A Liberal Democrat Lord has admitted illegally smuggling a two-year-old boy into the UK by claiming the child was his son. Qurban Hussain lied to the British High Commission in Islamabad about the child’s true parentage after his poverty-stricken Kashmiri parents begged his wife to adopt the boy. The life peer, who is Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s diversity adviser, now faces being investigated by police under the 1971 Immigration Act. But the 58-year-old, from Luton, insists that although it was legally wrong ‘morally it was the right thing to do’. Lord Hussain, pictured with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, realises what he did was 'legally wrong' but insists it was the 'morally right'. A Lib Dem spokesman said the party is looking into the matter . The Sunday Mirror revealed Lord Hussain told officials the boy, who was born in Pakistan in 1990, had the right to British citizenship as he was the father. The boy, now 23, was flown to the UK at the age of two – and given a British passport soon after. ‘I know now it is illegal. I realise it was legally wrong but morally it was the right thing to do,’ he told the Mirror. Lord Hussain explained he and his wife had ‘adopted’ the child to save him from a life of poverty, but had never filed the correct paperwork. Lord Qurban Hussain admits he illegally brought the boy to the UK by telling officials he was the father . He said: ‘The child’s mother begged my wife to take him. You have never seen levels of poverty like this family lived in.’ He added his ‘son’ is a university graduate and he and his wife are ‘very proud’. But the father-of-four, who has been outspoken of the dangers of illegal immigration, admitted that he didn’t realise it would come back to haunt him and his action were ‘a shame’ on him. Despite calls to resign from Labour MP John Mann, he has reportedly vowed not to quit his peerage as his ‘conscience was clear’. Lord Hussain has informed Lib Dem officials of the actions, but believes his actions were right. A Liberal Democrat spokesman said the party are investigating the matter. He said: ‘The party is aware of this and looking into it.’ Rules dictate that peers can be suspended or disciplined, but cannot be excluded from the House of Lords unless they have a conviction for an offence that carries a jail sentence of a year or more. Lord Hussain became a prominent figure in the Lib Dems after Mr Clegg approached him to represent the party in the Upper House. He was made a life peer in January 2011. His first act in Parliament was to discuss immigration and the risks of breaching immigration law. The Deputy Prime Minister recently vowed to remain tough on immigration after dramatically admitting he was wrong to offer amnesty to illegal immigrants in 2013. Lord Qurban Hussain was made a life peer in 2011 . Born in Kashmir, Qurban Hussain came to live in England

Summary: Qurban Hussain admits he lied to British High Commission in Islamabad . The life peer is Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s diversity adviser . Boy, now 23, was flown from Pakistan at two and given British passport . The 58-year-old insists although 'legally wrong' it was ‘morally right' He explains he 'adopted' boy, who was born to poverty-stricken couple in Kashmir, after birth mother 'begged his wife to take him'


FIFA has confirmed the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar will be played on Sunday December 18. The climax of the winter World Cup will take place a week before Christmas - a decision which will allow traditional Boxing Day club matches to take place. UEFA president Michel Platini said the decision was acceptable - but warned that FIFA must now protect four international dates that could be disrupted. FIFA on Thursday confirmed the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar will take place on December 18 . Meanwhile FIFA's executive committee meeting in Zurich has chosen France to host the 2019 women's World Cup over South Korea. The 2022 World Cup is to be played in the winter to avoid the fierce heat of June and July, and it will be a shortened tournament over 28 days instead of the usual 32, starting on November 21. The final on Sunday December 18 is also Qatar's national day. Britain's FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce previously insisted that clubs' Boxing Day fixtures would go ahead . UEFA had initially pushed for the final to be as late as December 23 but Platini said he now supported December 18. He insisted however that FIFA now had to re-arrange the calendar to protect up to four international dates that might be affected. Platini told Press Association Sport: 'December 18 is a good date for the final - perhaps December 23 would be too late if you are trying to get all the fans back on December 24. December 18 is fine for UEFA - we can accommodate any changes to the Champions League. The Al-Rayyan stadium is pictured in this artists impression as Qatar 2022 World Cup final date is confirmed . 'But FIFA must now protect the international dates for the national associations - there are four international matches that could be affected and those are the lifeblood for the national associations. 'FIFA must look at the international calendar and make sure those dates are protected for the national associations.' He also welcomed the decision to award the women's World Cup to France. Platini said: 'Everyone in France will be very pleased I am sure - and women's football is growing very strongly in the country.' FIFA's executive committee decided France will host 2019 women's fooball World Cup . FIFA's director of communications Walter De Gregorio said: 'The ExCo decided today that the World Cup as proposed by the task force will be played in November-December, with the final on the 18th of December. 'Based on the proposal of the task force, we're going to try to play in 28 days. That's the decision in principle. Now we have to see with the international match calendar how this might be possible.' He added: 'This is for us, an important step. Finally, we know the end of the tournament. 'It's a Sunday and, by the way, it's the national day in Qatar, so it fits perfectly. 'You have enough time to do your Christmas shopping.'

Summary: FIFA confirm the 2022 World Cup final will take place on December 18 . Controversial tournament will take place in Qatar despite concerns . Final date will mean traditional Boxing Day matches will still take place . FIFA executive committee choose France to host 2019 women's World Cup .


The Islamic State terrorist known as 'Jihadi John' was expelled from Tanzania for being drunk and disorderly on a flight from Amsterdam, the Times has reported. In May 2009, Mohammed Emwazi reportedly indulged in a ten-hour drinking binge to the country en route to Somalia. It conflicts with earlier reports which claimed the 26-year-old was kicked out of the capital Dar es Salaam after the country's authorities were tipped off by MI6. The man who found infamy by fronting a string of brutal execution videos was allegedly traveling with two companions believed to be hellbent on waging jihad. 'Jihadi John': Mohammed Emwazi was expelled from Tanzania in 2009 for being drunk and disorderly on a flight from Amsterdam . Detained: The trio landed at Dar es Salaam airport at 10.50am on May 22, 2009 and after being detained on arrival, they were formally booked into the airport's police station at 1am . Binge: The Times has reported that Emwazi (pictured) and two other men indulged in a 10-hour drinking session on their way to Dar es Salaam en route to Somalia . Jerome Starkey also reports he was traveling to the Tanzanian capital with Ali Adorus, another suspect known to British intelligence services after he was jailed in Ethiopia for terrorism offences. 20 at the time, Emwazi was the youngest of three travel companions made up of Adorus, 27, and a German man from Tanzania known as Marcel Schrodl, 23, who told police he was a translator. The London-born executioner later told the prisoners' rights group Cage he was traveling to Africa to go on Safari. They traveled at a time when Tanzania's borders were easily crossed by jihadists who wanted to join the terror group al-Shabaab, the Times reports. The pilot of the KLM flight they were on warned immigration staff at the airport the trio were causing trouble, the country's home affairs minister has said. It landed at 10.50am on May 22, 2009 and after being detained on arrival, they were formally booked into the airport's police station at 1am. Mr Chikawe claimed MI6 had no role in their expulsion from the country - insisting that the men were expelled at 8am that same morning for drunkenness. He said: 'They were refused entry because they disembarked from the plane very drunk.' 'They were insulting our immigration staff and other people. They failed to explain why they had come to Tanzania.' Tip-off: The pilot reportedly phoned ahead to inform the airport's security staff of their behaviour . Deported: They were held for questioning in the airport in Tanzania and put on a flight back to Europe at 8am the next morning . He added that other passengers on the flight which made a scheduled stop at Kilimanjaro airport confirmed the men were causing problems in the air. 'The immigration department put them in custody on advice from the pilot that he would not carry them back to Amsterdam,' he said. 'There was no information from anywhere that they were criminal suspects.' Previous reports have suggested that British authorities tipped off security

Summary: Mohammed Emwazi flew to Dar es Salaam en route to Somalia in May 2009 . He traveled with two men, one of whom was known to intelligence services . Trio failed to explain why they were in Somalia, home affairs minister said . The trio were drunk when they disembarked and insulted immigration staff . It contradicts reports that MI6 alerted security services about their arrival . One of Emwazi's travel companions has since been imprisoned in Ethiopia .


A couple who claim to be the world's first couple to have met online are celebrating 20 years together - after being among the first people to sign up to the first-ever internet dating site. Bill and Freddi Strauss, from San Fernando Valley, California, met on a primitive Match.com, a few weeks after it was launched in 1995, and married three years later. And now the loved-up couple are celebrating 20 years of being together. Bill and Freddi Strauss are now experts at 'selfies', but when they met, online dating was a new phenomenon and they had to ask friends to help them build an internet profile . Flashback: The couple on their wedding day after first getting together online . ‘We're definitely one of the first ever dates and we believe we're the first date that turned into a couple,' said 72-year-old Freddi. ‘When I first told my friends I was using the internet to find a boyfriend they were a bit anxious for me - because the internet itself was very new and online dating was unheard of! ‘But as soon as they met Bill they realised they didn't need to worry about anything.' Although today's online dating profiles are awash with dozens of perfect selfies, Freddi's profile didn't even have a picture - as she didn't know how to upload one. 'A friend had to help me set up the profile as the internet was very new,' said Freddi, a travel agent. Many adventures: Bill and Freddi enjoy a meal out, despite their first date in a restaurant not going to plan . The couple quickly fell in love after meeting online . ‘I just about managed to get the profile done but a picture was an ask too far! ‘He only had my personality and description to go on when I turned up for our first date.' After a week of messaging, the pair decided to start chatting on the phone and after another week decided to meet in person. A retired engineer, Bill said he believed their meeting was fate. 'I didn't know how I was going to get on with online dating - my picture was one of my better ones,' said the 76-year-old. ‘But as soon as I saw the lady walking in front of me I just knew it was Freddie. ‘I guess it was meant to be.’ Bill, determined to impress Freddi, chose a Chinese restaurant close to both of their homes and ordered the most expensive lobster dish on the menu. However, his idea of a romantic meal didn't go to plan when the bill came to more money than he had with him and Freddi had to chip in five dollars to cover the shortfall. 'It wasn't an impressive first date at all,' said Freddi, ‘But I wanted to go on a second date to make sure I got my five bucks back!’ Their next date didn't go any better after Freddi's perm went wrong and she tried to cancel their meeting scheduled for that weekend. When Bill said he didn't

Summary: Bill and Freddi Strauss each signed up to internet dating in 1995 . The duo met on a primitive version of the dating website Match.com . Friends helped them set up profiles when looking for love in cyberspace .


