If you've ever wanted to have Daniel Craig's steely gaze or Angelina Jolie's sultry stare, a new laser treatment could be the answer. A Californian company says it hopes to offer a $5,000 (£3,400) medical procedure that can transform any eye colour to blue, permanently. The technique, which is currently undergoing clinical trials, works by using something known as 'scavenger cells' to digest and remove the pigment from the iris surface. Scroll down for video . The technique, which is currently undergoing clinical trials, works by using something known as 'scavenger cells' to digest and remove the pigment from the iris surface. A specific laser frequency passes through the clear cornea of the eye, before it is selectively absorbed by the dark pigment covering the iris . The procedure applies a computer-guided, low-energy laser to the iris to disrupt the brown pigment. A specific laser frequency passes through the clear cornea of the eye, before it is selectively absorbed by the dark pigment covering the iris. This causes the body to 'initiate a natural and gradual tissue-removal process. Once the tissue is removed, the patient's natural blue eye is revealed,' explains the website . By removing the pigment, light can enter small fibres in the eye. When the light scatters, it only reflects back the shortest wavelengths, which appears blue. 'Under every brown eye is a blue eye,' Dr Gregg Homer, chairman and chief scientific officer at Strōma Medical said. 'The only difference between them is that a brown eye has a thin layer of pigment covering the blue iris.' The procedure applies a computer-guided, low-energy laser to the iris to disrupt the brown pigment. A specific laser frequency passes through the clear cornea of the eye, before it is selectively absorbed by the dark pigment covering the iris. This causes the body to 'initiate a natural and gradual tissue-removal process. Once the tissue is removed, the patient's natural blue eye is revealed,' explains on its website. By removing the pigment, light can enter small fibres in the eye. When the light scatters, it only reflects back the shortest wavelengths, which appears blue. According to Strōma Medical, the process takes 30 seconds, and around two weeks eyes become blue. So far, 17 patients in Mexico and 20 in Costa Rica have undergone the treatment. The company hopes to trial a total of 100 patients over the next few years. . If you've ever wanted to have Daniel Craig's steely gaze (right) or Angelina Jolie's sultry stare (right), a new laser treatment could be the answer. A Californian company says it will soon be offering a $5,000 (£3,400) medical procedure that can transform any eye colour to blue, permanently . Saj Khan, an ophthalmologist at the London Eye Hospital, told CNN that the procedure could clog up the eye's normal drainage channels. This can in turn cause the pressure inside the eye to go up,' he said. 'If that happens significantly enough, for long enough, it's how patients develop glaucoma,' he said. 'We were concerned about this issue right from the start, so

Summary: A low-energy laser is applied to the iris to disrupt the brown pigment . This causes body to trigger 'scavenger cells' to remove dark colours . Process takes 30 seconds, and two weeks later eyes will become blue . 17 patients in Mexico and 20 in Costa Rica have undergone treatment . Process, which is undergoing clinical trials, has raised safety concerns .


Antonello Tonna (pictured) has witnessed two tragedies after being aboard the Costa Fascinosa yesterday and the Costa Concordia in 2012 . The pianist on board a cruise ship from which three passengers were killed in the Tunisian museum massacre was also aboard the Costa Concordia when it capsized, it has emerged. In a remarkable coincidence, Antonello Tonna told today how he was on board the Costa Fascinosa when the shootout began at the Bardo Museum in Tunis yesterday. The anguished musician, who did not disembark the ship, had only just returned to playing at sea following the trauma of the Concordia disaster in January 2012. He described it as a 'tragic destiny' that he had been involved in the two harrowing incidents, in the space of just three years. According to The Telegraph, he told Italian media: 'Mine is a tragic destiny - to be called by journalists once again about a drama that I have been involved in. 'I'm reliving the same powerful emotions that I went through during the sinking of the Concordia.' Mr Tonna told how he had returned to sea earlier this year after a three-year hiatus. 'After three years I decided to go back because I missed the ships,' he told RAI state television. Mr Tonna also told how he had stayed on the ship when it docked in Tunis, but later heard about the attack through a text message from his wife. He said he subsequently saw teary, shaken passengers returning to their cabins. Three passengers from the ship were killed - four Italians and a Russian - and eight others were injured. 'There was a great deal of apprehension, with passengers glued to their mobiles trying to get information,' he said. 'We are hugging each other more. I have to say, there is a lot, a lot of solidarity.' The Fascinosa left port Thursday morning, bound for Spain's Palma de Mallorca, where passengers would be allowed to disembark and go home on Costa's tab if they want to cut short the cruise. A window of the Bardo Museum is filled with bullet holes after the shootout which claimed the lives of 23 people. Mr Tonna learned of the massacre after receiving a text message from his wife . Hostages flee the museum during the Tunisian special forces raid which ended in the death of both gunmen . Tunisian security forces secured the area after gunmen attacked the famed Bardo Museum yesterday . Costa said it was suspending Tunisian stops for future Costa cruises. 'The security of our guests and crew is Costa Crociere's priority and a necessary condition for calm and pleasant vacations,' it said. Earlier, Michael Thamm, the group's chief executive of Costa Group, released a statement condemning the 'barbaric and horrific terror attack'. He said: 'With great sadness we regret to report that three passengers of the Costa Fascinosa are amongst the victims of this barbaric and horrific terror attack in Tunis, and a further eight guests are injured. Mr Tonna was also on board the Costa Concordia (pictured) when it capsized off

Summary: Italian Antonella Tonna was on the Costa Fascinosa when shootout began . He had only recently returned to playing at sea after Concordia disaster . Three passengers from the ship were killed while eight others were injured . He said: 'I'm reliving the same emotions I went through during the sinking of the Concordia'


Every election candidate should be forced to declare if they plan to take up second jobs outside Parliament, the sleaze watchdog has said. Lord Bew, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, warned trust in politics had been damaged and it would be 'foolish' for politicians to think they could ignore public anger. It comes as plans are being drawn up to curb rowdy behaviour in the House of Commons, with MPs facing bans from debates for heckling and swearing across the chamber. Politicians standing for election in May should declare that they plan to keep second jobs once they reach the Commons, the head of the sleaze watchdog has said . Trust in politicians was rocked again last month with the emergence of a new 'cash for access' scandal. Former foreign secretaries Jack Straw and Sir Malcolm Rifkind were suspended from their parties after being caught by hidden cameras discussing the possibility of working for a fictitious Chinese company. Veteran Tory Sir Malcolm also announced he would not stand for re-election in May's general election, after he claimed MPs from professional backgrounds could not be expected to live on their £67,060 salaries. Prime Minister David Cameron insisted that extra work can be fitted in alongside constituency duties and MPs voted down a Labour call for a ban on holding paid directorships, consultancies or trade union roles. Labour candidates have already been told they will not be allowed to hold directorships or be consultants if elected in May. Lord Bew, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, warned trust in politics had been damaged and it would be 'foolish' for politicians to think they could ignore public anger . MPs caught shouting and swearing across the Commons chamber face being banned under a Labour crackdown on bad behaviour. Shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle wants the Speaker to be able to issue yellow and res cards to MPs who behave badly. After a first warning, a rowdy MP could be ejected for an hour while a repeat offence could see them miss three sessions. It comes after complaints about the boorish behaviour in the Commons and warnings it deters people from engaging in politics. Labour MP Sarah Champion has claimed male MPs are 'very good at gesticulating' about female MPs' breasts and bottoms as they tried to make speeches. Lord Bew told The Observer: 'All candidates for parliamentary elections should publish at nomination a register of interests, including paid jobs. 'What we would expect them to be transparent about is whether they expect to continue with those roles. If the public feels that they have been brought into a decision on this matter, that can only be helpful.' 'It would be foolish to ignore that we are in a new and worrying place. This is something that could be acted upon. If the parties decided to do it quickly, they could do. 'It is important for public confidence that the House of Commons is not seen to be influenced by the prospects of personal gain. We just can't allow

Summary: Sleaze watchdog Lord Bew says politicians are 'foolish' to ignore anger . Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life calls for change . All candidates should publish a register of interests, including paid jobs . Follows 'cash for access' scandal with Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Jack Straw . Labour draw up plans for yellow and red cards for rowdy MPs in Commons .


Alastair Cook is not the sort to wash his dirty linen in public so for the England Test captain to launch a barely concealed attack on Tuesday on the management who sacked him before the World Cup is little short of astonishing. Cook's words in Abu Dhabi, where he will play for MCC against Yorkshire on Sunday, will send shockwaves through an England hierarchy desperate to pick up the pieces from their disastrous World Cup when they go to the Caribbean next month. Not least, they will concern under-pressure coach Peter Moores, who insisted in Australia that Cook was 'over' his World Cup omission but who must now wonder if his relationship with his Test captain is seriously damaged. Former England one-day captain Alastair Cook was removed from his post in December last year . England endured a disappointing World Cup campaign and were eliminated at the group stage . Batsmen: . (Player, Age, Tests, County) Alastair Cook, 30, 109, Essex . Jonny Bairstow, 25, 14, Yorkshire . Gary Ballance, 25, 8, Yorkshire . Ian Bell, 32, 105, Warwickshire . Jos Buttler, 24, 3, Lancashire . Adam Lyth, 27, 0, Yorkshire . Joe Root, 24, 22, Yorkshire . Jonathan Trott, 33, 49, Warwickshire . All-rounders: . Adil Rashid, 27, 0, Yorkshire . Ben Stokes, 23, 6, Durham . Bowlers: . James Anderson, 32, 99, Lancashire . Stuart Broad, 28, 74, Nottinghamshire . Chris Jordan, 26, 5, Sussex . Liam Plunkett, 29, 13, Yorkshire . James Tredwell, 33, 1, Kent . Mark Wood, 25, 0, Durham . Cook made no attempt to hide the hurt he has felt back home on his Buckinghamshire farm while England floundered so badly under his replacement Eoin Morgan that they could not even make the last eight. 'I think you saw in Australia the dangers of making such a big decision so close to a tournament,' said Cook of his sacking on the brink of the World Cup. 'I don't know what's gone on over there, and I can only speak from watching a little bit from afar, but it did look like the lads were shell-shocked from the first two games. That's when you need real leadership to steer you through that. 'I can't speak about what's gone on in depth but you always back yourself and I would have loved to have had the opportunity that was taken from me. The selectors made that decision because they thought it was best for English cricket. Hindsight has probably proved them wrong but now it's easy to say that. 'Whether I would have made a difference I don't know, but I was confident we would get out of the group. From there you just have to win three games in a row — that's how this World Cup has worked.' Ouch. What a mess England find themselves in. They made decent progress in Test cricket last summer but that has been virtually invalidated by the crushing inadequacy of the World Cup squad — and Cook knows it. Cook believes hindsight has proved the ECB wrong to remove

Summary: Alastair Cook was sacked as England one-day captain in December . England fell to an embarrassing group stage elimination at the World Cup . Cook believes that the side's confidence has been shattered as a result .


