Alabama state officials are investigating a complaint of alleged elder abuse of acclaimed author Harper Lee as controversy continues to rage over whether the the 88-year-old really wants to publish a new novel. Since HaperCollins announced the new book last month, many have questioned whether Lee, famously reluctant to seek publicity, would really have a follow-up to her classic 'To Kill a Mockingbird' over more than 50 years. Many claim her mental health is not sound enough to endorse such a proposition while another says she is backing the release of the new book, 'Go Set a Watchman.' Scroll down for video . Controversy over the author's mental state has raged since it was announced she would publish a book after more the half-a-century without a new novel . The New York Times reports investigators have interviewed staff at the Meadows assisted living facility where Lee resides as well as friends and acquaintances. A doctor who asked to remain anonymous said he had filed a complaint after knowing Lee for two years and believing her infirm. He said he had been told she was mostly incapable of communication. Such investigations can involve law enforcement if financial exploitation can be shown. One person speaking to the Times anonymously said Lee seemed to understand the investigators and give clear responses. As the investigation continues, people have argued for several different pictures of Lee: funny, depressed, witty, confused, or even varying from day to day. She reportedly had a stroke in 2007 resulting in health and vision problems. 'It’s a call only God or a doctor can make,' attorney Philip Sanchez, who was a pallbearer for older sister Alice's funeral, told the Times. I am more concerned that Nelle is content than the discussion of her cognizance.' Accounts of Lee's mental and physical state have been contradictory . A friend of Lee, Wayne Flynt, said he visited her recently and found her mentally cogent. But he agreed she had some health issues, telling him 'I'm not so sure anymore,' in response to a congratulations on the new book.Lee has only given statements about the novel through her attorney, Tonja B. Carter. Carter handled the book deal and declined to respond to interview requests.

Summary: Since HaperCollins announced the new book last month, many have questioned whether Lee would really want a follow-up to her classic 'To Kill a Mockingbird' over more than 50 years . Accounts of Lee's health have often been contradictory . Lee suffered a stroke in 200, impairing her health and vision .


The baby girl cut from her mother's stomach by a Colorado woman was not born alive, as it is revealed the suspect faces more than 100 years in prison after being charged with attempted murder. Investigators found no trauma or injuries to the baby girl, whose mother was seven months pregnant, according to Boulder County Coroner Emma Hall. Dynel Catrece Lane, 34, was charged with attempted murder and unlawful termination of a pregnancy on Friday. Hall said there was no evidence the unborn child survived outside of victim Michelle Wilkins' womb. Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett said his office would not seek a murder charge against Lane, according to KTLA. Scroll down for video . Dynel Catrece Lane (above), 34, was charged with attempted murder and unlawful termination of a pregnancy on Friday . Victim Michelle Wilkins, 26, was released from hospital on Wednesday and her family said she is taking the first tentative steps in a long journey towards recovery and spiritual reconciliation . Under Colorado law, a person can be charged with murdering a baby only if there is evidence the baby was alive outside of the mother's body. 'At this time neither the autopsy or the investigation have provided any evidence that the baby exhibited any signs of life outside of the womb,' said Hall. 'Therefore the circumstance is not being considered a live birth. 'No evidence of trauma or injuries were found on the body. Final autopsy results will be released once all testing and further studies are complete.' Garnett said final results on the cause of death will take six to eight weeks, and he said the coroner's conclusion that it was not a live birth precluded the filing of murder charges. Lane was also charged with two counts each of first and second-degree assault. She faces eight criminal counts and up to 48 years in prison if convicted of first-degree attempted murder, and up to 32 years on each of the other charges of assault and unlawful termination of pregnancy. Lane (above) faces more than 100 years in prison and is currently being held in jail on a $2million bond . Wilkins, 26, was released from hospital on Wednesday, according to Times-Call. Her family said they are aware of the charges that were announced by the district attorney's office in a statement on Friday. Following her release from the hospital, they said she is taking the first tentative steps in a long journey towards recovery and spiritual reconciliation. They also said Michelle believes her recovery is directly aided by the prayers and positive energy she is receiving. Wilkins had moved to Colorado and just started a job teaching pottery classes. On March 18, she answered a Craigslist ad for baby clothes in a suburban neighborhood of Longmont, about 30 miles from Denver. She was glassed in the neck and then attacked with a small knife in the basement, allegedly by Dynel Lane. The suspect then fled with the baby, who was found by Lane's husband, taking her last breath's in the bathtub. Lane reportedly told

Summary: Dynel Lane, 34, was charged with attempted murder and unlawful termination of a pregnancy on Friday among other charges . Coroner Emma Hall said there was no evidence the unborn child survived outside of victim, 26-year-old Michelle Wilkins' womb . Under Colorado law, a person can be charged with murdering a baby only if there is evidence the baby was alive outside of the mother's body .


Angela Swann is still suffering illness now, a year after contracting illness on a dream holiday . A woman who fell seriously ill on a £13,500 trip of a lifetime to Africa is still taking medication a year later. Just days after arriving in Zanibar, Africa, Angela Swann and Andrew Smith say they were infected with gastric illnesses, which they say ruined their longed-for break. The pair were confined to their rooms for three days when they suffered diarrhoea, abdominal pain and nausea during the week-long, all inclusive stay at the Hideaway of Nungwi Resort and Spa in March last year. And today, as the pair instruct expert lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to look into their case, they have told how their holiday was ruined. Angela, a nurse from Gosforth, Newcastle, said: 'We just couldn't keep anything down. 'We just thought it was a 24-hour bug. 'But as soon as we were eating we had to go back to the villa. We were just very ill and weak. 'It totally ruined the holiday of a lifetime. 'We both came back suffering from really bad symptoms and it's left us with an illness we have never had before.' The holiday was part of a two-week Under The Serengeti Skies tour arranged through Kuoni, which began on March 15 last year. Both Angela and Andrew, a service manager for Mercedes Benz, took antibiotics which they had taken on holiday with them as a precautionary measure and, following their return to the UK, they also sought treatment. Angela saw a private medical specialist and also had blood tests taken and an ultrasound scan due to the severity of her illness problems. And now - nearly a year on - she says she still feels ill. She added: 'This was supposed to be a holiday of a lifetime which we would treasure forever, but sadly when we look back now we only think of the turmoil we've been through. 'I was not happy about some of the food served as on occasions it was undercooked and I had to send it back. A £13,500 holiday of a lifetime turned into a living hell for Angela Swann and Andrew Smith who say they were infected with gastric illnesses . A holiday to Zanzibar that should have left a couple with lovely memories, has instead left them in turmoil . 'Also sometimes some of the food served did not appear fresh and some of the food on occasions did not appear hot enough. 'Following falling ill, our holiday was ruined and was utterly embarrassing to say the least. 'Now, we just want answers as to why we fell ill, so that we can begin-to move on from what we've been through.' Nichola Blackburn, the legal expert in Irwin Mitchell's International Personal Injury Law team who is representing Angela and Andrew, said: 'We are conducting investigations into what was the cause of the illness Angela and Andrew suffered from. The couple's week stay at the all-inclusive stay at the Hideaway of Nungwi Resort and Spa turned sour after the

Summary: Angela Swann and Andrew Smith say they were hit with gastric illnesses . The pair were confined to their rooms for three days on week-long break . Had booked week-long stay at the Hideaway of Nungwi Resort and Spa .


Malaysia Airlines has revealed that an expired battery in the beacon of the 'black box' flight data recorder on missing Flight MH370 would have made no difference in the search for the plane. Lawyers acting for some of the families of those on board said earlier that the fact the battery had not been replaced could be key in any legal action against the airline. MH370 vanished shortly after taking off from Kuala Lumpur, bound for Beijing, early on March 8 last year, becoming one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. Malaysia Airlines has revealed that an expired battery in the beacon of the 'black box' flight data recorder on missing Flight MH370 would have made no difference in the search for the plane . A 584-page interim report into the disappearance of the Boeing 777-200ER, released on Sunday, said the beacon battery for the flight data recorder had expired in December 2012 and was not replaced. The beacon is designed to send a signal if a crash occurs in water. Malaysia Airlines said in a statement on Monday that a similar beacon was also installed with the solid state cockpit voice recorder and its battery life was still good. Emotional: A Chinese relative of a missing passenger on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 weeps outside the main gate of the Lama Temple in Beijing today . Sadness: A relative of MH370 passengers holds a sign reading 'Dad I miss U!' outside the Lama Temple today . 'The SSCVR battery would have been transmitting for 30 days upon activation when immersed in water,' MAS said in the statement. U.S. law firm Kreindler & Kreindler LP, which is representing around 20 families, had said the expired battery was 'potentially very significant' in determining compensation if it had hurt the search for the missing plane. The oversight was blamed on a failure to properly update a computer system in the engineering department of Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia's Department of Civil Aviation said in Sunday's report. The plane, which was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, went missing with 239 people on board on March 8, 2014 - and a huge search in the Indian Ocean has so far proved fruitless. Family: There were 239 people on board the flight when it disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing . Relatives of MH370 victims: (Clockwise from top left) Li Jiuying holds a picture of her brother Li Guohai; Jacquita Gonzales holds a portrait of her husband, in-flight supervisor Patrick Gomes; Liu Kun displays a photo of his brother Liu Qiang; and Chinese woman Dai Shuqin, who lost five members of her family . Apart from the anomaly of the beacon, the report devoted many of its pages to describe the complete normality of the flight - shedding little light on one of aviation's biggest mysteries. The significance of the expired battery was not immediately apparent, except indicating that searchers would have had lesser chance of locating the plane, even if they were in its vicinity. The report said: 'The sole objective of the investigation is

Summary: Malaysia Airlines say the expired battery in the beacon is insignificant . Lawyers say it could be key in any legal action against the airline . Plane from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing vanished with 239 people on board . Wide search since incident on March 8, 2014 has so far proved fruitless . Report looks at complete normality of flight which became huge mystery .


