As the scorer of Gibraltar’s first-ever competitive goal, it was little wonder that history-maker Lee Casciaro felt like a Rock star when he left Hampden Park on Sunday night. However, as the 33-year-old Ministry of Defence policeman would later reveal, he was not the first man from the tiny British overseas territory to make an arresting impact at the National Stadium. If the outstanding memory of the 2002 Champions League Final for most people remains Zinedine Zidane’s exquisite volleyed goal, in Gibraltar it was the sight of local businessman Joe Beriro invading the park clad in a kilt and a Real Madrid strip. Gibraltar's players celebrate after Lee Casciaro scored their first ever competitive goal on Sunday . Beriro would later appear on Gibraltar’s version of Strictly Come Dancing, before eventually falling foul of the law and out of the public eye. His place as the most famous man in Gibraltar now passes to Casciaro after criminal defending by Scotland allowed the cop to race clear, fire low past David Marshall and utterly stun Hampden. For the striker, all the years spent pounding the hard yards on pavements and playing in sub-standard facilities were worth it as he followed in the famous footsteps of Zidane by scoring a goal to remember in Mount Florida. Casciaro (centre) celebrates the goal that will have made him the most famous man in Gibraltar . ‘It was a Gibraltarian who jumped out of the stand and onto the park in his kilt and his Madrid shirt in that Champions League Final in 2002. I remember that well,’ he beamed. ‘It was just a dream come true for me to score that goal. It’s unimaginable to get the first competitive goal for Gibraltar. ‘I don’t think I will get a hero’s reception when I get home. We still lost the game – but it is still an achievement to get the goal. Gibraltar goalkeeper Jamie Robba celebrates the goal at Hampden Park, which levelled the score at 1-1 . ‘We have only just joined UEFA and started to train on a football pitch. All my life, we’ve been training wherever we can, running on the road, or for 90 minutes a week on a seven-a-side pitch. ‘Even two or three years ago I didn’t think I would be playing for Gibraltar because I didn’t think we would get into UEFA. Everything has happened so fast and we are learning every day. ‘This goal is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I knew it was going in as soon as I hit it. It was a great feeling. ‘I swapped my second shirt with Ikechi Anya but I kept my shirt from the first half. I am going to put it up in my house! But I’m hoping there are more goals to come for me in future.’ Casciaro (right) vies for the ball with Scotland's Ikechi Anya, who he later swapped shirts with . Despite ultimately losing 6-1 to Gordon Strachan’s side, Casciaro hopes that his own stunning effort will alter perceptions

Summary: Scotland beat Gibraltar 6-1 at Hampden Park on Sunday afternoon . At one point, the scores were level at 1-1 when Lee Casciaro equalised . The strike marked Gilbraltar's first competitive goal in their history . Casciaro says the goal was a dream come true, an 'unimaginable moment'


The Los Angeles Galaxy kicked off the new MLS season with a 2-0 home win over Chicago Fire on Friday, with goals from Jose Villarreal and Robbie Keane. Villarreal put the hosts ahead in the 65th minute of a dominant performance by the Galaxy just three months after they raised their third MLS Cup trophy in four seasons. The Galaxy are unbeaten in 17 league games at home since March 8, 2014. Robbie Keane (left) celebrates after scoring the Galaxy's second goal in their opening league game . Last season's MVP shoots past Jeff Larentowicz to complete a 2-0 victory over Chicago Fire . The reigning MLS champions have not lost at home in their last 17 league games . Reigning MLS MVP Keane completed the comfortable victory with powerful strike on 81minutes. Former Wigan forward Shaun Maloney made his debut for the visitors, but failed to score and received a caution for a late tackle after just 22 minutes. LA Galaxy midfielder Jose Villarreal put his side a head with a well taken strike in the second half . Retired Galaxy icon Landon Donovan is projected on the big screen during their celebrations of 2014 title win . Retired star Landon Donovan joined his former teammates on the field for a brief pregame ceremony honoring MLS' first five-time champion franchise in front of a sellout crowd. The Galaxy hung a large temporary banner above the video board to honor the 2014 MLS Cup champions. The entire MLS season was almost delayed by a strike before players agreed a new collective bargaining agreement with the League on Wednesday.

Summary: Robbie Keane and Jose Villarreal netted in their opening league win . The reigning MLS champions have not lost at home in 17 league games . Retired Landon Donovan joined team-mates to celebrate last season's MLS Trophy win, the fifth in the club's history .


It was a deeply disturbing homecoming for Shreya Singhal, then 21. She had returned to India from her astrophysics course at the UK’s Bristol University in 2012, when news of a series of netizens’ arrests spurred by powerful politicians started making headlines. Behind these arrests lurked a relatively young dark law: Section 66A of the Information Technology Act. Shreya decided to file a public interest litigation. A little over two years later, Justice Rohinton Nariman of the Supreme Court got up from his chair after announcing, “Section 66A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, is hereby struck down in its entirety.” Petitioner Shreya Singhal and her mother Manali Singhal were thrilled with the ruling . A packed courtroom noisily greeted the landmark judgment upholding online freedom of speech and expression. The two-judge bench headed by the son of legendary jurist Fali S. Nariman had struck down as “unconstitutional” and “vague” the draconian provision which gave “sweeping and unbridled power” to the police to arrest anyone for offensive posts on social networking websites or sending messages through mobile phones and tablets. For Shreya, daughter of Supreme Court lawyer Manali Singhal and granddaughter of Delhi High Court judge Sunanda Bhandare, a long battle against the might of the state had just ended. Shock and anger . “I was shocked by the arrests, including of a Jadavpur University professor, for circulating a picture spoofing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party colleague Mukul Roy; imprisonment of Puducherry businessman Ravi Srinivasan for allegedly posting offensive messages on Twitter about Congress leader P. Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram,” she said. But the trigger for her PIL was the arrest of two girls in Mumbai for a critical online post about the shut-down in the city for Bal Thackarey’s funeral. “I got really angry. The law was blatantly being misused. The provision was extremely vague in its definition of what should go on the Internet,” she said. Shreya’s petition raised an avalanche. Eight other petitioners, including writer Taslima Nasreen, joined her after a year. Section 66A, brought about by a defensive UPA which was increasingly getting cornered and badgered on the social media, surprisingly found a friend in the incumbent government, which defended it in Supreme Court. No definition . The court found merit in Shreya’s argument that the language used in Section 66A is so vague that the accused would not know what the offence was, and nor would the authorities be clear on the charges. It prescribed a three-year jail term for posts which are “grossly offensive” or had a “menacing character” or e-mails which caused “annoyance” or “inconvenience” to the recipient. What is worse is that none of these expressions had been defined. This went against the principles of criminal law which require each and every term to be well-defined, leaving no scope for misinterpretation and possible misuse. “You can’t jail anyone just like that. I am not saying you should defame anyone. But one should not be scared to post anything now as long as public order is respected,” said Shreya. The

Summary: Section 66A of the Information Technology Act saw Indians arrested simply for sharing their views on Facebook and Twitter . Student Shreya Singhal filed a PIL against vague and sinister law . Supreme Court has now declared it 'unconstitutional'


Jailed: Carrie Russel, 26, was put in a Japanese prison for possessing Adderall - which is illegal in Japan . A teacher from Oregon has been freed from a Japanese jail after being locked up for three weeks for possessing the prescription drug Adderall. Carrie Russell, 26, was arrested on February 20 after admitting to police that she had been sent a stash of Adderall pills in the mail. The medicine, prescribed by her doctor back home, is common in the United States, but banned in Japan. She was let out of jail on Tuesday after U.S. government officials, including Caroline Kennedy, daughter of President Kennedy and the current ambassador to Japan, negotiated her release. Russell's mother, a doctor, posted the a three-month supply of the pills to an address in South Korea, from which Russell forwarded them to her home in Nagoya, Japan, according to The Oregonian. Police tracked her down to a restaurant and arrested her while she was dining with friends. She knew just four words of Japanese. Russell, who had a job in Nagoya teaching English, told the newspaper she was taken to a detention center with Japanese cellmates and given chores to do. She said the facility was 'not anything terrifying'. She said she was fed Bento box meals in women's prison, where guards tried to speak with her in English and she picked up more Japanese. Arrest: Police tracked Russell down to a restaurant after learning she had brought a three-month supply of Adderall pills into the country. She knew just four words of Japanese when she was arrested . In the meantime, members of Congress, the Japanese embassy, and even the White House were reportedly involved in intense negotiations to set her free - despite the Japan's harsh anti-amphetamine laws, which often carry lengthy jail sentences. The details of the negotiations are not clear, but Kennedy, who made the case a priority, managed to convince local prosecutors not to file charges, and to let her go. Russell's family wrote an apologetic letter to the Japanese government, saying she had never intended to break the law. In a statement announcing her release, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) proclaimed that 'common sense has won the day'. Negotiations: Caroline Kennedy, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, helped secure Russell's release. She is pictured above with the governor of Tokyo in December 2014 . He continued: 'I want to thank Ambassador Kennedy and her staff for working closely with our office and their Japanese counterparts to get her released.' Russell's stepfather, attorney Loren Podwill, has flown to Japan to meet her and bring her back to Oregon. She added that she wants to come back, if she can find another job. She said: 'In spite of this, I love Japan'. Locked up: Russell was held for almost three weeks in Nagoya, Japan, where she had been working as an English teacher .

Summary: Carrie Russell was arrested in Japan on February 20 for possessing pills . While Adderall is widely prescribed in the U.S., it is illegal in Japan . She knew just four words of Japanese when she was put in women's prison . But said she got Bento meals inside and jail 'was not anything terrifying' Lawmakers and Caroline Kennedy, ambassador to Japan, secured release . She was let out of prison Tuesday, and is due to come back to Oregon .