A Texas man who's finally no longer required to pay child support after 13 years of bank-breaking wage garnishment still owes the state $21,000 in back payments. And the girl isn't even his. Willie Carson says he suffered for years as he struggled to make monthly payments and now that it's been proven he can't possibly be father to the girl, who he's also never even met, he may still be forced to pay up. Expensive mistake: Willie Carson of Houston, Texas has had his wages garnished for some 13 years because he was erroneously included on a girl's birth certificate . According to Texas state law, he's required to pay any outstanding payments owed, as well as any accrued interest. All this, despite DNA tests proving unequivocally Carson is not the father and all because he was initially named on the birth certificate by the mother. 'I've never seen the child. I never spoke to the child. I don't know what the child looks like,' Carson told MyFoxHouston. Nonetheless, because of his garnished paychecks, he says: . 'There were days that I didn't eat. I went without electricity.' Carson has a court appearance on Monday, one he hopes will save him from losing all his hard earned cash to what amounts to a clerical error. 'I'm hoping for it but the judge has the last say so,' he said. In Texas, the answer is: when the man is finished paying. The termination of the man’s parental rights ends the obligation to pay future support, as of the date the order is rendered. However, the order does not eliminate any child support obligations before that date or any interest that has accrued. The man is still responsible for arrears that accrued up to the termination date, as well as for interest that accrues after the termination date. SOURCE: Texas Attorney General . Law not on his side: 'I'm hoping for it but the judge has the last say so,' Carson said as he discussed whether he'll be off the hook for his outstanding balance . The state of Texas voted to allow DNA proof to reverse parental rights, whereas it had previously been next to impossible. However, the law was written to work forward, not backward. And there are no refunds. So, the woes of people like Carson who've already had trouble paying child support will continue as they struggle to keep up with mounting interest on back payments. And Carson is far from alone. Another Texas man, Ray Thomas, reached out to KHOU in 2011 to discuss the very same predicament. The Texas man owed even more than Carson, though. He owed back child support amounting to $50,000, $13,000 of which was interest. I don t understand the judge can just give you a baby that ain't yours, Thomas said at the time. You are not the father: Carson and his ex are both totally positive he isn't the 13-year-old girl's father, but the law in this situation does not look backward--what's done is done and Carson's debts, at least for

Summary: Willie Carson of Houston, Texas has had his wages garnished for some 13 years because he was erroneously included on a girl's birth certificate . The girl's mother has now written to authorities and now Carson's 401K is no longer frozen and he no longer must pay child support . However, Texas law requires Carson must still pay his $21,000 unpaid support and any interest accrued after the termination date .


Arsenal keeper David Ospina has joined up with his Colombia team-mates for the international break. The in-form stopper helped the Gunners secure three vital points at Newcastle on Saturday with a series of fine saves as Arsenal prevailed 2-1 at Newcastle. Victory keeps Arsene Wenger’s side hot on the heels of League leaders Chelsea and Manchester City with the international break upon the footballing world. Arsenal keeper David Ospina (bottom right) poses with his Colombia team-mates on a flight on Sunday . Colombia face Bahrain on Thursday before facing Kuwait at the end of the month in a duo of international friendlies. Ospina was snapped on the plane out on Sunday by team-mate and Borussia Dortmund striker Adrian Ramos, who posted a picture from the cabin with Toulouse’s Abel Aguilar and Aston Villa’s Carlos Sanchez. Ramos captioned the picture: ‘Again with family ... yes yes Colombia with my people…blessing’ as the quartet appeared in high spirits as Colombia look to build on a World Cup quarter-final outing last summer. David Ospina (centre) made a string of fine saves to help secure three points for Arsenal at St James' Park . Ospina is congratulated but double scorer Olivier Giroud after Arsenal beat Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday . Adrian Ramos (far right) lines-up with Borussia Dortmund team-mates after beating Hannover on Saturday . Aston Villa's Carlos Sanchez (left) in action against Swansea, under the challenge of Wayne Routledge .

Summary: The Gunners beat Newcastle 2-1 to remain in touch with Manchester City . Arsenal's No 1 now faces two friendlies with the Colombia national side .


As part of a class assignment, inmates at California's oldest prison were tasked with writing their own obituaries - and the results were as startling as they were moving. The idea was that of UC Berkely journalism professor William Drummond, who teaches a news writing class at San Quentin State Prison, just north of San Francisco. 'I did it as a way to find out how these guys had reconciled their crimes,' Drummond told The Los Angeles Times. 'Were they able to take a critical look at what got them in trouble?' Penning his ending: Convicted murderer Phoeun You sits against a fence in the exercise yard at San Quentin State Prison in California. He is one of several inmateswho wrote his own obituary for a class project . Repenting: You wrote in his obituary that, after killing someone, he would like save someone before he dies . Cambodian refugee Phoeun You came to America when he was five-years-old. As a teenager he fell into the wrong crowd, blaming cultural differences, and soon joined an Asian gang. When he was about 20, You got into a fight outside a high school with a member of a Latino gang. Reeling from the fight, You went and got a gun, and set about trying to find his rivals from the fight. Failing that, he opened fire at a random person on the street. 'It was just a guy who looked like a gang member,' You told The Times. 'He was close enough.' He killed the 17-year-old boy, and bystanders were hit by bullets as well. You was convicted of murder and attempted murder in 1996 and could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Professor Drummond told the inmates they could make up anything they wanted for their obituary and gave them free creative reign. Most importantly they had to figure out how they would die. You wrote a story about a riot breaking out in San Quentin and how he saves the life of a teacher by stepping in front of a knife. He is stabbed to death by another inmate. You said, having killed someone himself, you would like to one day save someone. 'My incarceration, the reason I'm here, is by taking a life. When I leave this world, I would love to leave saving a life,' he said. Reflective: San Quentin inmate Julian Glenn Padgett, also a convicted murderer, made no mention of his crimes, instead writing that he is killed in an earthquake . Julian Glenn Padgett is serving 31 years to life for first-degree murder, arson, burglary and grand theft. A charismatic and expressive Ethiopian Jew, Padgett has discovered a love for acting while behind bars, and has appeared in a prison production of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. His obituary makes no reference of his crimes. He paints a story of himself of being outdoorsy and enjoying camping and mountain climbing trips with his friend. Padgett died 'as a result of a massive earthquake that struck San Quentin State Prison', his obituary said. 'Earthquakes are memorable.

Summary: UC Berkely journalism professor William Drummond teaches a news writing class at San Quentin State Prison . He tasked inmates with writing their obituaries to see if the repented . The class proved highly emotional for the prisoners .


World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko stepped away from preparing for his bout with Bryant Jennings by taking his three month baby daughter Kaya for a walk with fiance Hayden Panettiere. The couple were pictured on Saturday for the first time bringing their daughter out for a walk in Nashville, Tennessee. The 38-year-old Klitschko, from Ukraine, would have undoubtedly enjoyed the calm moments with his young family as his training intensifies for facing Jennings, an opponent he admitted he respects. Hayden Panettiere and Wladimir Klitschko (left) were pictured taking baby Kaya out for a walk . Klitschko has a bout in April against Bryant Jennings, from the United States, in New York . Klitschko (left) has 63 career victories behind him as his clash with Jennings nears . Klitschko (right) will be back in New York to take on Jennings, a prospect he is looking forward to . 'I do have great respect for Bryant Jennings and his achievements,' Klitschko said of his next opponent, who has 19 wins and nine knock-outs from 19 bouts. 'He has good movement in the ring and good technique. I know this will be a tough challenge.' Klitschko also revealed his excitement to return to New York and Madison Square Garden, the venue for the encounter. 'I am extremely happy to fight in New York again,' Klitschko said. 'I had my first unification fight here and a lot of great heavyweight matches have taken place at Madison Square Garden.' Klitschko has 63 career victories, with an astounding 54 coming through knock-outs. When he steps into the ring against Jennings on April 25, he will become the joint record-holding fighter with most heavyweight title fights with 27, alongside the legendary Joe Louis. The actresses glowing look may have been helped by her illuminous yellow jacket . The couple were happily engrossed in conversation the whole time .

Summary: Wladimir Klitschko is getting ready for April 25 bout with Bryant Jennings . The 38-year-old took time out from preparations to spend time with family . He has a three-month old baby with actress and fiance Hayden Panettiere .


