Arjen Robben has been ruled out of Holland's games against Turkey and Spain with a torn abdominal muscle. The Bayern Munich forward was substituted in the first half of his club's Bundesliga 2-0 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday and the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) has now confirmed his absence. A statement on the KNVB's official website read: 'Arjen Robben has informed national coach Guus Hiddink of his withdrawal for the upcoming matches of the Dutch team against Turkey and Spain. Arjen Robben tore a stomach muscle in Bayern Munich's loss to Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday . Robben had only just returned from a back injury but now faces an absence of several weeks . Robben heads down the tunnel in the 24th minute after going off injured for Munich . 'Hiddink will decide at a later stage if he will call up a replacement for the injured Robben.' Bayern revealed on their website after the game that Robben would be out for 'several weeks', and chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: 'This news is at least as bad as the defeat.' Holland face Turkey on Saturday in European Championship qualifying group A, where they lie third behind the Czech Republic and Iceland after losing two of their first four games. Spain then visit the Amsterdam ArenA for a friendly on Tuesday. Dutch boss Guus Hiddink will be without Robben for the forthcoming international friendlies . Manuel Neuer (centre) spills a shot from Raffael as Bayen Munich lost to Borussia Monchengladbach .

Summary: Arjen Robben will miss Holland's matches against Turkey and Spain . Robben went off injured during Bayern Munich defeat on Sunday . Bayern suffered shock 2-0 defeat against Borussia Monchengladbach . The attacker has torn a stomach muscle and is out for several weeks .


Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling has shelved contract talks until the end of the season. The development casts further doubt over the England international’s long-term future at Anfield. Sterling has been locked in talks over a contract extension for several months but the 20-year-old has told club officials he wants to focus on the remainder of Liverpool’s Premier League season and on winning the FA Cup. Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling has postponed talks over a new contract until the end of the season . The development casts further doubt over the England international’s long-term future at Anfield . Appearances this season: 39 . Goals: 10 . The news will be met with anxiety by club chiefs, who are desperate to secure Sterling on a long-term deal and the next round of talks, when they recommence in the summer, will be critical, with his existing £35,000-per-week deal expiring in 2017. Given Sterling’s status as one of Europe’s top emerging talents, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are watching on closely. Likewise, Premier League clubs will also enter the race if it becomes clear Sterling is available. Liverpool ace Sterling has been locked in talks over a contract extension for several months now . Sterling has told club officials he wants to focus on the remainder of Liverpool’s Premier League season . Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are keeping a very close eye on the talented Liverpool youngster . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers claims Sterling has been offered an ‘incredible deal’ — which is understood to be close to £100,000-per-week. Rodgers has previously insisted Sterling is close to putting pen to paper, but as it stands there is no agreement. The Anfield boss has called the Jamaican-born forward the best young player in Europe and is under increasing pressure to ensure the club keep their jewel in the crown. Whether Liverpool finish in the top four is likely to be a factor in Sterling’s decision. The pacy attacker is said to have been offered a deal worth close to £100,000 per week to stay at Anfield . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to tie down the 20-year-old to a new contract at Anfield . Liverpool manager Rodgers has described the Jamaican-born forward as the best young player in Europe .

Summary: Raheem Sterling has put contract talks on hold until the end of the season . Liverpool are said to have offered the youngster close to £100,000-a-week . But Sterling has told officials he wants to concentrate on his football . Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have been keeping tabs on the 20-year-old .


Connor Wickham has admitted Sunderland's misfiring strikers deserve the criticism they are getting. The Black Cats have managed only 23 goals in their 28 Barclays Premier League fixtures to date this season, a return which has left them perched perilously close to the relegation zone as the season reaches crunch-point. Perhaps even more worrying is the fact that Gus Poyet's pool of frontmen has contributed just nine of those goals, a record Wickham knows simply has to improve if they are to avoid a second successive scramble for top-flight survival. Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has only managed two goals since his January arrival from FC Toronto . 'I wouldn't say the criticism of the strikers is unfair,' admitted Wickham, speaking to the Northern Echo. 'Strikers are going to get the most at any club because they are the money-makers, they are the ones that the fans are relying on to score the goals. That's where the criticism can come. 'Chances come and you do need to put them away. We are creating chances. The way we set up, we are setting up to attack at times when we get the ball. We do try to break as quickly as we can when we get the ball. Connor Wickham, who has scored just three league goals this season, says Sunderland attack must do better . Wickham, 21, scored one of his three Premier League strikes this term against champions Manchester City . 'We have done it in games but we have to get more consistent with it and get in to the box more. We will climb away from the rest of the group down there if we can start to put our chances away.' Scotland international Steven Fletcher is currently leading the way for the strikers with four goals - the same number as midfielder Adam Johnson - with Wickham having managed three and January arrival Jermain Defoe two. Danny Graham is yet to score for the club, while Jozy Altidore, who left the Stadium of Light for Toronto in an exchange deal with Defoe in January, did so having found the back of the net just three times in 52 appearances in all competitions. Sunderland face Aston Villa - the only Premier League club to have scored fewer goals with just 15 to date - at the Stadium of Light on Saturday with three points crucial for both sides. Villa, who ended a run of seven league defeats on the trot with a 2-1 home victory over derby rivals West Brom on March 3, currently sit three points clear of the bottom three with their hosts a point better off. Steven Fletcher and Jermain Defoe will be hoping for better luck in front of goal when they play Aston Villa .

Summary: Barclays Premier League strugglers have scored just 23 goals in 28 games . Only nine of those goals have been scored by Sunderland's strikers . Wickham, 21, scored his last goal in January against Burnley . Sunderland face Aston Villa at Stadium of Light in their next game . CLICK HERE for all the latest Sunderland news .


