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Tony Abbott has pleaded with Labor to back legislation to crack down on illegal firearms, which will be reintroduced to parliament this week. The coalition will again push for a mandatory five-year minimum sentences for traffickers by tabling legislation already rejected by the Senate in February. The prime minister on Sunday called on Labor to support the tough new gun laws, saying it was crucial to cracking down on criminals involved in the illegal firearms trade. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (L) and Attorney General George Brandis (R) at the Australian Federal Police Headquarters . 'I say to Bill Shorten and the Labor Party, if you're fair dinkum about protecting our community from gun crime you should support these mandatory minimum sentences for people who traffic in illegal firearms,' he told reporters in Sydney. Labor voted against the measures earlier this year, citing an opposition to mandatory sentences. But Mr Abbott said Labor had supported mandatory minimum sentencing for people smugglers when it was in government, and should back its gun trafficking legislation. 'The Labor Party to its credit has a fair record in this parliament on national security,' he said. There are an estimated 250,000 illegal firearms in Australia . 'I don't believe you can properly separate out this crackdown on illegal trafficking in firearms from our overall national security effort.' But shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus ruled out support for the measure, saying heavy penalties already existed for firearms trafficking. 'There is no evidence that mandatory minimum sentences work as a deterrent,' Mr Dreyfus said. Greens' senator Penny Wright said she was she did not believe tougher gun sentences would make Australia a safer place. The coalition will again push for a mandatory five-year minimum sentences for traffickers by tabling legislation already rejected by the Senate in February . 'Tougher sentencing for trafficking is not the way to address gun crime in Australia,' she said. 'While more certainly needs to be done to stop illegal imports, many illicit firearms are actually stolen from legitimate sources or taken from the 'grey market', including the gun used in the Sydney siege. 'Tackling gun crime requires a multi-faceted approach, not national security scaremongering.' There are an estimated 250,000 illegal firearms in Australia. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Tony Abbott has pleaded with Labor to back a new gun legislation .
The coalition is pushing for a five-year minimum sentence for traffickers .
It will be introduced into parliament this week .
The Prime Minister said it was crucial to cracking down on criminals . | 1bb943c157fd44b3a59b50ee7692dacf4947e4b8 | <s>[INST] Tony Abbott has pleaded with Labor to back legislation to crack down on illegal firearms, which will be reintroduced to parliament this week. The coalition will again push for a mandatory five-year minimum sentences for traffickers by tabling legislation already rejected by the Senate in February. The prime minister on Sunday called on Labor to support the tough new gun laws, saying it was crucial to cracking down on criminals involved in the illegal firearms trade. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (L) and Attorney General George Brandis (R) at the Australian Federal Police Headquarters . 'I say to Bill Shorten and the Labor Party, if you're fair dinkum about protecting our community from gun crime you should support these mandatory minimum sentences for people who traffic in illegal firearms,' he told reporters in Sydney. Labor voted against the measures earlier this year, citing an opposition to mandatory sentences. But Mr Abbott said Labor had supported mandatory minimum sentencing for people smugglers when it was in government, and should back its gun trafficking legislation. 'The Labor Party to its credit has a fair record in this parliament on national security,' he said. There are an estimated 250,000 illegal firearms in Australia . 'I don't believe you can properly separate out this crackdown on illegal trafficking in firearms from our overall national security effort.' But shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus ruled out support for the measure, saying heavy penalties already existed for firearms trafficking. 'There is no evidence that mandatory minimum sentences work as a deterrent,' Mr Dreyfus said. Greens' senator Penny Wright said she was she did not believe tougher gun sentences would make Australia a safer place. The coalition will again push for a mandatory five-year minimum sentences for traffickers by tabling legislation already rejected by the Senate in February . 'Tougher sentencing for trafficking is not the way to address gun crime in Australia,' she said. 'While more certainly needs to be done to stop illegal imports, many illicit firearms are actually stolen from legitimate sources or taken from the 'grey market', including the gun used in the Sydney siege. 'Tackling gun crime requires a multi-faceted approach, not national security scaremongering.' There are an estimated 250,000 illegal firearms in Australia. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. [/INST] Tony Abbott has pleaded with Labor to back a new gun legislation .
The coalition is pushing for a five-year minimum sentence for traffickers .
It will be introduced into parliament this week .
The Prime Minister said it was crucial to cracking down on criminals . </s> |
A defiant father-of-ten who has had his Christmas lights up for almost five months is refusing to take them down despite being branded a 'pikey'. Kevin Franklin got a friend to put up the huge festive display on his council house after he suffered a stroke in November. He stopped turning them on in January but said they helped calm his autistic son Bradley, 15, and plans to switch them back on for Autism Awareness Month in April. Despite the good cause he has received a poison pen-letter from someone on his street in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, calling his family 'pikeys' and the lights 'grotesque', 'tacky' and 'an eyesore'. The letter said: 'I know you live in a council house but there's no need to make it look like one'. Row: Defiant father-of-ten Kevin Franklin is refusing to take down the Christmas lights still hanging outside his council house . Backlash: A neighbour put this poison-pen letter through his door, calling the lights 'grotesque' and the family 'pikeys' Good cause: Mr Franklin says that the lights are good for his autistic son Bradley so he has kept them up since November . Mr Franklin now says he has even more lights in his garage, which he will add to the collection on his house. He suspects that the abuse has come from people on his street who have bought their house. Sad: Kevin, 53, who lives with wife Michele, 46, who cares for Bradley full-time, said the letter upset him . The poison pen writer sent an anonymous letter addressed to 'the pikeys that live at number 80'. It read: 'I am fed up of seeing your grotesque, tacky, council house Christmas lights. 'It is March for goodness sake. Your house leaves this lovely community looking a disgrace. It looks like a state. It sticks out like a sore thumb. 'I don't want to keep driving past this eyesore, every time I do my kids scream. 'I know you live in a council house but there's no need to make it look like one. 'Yours sincerely, A very disgruntled citizen.' Kevin, 53, who lives with wife Michele, 46, who cares for Bradley full-time, said the letter had upset him but said he planned to put up more lights, rather than take them down. He said: 'I was shocked and quite upset when I got the letter. But they're not coming down. They're not doing anybody any harm. 'I don't switch them on until it comes nearer Christmas. 'Apart from that they're going on in April which is autism awareness month, because I have a 15-year-old autistic son. 'I've had neighbours who have said they will join in and also donate to autism charities.' Response: Mr Franklin has refused to cave in to pressure and says he will put even more lights up . Festive cheer: The family believe it brightens up the area but a disgruntled neighbour told them: 'I know you live in a council house but there's no need to make it look like one' Fundraising: The Franklins hope that the display will raise cash for autism charities . He added: 'I think the person who sent the letter comes from the posh side of the street. 'Our side is all council houses while the other side is where the houses have been bought. 'They think they're better than us but the only difference between us and them is that they buy their pile of bricks and we rent ours. It's still my house and I'm proud of it. 'We keep our garden nice and tidy but we like the lights. The principle is nobody tells me what to do in my house. 'We're going to make sure the house is covered and really give them something to whine about.' One neighbour said a petition was started to try to get Kevin to remove the Christmas lights, although many residents in the street are divided over the ongoing display. Matthew Ludley said: 'I heard someone started a petition and a few people had complained, I don't know who would have sent the letter though. 'I'm not really bothered by the lights being up, it doesn't really affect me.' Another resident, John Rogers, 71, said: 'I'm with the old age pensioner lot. There is a big divide between the people who have purchased their houses and the council house lot. Conspiracy: Mr Franklin suspects the rude note came from people on his street (pictured) who may have bought their house . 'I'm not offended by the lights, I think if he has been ill then that's actually a good enough reason not to take them down. 'I think it's a bit petty to send a letter, you would think they would just talk to him.' Another resident, who asked not to be named, said the author of the letter was 'sad'. The word 'pikey' is believed to have been used as early as the 16th century. But it was not seen in print until 1837, when The Times used it to describe strangers who visited the Isle of Sheppey. The actual origins of the word are unclear. It could be connected to the word 'turnpike'. These were toll roads, which had rotating barriers made of sharp poles called pikes - and vagrants were known to gather in these areas in the 18th century. An alternative version of the word is 'piker', which is said to have come from the verb 'to pike' - which once meant to run away. In recent years gipsies have complained when the term is used against them and say it is insulting. It is also used in the modern day as a term to insult someone of supposedly low class. She said: 'Do people not have anything better to do than moan about Christmas lights still being up? They're not even on. It's a bit sad.' Residents also took to social media to express their opinion on the matter. Beckie Louise wrote on Facebook: 'Absolutely disgraceful !! Have people lost their minds? 'Is this really causing anyone physical harm? Emotional harm? Physiological harm maybe? The answer is NO. 'I can't believe money and resources are being spent on worrying about Christmas lights on someone's house. 'Don't we have more things to concentrate on. Like the youth of today and resourcing places for them to go... Thefts in and around the area. 'The bullying at schools, need I go on? Leave them alone.' Marc Curt Leopold, who said he lives next door to the family, wrote: 'We live next door and have offered to take them down, but in all honesty our kids love them and we have a good relationship with our neighbours so if they need them down then we will help.' Kevin, who used to run a pub but is now unemployed, responded to the outcry by saying he has a garage full of more lights which he is now planning to put up next week. | Kevin Franklin had lights put up in November after he had a stroke .
Father-of-ten from Dunstable kept them up for his autistic son Bradley .
Irate neighbour sent him poison-pen letter calling his family 'pikeys'
Note said: 'I don't want to keep driving past this eyesore. I know you live in a council house but there's no need to make it look like one'
Mr Franklin say he will put even more lights up to raise money for charity .
He said: 'We're going to make sure the house is covered and really give them something to whine about' | 199bd510b1a358f5172b5dc46ed69bceefe650d3 | <s>[INST] A defiant father-of-ten who has had his Christmas lights up for almost five months is refusing to take them down despite being branded a 'pikey'. Kevin Franklin got a friend to put up the huge festive display on his council house after he suffered a stroke in November. He stopped turning them on in January but said they helped calm his autistic son Bradley, 15, and plans to switch them back on for Autism Awareness Month in April. Despite the good cause he has received a poison pen-letter from someone on his street in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, calling his family 'pikeys' and the lights 'grotesque', 'tacky' and 'an eyesore'. The letter said: 'I know you live in a council house but there's no need to make it look like one'. Row: Defiant father-of-ten Kevin Franklin is refusing to take down the Christmas lights still hanging outside his council house . Backlash: A neighbour put this poison-pen letter through his door, calling the lights 'grotesque' and the family 'pikeys' Good cause: Mr Franklin says that the lights are good for his autistic son Bradley so he has kept them up since November . Mr Franklin now says he has even more lights in his garage, which he will add to the collection on his house. He suspects that the abuse has come from people on his street who have bought their house. Sad: Kevin, 53, who lives with wife Michele, 46, who cares for Bradley full-time, said the letter upset him . The poison pen writer sent an anonymous letter addressed to 'the pikeys that live at number 80'. It read: 'I am fed up of seeing your grotesque, tacky, council house Christmas lights. 'It is March for goodness sake. Your house leaves this lovely community looking a disgrace. It looks like a state. It sticks out like a sore thumb. 'I don't want to keep driving past this eyesore, every time I do my kids scream. 'I know you live in a council house but there's no need to make it look like one. 'Yours sincerely, A very disgruntled citizen.' Kevin, 53, who lives with wife Michele, 46, who cares for Bradley full-time, said the letter had upset him but said he planned to put up more lights, rather than take them down. He said: 'I was shocked and quite upset when I got the letter. But they're not coming down. They're not doing anybody any harm. 'I don't switch them on until it comes nearer Christmas. 'Apart from that they're going on in April which is autism awareness month, because I have a 15-year-old autistic son. 'I've had neighbours who have said they will join in and also donate to autism charities.' Response: Mr Franklin has refused to cave in to pressure and says he will put even more lights up . Festive cheer: The family believe it brightens up the area but a disgruntled neighbour told them: 'I know you live in a council house but there's no need to make it look like one' Fundraising: The Franklins hope that the display will raise cash for autism charities . He added: 'I think the person who sent the letter comes from the posh side of the street. 'Our side is all council houses while the other side is where the houses have been bought. 'They think they're better than us but the only difference between us and them is that they buy their pile of bricks and we rent ours. It's still my house and I'm proud of it. 'We keep our garden nice and tidy but we like the lights. The principle is nobody tells me what to do in my house. 'We're going to make sure the house is covered and really give them something to whine about.' One neighbour said a petition was started to try to get Kevin to remove the Christmas lights, although many residents in the street are divided over the ongoing display. Matthew Ludley said: 'I heard someone started a petition and a few people had complained, I don't know who would have sent the letter though. 'I'm not really bothered by the lights being up, it doesn't really affect me.' Another resident, John Rogers, 71, said: 'I'm with the old age pensioner lot. There is a big divide between the people who have purchased their houses and the council house lot. Conspiracy: Mr Franklin suspects the rude note came from people on his street (pictured) who may have bought their house . 'I'm not offended by the lights, I think if he has been ill then that's actually a good enough reason not to take them down. 'I think it's a bit petty to send a letter, you would think they would just talk to him.' Another resident, who asked not to be named, said the author of the letter was 'sad'. The word 'pikey' is believed to have been used as early as the 16th century. But it was not seen in print until 1837, when The Times used it to describe strangers who visited the Isle of Sheppey. The actual origins of the word are unclear. It could be connected to the word 'turnpike'. These were toll roads, which had rotating barriers made of sharp poles called pikes - and vagrants were known to gather in these areas in the 18th century. An alternative version of the word is 'piker', which is said to have come from the verb 'to pike' - which once meant to run away. In recent years gipsies have complained when the term is used against them and say it is insulting. It is also used in the modern day as a term to insult someone of supposedly low class. She said: 'Do people not have anything better to do than moan about Christmas lights still being up? They're not even on. It's a bit sad.' Residents also took to social media to express their opinion on the matter. Beckie Louise wrote on Facebook: 'Absolutely disgraceful !! Have people lost their minds? 'Is this really causing anyone physical harm? Emotional harm? Physiological harm maybe? The answer is NO. 'I can't believe money and resources are being spent on worrying about Christmas lights on someone's house. 'Don't we have more things to concentrate on. Like the youth of today and resourcing places for them to go... Thefts in and around the area. 'The bullying at schools, need I go on? Leave them alone.' Marc Curt Leopold, who said he lives next door to the family, wrote: 'We live next door and have offered to take them down, but in all honesty our kids love them and we have a good relationship with our neighbours so if they need them down then we will help.' Kevin, who used to run a pub but is now unemployed, responded to the outcry by saying he has a garage full of more lights which he is now planning to put up next week. [/INST] Kevin Franklin had lights put up in November after he had a stroke .
Father-of-ten from Dunstable kept them up for his autistic son Bradley .
Irate neighbour sent him poison-pen letter calling his family 'pikeys'
Note said: 'I don't want to keep driving past this eyesore. I know you live in a council house but there's no need to make it look like one'
Mr Franklin say he will put even more lights up to raise money for charity .
He said: 'We're going to make sure the house is covered and really give them something to whine about' </s> |
The Prime Minister led furious calls for any companies found guilty of selling personal data without consent to face the toughest consequences . Rogue data firms were warned by David Cameron last night that they could face serious penalties after the Mail exposed an astonishing trade in private information. The Prime Minister led furious calls for any companies found guilty of selling personal data without consent to face the toughest consequences. He suggested the law would be tightened if loopholes are being exploited by unscrupulous cold callers. His comments came as charities for the elderly, politicians and campaigners called for an urgent crackdown and said there should be lengthy jail sentences for the worst offenders. The Information Commissioner said data firms could face fines of £500,000 and warned that those breaking the law ‘are in deep trouble’. The Mail revealed yesterday how highly sensitive financial information about millions of pension holders is being sold for as little as 5p and ending up in the hands of criminals. The revelations come amid fears scammers are targeting the elderly and vulnerable ahead of George Osborne’s pension reforms, which come into force on Monday and will give savers the chance to access their full retirement pots. Data firms sold undercover reporters personal data for 15,000 people, including their salaries, the value of their investments and the size of their pensions. They did so without any attempt to verify that the reporters, who posed as a cold-calling firm, were a genuine company or to check how they planned to use the data. Last night, Mr Cameron said the revelations were ‘very worrying’. He told the Mail: ‘I’ve listened to the Information Commissioner who now has the powers and laws that he needs to chase after this stuff. But it’s extremely serious. 'We’ll always look at it and if more needs to be done we’ll do it, but my understanding from the briefing that I have had is that the legal position is pretty robust. Data theft, information theft, there are quite serious penalties.’ Nick Clegg said large scale data theft should carry a jail term. The Deputy Prime Minister said he had pushed for tougher sentences. ‘The average fine for data theft is about £100’, he said. ‘Even if it’s on an industrial scale.’ Labour health spokesman Andy Burnham said: ‘It is nothing short of disgraceful that personal details of vulnerable and older people are being bought and sold in this way. This has got to stop and the Government needs to act.’ And Labour work and pensions spokesman Rachel Reeves said: ‘Today’s revelations that personal data is being passed on to those looking to make a quick buck out of pensioners’ savings are shocking. How yesterday's Mail broke the story: Nick Sayer, a director of B2C Data, offered to sell details of 15,000 people to undercover reporters . 'Ministers have ignored warning after warning about the threats to savers from fraudsters, but they must now act quickly to protect savers.’ The Mail’s investigation into the sale of personal data prompted a wave of fury and concern from leading politicians, pensions experts, data experts and charities. Here is what they said: . David Cameron: ‘It’s extremely serious. We’ll always look at it and if more needs to be done we’ll do it, but.. data theft, information theft, there are quite serious penalties.’ Information Commissioner Christopher Graham: ‘What these companies appear to be failing to understand is that under the law you have rights over the use of your personal information. If they decide to treat it as their own product, to buy and sell without your permission, then there will be consequences.’ Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary: ‘It is nothing short of disgraceful that personal details of vulnerable and older people are being bought and sold in this way. This has got to stop.’ Ros Altmann, pensions expert: ‘It is utterly shocking and wrong. There now needs to be real change from the authorities. A zero tolerance policy for those who sell your private, personal or intimate details for their own profit and cause so much misery so carelessly and callously.’ Professor Sir Brian Jarman, NHS data expert: ‘People can get this confidential information and target those who are vulnerable. I’m very worried. The data is being used for one reason when it was given for another. There need to be harsh punishments.’ Lisa Harris, Saga spokeswoman: 'The findings of the Mail’s investigation are extremely worrying, and not just for the most vulnerable in society. Whilst many of us know not to give details over the phone, when the caller appears to have information about you that only you could have provided, it’s easy to see how people might think the call is genuine.’ Janet Morrison of charity Independent Age: ‘It is horrifying that older people are being deliberately targeted by those who have gained access to records on their pensions. They are clearly being seen as easy pickings.’ Nick Clegg: 'The average fine for data theft is about £100, even if it’s on an industrial scale. That’s why we wanted to introduce custodial sentences. Data theft is a big issue.’ The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has begun an inquiry as a result of the Mail investigation and is passing our evidence to police. Pensioners’ financial details appear to have been sold after being stolen, and as the result of firms keeping personal information when they should have deleted it. Information commissioner Christopher Graham said: ‘What these companies appear to be failing to understand is that under the law you have rights over the use of your personal information. If they decide to treat it as their own product, to buy and sell without your permission, then there will be consequences. 'This looks like a very serious breach of the Data Protection Act. If we establish it’s criminal activity by individuals, then they are in deep trouble.’ Pensions expert Dr Ros Altmann, an adviser to Mr Cameron, said: ‘It is utterly shocking and wrong. It seems this theft of our private and personal information is endemic in business today and needs to stop. ‘There now needs to be real change from the authorities. No more tolerance of such betrayals of trust –a zero tolerance policy for those who sell your private, personal or intimate details for their own profit and cause so much misery so carelessly and callously.’ Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age, said: ‘It is horrifying that older people are being deliberately targeted by those who have gained access to records on their pensions. They are being targeted for their savings and pensions as well as by individuals specifically looking to exploit their vulnerabilities.’ Over-50s specialist firm Saga warned that the level of detail on sale about individuals made them more likely to fall victim to ‘despicable fraud’. Age UK said it was particularly troubled by the firm that offered the Mail’s team of ‘cold-callers’ undercover reporters £500 for every pensioner they could persuade to put £20,000 in high-risk investments. One of the firms named by the Mail, B2C Data Ltd, said it welcomes the ICO probe and will co-operate fully with any investigation. A spokesman accused the Mail of ‘numerous factual errors and exaggerations’. A statement added: ‘B2C Data Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and is a member of the Direct Marketing Association. It operates an entirely legitimate and legally-compliant data business. ‘It complies with all its legal requirements. Importantly, it does not receive or process information other than in respect of those customers of its members who have opted in. Equally, it does not sell “highly sensitive details of... salaries, investments and pensions”. B2C Data takes its legal obligations very seriously and will continue to do so.’ By Katherine Faulkner Mail Investigations Editor . Controversial plans for a new NHS database face growing concerns following the Mail’s revelation that lists of people with medical problems are being touted for sale by unscrupulous data firms. Doctors have already expressed ‘grave doubts’ about the NHS plan – called care.data. Under the scheme, details from every patient’s GP medical file will be put on one huge database and shared with drug companies. Officials say the database will be kept secure and anonymous. But many doctors have expressed misgivings concerns about the project, with the NHS’s top data expert, Professor Sir Brian Jarman, saying last night he was still ‘very worried’ about it. Today the Mail reveals how lists of people with medical problems are being treated as potentially rich pickings for those looking to exploit the vulnerable. Those whose medical details had been sold on said that being on such a list meant they were constantly cold called – with some offered apparently unregulated treatments and medicines by unscrupulous firms. Critics are likely to feel that if such information was compiled on to one huge database, which was then shared with commercial companies such as drug manufacturers, the risk that it could be used by firms wanting to target the sick could be just too great. Sir Brian, a senior government health adviser, said: ‘This is the most confidential information you can have on patients. ‘Among these are very vulnerable people. That data should not be available.’ Many doctors already believe it would be impossible to ensure the detailed information on patients contained in their GP files – which often includes private and sensitive discussions between doctor and patient – would not identify them. Others have protested that the Government has a poor record on keeping peoples’ data secure and have criticised the move to opt all patients in to the scheme, without their explicit consent. Some analysts say they could identify individuals in under two hours from the information. | PM said companies selling personal data should face tough consequences .
Charities called for an urgent crackdown and jail terms for worst offenders .
Information Commissioner said data firms could face fines of £500,000 .
Mail revealed how financial information about pension holders is being sold for as little as 5p . | 4bf5120b7eef6b12853aa1080f3004e292157468 | <s>[INST] The Prime Minister led furious calls for any companies found guilty of selling personal data without consent to face the toughest consequences . Rogue data firms were warned by David Cameron last night that they could face serious penalties after the Mail exposed an astonishing trade in private information. The Prime Minister led furious calls for any companies found guilty of selling personal data without consent to face the toughest consequences. He suggested the law would be tightened if loopholes are being exploited by unscrupulous cold callers. His comments came as charities for the elderly, politicians and campaigners called for an urgent crackdown and said there should be lengthy jail sentences for the worst offenders. The Information Commissioner said data firms could face fines of £500,000 and warned that those breaking the law ‘are in deep trouble’. The Mail revealed yesterday how highly sensitive financial information about millions of pension holders is being sold for as little as 5p and ending up in the hands of criminals. The revelations come amid fears scammers are targeting the elderly and vulnerable ahead of George Osborne’s pension reforms, which come into force on Monday and will give savers the chance to access their full retirement pots. Data firms sold undercover reporters personal data for 15,000 people, including their salaries, the value of their investments and the size of their pensions. They did so without any attempt to verify that the reporters, who posed as a cold-calling firm, were a genuine company or to check how they planned to use the data. Last night, Mr Cameron said the revelations were ‘very worrying’. He told the Mail: ‘I’ve listened to the Information Commissioner who now has the powers and laws that he needs to chase after this stuff. But it’s extremely serious. 'We’ll always look at it and if more needs to be done we’ll do it, but my understanding from the briefing that I have had is that the legal position is pretty robust. Data theft, information theft, there are quite serious penalties.’ Nick Clegg said large scale data theft should carry a jail term. The Deputy Prime Minister said he had pushed for tougher sentences. ‘The average fine for data theft is about £100’, he said. ‘Even if it’s on an industrial scale.’ Labour health spokesman Andy Burnham said: ‘It is nothing short of disgraceful that personal details of vulnerable and older people are being bought and sold in this way. This has got to stop and the Government needs to act.’ And Labour work and pensions spokesman Rachel Reeves said: ‘Today’s revelations that personal data is being passed on to those looking to make a quick buck out of pensioners’ savings are shocking. How yesterday's Mail broke the story: Nick Sayer, a director of B2C Data, offered to sell details of 15,000 people to undercover reporters . 'Ministers have ignored warning after warning about the threats to savers from fraudsters, but they must now act quickly to protect savers.’ The Mail’s investigation into the sale of personal data prompted a wave of fury and concern from leading politicians, pensions experts, data experts and charities. Here is what they said: . David Cameron: ‘It’s extremely serious. We’ll always look at it and if more needs to be done we’ll do it, but.. data theft, information theft, there are quite serious penalties.’ Information Commissioner Christopher Graham: ‘What these companies appear to be failing to understand is that under the law you have rights over the use of your personal information. If they decide to treat it as their own product, to buy and sell without your permission, then there will be consequences.’ Andy Burnham, shadow health secretary: ‘It is nothing short of disgraceful that personal details of vulnerable and older people are being bought and sold in this way. This has got to stop.’ Ros Altmann, pensions expert: ‘It is utterly shocking and wrong. There now needs to be real change from the authorities. A zero tolerance policy for those who sell your private, personal or intimate details for their own profit and cause so much misery so carelessly and callously.’ Professor Sir Brian Jarman, NHS data expert: ‘People can get this confidential information and target those who are vulnerable. I’m very worried. The data is being used for one reason when it was given for another. There need to be harsh punishments.’ Lisa Harris, Saga spokeswoman: 'The findings of the Mail’s investigation are extremely worrying, and not just for the most vulnerable in society. Whilst many of us know not to give details over the phone, when the caller appears to have information about you that only you could have provided, it’s easy to see how people might think the call is genuine.’ Janet Morrison of charity Independent Age: ‘It is horrifying that older people are being deliberately targeted by those who have gained access to records on their pensions. They are clearly being seen as easy pickings.’ Nick Clegg: 'The average fine for data theft is about £100, even if it’s on an industrial scale. That’s why we wanted to introduce custodial sentences. Data theft is a big issue.’ The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has begun an inquiry as a result of the Mail investigation and is passing our evidence to police. Pensioners’ financial details appear to have been sold after being stolen, and as the result of firms keeping personal information when they should have deleted it. Information commissioner Christopher Graham said: ‘What these companies appear to be failing to understand is that under the law you have rights over the use of your personal information. If they decide to treat it as their own product, to buy and sell without your permission, then there will be consequences. 'This looks like a very serious breach of the Data Protection Act. If we establish it’s criminal activity by individuals, then they are in deep trouble.’ Pensions expert Dr Ros Altmann, an adviser to Mr Cameron, said: ‘It is utterly shocking and wrong. It seems this theft of our private and personal information is endemic in business today and needs to stop. ‘There now needs to be real change from the authorities. No more tolerance of such betrayals of trust –a zero tolerance policy for those who sell your private, personal or intimate details for their own profit and cause so much misery so carelessly and callously.’ Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age, said: ‘It is horrifying that older people are being deliberately targeted by those who have gained access to records on their pensions. They are being targeted for their savings and pensions as well as by individuals specifically looking to exploit their vulnerabilities.’ Over-50s specialist firm Saga warned that the level of detail on sale about individuals made them more likely to fall victim to ‘despicable fraud’. Age UK said it was particularly troubled by the firm that offered the Mail’s team of ‘cold-callers’ undercover reporters £500 for every pensioner they could persuade to put £20,000 in high-risk investments. One of the firms named by the Mail, B2C Data Ltd, said it welcomes the ICO probe and will co-operate fully with any investigation. A spokesman accused the Mail of ‘numerous factual errors and exaggerations’. A statement added: ‘B2C Data Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and is a member of the Direct Marketing Association. It operates an entirely legitimate and legally-compliant data business. ‘It complies with all its legal requirements. Importantly, it does not receive or process information other than in respect of those customers of its members who have opted in. Equally, it does not sell “highly sensitive details of... salaries, investments and pensions”. B2C Data takes its legal obligations very seriously and will continue to do so.’ By Katherine Faulkner Mail Investigations Editor . Controversial plans for a new NHS database face growing concerns following the Mail’s revelation that lists of people with medical problems are being touted for sale by unscrupulous data firms. Doctors have already expressed ‘grave doubts’ about the NHS plan – called care.data. Under the scheme, details from every patient’s GP medical file will be put on one huge database and shared with drug companies. Officials say the database will be kept secure and anonymous. But many doctors have expressed misgivings concerns about the project, with the NHS’s top data expert, Professor Sir Brian Jarman, saying last night he was still ‘very worried’ about it. Today the Mail reveals how lists of people with medical problems are being treated as potentially rich pickings for those looking to exploit the vulnerable. Those whose medical details had been sold on said that being on such a list meant they were constantly cold called – with some offered apparently unregulated treatments and medicines by unscrupulous firms. Critics are likely to feel that if such information was compiled on to one huge database, which was then shared with commercial companies such as drug manufacturers, the risk that it could be used by firms wanting to target the sick could be just too great. Sir Brian, a senior government health adviser, said: ‘This is the most confidential information you can have on patients. ‘Among these are very vulnerable people. That data should not be available.’ Many doctors already believe it would be impossible to ensure the detailed information on patients contained in their GP files – which often includes private and sensitive discussions between doctor and patient – would not identify them. Others have protested that the Government has a poor record on keeping peoples’ data secure and have criticised the move to opt all patients in to the scheme, without their explicit consent. Some analysts say they could identify individuals in under two hours from the information. [/INST] PM said companies selling personal data should face tough consequences .
Charities called for an urgent crackdown and jail terms for worst offenders .
Information Commissioner said data firms could face fines of £500,000 .
Mail revealed how financial information about pension holders is being sold for as little as 5p . </s> |
Jordan Wills works as a paintball target, with colleagues firing paintballs at him at close range . When student Jordan Wills goes to work he must prepared to pelted by bullets, fired at him at close range and at speeds of almost 40mph. The 19-year-old from London works as a human bullet impact tester, or more simply a paintball target, and every week faces the pellets being fired at his torso to test how hard they are on impact or how large a welt they leave. He beat more than 10,000 other applicants from around the world to land the £16,000 a year job as a tester and fits in being used for target practice around his university studies. 'I guess I have a high pain tolerance - but it's really not as painful as people think,' said the Kingston University Computer Graphics student. 'The hardest part is the anticipation when you know it's coming. 'The most times I'd be shot at during a shift is ten over a course of an hour or two.' And while most people playing paintball will wear some form of protective clothing, Mr Wills does his job in just a t-shirt. He is a fan of the game anyway, and has previously played a lot in his spare time. He works 16 hours a week at different UK Paintball sites across the country on a pro-rata salary of £40,000, which works out at a wage of around £16,000 a year. Mr Wills, who stays in shape as a rower, said despite the welts and the occasional pain he loves his job. He added: 'When people find out what I do they think I'm crazy - but I love my job. 'The initial pain lasts for about five seconds, then it stings for maybe ten seconds - and then it's gone. I don't even remember I've been shot.' The teenager wears protective goggles to cover his eyes - but trusts his well-trained colleagues to steer clear of other vulnerable body parts and stop when he tells them to. The paintballs are fired at Jordan's torso at close range - between 25 and 30 feet by a professional shooter at a speed of almost 40mph. Rather than take the usual approach of fleeing the oncoming paintballs, Mr Wills must stand still while players take aim at him. He reports back on the impact of the paintballs so that manufacturers can ensure new batches are not too hard. Anything that draws blood, leaves too serious a mark or does not explode on impact is unacceptable. Mr Wills was selected for the role out of 10,000 other applicants because of his knowledge of paintball . The 19-year-old often suffers welts on his body from the impact which take three or four days to disappear . The practice leaves him with welts over his body, but the student said he barely notices. 'Sometimes I take a hot bath after a shift, but mostly I just forget they're even there,' he added. 'At first my girlfriend didn't like it, but now she's cool with it. The marks take about four days to fade. 'I think I got the job because I knew about paintballing already. I worked for three years marshalling games - so I was well aware of what it felt like to be hit. 'I love paintballing and knew about the different types of paints and the ins and outs of the guns. 'People tell me I must be an idiot but it's only people who don't know enough about paintball. When you're in the middle of a game you're running around and having so much fun you hardly notice when you're hit. The teenager does his job wearing just a t-shirt, and endures balls being fired at him at very close range . As part of the role Mr Wills must stand still and resist the urge, as happens in actual games, to run away . 'I work two days a week and my hours are flexible. 'I have great colleagues and get to work outside and have a bit of fun. What's not to like?' Justin Toohig, UK Paintball owner and the student's boss, said: 'Jordan's a great guy. He's up for a laugh, has a fantastic attitude and fits in well with the crew - that's mainly what we were looking for. 'He can take the bullets like a man and doesn't whinge at all. He's athletic and knew about paintball. 'We still can't believe how many applicants we got. Emails were coming in from all over the world - new ones were popping up faster than we could file them. 'Maybe it's a sign of the economy, or simply because people love paintball. Mr Wells insists he doesn't really feel pain from the impact of paintballs being fired at him at close range . Mr Wills said he does not mind being hit or the resulting welts and thinks he has a high threshold for pain . 'In the end we interviewed 18 guys and Jordan got the job. 'We're very careful and would never put Jordan at risk. 'Safety is extremely important to us - that's why we needed a tester in the first place. What Jordan is doing is the extreme. It's done in a controlled environment and we're testing for worst-case scenario. 'We'd never recommend for anyone to emulate it on the playing field or at home.' When the job was advertised last year Mr Toohig was quoted as saying: 'We want to hear from people with a high pain threshold and those to whom fear is a foreign concept.' | Jordan Wills, 19, is a student and works as a paintball target every week .
He beat more than 10,000 other applicants from across the world to the job .
Mr Wills must stand still as colleague fire paintballs at him at close range .
He wears just a t-shirt rather than protective clothing and works every week .
Student earns £16,000 a year by becoming a human paintball target .
UK Paintball said it employs him so they can ensure balls are not too hard . | ed938a4546fd5ed63f34b35ff890792387d05f16 | <s>[INST] Jordan Wills works as a paintball target, with colleagues firing paintballs at him at close range . When student Jordan Wills goes to work he must prepared to pelted by bullets, fired at him at close range and at speeds of almost 40mph. The 19-year-old from London works as a human bullet impact tester, or more simply a paintball target, and every week faces the pellets being fired at his torso to test how hard they are on impact or how large a welt they leave. He beat more than 10,000 other applicants from around the world to land the £16,000 a year job as a tester and fits in being used for target practice around his university studies. 'I guess I have a high pain tolerance - but it's really not as painful as people think,' said the Kingston University Computer Graphics student. 'The hardest part is the anticipation when you know it's coming. 'The most times I'd be shot at during a shift is ten over a course of an hour or two.' And while most people playing paintball will wear some form of protective clothing, Mr Wills does his job in just a t-shirt. He is a fan of the game anyway, and has previously played a lot in his spare time. He works 16 hours a week at different UK Paintball sites across the country on a pro-rata salary of £40,000, which works out at a wage of around £16,000 a year. Mr Wills, who stays in shape as a rower, said despite the welts and the occasional pain he loves his job. He added: 'When people find out what I do they think I'm crazy - but I love my job. 'The initial pain lasts for about five seconds, then it stings for maybe ten seconds - and then it's gone. I don't even remember I've been shot.' The teenager wears protective goggles to cover his eyes - but trusts his well-trained colleagues to steer clear of other vulnerable body parts and stop when he tells them to. The paintballs are fired at Jordan's torso at close range - between 25 and 30 feet by a professional shooter at a speed of almost 40mph. Rather than take the usual approach of fleeing the oncoming paintballs, Mr Wills must stand still while players take aim at him. He reports back on the impact of the paintballs so that manufacturers can ensure new batches are not too hard. Anything that draws blood, leaves too serious a mark or does not explode on impact is unacceptable. Mr Wills was selected for the role out of 10,000 other applicants because of his knowledge of paintball . The 19-year-old often suffers welts on his body from the impact which take three or four days to disappear . The practice leaves him with welts over his body, but the student said he barely notices. 'Sometimes I take a hot bath after a shift, but mostly I just forget they're even there,' he added. 'At first my girlfriend didn't like it, but now she's cool with it. The marks take about four days to fade. 'I think I got the job because I knew about paintballing already. I worked for three years marshalling games - so I was well aware of what it felt like to be hit. 'I love paintballing and knew about the different types of paints and the ins and outs of the guns. 'People tell me I must be an idiot but it's only people who don't know enough about paintball. When you're in the middle of a game you're running around and having so much fun you hardly notice when you're hit. The teenager does his job wearing just a t-shirt, and endures balls being fired at him at very close range . As part of the role Mr Wills must stand still and resist the urge, as happens in actual games, to run away . 'I work two days a week and my hours are flexible. 'I have great colleagues and get to work outside and have a bit of fun. What's not to like?' Justin Toohig, UK Paintball owner and the student's boss, said: 'Jordan's a great guy. He's up for a laugh, has a fantastic attitude and fits in well with the crew - that's mainly what we were looking for. 'He can take the bullets like a man and doesn't whinge at all. He's athletic and knew about paintball. 'We still can't believe how many applicants we got. Emails were coming in from all over the world - new ones were popping up faster than we could file them. 'Maybe it's a sign of the economy, or simply because people love paintball. Mr Wells insists he doesn't really feel pain from the impact of paintballs being fired at him at close range . Mr Wills said he does not mind being hit or the resulting welts and thinks he has a high threshold for pain . 'In the end we interviewed 18 guys and Jordan got the job. 'We're very careful and would never put Jordan at risk. 'Safety is extremely important to us - that's why we needed a tester in the first place. What Jordan is doing is the extreme. It's done in a controlled environment and we're testing for worst-case scenario. 'We'd never recommend for anyone to emulate it on the playing field or at home.' When the job was advertised last year Mr Toohig was quoted as saying: 'We want to hear from people with a high pain threshold and those to whom fear is a foreign concept.' [/INST] Jordan Wills, 19, is a student and works as a paintball target every week .
He beat more than 10,000 other applicants from across the world to the job .
Mr Wills must stand still as colleague fire paintballs at him at close range .
He wears just a t-shirt rather than protective clothing and works every week .
Student earns £16,000 a year by becoming a human paintball target .
UK Paintball said it employs him so they can ensure balls are not too hard . </s> |
Britain's biggest pensions firm has come under fire for exploiting savers after dishing out £49million in pay and perks to its bosses last year. With less than a week before the biggest shake-up in the pensions market for more than a century, insurance giant Prudential was last night accused of ‘greed’ after revealing the extraordinary awards lavished on its senior executives. MPs and pension experts said the scale of the awards would be particularly galling for millions of savers trapped in poor-value annuities or paying excessive charges. Tidjane Thiam (left), the Pru’s Ivorian chief executive, was the highest paid board member, but this was dwarfed by the £15.4million scooped by fund manager Richard Woolnough (right) Tidjane Thiam, the Pru’s Ivorian chief executive, was the highest paid board member, with a total package of £11.8million last year – a 36 per cent pay rise from the £8.7million he received the previous year. This takes the total amount he has collected in five years at the helm to more than £41million. The 52-year-old announced his resignation earlier this month and will shortly become chief executive of Credit Suisse. But his pay was dwarfed by the £15.4million scooped by fund manager Richard Woolnough – who runs almost £35billion of savers’ money for the Pru’s investment arm M&G. Mr Woolnough runs several funds which are widely held in savers’ pensions and investment ISAs. These include the M&G Optimal Income fund, which runs just under £24billion of savers’ money. Prudential’s nine board directors shared a total of £49million in pay and perks last year. Mike Wells, the boss of the insurer’s US arm and the man expected to take over from Mr Thiam, was paid £11.4million. Last night Dr Ros Altmann, a leading pensions expert and a government adviser for older workers, accused Prudential of ‘short-changing’ savers who took out annuities by offering poor rates. Tidjane Thiam, the Pru’s Ivorian chief executive, was the highest paid board member, with a total package of £11.8million last year . She said: ‘Over the last few years Prudential has been one of the worst culprits, offering poor annuity rates. 'I would imagine that any saver short-changed in one of its annuities would feel most uncomfortable to know the extra profit this company has made on their retirement fund has helped bump up the pay for its top bosses to a figure they could only dream of earning in a lifetime.’ Today a 65-year-old man with a £100,000 pensions pot would receive an annual income of just £3,899 from a Prudential annuity. This is more than £400 less per year than they would get if they shopped around for the best deal. Earlier this year an investigation by the City watchdog found the £12billion-a-year annuity market is not working well for customers, with millions of people trapped in poor deals. John Mann, a Labour member of the Treasury select committee, said: ‘Savers and particularly pensioners will be incredibly angry at this greed which comes at their expense. The failure in annuities demonstrates why such obscene pay is out of order.’ The payouts are bigger than those handed out to Britain’s biggest banks, which have been the primary focus of anger over fat-cat pay. Lloyds’ chief executive Antonio Horta Osorio was comfortably the highest-paid bank boss in the UK last year, scooping £11.5million. Stuart Gulliver of HSBC was next in the pecking order with £7.6million. In comparison, highly paid pensions bosses have largely managed to avoid the limelight. But the increasingly fierce criticism of the pensions industry – including accusations of excessive charges and poor annuity rates for savers – has contributed to growing criticism over pay. Last night Prudential defended the huge payouts. It said profits at the company jumped 14 per cent last year to £3.2billion, while it paid out £945million in dividends to shareholders, a 10 per cent jump on the previous year. A spokesman said: ‘The remuneration of our leadership team is closely linked to the strong long-term performance of the business.’ | Prudential dished out £49million in pay and perks to its bosses last year .
Tidjane Thiam, the Pru’s Ivorian chief executive, received £11.8million .
But fund manager Richard Woolnough scooped a massive £15.4million .
Claimed figures will be galling for savers trapped in poor-value annuities . | 7ec8c99c0db179b6431908ef50e5004b1d38a419 | <s>[INST] Britain's biggest pensions firm has come under fire for exploiting savers after dishing out £49million in pay and perks to its bosses last year. With less than a week before the biggest shake-up in the pensions market for more than a century, insurance giant Prudential was last night accused of ‘greed’ after revealing the extraordinary awards lavished on its senior executives. MPs and pension experts said the scale of the awards would be particularly galling for millions of savers trapped in poor-value annuities or paying excessive charges. Tidjane Thiam (left), the Pru’s Ivorian chief executive, was the highest paid board member, but this was dwarfed by the £15.4million scooped by fund manager Richard Woolnough (right) Tidjane Thiam, the Pru’s Ivorian chief executive, was the highest paid board member, with a total package of £11.8million last year – a 36 per cent pay rise from the £8.7million he received the previous year. This takes the total amount he has collected in five years at the helm to more than £41million. The 52-year-old announced his resignation earlier this month and will shortly become chief executive of Credit Suisse. But his pay was dwarfed by the £15.4million scooped by fund manager Richard Woolnough – who runs almost £35billion of savers’ money for the Pru’s investment arm M&G. Mr Woolnough runs several funds which are widely held in savers’ pensions and investment ISAs. These include the M&G Optimal Income fund, which runs just under £24billion of savers’ money. Prudential’s nine board directors shared a total of £49million in pay and perks last year. Mike Wells, the boss of the insurer’s US arm and the man expected to take over from Mr Thiam, was paid £11.4million. Last night Dr Ros Altmann, a leading pensions expert and a government adviser for older workers, accused Prudential of ‘short-changing’ savers who took out annuities by offering poor rates. Tidjane Thiam, the Pru’s Ivorian chief executive, was the highest paid board member, with a total package of £11.8million last year . She said: ‘Over the last few years Prudential has been one of the worst culprits, offering poor annuity rates. 'I would imagine that any saver short-changed in one of its annuities would feel most uncomfortable to know the extra profit this company has made on their retirement fund has helped bump up the pay for its top bosses to a figure they could only dream of earning in a lifetime.’ Today a 65-year-old man with a £100,000 pensions pot would receive an annual income of just £3,899 from a Prudential annuity. This is more than £400 less per year than they would get if they shopped around for the best deal. Earlier this year an investigation by the City watchdog found the £12billion-a-year annuity market is not working well for customers, with millions of people trapped in poor deals. John Mann, a Labour member of the Treasury select committee, said: ‘Savers and particularly pensioners will be incredibly angry at this greed which comes at their expense. The failure in annuities demonstrates why such obscene pay is out of order.’ The payouts are bigger than those handed out to Britain’s biggest banks, which have been the primary focus of anger over fat-cat pay. Lloyds’ chief executive Antonio Horta Osorio was comfortably the highest-paid bank boss in the UK last year, scooping £11.5million. Stuart Gulliver of HSBC was next in the pecking order with £7.6million. In comparison, highly paid pensions bosses have largely managed to avoid the limelight. But the increasingly fierce criticism of the pensions industry – including accusations of excessive charges and poor annuity rates for savers – has contributed to growing criticism over pay. Last night Prudential defended the huge payouts. It said profits at the company jumped 14 per cent last year to £3.2billion, while it paid out £945million in dividends to shareholders, a 10 per cent jump on the previous year. A spokesman said: ‘The remuneration of our leadership team is closely linked to the strong long-term performance of the business.’ [/INST] Prudential dished out £49million in pay and perks to its bosses last year .
Tidjane Thiam, the Pru’s Ivorian chief executive, received £11.8million .
But fund manager Richard Woolnough scooped a massive £15.4million .
Claimed figures will be galling for savers trapped in poor-value annuities . </s> |
Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel insists he does not feel guilty about the challenge on Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea which resulted in his three-match ban. The Slovakia international, currently away preparing for a Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Luxembourg on Friday, failed in his appeal against a violent conduct charge. Skrtel had argued the action of standing on De Gea's right shin as he chased a through-ball in the final seconds of Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Anfield was unintentional but an independent panel disagreed with him. Martin Skrtel's foot lands on David de Gea's leg in the incident which saw the FA charge the defender . A three-man panel of former elite officials reviewed the footage after it was missed by Martin Atkinson (right) Skrtel could have been in more trouble for posting this picture of clowns after the FA upheld his ban . The 30-year-old has continued to profess his innocence even after his ban was confirmed, meaning he misses Premier League matches against Arsenal and Newcastle, plus an FA Cup quarter-final replay at Blackburn. 'It feels strange because we appealed against those charges and still I was hit by a three-match ban,' he told his personal website martin-skrtel.com. 'I didn't want to stamp on him. It was an accident and I didn't do it on purpose. I don't feel guilty. It was a long ball and he went towards me and I wanted to jump over him. Simple as that.' The defender is unlikely to punished after he posted a picture of clowns on his Instagram account on Wednesday - which has been widely viewed as his comment on those who sat on the panel and decided the outcome of the hearing. Steven Gerrard will also miss three games after seeing red for this stamp during the 2-1 defeat . Captain Gerrard was sent off after stamping on Manchester United's Ander Herrera on Sunday . Skrtel will be joined on the sidelines by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who will also serve a similar three-match ban after his moment of madness saw him sent off less than a minute after coming on as a substitute for the second half after stamping on United midfielder Ander Herrera. With Skrtel and several of his team-mates away on international duty the club's Under 21 squad have been invited to train at the first-team's Melwood base. However, one of their number Jordan Lussey will be getting competitive action elsewhere after completed a loan move to Bolton, currently 17th in the Sky Bet Championship. The 20-year-old follows the likes of Sheyi Ojo and Jerome Sinclair, who have both joined relegation-threatened Championship side Wigan on loan in the last six weeks to gain first-team football experience. | Martin Skrtel told his personal website the incident was just an accident .
Stamp occurred late on in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat by Manchester United .
Liverpool defender will now miss games against Arsenal and Newcastle .
Slovakian will also miss FA Cup replay against Blackburn Rovers .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Liverpool news . | ba40d39a656d3b08f4161b151ef276c2ceca4b30 | <s>[INST] Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel insists he does not feel guilty about the challenge on Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea which resulted in his three-match ban. The Slovakia international, currently away preparing for a Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Luxembourg on Friday, failed in his appeal against a violent conduct charge. Skrtel had argued the action of standing on De Gea's right shin as he chased a through-ball in the final seconds of Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Anfield was unintentional but an independent panel disagreed with him. Martin Skrtel's foot lands on David de Gea's leg in the incident which saw the FA charge the defender . A three-man panel of former elite officials reviewed the footage after it was missed by Martin Atkinson (right) Skrtel could have been in more trouble for posting this picture of clowns after the FA upheld his ban . The 30-year-old has continued to profess his innocence even after his ban was confirmed, meaning he misses Premier League matches against Arsenal and Newcastle, plus an FA Cup quarter-final replay at Blackburn. 'It feels strange because we appealed against those charges and still I was hit by a three-match ban,' he told his personal website martin-skrtel.com. 'I didn't want to stamp on him. It was an accident and I didn't do it on purpose. I don't feel guilty. It was a long ball and he went towards me and I wanted to jump over him. Simple as that.' The defender is unlikely to punished after he posted a picture of clowns on his Instagram account on Wednesday - which has been widely viewed as his comment on those who sat on the panel and decided the outcome of the hearing. Steven Gerrard will also miss three games after seeing red for this stamp during the 2-1 defeat . Captain Gerrard was sent off after stamping on Manchester United's Ander Herrera on Sunday . Skrtel will be joined on the sidelines by Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who will also serve a similar three-match ban after his moment of madness saw him sent off less than a minute after coming on as a substitute for the second half after stamping on United midfielder Ander Herrera. With Skrtel and several of his team-mates away on international duty the club's Under 21 squad have been invited to train at the first-team's Melwood base. However, one of their number Jordan Lussey will be getting competitive action elsewhere after completed a loan move to Bolton, currently 17th in the Sky Bet Championship. The 20-year-old follows the likes of Sheyi Ojo and Jerome Sinclair, who have both joined relegation-threatened Championship side Wigan on loan in the last six weeks to gain first-team football experience. [/INST] Martin Skrtel told his personal website the incident was just an accident .
Stamp occurred late on in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat by Manchester United .
Liverpool defender will now miss games against Arsenal and Newcastle .
Slovakian will also miss FA Cup replay against Blackburn Rovers .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Liverpool news . </s> |
Three men who smuggled more than 230lbs of cocaine hidden inside plastic bananas have been jailed for a total of 59 years. Leonel Hernandez-Gonzalez, 37, Oscar Alberto Grisales-Cuervo, 46, and Daniel Valdes Jaramillo, 24, worked with Colombian drug lords to bring in cocaine worth £25million in a consignment of bananas, hiding the drugs among the real fruit. The three men, from London, were arrested after meeting at a Brixton cafe to exchange a 'treasure map' detailing where drugs were hidden in a warehouse in Kent. Drug smugglers: Daniel Valdes Jaramillo, 24, and Leonel Hernandez-Gonzalez, 37, have been found guilty of smuggling £25millions worth of cocaine into the UK hidden in plastic bananas . Had their scheme worked, the country could have been flooded with the illegal deadly drug, Southwark Crown Court was told. Prosecutor Ken Millett said: 'On 10 July last year following a lengthy, proactive investigation by officers from the Specialist Crime directorate at New Scotland Yard, officer found 100kg of high-grade cocaine at a banana warehouse ripening plant just off the A2 in Kent. 'Those bananas had been found in a pallet of a consignment of genuine bananas that had been sent on or about 21 June from Colombia.' More than 30 pallets of bananas were delivered to an industrial estate in Hartlip, near Sittingbourne, where father-of-one Jaramillo worked and received the drugs delivery. 'Police officers had been keeping Mr Jaramillo and others under observation and he was under observation. Jailed: Former butcher Oscar Grisales-Cuervo, of London, was jailed for 22 years . 'He had been seen meeting up with Mr Grisales Cuervo and Mr Hernandez Gonzalez,' said Mr Millett. Officers were watching as the bananas and drugs were dropped off at the warehouse and placed within the ripening room. Mr Millett continued: 'The drugs could not be recovered until a map of the location of the drugs could be obtained from the first two defendants [Grisales Cuervo and Hernandez Gonzalez. 'That treasure map was later sent from Colombia to Mr Grisales Cuervo and after he consignment had been delivered they met up with Mr Jaramillo at a cafe in Brixton where the details of where the drugs were to be found were handed over. 'As the men left the cafe on 10 July they were arrested by police officers, each were found in possession of a large quantity of mobile phones, including encrypted telephones. 'Later that night the officers found the consignment of drugs at until four hidden within the centre of a pallet which had specific identity markings on it,' he said. 'This consignment was part of a wider conspiracy to import large shipments of drugs into the United Kingdom using this and other methods of secretion.' The high-grade cocaine was 91 per cent pure and was to be cut with other substances before it reached street level where the purity can be as low as one to 15 per cent. The drugs had a wholesale value of up to £8m and a street value of £24.5m. 'The bananas were wrapped in a particular cling film and had been smeared with some kind of oil or grease or chemical to prevent detection by sniffer dogs,' said Mr Millett. 'The form of the cocaine imported, namely in plastic bananas, made it plain the sophisticated and ingenious method of just how it was brought into the country and therefore the levels of planning involved.' Christopher Whitehouse, for Grisales-Cuervo, said he was a man of 'modest means' who moved to the country 18 years ago. Fake fruit: The three men worked with Colombian drug lords to bring in cocaine worth £25million in a consignment of bananas, hiding the drugs among the real fruit. More than 30 pallets of bananas were delivered to an industrial estate in Hartlip, near Sittingbourne, where father-of-one Jaramillo worked and received the drugs delivery . He had been 'trying to make his way' in the country and had worked in restaurants and markets before setting up a 'legitimate' butchers. During his evidence Grisales Cuervo insisted he did not recognise the famous footie nicknames and protested he had no idea his Blackberry phone was encrypted. 'I'm not interested in football.... the matches of the Colombian team I might have seen some of them but it is not I'm a crazy fan and love football as such,' he told jurors. Other messages referred to needing to 'clean up the product' and advising to use commercial storage as a house would be 'too conspicuous'. The drugs had a wholesale value of up to £8m and a street value of £24.5m . Grisales-Cuervo codenamed cocaine 'panela' - an unprocessed brown sugar popular in Colombia and often sold in small blocks, it was said. The gang also stashed packs of cocaine in rolls of paper to be shipped into the country in an operation that had been going on for 'years'. He also claimed he sent messages about the bananas because he worried he would get in trouble with the authorities if the bananas rotted and attracted 'plagues'. Former butcher Grisales-Cuervo and fellow Colombian Hernandez-Gonzalez was convicted by a jury of importing the class A drug between January and July last year. Valdes Jaramillo pleaded guilty to the same offence before trial. Sentencing the trio Judge Juliet May said: 'The operation required trusted, informed and capable agents in the UK. 'On the evidence in the case suggests the defendants were very much performing to the direction of others, not masterminding the scheme but taking a key part in a scheme masterminded by others, very probably in Colombia. 'None of the men had wealthy lifestyles but Valdes Jaramillo said he expected a very significant payment.' She commended the work of police officers who worked hard to stop a smuggling ring. She said: 'The seizure was the culmination of a careful, committed police operation. 'In March 2014 they observed Hernandez-Gonzales handing £300,000 to a taxi driver who was later acquitted for his involvement, which was clearly proceeds from the operation. 'Hernandez-Gonzalez was the subject to police observation, and a probe was put in Grisales-Cuervo's car revealing the extent of his role in the conspiracy with the bananas. 'There clearly had been dummy runs at least, if not actual runs, and very significant imports would have continued had the police not stopped it.' She said Valdes Jaramillo played a 'very significant' liaison role with the Colombian cartel and played a 'leading role' in the UK operation. Hernandez-Gonzales organised the distribution networks in the UK while Grisales-Cuervo travelled out to Colombia in June to visit the cocaine factory and meet the bosses of the cartel face to face. Hernandez-Gonzalez, of Hounslow, and Grisales-Cuervo, of London, were found guilty after a trial and jailed for 22 years in jail. Valdes Jaramillo, of Old Kent Road, who pleaded guilty at the first opportunity for being involved in the conspiracy was jailed for 15 years. Dressed in a striped blue shirt and blue suit, Grisales-Cuervo wiped away tears as he was being led out of court, while the blue suited Hernandez-Gonzalez sat impassive when he was being sentenced. Dressed in a blue polo shirt, Valdes Jaramillo hung his head as he was sentenced. There were sobs from their families in the public gallery as the three men were led away. | Men jailed after smuggling more than 230lbs of cocaine into the UK .
Hid £25million worth of cocaine in plastic bananas among real fruit .
Arrested after meeting to exchange 'treasure map' to the cocaine . | 083aa934725026e3c606aebbd3e6d602cdea307f | <s>[INST] Three men who smuggled more than 230lbs of cocaine hidden inside plastic bananas have been jailed for a total of 59 years. Leonel Hernandez-Gonzalez, 37, Oscar Alberto Grisales-Cuervo, 46, and Daniel Valdes Jaramillo, 24, worked with Colombian drug lords to bring in cocaine worth £25million in a consignment of bananas, hiding the drugs among the real fruit. The three men, from London, were arrested after meeting at a Brixton cafe to exchange a 'treasure map' detailing where drugs were hidden in a warehouse in Kent. Drug smugglers: Daniel Valdes Jaramillo, 24, and Leonel Hernandez-Gonzalez, 37, have been found guilty of smuggling £25millions worth of cocaine into the UK hidden in plastic bananas . Had their scheme worked, the country could have been flooded with the illegal deadly drug, Southwark Crown Court was told. Prosecutor Ken Millett said: 'On 10 July last year following a lengthy, proactive investigation by officers from the Specialist Crime directorate at New Scotland Yard, officer found 100kg of high-grade cocaine at a banana warehouse ripening plant just off the A2 in Kent. 'Those bananas had been found in a pallet of a consignment of genuine bananas that had been sent on or about 21 June from Colombia.' More than 30 pallets of bananas were delivered to an industrial estate in Hartlip, near Sittingbourne, where father-of-one Jaramillo worked and received the drugs delivery. 'Police officers had been keeping Mr Jaramillo and others under observation and he was under observation. Jailed: Former butcher Oscar Grisales-Cuervo, of London, was jailed for 22 years . 'He had been seen meeting up with Mr Grisales Cuervo and Mr Hernandez Gonzalez,' said Mr Millett. Officers were watching as the bananas and drugs were dropped off at the warehouse and placed within the ripening room. Mr Millett continued: 'The drugs could not be recovered until a map of the location of the drugs could be obtained from the first two defendants [Grisales Cuervo and Hernandez Gonzalez. 'That treasure map was later sent from Colombia to Mr Grisales Cuervo and after he consignment had been delivered they met up with Mr Jaramillo at a cafe in Brixton where the details of where the drugs were to be found were handed over. 'As the men left the cafe on 10 July they were arrested by police officers, each were found in possession of a large quantity of mobile phones, including encrypted telephones. 'Later that night the officers found the consignment of drugs at until four hidden within the centre of a pallet which had specific identity markings on it,' he said. 'This consignment was part of a wider conspiracy to import large shipments of drugs into the United Kingdom using this and other methods of secretion.' The high-grade cocaine was 91 per cent pure and was to be cut with other substances before it reached street level where the purity can be as low as one to 15 per cent. The drugs had a wholesale value of up to £8m and a street value of £24.5m. 'The bananas were wrapped in a particular cling film and had been smeared with some kind of oil or grease or chemical to prevent detection by sniffer dogs,' said Mr Millett. 'The form of the cocaine imported, namely in plastic bananas, made it plain the sophisticated and ingenious method of just how it was brought into the country and therefore the levels of planning involved.' Christopher Whitehouse, for Grisales-Cuervo, said he was a man of 'modest means' who moved to the country 18 years ago. Fake fruit: The three men worked with Colombian drug lords to bring in cocaine worth £25million in a consignment of bananas, hiding the drugs among the real fruit. More than 30 pallets of bananas were delivered to an industrial estate in Hartlip, near Sittingbourne, where father-of-one Jaramillo worked and received the drugs delivery . He had been 'trying to make his way' in the country and had worked in restaurants and markets before setting up a 'legitimate' butchers. During his evidence Grisales Cuervo insisted he did not recognise the famous footie nicknames and protested he had no idea his Blackberry phone was encrypted. 'I'm not interested in football.... the matches of the Colombian team I might have seen some of them but it is not I'm a crazy fan and love football as such,' he told jurors. Other messages referred to needing to 'clean up the product' and advising to use commercial storage as a house would be 'too conspicuous'. The drugs had a wholesale value of up to £8m and a street value of £24.5m . Grisales-Cuervo codenamed cocaine 'panela' - an unprocessed brown sugar popular in Colombia and often sold in small blocks, it was said. The gang also stashed packs of cocaine in rolls of paper to be shipped into the country in an operation that had been going on for 'years'. He also claimed he sent messages about the bananas because he worried he would get in trouble with the authorities if the bananas rotted and attracted 'plagues'. Former butcher Grisales-Cuervo and fellow Colombian Hernandez-Gonzalez was convicted by a jury of importing the class A drug between January and July last year. Valdes Jaramillo pleaded guilty to the same offence before trial. Sentencing the trio Judge Juliet May said: 'The operation required trusted, informed and capable agents in the UK. 'On the evidence in the case suggests the defendants were very much performing to the direction of others, not masterminding the scheme but taking a key part in a scheme masterminded by others, very probably in Colombia. 'None of the men had wealthy lifestyles but Valdes Jaramillo said he expected a very significant payment.' She commended the work of police officers who worked hard to stop a smuggling ring. She said: 'The seizure was the culmination of a careful, committed police operation. 'In March 2014 they observed Hernandez-Gonzales handing £300,000 to a taxi driver who was later acquitted for his involvement, which was clearly proceeds from the operation. 'Hernandez-Gonzalez was the subject to police observation, and a probe was put in Grisales-Cuervo's car revealing the extent of his role in the conspiracy with the bananas. 'There clearly had been dummy runs at least, if not actual runs, and very significant imports would have continued had the police not stopped it.' She said Valdes Jaramillo played a 'very significant' liaison role with the Colombian cartel and played a 'leading role' in the UK operation. Hernandez-Gonzales organised the distribution networks in the UK while Grisales-Cuervo travelled out to Colombia in June to visit the cocaine factory and meet the bosses of the cartel face to face. Hernandez-Gonzalez, of Hounslow, and Grisales-Cuervo, of London, were found guilty after a trial and jailed for 22 years in jail. Valdes Jaramillo, of Old Kent Road, who pleaded guilty at the first opportunity for being involved in the conspiracy was jailed for 15 years. Dressed in a striped blue shirt and blue suit, Grisales-Cuervo wiped away tears as he was being led out of court, while the blue suited Hernandez-Gonzalez sat impassive when he was being sentenced. Dressed in a blue polo shirt, Valdes Jaramillo hung his head as he was sentenced. There were sobs from their families in the public gallery as the three men were led away. [/INST] Men jailed after smuggling more than 230lbs of cocaine into the UK .
Hid £25million worth of cocaine in plastic bananas among real fruit .
Arrested after meeting to exchange 'treasure map' to the cocaine . </s> |
Her father has been nicknamed Air Miles Andy. And judging by her nine foreign jaunts since Christmas, it seems Princess Beatrice is keen to follow in his extremely well-trodden footsteps. Despite insisting she is ‘exploring her career options’, the unemployed 26-year-old has found time to jet away for luxury ski trips, sun herself on a Caribbean yacht and party with her friends in Greece. Scroll down for video . Winter getaways: Princess Beatrice was spotted in St Barts at New Year's (left) and later that month (right) Her string of holidays culminated in a flight to New York earlier this week to celebrate her sister Eugenie’s 25th birthday. Although Beatrice receives no public funding, her jet-set lifestyle is sure to attract criticism at a time when the Queen is keen to promote royal thriftiness. It also is likely to raise eyebrows given that she has not had a job since before Christmas. During the New York trip Beatrice, Eugenie and their mother the Duchess of York popped up via video link before an audience at St James’s Palace. Her father Prince Andrew, who was carrying out a public engagement at the palace, got his guests to sing Happy Birthday. It was Beatrice’s third US jaunt this year alone. She had already been spotted in New York in January before hitting the ski slopes of Aspen, Colorado, the following month. Ski trips: Beatrice, far left in white, Prince Harry, centre, and Eugenie, right in blue, in Verbier in February . At the time palace aides said she was in the US preparing to embark on a finance course. But sources said the course lasted ‘barely a matter of days’. By early this month it was time for another holiday – a long weekend with friends in Greece. Beatrice’s ‘job hunt’ began after she quit a £19,500-a-year post at Sony Entertainment Pictures amid claims she was targeted by a North Korean cyber-attack on the firm. She has since soaked up the sun with boyfriend Dave Clark on two trips to Caribbean island St Barts, at one point staying on tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s yacht. She also squeezed in three trips to her parents’ £13million chalet in Verbier, Switzerland. Buckingham Palace said she was ‘continuing to pursue a career in the business sector’. A source said the US course was ‘always going to be a short-term thing’. | Beatrice has been unemployed since quitting Sony Entertainment Pictures .
The 26-year-old royal insists she is now 'exploring her career options'
But she has found time for luxury ski trips and two holidays in Caribbean . | f6f4a2f4750f92b4fef792c43b2ab4e3353a91d2 | <s>[INST] Her father has been nicknamed Air Miles Andy. And judging by her nine foreign jaunts since Christmas, it seems Princess Beatrice is keen to follow in his extremely well-trodden footsteps. Despite insisting she is ‘exploring her career options’, the unemployed 26-year-old has found time to jet away for luxury ski trips, sun herself on a Caribbean yacht and party with her friends in Greece. Scroll down for video . Winter getaways: Princess Beatrice was spotted in St Barts at New Year's (left) and later that month (right) Her string of holidays culminated in a flight to New York earlier this week to celebrate her sister Eugenie’s 25th birthday. Although Beatrice receives no public funding, her jet-set lifestyle is sure to attract criticism at a time when the Queen is keen to promote royal thriftiness. It also is likely to raise eyebrows given that she has not had a job since before Christmas. During the New York trip Beatrice, Eugenie and their mother the Duchess of York popped up via video link before an audience at St James’s Palace. Her father Prince Andrew, who was carrying out a public engagement at the palace, got his guests to sing Happy Birthday. It was Beatrice’s third US jaunt this year alone. She had already been spotted in New York in January before hitting the ski slopes of Aspen, Colorado, the following month. Ski trips: Beatrice, far left in white, Prince Harry, centre, and Eugenie, right in blue, in Verbier in February . At the time palace aides said she was in the US preparing to embark on a finance course. But sources said the course lasted ‘barely a matter of days’. By early this month it was time for another holiday – a long weekend with friends in Greece. Beatrice’s ‘job hunt’ began after she quit a £19,500-a-year post at Sony Entertainment Pictures amid claims she was targeted by a North Korean cyber-attack on the firm. She has since soaked up the sun with boyfriend Dave Clark on two trips to Caribbean island St Barts, at one point staying on tycoon Lakshmi Mittal’s yacht. She also squeezed in three trips to her parents’ £13million chalet in Verbier, Switzerland. Buckingham Palace said she was ‘continuing to pursue a career in the business sector’. A source said the US course was ‘always going to be a short-term thing’. [/INST] Beatrice has been unemployed since quitting Sony Entertainment Pictures .
The 26-year-old royal insists she is now 'exploring her career options'
But she has found time for luxury ski trips and two holidays in Caribbean . </s> |
Mother of two Sally Adey was killed in the terror attack on the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, dying off wounds to her stomach and pelvis . A retired British solicitor who was killed in a terror attack on a museum in Tunisia died from wounds to her stomach and pelvis, an inquest heard. Mother-of-two Sally Adey, of Caynstall, near Shifnal, Shropshire, is one of more than 20 people who died after gunmen attacked tourists at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis. The terror attack was the worst of its kind in Tunisia for 13 years. Mrs Adey had been on a Mediterranean cruise with her 52-year-old husband Robert, who survived the attack and had to identify his wife's body. Gunmen started shooting people after they were able to sneak into the museum on March 18, killing more than 20 people - including 17 tourists who had been on the cruise. Two gunmen who carried out the atrocity were subsequently killed in a firefight with security forces. On Sunday the Tunisian government confirmed that terror chief Khaled Chaieb, also known as Abou Sakhr Lokman, was killed overnight in an operation in the Gafsa region near the Algerian border. He was one of the country's most dangerous terrorists and is believed to have been involved in the museum shooting. Coroner's officer Julie Hartridge, of Shrewsbury Coroners' Court, said retired solicitor Mrs Adey and her husband had left the luxury cruise ship MSC Splendour earlier that day before going into the museum on an excursion. She said a postmortem carried out on May 25 had established provisional cause of death as 'consistent with gunshot wounds to the abdomen and pelvis'. Scroll down for video . Mr and Mrs Adey married in 1984 and have two children, Molly, 20, and Harry, 23. Mrs Adey is believed to have retired to have helped her children study for their A Levels and is thought to have recently returned to work full time. After the attack ISIS based in Iraq and Syria claimed responsibility. Tunisian fighters make up a disproportionately high number of foreign recruits to ISIS in Syria, with as many as 10,000 having signed up. Mrs Adey (centre) was on a luxury cruise with her husband (right) when they went into the museum on a trip . Mr and Mrs Adey, a solicitor, had been married around 30 years and the couple have two children . Mrs Adey is believed to have retired to help her children with their A Levels and recently began working again . CCTV footage of the shooting shows the gunmen roaming free around the museum carrying assault rifles and bags. At one point, they encounter another man with a backpack walking down a flight of stairs. They briefly acknowledge each other and let the unidentified man walk free before unleashing the deadly attack in the country's largest museum. The video also shows stills of the dead gunmen - named as Yassine Laabidi and Hatem Khachnaou - who were killed in a firefight with security forces, including a picture indicating at least one was wearing an explosive belt. Images released after the shooting show glass perforated with bullet holes and grenades discarded on the floor. A window of the museum is filled with bullet holes after the shootout claimed the lives of 23 people . The lack of security at the country's largest museum has since been called into question and the brutality has led to large scale solidarity protests in Tunis, both at the weekend and in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Several people were arrested by Tunisian security forces after the attacks. The government now plans to deploy the army to major cities to bolster security following the shootings . On Saturday French President Francois Hollande confirmed Huguette Dupeu had died from her injuries following the attack. | Sally Adey was on a cruise with her husband and visited Bardo museum .
Mother-of-two was one of 21 victims shot by gunmen prowling the site .
Inquest heard the retired solicitor died of stomach and pelvis wounds .
Tunisian forces claim they have killed three perpetrators of terror attack . | db1f1b19357fd51f874797206413da0ec448a4ff | <s>[INST] Mother of two Sally Adey was killed in the terror attack on the Bardo National Museum in Tunis, dying off wounds to her stomach and pelvis . A retired British solicitor who was killed in a terror attack on a museum in Tunisia died from wounds to her stomach and pelvis, an inquest heard. Mother-of-two Sally Adey, of Caynstall, near Shifnal, Shropshire, is one of more than 20 people who died after gunmen attacked tourists at the Bardo National Museum in Tunis. The terror attack was the worst of its kind in Tunisia for 13 years. Mrs Adey had been on a Mediterranean cruise with her 52-year-old husband Robert, who survived the attack and had to identify his wife's body. Gunmen started shooting people after they were able to sneak into the museum on March 18, killing more than 20 people - including 17 tourists who had been on the cruise. Two gunmen who carried out the atrocity were subsequently killed in a firefight with security forces. On Sunday the Tunisian government confirmed that terror chief Khaled Chaieb, also known as Abou Sakhr Lokman, was killed overnight in an operation in the Gafsa region near the Algerian border. He was one of the country's most dangerous terrorists and is believed to have been involved in the museum shooting. Coroner's officer Julie Hartridge, of Shrewsbury Coroners' Court, said retired solicitor Mrs Adey and her husband had left the luxury cruise ship MSC Splendour earlier that day before going into the museum on an excursion. She said a postmortem carried out on May 25 had established provisional cause of death as 'consistent with gunshot wounds to the abdomen and pelvis'. Scroll down for video . Mr and Mrs Adey married in 1984 and have two children, Molly, 20, and Harry, 23. Mrs Adey is believed to have retired to have helped her children study for their A Levels and is thought to have recently returned to work full time. After the attack ISIS based in Iraq and Syria claimed responsibility. Tunisian fighters make up a disproportionately high number of foreign recruits to ISIS in Syria, with as many as 10,000 having signed up. Mrs Adey (centre) was on a luxury cruise with her husband (right) when they went into the museum on a trip . Mr and Mrs Adey, a solicitor, had been married around 30 years and the couple have two children . Mrs Adey is believed to have retired to help her children with their A Levels and recently began working again . CCTV footage of the shooting shows the gunmen roaming free around the museum carrying assault rifles and bags. At one point, they encounter another man with a backpack walking down a flight of stairs. They briefly acknowledge each other and let the unidentified man walk free before unleashing the deadly attack in the country's largest museum. The video also shows stills of the dead gunmen - named as Yassine Laabidi and Hatem Khachnaou - who were killed in a firefight with security forces, including a picture indicating at least one was wearing an explosive belt. Images released after the shooting show glass perforated with bullet holes and grenades discarded on the floor. A window of the museum is filled with bullet holes after the shootout claimed the lives of 23 people . The lack of security at the country's largest museum has since been called into question and the brutality has led to large scale solidarity protests in Tunis, both at the weekend and in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Several people were arrested by Tunisian security forces after the attacks. The government now plans to deploy the army to major cities to bolster security following the shootings . On Saturday French President Francois Hollande confirmed Huguette Dupeu had died from her injuries following the attack. [/INST] Sally Adey was on a cruise with her husband and visited Bardo museum .
Mother-of-two was one of 21 victims shot by gunmen prowling the site .
Inquest heard the retired solicitor died of stomach and pelvis wounds .
Tunisian forces claim they have killed three perpetrators of terror attack . </s> |
Bags of dead dogs and roosters - believed to be from illegal animal fights - are being dumped alongside a suburban Dallas roadside. Local residents and animal rights activists have joined together to force the local police to attempt to discover the source of the gruesome fights - and try to put a halt to the brutal baiting. Some are more worried that local gangs are acting with impunity nearby and have complained about the safety of their children from those who dump the dead animals and from the rotting, disease-ridden carcasses. Gruesome: Inside this bag are the dismembered bodies of dead dogs and roosters that are turning up alongside southeast Dallas highways . 'My daughters live right here, my son,' said a man who spoke to CBS News and wished to be identified only as Michael. 'If they'll do that to a dog, what will they do to a human?' Michael said that he usually finds stray dogs lining the roadside but recently he and another animal rescuer saw someone throw bags from a pickup truck. 'It was the bags with all the dead dogs, mush, decomposed bodies, roosters, matted hair. It was hor-I mean, it stunk. You can imagine how it smelled,' said Michael to CBS. Gross: Locals fear that a gang-related animal fighting ring is dumping the dead bodies along the Dallas road . Strays: Dogs are usually left by their owners along the stretch of road - but now dead dogs are turning up - much to local residents disgust . On another day Michael found bags full of dead chickens and then sadly, more dogs. 'It was something you might see in a horror movie,' said Michael to CBS. Local residents fear an animal fighting ring and the involvement of gangs and say that police are not investigating. However, a local Dallas Police Department spokesman said that they are working with animal control to find the culprits. | Residents of southeast Dallas are finding bags filled with dismembered dogs and roosters .
Gruesome discoveries blamed on gang-related animal fights nearby . | a397e8ff72a2289f74cb6f4310d75b6f424f8c92 | <s>[INST] Bags of dead dogs and roosters - believed to be from illegal animal fights - are being dumped alongside a suburban Dallas roadside. Local residents and animal rights activists have joined together to force the local police to attempt to discover the source of the gruesome fights - and try to put a halt to the brutal baiting. Some are more worried that local gangs are acting with impunity nearby and have complained about the safety of their children from those who dump the dead animals and from the rotting, disease-ridden carcasses. Gruesome: Inside this bag are the dismembered bodies of dead dogs and roosters that are turning up alongside southeast Dallas highways . 'My daughters live right here, my son,' said a man who spoke to CBS News and wished to be identified only as Michael. 'If they'll do that to a dog, what will they do to a human?' Michael said that he usually finds stray dogs lining the roadside but recently he and another animal rescuer saw someone throw bags from a pickup truck. 'It was the bags with all the dead dogs, mush, decomposed bodies, roosters, matted hair. It was hor-I mean, it stunk. You can imagine how it smelled,' said Michael to CBS. Gross: Locals fear that a gang-related animal fighting ring is dumping the dead bodies along the Dallas road . Strays: Dogs are usually left by their owners along the stretch of road - but now dead dogs are turning up - much to local residents disgust . On another day Michael found bags full of dead chickens and then sadly, more dogs. 'It was something you might see in a horror movie,' said Michael to CBS. Local residents fear an animal fighting ring and the involvement of gangs and say that police are not investigating. However, a local Dallas Police Department spokesman said that they are working with animal control to find the culprits. [/INST] Residents of southeast Dallas are finding bags filled with dismembered dogs and roosters .
Gruesome discoveries blamed on gang-related animal fights nearby . </s> |
A man in a New York City drug store told employees he was HIV-positive and pulled out a handful of hypodermic needles when he was confronted about shoplifting on Monday, police said. The man walked into a Duane Reade in Midtown at about 2.30pm and began putting store items into his jacket pockets, police said. He was then confronted by store employees and reacted by showing them needles and telling them he had HIV, according to police. This man allegedly shoplifted at a Duane Reade in Midtown, New York City, and when he was confronted by employees he told them he was HIV positive and brandished hypodermic needles, police say . Police said the man fled the store on food and got away with $180 worth of items from the store, according to the New York Post. The man was described by police as stocky and about 5ft, 11in tall, aged between 30 and 35 years old. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and work boots, while carrying a white hard hat. Police said no one at the scene was injured. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The incident happened at 949 Third Avenue in New York City around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, police said. No one at the scene was injured . | Man reportedly walked into New York City Duane Reade and began putting merchandise into his jacket pockets on Monday .
After being confronted he fled store with $180 worth of items .
He was described by police as stocky and about 5ft, 11in tall, aged between 30 and 35 years old .
Police said no one was injured during the incident . | 07392ca3ab0ee3caf19cb944875e10cdfe9fa54f | <s>[INST] A man in a New York City drug store told employees he was HIV-positive and pulled out a handful of hypodermic needles when he was confronted about shoplifting on Monday, police said. The man walked into a Duane Reade in Midtown at about 2.30pm and began putting store items into his jacket pockets, police said. He was then confronted by store employees and reacted by showing them needles and telling them he had HIV, according to police. This man allegedly shoplifted at a Duane Reade in Midtown, New York City, and when he was confronted by employees he told them he was HIV positive and brandished hypodermic needles, police say . Police said the man fled the store on food and got away with $180 worth of items from the store, according to the New York Post. The man was described by police as stocky and about 5ft, 11in tall, aged between 30 and 35 years old. He was last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and work boots, while carrying a white hard hat. Police said no one at the scene was injured. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-577-TIPS. The incident happened at 949 Third Avenue in New York City around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, police said. No one at the scene was injured . [/INST] Man reportedly walked into New York City Duane Reade and began putting merchandise into his jacket pockets on Monday .
After being confronted he fled store with $180 worth of items .
He was described by police as stocky and about 5ft, 11in tall, aged between 30 and 35 years old .
Police said no one was injured during the incident . </s> |
Police hold concerns for a mother missing with her eight children. The family has not been seen since boarding a train on NSW's Central Coast on Friday. Rachel Pawsey and her children, aged between two and 14, were last seen at Wyong Station. Rachel Pawsey, 39, and her children, aged between two and 14, were last seen at Wyong Station on the NSW Central Coast . It's thought the 39-year-old, from Niagara Park, may be heading to Queensland. Police say some of the children require medicine and it's believed they only have a limited supply with them. Queensland Police are working with NSW police to locate the family, with officers from Brisbane Water Local Area Command assigned to the case. Investigators are appealing for anyone with information about the whereabouts of Ms Pawsey or her children to contact Gosford Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. It's thought the 39-year-old may be heading to Queensland from Wyong station . | Rachel Pawsey, 39, was last seen at a Central Coast train station .
She was travelling with her eight children, aged between two and 14 .
Police say some of the children require medicine .
It's thought the family, from Niagara Park, may be heading to Queensland . | ac9bdfe8eb3289dc90412e2b0fd257a5476e2441 | <s>[INST] Police hold concerns for a mother missing with her eight children. The family has not been seen since boarding a train on NSW's Central Coast on Friday. Rachel Pawsey and her children, aged between two and 14, were last seen at Wyong Station. Rachel Pawsey, 39, and her children, aged between two and 14, were last seen at Wyong Station on the NSW Central Coast . It's thought the 39-year-old, from Niagara Park, may be heading to Queensland. Police say some of the children require medicine and it's believed they only have a limited supply with them. Queensland Police are working with NSW police to locate the family, with officers from Brisbane Water Local Area Command assigned to the case. Investigators are appealing for anyone with information about the whereabouts of Ms Pawsey or her children to contact Gosford Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. It's thought the 39-year-old may be heading to Queensland from Wyong station . [/INST] Rachel Pawsey, 39, was last seen at a Central Coast train station .
She was travelling with her eight children, aged between two and 14 .
Police say some of the children require medicine .