In of deadliest and most destructive storms in U.S. history, when the storm hit, photographer Randy Taylor, 59, lost more than 30 years worth of photography work. The 59-year-old had photographed some of the biggest stories of the 20th Century (from Princess Diana’s pregnancy to Mick Jagger’s relationship with Jerry Hall), but when Hurricane Sandy struck New York in October 2012, flooding Taylor’s entire storage facility, almost all of his work was destroyed. But the Pulitzer Prize nominee salvaged a fraction of it by dipping hundreds of negatives in alcohol - resulting in them taking on a new psychedelic form. Scroll down for video... Royal revival: Prince Charles and Princess Diana greet fans in Palm Beach, Florida in the 1980s . Colorful collection: The late Princess Diana, pregnant with William, vacationing in the Bahamas . Iconic: Singer Mick Jagger plays guitar on the beach in Barbados in 1983 with pregnant Jerry Hall by his side . Twist: Actor Kevin Costner and his ex-wife Cindy Silva at a gala event in the 1980s . Iconic image: An American soldier stands guard near Wall Street at the New York Stock Exchange on opening day following several days of closure due to the attacks of September 11, 2001 . In the pink: Singer Julio Iglesias performs on stage in Miami, Florida in the 1970s . Two models stand stoically by a home in East Hampton, New York in appreciation of the classic painting 'American Gothic' Purple haze: The Statue of Liberty in New York City is given a new twist as the alcohol altered the color . Lights on! A photo of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in North Carolina . Turning a page: A young girl rests her chin on her arm as she reads . Final farewell: A coroner rolls a body to the morgue . He said: 'Alcohol kills mold so I came up with this process to literally dip the pictures in alcohol and immediately kill it off. 'It also froze the image at that moment in time. It was like taking a snapshot of the picture in that damaged state. Taylor said the entire experience has 'been a roller coaster of emotions.' ‘[It] started off as a sense of total loss and devastation. But ultimately this has been a wonderful experience; a lot of great art came out of it and I'm happy with what was saved.' Taylor, from New York, USA, has enjoyed an amazing career that has seen him cover some of the most dramatic events of the 20th and early 21st Century. Some of his photographs include a photo of a soldier standing guard over Wall Street after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and a pregnant Princess Diana walking along a beach in the Bahamas. Picture this: Mold covers an image of the Statue of Liberty in New York City . Salvage selection: A page of 35mm color slides are destroyed from the floodwater . Green: Fidel Castro speaks in Havana opn the 25th anniversary of America's failed attempt to invade Cuba . Country living: A young girl skips

Summary: Pulitzer Prize nominee Randy Taylor, 59, has photographed everyone from Princess Diana to Mick Jagger . Mold and water destroyed almost his entire life's work . Taylor realized some of his photos could be restored using alcohol . The alcohol gave his pictures a psychedelic appearance .


Do you dote treat your children to a gadget or give them money when they perform well at school? According to a study, such actions could be detrimental to their development, and cause them to be more materialistic as adults. The study suggests that those who were rewarded and spoiled as children were more likely to think possessions define who we are. A study by the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois at Chicago found gifts could affect development. Adults were more likely to think possessions define who we are (stock image shown) if they were showered with rewards when they were children . The study was published in the Journal of Consumer Research and conducted by researchers Dr Marsha Richins (University of Missouri) and Dr Lan Nguyen Chaplin (University of Illinois at Chicago). 'Using material possessions to express love or reward children for their achievements can backfire,' wrote the authors in the paper called Material Parenting. 'Loving and supportive parents can unintentionally foster materialism in their children despite their best efforts to steer them away from relying on material possessions to find happiness or to judge others.' Where you live could affect how big your shopping habit is, according to new research. US scientists have found that people who live in wealthy neighbourhoods are more likely to have materialistic values and poor spending habits. And they think that young people living in particularly rich urban areas are the worst offenders. San Francisco State University’s study is the first to show a connection between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and materialism. Dr Ryan Howell, Associate Professor of Psychology at the university, believes the reason for the link is because of ‘relative deprivation,’ which is the feeling someone gets when they believe they are less well-off than those around them. The authors surveyed 701 adults to measure the long-term impact of material parenting. They were asked to describe their current life situation and values, and also reported on a variety of childhood circumstances, their relationship with their parents, and the rewards and punishments they received during three critical ages of childhood . Results showed adults who had received more material rewards and punishments as children were more likely than others to use possessions to define and express who they are. And adults who received many material rewards as children were likely to continue rewarding themselves with material goods and defining themselves through their possessions. Parents should therefore be cautious about using material goods to express their love and reward their children for good behavior, warn the researchers. They say an overemphasis on material possessions during childhood can have long-lasting effects. It can pave 'the way for their children to grow up to be more likely than others to admire people with expensive possessions and judge success by the kinds of things people own,' the authors conclude. The authors surveyed 701 adults to measure the long-term impact of material parenting. They were asked to describe their current life situation and values, and also reported on a variety of childhood circumstances and the rewards (stock

Summary: Study led by University of Missouri found gifts could affect development . Adults were more likely to think possessions define who we are if they were showered with rewards when they were children . 'Using material possessions to express love or reward children for their achievements can backfire,' wrote the authors .


'Who was the most important photographer covering the sixties' rock and roll music scene? I can think of no one else whose work was so comprehensive and who captured the essence better than Linda,' Paul McCartney writes about his wife who died tragically of breast cancer at 56. Paul McCartney remembers his adored wife who died in 1998 with portraits from this family album he states is a testament to her artistic talent. Linda's passion for music inspired her to work independently and she amassed a major portfolio of photographs of rock musicians from the 1960s to the 1990s. Linda Eastman McCartney was born in New York City in 1941 and raised in suburban Westchester County. Scroll down for video . Lovely Linda: Eastman met Paul McCartney in London in 1967 at the Bag O'Nails Club. They met up again days later at the launch album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.The couple married in March 1969, had four children together and remained close until her untimely death of advancing breast cancer at age fifty-six in 1998 . Paul, the last of the Beatles to marry poses with his bride Linda Eastman and her daughter Heather after their wedding . She was not related to the George Eastman family of Eastman Kodak fame. Rather, her father, Leopold Vail Epstein, was the son of Jewish Russian immigrants and had changed his name to Lee Eastman. After high school, Linda headed west and was living in Arizona where a friend encouraged her to take an art history course at the Tucson Art Center with Hazel Archer. Archer introduced Linda to the great photographers Walker Evan, Dorothea Lange, Ansel Adams and told Eastman to 'Borrow a camera, buy a roll of film and take pictures'. 'She inspired me to become a photographer, because of the photographs she showed me, unlike fashion photography, they were photographs of life, of people, of sadness, of poverty, of nature, everything – I loved it'. Back in Manhattan, Linda's photographic break came while working as a receptionist at Town and Country Magazine. She used an extra invite to a Rolling Stone promotional party to shoot pictures of the band. That was the beginning of her career chronicling the musical revolution of the Sixties. She met Paul McCartney in London in 1967 at the Bag O'Nails Club and met up again days later at the launch of their album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The couple married in March 1969, had four children together and remained close until her untimely death of advancing breast cancer at age fifty-six in 1998. These photographs appear in Life In Photographs by Linda McCartney and, in a new edition of the book published by Taschen. Paul McCartney appears to be flying while diving into a swimming pool on vacation in Jamaica in 1971. He wrote the song 'Bluebird', apparently inspired by the act of 'flying,' with Linda and Denny Laine providing background harmony . Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw, Jamaica, 1973. Ali was Steve's second wife and the couple fell in love on the

Summary: Paul McCartney's wife Linda Eastman McCartney amassed a major portfolio of photographs of rock musicians from the 1960s to the 1990s . 'I can think of no one else who captured the essence better than Linda,' Paul writes . Linda died tragically of breast cancer at 56 .


An ancient tomb belonging to Amenhotep, guard of the temple of Egyptian deity Amun, has been discovered in the southern city of Luxor by an American research team, the Egypt's antiquities ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry says the tomb, found near the southern city of Luxor, dates back to the New Kingdom of the 18th Dynasty (1543-1292 BC) — the most famous of ancient Egypt dynasties. The tombs were found earlier this month near the Sheikh Abd el-Qurna dig site, situated at the feet of the Theban mountains, between the famed valleys of the Kings and Queens over the town of al-Qurna. Scroll down for video . A team working near the historic city of Luxor has found not one, but two ancient tombs . Both tombs feature astonishing murals which are believed to date back to the 18th Dynasty of the Egyptian New Kingdom . This means the tombs were likely created sometime between 1543-1292BC . The tombs were found earlier this month near the Sheikh Abd el-Qurna dig site, situated at the feet of the Theban mountains . Incredible photographs distributed by the ministry show a tomb with bright green and brown paintings with hieroglyphics with murals that depict both celebrations and everyday activity, and despite their age are still remarkably vibrant and colorful. Antiquities Minister Mamdouh al-Damaty said in a statement that the tombs do sadly appear to have been looted at some point and the sarcophogi containing the bejeweled mummies were missing. 'The tomb contains many stunning scenes with bright colours painted on plaster,' Antiquities Minister Mamdouh Eldamaty said in a statement. 'Many of scenes represent the tomb owner and his wife in front of an offering table and a view of a goddess nursing a royal child as well as scenes of the daily life,' he added. The tomb was discovered by a team of American archaeologists alongside an Egyptian inspectors' team in the city of Luxor, 700 kilometres (435 miles) south of Cairo. However, the temple guard's final resting place had been vandalised for unknown reasons. The T-shaped tomb 'was deliberately damaged in ancient times,' said Sultan Eid, the ministry's general director for the Upper Egypt region. 'The name and titles of the tomb owner, some hieroglyphic texts and scenes in addition to the names of the god Amun were deliberately erased,' Eid added. The first tomb was discovered on March 2, and the second was discovered on March 10. The second tomb is believed to be that of Sa-mut and his wife, Ta-Khaeet. The first tomb meanwhile is believed to be that of Sa-Mut's father, Amenhotep. Luxor, a city of some 500,000 people on the banks of the Nile in southern Egypt, is an open-air museum of intricate temples and pharaonic tombs. Eldamaty said in a separate statement that a royal rest house belonging to King Thutmosis II, also from the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom period, had been discovered in the Suez Canal province of Ismailia. The murals depict both celebrations and everyday activity, and despite their age are still remarkably vibrant


