately. 'Apparently the infection actually gives off a smell, and the nurse could smell it in my bedroom. 'I don't remember much after that, but I know I was in a critical condition. 'I later found out that the doctors had caught me in what they call the 'golden hour' - the hour where they need to diagnose and treat me, or it's too late. 'I was incredibly lucky.' 'My story could have ended so differently, and I know I'm one of the lucky ones - many people don't survive' Mrs Cousans says . Doctors rushed her into an operating theatre where they worked to drain the body of poison. She was then in a coma for 11 days while her body worked to recover. Mrs Cousans, said: 'I was brought out of the coma after 11 days, but my journey was far from over. 'I was given five skin grafts on my legs where they'd cut away the dying tissue, and I then had to begin intensive physiotherapy to get my muscles working again. 'It was awful not being able to move - all I wanted to do was cuddle my girls and I couldn't. 'I hated being away from them, I was worried all the time and I knew I was missing out on watching them grow up - especially with Megan. 'I finally saw them after three weeks, but even then I was worried they'd be scared by my appearance. 'Luckily they took it all in their stride and slowly I went from strength to strength. 'But finally after 11 weeks in hospital I stood up on my own for the very first time, and the doctors agreed that I could go home. 'I was still unwell but being at home with Chris and the girls was the best medicine I could have asked for.' Now Mrs Cousans has recovered, and is keen to raise awareness of the condition that nearly stole her life. She said: 'I still don't know why I got sepsis, but it can happen to anyone at any time. 'I just want to make sure people are aware of the symptoms, and to get medical attention immediately. 'My story could have ended so differently, and I know I'm one of the lucky ones - many people don't survive. 'I can't thank the doctors and nurses who treated me enough, they saved my life.' For more information on sepsis visit the UK Sepsis Trust. ### SUMMARY:

Samantha Cousans, 31, gave birth to her second daughter Megan Rose . After going home she felt weak and exhausted and couldn't hold her baby . Her previous child was born via Caesarean so she thought this was normal . A nurse came to check on her and sent her to hospital immediately . She was suffering from sepsis, life-threatening blood poisoning . Doctors put her into a medically induced coma to drain the poison . Poison caused necrosis, where the body's tissue dies from lack of oxygen . After being brought out of the 11-day coma, loss of muscle left her paralysed . Received physiotherapy to learn to walk again and skin grafts for her scars . She is now enjoying time at home with husband and two daughters .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Family, friends and classmates have gathered at the University of Southern California to mourn a Chinese graduate student who was beaten to death near campus in a robbery. Hundreds attended a campus memorial service was held Friday for Xinran Ji. The engineering student was beaten with a baseball bat last week and left a trail of blood before dying in his off-campus apartment. Four teens have been charged with the killing. Through an interpreter, Ji's parents said their only child had only a year left before graduating. The dean of the USC School of Engineering announced a scholarship in Ji's honor. The parents of slain graduate student Xinran Ji, his mother, Jinhui Du, center left, and father, Songbo Ji, center right, attend his memorial service at USC . Deputy Consul General of Los Angeles Lei Wang bows toward family members of Ji Xinran, the USC grad student who was murdered a week earlie . University of Southern California (USC) students and faculty watch a memorial service for murdered USC graduate student Ji Xinran, 24, from China on a television screen on the USC campus . A poster-sized photo of the 24-year-old in a graduation cap and gown was on the stage next to a huge bouquet of white roses and lilies . Several representatives of the university spoke. Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni began the memorial. 'Today . we gather in shock and in sadness to mourn the tragic death of our . beloved student Xinran Ji who leaves behind a hole no one can fill,' he . said. 'He was cruelly taken from us far too soon. And his passing has . left us heartbroken, filled with confusion, anxiety and despair,' Soni . continued. 'We ask ourselves, can there be a sorrow greater than this; a . lament greater than that for a young life lost?' Faculty and students watch a memorial service. More than 300 people attended . Chinese students all studying at different universities in the United States. They flew in from Illinois, Ohio, Texas and elsewhere to be with the family . Also among those in the audience were half a dozen high school classmates of Xinran Ji, all from inner Mongolia . Services were held in both English and Chinese, making it clear the grief spreads across both continents . The . deputy consul general of the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles Lei Wang . spoke urging USC and the L.A. Police Department to take . further measures to ensure the safety of students. About 300 people came to the University of Southern California the service. An overflow of guests gathered around monitors set up in a courtyard outside the service at Newman Hall. 'An excellent student in engineering. He was recognized as an innovator and a future leader in his profession. It was clear, I am told, at a very early age, that Xinran would thrive in a field where technical and critical thinking could shine,' acting USC President and Provost Elizabeth Garrett said. The dean of the USC School of Engineering, Yannis Yortsos, announced a scholarship in Ji’s honor, which would be awarded every year to a foreign student. Yannis Yortsos, Dean of the University of Southern California (USC) Viterbi School of Engineering spoke at the service. He announced a scholarship in Ji¿s honor, which would be awarded every year to a foreign student . Xu Yuan, president of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, spoke. Loved ones praised Ji as popular, hard-working and having a promising future . Xu Yua, President of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association, bows to a photo of Ji Xinran before speaking at the memorial service . 'Like all of you, I am devastated,' Yortsos said. 'So that out of Xinran’s senseless loss will grow the flower of hope and the seeds for a better world.' Everyone stood silently as the parents and other family members of Xinran Ji entered. His parents, uncles and aunts flew in from China this week. A poster-sized photo of the 24-year-old in a graduation cap and gown was on the stage next to a huge bouquet of white roses and lilies. Each speaker bowed before the image and then turned and faced his parents, bowing deeply to them. President of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association Xu Yuan spoke as if talking directly to the deceased Xinran Ji, saying, 'We want you to know we will take care of your mom and dad, so please rest peacefully.' At Friday¿s memorial, services were held in both English and Chinese, making it clear the grief spreads across both continents . The electrical engineering student had graduated from Georgetown University with honors. He had the opportunity to return to his native China but instead wanted to come to USC, according to Ji¿s parents . t was a touching service that carried another message for law enforcement: plenty of people are counting on justice for a student who was taken from them much too soon . The words drawing the most emotional response came from a representative of the family. An uncle read a message from the father who was sitting in the audience but felt he might not be able to make it through the speech. It was a loving letter written from a father to his son. As the uncle read in Chinese, many of the Mandarin speakers in the auditorium started crying. Also among those in the audience were half a dozen high school classmates of Xinran Ji,  all from inner Mongolia and all studying at different universities in the United States. They flew in from Illinois, Ohio, Texas and elsewhere to be with the family. Four people have been charged with capital murder in the slaying of Xinran Ji, 24 . According to LAPD, the 24-year-old student was attacked by a group of teenagers outside his apartment last Thursday morning. Prosecutors allege the suspects used a bat and wrench to beat up the electrical engineering student during a random robbery. Two men, a 17-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl have been charged with capital murder in the slaying, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. The four teens are being held in county jail without bail. Jonathan DelCarmen, 19, Andrew Garcia, 18, Alberto Ochoa, 17, and Alejandra Guerrero, 16, face murder charges with the special circumstance of murder during an attempted robbery, prosecutors said. DelCarmen and Garcia are eligible for the death penalty. Ochoa and Guerrero, who were charged as adults, face life in prison without the possibility of parole. They are ineligible for the death penalty because they are under 18. Daniel Dang, the family's attorney, is upset for his clients. He had a message for the university. 'If you do not do enough to ensure the safety of Chinese students, will have no choice but warn our parents not to send their kids to USC.' University: A Chinese graduate student from the University of Southern California, pictured, was beaten to death near the campus . According to Dang, Ji's parents last . saw their son over Christmas in China. They hoped he would return over . summer, but he decided otherwise. When . the university called them to inform them of their son's death they . refused to believe it was true. It was only when the news was confirmed . by the Chinese consulate that they made plans to come to the U.S. Ji’s killing was the second deadly attack on USC graduate students from China during a botched robbery in as many years. In . 2012, two 23-year-old graduate students, Ying Wu and Ming Qu, were shot . to death as they sat in their car double-parked near the campus. Bryan . Barnes, 21, was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life in prison . without the possibility of parole for the slaying. Javier Bolden, 21, is . awaiting trial in connection with the killings. Apartments: City Park Apartments on W. 30th Street and Vermont Avenue where Ji died . ### SUMMARY:

Students, family and friends gathered at USC’s Newman Hall on Friday to pay tribute to a 25-year-old graduate student . Services were held in both English and Chinese, making it clear the grief spreads across both continents . Loved ones praised Ji as popular, hard-working and having a promising futureUSC engineering student Xinran Ji, 24, was beaten to death . Family members say the graduate student was ambitious and dedicated . Four teens have been charged with murder . Los Angeles police said Ji was attacked with a blunt object . It is the latest in a series of assaults to take place near the university .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: It is a fact that illustrates just how difficult the predicament is becoming for Roberto Martinez: in 2015, Bradford City have beaten more top flight teams than Everton. Such a swaggering and creative force 12 months ago, this campaign has become one long episode of domestic disappointment and, on one of those unforgiving, slate-grey Merseyside afternoons, the woes failed to relent against Leicester City. Everton somehow scrambled a 2-2 draw against the Barclays Premier League’s basement team but on a day when they handed out Blue Noses to fans to mark the 27th anniversary of Everton in the Community, the club charity, Martinez and Company might have been left with red faces. Romelu Lukaku and Matthew Upson battle for the ball which ends up in the back of the net via the Leicester City player's head . An own goal by Leicester's Upson under pressure from Lukaku in the 89th minute saw the game end in a 2-2 draw . Lukaku looked desperate to score for Everton against Leicester and helped make the goal that saw them steal a point . Lukaku celebrates the equaliser that saw Everton and Leicester share a point apiece in their Premier League match . EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard 5: Coleman 6, Stones 7, Jagielka 6.5, Baines 6: Besic 6 (Atsu 55mins 7), McCarthy 7: Lennon 6, Barkley 5 (Gibson 55 7), Naismith 7 (Mirallas 85): Lukaku 5.5 . Subs not used: Robles, Kone, Garbutt, Alcaraz . Goals: Naismith 57, Upson OG 88 . LEICESTER (5-4-1): Schwarzer 7: Simpson 7, Morgan 7, Huth 6.5, Upson 7, Konchesky 6.5: Mahrez 6 (Nugent 62 7), James 7.5, Cambiasso 8 (King 87), Schlupp 6.5 (Vardy 62 7.5): Kramaric 6.5 . Subs not used: Hamer, Drinkwater, Ulloa, Wasilewski . Goals: Nugent 63, Cambiasso 70 . Booked: Morgan . Attendance: 38,940 . Referee: Phil Dowd 7 . How the Premier League table looks . Here's how Naismith gave Everton the lead. Click here for more graphics like this . Tim Howard, normally a figure of such composure and authority, made two uncharacteristic blunders that enabled David Nugent and Esteban Cambiasso to give Leicester a lead that they seemed certain to protect until, in the 88th minute, Matthew Upson put through his own goal. Steven Naismith had opened the scoring for Everton in the 56th minute but not once did they threaten to go through gears, as they did so elegantly in Martinez’s debut campaign. This run – two wins in 14 Premier League matches since November 30 – is vexing their manager. ‘We need to find the enjoyment that we have in the Europa League,’ said Martinez, who refused to point the finger of blame at Howard. ‘We need to look forward to facing the opposition, as we do in Europe, and find enjoy the challenge of facing different teams.’ This Everton team is an enigma. Having looked so confident when they have ventured into Europe, having scored 14 goals in seven games to take them to the brink of the last 16, they have had no rhythm in the Premier League and will not be threatening the top six come May. When Everton are on form, there is a pace and energy to how they go about their business but, from all on, you could see this was going to be one of those ponderous days to which they are prone, passing the ball from side to side without any conviction. An obvious, if rudimentary, tactic to profit here would have been to keep playing balls out to the right flank for Aaron Lennon to scamper after, as neither Paul Konchesky nor Matthew Upson had the pace to get within five yards of the on-loan Tottenham man. But, for some reason, they used it only sporadically and, as a result, Leicester were comfortable. Everton rarely had a sight of goal – Ross Barkley wasted their best chance when blazing over – while the visitors came closest to breaking the deadlock through a curling Andrej Kramaric effort. Steven Naismith gave Everton the lead in the 57th minute but visitors Leicester soon answered back in Merseyside . Naismith shoots to score the opening goal of the match for Everton in the 57th minute as the home side looked to steal three points . Naismith runs away in celebration as Everton took the lead before Leicester got back into the game later . Naismith celebrates scoring for Everton as Roberto Martinez's side aimed for a Premier League win . Everton players celebrate taking the lead after 57 minutes through Naismith on Sunday at Goodison Park . Leciester started the second half confidently, too. They pinned Everton back and had Jeffrey Schlupp shown more composure, they would have taken the lead. Instead, however, Leciester fell behind in the 56th minute when Naismith squeezed a shot past Mark Schwarzer via deflection off Robert Huth. Teams at the bottom can lose heart in such circumstances but Leicester’s character cannot be called into question and they roared back into the contest following Pearson’s decision to introduce Jamie Vardy and Nugent. Vardy is a terrier and his scuttling run down the right in the 63rd minute, beyond Leighton Baines, caused panic but the danger should really have cleared his cross but, instead, Howard inexplicably turned the ball into Nugent’s path and the boyhood Evertonian swept in the loose ball. That rattled Everton and a bigger calamity followed in the 70th minute when Howard completely misjudged Danny Simpson’s cross, allowed it to drift into the path of Vardy, who in turn gave Cambiasso a chance he could not miss. Leicester striker David Nugent scores his team's first goal during the Premier League match to equalise . Nugent knocks the ball into the net to equalise for Leicester on Sunday against Everton . Nugent runs away in celebration after getting Leicester back into the game at 1-1 in the 63rd minute on Sunday . ‘We have three players around him and it ends up with him,’ said Martinez. ‘In football you are going to have errors but it is how you can help your team-mate when an action like that happens. 'As a team we need to defend much better. I don’t see Tim as directly responsible of the draw.’ The mood darkened around Goodison, particularly when Romelu Lukaku fluffed two gilt-edged chances, but some form of redemption arrived in the 88th minute when Upson diverted into own net after Christian Atsu had crossed. It was harsh on Leicester but Pearson was phlegmatic. The dressing room is very disappointed, as you can imagine. We have got to turn these performances into wins, it is that simple, because of the predicament we find ourselves in. But in terms of the performance, it was full of intent. But we didn’t do enough to win. That is the reality.’ Esteban Cambiasso scores to make it 2-1 to Leicester City against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon . Cambiasso runs away in celebration after making it 2-1 to the visitors against Everton as Leicester aimed for a shock win . Cambiasso celebrates with his Leicester team-mates as the Premier League club aimed for three points against Everton . Leicester sit bottom of the Premier League but stole three points from Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon . Everton manager Roberto Martinez (left) shakes hands with Leicester boss Nigel Pearson (right) at Goodison Park . ### SUMMARY:

Steven Naismith gave Everton the lead at Goodison Park in the 57th minute against Leicester City . The visitors soon equalised through substitute David Nugent in the 63rd minute . Esteban Cambiasso made it 2-1 to the Premier League's bottom club in the 70th minute . A Matthew Upson own goal in the 89th minute denied Leicester three valuable points .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: President Barack Obama is losing the war of words when it comes to radical Islam, experts warn, and he may want to abandon his campaign to separate terrorists in the Middle East from their religion. Obama has been adamant that the religion of militants affiliated with ISIS is irrelevant even as other world leaders have labeled them Islamic extremists. Bombarded by criticism, the U.S. president dedicated speeches at the White House counter-terrorism summit on Wednesday and Thursday to defending his administration's stance. But even the name of 1600 Pennsylvania's confab - the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism - suggests the militants are more than just terrorists - they're religious 'extremists,' Obama's critics say, and it's 'self-deception' to pretend otherwise. Scroll down for video . President Barack Obama speaks at the White House Summit to Counter Violent Extremism at the State Department on Thursday. He again tried to explain his administration's stance on violent extremism in his remarks . 'Obama’s reaching a point where he may have to ditch this almost scholastic position,' Akbar Ahmed, chairman of Islamic studies at American University, told the New York Times. 'He sounds like a distinguished professor in the ivory tower, and he may have to come down into the hurly-burly of politics,' Ahmed warned. Peter Wehner, deputy director of speech writing for President George W. Bush, told the Times that part of what Obama is facing is 'a semantic battle, but it’s a semantic battle that goes to deeper issues.' 'Self-deception is not a good idea in politics or international affairs. We’re lying to ourselves, and the world knows it,' Wehner, now a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, added. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday appeared to question Obama's patriotism over the matter. 'I do not believe, and I know this is a horrible thing to say, but I do not believe that the president loves America,' Giuliani said during a dinner for conservatives at 21 Club in Manhattan, according to Politico. 'He doesn’t love you. And he doesn’t love me. He wasn’t brought up the way you were brought up and I was brought up through love of this country.' Giuliani, a 2008 candidate for the Republican nomination to the presidency, said Obama has 'to be able to criticize Islam for the parts of Islam that are wrong.' Referring to remarks Obama made at a prayer breakfast several weeks ago, he charged, 'You criticize Christianity for the part of Christianity that is wrong.' 'I’m not sure how wrong the Crusades are,' Giuliani mused. 'The Crusades were kind of an equal battle between two groups of barbarians. The Muslims and the crusading barbarians. 'What the hell? What’s wrong with this man that he can’t stand up and say there’s a part of Islam that’s sick?' he asked. Giuliani backtracked on Thursday morning and said he is 'not questioning [Obama's] patriotism.' 'He’s a patriot, I’m sure,' Giuliani said on Fox and Friends. 'What I’m saying is, in his rhetoric, I very rarely hear the things that I used to hear Ronald Reagan say, the things that I used to hear Bill Clinton say about how much he loves America.' But he stuck to his guns on the need for Obama to 'connect the dots' when it comes to radicals and Islamism. 'If you refuse to say that there are extremist members of the Islamic religion, well then, it sounds like you’re living on Mars,' he said. On Fox News Wednesday night Texas Sen. Ted Cruz blasted Obama as an 'apologist for radical Islamic terrorists.' Cruz accused the administration of having a 'false moral relativism' and invoked Obama's prayer breakfast speech. 'Now last I checked, the Crusades began a millennia ago, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask the president to stay in the current millennium,' Cruz said, per Politico. The freshman senator and probable Republican presidential candidate said Obama should look to Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a Muslim who has spoken out against violent fundamentalists associated with his religion, as a model. 'Why don’t we see the president of the United States demonstrating that same courage just to speak the truth about the face of evil we’re facing right now?' Cruz asked. A demonstrator stands in front of the White House during the White House counter-terror summit on Wednesday holding a sign criticizing President Obama for his refusal to call label violent extremists by their religion . The president spent the better part of a 30 minute speech on Wednesday explaining that, in his administration's view, it only legitimizes Al Qaeda and ISIS to acknowledge their religious affiliation. 'They try to portray themselves as religious leaders - holy warriors in defense of Islam,' he said. That's why ISIS wants to be called the 'Islamic State.' Furthermore, 'they propagate the notion that America - and the West, generally - is at war with Islam. That’s how they recruit. That’s how they try to radicalize young people,' Obama asserted. 'We must never accept the premise that they put forward, because it is a lie. Nor should we grant these terrorists the religious legitimacy that they seek. They are not religious leaders -- they’re terrorists,' he said to applause. 'And we are not at war with Islam. We are at war with people who have perverted Islam.' Obama dug in his heels in remarks at the summit on Thursday, saying the world cannot give in to terrorists 'especially their attempt to use Islam to justify their violence.' 'These terrorists are desperate for legitimacy, and all of us have a responsibility to refute the notion that groups like ISIL somehow represent Islam,' Obama said during a speech at the State Department. 'Because that is a falsehood that embraces the terrorist narrative.' Obama chastised the media for not portraying Muslims in a more positive light. Because many Americans don't personally know a Muslim, they go off what they see in the news, he contended. And 'given the existing news cycle, that can give a very distorted impression.' 'A lot of the bad,' he said, 'like terrorists who claim to speak for Islam, that's absorbed by the population, and not enough of the good. Muslim-American Mahroh Jahangiri, left, joins a group of protesters gathered in front of the White House on Wednesday during a rally to bring awareness of how  the White House's Countering Violent Extremism summit and measures single out Muslims, regardless of whether it calls militants radical Islamasists . Even as the president has been hit from the right for not drawing a strong enough time between ISIS and Islamism, he has also been hit from Muslim communities over summit speakers' focus on acts of terror committed by groups with roots in Islam. A group of Muslim-Americans protested outside the White House on Wednesday in the bitter cold to bring awareness to their argument - that the Obama administration is unfairly singling out Muslims in its fight against ISIS. The White House admitted on Wednesday that it was 'very mindful' of the fact that a 'particularly virulent strain of extremist ideology has tried to insert itself in the Muslim community.' 'There’s no question about that,' White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. 'That's true in the United States; that's true in other places around the world. And that will be the subject of extensive discussion at the summit.' Obama said Thursday that the coalition against ISIS must also acknowledge that radicals are 'deliberately targeting their propaganda' at Muslim communities, particularly young people of that faith. Muslims need to refute the notion 'that we are the cause of every ill in the Middle East,' Obama argued, because that narrative has also become a foundation for ISIS to try to justify its violence.' ### SUMMARY:

