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Victoria Beckham's triumphant autumn/winter 2015 show in New York on Sunday made it clear the mother-of-four has firmly made the transition from pop singer to fashion superstar. The 40-year-old unveiled her latest collection of over-sized jumpers and midi skirts to rave reviews but, ever modest, she is the first to admit she doesn't actually sketch her own designs. Saying she's had 'no formal training' in a new interview, the mother-of-four instead directs a team to create her rapturously-received clothes. Scroll down for video . British designer Victoria Beckham unveiled her AW15 collection in New York on Sunday to critical acclaim . How things have changed! Victoria Beckham's casual and chic style of today, right, is a far cry from her super glamorous look in 2007, which the designer puts down to being 'too busy' for . Speaking to The Independent, she said: 'I have a different way of expressing myself because I haven't had that formal training. She added: 'I've learnt a lot, in the last seven years. I've learnt a lot very, very quickly. And I continue to learn.' In a recent interview with the New York Times she described her design process: 'When I’m starting work on the collection, I just sit with my team and talk to them about what I like, what I find inspiring, what I’m desiring, what I want to wear, what I haven’t done before. 'We have fit models we work with, and we’ll either work the fit model or we’ll drape on a stand. I can draw, but badly. I think that’s okay. No one’s expecting me to do it the normal way. 'And that’s a good thing. But I do sometimes take all my clothes off and drape on myself. It’s just a bit more pleasant for everybody if we do it on models.' But while we were once accustomed to seeing Victoria strutting down to Nobu in a tiny Herve Leger dress and Jimmy Choos, these days, Mrs Beckham champions body-covering, not body-con outfits. Victoria's chunky knits and midi skirt ensembles that barely revealed an inch of flesh have been hailed as 'the new kind of sexy' Victoria's family (L-R) Romeo, Brooklyn, Cruz , David and Harper sat by Anna Wintour on the front row. 'This was a sexy and sophisticated take that put shape at its centre for soft and womanly silhouettes,' wrote Vogue's Jessica Bumpus. Victoria Beckham turtleneck sweater . Get a similar style at Net-a-Porter . Visit site . As her family supported her from the FROW, Victoria Beckham debuted her latest collection at New York Fashion Week. The stylish mother of four chose to wear an all-black look from her eponymous line consisting of a boxy mock neck sweater, button-front skirt, and pointed heels. Ever so chic (she goes by Posh Spice after all), the Fall line was a reflection of the designer's personal style. Sumptuous knits, cut out dresses, and cocoon coats filled the runway and what's not to love about that? Victoria's custom ensemble is not available to the general public, but you can buy a similar sweater now at Net-a-Porter (click right). The successful brand continues to expand as the WAG just opened a new boutique on London's swanky Dover Street and big names continue to dress in her wares including Beyonce and Julia Roberts. Shop our edit below of turtleneck sweaters from Topshop, Vince, and Asos and you'll be well on your way to sartorial splendor. Pull&Bear Chunky Roll Neck Jumper at Asos (reduced to $29.35) Visit site . Vince Superwash Turtleneck Sweater at Saks Fifth Avenue (now reduced to $94) Visit site . Asos Crop Top With Long Sleeves And Turtle Neck . Visit site . TOPSHOP Clean Roll Neck . Visit site . The designer has also ditched the vertiginous heels that have always been her trademark. She told The Independent: 'I'm busier now - so I couldn't totter around in a tight dress and a pair of heels. I think I feel a little more relaxed.' Mrs Beckham, admits that she was too afraid to dress down in the past. She explained: 'I suppose if I'm being honest, I would have been scared, right at the beginning, to wear lots of layers and to wear a flat shoe. Now I'm not.' She now favours a muted colour palette of mostly blacks, greys and sometimes white, as well as flats, and she almost exclusively wears her own designs. Mrs Beckham has made the transition to globally respected fashion designer, silencing her critics by launching a hugely successful brand loved by A-listers and fashion editors alike. She unveiled her AW15 collection at New York Fashion Week on Sunday to a stellar front row, including husband David and their sons Brooklyn, 15, Romeo, 12, Cruz, nine, and daughter Harper, three, sitting alongside Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, and stylist Rachel Zoe. Shunning the trend for overexposure, currently championed by the likes of Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus and Miranda Kerr, Victoria's range was a much more modest affair. Her designs were full of cream midi skirts, voluminous knits and calf-scraping culottes - proving that more really is more. The entire collection went down a storm with Vogue's most esteemed fashion editors. Last year, the fashion bible hinted that Victoria's collection was reminiscent of the stuff they had seen on the Celine runway before and commented that they'd like to see a 'bit more of her' in her designs. It seems she took note. With a new direction, 40-year-old Victoria's stand-out designs, which are clearly based on her own wardrobe, winning her plaudits. Shunning the trend for overexposure loved on all the red carpets, Victoria's sophisticated and feminine collection still won plaudits . Victoria seen on the front tow of a fashion week show in 2008 making notes...how things have changed . Legendary Vogue International Editor, Suzy Menkes OBE, added: 'Bringing back sexy - a slither of flesh at the waist or a jigsaw of fabrics forming five shades of black - was only a sidebar to the main story: Victoria Beckham has made it as a designer. 'I can’t think of another celebrity who has been willing and able to create a unique style.' The doyenne of style journalism also added: 'Whatever fashion people say about “Team VB” doing all the work, I believe that the foundation and flow of this collection could have come only from her.' In her show notes, Mrs Beckham explained 'it is not about one theme - but instead thinking about what women really want to wear and how they want their clothes to make them feel.' The creative process for this collection was an altogether different style. Mrs Beckham explains how she decided to start with her classic designs and re-imagine them for a new season. 'I began with the dress and looked at evolving and translating it,' she wrote. 'It was from here that the collection and its narrative developed and it has been liberating and surprising for me in terms of the creative process. 'Familiar shapes have been deconstructed and reworked. Volumes have been subverted, menswear elements re-engineered to fit the female form and twists, spirals, seams and asymmetry interplayed. Fabrics bounce and move, a swing is sculptural, and a more body conscious silhouette emerges... 'For me it is a collection full of possibilities.' Victoria Beckham seemed to have the frosty weather in mind with this collection, with patent boots and luxurious coats . Mrs Beckham explained that she had been thinking about what women really want to wear and how they want their clothes to make them feel . Commenting on her range, The Telegraph's Ellie Pithers wrote: 'Equally successful were the mannish double-breasted navy cocoon coats with neat horn buttons; the herringbone coat with a bustle at the hip; the chunky cream and navy sweaters with ballooning sleeves; and the skirt made out of cream velvet bows - VB's answer to the "modern day red carpet" conundrum when worn with a simple chenille sweater. 'Sure, it's not a problem that vexes most of us, but she's got all her bases covered.' Fashion website WWD described the collection as 'a study in calm sexiness' and insisted plenty of women will be climbing over each other to wear it come autumn. This is the latest in a string of stylish hits for the star, who last year opened the doors to her flagship store on Dover Street. Then, she beat fashion powerhouse Alexander McQueen, a label loved by the Duchess of Cambridge, as well as her friend Stella McCartney for the prestigious title of Best Brand at the British Fashion Awards 2014. Victoria, pictured in Los Angeles in 2007, once favoured figure-hugging dresses and pointy stilettos but she's relaxed her approach to dressing and has adopted a much more pared-back and fashionable approach to getting dressed in the morning .

Victoria Beckham, 40, has 'a different way' of expressing herself . Directs designers, gives feedback and drapes fabric on herself . Vogue editors praised Victoria's 'stand-out' AW15 collection .

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By . David Mccormack . and Louise Boyle . PUBLISHED: . 15:08 EST, 2 March 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 07:12 EST, 3 March 2014 . The mother of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has announced that there will be public celebrations of her son's life in both New York City and Rochester this spring. At a screening of Hoffman's Oscar-winning film Capote in Rochester on Friday, critic Jack Garner read a statement by Marilyn O'Connor thanking fans and friends for their support. ‘It has been a devastating loss for us, but I know that you also feel a great sorrow,’ she said. Scroll down for video . Philip Seymour Hoffman's life will be celebrated at memorials in both New York City and Rochester this spring . Marilyn O'Connor, right, walking into the Frank Campbell Funeral home in Manhattan on February 7 and, left, in happier times at a 1999 screening along with her son . The retired judge described her son as ‘a gift’, reports the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. ‘We miss and cry for the little boy and the man, the brother, the uncle, the husband, the father, the friend... We will also miss his talent, his knowledge of his craft, and seeing results of his hard work. He was a gift to me for 46 years. I wanted more.’ Hoffman grew up just outside Rochester and used to go to watch movies at The Little Theatre, the venue for Friday's screening. 'My heart is broken and will never be the same again, O'Connor said in the statement. 'I know many of you feel the same. We will find our way through this and hear his clear voice and laughter as we do, because he is cheering for all of us to go on, to shine, to be the best that we can be. Thank you all and especially, The Little Theatre, a place Phil loved to go and watch movies.' O'Connor made her announcement on the same day that it was announced that her son's death was caused by an acute mixed drug intoxication of heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine. Police outside the apartment of actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman on February 3 in the West Village, New York City following his tragic overdose . The Oscar-winning actor, 46, was . found dead on February 2 in his $10,000-a-month West Village apartment . surrounded by 70 bags of heroin and 20 used syringes. Hoffman's . tragic death came less than a year after he completed a stint in rehab . for his addiction after being clean for 23 years. According to the New York medical examiner on Friday, acute mixed drug intoxication was the cause of death. One of the drugs found in Hoffman's system was benzodiazepine - a psychoactive drug with sedative and muscle relaxant properties that can be used to treat anxiety disorders. The other prescription drug found in Hoffman's system amphetamine was an 'upper' - such as  Adderall - and can be used to give an enhanced feeling of wakefulness and focus. Longtime partners: Philip Seymour Hoffman and Mimi O'Donnell, pictured in an undated photo, had been together for many years. They had separated shortly before his death as Hoffman tried to beat his drug addiction . The New York medical examiner announced on Friday that Philip Seymour Hoffman's death was caused by an acute mixed drug overdose of heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and amphetamine. Speedball (also referred to as power-balling)  refers to shooting heroin or morphine in the same syringe. Some also use it with two syringes, one in each arm. The term can also be applied to use of pharmaceutical opioids - benzodiazepines or barbiturates along with amphetamines. The cocktail of drugs can cause a strong physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms, and is extremely deadly. Mixing the heroin and cocaine together . is known as 'speed-balling' and is the same deadly combination that . claimed the lives of actors River Phoenix, John Belushi and Chris . Farley. The star . reportedly fell off the wagon during the wrap party for his 2012 movie . The Master and entered rehab in May of last year. The Capote star . was found at dead at his home early on the Sunday morning by friend . David Bar Katz when he didn't show to pick up his children. Police had been investigating his death as a suspected drug overdose. Investigators . have determined that Hoffman made six ATM transactions for a total of . $1,200 inside a supermarket near his home on the Saturday night before his death. Three . people were later arrested during the investigation into the source of . the drugs, including a long-time friend and 'drug dealer' Robert . Vineberg. Struggling jazz musician Vineberg, 57, was arrested on February 4 in his apartment in the pricey Nolita district of Manhattan and charged with drug possession after hundreds of bags of heroin were found at his home. The actor pictured with two of his three children Cooper and Willa. He had left the family home at the end of last year to try to beat his drug addiction . Before his death, Hoffman separated from costume designer . Marianne 'Mimi' O’Donnell, the mother of his three children, as he battled addiction. Hoffman moved into an apartment close to where Ms O'Donnell lives with the children in their $4.2 million apartment. The actor leaves Ms O'Donnell and their three children - son Cooper, 10, Tallulah, seven, and five-year-old Willa. The actor, who won an Oscar for Capote and also starred in The Hunger Games, The Master and Moneyball, was considered one of the leading talents of his generation. He was remembered at a funeral on February 6 for 400 people at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The service at attended by his . family and close friends in Hollywood including Cate Blanchett, Meryl . Streep, Ethan Hawke, Amy Adams and Joaquin Phoenix.

The Oscar-winning actor's mom has announced plans for two public celebrations of her son's life . In a statement she it had been a 'devastating loss for us' Hoffman, 46, was found dead on February 2 in his $10,000-a-month West Village apartment after mixing heroin and cocaine . The New York medical examiner ruled on Friday that he died of acute mixed drug intoxication .

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By . Ryan Gorman . and Ashley Collman . and Paul Thompson . A third student has come forward to accuse a 29-year-old Florida teacher already facing nearly two dozen charges for sex with teens in her school. Jennifer Fichter now faces 34 separate criminal charges for having sexual relationships with at least three students in separate schools where she taught English. The third student was between the ages of 16 and 17-years-old when his relationship with Fichter turned physical, sources told WKMG. More charges: English teacher Jennifer Fichter is facing more than 30 counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor after a third student came forward alleging he had a relationship with her. Pictured above in court last month . Fichter and the student are believed by authorities to have had sexual contact from August 2012 to December 2012, the station reported. Detectives had been interviewing the Polk County teen at the time the disgraced teacher was arrested for the previous cases. The second student, now 20, was also 17 in September 2011 when Fichter started inviting him over to her apartment where they would cuddle on the couch and watch TV. He says the relationship turned sexual the next month and they went on to have intercourse about 20 times for seven months - sometimes in the boy's bedroom while his mother was away, according to the arrest report. Allegations: The third student says he had a relationship with Fichter in 2012, when he was just 16 years old . Fichter was initially arrested in April . after the mother of one of Central Florida Aerospace Academy's juniors . found intimate text messages from the teacher on her son's phone. Fichter was charged then with six counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, and was charged with 20 more counts on Wednesday after the second student's revelations. Neither teen has been identified. The new charges come just one day after the Polk County School Board voted unanimously to fire Fichter after an investigation into the affair she had with the current student. According to The Tampa Tribune, police said the abuse with the current student began in November 2011 when the pair had sex in the early morning hours in Fichter's Toyota pickup truck. The teen told detectives he and Fichter met for sex three times in the parking lot of a Lakeland apartment complex and three times near New Tampa Highway. He also said they had sex four times outside the city in Polk and Hillsborough. Lakeland police said those counties are investigating those incidents. The illegal meetings were discovered by the teen's suspicious mother on January 27. When she noticed her son was not home at 5am and lied about his whereabouts, she looked through his cell phone and found texts from two names. One discussed an 'age difference'. Police said the mom confronted her son, who admitted both names were used by Fichter. Scene: The first two students to come forward with accusations attended Central Florida Aerospace Academy, where Fichter taught English. The school fired her last month . The mother reported Fichter to police, however it is not clear why she waited so long. The mother also agreed to speak to the teacher and record the conversation for investigators. During . the call, Fichter allegedly admitted she became pregnant with the . teen's child and had an abortion. The woman also said she was in love with . the student and wanted to continue seeing him. 'The victim's mother discovered this relationship after reviewing text messages from her son and she asked that Fichter respond to her residence to talk,' a Lakeland police statement said, according to Orlando Sentinel. 'According to the victim's mother, Fichter admitted to the sexual encounters and professed her love for him,' authorities said. Fichter was arrested at her Davenport home soon after the conversation, and booked at the Polk County Jail. And the two students at the space academy aren't the only boys Fichter is accused of abusing. Fichter resigned from her job at Robinswood Middle School in Orange County in 2008 after it was reported she had feelings for an eighth-grade student. Fichter is now in jail after being accused of having sex with at least one minor as many as 30 times in the backseat of her truck . A 40-page report on the English teacher revealed that she told another teacher she had feelings for the boy, and hinted to another student that she wanted to have sex with him. She reportedly said ‘he makes me melt into a puddle with those eyes.’ Her co-worker told investigators that she told her she even dreamed about the boy one night. When asked what it was about, she said, ‘Oh my goodness, it was a goooood dream!’ The report said Fichter and her colleague joked that the remark could get her jailed if ever revealed. An investigation was launched into her feelings for the 14 year old boy. No charges were ever filed in relation to that incident. Video: Teacher arrested for sex with student left job six years ago for similar reasons .

High School English teacher Jennifer Fichter, 29, faces nearly three dozen criminal charges for having sex with underage students . She was originally arrested in April after a student's mother found illicit text messages on her son's cell phone . A second student some came forward with accusations after seeing a news report about the disgraced educator . Fichter resigned from her job as a middle-school teacher in Orange, County in 2008 after admitting to having feelings for an eighth-grader .

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One in 20 drivers have illegally paid someone to take penalty points for them, according to a new study. The research found six per cent have asked a friend or relative to take their points and a shocking five per cent confess to paying someone. But only half of those who have swapped points say they were caught (54 per cent) and as a result 39 per cent of motorists are calling for point swapping drivers to face criminal prosecutions. Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce each received eight month prison sentences two years ago for perverting the course of justice after they lied about swapping speeding points. Data retrieved through a Freedom of Information request also showed a staggering 70,158 motorists are on the brink of being banned, holding nine points - just three from a potential ban. The Confused.com FOI request revealed the lengths people go to avoid penalty points when caught speeding . Meanwhile, more than 6,800 motorists in the UK have 12 points or more on their licence. Extraordinarily, one UK driver, who is still on the road, has a staggering 45 points, clocked up for nine speeding offences and 36 of failing to disclose the identity of the vehicle driver. The data was gathered by the car insurance comparison site Confused.com and showed the lengths people are willing to go to avoid a driving ban. Of the motorists who admit swapping points, more than half have done so at least three times and more than one in seven think the penalty point system is not fit for purpose. The most common reason for swapping points with someone else is to keep their license clean, while a quarter of motorists admitted asking someone to take them because they were facing a driving ban. In total, 2,928,222 motorists currently have penalty points on their licence. The study found more than a third of us have received points for a motoring offence, with 80 per cent of these due to speeding. Absurdly, more than one in 10 motorists (11 per cent) even claimed they didn't know the practice of swapping penalty points is illegal. Drivers are legally obliged to inform their insurers they have points on their licence, however more than one in six admit failing to do so. Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne and his ex-wife Vicky Pryce were jailed for lying about switching points . Many drivers said they would commit a crime by taking points for a family member. Three quarters of drivers who said they would take someone else's points (72 per cent) said they would do so for their partner and a third said they would take points for their child, parent or sibling. More than a third of those who have taken points for someone else (37 per cent) defended their decision to do so by saying the driver in question could have lost their job. The research also revealed some professions are more inclined to swap points than others. In total, 2,928,222 motorists have penalty points on their licence after falling foul of speed cameras . Motorists who work in the hospitality industry topped the list of professions trading points, followed by those who work in property and those who work in research. Young drivers seem to be more likely to swap penalties, with 15 per cent of drivers aged 18 to 24 admitting to asking a friend or family member to take points, compared to just seven per cent of those aged 35 to 44. The driver with 45 points is still on the road as a result of a loophole in the system which states an MS90 offence (failing to disclose the identity of the vehicle driver) is not something someone can be disqualified for. Gemma Stanbury, Head of Motor Insurance at Confused.com said: 'It's concerning to see that one in 20 motorists (five per cent) admit taking on a friend or relative's penalty points. 'Avoiding penalty points for a motoring offence means many drivers who are prone to offences, such as speeding, remain on the roads, where they may pose a risk to others. 'Penalty points are designed to deter drivers from repeatedly breaking the law and to penalise those who do. 'The police are aware there are drivers on the roads who are illegally swapping points, and motorists should remember the police have direct access to DVLA data where they can look at anyone's driving record to compare photos. 'It can be easy for the police to match photos using DVLA information, and to check whether the person taking points is the vehicle's driver. 'Incurring multiple sets of penalty points can result in motoring fines, increased insurance premiums, and even disqualification from driving, so motorists should always drive safely and responsibly.'

Research found six per cent have asked a friend or relative to take their points and five per cent confess to paying someone to do it . Former cabinet minister Chris Huhne and ex-wife Vicky Pryce received eight month prison sentences for lying about swapping speeding points . Confused.com FOI request found one UK driver is on road with 45 points . One in 10 motorists (11 per cent) don't know swapping points is illegal .

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Djerba, Tunisia (CNN) -- President Barack Obama said Thursday he approved the use of U.S. military aircraft to help return to Egypt those Egyptian citizens who have fled to Tunisia to escape unrest in neighboring Libya as the United Nations called for stepped-up aid to refugees. Nearly 180,000 people, mainly foreign workers, have fled to the neighboring nations of Tunisia and Egypt amid fighting between government troops and rebels pushing to oust longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi, the U.N. refugee agency reported. About 95,000 people have crossed into Tunisia and another 83,000 into Egypt, the office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees estimated. But it was the would-be migrants stuck in Libya that was most concerning to Abeer Etefa, who on the Tunisian side of the border with Libya. "We're worried about people on the other side of the border," said the spokeswoman for the U.N.'s World Food Programme. "We're calling for humanitarian safe passage to deliver food inside to people in Tripoli and elsewhere." She said she had heard stories from recent arrivals of food shortages "in many places of Libya." She praised the efforts of Tunisians along the border, but said their generosity had limits. "They've provided all they could," she said, adding that they "can't continue." In Washington, Obama told reporters that he also authorized the U.S. Agency for International Development to charter additional planes "to help people from other countries find their way home." "Tens of thousands of people from many different countries are fleeing Libya, and we commend the governments of Tunisia and Egypt for their response, even as they go through their own political transitions," Obama said. Zuheir Badr El-Din, the top airport official in the Tunisian city of Djerba, told CNN that France plans to fly chartered jets between that coastal city and Cairo six times a day for five days. Chaos has reigned on the Tunisian border for days as thousands have clamored to get out of Libya, and many have found themselves trapped in a no-man's land between the two countries. Thousands more were housed in tents provided by UNHCR and the Tunisian military, and many have little money and no travel documents with them. In Djerba, about 90 km (55 miles) from the border, hundreds of refugees waited Thursday for flights out. Some napped on the floor; others sat up against the walls waiting. But the process appeared orderly, given the number of would-be passengers, as airport officials moved them along in orderly lines with no pushing or shoving. The majority carried only small bags containing the bare necessities that they managed to escape with. One elderly man's luggage consisted of a tightly wrapped blanket -- the only possession that survived his journey out of Libya. Earlier Thursday, UNHCR sounded an urgent appeal to governments to help in the mass evacuation required to get people out. And after a call among Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and representatives of Middle Eastern, European and U.N. organizations, the world body called for help to avert a humanitarian disaster. "There is a strong need for urgent relief -- food, water, sanitation and shelter to the thousands on both sides of the Tunisian and Egyptian borders due to significant population movements, mainly of migrant workers," a U.N. statement warned. "It is also necessary to prepare for a further possible escalation of humanitarian needs should conditions deteriorate inside Libya." The participants in Thursday's talks, which included the Arab League, the European Union and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, urged Libya to allow "immediate and unimpeded access" to determine what was needed. "The situation here remains tense," said Firas Kayal, a spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency on the Tunisian border. "There is lots of congestion on this side of the border and we are hearing that many thousands are waiting on the Libyan side to come through. Village bakeries have increased production to feed the stranded, he said. "The local community has been so generous in providing food, medicines and places to stay, but the capacity of the local community is reaching its limit because the numbers are so huge," he said. The refugees include Bangladeshis, Vietnamese, Thais, Koreans, Malians, Ghanaians and Sudanese who had entered Libya seeking work. But most of the workers are Egyptian citizens, and that country's caretaker government has paid for flights from Djerba to Cairo to take them home. CNN's Raja Razek, Arwa Damon, Ivan Watson and Moni Basu and journalist Catriona Davies contributed to this report.

U.N. warns of "urgent" humanitarian needs . French charters join airlift from Tunisia . The border with Tunisia has been chaotic as people clamor to get out of Libya . Many are foreign workers who have little money and lack passports .

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Despite hitting the ripe old age of 35, Andrea Pirlo believes he is close to his best physical condition after helping Juventus return to winning ways in Serie A. The Italian midfielder scored a trademark free-kick in the 2-0 victory over Empoli on Saturday evening to extend the Old Lady's lead at the top of the table to three points. Second-place Roma lost to Napoli, and Juve's talisman Pirlo is full of confidence. Andrea Pirlo believes he is close to his best physical condition after helping Juventus return to winning ways . 'Personally, I'm growing,' the Italy international said. 'I'm working hard and well during the week. I'm now close to my best condition.' 'It was important to win. We needed to immediately put the loss at Genoa behind us and take advantage of Roma's defeat. 'It's an important sign for us, a clear message to all of the Scudetto challengers. The Italian midfielder scored a trademark free-kick in the 2-0 victory over Empoli on Saturday evening . Juventus are struggling in the Champions League, having won one and lost two in the competition, and Pirlo sees the midweek game at home to Olympiacos as a must-win. 'My mind is already on Tuesday evening. The Olympiacos game is effectively a final.' Second-place Roma lost to Napoli, and Juve's talisman Pirlo is full of confidence .

Andrea Pirlo believes he is close to his best physical condition after helping Juventus return to winning ways . The Italian scored a trademark free-kick in the 2-0 victory over Empoli . Roma lost to Napoli, and Juve's talisman Pirlo is full of confidence .

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In smart homes, all appliances and devices from fridges to TVs will be controlled using smartphones. But while this sounds great in theory, simple actions like turning on a light bulb could take longer using a phone than simply flipping a switch. Now, inventors in Tel Aviv, Israel, have come up with a smart light bulb adapter that can be controlled with simple voice commands, saving people precious time and energy. Scroll down for video . Bright idea: Inventors in Tel Aviv, Israel, have come up with a smart light bulb adapter called Vocca (pictured) that can be controlled with simple voice commands, saving people precious time and energy . Fits: All standard light fittings . Technology inside: Voice recognition technology from Sensory Inc and TobyRich Bluetooth Smart and Bluetooth Low Energy app design . Voice command: 'Go Vocca light' but the Vocca Pro can be customised . Installation: None . Compatibility: Several Voccas can be controlled and pre-set using an iPhone app . Cost: From $39 (£23) plus shipping . Launch: Estimated for December 2014 . Writing on crowdfunding site Kickstarter, the makers said: ‘Who wants to pull out their smartphone to control lighting? Vocca is focused on real life use rather than being cool for a week.' The Vocca bulb adapter is a prototype but will be able to be installed by anyone when it launches in December. Its creators claim that unlike other smart devices, the device does not rely on Wi-Fi or a hub and needs no configuration. They say it will make it possible for people to switch on the light from anywhere in a house, simply by shouting the command, ‘go Vocca light’. Easy to install: The Vocca bulb adapter is a prototype but will be able to be installed by anyone when it launches in December. Its creators claim that the device does not rely on Wi-Fi or a hub and needs no configuration . The adapter will use voice recognition technology and using a Bluetooth app, will always be on and listening for words to respond to. Once a trigger phrase is uttered, the device will transfer the powers from the mains to the light bulb. The adapter is designed to fit different light bulbs and fittings. Consumers can still use a regular light switch with the device if a voice command isn’t convenient. A ‘Pro’ version of the adapter is also available to pre-order, which will allow people to create their own voice commands to turn their light on and off. Customisable: A 'Pro' version of the adapter is also available to pre-order, which will allow people to create their own triggers to turn their light on and off. Using an accompanying iPhone app, (pictured) they will also be able to set the gadget to automatically switch on at a certain time . Let there be light: People will be able to switch on the light from anywhere in a house, simply by shouting the command, 'go Vocca light' Using an accompanying iPhone app, they will also be able to set the gadget to automatically switch on at a certain time to wait someone up and switch off for bedtime. Users will be able to control all the Voccas from their phone remotely. The device is available to pre-order on Kickstarter for $39 (£23) plus $12 (£7) shipping outside US, while a Pro version costs $49 (£29) plus shipping per device. The company is half way to raising the $40,000 (£24,000) it needs to manufacture the device, which is expected to ship in December. Time saver: Simple actions like turning on a light bulb could take longer using a smartphone in a smart house than simply flipping a switch. The voice command device is said to be six times faster than turning a light off by using a smartphone .

Inventors in Tel Aviv, Israel came up with the Vocca smart light bulb adapter . It responds to voice commands instead of clapping, flipping a switch or using a smartphone, like many smart home connected devices . A Pro version allows users to create their own vocal triggers . iPhone app will let people set timers for lights to turn on and off too . Device costs from $39 (£23) plus shipping and is set to launch in December .

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Tehran, Iran (CNN) -- Iran has put the stoning sentence of a woman convicted of adultery and murder "on hold," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told state-run Press TV on Wednesday. While the statement did not differ greatly from previous, sometimes contradictory reports from the Iranian government about the fate of the woman, Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, it did indicate continued attention to the murder aspect of her case. "The sentencing of Ms. Ashtiani for adultery has been stopped and (her case) is being reviewed again, and her sentencing for complicity in murder is in process," Mehmanparast said. Ashtiani was convicted of adultery in 2006 and sentenced to death by stoning, but her son and human rights activists urged help for her this summer, prompting an international outcry. There have been conflicting reports about the murder charge, which relates to the death of Ashtiani's husband. Ashtiani's previous lawyer, Mohammad Mostafaei, said last month his client had been sentenced to death for the crime but that the sentence was commuted because the victim's family forgave her. Ashtiani, however, told the British newspaper The Guardian last month that she was acquitted of the murder in 2006. Ashtiani, who spoke to the newspaper through an intermediary, said the man who actually killed her husband was identified and imprisoned for the crime. Mehmanparast said those concerned about Ashtiani's condition should have some consideration for the family of the victim, according to Press TV. "Defending a person on trial for murder should not be turned into a human rights matter," Mehmanparast said. Ashtiani gave an interview to state-run TV last month in which she said she knew about a plot to kill her husband but that she had not taken it seriously at the time. "The man entered my life and fooled me with his words and said let's kill my husband," she said in the interview, which was criticized by human rights groups. "He fooled me and said I'll do this for you, what a bad husband, I'll take care of you. He was my husband's cousin, and he said things about my husband. "Then I realized, when I went to prison, he had a criminal record and that this was his third criminal record, and when he said we should kill my husband, I couldn't even believe him or that my husband would die, I thought he was joking, that he had lost his mind. "When my husband's mother was at our house one day and I went to get her medicine, I saw him there with all the tools he had bought, including electrical tools, wires and gloves. Then he killed my husband by connecting him to electricity with the electrical wires. He had told me beforehand to send my kids to their grandmother's house." The prosecutor of East Azerbaijan Province, Malek Ajdar Sharifi, said on the same program that "the deceased was given an injection to fall asleep by his wife, then the man arrived and put him into the bath and put two electrical lines on his body and killed the deceased." The human rights group Amnesty International criticized the interview, saying Ashtiani may have been coerced. CNN's Gena Somra contributed to this report.

Iran has made previous, similar statements amid international outcry . This statement indicates continued attention to her murder conviction . The Iranian Foreign Ministry says the sentencing for murder is 'in process'

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By . Lydia Warren . A trio of eighth graders from Brooklyn have rocked their way to a $1.7 million record deal with Sony. Thirteen-year-old guitarist Malcolm Brickhouse, 13-year-old bassist Alec Atkins and 12-year-old drummer Jarad Dawkins have signed a two-album deal with the option for four more records for their metal band, Unlocking the Truth. They are promised $60,000 for their first album and could get an advance of $350,000 for their second, the New York Daily News reported. They are also working on a book and a documentary. Malcolm and Jarad started the band before asking their childhood friend Alec to play bass, even though he didn't know how, their website explains. Scroll down for video . On their way up: (From left to right) Alec Atkins, Jarad Dawkins and Malcolm Brickhouse of Unlocking the Truth pose at this year's Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, where they played . After the two friends taught him how to play, they started performing in Times Square and Washington Square Park, backed by their parents. After they posted videos of their gritty performances on YouTube, they started picking up followers - including Eric Clapton's drummer who helped them get gigs across the region. In one video in Times Square last summer, Malcolm's father can be heard telling an impressed bystander: 'This is their biggest crowd... But they'll be playing a lot biggger.' He added that they weren't looking for a singer but wanted to wait until the boys' voices broke. Their voices have since deepened and they all share singing duties and are taking vocal lessons. Rocking out: 13-year-old Brickhouse performs at Coachella in April - just a few years after he started playing shows in Times Square in New York City with his friends . Rock star: He is pictured crowd surfing at the show. His band will release at least two albums with Sony . Since being picked up on YouTube, they have played at the Apollo Theater, Webster Hall, during a . Brooklyn Nets playoff game and at the Coachella music festival earlier this year. In June, they even opened for Guns N' Roses - getting a personal thanks on Twitter from the band - and will soon open for Queens of the Stone Age. Annette Jackson, Malcolm's mother . and the group's co-manager, said Sony contacted them and wanted to offer a contract over the phone but flew the boys out to Los Angeles first. They performed for Sony and papers have been filed in . Manhattan Supreme Court because the boys are minors and need court approval to sign a contract, the Daily News explained. Where it all began: The teens (and tween) are pictured at Times Square, where they first started playing . Fans: Guns N' Roses gave the boys a shout out in June after they opened for them in Las Vegas . Famous friends: The boys are pictured with Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead, left, and Slash, right . They will complete two albums and have the option for four more. If they work with Sony on all six albums, the boys could earn as much as $1.7 million, the Daily News reported. 'It's so exciting. We're jumping over the moon,' Dawkins' mother, Tabatha Dawkins, said. But she said that despite the excitement of their music career, the boys have something else to focus on first - their education. 'School work comes first,' she said. 'If their school work is not done, they don't play.'

Malcolm Brickhouse, 13, Alec Atkins, 13, and Jarad Dawkins, 12, have been playing with their metal band, Unlocking the Truth, for a few years . They started by playing on the street in Times Square and other city parks . They went on to become a YouTube success and have since played at Coachella and recently opened for Guns N' Roses . They have signed a two album contract with Sony, with the option for four more albums, and also have a book and documentary in the works .

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By . Victoria Woollaston . Apple and Google have already realised the potential in connecting dashboards to phones, but if you can’t afford a new car fitted with this technology, Navdy offers a cheaper alternative. Created in San Francisco, Navdy is a dashboard-mounted heads-up display (HUD) that connects to an Android or iOS smartphone via Bluetooth. Notifications from Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, and more are automatically beamed to the display, and these notifications can be responded to, or dismissed, using voice and hand gestures. Scroll down for video . Navdy is a dashboard-mounted heads-up display (HUD).  It connects to an Android or iOS smartphone via Bluetooth, and notifications from Facebook, Twitter, (pictured) and Whatsapp are automatically beamed to the display. These notifications can be responded to, or dismissed, using voice and hand gestures . Display: 5.1-inch (13cm) transparent Head-Up Display (HUD) Imaging: High quality projector . Sensors: Infrared camera with wide-angle sensors for gesture control . Connectivity: WiFi and Bluetooth-enabled . Processor: Dual core processor running Android 4.4 . Width: 5.1-inches (13cm) Depth: 5.5-inches (14cm) Height: 3.7-inches (95mm) including display . It will also show emails, text messages, calls and maps. During navigation, in particular, the screen splits in two so the map is still visible, but the driver can see who is calling or messaging them. The voice and hand gestures can also be used to compose Facebook posts or tweets while driving, and Navdy is fitted with noise cancelling technology, to drown out the noise of the engine, as well as wide-angle gesture sensors. Navdy, created by entrepreneur Doug Simpson, can be positioned wherever is most comfortable for the driver, and the transparent screen doesn’t block the road ahead. The device additionally comes with advanced dimming and stabilisation controls. Navdy, created by entrepreneur Doug Simpson, can be positioned wherever is most comfortable for the driver, and the transparent screen doesn't block the road ahead (pictured). The device additionally comes with advanced dimming and stabilisation controls . Elsewhere, Navdy can ll sync with built-in smart car technology, where available, to show alerts such as low tyre pressure and fuel levels. Navdy works with iOS 7 and Android 4.3 and above. It is available for pre-­order at an introductory price of $299 (£180) - a 40 per cent discount from its retail price of $499 (£295). International shipping will add $30 (£17) to this price. Navdy (pictured) works with iOS 7 and Android 4.3 and above. It is available for pre­-order at an introductory price of $299 (£180) - a 40 per cent discount from its retail price of $499 (£295). International shipping will add $30 (£17) to this price and the device is expected to launch 'early next year' Navdy will also show emails, text messages, calls and maps. It also syncs with the calendar, Pandora and iTunes music. The compatible app icons are pictured . Navdy is similar to a HUD recently created by Garmin. Garmin's version sits on a car's dashboard and projects turn-by-turn directions on a transparent film attached to the windscreen. The directions are sent to the HUD over Bluetooth from a smartphone running the Garmin StreetPilot or NAVIGON satellite navigation apps. Spoken turn-by-turn directions can also be enabled and are played out either through the smartphone's speakers, or via Bluetooth through the car's stereo. If music is being streamed to the car stereo from the smartphone at the same time the HUD will automatically . fade it out for the turn-by-turn voice prompts.

Navdy is a dashboard-mounted heads-up display (HUD) It connects to an Android or iOS smartphone via Bluetooth . Notifications are automatically beamed to the display as they arrive . Navdy works with Facebook, Twitter, Google Maps, Spotify and Whatsapp . It will also show emails, text messages and calls in a split screen . Notifications are responded to, or dismissed, using voice and hand gestures .

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(CNN Student News) -- February 4, 2011 . Download PDF maps related to today's show: . • Washington, D.C. • Egypt • China . Transcript . THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. SHANELL, CNN STUDENT NEWS IREPORTER: Hi! I'm Shanell. AMANDA, CNN STUDENT NEWS IREPORTER: And I'm Amanda. SHANELL: And we're from Colby, Kansas. AMANDA: And this is Carl Azuz with today's CNN Student News! CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Very nicely done, ladies, getting us off to a galloping start. That was awesome, just like Fridays! Wonder if those horses were neighbors. Whether you live next door or halfway around the world, we welcome all of our viewers to CNN Student News. First Up: Roof Collapse . AZUZ: So, let's say you're a Steelers or Packers fan. You're heading to the Super Bowl in Dallas, Texas to get away from the cold weather in your hometown. But when you show up in Texas, the wind chill is 10 degrees below zero! Believe that! That's what it felt like in Dallas yesterday. Throw in several inches of snow and ice, parts of the city just shut down. One Packers player said it was funny to see everything closed. He said in Green Bay, this would've been a normal day. What we're about to show you, though, is not normal. Watch this. That's the power of this snowstorm. The roof of the building in Massachusetts completely collapsed under the weight of all the snow. Luckily, everyone who was inside got out safely ahead of time. Prayer Breakfast . AZUZ: The National Prayer Breakfast has taken place in Washington, D.C. every year for nearly six decades. During yesterday's prayer breakfast, President Obama gave a very personal speech about his religious faith. He talked about how his faith sustains him and how he asks God for strength. The president wasn't the only speaker at the event. U.S. astronaut Mark Kelly -- he is the husband of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords -- gave the closing prayer. He also talked about his wife's recovery from a shooting attack in Arizona. The president also talked about violence that's taking place in a different part of the world. U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: We pray that the violence in Egypt will end, and that the rights and aspirations of the Egyptian people will be realized. And that a better day will dawn over Egypt and throughout the world. Egypt Unrest & Social Media . AZUZ: People who support and people who are against Egypt's government continued to fight against each other in the country's capital of Cairo on Thursday, though the fighting wasn't as intense as it was the day before. In an interview with Christiane Amanpour of ABC News, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who's the main focus of these protests, said he was very unhappy about the fighting. He also said that he would leave office right away, but that he didn't want to risk plunging his nation into chaos. Political protests certainly aren't a new idea. They've been happening for centuries. But as Karen Caifa explains for us now, there is a very modern twist to these protests in Egypt. (BEGIN VIDEO) KARIN CAIFA, CNN CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON, D.C.: Pictures that speak a thousand words. Protests fueled by 140 characters. The unrest in Egypt targets the 30-year tenure of leader Hosni Mubarak, protests led by a generation that's come of age and found their voice in the era of social media. NASSER WEDDADY, AMERICAN ISLAMIC CONGRESS: You have a generation right now, an entire generation that was born under the Mubarak rule, that has taken to the streets and they want him out. CAIFA: While the percentage of Egyptians engaging in social media is small compared to that in the United States, like young Americans, it's young Egyptians making the most use of it. So before they took to the streets, they took to Twitter and to Facebook to mobilize, organize, to share their anger with each other and with the world. But at points during the height of the unrest, those tools went dark, with reports of the Egyptian government cracking down on Twitter and Facebook use, and cutting off internet access. A move criticized by the White House. ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We believe that the people of Egypt have a right to freedom of expression and freedom of speech, and that includes the use of the internet. CAIFA: And even with postings from within Egypt limited, the events stayed among the top trending topics on Twitter, piquing the interest of social media users worldwide using a number of hashtags. WEDDADY: The demonstrations that you're seeing right now in the streets, that's an example of online activism going back into the real world. (END VIDEO) Health Care Debate . AZUZ: An effort to overturn the controversial Health Care Reform Law will not be moving forward in the U.S. Senate. Senate Democrats blocked the move by Senate Republicans on Wednesday in a 51-to-47 vote that was right down party lines. Two Democratic senators didn't vote. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to overturn the law last month. But with the Senate vote on Wednesday, this debate may be over in Congress. But it's not over in the courts. Earlier this week, a federal judge in Florida ruled that the health care law is unconstitutional. Another judge has ruled the same way. But two other federal judges have said the opposite. All this, what this means, this will probably end up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. So there's a good chance we haven't heard the end of this health reform law debate. Shoutout . TOMEKA JONES, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes out to Mr. Linser's social studies classes at Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Washington! On the Chinese calendar, what year has just begun? You know what to do! Is it the Year of the... A) Rabbit, B) Ox, C) Snake or D) Tiger? You've got three seconds -- GO! The Chinese calendar has just kicked off the Year of the Rabbit. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout! Chinese New Year . AZUZ: All right. The Chinese calendar is lunar; it's based on the moon. And in a 12-year cycle, every year is assigned a different animal from ancient times. Astrologers describe the rabbit as kind and gentle, so maybe this will be a year of calm in China. Who knows? One thing we do know. These Year of the Rabbit celebrations are hopping, and they're going to go on for two weeks. The new year kicks off a fifteen-day Spring festival. There are parades, like this one. A lot of fireworks and festivities. And we're not just talking about things that happened in China. These celebrations happen in cities all around the world. Digital Dating Abuse . AZUZ: There was a time, when you wanted to ask someone out, you'd pass them a note that said "Do you want to go out with me? Check yes or no." And you'd really, really hope she didn't say maybe. These days, dating, of course, as you know, is a lot more high-tech. But the technology can also be used in harmful ways. We have a report now about some of the potential problems of dating in a digital world. (BEGIN VIDEO) CINDY SOUTHWORTH, NATIONAL NETWORK TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: What else makes digital dating abuse, do you think? CAIFA: Inside this classroom at Jefferson Middle School in Washington, D.C., lessons about the technology that connects teens, but also brings new challenges. Many parents are aware of cyberbullying. But others may not know the signs of digital dating abuse. And a recent survey found that more than half of teens know someone who's been a victim. PATRICIA PRIDE, JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: A lot of the things that happen on Facebook, on MySpace, on the social networks on the weekends, we see filter into the school on Monday morning. CAIFA: Digital dating abuse includes things like excessive or harassing text messages or emails, accessing or manipulating a boyfriend or girlfriend's Facebook or MySpace page, or "sexting" with racy photos, all by simply using a mobile phone. SOUTHWORTH: It doesn't necessarily cause dating abuse. You can take the phone away and there's still going to be a controlling relationship, but it's definitely playing out through the technology. CAIFA: So, "Love is Not Abuse," a nationwide coalition that teaches teens about the dangers of domestic violence, now has a bigger focus on the role of the internet and social networking, during and after a relationship. SOUTHWORTH: You're texting a lot, and it's a good thing and both people are happy. But what if you try to break up and the texting keeps happening? CAIFA: The students here were the first to take part in the new curriculum, a kickoff to February's National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. It will soon roll out across the country, a campaign to help students understand that abuse is real, even if it's in the digital realm. In Washington, I'm Karin Caifa for CNN Student News. (END VIDEO) Before We Go . AZUZ: Before we go today, we're taking you to an obstacle course where the obstacles are alive! It's at an alligator farm in Florida. And it includes a zip line that takes you right over the gators! The woman on the zip line's thinking, "cool, gators!" And the gators are thinking, "cool, lunch!" Fearless flyers are strapped onto safety lines at all times. And in truth, you're zipping along about 50 feet over the reptiles' reach. Goodbye . AZUZ: Still, you'd think they would put up a gator something. Maybe these are helpful animals. Maybe if you fall in their pit, they'll just offer you gator-aid. I think that's one of the best one's we've done in awhile. Today's sign-off line from Facebook.com/CNNStudentNews comes from Lindsey, who says a bicycle can't stand alone because it is two-tired. You can send us your sign-off lines at Facebook.com/CNNStudentNews. We look forward to 'em. Today's last suggestion came from Philip, Lauren, Bailey and Gemma. Here it comes: [Carl throws pillow at camera] .

