First US Cruise Ship Docks In Cuba Since 1978

Passengers from Miami have arrived in Havana on the first US cruise in decades to sail to the communist island nation of Cuba.

Carnival Corp's 704-passenger Adonia docked in Havana on Monday morning, less than a day after leaving port.

During its seven-day outing, the ship will also visit the ports of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.

Re-starting cruises was an important part of US President Obama's bid to increase tourism after the 17 December 2014 decision to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The last cruise to Cuba, which departed from a different US port, was in 1978.

Among those on board was Rick Schneider, 73, who told The Sun-Sentinel that he had waited for many years to make the trip, even buying a Cuban flag for the occasion.

He had even given up the chance of a sailing to Cuba in 1957, adding: "The time is now".

There had been a Cuban government rule banning Cuban-born people from arriving in the country by sea and when Carnival first announced the cruises, it said it would bar Cubans due to this rule.

But the Cuban-American community in Miami complained and filed a discrimination law suit, prompting the company to change its policy somewhat: it would only sail to Cuba if the government backed down.

On 22 April, Cuba did this and among those on board the first sailing were Cuban-born passengers.

The ship's captain David Box told passengers it would be a cruise to remember.

Speaking over the ship's public address system, he said: "We're going to sail directly from the United States to Havana, Cuba.

"How awesome is that? Tomorrow we will make history."

Carnival said the Adonia will sail every second week between Miami and Cuba with bookings starting at $1,800 (£1,230) per person and with cruises featuring cultural and education activities such as Spanish lessons.

Not everyone was happy, however, with a boat carrying protesters reportedly hovering near the cruise ship before it set sail.

Amy Schumer Says No More Fan Photos After Man Scares Her While Demanding a Picture

Amy Schumer is taking a firm new policy with fans: She won’t be taking any more photos with them – and it’s all thanks, she said, to one particular fan in South Carolina.

As Schumer, 34, explained in a Saturday Instagram post, a man (pictured in the post) had “just run up” to her on the street in Greenville and “scared the s—” out of her. The comedian performed in the city Saturday night.

“Put a camera in my face. I asked him to stop and he said ‘No it’s America and we paid for you,’ ” Schumer wrote in her caption, adding that the man was with his daughter

“I was saying stop and no. Great message to your kid. Yes legally you are allowed to take a picture of me. But I was asking you to stop and saying no,” Schumer wrote.

“I will not take [pictures] with people anymore and it’s because of this dude in Greenville,” she wrote.

Just a few hours before the souring incident Saturday, Schumer shared another Instagram video from her Greenville stop, capturing more positive feelings about the city:

“Greenville makes you feel like mmmmmmm,” she wrote.

Schumer elaborated on her Instagram post on Saturday, writing on Twitter that she still will take photos “with nice people when I choose to if it’s a good time for that.

“But I don’t owe you anything,” she continued. “So don’t take if I say no.”

Schumer also told PEOPLE in a statement that she was grateful for her fans:

“I am grateful to people who like my work and support me but not the ones who think that behavior is ok.”

Later, the comedian apparently unwound with a bit on equine therapy, writing hours later alongside a photo with a horse, “Day turned around with Harley.”

Man Shot Dead By Armed Police In Murder Hunt

A 36-year-old man has been shot dead during an operation by armed police in Kent.

Officers were called to an address at Smiths Lane in Goudhurst on Sunday night and a man was fatally injured at the scene.

The pre-planned operation was linked to the murder of 73-year-old Roy Blackman in Biddenden, Kent, on 21 March.

He was found dead at his home in Headcorn Road after burglars had stolen his safe.

Mr Blackman died from multiple blunt force injuries.

The dead man in Goudhurst has not been formally identified.

But police said the family of a man officers wanted to trace in connection with Mr Blackman's murder have been informed.

Police were investigating the murder of Roy Blackman. Pic: Kent Police

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating Sunday's incident.