George Osborne today refused to match Labour's pledge not to increase VAT as a row erupted over how to balance the books after the election. The Chancellor declined to give a 'cast-iron guarantee' to match Labour's pledge not to increase VAT over the five years of the next Parliament. It came after Labour's shadow chancellor Ed Balls that Conservatives had a history of raising VAT after elections despite saying they had no plans to do so during the campaign. Scroll down for video . Chancellor George Osborne declined to give a 'cast-iron guarantee' to match Labour's pledge not to increase VAT from 20 per cent over the five years of the next Parliament . Appearing before the Commons Treasury Committee, Mr Osborne was repeatedly challenged to match Labour's promise but refused to do so . Labour today unveiled a new poster warning of Tory VAT hikes after the election. The headline rate of VAT stands at 20 per cent after Mr Osborne increased it from 17.5 per cent in his emergency Budget in 2010. Mr Balls claimed that another rise after the election on May was 'the only way the Tories can make their sums add up'. Launching a new Labour poster, Mr Balls said: 'We will make our tax commitments in full in our manifesto. But I am clear that while millionaires have been given a huge tax cut, working people are paying more in tax after the last five years of the Tories. 'So, today, I can announce a clear pledge to the British people. The next Labour government will not raise VAT. And we will not extend it to food, children's clothes, books, newspapers and public transport fares. 'We will not raise VAT because it's the tax that hits everyone. It's the tax that hits you every day. And it hits pensioners and the poorest hardest.' In the Houses of Parliament today, Mr Osborne was repeatedly challenged to match the promise but refused to do so. Labour MP John Mann asked the Chancellor four times to give a 'cast-iron guarantee' that he would not hike the tax. A second Labour MP, Andy Love, also twice pressed the Chancellor over whether VAT would have to rise. Labour's shadow chancellor unveiled a new poster warning 'the Tories will raise VAT' to help balance the books . In his responses, Mr Osborne said he did not intend to increase the tax but stopped short of an actual pledge to rule it out. He told Mr Love: 'I have identified where the £30 billion of savings I believe need to come from and they don't involve a VAT rise. 'The question for those who say they are going to try to balance the books but say it mainly has to be done through tax, as the official Opposition does, has to spell out what those big tax rises are. 'And it's pretty clear today that they have opened to door to a big increase in National Insurance and the `jobs tax' and I think it would be very, very damaging for this country.'

Summary: Labour's Ed Balls unveils poster warning Tories will hike VAT again . Osborne used first Budget in 2010 to increase rate from 17.5% to 20% . Chancellor insists his plans to balance books do not require new increase . But he repeatedly refused to match Labour's promise ahead of election .


Last month, TransAsia Airways flight GE-235 crashed shortly after take-off, killing 31 people. The crash site, in Taipei, represents tragedy for those who lost family members and friends in the disaster, yet to a handful of tourists, it made the perfect background for a holiday snap. The photo, published by Hong Kong's Apple Daily, shows three women posing in front of the Keeling River, as boats search for crash victims behind them. Tourists pose at the AirAsia crash site, in Taipei, while rescue boats search for bodies in the background . Visiting scenes of death and disaster might seem inappropriate to the average holidaymaker, but dark tourism appears to be on the rise. Philip Stone is Executive Director: Institute for Dark Tourism Research (iDTR), School of Sport, Tourism and The Outdoors, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), Preston, UK. In his paper, Dark Tourism Scholarship: A Critical Review, he explains: 'The act of travel to sites of death, disaster or the seemingly macabre – or what has commonly been referred to as dark tourism – is an increasingly pervasive feature within the contemporary visitor economy. People pose for selfies at the site of the Sydney siege, in which a lone gunman held hostage ten customers and eight employees of a Lindt chocolate café located at Martin Place in Sydney, Australia. Three were killed . Social media users shared their pictures, often featuring television camera crews in the background . 'Indeed, the commodification of death for popular touristic consumption, whether in the guise of memorials and museums, visitor attractions, special events and exhibitions, or specific tours, has become a focus for mainstream tourism providers.' Introduced in 1996 the term ‘dark tourism' was brought to the mainstream in 2000, in Lennon and Foley's book Dark Tourism: The Attraction of Death and Disaster. Professor Mark Griffiths of Nottingham Trent University, who has written a blog post on death fascination says there are a number of reasons for our interest in the macabre. 'There's a huge market for witnessing the extremities of human behaviour. By looking at something so extreme it makes us feel better about ourselves,' he told MailOnline Travel. Almost four years the Fukushima crisis, tourists are queuing up to see its abandoned neighborhoods . Countless travel companies offer tours of the Chernobyl Zone in Ukraine. Abandoned hospital beds, pictured . 'Entrepreneurs can exploit that. At the Costa Concordia site people were charging ten euros for tourists wanting to see it.' 'There is also now much more of a desire for unique experiences - we want to do something something that not a lot of other people have done, so we can tell our friends about it. 'Also, people want to be involved in pivotal events in history,' says Professor Griffiths, which explains the photographs taken at plane crash sites. 'But this is nothing new,' he adds. 'People have always flocked towards death - think of public beheadings.' A man takes pictures outside the headquarters of French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, in Paris . An exhibit at the 'Top Secret Spy Museum' in Oberhausen, 300

Summary: Tourists gathered as rescuers searched for bodies at TransAsia crash site . New York's Ground Zero, became one of city's largest tourist attractions . Site of Japan's nuclear disaster Fukushima is now a tourism hot spot .


Veteran journalist: Jeremy Bowen said claims he is anti-Semetic are 'untrue and offensive' BBC journalist Jeremy Bowen has come under fire after accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of 'playing the Holocaust card'. The Middle East editor posted his comments on Twitter during the politician's speech at the U.S. Congress. His tweet sparked outrage, with critics labelling the veteran journalist a 'slime bag' and calling his statement 'deplorable'. But the senior journalist has responded to his attackers and said claims he is anti-Semetic are 'untrue and offensive'. It comes just weeks after Mr Bowen's BBC colleague Tim Wilcox was accused of anti-Semitism over his coverage of the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo killings in Paris. Mr Bowen made his claim after highlighting how Prime Minister Netanyahu had referenced U.S. professor Elie Wisel, a survivor the Auschwitz, Buna and Buchenwald Nazi concentration camps. He wrote: '#NetanyahuSpeech He acknowledged Elie Wiesel in audience. Once again Netanyahu plays the holocaust card. don't repeat mistakes of the past'. The Israeli Prime Minister was invited to speak by the Republicans and he took the opportunity to slam an emerging nuclear deal with Iran. Mr Bowen was live tweeting the speech using the hashtag #NetanyahuSpeech. In response to the senior BBC journalist's tweet, Aboud Dandachi, who describes himself as a 'displaced Syrian from Homs' living in Istanbul', wrote: 'A deplorable statement by Bowen.' Twitter user @AndyLondon7 added: 'It's b/c of ppl like Bowen that Elie Wiesel has to remind people of the 1930s'. Shimon Chaim tweeted: '@BowenBBC 'plays Holocaust card'? Avoiding a repeat of genocide some cynical game to you is it?' @thehugheslady added: 'Bowen is a slime bag. Shame on him and BBC for using him'. Controversial: This tweet sparked outrage, with critics labelling the veteran journalist a 'slime bag' and calling his statement 'deplorable' Response: Mr Bowen has responded to his attackers and said claims he is anti-Semetic are 'untrue and offensive' The UK-based campaign group, North West Friends of Israel, also expressed anger. It tweeted: 'err-'Holocaust card'? The holocaust wasn't a game, Jeremy. Maybe take a trip to Europe again to see how world treated Jews.' Mr Bowen has been the BBC's Middle East editor since 2005, having previously been based in Jerusalem as a correspondent. When MailOnline asked him for a comment, he said: 'Nothing to add to the tweet I posted saying it was untrue and offensive to suggest I'm anti-Semitic.' Accusation: BBC journalist Jeremy Bowen (left) said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) was 'playing the Holocaust card' In January, the BBC's Tim Wilcox faced calls to resign after he told a French woman, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, that 'Palestinians suffer hugely at Jewish hands as well'. His comments came as he covered a rally in Paris following the deadly attacks on the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and a Kosher supermarket. The woman had told him that she feared a return to the persecution of Jews seen in the 1930s.