It's thought the family, from Niagara Park, may be heading to Queensland . </s> |
Bumbling: Natalie Bennett on stage at the spring conference in Liverpool . The Greens like to do things differently. One of their deputy leaders had just blown a few billion pounds more from their wish-list budget when the chairwoman – who could hardly be seen in her green jumper against the vast green background – announced an ‘attunement’. This turned out to be a reflective – and to my mind rather long – minute’s silence. ‘It’s incredibly successful if people get stressed,’ explained our host, although several people around me merely used the pause to check social media on their smartphones. Welcome to the world of Britain’s wackiest political party, on display this weekend at its spring conference in Liverpool. There is something mildly amusing about a party that insists on meditative breaks, has a keynote speaker identified as ‘a non-binary person from Belarus’ and chairwomen who say things like: ‘I would like to hear from someone who does not identify as a man.’ And a party that uses such a contorted form of internal democracy it ends up with daft policies to ban most cars and seriously debates proposals to extend human rights to all animals. Yet this is currently the country’s most successful political party, attracting 100 recruits a day from people dismayed by traditional party politics. Bizarrely, the duffest interviews given by its bumbling leader Natalie Bennett only drive up membership. Joining the hundreds of enthusiastic delegates – a mixture of grizzly bearded hippies, elderly ideologues, earnest young recruits and well-spoken women in charity shop chic – offered fresh insight into what is now the third biggest party in England and Wales. They proclaim the politics of the future. Yet much of the time it felt like I had stumbled into an Alan Bennett sketch filled with middle-class people munching on non-meat sandwiches as they debated how to save a world wrecked by austerity, bankers and Conservatives. Scroll down for video . Bennett (the leader, that is) told her adoring followers the Greens had gone from 13,000 members a year ago to 55,000 members today. This is undoubtedly impressive. But it also means they might play an influential role in determining who runs the country after the next Election. Many of these new members – half of whom voted Liberal Democrat at the last Election – are young people inspired by the idea of reshaping politics. They were given special badges declaring their status and enthusiastically snapped up green T-shirts on sale. Presumably they were not the people targeted in a seminar explaining how to use email. Yet for all these new recruits rushing around excitedly, there were also the same old stalls offering vegan recipes for raspberry cake, T-shirts emblazoned with ‘Still Hate Thatcher’ and angry leaflets denouncing the monarchy. Bennett told her followers the Greens had gone from 13,000 members a year ago to 55,000 members today . On one, I found Jon Liebling, a friendly 47-year-old dancer promoting the medicinal use of cannabis. He said he had smoked the drug for 26 years to curb anxiety attacks. His stall proclaimed ‘United Patients Alliance with Norml Women’s Alliance’. When I asked about Norml Women, he said its founders ‘felt there was too much testosterone in the cannabis movement’ – but they had not turned up and he had forgotten the acronym’s meaning. The Australian-born Bennett promises a new style of politics – which many people might say she exemplifies with her stumbling interviews and inability to explain key policies. Yet after she spoke on Friday, managing to avoid ‘mind blanks’ as she promised lots of new taxes, the grey-haired woman next to me could not stop gushing: ‘I am so excited. I am overwhelmed. I feel like I belong here.’ She turned out to be a Labour deserter. And this is why the sudden Green surge is giving her previous party palpitations as it is outflanked on the left. Indeed, electoral mathematics mean it is possible the Greens might not just impact on voting outcomes in May but even be in position to join a coalition led by Ed Miliband. This is a party that wants to ban the monarchy, House of Lords, much of the Armed Forces, free schools, foie gras and fur – while freeing up drugs, borders, brothels and, said its leader, allowing people to join terror groups such as Islamic State. Yesterday they chucked in free university undergraduate education, joining the Greens’ desires for free social care, free universal childcare, 500,000 extra new homes and a basic income for everyone costing almost three times the budget of the National Health Service. Since they also want to end economic growth, I asked their press team how these policies would be paid for. ‘There’s lots of money around,’ replied one party veteran, looking at me as though I was stupid. A younger colleague said children would not start schooling until six under a Green government – although it is hard to believe this would raise the requisite £350 billion or so needed to close the annual gap between their policies and economic reality. The Green Party’s emphasis on ultra-democracy is admirable, giving all members a voice – but it means scores of strange ideas end up on its statute books since anything is possible with its Alice in Wonderland politics. Among the proposals considered this weekend, for instance, is the extension of human rights to ‘all sentient life forms’ with ‘the murder, torture and kidnapping’ of dogs and dolphins carrying the same penalties as when such crimes are committed against people. Leader Natalie Bennett is embraced by Green MP Caroline Lucas . I went to one meeting where 19 people were determining a ban on foie gras due to the force-feeding of geese. One young man dissented on the grounds this was discriminatory to dairy cows that were being ‘raped’ and their calves ‘murdered’. ‘To have a ban on the dairy industry would not be popular with the public. It would be a vote loser,’ responded session leader Ronnie Lee – although hastily adding he had been a vegan for 44 years in case anyone might think him unsympathetic to animals. Then there was the well-attended gender group, which agreed people should be allowed ‘a third option of X gender’ on passports – although the discussion leader then confessed this might create risks for people publicly identified as transgender in many countries. The meeting also agreed parents should be allowed to avoid putting children down as either male or female on birth certificates. One elderly Green from Tyneside, doing his best to keep up, admitted he was confused by the latest terms for transgender people. He was not the only one, with talk about LGBITQ people – the ‘I’ turned out to be for Intersex and the ‘Q’ for Questioning. At the peace and defence group, software engineer Chris Burdess said they needed to review policies that were ‘unnecessarily inflammatory and aggressive’ towards diplomats and members of the armed forces. ‘We don’t want to single them out as evil,’ he said. But their policy-making process is so ponderous, Burdess admitted this could not be achieved before the Election. Mind you, they have pledges to pass measures that were actually passed nearly two decades ago. Such eccentricities might be endearing if the Greens had not suddenly emerged as a semi-serious force in British politics. Yet its leaders brush aside criticism of policy absurdities by saying they are merely promoting new ideas and looking long-term. Downstairs in the Liverpool convention centre was a gathering for fans of fantasy games. Upstairs, they seemed to be playing fantasy politics. But if this shambolic bunch ever got a sniff of power, the entire country would be losers. | The Green Party is the third biggest political party in England and Wales .
Attracts 100 recruits a day and has seen membership increase by 42,000 .
Many of the new members voted for the Liberal Dem at the last election .
Greens maybe in a position in May to form a coalition with Labour .
They want to ban monarchy, House of Lords, and much of the armed forces .
While freeing up drugs, borders, and allowing people to join terror groups . | 1520e6ca851dfc089b276effc060676ebf087d5a | <s>[INST] Bumbling: Natalie Bennett on stage at the spring conference in Liverpool . The Greens like to do things differently. One of their deputy leaders had just blown a few billion pounds more from their wish-list budget when the chairwoman – who could hardly be seen in her green jumper against the vast green background – announced an ‘attunement’. This turned out to be a reflective – and to my mind rather long – minute’s silence. ‘It’s incredibly successful if people get stressed,’ explained our host, although several people around me merely used the pause to check social media on their smartphones. Welcome to the world of Britain’s wackiest political party, on display this weekend at its spring conference in Liverpool. There is something mildly amusing about a party that insists on meditative breaks, has a keynote speaker identified as ‘a non-binary person from Belarus’ and chairwomen who say things like: ‘I would like to hear from someone who does not identify as a man.’ And a party that uses such a contorted form of internal democracy it ends up with daft policies to ban most cars and seriously debates proposals to extend human rights to all animals. Yet this is currently the country’s most successful political party, attracting 100 recruits a day from people dismayed by traditional party politics. Bizarrely, the duffest interviews given by its bumbling leader Natalie Bennett only drive up membership. Joining the hundreds of enthusiastic delegates – a mixture of grizzly bearded hippies, elderly ideologues, earnest young recruits and well-spoken women in charity shop chic – offered fresh insight into what is now the third biggest party in England and Wales. They proclaim the politics of the future. Yet much of the time it felt like I had stumbled into an Alan Bennett sketch filled with middle-class people munching on non-meat sandwiches as they debated how to save a world wrecked by austerity, bankers and Conservatives. Scroll down for video . Bennett (the leader, that is) told her adoring followers the Greens had gone from 13,000 members a year ago to 55,000 members today. This is undoubtedly impressive. But it also means they might play an influential role in determining who runs the country after the next Election. Many of these new members – half of whom voted Liberal Democrat at the last Election – are young people inspired by the idea of reshaping politics. They were given special badges declaring their status and enthusiastically snapped up green T-shirts on sale. Presumably they were not the people targeted in a seminar explaining how to use email. Yet for all these new recruits rushing around excitedly, there were also the same old stalls offering vegan recipes for raspberry cake, T-shirts emblazoned with ‘Still Hate Thatcher’ and angry leaflets denouncing the monarchy. Bennett told her followers the Greens had gone from 13,000 members a year ago to 55,000 members today . On one, I found Jon Liebling, a friendly 47-year-old dancer promoting the medicinal use of cannabis. He said he had smoked the drug for 26 years to curb anxiety attacks. His stall proclaimed ‘United Patients Alliance with Norml Women’s Alliance’. When I asked about Norml Women, he said its founders ‘felt there was too much testosterone in the cannabis movement’ – but they had not turned up and he had forgotten the acronym’s meaning. The Australian-born Bennett promises a new style of politics – which many people might say she exemplifies with her stumbling interviews and inability to explain key policies. Yet after she spoke on Friday, managing to avoid ‘mind blanks’ as she promised lots of new taxes, the grey-haired woman next to me could not stop gushing: ‘I am so excited. I am overwhelmed. I feel like I belong here.’ She turned out to be a Labour deserter. And this is why the sudden Green surge is giving her previous party palpitations as it is outflanked on the left. Indeed, electoral mathematics mean it is possible the Greens might not just impact on voting outcomes in May but even be in position to join a coalition led by Ed Miliband. This is a party that wants to ban the monarchy, House of Lords, much of the Armed Forces, free schools, foie gras and fur – while freeing up drugs, borders, brothels and, said its leader, allowing people to join terror groups such as Islamic State. Yesterday they chucked in free university undergraduate education, joining the Greens’ desires for free social care, free universal childcare, 500,000 extra new homes and a basic income for everyone costing almost three times the budget of the National Health Service. Since they also want to end economic growth, I asked their press team how these policies would be paid for. ‘There’s lots of money around,’ replied one party veteran, looking at me as though I was stupid. A younger colleague said children would not start schooling until six under a Green government – although it is hard to believe this would raise the requisite £350 billion or so needed to close the annual gap between their policies and economic reality. The Green Party’s emphasis on ultra-democracy is admirable, giving all members a voice – but it means scores of strange ideas end up on its statute books since anything is possible with its Alice in Wonderland politics. Among the proposals considered this weekend, for instance, is the extension of human rights to ‘all sentient life forms’ with ‘the murder, torture and kidnapping’ of dogs and dolphins carrying the same penalties as when such crimes are committed against people. Leader Natalie Bennett is embraced by Green MP Caroline Lucas . I went to one meeting where 19 people were determining a ban on foie gras due to the force-feeding of geese. One young man dissented on the grounds this was discriminatory to dairy cows that were being ‘raped’ and their calves ‘murdered’. ‘To have a ban on the dairy industry would not be popular with the public. It would be a vote loser,’ responded session leader Ronnie Lee – although hastily adding he had been a vegan for 44 years in case anyone might think him unsympathetic to animals. Then there was the well-attended gender group, which agreed people should be allowed ‘a third option of X gender’ on passports – although the discussion leader then confessed this might create risks for people publicly identified as transgender in many countries. The meeting also agreed parents should be allowed to avoid putting children down as either male or female on birth certificates. One elderly Green from Tyneside, doing his best to keep up, admitted he was confused by the latest terms for transgender people. He was not the only one, with talk about LGBITQ people – the ‘I’ turned out to be for Intersex and the ‘Q’ for Questioning. At the peace and defence group, software engineer Chris Burdess said they needed to review policies that were ‘unnecessarily inflammatory and aggressive’ towards diplomats and members of the armed forces. ‘We don’t want to single them out as evil,’ he said. But their policy-making process is so ponderous, Burdess admitted this could not be achieved before the Election. Mind you, they have pledges to pass measures that were actually passed nearly two decades ago. Such eccentricities might be endearing if the Greens had not suddenly emerged as a semi-serious force in British politics. Yet its leaders brush aside criticism of policy absurdities by saying they are merely promoting new ideas and looking long-term. Downstairs in the Liverpool convention centre was a gathering for fans of fantasy games. Upstairs, they seemed to be playing fantasy politics. But if this shambolic bunch ever got a sniff of power, the entire country would be losers. [/INST] The Green Party is the third biggest political party in England and Wales .
Attracts 100 recruits a day and has seen membership increase by 42,000 .
Many of the new members voted for the Liberal Dem at the last election .
Greens maybe in a position in May to form a coalition with Labour .
They want to ban monarchy, House of Lords, and much of the armed forces .
While freeing up drugs, borders, and allowing people to join terror groups . </s> |
Uefa has charged Montenegro after their Euro 2016 qualifier in Podgorica was abandoned following Russia players being hit by missiles. The Montenegro Football Association (FSCG) has been charged with holding a match that did not get played in full, and for fans throwing fireworks and missiles. The Russian football union (RFS) has also been charged for the setting off/throwing of fireworks and objects by their spectators. Russia have lodged a formal complaint with UEFA and demanded they be awarded a victory after the abandoned match on Friday. A flare, hurled from the stands, sails towards the Russian keeper in the opening seconds of the game . Akinfeev is carried off the pitch on a stretcher, which led to a 30 minute delay before game was called off . The match in Podgorica was abandoned after 67 minutes with the score still at 0-0 after Russia's Dmitri Kombarov was hit by an object, which led to a melee between the players. The game had already been suspended once, in the first minute when the Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was struck on the head by a flare and was taken to hospital for treatment for burns. Play resumed after a 33-minute delay and the start of the second half was also delayed by 18 minutes due to further disturbances. The eventual abandonment came shortly after Russia's Roman Shirokov had a penalty saved by Vukasin Poleksic. The keeper looks in serious distress as he is carried off the field on the way to hospital for tests . CSKA Moscow have confirmed that Akinfeev should return to face Zenit St Petersburg this weekend . UEFA announced on Monday: 'Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG) for the setting off and throwing of fireworks and objects by their spectators and for holding a match that did not get played in full. 'Proceedings have also been opened against the Football Union of Russia (RFS) for the setting off/throwing of fireworks and objects by their spectators. 'A protest has also been filed by the RFS and disciplinary proceedings have been opened.' Russia and Montenegro are neck and neck in Group G in third and fourth place, both on five points after four matches. Players from both sides are reported to have shoved each other before referee decided enough was enough . Fans holding flares cut intimidating figures from the roof of the stadium in Podgorica . Montenegro fans light flares from the stands during the Euro qualifier on Friday . Russian fans voice their displeasure after the events in Podgorica . Russia head coach Fabio Capello scratches his head as players leave the pitch after the match is abandoned . Riot police clash with Montenegrin fans after the game is abandoned following a pitch brawl . | Uefa have charged Montenegro for the abandonment of Euro 2016 qualifier .
Game was ended after Russia players were hit by missiles in Podgorica .
Russia have also been charged for the setting off/throwing of fireworks .
Russia lodged a formal complaint with UEFA and demanded the victory . | 9fa38e8172b7cadcedcb683ba31d28c26e49fa1c | <s>[INST] Uefa has charged Montenegro after their Euro 2016 qualifier in Podgorica was abandoned following Russia players being hit by missiles. The Montenegro Football Association (FSCG) has been charged with holding a match that did not get played in full, and for fans throwing fireworks and missiles. The Russian football union (RFS) has also been charged for the setting off/throwing of fireworks and objects by their spectators. Russia have lodged a formal complaint with UEFA and demanded they be awarded a victory after the abandoned match on Friday. A flare, hurled from the stands, sails towards the Russian keeper in the opening seconds of the game . Akinfeev is carried off the pitch on a stretcher, which led to a 30 minute delay before game was called off . The match in Podgorica was abandoned after 67 minutes with the score still at 0-0 after Russia's Dmitri Kombarov was hit by an object, which led to a melee between the players. The game had already been suspended once, in the first minute when the Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was struck on the head by a flare and was taken to hospital for treatment for burns. Play resumed after a 33-minute delay and the start of the second half was also delayed by 18 minutes due to further disturbances. The eventual abandonment came shortly after Russia's Roman Shirokov had a penalty saved by Vukasin Poleksic. The keeper looks in serious distress as he is carried off the field on the way to hospital for tests . CSKA Moscow have confirmed that Akinfeev should return to face Zenit St Petersburg this weekend . UEFA announced on Monday: 'Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG) for the setting off and throwing of fireworks and objects by their spectators and for holding a match that did not get played in full. 'Proceedings have also been opened against the Football Union of Russia (RFS) for the setting off/throwing of fireworks and objects by their spectators. 'A protest has also been filed by the RFS and disciplinary proceedings have been opened.' Russia and Montenegro are neck and neck in Group G in third and fourth place, both on five points after four matches. Players from both sides are reported to have shoved each other before referee decided enough was enough . Fans holding flares cut intimidating figures from the roof of the stadium in Podgorica . Montenegro fans light flares from the stands during the Euro qualifier on Friday . Russian fans voice their displeasure after the events in Podgorica . Russia head coach Fabio Capello scratches his head as players leave the pitch after the match is abandoned . Riot police clash with Montenegrin fans after the game is abandoned following a pitch brawl . [/INST] Uefa have charged Montenegro for the abandonment of Euro 2016 qualifier .
Game was ended after Russia players were hit by missiles in Podgorica .
Russia have also been charged for the setting off/throwing of fireworks .
Russia lodged a formal complaint with UEFA and demanded the victory . </s> |
A mother whose teenage daughter was stabbed to death by her friend's boyfriend has spoken of her heartbreak over the brutal murder. Julie Warren-Sykes' daughter Samantha, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was just 18 when her life was brutally cut short by Ahmad Otak, then 21, an Afghan asylum seeker who was jealous of her close friendship with his ex-girlfriend Elisa Frank. Determined to punish Elisa, he murdered her own sister in front of her - and in a horrifying twist, forced her to lure her Samantha to her death in March 2012. Scroll down for video . Julie Warren-Sykes' daughter Samantha was just 18 when her life was brutally cut short . Elisa's best friend Samantha Sykes (pictured), 18, was also killed by Otak, who slit her throat and stabbed her . Samantha and Elisa had been friends since they were eight years old. In a sickening act, Otak made Elisa watch as her killed her sister Kim, 17, and best friend. Now survivor Elisa and Samantha's mother Julie have shared their experiences of that terrible day in TV show Britain's Darkest Taboos. Elisa, now 21, had been in a relationship with Otak after meeting him at a foster home as a teenager but Julie said her daughter had concerns about her friend's new boyfriend. 'She told me that she was concerned about Elisa's relationship with Ahmad Otak. She felt there was something wrong with the relationship, and she said that he gave her a bad feeling,' Julie said. Otak had become increasingly controlling of Elisa and tried to cut her off from her friend and younger sister. Elisa's sister Kim Frank (left) was stabbed 15 times by Ahmad Otak who then licked her blood off his knife . He threatened Elisa with violence and said he would harm her family and friends if she left him. But with the support of Kim and Samantha, she eventually plucked up the courage to end their relationship. She could not fathom that Otak would be carry through with his violent threats in the most horrific way. He asked Elisa to meet him at Kim's flat in Wakefield so he could collect some things from her. But when she arrived, he launched a ferocious attack on her sister as Elisa looked on helplessly. She recalled: 'All I can remember now is Kim fell on to me and I got pushed on to the bed a bit. Then I just turned round, and as soon as I turned round I saw the knife. 'Hearing Kim screaming, really horrific screams, like something that you can't really describe unless you have heard something like that. 'He was like, calling her a stupid b**** and stuff like that while he were stabbing her.' Elisa said Otak showed no remorse and seemed to gloat in the murder. 'He stood up, and licked the blood off the knife, and he spat down at her body,' she said. Survivor: Elisa Frank was the only survivor of the 2012 attack that led to the death of her sister . Then he made Elisa call Samantha and ask her to come to the flat. Terrified Elisa complied but hoped her friend - who had career aspirations as a model - would realise something was wrong and wouldn't go. 'I were hoping that she’d be able to pick something up from my voice, and then maybe phone the police,' Elisa said. But Samantha was a loyal friend to Elisa and worried something was wrong with her, she rushed to her aid. As soon as she arrived at the flat, she was stabbed to death by Otak. By then he had tied Elisa up with cable ties so she had no way of helping her friend. 'He seemed like he'd enjoyed it. Very calm, no emotion at all after he'd done it either, just none,' Elisa said of the murder. Meanwhile, Julie said she had a bad feeling something had happened to her daughter, who had left her a note saying she had gone to see Elisa. 'When I saw the note I had a bad feeling. It's a mother's instinct,' she said. But she admitted nothing could have prepared her for the news that her daughter had been brutally stabbed to death. The truth came out hours later after Elisa finally escaped Otak clutches as he tried to kidnap her by taking her to Dover to flee the country. Much missed: Elisa still has nightmares about the night Kim (pictured right) and Sam (left) were killed . She managed to get away and call the police and Otak was arrested and the bodies of his two young victims discovered in Kim's flat. Julie recalls hearing the terrible news after hours of anguish worrying about her missing daughter: 'Samantha was missing for a number of hours through that night, and I just kept thinking, "She’s dead." 'It’s not something that you can actually explain to anybody, it was just as if part of me had gone. It was an horrendous experience, the anxiety, feeling sick, just not really knowing what to do with yourself. You know, it's a mother’s worst nightmare. It was like torture. 'When the police came and told me what had happened, I think I just went into some kind of a shock, where everything seemed surreal. 'The worst thing in the world was always, for me, when somebody loses a child, and it was the one thing that I asked, "if there’s a God, don’t ever let that happen to me, don’t ever let that happen to me." Of course, it has happened to me.' Otak was tried at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to the two murders but both Elisa and Julie were disgusted to see he showed no remorse for what he had done. 'To hear the detail of the injuries that both these young people suffered, is devastating. You just think, what is he thinking while he's sat there? Because he never showed any emotion whatsoever,' Julie said. Evil: Afghan asylum seeker Ahmad Otak attempted to flee to France but was foiled by a brave fellow refugee . Otak was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 33 years and 124 days. Julie said of the sentencing: 'When he was sentenced you have a kind of feeling of euphoria, because you think, you know, that’s it, it’s done, he’s been sentenced, he’s got a long sentence. 'But that soon goes, and so, within a couple of days, actually I felt probably worse than I’d felt for a significant period of time. I just fell to pieces. I'm still grieving for Samantha, as are many other people, and you learn to live with what's happened.' Elisa says despite the lengthy sentence, she will never get over the death of her sister and best friend. She has turned to writing to help her deal with the events she witnessed and has written a book about her experiences called The Borderline Diaries. She said: 'Since I've started writing I've been feeling a lot better, and I've noticed that bits of my past and things that I haven’t been able to process so much, come out in my writing, and then I always feel a bit like I've had a weight taken off my shoulders afterwards.' Julie added that she wishes Elisa well and doesn't feel bitter about her part in her daughter's death. Aftermath: Police outside Elisa's Wakefield flat following the double murders . Traumatised: Elisa still has nightmares about the day her sister and best friend were murdered . 'She has an opportunity now that I hope she’ll grasp, and move forward with her life, and do something wonderful,' she said. She added: 'One of the real positive actions that we’ve taken as a family since Samantha’s death is to establish the Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust, whose purpose is to work with not-for-profit organisations who support and help victims of child sexual exploitation, or children and young people who are considered to be at risk of child sexual exploitation. 'We've been overwhelmed by some of the community support, and the generosity of local people has restored some of our faith in human kindness.' To learn more about Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust visit samanthasykesfoundation.com . Britain's Darkest Taboos continues on Sunday nights at 9pm only on CI and is repeated on Wednesday’s at 9pm . | Elisa Frank's sister and best friend were murdered by Ahmad Otak .
Otak stabbed Kimberley, 17, 15 times and spat on her body .
He forced her to lure Samantha Sykes, 18, and then murdered her .
Sam's mother Julie Warren-Sykes speaks for first time since it happened .
Shares her experience in TV show Britain's Darkest Taboos . | 767965ef63fe914974fc28b84f1206ed8dcc699e | <s>[INST] A mother whose teenage daughter was stabbed to death by her friend's boyfriend has spoken of her heartbreak over the brutal murder. Julie Warren-Sykes' daughter Samantha, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, was just 18 when her life was brutally cut short by Ahmad Otak, then 21, an Afghan asylum seeker who was jealous of her close friendship with his ex-girlfriend Elisa Frank. Determined to punish Elisa, he murdered her own sister in front of her - and in a horrifying twist, forced her to lure her Samantha to her death in March 2012. Scroll down for video . Julie Warren-Sykes' daughter Samantha was just 18 when her life was brutally cut short . Elisa's best friend Samantha Sykes (pictured), 18, was also killed by Otak, who slit her throat and stabbed her . Samantha and Elisa had been friends since they were eight years old. In a sickening act, Otak made Elisa watch as her killed her sister Kim, 17, and best friend. Now survivor Elisa and Samantha's mother Julie have shared their experiences of that terrible day in TV show Britain's Darkest Taboos. Elisa, now 21, had been in a relationship with Otak after meeting him at a foster home as a teenager but Julie said her daughter had concerns about her friend's new boyfriend. 'She told me that she was concerned about Elisa's relationship with Ahmad Otak. She felt there was something wrong with the relationship, and she said that he gave her a bad feeling,' Julie said. Otak had become increasingly controlling of Elisa and tried to cut her off from her friend and younger sister. Elisa's sister Kim Frank (left) was stabbed 15 times by Ahmad Otak who then licked her blood off his knife . He threatened Elisa with violence and said he would harm her family and friends if she left him. But with the support of Kim and Samantha, she eventually plucked up the courage to end their relationship. She could not fathom that Otak would be carry through with his violent threats in the most horrific way. He asked Elisa to meet him at Kim's flat in Wakefield so he could collect some things from her. But when she arrived, he launched a ferocious attack on her sister as Elisa looked on helplessly. She recalled: 'All I can remember now is Kim fell on to me and I got pushed on to the bed a bit. Then I just turned round, and as soon as I turned round I saw the knife. 'Hearing Kim screaming, really horrific screams, like something that you can't really describe unless you have heard something like that. 'He was like, calling her a stupid b**** and stuff like that while he were stabbing her.' Elisa said Otak showed no remorse and seemed to gloat in the murder. 'He stood up, and licked the blood off the knife, and he spat down at her body,' she said. Survivor: Elisa Frank was the only survivor of the 2012 attack that led to the death of her sister . Then he made Elisa call Samantha and ask her to come to the flat. Terrified Elisa complied but hoped her friend - who had career aspirations as a model - would realise something was wrong and wouldn't go. 'I were hoping that she’d be able to pick something up from my voice, and then maybe phone the police,' Elisa said. But Samantha was a loyal friend to Elisa and worried something was wrong with her, she rushed to her aid. As soon as she arrived at the flat, she was stabbed to death by Otak. By then he had tied Elisa up with cable ties so she had no way of helping her friend. 'He seemed like he'd enjoyed it. Very calm, no emotion at all after he'd done it either, just none,' Elisa said of the murder. Meanwhile, Julie said she had a bad feeling something had happened to her daughter, who had left her a note saying she had gone to see Elisa. 'When I saw the note I had a bad feeling. It's a mother's instinct,' she said. But she admitted nothing could have prepared her for the news that her daughter had been brutally stabbed to death. The truth came out hours later after Elisa finally escaped Otak clutches as he tried to kidnap her by taking her to Dover to flee the country. Much missed: Elisa still has nightmares about the night Kim (pictured right) and Sam (left) were killed . She managed to get away and call the police and Otak was arrested and the bodies of his two young victims discovered in Kim's flat. Julie recalls hearing the terrible news after hours of anguish worrying about her missing daughter: 'Samantha was missing for a number of hours through that night, and I just kept thinking, "She’s dead." 'It’s not something that you can actually explain to anybody, it was just as if part of me had gone. It was an horrendous experience, the anxiety, feeling sick, just not really knowing what to do with yourself. You know, it's a mother’s worst nightmare. It was like torture. 'When the police came and told me what had happened, I think I just went into some kind of a shock, where everything seemed surreal. 'The worst thing in the world was always, for me, when somebody loses a child, and it was the one thing that I asked, "if there’s a God, don’t ever let that happen to me, don’t ever let that happen to me." Of course, it has happened to me.' Otak was tried at Leeds Crown Court after pleading guilty to the two murders but both Elisa and Julie were disgusted to see he showed no remorse for what he had done. 'To hear the detail of the injuries that both these young people suffered, is devastating. You just think, what is he thinking while he's sat there? Because he never showed any emotion whatsoever,' Julie said. Evil: Afghan asylum seeker Ahmad Otak attempted to flee to France but was foiled by a brave fellow refugee . Otak was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of 33 years and 124 days. Julie said of the sentencing: 'When he was sentenced you have a kind of feeling of euphoria, because you think, you know, that’s it, it’s done, he’s been sentenced, he’s got a long sentence. 'But that soon goes, and so, within a couple of days, actually I felt probably worse than I’d felt for a significant period of time. I just fell to pieces. I'm still grieving for Samantha, as are many other people, and you learn to live with what's happened.' Elisa says despite the lengthy sentence, she will never get over the death of her sister and best friend. She has turned to writing to help her deal with the events she witnessed and has written a book about her experiences called The Borderline Diaries. She said: 'Since I've started writing I've been feeling a lot better, and I've noticed that bits of my past and things that I haven’t been able to process so much, come out in my writing, and then I always feel a bit like I've had a weight taken off my shoulders afterwards.' Julie added that she wishes Elisa well and doesn't feel bitter about her part in her daughter's death. Aftermath: Police outside Elisa's Wakefield flat following the double murders . Traumatised: Elisa still has nightmares about the day her sister and best friend were murdered . 'She has an opportunity now that I hope she’ll grasp, and move forward with her life, and do something wonderful,' she said. She added: 'One of the real positive actions that we’ve taken as a family since Samantha’s death is to establish the Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust, whose purpose is to work with not-for-profit organisations who support and help victims of child sexual exploitation, or children and young people who are considered to be at risk of child sexual exploitation. 'We've been overwhelmed by some of the community support, and the generosity of local people has restored some of our faith in human kindness.' To learn more about Samantha Sykes Foundation Trust visit samanthasykesfoundation.com . Britain's Darkest Taboos continues on Sunday nights at 9pm only on CI and is repeated on Wednesday’s at 9pm . [/INST] Elisa Frank's sister and best friend were murdered by Ahmad Otak .
Otak stabbed Kimberley, 17, 15 times and spat on her body .
He forced her to lure Samantha Sykes, 18, and then murdered her .
Sam's mother Julie Warren-Sykes speaks for first time since it happened .
Shares her experience in TV show Britain's Darkest Taboos . </s> |
A cancer nurse at a hospice drowned herself in a hot tub four days before she was due to face disciplinary proceedings, an inquest has heard. Jane Revell, 53, who worked part-time at Katharine House Hospice in Stafford, was found dead in a the jacuzzi in her back garden on December 18 last year. An inquest into her death heard prior to her death she had been 'upset and worried' about appearing at a hearing to answer questions about the referral of a patient. Cancer nurse Jane Revell, 53, (pictured) drowned herself in a hot tub four days before she was due to face disciplinary proceedings, the inquest into her death heard . Mrs Revell worked part-time at Katharine House Hospice in Stafford, and had been due to answer questions about the referral of a patient . The allegation was said to be 'of a minor nature' and not one which could lead to her dismissal, the hearing at Cannock Coroner's Court was told. The inquest heard how Mrs Revell's husband Paul, 57, had returned to the couple's £270,000 home in Stafford after work where he found his wife's body in the hot tub. She was fully clothed except for her shoes. Earlier in the day, the mother-of-two and school governor had written a suicide note which she had put in a Christmas card and left in the kitchen. She had also sent a text message to her daughter Hannah, telling her to go to a neighbour's house after school. The inquest heard how Mrs Revell's husband Paul, 57, had returned to the couple's £270,000 home in Stafford after work where he found his wife's body in the hot tub in the back garden . Before her death, Mrs Revell had sent a text to her daughter Hannah telling her to go to a neighbour's house, instead of the family home (pictured) 'When Hannah and the neighbour arrived at the house at around 5pm they found the front door unlocked and Mrs Revell's car in the drive,' Detective Constable Mark Bailey told the hearing. 'Mr Revell arrived home from work soon after and searched the garden before finding his wife's body in the hot tub. 'A farewell message was later found inside a Christmas card in the kitchen.' A post mortem examination revealed that she had drowned, and there was no trace of alcohol or drugs in her body. The inquest heard she was in good health and had no history of mental health problems. South Staffordshire Coroner Andy Haigh concluded Mrs Revell had committed suicide 'while stressed.' He said: 'She was a lady who was committed to her family, her community and her career. 'She did have some recent problems at work. 'These appear to have been of a minor nature, but with the benefit of hindsight they were not minor matters for Jane and are a major reason for her death. 'I fully accept that no-one in the family expected Jane to have done this, and I am very sorry that she should have done.' Speaking after the inquest, Dr Richard Soulsby, chief executive of Katharine House Hospice, paid tribute to Mrs Revell. 'Jane's contribution to the hospice over the last 12 years has been immeasurable and her death has been a huge shock to her friends, colleagues, and patients,' he said. 'She was a vibrant and greatly valued member of our team.' | Jane Revell, 53, found in the back garden of her home in Stafford .
She was 'upset and worried' about a forthcoming disciplinary hearing .
Allegation was 'of a minor nature' and would not have led to dismissal .
Coroner records mother-of-two committed suicide 'while stressed'
For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details . | 757d0da3ec16f7a3cc32f2206f43f2ae23965f40 | <s>[INST] A cancer nurse at a hospice drowned herself in a hot tub four days before she was due to face disciplinary proceedings, an inquest has heard. Jane Revell, 53, who worked part-time at Katharine House Hospice in Stafford, was found dead in a the jacuzzi in her back garden on December 18 last year. An inquest into her death heard prior to her death she had been 'upset and worried' about appearing at a hearing to answer questions about the referral of a patient. Cancer nurse Jane Revell, 53, (pictured) drowned herself in a hot tub four days before she was due to face disciplinary proceedings, the inquest into her death heard . Mrs Revell worked part-time at Katharine House Hospice in Stafford, and had been due to answer questions about the referral of a patient . The allegation was said to be 'of a minor nature' and not one which could lead to her dismissal, the hearing at Cannock Coroner's Court was told. The inquest heard how Mrs Revell's husband Paul, 57, had returned to the couple's £270,000 home in Stafford after work where he found his wife's body in the hot tub. She was fully clothed except for her shoes. Earlier in the day, the mother-of-two and school governor had written a suicide note which she had put in a Christmas card and left in the kitchen. She had also sent a text message to her daughter Hannah, telling her to go to a neighbour's house after school. The inquest heard how Mrs Revell's husband Paul, 57, had returned to the couple's £270,000 home in Stafford after work where he found his wife's body in the hot tub in the back garden . Before her death, Mrs Revell had sent a text to her daughter Hannah telling her to go to a neighbour's house, instead of the family home (pictured) 'When Hannah and the neighbour arrived at the house at around 5pm they found the front door unlocked and Mrs Revell's car in the drive,' Detective Constable Mark Bailey told the hearing. 'Mr Revell arrived home from work soon after and searched the garden before finding his wife's body in the hot tub. 'A farewell message was later found inside a Christmas card in the kitchen.' A post mortem examination revealed that she had drowned, and there was no trace of alcohol or drugs in her body. The inquest heard she was in good health and had no history of mental health problems. South Staffordshire Coroner Andy Haigh concluded Mrs Revell had committed suicide 'while stressed.' He said: 'She was a lady who was committed to her family, her community and her career. 'She did have some recent problems at work. 'These appear to have been of a minor nature, but with the benefit of hindsight they were not minor matters for Jane and are a major reason for her death. 'I fully accept that no-one in the family expected Jane to have done this, and I am very sorry that she should have done.' Speaking after the inquest, Dr Richard Soulsby, chief executive of Katharine House Hospice, paid tribute to Mrs Revell. 'Jane's contribution to the hospice over the last 12 years has been immeasurable and her death has been a huge shock to her friends, colleagues, and patients,' he said. 'She was a vibrant and greatly valued member of our team.' [/INST] Jane Revell, 53, found in the back garden of her home in Stafford .
She was 'upset and worried' about a forthcoming disciplinary hearing .
Allegation was 'of a minor nature' and would not have led to dismissal .
Coroner records mother-of-two committed suicide 'while stressed'
For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or click here for details . </s> |
This is the shocking moment a woman was filmed hurling 'racist' abuse at two men on the London Underground and saying 'you can only speak in English while you're on my train'. Passengers said the woman took offence after hearing the men speaking in an Eastern European language and accused them of only using English to 'get something' in an expletive-laden tirade. She was filmed last night saying: 'You know English when you want a job. You know English when you want a flat. You know English when you want f***ing anything. 'But when you want to try and talk about us on the train you talk in your own lingo.' Scroll down for video . A woman was filmed hurling 'racist' abuse at two men on the London Underground and saying 'you can only speak in English while you're on my train' Jay, 24, who works in banking, captured the 'racist tirade' at around 11pm yesterday on the District Line between Mile End and Plaistow on his way home from the England match at Wembley. He said: 'It was a total shock to witness this racist abuse. You really don't expect to see it in this day and age. 'The woman overhead them speaking in another language and then started aggressively ranting at them. Everyone in the carriage was absolutely shocked.' Wearing a black leather jacket and dark trousers, the blonde woman first confronted the two men saying: 'Don't f***ing sit on my train and speak about me behind my back in your lingo. 'Do it to my face. I really ain't f***ing shy. I don’t know what you’re talking about because you’re doing in behind my back. Passengers said the woman took offence after hearing the men speaking in an Eastern European language . Onlookers were heard calling the woman a 'bigot' and saying 'you are disgusting' during the heated exchange . 'You want to a job, you want to live in our houses do it, but speak in English while you’re on the train. Nah you don’t have the b******s.' One of the men responded saying: 'You don’t even know what I was talking about.' 'If you want to argue with someone you have to listen to what they’re saying. Not everyone in here is speaking English.' Both men then got off the Tube and the woman said: 'Go away, goodbye. Go and sponge some more off the social.' Onlookers were heard calling the woman a 'bigot' and saying 'you are disgusting' during the heated exchange. One commuter intervened in the confrontation and was seen shouting at the woman before getting off the carriage. The British Transport Police has been notified about the incident. | Woman filmed shouting at men after hearing them speak foreign language .
She accused two men of only using English to 'get something' in tirade .
Jay, 24, filmed 'racist' abuse on London Underground at 11pm yesterday .
Onlookers accused woman of being a 'bigot' and said she was 'disgusting'
British Transport Police has been notified about incident on District Line . | a9647738dfc9ac6c065d162325020092004acc01 | <s>[INST] This is the shocking moment a woman was filmed hurling 'racist' abuse at two men on the London Underground and saying 'you can only speak in English while you're on my train'. Passengers said the woman took offence after hearing the men speaking in an Eastern European language and accused them of only using English to 'get something' in an expletive-laden tirade. She was filmed last night saying: 'You know English when you want a job. You know English when you want a flat. You know English when you want f***ing anything. 'But when you want to try and talk about us on the train you talk in your own lingo.' Scroll down for video . A woman was filmed hurling 'racist' abuse at two men on the London Underground and saying 'you can only speak in English while you're on my train' Jay, 24, who works in banking, captured the 'racist tirade' at around 11pm yesterday on the District Line between Mile End and Plaistow on his way home from the England match at Wembley. He said: 'It was a total shock to witness this racist abuse. You really don't expect to see it in this day and age. 'The woman overhead them speaking in another language and then started aggressively ranting at them. Everyone in the carriage was absolutely shocked.' Wearing a black leather jacket and dark trousers, the blonde woman first confronted the two men saying: 'Don't f***ing sit on my train and speak about me behind my back in your lingo. 'Do it to my face. I really ain't f***ing shy. I don’t know what you’re talking about because you’re doing in behind my back. Passengers said the woman took offence after hearing the men speaking in an Eastern European language . Onlookers were heard calling the woman a 'bigot' and saying 'you are disgusting' during the heated exchange . 'You want to a job, you want to live in our houses do it, but speak in English while you’re on the train. Nah you don’t have the b******s.' One of the men responded saying: 'You don’t even know what I was talking about.' 'If you want to argue with someone you have to listen to what they’re saying. Not everyone in here is speaking English.' Both men then got off the Tube and the woman said: 'Go away, goodbye. Go and sponge some more off the social.' Onlookers were heard calling the woman a 'bigot' and saying 'you are disgusting' during the heated exchange. One commuter intervened in the confrontation and was seen shouting at the woman before getting off the carriage. The British Transport Police has been notified about the incident. [/INST] Woman filmed shouting at men after hearing them speak foreign language .
She accused two men of only using English to 'get something' in tirade .
Jay, 24, filmed 'racist' abuse on London Underground at 11pm yesterday .
Onlookers accused woman of being a 'bigot' and said she was 'disgusting'
British Transport Police has been notified about incident on District Line . </s> |
Louis van Gaal admitted on Tuesday that it may take big-money summer signing Angel di Maria one year to adapt to life at Manchester United. The former Real Madrid midfielder has suffered a severe slump in form after a bright start to life at Old Trafford and was even hooked at half-time by the United boss against Sunderland last week. Sportsmail's man in Madrid Pete Jenson, who kept a close eye on Di Maria during his four-year spell in the Spanish capital, assures United fans the £60million man will come good. Angel di Maria was substituted against Sunderland after a poor performance in the opening 45 minutes . Louis van Gaal claimed it may take record signing Di Maria a full year to adapt to English football . When it comes to putting his medals on the table Angel di Maria has the silverware to silence the critics. He also has the references to convince Manchester United supporters that his current dip in form will soon pass. Jose Mourinho signed him; Carlo Anclelotti stuck by him; Sir Alex Ferguson handed him his man of the match award after the 2014 Champions League final; and Real Madrid team-mates all knew he would be missed when he left the club last summer. Xabi Alonso tweeted when he was sold: ‘Thanks for everything. I wish you all the best, even if you are going to United. We will never forget the zig-zag in extra-time in Lisbon.’ That message refers to the run and shot that led to Gareth Bale putting Real Madrid ahead against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final. It was the perfect end to his best season at a club where he was also instrumental in winning a Spanish Cup under Ancelotti and the league and another Spanish Cup under Mourinho. Di Maria has had a difficult season after making a fast start to life at Old Trafford following his move . The midfielder had a particularly bad afternoon against Sunderland last week before being hooked . It should be remembered that his glorious last campaign also came with a mid-season glitch. He famously grabbed his crotch in a disrespectful snub to Ancelotti and the booing Bernabeu after being substituted during a game at the start of the year. There was pressure on the coach to put Gareth Bale on the right wing ahead of the Argentine and feeling he was being edged out of the side unfairly in spite of a good start to the season he reacted. Ancelotti did not ostracise him as many demanded, instead he reinvented him. Moving him from the right of Real’s front three to the left of their midfield three, there he became La Liga’s top assist provider. He played 22 passes leading to goals last season including one that helped win the Spanish Cup and one that helped secure the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti stuck with Di Maria during a slump and he eventually helped them win Champions League . Di Maria played a starring role during the Champions League final against Atletico last season . Di Maria celebrated with the European Cup before he moved to Manchester United last summer . It is that willingness and versatility that first attracted Mourinho and he made him one of his first signings at Real Madrid for £20m from Benfica. The signing was not an outright success as Barcelona continued to dominate in Spain. Di Maria played in the first Pep Guardiola v Mourinho clasico in November 2010 and was as culpable as any of his team-mates as Madrid went down 5-0 in one of the worst humiliations of the Portuguese manager's career. But Di Maria never stopped going in that first season and the following March at Mestalla in the Spanish Cup final, also against Barcelona, it was a lung-busting run from Di Maria in minute 103 and a cross to the back post headed in by Cristiano Ronaldo that gave Mourinho his first trophy in Spain. The following year Di Maria helped his boss win the league. Di Maria made an exciting start to his career at Old Trafford, pictured here celebrating a goal against QPR . The midfiedler also scored against Everton and all three of his league goals were scored by early October . Mourinho’s judgement is rarely off and the same can be said for Ancelotti's. He knew not to discard Di Maria just because Bale had arrived, channelling his qualities for the good of the team. Real are missing him now. Last season Luka Modric and Di Maria protected Real full backs Marcelo and Dani Carvajal leaving Bale and Ronaldo to concentrate on the business of terrorising opposition defences. This year with the Argentine sold and Modric injured they are, by their own standards, struggling with Ronaldo and particularly Bale, criticised for not working back in defence. A first-season dip after a brilliant start is also nothing new for a player in his first season in the Premier League. Mesut Ozil suffered the same at Arsenal after his high-profile move from Real Madrid and Di Maria has more excuses than most to have dropped his performances levels. Di Maria played a key role for Argentina as they reached the final of the World Cup in Brazil last summer . The former Real midfielder starred for Argentina in a 4-2 win against Germany in September . He played 52 of Real Madrid’s 60 games last season and then played a big part in Argentina’s World Cup campaign. He might have foreseen a more relaxing season this time but he had to move his family to Manchester from Madrid in the summer and has the added stress of a further temporary move into a hotel after the recent attempted burglary at his Cheshire home. That and Van Gaal’s failure to find the magic formula on the pitch and his preference for a more patient passing game has not helped the 27-year-old’s cause. His anarchic road-runner raids forward are a poor fit for the tactical straight-jacket Van Gaal occasionally imposes on his players. Being hooked at half-time against Sunderland does not look good on Di Maria’s resume but alongside his Olympic Gold medal (scoring the winner in the final) his Champions League medal and the glowing references from Mourinho and Ancelotti, there is more than enough to remind everyone that while his current form is off, his class will eventually shine through. | Angel di Maria joined Manchester United from Real Madrid for £60m .
Di Maria had a wonderful start to Old Trafford career following switch .
Argentina international has struggled for form in recent months .
Midfielder was substituted at half-time against Sunderland last weekend .
Louis van Gaal said it will take Di Maria a year to adapt to Premier League .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news . | 74614065fef72ba2bfd6b389439f3a07edea5ef2 | <s>[INST] Louis van Gaal admitted on Tuesday that it may take big-money summer signing Angel di Maria one year to adapt to life at Manchester United. The former Real Madrid midfielder has suffered a severe slump in form after a bright start to life at Old Trafford and was even hooked at half-time by the United boss against Sunderland last week. Sportsmail's man in Madrid Pete Jenson, who kept a close eye on Di Maria during his four-year spell in the Spanish capital, assures United fans the £60million man will come good. Angel di Maria was substituted against Sunderland after a poor performance in the opening 45 minutes . Louis van Gaal claimed it may take record signing Di Maria a full year to adapt to English football . When it comes to putting his medals on the table Angel di Maria has the silverware to silence the critics. He also has the references to convince Manchester United supporters that his current dip in form will soon pass. Jose Mourinho signed him; Carlo Anclelotti stuck by him; Sir Alex Ferguson handed him his man of the match award after the 2014 Champions League final; and Real Madrid team-mates all knew he would be missed when he left the club last summer. Xabi Alonso tweeted when he was sold: ‘Thanks for everything. I wish you all the best, even if you are going to United. We will never forget the zig-zag in extra-time in Lisbon.’ That message refers to the run and shot that led to Gareth Bale putting Real Madrid ahead against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final. It was the perfect end to his best season at a club where he was also instrumental in winning a Spanish Cup under Ancelotti and the league and another Spanish Cup under Mourinho. Di Maria has had a difficult season after making a fast start to life at Old Trafford following his move . The midfielder had a particularly bad afternoon against Sunderland last week before being hooked . It should be remembered that his glorious last campaign also came with a mid-season glitch. He famously grabbed his crotch in a disrespectful snub to Ancelotti and the booing Bernabeu after being substituted during a game at the start of the year. There was pressure on the coach to put Gareth Bale on the right wing ahead of the Argentine and feeling he was being edged out of the side unfairly in spite of a good start to the season he reacted. Ancelotti did not ostracise him as many demanded, instead he reinvented him. Moving him from the right of Real’s front three to the left of their midfield three, there he became La Liga’s top assist provider. He played 22 passes leading to goals last season including one that helped win the Spanish Cup and one that helped secure the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti stuck with Di Maria during a slump and he eventually helped them win Champions League . Di Maria played a starring role during the Champions League final against Atletico last season . Di Maria celebrated with the European Cup before he moved to Manchester United last summer . It is that willingness and versatility that first attracted Mourinho and he made him one of his first signings at Real Madrid for £20m from Benfica. The signing was not an outright success as Barcelona continued to dominate in Spain. Di Maria played in the first Pep Guardiola v Mourinho clasico in November 2010 and was as culpable as any of his team-mates as Madrid went down 5-0 in one of the worst humiliations of the Portuguese manager's career. But Di Maria never stopped going in that first season and the following March at Mestalla in the Spanish Cup final, also against Barcelona, it was a lung-busting run from Di Maria in minute 103 and a cross to the back post headed in by Cristiano Ronaldo that gave Mourinho his first trophy in Spain. The following year Di Maria helped his boss win the league. Di Maria made an exciting start to his career at Old Trafford, pictured here celebrating a goal against QPR . The midfiedler also scored against Everton and all three of his league goals were scored by early October . Mourinho’s judgement is rarely off and the same can be said for Ancelotti's. He knew not to discard Di Maria just because Bale had arrived, channelling his qualities for the good of the team. Real are missing him now. Last season Luka Modric and Di Maria protected Real full backs Marcelo and Dani Carvajal leaving Bale and Ronaldo to concentrate on the business of terrorising opposition defences. This year with the Argentine sold and Modric injured they are, by their own standards, struggling with Ronaldo and particularly Bale, criticised for not working back in defence. A first-season dip after a brilliant start is also nothing new for a player in his first season in the Premier League. Mesut Ozil suffered the same at Arsenal after his high-profile move from Real Madrid and Di Maria has more excuses than most to have dropped his performances levels. Di Maria played a key role for Argentina as they reached the final of the World Cup in Brazil last summer . The former Real midfielder starred for Argentina in a 4-2 win against Germany in September . He played 52 of Real Madrid’s 60 games last season and then played a big part in Argentina’s World Cup campaign. He might have foreseen a more relaxing season this time but he had to move his family to Manchester from Madrid in the summer and has the added stress of a further temporary move into a hotel after the recent attempted burglary at his Cheshire home. That and Van Gaal’s failure to find the magic formula on the pitch and his preference for a more patient passing game has not helped the 27-year-old’s cause. His anarchic road-runner raids forward are a poor fit for the tactical straight-jacket Van Gaal occasionally imposes on his players. Being hooked at half-time against Sunderland does not look good on Di Maria’s resume but alongside his Olympic Gold medal (scoring the winner in the final) his Champions League medal and the glowing references from Mourinho and Ancelotti, there is more than enough to remind everyone that while his current form is off, his class will eventually shine through. [/INST] Angel di Maria joined Manchester United from Real Madrid for £60m .
Di Maria had a wonderful start to Old Trafford career following switch .
Argentina international has struggled for form in recent months .
Midfielder was substituted at half-time against Sunderland last weekend .
Louis van Gaal said it will take Di Maria a year to adapt to Premier League .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news . </s> |
Scientists believe they may have uncovered evidence of a two-million-year-old playground in China. Researchers found more than 700 stone artefacts in an area of less than six square metres in the Nihewan Basin, Hebei province. Experts working at the Heitugou site have suggested the items were toys made by early hominids between 1.77million and 1.95million years ago. Discovery: Scientists believe they may have uncovered evidence of a two-million-year-old playground in China (file picture) The leader of the project, paleoanthropologist Wei Qi, has described the discovery as ‘amazing’. The South China Morning Post quotes the Chinese Academy of Sciences expert as saying: ‘The site is a treasure chamber that may hold some useful clues to answer a lot of important questions, from the social structure of the early hominids to whether, when and how they arrived in Asia all the way from Africa.’ Close to 20,000 fragmented pieces but larger items – the majority between 20 and 50mm long - are believed to have been made by women and children. Wei said one ‘finely made and beautifully shaped’ item was possibly a gift made by a mother for her child adding that ‘you can almost feel the maker’s love and passion’. Researchers said the lack of evidence of animal remains and large stone tools added weight to the argument that the area was used by children rather than adults. Scientists dated the site, discovered in 2002, using a special geochronological tool. Researchers found more than 700 stone artefacts in an area of less than six square metres in the Nihewan Basin (pictured), Hebei province . The items have been excavated and documented with the findings due to be published in an archaeological journal in China. Nihewan Basin used to be a huge lake and it is thought the items were buried in a sudden landslide. However, a debate has surfaced over the findings and researcher Gao Xing of the CAS Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology said it was important to determine whether the artefacts were all hand made. The South China Morning Post report him as saying: ‘It is difficult to rule out the possibility that they were just stone fragments created by natural forces. ‘To determine whether they were hand-made artefacts may go beyond the limit of science today.’ | More than 700 items found at the Nihewan Basin in China's Hebei province .
Experts say they could be toys made by early hominids on banks of a lake .
Leader of the project has described the discovery of the items as 'amazing'
It is thought the artefacts were covered over during a devastating landslide . | 28ebc63df306ac642079079916057c386fa602db | <s>[INST] Scientists believe they may have uncovered evidence of a two-million-year-old playground in China. Researchers found more than 700 stone artefacts in an area of less than six square metres in the Nihewan Basin, Hebei province. Experts working at the Heitugou site have suggested the items were toys made by early hominids between 1.77million and 1.95million years ago. Discovery: Scientists believe they may have uncovered evidence of a two-million-year-old playground in China (file picture) The leader of the project, paleoanthropologist Wei Qi, has described the discovery as ‘amazing’. The South China Morning Post quotes the Chinese Academy of Sciences expert as saying: ‘The site is a treasure chamber that may hold some useful clues to answer a lot of important questions, from the social structure of the early hominids to whether, when and how they arrived in Asia all the way from Africa.’ Close to 20,000 fragmented pieces but larger items – the majority between 20 and 50mm long - are believed to have been made by women and children. Wei said one ‘finely made and beautifully shaped’ item was possibly a gift made by a mother for her child adding that ‘you can almost feel the maker’s love and passion’. Researchers said the lack of evidence of animal remains and large stone tools added weight to the argument that the area was used by children rather than adults. Scientists dated the site, discovered in 2002, using a special geochronological tool. Researchers found more than 700 stone artefacts in an area of less than six square metres in the Nihewan Basin (pictured), Hebei province . The items have been excavated and documented with the findings due to be published in an archaeological journal in China. Nihewan Basin used to be a huge lake and it is thought the items were buried in a sudden landslide. However, a debate has surfaced over the findings and researcher Gao Xing of the CAS Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology said it was important to determine whether the artefacts were all hand made. The South China Morning Post report him as saying: ‘It is difficult to rule out the possibility that they were just stone fragments created by natural forces. ‘To determine whether they were hand-made artefacts may go beyond the limit of science today.’ [/INST] More than 700 items found at the Nihewan Basin in China's Hebei province .
Experts say they could be toys made by early hominids on banks of a lake .
Leader of the project has described the discovery of the items as 'amazing'
It is thought the artefacts were covered over during a devastating landslide . </s> |
Andy Sullivan's bid to qualify for his first major championship ended in emphatic fashion on the second day of the Hassan Trophy at Golf du Palais Royal on Friday. Sullivan needed to win his third European Tour title of the season or finish alone in second to climb into the world's top 50 before Monday's deadline to secure a place in the Masters in a fortnight's time. However, the 28-year-old from Nuneaton could only add a 75 to his opening 74 in Agadir, with his hopes extinguished courtesy of a quintuple-bogey nine on the par-four fourth, his 13th hole of the day. Englishman Andy Sullivan, pictured in action in Agadir, has failed in his bid to qualify for the Masters . 'There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders to perform,' Sullivan told Sky Sports 4. 'I tried to take it off as much as possible but came into it with not really enough preparation. 'I hit a lot of good shots but the bad ones really hurt me. That's golf and I am lucky to just have the opportunity to get into the Masters to be honest. If someone had said that at the start of the year I would have said 'no chance'. 'To have the opportunity to do it was amazing but it's golf, it comes back and bites you a lot of the time. I need to go away and work harder and bounce back from this, but I am not going to be too downhearted. I look back on the golf I have played this year and I have played well.' France's Alexander Levy, who needed to finish joint second or better to make the trip to Augusta, also looked to have missed out after a 75 left him three over par, two shots outside the projected cut. But England's Tommy Fleetwood had kept his hopes of claiming the required win alive with a 71 to finish three under, three behind the clubhouse target set by Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello following a second consecutive 69. France's Alexander Levy looks to have also missed out on Augusta after a second-round 75 . Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello hits his tee shot on the 10th, his first hole, during the second round on Friday . | Andy Sullivan failed to qualify for his first major championship .
Sullivan could only card a second-round 75 at the Hassan Trophy .
The 28-year-old had a quintuple-bogey nine on the par-four fourth hole . | c9697530b90b12225c2bf61b81df444650072bd1 | <s>[INST] Andy Sullivan's bid to qualify for his first major championship ended in emphatic fashion on the second day of the Hassan Trophy at Golf du Palais Royal on Friday. Sullivan needed to win his third European Tour title of the season or finish alone in second to climb into the world's top 50 before Monday's deadline to secure a place in the Masters in a fortnight's time. However, the 28-year-old from Nuneaton could only add a 75 to his opening 74 in Agadir, with his hopes extinguished courtesy of a quintuple-bogey nine on the par-four fourth, his 13th hole of the day. Englishman Andy Sullivan, pictured in action in Agadir, has failed in his bid to qualify for the Masters . 'There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders to perform,' Sullivan told Sky Sports 4. 'I tried to take it off as much as possible but came into it with not really enough preparation. 'I hit a lot of good shots but the bad ones really hurt me. That's golf and I am lucky to just have the opportunity to get into the Masters to be honest. If someone had said that at the start of the year I would have said 'no chance'. 'To have the opportunity to do it was amazing but it's golf, it comes back and bites you a lot of the time. I need to go away and work harder and bounce back from this, but I am not going to be too downhearted. I look back on the golf I have played this year and I have played well.' France's Alexander Levy, who needed to finish joint second or better to make the trip to Augusta, also looked to have missed out after a 75 left him three over par, two shots outside the projected cut. But England's Tommy Fleetwood had kept his hopes of claiming the required win alive with a 71 to finish three under, three behind the clubhouse target set by Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello following a second consecutive 69. France's Alexander Levy looks to have also missed out on Augusta after a second-round 75 . Spain's Rafael Cabrera-Bello hits his tee shot on the 10th, his first hole, during the second round on Friday . [/INST] Andy Sullivan failed to qualify for his first major championship .
Sullivan could only card a second-round 75 at the Hassan Trophy .
The 28-year-old had a quintuple-bogey nine on the par-four fourth hole . </s> |
Harry Kane will this week be named in the England senior squad by Roy Hodgson with Tottenham team-mate Ryan Mason also poised for a call — but Charlie Austin may have to wait his turn given the amount of attacking talent at the England boss’s disposal. Kane is leading the charge of new young strikers and the Spurs player has been assured of a promotion from the Under-21s this week. However, that does not mean England don’t want him to play in the European Under-21 Championships in June, which they have a strong chance of winning. Harry Kane, pictured, will hope to be involved in Roy Hodgson's England squad when it is announced this week . Kane will come into the senior squad for this month’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania and the friendly against Italy so Hodgson can view him at close hand. But he will be available for Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate in the summer, rather than the senior squad, who have a friendly against Republic of Ireland and a Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia in June. Tottenham team-mate Mason may also be considered for his first call-up with Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unavailable. Michael Carrick is back but has had limited game time at Manchester United. Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason may also be considered for first call-up by Roy Hodgson . QPR striker Charlie Austin scores against Arsenal at Loftus Road earlier in March in the Premier League . Hodgson is expected to be at Old Trafford for United’s clash with Tottenham on Sunday. Austin is likely to miss the cut, even though Hodgson is impressed by the striker’s rise at QPR. The England manager, who will be at Old Trafford to watch United take on Spurs, has a surplus of talent to choose from up front, with Daniel Sturridge back from injury and Raheem Sterling playing centrally for Liverpool at times. Wayne Rooney will captain the team and Danny Welbeck is also available. Rickie Lambert is likely to miss out, while Berahino and Ings are set to be in the U21 squad. | Harry Kane has been assured of a promotion from the Under-21s this week .
Tottenham team-mate Ryan Mason may also be considered for first call-up .
Charlie Austin is likely to miss the cut despite impressing Roy Hodgson . | 8a06017adb564427cefce8984f3c548a5c8fe5a7 | <s>[INST] Harry Kane will this week be named in the England senior squad by Roy Hodgson with Tottenham team-mate Ryan Mason also poised for a call — but Charlie Austin may have to wait his turn given the amount of attacking talent at the England boss’s disposal. Kane is leading the charge of new young strikers and the Spurs player has been assured of a promotion from the Under-21s this week. However, that does not mean England don’t want him to play in the European Under-21 Championships in June, which they have a strong chance of winning. Harry Kane, pictured, will hope to be involved in Roy Hodgson's England squad when it is announced this week . Kane will come into the senior squad for this month’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Lithuania and the friendly against Italy so Hodgson can view him at close hand. But he will be available for Under-21 boss Gareth Southgate in the summer, rather than the senior squad, who have a friendly against Republic of Ireland and a Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia in June. Tottenham team-mate Mason may also be considered for his first call-up with Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unavailable. Michael Carrick is back but has had limited game time at Manchester United. Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason may also be considered for first call-up by Roy Hodgson . QPR striker Charlie Austin scores against Arsenal at Loftus Road earlier in March in the Premier League . Hodgson is expected to be at Old Trafford for United’s clash with Tottenham on Sunday. Austin is likely to miss the cut, even though Hodgson is impressed by the striker’s rise at QPR. The England manager, who will be at Old Trafford to watch United take on Spurs, has a surplus of talent to choose from up front, with Daniel Sturridge back from injury and Raheem Sterling playing centrally for Liverpool at times. Wayne Rooney will captain the team and Danny Welbeck is also available. Rickie Lambert is likely to miss out, while Berahino and Ings are set to be in the U21 squad. [/INST] Harry Kane has been assured of a promotion from the Under-21s this week .
Tottenham team-mate Ryan Mason may also be considered for first call-up .
Charlie Austin is likely to miss the cut despite impressing Roy Hodgson . </s> |
With her glossy raven hair, olive skin and curvy figure, you'd be forgiven for mistaking Nadia Aboulhosn for Kim Kardashian. But it's not just her striking resemblance to the reality TV star that's making her a household name. Nadia has hundreds of thousands of followers, a modelling contract and counts Lena Dunham as her biggest fan. So who is the Kim-a-like and how has she become one of the industry's most sought-after plus-size models? Scroll down for video . Nadia Aboulhosn is a plus-size model with a huge social media following and now BohooPLUS has snapped her up to design a clothing range for curvy girls . Boohoo Plus skirt and top . Shop the current collection here . Visit site . Nadia Aboulhosn has become one of the industry's most sought-after plus-size models so it's not surprising Boohoo have snapped her up as the face of their latest campaign. The brunette beauty is totally owning it as she models their latest range, this lilac look in particular is a real favorite of ours. We love the asymmetric cut-out top teamed with the sleek pencil skirt. The suede pumps finish off the streamlined look perfectly. Although you can't buy the new line just yet, click right to Boohoo now to check out their current super stylish plus size offerings. With the arrival of the spring season we're all about giving our capsule closets a little freshen up, and a pastel skirt like Nadia's is one of the easiest ways to do that. Shop our similar looks below before teaming with a chic white shirt for a crisp look that reads confident. Calvin Klein Plus skirt at Macy's . Visit site . Alex Evenings chiffon skirt at Nordstrom . Visit site . Simply Be patent pencil skirt (now $21.95) Visit site . Kohl's Vicky skirt (now $34.99) Visit site . Nadia, 26, was born to a Lebanese father and American mother and fled her family home in Florida when she was 22 to relocate to New York. As well as working in a mundane office job, the size 16 star started a fashion blog and quickly garnered thousands of followers. She now works full-time as a blogger and earns money from advertising and campaigns. She has adorned the glossy pages of Italian Vogue, Lucky magazine and worked for American Apparel. And now, in perhaps her most exciting coup to date, she's been snapped up by boohooPLUS to design a plus-size range for the e-tailer. Nadia, 26, was born to a Lebanese father and American mother and started a fashion blog in 2010, which quickly garnered thousands of followers . The brand first meet Nadia during a trip to New York and have worked together ever since, but it was during a recent photo shoot when the idea of creating a co-branded collection was hatched. The 20-piece trend led capsule wardrobe was created by Nadia and boohoo’s design team at the brand's HQ in Manchester - and now they've given FEMAIL a sneak peek. Speaking about the range, which lands on March 23, Nadia said: 'It has been such an amazing experience working with boohoo, they encourage me to be as creative as possible and I really appreciate that. 'The collection is inspired by my personal style; minimal androgynous with a touch of glamour, it’s all about body confidence and feeling strong in what you wear.' Championing on-trend fashion for all sizes, the Nadia Aboulhosn for boohoo capsule collection is set on a monochrome colour palette with pops of powder blue and cobalt with key pieces such as the blazer dress, the logo jumpsuit and the cut out asymmetrical two-piece. The collection aims to embrace and celebrate women with body confidence. The 20-piece capsule wardrobe was created by Nadia and boohoo's design team - and they've given FEMAIL a sneak peek of the flattering designs . A spokesperson for the e-tailer said: 'We are constantly striving to deliver the latest trends and key price points to our customers, so after the successful launch of boohooPLUS last year, a collaboration was a natural development. 'This is the ultimate body confidence collection, combining new shapes with cut out detailing to create an iconic range designed and modelled by ambassador, Nadia Aboulhosn.' Nadia proves that fashion choices shouldn't be limited by size and her street style outfits are testament to that. She can been seen rocking bralette tops with high-waisted skirts, sheer skirts, plunging V-necks, and super skinny jeans on her website. With her glossy raven hair and contoured skin, you'd be forgiven for mistaking Nadia for Kim Kardashian . Lookalike? Nadia bares a striking resemblance to Kim Kardashian, right . Part of her appeal is that she doesn't take herself too seriously - and she's keen to show the real her on social media. Her Instagram snaps include her wearing a nose strip and bleaching her facial hair, with the caption: “Face hair bleach and blackhead session, followed by shaving 95 per cent of my overly hairy half-Arab body.' Another shows her imitating Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda lap dance on her cat, and others show her devouring fast food. Speaking to The Telegraph, she explained: 'I take pictures of me going to McDonalds. I make it a point to show I’m still eating oodles of noodles. I think that’s why people can relate to me.' Nadia at the 3rd Annual BeautyCon Summit presented by ELLE Magazine in May 2014 . Fashion blogger Nadia Aboulhosn and Jay Manuel pose for a photo during Fashion Guru Jay Manuel Hosts Lane Bryant's Fashion Night Out in 2012 . | Nadia, 26, runs a fashion blog and has adorned pages of Italian Vogue .
Size 16 model is designing range for boohooPLUS .
Has thousands of followers who love her candid social media snaps . | f6ba7db722e0b5377e8c8c1c63a9ea4bfde2381e | <s>[INST] With her glossy raven hair, olive skin and curvy figure, you'd be forgiven for mistaking Nadia Aboulhosn for Kim Kardashian. But it's not just her striking resemblance to the reality TV star that's making her a household name. Nadia has hundreds of thousands of followers, a modelling contract and counts Lena Dunham as her biggest fan. So who is the Kim-a-like and how has she become one of the industry's most sought-after plus-size models? Scroll down for video . Nadia Aboulhosn is a plus-size model with a huge social media following and now BohooPLUS has snapped her up to design a clothing range for curvy girls . Boohoo Plus skirt and top . Shop the current collection here . Visit site . Nadia Aboulhosn has become one of the industry's most sought-after plus-size models so it's not surprising Boohoo have snapped her up as the face of their latest campaign. The brunette beauty is totally owning it as she models their latest range, this lilac look in particular is a real favorite of ours. We love the asymmetric cut-out top teamed with the sleek pencil skirt. The suede pumps finish off the streamlined look perfectly. Although you can't buy the new line just yet, click right to Boohoo now to check out their current super stylish plus size offerings. With the arrival of the spring season we're all about giving our capsule closets a little freshen up, and a pastel skirt like Nadia's is one of the easiest ways to do that. Shop our similar looks below before teaming with a chic white shirt for a crisp look that reads confident. Calvin Klein Plus skirt at Macy's . Visit site . Alex Evenings chiffon skirt at Nordstrom . Visit site . Simply Be patent pencil skirt (now $21.95) Visit site . Kohl's Vicky skirt (now $34.99) Visit site . Nadia, 26, was born to a Lebanese father and American mother and fled her family home in Florida when she was 22 to relocate to New York. As well as working in a mundane office job, the size 16 star started a fashion blog and quickly garnered thousands of followers. She now works full-time as a blogger and earns money from advertising and campaigns. She has adorned the glossy pages of Italian Vogue, Lucky magazine and worked for American Apparel. And now, in perhaps her most exciting coup to date, she's been snapped up by boohooPLUS to design a plus-size range for the e-tailer. Nadia, 26, was born to a Lebanese father and American mother and started a fashion blog in 2010, which quickly garnered thousands of followers . The brand first meet Nadia during a trip to New York and have worked together ever since, but it was during a recent photo shoot when the idea of creating a co-branded collection was hatched. The 20-piece trend led capsule wardrobe was created by Nadia and boohoo’s design team at the brand's HQ in Manchester - and now they've given FEMAIL a sneak peek. Speaking about the range, which lands on March 23, Nadia said: 'It has been such an amazing experience working with boohoo, they encourage me to be as creative as possible and I really appreciate that. 'The collection is inspired by my personal style; minimal androgynous with a touch of glamour, it’s all about body confidence and feeling strong in what you wear.' Championing on-trend fashion for all sizes, the Nadia Aboulhosn for boohoo capsule collection is set on a monochrome colour palette with pops of powder blue and cobalt with key pieces such as the blazer dress, the logo jumpsuit and the cut out asymmetrical two-piece. The collection aims to embrace and celebrate women with body confidence. The 20-piece capsule wardrobe was created by Nadia and boohoo's design team - and they've given FEMAIL a sneak peek of the flattering designs . A spokesperson for the e-tailer said: 'We are constantly striving to deliver the latest trends and key price points to our customers, so after the successful launch of boohooPLUS last year, a collaboration was a natural development. 'This is the ultimate body confidence collection, combining new shapes with cut out detailing to create an iconic range designed and modelled by ambassador, Nadia Aboulhosn.' Nadia proves that fashion choices shouldn't be limited by size and her street style outfits are testament to that. She can been seen rocking bralette tops with high-waisted skirts, sheer skirts, plunging V-necks, and super skinny jeans on her website. With her glossy raven hair and contoured skin, you'd be forgiven for mistaking Nadia for Kim Kardashian . Lookalike? Nadia bares a striking resemblance to Kim Kardashian, right . Part of her appeal is that she doesn't take herself too seriously - and she's keen to show the real her on social media. Her Instagram snaps include her wearing a nose strip and bleaching her facial hair, with the caption: “Face hair bleach and blackhead session, followed by shaving 95 per cent of my overly hairy half-Arab body.' Another shows her imitating Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda lap dance on her cat, and others show her devouring fast food. Speaking to The Telegraph, she explained: 'I take pictures of me going to McDonalds. I make it a point to show I’m still eating oodles of noodles. I think that’s why people can relate to me.' Nadia at the 3rd Annual BeautyCon Summit presented by ELLE Magazine in May 2014 . Fashion blogger Nadia Aboulhosn and Jay Manuel pose for a photo during Fashion Guru Jay Manuel Hosts Lane Bryant's Fashion Night Out in 2012 . [/INST] Nadia, 26, runs a fashion blog and has adorned pages of Italian Vogue .
Size 16 model is designing range for boohooPLUS .
Has thousands of followers who love her candid social media snaps . </s> |
A police officer told the Hillsborough inquest if a big gate had not been opened to relieve the crush at the turnstiles, ‘we would have been dealing with bodies outside the ground’. John Morgan, a South Yorkshire Police sergeant on duty on the day of the football disaster, also said he would have opened the gates himself if more senior officers had not given the order. Some 96 Liverpool fans died after a crush on the Leppings Lane terrace of Sheffield’s Hillsborough ground as the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest kicked off on April 15, 1989. Scroll down for video . Evidence: John Morgan (pictured today in a court sketch), a police sergeant on duty on the day of the football disaster, also said he would have opened the gates himself if more senior officers had not given the order . Around 2,000 fans entered the ground when match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield ordered Gate C at the Leppings Lane end to be opened at 2.52pm. But many fans headed straight for the tunnel under the seated upper stand and leading directly to the already-packed central pens of the terrace behind the goal. The tunnel was not closed off by police beforehand and the numbers of fans in each pen was not restricted - with police and club officials having a policy of allowing supporters to ‘find their own level’ by distributing themselves along the terraces. In the run-up to kick-off Mr Morgan was in charge of a serial of officers inside the ground at the Leppings Lane end when a massive crowd built up at the turnstiles with those at the front being crushed and ‘screaming for help’. He said: ‘I just could not understand what I was seeing because it was unprecedented. What I would say, I froze, in fact I was gobsmacked. It was an alarming situation. ‘One guy I remember getting hold of my anorak and saying, “Do something, people are getting crushed, open the gates”.’ Shocking incident: Some 96 Liverpool fans died after a crush on the Leppings Lane terrace of Sheffield’s Hillsborough ground as the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest kicked off on April 15, 1989 . Mr Morgan went outside and with other officers managed to pull some fans out of the crush amidst an ‘aura of menace’ and ‘alarm’ due to the numbers and the crushing. ‘I thought people were going to die. There was imminent danger,’ he added. Mr Morgan said he had ‘formed an intention’ to open the gates to relieve the pressure but would have first had to get permission from more senior officers first. Later he made a statement, saying if Gate C had not been opened, ‘we would have been dealing with bodies outside the ground’. He said he ‘assumed’ there would be a controlled opening of the gates to allow fans to filter into the ground, but was left surprised when Gate C was ‘flung open wide’ at 2.52pm. A police officer stands outside Hillsborough as jurors on the inquest into the fans' deaths visit the stadium . The former officer told the jury: ‘At that stage, that took me by complete surprise and I’m forced through the gates and I turn around in mid-stream and try to force my way back outside. 'I thought I was going to be trampled under the press behind me.’ Christina Lambert QC, counsel for the inquest, asked Mr Morgan if he had himself instructed stewards to open the gates - a suggestion dismissed by the witness. Ms Lambert continued: ‘Why are you confident you did not give the instruction?’ Mr Morgan replied: ‘Because I can’t remember it. It’s not within my memory, that I knocked on that door and spoke to anybody. I just did not do it. I don’t think I had the rank to be able to issue that order.’ Liverpool football fans pay their respects to the dead at Anfield Stadium two days after the disaster in 1989 . He said there was ‘every possibility’ Gate C was opened at 2.52pm on the orders of Mr Duckenfield. After the gate was opened Mr Morgan went to help other fans outside then he heard a call on his police radio calling for help with a pitch invasion. But he was left ‘shocked’ when he got to the scene with fellow officers, ‘standing in disbelief’, in front of the Leppings Lane pens with fans crushed against the perimeter fence. Mr Morgan then went to the back of the stand through the tunnel to get fans off the terrace to relieve pressure at the front. Ex-chief superintendent Mr Duckenfield will give evidence to the inquests, in Warrington, tomorrow. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | South Yorkshire Police sergeant John Morgan gives evidence at inquest .
He 'would have opened gates if more senior officers had not given order'
96 Liverpool fans died after shocking crush at Hillsborough in April 1989 .
2,000 entered ground when match commander ordered gate to be opened .
But many headed straight for tunnel towards already-packed lower terrace . | 0efc2e20ca4603e7881f2d9f6799af5b99de0ba7 | <s>[INST] A police officer told the Hillsborough inquest if a big gate had not been opened to relieve the crush at the turnstiles, ‘we would have been dealing with bodies outside the ground’. John Morgan, a South Yorkshire Police sergeant on duty on the day of the football disaster, also said he would have opened the gates himself if more senior officers had not given the order. Some 96 Liverpool fans died after a crush on the Leppings Lane terrace of Sheffield’s Hillsborough ground as the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest kicked off on April 15, 1989. Scroll down for video . Evidence: John Morgan (pictured today in a court sketch), a police sergeant on duty on the day of the football disaster, also said he would have opened the gates himself if more senior officers had not given the order . Around 2,000 fans entered the ground when match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield ordered Gate C at the Leppings Lane end to be opened at 2.52pm. But many fans headed straight for the tunnel under the seated upper stand and leading directly to the already-packed central pens of the terrace behind the goal. The tunnel was not closed off by police beforehand and the numbers of fans in each pen was not restricted - with police and club officials having a policy of allowing supporters to ‘find their own level’ by distributing themselves along the terraces. In the run-up to kick-off Mr Morgan was in charge of a serial of officers inside the ground at the Leppings Lane end when a massive crowd built up at the turnstiles with those at the front being crushed and ‘screaming for help’. He said: ‘I just could not understand what I was seeing because it was unprecedented. What I would say, I froze, in fact I was gobsmacked. It was an alarming situation. ‘One guy I remember getting hold of my anorak and saying, “Do something, people are getting crushed, open the gates”.’ Shocking incident: Some 96 Liverpool fans died after a crush on the Leppings Lane terrace of Sheffield’s Hillsborough ground as the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest kicked off on April 15, 1989 . Mr Morgan went outside and with other officers managed to pull some fans out of the crush amidst an ‘aura of menace’ and ‘alarm’ due to the numbers and the crushing. ‘I thought people were going to die. There was imminent danger,’ he added. Mr Morgan said he had ‘formed an intention’ to open the gates to relieve the pressure but would have first had to get permission from more senior officers first. Later he made a statement, saying if Gate C had not been opened, ‘we would have been dealing with bodies outside the ground’. He said he ‘assumed’ there would be a controlled opening of the gates to allow fans to filter into the ground, but was left surprised when Gate C was ‘flung open wide’ at 2.52pm. A police officer stands outside Hillsborough as jurors on the inquest into the fans' deaths visit the stadium . The former officer told the jury: ‘At that stage, that took me by complete surprise and I’m forced through the gates and I turn around in mid-stream and try to force my way back outside. 'I thought I was going to be trampled under the press behind me.’ Christina Lambert QC, counsel for the inquest, asked Mr Morgan if he had himself instructed stewards to open the gates - a suggestion dismissed by the witness. Ms Lambert continued: ‘Why are you confident you did not give the instruction?’ Mr Morgan replied: ‘Because I can’t remember it. It’s not within my memory, that I knocked on that door and spoke to anybody. I just did not do it. I don’t think I had the rank to be able to issue that order.’ Liverpool football fans pay their respects to the dead at Anfield Stadium two days after the disaster in 1989 . He said there was ‘every possibility’ Gate C was opened at 2.52pm on the orders of Mr Duckenfield. After the gate was opened Mr Morgan went to help other fans outside then he heard a call on his police radio calling for help with a pitch invasion. But he was left ‘shocked’ when he got to the scene with fellow officers, ‘standing in disbelief’, in front of the Leppings Lane pens with fans crushed against the perimeter fence. Mr Morgan then went to the back of the stand through the tunnel to get fans off the terrace to relieve pressure at the front. Ex-chief superintendent Mr Duckenfield will give evidence to the inquests, in Warrington, tomorrow. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. [/INST] South Yorkshire Police sergeant John Morgan gives evidence at inquest .
He 'would have opened gates if more senior officers had not given order'
96 Liverpool fans died after shocking crush at Hillsborough in April 1989 .
2,000 entered ground when match commander ordered gate to be opened .
But many headed straight for tunnel towards already-packed lower terrace . </s> |
Mexico officials are offering Sony Pictures Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. up to $20 million to portray a positive image of the country in the upcoming 'James Bond' film, 'Spectre.' Among many private documents leaked by hackers in the recent Sony hack were emails between Sony and MGM officials regarding the upcoming 'James Bond' film, looking for ways to save money, according to Tax Analysts. As part of, what the e-mails referred to as, the 'Mexican Deal,' producers are making several changes to the film to secure up to $20 million from Mexican officials including script rewrites and casting changes. Scroll down for video . Millions: Mexico officials are offering Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM millions to portray a positive image of the country in the new 'James Bond' film (photographed is Daniel Craig as James Bond in 'Spectre') In one email, Jonathan Glickman, president of MGM's motion picture group, wrote that producers are facing a budget for 'Spectre' far beyond what was expected. Now more than $300 million, Glickman said producers are under 'immense' pressure to reduce the film's budget to $250 million. 'This is not about 'nickel and diming' the production,' Glickman wrote. 'As of now, our shooting period is $50M higher than 'Skyfall' and the current gross budget sits in the mid $300Ms, making this one of the most expensive films ever made.' Desperate to save money, producers have reportedly given up a measure of creative control. They are so desperate in fact, that the studio allowed Mexican officials to dictate characters' ethnicities, make casting decisions, and change the occupation of an unnamed character that never appears on screen, the Independent reports. Cast: Mexican officials requested that a Mexican actress be cast as a Bond Girl; Mexican actress Stephanie Sigman has joined the cast of 'Spectre' as Estrella . Changes: Mexico officials requested that the villain in the film be an international ambassador rather than a Mexico City mayor and that Mexican police be depicted as a 'special force' Among the changes, Mexico officials requested that the villain in the film be an international ambassador rather than a Mexico City mayor, that Mexican police be depicted as a 'special force,' and that a Mexican actress be cast as a Bond Girl. As was recently announced, Mexican actress Stephanie Sigman has joined the cast of 'Spectre' as Estrella. The film received $14 million for roughly four minutes of footage in the film's opening, Business Insider reports. Mexico officials would reportedly give another $6 million to the film if producers highlighted the skyline and 'modern' features of Mexico City -- the film's first shooting location. Amy Pascal, then chair of Sony's motion picture group, encouraged Glickman to move forward with the changes to increase the project's eligibility for Mexico's film production incentive programs. 'We should insist they add whatever travelogue footage we need in Mexico to get the extra money,' Pascal reportedly said in an e-mail. Image: Mexico officials' involvement in the film is an effort to repair the country's image amid a drug war that has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2006 (here, riot policeclash with students furious about the massacre of 43 students in Mexico City) Insider reports that Mexico officials' involvement in the film is an effort to repair the country's image amid a drug war that has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2006. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro spoke at a film fest recently saying that the drug war has left the country in 'social decay.' However, Ioan Grillo, author and expert on Mexico’s drug war, told Insider that the country's appeal through the Bond film won't help significantly and he is not surprised by the country's effort to attract tourists and investments through the film. 'It might help to improve Mexico’s image a little, but if the government really wants a better image, it needs to change the reality and stop mass disappearances and massacres,' Grillo said. | Mexico officials are offering Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM millions to portray a positive image of the country in the new 'James Bond' film .
To save money, the studios have allowed Mexican officials to make changes in casting, characters' ethnicities, and characters' occupations .