Arsene Wenger has hit back at Paul Scholes following the former England midfielder’s criticism of Mesut Ozil. Manchester United legend Scholes has accused the £42.5million man of ‘going through the motions’ during his time with the Gunners in comments made to a national newspaper. But the Arsenal manager has defended his record signing, saying: ‘It’s a wrong statement. He works very hard and he’s a great player. A player like Paul Scholes would have loved to play with Ozil. Mesut has a point to prove and he knows that. Paul Scholes hit out at German playmaker Mesut Ozil by insisting he took easy option when he joined Arsenal . Arsenal ace Ozil has scored four goals during the course of the current campaign . Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has leaped to Ozil's defence by hitting back at former United ace Scholes . ‘I believe he has the quality, he puts a lot of effort in to help the team and he works much harder than his style shows. ‘You can be cheated a little bit by his style of play, because he is fluid, easy, subtle and he does not look like he puts the effort in, but he does.’ Meanwhile, Wenger has launched a staunch defence of summer signing Danny Welbeck as the forward prepares for his Manchester United return. After arriving at the Emirates Stadium intent on playing as a central striker, the England international has found himself playing out wide again, a position he found frustrating during his time at Old Trafford. He has scored seven goals since arriving from United in August — three of those coming in a Champions League win over Galatasaray. But ahead of Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final, Wenger insists Welbeck has not been a £16million flop. Wenger and Ozil in training at London Colney ahead of their FA Cup clash against Manchester United . Ozil has divided opinion among Arsenal fans and the wider public since arriving in England . Wenger also defended former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck's impact at Arsenal . ‘He’s very important and has played many games since the start of the season,’ said Wenger — who confirmed central defender Gabriel will miss up to three weeks with a hamstring injury. ‘If you check the statistics you will see (the suggestion Welbeck doesn’t play often) is wrong. He’s one of the players who has played the most games for us, but not in the last couple of games. Wenger also spoke to Sportsmail’s Martin Keown in an interview for the BBC’s Football Focus, to be broadcast on Saturday. In it, the Arsenal manager, who has won the FA Cup five times, discussed his favourite memories of the competition and which of the wins meant most to him. Wenger said: ‘Maybe the first one against Newcastle was the best because it was when we won the double in 1998. I remember absolutely everything about that day because it was at Wembley. When I was a kid in France I saw the cup finals. For me to come from a little village

Summary: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hit back at ex-United ace Paul Scholes . Scholes claimed Mesut Ozil took easy option to join Arsenal from Real . Arsenal signed Ozil from Real Madrid for £42.4m in September 2013 . Gilberto Silva: Ozil is too slow and he needs to be more decisive . READ: Ozil has more assists since joining Arsenal than any Premier League player... except for Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas . CLICK HERE for all the latest Arsenal news .


A man who tied up a cockerel in a trap and used it as live bait to lure foxes has been convicted of animal cruelty. The bird was found dehydrated, emaciated and bruised all the way down to its skin after being tied up with nylon bailing twine for days. Nicholas Wells, 37, of Bedworth, had pleaded not guilty, blaming a burglar for the offence - which was discovered by RSPCA inspector Louise Labram last June - but was found guilty after an eight-hour trial. A man who tied a cockerel to a trap and used it as live bait to lure foxes has been convicted of cruelty. The bird was found dehydrated, emaciated and bruised all the way down to its skin from being tied up . He appeared in court in Birmingham to face charges against the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 and the Animal Cruelty Act 2006. Recalling how she found the bird and came to its rescue, Ms Labram said: 'I found the cockerel in such a critical state that it wasn't able to stand. 'The bird was horrifyingly dehydrated, emaciated and bruised all the way down to its skin from being tied up with nylon bailing twine for some days. 'I was just sickened to see the cockerel stuck desperately in a barbaric situation like this - completely vulnerable, defenceless, and in alien surroundings, just lying there waiting to die either slowly from dehydration or by being eaten by the fox that this trap was clearly set for.' Nicholas Wells, 37, of Bedworth, had pleaded not guilty, blaming a burglar for the offence - which was discovered by an RSPCA inspector last June - but was found guilty after an eight-hour trial in Birmingham . Wells admitted owning the trap but said that normally he would use eggs, cat food and dead chickens to catch foxes roaming around the area. He claimed that a burglar had brought the bantam cockerel and had placed it in the trap - but his argument was thrown out by the district judge. The court was told that the cockerel 'was very lucky to have pulled through from a terrible act of cruelty.' The bird had survived the ordeal and, according to the RSPCA inspector, 'is now living the happy, healthy life that he deserves.' Wells was found guilty of using a live bird as a decoy for the purpose of killing or taking a wild animal and causing unnecessary suffering to ananimal. He was fined £750 for each offence and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £75 and a contribution towards costs of £2,300.

Summary: Bird found dehydrated, emaciated and bruised all the way down to its skin . It had been tied up with nylon bailing twine for number of days, court heard . Nicholas Wells, 37, had pleaded not guilty, blaming burglar for the offence . But he was found guilty after an eight-hour trial in Birmingham .


Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma has been rewarded for his fine form with a call-up to Didier Deschamps' French squad. Zouma was dubbed the new Marcel Desailly by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho after an impressive performance against Tottenham in the Capital One Cup final at Wembley. And the 20-year-old’s form this season has clearly caught the eye of Deschamps who brings the former Saint-Etienne man in to his squad. Kurt Zouma has been rewarded for his fine form with a call-up to Didier Deschamps' French squad . Zouma has been dubbed the new Marcel Desailly by Jose Mourinho following a great start at Chelsea . Zouma is yet to win a senior cap for his country but has represented France at various levels including a stint as U21 captain. There are also call-ups for a host of other fellow French Premier League players including Hugo Lloris, Laurent Koscielny, Mamadou Sakho, Morgan Schneiderlin, Moussa Sissoko and Olivier Giroud. Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna is also given the nod by Deschamp despite enduring a stop-start season for the Citizens. Goalkeepers: Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Mandanda (Marseille), Ruffier (Saint-Etienne). Defenders: Evra (Juventus), Jallet (Lyon), Koscielny (Arsenal), Sagna (Manchester City), Sakho (Liverpool), Trmmoulinas (Sevilla), Varane (Real Madrid), Zouma (Chelsea). Midfielders: Gonalons (Lyon), Kondogbia (Monaco), Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Payet (Marseille), Schneiderlin (Southampton), Sissoko (Newcastle United). Forwards: Benzema (Real Madrid), Fekir (Lyon), Giroud (Arsenal), Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Lacazette (Lyon), Valbuena (Dynamo Moscow). Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna tries to stop Barcelona wizard Lionel Messi in his tracks . Hugo Lloris has been rewarded for his fine Tottenham Hotspur form with a call-up to Deschamps' squad . Striker Olivier Giroud has also been named in the French side following a decent season at Arsenal .

Summary: Kurt Zouma has been called up to the French squad by Didier Deschamps . Defender Zouma has enjoyed an impressive season so far with Chelsea . The 20-year-old was dubbed the new Marcel Desailly by Jose Mourinho . A whole host of other Premier League stars have also made the squad .


Tens of thousands of propaganda leaflets have been dropped at the centre of the Islamic State power base in a bid to destabilise the extremist group. The Pentagon-led operation saw 60,000 leaflets depicting a cartoon of ISIS recruits dropped in Raqqa in Syria - considered to be at the centre of IS operations. Each leaflet depicts would-be jihadists being fed into a meat grinder by malevolent militants, with blood on their hands. The line of recruits cower from the militants as they attempt to entice them towards the grinder. Propaganda leaflets, depicting ISIS recruits being fed into a meat grinder, have been dropped by the Pentagon in Raqqa, the self-proclaimed ISIS capital in Syria, in a bid to destabilise the extremist group . The propaganda, created by Military Information Support Operations, is aimed at destabilising connections within ISIS. 'It's trying to set the stage for an internal uprising against ISIS,' Nicholas Heras, an expert on ISIS at the Center for a New American Security told USA Today. The leaflets were dropped by an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter, which dropped a specialized leaflet-dispenser bomb for the first time in Syria, according to Air Force spokesman Colonel Tadd Sholtis. A sign on the leaflet says 'Daish Recruiting Office' with 'Daish' another word used to describe Islamic State. The same word appears on the meat grinder. Another sign reads 'now serving 6001', and the new ISIS recruit at the front of the queue is shown dropping his ticket number as he is encouraged to step forward by one of the militants. Yesterday the US launched airstrikes against targets in Tikrit in Iraq to support Iraqi ground forces trying to push IS militants out of the country. The strikes began on Wednesday and are understood to be ongoing. The US has hundreds of military advisers in Iraq helping its security forces plan operations against the Islamic State, which occupies large chunks of northern and western Iraq. In contrast to traditional drops, forces used a specialised leaflet-dispensing bomb to drop the propaganda . Iraqi security forces and Shiite militias have battled ISIS militants in Tikrit, where smoke was seen yesterday . The leaflet drop is said to be a softer tactic being used by American forces to try and destabilise ISIS, as news of problems within the group emerge with some fighters reluctant to take part in fighting in Kobani, on the border with Turkey. Propaganda is already widely used to give daily updates about air strikes in Syria, but the Pentagon has typically kept its releases more low key. ISIS also makes use of propaganda itself, producing weekly and daily news bulletins about successful strikes and action in the country. This week the group also produced an 'idiots guide' to travelling to Syria. Last year supporters of ISIS were arrested for giving out promotional leaflets in Oxford Circus in London, aimed at encouraging people to leave Britain for Islamic State.

Summary: Specialised 'leaflet-dispenser bomb' was dropped in ISIS base in Syria . Leaflet depicts cartoon of would-be jihadists being fed into a meat grinder . Around 60,000 leaflets were dropped in bid to destabilise extremist group . Plan is to take advantage of internal disputes within IS with the cartoon .