A Chinese restaurant in Kenya that barred black customers from entering after 5pm has been shut down. The owners of the Chongqing Chinese in Nairobi only let taxi drivers or Africans accompanied by Chinese, European or Indian patrons in to eat. They have now been summoned before authorities after it emerged they did not have the proper licence. A Chinese restaurant in Nairobi, which barred black customers after 5pm, has been shut down with its owners summoned before authorities . The restaurant's rule was brought into place after a robbery in 2013 and was not meant to cause offence, the owners said. 'We don't admit Africans that we don't know because you never know who is Al-Shabaab and who isn't,' restaurant relations manager Esther Zhao told the Daily Nation. But Otiende Amollo, the Ombudsman, said it was both illegal and unconstitutional to discriminate against an individual on the grounds of their race, gender or ethnicity. He said: 'That amounts to racial and ethnic profiling, which is unconstitutional. 'It has in it the inherent assumption that Africans are inevitably pre-disposed to be robbers.' Residents took to social media to express their anger at being banned from the Chinese using the hashtags #RacistRestaurant, #NoBlacksHere and #TheChineseInvasion. One user Anita Munyasya tweeted: 'Soon we'll be banned from our own country... #RacistRestaurant' Another with the name @kaytrixx wrote: 'It's like a visitor at your house ordered you to go and eat in the loo instead of dining table (sic). Who owns the house? #NoBlacksHere' And one known just as Ken added: 'Discrimination of any kind is evil may it be based on RACE, ETHNICITY, TRIBE, RELIGION, OPINION or otherwise. #NoBlacksHere' Residents took to social media to express their anger at being banned from the restaurant using the hashtags #RacistRestaurant, #NoBlacksHere and #TheChineseInvasion . One Kenyan MP even asked the Parliamentary Committee on Security to carry out its own investigation. Nairobi governor Evans Kidero said the restaurant was shut because it did not have the proper licences. He said: 'We have established that the restaurant did not have the licences and I have ordered it closed until the management complies. 'The owners of the restaurant have no change of user from residential to commercial which is a requirement to operate a business in Nairobi. 'As of now the restaurant will remain closed until they comply with all set rules and regulations. We have deployed security officers around the premises.' But he added: 'All business and service providers must ensure that all customers and clients are treated with respect and dignity, irrespective of race, colour, sex, tribe and religion.' China's relationship with Kenya and much of Africa has been seen as being at an all-time high - notably with huge investments in major infrastructure projects. Up to two million Chinese people have moved to Africa in the last 15 years.

Summary: Owners of the Chongqing Chinese barred black customers after 5pm . Let taxi drivers or Africans with Chinese, European or Indian patrons in . Nairobi governor said it was shut down as it did not have proper licences .


A 12-year-old boy and his instructor died after their hang glider crashed onto a dry lake bed in Nevada. The child, whose name has not been released, was visiting with his family from New Mexico and was inside the hang glider tethered to a pick-up truck that plummeted to the ground on Friday afternoon. The adult male instructor, who has not been identified, died at the scene, while the boy's family was able to transport him to Nevada Highway Patrol troopers who were on the side of the road. However, as troopers performed CPR they were unable to revive him. Scroll down for video . A boy, 12, and his hang-gliding instructor died after their glider crashed onto a dry lake bed in Nevada . During the activity, the hang gliding company, which has not been named, tethers gliders to the rear of a pickup truck to propel them into the air . Stanley Oloff, who was at the scene and is reportedly the child's great grandfather said that the family loved adventure and that it was their first time trying hang gliding . Metro police and NHP troopers arrived at the first scene of the incident, where the glider crashed at the Jean dry lake bed, near Sloan Road and Interstate 15 at 2.50pm, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. The family. from Farmington, was a part of a tour group that was organized to do the activity with the hang gliding company, which has not been named, according to Fox 5 Vegas. Stanley Oloff, who was at the scene and is reportedly the child's great grand-father, said the family loved adventure and that it was their first time trying hang gliding. The boy was the most excited of the group so he was selected to go on the first ride. During the activity, the hang gliding company tethers gliders to the rear of a truck to propel them into the air. Police said the hang glider was in the air when the truck driver pulling them turned around abruptly. The driver is believed to have thought the tether had been released which is ordinarily done by the person inside of the glider, before both the child and the man tragically plummeted to the ground. Authorities are still trying to piece together the cause of the incident and said it was too early to determine if it was a result of a mechanical or operational issue, said Capt. Peter Boffelli . Police said the glider was supposed to release the tether from the truck itself. Apparently, that tether release did not occur . Troopers performed CPR, but the child died while inside of the truck, said Trooper Loy Hixson . Metro police and the Federal Aviation Administration are still investigating the incident . 'The glider was supposed to release the tether from the truck itself. Apparently, that tether release did not occur,' said Capt. Peter Boffelli from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 'So what occurred is when the truck turned around thinking the tether was released, the glider itself

Summary: The child, who has not been named, was with his family from New Mexico as their tour group went to go hang gliding on Friday afternoon . Hang glider towed by pickup truck did not release the tether, police said . Male instructor, who has not been identified, died while inside of the glider .


Dramatic pictures have emerged of the moment Harrison Ford was carried away on a stretcher following his terrifying plane crash. The 72-year-old's face is seen covered in blood with his neck firmly strapped into a brace as he his wheeled from the Penmar Golf Course in Venice, Los Angeles on Thursday. First responders are also pictured wrapping bandages around his head before taking him away. He deliberately steered his 1942 Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR into the ground, breaking his pelvis, when the engine failed while flying solo. Scroll down for video . Bloodied: Harrison Ford is carried away from the scene of his plane crash on Penmar Golf Course in Venice, Los Angeles on Thursday . Keeping vigil: Calista Flockhart was seen leaving the Los Angeles hospital after another lengthy visit with her husband who broke his pelvis while crash landing his vintage plane on a golf course . Emergency care: The 72-year-old's head is seen covered on bandages and his neck was put in a brace as he was wheeled off of the golf course and into the back of an ambulance . Response: The Indiana Jones and Fugitive star was then taken to hospital where his wife, Calista Flockhart, is staging a bedside vigil . Ford's wife, Calista Flockhart has stayed close to his side at hospital. The 50-year-old actress emerged on Friday night appearing tired and emotionally drained following a bedside vigil that lasted several hours. Calista was seen at the wheel of a black Lexus pulling out of the hospital parking garage with an older male companion in the passenger seat. The former Ally McBeal star looked like she hadn't slept in a while, her face make-up free and eyes dark-circled and bleary from possible crying. Her light brown hair hung limply around her face and her manner of dress appeared simple and casual as though she'd grabbed the closest clothing in reach. Calista looked like she needed sleep and was perhaps heading home to recharge for a spell with the intent of returning to the actor's side soon. Wrapped up: Paramedics unroll bloodied bandages around the actor's face. He deliberately steered his 1942 Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR into the ground when the engine failed while flying solo . Treatment: Ford's arm is seen flung across his chest as he is treated by first responders. He broke his pelvis during the crash in his vintage plane . Cautious: He is gently rolled onto his side by members of the fire department as he is placed on a stretcher . On Thursday afternoon, Ford received a visit in hospital from his wife, who was seen looking emotional in her car. A doctor has revealed Ford was moaning in pain, slumped over in the cockpit, when he landed. 'He was stunned a bit,' said spinal surgeon Sanjay Khurana. 'He was moaning and in pain.' 'It was obvious by his face, it was Harrison Ford. I'm old enough, or young enough, to have watched all his 'Star Wars' films. So, it was obvious,' Khurana told ABC News. A video has since emerged of

Summary: The 72-year-old is taken to an ambulance with his neck in a brace . His face is covered in bloodied bandages following the crash on Thursday . The star crashed on the Penmar Golf Course in Venice, Los Angeles . A surgeon said he was moaning in pain and slumped in the cockpit . His wife, Calista Flockhart, 50, has remained close to him while in hospital . She was pictured looking drained after holding a beside vigil .


Bosses at trendy clothing firm American Apparel have been rapped for a 'too sexy' advert showing a female model wearing a 'thong bodysuit'. The firm, which has more than 270 stores across the world, regularly has its raunchy ads banned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). In 2012 the firm had a string of ads banned in four different rulings after using photos of women exposing their breasts, showing off their bare bums and posing with their legs spread in its ad campaigns. This American Apparel advert featuring an underage-looking model has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority . And this week, the ASA again banned an advert showing a flame-haired model wearing a £30 spandex thong bodysuit covered with lipstick prints. One person had complained to the ASA saying they believed the model in question looked under the age of 16 and that it was 'irresponsible and offensive' as it 'sexualised a model' who appeared to be underage. Bosses at the ASA said that despite American Apparel saying the model was 20 years old, she looked 'youthful' and that the ad was irresponsible. It stated: 'We considered the model had a youthful appearance and that some consumers were likely to regard her as being younger than 16 years of age. 'The model was shown looking back at the camera over her shoulder with her buttocks visible. The campaign featured more than one picture of the girl in the bodysuit to '[depict] the thong from various angles' 'We considered that readers were likely to interpret the model's expression and pose as being sexual in nature. 'In conjunction with the youthful appearance of the model, we considered the ad could be seen to sexualise a child. 'We therefore concluded that the ad was irresponsible and was likely to cause serious offence.' It added: 'The ad must not appear again in its current form. 'We told American Apparel (UK) Ltd to ensure future ads did not include images that inappropriately sexualised young women or were likely to cause serious offence.' Bosses at the clothing firm said the the model was 20 and that the ad 'depicted the thong from various angles'. This isn't the first time that American Apparel has been in trouble for their adverts. Last September, a campaign for the fashion brand American Apparel has been banned for ‘sexualising school-age girls’. Photographs of its ‘School Days’ range included a young woman bending over in an ultra- short tartan skirt with her white underwear on display. In a scathing attack, the advertising watchdog labelled the campaign ‘gratuitous’ and ‘sexist’. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said ‘the focus was on her buttocks and groin rather than on the skirt being modelled’. It also accused the firm of promoting seedy ‘up-skirt’ photographs – when unauthorised pictures are taken from beneath a woman’s skirt. The brand launched its Back-to-School range with the slogan, ‘Your first assignment is to dress accordingly.’ Last year, the fashion company got in trouble for this picture of a 'schoolgirl' leaning over a car door . The campaign included pictures of

Summary: American Apparel has been told off by the Advertising Standards Authority . ASA deemed advert featuring a young-looking model in a thong 'too sexy' In the campaign, the young redhead bares her entire bottom to the camera .