Summary: BBC's Jeremy Bowen accused Israeli PM of 'playing the Holocaust card' Middle East editor tweeted comments during PM's speech at U.S. Congress . Tweet sparked outrage, with critics calling veteran journalist a 'slime bag' In response, he said claims he is anti-Semitic are 'untrue and offensive'


The bodies of five dead babies have been found hidden in a house in France - four in the freezer and one in a portable cooler. Police made the macabre discovery after a 40-year-old father called them at 7am in the town of Louchats, in the south west, close to Bordeaux. In what is believed to be the worst case of infanticide in the country this century, the farmer first of all said he had found a tiny body in the thermally insulated container, one normally used to keep cold drinks. Police officers enter the home where the bodies of five babies were discovered in France . Officers searched the premises, and found four more babies in a large freezer regularly used by the family. The man's wife was immediately sedated and rushed to hospital, while the husband, who is a farmer, was arrested so he could be questioned at length. Neither has yet been identified. 'The first body was a newborn,' said a source close to the investigation which has been opened into the horrific case. It is believed that the woman had 'secretly given birth, within the last 48 hours', without telling anybody. The husband was said to be 'absolutely devastated and shaking uncontrollably' when the discoveries were made. The couple have two daughters, aged 13 and 15, who were thought to have been present when the first body was discovered. They are now in the care of the police, supported by social workers. There will be DNA tests to confirm the children's parentage. Locals who had seen the woman recently said there were no signs that she was pregnant. And a relative of the father said that he was not aware either and was in a state of complete shock at the discovery of the dead babies. The town's mayor Philip Carreyre, who went with police to the scene, said: 'I will not say anything about this. The only thing I can point out is that these are good people perfectly integrated in the town.' The father runs a small business maintaining gardens. Police were called to the address (pictured) after the 40-year-old father called them about 7am . Officers searched the premises, and found four more babies in a large freezer regularly used by the family . Pathologists need to establish whether the babies, all apparently self-delivered in secret, were stillborn or died soon after birth. The first baby found in a cool bag was 'viable' (capable of life) it was revealed tonight. Deputy Prosecutor in the High Court of Bordeaux, Anne Kayanakis, told a press conference: 'It is not yet possible to say whether this was a full term birth. Further analysis is needed to determine the cause of death.' Post mortems on the four other newborns discovered in a freezer will take place tomorrow. Depending on the results prosecutors will determine the nature of any criminal charges. 'Nothing has been established,' said Kayanakis. 'This is a particularly heavy and delicate investigation and a highly serious matter.' She said biological and genetic analysis was on going to

Summary: Four bodies found in freezer and one in portable cooler in French home . Discovery made in town of Louchats in the south west close to Bordeaux . Police called after a 40-year-old father called them at 7am on Thursday . It is believed to be the worst case of infanticide in the country this century .


A 12-year-old girl allegedly tried to kill her own mother by poisoning a smoothie with bleach after she had her iPhone taken away. The girl, who has not been named but lives in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly blended the smoothie earlier this month, spiked it with the caustic liquid, then fed it to her unwitting mother, who drank it. Her throat was burned by the bleach, and she had to be treated in hospital - but wrote the incident off as a mistake until her daughter tried again, according to police. Plot: The pre-teen allegedly blended up a smoothie (file photo right) spiked with bleach in the hope of killing her mother after she took away her iPhone (file photo left) The Boulder County sheriff's department said that on her second attempt the woman poured bleach into a water carafe by her mother's bed. When she smelled bleach again she reportedly confronted the girl - who admitted the attempts on her life were vengeance for having her smartphone taken away. She was later arrested. According to ABC News, she was charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder on Friday. A police spokesman said: 'On March 6, 2015, deputies of the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Boulder Community Hospital to investigate an assault. 'Subsequent investigation has developed evidence that a 12-year-old Boulder County girl attempted to kill her mother on two separate occasions. 'On both attempts the girl used bleach. The first attempt on March 2, 2015 left her mother feeling ill after her daughter placed bleach into a breakfast smoothie she made. 'Mom noticed an odor of bleach in the drink and thought her daughter had cleaned the glass prior to making the beverage and did not rinse all the bleach out. 'Later in the week the girl poured bleach into a water carafe her mother kept in the bedroom. On the second occasion Mom noticed the odor of bleach in her water and confronted her daughter. 'This is when she learned her daughter had developed the plan to kill her for taking away her iPhone. 'The juvenile was detained at the Boulder County Juvenile Center.'

Summary: Child in Boulder, Colorado, blended up poisoned drink and fed it to mother . Woman, who went to hospital, thought it was an accident at first . But called police after girl put bleach in her mother's water carafe . Child has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder .


Child benefit could be limited to only three children, under plans being considered by the Tories. The proposals will only hit babies born after the law has been changed and could save the Government £300million a year. At the moment there are around 320,000 families with four or more children. The Chancellor George Osborne is resisting proposals from the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith to cap child benefit at three children . Child benefit is paid to families with children under 16 – or under 20 if they are in education or training. But since 2013 families with one parent earning more than £50,000 a year have been excluded from claiming the benefit. It currently pays £20.50 a week for a first child, then £13.55 for other children. James Browne, of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said the move would eventually save hundreds of millions of pounds – but not for another 18 years because it only affects babies born after the law is changed. Child benefit is paid families with children under 16 - or under 20 if they are in education or training - and is worth £20.50 a week for a first child, then £13.55 for other children. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has previously proposed a two-child limit, but George Osborne is understood to have rejected it. The Treasury is now ‘softening’ to the idea and is examining the details. Tory MP Dominic Raab said it was not purely about cost but could ‘send a message about personal responsibility’. He said: ‘There is a much broader point than just the financial bean counting,’ he said. ‘It's the kind of welfare system we want - do we want a social safety net or are we saying that welfare is somehow a lifestyle choice? ‘And I think we do want the welfare system to send a message about personal responsibility, and yes that includes parents saving and taking some responsibility for the size of their family, making sure it's according to their means.’ But Labour MP Dame Anne Begg said people did not have children for child benefit and asked ‘why pick on’ large families. She said: ‘I don't think you have a child because you're going to get an extra... £13.55 a week.’ Dame Anne added: ‘Only one in seven families have three or more children - it's a small number - so why pick on them?’

Summary: Controversial proposal would only hit babies born after rule is introduced . At the moment there are around 320,000 families with four or more children . Child benefit paid to under 16s - or under 20s in education or training . It is worth £20.50 a week for a first child, then £13.55 for other children . Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith is championing the plan .


The Spanish press has laid into Real Madrid, and in particular the world's two most expensive players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, after their defeat to Barcelona on Sunday. AS showed a picture of Ronaldo missing from four yards, with the headline 'they missed and they paid for it', while Marca went with Bale's reaction and the line 'so many misses'. Both Madrid-based papers emphasise Real's superiority during the game, with AS claiming they 'dominated while Modric lasted', and attacking Bale for 'failing again'. AS say Real 'missed and they paid for it' while Marca highlight Madrid's dominance and their misses . Marca (left) refused to give Gareth Bale a rating, while AS said his performance was worth only 4.5 out of 10 . Marca went even further, refusing to give the Welshman a mark in their player ratings. He scored 4.5, the lowest of all the players, from AS. Marc were more kind to the rest of the Real players, claiming Madrid 'overwhelmed Barca for 45 minutes, don’t finish them off and end up against the ropes'. Both papers also feature Spaniards playing in England on their front pages, with Juan Mata's spectacular volley at Anfield, and Diego Costa's withdrawal from the Spain squad, making the headlines. However, elsewhere in Spain, in the Barcelona-based papers in particular, the focus was on the gap Luis Enrique's team have opened up at the top of La Liga. Sport label the result a blow to Madrid, while Mundo Deportivo describe it as a 'two-faced Clasico' which saw Barca move four points clear. Mundo Deportivo highlight Barcelona's four point lead at the top of La Liga, while Sport call it a 'blow to Madrid' In Italy the focus was on Carlos Tevez, who scored a stunning goal to keep Juventus winning. The Serie A champions beat Genoa thanks to the former Manchester City and United striker, leading Corriere dello Sport to observe it is 'always Tevez'. Carlos Tevez's goal dominates the front pages in Italy, while Roma's return to winning ways is also mentioned .

Summary: Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Nou Camp . Spanish papers focus on Real's dominance, but Barca open gap at the top . Bale blasted for failing again, while Ronaldo missed glorious chance . Welshman so bad he is given no mark in Marca match ratings . READ: Five things we learned from El Clasico .


It looks like the Detroit Pistons have found themselves a new shooting guard. At half-time during the Pistons vs Knicks game on Friday night, one of the team's dancers, Kathryn Martin, scored an incredible half-court shot with her back to the basket. In a video of the astonishing feat, the 24-year-old bends down before hoisting the ball over her head and backwards towards the net. Going for it: Kathryn Martin, 24, attempts a half-court shot with her back to the basket on Friday night . Incredible: The blue ball can be seen falling through the net following a perfect shot by Martin . 'Ooooh,' the crowd can be heard murmuring as the ball soars towards the basket. She watches in anticipation, while court staff pay little attention to her attempt. But to their astonishment - as well as to the shock of the fans and Martin herself - the shot goes in, hitting nothing but the net. The spectators scream as Martin looks on in disbelief, raising her hands in the air in victory. As she struggles to catch her breath, the team's mascot, Hooper the horse, swoops her up and carries her away. Joy: Martin screamed in shock after making the shot at half-time during the Pistons vs Knicks game Friday . Celebration: The team's mascot, Hooper the horse, then picked up Martin in his arms and cantered off . Martin made the incredible shot during half time at Saturday night's Pistons game against the New York Knicks in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Knicks won 121-115. 'The way the Pistons shot in the second half, they should have suited her up,' one viewer wrote beneath the video after it was shared on YouTube. On Saturday, the Pistons also lost to the Washington Wizards, 99-95. Martin, who has a long-term boyfriend, joined the team's dancers in August 2012. Talented: Martin, pictured right with a fellow dancer, has been dancing for the team for more than two years .

Summary: Dancer Kathryn Martin, 24, made the astonishing shot at half-time during the Pistons vs Knicks game in Michigan on Friday night .