News of the 'Mexican Deal' surfaced during the recent Sony hack . | f608c387d2d3386786e33edad93a6981640294f1 | <s>[INST] Mexico officials are offering Sony Pictures Entertainment and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. up to $20 million to portray a positive image of the country in the upcoming 'James Bond' film, 'Spectre.' Among many private documents leaked by hackers in the recent Sony hack were emails between Sony and MGM officials regarding the upcoming 'James Bond' film, looking for ways to save money, according to Tax Analysts. As part of, what the e-mails referred to as, the 'Mexican Deal,' producers are making several changes to the film to secure up to $20 million from Mexican officials including script rewrites and casting changes. Scroll down for video . Millions: Mexico officials are offering Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM millions to portray a positive image of the country in the new 'James Bond' film (photographed is Daniel Craig as James Bond in 'Spectre') In one email, Jonathan Glickman, president of MGM's motion picture group, wrote that producers are facing a budget for 'Spectre' far beyond what was expected. Now more than $300 million, Glickman said producers are under 'immense' pressure to reduce the film's budget to $250 million. 'This is not about 'nickel and diming' the production,' Glickman wrote. 'As of now, our shooting period is $50M higher than 'Skyfall' and the current gross budget sits in the mid $300Ms, making this one of the most expensive films ever made.' Desperate to save money, producers have reportedly given up a measure of creative control. They are so desperate in fact, that the studio allowed Mexican officials to dictate characters' ethnicities, make casting decisions, and change the occupation of an unnamed character that never appears on screen, the Independent reports. Cast: Mexican officials requested that a Mexican actress be cast as a Bond Girl; Mexican actress Stephanie Sigman has joined the cast of 'Spectre' as Estrella . Changes: Mexico officials requested that the villain in the film be an international ambassador rather than a Mexico City mayor and that Mexican police be depicted as a 'special force' Among the changes, Mexico officials requested that the villain in the film be an international ambassador rather than a Mexico City mayor, that Mexican police be depicted as a 'special force,' and that a Mexican actress be cast as a Bond Girl. As was recently announced, Mexican actress Stephanie Sigman has joined the cast of 'Spectre' as Estrella. The film received $14 million for roughly four minutes of footage in the film's opening, Business Insider reports. Mexico officials would reportedly give another $6 million to the film if producers highlighted the skyline and 'modern' features of Mexico City -- the film's first shooting location. Amy Pascal, then chair of Sony's motion picture group, encouraged Glickman to move forward with the changes to increase the project's eligibility for Mexico's film production incentive programs. 'We should insist they add whatever travelogue footage we need in Mexico to get the extra money,' Pascal reportedly said in an e-mail. Image: Mexico officials' involvement in the film is an effort to repair the country's image amid a drug war that has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2006 (here, riot policeclash with students furious about the massacre of 43 students in Mexico City) Insider reports that Mexico officials' involvement in the film is an effort to repair the country's image amid a drug war that has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2006. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro spoke at a film fest recently saying that the drug war has left the country in 'social decay.' However, Ioan Grillo, author and expert on Mexico’s drug war, told Insider that the country's appeal through the Bond film won't help significantly and he is not surprised by the country's effort to attract tourists and investments through the film. 'It might help to improve Mexico’s image a little, but if the government really wants a better image, it needs to change the reality and stop mass disappearances and massacres,' Grillo said. [/INST] Mexico officials are offering Sony Pictures Entertainment and MGM millions to portray a positive image of the country in the new 'James Bond' film .
To save money, the studios have allowed Mexican officials to make changes in casting, characters' ethnicities, and characters' occupations .
News of the 'Mexican Deal' surfaced during the recent Sony hack . </s> |
This is the moment a newlywed couple's first kiss is cut short as a grossed out boy cries out in disgust. Allyson and Mike DuBois from Salt Lake City, Utah, were filmed as they locked lips for the first time as man and wife. But footage shows the romantic moment was swiftly spoiled as a young spectator butted in with a loud 'eww'. The DuBois are seen breaking into laughter, with Mr DuBois on the verge of tears. The crowd watching can also be heard giggling at the interruption. 'That was awesome,' Mrs DuBois, 31, says with a big smile on her face. The bride and groom then go in for round two. The bride's brother, Bradley Christopherson, revealed that his son Ashton, now four, was the voice behind the comical commotion. Romance shot dead: This is the moment a newlywed couple's first kiss is cut short as a grossed out boy cries out in disgust . Caught on camera: Allyson and Mike DuBois from Salt Lake City, Utah, were filmed as they locked lips for the first time as man and wife . Seeing the funny side of things: But footage shows the romantic moment was swiftly spoiled as a young spectator butted in with a loud 'eww' In the wedding video, as the camera pans away, he can be seen congratulating the toddler for his comedic timing with a high five. The DuBois married in April 2014 but footage from their wedding has only recently garnered attention. Davey Orgill, the videographer who filmed the clip, concluded: 'You gotta love kids at weddings. They are unpredictable. 'This was such a funny moment. Shooting weddings is so much fun. This was such a cool couple to be able to just laugh it off like that.' Caught red-handed: The bride's brother, Bradley Christopherson, revealed that his son Ashton, now four, was the voice behind the comical commotion. Culprit: In the wedding video, as the camera pans away, he can be seen congratulating the toddler for his comedic timing with a high five . | Allyson and Mike DuBois from Salt Lake City, Utah, were filmed as they locked lips for the first time as man and wife .
But the romantic moment was swiftly cut short as a young guest butted in . | 8418470d762d3158e511e2ae9cd8ea15a41f2848 | <s>[INST] This is the moment a newlywed couple's first kiss is cut short as a grossed out boy cries out in disgust. Allyson and Mike DuBois from Salt Lake City, Utah, were filmed as they locked lips for the first time as man and wife. But footage shows the romantic moment was swiftly spoiled as a young spectator butted in with a loud 'eww'. The DuBois are seen breaking into laughter, with Mr DuBois on the verge of tears. The crowd watching can also be heard giggling at the interruption. 'That was awesome,' Mrs DuBois, 31, says with a big smile on her face. The bride and groom then go in for round two. The bride's brother, Bradley Christopherson, revealed that his son Ashton, now four, was the voice behind the comical commotion. Romance shot dead: This is the moment a newlywed couple's first kiss is cut short as a grossed out boy cries out in disgust . Caught on camera: Allyson and Mike DuBois from Salt Lake City, Utah, were filmed as they locked lips for the first time as man and wife . Seeing the funny side of things: But footage shows the romantic moment was swiftly spoiled as a young spectator butted in with a loud 'eww' In the wedding video, as the camera pans away, he can be seen congratulating the toddler for his comedic timing with a high five. The DuBois married in April 2014 but footage from their wedding has only recently garnered attention. Davey Orgill, the videographer who filmed the clip, concluded: 'You gotta love kids at weddings. They are unpredictable. 'This was such a funny moment. Shooting weddings is so much fun. This was such a cool couple to be able to just laugh it off like that.' Caught red-handed: The bride's brother, Bradley Christopherson, revealed that his son Ashton, now four, was the voice behind the comical commotion. Culprit: In the wedding video, as the camera pans away, he can be seen congratulating the toddler for his comedic timing with a high five . [/INST] Allyson and Mike DuBois from Salt Lake City, Utah, were filmed as they locked lips for the first time as man and wife .
But the romantic moment was swiftly cut short as a young guest butted in . </s> |
Chief Constable Chris Sims said officers would 'not be as visible on the streets,' in the future . Crime victims face having to report offences online then track the progress of investigations ‘like a parcel’ under plans by Britain’s second biggest police force to marginalise bobbies on the beat. Theft, assault and criminal damage victims are among those who will be expected to upload their own evidence in the ‘self-service’ reporting system, instead of liaising with an officer face-to-face or by phone. As well as supplying pictures of stolen phones or cars, victims will be asked to file crime reports to the web-based portal in plans that will also see the loss of 2,500 staff. The ‘virtual policing’ plans, unveiled in a five-year blueprint by West Midlands Police, were condemned by crime victims. Tariq Jahan, whose son Haroon, 20, was one of three men killed protecting homes in the 2011 summer riots in Birmingham, said the plans ‘didn’t inspire confidence’. Mr Jahan, from West Bromwich, said: ‘For a victim of crime, one-to-one interaction with a human is important.’ He added that many elderly people would have difficulties with the new system. Birmingham lawyer Dean Parnell, who had to track down and recover his stolen iPad in 2013 because officers were too busy to attend, said ‘a faceless online service... could lead to important evidence being missed’. The force also wants to encourage witnesses to supply images or video footage of incidents such as street thefts or assaults. Its new operating model will see neighbourhood officers deployed into specific areas, instead of across the force patch, leaving middle class areas where crime is less of an issue without a significant uniform presence. The force said the changes were needed as part of cuts aimed at saving £130million over the next four years. Chief Constable Chris Sims admitted that officers would ‘not be as visible on the streets’ in future, as the force looked to achieve ‘greater efficiency’. West Midlands Police have unveiled a five year blueprint for 'virtual policing' plans. Pictured: West Midlands Police headquarters . Beat bobbies will be cut or reassigned, with the ten neighbourhood policing units replaced by smaller teams targeting areas where a police presence is most needed. The plans will see the Birmingham-based constabulary shrink to its smallest size since it was established in 1974. The force wants to encourage online reporting of all but the most serious offences. David Jamieson, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said: ‘We hope that by the end of this year you will be able to log in and watch the progress of an investigation in the same way that you can track a parcel.’ | West Midlands Police unveil 'virtual policing' plan for the next five years .
'Self service' reporting for victims of theft, assault and criminal damage .
They will upload their own evidence to web-based portal as part of plans .
Critics say online service could lead to important evidence being missed .
Force said changes are needed as part of £130million of savings . | 83e69d151a5d0dc63bfc8e31c09bfe1ede8c5748 | <s>[INST] Chief Constable Chris Sims said officers would 'not be as visible on the streets,' in the future . Crime victims face having to report offences online then track the progress of investigations ‘like a parcel’ under plans by Britain’s second biggest police force to marginalise bobbies on the beat. Theft, assault and criminal damage victims are among those who will be expected to upload their own evidence in the ‘self-service’ reporting system, instead of liaising with an officer face-to-face or by phone. As well as supplying pictures of stolen phones or cars, victims will be asked to file crime reports to the web-based portal in plans that will also see the loss of 2,500 staff. The ‘virtual policing’ plans, unveiled in a five-year blueprint by West Midlands Police, were condemned by crime victims. Tariq Jahan, whose son Haroon, 20, was one of three men killed protecting homes in the 2011 summer riots in Birmingham, said the plans ‘didn’t inspire confidence’. Mr Jahan, from West Bromwich, said: ‘For a victim of crime, one-to-one interaction with a human is important.’ He added that many elderly people would have difficulties with the new system. Birmingham lawyer Dean Parnell, who had to track down and recover his stolen iPad in 2013 because officers were too busy to attend, said ‘a faceless online service... could lead to important evidence being missed’. The force also wants to encourage witnesses to supply images or video footage of incidents such as street thefts or assaults. Its new operating model will see neighbourhood officers deployed into specific areas, instead of across the force patch, leaving middle class areas where crime is less of an issue without a significant uniform presence. The force said the changes were needed as part of cuts aimed at saving £130million over the next four years. Chief Constable Chris Sims admitted that officers would ‘not be as visible on the streets’ in future, as the force looked to achieve ‘greater efficiency’. West Midlands Police have unveiled a five year blueprint for 'virtual policing' plans. Pictured: West Midlands Police headquarters . Beat bobbies will be cut or reassigned, with the ten neighbourhood policing units replaced by smaller teams targeting areas where a police presence is most needed. The plans will see the Birmingham-based constabulary shrink to its smallest size since it was established in 1974. The force wants to encourage online reporting of all but the most serious offences. David Jamieson, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, said: ‘We hope that by the end of this year you will be able to log in and watch the progress of an investigation in the same way that you can track a parcel.’ [/INST] West Midlands Police unveil 'virtual policing' plan for the next five years .
'Self service' reporting for victims of theft, assault and criminal damage .
They will upload their own evidence to web-based portal as part of plans .
Critics say online service could lead to important evidence being missed .
Force said changes are needed as part of £130million of savings . </s> |
Tragic: Jake Fawcett, two, was struck by a vehicle as he played on a farm in Cumbria . A two-year-old boy was killed after being struck by a vehicle as he played on a farm. Jake Fawcett was left seriously injured after the horrific collision on a rural village in Cumbria. The youngster was airlifted to hospital after emergency services were scrambled to the property but he died shortly after arriving. His heartbroken family yesterday paid tribute to the ‘mischievous’ toddler and thanked friends and family for their support. In a statement, they said: ‘Jake was a typical two-year-old who enjoyed getting into mischief with his twin sister Phoebe and older sister Annie. ‘He loved watching Peppa Pig, playing with his cousins and dunking biscuits in people’s tea. 'Jake will be dearly missed by all who knew him. We would just like to thank the community for the amazing support and kind words. Shine bright little man.’ Authorities yesterday said they had launched an investigation into the tragedy. The incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon at a farm in the village of Gosforth, Cumbria, around three miles from the toddler’s family home in Seascale. Police explicitly said that the vehicle involved in the incident was not a tractor but would not provide any more information on what type of vehicle was involved. Cumbria Police said that two road ambulances, a rapid response car and the Great North Air Ambulance Service helicopter attended the scene before Jake was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. A spokesman said: ‘Police have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. ‘The family are being supported at this time by trained officers.’ A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said it had been made aware of the incident and it was making initial enquiries. Horrific: Jake was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, where he died of his injuries . | Jake Fawcett was left seriously injured after after being struck by a vehicle .
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon on a farm in Cumbria .
The two-year-old was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle but died after arrival .
Family paid tribute to their little boy who 'enjoyed getting into mischief' | 0665e2e23905454f9d8f9da8348e07f43df99fa0 | <s>[INST] Tragic: Jake Fawcett, two, was struck by a vehicle as he played on a farm in Cumbria . A two-year-old boy was killed after being struck by a vehicle as he played on a farm. Jake Fawcett was left seriously injured after the horrific collision on a rural village in Cumbria. The youngster was airlifted to hospital after emergency services were scrambled to the property but he died shortly after arriving. His heartbroken family yesterday paid tribute to the ‘mischievous’ toddler and thanked friends and family for their support. In a statement, they said: ‘Jake was a typical two-year-old who enjoyed getting into mischief with his twin sister Phoebe and older sister Annie. ‘He loved watching Peppa Pig, playing with his cousins and dunking biscuits in people’s tea. 'Jake will be dearly missed by all who knew him. We would just like to thank the community for the amazing support and kind words. Shine bright little man.’ Authorities yesterday said they had launched an investigation into the tragedy. The incident unfolded on Saturday afternoon at a farm in the village of Gosforth, Cumbria, around three miles from the toddler’s family home in Seascale. Police explicitly said that the vehicle involved in the incident was not a tractor but would not provide any more information on what type of vehicle was involved. Cumbria Police said that two road ambulances, a rapid response car and the Great North Air Ambulance Service helicopter attended the scene before Jake was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. A spokesman said: ‘Police have begun an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. ‘The family are being supported at this time by trained officers.’ A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said it had been made aware of the incident and it was making initial enquiries. Horrific: Jake was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, where he died of his injuries . [/INST] Jake Fawcett was left seriously injured after after being struck by a vehicle .
The incident took place on Saturday afternoon on a farm in Cumbria .
The two-year-old was airlifted to hospital in Newcastle but died after arrival .
Family paid tribute to their little boy who 'enjoyed getting into mischief' </s> |
Passengers aboard a SkyWest flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, were stunned Tuesday when an hour from reaching their sunny vacation destination, their pilot turned the plane around due to 'paperwork issues.' Flight 4507 departed Salt Lake City International Airport just after noon Tuesday, carrying 57 travelers en route to the popular resort town on the Pacific Ocean. But less than two hours into the three-hour flight, a pilot's voice came over the intercom to announce that the small Canadair jet will be returning back to Utah. Scroll down for video . Clerical snafu: SkyWest Flight 4507 carrying 57 passengers to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Tuesday was forced to turn around and return to Utah due to a paperwork issue . Unpleasant surprise: The plane was about an hour from reaching its destination when a pilot announced the bad news . 'It's something that we wouldn't have known what to do as pilots as far as this airplane not being allowed to land in Mexico,' the crew member uttered over the PA system, according to a cellphone video obtained by KSL. The pilot explained to passengers that he could not land in Puerto Vallarta. Instead, he said the plane will be diverted to Tucson, Arizona, to be refueled before returning to Salt Lake City. 'Again, we do apologize,' the pilot said over the intercom to the 57 disappointed passengers. Casey Boyd, from Denver, was flying to Mexico on vacation with his wife and child when their plans were unexpectedly derailed by an unspecified clerical error. ‘No, it sounds pretty unbelievable,’ Boyd said. ‘It doesn't sound like maybe the whole story.’ A spokeswoman for SkyWest Airlines stated that Flight 4507 landed in Salt Lake City at around 6pm to correct a 'paperwork issue.’ Pit stop: Instead of landing at Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta, the SkyWest jet headed to Arizona to be refueled . Back to square one: At around 6pm, the plane landed in Salt Lake City, where passengers were offered hotel rooms and food vouchers for the night . The unfortunate travelers were offered free hotel rooms for the night, issued vouchers for food and other expenses, and rebooked on another flight departing Wednesday morning. ‘We apologize to those customers we've inconvenienced and are working to get them on their way as quickly as possible,’ the statement read. The airline representative did not specify the paperwork issue that kept the SkyWest plane from landing in Mexico Tuesday. Casey Boyd said that before takeoff Tuesday, the gate agent said the flight was overbooked because they were using a smaller plane that originally planned . It has been suggested that perhaps the replacement plane did not have the right documentation to touch down in Puerto Vallarta, but no one noticed the mistake until it was too late. | SkyWest Flight 4507 departed Salt Lake City International Airport Tuesday afternoon, carrying 57 vacationers to Puerto Vallarta .
Pilot's voice came over intercom an hour away from scheduled arrival time saying plane will be returning to Salt Lake City due to clerical error .
Travelers were offered hotels rooms and food vouchers, and rebooked on a Wednesday flight . | 45f63a4cd2f961427aa2144e6d713af8cb71e832 | <s>[INST] Passengers aboard a SkyWest flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, were stunned Tuesday when an hour from reaching their sunny vacation destination, their pilot turned the plane around due to 'paperwork issues.' Flight 4507 departed Salt Lake City International Airport just after noon Tuesday, carrying 57 travelers en route to the popular resort town on the Pacific Ocean. But less than two hours into the three-hour flight, a pilot's voice came over the intercom to announce that the small Canadair jet will be returning back to Utah. Scroll down for video . Clerical snafu: SkyWest Flight 4507 carrying 57 passengers to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Tuesday was forced to turn around and return to Utah due to a paperwork issue . Unpleasant surprise: The plane was about an hour from reaching its destination when a pilot announced the bad news . 'It's something that we wouldn't have known what to do as pilots as far as this airplane not being allowed to land in Mexico,' the crew member uttered over the PA system, according to a cellphone video obtained by KSL. The pilot explained to passengers that he could not land in Puerto Vallarta. Instead, he said the plane will be diverted to Tucson, Arizona, to be refueled before returning to Salt Lake City. 'Again, we do apologize,' the pilot said over the intercom to the 57 disappointed passengers. Casey Boyd, from Denver, was flying to Mexico on vacation with his wife and child when their plans were unexpectedly derailed by an unspecified clerical error. ‘No, it sounds pretty unbelievable,’ Boyd said. ‘It doesn't sound like maybe the whole story.’ A spokeswoman for SkyWest Airlines stated that Flight 4507 landed in Salt Lake City at around 6pm to correct a 'paperwork issue.’ Pit stop: Instead of landing at Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta, the SkyWest jet headed to Arizona to be refueled . Back to square one: At around 6pm, the plane landed in Salt Lake City, where passengers were offered hotel rooms and food vouchers for the night . The unfortunate travelers were offered free hotel rooms for the night, issued vouchers for food and other expenses, and rebooked on another flight departing Wednesday morning. ‘We apologize to those customers we've inconvenienced and are working to get them on their way as quickly as possible,’ the statement read. The airline representative did not specify the paperwork issue that kept the SkyWest plane from landing in Mexico Tuesday. Casey Boyd said that before takeoff Tuesday, the gate agent said the flight was overbooked because they were using a smaller plane that originally planned . It has been suggested that perhaps the replacement plane did not have the right documentation to touch down in Puerto Vallarta, but no one noticed the mistake until it was too late. [/INST] SkyWest Flight 4507 departed Salt Lake City International Airport Tuesday afternoon, carrying 57 vacationers to Puerto Vallarta .
Pilot's voice came over intercom an hour away from scheduled arrival time saying plane will be returning to Salt Lake City due to clerical error .
Travelers were offered hotels rooms and food vouchers, and rebooked on a Wednesday flight . </s> |
Do you dote treat your children to a gadget or give them money when they perform well at school? According to a study, such actions could be detrimental to their development, and cause them to be more materialistic as adults. The study suggests that those who were rewarded and spoiled as children were more likely to think possessions define who we are. A study by the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois at Chicago found gifts could affect development. Adults were more likely to think possessions define who we are (stock image shown) if they were showered with rewards when they were children . The study was published in the Journal of Consumer Research and conducted by researchers Dr Marsha Richins (University of Missouri) and Dr Lan Nguyen Chaplin (University of Illinois at Chicago). 'Using material possessions to express love or reward children for their achievements can backfire,' wrote the authors in the paper called Material Parenting. 'Loving and supportive parents can unintentionally foster materialism in their children despite their best efforts to steer them away from relying on material possessions to find happiness or to judge others.' Where you live could affect how big your shopping habit is, according to new research. US scientists have found that people who live in wealthy neighbourhoods are more likely to have materialistic values and poor spending habits. And they think that young people living in particularly rich urban areas are the worst offenders. San Francisco State University’s study is the first to show a connection between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and materialism. Dr Ryan Howell, Associate Professor of Psychology at the university, believes the reason for the link is because of ‘relative deprivation,’ which is the feeling someone gets when they believe they are less well-off than those around them. The authors surveyed 701 adults to measure the long-term impact of material parenting. They were asked to describe their current life situation and values, and also reported on a variety of childhood circumstances, their relationship with their parents, and the rewards and punishments they received during three critical ages of childhood . Results showed adults who had received more material rewards and punishments as children were more likely than others to use possessions to define and express who they are. And adults who received many material rewards as children were likely to continue rewarding themselves with material goods and defining themselves through their possessions. Parents should therefore be cautious about using material goods to express their love and reward their children for good behavior, warn the researchers. They say an overemphasis on material possessions during childhood can have long-lasting effects. It can pave 'the way for their children to grow up to be more likely than others to admire people with expensive possessions and judge success by the kinds of things people own,' the authors conclude. The authors surveyed 701 adults to measure the long-term impact of material parenting. They were asked to describe their current life situation and values, and also reported on a variety of childhood circumstances and the rewards (stock image shown) and punishments they received during three critical ages of childhood . | Study led by University of Missouri found gifts could affect development .
Adults were more likely to think possessions define who we are if they were showered with rewards when they were children .
'Using material possessions to express love or reward children for their achievements can backfire,' wrote the authors . | 9df15563921702e55f91f7a955d7735f028d910f | <s>[INST] Do you dote treat your children to a gadget or give them money when they perform well at school? According to a study, such actions could be detrimental to their development, and cause them to be more materialistic as adults. The study suggests that those who were rewarded and spoiled as children were more likely to think possessions define who we are. A study by the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois at Chicago found gifts could affect development. Adults were more likely to think possessions define who we are (stock image shown) if they were showered with rewards when they were children . The study was published in the Journal of Consumer Research and conducted by researchers Dr Marsha Richins (University of Missouri) and Dr Lan Nguyen Chaplin (University of Illinois at Chicago). 'Using material possessions to express love or reward children for their achievements can backfire,' wrote the authors in the paper called Material Parenting. 'Loving and supportive parents can unintentionally foster materialism in their children despite their best efforts to steer them away from relying on material possessions to find happiness or to judge others.' Where you live could affect how big your shopping habit is, according to new research. US scientists have found that people who live in wealthy neighbourhoods are more likely to have materialistic values and poor spending habits. And they think that young people living in particularly rich urban areas are the worst offenders. San Francisco State University’s study is the first to show a connection between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and materialism. Dr Ryan Howell, Associate Professor of Psychology at the university, believes the reason for the link is because of ‘relative deprivation,’ which is the feeling someone gets when they believe they are less well-off than those around them. The authors surveyed 701 adults to measure the long-term impact of material parenting. They were asked to describe their current life situation and values, and also reported on a variety of childhood circumstances, their relationship with their parents, and the rewards and punishments they received during three critical ages of childhood . Results showed adults who had received more material rewards and punishments as children were more likely than others to use possessions to define and express who they are. And adults who received many material rewards as children were likely to continue rewarding themselves with material goods and defining themselves through their possessions. Parents should therefore be cautious about using material goods to express their love and reward their children for good behavior, warn the researchers. They say an overemphasis on material possessions during childhood can have long-lasting effects. It can pave 'the way for their children to grow up to be more likely than others to admire people with expensive possessions and judge success by the kinds of things people own,' the authors conclude. The authors surveyed 701 adults to measure the long-term impact of material parenting. They were asked to describe their current life situation and values, and also reported on a variety of childhood circumstances and the rewards (stock image shown) and punishments they received during three critical ages of childhood . [/INST] Study led by University of Missouri found gifts could affect development .
Adults were more likely to think possessions define who we are if they were showered with rewards when they were children .
'Using material possessions to express love or reward children for their achievements can backfire,' wrote the authors . </s> |
While Hillary Clinton was using a private email address hosted on her own home-based computer server to conduct State Department business, her agency forced out an ambassador who was doing the same thing overseas. Retired Air Force General Scott Gration was US ambassador to Kenya for 13 months between 2011 and 2012, departing after a scathing performance report blasted his leadership style and determined that he created security risks by running his own one-person IT department. The report determined that Gration 'assumed charge of the mission’s information management operations,' in Nairobi, and 'ordered a commercial Internet connection installed in his embassy office bathroom so he could work there on a laptop not connected to the Department email system.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS AND GRATION'S PERFORMANCE REPORT . OUSTED: Scott Gration (left) was special envoy to Sudan before he spent 13 months as ambassador to Kenya; he was forced out after an inspector general report found problems with his performance – including the use of unauthorized commercial email services to conduct government business outside of secure channels . EMAIL-GATE: Hillary Clinton never used an official government email address as secretary of state, relying on a private server at the same time her agency was forcing Gration out for, among other things, doing the same . He also tried to legitimize his actions by writing new policy and distributing it to the embassy staff, saying the use of 'commercial email' for government business was acceptable. Gration, the State Department's Office of Inspector General wrote, 'continued to use commercial email for official government business' even when investigators were digging into his conduct. The report noted that he seldom logged on to his official State Department email account; The New York Times later reported that he 'preferred to use Gmail for official business.' Clinton, the odds-on favorite to be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 2016, came under fire this week for using a private email account – not a State Department 'state.gov' address – to conduct government business. Her aides, and Obama administration colleagues – including White House personnel – reached her at 'hdr22@clintonemail.com' for the four years she was America's top diplomat. The revelation has led to accusations that the former secretary failed to turn over all her communications for archiving, as the Federal Records Act requires. Additional questions have swirled around potential national security risks posed by having sensitive material flowing through unsecure channels. Scott Gration lasted just 13 months as an ambassador before his management style and data security breaches ended his State Dept. career . Clinton helmed the State Department through the entirety of Gration's tenure as ambassador. The State Department did not respond to a request for comment about parallels between her case and Gration's. But the 2012 IG report spelled out a policy that it appears Clinton herself failed to follow. 'It is the department's general policy that normal day-to-day operations be conducted on an authorized information system, which has the proper level of security controls,' the report read. 'The use of unauthorized information systems increases the risk for data loss, phishing, and spoofing of email accounts, as well as inadequate protections for personally identifiable information.' 'The use of unauthorized information systems can also result in the loss of official public records as these systems do not have approved record preservation or backup functions,' the inspector general added. 'Conducting official business on non-department automated information systems must be limited to only maintaining communications during emergencies.' SECURE? America's embassy in Nairobi, Kenya where Gration had a commercial internet line installed in his office bathroom so he could communicate out of reach of Washington . Clinton's emails were never publicly leaked, but some messages sent to her by a close adviser were. The infamous Romanian hacker who used the nom-de-hack 'Guccifer' was sentenced to four years in prison for, among other things, breaching the email account of Sidney Blumenthal, a former Bill Clinton aide who later joined Mrs. Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. Some of the messages consisted of intelligence reports, sent in late 2012 to Clinton's private address, and covered matters in Libya – including the aftermath of the September 11, 2012 terror attack in Benghazi. Among the recommendations at the close of the report that ended Gration's career, the IG urged: 'Embassy Nairobi should cease using commercial email to process Department information and use authorized Department automated information systems for conducting official business.' Scott Gration State Dept. IG Report uploaded by DailyMail.com . | Retired Air Force General Scott Gration was US ambassador to Kenya .
Forced to resign in 2012 after a scathing performance report .
Used unauthorized private email address to conduct 'sensitive' government business through a private Internet connection in his office bathroom .
Hillary Clinton is now under fire for exclusively using a private email address hosted on her own server while in the Obama administration .
Gration served under Clinton when she was secretary of state . | 86b241417f75e86636144769b17f88c4ed353b6d | <s>[INST] While Hillary Clinton was using a private email address hosted on her own home-based computer server to conduct State Department business, her agency forced out an ambassador who was doing the same thing overseas. Retired Air Force General Scott Gration was US ambassador to Kenya for 13 months between 2011 and 2012, departing after a scathing performance report blasted his leadership style and determined that he created security risks by running his own one-person IT department. The report determined that Gration 'assumed charge of the mission’s information management operations,' in Nairobi, and 'ordered a commercial Internet connection installed in his embassy office bathroom so he could work there on a laptop not connected to the Department email system.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS AND GRATION'S PERFORMANCE REPORT . OUSTED: Scott Gration (left) was special envoy to Sudan before he spent 13 months as ambassador to Kenya; he was forced out after an inspector general report found problems with his performance – including the use of unauthorized commercial email services to conduct government business outside of secure channels . EMAIL-GATE: Hillary Clinton never used an official government email address as secretary of state, relying on a private server at the same time her agency was forcing Gration out for, among other things, doing the same . He also tried to legitimize his actions by writing new policy and distributing it to the embassy staff, saying the use of 'commercial email' for government business was acceptable. Gration, the State Department's Office of Inspector General wrote, 'continued to use commercial email for official government business' even when investigators were digging into his conduct. The report noted that he seldom logged on to his official State Department email account; The New York Times later reported that he 'preferred to use Gmail for official business.' Clinton, the odds-on favorite to be the Democratic Party's presidential nominee in 2016, came under fire this week for using a private email account – not a State Department 'state.gov' address – to conduct government business. Her aides, and Obama administration colleagues – including White House personnel – reached her at 'hdr22@clintonemail.com' for the four years she was America's top diplomat. The revelation has led to accusations that the former secretary failed to turn over all her communications for archiving, as the Federal Records Act requires. Additional questions have swirled around potential national security risks posed by having sensitive material flowing through unsecure channels. Scott Gration lasted just 13 months as an ambassador before his management style and data security breaches ended his State Dept. career . Clinton helmed the State Department through the entirety of Gration's tenure as ambassador. The State Department did not respond to a request for comment about parallels between her case and Gration's. But the 2012 IG report spelled out a policy that it appears Clinton herself failed to follow. 'It is the department's general policy that normal day-to-day operations be conducted on an authorized information system, which has the proper level of security controls,' the report read. 'The use of unauthorized information systems increases the risk for data loss, phishing, and spoofing of email accounts, as well as inadequate protections for personally identifiable information.' 'The use of unauthorized information systems can also result in the loss of official public records as these systems do not have approved record preservation or backup functions,' the inspector general added. 'Conducting official business on non-department automated information systems must be limited to only maintaining communications during emergencies.' SECURE? America's embassy in Nairobi, Kenya where Gration had a commercial internet line installed in his office bathroom so he could communicate out of reach of Washington . Clinton's emails were never publicly leaked, but some messages sent to her by a close adviser were. The infamous Romanian hacker who used the nom-de-hack 'Guccifer' was sentenced to four years in prison for, among other things, breaching the email account of Sidney Blumenthal, a former Bill Clinton aide who later joined Mrs. Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. Some of the messages consisted of intelligence reports, sent in late 2012 to Clinton's private address, and covered matters in Libya – including the aftermath of the September 11, 2012 terror attack in Benghazi. Among the recommendations at the close of the report that ended Gration's career, the IG urged: 'Embassy Nairobi should cease using commercial email to process Department information and use authorized Department automated information systems for conducting official business.' Scott Gration State Dept. IG Report uploaded by DailyMail.com . [/INST] Retired Air Force General Scott Gration was US ambassador to Kenya .
Forced to resign in 2012 after a scathing performance report .
Used unauthorized private email address to conduct 'sensitive' government business through a private Internet connection in his office bathroom .
Hillary Clinton is now under fire for exclusively using a private email address hosted on her own server while in the Obama administration .
Gration served under Clinton when she was secretary of state . </s> |
Getting devoured by an army of angry ants isn’t something most people would volunteer for. But 27-year-old YouTube sensation Andrew Ucles, who hails from Wollongong, south of Sydney, is not your average Joe. In a peculiar new video uploaded to his channel this week, the animal enthusiast lies on a large meat ant nest in a dubious bid to walk in the shoes of an echidna. Andrew Ucles drops down on top of the nest of angry meat ants, with the colony quickly swarming over his body . ‘I thought I would try to stick it out for 10 minutes on an ants nest to give me some sense of an idea what feeding time is actually like for an echidna,’ he commentates. Despite the ear plus jammed in his nose for protection, Ucles falls short of his goal, lasting about 30 seconds before lurching to his feet. ‘I’ve got ants in my pants’ he declares, laughing maniacally as he bounds into a nearby lake. Earlier in the same clip, Ucles-who aspires to Bear Grylls and Steve Irwin-scoops up an echidna with his bare hands. The rogue environmentalist falls short of his goal of lasting 10 minutes, lurching to his feet after about 30 seconds . Ucles declare he ‘I’ve got ants in my pants’, laughing maniacally as he bounds into a nearby lake . In another video uploaded last month, Ucles he uses a red bellied snakes to lure rabbits out of their burrows and capture them in his trademark style. A graduate of Environmental Science, the rogue environmentalist snares the likes of snakes, crocodiles and sharks with his unprotected mitts. Ucles claims his barehanded method teaches people about the fragility of ecosystems, in turn promoting animal conservation. While his logic isn’t exactly hole-proof, his popularity is: Ucles YouTube channel has over two million views, and he’s recently featured in an internationally acclaimed television documentary. In another video uploaded last month, Ucles he uses a red bellied snakes to lure rabbits out of their burrows and capture them in his trademark style . Ucles claims his barehanded method teaches people about the fragility of ecosystems, in turn promoting animal conservation . The Wollongong local made news around the world in 2010 when he vanished into the outback for three months without food or spare clothing in an effort to raise awareness about wildlife conservation. In a farewell message he declared: 'There is a great chance that I may not return, but I feel as though the message that needs to be conveyed is greater.' Ucles reportedly stayed with an aboriginal tribe in dentral Queensland, who taught him their lifestyle and hunting techniques. | Andrew Ucles, 27, uploaded the video to his YouTube channel this week .
The animal enthusiast lies on an ant nest to experience life as an echidna .
Ucles is popular for his unique barehanded approach to capturing wildlife . | 3bd579209b0893d68961e878f1bc519d6f3da19f | <s>[INST] Getting devoured by an army of angry ants isn’t something most people would volunteer for. But 27-year-old YouTube sensation Andrew Ucles, who hails from Wollongong, south of Sydney, is not your average Joe. In a peculiar new video uploaded to his channel this week, the animal enthusiast lies on a large meat ant nest in a dubious bid to walk in the shoes of an echidna. Andrew Ucles drops down on top of the nest of angry meat ants, with the colony quickly swarming over his body . ‘I thought I would try to stick it out for 10 minutes on an ants nest to give me some sense of an idea what feeding time is actually like for an echidna,’ he commentates. Despite the ear plus jammed in his nose for protection, Ucles falls short of his goal, lasting about 30 seconds before lurching to his feet. ‘I’ve got ants in my pants’ he declares, laughing maniacally as he bounds into a nearby lake. Earlier in the same clip, Ucles-who aspires to Bear Grylls and Steve Irwin-scoops up an echidna with his bare hands. The rogue environmentalist falls short of his goal of lasting 10 minutes, lurching to his feet after about 30 seconds . Ucles declare he ‘I’ve got ants in my pants’, laughing maniacally as he bounds into a nearby lake . In another video uploaded last month, Ucles he uses a red bellied snakes to lure rabbits out of their burrows and capture them in his trademark style. A graduate of Environmental Science, the rogue environmentalist snares the likes of snakes, crocodiles and sharks with his unprotected mitts. Ucles claims his barehanded method teaches people about the fragility of ecosystems, in turn promoting animal conservation. While his logic isn’t exactly hole-proof, his popularity is: Ucles YouTube channel has over two million views, and he’s recently featured in an internationally acclaimed television documentary. In another video uploaded last month, Ucles he uses a red bellied snakes to lure rabbits out of their burrows and capture them in his trademark style . Ucles claims his barehanded method teaches people about the fragility of ecosystems, in turn promoting animal conservation . The Wollongong local made news around the world in 2010 when he vanished into the outback for three months without food or spare clothing in an effort to raise awareness about wildlife conservation. In a farewell message he declared: 'There is a great chance that I may not return, but I feel as though the message that needs to be conveyed is greater.' Ucles reportedly stayed with an aboriginal tribe in dentral Queensland, who taught him their lifestyle and hunting techniques. [/INST] Andrew Ucles, 27, uploaded the video to his YouTube channel this week .
The animal enthusiast lies on an ant nest to experience life as an echidna .
Ucles is popular for his unique barehanded approach to capturing wildlife . </s> |
The mother of two Detroit children whose bodies were found in a deep freezer in their home was charged with child abuse Wednesday and could face more serious charges once investigators determine how the boy and girl died. Mitchelle Blair, 35, was arrested Tuesday after court officers serving an eviction notice at her home opened the freezer and found the bodies of her daughter Stoni Ann Blair and her son Stephen Gage Berry. The county medical examiner was hoping to conduct autopsies on the children's bodies Wednesday but had to wait until they had fully thawed. The police, meanwhile, weren't saying much about their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the children's deaths and the conditions in the home near downtown Detroit, where Blair's other two children had also been living. 'While we all understand the desire to know what happened in that home is strong, I will ask you to be mindful of the two children who were also in that home and are still living,' Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters Wednesday. 'They've been through a lot, a tremendous trauma.' Scroll down for video . Mother: 35-year-old Mitchelle Blair, who two children were found dead in a deep freezer in their home, was charged with child abuse Wednesday . Daughter: Blair's daughter, Stoni Ann Blair, is seen with her father Alexander Dorsey. Stoni would have been 15 now, if alive . Court officers serving an eviction notice at Blair's home opened the freezer and found the bodies of her daughter Stoni Ann Blair and her son Stephen Gage Berry . Prosecutors believe that when they died, Stoni was 13 years old and Stephen was 9. Stoni would have been 15 now, if alive, and Stephen would have been 11. Police are seen Tuesday . A woman walks past notes left on the door at at the family's home on Wednesday . The two surviving children, a 17-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy, were placed in protective custody on Tuesday. Blair is charged with five counts of first-degree child abuse, one of which could land her in prison for life, said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County prosecutor's office. She may face further charges after the autopsies are completed. Prosecutors believe that when they died, Stoni was 13 years old and Stephen was 9. Stoni would have been 15 now, if alive, and Stephen would have been 11. Neighbors said they hadn't seen the dead children in about a year. None of the four children was enrolled in Detroit schools, and friends said their mother was home-schooling them. Under state law, Michigan parents have the right to homeschool their children. Educating them, assigning homework and testing are the parent's responsibility. Registering the home school to the state Education office is voluntary, unless the student is special needs and special education services have been requested from the local school district. The state was not notified that Blair's children were being homeschooled this year, said Education Department spokesman Bill Disessa. Neighbors say Blair has lived in the complex at least 10 years. She was unemployed and having money troubles, and she had gotten behind on her rent. Neighbors said they knew about the impending eviction. Court records show a judgment filed last month against her for $2,206 owed to the complex. Despite her money and other problems, friends call her a good mother. Blair is known throughout the complex of low-income townhomes as 'Angel' - a play on her middle name, Angela, that she got because she is so well-liked, said neighbors Carrie McDonald and Shay Wilson. 'The mother is a beautiful person. She was just going through some things,' McDonald said. 'She has a good heart.' But neighbors rarely saw the four children outdoors. Some say they hadn't seen Stoni and Stephen for about a year. 'She really don't let them outside,' said Wilson. 'They are always in the house.' In announcing the charges against Blair, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said 'the alleged facts in this case present examples of why we must all be diligent and involved citizens.' Blair allegedly confessed to the murder of her two children, according to a police source . It has been claimed that Blair allegedly confessed to strangling her son in May 2012, according to WXYZ, who are quoting a police source. She is also said to have admitted torturing her daughter to death just nine months later, the news channel reported. Police were called in by the bailiffs after they discovered the girl's body in the chest freezer next to the front door. Her sibling's corpse was found later. Detroit Police Chief James Craig said the mother was taken into custody after an apartment resident informed officers she was staying with someone at a different home inside the complex, according to the Detroit News. Craig said the mother was handcuffed when she was taken into custody. Blair describes herself as 'Loyal to my babies' on her Facebook page. Blair posted a photo with a message in January . On January 30, the posted a photo with a message. It read: 'There is no greater blessing than being called MOM.' Before she was taken into custody, the mother reportedly said her son was raped and that the sexual assault had been carried out by his siblings. Police have not confirmed that is the case and it is unclear if she was talking about the boy who was found in the freezer. She filed a paternity suit in 1999 which resulted in a man being ordered to pay child support. Blair filed another suit in 2007 against another man which had the same result. Her brother Marlon Blair told the Detroit News earlier this week: 'It's too early to even say what this could be, or to make any judgments. 'She didn't have any emotional problems from what I'm aware of. I don't know what to say about this.' Assistant Chief Steve Dolunt told the Detroit News earlier this week it appeared the bodies had been in the freezer for 'over a year' and that the mother had been living in the apartment 'with other children while the bodies were in the freezer'. 'This is a terrible situation,' he said. No weapons were discovered after the apartment was searched and police do not yet have a motive. Neighbor Shanetria Lanier, 21, told the Detroit News Blair home-schooled her children and 'that's why no schools were wondering where they were'. There is no record of the children attending classes, according to a Detroit Public Schools official. People did notice that two of her children seemed to disappear about a year ago. Lanier told the newspaper: 'When people asked her where her other two kids are, she said they were at their aunt's house. 'Or sometimes she'd tell people they stayed inside because they didn't like to be around people.' Craig said the Detroit News that police were still 'trying to determine what happened'. The cause of death won't be known until after autopsies are conducted. Tori Childs, who also lives in the complex, told the Detroit News she often saw the children and sometimes gave them clothes or food. She said they were 'the nicest kids' who were 'so respectable'. 'This is just wrong,' she said in tears. Childs said she saw two bodies on the floor after police arrived at the home. 'It was a little girl and a little boy,' she said. 'The little girl had on a pink jacket.' Toni Williams, 28, left, and Natasha Bell, 30, leave balloons at the house on Wednesday . A neighbor, Tori Childs (center), was led away from the scene as law enforcement investigated on Tuesday . The two surviving children, a 17-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy, were placed in protective custody on Tuesday . Lanier told the Detroit News said her sister received a phone call around 6am on Tuesday from a woman who lives inside the apartment. The woman asked to stay at Lanier's sister's home with her two children that day, according to Lanier, and was there when the bodies were found. Police initially reported that they had a discovered a single body in the freezer. | Mitchelle Blair, 35, was arrested Tuesday .
The arrest took place after court officers serving an eviction notice at her home opened the freezer and found the bodies of her daughter .
The county medical examiner was hoping to conduct autopsies on the children's bodies Wednesday but had to wait until they had fully thawed .
Prosecutors believe that when they died, her daughter Stoni was 13 years old and her son Stephen was 9 .
Stoni would have been 15 now, if alive, and Stephen would have been 11 .
Blair has allegedly confessed to the murder of two of her children .
She describes herself as 'Loyal to my babies' on her Facebook page .
The two surviving children, a 17-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy, were placed in protective custody on Tuesday . | ec765f9b137993d8724e58054bb6116b08b6d820 | <s>[INST] The mother of two Detroit children whose bodies were found in a deep freezer in their home was charged with child abuse Wednesday and could face more serious charges once investigators determine how the boy and girl died. Mitchelle Blair, 35, was arrested Tuesday after court officers serving an eviction notice at her home opened the freezer and found the bodies of her daughter Stoni Ann Blair and her son Stephen Gage Berry. The county medical examiner was hoping to conduct autopsies on the children's bodies Wednesday but had to wait until they had fully thawed. The police, meanwhile, weren't saying much about their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the children's deaths and the conditions in the home near downtown Detroit, where Blair's other two children had also been living. 'While we all understand the desire to know what happened in that home is strong, I will ask you to be mindful of the two children who were also in that home and are still living,' Detroit Police Chief James Craig told reporters Wednesday. 'They've been through a lot, a tremendous trauma.' Scroll down for video . Mother: 35-year-old Mitchelle Blair, who two children were found dead in a deep freezer in their home, was charged with child abuse Wednesday . Daughter: Blair's daughter, Stoni Ann Blair, is seen with her father Alexander Dorsey. Stoni would have been 15 now, if alive . Court officers serving an eviction notice at Blair's home opened the freezer and found the bodies of her daughter Stoni Ann Blair and her son Stephen Gage Berry . Prosecutors believe that when they died, Stoni was 13 years old and Stephen was 9. Stoni would have been 15 now, if alive, and Stephen would have been 11. Police are seen Tuesday . A woman walks past notes left on the door at at the family's home on Wednesday . The two surviving children, a 17-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy, were placed in protective custody on Tuesday. Blair is charged with five counts of first-degree child abuse, one of which could land her in prison for life, said Maria Miller, a spokeswoman for the Wayne County prosecutor's office. She may face further charges after the autopsies are completed. Prosecutors believe that when they died, Stoni was 13 years old and Stephen was 9. Stoni would have been 15 now, if alive, and Stephen would have been 11. Neighbors said they hadn't seen the dead children in about a year. None of the four children was enrolled in Detroit schools, and friends said their mother was home-schooling them. Under state law, Michigan parents have the right to homeschool their children. Educating them, assigning homework and testing are the parent's responsibility. Registering the home school to the state Education office is voluntary, unless the student is special needs and special education services have been requested from the local school district. The state was not notified that Blair's children were being homeschooled this year, said Education Department spokesman Bill Disessa. Neighbors say Blair has lived in the complex at least 10 years. She was unemployed and having money troubles, and she had gotten behind on her rent. Neighbors said they knew about the impending eviction. Court records show a judgment filed last month against her for $2,206 owed to the complex. Despite her money and other problems, friends call her a good mother. Blair is known throughout the complex of low-income townhomes as 'Angel' - a play on her middle name, Angela, that she got because she is so well-liked, said neighbors Carrie McDonald and Shay Wilson. 'The mother is a beautiful person. She was just going through some things,' McDonald said. 'She has a good heart.' But neighbors rarely saw the four children outdoors. Some say they hadn't seen Stoni and Stephen for about a year. 'She really don't let them outside,' said Wilson. 'They are always in the house.' In announcing the charges against Blair, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said 'the alleged facts in this case present examples of why we must all be diligent and involved citizens.' Blair allegedly confessed to the murder of her two children, according to a police source . It has been claimed that Blair allegedly confessed to strangling her son in May 2012, according to WXYZ, who are quoting a police source. She is also said to have admitted torturing her daughter to death just nine months later, the news channel reported. Police were called in by the bailiffs after they discovered the girl's body in the chest freezer next to the front door. Her sibling's corpse was found later. Detroit Police Chief James Craig said the mother was taken into custody after an apartment resident informed officers she was staying with someone at a different home inside the complex, according to the Detroit News. Craig said the mother was handcuffed when she was taken into custody. Blair describes herself as 'Loyal to my babies' on her Facebook page. Blair posted a photo with a message in January . On January 30, the posted a photo with a message. It read: 'There is no greater blessing than being called MOM.' Before she was taken into custody, the mother reportedly said her son was raped and that the sexual assault had been carried out by his siblings. Police have not confirmed that is the case and it is unclear if she was talking about the boy who was found in the freezer. She filed a paternity suit in 1999 which resulted in a man being ordered to pay child support. Blair filed another suit in 2007 against another man which had the same result. Her brother Marlon Blair told the Detroit News earlier this week: 'It's too early to even say what this could be, or to make any judgments. 'She didn't have any emotional problems from what I'm aware of. I don't know what to say about this.' Assistant Chief Steve Dolunt told the Detroit News earlier this week it appeared the bodies had been in the freezer for 'over a year' and that the mother had been living in the apartment 'with other children while the bodies were in the freezer'. 'This is a terrible situation,' he said. No weapons were discovered after the apartment was searched and police do not yet have a motive. Neighbor Shanetria Lanier, 21, told the Detroit News Blair home-schooled her children and 'that's why no schools were wondering where they were'. There is no record of the children attending classes, according to a Detroit Public Schools official. People did notice that two of her children seemed to disappear about a year ago. Lanier told the newspaper: 'When people asked her where her other two kids are, she said they were at their aunt's house. 'Or sometimes she'd tell people they stayed inside because they didn't like to be around people.' Craig said the Detroit News that police were still 'trying to determine what happened'. The cause of death won't be known until after autopsies are conducted. Tori Childs, who also lives in the complex, told the Detroit News she often saw the children and sometimes gave them clothes or food. She said they were 'the nicest kids' who were 'so respectable'. 'This is just wrong,' she said in tears. Childs said she saw two bodies on the floor after police arrived at the home. 'It was a little girl and a little boy,' she said. 'The little girl had on a pink jacket.' Toni Williams, 28, left, and Natasha Bell, 30, leave balloons at the house on Wednesday . A neighbor, Tori Childs (center), was led away from the scene as law enforcement investigated on Tuesday . The two surviving children, a 17-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy, were placed in protective custody on Tuesday . Lanier told the Detroit News said her sister received a phone call around 6am on Tuesday from a woman who lives inside the apartment. The woman asked to stay at Lanier's sister's home with her two children that day, according to Lanier, and was there when the bodies were found. Police initially reported that they had a discovered a single body in the freezer. [/INST] Mitchelle Blair, 35, was arrested Tuesday .
The arrest took place after court officers serving an eviction notice at her home opened the freezer and found the bodies of her daughter .
The county medical examiner was hoping to conduct autopsies on the children's bodies Wednesday but had to wait until they had fully thawed .
Prosecutors believe that when they died, her daughter Stoni was 13 years old and her son Stephen was 9 .
Stoni would have been 15 now, if alive, and Stephen would have been 11 .
Blair has allegedly confessed to the murder of two of her children .
She describes herself as 'Loyal to my babies' on her Facebook page .
The two surviving children, a 17-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy, were placed in protective custody on Tuesday . </s> |
A crocodile was resting in the sun when it was suddenly pounced upon by three feisty lions. A spell-binding video documented the epic struggle between some of nature's toughest wildlife - but who will win? The tussle was filmed at the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya, home to hundreds of different species of birds and animals. Clash: A crocodile engages in an epic fight with three lions at the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya . The short film shows an intrepid lions gradually approaching the crocodile, which is resting in shallow water. As the lion gets closer the crocodile opens his jaw, ready to fight. But as it looks like the crocodile is ready to pounce, two more lions rush over to join in the scuffle. All three lunge at the reptile, which thrashes around in a bid to escape the big cats' teeth from sinking into its scales. After a few seconds the crocodile is back on the offensive, despite being outnumbered, sending splashes of water into the air as it faces up to the trio of attackers. Attack: Two lions joined in the fight as one of the big cats starts fighting with the crocodile . Sprint: The pair of big cats gain speed as the crocodile thrashes in the water and opens his jaw at their friend . In the next section of the film, two of them have temporarily moved away to find their next adventure - only to return when they see their big cat comrade squaring up to the crocodile once more. They clash again, this time the bravest of the trio attempting to put his paw on the reptile's head, clearly angering the creature. The trio dive on the crocodile, who thrashes around, jaw wide open, defending itself and its territory. It seems like it's time might be up, as the beasts circle it from all side, one leaping on its tail to pin it down. Take two: The fiesty crocodile bats back the attack from the trio, who fail to make the fatal contact . But the group fail to make the critical, final plunge, hesitating just enough to give the crocodile time for a counter-attack. Instead, it looks like the big cats want to keep their prey alive, so they can play with it some more. In the end they trot off and the crocodile is left alone to lounge in the sun - and all live to fight another day. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Fight between trio of lions and crocodile filmed in Kenyan nature reserve .
Crocodile lounging in sun is pounced on by the big cats looking for a fight .
Captivating video captures the struggle - but which creature is victorious? | 843de2fc1f957821dd35809d50c7a75c26f3fc8b | <s>[INST] A crocodile was resting in the sun when it was suddenly pounced upon by three feisty lions. A spell-binding video documented the epic struggle between some of nature's toughest wildlife - but who will win? The tussle was filmed at the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya, home to hundreds of different species of birds and animals. Clash: A crocodile engages in an epic fight with three lions at the Samburu National Reserve in Kenya . The short film shows an intrepid lions gradually approaching the crocodile, which is resting in shallow water. As the lion gets closer the crocodile opens his jaw, ready to fight. But as it looks like the crocodile is ready to pounce, two more lions rush over to join in the scuffle. All three lunge at the reptile, which thrashes around in a bid to escape the big cats' teeth from sinking into its scales. After a few seconds the crocodile is back on the offensive, despite being outnumbered, sending splashes of water into the air as it faces up to the trio of attackers. Attack: Two lions joined in the fight as one of the big cats starts fighting with the crocodile . Sprint: The pair of big cats gain speed as the crocodile thrashes in the water and opens his jaw at their friend . In the next section of the film, two of them have temporarily moved away to find their next adventure - only to return when they see their big cat comrade squaring up to the crocodile once more. They clash again, this time the bravest of the trio attempting to put his paw on the reptile's head, clearly angering the creature. The trio dive on the crocodile, who thrashes around, jaw wide open, defending itself and its territory. It seems like it's time might be up, as the beasts circle it from all side, one leaping on its tail to pin it down. Take two: The fiesty crocodile bats back the attack from the trio, who fail to make the fatal contact . But the group fail to make the critical, final plunge, hesitating just enough to give the crocodile time for a counter-attack. Instead, it looks like the big cats want to keep their prey alive, so they can play with it some more. In the end they trot off and the crocodile is left alone to lounge in the sun - and all live to fight another day. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. [/INST] Fight between trio of lions and crocodile filmed in Kenyan nature reserve .
Crocodile lounging in sun is pounced on by the big cats looking for a fight .
Captivating video captures the struggle - but which creature is victorious? </s> |
It was once a smoke-spewing industrial behemoth overlooking Sydney Harbour, providing power for the city's rail and tram network. But the now white elephant White Bay Power Station is set to be brought back to life thanks to a $1 billion makeover, with rumours Google has its sights set on it for its Australian headquarters. Built in 1912, the 38,000 square metre site has had a colourful past, and a tour through the ruins is like stepping back more than 100 years - if you can ignore the crumbling walls, eerie industrial equipment and 100 tonnes of bird droppings which covered the floor of the old dance hall. Asbestos-riddled and home to more pigeons than could be counted before Daily Mail Australia was taken through the cavernous building - not to mention the local bat colony - the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority spent nearly $5 million in 2014 to preserve what was still standing. Among the items still standing idle inside are the old lockers used by employees and storage rooms which dot the building, in this throwback to a bygone era. The bathrooms, fitted even before the advent of the First World War, are lined with graffiti now and the paint is peeling off the old ceramic tiles, which have been preserved in almost pristine condition hidden underneath. 'These buildings are so strong, there are no cracks, it will be great when it happens,' archaeologist Dr Wayne Johnson said. 'It is considered a very significant building and any work has to be done with a strict conservation plan but you can see there is a lot of room for everything else. 'The vastness of it, the great cavernous spaces, the machinery, there's nothing quite like this. 'All you see here represents the whole thing from 1912 until it closed in the 1980s. 'There's evidence of the whole history of its function and enough machinery has been kept so you understand what a power station does.' In the 1950s and 1960s, with the White Bay Power Station at its pomp, local swimmers happened across a novel and secret way to keep up their training in the cold winter months. The water, which would be used to bring the temperatures of the boilers down, would then run off through the underground canal and out into the nearby bay - where John Devitt, a 1960 Olympic gold medallist, was one of the first to recognise its benefits. Dr Johnson claims that 'it is like a piece of industrial archaeology, it reads like a book, you look and you know what it did'. Steve Tadic is the security guard and he keeps his precinct under a tight watch. He's spent more than 20 years in charge. 'Eh you, come here and sign the book' he calls out, with absolute authority, to two workmen who arrive and forget to report in. 'It was very dangerous before they did the work, the homeless people were here,' he said. 'It's a vast cavernous building and you just don't see space like this near a major city with so much artefact like machinery still intact,' said archaeologist Dr Wayne Johnson . The view from above. A watch-room, perched high above the work floor is badly amaged and decaying after decades of non-use . Asbestos sheets, broken glass and timber litters the no-go zone at the last remaining power station of its type in New South Wales . A staple of most dining halls in Australia in the past, the pie oven, this one from 1950, is found in the power station's dining room . Peering into the past and the secret of Olympic success. The canal flushing out the water used to cool the systems down would flow into the bay immediately outside the factory, which became a training pool for gold medal winners like John Devitt in the 1960s . Room with a million dollar view. Authorities have boarded up the windows of the disused power station but any extensive redevelopment will reveal a spectacular panorama of Sydney's famous harbour . The train lines into the old power station are still in place where locomotives laden with coal would unload into an underground storage before it was pushed up the conveyor belt (centre) and then fall down into the boiler rooms, pictured at right . The White Bay Power Station supplied most of the energy needed for Sydney's rail and tram system plus pumping electricity back into the main grid when demand was at high levels during winter and holiday periods . The two smoke stacks, which are 'like two beacons' pointing the way into the city of Sydney. It was once a smoke-spewing industrial behemoth overlooking Sydney Harbour, providing power for the city's rail and tram network. Sirocco machinery pictured inside the abandoned power station. The huge fans were developed for use in power stations in the late 1800s . The old boiler houses became a haven for "cave clan" urban explorers and graffiti gangs for more than 30 years before the restoration was undertaken and security beefed up . Much of the heavy oak desks and marble work has stood the test of time, including this clerical and reception space inside the original building at the White Bay Power Station . The main foreman's watch-room up above the factory floor in now in a sorry state, with vandals having taken to it as they had to many parts of the site . The White Bay Power Station was built from 1912, finally came on line in 1917 and operated until it was decommissioned in late 1983. It was the longest serving power station of its type. The original control room remains in place . Old bathrooms have been boarded up. The bathrooms are lined with graffiti now and the paint is peeling off the old ceramic tiles . The original entry point of the Power Station . The walls are showing the signs of wear and tear, with the original paintwork falling off . The workers' wash rooms, some items fitted before World War I, have been unused for decades . Asbestos riddled and home to more pigeons that could be counted and the local bat colony, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority spent nearly $5 million a year ago, to preserve what was left. But holes are still visible throughout the floor . The dance hall has been cleaned up, if not fully restored. Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority officials arrived to find 100 tonnes of bird droppings filling the room . The old stage remains intact inside the dance hall which hasn't seen any entertainment since the 1950s . The band stand in full flow during a Christmas party for the station's workers in the 1950s . Employees enjoying a performance in the dance hall at the White Bay Power Station in Sydney, just three kilometres from the CBD . The communications board too has somehow stood the test of time, a kind of early 20th century ABN . The walk down to the station engineer's office with signage making it clear the process required after hours . 'There's evidence of whole history of its function and enough machinery has been kept so you understand what a power station does. It is like a piece of industrial archaeology, it reads like a book, you look and you know what it did' said Dr Johnson . And how it looked way back when. The factory floor with boilers in full flow and workers keeping a close eye . One upon a time this equipment was providing most of the power for Sydney's train and tram system . The lights of days gone by litter the floors of the remaining boiler rooms . The roof fixed on the main building and dance hall tidied, there is still no access granted to the public, unless you've been taken through the security check and donned the white contamination suit, for concern over lingering levels of asbestos inside. Several sections are still boarded up to keep away the unwanted intruders, still, the most spectacular view of the harbour panorama that once was, is visible through the slats. The communications board too has somehow stood the test of time, set on the wall almost as a kind of early 20th century ABN. Sadly the definitive foreman towers, perched metres above the work-floor, are not so sound, clearly falling apart .. vandalised and struggling with the sands of time. Elsewhere, shattered glass and broken bits of timber need to be negotiated, as do collapsing floors for fear of plunging many metres. A danger zone, which even the city's so-called "cave-dwellers" have declared a no-go zone because of its decaying state. 'In 1912, when it was built, there was a certain capacity, and then in the 1920s they had to enlarge it and then the next boiler hall was brought in during the 50s.' Not only was it source of power for the red rattlers, it would also supplement Sydney's electricity needs during periods of high demand, particularly over Christmas and New Year, in the decades past. Those were the halcyon days, before the power station was decommissioned on Christmas Day in 1983. | There are plans to turn a 100-year-old abandoned and decaying coal-fired power station into a billion dollar shopping and apartment complex .
Pigeons and bats made the buildings their home for three decades until $5 million was spent to stop them destroying industrial artefacts .
100 tonnes of droppings had to be removed from the old dance hall .
The original boiler rooms and machinery have finally been preserved in the part-heritage listed site .
Rumours that Google may relocate its offices to the site .
Olympic swimmers in the 50s trained in the heated water flushed out of the station canal into the nearby bay during winter months . | 134ba2569079e459590a60a9af0bc3be7225b725 | <s>[INST] It was once a smoke-spewing industrial behemoth overlooking Sydney Harbour, providing power for the city's rail and tram network. But the now white elephant White Bay Power Station is set to be brought back to life thanks to a $1 billion makeover, with rumours Google has its sights set on it for its Australian headquarters. Built in 1912, the 38,000 square metre site has had a colourful past, and a tour through the ruins is like stepping back more than 100 years - if you can ignore the crumbling walls, eerie industrial equipment and 100 tonnes of bird droppings which covered the floor of the old dance hall. Asbestos-riddled and home to more pigeons than could be counted before Daily Mail Australia was taken through the cavernous building - not to mention the local bat colony - the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority spent nearly $5 million in 2014 to preserve what was still standing. Among the items still standing idle inside are the old lockers used by employees and storage rooms which dot the building, in this throwback to a bygone era. The bathrooms, fitted even before the advent of the First World War, are lined with graffiti now and the paint is peeling off the old ceramic tiles, which have been preserved in almost pristine condition hidden underneath. 'These buildings are so strong, there are no cracks, it will be great when it happens,' archaeologist Dr Wayne Johnson said. 'It is considered a very significant building and any work has to be done with a strict conservation plan but you can see there is a lot of room for everything else. 'The vastness of it, the great cavernous spaces, the machinery, there's nothing quite like this. 'All you see here represents the whole thing from 1912 until it closed in the 1980s. 'There's evidence of the whole history of its function and enough machinery has been kept so you understand what a power station does.' In the 1950s and 1960s, with the White Bay Power Station at its pomp, local swimmers happened across a novel and secret way to keep up their training in the cold winter months. The water, which would be used to bring the temperatures of the boilers down, would then run off through the underground canal and out into the nearby bay - where John Devitt, a 1960 Olympic gold medallist, was one of the first to recognise its benefits. Dr Johnson claims that 'it is like a piece of industrial archaeology, it reads like a book, you look and you know what it did'. Steve Tadic is the security guard and he keeps his precinct under a tight watch. He's spent more than 20 years in charge. 'Eh you, come here and sign the book' he calls out, with absolute authority, to two workmen who arrive and forget to report in. 'It was very dangerous before they did the work, the homeless people were here,' he said. 'It's a vast cavernous building and you just don't see space like this near a major city with so much artefact like machinery still intact,' said archaeologist Dr Wayne Johnson . The view from above. A watch-room, perched high above the work floor is badly amaged and decaying after decades of non-use . Asbestos sheets, broken glass and timber litters the no-go zone at the last remaining power station of its type in New South Wales . A staple of most dining halls in Australia in the past, the pie oven, this one from 1950, is found in the power station's dining room . Peering into the past and the secret of Olympic success. The canal flushing out the water used to cool the systems down would flow into the bay immediately outside the factory, which became a training pool for gold medal winners like John Devitt in the 1960s . Room with a million dollar view. Authorities have boarded up the windows of the disused power station but any extensive redevelopment will reveal a spectacular panorama of Sydney's famous harbour . The train lines into the old power station are still in place where locomotives laden with coal would unload into an underground storage before it was pushed up the conveyor belt (centre) and then fall down into the boiler rooms, pictured at right . The White Bay Power Station supplied most of the energy needed for Sydney's rail and tram system plus pumping electricity back into the main grid when demand was at high levels during winter and holiday periods . The two smoke stacks, which are 'like two beacons' pointing the way into the city of Sydney. It was once a smoke-spewing industrial behemoth overlooking Sydney Harbour, providing power for the city's rail and tram network. Sirocco machinery pictured inside the abandoned power station. The huge fans were developed for use in power stations in the late 1800s . The old boiler houses became a haven for "cave clan" urban explorers and graffiti gangs for more than 30 years before the restoration was undertaken and security beefed up . Much of the heavy oak desks and marble work has stood the test of time, including this clerical and reception space inside the original building at the White Bay Power Station . The main foreman's watch-room up above the factory floor in now in a sorry state, with vandals having taken to it as they had to many parts of the site . The White Bay Power Station was built from 1912, finally came on line in 1917 and operated until it was decommissioned in late 1983. It was the longest serving power station of its type. The original control room remains in place . Old bathrooms have been boarded up. The bathrooms are lined with graffiti now and the paint is peeling off the old ceramic tiles . The original entry point of the Power Station . The walls are showing the signs of wear and tear, with the original paintwork falling off . The workers' wash rooms, some items fitted before World War I, have been unused for decades . Asbestos riddled and home to more pigeons that could be counted and the local bat colony, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority spent nearly $5 million a year ago, to preserve what was left. But holes are still visible throughout the floor . The dance hall has been cleaned up, if not fully restored. Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority officials arrived to find 100 tonnes of bird droppings filling the room . The old stage remains intact inside the dance hall which hasn't seen any entertainment since the 1950s . The band stand in full flow during a Christmas party for the station's workers in the 1950s . Employees enjoying a performance in the dance hall at the White Bay Power Station in Sydney, just three kilometres from the CBD . The communications board too has somehow stood the test of time, a kind of early 20th century ABN . The walk down to the station engineer's office with signage making it clear the process required after hours . 'There's evidence of whole history of its function and enough machinery has been kept so you understand what a power station does. It is like a piece of industrial archaeology, it reads like a book, you look and you know what it did' said Dr Johnson . And how it looked way back when. The factory floor with boilers in full flow and workers keeping a close eye . One upon a time this equipment was providing most of the power for Sydney's train and tram system . The lights of days gone by litter the floors of the remaining boiler rooms . The roof fixed on the main building and dance hall tidied, there is still no access granted to the public, unless you've been taken through the security check and donned the white contamination suit, for concern over lingering levels of asbestos inside. Several sections are still boarded up to keep away the unwanted intruders, still, the most spectacular view of the harbour panorama that once was, is visible through the slats. The communications board too has somehow stood the test of time, set on the wall almost as a kind of early 20th century ABN. Sadly the definitive foreman towers, perched metres above the work-floor, are not so sound, clearly falling apart .. vandalised and struggling with the sands of time. Elsewhere, shattered glass and broken bits of timber need to be negotiated, as do collapsing floors for fear of plunging many metres. A danger zone, which even the city's so-called "cave-dwellers" have declared a no-go zone because of its decaying state. 'In 1912, when it was built, there was a certain capacity, and then in the 1920s they had to enlarge it and then the next boiler hall was brought in during the 50s.' Not only was it source of power for the red rattlers, it would also supplement Sydney's electricity needs during periods of high demand, particularly over Christmas and New Year, in the decades past. Those were the halcyon days, before the power station was decommissioned on Christmas Day in 1983. [/INST] There are plans to turn a 100-year-old abandoned and decaying coal-fired power station into a billion dollar shopping and apartment complex .
Pigeons and bats made the buildings their home for three decades until $5 million was spent to stop them destroying industrial artefacts .
100 tonnes of droppings had to be removed from the old dance hall .
The original boiler rooms and machinery have finally been preserved in the part-heritage listed site .
Rumours that Google may relocate its offices to the site .
Olympic swimmers in the 50s trained in the heated water flushed out of the station canal into the nearby bay during winter months . </s> |
The Food and Drug Administration is keeping a bold-letter warning on Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix about suicidal behavior and other psychiatric side effects, after reviewing company findings suggesting the drug does not increase those problems. The twice-a-day tablet has carried the FDA's strongest warning label since 2009, following reports of suicidal tendencies and violent or bizarre behavior among some patients. The FDA on Monday outlined several updates to Chantix's labeling, including a new warning about its potential interaction with alcohol. Some patients have reported unusual or aggressive behavior when drinking while on Chantix. Caution: Anti-smoking drug Chantix has carried the FDA's strongest warning label since 2009, following reports of suicidal tendencies and violent or bizarre behavior among some patients . 'The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that the prescription smoking cessation medicine Chantix (varenicline) can change the way people react to alcohol,' the agency said. 'In addition, rare accounts of seizures in patients treated with Chantix have been reported. We have approved changes to the Chantix label to warn about these risks. Until patients know how Chantix affects their ability to tolerate alcohol, they should decrease the amount of alcohol they drink. Patients who have a seizure while taking Chantix should stop the medicine and seek medical attention immediately.' The updated labeling also includes information from several studies and analyses conducted by Pfizer that found no difference in psychiatric problems between people taking Chantix and other stop-smoking treatments. 'These studies did not show an increased risk of neuropsychiatric side effects with Chantix; however, they did not examine all types of neuropsychiatric side effects, and they had limitations that prevented us from drawing reliable conclusions,' the FDA said. Last year Pfizer proposed that the FDA remove Chantix's so-called black box warning based on the company's findings and other data. Warning: The FDA on Monday outlined several updates to Chantix's labeling, including a new warning about its potential interaction with alcohol. Some patients have reported unusual or aggressive behavior when drinking while on Chantix . The agency's update follows the recommendation of a panel of outside experts, who voted last October to keep the boxed warning on the drug until it can be reevaluated based on new information. New York-based Pfizer is expected to complete a larger study of Chantix's psychiatric side effects in late 2015. Chantix's safety has been debated in medical journals and courtrooms since 2007, when reports of suicide, agitation and other problems first began streaming into the FDA. The drug's labeling currently tells patients to stop taking Chantix immediately if they experience agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thinking and other behavioral changes. Doctors are advised to weigh the drug's risks against its potential benefits of helping patients quit smoking. Pfizer's drug works by binding to the same spots in the brain that are activated by nicotine when people smoke. The drug, known generically as varenicline, blocks nicotine from binding to those spots and prevents the release of 'feel-good' brain chemicals that make smoking so addictive. | The FDA is keeping a bold-letter warning on Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix about suicidal behavior and other psychiatric side effects .
The tablet has carried the FDA's strongest warning label since 2009 .
That followed reports of suicidal tendencies and violent or bizarre behavior among some patients .
The FDA on Monday outlined several updates to Chantix's labeling, including a new warning about its potential interaction with alcohol .
Some patients have reported unusual or aggressive behavior when drinking while on Chantix . | dbe9ab1a8952f9e39690ee6e64ce854d449caf8e | <s>[INST] The Food and Drug Administration is keeping a bold-letter warning on Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix about suicidal behavior and other psychiatric side effects, after reviewing company findings suggesting the drug does not increase those problems. The twice-a-day tablet has carried the FDA's strongest warning label since 2009, following reports of suicidal tendencies and violent or bizarre behavior among some patients. The FDA on Monday outlined several updates to Chantix's labeling, including a new warning about its potential interaction with alcohol. Some patients have reported unusual or aggressive behavior when drinking while on Chantix. Caution: Anti-smoking drug Chantix has carried the FDA's strongest warning label since 2009, following reports of suicidal tendencies and violent or bizarre behavior among some patients . 'The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that the prescription smoking cessation medicine Chantix (varenicline) can change the way people react to alcohol,' the agency said. 'In addition, rare accounts of seizures in patients treated with Chantix have been reported. We have approved changes to the Chantix label to warn about these risks. Until patients know how Chantix affects their ability to tolerate alcohol, they should decrease the amount of alcohol they drink. Patients who have a seizure while taking Chantix should stop the medicine and seek medical attention immediately.' The updated labeling also includes information from several studies and analyses conducted by Pfizer that found no difference in psychiatric problems between people taking Chantix and other stop-smoking treatments. 'These studies did not show an increased risk of neuropsychiatric side effects with Chantix; however, they did not examine all types of neuropsychiatric side effects, and they had limitations that prevented us from drawing reliable conclusions,' the FDA said. Last year Pfizer proposed that the FDA remove Chantix's so-called black box warning based on the company's findings and other data. Warning: The FDA on Monday outlined several updates to Chantix's labeling, including a new warning about its potential interaction with alcohol. Some patients have reported unusual or aggressive behavior when drinking while on Chantix . The agency's update follows the recommendation of a panel of outside experts, who voted last October to keep the boxed warning on the drug until it can be reevaluated based on new information. New York-based Pfizer is expected to complete a larger study of Chantix's psychiatric side effects in late 2015. Chantix's safety has been debated in medical journals and courtrooms since 2007, when reports of suicide, agitation and other problems first began streaming into the FDA. The drug's labeling currently tells patients to stop taking Chantix immediately if they experience agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thinking and other behavioral changes. Doctors are advised to weigh the drug's risks against its potential benefits of helping patients quit smoking. Pfizer's drug works by binding to the same spots in the brain that are activated by nicotine when people smoke. The drug, known generically as varenicline, blocks nicotine from binding to those spots and prevents the release of 'feel-good' brain chemicals that make smoking so addictive. [/INST] The FDA is keeping a bold-letter warning on Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix about suicidal behavior and other psychiatric side effects .
The tablet has carried the FDA's strongest warning label since 2009 .
That followed reports of suicidal tendencies and violent or bizarre behavior among some patients .
The FDA on Monday outlined several updates to Chantix's labeling, including a new warning about its potential interaction with alcohol .
Some patients have reported unusual or aggressive behavior when drinking while on Chantix . </s> |
A man has been charged with the murder a Food Network star and her husband. Cristie Codd and her husband Joseph of Leicester, North Carolina, were reported missing on Sunday, and now police have charged Robert Jason Owens with two counts of first degree murder, one count of murder of an unborn child, breaking and entering, and larceny after breaking and entering. Cristie, who was a competitor on the eighth season of the show Food Network Star, was five months pregnant. Cristie Codd and her husband Joseph (above) were reported missing on Sunday, and on Monday it was revealed the couple had been murdered . On Tuesday, Robert Jason Owens (above) was charged with killing the couple and stealing jewelry, a computer and a Glock from their home . The couple had been using Owens, who owns a construction company, to do some work at their home (above) Fox Carolina reports that authorities believe Christie, 38, and Joseph, 45, were killed on Thursday, and that Owens returned to the couple's home on Sunday and ran off with their 'laptop computer, jewelry and a Glock handgun' Police have yet to comment on how the couple were killed as their bodies have not yet been discovered. Their cars and two dogs were found at their home. Owens, who is being held without bail, appeared in court on Tuesday where he requested an attorney and his next hearing was scheduled for April. He had also been a suspect in the disappearance of 18-year-old Zebb Quinn in January 2000, a case that remains unsolved. The couple had been using Owens, who owns a construction company, to do some work at their home. They were both set to leave for work on Sunday, with Cristie catering on a movie set and Joseph heading off to Los Angeles to work as a key grip on a production. It was a very big movie set for Cristie too, as she had just announced her company, Tree Hugger Catering, would be providing food on the set of The Big Short, starring Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Steve Carell. Cristie had just announced her company, Tree Hugger Catering, would be providing food on the set of The Big Short . James Fisher, a member of a local band that played the Codds' wedding last September, said the two were a 'beautiful couple' He told the Citizen-Times of Joesph; 'I know he believed in giving people second chances, and he'd hired people out there who'd been in prison.' As for playing at their wedding, he said; 'He made sure we were taken care of. They brought us over a cooler of beer. Just a great couple.' It is still unclear what Owens' motive was behind the alleged murder. Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams has said he has not yet decided if he will ask for the death penalty in this case. | Cristie Codd and her husband Joseph of Leicester, North Carolina, were reported missing on Sunday .
Cristie, who appeared on the eighth season of Food Network Star, was five months pregnant .
On Tuesday, Robert Jason Owens was charged with killing the couple and stealing jewelry, a computer and a Glock from their home .
The couple had been using Owens, who owns a construction company, to do some work at their home .
Police have yet to release details on how the couple was killed as their bodies have still not been recovered .
Cristie had just announced she would be catering on the set of The Big Short starring Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Steve Carell . | d58dcee25d79f63ea834f4fc8f7f42ba7354177e | <s>[INST] A man has been charged with the murder a Food Network star and her husband. Cristie Codd and her husband Joseph of Leicester, North Carolina, were reported missing on Sunday, and now police have charged Robert Jason Owens with two counts of first degree murder, one count of murder of an unborn child, breaking and entering, and larceny after breaking and entering. Cristie, who was a competitor on the eighth season of the show Food Network Star, was five months pregnant. Cristie Codd and her husband Joseph (above) were reported missing on Sunday, and on Monday it was revealed the couple had been murdered . On Tuesday, Robert Jason Owens (above) was charged with killing the couple and stealing jewelry, a computer and a Glock from their home . The couple had been using Owens, who owns a construction company, to do some work at their home (above) Fox Carolina reports that authorities believe Christie, 38, and Joseph, 45, were killed on Thursday, and that Owens returned to the couple's home on Sunday and ran off with their 'laptop computer, jewelry and a Glock handgun' Police have yet to comment on how the couple were killed as their bodies have not yet been discovered. Their cars and two dogs were found at their home. Owens, who is being held without bail, appeared in court on Tuesday where he requested an attorney and his next hearing was scheduled for April. He had also been a suspect in the disappearance of 18-year-old Zebb Quinn in January 2000, a case that remains unsolved. The couple had been using Owens, who owns a construction company, to do some work at their home. They were both set to leave for work on Sunday, with Cristie catering on a movie set and Joseph heading off to Los Angeles to work as a key grip on a production. It was a very big movie set for Cristie too, as she had just announced her company, Tree Hugger Catering, would be providing food on the set of The Big Short, starring Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Steve Carell. Cristie had just announced her company, Tree Hugger Catering, would be providing food on the set of The Big Short . James Fisher, a member of a local band that played the Codds' wedding last September, said the two were a 'beautiful couple' He told the Citizen-Times of Joesph; 'I know he believed in giving people second chances, and he'd hired people out there who'd been in prison.' As for playing at their wedding, he said; 'He made sure we were taken care of. They brought us over a cooler of beer. Just a great couple.' It is still unclear what Owens' motive was behind the alleged murder. Buncombe County District Attorney Todd Williams has said he has not yet decided if he will ask for the death penalty in this case. [/INST] Cristie Codd and her husband Joseph of Leicester, North Carolina, were reported missing on Sunday .
Cristie, who appeared on the eighth season of Food Network Star, was five months pregnant .
On Tuesday, Robert Jason Owens was charged with killing the couple and stealing jewelry, a computer and a Glock from their home .
The couple had been using Owens, who owns a construction company, to do some work at their home .
Police have yet to release details on how the couple was killed as their bodies have still not been recovered .
Cristie had just announced she would be catering on the set of The Big Short starring Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale and Steve Carell . </s> |
One of Sydney's busiest tunnel roads was thrown into chaos today when a car exploded into a ball of flames. The silver Toyota four-wheel-drive burst into fire about 6:30pm on Sunday in the Domain tunnel, causing major traffic delays and widespread fear. The flames engulfed the car but luckily the three people travelling in the Rav 4 managed to escape without any injury. Scroll down for video . One of Sydney's busiest tunnel roads was thrown into chaos today when a car exploded into a ball of flames . The silver Toyota four-wheel-drive burst into fire about 6:30pm on Sunday in the Domain tunnel, causing major traffic delays and widespread fear . It is still unknown what caused the incident but emergency services are investigating the situation. In a video posted on the Kyle and Jackie O show, a passer-by managed to capture the unbelievable scene. The car appears to be facing the right way in the tunnel but the whole bonnet is covered in flames. According to Live Traffic Sydney's Twitter page, the tunnel will be closed for the remainder of the night as emergency repair work is conducted. Live Traffic Sydney updated Twitter users and have said that the tunnel will be closed from 10pm tonight for emergency repair work . The flames engulfed the car but luckily the three people travelling in the Rav 4 managed to escape without any injury . Traffic delays have subsided since the incident but motorists have been advised to avoid the area as the sprinklers in the tunnel were still running. All lanes were closed in both directions for one hour with traffic being diverted at Macquarie Street. However the tunnel reopened about 8pm and traffic began to enter the tunnel as normal. The car was towed and motorists were advised to avoid the area and use the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Traffic delays have subsided since the incident but motorists have been advised to avoid the area as the sprinklers in the tunnel were still running . The car was towed and motorists were advised to avoid the area and use the Sydney Harbour Bridge . | A car exploded into flames on one of Sydney's busiest roads .
The fire caused the closure of the Domain tunnel .
It is unknown what caused the fire and is under investigation .
All three people who were travelling in the car escaped without injury . | a66b771328b89cb1b91e853e170cf2dcd4c3d42d | <s>[INST] One of Sydney's busiest tunnel roads was thrown into chaos today when a car exploded into a ball of flames. The silver Toyota four-wheel-drive burst into fire about 6:30pm on Sunday in the Domain tunnel, causing major traffic delays and widespread fear. The flames engulfed the car but luckily the three people travelling in the Rav 4 managed to escape without any injury. Scroll down for video . One of Sydney's busiest tunnel roads was thrown into chaos today when a car exploded into a ball of flames . The silver Toyota four-wheel-drive burst into fire about 6:30pm on Sunday in the Domain tunnel, causing major traffic delays and widespread fear . It is still unknown what caused the incident but emergency services are investigating the situation. In a video posted on the Kyle and Jackie O show, a passer-by managed to capture the unbelievable scene. The car appears to be facing the right way in the tunnel but the whole bonnet is covered in flames. According to Live Traffic Sydney's Twitter page, the tunnel will be closed for the remainder of the night as emergency repair work is conducted. Live Traffic Sydney updated Twitter users and have said that the tunnel will be closed from 10pm tonight for emergency repair work . The flames engulfed the car but luckily the three people travelling in the Rav 4 managed to escape without any injury . Traffic delays have subsided since the incident but motorists have been advised to avoid the area as the sprinklers in the tunnel were still running. All lanes were closed in both directions for one hour with traffic being diverted at Macquarie Street. However the tunnel reopened about 8pm and traffic began to enter the tunnel as normal. The car was towed and motorists were advised to avoid the area and use the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Traffic delays have subsided since the incident but motorists have been advised to avoid the area as the sprinklers in the tunnel were still running . The car was towed and motorists were advised to avoid the area and use the Sydney Harbour Bridge . [/INST] A car exploded into flames on one of Sydney's busiest roads .
The fire caused the closure of the Domain tunnel .
It is unknown what caused the fire and is under investigation .