These stunning images show the moment a pack of polar bears brace themselves against the harsh winter as a fierce snow storm swirls around them. The mother and cubs were pictured huddling together against the blizzard in Kaktovik, Alaska - 800km north of the Arctic Circle. Judith Conning, a social worker from Australia, took the trip to the remote town to watch the family of polar bears as they prepared to fish on the frozen Beaufort Sea. Safety in numbers: A mother and her two cubs huddle together to keep warm as a fierce blizzard sweeps across Kaktovik in Alaska . Cold front: The mother bear and her two cubs sit together with their backs towards the bitter gale as snow swirls around them . Wintery: The mother bear nuzzles one of her cubs as snow sweeps across a freezing cold beach 800km north of the Arctic Circle . Brightening up: With the blizzard finally subsiding, one of the cubs takes a seat in the snow while its proud mother watches on . Face-off: Despite the blizzard, two bears from the pack found the energy to stand up on their hind legs and square-up for a play fight . While the mothers wanted nothing more than to rest and sleep, the cubs were content with playing in the snow and exploring their surroundings. The bears seemed unperturbed by the blustery conditions - but the weather played havoc on the photography trip. Judith, whose pictures were awarded the Australian Photography Magazine's 'Nature Photographer of the Year', said: 'The weather kept most people indoors as at times it was impossible to stay upright outside. 'I was overwhelmed by the intelligence, the love, care and protectiveness the mothers show for their cubs. We watched a group of cubs - young ones and teenagers - play and it was for all the world like watching kids in the school yard. Rough and tumble: The weather may have been dismal, but it did not stop the polar bear cubs from enjoying a play fight as their mother watched on just yards away . The big chill: Three bears huddle together as they attempt to sleep through harsh winter conditions in northern Alaska last October . On the march: The family of polar bears waited until the blizzard had passed before prowling along the shoreline looking for food . Play time: While the mothers wanted nothing more than to rest and sleep, the cubs were content with playing in the snow and exploring their surroundings . 'There was pushing and shoving, making friends and general rough housing with some in the thick of it and others keeping to the sidelines.' Despite the difficult weather conditions, the rare sighting of the endangered animals moved the photographer. She said: 'I want to weep when I think of what may ultimately happen to them. 'I want to weep when I think about how difficult it has already become - how many of them now die of starvation or drown. I also despair at the fact that fewer and fewer cubs survive

Summary: Pack of polar bears seen huddling together for warmth during a fierce blizzard 800km north of the Arctic Circle . The mother and her two cubs were photographed sleeping in the snow in the remote town of Kaktovik in Alaska . Judith Conning, a social worker from Australia, captured the images on a trip to the shores of the Beaufort Sea .


Hundreds of koalas have been killed in secret by wildlife officials in Victoria due to concerns over starvation in a key habitat. The Victorian government euthanised 686 koalas at Cape Otway, about 230km southwest of Melbourne, in 2013 and 2014 in response to overpopulation in manna gum woodlands in the area. The koalas, many of which were starving, were killed via lethal injection after being captured in trees. Animal activists are furious and have condemned the government for their 'cruel' treatment of koalas and questioned why the program was conducted in secret. Hundreds of koalas have been killed in secret by wildlife officials in Victoria due to concerns over starvation . The Victorian government euthanised 686 koalas at Cape Otway, about 230km southwest of Melbourne . During three separate operations, veterinarians captured and sedated koalas to assess their health. Koalas suffering starvation were euthanised, while healthy koalas were released back into the wild and healthy females were treated with control hormone implants. The cull is said to have occurred in secret to avoid a backlash from activists and locals. Australian Koala Foundation chief Deborah Tabart OAM said she had heard rumours that koalas were being killed but had never had proof until now. 'I want somebody charged,' Ms Tabart said. 'The Australian government over my whole career has said there will never be a cull in Australia ever. 'It's cruel and mean to koalas and pays no respect for the role they play in tourism - how dare they treat this animal with that sort of level of disrespect. Australian Koala Foundation chief Deborah Tabart OAM questioned why the program was conducted in secret . 'And if they are so proud of what they were doing why was it done in secret?' Koala expert Dr Desley Whisson, who advised the government on the euthanasia program, said that the objective was to humanely deal with suffering koalas rather than reduce population size. Ms Tabart said more should have been done in previous years to stop the problem from escalating . 'Watching an animal starve to death is a horrible thing,' Dr Whisson, from Deakin University, told Daily Mail Australia. 'For every one koala that was euthanised there were probably two or three that starved without intervention. 'It at least was a good thing to put them out of their misery.' Dr Whisson said moving the population to other areas or conducting fertility control programs were expensive options. 'A lot of people ask why we can't just move the koalas somewhere else, but I think it's important to recognise the translocation koalas often has a negative impact,' she said. 'A large number would die, and they don't want to move from manna gum. 'It's sort of a lose-lose situation all round.' Dr Whisson said the problem in the manna gum woodland at Cape Otway was caused after koalas were introduced to the area in the 1980s from French Island. 'Manna gum is a very good food source for koalas, it's low in toxins and high in nutrients so koalas love it,' she said. 'To

Summary: Hundreds of koalas have been killed in secret by wildlife officials . The koalas were culled near Cape Otway, Victoria in 2013 and 2014 . The animals were euthanised in response to overpopulation in manna gum woodlands in the area, about 230km southwest of Melbourne . Animal activists are furious and have slammed the government .


Order and progress – Ordem e Progresso – read the Brazilian flags adorning the stands at the Emirates on Sunday, and the Samba stars have certainly made some decent headway since their unceremonious exit from their home World Cup eight months ago. Make no mistake, this was no vintage Selecao showing. There was little of the free-flowing football we have come to expect from Brazil. Head coach Dunga, himself a World Cup-winning defensive midfielder, has implemented a defence-first policy, with long balls up to the strikers very much the order of the day as far as attacking play was concerned. Firmino celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the friendly match between Brazil and Chile . Firmino is congratulated by teammates after scoring the opening goal during the match at Emirates Stadium . Neymar was in the wars again after this foul on the touchline left the Barcelona star in apparent agony . But Brazil, missing David Luiz, Dante and Maicon from the back four who started the 7-1 humiliation against Germany, looked a vastly more robust outfit defensively. Thiago Silva, so sorely missed in that ill-fated semi-final, was an assured presence at the heart of the back line, while centre-back partner Miranda weighed in with impressive physicality – especially in dealing with the driving force and trickery of Alexis Sanchez. Brazil are the pioneers of the attacking full back, but much-coveted Porto defender Danilo, despite his excellent through-ball for Fermino’s opener, was relatively reserved on the right side of defence. Danilo (right) springs into an acrobatic challenge to try and win back possession for his side from Sanchez . Jefferson SAMBA STAR . Danilo SAMBA STAR . Miranda SAMBA STAR . Thiago Silva SAMBA STAR . Marcelo SAMBA STAR . Costa SAMBA SHOCKER . Souza SAMBA STAR . Fernandinho SAMBA STAR . Coutinho SAMBA SHOCKER . Luiz Adriano SAMBA SHOCKER . Neymar SAMBA STAR . Left back Marcelo, perhaps a surprising inclusion given his culpability in Belo Horizonte, was also uncharacteristically disciplined, but still offered support to Neymar and Philippe Coutinho when the situation called for it. Sitting midfielders Souza and Fernandinho – the latter being the only other survivor from the World Cup semi-final – were effective in protecting the back four and took their clear pre-match objective to kick lumps out of Sanchez very seriously. Though the Manchester City man rode his luck a few too many times in dangerous positions. Where Dunga’s men really struggled to deal with Chile’s high-pressing game was in attacking midfield. Coutinho and Douglas Costa were hassled and harried by their opponents’ packed midfield on the rare occasions they maintained possession, and as a result created very little for their forwards, who were often forced to drop deep to influence the game. Brazil forward Luiz Adriano struggles to keep his balance as Medel challenges his opponent for possession . Barcelona star Neymar keeps his eye on the ball as he tries to control and begin another attack . Barcelona star Neymar is evidently in pain after Medel's cynical stamp at the Emirates stadium on

Summary: Former defensive midfielder Dunga has implemented a defence-first policy . It's a far cry from the days of samba football the fans have come to expect . Long balls up to the strikers are very much the order of the day in attack . But new new-look Brazil have won eight in a row since their World Cup exit .