This is the moment that a controversial art project which was branded 'Satanic' by a church minister went up in flames. The intricately hand crafted wooden temple was the product of two years of hard work and planning by renowned American Artist David Best, who is best known for Nevada's annual Burning Man festival. The 70ft tower was made by Catholics and Protestants working together in the Northern Ireland city of Londonderry and filled with messages written in memory of loved ones who had died. Ahead of the bonfire Presbyterian minister the Reverend Graeme Orr had said he feared the burning could leave people open to the influence of Satan. Scroll down for video . This is the moment that thousands of people watched as a controversial art project went up in flames in Londonderry, Northern Ireland . Around 60,000 people had visited the intricately hand crafted wooden temple before it was set alight at dusk this evening . The wooden temple was the product of two years of hard work and planning by renowned American Artist David Best . The 70ft tower was made by Catholics and Protestants working together and filled with messages written in memory of loved ones who had died . But the artist creator David Best said he believed it would help the bereaved end their pain. 'If this is paganism then I am Donald Duck,' he said. Around 60,000 people visited the structure, made of carved plywood and featuring a giant wooden chandelier hanging down from a central spire, before it was torched this evening. Members of the public who visited were encouraged to scrawl messages and leave mementos in tribute to lost loved ones. Personal notes remembered the victims of tragedy from suicides to a young policewoman killed in a crash to those killed during the 30-year conflict. Among those who set light to the temple were people whose lives were blighted by the Troubles. Among those who set light to the towering structure were those who had lost loved ones in the 30 year conflict . Bonfires have traditionally been a source of division in the city of Londonderry, also referred to as Derry . Two men watch the dying embers of the 70ft hand crafted temple by the renowned Burning Man artist David Best . Bonfires have traditionally been a source of division in the city of Londonderry, also referred to as Derry. Huge towers made of wooden pallets are set alight every year to celebrate the victory of King William of Orange over Catholic King James in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. US artist Best decided to turn the tradition on its head - creating a work of art that Catholic and Protestants could work on together and burn in a symbol of peace. Best has now produced eight temples for the Burning Man Festival, which takes place in the Nevada every August, and each one has had its own name, with 2014's creation named the Temple of Grace. American Artist David Best, who is best known for Nevada's annual

Summary: Messages written in memory of loved ones who have died went up in flames in Londonderry, Northern Ireland . Temple took two months to build and artist David Best said he hoped it would ease the pain of the bereaved . Around 60,000 people visited the 70ft hand crafted tower carved out of plywood before it was set alight . Some of the messages inside the structure were about people who had died during the 30 year conflict . Presbyterian minister Reverend Graeme Orr said he feared the burning could leave people open to Satan .


Katie Hopkins has been reported to police by Labour MP Simon Danczuk over claims she incited racial hatred in tweets linking Pakistani men to the Rochdale child sex abuse scandal . Outspoken former reality TV star Katie Hopkins has accused the Labour MP Simon Danczuk of reporting her to the police to deflect attention from being 'caught watching porn'. Mr Danczuk said he had received death threats after asking Manchester Police Commissioner Tony Lloyd to investigate whether Ms Hopkins had incited racial hatred in a series of tweets linking Pakistani men to the Rochdale child sex abuse scandal. Ms Hopkins sent the tweets after Mr Danczuk attended the raising of a Pakistani flag over the town hall for half an hour on March 23 to mark Pakistan's National Day. Ms Hopkins posted a series of messages to her account after the MP tweeted a picture of himself at the event. In response the controversial columnist sent a picture of eight men convicted of child exploitation offences, asking Mr Danczuk if they were his friends too. Mr Danczuk said the messages were 'inciting racial hatred'. He told LBC radio tonight that he had seen the police today and will do so again tomorrow and revealed he had received death threats as a result. Ms Hopkins sounded unconcerned and said she laughed when she heard Mr Danczuk had reported her to the police. She said she will stand up herself and 'defend the right of British people to have the Union flag flying'. She added that Mr Danczuk is 'wasting police time'. The businesswoman said Mr Danczuk was just covering up the fact that he had been 'caught watching porn' and because he has a wafer thin majority and 'needs the Pakistani vote'. It came after Mr Danczuk this weekend confessed to watching pornography but insisted voters want politicians who 'live in the real world'. The husband of selfie-loving Karen Danczuk was spotted favouriting hard-core porn on Twitter - but blamed it on a fault with his iPhone. However, the 48-year-old was unembarrassed about the gaffe. He stressed he does not use porn regularly, but insisted: 'I am a man of the world and it is part of life, many people do.' Mr Danczuk tonight dismissed Ms Hopkins' claim that he had only reported her to cover up his embarrassment. But Ms Hopkins said she stood by her comments saying: 'For me, in somewhere like Rochdale, you can't raise a Pakistani flag and talk about community cohesion in the same sentence.' 'If we look at why someone didn't call the police earlier when our white girls were being attacked by these gentlemen, if someone had called the police earlier then that would have been a good thing wouldn't it?' Hopkins is said to have started sending the tweets after Mr Danczuk attended the raising of a Pakistani flag over the town hall for half an hour on March 23 to mark Pakistan's National Day . Mr Danczuk said Rochdale has faced up to the 'heinous crime' of child grooming 'in a way that's managed

Summary: Katie Hopkins has been reported to police by Labour MP Simon Danczuk . She tweeted linking Pakistani men to the Rochdale child sex abuse scandal . Comes after Mr Danczuk attended raising of a Pakistani flag on March 23 . The columnist sent a picture to the MP of men convicted of child abuse . Tonight Mr Danczuk revealed he had received death threats over the row . But Ms Hopkins said he was only covering up being caught watching porn .


Prosecutors want panels of the boat in which Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found hiding to be brought to court to show jurors what they say is his written confession. His lawyers want them to see the entire bullet-ridden boat. Prosecutors have said Tsarnaev scrawled the motive for the attack inside the boat. They say he referred to U.S. wars in Muslim countries and wrote, among other things, 'Stop killing our innocent people and we will stop.' Scroll down for video . Prosecutors say alleged Boston Bomber Dzokhar Tsarnaev (right) confessed to the attack in a scrawled message inside the boat where he was taken into custody. A view of the bloodied and bullet-ridden message seen on the left in an image obtained by ABC . Above, another view of the boat message which reads in part: 'We Muslims are one body. You kill one of us you hurt us all.' Tsarnaev's older brother, Tamerlan, had been killed hours earlier during a shootout with police, but Tsarnaev escaped and was captured — bloodied and wounded — inside a boat parked in a backyard in Watertown. During a final pretrial hearing Monday, Tsarnaev attorney William Fick objected to the plan to bring pieces of the boat to court and suggested instead that the boat be brought to the courthouse so the jury can see the entire boat. He argued that the jury would be seeing the writing out of context if the panels were brought into the courtroom. To see the whole boat would allow the jury to imagine Tsarnaev lying inside 'much like someone lying in a crypt making those writings,' Fick said. Attorneys for Tsarnaev want the entire boat where their client was arrested brought to court to the jury can see how torn up it was in the firefight with police . Above, a picture of the moment Tsarnaev was taken into custody outside of the boat in Watertown . Assistant U.S. Attorney William Weinreb argued that it would be impractical to bring the entire boat to the courthouse and that there are photographs of it that can be shown to the jury. He suggested that the defense wants the jury to see the boat —which contains bullet holes, blood stains and broken glass — to gain sympathy for Tsarnaev. Tsarnaev's lawyers also asked Judge George O'Toole Jr. to exclude autopsy photos of the three people killed in the bombings. More than 260 people were hurt. 'These are highly sensitive, highly disturbing images,' said attorney Miriam Conrad. She said the defense will not dispute how the victims died. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini said prosecutors have to prove that the victims died from the use of a weapon of mass destruction, which is among the charges against Tsarnaev. She said the full-body autopsy photos are necessary because they show all the wounds. The judge did not immediately rule on the motions. Tsarnaev's lawyers made it clear during the hearing that they will portray Tsarnaev as an adoring younger brother who was coerced by his older brother into