All three people who were travelling in the car escaped without injury . </s> |
The families of nine people killed in the Newtown elementary school shooting have filed lawsuits against the estate of the gunman's mother. The lawsuits allege that Nancy Lanza incorrectly secured her legally owned Bushmaster AR-15 rifle, which her troubled adult son, Adam Lanza, used to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, the Connecticut Post reported Friday. Adam Lanza killed his mother at their Newtown home before carrying out the school shooting and committing suicide as police arrived. The families of nine people killed in the Newtown elementary school shooting have filed lawsuits against the estate of shooter Adam Lanza's mother, Nancy Lanza. The lawsuits reportedly seek to collect on her homeowner's insurance. Mrs. Lanza's home is seen in this 2014 file photo . The lawsuits seek to collect on Nancy Lanza's homeowner's insurance, the Connecticut Post reported. Bridgeport lawyer Josh Koskoff, representing eight of the families suing, said homeowner's insurance applies when a person is injured as a result of an unsecured firearm in a home being accessed by a third party. 'With this many claimants, the money ends up being a symbolic gesture, but it serves as an important reminder that people who keep firearms in the home must be scrupulous about securing their weapons,' Koskoff said in a statement, adding that the policy is estimated to be worth between $1 million and $1.5 million. Eight lawsuits were filed in Bridgeport, and one lawsuit was filed in Danbury by Angelo Ziotas, the Connecticut Post reported. A status conference for the eight lawsuits is set to take place in Bridgeport Superior Court next month, according to the newspaper. Shooter: Adam Lanza killed his mother at their Newtown home before carrying out the school shooting and committing suicide as police arrived . Attorney John Majewski, who represents Nancy Lanza's estate, is seeking to have all the cases consolidated into one, according to the newspaper. Koskoff, Ziotas, and Majewski did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment from Daily Mail Online on Sunday. A publicist for Koskoff's law firm sent his earlier statement to Daily Mail Online on Monday. Koskoff's law firm also is suing the maker and sellers of the Bushmaster AR-15 rifle on behalf of families of the school shooting victims. The wrongful-death and negligence lawsuit says the rifle should not have been sold for civilian use because of its overwhelming firepower. Bushmaster, which on its website has a warning against improper or careless handling of its firearms, hasn't filed a response to the lawsuit in federal court but has indicated it intends to file a motion to dismiss it. Newtown officials bought the Lanzas' home from Nancy Lanza's estate for $1 and voted in January to tear it down. | The families of nine people killed in the Newtown elementary school shooting have filed lawsuits against the estate of the gunman's mother .
The suits claim Nancy Lanza incorrectly secured her legally owned Bushmaster AR-15 rifle .
Her troubled son Adam Lanza used the rifle to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012 .
Adam Lanza killed his mother at their Newtown home before carrying out the school shooting and committing suicide as police arrived . | 24234dfce4ce68efc3a57f7ff8c5d400d4ab1062 | <s>[INST] The families of nine people killed in the Newtown elementary school shooting have filed lawsuits against the estate of the gunman's mother. The lawsuits allege that Nancy Lanza incorrectly secured her legally owned Bushmaster AR-15 rifle, which her troubled adult son, Adam Lanza, used to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012, the Connecticut Post reported Friday. Adam Lanza killed his mother at their Newtown home before carrying out the school shooting and committing suicide as police arrived. The families of nine people killed in the Newtown elementary school shooting have filed lawsuits against the estate of shooter Adam Lanza's mother, Nancy Lanza. The lawsuits reportedly seek to collect on her homeowner's insurance. Mrs. Lanza's home is seen in this 2014 file photo . The lawsuits seek to collect on Nancy Lanza's homeowner's insurance, the Connecticut Post reported. Bridgeport lawyer Josh Koskoff, representing eight of the families suing, said homeowner's insurance applies when a person is injured as a result of an unsecured firearm in a home being accessed by a third party. 'With this many claimants, the money ends up being a symbolic gesture, but it serves as an important reminder that people who keep firearms in the home must be scrupulous about securing their weapons,' Koskoff said in a statement, adding that the policy is estimated to be worth between $1 million and $1.5 million. Eight lawsuits were filed in Bridgeport, and one lawsuit was filed in Danbury by Angelo Ziotas, the Connecticut Post reported. A status conference for the eight lawsuits is set to take place in Bridgeport Superior Court next month, according to the newspaper. Shooter: Adam Lanza killed his mother at their Newtown home before carrying out the school shooting and committing suicide as police arrived . Attorney John Majewski, who represents Nancy Lanza's estate, is seeking to have all the cases consolidated into one, according to the newspaper. Koskoff, Ziotas, and Majewski did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment from Daily Mail Online on Sunday. A publicist for Koskoff's law firm sent his earlier statement to Daily Mail Online on Monday. Koskoff's law firm also is suing the maker and sellers of the Bushmaster AR-15 rifle on behalf of families of the school shooting victims. The wrongful-death and negligence lawsuit says the rifle should not have been sold for civilian use because of its overwhelming firepower. Bushmaster, which on its website has a warning against improper or careless handling of its firearms, hasn't filed a response to the lawsuit in federal court but has indicated it intends to file a motion to dismiss it. Newtown officials bought the Lanzas' home from Nancy Lanza's estate for $1 and voted in January to tear it down. [/INST] The families of nine people killed in the Newtown elementary school shooting have filed lawsuits against the estate of the gunman's mother .
The suits claim Nancy Lanza incorrectly secured her legally owned Bushmaster AR-15 rifle .
Her troubled son Adam Lanza used the rifle to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012 .
Adam Lanza killed his mother at their Newtown home before carrying out the school shooting and committing suicide as police arrived . </s> |
Child benefit could be limited to only three children, under plans being considered by the Tories. The proposals will only hit babies born after the law has been changed and could save the Government £300million a year. At the moment there are around 320,000 families with four or more children. The Chancellor George Osborne is resisting proposals from the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith to cap child benefit at three children . Child benefit is paid to families with children under 16 – or under 20 if they are in education or training. But since 2013 families with one parent earning more than £50,000 a year have been excluded from claiming the benefit. It currently pays £20.50 a week for a first child, then £13.55 for other children. James Browne, of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the move would eventually save hundreds of millions of pounds – but not for another 18 years because it only affects babies born after the law is changed. Child benefit is paid families with children under 16 - or under 20 if they are in education or training - and is worth £20.50 a week for a first child, then £13.55 for other children. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has previously proposed a two-child limit, but George Osborne is understood to have rejected it. The Treasury is now ‘softening’ to the idea and is examining the details. Tory MP Dominic Raab said it was not purely about cost but could ‘send a message about personal responsibility’. He said: ‘There is a much broader point than just the financial bean counting,’ he said. ‘It's the kind of welfare system we want - do we want a social safety net or are we saying that welfare is somehow a lifestyle choice? ‘And I think we do want the welfare system to send a message about personal responsibility, and yes that includes parents saving and taking some responsibility for the size of their family, making sure it's according to their means.’ But Labour MP Dame Anne Begg said people did not have children for child benefit and asked ‘why pick on’ large families. She said: ‘I don't think you have a child because you're going to get an extra... £13.55 a week.’ Dame Anne added: ‘Only one in seven families have three or more children - it's a small number - so why pick on them?’ | Controversial proposal would only hit babies born after rule is introduced .
At the moment there are around 320,000 families with four or more children .
Child benefit paid to under 16s - or under 20s in education or training .
It is worth £20.50 a week for a first child, then £13.55 for other children .
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is championing the plan . | 90c9d810e91f5ba76f2492437d6d125bfe0d0c42 | <s>[INST] Child benefit could be limited to only three children, under plans being considered by the Tories. The proposals will only hit babies born after the law has been changed and could save the Government £300million a year. At the moment there are around 320,000 families with four or more children. The Chancellor George Osborne is resisting proposals from the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith to cap child benefit at three children . Child benefit is paid to families with children under 16 – or under 20 if they are in education or training. But since 2013 families with one parent earning more than £50,000 a year have been excluded from claiming the benefit. It currently pays £20.50 a week for a first child, then £13.55 for other children. James Browne, of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the move would eventually save hundreds of millions of pounds – but not for another 18 years because it only affects babies born after the law is changed. Child benefit is paid families with children under 16 - or under 20 if they are in education or training - and is worth £20.50 a week for a first child, then £13.55 for other children. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has previously proposed a two-child limit, but George Osborne is understood to have rejected it. The Treasury is now ‘softening’ to the idea and is examining the details. Tory MP Dominic Raab said it was not purely about cost but could ‘send a message about personal responsibility’. He said: ‘There is a much broader point than just the financial bean counting,’ he said. ‘It's the kind of welfare system we want - do we want a social safety net or are we saying that welfare is somehow a lifestyle choice? ‘And I think we do want the welfare system to send a message about personal responsibility, and yes that includes parents saving and taking some responsibility for the size of their family, making sure it's according to their means.’ But Labour MP Dame Anne Begg said people did not have children for child benefit and asked ‘why pick on’ large families. She said: ‘I don't think you have a child because you're going to get an extra... £13.55 a week.’ Dame Anne added: ‘Only one in seven families have three or more children - it's a small number - so why pick on them?’ [/INST] Controversial proposal would only hit babies born after rule is introduced .
At the moment there are around 320,000 families with four or more children .
Child benefit paid to under 16s - or under 20s in education or training .
It is worth £20.50 a week for a first child, then £13.55 for other children .
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is championing the plan . </s> |
A grandfather has transformed his garden into an Oriental haven complete with a Japanese tea house shed - in Essex. Derek Verlander has never been to the Far East but has spent 30 years at his home near Chelmsford creating an elaborate Japanese-style garden. Its tea house centrepiece holds a collection of Samurai swords, sake jars, lanterns and other Japanese ornaments. Oriental wonderland: Derek Verlander has spent 30 years at his home near Chelmsford creating an elaborate Japanese-style garden . In the middle: The garden's tea house centrepiece holds a collection of Samurai swords, sake jars, lanterns and other Japanese ornaments . Mr Verlander - who has entered the 2015 Shed of the Year competition - turned a disused railway cutting into a pretty pond with koi carp. And his beautiful garden also boasts a Japanese-style bridge, 40ft waterfall, bonsai trees and Buddha statues. Other sheds entered for the annual competition include a castle, bar, nightclub, diner, beach hut, pirate ship, pagoda and chapel. They are located in areas from Cheshire to Northamptonshire and Surrey to Nottinghamshire – and entries are still being accepted until April 7. The competition, which celebrates the best of British sheds, invites 'sheddies' to enter their unusual shed creations for a chance to win £1,000. Retired print worker Mr Verlander said that he relied on library books and magazines for inspiration about all things Japanese. He said: ‘The end of my garden is in a dip from a railway cutting. 'Some of my neighbours filled theirs in but I decided to create a pond and got some koi carp from a woman in Basildon. King of the castle: The Ballroom Shed in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, which is another entry in the 2015 Shed of the Year competition . Wheely good: The Pear Tree Wedding HQ shed in Northamptonshire - the base of a vintage and classic Volkswagen wedding hire company . Small opening: The Hobbit House in Merseyside, which has entered the annual competition sponsored by garden woodcare firm Cuprinol . ‘Then when I looked on books about koi carp, I saw pictures of Japanese gardens and thought that was a nice theme to go with. At the beginning, the garden was a wilderness. 'It has become a 30-year project, doing a bit more year by year. 'I got the idea of the Japanese bridge from a picture of one I saw in a library book. ‘I have had three bridges down the years as the first two were made from soft wood that rotted. 'I prune holly bushes and fir trees into different shapes to make the garden look more Japanese. ‘I have got two Buddhas and three statues of bald-headed monks. 'And five years ago, I saw a picture in a magazine featuring the Chelsea Flower Show of a traditional Japanese tea house. So I decided to create a Westernised version of it.’ Mr Verlander was quoted £7,000 by a local firm to build the tea house – so set about doing it himself for under £1,000. Idyllic location: The Otter Retreat Shed in Nottinghamshire, which has been entered by one of many 'sheddies' in Britain . Yo ho ho: The impressive Pirate Retreat in Croydon (left) and the unusually-shaped Curves and Colour Shed in London (right) Nautical bar: The interior of the Jack & Anchor Shed in Saltash, Cornwall - near Plymouth - which is another entry in the competition . The two-tier roof is made of cedar shingles with frosted Perspex used for the walls and doors. Mr Verlander relied on recycled kitchen doors and shower screens too to cut costs. The tea house also contains a tropical fish tank, TV and DVD player, sound system, bar, fridge - and a kettle. Mr Verlander said: ‘I have never actually been to Japan and I prefer ordinary tea, so I have Typhoo in the teahouse. My wife Linda and I have the odd gin and tonic in there too. 'I collect Japanese ornaments for the tea house very cheaply from charity shops. 'I got some sake jars for only 30 pence each. My wife has girls’ evenings in the tea house with her friends and our grandchildren love it - although they call it the “treehouse”. “I go down there every day to feed the fish. If I win the “Shed of the Year” competition I will have to put the prize money towards a trip to Japan for us.’ Up high: Terry's Treehouse in Gloucestershire (left) and the Bikers Shed in Bosham near Chichester, West Sussex (right) Fancy a drink? The Moody Cow in Great Sutton, Cheshire - an entry to the competition, which celebrates the best of British sheds . The Shedservatory Shed in Amersham in Buckinghamshire is styled around the design of a conservatory but in an outdoor wooden shed . The Picked Newt Shed from Wirksworth in Derbyshire has been created as a pub, complete with beer taps, bar stools and fruit machines . In Northamptonshire Pear Tree weddings have made a shed their headquarters, housing dozens of rolls of ribbon and decorations . The competition is sponsored by garden woodcare firm Cuprinol . [SOURCE: Cuprinol research] . The company's latest survey of 1,500 shed owners revealed that they average 1.7 hours a week - nearly four whole days a year - in their shack. The average value of shed contents is £450 but almost three quarters – 71 per cent - are hoarding useless items in their sheds. And almost a third - 32 per cent - admit their shed is so messy that they can barely get in through the door. A Cuprinol spokesman said: ‘It’s clear from this year’s report that the nation are still fanatical about their sheds. ‘We really do hope it will inspire those who are hoarding useless items to clear out their sheds and show them some love. ‘Whatever you use your shed for, the annual Shed of the Year competition celebrates the best of British sheds.’ | Derek Verlander has never been to the Far East but has spent 30 years creating elaborate Japanese-style garden .
Tea house centrepiece at garden near Chelmsford, Essex, holds Samurai sword collection, sake jars and lanterns .
His garden is among entrants for 2015 Shed of the Year competition - which still has a month until its closing date .
Other sheds entered for the annual competition include a castle, bar, nightclub, diner, beach hut and pirate ship . | b8a4a0e7cf35401669f9ee3d129462a20adaef8e | <s>[INST] A grandfather has transformed his garden into an Oriental haven complete with a Japanese tea house shed - in Essex. Derek Verlander has never been to the Far East but has spent 30 years at his home near Chelmsford creating an elaborate Japanese-style garden. Its tea house centrepiece holds a collection of Samurai swords, sake jars, lanterns and other Japanese ornaments. Oriental wonderland: Derek Verlander has spent 30 years at his home near Chelmsford creating an elaborate Japanese-style garden . In the middle: The garden's tea house centrepiece holds a collection of Samurai swords, sake jars, lanterns and other Japanese ornaments . Mr Verlander - who has entered the 2015 Shed of the Year competition - turned a disused railway cutting into a pretty pond with koi carp. And his beautiful garden also boasts a Japanese-style bridge, 40ft waterfall, bonsai trees and Buddha statues. Other sheds entered for the annual competition include a castle, bar, nightclub, diner, beach hut, pirate ship, pagoda and chapel. They are located in areas from Cheshire to Northamptonshire and Surrey to Nottinghamshire – and entries are still being accepted until April 7. The competition, which celebrates the best of British sheds, invites 'sheddies' to enter their unusual shed creations for a chance to win £1,000. Retired print worker Mr Verlander said that he relied on library books and magazines for inspiration about all things Japanese. He said: ‘The end of my garden is in a dip from a railway cutting. 'Some of my neighbours filled theirs in but I decided to create a pond and got some koi carp from a woman in Basildon. King of the castle: The Ballroom Shed in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, which is another entry in the 2015 Shed of the Year competition . Wheely good: The Pear Tree Wedding HQ shed in Northamptonshire - the base of a vintage and classic Volkswagen wedding hire company . Small opening: The Hobbit House in Merseyside, which has entered the annual competition sponsored by garden woodcare firm Cuprinol . ‘Then when I looked on books about koi carp, I saw pictures of Japanese gardens and thought that was a nice theme to go with. At the beginning, the garden was a wilderness. 'It has become a 30-year project, doing a bit more year by year. 'I got the idea of the Japanese bridge from a picture of one I saw in a library book. ‘I have had three bridges down the years as the first two were made from soft wood that rotted. 'I prune holly bushes and fir trees into different shapes to make the garden look more Japanese. ‘I have got two Buddhas and three statues of bald-headed monks. 'And five years ago, I saw a picture in a magazine featuring the Chelsea Flower Show of a traditional Japanese tea house. So I decided to create a Westernised version of it.’ Mr Verlander was quoted £7,000 by a local firm to build the tea house – so set about doing it himself for under £1,000. Idyllic location: The Otter Retreat Shed in Nottinghamshire, which has been entered by one of many 'sheddies' in Britain . Yo ho ho: The impressive Pirate Retreat in Croydon (left) and the unusually-shaped Curves and Colour Shed in London (right) Nautical bar: The interior of the Jack & Anchor Shed in Saltash, Cornwall - near Plymouth - which is another entry in the competition . The two-tier roof is made of cedar shingles with frosted Perspex used for the walls and doors. Mr Verlander relied on recycled kitchen doors and shower screens too to cut costs. The tea house also contains a tropical fish tank, TV and DVD player, sound system, bar, fridge - and a kettle. Mr Verlander said: ‘I have never actually been to Japan and I prefer ordinary tea, so I have Typhoo in the teahouse. My wife Linda and I have the odd gin and tonic in there too. 'I collect Japanese ornaments for the tea house very cheaply from charity shops. 'I got some sake jars for only 30 pence each. My wife has girls’ evenings in the tea house with her friends and our grandchildren love it - although they call it the “treehouse”. “I go down there every day to feed the fish. If I win the “Shed of the Year” competition I will have to put the prize money towards a trip to Japan for us.’ Up high: Terry's Treehouse in Gloucestershire (left) and the Bikers Shed in Bosham near Chichester, West Sussex (right) Fancy a drink? The Moody Cow in Great Sutton, Cheshire - an entry to the competition, which celebrates the best of British sheds . The Shedservatory Shed in Amersham in Buckinghamshire is styled around the design of a conservatory but in an outdoor wooden shed . The Picked Newt Shed from Wirksworth in Derbyshire has been created as a pub, complete with beer taps, bar stools and fruit machines . In Northamptonshire Pear Tree weddings have made a shed their headquarters, housing dozens of rolls of ribbon and decorations . The competition is sponsored by garden woodcare firm Cuprinol . [SOURCE: Cuprinol research] . The company's latest survey of 1,500 shed owners revealed that they average 1.7 hours a week - nearly four whole days a year - in their shack. The average value of shed contents is £450 but almost three quarters – 71 per cent - are hoarding useless items in their sheds. And almost a third - 32 per cent - admit their shed is so messy that they can barely get in through the door. A Cuprinol spokesman said: ‘It’s clear from this year’s report that the nation are still fanatical about their sheds. ‘We really do hope it will inspire those who are hoarding useless items to clear out their sheds and show them some love. ‘Whatever you use your shed for, the annual Shed of the Year competition celebrates the best of British sheds.’ [/INST] Derek Verlander has never been to the Far East but has spent 30 years creating elaborate Japanese-style garden .
Tea house centrepiece at garden near Chelmsford, Essex, holds Samurai sword collection, sake jars and lanterns .
His garden is among entrants for 2015 Shed of the Year competition - which still has a month until its closing date .
Other sheds entered for the annual competition include a castle, bar, nightclub, diner, beach hut and pirate ship . </s> |
Secret Service agents will now have to wait 10 hours to drive government cars if they've been drinking alcohol, according to an internal agency memo. The stricter policy comes weeks after a video surfaced showing two agents hitting a security barricade just outside a secured bomb-threat investigation scene at the White House. The two agents have been accused of operating the government vehicle after drinking at a nearby bar. Scroll down for video . Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy said the agency has adopted a new policy requiring agents to wait 10 hours after drinking before they can operate a government vehicle . This screen grab from a police video from March 4 shows two allegedly drunk Secret Service agents hit a White House barricade while a suspicious package was being investigated nearby . Previous Secret Service rules barred agents from getting behind agency vehicles if they were drunk or impaired by alcohol, according to the Washington Post. According to the memo, obtained by the Post, any agents who violated the new policy could face 'disciplinary and adverse actions' that included 'removal from employment'. The memo also reminded agents that they were responsible for 'conducting themselves in a manner that reflects the highest standards of the United States Government'. This isn't the first time the agency's drinking policy has changed after a public incident. Special Operations Secret Service agents are now prohibited from drinking alcohol within 12 hours of reporting for duty and 24 hours before the president arrives during an overseas trip. The changes were enacted after three agents tasked with protecting President Obama in Amsterdam were put on administrative leave when a night of drinking caused one agent to pass out in his hotel hallway. Secret Service Director Joseph P. Clancy admitted before Congress last week that some agents were turning to alcohol to deal with the job. 'There's an element within our agency that does cope with stresses... by using alcohol,' Clancy said, noting that the agency recently launched an initiative to address stress. 'We've got to find a way to help some of these people that are going toward alcohol as a coping mechanism.' Clancy revealed the new drinking policy during a congressional hearing regarding the March 4 incident. DC Metropolitan Police video shows a car delivering a suspicious package to the White House perimeter . The House Oversight Committee heard testimony about how Clancy only learned about the incident after this message had already circulated among agents for several days . The director has come under fire since the accident, which occurred while on-duty officers and agents were investigating a suspicious package thrown near the White House and an accompanying threat that it contained a bomb. The House Oversight Committee showed the video from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department during the Capitol Hill hearing. Clancy said he only heard about the allegation that the two agents were intoxicated after an anonymous email began circulating within the agency - five days after the incident occurred. The email described the off-duty employees as 'both extremely intoxicated' after another agent's retirement party. The email then claims uniformed Secret Service officers at the scene were 'going to arrest both of them' but were instructed not to by their commander. 'A lot of people got this email,' Maryland Democrat Rep. Elijah Cummings told Clancy. 'But you didn't.' Clancy said it was 'unacceptable' that he had been out of the loop. 'Our mission is too important for this to happen,' he told the congressional panel. 'It undermines my leadership.' The video was shown to a crowded hearing room on Capitol Hill as a helpless Clancy watched . Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz said the Secret Service's 'litany of recent mishaps' was unacceptable and raised 'major concerns' about the agency's ability to protect the president. Legislation proposing reforms to the Secret Service was introduced in the House on Thursday, according to the Washington Post. The proposal asks that the Senate be required to confirm the agency's director. It also authorizes hiring 200 more officers and 80 agents, in addition to new methods for assessing threats against the White House. Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte said that, although Clancy has 'taken many steps to begin to reform the Secret Service', Congress believed it was 'clear that legislative action is needed'. 'After a series of embarrassing security failures and instances of poor judgement, the American people have lost confidence in the Secret Service's ability to protect the president,' he said in a statement. 'From threats from outside entities, and from within the agency itself.' January 2015: An employee of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency accidentally crashed a small drone on the South Lawn at the White House while operating it from a nearby apartment. The White House was put on lockdown for more than two hours after the crone hobbyist lost control of the device. October 2014: Dominic Adesanya jumped the fence and made it onto the North Lawn before being taken down by two security dogs and arrested by the Secret Service. September 2014: Omar J. Gonzalez, an Iraq army veteran with a knife in his pants, scaled the fence from the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the White House and made it inside. He overpowered an officer at the entrance and ran through most of the main floor and made it to the East Room before he was finally captured. The shocking security breach launched congressional hearings and led to Secret Service director Julie Pierson's resignation. Just 24 hours later college student Kevin Carr was arrested for trespassing after he parked his car at a security checkpoint outside the estate and refused to leave. And in the same month a man wearing a Pikachu hat and carrying a plush doll of the Pokemon jumped the fence and walked on to the North Lawn. August 2014: The White House went on lockdown after a toddler somehow managed to squeeze through the gates. May 2014: A man was arrested for indecent exposure after stripping off all his clothes when he was denied access outside the White House. June 2013: Joseph Reed crashed a driverless jeep filled with bullets, knives and two machetes into the Pennsylvania Ave. gate, hoping to create a diversion so he could spray paint a 'Don't tread on me' snake - a symbol sometimes associated with the Tea Party movement - on the side of the White House. November 2009: In one of the most famous and extensive of breaches, reality TV stars Michaele and Tareq Salahi from Bravo show The Real Housewives of D.C. slipped past two Secret Service checkpoints and managed to crash a state dinner party that they were not on the guest list for while being filmed by cameras for their reality show. | Secret Service agents now have to wait 10 hours after drinking alcohol to drive government cars .
New policy comes weeks after allegedly drunk senior agents' accident nearby secured bomb-threat investigation .
Previous policy barred agents from operating vehicles if they were intoxicated or impaired by alcohol .
Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy said there was a drinking problem within the agency due to stresses of job .
House leaders introduced new legislation on Thursday proposing reforms in the agency . | aa36e6467abb50d31c48d3a23185ebbe4721db9c | <s>[INST] Secret Service agents will now have to wait 10 hours to drive government cars if they've been drinking alcohol, according to an internal agency memo. The stricter policy comes weeks after a video surfaced showing two agents hitting a security barricade just outside a secured bomb-threat investigation scene at the White House. The two agents have been accused of operating the government vehicle after drinking at a nearby bar. Scroll down for video . Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy said the agency has adopted a new policy requiring agents to wait 10 hours after drinking before they can operate a government vehicle . This screen grab from a police video from March 4 shows two allegedly drunk Secret Service agents hit a White House barricade while a suspicious package was being investigated nearby . Previous Secret Service rules barred agents from getting behind agency vehicles if they were drunk or impaired by alcohol, according to the Washington Post. According to the memo, obtained by the Post, any agents who violated the new policy could face 'disciplinary and adverse actions' that included 'removal from employment'. The memo also reminded agents that they were responsible for 'conducting themselves in a manner that reflects the highest standards of the United States Government'. This isn't the first time the agency's drinking policy has changed after a public incident. Special Operations Secret Service agents are now prohibited from drinking alcohol within 12 hours of reporting for duty and 24 hours before the president arrives during an overseas trip. The changes were enacted after three agents tasked with protecting President Obama in Amsterdam were put on administrative leave when a night of drinking caused one agent to pass out in his hotel hallway. Secret Service Director Joseph P. Clancy admitted before Congress last week that some agents were turning to alcohol to deal with the job. 'There's an element within our agency that does cope with stresses... by using alcohol,' Clancy said, noting that the agency recently launched an initiative to address stress. 'We've got to find a way to help some of these people that are going toward alcohol as a coping mechanism.' Clancy revealed the new drinking policy during a congressional hearing regarding the March 4 incident. DC Metropolitan Police video shows a car delivering a suspicious package to the White House perimeter . The House Oversight Committee heard testimony about how Clancy only learned about the incident after this message had already circulated among agents for several days . The director has come under fire since the accident, which occurred while on-duty officers and agents were investigating a suspicious package thrown near the White House and an accompanying threat that it contained a bomb. The House Oversight Committee showed the video from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department during the Capitol Hill hearing. Clancy said he only heard about the allegation that the two agents were intoxicated after an anonymous email began circulating within the agency - five days after the incident occurred. The email described the off-duty employees as 'both extremely intoxicated' after another agent's retirement party. The email then claims uniformed Secret Service officers at the scene were 'going to arrest both of them' but were instructed not to by their commander. 'A lot of people got this email,' Maryland Democrat Rep. Elijah Cummings told Clancy. 'But you didn't.' Clancy said it was 'unacceptable' that he had been out of the loop. 'Our mission is too important for this to happen,' he told the congressional panel. 'It undermines my leadership.' The video was shown to a crowded hearing room on Capitol Hill as a helpless Clancy watched . Utah Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz said the Secret Service's 'litany of recent mishaps' was unacceptable and raised 'major concerns' about the agency's ability to protect the president. Legislation proposing reforms to the Secret Service was introduced in the House on Thursday, according to the Washington Post. The proposal asks that the Senate be required to confirm the agency's director. It also authorizes hiring 200 more officers and 80 agents, in addition to new methods for assessing threats against the White House. Virginia Republican Rep. Bob Goodlatte said that, although Clancy has 'taken many steps to begin to reform the Secret Service', Congress believed it was 'clear that legislative action is needed'. 'After a series of embarrassing security failures and instances of poor judgement, the American people have lost confidence in the Secret Service's ability to protect the president,' he said in a statement. 'From threats from outside entities, and from within the agency itself.' January 2015: An employee of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency accidentally crashed a small drone on the South Lawn at the White House while operating it from a nearby apartment. The White House was put on lockdown for more than two hours after the crone hobbyist lost control of the device. October 2014: Dominic Adesanya jumped the fence and made it onto the North Lawn before being taken down by two security dogs and arrested by the Secret Service. September 2014: Omar J. Gonzalez, an Iraq army veteran with a knife in his pants, scaled the fence from the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the White House and made it inside. He overpowered an officer at the entrance and ran through most of the main floor and made it to the East Room before he was finally captured. The shocking security breach launched congressional hearings and led to Secret Service director Julie Pierson's resignation. Just 24 hours later college student Kevin Carr was arrested for trespassing after he parked his car at a security checkpoint outside the estate and refused to leave. And in the same month a man wearing a Pikachu hat and carrying a plush doll of the Pokemon jumped the fence and walked on to the North Lawn. August 2014: The White House went on lockdown after a toddler somehow managed to squeeze through the gates. May 2014: A man was arrested for indecent exposure after stripping off all his clothes when he was denied access outside the White House. June 2013: Joseph Reed crashed a driverless jeep filled with bullets, knives and two machetes into the Pennsylvania Ave. gate, hoping to create a diversion so he could spray paint a 'Don't tread on me' snake - a symbol sometimes associated with the Tea Party movement - on the side of the White House. November 2009: In one of the most famous and extensive of breaches, reality TV stars Michaele and Tareq Salahi from Bravo show The Real Housewives of D.C. slipped past two Secret Service checkpoints and managed to crash a state dinner party that they were not on the guest list for while being filmed by cameras for their reality show. [/INST] Secret Service agents now have to wait 10 hours after drinking alcohol to drive government cars .
New policy comes weeks after allegedly drunk senior agents' accident nearby secured bomb-threat investigation .
Previous policy barred agents from operating vehicles if they were intoxicated or impaired by alcohol .
Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy said there was a drinking problem within the agency due to stresses of job .
House leaders introduced new legislation on Thursday proposing reforms in the agency . </s> |
When applying for a job as a litter picker, a 'head for heights' is not usually required. But for these abseiling cleaners collecting rubbish thrown down the cliff of a Chinese mountain, it's a necessity. The 'spider men' abseil from the side of the 4,500ft cliff edge of Tianmen Mountain, risking their lives to pick up litter thrown away by visitors, according to The People's Daily Online . A cleaner abseils down the side of Tianmen Mountain to collect rubbish thrown over the cliff edge by tourists . Easy does it: The painstaking process is necessary because tourists chuck food packets, empty bottles and cans down the cliffside, defacing its natural beauty . A worker throws a sack tied on a long rope onto the cliff before abseiling to clean the side of the mountain, located in the central Chinese province of Hunan . After finishing cleaning a section, a litter picker pulls himself back over the boundary fence onto the path. The beauty spot is popular with tourists looking to ride the cable cars and visit the temple at the summit . Despite repeated calls by the Chinese Tourism Administration urging tourists not to throw their rubbish over the cliff edge, they continue to chuck empty food packets, bottles and cans into the mountain, as well as spitting and defacing the mountain. The beauty spot, located in Zhangjiajie in central China's Hunan province, is popular with tourists looking to ride the cable car route, reportedly the longest in the world. There is also a large temple on the summit, dating back to the Tang Dynasty which ruled the region for two periods between 610-690 and 705-907. A similar cleaning operation is in place takes place on Mount Emei in Sichuan province, China, where cleaner Peng Wencai has spent 14 years descending down the mountain to collect trash thrown away by tourists. The little pickers risk their lives to clean away the food packets and drinks containers thrown away by visitors . A sack of rubbish is pulled up onto safe ground after being collected by a litter picker. Chinese authorities are urging visitors to stop throwing their litter over the cliff edge . A worker pours the litter, including plastic bags and food containers, into a rubbish bin on Tianmen Mountain . The rope holding the litter picker stay taut as he gathers the rubbish, which is then brought back up to the public pathway before being removed from the mountainside . | 'Spider men' litter pickers use ropes to abseil down Tianmen Mountain .
Tourists have thrown plastic bags, bottles and food containers off edge .
Chinese authorities urging visitors to stop defacing the beauty spot . | b7c680cd18611ad7a7ffe953e279314d6939ff8c | <s>[INST] When applying for a job as a litter picker, a 'head for heights' is not usually required. But for these abseiling cleaners collecting rubbish thrown down the cliff of a Chinese mountain, it's a necessity. The 'spider men' abseil from the side of the 4,500ft cliff edge of Tianmen Mountain, risking their lives to pick up litter thrown away by visitors, according to The People's Daily Online . A cleaner abseils down the side of Tianmen Mountain to collect rubbish thrown over the cliff edge by tourists . Easy does it: The painstaking process is necessary because tourists chuck food packets, empty bottles and cans down the cliffside, defacing its natural beauty . A worker throws a sack tied on a long rope onto the cliff before abseiling to clean the side of the mountain, located in the central Chinese province of Hunan . After finishing cleaning a section, a litter picker pulls himself back over the boundary fence onto the path. The beauty spot is popular with tourists looking to ride the cable cars and visit the temple at the summit . Despite repeated calls by the Chinese Tourism Administration urging tourists not to throw their rubbish over the cliff edge, they continue to chuck empty food packets, bottles and cans into the mountain, as well as spitting and defacing the mountain. The beauty spot, located in Zhangjiajie in central China's Hunan province, is popular with tourists looking to ride the cable car route, reportedly the longest in the world. There is also a large temple on the summit, dating back to the Tang Dynasty which ruled the region for two periods between 610-690 and 705-907. A similar cleaning operation is in place takes place on Mount Emei in Sichuan province, China, where cleaner Peng Wencai has spent 14 years descending down the mountain to collect trash thrown away by tourists. The little pickers risk their lives to clean away the food packets and drinks containers thrown away by visitors . A sack of rubbish is pulled up onto safe ground after being collected by a litter picker. Chinese authorities are urging visitors to stop throwing their litter over the cliff edge . A worker pours the litter, including plastic bags and food containers, into a rubbish bin on Tianmen Mountain . The rope holding the litter picker stay taut as he gathers the rubbish, which is then brought back up to the public pathway before being removed from the mountainside . [/INST] 'Spider men' litter pickers use ropes to abseil down Tianmen Mountain .
Tourists have thrown plastic bags, bottles and food containers off edge .
Chinese authorities urging visitors to stop defacing the beauty spot . </s> |
Aaron Ramsey believes Wales can pull off a summer surprise against Belgium and take a huge stride towards reaching the Euro 2016 finals in France. Wales coasted to a 3-0 victory over Israel in Haifa on Saturday night to top Group B in European Championship qualifying, with their next game at home to group favourites Belgium on June 12. Belgium are ranked fourth in the world and made their own statement of intent on Saturday when they thrashed Cyprus 5-0 in Brussels. Aaron Ramsey (right) insists Wales can spring a surprise against Belgium on June 12 . Ramsey wheels away in celebration after scoring the first goal during Wales' 3-0 victory against Israel . The Red Devils will top the group by beating Israel in Jerusalem on Tuesday but Wales held Belgium in Brussels in November and Ramsey believes they can upset them again in the return fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium. 'We'll be looking forward to Belgium,' Ramsey said after opening the scoring against Israel with his ninth international goal. 'It's a tough game but we are full of confidence at the moment. We are top of the group, so why can't we win the game?' Arsenal midfielder Ramsey revealed his goal celebration when he pointed to the heavens was in honour of his grandmother who died last weekend. 'My nan passed away on the weekend, that's why it's been quite tough,' Ramsey said. Ramsey (right) points to the heavens in honour of his grandmother who died last weekend . Ramsey was mobbed by his Wales team-mates after putting them ahead at the end of the first half . 'My goal was for her. I'm just really proud I could score the goal for her. I know she's looking down on me and I was glad I could score. 'I shut my eyes, got my head on it and thankfully it went in. It was a great performance and 'Ginge' (James Collins) said in the dressing room that's maybe the best performance away from home he has been involved in. 'We looked quite comfortable and played with a lot of belief. 'It was a great performance from the boys, we came here believing we could get a result and we managed to do it. 'We kept ourselves in the game, defended really well and then we got the goal before half-time and it opened up a bit more.' Marouane Fellaini scored twice to help Belgium to an impressive 5-0 victory against Cyprus on Saturday . Eden Hazard (left) bagged a goal and an assist as Belgium continued their Group B march . Ramsey's goal preceded a double strike from Gareth Bale which took the game away from 10-man Israel in the second half. Bale's form for Real Madrid has been widely criticised in Spain but he has now scored six goals in his last six appearances for his country. 'He was unbelievable,' Ramsey said. 'Every time he comes away with Wales he puts on a performance. He got two goals himself and an assist, it was a good job for him.' Ramsey hailed his Welsh team-mate Gareth Bale as 'unbelievable' following his two-goal performance . Bale uploaded this picture to Instagram afterwards with the caption 'what a performance from the lads' Wales now have 11 points from five games and manager Chris Coleman believes 20 will prove enough to claim one of the two automatic qualifying spots on offer. 'You've got to be really unlucky if you get to 20 and you don't get to the first top two,' Coleman said. 'We've done some good work and we're on the right road but there's some distance left. We've got the chance to prove we are the best Welsh team since the one that qualified for the 1958 World Cup. 'I played in Welsh teams in 1994 and 2004 where we nearly did it and now we have the opportunity to go a step further. 'People say it's a golden generation but we need to earn it. We're doing it but we've not done it yet. 'But we want the chance to prove since 1958 this team is as good as anything that's gone before.' | Aaron Ramsey insists Wales can spring a surprise against Belgium .
Wales earned 3-0 Group B victory against Israel on Saturday night .
Chris Coleman's face Red Devils in Euro 2016 qualifier on June 12 .
Ramsey gave hosts the lead before Gareth Bale bagged a brace . | 2e8f68a22460e0bcc36973960be31dcac06c09f1 | <s>[INST] Aaron Ramsey believes Wales can pull off a summer surprise against Belgium and take a huge stride towards reaching the Euro 2016 finals in France. Wales coasted to a 3-0 victory over Israel in Haifa on Saturday night to top Group B in European Championship qualifying, with their next game at home to group favourites Belgium on June 12. Belgium are ranked fourth in the world and made their own statement of intent on Saturday when they thrashed Cyprus 5-0 in Brussels. Aaron Ramsey (right) insists Wales can spring a surprise against Belgium on June 12 . Ramsey wheels away in celebration after scoring the first goal during Wales' 3-0 victory against Israel . The Red Devils will top the group by beating Israel in Jerusalem on Tuesday but Wales held Belgium in Brussels in November and Ramsey believes they can upset them again in the return fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium. 'We'll be looking forward to Belgium,' Ramsey said after opening the scoring against Israel with his ninth international goal. 'It's a tough game but we are full of confidence at the moment. We are top of the group, so why can't we win the game?' Arsenal midfielder Ramsey revealed his goal celebration when he pointed to the heavens was in honour of his grandmother who died last weekend. 'My nan passed away on the weekend, that's why it's been quite tough,' Ramsey said. Ramsey (right) points to the heavens in honour of his grandmother who died last weekend . Ramsey was mobbed by his Wales team-mates after putting them ahead at the end of the first half . 'My goal was for her. I'm just really proud I could score the goal for her. I know she's looking down on me and I was glad I could score. 'I shut my eyes, got my head on it and thankfully it went in. It was a great performance and 'Ginge' (James Collins) said in the dressing room that's maybe the best performance away from home he has been involved in. 'We looked quite comfortable and played with a lot of belief. 'It was a great performance from the boys, we came here believing we could get a result and we managed to do it. 'We kept ourselves in the game, defended really well and then we got the goal before half-time and it opened up a bit more.' Marouane Fellaini scored twice to help Belgium to an impressive 5-0 victory against Cyprus on Saturday . Eden Hazard (left) bagged a goal and an assist as Belgium continued their Group B march . Ramsey's goal preceded a double strike from Gareth Bale which took the game away from 10-man Israel in the second half. Bale's form for Real Madrid has been widely criticised in Spain but he has now scored six goals in his last six appearances for his country. 'He was unbelievable,' Ramsey said. 'Every time he comes away with Wales he puts on a performance. He got two goals himself and an assist, it was a good job for him.' Ramsey hailed his Welsh team-mate Gareth Bale as 'unbelievable' following his two-goal performance . Bale uploaded this picture to Instagram afterwards with the caption 'what a performance from the lads' Wales now have 11 points from five games and manager Chris Coleman believes 20 will prove enough to claim one of the two automatic qualifying spots on offer. 'You've got to be really unlucky if you get to 20 and you don't get to the first top two,' Coleman said. 'We've done some good work and we're on the right road but there's some distance left. We've got the chance to prove we are the best Welsh team since the one that qualified for the 1958 World Cup. 'I played in Welsh teams in 1994 and 2004 where we nearly did it and now we have the opportunity to go a step further. 'People say it's a golden generation but we need to earn it. We're doing it but we've not done it yet. 'But we want the chance to prove since 1958 this team is as good as anything that's gone before.' [/INST] Aaron Ramsey insists Wales can spring a surprise against Belgium .
Wales earned 3-0 Group B victory against Israel on Saturday night .
Chris Coleman's face Red Devils in Euro 2016 qualifier on June 12 .
Ramsey gave hosts the lead before Gareth Bale bagged a brace . </s> |
An Australian businessman could now face the death penalty in the Philippines after being accused of killing a child and orchestrating an international paedophile ring. Last month Peter Gerard Scully from Melbourne was arrested after the body of a teenage girl was found buried under a house he rented in in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. The 52-year-old had allegedly established a 'pay for view' scheme where clients from across the globe paid to live-stream videos of children being tortured and sexually abused as per their requests. It has created such outrage in the Philippines that calls are growing daily to have him executed. Peter Gerald Scully (right) was arrested for human trafficking and child porn-related offences arising from his alleged sexual abuse of Filipino girls which was filmed and then posted online for paying clients . The death penalty was suspended in the Philippines in 2006, but an influential conservative politician told The Sydney Morning Herald that the Australian's alleged crimes were so depraved he should be put to death. 'The Philippine government should directly and seriously address the problem of paedophilia, child exploitation and sexual abuse by supporting the move to reimpose the death penalty,' Sherwin Gatchalian, an MP with the Nationalist People's Coalition, said. Filipinos across the country took to social media to call for his execution. It's alleged that Scully, from the Melbourne suburb of Burwood, took part in perverted acts against children as young as one, which he filmed. He was also running a lucrative business live-streaming videos in a 'pay for view' scheme. Police said Scully would undertake acts in response to requests from his clientele, who were mostly based in Europe. Scully managed to avoid being arrested until February 20 this year before a former partner told police that Scully had killed one of his child victims in 2013. It was after this shocking revelation that the remains of a 10-year-old girl were found at a home formerly rented by Scully. An extremely graphic and distressing account by two young girls, who survived the trauma of Scully's alleged torturous abuse, paints a horrifying picture of what at least a dozen children are alleged to have endured in his home. Agent Janet Francisco (right) , who was responsible for cracking the case and the rescue of several victims from Scully's house, is pictured with one of the rescued girls (left) Cousins, going by the name of Daisy,11, and and Queenie, 10, told rappler news site about the fateful day in September 2014 when they were approached by Scully's live-in partner, Carme Ann 'Angel' Alvarez. Alvarez, who was only 17 at the time and an alleged former victim of Scully's, offered the girls food at Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City and then invited them back to their house. Daisy said when they got to the house, Alvarez bathed the girls while Scully, who she referred to as the 'American', videoed them. The next morning the girls were asked to start digging a hole in the ground but had no idea why they had been asked to do the unusual task. It was then after lunch that things became even more disturbing when allegedly Scully undressed the girls and told them to kiss each other. 'I started crying, I don't know what we were doing,' a tearful Daisy said. Scully then allegedly rubbed mineral oil on the girls' bodies and sexually assaulted them, while Alvarez took photos. They were then told to keep digging and Daisy was made to sleep in the same room where they had been digging the holes. The next day Daisy said they were forced to perform sexual acts on the man. 'I was crying and screaming so much that Alvarez covered my head with a pillow. I choked so much but Scully continued his abuses on me,' Daisy said. 'Alvarez slapped me and said that I if don't stop crying, Peter will continue doing this.' The girls were then told to keep digging after the horrendous ordeal. The remains of a 10-year-old girl were found at a home formerly rented by Scully after he was arrested . That evening, Daisy said they were forced the alcohol and she managed three drinks before passing out and woke up the next morning to discover she had slept in one of the dug-out graves because she had kept crying and calling for her 'mama'. It was on the fourth day that became unbearable for the little girls. 'They were filming, taking photographs while we dug our graves, and they again brought us to their room, this time, I was tied with a nylon cord, my hands, my feet – I could not move,' Daisy said. 'I wanted to kill myself, I wanted to die that night, because I could not bear it any longer.' However, it was the very next day that the girls fled for their lives when Scully and Alvarez left the house. Queenie’s mother took the girls to the local police station to file a complaint against Scully and Alvarez. When the police turned up to the house - they apprehended Alvarez but Scully escaped. Agents assigned to the case described the video footage as 'the worst video we have encountered in our years of campaign against child pornography' which led to seven young victims being rescued, the inquirer.net reported. Alvaraz, now 18, revealed her bizarre lifestyle to a prison warden at the Cagayan de Oro City Jail where she was detained. She met Scully when she working as a prostitute at just 14 years old and allegedly endured a similar ordeal to Daisy and Queenie before paid by Scully to entice the children into their home. | Peter Gerald Scully was arrested in Philippines on child sex abuse charges .
The Melbourne man, 52, is accused of killing a 10-year-old girl .
He also allegedly orchestrated an international paedophile ring .
Filipinos are so outraged with the case they want him to be executed .
Politicians and social media users are calling for the death penalty .
The death penalty was suspended in the Philippines in 2006 .
Scully managed to avoid being arrested until February 20 . | 565e8c6cd6055f6a2034b31333f9f0fe0152263e | <s>[INST] An Australian businessman could now face the death penalty in the Philippines after being accused of killing a child and orchestrating an international paedophile ring. Last month Peter Gerard Scully from Melbourne was arrested after the body of a teenage girl was found buried under a house he rented in in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. The 52-year-old had allegedly established a 'pay for view' scheme where clients from across the globe paid to live-stream videos of children being tortured and sexually abused as per their requests. It has created such outrage in the Philippines that calls are growing daily to have him executed. Peter Gerald Scully (right) was arrested for human trafficking and child porn-related offences arising from his alleged sexual abuse of Filipino girls which was filmed and then posted online for paying clients . The death penalty was suspended in the Philippines in 2006, but an influential conservative politician told The Sydney Morning Herald that the Australian's alleged crimes were so depraved he should be put to death. 'The Philippine government should directly and seriously address the problem of paedophilia, child exploitation and sexual abuse by supporting the move to reimpose the death penalty,' Sherwin Gatchalian, an MP with the Nationalist People's Coalition, said. Filipinos across the country took to social media to call for his execution. It's alleged that Scully, from the Melbourne suburb of Burwood, took part in perverted acts against children as young as one, which he filmed. He was also running a lucrative business live-streaming videos in a 'pay for view' scheme. Police said Scully would undertake acts in response to requests from his clientele, who were mostly based in Europe. Scully managed to avoid being arrested until February 20 this year before a former partner told police that Scully had killed one of his child victims in 2013. It was after this shocking revelation that the remains of a 10-year-old girl were found at a home formerly rented by Scully. An extremely graphic and distressing account by two young girls, who survived the trauma of Scully's alleged torturous abuse, paints a horrifying picture of what at least a dozen children are alleged to have endured in his home. Agent Janet Francisco (right) , who was responsible for cracking the case and the rescue of several victims from Scully's house, is pictured with one of the rescued girls (left) Cousins, going by the name of Daisy,11, and and Queenie, 10, told rappler news site about the fateful day in September 2014 when they were approached by Scully's live-in partner, Carme Ann 'Angel' Alvarez. Alvarez, who was only 17 at the time and an alleged former victim of Scully's, offered the girls food at Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City and then invited them back to their house. Daisy said when they got to the house, Alvarez bathed the girls while Scully, who she referred to as the 'American', videoed them. The next morning the girls were asked to start digging a hole in the ground but had no idea why they had been asked to do the unusual task. It was then after lunch that things became even more disturbing when allegedly Scully undressed the girls and told them to kiss each other. 'I started crying, I don't know what we were doing,' a tearful Daisy said. Scully then allegedly rubbed mineral oil on the girls' bodies and sexually assaulted them, while Alvarez took photos. They were then told to keep digging and Daisy was made to sleep in the same room where they had been digging the holes. The next day Daisy said they were forced to perform sexual acts on the man. 'I was crying and screaming so much that Alvarez covered my head with a pillow. I choked so much but Scully continued his abuses on me,' Daisy said. 'Alvarez slapped me and said that I if don't stop crying, Peter will continue doing this.' The girls were then told to keep digging after the horrendous ordeal. The remains of a 10-year-old girl were found at a home formerly rented by Scully after he was arrested . That evening, Daisy said they were forced the alcohol and she managed three drinks before passing out and woke up the next morning to discover she had slept in one of the dug-out graves because she had kept crying and calling for her 'mama'. It was on the fourth day that became unbearable for the little girls. 'They were filming, taking photographs while we dug our graves, and they again brought us to their room, this time, I was tied with a nylon cord, my hands, my feet – I could not move,' Daisy said. 'I wanted to kill myself, I wanted to die that night, because I could not bear it any longer.' However, it was the very next day that the girls fled for their lives when Scully and Alvarez left the house. Queenie’s mother took the girls to the local police station to file a complaint against Scully and Alvarez. When the police turned up to the house - they apprehended Alvarez but Scully escaped. Agents assigned to the case described the video footage as 'the worst video we have encountered in our years of campaign against child pornography' which led to seven young victims being rescued, the inquirer.net reported. Alvaraz, now 18, revealed her bizarre lifestyle to a prison warden at the Cagayan de Oro City Jail where she was detained. She met Scully when she working as a prostitute at just 14 years old and allegedly endured a similar ordeal to Daisy and Queenie before paid by Scully to entice the children into their home. [/INST] Peter Gerald Scully was arrested in Philippines on child sex abuse charges .
The Melbourne man, 52, is accused of killing a 10-year-old girl .
He also allegedly orchestrated an international paedophile ring .
Filipinos are so outraged with the case they want him to be executed .
Politicians and social media users are calling for the death penalty .
The death penalty was suspended in the Philippines in 2006 .
Scully managed to avoid being arrested until February 20 . </s> |
Producers working on the remake of the Oscar-winning Ben Hur have been barred from shooting the epic chariot scene at the Circus Maximus. Filmmakers already on location in Rome and the southern city of Matera reportedly made a request to use the ancient stadium immortalised by the film in December. But it was feared the decision to bring hundreds of extras and heavy vehicles into a fragile archaeological site would lead to public outcry. The Circus Maximus (pictured) is an ancient site in Rome once used for the empire's deadly chariot races. Here it is pictured when it hosted the Live 8 concert in 2005 . The Circus Maximus was capable of holding hundreds of thousands of spectators during the chariot races . However, archaeologists said filming at the ancient site would cause 'irreparable damage' to the famous site . The rent of the ancient ground as a set for two weeks would have netted one million euros for the city’s cash-strapped coffers, Corriere della Sera reported. The classic chariot race scene - in which Ben Hur played by Charlton Heston competes against his nemesis Massala - will now be filmed in a purpose-built reproduction arena in Rome’s Cinecittà studios. The Circus Maximus was the centre of a row last summer when the Rolling Stones were allowed to use it for a concert. Heritage experts said the decision to allow 65,000 music fans to rampage over the area would cause irreparable damage to a ‘very fragile’ site. The millionaire rock band were charged just €8,000. The original 1959 Ben Hur film saw Charlton Heston filmed at the Circus Maximus in the movie's epic chariot race finale (pictured) The ancient arena has been used for pop concerts in the past with Genesis and Lady Gaga playing there in recent years. Bob Geldof's Live 8 concert was held there in 2005. But the site is currently under restoration. Archeologists have continued to discover Roman artefacts including ancient coins, wheels and saucepans as well as the remains of ancient taverns. A spokesman for the Ministry for Cultural Affairs said it was investigating. | Film producers have been barred from filming at the famed Circus Maximus .
They hoped to film chariot race scene at the ancient site as per original film .
Authorities feared extras and vehicles would cause 'irreparable damage'
It was used for Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga concerts in recent years .
The site was used by ancient Romans to host spectacular chariot races . | 03d5542feb28f02588039b5b599c7986a65b3d84 | <s>[INST] Producers working on the remake of the Oscar-winning Ben Hur have been barred from shooting the epic chariot scene at the Circus Maximus. Filmmakers already on location in Rome and the southern city of Matera reportedly made a request to use the ancient stadium immortalised by the film in December. But it was feared the decision to bring hundreds of extras and heavy vehicles into a fragile archaeological site would lead to public outcry. The Circus Maximus (pictured) is an ancient site in Rome once used for the empire's deadly chariot races. Here it is pictured when it hosted the Live 8 concert in 2005 . The Circus Maximus was capable of holding hundreds of thousands of spectators during the chariot races . However, archaeologists said filming at the ancient site would cause 'irreparable damage' to the famous site . The rent of the ancient ground as a set for two weeks would have netted one million euros for the city’s cash-strapped coffers, Corriere della Sera reported. The classic chariot race scene - in which Ben Hur played by Charlton Heston competes against his nemesis Massala - will now be filmed in a purpose-built reproduction arena in Rome’s Cinecittà studios. The Circus Maximus was the centre of a row last summer when the Rolling Stones were allowed to use it for a concert. Heritage experts said the decision to allow 65,000 music fans to rampage over the area would cause irreparable damage to a ‘very fragile’ site. The millionaire rock band were charged just €8,000. The original 1959 Ben Hur film saw Charlton Heston filmed at the Circus Maximus in the movie's epic chariot race finale (pictured) The ancient arena has been used for pop concerts in the past with Genesis and Lady Gaga playing there in recent years. Bob Geldof's Live 8 concert was held there in 2005. But the site is currently under restoration. Archeologists have continued to discover Roman artefacts including ancient coins, wheels and saucepans as well as the remains of ancient taverns. A spokesman for the Ministry for Cultural Affairs said it was investigating. [/INST] Film producers have been barred from filming at the famed Circus Maximus .
They hoped to film chariot race scene at the ancient site as per original film .
Authorities feared extras and vehicles would cause 'irreparable damage'
It was used for Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga concerts in recent years .
The site was used by ancient Romans to host spectacular chariot races . </s> |
(CNN)Ben Carson suggested to CNN on Wednesday that prisons can turn straight people gay. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee called being gay a lifestyle choice, like drinking alcohol. I guess the next thing these two presumed 2016 presidential hopefuls will tell America is being black is a choice, too. Like it or not, it's no wonder Jeb Bush is emerging as the Republican Party's 2016 frontrunner. Of course, there is that awkward little name thing, something he seems fully aware of -- despite only being in the exploratory phase of a potential campaign, Jeb has already declared he's not just another Bush. "A lot of people know my dad, they know my brother. As in everybody's family, we're all a little different," he reportedly told a crowd in Las Vegas this week. And he seems to keep trying to distance himself from his family. "Do you have brothers and sisters? Are you exactly the same?" he insisted. Yet Jeb is banking hard on the same vault of donors and operatives his father George H. W Bush and his brother George W. Bush used in their presidential campaigns. He's already raising lots of money, asking donors recently not to give more than a still eye-popping $1 million to his super PAC. "They didn't need to be persuaded," Howard Leach, a Republican fundraiser for Jeb, told the Washington Post. So, what exactly is in a name like Bush? Apparently, a whole lot of cash, which helps win presidential nominations and elections. And if Jeb wins the nomination in 2016, it will likely be less "joyfully," as he promised last year, than ruthlessly. After all, we're still more than 18 months from the election and Jeb's locking in many of the same kinds of consultants that worked with his brother and father. "Those who hold out can sense a distinct chill," noted a recent New York Times article. Jeb's campaign is seeking to hire "donors, advisors and operatives," wrote the Times, with "deep connections to the Bush family's past presidential campaigns and administrations." Those same family members from whom Jeb swears he's different? And if consultants don't abide by Jeb's rules of loyalty and decide to work with other 2016 Republican aspirants? "Swift rebuke follows," the Times notes, pointing to the example of IMGE, a technology company that reportedly fell out of favor with the Bush campaign after one of the firm's founders indicated IMGE was hoping not to be tied to a single candidate. None of this is to suggest that Jeb Bush doesn't have appeal as a candidate -- I like some of the things he did as Florida governor, like his record of cutting $19 billion in taxes and supporting school choice programs. (Although I'm not a fan of his willingness to grant illegal immigrants amnesty in any shape, fashion or form.) He seems more equipped to lead America and get things done than some others in the already cramped horse race like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who seems more concerned with telling people off than sounding presidential. Then there's Rick Santorum and Huckabee, caring Christian men, but both too consumed with running for president of morality than bringing the entire country together after years of Obama supposedly dividing us on race, religion and sexuality. But what troubles me a little about Bush's early attempts at "corning the market" is that he's relying on the same consultants that have cycled through the last 20-plus years of elections -- some of whom worked for Romney's campaign. This raises the question of why, if Jeb doesn't want the public to view him as just another Bush running for president, he seems to be relying on the Bush network of consultants? The same playbook that helped get his brother and father get elected president isn't going to work for this Bush. The demographics of the country have changed, but it seems unlikely the Republican Party and its operatives have changed with it. The truth is that any Republican candidate who wins the nomination will have to refrain from business as usual. He (let's face it, the GOP won't nominate a woman) will have to hire minorities and women in meaningful campaign positions and have a strategy to aggressively compete for minority votes. This is something Romney didn't do nearly enough of. Jeb is only in the "pre-presidential" phase, ruminating over the idea. But he appears to be assembling a lot of the same old (white) faces of recent losing Republican campaigns we've seen before. As a black conservative who would like to see a Republican in the White House again, I hope Jeb isn't Romney 2.0. | Crystal Wright: Jeb Bush emerging as GOP's 2016 frontrunner .
Previous Bush playbooks won't work this time, she says . | 4f5902bcfaddac4b5201cab95987833198490097 | <s>[INST] (CNN)Ben Carson suggested to CNN on Wednesday that prisons can turn straight people gay. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee called being gay a lifestyle choice, like drinking alcohol. I guess the next thing these two presumed 2016 presidential hopefuls will tell America is being black is a choice, too. Like it or not, it's no wonder Jeb Bush is emerging as the Republican Party's 2016 frontrunner. Of course, there is that awkward little name thing, something he seems fully aware of -- despite only being in the exploratory phase of a potential campaign, Jeb has already declared he's not just another Bush. "A lot of people know my dad, they know my brother. As in everybody's family, we're all a little different," he reportedly told a crowd in Las Vegas this week. And he seems to keep trying to distance himself from his family. "Do you have brothers and sisters? Are you exactly the same?" he insisted. Yet Jeb is banking hard on the same vault of donors and operatives his father George H. W Bush and his brother George W. Bush used in their presidential campaigns. He's already raising lots of money, asking donors recently not to give more than a still eye-popping $1 million to his super PAC. "They didn't need to be persuaded," Howard Leach, a Republican fundraiser for Jeb, told the Washington Post. So, what exactly is in a name like Bush? Apparently, a whole lot of cash, which helps win presidential nominations and elections. And if Jeb wins the nomination in 2016, it will likely be less "joyfully," as he promised last year, than ruthlessly. After all, we're still more than 18 months from the election and Jeb's locking in many of the same kinds of consultants that worked with his brother and father. "Those who hold out can sense a distinct chill," noted a recent New York Times article. Jeb's campaign is seeking to hire "donors, advisors and operatives," wrote the Times, with "deep connections to the Bush family's past presidential campaigns and administrations." Those same family members from whom Jeb swears he's different? And if consultants don't abide by Jeb's rules of loyalty and decide to work with other 2016 Republican aspirants? "Swift rebuke follows," the Times notes, pointing to the example of IMGE, a technology company that reportedly fell out of favor with the Bush campaign after one of the firm's founders indicated IMGE was hoping not to be tied to a single candidate. None of this is to suggest that Jeb Bush doesn't have appeal as a candidate -- I like some of the things he did as Florida governor, like his record of cutting $19 billion in taxes and supporting school choice programs. (Although I'm not a fan of his willingness to grant illegal immigrants amnesty in any shape, fashion or form.) He seems more equipped to lead America and get things done than some others in the already cramped horse race like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who seems more concerned with telling people off than sounding presidential. Then there's Rick Santorum and Huckabee, caring Christian men, but both too consumed with running for president of morality than bringing the entire country together after years of Obama supposedly dividing us on race, religion and sexuality. But what troubles me a little about Bush's early attempts at "corning the market" is that he's relying on the same consultants that have cycled through the last 20-plus years of elections -- some of whom worked for Romney's campaign. This raises the question of why, if Jeb doesn't want the public to view him as just another Bush running for president, he seems to be relying on the Bush network of consultants? The same playbook that helped get his brother and father get elected president isn't going to work for this Bush. The demographics of the country have changed, but it seems unlikely the Republican Party and its operatives have changed with it. The truth is that any Republican candidate who wins the nomination will have to refrain from business as usual. He (let's face it, the GOP won't nominate a woman) will have to hire minorities and women in meaningful campaign positions and have a strategy to aggressively compete for minority votes. This is something Romney didn't do nearly enough of. Jeb is only in the "pre-presidential" phase, ruminating over the idea. But he appears to be assembling a lot of the same old (white) faces of recent losing Republican campaigns we've seen before. As a black conservative who would like to see a Republican in the White House again, I hope Jeb isn't Romney 2.0. [/INST] Crystal Wright: Jeb Bush emerging as GOP's 2016 frontrunner .
Previous Bush playbooks won't work this time, she says . </s> |
Atlanta (CNN)Former CIA director and retired Gen. David Petraeus remains a trusted adviser to the White House on its strategy in Iraq, despite being convicted of leaking classified information to his mistress and biographer, then lying to the FBI. The National Security Council and Obama administration have been consulting with Petraeus on matters related to Iraq and ISIS, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed on Monday. Earnest did not elaborate how long Petraeus has been advising the White House since his fall from grace, but Newsweek reports the retired four-star general has been in the role since last summer. "Gen. Petraeus is somebody who served for a number of years in Iraq. He commanded a large number of American military personnel in that country," Earnest said. "He is, I think, legitimately regarded as an expert, when it comes to the security situation in Iraq. So I think it makes a lot of sense for senior administration officials to, on occasion, consult for him advice." Once considered a possible presidential candidate, Petraeus plead guilty to one federal charge of removing and retaining classified information earlier this month as part of a plea deal approved by Attorney General Eric Holder. According to court documents, Petraeus admitted removing several so-called black books -- notebooks in which he kept classified and non-classified information from his tenure as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan -- and giving them to his biographer, Paula Broadwell. After he resigned from his CIA post in 2012, Petraeus told the government he had no classified materials in his possession. That claim turned out to be false as the FBI found the notebooks when they conducted a search of Petraeus' house in 2013. When he was questioned by the FBI at the time, he lied and claimed he never provided classified information to anyone not authorized to have it, according to court documents. Earnest says he is unaware of any particular security precautions put in place by the White House when it consults with Petraeus, despite his legal problems and lack of CIA security clearance. Petraeus is currently the chairman of a global institute for private equity firm KKR. | The Obama administration has consulted with Petraeus on matters related to Iraq and ISIS .
Petraeus plead guilty to one federal charge of removing and retaining classified information earlier this month . | adb625451b3b43dfdeff928f6d388efc18e94d34 | <s>[INST] Atlanta (CNN)Former CIA director and retired Gen. David Petraeus remains a trusted adviser to the White House on its strategy in Iraq, despite being convicted of leaking classified information to his mistress and biographer, then lying to the FBI. The National Security Council and Obama administration have been consulting with Petraeus on matters related to Iraq and ISIS, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest confirmed on Monday. Earnest did not elaborate how long Petraeus has been advising the White House since his fall from grace, but Newsweek reports the retired four-star general has been in the role since last summer. "Gen. Petraeus is somebody who served for a number of years in Iraq. He commanded a large number of American military personnel in that country," Earnest said. "He is, I think, legitimately regarded as an expert, when it comes to the security situation in Iraq. So I think it makes a lot of sense for senior administration officials to, on occasion, consult for him advice." Once considered a possible presidential candidate, Petraeus plead guilty to one federal charge of removing and retaining classified information earlier this month as part of a plea deal approved by Attorney General Eric Holder. According to court documents, Petraeus admitted removing several so-called black books -- notebooks in which he kept classified and non-classified information from his tenure as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan -- and giving them to his biographer, Paula Broadwell. After he resigned from his CIA post in 2012, Petraeus told the government he had no classified materials in his possession. That claim turned out to be false as the FBI found the notebooks when they conducted a search of Petraeus' house in 2013. When he was questioned by the FBI at the time, he lied and claimed he never provided classified information to anyone not authorized to have it, according to court documents. Earnest says he is unaware of any particular security precautions put in place by the White House when it consults with Petraeus, despite his legal problems and lack of CIA security clearance. Petraeus is currently the chairman of a global institute for private equity firm KKR. [/INST] The Obama administration has consulted with Petraeus on matters related to Iraq and ISIS .
Petraeus plead guilty to one federal charge of removing and retaining classified information earlier this month . </s> |
Sam Twiston-Davies says Rocky Creek is in flying form as it emerged that the Crabbie’s Grand National hopeful could have been given a big advantage by the handicapper. Trained by Paul Nicholls, Rocky Creek — last seen when impressively winning the BetBright Chase at Kempton in February — was among 74 horses after the latest forfeit stage for the Aintree showpiece on April 11. Lord Windermere, the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner trained by Jim Culloty, heads the weights on 11st 10lb, but Rocky Creek could have 9lb in hand. Sam Twiston-Davies rides Rocky Creek to victory in the BetBright Chase Day at Kempton . Twiston-Davies poses with his ride and trainer Paul Nicholls (right) after winning at Kempton . Twiston-Davies schooled the nine-year-old at Nicholls’ Ditcheat base on Monday as preparations stepped up a gear, while Shutthefrontdoor — the 8-1 ante-post favourite — was put through his paces at Southwell under AP McCoy. While public sentiment will be with McCoy for the big race, Phil Smith, the BHA’s Head of Handicapping, warns that dangers to Shutthefrontdoor lurk all around, not least from Rocky Creek, who is available at 12-1. Champions jockey AP McCoy exercises ante-post favourite Shutthefrontdoor at Southwell . Smith said: ‘Rocky Creek was very impressive when he won at Kempton. If I was framing the weights now, I’d have him 9lb higher. I’d also have The Druids Nephew (a winner at the Cheltenham Festival) 10lb higher.’ Rocky Creek will be one of six bullets that Nicholls aims at the £1million race, which he won in 2012 with Neptune Collonges, and the horse has been trained with Aintree in mind — he finished fifth 12 months ago to Pineau De Re. Twiston-Davies added of the gelding, who has run only three times this season: ‘Fingers crossed, the horse seems to be in good order. Hopefully he’ll get there in one piece. I schooled him and he was very good. He did it well at Kempton and let’s hope he’s ahead of the handicapper. Twiston-Davies believes Rocky Road has a good chance of winning the big race at Aintree . ‘When he ran in the Hennessy (in November and was pulled up) it was really bad ground and I would just write that run off altogether. We have to go to Aintree with an open mind.’ As for Pineau De Re, his trainer Dr Richard Newland could require a new jockey as the veteran chaser bids to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Grand Nationals. Leighton Aspell, who did the steering a year ago, could be claimed to ride Many Clouds. Newland said: ‘I might have a few calls to make. It is Leighton’s ride if he is available. It is pointless getting worried at this stage. I’m sure there will be a few interested jockeys if Leighton isn’t available.’ | Rocky Creek impressively won the BetBright Chase at Kempton, February .
Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies believes the gelding could have been given an advantage by the handicapper ahead of the Aintree showdown .
AP McCoy and Shutthefrontdoor will get public vote at Grand National . | 24a91322291fecf79d4cce8c54f35d9b1adf9664 | <s>[INST] Sam Twiston-Davies says Rocky Creek is in flying form as it emerged that the Crabbie’s Grand National hopeful could have been given a big advantage by the handicapper. Trained by Paul Nicholls, Rocky Creek — last seen when impressively winning the BetBright Chase at Kempton in February — was among 74 horses after the latest forfeit stage for the Aintree showpiece on April 11. Lord Windermere, the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner trained by Jim Culloty, heads the weights on 11st 10lb, but Rocky Creek could have 9lb in hand. Sam Twiston-Davies rides Rocky Creek to victory in the BetBright Chase Day at Kempton . Twiston-Davies poses with his ride and trainer Paul Nicholls (right) after winning at Kempton . Twiston-Davies schooled the nine-year-old at Nicholls’ Ditcheat base on Monday as preparations stepped up a gear, while Shutthefrontdoor — the 8-1 ante-post favourite — was put through his paces at Southwell under AP McCoy. While public sentiment will be with McCoy for the big race, Phil Smith, the BHA’s Head of Handicapping, warns that dangers to Shutthefrontdoor lurk all around, not least from Rocky Creek, who is available at 12-1. Champions jockey AP McCoy exercises ante-post favourite Shutthefrontdoor at Southwell . Smith said: ‘Rocky Creek was very impressive when he won at Kempton. If I was framing the weights now, I’d have him 9lb higher. I’d also have The Druids Nephew (a winner at the Cheltenham Festival) 10lb higher.’ Rocky Creek will be one of six bullets that Nicholls aims at the £1million race, which he won in 2012 with Neptune Collonges, and the horse has been trained with Aintree in mind — he finished fifth 12 months ago to Pineau De Re. Twiston-Davies added of the gelding, who has run only three times this season: ‘Fingers crossed, the horse seems to be in good order. Hopefully he’ll get there in one piece. I schooled him and he was very good. He did it well at Kempton and let’s hope he’s ahead of the handicapper. Twiston-Davies believes Rocky Road has a good chance of winning the big race at Aintree . ‘When he ran in the Hennessy (in November and was pulled up) it was really bad ground and I would just write that run off altogether. We have to go to Aintree with an open mind.’ As for Pineau De Re, his trainer Dr Richard Newland could require a new jockey as the veteran chaser bids to become the first horse since Red Rum in 1974 to win back-to-back Grand Nationals. Leighton Aspell, who did the steering a year ago, could be claimed to ride Many Clouds. Newland said: ‘I might have a few calls to make. It is Leighton’s ride if he is available. It is pointless getting worried at this stage. I’m sure there will be a few interested jockeys if Leighton isn’t available.’ [/INST] Rocky Creek impressively won the BetBright Chase at Kempton, February .
Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies believes the gelding could have been given an advantage by the handicapper ahead of the Aintree showdown .
AP McCoy and Shutthefrontdoor will get public vote at Grand National . </s> |
Troubled former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been pictured appearing to carry a bag with a bottle of gin inside just days after insisting he was healthy. The 47-year-old, who was briefly sectioned for his own safety in October, has had a lengthy battle with alcohol and drugs. But just last week while appearing on BT Sport's Matchday Live With Fletch and Sav show, he insisted that he hadn't fallen off the wagon and wasn't drinking again. Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne, who has been pictured near his home in Poole, Dorset, carrying a bag with what appears to be a bottle of gin inside . The midfielder, who retired from football in 2004, was wearing a coat, but no shirt, and also appeared to have sores around his mouth . Gascoigne was also pictured going into an Oddbins off licence and posing for a photograph with a member of staff and a bottle of lemonade . However, a week on from his successful TV appearance, new pictures have emerged showing Gascoigne walking close to his home in Poole, Dorset, clutching a bag containing what looks like a bottle of gin. The midfielder, who retired from football in 2004, was wearing a coat, but no shirt underneath, and appeared to have sores around his mouth. He was also pictured going into a local Oddbins off-licence and posed for a photograph with a member of staff and a bottle of lemonade. The new pictures come as the former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United star recently joked about his addiction problems saying: 'I've been on a whiskey diet – I lost three days!' The star, put his recent stint in hospital following an apparent alcohol binge down to 'just to a little blip' The 47-year-old, who was briefly sectioned for his own safety in October, has had a lengthy battle with alcohol and drugs . The star, who put his recent stint in hospital following an apparent alcohol binge down to 'just to a little blip', insisted other photos of him shopping in a off-licence last month didn't mean he had resorted to his old habits. He told TV presenters Robbie Savage and Darren Fletcher on the BT Sport show: 'I was only buying cigarettes.' As well as making light of his dark times, the footballer also touched on the struggles of being in the spotlight. Just last week, Gascoigne appeared in good spirits on BT Sport's Fletch and Sav show and joked about his alcohol problems . Gascoigne, who retired from football in 2004, was joined by fellow guest Russell Brand on the show and opened up about his struggles with alcoholism . He told fellow guests Jimmy Greaves and Russell Brand how his fundamental aim on a football pitch was to 'entertain the fans, win them over', but admitted that sometimes it all became too intense for him. He also admitted that even today 'it's sometimes hard to go to games' because he ends up 'analysing myself.' He added: 'I drive myself nuts. What would I have done there?' In December last year, Gascoigne was spotted popping to an off-licence in east London, although it wasn't clear whether he bought anything at the store. The former England, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle footballer was also spotted emerging from an off-licence in east London in December last year. However, it was clear in the photos that he didn't buy alcohol . Last year, the ex-footballer was spotted looking downcast as he put the bins out outside his home in the wealthy Sandbanks area of Poole, Dorset, wearing a blue dressing gown, tartan pyjama bottoms and slippers . While a month earlier he was pictured looking downcast as he put the bins out in front his property in the wealthy Sandbanks area of Dorset, wearing a blue dressing gown, tartan pyjama bottoms and slip-on shoes. The former professional footballer was hospitalised in October last year, during which he was placed on a three-day emergency detox. The star, who made 57 appearances for England, was first sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2008 following an incident at a Newcastle hotel. His latest sectioning in the early hours of October 24 came following an apparent alcohol binge. Gascoigne, who gave some of his best years to Spurs from 1988 to 1992, celebrates an FA Cup semi-final win . During his time in hospital, he is said to have taken the opportunity to improve his health and fitness by doing up to 800 press-ups, sit-ups and squats every day. Gascoigne, who now prays every morning, claimed he had only drunk for one year out of the last 18 and admitted he was lucky to have nipped his relapses in the bud quickly. Last month, he admitted that 'the only person who can save me is me', and vowed to stay on the straight and narrow after listening to doctors' warnings that alcohol will kill him. | New pictures have emerged of Paul Gascoigne walking near his home .
The former England footballer appears to be carrying a bottle of gin .
47-year-old visited an off licence wearing a coat with no shirt underneath .
Comes just a week after he insisted he had not fallen off the wagon .
Gascoigne has had a lengthy and well documented battle with alcohol and drugs . | 082ed2ca859c0ff7d6df32ffae8125344b4b7a96 | <s>[INST] Troubled former England footballer Paul Gascoigne has been pictured appearing to carry a bag with a bottle of gin inside just days after insisting he was healthy. The 47-year-old, who was briefly sectioned for his own safety in October, has had a lengthy battle with alcohol and drugs. But just last week while appearing on BT Sport's Matchday Live With Fletch and Sav show, he insisted that he hadn't fallen off the wagon and wasn't drinking again. Former England footballer Paul Gascoigne, who has been pictured near his home in Poole, Dorset, carrying a bag with what appears to be a bottle of gin inside . The midfielder, who retired from football in 2004, was wearing a coat, but no shirt, and also appeared to have sores around his mouth . Gascoigne was also pictured going into an Oddbins off licence and posing for a photograph with a member of staff and a bottle of lemonade . However, a week on from his successful TV appearance, new pictures have emerged showing Gascoigne walking close to his home in Poole, Dorset, clutching a bag containing what looks like a bottle of gin. The midfielder, who retired from football in 2004, was wearing a coat, but no shirt underneath, and appeared to have sores around his mouth. He was also pictured going into a local Oddbins off-licence and posed for a photograph with a member of staff and a bottle of lemonade. The new pictures come as the former Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United star recently joked about his addiction problems saying: 'I've been on a whiskey diet – I lost three days!' The star, put his recent stint in hospital following an apparent alcohol binge down to 'just to a little blip' The 47-year-old, who was briefly sectioned for his own safety in October, has had a lengthy battle with alcohol and drugs . The star, who put his recent stint in hospital following an apparent alcohol binge down to 'just to a little blip', insisted other photos of him shopping in a off-licence last month didn't mean he had resorted to his old habits. He told TV presenters Robbie Savage and Darren Fletcher on the BT Sport show: 'I was only buying cigarettes.' As well as making light of his dark times, the footballer also touched on the struggles of being in the spotlight. Just last week, Gascoigne appeared in good spirits on BT Sport's Fletch and Sav show and joked about his alcohol problems . Gascoigne, who retired from football in 2004, was joined by fellow guest Russell Brand on the show and opened up about his struggles with alcoholism . He told fellow guests Jimmy Greaves and Russell Brand how his fundamental aim on a football pitch was to 'entertain the fans, win them over', but admitted that sometimes it all became too intense for him. He also admitted that even today 'it's sometimes hard to go to games' because he ends up 'analysing myself.' He added: 'I drive myself nuts. What would I have done there?' In December last year, Gascoigne was spotted popping to an off-licence in east London, although it wasn't clear whether he bought anything at the store. The former England, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle footballer was also spotted emerging from an off-licence in east London in December last year. However, it was clear in the photos that he didn't buy alcohol . Last year, the ex-footballer was spotted looking downcast as he put the bins out outside his home in the wealthy Sandbanks area of Poole, Dorset, wearing a blue dressing gown, tartan pyjama bottoms and slippers . While a month earlier he was pictured looking downcast as he put the bins out in front his property in the wealthy Sandbanks area of Dorset, wearing a blue dressing gown, tartan pyjama bottoms and slip-on shoes. The former professional footballer was hospitalised in October last year, during which he was placed on a three-day emergency detox. The star, who made 57 appearances for England, was first sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 2008 following an incident at a Newcastle hotel. His latest sectioning in the early hours of October 24 came following an apparent alcohol binge. Gascoigne, who gave some of his best years to Spurs from 1988 to 1992, celebrates an FA Cup semi-final win . During his time in hospital, he is said to have taken the opportunity to improve his health and fitness by doing up to 800 press-ups, sit-ups and squats every day. Gascoigne, who now prays every morning, claimed he had only drunk for one year out of the last 18 and admitted he was lucky to have nipped his relapses in the bud quickly. Last month, he admitted that 'the only person who can save me is me', and vowed to stay on the straight and narrow after listening to doctors' warnings that alcohol will kill him. [/INST] New pictures have emerged of Paul Gascoigne walking near his home .
The former England footballer appears to be carrying a bottle of gin .
47-year-old visited an off licence wearing a coat with no shirt underneath .
Comes just a week after he insisted he had not fallen off the wagon .
Gascoigne has had a lengthy and well documented battle with alcohol and drugs . </s> |
A family has been left devastated after their pet cat was put down without their consent by a vet who thought it was a stray. Julie Neeson was worried when the cat, who was called Babies, didn't come home after being let out in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. She went looking for the animal with daughters Tia, 13 and Kiana, 10, but a worried passer-by had already taken him to a local vets. Devastated: Kiana Neeson, 10, and her family were left devastated when their pet cat Babies was put down without their consent or knowledge. Vets presumed the animal was a stray when it was handed in without a collar or microchip . Tia and Kiana (pictured with their other cats) wrote a letter to Babies after discovering he had been put down . With no microchip and his collar already removed by the time he was brought in staff presumed Babies was a stray and gave him a lethal injection after detecting signs of illness. The family arrived the following day to be presented with his frozen body. Speaking of the loss, Mrs Neeson said: 'I am devastated, my daughters are devastated. 'When I got there they handed my cat to me and he was frozen. He had been kept in the freezer over night. 'He was frozen stiff and waiting to be disposed of. I couldn't believe it.' When Babies first went missing the family did not panic as he was so well liked by neighbours he often spent the night at their houses, she added. The vet who gave Babies the lethal injection has since apologised for the confusion. 'I'd like to express my sympathies to the cat’s family at this difficult time, and I am sorry that this decision was made without them being present,' she said in a Facebook post,' Belfast Live reports. 'This poor cat was suffering from chronic renal failure and had been for some time. Heartache: A note penned by the 10-year-old following the cat's death. Babies did not return home after being let out one evening . The animal was so well liked by neighbours he would often spend the night at their homes, said Mrs Neelson . 'The cat was presented to us as a stray by a concerned member of the public who felt sorry for him and took it upon herself to bring him to the vets.' A spokesperson for Pets At Home said: 'We completely understand the family’s response and it’s never easy to lose a beloved pet. 'Our vet is very experienced, fully qualified and was acting in the best interests of the cat. We’d like to express our sympathies to the family at this difficult time.' 'The cat was brought in and presented as a stray by a concerned and sympathetic member of the public who recognised that he was not well. 'The cat was in the end-stages of chronic renal failure. He had clearly suffered from this condition for a number of years and was unfortunately untreatable. 'He was not wearing a collar, and was scanned for a microchip but none was found. 'Unable to identify the owners and with the cat suffering, he made the difficult decision to put him down. 'We’d like to express our sympathies to the family at this difficult time.' The animal was put down by vets at a pets at home store near her home. The store has apologised for the incident since . | Julie Neeson's cat Babies did not come home after being let out at night .
The animal was picked up by a stranger and taken to a local pet store .
There vets considered it a stray as it was not wearing a microchip or collar .
Babies had been suffering renal failure and was given the lethal injection .
Mrs Neeson and her two daughters discovered he was dead the next day . | a6e7a20212947b56644628bc7b7b13be6d34239a | <s>[INST] A family has been left devastated after their pet cat was put down without their consent by a vet who thought it was a stray. Julie Neeson was worried when the cat, who was called Babies, didn't come home after being let out in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim. She went looking for the animal with daughters Tia, 13 and Kiana, 10, but a worried passer-by had already taken him to a local vets. Devastated: Kiana Neeson, 10, and her family were left devastated when their pet cat Babies was put down without their consent or knowledge. Vets presumed the animal was a stray when it was handed in without a collar or microchip . Tia and Kiana (pictured with their other cats) wrote a letter to Babies after discovering he had been put down . With no microchip and his collar already removed by the time he was brought in staff presumed Babies was a stray and gave him a lethal injection after detecting signs of illness. The family arrived the following day to be presented with his frozen body. Speaking of the loss, Mrs Neeson said: 'I am devastated, my daughters are devastated. 'When I got there they handed my cat to me and he was frozen. He had been kept in the freezer over night. 'He was frozen stiff and waiting to be disposed of. I couldn't believe it.' When Babies first went missing the family did not panic as he was so well liked by neighbours he often spent the night at their houses, she added. The vet who gave Babies the lethal injection has since apologised for the confusion. 'I'd like to express my sympathies to the cat’s family at this difficult time, and I am sorry that this decision was made without them being present,' she said in a Facebook post,' Belfast Live reports. 'This poor cat was suffering from chronic renal failure and had been for some time. Heartache: A note penned by the 10-year-old following the cat's death. Babies did not return home after being let out one evening . The animal was so well liked by neighbours he would often spend the night at their homes, said Mrs Neelson . 'The cat was presented to us as a stray by a concerned member of the public who felt sorry for him and took it upon herself to bring him to the vets.' A spokesperson for Pets At Home said: 'We completely understand the family’s response and it’s never easy to lose a beloved pet. 'Our vet is very experienced, fully qualified and was acting in the best interests of the cat. We’d like to express our sympathies to the family at this difficult time.' 'The cat was brought in and presented as a stray by a concerned and sympathetic member of the public who recognised that he was not well. 'The cat was in the end-stages of chronic renal failure. He had clearly suffered from this condition for a number of years and was unfortunately untreatable. 'He was not wearing a collar, and was scanned for a microchip but none was found. 'Unable to identify the owners and with the cat suffering, he made the difficult decision to put him down. 'We’d like to express our sympathies to the family at this difficult time.' The animal was put down by vets at a pets at home store near her home. The store has apologised for the incident since . [/INST] Julie Neeson's cat Babies did not come home after being let out at night .
