PASCO, Wash. – A baby is being treated for rabies after it was bitten by a bat that flew out of a patio umbrella on the deck of her grandparents' Pasco home, the Tri-City Herald reported.
Dan and Sandra Anderson were babysitting 11-month-old Alanna on Saturday evening when Dan Anderson opened the umbrella and Sandra Anderson noticed something flutter out toward Alanna.
"It was weird. I thought maybe it was moths," Sandra Anderson said.
Then she saw the bat clinging to Alanna's back near her left shoulder. She brushed the bat away and then noticed two pair of tiny bite marks, even though the bat had been on the baby only a few seconds.
Alanna didn't cry — until she noticed how upset her grandmother was. The baby was given shots at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland. Her grandparents are getting vaccine shots for rabies, too, as a precaution.
The family thought it had seen the last of the bat, but they were on the patio again Sunday for Mother's Day when they noticed something black inside the closed umbrella.
This time, Alanna's father, Derek Anderson, killed it with a piece of metal. He turned it over to the Benton Franklin Health Department and it tested positive for rabies.
The virus can be fatal without medical attention.
"I'm thankful we saw the bat on her and could take her for treatment," said Sandra Anderson.
"Everything's fine. It's 100 percent curable," Derek Anderson said.
Quabbin reservoir near Amhurst, MA provides water for the City of Boston and 40 other communities in the state.MyFOX Boston
Massachusetts State Police beefed up patrols around the reservoir that supplies Boston's drinking water after seven foreign students were caught trespassing in the area late at night.
With the city still jittery after the April 15 terror attack at the Boston Marathon, word that two women and five men, reportedly from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Singapore, had been found in the restricted area around the Quabbin Reservoir caused concerns. The reservoir serves Boston and some 40 other communities in the area.
“As an extra precaution, water quality samples were analyzed at MWRA’s lab yesterday and all came back normal," Ria Convery, of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, told the Boston Herald. “There is no evidence of any water quality issues at the Quabbin Reservoir following the trespassing incident.”
It was after midnight on Tuesday morning when a state trooper on patrol at the reservoir spotted two cars parked on the grass near one of Quabbin’s entrances. The cop investigated and found a group of seven people, five men and two women walking from the water back to their cars. When the police officer asked why they were trespassing, members of the group replied that they were chemical engineers and recent college graduates who had an educational interest in the reservoir, according to police.
The group was briefly held at the scene while background and warrant check were conducted but let go after their records turned up clean.
“There was no evidence that the seven were committing any crime beyond the trespassing,” Massachusetts State police spokesman David Procopio told FoxNews.com, adding that officers on the scene checked the vehicles and the park area and did not locate any items out of place or of a criminal nature.
Procopio also said that a preliminary investigation determined the individuals were originally from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore. The Springfield field office of the FBI was contacted by the State Police and is assisting in an investigation.
“Further investigation is being undertaken because of the late hour when they were observed, their explanation for why they wanted to see the reservoir, and the fact that they were in an area marked no trespassing,” Procopio said.
Routine checks at numerous watersheds around the state have been stepped up as a precaution, but officials say nothing else has been reported as being out of the ordinary.
The seven individuals, whose identities were not released because of any formal arrest, will be summonsed to appear in a district court for trespassing. A court date is pending, according to officials.
As a doctor, I receive questions every day varying from heart health to infertility. Today, I received a question from a man who wanted to know what alternative therapies were out there for arthritis.
Dr. Manny, I suffer from arthritis, and my symptoms get worse during the winter. What can I do to manage the stiffness besides taking medication? - Marvin
Many arthritis sufferers use what is known as complementary and alternative practices to manage their symptoms.
Patients turn to these alternatives for many reasons. It may be because conventional medical treatment isn’t giving them the relief they need. Also, they may be concerned about the side effects associated with drug therapy, or they may feel that alternative therapies are safer because they are “natural.”
Whatever the reason, many patients are finding additional relief by incorporating these five practices into their arthritis management regimen:
Regular exercise
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) recommends that arthritis sufferers use these three types of exercise:
1. Range-of-motion exercises such as dancing to help maintain normal joint movement, relieve stiffness, and increase flexibility.
2. Strengthening exercises such as weight training to help keep or increase muscle strength.
3. Aerobic or endurance exercises such as bicycle riding to improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight, and improve overall function. Weight control is important because extra weight puts extra pressure on many joints.
A healthy diet
Since there are over 100 known types of arthritis, there is no single diet that will help everyone. However, the Arthritis Foundation has established the following guidelines to assist patients in maintaining a diet that will help manage their symptoms:
1. Eat a variety of foods, and avoid those that can interact with your medications.
2. Use fat and cholesterol in moderation.
3. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole-grain products.
4. Use sugar and salt in moderation.
5. Drink alcohol in moderation.
6. Take in the daily requirements of vitamins and minerals, including calcium.
Dietary supplements
The American College of Rheumatology has noted that there is some evidence that ginger and willow bark extract may relieve pain.
These remedies, however, may contain chemicals that are similar to those found in naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil), which can cause inflammation of the stomach and intestines. They also may interfere with blood clotting and cause fluid retention, which may be problematic for people with high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease.
1.) Chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine supplements are sold separately or in combination, and are recommended for pain relief when used in conjunction with other pain medication. Although their effectiveness is unproven, the college says they “appear to be relatively safe, and may be worth considering for people who have severe pain despite conventional treatments.”
2.) Fish oils that contain omega-3 fatty acids have been reported to relieve pain and joint tenderness. It may take several months before a patient sees results. Side effects include gastrointestinal distress and breath odor.
Manage stress
Stress is a normal part of life; but for arthritis sufferers, there are additional stress factors like increased dependence on family members and changes in appearance due to joint deformities or the side effects of drugs.