A 71-year-old artist from Connecticut was shot to death Tuesday at the hands of her husband, who then turned the gun on himself, according to police. Terry Oakes Bourret was discovered dead from a gunshot wound to the head inside the Durham home she shared with her husband, 74-year-old Donald Bourret, who was also found unresponsive. The couple's pet dog had been shot to death outside the house. Double tragedy: Police in Connecticut say Donald Bourret (left), 74, shot dead his wife, local artist Terry Oakes Bourret (pictured right with her dog Murphy), 71, and their pet before turning the gun on himself . What lies beneath: The elderly married couple were found suffering from fatal gunshot wounds to the head in their Durham, Connecticut, home Tuesday . The medical examiner's office ruled Oakes Bourret's death a homicide and that of her husband a suicide, reported WFSB. State troopers responded to the Bourrets' home at 73 Main Street in Durham at around 7.30pm Tuesday after getting a 911 call about two bodies found inside the residence. Career change: The 71-year-old retired nurse took up painting full time about 30 years ago and set up a studio at the back of her house . Oakes Bourret was a retired nurse-turned painter and art teacher whose works have been exhibited throughout Connecticut. The 71-year-artist took up painting full time about 30 years ago and set up a studio at the back of her house, where students of all ages would come for classes. Her artworks, 300 of them displayed on her website, depict bright and cheerful landscapes, everyday scenes from around Durham, florals and pets. Last year, she won the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society Gold Medal for a painting titled Sidewalk, adding to her collection of some 100 awards, according to Durham Town Times. Hartford Courant reported Donald Bourret was a retiree who wrote a movie review column for the Durham Library. His final review was of the critically acclaimed thriller Nightcrawler starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a sociopathic cameraman obsessed with grisly crimes. Friends and neighbors of the couple were shocked by the murder-suicide. The Bourrets were universally described as a lovely couple who were active in the social life of their town.

Summary: Donald Bourret, 74, shot dead his wife, Terry Oakes Bourret, 71, and their dog before turning the gun on himself . Couple were found with fatal gunshot wounds to the head in their Durham, Connecticut, home Tuesday .


Militant union boss Len McCluskey has warned that his activists will break the law if the Tories curb the right to strike after the election. In an extraordinary move, which was condemned by ministers, the Unite general-secretary said he was seeking to change the giant union’s constitution to authorise illegal action. Mr McCluskey, whose union has given Ed Miliband more than £14 million, said union members could not be expected to obey ‘oppressive’ laws that restrict the right to strike. Unite general-secretary Len McCluskey said he was seeking to change the giant union’s constitution to authorise illegal action . The Conservatives have said they will change the law to require unions to get the support of at least 40 per cent of their members before calling a strike. The initiative is designed to prevent union bosses ordering strikes on the basis of ballots in which only a tiny number of members have voted. Mr McCluskey said the right to strike was already ‘hanging by a thread’ as a result of union reforms carried out by the Coalition. In a move that suggests he has little confidence in a Labour victory, Mr McCluskey said Unite members would now be asked to vote to remove the words ‘so far as may be lawful’ from the rules governing the union's actions. In a speech to lawyers, Mr Cluskey said: ‘These words will go not because we are anarchists, not because we are suddenly planning a bank robbery - but because we have to ask ourselves the question, can we any longer make that commitment to, under any and all circumstances, stick within the law as it stands? Mr McCluskey, whose union has given Ed Miliband more than £14 million . ‘It is no exaggeration to say that the right to strike in this - the first country of free trade unionism - was and is hanging by a thread. ‘But should there be a Conservative majority in May, there will be a new attack on trade union rights and democracy. ‘The bar for a strike ballot will be raised to a level which hardly any MPs would get over in their own constituencies, by a government which has refused our requests to use modern, more effective balloting methods. ‘When the law is misguided, when it oppresses the people and removes their freedoms, can we respect it? I am not really posing the question. I'm giving you the answer. It ain't going to happen.’ Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude condemned the move – and said it would raise further concerns Unite’s planned ‘merger’ with the PCS union. Mr Maude said: ‘Labour's biggest donor and Ed Miliband's puppet master is now advocating that their membership break the law. Ed Miliband needs to immediately condemn this outrageous proposal and refuse to take a penny more from Unite until these plans are cancelled.’ Tory MP Dominc Raab said it was ‘shocking’ for a union leader to call for illegal action – and called on Mr Miliband to disown the move. Mr Raab, who has campaigned for the introduction of

Summary: Unite chief seeking change to union's rules to authorise illegal action . Mr McCluskey's union has given Ed Miliband more than £14 million . Tories want unions to get support of at least 40% of members for a strike .


Ahead of Super Saturday, Sportsmail's Sir Clive Woodward rates the three contenders for the 2015 RBS 6 Nations title... ENGLAND . Why they can win it . I’m increasingly encouraged by their intent to attack and the willingness to keep the ball moving. Despite missing chances against Scotland, for the first time in a while our strike runners consistently found clean air to run in. George Ford has brought confidence to this backline and it helps having two of his Bath team-mates starting alongside him. But expect a much tougher defensive line against France. Most importantly, I believe England will win because they need to. In Stuart Lancaster’s fourth year in charge they are yet to win this competition. A number of these players have been alongside Lancaster throughout and will be just as desperate to win, most notably captain Chris Robshaw. This is their best chance. Bath fly half George Ford has brought confidence to the England backline this season . England and Wasps flanker James Haskell runs with the ball during training at Pennyhill Park on Thursday . Stuart Lancaster has been in charge of England for four seasons but has yet to secure a Six Nations title . They have the points advantage, they are playing last and they are also the only contender playing at home. Everyone in Twickenham by 5pm will know what is needed to win the title and it will be a great atmosphere. I expect England to play well. Why they might blow it . I still rate the England pack very highly, though they need a bit more pace in the back row and the recycling of possession must be quicker. They haven’t reached the heights of the autumn and that will frustrate Graham Rowntree. It’s a concern they are finishing the tournament with less of an idea of the starting pack than when it kicked off. Geoff Parling coming in is the right call, but I am amazed there is no specialist second row on the bench. If there’s an injury early on, can we expect Nick Easter to play most of the game there against France? That could cost England. England forwards coach Graham Rowntree oversees a 'live' scrummaging session between his two packs . There have been many examples recently where England have made the wrong decision which has cost them points and the opportunity to build a score. Lancaster’s side still lack the killer instinct against top sides. Also, France have been written off but that is completely wrong. England will have to be ready for a colossal physical encounter. Who would you pay to watch? Jonathan Joseph. He has been a massive find and even if they take nothing else away from the championship they appear to have found an outside centre with world-class potential. I still believe that they need a better footballer at No 12 — and not picking Henry Slade has been a missed opportunity — but in Joseph they have a player they can build a team around. It is saying something that Manu

Summary: George Ford has brought confidence to the England backline . Geoff Parling's recall to the second row is the right call . Jonathan Joseph has the potential to become a world class centre . Ireland need to score at least three tries against Scotland at Murrayfield . Wales are hitting a rich vein of form at the right time .


Hundreds of Polish residents took to the streets to give a hero's welcome to a convoy of U.S. troops who are driving through eastern Europe and deliver a damning message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Children climbed on to Stryker armoured vehicles and even offered souvenirs to the troops, who stopped to pose for pictures in the main square of the eastern Polish town of Bialystok. Meanwhile other residents lined the roads and applauded as the troops from the 3rd Squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment of the American Army passed by. Scroll down for video . People gather around a U.S. Army Stryker armoured vehicle in Bialystok, which was part of a convoy of American tanks driving through the Polish town . Residents in Bialystok lined the roads and applauded as the troops from the 3rd Squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment passed by . Children climbed on to Stryker armoured vehicles and even offered souvenirs to the troops, who had been taking part in an NATO exercise . Parents take pictures of their children who clamber on top of the armoured vehicles in the town's market square as the troops make their way back to Germany . The scenes mirrored those in France after Paris was liberated at the end of the Second World War when crowds of French citizens lined the streets to greet the American soldiers after German troops were forced from the region. The soldiers have recently been taking part in the Atlantic Resolve exercise, which was intended to demonstrate NATO's readiness to defend its members. Poland borders Ukraine and Russia and the conflict between the two countries has caused anxiety there. Putin, in particular, is seen as the main driving force behind the war, allegedly sending Russian troops to support the rebels in the east who want independence from the Ukrainian government. In just a year, it has cost more than 5,600 lives - and Russia's neighbours have become increasingly concerned Putin will turn his attention to them next. Lithuania, for example, feels the threat from Moscow feels is so real the government plans to reintroduce military conscription. But so far, America and the rest of Europe have refused to show any sort of military might towards the former Soviet Union - while Putin has made sure the rest of the world is in no doubt of the strength of his armed forces. Just this week, Putin boasted of a massive military exercise across his country, involving 80,000 troops, about 100 navy ships and more than 220 aircraft, marking the beginning of a series of such drills this year. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin Tuesday that the manoeuvres were aimed at checking the readiness of the newly formed group of forces in the Arctic, as well as the military's capability to quickly field troops to several theatres of operations. A Polish border guard veteran salutes as he shakes hands with an American soldier. Local residents said it was a historic moment to see the troops parade through the town . Soldiers from the 3rd

Summary: Troops from the 3rd Squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment were passing through Polish town of Bialystok . Residents lined the streets to greet the soldiers as they posed for pictures with locals who offered them gifts . The soldiers had been taking part in a NATO exercise to demonstrate their readiness to defend its members . Poland borders both Ukraine and Russia and the conflict between the two countries has caused anxiety there .