It said tests are being carried out on "what appears to be a non-police firearm found at the scene".

In a statement the IPCC said: "After being notified by Kent Police, IPCC investigators deployed to the scene to oversee post incident procedures.

"Tests are being carried out on what appears to be a non-police firearm found at the scene, and forensic examination will continue throughout today.

"As with any fatal police shooting, an independent investigation was declared by the IPCC soon after being made aware of the incident."

UK Firm's Exec Slapped During Deaths Apology

A top executive from British consumer goods giant Reckitt Benckiser has been slapped and called a "murderer" as he made an apology over deadly lung injuries linked to one of its products.

Ata Safdar, the head of the company in South Korea and Japan, faced angry relatives of the victims at a highly-charged press conference in Seoul.

He bowed deeply several times as he admitted the firm's humidifier sterilisers had caused harm and accepted "fullest responsibility".

A 13-year-old boy who now breathes using an oxygen tank was one of the victims in the audience for the executive's apology.

Reckitt Benckiser is headquartered in Slough, Berkshire, and its brands include Dettol, Nurofen, Harpic and Durex.

Some 103 people are believed to have died from causes related to the liquid products - marketed by Reckitt Benckiser as well as about a dozen other companies.

But campaigners say the actual death toll could be much higher.

Many of the victims were women and children - who use humidifiers during South Korea's dry winter season.

The scandal emerged in 2011 when four pregnant women died of lung problems and the government found "significant association" with the sterilisers.

As the chaotic press conference unfolded, a man came up beside Mr Safdar and slapped him on the back of the neck.

Another man squared up to him and appeared to call him a "murderer", adding "it's too late!"

Mr Safdar told the families: "Today's apology, was about acceptance of responsibility for the harm that Oxy HS (humidifier sterilisers) has caused.

"This is the first time we are accepting the fullest responsibility, and we are offering a complete and full apology.

"We were late, five years have passed, we are also apologising far too late. This is what we are apologising about."

The executive struggled to complete his "heartbreaking" apology amid the heckles and shouting from the audience.

The humidifier sterilisers were sold from 2001 to 2011, and South Korea is believed to be the only country where they were available.

Last month, Reckitt Benckiser also apologised in a written statement for not communicating quickly enough with the families affected.

A multi-billion dollar "humanitarian fund" to compensate the victims has been set up - and a criminal investigation is also under way.

Teenage Girl Dies After Taking Ecstasy

A teenage girl has died after taking a form of ecstasy known as "MasterCard" during a night out in Manchester.

The girl was attending a club night at the Victoria Warehouse in Trafford, on Bank Holiday Monday when she allegedly took the drug.

Police were called after she suffered an adverse reaction. She was taken to hospital, but died a short time later.

Officers investigating her death are now concerned about any others who may have taken the pills.

They are urging them to quickly seek medical attention.

Detective Inspector Helen Bell from GMP's Trafford Division said: "This is a tragic situation, the death of a young person is always devastating, but in these circumstances, it is all the more heart breaking.

"My thoughts are with her family and friends at this time.

"Sadly we know it is very unlikely that the girl was the only person to have taken this drug last night.

"We are appealing to anyone who may have taken this form of ecstasy, known as "MasterCard" to get checked out urgently. Even if you took it some hours ago, this pill will still be in your system and could be seriously harming your health.

"Anyone with any information about what happened or where this drug may have come from  is asked to contact police as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 8567662 , 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Synthetic Cannabis 'Devastating' Prisons

Synthetic cannabis is having a "devastating" effect in UK jails, contributing to deaths, self-harm and serious illness, the chief inspector of prisons has said.

The man-made drug, often known as Spice or Black Mamba, mimics the effects of cannabis but is produced in illegal labs from a cocktail of chemicals and can be dozens of times stronger.

Jails are "awash" with the substance, according to the Prison Officers Association (POA), with reports of stashes of the drug being dropped by drone or thrown over walls, and prison officers attacked by high inmates.