Obama dedicated speeches at the White House counter-terrorism summit on Wednesday and Thursday to defending his administration's stance . Obama's critics say it's 'self-deception' to push the narrative that radicals' religion doesn't matter . 'Obama’s reaching a point where he may have to ditch this almost scholastic position,' says Islamic studies chairman at American University . 'What the hell? What’s wrong with this man that he can’t stand up and say there’s a part of Islam that’s sick?' former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani asked .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: In the Syrian town of Raqqa, Bashar al-Assad’s hated regime has been replaced by something many regard as being even worse – an al-Qaeda-linked group that is torturing people for writing graffiti and abolishing women’s rights. Raqqa used to be one of the most liberal towns in Syria, but chillingly, the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is using violence to impose their rule on the locals and stamp out the freedoms rebels fought for. One man showed a TV news channel how he was left with horrific bruises and burns after jihadists beat him and tortured him with an electrical current for spraying graffiti. This punishment for graffiti was also meted out by the Assad authorities ousted by the revolution, leaving many wondering what it's all been for. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Extremists: Two masked ISIS (Islamic state in Iraq and Syria) movement fighters pictured securing a government building in Raqqa in March . Extremists: ISIS are violent ultra-conservative Islamists with links to Al Qaeda . He told CNN: ‘Every 15 minutes, someone poured water on me, electrocuted me, kicked me, then walked out.’ He went on to describe the anguish he suffered listening to others being tortured. He added: ‘When a person is tortured in front of you, you feel responsible. That's the hardest. One guy still inside used to call me Dad as I taught him about democracy.’ Rebels who have voiced their opposition to ISIS have found themselves arrested and thrown in jail without trial. The town’s women, meanwhile, have been ordered by ISIS via posters to ‘cover up their beauty’, according to CNN, and banned from seeing male doctors or even leaving home without a male relative. One female activist drew comparisons between the once-liberal Raqqa and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. Tortured: This man was beaten up and subjected to severe electric shocks for spraying graffiti . Deceptive: Raqqa looks like a normal Syrian town - but its residents live in fear of ISIS . Dangerous: Activists risked their lives filming these scenes in Raqqa . Raqqa lies to the north-east of war-ravaged Syria . She told CNN: ‘They [ISIS] are closing hair salons, women can't go out at certain times. They spat on one girl for disobedience. It's like Afghanistan. Now people call Raqqa Tora Bora.’ The town’s freedom has been eroded to the extent that even filming can get you flogged. CNN obtained footage of the town from activists willing to risk their lives to show the world what is happening. What's more, the group's activities have spread to surrounding areas. Posters warning that thieves will have their hands cut off have appeared in a nearby town. Protests have taken place over the past few months and graffiti has appeared in Raqqa likening ISIS to the Assad regime and telling them to get out. However, such is ISIS's iron grip that no one dares spray it or film it during the daytime. ISIS is not about to be moved on and is strengthening its position by schooling young boys in the town in a radical approach to Islam. ISIS has filled a gap left by weak and divided rebel groups . Reign of terror: This poster warned residents in a town near Raqqa that thieves would have their hands cut off . Protest: Locals have voiced their opposition to ISIS . Indoctrination: Raqqa children wearing ISIS headbands are schooled in ultra-conservative Islam . On Wednesday a car bomb killed at least eight security personnel in a rare attack on a military intelligence headquarters in the southern Syrian city of Suweida, and a separate blast killed eight people in Damascus. The pro-opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said the car bomb in Suweida, hitherto largely spared violence in Syria's civil war, had also wounded dozens. The Observatory's head, Rami Abdelrahman, said a colonel was among security officers killed in the blast at the regional Air Force Intelligence headquarters in the city, populated mostly by minority Druze. A picture released by the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) on Wednesday shows Syrians carrying an injured man after a bomb explosion allegedly rocked the heart of the Syrian capital Damascus . Clashes erupted after the explosion, he said. A photograph uploaded by activists showed a thick column of smoke rising above the Suweida skyline. The state news agency SANA said the Suweida blast wounded 41 people but made no mention of the target, saying only that a 'terrorist' car bomb had hit a square in the city. State media often use the word terrorist to describe the rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad in a struggle that has cost well over 100,000 lives since it began in March 2011. A man carrying an injured child after the Damascus bomb explosion. Insurgents have resorted to improvised bombs to strike security and political targets in government-held areas . The government-controlled Suweida region is home to many Druze, who have mostly stayed neutral in the conflict, although some have joined paramilitary forces supporting Assad. Earlier in the day, SANA said an improvised bomb had exploded in Hejaz Square in the crowded heart of Damascus, killing eight people and wounding at least 50. The British-based Observatory, which has a network of activists across Syria, put the toll there at seven dead and at least 20 wounded. It cited conflicting reports from activists as to whether the explosion was caused by a bomb or a mortar shell. Rebels have seized a ring of suburbs outside the capital but the army has blockaded these areas to try to keep central Damascus secure. Insurgents have resorted to improvised bombs to strike security and political targets in government-held areas. Damascus residents reported seeing a mortar bomb land near the army's General Staff headquarters in Umayyad Square, a big road intersection, on Wednesday. They had no word on casualties. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS,is a pro Al Qaida group jihadist group that many fear is taking an iron grip over parts of Syria. The group was formed in April 2013 and grew out of Al Qaeda's affiliate organisation in Iraq. It has since become one of the main jihadist groups fighting government forces in Syria. The final 's' in the acronym Isis stems from the Arabic word 'al-Sham'. This can mean the Levant, Syria or even Damascus but in the context of the global jihad it refers to the Levant. Its precise size is unknown, but it is thought to include thousands of fighters, including many foreign jihadists. Analysts say non-Syrians constitute a majority of Isis's elite fighter corps and are disproportionately represented in its leadership. It took over the city of Raqqa after rebels overran the city in March 2013. It was the first provincial capital to fall under rebel control. It also has a presence in a number of towns close to the Turkish border in the north of the country, and has gained a reputation for brutal rule in the areas that it controls.Inter-rebel tension . The group has been operating independently of other jihadist groups such as the Nusra Front and has had a tense relationship with other rebels in Syria. In July, a commander of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) was reportedly shot dead by Isis fighters in the coastal province of Lattakia. There were also reports of deadly clashes between the two groups in the north-western province of Idlib. Isis also seized the northern town of Azaz from the FSA on 18 September. There has also been friction with other Islamists. In November 2013, ISIS was accused of killing a prominent member of the Syrian Islamist rebel group Ahrar al-Sham. In the most recent sign of continuing tension, ISIS suffered losses in two days of fighting against an alliance of other rebel forces in Aleppo and Idlib provinces. ### SUMMARY:

The 'Islamic State of Iraq and Syria' is torturing locals to impose their rule . The extremist group has also banned women from seeing male doctors . The town is being compared to Taliban-run communities in Afghanistan . Even filming street scenes can result in arrest and torture .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Forget the Scottish islands or Cornish coast, anyone searching for the good life need look no further than upmarket Surrey. Those luckily enough to live in the county's exclusive Waverley area may be unsurprised to learn that they enjoy a better quality of life . than any other rural area in Britain. Waverley scored the highest in a newly-published comprehensive study, looking at a range of factors from health and prosperity to employment and weather. The good life: The historic town of Godalming in Waverley, which was named as the rural area with the best quality of life . Peace and calm: The River Wey flows past Goldalming in Waverley on a sunny day in upmarket Surrey . Historic: Waverley Abbey near Farnham also attracts tourists to this upmarket part of the world . For example, people in Waverley earn . more money, enjoy more sunshine and live longer than the national . average, according to the report from the banking giant Halifax. It is followed by Uttlesford in Essex, East Hertfordshire, Chiltern in Buckinghamshire and Maldon in Essex, which make up the remaining top five. Waverley's towns of Godalming, Haslemere and Farnham have long attracted affluent commuters, wealthy families and celebrities. The quiet towns, filled with historic architecture and independent businesses, are surrounded by picturesque villages, nestled among a walker's paradise of hills, woods and healthlands. Perfect mix: Haslemere combines the peace and tranquility of the countryside with easy access to London . Home sweet home: Farnham in Surrey is another of Waverley's main towns, home to affluent commuters . Prestigious: Charterhouse School is one of the more expensive options for wealthy families in Waverley . Waverley's attractiveness has certainly not gone noticed by Hollywood location scouts. Casino Royale, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, . Robin Hood and Gladiator, are just a few of the blockbusters to be filmed there. 1. Waverley, Surrey . 2. Uttlesford, Essex . 3. East Hertfordshire . 4. Chiltern, Bucks . 5. Maldon, Essex . 6. South Cambs . 7. Rushcliffe, Notts . 8. Vale of White Horse, Oxon . 9. South Northamptonshire . 10. South Oxfordshire . 11. Rutland . 12. Mid Sussex . 13. Aylesbury Vale, Bucks . 14. East Cambrdigeshire . 15. West Oxfordshire . 16. East Dorset . 17. Tandbridge, Surrey . 18. Harborough, Leics . 19. Suffolk Coastal . 20. West Berkshire . 21. Tonbridge and Malling, Kent . 22. South Kesteven, Lincs . 23. St Edmundsbury, Suffolk . 24. Huntingdonshire . 25. Wychavon, Worcs . 26. East Northamptonshire . 27. New Forest, Hants . 28. Wealden, East Sussex . 29. Test Valley, Hants . 30. East Hampshire . 31. Mid Suffolk . 32. North Kesteven, Lincs . 33. Selby, N Yorks . 34. South Norfolk . 35. Melton, Leics . 36. Shepway, Kent . 37. Babergh, Suffolk . 38. Tewkesbury, Glos . 39. East Riding of Yorkshire . 40. Broadland, Norfolk . 41. Cotswold, Glos . 42. Hambleton, N Yorks . 43. Chewell, Oxfordshire . 44. Malvern Hills, Worcs . 45. Hinckley and Bosworth, Leics . 46. Forest Heath . 47. Newark and Sherwood, Notts . 48. Wiltshire . 49. Purbeck Dorset . 50. West Lindsey, Lincs . The council area is centred around . Godalming, which has been dubbed 'Celebrity Central' because of the . range of famous faces to have been spotted around the town over the . years. Penelope Keith, Chris Evans, Anthea . Turner, Ringo Starr, Damon Hill and Eric Clapton are just a few to have . called Godalming home. Picturesque: The Old Barge pub in East Hertfordshire, which was named third in the list of top 50 rural areas . Catching some rays: Maldon in Essex not only made the top five in the quality of life study, it was second in the country for most sun . But the promise of easy access to . London, just 30 miles away, coupled with the peace and tranquility of . the great British countryside comes at a price. Waverley covers a total area of and has a 133 square miles, with a population 121,800. The local council, which was formed in 1974, is dominated by Conservative councillors. Waverley Abbey, one of the area's most famous landmarks, is the earliest Cistercian monastery in Britain. The borough is also known for its Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Blackheath Common. The average property price is £325,034, which roughly double the national average. Its main town, Goldaming, was the first in the country to have electric street lights in 1881. The average property price in Waverley is £325,034 compared to a national average of around £162,000. Councillor Robert Knowles, leader of Waverley Borough Council, described the area as 'truly a great place to live'. He said: 'We take great pride in our . borough and provide high standards of street cleaning which helps to . make people feel good about living or visiting the borough.' Godalming's other claims to fame include it being the first town in the world to have electric street lighting in 1881. It is also where the celebrated professional relationship between architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and garden designer Gertrude Jekyll began. Previous winners of the Halifax . quality of rural survey, which it conducts every year, include East and . South Cambridgeshire, Mid Suffolk and the Chilterns. Quality: Wonersh is one of more than a dozen eclusive satellite villages surrounding Godalming . A rural local authority is defined as . one in which the majority of residents live in towns or villages with a . population of less than 10,000 people. Rolling hills: Chiltern, Bucks, was named fourth for best quality of life . Topping its list of the best rural areas for sunshine is Shepway in Kent, which sees an average of 35.6 hours a week. Maldon in Essex, which made the top five in the quality of life league, came second with 34.3 hours, followed by the New Forest. But if its a job you are after, Suffolk Coastal has the highest percentage of adults in work at 85.8 per cent. Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, said: 'Waverley has performed consistently strongly across a wide range of indicators for a number of years, and the latest survey found residents here now have the best quality of life in rural Britain. 'While Waverley is not the top area in any one indicator, its strength is that it performs strongly across the board. 'The average resident has a high weekly income, enjoys above average health and life expectancy and low crime rates. 'But while they also benefit from a big home with central heating, living there does not come with a hefty price tag, with house prices relative to earnings below the average for rural areas. 'It is the combination of factors taken together which ensure that residents in Waverley enjoy the highest standard of living in rural Britain.' ### SUMMARY:

Waverley tops the list of 50 rural areas in Britain with the best quality of life . But it comes at a price, with properties roughly double national average . Historic towns of Goldaming, Haslemere and Farnham among its draws . Residents earn more, live longer and enjoy more sun, according to report . It is home to affluent commuters, wealthy families and many celebrities . Uttlesford, Essex, East Hertfordshire and Chiltern, Bucks, among top four . Shepway, Kent, is sunniest place in Britain but Suffolk Coastal best for jobs .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Two Palestinians, including a 13-year-old boy, have been killed by Israeli soldiers carrying out raids linked to the search for three teenagers believed to have been abducted in the West Bank. Mohammed Dodeen, whose funeral has already taken place, is believed to have been killed by a bullet to the chest during army raids in Dura refugee camp in the Palestinian territory this morning. The army also opened fire during a raid in the nearby Qalandiya refugee camp, leaving three Palestinians seriously wounded, and killing 23-year-old Mustafa Aslan - bringing the total number killed during raids by Israeli soldiers this week to three. The deaths come as Israel condemned the United Nations for refusing to say the missing teenagers had been abducted, condemning their stance on the matter as 'hypocritical', as well as 'out of touch, out of line and out of time'. Grief: Mohammed Dodeen (pictured) is believed to have been killed by a bullet to the chest during army raids in Dura refugee camp in the Palestinian territory this morning. The army also opened fire during a raid in the nearby Qalandiya refugee camp . Funeral: Mohammed Dodeen's death came during a raid in Dura by the Israeli army. Over the past week, thousands of soldiers have searched locations in the West Bank and arrested more than 300 Palestinians, many from Hamas. The total number of Palestinians killed by the soldiers during the raids now stands at three . Anger: A large number of Palestinians carry the body of 13-year-old Mohamed Dodeen during his funeral in the West Bank village of Dura this afternoon . Outpouring: Hundreds of Palestinians turned out for the funeral of Mohammed Dodeen. A hospital official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to media, said the 13-year-old was killed by a bullet in the chest . The three Jewish seminary students disappeared June 12 while hitchhiking in the West Bank. Israel has blamed the Islamic militant Hamas group for the apparent abduction, but has offered no proof for the claims. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has used the search to promote two other objectives - a new crackdown on Hamas and an attempt to discredit the Palestinian unity government formed earlier this month by Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas, which is supported by Hamas. Hamas has praised the alleged abduction of the teenagers but has not claimed responsibility for it. The group has abducted Israelis in the past to press for the release of thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. In Hebron, families of Palestinians arrested recently in Israeli raids protested after weekly Muslim prayers. They gestured with three fingers, one for each missing teen, in a sign of their support for the alleged abduction. The gesture has become popular on social media among Palestinians and others who support the abductions of Israelis. In a video posted on YouTube yesterday, Israel accused the UN of hypocrisy for it's stance on the matter. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon initially expressed solidarity with the teens' families and called for them to be released, but the UN subsequently went back on the statement, saying it could not prove that the three boys had been kidnapped. Israel's mission to the UN expressed anger at the statement, adding: 'The UN is out of touch, out of line and out of time.' Arrests: The Israeli military said it conducted raids in four towns and refugee camps early this morning, detaining 25 suspects and searching about 200 locations. They said they had searched nine institutions linked to Hamas and had confiscated various material . Tears: Mohammed Dodeen's grandmother (left) and his mother Aida (right) were among the hundreds of Palestinians to attend the 13-year-old's funeral this afternoon . Arrests: The Israeli military said it conducted raids in four towns and refugee camps early this morning, detaining 25 suspects and searching about 200 locations. The admitted searching nine institutions linked to Hamas and confiscated materials . Shooting: The Israeli army confirmed soldiers used live fire during the raids, but insisted they they were only responding to life-threatening situations. They added that their soldiers engaged in sporadic confrontations with Palestinians . Numbers: Palestinians threw homemade explosives, firebombs, fireworks and stones in response to the raids, the Israeli military said. In the Qalandiya refugee camp, a soldier was lightly hurt by a grenade thrown at the many troops involved in the operation . Over the past week, thousands of Israeli . troops have searched hundreds of locations in the West Bank and arrested . more than 300 Palestinians, many from Hamas. The Israeli military said it conducted raids in four towns and refugee camps early this morning, detaining 25 suspects and searching about 200 locations. The army said it searched nine institutions linked to Hamas and confiscated materials. In one raid, in the town of Dura near Hebron, Palestinian youths threw stones at soldiers, drawing army fire. A hospital official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to media, said 13-year-old Mohammed Dodeen was killed by a bullet in the chest. The official had earlier said he was 15. The army also opened fire during a raid in the Qalandiya refugee camp, where three Palestinians were seriously wounded, said Ahmed Bitawi, director of Ramallah's hospital. One of the three, 23-year-old Mustafa Aslan, later died of his wounds. The army confirmed soldiers used live fire, saying they were responding to life-threatening situations, and added that the troops engaged in sporadic confrontations during Friday's raids. Palestinians . threw homemade explosives, firebombs, fireworks and stones, the . military said. In Qalandiya, a soldier was lightly hurt by a grenade . thrown at troops, it said. Target: One of the locations hit during yesterday's raids was the office of the Islamic student union at the West Bank's Bir Zeit University (pictured). A military spokesman said Hamas paraphernalia was confiscated as well as computers and databases, which are now being searched . Crackdown: Israeli soldiers take position near the science faculty during a night raid at the West Bank University of Birzeit, near Ramallah last night. A senior Israeli intelligence officer today said that anyone it suspects of links to Hamas is potentially a target for arrest . Hunt: Over the past week, thousands of Israeli troops have searched hundreds of locations in the West Bank and arrested more than 300 Palestinians, many from Hamas . Suspicions: Israeli soldiers surround the Islamic Charitable Society in the West Bank as the prepare to enter the building due to suspected links with Hamas . A senior Israeli intelligence officer today said that anyone linked to Hamas was potentially a target for arrest. He acknowledged that despite recent government declarations of a major crackdown on Hamas, both Israel and Abbas' Palestinian Authority have already dismantled much of the movement's West Bank infrastructure in recent years. 'But there are a lot of small places that are supporting Hamas," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military briefing regulations. 'We'll go to every place that has a sign of Hamas on it, and we're going to hit it. Whether it's small or large. We really don't look only for the big symbols. There are no big symbols ... the Palestinian Authority did it [the crackdown] before and we did it.' One of the locations targeted yesterday was the office of the Islamic student union at the West Bank's Bir Zeit University. A military spokesman said Hamas paraphernalia were confiscated as well as computers and databases, which are being searched. Hamas activists said they had used the office to store materials for protests, such as flags and posters commemorating slain militants. ### SUMMARY:

Mohammed Dodeen, 13, and Mustafa Aslan, 23, were shot dead by the Israeli military during raids this morning . A total of three Palestinians have been killed during raids by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank this week alone . Deaths come as Israel cracks down on Palestinians linked to Hamas following alleged abduction of three teens . Over the past week, troops have searched hundreds of locations in the West Bank and arrested 300 Palestinians . Deaths come as Israel condemns United Nations for refusing to say the missing teenagers had been abducted .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: NBC has pulled the plug on its planned comedy project with Bill Cosby following claims by multiple women that he drugged and raped them. 'We can confirm that the Cosby project is no longer in development,' the network said in a statement released on Wednesday afternoon. The announcement came just hours after Netflix said it has postponed its new stand-up comedy special, Bill Cosby 77, which was due to air the day after Thanksgiving. Appearances by Cosby on shows including Late Night With David Letterman and The Queen Latifah Show have also been cancelled as accusations against the comedian mount. Scroll down for video... Accused: Bill Cosby, pictured in September, has been accused of rape by multiple women - leading NBC to cancel a proposed comedy series starring the actor . On Wednesday, sources told Variety that writers and producers working on NBC's still-untitled comedy project with the star were told on Wednesday that it is no longer going forward. The network had set a deal for the show with Cosby last summer and it was set to star him in another family setting, similar to his role in The Cosby Show. Sony Pictures TV was going to develop the script with writers Mike O'Malley and Mike Sikowitz, although a finished script was never handed over to NBC, according to Variety. The cancellation came after yet more women stepped forward to claim he had sexually assaulted them, often after providing them with alcohol. Removed: TV Land has decided "The Cosby Show" isn't worth the risk, so it's quietly killing the show's presence on it's website . Now the cable network TV Land has also decided any association with the funnyman isn't worth the risk. The company is quietly killing his show's presence on it's website. On Wednesday deactivated all of the "Cosby" links. Previously, users were able to watch video clips of his show and get information about air dates. Those same links now direct users to an error page. Meanwhile, his comedy concert series appears to still be going ahead. TMZ  is reporting that staff at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas had a meeting on Wednesday to decide whether or not to pull Thursday's show, which is almost sold out. He is also due to perform in Melbourne, Florida on Friday to another packed house. Again, the show is on and nobody has asked for a refund. Next Friday he is scheduled to perform in Las Vegas. There are still seats available and the show has not been cancelled and it is likely to remain that way until any formal charges are filed. Chilling: Former model Janice Dickinson claimed in an interview on Tuesday evening, pictured, how he drugged her with a pill and wine and raped her in 1982. The next day she was in a lot of pain, she said . ANDREA CONSTAND . In 2005 the former director of operations for the women's basketball team at Temple University went to authorities to reveal she was sexually molested by Cosby. Without enough evidence to indict him, Constand launched a civil suit but settled out of court. At the time, 13 other women said they would testify about assaults they had suffered at the hands of Cosby but due to the settlement, they did not appear in court. BARBARA BOWMAN . In October she told MailOnline that in the mid-1980's, when she was an aspiring actress living in Colorado, she was introduced to the comic who would help launch her career. She says she was 'drugged, raped an emotionally abused' by the man who had become a father figure to her. JOAN TARSHIS . On two occasions in Hollywood in 1969 the music publicist says Cosby gave her 'strong drinks that caused her to black out and when she awoke she was naked and he then attacked her'. LINDA JOY TRAITZ . Traitz of Hallandale Beach, Florida, claims she was just 19 when the actor drove her out to a beach in Los Angeles and tried to get her to relax by taking drugs . JANICE DICKINSON . Last night supermodel Janice Dickinson told Entertainment Tonight that Bill Cosby lured her to his home with a TV offer and then drugged and raped her in 1982. 'The last thing I remember is him taking off his robe and climbing on top of me': . TAMARA GREEN . Green told MailOnline that she was an aspiring actress in the 1970s when Cosby gave her pills and pretended to care for her while she had the flu, but instead sexually assaulted her. On Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday, former model Janice Dickinson, now 59, said that Cosby sexually assaulted her in 1982. Dickinson said it happened after a dinner they shared in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where she said she had gone to talk about a job offer from Cosby. At the dinner she said she had red wine and a pill Cosby gave her because she had menstrual and stomach pains. 'The next morning I woke up, and I wasn't wearing my pajamas, and I remember before I passed out that I had been sexually assaulted by this man,' Dickinson told ET. She said she woke up with semen between her legs. She added that she is coming forward now though because she believes the other victims who have spoken publicly, and that it is the 'right thing to do'. As for what she would say to Cosby if she saw him, Dickinson does not mince words. 'How dare you,' she said. 'Go f*** yourself. How dare you take advantage of me. And I hope you rot.' It came after former actress Barbara Bowman revealed her alleged abuse to MailOnline, explaining that in 1985, at age 17, Cosby 'brainwashed me into viewing him as a father figure, and then assaulted me multiple times'. Then on Sunday, Joan Tarshis, a former publicist, said she was working as a writer for Cosby in 1969, when Cosby drugged and sexually abused her on two occasions. Linda Joy Traitz then stepped forward to claim Cosby attacked her when she was 19. Then on Wednesday, another woman, retired lawyer Tamara Green, claimed Cosby gave her pills and pretended to care for her while she had the flu, but instead sexually assaulted her in the 1970s. She was an aspiring actress at the time and Cosby promised to help her secure roles. Cosby has denied the allegations. He has never been criminally charged in any case, but in November 2006, Cosby settled a civil lawsuit with Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee who claimed he had drugged and sexually assaulted her in his Philadelphia-area mansion two years earlier. Brave: Barbara Bowman, left, says she was raped by Cosby in 1985 when she was an aspiring actress, while retired attorney Tamara Green, right, said Cosby drugged and raped her in the 1970s . Accusers: Joan Tarshis, left, says she was working as a writer in 1969 when Cosby assaulted her twice, while Amanda Constand, right, settled a civil suit against Cosby in 2006 for assaulting her in 2004 . Her lawyers said they had the names of 13 other women who had come forward voluntarily with similar accounts of drugging or abuse at the hands of Cosby - but the settlement was reached before the other women could testify. Following the accusations, on Tuesday, Netflix said it would not be airing its show as planned. 'At this time we are postponing the launch of the new stand-up comedy special Bill Cosby 77,' the video streaming service said in a statement. The show was going to be a birthday celebration for Cosby, in which he would share stories from his childhood, first romantic relationships and parenthood, according to reports. ### SUMMARY:

NBC announced on Wednesday that it is no longer developing a comedy series with Bill Cosby . It came just hours after Netflix said it was postponing a new stand-up comedy special, Bill Cosby 77 . Cable network TV Land has also decided any association with the funnyman isn't worth the risk and removed his shows from their website . Meanwhile, his comedy concert series appears to be going ahead . Five women have recently come forward to detail the sexual abuse they say they suffered at the hands of the comedian . Their cases follow accusations by another woman who settled out of court with Cosby over an alleged attack in 2004 . On Tuesday, former model Janice Dickinson claimed she was drugged and sexually assaulted by Cosby in 1982 .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: One Saturday evening a few years ago, a football manager confided his thoughts on Roy Keane to a small group of journalists. He deplored his behaviour, his disciplinary record and his general air of brooding malevolence. Somebody made the tentative suggestion that Keane might have one or two good points. The manager thought for a moment. ‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘But he keeps them bloody well hidden.’ At the time, it was an image which Keane did little to dispel. For him, it appeared, football was a violent game in a violent world. You played, you fought, you prevailed. And if you could inflict a little damage along the way, then so much the better. VIDEO Scroll down to watch the best bits from Roy Keane's book launch . Roy Keane does little to dispel his image as a malevolent hard man in the first half of his book The Second Half . In his playing days, it appeared, football was a violent game in a violent world - a game to be fought and won . It was a joyless philosophy, but Keane seemed a joyless individual; truculent, combative, a man who could pick a fight in an empty room. The fact that he was a wonderful player, one of the finest of his generation, only enhanced his aura. Some suspected the aggressive persona was something of an artifice; the cropped head, the jutting jaw, the intimidating stare. There was more than a whiff of calculation about the way he carried himself, but so daunting was the effect that few were prepared to question his credentials. If it really was an act, then Roy Keane was a hell of an actor. In truth, the question has not been settled by his latest autobiography, The Second Half. Keane is at pains to reassure us that he really was the monster of myth and legend. His violent clashes are regurgitated in lingering detail. The notorious assault on Alf-Inge Haaland is not only exhumed but opens the book: ‘I wanted to hurt him and stand over him and go, “Take that, you c***”. I don’t regret that.’ He describes a fight with Peter Schmeichel in a Hong Kong hotel: ‘Peter had grabbed me, I’d head-butted him.’ He relates in detail an altercation with Manchester United’s assistant manager Carlos Queiroz: ‘I’m surprised I didn’t knock him out.’ Keane's notorious assault on Alf-Inge Haaland (ground) in 2001 opens the book. ‘I wanted to hurt him,' he says . Keane, through writer Roddy Doyle, recalls a fight in which he heatbutted team-mate Peter Schmeichel (left) For those who subscribe to the popular perception of Roy Keane, the first half of this book will reinforce every prejudice. But then he becomes a manager. Everything changes, and his book captures those changes quite brilliantly. We become aware that Keane possesses a rare capacity for self-analysis. On the face of it, he is the epitome of gruff indifference: ‘This is me. If you don’t like me, tough!’ In fact, he worries about his tendency to self-destruct, he articulates the difference between anger and rage, and he reveals an insecurity we scarcely expected in so assertive a character. And he gathers together all the strands of this infinitely complex personality, and goes off to manage Sunderland. His confidences are occasionally beguiling: ‘I’d never had an office before. Now I had a secretary. I had a phone; a phone with buttons and different lines. I had a leather chair that swung around, a swivel chair. For the first few days I used to swing around on it. If any of the players or staff had peeped through the office window they would have seen me going, “Wheeeh!”’ He didn’t put up pictures of his family, since he didn’t want to make the place too comfortable: ‘I thought: “If things go badly, I want to be able to clear it out pretty quickly.” One box.’ Keane holds a copy of The Second Half in which he reveals another side to his personality . In passing, he supplies a delightful deflation of the risible Robbie Savage. Keane has the vague thought that Savage might give Sunderland a lift. ‘So I got Robbie’s number and rang him up. It went to his voicemail: “Hi, it’s Robbie — whazzup!” — like the Budweiser ad. I never called him back. I thought: “I can’t be f****** signing that”.’ He picks up on the small things, like the pre-match choice of music. ‘The last song that was played before the players went out on to the pitch was Dancing Queen by Abba. What really worried me was that none of the players, nobody, said: “Get that s*** off”… We lost 3-1. I don’t think it was down to Dancing Queen, but after the match I criticised the players… They were going out to play a match, men versus men; testosterone levels were high. You’ve got to hit people at pace. F****** Dancing Queen. I wouldn’t have minded if it had been one of Abba’s faster ones.’ Slowly, certainly, he grows to love the club. He becomes utterly engaged in the complexities of the job; not merely the tactics and performances, but the human relationships, the anticipation of crises, the way the staff would come to him with marital difficulties or problems with their children. Keane applauds on the bench in Dublin in his capacity as Republic of Ireland assistant manager . Keane (centre) gives a wry smile ahead Ireland's 7-0 defeat of Gibraltar in Euro 2016 qualifying . ‘I think that was one of my strengths,’ he says. ‘I think I had a kindness to me. But there was never a day when I’d go into work and come out in the same mood; there’d always be something going on.’ He starts to enjoy it, the setbacks and the successes. He takes Sunderland from the foot of the Championship to the title in his first season. He preserves their Premier League place in his second. He revels in the victories and tells a harrowing tale of his reaction to a 7-1 beating at Everton: ‘I hardly left the bed for 48 hours. I don’t think I even showered for two or three days. I was punishing myself.’ In the third year of a three-year contract, after some hard words with the new owner, he takes his leave. Just like that. Some six months later, he joined Ipswich. It was the wrong club at the wrong time. Again, he is fiercely honest: ‘I don’t think I’m a bad manager, but at Ipswich I managed badly.’ Keane enjoys his step into management at Sunderland, the setbacks and the successes . Even as a boss though his fiery, passionate side came out - here he argues with referee Rob Styles after his player Paul McShane is sent off in 2007 . After success at Sunderland, Keane gives an honest appraisal of his next job at Ipswich: 'I managed badly' We sense that he almost welcomed the parting. But it was to Sunderland that he gave the best of himself, where he discovered what the job entails, and he tells his story with startling clarity and almost painful candour. It is light years beyond the usual pap of managerial memoirs: ‘Toe-to-toe with Jose… Wild nights with Fergie… My Dream Team to play Mars.’ Keane’s book, ghost-written by Roddy Doyle, is an endlessly absorbing piece of work. It may well be the finest, most incisive deconstruction of football management that the game has ever produced. In short, it is something of a masterpiece. Roy Keane’s good points are hidden no longer. PS . The people who conduct post-match interviews for Sky Sports are rarely mistaken for Jeremy Paxman. But last weekend’s cross-examination of Alex Song and Stewart Downing, following West Ham’s victory over QPR, touched brave new levels of obsequiousness. ‘Guys,’ began the interrogator, ‘after that brilliant win against Liverpool, was that a decent way to back it up?’ As the great Eric Morecambe used to say: ‘There’s no answer to that.’ ### SUMMARY:

Roy Keane did little to dispel his perceived malevolent persona . In the first half of his book, The Second Half, he reinforces every prejudice . But then the former Manchester United hard man becomes a manager at Sunderland ... and everything changes . This book is light years beyond the usual pap of managerial memoirs . It is something of a masterpiece and finally reveals his good points .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: At the age of 13, Megan Worrall thought nothing of jumping on a sunbed to take the last few minutes of her mother's session. When she was younger, her mother had been diagnosed with psoriasis and believed using sunbeds would help her skin condition. Lured by the glamorous pictures of tanned women on the walls of the sunbed salon, Miss Worrall believed two sessions a week was good for her health, helping boost her vitamin D levels. But six years later while watching Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies, the then 19-year-old realised the dangers, noticing changes to a mole on her leg. Scroll down for video . Megal Worrall, from Liverpool, first started using sunbeds when she was 13 years old, jumping on for the last few minutes of her mother's sessions . The naturally pale-skinned and freckly teenager was referred to a dermatologist, who removed the mole along - leaving a 9cm scar - with another on her stomach, before giving her the devastating diagnosis. Miss Worrall had the most deadly form of skin cancer, melanoma, which can spread quickly to other parts of the body. Today the 22-year-old is in remission and is an ardent critic of sunbeds, urging young people to opt for safer, fake tanning products. She has shunned sunbeds for the last years, and now shelters under umbrellas while on holiday to avoid the midday sun. She told This Morning: 'My mum was diagnosed with psoriasis when she was younger. 'She was in hospital for six weeks and was treated with sunbeds and so we thought they were beneficial. 'When I was younger I would jump on for the last few minutes of her sessions. 'Sunbed . salons are full of pictures of beautiful women on the walls, it implies . there are health benefits and there is lots of advertising saying . vitamin D is good for your health. But Miss Worrall told This Morning, six years later, when she was 19 she was diagnosed with melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer . 'We don't get much sun here so I thought it was totally beneficial.' In 2005, when Miss Worrall was just 13, it . was illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to use a sunbed. Today the . age limit has been raised and it is currently illegal for anyone under . the age of 18 to use one. But Miss Worrall said she never had a problem persuading staff in sunbed shops that she was old enough. While people questioned her age, they took her word for it that she was over 16. By the time she was 16, Miss Worrall was regularly using sunbeds at least twice a week. And she said, many of her peers at school were jumping on the sunbed wagon. 'Lots of the boys at school suffered acne and so would go on sunbeds to clear their skin up,' the now 22-year-old said. 'Coming into school burned, and saying we had been on a sunbed, which you had to be 16 to go on, was almost a badge of honour.' But . for Miss Worrall, who naturally has pale skin dotted with freckles and . moles, the years of exposure to harmful UV rays took its toll. Miss Worrall first noticed changes to a mole on her left leg, after watching Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies show where a woman was discussing her case of skin cancer . At the age of 19, Miss Worrall had two moles removed, one from her left leg leaving a 9cm scar (pictured), and another from her stomach . Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. There are two types - melanoma, which spreads very quickly in the body, and non-melanoma, which is more common. Melanoma is a rare and serious type of cancer, which begins in the skin and spreads to other organs in the body. A new mole or a change in an existing mole is a typical sign of skin cancer. This can happen anywhere on the body, but most often on the legs, back, arms and face. Around 13,300 people in the UK are diagnosed with melanoma each year. It is the fifth most common cancer overall in the country, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer. The number of people being diagnosed with melanoma is four times higher than it was 30 years ago. Exposure to ultraviolet light increases a person's risk of developing melanoma. The more moles a person has on their body, the higher their risk of developing the disease. Those with a lot of moles and freckly skin should be very careful in the sun. Having fair skin and a tendency to get sunburn will also increase a person's risk. Source: NHS Choices and Cancer Research UK . At the age of 19, when she was watching an episode of Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies, Miss Worrall realised there were dangers associated with using sunbeds. 'The doctor was talking to a girl, and he pointed out the ABC theory - asymmetry, border and colour,' she said. 'I noticed a change on one of my moles on my leg and thought I had to go to the doctors. 'I was referred to a dermatologist who told me I would have to have the mole removed.' She added: 'They called me early with my results so I had an idea something was wrong. 'You hope for the best but expect the worst, but even then I didn't expect skin cancer at 19.' Today . the 22-year-old is in remission but faces regular check-ups with her . dermatologist to check for any more changes on her body. The ordeal has changed Miss Worrall's life for ever. For three years she has shunned sunbeds, opting for spray tans instead. And when she is in natural sunlight on . holiday, the 22-year-old uses factor 50 suncream and sits under . umbrellas, avoiding the midday sun. She is urging young people to avoid using sunbeds, instead opting for fake tan alternatives. Dr . Chris Steele, This Morning's resident doctor who himself had skin cancer twice as a result of using . sunbeds 40 years ago before the dangers were widely known, said melanoma . is detectable and more importantly preventable. He urged people to watch out for changes . to moles and freckles on their skin, watching for a change in size and . colour, checking whether moles feel itchy, are bleeding or flaking. The 22-year-old is now in remission and is urging other young people not to use harmful sunbeds, raising awareness of the dangers they pose . A recent . survey by Cancer Research UK found people in Liverpool are at highest . risk of being diagnosed with skin cancer, with 40 per cent of people . admitting they use sunbeds at least once a week. Gary . Lipman, chair of the Sunbed Association told This Morning: 'The survey . was undertaken soon after the law banning sunbed use by under 18s and . the legislation has had a positive impact on underage use. 'Sunbed salons are full of pictures of . beautiful women on the walls, it implies there are health benefits and . there is lots of advertising saying vitamin D is good for your health' - Megan Worrall . 'Our code of practice prohibits underage use as just one element of the screening process. 'Properly trained staff offer customers information about responsible use.' Past surveys by Cancer Research UK in 2012 and 2009 linked sunbed use to an increased risk of getting skin cancer. In 2012, an analysis of 27 studies revealed people have an increase in risk if they have ever used a sunbed. And the risk was highest for people who used a sunbed before the age of 35. The 2009 study found people who have regularly used a sunbed before the age of 30 have a 75 per cent increase in their risk of developing melanoma. ### SUMMARY:

Megan Worrall first used sunbeds when she was just 13 years old . She thought they were beneficial, boosting vitamin D and helping the skin . But at 19 she noticed changes to a mole and was diagnosed with melanoma . Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, quickly spreading . The now 22-year-old had two moles removed from her leg and stomach . She has shunned sunbeds for three years and now only spray tans . Miss Worrall urged other people to stop using sunbeds to avoid cancer .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Pep Guardiola’s managerial office in the Allianz Arena last April was a despondent place. ‘I got it wrong, man, I got it totally wrong,’ Guardiola is heard to say. ‘It’s a monumental f*** up, a total mess. The biggest f*** up of my career.’ It is the night of the 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final and the intensity of Guardiola’s self-castigation is an indication of what was at stake. In that room with Guardiola are his assistants, Domenec Torrent, Carles Planchart and Manuel Estiarte but, as Marti Perarnau puts it in his book, ‘Pep Confidential’, they are there to keep Guardiola company and give him moral support rather than to offer any serious analysis. Last season's semi-final thrashing at the hands of Real Madrid was a chastening moment for Pep Guardiola, who knows he will not satisfy his bosses until he delivers Bayern Munich another European Cup . Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring the third of Real Madrid's four goals away to Bayern Munich last season . Gareth Bale was also instrumental in the seismic semi-final result at the Allianz Arena . The meeting goes on until well after midnight, with more of the same from Guardiola. Tactically he had failed, a victim of his own chronic indecision. In the immediate aftermath of first leg of the semi-final, a 1-0 defeat at the Bernabeu, Guardiola had fixed on a 3-4-3 formation for the return leg. ‘Don’t let me change my mind!’ he joked with his assistants. He did so, twice: first to a 4-2-3-1 and then, after speaking to the players, who were keen on all-out attack, to 4-2-4. For Carlo Ancelotti, an excellent coach, whose teams play attractive football but who ultimately was schooled in Serie A, it was all too easy. Real Madrid simply picked Bayern off at set pieces and on the counter-attack. And Guardiola was made to look an idiot, which in a five-year managerial career is unique. Carlo Ancelotti's game plan was executed to perfection as Bayern were picked off on the break . Ronaldo adds further misery with a low free-kick to put Real four goals ahead in the second leg last season . BARCELONA . La Liga 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11 . Copa del Rey 2008-09, 2011-12 . Supercopa de Espana 2009, 2010, 2011 . Champions League 2008-09, 2010-11 . UEFA Super Cup 2009, 2011 . FIFA Club World Cup 2009, 2011 . BAYERN MUNICH . Bundesliga 2013-14 . DFB-Pokal 2013-14 . UEFA Super Cup 2013 . FIFA Club World Cup 2013 . Guardiola’s team should progress against Shakhtar, who don’t even have a home, their city currently being destroyed by civil war and their stadium literally caught in the cross-fire. But after that it begins to become interesting for Guardiola. His reaction to last season’s defeat suggests that he knows that whatever he does at Bayern Munich, if he fails to win the Champions League he will be judged a failure. It may seem ridiculous, as he could easily win a hat-trick of league titles in his three years at the club and last year he won the Double. The problem with the Bundesliga is that any manager who doesn’t win the title with Bayern at present should really resign in shame. It didn't need Saturday's 8-0 win over Hamburg, once Bayern's principal rivals, to tell us that. The figures give the game away. Bayern’s turnover is £365million; their nearest rival, Borussia Dortmund, currently mired in a relegation battle, earn £195m. Bayern last lifted the European Cup in 2013, beating Borussia Dortmund in the final at Wembley . That occasion provided the perfect send off for Jupp Heynckes, whom Guardiola succeeded that summer . Manager Ottmar Hitzfeld lifts the famous trophy after Bayern's triumph over Valencia in the 2001 final . 1974 Beat Atletico Madrid 4-0 in a replay after 1-1 draw . Manager: Udo Lattek . 1975 Beat Leeds United 2-0 . Manager: Dettmar Cramer . 1976 Beat Saint-Etienne 1-0 . Manager: Dettmar Cramer . 2001 Beat Valencia 5-4 on penalties after 1-1 draw . Manager: Ottmar Hitzfeld . 2013 Beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 . Manager: Jupp Heynckes . When it comes to the sponsors lining up to fund the clubs, the difference is even starker. Who wants to be associated with second-best and second-biggest? So Bayern earn £195 million a year in commercial income to Dortmund’s £92m. And Dortmund of course dwarf the rest of the Bundesliga. It is the corollary of Champions League: what makes Europe’s competition so strong, has emasculated domestic leagues beyond recognition. Jose Mourinho isn't always right but he was on Monday when he goaded Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern, saying their task was simpler in Europe because they could be so dominant at home – unlike in England. ‘In Germany, for Bayern, it’s a promenade,’ said Mourinho. It is why even winning a treble of two domestic cups and the league title won’t save Laurent Blanc at PSG at the end of the season. Winning the Champions League and securing global recognition is what it’s all about now whether you work for Johnny-come-lately Qatari owners or for Karl-Heinz Rummenigge at the world’s most-traditional football club. Pep Guardiola arrives at the Arena Lviv ahead of a training session before Bayern's tie with Shakhtar . The Bayern coach is singularly focused on delivering another European Cup to the Allianz Arena . Bayern and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer arrives at the Arena Lviv ahead of the last 16, first leg tie . Arjen Robben will be a major weapon if Bayern are to achieve their Champions League aspirations this year . The last 16 tie with Shakhtar Donetsk is being stages 750 miles west in Lviv after the Donbass Arena was shelled by pro-Russian separatists who currently control the city . Of course there are upsides to the problem. It provides us with the greatest football competition in terms of quality, superior to the World Cup in that regard and with more genuine contenders. And it has become the measure of true greatness among coaches. That’s why Mourinho’s words were aimed as much at his Spanish nemesis Guardiola as at Blanc and PSG. Mourinho is, of course, one of only five coaches to have won the Champions League with more than one team. Ironically, Guardiola’s predecessor at Bayern, Jupp Heynckes, is one of the others. Guardiola has won the trophy twice – impressive at 44 - but he is not yet on that list. It was almost as if Mourinho wished to remind him that it is Heynckes’ achievement of the treble which he requires if he wishes to demonstrate his credentials now. And given the level of Guardiola’s self castigation in the aftermath of that Real Madrid defeat last year, you suspect that the Bayern coach believes it too. Jose Mourinho - who has won the trophy at two clubs - aimed a barb indirectly at nemesis Pep Guardiola . Arjen Robben (centre) celebrates one of Bayern's eight goals in their thumping of Hamburg on Saturday . Bayern's superiority over the rest of the Bundesliga is plain for all to see . The Bayern players celebrate with the fans after their emphatic victory over traditional rivals Hamburg . ### SUMMARY:

Guardiola will not be considered a success at Bayern until he wins the Champions League . The Bavarian side dominate the Bundesliga and will win another title . But last season's semi-final thrashing by Real Madrid weighs on Guardiola's mind . Jose Mourinho successfully won the trophy with two different clubs . They take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 16, first leg on Tuesday night .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: When beautician Katie Cutler set up a fundraising page for Alan Barnes she hoped to raise a respectable £500 to help the disabled pensioner feel safer in his home after he was mugged and left with a broken collarbone as he put the bins out. But the 21-year-old never expected to inspire people from as far afield as New Zealand and Canada to donate in their droves so that the money would be enough to buy Mr Barnes a new house. As donations exceeded £300,000 in just four days people are calling for Miss Cutler herself to be rewarded for her philanthropic attitude. Scroll down for video . Katie Cutler set up a fundraising page for mugging victim Alan Barnes, which raised more than £300,000 - well wishers have launched a campaign to raise money for Miss Cutler and calling for her to be awarded an OBE . Miss Cutler had an emotional first meeting with Mr Barnes on Sunday and insists she does not need rewards . A Facebook page has been set up praising her efforts and calling for her to be awarded an OBE. A separate fundraising campaign has also been launched for her, which has so far raised £500 - despite the mother-of-one insisting she does not want the money. Police have also renewed their efforts and appealed for information to help find the thug who carried out the 'cowardly' attack on the pensioner, outside his Gateshead home at about 6.30pm last Sunday. Detective Constable Chris Barnes said the assault had left the 67-year-old feeling vulnerable, but he had been boosted by the support of people who had donated to help him. He said: 'But the main thing for us is to find the person responsible for this cowardly assault against a man unable to defend himself and we need the public's help. 'We do not have a description or direction of travel of the offender but someone will know something about the man involved.' DC Barnes said they had some forensic evidence but little information about the culprit. Donations to the Alan Barnes fund, through website gofundme, tipped £300,000 this afternoon and pledges are still being made almost every minute. Mr Barnes plans to use the money raised by Miss Cutler's fundraising page to buy himself a new house . Catherine Kirkley, of Northumberland, has launched the fundraising page for 21-year-old Miss Cutler. She said: 'I have never met Katie Cutler but I felt touched by her efforts, as a mother of an autistic child who has experienced bullying and violence I feel we need to make a stand. All funds will be handed to Katie via PayPal in order for her to spend as she wishes.' Wellwishers left comments on the new funding page, showing their support for Miss Cutler. Thousands of people from across the globe have donated and in four days the fund has exceeded £300,000 . Mr Barnes said the selfless act by Miss Cutler and other people who had donated had restored his faith . Doug Roberts said: 'Katie, you will go far in life with your selfless attitude. You've become something of a celebrity, and the Alan Barnes fund is gonna be something in your CV that people will always remember you for. 'In your wildest dreams, you could never have imagined last week, that by now you'd have raised enough to buy Alan a home outright! True serendipity, and a story that's taken the world by it's heartstrings.' There is also a Facebook campaign for the generous mother to be awarded an OBE to honour her fundraising efforts. A page called 'Katie Cutler For An OBE' already has more than 230 members. Diane Bore posted: 'I wish this gentleman could live next door to Katie someone who has shown him so much love and support the world needs more people like her in it.' Tracy Roberts wrote: 'How about something like the Alan Barnes foundation. We call all take Katie's lead and help others. Also show those hideous types of people they won't win. Just an idea.' Under the Go Fund Me rules, Miss Cutler and Mr Barnes can request access to the funds which have been donated at any time, and it will be paid to them within a week. Some supporters have called for the website to waive its five per cent fee on the donations - set to add up to at least £14,000. Miss Cutler and Mr Barnes have spoken of their amazement at the reaction to the fundraising appeal . However the organisation said it would not be able to waive its fees in this case. A spokeswoman said: 'As you might imagine, we receive many requests to waive fees, along with other concessions. In order to be fair, if we waive fees for one cause, we're obligated to also waive fees for others. 'Unfortunately, if we began waiving fees on a regular basis, there would be no way for us to build and maintain the website. Simply put, there would be no GoFundMe. 'Our hearts go out to Alan Barnes and his family during this difficult time. The campaign set up for Alan is a shining example of what can happen when GoFundMe is used to its full potential. The campaign has been shared on Facebook a staggering 25,000 times, and on Twitter nearly 3,000 times.' As donations tipped £300,000 Miss Cutler said she was pleased so many people had donated to help Mr Barnes but said she felt she did not deserve any recognition or fundraising for herself. 'This is so incredibly kind but I really can't accept anything,' she said. 'I have my full life to work and I can't help but feel that there are people out there who would really need it. I'm not in any hurry to get married too but honestly I don't deserve this.' Miss Cutler and Mr Barnes had an emotional first meeting for the first time yesterday, at his sister's house in Newcastle on Tyne where he is staying because he is too afraid to return home. The pensioner described meeting Miss Cutler as 'absolutely magic.' Mr Barnes, who measures just 4ft 6ins tall, is disabled and suffers from sight problems. He has been disabled since he was born after his mother contracted German measles while hse was pregnant. He had been putting the bins out when a man approached him, demanded money and then knocked him to the floor and rifled through his pockets. Mr Barnes has been staying with his sister and her family since the attack - including his niece Georgi Galloway and great niece Florence Purvis . Finding nothing the man fled, leaving Mr Barnes on the concrete. The 67-year-old hauled himself to his neighbour's house and managed to phone his sister, and was taken to hospital. Miss Cutler's fundraising efforts have not only led to scores of donations, but people have also offered to work for free to help Mr Barnes and fit out his new house. Mr Barnes told BBC Breakfast: 'A solicitor from Gosforth has offered advice and I will just have to take it from there, but it will be put to good use.' And Miss Cutler added: 'A full kitchen has been offered, a conservatory, a bathroom. There's an electrician, a tiler - you name it ... everything.' Mr Barnes, who is an excellent mathematician and popular with young people in the area, has promised to put the funds raised to good use and not splash out on luxury items. Police are asking anyone who lives in Hillside Place who may have CCTV to check footage for clues about the attacker. Witnesses are asked to contact police on 101, ext 69191, quoting log number 1180 25/01/15, or the Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. ### SUMMARY:

Alan Barnes is disabled and suffers from sight and growth problems . He was mugged as he put bins outside his Gateshead home last Sunday . Attacker knocked the 67-year-old to the floor and broke his collarbone . Police have launched a fresh appeal to find the 'cowardly' attacker . Katie Cutler set up a fundraising page to generate £500 to help pensioner . But it captured worldwide interest and donations exceeded £300,000 . Well wishers have called for Miss Cutler to be rewarded for her efforts . Some have even set up a fundraising page in the beautician's own name . Others have called for the mother of one to be awarded an OBE .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: STRANGER THAN FICTION: THE LIFE OF EDGAR WALLACE . by Neil Clark . (The History Press £17.99) Fleet Street has always produced — and attracted — spectacular characters. None was more spectacular, in his day, than Edgar Wallace. He was simply the most prolific and successful popular journalist-novelist of the start of the 20th century — as much of a household name as any filmstar, politician or writer; as recognisable as Lloyd George or Churchill, Conan Doyle or Somerset Maugham. I grew up avidly reading his adventure stories about the rulers of the British Empire, such as Sanders Of The River, and mysteries, such as The Four Just Men. Cascades of thrillers poured from him, as well as many hit West End plays. British crime writer, Edgar Wallace was the most prolific and successful popular journalist-novelist of the start of the 20th century . You couldn’t keep up with him. He was also one of the sights of the West End, where his yellow Rolls-Royce was instantly recognised. He liked to keep it and his chauffeur waiting outside his hotel or club, in case he should suddenly want to go racing — which he did a great deal. To me, he was a legend of early Fleet Street, especially of Northcliffe’s Daily Mail. Like many hopeful young journalists, I stood in Ludgate Circus, where Fleet Street begins, looking at his profile set in a wall plaque and reading the inscription: ‘Of his talents he gave lavishly to authorship — but to Fleet Street he gave his heart’. What makes this so poignant is that it is set above the spot where Wallace stood aged 11 in 1886, selling a newspaper called The Echo, which brought in his only income of three shillings a week. An orphan, he was given away as a baby by his touring actress mother and raised by a Billingsgate fish porter and his family as foster parents. He was fated, obviously, to be a labourer all his life. His escape into the playgrounds of the gilded rich he owed entirely to his pen, his fecund imagination and his insatiable appetite for work. He had huge talent, but hardly any writer, except perhaps Simenon, has turned out books as quickly and as successfully as Wallace did. Staggering statistics abound in this story. Let’s settle for a few: in four years of the Twenties, Wallace published 74 books — equivalent to one title almost every three weeks. It was claimed that a quarter of new books sold in Britain in those years were by him. In 1965, more than 30 years after his death, his worldwide sales were claimed to top 50 million in 28 languages. Ah, but he is little known to younger generations today. So were they so much trash, mere Penny Dreadfuls? They can’t have been. 1933: A scene from the classic monster movie 'King Kong', the book was written by Edgar Wallace . The thriller, like the detective story, was then the new fashion, and Wallace combined the appeal of both. Many of his stories revolved around the unmasking of a Moriarty-like villain concealed among the leading characters. ‘Can you guess which?’ was a game he played with his readers. Unlike the stuffy, upper-middle-class settings and characters of Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers, his lower-class or classless characters are convincing. He was one of them. His criminal gangs, locked- room murder mysteries, multiple disguises and chases were always inventive and sensational. ‘You can’t fail to be thrilled by Edgar Wallace,’ promised the blurb. Those who were thrilled included the highest in the land. Queen Mary bought four to read to a sickly George V (admittedly not known as an intellectual). Prime Ministers Baldwin and Balfour were fans, and the famous barrister F. E. Smith, Lord Birkenhead, said he had never failed to be excited by a Wallace Story. P. G. Wodehouse complained he couldn’t find anything new to read until the next Wallace appeared. Dozens of his stories have since been filmed and televised. He himself wrote and sometimes directed his own films. He was script-writing in Hollywood when he died unexpectedly in 1932 of pneumonia, possibly aggravated by his years of chain-smoking through a long cigarette holder, which was his trademark. The long catalogue of his successes cannot help but become repetitive in Clark’s workman-like chronicle. The most interesting passages describe how Wallace fought his way out of poverty and into journalism. His very name was fiction. The name ‘Wallace’ was made up — it was claimed to be that of his father when his birth was registered by his mother, the touring actress Polly Richards. His actual father was the son of her company manager, who was about to marry someone else. She didn’t care to embarrass him. The boy (and later the man) was known by his first name, Richard or Dick. ‘Edgar’ was the surname of his real father and ‘Wallace’ never existed. Leaving school at 12, which was then the rule, he kept changing one menial job for another until, in desperation, he joined the army at Woolwich. Soon, he was sent to South Africa for the start of the Boer War as a medical orderly. He had been writing verses for local magazines in Cape Town when Rudyard Kipling was to pay a visit. His welcoming verse in Kipling’s style appeared on the front page of the Cape Times. Kipling was tickled by it and invited him to dinner. So a working-class private soldier-poet hobnobbed with Britain’s most famous author. This got him known. He contributed verse to other papers, became a local columnist, then a war correspondent for Reuters news agency, covering the British forces fighting the Boers. These reports were picked up by the new Daily Mail, first published in 1896. The Mail made him its own correspondent. Wallace’s ingenuity in getting round the fierce censorship of news gave the Mail several scoops, including the long-awaited peace declaration. Alfred Harmsworth, the future Lord Northcliffe, welcomed his young reporter back to England with a celebration dinner. Wallace became the Mail’s top reporter — until he was fired by Northcliffe for having trusted a false tip about a mutiny that never was. By then, he was addicted to horse-racing. He became a racing writer and tipster for several papers. His adventure stories were beginning to sell. The money was coming in. So, he took the plunge as an author. Deciding that his typing took too long, he began to dictate his stories to a trusted typist, direct to the page. He reached the point where he could start dictating at midnight on a Friday and have a 75,000 book complete in typescript by the following Monday. O ne of the jokes triggered by his productivity was of a man who asked for him on the telephone and was told, ‘Mr Wallace is writing a book.’ ‘Fine,’ said the caller, ‘I’ll hold on.’ He earned plenty of money, but spent it as fast as it came in. Men who begin life in great poverty often hang onto their wealth. He loved spending it — not just on himself, but on others. For Royal Ascot week, he took a box with its own restaurant and invited dozens of friends to enjoy the racing with him. He would tell them he had put £10 on the last race for each of them. Whichever horse won, he would claim this had been the one they had backed — and he paid out all his guests, often out of his own pocket. In the course of this overworked life, he acquired two wives, sometimes living amicably with both in a ménage-a-trois. When he died, his debts far outweighed his bank account. Everything — houses, racehorses, motor cars — had to be sold. A year later, the motion picture he had been working on in Hollywood appeared. It was King Kong — billed as ‘Edgar Wallace’s Last Story’. In fact, the script he wrote was mostly unused and the ideas were partly his and partly those of a co-writer called Merian Cooper. However, it was all his idea that King Kong climbed the Empire State Building — which is what everyone remembers. ### SUMMARY:

Edgar Wallace was given away as a baby by his touring actress mother . He was raised by a Billingsgate fish porter and his family as foster parents . He went on to become the 20th century's most prolific journalist-novelist .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Business minister Matthew Hancock (pictured) said he was 'shocked' to be having to argue that 'business is a force for good' Businesses will today be promised a £10 billion boost in the Conservative manifesto as the party seeks to exploit Labour's damaging row with captains of industry. Business minister Matthew Hancock said he is 'shocked and dismayed' to be having to argue that 'business is a force for good', a question he said he thought had been 'settled in the last century'. In an interview with the Daily Mail, the Cabinet minister set out plans to cut regulation and red tape, saving firms an average of £2,000 a year. Mr Hancock also signalled the party is preparing to offer tax breaks to start-up companies taking on their first employees and further steps to rein in vexatious industrial tribunal claims. 'Business is a force for good in our society,' he said. 'It's the first time in my adult life that a major political party thinks that being against business is good for Britain. 'We have to support and build our nation's employers. This is where jobs and prosperity come from. Coming from a small business background, it's why I came into politics in the first place, and we've spent five years working hard to make Britain a beacon for enterprise. 'We are increasingly regarded as a good place to start and grow a business and we want to be the best in the world. Labour's idea that you can attack business and businesspeople without damaging people's standard of living and jobs in Britain should have been consigned to the history books in the last century.' Labour has been embroiled in a damaging row with business leaders since turning on the boss of Boots when he expressed alarm at the prospect of the party regaining power. Ed Miliband has launched a series of policies supposed to target what he calls 'predator' capitalists. The party has suggested it will not go ahead with a planned cut in corporation tax for large firms to 21 per cent. Over the last week, more business leaders, including several who previously supported Labour, have come out to raise concern about the party's anti-business rhetoric. Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, meanwhile, faced embarrassment when he could only name someone called 'Bill' when asked to cite Labour's business backers. The row has left Mr Balls facing a tricky appearance next week at the British Chambers of Commerce, which he is due to address. Mr Hancock said the Conservatives would go into the election as 'unashamedly pro-business and pro-enterprise'. He said the coalition had gradually cut regulation -- consignined 110,000 pages to the dustbin, saving business £2.2 billion this year. But a Conservative-only government would go further, committing to more deregulation -- with the initial focus on agriculture, railways, energy, construction, retail, travel operators and the chemical industry. A review of each sector will take place this year if the Tories remain in power, and Government departments made to implement a 'one in, two out' rule whenever they introduce any new regulation. Mr Hancock said he accepted there was scepticism about red tape 'bonfires', but the coalition had made 'solid' progress. Most striking was a 75 per cent fall in the number of tribunal claims against firms following reforms introduced by the Government to weed out vexatious claims. Employees now have to have been working for their employer for two years before they can take them to a tribunal alleging unfair dismissal, and go through a conciliation process before lodging a claim. Boots chief Stefano Pessina (left) has warned it would be a 'catastrophe' if Labour and Ed Miliband (right) win power. Pessina claimed Miliband’s policies were ‘not helpful for business and not helpful for the country’ Boots, which has 70,000 UK workers, came under fire from senior Labour figures after the attack on its business policies . But the minister said: 'There are areas where we haven't been able to go, because of the Liberal Democrats -- particularly in terms of making it easier to employ people.' Business Secretary Vince Cable has accused the Tories of wanting to make it possible for firms to 'fire at will'. Mr Hancock said: 'It's about making it easier to take on your first employees. We need greater clarity that you can take somebody on and if it goes wrong you won't pay an unduly heavy price. 'There is a lot of bureaucracy around taking people on and we want to make it easier.' Baroness Brady, the Apprentice star who now a Conservative peer and an adviser on small business to the Government, said: 'Red tape hits small businesses harder than anything else. For an entrepreneur working all hours to build their business and provide for themselves and their family it really can mean the difference between success and failure. Former Apprentice star Karen Brady said government rep tape hits small businesses 'harder than anything else' 'Government should do everything it can to celebrate enterprise and back risk takers, but sometimes that means getting out of the way of their success. 'Cutting red tape has been a key part of this Government’s economic plan and has already saved businesses £10 billion, but there’s still much more we can do. Every penny we can save small businesses by scrapping unnecessary regulations means more jobs, more growth and more hardworking people able to make a success of their business.' John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 'Government regulation all too often places excessive financial and administrative burdens on British businesses. After years of campaigning to cut red tape, it is welcome to see proposals for stretching deregulation targets for the next Parliament — which would help companies concentrate on jobs and exports, rather than on endless compliance measures. 'A stretch target for deregulation would also send a clear message to Whitehall that new rules must be a last resort, rather than a first reflex for mandarins and ministers alike.' Simon Walker, Director General of the Institute of Directors, said: 'The coalition Government has made encouraging progress in reducing the burden of regulation on business, and in particular on small and medium sized businesses. We welcome the ambition shown in the commitment to finding a further £10billion worth of regulatory savings, and urge all political parties to consider how they can make it easier, smoother and more efficient to do business in the UK. The target announced by the Conservatives is admirable, and we’ll work with all parties to make sure deregulation stays at the top of political agenda. 'The next parliament will see continuing pressure of the public finances whoever wins, so we need to unleash business to drive economic growth and generate tax revenues.' Toby Perkins, Labour’s shadow small business minister, said: 'The truth is that ministers have blocked Labour’s plans to back small business by tackling late payment and to deal with unfair and uncompetitive treatment of suppliers. They’ve opposed our plans to cut – then freeze – business rates, and at a time when net lending to small and medium sized businesses has fallen by £1 billion in the last quarter, they’ve opposed our plans for a proper British Investment Bank supported by a regional network. 'Where the Tory-led government has failed to act to support small firms, the next Labour government will.' It is now mandatory for a claimant to contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) before they can lodge a claim with an employment tribunal. So far Acas has conciliated in over 37,000 cases, and only 24 per cent progressed to a Tribunal Claim. Increased flexiblity on firms' audit requirements has saved £300 million a year. Plays, live music acts and indoor sports displays no longer need to obtain a licence to perform in schools, nurseries, hospitals, circuses and arts centres, which has saved businesses £1.4 million each year . Paper tax discs have been scrapped, saving firms with company vehicles time and money. A requirement for retailers to notify TV Licensing of the name and address of TV purchasers has been axed, saving them £2.5 million per year. EU rules defining jam as being 'two-thirds sugar' have been ditched, stopping firms such as Clippy's, which have a lower sugar content, having to relabel their products 'fruit spread'. ### SUMMARY:

Businesses will today be promised a £10billion boost by the Conservatives . MP is 'shocked' that he is required to defend business as 'force for good' Business minister Matthew Hancock looking to exploit recent Labour row . Ed Miliband has been involved in damaging spat with the boss of Boots .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: NEW YORK (CNN) -- Annie Lennox has incredible eyes. Annie Lennox's new album, a best-of, will be her last with Sony. They're a translucent blue-green, both kind and inviting in one glance, then piercing and all-knowing in another. At 54, Lennox's orbs are as captivating today as they were when they stared at us from under that fiery orange crew cut in the music video for the Eurythmics hit "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)." That was 1983. Yes, Lennox's Eurythmics days seem like a lifetime ago for the Scotland-born singer-songwriter, especially when you consider the successful solo career she's enjoyed since her partnership with Dave Stewart. It's that body of work -- songs like 'Why" and "No More 'I Love You's' " that are showcased on her newest album, "The Annie Lennox Collection." It's Lennox's fifth solo outing, and her final album with her record label of 30 years, Sony Music Entertainment. "It's like a demarcation line in a way because there is that body of work to look back on in retrospect," says Lennox. "And the future is ahead of me and that's very interesting because I'm really not sure exactly what that's going to mean logistically ... how that's going to pan out. But I'm very excited about it because of Internet technology." Watch Lennox talk about catharsis » . Lennox, who's won Grammys, BRIT Awards and an Academy Award (for co-writing "Into the West" from "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"), says she's become somewhat of a voracious blogger, using her MySpace page and official Web site not only as a repository for her musical work, but also to lend a voice to her humanitarian efforts. In 2007, Lennox formed the SING Campaign, a nonprofit initiative to help fight the HIV pandemic in Africa. The initiative has its own anthem, called "SING," which features vocals from Madonna and Celine Dion among others, and is included on Lennox's new album. She also recorded two new tracks to celebrate the release, one a cover of Irish band Ash's hit song "Shining Light." "It's one of those incredible anthemic songs that just stay with you," she says. "It's like when you heard Jeff Buckley's version of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah.' It's almost like a revelation when you hear it." Lennox spoke to CNN about tapping into her inner divas to make those theatrical music videos, the pitfalls of fame and why she celebrates her naiveté. CNN: Who is your "shining light"? Annie Lennox: Ordinary people who don't necessarily have the spotlight shone on them, who do extraordinary things. Those people always inspire me. A lot of people that are working in nongovernmental organizations inspire me very much, because I think those people are really risking life and limb to make a difference to people's lives in really impossible circumstances. And they really give me the sense that if they can do that, I can do something, too. CNN: How do you feel about where you are in life right now? Lennox: Of course now I'm in that middle-age place, age-wise, and youth is no longer really something that I'm a part of anymore. And that started happening for me when I was about 40, to be honest with you. I had my kids and my focus went elsewhere. And I think I've changed so much through having children ... inside myself. It's been a kind of evolution and a maturity. And that has informed the SING Campaign a lot, because my focus is really on women. ... I understand what it is for a woman to want to protect their children and give them the best they can. And so I identify with that. ... I can let go of some of the things I was maybe focused on when I was younger and I'm focused on different things. CNN: Over the years your music videos have served as an outlet to explore different personas. Is that a cathartic experience for you? Lennox: Performance feels quite cathartic, to be honest with you. It's a good feeling. And songwriting is cathartic because you have something you want to express. ... Ultimately when you've completed that songwriting process there is a sense of yes ... completion. It's out. It's expressed. It's done. And then you can communicate it to other people in performance. CNN: You come across as extremely fearless in your videos. Yet you've said as a person you're quite shy. You don't seem shy to me. Lennox: No I'm not shy right now, but I can be quite shy. It depends on the circumstances. ... Shyness is actually quite crippling. When one is shy it's not helpful. But a lot of being on stage has given me that opportunity to go beyond my normal persona. CNN: Which music video are you most proud of? Lennox: Quite a few. I think that "Broken Glass" is just ... it's hilarious. A lot of the things I do have got humor in them. But the fact that we had John Malkovich who came in and Hugh Laurie who was there ... we had a big cast. CNN: A lot of your songs are about pain and failed relationships. Do you still feel that you have a lot to learn about love? Lennox: I think we all do. I think the world needs to be a far more loving place. And I think we are confused between erotic love [and] unconditional love. I think our sexuality is a very different thing from our love. ... We are a society fixated with sexuality and it can be very cruel. When the love, and the respect and the consideration [are] missing, people live very isolated existences. CNN: What has fame taught you? Lennox: I think fame for fame's sake is a very toxic thing. ... And people in this society have this idea that they wanna be famous, and they don't know what for. And they pursue "celebrity" for itself. I would say that without something to offer, whether it be that you're an actor, you have a craft, you have something to offer people, if you're a writer, a painter, a musician ... when it's just about you and your actual life it's a little bit cannibalistic. The industry of celebrity is quite a savage one and when you fall foul of it, and your privacy is so brutally invaded ... you may be having difficulties in your own life as we all do ... and all the images of you, your dogs, your children, the inside of your house ... they're all splattered across every front page, I think that's [a] very unhealthy place to be. And I think it's sad that people caught it so vociferously. CNN: Well you obviously raised two children. How difficult was it to shield them from your fame? Lennox: It hasn't been too difficult. Part of my work is public, but I make a distinction between that and who I am as a person in private. ... I was very careful that ... I wasn't telling stories to gossip papers, and showing my life and [my children] were gently kept away from that. CNN: Fame also serves as a useful platform, and you've been very involved with various charities, notably HIV/AIDS. Do you ever feel frustrated that you you're not making as big a difference as you would like? Lennox: I had to think about this very carefully because I understand that there are so many problems in the world. Infinitely. And there always will be. That will never change, no. ... And if you make this decision to get involved, don't think that there's just an end result and that's what you're aiming for. No, it's the day-to-day commitment. It's the small steps that really count, in my opinion. CNN: I've read that you consider yourself to be quite naive. Is that still true? Lennox: I still have an aspect of naiveté, and I think it's a valuable thing, because if I was jaded and cynical 100 percent as I could be, you know I would be less human and I think my acknowledgment that I can be naive is fine. It's part of being human. ### SUMMARY:

New Annie Lennox CD is a best-of collection; it's her last album with Sony . Lennox says she's changed a great deal from the Eurythmics days . Singer very much involved in AIDS prevention, motherhood issues .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- A single hair that shows evidence of decomposition was similar to that of Casey Anthony's 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, an FBI evidence analyst testified at the Orlando, Florida, woman's trial Saturday. Investigators found the hair in the trunk of Casey Anthony's car. Prosecutors are trying to link the hair to Caylee as evidence that her body was in the car. But defense attorney Jose Baez attacked FBI trace evidence examiner Karen Lowe's findings as little more than unreliable opinion in a morning of fitful testimony that produced frequent objections and huddles among the attorneys out of earshot of the jury. A crime scene investigator, the operator of a towing company and members of Anthony's family all have testified they smelled a bad odor coming from Anthony's car after it was found abandoned in a parking lot on June 27, 2008, then towed four days later. Caylee was last reported seen by her family on June 16, 2008, but no one alerted police until July 15, 2008 -- after the girl's grandmother tracked Anthony down and demanded answers. Caylee's skeletal remains were found in December 2008. Anthony, 25, is charged with seven counts in Caylee's death, including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and misleading police. If convicted, she could face the death penalty. Prosecutors say she used chloroform on her daughter and then put duct tape on her nose and mouth to suffocate her. She has pleaded not guilty and has denied having anything to do with the girl's disappearance or death. The Orlando woman's attorneys argue Caylee drowned in the family pool on June 16, 2008. They say Anthony and her father panicked and covered up the death. George Anthony denied the claim during his testimony last week. Testimony about the hair marks a departure from the dramatic testimony and evidence of the last nine days, in which friends and acquaintances contradicted Anthony's claims that she was frantically searching for her daughter during the month she was missing. Instead, according to evidence and testimony in the case, she was spending time with her boyfriend, shopping and going to nightclubs. In dry, scientific terms, FBI trace evidence analyst Karen Lowe testified Saturday how a 9-inch piece of hair sent to the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, appeared similar to a piece of hair recovered from a brush belonging to the girl. But she said hair analysis is not as precise as DNA analysis, so she could not say with absolute certainty that the hair belonged to the girl. The hair had a dark band that Lowe testified has only been seen in hairs remaining in the scalp of a decomposing body. A crime scene investigator, Gerardo Bloise, testified Friday that he recovered a human hair from the trunk of Anthony's car, and also that the car smelled of decomposition. In cross-examination, Baez questioned the validity of Lowe's testimony, first asking if there was any way to prove how the hair got into the trunk. "I couldn't say how the hair got there," Lowe said. "It's consistent with transfer or contact of some sort, but I don't know from whom." She also testified under questioning from Baez that while the hair is clearly not Casey Anthony's, it could belong to any other light-haired relative on her mother's side of the family. The kind of DNA testing authorities were able to perform on the sample reveals DNA passed down only through maternal lines. Lowe also testified there are no standards for identifying the bands and that such decisions are based on her opinion and that of a fellow investigator. Baez also questioned Lowe's experience, saying she had failed a 2000 proficiency test and that she has never before testified on hair banding. He also questioned the entire premise of hair analysis, citing a 2009 National Academies of Science report that broadly questioned the use of microscopic hair analysis and other forensic science results in criminal cases. Lowe said she agreed with the report's findings -- that hair can't uniquely identify an individual and that it's important to send samples for DNA analysis, which she said she did in the Anthony case. Lowe, who is not a DNA expert, has not testified about the findings of the those tests. The hair in question was recovered after Anthony's car was picked up from her family's home, after it had been abandoned in a parking lot, towed to an impound lot and then driven back to the family home two weeks later by Anthony's father. According to testimony, Anthony asked her boyfriend to pick her up from the parking lot on June 27, saying the car had run out of gas. She also told a friend that she believed an animal carcass was lodged in her car's frame. The car was towed to an impound lot on June 30, 2008, where a manager said he also smelled the odor of decomposition. An analysis of the car after the Orange County Sheriff's Office took possession of it did not show any such evidence, Bloise testified. Also on Saturday, Orange County crime scene investigator Mike Vincent told jurors about collecting air samples from inside Anthony's car. A scientist later found evidence of chloroform and gases associated with decomposition in those samples. Baez questioned whether the air inside the trunk on August 29, 2008, when it was tested, was the same as that in the car when it was recovered in July. He also sought to raise a question whether a trash bag found in the car when it was recovered might have been the source of the smell. Vincent also sampled air from the inside of that bag. The contents of the bag were dry when Vincent tested the air inside, he testified. The trash might have smelled different when, and if, it was wet, Vincent said under questioning from Baez. Before prosecutors began presenting scientific evidence in the case on Friday, jurors watched recordings of jailhouse visits between Anthony and her parents. In one conversation played Friday, Anthony scoffed at a media report her mother brought up speculating that Caylee had drowned in the family swimming pool. "Surprise, surprise," Anthony said of the rumor, which is now the primary defense theory in her capital murder trial in Orlando. In recordings of visits played for the jury, Anthony frequently accused the media of failing to accurately report on the case. A videotaped exchange, during which Anthony became agitated with her parents as they pressed her for details of Caylee's whereabouts, was one in a series shown to jurors the past two days. "We need to have something to go on," Cindy Anthony pleaded during the visit. "Mom, I'm sorry. I don't have anything," Casey Anthony angrily replied. "I've been here a month. Do you understand how I feel?" Some legal experts say these taped conversations could hurt Anthony in the eyes of jurors. "These tapes are so devastating to the defense," defense attorney Richard Herman told HLN's Nancy Grace. "Now at this point, there is no way Casey Anthony can take the stand in the case. They cannot get an acquittal." Prosecutors allege Anthony was not looking for her daughter during the month she was missing. Instead, she was staying with her boyfriend, spending time in Orlando with numerous friends, attending parties, going shopping and hitting nightclubs, including participating in a "hot body" contest, according to evidence in the case. Her former boyfriend, friends and acquaintances have all testified that she did not mention her daughter being missing during that time and that they noticed nothing different about her demeanor. Anthony's defense team explains her behavior in the weeks following Caylee's death by saying she had been sexually abused by her father and had been taught to conceal her pain. George Anthony has denied abusing his daughter. The trial will resume Monday morning. Prosecutors expect their case will take two more weeks, after which Baez will begin to mount the defense case. Overall, the trial is likely to last another four to six weeks, based on initial projections. Watch Nancy Grace Monday through Sunday starting at 8 p.m. ET on HLN. For the latest from Nancy Grace click here. ### SUMMARY:

NEW: FBI analyst says hair from car isn't Casey Anthony's but could be Caylee's . The hair sample showed signs of decomposition, the FBI tech testifies . Anthony is accused of killing Caylee in 2008; her lawyers said she drowned . Trial resumes Monday; prosecutors have about two weeks of work ahead .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (Health.com) -- We get it: You want to lose the jiggle but don't want to blacklist your favorite eats, count every single calorie, or overdose on gym hours. The great news is, you can drop weight without dieting: Experts say making small change-ups to your day is one of the best ways to lose. We grilled health and fitness pros for the tweaks that will help your shape the most. Road test a few, and you could shed 5 (this week!), 10, or even 20-plus pounds without a whole lot of effort. Power up PB . "Buy natural varieties of peanut butter and pour off the oil sitting on top. Each serving will have 20 fewer calories and 2 to 3 fewer grams of fat. It's a small difference that'll add up to a couple of pounds per year." -- Amelia Winslow, personal chef in Los Angeles and founder of the healthy food blog Eating Made Easy . Health.com: 25 ways to cut 500 calories a day . Pop to it . "Skimping on fiber will make you gain weight. Forget the pretzels and go for a bag of low-fat popcorn. It has five times the fiber and only 90 calories for six cups, so it's filling and satisfying. A recent study found that when women doubled their daily fiber intake from 12 to 24 grams, their bodies absorbed 90 calories less per day. You could lose almost 10 pounds in a year!" -- Tanya Zuckerbrot, RD, author of The F-Factor Diet: Discover the Secret to Permanent Weight Loss . Dance your butt off . "Kick up your heels and go dancing with your girlfriends -- or have a solo dance session at home. Fast-tempo dances are not only a blast to do, but in an hour you'll torch 400 to 500 calories. That's equivalent to light jogging on the treadmill, but it's way more fun!" -- Christine Avanti, author of Skinny Chicks Eat Real Food: Lose the Fake Food and Kickstart Your Weight Loss . Health.com: Diet tricks the pros tell their friends . Switch things up . "At the gym, lift one set of heavier weights than you're used to. And on your walk or run, add backward walking and sideways shuffling in one-minute bursts. You'll challenge your muscles in new ways, work them at a variety of angles, and improve your balance. These things will tone you up and burn extra calories." -- Gunnar Peterson, celebrity trainer to A-listers in Beverly Hills, California . Nix nighttime eating . "Cutting out after-dinner snacking is a quick way to help you shed 5 pounds in a week. At night, we're usually scarfing down junky foods in front of the TV -- and it's easy to consume a meal's worth of calories, plus belly-bloating sodium. If you're typically hungry before bed, it might mean you're eating dinner too early, so push it back. Snack on fruit at 3 p.m. Then at 5 p.m., have a snack bar. At 7:30, you'll be ready for dinner, and you'll be eating late enough to stay full for the rest of the evening." -- Heather Bauer, RD, author of Bread Is the Devil: Win the Weight Loss Battle by Taking Control of Your Diet Demons . Health.com: 25 diet-busting foods you should never eat . Be a crunch monster . "Fill your plate with crunchy, chewy foods like carrots, apples, and whole grains. They take more time to chew, and their fiber makes your body work harder to digest them -- so you'll burn more calories during your meal. Eating this way can increase your total calorie burn by 5 percent throughout the day!" -- Leslie Bonci, RD, director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Center for Sports Medicine . Keep it simple . "Just focus on cooking wholesome food; you'll eat well and could even lose 5 pounds in a week. For breakfast, have yogurt and some fruit; for lunch, eat a soup and a winter salad with tuna and walnuts; at dinner, fill your plate with 3 to 4 ounces of fish or chicken, a couple of veggies, and a piece of fruit. And feel free to use a bit of butter or olive oil -- you don't have to deprive yourself." -- Mireille Guiliano, author of The French Women Don't Get Fat Cookbook . Health.com: Best superfoods for weight loss . Beat booze bloat . "Downsize your wine glass to cut calories. Wine glasses today are giant goblets, so it's easy to pour 6 ounces, or one-and-a-half servings, without noticing. That means those two glasses a night might actually be closer to three (almost half a bottle!), adding up to 300 calories. Instead of drinking this way every day, have a regular-size 4-ounce glass a couple of times a week. You could drop more than 20 pounds this year." -- Tim Church, M.D., director of preventive medicine research at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana . Try upside-down . "Season and butter the bottom of foods. For example, butter the bottom of toast, and salt the bottom of potato rounds. This sounds weird, but it really helps with weight loss. When you eat foods this way, the flavor hits your tongue right away, and you actually taste more of it. Ultimately, that means you can cut out at least half the belly-bloating salt or butter." -- Devin Alexander, chef and host of FitTV's Healthy Decadence and author of The Biggest Loser Quick & Easy Cookbook . Health.com: Little ways to lose big pounds . Dine in slow-mo . "Make sure you're the last one to start eating and also the last person to finish. I do this, and it helps me slow down and chew my food properly instead of inhaling what's on my plate -- and more. Eat this way and you'll take in fewer calories at your meals." -- JJ Virgin, Ph.D., author of Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy: The 5-Step Plan to Sleek, Strong, and Sculpted Arms . Dress the part . "Make a few changes to your party outfit, and you'll beat the temptation to overindulge. At a cocktail party, carry a clutch instead of a purse. With a cocktail in one hand and your handbag in the other, you won't be able to reach for too many hors d'oeuvres. And wear a form-fitting dress -- it'll be your biggest reminder to not revisit the food table for seconds." -- Keri Gans, R.D., author of The Small Change Diet: 10 Steps to a Thinner, Healthier You . Health.com: Thinner by dinner: how to dress 10 pounds lighter . Go by the numbers . "Stop eating when you're at a 5 or 6 on a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1 is famished and 10 is Thanksgiving full). When you stop at 5 or 6, chances are 20 minutes later, you'll feel like a 7 or 8. This tactic is great for parties and vacations -- and could save you lots of calories per meal." -- Ellie Krieger, R.D., host of Cooking Channel's Healthy Appetite and author of Comfort Food Fix . Play hard . "Slip exercise into everyday life, and make it fun. Head outside and go ice skating with friends or shape a snowman with your kids. You can even stage a pillow fight in your living room. That burns 82 calories in 20 minutes, plus you'll laugh the entire time!" -- Missy Chase Lapine, author of "The Speedy Sneaky Chef" Copyright Health Magazine 2011 . ### SUMMARY:

Experts say making small changes to your day is one of the best ways to lose weight . "On your walk or run, add backward walking," says trainer Gunnar Peterson . Dr. Tim Church recommends downsizing wine glasses to cut calories . Author Missy Chase Lapine says, "Slip exercise into everyday life, and make it fun"