The Arthritis Foundation says that controlling stress is imperative for arthritis patients because “when you feel stressed, your body’s muscles become tense. This muscle tension can increase your pain and fatigue and may limit your abilities, which can make you feel helpless.” Stress can lead to depression, which can touch off a cycle of stress, pain, fatigue, and limited/lost abilities. Managing stress can break that cycle.
Hot and cold applications
The Mayo Clinic makes the following recommendations:
“Heat will help ease your pain, relax tense, painful muscles and increase the regional flow of blood. One of the easiest and most effective ways to apply heat is to take a hot shower or bath for 15 minutes. Other options include using a hot pack, an electric heat pad set on its lowest setting or a radiant heat lamp with a 250-watt reflector heat bulb to warm specific muscles and joints. If your skin has poor sensation or if you have poor circulation, don't use heat treatment.
Cold may dull the sensation of pain. Cold also has a numbing effect and decreases muscle spasms. Don't use cold treatments if you have poor circulation or numbness. Techniques may include using cold packs, soaking the affected joints in cold water and ice massage.”
Patients should always exercise caution when considering any other alternative therapies. Before beginning any alternative or complementary therapy, talk with your doctor to see if it is right for your particular situation, and ask about possible side effects and harmful interactions, especially if are taking any additional medications for other conditions.
The first step during SCNT is enucleation or removal of nuclear genetic material (chromosomal) from a human egg. An egg is positioned with holding pipette (on the left) and egg's chromosomes are visualized under polarized microscope. A hole is made in the egg's shell (zone pellucida) using a laser and a smaller pipette (on the right) is inserted through the opening. The chromosomes then sucked in inside the pipette and slowly removed from the egg.Cell, Tachibana et al.
A colony of human ESCs extracted from a blastocyst generated by SCNT.Cell, Tachibana et al.
In a major medical breakthrough, researchers at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) have for the first time ever successfully converted human skin cells into embryonic stem cells – via a technique called nuclear transfer.
The research has major implications for the future of medical treatments, as many believe embryonic stem cells are the key to treating damaged cells lost through injury or illness. According to various medical researchers, stem cell therapy has the potential to treat anything from heart disease and spinal cord injuries to major neurological diseases, like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Through a common laboratory method known as somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), ONPRC scientists, along with researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, essentially swapped the genetic codes of an unfertilized egg and a human skin cell to create their new embryonic stem cells. The researchers were able to fine-tune this method through a series of studies in macaque monkeys, and this study marks the first successful use of the SCNT technique to create embryonic stem cells in humans after many failed attempts from other research laboratories around the world.
The SCNT process involved scooping out the nucleus of a donated egg cell, leaving nothing by the egg’s cytoplasm – an essential ingredient. The researchers replaced the egg’s nucleus with the nucleus of a skin cell, which contains an individual’s genetic code. The combination of the egg’s cytoplasm and the skin cell’s nucleus eventually grows and develops into the embryonic stem cell.
“The idea is that the egg cytoplasm has some factors – we don’t know their nature yet – but it has the ability to reset the cell’s identity,” lead author Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, a senior scientist at ONPRC, told FoxNews.com. “It basically erases all this memory, and now we can derive them and make them into stem cells.”
Embryonic stem cell research has been a controversial pursuit since its conception. Derived from unused embryos, which have been fertilized in vitro, these types of cells are pluripotent – meaning they have the capacity to develop into a variety of different cell types within the human body.
However, the utilization of embryonic stem cells has been met with ethical concerns, as many believe a fertilized egg should be granted the status of a human being. Because the fertilized human embryo is ultimately destroyed in the development of embryonic stem cells, many activist groups and politicians have spoken out against the use of such medical techniques.
Fortunately, the SCNT method bypasses these ethical dilemmas, as the donated eggs are never actually fertilized. Instead, the researchers ‘trick’ the egg cell into thinking it has been fertilized by a sperm. During the nuclear transfer process, Mitalipov and his team prompt the cell to remain in a state known as “metaphase” – a stage of cell division in which the cell’s chromosomes align in the middle of the cell just before the cell divides. This keeps the process from stalling and encourages the cell to ultimately develop into a stem cell.
Once reprogrammed, these stem cells can be cultivated into any kind of living cell – including nerve cells, heart cells, brain cells and many more.
Mitalipov also noted that once an individual has this process done, he or she will have a lifelong “bank” of embryonic stem cells doctors can utilize whenever the patient is injured or sick.
“You only need to do it once per patient,” Mitalipov said. “Once established, the stem cells are like a permanent source of stem cells – they have an unlimited capacity to keep growing… We only need to do it once, but one colony multiples to make hundreds of colonies. We can freeze them and continue to grow more and more.”
The researchers addressed the possibility that the SCNT method may be considered therapeutic cloning, but they said it is highly unlikely this method would be able to produce human clones. In all the years of utilizing SCNT with monkey cells, no monkey clones have ever successfully produced, so it is highly unlikely that human clones can be produced through this method – especially since human cells are much more fragile than monkey cells.
Instead, Mitalipov hopes people focus on the main goal of the research, which is to foster hundreds of different studies utilizing this new process of developing embryonic stem cells.
“We still have a lot more work to do, to learn how to transplant them,” Mitalipov said. “But the first step is already done, and it looks pretty clean. Probably, people could start banking these cells now; and hopefully, in the near future we will have some treatments coming in the clinic.”
The research was published online in the journal Cell.
President Obama said Wednesday that acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller has resigned in the fallout of the agency scandal in which conservative groups were targeted.
The president made the announcement in a brief statement at the White House, following a meeting with Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and other top department officials in which they reviewed an inspector general’s report on the issue.
The White House scheduled the meeting a day after the release of the report, which found ineffective management at the IRS allowed agents to improperly target Tea Party groups for more than 18 months, starting in 2010.
Obama said Lew asked for the resignation and Miller agreed, after being on the job since November 2012.
“Americans have a right to be angry about it, and I’m angry about it,” Obama said from the White House.