Summary: Defense attorneys for Tsarnaev petitioned to bring the entire boat where he was captured to court so jury could see damage from firefight . Prosecutors said it wasn't realistic to bring the entire vessel to court, and that pictures of the boat would suffice . However, they do want panels from inside the boat brought to court which they say contain's Tsarnaev's confession note . It reads: 'We Muslims are one body. You kill one of us, you hurt us all' The judge did not rule on either motions on Monday - two days before the start of the trial . The trial is expected to last three to four months .


The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity is fighting back against claims that racism is stitched into the fabric of the fraternity - by mandating that all members of the organization undergo 'diversity training.' One of the University of Oklahoma students who took part in the infamous racist chant wrote that 'the song was taught to us,' passed down through an unknown number of generations at the Oklahoma chapter before finally being exposed. On Wednesday, the fraternity's executive director Blaine Ayers announced changes aimed at making SAE more inclusive, including diversity training and a review of every chapter's behavior. Pained: Sigma Alpha Epsilon executive director Blaine Ayers apologized and announced changes Wednesday aimed at making SAE more inclusive, including diversity training . 'The chant in the video is ugly. It is demoralizing and absolutely counter to the values of SAE,' Ayers said at a press conference in Chicago, describing his own disgust at the video. Though the fraternity is currently headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, it was founded at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, five years before the beginning of the Civil War. The University of Oklahoma expelled two members and suspended the fraternity last week, though the chapter has retained a lawyer, Stephen Jones, who defended Oklahoma City Bomber Timothy McVeigh. Ayers laid out several steps the fraternity would take nationwide in order to 'ensure that this never happens again.' 'We are focused on trying to determine the root of this song or this chant, where it came from, that's our primary focus,' said Ayers, who stated he had never heard the chant. Diversity training program will be mandated for SAE members, and the fraternity has set up a hotline that will allow people to confidentially report inappropriate conduct, he added. Bad light: The recording showed a bus driving to an SAE function as two members led the chant, which mentioned lynching black people and declared there would 'never be a n***** in SAE' Bad boys: The Los Angeles Times reported that SAE's chapters have faced numerous disciplinary sanctions for their actions, including the drinking death of a pledge in 2008 at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo . In addition to new programs in the fraternity, Ayers said the fraternity will appoint a director and national advisory committee for diversity and inclusion. The fraternity will also conduct and investigation of all 237 of its chapters to identify bigoted behaviors and prepare a report, the executive director added. 3 percent of SAE members identify as African-American, and 20 percent as non-white, according to data the fraternity began collecting in 2013. That 20 percent 'is a number we would like to increase,' Ayers said, though the target number was not given. It remains to be seen whether minority students have been turned off SAE for good after the video of the racist chant surfaced. The second-ever black member of the Oklahoma chapter, William Bruce James II, expressed the heartbreak he felt after seeing the video. 'There will never be another black SAE,' he wrote in Quartz. 'I wish there had been one less.' 'Counting heads

Summary: University of Oklahoma suspended Sigma Alpha Epsilon after a video of members singing about lynching surfaced online . The fraternity's national leadership announced a major review of the fraternity's behavior to identify any racially insensitive actions . Diversity training will be mandated and the fraternity says it will try to increase the participation of minority members .


A legal stoush between two of Australia's most popular social media personalities is over after the parties settled outside court. Leanne Ratcliffe - better known as 'Freelee the Banana Girl - and her partner Harley Johnstone promised a court they will not disparage popular Instagram personality Kayla Itsines, 23, online. Ms Itsines, the 23-year-old behind the Bikini Body Guide fitness program, lodged an injunction against the pair in March after alleging the couple posted 'defamatory' remarks on YouTube last month. Scroll down for video . Kayla v Freelee: Instagram personality Kayla Itsines (left) was taking legal action against Freelee The Banana Girl (right) over alleged defamation . Popular Instagram personality and personal trainer Kayla Itsines (pictured) is responsible for the Bikini Body Challenge . Freelee the Banana Girl, pictured, is most famous for a stunt several years ago where she ate 51 bananas for a YouTube video . In a fiery Facebook post addressed to her followers, Ms Itsines said she was taking court action because of 'false claims that my partner takes steroids' and 'claims I'm starving myself or other people'. She argued she was 'standing up for myself, friends and family' in bringing the lawsuit. On Tuesday morning, lawyers told the South Australian Supreme Court that the parties had successfully reached a deal in the last week. Under the terms of the agreement, Ms Ratcliffe and Mr Johnstone will be barred from making disparaging statements about Ms Itsines in social, print or electronic media. After the court hearing Ms Itsines' lawyer, Mike Hayes from Lynch Meyer, told Daily Mail Australia the parties had agreed on amended terms of an injunction Ms Itsines had lodged on March 2. Judge Brian Withers made the orders permanent this morning. He also scheduled a further hearing in May to ensure the orders were carried out. The case will not proceed to trial. Outside court, Ms Ratcliffe told South Australian newspaper The Advertiser that she would abide by the terms of the deal. 'Recalling every detail of it (the settlement) is a little difficult, but I understand it and I will follow it,' she was quoted saying. More than a hundred Banana Girl supporters crowded outside court last week, reportedly chanting 'carb the f*** up'. In a YouTube video posted at the weekend, Ms Ratcliffe told her followers: 'I'm not stressed. I know good will prevail.' Personal trainer Kayla Itsines is pictured here with her partner Tobi. Daily Mail Australia understands the pair are currently overseas . With a successful business and popular training regime, Ms Itsines (above) has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram . Ms Itsines is the powerhouse behind the popular fitness brand, the Bikini Body Guide . Durianrider (left) - also known as Harley Johnstone - and Freelee the Banana Girl (right) promote vegan and raw vegan eating options and are popular YouTube personalities . Freelee the Banana Girl and Durianrider took to YouTube have made two statements about the impending legal action in the past week . Freelee the Banan Girl famously ate 51 bananas in one YouTube video