Peter Clarke, chief inspector of prisons, said violence and bullying are increasing as addicted inmates get into debt with dealers.

It is "getting worse, not better", Mr Clarke told the Guardian.

"Prison staff have told me that the effect on individuals and prisons as a whole is unlike anything they have seen before."

A 2015 study by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman found 19 deaths over two years where new psychoactive substances (NPS) - or so-called legal highs - were a "relevant factor".

Synthetic cannabis will be made illegal by the Psychoactive Substances Act

Cases included prisoners falling ill or taking their own life after taking the drugs, with some mixing them with other illegal substances of prescription medication.

The drug is often odourless, making it hard for sniffer dogs to detect.

"NPS is having a devastating impact in some of our prisons, more severe than we have seen with other drugs," said Mr Clarke - who wants new strategies to cut supply and treat addicted inmates.

"Their presence in prisons has given rise to debt, bullying and violence. They are destabilising some prisons, making it difficult for normal prison life to continue."

Steve Gillan, head of the Prison Officers Association, told the Guardian "prisoners are so out of their heads they don't know what they are doing sometimes".

"They are a danger to themselves, they're attacking staff, and they are attacking other prisoners," he added.

The POA accuses the Prison Service of not taking the problem seriously enough and failing in its duty of care towards staff and prisoners - a claim it denies.

"Governors use sniffer dogs, cell searches and mandatory drugs tests to find drugs in prison and punish those responsible," said a Prison Service statement.

"We have also legislated to make smuggling new psychoactive substances into prison illegal and those caught trying to throw packages over prison walls can now face up to two years in jail.

"However, we must do more, which is why we are investing £1.3bn to transform the prison estate, to better support rehabilitation and tackle bullying, violence and drugs."

Some synthetic cannabis types have been classified as Class B drugs, only for producers to alter the chemical make-up to keep them legal.

The new Psychoactive Substances Act - slated to come in in the coming months - aims to stop this by banning substances that produce a "psychoactive effect" which alters a person’s "mental functioning or emotional state".

Thousands Support First School Kids' Strike

Parents will stage the first ever "kids' strike" tomorrow in protest at the "shambolic testing regime" of SATs.

Nearly 40,000 people have signed up in support of the action what parents claim is "over-testing" at the expense of children’s happiness.

Parents, heads and teachers are opposed to the Key Stage 1 testing for six and seven year olds, standards for which have been made tougher this year in an attempt to drive up standards.

The Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign, which is coordinating the kids’ strike, has written to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan calling for an "end to SATs now".

The letter said: "Please take a long, hard look at this.

"Do you want your legacy to be the confident cancellation of unneeded and unnecessary SATS, showing you are listening to your electorate and the teachers you claim to support ... or the overseeing of a shambolic testing regime desperately unwanted by millions of people to the point that this country saw its first open parent revolt?

"You have the power to stop these tests. Now. Our children, our teachers and our schools deserve better than this."

The campaign says its petition has been signed by 37,486 parents.

The reception baseline test was ditched recently because experts found it was unfair.

The National Union of Teachers has also written to Ms Morgan saying that scrapping those tests had not "lessened the dissatisfaction of teacher with an untrialled system whose effects seem, even now, not to have been grasped by those who have introduced it".

Head teachers claimed the introduction of harder tests would lead to thousands of schools failing to make the grade.

Speaking at the National Association of Head Teachers' annual conference at the weekend, Ms Morgan attempted to allay fears saying no more schools would fail.

Ms Morgan urged those in charge of the "kids' strike" to think again – telling the conference that keeping children home was "damaging".

She said: "Keeping children home - even for a day - is harmful to their education and I think it undermines how hard you as heads are working.

"I urge those running these campaigns to reconsider their actions."

She added "more rigorous" tests of young children would help to address the achievement gap in functional literacy between England and Korea, Singapore and Ireland.