Miller’s resignation was part of three-step plan Obama outlined to fix the problem.
The other steps are to put in place the safeguards recommended in the report and to work with Congress in its oversight capacity.
“The good news is we can fix this,” Obama said.
Miller became acting commissioner after Commissioner Douglas Shulman completed his five-year term. Shulman had been appointed by President George W. Bush.
The president has proceeded cautiously since the IRS controversy was made public Friday. While he initially said the accusations were "outrageous," he also said he wanted to wait until the report was released before addressing what should be done to hold accountable those responsible.
Obama said Wednesday he would hold a press conference Thursday on the matter.
The report lays much of the blame on IRS supervisors in Washington who oversaw a group of specialists in Cincinnati who screened applications for tax exempt status. It does not indicate that Washington initiated the targeting of conservative groups, but it does say a top supervisor in Washington did not adequately supervise agents in the field even after she learned the agents were acting improperly.
The Justice Department is also investigating the IRS targeting, as are three congressional committees.
The House Ways and Means Committee said after the announcement of Miller's resignation that he still will attend a hearing Friday.
And the House Committee on Oversight and Government Affairs sent a letter Wednesday afternoon to the IRS requesting five employees named in the IG audit be made available for transcribed interviews by committee staff.
The Republican-led committee wants to start the interviews Monday.
The names and titles of the IRS employees requested are Holly Paz, a director; John Shafer, a manager; Gary Muthert, a screener; Liz Hofacre, a case coordinator; and Joseph Herr, a manager.
"The resignation of Steven Miller is a positive and important step as this agency struggles to try to regain the public’s trust," said Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. "A clean slate at the IRS with new leadership is imperative to fix this egregious encroachment on the lives of honest, hard-working Americans whose only sin was that they want to express their beliefs."
Earlier in the day, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney sidestepped a question about whether Obama still had confidence in Miller, saying he wouldn't discuss personnel matters. He said Obama has expressed his overall view that IRS personnel had acted inappropriately.
"He wants to see that the actions taken, as revealed by the Treasury report, that are inappropriate, are met with consequences," Carney said. "He will make clear to Treasury Department leaders that he expects action."
Carney said Obama wants the public to "understand and believe that the IRS applies our tax laws in a neutral and fair way to everyone."
PHOENIX – The same jury that convicted Jodi Arias of murder one week ago took about three hours Wednesday to determine that the former waitress is eligible for the death penalty in the stabbing and shooting death of her one-time lover in his bathroom five years ago.
The decision came after a day of testimony in the "aggravation" phase of the trial, during which prosecutor Juan Martinez hoped to prove the June 2008 killing was committed in an especially cruel and heinous manner.
Family members of victim Travis Alexander sobbed in the front row as Martinez took the jury through the killing one more time. He described how blood gushed from Alexander's chest, hands and throat as the motivational speaker and businessman stood at the sink in his master bathroom and looked into the mirror with Arias behind him.
"The last thing he saw before he lapsed into unconsciousness ... was that blade coming to his throat," Martinez said. "And the last thing he felt before he left this earth was pain."
The trial now moves into the final phase, in which prosecutors will call Alexander's family and other witnesses in an effort to convince the panel Arias should face the ultimate punishment. Arias' attorneys also will call witnesses, likely members of her family, in an attempt to gain sympathy from jurors so they give her life in prison. That phase is scheduled to start Thursday morning.
The aggravation phase played out in quick fashion, with only one prosecution witness and none for the defense. The most dramatic moments occurred when Martinez displayed photos of the bloody crime scene for the jury and paused in silence for two minutes to describe how long he said it took for Alexander to die at Arias' hands on June 4, 2008.
Arias, wearing a silky, cream-colored blouse, appeared to fight back tears most of the morning but showed little emotion when the decision was announced. Afterward she chatted with her attorneys.
Arias spent the weekend on suicide watch before being transferred back to an all-female jail where she will remain until sentencing.
Martinez told jurors Wednesday that Alexander "suffered immensely" at Arias' hands.
"She made sure she killed him by stabbing him over and over and over again," he said.
The defense didn't have much of a case given how many times Alexander was stabbed, the defensive wounds on his hands, the length of the attack, and the sheer amount of blood found at the scene. Defense lawyers said Alexander would have had so much adrenaline rushing through his body that he might not have felt much pain.
The only witness was the medical examiner who performed the autopsy and explained to jurors how Alexander did not die calmly and fought for his life as evidenced by the numerous defensive wounds on his body.
Minutes after her first-degree murder conviction last Wednesday, Arias granted an interview to Fox affiliate KSAZ, only adding to the circus-like environment surrounding the trial that has become a cable TV sensation with its graphic tales of sex, lies and violence.
"Longevity runs in my family, and I don't want to spend the rest of my natural life in one place," a tearful Arias said. "I believe death is the ultimate freedom, and I'd rather have my freedom as soon as I can get it."
However, Arias cannot choose the death penalty. It's up to the jury to recommend a sentence.
The medical examiner who performed the autopsy testified Wednesday that Alexander did not die calmly and fought for his life as evidenced by the numerous defensive wounds on his body.
Arias acknowledged killing Alexander on June 4, 2008, at his suburban Phoenix home. She initially denied any involvement then later blamed masked intruders. Two years after her arrest, she said it was self-defense when the victim attacked her after a day of sex.
She stabbed and slashed Alexander nearly 30 times, shot him in the forehead and slit his throat from ear to ear, leaving him nearly decapitated before she dragged his mutilated body into his shower, where friends found him about five days later.
Prosecutors said Arias planned the killing in a jealous rage, as Alexander wanted to end their affair and planned to take a trip to Mexico with another woman.
Testimony in Arias' trial began in early January. The jury reached its verdict after about 15 hours of deliberations over four days. All 12 jurors -- eight men and four women -- unanimously agreed the killing was premeditated.