He's one of the most famous faces in world sport, but don't tell these tourists, they just wanted a family picture with the Opera House. When the couple crossed paths with Lewis Hamilton beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Tuesday, a 'selfie' with the British Formula One Champion was the last thing on their minds. Instead, they stopped to ask the star to take a holiday snap of them and their baby. Scroll down for video . Lewis Hamilton (right) was sight-seeing in Sydney when he was stopped by a family to take their photo . Hamilton takes a photo for the young family before the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday . The oblivious couple strolled off towards the Opera House as Hamilton continued taking in Syndey's sights . Hamilton was enjoying time out in Sydney after his win at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 15 . The oblivious tourists were snapped chatting with Hamilton on the harbour foreshore, while he diligently took their photo in front of the Sydney Opera House. The family then strolled off into the distance. Hamilton was taking some time out to explore Sydney Harbour after racing to victory at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 15; visiting the iconic Opera House and taking a luxury yacht for a turn on the water. 'After a long day of media yesterday, sailing in Sydney with friends was a great way to end the day!' he posted via Instagram. 'Sydney is such a beautiful city.Can't wait to come back next year.' Hamilton says he loves 'beautiful Sydney' and can't wait to come back . Hamilton celebrates his win at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne . Hamilton took to Instagram to upload a photograph of himself sailing in Sydney . In what was the first race of the F1 calendar in Melbourne, Hamilton finished 1.3 secs ahead of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg. After the Grand Prix celebrations, the Mercedes driver - who has also spoken of pursuing a music career - reportedly saw a performance by home-grown artists Angus and Julia Stone in Sydney. Hamilton told media he would welcome a move for the F1 to 'sunny Sydney' if a proposed street circuit is approved by the NSW government. 'Street circuits are the best. For a driver they're the best and it's best for people to get close to — some 300,000 to 400,000 people leaning out of apartment windows.' he told the Daily Telegraph. The 30-year-old Mercedes driver recently featured on the cover of the US Man of the World magazine .

Summary: Sightseeing couple stop World Formula 1 champion to take their photo . Lewis Hamilton was taking time out in Sydney after winning the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne . Hamilton featured on the front cover of Man of the World magazine .


A director of an online gambling firm linked to Harry Redknapp and two Premier League football clubs has been arrested over a £21m fraud probe, it has emerged. Paul Bell, a director of 666Bet, was reportedly arrested at Heathrow airport last week as part of a joint money-laundering investigation by HM Revenue & Customs and the National Crime Agency. Six other people were arrested, 13 properties were raided and £1m in cash was also seized as part of the investigation. A director of an online gambling firm, which signed Harry Redknapp to star in its adverts (pictured above) has been arrested over a £21m fraud . The online firm announced deals with West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City last summer. It also signed former QPR manager Redknapp to appear in its adverts, alongside Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor Vas Blackwood. Last week, the UK gambling regulator The Gambling Commission suspended the firm's licence. The suspension led to Football League One side Leyton Orient, which signed a contract with the bookmakers in August last year, terminating its deal for shirt sponsorship. It is not yet known whether the two Premier League clubs will follow suit. Speaking from Dubai, Mr Redknapp told the Independent on Sunday: 'I just did an advert for them. I don't know anything about it at all. Not a clue.' Mr Bell, a stockbroker who is now an investor, was reportedly arrested at Heathrow before being re-arrested the following day when he arrived on the Isle of Man by private jet. According to a source, the businessman, who is said to be an active part of the community in the Isle of Man, has 'vigorously denied any wrongdoing'. Online firm 666Bet announced deals with West Brom and Leicester City last summer. It also signed Redknapp to appear in its adverts, alongside Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor Vas Blackwood . Speaking from Dubai about the probe, Mr Redknapp (pictured) said: 'I just did an advert for them. I don't know anything about it at all. Not a clue' A spokesman for the firm added that the probe has 'nothing to do with the day-to-day running of 666Bet.' In an email to the Independent on Sunday, Neil Andrews, 666Bet's head of brand, said: 'I can categorically state the investigation does not relate to 666Bet's activities in the gamin (sic) world.' The firm's website is currently offline. Its official Twitter account said the site is under maintenance 'due to unforeseen circumstances'. The firm's website is currently offline. Its official Twitter account said the site was under maintenance due to 'unforeseen circumstances' In another tweet, it says: 'We hope to have the site and our licence back ASAP but cannot comment on when this will be.' Although the Gambling Commission refused to comment, it previously said the suspension of the Metro Play Limited licence - which covers 666Bet and Metro Play - does not prevent the firm from 'returning outstanding balances to customers'. There is no suggestion that Metro Play Ltd, 666Bet or Metro are involved in the joint probe.

Summary: Paul Bell, a director of 666Bet, was arrested at Heathrow airport last week . Six others were held, 13 properties raided and £1m seized as part of probe . Firm's licence has been suspended but spokesman said probe has 'nothing to do with 666Bet's day-to-day running' Company had deals with Leicester City, West Brom and Harry Redknapp .


Philip Hammond will describe the 'greatest challenge to our collective security for decades' today . Britain faces the ‘greatest challenge’ to national security in decades, the foreign secretary will warn today. Philip Hammond will say evolving threats from a subversive Russia and the spread of Islamic extremism must be stopped before they harm the UK. In a speech at the Royal United Services Institute, the former defence secretary will say no-one can ‘confidently and accurately’ predict the source of the next major threat the UK faces. But intelligence agencies must be able to secretly identify, monitor and act against the range of threats in order to thwart terror plots and uncover clandestine weapons systems under development by the enemy. In a damning assessment of the dangers facing Britain, Mr Hammond will say: ‘…the sheer number and range of cases, old and new, amounts to the greatest challenge to our collective security for decades and places unprecedented demands on those charged with keeping us safe.’ He will say the country is now faced with a Russian leader ‘bent’ on subverting the international rules-based system which keeps the peace between nations. ‘President Putin’s actions… fundamentally undermine the security of sovereign nations in Eastern Europe’, he will say. Britain is being forced to cope with a greater range of threats, from state-sponsored aggression, to international terrorist organisations, to ‘lone wolf’ self-radicalised terrorists with the intent on damaging UK national security. The emergence of groups such as Boko Haram in Nigeria and Islamic State in Syria, Iraq and Libya serves to underline the ‘pace’ with which the threats to Britain’s safety and security are ‘evolving’, he will claim. Mr Hammond will throw his weight behind plans for new laws to force internet companies to store email, web and social media records so they can be accessed by the security and intelligence agencies. The former defence secretary will describe Putin's actions as having 'undermined' the security of sovereign nations . He will say: ‘We must respond decisively and positively to the public and parliamentary debate about the powers required by our intelligence agencies to do their job in a changed technological environment – and in doing so draw a line under that debate so that the agencies can get on with the job of keeping this country safe.’ The security services warn that the law is failing to keep up with changing technology so their ability to track terrorists online is constantly diminishing. He will add: ‘As the range of threats gets bigger, so the pace of technological change with which the Agencies must keep up is getting faster, making their central task of keeping us safe ever more demanding.’ He will also speak of 'warped' view human rights activists have taken on the case of jihadi Mohammed Emwazi . The clandestine nature of some of the threats launched against us ‘require that we maintain a highly effective, secret capability to identify, monitor, and act against these threats before they can do us harm’, he will say. These include ‘the weapons systems that are developed in secrecy

Summary: Former defence secretary to give speech warning of threats against UK . He will describe 'greatest challenge to our collective security' for decades . Putin's actions will be discussed as 'undermining' international security . Mr Hammond is to make the comments at Royal United Services Institute .


A coalition government made up of Labour and the Scottish National Party could break up the UK, Sir John Major warned last night. With the result of May’s general election looking very close, the former Conservative prime minister said that a Labour-SNP coalition would be a ‘lethal cocktail’ and ‘a tragedy in the making’. Polls suggest that, with no party likely to win enough seats to govern alone, a Labour-SNP coalition is a likely outcome from the election. A coalition government made up of Labour and the Scottish National Party could break up the UK, Sir John Major (pictured) warned last night . Sir John, who was Prime Minister between 1990 to 1997, last night urged Ed Miliband to ‘summon the courage’ to formally rule out any deal. The Labour leader, who has so far failed to do so, is due to address Scottish Labour’s spring conference this weekend. Sir John said: ‘The SNP would enter into any agreement with Labour with one overriding aim: To break up the United Kingdom. It is shameful that Labour have not already ruled out even the suggestion. ‘They would be relying on support from a party that will use every strategy it can to break free from the UK. ‘Labour now have to make a choice,’ he wrote in today’s Daily Telegraph. ‘They must summon the courage of their convictions and declare their intent. ‘The British people – north and south of the border – do not deserve to be misled. ‘If the outcome of the General Election is inconclusive, will they refuse to govern with the support of a party whose principal aim is to break up the United Kingdom?’ Sir John, who was Prime Minister between 1990 to 1997, last night urged Ed Miliband (pictured) to ‘summon the courage’ to formally rule out any deal . As prime minister, Sir John warned that devolution could lead to Scotland’s independence. He said he was now speaking out as ‘an Englishman with a profound admiration and respect for Scotland’. ‘At Westminster, SNP minds would not be focused on the well-being of the United Kingdom, but on their own party interests,’ he added. ‘In collaboration, the two parties would make common cause at the expense of their natural enemies. For Labour, that will be to pick the pockets of the Tory shires; and for the SNP, to boost Scotland at the expense of the rest of the UK.’ Ed Miliband is facing increasing demands from senior Labour figures to rule out a power-sharing deal with the SNP. Senior MPs are demanding the Labour leader uses a keynote speech at the Scottish Labour conference in Edinburgh tomorrow to make his position clear. Mr Miliband is said to be ‘waiting for the right moment’ to rule out a deal. But there is concern that he may only be prepared to rule out a formal coalition – leaving open the possibility of the SNP propping up a Labour-led government in key votes in exchange for concessions to Scotland. David Cameron has branded an electoral pact between Labour and SNP

Summary: John Major warns coalition between Labour and SNP could break up UK . Former Prime Minister says the pact would be a 'tragedy in the making' Polls suggest Labour-SNP coalition is a likely outcome from the election . Sir John urged Ed Miliband to 'summon the courage' to rule out any deal .