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- At his son's 11th birthday party, just before everyone was about to sing "Happy Birthday" and cut the cake, 46-year-old Dr. Carlos Zayas stepped on to the porch of his Atlanta home to take a call from another doctor about a particularly sick patient. While on the phone, Zayas reached up absent-mindedly and touched his neck. He felt a lump on the right side. Then he felt a lump on the other side. Feeling a bit panicky, he unbuttoned his pants and felt for lumps in his groin. They were there, easy to feel. In just seconds, his "doctor's mind," as he calls it, added it all up. The fatigue he'd been feeling recently, the weakness, the lumps all meant one thing: cancer. When he went to the doctor, he found out it was peripheral T-cell lymphoma, one of the rarest and most aggressive blood cancers there is. Twenty-four rounds of chemotherapy with 18 different drugs couldn't stop its spread. A transplant with Zayas' own bone marrow did nothing. He needed a transplant with someone else's marrow or he would die. As chairman of the department of transplantation at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Zayas had helped countless patients find donors. Now it was his turn. Zayas' search failed, and there's one major reason for that: He's Hispanic. The search for the perfect donor . If you're looking for a kidney, finding the perfect match isn't absolutely crucial -- there's considerable wiggle room. But with blood cancers, there's little wiggle room. You need a perfect -- or nearly perfect -- bone marrow match, and you're much more likely to find that with someone of your own ethnicity. Hispanics have only a 33% chance of finding a perfect match on Be The Match, the national bone marrow donor registry, according to Dr. Willis Navarro, the medical director for transplant medical services for the registry. Partly that's because relatively few Hispanics sign up to donate: They represent 10% of people on the registry, yet 16% of the U.S. population. Language barriers explain the low rate to some extent, and so does the fact that Hispanics who are in the United States illegally are often reluctant to sign up, even though the registry doesn't share their information with the government. The other reason for the difficulty is that Hispanics often have a varied genetic background that can include European, African and Native American roots. "I'm Spanish, French and Portuguese. That's why it's so hard to match me," Zayas says. "And a lot of Hispanics are like me, with a weird combination of genes." Through a long series of medical interventions, few of which his doctors thought would work, Zayas lived, and today he's devoted himself to helping other Hispanics looking for donors. Zayas' story: A 10% chance at life . After discovering the lumps that February night in 2009, Zayas ended his phone call and went inside his house. He tried not to look panicked as he sang "Happy Birthday" to his son, also named Carlos. After the party guests left and Carlos and his two sisters had gone to bed, Zayas closed their bedroom door and told his wife, Rita, what he'd found, and that he knew it was bad news. The next year was filled with the aggressive chemotherapy and the transplant with his own bone marrow, both of which failed. An international search for a marrow donor yielded no perfect matches and one nearly perfect match -- nine out of 10 antigens matched -- but that donor backed out. "My doctors gave me a 10% chance of living," Zayas said. "Then I thought about my brother, Hector, who was an eight out of 10 match. But a transplant with a match like that can kill you faster than the actual cancer." Zayas was out of options. "I made my plea to my doctors to use Hector's marrow," he remembers. "I said, 'I know my chances. Please consider it.' " His doctors agreed. In June 2010, they destroyed Zayas' immune system so it would accept his brother's cells and then they gave him Hector's marrow. Throughout that summer, Zayas and his family waited to see if Hector's cells would work in his body. "Please don't leave me," Rita would say to him every night. "I'm not planning on leaving you," he would reply. "I'm going to fight and God is going to help me." Zayas did develop graft-versus-host disease, the dreaded consequences of a poorly matched transplant. Hector's cells attacked his cells. Already too slim, he lost 30 pounds. Tumors grew in places where they hadn't been before. Then, just when it looked like he was at a low point, Zayas started to get better. Today, he's back full time at his job at Piedmont Hospital. A second chance . Zayas attributes his recovery to excellent medical care at Piedmont, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, but he also credits his faith. "I thank God all the time for this second chance," he says. Zayas first trained as a priest in his native Puerto Rico before he made the difficult decision to leave the seminary and go to medical school. "I studied theology, but my call really was to serve others through the gift of medicine," he says. "I was born to be a doctor." Now he takes time to help other Hispanics find bone marrow donors, including Isaac del Valle, a teenager who lives not far from Zayas in Alpharetta, Georgia . Isaac's story . Like Zayas, Isaac, 16, has a mixed background -- his father is Mexican and his mother is of Irish descent -- and like Zayas, his road has been long. Found to have leukemia in March 2006, Isaac was treated and went into remission. In May, his family and friends gathered at a local Mexican restaurant to celebrate five years of survival. "Five years is such a huge milestone, and we felt like the world had been lifted off our shoulders," says his mother, Linda del Valle. But then a few days later, they got a call from the teen's doctors. They'd found something suspicious in his last blood test, and Isaac needed to come back in for a spinal tap and a bone marrow biopsy. Those tests revealed the leukemia had returned. "It was just devastating, and that's not even a strong enough word," del Valle says. Isaac immediately joined a clinical trial with an experimental chemotherapy drug, and the search for a bone marrow donor began in earnest. They found one perfect match through the registry, but that donor, for reasons the del Valles don't know, didn't work out. Now they have no choice but to proceed with a transplant from either his parents or his two sisters, who, like Zayas' brother, are far from perfect matches. When Zayas heard about Isaac through an e-mail that had been forwarded several times over, he went to a recent bone marrow drive for him. He couldn't donate to Isaac himself since he's had lymphoma, but he brought with him test results from his wife, three children, four brothers and three half-sisters in hopes that they might be matches for Isaac. "It's extremely heartwarming -- it's just amazing," del Valle says. "It just kind of leaves you in awe that people who don't even know your son would step forward and help." At the drive, Zayas spoke with Isaac. "I told him, I understand how you're feeling, how it is to wait and not have a donor," Zayas remembers. "I told him there's light at the end of the tunnel, and I'm here to do all I can for you." It turned out none of Zayas' relatives was a match for Isaac. Now both, doctor and patient, or actually patient and patient, wait to see if anyone can save Isaac. For information on joining the national bone marrow registry, visit bethematch.org. To learn more about Isaac, visit the website of CNN affiliate WXIA-TV in Atlanta. ### SUMMARY:

Near-perfect match needed in bone marrow transplants . Hispanics have a 33% chance of finding the perfect bone marrow . Atlanta doctor nearly died from lymphoma . He's committed to helping other Hispanics such as ill teen find right match .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: London (CNN) -- The once-taboo topic of Greece's exit from the common currency is now being openly discussed. Two years of pushing cash into the country have barely kept it afloat and the collapse of political talks this week injected a new urgency into the situation. The potential for a run on the banks increased with the admission by the country's president Karolos Papoulias that up to €800 million ($900 million), was pulled out of the banks Monday. It is a tiny slice of total deposits but a trend, Papoulias noted, that could create "fear that could develop into panic." Greece, which is facing its fifth year of recession, will go to a second election June 17 after its May 6 voting left no single party with more than 20% support and negotiations to create a unity government failed. An interim government has now been sworn in. An unplanned exit from the eurozone could cost up to $1 trillion, according to Doug McWilliams, of the Centre for Economics and Business Research. McWilliams noted: "The end of the euro in its current form is a certainty. A currency with the name euro may survive but even if it does it will be radically transformed." Negotiations between Greece and its lenders might seem a game of chicken, and analysts remains skeptical the end-game is near. But the odds are increasing -- gaming house Ladbrokes even stopped taking bets on a Greek exit from the eurozone -- despite the legal, financial and political difficulties. CNN explains how it could happen. Legal hurdles . Greece could be forced to exit the European Union, rather than just the common currency itself, because one comes hand in hand with the other. The European Central Bank has the exclusive right to issue euro notes, for example, so any move by Greece to print its own currency would immediately put it in breach of the treaty. Changing the treaty would take some time, so a more likely maneuver is an agreement between euro nations on when and how they would boot Greece out of the bloc. According to Charles Proctor, partner at Edwards Wildman Palmer, "the dam has burst, because so many people are now talking about [an exit]. It is not a possibility that can be ignored." However the legal difficulties mean "any solution would have to take place effectively outside this document." A withdrawal from the eurozone by Greece "would be breach of the treaty without any question," Proctor added. "But these things happen." Getting back the small change . Greece could revert to the drachma -- the currency it had before entering the euro in 2001 -- but there is also speculation it could operate with a Greece-specific euro until a full switch can take place. If Argentina is used as a guide, this could be announced over a weekend. The banks could then remain shut for a fortnight while the currency transition is bedded in. At this point capital controls would need to be in place to ensure money in the country stays there. This could be done in co-ordination with other euro countries, or unilaterally. According to a Bank of America/Merrill Lynch note, Greek banks have lost 30% of their private sector deposits since their peak in late 2009. Such capital flight is likely to be increasing and the fear -- as articulated by Papoulias -- is that an emotional response to the crisis will create even greater problems. As UBS's Paul Donovan, notes, "talk of firewalls and guarantees disappears in a puff of smoke if the challenge for banks is not liquidity, nor solvency, but an existential crisis." The new currency would be worth significantly less -- estimates put it at perhaps 50% -- than the euro. According Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, the country could then issue IOUs to pay salaries and recapitalize the banks. This, however, would risk the creation of a "shadow currency." The note adds: "How long Greece could be within the euro and live with its own internal currency is an open debate." Once the new currency is in place, mortgages to Greek banks would likely be repaid in drachma, while repayments of mortgages to foreign banks may have to be renegotiated. The biggest issue could be foreign banks' loans to major Greek businesses. Debt which was previously due to be repaid in euros would have be renegotiated in drachma. Legal disputes are likely to ensue as creditors battle to get back as much money as they can. Payback time . Creditors attempting to squeeze their money out of Greece could be out of luck. The International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank are the country's most senior creditors and defaulting on these debts would be politically unpalatable. But there are precedents: Sudan, Zimbabwe and Somalia, for example, remain in arrears to the IMF. Private creditors have already taken 50% losses on their investments in Greek debt but are likely to face further reductions in repayments. Money owed to Greece's eurozone peers, via the bailout fund, would likely be up for some ferocious negotiation. The flow-on effect . The so-called "contagion effect" remains the greatest fear. Allowing one country to exit the euro opens the floodgates for others to follow. This risk will push up the premium attached to buying sovereign debt of troubled eurozone economies -- such as that of Spain and Italy, whose ten year bonds are nudging toward the "danger zone" of 7% yield -- on the back of the uncertainty. According to Michala Marcussen, of Societe Generale, the direct costs of Greek euro exit would be huge for Greece, but manageable for the rest of the bloc. "Our concern is contagion," she wrote in a note. The note said a forceful policy response would be needed in the case of a Greek exit, such as further strengthening of the bloc's bailout fund. A Greek exit could also trigger shifts in geo-political influence, as countries such as Russia may step up with financial assistance. According to James Nixon, of Societe Generale: "The risk is we may lose Greece from the Western sphere of influence." Is Greece actually going to exit the euro? The next few weeks will be vital for Greece, and the future of the eurozone. Much depends on the results of the new election. Greece's Syriza party -- which wants to remain in the eurozone but does not support the bailout program -- has thus far reaped the benefits of voter frustration with the austerity measures. It bumped out mainstream party PASOK to come second in the May 6 election, with almost 17%. Opinion polls indicate it could come first in the next election. New Democracy, which supports the program, narrowly won the May 6 election with almost 19% support. It could get a boost if sentiment shifts and fear of a euro exit drives Greeks back to the mainstream parties. If this happens, the crisis could ease. Economists remain unconvinced an exit is the next step. Nixon believes the "huge poker game" between Greece and its creditors is set to continue. "There is still some distance to the last chance saloon," he says. If it did, the consequences could be dire, Donovan notes. He points to the bankruptcy of Creditanstalt, Austria's largest bank, in 1931. "That was the main cause for the Great Depression. And this is the same sort of thing," he says. Economic shakedown . A new currency would take some time to find its true value, as markets adjust to Greece being outside the eurozone bloc. In Argentina's case, its break with the U.S. dollar peg in 2002 -- which devalued the peso by 30% -- sank its economy, with 60% of Argentines under the poverty line, according to the CIA Factbook. However, the economy then rebounded around 8.5% annually for six years. If Greece unshackles its currency it will become a more competitive exporter and an attractively cheap tourist destination. But Greeks, who have suffered rising unemployment, brutal austerity measures and protests which have claimed lives, will be forced to pay higher prices for imported goods. The country's economy -- which accounts for just 5% of the European Union's economic output and relies on agriculture and tourism -- would likely take years to recover. Nina dos Santos, Katy Byron and Tim Lister contributed to this report . ### SUMMARY:

Once-taboo topic of Greece's exit from the common currency is now openly discussed . Greece, which is facing its fifth year of recession, will go to a second election June 17 . Support for anti-austerity package parties could push Greece toward a euro exit . One estimate puts the cost of an unplanned exit from the eurozone at up to $1trn .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (Rolling Stone) -- Jonathan Demme can't get enough of Neil Young. The Academy Award-winning director recently completed "Neil Young Journeys," his third feature-length documentary on the iconic folk-rocker, which mingles footage of Young alone onstage at Toronto's Massey hall with moving scenes of him driving through his childhood home of Omeeme, Ontario. It opens on Friday, June 29, in New York and Los Angeles, then rolls out across the country all summer. Demme is the acclaimed director of a long list of dramatic films, including 1991's horrific "Silence of the Lambs" and 2008's "Rachel Getting Married" -- but music is never far from his mind. He collaborated with David Byrne on the classic Talking Heads concert film, "Stop Making Sense," in 1984, and music is a crucial part of his dramatic movies, including 1993's "Philadelphia," which features deeply emotional original songs from Young and Bruce Springsteen. In 1995, Demme and Young followed their "Philadelphia" collaboration with "The Complex Sessions," a five-song short film with Crazy Horse. Between 2006's "Heart of Gold," 2009's "Neil Young Trunk Show" and now, "Journeys," they've completed a trilogy of feature-length films that capture different phases of Young's work. Demme, who just finished shooting an adaptation of Henrick Ibsen's "The Master Builder" with Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory ("My Dinner With Andre"), spoke to Rolling Stone about his love of music, Young's film director alter-ego Bernard Shakey and his long journey through the past with Young. Rolling Stone: When did you first become aware of Neil Young and his music? Jonathan Demme: In the Sixties, when Buffalo Springfield came out. Like most young people, I was very engaged with contemporary music, especially because of the Beatles, which made everybody listen that much closer to everything. It was such a thrilling moment in popular music. And now, here's Buffalo Springfield, and they're great. And there's one particular individual in there -- he wasn't singing too many of the songs, but he was writing these amazing songs, singing a little bit. I remember the Neil Young brand hitting me very hard immediately. He wasn't an acquired taste. I loved him immediately. Rolling Stone: Buffalo Springfield broke up pretty fast. Demme: They only put out three albums. I kind of despaired a little bit: "Oh, what, no more Springfield?" Then, bam, here comes the solo album, which was so amazing. I was a rock critic at that point. I lived in London and was a writer for a Boston-based alternative newspaper called Fusion. I reviewed Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young at the Albert Hall in '69. I read that [review] fairly recently, and I was very turned off by David Crosby talking too much, but then I was very turned on by Neil Young. Rolling Stone: It seems like the last 20 years of his career are the most documented ones. Journeys is your third feature-length film with him. Demme: The first one we did, "Heart of Gold," really turned out well, and we got to know each other aesthetically and personally quite well. "Trunk Show" was not conceived as a movie. He had a great tour going, great lighting, great set, great song list, great band. That's a concert film. I don't think "Journeys" is a concert film -- it's a performance film with a strong documentary component to it. A couple of years later, he's touring with the ["Le Noise"] show. I was struck immediately by the magnitude of the sound in the context of one man, this grizzled maestro with electric guitars and other things, filling up these halls with this amazing music. And I thought, "There's never been a performance film like that before." So it became an opportunity to do something completely different from what we'd done before. And maybe we can add this other travel dimension to it. He's a great artist, a great entertainer, and endlessly desirable to see and hear. Rolling Stone: Are you a fan of Bernard Shakey's work as a filmmaker? Demme: I have a lot of respect for Bernard Shakey. I love Greendale. It's a wonderful American independent movie. It's fantastic. When David Byrne and I were getting ready to do "Stop Making Sense," we were looking at concert films and trying to figure out how we could do a film that was different from all the rest, and also would be really good. For David, "Rust Never Sleeps" was the one he wanted to be as good as. Rolling Stone: You do a lot of driving with Young in "Journeys." How is he behind the wheel? Demme: He's good. I don't know if you've driven a pre-power steering car lately, but those things are hard, man. They're physically demanding, and they don't respond really well. We started in little towns with serene back roads. We wound up on the freeway, and what was cute and charming in a Crown Victoria back in Omeeme, now becomes this bizarre relic amidst a stream of modern speeding cars. It wound up kind of poignant. I never thought I'd say to myself, "Oh, poor Neil." By the time he's in downtown Toronto in his charming old car, he looked really vulnerable. Rolling Stone: For anyone who has listened to Neil Young's music, to actually see the "town in North Ontario" that he sings about in "Helpless" was fascinating. Demme: I know! Whenever you heard that line, didn't you always picture something? It was very beautiful, whatever it was. And it was kind of amazing to get to that town in North Ontario and see, what do you know, it is gorgeous. It is dreamlike. And, amazingly, it's still here. Rolling Stone: There is also a scene where you go to a childhood home of his, and all that's left is the lawn. Demme: Yeah, and the symbolism of actually seeing the earthmovers right at work even as he's driving away. It's almost like, "You better get out of there, Neil, before they gobble you up like that old house." Rolling Stone: How do you explain the powerful connection between film and music? Demme: We're raised on these two incredible treats. We hear music coming over the radio first; we fall in love with music. We see television, and we fall in love with the moving image. A music film is what takes these two separate, wonderful experiences and marries them. I felt from time to time that shooting live music is the most purely cinematic thing you can do. Ideally, the cinema is becoming one with the music. There is little artifice involved. There's no acting. I love it. Rolling Stone: It's also a big part in your dramatic films, like your use of the song "Goodbye Horses" in "Silence of the Lambs," when the serial killer Buffalo Bill is primping in the mirror. Demme: That song wasn't in the script. The first time I heard that song, I was doing the final mix on a "Sun City" video with Little Steven and [producer] Arthur Baker. We finished it up, and there was a blizzard going on in New York. Arthur and I got in a cab, and after we drop him off, the driver says to me, "Are you in the music business?" "Uh, not really." So she puts on "Goodbye Horses" going through a blizzard, and, "Oh my God, what is this and who are you?" She was an unsigned singer Q Lazzarus, and that song ended up in Silence of the Lambs. And I asked her to sing David Byrne's song "Heaven" at a party scene in Philadelphia. Rolling Stone: It added so much depth to the moment. Demme: Music has that potential. It can be like something that saves you in a scene that isn't working that great -- the right music can make a weak scene acceptable. It can also add a whole other dimension to a scene. It can send it right into the ozone. See the full story at RollingStone.com. Copyright © 2011 Rolling Stone. ### SUMMARY:

Jonathan Demme recently completed "Neil Young Journeys" It is his third feature-length documentary on the iconic folk-rocker . Demme is the acclaimed director of "Silence of the Lambs" and "Rachel Getting Married"