Summary: Legal stoush between Freelee the Banana Girl and Kayla Itsines is over after parties settle . Freelee (real name Leanne Ratcliffe) has agreed not to disparage Ms Itsines online or in the print or electronic media . Ms Itsines, 23, is the entrepreneurial personal trainer behind the Bikini Body Guide fitness program . Freelee has more than 100,000 fans on social media . She is most famous for eating more than 50 bananas in a day .


With two protective arms wrapped around his little siblings, Ethan looks just like any proud older brother. But what this photograph doesn’t reveal is that these children were all conceived at the same time – although Ethan was born a full two years before his brother and sister. The trio arrived after their mother Katie Preston had struggled through five long years of unsuccessful IVF treatment – and started to think that she would never be able to have children. Mrs Preston says Ethan loves helping to look after his brother and sister, and kisses them goodnight. Mrs Preston said: 'We feel truly blessed' Katie and Matthew Preston, both 28, have 'miracle' triplets. Ethan, now two, (centre), was born in 2012, but Isabel (left) and Arthur (right), now three months old, were born two years and five days later . Mrs Preston, from Castle Vale in Birmingham, said: ‘It was heartbreaking. You end up beating yourself up, you ask yourself, why me? What did I do? What if I had done things differently?’ 'I would see a woman with a pram in the street and would go home and cry,' she said. 'Many of my family and friends were having families, and we just thought it would never happen for us. 'I used to blame myself, and Matthew would blame himself - we were at rock bottom.' The pair were referred to Midland Fertility for treatment with NHS funding in 2011. But Mrs Preston and her husband Matthew, who are both 28, then went through a successful round of a procedure called ICSI – or intracytoplasmic sperm injection – where an embryologist chooses a sperm and injects it into an egg. Ethan, Isabel and Arthur were made as part of six embryos created when parents underwent IVF treament. Their parents call them their 'miracle triplets' This is different from IVF, where lots of sperm are placed inside a dish near an egg, in the hope that this will encourage fertilisation to occur. The ICSI procedure resulted in five eggs from the same menstrual cycle being fertilised and then frozen. One was immediately inserted into Mrs Preston’s uterus. After two weeks, she took a pregnancy test and was delighted when she saw two little blue lines appear. Nine months later she became a mother for the first time. But four of the eggs were still waiting for her at the Midland Fertility Clinic in Tamworth, Staffordshire. The couple, who had always dreamed of a big family, decided to try again. 'We just couldn't discard them after the effort and dedication that went into creating them, so we decided to use them,' Mr Preston said. Two of the best eggs were allowed to thaw and again injected into Mrs Preston’s uterus and by December 13, 2014 – two years and five days after Ethan, she gave birth to babies Isabel and Arthur. She said: 'To our surprise at our first pregnancy scan, we saw not one, but two little heartbeats.' 'We think of our three children both as twins and a big brother, and

Summary: Katie and Matthew Preston, from Castle Vale, turned to IVF to conceive . Six embryos were made as part of the process with one implanted in 2011 . Mrs Preston was delighted to become pregnant and Ethan was born in 2012 . Other embryos were frozen but they decided to thaw them and use them . Isabel and Arthur were born last year, making the children 'miracle triplets'


Jailed: Simon Rouen tried to arrange to abuse a woman while working at an Antarctic research base . A British scientist working in Antarctica tried to arrange to abuse an eight-year-old girl when he returned from the South Pole. Simon Rouen, 36, was based at a polar research station when he spelt out his desire in emails to two undercover detectives in a police sting. He thought his messages were going to another paedophile. The eight-year-old girl did not exist. Police tracked him down and arrested him when he landed at Heathrow last year as he returned from working with the British Antarctic Survey. A search of his computer found scores of indecent images of children. Detective Constable Jo Gordon, of Kent Police, said: ‘Throughout the course of the emails he sent, Simon Rouen demonstrated a very real desire to sexually abuse the child when he returned to England. ‘Fortunately, we were able to identify the risk he posed to children and intercept him before any child could be abused.’ Rouen was found guilty of arranging the facilitation of a child sex offence and ten counts of possessing indecent images of children. He was jailed for three years at Southwark Crown Court. The laboratory manager, of Redruth, Cornwall, was stationed at the Rothera Research Station, on Adelaide Island, which also serves as the capital of the British Antarctic Territory. The station has a maximum population of 130 in the summer falling to 22 in the winter. During his six months at the station he exchanged emails with officers from Kent Police’s paedophile online investigation team. Work: Rouen was based at the Rothera Research Station, where he was a highly skilled lab manager . Base: Rothera is the capital of the British Antarctic Territory and is a major centre of scientific research . His last message was sent from Chile as he flew back from Antarctica last March. His police mugshot shows him with the scraggly beard that he grew while he was working in Antarctica. Rouen will be subject to a sexual offences prevention order and will be placed on the sex offenders register. DC Gordon said: ‘We will use all the techniques available to us to apprehend people who prey upon children online, and who use the internet as a tool to find children to sexually abuse or to view indecent images of children.’ A spokesman for the British Antarctic Survey confirmed that Rouen previously worked for the company. She said: ‘The matter has been dealt with by the courts and we do not wish to comment any further.’ The BAS has been responsible for the majority of Britain’s scientific research on the Antarctic continent for the past 60 years.

Summary: Simon Rouen, 36, worked as a lab manager for the British Antarctic Survey . The scientist sent string of emails to undercover officers in a police sting . He thought they could arrange for him to abuse a girl but she did not exist . Rouen was arrested at Heathrow and has now been jailed for three years .