Liverpool players ramped up their preparations ahead of the crucial top-four showdown with fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday. The Reds are currently fifth in the Premier League table with 54 points, just two behind United in fourth. Having both spent heavily in the summer transfer window, both teams are under huge pressure to secure Champions League football next season and while previous meetings between the two sides may have been contested higher up the table, this year's encounter still has plenty at stake, given the broadcasting revenue linked to Europe's top club competition. Lazar Markovic (left) and Javier Manquilo (right) are put through their paces during Liverpool's training session at the Melwood training centre . Alberto Monreno (left) runs ahead of Reds defender Dejan Lovren (right) as the club prepare to face Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday . Lovren, who signed for Liverpool from Southampton last summer, runs mischievously with one of the free-kick dummies in training . Lovren joined Liverpool from Southampton for a reported £20million fee and after a slow start has begun to settle into life on Merseyside . The defender smiles during the training session at Melwood as Liverpool step up their preparations for Sunday's game . Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel poses with a camera at the club's Melwood ahead of Sunday's clash with United . All too aware of what is at stake is Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who believes that three points and momentum in the race for a top-four finish will render the local bragging rights associated with the fixture as incidental. He told Liverpoolfc.com: 'Of course, it's a rivalry, but it's another three points and we'll just approach the game as we always do - that's the most important thing. 'It's going to be a big game for us. We're going into the game looking to win it, as we always do, and we're looking forward to it. 'We'll go into this game with the right mentality, we'll look to play our football and to try to go out there and win the game. Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has said that three points must be the priority when Liverpool take on Manchester United on Sunday . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers addresses his players in training as he hopes to guide them to a top four finish this season . Liverpool coach Colin Pascoe (centre) is in high spirits with his players, as Mario Balotelli (right) is held by Skrtel and Lovren . Liverpool left-back Jose Enrique shares a joke with his team-mates in training ahead of the crucial match against Manchester United . Meanwhile, Sturridge was full of praise for attacking dynamo Philippe Countinho, whose development this season have been central to an upturn in form for Liverpool, who have not lost in their last 13 league games, since the 3-0 defeat by United in December. On Coutinho, Sturridge said, 'He's great to play with. He's very skilful, sees a pass and scores very nice goals, also, so it's a pleasure to play with him. 'He's quite chilled, he's not

Summary: Liverpool face Manchester United in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday . The fierce rivals are both competing to finish in the top four this season . Daniel Sturridge insists The Reds are fully focused on getting three points . READ: Liverpool vs Man Utd team news, probable line ups and more . CLICK HERE for all the latest Liverpool news .


An Israeli political candidate has come under fire after dressing up as an Islamic State captive as part of a traditional Jewish festival. Anat Roth, a member of Israel's Zionist Bayit Yehudi party, posted a picture of herself on her Facebook account dressed in orange, while kneeling on the floor with her head to the ground. Behind her stood a woman dressed as an ISIS executioner all in black and with a knife attached to her belt. Anat Roth, an Israeli political candidate, who posted a picture of herself on Facebook dressed up as an ISIS captive . It mirrors similar images released by ISIS, which show their captives kneeling in the sand in the desert while extremists stand behind them. The picture came as Jews across the world celebrated the traditional festival of Purim, which is often marked with colourful costumes. Ms Roth then captioned the picture: 'This is what we’ll get if we don’t have a big Bayit Yehudi. Happy Purim!' The image has since been removed but according to the Jerusalem Post, the picture prompted an angry backlash on social media. Ms Roth, left, is a member of Israel's Zionist Bayit Yehudi party. Her costume was similar to those worn by captives of ISIS . Some wrote that Ms Roth should be ashamed of herself, however, her party supporters said her costume was funny. Ms Roth, is a former peace activist and was once an advisor to ex-Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak. Her party, Bayit Yehudi, which means The Jewish Home, is a successor to the National Religious Party. They firmly believe that Jewis are devinely commanded to retain control over the land of Israel. A group of Jewish men braved the snow storms in New York to walk to the synagogue to celebrate the Jewish festival of Purim . Meanwhile Jewish families transformed streets around the world as they dressed up as kings and queens, clown, animals and even superheroes to celebrate Purim. The holiday commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia after a beautiful queen, Esther, foiled a royal advisor's plot to annihilate all the country's Jews in just one day. It is traditionally marked with parades, the giving of presents, and by observers sporting a host of colourful costumes which traditionally take their cue from the Biblical story of Esther. Celebrations marked the holy day across the globe, and even the wintry weather in New York couldn't dampen spirits as families made their way to synagogues through the snow.

Summary: Anat Roth dressed up as part of traditional Jewish Purim celebrations . Chose an orange jumpsuit similar to those worn by ISIS captives in Syria . Posed while kneeling on the floor while another woman stood behind her . She was dressed as an ISIS executioner with a knife attached to her belt . Costume sparked furious backlash after she posted the picture on Facebook .


This is the massive Mexican, red rump tarantula discovered wandering around a football pitch in Maesteg, South Wales by a concerned member of the public. Bridgend council, which is now trying to track down the tarantula's owner, was alerted after the spider - which is not generally harmful to humans - was spotted by a passer-by at local Garth Park ball court. Local authority worker Dave Edwards scooped the arachnid up into a black bag before calling wildlife expert and TV personality Dr Rhys Jones, from Cardiff University, for advice. Dr Rhys Jones, from Cardiff University, best known as the star of the BBC One Wales series Rhys Jones's Wildlife Patrol holds the lost tarantula, showing how safe it is . Dr Jones, best known as the star of the BBC One series Rhys Jones's Wildlife Patrol, said: 'It is unlikely that the spider would have travelled from distance, given the cold spring temperatures and the proximity of local houses. 'The surrounding habitat offered little interest or cover for that species of spider, given that it mainly consists of large open fields which are patrolled by many aerial predators, including gulls and crows. 'These birds would have easily spotted this tropical spider and, given half a chance, would have eaten her. 'All things considered, the spider had a very lucky escape before a bird or cat killed it.' The Mexican red rump, or B. vagans in Latin, was made famous in Jack Arnold's 1955 sci-fi movie Tarantula, where an ill-advised scientific experiment leads to a giant arachnid breaking out of captivity and terrorizing the Arizona desert. Luckily for the population of Bridgend County Borough, however, the creature is not aggressive, and is currently being looked after by Dr Jones at Cardiff University. 'The red rump tarantula does not present a significant health risk to the general public. In the rare case of the spider biting, the symptoms would be similar to that of a mild bee sting. 'I'm happy to report that no one was unnecessarily frightened by the appearance of this spider on the loose. 'While the spider is now secure and recovering from its ordeal, anyone with nformation relating to this incident should either contact the local authority or the police on 101.' Councillor Phil White, Cabinet Member for Communities, added: 'It's not every day that you spot an exotic pet such as this outside of its home environment, so we are appealing for the owner to get in touch as soon as possible. Children playing football at Garth Park ball court near where the tarantula was found by a member of the public .

Summary: Concerned member of the public reported the creepy-crawly to council . Local authority in Maesteg, South Wales think it escaped from a home . The spider is now in the care of BBC One wildlife expert Dr Rhys Jones .


Recovery: Ashya King, pictured last October, is clear of cancer after his parents Brett and Naghmeh took him for pioneering treatment in the Czech Republic after fleeing a Southampton hospital last year . The parents of five-year-old brain cancer sufferer Ashya King revealed today their son is clear of the disease. Brett and Naghmeh King were put in prison after taking their son out of an NHS hospital and going across Europe to seek pioneering proton therapy in the Czech Republic. Now, some five months after he completed the pioneering treatment, they said Ashya was making good progress, starting to speak again and able to play with his brothers and sisters in the park. His parents told a newspaper he had been given the all-clear by the private clinic that treated him. Mr King, 51, told The Sun: 'We are absolutely delighted. It has justified everything we have gone through, because things are working out for Aysha. 'If we had left him with the NHS we don't think he would have survived. We have saved his life. 'We could not sleep before we got this news. Now we are so full of hope for the future. We are jumping up and down with joy this is a miracle we thought we would never see.' His wife, 46, added: 'We could not sleep before we got this news — now we are so full of hope for the future. We are jumping up and down with joy. It is a miracle we thought we would never see.' A report issued by the private clinic's oncology department last week declared Ashya cancer-free. However, the family has yet to return to the UK and are living in their holiday home in Spain. He described the advanced proton beam therapy treatment Ashya had as 'sniper fire' which specifically targeted the cancer. The couple sparked a manhunt last year when they took their son abroad to seek pioneering proton therapy. Mr King said the treatment was 'much less harmful' than the conventional therapy which doctors at Southampton General Hospital intended to give to Ashya. The Kings faced every parent's worst nightmare when their son was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour after suffering a series of mystery symptoms. Scroll down for video . Fresh start: Five months after the pioneering proton therapy, Ashya, pictured in September in the Czech Republic, is making good progress, starting to speak again and able to play with his brothers and sisters . Support: Mr and Mrs King were arrested last year after taking their son out of an NHS hospital to take him for the pioneering treatment in the Czech Republic, pictured on the intensive ward in Prague in September . But the family's own research into his condition led them to question the need for normal NHS radiotherapy - which would risk massive damage to healthy brain tissue and lead to lifelong disabilities. And despite threats to revoke their parental rights unless they went along with the therapy, the Kings defiantly fled to Spain in a bid to get Ashya

Summary: Brain cancer sufferer Ashya King given all clear after his proton therapy . His parents sparked a manhunt last year when they took him from hospital . Brett and Naghmeh King took him for pioneering treatment in Prague . Mr King said: 'This is a miracle we thought we would never see' They were arrested and jailed in Spain but then released without charge . Five months on and the five-year-old is recovering well from the treatment . The Kings claim if they had left their son with the NHS he would have died .