Despite the ever growing popularity of online dating, virtual platforms are no match for interactions in the real world when it comes to finding true love, a new Australian study has found. Almost half of all Aussies surveyed by ticketing company Eventbrite said they met their partner at a live event. One in three people said they'd exchanged phone numbers at an event with someone they fancied and one in ten said they'd fallen in love. The survey found the most common hooked-up hotspots were live sporting and music events, followed by business and networking events. Scroll down for video . The most common places to meet a potential life partner in Australia are sports and music events, followed by business and networking events, according to the EventBrite survey of 1000 Australians . Passions in common: Kari Vallury met her husband Trillock at a world music event. The couple married last year at Adelaide's WOMAD music festival surrounded by 170 family and friends. From a survey of 1,000 Australians commissioned by EventBrite: . 35% of people (1 in 3) exchanged numbers . 32% of people (1 in 3) kissed someone . 30% (1 in 3) Approached someone they fancied at an event . 24% of people (1 in 4) held hands with someone new at an event . 16% of people (1 in 6) slept with someone they met at an event . 10% of people (1 in 10) have fallen in love with someone they met at an event . 41% of people said 'None of these' Food and wine, educational and fundraising events also featured in the study as likely places to find that special someone. The odds might be encouraging for hopeful singles jaded by too many uninspiring online connections. Of the 100 survey respondents, 32 per cent, or one in three people, said they had exchanged a kiss with someone new at a live event. One in six people had slept with someone they met at an event and one in ten said they'd fallen in love. When it came to preferences between virtual dating and real-world romance, the real world won out by a long mile. 97 per cent of people surveyed said they'd prefer to initiate a conversation with someone they fancied than to 'like' a photo of them on social media (just 3 percent) and 93 per cent of people said they'd rather lock eyes with someone across a room for the first time than receive a friend request on Facebook. As things develop, 95 per cent of people said they'd rather introduce their new mate to their friends in person than post a 'selfie' with their date to social media. The vast majority of people (92 per cent) would rather introduce their new lover to their parents than change their relationship status on Facebook. 'No replacement for real life connections': 93 per cent of survey respondents said they'd rather lock eyes with someone across a room than receive a friend request from a love interest on Facebook . 'While more and more first time

Summary: New study says you could be looking in the wrong place if you're only looking for love online . The survey of 1000 Australians found 1 in 3 people exchanged phone numbers and kissed someone new at a live event . 1 in 10 people said they fell in love after meeting someone at an event . 93 per cent of people would rather lock eyes with someone across a room than receive a Facebook friend request from someone they fancied . The most common hook-up hotspots are sporting and music events .


A jealous son reversed his Mazda over his own father because he was convinced he had slept with his ex-girlfriend, a court heard. Dean Wilson, 37, accused his father of sleeping with his former partner and then warned: 'If I don't kill you now, I'll be back'. Norman Wilson initially laughed because his son's disturbing promise reminded him of Arnold Schwarzenegger's famous line from the film The Terminator. Now the 60-year-old, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, is so terrified he is planning to move away, the court heard. Dean Wilson (left), 37, was jailed after running over his father Norman (right) with his Mazda because he was convinced he had slept with his ex-girlfriend, a court heard . Speaking from his home today, Mr Wilson said he is living in fear since his son went to jail. He said: 'I am traumatised by what happened. I need to move away. Everytime I look out of my front window onto where it happened I have a flashback.' 'I can remember feeling my ribs crack one by one as he reversed over me. 'Then he put one foot on the accelerator and one on the break to spin the wheel round to rip my skin off my legs. 'It was excruciating.' He added he has no clue where the idea that he had had an affair with Dean Wilson's ex-partner came from, insisting 'it never happened'. Norman, a retired recycling worker, said his son had three children with Elizabeth Marshall but that he only saw his grandchildren in passing in the street. 'He's not even with her anymore, I heard he was seeing someone else. Dean was accusing me of having an affair with her five years ago,' he added. The 60-year-old added he would never be rebuilding his relationship with his son, and felt he was constantly on the lookout for fear he would send someone to hurt him. 'I can't sleep at night or concentrate; I'm always looking over my shoulder. I don't know who his mates are. If my son says he'll be back, he'll be back. 'I've got to get away and move on with my life.' The defendant, who the court heard has a record of anxiety and depression, was arrested after going to Chesterfield Royal Hospital's mental health unit and admitting running over his father. Norman Wilson was treated for broken ribs, bruising (pictured) and grazes after he was run over by his son . He later told police he was certain his father had slept with his ex-girlfriend and that he drove over him twice because he was angry - but he denied trying to kill his father. Dean Wilson was charged with attempted murder, before the charge was dropped and changed to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, which he admitted in court. He was jailed for six years at Nottingham Crown Court on Monday. Prosecuting the case, Dawn Pritchard, said: 'The windscreen of Norman Wilson's Ford Focus had been smashed and he was out vacuuming the car when he heard a screech. 'He turned and saw his

Summary: Dean Wilson, 37, drove over father Norman twice because he was angry . Jailed for six years after admitting causing grievous bodily harm with intent . 60-year-old laughed at threat because it reminded him of Terminator line . Now, Mr Wilson, from Chesterfield, is terrified and planning to move away .


Harry Kane's participation in this summer’s Under 21 European Championship is in doubt after it emerged that Tottenham are considering a post-season friendly in Malaysia. Spurs are committed to an exhibition match against Sydney FC in Australia on May 30 and are to hold talks about a friendly in Kuala Lumpur on the way. Kane, 21, has been told he will travel to Australia with the rest of the squad and would also be in the party stopping off in Malaysia for another lucrative end-of-season game. Harry Kane could miss the Under 21 European Championship due to a friendly in Malaysia . Kane trains after being called up to his first senior squad after a sensational season with Spurs . Kane helped England U21s to the tournament in the Czech Republic with six goals in eight games . Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has expressed his fears about burn-out for the Premier League’s joint leading goalscorer as he prepares to make his England debut against Lithuania. The FA are in talks with Kane and Tottenham officials, including Pochettino, about playing for Gareth Southgate’s England Under 21 team in the Czech Republic. But negotiations have become increasingly tense because of Tottenham’s commitments in Australia after the final game of the season on May 24. Pochettino wants Kane to miss this summer’s tournament to make sure he has enough recovery time before the start of next season, but the striker wants to play in the championship. Kane has been told he will not be required for the senior friendly against the Republic of Ireland on June 7 or a Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia a week later. Instead he is wanted by Southgate for the Under 21 tournament which runs from June 17-30. Kane hit his first Premier LEague hat-trick against Leicester, taking his tally for the season to 29 . Kane fires past Kasper Schmeichel as Spurs keep up their hopes of a top four finish . Kane helped fire England to the Czech Republic, joining Italy, Portugal and Sweden in a tough Group B . Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson will attend the World Cup draw in July as England manager but with no assurances that he will be in charge for the campaign to reach Russia in 2018. Hodgson is keen to extend his contract which will expire next year, although FA chairman Greg Dyke has warned him that negotiations may not begin for another 12 months. ‘I get on quite well with Roy and we chat all the time but we have not talked about contracts yet,’ said Dyke. ‘We genuinely haven’t discussed it. We will have that discussion in the next nine months to a year. ‘When we decided in Brazil that we wanted Roy to continue with his contract, we thought, “He’s got a contract, he sees it through”. Some time in the next year we will discuss what happens afterwards.’ Roy Hodgson says he has not discussed a contract extension beyond next year . Hodgson's England are top of their qualifying group and look set for a spot in France

Summary: Kane's participation in the Czech Republic is in doubt due to Spurs' friendly in Malaysia as part of their post-season tour . England kick off the Under 21 European Championship against Portugal on June 18 . Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino wants Kane to miss the tournament, fearing burn-out . Kane is in Roy Hodgson's senior squad to face Lithuania and Italy .


The remains of an 18-year-old girl who went missing after hitchhiking in December have been found in a remote park in Colorado. Kelly Mae Myers was reported missing on December 18 by distraught relatives in Colorado who said her disappearance was 'out of character'. Police are investigating the death as suspicious after discovering the remains in Cactus Park, Mesa County - a hotspot for four-wheel truck drivers performing stunts. Tragic: The remains of Kelly Mae Myers, 18, were found in a remote desert park of Colorado on Saturday . On Saturday, the Sheriff's Office posted on Facebook: 'Kelly Mae Myers...it is with deep sympathy we notify our community that her remains were recovered in a remote Mesa County area, yesterday. 'This death investigation is active and on-going, so please be patient as many details are not yet available for release. 'We hope the community will surround her family and friends, and support them in their time of grief.' An autopsy was conducted on Sunday. That results have yet to be released. Search: She had been missing since December 18 when family thought she had hitchhiked to friends in Utah . A search team was not sent out for Myers until January 19 as authorities suggested she appeared to have fled independently to meet friends in Salt Lake City, Utah. In an appeal that day, the sheriff's office said: 'A few reports to investigators have indicated Kelly might have hitch hiked to Utah. 'Investigators believe she has friends or known associates in the Salt Lake City area, and may have been trying to get there. 'Currently, investigators do not have any information she in endangered, however, her family insists this is very unusual behavior for Kelly and a great cause for concern.' According to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Myers worked at Abra Formal Wear and attended Central High School. A friend commented on her Facebook page: 'With a heavy heart I have to inform all my family and friends that they have found our sweet Kelly. Thank you to all who shared her information while she was missing. I only wish she had been found alive and well. We love you Kell Smell and I hope you sleep with the Angels and find peace.'

Summary: Kelly Mae Myers, 18, went missing from Colorado home on December 18 . Police thought she was hitchhiking to visit friends in Salt Lake City . Launched search party on January 19, remains found on Saturday . Death being treated as suspicious, remains were in a remote desert .


A good sex life won’t just improve your mood, it could also boost your brainpower. A study found that the more satisfied a person was with their love life in their 60s and 70s, the sharper their mind and the better their memory. One possibility is that an active sex life keeps the brain young. The finding follows a recent British study which revealed that age is no barrier to an active love life. Dutch researchers found that people in their 70s having sex were better able to use their memory, file photo . The Manchester University study found, more than half of men and almost a third of women aged 70-plus are still sexually active. And one third of these have sex at least twice a month. The latest study involved quizzing more than 1,700 Dutch men and women about their sex life and their need for intimacy. The volunteers, who ranged in age from 58 to 98, were also put through a battery of mental tests, designed to assess everything from memory to the ability to think abstractly. Two-thirds of the men and women had a partner and a similar number said that they still felt the need for intimacy. Those who were satisfied with their sex life and said that sexuality was important did better on the tests. The link was particularly strong in women, the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry reports. The researchers, from the Altrecht mental health centre, can’t be sure if staying sexually active was keeping the brain or if interest in sex dwindles as the mind fails. However, previous research has credited having sex with the growth of new brain cells, in rats at least. It has also been suggested that doing a crossword is better for the brain than an orgasm – because it gives the whole brain a workout, rather than just one area of it. Researchers have found that rats can boost their brain power by having more sex than normal . The Dutch researchers said it is important not to assume that sex is just for the young. They wrote: ‘Many beliefs about sexual behaviour in older populations are based on personal and stereotyped views of ageing and sexuality. ‘Older persons are generally expected to no longer be capable of or to be lacking interest in sex when, in reality, many elderly persons require sexuality to be important and wish to remain sexually active as they age. ‘Age itself is no adequate predictor of sexuality; the reality of ageing is that most people continue to have sexual feelings of some sort.’ ends .