Witness the power of a winter storm stretching across the U.S. Explore the role of technology in the political unrest in Egypt . Consider some potential problems of dating in a digital world . Use the weekly Newsquiz to test your knowledge of stories you saw on CNN Student News .

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Queensland Police have released a tongue-in-cheek video of seal who was stranded on a beach near Halifax in the state's far north. Combining seal-related puns and cute footage of the furry creature, the video attracted more than 2,000 likes on the Queensland Police Service's social media page on Facebook, and almost 200 comments. For its first trick, the one-minute long video kicks off with the title 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered' over a simple black background and then cuts to footage of a seal curled up on the beach next to a group of seagulls. Scroll down for video . Halifax police in Queensland's north were called to a beach near the town to make sure this furry friend was safe . A video posted on the Queensland Police Service's Facebook page is a tongue-in-cheek ode to the seal . According to the video, Halifax police officers had to cordon off the beach from visitors to keep them at a safe distance until the seal decided to move on. The short clip was posted as part of the police service's ongoing social media series 'What the Friday?' where officers from across the state share the more unusual jobs they are called to handle. Continuing with the puns, the video goes on to say: 'This two-officer station saw one of the sealiest things they've ever seen when this G.I. Joe went barking mad and marooned himself. 'Police had to secure the scene because while furry and cute, his bite can be much worse than his bark. It uses seal-related puns, including: 'Rumour has it he was searching for Heidi Klum but our lips are sealed' The video attracted more than 2,000 likes on the Queensland Police Service social media page on Facebook . The last pun is in reference to the German model's former husband, British singer Seal . 'Rumour has it he was searching for Heidi Klum but our lips are sealed.' The last pun is in reference to the German model's former husband, British singer Seal. This latest incident comes after Halifax police were called to a beach at Lucinda when locals spotted a New Zealand Fur Seal on August 31. That seal took the opportunity to take a dip under the jetty giving a rapidly growing crowd and allowed keen photographers to take some unique photographs.

Halifax police in north Queensland discovered a seal lazing on a beach . The video was posted on the police service's Facebook page on Friday . It is riddled with seal-related puns and contains footage of the furry friend . The minute-long clip attracted more than 2,000 likes on social media .

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The humble cask wine is celebrating a milestone, turning the ripe old age of 50 this year. Fondly known as boxed wine, bag-in-box, goon bag or goon sack, this South Australian invention has come a long way. Despite the innovative design, which is certainly quite prominent on our drinking culture, Aussies have also made a fundamental contribution to society for its rather radical ideas and inventions over the years. Just to name a few, they include the first ever notepad, ultrasound, bionic ear, pacemaker, plastic banknotes and Wi Fi. Of course, there's also our iconic Vegemite and Hills Hoist clothesline. The humble cask wine is celebrating a milestone, turning the ripe old age of 50 this year . This woman appears to be playing a round of 'Goon of Fortune' by pegging the bag of wine on a Hills Hoist clothesline - which was also invented by an Aussie . The invention of cask wine began when winemaker Thomas Angove of Renmark, northeast of Adelaide, designed a plastic bladder as an alternative for the traditional wine bottle. The bag is placed in a box and wine is poured through an air-tight valve. Son John Angove, who's now the managing director of Angove Family Winemakers, watched his father's invention come to life when it was patented on April 20, 1965. He told the ABC the idea evolved from his father talking about creating the sack in old goat skins to a plastic bag. 'He put the plastic bag inside a cardboard box and it just grew from that,' he said. 'It was a pretty amazing idea and I remember as a youngster thinking: 'god Dad that's crazy, that'll never work, who's going to buy wine in a plastic bag?".' The invention has gained a lot of love over the years - also helping to Aussies to further develop drinking game 'Goon of Fortune', which involves pegging the bag of wine on a clothesline. And when the liquid goods have been consumed, it is then often reused as a makeshift pillow. CSIRO scientists were also behind the development of the method of Wi Fi in 1992 . A popular choice of sun protection for beachgoers, zinc cream which is sun block made from zinc oxide developed by the Fauldings Pharmaceutical Company in 1940 . In 1902, the first notepad was made by Launceston stationer J.A. Birchall. It was a lightbulb moment as he cut sheets of paper in half and used cardboard on the back then glued them together at the top . In 1961 the ultrasound scanner was developed by David Robinson and George Kossoff at the Australian Department of Health . One of Australia's other well-known invention is Vegemite, the iconic spread founded in 1922 by Dr Cyril P. Callister in Melbourne. The clapperboard, also known as a slate used in film-making, was invented by film director and producer Frank Thring Sr of Melbourne's Efftee Studios in 1930. Then comes the popular choice of sun protection for Aussie beachgoers - zinc cream - which is sun block made from zinc oxide, developed by the Fauldings Pharmaceutical Company in 1940. Also the Hills Hoist clothesline was developed by Lance Hill in 1945 - although it is said the design was originally patented by Gilbert Toyne of Adelaide in 1926. In 1906, the world's first feature film - The Story of Kelly and the Gang - was shown . The film about the infamous bushranger Ned Kelly was over an hour long . The Australian feature film was written and directed by Charles Tait . The list goes on as they are plenty more inventions proudly made Down Under. In 1902, the first notepad was made by Launceston stationer J.A. Birchall. It was a lightbulb moment as he cut sheets of paper in half and used cardboard on the back, then glued them together at the top. Four years later, in 1906, the world's first feature film - The Story of Kelly and the Gang - was shown. It was just over an hour long. Then there's the paddle boat surf skis which were first invented by brothers Harry and Jack McLaren of Port Macquarie, north of Sydney, in 1912. In 1926 Dr Mark Lidwill made an impromptu pacemaker at Sydney's Crown Street Women's Hospital and in 1961 the ultrasound scanner was developed by David Robinson and George Kossoff at the Australian Department of Health. The baby safety capsule was established in 1984 while the ploymer bank note was created by CSIRO scientists in 1988. The buffalo fly traps were also established by CSIRO in 1991, a low-tech plastic tent which traps flies when they are brushed off cattle as they walk through. The CSIRO scientists then developed the method behind Wi Fi in 1992. Some smaller household goods invented by Aussies include the splayd, a combination of a knife, fork and spoon, by William McArthur in 1943 and more recently the heg, a clothes peg with a hook developed by Scott Boocock in 2012. Of course, there are more which may ring a bell such as the power board in 1972 by Peter Talbot who worked for Kambrook, the bionic ear created by Dr Gaeme Clark of the University of Melbourne in 1979 and spray on skin in 1992 developed by Dr Fiona Wood at Royal Perth Hospital. The clapperboard, also known as a slate used in film-making, was invented by film director and producer Frank Thring Sr of Melbourne's Efftee Studios in 1930 . The bionic ear created by Dr Gaeme Clark of the University of Melbourne in 1979 . The paddle boat surf skis were first invented by brothers Harry and Jack McLaren of Port Macquarie, north of Sydney, in 1912 . Vegemite (left), which was founded in 1922 by Cyril P. Callister, and the splayd (right) - a combination of a knife, fork and spoon invented by William McArthur in 1943 . A modern Aussie invention - the heg,  which is a clothes peg with a hook developed by Scott Boocock in 2012 . The buffalo fly traps were also established by CSIRO in 1991, a low-tech plastic tent which traps flies when they are brushed off cattle as they walk through .

Winemaker Thomas Angove of Renmark, northeast of Adelaide, invented the cask wine in 1965 . The South Australian invention is also known as boxed wine, bag-in-box, goon bag or goon sack . Aussies also invented the first ever notepad, ultrasound and bionic ear . Then there's the pacemaker, plastic banknotes, clapperboard and Wi Fi . Other notable Aussie inventions include Vegemite and the Hills Hoist clothesline .

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(CNN) -- While China is seriously cracking down on the exchange of virtual currencies for real cash, virtual economies backed by newfound legitimacy elsewhere are quickly gaining ground in the real world. There's gold in them there screens: Real-money transactions in virtual worlds are finding new legitimacy. On June 24, 2009, the role-playing game 140 Mafia launched on Twitter, following in the footsteps of highly lucrative games Mob Wars and Mafia Wars on Facebook (and now iPhone) to link virtual-currency exchanges to real-money transactions. In March 2009, MindArk -- creator of the MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) Entropia, where one player famously bought an island for US$26,500 in 2004 -- saw its wholly owned subsidiary Mind Bank granted a banking license from the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority. The new license allows Mind Bank to be the first bank to directly incorporate real-money transactions with virtual-world activities. Selling virtual assets directly between players for real-world cash has been strictly prohibited by most game publishers, which find themselves looped out of the profits. What has been profitable in the meantime to some hardcore players of World of Warcraft and EverQuest (and other games) is "gold farming" -- accumulation of "gold," weapons and other status symbols of a seasoned player -- followed by the online auction of such assets or user accounts. Since games publishers began policing eBay for this type of unauthorized activity, several Web sites such as PlayerAuctions have adopted a PayPal-like approach in order to broker the trading legally, acting as an open marketplace for player-to-player exchange of digital assets. Dual-currency economies . However younger games (often aimed at younger audiences) are ditching the conventional subscription-based model of the above games to adopt the "freemium" model, which lets users play for free, but allows them to enhance their experience by purchasing accessories or other premiums through micropayments. Frenzoo, a "3D fashion game for girls", is one game that has adopted this model. CEO Simon Newstead explains: "The idea with dual currencies is that there is a paid currency [Gold Coins], which is paid for using real money and exchanged between sellers and buyers. In addition, there is a second currency -- a free or so-called 'earned' currency [Silver Coins] -- which is gained through activity and progression in the world or game." "In this way," he continues, "the economy can recognize different forms of contribution, and in newer economies these can also be traded between each other. For example, people earning currency and selling it to people who have less time but have real money." Mirrored economies . As one of the first successful virtual economies, Second Life's huge marketplace includes objects and services for sale, as well as a real estate market. In 2008, more than $100 million worth of the world's Linden dollars were bought and sold on Second Life's official LindeX exchange, according to its Web site. "In Linden Exchange, the U.S. dollar part of the transaction is via PayPal, a well-known entity, so there's a certain amount of trust that comes with it," says Darrly Chang, co-founder of D&D Dogs, a two-man freelance venture that sells virtual dog pets and avatars to Second Life residents. Recently, however, business has slumped along with the real-world recession. "We'll continue to see a proliferation of alternative currencies associated with specific platforms and communities, much as frequent-flier miles are associated with individual airlines or even networks of airlines," says Dan Jansen, CEO of Virtual Greats, which specializes in creating branded, copyrighted material for virtual worlds. "In the longer term we may see a global standard for virtual currencies, but it will take some time." Golden e-currency? James Turk, chairman of digital-gold company GoldMoney, agrees. "But," he adds, "inevitably digital gold currency will make significant inroads in global commerce because it lowers the cost of transacting with one another. Reducing transaction costs creates more opportunities for global commerce." In March 2009, GoldMoney launched a dedicated iPhone application allowing its account holders to exchange gold and silver units within minutes. Putting a trendy iPhone application that allows people to manage their own digital gold on par with other popular banking applications branded by well-established banks brings e-currency a step closer to the modern mobile end-user. Furthermore, GoldMoney is firmly anchored to real-world assets and individuals, notably strictly forbidding anonymous accounts -- unlike the former incarnation of the pioneering company E-Gold, whose founder this month ends his six-month house arrest in Florida after pleading guilty to money laundering-related crimes. So how realistic is the prospect of a single, global, digital currency? "It all comes down to trust," says senior economist Frederic Neumann. "We trust the government to guarantee our 'virtual' money for real currency. [With digital gold] the gold standard is guaranteed by a private company. Governments already have several hundred years of sovereignty engrained in people's minds, so that trust is very difficult to establish."

Entropia Universe's Mind Bank has been granted a real-money banking license . Dual-currency economy allows for free trading between virtual and real money . Second Life can be profitable, but also suffers from real-world recession . Digital gold currency may be promising, but still lacks trust of people .

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These are the stunning landscapes captured by a photographer who returned home to expose the beauty of Great Britain in autumn. Travelling across Britain, photographer Julian Elliott, originally from Salisbury, began his adventure in the middle of September and finished it this month. It required plenty of patience as a great deal of his time was spent watching the weather and waiting for clear skies. Scroll down for video . Photographer Julian Elliott captured this stunning scene at dawn on Mam Tor in the Peak District, Derbyshire . Mr Elliott began his began his adventure in the middle of September and finished it this month (pictured: Pont Fawr Bridge in Llanrwst, Wales) He captured incredible scenes in Dorset, Dartmoor, Devon, Sussex, Wiltshire, Scottish Highlands, Peak District National Park, Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia and the Yorkshire Dales. The 39-year-old photographer, now of Tours, France, said: ‘In some cases, the images were difficult to get. The weather is very fickle, as anyone who lives in the UK knows. ‘I had originally planned to capture the autumn colour across Britain during early November, but during a visit in mid-September it was obvious that autumn had arrived early in some place, with the leaves already changing.’ After moving to France four years ago, the natural beauty of Britain has remained close to Julian's heart. Photographer Julian Elliott captured this incredible scene as leaves changed colour at Rydal Water in the Lake District, Cumbria . Mr Elliott spent a lot of time waiting for clear skies as he visited places such as the Sgwd Gwladus waterfall in the Brecon Beacons, Wales . The autumn weather tightens its grip over the Brecon Beacons mountain range in South Wales . He said: ‘I used to visit Snowdonia every year with my grandparents; to see it again through the eyes of adult was great and it's somewhere I want to go back to. ‘Outside of this, the Galloway Forest was also a highlight. It seems to be one of those places where you can spend a whole day and not see anyone.’ He decided to pursue a career in landscape photography because of his love of the outdoors. Photographer Julian Elliott, originally from Salisbury, now lives in France (pictured: Monsal viaduct in the Peak District, Derbyshire) Mr Elliott decided to pursue a career in photography because of his love for the outdoors (pictured: Grasmere in the Lake District, Cumbria) He said: ‘Everyone that I talk to about my work has always been very positive. ‘You do of course get opinions about what you should and shouldn't have done but that's always going to be the case. ‘I think there are a lot of people who like my work as I try to keep it as natural looking as possible instead of adding all sorts of digital filters over the image.' This stunning photograph by Julian Elliott shows autumn colours surrounding the River Teign in Devon . Mr Elliott's journey across Britain took him to this incredible landscape at Loch Garry in the Highlands of Scotland . Julian added: ‘My message would be for people to appreciate more of what is around them. ‘Not living in the country anymore I'm not always in the position where I can jump in the car to get images of these beautiful places. ‘British people are lucky as they are never that far from beautiful scenery.’

Julian Elliott, originally from Salisbury, began his adventure in the middle of September and finished it this month . Plenty of patience was required as a great deal of his time was spent waiting for fair weather . The 39-year-old now lives in France but says Britain's natural beauty remains close to his heart . He decided to pursue a career in landscape photography because of his love of the outdoors .

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By . David Kent . Gareth Bale has told Real Madrid fans they have still not seen the best of him as he looks to build on a fairytale first season at the Spanish giants. Bale may have struggled with form and fitness on occasion following his world-record move from Tottenham last summer, but overall he will be delighted with how things have gone so far at the Bernabeu. The Wales international scored 22 goals and claimed 11 assists in 44 matches for Madrid, including netting a stunning winner in the Copa del Rey final victory over Barcelona and a crucial goal in the Champions League final win against Atletico Madrid. Only the start: Gareth Bale has told Real Madrid fans his best form for the club is yet to come . On target: Bale scored as Real beat Atletico Madrid to win the Champions League for a tenth time . Impressive though those statistics are, Bale is already looking to do better next season. He said in AS: 'I hope to improve those figures. I want more and more. I work hard to give my best for Madrid. 'I feel that I can improve more and I hope to continue getting better. I'm still young and I have room to improve in the future.' Bale helped Madrid win two of the three major trophies they were competing for this season, with only the Primera Division title eluding them as they finished three points behind arch rivals Atletico Madrid. The 24-year-old is now hoping his side can clinch all three titles next term, saying: '(I want) each and every trophy. Especially the league, which I still don't have. 'I'm also motivated to win the Champions League and the Copa del Rey again. The team will be even more competitive and could win everything. 'We want to be the first team to retain the Champions League. That is a motivation.' More silverware: Bale also helped Real beat Barcelona to win the Copa del Rey . Playing catch-up: Bale still has some way to go to match the goalscoring exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo .

Gareth Bale targets treble with Real Madrid next season after winning double . Scored in Champions League and Copa del Rey final wins in debut season . Bale promises to work harder to improve his scoring and assist rates . Hopes to become part of first side to retain Champions League trophy .

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By . Simon Tomlinson . PUBLISHED: . 08:37 EST, 27 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 08:34 EST, 28 December 2012 . Boxing Day set a new British record for the number of shoppers who went online, figures showed today as crowds descended on high streets once again for another day of frenzied sales. While thousands of shoppers queued outside stores up and down the country to get ahead of the game, millions more made the most of tumbling prices from the comfort of their own homes. Britons spent 14 million hours trawling websites yesterday, paying around 113 million visits to online retailers on what became the UK's biggest day for internet shopping, analysts said. The figures emerged as stores threw open . their doors this morning, offering further discounts and sparking scenes . of mayhem on shop floors. Bargain hunters: While shoppers packed London's Oxford Street today millions have chosen to shop online this year . Sign of the times: Store on London's Oxford Street today tempts shoppers with last minute discounts. Stores in the West End expect to take £1bn in the run up to Christmas . Web sales were up by 17 per cent on Boxing Day last year, according to market data firm Experian. Figures were slightly lower than the 126 million online visits predicted for Boxing Day, something experts attributed to a 'sales creep' which saw retailers begin to slash prices before Christmas. James Murray, digital insight manager at Experian, said: 'Boxing Day set a new British record for online shopping with 113 million visits going to retail websites in a single day. 'However, with a number of the major retailers bringing their sales forward to Christmas Eve, the impact of that was that Boxing Day was slightly muted and not as prolific as we forecast.' Figures show that Christmas Eve was 86 . per cent bigger than last year as a shopping day, and Christmas Day was . 71 per cent bigger. Bag it up: While the high streets of Britain thronged with shoppers, web sales were up by 17 per cent on Boxing Day last year . While Boxing Day fell short of expectations, online shopping is still set to be up on last year by about 30 per cent. John Lewis today revealed that their online sales are growing at 40 per cent a year. The department store, which started it’s . online sale on Christmas Eve, said that increasingly their customers . were visiting stores and shopping online. Enticing customers: Shoppers file into John Lewis in Leicester in the hope of grabbing some bargains as the store's post Christmas sale begins today . Desperate for a bargain: Shoppers queue up outside John Lewis in London's Oxford Street for the start of its clearance sale today . Hunting the best deals: While thousands queued outside stores to get ahead of the game, millions more set an online record for the number of visitors to retail websites . A spokesman said: 'Shops are . absolutely key to our business, and as well as growth in sales from our . shops, we are actively investing in our physical estate. 'While . our online business is growing at 40 per cent, shops are also seeing . growth, and as our customers become more omnichannel, our online and . physical offers are more closely dependent than ever before.' The company said it was offering discounts of up to £300 TV brands including Sharp and Panasonic. It was another busy day in London's . bustling West End where footfall hit record levels yesterday - up 31.3 . per cent on Boxing Day last year. Similar scenes played out across the . rest of the country as retailers offered hefty discounts in a bid to . lure shoppers and compete with online rivals. Discount-hungry shoppers were in force again today with the West End alone expecting to take tens of millions of pounds. Flagship . department stores in the West End such as Selfridges and the House of . Fraser are expected to net millions in sales from rich tourists from . China and the Middle East hungry for luxury brands such as Alexander . McQueen and Miu Miu as businesses did yesterday. Eyeing up offers: It was another busy day in London's bustling West End (above) where footfall hit record levels yesterday - up 31.3 per cent on Boxing Day last year . Jace Tyrrell, a spokesman for the New West End Company which represents shops in Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, said he expects this year’s sales to beat last year's. He said: 'I think it is going to be a very big 48 hours for the UK's shops. 'A lot of people are wanting to get out of the house having spent the last few days inside for Christmas will hit the shops. 'We hit our forecast of £50m takings yesterday and we expect tens of millions of pounds to be taken today.' The West End alone expects to net a massive £1billion in the six weeks from mid November until the end of the December sales. Most shops have seen profits rise by between two and ten per cent compared with this time last year. The . busy post Christmas trade is crucial to helping shops recover from the . slump in sales this summer, which many have blamed on the Olympics. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the dash for discounts was boosted by consumers who were feeling the pinch. BRC . spokesman Richard Dodd said: 'Customers are under lots of financial . pressure and are really keen on seeking out value and taking advantage . of bargains. 'Today will be another big day when some retailers will launch their sales and that will help to continue the momentum.' Kent's . Bluewater shopping centre, which welcomed 130,000 visitors yesterday - . some of whom queued from 1am - said it was expecting an even busier day . today. Bonanza: The West End alone expects to net a massive £1billion in the six weeks from mid November until the end of the December sales . The mall, which predicts some 900,000 people will surge through its doors during the next six days, is open until 10pm tonight. Robert Goodman, Bluewater's general manager, said: 'Boxing Day's momentum has continued into today, with the opening of the John Lewis clearance sale being a major draw.' The UK's largest independent shoe retailer Cloggs also saw online visits surge over Christmas and Boxing Day - with a 1000 per cent increase in customers using a handheld device to surf the store. Cloggs said it experienced a record level of users, with more than ever using an smartphone or simliar device to try and bag a bargain on the move. Chris Thomas, Cloggs' founder and CEO, said: 'Christmas Day itself and Boxing Day broke all records, in terms of visitor numbers and sales as people took advantage of aggressive discounting available across all big brand names. 'Our busiest days of the year were Christmas and Boxing Day, when we experienced a record level of visitors and sales through handheld devices. 'We have seen an increase of 1000 per cent compared to last year. Consumers are checking offers and prices and making purchases on the go, wherever they are and whenever they feel like it. Retailers who respond to these changes in behaviour will be the real winners this Christmas.'

Sales up 17% on last year as Britons spent 14million hours trawling websites . Figures lower than predicted because bargains started earlier, say experts . Retail giant John Lewis says online sales are growing at 40% each year . Stats emerged as further mayhem ensued during high street sales today . West End alone expects to net £1billion in six-week run-up to Christmas . UK's largest independent shoe retailer saw 1000% rise in online customers .

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Redwood City, California (CNN) -- Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of beloved Nintendo game franchises including "Super Mario," "Donkey Kong" and the "Legend of Zelda," wants to make something new. "I am really keen to work on something really new, which eventually is going to be important for the future of Nintendo," he said, through a translator, in an interview here at Nintendo's offices on Thursday. "I would like to try to do something which might be able to expand the boundary or the definition of video games." Miyamoto spoke with CNN the day after Wired reported that the game visionary would step down as a top Nintendo director and producer overseeing the development of games and products. CNN has a syndication agreement with Wired. A Nintendo spokeswoman disputed the Wired report, which quotes Miyamoto telling colleagues that he is ready to retire. Miyamoto was being sarcastic, but that nuance was lost in translation, she said. "Miyamoto's role at Nintendo is not changing," the company said in a statement. "He will continue to be a driving force in Nintendo's development efforts." The 59-year-old video-game pioneer may spend less time working directly on blockbuster games in Nintendo's biggest franchises, he said. But he will have a senior role, which involves helping to determine the future direction of Nintendo's hardware and software. "We've got to incorporate something new all the time," Miyamoto said. "Everything starts from something small whenever we are trying to find out something new." Miyamoto suggested in the interview that he may be tiring of shepherding each new entry into the franchises he dreamed up decades ago. The three biggest games Nintendo launched in the last month are sequels. As its name implies, "Mario Kart 7" for the 3DS hand-held system is the seventh in the go-cart racing series. There were more than a dozen "Zelda" games before the "Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword" for the Wii. And who can keep count of how many adventures Mario was in before "Super Mario 3D Land?" Here's a telling number: Miyamoto said the word "new" more than a dozen times in the course of an interview that lasted just under an hour. He suggested that with execs like Eiji Aonuma, who runs the "Zelda" series, Nintendo's most prized franchises are in good hands. Miyamoto said he's instilled in the teams a desire to make big changes often and constantly perfect their products. Miyamoto declined to describe his new project in depth. He mentioned gyroscopes and wireless proximity communication, both of which are built into the Nintendo 3DS, as technologies he'd like to tap in the future. To demonstrate his wacky thinking, he said he had considered working on a digital globe with a map of the world that people could carry around with them. Ideas for games often come from encounters in Miyamoto's own life, he said. As legend has it, the idea for Pikmin, a decade-old game in which an alien leads a race of plantlike creatures, sprang from Miyamoto's garden. "I'm the person who thinks very differently," Miyamoto said. "I'm the guy who believes in the numerous possibilities of video games. Even by looking around and taking advantage of the existing video-game technologies, we can certainly make something brand new."

Shigeru Miyamoto created the Donkey Kong, Mario and Zelda characters and games . Nintendo's creative leader is looking to explore completely new ideas . The company's three biggest game releases in the last month were all sequels .

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The art of making a good cup of tea has been perfected over centuries - requiring care, attention and a good degree of patience. For those who have none of these, there are tea bags. But now a new gadget promises to allow those pressed for time to enjoy the delicate flavours that come from a brew made from loose tea leaves. The designers of the Mychai claim it can transform a mug of cold water into a steaming cup of tea in just a few minutes simply by placing it in the water and pressing a button. Scroll down for video . The MyChai, shown above, allows tea lovers to make a brew using loose tea leaves by adding it to cold water . The battery powered device, which is designed to fit inside a handbag or pocket, can heat the water and diffuse the leaves at the press of a button. The device features four different settings that will adjust the brew time according to whether you prefer green tea, black tea, herbal tea or Oolong. Uttara Ghodke, 22, an industrial design student from Pune, near Mumbai in India, has spent two years developing the device. She is now hoping to attract support on the crowdfunding site Behance to develop her prototype into a commercial product. Miss Ghodke, said: 'Being an enormous fan of tea, I always dreamed of owning a portable tea maker which I can carry anywhere. The battery powered device will make two or three cups of tea on a single charge, according to the designer . The device, pictured above, is not yet commercially available but Miss Ghodke hopes to sell it for around £35 . 'I thought why not convert this idea into reality. This is how I came up with the idea of an entirely portable personal tea maker. 'Mychai's portability and its new technology makes it stand out from other products. 'It doesn't involve any electrical connection to work. It operates on a rechargeable battery which will allow for two or three cups to be made on one charge.' Users fill the base of the MyChai with the loose tea leaves of their choice before connecting it to the rest of the device. A thermoelectric material in the stem of the gadget acts as a heating element to warm the water to the required temperature. The diagram above shows how Miss Ghodke expects the MyChai will be used to make tea using loose leaves . Once it reaches the right temperature, a hatch will open to allow the tea leaves to be infused in the water. For black tea it will heat the water to 88 degrees and brew it for three minutes, for green tea the water is heated to 78 degrees C and is brewed for two minutes. Oolong tea is also brewed for three minutes at 99 degrees C while herbal tea uses water at the same temperature for six minutes. Once the brewing time is over, the hatch will close and prevent the leaves from stewing. Miss Ghodke said she hopes to sell the device for around £35 when it gets to market. She said: 'Mychai is a personal, portable tea maker that helps you get your fix anytime, anywhere.' The diagram above shows how Miss Ghodke envisages the hatch to open to allow the leaves to infuse in the water and how different settings can allow users to control the brewing time according to their choice of tea . The British Standards Institution has published official guidelines on how to make the perfect cup of tea. They explain that the pot must be made of porcelain, there must be at least 2g of tea for every 100ml and the water must not exceed 85°C (185°F) when served. For standard black tea, the BSI says that freshly boiled water should be used - with temperatures above 95°C (203°F). Water should be left to cool down for at least 30 seconds when making green and white tea, with a recommended temperature of 74°C to 85°C (160°F to 203°F). Oolong tea is best steeped in 85°C (185°F) water. Herbal teas should be steeped in water with a temperature of 95°C (203°F). Regardless of the temperature, the BSI says that tea should be steeped for six minutes. Milk should be added to the cup first before the tea is poured from the pot. At least 2.5ml milk is recommended for use with a smaller pot, and 5ml milk is advised for the larger pot. This helps the milk mix more evenly though the 'liquor' when the tea is added. To make sure the water doesn't scald the milk, the BSI explained that its temperature should not exceed 85°C (185°F), but should be above 60°C (140°F) for optimum flavour and sensation. According to the official best practice guide by London-based British Standards Institution there must be at least 2g of tea for every 100ml of water used, and the water must not exceed 85°C (185°F) when served with milk. At least 2.5ml of milk should be added to a small bowl or cup before the infused water is added .

MyChai allows users to brew tea using loose tea bags with minimum fuss . The device has a heating element to warm water to the precise temperature . A hatch opens at the right temperature to allow the tea leaves to infuse . After a set brewing time the hatch closes to prevent the tea from stewing . The pocket-sized device was designed by Indian student Uttara Ghodke . She hopes to sell the battery powered gadget for £35 when it goes on sale .

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By . Leon Watson . Last updated at 6:12 PM on 26th October 2011 . When meeting the President, most people would be a little nervous. But one thing you couldn't accuse NBC producer Michele Tasoff of was holding back. The leggy brunette appeared to pay Barack Obama very special attention today as he filmed Jay Leno's Tonight Show. Flirty lady: NBC producer Michele Tasoff whispers to the President . Cosy: Mr Obama got close to NBC producer Michele Tasoff during the interview, where he joked he would wait until the Republican candidates had been voted off the island . In rehearsal: President Barack Obama shares a joke with The Tonight Show co-producer Michele Tasoff while filming the show in Burbank . Final preparations: Mr Obama is briefed before the filming starts . In between segments of the show, she . laughed, joked and whispered in his ear before Mr Obama got onto the . serious stuff and jokily side-stepped a question about the GOP . presidential candidates. Leno . had tried to get the President to talk about the Republican race, but . all Mr Obama offered was a gag referencing television's Survivor . programme. 'I'm going . to wait until everybody is voted off the island,' Mr Obama said of the . Republicans, provoking much laughter in the crowd at the studio in . Burbank, California. 'Once they narrow it down to one or . two, I'll start paying attention,' he added, according to clips of the . interview released by NBC. Mr Obama also discussed the toxic . political environment in Washington DC, telling Leno that: 'I think the . things that folks across the country are most fed up with  - whether you . are a Democrat, Republican, Independent - is putting party ahead of . country or putting the next election ahead of the next generation.' The Tonight Show interview of Mr Obama airs in its entirety at 11.30pm ET. Mr Obama also defended the U.S. role in bringing down Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi, rejecting assessments that the international coalition he helped assemble amounted to 'leading from behind.' He said: 'We lead from the front.' President Barack Obama chats in between segments of an interview at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno . Fight night: Mr Obama has a laugh with the legendary host . Laying out an argument for his emerging foreign policy doctrine, Mr Obama distinguished the U.S. steps in Libya from the invasion and nine-year war in Iraq. He argued that by building a broad international alliance of European and Arab nations against Gadhafi, the United States saved American lives and money and achieved its goal.'Not a single U.S. troop was on the ground,' he said. 'Not a single U.S. troop was killed or injured, and that, I think, is a recipe for success in the future.'Nudged by Leno in a notably sober first segment, Obama reflected on the meaning of Gadhafi's death, a gruesome and chaotic demise recorded on cellphone video for all the world to see. The president argued that Gadhafi had had an opportunity to let Libya move on a path toward democracy peacefully. Waiting game: President Barack Obama, pictured during an interview on the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' at the NBC Studios in Burbank, California, today, said he would not comment on GOP nominees . Crying game: The President did not get the . warmest of reactions from all those at San Francisco International . Airport after recording the Tonight Show with Leno . 'He wouldn't do it,' Mr Obama said. 'And, obviously, you never like to see anybody come to the kind of end that he did, but I think it obviously sends a strong message around the world to dictators that people long to be free, and they need to respect the human rights and the universal aspirations of people.' Still, Mr Obama noted that the Pentagon never released photographs of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden after he was killed by U.S. Navy SEALs. 'That's not something that I think we should relish,' the President said. 'You know, I think that there's a certain decorum with which you treat the dead even if it's somebody who has done terrible things.' Mr Obama's appearance on the Leno programme, taped extra early at NBC studios to satisfy his schedule, is his fourth on the show and his second as president. The appearance came in the middle of a lucrative three-day fundraising tour for the President even as he tries to bring attention to the plight of people suffering in a weak economy. Campaign: First Lady Michelle Obama and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel visit a Walgreens store in Chicago . The interview covered a range of topics, from foreign policy to Obama's jobs bill to television watching. The first segment, free of jokes or chitchat, focused on Libya, Iraq and al-Qaida. Mr Obama announced last week that U.S. troops would leave Iraq by the end of the year, effectively ending the war that began under the administration of President George W. Bush and that Mr Obama ran against as a candidate in 2008. Asked by Leno what the United States accomplished there, Mr Obama conceded that Saddam Hussein was gone and that Iraqis now have an opportunity to create their own democracy. He said he was 'cautiously optimistic' that they would resolve their conflicts with discussion and debate, not violence. 'But I also think that policymakers and future presidents need to understand what it is that we are getting ourselves into when we make some of these decisions,' he said. 'And there might have been other ways for us to accomplish those same goals.' Michelle Obama holds up a worm pulled from a compost bin during a tour with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel . Mrs Obama tours Iron Street Urban Farm, one of the Growing Power farms in Chicago . Mr Obama is the only sitting president to appear on 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,' a venue that Obama aides believe suits him well and gives him an opportunity to show a friendly face to the world. Indeed, Obama's personal approval ratings rank high even though his job approvals are in the low- to mid-40 per cent range. A poll this month found that 78 per cent found that the phrase 'he is a likable person' described Obama very well or somewhat well. 'He doesn't get enough opportunities to be lighthearted in a way he can be with Jay Leno,' presidential spokesman Jay Carney said. Leno averages 3.6 million viewers each night and Carney noted that Americans get their information in a variety of ways. 'We're interested in reaching people where they are.' Appearing comfortable and good humored, Obama bantered playfully out of earshot during a commercial break with Leno and one of Leno's producers, Michele Tasoff. He announced he had 'definitively' quit smoking. He confessed there were certain things that he would like to take in moderation: Republican presidential candidates, reality television, and healthy food during Halloween. Pressed to reveal what he thought of the Republican presidential debates, Obama cracked: 'I'm going to wait until everyone is voted off the island.' When Leno pressed Obama on his insistence that his daughters not watch reality television's 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians,' Obama acknowledged a bias against reality television. 'There's this program on C-SPAN called Congress,' he said. Asked about first lady Michelle Obama's anti-obesity and healthy eating campaign, the President said he warned his wife that if she insisted on giving fruit and raisins as treats on Halloween, trouble might follow. 'I told her the White House is going to get egged if this keeps up,' he said, suggesting that she might want to add 'a couple of Reese's Pieces or something.'

NBC exec advises him closely between segments on talk show . Obama jokily compares GOP race to Survivor reality show .

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Disgruntled: Atlon Nolen was allegedly angry about not getting a raise at work before he attacked . The Muslim convert accused of beheading a colleague in Oklahoma has reportedly told cops he felt oppressed at work - particularly over not getting a raise. Alton Nolen, a 30-year-old production line employee for Vaughan Foods in Moore, was fired on Thursday after getting in trouble for his performance and for trying to convert colleagues to Islam, officials told CNN. On Monday, law enforcement officials were preparing to file a murder charge against Nolen for walking back into Vaughan Foods after being fired and allegedly beheading 54-year-old grandmother Colleen Hufford. He then allegedly began attacking 43-year-old Traci Johnson before being shot by Mark Vaughan, the company's chiefoperating officer who is also a sheriff's deputy. Johnson is expected to recover, while Nolen underwent surgery and is also expected to survive. Authorities waited until he was coherent and could . understand the charges before placing him under arrest on Friday . afternoon, they said. He is also expected to face a charge of assault and battery with a deadly weapon for the stabbing of Johnson. The FBI is also looking into . Nolen's background for any religious ties to the . attack after colleagues said he had attempted to convert . them to Islam. Police said Nolen had recently become a Muslim. The FBI investigation comes as Islamist militants fighting . in Iraq and Syria have released videos that purported to show . the beheadings of two Americans and a British aid worker. Scroll down for video . Scene: The production line worker was fired from Vaughan Food in Moore, Oklahoma on Thursday before returning to the business to attack the first two people he came across. The scene is pictured on Thursday . On Nolen's Facebook page, listed under the name Jah'Keem Yisrael, he posted photos of Osama bin Laden and Taliban fighters, along with posts condemning a variety of aspects of American life. Posts ranged from religious iconography to stock photography to even photos of supposed UFO activity. It also included a graphic photo of a beheading. On Sunday, a woman who said she was Nolen's mother took to social media . to apologize to the victims of the attack. 'My heart is just so heavy right now,' Joyce Nolen said in a . Facebook post. 'My son was raised up . believing in God. I want to apologize to both families, because this is not . Alton.' Attack: Nolen, pictured left, allegedly beheaded one colleague before stabbing Traci Johnson, right . Convert: 30-year-old Nolen, who shared photos of Osama bin Laden and Taliban fighters to Facebook, is believed to have converted to Islam in prison before being released earlier this year . Megan Nolen, the suspect's sister, said in the same video . that Alton was not a violent person. Nolen's family members have said also that they were surprised to learn of his conversion and never spoke about Islam explicitly with them. 'I spoke to him once he was released, and when we spoke, there was nothing of the sort,' said Nolen's cousin, James Fulsom, from Fort Worth, Texas. 'I don't believe he was converted (to Islam) in prison.' As recently as February, Fulsom said that when he talked to Nolen there was no mention of his conversion. 'He was just talking about what he was going to start doing, how he was going to get his life on track, and was ready to be focused on his future,' Fulsom told the Associated Press. Nolen had a non-violent criminal record, including drug-related arrests, a jail escape and resisting police,authorities said. But it emerged that Nolen served less than two years of a six-year prison sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, reports News OK. Heroic: He was only stopped when CEO and sheriff's reserve Mark Vaughan, pictured, shot him . He went to prison March 10, 2011 to start a two-year sentence for marijuana possession and another two-year sentence for assaulting a highway patrol trooper, the website reported. He began his six-year sentence for cocaine possession April 26, 2011, records show - but due to plea agreements with prosecutors, he was allowed to serve the three prison sentences at the same time. He was released on March 22, 2013, records show. 'Our intent was to incarcerate him much longer than a year and 11 months,' Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater said Friday. 'This case perfectly illustrates the problem with the Department of Corrections.' Hufford, who had been married for 25 years, had lost her family home in the Moore tornado. Her neighbors described her as 'quick to smile' and said her husband picked her up from the food processing plant every night and he was outside when he found out she had been killed.

Alton Nolen, 30, 'walked into Vaughan Foods in Moore, Oklahoma after being fired on Thursday and attacked the first two people he came across' He 'beheaded Colleen Hufford, 54, before stabbing Traci Johnson, 43, but was stopped when CEO Mark Vaughan shot him' He had been in trouble at work for his performance and for trying to convert workers to Islam; sources said he was also angry about not getting a raise . Oklahoma officials will file a murder charge against him as early as Monday .

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By . Sarah Griffiths . Waiting ages to pay the bill in a busy restaurant can take the edge off a tasty meal - especially if you're in a hurry. But now there’s an app which lets diners either order ahead and pay for their meal, or settle a bill at the table using a smartphone. This is the first time these services have been available in high-street stores in the UK. PayPal's new in-app features are designed to make life easier for diners. People sipping a coffee at Prezzo can pay for their drink or meal at their table (pictured) without having to wait for a waiter to come over. There is also an in-built option to split the bill with friends . Although apps are already available that work out bills, and people can pay for coffees using Near Field Communications (NFC) technology, this is the first app of its kind to combine a number of different restaurant-friendly features that can be used on the high-street. At the moment the service is restricted to select restaurants but the firm is planning to roll it out to more businesses over the next couple of months. For example, the Order Ahead feature is only available at Wagamama. Diners can order and pay for a takeaway from the noodle bar via the app so that it will be waiting for them to collect. People eating at Prezzo can pay for their meal at their table without having to wait for a waiter to come over, and there is also an in-built option to split the bill with friends. Meanwhile, Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) customers can pay for meals using their PayPal profile picture, just using the app - they don't need their wallet. Diners can order and pay for a takeaway from Wagamama noodle bar via PayPal's app (pictured) so that it will be waiting for them to collect at one of over 107 restaurants . Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK) customers at 60 restaurants can leave their wallets at home and pay for their meal using their PayPal profile picture (pictured) Wagamama: Diners can order and pay for a takeaway from Wagamama noodle bar via the app so that it will be waiting for them to collect at one of over 107 restaurants. Prezzo: People eating pasta at Prezzo can pay for their meal at their table without having to wait for a waiter to come over, and there is an in-built option to split the bill with friends. Gourmet Burger Kitchen: Customers at any of the 60 restaurants can leave their wallets at home and pay for their meal using their PayPal profile picture. ‘The smartphone has changed our lives, and we wanted to use it to solve some of the most common frustrations about traditional ways to pay on the high street,’ said Rob Harper, Head of Retail Services at PayPal UK. The company recently found that around three quarters of Britons hate queuing. ‘Our new Order Ahead and Pay at Table services save busy people valuable time. Why wait for the bill when you can pay at the table with your smartphone? And why wait in a restaurant for your takeaway when you can skip the queue by choosing and ordering ahead on your phone?’ he added. Tom Cheesewright, Applied Futurist for . Book of The Future, said: ‘People don't need to add a new app or account . [beyond the standard PayPal app] or move money around in order to take . advantage [of the new features]. ‘The big name brands adopting the technology should accelerate the understanding and ultimately the use of mobile payments on the UK high street.’ PayPal already has the biggest network of high street stores - including Oasis and JD Sports - to let customers pay with their smartphone. Mr Harper said: ‘It’s the beginning of the end for the wallet on the high street.'

PayPal has launched three features for use in different restaurants . For example, you can order and pay at Wagamama with Order Ahead tool . While people eating at Prezzo can use Pay At Table for their meal . This in-app tool also makes it easy for multiple people to split the bill . Gourmet Burger Kitchen customers can pay for meals using their PayPal profile picture .

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Eidur Gudjohnsen has signed for Bolton on a short-term deal. The Iceland striker, 36, has been training with the club, who he left in 2000 for Chelsea, and played for the Under 21s against Middlesbrough on Monday. Gudjohnsen has been a free agent since leaving Belgian outfit Club Brugge in the summer. Eidur Gudjohnsen playing for Bolton's Under 21s against Middlesbrough on Monday . He has also played for the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona, Tottenham, Monaco and PSV Eindhoven in his illustrious career. Bolton manager Neil Lennon said: 'I'm delighted to have Eidur on board. I think he will be a big game player and he is relishing getting back out on the field. 'It may take him a little time to adjust to the Championship and the style of play that is required of him, but that said however, he has come in with a completely open mind – he's motivated, he's done everything that has been asked of him on the physical side of things and he can only get better. 'In terms of his footballing ability, we all know what he is capable of and that is an exciting prospect. Gudjohnsen during his first spell at Bolton before he left for Chelsea . 'He is a quality player, and he knows exactly what we expect of him going forward – he is definitely looking forward to the challenge ahead of him.' Gudjohnsen was at Bolton from 1998 to 2000 before making his big-money move to Stamford Bridge. Bolton are looking at getting international clearance so the forward can play at Reading on Saturday. Wanderers manager Neil Lennon is looking to sign another 36-year-old, his former Leicester team-mate Emile Heskey. The Iceland forward played for Wanderers between 1998 and 2000 . Lennon said earlier in the week: 'Emile is a free agent, I know him very well from my time at Leicester and he's another player we tried to sign in our time at Celtic. 'He may be coming to the end of his career but he still has very good attributes. It's no-gamble stuff for us, we're just bringing him in and going to have a look over the next 10 days, two weeks - see if he's got something to offer. 'If he has we'll look at it, if he hasn't we'll say, 'Thanks for coming in but we're not going to pursue this'.'

Eidur Gudjohnsen has been a free agent since the summer . The Iceland forward, 36, has signed a short-term deal at Bolton . He was previously at Wanderers from 1998 until 2000 .