Key trio ... is there a reunion beckoning at Chelsea?Source:AP
Some Manchester City fans fear Roberto Mancini's sacking is the first step to becoming Chelsea.
But with the London club on the cusp of yet another trophy under Roman Abramovich, is that such a bad thing?
A win in the Europa League final against Benfica will be Chelsea’s 11th of the Russian’s era in charge, which is about to celebrate a decade of decadence at Stamford Bridge.
City fans might ask: is the circus worth it?
Claudio Ranieri: September 2000 to May 2004
Jose Mourinho: June 2004 to September 2007
Avram Grant: September 2007 to May 2008
Luiz Felipe Scolari: July 2008 to February 2009
Guus Hiddink: February 2009 to May 2009
Carlo Ancelotti: June 2009 to May 2011
Andre Villas-Boas: June 2011 to March 2012
"It is better to do it in a quieter way. It is very hard to explain. We keep getting trophies and winning things and we keep changing manager when there are some clubs who keep the same manager but haven't won anything for a long time. But which way is the best, it is hard to tell," goalkeeper Petr Cech said this week.
And so here they are again, with Chelsea manufacturing another run to silverware with an interim manager. It worked for Guus Hiddink in 2009, Roberto Di Matteo in 2012 and perhaps for Benitez in 2013.
Cech adds: "You can’t change 20 players in the middle of the season so it becomes dangerous for the manager if you have a spell where nothing is working. The easiest way to cure the problem is to change the manager".
And that’s exactly what Abramovich has done. Second under Claudio Ranieri – not good enough. Avram Grant and a penalty-kick away from a Champions League crown – not good enough. A poor start under World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari – not good enough. A poor season after Carlo Ancelotti’s impressive double – not good enough. Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo suffered similar fates – poor starts, not good enough.
Trevor Birch, Chelsea's chief executive in 2003, recalls the moment Abramovich bought the club. The impulsive nature goes some way to defining the 10 years since.
"We did the deal in 10 minutes, nothing like that had ever happened," he recently reflected. "I don’t think people appreciated what a game changer it was. I suggested he spent £20m on players. He spent £140m in six weeks, the biggest change I’ve seen in English football."
He’s lured some massive names to the Premier League; Drogba, Cech, Essien, Makele, Robben, Carvalho, Ballack, Crespo. The legacy is mixed with some massive failures, with Shevchenko, Mutu, Kezman the most memorable. Currently, Abramovich’s riches have helped Chelsea to some wonderful talent like Eden Hazard and Oscar. Players have been prized from their rivals, too; Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, Demba Ba, Shaun Wright- Phillips, Scott Parker feature on the list, headlined by Fernando Torres.
And there has also been the interference. Obscene amounts were splashed on Torres and Shevchenko. The latter arguably influenced Jose Mourinho’s demise in 2007.
It’s been a rollicking ride for Chelsea supporters, and pretty interesting viewing for neutrals.
On Thursday, Interim manager Rafael Benitez will hope to become the second manager to win the title with two different clubs (Valencia his first; Giovanni Trapattoni is the other manager to do it) and win his first trophy since the 2006 FA Cup at Liverpool, while making Chelsea the first team to do the UEFA Champions League/Europa League double in consecutive seasons.
But Benfica aren’t moved by Chelsea’s ambition. Midfielder Pablo Aimar sledged: "They have not been convincing - in Europe or in the Premier League. Since they have inherited a wealthy owner, this is probably the weakest Chelsea team there has been."
Abramovich might agree, which is why it looks a fait accompli that he’s reaching out to his old sparring partner, Jose Mourinho, to bridge the gap to the Manchester clubs and return the side to the swashbuckling juggernaut it was in Mourinho’s title-winning seasons.
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Abramovich’s money has single-handedly pushed Chelsea into the upper ether of Europe’s elite, but despite the high profile comings and goings, the core of Mourinho’s success - and winning mentality - remains, even though they are just holding on.
Lampard will captain Chelsea on Thursday and earn a new deal despite all efforts to move him on, John Terry is injured for another final but unlikely to be released by Mourinho, Cech and Ashley Cole still remain as their old manager appears destined to return.
With the likes of Mata, Oscar and Hazard – who will miss the final through injury – capable of football just as good as Arjen Robben, Joe Cole or Damien Duff produced in yesteryear, Mourinho is charged with the task of reviving that aura around the team. The chequebook won’t be spared either, especially in the pursuit of someone to reprise Didier Drogba’s heroics.
While Chelsea look to create history, they’ll be up against a Benfica side looking to ignore history and buck a trend of six losing European finals dating back to 1963. They head into the match after losing their first match of the season on the weekend – an incredible 93rd minute loss to title rivals Porto, which denied them the chance to close out the championship.
But it's fitting that a Chelsea win still won't be enough to see them retain their manager.
That's the Roman Abramovich era, in a nutshell.
"After Thursday we will have played 68 games. For the last six months we have been playing two games a week at least," Rafa Benitez said this week.
"Imagine any team in the world doing that and progressing to semi-finals of two competitions and final of one. It doesn't matter what a lot of people say, we feel we have done a good job. Hopefully we can do even better."
But to do that, Abramovich will bring in a new manager.
As we look to define 10 years of foreign ownership at Chelsea, this final does a good job at doing just that.
WASHINGTON – State Department officials repeatedly objected to -- and tried to water down -- references to Al Qaeda and prior security warnings in Libya in the Obama administration's initial internal story-line on the Benghazi terror attack, according to dozens of emails and notes released by the White House late Wednesday.
The documents were released under pressure after whistle-blowers testified on the Hill and some email excerpts leaked to the media last week. The 100-page file showed that State Department officials were even more heavily involved in editing the "talking points" than was previously known.
One email sent on the night of the Friday after the attack from an unknown sender said: "The State Department had major reservations with much or most of the document."
Individual emails show State officials repeatedly objecting to the intelligence community's early version of events.