Summary: University researchers found that sex in later life helps boost memory . More than half of men and a third of women over 70 are sexually active . One third of the old people surveyed admitted having sex twice a month . Dutch researchers quizzed people aged between 58 and 98 . They also subjected them to a battery .


They turned out in their thousands yesterday, dressed to impress in a colourful range of costumes inspired by their favourite comic book characters. And today revellers at London's Super Comic Book Convention didn't let down, showing off wild headdresses and painted torsos in homage to their fictional counterparts. Pausing for a break from the festivities, some were seen lifting out cash and enjoying cups of coffee in full costume. Others lived up to their roles, acting out scenes from their favourite books to the delight of friends and fellow enthusiasts. More than 25,000 people were expected to visit the event in east London's Excel Centre over the weekend. The convention, now in its fourth year, is the largest comic book event in the UK. Even superheroes need cash! Revellers at the comic book convention in London's Excel Centre form an orderly queue to withdraw funds . Ironman struggles to relax in his stiff bodysuit on the second day of the convention which attracted around 25,000 people . Michael Hulcoop from Hastings, who came as The Thing, flexes his muscles for the camera . Sean Bonner from Essex donned an impressive set of wings to complete his Hawkman costume for the convention . Lucy Saxon from Hertfordshire strikes her best pose as Star Girl - a superheroine based on a blonde teenager . Some enthusiasts travelled from as far as Australia to attend the convention. Eleni from Sydney, above, dressed up as Bombshell Black Canary for the occasion . Caitlin from Ware sported full body paint, green lingerie and a bright pink rose to portray Bombshell Poison Ivy . Left to right: Vicky from Cambridge as Catwoman, Caitlin from Ware as Poison Ivy and 'Lady Noctis Cosplay' from Pembrokeshire as Harley Quinn. Ciara Baker from Essex was a more conservative Cinderella while Katie Bacon dressed as Blair Rose . A line-up of superheroines at the fourth Super Comic Book Convention at London's Excel Centre today . Alice from Manchester wore an intricate green costume complete with horns and a tail to portray her favourite Pokemon character . Who invited them? Ali G is 'arrested' by Good Cop and Bad Cop from the Lego film on the second day of the convention .

Summary: Revellers enjoyed the second day of the Super Comic Book Convention . Spiderman, Poison Ivy and Ali G were among the best dressed at event . More than 25,000 people were expected to attend east London convention .


Surgeons often describe the tricky operation to remove a brain tumour as ‘trying to pluck a spider out of jelly’. Take out too little and the cancerous ‘legs’ remain and regrow – but take out too much and there is a risk of cutting away healthy tissue and leaving the patient disabled. Now a British hospital is trialling a laser that bleeps like a parking sensor on a car when the scalpel gets to the edge of the cancerous areas, letting surgeons know their margins for error. In a world first, neurosurgeons at London’s Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have started using the pen-like probe, called the Core, which shines a near-infrared light on to a tumour and scans for subtle differences between healthy and cancerous tissue. The device can read the differences in less than a second, and gives a warning sound if the surgeon is close to healthy tissue. About 16,000 Britons are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year, and more children and adults under 40 die from the condition than from any other cancer. There are more than 120 types. Surgeons hope the Core, which has already proved successful in skin-cancer surgery in Canada, will allow them to remove as much of the cancerous growth as possible and also speed up operating times. The probe was used for the first time during brain surgery at Imperial last week as part of a trial that will involve 30 patients over the next year. Senior neurosurgical trainee Babar Vaqas, who spearheaded the project to bring the Core to the UK, says: ‘There really is nothing like this at the moment. ‘Brain surgery is a very complex operation – sometimes even taking just a millimetre too much can cause real damage, such as paralysis or problems with speech. Having something that will make surgery safer and more accurate could be a real game-changer.’ One of the major obstacles at present is that the boundary between the tumour and healthy brain tissue is very hard to distinguish, even with an operating microscope. Currently, surgeons must rely on taking several tiny cuttings of tissue to ensure they are only taking away that which is cancerous. It can take up to 90 minutes for these biopsies to be tested and for results to be fed back to surgeons, all while the patient remains in the operating theatre. Surgeons believe the pen-like probe could shave up to 30 minutes off the average three-hour surgery time (picture posed by models) Instead of taking a physical sample, a surgeon holds the Core over the area being operated on and a beam is emitted from the tip of the probe, scanning for changes in the chemical composition of brain tissue. A tumour molecule vibrates differently from healthy molecules under laser light, causing the light to bounce back in a different way. This is picked up by the probe, and the signal is then interpreted by a computer, giving an instant reading of whether the tissue is cancerous. Mr Vaqas believes using the Core could shave up to 30

Summary: British surgeons use pen-like probe to spot brain tumours for the first time . Laser helps medics tell difference between healthy and cancerous tissue . Pioneering technique could shave 30 minutes off three-hour operations .


Warren Buffett enthusiasts have been offered the dream prize of a stay in the investment guru's childhood home - so long as they invest in his company and have a healthy appreciation of Omaha. The three-bedroom house, where the billionaire finance whizz lived from the age of six, has been put on Airbnb ahead of a May 2 investors' meeting in the Nebraska city where he grew up. It was from that home, which his family left in 1966 and no longer owns, that Buffett, now 84, earned his first cents selling Coke and chewing gum door-to-door, and also started investing in stocks. Big prize: Warren Buffett superfans will be able to stay in his old house if they win an Airbnb competition. The investment guru is pictured left in March 2015, and right in the 1930s . Where the heart is: The Buffett family moved to this house in 1936. His mother continued living there until 1966 . The online listing, which boasts that the home still has several Buffett-era features, explains that Airbnb will offer a free stay, for up to three nights, to a lucky winner. To be eligible, entrants must be shareholders in Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway holding company, and answer four questions. As well as listing their best Airbnb experience and travel 'bucket list', hopefuls must explain what excites them most about the Berkshire Hathaway annual meet-up - and then wax lyrical about Omaha in general. The competition is part of an Airbnb publicity push in the city, which regularly runs out of hotel space when some 40,000 Buffett acolytes descend each year to hear from the investment guru himself. Times change: This is the room where a young Buffett slept through his youth - though it now features twin beds and has likely seen some other changes since the billionaire-to-be last spent the night there . Eyes on the prize: Only Berkshire Hathaway shareholders are eligible to enter the competition, and must answer questions including one on their excitement to be in Omaha . The phenomenon also sees hotels hike their rates, with some locations insisting visitors book rooms for at least three nights, despite the event only lasting a day. Strategies like this roused the ire of Buffett, who personally recommended Airbnb to his shareholders as a way to get round it. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, the self-confessed 'mother bear' said he plugged the home-sharing site, in which he has no financial stake, to protect his shareholders from exploitation. The prize home, on North 53rd Street, is around 15 minutes from the CenturyLink Center where the meeting will be held. Many parts of the house are still as they were during the Buffett family's 30-year stay, including the shelves in the library and a chandelier which Warren's parents installed in the dining room. Original feature: The dining room chandelier, above, was installed by Buffett's parents more than 50 years ago . Original: The shelves in the library, pictured, were those used by Buffett's father in what was then his study . Mod

Summary: Three-night stay in billionaire's old Nebraska home is competition prize . Stay is during shareholder meeting for Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway firm . To win May trip, entrants must answer questions on company and Omaha . Buffett family moved there in 1936, when Warren was six years old .


A zoo in Australia claims it is home to the biggest and oldest common wombat in captivity. Patrick the wombat weighs in at an astonish 79lbs (36kg) despite the average for its species being somewhere between that figure and 32lbs (15kg). At 30 years old Patrick has also lived a lot longer than the expected age of a wombat. Patrick's handler, Julia Leonard, said: ‘We believe he is the oldest common wombat in captivity. ‘To live that long is pretty good going. In the wild they probably only average 10 to 15 years. ‘But you know, he has got a happy home, good food and lots of cuddles so he is thriving.’ A resident at the Ballarat Wildlife Park in Victoria, Australia, the wombat initially appears to be an average size when it first features in the video. Peek-a-boo! When Patrick the wombat first features in the video he appears to be an average size . But once it is picked up by its handler, the sheer size of the mammal is striking. However, according to Ms Leonard, the wombat is actually lighter than it used to be. ‘Well he was 40kg in his heyday. Of course, as you get older you lose a bit of weight so he is about 36kg now,' said Ms Leonard. According to Patrick's handler, Julia Leonard, in its 'heyday' the wombat weighed a whopping 40kg . Quite a handful! At 79lbs, Patrick is a lot heavier than the average wombat who weighs somewhere between that figure and 32lbs . Patrick has been in captivity nearly his entire life at the Ballarat Wildlife Park as – rather surprisingly – he couldn’t defend himself against other wombats in the wild. Hand-raised after being orphaned as a baby, the wombat is famous in the park for greeting visitors while being pushed around in a wheelbarrow – as seen in the video. With hundreds of thousands of fans, Patrick also has his own Facebook page and he was named the 3rd best 'city mascot' in the world back in 2014. Patrick has been in captivity nearly his entire life as he couldn't defend himself against other wombats in the wild . The wombat was hand-raised as a baby and is famous for greeting visitors to the park in a wheelbarrow .