World Cup winners Germany resume their qualifying campaign for Euro 2016 with a trip to Georgia on Sunday and Lukas Podolski was delighted to be back with his international team-mates at training on Monday. Striker Podolski, who is on loan at Inter Milan from Arsenal, uploaded an image to Instagram alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger and Holger Badstuber, who has returned to the international fold after recovering from a long term thigh injury. 'Happy reunion with DFB mates - even better with Holger being back!' Podolski wrote alongside the picture of the trio. Joachim Loew (centre) watches on as his players undergo a passing exercise in training on Monday . Lukas Podolski (left) poses with Holger Badstuber (centre) and Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany . Germany have begun preparations for a friendly against Australia and a qualifier away to Georgia . Germany manager Joachim Loew (fourth right) talks to his side ahead of the start of training on Monday . Germany have struggled to take their imperious World Cup form into qualifying for France 2016. Joachim Loew's side are currently second in Group D with seven points from four games. Rivals Poland are the early pacesetters on 10 points. But before Loew's team aim for three points against Georgia, they will take on Australia in a friendly, which promises to be a challenging fixture with the Socceroos riding the crest of a wave after their Asian Cup triumph in January. Oliver Bierhoff, first team caretaker for Germany, wants his team to return to their best over the course of the two matches. 'The aim is to qualify comfortably for the Euros,' Bierhoff said. 'We want to finish top of the group. The game against Australia will allow us to regain our momentum. 'The aim is to win in Georgia, even thought it might be awkward playing against a supposedly small opposition.' Mesut Ozil (left) of Arsenal and Sami Khedira of Real Madrid pictured training for Germany on Monday . Khedira (left) and Ozil warm up ahead of Germany's preparations for Australia on Wednesday . Oliver Bierhoff (right) wants Germany to rediscover their form from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil . Bierhoff also praised Badstuber on his return to the international setup, who is back in the Germany squad alongside Ilkay Gundogan, who has had problems with a back injury. 'We’re very happy to have both players back,' Bierhoff said. 'It’s often the case that players come back even better after setbacks.'

Summary: Germany face Australia in a friendly and Georgia in a Euro 2016 qualifier . The World Cup winners are currently second in Group D on seven points . Lukas Podolski posted an Instagram snap with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Holger Badstuber .


Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson has been forced to apologize for comments made on Wednesday in which he said prisoners' changing their sexuality in jail proves that being gay is a choice. The retired neurosurgeon posted a statement on his Facebook page just hours later in which he said he 'realized that my choice of language does not reflect fully my heart on gay issues.' 'I do not pretend to know how every individual came to their sexual orientation. I regret that my words to express that concept were hurtful and divisive. For that I apologize unreservedly to all that were offended,' he added. Scroll down for video . Republican presidential hopeful Carson has been forced to apologize for comments on Wednesday in which he claimed that prisoners' changing their sexuality in jail proves that being gay is a choice . However Carson's apology only went so far and he remains adamant that it isn't certain whether people are born either gay or straight. 'Some of our brightest minds have looked at this debate, and up until this point there have been no definitive studies that people are born into a specific sexuality,' he said. Carson's opinion is at odds with many in the medical community, including the American Psychological Association, who says 'most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation.' Carson had landed himself in hot water on Wednesday morning after appearing on CNN's New Day. Asked by Chris Cuomo if being gay was a choice, Carson replied: 'Absolutely.' 'Because a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight - and when they come out, they're gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question,' Carson said. He then spoke out against gay marriage. 'Why do gay people want to get married? Why do they say they want to get married? Because they want to have various rights - property rights, visitation rights,' he said. Carson's apology only went so far and he remains adamant that it isn't certain whether people are born either gay or straight . 'Why can't any two human beings, I don't care what their sexual orientation is, why can't they have the legal right to do those things? That does not require changing the definition of marriage.' Carson said he believes marriage should be decided at the state level, this on the same day the Alabama Supreme Court ignored a federal ruling and in a near unanimous vote ordered the state's probate judges to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. Carson has long been outspoken on the subject of gay marriage, which he compared to bestiality and pedophilia in a 2013 speech. In an interview with Sean Hannity, Carson said; 'My thoughts are that marriage is between a man and a woman. It's a well-established, fundamental pillar of society and no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality. It doesn't matter what they are.' He continued by saying; 'They don't get to change the definition.

Summary: The Republican presidential hopeful said prisoners' changing their sexuality in jail proves that being gay is a choice on CNN's New Day . Hours later he issued an apology in which he said 'my choice of language does not reflect fully my heart on gay issues' Carson remains adamant that it isn't certain whether people are born either gay or straight . Retired neurosurgeon also reiterated that he is against gay marriage .


A regional benefits cap, taxes on disability benefits and a limit on child benefit to the first two children could be introduced in a new welfare squeeze after the general election. Leaked Whitehall documents show officials have drawn up a series of options that could be used to further reduce the benefits bill. All the main parties are committed to money-saving welfare reform, but the Conservatives have pledged to make the deepest cuts, taking £12billion out of welfare in the next Parliament. A regional benefits cap, taxes on disability benefits and a limit on child benefit to the first two children could be introduced in a new welfare squeeze . A two-year freeze on some benefits and a lowering of the new benefits cap – the maximum amount in benefits a household can receive – from £26,000 to £23,000 are already on the agenda. The Institute for Fiscal Studies suggests those measures would save £2billion a year by 2017-18. But documents leaked to the BBC also suggested a regional benefits cap, an idea backed by Labour, as one possibility. The £23,000 limit would vary across the country, with the highest sum paid in London, where housing costs are greatest. It is said that limiting child benefit to the first two children for future claimants would save £1billion a year. Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the proposals were not Tory party policy . The documents also proposed taxing disability benefits – a move that would prove highly controversial. This would mean better-off claimants losing some of their payments, and would save £1.5billion a year. Carer’s allowance could be restricted to the most needy, saving £1billion. And the contributory element of employment and support allowance and jobseekers’ allowance would be reined in. Currently claimants who have paid enough National Insurance contributions can get the benefits with little means-testing. Some 30 per cent of claimants, over 300,000 families, would lose about £80 per week, saving taxpayers £1.3billion. Council tax support, meanwhile, could be incorporated into the new universal credit, which is gradually replacing all the main out-of-work benefits and tax credits. And replacing the industrial injuries compensation scheme with an insurance policy for employees would save £1billion. The Tories insisted that the proposals were not party policy and had been prepared by officials considering all options for the next government, of whatever make-up. ‘It’s wrong to suggest that any of this is part of our plan,’ said a spokesman for Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith. Labour Work and Pensions spokesman Rachel Reeves, said: ‘These plans were drawn up for Conservative ministers to deliver their extreme cuts plan. The Tories now need to come clean about what cuts they plan to make.’

Summary: Leaked Whitehall documents show plans to further reduce the benefits bill . Regional benefits cap and taxes on disability benefits could be introduced . All the main parties are committed to money-saving welfare reform . The Tories have pledged to take £12billion out of welfare in next Parliament .


Tour de France winner Stephen Roche has offered his support to Geoff Thomas, arguing that cycling should not object to Lance Armstrong joining the former England footballer in France this summer to raise money for the fight against cancer. Roche, the 1987 Tour winner whose own son suffered with leukaemia, believes Armstrong’s involvement with Thomas’s ‘Le Tour - One Day Ahead’ event will only help raise awareness and cash for the cause. Thomas and Armstrong are united by both being cancer survivors but some senior figures in cycling – UCI president Brian Cookson and Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford – have objected to the controversial American returning to the French roads. Lance Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Le Tour title, wants to return to work fighting cancer . Former Tour de France champion Stephen Roche, pictured with former footballer and charity organiser Geoff Thomas, supports Armstrong's return to raise money and awareness of the disease . Armstrong is set to be part of a team of cyclists rising the route on a day before the Tour de France starts . The US cyclist revealed details of his doping scandal in an interview chat show host Oprah Winfrey . Lance Armstrong's former team-mate Jonathan Vaughters said he would support the disgraced cyclist’s plan to ride part of the Tour de France route this summer if it was for ‘altruistic’ reasons. Vaughters, who rode with Armstrong in the US Postal Service team in 1998 and 1999, was however wary of his motives for accepting an invitation from fellow cancer survivor Geoff Thomas to join him in a charity ride. ‘I sincerely hope his reasons for wanting to do that are altruistic.I have no idea what his motivations are. If it's altruistic then it's hard to condemn anything altruistic, across the board. If it's part of a greater commercial strategy or legal strategy, then I feel like that's disingenuous.’ Vaughters, speaking at a UK anti-doping conference, said Armstrong’s lifetime ban from competition was not the only way he had been punished. ‘One of the biggest penalties that guys face when they are caught for doping is the loss of their social group,’ he said, ‘They're no longer accepted amongst their tribe, their people that they were once close with. He would like social acceptance again. I'm assuming that's a little bit what he's after (with the charity ride).’ Vaughters welcomed reports that Armstrong has met with US anti-doping boss Travis Tygart in Denver, Colorado. It's positive news. I don't know what his motivations are, but to me that's good news. My experiences with Travis have been nothing but positive.’ Thomas and a team of cyclists will ride the route of this summer’s Tour one day ahead of the professional peloton, with Armstrong planning to join them for two stages. But Cookson branded Armstrong’s involvement ‘inappropriate and disrespectful’. Roche, who in 1987 became the second of only two cyclists to win the Triple Crown of the Tour, the Giro D’Italia and the world road race title, said: ‘I believe in what he’s (Thomas)

Summary: Lance Armstrong is set to ride Tour de France course to raise money for cancer charity run by former footballer Geoff Thomas . Former winner Stephen Roche has backed return of cyclist disgraced by doping scandal . UCI president Brian Cookson and Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford have objected to rider's return .