The animal was picked up by a stranger and taken to a local pet store .
There vets considered it a stray as it was not wearing a microchip or collar .
Babies had been suffering renal failure and was given the lethal injection .
Mrs Neeson and her two daughters discovered he was dead the next day . </s> |
A man who passed himself off as a Hare Krishna 'guru' has been sentenced to 19 years in jail for repeatedly raping three teenage girls he turned into mesmerised sex slaves. Sean O'Neil, an Australian 43-year-old computer programmer, was found guilty of multiple rape and of corrupting minors by a closed-door appeals court in the southern French city of Aix-en-Provence on Monday. O'Neil forced a total of four teenage girls to live as naked slaves in his French Riviera apartment in the town of Valbonne, where he subjected them to pornographic photo sessions and made them recite the Hare Krishna mantra 1,700 times a day. Sean O'Neil, an Australian 43-year-old computer programmer, was sentenced to 19 years in jail after being found guilty of multiple rape and of corrupting minors on Monday . The three girls he regularly raped between 2009 and 2010 while they were aged around 15 and made psychologically dependent on the Australian. The court rejected O'Neil's argument that the sex was consensual to confirm a lower court's October 2013 conviction, and to lengthen an original sentence of 15 years in prison. It also barred him from re-entering France once he had served his time. O'Neil forced a total of four teenage girls to live as naked slaves in his French Riviera apartment in the town of Valbonne, where he subjected them to pornographic photo sessions . One expert testified that the girls cooperated because they were in a trance-like state approaching 'hypnosis'. The victims described O'Neil as a 'guru' who urged them to recruit other young virgins of the same age with the aim of starting a commune in Australia. The crimes came to light in 2010 after one of the girls described what they were enduring to a school employee. | Sean O'Neil was found guilty of multiple rape and of corrupting minors .
He was sentenced to 19 years in prison at a French court on Monday .
O'Neil subjected the teenagers to pornographic photo sessions and made them recite the Hare Krishna mantra 1,700 times a day .
One expert said the girls cooperated because they were in a trance-like state approaching 'hypnosis' | 4fd47e4e25e3b0588ab4d21f022c8e9203b2922b | <s>[INST] A man who passed himself off as a Hare Krishna 'guru' has been sentenced to 19 years in jail for repeatedly raping three teenage girls he turned into mesmerised sex slaves. Sean O'Neil, an Australian 43-year-old computer programmer, was found guilty of multiple rape and of corrupting minors by a closed-door appeals court in the southern French city of Aix-en-Provence on Monday. O'Neil forced a total of four teenage girls to live as naked slaves in his French Riviera apartment in the town of Valbonne, where he subjected them to pornographic photo sessions and made them recite the Hare Krishna mantra 1,700 times a day. Sean O'Neil, an Australian 43-year-old computer programmer, was sentenced to 19 years in jail after being found guilty of multiple rape and of corrupting minors on Monday . The three girls he regularly raped between 2009 and 2010 while they were aged around 15 and made psychologically dependent on the Australian. The court rejected O'Neil's argument that the sex was consensual to confirm a lower court's October 2013 conviction, and to lengthen an original sentence of 15 years in prison. It also barred him from re-entering France once he had served his time. O'Neil forced a total of four teenage girls to live as naked slaves in his French Riviera apartment in the town of Valbonne, where he subjected them to pornographic photo sessions . One expert testified that the girls cooperated because they were in a trance-like state approaching 'hypnosis'. The victims described O'Neil as a 'guru' who urged them to recruit other young virgins of the same age with the aim of starting a commune in Australia. The crimes came to light in 2010 after one of the girls described what they were enduring to a school employee. [/INST] Sean O'Neil was found guilty of multiple rape and of corrupting minors .
He was sentenced to 19 years in prison at a French court on Monday .
O'Neil subjected the teenagers to pornographic photo sessions and made them recite the Hare Krishna mantra 1,700 times a day .
One expert said the girls cooperated because they were in a trance-like state approaching 'hypnosis' </s> |
Former Sauber test driver Giedo van der Garde says he has settled his contract dispute with the team for 'significant compensation' while accepting his Formula One career is effectively over. Van der Garde had a deal to be one of the team's race drivers this season, but Sauber did not honour it, and legal judgments in Switzerland and last week in Australia before the season-opening race supported the Dutchman's claims. He said on his Facebook page on Wednesday that the compensation meant 'my rights have finally been recognised and that at least some justice has been done,' but said he was 'sad and disappointed' that his F1 ambitions are over, and still bewildered at Sauber's decision-making. Giedo van der Garde has settled his contract dispute with Sauber for 'significant compensation' The former Sauber test driver accepts that he no longer has a future in Formula One . 'I had hoped at last to be able to show what I am capable of, driving a car for a respected midfield team in the 2015 season,' Van der Garde said. 'This dream has been taken away from me, and I know that my future in Formula 1 is probably over.' The settlement ends a long-running dispute that was a dramatic backdrop to the start of the season last weekend in Melbourne, Australia. Having received the backing of a Swiss employment tribunal, Van der Garde took his case to the local Supreme Court of the state of Victoria, where he won the initial hearing and Sauber's appeal. Pressing his claims further, Van der Garde filed contempt of court charges against the team for not immediately facilitating his installation as a driver in Australia. These charges threatened to impound the team's equipment and possibly lead to the detention of team principal Monisha Kaltenborn. The Dutchman was hoping to race for the team at the season's opening grand prix in Australia . Marcus Ericsson (left) and Felipe Nasr (right) eventually raced in Melbourne and will remain Sauber's drivers . He finally agreed to drop that action, allowing drivers Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson to compete in Melbourne, where the team put in a surprisingly strong performance, with the cars finishing fifth and eighth. Van der Garde said on Wednesday he dropped that contempt of court case because it would have 'wrecked' the team's weekend, and hurt Nasr and Ericsson most of all. 'I decided I did not want to live with that idea, even though it was only the team's management that was responsible for the bizarre situation I found myself in,' Van der Garde said. His career supported through his billionaire father-in-law, he said his sponsor forwarded money to the team during 2014 for a 2015 drive. 'Effectively, it was my sponsor's advanced payments that helped the team survive in 2014,' Van der Garde said. 'Sauber's financial decision-making in this case is bizarre, and makes no sense to me.' The Sauber team produced a surprisingly effective performance in Melbourne finishing fifth and eighth . Van der Garde took his case to the Victoria Supreme Court where judges ruled he should race . He said his experience 'will serve as an example to illustrate what should change, and that new regulations will be implemented to help protect driver rights.' 'There are numerous examples of talented drivers with good intentions, but without the sort of professional support that I have had, who have been broken by Formula 1, and who have seen their careers destroyed.' He said he will pursue opportunities in sports cars and touring cars. VIDEO Hamilton cruises to victory in Australian GP . | Giedo van der Garde has settled dispute for 'significant compensation'
Former Sauber test driver had deal to race that was not honoured despite legal backing from Supreme Court .
Dutchman accepts Formula One career is now over but remains bemused by the team's decision . | 803cee3174a06a7689ec959726de268e1994cd64 | <s>[INST] Former Sauber test driver Giedo van der Garde says he has settled his contract dispute with the team for 'significant compensation' while accepting his Formula One career is effectively over. Van der Garde had a deal to be one of the team's race drivers this season, but Sauber did not honour it, and legal judgments in Switzerland and last week in Australia before the season-opening race supported the Dutchman's claims. He said on his Facebook page on Wednesday that the compensation meant 'my rights have finally been recognised and that at least some justice has been done,' but said he was 'sad and disappointed' that his F1 ambitions are over, and still bewildered at Sauber's decision-making. Giedo van der Garde has settled his contract dispute with Sauber for 'significant compensation' The former Sauber test driver accepts that he no longer has a future in Formula One . 'I had hoped at last to be able to show what I am capable of, driving a car for a respected midfield team in the 2015 season,' Van der Garde said. 'This dream has been taken away from me, and I know that my future in Formula 1 is probably over.' The settlement ends a long-running dispute that was a dramatic backdrop to the start of the season last weekend in Melbourne, Australia. Having received the backing of a Swiss employment tribunal, Van der Garde took his case to the local Supreme Court of the state of Victoria, where he won the initial hearing and Sauber's appeal. Pressing his claims further, Van der Garde filed contempt of court charges against the team for not immediately facilitating his installation as a driver in Australia. These charges threatened to impound the team's equipment and possibly lead to the detention of team principal Monisha Kaltenborn. The Dutchman was hoping to race for the team at the season's opening grand prix in Australia . Marcus Ericsson (left) and Felipe Nasr (right) eventually raced in Melbourne and will remain Sauber's drivers . He finally agreed to drop that action, allowing drivers Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson to compete in Melbourne, where the team put in a surprisingly strong performance, with the cars finishing fifth and eighth. Van der Garde said on Wednesday he dropped that contempt of court case because it would have 'wrecked' the team's weekend, and hurt Nasr and Ericsson most of all. 'I decided I did not want to live with that idea, even though it was only the team's management that was responsible for the bizarre situation I found myself in,' Van der Garde said. His career supported through his billionaire father-in-law, he said his sponsor forwarded money to the team during 2014 for a 2015 drive. 'Effectively, it was my sponsor's advanced payments that helped the team survive in 2014,' Van der Garde said. 'Sauber's financial decision-making in this case is bizarre, and makes no sense to me.' The Sauber team produced a surprisingly effective performance in Melbourne finishing fifth and eighth . Van der Garde took his case to the Victoria Supreme Court where judges ruled he should race . He said his experience 'will serve as an example to illustrate what should change, and that new regulations will be implemented to help protect driver rights.' 'There are numerous examples of talented drivers with good intentions, but without the sort of professional support that I have had, who have been broken by Formula 1, and who have seen their careers destroyed.' He said he will pursue opportunities in sports cars and touring cars. VIDEO Hamilton cruises to victory in Australian GP . [/INST] Giedo van der Garde has settled dispute for 'significant compensation'
Former Sauber test driver had deal to race that was not honoured despite legal backing from Supreme Court .
Dutchman accepts Formula One career is now over but remains bemused by the team's decision . </s> |
Jonas Gutierrez has not given up hope of winning a new contract at Newcastle United. The 31-year-old made his first appearance for the club in 17 months on Wednesday having twice beaten testicular cancer. Gutierrez enjoyed a spine-tingling welcome from 50,000 fans inside St James’ Park as he came off the bench during the second half of Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester United. Newcastle midfielder Jonas Gutierrez returned to action on Wednesday having twice beaten testicular cancer . The Argentine’s contract expires this summer and it is thought he will be released by the club he joined in 2008. Gutierrez, though, will fight for an extension. ‘I am living day by day,’ he said. ‘All I can do is work hard in training and work as hard as I can. I’m going to fight for my place — I always try to do that. ‘I’m recovering, I’m healthy and I’m feeling strong — now I have to wait for my opportunity and fight for that. Gutierrez joined Newcastle in 2008 and his contract expires this summer . ‘I have three months to do my best and we’ll see what happens. This is football, you are going to get opportunities so you have to be ready for that.’ Gutierrez was only given the all-clear following chemotherapy in November and in January he told Sportsmail it would be the biggest moment of his career were he to play again at St James’. And he added: ‘It was unbelievable, the welcome of the fans. It was a long wait so it was emotional. I have to say thanks to the fans for all the support they have sent me. ‘Since I’ve had my cancer and my treatment, I just think day by day. My first step was to be healthy again. After the doctor said I had recovered, I started thinking, “Now I want to train and want to prove how I feel”. ‘At the beginning it was hard because the body has to get used to the training. My body started feeling better and better and that was a big point, to get me where I am. ‘Now I want more. I’m improving every day.’ | Jonas Gutierrez received spine-tingling reception on Wednesday .
The 31-year-old was making his first appearance in 17 months .
The Argentine midfielder has twice beaten testicular cancer . | 65105c25c804c1fa941b0000abc543462f2174d2 | <s>[INST] Jonas Gutierrez has not given up hope of winning a new contract at Newcastle United. The 31-year-old made his first appearance for the club in 17 months on Wednesday having twice beaten testicular cancer. Gutierrez enjoyed a spine-tingling welcome from 50,000 fans inside St James’ Park as he came off the bench during the second half of Newcastle’s 1-0 defeat by Manchester United. Newcastle midfielder Jonas Gutierrez returned to action on Wednesday having twice beaten testicular cancer . The Argentine’s contract expires this summer and it is thought he will be released by the club he joined in 2008. Gutierrez, though, will fight for an extension. ‘I am living day by day,’ he said. ‘All I can do is work hard in training and work as hard as I can. I’m going to fight for my place — I always try to do that. ‘I’m recovering, I’m healthy and I’m feeling strong — now I have to wait for my opportunity and fight for that. Gutierrez joined Newcastle in 2008 and his contract expires this summer . ‘I have three months to do my best and we’ll see what happens. This is football, you are going to get opportunities so you have to be ready for that.’ Gutierrez was only given the all-clear following chemotherapy in November and in January he told Sportsmail it would be the biggest moment of his career were he to play again at St James’. And he added: ‘It was unbelievable, the welcome of the fans. It was a long wait so it was emotional. I have to say thanks to the fans for all the support they have sent me. ‘Since I’ve had my cancer and my treatment, I just think day by day. My first step was to be healthy again. After the doctor said I had recovered, I started thinking, “Now I want to train and want to prove how I feel”. ‘At the beginning it was hard because the body has to get used to the training. My body started feeling better and better and that was a big point, to get me where I am. ‘Now I want more. I’m improving every day.’ [/INST] Jonas Gutierrez received spine-tingling reception on Wednesday .
The 31-year-old was making his first appearance in 17 months .
The Argentine midfielder has twice beaten testicular cancer . </s> |
She's the super fit mother of four who is so dedicated to bodybuilding that she gets up everyday at 3am to train before her kids wake up. Amanda Doherty spends three hours each morning at her Melbourne gym before preparing enough food so she can eat seven times a day. The competitive bodybuilder, who turns 40 next month, has spent the past several weeks getting ready for the Arnold Classic Australia competition in Melbourne this weekend. Scroll down for video . Amanda Doherty is the super fit mother of four who is so dedicated to bodybuilding that she gets up everyday at 3am to train before her kids wake up . 'I'm really quite dedicated to the sport... But I try not to take to much away from the children – that’s the reason I get up so early,' she told told Daily Mail Australia. 'I get up really early at 3am and have a coffee before heading to the gym for my fasted cardio, which means I have no food in my tummy. I get on the stepper for 40 minutes. 'I make myself a protein drink and then I hit the weights. I get home by 6.30am and it's time for me to make the lunch boxes and get my kids off to school.' Ms Doherty then spends time preparing her meals for the day before heading back to the gym she runs with her husband Tony in Brunswick to train her clients. 'I really like to eat fresh food so I prepare six to seven meals for the day,' she said. The mother of four spends three hours each morning at her Melbourne gym before preparing enough food so she can eat seven times a day . The competitive bodybuilder, who turns 40 next month, has spent the past several weeks getting ready for the Arnold Classic Australia competition in Melbourne this weekend . Amanda gets to the gym at 3.30am and is back home by 6.30am to make the lunch boxes and get her four children, aged five to 13, off to school . 'I generally eat oats for breakfast with protein powder and then I'll eat five ounces of protein with one third of a cup of brown rice every two hours. 'You have to work hard and it takes a little bit of sacrifice.' Ms Doherty says she sacrifices a lot of sleep and, to an extent, a social life. 'I've never been one to go out and drink alcohol but there's small sacrifices along the way. I can't stand around at school and talk to other mums because I've got to get back to the gym. 'I prefer to spend any other time with my kids.' Ms Doherty said her lifestyle has a flow on effect with her children, now aged five to 13. 'They watch what I do and I think mostly they’re proud of me. Sometimes they get angry when the smell of salmon or meat fills the kitchen,' she said. Amanda, who started bodybuilding when she was 19, took a break when she was 27 to start her family . As soon as she had her fourth child at 35, Ms Doherty was straight back into it and hasn't looked back . Amanda and her husband Tony run a gym together in Brunswick, Melbourne: Doherty's 24:7 Gym . 'This has definitely educated them about nutrition. We have a draw at home full of treats but it never gets empty. 'The children want to eat healthily. If my kids want a pie for dinner, they can have one. I'm not worried because they're active children.' Ms Doherty, who started bodybuilding when she was 19, took a break when she was 27 to start her family. 'I put on 15-20 kilos when I had my first child. I was eating more and gave into cravings. People told me I would be eating for two. That was a real learning curve - you're not eating for two, you have to have enough nutrition for two,' she said. Amanda documents her bodybuilding on social media and she has clocked up well over 50,000 followers . Amanda competed in three shows last year and is aiming for five in 2015, including the Arnold Classic . As soon as she had her fourth child at 35, Ms Doherty was straight back into it and hasn't looked back. She competed in three shows last year and is aiming for five in 2015, including the Arnold Classic this weekend. Ms Doherty documents her bodybuilding progress on social media and she has clocked up well over 50,000 followers. 'I really enjoying sharing my journey through Instagram and Facebook. That’s the real reason I came back to the sport... to inspire people,' she said. | Amanda Doherty trains for three hours and eats seven times a day .
Mum of four has been preparing for Arnold Classic Australia this weekend .
She has been bodybuilding for 20 years but took time off to have her kids .
Amanda says she sacrifices a lot of sleep and social events for lifestyle . | 34077dc1e56438a6c68148e68d1fc3ff8637d757 | <s>[INST] She's the super fit mother of four who is so dedicated to bodybuilding that she gets up everyday at 3am to train before her kids wake up. Amanda Doherty spends three hours each morning at her Melbourne gym before preparing enough food so she can eat seven times a day. The competitive bodybuilder, who turns 40 next month, has spent the past several weeks getting ready for the Arnold Classic Australia competition in Melbourne this weekend. Scroll down for video . Amanda Doherty is the super fit mother of four who is so dedicated to bodybuilding that she gets up everyday at 3am to train before her kids wake up . 'I'm really quite dedicated to the sport... But I try not to take to much away from the children – that’s the reason I get up so early,' she told told Daily Mail Australia. 'I get up really early at 3am and have a coffee before heading to the gym for my fasted cardio, which means I have no food in my tummy. I get on the stepper for 40 minutes. 'I make myself a protein drink and then I hit the weights. I get home by 6.30am and it's time for me to make the lunch boxes and get my kids off to school.' Ms Doherty then spends time preparing her meals for the day before heading back to the gym she runs with her husband Tony in Brunswick to train her clients. 'I really like to eat fresh food so I prepare six to seven meals for the day,' she said. The mother of four spends three hours each morning at her Melbourne gym before preparing enough food so she can eat seven times a day . The competitive bodybuilder, who turns 40 next month, has spent the past several weeks getting ready for the Arnold Classic Australia competition in Melbourne this weekend . Amanda gets to the gym at 3.30am and is back home by 6.30am to make the lunch boxes and get her four children, aged five to 13, off to school . 'I generally eat oats for breakfast with protein powder and then I'll eat five ounces of protein with one third of a cup of brown rice every two hours. 'You have to work hard and it takes a little bit of sacrifice.' Ms Doherty says she sacrifices a lot of sleep and, to an extent, a social life. 'I've never been one to go out and drink alcohol but there's small sacrifices along the way. I can't stand around at school and talk to other mums because I've got to get back to the gym. 'I prefer to spend any other time with my kids.' Ms Doherty said her lifestyle has a flow on effect with her children, now aged five to 13. 'They watch what I do and I think mostly they’re proud of me. Sometimes they get angry when the smell of salmon or meat fills the kitchen,' she said. Amanda, who started bodybuilding when she was 19, took a break when she was 27 to start her family . As soon as she had her fourth child at 35, Ms Doherty was straight back into it and hasn't looked back . Amanda and her husband Tony run a gym together in Brunswick, Melbourne: Doherty's 24:7 Gym . 'This has definitely educated them about nutrition. We have a draw at home full of treats but it never gets empty. 'The children want to eat healthily. If my kids want a pie for dinner, they can have one. I'm not worried because they're active children.' Ms Doherty, who started bodybuilding when she was 19, took a break when she was 27 to start her family. 'I put on 15-20 kilos when I had my first child. I was eating more and gave into cravings. People told me I would be eating for two. That was a real learning curve - you're not eating for two, you have to have enough nutrition for two,' she said. Amanda documents her bodybuilding on social media and she has clocked up well over 50,000 followers . Amanda competed in three shows last year and is aiming for five in 2015, including the Arnold Classic . As soon as she had her fourth child at 35, Ms Doherty was straight back into it and hasn't looked back. She competed in three shows last year and is aiming for five in 2015, including the Arnold Classic this weekend. Ms Doherty documents her bodybuilding progress on social media and she has clocked up well over 50,000 followers. 'I really enjoying sharing my journey through Instagram and Facebook. That’s the real reason I came back to the sport... to inspire people,' she said. [/INST] Amanda Doherty trains for three hours and eats seven times a day .
Mum of four has been preparing for Arnold Classic Australia this weekend .
She has been bodybuilding for 20 years but took time off to have her kids .
Amanda says she sacrifices a lot of sleep and social events for lifestyle . </s> |
A brave transgender teenager came out in front of his entire class. Tom Sosnik, 13, of Fresno, California, first read the suicide note written by Leelah Alcorn, another tragic teen who took her own life at the end of last year. He then told the students; 'I am no longer Mia. I never really was.' Scroll down for video . Tom Sosnik (above) came out as transgender to his class . Sosnik (above) told his fellow students; 'I am not Mia. I never really was' Sosnik (above with Glee star Lauren Potter) when he was Mia . The middle school student then said; 'And now I finally stand before you in my true and authentic gender identity as Tom. I stand before you as a 13-year-old boy.' Tom then detailed his struggle over the past few years, and what it took to bring him to the moment where he made this announcement. He eloquently explained his challenges, saying; 'For a while, I dismissed the fact that I hated my body. I pretended to be content with what I was assigned until, at a certain point, I broke.' Sosnik began his speech by reading the tragic suicide note of Leelah Alcorn (above) He then added; 'I went through a series of horrible breakdowns. And I would stand under the water in the shower crying. I knew I wasn't happy.' He also took some time to let other students know if they were struggling with their sexual identity or orientation, he was there for them. 'I want you to know that if no one else accepts you, I always will,' he said. If you are reading this, it means that I have committed suicide and obviously failed to delete this post from my queue. Please don't be sad, it's for the better. The life I would've lived isn't worth living in… because I'm transgender. I could go into detail explaining why I feel that way, but this note is probably going to be lengthy enough as it is. To put it simply, I feel like a girl trapped in a boy's body, and I've felt that way ever since I was 4. I never knew there was a word for that feeling, nor was it possible for a boy to become a girl, so I never told anyone and I just continued to do traditionally 'boyish' things to try to fit in. When I was 14, I learned what transgender meant and cried of happiness. After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was. I immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn't make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don't tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don't ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won't do anything but make them hate them self. That's exactly what it did to me. My mom started taking me to a therapist, but would only take me to christian therapists, (who were all very biased) so I never actually got the therapy I needed to cure me of my depression. I only got more Christians telling me that I was selfish and wrong and that I should look to God for help. When I was 16 I realized that my parents would never come around, and that I would have to wait until I was 18 to start any sort of transitioning treatment, which absolutely broke my heart. The longer you wait, the harder it is to transition. I felt hopeless, that I was just going to look like a man in drag for the rest of my life. On my 16th birthday, when I didn't receive consent from my parents to start transitioning, I cried myself to sleep. I formed a sort of a 'f*** you' attitude towards my parents and came out as gay at school, thinking that maybe if I eased into coming out as trans it would be less of a shock. Although the reaction from my friends was positive, my parents were pissed. They felt like I was attacking their image, and that I was an embarrassment to them. They wanted me to be their perfect little straight christian boy, and that's obviously not what I wanted. So they took me out of public school, took away my laptop and phone, and forbid me of getting on any sort of social media, completely isolating me from my friends. This was probably the part of my life when I was the most depressed, and I'm surprised I didn't kill myself. I was completely alone for 5 months. No friends, no support, no love. Just my parent's disappointment and the cruelty of loneliness. At the end of the school year, my parents finally came around and gave me my phone and let me back on social media. I was excited, I finally had my friends back. They were extremely excited to see me and talk to me, but only at first. Eventually they realized they didn't actually give a s**t about me, and I felt even lonelier than I did before. The only friends I thought I had only liked me because they saw me five times a week. After a summer of having almost no friends plus the weight of having to think about college, save money for moving out, keep my grades up, go to church each week and feel like s**t because everyone there is against everything I live for, I have decided I've had enough. I'm never going to transition successfully, even when I move out. I'm never going to be happy with the way I look or sound. I'm never going to have enough friends to satisfy me. I'm never going to have enough love to satisfy me. I'm never going to find a man who loves me. I'm never going to be happy. Either I live the rest of my life as a lonely man who wishes he were a woman or I live my life as a lonelier woman who hates herself. There's no winning. There's no way out. I'm sad enough already, I don't need my life to get any worse. People say 'it gets better' but that isn't true in my case. It gets worse. Each day I get worse. That's the gist of it, that's why I feel like killing myself. Sorry if that's not a good enough reason for you, it's good enough for me. As for my will, I want 100% of the things that I legally own to be sold and the money (plus my money in the bank) to be given to trans civil rights movements and support groups, I don't give a s**t which one. The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren't treated the way I was, they're treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say 'that's f***ed up' and fix it. Fix society. Please. Goodbye, . (Leelah) Josh Alcorn . | Tom Sosnik came out as transgender in a speech to his fellow classmates .
'I am no longer Mia. I never really was,' Tom, 13, told the class .
He began his speech by reading the tragic suicide note of another transgender teenager, Leelah Alcorn, who killed herself last year . | 40730b76702ce13bd15917fe3f6b1242248c41fa | <s>[INST] A brave transgender teenager came out in front of his entire class. Tom Sosnik, 13, of Fresno, California, first read the suicide note written by Leelah Alcorn, another tragic teen who took her own life at the end of last year. He then told the students; 'I am no longer Mia. I never really was.' Scroll down for video . Tom Sosnik (above) came out as transgender to his class . Sosnik (above) told his fellow students; 'I am not Mia. I never really was' Sosnik (above with Glee star Lauren Potter) when he was Mia . The middle school student then said; 'And now I finally stand before you in my true and authentic gender identity as Tom. I stand before you as a 13-year-old boy.' Tom then detailed his struggle over the past few years, and what it took to bring him to the moment where he made this announcement. He eloquently explained his challenges, saying; 'For a while, I dismissed the fact that I hated my body. I pretended to be content with what I was assigned until, at a certain point, I broke.' Sosnik began his speech by reading the tragic suicide note of Leelah Alcorn (above) He then added; 'I went through a series of horrible breakdowns. And I would stand under the water in the shower crying. I knew I wasn't happy.' He also took some time to let other students know if they were struggling with their sexual identity or orientation, he was there for them. 'I want you to know that if no one else accepts you, I always will,' he said. If you are reading this, it means that I have committed suicide and obviously failed to delete this post from my queue. Please don't be sad, it's for the better. The life I would've lived isn't worth living in… because I'm transgender. I could go into detail explaining why I feel that way, but this note is probably going to be lengthy enough as it is. To put it simply, I feel like a girl trapped in a boy's body, and I've felt that way ever since I was 4. I never knew there was a word for that feeling, nor was it possible for a boy to become a girl, so I never told anyone and I just continued to do traditionally 'boyish' things to try to fit in. When I was 14, I learned what transgender meant and cried of happiness. After 10 years of confusion I finally understood who I was. I immediately told my mom, and she reacted extremely negatively, telling me that it was a phase, that I would never truly be a girl, that God doesn't make mistakes, that I am wrong. If you are reading this, parents, please don't tell this to your kids. Even if you are Christian or are against transgender people don't ever say that to someone, especially your kid. That won't do anything but make them hate them self. That's exactly what it did to me. My mom started taking me to a therapist, but would only take me to christian therapists, (who were all very biased) so I never actually got the therapy I needed to cure me of my depression. I only got more Christians telling me that I was selfish and wrong and that I should look to God for help. When I was 16 I realized that my parents would never come around, and that I would have to wait until I was 18 to start any sort of transitioning treatment, which absolutely broke my heart. The longer you wait, the harder it is to transition. I felt hopeless, that I was just going to look like a man in drag for the rest of my life. On my 16th birthday, when I didn't receive consent from my parents to start transitioning, I cried myself to sleep. I formed a sort of a 'f*** you' attitude towards my parents and came out as gay at school, thinking that maybe if I eased into coming out as trans it would be less of a shock. Although the reaction from my friends was positive, my parents were pissed. They felt like I was attacking their image, and that I was an embarrassment to them. They wanted me to be their perfect little straight christian boy, and that's obviously not what I wanted. So they took me out of public school, took away my laptop and phone, and forbid me of getting on any sort of social media, completely isolating me from my friends. This was probably the part of my life when I was the most depressed, and I'm surprised I didn't kill myself. I was completely alone for 5 months. No friends, no support, no love. Just my parent's disappointment and the cruelty of loneliness. At the end of the school year, my parents finally came around and gave me my phone and let me back on social media. I was excited, I finally had my friends back. They were extremely excited to see me and talk to me, but only at first. Eventually they realized they didn't actually give a s**t about me, and I felt even lonelier than I did before. The only friends I thought I had only liked me because they saw me five times a week. After a summer of having almost no friends plus the weight of having to think about college, save money for moving out, keep my grades up, go to church each week and feel like s**t because everyone there is against everything I live for, I have decided I've had enough. I'm never going to transition successfully, even when I move out. I'm never going to be happy with the way I look or sound. I'm never going to have enough friends to satisfy me. I'm never going to have enough love to satisfy me. I'm never going to find a man who loves me. I'm never going to be happy. Either I live the rest of my life as a lonely man who wishes he were a woman or I live my life as a lonelier woman who hates herself. There's no winning. There's no way out. I'm sad enough already, I don't need my life to get any worse. People say 'it gets better' but that isn't true in my case. It gets worse. Each day I get worse. That's the gist of it, that's why I feel like killing myself. Sorry if that's not a good enough reason for you, it's good enough for me. As for my will, I want 100% of the things that I legally own to be sold and the money (plus my money in the bank) to be given to trans civil rights movements and support groups, I don't give a s**t which one. The only way I will rest in peace is if one day transgender people aren't treated the way I was, they're treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights. Gender needs to be taught about in schools, the earlier the better. My death needs to mean something. My death needs to be counted in the number of transgender people who commit suicide this year. I want someone to look at that number and say 'that's f***ed up' and fix it. Fix society. Please. Goodbye, . (Leelah) Josh Alcorn . [/INST] Tom Sosnik came out as transgender in a speech to his fellow classmates .
'I am no longer Mia. I never really was,' Tom, 13, told the class .
He began his speech by reading the tragic suicide note of another transgender teenager, Leelah Alcorn, who killed herself last year . </s> |
A California man who shot at another man in a heated dispute Wednesday and then fled in a pickup truck has died following a standoff with Santa Ana police. Police say the man shot at and missed another man during a fight over a woman Wednesday afternoon. Officers were told the gunman fled in a white pickup, which was spotted and chased down. The suspect then shot himself in a failed suicide attempt, reports NBC Los Angeles. Hail of bullets: A bystander caught on cell phone video the final moments of a man who died Wednesday in a hail of police bullets following an altercation with another man over a woman . He could be seen inside the truck and ignored repeated orders to drop the gun. A hail of police bullets then rang out. Cpl. Anthony Bertagna says the standoff ended when the man shot himself under the chin before getting out of the car while carrying the gun. 'My boss pulled us inside,' said Karina Moreno, who works nearby at a hardware store off of which at least one bullet from the crime scene ricocheted. 'We ran inside, we were afraid of the bullets. I started crying. It was really, really sad.' The unidentified man died at Western Medical Center. No officers were hurt in the standoff. Pursuit: Police say the man fled the scene of a shooting in his white truck (pictured) before officers pursued him . Drop the weapon! Detectives say the unidentified gunman turned the gun on himself--shooting himself in the chin--before exiting the truck and failing to put down the gun despite officers' demands . | An unnamed Santa Ana, California man fired at and missed another man on Wednesday after a fight over a woman .
Police pursued him as he fled. He shot himself in an unsuccessful suicide attempt then left his pickup truck while holding his gun .
Officers yelled for him to put down the gun then opened fire. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital . | 907b7f655f8c1690fca59a6bd4d1d63b4325c460 | <s>[INST] A California man who shot at another man in a heated dispute Wednesday and then fled in a pickup truck has died following a standoff with Santa Ana police. Police say the man shot at and missed another man during a fight over a woman Wednesday afternoon. Officers were told the gunman fled in a white pickup, which was spotted and chased down. The suspect then shot himself in a failed suicide attempt, reports NBC Los Angeles. Hail of bullets: A bystander caught on cell phone video the final moments of a man who died Wednesday in a hail of police bullets following an altercation with another man over a woman . He could be seen inside the truck and ignored repeated orders to drop the gun. A hail of police bullets then rang out. Cpl. Anthony Bertagna says the standoff ended when the man shot himself under the chin before getting out of the car while carrying the gun. 'My boss pulled us inside,' said Karina Moreno, who works nearby at a hardware store off of which at least one bullet from the crime scene ricocheted. 'We ran inside, we were afraid of the bullets. I started crying. It was really, really sad.' The unidentified man died at Western Medical Center. No officers were hurt in the standoff. Pursuit: Police say the man fled the scene of a shooting in his white truck (pictured) before officers pursued him . Drop the weapon! Detectives say the unidentified gunman turned the gun on himself--shooting himself in the chin--before exiting the truck and failing to put down the gun despite officers' demands . [/INST] An unnamed Santa Ana, California man fired at and missed another man on Wednesday after a fight over a woman .
Police pursued him as he fled. He shot himself in an unsuccessful suicide attempt then left his pickup truck while holding his gun .
Officers yelled for him to put down the gun then opened fire. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital . </s> |
The stepbrother of Becky Watts, who is accused with the murder of the Britsol teenager, turned his back on his girlfriend, also accused, as he appeared in court today. Nathan Matthews, 28, turned away from his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, refusing to look at her, as he was seen at Bristol Crown Court via video link. Prior to the hearing, the second time Matthews has appeared in court since being charged, he asked if Hoare’s image could be removed from the screen he was looking at in a remote location. The request was denied, the Daily Mirror reported. Nathan Matthews, 28 (left) has appeared in court for the second time since being charged with murdering his stepsister Becky Watts (right), 16, who was reported missing last month . Twenty-one-year-old Hoare is accused of perverting the course of justice. Apart from the gesture, Matthews, of Warmley, South Gloucestershire, spoke only to confirm his identity during the short hearing. Four others have been charged with helping dispose of and hiding Becky's body parts which were found at an address in the Barton Hill area of her home town, Bristol. They are Jaydene Parsons, 23, of Bristol, James Ireland, 23, of Avonmouth, and Karl and Donovan Demetrius, both 29, also from Bristol. Parsons appeared via video-link, while Ireland listened to proceedings from the dock. The Demetrius brothers were not present. Although none of the defendants has entered a plea at this stage, the Recorder of Bristol, Neil Ford, said he wanted to establish a timetable in the event of there being a trial. A court sketch of Matthews, from Warmley, South Gloucestershire, during his first court appearance over the alleged murder . The court was told that a plea hearing will take place on Tuesday August 4. In the event of any not-guilty pleas, a trial will 'provisionally' take place on October 5. All six defendants were remanded in custody. Becky, who was described by her family as 'wonderful', vanished form her home in Crown Hill, Bristol, on February 19. Police launched a huge search for the popular girl, which also prompted a social media campaign using the hashtag #FindBecky. After news of her death emerged, bouquets, teddies and cards were left at her family home in Barton Court, with mourners attending a number of memorial services to pay their respects. Two online fundraising pages have also been set up to help her family pay for her funeral. So far more than £10,000 has been raised. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. | Nathan Matthews appeared in court for second time since being charged .
28-year-old snubbed girlfriend Shauna Hoare via video link in Bristol court .
Becky's grandfather John Galsworty and boyfriend Luke Oberhansli among those in public gallery .
Teenager's body were found at an address in the Barton Hill area of Bristol . | e87ffdf02bc77c6637bf6622e431bc7e5b93ce41 | <s>[INST] The stepbrother of Becky Watts, who is accused with the murder of the Britsol teenager, turned his back on his girlfriend, also accused, as he appeared in court today. Nathan Matthews, 28, turned away from his girlfriend Shauna Hoare, refusing to look at her, as he was seen at Bristol Crown Court via video link. Prior to the hearing, the second time Matthews has appeared in court since being charged, he asked if Hoare’s image could be removed from the screen he was looking at in a remote location. The request was denied, the Daily Mirror reported. Nathan Matthews, 28 (left) has appeared in court for the second time since being charged with murdering his stepsister Becky Watts (right), 16, who was reported missing last month . Twenty-one-year-old Hoare is accused of perverting the course of justice. Apart from the gesture, Matthews, of Warmley, South Gloucestershire, spoke only to confirm his identity during the short hearing. Four others have been charged with helping dispose of and hiding Becky's body parts which were found at an address in the Barton Hill area of her home town, Bristol. They are Jaydene Parsons, 23, of Bristol, James Ireland, 23, of Avonmouth, and Karl and Donovan Demetrius, both 29, also from Bristol. Parsons appeared via video-link, while Ireland listened to proceedings from the dock. The Demetrius brothers were not present. Although none of the defendants has entered a plea at this stage, the Recorder of Bristol, Neil Ford, said he wanted to establish a timetable in the event of there being a trial. A court sketch of Matthews, from Warmley, South Gloucestershire, during his first court appearance over the alleged murder . The court was told that a plea hearing will take place on Tuesday August 4. In the event of any not-guilty pleas, a trial will 'provisionally' take place on October 5. All six defendants were remanded in custody. Becky, who was described by her family as 'wonderful', vanished form her home in Crown Hill, Bristol, on February 19. Police launched a huge search for the popular girl, which also prompted a social media campaign using the hashtag #FindBecky. After news of her death emerged, bouquets, teddies and cards were left at her family home in Barton Court, with mourners attending a number of memorial services to pay their respects. Two online fundraising pages have also been set up to help her family pay for her funeral. So far more than £10,000 has been raised. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article. [/INST] Nathan Matthews appeared in court for second time since being charged .
28-year-old snubbed girlfriend Shauna Hoare via video link in Bristol court .
Becky's grandfather John Galsworty and boyfriend Luke Oberhansli among those in public gallery .
Teenager's body were found at an address in the Barton Hill area of Bristol . </s> |
The Conservatives will build 200,000 cut-price homes to help first-time buyers get a foot on the property ladder, David Cameron will pledge today. A scheme offering starter homes for sale at 20 per cent below the normal market price is to be doubled in size if the Tories win the election. The estimated discount on a typical £200,000 house would be a hefty £40,000. Scroll down for video . Levels of home ownership have plummeted to the lowest level in 30 years, according to latest figures . The scheme for 100,000 such homes was announced at the Conservative Party conference in September. The Prime Minister now wants to build 200,000 over the next five years. Pledging to produce a Britain ‘where everyone who works hard can have a home of their own’, Mr Cameron will say: ‘There is a particular kind of security that comes with having a home – and that’s what I want to talk about today. Too many people have been denied that security. ‘The young people in their 20s and 30s, still living with their parents, desperately saving for their own place. The couple who want a child but can’t afford to upsize – even though they both have full-on, full-time jobs. It shouldn’t be this way.’ David Cameron will pledge to build 200,000 cut-price homes to help first-time buyers get a foot on the property ladder . The move comes amid concern over falling levels of home ownership and the prospect that future generations may never be able to afford a home of their own. Mr Cameron is also considering a radical idea tabled by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith to extend the right to buy to 2.5million tenants in housing association properties. The Tories’ Starter Homes initiative is due to begin today. First-time buyers aged under 40 are eligible to apply and can register their interest at www.starter-home.co.uk. The homes will be built by the private sector and several major developers such as Barratt and Taylor Wimpey have signed up to take part. Anyone buying one will have to hang on to it for at least five years before selling it on the open market to prevent speculators using the scheme to make a windfall profit. Ministers are consulting on whether to extend the minimum resale period to 15 years. Labour last night attacked the Tory housing plan after Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps struggled to explain how it would be funded. In an interview with Sky News Mr Shapps initially suggested homebuyers would be offered government-subsidised mortgages, before saying ministers would ‘get together’ with developers and landowners to finalise details. Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said the comments suggested the Conservatives’ plans were not credible. ‘The Tories’ housing policies are in chaos,’ she said. ‘Grant Shapps, a former housing minister, couldn’t even explain how the Government would deliver a key election pledge.’ But Tory sources said there was a clear plan to keep prices down by allowing construction in areas where planning permission would not normally be granted for housing. Hundreds of acres of unwanted commercial and industrial land are to be turned over for the scheme, which Mr Cameron has said will help ‘unlock home ownership for a generation’. In some cases, developers will be allowed to build a small number of homes for sale on the open market to subsidise the cost of the new starter homes. Developers will also be spared infrastructure levies which add about £20,000 to the cost of a home on a normal development. Rules allowing homeowners to build conservatories without planning permission are to be extended . Controversial rules that allow homeowners to build big conservatories and extensions without planning permission are to be extended for another five years, the Tories said yesterday. The regulations, which permit extensions of up to 26ft long without authorisation – provided no neighbours object – provoked a major row when they were first announced by the Government in 2013. But Tory sources said they would be retained until at least 2020. Regulations which make it easier for former offices to be converted to homes would also be extended. Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said that the move was designed to ensure ‘common sense on home extensions, so families aren’t crushed by expensive red tape’. Councils will also be forced to help find plots for people seeking to build their own homes, as part of a scheme that ministers believe could produce up to 20,000 new homes a year. Ministers say they want to offer new starter homes in both towns and the countryside – and it is possible that some will be built in the Green Belt. The price of homes available in the scheme will be capped at £250,000 outside London and £450,000 in the capital. Mr Cameron will pledge that design standards will not be allowed to slip, saying that people will not be offered ‘rabbit hutches or shoe boxes, but decent, well-built homes with gardens – places to start and raise a family’. But industry sources questioned whether the scheme could be delivered and pointed out that it has been doubled in size before a single home has been built. One senior industry figure described the target for 200,000 cut-price homes over five years as ‘very ambitious’ in the context of the 125,000 or so new houses started in total last year. | David Cameron to announce housing policy in speech in today .
Tories will build 200,000 cut-price homes to help first-time buyers .
Councils to be forced to free up plots for people who want to build house .
Ministers claim it could lead to an extra 100,000 houses over five years .
Rules allowing for bigger extensions to be extended until 2020 . | 06c202f5d2abb2254fe5afcc70deb5d38ff23535 | <s>[INST] The Conservatives will build 200,000 cut-price homes to help first-time buyers get a foot on the property ladder, David Cameron will pledge today. A scheme offering starter homes for sale at 20 per cent below the normal market price is to be doubled in size if the Tories win the election. The estimated discount on a typical £200,000 house would be a hefty £40,000. Scroll down for video . Levels of home ownership have plummeted to the lowest level in 30 years, according to latest figures . The scheme for 100,000 such homes was announced at the Conservative Party conference in September. The Prime Minister now wants to build 200,000 over the next five years. Pledging to produce a Britain ‘where everyone who works hard can have a home of their own’, Mr Cameron will say: ‘There is a particular kind of security that comes with having a home – and that’s what I want to talk about today. Too many people have been denied that security. ‘The young people in their 20s and 30s, still living with their parents, desperately saving for their own place. The couple who want a child but can’t afford to upsize – even though they both have full-on, full-time jobs. It shouldn’t be this way.’ David Cameron will pledge to build 200,000 cut-price homes to help first-time buyers get a foot on the property ladder . The move comes amid concern over falling levels of home ownership and the prospect that future generations may never be able to afford a home of their own. Mr Cameron is also considering a radical idea tabled by Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith to extend the right to buy to 2.5million tenants in housing association properties. The Tories’ Starter Homes initiative is due to begin today. First-time buyers aged under 40 are eligible to apply and can register their interest at www.starter-home.co.uk. The homes will be built by the private sector and several major developers such as Barratt and Taylor Wimpey have signed up to take part. Anyone buying one will have to hang on to it for at least five years before selling it on the open market to prevent speculators using the scheme to make a windfall profit. Ministers are consulting on whether to extend the minimum resale period to 15 years. Labour last night attacked the Tory housing plan after Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps struggled to explain how it would be funded. In an interview with Sky News Mr Shapps initially suggested homebuyers would be offered government-subsidised mortgages, before saying ministers would ‘get together’ with developers and landowners to finalise details. Shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds said the comments suggested the Conservatives’ plans were not credible. ‘The Tories’ housing policies are in chaos,’ she said. ‘Grant Shapps, a former housing minister, couldn’t even explain how the Government would deliver a key election pledge.’ But Tory sources said there was a clear plan to keep prices down by allowing construction in areas where planning permission would not normally be granted for housing. Hundreds of acres of unwanted commercial and industrial land are to be turned over for the scheme, which Mr Cameron has said will help ‘unlock home ownership for a generation’. In some cases, developers will be allowed to build a small number of homes for sale on the open market to subsidise the cost of the new starter homes. Developers will also be spared infrastructure levies which add about £20,000 to the cost of a home on a normal development. Rules allowing homeowners to build conservatories without planning permission are to be extended . Controversial rules that allow homeowners to build big conservatories and extensions without planning permission are to be extended for another five years, the Tories said yesterday. The regulations, which permit extensions of up to 26ft long without authorisation – provided no neighbours object – provoked a major row when they were first announced by the Government in 2013. But Tory sources said they would be retained until at least 2020. Regulations which make it easier for former offices to be converted to homes would also be extended. Conservative Party Chairman Grant Shapps said that the move was designed to ensure ‘common sense on home extensions, so families aren’t crushed by expensive red tape’. Councils will also be forced to help find plots for people seeking to build their own homes, as part of a scheme that ministers believe could produce up to 20,000 new homes a year. Ministers say they want to offer new starter homes in both towns and the countryside – and it is possible that some will be built in the Green Belt. The price of homes available in the scheme will be capped at £250,000 outside London and £450,000 in the capital. Mr Cameron will pledge that design standards will not be allowed to slip, saying that people will not be offered ‘rabbit hutches or shoe boxes, but decent, well-built homes with gardens – places to start and raise a family’. But industry sources questioned whether the scheme could be delivered and pointed out that it has been doubled in size before a single home has been built. One senior industry figure described the target for 200,000 cut-price homes over five years as ‘very ambitious’ in the context of the 125,000 or so new houses started in total last year. [/INST] David Cameron to announce housing policy in speech in today .
Tories will build 200,000 cut-price homes to help first-time buyers .
Councils to be forced to free up plots for people who want to build house .
Ministers claim it could lead to an extra 100,000 houses over five years .
Rules allowing for bigger extensions to be extended until 2020 . </s> |
(CNN)It's the home of British politics, steeped in history, tradition and centuries-old pomp. But could the ornate splendor of the UK's Houses of Parliament be about to offer a solution to London's housing crisis? In all honesty, probably not. However, that hasn't stopped housing campaign group, Generation Rent, from proposing to transform the Palace of Westminster into affordable new homes. The group's eye-catching idea is to move the seat of British democracy from one of London's most exclusive neighborhoods to a new location in the city of Hull, northern England. The vacant House of Commons and House of Lords (the UK's upper legislative chamber) left behind would be converted into 364 flats of varying size and scale with prime office space facing the River Thames. According to a press release on the proposal from Generation Rent, 335 MPs from all over the UK currently rent second homes so they can carry out their parliamentary duties more effectively. They claim expenses for doing so cost the taxpayer £5.26 million ($8 million) in 2013 alone. By moving the seat of government to Hull, a city with the cheapest housing rent in England, millions could be saved in expenses as well as staffing costs, the group claims. Westminster is one of the most expensive boroughs for property in London, according to research from house moving firm, Delivery Quote Compare. The ever-rising cost of property in the UK capital, meanwhile, is making it increasingly difficult for many to buy or rent in central areas of the city. A January report from rental referencing company, Homelet, also found that average rental prices in Greater London were more than double that of those found in the rest of the UK . "We hope our proposal gives MPs a sense of humility and some urgency to ending the housing crisis," said director of Generation Rent, Alex Hilton. Yet even if the Generation Rent proposals were seriously considered, they could come unstuck by the dilapidated state of the parliament building itself. Speaker of the House, John Bercow, said Monday that repairs needed to bring the nineteenth century structure up to scratch could come close to £3 billion ($4.6 billion). A 2012 study entitled "The Restorations and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster" found that the building could suffer permanent damage if work was not undertaken to stem leaks, repair crumbling stonework and remove asbestos. | UK campaign group proposes to transform Houses of Parliament into affordable housing units .
Westminster is one of the most expensive boroughs of London for buying or renting property .
Parliament could require restoration work totaling $4.6 billion . | 629e938174940b6b80722879c352b45c60eaac5b | <s>[INST] (CNN)It's the home of British politics, steeped in history, tradition and centuries-old pomp. But could the ornate splendor of the UK's Houses of Parliament be about to offer a solution to London's housing crisis? In all honesty, probably not. However, that hasn't stopped housing campaign group, Generation Rent, from proposing to transform the Palace of Westminster into affordable new homes. The group's eye-catching idea is to move the seat of British democracy from one of London's most exclusive neighborhoods to a new location in the city of Hull, northern England. The vacant House of Commons and House of Lords (the UK's upper legislative chamber) left behind would be converted into 364 flats of varying size and scale with prime office space facing the River Thames. According to a press release on the proposal from Generation Rent, 335 MPs from all over the UK currently rent second homes so they can carry out their parliamentary duties more effectively. They claim expenses for doing so cost the taxpayer £5.26 million ($8 million) in 2013 alone. By moving the seat of government to Hull, a city with the cheapest housing rent in England, millions could be saved in expenses as well as staffing costs, the group claims. Westminster is one of the most expensive boroughs for property in London, according to research from house moving firm, Delivery Quote Compare. The ever-rising cost of property in the UK capital, meanwhile, is making it increasingly difficult for many to buy or rent in central areas of the city. A January report from rental referencing company, Homelet, also found that average rental prices in Greater London were more than double that of those found in the rest of the UK . "We hope our proposal gives MPs a sense of humility and some urgency to ending the housing crisis," said director of Generation Rent, Alex Hilton. Yet even if the Generation Rent proposals were seriously considered, they could come unstuck by the dilapidated state of the parliament building itself. Speaker of the House, John Bercow, said Monday that repairs needed to bring the nineteenth century structure up to scratch could come close to £3 billion ($4.6 billion). A 2012 study entitled "The Restorations and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster" found that the building could suffer permanent damage if work was not undertaken to stem leaks, repair crumbling stonework and remove asbestos. [/INST] UK campaign group proposes to transform Houses of Parliament into affordable housing units .
Westminster is one of the most expensive boroughs of London for buying or renting property .
Parliament could require restoration work totaling $4.6 billion . </s> |
Chelsea have loaned Dutch Under 21 international Nathan Ake to Sky Bet Championship side Reading until April 22. The 20-year-old, who joined the Blues in the summer of 2011, has made 11 Chelsea first-team appearances, including games in the Champions League and was an unused substitute in the 2015 Capital One Cup final win over Tottenham. Ake, who can play as a defensive midfielder, left-back or centre-half and has a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge, will gain some more valuable experience with the Royals, who are now managed by former Chelsea assistant boss Steve Clarke. Chelsea have loaned Dutch Under 21 international Nathan Ake to Reading until April 22 . 'I am delighted to add a player of Nathan's quality to our first team squad at this important time of the season,' Clarke said on Reading's official website. 'He has been a fixture in Chelsea's first team squad this season and we are grateful that Chelsea have allowed him to join us here at Reading to get some competitive minutes on the pitch. 'He is a very talented player who I have been aware of for some time and I look forward to working with Nathan in the coming weeks.' Reading will face Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley during Ake's loan spell, but the player is ineligible having played against Watford in round three. 20-year-old has made 11 first-team appearances for Chelsea since joining the club in the summer of 2011 . | Nathan Ake has made 11 first-team appearances for Chelsea in his career .
Dutch Under 21 international joined the Blues in the summer of 2011 .
20-year-old will be ineligible for Reading's FA Cup semi-final vs Arsenal . | 45c559bcca9b1d75eb9e2ee35acfd589a8573c0b | <s>[INST] Chelsea have loaned Dutch Under 21 international Nathan Ake to Sky Bet Championship side Reading until April 22. The 20-year-old, who joined the Blues in the summer of 2011, has made 11 Chelsea first-team appearances, including games in the Champions League and was an unused substitute in the 2015 Capital One Cup final win over Tottenham. Ake, who can play as a defensive midfielder, left-back or centre-half and has a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge, will gain some more valuable experience with the Royals, who are now managed by former Chelsea assistant boss Steve Clarke. Chelsea have loaned Dutch Under 21 international Nathan Ake to Reading until April 22 . 'I am delighted to add a player of Nathan's quality to our first team squad at this important time of the season,' Clarke said on Reading's official website. 'He has been a fixture in Chelsea's first team squad this season and we are grateful that Chelsea have allowed him to join us here at Reading to get some competitive minutes on the pitch. 'He is a very talented player who I have been aware of for some time and I look forward to working with Nathan in the coming weeks.' Reading will face Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley during Ake's loan spell, but the player is ineligible having played against Watford in round three. 20-year-old has made 11 first-team appearances for Chelsea since joining the club in the summer of 2011 . [/INST] Nathan Ake has made 11 first-team appearances for Chelsea in his career .
Dutch Under 21 international joined the Blues in the summer of 2011 .
20-year-old will be ineligible for Reading's FA Cup semi-final vs Arsenal . </s> |
England's Matt Ford will take a narrow lead into the third day of the Africa Open after carding a second-round 66 at East London Golf Club. Ford took advantage of calmer conditions for the morning starters to card six birdies and an eagle, with his only blemishes coming on the ninth and 17th. That left the 36-year-old 11 under par and one ahead of Spain's Eduardo de la Riva, who also returned a 66 containing eight birdies and two bogeys. England's Matt Ford will take a narrow lead into the third day of the Africa Open at the East London Golf Club . Ford tees off on the eighth hole during the second round of the Africa Open at East London Golf Club . Ford, who was about to spend a winter working for Royal Mail before coming through November's European Tour qualifying school at the 10th attempt, said: 'I don't think you can ever get all of it out of the round. 'I missed a short one on 17 and hit a poor tee shot off nine, so those were a couple of mistakes, but you're always going to make a few of those. I would have taken 11 under at the beginning of the day. 'I missed a couple of putts but I holed a couple and I holed a wedge (from 119 yards for his eagle on the par-four 12th) so I played some good stuff. I've been hitting it pettty steady all year and the way the golf course is suits me; you are not hitting full out shots, you are hitting quite a lot of half shots. I've had good control of the ball so far this week.' Andy Sullivan missed the cut after a disappointing 77 in the Africa Open left him five over par . Both of De la Riva's bogeys came in his first three holes, but the world number 369 responded with a flurry of birdies to keep Ford well within in his sights. 'I played a very good round today with good golf and good putts. I am very happy with the first two rounds,' he said. South Africa have provided all five previous winners of this event and four home players were inside the top seven on the leaderboard, with Jaco van Zyl and Erik Van Rooyen three off the lead on eight under alongside France's Gregory Havret. Newly appointed Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke carded six birdies and two bogeys in a 68 . Van Zyl, who finished joint second the Joburg Open on Sunday, also shot 66 and said: 'Yesterday was really tough out there and I was very chuffed to pull two under out of it. I got it a lot easier this morning and when that happens you try to capitalise.' Van Zyl's compatriots Neil Schietekat and Trevor Fisher were one shot further back along with English pair David Howell and John Parry, Chile's Mark Tullo and Germany's Max Kieffer, whose 63 was the lowest score of the day. Ireland's Kevin Phelan, who shared the overnight lead with Ford, could only add a 72 to his opening 67 to remain five under, one ahead of newly appointed Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, who carded six birdies and two bogeys in a 68. England's Andy Sullivan, who was seeking a third win in South Africa in nine weeks, missed the cut after a disappointing 77 left him five over par. Kevin Phelan plays his sceond shot into the 14th green during the second round of the Africa Open . | Matt Ford took advantage of calmer conditions to card a second-round 66 .
Ford hit six birdies and an eagle to leave the 36-year-old 11 under par .
South Africa have provided all five previous winners of this event .
With Jaco van Zyl and Erik Van Rooyen three off the lead on eight under . | 2b6a77bb48f8eed1662e9aae4ebff89b0afc462c | <s>[INST] England's Matt Ford will take a narrow lead into the third day of the Africa Open after carding a second-round 66 at East London Golf Club. Ford took advantage of calmer conditions for the morning starters to card six birdies and an eagle, with his only blemishes coming on the ninth and 17th. That left the 36-year-old 11 under par and one ahead of Spain's Eduardo de la Riva, who also returned a 66 containing eight birdies and two bogeys. England's Matt Ford will take a narrow lead into the third day of the Africa Open at the East London Golf Club . Ford tees off on the eighth hole during the second round of the Africa Open at East London Golf Club . Ford, who was about to spend a winter working for Royal Mail before coming through November's European Tour qualifying school at the 10th attempt, said: 'I don't think you can ever get all of it out of the round. 'I missed a short one on 17 and hit a poor tee shot off nine, so those were a couple of mistakes, but you're always going to make a few of those. I would have taken 11 under at the beginning of the day. 'I missed a couple of putts but I holed a couple and I holed a wedge (from 119 yards for his eagle on the par-four 12th) so I played some good stuff. I've been hitting it pettty steady all year and the way the golf course is suits me; you are not hitting full out shots, you are hitting quite a lot of half shots. I've had good control of the ball so far this week.' Andy Sullivan missed the cut after a disappointing 77 in the Africa Open left him five over par . Both of De la Riva's bogeys came in his first three holes, but the world number 369 responded with a flurry of birdies to keep Ford well within in his sights. 'I played a very good round today with good golf and good putts. I am very happy with the first two rounds,' he said. South Africa have provided all five previous winners of this event and four home players were inside the top seven on the leaderboard, with Jaco van Zyl and Erik Van Rooyen three off the lead on eight under alongside France's Gregory Havret. Newly appointed Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke carded six birdies and two bogeys in a 68 . Van Zyl, who finished joint second the Joburg Open on Sunday, also shot 66 and said: 'Yesterday was really tough out there and I was very chuffed to pull two under out of it. I got it a lot easier this morning and when that happens you try to capitalise.' Van Zyl's compatriots Neil Schietekat and Trevor Fisher were one shot further back along with English pair David Howell and John Parry, Chile's Mark Tullo and Germany's Max Kieffer, whose 63 was the lowest score of the day. Ireland's Kevin Phelan, who shared the overnight lead with Ford, could only add a 72 to his opening 67 to remain five under, one ahead of newly appointed Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke, who carded six birdies and two bogeys in a 68. England's Andy Sullivan, who was seeking a third win in South Africa in nine weeks, missed the cut after a disappointing 77 left him five over par. Kevin Phelan plays his sceond shot into the 14th green during the second round of the Africa Open . [/INST] Matt Ford took advantage of calmer conditions to card a second-round 66 .
Ford hit six birdies and an eagle to leave the 36-year-old 11 under par .
South Africa have provided all five previous winners of this event .
With Jaco van Zyl and Erik Van Rooyen three off the lead on eight under . </s> |
Denis Irwin remains convinced Luke Shaw will be a big star at Manchester United. Irwin, one of the most decorated defenders in United's history, tipped Shaw to star for United shortly after he signed for the club, but the teenager has had a mixed maiden campaign so far. Shaw has impressed on a few occasions, but injury has prevented him from fulfilling his potential. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Denis Irwin: No doubt that Luke Shaw will be a top United player . Luke Shaw tussles with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during Manchester United's FA Cup clash defeat by Arsenal . The former Southampton defender has failed to replicate his form for Southampton last season . The 19-year-old was made to train on his own after turning up to pre-season out of shape and he was then hit by hamstring and ankle problems. The left-back has started just 12 Premier League games so far, but Irwin is sure the club will start seeing a return on their £31.5million investment once his injury troubles are over. 'I have no doubt he will be a great player for us in years to come,' Irwin told Press Association Sport. 'Until he gets a run of games I don't think you are going to see the quality Luke Shaw can bring to a side. 'When he gets that under his belt you will see the best of him. 'Hopefully he will stay injury-free for us for the rest of year and get a run of games.' United beat strong competition from Shaw's boyhood club Chelsea to sign the defender from Southampton last summer. Denis Irwin played for Manchester United for 12 years between 1990 and 2002 . Shaw jokes about with Marouane Fellaini during a United training session last week . Irwin believes it is unreasonable to expect too much too soon from a player who only made his Premier League debut in November 2012, regardless of how much United paid for him. 'He has had a big couple of years,' said Irwin, who played 529 times for the club. 'He had a couple of years at Southampton, he had a big-money move here and he was involved in a World Cup at just 18-years-old so the spotlight has been on him through no fault of his own. 'When you are 19 you will make mistakes and you will learn from them. 'I have no doubt he will be getting plenty of advice from the coaches and the manager.' Shaw, who has been suffering from another hamstring injury recently, sat out United's 3-0 win over Spurs on Sunday. The win tightened United's grip on fourth place and they now sit just two points behind second-placed Manchester City. Irwin (left) celebrates with Roy Keane and David Beckham after scoring a penalty against Liverpool in 1999 . The long-time United left back slides into a challenge with a young David Dunn against Blackburn in 1999 . Irwin was impressed by the performance against Spurs and he now hopes the team will produce similar performances against their top-four rivals in the coming weeks to secure the Champions League football which they have missed so dearly this term. 'It was a big loss for us when we didn't qualify for the Champions League. It's been a strange year,' said Irwin, who was part of the team that won the trophy in the most dramatic fashion in 1999. 'We have missed Champions League football, I have missed big teams coming here. 'There are some big matches coming up in the round of 16. We are not involved and it's not nice watching. 'City go to Barcelona this week and we watch that and wish we were part of it because it's the best club competition in the world.' Denis Irwin was speaking at the launch of bwin Manchester United Casino - the world's first club-based real money casino app which is available now on Android from bwin.com/manutdcasino and will be available soon on iOS through the App Store. | Luke Shaw joined Manchester United from Southampton for £31.5million .
The 19-year-old has struggled for form since his move to Old Trafford .
Shaw has also battled injuries preventing him from getting run of games .
Denis Irwin played for the club for 12 years between 1990 and 2002 .
The 49-year-old remains convinced that Shaw will be a great player .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news . | 26fba636efedaf0d81420736c4b93ff18c26509d | <s>[INST] Denis Irwin remains convinced Luke Shaw will be a big star at Manchester United. Irwin, one of the most decorated defenders in United's history, tipped Shaw to star for United shortly after he signed for the club, but the teenager has had a mixed maiden campaign so far. Shaw has impressed on a few occasions, but injury has prevented him from fulfilling his potential. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Denis Irwin: No doubt that Luke Shaw will be a top United player . Luke Shaw tussles with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain during Manchester United's FA Cup clash defeat by Arsenal . The former Southampton defender has failed to replicate his form for Southampton last season . The 19-year-old was made to train on his own after turning up to pre-season out of shape and he was then hit by hamstring and ankle problems. The left-back has started just 12 Premier League games so far, but Irwin is sure the club will start seeing a return on their £31.5million investment once his injury troubles are over. 'I have no doubt he will be a great player for us in years to come,' Irwin told Press Association Sport. 'Until he gets a run of games I don't think you are going to see the quality Luke Shaw can bring to a side. 'When he gets that under his belt you will see the best of him. 'Hopefully he will stay injury-free for us for the rest of year and get a run of games.' United beat strong competition from Shaw's boyhood club Chelsea to sign the defender from Southampton last summer. Denis Irwin played for Manchester United for 12 years between 1990 and 2002 . Shaw jokes about with Marouane Fellaini during a United training session last week . Irwin believes it is unreasonable to expect too much too soon from a player who only made his Premier League debut in November 2012, regardless of how much United paid for him. 'He has had a big couple of years,' said Irwin, who played 529 times for the club. 'He had a couple of years at Southampton, he had a big-money move here and he was involved in a World Cup at just 18-years-old so the spotlight has been on him through no fault of his own. 'When you are 19 you will make mistakes and you will learn from them. 'I have no doubt he will be getting plenty of advice from the coaches and the manager.' Shaw, who has been suffering from another hamstring injury recently, sat out United's 3-0 win over Spurs on Sunday. The win tightened United's grip on fourth place and they now sit just two points behind second-placed Manchester City. Irwin (left) celebrates with Roy Keane and David Beckham after scoring a penalty against Liverpool in 1999 . The long-time United left back slides into a challenge with a young David Dunn against Blackburn in 1999 . Irwin was impressed by the performance against Spurs and he now hopes the team will produce similar performances against their top-four rivals in the coming weeks to secure the Champions League football which they have missed so dearly this term. 'It was a big loss for us when we didn't qualify for the Champions League. It's been a strange year,' said Irwin, who was part of the team that won the trophy in the most dramatic fashion in 1999. 'We have missed Champions League football, I have missed big teams coming here. 'There are some big matches coming up in the round of 16. We are not involved and it's not nice watching. 'City go to Barcelona this week and we watch that and wish we were part of it because it's the best club competition in the world.' Denis Irwin was speaking at the launch of bwin Manchester United Casino - the world's first club-based real money casino app which is available now on Android from bwin.com/manutdcasino and will be available soon on iOS through the App Store. [/INST] Luke Shaw joined Manchester United from Southampton for £31.5million .
The 19-year-old has struggled for form since his move to Old Trafford .
Shaw has also battled injuries preventing him from getting run of games .
Denis Irwin played for the club for 12 years between 1990 and 2002 .
The 49-year-old remains convinced that Shaw will be a great player .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news . </s> |
Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet admits Liverpool's improved defensive resilience is making life a little easier for them and instilling confidence throughout the side. A 2-0 victory over struggling Burnley - which the Belgium goalkeeper stressed was just as important as Sunday's win over high-flying Manchester City - saw the Reds record their sixth clean sheet in eight Premier League matches. They have now not lost in 12 league games, picking up 30 points, and have won seven of the last eight. Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (left) believes the team's improved defence helped confidence to grow . Mignolet kept another clean sheet against Burnley on Wednesday and has been pleased with his form . Jordan Henderson (third left) struck Liverpool's first goal from the edge of the area in the first half at Anfield . Liverpool were not seriously tested by the second-bottom visitors at Anfield on Wednesday night but Mignolet said that should not detract from the defensive work being done by the side. 'I think we defended really well. We were very organised and we didn't give too many things away,' he said. 'A clean sheet is nice and I am happy with how things are going but we all have to keep improving and keep looking forward. 'We're doing our jobs at the moment and we have to keep that going until the end of the season because it makes it easier for us to win games. 'Even at half-time, when it was 1-0, we were saying that we had to keep going because one goal can change the whole game. 'We wanted to make sure we didn't give any silly goals away. We kept calm and defended well and then we got that second goal, which makes things a little bit easier for us at the end. 'Teams likes Man City and Chelsea lost points against Burnley at home so we needed to get three points, otherwise that win over Man City would have meant nothing. 'So six points out of six was what we wanted, and we can move forward and we need to keep going like this until the end of the season.' Stand-in captain Jordan Henderson opened the scoring for the second successive game and the 24-year-old is growing into the senior midfielder role in the absence of Steven Gerrard, who returned to training this week after a hamstring injury. Gerrard leaves for Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer and Henderson, as current vice-captain, is favourite to assume the armband on a permanent basis. Henderson (left) has been filling in as captain in the absence of Steve Gerrard through injury . Gerrard (centre) is back in training but will leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season . Daniel Sturridge (right) headed in Liverpool's second goal in the game against Burnley on Wednesday . 'Jordan is a massive player for us,' said Mignolet. 'He is a very positive character who always works hard and leads by example. 'He's vocal both on the pitch and in the dressing room. He goes in front of us and everyone follows behind. 'We've got a young squad but that doesn't mean there aren't leaders in the team. 'Every individual is contributing to the team. The big thing for us is we're a unit and we're working well together. 'But individuals score goals and at the moment it's Jordan, Philippe (Coutinho) and Studge (Daniel Sturridge) doing the business for us.' Liverpool have not lost in the 13 matches Henderson has started as captain, with an incredible record of eight Premier League wins out of nine. He made his 200th league appearance in the win over Burnley but admits his record as skipper is of less interest to him. Mignolet also praised the recent form shown by attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho (right) Liverpool have not lost when Henderson (right) has been captain during the course of this season . 'The 200 games means I'm getting a bit older - which is not nice - but the captain one doesn't make any difference to me,' Henderson told liverpoolfc.com. 'I just try to do what I always do and lead by example, whether I'm captain or not, and so does everyone else. 'The performance and the points are the most important thing - I'll let everyone else look at the stats.' | Simon Mignolet has kept six clean sheets in his last eight league games .
The goalkeeper believes the improved defence has helped the whole team .
Mignolet also praised the influence of vice captain Jordan Henderson .
READ: Emre Can will be a world class player, says Brendan Rodgers .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Liverpool news . | 78b7c96e572b43a87a211fd41e62e1ee0c668762 | <s>[INST] Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet admits Liverpool's improved defensive resilience is making life a little easier for them and instilling confidence throughout the side. A 2-0 victory over struggling Burnley - which the Belgium goalkeeper stressed was just as important as Sunday's win over high-flying Manchester City - saw the Reds record their sixth clean sheet in eight Premier League matches. They have now not lost in 12 league games, picking up 30 points, and have won seven of the last eight. Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (left) believes the team's improved defence helped confidence to grow . Mignolet kept another clean sheet against Burnley on Wednesday and has been pleased with his form . Jordan Henderson (third left) struck Liverpool's first goal from the edge of the area in the first half at Anfield . Liverpool were not seriously tested by the second-bottom visitors at Anfield on Wednesday night but Mignolet said that should not detract from the defensive work being done by the side. 'I think we defended really well. We were very organised and we didn't give too many things away,' he said. 'A clean sheet is nice and I am happy with how things are going but we all have to keep improving and keep looking forward. 'We're doing our jobs at the moment and we have to keep that going until the end of the season because it makes it easier for us to win games. 'Even at half-time, when it was 1-0, we were saying that we had to keep going because one goal can change the whole game. 'We wanted to make sure we didn't give any silly goals away. We kept calm and defended well and then we got that second goal, which makes things a little bit easier for us at the end. 'Teams likes Man City and Chelsea lost points against Burnley at home so we needed to get three points, otherwise that win over Man City would have meant nothing. 'So six points out of six was what we wanted, and we can move forward and we need to keep going like this until the end of the season.' Stand-in captain Jordan Henderson opened the scoring for the second successive game and the 24-year-old is growing into the senior midfielder role in the absence of Steven Gerrard, who returned to training this week after a hamstring injury. Gerrard leaves for Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer and Henderson, as current vice-captain, is favourite to assume the armband on a permanent basis. Henderson (left) has been filling in as captain in the absence of Steve Gerrard through injury . Gerrard (centre) is back in training but will leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season . Daniel Sturridge (right) headed in Liverpool's second goal in the game against Burnley on Wednesday . 'Jordan is a massive player for us,' said Mignolet. 'He is a very positive character who always works hard and leads by example. 'He's vocal both on the pitch and in the dressing room. He goes in front of us and everyone follows behind. 'We've got a young squad but that doesn't mean there aren't leaders in the team. 'Every individual is contributing to the team. The big thing for us is we're a unit and we're working well together. 'But individuals score goals and at the moment it's Jordan, Philippe (Coutinho) and Studge (Daniel Sturridge) doing the business for us.' Liverpool have not lost in the 13 matches Henderson has started as captain, with an incredible record of eight Premier League wins out of nine. He made his 200th league appearance in the win over Burnley but admits his record as skipper is of less interest to him. Mignolet also praised the recent form shown by attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho (right) Liverpool have not lost when Henderson (right) has been captain during the course of this season . 'The 200 games means I'm getting a bit older - which is not nice - but the captain one doesn't make any difference to me,' Henderson told liverpoolfc.com. 'I just try to do what I always do and lead by example, whether I'm captain or not, and so does everyone else. 'The performance and the points are the most important thing - I'll let everyone else look at the stats.' [/INST] Simon Mignolet has kept six clean sheets in his last eight league games .
The goalkeeper believes the improved defence has helped the whole team .
Mignolet also praised the influence of vice captain Jordan Henderson .
READ: Emre Can will be a world class player, says Brendan Rodgers .
CLICK HERE for all the latest Liverpool news . </s> |
An attack of the giggles can sometimes appear at the strangest moments. Whether it's during a speech or in a meeting, helpless laughter is one of our most insightful behaviours, according to neuroscientist Sophie Scott. In a recent Ted Talk in Vancouver, Professor Scott revealed that laughter often isn't to do with comedy value, but with our relationships with others. Laughter is often used as a tool for social bonding rather than in reaction to something that has comedy value, according to UCL Professor Sophie Scott. Pictured are Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama during a basketball game . According to David Robson at BBC Future, Scott's study of people in Nambia revealed that laughter is a key cultural mechanism that helps social bonding. When Scott asked indigenous Namibians and English people to listen to recordings of each other and describe the emotions, laughter was the most recognisable. 'People genuinely think they are mostly laughing at other people's jokes, but within a conversation, the person who laughs most at any one time is the person who is talking,' she told the BBC. The University College London professor's current research aims to distinguish the difference between fake laughs used during conversation, and involuntary giggles. She has carried out brain scans on volunteers listening to expressions of disgust, a real belly laugh and a realistic fake one. Laughter activates the brain's mirror regions that mimic other's actions, and she says this is the reason behind why laughing can be so contagious . So far, her research has found that volunteers were almost always able to identify a false laugh. She has also discovered that less authentic tones are more nasal, and belly laughs never come through the nose. Researchers from Indiana State University found that with laughter can boost the immune system by up to 40 per cent. The study tested 33 healthy women. Half of the women watched a comedy video together while the others watched a dull video on tourism. When the films were over, scientists took samples of the women's immune cells, known as natural killer cells, and mixed them with cancer cells to see how effectively they attacked the disease. They found that the women who had found the comedy funny enough to laugh out loud had significantly healthier immune systems afterwards than those who had watched the tourism film. Meanwhile, MRI scans revealed how hearing real and fake laughter activates two different areas of our brains. Fake laughter triggers more brain activity – in the medial prefrontal cortex, associated with problem-solving – as we try to work out why the person is doing it. Genuine laughter simply activates auditory areas in the temporal lobe – where we process all sound. But both activate the brain's mirror regions that mimic other's actions, and she says this is the reason behind why laughing can be so contagious. 'You are 30 times more likely to laugh if you're with someone else,' she claims. To further her work, Scott has recently set up an experiment at London's Science Museum, where she will be asking visitors to judge the authenticity of different clips of people laughing. And she believes far more research needs to be done on this cultural tic. 'If you search on the Web of Science database for papers on the emotion of fear, you'll get back 6,477 published papers,' Professor Scott writes on Ted. 'Search for papers on laughter and you'll get a paltry 175. Why the disparity? Well, one reason might be that laughter, like other positive emotions, feels less important than negative emotions. 'Sometimes people think that laughter is a ridiculous, trite, pointless topic to research…I think it's a fascinating social behaviour, it is essential to study.' In a separate study last year, psychologist Dr Carolyn McGettigan from the Royal Holloway University of London measured brain responses of volunteers as they listened to genuine laughter on YouTube clips. Each participant was asked to pick clips they found funny. This ranged from comedy shows, such as Flight Of The Conchords, and even the Eurovision Song Contest. The results were then compared to how their brains responded to fake laughter. The findings revealed participants, none of which were told the study was about laughter perception, could unconsciously tell when the chuckles were insincere. Dr McGettigan said: 'It's fascinating to consider the way our brain is able to detect genuine happiness in other people. 'Our brains are very sensitive to the social and emotional significance of laughter. | Professor Sophie Scott says laughter often isn't to do with comedy value .
In a conversation, the person who laughs most is usually the one talking .
People are 30 times more likely to laugh if they are with someone else .
It also triggers brain's mirror region which explains why it is contagious . | b5fe66002c4b9186ae7c7c348483141f6e69f564 | <s>[INST] An attack of the giggles can sometimes appear at the strangest moments. Whether it's during a speech or in a meeting, helpless laughter is one of our most insightful behaviours, according to neuroscientist Sophie Scott. In a recent Ted Talk in Vancouver, Professor Scott revealed that laughter often isn't to do with comedy value, but with our relationships with others. Laughter is often used as a tool for social bonding rather than in reaction to something that has comedy value, according to UCL Professor Sophie Scott. Pictured are Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama during a basketball game . According to David Robson at BBC Future, Scott's study of people in Nambia revealed that laughter is a key cultural mechanism that helps social bonding. When Scott asked indigenous Namibians and English people to listen to recordings of each other and describe the emotions, laughter was the most recognisable. 'People genuinely think they are mostly laughing at other people's jokes, but within a conversation, the person who laughs most at any one time is the person who is talking,' she told the BBC. The University College London professor's current research aims to distinguish the difference between fake laughs used during conversation, and involuntary giggles. She has carried out brain scans on volunteers listening to expressions of disgust, a real belly laugh and a realistic fake one. Laughter activates the brain's mirror regions that mimic other's actions, and she says this is the reason behind why laughing can be so contagious . So far, her research has found that volunteers were almost always able to identify a false laugh. She has also discovered that less authentic tones are more nasal, and belly laughs never come through the nose. Researchers from Indiana State University found that with laughter can boost the immune system by up to 40 per cent. The study tested 33 healthy women. Half of the women watched a comedy video together while the others watched a dull video on tourism. When the films were over, scientists took samples of the women's immune cells, known as natural killer cells, and mixed them with cancer cells to see how effectively they attacked the disease. They found that the women who had found the comedy funny enough to laugh out loud had significantly healthier immune systems afterwards than those who had watched the tourism film. Meanwhile, MRI scans revealed how hearing real and fake laughter activates two different areas of our brains. Fake laughter triggers more brain activity – in the medial prefrontal cortex, associated with problem-solving – as we try to work out why the person is doing it. Genuine laughter simply activates auditory areas in the temporal lobe – where we process all sound. But both activate the brain's mirror regions that mimic other's actions, and she says this is the reason behind why laughing can be so contagious. 'You are 30 times more likely to laugh if you're with someone else,' she claims. To further her work, Scott has recently set up an experiment at London's Science Museum, where she will be asking visitors to judge the authenticity of different clips of people laughing. And she believes far more research needs to be done on this cultural tic. 'If you search on the Web of Science database for papers on the emotion of fear, you'll get back 6,477 published papers,' Professor Scott writes on Ted. 'Search for papers on laughter and you'll get a paltry 175. Why the disparity? Well, one reason might be that laughter, like other positive emotions, feels less important than negative emotions. 'Sometimes people think that laughter is a ridiculous, trite, pointless topic to research…I think it's a fascinating social behaviour, it is essential to study.' In a separate study last year, psychologist Dr Carolyn McGettigan from the Royal Holloway University of London measured brain responses of volunteers as they listened to genuine laughter on YouTube clips. Each participant was asked to pick clips they found funny. This ranged from comedy shows, such as Flight Of The Conchords, and even the Eurovision Song Contest. The results were then compared to how their brains responded to fake laughter. The findings revealed participants, none of which were told the study was about laughter perception, could unconsciously tell when the chuckles were insincere. Dr McGettigan said: 'It's fascinating to consider the way our brain is able to detect genuine happiness in other people. 'Our brains are very sensitive to the social and emotional significance of laughter. [/INST] Professor Sophie Scott says laughter often isn't to do with comedy value .
In a conversation, the person who laughs most is usually the one talking .
People are 30 times more likely to laugh if they are with someone else .
It also triggers brain's mirror region which explains why it is contagious . </s> |
A four-year-old boy has shot himself dead after finding a gun at his babysitter's home. Codrick Beal had been staying overnight at a friend of his mother's in north Harris County, Texas when he fatally shot himself just before noon on Sunday. He had been visiting the home while his mother, Ashley Beal, celebrated her birthday. His father, Codrick McCall, was also not at the scene of the shooting. It is still unclear how the boy came across the firearm and authorities continue to investigate. Scroll down for video . Tragic: Four-year-old Codrick Beal, pictured, shot himself dead after finding a gun while staying with a family friend in Houston, Texas over the weekend. His mother had been celebrating her birthday at the time . Loss: Codrick's mother and father (pictured with the boy, left) were not at the home at the time of the shooting . After the boy was found, relatives and friends were seen comforting each other outside the house in the 19000 block of Imperial Stone. 'My baby is gone!' the boy's mother Ashley cried outside the home as authorities swept the property. Codrick, her only child, was reportedly staying with a long-time friend of his mother's. The babysitter had to be collected by EMS, having sobbed so hard that she collapsed on the road outside the house in convulsions. 'It's just a terrible accident,' Ashley's cousin, Leticia Beal told the Houston Chronicle. 'We see it all the time on the news but you never think it'll hit home. It's the most horrible thing.' The boy's paternal grandmother also wept as she paid tribute to youngster on Sunday. Distraught: Family and friends weep outside the Houston home where a four-year-old boy shot himself . Scene: Authorities are still investigating how the youngster got his hands on the firearm on Sunday . Pained: Loved ones console each other after the news that the four-year-old had fatally shot himself . Heartbreaking: This is the second child to die in an accidental shooting in Houston in as many days . 'Four years old. He had so much to live for,' Sharron McCall told KTRK. 'You can't bring death back. What has happened has happened. All we can do is try to pick up the pieces and continue with life there is nothing else to do.' She did not shed anymore light on the death but said she thinks her grandson should still be here. 'They sell you safety locks with your firearm when you purchase it,' she said. Authorities from the Harris County Sheriff's Office investigated the scene but have not disclosed the kind of gun was fired or who the owned it. Deputies said no charges have yet been brought and a Harris County grand jury would decide if any one should be charged in the death. Sadness: Codrick's paternal grandmother, Sharron McCall, said she had no idea how the accident happened because guns should have safety locks. Through tears, she said her grandson had so much to live for . Loved: Four-year-old Codrick, pictured with his grandmother, was his mother's only child . 'He was a loveable baby,' said Keith Beal, Ashley's uncle. 'Very funny, he loved to play around all the time. He just had so much life in him, he was always a happy baby.' A spokeswoman for Harris County Child Protective Services said they are also investigating. KTRK reported that CPS has previously responded to calls regarding the boy's parents but had never been sent to the home where the boy died. The tragic death is the second time a child has died in Houston of an accidental shooting in less than a week with a three-year-old reportedly killed Friday in Harris County. That boy's mother was in the house when she heard the gunshot and rushed to find him with a bullet wound to the neck and jaw. The boy died at Memorial Hermann Hospital. See below for video . | Codrick Beal shot himself dead while staying at a family friend's home in Houston, Texas on Sunday while his mother celebrated her birthday .