A blind man claimed health care workers carved the letters 'KKK' into his stomach during heart surgery in 2011, but a federal jury has found that a South Dakota hospital is not liable. Jurors ruled in favor of Rapid City Regional Hospital on Friday after five hours of deliberation. The hospital maintained that the marks on Vern Traversie's abdomen were the result of a skin reaction to medical tape. The Rapid City Journal reports that the 71-year-old sued the hospital for alleged violations of civil rights, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Scroll down for video . Injured: Vern Traversie (left) accused a Rapid City Regional Hospital worker of intentionally carving the letters "KKK" into his abdomen during heart surgery . Traversie is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. State and federal authorities earlier concluded there was no criminal wrongdoing. A lawyer for a Native American man who claimed the letters 'KKK' were carved into his stomach during surgery filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the hospital where the operation took place in 2012. YouTube videos featuring 69-year-old Vern Traversie, a Lakota man who lives on the Cheyenne River Reservation, went viral in Native American communities in 2012. In them, Traversie talks about being mistreated at the South Dakota hospital and shows his abdomen. Though he himself is blind, Traversie says he was told by others that the scars left after his heart surgery form the letters. Video from YouTube . Vern Traversie is blind but after a nurse saw these scars in his abdomen and on his back after his 2011 heart surgery, she told him he should get someone to take a photo of his scars . A May rally in support of Traversie drew hundreds of people, many of whom said his story exemplifies the racism Native Americans experience in Rapid City. But others say they couldn' make out the letters, including police who investigated his allegations and hospital officials. Chase Iron Eyes, a lawyer for Traversie, filed a lawsuit in a U.S. District Court in South Dakota against Rapid City Regional Hospital, its board of directors, physicians and TRS Surg Assist Inc. The lawsuit alleged a civil rights violation based on race and cites the scarring from Traversie's double-bypass surgery done in August 2011 as evidence. kk: The pattern of scars look as though they say KKK, which stands for the Klux Klux Klan . Defendants injured, carved, burned, and/or cared for Plaintiff's abdomen in such a manner that scars resembling three letters 'K' were permanently placed on Plaintiff's abdomen for no medically necessary purpose or reason, and in the process injured, carved, burned, and/or cared for other portions of Plaintiff's body to cause injury, specifically his abdomen and back,' the lawsuit stated. Tim Sughrue, chief executive of Rapid City Regional Hospital, said in a statement that the hospital will 'vigorously defend this claim'. 'We at Rapid City Regional Hospital are confident the care we provide meets or exceeds standards of care and is without bias or consideration of race, religion, color, age, sex,

Summary: Vern Traversie, now 71, accused a South Dakota Hospital of carving KKK into his stomach post surgery . The hospital maintained that the marks on Vern Traversie's abdomen were the result of a skin reaction to medical tape . Traversie is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and noted a lonh history of discrimination in the region .


Kumar Sangakkara joined Sachin Tendulkar in an exclusive club Sunday, becoming only the second batsman to pass 14,000 career runs in one-day international cricket. The 37-year-old Sangakkara was playing against four-time champion Australia in a World Cup match at the Sydney Cricket Ground when he passed the milestone in his 402nd ODI. He turned Glenn Maxwell for two runs down legside to reach 39. He stroked consecutive boundaries off the subsequent two deliveries and reached his 94th ODI half century from 45 balls. Kumar Sangakkara (right) is congratulated by Tilakaratne Dilshan after reaching 14,000 ODI runs . The Sri Lankan batsman reached the milestone during his 24th ODI century against Australia on Sunday . Sangakkara hit unbeaten centuries in his previous two World Cup matches against Bangladesh and England. India great Tendulkar holds the record with 18,426 ODI runs. Sangakarra flick a ball away during another excellent innings, but it was in vain as Sri Lanka were beaten . Only Sachin Tendulkar has more ODI runs than Sangakkara, but the Indian great is still 4,000 ahead .

Summary: Sri Lankan star joins Sachin Tendulkar as only batsmen to reach milestone . Kumar Sangakkara hit his 24th One Day International century in defeat . Sangakkara has played 402 ODIs for Sri Lanka .


Wales boss Warren Gatland has warned his players not to get ‘caught with their pants down’ in Rome after their famous victory over Ireland set up a final-round decider against Italy. Having edged out their round-four tie at the Millennium Stadium, Gatland’s side are still in the hunt for the championship but they must better the points difference of both England and Ireland to top the standings. Wales have won their last seven meetings against the Azzuri, however they will have to prepare for the tie at the Stadio Olimpico with major fitness concerns over Jamie Roberts, Richard Hibbard, Gethin Jenkins and Samson Lee. Wales coach Warren Gatland has warned his team to focus on winning against Italy before running up a score . A delighted Wales team celebrates keeping their 2015 RBS Six Nations title hopes alive with victory . ‘If you go in with an attitude that we need to score, 20, 30 or 40 points then we’ll get caught with our pants down and be rolled over,’ said Gatland. ‘It will be tough for Italy with a six-day turnaround. Italy are not a bad side. It’s important to do a job up front and accumulate points. ‘It could come down to the last 15 or 20 minutes. It will be nice to go there and get a win and hopefully win by a few. We’re first up at the weekend so we’ll see how the other teams react afterwards. It puts us under some pressure but hopefully it puts England and Ireland under some pressure too.’ England face a potential banana-skin tie against France, while Ireland have a trip to wooden spoon favourites Scotland. Like Gatland, Ireland coach Joe Schmidt will also approach the closing weekend with caution. The Kiwi coach found himself in a similar situation 12 months ago, when he pipped the English to the title with a dramatic victory at the Stade de France. Sam Warburton gives a thumb up after an heroic defensive effort from Wales in their win over Ireland . Warburton makes a run at Ireland hooker Rory Best at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday . ‘I suppose it’s a bit similar to last year, when we just knew we needed the result in Paris,’ said Schmidt. ‘That’s something we managed to do and we won the championship on the back of it, and England had to sit and watch. But you’ve got to beat those teams first. I don’t think you can afford to go anywhere and start chasing points . . . Scotland are going to be very difficult to beat.’ Last night’s defeat in Cardiff was not how Paul O’Connell hoped to celebrate his 100th Test. The 35-year-old was outfoxed at the line-out by Alun-Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris, admitting that he is itching to right those wrongs at Murrayfield next week. ‘The guys are very disappointed but it’s not up to Joe or me or anyone to lift anyone, it’s up to individuals to lift themselves,’ said O’Connell. ‘One thing about losing is that you just want to get

Summary: Wales beat Ireland to keep Six Nations challenge alive . Warren Gatland's side probably need to beat Italy convincingly to win title . But Welsh coach insists his team must focus on just getting the result . England, Ireland and Wales all have six points after four games .