The early versions stated that "Islamic extremists with ties to Al Qaeda" participated in the assault and discussed links to militant group Ansar al Sharia -- and referenced prior attacks against western targets in Benghazi.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland complained that she had "serious concerns" about "arming members of Congress" to make assertions the administration was not making. "In same vein, why do we want Hill to be fingering Ansar al Sharia, when we aren't doing that ourselves until we have investigation results ... and the penultimate point could be abused by Members to beat the State Department for not paying attention to Agency warnings so why do we want to feed that either? Concerned ..."
The White House had until now declined to make the documents public and had let congressional investigators review the documents without making copies.
The documents describe how the administration developed "talking points" to describe what the administration wanted to discuss publicly immediately after the Sept. 11, 2012, attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.
Arrested ... Loic Remy is arrested in London on suspicion of rape.Source: Glyn Kirk / AFP
QPR striker Loic Remy has been arrested on suspicion of rape along with two other men.
The France international, 26, was taken in by Kent police on Thursday morning after a woman in her 30s alleged she had been assaulted at an address in Fulham on Monday, 6 May.
A Metropolitan police spokesman said: "Officers from Sapphire (a unit specialising in rape and sexual assault investigations) are investigating an allegation of rape which happened on 6 May in the west London area.
"The allegation was passed on to the MPS by Kent Police on 8 May after the 34-year-old female victim reported it to them on the previous day, 7 May. The victim alleges she was raped by three men.
"On the morning of Wednesday, 15 May three men, (A) aged 26; (B) aged 23; (C) 22 yrs, were arrested at an address in Fulham on suspicion of rape - they remain in custody at a west London police station."
A QPR statement said:"The club is aware of the allegations regarding Loic Remy, but due to police investigations is unable to comment."
Here we come ... Arsenal are confident of a top-four finish.Source: Ian Kington / AFP
Roberto Mancini's sacking marked a year to the day that Manchester City hoisted the Premier League trophy in the most extraordinary circumstances.
But one year on, we’re heading into a final day where the equation is not quite as titillating as it was when Manchester City slugged it out with Queens Park Rangers last term.
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The title is sorted. Manchester United have already been out on the town, revelling in the afterglow of Fergie’s farewell. Three clubs are already condemned to the drop. Mid-table spots just need sorting for prize money.
But there’s one fascinating battle sit to be decided.
Who will join United and City in the UEFA Champions League?
Arsene Wenger, gunning for Arsenal's 16th straight progression into Europe, is back in pole position after drubbing Wigan on Wednesday (EST), sitting on 70 points ahead of Tottenham on 69.
If they beat Newcastle United on Sunday, it renders Tottenham's clash with Sunderland redundant.
"I am confident because we have experience. We play for a long time under massive pressure and we have always found the solutions with the problems that we have faced…. It’s a big hurdle, but we’re up for it, we can only give our best, we want to be focused," Wenger said.
"It is all open, but it depends on our result. Even third place is not out of sight if we win the game."
Wenger is right - Chelsea (72 points), Europa League finalists on Thursday morning, aren't out in the clear either.
And of all the permutations that could take place on Sunday, one could have remarkable repercussions.
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1
Man United
37
28
4
5
43
88
2
Man City
37
23
9
5
33
78
3
Chelsea
37
21
9
7
35
72
4
Arsenal
37
20
10
7
34
70
5
Tottenham
37
20
9
8
19
69
6
Everton
37
16
15
6
16
63
7
Liverpool
37
15
13
9
27
58
8
West Brom
37
14
6
17
-4
48
9
Swansea
37
11
13
13
-1
46
10
West Ham
37
11
10
16
-10
43
11
Stoke
37
9
14
14
-11
41
12
Norwich
37
9
14
14
-18
41
13
Newcastle
37
11
8
18
-22
41
14
Southampton
37
9
13
15
-11
40
15
Fulham
37
10
10
17
-13
40
16
Aston Villa
37
10
10
17
-22
40
17
Sunderland
37
9
12
16
-12
39
18
Wigan
37
9
8
20
-26
35
19
Reading
37
6
10
21
-28
28
20
QPR
37
4
13
20
-29
25
Should Rafa Benitez's side and David Moyes's Everton labour to a 0-0 draw, and Arsenal beat Newcastle 2-1 - both clubs will be tied on third with identical figures.
Same points (73), goal difference (75), even the same goals for (73) and against (38).
Where teams competing for the title, Europe or relegation are deadlocked in the Premier League, it goes to goal difference, then goals scored. If they can't be split, it's off to a play-off.
That unfathomable scenario - and it is just those results that would prompt it - could force both teams into a play-off, at a neutral venue, for third spot - the final automatic qualification place available. Fourth spot goes into the Champions League qualification stage, beginning in August.
Looks like Chelsea might need to rouse themselves for one last hurrah on Sunday night - because friendlies against Manchester City in America in May, and England friendlies, make it almighty difficult to schedule another fixture.
The Premier League isn’t the only league run and won heading into the final stage.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights across Europe and what’s still up for grabs. Keep an eye on Portugal!
England
Winner: Manchester United
Champions League: Manchester City,
Europa League: Wigan, Swansea
Relegated: Wigan, Reading, Queens Park Rangers
TBA: Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham jostling for final standings in UCL/Europa race.
Bundesliga
Winner: Bayern Munich
Champions League: Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen
Relegated: Greuther Fürth
TBA: Hoffenheim, Augsburg, Fortuna Dusseldorf for the relegation and relegation play-off spots; Schalke 04, Freiberg, Eintracht Frankfurt for UCL qualifying spot and Europa League positions.
La Liga
Winner: Barcelona
Champions League: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid
Relegated: Mallorca
TBA: Celta da Vigo, Deportivo La Coruna, Real Zaragoza in relegation fight; Real Sociedad and Valencia tied for final UCL qualifying spot. Real Betis will claim Europa League spot due to Malaga's UEFA ban.