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(CNN) -- Kendrick Johnson, the teenager whose body was found rolled in a wrestling mat in a south Georgia high school in January died from blows to the neck and elsewhere, not from accidental suffocation, a newly released, independent autopsy report says. The report, obtained exclusively by CNN, directly contradicts the finding of an autopsy conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation that determined Johnson's death was the result of "positional asphyxia." The Lowndes County Sheriff's Office determined it was accidental. The new report blames "unexplained, apparent non-accidental, blunt force trauma." Johnson, 17, was found January 11 in a rolled wrestling mat in a Lowndes County High School gym in Valdosta. Inconsistencies in the initial official reports on the condition of Johnson's body led the family and community to question the ruling on the cause of death. The family's attorney, Chevene King, has sent the independent autopsy report to the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. attorney for Georgia's Middle District and the Lowndes County coroner for review. The coroner has the power to call an inquest, a process that resembles a grand jury proceeding. After reviewing evidence and testimony, a jury would decide the cause of death, although the findings alone would have no civil or criminal consequences. "Coroner's inquests are not something you do every day. I cannot tell you the last time a coroner's inquest was done in this office," Lowndes County Coroner Bill Watson told CNN. "I want to do the right thing by the people and the county and all concerned, I'm just not sure we have enough information," he said. "I'm not about to refute anybody's findings because I'm not a doctor." On May 1, a judge granted the Johnsons' request to exhume their son's body for the purposes of a conducting an independent autopsy at their expense. That autopsy, conducted June 15, found blunt force trauma to the right neck and soft tissues "consistent with inflicted injury." That supports the narrative of the initial patient care report, written January 11, the day Johnson's body was discovered, citing "bruising noted to the right side jaw." However, the January 25 report by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Regional Crime Laboratory cited "no signs of blunt force trauma on Johnson's face or body." The May 5 autopsy completed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified "no significant injuries" A spokesperson for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation told CNN it stands by its report after reviewing the findings of the independent autopsy. U.S. Attorney Michael Moore said his office has been "working on this for some time. I'm sure at the appropriate time I'll speak with his pathologist." Moore is reviewing the case but has not launched a formal investigation. "There are some members of the community that question the result. I want to make sure members of the community and the family and everyone involved has confidence in my work and my decision," Moore told CNN. There was no immediate response to CNN's request for comment from the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. The Johnsons' attorney told CNN he will respond at a later date.

Kendrick Johnson was found dead in a wrestling mat in a Lowndes County school . A newly released independent report says he died from being hit . The official determination was that Johnson had accidentally suffocated . Coroner: "I'm just not sure we have enough information" for an inquest .

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By . Steve Robson . PUBLISHED: . 15:39 EST, 4 April 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 01:51 EST, 5 April 2013 . A PCSO who crashed her car after a night drinking wine with friends then lied about the accident has been jailed for eight weeks. Lauren Dighton-Andrews, 24, had drunk at least two glasses of red wine and taken anti-depressants before getting into her Seat Ibiza in Belvedere in south east London. Woolwich Crown Court heard she smashed into a parked Mercedes van at around 4.50am but fled the scene and later told police her car had been taken without her knowledge. Guilty: PCSO Lauren Dighton-Andrews, 24, lied about crashing her car after drinking wine and fleeing the scene . Prosecutor Mr. Peter Gray told the . court: 'It was a fairly serious accident in the sense of damage to the . vehicles. 'The impact caused a wheel to collapse . and there was also heavy damage to the Seat, which lost its front . bumper and the airbag was deployed.' When Dighton-Andrews was tracked down by police, she claimed she had left it on her driveway after arguing with an unnamed male who had been in her house with a friend. 'The defendant told the police she had . left the vehicle locked on her driveway at 4pm and a friend and two . unnamed males remained in her house,' said prosecutor Peter Gray. 'She said she . had a confrontation with one of them and left the house and car keys on . the kitchen table.' But her story unravelled after officers . recovered her DNA on the car's airbag and text messages she sent to a . friend telling her she had been in a crash. Dighton-Andrews, of Sidmouth Road, . Welling pleaded guilty to perverting the course . of justice after the incident on July 22 last year. Her defence lawyer Peter Biegel, claimed she fled the house because she was receiving . unwanted attention from one of the men. 'It was a hand . on the knee from a frisky male who had been drinking. She did not want to lose consciousness while with a man giving her unwanted attention,' he said. 'She knew she had some alcohol and damage that was sufficient to deploy an airbag is pretty significant. Jailed: Dighton-Andrews was sentenced to eight weeks in prison at Woolwich Crown Court today . 'It is to her regret that she did not . act differently and when the police became involved it was embedded and . she could not face up to the situation.' Sentencing her to eight weeks in prison Recorder Laurie West-Knights said: 'For five years you were a PCSO and stood as a person in a position of trust and responsibility' 'You of all people should not have even thought of the commission of an offence of this kind. You accept you had two glasses of wine and your counsel says on top of that you had medication that caused you to panic.' 'From the outset you gave a wholly false . account. This is a very serious . criminal offence and except for exceptional circumstances an immediate . custodial sentence must follow.'

Lauren Dighton-Andrews, 24, smashed into parked van and fled scene . Told police she had left her car locked on driveway in Welling, London . Officers found her DNA on airbag and texts to friend admitting crash . Jailed after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice .

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(CNN) -- Ricky Ponting looks set to lead Australia into the Boxing Day Test against England at the MCG despite a broken finger. Ponting came through a batting practice session in Melbourne on Friday, spending about half an hour in the indoor nets before venturing outside to further test the injury. The 36-year-old suffered the mishap to the little finger of his left hand as he attempted to catch a ball on the final day of his side's triumph in the third Test in Perth. The victory leveled the five-match series at 1-1, making the Christmas clash all the more important. Is Australia's one-day reign set to end in 2011 ? Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke is confident Ponting will be fit to play on Sunday. "We are all very hopeful and pretty confident that unless they cut his finger off, it is going to be really hard to leave 'Punter' out," he told gathered reporters. "I think he is going to have to wait until tomorrow to see how it pulls up after having a bat today, but he is pretty happy with how things went." The uncapped Usman Khawaja has been added to the Australian squad as cover for Ponting. Meanwhile, England's injury worry James Anderson also appears to be winning his fitness battle. The 28-year-old pace bowler suffered a side strain in the defeat in Perth, but came through an hour-long net session Friday. Australia level series with crushing Perth win . "Jimmy seems absolutely fine," said captain Andrew Strauss. "He's done quite a lot of bowling, but it (the side strain) has settled down nicely." Anderson's fitness is key to England's hopes, the tourists having already lost fellow fast bowler Stuart Broad for the rest of the series due to injury. Organizers at the MCG are expecting an official Test record 91,000 crowd for the first day of the match.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting comes unscathed through practice session on Friday . Ponting broke the little finger in his left hand during third Test win in Perth . James Anderson looks set to take his place in England team . Test record crowd of 91,000 expected at MCG on Boxing Day .

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The omission of Joan Rivers from the In Memoriam segment of Sunday night’s Oscars caused uproar among fans on social media within moments of the segment being aired. Although Joan wasn’t an Oscar-winning actress or filmmaker, she was unquestionably an influential woman in Academy Awards history. The 81-year-old actress, comedian, and TV host died suddenly on September 4 from complications during surgery. Scroll down for video . Snub: Comedian and TV host Joan Rivers was left out of the 2015 Academy Awards In Memoriam segment . Joan Rivers' acting roles included voicing the gold robot Dot Matrix in 1987's Spaceballs, while Elaine Stritch, right, was another showbiz legend missing from the In Memoriam segment . The next say the Academy responded. 'Joan Rivers is among the many worthy artists and filmmakers we were unfortunately unable to feature in the In Memoriam segment of this year’s Oscar show,' a rep for the Academy told The Hollywood Reporter. 'She is, however, included in our In Memoriam gallery on Oscar.com.' According to a Monday post from TMZ, daughter Melissa isn't too happy. 'She feels her mom deserved a place in the In Memoriam portion of the Oscars, but she's not going to focus on the snub,' a source told the site. While Joan's movie career wasn't of the type usually honoured by the Oscars - she tended to show up mostly in comedic cameos in movies including The Muppets Take Manhattan, Spaceballs, and The Smurfs - her mark on the ceremony itself was huge. Joan began hosting the E! network's pre-Academy Awards red carpet with daughter Melissa Rivers in 1995, a job she continued through 2014. Other snubs included Taylor Negron, left in The Last Boy Scout, and SNL alum Jan Hooks, right as Hillary Clinton . According to Vanity Fair, the Rivers women 'revolutionized the red carpet - from a runway with little celebrity-reporter interaction - into its own brand of entertainment.' She also wrote and directed 1978's Rabbit Test, while Maya Angelou was included despite only directing one film (1998's Down in the Delta). Joan's omission from the tribute section of the Academy Awards immediately stirred up a passionate reaction on Twitter. 'No Joan Rivers? Tacky to say the least,' tweeted Ryan Parker. Tacky: Fans quickly took to Twitter to protest the 'tacky' omission of Joan . Colleagues: Sally Jessy Raphael, a TV-host colleague of Joan's, tweeted quickly in indignation . Anger: Some Twitter users grew angry about the snub . Jokes: In Joan's style, some protested with the use of humour . Missing: From the beginning of the show, some missed Joan's signature style on the red carpet . Talk-show host Sally Jessy Raphael chimed in as well: 'No mention of @Joan_Rivers in the Memorial?! That's not right.' '#Oscars feels wrong w/out #JoanRivers. Bummed the Academy didn't include the red carpet queen during the In Memoriam,' wrote Matt Whitfield. Some fans on social media at least found a little dark comedy in the situation. 'Joan Rivers is gonna surprise us after the commercial break by being alive, I guess,' wrote Shalyah Evans. Complaints about In Memoriam snubs have been around just about as long as the segment itself and Joan wasn’t the only surprising snub in the 2015 version. Introduction: Frequent Oscar nominee Meryl Streep introduced the always sad segment . Tributes: While Joan was left out, film-making luminaries like Robin Williams, Malik Bendjelloul, Ruby Dee, and more were mentioned . Broadway legend and comedienne Elaine Stritch had appeared in films including A Farewell To Arms and Monster-In-Law. Taylor Negron had been a character actor of some note with memorable roles in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Last Boy Scout. Another missing name was Jan Hooks, an SNL alum who appeared in Batman Returns, Pee-wee's Big Adventure and Coneheads. Others on social media complained that writer-director-actor Harold Ramis had also been left out, but the Ghostbusters - who star passed away in early 2014 – had been included in last year's Oscars ceremony. Those who were mentioned in the tribute, introduced by Meryl Streep, included Robin Williams, Mike Nichols, Mickey Rooney, Lauren Bacall, James Garner, Ruby Dee, Luise Rainer and Maya Angelou. After the photo tributes finished, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson sang. Music: After the memorial pictures were shown, Jennifer Hudson performed .

Comedian Rivers was a surprising omission from Sunday night's tribute to those no longer with us . Joan was better known more for her caustic critiques of those walking the red carpet, but she had also appeared in and even directed a movie . More of a Hollywood track record than others included in the tribute including Maya Angelou . The Academy responded admitting Joan was 'worthy' of a mention . Other shock omissions from the segment included Elaine Stritch, Taylor Negron and Jan Hooks .

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Liverpool midfielder Suso and Real Madrid contract rebel Sami Khedira could be targets for AC MIlan, says the Italian giants' chief executive Adriano Galliani. Suso arrived from Cadiz in 2010 but has only made 21 appearances for Liverpool, his last a Capital One Cup outing in September. The 20-year-old, who faces a couple of months on the sidelines with a groin injury, has been persistently linked with a move to the San Siro with his contract at Anfield up in the summer. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Suso playing lacrosse with Liverpool team-mates . Suso celebrates scoring against Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup with team-mate Lucas in September . 'Transfer market? I know where can improve, but I don't tell that to you. Suso? He has an expiring contract and he'll tell us if he wants to move or stay,' Galliani told Gianluca Di Marzio. Meanwhile, Milan are also keen on a potential move for Khedira, who will be free to leave the Bernabeu at the end of the season. Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have also been heavily linked with a move for the Germany midfielder, who has reportedly turned down two deals from Real. 'Khedira? He'd be a good acquisition but he earns a lot, he's an important player and it's not sure whether he'll renew with Real Madrid or not, he asks for very high wages,' Galliani added. Attacking midfielder Suso, 20, has only made 21 appearances for Liverpool since his debut in 2012 . Sami Khedira (left) trains with his Real Madrid team-mates as he continues to recover from a knee injury . The German World Cup winner has rejected two offers of a new deal to stay at the Bernabeu after this season .

Milan CEO Adriano Galliani mentions Suso when talking about transfers . Suso is out for at least a couple of months with a groin injury . The midfielder has only made 21 appearances for Liverpool since 2010 . Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United linked with Sami Khedira .

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By . Peter Allen . Two Europeans accused of murdering a young boy in the most popular tourist resort in Madagascar have been burnt to death by a mob of vigilantes, it emerged today. A third European man who was quizzed over the alleged killing of the eight-year-old boy was lynched hours later and his body set ablaze in a separate attack. The horrific killings took place on Nosy Be, an idyllic Indian Ocean island located off the northwest coast of Madagascar, which attracts holidaymakers from all over the world including Britain. Fire: Locals on the Madagascan island of Nosy Be are allegedly pictured watching one of two European men accused of murdering an eight-year-old boy being burnt to death on Wednesday night . Locals went on the rampage on . Wednesday following reports that a Frenchman called Sebastian and an . Italian called Roberto had kidnapped an eight-year-old child. There . were claims that the men, whose surnames have not been revealed, had . not only killed the boy, but cut off his tongue and genitals. Police commander Guy Bobin Randriamaro said: ‘The rioters launched a manhunt and killed the Europeans. ‘Both men were not only suspected of murdering the boys, but were also said to be trafficking human organs.’ The rampaging mob originally stormed a police station in Hell-Ville, capital of Nosy Be, where it thought the pair of murder suspects were being held. Police fired shots in the air, but it was not enough to disperse the increasingly angry crowd. Mr Randriamaro said the men were finally chased and cornered on the palm-fringed Ambatoloaka beach on Nosy Be, where they were attacked. They were kept alive long enough to be tortured, and are said to have ‘confessed’ to killing the boy, and to trafficking organs, before both were set on fire. Both died from their burns. Manhunt: Locals on the island reportedly hunted down the two men after hearing they had kidnapped an eight-year-old boy, cut off his tongue and genitals before killing him . Up to 4000 Madagascans witnessed the lynching of the two men, said a Frenchman living on Nosy Be. He claimed that both were made ‘scapegoats’ for a murder they had nothing to do with. The . mob went on to torch around eight houses, and to start attacking . police, who are thought to have wounded at least two members of the . crowd. A third man was later lynched and his body set ablaze, police in Madagascar reported later. Witnesses saw him being dragged from a car and thrown on to the flames at Ambatoloaka beach. He . is said to have been questioned by detectives on Wednesday along with . the other two men. His name and nationality were not known, but he was . known to be a European. The boy’s horribly mutilated body was found this morning, said the spokesman. France’s consulate in Madagascar has . immediately warned all of its nationals to stay away from Nosy Be island . – the biggest resort in Madagascar - ‘until order is restored.' Crime scene: The horrific killings took place on Nosy Be, pictured, which is said to be one of Madagascar's most popular tourist destinations . A spokesman added: ‘We are working . with the authorities on the island to try and work out the exact . circumstances of these killings. ‘Nosy Be is a very popular tourist destination but we are asking people to be especially careful.’ Despite . its upmarket tourist resorts, Madagascar is an extremely poor place, . with some 90 per cent of its population of 22 million people living on . less than two dollars a day. Demonstrators involved in the killings claim they found human organs in a fridge in the building where the men were staying. Many Madagascar residents believe human organs are ‘stolen’ for use by cults, or in witchcraft ceremonies. It is common for them to blame outsiders for this practice, and incidents of mob justice are commonplace. However, the triple killing will have a devastating effect on the tourist industry in the economically troubled country. Tiny island: Nosy Be is an idyllic Indian Ocean island located off the northwest coast of Madagascar .

Horrific killings happened on the idyllic island Nosy Be on Wednesday . Locals went on the rampage after hearing reports two European men had kidnapped and murdered an eight-year-old boy . A Frenchman named Sebastian and an Italian called Roberto were tortured before being burned to death . A third European man was later lynched and his body set ablaze .

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Dubai is opening a new theme park with a difference - it will be based entirely underwater. The holiday hotspot wants to capitalise on the popularity of scuba-diving and snorkeling by opening the world’s largest underwater tourism site which will be called Pearl Of Dubai. The five acre site, located in the shallow waters off The World Islands development, has been designed to look like an ancient lost city, by teams who were also involved in the Hollywood blockbusters Avatar and Pirates Of The Caribbean. Grand designs: Guests will be able to explore 'ancient ruins' off the coast of Dubai . Guests of all ages will be able to explore the stunning scenes underneath the sea by scuba-diving or just admire from the surface by snorkeling. Los Angeles-based underwater tourism design company Reef Worlds announced the revolutionary plans in a media statement today. It’s hoped the ambitious new project will help Dubai attract new guests from the global £1.8 billion ($3 billion) dive and snorkel market. Dave Taylor, director of development for Reef Worlds, said: ‘The UAE has a unique tourism problem that we address. Unique new Dubai attraction: Stunning artwork released by Reef World today shows guest swimming in magnificent manmade set . Dubai skyline: The popular tourist resort is packed with hotels and attractions but it's now getting an underwater theme park too . Aerial view of World Islands: It's believed Pearl Of Dubai will be constructed in these waters . ‘When one considers Dubai and the region, scuba diving and underwater exploration is not on the Top Ten list, and yet it is almost everywhere else in the world.’ Reef Worlds also has plans to work in other places, including the Philippines, where tourism and regional habitat could use an immediate boost. Taylor continued: ‘The Reef Worlds brand is all about sustainability and the creation of new habitat while at the same time adding instant tourism revenue and excitement to waterfront resorts. ‘We will work with carefully selected resort partners on unique underwater habitat projects that directly support our clients’ sustainability and revenue goals.’ An opening date has yet to be announced.

Guests can explore the Pearl Of Dubai attraction by scuba-diving and snorkling . The five acre development will be designed to look like an ancient Lost City . It will be located in the shallow waters of The World Islands development .

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By . Martin Robinson . PUBLISHED: . 03:57 EST, 6 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:47 EST, 6 January 2014 . Stephen Lawrence's mother fears Scotland Yard is 'winding down' the hunt for her son's other killers after it emerged the detective who led the murder inquiry is being forced to step down. Doreen Lawrence has admitted she is 'furious' that Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll is to hand . over the job he has held for eight years. The 61-year-old, who became a life peer last year, has demanded a meeting with Metropolitan Police . Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to discuss her concerns over the . future of the investigation. Worried: Doreen Lawrence is worried Scotland Yard is 'winding down' the hunt for her son's Stephen's other killers . The Met said today that Mr Driscoll had after 30 years reached his 'natural retirement' but the officer said that the decision was made by those above his head. 'I'm absolutely furious Clive is being taken off the investigation,' Baroness Lawrence told the Daily Mirror. 'It seems the clearest sign yet that the Met is planning on winding down the investigation and that is wrong. 'He is the first officer I have trusted and the only one to have delivered in the investigation.' Talks: Mrs Lawrence has demanded a meeting with Metropolitan Police Chief Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe as she wants reassurances that the investigation into her son's death is not being shut down . Mr . Driscoll, who in 2012 helped secure the convictions of two men for the . attack, told the newspaper: 'The decision has been made above me and I . will always help Stephen's family and friends if I can.' A spokesman . for Scotland Yard said Mr Driscoll was among a number of detectives on . the case who had served for three decades and had reached 'natural . retirement'. A-level student Stephen Lawrence, an 18-year-old aspiring architect, was . stabbed to death by a group of up to six white youths in an unprovoked . racist attack as he waited at a bus stop in Well Hall Road, Eltham, . south-east London, with a friend on April 22 1993. Police bungled the initial probe and it was nearly 19 years before the Lawrence family had the satisfaction of seeing some of his killers jailed. A public inquiry found ‘institutionalised’ racism within the Metropolitan Police was one of the primary causes of their failure to solve the case. Two of the original five prime suspects named by the Daily Mail in 1997 as being Stephen’s killers - Gary Dobson, 38, and David Norris, 37 - were convicted of his murder in 2012 after a belated forensic breakthrough in the case. But the other three young men accused of his murder - Neil and Jamie Acourt, and their friend, Luke Knight - remain on the streets. Bernard Hogan-Howe said they should not 'rest easy in bed', but Mrs Lawrence will demand to know if this has changed. Guilty: Gary Dobson, left, and David Norris went . on trial for the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 2011 and having denied the charge were found guilty in January 2012 . Murder scene: The bus stop where Stephen was killed in Eltham, South-East London, on April 23, 1993 . A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: 'DCI Driscoll is due to retire later this year. 'The . MPS has a dedicated team of detectives that continues to investigate . the murder of Stephen Lawrence to bring any remaining offenders to . justice. 'A number of these detectives have exceeded their 30 years . police service and are due for natural retirement. As part of our . succession planning and to provide resilience, new officers will join . the team in early 2014 and replace those due for retirement.'

Doreen Lawrence fears Met is 'winding down' hunt for son's killers . Detective Chief Inspector Clive Driscoll led probe but is stepping down . 'I'm absolutely furious Clive is being taken off the investigation,' she said . Met say star officer has served 30 years and reached 'natural retirement' DCI Driscoll says decision to remove him was made 'above me'

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Saroo before he went missing: In a new book he tells the story of how he got lost a thousand miles from home, then found his way back 25 years later . An Indian man who was lost riding the train aged four then adopted by parents and moved to Australia, only to be reunited with his birth mother 25 years later, has retold his incredible story in a new book. Saroo Brierley from Hobart, Australia, was just another poor boy growing up in rural India, until he accidentally leapt aboard a train that took him a thousand miles away to a strange city. Alone, unable to speak the language, and with no knowledge of where he'd come from, he had to beg to survive until he was rescued by an orphanage and adopted by an Australian family. From then on, he grew up an Australian and enjoyed success in his adoptive country. But he was unable - and unwilling - to forget the land of his childhood. Determined to rediscover his past he embarked on a virtual odyssey of his homeland and, after many hours poring over Google Earth, he managed recognise his home town - and track down his mother. Their reunion in 2012 made headlines across the world, but now he has told his full story in a new book, A Long Way Home, published this week. Like many children growing up in rural India, Saroo rarely had enough to eat and would often travel on trains to beg for scraps with his older brother. But during one ill-fated trip he stopped for a doze at the station with his brother and when he woke up he found that he was alone. 'I opened my eyes and couldn't see my brother, but I saw a train in front of me with the door open and for some reason I thought he was on board,' he said. 'I ran over and jumped on the train just as the doors closed and pulled out of the station, and it was only then that I realised he wasn't there. I think you could say that split-second decision changed my life forever.' Not finding his brother aboard the train, Saroo simply stayed on the train as it made its 1,000 mile journey across the country from Khandwha, Madhya Pradesh, to Calcutta (now Kolkata). He has previously told how he spent a month trying to find his way back, almost drowning in the River Ganges and nearly being abducted by a man who intended to sell him as a slave. Finally, Saroo was rescued from the city streets and put into a juvenile home. Unable to tell carers even where he'd come from, he was transferred to an orphanage, where he was adopted by an Australian couple. He ended up moving to Tasmania where he started a new life with a loving family. He eventually earned a bachelor's degree in business management and joined his adoptive family's engineering firm. But he never gave up hope that he might one day get back to his roots, but with no idea what it was called it seemed an impossible dream. 'I kept in my head the images of the town I grew up in, the streets I used to wander and the faces of my family, I treasured those memories,' he told the Tasmania Mercury. Emotional: Saroo's reunion with his mother, 25 years after he got lost riding the train with his older brother . Determined, he spent years looking at maps for signs of the landmarks that he knew as a child and eventually he turned to Google Earth. Saroo remembered travelling for around 14 hours in the train to Kolkata. Estimating the speed of the train to be about 50mph, he calculated that his hometown could be around 1,000 miles from Kolkata. Saroo then drew a circle on a map with Kolkata at the centre. In an interview with NPR, Saroo described how he singled out his town. He said: 'I thought to myself, "Well, the first thing you're gonna see before you come to your home town is the river where you used to play with your brothers, and the waterfall, and the architecture of this particular place where you used to visit quite a lot." It has to be exactly the same, otherwise, if it's not, I'd just fly over and go somewhere else.' 'When I found it, I zoomed on it and bang, it just came up. I navigated it all the way from the waterfall where I used to play,' Saroo told the BBC. Magic moment: Mr Brierley pictured with his mother, Fatima Munshi, when they met for the first time in 25 years . But even after he spotted what he . believed to be the town where he had spent his earliest years, it took . months for Saroo to organise a trip to test out his theory. And when he . finally did reach his old home in the town of Ganesh Talai, it was empty. Mr Brierley's book, A Long Way Home, was published this week by Penguin Australia . 'I just thought the worst, I thought perhaps everyone's gone, my whole family's died, they've passed away,' he told NPR. It was then that he had another stroke of luck, as locals began to approach him and ask him his business. He told them his names, and the names of his mother and siblings, and he soon found someone who was able to help. Saroo went on: 'By the time the fourth person had come, they said, "Just stay here for a sec," and within 10 minutes they came back around and they said, "Now I'm going to take you to your mother."' He followed the person just a few yards around a corner, to where three ladies stood at the entrance to a house. One of them was his mother, Fatima. 'I looked at the second one and I thought, 'There's something about you' - and it took me a few seconds but I decrypted what she used to looked like,' he said. 'She looked so much shorter than I remembered when I was a four-year-old child. 'But she walked forward, and I walked forward, and my emotions and tears and the chemical in my brain, you know, it was like a nuclear fusion.' Mr Brierley's book, A Long Way Home, was published this week by Penguin Australia.

Saroo Brierley got lost while riding the train with his brother in rural India . He found himself 1,000 miles away in Calcutta, where begged to survive . Eventually, he was taken to an orphanage and adopted by Australians . But 25 years later, he found his way back home after poring over Google . He has now retold his story in a new book that was published this week .

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By . Louise Boyle . and Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 06:41 EST, 14 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 06:47 EST, 14 January 2014 . A swearing toddler who became a viral video sensation will remain with his teenage mother, after a judge ruled that both were to be placed in care with the same foster family. Sixteen-year-old Ennisha Devers, from Omaha, Nebraska, felt compelled to defend her parenting after footage emerged of her two-year-old boy violently cursing. Ennisha and her baby had been separated and placed in protective custody over a separate incident, but yesterday a judge ruled they would be rehomed together with foster carers. WARNING: Video contains graphic content . The little boy is seen flipping his middle finger and cursing on the tape which was posted online by the Omaha police union . The video of the child swearing and . knocking over furniture went viral after the Omaha Police Officer's Association posted it on their website to show the 'cycle of violence and thuggery' they say they come up against in their work. The . police union's posting of the video attracted criticism from the city's police chief, the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and at least one community leader, CNN reported. They said the republishing of the video was antagonising to the city's minority communities. But the organization . defended itself by revealing that the boy was recently injured in a gang . shooting. Ennisha Devers, the child's 16-year-old mother said her son was being encouraged to use bad language by her brother's friend and that she had no knowledge of the tape . The . video shows the boy wearing a diaper and being . harangued with racial slurs and obscenities by at least three adults. At one point, the child flips his middle finger, knocks over a chair and says: 'Shut up, b****.' With encouragement of the adults' laughter, the little boy continues to curse and swear. The mother says . that the video was filmed without her knowledge by her brother's friend. Miss Devers told CNN: . 'He's a smart little boy. All that cussing that he did, he doesn't do . that. Somebody told him to do that. My son doesn't do that. I don't . allow it.' She added: 'He had a clean diaper, the house was clean and like they said, kids curse, every kid does it.' A toddler who was cursed at and encouraged to curse in a video posted online has been placed in protective custody . The Omaha police union said it found . the video on a known local gang member's Facebook page. The video has . been viewed several thousand times and remains on the union's website. According to ketv.com, recent court documents revealed the highly dangerous situation that the child was living in. In October, the toddler was one of five injured when someone fired shots through their front door. The . adults caring for the child repeatedly allowed known gang members into . their home - even after the state paid twice to relocate the family away . from danger. The little boy's father is believed to have been killed in a gang-related shooting at the age of 17. The boy's . grandmother was arrested on weapons charges in December after guns were . brought into the house while children were present. His grandfather is currently in prison for drug and felony charges. Facebook comments: People react to the video post from the self-proclaimed uncle of the toddler . Union President John Wells defended their decision to post the video saying 'a lot of these children end up dealing with law enforcement' The police union defended the video posting saying that without the public scrutiny that followed it, the children would likely still be living in an extremely volatile situation. A statement from Omaha Police Officers' Association website read:'This is 100% about a criminal culture, a cycle of poverty, a cycle of lack of education , a cycle of lack of parenting and – dare we say ''a thug cycle'' – that is literally killing families and crushing the futures of innocent children across Omaha.' 'The . whole point of this is to give an unfiltered view of what police . officers deal with every day,' added Sgt. John Wells, president of the . Omaha Police Officers Association. At one point in the video, . the adults reference a gang in northeast Omaha, which is where more than . half of the city's roughly 40 homicides a year typically happen. Willie Hamilton, executive director of Black Men United in Omaha, said . the police union didn't have to post the video to promote discussion . about helping families overcome poverty. 'It's . almost like the kid was abused twice: once by the people in the video . and once by the police officers association,' said Hamilton, whose group . promotes mentoring and works to strengthen families. Hamilton . said if the police union had been concerned about this child, officers . should have reached out to churches and community groups to help. 'If their overall goal was to educate people about the problems, this was an inept way to do it,' he said. Omaha . Police Chief Todd Schmaderer issued a statement on Tuesday to clarify that . the department wasn't involved in posting the video and doesn't have . control over what the union posts. 'I . strongly disagree with any postings that may cause a divide in our . community or an obstacle to police community relations,' Schmaderer . said.

Five children, including the toddler from video, removed from the home in Omaha, Nebraska after it was used for gang activities . The little boy seen swearing on video was injured in October gang shooting when someone blasted their front door . Toddler and his 16-year-old mother have been separated and while find out on Monday if they will be placed in same foster home . Child's father, 17, killed in gang-related shooting . Police union criticized for posting video on website but said: 'This is about a criminal culture which is crushing the futures of innocent children'

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(CNN) -- Mexico's international image may be taking hits because of the violence produced by drug cartels, but it hasn't hurt its tourism industry, officials say. International tourism to Mexico has increased 2.1% in the first five months of 2011 compared to 2010, and it remains the top destination for Americans traveling abroad. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce show that fewer Americans are traveling abroad, but a bigger percentage of those who do are going to Mexico. Mexico also reported double-digit increases in the percentage of visitors from Russia, Brazil and China, among others. "The data doesn't lie," Mexico's deputy secretary for tourism, Ricardo Anaya, told CNN. "Tourists keep choosing Mexico." The unrelenting battles between rival drug cartels and police and cartels have provided nearly unlimited fodder for those who write off Mexico as a dangerous destination. The truth, Anaya said, is that the violence is limited to certain geographic areas that can be avoided by tourists. The border area, for example, where much violence has been recorded, is 1,200 miles from the resort town of Cancun -- that's like avoiding travel to Houston because of problems in New York, he said. According to surveys by Mexican tourism authorities, 98% of those who do visit Mexico say they will come back, and 99% recommend it to others. Opinion: Why you should go to Mexico . Much of the growth has been fueled by new programs to incentivize tourists from emerging economies, such as the so-called BRIC countries -- Brazil, Russia, India and China. For starters, Mexico began allowing holders of U.S. visas to enter Mexico, opening up the possibility of tourists to the United States extending their trips south of the border. Also, Brazilians, Russians and Ukrainian visitors can gain travel permission to Mexico on the Internet, with no need for a visa. Finally, for travelers from other countries, visas to Mexico in many cases can be obtained through a travel agent, erasing the need for trips to embassies. In 2011 to date, Mexico has seen a 40.9% increase in Brazilian tourists, a 58.1% increase from Russia and 32.8% increase from China, according to Mexico's tourism ministry. For U.S. travelers specifically, the Commerce Department's most recent data -- for 2009 -- shows that 31.7% of all U.S. international tourists go to Mexico. From 2002 to 2009, while U.S. tourism to Canada fell by more than 27%, tourism to Mexico from the U.S. increased by 5.1%. This happened even though the overall number of Americans traveling abroad decreased, from a peak of 64 million in 2007 to 61.4 million in 2009. When Kendra Young, a high school teacher in Texas, told her friends that she and her husband's family were going to Cozumel for a yearly retreat, she was met with skepticism. Are you worried, they would ask? Are you still going? "I think people see all of Mexico as one entity," she told CNN. It was the third straight year that she traveled to the same resort, and security was not a concern for her. Young is pregnant, and she was more worried about food-borne or water-borne illness. She was aware of several State Department travel warnings to Mexico's cartel hot spots, but she also knew that the area she was traveling to was not affected. Her group planned to stay on the resort, where they felt safest, but on the advice of resort staff they trusted from the previous trips, they ventured into the city without worries. "Unfortunately, there are the headline-grabbing things -- the drugs, the violence -- but I don't think that's indicative of what's happening in the entire country," Young said. Anaya pointed out that Americans are not unaware of the violence -- 80% of Americans who travel to Mexico go to six places, none of which have had travel alerts. The destinations are Cozumel, Riviera Maya, Cancun, Puerto Vallarta/Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico City and Los Cabos, he said. Some beach destinations, like Acapulco, have been the scene of some of the drug cartel bloodshed, but still managed to increase its tourism 3% in the first five months of 2011 compared to last year, thanks to national, rather than international, tourism. But some pitfalls of tourism in Mexico persist. Tucson, Arizona, resident Denise Hermosillo and a couple of friends made the six-hour trek last week from her home to Bahia de Kino in the state of Sonora, Mexico. This area is not under a travel warning, but is not among the top destinations for American tourists. "I was scared out of my mind to go there," Hermosillo said. Friends of hers who are in the military are not allowed to cross the border and urged her not to do the same. But she wanted to go to the beach to write for a book she is working on, and Bahia de Kino is the closest one. On the first day of her vacation, her group was pulled over by a police officer, who promptly asked for $100 in exchange to letting them go. In the moment she was frightened, all those stories about bloody ends in Mexico rushing to her mind. But she negotiated the bribe down to $20 and her group was allowed to continue on their journey. "It was pretty pathetic, I thought. What are you going to do with 20 bucks?" she said. Still, she was unable to relax during her vacation. Would she go back? She doesn't know. Would she recommend Mexico to a friend? Maybe, but only if you are traveling with someone who could act as a guide.

Mexico remains the No. 1 destination for Americans traveling abroad . Tourism officials have worked to diversify their tourism base . Initiatives have brought more tourists from Brazil, Russia and China . Some tourists have good experiences, some bad .

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By . Sarah Michael . and Sarah Dean . and Aap . Friends and family members of headless torso murder victim George Gerbic received what they thought were emails from him in the months after his charred remains were discovered on a Queensland roadside. George Gerbic, from Tanawha on the Sunshine Coast, was formally identified by police as the victim of the horrific murder earlier this month, almost a year after his remains were first found. In the 10 months following the grisly discovery, emails were allegedly sent from Mr Gerbic's personal account which gave his friends and relatives the impression he was still alive, The Courier-Mail reported. Victim George Gerbic, from Tanawha on the Sunshine Coast, and accused murderer Lindy Williams . Ms Williams, who lived with Mr Gerbic in the Tanawha home, faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 18 charged with his murder . Police discovered Mr Gerbic's headless remains, with arms severed at the elbows and nothing left below the rib cage, at Cedar Point, near Gympie, last September. A 56-year-old named Lindy Yvonne Williams, who lived with Mr Gerbic in the Tanawha home, faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 18 charged with his murder. She is also charged with interfering with a corpse. Their home was turned into a crime scene on July 17 - the same day police said they had identified the man and were questioning a woman. Ms Williams did not apply for bail and is due to appear again in court for a committal mention on September 1. The torso, found on Cedar Pocket Rd, pictured, in September 2013, was able to be identified when police found the the hypertension drug Irbesartan and Quinine in the body's system . Queensland police have been investigating the murder since last September . Detective Inspector Bruce McNab revealed a small trace of blood pressure medication in the remains had led to the identification of Mr Gerbic. In April police revealed they had detected traces of a drug called Irbesartan in the remains. Doorknocking of prescription users in the area - following an exhaustive search of pharmacy records - had led police to the man's property.' There's been a lot of technology used but also a lot of good old-fashioned detective work, wearing out your shoe leather,' Det Insp McNab said. Crime scene: The area pictured, is where the headless torso was discovered . Tributes have been paid to a 'well liked and much respected' former president of Coolum Football Club. A tribute statement to the 66-year-old read: 'As a club and for those of us who knew him individually, we are incredibly sorry to hear of his tragic death and our hearts and deepest condolences are with his family and close friends at this sad time. 'As a mark of respect to George and the Gerbic family our club's senior players will be wearing a black armband for this weekends games and will be observing a minutes silence prior to kick off of their respective fixtures.' The message finished: 'Rest in peace George.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Murder victim George Gerbic's loved ones allegedly received emails from his account in the months after his death . Burnt remains of a headless torso were found near Gympie last year . They were identified as belonging to Mr Gerbic by police this month . Lindy Yvonne Williams has been charged with Mr Gerbic's murder .

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By . Tom Gardner and Laura Cox . PUBLISHED: . 21:04 EST, 8 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 18:53 EST, 13 May 2012 . A red Volkswagen Jetta has been seized by police hunting for a missing teenager. The four-door sedan, which is red with a black hood, is being held in police custody, and detectives believe it may help them find 15-year-old Sierra LaMar, who disappeared on March 16 as she left to catch the school bus. A search for the car began after it was captured on several surveillance videos close to the missing teen's Morgan Hill, California home and the area where authorities recovered some of her belongings. Seized: A red Volkswagen Jetta connected to the disappearance of 15-year-old Sierra LaMar is now in custody of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's department . The video isn’t clear enough for investigators to make out anyone inside the car and they are appealing for people with information to come forward, ABC News reported. They are interested in speaking to anyone who may have come in contact with the car or occupants in the month of March. In April The desperate hunt for the missing cheerleader was thwarted by an internet hacker, who used her Twitter account to write: ‘By the way, we do punch’ followed by an expletive. The cryptic hoax message sparked outrage from some of the more than 4,500 people who follow her at twitter.com/cccairuh and was quickly removed, according to Mercury News. Last week the search continued underwater after sonar images revealed suspicious-looking objects in a local reservoir. Sierra's cellphone was found near the side of the road the day after she vanished and her Juicy brand black and pink purse with clothes folded neatly inside was found the day after that. Earlier that month an underwater search at the Chesbro reservoir produced sonar images that revealed suspicious-looking objects in a local reservoir, KTVU-TV reported. Mystery: Sierra disappeared on the walk to her school bus stop March 16 in Morgan Hill, California . Sierra's cellphone was found near the side of the road the day after she vanished and her Juicy brand black and pink purse with clothes folded neatly inside was found the day after that. Because of the murky and dangerous conditions, and two feet of visibility, divers had to be strapped to police on land by rope. Divers, who went as deep as 60-feet, also searched the nearby Uvas Reservoir in Santa Clara County. Detectives uncovered a golf ball and a flipper but there was no sign of Sierra, although her family is refusing to give up hope. The parents of the missing teen are offering a $10,000 reward for information that may help find her. Hope: Sierra LaMar's twitter account had not been updated since she went missing, until a post appeared on Wednesday - giving friends and family false hope she was trying to make contact . Reward: Marlene LaMar, the mother of missing teenager Sierra LaMar, appealed for her safe return as the family offered a $10,000 reward for information that may help find her . Donations: Sierra's family has scraped the $10,000 reward money together through fundraising and donations, the teen's father Steve said . Website: The 15-year-old's father Steve, mother Marlene and sister Danielle have also set up a website dedicated to finding the cheerleader . Disturbing: Divers from the Santa Clara Sheriff's Office searched the Chesbro Reservoir after sonar pictures detected areas of concern . The 15-year-old's mother Marlene, father . Steve and sister Danielle have set up a website dedicated to . finding the cheerleader. Mrs LaMar told ABC7 news that her daughter's disappearance was weighing heavily on her. 'As each day goes on it's agonising,' she said. 'I'm definitely suffering sleep deprivation but I need to focus on the belief that Sierra is going to come forward.' Police believe Sierra has been . kidnapped as she does not have a history of running away and no family . problems. Interviews with friends and a search . of her computer also yielded no information indicating she had fled. Her disappearance has sparked an outpouring of support from the local community and received nation-wide press coverage. Thousands of Bay Area residents have joined the search for the teen in Morgan Hill and the surrounding area. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith also joined the search. Speaking . at a press conference over Easter weekend, Mr LaMar, a computer . engineer at a . tech startup in Sunnyvale, expressed his gratitude at the overwhelming . support the family had received from local residents. 'Everyone's been . so generous,' he said. Yesterday . the family launched the Help Us Find Sierra LaMar website, which . describes Sierra as a 'confident teenager who stands up for not only . herself but others as well'. It also hosts a gallery of pictures and allows friends . to post messages to Sierra. 'The world has seemed so out of . balance since you’ve been gone,' wrote Jenna Wondka. 'I’m missing you . more and more every day, you never leave my mind. You’re too young and . innocent for this to be happening. You’ve always been there for me and . I’ll always be here for you until you’re found and anytime after that.' The family is also accepting donations via the site. They have raised the $10,000 reward money through fundraising and donations, Mr LaMar said. 'We're hoping it might give someone the . motivation to come forward,' he said. 'We're desperate for anything that . can bring her home to us.' Poignant: Posters have been taped up near to where Sierra went missing, as her family hope for more clues . Search: Thousands of Bay Area residents have joined the search for the teen in Morgan Hill and the surrounding area . Potential clue: The handcuff box and condoms were found, near the teenager's home, pictured, and close to where her phone and handbag were found abandoned as shown on the map . As well as the red car the search has turned up an . empty 'handcuff' box and two used condoms, found by a search volunteer . within 1.5miles of where the pretty teen's phone and purse were found, days after she disappeared. Investigators told Mercury News that the find could be a major breakthrough in the disappearance which has stumped police, or it could be a simple coincidence. 'The sheriff’s office will be . sending out deputies on motor dirt bikes later this week to canvass . remote/rural areas in south Santa Clara County areas,' Sgt Jose . Cardoza, a spokesman for the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff, told the Huffington Post. If Sierra has been killed, her body is likely to be above ground, Sgt Cardoza said. 'Someone like that is not . going to dig a grave,' he said. 'He drove her out someplace and the body . will likely be in a ditch or (easily accessible) location.' He added her abductor could be a serial rapist or perhaps even a serial killer and a person likely familiar with the local area. School: In April sheriffs investigators visited Miss Lamar's school of Sobrato High, suspending their ground search for interviews with her classmates and friends . Without a trace: While police dogs lost her scent at her mother's driveway Sierra's cell phone was recovered in a field nearby the day after her disappearance . Growing concern: Sierra's purse containing neatly folded clothes was also found two days after her disappearance . The law enforcement response has . included searching the homes of neighbors, contacting registered sex . offenders, interviewing friends and relatives, and stopping drivers who . travel the road where Sierra picked up the bus and where her phone and . purse were found to ask if they saw anything unusual. Sierra is 5-feet-2 with a thin build, dark hair and an olive complexion. Anyone with . information on Sierra’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Santa Clara . County Sheriff at (408) 808-4500 or (408) 299-2311; to remain anonymous, . call the tip line at (408) 808-4311. Tips can also be emailed to . [email protected] . Hunt continues: A Santa Clara County Sheriff photographs possible evidence that a volunteer searcher under the guidance of the KlaasKids Foundation for Children discovered in the area near Calero Reservoir . Keeping hope alive: Volunteer searcher Rodney Ray under the guidance of the KlaasKids Foundation for Children bags possible evidence in the case .

Cheerleader went missing on March 16 after failing to turn up to bus stop or high school . Cellphone, her black and pink purse have been found as have empty 'handcuff' box and two condoms . Cryptic message posted on her Twitter page offered false hope . Mother says she is suffering sleep deprivation over disappearance .