A devoted husband who narrowly survived a suicide pact with his wife 12 months ago has killed himself using the same method, a coroner's court has heard. Kenneth Brown, 75, died in his bathroom from carbon monoxide poisoning in the same spot where wife Helen, 71, was found under a blanket the year before. Portsmouth Coroner's Court heard that he had been 'living in misery' since his wife's death, and was found on October 30 last year after sending letters to his sons explaining his decision. Portsmouth Coroner's Court (pictured) heard that Kenneth Brown had been 'living in misery' since the death of his wife, who killed herself in a joint suicide attempt which he narrowly survived . Helen Brown became suicidal due to a severe bout of depression brought on by illness, and had attempted suicide several times before husband Kenneth agreed to help her kill herself. Mr Brown, a former company director, decided he wanted to die alongside his wife to avoid being sent to jail afterwards. He survived the initial attempt after emergency services were called, but Portsmouth coroner's court heard the near miss had brought on a severe bout of depression. Coroner David Horsley (pictured) said it was a 'very sad' case, and told Mr Brown's two sons that he hoped never to see them again . Police rushed to his address in Liss, Hampshire, for a second time on October last year after receiving a signed letter saying he had gassed himself, but were unable to save him. His son James told the hearing how his father had been depressed following the death of his wife and had finally 'got what he wanted.' He said: 'It's an unfortunate turn of events but ultimately I'm happy that he got what he wanted, as he'd only been living there in misery. 'Maybe he would have come out of it in a few years but he wouldn't have seen the point in continuing, he wouldn't have seen the point in going on.' Mr Brown had posted letters to his two sons shortly before killing himself explaining his decision. Portsmouth coroner David Horsley, who presided over the inquest into Mrs Brown's death, recorded a verdict of suicide, noting that retired company director Mr Brown was severely depressed at the time. He told Mr Brown's sons: 'I really hope that I never see anybody from your family in this court again. I'm so, so sorry that you are here. 'The sad story is that basically he had given up since the death of your mother. 'He had chosen to withdraw from things and I think we can understand that really given the circumstances leading up to it including your mother's death. 'All I can say is how terribly sorry I am to you and all of your family that this has happened. How dreadful for you, I really am sorry.'

Summary: Kenneth Brown, 75, had been 'living in misery' since death of wife Helen . Mrs Brown, 71, died in bathroom in joint suicide attempt with husband . He survived, but went into depression and 'felt like he couldn't go on' Found dead in October last year in same room where wife passed away .


A schoolboy who says he was so overweight and unfit he looked 'like a tomato' after PE lessons decided to put himself on a diet - and shed almost three stone. Owen Clarke, 12, weighed 10st 8lb (67kg) last summer and says he was embarrassed by his size, and because he got so red and sweaty after exercise. He begged his mother to let him join her on a diet so he was fit enough to play football with his friends. And after swapping chocolate bars for low-fat yogurts, the 5'4" schoolboy is now a healthy 8st (50kg). Owen Clarke, 12, weighed 10st 8lbs (left) and was embarrassed as he was so unfit he looked 'like a tomato' after a PE lesson. He decided to put himself on a diet, and managed to lose nearly three stone (right) Owen lost weight by giving up biscuits, chocolate bars and sausage rolls and instead snacking on yogurts, homemade scotch eggs, cucumber and carrot sticks . His efforts inspired his mother, Michelle Hatfield, to re-evaluate the food she was feeding her family, as she didn't realise her son was overweight in the first place. The 33-year-old has now swapped convenience foods ans takeaways for meals made from scratch, crediting the change on her son's desire to be healthier. Owen, from Leicester, said: 'I was a bit lazy before losing weight and didn't enjoy sport that much. BEFORE . Breakfast: One large bowl of coco pops . Lunch: Two sandwiches with cheese, one full fat yogurt, one bag of crisps, one chocolate bar. Dinner: Pizza, chips and full-fat barbecue sauce. Snacks: Biscuits, chocolate bars and sausage rolls. AFTER . Breakfast: 38g of puffed wheat with sweetener. Lunch: Two wholemeal bread ham sandwiches, one packet of crisps, an apple . Dinner: Homemade spaghetti bolognese. Snacks: Muller yogurts, homemade scotch eggs, cucumber and carrot sticks. 'I remember hating it because I'd get really tired and I'd look like a tomato after PE but that's all changed now. 'Nobody really said anything bad to me about my weight but I couldn't play football with all my friends and I wanted to change. 'Now I absolutely love football and I play for at least an hour every day. 'I never used to enjoy PE and felt a bit left out but now that's all changed. 'I feel like I can compete and enjoy myself without getting embarrassed.' When he started losing weight in January 2014, Owen was 5"1 tall. His weight meant he was technically classed as obese, as he had Body Mass Index (BMI) in the 99th centile of the BMI chart. After losing more than two stone in five months, he now has a healthy BMI. Owen's efforts made Ms Hatfield realise it was the food she fed him that made him pile on the pounds. She said: 'It all started when I decided I wanted to lose some weight on a slimming world plan and went home to tell the family that I was going to change my diet. 'It didn't take long for Owen to ask

Summary: Owen Clarke, 12, was embarrassed to weigh 10st 8lb (67kg) last year . He said he got so red and sweaty after a PE lesson he looked 'tomato-like' Decided to change his diet and was able to lose nearly 3st in under a year . His mother, Michelle Hatfield, 33, said she didn't realise her son was fat . Owen's efforts have inspired her to re-think the food she serves her family .


A Liberace-obsessed politics teacher allegedly posed online as a teenage boy and dished out thousand-dollar payments in return for nude photos and selfies. Jon Cruz, who works at the Bronx High School of Science in New York City, is accused of grooming at least four boys through the Kik messaging app and bribing them to send the photos. Cruz, 31, has been charged with luring minors into sexual conduct as well as soliciting and possessing child pornography, and appeared in court Friday. Scroll down for chat logs seized by the FBI . Charges: Jon Cruz, who teaches in the Bronx, allegedly posed online as a teenager and paid large sums of money for nude photos, 'thumbs-up selfies' and pictures of feet from boys as young as 12 . Big fan: Cruz's social media presence shows him dressed repeatedly as Liberace. He is pictured left in full costume, and right inside a classroom . It came after an FBI found chat logs and internet records they say link Cruz to four boys between the age of 12 and 15, according to the New York Post. Social media profiles belonging to the teacher also show Cruz dressing up repeatedly as Liberace, even donning the costume around school. In some posts he referred to himself as 'Cruzerace'. He allegedly posed as a rich 16-year-old using photographs of an old Bronx Science student and started offering hundreds of dollars at a time for photos - and even sent some of the messages from school premises. Two of the boys are said to have sent him naked photographs, while two others allegedly sent suggestive pictures showing the bodies and faces, posed according to his instructions. Chat logs obtained by FBI agents, and linked to Cruz, show him talking repeatedly about feet and asking the boys to play up how much of a 'popular jock' they are. He also asks for 'thumbs-up selfies' on more than one occasion. In exchange, he sent Visa and American Express gift cards worth as much as $1,600, while asking his victims for the names of more boys he could pursue, according to a criminal complaint. Agents investigating Cruz also claim he tried repeatedly to engage in sexual conversations with the boys, some of which are too explicit to reproduce. The complaint said that one victim was a 15-year-old boy from New Mexico. It alleges that after paying him $900 for pictures of his feet and face, he convinced the boy to send him a cache of at least five nude pictures, posed in his bathroom, in exchange for $450. Gift cards: Cruz allegedly handed over gift cards worth thousands of dollars in total to at least four victims. He is pictured above with a waxwork of Liberace . Work: Cruz taught AP United States Government & Politics with Economics at The Bronx High School of Science . Speaking to another 15-year-old in the state he requested 'weird foot pictures' and eventually paid more than $800 for some 40 pictures - though none involved nudity. A third boy, aged 14, who lived in

Summary: Jon Cruz, 31, allegedly used Kik messaging app to meet underage boys . FBI say he persuaded them by sending expensive gift cards . Chat logs show him asking for pictures of feet, and nudes, from 'jock' boys . Cruz, who teaches at a Bronx school, posts pictures of himself as Liberace . Arrested and charged with multiple sex crimes on Friday .


Labour today hinted at hefty tax rises for people earning more than £80,000 a year. The party also indicated that profitable companies could be hit as Labour attempts to tackle the deficit without trimming Britain’s bloated welfare budget or imposing deep spending cuts. Ed Miliband has been deliberately vague about Labour’s plans to raise taxes to deal with the deficit, identifying only his proposal to reinstate the 50p tax rates, which experts warn may raise nothing. Scroll down for video . Ed Balls, speaking at the launch of Labour’s business manifesto today, said Labour would not hit those on ‘middle and lower incomes’, with taxes mainly rising for those on higher salaries . But, speaking at the launch of Labour’s business manifesto, the Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said taxes would hit those with the ‘broadest shoulders’. He suggested that those earning more than £80,000 were rich and could bear to pay more. Mr Balls said Labour would not hit those on ‘middle and lower incomes’, with taxes mainly rising for those on higher salaries. He added: ‘If you look at people on middle and lower incomes – this isn’t only people on £10,000 or £20,000 a year, it’s £50,£60, £70, £80,000 a year – they are paying more tax.' He added: 'People on all these income levels are in our mind. What we want to do is find a way in which we can balance the books in the next parliament, get the debt falling but to do so in a way which is fair to people on middle and lower incomes who are paying quite a lot of tax already. ‘I can’t come along today and start making detailed tax policy – that’s for manifestos and budgets – but we’ve already been clear – our plans add up without a rise in tax on people on middle and low incomes. ‘People on the income levels (I am) talking about are very much in our minds when we talk about middle and lower incomes.’ Labour – which has ruled out rises in the headline rates of VAT, income tax and national insurance – also left itself lots of flexibility to raise corporation tax on company profits. David Cameron, at a rally in Wiltshire today, has claimed Labour will cost families £3,000 in tax rises over the next Parliament . Mr Miliband said Labour would ensure Britain’s corporation tax rate remains the ‘lowest in the G7’. But this would allow a Labour government to raise it from 20 per cent to 26.5 per cent, which is the rate charged by Canada, the second most competitive country in the G7. By contrast, the Conservatives have said they will keep the rate as the lowest in the G20, which is currently 20 per cent in Russia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Meanwhile, Labour was boosted last night after the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) challenged Tory claims about the party’s spending plans. David Cameron claimed yesterday that a Labour victory would lead to £15 billion of tax rises, costing families an average £3,000 each over the

Summary: Shadow chancellor has been deliberately vague about Labour's tax plans . Ed Balls said taxes would only hit those with the 'broadest shoulders' But he suggested those earning over £80,000 could bear to pay more .