Bubbly: But Mathilda soon developed narcolepsy, suffering from terrifying nocturnal hallucinations and excruciating pain . When Claire Crisp agreed to have her three-year-old daughter Mathilda vaccinated against swine flu, she believed she was doing the best to protect her from a life-threatening pandemic. In 2009, all children under five were invited to be vaccinated in a nationwide scheme. Fortunately, the much-feared 2009-2010 outbreak never reached the pandemic scale expected. But Claire is convinced that the vaccine against it has left Mathilda with severe narcolepsy. Mathilda is the youngest known person in the world to be diagnosed with the neurological condition, which causes sufferers to suddenly fall asleep during the day. Mathilda also had terrifying nocturnal hallucinations and excruciating pain.Now she is part of a protracted legal battle against the Government for compensation for vaccine-related narcolepsy. Last week, their case went to court on appeal. This wrangling has continued despite the fact the Government’s scientists admitted two years ago that the vaccine, Pandemrix, could cause narcolepsy, having previously denied any link. In a statistical investigation, published in the British Medical Journal, they found children given the vaccine were 14 times more likely to have developed narcolepsy than unvaccinated children. Claire, 44, a former NHS physiotherapist, thought she was playing safe when she had Mathilda vaccinated. Doctors had suggested her daughter could be at particular risk from respiratory trouble from swine flu because she was born with a minor throat condition, laryngomalacia, which obstructs breathing. Children normally grow out of it by three. ‘We took the swine flu risk seriously since Mathilda had only recently outgrown laryngomalacia,’ says Claire, who also has a son, Elliot, and another daughter, Liberty. NHS clinics administered more than 900,000 doses of Pandemrix in 2009 and 2010. Mathilda’s first troubling symptoms developed within two weeks. Her sleep became disturbed, leaving her exhausted in the day. Then she began to suffer from hallucinations at night, thinking there were demons in her bedroom. ‘The symptoms just got worse — she wasn’t sleeping at night, and sleeping and crying all day,’ says Claire. ‘Nearly every time I turned round in the day, she was asleep. ‘She was slurring her words. She could not walk in a straight line, she suffered excruciating leg pains. She also became incontinent.’ Then she developed cataplexy, where she’d become temporarily paralysed for seconds by emotional triggers such as happiness or surprise, though staying conscious. ‘Her brother would say a joke and she would fall down,’ says Claire. Within six months, Claire and her husband Oliver, a professor of theology, were housebound caring for Mathilda. She was taken to a children’s hospital for what Claire calls ‘a series of failed visits’. Initially, doctors thought she had a brain tumour, but after tests they ruled that out. ‘The doctors quickly wrote us off as an anxious mother and a pain-in-the-a*** child.’ The family was being referred to a psychiatric unit when a locum doctor from India diagnosed narcolepsy, which normally appears at around the age of 15. Doctors had suggested to Claire her daughter could be at risk from

Summary: Mathilda is the youngest known person in the world to be diagnosed with narcolepsy . Her mother Claire believed she was protecting her when she had Mathilda vaccinated against swine flu . Mathilda began receiving Xyrem, a drug that helps with symptoms of narcolepsy .


Texas's prison agency is scrambling to find a supplier to replenish its inventory of execution drugs, which will be used up if the state goes forward with two lethal injections scheduled for this week and next. Prison officials only have enough pentobarbital for the scheduled executions of Manuel Vasquez on Wednesday and Randall Mays on March 18, but they don't know how they will conduct lethal injections on four others scheduled for April. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice declined to say why it has not been able to obtain more pentobarbital from the same compounding pharmacy that provided the current batch of the powerful sedative last March. Texas's prison agency only has enough lethal pentrobarbital for two executions. Manuel Vasquez, left, is scheduled to be injected on Wednesday while Randall Mays (right) will be executed on March 18 . Texas prison execute inmates in chambers like this one. But with limited pentobarbital, the state is looking into other options for execution . The state switched to that source several months after its previous supplier cut ties, citing hate mail and potential litigation after its name became public through an open records request from The Associated Press. Prison officials have since waged a legal battle to keep the name of its latest supplier secret, but it's unclear how much longer they can do so after a state judge last year ordered the agency to divulge the source. That ruling is on hold pending the outcome of the state's appeal. Prisons spokesman Jason Clark said the state's lawyers have advised the agency not to comment on whether the current supplier has backed out or whether the judge's order has affected its ability to find a supplier. Although Texas, traditionally the nation's busiest death penalty state, faces the most imminent deadline for replenishing its pentobarbital supply, other states are experiencing similar problems. For example, South Carolina ran out of pentobarbital — part of its three-drug execution formula — when the drug expired in 2013. The state has been unable to replenish its supplies because it can't find a company willing to sell them anymore, according to Corrections Director Bryan Stirling. The state's last execution was in 2011, and no new executions have been scheduled because cases are tied up in the appeals process. Kent Sprouse (pictured) is scheduled to be the next inmate to be executed after Mays. He is on death row for the shooting deaths of a North Texas police officer and another man in 2002 . If Texas executes Vasquez and Mays as scheduled, a new supply of pentobarbital will be needed by April 9 when Kent Sprouse is scheduled to die for the shooting deaths of a North Texas police officer and another man in 2002. Three other prisoners are set to follow Sprouse to the death chamber in April, and at least one more is set for May. 'We're focused on multiple fronts,' Brad Livingston, the Texas agency's executive director, said last month before a prison board meeting in Austin. 'We're not ruling anything out, but clearly securing additional

Summary: Texas's prison agency has enough for two lethal injections of pentobarbital . Prison officials have execution scheduled for Wednesday and one next week . Four more executions are expected in April and one other in May . Texas has executed a nation-leading 521 inmates since 1982 . That same year it it became the first state to use lethal injection . Other death-penalty states are facing similar shortages of injection drugs .


Cherie Blair has focused on legal and charity work since her husband Tony quit as prime minister . Cherie Blair is set to join Renault next month to improve the diversity on its board, it has been revealed. The French car manufacturer has approached the well-known women’s rights activist as it attempts to improve its female representation. Mother-of-four Mrs Blair, 60, has been concentrating on her legal and charity work since her 61-year-old husband Tony left the office of prime minister in 2007. Renault - the world’s fourth biggest car maker by sales through its alliance with Nissan - said the barrister would also add helpful experience in employment and human rights law. Mrs Blair, who ‘works closely’ with more than 20 charities according to her website, has never previously been appointed to a French corporation, reported The Daily Telegraph. Last year she left human rights practice Matrix Chambers to join the international legal consultancy firm Omnia Stategy, which she co-founded four years ago. Mrs Blair, who was born into a working-class family in Liverpool, also founded the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which helps female entrepreneurs in the developing world. A quota system exists in France to demand that women make up 20 per cent of board members – a figure that will rise to 40 per cent in 2017. Four of Renault’s current 19-member board are women. Other prominent women in the male-dominated industry include Ursula Piëch of Volkswagen, Mary Barra of General Motors and Patience Wheatcroft of Fiat Chrysler, reported the Financial Times. New arrival? Renault - the world’s fourth biggest car maker by sales through its alliance with Nissan - said the barrister would also add helpful experience in employment and human rights law . Mrs Blair is set to be proposed as a director for four years at Renault's annual shareholders meeting on April 30, according to a list of resolutions published by the firm last Friday. Meanwhile, it was reported earlier this week that her husband is to step back from his role as Middle East peace envoy. The former Labour leader has been the envoy for the Middle East Quartet peace negotiators - the UN, the EU, Russia and the US - since he quit as prime minister. It is understood that the former Prime Minister has met John Kerry, the US secretary of state, and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, to discuss a possible job change.

Summary: She has focused on legal and charity work since Tony left office in 2007 . Renault says Mrs Blair will add helpful experience in human rights law . French quota system demands women make up 20% of board members .


Islamic fanatics are stealing the life savings of UK pensioners to bankroll jihad in Syria. Masquerading as policemen, the extremists cold-call their targets and claim their bank details have been compromised. The frightened and unsuspecting victims are told to switch all their cash to another account to keep it safe. But the account belongs to the fraudsters and the money vanishes. It will be used to buy weapons, ammunition and combat gear for Islamic State militants. Police last night warned the public to avoid becoming a victim of the ‘cash for jihad’ telephone scam that mirrors swindles used by domestic con men. Anti-terror police are today searching seven addresses around London in relation to an alleged scam in which the elderly were targeted and thousands of pounds of their money being sent to extremists. File photo . The extremists have cheated one pensioner of £150,000. Two other victims, both aged in their 80s and from Cornwall, have lost £130,000 between them. Their only hope of getting their savings back is if the police can catch the culprits and find the cash. And yesterday Scotland Yard said that counter-terrorism officers had just arrested two men – aged 29 and 37 – in west London and a man of 23 in east London. They were being questioned last night on suspicion of fraud and money laundering. ‘Officers are investigating a large-scale fraud linked to UK extremists travelling to Syria,’ a Scotland Yard spokesman said. ‘The arrests form part of an ongoing fraud investigation, whereby unsuspecting vulnerable and elderly victims are cold-called on their home phone by a suspect impersonating a police officer, informing them their bank account has been compromised and deceiving victims into transferring money to an account under the control of the suspect. ‘Members of the public are strongly advised, if you receive a call like this to from someone claiming to be a police officer, hang up the phone, wait at least five minutes to make sure the phone line has cleared, or use another phone line, before ringing the phone number on your bank card.’ The Government is being urged to do more to stop the flow of money to Islamic State. Police suspect fraudsters linked to jihadists in Syria are targeting the elderly and vulnerable. File photo . It is considered to be the richest terror group in history and may have access to more than £1.2billion in cash. Its funds come from the revenue of captured oil fields, business extortion and hostage ransoms. There are also concerns that donations to British aid organisations are being diverted to terrorists. The Charity Commission is scrutinising 86 foundations it believes could be at risk from extremism. Thirty-seven are working to help victims of the Syria crisis. The commission has launched full-scale investigations into four charities operating in the Middle East, including the group that hostage Alan Henning was working for when he was kidnapped and later killed. Another organisation under suspicion is said to have been infiltrated by a suicide bomber. High street banks are closing or freezing accounts held by

Summary: Police believe fraudsters were taking money from the old to give to ISIS . Pensioners were allegedly phoned and tricked into handing out details . The caller would claim to be a police officer as part of the alleged scam . One victim reportedly lost around £150,000 to criminals, police say . Men, aged 37, 29 and 23, arrested in London after raids on seven properties .