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Louis van Gaal won’t have any excuses if Manchester United fail to mount a title challenge this season – he has easily the most expensive squad in the Premier League at his disposal. After a tumultuous summer transfer window closed last week, Mail on Sunday research can reveal the United boss has been left with a squad that cost £379.4million to assemble, more than either Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini or Chelsea’s Jose Mourinho can boast. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement a little over a year ago, United’s new 'noisy neighbours' policy has seen them spend a staggering £215 million on players to try and stay on top of the tree. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Louis van Gaal: A new team is not built in one month . No excuses:the Manchester United squad at Louis van Gaal's disposal is worth a staggering £379million . Big deals: Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao both arrived at Old Trafford in big-money moves this summer . Wayne Rooney: £27million, Michael Carrick: £18.6million, Rafael: £2.5million, . Antonio Valencia: £16million, Chris Smalling: £10million, Phil Jones: £16.5million . David de Gea: £18.9million, Ashley Young £16million, Robin van Persie: £24million . Marouane Fellaini: £27.5million, Juan Mata: £37.1million, Ander Herrera: £29million . Luke Shaw: £27million, Marcos Rojo: £16million, Angel Di Maria: £59.7million . Daley Blind: £13.8million, Falcao £4.8m (Loan fee) Total cost of squad = £379.4million . In the last window alone, they broke the British transfer record fee on Angel Di Maria and signed Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind before splashing out a further £5million to take Falcao on loan from Monaco. While Burnley broke their transfer record by paying £3million for George Boyd, United have 16 players that they paid at least £10million for. And while there has been criticism that the squad is top-heavy with attacking players, van Gaal will have a goalkeeper David de Gea and defenders Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Rafael, Rojo, Shaw and Blind available – signed for a total of £104.7million . To put it into context, the figure United have spent on defenders (including goalkeeper) is more than 15 Premier League clubs have spent on their entire squads. Record transfer: George Boyd joined Burnley for £3m - United boast 16 players who cost at least £10m . The change in the Premier League landscape is due to Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour reining in spending to comply with financial fairplay regulations while United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward attempts to prove his club are major players in European football despite finishing only seventh last season and missing out on the Champions League. United want to build a team that mixes superstars and homegrown talent – an English version of Real Madrid during their Galactico years. The Essex-born accountant, who went to the same public school as Frank Lampard, may have a quieter personality than Manchester City’s former CEO Garry Cook but they have a similar vision for their football clubs; speculate to accumulate and make the world know you’re there. Woodward made it clear last year he would have broken the world-transfer record had Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to move to Old Trafford and he will spend more in January on Kevin Strootman and a top-class defender, with the option to buy Falcao for £45million next summer. Talented: Left back Luke Shaw moved to Manchester United from Southampton in a £30m switch . All smiles: Daley Blind shakes hands with manager Louis van Gaal having joined Man United from Ajax . Financial analysts Deloitte confirmed: ‘Manchester United have recorded the highest ever gross spend by a Premier League club in a summer transfer window. The Red Devils have spent £150m on new talent this window, representing 18% of the aggregate gross transfer spend by Premier League clubs.’ In one sense, it is a throwback to the years when Ferguson started out and consistently broke the transfer record to sign the likes of Gary Pallister, Roy Keane and Andy Cole. Over time though, particularly once The Glazers were installed, the spending dropped as City dominated. Now, the wheel is turning back as Woodward realises United can not afford to be out of Europe for more than a season if they want to attract the top talent. On the other side of Manchester, City - regarded as the biggest-spending club in world sport - will actually go into this season with a squad that is £26million cheaper than United’s, at £353.7million. Mourinho has a squad that cost £301.3million with plenty of other signings like Fernando Torres and Marco van Ginkel loaned out and not available to him this season. Overall, the figures underline the close relationship between how much you spend and what success you can expect to achieve. There is a huge gap in transfer spending between six clubs – United, City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham – and the rest. Everton have the seventh-most expensive squad, costing nearly £96million. Big spenders: Premier League clubs splashed the cash this summer in a bid to improve their squads . Two of the current bottom three in the Premier League, Burnley and Crystal Palace, are also in the bottom three of spenders. However, there are some exceptions. United, for one. They are No1 in spending but currently sit 14th in the table without a league win this season. That will change once the new signings all play, starting against QPR next Sunday. The other honourable exception is Swansea City. Their 25-man squad, plus eligible under-21s, cost a relatively modest £44.6million – less than any other club in the division bar four. Yet they have enjoyed success in the top flight over the last two seasons and are currently joint-top with maximum points from three matches. There is concern that the ever-increasing spending from the top Premier League clubs will kill competition over time and may even put clubs down the pecking order out of business. Former Manchester City manager Brian Horton, now assistant-manager at League One Doncaster Rovers, warned at the MBNA Northwest Football Awards last week: ‘The whole Premier League world has escalated out of all proportion in terms of transfer fees and players’ wages . ‘Unless we change something then some of those clubs lower down will go and that will be a major shame because the set-up we have, with the 92 clubs, is the best in the world.’ It’s a fair argument but van Gaal, who let his hair down last week while watching new signing Blind collect the Dutch Football Writers’ Player of the Season award, will point out he is under pressure too. United have talked the talk financially, there are now 379 million reasons for the Dutchman to walk the walk.

Manchester United have the most expensive squad in the Premier League . The Red Devils team cost £379.4m to assemble . Louis van Gaal has made a number of big money signings . Angel di Maria moved to Old Trafford in a £59.7m move from Real Madrid .

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Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) -- France's President Nicolas Sarkozy made a landmark visit to Haiti Wednesday, announcing more than $100 million of additional aid to the former French colony where 212,000 people were killed by an earthquake five weeks ago. Sarkozy is the first French president ever to visit the country which has in the past demanded huge reparations from France to compensate for slavery-era exploitation before Haitian independence two centuries ago . He told a news conference that an extra €100 million ($136 million) was being made available to help reconstruction efforts, bringing France's contribution to the the aid effort to €320 million. Sarkozy was scheduled to meet with Haitian President Rene Preval and Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive and take a helicopter tour of earthquake-devastated zones, Sarkozy's office said. He also planned to tour a French Civil Security hospital and meet with French teams and injured Haitians, his office said. He planned to meet members of the government involved in reconstruction and members of the United Nations mission in Haiti. Sarkozy's trip was scheduled to last less than five hours, after which he planned to go to the French island of Martinique for an overnight stay. Thursday, Sarkozy planned to visit French Guiana on South America's northeastern coast before returning home, his office said. Sarkozy is the first European head of state to visit Haiti since the January 12 earthquake, Agence France-Presse reported. France has had close cultural ties with its former colony since independence, but diplomatic relations have sometimes been fraught, with Paris occasionally expressing concerns over instability in the Caribbean nation. In 2004, France called for the resignation of then president Jean Bertrand Arstide, who was subsequently ousted in a 2004 rebellion, after his government demanded that France pay $21 billion in reparations.

Sarkozy expected to meet Haiti's president and prime minister on flying visit . French leader is also expected to announce major aid plan for Haiti . Sarkozy is first European head of state to visit Haiti since quake .

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A sham wedding couple used crib sheets to memorise facts about each other before tying the knot in a bogus ceremony set up by a fixer, a court heard. Moroccan Zakaria Azzouzi married Petra Tatalova, from Slovakia, in an attempt to stay in Britain after his visa expired. The fraud went undetected for eight months - until police raided the house of the fixer who had arranged the fake marriage and found the notes used by the couple to learn their lines. The crib sheet reminded them that the bride's star sign is scorpio, the groom's favourite food is couscous and they supposedly met in a coffee shop. Happy couple? Petra Tatalova and Zakaria Azzouzi entered into a sham marriage to help him stay in Britain . Jailed: Azzouzi has been given a 21-month prison sentence while Tatalova was jailed for 12 months . Student Azzouzi, 24, was yesterday . jailed for 21 months for his part in the scam, while Tatalova, 32, an . events manager, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. The 'couple' wed at Barnet registry . office in north London in March 2011, because Azzouzi needed to marry an . EU citizen to avoid being deported from the UK when his visa expired. They claimed that had met in a coffee shop on Oxford Street in June 2010 and had been living together for six months before the wedding. But in fact, they were introduced by 'fixer' Mourad Nabil, 43, who was described by a judge at St Albans Crown Court as having a 'Svengali-like malign influence' over the bride. When police raided Nabil's home in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire they discovered notes helping Azzouzi and Tatalova learn facts about each other in order to convince officials that their marriage was genuine. At the bottom of the crib sheet, Nabil had written: 'That is about it honey.. try memorising these information sweety,, just in case.. you know me I am always thourough.. [sic]'. Crib sheet: The pair were discovered when police found this sheet telling them facts about each other . Nabil, 43, who was earlier convicted of an £18,500 benefit fraud, was sentenced to two years in prison. Laura . Blackband, prosecuting, told the couple that the three defendants went . to the registry office a month before the wedding to answer questions . about their relationship, with Nabil claiming to act as their . interpreter. However, . when the crib sheets were discovered later that year it became clear . that the wedding was in fact 'a sham, bogus marriage', she continued. 'Mr . Azzouzi's mother organised with Mr Nabil that he would secure a fake . marriage so he could stay here as the husband of an EU national,' Ms . Blackband said. 'It was an entire put-up job planned for Mr Azzouzi to . stay in this country when his visa ran out in May 2011.' She said that Tatalova, who first came to Britain in 2000, had previously been in a relationship with Nabil. When . he was questioned by police, Nabil said he had been 'intimate' with the . bride but said that she had introduced Azzouzi to him as her boyfriend, . adding that he did not get on with the groom. 'He . accepted they were an odd couple,' Ms Blackband said. 'Mr Azzouzi was . eight years younger and a Muslim from Morocco, and she was a Christian . from Slovakia. 'He said it was a genuine marriage and that he had assisted with the preparations because Mr Azzouzi had a terrible memory.' Scam: Mourad Nabil, left, set up the fake wedding for Azzouzi, centre, and Tatalova, right . Tatalova told the police she met Azzouzi in Cafe Nero or Costa Coffee and that he had proposed to her on her birthday, sending her a card with the words 'Will you marry me?' written inside. She also said it was a genuine marriage, but said he had 'upped and gone' and she did not know where he was. Azzouzi had been arrested in Manchester for an unrelated offence around the time of the raid on Nabil's house - he originally stuck to the story, but once he was shown the crib sheet he confessed it was a sham marriage. Tatalova, Azzouzi and and Nabil all pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to breach immigration laws by arranging a bogus marriage, but were convicted by a jury. An earlier trial began in December 2012, but was stopped when Azzouzi's mother was denied a visa to enter Britain and testify as a defence witness. Azzouzi is set to be deported to Morocco immediately owing to the time he has already spent in jail and on an electronic tag. Tatalova's lawyer said yesterday: 'It is a sad and desperate case for her. There was no gain in financial terms. The only explanation is that it was a misguided attempt by Miss Tatalova to assist. She paid the wedding expenses. 'She is ashamed to be here and is ashamed by the finding of the jury. She has always worked and never claimed benefit.' Judge Stephen Gullick said: 'The sole purpose of the sham marriage was to allow Azzouzi to remain in the UK through his marriage to an EU national. This was a family-organised wedding orchestrated by Nabil.' He told Tatalova: 'Why you became involved only you know. You have put all you have achieved in complete jeopardy by agreeing to go through this sham marriage. ' Paul Whitehead, from the Home Office's Criminal and Financial Investigations Team, said:  'Our discovery of the crib sheet was crucial to the investigation, blowing a hole in any claims to credibility that the defendants may have had. 'Couples who are in genuine relationships do not need aide-memoires to help them recall their partner's age, address and even name.'

Zakaria Azzouzi, from Morocco, married Slovakian Petra Tatalova in 2011 . They claimed they had met in a coffee shop but police raiding house of fixer Mourad Nabil found crib sheets to help them learn facts about each other . It emerged that the marriage was a scam to help Azzouzi stay in the UK . Azzouzi jailed for 21 months while Tatalova gets 12 months in prison .

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'I know that with 4-4-2 the stats are giving the positive results, but when you analyse the game I have twitched my ass on the bench because we were out of balance.' The expert analysis of Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal captured the imagination this week when he admitted playing his 4-4-2 formation resulted in a very unhappy derrière. But does that deserve a place in the Hall of Fame for bizarre managers' quotes? Let's compare. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal complained about 4-4-2 leaving him 'twitching my ass' Jose Mourinho . Seeing as we all knew he'd make an appearance, we may as well get the Special One out of the way immediately. But how do you choose from one of his many press conference quips? Well, firing a parting shot at owner Roman Abramovich for not investing in the squad before being forced out of the club in 2007, Mourinho said: 'No eggs, no omelette. And it depends on the quality of the eggs. 'In the supermarket, you have eggs class one, class two, class three. Some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem.' Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is never far from a memorable quip during press conferences . Rafa Benitez . Perhaps best remembered for his infamous 'FACT!' rant against then-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, but Benitez was another who had a thing for breakfast ingredients. The former Liverpool manager answered Roy Hodgson's remarks on Kenny Dalglish's involvement in the club by saying: 'White liquid in a bottle has to be milk,' - apparently, a Spanish phrase which means things are so obvious for everyone to see (except perhaps the meaning of the saying itself). Benitez then followed this up when accused of having a poor transfer record and inheriting a poor squad by exclaiming: 'Some people can not see a priest on a mountain of sugar,' - which again means something akin to stating the obvious... without actually doing so. Rafa Benitez (right) made some memorable speeches during his time as Liverpool manager . Sir Alex Ferguson . And so to Fergie. He wasn't against using food to make a point, either. Before a Champions League game against a notoriously tricky Inter Milan side, the ex-Manchester United manager indulged in an opening course of mind games: 'When an Italian tells me it's pasta on the plate, I check under the sauce to make sure. They are the inventors of the smokescreen.' Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was not immune to making an infamous quote . Bill Shankly . Shankly was Liverpool's greatest ever manager, and will also be remembered by Anfield fans for his cutting put downs of hated rivals Everton, which included this collection of pearls: . Former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly liked to add to the rivalry between the Reds and neighbours Everton . Brian Clough . Clough was never short of sharing a few words. The former Nottingham Forest manager wasn't even scared to engage Fergie in a war of words. Clough, before the then-United manager had claimed a second European Cup, said: 'For all his horses, knighthoods and championships, he hasn't got two of what I've got. And I don't mean balls!' And the testicular references didn't end there as, when discussing the influx of foreign players into the English game, he said: 'I can't even spell spaghetti never mind talk Italian. How could I tell an Italian to get the ball? He might grab mine.' Brian Clough was never short of sharing a few words as the ex-Nottingham Forest manager proved . Ian Holloway . Never short of a decent quote. Holloway, in between being 'more chuffed than a badger at the start of mating season', had this to say about an 'ugly' result against Chesterfield. Please note, it should be read with that typical deadpan Bristolian accent for full effect. 'To put it in gentleman's terms if you've been out for a night and you're looking for a young lady and you pull one, some weeks they're good looking and some weeks they're not the best,' he said. 'Our performance today would have been not the best looking bird but at least we got her in the taxi. She weren't the best looking lady we ended up taking home but she was very pleasant and very nice, so thanks very much, let's have a coffee.' Ian Holloway has become renowned for memorable quotes during his managerial career in England . Sir Bobby Robson . The late, great Sir Bobby was rarely short of a quirky comment. So, try these on for size: . Newcastle United legend Sir Bobby Robson had a few quotes up his sleeve at St James' Park . Gordon Strachan . Strachan was another manager who must have missed the media training classes, much to the delight and amusement of anyone listening... Here are just a few examples that left reporters wishing they had chosen a different profession. Reporter: 'Bang, there goes your unbeaten run. Can you take it?' Strachan: 'No, I'm just going to crumble like a wreck. I'll go home, become an alcoholic and maybe jump off a bridge. Umm, I think I can take it, yeah.' Reporter: 'So, Gordon, in what areas do you think Middlesbrough were better than you today?' Strachan: 'What areas? Mainly that big green one out there...' And, probably the finest one word answer in the history of football interviews. Reporter: 'Gordon, can we have a quick word please?' Strachan: 'Velocity.' [walks off] . Gordon Strachan is among the best for leaving journalists stunned during interviews after and before matches . Arsene Wenger . Wenger usually gives well rehearsed and educated answers to questions from the press, even if it sometimes appears as he is struggling to keep a straight face. But the Frenchman has occasionally drawn into using strange metaphors, especially when baited by enduring rivals. In response to Ferguson's jibe that Arsenal weren't deserving double winners in 2002 and United were the better team, Wenger simply answered: 'Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home.' And, he also reverted to the female form when describing his inability to convince a homesick Antonio Reyes to stay at Highbury. 'It's like you wanting to marry Miss World and she doesn't want you, what can I do about it? I can try to help you, but if she does not want to marry you what can I do?,' he said. The answer being to let Reyes leave and sneak Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona's youth academy. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger usually gives well-rehearsed interviews but has been known for his own quips . ...King Eric quit football to preach about Islamophobia and star in soft porn films . CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY . And finally... It not just football managers that are renowned for memorable quips during press conferences. Sometimes, it comes down to the players. Step forward, King Eric himself. Greeting the journalists before him in the wake of a lengthy ban for his kung-fu kick on a Crystal Palace supporter in 1995, Cantona read out the following statement before abruptly leaving. 'When the seagulls follow the trawler, it's because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much.' Quite what you make of the Cantona's musings should be determined by you but as Strachan - yes, him again - later said: 'If a Frenchman goes on about seagulls, trawlers and sardines, he's called a philosopher. I'd just be called a short Scottish bum talking crap'. Eric Cantona launches a a kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace supporter Matthew Simmons in 1995 . Stewards attempt to restrain the forward after his assault on the Crystal Palace supporter . Cantona reacted angrily to abuse from a Palace fan after he was sent off during the match at Selhurst Park .

Louis van Gaal: Manchester United playing 4-4-2 leaves me 'twitching my ass' because the team are 'out of balance' The Old Trafford manager gave the memorable quip on Thursday . United drew 0-0 in the FA Cup fourth round against League Two Cambridge . Sportsmail look at how it comes to nine others in our top 10 list . 'If Everton were playing down the bottom of my garden, I'd draw the curtains.' 'When I've got nothing better to do, I look down the league table to see how Everton are getting along.' 'This city has two great teams - Liverpool and Liverpool reserves.' 'Alan Shearer has done very well for us, considering his age. We have introduced some movement into his game because he has got two good legs now. Last season he played with one leg.' 'Home advantage gives you an advantage.' 'Look at those olive trees! They're 200 years old - from before the time of Christ.'

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(CNN) -- The world of Dungeons & Dragons, the iconic role-playing game that has captivated millions since the 1970s, is more than just rolling dice on a table top. In 2014, it is computer games, books, online comics, miniature figurines and more, aimed at staying relevant in a digital age. Wizards of the Coast, the publishers of the game, is launching the latest version along with a massive campaign called Tyranny of Dragons. But on such a plethora of platforms, how is it possible to create an overarching idea that transcends platforms? The publishers say it's a simple concept known as sharing. The high adventure, in which followers of dragon queen Tiamat aim to take over the world, coincides with the release of the fifth edition of rules for tabletop version of D&D. But the company wanted to expand how players could join in the new storyline and create a community of shared experiences. "The big part of a role-playing game is, you can do whatever you want. But we want you to end up at the same place at the end of the adventure," said Mike Mearls, senior manager for Dungeons & Dragons research and development. "There are many ways to get there, but having a big event that brings everybody back together is part of the fun, because once you've gone up against Tiamat, you've got something you can talk to any fellow player about, even if you've never met that person before." The idea of creating that shared story experience over different media meant Mearls had to think about the narrative differently. It was more about creating a story bible with direction on how various creatures behave in certain circumstances rather than plotting out each monster's actions specifically. 40 years later, 'Dungeons & Dragons' still inspiring gamers . "Each one has a different way they act, a different goal they have," Mearls said. "So when you encounter it in a (massively multiplayer online game), you can understand this creature, you can understand what it's doing, because when I'm fighting in a 3-D action environment as opposed to a board game as opposed to a role-playing game, it has a trait that can shine through." The massively multiplayer online version, "Neverwinter," will also feature the "Tyranny of Dragons" story. Rob Overmeyer, executive producer at Cryptic Studios, said his co-workers constantly talk with the creative teams at Wizards well in advance of any new elements in the online version. Having those discussions not only allows for swapping of ideas, it gives a cohesiveness in the look and feel of the game, he said. Overmeyer said the sharing of creative elements also frees up his team to focus more on the online-only elements of stories, finding ways to draw certain players deeper into adventures. For example, creatures that will be appearing in the new "Monster Manual" have been created at Wizards for its upcoming tome. Those creatures are designed by Wizards graphic artists and have been rendered in a variety of resolutions to allow them to be used in a digital game, in a book or as templates for miniature figures. The player's actions in the online campaign will be overlaid on those in the game's more traditional tabletop campaign. "It's really about getting in there and having fun and playing D&D," Overmeyer said of the online game. "If it feels like D&D, it is D&D." The cohesiveness isn't limited to just game play. "Table Titans" is an online comic developed by Scott Kurtz with the blessing of Wizards of the Coast. The D&D comic spun out of Kurtz's other creation, "PVP," with the introduction of a supporting character named Val. Val believes she is a dwarven fighter from "Dungeons & Dragons" and acts out events in her non-gaming life as if she were the character. Kurtz said his team consults with Wizards of the Coast to go over upcoming campaign materials so everything flows from a central game plan. 'Dungeons & Dragons' tries to lure back players . "They are very good in guiding us away from what other authors are doing so we don't step on toes, and they always are wonderful with suggestions, bibles, artwork, etc," Kurtz said. "But for the most part, they just sit back and watch us go. They really don't do more than say 'Here are some amazing toys; go play!' " Kurtz said that playing D&D with his father as a child helped him in his career by creating the first characters and stories he would later transport into his comics. He's thrilled, he says, to work hand-in-hand with the people now creating the game he grew up playing. "We promote D&D by nature of our comic being about that game, and they promote 'Table Titans' in social media and at personal events because they love the strip," Kurtz said. "The business team calls that synergy, and the creatives call it 'mutual admiration.' " Mearls said that sharing between media keeps the focus on what's always been at the heart of D&D: the story. "It does create that community sense of shared experience, shared story, even though everyone's story experience was unique," he said. "You can be whoever you want. You can do whatever you want."

The classic "Dungeons & Dragons" game has new ways to play in the online age . A multiplayer online option, "Neverwinter," has joined classic tabletop gaming . It's branched out into a webcomic, "Table Titans," as well . Wizards of the Coast says all versions are now designed to be integrated .

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A stunning homestead property with breathtaking views has been listed on the market with a price guide seeking offers over $4.5 million. Perched high on Barrengarry Mountain, north of Kangaroo Valley in NSW, it consists of four separate lots of architectural buildings, complete with a quiet serenity of a sensational rural hideaway. Uniquely handcrafted from recycled hardwood and stone, they sit in harmony with their natural surroundings while its buildings are unseen from the road – ensuring complete seclusion. Up for sale by Ken Jacobs, Exclusive Affiliation of Christie’s International Real Estate, Head of Lifestyle Division Bruce Eason told Daily Mail Australia the four-bedroom property would be a perfect fit for anyone seeking that ‘retreat lifestyle’. A stunning homestead property with spectacular views has been listed on the market with a price guide seeking offers over $4.5 million . ‘It’s located just 90 kilometres outside of Sydney – It offers the perfect getaway or a retreat lifestyle for anyone with multiple families,’ Eason said. ‘Where the property sits on, offers quite a view. It’s more than just a music studio and it’s also ideally suited to running cattle, paddock or other livestock. 'What makes it stand out and so different to other homes is its' unique architectural design. The natural material used in the structure and the timber and metal work is absolutely stunning. ‘It’s also the perfect home for anyone in the entertainment industry –a composer or a musician who wants their own secluded location – this would be ideal.’ Sprawled across more than 40 hectares of land with fencing and cattle yards, the property offers a prime location with serene surroundings . The beautifully architectural home features a music studio, meditation room, a fireplace, and a secret bookcase leading to a spa upstairs . The handcrafted property comes complete with four generous sized bedrooms and three bathrooms - perfect for a large family . The secret door behind the bookcase leads to a bathroom upstairs with a spa overlooking the breathtaking outlook view . Enhanced by soaring ceilings, the property’s homestead has been lovingly renowned to form the main residence, from which the new home owners can soak up from the spa after a long day and relax on the balcony. With a secret door behind a bookcase that leads to a bathroom upstairs, the home boosts an array of four ‘generous’ sized bedrooms, three bathrooms, an enormous entertainment/music studio, an open fireplace, a meditation room as well as beautiful garden surrounds. Sprawled across 122 hectare of pastoral land with fencing and cattle yards, the property’s original homestead has been lovingly renovated and owned by Australian businesswoman Katharine Farnsworth and her American husband. ‘One of the amazing parts about living here is you actually see the weather rolling in with the wonderful ever-changing mists and clouds that rise in various forms out of the valley after a storm,’ Mrs. Farnsworth told The Wall Street Journal. Farnsworth said she is selling the property because her husband has passed away for quite some years and thought it would be the perfect time for a change. Uniquely handcrafted from recycled hardwood and stone, they sit in harmony with their natural surroundings and away from the road . The property's original homestead offers an enormous music studio - perfect for musicians and composers who want a retreat lifestyle . With incredible views of the natural surroundings, the property features soaring ceilings and a great love for timber floors and fine details . The furnishings inside the property are not included in the sale price but Farnsworth added that it if the new owners are interested - they are available for a separate sale and will get a special discount. ‘Everything has been valued, so if people would like to purchase 90% of the contents in the house and studio, then there is a 10% discount,' she told The Wall Street Journal. Known as one of the best known properties in the area, the property offers serene surroundings, agricultural purposes, tourism and just a two hour drive from the Sydney CBD – also perfect for potential investors and business. Uniquely handcrafted from recycled hardwood and stone, they sit in harmony with their natural surroundings and away from the road . With its' stunning four buildings, it offers serene surroundings, agricultural purposes, tourism and just two hour drive from Sydney CBD .

An original homestead property has been listed on the market for an asking price of over $4.5 million . It consists of four separate buildings - perched high on Barrengarry Mountain, north of Kangaroo Valley in NSW . The four-bedroom 'handcrafted' property features an enormous music studio, secret bookcase leading up to a spa, a meditation room, three bathrooms and an open fire . The property is ideally suited to running cattle, paddock or other livestock or musicians, composers and artists .

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By . Scarlett Russell . Good news for sleepyheads: naps at work could save the British economy billions, say experts. Fifteen million sick days a year are specifically attributed to tiredness, depression or anxiety - and they are costing the UK an estimated £29 billion. Sleep experts have said that office snoozes can actually improve alertness and performance and even reduce stress. Dozing off: One in five UK adults have a power-nap during office hours and with 55 per cent say they feel significantly more productive and less tired after they do . According to a report published by the Office of National Statistics in February, designated dozes could help avoid 131 million sick days a year. Furthermore, the research, carried out by PriceWaterhouse Coopers and One Poll, found that one in five UK adults enjoy a catnap at work anyway, with 55 per cent saying they feel significantly more productive and less tired afterwards. The poll questioned 2,000 Brits on their nap habits, and found that the average length of a desk doze was 15 minutes. Men are twice as likely to fall asleep during office hours, and one in four take a work time nap at least once a week. Got to love beauty sleep! Lydia Bright has tweeted her support for napping, with this picture of herself posted with the hashtag #BringBackTheNap . Nap time: TOWIE's Chloe Sims is a fan of the daytime doze, tweeting this picture of herself and encouraging her followers to 'bring back the nap' Interestingly, . the research found that the younger you are, the more likely you are to . nap at work - perhaps having something to do with this age bracket . favouring mid-week nights out. One in three 18-24 year olds nap at work, compared to only 22 per cent of those aged 55+. London is the sleepiest region in the UK, with locals getting an average six hours sleep per night and with 85 per cent admitting to being ‘desperate’ for a nap during the working day. Those in Yorkshire and Humber get the most sleep in the country – over seven hours each night. 1.    In the car (33%)2.    At one’s desk (30%)3.    In the canteen (22%)4.    In a sunny spot outside (16%)5.    In a private office (17%) The survey, conducted to celebrate the release of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty on Blu-ray and DVD, also looked into the most common places to take a nap. It found that 33 per cent go to their car, 30 per cent actually sleep on their desk and 17 per cent find a private office. An estimated 38 million of us sneak off to the toilets to grab 40 winks. TOWIE stars Lydia Bright and Chloe Simms are backing the campaign and have submitted pics of themselves napping. Sleep Expert Sammy Margo commented: ‘Biologically we are programmed to fall asleep mid-afternoon as is the case with toddlers, the elderly and siesta cultures. Physiologically there is a slight drop in body temperature mid-afternoon. ‘This afternoon dip in mood and alertness associated with poorer performance especially after a night of sleep loss. Research shows that you can improve alertness, reduce stress and improve performance with a nap. The challenge is the conflict with our current work schedules and the fact that stimulus to nap is suppressed by caffeine.’Sleeping Beauty is on Blue-Ray, DVD and Digital Download now .

Sick days taken because of tiredness cost UK economy £29 million a year . 35 million British workers have a power-nap in their office toilets . Experts say naps at work could improve productivity and reduce stress .

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In order to understand the turbulent world of Thai politics, you have to start with one name: Thaksin Shinawatra. The former prime minister has dominated the country's political scene for more than a decade despite going into exile after his ouster in a 2006 coup. Back in 2010, deadly clashes took place between security forces and Thaksin supporters who had occupied central Bangkok. They were demanding his return. Now, his sister is in power and she recently tried to pass an amnesty law that could have allowed his return. The attempt failed, but it provided fuel for the current protests shaking the capital. Here's a quick primer to make sense of it all. 1. Who is Thaksin? He's a deeply polarizing figure -- a billionaire telecommunications mogul who built his political power on policies popular with Thailand's rural villagers. His success ruffled a lot of feathers among the country's established elites, and critics accused him of corruption and autocratic rule. He was prime minister between 2001 and 2006, when the military deposed him in a bloodless coup. 2. What happened in 2010? Thaksin's ouster spurred the protest movement that developed over the years into the widespread "red shirt" demonstrations that occupied upscale parts of Bangkok in 2010. By that stage, the movement had broadened to represent other issues, including resentment at the military's involvement in politics and economic inequality. The crackdown by security forces on the red shirts resulted in clashes that left around 90 people dead. It has been described as the worst civil violence in Thailand's history, and the country remains severely scarred by the experience. 3. Could the current protests lead to a repeat? The situation is different this time. Those protesting are opponents of Thaksin rather than his supporters. His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is now prime minister. Her government is under pressure after widespread anger over its recent failed attempt to pass a bill that could have granted amnesty to Thaksin and others. Although the public has generally moved on from the conflict over the amnesty bill, the opposition Democrat Party is trying to use the issue to bring down Yingluck's government, says Paul Quaglia, director of the Bangkok-based risk assessment firm PQA Associates. "The government is facing probably a countdown until it will have to dissolve and hold new elections," Quaglia says. "But it doesn't look like it's a replay of 2010 when we're going to see violence in the streets and an extended takeover of central Bangkok." 4. What has Thaksin been up to? He has been living in exile in a number of different places, most recently Dubai, while continuing to play an active role in Thai politics. He briefly returned to Thailand in 2008. Later that year, he was convicted by a Thai court of corruption and sentenced in absentia to two years in prison over a controversial land deal. Courts have also frozen billions of dollars of his assets, but he is believed to still have a great deal of money held elsewhere. He's also stayed heavily involved in Thai politics over the years, communicating with supporters via social media and video messages. With his younger sister in power since 2011, his influence remains strong. Critics say Yingluck is Thaksin's puppet, but she insists she has always been independent. 5. What is happening this week? After weeks of demonstrations, thousands of protesters have gathered around government buildings in central Bangkok, occupying some of them for varying periods of time. Yingluck has expanded the area in and around Bangkok covered by an internal security law that gives police extra powers to disband protesters. In parliament, the Prime Minister is facing a "no confidence" motion against her. And police have issued an arrest warrant against protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban. For most of Bangkok, business as usual despite protests . 6. What's at stake for the region? The demonstrations are bringing instability once again to Thailand, a key regional economy and popular tourist destination. The protests are centered on Bangkok, a vital transportation hub, especially for air travel. So far, the protests are concentrated in specific parts of the city. More than a dozen countries have issued travel warnings for citizens to avoid areas near protests in Bangkok. 7. What do the demonstrators want? Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister under the previous Democrat-led government, has said the demonstrations "will not stop until Thaksin's regime is wiped out." Such an aim seems ambitious. Yingluck's government was democratically elected and her Pheu Thai party retains support in its core areas. The current protests have echoes of 2008 when demonstrators opposed to a pro-Thaksin government occupied Bangkok's main airport and government offices. 8. Where are the protesters getting their support from? Opposition to Thaksin and Yingluck is strongest among the urban elites and middle class. That means the capital. "Bangkok is the ground zero for anti-Thaksin protest movements," Quaglia says. "The rest of the country, other than southern Thailand, is either in his camp or sort of politically neutral." That's why the recent demonstrations have been concentrated in the streets of the capital. 9. What's the government's support base? Thaksin's traditional support comes from the populous rural areas of north and northeast of Thailand. The government's botched amnesty move may have hurt its standing in those areas, but not fatally. "Despite the pictures of thousands of people in the street that doesn't necessarily mean the government will go -- or if it does go, that it will lose the next election," Quaglia says. 10. What is likely to happen next? Questions remain over the ability of Yingluck's government to maintain order in the capital and weather the heavy political pressure in Parliament. Some observers are concerned that government supporters, tens of thousands of whom rallied in Bangkok on Sunday, could clash with opposition demonstrators. Yingluck has said authorities would "absolutely not use violence" to disperse the demonstrators. Even if Yingluck survives the "no confidence" motion against her, the situation appears unlikely to calm down soon. "We're going to see political instability here for some time," Quaglia says.

At the heart of the unrest is the polarizing figure of Thaksin Shinawatra . His sister is now prime minister, and critics say she's his puppet . A recent move to grant amnesty to Thaksin and others caused anger . Protesters say they won't stop until "Thaksin's regime is wiped out"

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(CNN) -- These are extraordinary times, and like a lot of Republicans I believe that a well-crafted stimulus plan is needed to put people back to work. But the Obama spending bill would stimulate the government, not the economy. Mitt Romney says Obama's spending bill would stimulate the government rather than the economy. We're on an economic tightrope. The package that passed the House is a huge increase in the amount of government borrowing. And we've borrowed so much already that if we add too much more debt, or spend foolishly, we could invite an even bigger crisis. We could precipitate a worldwide crisis of confidence in America, leading to a run on the dollar or hyperinflation that wipes out family savings and devastates the middle class. It's still early in the administration of President Obama. Like everyone who loves this country, I want him to adopt the correct course and then to succeed. He still has a chance to step in and insist on spending discipline among the members of his own party. It's his job to set priorities. I hope for America's sake that he knows that a chief executive can't vote "present." He has to say yes to some things and no to a lot of others. As someone who spent a career in the private sector, I'd like to see a stimulus package that respects the productivity and genius of the American people. And experience shows us what it should look like. First, there are two ways you can put money into the economy, by spending more or by taxing less. But if it's stimulus you want, taxing less works best. That's why permanent tax cuts should be the centerpiece of the economic stimulus. Watch Romney make argument for tax cuts » . Second, any new spending must be strictly limited to projects that are essential. How do we define essential? Well, a good rule is that the projects we fund in a stimulus should be legitimate government priorities that would have been carried out in the future anyway, and are simply being moved up to create those jobs now. As we take out nonessential projects, we should focus on funding the real needs of government that will have immediate impact. And what better place to begin than repairing and replacing military equipment that was damaged or destroyed in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan? Third, sending out rebate checks to citizens and businesses is not a tax cut. The media bought this line so far, but they've got it wrong. Checks in the mail are refunds, not tax cuts. We tried rebate checks in 2008 and they did virtually nothing to jump-start the economy. Disposable income went up, but consumption hardly moved. Businesses aren't stupid. They're not going to invest in equipment and new hires for a one-time, short-term blip. What's needed are permanent rate cuts on individuals and businesses. Fourth, if we're going to tax less and spend more to get the economy moving, then we have to make another commitment as well. As soon as this economy recovers, we have to regain control over the federal budget, and above all, over entitlement spending for programs such as Social Security and Medicare. This is more important than most people are willing to admit. There is a real danger that with trillions of additional borrowing -- from the budget deficit and from the stimulus -- world investors will begin to fear that our dollars won't be worth much in the future. It is essential that we demonstrate our commitment to maintaining the value of the dollar. That means showing the world that we will put a stop to runaway spending and borrowing. Fifth, we must begin to recover from the enormous losses in the capital investment pool. And the surest, most obvious way to get that done is to send a clear signal that there will be no tax increases on investment and capital gains. The 2001 and 2003 tax cuts should be extended permanently, or at least temporarily. And finally, let's exercise restraint in the size of the stimulus package. Last year, with the economy already faltering, I proposed a stimulus of $233 billion. The Washington Post said: "Romney's plan is way too big." So what critique will the media have for the size of the Obama package? In the final analysis, we know that only the private sector -- entrepreneurs and businesses large and small -- can create the millions of jobs our country needs. The invisible hand of the market always moves faster and better than the heavy hand of government. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Mitt Romney.

Mitt Romney: We're in extraordinary times and we need to stimulate economy . He says Obama's plan would stimulate the government more than economy . Giving people permanent tax relief would be better than higher spending, he says . Romney: Business is better than government at creating millions of jobs .

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By . Tom Goodenough . PUBLISHED: . 09:07 EST, 18 July 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:22 EST, 18 July 2012 . A hero war veteran was left in agony with a broken back after being kept waiting for almost 20 hours in A&E, his daughter claims. Yvonne Ingley says that despite her father Bill Smith screaming in pain, staff at Burton's Queen's Hospital gave the 87-year-old no treatment at all for three hours. The father-of-eight, who served as a paratrooper during the Second World War, had suffered a fractured vertebrae in a fall at his home in Staffordshire on July 10th. Bill Smith, pictured, an 87-year-old war veteran, was forced to wait almost 20 hours in A&E according to his daughter . He was discovered by his 63-year-old daughter who has slammed the hospital's treatment of her father. She said: 'My dad was in agony, he was screaming out in pain. We got to hospital at about 1.30am and he was given no pain relief until about 4am. A photograph showing Bill Smith in his army uniform. Bill fought at the Battle of Monte Cassino in World War II as a paratrooper . 'My dad had a broken back, usually the older generation don't like to fuss about pain and he is a former paratrooper, but he was genuinely in agony. 'During all this time my father was left in the A&E waiting area, they decided to send him to the Hillfield Care Home in Stretton but he was not taken there until about 7pm. 'The care home said it could not take him because of his fractured spine. 'My dad then had to be taken back to hospital and re-admitted.' The 63-year-old added that despite the long wait in A&E, she did not blame medical staff at the Burton Hospital for her father's treatment. She said: 'I had no complaint with the doctors and nurses but it's obvious someone somewhere is not organising things properly.' The elderly war veteran waited until 11am - nine-and-a-half hours after being admitted - to be assessed by a physiotherapist. And finally, almost twelve hours later, she was told her father would be taken to a care home in Stretton, Staffordshire to recover. The ordeal was not over there, however, as the 87-year-old was taken back to the hospital after a transport mix-up. Bill Smith's daughter claims that the 87-year-old pensioner was left waiting in agony in A&E at the Burton Hospital after suffering a broken back in a fall at his home . An ambulance carrying her dad arrived at the care home only to be told they couldn't take him because he wasn't mobile. She said when she heard her dad had gone back to hospital she rushed down there only to discover he had been put to the back of the waiting list. War hero Bill Smith, centre, with army colleagues from his days serving as a paratrooper . Mr Smith fought at the Battle of Monte Cassino during the war in his role as a paratrooper. His daughter claims that the pensioner suffered greatly because of his lengthy wait. Ms Ingley also believes that as well as the wait he endured in the A&E department he could have been laying undiscovered for at least an hour before she called round to his house to check on him. She said: 'He was distressed because he was in pain and my sisters and I were distressed to see him in that state.' Helen Ashley, Chief Executive of Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'We are aware of the concerns of Mr Smith’s family and we can confirm that Mr Smith did attend the Trust’s A & E Department. 'However, he was transferred in a timely manner to the Clinical Decisions Unit (CDU). 'A CDU is a Consultant led bedded unit (mini ward) where patients are cared for while they are awaiting results of clinical investigations. 'This is a recognised model of care for patients who are waiting for the appropriate decision to be made on whether they are admitted or discharged into community based care or back home.'

Yvonne Ingley claims that her 87-year-old father received no treatment at all for several hours at Burton's Queen's Hospital . Bob Smith, a war hero who saw service as a paratrooper during the Second World War, was screaming in pain in A&E after suffering a fractured vertebrae in a fall at his home . The Hospital has said the pensioner was transferred in a 'timely manner' during his trip to the A&E department .

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(CNN) -- The week-old redesign of quick-messaging service Twitter was meant to simplify its tools and make it more accessible to newbies. But it has had some unintended consequences. Independent developers of applications that tie into Twitter's network say they have experienced significant accelerations in downloads and revenue since Twitter 4.0 launched last week. When addicts of the social network got their hands on the new version, many recoiled upon seeing the changes. They were especially vocal about the loss of some features in Twitter's mobile apps and about the private-message tab being hidden within another menu. So thousands flocked to the various app stores to get third-party apps that look more like the previous version of Twitter. Some of the most popular apps cost a few dollars, unlike the free app made by Twitter. Tweetbot, an anime-themed app for the iPhone, more than doubled its usual revenue just after Twitter's major redesign, said Paul Haddad, a co-founder for app maker Tapbot. When the small developer cut the price of Tweetbot in half on Friday, to 99 cents, revenue increased more than tenfold, Haddad said. Independent trackers of app downloads verify that Tweetbot and others experienced big gains. "Word of mouth really goes a long way on Twitter," Haddad wrote in an e-mail. The maker of another popular app, Twitterrific, saw a "bump" after the Twitter changes, which carried through to this week, said Craig Hockenberry, the head of app maker Iconfactory. This effect is common, but short-lived, after a major change to Twitter, he said. Twitterrific, which offers a free version with ads or a full version for $4.99, experienced a similar boost in March after Twitter updated its iPhone app with a much-maligned feature called the Quick Bar, Hockenberry said. The Quick Bar, which critics dubbed Dick Bar after Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, added an ever-present ticker showing trending topics and ads. Within a month, Twitter had removed the feature. "Please stop complaining about the new Twitter app," Haddad wrote on his Tapbot Twitter account last week. "They might revert back, and I'm really enjoying the increase in sales." For a relatively new Twitter app, like Twittelator Neue, the backlash provided some much-needed attention. That app, which costs $1.99, has seen about three times as many downloads in the week since Twitter 4.0. "We've definitely seen a spike since Twitter updated their official client," Ollie Wagner, the Twittelator developer, wrote in an e-mail. "Changes like the ones they've made tend to be quite polarizing, oftentimes magnetizing audiences towards newer third party clients." In March, during the Quick Bar fiasco, Twitter began discouraging makers of these types of apps from pursuing development. Ryan Sarver, a leader on Twitter's developer relations team, wrote then in a memo to partners that they should not be building software that reproduces the functions of a standard Twitter app. "We need to move to a less fragmented world, where every user can experience Twitter in a consistent way," Sarver wrote. "This is already happening organically -- the number and market share of consumer client apps that are not owned or operated by Twitter has been shrinking." As that number seems to grow slightly, it's unclear whether Twitter's stance has changed. A Twitter spokeswoman declined to comment, and Sarver didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Twitter's redesign last week spurred more downloads for third-party apps . Many Twitter users were unhappy with the overhaul to Twitter . Some were willing to pay a premium for apps that look familiar .