Militants fighting for the Islamic State in Iraq have released bizarre new photographs attempting to portray daily life under the terror group as a world of bustling marketplaces and delicious food. Taken in the ISIS' Iraqi power base of Mosul in Nineveh province, the travel brochure-type images show crowded market stalls loaded with olives, pickles and all manner of sweets. The propaganda images attempt to portray a 'business as usual' type atmosphere among the city's stall-holders, despite the fact recapturing Mosul is the number one priority of a fightback campaign launched by the 30,000-strong coalition of Iraqi Army soldiers and Shia militia earlier this week. Scroll down for video . Abundance: Taken in the ISIS' Iraqi power base of Mosul in Nineveh province, the travel brochure-type images show crowded market stalls loaded with olives, pickles and all manner of sweets . Propaganda: The images attempt to portray a 'business as usual' type atmosphere among Mosul stall-holders . On sale: A shopkeeper sells perfumes and hair products on his stall in the ISIS stronghold of Mosul . Buying his dinner: A man browses food stalls in the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul . Delicious: Trays of sweet baklava desserts give a sense of abundance in the crisis-hit city of Mosul . Images of the Mosul marketplace show pizzas and succulent burgers being cooked amid bustling stalls packed with all manner of sweet treats and toys for children. Men are seen browsing the stalls nonchalantly, seemingly oblivious to the fact the city is an ISIS stronghold and on the frontline of the Iraqi regime's freshly launched fightback against the terrorists. Trays of sweet baklava give a sense of abundance in the crisis-hit city, which is considered key to ISIS presence in Iraq thanks to the millions of pounds generated each day from the militant-held oil fields dotted around Nineveh province. The photographs are even captioned with the slogan 'Wish you were here' in a chilling imitation of the hit 1980s British travel programme hosted by Judith Chalmers. Business as usual: Men are seen browsing the stalls nonchalantly, seemingly oblivious to the fact the city is an ISIS stronghold and on the frontline of the Iraqi regime's freshly launched fightback against the terrorists . Westernised: Images of the Mosul marketplace show pizzas and succulent burgers being cooked amid bustling stalls packed with all manner of sweet treats and toys for children . Unconcerned: Despite the fact recapturing Mosul is the number one priority of a fightback campaign launched by the 30,000-strong coalition of Iraqi Army soldiers and Shia militia earlier this week . Grim: The photographs are even captioned with the slogan 'Wish you were here' in a chilling imitation of the hit 1980s British travel programme hosted by Judith Chalmers . Heaving: The images show Mosul market stalls loaded with olives, pickles and all manner of sweets . Carefree: A man browses religious books in the Islamic State's Iraqi stronghold of Mosul . The images emerged as U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said that an American military official who briefed news media about Iraq's

Summary: Photographs were taken in the terror group's northern Iraqi stronghold . Images show crowded market stalls loaded with olives, pickles and sweets . Carefree shoppers browse the stalls seemingly oblivious to ongoing war . Mosul is on the frontline of the Iraq's fightback against the Islamic State .


Drivers are to get ten minutes extra time after a parking ticket runs out before they can be hit with a fine. Under a change in the law to take effect within weeks, they will have the right to a ‘grace period’ in all on-street or off-street council parking places. For decades, drivers have complained of returning to their cars moments after a ticket expires to find a prowling warden has already hit them with a penalty. Scroll down for video . In a change in the law to take effect within weeks, traffic wardens will be forced to give drivers ten minutes' extra time after a parking ticket runs out before hitting them with fines (file picture) The measure will be viewed by many as a sweetener for Britain’s estimated 30 million drivers ahead of May’s general election. The new rules will apply to cars parked in a pay-and-display bays or other spaces with time limits. Other new measures include a right for residents and local firms to demand that their council reviews parking in their area, including charges and use of yellow lines. CCTV camera cars that automatically issue parking fines are to be made illegal, except near schools, in bus lanes and on red routes. Broader guidance will also be issued, saying that councils cannot use parking to make a profit. Writing for MailOnline, Local Government and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said ‘war on the motorist must end’. The ministers said in a joint statement: ‘Local residents and businesses will be able to demand a review of parking in their area, including charges and the use of yellow lines. Parking adjudicators will be able to hold councils to account so they can look to change signs and stop charging fines in areas where parking tickets keep being issued. ‘We are bringing back common sense. ‘Very soon shoppers and drivers will also benefit from ten minute “grace periods” for council-controlled parking, whether it’s on or off-street, paid or free. It means you won’t get fined for being a few minutes late. We’re also ending the industrial use of CCTV spy cars to enforce on-street parking.’ Local Government and Communities Secretary Eric Pickles (left) and Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin (right) have vowed to end the 'war on the motorist' with their new 'common sense' approach . A new Deregulation Bill, due to pass through the House of Lords next week and come into force next month, will enforce the ban on CCTV being used to issue automated fines, except in high-risk areas. The Department for Communities and Local Government is tabling a separate Parliamentary motion introducing ten-minute grace periods, which will come into effect later this month. The new rules are aimed at curbing draconian parking fines used by town halls to raise extra cash from motorists. Without reform, the amount of money collected in parking charges and fines will soon hit £650million a year. Critics say concerns about parking fines are prompting many motorists to shun high streets for out-of-town complexes. The Government is also

Summary: Drivers complain about being hit with a penalty just as their ticket expires . Now they will be given a 'grace period' for off and on-street council parking . Rules will apply to cars in pay-and-display bays or spaces with time limits . CCTV camera cars that automatically issue fines are to be made illegal too . Eric Pickles and Patrick McLoughlin vowing to end 'war on the motorist'


For Steve Clarke, there were no apologies, no guilt and no sense of remorse. He deemed the nine changes before their defeat at Watford necessary if Reading are to be ready for Bradford in their FA Cup quarter-final replay on Monday night. Of those nine, four were making full debuts. Discounting Simon Cox, the rest of the Royals side had made just 34 Championship starts between them this season. Whatever Clarke says, this was an unwrapped gift to a team chasing promotion to the Premier League. But the manager must be well down the list when blame is apportioned. Jem Karacan's Reading team-mates gather to congratulate the midfielder after his goal against Watford . Steve Clarke played a decidedly under strength side at Vicarage Road that will completely change on Monday . Reading's Pavel Pogrebnyak and Bradford's Stephen Darby clash in the 0-0 draw that forced Monday's FA Cup replay at the Madejski Stadium, with both sides nursing their squads in the lead-up to the fixture . It is the fault of broadcasters that he had just 48 hours between leaving Vicarage Road on Saturday and kicking off against Phil Parkinson’s Bradford on Monday evening. Domestic cup fixtures cannot be played on the same night as Champions League games and, as such, there is no way around this ludicrous situation. Clarke is expected to name a completely fresh XI at the Madejski Stadium, while Parkinson, who made six changes of his own side for the 1-1 draw at Notts County, will mix and match, too. Bradford had five players who retained their place from the Cup game. Reading had none. Fifteen changes was the sum total and for one reason only. Clarke is dealing with a ludicrous 48-hour turnaround between playing Watford and Bradford . These will be two teams going hell for leather in a competition they have prioritised. Their tedious goalless draw at Valley Parade last week may have been wretched to watch, but this tie is harking back to the FA Cup’s old days, neither side giving an inch. They could not bear losing at this stage. Reading supporters won’t remember the 4-1 defeat at Watford in a decade’s time, but a day out at Wembley, taking on holders Arsenal, would stick in the memory should they progress. The Royals have nothing to play for in the league. They are safe and will not trouble the second tier’s play-offs. Almen Abdi (centre) scored the opener against a Reading side with nothing to play for in the league . And club captain Jem Karacan, who made only his second appearance for the club since September 2013 because of injury, backed his manager’s decision to ring the changes. ‘The gaffer has to bear the replay in mind,’ said Karacan, who scored his side’s consolation as Watford ran riot with strikes from Almen Abdi, Matej Vydra, Troy Deeney and Fernando Forestieri. ‘If you put a team out that doesn’t win at Watford you get criticised, but if you don’t win on Monday you get criticised as well so it’s a catch-22 for

Summary: Reading were battered 4-1 by Watford on Saturday at Vicarage Road . Steve Clarke's starting side will be entirely different on Monday night . Reading have just 48 hours between leaving Watford and kicking off against League One's Bradford for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals . Malky Mackay was on the brink of being given the boot by Wigan four weeks ago. Remarkably the Latics then went on a four-match winning run away from home, including Saturday’s 2-1 win at relegation rivals Rotherham, to give themselves hope in the Championship. It might finally be time for Preston to return to the Championship. They walloped Crewe 5-1 at Deepdale — Joe Garner netting four — to retain their two-point lead over Swindon in the race for second in League One. Carlisle had the chance to become the first team in almost half a century to go 30 games without drawing. Manager Keith Curle said it was ‘all or nothing’ for his team. That was before they drew 0-0 at York.