Serie A
Winner: Juventus
Champions League: Napoli
Relegated: Pescara, Siena, Palermo
TBA: Milan and Fiorentina jostling for final UCL qualifying spot/Europa spot; Lazio and Udinese jostling for Europa spot.
Ligue 1
Winner: Paris Saint Germain
Champions League: Olympique Marseille
Relegated: Brest
TBA: Lille can still knick final UCL qualifying spot from Lyon. Pending results/goal difference, Saint Etienne and Nice can overtake both Lyon/Lille to nab the only Europa League spot. Evian TG, Nancy, Troyes in relegation fight.
Eredevise
Winner: Ajax
Champions League: PSV
Europa League: Feyenoord, Vitesse
Europa League play-offs: Groningen v Twente; Heerenveen v Utrecht
Relegation: Roda JC, VVV will contest the 'relegation play-off'; Willem II all gone.
Portugal
Champions League: Porto, Benfica
Champions League qualifiers: Paços de Ferreira
TBA: Everything else
Porto lead Europa League finalists Benfica by one point with a game to play; Sporting Braga will nab one Europa League spot, but Estoril, Vitória Guimarães, Rio Ave, Nacional, Marítimo are all in the mix still; Beira-Mar, Moreirense, Olhanense, Gil Vicente and Vitória Setúbal all can be relegated.
Victoria's Secret sure knows how to pick 'em. Every year, the ultra-popular lingerie company reveals its "What Is Sexy" list -- filled with a tally of celebrities who have awe-inspiring features like flawless hair, full lips and, yes, even a rockin' sense of humor. It's safe to say 2013 is no different.
Who's got the best smile? That nod went to Zoe Saldana this year, whose infectious, wide smile can't be overlooked. Blake Lively and her long stems secured the "sexiest legs" category and it looks like Amanda Seyfried's silky smooth hair is something to fawn over.
As for bodies, Columbian singer and "Voice" coach Shakira was victorious in the "sexiest curves" category and Barbadian beauty Rihanna landed the "sexiest bikini body" with her toned physique.
But it's not all physical features that Victoria's Secret aims to praise. Jennifer Lawrence landed on the list this year, having the "sexiest sense of humor." Who can deny her that? From her clumsy trips while accepting awards to her overall self-deprecating style, the "Silver Linings Playbook" star is practically the best friend America has always wanted.
From Amanda Seyfried and her flawless hair to Jennifer Lawrence and her hilarious sense of humor, we want to know which star you think has the absolute sexiest feature.
Director Steven Spielberg, jury president of the 66th Cannes Film Festival, poses during a photocall before the opening of the 66th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes May 15, 2013. The 66th Cannes Film Festival runs from May 15 to May 26.REUTERS
Cannes, France – Perhaps looking to stir up controversy at its 66th running, the Cannes Film Festival's red carpet questioner gave what seemed to be a backhanded compliment to this year’s president, Steven Spielberg.
Speaking to Spielberg on the red carpet Wednesday, he professed gratitude to the director of “Jaws,” four “Indiana Jones,” and, most recently, “Lincoln,” for finally accepting Cannes’ invitation after years and years – and years -- of declining the offer.
Denying he had been ducking Cannes, Spielberg replied with veiled exasperation: “I was always busy filming each Spring!”
The Oscar winning director attended the red carpet event along with the festival’s eight judges: fellow Oscar winners Nicole Kidman, Christoph Waltz, and Ang Lee, and five other international notables.
At the judges’ press conference afterwards, inside Cannes’ glitzy Palace de Festivale, Spielberg again found himself on the defensive. Asked if he would be afraid to judge other filmmakers’ films, Spielberg responded flatly “No,” adding that as directors, actors, and producers, he and his fellow panelists “were used to being judged.”
The Cannes jury talked warmly of the festival, filmmaking, and working together at the prestigious annual event.
Ang Lee admitted he might be uncomfortable picking and choosing among colleagues, but other panelists seemed exhilarated to be part of Spielberg’s posse. Kidman said she had always wanted to pick Spielberg’s brain, “and now I get to spend two weeks with him!”
“I expect discussion on the highest level with these extraordinary artists,” added Waltz, a two-time Oscar winner for “Django Unchained” and “Inglourious Basterds.”
Spielberg concurred. Speaking of the panel, equally split between male and female and hailing from the U.S., Austria, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, Romania, India, France, and England, he said: “The great thing about such a multicultural group from so many disciplines is that we speak the common language of cinema.”
But he also admitted things might not go as smoothly as planned in picking the Cannes winners.
“I’m going to have to look at the Sidney Lumet film ‘12 Angry Men’ again to prepare for the final day (of deliberation),” Spielberg laughed.
Except this time around it could be five angry men, and four angry women.
As more women are learning about the heroic steps that Angelina Jolie took when she decided to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy, I’ve received many questions regarding the surgical techniques used in these reconstructions and how they have improved. We spoke to leading reconstructive surgeon Dr. Richard Winters, vice chairman of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, about the latest techniques.
Once a woman decides to have this surgery, what are her options? “When a woman decides she is having a prophylactic mastectomy, the first consideration is whether she will keep her own nipple or not. Will it be ‘nipple sparing’ or ‘skin sparing’ surgery? Angelina Jolie had ‘nipple sparing’ surgery. Nipple sparing is simply that – you leave the nipple. If a woman comes in who has breast cancer, it is not conventional to ever leave the nipple behind. In a prophylactic surgery, if a woman is going to keep the nipple, depending on the size or shape of breast, you have to decide where the incision will be made – the underside of the nipple or under the breast.”
Angelina Jolie said she had a ‘nipple delay.’ What is that? “If the incision is around the nipple, you can do a preliminary procedure called a ‘nipple delay,’ where you make the incision, lift the nipple, and divide the blood vessels that supply it from within the breast. This allows you to redirect blood supply from surrounding skin to the nipple tissues so the nipple is more robust. You also take a biopsy to make sure there aren’t any surprises – any breast tissue that has the potential to form breast cancer. You get a little black and blue, and it can also take away some sensitivity. It doesn’t mean it will be without sensation, but it might feel different.”