It is still unclear how he came across the firearm .
Codrick's death is the second time a toddler has accidentally killed himself with a gun in Houston in as many days . | 48545a7855d773ee91ba537d155ef9e89a80e5c0 | <s>[INST] A four-year-old boy has shot himself dead after finding a gun at his babysitter's home. Codrick Beal had been staying overnight at a friend of his mother's in north Harris County, Texas when he fatally shot himself just before noon on Sunday. He had been visiting the home while his mother, Ashley Beal, celebrated her birthday. His father, Codrick McCall, was also not at the scene of the shooting. It is still unclear how the boy came across the firearm and authorities continue to investigate. Scroll down for video . Tragic: Four-year-old Codrick Beal, pictured, shot himself dead after finding a gun while staying with a family friend in Houston, Texas over the weekend. His mother had been celebrating her birthday at the time . Loss: Codrick's mother and father (pictured with the boy, left) were not at the home at the time of the shooting . After the boy was found, relatives and friends were seen comforting each other outside the house in the 19000 block of Imperial Stone. 'My baby is gone!' the boy's mother Ashley cried outside the home as authorities swept the property. Codrick, her only child, was reportedly staying with a long-time friend of his mother's. The babysitter had to be collected by EMS, having sobbed so hard that she collapsed on the road outside the house in convulsions. 'It's just a terrible accident,' Ashley's cousin, Leticia Beal told the Houston Chronicle. 'We see it all the time on the news but you never think it'll hit home. It's the most horrible thing.' The boy's paternal grandmother also wept as she paid tribute to youngster on Sunday. Distraught: Family and friends weep outside the Houston home where a four-year-old boy shot himself . Scene: Authorities are still investigating how the youngster got his hands on the firearm on Sunday . Pained: Loved ones console each other after the news that the four-year-old had fatally shot himself . Heartbreaking: This is the second child to die in an accidental shooting in Houston in as many days . 'Four years old. He had so much to live for,' Sharron McCall told KTRK. 'You can't bring death back. What has happened has happened. All we can do is try to pick up the pieces and continue with life there is nothing else to do.' She did not shed anymore light on the death but said she thinks her grandson should still be here. 'They sell you safety locks with your firearm when you purchase it,' she said. Authorities from the Harris County Sheriff's Office investigated the scene but have not disclosed the kind of gun was fired or who the owned it. Deputies said no charges have yet been brought and a Harris County grand jury would decide if any one should be charged in the death. Sadness: Codrick's paternal grandmother, Sharron McCall, said she had no idea how the accident happened because guns should have safety locks. Through tears, she said her grandson had so much to live for . Loved: Four-year-old Codrick, pictured with his grandmother, was his mother's only child . 'He was a loveable baby,' said Keith Beal, Ashley's uncle. 'Very funny, he loved to play around all the time. He just had so much life in him, he was always a happy baby.' A spokeswoman for Harris County Child Protective Services said they are also investigating. KTRK reported that CPS has previously responded to calls regarding the boy's parents but had never been sent to the home where the boy died. The tragic death is the second time a child has died in Houston of an accidental shooting in less than a week with a three-year-old reportedly killed Friday in Harris County. That boy's mother was in the house when she heard the gunshot and rushed to find him with a bullet wound to the neck and jaw. The boy died at Memorial Hermann Hospital. See below for video . [/INST] Codrick Beal shot himself dead while staying at a family friend's home in Houston, Texas on Sunday while his mother celebrated her birthday .
It is still unclear how he came across the firearm .
Codrick's death is the second time a toddler has accidentally killed himself with a gun in Houston in as many days . </s> |
Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber is set to accompany Floyd Mayweather into his $300million Las Vegas mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao. The duo have been close friends for years and the 21-year-old performer has accompanied 'Money' into the ring on numerous occasions. He even joined the fighter on stage during a recent press conference ahead of the May 2 fight. Manny Pacquiao has been preparing for his battle with the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jnr in Las Vegas . Justin Bieber holds up a belt for Floyd Mayweather Jnr before taking on Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas . Bieber is joined by rapper Lil Wayne as they enter the ring before Mayweather Jnr took on Canelo Alvarez . Bieber and Mayweather Jnr pose after Cotto is defeated in the WBA super welterweight title fight in Las Vegas . Mayweather Jnr poses for photos with Bieber after defeating Alvarez in Las Vegas back in 2013 . Mayweather's fight with Pacquiao is being billed as the biggest fight in history and there had been questions as to whether Bieber would be forced to take a step back in Vegas. With a 47-0 record on the line, Mayweather knows this fight is without doubt the biggest of his career - and the most lucrative . However, Bieber confirmed in a video posted online that he will be part of Mayweather's entourage for the mega-fight, shouting 'hell yeah' when asked by reporters. | Canadian sensation Justin Bieber is a good friend of Floyd Mayweather .
Bieber revealed in a video that he will walk Mayweather into his mega-fight .
Mayweather faces Manny Pacquiao in the $300million bout in Las Vegas .
Bieber has accompanied 'Money' Mayweather into the ring several times . | 1688bfe696b621610af7bc5e6a524b09aed4366d | <s>[INST] Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber is set to accompany Floyd Mayweather into his $300million Las Vegas mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao. The duo have been close friends for years and the 21-year-old performer has accompanied 'Money' into the ring on numerous occasions. He even joined the fighter on stage during a recent press conference ahead of the May 2 fight. Manny Pacquiao has been preparing for his battle with the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jnr in Las Vegas . Justin Bieber holds up a belt for Floyd Mayweather Jnr before taking on Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas . Bieber is joined by rapper Lil Wayne as they enter the ring before Mayweather Jnr took on Canelo Alvarez . Bieber and Mayweather Jnr pose after Cotto is defeated in the WBA super welterweight title fight in Las Vegas . Mayweather Jnr poses for photos with Bieber after defeating Alvarez in Las Vegas back in 2013 . Mayweather's fight with Pacquiao is being billed as the biggest fight in history and there had been questions as to whether Bieber would be forced to take a step back in Vegas. With a 47-0 record on the line, Mayweather knows this fight is without doubt the biggest of his career - and the most lucrative . However, Bieber confirmed in a video posted online that he will be part of Mayweather's entourage for the mega-fight, shouting 'hell yeah' when asked by reporters. [/INST] Canadian sensation Justin Bieber is a good friend of Floyd Mayweather .
Bieber revealed in a video that he will walk Mayweather into his mega-fight .
Mayweather faces Manny Pacquiao in the $300million bout in Las Vegas .
Bieber has accompanied 'Money' Mayweather into the ring several times . </s> |
Roberto Di Matteo admitted he was finding Schalke's Champions League exit hard to take in after his side scored four at Real Madrid on Tuesday but still failed to make it past the holders and into the quarter-finals. Schalke produced one of the best performances of the season to claim a 4-3 victory at the Bernabeu but were eliminated 5-4 on aggregate after losing last month's last 16 first leg in Gelsenkirchen 2-0. 'On the one hand we are of course very happy that we managed to win but at the same time it's a bit hard to take in that we scored four goals in Madrid and didn't get through,' Italian Di Matteo told a news conference. Roberto Di Matteo issues instructions to his players from the touchline during the 4-3 win against Real Madrid . Former Chelsea boss Di Matteo admitted Schalke's Champions League exit was hard to take after netting four . Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice against his former club as Schalke were eliminated . Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a former Real player, struck twice for the Bundesliga side, including an 84th-minute stunner that put them within a goal of pulling off a remarkable comeback. It was Real's first Champions League defeat at home in 22 games since Barcelona beat them 2-0 in April 2011 and was only the second time they had conceded four goals in a European game at the Bernabeu. However, a Cristiano Ronaldo double and a Karim Benzema strike were enough to secure a place for Real in the draw for the last eight on March 20. The Dutch striker's brace was not enough to see the Bundeliga outfit though after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg . 'I was hoping we could go into the break 2-1 up but we unfortunately didn't manage it. That would of course have made the game more interesting for us,' added Di Matteo. 'Perhaps we just didn't have that little bit of luck tonight that you need to get through such ties.' Schalke return to action in the Bundesliga with a game at Hertha Berlin on Saturday. They are fifth with 10 games left, three points behind third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach, and have a good chance of winning a berth in Europe's elite club competition again for next season. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Real Madrid as they made it through to the Champions League last eight . The Portugal forward heads the ball past Schalke goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther at the Bernabeu . Di Matteo said the quality of Real's forwards had been the difference between the two sides, who met at the same stage last term when Real won 9-2 on aggregate on their way to a record-extending 10th European crown. 'We didn't allow Real Madrid to get into a rhythm but they have such quality in the team and they showed that both in the first leg and tonight,' Di Matteo said. 'They had relatively few chances and scored three goals and that makes a difference. Like our Real Madrid Facebook page. | Schalke remarkably beat Real Madrid 4-3 at the Bernabeu on Tuesday .
But Real won the first leg 2-0 to progress to the last eight 5-4 on aggregate .
Roberto Di Matteo said going out after scoring four was hard to take in .
Former Real striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar scored twice for the visitors .
Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a brace and Karim Benzema got the other . | c3d79cb0c8c6ba9d8223b9ab8914489aed704fe2 | <s>[INST] Roberto Di Matteo admitted he was finding Schalke's Champions League exit hard to take in after his side scored four at Real Madrid on Tuesday but still failed to make it past the holders and into the quarter-finals. Schalke produced one of the best performances of the season to claim a 4-3 victory at the Bernabeu but were eliminated 5-4 on aggregate after losing last month's last 16 first leg in Gelsenkirchen 2-0. 'On the one hand we are of course very happy that we managed to win but at the same time it's a bit hard to take in that we scored four goals in Madrid and didn't get through,' Italian Di Matteo told a news conference. Roberto Di Matteo issues instructions to his players from the touchline during the 4-3 win against Real Madrid . Former Chelsea boss Di Matteo admitted Schalke's Champions League exit was hard to take after netting four . Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice against his former club as Schalke were eliminated . Netherlands striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, a former Real player, struck twice for the Bundesliga side, including an 84th-minute stunner that put them within a goal of pulling off a remarkable comeback. It was Real's first Champions League defeat at home in 22 games since Barcelona beat them 2-0 in April 2011 and was only the second time they had conceded four goals in a European game at the Bernabeu. However, a Cristiano Ronaldo double and a Karim Benzema strike were enough to secure a place for Real in the draw for the last eight on March 20. The Dutch striker's brace was not enough to see the Bundeliga outfit though after a 2-0 defeat in the first leg . 'I was hoping we could go into the break 2-1 up but we unfortunately didn't manage it. That would of course have made the game more interesting for us,' added Di Matteo. 'Perhaps we just didn't have that little bit of luck tonight that you need to get through such ties.' Schalke return to action in the Bundesliga with a game at Hertha Berlin on Saturday. They are fifth with 10 games left, three points behind third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach, and have a good chance of winning a berth in Europe's elite club competition again for next season. Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice for Real Madrid as they made it through to the Champions League last eight . The Portugal forward heads the ball past Schalke goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther at the Bernabeu . Di Matteo said the quality of Real's forwards had been the difference between the two sides, who met at the same stage last term when Real won 9-2 on aggregate on their way to a record-extending 10th European crown. 'We didn't allow Real Madrid to get into a rhythm but they have such quality in the team and they showed that both in the first leg and tonight,' Di Matteo said. 'They had relatively few chances and scored three goals and that makes a difference. Like our Real Madrid Facebook page. [/INST] Schalke remarkably beat Real Madrid 4-3 at the Bernabeu on Tuesday .
But Real won the first leg 2-0 to progress to the last eight 5-4 on aggregate .
Roberto Di Matteo said going out after scoring four was hard to take in .
Former Real striker Klass-Jan Huntelaar scored twice for the visitors .
Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a brace and Karim Benzema got the other . </s> |
Minnesota United were officially confirmed as the next Major League Soccer expansion team on Wednesday. Minnesota, who have competed in the second-tier North American Soccer League since 2010, will make their MLS debut starting with the 2018 season. Coupled with already-announced expansion plans for Atlanta and the recreation of the team formerly known as Chivas USA in Los Angeles, Minnesota United will be the 23rd franchise in MLS. Minnesota United will be the 23rd MLS franchise, joining Kaka's new Orlando City team in the league . Kaka and David Villa have both started for expansion franchises this season, with Villa at New York City . 'We have a plan here that we believe in,' MLS Commissioner Don Garber said during a news conference at the home of Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins. 'A plan that we believe will take the sport to a higher level.' MLS grew to 20 clubs this season with Orlando City and New York City FC both joining the league. Miami is in line to become the 24th MLS franchise but the Florida team is in doubt as the would-be owners have been unable to secure a stadium deal. Until recently, MLS had said it would stop expanding for the foreseeable future once it reached 24 teams. But last week the league said that over the course of 2015 it will evaluate further expansion beyond 24 clubs. David Beckham has been in America attempting to get his Miami franchise into the league as the 24th team . The new franchises and USA's good performance at the World Cup have sparked huge crowds in the MLS . | League currently has 20 teams, with Chivas USA and Atlanta due to join .
Minnesota United expected to be followed by Miami franchise .
MLS had said it would stop at 24, but now reconsidering further expansion . | 789dcb8252aaa534177d854f1f62d59daa1f33b2 | <s>[INST] Minnesota United were officially confirmed as the next Major League Soccer expansion team on Wednesday. Minnesota, who have competed in the second-tier North American Soccer League since 2010, will make their MLS debut starting with the 2018 season. Coupled with already-announced expansion plans for Atlanta and the recreation of the team formerly known as Chivas USA in Los Angeles, Minnesota United will be the 23rd franchise in MLS. Minnesota United will be the 23rd MLS franchise, joining Kaka's new Orlando City team in the league . Kaka and David Villa have both started for expansion franchises this season, with Villa at New York City . 'We have a plan here that we believe in,' MLS Commissioner Don Garber said during a news conference at the home of Major League Baseball's Minnesota Twins. 'A plan that we believe will take the sport to a higher level.' MLS grew to 20 clubs this season with Orlando City and New York City FC both joining the league. Miami is in line to become the 24th MLS franchise but the Florida team is in doubt as the would-be owners have been unable to secure a stadium deal. Until recently, MLS had said it would stop expanding for the foreseeable future once it reached 24 teams. But last week the league said that over the course of 2015 it will evaluate further expansion beyond 24 clubs. David Beckham has been in America attempting to get his Miami franchise into the league as the 24th team . The new franchises and USA's good performance at the World Cup have sparked huge crowds in the MLS . [/INST] League currently has 20 teams, with Chivas USA and Atlanta due to join .
Minnesota United expected to be followed by Miami franchise .
MLS had said it would stop at 24, but now reconsidering further expansion . </s> |
Two horses used for carriage rides at Queen Victoria's former summer house have been seized by police over fears they were being mistreated. The RSPCA is now caring for the horses which were formerly based at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, and which were said to be so thin they nearly had to be put down. The animals were used to pull carriages around the estate, which was built in the 19th century as a private home for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Probe: Two horses have been seized from Osborne House over fears they were being mistreated (file photo) Claims: The RSPCA intervened after English Heritage staff expressed concern about the horses (file photo) Although the house is now under the care of English Heritage, the horses were owned by an independent contractor. When English Heritage staff noticed the poor health of the horses, they called the RSPCA, and the contractor has now been sacked. A source told Island Echo that the two horses had no body fat whatsoever, and would probably have been put down if they had not been rescued within days. A spokesman for the RSPCA said: 'We attended along with the police and an independent vet after a call from a concerned member of the public about the condition of two horses there. 'The police seized the horses and placed them in our care.This is now an ongoing investigation so we cannot comment further.' Historic: Osborne House was the summer home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 19th century . Rides: The horses were owned by an independent contractor and used as a tourist attraction (file photos) Hampshire Police said that no one has been arrested over the treatment of the horses. The general manager at Osborne House, Rob Flower, said: 'We are deeply saddened by the situation. We were concerned about the treatment of the horses and alerted the RSPCA. 'Our first priority is the welfare of the horses and we are working closely with the RSPCA.' English Heritage said that the contractor was given free use of the house's stables and paddocks to give carriage rides to guests. However, Osborne House did not profit from the arrangement. Care: The horses are now being looked after by the RSPCA following the investigation (file photo) The home was designed by Prince Albert to look like an Italian palazzo, and was built between 1845 and 1851. The couple would spend several months a year at the house, and after Albert's death Victoria continued to pay regular visits, dying there in 1901. Osborne House was used as an officer training college by the Royal Navy after Edward VII gave it to the nation. The house and grounds are now open to the public, while the estate's cricket pavilion can be rented out by holidaymakers. | The horses were used for tourist carriage rides at Osborne House .
Staff were concerned about their treatment and called the RSPCA .
Horses were said to be so thin they faced being put down within days . | 0e846617fc23c44ccea9c208fcf0da52f9938e45 | <s>[INST] Two horses used for carriage rides at Queen Victoria's former summer house have been seized by police over fears they were being mistreated. The RSPCA is now caring for the horses which were formerly based at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, and which were said to be so thin they nearly had to be put down. The animals were used to pull carriages around the estate, which was built in the 19th century as a private home for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Probe: Two horses have been seized from Osborne House over fears they were being mistreated (file photo) Claims: The RSPCA intervened after English Heritage staff expressed concern about the horses (file photo) Although the house is now under the care of English Heritage, the horses were owned by an independent contractor. When English Heritage staff noticed the poor health of the horses, they called the RSPCA, and the contractor has now been sacked. A source told Island Echo that the two horses had no body fat whatsoever, and would probably have been put down if they had not been rescued within days. A spokesman for the RSPCA said: 'We attended along with the police and an independent vet after a call from a concerned member of the public about the condition of two horses there. 'The police seized the horses and placed them in our care.This is now an ongoing investigation so we cannot comment further.' Historic: Osborne House was the summer home of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 19th century . Rides: The horses were owned by an independent contractor and used as a tourist attraction (file photos) Hampshire Police said that no one has been arrested over the treatment of the horses. The general manager at Osborne House, Rob Flower, said: 'We are deeply saddened by the situation. We were concerned about the treatment of the horses and alerted the RSPCA. 'Our first priority is the welfare of the horses and we are working closely with the RSPCA.' English Heritage said that the contractor was given free use of the house's stables and paddocks to give carriage rides to guests. However, Osborne House did not profit from the arrangement. Care: The horses are now being looked after by the RSPCA following the investigation (file photo) The home was designed by Prince Albert to look like an Italian palazzo, and was built between 1845 and 1851. The couple would spend several months a year at the house, and after Albert's death Victoria continued to pay regular visits, dying there in 1901. Osborne House was used as an officer training college by the Royal Navy after Edward VII gave it to the nation. The house and grounds are now open to the public, while the estate's cricket pavilion can be rented out by holidaymakers. [/INST] The horses were used for tourist carriage rides at Osborne House .
Staff were concerned about their treatment and called the RSPCA .
Horses were said to be so thin they faced being put down within days . </s> |
Draft legislation aimed at boosting a flagging birth rate threatens to reduce Iranian women to 'baby-making machines' and set their rights back by decades, Amnesty International warned on Wednesday. The London-based human rights group said that a first bill, which has already been approved once by parliament, would restrict access to contraception, forcing women into unsafe backstreet abortions. It said the second draft law, which is to go before parliament next month, would close many jobs to women who choose not to or are unable to have children. Iran is seeking to double its population to 150 million by 2065 . 'The proposed laws will entrench discriminatory practices and set the rights of women and girls in Iran back by decades,' said Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. 'The authorities are promoting a dangerous culture in which women are stripped of key rights and viewed as baby-making machines rather than human beings with fundamental rights to make choices about their own bodies and lives.' The draft legislation comes in response to a call by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to double Iran's population to 150 million within 50 years. Iranian officials have expressed alarm at its ageing population, with an official at the national birth registry, Mohammad Nazemi Ardekani, warning last April the population growth rate could fall to zero 'within 30 years'. The bill, which is now undergoing amendment, would ban voluntary sterilisation and end state subsidies for contraceptive services. Draft legislation will put men and women in Iran who can have children to the top of the priority list for jobs . Amnesty said it would inevitably lead to an increase in backstreet terminations in a country where abortion is illegal except in very limited circumstances. The second bill would require both public and private employers to give priority to men and women with children when hiring for certain jobs. It would also make divorce more difficult and restrict intervention by the state in family disputes, which Amnesty said would expose women to increased risks of domestic violence. Women currently make up around 60 percent of university students in Iran and 10 percent of economically active women are employed, according to official figures. | Draft legislation aimed at boosting a flagging birth rate has come under fire .
Iran is seeking to double its population to 150million by 2065 .
It wants to restrict contraception access and prioritise jobs for the fertile .
Amnesty says the laws will set rights of women back decades . | 6b521e2f75396adf0aba3fc368ef92fe820d183c | <s>[INST] Draft legislation aimed at boosting a flagging birth rate threatens to reduce Iranian women to 'baby-making machines' and set their rights back by decades, Amnesty International warned on Wednesday. The London-based human rights group said that a first bill, which has already been approved once by parliament, would restrict access to contraception, forcing women into unsafe backstreet abortions. It said the second draft law, which is to go before parliament next month, would close many jobs to women who choose not to or are unable to have children. Iran is seeking to double its population to 150 million by 2065 . 'The proposed laws will entrench discriminatory practices and set the rights of women and girls in Iran back by decades,' said Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui. 'The authorities are promoting a dangerous culture in which women are stripped of key rights and viewed as baby-making machines rather than human beings with fundamental rights to make choices about their own bodies and lives.' The draft legislation comes in response to a call by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to double Iran's population to 150 million within 50 years. Iranian officials have expressed alarm at its ageing population, with an official at the national birth registry, Mohammad Nazemi Ardekani, warning last April the population growth rate could fall to zero 'within 30 years'. The bill, which is now undergoing amendment, would ban voluntary sterilisation and end state subsidies for contraceptive services. Draft legislation will put men and women in Iran who can have children to the top of the priority list for jobs . Amnesty said it would inevitably lead to an increase in backstreet terminations in a country where abortion is illegal except in very limited circumstances. The second bill would require both public and private employers to give priority to men and women with children when hiring for certain jobs. It would also make divorce more difficult and restrict intervention by the state in family disputes, which Amnesty said would expose women to increased risks of domestic violence. Women currently make up around 60 percent of university students in Iran and 10 percent of economically active women are employed, according to official figures. [/INST] Draft legislation aimed at boosting a flagging birth rate has come under fire .
Iran is seeking to double its population to 150million by 2065 .
It wants to restrict contraception access and prioritise jobs for the fertile .
Amnesty says the laws will set rights of women back decades . </s> |
The father of a Scottish woman who fled to join Islamic State has denied she was involved in recruiting three London schoolgirls believed to have travelled to Syria. Aqsa Mahmood, 20, left her home in Glasgow in November 2013 and married an IS militant the following February. Today, her parents told ITV News she had been in contact with them to deny recent reports that she had encouraged Bethnal Green Academy students Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16 and Amira Abase, 15, to join the radical Islamist group. Scroll down for video . The father of jihadi bride Aqsa Mahmood (pictured left and right) denies she was involved in recruiting three London schoolgirls believed to have travelled to Syria to join Islamic State . Muzaffar Mahmood said his daughter had claimed she didn't even know the names of the girls, and he added that he believed her. 'She texted when this was going on,' he said. 'She was never in contact with them and I believe her. 'A lot of press - everything happening is Aqsa Mahmood.' But after the girls went missing last month, it emerged that Shamima had messaged a Twitter account belonging to Mahmood asking her to follow her. She did so, opening a private line of communication. At the time, the family expressed their horror that she may have been involved in recruiting the girls and branded her a 'disgrace'. Muzaffar Mahmood said his daughter had contacted the family to insist she didn't know the names of the missing London schoolgirls, and he said he believed her . Aqsa's mother Khalida Mahmood also called for her daughter to leave Syria and return to Britain . Shamima Begum, 15, sent an open message (pictured) to Aqsa Mahmood, 20, who had fled to Syria from Glasgow to be a 'jihadi bride' in 2013, asking her to open a private line of communication . But today, Mr Mahmood said: 'They are making her…everything happening is Aqsa Mahmood. 'Security services…if they know anything they should come out with it. 'She was very angry with me that 'why are you not standing up for me? I wasn't in contact. I don't even know their names. 'That's what she told us. We feel really bad when we hear in the press that she recruited them. 'We regret what she is doing and we condemn what's going on over there but she hasn't been in touch with them [the runaway girls] at all. It's very painful.' The former diagnostic radiography student had been educated at a top private school in the city, but after joining the terror group, began tweeting under the nom de guerre Umm Layth. She posted a series of radical messages, including a call for others to copy the shocking murder of soldier Lee Rigby, the Boston Marathon bombing and the massacre at the Fort Hood US Army base in Texas. Kadiza Sultana, 16 (left), Amira Abase, 15 (centre) and Shamima Begum, 15 (right), all pupils at Bethnal Green Academy in east London, are believed to have travelled to Syria as jihadi brides . Clutching their luggage, the three teenage friends were pictured preparing to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey . Mahmood has also posted a series of blog posts entitled 'Diary of a Muhajirah' instructing young women on how to prepare for life in Syria and what to do expect there. She also wrote a guide on how to be a war widow in January, sparking rumours her extremist husband has been killed. After the former student's identity was revealed in the media last September, her family branded her a 'bedroom radical' and condemned her actions. Sharmeena Begum was named as the first of four Bethnal Green Academy schoolgirls to have fled home to join IS . At a press conference, they said: ‘We still love you Aqsa but we now have to put your family, your brother and sisters first as you have betrayed us, our community and the people of Scotland when you took this step. ‘All parents want to be proud of their children but sadly we feel nothing but sorrow and shame for Aqsa. 'Aqsa you have torn the heart out of our family and changed our lives forever, please come home.’ Her family said Mahmood was ‘brainwashed and deluded’ but maintained there was no individual to be blamed for her radicalisation. But today, when asked if there was anything that pointed to her being radicalised, Mr Mahmood said: 'This is something we want to know. She did pray and wore a scarf. 'Freedom of expression and she's allowed to do that. There's nothing wrong with that, we never see she's going that far. 'That's something we're still trying to find out. Who are these people radicalising all the children here and why is something not happening to them? Where are people going all the time? 'There are people here who are doing this. And police and security services? We've not had any answers yet.' Mr Mahmood pointed the finger at intelligence services for failing to discover who was 'radicalising our children', and claimed he and his wife had simply given their daughter freedoms afforded in any 'normal' family. He also criticised British police for not doing more to 'save our daughter' when she initially made the journey. His comments come after the families of the three London schoolgirls appeared before appeared before the House of Commons home affairs committee this week. And the country’s top police officer was forced to apologise to their families over a misplaced letter relating to a fourth girl’s disappearance, who was identified this week as Sharmeena Begum. The report will air on ITV News at 6.30pm and Ten and can be found online at itv.com/news . Khadiza's cousin Fahmida Aziz (left), Shamima's sister Sahima Begum (centre) and Amira's father Hussen Abase (right), appeared before the House of Commons home affairs committee this week . Bethnal Green Academy student Shamima Begum, 15, sent an open message to Aqsa Mahmood, 20, who had fled to Syria from Glasgow to be a 'jihadi bride' in 2013, asking her to open a private line of communication. Four days later, the teenager flew from Gatwick Airport to Turkey with friends Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15. Last month, a lawyer for Mahmood's family said they were 'full of horror and anger' that she was being allowed by Twitter to 'recruit and encourage' others to travel to Syria. 'You are a disgrace': The family of Aqsa Mahmood (pictured) said they are 'incredulous' that her messages are not being checked and her victims' families did not get a 'knock at the door' Aamer Anwar said they were 'incredulous' that her messages were not being checked and her victims' families did not get a 'knock at the door'. He said the grooming of children through Twitter by terrorists was 'tantamount to child abuse'. The family's statement in full: . 'The family of Aqsa Mahmood are full of horror and anger that their daughter may have had a role to play in the recruitment of these young girls to ISIS. They are not sure how much more misery that Aqsa can inflict on her own family but the fact that she is now accused of destroying other families is beyond the pale. However the Security Services have serious questions to answer- Aqsa's social media has been monitored since she disappeared over a year ago, yet despite alleged contact between the girls and Aqsa, they failed to stop them from leaving the UK to Turkey a staging post for Syria. Sadly despite all the Government's rhetoric on ISIS, if they can't even take basic steps to stop children leaving to join ISIS, what is the point of any new laws? As for Aqsa- you are a disgrace to your family and the people of Scotland, your actions are a perverted and evil distortion of Islam. You are killing your family every day with your actions, they are begging you stop if you ever loved them.' | Aqsa Mahmood left Glasgow in November 2013 and married an IS militant .
20-year-old is believed to have lured three London schoolgirls to Syria .
But her father Muzaffar says she contacted family to deny any involvement .
He said she contacted family to insist she 'was never in contact with them'
But one of the girls contacted Mahmood asking for private communication . | 98ee1d15a77798c0fb2ffaeb1e40619335bb1161 | <s>[INST] The father of a Scottish woman who fled to join Islamic State has denied she was involved in recruiting three London schoolgirls believed to have travelled to Syria. Aqsa Mahmood, 20, left her home in Glasgow in November 2013 and married an IS militant the following February. Today, her parents told ITV News she had been in contact with them to deny recent reports that she had encouraged Bethnal Green Academy students Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16 and Amira Abase, 15, to join the radical Islamist group. Scroll down for video . The father of jihadi bride Aqsa Mahmood (pictured left and right) denies she was involved in recruiting three London schoolgirls believed to have travelled to Syria to join Islamic State . Muzaffar Mahmood said his daughter had claimed she didn't even know the names of the girls, and he added that he believed her. 'She texted when this was going on,' he said. 'She was never in contact with them and I believe her. 'A lot of press - everything happening is Aqsa Mahmood.' But after the girls went missing last month, it emerged that Shamima had messaged a Twitter account belonging to Mahmood asking her to follow her. She did so, opening a private line of communication. At the time, the family expressed their horror that she may have been involved in recruiting the girls and branded her a 'disgrace'. Muzaffar Mahmood said his daughter had contacted the family to insist she didn't know the names of the missing London schoolgirls, and he said he believed her . Aqsa's mother Khalida Mahmood also called for her daughter to leave Syria and return to Britain . Shamima Begum, 15, sent an open message (pictured) to Aqsa Mahmood, 20, who had fled to Syria from Glasgow to be a 'jihadi bride' in 2013, asking her to open a private line of communication . But today, Mr Mahmood said: 'They are making her…everything happening is Aqsa Mahmood. 'Security services…if they know anything they should come out with it. 'She was very angry with me that 'why are you not standing up for me? I wasn't in contact. I don't even know their names. 'That's what she told us. We feel really bad when we hear in the press that she recruited them. 'We regret what she is doing and we condemn what's going on over there but she hasn't been in touch with them [the runaway girls] at all. It's very painful.' The former diagnostic radiography student had been educated at a top private school in the city, but after joining the terror group, began tweeting under the nom de guerre Umm Layth. She posted a series of radical messages, including a call for others to copy the shocking murder of soldier Lee Rigby, the Boston Marathon bombing and the massacre at the Fort Hood US Army base in Texas. Kadiza Sultana, 16 (left), Amira Abase, 15 (centre) and Shamima Begum, 15 (right), all pupils at Bethnal Green Academy in east London, are believed to have travelled to Syria as jihadi brides . Clutching their luggage, the three teenage friends were pictured preparing to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey . Mahmood has also posted a series of blog posts entitled 'Diary of a Muhajirah' instructing young women on how to prepare for life in Syria and what to do expect there. She also wrote a guide on how to be a war widow in January, sparking rumours her extremist husband has been killed. After the former student's identity was revealed in the media last September, her family branded her a 'bedroom radical' and condemned her actions. Sharmeena Begum was named as the first of four Bethnal Green Academy schoolgirls to have fled home to join IS . At a press conference, they said: ‘We still love you Aqsa but we now have to put your family, your brother and sisters first as you have betrayed us, our community and the people of Scotland when you took this step. ‘All parents want to be proud of their children but sadly we feel nothing but sorrow and shame for Aqsa. 'Aqsa you have torn the heart out of our family and changed our lives forever, please come home.’ Her family said Mahmood was ‘brainwashed and deluded’ but maintained there was no individual to be blamed for her radicalisation. But today, when asked if there was anything that pointed to her being radicalised, Mr Mahmood said: 'This is something we want to know. She did pray and wore a scarf. 'Freedom of expression and she's allowed to do that. There's nothing wrong with that, we never see she's going that far. 'That's something we're still trying to find out. Who are these people radicalising all the children here and why is something not happening to them? Where are people going all the time? 'There are people here who are doing this. And police and security services? We've not had any answers yet.' Mr Mahmood pointed the finger at intelligence services for failing to discover who was 'radicalising our children', and claimed he and his wife had simply given their daughter freedoms afforded in any 'normal' family. He also criticised British police for not doing more to 'save our daughter' when she initially made the journey. His comments come after the families of the three London schoolgirls appeared before appeared before the House of Commons home affairs committee this week. And the country’s top police officer was forced to apologise to their families over a misplaced letter relating to a fourth girl’s disappearance, who was identified this week as Sharmeena Begum. The report will air on ITV News at 6.30pm and Ten and can be found online at itv.com/news . Khadiza's cousin Fahmida Aziz (left), Shamima's sister Sahima Begum (centre) and Amira's father Hussen Abase (right), appeared before the House of Commons home affairs committee this week . Bethnal Green Academy student Shamima Begum, 15, sent an open message to Aqsa Mahmood, 20, who had fled to Syria from Glasgow to be a 'jihadi bride' in 2013, asking her to open a private line of communication. Four days later, the teenager flew from Gatwick Airport to Turkey with friends Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15. Last month, a lawyer for Mahmood's family said they were 'full of horror and anger' that she was being allowed by Twitter to 'recruit and encourage' others to travel to Syria. 'You are a disgrace': The family of Aqsa Mahmood (pictured) said they are 'incredulous' that her messages are not being checked and her victims' families did not get a 'knock at the door' Aamer Anwar said they were 'incredulous' that her messages were not being checked and her victims' families did not get a 'knock at the door'. He said the grooming of children through Twitter by terrorists was 'tantamount to child abuse'. The family's statement in full: . 'The family of Aqsa Mahmood are full of horror and anger that their daughter may have had a role to play in the recruitment of these young girls to ISIS. They are not sure how much more misery that Aqsa can inflict on her own family but the fact that she is now accused of destroying other families is beyond the pale. However the Security Services have serious questions to answer- Aqsa's social media has been monitored since she disappeared over a year ago, yet despite alleged contact between the girls and Aqsa, they failed to stop them from leaving the UK to Turkey a staging post for Syria. Sadly despite all the Government's rhetoric on ISIS, if they can't even take basic steps to stop children leaving to join ISIS, what is the point of any new laws? As for Aqsa- you are a disgrace to your family and the people of Scotland, your actions are a perverted and evil distortion of Islam. You are killing your family every day with your actions, they are begging you stop if you ever loved them.' [/INST] Aqsa Mahmood left Glasgow in November 2013 and married an IS militant .
20-year-old is believed to have lured three London schoolgirls to Syria .
But her father Muzaffar says she contacted family to deny any involvement .
He said she contacted family to insist she 'was never in contact with them'
But one of the girls contacted Mahmood asking for private communication . </s> |
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started on Saturday with a ceremonial run through Anchorage despite the lack of snow which has forced the organizers to move the competitive start of the race to Monday in Fairbanks. A stalled jet stream has pushed Arctic air and snow into the Midwest and the East Coast, but kept Alaska fairly warm and dry this winter. But the ceremonial start, a chance for fans and mushers to meet in a casual atmosphere, went on as planned in Alaska's largest city. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started on Saturday with a ceremonial run through Anchorage despite the lack of snow that has forced organizers to move the start of the race to Monday . A stalled jet stream has pushed Arctic air and snow into the Midwest and the East Coast, but kept Alaska fairly warm and dry this winter . Despite the city receiving only about a third of its normal winter snowfall, Anchorage was still able to stage the traditional ceremonial start to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. City crews overnight delivered up to 350 dump truck loads of snow and spread it out over city blocks so the show could go on. The festivities started on Saturday morning in very un-Iditarod like conditions, almost 40 degrees with a light rain falling before the start. City maintenance workers stockpiled snow from neighborhoods the past few months and kept it for winter events, culminating with the Iditarod, said Paul VanLandingham with the public works department. This event is designed for fans who can't be on the rugged thousand-mile trail stretching from Fairbanks to Nome. Mushers took off from the start line along Anchorage's Fourth Avenue every two minutes. Fans lined the streets and cheered on the mushers and their Iditariders, who are people who have won auctions to be in the sled. The route covered 19 city blocks before it met up with the city's trail system and ends in East Anchorage. It's a very relaxed atmosphere before the start. Fans arrive early on Saturday morning to mingle with the mushers and pet one of the estimated thousand dogs that will be in the race. The ceremonial start to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday was a chance for fans and mushers to meet in a casual atmosphere . City crews overnight delivered up to 350 dump truck loads of snow and spread it out over city blocks so the show could go on Saturday . Dan and Kathie Taylor of Akron, Ohio, made their second trip to Alaska after falling in love with the state during an earlier summertime visit. They were surprised how the city prepared. 'I didn't know that they would bring in snow for this,' Kathie said. 'We were wondering what would happen today.' Kathie said she was struck by the 'mushers and just their knowledge, and how they love their dogs unconditionally,' she said. 'And how open they are to talk to everybody,' Dan added. DeeDee Jonrowe, a musher who is a fan favorite, is in her 33rd Iditarod. She spent most of the morning signing autographs, posing for photos and greeting fans like they were long-lost friends. 'It's an opportunity to show people the dogs I raise, and the quality of the dogs I raise,' she said. 'I like that we have a day that we can give back.' Musher Justin Savidis, of Willow, Alaska, pets one of his lead dogs, Twig, a 7-year-old female, before the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday . Musher Justin Savidis of Willow said the start is an opportunity to let the dogs shine in the spotlight and let them have some fun. 'You know, if you're not having fun doing this, there's no reason to do it,' he said. In a somber development, KTUU reported that a sled dog was killed by a car. Handler Linda Clarke told the Anchorage station that said the 3-year-old husky was part of her husband Lachlan Clarke's team for the Iditarod. She said that the animal was waiting near the end of Saturday's ceremonial route when it got free, ran off, and was later hit on Seward Highway. Once the event ends, fans and mushers, with their dogs in tow, will drive about eight hours north to Fairbanks. On Monday, the atmosphere changes as mushers will become all about business for the start of the competitive race. Fans lined the streets and cheered on the mushers and their Iditariders, who are people who have won auctions to be in the sled . This year's Iditarod includes 78 mushers, including six former champions and 20 rookies. The winner will receive a bigger purse, $70,000, which is $19,600 more than what defending champion Dallas Seavey received last year. The new route will remove the hazards of the Alaska Range, including the infamous Dalzell Gorge, where many mushers crashed last year trying to control dog teams moving at breakneck speeds over barren, gravelly trails. The change will put mushers on river ice for about 600 miles, which could create new problems along the unfamiliar route. The winner is expected under the burled arch in Nome, a Bering Sea coastal town, in about 10 days. It's the second time Fairbanks has hosted the official start of the race; similar low-snow conditions in 2003 also forced the start north. | Race started on Saturday with a ceremonial run through Anchorage despite the lack of snow .
Organizers have been forced to move the competitive start of the race further north to Fairbanks, where it will start on Monday .
City crews overnight delivered up to 350 dump truck loads of snow and spread it out over city blocks so the show could go on Saturday .
Fans lined the streets and cheered on the mushers and their Iditariders, who are people who have won auctions to be in the sled . | 4c6add6658f5c298026e4179eecc09b2c9ddc6b9 | <s>[INST] The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started on Saturday with a ceremonial run through Anchorage despite the lack of snow which has forced the organizers to move the competitive start of the race to Monday in Fairbanks. A stalled jet stream has pushed Arctic air and snow into the Midwest and the East Coast, but kept Alaska fairly warm and dry this winter. But the ceremonial start, a chance for fans and mushers to meet in a casual atmosphere, went on as planned in Alaska's largest city. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race started on Saturday with a ceremonial run through Anchorage despite the lack of snow that has forced organizers to move the start of the race to Monday . A stalled jet stream has pushed Arctic air and snow into the Midwest and the East Coast, but kept Alaska fairly warm and dry this winter . Despite the city receiving only about a third of its normal winter snowfall, Anchorage was still able to stage the traditional ceremonial start to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. City crews overnight delivered up to 350 dump truck loads of snow and spread it out over city blocks so the show could go on. The festivities started on Saturday morning in very un-Iditarod like conditions, almost 40 degrees with a light rain falling before the start. City maintenance workers stockpiled snow from neighborhoods the past few months and kept it for winter events, culminating with the Iditarod, said Paul VanLandingham with the public works department. This event is designed for fans who can't be on the rugged thousand-mile trail stretching from Fairbanks to Nome. Mushers took off from the start line along Anchorage's Fourth Avenue every two minutes. Fans lined the streets and cheered on the mushers and their Iditariders, who are people who have won auctions to be in the sled. The route covered 19 city blocks before it met up with the city's trail system and ends in East Anchorage. It's a very relaxed atmosphere before the start. Fans arrive early on Saturday morning to mingle with the mushers and pet one of the estimated thousand dogs that will be in the race. The ceremonial start to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday was a chance for fans and mushers to meet in a casual atmosphere . City crews overnight delivered up to 350 dump truck loads of snow and spread it out over city blocks so the show could go on Saturday . Dan and Kathie Taylor of Akron, Ohio, made their second trip to Alaska after falling in love with the state during an earlier summertime visit. They were surprised how the city prepared. 'I didn't know that they would bring in snow for this,' Kathie said. 'We were wondering what would happen today.' Kathie said she was struck by the 'mushers and just their knowledge, and how they love their dogs unconditionally,' she said. 'And how open they are to talk to everybody,' Dan added. DeeDee Jonrowe, a musher who is a fan favorite, is in her 33rd Iditarod. She spent most of the morning signing autographs, posing for photos and greeting fans like they were long-lost friends. 'It's an opportunity to show people the dogs I raise, and the quality of the dogs I raise,' she said. 'I like that we have a day that we can give back.' Musher Justin Savidis, of Willow, Alaska, pets one of his lead dogs, Twig, a 7-year-old female, before the ceremonial start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday . Musher Justin Savidis of Willow said the start is an opportunity to let the dogs shine in the spotlight and let them have some fun. 'You know, if you're not having fun doing this, there's no reason to do it,' he said. In a somber development, KTUU reported that a sled dog was killed by a car. Handler Linda Clarke told the Anchorage station that said the 3-year-old husky was part of her husband Lachlan Clarke's team for the Iditarod. She said that the animal was waiting near the end of Saturday's ceremonial route when it got free, ran off, and was later hit on Seward Highway. Once the event ends, fans and mushers, with their dogs in tow, will drive about eight hours north to Fairbanks. On Monday, the atmosphere changes as mushers will become all about business for the start of the competitive race. Fans lined the streets and cheered on the mushers and their Iditariders, who are people who have won auctions to be in the sled . This year's Iditarod includes 78 mushers, including six former champions and 20 rookies. The winner will receive a bigger purse, $70,000, which is $19,600 more than what defending champion Dallas Seavey received last year. The new route will remove the hazards of the Alaska Range, including the infamous Dalzell Gorge, where many mushers crashed last year trying to control dog teams moving at breakneck speeds over barren, gravelly trails. The change will put mushers on river ice for about 600 miles, which could create new problems along the unfamiliar route. The winner is expected under the burled arch in Nome, a Bering Sea coastal town, in about 10 days. It's the second time Fairbanks has hosted the official start of the race; similar low-snow conditions in 2003 also forced the start north. [/INST] Race started on Saturday with a ceremonial run through Anchorage despite the lack of snow .
Organizers have been forced to move the competitive start of the race further north to Fairbanks, where it will start on Monday .
City crews overnight delivered up to 350 dump truck loads of snow and spread it out over city blocks so the show could go on Saturday .
Fans lined the streets and cheered on the mushers and their Iditariders, who are people who have won auctions to be in the sled . </s> |
Vienna’s famous palaces and opera houses are set to be joined by a new tourist attraction – the tallest wooden skyscraper in the world. When it is completed in 2017, the timber-framed tower will be 24 storeys high with more than 200,000 square feet of commercial and residential space. Designed by architects at RLP Rudiger Lainer+Partner, the €65million (£45million) HoHo Vienna project is expected to include a hotel, offices, flats and wellness centre. When it is completed in 2017, about 75 per cent of the 24-storey tower will be made from wood . It will be located in Seestadt Aspern, a massive urban development site in north-east Vienna, about 75 per cent of the building will be made of wood. The 275-ft tower will be a hybrid: it will have a concrete core with a self-supporting timber shell secured to it. Inside, flats will have exposed wood ceilings, columns and walls to create a natural atmosphere, according to renderings released by the design firm. Wood was chosen because the popular building material in Austria is affordable, high in quality and environmentally friendly. Inside, the flats will feature exposed wood ceilings, columns and walls to create a natural atmosphere . With three-quarters of the building made of wood, it is expected to save 2,800 tonnes of CO2 emissions. But the plans have sparked concerns from local fire officials as the developers, cetus Baudevelopment Gmbh, prepare to begin construction this autumn. Vienna fire service spokesman Christian Wegner told the Guardian: ‘The main factor is that everyone wants to build higher and higher buildings. ‘An 84-metre-high building in Europe is not usual and there are a lot of necessities that have to be realised. ‘A few of us were upset because it was crazy to present an idea like this that has not been discussed with everyone yet.’ Forte in Melbourne, Australia is currently the tallest timber-framed residential building in the world . He said special tests must be conducted on the hybrid model and a fail-safe sprinkler system. The architects said: ‘The timber construction system provides high efficiency in terms of thermal insulation and serviceability. ‘Wood composite floors are secured to the central concrete supporting cores, and extend out to the building edge. ‘These floor panels are supported by a wooden column system around the outline of the building. This structure then supports pre-fabricated external wall modules that combine solid wood panels with an “earthy” concrete shell to form the building's facade.’ When it opens in approximately two years HoHo Vienna will be nearly three times as tall as a current record holder. Forte, a 104-ft, nine-storey block of flats in Melbourne, Australia is currently the tallest timber-framed residential building in the world. | HoHo Vienna tower will be 24 storeys high with space for flats, offices .
The £45million project will include a wellness centre when complete in 2017 .
About 75 per cent of the 275-ft tower will be made of wood .
Vienna's fire service is upset because they were not consulted . | 386981eb0f55cd1742fef3e4c07028f7492e2fa0 | <s>[INST] Vienna’s famous palaces and opera houses are set to be joined by a new tourist attraction – the tallest wooden skyscraper in the world. When it is completed in 2017, the timber-framed tower will be 24 storeys high with more than 200,000 square feet of commercial and residential space. Designed by architects at RLP Rudiger Lainer+Partner, the €65million (£45million) HoHo Vienna project is expected to include a hotel, offices, flats and wellness centre. When it is completed in 2017, about 75 per cent of the 24-storey tower will be made from wood . It will be located in Seestadt Aspern, a massive urban development site in north-east Vienna, about 75 per cent of the building will be made of wood. The 275-ft tower will be a hybrid: it will have a concrete core with a self-supporting timber shell secured to it. Inside, flats will have exposed wood ceilings, columns and walls to create a natural atmosphere, according to renderings released by the design firm. Wood was chosen because the popular building material in Austria is affordable, high in quality and environmentally friendly. Inside, the flats will feature exposed wood ceilings, columns and walls to create a natural atmosphere . With three-quarters of the building made of wood, it is expected to save 2,800 tonnes of CO2 emissions. But the plans have sparked concerns from local fire officials as the developers, cetus Baudevelopment Gmbh, prepare to begin construction this autumn. Vienna fire service spokesman Christian Wegner told the Guardian: ‘The main factor is that everyone wants to build higher and higher buildings. ‘An 84-metre-high building in Europe is not usual and there are a lot of necessities that have to be realised. ‘A few of us were upset because it was crazy to present an idea like this that has not been discussed with everyone yet.’ Forte in Melbourne, Australia is currently the tallest timber-framed residential building in the world . He said special tests must be conducted on the hybrid model and a fail-safe sprinkler system. The architects said: ‘The timber construction system provides high efficiency in terms of thermal insulation and serviceability. ‘Wood composite floors are secured to the central concrete supporting cores, and extend out to the building edge. ‘These floor panels are supported by a wooden column system around the outline of the building. This structure then supports pre-fabricated external wall modules that combine solid wood panels with an “earthy” concrete shell to form the building's facade.’ When it opens in approximately two years HoHo Vienna will be nearly three times as tall as a current record holder. Forte, a 104-ft, nine-storey block of flats in Melbourne, Australia is currently the tallest timber-framed residential building in the world. [/INST] HoHo Vienna tower will be 24 storeys high with space for flats, offices .
The £45million project will include a wellness centre when complete in 2017 .
About 75 per cent of the 275-ft tower will be made of wood .
Vienna's fire service is upset because they were not consulted . </s> |
Despite a promising league position and a place in the Champions League a real possibility, Manchester United appear to have had a solid season - but their misfiring strikers continue to be a hot topic. Louis van Gaal is coming under increasing scrutiny but the lack of goals being scored by his forwards is a worry - with talk of United deciding not to sign Radamel Falcao on a permanent transfer due to his less than impressive performances. Club legend Dwight Yorke formed a formidable partnership with Andy Cole during their years at the Red Devils and he feels that their current crop of creative players need to start providing the forwards with the same quality and style he had at Old Trafford. Dwight Yorke scored an impressive 48 goals in 96 games for Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson . Speaking to the Sunday Mirror he said: 'I'm sure it's only a matter of time before things click, but as strikers you also need the players behind you to make it happen. For me and (Andrew) Coley, we were blessed, as we had the likes of Beckham, Giggs and Scholes providing the ammunition. It was dead easy for us, we just had to put the ball in the net. They were magical times and we had many magical moments. 'Hopefully the same thing can happen again for this United side.' Andy Cole and Yorke were formidable but had David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs providing them . Wayne Rooney is the clubs current top-scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, with the England captain also being asked to drop into midfield in the past couple of months. With Robin van Persie recently suffering an injury, Yorke feels that Rooney and Radamel Falcao could be the pairing to set Old Trafford alight again. He said: 'United have world class strikers in the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao, but they don't seem to have found the ideal combination. Wayne Rooney is the clubs top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions despite playing recently in midfield . Radamel Falcao has failed to impress at United and was hauled off against Preston in the FA Cup . 'Rooney and Van Persie as a pairing hasn't really clicked, so maybe a Rooney-Falcao combo might provide the answer for United long-term.' The former Trinidad and Tobago international was also keen to pass on some words of wisdom to Van Gaal and the United players with a place at Wembley just one win away. 'Go out and express yourselves!' Robin van Persie has found it hard to click with Rooney and has struggled since his blistering first season . | Manchester United have struggled to win the fans over since Louis van Gaal's tenure started at the club despite being fourth in the table .
Dwight Yorke feels their current crop of forwards haven't clicked yet .
Yorke and Andy Cole were formidable at United and the club legend feels they need to find that winning formula like he had with his strike partner .
Click here for all the latest Manchester United news . | f4765119148f1c2234a2bae80f991a7ea46a2107 | <s>[INST] Despite a promising league position and a place in the Champions League a real possibility, Manchester United appear to have had a solid season - but their misfiring strikers continue to be a hot topic. Louis van Gaal is coming under increasing scrutiny but the lack of goals being scored by his forwards is a worry - with talk of United deciding not to sign Radamel Falcao on a permanent transfer due to his less than impressive performances. Club legend Dwight Yorke formed a formidable partnership with Andy Cole during their years at the Red Devils and he feels that their current crop of creative players need to start providing the forwards with the same quality and style he had at Old Trafford. Dwight Yorke scored an impressive 48 goals in 96 games for Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson . Speaking to the Sunday Mirror he said: 'I'm sure it's only a matter of time before things click, but as strikers you also need the players behind you to make it happen. For me and (Andrew) Coley, we were blessed, as we had the likes of Beckham, Giggs and Scholes providing the ammunition. It was dead easy for us, we just had to put the ball in the net. They were magical times and we had many magical moments. 'Hopefully the same thing can happen again for this United side.' Andy Cole and Yorke were formidable but had David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs providing them . Wayne Rooney is the clubs current top-scorer with 11 goals in all competitions, with the England captain also being asked to drop into midfield in the past couple of months. With Robin van Persie recently suffering an injury, Yorke feels that Rooney and Radamel Falcao could be the pairing to set Old Trafford alight again. He said: 'United have world class strikers in the likes of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao, but they don't seem to have found the ideal combination. Wayne Rooney is the clubs top scorer with 11 goals in all competitions despite playing recently in midfield . Radamel Falcao has failed to impress at United and was hauled off against Preston in the FA Cup . 'Rooney and Van Persie as a pairing hasn't really clicked, so maybe a Rooney-Falcao combo might provide the answer for United long-term.' The former Trinidad and Tobago international was also keen to pass on some words of wisdom to Van Gaal and the United players with a place at Wembley just one win away. 'Go out and express yourselves!' Robin van Persie has found it hard to click with Rooney and has struggled since his blistering first season . [/INST] Manchester United have struggled to win the fans over since Louis van Gaal's tenure started at the club despite being fourth in the table .
Dwight Yorke feels their current crop of forwards haven't clicked yet .
Yorke and Andy Cole were formidable at United and the club legend feels they need to find that winning formula like he had with his strike partner .
Click here for all the latest Manchester United news . </s> |
Nazir Afzal (above) has resigned from the Crown Prosecution Service despite being cleared of improper conduct . One of the UK's most senior prosecutors dramatically resigned yesterday despite being cleared of improper conduct. Nazir Afzal, who led the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in North West England, was accused of sending a text message to a defendant. An internal inquiry exonerated the highly experienced lawyer, who was honoured by The Queen in 2005, of any wrongdoing. But he nevertheless handed in his resignation as more senior colleagues insisted his departure is due to an 'on-going drive for efficiency'. The resignation is a direct blow to Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders who has faced criticism for pursing campaign agendas instead of serving the general public. Mr Afzal proved himself to be an outspoken advocate of bringing to justice those accused of the most heinous and sometimes sensitive offences. This included a move to overturn an earlier decision on an Asian Rochdale sex grooming ring that led to a series of convictions. He said that an over-sensitivity to political correctness and 'fear of appearing racist' by 'white professionals' may have stalled justice. More recently he was responsible for the successful conviction of disgraced former BBC presenter Stuart Hall. He also led the prosecutions of Coronation Street actors Bill Roache, who was cleared of rape, and Michael Le Vell, who was also acquitted of child sex abuse. Mr Afzal took up his post in 2011 and led a huge team of about 700 lawyers, legal staff, and administrators. He was responsible for all criminal prosecutions across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Cumbria. Earlier this week his staff received an email earlier this week saying it had always been his intention to step down in 2015. Mr Afzal led the prosecutions of Coronation Street actors Bill Roache (left), who was cleared of rape, and Michael Le Vell (right), who was also acquitted of child sex abuse . In the four-line email, Mr Afzal said there was 'no secret reason' why he was leaving after 25 years with the CPS. After studying law in Birmingham, Mr Afzal qualified as a solicitor and worked in private practice until he joined the CPS in 1991. He began his CPS career in central London and has prosecuted and advised on many high profile cases. Mr Afzal was awarded an OBE in the Queen's New Years Honours List in 2005 for his public service and involvement with the local community. A CPS spokesman said: 'We are continuing to reduce the number of staff employed across the organisation and Nazir Afzal is leaving the Service as part of this ongoing drive for efficiency. 'This is entirely unrelated to any issue of conduct and we are satisfied that there has been no impropriety on the part of Mr Afzal.' | Nazir Afzal led the Crown Prosecution Service in North West England .
Colleagues insist his departure is due to an 'on-going drive for efficiency' | 61d2eb376da1f792b8889c57f9034373e01753a9 | <s>[INST] Nazir Afzal (above) has resigned from the Crown Prosecution Service despite being cleared of improper conduct . One of the UK's most senior prosecutors dramatically resigned yesterday despite being cleared of improper conduct. Nazir Afzal, who led the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in North West England, was accused of sending a text message to a defendant. An internal inquiry exonerated the highly experienced lawyer, who was honoured by The Queen in 2005, of any wrongdoing. But he nevertheless handed in his resignation as more senior colleagues insisted his departure is due to an 'on-going drive for efficiency'. The resignation is a direct blow to Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders who has faced criticism for pursing campaign agendas instead of serving the general public. Mr Afzal proved himself to be an outspoken advocate of bringing to justice those accused of the most heinous and sometimes sensitive offences. This included a move to overturn an earlier decision on an Asian Rochdale sex grooming ring that led to a series of convictions. He said that an over-sensitivity to political correctness and 'fear of appearing racist' by 'white professionals' may have stalled justice. More recently he was responsible for the successful conviction of disgraced former BBC presenter Stuart Hall. He also led the prosecutions of Coronation Street actors Bill Roache, who was cleared of rape, and Michael Le Vell, who was also acquitted of child sex abuse. Mr Afzal took up his post in 2011 and led a huge team of about 700 lawyers, legal staff, and administrators. He was responsible for all criminal prosecutions across Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Cumbria. Earlier this week his staff received an email earlier this week saying it had always been his intention to step down in 2015. Mr Afzal led the prosecutions of Coronation Street actors Bill Roache (left), who was cleared of rape, and Michael Le Vell (right), who was also acquitted of child sex abuse . In the four-line email, Mr Afzal said there was 'no secret reason' why he was leaving after 25 years with the CPS. After studying law in Birmingham, Mr Afzal qualified as a solicitor and worked in private practice until he joined the CPS in 1991. He began his CPS career in central London and has prosecuted and advised on many high profile cases. Mr Afzal was awarded an OBE in the Queen's New Years Honours List in 2005 for his public service and involvement with the local community. A CPS spokesman said: 'We are continuing to reduce the number of staff employed across the organisation and Nazir Afzal is leaving the Service as part of this ongoing drive for efficiency. 'This is entirely unrelated to any issue of conduct and we are satisfied that there has been no impropriety on the part of Mr Afzal.' [/INST] Nazir Afzal led the Crown Prosecution Service in North West England .
Colleagues insist his departure is due to an 'on-going drive for efficiency' </s> |
Iraqi warplanes and artillery began pounding Tikrit this morning as 30,000 troops and irregulars prepared to attack the city, a stronghold of the Islamic State insurgency. The operation in the birthplace of former dictator Saddam Hussein was announced last night by Iraq's prime minister, who urged soldiers and government-backed Shiite militias to spare civilians. Speaking from Samarra, the other main city in Salaheddin province, Haider al-Abadi appeared to be addressing fears of reprisals against the Tikrit area's mainly Sunni population. Scroll down for video . Attack: Volunteer Shiite fighters, who are supporting the Iraqi government forces in the fight against the Islamic State group fire a howitzer artillery canon in the village of Awaynat near the city of Tikrit . Irregulars: Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite fighters chant slogans as they gather at Udhaim dam, north of Baghdad, ahead of an advance on Islamic State positions Tikrit that is expected to begin today . Feeding the soul: Soldiers and irregulars take a moment to pray as Iraq masses its forces outside the city, which was the birthplace of Saddam Hussein and an important step on the road to the IS-held city of Mosul . Feeding the body: Fighters scoff their rations ahead of the attack. It is feared the mainly Shiite forces of the Iraqi government could attack the area's mainly Sunni population, worsening sectarian divisions . On social media, Mr Abadi called 'for utmost care in protecting civilian lives and property' in the city, which was last year the scene of a brutal massacre of hundreds of mainly Shiite Iraqi army recruits. Government forces have been working their way north in recent months, notching up key victories against IS. But Tikrit, which has resisted them several times, is their toughest target yet. 'Security forces are advancing on three main fronts towards Tikrit, Ad-Dawr (to the south) and Al-Alam (to the north),' a senior army officer on the ground told AFP by telephone. The army officer said the forces involved in the battle were from the army, police, counter-terrorism units, a government-controlled volunteer group known as the Popular Mobilisation units and local Sunni tribes opposed to IS. 'The attack is being carried out using fighter jets, helicopters and artillery targeting Tikrit to secure the advance and cut supply routes,' he said. Military sources said Iraqi warplanes were involved but it was not immediately clear whether foreign air support - Iranian or from the US-led coalition fighting IS - was also called in. According to both Iraqi and Iranian media, Qassem Suleimani - supremo of the elite Iranian Quds force, specialising in 'subversive warfare' - was in Salaheddin province to help coordinate operations. Massing: Iraqi Army and volunteer fighters prepare at Sedull Udeyim region before moving into Tikrit . Good morale: Iraqi forces have notched up key victories against IS as they've inched north in recent weeks . Religion: A soldier walks past a line of armoured cars, one of which has a photo of a cleric in the window . Cavalry: Iraqi armoured personnel carriers are lined up ahead of the attack on Tikrit today . Tikrit would be the biggest victory yet for Iraqi forces battling Islamic State, but the attack by thousands of Shiite irregulars could severely test the government's ability to handle sectarian divisions. Iraq is bitterly split between minority Sunnis, who were an important base of support for Saddam Hussein, despite his regime's nominal secularism, and the Shiite majority. Since the Islamic State insurgency began, the Iraqi military is heavily dependent on Shiite militias that have been accused of abusing Sunni communities elsewhere in Iraq. 'The priority we gave to the armed forces and all the forces taking part alongside them is to preserve the security of citizens,' Mr Abadi said last night. Hadi al-Ameri, the Popular Mobilisation commander, appealed to Tikrit residents on Saturday to leave their homes within 48 hours so government forces could 'wrap up the battle of the revenge for Speicher.' Speicher is a military base near Tikrit from which hundreds of new, mostly Shiite, recruits were kidnapped before being executed last summer, as the Islamic State insurgency took control of much of Iraq's Sunni Arab heartland. Shiite militias in particular have vowed to avenge the Speicher executions, sparking fears of mass killings against Sunnis if Tikrit were to be recaptured. Mr Abadi appealed to residents to turn against the jihadists, who have suffered a string of military losses since a U.S.-led coalition of Western and Arab nations stepped up their support for Iraq's embattled government. 'I call on all those who were misled and made mistakes in the past to lay down their arms today. This may be the last chance,' Mr Abadi said, suggesting some could be granted amnesty. Iraqi forces tried and failed several times to wrest back Tikrit, a Sunni Arab city on the Tigris river around 100 miles north of Baghdad. Ready: A wide view shows Iraqi soldiers and Shiite irregulars massing at the Udhaim dam. Tikrit would be the biggest victory yet for Iraqi forces battling Islamic State . Taking a moment: An Iraqi soldier rests on a wall at the Udhaim dam. An army officer said the forces involved in the battle were from the army, police, counter-terrorism units, volunteer units and local tribes . Armed: Troops wander the streets around Udhaim dam while they wait for the order to attack. The arrival of many thousands of Shiite fighters in the mainly Sunni city of Tikrit risks inflaming sectarian divisions . Last phone call? A soldier chats on his mobile phone as columns of vehicles move past on their way to attack . The military commander for Salaheddin province, Abdel Wahab Saadi, said Tikrit had both symbolic and strategic importance. 'The aim of course is to liberate Salaheddin to allow for the return of displaced families but it is also going to be a stepping stone on the way to liberating Mosul,' he told AFP. Tikrit is the hometown of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, the remnants of whose Baath party have collaborated with IS in attempting to topple the Shiite-dominated government. IS declared a 'caliphate' last June straddling Iraq and Syria, where the US-led coalition has also been conducting air strikes but not coordinating with any significant ground force. | Artillery and warplanes began pounding Tikrit this morning ahead of attack .
The city north of Baghdad is a stronghold of the Islamic State insurgency .
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi calls on troops to spare civilians .
Tikrit was the scene of a massacre of mainly Shiite army recruits last year . | 1ad46ca3329daf147272682f56763414935d9ed5 | <s>[INST] Iraqi warplanes and artillery began pounding Tikrit this morning as 30,000 troops and irregulars prepared to attack the city, a stronghold of the Islamic State insurgency. The operation in the birthplace of former dictator Saddam Hussein was announced last night by Iraq's prime minister, who urged soldiers and government-backed Shiite militias to spare civilians. Speaking from Samarra, the other main city in Salaheddin province, Haider al-Abadi appeared to be addressing fears of reprisals against the Tikrit area's mainly Sunni population. Scroll down for video . Attack: Volunteer Shiite fighters, who are supporting the Iraqi government forces in the fight against the Islamic State group fire a howitzer artillery canon in the village of Awaynat near the city of Tikrit . Irregulars: Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite fighters chant slogans as they gather at Udhaim dam, north of Baghdad, ahead of an advance on Islamic State positions Tikrit that is expected to begin today . Feeding the soul: Soldiers and irregulars take a moment to pray as Iraq masses its forces outside the city, which was the birthplace of Saddam Hussein and an important step on the road to the IS-held city of Mosul . Feeding the body: Fighters scoff their rations ahead of the attack. It is feared the mainly Shiite forces of the Iraqi government could attack the area's mainly Sunni population, worsening sectarian divisions . On social media, Mr Abadi called 'for utmost care in protecting civilian lives and property' in the city, which was last year the scene of a brutal massacre of hundreds of mainly Shiite Iraqi army recruits. Government forces have been working their way north in recent months, notching up key victories against IS. But Tikrit, which has resisted them several times, is their toughest target yet. 'Security forces are advancing on three main fronts towards Tikrit, Ad-Dawr (to the south) and Al-Alam (to the north),' a senior army officer on the ground told AFP by telephone. The army officer said the forces involved in the battle were from the army, police, counter-terrorism units, a government-controlled volunteer group known as the Popular Mobilisation units and local Sunni tribes opposed to IS. 'The attack is being carried out using fighter jets, helicopters and artillery targeting Tikrit to secure the advance and cut supply routes,' he said. Military sources said Iraqi warplanes were involved but it was not immediately clear whether foreign air support - Iranian or from the US-led coalition fighting IS - was also called in. According to both Iraqi and Iranian media, Qassem Suleimani - supremo of the elite Iranian Quds force, specialising in 'subversive warfare' - was in Salaheddin province to help coordinate operations. Massing: Iraqi Army and volunteer fighters prepare at Sedull Udeyim region before moving into Tikrit . Good morale: Iraqi forces have notched up key victories against IS as they've inched north in recent weeks . Religion: A soldier walks past a line of armoured cars, one of which has a photo of a cleric in the window . Cavalry: Iraqi armoured personnel carriers are lined up ahead of the attack on Tikrit today . Tikrit would be the biggest victory yet for Iraqi forces battling Islamic State, but the attack by thousands of Shiite irregulars could severely test the government's ability to handle sectarian divisions. Iraq is bitterly split between minority Sunnis, who were an important base of support for Saddam Hussein, despite his regime's nominal secularism, and the Shiite majority. Since the Islamic State insurgency began, the Iraqi military is heavily dependent on Shiite militias that have been accused of abusing Sunni communities elsewhere in Iraq. 'The priority we gave to the armed forces and all the forces taking part alongside them is to preserve the security of citizens,' Mr Abadi said last night. Hadi al-Ameri, the Popular Mobilisation commander, appealed to Tikrit residents on Saturday to leave their homes within 48 hours so government forces could 'wrap up the battle of the revenge for Speicher.' Speicher is a military base near Tikrit from which hundreds of new, mostly Shiite, recruits were kidnapped before being executed last summer, as the Islamic State insurgency took control of much of Iraq's Sunni Arab heartland. Shiite militias in particular have vowed to avenge the Speicher executions, sparking fears of mass killings against Sunnis if Tikrit were to be recaptured. Mr Abadi appealed to residents to turn against the jihadists, who have suffered a string of military losses since a U.S.-led coalition of Western and Arab nations stepped up their support for Iraq's embattled government. 'I call on all those who were misled and made mistakes in the past to lay down their arms today. This may be the last chance,' Mr Abadi said, suggesting some could be granted amnesty. Iraqi forces tried and failed several times to wrest back Tikrit, a Sunni Arab city on the Tigris river around 100 miles north of Baghdad. Ready: A wide view shows Iraqi soldiers and Shiite irregulars massing at the Udhaim dam. Tikrit would be the biggest victory yet for Iraqi forces battling Islamic State . Taking a moment: An Iraqi soldier rests on a wall at the Udhaim dam. An army officer said the forces involved in the battle were from the army, police, counter-terrorism units, volunteer units and local tribes . Armed: Troops wander the streets around Udhaim dam while they wait for the order to attack. The arrival of many thousands of Shiite fighters in the mainly Sunni city of Tikrit risks inflaming sectarian divisions . Last phone call? A soldier chats on his mobile phone as columns of vehicles move past on their way to attack . The military commander for Salaheddin province, Abdel Wahab Saadi, said Tikrit had both symbolic and strategic importance. 'The aim of course is to liberate Salaheddin to allow for the return of displaced families but it is also going to be a stepping stone on the way to liberating Mosul,' he told AFP. Tikrit is the hometown of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, the remnants of whose Baath party have collaborated with IS in attempting to topple the Shiite-dominated government. IS declared a 'caliphate' last June straddling Iraq and Syria, where the US-led coalition has also been conducting air strikes but not coordinating with any significant ground force. [/INST] Artillery and warplanes began pounding Tikrit this morning ahead of attack .
The city north of Baghdad is a stronghold of the Islamic State insurgency .
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi calls on troops to spare civilians .
Tikrit was the scene of a massacre of mainly Shiite army recruits last year . </s> |
Photographs of rainbow lorikeets who usually feed on seeds eating meat has puzzled bird experts. A series of pictures snapped at a Elimbah home - north of Brisbane - owned by a man only known as Bill shows the Australian icons feasting on mince, the ABC reported. Griffith University's Darryl Jones has been studying bird for about 20 years, taking a particular interest in bird feeding, and says he has never seen a phenomena like this before. This photo of lorikeets eating mince meat was snapped in Elimbah - north of Brisbane in Queensland . 'I've not ever heard of lorikeets, who are seed eating birds, eat meats,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'What on earth are lorikeets eating meats for? 'It's not unusual for animals to eat bad food, humans do that every single day - we eat fat and sugars. 'I can't imagine it could be good for them. I don't recommend people feeding them meat.' Professor Jones shed some light on why he thought lorikeets had taken a carnivorous turn. He said they must have acquired a taste for proteins when people put out food for other birds. Griffith University Professor Darryl Jones has expressed shock at seeing these seed-eating birds chow down on meat . 'Although you really shouldn't feed birds, there are a huge number of people who do anyway,' Prof Jones told Daily Mail Australia. 'Magpies, butcher birds and kookaburras are meat eating birds and people put out chopped up sausage and ham for them.' Since expressing his views on the photos, Prof Jones said he had been inundated by emails from people claiming it was more common than he had thought. Lorikeets are normally birds that favour a diet of seeds. Prof Jones does not recommend feeding them meat . 'I've had 188 emails coming in, saying it happens... so it's not as rare as what I was thinking,' he said. Wildlife carer Fran Sanders - who has been taking in animals for 25 years in Brisbane - told the ABC she had also never seen this kind of behaviour from lorikeets. 'I'm absolutely amazed and horrified,' she said. 'I've never heard any of them [people she had helped] talk about lorikeets coming down and eating mince.' | Pictures show rainbow lorikeets eating meat near Brisbane, Queensland .
Lorikeets are normally seed-eating birds and this has surprised experts .
Griffith University's Darryl Jones said he did not think it was good for them .
They might have acquired taste for it after seeing meat-eating birds feeding . | 282ac63e3cbbf71caf91d1a4f62a67e16d03fd98 | <s>[INST] Photographs of rainbow lorikeets who usually feed on seeds eating meat has puzzled bird experts. A series of pictures snapped at a Elimbah home - north of Brisbane - owned by a man only known as Bill shows the Australian icons feasting on mince, the ABC reported. Griffith University's Darryl Jones has been studying bird for about 20 years, taking a particular interest in bird feeding, and says he has never seen a phenomena like this before. This photo of lorikeets eating mince meat was snapped in Elimbah - north of Brisbane in Queensland . 'I've not ever heard of lorikeets, who are seed eating birds, eat meats,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'What on earth are lorikeets eating meats for? 'It's not unusual for animals to eat bad food, humans do that every single day - we eat fat and sugars. 'I can't imagine it could be good for them. I don't recommend people feeding them meat.' Professor Jones shed some light on why he thought lorikeets had taken a carnivorous turn. He said they must have acquired a taste for proteins when people put out food for other birds. Griffith University Professor Darryl Jones has expressed shock at seeing these seed-eating birds chow down on meat . 'Although you really shouldn't feed birds, there are a huge number of people who do anyway,' Prof Jones told Daily Mail Australia. 'Magpies, butcher birds and kookaburras are meat eating birds and people put out chopped up sausage and ham for them.' Since expressing his views on the photos, Prof Jones said he had been inundated by emails from people claiming it was more common than he had thought. Lorikeets are normally birds that favour a diet of seeds. Prof Jones does not recommend feeding them meat . 'I've had 188 emails coming in, saying it happens... so it's not as rare as what I was thinking,' he said. Wildlife carer Fran Sanders - who has been taking in animals for 25 years in Brisbane - told the ABC she had also never seen this kind of behaviour from lorikeets. 'I'm absolutely amazed and horrified,' she said. 'I've never heard any of them [people she had helped] talk about lorikeets coming down and eating mince.' [/INST] Pictures show rainbow lorikeets eating meat near Brisbane, Queensland .
Lorikeets are normally seed-eating birds and this has surprised experts .
Griffith University's Darryl Jones said he did not think it was good for them .
They might have acquired taste for it after seeing meat-eating birds feeding . </s> |
A dog who had his leg brutally cut off and was left for dead in a canal basin has made a remarkable recovery thanks to a dedicated team of vets. A video released by the Hope for Paws shelter in Los Angeles - which has been watched more than one million times - tells the heartbreaking story of Jordan the pooch and his astounding turnaround. In the opening scene, the battered and bruised creature seen whimpering in pain but after weeks of rehab he can be seen running around in the sun carefree. Jordan was found by rescue workers on February 1 at the bottom of a 30ft-deep dried up waterway. Scroll down for video . Caught on camera: Jordan was found by rescue workers on February 1 at the bottom of a 30ft-deep river . Sailing by: To keep dry, he appeared to be using a chip packet as a makeshift raft . He had a bloody stump where his leg was missing and he was he was suffering from mange, dehydration and malnutrition . To keep dry, he appeared to be using a chip packet as a makeshift raft. Witnesses said that they'd seen a homeless person abusing the canine, before tossing him in to the tributary. Jordan was craned out of the Los Angeles River and taken to the Veterinary Care Center in Hollywood in a critical condition. Poor state: He had a bloody stump where his leg was missing and he was suffering from mange, dehydration and malnutrition . Ruff start in life: Witnesses said that they'd seen a homeless person abusing the canine, before tossing him in to the 30ft-deep tributary . Gaining strength: Footage was taken to help document his gradual recovery . In safe hands: During the rehabilitation process Jordan was thoroughly bathed and given a blood transfusion - His nub was also stitched up to prevent it from becoming infected . The doctor who inspected him said it was a 'miracle' he was still alive. Footage was taken to help document his gradual recovery. During the rehabilitation process Jordan was thoroughly bathed and given a blood transfusion. His nub was also stitched up to prevent it from becoming infected. Finally, when he was given the all-clear, Jordan was allowed to go to home with his new adoptive owner, Lisa Chiarelli. Bright future ahead: Finally, when he was given the all-clear, Jordan was allowed to go to home with his new adoptive owner, Lisa Chiarelli . Paws off: He looks like a completely different dog today with a glossy coat and bright eyes . Inspirational: 'Though Jordan lost his leg, he never lost hope,' the video says . Running free: Many viewers have deemed Jordan's story 'inspirational' and 'amazing' He was filmed at home running with his other dog friends. At one point, video shows him taking a plunge into the swimming pool and in another scene he cheekily tries to take a bite of Chiarelli's burger. 'Though Jordan lost his leg, he never lost hope,' the video says. Many viewers have deemed Jordan's story 'inspirational' and 'amazing'. Hope for Paws shelter shared details of the animal's plight in a bid to prevent future incidents of cruelty. | A video released by the Hope for Paws shelter in Los Angeles tells the heartbreaking story of Jordan the pooch and his astounding turnaround .
The pup was found on February 1 at the bottom of a 30ft-deep river .
He was suffering from mange, dehydration and malnutrition .
But after weeks of rehabilitation his coat was glossy and he was running around carefree . | 80de8f978ffc7fed2aec427487dfb1c5c4ffac1f | <s>[INST] A dog who had his leg brutally cut off and was left for dead in a canal basin has made a remarkable recovery thanks to a dedicated team of vets. A video released by the Hope for Paws shelter in Los Angeles - which has been watched more than one million times - tells the heartbreaking story of Jordan the pooch and his astounding turnaround. In the opening scene, the battered and bruised creature seen whimpering in pain but after weeks of rehab he can be seen running around in the sun carefree. Jordan was found by rescue workers on February 1 at the bottom of a 30ft-deep dried up waterway. Scroll down for video . Caught on camera: Jordan was found by rescue workers on February 1 at the bottom of a 30ft-deep river . Sailing by: To keep dry, he appeared to be using a chip packet as a makeshift raft . He had a bloody stump where his leg was missing and he was he was suffering from mange, dehydration and malnutrition . To keep dry, he appeared to be using a chip packet as a makeshift raft. Witnesses said that they'd seen a homeless person abusing the canine, before tossing him in to the tributary. Jordan was craned out of the Los Angeles River and taken to the Veterinary Care Center in Hollywood in a critical condition. Poor state: He had a bloody stump where his leg was missing and he was suffering from mange, dehydration and malnutrition . Ruff start in life: Witnesses said that they'd seen a homeless person abusing the canine, before tossing him in to the 30ft-deep tributary . Gaining strength: Footage was taken to help document his gradual recovery . In safe hands: During the rehabilitation process Jordan was thoroughly bathed and given a blood transfusion - His nub was also stitched up to prevent it from becoming infected . The doctor who inspected him said it was a 'miracle' he was still alive. Footage was taken to help document his gradual recovery. During the rehabilitation process Jordan was thoroughly bathed and given a blood transfusion. His nub was also stitched up to prevent it from becoming infected. Finally, when he was given the all-clear, Jordan was allowed to go to home with his new adoptive owner, Lisa Chiarelli. Bright future ahead: Finally, when he was given the all-clear, Jordan was allowed to go to home with his new adoptive owner, Lisa Chiarelli . Paws off: He looks like a completely different dog today with a glossy coat and bright eyes . Inspirational: 'Though Jordan lost his leg, he never lost hope,' the video says . Running free: Many viewers have deemed Jordan's story 'inspirational' and 'amazing' He was filmed at home running with his other dog friends. At one point, video shows him taking a plunge into the swimming pool and in another scene he cheekily tries to take a bite of Chiarelli's burger. 'Though Jordan lost his leg, he never lost hope,' the video says. Many viewers have deemed Jordan's story 'inspirational' and 'amazing'. Hope for Paws shelter shared details of the animal's plight in a bid to prevent future incidents of cruelty. [/INST] A video released by the Hope for Paws shelter in Los Angeles tells the heartbreaking story of Jordan the pooch and his astounding turnaround .
The pup was found on February 1 at the bottom of a 30ft-deep river .
He was suffering from mange, dehydration and malnutrition .
But after weeks of rehabilitation his coat was glossy and he was running around carefree . </s> |
Heart disease kills one in every six men and one in every 10 women in the UK . Don’t put it off because you can’t see it. Take a moment to consider your heart - the most precious of muscles. Cardiovascular diseases killed 17.5 million people in 2012 - that's 30 per cent of all deaths. That’s enough to send your heart rate rocketing to a dangerous level – but the good news is there's a lot you can do to keep healthy. When it comes to keeping your heart in tip-top condition, there are some factors such as genetics that you can’t change. If you have a family history of heart disease, then you are at increased risk yourself. However, there is plenty you can do to decrease your risk whether you have a family tendency or not. Here are some simple changes you can start making today to reduce your risk of heart problems in the future... DITCH THE FAT-FREE DIET . You have probably been advised to cut out saturated fats and replace butter with unsaturated fat spreads. This is because a diet high in saturated fats is thought to be one factor that leads to high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood... which in turn may cause narrowing of the arteries and heart attacks. However, there is now some controversy as to whether these dietary changes make much difference to your risk of heart disease. A recent overview of multiple studies found no evidence that restricting saturated fat and increasing polyunsaturated fat consumption lowered the risk of developing heart disease. The jury is still out on this one, and it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to eat high fat doughnuts, pastries, chips and other sources of processed, saturated fat. However, butter, cheese and cream in small quantities may not be the complete villains they were thought to be. Much-maligned butter may not be the dietary villain we once thought, says Dr Sally Norton . KNOW YOUR WAIST-TO-HIP RATIO . The association between heart disease and being overweight is extremely strong. Not least because obesity puts you at risk of type 2 diabetes which, in itself, increases the risk of heart disease and multiple other conditions. If you carry more weight around your waist than your hips you are even more at risk. To calculate your waist to hip ratio, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. A high ratio (over 0.85 for women or one for men) means increased risk of health problems such as heart attacks, high blood pressure or diabetes… even if you aren’t that overweight. Dr Sally Norton reveals her top tips to help people keep their hearts healthy. She notes the association between heart disease and being overweight is 'extremely strong', urging people to watch their waistlines . REALISE IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET ACTIVE . Don’t despair if you are a couch potato – it’s never too late to start. As well as helping with that weight loss, a recent study showed that you could get the same heart health benefits if starting exercise such as running or cycling after 40, as you would have done if you had started before the age of 30. There are numerous other benefits from exercise too…what are you waiting for? Say bye bye to the bacon and processed meat, to boost your heart health, Dr Norton advisesBUT . BUT SAY BYE-BYE TO BACON... Reducing the amount of red meat is recommended as studies have shown that eating a large amount can increase heart failure by up to 24 per cent. However, recent evidence suggests that this is linked more to red meat that is processed (we’re talking ham, salami, sausages, bacon etc) – with no definite association shown with the consumption of unprocessed red meat. The researchers calculated that for each 50g of processed meat eaten per day (about one or two extra slices of ham) the risk of heart failure increased by eight per cent and the risk of death by 38 per cent. These results require confirmation with further studies but as processing can increase the risk of stomach disease too, it seems sensible to limit processed red meat wherever possible. ...AND CUT BACK ON SALT . The British Heart Foundation is clear that too much salt can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease later in life. Adults should have less than 6 grams (1 teaspoon) a day. Cutting back on salt doesn’t just mean keeping your hands away from the salt cellar when you are eating…there is also a lot of hidden salt in processed food. Check the labels and cook from scratch wherever possible – then you are in control. SAY NO TO SUGAR . A large population study in the US showed that people who consumed more than 25 per cent of their daily calories from added sugar had almost three times the risk of dying from heart disease. That was compared with those people who consumed less than 10 per cent of their calories each day through sugar, independent of other risk factors including weight. More and more evidence suggests that too much sugar is contributing to the obesity and diabetes epidemic too, and as it offers no nutrients whatsoever. It is time to cut back. Gradually reduce the sugar you add to your food or drinks, avoid fizzy drinks and look carefully at labels – you will be amazed at how much sugar is added to all sorts of food, both sweet and savoury. A large study in the US revealed people who consumed more than 25 per cent of their daily calories from added sugar had almost three times the risk of dying from heart disease . STRESS LESS . While you should be aware of keeping your heart healthy, don’t let it stress you out - as stress doesn’t help your heart either. The stress hormone ‘cortisol’ can increase unhealthy fat around the middle, raising your risk of heart problems, as well as leading to cravings for high fat and sugar foods, which only make things worse. BIN THE FAGS . The obvious one is to stop smoking. Smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers as shown in a study of one million UK women published last year. If you can stop smoking before you are 40, you are 10 times less likely to have health problems than if you continue. As well as benefiting your heart, you will see rapid improvements in your breathing, mood and reduce your risk of stroke, diabetes, cancer, circulation problems and numerous other problems. So, for a healthy and happy heart, start making a few small changes today – your heart will love you forever. Dr Sally Norton is the founder of www.vavista.com . | Heart disease is the biggest killer globally, causing 30% of all deaths .