Summary: In its heyday the animal is said to have weighed a massive 88lbs . The average lifespan of a wombat is 10 to 15 but Patrick is 30-years-old . Patrick is in captivity at the Ballarat Wildlife Park in Victoria, Australia .


Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol is adamant that the Reds will beat arch-rivals Manchester United to a Champions League qualification spot come the end of the season. The Merseysiders are just one place and two points behind United, who currently occupy fourth, with 10 Premier League games remaining. Brendan Rodgers' side are the form team in England's top flight having collected 29 points from their last 11 matches - having bounced back after making a poor start this season. Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol believes the Reds will beat Manchester United to fourth place . Jordan Henderson (right) opened the scoring in their 2-0 win over Burnley on Wednesday night . Daniel Sturridge headed home Liverpool's second as they remain two points behind United in fifth . Nicol (right) enjoyed a trophy-laden 12 years at Liverpool - where he made 468 appearances for the club . United too have strung together a decent run of results with Ashley Young's late winner against Newcastle on Wednesday night ensuring that Louis van Gaal's side keep Liverpool at bay in their top-four battle. The two sides meet at Anfield on March 22 and Nicol believes Liverpool's momentum means it's only a matter of time before they overtake United in the table. 'Man United got themselves into a great position but at this stage of the season it is all about momentum,' he told talkSPORT's Extra Time show. 'You can't argue that Man United are picking up points. But Liverpool at the moment don't care who is put in front of them - they just go about their business. Ashley Young (centre) fired home the winner for United to earn his side a valuable three points at Newcastle . Despite the win for Louis van Gaal's men (left) Nicol believes the momentum is all with Liverpool . 'The good Liverpool teams of the past have all been about good passing and good movement and this team's passing is accurate, the movement is fantastic, and they are giving anybody that is put in front of them a headache. If they keep playing the way they are, who is going to beat them? And the 53-year-old feels Liverpool could finish higher than fourth and even challenge for third place with Arsenal. 'If Liverpool continue to steamroll teams, they even have a chance of third place,' he added. 'I think Arsenal are guaranteed [to finish in the top four]. It is Arsenal and Liverpool for third and fourth.' Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool side have now collected 29 points from their last 11 league matches .

Summary: Manchester United travel to Liverpool in the Premier League on March 22 . United currently sit fourth - one place and two points ahead of Liverpool . Ashley Young's goal gave United a 1-0 win over Newcastle on Wednesday . Liverpool kept up the pressure on United with a 2-0 home win over Burnley . CLICK HERE for all the latest Liverpool news .


Since giving birth to her daughter Arabella four months ago, Rebecca Ferguson has become the victim of cruel taunts about her size 12 post-pregnancy body. But the singer has now hit back at her critics and vowed to resist the pressure to slim down. Speaking to Fabulous magazine, the 28-year-old former X Factor star confessed that recent comments aimed at her weight, and questions about when she'll 'drop the post-baby pounds', have left her more determined than ever to stand up for herself. Scroll down for video . Rebecca Ferguson gave birth to gorgeous baby Arabella just four months ago, but has faced constant questions, even from those close to her, about how and when she'll lose her 'baby weight' The singer says even though she's only a size 12 following her third pregnancy, there has been a lot of pressure on her as a celebrity mum to 'snap back into shape' within a few weeks (Left: Rebecca during her third trimester and right: Rebecca in a bikini last month . She said 'There's this culture where we celebrate people snapping back into shape a week after the birth, but I don't want to be one of those people - I just want to enjoy Arabella.' Rebecca, who has never named the father of Arabella publicly, also has two other children called Lillie, aged 10, and Karl, nine, with her former boyfriend and teenage sweetheart Karl Dures, 29. And the singer now admits that she regrets not having had this empowering new mindset after she had her other kids. Describing how she felt as a new mum in previous years, the Get Happy singer said, 'When I look back, I think I should have just enjoyed my babies and not worried about my weight or being skinny. 'I'm curvy, I've got thighs, but I'm not big. I eat healthily and I'm breastfeeding, so I know the weight will come off naturally.' Rebecca pictured with her two older children Lillie 10, (left) and Karl, nine, (right) Currently promoting her new album Lady Sings The Blues, it would be easy for Rebecca to feel the need to slim down for upcoming photo shoots and interviews. But while some celebrities are famed for getting their impossibly taut figures back just weeks after giving birth, Rebecca says she's not feeling that pressure this time around. Instead, she's standing up for new mums everywhere, by taking aim at the critics who try to publicly shame women into losing weight. The former X Factor contestant has refused to name and shame her weight critics, but revealed some have been a lot closer to home than she ever imagined (Pictured left: In concert at the St James Theatre, London, last month, and right: on This Morning last week) She said: 'Women's bodies are amazing, what our bodies can do is incredible so it's sad that we get distracted - all this stuff about being skinny, be this, be that, they're all distractions. 'They rob us of what we should be focusing on and that's sad.' Though the singer has

Summary: Critics have made cruel taunts about Rebecca Ferguson's post-baby body . But singer is refusing to bow to pressure to 'snap back into shape' She wants to enjoy being a new mother to four-month-old Arabella instead .


A zebra crossing in China has managed to get the locals cross. People's Daily reported that town planners in Chenzhou, a city of around 4.6 million people in southern China, built three sets of zebra lines which lead to a triangle-shaped traffic island planted with palms trees and a hedge. Ridiculed by Chinese online users, Chenzhou authorities said they would revamp the design. Tree-point turn: Anyone trying to cross the intersection in Chenzhou is advised to take some shears . Local residents joked that in order to get to the other side of the road they have to risk their life by walking around the island, or, better yet, fly past like ninjas. The crossing is located on the intersection of Longquan Road and Dongfeng Road, a semi-residential part of the city. A local police spokesman confirmed they had received several complaints about the traffic island and its bizarre zebra crossing connections. Wheel of Fortune: The locals have an auspicious nickname for the intersection, but they have to risking their lives walking around it every day . 'Normally zebra crossings are supposed to bring convenience to the pedestrians and make sure that pedestrians are safe,' said the spokesman. 'However we passed a report onto the council because this strange combination brings pedestrians into potential danger as they are forced to walk around it when crossing the intersection.' A local resident said: 'We call it the "Wheel of Fortune", and it's a bit of a joke around here because when they built it they obviously weren't thinking properly.' No man's land: The division built the crossing while the park and gardens division planted the garden. It seems the two government bodies didn't communicate . The amusing design is resulted by a no-man's-land between local governmental functions. A spokesman for the local council said the road division is in charge of building the zebra crossing, but the park and gardens division, who designs traffic islands, ended up making a complete garden surrounded by hedge.

Summary: The crossing is located in a semi-residential area in Chenzhou . Pedestrians joked to cross the road they need to be ninjas . Local residents call it the 'Wheel of Fortune'


Scientists have developed a necklace dubbed the ‘diet choker’ that monitors everything that goes down your throat - and sends you an alert if you overeat. WearSens is a metal ring that goes around your neck and has a sensor which uses the vibrations in your throat to tell when you are eating and drinking. The researchers behind the device have linked it up to a smartphone app which buzzes if you go over your daily calorie limit. Scientists have combined WearSens, a metal ring that goes around the neck (above) to monitor eating, with a smartphone app which counts calories . It also lets you know if you eat too much of the wrong kind of food. The device was developed by engineers at the University of California, Los Angeles and so far the tests on 30 people show that the it does work. But the reaction elsewhere has been mixed reaction and some tech websites likened it to a choke collar, though it does not contract if you eat too much. Another website, Bustle.com, dubbed it the ‘weirdest (tech) wearable we have seen to date’. The UCLA team said the WearSens works because each food makes a distinctive pattern of vibrations in the neck so the device is able to work out what it is you are consuming using a piezoelectric sensor, which measures changes in pressure or force. In tests with a limited menu it has guessed with 90 per cent accuracy the difference between solid and liquid foods - and even the difference between hot or cold drinks. It could also distinguish between hard and soft foods about 75 per cent of the time, the findings in the journal IEEE Sensors said. WearSens co-founder Majid Sarrafzadeh said: ‘Many nutrition methods are based on writing down what you eat. ‘But this method has low compliance so we wanted to overcome these issues and wanted to do something that a pedometer does for activity’. Scientists are hopeful the technology will also tell users when they are eating the wrong types of food (file image) In a demonstration posted on YouTube, the device asks for the user’s age, height, weight and their goal such as to lose weight or stay the same. It will then tell them what they have eaten, how fast they eat their food and gives them advice such as if you miss a meal it mentions how it could leave you fatigued. The UCLA researchers said that other applications they could see for the device included tracking when somebody takes a pill to ensure they take their daily medicine. It could also remotely monitor breathing patterns of transplant patients as abnormal breathing may be an early indicator that the organ is being rejected. Even smokers who are trying to quit could benefit from the device as it could potentially tell when they are puffing away from the movement in their neck. The WearSens is the latest example of the growing industry of wearable tech and comes on the day that Apple is due to release details of

Summary: Scientists developed necklace called 'the diet choker' to help lose weight . Experts teamed WearSens metal to a smartphone app to create product . The cutting edge technology sends users an alert if they begin to overeat .