What’s the next decision women need to consider? “With prophylactic surgery, you virtually always do an immediate reconstruction. Then, you have to decide on a technique. The first is the reconstruction, which involves an implant. The other type involves only autologous tissue – your own tissue. Then, there’s a type that I use very commonly, which bridges the two; it involves both the implant and your own tissue.”
What’s involved in an implant surgery? “There are two different reconstructions that involve implants – one is done right away in one stage, and the other is several stages. It’s unusual to be able to do a one-stage implant. Unless the woman wants (a small breast), you need to stage it and expand underlying tissue to accept a larger implant.
“Angelina Jolie had a staged reconstruction with a tissue expander, which is a temporary device that goes in under the chest wall muscles and gets partially expanded at the time of mastectomy. Then over a period of time in the office as an outpatient, you can access a port and slowly expand the overlying skin. Then, she goes back for the second stage, (doctors) re-open the same incision, take out the expander and put in a permanent breast implant. This can take anywhere from six to 12 weeks.
“The advantages are: This is straightforward and simple. It doesn’t involve making separate incisions or taking tissue from anywhere else in the body. For women who like the fullness they get from an implant – which is not what a natural breast looks like – and want a straightforward operation, it’s a great choice. Some disadvantages are that the implant will need to be changed over time, and it has a very small chance of getting infected or could form scar tissue.”
What about the other options? “On the other end, (there) are autologous tissue reconstructions. This requires bigger surgeries, but gives you a more natural looking breast if that’s what you want. We remove the tissue from where it lies, like in the abdomen, hip or thigh. We take it with its own blood supply, an artery and a vein. Then we transplant it to a chest so it can live as a breast, connected to a new artery and vein in the chest. It’s complicated but has achieved widespread use, and lots of places are doing them well. But it is a bigger operation with potential for bigger complications.
“There are also autologous surgeries where you take the tummy tissue and bring it up to the chest, but leave it attached to blood supply. So the blood supply comes from a vein from within the abdominal muscle. That is an easier procedure but has some disadvantages, because it results in abdominal wall weakness.
“Another type is to take a muscle from the back – the latissimius dorsi. You can take back fat with muscle, so sometimes that’s enough to make a breast without an implant.”
Is there a procedure that involves both options? “The most common operation that I offer women is to take the latissimus muscle and put an implant in immediately. The reason I like that is although it involves an additional donor site, it’s in the same quadrant (of the body) as the mastectomy. Complication rates are extraordinarily low, and it gives you a breast right away; (there’s) no tissue expansion, and they come out beautifully. This requires one to two days most in the hospital and a relatively quick recovery with low chance of complications.”
What questions should women ask their doctors before having a prophylactic mastectomy? “It’s important to know the surgeons’ experience with all types of breast reconstruction. Also, get a sense of what their individual complication rates are. Overall for prophylactic, I think it should be that the complication rates of any elective operation should be similar – less than a 1 to 2 percent chance of having serious complication, less than a 5 to 10 percent chance of having minor complications.”
Actor Josh Radnor, center, accepts the Favorite Network TV Comedy award for TV series "How I Met Your Mother" at the 2012 People's Choice Awards in Los Angeles January 11, 2012.Reuters
It took eight long, sometimes excruciating years for viewers to find out the identity of the “mother” on the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.”
The answer was finally revealed Monday night in the season finale, when actress Cristin Milioti showed her face for a fleeting minute, buying a train ticket to Barney and Robin’s wedding in “Farhampton,” the show’s fanciful, fictitious stand-in for the East Hampton.
Milioti will appear regularly next season, the show’s last, beginning in September.
“Our ninth season will tell the epic story of the longest wedding weekend ever,” says executive producer Carter Bays.
Milioti’s musical abilities were key to clinching the role, as The Mother plays bass in Barney and Robin’s wedding band.
Regular theatergoers might recognize Milioti from her role as “Girl” in the long-running Broadway musical “Once.”
She won a Grammy Award and was nominated for a Tony for her work in that show.
Attorney General Eric Holder testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 15, 2013, before the House Judiciary Committee.AP
WASHINGTON – Attorney General Eric Holder repeatedly told the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday that he could not answer any questions related to claims the Justice Department infringed on the First Amendment rights of The Associated Press when it secretly collected telephone records of its reporters and editors over a two-month period last year.
Holder said he had recused himself last year from any involvement in the investigation of national security leaks and therefore could not answer any questions related to the case.
When pressed to provide additional comment, Holder said: "I am not familiar with the reasons why (the subpoena was issued). I am simply not a part of the investigation."
Instead, he said actions taken by the Justice Department were being made by Deputy Attorney General James Cole.
On Monday, AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt disclosed the government’s action in a letter to Holder that was made public. In it, Pruitt called the collection of phone records at four AP bureaus a “massive and unprecedented intrusion” of the news agency’s freedom of press rights granted under the U.S. Constitution.
The AP case immediately sparked bipartisan outrage, leading members of both parties to publicly question the government’s actions.
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said the attorney general should resign over the issue, adding: "Freedom of the press is an essential right in a free society."
On Wednesday, New York Sen. Charles Schumer said he plans to reintroduce legislation that would protect journalists from revealing their sources. The bill, which was brought up in 2009, has since stalled in Congress.
The Obama administration has been very aggressive in going after government workers leaking classified information. To date, the White House has brought indictments against five workers. The Defense Department is pursuing a sixth case against the U.S. Army soldier accused of sending classified documents to the anti-secrecy online group WikiLeaks.
Under Holder’s command, the Justice Department has prosecuted more government officials for alleged leaks under the World War I-era Espionage Act than all of the AGs who came before him – combined.