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By . Snejana Farberov . PUBLISHED: . 09:06 EST, 4 May 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 11:56 EST, 4 May 2012 . California officials have shut down a laboratory at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs . Medical Center on Thursday following the death of a young research associate that was apparently caused by a dangerous bacteria that he had been handling. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that for the past several weeks, 25-year-old Richard Din, a biology major working with the Northern California Institute for Research and Education, had been researching the germ Neisseria meningitidis that can cause meningitis and bloodstream disease. A state laboratory has confirmed that . the rare strain that Din was studying -- Serotype B -- was the same one . found in his body, according to the website Military.com. Perfect match: A state laboratory has confirmed that the rare strain that Richard Din was studying -- Serotype B -- was the same one found in his body . According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the disease caused by this particular strain is relatively uncommon in the United States, with only about 1,000 cases reported each year. In 2010, an estimated 75 people died from this type of meningococcal infection. The germ causes septicemia and meningitis, officials . said. Septicemia is an inflammation of the bloodstream that causes . bleeding into the skin and organs, and is believed to be the cause of Din's death. What is meningococcal disease?An infection that can affect the blood, organs and the thin layer of tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord.What are the symptoms?They include high fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, rash, confusion and severe sleepiness.How is the disease spread?The disease is usually spread by contact with fluids from the nose and mouth of the infected person, most commonly by coughing, sneezing or kissing.Can it be prevented by vaccine?Yes, but the vaccines are not 100 per cent effective, and they do not protect against certain strains of the bacteria. It can be spread by sneezing, coughing or kissing. Meningitis is a bacterial infection of the thin layer of tissue surrounding the . brain and spinal cord that can result in brain damage and death. A VA official told the San Francisco Chronicle that Din, who shared an apartment with his girlfriend and several roommates in treasure Island, left work on Friday at 5pm in good health. Two hours later, the researcher told his girlfriend that he was feeling ill with a headache, fever . and chills, and went to bed. Din woke up Saturday morning to discover a rash all over his body and asked his friends to take him to the VA hospital. On the way there, the 25-year-old fell unconscious in the car . and had no pulse on arrival. He was pronounced dead of multiple organ failure at around 2pm, according to Reuters. 'In his case, the time between the onset of symptoms and death was 17 hours. That's not uncommon with this disease,' Dr Harry Lampiris, chief of infectious disease at the San Francisco VA, told the Chronicle. While vaccination can generally . prevent meningococcal disease, the vaccine is not effective against this . particular strain of bacteria. Lampiris said Din had not been . vaccinated, but as a precaution, all of his co-workers and close friends . have since received the inoculation. About 70 VA employees who came in contact with Din also have been given antibiotics to prevent possible infection. The University of California at Berkeley graduate had been . described as a polite and intelligent man whose interest in infectious . disease was inspired by a family tragedy, according to former classmate . Alex Peng. Silent killer: The germ that Richard Din had been studying is known to cause inflammation of the bloodstream and meningitis . 'It really troubles me thinking about . it,' Peng told the San Jose Mercury News. 'It's really sad to hear about him . passing away after he wanted to follow that dream.' The 25-year-old's death is being . investigated by the VA, the California Occupational Safety and Health . Administration, the state Department of Public Health and the San . Francisco Department of Public Health. Officials have six months to . conclude the probe into Din's death, and if any workplace violations are found, the employer could face citations and fines, according to the San Francisco Examiner. Lampiris says he is not sure how Din contracted the infection, given that his colleagues have described him as a very 'fastidious' and by-the-book researcher who had always followed safety procedures. Initial results . of the investigation did not show any spills or equipment failure that . could have caused the exposure. Fastidious: Din's co-workers at the Northern California Institute for Research and Education have described him as professional and 'fastidious' in his work . Lampiris said he does not believe the case poses a high risk because the incubation period is generally three to five days. Symptoms of meningococcal disease can include high fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, rash, confusion and severe sleepiness. All local hospitals have been put on alert to watch out for anyone . coming in with these symptoms and to immediately contact public health officials, CBS San Francisco has reported. According to a 2005 study . by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology cited by Military.com, 16 laboratory workers worldwide contracted meningitis between 1985 . and 2001, including six in the US. Half of them died.

Richard Din, 25, died about 17 hours after handling a deadly bacteria . Din, a biology major, has been trying to find a vaccine for a rare strain of meningitis . The researcher's co-workers have described him as 'fastidious' in his work . About 70 people who came in contact with Din have been given antibiotics .

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(CNN) -- Croatia held off a furious late onslaught from Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria to win 1-0 in their opening Group B match in Vienna on Sunday. Emmanuel Pogagtetz, left, fouls Croatia striker Ivica Olic to concede the match-winning penalty. The Croatians took the lead in the fourth minute when midfielder Luka Modric coolly slotted home from the penalty spot after Emmanuel Pogatetz clumsily body-checked striker Ivica Olic in the area. Slaven Bilic's team dominated the first half, and should have gone further ahead in the 35th minute but Olic's strike partner Mladen Petric blazed over the bar with a left-foot volley after beating the offside trap to run on to Vedran Corluka's cross. Austria's main threat had come from set-pieces, but they were not able to capitalize on a string of corners. However, the home players kept battling in the second half and squandered a series of chances to level the score in the final 15 minutes. Martin Harnik fired over the bar on 78 as Croatia scrambled to clear the danger, then substitute Ivica Vastic had a powerful header well saved by goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, who then kept out another low effort by the veteran midfielder. Pletikosa also had to deny a driven shot from Umit Korkmaz, who also came off the bench, while another substitute in Roman Kienast flicked a header just wide from a free kick in the third minute of time added on. Croatia went into the tournament as one of the outside bets, having qualified top of their group ahead of Russia with a victory away to England which eliminated the British team. However, their chances of success were dealt a massive blow when top scorer Eduardo da Silva was ruled out of the tournament due to a broken leg. None of Croatia's strikers managed to score in the warmup matches, and the Arsenal forward's goal-poaching ability was sorely missed on Sunday. The winning goal came after Modric and Olic combined down the left wing from a throw-in, and Pogatetz clearly impeded the striker well away from the Austria goal. The Middlesbrough defender was booked for protesting the referee's decision, but he could have no complaints with the ruling. Austria are the lowest-ranked of the 16 teams at the tournament in 92nd place, but showed great courage against a 15th-seeded Croatia side stacked with attacking talent. But they joined fellow co-hosts Switzerland in losing their opening match, following the Czech Republic's 1-0 victory on Saturday. Croatia next play Germany on Thursday, when Austria take on Poland. Coach Bilic was delighted to start with a victory, but was not so impressed with his team's performance. "Some players were overwhelmed by playing at a great tournament but we started off with the best possible way -- with a win," Bilic told reporters. "In the first 35 minutes we played excellently, of course the early lead contributed to that. "They exerted more pressure in the second half and I'm sure that is not to do with a lack of strength from our players. But we confined ourselves to our penalty area too early. "The last 15 minutes or so when they play all or nothing, you can do that -- but we started in the 60th minute or so. I didn't think the players were happy when they got back in the dressing room. I turned on the CD player and said they should sing because they won." Austria coach Josef Hickersberger was left frustrated by his side's failure to take their chances. "This was the worst possible start you can have in an opening match of a major tournament," he said. "We took some time to recover, during the first 30 minutes we were nervous. "For the rest of the match we were playing the way we should have been playing. We even dominated in the second half of the match. We had good opportunities but unfortunately we weren't able to score a goal, so we are empty-handed. In our remaining games we need four points to go through." Austria: Jurgen Macho; Sebastian Proedl, Emanuel Pogatetz, Martin Stranzl; Joachim Standfest, Rene Aufhauser, Andreas Ivanschitz, Jurgen Saumel, Ronald Gercaliu; Martin Harnik, Roland Linz. Croatia: Stipe Pletikosa; Ivan Corluka, Robert Kovac, Josip Simunic, Danijel Pranjic; Darijo Srna, Niko Kovac, Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar; Ivica Olic, Mladen Petric.

Croatia beat Euro 2008 co-hosts Austria 1-0 in opening Group B match . Luka Modric scores fourth-minute penalty after striker Ivica Olic is fouled . Austria battle back in the second half but miss a series of late chances . Croatia next play Germany on Thursday, while Austria take on Poland .

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By . Joshua Gardner . A fiercely loyal dog was found in the searing Oklahoma heat Saturday steadfastly refusing to leave the side of his deceased owner. Animal control officers in Oklahoma City were called to the scene as the bull terrier fought hard to stay in the 100 degree Fahrenheit heat. Now at the local shelter, the dog's defiance has turned to sorrow as he displays behaviors strongly associated with mourning: he refuses to eat, to drink or even lift his head. Loyal: Oklahoma City officials are seen here struggling to get a fiercely loyal bull terrier away from his deceased owner in the searing summer heat . Sad: Even with temperatures nearing 100F, the dog stayed with his dead owner and fought hard to stay with him as officials dragged him away . 'The dog kept wanting to pull back to go back to where the remains of where the deceased owner was,' Oklahoma City Animal Shelter supervisor Sheridan Lowery told KFOR. Officials said the dog had remained at the body of his likely transient owner, who died from natural causes, despite having every opportunity to go find water and shelter from the relentless sun. After authorities arrived and eventually pried the pooch away, he was taken to the animal shelter, where he remained Monday. Mourning: The pooch is now exhibiting classic signs of grief: he won't eat, sleep or even lift his head . 'Their owner is deceased. They don¿t know what is going on. They don¿t know how to act. They don¿t know how to react,' said Oklahoma City Animal shelter supervisor Sheridan Lowery . Footage of the dog shows him unable at times to even muster the will to lift his head. They're the classic signs of grief, from which even dogs can suffer. 'Their owner is deceased. They don’t know what is going on. They don’t know how to act. They don’t know how to react,' said Lowery. The pup will hopefully next be placed with a family that can help lift his broken spirit. 'If he’s shown this kind of attachment, this kind of dedication to family he could make a really good family pet,' says Lowery. Looking up? The dog will hopefully soon find a new family if officials fail to find any living relatives of the deceased owner .

The bull terrier was found protecting the body of his master in the searing Oklahoma summer heat . The owner died of natural causes and was believed to be a transient . Animal control officers struggled with the dog as he fought to stay with his dead owner .

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LONDON, England (CNN) -- You're sitting in an airport lounge and seize the chance to check your e-mails before your flight departs. You log on and are tempted by a wireless Internet provider offering free Internet access. So, do you take it? Wi-Fi users have been warned to protect their computers against potential hackers at Wi-Fi hotspots. Security experts warn that hackers may be masquerading as free public Wi-Fi providers to gain access to the laptops of unsuspecting travelers. All it takes, they say, is a computer program downloaded from the Internet, an open access point and a user who has ignored basic security advice. "The difficulty for travelers is differentiating between a good Internet access hotspot and a rogue, or somebody trying to actually glean credentials from you. The issue is that you don't necessarily know the difference between a good and a bad one," computer security expert Sean Remnant told CNN. In 2008, AirTight Networks dispatched a number of so-called "white hat" hackers to 27 airports around the world to test the vulnerability of their Wi-Fi systems. They found that 80 percent of the private Wi-Fi networks tested were open or poorly protected. The wireless security company also found that basic services at several airports, including baggage handling systems, were vulnerable to hackers. Operators were using Wired Equivalent Privacy, known as WEP, which was found to provide inadequate protection to hackers as early as 2001. One year after the survey was conducted, CNN Business Traveler met Remnant at London's Heathrow airport, which was not included in the original survey, to test the potential dangers to unprotected Wi-Fi users. Watch what happened when we took a hacker to Heathrow » . Armed with a laptop, our "white hat" hacker took a seat in the crowded departure lounge at Terminal 3 and proceeded to scan the airwaves with his laptop, using a program he downloaded form the Internet called Airodump. "It dumps everything in the air," Remnant explained. "So if I execute the command to start Airodump, instantly I'm seeing probably 20 wireless networks with four or five of those having relatively weak server security." "There are several risks just on this screen," he continued. "One is that we actually don't know whether the public networks are legitimate or not." The original survey conducted by AirTight Networks found the most common name for rogue Wi-Fi points was "Free Public Wi-Fi." "You'd have no idea if somebody sitting down to a laptop was a casual traveler trying to collect their email from an open port, or actually they were setting up a rogue access point," Remnant said. "Your security guys in the airport aren't going to spot someone doing this because it's a technical thing," he added. Once connected, the hacker would have access to everything on your screen, from passwords, to bank account details, to the contents of e-mails. Do you suspect you've been a victim of Wi-Fi hacking? Tell us your story in Sound Off . And it's not just happening at airports. The rapid spread of Wi-Fi networks to cafes, hotels and even entire cities is providing hackers with more opportunities to ply their trade. Last month, Venice rolled out what is believed to be Europe's most extensive Wi-Fi network. According to mobile media company Jiwire, there are now more than 273,000 free and pay Wi-Fi locations in 140 countries. The majority can be found in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and France. And most hotspots are located in hotels, along with cafes and restaurants. However, the Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry group that tests and certifies Wi-Fi equipment, says the increased availability of Wi-Fi has not led to a rise in hacking cases. "We certainly haven't seen any kind of sudden epidemic of hackers in open hotspots or anything like that," said the group's marketing director, Kelly Davis-Felner. She said all Wi-Fi enabled devices have in-built security measures, and all users need to do is to switch them on. The most up-to-date wireless security system is WPA2, which provides greater protection than its predecessors WPA and WEP. "If you're updating Facebook, or checking your personal e-mail or surfing the Web, there's really no reason at all to worry about using an open network," Davis-Felner said. "Any kind of online shopping or banking or anything that would require you to exchange sensitive data over the airwaves, then we advise people to exercise caution." The best way to protect sensitive information is to use a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, which encrypts the data moving to and from your laptop. Kiran Deshpande, president of AirTight Networks, had this advice for travelers: "Connect only to the networks that you trust. Make sure that your communication is secure, disconnect the wireless when you stop using it, and maintain the list of wireless connections that you use on your laptop so that you don't accidentally connect to networks that may spring up when you're traveling."

Security experts warn Wi-Fi users to be more vigilant against hackers . Experts say it's difficult to distinguish between legitimate and rogue networks . Wi-Fi Alliance says spread of Wi-Fi hasn't led to an 'epidemic' of hacking . Users urged to protect their networks, use VPN for sensitive data .

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When most women conjure up images of their perfect man, it's likely to involve elements of Hollywood heartthrobs George Clooney and Ryan Gosling with a dash of Bradley Cooper and a sprinkling of Robert Pattinson. But what happens when you mix the best bits of the world's best looking men? One company set about doing just that - and the results are intriguing. Are these the world's dreamiest men? Researchers asked women their favourite features from celebrities under 30, left, and over 30, right. The younger model combines Harry Styles' with Zac Efron and Robert Pattison. The older face, right, combines George Clooney's hair with David Beckham's beard . Women were asked to identify the best features from their favourite male celebrities and two 'perfect faces' were created based on the results to show just what women look for in male beauty. They reveal what the most 'handsome' man in the world would look like by combining the best-loved features from our favourite stars. The first graphic shows the ideal male face featuring the most popular characteristics of younger male stars. The second graphic features the most loved facial features from celebrities over 30. One Direction's Harry Styles' curly and unkempt hair was voted the most popular. This was combined with Zac Efron's piercing blue eyes and Twilight hunk Robert Pattison's manly stubble. Perfect mash-up? The younger ideal man combines One Direction's Harry Styles' hair with Zac Efron's piercing blue eyes and Twilight hunk Robert Pattison's manly stubble. Plus Ryan Gosling's jawline and Jamie Dornan's nose . Picking the best bits: One Direction's Harry Styles' curly and unkempt hair was voted the most popular. This was combined with Zac Efron's piercing blue eyes, both men were selected as women under 30's ideals . Hey girl! Ryan Gosling's jawline, left, and Fifty Shades Of Grey actor Jamie Dornan's nose also make up the perfect younger face . The younger perfect face is completed by Drive star Ryan Gosling's square jawline and Fifty Shades Of Grey actor Jamie Dornan's nose. The older face combines George Clooney's greying 'silver fox' hair with David Beckham's beard. The look is finished off with Bradley Cooper's blue eyes, model David Gandy's jawline and Brad Pitt's nose. The survey revealed that women believe older stars look better with a full beard rather than stubble, which works better on under-30s. Mature: The older perfect face combines George Clooney's greying hair with David Beckham's beard. The look is finished off with Bradley Cooper's blue eyes, model David Gandy's jawline and Brad Pitt's nose . Hollywood's finest: The older perfect face combines George Clooney's greying hair, left, with Bradley Cooper's blue eyes . George Clooney's enduring popularity shows that greying hair is no barrier to sex appeal. Surgeon Asim Shahmalak from the Crown Clinic, who created the images based on research, said that David Beckham and George Clooney were the two male celebrities whose hair men seeking a hair transplant want to replicate. He said: 'Have you ever seen David Beckham or George Clooney have a bad hair day? 'Whatever hair style they adopt, they look amazing. It is the same with their facial hair: clean-shaven, heavy stubble, full beard - they looking fantastic with all of them.' Model man: The look is finished off with model David Gandy's jawline, left, and Brad Pitt's nose .

Two graphics show the ideal male face . Chosen by combining most popular facial characteristics of favourite stars . Younger graphic includes Harry Styles' hair and Ryan Gosling's jawline . Older graphic combines George Clooney's hair with David Beckham's beard . Has Bradley Cooper's eyes and David Gandy's jawline . Survey shows greying hair is no barrier to sex appeal . Women believe stubble looks better on younger men .

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In the latest edition of our series on the travel habits of the rich and famous, crime novelist Ruth Rendell talks memories of Venice and Margate. Ruth Rendell: A long-running affair with Venice . Favourite place? Venice. I've been at least 20 times. It's full of nostalgia. Earliest holiday memory? Walking along the beach at Margate with my parents in the rain. I was probably about five. Favourite museum? The National Portrait Gallery. Your top travel tip? Take the best travel guide you can find. Favourite dining companion? I wouldn't want to have dinner with a celebrity or an actor or a film star. I only ever want to dine with good, close friends. Worst travel experience? Singapore, where I stopped over in on my way to Australia. There was nothing to do there except shop. Where next, and what for? In May I'm on a cruise to Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Cruising offers a unique viewpoint from which to see lots of different destinations.

Great crime writer has produced over 60 novels during a glorious career . She has a long-standing love for Venice, but is less fond of Singapore .

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By . John Hall . PUBLISHED: . 11:04 EST, 2 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 13:26 EST, 2 January 2014 . This is the dramatic moment an adventurous dog was rescued by firefighters after falling 65 feet down a well. Black Labrador Deegan slipped into the deep hole during an early morning walk in picturesque Wigmore in Herefordshire on December 20. A total of 19 firefighters attended the scene and, after a two hour rescue operation, found a distressed but uninjured Deegan stuck on a ledge just metres above a deep pool of water. Freedom: Black Labrador Deegan slipped 65 feet down the well during a morning walk on December 20. He was eventually winched to safety in a two hour rescue operation involving 19 firefighters . Deegan was winched to safety after a firefighter was lowered into the narrow well attached to a specialist harness. Incredibly, the lucky Labrador escaped with just a few cuts and didn’t require any medical treatment. Three crews from Herefordshire Fire & Rescue Service took part in the dramatic rescue. The well Deegan slipped into (left) was covered in foliage and over 65 metres deep. Firefighter Jamie Skipworth was lowered into the hole (right) to bring the distressed dog to safety . Nick Browning, watch commander at Malvern . fire station, said they had to use their additional line and water . rescue skills in order to reach the stranded dog. Mr Browning added: 'On arrival at the incident just outside the village of Wigmore, the line team made contact with the distraught owner and attending crews from Leintwardine and Bromyard, who had managed the safety of the scene.' 'Following an assessment of the incident, firefighter Jamie Skipworth was lowered into the well down the 65 foot to the location where the Labrador, Deegan, had come to rest on a small ledge above the water.' Deegan was found well out of sight on a ledge 65 feet down the hole. He was only located when his franctic owner heard him barking . Mr Browning went on: 'Firefighter Skipworth secured Deegan in a specialist harness before both were hauled to the surface and safety.' 'Apart from a few cuts, a very wet and cold Labrador was returned safely to an extremely grateful owner.'

Black Labrador Deegan slipped into the hole during a morning walk . He was found stuck on a ledge just metres from a deep pool of water . The rescue operation took two hours with 19 firefighters taking part .

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(CNN) -- Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed reports he is about to quit the English Premier League champions. Newspaper speculation on Monday claimed the Italian was on the verge of walking out of Stamford Bridge after a turbulent few weeks at the London club. Chelsea have lost three of their last four matches and the club sacked Ancelotti's assistant Ray Wilkins earlier this month, sparking speculation over his position. It had been claimed the 51-year-old contacted the League Managers' Association on Sunday night to discuss his position. But at a press conference ahead of Chelsea's Champions League tie with Slovakian side MSK Zilina on Tuesday, Ancelotti said the rumors were "totally untrue". "I don't know if it is enough to clarify my position today to close this rumor and speculation," began the 51-year-old. "These rumors are totally untrue, I don't know why this rumor came out today in the papers. "The LMA (League Managers' Association) called me last night to understand what was happening, but I was at home. These rumors are totally untrue. "I have my contract until 2012 here in this club, I said a lot of times I would like to stay here, that I love this club, I love these players and have a lot of confidence in these players and this squad so there is no reason to change my idea. "I said before my aim is to stay in this club, this country, this atmosphere for a long time. I think it depends on me. In the last year I did a good job and this year I would like to do the same. My aim is to stay here, I don't want to say like Ferguson because I think it is impossible, but my aim is this. I would like to stay here." The departure of Wilkins, who played for the club for six years, coupled with a poor run of form has put pressure on Ancelotti, even though Chelsea remain top of the Premier League table. But the Italian, who led former club AC Milan to two Champions League titles, insisted the scrutiny that comes with his job is something he enjoys. "There is no reason to think about my position. My position is very clear, I am the coach and I have to train my players and maintain the club to the best level," he added. "This moment is not so good on the pitch and we have to do better there, we have to stay in focus on this because this is the problem. The problem is on the pitch. "I had a lot of experience in my career, every year is the same. Sometimes the coach is in trouble because the team doesn't reach the results, but this is my life and I like this life."

Carlo Ancelotti has dismissed reports he is set to quit English champions Chelsea . Italian coach says rumors of his departure are "totally untrue" Newspaper reports claimed Ancelotti was on the brink of resigning . Chelsea are struggling for form after losing three of their last four matches .

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(CNN) -- It wasn't easy for David Kizelewicz to make ends meet as a single father of four on a construction worker's salary after his first divorce. But he did his best to cook dinner each night and to spend quality time with his kids on weekends, and somehow, "they ended up smarter than me," he jokes. Fast forward a few decades and Kizelewicz, now 63, is raising another family. He still makes dinner most nights but now he has a bigger home, a stable job and a wife whose additional income makes things much easier. Some people cautioned him against remarrying at 49, saying he was too old to start a new family. He had two complicated marriages behind him when his now-wife Natalie -- his son's coworker -- agreed to a date. He was 48 and dating for the first time since his children left the home; she was 29 and had just ended what she described as an emotionally abusive marriage to her first husband, with whom she had a daughter. She resisted at first because of the age difference, but when she finally gave in they immediately hit it off during their first date at Olive Garden. Now, 13 years and one child later, David and Natalie say they're happier than they ever were in their previous marriages. They know what they want from the relationship and from each other. Lifetime friendship is medicine for the soul . "In your first marriage, you're starting out and struggling," said Kizelewicz, now a construction supervisor who lives north of Orlando. "It's a lot easier to raise kids when you have money to raise them and give them the things they want." It's been a long road to happiness. David Kizelewicz was married to the mother of his children and another woman after that, but both relationships ended in divorce. With this his third marriage and Natalie's second, in some ways the couple is beating the odds. A 2009 study found that, because boomers divorce and remarry in such large numbers, it is more likely that later-in-life remarriages will end in divorce. But the Kizelewiczs and others say lessons learned from past marriages can help nurture future relationships. "We're just so grateful to have a good marriage this time that there's nothing to really fight over," Natalie Kizelewicz said. "We rarely argue and I think it's because we get along so well." They also draw upon David's experience raising children. "All the tricks the kids try to pull, if they try to lie or pull the wool over our eyes, he already knows and he knows what to do," she said. Second marriages often fail because individuals don't take the time to figure out what went wrong in the first union or acknowledge their role in the unhappy marriage, said psychotherapist and relationship specialist Lisa Brateman, who has a private practice in New York. "Everyone likes to blame the other person and say he did this or he was too controlling, but were you so passive that you let it continue?" she said. "What were you so fearful of that you lost your voice for so many years?" Dating after 50 . For some women, being on their own after years of financial dependency causes them to rush into relationships without considering whether the person is right for them, she said. The more you know yourself, your wants and your needs, the healthier your decisions will be if you're 18 or 55. "Relationships are about enhancing your life rather than giving you a life," she said. As divorces rates among couples over 50 have doubled in the last 20 years, many are remarrying and starting new families. In 1980, 19% of married people ages 50 and older were in remarriages compared with 30% in 2009, according to a study by the National Center for Family & Marriage Research. Not everyone is looking for marriage, but the desire for love and companionship is still alive and well, said Terri Orbuch, psychologist and relationship expert at OurTime.com, a dating website for the 50-and-over crowd. But for those who have done a bit of soul-searching, the approach to finding a new mate often is more refined. "Baby boomers are more settled in their behaviors and patterns of life. They are concerned about whether it is worth changing ... to allow someone new into their life," she said. "And, the majority of baby boomers are more focused on compatibility, and finding someone who makes them happy, than they were when they were younger." Boomers who spoke with Orbuch for her forthcoming book, "Finding Love Again: 6 Simple Steps to a New and Happy Relationship," had three major takeaways from unsuccessful marriages, she said. The first is that communication is key, and not just "maintenance communication." "You can't only talk about work, family, who does what around the house or your relationship. To communicate well, partners need to reveal more about themselves." On turning 40 . Second, make sure you partner knows that he or she is important to you. "Life gets busy and stressed and it is important that your spouse knows you don't take them for granted. Give them frequent affirmation, though simple gestures (hug, kiss, turn on the coffee pot in the morning, bring in the newspaper) and words (thank you, you are the best partner, you look so beautiful today)." And last but not least, talk about money, early and often, she said. Fifty percent of the divorced singles in her study said that they fought so much about money in their first marriage that they anticipated money will be a problem in their next relationship. "Divorced singles said they have learned that they would discuss money with their partner early on and more often, so that it isn't such an issue. They would devise a plan they both could live with," she said. David and Natalie Kizelewicz both had jobs when they started dating and still do, which helps them maintain a comfortable lifestyle with some money left over for a vacation each year. They were also able to buy a car for Natalie's daughter and help her with living expenses while she's in college, something David was unable to do for his first four children. "My older kids might be a little resentful of the younger kids because they can see that they have an easier life," he said. "But I gave them the best years of my life. If they wanted to go to college, they could, and now they're all happily married or own homes and have good jobs. They're successful in life." In order to maintain their lifestyle, he estimates he'll be working for at least another 10 years until their youngest goes to college. But, that's OK, he said. "I hate being bored." When it comes to a blended family, they have it all: adult children from previous marriages and grandchildren who are older than their 13-year-old daughter. Plus, they've had custody of Natalie's 7-year-old nephew since he was an infant. The staggered ages and familial ties are confusing to outsiders, but everyone gets along, he said. His grandchildren play with his children younger as if they were cousins. When David's grandson was in the same school as his daughter, he got a kick out of telling everyone she was his aunt, he said. The do's and don'ts of dating after 50 . It wasn't much of a stretch for David's adult children to adjust to Natalie, especially since his oldest son set them up, the couple said. Early on, Natalie's family and daughter approved of him despite the age difference because he treated her so well, she said. "They said he was the best thing that ever happened to me," she said. "I saw how he raised his kids and doted on them, so I knew he would be a good father." The Kizelewiczes have also dealt with medical problems, a common issue for couples marrying late in life. Two weeks after the birth of their daughter, David had prostate surgery after being diagnosed with cancer a month before the baby's due date. Years later, he has it under control as a result of the couple's combined efforts to stay on top of appointments and medications, Natalie said. Otherwise, Natalie no longer feels the age difference as much as she used to, she said. David has slowed down a bit, but so has she. Their 7-year-old nephew seems to notice, asking how old David will be when the boy reaches his age. "He tells him, 'I'm going to live until I'm 100; don't you worry,'" she said. David also thinks about it sometimes -- when Natalie is 60, he'll be 80. "Though we have a really good life right now, that's the only thing I kind of worry about," he said. "That's time to come, but so far it's been great. Age hasn't really caught up to us." Follow CNN Living on Facebook and Emanuella Grinberg on Twitter . CNN's Toby Lyles contributed to this report.

David and Natalie Kizelewicz have been married 13 years; it's his third marriage, her second . They say they are happier now because they know what they want from the relationship . Many baby boomers have learned from mistakes in previous marriages . "Relationships are about enhancing your life rather than giving you a life," specialist says .

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Atletico Madrid captain Diego Godin is delighted by the fighting spirit in the camp as the reigning Primera Division champions aim to continue their recent good form. Los Rojiblancos take on promoted and winless Cordoba at the Vicente Calderon stadium on Saturday evening seeking a seventh win in eight games in all competitions. Uruguayan skipper Godin has marshalled an Atletico defence which has not conceded in any of their last three games, since a 3-1 loss at Valencia. Atletico Madrid captain Diego Godin believes his side are growing stronger each day as a group . He is encouraged to see that the team have lost none of the fighting qualities which helped them to win the league title last season. 'We become stronger day by day and we know that the strength of our group is our environment and our people,' he told the club's official website www.clubatleticodemadrid.com. 'We discard anything that is negative. Anything that could create divisions in the group, we discard it and it makes us stronger. We are accustomed to fighting and fighting like last year. Nothing will divert us from day to day and now we only think of Cordoba.' Cordoba were promoted via the play-offs last season having finished seventh in the Segunda Division, and have drawn five and lost four of their nine league games so far to sit 18th out of 20 in the early top-flight standings. Despite that, Godin is taking nothing for granted. Godin (left) has been part of an Atletico defence that hasn't conceded in their last three matches . 'To us there are no easy games. All matches we face are the same,' he added. 'It's like a final for us. We will try to continue to get stronger at home.' Midfielder Gabi (thigh) and defender Cristian Ansaldi (hamstring) are set to return for Atletico after both missed last weekend's win at Getafe. Cordoba will be without Jose Carlos Fernandez due to injury. Their coach Miroslav Djukic told the club's official website www.cordobacf.com: 'We will go to Madrid with the intention to be a threat to our opponents and to try to win the game. 'I want to see a team that is bold and gives everything out there on the pitch.' Atletico captain Gabi (right) should be back for the clash on Saturday after a thigh injury .

Atletico Madrid host Cordoba in Saturday's La Liga clash . Atletico haven't conceded in their last three fixtures . Cordoba have failed to win any of their opening nine league matches so far .

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(CNN) -- There's a big difference between a political debate about same-sex marriage and the recent hard-fought court challenge to the California ban, Proposition 8. In politics, anything goes: Vague, sinister comments about same-sex marriage threatening children or undermining the sanctity of heterosexual marriage were prevalent during the Prop 8 campaign. In court, same-sex marriage opponents needed solid evidence to back up these and other claims. Despite "able and energetic counsel," they never produced it. That's why they lost, resoundingly, in the federal district court. And that lack of evidence should dog opponents up through the chain of appeals that is now beginning, because appellate courts are required to review only the evidence in the court record and to give great deference to Judge Vaughn Walker's findings of fact. He was there, after all, presiding over the trial, and the appellate judges weren't. And what a lopsided trial he presided over. All the anti-same-sex marriage arguments imploded when subjected to the rules of evidence. "You don't have to have evidence of this point," counsel responded to the judge's question asking what support existed for their claim that "responsible procreation is really at the heart of society's interest in regulating marriage." No, sorry, at trial, you do have to have evidence. Of this point and every point. (And since -- as even Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia once pointed out in another case -- the sterile and elderly are allowed to marry, it can't be all about procreation.) Trials turn on admissible evidence -- primarily credible witness testimony or documents, in this type of case. And Prop 8 proponents did not have it. Over and over again, Walker's decision focused on the evidence, the mountain of reliable facts offered by gay marriage advocates, and the glaring lack thereof proffered by gay marriage opponents. The same-sex-marriage advocates presented eight lay witnesses and nine expert witnesses. One plaintiff testified that marriage would be a way to tell "our friends, our family ... that this is a lifetime commitment ... we are not girlfriends. We are not partners. We are married." The other three presented similarly compelling, credible testimony about the damage to their dignity, the economic losses, the sting of discrimination they suffered daily due to their legally enshrined second-class citizenship. Opponents offered exactly zero lay witnesses to explain, say, how their heterosexual marriages would be undermined by same-sex marriage, or how children would be harmed by a neighbor's same-sex marriage -- though these were central arguments made during the Prop 8 campaign. The evidence at trial proved that children raised by gay or lesbian couples are just as likely to be well-adjusted as children raised by heterosexual parents. That gay folks are no more likely to be child molesters than heterosexuals. That marriage has evolved in this country to allow for women's equality and interracial marriage. That no "undermining" of straight marriage would occur if marriage further evolved to allow same-sex couples to marry, too. This evidence was put forward by an impressive roster of Harvard and Yale marriage historians, UMass Amherst and UCLA School of Law economists, a UCLA psychology professor, a Columbia University epidemiologist, a psychologist and a political scientist. Many had written extensive peer-reviewed articles and books in their areas of expertise. All their testimony withstood full and fair cross-examination. On the other side, pretrial, same-sex marriage opponents had designated a number of witnesses. But when push came to shove, at trial they elected not to call most of them. Walker pointed out that they didn't call a single official proponent of Prop 8 to explain the discrepancies between the arguments in favor of Prop 8 presented to voters and the arguments presented in court. Ouch. In a nice trial "gotcha" moment, gay marriage advocates read in deposition testimony from two witnesses who were to testify for the other side -- yet their pretrial testimony instead supported the gay marriage advocates. Opponents offered no explanation for why their witnesses flipped. Another embarrassment. Ultimately, same-sex marriage opponents called only two witness, the founder of the Institute for American Values, who the court found lacked qualifications to offer expert testimony, and a Claremont College professor, who "sought to rebut only a limited aspect" of the plaintiffs' case. Here's the kind of "evidence" gay marriage opponents offered at trial: Homosexuals are 12 times more likely to molest children, their witness argued, and allowing same-sex marriage would cause states "to fall into Satan's hands." The witness' source of information? "The internet." There's not a judge in this country who could rely on "evidence" like that. Walker made 80 meticulous, detailed findings of fact on every aspect of marriage, with hundreds of citations to the evidence cited at trial. Perhaps the most critical finding was No. 58: "Proposition 8 places the force of law behind stigmas against gays and lesbians, including ... gays and lesbians are not as good as heterosexuals." Ultimately, Walker found, that was the heart of what same-sex marriage opponents advanced: "a desire to advance the belief that opposite-sex couples are morally superior to same-sex couples." Constitutionally, in a country that guarantees all Americans "equal protection" of the laws, that is unacceptable. Given all these detailed evidentiary findings that follow ineluctably from the marriage opponents' failure to put on much of a case at all, and given Walker's finding that Prop 8 violated two separate constitutional provisions -- the due process and equal protection clauses -- it will be extremely difficult for an appellate court, following well-established rules of deference to lower court findings, to reverse. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Lisa Bloom.

Lisa Bloom says political arguments don't necessarily hold up in court . Opponents of same-sex marriage won the political battle on Prop 8, she notes . But when they had to defend the law in court, they couldn't come up with evidence, she says . Based on opponents' lack of a case, the verdict will be upheld, she says .

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Kurdish fighters have killed dozens of Islamic State militants in recent days as battles continue to rage around the strategic Syrian border town of Kobane. In one village, a Kurd was today pictured standing over the bodies of Islamic extremists after they were killed in Halimce, a village east of the town. Around 20 jihadists also died in the hills west of Kobane days after it was recaptured following months of heavy fighting which has left the town in ruins. Kurdish forces retook the town on January 26 in a symbolic blow to the jihadists who have seized large swathes of territory in their onslaught across Syria and Iraq. Scroll down for video . A Kurdish fighter points at ISIS militants laying dead on the ground in the village of Halimce, near the Syrian town of Kobane after they were apparently lined up and shot . The bodies of around 20 Islamic extremists were rounded up days after the Kurds recaptured the strategic town of Kobane following months of heavy fighting which has left the town in ruins . Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman said: 'Nineteen ISIS members were killed in fighting against the (Kurdish) People's Protection Units (YPG) in the hills surrounding Manaz to the west of Kobane. 'Another three jihadists died in fighting around villages to the east of Kobane, while the YPG also took one ISIS member prisoner,' he told AFP. The YPG had also recaptured five villages around Kobane this week, according to Mr Rahman, whose Britain-based group relies on a network of sources inside Syria. But the Islamic State group still controls hundreds of villages in the area. 'Another 350 villages remain under ISIS control,' he said, referring to settlements in the area around Kobane. One civilian was also killed. 'ISIS shelling in the western countryside of Kobane killed a civilian,' said Mr Rahman, who has repeatedly stressed that the fight for the Kobane area is far from over. Hazard: It is not known whether this bomb in Kobane has already exploded or could detonate any minute . Bomb disposal: A local Kurdish militia group, the People's Protection Units have been scouring the city and dismantling unexploded bombs . Death from above: This rocket could have been fired from American-led coalition forces whose airstrikes targeted IS fighters in the city . The Kurdish People's Protection Units also recaptured five villages around Kobane this week, according to Abdel Rahman, whose British-based group relies on a network of sources inside Syria . ISIS militants lay dead on the ground in the village of Halimce, near the Syrian town of Kobane . The town, which is known in Arabic as Ain al-Arab, is characterised by demolished buildings and heavily armed fighters roaming otherwise deserted, rubble-strewn streets. Sheets meant to hide residents from snipers' sights still hang over streets and its shattered buildings and cratered roads suggest those who fled are unlikely to return soon. Meanwhile, with their town liberated, thousands of residents of Kobane are settling into Turkey's newest refugee camp for an indefinite stay. Opened on Sunday just several kilometres from the Syrian border, the new compound near the town of Suruc is the largest refugee camp yet in Turkey. Musa, a Kurdish marksman, looks at the eastern part of the destroyed Syrian town of Kobane . The town, which is known in Arabic as Ain al-Arab, is now characterised by demolished buildings and heavily armed fighters roaming otherwise deserted, rubble-strewn streets . Musa, a 25-year-old Kurdish marksman, sits in the rubble of the Syrian town of Kobane . Standing guard: An armed Kurdish man patrols the war-torn town of Kobane . It has begun taking in some of the estimated 200,000 people who fled Kobane after it came under ISIS attack in September. Made up of 7,000 tents capable of housing 35,000 people, the camp has been taking in around 1,000 refugees per day, site director Mehmethan Ozdemir told AFP news agency. But given the mass of people currently adrift in southern Turkey and northern Syria, the camp will only be able to house a portion of Kobane inhabitants. And although ISIS fighters have apparently been defeated in the border city by Kurdish forces, authorities have warned residents against returning until the area has been fully secured. A man walks in a street with abandoned vehicles and and damaged buildings in the northern Syrian town of Kobane. Sheets meant to hide residents from snipers' sights still hang over streets . A man walks past damaged buildings in the northern Syrian town of Kobane . Total destruction: After four months of fighting Islamic State militants, Kobane is filled with damaged cars and collapsed buildings . War-torn: A heavily armoured vehicle patrols the city of Kobane . Next battle: The Kurdish fighters who liberated Kobane from Islamic State must now begin to reassemble the crumbling town .

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT . Islamic State militants killed as battles continue around the village of Kobane . Comes days after Kurdish forces liberated the strategic Syrian border town .

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By . Sean O'hare . PUBLISHED: . 12:28 EST, 14 February 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:59 EST, 15 February 2013 . Chubby Checker has filed a £320million lawsuit against Hewlett-Packard over a mobile phone app which bears his name . It was a risque but light-hearted app that claimed to let ladies know what they can expect from a new man based on the size of his feet. But though it promised ‘no need for disappointment or surprise’, someone’s been left thoroughly unamused by the ‘Chubby Checker’ – the singer whose name it borrows. Now the 1960s' rock ’n’ roll star who’s famed for The Twist has filed a $500million lawsuit in the US against technology firm Hewlett-Packard, through whose software the app was available. Lawyers for the singer – whose real name is Ernest Evans – claim the app developed by a company called Magic Apps, has done ‘irreparable damage’ to their client by associating the Checker name with ‘sexual connotation’. They said: 'Purchasers of "the Chubby Checker" app and . non-purchasing browsers of the associated web page are being misled into . believing that plaintiffs have endorsed defendant's app.' The suit adds that the app ‘tarnishes’ the stage name which Evans trademarked in 1997. The application for Hewlett-Packard's Palm OS platform boasted: 'Any of you ladies out there just start seeing . someone new and wondering what the size of their member is? 'All you need . to do is find out the man’s shoe size and plug it in... Now with the . Chubby Checker there is no need for disappointment or surprise...” The House of Palm software website shows that the $0.99 app was downloaded just 84 times. Willie Gary, Checker's lawyer said: 'We cannot sit idly and watch as technology giants or anyone else exploits the name or likeness of an innocent person with the goal of making millions of dollars. Scroll down for video . Ernest Evans, otherwise known as Chubby Checker, pictured left with DeLee Lively in 1996, filed the lawsuit on the basis that the app 'tarnishes' the stage name which Evans trademarked in 1997 . 'The Defendants have marketed Chubby Checkers' name on their product to gain a profit and this just isn't right.' Ernest Evans was born in 1941 in . Spring Gulley, South Carolina, but grew up in South Philadelphia, where . he lived with his parents and two brothers. In June of 1959 he recorded a cover . of Hank Ballard's R&B hit 'The Twist' and 14 months later, in . the summer of 1960, it was a sensation. The official Chubby Checker website . says: 'The Twist' was not only the #1 song but it introduced the concept . of 'dancing apart to the beat'. 'Over the next few years, endless songs . incorporating 'The Twist' into its name sprang up such as 'Peppermint . Twist', 'Twist and Shout' and 'Twistin' the Night Away'. 'In addition, . each new song brought a new dance involving 'dancing apart to the beat' such as The Jerk, The Hully Gully, The Boogaloo and The Shake. At the forefront was Chubby with The Fly, The Pony and The . Hucklebuck.' WATCH: CHUBBY CHECKER PERFORM HIS 1960s HIT 'THE TWIST'

He is suing Hewlett-Packard through whose software the app was available . His lawyers claim the app by Magic Apps has done 'irreparable damage' Chubby Checker app said women needn't be disappointed or surprised . The rock 'n' roll star's shoe size is unknown .

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Mexico's leader proposed a series of reforms Thursday that he hopes will help combat widespread crime and corruption. President Enrique Peña Nieto has come under fire for what some saw as his slow reaction to the disappearance of 43 college students, and for traveling abroad as protests spread across the country. In September, a group of students boarded buses and vans bound for the nearby city of Iguala, intending to protest about a lack of funding for their school. They have not been heard from since. "After Iguala, Mexico must change," Peña Nieto told a group of politicians and lawmakers. He proposed more than a dozen reforms, including a constitutional change that would give the state control over local police. The plan would be worked out in stages, starting with the states of Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán and Tamaulipas, he said. The President also proposed setting up a nationwide emergency number, like 911 in the United States, and said he wants to boost development by creating three special economic zones in the country's impoverished south. Bodies found in southwestern Mexico . Peña Nieto spoke the same day authorities announced that 11 partially burned bodies of young adults have been found in southwestern Mexico, just an hour's drive from where 43 missing college students went to school. Police haven't publicly identified the remains, and officials have not said whether there is any connection between the bodies and the September disappearances of the 43 students -- a case that has led to unrest over allegations that police abducted them, on order of a mayor, and turned them over to a gang that killed them. The 11 bodies were discovered near Chilapa, about an hour's drive west of Escuela Normal Rural de Ayotzinapa, a small college devoted to training students to become teachers in Mexico's impoverished countryside. Some of the 11 bodies were decapitated, according to Guerrero state officials. Search for students continues . Authorities say the 43 students intended to protest a speech by the wife of Iguala Mayor Jose Luis Abarca. Prosecutors allege that Abarca ordered police to round up the students. Authorities say they believe the students were captured by Iguala police, turned over to a gang, and then executed in Cocula, 14 miles away. The gang burned the bodies and dumped them in a river, authorities say, but investigators have yet to link any remains to the missing students. Mexican prosecutors have called Abarca the "probable mastermind" in the disappearances, charging him with six counts of aggravated homicide and one count of attempted homicide, authorities said. In all, at least 75 people have been arrested in connection with the disappearances. Earlier this month, authorities investigating the case said human remains were found in at least one garbage bag in the San Juan River. Mexican Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam said DNA tests were needed to identify the remains; no results have been announced. The Iguala incident sparked protests across Mexico, some of them violent. The governor of Guerrero state, who was criticized for not acting quickly enough after the abductions, has taken a leave of absence.

President Enrique Peña Nieto proposes giving the state control over local police . He also wants to set up a nationwide emergency number, like 911 . Peña Nieto has come under fire for his response to the disappearance of 43 students . 11 bodies found in southwestern Mexico as search for students continues .