A serving Ferguson police officer revealed that he broke down in tears after he read the Department of Justice report which condemned his force and said: ‘I just close my eyes and wish it wasn’t like that’. The officer said that his colleagues were ‘good cops’ and that they were ‘hurting’ just like the rest of the community. In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Online he said they were all standing behind embattled Ferguson police chief Tom Jackson but were fearful they would lose their jobs if the department was shut down. He said: ‘People who don’t know me see me and then they hate me. That’s not fair....I’m not going to hate people because they are venting. ‘It’s tough but I still have to get to work. ‘I have to take it because they are venting and we have to let them vent, but I will protect this city, I will protect Ferguson’. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Condemned: A Justice Department report accused Ferguson police of disproportionately targeting black people. But a serving officer from the force said: 'We are not bad cops.' Concern: Outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder focused the report on relations between police and citizens . Central figures: The shooting of Michael Brown (left) by Officer Darren Wilson (right) in August created a firestorm over policing in Ferguson and beyond. Totemic: The image of Officer Darren Wilson standing beside the body of Michael Brown became central to the controversy which surrounded the case . The officer spoke out as the family of Michael Brown said they would file a wrongful death lawsuit over their son’s death. The 18-year-old was shot dead by former Ferguson officer Darren Wilson last August in a killing which sparked widespread looting across the city. The landmark Department of Justice report that was commissioned as a result painted a devastating portrait of a police force which unfairly targeted blacks for traffic stops and arrests. One Ferguson city employee has been fired and two are under investigation but Wilson did not face charges. Critics however have called for the entire Ferguson police force to be disbanded and shut down. As he released the report Attorney General Eric Holder said that the conclusions were 'searing'. He said that in Ferguson a 'deep distrust and hostility often characterized interactions between police and residents'. He said Ferguson was: 'A community where this harm frequently appears to stem, at least in part, from racial bias – both implicit and explicit. And a community where all of these conditions, unlawful practices, and constitutional violations have not only severely undermined the public trust, eroded police legitimacy, and made local residents less safe – but created an intensely charged atmosphere where people feel under assault and under siege by those charged to serve and protect them' If Brown's family win their civil lawsuit they could get a payout or the city of Ferguson could reach a settlement before it goes to trial. Wrong gesture: A protester makes the 'hands up, don't shoot' gesture which became the hallmark of the protests.

Summary: Serving officer is first member of department to speak out after scathing report by Department of Justice investigators . Report ordered by attorney general Eric Holder in wake of killing of Michael Brown by officer Darren Wilson was published this week . It found the force disproportionately targeted blacks and Holder said it showed demonstrators 'had a point' Officer tells Daily Mail Online he feels people 'who don't know me... hate me' and said the force stood behind its leadership .


Gordon Strachan insists he has no need to lay down the law to any of his Scotland players. The issue of professionalism among footballers was again raised after the Scots' skipper Scott Brown was pictured apparently slumped in the street after an alleged drunken night out in Edinburgh last Wednesday. After his Hoops side lifted the Scottish League Cup with a 2-0 win over Dundee United at Hampden on Sunday, manager Ronny Deila was at pains to stress his midfielder had not broken any rules although he conceded the incident had not been 'a positive example' for youngsters. Gordon Strachan says he hasn't brought in any new rules over his Scotland squad in light of Scott Brown's . Strachan was speaking at the national stadium after announcing his squad for the home friendly against Northern Ireland and the Euro qualifier against Gibraltar later in the month. The former Celtic boss has implemented an alcohol ban for all those on Scotland duty and believes that is enough. 'I haven't made rules,' said Strachan. Brown and Strachan pose together when the Scotland skipper signed for Celtic under the boss back in 2007 . 'The only one is the alcohol thing, which is for everybody, not just the players and that hasn't been broken in two and half years. 'Nobody has broken anything, no one has affected anything in the two and half years so I don't have to make rules. 'The players have been immaculate. When they are within my jurisdiction, when I have been responsible, they have been absolutely fantastic.' Brown lifts the Scottish League Cup trophy on Sunday after victory over Dundee United at Hampden Park .

Summary: Scott Brown was pictured after an alleged drunken night out last week . Scotland manager Gordon Strachan says he sees no need for new rules . The Scotland squad are already under an alcohol ban along with their staff .


It has baffled scientists for years - why the penguin waddles in such a distinctive manner. Most other diving birds are able to simply fly on land - but not the penguin. Now, researchers hope to unravel the mystery of the waddle - and find out how it evolved . Watch the penguins on their custom catwalk . Using a special motion detecting 'catwalk' Professor Hutchison and paleobiologist James Proffitt have been measuring how the penguins apply forces on the left and right legs as they waddle. Researchers set up a corridor with a platform that had force plates embedded in it. The penguins walked over this to get their breakfast . Researchers also filmed the walk in slow motion, and are looking for the forces the birds excert, how it breaks down between each leg and what the biomechanics of that are. Scientists from the Royal Veterinary College and University of Texas at Austin have visited London Zoo to study the way the animals walk. Prof John Hutchison from the RVC said: 'The upright posture and waddling gait of penguins is not often seen in other birds. 'Most wing-propelled diving birds move using flight when they are not in the water.' Using a special motion detecting 'catwalk' Professor Hutchison and paleobiologist James Proffitt have been measuring how the Humboldt penguins apply forces on the left and right legs as they waddle. 'We're trying to understand the minute detail of how waddling works with living penguins, and then taking that back in time, looking at the fossil record of penguins to understand how evolving for such a specialised underwater lifestyle has affected their ability to move on land,' said Proffitt. 'We set up a corridor with a platform that had force plates embedded in it. If they want to move quickly or cross steep or rocky terrain they may jump with both feet together. 'The penguins walked over this to get their breakfast . 'We were looking for the forces they exert, how it breaks down between each leg and what the biomechanics of that are.' 'Zoos provide an opportunity for research scientists to look at organisms that otherwise would be very difficult to study in the wild.' Penguin keeper Zuzanna Matyasova said: 'We know our penguins really well, we know what they eat, we know how they behave on a day to day basis, and we know how to breed them for conservation purposes. 'But to know how they evolved to be like this is very important.' Penguin keeper Zuzanna Matyasova said: 'We know our penguins really well, we know what they eat, we know how they behave on a day to day basis, and we know how to breed them for conservation purposes.'

Summary: Researchers at London Zoo built sensor-laden area to monitor movement . Hope it will give new insight into how the penguin evolved unique walk .


It's probably not the sort of substance you'd expect bikies to use to smuggle steroids into the country but the body-building drugs market is now considered so lucrative, estimated at a billion dollars in some quarters, that outlaw motorcycle gangs are using 'gay lube oil' to try and hide the ill-gotten gear. Australians spend up to $10 billion on fitness each year and a large chunk of that money now goes on illegal substances - and criminal syndicates have muscled in on the illegal part of the fitness industry, using extraordinary methods to try and avoid detection. Steroid oil in sex lube vials, powders inside green tea packets and ephedrine packed in facial creams, are just some of the methods being used to avoid being caught. With criminal syndicates having had their supply of amphetamines and cocaine severely affected by a record number of busts, they have increasingly focused on the body-building market and are being supplied by underworld gangs in south-east Asia and the Americas. The steroid market is now considered so lucrative, outlaw bikie gangs have muscled in on the illegal industry and they're using extraordinary methods to try and avoid detection, including place the substances inside sex aid packaging like these, labelled 'gay lube oil' Australian Police say bikie gangs have now shifted focus heavily into the steroid market as authorities crack down on cocaine and amphetamine crime syndicates . Some estimate the illegal market in steroids across Australia could be worth up to a billion dollars with Australians spending almost $10 billion on fitness each year . Over the past decade, the number of performance and image enhancing drugs detected at the Australian border has increased 7-fold, with South Australia recording the biggest percentage increase. Motorcycle gangs are trying to avoid detection by putting steroid oil inside products labelled 'sexual lubrication' 'They are getting amongst it more and more, it's a different market for them and we are regularly staging operations targeting them and steroids,' revealed Detective Superintendent Mick Niland, the head of Queensland's Taskforce Maxima. 'They try many different ways to avoid detection, that's for sure.' And that's because there is an increasing demand for the illegal performance enhancing substances, one which continues to grow every year. At one Gold Coast health clinic alone, there have been up to 150 steroid injections reported in one month. Queensland and New South Wales are considered the hot-beds in steroid production and trade with South Australia, reporting the biggest (percentage) increase in the number of seizures in a year, registering just 1 in 2012 and then 30 in 2013. 'Half of our seizures in the past few months have been about steroids,' Dept Supt Niland added. 'They are always trying different ways to avoid detection,' said Mick Niland of Tasforce Maxima as his group battles against the increasing trade in steroids by bikie gangs and the methods used to avoid detection . The Bandidos and Lone Wolf bikie gangs have been targeted in raids by authorities trying to break their hold on the new business of steroids distribution . Queensland

Summary: Bikie gangs have taken control of the illegal substance trade in Australia . They order cheaper versions of anabolic steroids from south-east Asia off the internet and on-sell to customers . Drugs are concealed inside everything from sex aids to women's facial creams and even green tea to try and avoid detection at the border . Outlawed gangs also bringing in the powdered form before turning that into the injectable liquid inside their labs . Sales are often made from the back of shops and garages . Human growth hormone sales can be worth $500 for a single dose but others varieties are sold for as little as $50 .


Great artworks sometimes come in an unexpected form. A Chinese university professor has created a series of vivid portraits of well-known figures using tiny pieces of jeans, reported the People's Daily Online. The largest of all, an image of a Buddha, measures two metres (6.6ft) in height and comprises more than 10,000 pieces of denim. Wang Xiaolei, an associate professor at Wuhan Textile University, started creating what he calls ‘denim paintings’ after visiting a town in China in 2007 which specialised in processing off-cut cloth pieces but had a terrible effect on the surrounding environment in doing so. Creativity: Wang Xiaolei, working on a portrait of Audrey Hepburn, embarked on the unusual endeavour of 'painting' with unwanted denim after witnessing how scrap cloth factories destroy the environment . Variety: Mr Wang's paintings cover a wide range of figures from Chairman Mao to David Beckham (centre) Vividness: The professor's interpretation of Zhang Yimo (left), a famous Chinese film director, and Mo Yan (right), a Nobel Prize-winning Chinese author . His interest was strengthen after an academic visit to the University of Manchester in 2008, during which he learned more ways of recycling scrap cloth. Since then, Mr Wang has collected tens of thousands of old jeans for experimenting with his art. He says denim has a three-dimensional quality so it is easy to make shapes with. To make a portrait, he first cuts jeans into large pieces and separates these pieces into different colour shadings. Then he goes into a trail-and-error stage of setting out the outlines and establishing the different shades of colours of the particular picture, and this could take more than 100 alterations to get right. Fashion: Mr Wang's unique style has created a trend among his students at Wuhan Textile University who regularly paint with him in the studio. In this picture, he is holding a portrait of Andy Lau, a renowned singer and actor from Hong Kong . Process: The professor first cuts jeans into large pieces and separates these pieces into different colour shadings, before creating artworks of figures such as Leonardo DiCaprio (left) Effort: To set the correct outlines and colour tones of a painting sometimes takes more than 100 alterations . Mr Wang creates portraits of a range of Chinese and international figures, including Chairman Mao, Fan Bingbing, David Beckham, Michael Jackson, Audrey Hepburn and Leonardo Dicaprio. His wife Taohui, who also collaborates on him with his ‘denim painting’, says Mr Wang is so absorbed in his work that he spent one New Year’s eve in his studio. Extended periods of concentration on these denim collages, separating the cloth into almost identical shades of colour, has also resulted in his eyes almost always being bloodshot. Mr Wang’s hard work finally paid off when his paintings attracted the attention of a director of the Cultural University of Japan, who invited the denim warrior to hold an exhibition in Japan. He has also produced portraits for the eight invited guest speakers at the World Textile Conference last November. Devotion: Mr Wang's wife says her husband is so

Summary: Wang Xiaolei started ‘denim paintings’ in hope of protecting environment . His interest was strengthened after visiting the University of Manchester . Subjects range from Audrey Hepburn to David Beckham . A painting could contain 10,000 pieces of denim and take 6 months to make .