But there are simple steps that can reduce your risk, says Dr Sally Norton .
Cut out sugar, cut back on salt and avoid bacon and processed meat .
It's also never too late to get active - or quit smoking, she says . | 7151fefe4711ef49db8fbbc46d931cd65f1d0184 | <s>[INST] Heart disease kills one in every six men and one in every 10 women in the UK . Don’t put it off because you can’t see it. Take a moment to consider your heart - the most precious of muscles. Cardiovascular diseases killed 17.5 million people in 2012 - that's 30 per cent of all deaths. That’s enough to send your heart rate rocketing to a dangerous level – but the good news is there's a lot you can do to keep healthy. When it comes to keeping your heart in tip-top condition, there are some factors such as genetics that you can’t change. If you have a family history of heart disease, then you are at increased risk yourself. However, there is plenty you can do to decrease your risk whether you have a family tendency or not. Here are some simple changes you can start making today to reduce your risk of heart problems in the future... DITCH THE FAT-FREE DIET . You have probably been advised to cut out saturated fats and replace butter with unsaturated fat spreads. This is because a diet high in saturated fats is thought to be one factor that leads to high levels of bad cholesterol in the blood... which in turn may cause narrowing of the arteries and heart attacks. However, there is now some controversy as to whether these dietary changes make much difference to your risk of heart disease. A recent overview of multiple studies found no evidence that restricting saturated fat and increasing polyunsaturated fat consumption lowered the risk of developing heart disease. The jury is still out on this one, and it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to eat high fat doughnuts, pastries, chips and other sources of processed, saturated fat. However, butter, cheese and cream in small quantities may not be the complete villains they were thought to be. Much-maligned butter may not be the dietary villain we once thought, says Dr Sally Norton . KNOW YOUR WAIST-TO-HIP RATIO . The association between heart disease and being overweight is extremely strong. Not least because obesity puts you at risk of type 2 diabetes which, in itself, increases the risk of heart disease and multiple other conditions. If you carry more weight around your waist than your hips you are even more at risk. To calculate your waist to hip ratio, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. A high ratio (over 0.85 for women or one for men) means increased risk of health problems such as heart attacks, high blood pressure or diabetes… even if you aren’t that overweight. Dr Sally Norton reveals her top tips to help people keep their hearts healthy. She notes the association between heart disease and being overweight is 'extremely strong', urging people to watch their waistlines . REALISE IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO GET ACTIVE . Don’t despair if you are a couch potato – it’s never too late to start. As well as helping with that weight loss, a recent study showed that you could get the same heart health benefits if starting exercise such as running or cycling after 40, as you would have done if you had started before the age of 30. There are numerous other benefits from exercise too…what are you waiting for? Say bye bye to the bacon and processed meat, to boost your heart health, Dr Norton advisesBUT . BUT SAY BYE-BYE TO BACON... Reducing the amount of red meat is recommended as studies have shown that eating a large amount can increase heart failure by up to 24 per cent. However, recent evidence suggests that this is linked more to red meat that is processed (we’re talking ham, salami, sausages, bacon etc) – with no definite association shown with the consumption of unprocessed red meat. The researchers calculated that for each 50g of processed meat eaten per day (about one or two extra slices of ham) the risk of heart failure increased by eight per cent and the risk of death by 38 per cent. These results require confirmation with further studies but as processing can increase the risk of stomach disease too, it seems sensible to limit processed red meat wherever possible. ...AND CUT BACK ON SALT . The British Heart Foundation is clear that too much salt can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease later in life. Adults should have less than 6 grams (1 teaspoon) a day. Cutting back on salt doesn’t just mean keeping your hands away from the salt cellar when you are eating…there is also a lot of hidden salt in processed food. Check the labels and cook from scratch wherever possible – then you are in control. SAY NO TO SUGAR . A large population study in the US showed that people who consumed more than 25 per cent of their daily calories from added sugar had almost three times the risk of dying from heart disease. That was compared with those people who consumed less than 10 per cent of their calories each day through sugar, independent of other risk factors including weight. More and more evidence suggests that too much sugar is contributing to the obesity and diabetes epidemic too, and as it offers no nutrients whatsoever. It is time to cut back. Gradually reduce the sugar you add to your food or drinks, avoid fizzy drinks and look carefully at labels – you will be amazed at how much sugar is added to all sorts of food, both sweet and savoury. A large study in the US revealed people who consumed more than 25 per cent of their daily calories from added sugar had almost three times the risk of dying from heart disease . STRESS LESS . While you should be aware of keeping your heart healthy, don’t let it stress you out - as stress doesn’t help your heart either. The stress hormone ‘cortisol’ can increase unhealthy fat around the middle, raising your risk of heart problems, as well as leading to cravings for high fat and sugar foods, which only make things worse. BIN THE FAGS . The obvious one is to stop smoking. Smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers as shown in a study of one million UK women published last year. If you can stop smoking before you are 40, you are 10 times less likely to have health problems than if you continue. As well as benefiting your heart, you will see rapid improvements in your breathing, mood and reduce your risk of stroke, diabetes, cancer, circulation problems and numerous other problems. So, for a healthy and happy heart, start making a few small changes today – your heart will love you forever. Dr Sally Norton is the founder of www.vavista.com . [/INST] Heart disease is the biggest killer globally, causing 30% of all deaths .
But there are simple steps that can reduce your risk, says Dr Sally Norton .
Cut out sugar, cut back on salt and avoid bacon and processed meat .
It's also never too late to get active - or quit smoking, she says . </s> |
Jewish schools and synagogues will get £10million a year for guards to protect against anti-Semitic attacks, David Cameron announced last night. In a hard-hitting speech to Jewish leaders last night, he promised not turn ‘a blind eye’ both to physical attacks and to ‘non-violent extremism’. The Prime Minister said new money had been found in the Budget to protect the community following the terrorist attacks in Paris and at a synagogue in Denmark. Hard-hitting copy: Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured yesterday) said new money had been found in the Budget to protect the community following the terrorist attacks in Paris and at a synagogue in Denmark . He said he had been ‘sickened beyond belief’ by the attacks in Paris in which journalists were killed at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and more people died at a kosher grocery store. ‘At a time when once again the Jewish communities of Europe feel vulnerable, and when anti-Semitism is at record levels here in Britain, I will not stand by, I will not turn a blind eye’, Mr Cameron said. And he hit out at the ‘poisonous ideology’ of Islamic extremism, which he said involved not just terrorist attacks but ‘incitement’ on the internet and by radical preachers. He said this involved the peddling of ‘the idea that Muslims all over the world are being persecuted as a deliberate act of Western policy… that 9/11 was a Jewish plot or that the 7/7 London attacks were staged.’ Terrorism: Mr Cameron said he had been ‘sickened beyond belief’ by the attacks in Paris in which journalists were killed at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo (above), and more people died at a kosher store . He told the Community Security Trust, a Jewish charity which protects the community against anti-Semitism, that their 3,000 volunteers represent the ‘best of Britain’. Currently around £2billion a year is provided in security to Jewish state schools. But the Prime Minister said he had been asked what would happen if there was a terrorist attack at a private school. ‘How would we feel if we know we could have done more?’, he said. ‘That’s not a thought I am prepared to entertain’. He announced £7million a year of new money to fund guards for all Jewish private schools and colleges across the country. Terror attacks: Mr Cameron said 'incitement' on the internet and by radical preachers involved the peddling of the idea 'that 9/11 (left) was a Jewish plot or that the 7/7 London attacks (right) were staged' He added that MPs from all parties had highlighted the threat to synagogues and community buildings, which would get £3million. ‘That’s over £10million of new money for security – this year and every year – for as long as necessary’, Mr Cameron said. There will also be a one-off £1.5million payment to the Trust to fund state of the art CCTV cameras. Mr Cameron said the Jewish community feels ‘safe to live and flourish’ in Britain, at a time when thousands of Jews are fleeing France every year to live in Israel. He added: ‘For as long as I am Prime Minister, you will never be alone. When people talk of trying to boycott Israel, you will never be alone. With me you will always have a British Prime Minister whose belief in Israel is unbreakable.’ | PM says new money found in Budget will protect Jewish community .
Cameron admits he's been 'sickened beyond belief' by attacks in Paris .
Hits out at 'poisonous ideology' of Islamic extremism and 'incitement' | a97c55336483bfce4d803b04c15a2d37566a19d9 | <s>[INST] Jewish schools and synagogues will get £10million a year for guards to protect against anti-Semitic attacks, David Cameron announced last night. In a hard-hitting speech to Jewish leaders last night, he promised not turn ‘a blind eye’ both to physical attacks and to ‘non-violent extremism’. The Prime Minister said new money had been found in the Budget to protect the community following the terrorist attacks in Paris and at a synagogue in Denmark. Hard-hitting copy: Prime Minister David Cameron (pictured yesterday) said new money had been found in the Budget to protect the community following the terrorist attacks in Paris and at a synagogue in Denmark . He said he had been ‘sickened beyond belief’ by the attacks in Paris in which journalists were killed at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, and more people died at a kosher grocery store. ‘At a time when once again the Jewish communities of Europe feel vulnerable, and when anti-Semitism is at record levels here in Britain, I will not stand by, I will not turn a blind eye’, Mr Cameron said. And he hit out at the ‘poisonous ideology’ of Islamic extremism, which he said involved not just terrorist attacks but ‘incitement’ on the internet and by radical preachers. He said this involved the peddling of ‘the idea that Muslims all over the world are being persecuted as a deliberate act of Western policy… that 9/11 was a Jewish plot or that the 7/7 London attacks were staged.’ Terrorism: Mr Cameron said he had been ‘sickened beyond belief’ by the attacks in Paris in which journalists were killed at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo (above), and more people died at a kosher store . He told the Community Security Trust, a Jewish charity which protects the community against anti-Semitism, that their 3,000 volunteers represent the ‘best of Britain’. Currently around £2billion a year is provided in security to Jewish state schools. But the Prime Minister said he had been asked what would happen if there was a terrorist attack at a private school. ‘How would we feel if we know we could have done more?’, he said. ‘That’s not a thought I am prepared to entertain’. He announced £7million a year of new money to fund guards for all Jewish private schools and colleges across the country. Terror attacks: Mr Cameron said 'incitement' on the internet and by radical preachers involved the peddling of the idea 'that 9/11 (left) was a Jewish plot or that the 7/7 London attacks (right) were staged' He added that MPs from all parties had highlighted the threat to synagogues and community buildings, which would get £3million. ‘That’s over £10million of new money for security – this year and every year – for as long as necessary’, Mr Cameron said. There will also be a one-off £1.5million payment to the Trust to fund state of the art CCTV cameras. Mr Cameron said the Jewish community feels ‘safe to live and flourish’ in Britain, at a time when thousands of Jews are fleeing France every year to live in Israel. He added: ‘For as long as I am Prime Minister, you will never be alone. When people talk of trying to boycott Israel, you will never be alone. With me you will always have a British Prime Minister whose belief in Israel is unbreakable.’ [/INST] PM says new money found in Budget will protect Jewish community .
Cameron admits he's been 'sickened beyond belief' by attacks in Paris .
Hits out at 'poisonous ideology' of Islamic extremism and 'incitement' </s> |
A pet owner has been slammed by animal lovers after she was filmed dragging her cat on a lead. The woman was filmed as she pulled the black-and-white cat down a street in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, last Sunday. Lilly Dance captured the moment on her mobile phone and uploaded the five-second clip to Facebook. She said it has since received hundreds of comments from outraged viewers. Scroll down for video . The woman was filmed as she pulled the at down a street in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, last Sunday . Lilly Allen, who captured the moment (pictured) on her phone, said she initially thought it was 'quite amusing' to see a cat being walked on a lead but tried to intervene when she realised the animal was 'being dragged' An expert from the RSPCA said the charity had 'concerns' about the handling of the cat and that the video shows the animal in a state of 'distress'. Miss Dance said she initially thought it was 'quite amusing' to see a cat being walked on a lead but tried to intervene when she realised the animal was 'being dragged'. The 26-year-old said the owner ignored her and continued pulling the animal 'for a good five minutes' before picking up the cat. She said: 'She caught me filming her but then she dragged the cat down the road anyway. 'I said to her that she might want to pick the cat up but she ignored me and kept going. 'It was only a little black and white kitten. At first I thought it was funny but the more I look at it I just think she was horrible.' The woman noticed she was being filmed but continued to drag the cat behind her, Miss Dance said . Alice Potter, a companion animal scientist from the RSPCA, said the five-second video shows the animal was distressed. She said: 'We have concerns about the handling of the cat in this footage as it appears to be causing it distress. 'The cat does look like it's kind of being dragged and looks distressed, putting its front paws out like it wants to stop. 'Without seeing more it's hard to know how comfortable the cat is walking on a lead but it gives the impression that the cat was not particularly comfortable or relaxed.' She added that putting cats on leads took away their 'sense of control' and that harnesses should be introduced gradually from a young age if owners want to put them on a lead. | Woman was filmed pulling black-and-white cat down Hertfordshire street .
Clip was posted to Facebook and received hundreds of angry comments .
Expert from RSPCA said charity had 'concerns' about handling of the cat . | 0f5d4044fbbc8c3b028d369a0ec582c4f5162e1a | <s>[INST] A pet owner has been slammed by animal lovers after she was filmed dragging her cat on a lead. The woman was filmed as she pulled the black-and-white cat down a street in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, last Sunday. Lilly Dance captured the moment on her mobile phone and uploaded the five-second clip to Facebook. She said it has since received hundreds of comments from outraged viewers. Scroll down for video . The woman was filmed as she pulled the at down a street in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, last Sunday . Lilly Allen, who captured the moment (pictured) on her phone, said she initially thought it was 'quite amusing' to see a cat being walked on a lead but tried to intervene when she realised the animal was 'being dragged' An expert from the RSPCA said the charity had 'concerns' about the handling of the cat and that the video shows the animal in a state of 'distress'. Miss Dance said she initially thought it was 'quite amusing' to see a cat being walked on a lead but tried to intervene when she realised the animal was 'being dragged'. The 26-year-old said the owner ignored her and continued pulling the animal 'for a good five minutes' before picking up the cat. She said: 'She caught me filming her but then she dragged the cat down the road anyway. 'I said to her that she might want to pick the cat up but she ignored me and kept going. 'It was only a little black and white kitten. At first I thought it was funny but the more I look at it I just think she was horrible.' The woman noticed she was being filmed but continued to drag the cat behind her, Miss Dance said . Alice Potter, a companion animal scientist from the RSPCA, said the five-second video shows the animal was distressed. She said: 'We have concerns about the handling of the cat in this footage as it appears to be causing it distress. 'The cat does look like it's kind of being dragged and looks distressed, putting its front paws out like it wants to stop. 'Without seeing more it's hard to know how comfortable the cat is walking on a lead but it gives the impression that the cat was not particularly comfortable or relaxed.' She added that putting cats on leads took away their 'sense of control' and that harnesses should be introduced gradually from a young age if owners want to put them on a lead. [/INST] Woman was filmed pulling black-and-white cat down Hertfordshire street .
Clip was posted to Facebook and received hundreds of angry comments .
Expert from RSPCA said charity had 'concerns' about handling of the cat . </s> |
A mountain lion that wandered near a southern California shopping center died after being tranquilized by a game warden, officials say. The three-year-old, about 125-pound mountain lion was seen outside of the Macy's at the Promenade Mall in Temecula at about 6am, NBC reports. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A game warden shot the male mountain lion with a tranquilizer dart and moved it to the bed of a pickup truck to be transported to another location for public safety, The Los Angeles Times reports. The lion died while it was being transported. Mountain Lion: A mountain lion (photographed) that wandered near a southern California shopping center died after being tranquilized by a game warden . Truck: A game warden shot the male mountain lion with a tranquilizer dart and moved it to the bed of a pickup truck to be transported to another location for public safety . Lt. Patrick Foy, a fish and game spokesman, told the Times that it is currently unknown the exact cause of the mountain lion's death, but a combination of stress and the drugs may have been a contributing factor. 'What I've learned is that when no one's around and the lion or deer is stuck, you dart them and everything goes fine,' Foy said. 'When you're in the middle of a parking lot and there are lots of people around, and there are police lights, the animal is very stressed, and that's when these sorts of things happen.' The state's fish and wildlife department is investigating if the mountain lion had pre-existing health issues, according to NBC. Stress: Lt. Patrick Foy, a fish and game spokesman, said that it is currently unknown the exact cause of the mountain lion's death, but a combination of stress and the drugs may have been a contributing factor . Rare: spokesman with the department said that it is rare for an animal to die after being darted, and when one does, it is usually due to the dart damaging a sensitive area like the spine . A necropsy will be performed on the mountain lion. A spokesman with the department said that it is rare for an animal to die after being struck with a tranquilizer, and when one does, it is usually due to the dart damaging a sensitive area like the spine. 'They tried to do the right thing,' Foy told NBC. 'They have the training and equipment to do the right thing... and it doesn't always work out.' A witness told KTLA that the animal was underneath a trailer for about 45 minutes before authorities arrived. The mall wasn't open, and only a few store employees were around in the early hours. But the mountain lion was reportedly first spotted near a freeway. The animal was not aggressive, the LAT Times reports. Officials say the animal could have made his way to the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat. Habitat: Officials say the animal could have made his way to the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat . | A mountain lion that wandered near a southern California shopping center died after being tranquilized by a game warden .
The animal's cause of death is unknown but officials say the drugs and stress may have contributed to the cat's death .
Officials say the mountain lion may have wandered into the urban area seeking a suitable habitat . | 9fdde00e8dbe524e744b20ef897eb56ef231f504 | <s>[INST] A mountain lion that wandered near a southern California shopping center died after being tranquilized by a game warden, officials say. The three-year-old, about 125-pound mountain lion was seen outside of the Macy's at the Promenade Mall in Temecula at about 6am, NBC reports. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department contacted the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. A game warden shot the male mountain lion with a tranquilizer dart and moved it to the bed of a pickup truck to be transported to another location for public safety, The Los Angeles Times reports. The lion died while it was being transported. Mountain Lion: A mountain lion (photographed) that wandered near a southern California shopping center died after being tranquilized by a game warden . Truck: A game warden shot the male mountain lion with a tranquilizer dart and moved it to the bed of a pickup truck to be transported to another location for public safety . Lt. Patrick Foy, a fish and game spokesman, told the Times that it is currently unknown the exact cause of the mountain lion's death, but a combination of stress and the drugs may have been a contributing factor. 'What I've learned is that when no one's around and the lion or deer is stuck, you dart them and everything goes fine,' Foy said. 'When you're in the middle of a parking lot and there are lots of people around, and there are police lights, the animal is very stressed, and that's when these sorts of things happen.' The state's fish and wildlife department is investigating if the mountain lion had pre-existing health issues, according to NBC. Stress: Lt. Patrick Foy, a fish and game spokesman, said that it is currently unknown the exact cause of the mountain lion's death, but a combination of stress and the drugs may have been a contributing factor . Rare: spokesman with the department said that it is rare for an animal to die after being darted, and when one does, it is usually due to the dart damaging a sensitive area like the spine . A necropsy will be performed on the mountain lion. A spokesman with the department said that it is rare for an animal to die after being struck with a tranquilizer, and when one does, it is usually due to the dart damaging a sensitive area like the spine. 'They tried to do the right thing,' Foy told NBC. 'They have the training and equipment to do the right thing... and it doesn't always work out.' A witness told KTLA that the animal was underneath a trailer for about 45 minutes before authorities arrived. The mall wasn't open, and only a few store employees were around in the early hours. But the mountain lion was reportedly first spotted near a freeway. The animal was not aggressive, the LAT Times reports. Officials say the animal could have made his way to the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat. Habitat: Officials say the animal could have made his way to the mall area for a number of reasons including simply looking for a suitable habitat . [/INST] A mountain lion that wandered near a southern California shopping center died after being tranquilized by a game warden .
The animal's cause of death is unknown but officials say the drugs and stress may have contributed to the cat's death .
Officials say the mountain lion may have wandered into the urban area seeking a suitable habitat . </s> |
An Islamic extremist has been arrested after an American blogger was hacked to death with a machete in the middle of the street. Avijit Roy was on his way back from a university book fair in Bangladesh when he was targeted on Thursday by at least two men over his opposition to religious extremism. They sliced his head with the long blades before turning on his wife, Rafida Ahmed, and cutting her finger off when she tried to save him. Police in the country's capital Dhaka paraded their suspect, fundamentalist blogger Farabi Shafiur Rahman, before the media after arresting him earlier today. Scroll down for video . Islamic extremist Farabi Shafiur Rahman (centre) has been arrested and paraded before the media after last week's murder of American blogger Avijit Roy. Mr Roy was hacked to death with a machete in the middle of the street on Thursday . Mr Roy with his wife Rafida Ahmed on holiday together at the Grand Canyon. She remains in hospital in a serious condition after she suffered head injuries and lost a finger in the attack . A source in the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said that an elite force had seen correspondence between former physics student Farabi and another person about killing Mr Roy. Mufti Mahmud, a spokesman for the RAB, said: 'On different occasions, he exchanged [Roy’s] location, his identity and his family’s photographs with various people. 'He wrote: "Avijit Roy lives in America. So it’s not possible to kill him at this moment. But when he’ll return to the country, he’ll be murdered."' Police added that Mr Roy's family had been threatened by the extremist, who is known for his Facebook postings against atheist writers, on several occasions on Facebook and Twitter. Farabi posted on Facebook last year: 'It's a holy duty of Bangalee Muslims to kill Avijit.' Major Maksudul Alam, another spokesman, said: 'He is the main suspect. [Roy’s] family told us that he got threats from Farabi several times. Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan added: 'Farabi has admitted that he threatened Avijit but we are not sharing more information with you for the sake of the investigation. We need to ask him more.' Farabi was previously arrested over the murder of another blogger, Ahmed Rajib Haide, in February 2013 but was released on bail. The arrest comes a day after hundreds of mourners gathered around the blogger's coffin near Dhaka University to pay their respects. Ms Ahmed remains in hospital in a serious condition. Shahriar Kabir, a writer, said at the memorial: 'Free thinking in Bangladesh is become a great danger, all the free thinkers are at great risk. The scene immediately following the attack on the couple shows Ms Ahmed covered in blood. An obscure militant group, Ansar Bangla 7, claimed responsibility for the attack it said was in retaliation for his 'crime against Islam' Ms Ahmed lying on a stretcher after the brutal attack. She is still recovering in hospital . A source in the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said the elite force had seen correspondence between Farabi (centre) and another person about killing Mr Roy . A RAB spokesman confirmed that Farabi (centre) is the main suspect and said that Mr Roy's family had been threatened by the extremist on several occasions . Mr Roy's family said Islamist radicals, like Farabi (centre), had threatened him over his blog, 'Mukto-mona,' or 'Freemind,' that highlighted humanist and rationalist ideas and condemned religious extremism . 'We want to know why the government failed to ensure the safety of him, despite knowing that he had been facing threats from the Islamist radicals.' As Mr Roy's father stood by, Kamal Hossain, the architect of Bangladesh's secular constitution, called the killing 'a heinous murder'. 'My question is, why did it take place?' said Mr Hossain. 'Avijit was killed because of his writing. By killing him, the killers have torn apart our constitution.' People also held a demonstration at the spot where he was killed and chanted slogans demanding 'immediate arrest and quick trial of the perpetrator'. The murder of Mr Roy, an atheist who advocated secularism in Bangladesh, came amid a crackdown on the country's Islamist groups after they increased their activities in recent years. A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, Mr Roy came to visit Dhaka, the city of his birth, in the middle of last month and had been due to soon return home. Friends and relatives of Mr Roy sob as mourners come to pay respects to the writer, whose murder came amid a crackdown on Bangladesh's resurgent Islamist groups . Mr Roy's father Ajoy Roy, seated right, is comforted by fellow mourners at his son's funeral earlier today. Hundreds came to see Mr Roy's coffin at Dhaka University and lay flowers before his burial . Mr Roy's family said Islamist radicals had threatened him over his blog, 'Mukto-mona,' or 'Freemind,' that highlighted humanist and rationalist ideas and condemned religious extremism. The naturalised U.S. citizen, who was a bio-engineer as well as a blogger, had been receiving death threats online for years. Mr Roy and his wife have a daughter at university in the US. Ajoy Roy stood alongside his son's coffin as mourners filed past. He reiterated that Islamist militants were responsible for his son's death, but also blamed the government for failing to protect him despite repeated threats on his life. 'I am speechless at this moment of mourning. When the fundamentalists threatened, I informed the Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police,' he said. 'This murder has proved their utter failure.' An obscure militant group, Ansar Bangla 7, claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was in retaliation for his 'crime against Islam'. The extremists also said he was singled out because he is a U.S. citizen - and characterized the vicious killing as 'revenge' for attacks on ISIS in Syria. Orange and red flowers are laid on the coffin of Mr Roy as hundreds gather to pay their respects . Fellow mourners comfort Ajoy Roy as he looks down at his son's coffin at Dhaka University earlier today . A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, Mr Roy came to Dhaka, the city of his birth, in the middle of last month and had been due to soon return home after attending the university book fair . US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called the murder 'a shocking act of violence' that was 'horrific in its brutality and cowardice' Mr Roy, who was also a bio-engineer, had been receiving death threats online for years . Dozens of mourners queue to pay their last respects to Mr Roy at Dhaka University . Police have expressed shock that extremists struck at a university book fair, which was heavily guarded. Witnesses have even said officers and bystanders were there during the murder - but did nothing. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called it 'a shocking act of violence' that was 'horrific in its brutality and cowardice'. Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of free speech campaign group Index on Censorship said: 'Our sympathies are with the family of Avijit Roy. 'Roy was targeted simply for expressing his own beliefs and we are appalled by his death and condemn all such killings.' Mr Roy was a family man and is pictured above with his wife in a photo believed to show their daughter, right, a student at a US college . In 2013, religious extremists targeted several secular bloggers who had demanded capital punishment for Islamist leaders convicted of war crimes during Bangladesh's war for independence. Blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider was killed that year in a similar attack near his home in Dhaka after he led one such protest demanding capital punishment. In 2004, Humayun Azad, a secular writer and professor at Dhaka University, was also attacked by militants while returning home from a Dhaka book fair. He later died in Germany while undergoing treatment. Media group Reporters Without Borders rated Bangladesh 146th among 180 countries in a ranking of press freedom last year. | Farabi Shafiur Rahman previously threatened Avijit Roy's family .
Mr Roy hacked to death on Thursday on way back from a book fair .
Fundamentalist blogger was arrested in Dhaka earlier today .
Elite force saw correspondence from Farabi about killing Mr Roy .
Wrote on Facebook: 'When Roy returns to the country, he’ll be murdered'
Hundreds of mourners gathered yesterday to pay their respects .
Mr Roy's wife still in a serious condition after trying to save her husband . | d2ddc02ec27fda44173d74d1284b9bc561bbe1f0 | <s>[INST] An Islamic extremist has been arrested after an American blogger was hacked to death with a machete in the middle of the street. Avijit Roy was on his way back from a university book fair in Bangladesh when he was targeted on Thursday by at least two men over his opposition to religious extremism. They sliced his head with the long blades before turning on his wife, Rafida Ahmed, and cutting her finger off when she tried to save him. Police in the country's capital Dhaka paraded their suspect, fundamentalist blogger Farabi Shafiur Rahman, before the media after arresting him earlier today. Scroll down for video . Islamic extremist Farabi Shafiur Rahman (centre) has been arrested and paraded before the media after last week's murder of American blogger Avijit Roy. Mr Roy was hacked to death with a machete in the middle of the street on Thursday . Mr Roy with his wife Rafida Ahmed on holiday together at the Grand Canyon. She remains in hospital in a serious condition after she suffered head injuries and lost a finger in the attack . A source in the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said that an elite force had seen correspondence between former physics student Farabi and another person about killing Mr Roy. Mufti Mahmud, a spokesman for the RAB, said: 'On different occasions, he exchanged [Roy’s] location, his identity and his family’s photographs with various people. 'He wrote: "Avijit Roy lives in America. So it’s not possible to kill him at this moment. But when he’ll return to the country, he’ll be murdered."' Police added that Mr Roy's family had been threatened by the extremist, who is known for his Facebook postings against atheist writers, on several occasions on Facebook and Twitter. Farabi posted on Facebook last year: 'It's a holy duty of Bangalee Muslims to kill Avijit.' Major Maksudul Alam, another spokesman, said: 'He is the main suspect. [Roy’s] family told us that he got threats from Farabi several times. Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan added: 'Farabi has admitted that he threatened Avijit but we are not sharing more information with you for the sake of the investigation. We need to ask him more.' Farabi was previously arrested over the murder of another blogger, Ahmed Rajib Haide, in February 2013 but was released on bail. The arrest comes a day after hundreds of mourners gathered around the blogger's coffin near Dhaka University to pay their respects. Ms Ahmed remains in hospital in a serious condition. Shahriar Kabir, a writer, said at the memorial: 'Free thinking in Bangladesh is become a great danger, all the free thinkers are at great risk. The scene immediately following the attack on the couple shows Ms Ahmed covered in blood. An obscure militant group, Ansar Bangla 7, claimed responsibility for the attack it said was in retaliation for his 'crime against Islam' Ms Ahmed lying on a stretcher after the brutal attack. She is still recovering in hospital . A source in the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said the elite force had seen correspondence between Farabi (centre) and another person about killing Mr Roy . A RAB spokesman confirmed that Farabi (centre) is the main suspect and said that Mr Roy's family had been threatened by the extremist on several occasions . Mr Roy's family said Islamist radicals, like Farabi (centre), had threatened him over his blog, 'Mukto-mona,' or 'Freemind,' that highlighted humanist and rationalist ideas and condemned religious extremism . 'We want to know why the government failed to ensure the safety of him, despite knowing that he had been facing threats from the Islamist radicals.' As Mr Roy's father stood by, Kamal Hossain, the architect of Bangladesh's secular constitution, called the killing 'a heinous murder'. 'My question is, why did it take place?' said Mr Hossain. 'Avijit was killed because of his writing. By killing him, the killers have torn apart our constitution.' People also held a demonstration at the spot where he was killed and chanted slogans demanding 'immediate arrest and quick trial of the perpetrator'. The murder of Mr Roy, an atheist who advocated secularism in Bangladesh, came amid a crackdown on the country's Islamist groups after they increased their activities in recent years. A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, Mr Roy came to visit Dhaka, the city of his birth, in the middle of last month and had been due to soon return home. Friends and relatives of Mr Roy sob as mourners come to pay respects to the writer, whose murder came amid a crackdown on Bangladesh's resurgent Islamist groups . Mr Roy's father Ajoy Roy, seated right, is comforted by fellow mourners at his son's funeral earlier today. Hundreds came to see Mr Roy's coffin at Dhaka University and lay flowers before his burial . Mr Roy's family said Islamist radicals had threatened him over his blog, 'Mukto-mona,' or 'Freemind,' that highlighted humanist and rationalist ideas and condemned religious extremism. The naturalised U.S. citizen, who was a bio-engineer as well as a blogger, had been receiving death threats online for years. Mr Roy and his wife have a daughter at university in the US. Ajoy Roy stood alongside his son's coffin as mourners filed past. He reiterated that Islamist militants were responsible for his son's death, but also blamed the government for failing to protect him despite repeated threats on his life. 'I am speechless at this moment of mourning. When the fundamentalists threatened, I informed the Inspector General of Police and Deputy Inspector General of Police,' he said. 'This murder has proved their utter failure.' An obscure militant group, Ansar Bangla 7, claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was in retaliation for his 'crime against Islam'. The extremists also said he was singled out because he is a U.S. citizen - and characterized the vicious killing as 'revenge' for attacks on ISIS in Syria. Orange and red flowers are laid on the coffin of Mr Roy as hundreds gather to pay their respects . Fellow mourners comfort Ajoy Roy as he looks down at his son's coffin at Dhaka University earlier today . A resident of Atlanta, Georgia, Mr Roy came to Dhaka, the city of his birth, in the middle of last month and had been due to soon return home after attending the university book fair . US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called the murder 'a shocking act of violence' that was 'horrific in its brutality and cowardice' Mr Roy, who was also a bio-engineer, had been receiving death threats online for years . Dozens of mourners queue to pay their last respects to Mr Roy at Dhaka University . Police have expressed shock that extremists struck at a university book fair, which was heavily guarded. Witnesses have even said officers and bystanders were there during the murder - but did nothing. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki called it 'a shocking act of violence' that was 'horrific in its brutality and cowardice'. Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of free speech campaign group Index on Censorship said: 'Our sympathies are with the family of Avijit Roy. 'Roy was targeted simply for expressing his own beliefs and we are appalled by his death and condemn all such killings.' Mr Roy was a family man and is pictured above with his wife in a photo believed to show their daughter, right, a student at a US college . In 2013, religious extremists targeted several secular bloggers who had demanded capital punishment for Islamist leaders convicted of war crimes during Bangladesh's war for independence. Blogger Ahmed Rajib Haider was killed that year in a similar attack near his home in Dhaka after he led one such protest demanding capital punishment. In 2004, Humayun Azad, a secular writer and professor at Dhaka University, was also attacked by militants while returning home from a Dhaka book fair. He later died in Germany while undergoing treatment. Media group Reporters Without Borders rated Bangladesh 146th among 180 countries in a ranking of press freedom last year. [/INST] Farabi Shafiur Rahman previously threatened Avijit Roy's family .
Mr Roy hacked to death on Thursday on way back from a book fair .
Fundamentalist blogger was arrested in Dhaka earlier today .
Elite force saw correspondence from Farabi about killing Mr Roy .
Wrote on Facebook: 'When Roy returns to the country, he’ll be murdered'
Hundreds of mourners gathered yesterday to pay their respects .
Mr Roy's wife still in a serious condition after trying to save her husband . </s> |
Her arm thrust out and pouting like a rapper, this is the moment that Michelle Obama showed off her dance moves during a toe-curling appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Challenged to show off her dance moves by Ms Degeneres, Mrs Obama gamely obliged and went on to pull shapes that wouldn't have shamed Rita Ora. Unfortunately for daughters Sasha and Malia, the appearance on Ellen, which airs on the 16th March, isn't the end of the 51-year-old's dancing ambitions. Toe-curling: Michelle Obama does her best Rita Ora during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show . Mrs Obama was appearing on the show to mark the fifth anniversary of her 'Let's Move!' initiative, which aims to encourage people to get out and do some exercise. As part of the campaign, the US First Lady revealed that she - and a party of helpers from So You Think You Can Dance - will be performing a routine to Uptown Funk on the front lawn of the White House during the annual Easter Egg Roll. This year's event, which will take place on the 6th April, is part of a tradition that dates back to 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes opened the White House gardens to local children. Although egg hunts are no longer part of the event, children are still invited for egg rolling on the lawn and a slap-up afternoon tea. Practising: According to Mrs Obama, she has been practising the dance routine for more than a year . All smiles: Ms DeGeneres, who says her style is 'street', also joined in with the dance routine . Repeating the trick: Mrs Obama will pull her dancing shoes on again during the annual Easter Egg Roll . 3.1 Phillip Lim cropped high waisted wide leg trouser pants at Saks Fifth Avenue . Shop the trousers at Saks . Visit site . America's fashionable first lady looks just as much at ease wearing ball gowns or a pair of pants and comfortable sneakers. At a recent appearance at the Ellen show, Michelle Obama paired a 3.1 Phillip Lim white wide leg pants with a black top and cropped jacket. Her outfit choice is obviously comfort driven, as she went on to show off her dance moves dancing to the catchy Uptown Funk song. Along with the trendy monochrome color palette, the always stylish Mrs Obama also embraced the white hot trend of wide leg pants. After many years of skinny pant dominance, the roomy silhouette is once again back in fashion. Just in time for the warmer weather, wear them with sneakers like Mrs O or go glam and pair them with high heels. Either way, these pants will turn heads on the streets. Check out our great selection of white wide leg pants. With designer as well as budget friendly options, you too could dance to Uptown Funk in these delectable pants. Halston Heritage Trousers at Bloomingdale's . Visit site . Chelsea 28 high rise wide leg pants . Visit site . Milly Cady pintuck pants (Now $241.50) Visit site . Dailylook classic wide leg pants . Visit site . Among the children to attend this year will be the Obama's daughters Sasha, 14, and Malia, 17, who will have a ringside view as their mother struts her stuff. Luckily for the teenagers, Mrs Obama revealed during her chat with Ms DeGeneres that she has been practising for the moment for more than a year, hopefully minimising the potential for embarrassment. Not that the Obamas will be too worried if they are, with President Obama previously telling the Press that should his daughters think of getting a tattoo, he will insist on getting one too. Most recently, the girls couldn't hide their embarrassment during a Thanksgiving event, the pardoning of the turkey, in which Obama 'pardoned' two turkeys named Mac and Cheese. Embarrassing: The Obamas' daughters have had numerous toe-curling moments at their parents' hands . Displeased: Most recently, they looked nonplussed as their father cracked jokes during a White House dinner . Embarrassing dad: President Obama has previously admitted to dancing to Gangnam Style around the house . The press corps laughed along but both Malia and Sasha appeared disinterested as Obama joked: 'Let's face it, if you're a turkey and you're named after a side dish, your chances of escaping Thanksgiving dinner are pretty low!' Like his wife, the US President has also deployed dance as a means of winding up his daughters, having once told People magazine of his penchant for performing to Gangnam Style. 'They're cooler than I am,' he added. 'There are things I like that they think are cheesy, like Gangnam Style. I love that.' | Michelle Obama showed off her dance moves during a TV appearance .
The 51-year-old pulled shapes that wouldn't have shamed Rita Ora .
Had appeared on Ellen to promote her 'Let's Move!' initiative .
Will repeat the performance during annual Easter Egg Roll on 5th April .
Tradition dates back to 1878 and sees local children visit White House . | 17952253f0cb89b7dd2148bbf925482883230d35 | <s>[INST] Her arm thrust out and pouting like a rapper, this is the moment that Michelle Obama showed off her dance moves during a toe-curling appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Challenged to show off her dance moves by Ms Degeneres, Mrs Obama gamely obliged and went on to pull shapes that wouldn't have shamed Rita Ora. Unfortunately for daughters Sasha and Malia, the appearance on Ellen, which airs on the 16th March, isn't the end of the 51-year-old's dancing ambitions. Toe-curling: Michelle Obama does her best Rita Ora during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show . Mrs Obama was appearing on the show to mark the fifth anniversary of her 'Let's Move!' initiative, which aims to encourage people to get out and do some exercise. As part of the campaign, the US First Lady revealed that she - and a party of helpers from So You Think You Can Dance - will be performing a routine to Uptown Funk on the front lawn of the White House during the annual Easter Egg Roll. This year's event, which will take place on the 6th April, is part of a tradition that dates back to 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes opened the White House gardens to local children. Although egg hunts are no longer part of the event, children are still invited for egg rolling on the lawn and a slap-up afternoon tea. Practising: According to Mrs Obama, she has been practising the dance routine for more than a year . All smiles: Ms DeGeneres, who says her style is 'street', also joined in with the dance routine . Repeating the trick: Mrs Obama will pull her dancing shoes on again during the annual Easter Egg Roll . 3.1 Phillip Lim cropped high waisted wide leg trouser pants at Saks Fifth Avenue . Shop the trousers at Saks . Visit site . America's fashionable first lady looks just as much at ease wearing ball gowns or a pair of pants and comfortable sneakers. At a recent appearance at the Ellen show, Michelle Obama paired a 3.1 Phillip Lim white wide leg pants with a black top and cropped jacket. Her outfit choice is obviously comfort driven, as she went on to show off her dance moves dancing to the catchy Uptown Funk song. Along with the trendy monochrome color palette, the always stylish Mrs Obama also embraced the white hot trend of wide leg pants. After many years of skinny pant dominance, the roomy silhouette is once again back in fashion. Just in time for the warmer weather, wear them with sneakers like Mrs O or go glam and pair them with high heels. Either way, these pants will turn heads on the streets. Check out our great selection of white wide leg pants. With designer as well as budget friendly options, you too could dance to Uptown Funk in these delectable pants. Halston Heritage Trousers at Bloomingdale's . Visit site . Chelsea 28 high rise wide leg pants . Visit site . Milly Cady pintuck pants (Now $241.50) Visit site . Dailylook classic wide leg pants . Visit site . Among the children to attend this year will be the Obama's daughters Sasha, 14, and Malia, 17, who will have a ringside view as their mother struts her stuff. Luckily for the teenagers, Mrs Obama revealed during her chat with Ms DeGeneres that she has been practising for the moment for more than a year, hopefully minimising the potential for embarrassment. Not that the Obamas will be too worried if they are, with President Obama previously telling the Press that should his daughters think of getting a tattoo, he will insist on getting one too. Most recently, the girls couldn't hide their embarrassment during a Thanksgiving event, the pardoning of the turkey, in which Obama 'pardoned' two turkeys named Mac and Cheese. Embarrassing: The Obamas' daughters have had numerous toe-curling moments at their parents' hands . Displeased: Most recently, they looked nonplussed as their father cracked jokes during a White House dinner . Embarrassing dad: President Obama has previously admitted to dancing to Gangnam Style around the house . The press corps laughed along but both Malia and Sasha appeared disinterested as Obama joked: 'Let's face it, if you're a turkey and you're named after a side dish, your chances of escaping Thanksgiving dinner are pretty low!' Like his wife, the US President has also deployed dance as a means of winding up his daughters, having once told People magazine of his penchant for performing to Gangnam Style. 'They're cooler than I am,' he added. 'There are things I like that they think are cheesy, like Gangnam Style. I love that.' [/INST] Michelle Obama showed off her dance moves during a TV appearance .
The 51-year-old pulled shapes that wouldn't have shamed Rita Ora .
Had appeared on Ellen to promote her 'Let's Move!' initiative .
Will repeat the performance during annual Easter Egg Roll on 5th April .
Tradition dates back to 1878 and sees local children visit White House . </s> |
Cherie Blair has focused on legal and charity work since her husband Tony quit as prime minister . Cherie Blair is set to join Renault next month to improve the diversity on its board, it has been revealed. The French car manufacturer has approached the well-known women’s rights activist as it attempts to improve its female representation. Mother-of-four Mrs Blair, 60, has been concentrating on her legal and charity work since her 61-year-old husband Tony left the office of prime minister in 2007. Renault - the world’s fourth biggest car maker by sales through its alliance with Nissan - said the barrister would also add helpful experience in employment and human rights law. Mrs Blair, who ‘works closely’ with more than 20 charities according to her website, has never previously been appointed to a French corporation, reported The Daily Telegraph. Last year she left human rights practice Matrix Chambers to join the international legal consultancy firm Omnia Stategy, which she co-founded four years ago. Mrs Blair, who was born into a working-class family in Liverpool, also founded the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which helps female entrepreneurs in the developing world. A quota system exists in France to demand that women make up 20 per cent of board members – a figure that will rise to 40 per cent in 2017. Four of Renault’s current 19-member board are women. Other prominent women in the male-dominated industry include Ursula Piëch of Volkswagen, Mary Barra of General Motors and Patience Wheatcroft of Fiat Chrysler, reported the Financial Times. New arrival? Renault - the world’s fourth biggest car maker by sales through its alliance with Nissan - said the barrister would also add helpful experience in employment and human rights law . Mrs Blair is set to be proposed as a director for four years at Renault's annual shareholders meeting on April 30, according to a list of resolutions published by the firm last Friday. Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this week that her husband is to step back from his role as Middle East peace envoy. The former Labour leader has been the envoy for the Middle East Quartet peace negotiators - the UN, the EU, Russia and the US - since he quit as prime minister. It is understood that the former Prime Minister has met John Kerry, the US secretary of state, and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, to discuss a possible job change. | She has focused on legal and charity work since Tony left office in 2007 .
Renault says Mrs Blair will add helpful experience in human rights law .
French quota system demands women make up 20% of board members . | f388153af4b36398031153f0ce2fda22881f594e | <s>[INST] Cherie Blair has focused on legal and charity work since her husband Tony quit as prime minister . Cherie Blair is set to join Renault next month to improve the diversity on its board, it has been revealed. The French car manufacturer has approached the well-known women’s rights activist as it attempts to improve its female representation. Mother-of-four Mrs Blair, 60, has been concentrating on her legal and charity work since her 61-year-old husband Tony left the office of prime minister in 2007. Renault - the world’s fourth biggest car maker by sales through its alliance with Nissan - said the barrister would also add helpful experience in employment and human rights law. Mrs Blair, who ‘works closely’ with more than 20 charities according to her website, has never previously been appointed to a French corporation, reported The Daily Telegraph. Last year she left human rights practice Matrix Chambers to join the international legal consultancy firm Omnia Stategy, which she co-founded four years ago. Mrs Blair, who was born into a working-class family in Liverpool, also founded the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which helps female entrepreneurs in the developing world. A quota system exists in France to demand that women make up 20 per cent of board members – a figure that will rise to 40 per cent in 2017. Four of Renault’s current 19-member board are women. Other prominent women in the male-dominated industry include Ursula Piëch of Volkswagen, Mary Barra of General Motors and Patience Wheatcroft of Fiat Chrysler, reported the Financial Times. New arrival? Renault - the world’s fourth biggest car maker by sales through its alliance with Nissan - said the barrister would also add helpful experience in employment and human rights law . Mrs Blair is set to be proposed as a director for four years at Renault's annual shareholders meeting on April 30, according to a list of resolutions published by the firm last Friday. Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this week that her husband is to step back from his role as Middle East peace envoy. The former Labour leader has been the envoy for the Middle East Quartet peace negotiators - the UN, the EU, Russia and the US - since he quit as prime minister. It is understood that the former Prime Minister has met John Kerry, the US secretary of state, and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, to discuss a possible job change. [/INST] She has focused on legal and charity work since Tony left office in 2007 .
Renault says Mrs Blair will add helpful experience in human rights law .
French quota system demands women make up 20% of board members . </s> |
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will phase out the show's iconic elephants from its performances by 2018, telling The Associated Press exclusively that growing public concern about how the animals are treated led to the decision. Executives from Feld Entertainment, Ringling's parent company, said the decision to end the circus's century-old tradition of showcasing elephants was difficult and debated at length as elephants have often been featured on Ringling's posters over the decades. 'There's been somewhat of a mood shift among our consumers,' said Alana Feld, the company's executive vice president. 'A lot of people aren't comfortable with us touring with our elephants.' Scroll down for video . The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has announced they are phasing out their elephant acts, and will eliminate them in 2018 . The decision was largely based on the fact that many cities have anti-circus and anti-elephant ordinances in addition to public outcry . 13 animals will continue to tour with the circus before retiring to the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida . Feld owns 43 elephants, and 29 of the giant animals live at the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida. 13 animals will continue to tour with the circus before retiring to the center by 2018 while one elephant is on a breeding loan to the Fort Worth Zoo. Another reason for the decision, company President Kenneth Feld said, was that certain cities and counties have passed 'anti-circus' and 'anti-elephant' ordinances. The company's three shows visit 115 cities throughout the year, and Feld said it's expensive to fight legislation in each jurisdiction. It's also difficult to plan tours amid constantly changing regulations, he said. 'All of the resources used to fight these things can be put towards the elephants,' Feld said during an interview at the Center for Elephant Conservation. 'We're not reacting to our critics; we're creating the greatest resource for the preservation of the Asian elephant.' The circus will continue to use other animals - this year it added a Mongolian troupe of camel stunt riders to its Circus Xtreme show and it will likely showcase more motorsports, daredevils and feats of humans' physical capabilities. Ringling's popular Canada-based competitor, Cirque du Soleil, features human acts and doesn't use wild animals. 'There are endless possibilities,' said Juliette Feld, another executive vice president of the company and a producer of Feld's Marvel Universe Live, Disney on Ice and Monster Jam shows, among others. Feld owns the largest herd of Asian elephants in North America. It costs about $65,000 yearly to care for each elephant, and Kenneth Feld said the company would have to build new structures to house the retiring elephants at the center, located in between Orlando and Tampa on a rural, ranchlike property. Kenneth Feld said initially the center will be open only to researchers, scientists and others studying the Asian elephant. Eventually, he 'hopes it expands to something the public will be able to see.' 'I want everybody's grandkids to be able to see Asian elephants,' he said. The center's youngest elephant is Mike, who will be 2 in August, and the oldest is Mysore, who is 69. One elephant, 6-year-old Barack, was conceived by artificial insemination. Since the center opened in 1995, 26 elephants have been born there. A male elephant scratches on the bars of his pen at the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida . Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment, feeds Alana and Icky at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida . There will be a new structure built to house the retiring elephants, and the company hopes to open the conservation to the public eventually . Ringling's elephants have been at the center of lawsuits and ongoing complaints from animal rights activists. In 2014, Feld Entertainment won $25.2 million in settlements from a number of animal-rights groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, ending a 14-year legal battle over unproven allegations that Ringling circus employees mistreated elephants. The initial lawsuit was filed in 2000 by a former Ringling barn helper who was later found to have been paid at least $190,000 by the animal-rights groups that helped bring the lawsuit. The judge called him 'essentially a paid plaintiff' who lacked credibility and standing to sue. The judge rejected the abuse claims following a 2009 trial. Kenneth Feld testified during that trial about elephants' importance to the show. 'The symbol of the Greatest Show on Earth is the elephant, and that's what we've been known for throughout the world for more than a hundred years.' When asked by a lawyer whether the show would be the same without the elephants, Feld replied, 'No, it wouldn't.' This week, Feld said, 'Things have changed.' 'How does a business be successful? By adapting,' he said. Feld noted that when his father bought the circus in 1967, there was still a human sideshow featuring acts such as the bearded lady and other human oddities. His father did away with that, he said. 'We're always changing and we're always learning,' he said. In 2008, Feld acquired a variety of motor sports properties, including monster truck shows, motocross and the International Hot Rod Association, which promotes drag races and other events. In 2010, it created a theatrical motorcycle stunt show called Nuclear Cowboyz. Roughly 30 million people attend one of Feld's 5,000 live entertainment shows every year. | The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has announced they are phasing out their elephant acts, and will eliminate them in 2018 .
The decision was largely based on the fact that many cities have anti-circus and anti-elephant ordinances in addition to public outcry .
The company's three shows visit 115 cities each year, and vice president Alana Feld said it's expensive to fight legislation in each jurisdiction .
13 animals will continue to tour with the circus before retiring to the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida .
There will be a new structure built to house the retiring elephants, and the company hopes to open the conservation to the public eventually .
The circus will still continue to use other animals, including Mongolian camels, which they just added to their live shows this year . | 4aeadd3b391b6b1a6eeb1f94d28aaaf6d9342ec2 | <s>[INST] The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will phase out the show's iconic elephants from its performances by 2018, telling The Associated Press exclusively that growing public concern about how the animals are treated led to the decision. Executives from Feld Entertainment, Ringling's parent company, said the decision to end the circus's century-old tradition of showcasing elephants was difficult and debated at length as elephants have often been featured on Ringling's posters over the decades. 'There's been somewhat of a mood shift among our consumers,' said Alana Feld, the company's executive vice president. 'A lot of people aren't comfortable with us touring with our elephants.' Scroll down for video . The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has announced they are phasing out their elephant acts, and will eliminate them in 2018 . The decision was largely based on the fact that many cities have anti-circus and anti-elephant ordinances in addition to public outcry . 13 animals will continue to tour with the circus before retiring to the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida . Feld owns 43 elephants, and 29 of the giant animals live at the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in central Florida. 13 animals will continue to tour with the circus before retiring to the center by 2018 while one elephant is on a breeding loan to the Fort Worth Zoo. Another reason for the decision, company President Kenneth Feld said, was that certain cities and counties have passed 'anti-circus' and 'anti-elephant' ordinances. The company's three shows visit 115 cities throughout the year, and Feld said it's expensive to fight legislation in each jurisdiction. It's also difficult to plan tours amid constantly changing regulations, he said. 'All of the resources used to fight these things can be put towards the elephants,' Feld said during an interview at the Center for Elephant Conservation. 'We're not reacting to our critics; we're creating the greatest resource for the preservation of the Asian elephant.' The circus will continue to use other animals - this year it added a Mongolian troupe of camel stunt riders to its Circus Xtreme show and it will likely showcase more motorsports, daredevils and feats of humans' physical capabilities. Ringling's popular Canada-based competitor, Cirque du Soleil, features human acts and doesn't use wild animals. 'There are endless possibilities,' said Juliette Feld, another executive vice president of the company and a producer of Feld's Marvel Universe Live, Disney on Ice and Monster Jam shows, among others. Feld owns the largest herd of Asian elephants in North America. It costs about $65,000 yearly to care for each elephant, and Kenneth Feld said the company would have to build new structures to house the retiring elephants at the center, located in between Orlando and Tampa on a rural, ranchlike property. Kenneth Feld said initially the center will be open only to researchers, scientists and others studying the Asian elephant. Eventually, he 'hopes it expands to something the public will be able to see.' 'I want everybody's grandkids to be able to see Asian elephants,' he said. The center's youngest elephant is Mike, who will be 2 in August, and the oldest is Mysore, who is 69. One elephant, 6-year-old Barack, was conceived by artificial insemination. Since the center opened in 1995, 26 elephants have been born there. A male elephant scratches on the bars of his pen at the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida . Kenneth Feld, CEO of Feld Entertainment, feeds Alana and Icky at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida . There will be a new structure built to house the retiring elephants, and the company hopes to open the conservation to the public eventually . Ringling's elephants have been at the center of lawsuits and ongoing complaints from animal rights activists. In 2014, Feld Entertainment won $25.2 million in settlements from a number of animal-rights groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, ending a 14-year legal battle over unproven allegations that Ringling circus employees mistreated elephants. The initial lawsuit was filed in 2000 by a former Ringling barn helper who was later found to have been paid at least $190,000 by the animal-rights groups that helped bring the lawsuit. The judge called him 'essentially a paid plaintiff' who lacked credibility and standing to sue. The judge rejected the abuse claims following a 2009 trial. Kenneth Feld testified during that trial about elephants' importance to the show. 'The symbol of the Greatest Show on Earth is the elephant, and that's what we've been known for throughout the world for more than a hundred years.' When asked by a lawyer whether the show would be the same without the elephants, Feld replied, 'No, it wouldn't.' This week, Feld said, 'Things have changed.' 'How does a business be successful? By adapting,' he said. Feld noted that when his father bought the circus in 1967, there was still a human sideshow featuring acts such as the bearded lady and other human oddities. His father did away with that, he said. 'We're always changing and we're always learning,' he said. In 2008, Feld acquired a variety of motor sports properties, including monster truck shows, motocross and the International Hot Rod Association, which promotes drag races and other events. In 2010, it created a theatrical motorcycle stunt show called Nuclear Cowboyz. Roughly 30 million people attend one of Feld's 5,000 live entertainment shows every year. [/INST] The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has announced they are phasing out their elephant acts, and will eliminate them in 2018 .
The decision was largely based on the fact that many cities have anti-circus and anti-elephant ordinances in addition to public outcry .
The company's three shows visit 115 cities each year, and vice president Alana Feld said it's expensive to fight legislation in each jurisdiction .
13 animals will continue to tour with the circus before retiring to the company's 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida .
There will be a new structure built to house the retiring elephants, and the company hopes to open the conservation to the public eventually .
The circus will still continue to use other animals, including Mongolian camels, which they just added to their live shows this year . </s> |
A former Temple University football star and another man have been charged with human trafficking after they allegedly brought three girls aged 14, 16 and 17 to a hotel for prostitution, according to Baltimore police. Matthew Warren Brown, 25, and Anthony Leon Eley Jr., 30, were arrested during a sting operation at a Best Western Hotel. Undercover detectives used the escorts section on the website Backpage.com and arranged to meet with a woman, who claimed to be 23, at the hotel on St Patrick's Day, according to court documents. Matthew Warren Brown, 25, (left) was arrested with Anthony Leon Eley Jr., 30, (right) during a sting operation at a Baltimore hotel where they allegedly brought three underage girls aged 14, 16 and 17 for prostitution . Police said one of the girls asked for money, according to WBAL TV. Brown, a former Temple University running back, and Eley were arrested after they arrived at the hotel with the three underage girls in their car, according to police. Court documents state that Brown told police he had met the three girls on the street and gave them a ride to a different hotel before driving them to the Best Western. Brown claimed he did not know the girls were underage or involved in prostitution and that Eley provided the car, according to charging documents. One of the girls told police that both men had known the girls were underage, according to court documents. The girl alleged Brown drove them to two meetings with two other men before they arrived at the Best Western. She claimed the girls had robbed both of the men of their money and intended to do the same at the Best Western meeting. According to court documents, the girl told police she paid Brown $300 to drive the girls around. She said Eley had given the girls condoms for their meetings. The 17-year-old girl told police that Brown was the girls' pimp and also said he knew they were underage, documents state. Brown, a former football star at Temple University (pictured), told police he had met the girls on the street that day and were unaware they were underage or involved in prostitution, according to court documents . The girls were taken into custody as human trafficking victims and were interviewed by the FBI Child Sexual Exploitation Task Force. They face no charges and are under the care of social services, according to a spokesman for the police department. Brown is the son of prominent Baltimore attorney Warren Brown, who told WBAL TV that the news was 'gut-wrenching' and 'devastating'. 'It brought tears to my eyes. My heart was broken,' he said. 'I haven't had time to sit down and go talk to him about this. I haven't had time really to look at the charge papers.' Both Brown and Eley were released on bond. This month Eley was charged with assaulting a police officer, as well as second-degree burglary of a pharmacy. Brown was a Big East Special Teams Player of the Year while he played for Temple University, according to the Baltimore Sun. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a kick returner in 2013 before being released. One of the girls told police that both men had known the girls were underage, according to court documents, and alleged Brown drove them to two meetings before they arrived at the Best Western (pictured) | Matthew Warren Brown, 25, and Anthony Leon Eley Jr., 30, were arrested during a string operation at a Baltimore hotel .
Undercover detectives used the escorts section on a website and arranged to meet with a woman who claimed to be 23 .
Brown told police he did not know the girls were underage or involved in prostitution .
Brown was once signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . | d1fcb1ad354812db5818d40073e0ff7ef6fbbb29 | <s>[INST] A former Temple University football star and another man have been charged with human trafficking after they allegedly brought three girls aged 14, 16 and 17 to a hotel for prostitution, according to Baltimore police. Matthew Warren Brown, 25, and Anthony Leon Eley Jr., 30, were arrested during a sting operation at a Best Western Hotel. Undercover detectives used the escorts section on the website Backpage.com and arranged to meet with a woman, who claimed to be 23, at the hotel on St Patrick's Day, according to court documents. Matthew Warren Brown, 25, (left) was arrested with Anthony Leon Eley Jr., 30, (right) during a sting operation at a Baltimore hotel where they allegedly brought three underage girls aged 14, 16 and 17 for prostitution . Police said one of the girls asked for money, according to WBAL TV. Brown, a former Temple University running back, and Eley were arrested after they arrived at the hotel with the three underage girls in their car, according to police. Court documents state that Brown told police he had met the three girls on the street and gave them a ride to a different hotel before driving them to the Best Western. Brown claimed he did not know the girls were underage or involved in prostitution and that Eley provided the car, according to charging documents. One of the girls told police that both men had known the girls were underage, according to court documents. The girl alleged Brown drove them to two meetings with two other men before they arrived at the Best Western. She claimed the girls had robbed both of the men of their money and intended to do the same at the Best Western meeting. According to court documents, the girl told police she paid Brown $300 to drive the girls around. She said Eley had given the girls condoms for their meetings. The 17-year-old girl told police that Brown was the girls' pimp and also said he knew they were underage, documents state. Brown, a former football star at Temple University (pictured), told police he had met the girls on the street that day and were unaware they were underage or involved in prostitution, according to court documents . The girls were taken into custody as human trafficking victims and were interviewed by the FBI Child Sexual Exploitation Task Force. They face no charges and are under the care of social services, according to a spokesman for the police department. Brown is the son of prominent Baltimore attorney Warren Brown, who told WBAL TV that the news was 'gut-wrenching' and 'devastating'. 'It brought tears to my eyes. My heart was broken,' he said. 'I haven't had time to sit down and go talk to him about this. I haven't had time really to look at the charge papers.' Both Brown and Eley were released on bond. This month Eley was charged with assaulting a police officer, as well as second-degree burglary of a pharmacy. Brown was a Big East Special Teams Player of the Year while he played for Temple University, according to the Baltimore Sun. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a kick returner in 2013 before being released. One of the girls told police that both men had known the girls were underage, according to court documents, and alleged Brown drove them to two meetings before they arrived at the Best Western (pictured) [/INST] Matthew Warren Brown, 25, and Anthony Leon Eley Jr., 30, were arrested during a string operation at a Baltimore hotel .
Undercover detectives used the escorts section on a website and arranged to meet with a woman who claimed to be 23 .
Brown told police he did not know the girls were underage or involved in prostitution .
Brown was once signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . </s> |
The number of NHS patients waiting longer than six weeks for crucial medical tests including cancer has hit a record high, official figures revealed this morning. Some 18,740 patients had to wait longer than six weeks to take cancer and other tests in January – more than five times higher than in May 2010 when the Coalition took over. The figures cover 15 of the most important NHS tests, including seven that detect cancers and others for heart disease. The number of NHS patients waiting longer than six weeks for crucial medical tests including Cancer has hit a record high . Just under 14,000 patients waited longer than six weeks for one of the key cancer tests. Some 2,954 patients waited too long for MRI scans, compared to 374 in May 2010, with a further 1,125 patients were forced to wait longer than they should for CT scans – up from 215 five years ago. Just under 2,904 patients in January waited too long for ultrasound tests - not including pregnant women – up from 291 in 2010. Four crucial endoscopy tests that detect bowel and stomach cancers have also seen a huge spike in patients waiting longer than six weeks. Some 6,978 patients in January waited too long for one of the tests – up from 976 in May 2010. A Labour Government will guarantee that NHS patients in England will wait no longer than one week for cancer tests and results by 2020. In 2014, 20,775 patients who were diagnosed with cancer waited for than 62 days to begin treatment. Labour's shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the figures showed David Cameron had 'damaged the care that Cancer patients are receiving' Andy Burnham, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said the figures were 'damning evidence' of the Government's failure on NHS waiting lists. Mr Burnham said: 'He has presided over a major cut in the cancer budget in this Parliament and this has damaged the care that cancer patients are receiving. 'All the gains that Labour made have been lost and the NHS is heading in the wrong direction. Thousands of families are waiting too long for tests, facing all the anxiety that means, and cancer is being diagnosed at a later stage where treatment is less likely to be successful. 'That's why Labour will guarantee a maximum one-week wait for cancer tests. 'The NHS as we know it can't survive five more years of the Tories. Families struggling with cancer can't take the risk and, despite all the warnings, persisted with an NHS reorganisation that disrupted cancer services.' | 18,740 patients waited longer than six weeks to take NHS tests in January .
This is more than five times higher than May 2010 when Coalition took over .
Figures cover 15 of most important tests, including seven detecting cancer . | 794bbeb953ebe5652b871c14e20f751bcb1a05b8 | <s>[INST] The number of NHS patients waiting longer than six weeks for crucial medical tests including cancer has hit a record high, official figures revealed this morning. Some 18,740 patients had to wait longer than six weeks to take cancer and other tests in January – more than five times higher than in May 2010 when the Coalition took over. The figures cover 15 of the most important NHS tests, including seven that detect cancers and others for heart disease. The number of NHS patients waiting longer than six weeks for crucial medical tests including Cancer has hit a record high . Just under 14,000 patients waited longer than six weeks for one of the key cancer tests. Some 2,954 patients waited too long for MRI scans, compared to 374 in May 2010, with a further 1,125 patients were forced to wait longer than they should for CT scans – up from 215 five years ago. Just under 2,904 patients in January waited too long for ultrasound tests - not including pregnant women – up from 291 in 2010. Four crucial endoscopy tests that detect bowel and stomach cancers have also seen a huge spike in patients waiting longer than six weeks. Some 6,978 patients in January waited too long for one of the tests – up from 976 in May 2010. A Labour Government will guarantee that NHS patients in England will wait no longer than one week for cancer tests and results by 2020. In 2014, 20,775 patients who were diagnosed with cancer waited for than 62 days to begin treatment. Labour's shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said the figures showed David Cameron had 'damaged the care that Cancer patients are receiving' Andy Burnham, Labour's Shadow Health Secretary, said the figures were 'damning evidence' of the Government's failure on NHS waiting lists. Mr Burnham said: 'He has presided over a major cut in the cancer budget in this Parliament and this has damaged the care that cancer patients are receiving. 'All the gains that Labour made have been lost and the NHS is heading in the wrong direction. Thousands of families are waiting too long for tests, facing all the anxiety that means, and cancer is being diagnosed at a later stage where treatment is less likely to be successful. 'That's why Labour will guarantee a maximum one-week wait for cancer tests. 'The NHS as we know it can't survive five more years of the Tories. Families struggling with cancer can't take the risk and, despite all the warnings, persisted with an NHS reorganisation that disrupted cancer services.' [/INST] 18,740 patients waited longer than six weeks to take NHS tests in January .
This is more than five times higher than May 2010 when Coalition took over .
Figures cover 15 of most important tests, including seven detecting cancer . </s> |
School friends of under-fire Whole Pantry founder Belle Gibson now query whether the health guru invented stories 'to get sympathy' and warned people against vaccination while she was in high school. Ms Gibson, 23, is in the spotlight this week after doubts were raised about her remarkable cancer survival story - and the book, Apple Watch app and website that it inspired. There have also been questions about donations made to charity. The mother-of-one attended Wynnum State High School in Brisbane and former classmates describe the health guru as a 'drama queen' who constantly reinvented herself and backed medical cannabis. Scroll down for video . Young mum: Close friends told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that Ms Gibson may have departed Australia for the United States this week . Former school friend Chris Green said Ms Gibson was 'a drama queen. There was always something going on with her.' 'At one stage she was an emo, then a skater girl then she was a surfer chick; she was always something different,' Mr Green told The Courier Mail. Mr Green also said that Ms Gibson never mentioned an autistic brother or a mother with multiple sclerosis, who she had previously claimed to be a carer for. One anonymous school friend said that Ms Gibson would often post information advocating against vaccinations and pushed the viewpoint quite hard. Former classmate Meg Weier said that Ms Gibson was quite strange. Doting mother: Ms Gibson, pictured left with her son Olivier, and right with another friend, founded the popular app and cookbook Whole Pantry . The Whole Pantry (pictured above, in cookbook form) is also a popular app, which costs $3.79 to download. The app is slated to appear on the new Apple Watch . Ms Gibson shot to stardom on social media and gave hope to cancer sufferers worldwide after she revealed that she had prolonged her life despite shunning conventional medical treatment and relying on her own 'whole life' concept. Now, however, friends close to the mum-of-one have said that she may have gone overseas to avoid confronting claims that her remarkable cancer survival story is not all it seems. Another former friend of Ms Gibson has called on her to 'come clean' on her 'misdiagnosis'. Mother-of-two Jayme Smith, 28, from Sydney, became a confidant of Ms Gibson's after they met on a parenting discussion page on Facebook around 2010. They forged an online friendship and confided over their experiences with cancer - Ms Smith having lost her mother to lung cancer in 2003 and Ms Gibson saying she had brain cancer. Ms Smith told Daily Mail Australia she was 'baffled' when reports emerged this week where friends raised doubts about Ms Gibson's medical diagnoses and charity donations. 'I am just so shocked and I feel betrayed, that we all fell so hard for the illusion that she created,' Ms Smith said. 'It has hit all of us, who I know, (who) also know Belle, like a tonne of bricks.' Jayme Smith (pictured left, with her two children) met Belle Gibson online and maintained a friendship over social media until they had a falling out . 'We only knew her online, but we all believed to a point that she was a genuine pioneer, who was surviving aggressive cancer. 'Belle and I talked quite a bit about my feelings about (cancer), how she could empathise with me, the feelings I felt about my mother dying and how I'd wished I was more responsible when it happened, that I'd wished I had tried to explore more ideas, like Belle did.' Ms Smith said Ms Gibson 'pushed' - and nearly convinced her - not to vaccinate her children, but that she did not blame her for nearly making that choice, which she 'backed out of at the last minute'. 'That was my own choice, based on information provided by Belle. I regret that choice (to nearly not vaccinate), but it was my own. I'm not here to place blame.' In November 2014, Ms Gibson told Sunday Style magazine she blamed the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil for her cancer. She told her social media followers last year her brain cancer had spread to her blood, liver, spleen, uterus and that she did not expect to survive. After friends and medical experts cast doubt on her medical claims in various media stories this week, Ms Gibson told The Australian she may have been 'misdiagnosed'. 'It's hard to admit that maybe you were wrong,' she told the newspaper, adding that she was 'confused, bordering on humiliated'. The Whole Pantry, a popular app, gained media attention because of Ms Gibson's remarkable story about cancer survival . The company she founded, The Whole Pantry, said donations to charities that allegedly failed to arrive had been 'accounted for and not processed' and that promised donations 'would be honoured'. Ms Smith told Daily Mail Australia she was 'baffled' by this week's allegations and was most upset about the hope Ms Gibson's followers had invested in her program if she was being dishonest. She said Ms Gibson had the 'gift of the gab' and 'needs to answer to these people (her followers), because they are good hearted people who deserve answers'. 'I don't care about exposing Belle. I haven't spoken to her for months, years. 'I just want her to confirm or deny (her diagnoses) so people who put their faith in her, invested in her - they need to know. 'They need to know, if they've rejected conventional medicine on what she's saying. 'It's their lives, it's not a game.' Ms Smith said of Belle Gibson (above): 'If I saw Belle now, I would just ask her to tell the truth. That's all I want' After three years of sometimes personal exchanges online, Ms Gibson and Ms Smith stopped talking after the development of the Whole Pantry app. 'If I saw Belle now, I would just ask her to tell the truth. That's all I want. 'I don't want to see her beg people for mercy. I don't want her to beg for forgiveness - I just want the truth. 'Come clean, be transparent, let the world know where you're at. If you were misdiagnosed, own up to it. 'Belle DID create an exceptional application, that is loved by many, but I think she should sell it for what it is, complimentary medicines and a diet - not life saving treatment. 'All people want is the truth from her.' Close friends told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that Ms Gibson may have left for the United States. Police visited her home on Tuesday night to check on her welfare, but she was not there. Multiple calls to Ms Gibson's mobile rang out. Amid claims that the entrepreneur behind The Whole Pantry app has fled to country, more details about Belle Gibson's past are coming to light. The young social media personality - who came under fire after claims her 'terminal cancer' and incredible survival story from the life-threatening illness were false - once described herself as a psychopath. Ms Gibson has previously gone under the name of Annabelle Natalie Gibson, and tweeted in 2009: @bellmneb: 'Is a distinguished physcopath (sic),' the Herald Sun reported. The next month she sent another tweet, from the account which appears to have been removed. 'Obama won the nobel peace prize. This is more f***ed then (sic) the government giving me cancer. #obamawinsnobelprize,' it read. | Whole Pantry founder Belle Gibson has come under fire this week after friends raised doubts about her cancer survival story and charity donations .
Former school mates now query whether the 'drama queen' invented stories about her home life and spoke out against vaccinations during high school .
Another former friend who met Ms Gibson online said she felt 'shocked and betrayed' by the illusion the health guru created around her .
Friends claim the mother-of-one may have left the country after claims . | 3c8dc173324e538e478eda6e70073af886779e94 | <s>[INST] School friends of under-fire Whole Pantry founder Belle Gibson now query whether the health guru invented stories 'to get sympathy' and warned people against vaccination while she was in high school. Ms Gibson, 23, is in the spotlight this week after doubts were raised about her remarkable cancer survival story - and the book, Apple Watch app and website that it inspired. There have also been questions about donations made to charity. The mother-of-one attended Wynnum State High School in Brisbane and former classmates describe the health guru as a 'drama queen' who constantly reinvented herself and backed medical cannabis. Scroll down for video . Young mum: Close friends told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that Ms Gibson may have departed Australia for the United States this week . Former school friend Chris Green said Ms Gibson was 'a drama queen. There was always something going on with her.' 'At one stage she was an emo, then a skater girl then she was a surfer chick; she was always something different,' Mr Green told The Courier Mail. Mr Green also said that Ms Gibson never mentioned an autistic brother or a mother with multiple sclerosis, who she had previously claimed to be a carer for. One anonymous school friend said that Ms Gibson would often post information advocating against vaccinations and pushed the viewpoint quite hard. Former classmate Meg Weier said that Ms Gibson was quite strange. Doting mother: Ms Gibson, pictured left with her son Olivier, and right with another friend, founded the popular app and cookbook Whole Pantry . The Whole Pantry (pictured above, in cookbook form) is also a popular app, which costs $3.79 to download. The app is slated to appear on the new Apple Watch . Ms Gibson shot to stardom on social media and gave hope to cancer sufferers worldwide after she revealed that she had prolonged her life despite shunning conventional medical treatment and relying on her own 'whole life' concept. Now, however, friends close to the mum-of-one have said that she may have gone overseas to avoid confronting claims that her remarkable cancer survival story is not all it seems. Another former friend of Ms Gibson has called on her to 'come clean' on her 'misdiagnosis'. Mother-of-two Jayme Smith, 28, from Sydney, became a confidant of Ms Gibson's after they met on a parenting discussion page on Facebook around 2010. They forged an online friendship and confided over their experiences with cancer - Ms Smith having lost her mother to lung cancer in 2003 and Ms Gibson saying she had brain cancer. Ms Smith told Daily Mail Australia she was 'baffled' when reports emerged this week where friends raised doubts about Ms Gibson's medical diagnoses and charity donations. 'I am just so shocked and I feel betrayed, that we all fell so hard for the illusion that she created,' Ms Smith said. 'It has hit all of us, who I know, (who) also know Belle, like a tonne of bricks.' Jayme Smith (pictured left, with her two children) met Belle Gibson online and maintained a friendship over social media until they had a falling out . 'We only knew her online, but we all believed to a point that she was a genuine pioneer, who was surviving aggressive cancer. 'Belle and I talked quite a bit about my feelings about (cancer), how she could empathise with me, the feelings I felt about my mother dying and how I'd wished I was more responsible when it happened, that I'd wished I had tried to explore more ideas, like Belle did.' Ms Smith said Ms Gibson 'pushed' - and nearly convinced her - not to vaccinate her children, but that she did not blame her for nearly making that choice, which she 'backed out of at the last minute'. 'That was my own choice, based on information provided by Belle. I regret that choice (to nearly not vaccinate), but it was my own. I'm not here to place blame.' In November 2014, Ms Gibson told Sunday Style magazine she blamed the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil for her cancer. She told her social media followers last year her brain cancer had spread to her blood, liver, spleen, uterus and that she did not expect to survive. After friends and medical experts cast doubt on her medical claims in various media stories this week, Ms Gibson told The Australian she may have been 'misdiagnosed'. 'It's hard to admit that maybe you were wrong,' she told the newspaper, adding that she was 'confused, bordering on humiliated'. The Whole Pantry, a popular app, gained media attention because of Ms Gibson's remarkable story about cancer survival . The company she founded, The Whole Pantry, said donations to charities that allegedly failed to arrive had been 'accounted for and not processed' and that promised donations 'would be honoured'. Ms Smith told Daily Mail Australia she was 'baffled' by this week's allegations and was most upset about the hope Ms Gibson's followers had invested in her program if she was being dishonest. She said Ms Gibson had the 'gift of the gab' and 'needs to answer to these people (her followers), because they are good hearted people who deserve answers'. 'I don't care about exposing Belle. I haven't spoken to her for months, years. 'I just want her to confirm or deny (her diagnoses) so people who put their faith in her, invested in her - they need to know. 'They need to know, if they've rejected conventional medicine on what she's saying. 'It's their lives, it's not a game.' Ms Smith said of Belle Gibson (above): 'If I saw Belle now, I would just ask her to tell the truth. That's all I want' After three years of sometimes personal exchanges online, Ms Gibson and Ms Smith stopped talking after the development of the Whole Pantry app. 'If I saw Belle now, I would just ask her to tell the truth. That's all I want. 'I don't want to see her beg people for mercy. I don't want her to beg for forgiveness - I just want the truth. 'Come clean, be transparent, let the world know where you're at. If you were misdiagnosed, own up to it. 'Belle DID create an exceptional application, that is loved by many, but I think she should sell it for what it is, complimentary medicines and a diet - not life saving treatment. 'All people want is the truth from her.' Close friends told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that Ms Gibson may have left for the United States. Police visited her home on Tuesday night to check on her welfare, but she was not there. Multiple calls to Ms Gibson's mobile rang out. Amid claims that the entrepreneur behind The Whole Pantry app has fled to country, more details about Belle Gibson's past are coming to light. The young social media personality - who came under fire after claims her 'terminal cancer' and incredible survival story from the life-threatening illness were false - once described herself as a psychopath. Ms Gibson has previously gone under the name of Annabelle Natalie Gibson, and tweeted in 2009: @bellmneb: 'Is a distinguished physcopath (sic),' the Herald Sun reported. The next month she sent another tweet, from the account which appears to have been removed. 'Obama won the nobel peace prize. This is more f***ed then (sic) the government giving me cancer. #obamawinsnobelprize,' it read. [/INST] Whole Pantry founder Belle Gibson has come under fire this week after friends raised doubts about her cancer survival story and charity donations .
Former school mates now query whether the 'drama queen' invented stories about her home life and spoke out against vaccinations during high school .
Another former friend who met Ms Gibson online said she felt 'shocked and betrayed' by the illusion the health guru created around her .
Friends claim the mother-of-one may have left the country after claims . </s> |
The BBC must change the way it funds itself to secure its future, the director-general warns today. In a speech to staff, Tony Hall will say he backs plans to overhaul the licence fee ‘to reflect changing times’. Lord Hall reveals he is open to a new universal levy on every household in the country – even those that do not own a television set or only watch programmes online or on catch-up services. BBC director-general Tony Hall, who says he will back plans to overhaul the licence fee 'to reflect changing times' This would lead to an estimated 500,000 extra households having to pay for a service they do not use or currently get free. The director-general’s speech at Broadcasting House in London comes just a week after a report by the MPs on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee said the £145.50-a-year TV licence fee system was outdated and should be replaced. The debate has stepped up a gear as negotiations on renewing the BBC’s Royal Charter in 2016 get under way. Expressing the BBC’s view, Lord Hall is expected to say: ‘We’ve always said that the licence fee should be updated to reflect changing times. ‘I welcome the committee’s endorsement of our proposal to make people pay the licence fee even if they only watch catch-up television. ‘The committee has suggested another route to modernising the licence fee – a universal household levy. Both proposals have the same goal in mind: adapting the licence fee for the internet age. Lord Hall made the speech to staff at BBC Broadcasting House, pictured, just a week after a report by the MPs on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee said the £145.50-a-year TV licence fee system was outdated and should be replaced . ‘I believe we need and we will need what the licence fee – in whatever form – makes happen more than ever.’ A universal tax would remove the need for the BBC to pursue those who do not pay the licence fee – a costly system that leads to a loss of between £196million - £235million a year. But ministers say the earliest it could be introduced would be 2026. A subscription system advocated by the select committee, is opposed by Lord Hall as ‘poor value’. He will warn that it could fatally diminish the BBC’s ability to compete on digital platforms with other providers such as Netflix, Google and Apple. | BBC director-general Tony Hall made a speech at Broadcasting House .
Said he will back plans to overhaul licence fee 'to reflect changing times'
Will be aimed at those who don't own a TV or only watch catch-up services .
Estimated an extra 500,000 households will pay for a service they don't use .
Comes after licence fee was branded outdated in a report by MPs last week . | 61591e03cdb95547554a434784bb830bf316ad0c | <s>[INST] The BBC must change the way it funds itself to secure its future, the director-general warns today. In a speech to staff, Tony Hall will say he backs plans to overhaul the licence fee ‘to reflect changing times’. Lord Hall reveals he is open to a new universal levy on every household in the country – even those that do not own a television set or only watch programmes online or on catch-up services. BBC director-general Tony Hall, who says he will back plans to overhaul the licence fee 'to reflect changing times' This would lead to an estimated 500,000 extra households having to pay for a service they do not use or currently get free. The director-general’s speech at Broadcasting House in London comes just a week after a report by the MPs on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee said the £145.50-a-year TV licence fee system was outdated and should be replaced. The debate has stepped up a gear as negotiations on renewing the BBC’s Royal Charter in 2016 get under way. Expressing the BBC’s view, Lord Hall is expected to say: ‘We’ve always said that the licence fee should be updated to reflect changing times. ‘I welcome the committee’s endorsement of our proposal to make people pay the licence fee even if they only watch catch-up television. ‘The committee has suggested another route to modernising the licence fee – a universal household levy. Both proposals have the same goal in mind: adapting the licence fee for the internet age. Lord Hall made the speech to staff at BBC Broadcasting House, pictured, just a week after a report by the MPs on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee said the £145.50-a-year TV licence fee system was outdated and should be replaced . ‘I believe we need and we will need what the licence fee – in whatever form – makes happen more than ever.’ A universal tax would remove the need for the BBC to pursue those who do not pay the licence fee – a costly system that leads to a loss of between £196million - £235million a year. But ministers say the earliest it could be introduced would be 2026. A subscription system advocated by the select committee, is opposed by Lord Hall as ‘poor value’. He will warn that it could fatally diminish the BBC’s ability to compete on digital platforms with other providers such as Netflix, Google and Apple. [/INST] BBC director-general Tony Hall made a speech at Broadcasting House .
Said he will back plans to overhaul licence fee 'to reflect changing times'
Will be aimed at those who don't own a TV or only watch catch-up services .
Estimated an extra 500,000 households will pay for a service they don't use .