For centuries there have been accounts of animals behaving bizarrely before earthquakes. Now, for the first time, scientists have filmed the behaviour of wild animals prior to a quake and believe their study could help improve short-term seismic forecasting. They found that animals in Peru - such as pumas and razor-billed curassow birds - ran for cover days before the event. Researchers believe that the changes in behaviour may be linked to airborne ions. Scroll down for video . For the first time, scientists have filmed the behaviour of wild animals in Peru prior to a quake and believe their study could help improve short-term seismic forecasting. This still shows a Razor-billed curassow . Led by Dr Rachel Grant of Anglia Ruskin University, experts used data gathered from a series of motion-triggered cameras located in the Yanachaga National Park in Peru. The research found that significant changes in animal behaviour began 23 days before the magnitude 7.0 Contamana earthquake that struck the region in 2011. On a typical day, the cameras would record between five and 15 animal sightings. However, within the 2-day period in the run-up to the earthquake, they recorded five or fewer sightings. For five of the seven days immediately before the earthquake, no animal movements were recorded at all, which was incredibly unusual for the mountainous rainforest region. Dr Grant, a lecturer in animal and environmental biology, told MailOnline that rodents seemed to be particularly sensitive and disappeared completely eight days before the quake. ‘Usually they’re quite ubiquitous in the forest. They’re very common and were everywhere in the control period, but then completely disappeared.’ The research found that significant changes in animal behaviour began 23 days before the magnitude 7.0 Contamana earthquake struck the region in 2011. A stock image showing rupture caused by a quake is shown . Scientists recorded the reflection of very low frequency radio waves above the area surrounding the epicentre of the Peruvian earthquake. In particualr they monitored the ionosphere, the layer of the Earth's atmosphere which contains a high concentration of ions and free electrons and is able to reflect radio waves. It is thought that positive airborne ions, which are known to be generated in large numbers at the Earth’s surface when rocks deep below are subjected to increasing stresses during the build-up to an earthquake, trigger unusual animal behaviour. Positive ions in the air lead to unpleasant side effects in animals and humans, such as ‘serotonin syndrome’. This is caused by an increase in the serotonin levels in the bloodstream, and can lead to symptoms such as restlessness, agitation, hyperactivity and confusion. The study which was co-authored by Professor Friedemann Freund of the SETI Institute and Professor Jean-Pierre Raulin of the Centre of Radio Astronomy and Astrophysics Mackenzie (CRAAM) in Brazil, and is published by the journal Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, looked at reasons for this disappearance. They recorded the reflection of very low frequency (VLF) radio waves above the area surrounding the epicentre. The scientists detected disturbances in the ionosphere - the layer of the earth's

Summary: Scientists filmed the behaviour of animals in Peru before an earthquake . Found many fled to lower ground and holed up days before the event . For five days before the earthquake, no animal movements were recorded . Expert from Anglia Ruskin University said rodents are extra sensitive . Study suggests animals respond to disturbances in the ionosphere . Positive ions in the air lead to disagreeable side effects in animals .


Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho no longer feels the need to implement a 'confrontational leadership' style with his players because their season is going largely to plan. The 52-year-old Portuguese returned to Stamford Bridge for his second spell in charge last season but got off to a disappointing start by his own high standards and failed to win any silverware in 2013-14. This season, however, Chelsea have already won the League Cup and boast a six-point advantage over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has revealed he has ditched his 'confrontational leadership' style . The Portuguese tactician insists he has had no reason to 'provoke' his players during the current campaign . 'This season I don't need confrontational leadership - last season I felt I needed it a few times,' Mourinho told reporters. 'Basically, it's when you are ready to provoke your players to try to create some conflicts with the intention to bring out the best of them. 'In this moment I don't think I need that with this group because things are going in the direction I want.' It has not been all smooth sailing for Mourinho this season, however, as Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup by League One (third tier) Bradford City and were eliminated in the last-16 of the Champions League by Paris St Germain. 'Obviously you can say "but you lost in the Champions League", or "you lost against Bradford",' Mourinho said. Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard has matured into a 'great player', according to Mourinho . 'But globally, generally, the way they work, the way they behave, the way they live together, their motivations, their responsibilities, their frustrations, the way they react to the negative moments, the way they react to the positive moments, the absence of complacency, all this is going well. 'So I just need to be present. I don't need to be a big leader, or even try to find strategies as a leader.' Belgian forward Eden Hazard felt the wrath of Mourinho's 'confrontational leadership' style last season after neglecting his defensive duties during Chelsea's Champions League semi-final exit to Atletico Madrid. Hazard, however, has been Chelsea's standout player this season but Mourinho said he is unsure if the 24-year-old's development is down to the criticism he received. 'I don't know if it was that or it was his maturity coming, his level of ambition,' he said. 'I just think that was a natural evolution. 'He wants to be the best, to improve his game, score more goals. I still call him a kid but he's a man. He's a great player.'

Summary: Jose Mourinho is happy with the direction his players are going in . Mourinho had to wind his players up to get reaction in previous seasons . The Portuguese tactician has labelled Eden Hazard a 'great player'


There was a time in 2012 when just about every selfie going was doctored by a grinning picture of John Terry, super-imposed in his full Chelsea kit and lifting the European Cup. Their captain popped up all over the internet, a subject of ridicule after missing the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena through suspension. This time he wore the Chelsea strip for real, lifting the Capital One Cup high up in the Wembley stands and dancing like a dad in front of their celebrating fans behind the goal in the West Stand. John Terry lifts the Capital One Cup after captaining Chelsea to victory over Tottenahm Hotspur . Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris watches as Terry's shot finds the back of the net during the first half . Diego Costa, Terry and Gary Cahill celebrate the opening goal of the game in London . Terry was man of the match here by a distance, driving this team towards their first trophy since Jose Mourinho returned with a performance that sent shivers down the spine. He scored Chelsea’s opener on the stroke of half-time, a finish that settled any anxiety and pretty much any doubt about the destination of this year’s Capital One Cup. After that, he was peerless. The Capital One Cup is a level or two down from the European Cup, or the three Barclays Premier League titles he has won at Chelsea during a 17-year career at Stamford Bridge — but one look at the Chelsea captain told you it really mattered. This was further confirmation, as if it were needed, of his class. His last-ditch tackle on Tottenham’s talisman Harry Kane, sprinting across to cover for his team-mate Gary Cahill in the final minutes here, evoked memories of the days when he was rated best in the world in his position. Former Atletico Madrid forward Costa had a hand in the second goal of the game on Sunday afternoon . Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho and Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino watch on from the sidelines . Goalscorer Terry celebrates with Costa during their Capital One Cup final win in London . It hurt like hell for Terry to miss out on the Champions League final, that one night in Munich when Chelsea finally realised their ambition to win the biggest club cup in European football. At the age of 34 he plays one season at a time now, waiting for the call from Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo or director Marina Granovskaia to tell him that he will be staying on for another campaign. That conversation is coming, ‘a formality’ according to Mourinho recently as Terry matured into a new role at the heart of the Chelsea defence. Incredible as it sounds, opposition managers and their players have yet to suss out that Terry has passed on the main responsibility of marking to his usual central defensive partner Cahill. That savvy move added another five years to Alessandro Costacurta’s career with AC Milan when it was put to him by Carlo Ancelotti at the turn of

Summary: Chelsea beat Tottenham 2-0 in the Capital One Cup final . John Terry scored the opening goal, Diego Costa had a hand in the second . Terry has seen a return to form since Jose Mourinho rejoined the club . The Blues' captain has redefined his game to involve more delegation .


Independent economists such as Soumaya Keynes (pictured) have urged both the Tories and Labour to be more straightforward about spending plans . Independent economists have urged both the Tories and Labour to be more straightforward with voters about their post-election tax and spending plans. Researchers from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said that George Osborne should spell out exactly how he plans to cut welfare spending by £12billion. They also said that Labour’s ideas to deal with Britain’s deficit were ‘less explicit’ than the other main parties, and could see Ed Miliband rack up tens of billions a year in borrowing. Yesterday IFS director Paul Johnson criticised both the major parties over their lack of clarity ahead of May’s general election. Referring to the Chancellor’s planned £12billion in welfare cuts, he said: ‘It is now almost two years since he announced his intention of cutting welfare spending by £12billion. It’s time we knew more about what that might actually involve.’ The Chancellor signalled yesterday that a future Conservative government would freeze benefits paid to people of working age for two years from 2016. The freeze, which would not include pensions, disability benefits and maternity pay, would save £3billion. Last week the Daily Mail also revealed that other measures likely to be included in the Tory manifesto include restricting child benefit to three children for new claimants, cutting the cap on welfare claims from £26,000 to £23,000 per household and removing the right of under-25s to housing benefit and jobless payouts if they refuse offers of work, training or education. Researchers from the IFS said that George Osborne should spell out exactly how he plans to cut welfare spending by £12billion . Multi-billion pound plans to ‘revolutionise’ travel in the North of England will be unveiled today. Part of George Osborne’s ‘Northern Powerhouse’ strategy, they include new rail routes that could see 140mph trains reduce Liverpool to Manchester journey times to around 20 minutes. A so-called ‘TransNorth’ rail network would link Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and Hull. The Liverpool-Manchester route could cost as much as £13billion, while a plan to reduce journey times between Sheffield and Manchester from the 48 to 27 minutes could cost up to £19billion. Other plans include new east-west road connections and introducing Oyster-style travel cards across the North. However even those measures would fall well short of the £12billion Mr Osborne needs to find. Yesterday IFS economist Soumaya Keynes also warned that Labour’s rules were so loose that the party could end austerity next year and open the public spending tap again. She claimed that Labour could increase real-term spending by more than £9billion a year by 2020, compared to Tory plans to lower it by £14billion by that point. Labour has promised that it will balance day-to-day spending at some point during the next Parliament, but has not yet specified when that will be. And unlike the Conservatives, the party has not committed to balancing all government spending – leaving it free to borrow tens of billions for ‘investment’. This means that under Labour, Britain’s

Summary: Osborne urged to explain how he will cut welfare spending by £12billion . Economists added that Labour's plans to cut the deficit were 'less explicit' Both parties criticised over their lack of clarity ahead of general election .