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A California boy who was electrocuted at his birthday party is out of a medically induced coma and able to speak. Ten-year-old Elijah Belden's continued recovery was revealed in a Sunday post on a Facebook page run by his family, called 'Pray for Elijah Belden.' Belden was awake and his eyes were open in an accompanying image posted by his family. 'Smiling so big we could all eat a banana sideways,' the post said. 'Praise the Lord. Elijah has been extubated tonight. Getting better: Elijah Belden is now out of a medically induced coma and able to speak . Injured: Elijah Belden suffered an electric shock after touching an electrified metal pole outside his family's home . 'Words just can't express how happy mom and dad are that our son was able to tell us his name moments after the tube was removed. Thank you Jesus for answered prayer. Elijah and our family have definitely felt your prayers. Tomorrow we will not only be celebrating Elijah's 10th birthday but we will be truly celebrating his life. Continue to #prayforelijah7 as we hit the road to recovery.' On Monday, a Facebook post provided further updates. 'As can be expected, he became very confused last night so in order to help him get rest he needed to begin his rehabilitation, he needed to be sedated,' it said. 'They say he now makes the 'calls' on slowly getting off the medications based on his reactions as they make small changes. 'Mom & Dad are so thankful the tube is out and for the small victories every day. They've been told many times life in the PICU is like a roller coaster and this is definitely proving to be true.' Elijah's father Tony Belden earlier told The Press-Enterprise that Elijah had seemed to touch a metal post during the October 4 party near the pool and fell to the ground. At the time of the electric shock, Elijah and another boy were taking a photo together, he told the newspaper. Nearby electric lights could have been responsible, the newspaper reported. Support: His family earlier shared this image on Facebook showing him in the hospital. Doctors found he has not suffered any damage to his brain of heart . Support: His mother Aly tried to help him but also suffered a shock while her husband heard their screams . His mother Aly Belden and his baseball coach were both shocked when they tried to help, Tony Belden told the newspaper, though they did not suffer injuries. 'She thought [Elijah] was dead,' Belden told The Press-Enterprise. 'I heard, "Elijah's down." Hearing that, I was so disconcerted... I couldn't even figure out how to dial 911.' But his son was eventually taken to Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, where he continues to receive treatment. The 'Pray for Elijah Belden' Facebook page currently has over 7,000 likes on Facebook. Photos on the page show multiple well-wishers have worn ribbons for Belden with the number 7 - the number on his baseball jersey - and also pink socks as a way to raise awareness. Scene: The youngster was playing near the family's pool (pictured center) when he posed with a friend for a photograph and suffered the electric shock .

Elijah Belden suffered an electric shock at his 10th birthday party when he posed for a photo and held on to a metal pole supporting a patio cover . But the pole had become electrified - possibly by a string of frayed lights . He is now out of a medically-induced coma and is able to speak .

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By . Rob Preece . PUBLISHED: . 03:23 EST, 29 June 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 09:45 EST, 29 June 2012 . Another scandal rocked the financial sector today as the City watchdog revealed some of Britain's largest banks will have to refund or pay compensation to potentially thousands of small businesses. Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have all agreed to compensate customers after the Financial Services Authority found 'serious failings' in the sale of complex financial products. They were found to have mis-sold so-called interest rate swap arrangements (IRSAs), which some small businesses bought as protection - or to act as a hedge - against a rise in interest rates without fully grasping the downside risks. Scandal: Royal Bank of Scotland and three other banks have all agreed to compensate customers after the Financial Services Authority found 'serious failings' in the sale of complex financial products . Banks sold about 28,000 interest rate protection products to customers since 2001, the FSA said. Martin Wheatley, managing director of the FSA’s conduct business unit, said: 'For many small businesses this has been a difficult and distressing experience with many people’s livelihoods affected.' The claims echo the payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal that emerged last year, costing banks billions of pounds, and come in the week Barclays was fined £290million for manipulating the rates at which banks lend to each other. As well as offering redress directly for those customers that bought the most complex products, the banks have also agreed to stop marketing certain IRSA products to retail customers, the FSA said. The City regulator has spent the last two months reviewing the sale of IRSAs, talking to more than 100 customers who came forward. Mis-selling: Barclays and HSBC are among the banks facing hefty compensation bills . It found poor sales tactics including failing to provide sufficient information on the hefty exit costs involved, failure to gauge the customers’ understanding of risk and found rewards and incentives were a driver of these practices. The FSA added that not all businesses will be owed redress, but for those that are, the exact redress will vary from customer to customer. This exercise will be scrutinised by an independent reviewer at each bank appointed under the FSA’s powers. Mr Wheatley added that he had received personal reassurances from the bosses of the banks involved - including Bob Diamond at Barclays - that they will have responsibility for oversight of this work. Mr Diamond is facing calls to resign over the interest-rate rigging scandal, and Lloyds, RBS and HSBC are all under investigation. The British Bankers’ Association, the leading trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector with more than 200 member banks, said: 'Our members have been working closely with the FSA while it carries out its thematic review into interest rate swaps and will continue to co-operate fully.' In a statement, Lloyds, which set aside £3.6billion to cover the cost of PPI compensation, said it did not expect the costs of redressing customers who were missold IRSA products to be 'material'. It said: 'Interest rate derivative products are not products the group has sold widely. 'Given the limited exposure of the group to these products the financial impact of this remediation and the associated costs are not expected to be material to the group.' Thousands of small businesses who took out loans bought interest rate swap arrangements (IRSAs) in the hope of keeping their borrowing costs low. But many have been left paying the price, claiming they were not told about the potential pitfalls which lay ahead. Banks promoted IRSAs as providing protection to borrowers with variable rate loans. If interest rates went up, customers with an IRSA would pay no more than an agreed capped rate. The deal was attractive when interest rates were as high as 5.5 per cent before the credit crunch of 2008. But rates have since fallen to 0.5 per cent, which means customers' monthly loan repayments under an IRSA are higher than they would have been without one. Bully Banks, a pressure group set up by alleged victims of swap mis-selling, claims on its website: 'In many cases the bank had simply never explained the possibility of this happening, and so customers were denied the opportunity of making an informed choice when entering into an IRSA.' The group claims banks failed to explain the negative aspects of the IRSA because the products were sold by specialist teams who earned high levels of commission. Some customers have paid high costs to extricate themselves from their IRSA deals. A statement for RBS said: 'In the case of a small number of less sophisticated customers who entered into more complex swap products we have agreed to move directly to redress. 'We believe risk management products are an essential part of corporate banking and it is important we restore customer trust in this area. 'We are committed to the fair and timely treatment of our customers and will work closely with the FSA to achieve that end.' A debate in the House of Commons last week saw MPs from across the country offer examples of mis-selling for the interest rate swap products. Promise: Barclays chief executive Bob Diamond, who is facing calls to resign over the interest-rate rigging scandal, has assured the FSA he will personally oversee the payment of compensation to customers . Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb claimed thousands of businesses lost large amounts of money after being mis-sold the complex products by their banks, and many were told that without signing up they risked being refused credit. He said many business people did not understand the deals but trusted their bank manager. In other cases, he said, businesses were offered only one product and the bank made no effort to provide a choice. A survey by Bully Banks, which has been set up by alleged victims of swap mis-selling, found nearly three quarters of its members claim to have been forced to buy a swap by their lending bank as a condition of their loan. Michael Brennan, of City law firm Bracewell Law, which has acted for IRSA customers, said the FSA's announcement was 'welcome news to the thousands of small businesses who were wrongly advised, and sometimes obliged, to needlessly take out these complex financial contracts'. He added: 'Over the life of their contract, these financial products turned out to be for the sole benefit of the banks and in the vast majority of cases were highly inappropriate for small and medium-sized enterprises. 'Sold as protection against rising interest rates, they had the effect of keeping struggling businesses on artificially high rates, costing them thousands of pounds per month to service. 'Furthermore, businesses were all too often unable to service these agreements due to the high breakage fees, the risk profile of which the banks never properly explained to them. 'We are aware of many businesess that have been forced into severe financial distress, administration and liquidation, often at a huge emotional cost to the owners and managers, as they were unable to keep up with their payments.'

Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and RBS all agree to compensate customers who bought IRSAs . City watchdog found 'serious failings' in the sale of the products, which businesses bought as protection against interest rate rises . Thousands of businesses lost large amounts of money, MP claims .

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Zara Phillips will have her first runner under rules runner for almost seven years when Act Of Kalanisi runs in the Hunter Chase at Bangor on Friday. Three-day eventing is the priority for the Queen’s granddaughter, having won the World Championship in 2006 and been part of the silver medal-winning team at the London 2012 Olympics. Richard Johnson riding Act Of Kalanisi to victory in the sportingbet.com Novice Hurdle at Newbury in 2010 . David Bass rides Act Of Kalanisi (middle) to victory in the Betfair Mobile Handicap Hurdle Race at Ascot . But she has trained seven winners from a small team of horses on the point-to-point circuit. Phillips has also helped tutoring the jumping of Michael Scudamore-trained Monbeg Dude, a chaser part-owned by her husband Mike Tindall who won of the Welsh National in the 2012/13 season and is due to have a second shot at the Grand National in April. Phillips’ last runner on the official racing circuit was Manor Down, who was pulled up in a Hunter Chase at Cheltenham in May 2008. Act of Kalanasi, once trained by Grand National winner Dr Richard Newland, ran in its first point-to-point for Phillips 20 days ago when seventh at the Royal Artillery meeting at Larkhill. Phillips takes part in the Show Jumping section of the Symm International horse trials in Hambledon . Mike Tindall and Phillips watch Monbeg Dude in the Cheltenham Gold Cup parade ring in 2013 . Co-owner Tindall poses with the Michael Scudamore trained Monbeg Dude out on the gallops . The Bangor contest is a tough assignment for the nine-year-old ridden by amateur jockey Tom David. His 17 rivals include Teaforthree, the 2013 Grand National third, Pacha Du Polder, a one-time grade two chase winner with champion trainer Paul Nicholls, and Calgary Bay, whose biggest win came in the 2012 Great Yorkshire Chase. He is in the care of Henrietta Knight, who retired as a professional trainer in 2012, after sending out over 700 winners including three-time Gold Cup victor Best Mate. Henrietta Knight, who retired as a professional trainer in 2012, with three-time Gold Cup winner Best Mate .

Three-day eventing is the priority for the Queen's granddaughter . But Zara Phillips has trained seven winners on the point-to-point circuit . Act Of Kalanisi will be her first under rules runner since 2008 . Amateur jockey Tom David will take the ride at Bangor on Friday .

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A three-month-old American baby girl was thrown from her stroller and killed in Jerusalem Wednesday when a Palestinian driver smashed his car into commuters waiting at a train platform. Chaya Zissel Braun's parents, who are US citizens, were among eight people hit. Israeli authorities labeled it a 'terrorist attack.' Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement today blaming his Palestinian counterpart President Mahmoud Abbas for increasing tension in the region. Scroll down for video . Israeli police officers inspect a car at the scene of an attack in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Eight people were injured and a three-month-old American baby were killed . Chaya Zissel Braun was brought to Israel with her parents when she was killed in a deliberate attack by a Palestinian driver . Surveillance video captured the moment the car plowed into commuters waiting for a light rail train in Jerusalem on Wednesday . Netanyahu claimed that Abbas 'just a few days ago incited (Palestinians) to attack Jews in Jerusalem'. He said that Abbas had called upon Palestinians to prevent Jews 'by any means' from visiting the Temple Mount in Jerusalem which is known as the Noble Sanctuary in Islam. Abed Abdelrahman Shaludeh, a 21-year-old Palestinian from East Jerusalem with a history of terrorist activities, was identified as the perpetrator. He was shot and killed by police while trying to flee the scene. The violence came after months of tensions between Jews and Palestinians in east Jerusalem — the section of the city the Palestinians demand as their future capital. The area has experienced unrest and near-daily attacks on the city's light rail by Palestinian youths since a wave of violence over the summer, capped by a 50-day war between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. The car struck the train station near the national headquarters of Israel's police force. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the driver got out of the car and tried to flee before he was shot by a police officer. He said footage captured by security cameras indicated the driver deliberately struck people waiting at the stop. 'We look at this incident as a terrorist attack,' Rosenfeld said. He said the area was cordoned off and forensic and bomb disposal experts were on the scene examining the car. The footage, posted on the Ynet news site, showed the car turning out of moving traffic and heading straight into the station, accelerating while plowing through several rows of people. Dr. Yaakov Barkun of Hadassah Medical Center said a 3-month-old girl was injured in the attack and later died of her wounds. 'She is a pure baby girl who hasn't done anything bad to anyone,' Shimshon Halperin, the girl's grandfather, who is Israeli, told Channel 2 TV. 'She was murdered for no reason.' It was not immediately clear if the baby and her parents also held Israeli citizenship. Rosenfeld said the driver, a resident of the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, was in serious condition. He added that the driver 'has served time in Israeli prison for terrorism.' Israeli media reported he was a member of the Islamic militant group Hamas. Chaya Zissel Braun was laid to rest in a traditional funeral in Jerusalem on Wednesday night . The Israeli government informed the U.S. that Hamas was believed responsible for the attack, a U.S. official said. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity. It wasn't clear, however, if the attack was the work of a lone wolf, the official added. There was no immediate information of any orders to carry out the attack delivered by high-level members of Hamas, the official said. Silwan, a predominantly Arab neighborhood, has seen tensions spike in recent weeks since Jewish nationalists moved into several homes in Arab areas. The home sales have been facilitated by nationalist Jewish groups intent on solidifying the Jewish presence in east Jerusalem. Palestinians, who seek east Jerusalem as their capital, consider the arrival of their Jewish neighbors to be a provocation. East Jerusalem has experienced months of unrest since a wave of violence erupted over the summer. Train passengers have reported Palestinians attacking the carriages with rocks and other violence. The unrest began with the kidnapping and killings of three teenage Israelis in the West Bank in June by a pair of Hamas operatives. Several weeks later, Jewish extremists kidnapped and burned to death a Palestinian teenager in east Jerusalem. Then, on July 8, Israel launched its war against Hamas in Gaza in response to heavy rocket fire. Israeli leaders called for restraint amid fears that the attack could lead to more violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the city . The car was driving full-speed when is smashed into waiting pedestrians, seriously injuring two, and killing an infant . East Jerusalem is home to Jerusalem's more than 200,000 Arab residents, as well as 200,000 Israelis. Israel captured east Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed the area as part of its capital — a step that has not been recognized internationally. The Palestinians seek east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state that would also include the West Bank and Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement, blaming Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for adding fuel to the soaring tensions in Jerusalem with recent antagonistic comments. Abbas 'just a few days ago incited (Palestinians) to attack Jews in Jerusalem,' Netanyahu said. Abbas had called on Palestinians to prevent Jews 'by any means' from visiting a Jerusalem holy site revered by both Muslims and Jews. He was referring to the hilltop compound sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount, where the two biblical Jewish Temples stood. It is also sacred to Muslims, who refer to it as Noble Sanctuary, the place from where they believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. The site is the holiest in Judaism and the third holiest in Islam, and a frequent flashpoint for Palestinian demonstrations. Jen Psaki, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said in a statement that the U.S. condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the family. 'We urge all sides to maintain calm and avoid escalating tensions in the wake of this incident,' she said. Barkat said police presence would be beefed up in the city. 'We must restore peace and security in Jerusalem,' he said. 'The situation in Jerusalem is intolerable and we must act unequivocally against all violence taking place in the city.'

Chaya Zissel Braun was thrown from her stroller and killed . Abed Abdelrahman Shaludeh, a Palestinian with a history of terrorist connections, smashed his car full-speed onto a train platform . He was shot dead by police as he fled the scene . Eight people were injured, including the girl's parents . Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas for increasing tension in the region . He accused Abbas of inciting Palestinians to attack Jews in Jerusalem .

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Ahead of this weekend's Premier League action, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every fixture, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats. Here is all the information you need for Chelsea's home clash with Newcastle... Chelsea vs Newcastle United (Stamford Bridge) Team news . Chelsea . John Terry, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas are expected to return for Chelsea's Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle on Saturday. The trio were rested from the squad that defeated Watford in the FA Cup on Sunday but will face the Magpies at Stamford Bridge. Eden Hazard (centre) trains on Friday ahead of Chelsea' clash with Newcastle at Stamford Bridge . Thibaut Courtois is likely to return in goal after Petr Cech was given an outing against Watford. Provisional squad: Courtois, Cech, Ivanovic, Luis, Fabregas, Zouma, Ake, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Drogba, Mikel, Schurrle, Salah, Remy, Costa, Matic, Willian, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta. Newcastle . Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul is set to return for his side's Premier League trip to Chelsea on Saturday. The Dutchman has been out injured since November but came through a behind-closed-doors friendly against Celtic on Thursday and is set to replace Jak Alnwick in caretaker-boss John Carver's line-up. Tim Krul (above) is back in action after appearing in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Celtic on Thursday and is set to return to the Newcastle first team at Chelsea in place of rookie Jak Alnwick . Carver will bring back his big guns including Moussa Sissoko, Daryl Janmaat, Fabricio Coloccini and Jack Colback, all of whom were controversially omitted from last week's FA Cup defeat at Leicester. Papiss Cisse and Cheick Tiote are on Africa Cup of Nations duty. Provisional squad: Krul, Woodman, Janmaat, Dummett, Santon, Williamson, Coloccini, Streete, Haidara, Anita, Sissoko, Cabella, Colback, Gouffran, Gutierrez, Riviere, Perez, Armstrong. Kick-off: Saturday 3pm . Odds (subject to change): . Chelsea 1/5 . Draw 6/1 . Newcastle 14/1 . Referee: Roger East . Managers: Jose Mourinho (Chelsea), John Carver - interim manager (Newcastle) Head-to-head league record: Chelsea wins 55, draws 36, Newcastle wins 48 . Key match stats (supplied by Opta) John Terry has scored in three of his last four Premier League appearances. Newcastle United have scored the highest proportion of second half goals in the Premier League (76 per cent). The Blues conceded as many goals in their last Premier League game (five) as they had in the 10 previous matches. Papiss Cisse, who is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty, has now scored four Premier League goals against Chelsea – against no side has he scored more often. Cisse has scored five goals in his last six Premier League outings. Papiss Cisse scored twice as Newcastle became the first team to beat Chelsea this season after defeating the Blues 2-1 at St James' Park in December . Cesc Fabregas now has more PL assists this season (14) than any player managed last term (Steven Gerrard 13). Eden Hazard has scored four and assisted three in his last seven league games. The Magpies scored two goals from just three shots on target in their 2-1 win over the Blues at St James Park in early December when they became the first side to beat Chelsea this season. Chelsea have scored with 18 per cent of their shots and hit the target with 50 per cent; both are league high figures. Newcastle have scored more goals from substitutes than any other team in the top flight (8).

John Terry, Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas in line for recalls . Trio were rested for FA Cup third round win over Watford . Tim Krul in line for Newcastle return after playing in friendly against Celtic . Papiss Cisse and Cheick Tiote on international duty for the Toon .

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(CNN) -- Although much attention is currently focused on the cases before the U.S. Supreme Court in which same-sex marriage advocates seek to change the definition of marriage, another longtime priority of their movement has been to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as protected categories in federal civil rights laws, through the so-called "Employment Non-Discrimination Act" (ENDA). Here, "gender identity" refers not to one's biological sex, but to whether one feels male or female. One concern about ENDA is its impact on religious liberty. ENDA would effectively forbid employers to consider sexual conduct in evaluating the character of their employees or applicants. Although ENDA contains a limited "religious exemption," there remain serious questions as to whether any exemption would be adequate to meet the concerns of people with religious and moral scruples against homosexual conduct. However, focusing only on the religious exemption plays into the false assumption that religious or moral objections to homosexuality are the only reason why anyone objects to this law. What's most significant about it may not be its impact on homosexual workers or religious employers, or the controversial insistence by LGBT activists that it cover transgender people as well. What really matters is the ratcheting up of federal government interference in the free market. Opinion: No one should be fired for being gay . The basic claim of most of the advocates of ENDA is that discrimination is wrong if based on factors "not relevant to job performance." But again, the question is who decides what is "relevant to job performance" -- the individual employer, or the government? The strong presumption should be in favor of the employer. Of course, federal law already interferes with private employment decisions with regard to a few specific characteristics. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars discrimination based on "race, color, national origin, sex, and religion." The first four of these are included largely because they are inborn, involuntary and immutable. While sexual attractions may be involuntary, neither sexual conduct nor transgender behavior meets any of these criteria. ENDA would provide fertile new ground for employers to be hit by costly lawsuits as well, with disgruntled employees suing for "discrimination" over a characteristic (in the case of sexual orientation) which is not even visible and of which the employer may have been unaware. In the case of public employers, such laws at the local and state level have led to large settlements being paid at taxpayers' expense. Opinion: America is at a crossroads on gay rights . Even secular employers have reason to worry about a possible increase in sexualization of the workplace. There is an inherent contradiction in the arguments of the advocates of ENDA, who contend that what they do in private has nothing to do with their work, but then also argue for the right to be "out of the closet" while at work. The gender identity provisions, meanwhile, undermine the right of employers to impose reasonable dress and grooming standards, by forbidding employers to use the most fundamental standard of all -- that people be dressed and groomed in a way that is culturally appropriate for their biological sex. ENDA prepares the way for a form of reverse discrimination -- against anyone who expresses disapproval of homosexual behavior. The more open homosexuals become, the more people with traditional values will be forced to conceal their views. This can happen even if the employee's views are expressed outside of work (as happened to Allstate's Matt Barber, who was fired), and when no reference is made to sexual orientation (as happened to the City of Oakland's Good News Employee Association, which was forbidden to speak about "family values"). Opinion: Gay people live in 50 Americas . Often, social conservatives are accused of trying to "legislate morality." Yet ENDA itself is fraught with moral significance. It would be an official government declaration that homosexual behavior is the equivalent of heterosexual behavior in every way, and that those who believe otherwise are "bigots." A majority of Americans reject this view. (A poll taken by Public Religion Research Institute in September 2012 showed that 52% of Americans believe that "sex between two adults of the same gender" is "morally wrong," and only 42% say it is "morally acceptable.") ENDA should be opposed by anyone who believes in freedom of speech, freedom of association, and a free market economy. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Peter Sprigg.

Peter Sprigg: Employment Non-Discrimination Act is fraught with moral and legal problems . Sprigg: ENDA could provide fertile ground for employers to be hit by costly lawsuits . He says it would allow reverse discrimination against those who disapprove homosexuality . Sprigg: ENDA should be opposed by anyone who want a free market economy .

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(CNN) -- NASA says bad weather has forced it to put off the piggyback flight of the space shuttle Endeavour to California, where the now-retired spacecraft will be put on display. The space agency announced Sunday that it has pushed back the start of the multi-day flight until Tuesday, a day later than planned. Storms forecast over the Southeast prompted the delay, NASA said in a statement announcing the postponement. NASA still hopes to deliver Endeavour, the baby of the shuttle fleet, to Los Angeles by Thursday, the agency said. The spacecraft and its Boeing 747 carrier are slated to make several stops and low-level flyovers along the route, with overnight stops in Houston -- home to the mission control center for the U.S. manned space program -- and at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in southern California. Dryden is located at Edwards Air Force Base, the landing site for the first shuttle missions. The jet-shuttle combo will make low-altitude passes over NASA's Stennis Space Center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and the agency's Michoud Assembly plant near New Orleans, where the shuttles' external fuel tanks were built; over the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, a last-resort landing site where shuttle pilots trained; and over San Francisco, Sacramento and other northern California sites. Endeavor is scheduled to be on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles by late October. Built as a replacement for the ill-fated shuttle Challenger, it made 25 flights into space between 1992 and 2011. The other two surviving orbiters, Discovery and Atlantis, are also being put on display at museums. Atlantis will be at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida; Discovery at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum annex in Virginia.

Forecasts storms push Endeavour's final flight back a day . NASA still hopes to deliver the orbiter to Los Angeles by Thursday . The shuttle made 25 space flights between 1992 and 2011 .

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By . Jason Groves . Last updated at 11:23 PM on 6th February 2012 . Network Rail bosses were yesterday shamed into giving up bonus payments worth up to £1.4million. The decision follows a ferocious public backlash against plans which could have seen the taxpayer-funded firm’s six executive directors share a total of £20million by 2015. Last week Network Rail was forced to apologise after it admitted health and safety breaches over the deaths of two teenage girls at a level crossing in 2005. Unprecedented step: Transport Secretary . Justine Greening had planned to attend the Network Rail members' meeting . on Friday  to shame executives, such as chief Sir David Higgins, into . giving . up their bonuses . It said yesterday that its executive . directors would hand any bonuses they received this year –which are . expected to total up to £1.4million – to a ‘safety fund’ to improve . level crossings. The firm – which receives £4billion a year from the public purse to run the rail network – also said it would rethink plans for a long-term bonus scheme that could hand the directors up to £15.6million over the next three years. Taken with their annual bonus payments over that time, the bonuses could have totalled £20million by 2015. The climbdown came after Transport . Secretary Justine Greening threatened to gatecrash a meeting on Friday . that had been set to rubber-stamp the bonus package. Yesterday the firm said the meeting had been shelved while it ‘reflected’ on the level of bonuses it should offer. The directors on the Network Rail board were each entitled to bonus payments of up to 60 per cent of their salary this year - which could have been worth £1,392,000. The discretionary payouts are dependent on performance targets being hit - but chief-executive Sir David Higgins could have pocketed £336,000 - on top of his £560,000 basic salary. In total, the generous bonus package could have been worth £20million to the board between now and 2015. Under complicated arrangements, the directors receive both 'short-term' annual bonuses and 'long-term' bonuses. A spokesman for Network Rail said a new incentives package for subsequent years will now have to be agreed. Given the pressure being exerted by the Government to cut executive pay, in future bonuses are unlikely to be anything like as extravagant. Below are the salaries each of the Network Rail Board members receives and in brackets the bonus they could have received this year. Sir David Higgins - Chief-Executive £560,000, (£336,000) Patrick Butcher - Group Finance Director £350,000, (£210,000) Robin Gisby - Director, Operations & Customer Services £330,000, (£198,000) Peter Henderson - Director, Asset Management £440,000, (£264,000) Simon Kirby - Director, Investment Projects £330,000, (£198,000) Paul Plummer £310,000, (£186,0 . Miss Greening, who described the bonus proposals as ‘unacceptable’, last night welcomed the ‘sensible’ U-turn. She said: ‘I have made it clear to Network Rail at every stage that this proposed package did not go far enough in reflecting the need for restraint. ‘The fact that its executive directors have also chosen to forfeit their annual bonuses to improve level crossings is a sign that they have recognised the strength of public opinion.’ Downing Street last night urged other organisations to ‘reflect’ on the move. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘All parts of the public sector should be reflecting on the financial environment and taking responsible decisions.’ However, Network Rail last night confirmed that it would be bringing forward new proposals for executive bonuses in the coming weeks. It issued a statement saying it would ‘take the opportunity to reflect further on how to incentivise performance in the company against the backdrop of the current context’. A spokesman said the firm had a legal duty to offer bonuses to its staff. One of the firm’s 78-strong members’ board told the Daily Mail that bonuses were being used as a substitute for pay rises. He said three directors had threatened to quit unless they received the cash. Chief executive Sir David Higgins, who is . paid a basic salary of £560,000, was in line for a £336,000 annual . bonus and a £1.8million long-term bonus. Last week he apologised on behalf of Network Rail after it admitted . health and safety breaches over the deaths of Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and . Charlotte Thompson, 13, who were hit by a train in 2005 at Elsenham . station in Essex. The directors’ decision to donate their bonuses to a safety fund was . welcomed by Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, who said: . ‘This decision is sadly too little, too late for the parents of the . girls who tragically died. ‘But we welcome it as  the first step in the direction of the directors . starting to put safety and the passengers ahead of their own handsome . rewards.’ Payout: The directors at Network Rail - who run the tracks - had been in line for payouts worth £20million . Network Rail last week admitted health and . safety breaches over the deaths of Olivia Bazlinton, 14, and Charlotte . Thompson, 13, pictured, shortly before the huge bonus for Sir David . Higgins was announced . Tory MP Anne Main, who led a Commons debate on the issue last week, . urged ministers to ensure that the firm was not able to slip through . proposals for big bonuses when public controversy about the issue dies . down. She said: ‘The original proposals were a disgrace. ‘They should be ashamed that they were even considering these massive bonuses at a time when performance is getting worse. ‘It is welcome that they are going to waive their bonuses this year, but this must not become a one-off gesture.’

Transport Secretary Justine Greening threatened to attend meeting to shame staff into abandoning bonuses . New directors bonus scheme will now be worked out - and it is likely to be much less generous . Chief-executive Sir David Higgins could have received £336,000 this year - on top of £560,000 salary .

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(CNN) -- Watching the movie "Lincoln" on Saturday, Rep. Joe Courtney was perplexed during the climactic scene. Two of his predecessors from nearly 150 years ago, lawmakers representing the state of Connecticut in 1865, are seen voting against the constitutional amendment to end slavery. Courtney asked the Congressional Research Service for the records, and sure enough, all four representatives from Connecticut voted yes on the 13th amendment. But in the film, we see the fictional lawmakers Augustus Benjamin and Arthur Bentleigh of Connecticut each vote "Nay." "I could not believe my own eyes and ears," Courtney said. In a letter of protest to director Steven Spielberg, he said that although he thinks overall the film is tremendous and compelling, "placing the State of Connecticut on the wrong side of the historic and divisive fight over slavery is a distortion of easily verifiable facts." Screenwriter Tony Kushner conceded the discrepancy but defended the film. "None of the key moments of that story -- the overarching story our film tells -- are altered," he said in a statement Thursday. He explained that the alterations were made to serve the narrative that the outcome of the vote was in doubt until the very end. "I hope nobody is shocked to learn that I also made up dialogue and imagined encounters and invented characters," he added. "I'm sorry if anyone in Connecticut felt insulted by these 15 seconds of the movie," Kushner said, but "this is a dramatic film and not an attack on their home state." Still, Courtney said Friday that he hoped the movie would be changed before it is released on DVD on February 26. "The four members of Connecticut's delegation ... deserved a better legacy than the screenplay portrayed," he said. Historian Christian McWhirter, a researcher with the Papers of Abraham Lincoln, supported the congressman's objection. "It seems like such an unnecessary error," he said. Nevertheless, he added, "it shouldn't overshadow the fact that overall, this is a very strong and accurate portrayal of what actually happened." Going through the movie script vote by vote, CNN found that the important details are correct. By the narrowest of margins, after a breathless and unpredictable roll call, the amendment passes, with most Republicans in favor but many Democrats opposed. Six of the lawmakers in the film actually existed and cast real votes, while the rest are apparently fictitious. No other vote discrepancies were found in the scene. Columbia University historian Eric Foner said the voting in the film is not the only discrepancy, but for dramatic effect, some poetic license is fine in such a movie. "It is historical fiction -- a noble genre going back to Shakespeare and well before -- not history," he said. Indeed, the movie makes no claims to be a documentary, but is rather a historical film. In the style of a political thriller, it depicts President Lincoln's efforts to get a ban on slavery passed in Washington, using a combination of persuasion, inspiration, horse-trading and arm-twisting. The film has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards and has been a success both with the critics and at the box office. Disney, the distributor, and representatives for Spielberg did not reply to inquiries from CNN on Wednesday. McWhirter defended the movie. " 'Lincoln' is an exceptionally good Hollywood historical film," he said, "so I think we have to have a certain amount of tolerance for a certain amount of error." CNN's JD Cargill contributed to this report.

NEW: Screenwriter defends film, says no key moments of the story were altered . In movie, two Connecticut lawmakers are seen voting against ending slavery . History shows all four Connecticut representatives voted yes on 13th Amendment . Rep. Joe Courtney sends a letter to director Steven Spielberg .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:26 EST, 1 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:27 EST, 1 September 2013 . High doses of statins may prevent dementia in old age, according to research. Patients who received the most potent forms of the cholesterol-lowering drug were up to three times less likely to suffer from the disease, scientists discovered. The findings seem to back up earlier studies that claimed a widely prescribed statin may combat Alzheimer’s by improving the function of blood vessels. Patients who received the most potent forms of the cholesterol-lowering drug were up to three times less likely to suffer from the disease, scientists discovered . The latest research examined nearly 58,000 patients in Taiwan to discover if use of the drug was associated with new diagnoses of dementia. Dr Tin-Tse Lin, who presented the findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Amsterdam said risks were reduced with increased total or daily dosages of the drug. ‘Patients who received the highest total equivalent doses of statins had a three-fold decrease in the risk of developing dementia,’ it was found. ‘Similar results were found with the daily equivalent statin dosage.’ Researchers found that the dosage rather than solubility of potent drugs such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were responsible for their effectiveness. Almost every available version of the drug, except lovastatin, decreased the risk for new onset dementia when taken at higher daily doses. ‘Higher doses of high potency statins gave the strongest protective effects against dementia,’ said Dr Tin-Tse Lin. High doses of statins may prevent dementia in old age, according to research . ‘A high mean daily dosage of lovastatin was positively associated with the development of dementia, possibly because lovastatin is a lipophilic statin while the anti-inflammatory cholesterol lowering effect of lovastatin is not comparable to that of atorvastatin and simvastatin.’ An earlier study found that a widely prescribed statin may prevent some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s by improving blood vessel function. The research, carried out on mice by researchers at McGill University in Montreal, also found the drug boosted learning and memory in younger sufferers when the disease had not progressed far.However, treatment using simvastatin had no effect on one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s – a build-up of a particular protein in the brain, even in those who otherwise benefited. About 1million prescriptions for the cholesterol-lowering drugs are written in England each week, and statins have become a mainstay for doctors treating the survivors of heart attacks and strokes. They make up the vast majority of lipid-lowering drugs and are effective at lowering levels of cholesterol, the fatty substance in blood that clogs up arteries and leads to heart attacks. So far there has been no clear evidence that statins help reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. In fact, memory loss is a known side-effects of the drug.

The latest research examined nearly 58,000 patients in Taiwan . Patients who received the highest total equivalent doses of statins had a three-fold decrease in the risk of developing dementia .

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By . Daniel Martin . PUBLISHED: . 20:11 EST, 26 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:15 EST, 26 December 2013 . David Cameron has warned newspapers to sign up to his plan for state-backed regulation of the Press or risk a crackdown from a less 'liberal' government in the future. The Prime Minister said if the Press continues to make the 'mistake' of refusing to do so, a future 'illiberal' government may impose tougher restrictions. His stance is in stark contrast to Culture Secretary Maria Miller, who recently indicated nothing would happen if the Press refused to sign. Stark contrast: Prime Minister David Cameron (left) and Culture Secretary Maria Miller (right) do not seem to have been singing from the same hymn sheet on Press regulation . Most national newspapers have refused to sign up to the politicians' new system of Press regulation underpinned by Royal Charter, over fears it would bring to an end 300 years of Press freedom. They have put forward their own proposal for a tough new regulator, independent of politicians, which they say meets Lord Leveson's recommendations. Speaking to The Spectator magazine, Mr Cameron said he wanted to see newspapers be 'compliant' with the politicians' charter. 'I believe there's a great opportunity here to put this difficult and painful issue to bed,' he said. 'If the Press set up their regulator I hope, in time, they will make that regulator compliant with – to then seek recognition under – the charter recognition body. 'If that then happens, we'll have in place a system that I think will settle this issue because we would have achieved what Leveson wanted which is independent self-regulation by the Press.' Most national newspapers have put forward their own proposal for a tough new regulator, independent of politicians, which they say meets Lord Leveson's recommendations (pictured) He said politicians have given the Press . 'an opportunity to put this issue to bed I would think for 50 to 100 . years if you want to'. 'Now, if you choose to set up your self-regulator but say "we're not going to seek recognition", that is your choice,' he said. 'Personally I think that is a mistake because you're missing the opportunity to settle this and you're risking that some future, less liberal, less enlightened government at the time of the next Press crisis will hitch you with some hideous statutory regulation which I prevented.' Mr Cameron added: 'If you choose to set up your body but not seek recognition, that is your decision. 'We've done our bit to put this in place, I think you're at risk in the future but it's your choice. 'I find it hard to understand what is it in the process of seeking recognition that sends you into such a problematic state, but that's for you to decide.' Tory MP Douglas Carswell said: 'I think this proposed Royal Charter is indefensible and it's bang out of order to try to defend it on the basis a future government might do something even more indefensible. 'The Press in this country hasn't been forced to publish under licence for centuries and it would be a massive black mark against this Government if they push ahead with this folly.' Kirsty Hughes, the chief executive of Index on Censorship, said: 'The Royal Charter already steps over a red line – the threat that it could be replaced by something even worse doesn't make it acceptable. 'This is a point of fundamental principle and the Press should stick to their guns.'

PM warns future 'illiberal' government may impose tougher rules . His stance is in stark contrast to Culture Secretary Maria Miller . She recently indicated nothing would happen if Press refused to sign .

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A Facebook campaign set up for an Arizona teenager with leukemia encourages people to submit photos of dogs as a way to make him feel better. More than 620,000 Facebook users hoping to cheer up 16-year-old Anthony Lyons have signed up to 'Photo Doggies for Anthony.' Kristen Lyons wrote in a message on the event's page that the photo campaign was started on behalf of her son Anthony by her friend, Roberta Lucero-Koron. Lucero-Koron originally wrote on the page 'Hi all, my friend Kristen Lyons has her son Anthony at Phoenix Childrens hospital. Some days he gets doggy visits [in pet therapy sessions] and some he does not. Scroll down for video . Patient: 16-year-old Anthony Lyons was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukeumia last year after falling ill during a summer trip with his grandparents . Smile! Dog owners have submitted thousands of photos on the page 'Photo Doggies for Anthony' as a way to make Anthony feel better . Max, left is pooch living in Park City, Utah, who has appeared on 'Photo Doggies for Anthony.' Bandit, right, is a beagle whose snap was also uploaded . 'They make him smile. I thought if I create this event, you can post a picture of your dog to help make him smile. His mom shows them to him and he smiles.' She also asked that 'attendees' say where the photos and dogs are from. Thousands of photographs have been posted to the event page. They often show dogs making silly faces, in costume or just hanging out. Many of the photographs have been accompanied by messages from the dogs' owners, offering Anthony well-wishes. Anthony Lyons told KSAZ of his in-person therapy sessions with animals 'It really helps, the pet therapy. Like I can be in here having a really bad day and then one of the dogs will show up and it will be the highlight of the day.' The affiliate station reported that the 16-year-old was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukeumia last year after falling ill during a summer trip with his grandparents. Thousands of photographs have been posted to the event page, many of which show dogs making silly faces, in costume or just hanging out . Greetings: Over 600,000 Facebook users have said they are 'attending' the digital event, called ' Photo Doggies for Anthony' He told KSAZ of the Facebook event 'When I'm in the hospital bed all day my mom goes through all the pictures, she sees them all. She'll show me them all, doesn't matter, but the special ones are the funniest ones.' Kristen Lyons wrote online that her son had to return to the hospital January 2 for inpatient chemotherapy. She also thanked Lucero-Koron for starting 'Photo Doggies for Anthony' and thanked Facebook users for their submissions. She wrote 'I am amazed at how quickly this event has blown up and it makes me so happy to know how many people enjoy their pets as much as Anthony and I do. Your pets have brightened our days so much and it just shows you the power of pet thearapy and animal healing. 'This just shows what great people animal lovers are and we are really feeling the love from you and your pets in this difficult time. Thank you all so much from the bottom of our hearts.' Friendly faces: Yoda, left, is a Los Angeles pug who is one of the many dogs seen on the Facebook page. Harry, right, is a corgi from Huntsville, Alabama . Get well soon: Many of the photographs have been accompanied by messages from the dogs' owners, offering Anthony well-wishes . Treatment: Anthony Lyons has lymphoblastic leukeumia is currently a patient at a Phoenix hospital . In a Sunday update, Lucero-Koron wrote on the page 'Anthony is smiling joyfully because of YOU..This has gotten so viral that it is making local and soon National News....One thing I have to say is, make yourself smile too by looking at these beautiful animals that God gave us. I can't stop crying from tears of happiness.' Messages and photos of dogs can be posted to the Facebook page 'Photo Doggies for Anthony.'

620,000 Facebook users have said they are 'attending' the digital event, called 'Photo Doggies for Anthony' The event was started on behalf of 16-year-old Anthony Lyons . He was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukeumia last year after falling ill during a summer trip with his grandparents . Anthony is currently receiving chemotherapy at a Phoenix hospital .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 19:42 EST, 30 May 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 02:41 EST, 31 May 2013 . Astronauts traveling to and from Mars would be bombarded with as much cosmic radiation as they would get from a full-body CT scan about once a week for a year, researchers predict. That dose is enough to raise their cancer risk by about three per cent, but experts caution that there are many uncertainties about the space environment's effects on the body. As plans for deep space exploration ramp up, radiation is a big concern - from high-energy galactic cosmic rays spewed by distant supernova explosions to sporadic bursts of charged particles hurled by the sun. Destination Mars: An artist's impression of Nasa's Orion capsule in . orbit. Astronauts traveling to the red planet will be exposed to high levels of radiation, raising their . cancer risk considerably, researchers predict . Earth's magnetic field helps to deflect much of that harmful radiation. The U.S. space agency, Nasa, aims to send a crew to orbit the red planet by the mid-2030s. Private outfits like Inspiration Mars - backed by Nasa engineer-turned-space tourist Dennis Tito - are seeking volunteers for a Mars flight. There have been previous efforts to gauge the radiation risk for future Mars travelers, but the best estimate is coming from Nasa's Curiosity mission. Tucked inside the rover when it launched in 2011 was a radiation sensor that took readings during the 8 1/2-month cruise to Mars. Nasa shows astronaut Clay Anderson waves during a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. NASA engineers are testing propulsion systems and researching ways to reduce radiation exposure on a Mars flight . Artist's rendering: The Orion - or Multipurpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) - can be seen in the centre of this vision of a possible mission to Mars . From those figures, scientists calculated a spacefarer's radiation exposure for a quicker six-month voyage in a similarly shielded spacecraft. A roundtrip equates to about 662 millisieverts. That's a sizable chunk of an astronaut's career cap of 1,000 millisieverts which many international space agencies use to limit the accumulated radiation dosage in space. The dose is similar to getting a full-body CT scan every five or six days, said lead researcher Cary Zeitlin of the Southwest Research Institute in Colorado. The estimate doesn't include time spent on the Martian surface. Red planet: A Nasa artist's impression of a first mission to Mars. Nasa, aims to send a crew to orbit the red planet by the mid-2030s . Pressure shell: Nasa's new Orion spacecraft in construction at Kennedy Space Center. It is being packed with avionics, . instrumentation an flight computers . Taking shape: The Orion, which mimics the classic conical shape of the Apollo mission crew capsules, is one of the most advanced craft ever built . The analysis appears in Friday's issue of the journal Science. The amount of radiation likely won't change unless there's a rocket engine that can speed up the interplanetary ride, researchers said. 'You want to get there as quickly as possible' to reduce radiation exposure, said Don Hassler, scientist in charge of the radiation instrument aboard Curiosity. The radiation dose on a Mars trip would be higher than what crew members inside the International Space Station typically face - about 200 millisieverts per year. By contrast, people on Earth are typically exposed to about 3 millisieverts a year. Curiosity flew to Mars during a period of low to moderate solar activity. A manned mission that launches during a solar flare or storm would encounter more radiation. Nasa engineers are testing propulsion systems and researching ways to reduce radiation exposure on a Mars flight. Up, up and away: An artist's impression of the heavy-lift rocket that will take Orion into space . The high-resolution image of Mount Sharp where scientists plan to send Curiosity later in its mission - and where Nasa believes men could walk by 2033 . Among the possibilities: Have astronauts . wear a deployable shield resembling a heavy winter coat or have them . hunker down in a storm shelter aboard the spacecraft during periods of . high solar activity. 'Before we can send astronauts there, we . need to understand the environments and hazards that they would face,' said Chris Moore, deputy director of advanced exploration systems at . Nasa headquarters. Since landing near the Martian equator last summer, Curiosity has continued to track radiation as it rolls across the dusty surface toward its eventual mountain destination. The rover has turned up the best evidence yet of an ancient watery Mars.

Dose is enough to raise their cancer risk by about three per cent . New estimate of radiation risk is coming from Nasa's Curiosity mission . Nasa engineers are now researching ways to reduce radiation exposure .