A bus driver sacked after testing positive for cocaine has won a substantial pay out by proving the drug came from bank notes handed over by passengers. Alan Bailes was fired by First Bus after 22 years of employment when he failed a saliva test – despite insisting he has never taken drugs. His only explanation was that the trace of the Class A drug had come from the hundreds of pounds in cash he handled that day. Alan Bailes (left) has won a five-figure payout from First Bus after he proved that a saliva test which got him sacked for taking drugs was incorrect. Mr Bailes, pictured with his daughter Stefanie (right) and his wife Rita (centre) was forced to borrow money after being sacked to cover his mortgage payments . It is thought up to 88 per cent of bank notes in the UK carry traces of illegal drugs. After a two-and-a-half year legal battle, Mr Bailes, 58, has won a five-figure sum from First Bus, which fired him for ‘gross misconduct’ in June 2012. To clear his name, the grandfather-of-three spent £440 on a more accurate hair follicle test through his GP – which proved he had not had drugs in his system for at least 90 days. Despite this First Bus refused to reinstate him. It must now pay out after its appeal against a court ruling of unfair dismissal failed. Alan Bailes has won a five-figure payout from First Bus after he proved that a saliva test which got him sacked for taking drugs was incorrect . Mr Bailes and his wife, Rita, had to borrow money from friends and family to cover mortgage payments while they took the company to an employment tribunal, which ruled he was wrongly dismissed and condemned First Bus’s ‘flawed investigation’. Last night Mr Bailes said: ‘We’ve been left feeling stressed, incredibly worried and upset, all for something I didn’t do. ‘I’m sure First Bus don’t like the fact that the little man took them on and beat them… But I was accused of doing something I knew I hadn’t done and I was determined to fight back.’ Mr Bailes, from Bristol, was asked by First Bus to take a saliva test in May 2012 after an anonymous complaint that he had driven under the influence of cannabis. He had not washed his hands before the test and had eaten his sandwiches after counting the cash, increasing the likelihood of the drug being transferred to his mouth. Mr Bailes said: ‘I hadn’t smoked cigarettes for 16 years and I have never taken drugs in my life. I took the test and ten days later it came back with cocaine. I couldn’t believe it.’ Following his dismissal, Mr Bailes’s family found a Daily Mail article about traces of illegal drugs on bank notes. During the tribunal an expert witness presented evidence that the positive result was down to ‘sample contamination’ from the money Mr Bailes handled. A study by the Forensic Science Service in 2010 found that almost every British bank note in

Summary: Alan Bailes was given a random saliva test for drugs after day driving bus . He was shocked when test was positive for cocaine and he was sacked . Mr Bailes paid for a hair follicle test because he wanted to prove innocence . This £440 test showed he had had no drugs in his system for 90 days . Saliva test is believed to have picked up cocaine he handled on banknotes . Research has found 88 per cent of bank notes contain traces of cocaine . Mr Bailes won his employment tribunal and a five-figure payout from First .


Majid Haq, Scotland’s leading wicket-taker and most capped player, has been forced to fly home from the World Cup after a controversial tweet . One of Scotland’s most successful cricketers has been sent home from the World Cup in disgrace after suggesting his axing from a match was racially motivated. Majid Haq, the country’s leading wicket-taker and most capped player, was ordered to fly back early from Australia for breaching the team’s code of conduct. Haq was not selected for the team that lost to Sri Lanka in Hobart yesterday and later tweeted: ‘Always tougher when your in the minority! #colour #race’, before later deleting the post. After the match, Cricket Scotland broke the news in a brief statement that 32-year-old Haq was coming home early, adding: ‘No further statement will be issued until internal processes have been completed.’ The Paisley-born cricketer now faces a disciplinary hearing which could decide whether his distinguished ten-year career continues or is brought to an ignominious end. The spin bowler, who made his first-class debut with the national team in 2004, suffered mixed fortunes in the World Cup in which Scotland has lost all five pool matches so far. It has a last game on Saturday in which to register a win, but that’s a tall order against four-time champions and co-hosts Australia. Haq took three wickets in Scotland’s first four matches, and was dropped after bowling figures of 0-49 and scoring only one run in the defeat to Bangladesh at Nelson in New Zealand on March 5. In the match against England on February 22, offspinner Haq dismissed opener Moeen Ali to claim a record 257th wicket for Scotland. Former England all-rounder Ian Botham and ex-coach David Lloyd ruffled feathers when they branded the Clydesdale Cricket Club bowler a ‘lobber’ in their TV commentary. At the time, Scotland’s director of cricket Andy Tennant, a specialist spin coach, came to his player’s defence, insisting he was ‘world class’. Tennant said: ‘The commentators kept going on about how slowly Maj was bowling but his flight and dip in the air is what makes him a special bowler. Haq was dropped from Scotland's squad for their defeat to Sri Lanka yesterday after bowling figures of 0-49 and scoring just one run in the previous game, but suggested the move was racially motivated . ‘What they portrayed as a weakness is actually a strength. I think the remarks came across as ill-informed. Majid should be rightly proud of what he has achieved for Scotland and I’m sure he’ll go on to take many more wickets for his country.’ Haq holds the Scottish record for most international cricket caps – 209 – and was presented with a trophy for becoming lead wicket-taker following the England match. Coach Grant Bradburn said in a statement: ‘It is a huge honour and fantastic achievement for Majid, who now becomes Scotland’s leading wicket-taker of all time. 'As such a loyal servant to Scotland Cricket, it is especially appropriate for Majid to achieve this milestone during our World Cup campaign.’ Coach Grant Bradburn had previously

Summary: Majid Haq was dropped from Sr Lanka match after indifferent form . He tweeted: 'Always difficult when your [sic] in the minority #colour' Cricket Scotland said the leading wicket taker has been sent home . Say they will be investigating and cannot comment any further .


A DIFFERENT KIND OF WEATHER . by William Waldegrave . (Constable £20) At the start of the Falklands War in 1982, William Waldegrave, then a junior minister in Margaret Thatcher’s government, was standing in the division lobby of the House of Commons when he saw Thatcher and her entourage of ‘toadies’ marching towards him. He felt compelled to say something, so, with the U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig at the time trying to broker a British ‘sell-out’ to the Argentinians, he asked: ‘Where do the Americans stand, Prime Minister?’ ‘I don’t know, William,’ came the immediate reply. ‘But I know where they are going to stand.’ Would that David Cameron could deal so unequivocally with the White House, but then none of Thatcher’s successors have, least of all the pusillanimous Tony Blair, whom Waldegrave compares with Ted Heath. Margaret Thatcher (right) is once said to have fought off Norman Tebbit (left) with a snarling remark in Waldegrave's defence . This is surprising, for Waldegrave was a passionate Heath loyalist before transferring his allegiance to Thatcher. But he is surely right when he asserts that Heath’s great disappointment in life was that the patriotic, liberal Conservative Party in which he believed so fervently — ‘he and it were family’ — did not return his devotion. And in that respect Waldegrave is reminded of Blair, who ‘genuinely thought — and thinks — that he created a family called New Labour which loved him’. In fact it was success that New Labour loved, not Blair. This absorbing memoir contains some choice gossip as a counter-balance to Waldegrave’s insightful political analysis. Getting back to Heath, he recalls one of the old curmudgeon’s dinner parties — ‘not occasions of much merriment’ — at which Emma Soames gamely tried to enliven proceedings with an anecdote about her brother Nicholas, who had just been selected to contest a tough seat in Glasgow. At a raucous selection meeting, very unlike anything in the Home Counties, the prospective MP had been grasped by the lapels and asked, ‘Are ye married?’ Around Heath’s table, the diners waited expectantly for the end of an amusing story, but Soames suddenly and mystifyingly stopped speaking. Driving her home later, Waldegrave asked if she’d forgotten the punchline? ‘No,’ she said. ‘I was on autopilot and got that far without remembering that after Nicholas admitted to being unmarried, the response was: “Och, not another Tory poofter!” ’ She hadn’t wanted to offend her illustrious host, whose sexuality was always the subject of speculation — though Waldegrave adds that in relation to the Scotsman’s allegation, it was not ‘as far as anyone I ever knew could discover, true’. Waldegrave’s own background differs markedly from those of two of his Tory heroes, Heath and Thatcher, if rather less from that of another, the grouse-shooting enthusiast Harold Macmillan, whom he recalls silencing another dinner party, this time at Waldegrave’s own house, by turning to his neighbour and declaring: ‘Such a pity they abolished the gold sovereign, you know. What does one tip one’s loader?’ Waldegrave's privileged background was very

Summary: Waldegrave grew up privileged not just socially but intellectually . He was a Heath loyalist before transferring to his loyalties to Thatcher . From an early age, his ambition was to rise to high political office . Thatcher liked him and eventually made him Health Secretary .


Twitter has admitted it needs to get tougher on trolls and has already introduced new ways to report abuse to weed out the perpetrators. But now it's taking aim at the rising levels of revenge porn and stolen nude photos posted to the site. Its rules now say that users must not 'post intimate photos or videos that were taken or distributed without the subject's consent'. Twitter's rules have been updated in an attempt to clamp down on revenge porn. Under 'Private information' (pictured) the guidelines now say that users must not 'post intimate photos or videos that were taken or distributed without the subject's consent'. The site said it will verify complaints and suspended abusive users . The changes were spotted by BuzzFeedNews, which recently submitted a Q&A to Reddit when the community site took a similar stance against pornographic posts. Twitter has used these questions to address the changes. Both Twitter's rules and abusive behaviour policy have been updated to reflect these changes. Twitter said that an affected user can report a post if they believe it contains photos or videos posted without their consent. In February a law was passed that made posting revenge porn images and videos a criminal offence in England and Wales. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland are considering similar laws. Under the rules, revenge porn is considered: 'photographs or films which show people engaged in sexual activity or depicted in a sexual way or with their genitals exposed, where what is shown would not usually be seen in public'. It covers images shared without the subject's permission and 'with the intent to cause harm. Offenders face up to two years in jail. This follows laws in sixteen US states - including Alaska, California, New Jersey and Texas - explicitly relating to revenge porn. Under copyright laws the video or photos technically belong to the person who took it and who can, in theory, distribute it as they see fit but Twitter's rules additionally considers the people in the footage. It will ask the person reporting the abuse to verify they are the person in the post and that it was posted without their permission. Twitter said 'agents will then act on content posted in violation of the policy', including removing the post or suspending the accounts of repeat offenders. 'Users who believe that content they post has been incorrectly identified is violating the policy can appeal the decision and agents will review that request as well,' said the firm. 'Content that is identified as violating our policy will be hidden from public view and users posting it will have their accounts locked; those users will be required to delete the content in question before being able to return to the platform. 'Users posting such content with an intent to harass will be subject to suspension from Twitter.' The changes follow reports Twitter would start banning users who violate its rules by tracking email addresses and phone numbers. This means that if an offender attempts to sign up for other accounts using these details Twitter will

Summary: Twitter updated its rules and behaviour policy to tackle revenge porn . Users can no longer 'post intimate photos or videos that were taken or distributed without the subject's consent' It said it will carry out checks to verify the people making the complaints . And if a post is found to breach its rules, the user could be suspended . Twitter boss Dick Costolo recently said site 'sucks' at dealing with trolls . In an internal memo he also took responsibility for Twitter's problems . Twitter streamlined its abuse reporting system in December .