Roy Keane insists the Republic of Ireland will head into Sunday's Euro 2016 showdown with surprise Group D leaders Poland with nothing but victory in mind. The Poles currently sit on top of the pile, three points clear of Germany, Scotland and Ireland having claimed the scalp of the newly-crowned world champions in Warsaw in October. Martin O'Neill's men, the Germans and the Scots are locked together behind them on seven points, but assistant manager Keane is adamant there will be only one approach as the Republic attempt to close the gap at the Aviva Stadium. Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane (centre) watches on during training at Malahide on Monday . Keane is targeting a crucial Euro 2016 qualifier victory over Poland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday . He said: 'A win would be nice after the disappointment of [November's 1-0 defeat in] Scotland. 'You can't have too many draws. Some days, you get good draws and bad draws, like the one in Germany is no doubt a good one. But the mindset at home is to go win the match. 'Afterwards, a draw might not be a bad result, but our mindset before the game is to go and get the win. The slip-up in Scotland is one that we don't want to cost us too much, but the mindset with the manager, staff, players and fans behind us has to be to go try win the football match.' The Aviva Stadium will be packed to the rafters on Sunday as Ireland set about their task of hoping to rekindle the memories of their last major victory on home soil, the famous 1-0 win over Holland in which Jason McAteer's goal set the nation on the road to the 2002 World Cup finals. Keane played in that game and set the tone for the afternoon when he thundered into a first-minute tackle on Marc Overmars. Darren Randolf (left) is pursued by David Forde, Cyrus Christie and Richard Keogh during the session . Asked if he could wield the same sort of influence from the sidelines this time around, he replied: 'No, I cant tackle anyone can I? 'No, it's difficult, but we have good players and good characters. Creating a good tempo in the game can come from anyone. Some days it's a tackle and others, please God, it's goals.' Lansdowne in its current incarnation has perhaps proved less of a fortress than in its past, and Keane admits the Republic have to make life more difficult for visiting teams. He said: 'It used to scare the home team! If you want to do well in any campaign, you have to have a decent home record. 'I'm guessing a lot of teams have come here and enjoyed the Aviva, but it's up to us to be on the front foot and get the fans behind us. The atmosphere will be brilliant, but it cant just come from the fans, it has to come from the players too. 'But we will be making tackles, creating chances and putting bodies

Summary: Poland are currently sitting top of Group D on 10 points . The Republic of Ireland, Germany and Scotland are all locked in second place on seven points . Martin O'Neill's side face Poland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday . The Republic lost their last game 1-0 to Scotland in November .


Anthony Brumwell (pictured), from Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, was jailed for three years and two months after he spent £15,000 of his grandmother's savings . A man with an addiction to chat lines has been jailed after using his grandmother's savings to fund his habit. Anthony Brumwell, who has previously defrauded other members of his family, spent £15,000 of his grandmother's savings and extended her overdraft. He left the 74-year-old at risk of eviction due to rent arrears that accrued through his activities, Durham Crown Court heard. Her life insurance was also cancelled as her accounts dried up, leaving her with 'significant worry and confusion'. Ian Mullarkey, prosecuting, said the issue came to light when a £5,000 loan application was posted to Brumwell's father, despite carrying the defendant's phone number. Other family members quickly checked his grandmother's finances and realised what was happening. Her reaction was: 'He's cleaned me out again.' While the 31-year-old was on bail for theft and fraud against his grandmother he turned his attention to employer Start Energy, for whom he was account manager. Brumwell, from Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, set up a bogus £10,400 'deal' through the Peterlee-based business for an electricity meter for another company. But he gave his own bank details on invoices for payments. Mr Mullarkey said this caused Start Energy major difficulties as the other company cancelled a large contract, resulting in the loss of four jobs. The court heard his financial difficulties began when he started using premium rate chat lines as a teenager, taking out payday loans to try to meet his debts along with the cost of everyday living. Shaun Dryden, mitigating, said Brumwell was spending up to £1,000 a month on the chat lines, which can cost between 41p and £2.50 per minute. Judge Simon Hickey told 31-year-old Brumwell at Durham Crown Court (above): 'Your actions are said to have broken your grandmother's heart' He said: 'This is on top of bills and rent, and there is a point where he could not fund what he was spending.' Brumwell admitted charges of fraud against his grandmother and employer, plus attempted theft. Judge Simon Hickey jailed Brumwell for three years and two months. He said: 'Your actions are said to have broken your grandmother's heart. 'The tragedy is that that generous lady would have given you the money if you asked.' Judge Hickey added that, given the defendant's circumstances, compensation was 'unrealistic'.

Summary: Anthony Brumwell given three years, two months at Durham Crown Court . The 31-year-old was charged with fraud and attempted theft . Spending £1,000 every month on chat lines, costing up to £2.50 per minute . Grandmother's life insurance also cancelled as accounts dried up . Judge told Brumwell: 'Your actions broke your grandmother's heart'


A sensible support care worker who never thought she would fall victim to an immigration marriage scam has revealed how she was conned by a love rat she met on holiday. Julie Dag, now 50, from Bournemouth, was left heartbroken and down £20,000 after falling for local musician Lamin Sidibeh while on holiday in The Gambia in West Africa in 2007. At the time she was newly single at 43 and thought she had found true love with Lamin, 29. Resolute: Julie is putting the past behind her and moving on with her life after getting a divorce in 2011 . Wedded bliss: Julie Dag and her husband Lamin Sidibeh on their wedding day in The Gambia in 2008 . With three failed marriages behind her, she said she was susceptible to his charms. 'He was physically very attractive, athletic, attentive but I was very cautious that this was a holiday romance,' she told Channel 5 documentary Holiday Love Rats. 'He made me feel like I was unique. After three failed marriages I was getting old.' Although Julie returned to Britain, the pair kept in touch and 12 months later she booked another trip back to The Gambia - for her wedding in 2008. 'The romance didn't last long. We spent the whole of our honeymoon filling in visa applications,' she said. The set up home together in Bournemouth but Julie said she had her doubts about her husband's claims of being a builder when he erected her shed. Julie said she fell for Lamin's good looks and charm while on holiday bin The Gambia . 'It was upside down and full of gaps,' she said. Her husband managed to get a job in a fish and chip shop but Julie said he didn't spend his free time with her. 'He was going out with his friends drinking and I grew suspicious that he was cheating. 'He would be coming in at 2am or 3am in the morning and he told me to stop phoning him. 'I told him he was my husband and I had a right to know where you are.' However, her world began falling apart two months after he was granted indefinite leave to stay in the UK. 'One day he came home with a bunch of flowers and told me he was leaving,' said Julie. With three failed marriages behind her, Julie said she was vulnerable while on holiday . 'I told him to pack his things and get out.' Weeks later, Julie said she was contacted by another English woman who said her marriage wasn't legal as he was already married. 'She told me they were already married and that she had tried to get him a visa so many times. 'He had hit the jackpot with me because I had a house and a job and I could afford to keep him. 'The whole thing he came for was a visa, payout and an escape. He got what he wanted and it wasn't me.' Now Julie said she can't believe she was such a fool