Speaking after a brief appearance in the Madrid court on Tuesday where he was formally charged with causing bodily harm to the 29-year-old Frenchman, Tomic Sr said he did not believe his son would now play at the Roland Garros grand slam event.
“We don’t know, probably not,” Tomic Sr said when asked if his son would be playing in the French tournament.
When asked if he was not fit enough mentally, Tomic added: “You guys created this situation.”
Tomic Sr declined to comment about both the ATP and ITF suspending his credentials to attend tournaments, pending an ATP investigation into the Madrid incident and allegations he smacked his son in the mouth, causing it to bleed, during a practice in Monaco two weeks ago.
His lawyer Jacobo Dopico said he expected Tomic to be cleared of the charges, adding that he was totally innocent. He said a delay in the case because of Drouet's failure to attend court this week was unfortunate.
It was initially believed the matter could have been settled out of court with both parties saying they wanted an end to it but Tomic Sr has declared his innocence, prompting a full hearing to be held in October.
“He wants to resolve this case as soon as possible, this delay was very bad for him and he wants to solve this quickly and prove his innocence because the point is he is not only innocent but he also has some proofs that support this affirmation,” he said.
Nothing could be better than a sweet summer drink sipped under a shaded patio or chilling under a beach umbrella. But who wants to worry about those extra calories – that could be up to 500 in fact – when you order a frosty drink from the beach bar.
Most calories from summer cocktails come from the mixers, but you can have one that’s just as delicious and ready at the touch of a blender button if you make it yourself.
Here are fun and more flavorful ways to mix up summer cocktails that are under 100 calories each. Now, I’ll toast to that!
Make It Berry Good, Nix the Mixer Ditch the sugary bottled mixers that don’t contain real fruit, and use whole fresh or frozen fruits to blend a drink with real flavor and antioxidant power to boot. Pair them with a shot of these aromatic spirits (around 46 calories an ounce), which will boost flavor just as well as those sweet mixers – making you the star at your next party.
St. Germain, an elegant liquor brewed from elderberries, mixed with fresh blended superfruits like blueberries can make an antioxidant cocktail to swoon over. Ideal for summer brunches, engagement parties, or a drink to impress the ladies with. Just blend 1/2 cup blueberries with 1 ounce of St. Germain liquor.
Campari is a bitter that hails from Italy, made with a mix of herbs and bitter citrus. Ideally it is blended with fresh or frozen dark cherries for a blended drink that’s rich in anthocyanins (noted to reduce inflammation). Just blend up 1/2 cup fresh or frozen cherries, 2 ice cubes and 1 ounce of campari the night before and store in individual baggies in your freezer. To take them on the go, simply toss into a beach bag.
Aperol (from Padua, Italy) is an aperitif that has a sweet tart taste of rhubarb and bitter orange, ideal to make a low-cal spritzer or when mixed with fresh, lycopene-rich watermelon juice in this 96 calorie cocktail that tastes like a Jolly Rancher. Chill in plastic sports bottles in the fridge, then stock your cooler.
Lillet, a French aperitif made from wine and citrus peels or herbs (and also contains quinine), is a great pairing with citrus-flavored cocktails. Grapefruit is my pick, one of the few fruit juices that is low in calories, at only 46 calories per 1/2 cup. Important: Before you sip grapefruit, check with you doc first if you’re on prescription meds. If grapefruit is a go for you, blend 1/2 cup with 4 ice cubes and 1 ounce of Lillet.
Jennifer is a trained chef, certified health coach, and healthy cooking celebrity whose mission is to show families that healthy cooking can be fresh, fun and flavorful. She is the author of several best-selling books. Visit her website at skinnychef.com.
Novak Djokovic ... happy and back in winning form.Source: ANDREAS SOLARO / AAP
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer appear back on track after early losses in Madrid last week judging by their performances to reach the third round of the Italian Open..
Top-ranked Djokovic quickly overcame an early break to cruise past Spanish qualifier Albert Montanes 6-2 6-3 and second-seeded Federer routed Italian wild card Potito Starace 6-1 6-2.
Djokovic dropped his serve to fall behind 2-1 in the opening set but broke back immediately and took control from there against his 32-year-old opponent.
The six-time grand slam champion didn't appear to have any problem with his right ankle, which he twisted while representing Serbia in the Davis Cup in April then appeared to hurt again in a loss to Grigor Dimitrov at the Madrid Open last week.
"It was a good performance for a start, although I know I can do better,'' Djokovic said.
"My game has to be better for the next challenge. I didn't have a good week in Madrid but I came here early and did a lot of practice.''
Djokovic didn't practice for 12 days between winning the Monte Carlo Masters in April and the start of the Madrid tournament.
"I was playing with a degree of injury,'' he said.
"With Paris and London coming up I need to be 100 per cent.
"The positive thing is that my ankle is well and I'm playing without pain, and I did not want an injury in the most important part of the year.''
After a seven-week break from the tennis circuit, Federer returned to action last week and got his clay-court season off to a difficult start with a third-round loss to Kei Nishikori of Japan.
Against Starace, however, Federer never struggled, with the Foro Italico crowd's support for the local favourite proving useless.
"I feel the way I want to feel,'' Federer said.
"I'm happy that from start to finish I was able to control the outcome of the match.''
If you thought shelling out $3.99 for that goop app was a bit much, try putting down $2,000 to meet its creator, Gwyneth Paltrow.
Well, that's exactly what one person did early Wednesday morning when they purchased this "epic" package on Groupon.
The ad, which sold out at 12:24AM ET, will apparently said the lucky winner and a friend to New York, where they will be treated to dinner, spa treatments and tickets to a private goop event that sounds a little bit like the mansion sequence from Eyes Wide Shut, only completely frigid and fully clothed.
More specifically:
"You and a friend are invited to the private goop event, which begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 14. You can munch on appetizers and sip cocktails before goop editor-in-chief Gwyneth Paltrow gives a cooking demonstration. You’ll leave with a signed cookbook."