The former ACT chief minister has revealed a long-term, exhausting battle with anorexia, which saw her weight dwindle to a mere 30 kilograms. The 59-year-old has announced her teenage struggles at a function on Monday and has shared that she still has to have little discussions with herself about body image and naturally thinks she is too fat. Now the head of the Australian Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Carnell has recalled beginning to lose weight at 12 or 13 years old when a teenage interest in boys and fashion sparked. The head of the Australia Chamber of Commerce announced her continuing struggles at a function on Monday . She said she felt rotten about herself and what she was doing to others in her life. 'I was stick thin but people said 'wow you are looking so great.' I wasn't - I was looking really skinny,' she told ABC television. 'It is hard to understand why you can't put a piece of food in your mouth, chew it up and swallow it. How hard can that be. When you've got anorexia it's like moving a mountain,' she said. The ABC reported that Ms Carnell was in and out of hospitals in her home town of Brisbane during the 1960s and 70s and was lying to her parents about what she was eating and the amount of exercise she was doing. The battle with anorexia began when she was 12 or 13 and she gained an interest in boys and fashion . Her battle she has seen her weight dwindle to just 30 kilograms and saw her in and out of hospitals . When 15-years-old, she was sent to an adolescent psychiatric facility at Prince Henry Hospital in Sydney when the situation became severe. 'For a 15-year-old away from home it was to say the least pretty scary,' she said. She said her parents were only allowed to visit occasionally and she was incredibly homesick. 'Imagine a scenario when you've got a teenage daughter who's always been a bit of an overachiever, pretty smart — and all of a sudden they're killing themselves in front of your eyes,' she said. Ms. Carnell outlined these experiences at a function where the advocacy group The Butterfly Foundation released a report that outlined the high cost of treating eating disorders that affected almost a million Australians. The chairman of the Butterfly Foundation, David Murray said their report from Deloitte focuses on the economic cost of the problem and the large benefits of intervention. 'Early intervention pays big time, with about a 50 per cent cost reduction for the government in the health system by getting the problem early enough,' he said. 'We have to adjust the system for early intervention which very quickly recognises this as a mental condition and brings in the right type of specialist support.'

Summary: The head of the ACCI outlined her struggles at a function on Monday . Through her battle she has seen her weight dwindle to just 30 kilograms . At 15 years old she was sent to a psychiatric facility in Sydney . Chairman of The Butterfly Foundation has said intervention pays big time .


A further four girls who attend the same east London school as three teenagers who travelled to Syria to join ISIS are being monitored by detectives over fears they may seek to do the same. Including the trio who succeeded in leaving Britain last month, it is thought a total of seven girls at Bethnal Green Academy were considered vulnerable to being radicalised as early as December when a fellow female pupil went to join the jihadis. After the 15-year-old managed to board a flight to Turkey the other girls were placed on a government warning list with the aim of preventing them from taking the same path. Left to right: Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-olds Shamima Begum and Amira Abase. Their families fear police action may have pushed them towards leaving for Syria . Bethnal Green Academy, where four girls thought vulnerable to radicalisation are still being monitored . Shamima Begum and Amira Abase, both 15, and 16-year-old Kadiza Sultana are all thought to now be Syria after last month flying to Turkey and travelling on by bus. The family of Ms Sultana has voiced concerns that letters from counter-terrorism detectives given to the girls but meant for their parents may have prompted them to leave. The letters, in which detectives sought permission to take statements from the trio in relation to the disappearance of their classmate in December, never reached the girls' parents as they were not passed on. The letters are thought to have been sent shortly before the teenagers themselves left for Syria on February 17. Fahmida Aziz, a cousin of Ms Sultana, told Vice News: 'Were they feeling victimised by police? Were they feeling criminalised? 'Did they feel they had done something wrong? My query would be, by giving this letter, how did that make the girls feel?' Dated February 2, the letters made clear the teenagers were 'not under any suspicion of doing something wrong'. Left to right: Ms Sultana, Ms Begum and Ms Abase at Gatwick Airport before boarding a flight for Turkey . CCTV shows the three schoolgirls (circled) at a bus station in Turkey during their journey to join ISIS . The three teenagers are believed to have travelled over ground from Istanbul to Gaizantep, before crossing the border into Syria near the Kilis crossing . Family members claim that as well as not receiving the letters, the girls' parents were not informed they had been spoken to twice in school by officers. Jubeyda Rauf, the 16-year-old sister of Ms Sultana, said she felt like police 'just let them walk out'. There was no evidence the girls were thinking of fleeing to Syria prior to their departure, Scotland Yard said in a statement, adding that their disappearance had 'come as a great surprise, not least to their own families'. The remaining four girls who are under scrutiny also received the letters and are continuing to attend Bethnal Green Academy, which has been told by police there is no evidence radicalisation took place within its walls. It is understood that detectives have examined mobile

Summary: Seven girls at Bethnal Green Academy considered open to radicalisation . This included trio who fled to Syria last month after flying to Turkey . Whole group sent letters asking parents if police could take statements . These never reached those of the three teenagers now with ISIS . Family question whether letters left girls feeling 'victimised' by detectives .


Ray Rice claims he felt close to suicide during the mass outrage over footage that showed him punching his then-fiancee unconscious. It is just over a year since the former Baltimore Ravens player was captured on surveillance cameras attacking Janay Palmer in the elevator of a casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Reflecting on the past year, which saw him dropped from the league, Rice told the Baltimore Sun he felt like 'it wasn't worth living'. 'The big picture of it all, being the person that I am, I really felt horrible,' Rice told the newspaper in an interview. Scroll down for video . Seen here with wife Janay, Rice thanked and apologized to fans, the city of Baltimore, his former team, and even Raven's owner Steve Bisciotti as he prepared to leave town for him home state of New York . 'You almost want to punish yourself. I know I'm never going to win the battle of public opinion. Honestly, I almost felt like at one point that it wasn't worth living. I see why people commit suicide. 'It hurt that bad. I was low, real low. It hurt that bad because you worked your whole life to do all the right things and then you're the world's most hated person. 'It was really tough. My daughter, oh Lord, I grew up without a father, there's no way I could check out on my own family.' It comes after he issued an apology to Ravens fans, who turned up in their droves last year to exchange their Rice jerseys for new ones with other players' names. Rice was booted from the Baltimore Ravens after footage was leaked showing him knocking out his now-wife in a casino elevator . The NFL lifted the ban on Rice in November and allowed him to become a free agent but he remains untouched by any team . In a statement on Facebook, he wrote: 'To all the kids who looked up to me, I'm truly sorry for letting you down, but I hope it's helped you learn that one bad decision can turn your dream into a nightmare. 'There is no excuse for domestic violence, and I apologize for the horrible mistake I made.' The running back, who helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl in 2012, is currently a free agent, after his indefinite ban from the league was overturned upon appeal in November. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has said Rice will never play for the team again. But Rice said he valued the time he spent with Bisciotti, general manager Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh. Rice told his fans that 'one bad decision can turn your dream into a nightmare' 'I love you all very much, and I'll always be proud to say I played for the Baltimore Ravens,' he said. The NFL's inept handling of Rice's case plunged the league into crisis. He was originally suspended just two games, after a hotel video showed him pulling an unconscious Janay Palmer from an elevator in an Atlantic City casino. The punishment

Summary: Ray Rice says he understands how people can feel suicidal . Rice has been a free agent since November when the NFL lifted his suspension, he has yet to get close to signing with another team . His career was effectively ended after surveillance video captured him punching now-wife Janay unconscious in a casino elevator in New Jersey .


From peacocks to birds of paradise, male birds are well known for showing off their brightly coloured plumage as a way of attracting a mate. However, new research has suggested that males birds may actually be growing less distinct from their female counterparts over time. The findings challenge a key element of the evolutionary theory that was first proposed by Charles Darwin 156 years ago. Male and female Choco Toucan's (pictured above) both share the same brightly coloured plumage, suggesting another force other than sexual selection is driving the evolution of bright colours in feathers of some birds . Rather than the bright colours of male birds appearing because of sexual selection - where a trait evolves over time because it is seen as attractive or a signal of fitness by the opposite sex - other forces of natural selection are at work. The researchers say that the environment a species lives in, how it cares of its young and migratory behaviour appear to influence a species plumage. Peacock tails may be hard to miss, but humans are unaware of the noise created by the bird's pretty plumage. Scientists have shown that peacocks shake their tails to make a noise that is too low for us to hear. Male birds may make the infrared rumble to scare off an approaching rival or to attract a mate. Researchers at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, have shown that the birds make infrasound noises - below 20 hertz - using their tails and that other peacocks respond to them. Most humans hear noises between 20 and 20,000 hertz. When peacocks shake their tale feathers, most humans hear a rustling sound. But the scienitsts found that the birds hear a loud sound of between 70 and 108 decibels, according to the study published in the journal Animal Behaviour. Male and female peacocks became more alert and moved around when the low noises were played back to them by researchers, with males shrieking out in response. Experts are unsure how the birds detect infrasound, but know that some can feel vibration through their legs. Professor Peter Dunn, a biologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, said: 'A lot of research has focused on how plumage color is related to mating success, especially in males. 'so this should hopefully get researchers to think more about how color affects survival, especially predation and foraging success, in both sexes.' The debate over the differences in colour between species of birds has raged ever since the time of Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. While Darwin based his theory of sexual selection on the idea that brightly coloured males were preferred by females, giving them a competitive advantage, Wallace pointed out that in many species females are as brilliantly coloured as the male. He suggested instead that the differences between the sexes - known as sexual dichromatism - were the result of females needing better camouflage to prevent their nests from being raided by predators. Some scientists have also puzzled at how bright plumage in males can have evolved when it

Summary: Study was conducted by researchers at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee . They measured the male and female plumage colour of 977 bird species . The researchers found some species show differences between the sexes while others have evolved so both sexes have the same plumage colours . The findings challenge Charles Darwin's theory of sexual selection in birds .