Megan Crofts and Eric Hewlett have booked their ceremony at a new venue being created by the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh . A bride-to-be is so set on having her wedding at her dream location that she has booked it for the big day, before it has even been built. Megan Crofts, 32, and her fiance Eric Hewlett, 36, hope to become the first couple to marry in a new venue being created by the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. The pair are planning to tie the knot on May 23, just eight weeks away,but their dream venue is yet to be fully built, still has workmen on site, and is 370 miles from their home. Megan booked the venue despite never having the opportunity to tour around it in a hope that it will be completed just in time for her big day. She says that she has pictured exactly where the ceremony will take place, where the cake will be cut, and where she will have her first dance with Eric. Megan, a doctor who now lives in Bristol, insists she is confident everything will go as planned on the big day. She said: 'It may seem a little risky to book a wedding in a venue that we haven't yet seen and is so far from home. 'But the team at the venue have made everything so easy, so we know we are in excellent hands.' Despite having complete confidence in her unfinished venue Megan admits that there have been a few difficulties with planning. 'Of course, some aspects of the planning have been difficult, for example, figuring out flowers and themes was a little tricky because we haven't seen the interior or any colour scheme. 'Living so far away has also been a little tricky, but the team at the venue have been great at liaising with my parents.' Megan will not be the first in her family to celebrate a milestone at the Royal college of Surgeons, as her father, Trevor, is a fellow of the College of Surgeons. Megan says that it was celebrating with her father that first set the idea for her unfinished venue into motion. She said: 'A retirement party was held for my dad at the Royal College and it was such a stunning setting that I always had it in mind as a potential wedding venue. The exterior of the Royal College of Surgeons, which is currently undergoing building work . Megan has booked The Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh as her venue despite being unable to view it . Megan and Eric have had to plan every detail of their wedding 'blind' in a hope that the venue will be complete in time for their big day. Pictured: Artist impression of the building . Megan continued: 'When we heard the new venue was under construction, we asked the coordinators to show us the plans and we were really sold on what the venue had to offer. 'So after a few sneak peeks of the space during

Summary: Megan Crofts and Eric Hewlett have booked their wedding ceremony in the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh . The venue is yet to be completed and the couple are due to wed in May . Pair have planned the wedding 'blind' in hope venue will be finished in time .


A two-year-old Ohio boy was so overwhelmed during a meeting with his heroes, he completely lost it during a moment that was captured in a priceless photo. Little Quincy Kroner didn't fall apart during a visit with Dora the Explorer or SpongeBob; it was two garbage men from Cincinnati that made him go to pieces. The Cincinnati Public Services workers, Eddie Washington and Mark Davis, agreed to meet with Quincy last week as a special prize after he successfully completed potty training. Quincy Kroner (center) couldn't handle it when he got to meet his heroes, two Cincinnati, Ohio, garbage men . Cincinnati Public Services is working on a special recognition of Quincy and his friends but 'it has not been settled yet', according to a spokesperson . Quincy also got a garbage truck he wanted to show the men. While a photo was being taken of Quincy and his heroes in front of their truck, 'he became undone'. In a Facebook post of the photo, his dad Ollie Kroner wrote: 'Quincy's been waiting all week to show the garbage men his garbage truck. But, in the moment, he was overwhelmed in the presence of his heroes.' Kroner said his son knows that Washington and Davis will be driving by every Friday, according to ABC News. Washington and Davis know that Quincy will be watching, so they honk, wave and 'put on a show' for him. Quincy's father said: 'From the moment he hears them from blocks away he runs to the window, climbs up on the couch and watches them. 'They've developed a kind of relationship through the window.' Cincinnati Public Services told Daily Mail Online: 'These sanitation professionals are part of a new generation of Public Works employees who understand that their work is essential for the quality of life of our citizens.' CPS is working on a special recognition of Quincy, Eddie an Mark, but 'it has not been settled yet'.

Summary: Quincy Kroner was excited to meet two Cincinnati Public Services workers . Eddie Washington and Mark Davis agreed to pay Ohio boy a visit last week . Little boy was excited 'but when the moment came he became undone' In addition to meeting with Eddie and Mark, Quincy also got toy garbage truck .


Britain could be linked with America by road as part of an ambitious project to create the world's longest superhighway spanning half the circumference of the globe. Proposals have been put forward to build the mega route stretching about 12,400 miles from the western edge of Russia to the Bering Strait where the country nudges Alaska. Linking into existing road networks in Europe and Asia, for the first time it would allow travellers a proper highway to drive all way from the UK to the United States. A Trans-Siberian rail link as well as oil and gas pipes would run alongside the highway, and plans have been mooted already for a rail tunnel connecting the far flung Russian region of Chukotka - where football tycoon Roman Abramovich once served as governor - and Alaska. By jumping on the Channel Tunnel you could get all the way from London to Alaska by road under plans for a more than 12,000 mile superhighway linking Europe and western Russia to the Bering Strait . While roads exist across much of Russia some are of dismal quality, especially in the east of the country. Among these is the notorious Road of Bones built by Stalin's political prisoners. This new scheme is seen as a way of turning Russia into a global transportation hub, a bridge between Europe, Asia and North America, so revitalising the Russian economy and attracting new tourism. Vladimir Fortov, the Head of the Russian Academy of Science, recently put forward the uncosted plan dubbed the Trans-Eurasian Belt Development (TEPR) to President Vladimir Putin. 'The project is very ambitious and expensive, but it will solve many problems in the development of the vast region,' he said, according to The Siberian Times. The current longest continuous road in the world is found in Australia, where Highway 1 runs around the entire country and spans some 9,000 miles. In Russia the Trans-Siberian Highway network is more than 6,800 miles long, meaning the new road would become the biggest and longest ever built, with additional sections in the west and east. Plans for the Trans-Eurasian Belt Development have been presented to President Vladimir Putin (left) by Vladimir Fortov, the Head of the Russian Academy of Science (right). It is as yet uncosted . The notorious Road of Bones R504 Kolyma Highway, named because the skeletons of those who died during its construction were used in its foundations . Plans for the TEPR were unveiled by the head of the Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin - who has been hit by Western sanctions over Ukraine - at a meeting of the Russian Academy of Science. Using tunnels or ferries from England the continent, and Russia to the US, a driver could use the highway to travel from Britain to the US for the first time. Its development is viewed as a 'powerful and versatile' corridor that would allow massive investment and the construction of pipelines for oil and gas, the laying of facilities for electricity and water supplies and the opportunity for new cities to be created. While roads

Summary: Trans-Eurasian Belt Development would span half globe's circumference . Would link western edge of Russia to the Bering Strait and then Alaska . Joining road networks in Europe and Asia, would link UK to United States . Russian Academy of Science put forward plan to President Vladimir Putin . Current longest road in the world is Australian Highway 1 at 9,000 miles .


'Absolutely no peas!' booms Luis as he dispatches me to the market. I'm in Valencia, Spain's third largest city. Not for the Las Fallas festival (a huge affair every March when giant papier-mache figures of politicians are burned amid lively street celebrations), but for its other claim to fame - it is the home of paella. Luis is a top chef who leads paella-making classes. But first I have to get the ingredients. Dinner is served: Paella originated in Valencia, using ingredients which could be sourced cheaply and locally . The central market is in a glorious art nouveau building in the old quarter, with more than 500 stalls selling every Spanish food imaginable. I buy an 'arrangement' of rabbit and chicken portions from a butcher. Then I choose three different types of beans. Paella Valenciana was created from what was easily available to local farmers. This meant rice from the local paddy fields, and beans, rabbit and chicken from their land. It's wrong to add peas, as we Brits do, apparently. Under Luis's watchful eye, I learn how to chop the meat and cook it and the beans in different parts of the pan. I sieve fresh tomato and dabble in smoked pimento for flavour. The secret is about how to put the rice into the water. Luis tells me to add it in two straight lines in the form of a cross (seemingly, for perfect absorption). I add fresh rosemary, remembering to remove it after ten minutes. It seems to work and in around 20 minutes my glossy, golden rice dish is complete. Delicious, though I say so myself. Luis awards me my diploma: I am now a 'paella ambassador'. If you want to know more about this famous dish and its variations, contact Patrick Waller. Originally from Bromley, he moved to Valencia 23 years ago when he fell in love with a local, Julia Espin. A real mixed bag: True paella can contain seafood and rabbit - but should never feature peas . They run the Paella Project, taking in all aspects of buying fresh produce at the market, cooking classes, wine tastings and a visit to Xativa in the hills with lessons and meal preparation outdoors. You can also explore the famous rice fields of the Albufera National Park, just 15 minutes outside Valencia. They blew me away. You can take a boat trip on the vast lagoon or enjoy the pine-fringed, wild beaches and restaurants of nearby El Saler village. Valencia has fantastic white beaches, too, just five minutes from the city centre. There are endless orange tree patios (proper orange juice everywhere); walks along the former Turia riverbed; the Unesco listed Lonja (silk hall), which dates to1548; and superb shopping, including five El Corte Ingles department stores. Balconies of intricate metal designs and specialist cafes called horchaterias, with marble-topped tables serving a traditional Valencian drink made from tiger nuts and sugar, remind me this is the real Spain. Kirker Holidays (020 7593 1899, www.kirkerholidays.com) has three nights at Melia Plaza Hotel from £559 per person, based

Summary: Valencia, in the south-east of Spain, is the traditional home of paella . Paella Valenciana was created from what was easily available to farmers . Valencia has fantastic beaches an easy hop from from the city centre .


Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has called on Renault to get their act together and help save his organisation's season. Horner was left fuming following the opening race in Australia on Sunday after Red Bull found themselves severely handicapped by power-unit supplier Renault over the course of the weekend. Initially, the Milton Keynes-based marque were forced to change the power unit on Daniel Ricciardo's car in between practice sessions on Friday due to a problem with the engine. Red Bull chief Christian Horner has accused engine supplier Renault of going backwards this season . Daniel Ricciardo could only manage a sixth-placed finish for Red Bull during the Australian Grand Prix . Red Bull's second driver Daniil Kvyat pulled out of Sunday's opening race with a gear box failure . Come the race further embarrassment followed as Daniil Kvyat, on his debut for the team following his promotion last year from Toro Rosso, retired on the formation lap with a suspected gearbox failure. Horner has already called on the FIA to introduce equalisation rules as he fears Mercedes will continue to dominate after their easy one-two around Melbourne's Albert Park, spearheaded by Lewis Hamilton. More pertinently, though, Horner knows Renault have to up their game otherwise the rest of the campaign will be a washout. 'Renault need to have a clear vision and they need it quickly,' said Horner. 'You can see Ferrari have made a good step forward, whereas Renault at this stage appear to have made a retrograde step. 'It's frustrating we are effectively further back than we were in Abu Dhabi in both power and driveability. 'It means we haven't seen the potential of our car yet because it's masked by the engine issues we have.' Max Verstappen (centre) walks back to Toro Rosso team garage after retiring from the Australian Grand Prix . Lewis Hamilton (right) and Nico Rosberg finished first and second respectively at the Australian Grand Prix . VIDEO Hamilton cruises to victory in Australian GP . As to the steps required over the coming weeks, Horner added: 'First we have to understand what the problem is in order to address it. 'Until Renault get to the bottom of what the issues are they are very difficult to address. A lot of dyno running needs to be done in order to understand. 'It's important we regroup with Renault and offer support where we can because it's obviously in a bit of a mess at the moment. 'But we need to understand things quickly. Across the four cars (Renault also supply Toro Rosso) we had two engine failures - one within five laps - and a whole bunch of reliability problems. 'It's not the start Renault can afford to have.' After an abysmal start to pre-season a year ago Red Bull recovered to claim three wins and finish second in the constructors' championship, albeit a long way adrift of Mercedes. Red Bull struggled to keep up with Mercedes, WIlliams and Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix . Red Bull and Renault were expected to take a step

Summary: Red Bull chief wants engine supplier to Renault to improve their reliability . Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat retired at Australian Grand Prix with gearbox failure . Toro Rosso are also powered by Renault and saw Max Verstappen retire .


A homeless man set himself on fire in the middle of the street during an annual New Jersey St. Patrick's Day bar crawl. Hoboken police responded to a call that a man was trying to light himself on fire. When they arrived the unidentified man's jacket was ablaze. Police told the man to get on the ground and roll so that he could put out the flames, but he ignored them. A homeless man set himself on fire in the middle of the street during an annual Hoboken, New Jersey St. Patrick's Day bar crawl . He then started screaming as the fire spread to his skin, police said. Officers stepped in and pushed the man to the ground and helped roll him over, according to NJ.com. The fire was quickly extinguished and the man was not seriously injured. He was then transported to a nearby hospital. The incident occurred around 11pm, almost 12 hours since the city's annual bar crawl began. Twenty-five bars participated in the event, packing the streets with revelers decked in green. By Saturday night at least nine people had been arrested, according to police.

Summary: Hoboken police told the man to roll on the ground but he ignored them . The man started screaming as flames spread from his jacket to his skin . Officers pushed him to ground and helped roll him over . Fire was quickly extinguished and he suffered no serious injuries .


Drink-drive: Estate agent Tina Knowles crashed into a pipe in a petrol station forecourt while drunk . An estate agent faces jail after she crashed her BMW into a petrol pump on a garage forecourt while she was more than four times over the drink-driving limit. Tina Knowles was apparently on her mobile phone when she careered into the petrol station and smashed into a large pipe used to release vapour from underground fuel tanks. The garage in Driffield, Yorkshire had to be evacuated over fears the crash could endanger the public, a court heard. In aftermath of the accident, Knowles, 43, remained in the car talking on the phone, slurring her words and ignoring the garage attendant. David Ward, prosecuting, told Beverley Magistrates' Court that forecourt attendant Rebecca Roberts was looking out of her kiosk when she saw Knowles 'shoot across' in her silver BMW Z4. He continued: 'It drove across the forecourt without stopping and collided with a substantial metal vapour release pump opposite the kiosk. 'The female driver appeared to be on a mobile phone at the time. Miss Roberts was initially ignored by the female driver. 'Miss Roberts could smell alcohol on her breath. She was very drunk. She could not talk properly and was slurring her words. 'Miss Roberts said to turn off the petrol pumps immediately for public safety.' The court heard that Knowles was led into the garage's shop as staff took her keys off her and waited for police to arrive. The estate agent 'became emotional' after the police were called, Mr Ward said, adding: 'She started sobbing. She said, "It's my car. I've f***ed up. I'm an alcoholic."' A breath test revealed that she had 152 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath - the legal limit is 35. Mr Ward said: 'Police were so concerned about the amount of alcohol she had drunk that they sent her to hospital to check for alcohol poisoning. 'They had never seen anyone drink that much before and get in a car and drive.' Crash: Knowles smashed into a venting pump at this petrol station in Driffield, Yorkshire . Car: The estate agent was driving a silver BMW Z4 similar to this one at the time of the accident . Knowles, from Driffield, pleaded guilty to drink driving and breach of bail after she missed a scheduled court appearance this week because she was in a rehab clinic. The court heard that last year she was spared a driving ban after she was convicted of failing to provide a specimen of breath. Knowles has now been banned from driving ahead of a sentencing hearing next month, which could see her sent to prison. Defending solicitor Rachel Davies said: 'There's clearly a lot of issues in her life. She freely accepts she's an alcoholic and needs help and support.'

Summary: Tina Knowles, 43, drove into Yorkshire petrol station at high speed . She crashed BMW Z4 into a pipe used to release vapour from fuel tanks . Police took her to hospital because she was so drunk they feared she might have alcohol poisoning . Knowles is now banned from driving and could be jailed next month .


Olivier Giroud scored two first-half goals to ensure Arsenal came away from their game against Newcastle with all three points. French striker Giroud struck twice inside four minutes to grab the Gunners a cushion going in to the break at St James' Park. The hosts managed just one shot in the opening 45, but grabbed a route back into the game when Moussa Sissoko netted just after the break. However, it was a case of too little too late for Newcastle as they failed to break through a stubborn Arsenal defence. Sportsmail's Rob Draper was at the game to give the lowdown... Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring Arsenal's first goal against Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday . NEWCASTLE (4-1-4-1) TIM KRUL 6 – Dutchman had little chance with either of the Arsenal goals but otherwise looked solid behind a makeshift defence. RYAN TAYLOR 6.5 – Sound defensively, getting in a good early block on Sanchez, and launched the attack for Newcastle’s goal with a lovely nutmeg . Danny Welbeck and Ryan Taylor do battles as both vie for the ball during the battle at St James' Park . DARYL JANMAAT 6.5 – Pressed into action as an emergency centre-back in the absence of Fabricio Coloccini, and the full-back coped well on the whole. MIKE WILLIAMSON 5.5 - Can’t claim to have come off best in his duel with Giroud and was too busy trying to wrestle the Frenchman when he headed in the second. JACK COLBACK 5.5 – First touch let him down on a couple of occasions, not least when he ended up conceding the freekick that led to Arsenal’s first goal . Newcastle United's Spanish striker Ayoze Perez vies for the ball with Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista . VURNON ANITA 5 – Guilty of playing Colback into trouble on the first goal, and looked vulnerable at times. Replaced by Gutierrez with 20 minutes left . MOUSSA SISSOKO 7 – Stylish finish to get Newcastle back in the game and went close to an equaliser with a flick header. A real threat. SAMMY AMEOBI 5.5 – Had his moments but tended to drift in and out of the game. A little better in the second half. YOAN GOUFFRAN 6 – Another one who struggled to make an impact. Should have done better than poke an effort straight at Ospina from eight yards out in the 60th minute. Yoan Gouffran gets to grips with Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla during the match at St James' Park . REMY CABELLA 7 – Really came alive in the second half and did well to pick out Sissoko for the Newcastle goal. AYOZE PEREZ 7 – An isolated figure in the first half but had more support after the interval and went close with a wonderful curling effort. Subs: Gutierrez (Anita 72), Elliot, Obertan, Riviere, Armstrong (for Ameobi 89), Satka, Kemen. Scorer: Sissoko 48 . Booked: none . Moussa Sissoko of Newcastle United scores to halve the deficit against Arsenal in the Premier League match . ARSENAL (4-2-3-1) DAVID OSPINA 7 – Kicked the ball

Summary: Olivier Giroud scored twice in four first-half minutes to give Arsenal lead . Arsenal dominated the opening half as hosts mustered just one shot . Newcastle improved second half and scored via Moussa Sissoko . But it was a case of too little too late despite dominating the second half .