Comes after licence fee was branded outdated in a report by MPs last week . </s> |
For many dads out there, they dream of their son making it as a professional footballer. But while this has its undoubted challenges, getting your child to support the same football team is surely a must. In this hilarious video, a young father perches his son on his knee, and begins a chant in honour of his favourite team - Nottingham Forest. After a reluctant start, 10-month-old Joshua soon throws himself into his father's Nottingham Forest chant . The toddler is well trained it seems, and almost as if he is on the terraces himself, he joins in with the actions football fans everywhere will recognise. The father shouts out 'Forest,' in reference to the Nottinghamshire club who play their football in Sky Bet Championship. At this point 10-month old Joshua raises his hands in the air. 'Come on you boys in red,' continues the father, which is met by the blonde-haired child clapping his hands together. The actions are met with a wide smile and attempts at copying his father's chants. With a cheeky smile, Joshua shows he is well on the way to following the Championship club . The man seated then shouts 'Nottingham's red and white' on two occasions, but the toddler's exertions appear to have tired him out, and he holds his hands behind his head. Nottingham Forest are sitting ten points of a play-off place in the Championship, and facing a tall order to reach the promised land of the Premier League. Maybe when he's older, Joshua might get to see Forest taking on the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal. | Ten-month-old Joshua looks well set to be a Forest fan .
Shows off actions every football fan will recognise as father chants .
Even tries to copy the vocals, but plenty of time to perfect that . | 77b02459678d3ef7ca7fbae7de55794cdae3e6d4 | <s>[INST] For many dads out there, they dream of their son making it as a professional footballer. But while this has its undoubted challenges, getting your child to support the same football team is surely a must. In this hilarious video, a young father perches his son on his knee, and begins a chant in honour of his favourite team - Nottingham Forest. After a reluctant start, 10-month-old Joshua soon throws himself into his father's Nottingham Forest chant . The toddler is well trained it seems, and almost as if he is on the terraces himself, he joins in with the actions football fans everywhere will recognise. The father shouts out 'Forest,' in reference to the Nottinghamshire club who play their football in Sky Bet Championship. At this point 10-month old Joshua raises his hands in the air. 'Come on you boys in red,' continues the father, which is met by the blonde-haired child clapping his hands together. The actions are met with a wide smile and attempts at copying his father's chants. With a cheeky smile, Joshua shows he is well on the way to following the Championship club . The man seated then shouts 'Nottingham's red and white' on two occasions, but the toddler's exertions appear to have tired him out, and he holds his hands behind his head. Nottingham Forest are sitting ten points of a play-off place in the Championship, and facing a tall order to reach the promised land of the Premier League. Maybe when he's older, Joshua might get to see Forest taking on the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal. [/INST] Ten-month-old Joshua looks well set to be a Forest fan .
Shows off actions every football fan will recognise as father chants .
Even tries to copy the vocals, but plenty of time to perfect that . </s> |
Following Bayern Munich's impressive display in Wednesday night's 7-0 win over Shakhtar, Pep Guardiola praised his 'fantastic' players as they eased into the Champions League quarter-finals. The Ukrainian side had Olexandr Kucher sent off after just three minutes - the quickest in the tournament's history - but the Spaniard's side remained professional throughout and the statistics make for impressive reading. After a tight 0-0 in the first leg, Guardiola was pleased with Bayern's performance and their ability to see the tie through. Pep Guardiola was delighted with his 'dominant' players after their emphatic victory over Shakhtar . Olexandr Kucher (right) brings down Mario Gotze and was sent off with Bayern scoring from the penalty . Thomas Muller (right) scored an impressive double for the German champions to carry on his terrific form . 'We are very pleased,' he admitted. 'We deserved the win. The players did fantastically. 'Of course it is a little easier against 10 men. But from the beginning we could see that the team was alert. Congratulations to the team, we dominated the game.' The scoreline was far from flattering for the German champions and it could have been more with the 25 shots they mustered up over 90 minutes. Bayern had 25 shots with 13 on target compared to Shakthar's three throughout the Champions League clash . Thomas Muller got a double, including a penalty following the red card. Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze also found the net - showing that Guardiola's side can score goals from all over the pitch. Incredibly, Arjen Robben was the outfield only player who started to not score or get an assist during the demolition of the Ukrainian side - and he was taken off injured after 19 minutes. This was the second time the Germans struck seven past the opposition in the Champions League following their stunning 7-1 win over Roma back in October. Arjen Robben was taken off after 19 minutes and was the only player to not score or provide an assist . Defender Holger Badstuber (28) scored a rare goal as he powered home a header to score the fifth . | Bayern Munich recorded an emphatic 7-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk .
Pep Guardiola was delighted with his side's 'dominant' win over Shakhtar .
Bayern hit seven goals in Champions League for second time this season .
They had six different goalscorers and posted impressive statistics .
READ: Guardiola insists Robben and Ribery injuries are 'not too serious' | b382b1c8958039e69aff8780d035faeb9e721ce8 | <s>[INST] Following Bayern Munich's impressive display in Wednesday night's 7-0 win over Shakhtar, Pep Guardiola praised his 'fantastic' players as they eased into the Champions League quarter-finals. The Ukrainian side had Olexandr Kucher sent off after just three minutes - the quickest in the tournament's history - but the Spaniard's side remained professional throughout and the statistics make for impressive reading. After a tight 0-0 in the first leg, Guardiola was pleased with Bayern's performance and their ability to see the tie through. Pep Guardiola was delighted with his 'dominant' players after their emphatic victory over Shakhtar . Olexandr Kucher (right) brings down Mario Gotze and was sent off with Bayern scoring from the penalty . Thomas Muller (right) scored an impressive double for the German champions to carry on his terrific form . 'We are very pleased,' he admitted. 'We deserved the win. The players did fantastically. 'Of course it is a little easier against 10 men. But from the beginning we could see that the team was alert. Congratulations to the team, we dominated the game.' The scoreline was far from flattering for the German champions and it could have been more with the 25 shots they mustered up over 90 minutes. Bayern had 25 shots with 13 on target compared to Shakthar's three throughout the Champions League clash . Thomas Muller got a double, including a penalty following the red card. Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze also found the net - showing that Guardiola's side can score goals from all over the pitch. Incredibly, Arjen Robben was the outfield only player who started to not score or get an assist during the demolition of the Ukrainian side - and he was taken off injured after 19 minutes. This was the second time the Germans struck seven past the opposition in the Champions League following their stunning 7-1 win over Roma back in October. Arjen Robben was taken off after 19 minutes and was the only player to not score or provide an assist . Defender Holger Badstuber (28) scored a rare goal as he powered home a header to score the fifth . [/INST] Bayern Munich recorded an emphatic 7-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk .
Pep Guardiola was delighted with his side's 'dominant' win over Shakhtar .
Bayern hit seven goals in Champions League for second time this season .
They had six different goalscorers and posted impressive statistics .
READ: Guardiola insists Robben and Ribery injuries are 'not too serious' </s> |
Ed Balls was accused of having ‘lost his marbles’ yesterday after painting an ‘apocalyptic’ picture of Britain under another five years of Conservative government. The Shadow Chancellor launched a Labour dossier suggesting three Government departments – the Foreign Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Transport – would ‘disappear’ if the Tories kept cutting spending at the current rate. Later however, Mr Balls was forced to admit that even he did not believe the Foreign Office would be abolished. Scroll down for video . Shadow chancellor Ed Balls (pictured at a conference yesterday) has been accused of having ‘lost his marbles’ after painting an ‘apocalyptic’ picture of Britain under another five years of a Tory government . The Tories said their plan to eliminate the deficit was necessary and accused Mr Balls of ‘absurd scaremongering’. The 31-page Labour document painted a bleak picture of life under a Conservative ‘35 per cent state’, a reference to plans to reduce public spending as a proportion of GDP. It suggested police cuts would fuel crime, a third of elderly people who receive state-funded social care would have it stopped and the NHS ‘as we know it’ would cease to exist. George Osborne’s ‘1930s plans’ would also mean the Army being reduced to its smallest size since Cromwell, the dossier suggested. Mr Balls insisted a Conservative Government would have to make £70billion of spending cuts to eliminate the budget deficit by 2017/18. He suggested avoiding some of the ‘extreme cuts’ outlined in the document would be possible only by raising VAT, slashing the NHS budget or imposing charges for healthcare. But he declined to set out how much spending Labour would cut if it regains office, or where the axe would fall. Asked if he ‘seriously believed that the Conservatives will close down the Foreign Office or close down the Department for Transport or close down the Department for Work and Pensions’, Mr Balls said: ‘No I don’t think that.’ When asked why such scenarios were included in the dossier, he said: ‘Because what the document says is if the Government was to do those spending cuts, which are bigger in the next parliament than in this parliament, on the same basis as in this parliament, that would mean closing the Foreign Office and the DWP. We don’t think they’ll do that.’ Public spending as a share of the entire economy will fall to just 35.2 per cent by 2018-19, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecasts of spending cuts . The Tories accused Ed Balls (pictured above) of ‘absurd scaremongering’ after he launched a Labour dossier which suggested three Government departments could disappear under the a Conservative government . Even the BBC’s assistant political editor Norman Smith described the scenario as ‘an apocalypse’. A Labour aide added that the document had set out an ‘implausible scenario’ to illustrate the difficulty of the Tories achieving their deficit reduction plan. Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps said the analysis was ‘nonsense’. He said his party had pledged to cut £30billion in the next parliament – £13billion from departmental budgets, £12billion from welfare and £5billion from closing tax loopholes. It sounds like the politics of the playground. Former Labour star James Purnell claims he and Ed Miliband aren’t friends any more. The ex-culture minister, now the BBC’s strategy chief, gave an interview saying he had always been close to Mr Miliband. But he later called the London Evening Standard journalist to insist: ‘When I said I was friends with Ed, that’s not completely right. I’m not friends with Ed any more.’ The exchange simultaneously raises questions about the BBC’s left wing ties and sheds light on insecurity among its upper ranks. ‘I think Balls has lost his marbles on this,’ he said. ‘He is making up a set of figures today and I think fairly ludicrously already having to back track from his speech in which he claimed the next Conservative government would be closing down major government departments. ‘That’s a sign of how chaotic Labour is.’ Mr Balls insisted that to achieve a budget surplus by the end of the next parliament, Mr Osborne would have to deliver ‘colossal cuts’ to public spending. ‘An unprecedented £70billion of spending cuts would be deeply destructive and close to impossible, even for this Chancellor,’ he said. ‘So George Osborne must surely have an alternative plan in his back pocket. These would lead to the smallest police force since comparable records began, the smallest Army since Cromwell, and over a third of older people receiving social care losing their entitlement to it. ‘There is a real risk that the Chancellor will be forced to break his promise to ring-fence the NHS.’ Labour has committed to only tiny spending cuts such as removing the winter fuel allowance from the richest pensioners. Treasury minister David Gauke said yesterday: ‘Ed Balls has today confirmed Labour’s policy of billions of pounds of tax rises, more borrowing and more debt.’ Labour's doom-laden dossier says the Tories’ ‘extreme plans’ would mean £70billion in cuts and have a ‘crushing impact’ on public services. James Chapman gives his verdict. Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls . END OF THE NHS . CLAIM: Labour said Tory plans are ‘so extreme as to make them close to impossible to deliver while maintaining current projections for areas such as the NHS... a 35 per cent state is not compatible with an NHS as we know it. If the Tories were to abandon the ring-fence, this could lead to £10billion being cut from the NHS budget.’ REALITY: The Conservative-led Coalition has repeatedly protected NHS spending from cuts – despite complaints that this has meant more painful reductions elsewhere – and repeated a pledge to ensure real-terms increases until 2020. Elsewhere in the world, the worst health cuts have come in countries that failed to control public spending – such as Portugal, Greece and Italy. FOREIGN OFFICE CLOSED . CLAIM: If cuts fell on government departments on the same basis as they did in this parliament, three of them – the Foreign Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Transport – would ‘cease to exist’. REALITY: Even Ed Balls admitted this scenario was absurd. Questioned afterwards, he said: ‘I don’t think they’re going to abolish the Foreign Office ... I don’t think they’re going to abolish the Department for Transport.’ POLICE CUT TO 1970S LEVELS . CLAIM: In the next parliament, Mr Balls said Tory plans ‘would be equivalent to 29,900 police officers lost and 6,700 PCSOs [police community support officers] lost’. This would take the overall numbers of police on the streets well below 100,000 and well below the levels of the late 1970s. REALITY: Crime is the best illustration of the Conservative mantra that it is possible to do ‘more for less in public services’. Despite Labour’s warning in 2010 that Home Secretary Theresa May was taking ‘huge risks with the public’s safety’ by cutting police funding, crime is down by more than a fifth. SMALLEST ARMY IN 350 YEARS . CLAIM: Labour suggested Tory plans would mean ‘the smallest Army since Cromwell’. There would be 34,500 fewer soldiers and 60,800 fewer personnel, which would ‘fundamentally impact on the UK’s ability to project power around the world at a time when we face multiple threats’. REALITY: Like Labour, the Tories have not guaranteed they will maintain defence spending at the Nato target of 2 per cent of national income, currently met by the UK and only four other Nato countries. But David Cameron has repeatedly pledged the Army will face no further cuts in manpower. He told the Commons in January: ‘As long as I am Prime Minister, the regular Army will stay at its current size.’ ELDERLY DENIED SOCIAL CARE . CLAIM: Labour says it is ‘safe to assume’ that ‘even deeper’ cuts would ‘have to be delivered through further restrictions on eligibility’. It forecasts that the number of older people receiving state-funded social care would fall by 260,000 – a third of the current total. The dossier says services would be withdrawn from people ‘who might struggle with daily living activities such as getting washed or dressed, or making a meal’. REALITY: At the cost of £1.6billion a year to the taxpayer, the Coalition is introducing a cap of £72,000 on the amount people have to contribute towards their own care, and introduced the first national guidelines on who should qualify for free care. Labour has suggested there will be no extra money for social care provided by local authorities under its plans. Ed Balls told the BBC in January: ‘There will be no additional funding for local government unless we can find money from somewhere else, but we have not been able to do that in the case of local government.’ | Shadow chancellor says next four years of cuts will be worse than last five .
Ed Balls accused of 'losing his marbles' after painting ‘apocalyptic’ picture .
Cuts will be 'the most extreme in post-war history', he warned in a speech .
Tories said plan to eliminate deficit was necessary and accused Mr Balls of ‘absurd scaremongering’ after his speech on UK under Tory government . | ef076f95ae170f4bb0dcf682d0488a741f9e9f25 | <s>[INST] Ed Balls was accused of having ‘lost his marbles’ yesterday after painting an ‘apocalyptic’ picture of Britain under another five years of Conservative government. The Shadow Chancellor launched a Labour dossier suggesting three Government departments – the Foreign Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Transport – would ‘disappear’ if the Tories kept cutting spending at the current rate. Later however, Mr Balls was forced to admit that even he did not believe the Foreign Office would be abolished. Scroll down for video . Shadow chancellor Ed Balls (pictured at a conference yesterday) has been accused of having ‘lost his marbles’ after painting an ‘apocalyptic’ picture of Britain under another five years of a Tory government . The Tories said their plan to eliminate the deficit was necessary and accused Mr Balls of ‘absurd scaremongering’. The 31-page Labour document painted a bleak picture of life under a Conservative ‘35 per cent state’, a reference to plans to reduce public spending as a proportion of GDP. It suggested police cuts would fuel crime, a third of elderly people who receive state-funded social care would have it stopped and the NHS ‘as we know it’ would cease to exist. George Osborne’s ‘1930s plans’ would also mean the Army being reduced to its smallest size since Cromwell, the dossier suggested. Mr Balls insisted a Conservative Government would have to make £70billion of spending cuts to eliminate the budget deficit by 2017/18. He suggested avoiding some of the ‘extreme cuts’ outlined in the document would be possible only by raising VAT, slashing the NHS budget or imposing charges for healthcare. But he declined to set out how much spending Labour would cut if it regains office, or where the axe would fall. Asked if he ‘seriously believed that the Conservatives will close down the Foreign Office or close down the Department for Transport or close down the Department for Work and Pensions’, Mr Balls said: ‘No I don’t think that.’ When asked why such scenarios were included in the dossier, he said: ‘Because what the document says is if the Government was to do those spending cuts, which are bigger in the next parliament than in this parliament, on the same basis as in this parliament, that would mean closing the Foreign Office and the DWP. We don’t think they’ll do that.’ Public spending as a share of the entire economy will fall to just 35.2 per cent by 2018-19, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecasts of spending cuts . The Tories accused Ed Balls (pictured above) of ‘absurd scaremongering’ after he launched a Labour dossier which suggested three Government departments could disappear under the a Conservative government . Even the BBC’s assistant political editor Norman Smith described the scenario as ‘an apocalypse’. A Labour aide added that the document had set out an ‘implausible scenario’ to illustrate the difficulty of the Tories achieving their deficit reduction plan. Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps said the analysis was ‘nonsense’. He said his party had pledged to cut £30billion in the next parliament – £13billion from departmental budgets, £12billion from welfare and £5billion from closing tax loopholes. It sounds like the politics of the playground. Former Labour star James Purnell claims he and Ed Miliband aren’t friends any more. The ex-culture minister, now the BBC’s strategy chief, gave an interview saying he had always been close to Mr Miliband. But he later called the London Evening Standard journalist to insist: ‘When I said I was friends with Ed, that’s not completely right. I’m not friends with Ed any more.’ The exchange simultaneously raises questions about the BBC’s left wing ties and sheds light on insecurity among its upper ranks. ‘I think Balls has lost his marbles on this,’ he said. ‘He is making up a set of figures today and I think fairly ludicrously already having to back track from his speech in which he claimed the next Conservative government would be closing down major government departments. ‘That’s a sign of how chaotic Labour is.’ Mr Balls insisted that to achieve a budget surplus by the end of the next parliament, Mr Osborne would have to deliver ‘colossal cuts’ to public spending. ‘An unprecedented £70billion of spending cuts would be deeply destructive and close to impossible, even for this Chancellor,’ he said. ‘So George Osborne must surely have an alternative plan in his back pocket. These would lead to the smallest police force since comparable records began, the smallest Army since Cromwell, and over a third of older people receiving social care losing their entitlement to it. ‘There is a real risk that the Chancellor will be forced to break his promise to ring-fence the NHS.’ Labour has committed to only tiny spending cuts such as removing the winter fuel allowance from the richest pensioners. Treasury minister David Gauke said yesterday: ‘Ed Balls has today confirmed Labour’s policy of billions of pounds of tax rises, more borrowing and more debt.’ Labour's doom-laden dossier says the Tories’ ‘extreme plans’ would mean £70billion in cuts and have a ‘crushing impact’ on public services. James Chapman gives his verdict. Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls . END OF THE NHS . CLAIM: Labour said Tory plans are ‘so extreme as to make them close to impossible to deliver while maintaining current projections for areas such as the NHS... a 35 per cent state is not compatible with an NHS as we know it. If the Tories were to abandon the ring-fence, this could lead to £10billion being cut from the NHS budget.’ REALITY: The Conservative-led Coalition has repeatedly protected NHS spending from cuts – despite complaints that this has meant more painful reductions elsewhere – and repeated a pledge to ensure real-terms increases until 2020. Elsewhere in the world, the worst health cuts have come in countries that failed to control public spending – such as Portugal, Greece and Italy. FOREIGN OFFICE CLOSED . CLAIM: If cuts fell on government departments on the same basis as they did in this parliament, three of them – the Foreign Office, Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Transport – would ‘cease to exist’. REALITY: Even Ed Balls admitted this scenario was absurd. Questioned afterwards, he said: ‘I don’t think they’re going to abolish the Foreign Office ... I don’t think they’re going to abolish the Department for Transport.’ POLICE CUT TO 1970S LEVELS . CLAIM: In the next parliament, Mr Balls said Tory plans ‘would be equivalent to 29,900 police officers lost and 6,700 PCSOs [police community support officers] lost’. This would take the overall numbers of police on the streets well below 100,000 and well below the levels of the late 1970s. REALITY: Crime is the best illustration of the Conservative mantra that it is possible to do ‘more for less in public services’. Despite Labour’s warning in 2010 that Home Secretary Theresa May was taking ‘huge risks with the public’s safety’ by cutting police funding, crime is down by more than a fifth. SMALLEST ARMY IN 350 YEARS . CLAIM: Labour suggested Tory plans would mean ‘the smallest Army since Cromwell’. There would be 34,500 fewer soldiers and 60,800 fewer personnel, which would ‘fundamentally impact on the UK’s ability to project power around the world at a time when we face multiple threats’. REALITY: Like Labour, the Tories have not guaranteed they will maintain defence spending at the Nato target of 2 per cent of national income, currently met by the UK and only four other Nato countries. But David Cameron has repeatedly pledged the Army will face no further cuts in manpower. He told the Commons in January: ‘As long as I am Prime Minister, the regular Army will stay at its current size.’ ELDERLY DENIED SOCIAL CARE . CLAIM: Labour says it is ‘safe to assume’ that ‘even deeper’ cuts would ‘have to be delivered through further restrictions on eligibility’. It forecasts that the number of older people receiving state-funded social care would fall by 260,000 – a third of the current total. The dossier says services would be withdrawn from people ‘who might struggle with daily living activities such as getting washed or dressed, or making a meal’. REALITY: At the cost of £1.6billion a year to the taxpayer, the Coalition is introducing a cap of £72,000 on the amount people have to contribute towards their own care, and introduced the first national guidelines on who should qualify for free care. Labour has suggested there will be no extra money for social care provided by local authorities under its plans. Ed Balls told the BBC in January: ‘There will be no additional funding for local government unless we can find money from somewhere else, but we have not been able to do that in the case of local government.’ [/INST] Shadow chancellor says next four years of cuts will be worse than last five .
Ed Balls accused of 'losing his marbles' after painting ‘apocalyptic’ picture .
Cuts will be 'the most extreme in post-war history', he warned in a speech .
Tories said plan to eliminate deficit was necessary and accused Mr Balls of ‘absurd scaremongering’ after his speech on UK under Tory government . </s> |
A dentist investigating a schoolgirl with swollen gums was horrified to discover more than a dozen maggots living inside her mouth. Ana Cardoso, 10, had been taken to the clinic in Brazil after complaining of a tingling sensation in her gums and things 'moving around'. Her stunned mother Adriana, 35, said: 'She had been saying for a few days that she felt something moving around in her mouth and at first I thought she was joking. 'I couldn't see anything and she didn't seem to be in pain. Ana Cardoso, 10, had been taken to the clinic in Brazil after complaining of a tingling sensation in her gums and things 'moving around' 'But then it started getting worse and no matter how much we brushed her teeth she said she still felt something. 'I know my daughter and she is not one to make up stories or lie, so eventually I took her to see a dentist.' There, Ana, from the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, was diagnosed with a rare form of oral myiasis. This is a fly lava maggot infection that grows in humans and animals. 'I couldn't believe it when they said she had a disease and then started pulling the maggots out,' said Ms Cardoso. 'I thought I was going to be sick.' A spokesman for the dental surgery said: 'There were 15 maggots in her mouth so we videoed the removal for our records as it is a rare occurrence. 'We also wanted to show the girl's family what had happened and warn others.' The video shows Ana's reaction as a surgeon in white gloves takes out one maggot at a time with a pair of tweezers. Ms Cardoso said: 'She was actually very calm throughout the whole process but I suspect that was more out of helplessness. 'I mean, what else could she do?' Myiasis comes from the Latin word 'myia' meaning fly and 'iasis' means disease. The flies' larvae can feed on the host's living or dead tissue, liquid body substance, or ingested food. When the tissues in the oral cavity are invaded by parasites, this is known as oral myiasis. Those at risk of the rare condition include those from poorer social backgrounds and people who have suffered wounds or other injury to the face. It is also more common in regions with a warmer climate. Infestations of the nose and ears are dangerous because of the possibility of penetration into the brain, the fatality rate is 8 per cent in such cases. | Ana Cardoso, 10, had been taken to the clinic in Brazil's capital, Brasilia .
Had complained of tingling sensation in gums and things 'moving around'
Dentist was shocked to discover fly lava maggot infection inside her gums .
Called oral myiasis, it had caused 15 maggots to form in her mouth . | a6205f9cc94749c1ffaecf17c73657ed1f808425 | <s>[INST] A dentist investigating a schoolgirl with swollen gums was horrified to discover more than a dozen maggots living inside her mouth. Ana Cardoso, 10, had been taken to the clinic in Brazil after complaining of a tingling sensation in her gums and things 'moving around'. Her stunned mother Adriana, 35, said: 'She had been saying for a few days that she felt something moving around in her mouth and at first I thought she was joking. 'I couldn't see anything and she didn't seem to be in pain. Ana Cardoso, 10, had been taken to the clinic in Brazil after complaining of a tingling sensation in her gums and things 'moving around' 'But then it started getting worse and no matter how much we brushed her teeth she said she still felt something. 'I know my daughter and she is not one to make up stories or lie, so eventually I took her to see a dentist.' There, Ana, from the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, was diagnosed with a rare form of oral myiasis. This is a fly lava maggot infection that grows in humans and animals. 'I couldn't believe it when they said she had a disease and then started pulling the maggots out,' said Ms Cardoso. 'I thought I was going to be sick.' A spokesman for the dental surgery said: 'There were 15 maggots in her mouth so we videoed the removal for our records as it is a rare occurrence. 'We also wanted to show the girl's family what had happened and warn others.' The video shows Ana's reaction as a surgeon in white gloves takes out one maggot at a time with a pair of tweezers. Ms Cardoso said: 'She was actually very calm throughout the whole process but I suspect that was more out of helplessness. 'I mean, what else could she do?' Myiasis comes from the Latin word 'myia' meaning fly and 'iasis' means disease. The flies' larvae can feed on the host's living or dead tissue, liquid body substance, or ingested food. When the tissues in the oral cavity are invaded by parasites, this is known as oral myiasis. Those at risk of the rare condition include those from poorer social backgrounds and people who have suffered wounds or other injury to the face. It is also more common in regions with a warmer climate. Infestations of the nose and ears are dangerous because of the possibility of penetration into the brain, the fatality rate is 8 per cent in such cases. [/INST] Ana Cardoso, 10, had been taken to the clinic in Brazil's capital, Brasilia .
Had complained of tingling sensation in gums and things 'moving around'
Dentist was shocked to discover fly lava maggot infection inside her gums .
Called oral myiasis, it had caused 15 maggots to form in her mouth . </s> |
The parents of teenagers who flee Britain to join ISIS should take more responsibility for their children's actions, a senior police officer has said. Sir Peter Fahy, one of the country's leading counter terrorism officers, said families are more to blame for young jihadis who runaway to Syria than the police, schools or local authorities. Rather than report their concerns to police for fear of being criticised, some parents are guilty of embracing 'victimhood' when their children leave, he claimed. Scroll down for video . Sir Peter Fahy (above) said the parents of jihadi runaways should take more responsibility for their actions . Sir Peter's comments come after the families of three jihadi schoolgirls claimed police had not done enough to prevent their daughters from leaving the country. Kadiza Sultana, 16, Amira Abase and Shamima Begum, both 15, fled their north London homes in February. They are thought to have joined former classmate Sharmeena Begum in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa. Their families have since lambasted police for not warning them that Sharmeena had earlier travelled to Syria. But Sir Peter has slammed their 'ill-advised' condemnation which he says could lead to a 'backlash'. A senior police officer claimed the families of runaway jihadis were embracing 'victimhood'. Fahmida Aziz (left), Sahima Begum (centre), and Abase Hussen (right), criticised police in front of a Home Affairs Select Committee when three London schoolgirls fled for Syria . Kadiza Sultana, 16, Amira Abase and Shamima Begum, both 15, fled their north London homes in February and were seen on CCTV in Turkey shortly afterwards . 'What is ill-advised is to just blame the police, blame the authorities, blame the school, when the absolute prime responsibility for the welfare of children lies with parents,' he told The Times. 'I'm not saying that is easy. But it creates the conditions for a backlash which again is not positive.' His comments come after the the schoolgirls' families castigated police for not warning them of concerns before the girls fled the country in February. Sharmeena Begum fled the country months earlier . Sitting before a Home Affairs Select Committee, they claimed they should have been told directly that their daughter's friend and classmate, Sharmeena Begum, had gone to Syria to pursue terrorists. In a joint statement, they said: 'With respect to the disappearance of our children we have been disappointed by the handling of this matter by the school, Met police and the local authority, all of whom we feel failed to act appropriately and pass on vital information to us or indeed between each other. 'As parents, we expect the safeguarding of our children to be the top priority of schools and the local authority whilst our children are in their care. 'Had we been made aware of circumstances sooner, we ourselves could have taken measures to stop the girls from leaving the UK.' While Metropolitan Police delivered letters to the three girls, its Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, admitted their parents should have been contacted directly. Sharmeena, 15, left the home she shared with her father in north London shortly after his second marriage. Her mother had not long died. Mohammad Uddin claimed his daughter was targeted by shadowy extremists on her mobile phone. Earlier this week the father of a private schoolgirl from Glasgow who fled Scotland to become a jihadi bride denied his daughter had recruited Sharmeena's classmates. Aqsa Mahmood was accused of encouraging Shamima Begum to join her in Syria after communicating with the teenager over Twitter. But her father, Muzaffar Mahmood, said she had no part in the London schoolgirls' departure to the country, claiming Aqsa had been in touch with him to dismiss the accusations. Mohammad Uddin with pictures of his teenage daughter, Sharmeena Begum. He said he believes she was targeted by extremists over social media, a concern rife among other Muslim mothers . He claimed the media was focusing solely on his daughter and blaming her for other teenagers travelling to ISIS governed regions. 'She texted when this was going on,' he said. 'She was never in contact with them and I believe her. 'A lot of press - everything happening is Aqsa Mahmood,' he said. 'We feel really bad when we hear in the press that she recruited them. 'We regret what she is doing and we condemn what's going on over there but she hasn't been in touch with them [the runaway girls] at all. It's very painful.' Shamima contacted Aqsa on Twitter, requesting that she follow her so the pair could speak privately via direct messaging. Such methods of communication are common among ISIS recruiters,with many parents fearing their children are at risk of being groomed over social media. Organisers of an event in Cardiff today claimed some families were 'in denial' when it came the dangers of websites used by militants to communicate with teenagers in Britain. The father of jihadi bride Aqsa Mahmood (pictured left and right) denies she was involved in recruiting three London schoolgirls believed to have travelled to Syria to join Islamic State . Muzaffar Mahmood said his daughter had contacted the family to insist she didn't know the names of the missing London schoolgirls, and he said he believed her . Shakila Malik, who has two teenage sons, said she was disappointed by the reactions of some mothers who think they are unaffected by extremist. 'Personally I don't think some (mothers) are ware,' the community youth worker said. 'They just think it's a joke and children are not being groomed. They are in denial.' The conference was put together by the charity Inspire, launched last year in response to the growing threat of extremism. Speakers encouraged around 50 Muslim mothers to instill confidence in their children and talk to them about radicalisation. Worried parents should contact the child's teachers, imam and even the police, Sara Khan, who started the charity, said. In the most drastic cases parents could confiscate their child's passport to stop them from leaving the country, she said. 'It is also important parents understand why IS is appealing and to give their children the theological counter narratives,' added Mrs Khan. | Sir Peter Fahy said the 'prime responsibility' for runaways lies with parents .
He claimed the families of youngsters who have fled embrace 'victimhood'
Police, schools and local authorities are not be to blame, he added .
Comes after relatives of three London schoolgirls lambasted Scotland Yard .
Claimed they should have been told the girls' classmate had gone to Syria .
Now all four youngsters are thought to be in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa .
Elsewhere Muslim mothers said families were 'in denial' about extremism . | a0ffa55f285410de9eca352188945bf9b71f9610 | <s>[INST] The parents of teenagers who flee Britain to join ISIS should take more responsibility for their children's actions, a senior police officer has said. Sir Peter Fahy, one of the country's leading counter terrorism officers, said families are more to blame for young jihadis who runaway to Syria than the police, schools or local authorities. Rather than report their concerns to police for fear of being criticised, some parents are guilty of embracing 'victimhood' when their children leave, he claimed. Scroll down for video . Sir Peter Fahy (above) said the parents of jihadi runaways should take more responsibility for their actions . Sir Peter's comments come after the families of three jihadi schoolgirls claimed police had not done enough to prevent their daughters from leaving the country. Kadiza Sultana, 16, Amira Abase and Shamima Begum, both 15, fled their north London homes in February. They are thought to have joined former classmate Sharmeena Begum in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa. Their families have since lambasted police for not warning them that Sharmeena had earlier travelled to Syria. But Sir Peter has slammed their 'ill-advised' condemnation which he says could lead to a 'backlash'. A senior police officer claimed the families of runaway jihadis were embracing 'victimhood'. Fahmida Aziz (left), Sahima Begum (centre), and Abase Hussen (right), criticised police in front of a Home Affairs Select Committee when three London schoolgirls fled for Syria . Kadiza Sultana, 16, Amira Abase and Shamima Begum, both 15, fled their north London homes in February and were seen on CCTV in Turkey shortly afterwards . 'What is ill-advised is to just blame the police, blame the authorities, blame the school, when the absolute prime responsibility for the welfare of children lies with parents,' he told The Times. 'I'm not saying that is easy. But it creates the conditions for a backlash which again is not positive.' His comments come after the the schoolgirls' families castigated police for not warning them of concerns before the girls fled the country in February. Sharmeena Begum fled the country months earlier . Sitting before a Home Affairs Select Committee, they claimed they should have been told directly that their daughter's friend and classmate, Sharmeena Begum, had gone to Syria to pursue terrorists. In a joint statement, they said: 'With respect to the disappearance of our children we have been disappointed by the handling of this matter by the school, Met police and the local authority, all of whom we feel failed to act appropriately and pass on vital information to us or indeed between each other. 'As parents, we expect the safeguarding of our children to be the top priority of schools and the local authority whilst our children are in their care. 'Had we been made aware of circumstances sooner, we ourselves could have taken measures to stop the girls from leaving the UK.' While Metropolitan Police delivered letters to the three girls, its Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, admitted their parents should have been contacted directly. Sharmeena, 15, left the home she shared with her father in north London shortly after his second marriage. Her mother had not long died. Mohammad Uddin claimed his daughter was targeted by shadowy extremists on her mobile phone. Earlier this week the father of a private schoolgirl from Glasgow who fled Scotland to become a jihadi bride denied his daughter had recruited Sharmeena's classmates. Aqsa Mahmood was accused of encouraging Shamima Begum to join her in Syria after communicating with the teenager over Twitter. But her father, Muzaffar Mahmood, said she had no part in the London schoolgirls' departure to the country, claiming Aqsa had been in touch with him to dismiss the accusations. Mohammad Uddin with pictures of his teenage daughter, Sharmeena Begum. He said he believes she was targeted by extremists over social media, a concern rife among other Muslim mothers . He claimed the media was focusing solely on his daughter and blaming her for other teenagers travelling to ISIS governed regions. 'She texted when this was going on,' he said. 'She was never in contact with them and I believe her. 'A lot of press - everything happening is Aqsa Mahmood,' he said. 'We feel really bad when we hear in the press that she recruited them. 'We regret what she is doing and we condemn what's going on over there but she hasn't been in touch with them [the runaway girls] at all. It's very painful.' Shamima contacted Aqsa on Twitter, requesting that she follow her so the pair could speak privately via direct messaging. Such methods of communication are common among ISIS recruiters,with many parents fearing their children are at risk of being groomed over social media. Organisers of an event in Cardiff today claimed some families were 'in denial' when it came the dangers of websites used by militants to communicate with teenagers in Britain. The father of jihadi bride Aqsa Mahmood (pictured left and right) denies she was involved in recruiting three London schoolgirls believed to have travelled to Syria to join Islamic State . Muzaffar Mahmood said his daughter had contacted the family to insist she didn't know the names of the missing London schoolgirls, and he said he believed her . Shakila Malik, who has two teenage sons, said she was disappointed by the reactions of some mothers who think they are unaffected by extremist. 'Personally I don't think some (mothers) are ware,' the community youth worker said. 'They just think it's a joke and children are not being groomed. They are in denial.' The conference was put together by the charity Inspire, launched last year in response to the growing threat of extremism. Speakers encouraged around 50 Muslim mothers to instill confidence in their children and talk to them about radicalisation. Worried parents should contact the child's teachers, imam and even the police, Sara Khan, who started the charity, said. In the most drastic cases parents could confiscate their child's passport to stop them from leaving the country, she said. 'It is also important parents understand why IS is appealing and to give their children the theological counter narratives,' added Mrs Khan. [/INST] Sir Peter Fahy said the 'prime responsibility' for runaways lies with parents .
He claimed the families of youngsters who have fled embrace 'victimhood'
Police, schools and local authorities are not be to blame, he added .
Comes after relatives of three London schoolgirls lambasted Scotland Yard .
Claimed they should have been told the girls' classmate had gone to Syria .
Now all four youngsters are thought to be in the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa .
Elsewhere Muslim mothers said families were 'in denial' about extremism . </s> |
Ronny Deila has branded Dundee United’s Aidan Connolly a diver - then called on the SFA to prove they don’t just punish Celtic players for simulation. Connolly tumbled to win United’s goal from the penalty spot - scored by Nadir Ciftci - towards the end of the first half after ref Craig Thomson deemed he had been tripped by Anthony Stokes. In August, Celtic winger Derk Boerrigter was handed a two-match ban for diving to win a penalty in a 2-0 win at St Johnstone. And Deila insisted he was baffled as to why it’s only his team that is targeted – albeit he was seemingly unaware St Johnstone’s Brian Graham was also suspended for diving to win a penalty against Inverness in December. Celtic manager Ronny Deila wants retrospective action after claiming Aidan Connolly dived to win a penalty . The referee points to the spot after Connolly was brought down in the Celtic box during Scottish Cup clash . Celtic keeper Craig Gordon fails to stop Nadir Ciftci from giving Dundee United the lead at Tannadice . ‘The United penalty was a dive and hopefully it will be the same rules for everybody,’ fumed Deila. ‘We are the only team this season in the league to have a suspension for diving, Derk Boerrigter. ‘I said at the time it was no problem because that is the line that will be taken by everyone. But I don’t think anybody has had it since then. The Scottish players have been unbelievably good. They’ve not dived but if they do (like Connolly) it should be the same rules. ‘Is it the fault of the ref or the player they got a penalty? It’s both. But I accept people make mistakes. We have a rule where people look at things afterwards but I don’t see anybody else getting suspensions.’ Celtic defender Virgil van Dyke (right) was sent off after only nine minutes of the Scottish Cup quarter-final . In what appeared to be a case of mistaken identity, the referee also sent off Dundee United's Paul Paton . Dundee United had a second player sent off after Paul Dixon (3rd left) receives his marching orders . Deila will study footage of the melee that saw Virgil van Dijk ordered off alongside Paul Paton before deciding whether to appeal in a bid to clear him for Sunday’s League Cup final against United at Hampden. But Stefan Johansen will miss the Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Parkhead on March 18 after being booked yesterday. ‘I have looked at some pictures but it’s hard to see what happened,’ said Deila. ‘Virgil just said there was a tackle and suddenly somebody was holding his legs. There was some kicking of each other to get off each other. It was nothing. 'Hopefully everybody can play in the next game. Will we appeal? We will see. I actually didn’t know until now that Stefan is out of the replay. It’s good we have a big squad.’ Leigh Griffiths missed his chance to equalise for Celtic from the penalty spot . Griffiths made up for his penalty miss by drawing Celtic level with a header . Celtic captain Scott Brown celebrates with Griffiths as the game finishes in a 1-1 draw . Deila didn’t fear any further disciplinary problems in the final but took a swipe at the abysmal Tannadice pitch. ‘There is going to be a high temperature, yes, but I’m not worried. It is fantastic. That’s why we love football. We are fighting for big things, trophies, and we have to keep our discipline. But the pitch made it a fight today. It was nothing about playing football. If you are going to develop players in this league, you have to have pitches you can play on.’ Meanwhile, the SFA compliance officer could be forced to look at footage from Dutch TV in which Celtic’s John Guidetti is alleged to have performed a song during an interview including the words ‘the huns are deid’. A recent petition lobbying the Scottish Parliament was launched by a group of Rangers fans who claimed ‘huns’ is a derogatory term used against Protestants. | William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final ended in a 1-1 draw at Tannadice .
Referee sent off Celtic defender Virgil van Dyke and Dundee United's Paul Paton (in a case of mistaken identity) and Paul Dixon .
Ronny Deila has accused Aidan Connolly from diving to win a penalty .
Nadir Ciftci opened the scoring for the hosts from the penalty spot .
Leigh Griffiths missed a penalty before equalising for the Hoops . | 17466650c6e036fbf34eb6c768f5a19f4570600b | <s>[INST] Ronny Deila has branded Dundee United’s Aidan Connolly a diver - then called on the SFA to prove they don’t just punish Celtic players for simulation. Connolly tumbled to win United’s goal from the penalty spot - scored by Nadir Ciftci - towards the end of the first half after ref Craig Thomson deemed he had been tripped by Anthony Stokes. In August, Celtic winger Derk Boerrigter was handed a two-match ban for diving to win a penalty in a 2-0 win at St Johnstone. And Deila insisted he was baffled as to why it’s only his team that is targeted – albeit he was seemingly unaware St Johnstone’s Brian Graham was also suspended for diving to win a penalty against Inverness in December. Celtic manager Ronny Deila wants retrospective action after claiming Aidan Connolly dived to win a penalty . The referee points to the spot after Connolly was brought down in the Celtic box during Scottish Cup clash . Celtic keeper Craig Gordon fails to stop Nadir Ciftci from giving Dundee United the lead at Tannadice . ‘The United penalty was a dive and hopefully it will be the same rules for everybody,’ fumed Deila. ‘We are the only team this season in the league to have a suspension for diving, Derk Boerrigter. ‘I said at the time it was no problem because that is the line that will be taken by everyone. But I don’t think anybody has had it since then. The Scottish players have been unbelievably good. They’ve not dived but if they do (like Connolly) it should be the same rules. ‘Is it the fault of the ref or the player they got a penalty? It’s both. But I accept people make mistakes. We have a rule where people look at things afterwards but I don’t see anybody else getting suspensions.’ Celtic defender Virgil van Dyke (right) was sent off after only nine minutes of the Scottish Cup quarter-final . In what appeared to be a case of mistaken identity, the referee also sent off Dundee United's Paul Paton . Dundee United had a second player sent off after Paul Dixon (3rd left) receives his marching orders . Deila will study footage of the melee that saw Virgil van Dijk ordered off alongside Paul Paton before deciding whether to appeal in a bid to clear him for Sunday’s League Cup final against United at Hampden. But Stefan Johansen will miss the Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Parkhead on March 18 after being booked yesterday. ‘I have looked at some pictures but it’s hard to see what happened,’ said Deila. ‘Virgil just said there was a tackle and suddenly somebody was holding his legs. There was some kicking of each other to get off each other. It was nothing. 'Hopefully everybody can play in the next game. Will we appeal? We will see. I actually didn’t know until now that Stefan is out of the replay. It’s good we have a big squad.’ Leigh Griffiths missed his chance to equalise for Celtic from the penalty spot . Griffiths made up for his penalty miss by drawing Celtic level with a header . Celtic captain Scott Brown celebrates with Griffiths as the game finishes in a 1-1 draw . Deila didn’t fear any further disciplinary problems in the final but took a swipe at the abysmal Tannadice pitch. ‘There is going to be a high temperature, yes, but I’m not worried. It is fantastic. That’s why we love football. We are fighting for big things, trophies, and we have to keep our discipline. But the pitch made it a fight today. It was nothing about playing football. If you are going to develop players in this league, you have to have pitches you can play on.’ Meanwhile, the SFA compliance officer could be forced to look at footage from Dutch TV in which Celtic’s John Guidetti is alleged to have performed a song during an interview including the words ‘the huns are deid’. A recent petition lobbying the Scottish Parliament was launched by a group of Rangers fans who claimed ‘huns’ is a derogatory term used against Protestants. [/INST] William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final ended in a 1-1 draw at Tannadice .
Referee sent off Celtic defender Virgil van Dyke and Dundee United's Paul Paton (in a case of mistaken identity) and Paul Dixon .
Ronny Deila has accused Aidan Connolly from diving to win a penalty .
Nadir Ciftci opened the scoring for the hosts from the penalty spot .
Leigh Griffiths missed a penalty before equalising for the Hoops . </s> |
Three Delaware teenagers involved in videotaped assaults of a mentally disabled man have been sentenced to probation and house arrest, followed by placement in a secure juvenile facility. The teens were sentenced Monday after each pleaded guilty to a single felony count of crime against a vulnerable adult. The boys, two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old, were sentenced to probation and house arrest for the rest of the school year, followed by summer placement at a juvenile facility. Videos posted online showed the 27-year-old victim being body-slammed to the ground, stomped on and kicked, and repeatedly punched in the head. Scroll down for video . Attack: The victim (in gray) can be seen trying to stop the youths from attacking him . Violent: One of the boys picks the man up before throwing him to the ground. Others can be heard laughing . Hurt: The man, who can be heard groaning, was reportedly treated at the hospital afterwards for injuries . The defendants were charged with offensive touching, assault of a vulnerable adult, and conspiracy. Prosecutors later added hate-crime charges, which were dropped along with other charges following the guilty pleas. A video that was posted to YouTube shows a group of teenagers pursuing the victim as he shouts: 'Leave me alone!' One boy swings at the man, repeatedly punching him, before picking him up and throwing him to the ground on at least two occasions. The boys then crowd around the man - while one teenager who is filming the attack on his cellphone nears the man to get a closer shot as he writhes on the floor. A separate video reveals them attacking the man in a wooded area, Fox29 reported. In that attack, the victim can be heard crying, while a female voice says: 'You guys are so mean to him.' In September, the victim's mother Yana told WPVI that while initially seeing the video she felt 'Rage, anger - because of the situation, with him being mentally disabled, he doesn't do anything to anyone but be kind.' Yana told the television station her son Karon has Williams Syndrome. Those with Williams Syndrome often have an intellectual disability, heart defects, a slight stature and distinctive facial features, including a flat nasal bridge. Sufferers are often extremely friendly. 'He's not doing too good,' his godmother Debra Jackson told CBS3 in September. 'One, he's ashamed about it happening, he’s embarrassed.' She added that her godson thought the teenagers were his friends. That same month, one teenager who appeared in footage told CBS 3 that he assisted in reporting what happened. He said the assaults were filmed in Newark. He told the television station at the time 'The right thing to do was call the cops. If you beat up a mentally disabled person, you should be locked away for good.' Cruel: As the group surround him, one of the teenagers (with the backpack) is more concerned about getting a close-up snap of the victim than helping him . Concern: The victim's godmother and sister (seen in September) said that he is ashamed and thought the teens were his friends . See video below . | Three Delaware teenagers involved in videotaped assaults of a mentally disabled man have been sentenced .
Two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old, were sentenced to probation and house arrest for the rest of the school year .
That will be followed by summer placement at a juvenile facility .
The man has Williams syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that leaves sufferers with distinctive facial features and an extremely friendly nature . | 8a8e0f286bcde48f6fb9515fbcd7bc89d530f277 | <s>[INST] Three Delaware teenagers involved in videotaped assaults of a mentally disabled man have been sentenced to probation and house arrest, followed by placement in a secure juvenile facility. The teens were sentenced Monday after each pleaded guilty to a single felony count of crime against a vulnerable adult. The boys, two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old, were sentenced to probation and house arrest for the rest of the school year, followed by summer placement at a juvenile facility. Videos posted online showed the 27-year-old victim being body-slammed to the ground, stomped on and kicked, and repeatedly punched in the head. Scroll down for video . Attack: The victim (in gray) can be seen trying to stop the youths from attacking him . Violent: One of the boys picks the man up before throwing him to the ground. Others can be heard laughing . Hurt: The man, who can be heard groaning, was reportedly treated at the hospital afterwards for injuries . The defendants were charged with offensive touching, assault of a vulnerable adult, and conspiracy. Prosecutors later added hate-crime charges, which were dropped along with other charges following the guilty pleas. A video that was posted to YouTube shows a group of teenagers pursuing the victim as he shouts: 'Leave me alone!' One boy swings at the man, repeatedly punching him, before picking him up and throwing him to the ground on at least two occasions. The boys then crowd around the man - while one teenager who is filming the attack on his cellphone nears the man to get a closer shot as he writhes on the floor. A separate video reveals them attacking the man in a wooded area, Fox29 reported. In that attack, the victim can be heard crying, while a female voice says: 'You guys are so mean to him.' In September, the victim's mother Yana told WPVI that while initially seeing the video she felt 'Rage, anger - because of the situation, with him being mentally disabled, he doesn't do anything to anyone but be kind.' Yana told the television station her son Karon has Williams Syndrome. Those with Williams Syndrome often have an intellectual disability, heart defects, a slight stature and distinctive facial features, including a flat nasal bridge. Sufferers are often extremely friendly. 'He's not doing too good,' his godmother Debra Jackson told CBS3 in September. 'One, he's ashamed about it happening, he’s embarrassed.' She added that her godson thought the teenagers were his friends. That same month, one teenager who appeared in footage told CBS 3 that he assisted in reporting what happened. He said the assaults were filmed in Newark. He told the television station at the time 'The right thing to do was call the cops. If you beat up a mentally disabled person, you should be locked away for good.' Cruel: As the group surround him, one of the teenagers (with the backpack) is more concerned about getting a close-up snap of the victim than helping him . Concern: The victim's godmother and sister (seen in September) said that he is ashamed and thought the teens were his friends . See video below . [/INST] Three Delaware teenagers involved in videotaped assaults of a mentally disabled man have been sentenced .
Two 15-year-olds and a 14-year-old, were sentenced to probation and house arrest for the rest of the school year .
That will be followed by summer placement at a juvenile facility .
The man has Williams syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that leaves sufferers with distinctive facial features and an extremely friendly nature . </s> |
The NHS has been forced to ask British doctors in Australia to come home due to a major shortfall in numbers. Around 1,000 more GPs are urgently needed in England, according to new figures released by the House of Commons library. It is thought that nearly 1,500 doctors - who cost the taxpayer up to £610,000 to train - move to Australia every year. To bridge the gap they have been offered a place on a 'fully funded' programme, which they can choose to be either full or part time, if they return. Around 1,000 more GPs are needed in England. An advert has been placed in two medical magazines asking doctors in Australia to come home to bridge the gap (stock picture) An advert was placed in the Australian Doctor and the Medical Observer by NHS England's Shropshire and Staffordshire area team and Health Education Midlands earlier this month. It said: 'This scheme will help you rediscover and enhance the skills you need to return, or start to practise in the UK. 'It's fully funded, so you will be supported whilst you complete the programme.' The NHS has simultaneously announced a £10million strategy to further tempt graduates and experienced medical staff. Under a quarter of trainees chose to go into general practice last year - with just over 5,000 applicants in total. But cash will now be offered if they work in an under-staffed area for three years. Andy Burnham (above), shadow minister for health, said the figures prove the NHS is suffering from a GP recruitment crisis . Andy Burnham, shadow minister for health, said the figures prove the NHS is suffering from a GP recruitment crisis. 'GP services have gone into freefall under this government. David Cameron promised to put GPs at the heart of the NHS, but instead caused a new GP recruitment crisis,' he told the Observer. But GP leaders have said that the advertisements will not solve the staffing crisis. Dr Ken Deacon, medical director of the North Midlands at NHS England, said that the problem was newly qualified GPs being outnumbered by those nearing retirement. The advert promised doctors currently working in Australia (Sydney Opera House above) that the scheme would 'help you rediscover and enhance the skills you need to return' A female-heavy workforce has also been blamed for the gap. The 'feminisation' of surgeries has led to the UK needing more trainees because women are more likely to work shorter hours than men, a report released by the Migration Advisory Committee last week claimed. This has contributed to an annual shortage of 450 to 550 GPs, the committee warned. It suggested that more needed to be done to recruit family doctors - including hiring extra foreign doctors from across the EU. A spokesperson for NHS England said that the central team had not previously been aware of the advertisement, but described it as a ‘positive scheme’. | Advert placed in two magazines promises 'fully funded' scheme on return .
Nearly 1,500 doctors move to Australia and New Zealand each year .
Around 1,000 more GPs are needed in England, according to new figures .
Andy Burnham MP said NHS is experiencing a 'GP recruitment crisis' | ce6f0e3e576049bd2214add34061cc11913462eb | <s>[INST] The NHS has been forced to ask British doctors in Australia to come home due to a major shortfall in numbers. Around 1,000 more GPs are urgently needed in England, according to new figures released by the House of Commons library. It is thought that nearly 1,500 doctors - who cost the taxpayer up to £610,000 to train - move to Australia every year. To bridge the gap they have been offered a place on a 'fully funded' programme, which they can choose to be either full or part time, if they return. Around 1,000 more GPs are needed in England. An advert has been placed in two medical magazines asking doctors in Australia to come home to bridge the gap (stock picture) An advert was placed in the Australian Doctor and the Medical Observer by NHS England's Shropshire and Staffordshire area team and Health Education Midlands earlier this month. It said: 'This scheme will help you rediscover and enhance the skills you need to return, or start to practise in the UK. 'It's fully funded, so you will be supported whilst you complete the programme.' The NHS has simultaneously announced a £10million strategy to further tempt graduates and experienced medical staff. Under a quarter of trainees chose to go into general practice last year - with just over 5,000 applicants in total. But cash will now be offered if they work in an under-staffed area for three years. Andy Burnham (above), shadow minister for health, said the figures prove the NHS is suffering from a GP recruitment crisis . Andy Burnham, shadow minister for health, said the figures prove the NHS is suffering from a GP recruitment crisis. 'GP services have gone into freefall under this government. David Cameron promised to put GPs at the heart of the NHS, but instead caused a new GP recruitment crisis,' he told the Observer. But GP leaders have said that the advertisements will not solve the staffing crisis. Dr Ken Deacon, medical director of the North Midlands at NHS England, said that the problem was newly qualified GPs being outnumbered by those nearing retirement. The advert promised doctors currently working in Australia (Sydney Opera House above) that the scheme would 'help you rediscover and enhance the skills you need to return' A female-heavy workforce has also been blamed for the gap. The 'feminisation' of surgeries has led to the UK needing more trainees because women are more likely to work shorter hours than men, a report released by the Migration Advisory Committee last week claimed. This has contributed to an annual shortage of 450 to 550 GPs, the committee warned. It suggested that more needed to be done to recruit family doctors - including hiring extra foreign doctors from across the EU. A spokesperson for NHS England said that the central team had not previously been aware of the advertisement, but described it as a ‘positive scheme’. [/INST] Advert placed in two magazines promises 'fully funded' scheme on return .
Nearly 1,500 doctors move to Australia and New Zealand each year .
Around 1,000 more GPs are needed in England, according to new figures .
Andy Burnham MP said NHS is experiencing a 'GP recruitment crisis' </s> |
Trevor Noah, the new host of The Daily Show, has spoken out in defense of himself following a social media backlash over comments he made about women and Jews in tweets dating back to 2009. The South-African comedian, who is little-known in the US, rocketed to national fame on Monday after he was named as longtime host Jon Stewart's replacement on the satirical news program. However, the excitement surrounding the announcement was tinged by hundreds of Internet users accusing the 31-year-old - who is a quarter Jewish - of anti-Semitism for his 'offensive' posts. But in a tweet on Tuesday, Noah told his two million followers: 'To reduce my views to a handful of jokes that didn’t land is not a true reflection of my character, nor my evolution as a comedian.' It comes as Comedy Central, which hired Noah as a correspondent on the show just three months ago, has defended its newest star as a 'provocative' comedian who 'spares noone, himself included'. Scroll down for video . Response: Trevor Noah (pictured), the new host of The Daily Show, has spoken out in defense of himself following an online backlash over comments he made about women and Jews in tweets dating back to 2009 . 'Not a true reflection': In a tweet on Tuesday, Noah told his two million followers: 'To reduce my views to a handful of jokes that didn’t land is not a true reflection of my character, nor my evolution as a comedian' This is one of the five tweets dating back to 2009 that bloggers have been dragging up and complaining about . One Twitter user accused Noah's remarks as being 'a tad stereotyped', as well as 'borderline anti-Semitic' Another user told Noah to 'grow up', adding he was 'no longer a fan' of the 31-year-old South African comedian . In a statement, the network said: 'To judge him or his comedy based on a handful of jokes is unfair.' It added: 'Trevor is a talented comedian with a bright future at Comedy Central.' Noah, the son of a half-Jewish Xhosa mother and a Swiss father, was a trending topic on Twitter on Monday night as he drew fire for jokes that were described as tasteless, hateful, and unfunny. The controversial tweets were posted between 2009 and 2014. In May last year, Noah tweeted: 'Behind every successful Rap Billionaire is a double as rich Jewish man. #BeatsByDreidel.' A year earlier, he posted: 'Note to self - Langostines are not Jewish prawns.' Meanwhile, during a soccer match in January 2012, he joked: 'Messi gets the ball and the real players try foul him, but Messi doesn't go down easy, just like jewish chicks. #ElClasico.' He also slammed the United States' midsection in a 2013 tweet, writing that 'When flying over the middle of America the turbulence is so bad. It's like all the ignorance is rising through the air.' And in 2009, Noah, who can speak an impressive six languages, wrote: 'Almost bumped a Jewish kid crossing the road. He didn't look b4 crossing but I still would hav felt so bad in my german car!' On Tuesday, the tweets were being posted online by enraged bloggers, who slammed Noah as 'racist'. One said: 'Jon Stewart, born Leibowitz, won't be happy about these highly antisemitic tweets.' Roseanne Barr was among those calling out the comic, who has a global following and two million Twitter followers, writing: 'U should cease sexist & anti semitic 'humor' about jewish women & Israel.' Meanwhile, a blogger posted Noah's tweets in an article, with the comment: 'Trevor Noah, the racist, hack taking over for Jon Stewart is also quite the anti-Semite too. Obama and progressive liberals really will love this guy. Among some of the skits that Trevor Noah came up with was the Black Hitler.' However, one Twitter user, Jack Obora@JackObora, had a different opinion on the matter. He tweeted: 'Seriously who reads through six years of tweets to try and find something to be offended about? #TrevorNoah #DailyShow.' Viewers have lamented the end of Jon Stewart's 16-year stint on the show . Regardless of users' opinions, the tweets showed a different side to Noah than the picture painted by Comedy Central and the comedian himself just a day earlier. In a phone interview on Monday from Dubai, where he was traveling on a comedy tour, Noah - who is no stranger to tackling controversial issues on-air - likened himself to New York-born Stewart. He said: 'One thing we both share: We are both progressives,' adding: 'traveling the world I've learned that progressives, regardless of their locations, think in a global space.' Noah, who joined The Daily Show just three months ago and speaks an impressive six languages, was being pitched by Comedy Central as reflecting a new age of global multiculturalism. He is 'a citizen of the world,' in the words of Michele Ganeless, the network's president. His dry, cutting humor was also singled out by producers as the winning formula to win over viewers. Successor: The 31-year-old South African comedian (pictured in 2012) has been named successor to Stewart, 52, who will step down from his role on the show this year . Appearance: In 2012, Noah became the first South African stand-up comedian to feature on NBC's The Tonight Show (pictured). In 2013, he became the first to appear on CBS's Late Show With David Letterman . Noah was named as the program's new host a little more than a month after Stewart unexpectedly announced he was leaving The Daily Show following 16 years as its principal voice. According to The New York Times, a slew of better-known potential replacements chose to move on to competing networks. However, the reaction to his appointment was overwhelmingly positive. Noah brings a wealth of hosting experience helping him, in Ganeless' words, check 'off every box' on her network's list of requirements. Also important: he has kindred spirit Stewart's blessing. 'All I needed in my life was Jon's blessing. That's what I have, so I'm looking forward to being part of The Best Damn News Show in the World,' Noah told the Associated Press. Although no dates have been disclosed, Stewart will likely depart by the end of the year. Noah, who grew up in Gauteng and starred on the South African soap opera, Isiding, will take over soon after. Tough act to follow: Noah was not surprisingly reverent of extremely popular departing host Jon Stewart as he tweeted Monday about the news he's the next host . On Monday, Ganeless spoke of the advantage of introducing Noah to a mainstream U.S. audience through The Daily Show, with viewers coming to the show he hosts with no preconceptions. 'They will get to discover him, and form their opinions of him, as they watch him host,' he said. But by Tuesday, some opinions were already forming. Weighing in on Noah's selection, a Slate column compared his vetting to that of Sarah Palin as a running mate for presidential candidate John McCain. The choice of a new host for The Daily Show is a critical decision not only for the satirical-news program, but for the network, whose identity has largely been forged by the Daily Show franchise, which for years was followed by the likewise signature The Colbert Report. By the end of this year, Comedy Central will have completely remade this programming block. In January, African-American comic Larry Wilmore replaced the The Colbert Report hosting The Nightly Show. Born to a black mother and white father in South Africa, 31-year-old Noah was not allowed to live with either parent and even passed off by family as albino because, under apartheid laws, different races could not mix . Trevor Noah, 31, grew up in Soweto, South Africa, the son of a Xhosa mother and Swiss father. 'My mother had to be very clandestine about who my father was,' Noah told the Times. 'He couldn't be on my birth certificate.' For much of his childhood, his African family passed him off as an albino. Under apartheid laws, different races could not mix and he was not allowed to live with either of his parents. He reportedly once cracked to an audience, 'I was born a crime.' Noah began doing stand-up in South Africa in his twenties and has since leveraged his ability to speak six languages into an international career. He's hosted his own late-night show in South Africa, radio shows and awards shows. Noah is also the only South African comedian to ever perform on The Late Show and Tonight Show. But don't be too quick to connect him to the Dark Continent. He told Letterman in 2013: . 'They make it sound like a guy in leopard skin's going to come running on the stage.' Nonetheless, Noah's past is firmly rooted in South Africa's turbulent racial history. 'I didn't live a normal life,' he told the Times. 'I grew up in a country that wasn't normal.' More specifically, Noah says that after he began to do stand-up in his 20s, he quickly became aware that 'speaking freely about anything, as a person of color, was considered treason.' News of his new role spread quickly in South Africa. 'Over the years, Mr. Noah has proved that laughter is the best medicine and has helped our country and its people to find healing through laughing at themselves,' said Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa. 'South Africa is a microcosm of the world and there is no doubt that a global audience will find resonance in his humor,' he added in an email. | Trevor Noah, 31, spoke out in defense of 'anti-Semitic' tweets on Tuesday .
Told two million followers they were not 'a true reflection of my character'
Added the 'handful of jokes' didn't represent his 'evolution as a comedian'
Comes as Comedy Central has also defended the new South-African host .
The network said he was 'provocative and 'spares noone, himself included'
Noah, who is a quarter Jewish, has been praised for cutting-edge humor .
One of his skits involves a 'Black Hitler'; Jon Stewart approves of him . | 91f98feffb250185ae4446e20c54e50898689cb2 | <s>[INST] Trevor Noah, the new host of The Daily Show, has spoken out in defense of himself following a social media backlash over comments he made about women and Jews in tweets dating back to 2009. The South-African comedian, who is little-known in the US, rocketed to national fame on Monday after he was named as longtime host Jon Stewart's replacement on the satirical news program. However, the excitement surrounding the announcement was tinged by hundreds of Internet users accusing the 31-year-old - who is a quarter Jewish - of anti-Semitism for his 'offensive' posts. But in a tweet on Tuesday, Noah told his two million followers: 'To reduce my views to a handful of jokes that didn’t land is not a true reflection of my character, nor my evolution as a comedian.' It comes as Comedy Central, which hired Noah as a correspondent on the show just three months ago, has defended its newest star as a 'provocative' comedian who 'spares noone, himself included'. Scroll down for video . Response: Trevor Noah (pictured), the new host of The Daily Show, has spoken out in defense of himself following an online backlash over comments he made about women and Jews in tweets dating back to 2009 . 'Not a true reflection': In a tweet on Tuesday, Noah told his two million followers: 'To reduce my views to a handful of jokes that didn’t land is not a true reflection of my character, nor my evolution as a comedian' This is one of the five tweets dating back to 2009 that bloggers have been dragging up and complaining about . One Twitter user accused Noah's remarks as being 'a tad stereotyped', as well as 'borderline anti-Semitic' Another user told Noah to 'grow up', adding he was 'no longer a fan' of the 31-year-old South African comedian . In a statement, the network said: 'To judge him or his comedy based on a handful of jokes is unfair.' It added: 'Trevor is a talented comedian with a bright future at Comedy Central.' Noah, the son of a half-Jewish Xhosa mother and a Swiss father, was a trending topic on Twitter on Monday night as he drew fire for jokes that were described as tasteless, hateful, and unfunny. The controversial tweets were posted between 2009 and 2014. In May last year, Noah tweeted: 'Behind every successful Rap Billionaire is a double as rich Jewish man. #BeatsByDreidel.' A year earlier, he posted: 'Note to self - Langostines are not Jewish prawns.' Meanwhile, during a soccer match in January 2012, he joked: 'Messi gets the ball and the real players try foul him, but Messi doesn't go down easy, just like jewish chicks. #ElClasico.' He also slammed the United States' midsection in a 2013 tweet, writing that 'When flying over the middle of America the turbulence is so bad. It's like all the ignorance is rising through the air.' And in 2009, Noah, who can speak an impressive six languages, wrote: 'Almost bumped a Jewish kid crossing the road. He didn't look b4 crossing but I still would hav felt so bad in my german car!' On Tuesday, the tweets were being posted online by enraged bloggers, who slammed Noah as 'racist'. One said: 'Jon Stewart, born Leibowitz, won't be happy about these highly antisemitic tweets.' Roseanne Barr was among those calling out the comic, who has a global following and two million Twitter followers, writing: 'U should cease sexist & anti semitic 'humor' about jewish women & Israel.' Meanwhile, a blogger posted Noah's tweets in an article, with the comment: 'Trevor Noah, the racist, hack taking over for Jon Stewart is also quite the anti-Semite too. Obama and progressive liberals really will love this guy. Among some of the skits that Trevor Noah came up with was the Black Hitler.' However, one Twitter user, Jack Obora@JackObora, had a different opinion on the matter. He tweeted: 'Seriously who reads through six years of tweets to try and find something to be offended about? #TrevorNoah #DailyShow.' Viewers have lamented the end of Jon Stewart's 16-year stint on the show . Regardless of users' opinions, the tweets showed a different side to Noah than the picture painted by Comedy Central and the comedian himself just a day earlier. In a phone interview on Monday from Dubai, where he was traveling on a comedy tour, Noah - who is no stranger to tackling controversial issues on-air - likened himself to New York-born Stewart. He said: 'One thing we both share: We are both progressives,' adding: 'traveling the world I've learned that progressives, regardless of their locations, think in a global space.' Noah, who joined The Daily Show just three months ago and speaks an impressive six languages, was being pitched by Comedy Central as reflecting a new age of global multiculturalism. He is 'a citizen of the world,' in the words of Michele Ganeless, the network's president. His dry, cutting humor was also singled out by producers as the winning formula to win over viewers. Successor: The 31-year-old South African comedian (pictured in 2012) has been named successor to Stewart, 52, who will step down from his role on the show this year . Appearance: In 2012, Noah became the first South African stand-up comedian to feature on NBC's The Tonight Show (pictured). In 2013, he became the first to appear on CBS's Late Show With David Letterman . Noah was named as the program's new host a little more than a month after Stewart unexpectedly announced he was leaving The Daily Show following 16 years as its principal voice. According to The New York Times, a slew of better-known potential replacements chose to move on to competing networks. However, the reaction to his appointment was overwhelmingly positive. Noah brings a wealth of hosting experience helping him, in Ganeless' words, check 'off every box' on her network's list of requirements. Also important: he has kindred spirit Stewart's blessing. 'All I needed in my life was Jon's blessing. That's what I have, so I'm looking forward to being part of The Best Damn News Show in the World,' Noah told the Associated Press. Although no dates have been disclosed, Stewart will likely depart by the end of the year. Noah, who grew up in Gauteng and starred on the South African soap opera, Isiding, will take over soon after. Tough act to follow: Noah was not surprisingly reverent of extremely popular departing host Jon Stewart as he tweeted Monday about the news he's the next host . On Monday, Ganeless spoke of the advantage of introducing Noah to a mainstream U.S. audience through The Daily Show, with viewers coming to the show he hosts with no preconceptions. 'They will get to discover him, and form their opinions of him, as they watch him host,' he said. But by Tuesday, some opinions were already forming. Weighing in on Noah's selection, a Slate column compared his vetting to that of Sarah Palin as a running mate for presidential candidate John McCain. The choice of a new host for The Daily Show is a critical decision not only for the satirical-news program, but for the network, whose identity has largely been forged by the Daily Show franchise, which for years was followed by the likewise signature The Colbert Report. By the end of this year, Comedy Central will have completely remade this programming block. In January, African-American comic Larry Wilmore replaced the The Colbert Report hosting The Nightly Show. Born to a black mother and white father in South Africa, 31-year-old Noah was not allowed to live with either parent and even passed off by family as albino because, under apartheid laws, different races could not mix . Trevor Noah, 31, grew up in Soweto, South Africa, the son of a Xhosa mother and Swiss father. 'My mother had to be very clandestine about who my father was,' Noah told the Times. 'He couldn't be on my birth certificate.' For much of his childhood, his African family passed him off as an albino. Under apartheid laws, different races could not mix and he was not allowed to live with either of his parents. He reportedly once cracked to an audience, 'I was born a crime.' Noah began doing stand-up in South Africa in his twenties and has since leveraged his ability to speak six languages into an international career. He's hosted his own late-night show in South Africa, radio shows and awards shows. Noah is also the only South African comedian to ever perform on The Late Show and Tonight Show. But don't be too quick to connect him to the Dark Continent. He told Letterman in 2013: . 'They make it sound like a guy in leopard skin's going to come running on the stage.' Nonetheless, Noah's past is firmly rooted in South Africa's turbulent racial history. 'I didn't live a normal life,' he told the Times. 'I grew up in a country that wasn't normal.' More specifically, Noah says that after he began to do stand-up in his 20s, he quickly became aware that 'speaking freely about anything, as a person of color, was considered treason.' News of his new role spread quickly in South Africa. 'Over the years, Mr. Noah has proved that laughter is the best medicine and has helped our country and its people to find healing through laughing at themselves,' said Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa. 'South Africa is a microcosm of the world and there is no doubt that a global audience will find resonance in his humor,' he added in an email. [/INST] Trevor Noah, 31, spoke out in defense of 'anti-Semitic' tweets on Tuesday .
Told two million followers they were not 'a true reflection of my character'
Added the 'handful of jokes' didn't represent his 'evolution as a comedian'
Comes as Comedy Central has also defended the new South-African host .
The network said he was 'provocative and 'spares noone, himself included'
Noah, who is a quarter Jewish, has been praised for cutting-edge humor .
One of his skits involves a 'Black Hitler'; Jon Stewart approves of him . </s> |
A woman and her boyfriend were mown down in a jealous attack by her obsessed love rival, who used her car as a weapon to drag them 40 metres along the road in a horrific attack. Sonita Claire smashed into Kevin O'Neill - the father of her child - and Mary Jane Kimble at 30mph, hitting them from behind as they walked hand-in-hand on a busy Derby street. Miss Kimble needed 22 stitches and her hair, scalp and blood were left on the bonnet of Claire's car, while her boyfriend Mr O'Neill suffered a broken neck and collar bone. But despite the 'horror movie-style attack' the couple, from Derby - who were both struck while Claire drove at 30mph towards them - are now engaged to be married and expecting a child together. Miss Kimble suffered serious injuries after she was hit at 30mph by her obsessed love rival . Mary-Jane Kimble (right) needed 22 stitches and her hair, scalp and blood was left on the bonnet of Sonita Claire's car, while her boyfriend Kevin O'Neill (left) suffered a broken neck and collar bone . Miss Kimble, 34, said that when she was first told what had happened to them after waking from a two-day coma she did not believe it. 'It sounded like the plot of a thriller movie,' she said. 'We were left unconscious in pools of blood. 'Kev had a broken neck and collar bone and I needed 22 stitches in my head. Claire, kitchen worker Mr O'Neill, and Miss Kimble had been caught in a 'love triangle' which had left Claire 'bitter and hurt', a court had previously heard. Mr O'Neill had first been in a relationship with Miss Kimble, and the couple had a child together, . But Miss Kimble said she became close to Claire, 28, in 2007 after her relationship with Mr O'Neill ended when their daughter Lily was around 15 months old. Sonita Claire, an aspiring actress from Derby, was jailed for seven years after she appeared at Nottingham Crown Court in January 2014 . Mr O'Neill started seeing Claire, a waitress at the bar where he worked, and Miss Kimble lost contact with both of them . But it was during this relationship that Claire, 28, started a dangerous obsession with Miss Kimble, and later secretly pretended that she and Mr O'Neill had split so she could befriend her love rival. A heavily pregnant Claire stopped Miss Kimble in the street, and told her she had split with Mr O'Neill and wanted their children – who would be half-siblings – to be close. Over the next seven years the pair became 'inseparable', with Miss Kimble and Claire bonding over their shared experiences. But it emerged that Claire was lying and had never split with Mr O'Neill. Miss Kimble only discovered the truth during a chance meeting with her ex-partner in the dentist – when he told her he had only recently spilt up with Claire. He also revealed Claire had become obsessed with Miss Kimble and lied about having passed on messages to Mr O'Neill from her. When Miss Kimble found out and got back together with Mr O'Neill, Claire – furious with jealousy – ran them both over. Claire, an aspiring actress from Derby, was jailed for seven years after she appeared at Nottingham Crown Court in January 2014. She admitted two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent. Judge Michael Stokes QC told her: 'Heaven has no rage like love turned to hatred, nor hell a woman like a woman scorned.' Mr O'Neill had first been in a relationship with Miss Kimble (pictured after the accident), before splitting and starting a romance with Claire . It was during this relationship that the Claire, 28, started a dangerous obsession with Miss Kimble, secretly befriending her while pretending that she and Mr O'Neill had split . Miss Kimble recalled how she met Mr O'Neill in 2002. 'He had sparkly eyes and cheeky grin,' she said. 'Friends and family reckoned it wouldn't last. We got engaged and although we didn't get round to planning the wedding, three happy years on, in January 2005, we had a daughter Lily. 'One evening, I took our baby girl to see Kev at the bar where he worked as a bouncer. Walking in, I noticed a pretty waitress chatting away to him. Kev told me she was called Sonita. 'He said she had a thing for him. But then he said, "She's got nothing on you".' Miss Kimble said problems started emerging around this time with Mr O'Neill spending less time at home. When their daughter was 15 months old in 2007 they separated. She continued: 'We didn't part on good terms and lost all contact. I heard through mutual friends that he'd started dating Sonita. It was months later when I came face-to-face with Sonita – she had a huge bump.' A card Sonita sent Mr O'Neill from prison . Miss Kimble said Claire told her she was Mr O'Neill's girlfriend and their child was due in a week. She continued: 'Six months later I bumped into her again. This time she was pushing a pram. 'She told me things were over with her and Kev. I felt sorry for her as I knew how tough it was being a single mum. 'So I arranged a play-date with her and a few weeks later she came round. She told me she had been sleeping with Kev when we were still together. 'I felt the wind knocked out of me, but we stayed friends. Years went by and Sonita and I became inseparable. 'Her and her boy would come for sleepovers and we'd gossip into the early hours over a glass of wine.' Miss Kimble said in January 2013 she told Claire she was planning to get back in touch with Mr O'Neill. 'I told her Lily needed her dad,' she said. 'Sonita kindly offered to pass on my messages, but I heard nothing from Kev. But one day in the dentist I bumped in with him. 'He told me he'd just broken up with Sonita. He said she'd become fixated on me. 'I was confused because Sonita had said they'd broken up seven years ago.' Mr O'Neill told Miss Kimble this was not the case – and explained the reason for their break up. 'He said Sonita had got weird,' she said. 'He said she had started dressing like me and was obsessed with us getting back together. 'I called Sonita and she admitted the truth. She said, 'I wanted to tell you but couldn't find the right time'. 'I told her she was crazy. After that Kev came round regularly to see Lily and the old feelings came back. Claire and Mr O'Neill in happier times, after the birth of their child. But she soon became dangerously obsessed with his ex-partner, Miss Kimble. She later ran the pair over after they got back together . 'We started dating and were happy. But Sonita bombarded me with abusive messages every day, even started waiting outside Lily's school. One day she texted, "I'm going to run you over". 'She sent Kev the same thing.' The pair were on the way to the police station to report the messages on October 6, 2013 when they were hit. 'I heard a car speeding up behind us,' Miss Kimble said. 'Then everything went black. 'The next thing I remember is waking up in hospital, my mum at my side.' The couple underwent treatment with Mr O'Neill needing surgery on his neck. They were in court to see Claire jailed. 'Now I'm pregnant again, and Kev and I are planning our wedding,' Miss Kimble said. 'This time it's forever.' | Mary-Jane Kimble needed 22 stitches and Kevin O'Neill broke neck .
Miss Kimble's hair, scalp and blood left on bonnet of Sonita Claire's car .
The two women were friends and later became love rivals over Mr O'Neill .
Couple, of Derby, both struck while Claire drove at 30mph towards them .
Miss Kimble and Mr O'Neill are now finally engaged to be married . | 6d1468c4c24fc2fdeb331ae5b7e6d81e3a1e2e2d | <s>[INST] A woman and her boyfriend were mown down in a jealous attack by her obsessed love rival, who used her car as a weapon to drag them 40 metres along the road in a horrific attack. Sonita Claire smashed into Kevin O'Neill - the father of her child - and Mary Jane Kimble at 30mph, hitting them from behind as they walked hand-in-hand on a busy Derby street. Miss Kimble needed 22 stitches and her hair, scalp and blood were left on the bonnet of Claire's car, while her boyfriend Mr O'Neill suffered a broken neck and collar bone. But despite the 'horror movie-style attack' the couple, from Derby - who were both struck while Claire drove at 30mph towards them - are now engaged to be married and expecting a child together. Miss Kimble suffered serious injuries after she was hit at 30mph by her obsessed love rival . Mary-Jane Kimble (right) needed 22 stitches and her hair, scalp and blood was left on the bonnet of Sonita Claire's car, while her boyfriend Kevin O'Neill (left) suffered a broken neck and collar bone . Miss Kimble, 34, said that when she was first told what had happened to them after waking from a two-day coma she did not believe it. 'It sounded like the plot of a thriller movie,' she said. 'We were left unconscious in pools of blood. 'Kev had a broken neck and collar bone and I needed 22 stitches in my head. Claire, kitchen worker Mr O'Neill, and Miss Kimble had been caught in a 'love triangle' which had left Claire 'bitter and hurt', a court had previously heard. Mr O'Neill had first been in a relationship with Miss Kimble, and the couple had a child together, . But Miss Kimble said she became close to Claire, 28, in 2007 after her relationship with Mr O'Neill ended when their daughter Lily was around 15 months old. Sonita Claire, an aspiring actress from Derby, was jailed for seven years after she appeared at Nottingham Crown Court in January 2014 . Mr O'Neill started seeing Claire, a waitress at the bar where he worked, and Miss Kimble lost contact with both of them . But it was during this relationship that Claire, 28, started a dangerous obsession with Miss Kimble, and later secretly pretended that she and Mr O'Neill had split so she could befriend her love rival. A heavily pregnant Claire stopped Miss Kimble in the street, and told her she had split with Mr O'Neill and wanted their children – who would be half-siblings – to be close. Over the next seven years the pair became 'inseparable', with Miss Kimble and Claire bonding over their shared experiences. But it emerged that Claire was lying and had never split with Mr O'Neill. Miss Kimble only discovered the truth during a chance meeting with her ex-partner in the dentist – when he told her he had only recently spilt up with Claire. He also revealed Claire had become obsessed with Miss Kimble and lied about having passed on messages to Mr O'Neill from her. When Miss Kimble found out and got back together with Mr O'Neill, Claire – furious with jealousy – ran them both over. Claire, an aspiring actress from Derby, was jailed for seven years after she appeared at Nottingham Crown Court in January 2014. She admitted two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent. Judge Michael Stokes QC told her: 'Heaven has no rage like love turned to hatred, nor hell a woman like a woman scorned.' Mr O'Neill had first been in a relationship with Miss Kimble (pictured after the accident), before splitting and starting a romance with Claire . It was during this relationship that the Claire, 28, started a dangerous obsession with Miss Kimble, secretly befriending her while pretending that she and Mr O'Neill had split . Miss Kimble recalled how she met Mr O'Neill in 2002. 'He had sparkly eyes and cheeky grin,' she said. 'Friends and family reckoned it wouldn't last. We got engaged and although we didn't get round to planning the wedding, three happy years on, in January 2005, we had a daughter Lily. 'One evening, I took our baby girl to see Kev at the bar where he worked as a bouncer. Walking in, I noticed a pretty waitress chatting away to him. Kev told me she was called Sonita. 'He said she had a thing for him. But then he said, "She's got nothing on you".' Miss Kimble said problems started emerging around this time with Mr O'Neill spending less time at home. When their daughter was 15 months old in 2007 they separated. She continued: 'We didn't part on good terms and lost all contact. I heard through mutual friends that he'd started dating Sonita. It was months later when I came face-to-face with Sonita – she had a huge bump.' A card Sonita sent Mr O'Neill from prison . Miss Kimble said Claire told her she was Mr O'Neill's girlfriend and their child was due in a week. She continued: 'Six months later I bumped into her again. This time she was pushing a pram. 'She told me things were over with her and Kev. I felt sorry for her as I knew how tough it was being a single mum. 'So I arranged a play-date with her and a few weeks later she came round. She told me she had been sleeping with Kev when we were still together. 'I felt the wind knocked out of me, but we stayed friends. Years went by and Sonita and I became inseparable. 'Her and her boy would come for sleepovers and we'd gossip into the early hours over a glass of wine.' Miss Kimble said in January 2013 she told Claire she was planning to get back in touch with Mr O'Neill. 'I told her Lily needed her dad,' she said. 'Sonita kindly offered to pass on my messages, but I heard nothing from Kev. But one day in the dentist I bumped in with him. 'He told me he'd just broken up with Sonita. He said she'd become fixated on me. 'I was confused because Sonita had said they'd broken up seven years ago.' Mr O'Neill told Miss Kimble this was not the case – and explained the reason for their break up. 'He said Sonita had got weird,' she said. 'He said she had started dressing like me and was obsessed with us getting back together. 'I called Sonita and she admitted the truth. She said, 'I wanted to tell you but couldn't find the right time'. 'I told her she was crazy. After that Kev came round regularly to see Lily and the old feelings came back. Claire and Mr O'Neill in happier times, after the birth of their child. But she soon became dangerously obsessed with his ex-partner, Miss Kimble. She later ran the pair over after they got back together . 'We started dating and were happy. But Sonita bombarded me with abusive messages every day, even started waiting outside Lily's school. One day she texted, "I'm going to run you over". 'She sent Kev the same thing.' The pair were on the way to the police station to report the messages on October 6, 2013 when they were hit. 'I heard a car speeding up behind us,' Miss Kimble said. 'Then everything went black. 'The next thing I remember is waking up in hospital, my mum at my side.' The couple underwent treatment with Mr O'Neill needing surgery on his neck. They were in court to see Claire jailed. 'Now I'm pregnant again, and Kev and I are planning our wedding,' Miss Kimble said. 'This time it's forever.' [/INST] Mary-Jane Kimble needed 22 stitches and Kevin O'Neill broke neck .
Miss Kimble's hair, scalp and blood left on bonnet of Sonita Claire's car .
The two women were friends and later became love rivals over Mr O'Neill .
Couple, of Derby, both struck while Claire drove at 30mph towards them .
Miss Kimble and Mr O'Neill are now finally engaged to be married . </s> |