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(CNN) -- The picture says it all. Curtis D. Tucker was thrilled to receive a Farrah Fawcett poster for his 14th birthday in 1976. The shot of 14-year-old Curtis D. Tucker shows him unrolling one of his birthday treasures in 1976, mouth slightly agape and eyes intensely focused on the gift. The present was one he had fervently requested from his parents and a hot item for many a young, red-blooded male during that bicentennial year: a poster of Farrah Fawcett (then known as Farrah Fawcett-Majors). "I was a huge Farrah fan," said Tucker, now a cartoonist and entrepreneur living in Enid, Oklahoma. "I had started collecting all of the magazines and pictures and I was basically pinning up every picture that came out of every magazine. Then along came that poster." "That poster" reportedly became the best-selling of all time -- with more than 12 million copies sold -- and helped make Fawcett one of the last great pinups. A private funeral is scheduled Tuesday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles, California, for the actress who died at the age of 62 from cancer. With her famously thick blond hair, red swimsuit, and smile as big and bright as the California sun, the actress was the epitome of the wholesome, all-American girl. "She was full of life and so happy with that blond hair and that huge smile," said Tucker, who isn't sure if he still has the poster in his attic. "Without that poster, I don't think she would have become what she was." That freshness and beauty is what landed her poster on Tucker's, and countless others', bedroom walls. Maria Elena Buszek, the author of "Pin-up Grrrls: Feminism, Sexuality, Popular Culture," said pinups "straddled the line between portraiture and pornography" and included early stage actresses, the famed models of Alberto Vargas and the most famous pinup of all, Bettie Page. Fawcett has her place in pinup history, said Buszek, an assistant professor of art history at Kansas City Art Institute, School of Liberal Arts. "The Farrah Fawcett poster really is one of the last iconic pinup images of the 20th century," Buszek said. "By the 1970s, because of the sexual revolution and mores about sexuality becoming looser in the west, the pinup does start to become more nostalgic." When the photo was taken, Fawcett had not yet become one of "Charlie's Angels," the role which helped make her a star. She was instead better known for her commercials and ads, most notably -- and not surprisingly -- for Wella Balsam shampoo. Photographer Bruce McBroom shot the now iconic image and told Entertainment Weekly that the starlet was at the time a young innocent from Texas who did her own hair and makeup for the shoot. "She had no idea of how beautiful and how attractive she was, I'm sure," McBroom recalled. "She was just like apple-pie, girl-next-door kind of girl, and in all the years I knew her she never changed." Now Fawcett's image, which was considered racy at the time, is a huge part of nostalgia. Ken Leicht, a manager of Hollywood Book and Poster Company in Los Angeles, said that before Fawcett's death, the poster was most in demand from production companies looking to stage the 1970s. "That poster, that shot of her, is just one of the definitive images of that time," Leicht said. "Most of the time with the posters, the teen girls are driving the market, and Farrah is probably one of the last ones that was for the guys." Leicht said actresses today, with the exception of a few like Pamela Anderson, don't really opt to market themselves using posters anymore. iReport.com: Share your memories of Fawcett . Matt Delzell, group account director for marketing and promotions agency The Marketing Arm, said that eventually the pinup transitioned more into supermodel pictures with the likes of Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Elle MacPherson, as well as the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. Fawcett had the crossover appeal that went beyond just being a model, Delzell said. "The poster came along at a time when posters were popular and she had the right photographer and took the right photo," Delzell said. iReport.com: Fawcett's hairstyle was in high demand . It certainly was the right shot for cartoonist Curtis D. Tucker. He wasn't a big fan of "Charlie's Angels," he said, so he wasn't that distressed when Fawcett left after only a year. After all, he was still able to keep her close. "The poster was something you had at home that you could look at every day," said Tucker, who kept the image up for several years. "I collected a few other pictures of some of the other Angels, but there wasn't anybody else after Farrah. She was the last."

Iconic poster of Farrah Fawcett reportedly best-selling of all time . Image graced many a young man's bedroom wall . Professor: Poster "one of the last iconic pinup images" Photographer says Fawcett "had no idea of how beautiful" she was .

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(CNN) -- Paul Revere hasn't stirred up this much anticipation in Boston since his midnight ride from Charlestown to Lexington. More than two centuries later, a recently unearthed time capsule he buried with fellow revolutionary Samuel Adams -- the man whom Revere was riding to see that night to warn that the British were coming -- has got his former city, state and most of the Internet abuzz. The artifact was unearthed Thursday thanks to a water leak near its resting place inside a cornerstone at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. When workers investigating the leak stumbled upon it, Secretary of State William Galvin, who heads the state historical commission, called Pamela Hatchfield, the head of object conservation at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. "There was a big discussion about whether or not it should be removed," Hatchfield told Brooke Baldwin on "CNN Newsroom" on Friday. "(But) because there was water infiltration in that area of the building, it was decided that we'd try to see if we could find it, investigate and see whether the box was still intact." Hatchfield spent seven hours Thursday delicately and painstakingly chipping away at the stone to extricate it. "The contents are of concern, but the plaster that held the box in place is in good condition," Galvin said. According to Galvin, the box-shaped capsule was placed by the Revolutionary-era duo in 1795, a year when Adams was governor and when construction began on the State House and its iconic dome, which would eventually be overlaid with copper by Revere. Both he and Hatchfield said that based on historical records, the box is believed to contain coins, a plate and a Revere-inscribed plaque -- but no one knows for sure. "It may contain other stuff, too," said Galvin. "We don't know that yet." But we might soon: Galvin, whose office is inside the State House, said the capsule's contents are expected to be revealed sometime next week. For now, it's getting some TLC and a thorough exam -- including X-rays over the weekend -- by the museum's staff. This is not the first time this capsule was unearthed. In 1855 it was dug up during emergency repairs to the State House and put back in place, something that has Hatchfield "a little worried." "We're a little worried because in 1855, they cleaned the contents with acid," she said. "So we're a little concerned that things maybe deteriorated inside." Galvin sounded more optimistic. "There were some coins that were tossed in the 1855 ceremony in the mix of the mortar. They are in good condition, so we are optimistic that the box itself has withstood the test of time and that it will therefore be holding the contents securely," he said. Galvin told CNN affiliate WBZ the capsule will probably be returned to the State House, and that he's mulling both a new container for the capsule and new items from the current era. 113-year-old time capsule found in Boston . CNN's Todd Leopold, Carma Hassan and Brooke Baldwin contributed to this story.

Time capsule will be X-rayed on Sunday before next steps are decided . Water leak led to unearthing of the nearly 220-year-old time capsule . Capsule was buried in 1795 by Paul Revere and Sam Adams . Its contents will be revealed next week .

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A businessman fearing he had cancer after discovering blood in his urine has been left stunned after doctors discovered he has a fully functioning womb - and the blood was from his period. The 37-year-old man, who MailOnine is not identifying, said he has experienced strange symptoms for years, such as a dull ache after sex, but his concerns were always brushed aside by medics. Specialists have since discovered that, as well has having typical exterior male genitalia, he also has an interior uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries. A 37-year-old businessman has been shocked to learn he has a fully functioning womb in addition to the typical male genitalia after suffering from a rare genetic disorder . They say he has been having periods since his teens, has experienced PMT, and may even be able to get pregnant. The man, from Lancashire, is now preparing for surgery to remove the womb having lived his whole life as a 'red blooded' male, according to The Sun. Doctors say this is the best way to treat the condition, but have warned him that he could start the menopause once the operation is complete. Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS) is a rare genetic disorder which occurs when the body fails to produce or respond to certain hormones while developing during pregnancy. Every foetus contains the beginnings of a womb, known as the Mullerian duct, but if the baby is male then it will produce hormones meaning this reduces and then disappears all together. However in those with PMDS the body either does not produce these hormones, or does not react to them properly, meaning the duct develops into a functioning womb. Because these hormones do not affect the growth of the penis, it means the child will also develop typical exterior male genitals. Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome is a genetic condition which means that both sets of genitals will form. Symptoms include one or both testicles failing to descend, and fleshy hernias in the lower abdomen . The syndrome is believed to be extremely rare, although the exact number of cases each year is largely unknown. The condition is usually spotted in early childhood or around puberty. Symptoms include one or both testes failing to descend properly or fleshy hernias in the lower abdomen. The condition is usually discovered during surgery to treat these problems. All foetuses develop with the beginnings of a womb, known as the Mullerian duct. In the male foetus hormones will be produced causing this to shrink and eventually disappear. But in those with PMDS these hormones will not be produced, or the body will not react to them. This means the Mullerian duct will develop into female sexual organs, including cervix, ovaries and uterus. Because different hormones are responsible for growing a penis, the male reproductive organs will also develop. Symptoms include one or both testicles failing to descend, and fleshy hernias in the lower abdomen. If the condition goes undiscovered into puberty, blood may also occur in the semen or urine after periods start. However in very exceptional cases the problem is not picked up by medics until adulthood, during which time the patient may have experienced blood in the semen or urine after starting periods, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The businessman, who is in a relationship with a woman who knows about his condition, says the first sign something was wrong came at six months old, when he had an operation on an undescended testicle. He told Alison Smith-Squire: 'As a child I didn't have any other problems and went through puberty normally, developing a deep voice and body hair. 'But as I reached my teen and 20s I began experiencing a dull ache, during and after sex.' When he was 18 blood first appeared in his urine, leading doctors to suspect he had bladder cancer, but a biopsy came back negative. Eventually he was sent for an MRI, and the images revealed he has a uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and even a cervix. A consultant has now told him that the ache after sex was caused by PMT, and the blood in his urine came from his periods. As well as surgery to remove the female organs, he will also take part in genetic screening to find out how his gender balances out. He added: 'It's possible tests will show I'm both male and female, but I feel completely right living life as a guy. Even if tests showed I was mostly a woman, I would still continue living as a man.' The 37-year-old is being sent for a hysterectomy at Manchester University Hospital - and has been told the operation may start the menopause (file image)

Man, 37, experienced dull ache after sex and found blood in his urine . Doctors sent him for MRI scan fearing he might have bladder cancer . But images showed he had a womb, including ovaries and cervix . Pain was actually PMT, and blood occurred while he was on his period . Surgeons will now remove womb, but say it could start the menopause .

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By . James Rush . This is the heartbreaking moment a hippopotamus stood motionless and howled in grief after discovering the body of her dead baby before angrily defending the corpse from others. Wildlife photographer Neal Cooper captured the scene in Kasane, Botswana, as the mother stood helpless above the body of the young calf. Mr Cooper said he initially thought the hippo was stood above a large rock, but came to realise the grim reality as the animal's bawling roared around the park. Anguish: A hippopotamus stands motionless over the body of her dead calf and howls in grief . Heartbroken: The grief-stricken mother angrily defended the calf's body from other hippos after discovering it lying motionless on the floor . The mother's anguish soon turned to rage however as she was pictured warning off other animals by baring her teeth. Mr Cooper said: 'It was to be a trip not to be forgotten quickly. 'We spotted a hippopotamus standing motionless on the river bank with her head resting on something which looked like a rock and as we approached we spotted something lying on the ground in front of her. 'It turned out to be a very young dead hippo. I couldn't see any wounds on the side which was showing, so we pulled up the boat, kept a safe distance and watched as another very large hippo approached from the water. 'The mother hippo was showing all possible signs of aggression towards the intruder by spraying her faeces, showing her teeth and saliva dripping from her mouth. 'The other hippo, although a very large individual, dared not exit the river and face the mother so stayed in the water and eventually moved a safer distance away. Grief: Wildlife photographer Neal Cooper captured the scene in Kasane, Botswana, as the mother stood helpless above the body of the young calf . Angry: Mr Cooper said the mother was continuing to display aggressive behaviour towards the other hippos the following day and charged towards an individual before two other hippos attacked her . 'It really was quite a distressing sight to see unfold in-front of you.' Hippos are regarded as among the most lethal animals in Africa and mothers are well-known for being highly territorial when looking after their young. Mr Cooper said: 'We believe the youngster was either killed when it got in the way of a fight between adults or maybe even by a male hippo who killed the youngster to rule out future competition. 'We stayed with the grieving and obviously distressed mother as long as we could before we had to be out of the park and we left her standing over her dead calf. 'The next morning we decided to go back to the area to see if the carcass had attracted any predators during the night, but when we arrived we saw two other hippos standing over the body. Dangerous: Hippos are regarded as among the most lethal animals in Africa and mothers are well-known for being highly territorial when looking after their young . Aggression: Mr Cooper said the mother was chased around by the other hippos 'until she found a spot in deeper water and it eventually calmed down' 'A very large female was mouthing the carcass and when it was turned over we could see a bite mark on the side of the baby with the entrails showing. 'The mother emerged from the reeds from across the water and immediately lifted her head and stared at the intruders. 'The two hippos had by now entered the water and moved towards the rest of the pod while the mother had also entered the water and took up position a short distance away from the grouped animals. 'She was still displaying aggressive behaviour towards the other hippos when she charged towards an individual before two other hippos attacked her from behind. 'They chased her around until she found a spot in deeper water and it eventually calmed down but the whole thing was absolutely incredible to see.'

Photographer Neal Cooper captured scene on camera in Kasane, Botswana . Mother hippo was pictured warning other hippos away from the dead calf . Mr Cooper described the scene as 'really quite a distressing sight to see'

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A millionaire hotel owner attacked his estranged wife's new lover with his nine-year-old son's cricket bat after discovering the pair of them had starting sleeping together, a court heard. Nigel Underwood, 45, previously ran the Grade-II listed Oaklands Hall Hotel in Laceby, Lincolnshire, with wife Sarah, 45. But a court heard in July this year the businessman took his wife to rehab to treat an addiction to alcohol. Sarah Underwood's affair prompted her husband (centre) to attack her lover Andrew Wordsworth (right) with a their 9-year-old son's cricket bat. There Sarah struck up a relationship with another recovering addict Andrew Wordsworth, 47, at the rehabilitation centre in Barnsley, South Yorks. Lincoln Crown Court heard on September 11 that Sarah returned to a caravan where she had been staying following her treatment with her new lover. Underwood was waiting for them at the site in Chapel St Leonards, Lincolnshire, and produced the wooden bat from his car after spotting his love rival. He then launched at Mr Wordsworth and battered him the weapon causing injuries to his left arm and head. On Tuesday Underwood - who also runs the Savoy Hotel and Suncastle Entertainment Complex in Skegness, Lincolnshire - admitted assault and possession of an offensive weapon. He walked free from court after being given a 12-month community order with supervision. Jilted husband Nigel Underwood said he wants to make amends with his estranged wife Sarah . Sarah and Nigel are co-owners of plush Oaklands Hall Hotel in Laceby, Lincolnshire . The entrepreneur was also ordered to pay £250 compensation to Mr Wordsworth, £250 prosecution costs as well as a £60 victim surcharge. Underwood defended his actions, saying: 'He took my wife off me - I just did what any man would have done.' The court heard the incident happened after Sarah had collected her new lover following his discharge from the rehab centre. Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said: 'Mr Wordsworth was a recovering alcoholic. Mrs Underwood was also a recovering alcoholic. 'They met at a treatment centre in Barnsley. 'They started up a relationship and when Mrs Underwood was discharged she said she wanted a separation. 'She moved to a caravan in Chapel St Leonards. The defendant did not take the news very well. 'Mr Wordsworth was struck a glancing blow to the head but managed to protect himself with his arm.' Underwood later went to Skegness Police Station where he handed himself in and confessed to what he had done. Nigel Underwood said he did the 'honourable' thing by handing himself in after the attack . Mr Scott added: 'The defendant described his actions as stupid. In interview he said that when his wife came out of rehab she was a different person. 'She said she needed space. 'She was still coming back to their home. 'When she didn't come back that night he went to see where she was.' Sentencing Underwood, from Skegness, Recorder Ciaran Rankin told him: 'You are an intelligent and successful businessman employing many people. 'It is clear that this happened at an emotionally charged time in your life.' 'Honest, upstanding man': Nigel Underwood said he had strong community support after the attack . Sunil Khanna, defending, said Underwood had no previous convictions and was embarrassed by what he had done. He added: 'He is a very sensible and honest, upstanding man.' Speaking after the case Underwood, who has three children with wife Sarah, said he still loved his wife and would take her back. He added: 'I just want my wife back. We have three children together and I just want her to be better. 'Instead, she is shacked up with a recovering alcoholic. I just did what any man would do. I acted honourably as I could and handed myself in straight away. 'That was the night I found they had started a physical relationship and I wasn't happy about it. 'When I saw him I just had to clock him one. 'He was with my wife, who I have stood by for 15 years while she has battled alcoholism. 'On the night she said she had been worried and I wanted to see she was OK and hadn't hit the Barcadi again. 'I had the cricket bat because it was my son's and I help run the borough district cricket team. He came towards me so I reacted and walloped him. 'I was looking out for her because I still love to bits. 'Everybody has stood by me, I had members of my family and members of the Skegness Round Table, where I am chairman, present at court to support me. 'But I have lost a wife, my children have lost their mother, it is a sorry state of affairs but we all love and care for her still.'

Nigel Underwood, 45, took wife Sarah, 45, to rehab to treat alcohol addiction . During treatment Ms Underwood began affair with Andrew Wordsworth . Ms Underwood asked for a separation from the father of her three children . But the jilted Mr Underwood attacked his wife's lover with son's cricket bat . Mr Underwood said: 'He took my wife off me... I'd do what any man would' Mr Underwood admitted to assault and was ordered to pay £560 by court . He still loves his wife and wants 'sorry state of affairs' to end .

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Chris Christie's administration got outside legal help on Thursday as a special state legislative committee decided to issue 20 subpoenas to launch its formal investigation of a scandal over alleged political retribution by top aides to the New Jersey governor. The subpoenas for 17 individuals and three organizations seek documents for now, said Democratic Assemblyman John Wisniewski, chairman of the panel. He refused to identify any recipients, saying they should learn of their subpoenas through being served instead of the news media. But CNN has obtained some of the names of those subpoenaed, including top current and former Christie administration officials. According to a source familiar with the subpoenas, among those served are: Kevin O'Dowd, Christie's chief of staff, David Samson, a close adviser, Bridget Anne Kelly, former deputy chief of staff, Bill Stepien, two-time Christie campaign manager, Charlie McKenna, Christie's chief counsel, Regina Egea, incoming chief of staff, Michael Drewniak, Christie's chief spokesman, Nicole Davidman Drewniak, Bill Baroni, top New Jersey official at Port Authority and Christie appointee, Patrick Foye, Port Authority executive director, Maria Comella, Colin Reed and Matt Mowers. The committee is also looking at entities that had to do with the governor's re-election, the source said. Christie fired Kelly and asked Stepien to leave his political operation after last week's release of explosive e-mails on the scandal. One name not on the list so far is Christie, as Wisniewski said there was "no intention" to subpoena the Republican governor at this time because no documents made public so far showed a "direct link" to him. Christie's office announced earlier his administration retained an outside law firm to help deal with the scandal involving traffic gridlock around the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee last September. E-mails made public last week suggested the lane closures that caused four days of jammed roads were orchestrated by top Christie aides to punish the Democratic mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing the governor's re-election. Also Thursday, the New Jersey Senate announced its own investigation in coordination with Wisniewski's panel, widening the political response to the controversial closing of access lanes to the nation's busiest bridge. U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman is also looking into the bridge matter, bringing the total number of investigations to four, including an internal review by Christie's office. Christie has promised cooperation with "appropriate" investigations of the matter, which could harm the presidential ambitions of the early front-runner for the Republican nomination in 2016. Can Christie change the subject? He appeared to refer to the scandal when he told a Thursday morning event involving Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts that "no one, I can assure you, ever told me or anyone on my team that it was going to be easy." "Whatever test they put in front of me, I will meet those tests," Christie said to applause. Separately, a source close to Christie said the governor believes the investigations into the scandal will be a long process. Christie does not intend to address the controversy in his inaugural address after he gets sworn in for a second term next week, the source told CNN's Dana Bash on condition of not being identified. Documents made public last week suggested that top staffers in Christie's administration orchestrated the traffic logjam in Fort Lee as payback for the failure of the town's Democratic mayor to endorse the governor for re-election. Those served will have two weeks to supply the requested documents, Wisniewski said, adding he expected his committee to meet again in mid-February to consider what it had received and possible next steps. Ad firm head: We were asked about using Christie in post-Sandy campaign . Christie said last week he knew nothing about any decision by aides to close highway lanes as political punishment, but Wisniewski and other Democrats label such a scenario as implausible. The traffic gridlock occurred two months before Christie was re-elected to a second term. In a document made public Thursday by Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said a traffic study initially cited as the reason for the lane closures was an "aberrational" event conducted outside normal protocol. The authority's response to questions from Rockefeller also said Christie's top appointee to the Port Authority leadership, David Wildstein, ordered the lane closures and suggested that he failed to heed warnings about their impact. In addition, Wildstein ordered a Port Authority manager "not to communicate information about the lane reduction" to officials in Fort Lee and indicated "he would control the communication about the toll lane closures," according to the response. Wildstein resigned from the Port Authority late last year as the controversy unfolded. Despite polls showing Christie as the early favorite for the Republican presidential nomination two years from now, the bridge crisis has grabbed national attention and forced the normally combative governor to adopt a more conciliatory posture. "Gov. Christie made clear last week that he will conduct an internal review to uncover the facts surrounding the lane closures in Fort Lee," his office said Thursday. "His administration is fully cooperating with the U.S. attorney inquiry and other appropriate inquiries and requests for information." The Christie administration has retained Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP as outside counsel in a move the administration hopes "will bring an outside, third party perspective to the situation." Opinion: Is Christie presidential? Randy Mastro, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, will head the legal team. Mastro has experience in organized crime cases and led the federal racketeering lawsuit that forced the International Brotherhood of Teamsters to hold democratic elections and to undergo court supervision. Mastro also is a former deputy mayor of New York. On the other side, the Democratic-led State Assembly panel investigating the scandal will be assisted by attorney Reid Schar, a key figure in the federal prosecution of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. On Tuesday, Christie addressed the scandal briefly in his State of the State address, saying "mistakes were clearly made." He also tried to shift the focus to policy initiatives, repeatedly imploring Democrats to work with him. The allegation of political payback first made by Democrats was subsequently magnified by e-mails that state legislators released last week. Kelly's name appeared in e-mails with Wildstein, including one in which she wrote: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee." Other exchanges suggested that Stepien was aware of the maneuvering that led to traffic gridlock. While the e-mails do not link Drewniak, the governor's spokesman, to the traffic jam scandal or even suggest it, they indicate that he had dinner with Wildstein two days before the transportation official resigned. Wildstein thanked Drewniak for his "sound advice," and the two men later e-mailed back and forth about how to announce his departure from the Port Authority. Federal officials also are looking at New Jersey's use of $25 million in Superstorm Sandy relief funds for a marketing campaign promoting the Jersey Shore's recovery that featured Christie and his family. In a statement Monday, Christie's office said the "Stronger than the Storm" campaign was part of an "action plan" approved by the Obama administration and developed with the goal of showing that the New Jersey Shore was open for business several months after the storm that devastated parts of the mid-Atlantic in October 2012. The campaign took place the same year that Christie was running for re-election. On Tuesday, the federal Housing and Urban Development agency described the investigation as a routine audit "and not an investigation of the procurement process." Opinion: Sure, Christie's team did wrong, but Jersey Dems are just as bad .

CNN has obtained some of the names of those subpoenaed . Subpoenas for documents to be issued to 17 individuals, three groups . No subpoena for Gov. Christie at this point in bridge scandal . Members of Christie's team are accused of exacting political retribution .

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Tokyo (CNN) -- Engineers used a flying drone to peer into the damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant Sunday as the crisis spurred more than 2,000 people to march against nuclear energy in Tokyo. "I was just a couch potato critic, but here we are today with friends for the first time, and I'm sure it's the first time for a lot of people today," said Karima Asuma Stickan, one of the protesters. Monday marks a full month in the battle to prevent a worse disaster at Fukushima Daiichi, which was battered by the earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck northern Japan on March 11. Japan's largest utility, Tokyo Electric Power Company, has been struggling to cool down three damaged reactors and prevent a wider release of radioactivity than has already occurred. Improvisation, frustration in week four of crisis . A camera was mounted on a remote-controlled helicopter to get pictures of the damaged reactors from above Sunday in hopes of getting a better look at the damaged housings of the No. 1, 3 and 4 reactors and hopefully the pools of spent fuel inside, company spokesman Junichi Matsumoto said. The drone hovered over the plant for 28 minutes at an altitude of about 150 meters (492 feet), he said. The T-Hawk drone, built by the U.S. company Honeywell, can transmit ordinary pictures as well as infrared images, Matsumoto told reporters. Images captured by the drone are expected to be released Monday, he said. In addition, the company is now using remote-controlled heavy machinery to clear away debris outside the plant and has begun the process of laying new pipes to start pumping radioactive water out of the flooded basements of the turbine plants behind units 1 through 3. Driving into Japan's radiation zone . One worker fell ill during the work on Sunday, the company said. The man, in his 30s, was placing hoses for collecting the contaminated water from reactor No. 2 when he became ill, nearly two hours into his shift. The subcontractor was taken to a hospital, where he was diagnosed with exhaustion, Tokyo Electric said. He was exposed to 4.82 millisieverts of radiation, but no radioactive substances were found on his body. His cumulative exposure is 16 millisieverts, well below the 250-millisievert limit for workers in the plant. He was with a group of 30 subcontractors working in the area, and was wearing protective gear, the company said. Japan launches new search for quake victims . The man had been working four-hour shifts since March 23, Tokyo Electric said. It was unclear whether he had received a day off. Meanwhile, two of the world's largest concrete pumps were en route to Japan on Sunday as part of the effort to help resolve the crisis. The pumps left the United States on Saturday -- one from Los Angeles and the other from Atlanta, said Bill Dwyer, vice president of sales and marketing for Putzmeister America, the pumps' manufacturer. Although the pumps were built to pump concrete, they can be modified to pump water at high pressure, with a 230-feet reach and "pinpoint accuracy," Dwyer said Sunday. "It allows workers to work from a greater distance," he said. One pump is set to arrive in Japan on Monday and the second on Tuesday, he said. Workers have been pouring hundreds of tons of fresh water a day into the three damaged reactors and the spent fuel pools of units 1-4 to keep them cool until normal circulation systems can be restored. The No. 2 reactor is believed to be leaking highly radioactive water, some of which had been spilling into the Pacific until Wednesday, while flooded basements in the turbine plants of all three units are making it impossible to restore power, company officials say. To make room for the fluid, Tokyo Electric has been dumping less contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean from a waste treatment facility on the site. That process -- which also includes the release of radioactive water from the drainage basins beneath reactors 5 and 6 -- was nearly complete Sunday evening, Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency reported. The radioactive particles in the water are dispersing into the ocean. But concentrations of radioactive iodine-131 remained 25 times higher than the Japanese legal standard in water sampled 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of the plant on Saturday. That's down from 93 times the limit on Wednesday, according to sampling data released Sunday. Levels of longer-lived cesium-137, which takes 30 years to lose half its radioactivity, remained nearly six times the legal limit but well below levels reported earlier this week. The discharge was billed as an emergency measure, but it infuriated Japan's fishing industry and drew protests from neighboring South Korea. And participants in Sunday's protest in Shiba Park, at the foot of the landmark Tokyo Tower, expressed concern about the long-term effects of the radioactive releases so far. Japanese turn in cash found in tsunami zone . "The air pollution gets into the lungs," said Dr. Nobuhiko Murapsu, a pulmonary care physician from Chiba Prefecture, north of Tokyo. "Five years, 10, 20 years later, they get lung cancer. This is a very severe problem." Murapsu said he's changed his views on nuclear power since the accident and decided to join the demonstration. Protesters marched from the park, ringed with cherry blossoms, to Tokyo Electric's headquarters and on to the Ministry of the Economy, Trade and Industry, which regulates Japanese nuclear power plants. Makiko Mikami told CNN that no one believes they're getting enough answers from either the utility or the government. "The problem is, I think I'm not sure they know the whole picture themselves," Mikami said. "If they know, they should share that information with us. And if they don't, they should admit that they're scared as well." Susan Olson and Yuki Arakawa contributed to this report for CNN .

NEW: Large pumps set to arrive in Japan this week . A plant worker falls ill and is diagnosed with exhaustion . Engineers hope the drone will give them a better picture of the reactors . More than 2,000 people protest against nuclear power in Tokyo .

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(CNN) -- A 25-year-old woman who was injured in last week's stampede at the Love Parade music festival in Duisburg, Germany, died Wednesday, bringing the death toll to 21, prosecutors there said. The deadly crush happened Saturday in an underpass between the main event site and an expansion area. Witnesses told CNN affiliate NTV that people pushed into the tunnel from both sides until it was dangerously overcrowded. The panic began when people began to lose consciousness as they were crushed against the walls and each other. The Duisburg public prosecutor's office said 511 were injured. Of these, 283 people had to be treated in hospitals, and all but 43 have been released. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and said that she was "horrified and saddened" by the tragedy. Carsten Lueb of NTV said some 1.4 million people showed up at the popular Love Parade festival, which featured dozens of DJs spinning techno music for hours. Organizers expected only 700,000 to 800,000 attendees, so to accommodate more people they opened an additional event site. The numbers are disputed by police, who say the area can hold between 250,000 and 350,000 and at no time was it filled to capacity. NTV reported that 1,400 police officers were on hand to monitor the event. Detlef von Schmeling of the Duisburg police said more than 4,000 police officers provided security. Witnesses told NTV that police were warned at least an hour before the incident that the underpass was becoming dangerously crowded. An additional entryway had been opened before the accident to relieve some of the pressure. Police are investigating how the back-up came to occur in the underpass.

Twenty-one people have died in the tragedy . More than 40 remain in hospitals . The German chancellor wants a thorough investigation .

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By . Harriet Arkell for MailOnline . Jailed: HIV-positive Alan Mason, 45, admitted causing GBH by having sex with a woman without protection . A man who intentionally infected his girlfriend with HIV has been jailed after admitting causing grievous bodily harm. Alan Mason, 45, from Endmoor, Cumbria, discovered he had HIV three years before he had unprotected sex with the woman, but still didn't bother to tell her, Carlisle Crown Court heard. Mason was jailed for two years and eight months by Judge Paul Batty QC, who told him: 'I am of the view that you deliberately targeted this hapless, vulnerable woman.' The court was told that Mason, a divorced father of two, was diagnosed in 2008. He met the 39-year-old woman, from Barrow, in a pub in Kendal in March 2011, and began a relationship with her. When she began feeling ill while on holiday seven months later, her GP suggested she be tested for sexually transmitted infections. Prosecutor Alex Leach told the court that when she told Mason what the doctor had said, he broke down and told her he was HIV positive. He said that when a blood test later revealed that she, too, had HIV, she 'went into total shock' and thought she was going to die because of the 'alarming' amount of weight she lost, the Cumberland News reported. In a statement, which was read to the court, she said: 'He has destroyed my life and the fact of what he did to me will live with me for the rest of my life.' Mason's lawyer said he had lost his home and his job after his marriage ended and he contracted HIV. Barrister Fraser Livesey said Mason was also shunned by his friends. Mason was prosecuted following an investigation by Cumbria Police which began when his victim complained she had contracted HIV from him. Detective Constable Damian West said: 'This is a unique case for Cumbria Constabulary and the sentencing imposed highlights the disregard Mason had for his actions. 'Even though the victim has to live with this virus, modern medication means there should be no impact on life expectancy. 'However, the virus has a significant day to day impact on those who have to live with it. 'If anyone has any concerns they should speak to their doctor, or seek support from dedicated organisations, such as the Terence Higgins Trust.' Scroll down for video . Carlisle Crown Court, pictured, heard Mason's victim thought she was going to die when she was diagnosed .

Alan Mason, 45, from Endmoor, Cumbria, discovered he had HIV in 2008 . In March 2011 he met a woman in a Kendal pub and began a relationship . Seven months later, she went to the doctor because she was feeling unwell . The GP suggested the 39-year-old woman, from Barrow, be tested for STIs . When she told Mason, he broke down and admitted he was HIV positive . The woman 'went into total shock' and thought she would die, court heard . Mason admitted causing GBH and was jailed for two years, eight months .

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A man who was trapped inside his body for years following a mystery childhood illness has revealed how he overcame unimaginable hurdles to become independent again - and find love. Martin Pistorius, who grew up in South Africa and now lives in England, was just 12 when he slipped into an inexplicable comatose state and spent the next dozen years trapped inside his body. Speaking to the Today show in his first U.S. television interview, he showed how far he has come since doctors realized he was aware of his surroundings - including completing a degree, learning how to drive and getting married. 'I thought, "I have so much love inside of me and nobody to give it to",' the 39-year-old recalled, using a computer to speak. Scroll down for videos . Miraculous: Martin Pistorius, pictured during an interview with the Today show, slipped into an inexplicable coma when he was 12 and remained trapped inside his body for years before people realized he was aware . Happy together: In 2008, he met his sister's friend Joanna, left, and said it was love at first sight . But on New Year's Day 2008, he met his sister's friend Joanna and knew she was The One. 'It is hard to explain but you just know,' he said. 'I had heard people say that and always thought "yeah right" until it happened to me.' Joanna, who sat beside him during the interview, said she felt it too. '[He] had such a nice smile and I just thought he's really attractive,' she said. 'He seemed like such a kind person.' The couple, who married in 2009, are now hoping to start a family. Pistorius is able to have biological children, his wife said. It is a life that, 20 years ago, his family never could have imagined he would have. One day in January 1988, when he was 12, he was sent home early from school with a sore throat and his condition quickly deteriorated. His mobility was the first to go, followed by his memory, and he was left completely unresponsive. His muscles wasted away and his hands and feet curled in on themselves. Before: Pistorius is pictured (second right) with his parents and siblings before he was taken ill in 1988 . Bizarre: Doctors were unable to explain why he had fallen ill. He was left unable to communicate or move . Doctors were never able to conclusively pinpoint the exact cause, but cryptococcal meningitis was the most likely culprit. 'We were told to take him home and take care of him until he died,' his father told the Today show. But a couple of years later, Pistorius started becoming aware of his surroundings again even though he could not tell his family. He said he would attempt to move but it would go unnoticed. 'For so many years, I was like a ghost,' he told the Today show from his Essex home. 'I could hear and see everything, but it was like I wasn't there. I was invisible.' Every day, his father would take him to a care center for eight hours, return at the end of the day and then take him home to be bathed and put to bed. He said the powerlessness was terrifying. 'Every single aspect of your life is controlled and determined by someone else,' he said. 'They decided where you are, what you eat, whether you sit or lie down, in what position you lie in, everything.' For days on end when he was 17 and 18, he would be put in front of the children's television show 'Barney & Friends', and he says the thought of the purple dinosaur is still painful for him. Overwhelmed: Pistorius' parents, Rodney and Joan, were unaware that their son started to understand them when he was about 16. At one point, Joan told him that she hoped he would die . Struggle: When he was 26, a nurse realized that he seemed to understand her and told his parents to get him tested. It emerged that he did understand and slowly he re-learned how to read and communicate again . 'Barney played, I guess you could say, a tormenting role in my life,' he said. 'For years, I would get flashbacks and have nightmares.' Instead, he tried to pass the time by looking at how the seasons changed, how the light moved across his room or how plants grew. His inner life kept him busy, he said. 'I used to live in my mind,' he said. 'I've had conversations with myself and other people all in my head. I'd imagine I was doing all sorts of things.' His condition also caused pain for his family. One night, his mother told him that she hoped he died. She did not know that he could hear it. Pistorius said he isn't angry at his mother for what she said. 'I felt only love and compassion for my mother,' he said. 'My mother often felt that she wasn't a good mom and couldn't take care of me. One of the hardest things for me was I couldn't tell her that, 'No, you are doing great'.' Eventually, in 2001, a new worker at his care center started sitting with him every day, and noticed that he was giving her small signals that suggested he was aware of his surroundings. At age 26, Martin passed a test by identifying pictures of various items with his eyes. Love of his life: In 2008, he met Joanna, pictured, and she said she was immediately drawn to his smile . By his side: The couple married in 2009 and live in England, where they hope to start a family soon . Fighter: The couple chat with NBC reporter Kate Snow at their Essex home. Pistorius uses a computer, pictured, to help him speak. He said it came with an American accent but he changed it to South African . Joan, his mother, quit her job as a radiographer and spent the next two years helping Martin master a computer program that enabled him to communicate. 'I don't think I will ever forget that feeling when my mom asked me what I'd like for supper and I said, "Spaghetti Bolognese," and then she actually made that. I know that must seem insignificant, but for me, that was amazing,' he said. He had to learn everything again, including reading and how to have a conversation. He was also soon able to use a wheelchair and drive in a car that operates with his hands, and enrolled in a university to study computer science. He now works as a web designer and in 2011, he released his autobiography, Ghost Boy. But for him, the greatest joy was meeting Joanna. 'I probably have a somewhat unique perspective on life, I appreciate it a lot,' he told the Today show, with a smile across his face. 'The simple things... To have someone to share your life with, simply to cherish life.'

Martin Pistorius, 39, appeared on the Today show on Thursday morning in his first TV interview in the U.S. When he was 12, he was sent home from school with a sore throat . But his physical and mental condition quickly deteriorated and he was left in a comatose state that baffled doctors . A couple of years later, he started becoming aware again but could not tell anyone around him and instead spent a decade locked inside his body . When he was 26, a carer noticed small signals he appeared to be giving and she told his parents to get him tested - and they learned he was aware . He now communicates through a computer and has completed a degree . In 2008, he met his future wife, Joanna, and the couple, who live in England, now hope to start a family .

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When Al Jazeera becomes a major U.S. cable channel, as it plans, some Americans are likely to click past it, recalling the alleged anti-American tone by the pan-Arab network during the Iraq war a decade ago. "My guess is that when people hear about Al Jazeera, they will not be paying attention to the news quality or correspondents," said media analyst Stuart Fischoff, a retired professor at California State University at Los Angeles. "They will just hear Qatar, and say it's an Arab country and it's full of terrorists and ... therefore bias in the news," he said. The Qatari government owns Al Jazeera. Others, however, may find any past political slants overshadowed by a newscast striving toward U.S. standards. Viewers may be curious just to hear Al Jazeera America, which will have access to millions of U.S. homes now that the traditional Arabic-language network this week acquired Current TV, once owned by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and others. "I think it's a very, very well-done news network," said media expert and former White House correspondent Porter Bibb of Mediatech Capital Partners in New York, where he listens to a related network, Al Jazeera English, now available in a tiny fraction of U.S. markets. Al Jazeera English also is live-streamed at no cost online and provides insight into what the bigger, new Al Jazeera America will look like, he said. The emergence of Al Jazeera as a major U.S. cable network has resurrected debate about past accusations of anti-American bias during the Iraq invasion under President George W. Bush. The Bush administration excoriated the Arab peninsula's network for broadcasting Osama bin Laden videos. Today, evidence of U.S. antipathy at the Arabic network has dissipated significantly, though not entirely, several analysts say. "It has obviously been demonized by our politicians for almost a decade," said Rory O'Connor, a former CBS News producer and a media expert. He noted how an Al Jazeera cameraman was detained for six years at the U.S. Navy prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. But Al Jazeera's current English broadcast is "excellent," without the bias alleged by U.S. politicians, said O'Connor, author of the roryoconnor.org blog and a contributor to Al Jazeera's website. He disputed conservatives' portrayal of Al Jazeera as a "terror network" and propaganda outlet. Other analysts, however, say Al Jazeera continues to telecast content that they deem to be anti-American. "Surely they will be careful in the beginning. They will try to prove that they are a professional channel that's objective," said Yigal Carmon, president of the Middle East Media Research Institute, which has gathered several Al Jazeera video clips in recent years that the institute says show anti-American bias. Carmon is a former chief counterterrorism adviser to Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Yitzhak Shamir. "It's much less anti-American than in the past, and the English (broadcast) is a soft version" of the Arabic telecast, Carmon continued. "But this is the government of Qatar. It's to discuss the government of Qatar. It's a policy arm of the ruler of Qatar." Spokesmen for Al Jazeera couldn't be reached by CNN for comment. In language that will surely be open for debate once Al Jazeera America enters U.S. homes, Carmon used strong words in describing the Qatari government. "Qatar, after all, is a dictatorship, and in a dictatorship, they use media as an arm of foreign policy, be it Arab or Muslim foreign policy or an international one," he said. The Qatari government's decision to bring Al Jazeera into American homes is a provocative political maneuver -- as well as an emerging business strategy now being pursued by other government-sponsored networks, experts said. "Can I note the unusual nature or essential weirdness of a former vice president of the United States selling his network to an Arab-based network that is owned by a foreign government?" said media expert Howard Kurtz, host of the weekly CNN program "Reliable Sources." Al Jazeera has always been regarded as something of a vanity venture by the wealthy emir of Qatar, which is home to the world's third largest gas reserve and is spending billions of dollars on its public image profile by sponsoring sports events at home and in Europe, experts said. "Al Jazeera has been trying and failing for years to get on television here in the United States," media writer Brian Stelter of New York Times told CNN. "For the most part, Al Jazeera is buying this for the real estate because it's beachfront real estate." Bibb, of Mediatech Capital Partners, referred to how Al Jazeera reportedly paid $500 million to acquire Current TV, whose access to 60 million households is now expected to be largely transferred to Al Jazeera America. "If you have bottomless pockets, it doesn't make any difference what you pay or how you go forward," Bibb said. "I think the assumed price of $500 million is absurd for what they got. On the other hand, it makes no difference to the emir of Qatar because it's chump change to him." But one cable company has balked at carrying Al Jazeera America: Time Warner Cable stopped carrying Current TV upon the announcement of the Al Jazeera deal. A Time Warner Cable spokeswoman said that past bias allegations against Al Jazeera didn't factor into the firm's decision. Analysts agreed, saying the company could be leveraging Al Jazeera America, seeking to get a per-subscriber payment for the cable firm in exchange for carrying the channel. "This has nothing to do with politics. We treat Al Jazeera like any other network," said a Time Warner Cable spokeswoman. "We will look to gauge our customer interest in Al Jazeera America and assess whether it is a good value for our customers." Commentary: Why Al Jazeera has set its sites on the U.S. Al Jazeera America isn't an isolated phenomenon. Another government-sponsored media outlet that has ventured into U.S. broadcasting is China's CCTV America, launched last year. "The Chinese have about a similar coverage of the U.S. media market as Al Jazeera does right now," Bibb said. "They are using a soft diplomacy and no one is saying it's a propaganda outlet. Their approach is very thoughtful, but it's all China and that's what people are hungry for." Bibb wondered why Al Jazeera America would plan to produce 60% of its content in the United States, as it has said, when Al Jazeera has increasingly become renowned for its coverage of the Middle East, especially during the recent Arab Spring revolutions. Politics aside, Al Jazeera America will find American audiences to be tough customers. The Arab royal-family-owned network will be entering a tumultuous, fragmented marketplace for news programming where the top-ranked cable news shows garner ratings only in the hundreds of thousands at any one time, not millions, analysts said. Furthermore, access to 60 million homes doesn't guarantee that many people will be watching the program, analysts said. International newscasts in particular can also be a hard sell, experts said. "A lot will depend on how much appetite there is in the American market for international news. A lot of these organizations have cut back on that," Kurtz said. Carriers "are getting hate mail from some viewers who don't want to see it on their cable lineup," the New York TImes' Stelter said about Al Jazeera. "But money can change a lot of these problems and they have a lot of it."

Media analysts say the past anti-American bias of Al Jazeera has largely subsided . But one group collects Al Jazeera video clips that it says show bias . The decision to bring Al Jazeera into American homes is a political maneuver, some say . The new venture will find the cable news market competitive .

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By . Daniel Martin . Nick Clegg has said he wants to spend ten years as Deputy Prime Minister – and would refuse to prop up either of the main parties in a minority government. The Liberal Democrat leader said if both Labour and the Tories failed to win a majority in next year’s election, he would accept nothing less than another Coalition. He spoke as a YouGov poll yesterday showed support for the Lib Dems is at a feeble 9 per cent ahead of the European elections on May 22 – meaning the party could lose all 11 of its MEPs. Coalition partners: Tory David Cameron and Lib Dem Nick Clegg . This lack of popular support suggests that if the Lib Dems do enter a second coalition, they may be disproportionately represented in Parliament. Mr Clegg described coalition as a ‘fascinating laboratory’ of ideas and said: ‘I’d very much like to  continue in government.’ Figures close to David Cameron and Ed Miliband have privately said they wish to rule alone in the event of another hung parliament. But Mr Clegg said: ‘My party would not be interested in propping up a minority government without coalition. It isn’t a role I would see as right for myself or the Liberal Democrats... We’ve only just got started, and a ten-year period for us in government means we could make a majority contribution. The last thing I want to do is give up this job.’ He criticised Labour and the Tories for . wanting to go it alone, saying: ‘It’s swashbuckling stuff, but when it . comes down to it  a minority government would  be unstable. And it’s . irresponsible. Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, spoke out against minority government last week - saying it was unstable . 'We are still living in difficult times and difficult times require strong government, capable of taking tough decisions and with the majority in Parliament to make sure they happen.’ The 2010 election ended in a hung parliament, meaning no party had a majority among MPs. As a result, the Tories and Lib Dems formed a Coalition. If there is a hung parliament again in 2015, one option would be another coalition. The next step down would be for Labour or the Tories to form a minority government and enter a ‘confidence and supply’ agreement with a smaller party. The smaller party – the Lib Dems – would not have ministers in the Cabinet, but would promise to help the Government and to support it in a vote of no confidence. Without this support, a minority government would be unable to get things done and could be forced to resign in a no confidence debate. Mr Clegg’s comments indicate he would force a second election if he failed to get a coalition. He told a Sunday newspaper that he wanted the Lib Dems to be a ‘political force in the life of this country – not just a think-tank’. It means there will be no return to the Lib-Lab pact of the 1970s, when Liberal David Steel kept a minority Labour government in power. Last week Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, also spoke out against minority government, saying it is ‘unstable’ and would ‘not be in the national interest’ as it could not take tough decisions to protect the recovery. He will be in charge of negotiating with the main parties in the ‘likely’ event of a hung parliament, and said the Lib Dems would be willing to form a coalition with either Labour or the Conservatives.