Arsenal need to challenge for the Premier League title within the next two seasons, according to former defender Nigel Winterburn. Although Arsene Wenger has guided the Gunners to Champions League qualification for an impressive 17 consecutive seasons, the 2004 champions have arguably not mounted a serious tilt at the title for five years. It will be 11 years this summer since the so-called 'Invincibles' claimed the trophy by going an entire season unbeaten in the league - with Winterburn calling for a return of domestic glory to silence disgruntled supporters. Arsenal stars pose for a picture ahead of their crunch Champions League clash with Monaco . Arsene Wenger must guide his side towards a serious tilt for the title in next two years, says Nigel Winterburn . Olivier Giroud scores as Arsenal chase an 18th consecutive season at Europe's top table . 'This summer Arsenal have to look ahead and see where the progression is going to come from,' he told talkSPORT. 'I do feel, within the next two years, Arsenal have to challenge for the Premier League title.' Meanwhile, Wenger believes his side can defy the odds in Monaco as they bid to become the first team in Champions League history to overturn a deficit of two or more goals having played at home first. Arsenal will arrive at the Stade Louis II trailing the Ligue 1 side 3-1 with their European hopes hanging by a thread after a disastrous last 16 first leg at the Emirates. The Gunners have not won the Premier League since the Invincibles unbeaten run in 2013-14 . Former Arsenal defender Winterburn claims only a serious challenge will soothe disgruntled fans . 'The statistics are against us, we are conscious of that,' said the Arsenal boss. 'We have to give absolutely everything to make the stats lie. That's our desire. 'We believe we can do it and I'm confident we will. If we didn't believe we wouldn't be here. Football is not predictable. 'We totally missed the first leg, which was surprising. We did not play well. Sometimes in life if you miss a chance, you do not have a second chance, but we do, so we will play it fully.'

Summary: Arsenal face Monaco in Champions League last 16 return leg on Tuesday . Gunners have not won the Premier League title since 'Invincibles' in 2004 . Ex-defender Nigel Winterburn wants them to challenge in next two years . READ: Wenger's Champions League failures leave a big gap on his CV . CLICK HERE for all the latest Arsenal news .


Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes players will try 'every trick in the book' because of their desperation to win football matches. Television pundits Graeme Souness and Jamie Carragher - both former Liverpool players - led the criticism of Chelsea for surrounding referee Bjorn Kuipers during Wednesday's Champions League exit against Paris St Germain. Former Liverpool captain Gerrard told BBC Sport: 'I think it's normal when you play games at that level. Players want to win so much. The Chelsea players surround referee Bjorn Kuipers at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday against PSG . 'You've got managers who want to win so much, players will try every trick in the book to get over the line and try and win football matches. 'Sometimes it doesn't look nice, but we've all been guilty of it throughout our careers, of not always abiding by the rules. Football's not always going to look nice.' The French side progressed to the quarter-finals on away goals despite having Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off and Gerrard added: 'PSG were the better team and good luck to them.' Gerrard hopes to sign off his Anfield career by helping Liverpool to FA Cup glory and a place in the top four. Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher will go head-to-head in a charity match at Anfield later this month . John Terry (centre) led the protests following Ibrahimovic's first-half challenge on Wednesday evening . The Sky Sports pundits were scathing of Chelsea's 'pathetic' behaviour at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday . The 34-year-old midfielder, who leaves for Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer, has recovered from a hamstring injury after sitting out the last seven matches and is available for Monday's trip to Swansea. With the Reds facing a cup quarter-final replay at Sky Bet Championship side Blackburn next month, the possibility of Gerrard leading the side out for a Wembley final on his birthday is still alive. He said: 'I've just got over a hamstring injury and I am fit and available for the next game. 'I want to finish the season really strong and leave the team in the top four and hopefully go all the way in the FA Cup - that is how I want to sign off.' Gerrard and Carragher stand by their teams for the match organised by the Liverpool FC Foundation . Reds captain Gerrard was speaking at an event to publicise an already sold-out Liverpool All-Star charity game later this month which will see a number of former Reds stars plus other greats of the game line up at Anfield. Among the former Liverpool stars returning will be Luis Suarez, Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres, while the likes of John Terry and Didier Drogba have also committed to the game. The Chelsea duo are far from favourites with the Anfield crowd but Gerrard said it was important people remembered why they had accepted an invitation to play. Pepe Reina; Alvaro Arbeloa, Jamie Carragher (C), Martin Kelly, Craig Noone, Raul Meireles, Jonjo Shelvey, Craig Bellamy, Luis Garcia, Didier Drogba, Dirk Kuyt . Brad Jones; John Arne Riise, John

Summary: Nine Chelsea players immediately surrounded referee Bjorn Kuipers after a challenge from PSG's Zlatan Ibrahimovic on Oscar on Wednesday . Jamie Carragher branded the Chelsea players' behaviour a 'disgrace' Chelsea captain John Terry has defended his side's actions .


Women struggling to lose weight after childbirth should be given special government help, a Tory minister has said. Claire Perry said many women found it a real struggle to shift the pounds while raising small children and needed incentives to ‘motivate’ them. But she rejected calls for sanctions on people who are overweight. Her remarks come just weeks after the Prime Minister called for people who are too fat to work to be stripped of their benefits if they refuse to go on weight-loss regimes. Scroll down for video . Tory minister Claire Perry said many women found it a real struggle to shift the pounds while raising small children . However, Mrs Perry said she ‘preferred to see incentives’ rather than taking people’s benefits away. She said: ‘If it was all about willpower I would weigh eight stone. We live in a world where dietary advice is incredibly confusing, every week we read it’s carbs, it’s not carbs, it’s fat, it’s starvation – whatever it is. ‘People are busy, running around looking after their children. Everybody would like to be slimmer and healthier. What our welfare system could do is encourage people to make those choices.’ Mrs Perry added: ‘I’d prefer to see real incentives for people to get healthy, get more active. We know that increased exercise is associated with increased mental health. ‘I think for many women who are struggling having to lose weight after children it is a real problem and anything we can do to motivate people and give incentives to do. I prefer to focus on carrots for healthy choice rather than sticks.’ The transport minister’s intervention comes after Mr Cameron said people who cannot work because they are too fat – or addicted to drugs or alcohol – should have their benefits cut if they refuse to get treatment. Mrs Perry, appearing on the Daily Politics show today, said she ‘preferred to see incentives’ to encourage people to lose weight rather than taking people’s benefits away . Almost 2,000 people are registered as long-term sick because of obesity. Ministers are considering forcing them to go on a diet or lose their benefits . The proposed overhaul of the benefits system could save Britain £500million a year in sickness payments. The Prime Minister has asked a government health adviser to ‘rapidly’ review the Conservatives’ plans. Speaking last month, he said: ‘Too many people are stuck on sickness benefits because of issues that could be addressed but instead are not.’ Under one plan being looked at, almost 2,000 people registered as long-term sick because of obesity would face having their benefits docked unless they agreed to lose weight. Around 56,000 people on the register say their primary condition is alcoholism. Almost 34,000 cite drug dependency. On average these 90,000 people get about £100 a week in sickness benefits and are entitled to other payments, such as housing and council tax benefits. They are already offered treatment, such as courses and medication, to kick their habit and get back to work. But there is no legal requirement to

Summary: Claire Perry said many women found it a real struggle to shift the pounds . The Tory minister rejected calls to cut benefits for people too fat to work . Comes after the PM said obese people should be forced onto diets . But Mrs Perry said: 'If it was all about willpower I would weigh eight stone' She added: 'Many women are struggling to lose weight after children'


A mother is demanding an apology from a trendy bar after claiming she and her friends were turned away for being 'too fat and ugly'. Stacey Owen was enjoying a night out with her two friends when she says her group was barred from entering Neighbourhood bar, in Spinningfields, Manchester, because of their weight and looks. The 33-year-old said the trio had arranged to meet a friend inside the bar but when they tried to walk in, they were held back by security staff who said it was too full. Stacey Owen claims she was enjoying a night out with friends and decided to head to the Neighbourhood bar . A shot from the interior of the bar which is alleged to have turned Stacey and her friends away . 'After a while a group of lads went in and the doormen said it was because there were too many women in and they try to balance the ratio so we thought "fine",' Stacey said. However, the mother-of-one claims she and her friends became suspicious when they saw some other women walking straight into the bar. 'Then a group of women went in and we said "hang on what’s going on?" and he turned to us and said "look, you’re too big and ugly to come in, I suggest you try elsewhere". 'I couldn’t believe what I’d just heard and asked him if he could say it again to make sure - he repeated "you’re too fat, you’re not getting in". 'I know I’m not exactly a supermodel, but I’ve never known anything like it in terms of customer service,' she said. 'We were so shocked we didn’t know what to do. It was so uncalled for and I’ve never had anything so humiliating happen to me in my whole life. 'For us the night was completely ruined and we just went home.' The travel rep, who lives in the Droylsden area of Manchester, said she and her friends were left feeling insulted and she said the least Neighbourhood bosses could do was to apologise. Stacey takes a selfie and said she was left feeling humiliated after the alleged incident on Saturday night . 'I’ve been in touch to report the incident since and ask for an apology but they don’t seem interested and I’ve had no response,' she said. 'I certainly won’t be going back and wanted to draw attention to it because I don’t think they should be allowed to speak to people like that.” The alleged incident on Saturday comes just a week after a hen party said they were called "chav cheap trash" and "peasants" by staff at city centre restaurant 47 King Street West in Manchester after posting a negative review online. Lawyers for the owners insist that staff at Neighbourhood are not rude or abusive to guests and Ms Owen' s claims are strongly denied.