In one photo, she is a slim newlywed running along a beach in a white bikini on her honeymoon. In another, she is a heavily pregnant mother-of-two preparing to welcome twin girls into her family. And in a later snap, she is a beaming mother-of-four with noticeable baby weight and 'war wounds'. Designer Joanna Venditti shared these inspirational and honest photos of herself - captured before, during and after her three pregnancies - in a bid to show how childbirth changes women's bodies. Scroll down for video . 'Refreshingly honest': Designer Joanna Venditti shared these inspirational photos of herself - captured before (left), during (right) and after her three pregnancies - to show how childbirth changes women's bodies . Struggle: She posted them on her blog, Nesting Story, alongside an explanation of how she initially struggled to deal with her baby weight and post-pregnancy scars. Above, Mrs Venditti during her first two pregnancies . Reflection: But after reflecting on what her body had achieved, she 'learned to love' the changes childbirth brought - and no longer feels her pregnancies 'ruined' her body. Above, Mrs Vendetti pregnant with twins . She posted them on her blog, Nesting Story, this month, alongside an explanation of how she initially struggled to deal with her enormous stomach, subsequent baby weight and post-pregnancy scars. But after reflecting on what her body had achieved, she gradually 'learned to love' the changes that childbirth brought - and no longer feels her pregnancies 'ruined' her body, she writes on the blog. Now, Mrs Venditti is focused on celebrating her journey from being a women who aimed to 'turn heads' and a 'vessel' for her unborn children to, finally, a proud mother with curves and pregnancy 'wounds'. 'Isn’t it incredible what the human body can do? Or better yet, what a woman’s body can do? I have had four children, including twins, in the span of five years. Yes, my body did that!,' she writes. The 32-year-old, from Ontario, Canada, adds: 'I am the thirty-something mom now with four kids and I am really proud of that. I am so much more confident with my body than I ever have been before. 'Anytime I start doubting my new curves or war wounds I look around the room and ask myself, how many other people in this room grew two people inside their body at once?' Heavily pregnant: Now, Mrs Venditti (pictured pregnant with her twins) is focused on celebrating her journey from being a women who aimed to 'turn heads' to a proud mother with curves and pregnancy 'wounds' Beaming: 'Isn’t it incredible what the human body can do? Or better yet, what a woman’s body can do? I have had four children, including twins, in the span of five years. Yes, my body did that!,' she writes on her blog . Sunbathing: The 32-year-old, from Ontario, Canada, adds: 'I am the thirty-something mom now with four kids and I am really proud of that. I am so much more confident with my body than I ever have been before' While

Summary: Mom Joanna Venditti shared inspirational and honest pictures of herself . Include images before, during and after the designer's four pregnancies . She explained on a blog how she struggled with the effects of childbirth . But after reflecting on what body had done, she grew to love it, she said . Now, Mrs Venditti, of Canada, is focusing on celebrating body's journey . She is also trying to lose her baby weight - but is taking her time with it .


An Australian businessman could now face the death penalty in the Philippines after being accused of killing a child and orchestrating an international paedophile ring. Last month Peter Gerard Scully from Melbourne was arrested after the body of a teenage girl was found buried under a house he rented in in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. The 52-year-old had allegedly established a 'pay for view' scheme where clients from across the globe paid to live-stream videos of children being tortured and sexually abused as per their requests. It has created such outrage in the Philippines that calls are growing daily to have him executed. Peter Gerald Scully (right) was arrested for human trafficking and child porn-related offences arising from his alleged sexual abuse of Filipino girls which was filmed and then posted online for paying clients . The death penalty was suspended in the Philippines in 2006, but an influential conservative politician told The Sydney Morning Herald that the Australian's alleged crimes were so depraved he should be put to death. 'The Philippine government should directly and seriously address the problem of paedophilia, child exploitation and sexual abuse by supporting the move to reimpose the death penalty,' Sherwin Gatchalian, an MP with the Nationalist People's Coalition, said. Filipinos across the country took to social media to call for his execution. It's alleged that Scully, from the Melbourne suburb of Burwood, took part in perverted acts against children as young as one, which he filmed. He was also running a lucrative business live-streaming videos in a 'pay for view' scheme. Police said Scully would undertake acts in response to requests from his clientele, who were mostly based in Europe. Scully managed to avoid being arrested until February 20 this year before a former partner told police that Scully had killed one of his child victims in 2013. It was after this shocking revelation that the remains of a 10-year-old girl were found at a home formerly rented by Scully. An extremely graphic and distressing account by two young girls, who survived the trauma of Scully's alleged torturous abuse, paints a horrifying picture of what at least a dozen children are alleged to have endured in his home. Agent Janet Francisco (right) , who was responsible for cracking the case and the rescue of several victims from Scully's house, is pictured with one of the rescued girls (left) Cousins, going by the name of Daisy,11, and and Queenie, 10, told rappler news site about the fateful day in September 2014 when they were approached by Scully's live-in partner, Carme Ann 'Angel' Alvarez. Alvarez, who was only 17 at the time and an alleged former victim of Scully's, offered the girls food at Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City and then invited them back to their house. Daisy said when they got to the house, Alvarez bathed the girls while Scully, who she referred to as the 'American', videoed them. The next morning the girls were asked to start digging a hole in the ground but had no idea why they had been asked to do the

Summary: Peter Gerald Scully was arrested in Philippines on child sex abuse charges . The Melbourne man, 52, is accused of killing a 10-year-old girl . He also allegedly orchestrated an international paedophile ring . Filipinos are so outraged with the case they want him to be executed . Politicians and social media users are calling for the death penalty . The death penalty was suspended in the Philippines in 2006 . Scully managed to avoid being arrested until February 20 .


The courier firm City Link broke the law when it went bust over Christmas – but it can only be fined a maximum of £5,000. MPs investigating the collapse say today it ‘is clearly in the financial interest of a company to break the law’. A report also said firms were incentivised to ‘ignore the statutory redundancy consultation period, if the fine for doing so is less than the cost of continuing to trade, especially since this fine will anyway be paid by the taxpayer’. Scroll down for video . Courier firm City Link broke the law over job cuts when it went bust over Christmas, but can only be fined a maximum of £5,000. File photo . The Redundancy Payments Service can fine firms up to £5,000 if they fail to register a consultation, but the financial benefit to firms of trading on regardless can be significantly higher than this fine. The report published today by Parliament’s Scottish Affairs and Business, Innovation and Skills Committees probed the failure of City Link. Some 2,586 workers lost their jobs, with many hearing about the impending collapse on Christmas Day. When a company intends to make more than 100 staff redundant there is a statutory period for consultation of 45 days. This did not happen in the case of City Link, owned by Better Capital and run by private equity tycoon Jon Moulton. Ian Davidson MP, chairman of the joint committee, said ignoring the consultation period had a high human cost that appears not to have featured in the decision making process at City Link. Ian Davidson MP (pictured) said ignoring the consultation period had a high human cost . ‘Employees were denied a reasonable notice period in which to seek alternative employment’, he said. ‘The system provides perverse incentives to withhold information or to skip proper consultation processes in contravention of the law and at a high cost to workers struggling to cope with the loss of their livelihoods.’ Moulton, who bought the troubled firm for £1 in 2013, insisted he had tried to save the company but failed. City Link faced fierce competition from bigger rivals DHL and Fedex and the business he inherited was in a bad state. He said he personally lost £2m and his firm £20m. The committee recommended the government review the requirements for consultation on redundancies so that employees understand what they can expect and company directors have a clear understanding of their responsibility to employees. It said: ‘The processes for company insolvency do not offer sufficient protection to workers, suppliers and contractors and the balance should be shifted’. The politicians called for workers should be given better rights under the Insolvency Act 1986 regardless of whether or not they are directly employed. Davidson said: ‘We are dismayed that, although it was clear for some time that there were serious questions over the ability of City Link to continue trading after December 2014, small businesses and self-employed drivers . . were encouraged to take on additional costs. ‘Contractors feel they were deliberately deceived as to the true

Summary: Firm can only be fined maximum of £5,000 for job cuts when it went bust . When a company intends to make more than 100 staff redundant, there is a statutory period for consultation of 45 days . 2,586 workers lost jobs, with many hearing of collapse on Christmas Day . MPs say it is 'clearly in the financial interest of a company to break the law’ But workers can take the firm to employment tribunal which if successful can make a ‘protective award’ of up to 90 days pay .