Summary: Julie Dag says she was vulnerable after three failed marriages . Her new husband did not want to spend time with her when back in the UK . Feels a fool for being swayed by musician's good looks and charm . Woman later told her that marriage was a sham as he was already married .


Roma's players were the latest to face the wrath of angry fans following Thursday's capitulation against Italian rivals Fiorentina. Serie A pundit Matteo Bonetti tweeted that Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Roma fans had demanded players take off their kits as they weren't worthy of wearing them. The Europa League had offered the last realistic chance of silverware this season to the Giallorossi following a miserable run of form, with the team falling 14 points behind Serie A leaders Juventus and at risk of losing second place to city rivals Lazio. Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi speaks with fans after crashing out of the Europa League . Roma captain Francesco Totti also spoke to fans despite being an unused substitute . Roma 'ultras' had walked out of the stadium in protest following a miserable run of form . Fans are upset as Roma are at risk of losing second place to city rivals Lazio . But Roma conceded three goals in the opening 22 minutes as Fiorentina completed a 4-1 victory on aggregate to book a place in the last eight. Gonzalo Rodriguez converted a retaken penalty in the ninth minute, after a number of players encroached into the box for the first attempt. Marcos Alonso capitalised on a goalkeeping error to make it 2-0 in the 18th minute and Jose Maria Basanta headed in when unmarked four minutes later. A late sending-off for Adem Ljajic for a second yellow card capped a dispiriting night which saw about a hundred of the club's Ultras leave the Stadio Olimpico after 30 minutes. Roma's players walked out for the second half to a near-empty stadium . Supporters left the stadium in protest after Roma conceded three goals in 22 minutes . Roma supporters left off flares during an Europa League round of 16 second leg . Fiorentina fans celebrate booking place in the last eight of the Europa League . Roma captain Francesco Totti, goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis and midfielder Daniele de Rossi led the rest of the team's players over to talk to fans after match. The scenes were reminiscent of the players of German sides Borussia Dortmund and Stuttgart apologising to their supporters following a dismal run this season. Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels talks to supporters after defeat by Augsburg in February . VIDEO Garcia critical of individual errors .

Summary: Roma crashed out of Europa League following home defeat by Fiorentina . Captain Francesco Totti led players to talk to fans after dismal display . The Giallorossi at risk of losing second place in Serie A to rivals Lazio .


A Tory MP has urged his supporters not to 'mention the Conservative Party or David Cameron' when sending out letters in support of him. Gavin Barwell, who is fighting the key London marginal of Croydon, has asked constituents to sign letters to friends and neighbours supporting his re-election. But Mr Barwell was left red-faced after it emerged he sent out 'sample' letters designed to make it look like they were written by ordinary constituents. Gavin Barwell, who is fighting the key London marginal of Croydon, has asked constituents to sign letters to friends and neighbours supporting his re-election . The letters, seen by the Evening Standard, all appeared to be written in exactly the same style. They were full of similar phrases – with each beginning with 'Dear neighbour' and went on to describe an incident where Mr Barwell helped them. They often ended with the phrase: 'I really can't recommend Gavin strongly enough.' In a letter to constituents asking them to endorse him, Mr Barwell writes: 'I'm not asking you to write a political letter — in fact, it'll be much more effective if it doesn't mention the Conservative Party or David Cameron.' Asked if he or his team wrote the sample letters, he said: 'People write their own letters, I've not written anything. These are genuine constituents that we have helped who wanted to write a letter. I think in one case we helped with the drafting. They are not fake letters.' 'I'm therefore writing to ask if you would be prepared to write to people in your neighbourhood saying why you think I am a good local MP.' One Labour MP compared his letter with the bungling Fawlty Towers manager Basil Fawlty telling staff 'don't mention the war' in front of German guests. Mr Barwell has urged his supporters not to 'mention the Conservative Party or David Cameron' when sending out letters in support of him . Labour MP Stephen Pound mocked: 'It's a case of 'Don't mention the Tories!' Mr Barwell insisted he just did not want the endorsements to be too political and that he had put Mr Cameron on his own leaflets. He said: 'The purpose is not to send political letters. The purpose of the letters is a personal endorsement of my work as MP. 'My own election leaflets will be full of mentions of both David Cameron and the Conservative Party. 'These letters are different. They are from ordinary people telling their story. I don't think people doing that will be comfortable making party political points.' But Sarah Jones, the Labour candidate for Croydon Central, told the Standard: 'It's a sign of real desperation that Gavin Barwell is actively telling people not to call him a Tory. He's trying to pull the wool over people's eyes. 'If people were wondering if the Tory brand had become toxic in Croydon, he's the proof you need. 'However hard he tries, he can't run away from his voting record — voting for deep cuts, privatisation of the NHS, the bedroom tax and trebling tuition fees.'