Summary: Stacey Owen was enjoying night out with friends in city's Spinningfields . Says she and two friends set sights on the swanky Neighbourhood bar . Claims trio were first told venue was too full and waited outside . The 33-year-old grew suspicious after seeing other women waltz past . Alleges doormen told her she and friends were 'too fat and ugly' to go in .


A 13-year-old from France is believed to be the youngest to die fighting for Islamic State in Syria. Abu Bakr al-Faransi, originally from Strasbourg, was killed when Government forces attacked a border post he was guarding, it has been reported. According to David Thomson, a French journalist and author of Les Français jihadistes (The French Jihadists), al-Faransi died two months ago. Scroll down for video . Young jihadi: Abu Bakr al-Faransi is believed to be the youngest French child to die fighting for ISIS in Syria . Islamic State: It is believed Abu Bakr al-Faransi arrived in Syria with his family and died two months ago while guarding a border post in the western city of Homs . Mr Thomson said he arrived in Syria with his family and two of his brothers have been killed in fighting. Several sources said the boy was killed while guarding a border post in the western city of Homs when it was attacked by the Syrian Army, Mr Thomson posted on Twitter. Anthony Glees, director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham, said: 'The 'al Faransi' moniker shows that like 'al Britanni', IS want to rub it in for all of us in Europe that our young people continue to be drawn to them, as martyrs from the IS viewpoint, or like rabbits to car headlights from ours. 'This chap got killed, that's the bottom line. What an appalling waste of a young life. 'The government's riposte should be that if IS have to rely on young kids to fight for them, they're really beginning to scrape the bottom of the barrel. 'It also shows that young Muslims are targets of IS recruitment, whether from Bethnal Green or from a French banlieu.' Syrian army: Several sources said the boy was killed while guarding a border post in Homs when it was attacked by the Syrian Army . Schoolgirls: Amira Abase, Kadiza Sultana and Shamima Begum left the UK for Turkey to make their way to Syria to join ISIS . Mr Glees added: 'We undoubtedly need to work together with our European allies to reverse this deeply worrying trend; the first step is to recognise that it exists. The second is to ensure that those who are helping IS are told to stop it.' It's believed that three missing British schoolgirls who fled to Syria to join ISIS are in a house in the city of Raqqa. Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase went missing two weeks ago after boarding a flight from Gatwick to Istanbul. The girls are believed to have crossed from Turkey to Syria through the town of Arai. At the weekend, Sky News reporter Stuart Ramsay said: ‘We are told by very good sources in Raqqa that they are there and that they are under the control of Islamic State.’ He also revealed that they were staying with a British girl – thought to be a pupil from their school who went missing in December and is believed to have joined

Summary: Abu Bakr al-Faransi believed to be youngest to die fighting for ISIS in Syria . 13-year-old from France killed while guarding a border post in city of Homs . Reportedly died two months ago after he arrived in Syria with his family . Two of his brothers are believed to have been killed in the fighting in Syria .


Suspect: Police say Eh Lar Doh Htoo, 18, stabbed three young brothers to death with a machete . Three young brothers aged 1, 5 and 12 were stabbed to death and two other family members were hurt in an attack at a home in eastern North Carolina. Officers were called to a report of a person with a 'machete-like' knife around 11pm Tuesday and took a suspect into custody, New Bern Police Lt. Ronda Allen said. The officers entered the home and found two dead boys along with one still-breathing brother. They then subdued and arrested 18-year-old neighbor 18-year-old Eh Lar Doh Htoo, who they found still at the scene. The third boy was taken to a North Carolina East hospital, where he died. Their mother and 14-year-old sister were also injured in the stabbing. Allen said they had been treated and released. The father was at work when the horrific attack occurred, police said. 'He's crazy,' neighbor Ner Wah said Wednesday. 'I told my wife: 'Be careful. Don't answer the door.'' The victims were Burmese and had entered the United States via Thailand, according to New Bern Police Chief Toussaint Summers, Jr. New Bern is a coastal town and home to about 1,900 Burmese refugees, who resettled in the area after fleeing persecution from the country once called Burma. 'Anytime this happens in any community, any part of town, it's surprising,' the police chief said. The stabbings happened on a street of about 10 row-like homes that face a railroad track and several dilapidated commercial buildings. The mother jumped out the second-floor window of her home after she was attacked, according to neighbor A Lay, who was awakened when she knocked on his door. Her back was bloody. 'She said she needed help and she needed the police,' said A Lay's wife, A Bu. Police did not release the victims' names. Triple homicide: Police arrived to the home around 11pm Tuesday to find two of the boys dead. A third died at a hospital while their sister and mother survived the gruesome attack and were released from the hospital . Investigators work, Wednesday in the backyard of a home where a triple homicide took place late Tuesday, in New Bern, North Carolina. Neighbors say the mother leaped from a bedroom window, her back covered in blood, to get away from the killer . Wah said that like him, Htoo was a member of the Karen ethnic group, an oppressed people whose language has been banned back home. Htoo once came to Wah's house during the day to ask him to help translate documents, but Wah said they weren't friends. 'We felt very scared of him,' Wah said. Susan Husson, executive director of the Interfaith Refugee Ministry in New Bern, said the victims' family and the suspect's family likely came through her office before settling in New Bern, but she didn't know them personally. She said the first Burmese refugee came to New Bern around 1999. 'It's just really hard right now,' she said. 'It's been really horrific.' A neighbor who lives

Summary: Eh Lar Doh Htoo allegedly stabbed to death the three brothers and injured their mother and sister around 11pm Tuesday while their father was at work . Htoo knew the New Bern, North Carolina family, police say, who were Burmese. A language barrier initially hampered the investigation . No potential motive was named Wednesday as police sorted out the horrific details. Htoo was being held on $1 million bond . Neighbors say the mother leaped from a bedroom window, her back covered in blood, to get away from the killer .


A taxi driver was tricked out of a fare by two passengers who left a fully clothed mannequin in the car for the final leg of the journey - and promised their 'sleeping' friend would settle the bill. The driver, known only as 'Stutter', was hailed for a late-night journey from Brighton train station to London by three men who agreed on a fee. They all got into the cab and headed up to the capital but one of the passengers was said to be 'sleeping'. The driver dropped the first man off before heading to the second person's home. The unnamed taxi driver was duped by two men who carried a mannequin (file picture), fully clothed and wearing a hat, into the cab . Upon arrival, the second man got out, thanked the driver and gave the address of their friend in the back seat and asked him to wake him up when he got to his house. The driver then arrived at the last address and tried to wake the person up to let them know he was home - but realised it was a fully-clothed mannequin. Andy Cheesman, CityCabs boss in Brighton, East Sussex, said: 'Three people got into a cab at Brighton train station. 'It was about 2am in the morning and they asked to be taken to London and agreed a fee with the driver. 'When they got to London the first one got out then asked for his friends to be dropped off at a second address. 'When he got to the second address the guy got out and said "my mate is still asleep, can you take him to his address, please". The driver dropped the first two passengers home and was given the address of the third 'man', and told to wake him upon arrival where he would settle the fare . 'When he got there the driver couldn't wake him up to start with, then he realised it was a fully-clothed mannequin wearing a hat. 'He was expecting the last passenger to pay the fare so he lost the whole lot. It would have probably been around £140. 'It has been the funniest thing which has happened to one of our drivers. You can imagine the stick the driver got from the other workers when he got back to Brighton - it was hilarious.'

Summary: The men travelling from Brighton to London carried a mannequin into cab . Dressed in men's clothes, they told the driver their 'friend' was asleep . After dropping two men home, he was given the address of the third 'man' On arrival, he tried to wake him only to discover he was a mannequin .


Louis van Gaal insist that Manchester United will be his last job in football – but admits that he could go on and on if he gets it right at Old Trafford. Despite the difficulties of the season, the Manchester United manager is enjoying life in the Premier League and is even thinking about what he should say when United’s owners, the Glazer family, offer him a new deal. Van Gaal has revealed the United job will be his last but he could extend his contract at Old Trafford . Van Gaal, who signed a three-year deal with United last summer, said: ‘I can confirm this will be my last job but there could be five years to go yet. I can extend my contract. You never know. ‘You always have to be in the moment and then you can decide. I’m in a situation where I signed for three years because you can build something up in that time and the club agreed with that. I don’t know how I would react in the circumstances when Manchester United ask me to extend and if I should do that. But this is my last club.’ Louis van Gaal, pictured in training on Friday, takes Manchester United to face Liverpool at Anfield . And the United manager has also confirmed that he talked to Liverpool about becoming Director of Football three years ago – but says that he has ended up at England’s top club. Van Gaal was interviewed for the job by Liverpool in 2012, shortly before he became manager the Netherlands and Sunday's opposing manager Brendan Rodgers took over at Anfield. Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera and Radamel Falcao (L-R) train ahead of their trip to Anfield . Asked if he had spoken to Liverpool, van Gaal said: ‘Yes. But that is not so interesting anymore. I have spoken to a lot of clubs. It’s not so interesting, it’s in the past. It’s not good for Liverpool, Tottenham or for me to reopen things that are in the past. ‘It’s in the past and we are now in the present. I’m the manager of Manchester United, the No.1 club in England but Liverpool also has a very good record in history. But I’m the coach of United, I can only speak about Liverpool as an opponent, but not as a club of mine.’

Summary: Louis van Gaal insists Manchester United will be his last job in football . The Dutchman signed a three-year deal with the Red Devils last summer . Van Gaal was interviewed for director of football role at Liverpool in 2012 .