Nick Clegg claims he wants to spend ten years as Deputy Prime Minister . Said wouldn't take less than Coalition if neither main parties won a majority . Poll shows Lib Dem support at 9 per cent ahead of European elections .

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Roger Federer joined an elite club by claiming his 1,000th career win with a hard-fought victory over Milos Raonic in the final of the Brisbane International. Only Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl had previously achieved the feat in the Open era, but Federer reached the landmark after seeing off a resilient Raonic 6-4 6-7 (2/7) 6-4. The milestone, as well as his overall triumph this week, gives Federer plenty of momentum heading into the Australian Open, which gets under way in Melbourne next Monday. VIDEO Scroll down for Roger Federer claims 1000th win to earn Brisbane International title . Roger Federer earned his 1,000th career win with a hard-fought victory against Milos Raonic . Federer celebrates his win in front of the Brisbane crowd on Sunday . The milestone gives Federer plenty of momentum heading into the Australian Open . But the Swiss was forced to earn his success on Sunday, with Raonic hitting back from a break down in the second set to force a decider before eventually being pipped in a titanic battle that lasted two hours and 13 minutes. Federer showed flashes of his brilliant best in the opening set, with 15 winners and just three unforced errors, as he set out to claim his eighth win in nine matches over his Canadian opponent. The top seed broke in the third game and was never threatened on serve to seize control of the final. It got no better for Raonic as he double faulted to drop serve at the beginning of the second set although the third seed discovered his touch and reeled off eight points in a row. The set went with serve to force a tie-break, where again Raonic went a run, losing the first two points before storming back to win the next seven and take Federer the distance. Federer reaches landmark after seeing off Raonic 6-4 6-7 (2/7) 6-4 in Australia . Raonic made life difficult for Federer but was eventually beaten in three sets . Neither player gave an inch in the decider, with both staving off break points to hold their serve. It appeared another tie-break would be needed to settle the encounter but Federer, at 5-4 ahead, showed all his years of his experience by forcing a break point opportunity and then wrapping up victory for his 83rd career title. 'It's a special moment, no doubt about it,' Federer told atpworldtour.com after the victory. 'I've played a lot of tennis over the years, so to get to 1000 wins tonight really means a lot to me. I'll never forget this match.' Beaten Raonic hailed the Swiss' achievement, and said: 'We all know today was a significant milestone for Roger. When we were warming up, I heard all those titles; I honestly thought he was playing for 2000 match wins today! I think he needs to step it up!'

Roger Federer defeats Milos Raonic to earn 1,000th career win . Federer reaches landmark after seeing off Raonic 6-4 6-7 (2/7) 6-4 . Only Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl had previously achieved the feat .

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(CNN) -- Russia hit back at Prince Charles after reports emerged that the heir to the British throne compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler. According to the Daily Mail newspaper, a woman claims Charles made the offhand comment during a tour Monday of the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia. "I would like to say that if these words were truly spoken, then without a doubt, they do not reflect well on the future British monarch," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said Thursday. The spokesman accused the royal family in general of using the media to smear Russia's involvement in the Ukraine crisis. "That's why we view the use of the Western press by members of the British royal family to spread the propaganda campaign against Russia on a pressing issue -- that is, the situation in Ukraine -- as unacceptable, outrageous and low," he said. Charles was talking with a 78-year Polish woman who escaped the Nazi Holocaust by sailing to Canada in 1939 -- just before Germany seized the city of Gdansk, the Daily Mail said. "I had finished showing him the exhibit and talked with him about my own family background and how I came to Canada," the newspaper quoted Marienne Ferguson as saying. "The prince then said, 'And now Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler,' " the newspaper quoted her as saying, referring to Russia's disputed annexation of Crimea. Ferguson said she agreed with Charles. CNN could not independently confirm the conversation. Representatives for Charles declined to comment. Also, Russia's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom is meeting a senior UK Foreign Office official Thursday in London amid the controversy over the reported comments. The Russian Embassy requested the meeting Wednesday. CNN's Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report.

Russia criticizes British royal family over Prince Charles controversy . Charles reportedly compared Vladimir Putin to Hitler . A Russian official says the comments reflect poorly on future monarch .

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By . Sam Adams . PUBLISHED: . 06:02 EST, 24 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 10:21 EST, 24 December 2012 . A hospital's smallest surviving premature baby has defied the odds to make it home for Christmas after her older sister 'asked Santa' to make it happen. Amber-May Bass weighed less than 1lb when she was born 15 weeks early on August 3 - lighter than a large tin of beans, which weighs around 1.1lbs. But the premature baby has since made a good recovery and is well enough to spend the festive period with her family - granting her six-year-old sister Jenna-Rose's Christmas wish. Celebration: Amber May's arrival home granted her older sister Jenna-Rose's (above centre) Christmas wish. Her parents Nikkie Palmer (left) and Andrew Bass (right) feared the family would never share a family Christmas together . Loved: Ms Palmer said it was 'absolutely amazing' to have her daughter home in time for Christmas. Amber-May was born weighing less than a tin of baked beans (right) Their proud mother, Nikkie Palmer, 34, of Stowmarket, Suffolk, said: 'We are just so excited about Christmas now after getting Amber-May back home with us. Even just the build-up to it. 'Having Amber-May home and all that - it's so exciting.' Ms Palmer revealed that in their darkest moments she and her partner Andrew Bass, 27, feared the family would never spend Christmas Day together. Amber-May was born by emergency Caesarean section at West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds. Ms Palmer said it was 'absolutely amazing' to have her daughter home in time to celebrate Christmas. She revealed that Jenna-Rose had asked Father Christmas to bring her new sibling home for the festive holidays. Christmas Miracle: Her return home has overjoyed her family. She will spend Christmas and Boxing day together with her sister, parents and grandparents . Joy: Amber-May was born by emergency Caesarean section at West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmund . 'I really thought this Christmas would never come because we didn't expect her home really before the New Year,' said Ms Palmer. Friends and family have been absolutely amazing. 'They have all helped out with picking up Jenna-Rose from school and taking her to school.' Ms Palmer said the family would not have coped without the support of their friends and family. 'We have a great support network with everybody,' she said. Amber-May now weighs in at a healthy 5lb 11oz and has been gaining weight gradually. 'She's settled into her feeding routine and everything now, said Ms Palmer. Jane and Graham Ackinclose from Newcastle had a set of triplets who were born at just 29 weeks in November (pictured). Yet each still weighed more than double that of tiny Amber at birth . The festive period is going to be a family affair with Christmas dinner at Ms Palmer's mother's house and Boxing Day at Mr Bass's parents' home. Dr Ian Evans, consultant paediatrician at West Suffolk Hospital, said: 'Amber-May isn't the most premature baby we've cared for at West Suffolk, but as far as I'm aware she's the smallest who has survived. 'We are really pleased with the progress she has made, especially as she was so tiny when she was born.'

Tiny Amber-May Bass weighed less than 1lb when she was born in August . Parents feared family would never enjoy Christmas together . She is now well enough to spend festive period with her family - granting her older sister's Christmas wish .

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By . Jenny Hope . PUBLISHED: . 13:20 EST, 30 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 13:20 EST, 30 October 2012 . Thousands of women each year endure gruelling, unnecessary treatment for breast cancers that were not life-threatening, a British review has found. The findings have raised fears that many women in the US are also undergoing needless treatment. For every life saved by early detection, three women have therapy they do not need, according to the most definitive investigation of breast cancer screening so far. Nearly all are given aggressive treatments – including chemotherapy, radiotherapy or having a breast removed – even though they might never have experienced any symptoms during their lifetime because their cancers were slow growing or non-aggressive. Unnecessary: Thousands of women every year have gruelling treatment for breast cancers they do not need . These treatments can involve months of agony and have a severe impact on a woman’s quality of life. Under the NHS screening programme, . which cost £75million last year, women are invited for mammograms every . three years between the ages of 50 and 70, although this is set to be . extended to include those aged 47 to 73. In the U.S., a government-appointed task force of experts recommends women at average risk of cancer get mammograms every two years starting at age 50. But the American Cancer Society and other groups advise women to get yearly mammograms from the age of 40. Nearly 227,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, according to the National Cancer Institute, and more than 39,000 women will die. In the UK, over 99 per cent of those diagnosed with breast cancer will have surgery; of which 25 per cent will have a mastectomy and 75 per cent an operation to have a lump removed. At the same time, 87 per cent of patients are given hormonal drugs that can cause hot flushes, mood changes and sickness, while 80 per cent have radiotherapy. This can cause tiredness for months and swelling or damage to skin, while a very small number experience side-effects including damage to the lungs or heart. One in four has chemotherapy, which commonly causes tiredness, lower immunity, sickness and hair loss. Although the new study stressed the programme saved around 1,300 lives a year, it also led to an estimated 4,000 women being ‘overdiagnosed’. The dilemma for doctors is that it is not possible to distinguish between those for whom the disease could be fatal, and women who have cancer ‘under the microscope’ but are unlikely ever to  experience symptoms. The review concludes that although screening does more good than harm, it  is a closer call than previously thought. It said the programme remains worthwhile even though less than 0.5 per cent of women screened will have their life extended in the next 20 years. However, the authors stressed that  the estimated two million women who undergo testing each year must be given ‘clear and unbiased’ information about the pros and cons – something which is currently lacking. More than 99 per cent of those diagnosed with breast cancer will have surgery; of which 25 per cent will have a mastectomy and 75 per cent an operation to have a lump removed . At present, a ‘patronising’ leaflet tells them they could be affected by overdiagnosis – but does not quantify the risk. The review, led by public health expert Professor Sir Michael Marmot and published in the Lancet medical journal, was ordered by the Department of  Health after mounting controversy about whether women were getting the full picture on breast screening. A succession of studies had claimed the programme did not save lives and could lead to unnecessary treatment for non life-threatening cancers. It was brought to a head last year by an open letter from Professor Susan Bewley, consultant obstetrician at King’s College London, to the National Cancer Director calling for women to be told of ‘genuine doubts’ about the programme. She said NHS leaflets ‘exaggerated benefits and did not spell out the risks’. Researchers from the Nordic Cochrane Centre have also repeatedly questioned the benefits of organised screening, suggesting the dramatic fall in breast cancer deaths is due to changes in risk  factors and improved treatment. Professor Sir Mike Richards, the National Cancer Director, said: ‘I welcome the fact that the review clearly recommends that breast screening should continue. ‘But the key thing is we communicate this information to women so they can make an informed choice.’ Dr Harpal Kumar, of charity Cancer Research UK, which jointly commissioned the review, said: ‘This review shows screening saves lives. We recommend women go for screening when invited.’

Study finds 4,000 women a year in UK receive needless treatment, prompting fears number could be significantly higher in the U.S. Nearly all are given aggressive treatments even though they might never have experienced any symptoms during their lifetime . Treatments can involve months of agony and have severe impact on life . Over 99 per cent of those diagnosed with breast cancer will have surgery . Dilemma for doctors is that it is not possible to distinguish between those for whom disease could be fatal, and those who will never have symptoms .

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By . Jessica Jerreat . PUBLISHED: . 14:59 EST, 17 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 09:55 EST, 18 September 2013 . The Rabbi behind the Los Angeles Kabbalah Center, who attracted followers including Madonna, Britney Spears and Demi Moore, died today, aged 86. Rabbi Philip Berg, known as Rav by his devotees, had been in declining health since a stroke in 2004. The 86-year-old Rabbi was best known for bring Jewish mysticism to the masses through the center he set up in 1965. Mentor: Rabbi Philip Berg introduced followers including Madonna and Britney to Kabbalah . At the height of its popularity, celebrities including Paris Hilton, Rosie O'Donnell and Lindsay Lohan could all be seen wearing the red thread bracelet associated with Kabbalah - an ancient practice usually reserved for Jewish scholars. Demi Moore and Ashtun Kutcher held their 2005 wedding at the Los Angeles center and Madonna has donated millions to the center and says Kabbalah inspired her 1998 album Ray of Light. Rav 'left us with incredible knowledge through . thousands of hours of teaching, examples of courage that we will never . forget, and the comfort of a Kabbalah Centre that we can all call home,' a statement from the center said today. The Los Angeles center, which was founded in 1965, has attracted criticism for the lucrative and celebrity-friendly way it presents ancient Jewish mysticism, according to the Los Angeles Times. But the center said Berg had 'created a path for millions to learn and live Kabbalah'. The New York rabbi gave up his career in business to learn from Rav Yehuda Brandwein, one of the greatest kabbalists of the last century. He followed him to Israel to learn more and, when he returned to the U.S, started looking for ways to make the religion more accessible. Devoted: Madonna leaves the Los Angeles Kabbalah Center . Star appeal: Ashton Kutcher, left, married Demi Moore at the center. Paris Hilton, right, with a thread bracelet . Belief: Britney Spears wears the red threat and carries the Holy Zohar while pregnant with her first child . Celebrity followers were easily recognized by the $26 red thread bracelet, said to ward off evil, that they would wear. Roseanne Barr credits its spiritual teachings with changing her life. '[Kabbalah] helped me to totally reconfigure my entire being, the way I thought, the way I did everything,' she told USA Today in 2004. In an interview with MTV's Kurt Loader, Madonna explained a friend had introduced her to the teachings of 'this charismatic Rabbi'. 'The thing about it is there's similarities to Buddhism ... you have to take responsibility for the chaos in your life,' she said. Madonna remained close to Rav and his family, helping to fund and set up a Kabbalah Center in London's Mayfair, and donating at least $18 million, according to the Times of Israel. And Madonna's ex-husband Guy Ritchie . is said to have defended it by saying: 'The difference between Kabbalah . and Catholicism is the amount of people ... You don't call Catholicism a . cult.' The organization, which also sells blessed water, has assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Following: Los Angeles' Kabbalah Center has attracted high profile devotees . Following: Lindsay Lohan with one of the red bracelets, and Mischa Barton, right, have been linked to Kabbalah . Mystical: Rabbi Berg was credited with bringing the ancient branch of Judaism to the masses . The first branch was opened in 1922, and Kabbalah now has centers in more than 40 cities around the world. The website for the Los Angeles branch describes the religion as 'the world's oldest body of spiritual wisdom' containing 'the long-hidden keys to the secrets of the universe as well as to the mysteries of the human heart and soul'. Rav's wife will and two sons will continue to run the center. The Rabbi, who was ordained in 1951, is to be buried next week in the Israel city of Safed, said to be a center of Jewish mysticism, the Jewish Daily Forward reported.

Rabbi Philip Berg credited with bring Jewish mysticism to the masses . Actors and musicians flocked to the Los Angeles center he founded .

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(CNN) -- Arkansas game officials hope testing scheduled to begin Monday will solve the mystery of why up to 5,000 birds fell from the sky just before midnight New Year's Eve. The birds -- most of which were dead -- were red-winged blackbirds and starlings, and they were found within a one-mile area of Beebe, about 40 miles northeast of Little Rock, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said. Birds fell over about a one-mile area, the commission said in a statement. As of Saturday, between 4,000 and 5,000 birds had been found dead, said Keith Stephens with the commission. "Shortly after I arrived, there were still birds falling from the sky," said commission wildlife officer Robby King in the statement. He said he collected about 65 dead birds. The commission said it flew over the area to gauge the scope of the event, and no birds were found outside of the initial one-mile area. Karen Rowe, an ornithologist for the commission, said the incident is not that unusual and is often caused by a lightning strike or high-altitude hail. A strong storm system moved through the state earlier in the day Friday. "It's important to understand that a sick bird can't fly. So whatever happened to these birds happened very quickly," Rowe told CNN Radio on Sunday. "Something must have caused these birds to flush out of the trees at night, where they're normally just roosting and staying in the treetops ... and then something got them out of the air and caused their death and then they fell to earth," Rowe added. Officials also speculated that fireworks shot by New Year's revelers in the area might have caused severe stress in the birds. Rowe said Sunday there was evidence that large fireworks may have played a role. "Initial examinations of a few of the dead birds showed trauma. Whether or not this trauma was from the force of hitting the ground when they fell or from something that contacted them in the air, we don't know," Rowe said. The dead birds will be sent for testing to labs at the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission and the National Wildlife Health Center in Wisconsin. The necropsies will begin Monday, Stephens said, and the findings should be available sometime this week. The city of Beebe has hired U.S. Environmental Services to begin the cleanup and dispose of the dead birds, the commission said. The firm's workers will go door-to-door and pick up birds still in yards and on rooftops. CNN's Tina Burnside and Shelby Lin Erdman contributed to this report.

No birds were found outside of a one-mile area . Up to 5,000 birds fell from the sky New Year's Eve . Testing will begin Monday to determine what caused the incident . The birds were found in Beebe, Arkansas .

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Corvettes that were once part of an artist's storied collection, but became dusty and fell into disrepair are being restored. The collection includes thirty-six sports vehicles that were released consecutively from 1953 to 1989 and once belonged to artist Peter Max, The New York Times reported. Max sold the cars to members of the Heller family this summer, who will eventually sell the vehicles in an auction, according to the newspaper. New start: Thirty-six corvettes, known collectively as the Peter Max Corvettes, have been sold to new owners . Historic: Pop Art figure Peter Max owned 36 Corvette models, released consecutively from 1953 to 1989 . Original owner: Dennis Amodeo originally won the Corvettes through a 1989 VH1 call-in contest - and was contacted by Max about potentially incorporating the cars into his artwork . Dennis Amodeo originally won the Corvettes through a 1989 VH1 call-in contest - and was contacted by Max about potentially incorporating the cars into his artwork, The Times reported. Hemmings Daily reported on Max's purchase from Amodeo, stating 'Amodeo received $250,000 in cash, $250,000 in Peter Max artwork and an agreement that if Max sold the collection at a future date, Amodeo would get a portion of the proceeds, up to an agreed upon cap of $1 million.' Though Max began his plans with the cars, they were placed on the backburner following various issues, including a tax fraud case, according to the The Times. Scott Heller, one of the Corvette collection's buyers, assisted in transporting the Corvettes to the Flatiron district parking after their original West 40th Street garage went on the market thirteen years ago, The Times reported. Up for grabs: Members of the Heller family, which purchased the Corvettes from Max, hope they are all auctioned off together . Secret treasure: The cars have been in Upper Manhattan since 2010, after being kept in both the Flatiron district then Prospect Heights . Soot: Many of the cars are dusty and have fallen into disrepair . The cars have been in Upper Manhattan since 2010, following a stay in a Prospect Heights garage, according to the news outlet. The Times reported that 'Scott Heller said that earlier this year he had offered to work with Mr. Max, restoring the cars for sale and splitting the proceeds. Mr. Max rejected the offer, he said. But Mr. Heller said that not long after, he was asked whether he wanted to buy the cars outright.' He reportedly bought the cars with his two sons and his cousin Peter Heller, according to the media outlet. Time travel: The Corvettes span a thirty-six year period of automobile design . Sporty: Artist Peter Max used to own all of the dusty Corvettes . The cars, many of which are damaged, include a 1953 vehicle that was only one of 300 produced, as well as vehicle from 1955 in which only 700 were produced, The Times reported. Chris Mazilli, who is working with the new Corvette owners, told the newspaper they are looking for all the cars to be purchased together. 'The biggest thing for use was rescuing the cars,' he told The Times. 'It was a good thing [the Heller family] came along. And they’re going to do the right thing.' Amodeo also told the newspaper 'I would like to see them out there when they’re done. That would be nice.'

Corvettes that were once part of an artist's storied collection, but became dusty and fell into disrepair are being restored . The collection includes thirty-six sports vehicles that were released consecutively from 1953 to 1989 . Artist Peter Max used to own the vehicles . Max sold the cars to members of the Heller family this summer, who will eventually sell the vehicles in an auction .

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(Rolling Stone) -- The Rolling Stones blend past and present on "Doom and Gloom," their first new song together in seven years. Mick Jagger sings about class tensions and oil fracking over a Keith Richards guitar riff with shades of Sticky Fingers, while Charlie Watts propels the whole thing with an unfussy, rock-solid beat. Recorded in Paris earlier this year and produced by Don Was, the tune comes from the Stones' new "GRRR! Greatest Hits" collection, due November 13. The 50th anniversary compilation includes another new song, "One More Shot," along with classic Stones gems including "Gimme Shelter," "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Start Me Up" and "Street Fighting Man." The Stones released "Doom and Gloom" this morning into a swirl of talk about possible tour dates. In addition to a pair of shows each expected in London and at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn by the end of the year, touring saxophone player Bobby Keys has said he expects "a few added concerts after that." The band is also the subject of a new career-spanning documentary, "Crossfire Hurricane," which premieres November 15 on HBO. See the original article at Rolling Stone.

The Rolling Stones blend past and present on "Doom and Gloom" "Doom and Gloom" is their first new song together in seven years . The tune was recorded in Paris earlier this year and produced by Don Was .

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By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 13:06 EST, 21 March 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:03 EST, 22 March 2013 . At least five people died and a mosque was burned to the ground after a riot was sparked in Myanmar following a confrontation in a shop. The town of Meikhtila has seen two days of violence, after the clashes were sparked when a Muslim shop owner is believed to have had a group of Buddhist customers beaten up. The two communities have enjoyed a fractious relationship in the country for decades, with 39 people injured and a number of Muslim-owned shops and vehicles set on fire during the latest confrontation. Scroll down for video . Riots: Two residents sit on a railway track as a mosque burns in riot-hit Meikhtila, central Myanmar, where at least five people have died during rioting . Spark: A man stands in front of the burned down mosque. The riots are thought to have been started during an argument between a shop owner and customers . The five fatalities are believed to include a Buddhist monk, two local . Buddhists and two Muslims, according to an employee of Meikhtila . General Hospital, while state television said a woman was also killed. Police established a curfew in the town for the second night as the violence continued. The riots are the worst in the state since clashes in the western state of Rakhine between ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingya last year left approximately 200 people dead and more than 100,000 homeless. 'People are going crazy, especially . young people,' said a Meikhtila resident under the condition of anonymity. 'It's hard to stop them. Some Muslims run to the safety camps and some run into the fields near . town.' She said some houses belonging to Muslim residents had been destroyed, including one of her neighbors'. 'We don't dare to leave our home as . burning and riots are going on outside,' she said. 'The biggest mosque . in town burned to the ground today. It had been burning since yesterday, . but no one dared to put out the fire and the rioters wouldn't let . others put it out.' Curfew: The unrest between Buddhists and Muslims has led to a curfew being imposed for two days . International concern: US ambassador Derek Mitchell said he was 'deeply concerned' by the unrest . Win Htein, a Meikhtila member of . parliament from the opposition National League for Democracy, said the death toll was likely to be higher than five. 'I saw three dead bodies myself. And . my people also found some bodies,' he said by phone. 'Even though the . curfew has been imposed since yesterday, the police seem a bit hesitant . to control the rioters as they don't have much experience on handling . riots.' An announcement on state-controlled television said those responsible for inciting the violence would face legal action, as would the gold shop owner. Under the military governments that ruled Myanmar from 1962 until 2011, ethnic and religious unrest was typically covered up tough censorship. But since an elected government took power in 2011 the press has been unshackled, while people have been using the Internet and social media in increasing numbers to discuss ongoing situations. Deaths: Win Htein, a Meikhtila member of parliament from the opposition National League for Democracy, said the death toll was likely to be higher than five . The civilian government of President Thein Sein is constrained from using open force to quell unrest because it needs foreign approval in order to gain aid and investment. The United States, which had been the harshest critic of the previous military regime but now is encouraging the democratic transition, said it is 'monitoring events closely'. 'I am deeply concerned about reports of violence and widespread property damage in Meikhtila Township, Mandalay Region,' US ambassador Derek Mitchell said. 'We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and property in the violence.' Rakhine Buddhists allege that Rohingya are mostly illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. The Muslim population of Meikhtila is believed to be mostly of Indian origin, and although religious tensions are longstanding, the incident sparking the violence seemed to be a small and isolated dispute.

39 people also injured in town of Meikhtila during the violent clashes . Muslim and Buddhist communities involved in violent clashes for decades . Buddhist monk and one woman are thought to be among the dead . Muslim-owned shops, vehicles and education office among burned buildings . Curfew established for second night as US ambassador expresses 'concern'

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The national minimum wage is to rise by 20p an hour to £6.70, despite George Osborne suggesting last year it could hit £7. The Low Pay Commission has recommended the increase to ministers, the largest real terms rise since 2007. Ministers boasted it would take the hourly rate to its highest level in real terms since 2010, but it falls short of the idea it could hit £7 floated by the Chancellor a year ago. The Low Pay Commission set out its recommendation for the main minimum wage rate to rise to £6.70 from October . The Commission recommends the adult rate should rise to £6.70 in October, while it would rise to £5.30  for 18-20-year-olds, £3.87 for 16 and 17-year-olds and £2.80 for apprentices. In an interview in January last year, Mr Osborne suggested it could go higher. ‘If the minimum wage had kept in line with inflation it would be £7,' he said. ‘Because we’re fixing the economy, because we’re working through our plan, I believe Britain can afford above-inflation increases in the minimum wage and make sure we have a recovery for all and that work pays.’ The 20p rise is the largest real-terms increase in the minimum wage since 2007, and takes its real value three-quarters of the way back to its highest ever level. Business Secretary Vince Cable said: 'This would represent an annual pay rise of £416 for a full time worker on the minimum wage. 'If this recommendation were accepted, the value of the minimum wage would be higher than when we came to office in 2010 and we are now making good progress towards restoring the value it lost during the financial crisis. 'I will now study these recommendations and consult my Cabinet colleagues with a view to announcing the final rates in the next few weeks.' Mr Cable said the Low Pay Commission had to strike a 'delicate balance' between what is fair for workers and what is affordable for employers, without costing jobs. 'It does so impartially and without political interference. No government has ever rejected the main rates since it was established 15 years ago. It is important that it is able to continue to do its work 10 weeks before a general election.' Business Secretary Vince Cable said the rise was the biggest real terms increase since 2010, but falls short of the £7 that Chancellor George Osborne (right) hinted at last year . TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: 'It is good that the minimum wage is set to go up more than average earnings, but if the recovery is really as strong and sustained as the Chancellor claims, the commission could have been braver and given Britain's lowest paid workers a bigger boost. 'We also need much bolder action to give those on the lowest pay a fair share of the recovery, including new modern wages councils to set higher minimum rates in industries where employers can afford to pay more.' Katja Hall, CBI deputy director-general, said: 'The LPC has struck a careful balance. As the economic recovery cements, the commission has reconciled a desire to reflect this in pay packets while recognising that productivity growth - the key to sustainable pay rises - remains weak. 'We welcome the commitment to review next year's rise if the improved business environment doesn't materialise. 'The national minimum wage has been one of the most successful policies of our time thanks to the independent recommendations of the commission, helping many low-paid workers without damaging their job prospects. 'Any artificial increase due to political expediency will help no one and ultimately damage one of the most successful government policies in recent years.' The Tories insisted the rise marked progress towards taking the minimum wage back to its pre-crash peak. A Conservative spokesman said: 'We've said we want to see above inflation increases in the minimum wage in order to start restoring it back to its real term peak, so it's good news that the Low Pay Commission have recommended exactly that. This builds on last year's rise which was the first real terms rise since Labour's great recession. 'Backing work with a rising minimum wage, income tax cuts and welfare reform is a core part of our long term economic plan and this is only possible because of the difficult decisions we've taken to get the economy moving. 'We'll now consider the LPC's recommendations in the usual way.'

Low Pay Commission announces planned rises for October this year . Adult rate to hit £6.70, up 20p - the biggest real terms rise since 2010 . But it falls short of George Osborne's suggestion it should rise to £7 . Business leaders welcome 'careful balance' between pay and jobs .

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Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- A Nebraska man is expected to plead guilty next week to launching a cyber attack that shut down the Church of Scientology's Web sites, federal prosecutors said Monday. Brian Thomas Mettenbrink, 20, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was accused of participating in an attack orchestrated by a group that called itself "Anonymous." The group led protests against the church in various parts of the country before announcing in January 2008 that it would launch a cyber offensive, said Thom Mrozek of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. Mettenbrink admitted in court that he downloaded software from an "Anonymous" message board and used it to launch "denial of service" attacks on Scientology Web sites. In such attacks, hackers flood a target site with so much traffic that it is unable to handle the volume and slows to a crawl or crashes altogether. As a result, the site is then unavailable to legitimate users. The group targeted the church after it forced Web sites to yank a leaked video of actor and church member Tom Cruise fervently making the case for Scientology. The video was intended for attendees at a church award ceremony in 2004 where Cruise was being honored. "We are the authorities on getting people off drugs, we are the authorities on the mind, we are the authorities on improving conditions ... we can rehabilitate criminals," Cruise says in the video. In 2008, the video was leaked online and widely ridiculed. The church responded by threatening to sue Web sites unless they removed the clip. "Anonymous" then launched its attack. As part of its offensive, the group asked Internet users to not only download the "denial of service" software from its message board, but also to place prank phone calls, post proprietary church documents online, and send black pages to church fax machines to waste ink. The group posted a YouTube video that said it aimed to "expel Scientology from the Internet." "Expect us," the video ended. The attacks targeted local and global sites of the church. Mettenbrink is expected to plead guilty in federal court next week to a misdemeanor charge of accessing a protected computer with authorization. He agreed to serve a year in prison, Mrozek said. Mettenbrink's is the second successful prosecution connected to the "Anonymous" attacks. Last year, Dmitriy Guzner of Verona, New Jersey, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for attacks on Scientology sites. The Church of Scientology, founded by the late science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard, is well known for its high-profile, celebrity members. In October, film director Paul Haggis left the church for its alleged public support of Proposition 8, which eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. Also in October, a French court convicted the church and six of its leaders of organized fraud. The court imposed fines totaling more than $1 million on the church and the convicted staff. The plaintiffs focused their complaints on the use of a device that Scientologists say measures spiritual well-being. Members used the electropsychometer, or E-Meter, to "locate areas of spiritual duress or travail so they can be addressed and handled," according to Scientology's Web site. The plaintiffs said that, after using the device, they were encouraged to pay for vitamins and books. They said that amounted to fraud. The church has called the decision a "modern Inquisition" and said it would appeal the verdict.

Nebraska man admits role in attacks on Scientology Web sites . He downloaded and used software to launch "denial of service" attacks . He is expected to get a yearlong prison sentence .

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Teresa Giudice managed to squeeze in an early birthday celebration for her daughter before she began her 15-month prison sentence for bankruptcy fraud. Before James J. Leonard Jr., her attorney, picked up the The Real Housewives of New Jersey star just after midnight to drive to the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, Giudice threw a 14th birthday bash for daughter Gia. “They had a birthday party for Gia,” whose actual birthday is on January 8, a source told Us Weekly . 'They had a cake and a celebration.' Teresa then made the lonely trip, leaving her husband Giuseppe 'Joe' Giudice stayed at home with their four daughters - he will care for them until Teresa's release and then he will begin his own 41-month sentence for similar charges. Mr Leonard said the 41-year-old reality star was not tearful and instead was 'very upbeat and very positive - she was anxious to get it started.' They arrived at the facility early so they went to a nearby diner in Danbury where Teresa, who wore black and had her long hair down, had a last meal of a $1.95 egg sandwich and a cup of coffee. Scroll down for video . Teresa Giudice hid in the back seat of an SUV as she left $4million Towaco mansion in the middle of the night to surrender at a federal prison and begin her 15-month prison sentence for bankruptcy fraud . The Real Housewives of New Jersey star was picked by her lawyer just after midnight and driven to the prison. Pictured: James Leonard, attorney for Teresa Giudice drives with an unidentified man in the passenger seat . Behind bars: Teresa Giudice reported to a Connecticut prison in the middle of the night on Monday to begin serving her 16-month prison sentence for fraud. Pictured: Teresa puts on a brave face as she attends mass  on Sunday with her family . Explaining her decision to surrender early rather than at the usual time of 7am, he said: 'She wanted to spare her family and not have a spectacle.' The Atlantic City-based attorney told MailOnline her early arrival was pre-planned and the staff at the prison were all very 'polite and cordial.' He said Teresa took in $200 and a folder of legal documents. 'I gave her rosary beads and a necklace of Saint Christopher and Saint Teresa,' he added. Mr Leonard said the last thing his client said to him was, 'Tell everybody I'll be fine.' He explained a first visit for immediate family is this weekend and Joe will be allowed to visit. Hours after his wife left the family home, husband Joe was seen driving out to take their daughters to school . Joe drives out the family home on Monday morning - the girls bid farewell to their mother on Sunday night . The girls said goodbye to their mother on Sunday hours before she reported to the prison to begin her sentence . Joe - born Giuseppe - will be allowed to remain with the children until Teresa is released at which point he'll begin his 41-month sentence . The $4million home that Teresa is leaving behind to serve her sentence in Connecticut . A BOP spokesman confirmed that she surrendered early this Monday. On Monday morning Joe was pictured driving out of the family home in New Jersey to take their daughters to school. The photos caused a buzz on social media as in October Joe pleaded guilty in state court to unlawful use of identification in a case involving a bogus driver's license. His 18-month sentence will run concurrent with his federal sentence. MailOnline has contacted his lawyer for a response. On Monday morning his mother was also seen driving out the home a few hours later. On Sunday Teresa attended mass with her family at the Sacred Hearth Church in New Jersey. The reality star smiled at her four bundled-up daughters - Gia, 13; Gabriella, 10; Milania, 8; and Audriana, 5. Teresa is now serving time in the same Connecticut penitentiary where Piper Herman set her memoir Orange Is the New Black and Lauryn Hill did three months for tax evasion in 2013. People reports that the raven-haired socialite's first moments will involve a strip search and a 'squat and cough' to see if she is hiding anything. The former Celebrity Apprentice contestant will have to pay for up to 300 minutes a month of precious evening phone time. On Saturday Teresa Giudice was seen leaving a post office near her home Towaco, New Jersey with one of her young daughters . High-maintenance Teresa went into the prison with $200 - here is a list of the items that she can buy on the Commissary List which may make her feel a bit more at home, including hair dye, three-minute miracle hair care,  pink hair rollers and Dove soap bars . Food that is available to buy from the Commissary List at the prison includes: Hummus,  Albacore tuna, Honey Roasted Peanuts,  Deli meat, Party Mix and Vanilla Chai Tea . According to TMZ, she will have to curb her extravagant spending habits due to the $320/month max allowance for the FCI Danbury store. High-maintenance Teresa went into the prison with just $200, but items available on the Commissary List which may make her feel a bit more at home, include hair dye, three-minute miracle hair care, pink hair rollers and Dove soap bars. The food on sale includes hummus, honey roasted peanuts, party mix and vanilla chai tea. Teresa told Bravo co-star Dina Manzo during a bizarre resolutions-themed Haute Hostess video for Glam.com that she plans to cut back on carbohydrates as her New Year's resolution. But according to Radar Online, her resolution may be tricky to uphold on a prison diet. Breakfast is a fresh orange, hot oatmeal, three slices of bread, a margarine pat, two packages of jelly and two cups of skim milk. When lunch is served Teresa will be tucking into beans and franks, potatoes, two mustard packets, three slices of bread, two margarine pats, a fresh apple and a drink. And dinner will be a fish filet, tomato sauce, white rice, lima beans, two tartar sauce packets, three slices of bread, two margarine packets, a fresh apple, and again another drink. Meanwhile Teresa will only be allowed 12 visits per month with her family, and she'll likely have to work in the prison factory. Wake-up is at 6am and Giudice will report to her prison-assigned job from 8am-3pm. On Saturday, her teenage daughter tweeted 'can't sleep, to much stuff on my mind,' along with a nervous face and gun emojis. On New Year's Day, Gia shared a snap with her mother captioned: 'Happy New Years with my best friend!! @Teresa_Giudice.' Teresa Giudice told Dina Manzo that she wants to give up bad carbs in 2015 . Teresa told Bravo co-star Dina Manzo during a bizarre resolutions-themed Haute Hostess video for Glam.com that she plans to cut back on carbohydrates as her New Year's resolution. But according to Radar Online, her resolution may be tricky to uphold on a prison diet. Breakfast is a fresh orange, hot oatmeal, three slices of bread, a margarine pat, two packages of jelly and two cups of skim milk. When lunch is served Teresa will be tucking into beans and franks, potatoes, two mustard packets, three slices of bread, two margarine pats, a fresh apple and a drink. And dinner will be a fish filet, tomato sauce, white rice, lima beans, two tartar sauce packets, three slices of bread, two margarine packets, a fresh apple, and again another drink. Giudice's last public event was watching her eldest perform with her girl-group 3KT at Iplay America in Freehold. The New York Times best-selling author has been spending her final days before surrender with her princesses - at a hockey game and a ski trip to Crystal Springs Resort. 'My family is probably one of the strongest families I know,' her daughter Gia - who's shopping around a reality show - told Access Hollywood in November. 'So we'll get through this. It's gonna be fine. And when it's over, we're gonna be better than ever.' The Real Housewives of New Jersey star has told daughters Gia and Gabriella about the family's legal woes, but she's reportedly keeping her incarceration a secret from her youngest girls. 'She told [Milania and Audriana] she is going to jail to work on a book about jail,' a source told Radar Online. 'Teresa and Joe feel that they are too young to fully comprehend what is going on.' They pleaded guilty last year to hiding assets from bankruptcy creditors and submitting phony loan applications to get some $5 million in mortgages and construction loans. Joe also pleaded guilty to failing to pay taxes totaling more than $200,000. At the Giudices' sentencing in October, U.S. District Judge Esther Salas criticized the couple for not disclosing all their assets as required under their plea agreement, calling it 'the same pattern of obstruction, concealment and manipulation as they showed in the bankruptcy case.' Still, Salas sentenced Teresa to a sentence below the range sought by the U.S. attorney's office and staggered her sentence with her husband's so they wouldn't be in prison at the same time and unable to care for their four daughters. Joe is not an American citizen, and he faces an immigration hearing when he completes his sentence and is expected to be deported. His attorney has said Giudice came to the U.S. as an infant and did not know he was not an American citizen until he was an adult. Last month, Teresa Giudice sued former attorney James Kridel, whose firm handled the couple's bankruptcy case, alleging legal malpractice and negligence. Reached by phone last week, Kridel called the lawsuit 'ridiculous' and denied the claims. 'We did what we were supposed to do,' he said. 'We can only rely on the facts that were provided to us. I don't wish her any ill will, but I would have preferred a 'thank you' rather than a lawsuit.'

The Real Housewives of New Jersey star was convicted of bankruptcy fraud . Picked up by her lawyer just after midnight in an SUV from $4million home . Husband Joe did not accompany her - stayed at home with their children . Reported to a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, at about 3 a.m . Had last meal of a $1.95 breakfast sandwich at a local diner before entering . Lawyer says she was 'very upbeat and very positive' Joe is taking care of their four daughters until he begins his own sentence which will start once his wife comes out of prison . Joe was seen driving their daughters to school on Monday morning . Giudice will be able to see her relatives this weekend according to attorney . The Giudices pleaded guilty to 41 charges of fraud for lying on loan applications and a bankruptcy filing . BOP spokesman confirmed she surrendered early Monday . Teresa spent last free day attending church with her family in New Jersey .

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Secret celebrity crushes revealed with three quarters of Brits admitting they're attracted to non-traditionally good looking celebrities . Natalie Cassidy and Piers Morgan amongst secret crushes . By . Bianca London . PUBLISHED: . 06:15 EST, 21 September 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 06:17 EST, 21 September 2012 . Secret celebrity crushes are a secret no more after a new survey revealed the nation's most coveted fancies. Topping the list for the men were the formidable Dragon's Den star Deborah Meadon, followed by Vicar Of Dibley star Dawn French, with Princess Beatrice third and Former This Morning host Fern Britton fourth. Curvy Ex-EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy came fifth and as for the women, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, funny men James Corden and David Mitchell topped the polls. Dragon's Den star Deborah Meaden and TV funny woman Dawn French topped the list as men's secret celebrity guilty pleasure . Controversial television host Piers Morgan was fourth and Eddie Izzard was fifth. Yesterday, a spokesman for Iphone app Celebalike, who carried out the research, said: 'We're flooded with images of people that conform to traditional "Hollywood" notions of beauty, but it isn't always about looks. 'The results show many Brits have a secret celebrity crush that they would be less keen to voice or feel others wouldn't agree with them about. 'That shows that there's more to attraction and it seems a strong personality or authority plays a part, with Deborah Meaden and Gordon Ramsay proving popular.' The Celebalike app works using a complex algorithm through a computer program that performs high-performance face identification and facial feature recognition. And it means men may be able to find their own Deborah Meaden - the dragon has been matched nearly 80,000 times since the app launched. As for the women, it was celebrity foul-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay who took the crown and James Corden was also a favourite . While, according to the app results, there are also 73,527 James Corden look-alikes out there and 24,444 Piers Morgan doppelgangers. Three quarters of Brits admit that they are attracted to a celebrity that wouldn't really be classed as good-looking in the traditional sense. And six in ten people have a crush on a celebrity that they think other people wouldn't be able to understand. In fact, a quarter of Brits have been attracted to a celebrity without really knowing what it is about them that they like so much. Of course the Brads and Angelinas of this world are always going to be held up as sex symbols, but many people have a soft spot for people who don't conform to the traditional stereotypes, said a spokesperson . The Celebalike spokesman added: 'Of course the Brads and Angelinas of this world are always going to be held up as sex symbols, but many people have a soft spot for people who don't conform to the traditional stereotypes. 'It's reassuring to see that we aren't always consumed by the perfect images of celebrity and that those people that are a bit more 'real' are still able to win our hearts. 'Unfortunately for most of us, we can't emulate the standard of beauty shown to us in the media, but the celebrities on this list are a lot more down to earth in their appearance, and that's reflected by the number of Celebalike matches people like Deborah Meaden have.' 1.             Deborah Meaden . 2.             Dawn French . 3.             Princess Beatrice . 4.             Fern Britton . 5.             Natalie Cassidy . 6.             Anne Robinson . 7.             Delia Smith . 8.             Ann Widdecombe . 9.             Camilla Parker Bowles . 10.          Susan Boyle . 1.             Gordon Ramsay . 2.             James Corden . 3.             David Mitchell . 4.             Piers Morgan . 5.             Eddie Izzard . 6.             James May . 7.             Rupert Grint . 8.             Chris Moyles . 9.             Boris Johnson . 10.          Justin Lee Collins .

Secret celebrity crushes revealed with three quarters of Brits admitting they're attracted to non-traditionally good looking celebrities . Natalie Cassidy and Piers Morgan amongst secret crushes .

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By . Steve Nolan . PUBLISHED: . 13:21 EST, 13 June 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 03:32 EST, 14 June 2013 . Documentary-makers in Germany have claimed that legalising prostitution has turned the country's capital Berlin into 'Europe's biggest brothel.' Sex trade laws were radically liberalised by the German government in 2002 but a documentary called Sex - Made In Germany estimates that one million men pay for sex every day. The film was based on two years of research captured using hidden cameras and explores Berlin's world of 'flat-rate' brothels where customers pay €49 (£42) for as much sex as they want. Sex for sale: Around a million men are paying for sex every day in Germany according to a new television documentary. Hamburg's Reeperbahn red light district is pictured. Laws were originally relaxed in the hope that they would offer a degree of protection to prostitutes who now have access to health insurance and benefits. But more than a decade on the changes in the law have brought criticism from those who claim that they have simply made it easier for traffickers to force foreign women into prostitution, according to The Guardian. It is thought that around two thirds of the country's 400,000 sex workers come from abroad. But according to figures from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) the number of reported cases of sexual trafficking in 2011 in Germany - 636 - were down by a third on a decade earlier. Red light districts have also become much more prominent in Germany's major cities - there are between 3,000 and 3,500 established brothels in Germany and the trade is now big business. Big business: There are an estimated 400,000 sex workers in Germany and around two thirds of those are said to be from abroad . According to public services union Ver.di, some 14.5billion Euros is accrued by the sex trade in Germany annually. Roshan Heiler, head of counselling at the Aachen branch of women's rights organisation Solwodi, is unsurprised by the numbers of men paying for sex because it is so cheap and they won't get prosecuted. Defending the laws, Monika Lazar, of the Alliance 90/Greens party, told The Guardian: 'Prostitution is still socially stigmatized, but the law is helping to strengthen the position of prostitutes and ensuring women and men are better protected.'

Germany's prostitution laws were relaxed by the government back in 2002 . Now an estimated one million men pay for sex in the country each day . A television document has claimed that Berlin is 'Europe's biggest brothel'