Aaron Ramsey believes Arsenal can use the 3-0 win over West Ham as a template to produce the same result in Monaco next week and keep their Champions League hopes alive. The Gunners eventually saw off the challenge of the Irons, who suffered a third straight Barclays Premier League defeat, to move within a point of second-placed Manchester City with what was a eighth win out of the last nine. There is, however, little time for Arsene Wenger's men to recover before they must again raise themselves for the trip to Monaco and the quest to overturn a 3-1 first-leg deficit which has left their Europeans dreams hanging by a thread. Aaron Ramsey (left) races off to celebrate after scoring in Arsenal's 3-0 defeat of West Ham . The Wales midfielder reacted to Olivier Giroud's pass to finish for the Gunners' second goal . Ramsey hopes his side can take confidence from the game into the Champions League . CLICK HERE to read the full match report . Ramsey, who scored Arsenal's second goal on 84 minutes before substitute Mathieu Flamini tapped in a third moments after coming on, feels a similar positive approach can see them pull of an unlikely result at the Stade Louis II Stadium. 'We will go there and try to score three or more goals and hopefully not concede any, that is our target and is how we will approach it,' the Welshman said. 'We had a sloppy first leg and we have made it quite difficult for ourselves, but it is not over yet. Olivier Giroud has rediscovered his goal scoring form after missing chances against Monaco . Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger watches on knowing his side will face a stiffer test in Europe . 'We are more than capable of scoring three goals. We scored three on Saturday and we believe in ourselves. 'So we will go into the game believing we can achieve that.' After seeing Theo Walcott, recalled into the starting XI for the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, thwarted by some good reactions from West Ham goalkeeper Adrian - who played despite suffering a dislocated finger in the warm-up - Olivier Giroud eventually fired Arsenal into the lead on the stroke of half-time with a fierce left-footed shot drilled in off the far post. West Ham raised their game for the second half, but were unable to convert that dominance into a goal. Alexis Sanchez looks dejected as Monaco tie up a 3-1 first leg lead at the Emirates . Mark Noble (left) is confident of ending the Hammers' eight-match winless streak . Sam Allardyce opted out of his post-match media duties to try to lift the squad, who have seen solid performances against the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea fail to earn a victory. Midfielder Mark Noble is confident the eight-match winless run will soon be ended, as the Irons look to get some of their walking wounded back into the squad ahead of the home game against Sunderland. 'We have been through a tough patch after a great first half

Summary: Arsenal defeated West Ham 3-0 in their Premier League clash on Saturday . Aaron Ramsey hopes Gunners can take inspiration for Monaco decider . Gunners trail French side 3-1 after first leg in Champions League last 16 .


Technology that might have averted the Germanwings tragedy by remotely seizing control of the plane has existed for years – but has been resisted by the aviation industry, it emerged last night . Support for real-time monitoring of jets from the ground has stalled amid airline fears of the dangers of eliminating pilots and the possibilities of a so-called cyber-hijack by terrorists. Unions representing pilots are also against the move. The 9/11 attacks on the US, in which terrorists used hijacked aircraft as weapons, sparked calls for new systems to prevent a repeat of the atrocity. Scroll down for video . Recovery: Teams working in the difficult Alpine terrain clear scattered crash debris and search for bodies and belongings . Grief: Relatives of the victims overcome with emotion after attending a tribute in honour of their loved ones in Le Vernet, France on Thursday . Philip Baum, editor of Aviation Security International, said the tragedy was partly due to 'knee-jerk' controls introduced after 9/11. He told The Independent: 'The ill-thought reinforced cockpit door has had catastrophic consequences.' Mr Baum said thinking about airline safety had been skewed by the 2001 terror attacks, adding that there had been 'excessive attention given to terrorism' and a 'failure to address other threats to aviation security'. Manufacturers in Europe and America have worked on ways of creating a ‘hijack-proof’ aircraft. In 2006, Boeing was awarded a US patent for an ‘uninterruptible autopilot system’. This would allow pilots, ground controllers or security agencies such as the CIA to activate an automatic flight mode that cannot be turned off by anyone on board. The system could also switch itself on if terrorists tried to fight their way into the cockpit, with pressure sensors on the door responding to excessive force. Eight previous crashes have been caused by suspected pilot suicide, leading to 416 deaths. November 29, 2013: Mozambique Airlines Flight 470 crashed in Namibia, killing 33 people. October 31, 1999: 217 people died after Egypt Air Flight 990 from New York crash-landed in the sea. October 11, 1999: An Air Botswana pilot grounded for medical reasons took off and crashed his plane. He was the only fatality. December 19, 1997: 104 people were killed when Silk Air flight 185 crashed in Indonesia. August 21, 1994: A Royal Air Maroc pilot flew into the Atlas Mountains, killing 44 people. July 13, 1994: A Russian Air Force engineer crashed a plane he stole at a military base, killing himself. August 22, 1979: A recently sacked mechanic crashed a stolen plane in Colombia, killing four. September 26, 1976: Twelve died when a Russian pilot directed his plane at his ex-wife’s flat. The aircraft’s flight path could be radioed to it by ground control, and it would be brought safely down at a nearby airport using existing automatic landing aids. Sources at Boeing claimed at the time that the anti-hijack equipment could be fitted to planes all over the world by 2010. But this has failed to happen amid safety concerns from pilots and airlines, and the technology remains unproven. The ability

Summary: Technology that might have averted Alps tragedy has existed for years but has been resisted by aviation industry . 'Uninterruptible autopilot system' would allow ground controllers to activate mode that cannot be turned off on jet . But support has stalled amid fears of dangers of eliminating pilots and possibilities of so-called cyber-hijacks .


In 1988, when Arsene Wenger was getting in his stride as Monaco manager, he revealed in an interview with a local newspaper that he did a master's degree in economics because it gave him a 'way to understand what was going on around me'. The 65-year-old must now wrap his head around how Arsenal were eliminated from the Champions League in the last 16 for the fifth year running, despite a 2-0 win against his former club that left it 3-3 on aggregate. Wenger's return to Monaco was not as romantic as he would have liked as no banners were unfurled at the Stade Louis II and few pleasantries were exchanged during a match that saw Arsenal win the battle, but lose the war. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's return to his former club Monaco ended in a 2-0 win that saw his team go out 3-3 on aggregate . Wenger cut a frustrated figure even though his team won 2-0 against Monaco as they were dumped out of the Champions League . Wenger holds his head in his hands (left) and gestures (right) as Arsenal failed to overturn the 3-1 deficit from the first leg . Wenger leaves the pitch following their exit from the Champions League at the last 16 stage for the fifth year running . Wenger will analyse his team's performance in the Champions League this season after being dumped out in the last 16 again . Wenger leaves the pitch as Arsenal were dumped out of the Champions League last 16 by his former club Monaco . Read chief sports writer Martin Samuel's match report from the Stade Louis II . Arsenal's exit on away goals means Wenger must now focus on qualifying for next year's competition and little can be made in mitigation for being denied a place in the quarter-finals by a team sitting fourth in Ligue 1. 'We have gone out in the last 16 in the last four years, but twice against the future winners,' Wenger said ahead of the match, though it would take some doing for Leonardo Jardim's Monaco to become the third eventual European champions to boot Arsenal out. Wenger is sure to analyse his team's exit and it was in that same interview with Monaco-Matin some 27 years ago that he revealed his habit for making sure he watches at least half an hour of football every evening, among other interests. 'I read a lot, all sorts of books because you have to be conversant in a larger and larger amount of things,' the then-Monaco manager said in 1988. 'For example, I follow closely what is being released in the book store, be it in French, in German or in English. I take notes by hand. I do not know how to type. I have watched a lot of matches. 'This is part of continuing to grow [as a manager]. You take a step back from your football and you analyse the practices elsewhere. 'I have at least 250 [video cassettes]. Every evening, at home, I watch a game for

Summary: Arsene Wenger's Arsenal won 2-0 against Monaco in the second leg of their Champions League tie . It was not enough as Arsenal lost on away goals as the last 16 tie ended 3-3 on aggregate . Arsenal have exited the Champions League at the last 16 stage for the fifth consecutive year . Wenger was Monaco manager between 1987 and 1994, winning Ligue 1 in his debut season .


Thousands of users of an online prescription service have had their data sold without their knowledge, a Mail investigation can reveal today. Their names and addresses have been handed to companies that target the sick. Many of the patients used the Pharmacy 2U service because they were disabled or too ill to travel to their nearest surgery. Others used the firm’s online doctor consultations. Scroll down for video . Pharmacy 2U, an online prescription service, has sold patients information to marketing companies without their knowledge . Pharmacy 2U, which is the country’s leading NHS approved online pharmacy, even gave the patients’ email addresses, dates of birth and date of their last prescriptions to a marketing firm. MPs said the company was putting thousands of patients at risk and should face a police probe. The revelations come amid a growing outcry over the Mail’s reporting on how sensitive medical and financial data is being sold to conmen and criminals. Today we can also reveal that: . Following a major investigation, the Mail this week revealed how financial details of thousands of people – including details of their incomes, investments and pension pots – were being sold for as little as 5p to cold callers and fraudsters. The prescription company even gave the patients’ email addresses, dates of birth and date of their last prescriptions to firms . And our disclosures yesterday included how undercover reporters were also able to buy private medical details – including names of people suffering from arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and even bladder problems – for just 19p each. Some of this information on sick and disabled people is ending up in the hands of conmen and criminals who prey on the most vulnerable. Now it can be revealed that details of NHS patients who have bought prescriptions online are also being offered for sale. The details sold to Alchemy Direct Media by Pharmacy 2U, which has a turnover of £17million a year, include the names and addresses of people who have requested online doctor consultations using the site. On its website, Alchemy described those on the list as people who had used Pharmacy 2U to ‘place their GP prescriptions and have them delivered to their home address’. Andy Burnham, Labour's health spokesman, has described this as an 'extremely serious matter' The details appear to have been passed on without the proper consent of patients. When registering for online prescriptions, patients using Pharmacy2U have to agree to terms and conditions but these do not cover anything about their information being passed on to third parties. That is only stated in the small print of the website’s privacy policy. Pharmacy2U admitted to the Mail that it had sold the names and addresses of ‘up to 5,000’ patients on three occasions, refusing to say how much it had charged. It said it had decided to stop selling the information and stressed no medical data had been passed on. But Andy Burnham, Labour’s health spokesman, said: ‘This is an extremely serious matter. The Government must initiate an inquiry and call in

Summary: Names, addresses and dates of birth among information sold off to firms . Pharmacy 2U is the country's leading NHS approved online pharmacy . But Mail investigation can reveal that patients personal details were sold . MPs said company put thousands at risk and it should face a police probe . Comes amid outcry over medical and financial data being sold to conmen . NHS dentists are buying data on patients in order to try to sell them treatments; . Payday loan brokers are passing on the financial details of vulnerable people who have been refused cash – leading to them being targeted by conmen; . Schools are buying information on teenagers’ parents from a data firm already exposed for selling medical details; . The Department for Business paid an unscrupulous data firm up to £15,000 in public money to help them target small business owners.