Wayne Elphick, 43, peddled cocaine using his disabled mother's taxpayer-funded Motability car . A drug dealer who peddled cocaine using his disabled mother's taxpayer-funded Motability car has been jailed. Wayne Elphick, 43, cruised the streets looking for clients in the specially adapted Seat Leon – which was bought with a government grant to help his 64-year-old mother Patricia get around. Police stopped him near his home in Moston, Manchester, in October last year and discovered £550 worth of cocaine hidden in his underpants. They also found £272 in cash. Officers subsequently raided the house Elphick shared with his mother and found £900 worth of cocaine, scales, a drug debtors list and £290 in cash. Elphick admitted cocaine possession with intent to supply and was jailed for two-and-a-half years. He had initially claimed the drug was for personal use, Manchester Crown Court heard. Detective Sergeant Andrew Buckthorpe, of Greater Manchester Police, said Elphick: 'This conviction shows that GMP will absolutely not tolerate drug dealing in our communities. 'Elphick used a car purchased with a government grant to deal cocaine around the Greater Manchester area, thumbing his nose at both the law and the good faith in which that car was provided to help his ailing mother. 'This case falls part of Operation Challenger Cairo, which is a proactive investigation aimed at tackling organised crime groups, specifically those involved in the sale and supply of drugs. 'Drugs can have a devastating impact on people's lives, not just the users but their families. 'I would ask anyone who has information into where drugs are being dealt or produced, to contact police.' Elphick admitted cocaine possession with intent to supply and was jailed for two-and-a-half years (file picture)

Summary: Wayne Elphick, 43, admitted cocaine possession with intent to supply . Jailed for two-and-a-half years by judge at Manchester Crown Court . Used mother's taxpayer-funded mobility car to peddle cocaine . Police found £550 of coke in his underpants when they stopped him .


Premier League clubs are back in the black overall for the first time in 15 years thanks to a rise in TV income and a show of restraint in raising player wages. Figures released by analysts Deloitte show that the 20 clubs' annual figures combined show a pre-tax profit for the first time since 1998/99 - to the tune of £190m in 2013/14. Premier League revenues have risen 29 per cent from £2.5billion to £3.3billion due to the increase in the value of the TV deals, but wages have grown by just six per cent in the same period - £1.8billion to £1.9billion overall. Juan Mata scores an audacious goal against Liverpool at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday . Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said: 'Last season was the first in the Premier League's current three-year broadcast deal, which was a record-breaker when it was struck. 'Combined with strong commercial growth at the highest revenue generating clubs, this has boosted Premier League revenue 29 per cent to a record £3.3bn. However, despite this extra income clubs showed relative restraint in wage costs, which grew by 6 per cent to £1.9bn. 'In the first year of the preceding two broadcast deals, 56 per cent and 81 cent of respective revenue growth was absorbed by wage costs. This time it is less than 20 per cent.' The figures will provide good news for the 20 club chairmen who meet in London on Thursday - where they will also face a protest organised by the Football Supporters' Federation calling on the top flight to use the increase in TV income to cut ticket prices and funnel more money to the lower leagues and grass-roots. FA chairman Greg Dyke's wants to increase home-grown players in club squads from eight to 12 . The protestors are expected to be allowed to send in a letter to the chairmen, who are also expected to take a significant decision on the administration of the Premier League. Richard Scudamore, the current chief executive, may be appointed as executive chairman with a possible re-organisation of the board. FA chairman Greg Dyke's plans to increase home-grown players in club squads from eight to 12 are not on the agenda but may be discussed. It is understood there is little appetite at the Premier League to change the quotas - not least because it would mean the English clubs being put at a disadvantage compared to the rest of Europe.

Summary: The 20 Premier League clubs have reported a pre-tax profit . It is first time this has occurred since 1998/99 . Premier League revenues have risen 29 per cent from £2.5billion to £3.3billion due to the increase in the value of the TV deals . But wages have grown by just six per cent in the same period . That figure has gone from £1.8billion to £1.9billion overall . CLICK HERE for all the latest Premier League news .


Manager Tony Pulis praised Darren Fletcher's growing influence at West Brom after they moved clear of trouble. The Baggies beat Stoke 1-0 on Saturday and are eight points above the Barclays Premier League relegation zone. It was their fourth straight home win in all competitions and Pulis believes 31-year-old midfielder Fletcher, who joined from Manchester United in January, has been key to that success. Darren Fletcher is tackled by Victor Moses during the match between West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City . Fletcher talks to referee Michael Oliver (right) during the clash at The Hawthorns . West Brom boss Tony Pulis has praised the growing influence of his captain Fletcher . 'He's been a fantastic signing. He's a tremendous lad, his enthusiasm and energy levels are top class,' Pulis said. 'He looks as sprightly as any 20 year old. He and (James) Morrison dominated the midfield. They've played together for Scotland and a lot of good stuff came from those two.' Brown Ideye scored his seventh goal of the season as the Baggies won their seventh game out of 13 under Pulis. Brown Ideye scores the opening goal during the match between West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City . Fletcher (left) celebrates with team-mates Craig Gardner (centre) and Ideye (right) after the goal . 'We looked a good team,' said the Baggies boss. 'The one thing you have to do is make your home a fortress. The crowd was fantastic. The Stoke fans were good and our supporters rose to that and were fantastic. 'That win was for the fans.'

Summary: Tony Pulis heaps praise on West Brom captain Darren Fletcher . Brown Ideye scores as Baggies beat Stoke 1-0 on Saturday . West Brom now eight points clear of the relegation zone .


A KIM JONG-IL PRODUCTION . by Paul Fischer . (Penguin/Viking £14.99) Were it not for the fact that North Korea is despicably tragic, it would be comical in the extreme. As a nation, it is so hermetically sealed — the regime lets ‘few foreigners in and virtually no information out’ — that the population has never heard of Jesus, Santa or Elvis. They fully believe their Dear Leader, Kim Jong-Il, who died in 2011, was descended from an egg impregnated by the sun and that when he went into battle, he rode on a unicorn. At the grand age of eight weeks, Kim was walking, talking and dispensing sage military advice. He could control the weather and catch rainbows with his bare hands. The North Koreans believe that their Dear Leader, Kim Jong-Il, who died in 2011, was descended from an egg impregnated by the sun . Such was (and is) the potency of North Korea’s messianic cult, however, that dare to laugh at such claims and a prison camp — or ‘custody management centre’ or ‘enlightenment centre’ — awaits. Paul Fischer, in this gripping tale, tells us that a typical penal colony near Pyongyang, the capital city, is bigger than the entire surface area of Los Angeles, with 220,000 inmates. Criminals include painters or poets whose work is ‘too Western’. The Ministry for the Protection of State Security rounds up people who have used more than the allocated quota of electricity, or have been accused of wearing blue jeans, growing their hair too long, reading a foreign newspaper or cracking jokes about Kim’s appearance (Kim Jong-Il’s son, the latest dictator, Kim Jong-Un, is another squat little monster, ‘prone to bursts of anger and bad temper’). There are no trials — simply the whim of the current Kim. One person’s guilt implicates an entire family. ‘Children are executed in front of their mothers, wives in front of their husbands.’ Children who informed on their parents were commended for their patriotism. Husbands suspected of a political crime would beg to be able to shoot their own wives as a sign of loyalty. In this evil hell-hole in Kim Jong-Il’s time, ‘chatter, laughter and singing were forbidden’. If Kim Jong-Il himself had one weakness, however, it was for the movies. Though he had personal control over huge armies and a nuclear arsenal, Kim’s mind was filled less with totalitarian ideology than with ‘James Bond and Rambo . . . His favourite stars were Sean Connery and Elizabeth Taylor’. It must be a mightily strange person who can confuse Elizabeth Taylor with Sylvester Stallone. Nevertheless, Kim set up the Central Film Distribution Centre, which obtained prints from abroad and secretly dubbed them into Korean using professional actors. Fischer says Kramer Vs. Kramer and Mary Poppins were in the Pyongyang vaults — though only Kim was permitted to screen such incendiary foreign fare. It was Kim’s dream to establish ‘a world-class film industry’ but, unfortunately, local productions were boring in the extreme — ‘tedious stories of selfless factory workers and exemplary farm girls’. The North Korean

Summary: North Korea lets ‘few foreigners in and virtually no information out' The Leader of the Democratic People's Republic had a weakness for films . Kim Jong-Il wanted to bring a thriving film industry to North Korea . In 1978 he abducted a South Korean filmmaker and his wife .


Officers have arrested 21-year-old Matthew Ellery (pictured) on suspicion of theft . A UKIP candidate handed his own son – a Ukip councillor – in to police after discovering valuable stock from his antiques shop had been stolen. Alan Stone, 50, said the decision to take Matthew Ellery to the police had been the most difficult of his life. But he added that he hoped it would show he was capable of making hard choices and worthy of a seat at Westminster. Mr Stone is hoping to oust the disgraced former culture secretary Maria Miller in May. The father-of-four admitted he had a 'lump in his throat' as he apparently escorted the 21-year-old to the local police station. Officers arrested Ellery on suspicion of theft. Mr Stone said: 'It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do but I would do it again. I took him to the police station, absolutely. I did what I had to do. The police are still investigating.' The grandfather added: 'I made a complaint about stock going missing – whether he stole it from me I do not know yet. I will stand by him when it is all over. He is my son.' Ellery, who controversially won a place on Basingstoke and Dean Council last year, has been released on bail until after the election. Mr Stone, who was announced as Ukip's candidate for Basingstoke last year, said he was hopeful of winning the seat despite the arrest. 'It is a family issue,' he said. 'It could be very positive. The fact that I am willing to take my own children to court if they do something wrong is a positive move. I am capable of taking the hard decisions if they are needed.' Alan Stone, 50, said the decision to take his son to the police had been the most difficult of his life . The parliamentary candidate admitted his action had received 'mixed reactions' from the rest of his family, with some even suggesting the move was politically motivated. He added that he had not seen his son, who uses his mother's maiden name, for a week. Ellery's election to his local council was shrouded in controversy, coming as it did after he caused outrage by branding the women in his town 'pug ugly' on social media. He also posted a message on Facebook saying that he 'felt like stabbing someone'. Mr Stone went to the police three weeks ago after finding stock had been stolen from his shop Squirrel Antiques in Basingstoke over the last year. The businessman, who also runs Stone's Fine Jewellery in the Hampshire town, would not confirm the value of the theft but it is believed the items taken amount to tens of thousands of pounds. Mr Stone said: 'The police do not know the exact figure. I know my stock has gone missing over the past year – of course I do.' Hampshire police said: 'The 21-year-old arrested man has been re-bailed pending further enquiries. He's now due to return on bail on May 14.'

Summary: Ukip candidate Alan Stone, 50, handed son, Matthew Ellery, over to police . Discovered valuable stock taken from his antiques shop in Basingstoke . Mr Stone hoping to oust ex culture secretary secretary Maria Miller in May .