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (CNN) -- She's a veteran reality television star, not to mention an author, entrepreneur, wife and mother. Kendra Wilkinson's life in the limelight demands that she travel by plane about five times a month. She can handle fame, but flying terrifies her. "I cannot stand it," she says. When she flies, Wilkinson, whose reality show, "Kendra on Top," debuted this month on WE tv, turns to her fellow passengers to help her cope. "Every time I fly, I grab on to the person next to me," she says. "People pray with me." The airline staff members she encounters are especially empathetic. "The flight attendants give me ice packs." Millions share Wilkinson's anxiety, and the fear can be debilitating. Many turn to professional therapy. Others try to resolve their fears themselves; some have more success than others. Experts caution that it's hard to pin down a precise number of people who suffer from a fear of flying, without a recent comprehensive survey. Also, many are reluctant to share details of their phobia -- or how disruptive it can be. Wilkinson, who rose to fame as one of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends on the reality show "The Girls Next Door," turns to the cocktail cart to calm her nerves. "I do try to have a glass of wine. Wine helps me cool down a little bit," she says. "Or two glasses of wine." Pinot grigio aside, she also tries to picture calming images. "I try my hardest to close my eyes and picture my son," she says. "I think of my happiest moments." Wilkinson, who hasn't received formal treatment, aspires to fly with her 2½-year-old son without scaring him with her unconcealed fear. Reason doesn't always conquer fear . John DiScala was terrified to fly. From his late teens until his early 20s, he rarely left his home in Connecticut. Now, he visits more than 20 countries a year -- by plane -- and runs the travel blog JohnnyJet.com. But his runway toward recovery was a long one. His terror set in when he was 17. Waiting with his parents to board a flight from New York, bound for Australia, he had an anxiety attack at the airport. "I felt this tingling all over my body," he says. "I felt like I was not in control." The year before, his doctor had diagnosed him with asthma. He had also suggested that the cabin pressure on the flight could give him respiratory problems. "It kept running through my head what the doctor said," DiScala remembers: " 'You will have trouble breathing.' " He missed that trip to Perth, where he would have visited his sisters -- and didn't travel again for more than three years. "I was basically afraid to leave the house," he says. "I was full of fear." This unchecked terror arises despite statistics that show how safe flying is. Less than 1% of total transportation fatalities in the U.S. were the result of air accidents in the most recent figures from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. But numbers don't necessarily calm nerves. And a fear of air travel isn't always rational. "It doesn't have to do with how safe flying is," says Tom Bunn, the president and founder of the SOAR program. He counsels fearful fliers with a mix of one-on-one therapy and education about how airplanes work. He says his clients, who hail from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, try to talk themselves out of their fear but fail. "Oftentimes, they struggle tremendously on their own to fix it, and find they can't," he says. Many turn to therapy when their fear starts to disrupt their lives as well as their livelihoods. Phobia interferes with work . Patty McLoughlin, 53, is a sales representative in the gift industry. She needs to travel to meetings at least twice a year. Based in Columbus, Ohio, she would regularly drive 12 hours just to avoid a flight. She hadn't flown in 16 years. "For pleasure, I could work around it," she says. "Not with business." But when a West Coast meeting came up at a new job, she realized she had to conquer her fear. "It was difficult to drive to California," she says. It was impractical as well. She realized that her fear was getting in the way, and flying to meetings would help her make the most of her new job. "If I wanted to grow within the company, I knew I'd have to overcome it," she says. And she did, with the help of a SOAR course. There are people who buy plane tickets but are too scared to use them. "We hear from people who want to go someplace special, and they can't go," says Alies Muskin, executive director of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. "They just don't do it." Karina Slota of Maryland, 39, was supposed to be maid of honor at her sister's wedding in Bermuda 10 years ago. Her entire family traveled to the event, including her 80-year-old grandmother, who had flown over from Germany. Slota boarded the flight from Maryland to Bermuda but didn't make it to takeoff. "If I stay on this plane, I am going to die," she thought. While the plane was still at the gate, flight attendants had to open the plane door to let Slota off. She calls the experience humiliating. "I was crying," she says. "I felt like I was being judged." She missed the wedding, and for 10 years, she didn't fly. Finally, Slota took a course with SOAR. Although she still gets anxious ahead of a trip, she says she manages to stay calm on the flight itself. She uses the mental exercises she learned from the program's videos, such as focusing on her surroundings, to stay calm and now flies about once a year. More treatment available . Some travelers are afraid to travel by plane without letting that fear interfere with their lives. They might grip their armrests tightly during takeoff, say a prayer before they board or take anti-anxiety medication. And when a flight gets bumpy, almost anyone can get scared, even frequent fliers. "I really don't like turbulence," says Liz Borod Wright, editor of the travel blog Travelogged. But she doesn't let that stop her from traveling overseas. Driving isn't a realistic option when holiday plans include Europe. "I'm not going to let my fear of flying prevent me from flying." Fear of flying "doesn't discriminate," says Josh Spitalnick, director of Research and Clinical Services at the Virtually Better clinic in Atlanta. He says some of his clinic's clients became wary after unpleasant flights, sometimes involving severe turbulence. Others just anticipate a rocky ride. "Through treatment, we teach people relaxation skills to better allow them to cope," Spitalnick says. His clinic uses virtual reality technology to simulate a flight. It also uses data and statistics to teach nervous fliers that thousands of flights take off successfully every day. A wide range of treatments are available for people with flying fears. So whether a person hasn't flown in decades or just gets anxious during turbulent flights, he or she should be able to find the right remedy. "Over the last 30 years, there have been a lot of treatments that have been developed, and refined," Muskin says. "Thirty years ago, there were no treatments at all." Every person's anxiety takes a different form, so their solutions do, too. "No two individuals are treated the same way," she says. With the range of remedies, people with flying phobias have a higher chance of curing their fears. "People have a lot of success," she says. "We know that they can get better." Conquering a fear of flying comes at a cost: Sessions can cost hundreds of dollars, and most patients need more than one. But for many, the cost of living with the phobia and missing important personal and professional obligations can be higher than the price of curing it. For DiScala, the thrill of traveling helped him overcome his fear. "I almost think travel is a drug," he says. "I love to explore new places." Are you afraid to fly? Have you overcome a fear a flying? How did you do it? Share your experiences below. ### SUMMARY:

Kendra Wilkinson travels by plane five times a month and hates to fly . Wilkinson tries to calm her fear with visualization, a glass of wine . Various therapies have helped others conquer the fear .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Houston (CNN) -- Aviation fans have already named it Dreamliner 2.0. No longer grounded for safety concerns, Boeing's embattled 787 Dreamliner now has a few things to prove. Monday might be a good day to start. That's when domestic Dreamliner flights return to America's airways. At 11 a.m., United Flight 1 is scheduled to depart Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport for Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The airline plans to roll out additional 787 flights throughout the week. Some international carriers have already resumed Dreamliner service. For aviation enthusiasts it's kind of a big deal. As word spreads of Dreamliner's return, travel advisers report they're getting calls from curious fliers looking to connect with one of United's six 787s at Dreamliner hubs. They want a chance to ride the 787 and experience its fancy interior lighting, high-tech windows and mysterious anti-turbulence technology. So far, United is the only U.S. carrier flying the aircraft . Dreamliner interactive: The Boeing 787 layout . This plane is so lightweight that it can fly farther with the same amount of fuel as heavier airliners. It can carry 200-plus passengers a third of the way around the globe. Boeing says the plane's increased profitability will open more destination cities for travelers. Industry observers are curious to see what the future holds for Dreamliner, the first entire airline model to be grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration in more than 30 years. Lithium-ion batteries that overheated on two Dreamliners in January prompted authorities to ground all 50 787s worldwide, but a redesigned battery system has cleared the way for the plane's return. Behind the scenes: Boeing's Dreamliner battery fix . Here are five things about Dreamliner for American travelers to keep in mind now that it's back in service: . How safe is it? "It's a safe airliner to get back on and fly," says Capt. Kevin Hiatt, president of the Flight Safety Foundation, an independent aviation safety think tank. The FAA simply exercised an abundance of caution when it grounded the aircraft, he says. What travelers should take away from the grounding is "the fact that we've got a pretty good system that works." Still, now that all eyes are on Dreamliner in the wake of the grounding, new reports of even minor glitches are likely to make travelers nervous. Japanese airline ANA reported an incident that damaged an electrical distribution panel on a Dreamliner test flight on May 4. ANA blamed it on a nut that had not been properly tightened, calling it a "minor issue" unrelated to batteries. A team made up of experts from Boeing and from outside the company redesigned the battery system, which separates, insulates and ventilates the battery cells. Passenger rights advocates have screamed "conflict of interest" about the FAA's longstanding policy allowing Boeing to certify components of its own aircraft. They're calling for more independent testing and analysis of Dreamliner's battery fix. But Hiatt says the process is safe and as independent as possible. "Looking at historical data, we haven't had any evidence over the years that self-certification has been responsible for any problems," says John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, the federal air crash investigation agency. Travelers have such high regard for the safety of the U.S. aviation system they don't pay much attention to the kind of plane they're flying, says Brett Snyder, travel adviser and self-described "president and chief airline dork" of CrankyFlier.com. Most aren't worried about flying the 787, but if Dreamliner develops another problem "then that might change things." Goglia, who also worked for years as an airline mechanic, warns that a repeat incident with the batteries "would severely impeach Boeing's engineering capabilities." Success for the Dreamliner heavily relies on no repeats, Goglia says. How's its reputation? When an aircraft is hit by the first FAA grounding order for an entire airliner type in three decades, does it come with a stigma? "They're definitely going to have some lumps in the road because of that," says Goglia. On the other hand, Snyder believes the "average everyday traveler isn't looking at the specific aircraft type. They're looking at the flight times and they're looking at the prices." "I'm sure there are some people that are feeling like they don't want to get on it," says Snyder. "They'll probably feel that way in the short term until the Dreamliner develops a "track record of being reliable and safe." CNN.com readers have mixed feelings about the new plane. "If there are no further incidents absolutely no one is going to remember this in a year or two," wrote one commenter. "Other troubled airplanes like the DC-10 actually killed people and still went on to be successes." Another isn't so optimistic: "I fly between continents 1-2 times per year and have done so for the last decade and I will NEVER set foot on a Dreamliner." How does it feel? We'll soon find out for ourselves when we fly United Flight 1 today, but supposedly, Dreamliner air is rare up there. New cabin environmental systems allow control of air pressure and humidity. Dreamliner's cabin pressure is set to the equivalent of 6,000 feet above sea level -- compared to the traditional setting of 8,000 feet. Feeling like you're at a lower altitude lets the body absorb more oxygen, making passengers less susceptible to airsickness. Humidity in the cabin is supposed to feel more comfortable, too. Everybody talks about the windows. By pushing a button under each one, it activates energized gel embedded in the windowpane, which darkens or lightens the glass. No shades necessary. Check back here with CNN.com today and we'll let you know what these tech-laden features are really like. How does it ride? It's a mystery how it works, but the Dreamliner comes equipped with gust suppression technology that is designed to smooth the ride during moderate turbulence. Boeing is keeping its cards close to the vest. Suffice it to say sensors on the aircraft respond to turbulence and send command signals that adjust parts of the wings. Result: smoother flying, says Boeing. We'll check it out for ourselves. "It looks pretty awesome, although I'd just rather not have turbulence -- then you don't need the gust suppression," jokes Snyder. "But I think it will be interesting to see how that feels, and how the plane handles it." How did we get here? Boeing used to think airlines felt a need for speed. But the company soon learned it had miscalculated. What the airlines really wanted was efficiency, triggering a trend toward fuel-sipping, lightweight, long-range airliners. Here's what happened: In the early 2000s, Boeing was brainstorming the next generation of airliners -- the first that would be built largely from lightweight carbon-composite materials. These new planes would jet across the nation at about 650 mph -- nearly the speed of sound. They called this idea the Sonic Cruiser. But as oil prices rose, the Sonic Cruiser took a dive. Boeing abandoned the concept, keeping the idea of a new lightweight, carbon-composite airliner. Speed was out, efficiency in. By 2003, the project had a name: Dreamliner. This year, Boeing's rival Airbus will follow Dreamliner with its A350 XWB, another sleek, long-distance fuel-sipper that can carry 200-plus passengers. Related story: Airbus rolls out sleek, new A350 XWB . CNN's Thom Patterson boards Boeing's Dreamliner later today for its first domestic flight on a U.S. carrier after it was grounded earlier this year. Check back for updates later today and follow his progress on Twitter. ### SUMMARY:

United Flight 1 is the first U.S. commercial Dreamliner flight in more than four months . Battery troubles led the FAA to ground the 787, the first model fleet grounded in 30 years . Experts say plane is safe; travel advisers say enthusiasts are requesting bookings . It's the first of a new generation of efficient airliners that can carry 200-plus passengers .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Leh, India (CNN) -- It's always tricky being a tourist alongside foreigners in your homeland. That may be especially true in India, a country so vastly different in every respect from the United States. But when the call came from my husband's niece and nephew, Larkin and Nelson, to accompany them and their father, Raymond Broussard, on a trip to the Himalayan region of Ladakh, I couldn't say no. Part of it was purely selfish. I'd never been to Ladakh, a region off India's northern Jammu and Kashmir state that borders Tibet. It's fairly accessible these days by plane -- at least in the summer -- but during my childhood in India, Ladakh was not a destination. Back then, most Indians visited picturesque Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. That was long before a violent insurgency, aimed at wresting part of Kashmir from Indian control, ravaged the area. I'd heard from friends who'd been to Ladakh in recent years about how glorious a place it was, surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks and Buddhist monasteries. I'd yearned to go for a very long time, so the invitation was instantly appealing. But there was a deeper reason. Raymond is a pediatric dentist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He told me that when he was young, his father, also a dentist, had taken him on a goodwill mission to Haiti. It was a trip that became indelibly etched in his mind. What American kid wouldn't learn from helping others so much less fortunate? Raymond told me he wanted his own children to experience something similar. He'd been thinking about it for a long time and then suddenly, just like that, Larkin was entering her senior year in high school. This was Raymond's last window of opportunity. He signed on with a group called Global Dental Relief, a Colorado-based charitable organization that provides dental care for poor kids in India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kenya and Guatemala. He was going as one of six volunteer dentists. But the group needed nondental volunteers as well. Larkin and Nelson were going -- it was their first trip to India -- and they inspired me to sign up as a nondental assistant. If they could do it, why not me? I wasn't so sure about how much help I'd be. I couldn't tell you what "scaler" or "explorer" tools looked like, but it wouldn't hurt, I thought, to learn new skills. I rescheduled my previously planned trip to India. I almost always visit home in the winter when the humidity and sizzling temperatures subside in Delhi and in my hometown, Kolkata. But there is no easy way to reach Leh, the Ladakhi capital, in the winter. The city is snowbound. So on a late August evening, I boarded a flight in Atlanta bound for Delhi. After a day getting over jet lag and visiting family, I joined the Global Dental Relief group and was immediately relieved to know that few of the nondental volunteers had any experience with cavities or extractions. But we all had two things in common: We wanted to do something good, and we wanted to see one of the most breathtaking places in the world. Less than an hour after the Indigo jet left smoggy Delhi behind, passengers strained to see out the windows. The view was nothing short of magnificent. The rising sun kissed the tall, stark peaks of the Himalayas. Some of them looked like they were on fire, the orange hues so startlingly bright. After we settled into the Snow View Guest House, we ventured out into town -- even though it had been strongly suggested that we take it easy in our rooms. Leh is about 12,000 feet above sea level and many a visitor has fallen prey to altitude sickness. We filled up on Tibetan momos (dumplings filled with lamb, chicken or vegetables) and got up early the next morning to begin setting up the dental clinic. David Sonam, the owner of the guesthouse, helps set up the clinic every year. He's a businessman and a former dean at a school who wants to do something for the kids in Ladakh, many of whom hail from impoverished homes and lack the services they need. "Dental care," Sonam told me, "is not so good here." The kids don't get check-ups. Many don't even have toothbrushes or paste at home. The only care, Sonam said, is for emergencies -- bad infections and painful teeth extractions. Downstairs from our makeshift clinic is a permanent center that Sonam set up for kids with special needs. There's a room painted with stars where children with autism can relax. There's also a physiotherapy center for children who've had corrective surgery so they can walk again. A wheelchair can be a curse in a place like Leh. It's hilly and hardly anywhere is handicapped accessible. Sonam said the biggest problem here is lack of water and hygiene. Most children grow up with a mouthful of rotting teeth, which can lead to other problems later in life. And that's what we begin to see the next day when the long lines begin to form at our humble dental clinic. One day, we encountered about 250 students from Siddhartha School who traveled for hours from mountain villages. "They are kids who only go to see a dentist when they are in a lot of pain," said their teacher Tanzin Dolma, 38. That includes Tesering Chonzom, 14. She's already had to have two fillings; now she's in for a third. She cowered from Raymond's anesthesia needle. Her friend Stanzin Anmol tried to calm her down. I wiped the tears flowing down her cheeks. But within an hour, she was out the door, her cavity filled. Over six days, the Global Dental Relief volunteers saw 715 patients -- fillings, extractions, cleanings, sealants. In all, the group estimated the value of the service at about $170,000. But we felt like a million. The clinic, I think, was especially meaningful for the Indians among the volunteers -- there were three Indian dentists and one other Indian dental assistant. I'd covered international aid organizations in my homeland -- in conflict and the aftermath of natural disaster -- but I'd never been a participant in anything like this. My crash course in dentistry probably won't take me very far though the next time I am sitting in a chair (take note, Dr. Elise Ashpole), I will know what you mean when you say: "18 occlusal." I will also know when you pick up the dread extraction tool. Eventually, the names of the children I met will fade in my mind. What I will remember are the expressions of awe and astonishment on the faces of Larkin and Nelson, who, as teenagers, discovered a slice of a strange new land. They, like their father, Raymond, who never forgot his trip to Haiti, will hopefully look back on India in 2013 as a necessary stepping stone in the path of life. What I will also remember are certain moments -- Angmo Rigzin's hand clutching mine so tightly that I thought the bones in my fingers might break. She was 11, suffered from anxiety and deathly afraid of Raymond's needle. When her ordeal was over and she finally was able to smile again, I handed her a toothbrush to take home. She ran out, down the stairs and out into the afternoon light. Two minutes later, she returned with an older student who spoke a smattering of English. "Thank you," the older girl told me. "She would not have been able to bear this without you." I watched Angmo return to her schoolmates playing on a swing set in the shadows of a 17th century Tibetan-style palace. Every visitor to Leh makes the trek up to that palace. From up there, tourists gasp at the scenery before them, the majesty of the Himalayas ahead and all of the city below. But most tourists will never see what I did in Leh. I saw a part of my homeland through a new lens. For that, I am grateful. Follow Moni Basu on Twitter . ### SUMMARY:

Family members asked CNN's Moni Basu to accompany them on a trip to her native India . She volunteered to work at a dental clinic for poor kids in the Himalayan city of Leh . She went with her husband's niece and nephew and their father, a pediatric dentist . Basu saw her homeland through an entirely new lens .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Perth, Australia (CNN) -- Four weeks to the day since Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went missing, the search is set to continue Saturday -- both on the surface of the southern Indian Ocean and deep below it. Time is fast ticking down to find the missing Boeing 777's locator pingers: If functioning as expected, their batteries will run out of juice Monday. The British Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo and the Australian naval supply ship Ocean Shield began scouring about 6,500 feet to 13,000 feet deep on the ocean floor on Friday along a single 150-mile (240-kilometer) track, said retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, the head of the Australian agency coordinating the search. The Ocean Shield has high-tech gear borrowed from the United States. That includes a Bluefin-21, which can scour the ocean floor for wreckage, and a Towed Pinger Locator 25, with its underwater microphone to detect pings from the jet's voice and data recorders as deep as 20,000 feet (6,100 meters). "It is a very slow proceeding," U.S. Navy Capt. Mark M. Matthews said of the second tool, which is towed behind a vessel typically moving at 1 to 5 knots. Said Bill Schofield, an Australian scientist who worked on developing flight data recorders: "If they do find it, I think it'll be remarkable." Up to 10 military planes and three civilian aircraft -- in addition for 11 ships -- will be looking Saturday for any sign of Flight 370, according to the Australian government. The search area will be just under 84,000 square miles (217,000 square kilometers), which is slightly less than the area searched Friday, and will focus some 1,050 miles northwest of Perth. This is about 50 miles further from the western Australian city than was the case a day earlier. Is this the right spot? Will they find anything? So far, all efforts to locate signs of the airliner have proven unsuccessful. Still, those involved have vowed to keep trying. "Really, the best we can do right now is put these assets in the best location -- the best guess we have -- and kind of let them go," U.S. Navy Cmdr. William Marks told CNN. "Until we get conclusive evidence of debris, it is just a guess." 'Long way to go' Officials have repeatedly warned that the massive international search to find signs of the Kuala Lumpur-to-Beijing flight may not conclude any time soon. "We've still got a long way to go," Houston said Friday. In the case of Air France Flight 447, which crashed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2009, officials found debris on the surface after five days of searching. But it took them nearly two years to find the main pieces of wreckage, the flight recorders and many of the bodies of those on board. With Flight 370, the search teams have even fewer clues. On Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott warned that "we cannot be certain of ultimate success in the search" for the Malaysian aircraft. He described it as the most difficult search "in human history." Authorities have yet to explain why the plane flew off course or where it ended up; investigations into the 227 passengers and 12 crew members have yielded no suggestion that any of them might have been behind the disappearance. 6 missteps in the investigation . Families' frustrations . Malaysian officials held a briefing for Malaysian relatives of those aboard MH370 on Thursday evening at a Kuala Lumpur hotel, but attendees told CNN that nothing new had emerged. Mohammad Sahril Shaari, whose cousin Mohammad Razahan Zamani was a honeymooning groom on the plane, said the three-hour session had felt like a "waste of time." He added, "I was hoping for some news that they had tracked the plane or some parts of it, but nothing like that happened." Selamat Bin Omar, the father of another passenger, Malaysian civil flight engineer Mohammed Khairul Amri Selamat, said officials described in detail the satellite data that has led investigators to the current search area. "They could not tell us if the plane crashed," he said. "They said they were still looking into it." Danica Weeks, wife of passenger Paul Weeks, said after the meeting that the jet's disappearance still perplexes her. "The hardest process for me is understanding that a commercial airliner can just go black," the New Zealander told CNN's Paula Newton. "That someone can just turn off all communications, all matter of tracking an airliner, and it can just disappear. And this is the mystery." About the search for the plane, she said, "If it's there, they will find it. But are they in the right place? It's all calculations. It's all guesswork." Hanging on to hope . Weeks said her infant son Jack will celebrate his first birthday next month, and their 3-year-old son, Lincoln, was still coming to grips with their loss. "Dad was everything for him," she said. "He read Lincoln always his bedtime story, and they had this saying that they'd say -- you know, 'Good night, I love you and see you in the morning for breakfast.' "And now he comes out and I tell him that Dad is up in the sky, and we come out every night and we find the brightest star. We find the brightest star and he says, 'Good night, Daddy, I love you. See you in the morning for breakfast.' And that breaks my heart." But, four weeks after the plane vanished, she too has not given up on seeing him for breakfast. "I know it sounds crazy, but I still have a slight hope, you know," she said, adding that she will be able to grieve only after confronted by evidence of his death. "The grief at this point still hasn't started for me," she said. "I have my moments, but until I have evidence, I still don't know." The partner of American passenger Philip Wood was also among those who attended Friday's meeting. "The only thing I learned last night after three hours is that the Malaysian families are more calm and rational than the Chinese," Sarah Bajc told CNN's Judy Kwon in an e-mail. "But they are equally frustrated and have totally lost faith in the Malaysian government." Bajc noted that officials have concluded that the jetliner flew over Malaysia "for quite a long time." "It is impossible that this relatively sophisticated military power didn't see it," she said. "They are clearly hiding something. We just don't know what." Malaysia refuses to let families hear the plane's radio communications . The Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation denied a request by Malaysian families to release the audio recording of radio communications among the pilot, co-pilot and air traffic control, two people who attended the briefing said. The department's chief, Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, told the relatives that even the families of pilot Zaharie Ahmad Shah and co-pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid have not been allowed to listen to the recording because it is part of an ongoing investigation, the two attendees said. Malaysian authorities released a transcript of the recording Tuesday. "This is an event that is so unprecedented and I think that is so significant that it can never be allowed to get off the screens, get off the radar," K.S. Narendran told CNN's Erin Burnett. His wife, Chandrika Sharma, was on the flight. "My concern is that if we don't really get to the bottom of it, we cannot really be certain that we are safe and that we are secure every time we board a flight." Ocean Shield: A mission of hope in search for Flight 370 . Flight 370: High-tech search tools . Inside the flight simulator . Read the cockpit transcript . CNN's Elizabeth Joseph reported from Perth, and Tom Watkins reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Greg Botelho, Ingrid Formanek, Jethro Mullen, Laura Smith-Spark, Ben Brumfield, Mitra Mobasherat, Paula Newton and journalist Ivy Sam contributed to this report. ### SUMMARY:

NEW: Up to 10 military planes, 3 civilian planes, 11 ships will be part of Saturday's search . NEW: The search area shifts slightly further off Australia's northwest coast . Naval vessels are looking for underwater hoping to locate the plane's ping . A month later, still holding on to hope: "See you in the morning for breakfast"

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: (Departures) -- In 1829, Englishman George Stephenson brought to life the first steam-powered locomotive — named Rocket — and marked the birth of train travel. Fast-forward 183 years, and today's jet-setting lives are lived at breakneck speed. One can climb aboard a Gulfstream G550 jet in Miami and make it to Seoul, South Korea, in a bit less than 15 hours for an impromptu business meeting. But when it comes to luxury train travel, finding the fastest route between two points is not the goal. It is more about settling back in one's seat and savoring the experience, one station at a time. The train trips on this list are diverse, encompassing varied cultures within epic journeys, like a four-week excursion through Africa with stops at the pyramids and Victoria Falls, or a two-week Trans-Siberian sojourn through Russia that crosses eight time zones and travels a quarter of the way around the world. Departures: Riding the Ferrari train . Not all cover thousands of miles. Micro journeys -- such as a day trip through the thick, green vegetation of Peru to climb the steps of Machu Picchu -- can be just as eye-opening. And some trips are about a sense of place, offering a comfortable feeling that you may slip into when, say, sipping whisky aboard a train rolling through the Scottish Highlands. T. S. Eliot once said, "The journey not the arrival matters." After embarking on these train adventures, we think you'll agree completely. All aboard: Railroad adventures for every budget . Al Andalus, Andalucía, Spain . This 800-mile trip aboard the Al Andalus, through the homeland of Pablo Picasso and Federico García Lorca, is nothing short of romantic. The train winds its way through some of southern Spain's most iconic medieval cities — Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Ronda and Cádiz. They are areas where hard-fought religious battles resulted in today's cultural kaleidoscope, a tightly woven fabric touched by Moorish and Catholic influence. Best of all, traveling from the glittering Alhambra palace in Granada to the palm-lined squares and wide streets of Jerez in an original 1929 Wagons-Lits carriage lends a sense of old-world glamour and history. $3,220, including meals; luxurytrainclub.com. Departures: World's most beautiful bridges . Eastern & Oriental Express, Singapore to Bangkok . Luxury is second nature on the opulent Eastern & Oriental Express, as evidenced by the open-air observation car at the back of the train for taking in panoramic views of the countryside and a resident pianist performing in the bar car. The seven-day, six-night Fables of the Hills journey zips through the mist-covered Cameron Highlands and past Bukit Merah, home to one of Malaysia's largest freshwater lakes, with an opportunity to disembark and taste the teas and strawberries grown in the hills. Guests can later take in dramatic views of the River Kwai as they pass over the historic Tham Kasae viaduct built along the mountain. $9,200, including meals; orient-express.com. How we'll travel in 2022 . Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, Moscow to Vladivostok, Russia . Travelers aboard the Golden Eagle's two-week Trans-Siberian expedition are in for a wild ride. They will cover 6,000 miles, crossing eight time zones, traveling a quarter of the way around the world in the process. But with luxurious amenities like a Champagne welcome reception, heated floors and dedicated butler service, guests can settle into their seats and focus on taking in the uniquely Russian scenery — from the Ural Mountains dividing Europe and Asia to the classic wooden architecture of Irkutsk — as Tchaikovsky symphonies play gently in the background. Don't miss the freshwater seals at Lake Baikal. $21,020, including meals; luxurytrainclub.com. Departures: World's most bikeable wine regions . Hiram Bingham, Cuzco to Machu Picchu, Peru . This is one of the shortest trips on our list — just three and a half hours each way — but it packs a punch. Those who board the Hiram Bingham receive a warm towel and are asked to sign a leather-bound guest book. After brunch, spectacular sights (like the snowcapped Vilcabamba Mountains) begin to unfold outside the windows as the train zigzags along switchbacks through the agricultural terraces of the Incan city of Jaquijahuana. Then it is on to the cloud-laden Urubamba Gorge, thick with green vegetation, before finally arriving at Aguas Calientes, just a bit more than a mile from the famous lost city of Machu Picchu, with its more than 3,000 steps looming in the distance. Meals and tea are enjoyed at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge Hotel. $350, including meals; orient-express.com. Departures: Amazing private safaris . Pride of Africa, Cape Town to Cairo . This 28-day excursion through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda and Egypt doesn't confine itself to land travel (there is a luxury air safari and lake cruise included), but the adventure's crown jewel is its majestic Pride of Africa train. Guests will take in a broad swath of Africa, from a visit with chimpanzees in Uganda to a tour of the pyramids and the Great Sphinx in Egypt to the rushing waters of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe — a sight so powerful, explorer David Livingstone said the falls must have been "gazed upon by angels in their flight." Back onboard, guests can relax in leather seats and enjoy fine South African wines in the lounge car. And for the adventurous set, the train provides complimentary goggles in the event one should want to stick his or her head out the window. The trip is a rare treat, departing only once every two years, and sets out next in January 2014. From $6,200, including meals, laundry and excursions; rovos.com. Departures: Top Alaska cruises . Royal Canadian Pacific, Canadian Rockies . This is a trip so regal, it attracts royalty, in the form of Queen Elizabeth II, who traveled in a Royal Canadian Pacific train shortly after her marriage to the Duke of Edinburgh. The six-day, five-night excursion, which begins and ends in Calgary, scales the Spiral Tunnels of Yoho National Park, during which the Royal Canadian climbs 1,070 feet in 10 miles of track along a narrow mountain pass. Perilous? Perhaps. But the views of the Rocky Mountains afforded by this near-vertical trek are some of the most spectacular in the world. Other highlights include the opportunity to lounge by the emerald waters of Lake Louise in the unspoiled wilderness of Banff National Park. $8,145, including meals; luxurytrainclub.com. The Royal Scotsman, Scottish Highlands . The Royal Scotsman's Highland Journey begins and ends in the capital city of Edinburgh. From there, the train heads north through the former Kingdom of Fife, filled with fishing villages and rolling green pastures, and then onward and upward to the rugged crags of the famed Highlands. At night, a local clansman tells tales of Scottish history, and an informal whisky tasting allows guests to get acquainted with Scotland's national drink. The second day is filled with activities in the Rothiemurchus Forest, home to wild hare, osprey and red deer. Guests can shoot clay pigeons or fish before the night winds down with a tour of Strathisla, one of the oldest working distilleries in Scotland. $4,020, including meals; royalscotsman.com . Departures: See two more spectacular rail trips . Are you a rail enthusiast? What train trips would you recommend? Please share your suggestions in the comments section below. © 2010 American Express Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved. ### SUMMARY:

Luxury train travel is about enjoying the ride and savoring the sights . The Al Andalus winds its way through southern Spain's most iconic medieval cities . The Trans-Siberian Express crosses 6,000 miles and eight time zones .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were not in the Florentine appellate court Monday for the opening day of their appeal against their 2009 convictions for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher. Knox and Sollecito were convicted of Kercher's murder in a highly divisive murder trial that, at times, pitted Americans against Italians who formed two camps. The "innocentisti" or those who supported Knox's innocence were convinced the Italian court was corrupt and spoon fed by a very successful public relations campaign out of Seattle, Washington. The "colpevolisti" were those who thought Knox was culpable in either the murder or the perceived cover up. Kercher was found semi-nude in a student apartment she shared with Knox and two Italian women. In an early interrogation, Knox confessed to being in the house when Kercher was killed, describing her screams in vivid detail. She later retracted the confession and accused Perugia police of hitting her on the back of the head. Giuliano Mignini, the Perugia prosecutor who won the original conviction and then lost the appeal also did not attend Monday's hearing, but almost everyone else from the original trials was there, including Patrick Lumumba, the Congolese bartender Knox originally accused of Kercher's murder. Lumumba attended almost every hearing of the earlier trials and his presence underscored the complexity of the case. "I am proof that Amanda Knox is a liar," he told CNN on Monday. "That's why I am here." Lumumba spent several weeks in jail after Knox accused him of Kercher's murder, and he definitively won a defamation suit against her, for which she was ordered to pay €22,000 ($29,800) for his court costs. His lawyer Carlo Pacelli told the court Monday that Knox had not yet paid that fine. There were even locals from Perugia who were fixtures in the public gallery during the original trials who made the trip to Florence to see the story through. Amanda Knox: 'I'm afraid to go back' to Italy . Serious place . The presiding judge, Alessandro Nencini, and the assisting judge, Luciana Cicerchia, oversaw the proceedings in the austere Justice Palace in a nondescript suburb of Florence, far away from the tourist attractions like the Ponte Vecchio and Duomo. Six lay judges and two alternates -- who act more as conscientious objectors to bring the voice of the people to the judicial proceeding than as American-style jurors who have absolute voting power -- were draped in sashes with the colors of the Italian flag. The presiding judge, whose deep baritone voice filled the courtroom, interrupted the lawyers when they were long-winded, and had little patience for any distractions in the court. Only once, when a journalist's mobile phone rang out the Rossini music used as the "Lone Ranger" theme tune -- which gave prosecutor Alessandro Crini a momentary case of the giggles -- did the mood lighten. The rest of the time, Nencini's court was a serious place. The court is meeting to hear a new appeal by Knox and Sollecito, whose 2011 acquittal was overturned by Italy's Supreme Court based on what judges said were "shortcomings, contradictions and inconsistencies," writing in their final reasoning "too many questions remain unanswered." Half of all cases in Italy are altered some way during the appellate process, so Knox's case is not an anomaly. Francesco Maresca, the lawyer representing Kercher, told CNN: "The high court ruling will be the guide the defense teams for Knox and Sollecito will need to follow to try to win another acquittal." The session began with the judge reading out the facts of the case, beginning with the discovery of Kercher's semi-nude body in the apartment she shared with Knox in 2007, and ending with the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the acquittal. Nencini also read the details of the Rudy Guede aspect of the case. Guede, an Ivory Coast native who was convicted in a fast-track trial for his role in Kercher's murder in 2008, has been definitively convicted for his role in the murder in the case, passing the first degree, appeal and high court, which is necessary for any case in Italy to be considered definitive. The court ruled that he was one of three murderers, but did not name the other two. Guede's sentence was reduced from 30 to 16 years on appeal meaning he will be eligible for parole in 2016. The discovery of Guede's fingerprints in Kercher's bedroom is what led to Lumumba's release. Knox concedes being 'tone-deaf' in days after roommate's murder . Defense requests . Nencini then asked for the defense teams to list their requests for the court, which included retesting some of the crucial evidence in the case, like Kercher's bra clasp on which Sollecito's DNA was found, but which had been left for 47 days in the murder room before it was collected. The judge did not allow the retesting of the clasp. The defense teams also asked that a suspect stain, which was referred to as the "sperm stain" on a pillow found under Kercher's body be tested. During the original trial, investigators chose to test a bloody foot print on the pillow instead of the stain because they presumed it was old stain, and most likely from Kercher's boyfriend. They also wanted to take another look at what they called the lack of evidence of a clean-up by Knox and Sollecito. The judge again denied the requests. The judge did agree to accept three of the defense's requests. One was to retest a knife found in Sollecito's apartment with Knox's DNA on the handle and what was found to be Kercher's DNA in a groove on the blade. The blade sample was too small to retest, so the results were not considered valid by the original appellate court. The new appellate judge agreed to have another stain on the knife, which had never been tested, subjected to forensic review. Aviello testimony . The new appellate court also ruled to accept the testimony from Luciano Aviello, a witness who testified in the first appeal. Luciano Aviello -- who served time with Sollecito in jail -- had written to the court to say that his brother Antonio had killed Kercher and that the knife he had used was buried in a garden in Perugia. He testified in court: "My brother came in and sat on the sofa. The right arm of his jacket was ripped and he could see blood on his arm. My brother then pulled out a pocket knife and a set of keys. He was very afraid. He didn't want to create problems for me in Perugia. My brother was very emotional." He said that his brother then buried the murder weapon in a garden. Aviello's brother is currently on the run, according to Perugia police who tried to find him to investigate the allegations. The defense asked that Luciano Aviello's testimony be heard again since Perugia police apparently did not investigate the mysterious claim. The new appellate judge also accepted a request to enter into evidence photos of Sollecito's bitten fingernails taken the day after the murder. A lawyer for Sollecito, Luca Maori, told CNN that the photos proved that Sollecito did not have enough nail to successfully pry off the clasp of Kercher's bra. "He bit his nails," Maori said. "There is no way he could have unclasped the bra." The court adjourned until Friday, October 4, when Aviello will testify and investigators from the RIS -- Italy's department of defense staff information and security -- in Rome will be given the mandate to retest the knife. Knox says she will not attend the trial, but Sollecito is expected to attend some sessions, his father said. An appeal verdict is expected by the end of the year. Opinion: What Knox can and can't tell us . ### SUMMARY:

Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were in 2009 convicted of Meredith Kercher's murder . In 2011, they were acquitted of the crime, but in March 2013 Italy's high court ordered a retrial . The retrial began in Florence Monday but has been adjourned until October 4 . Kercher's body was found in 2007 in the Perugia flat she and Knox shared with two others .

### SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE: Before Ebola, there was the flu -- the Spanish flu of 1918, which burned rapidly through army barracks, refugee camps, troop ships, all the crowded high-risk zones that World War I created. Some people think it came out of Kansas. The first American cases developed there. Soldiers from army camps like Fort Riley, in eastern Kansas, carried the virus to other camps around the U.S., and over the sea to France. The flu of 1918-1919 came toward the end of the First World War -- which began a century ago this year -- and it killed more people than died in that conflict, more people than the Black Death, back in the 14th century. In fact, nobody knows exactly how many people died around the world; the estimates go all the way up to 100 million, which would have been 5% of the world's population. Opinion: How a century-old war affects you . If you lost a son in uniform in 1918, you were equally likely to lose him to the flu as to enemy bullets; half of the American servicemen who died were killed by the flu. After the virus started spreading in Europe, infecting and killing people in a number of countries, it was thoroughly described in the Spanish press -- because the King of Spain got sick, and because Spain was not in the war, and therefore not censoring news, while the French, British, and German papers were suppressing anything which might have an effect on wartime morale or suggest vulnerability. And thus, as a prize of peace, Spain became forever connected to the most deadly pandemic of all time. Opinion: The promise World War I couldn't keep . Influenza is a seasonal illness. Every year an influenza virus emerges, generally originating somewhere in Asia, and moves through the world, causing fever and chills, muscle pain and headache, cough and runny nose, and a certain number of deaths. That's why you need to get a flu shot every fall -- it's available now and you should make sure that you get it, and doubly sure that your children do -- because the flu virus is a particularly changeable microbe, and every year the virus is a slightly different genetic mix, and the vaccine has to be tailored to protect you. Most years, most strains, influenza is especially deadly to the very young and the very old. In my pediatric clinic, we vaccinate every child starting at 6 months of age, but we take special trouble to make sure that the kids with medical problems, from asthma to congenital heart disease, get flu vaccine every year. The 1918 flu virus was different. It was deadly to young adults. The elderly, who are often the victims in flu season, did relatively well, perhaps because they had lived through a related strain of flu 30 years earlier, and therefore had some protective immunity. But people in their 20s and 30s, healthy young people, got sick in record numbers -- and many of them did not recover. Opinion: The mighty women of World War I . That same 1918 flu was unusually virulent, so a very high percentage of the people who got sick went on to die. They died because their lungs filled with fluid. They drowned, it was sometimes said, inside their own useless lungs. There are stories about how fast this influenza killed; people got sick and died within 12 hours. But the Spanish flu also looked more like a hemorrhagic fever -- that is, people died because the infection affected their ability to form blood clots and stop bleeding --so there were people coughing up blood, or bleeding from their noses or their eyes. Some victims' feet turned black from internal bleeding. Opinion: War: What is it good for? Art! In other words, the 1918 virus behaved a little like the Ebola virus, a hemorrhagic fever virus much in the news right now. This flu raced through classrooms and schools and theaters -- and cities. In Philadelphia in October 1918, every hospital bed was filled, and hundreds of people were dying every day. The city ran out of coffins. "The most terrifying aspect of the epidemic was the piling up of bodies," John Barry writes in his book, "The Great Influenza." "Undertakers, themselves sick, were overwhelmed. They had no place to put bodies. Gravediggers either were sick or refused to bury influenza victims." Opinion: Should nations pay the price for their leaders' misdeeds? All kinds of public health measures and quarantines were tried, as the epidemic raged. Campaigns promoted face masks and targeted spitting in public with misdemeanor ordinances and fines. St. Louis closed its schools, theaters, pool halls, churches and bars, in a strategy called "social distancing." New York City required businesses to stagger their hours, so that people wouldn't be squeezed together in rush hour commutes. When the Boston schools were closed, teachers were recruited as nurses. Some towns attempted to keep the virus out altogether; Barry tells the story of Gunnison, Colorado, which blocked all incoming roads and warned railway passengers that if they stepped off the train onto the platform, they would be arrested. Opinion: How World War I gave us 'cooties' Cities also built their public health infrastructures; they opened emergency clinics, they strengthened reporting networks that tracked infectious diseases. In fact, the story of the 1918 influenza can be read -- by those who have eyes to see -- as the admittedly bloody beginning of the triumph of modern medicine, public health and scientific microbiology. But none of that is what saved us, not the development of a vaccine. We were saved because, as it does every year, the flu epidemic receded. Maybe that intensely virulent strain of influenza virus was replaced, over time, by a less virulent strain. And the annual influenza story became a largely pro forma public health story: Viral strain identified, vaccine manufactured, full speed ahead! Get your flu shots! Opinion: The 'bionic men' of World War I . In 1918, a virus that was unusually devastating to the young and healthy came into a world which, paradoxically, had marshaled many of its young healthy citizens for military purposes. So the First World War shaped the epidemic, and the epidemic, in turn, affected the war. Most famously, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson came down with influenza while attending the Paris Peace Conference and had to miss days of the negotiations that ultimately resulted in the Treaty of Versailles. Every epidemic is a product of microbiology and sociology; we look at Ebola now and worry about an epidemic which can spread by mass air travel in an interconnected world, which circumvents some of our modern medical precautions. Opinion: How World War I gave us drones . But the important lessons from the 1918 epidemic are probably not specific to the virus -- or rather, they would argue for looking closely at any contagious illness and thinking carefully about true risk and true benefit. How is the virus actually transmitted, when does it make sense to practice social distancing, to institute quarantines, to close the schools and the pool halls and the churches? We have microbiological knowledge that the good people of 1918 did not possess; we have antiviral drugs and disposable personal protective equipment to be put on by everyone working with patients at risk. That should make us at once more fearful -- because yes, indeed, the world as we know it may end because of new and terrifying infectious agents -- and more sanguine -- because yes, we live in a world of microbes. They live on us, and in us, and sometimes we travel together into darkness. Opinion: When chemical weapons killed 90,000 . Nothing will ever take away the threat of a new and virulent microbe. But we have learned a lot about building institutions to help us protect ourselves and the people we love, about public health and common sense. In other words, stop worrying about Ebola, think about 1918, wash your hands and go get that flu shot. Photo blog: WWI: The Golden Age of postcards . ### SUMMARY:

Perri Klass: Before Ebola, there was Spanish flu, World War I-era pandemic . It killed tens of millions, more than died in war; mainly young adults; was similar to Ebola . One result: Cities modernized medical infrastructure, strategies to stop spread, she says . Klass: It taught us realities of stemming contagion: Wash hands, get your flu shot!