Summary: Gavin Barwell is fighting the key London marginal of Croydon in May . He asked constituents to sign letters to friends supporting his re-election . But he said not to 'mention the Conservative Party or David Cameron'


Steve Coppell is sipping afternoon tea in the lounge of a hotel just off the M25 when the conversation turns to football’s ‘f-off mentality’, as he calls it. ‘A lot of young players have an “f-off mentality” these days, but I honestly didn’t mind it because I was the one picking the team,’ he admitted. ‘The dressing room is a heated environment at half-time and full-time, and if a player said that to me and could justify their argument then no problem. If not, they were down the road.’ Steve Coppell has been out of work since leaving his role as director of football at Portsmouth a year ago . Coppell played as a winger for Manchester United for eight years between 1975 and 1983 . Coppell leads his Crystal Palace side onto the Wembley pitch in the first 1990 FA Cup final against United . Coppell knows all about the sport’s ‘f-off mentality’, on the receiving end after leaving an unpaid role as director of football at Portsmouth last March. It seems incredible that this man, with more than 1,000 games in the dug-out and who has twice been named League Managers’ Association manager of the year (2006 and 2007), is out of work. No-one really knows why. It just doesn’t feel right to see Coppell, a man of integrity and honour, on the fringes of football. Something, somewhere, has gone wrong when Coppell is working on his golf handicap every day. ‘I won the LMA award two years on the bounce with Reading and looking back, yes, massive,’ he admitted. ‘They talk about comedians being on the road for 20 years and suddenly they become an overnight sensation — I had done that time. ‘All John Madejski ever asked of me was to come up to the boardroom after a game and have a pint with him — no interference, nothing. Sometimes we wouldn’t even talk about the result.’ At 59 Coppell is a statesman of the game, one of the shrewdest operators in the sport. After a playing career on the wing with Manchester United he spent nearly 30 years in the dug-out. Coppell issues his side with instructions after drawing 3-3 with United in the final before extra-time . Coppell poses with his Manager of the Month award in 2006 during his spell in charge of Reading . ‘I just wanted to be known as a good manager, I never wanted to be famous,’ he admitted when he was reluctantly coaxed to the Runnymede-on-Thames Hotel. It is clear, after a couple of hours in Coppell’s illuminating company, that he has the itch to work again, but it will only be on his terms. ‘There are 70 clubs you don’t want to manage because you have no chance. ‘Steve Heighway always talks about Bob Paisley at Liverpool: create an environment for your players to win matches. That is the art of management. I can get you promotion within two years if you back me, the Championship is my division, I know what it’s about. If you want a five-year

Summary: Steve Coppell has been out of work since leaving Portsmouth last March . Coppell was working in unpaid role as director of football on south coast . Former Reading manager was twice named LMA manager of the year . Coppell has racked up more than 1,000 games in managerial dugouts . Coppell says he can win promotion to the Premier League in two seasons . The 59-year-old admits he would contemplate managing abroad .


Andreas Lubitz's fear that he was going blind - thought to be the reason for him deliberately crashing the Germanwings jet - may have just been in his head, it emerged today. The killer pilot had reportedly been living 'on the edge' because he feared his deteriorating vision, possibly due to a detached retina, would cost him his pilot's licence. But investigators now believe his condition was simply a nervous, psychosomatic disorder and not physical at all. Doctors say the symptoms brought on by stress can be cleared up with rest and therapeutic drugs, raising the harrowing scenario Lubitz needlessly took his own life and those of 149 others. An investigator close to the criminal investigation: 'If this is indeed the reason why he killed himself, and all those others, then he may have chosen to die for entirely the wrong reasons. 'He lived for flying and was terrified that he would lose his pilot's licence. In his mind that would have been worse than death.' Scroll down for video . Madness: Lubitz was 'on the edge' over his deteriorating eyesight, fearing it would cost him his pilot's licence . Health issues: Lubitz , 27, pictured masked his true condition from his employers and was aided by German confidentiality laws which forbade his doctors from revealing just how mentally ill he really was . Detectives and prosecutors will examine the hitherto sealed medical files of the University Clinic of Dusseldorf to see if his complaint really was all in the mind. But these are often linked to psychosomatic disorders. The Internet is filled with chatrooms where people who thought they were going blind were relieved to find anxiety, stress and depression behind their problems. His aunt Brigitte W, today said she was unaware of Lubitz's health problems only knew him as a normal and happy man. The 79-year-old told Germany's BILD newspaper: 'I knew nothing of mental health problems and eye problems. 'When we celebrated family celebrations, he was happy. He never spoke of stress at work. 'We were proud of him, that he fulfilled his childhood dream.' She added: 'He flew intentionally into that mountain ridge. It is difficult for the family to cope now.' It is understood Lubitz complained of blurred vision involving dark spots in front of his eyes, halos and flashes of light, causing him to misjudge distances on occasions. It was claimed yesterday that Lubitz was concerned he was losing his eyesight, possibly because of a detached retina - with his vision already restricted to 30 per cent. The condition causes the thin lining at the back of the eye to detach from blood vessels that supply it with oxygen and nutrients - and is often marked by flashes in the eye. Rescue workers are seen examining debris at the crash site of the Germanwings jet near Seyne-les-Alpes . Perilous: French Gendarme Bruno Hermignies stands by a bulldozer clearing a path to the crash site of the Germanwings Airbus A320 in the mountains near Seyne-les-Alpes as the recovery operation continues . It also emerged today that Lubitz

Summary: Andreas Lubitz was 'living on edge' because he feared losing pilot's licence . Reported that his vision was down to 30%, possibly due to detached retina . Investigators now believe his condition was psychosomatic due to stress . Raises harrowing possibility he needlessly killed himself and 149 others .


The board of trustees for University of Oklahoma's Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity has admitted that the racist chant that shocked the nation had been circulating among the brothers for three to four years before it surfaced last weekend on social media. The alumni who oversaw the disgraced chapter of SAE issued a statement on Wednesday calling the song a 'horrible cancer' and apologized for not stamping it out when it emerged years ago. The statement confirms reports that the 'there will never be a n***** SAE' chant heard aboard a chartered fraternity bus last weekend had been passed down between generations of new pledges. The national SAE headquarters has denied that the song is part of the fraternity's tradition, though officials said they are investigating claims of racism at other chapters across the country. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at the University of Oklahoma was closed down on Monday and fraternity members forced to moved out . A popular statue on the OU campus was adorned with a protest from the group that leaked the racist SAE video. The statue 'Sower' had its mouth taped over with the word 'unheard' On Tuesday, the president of the University of Texas announced he had launched an investigation into reports that the song had been used by members of the SAE fraternity there, as well. The trustees also intimated that current and former members of the fraternity were being harassed and threatened and called for 'all parties to begin the healing process.' 'The OU SAE Board of Trustees has discovered that a horrible cancer entered into the OU chapter of SAE three to four years ago and was not immediately and totally stopped,' the statement said. 'It should have been. We are sincerely remorseful for the pain that this terrible chant has caused and would ask for your forgiveness. We are truly sorry.' On Monday, the University of Oklahoma shut down the SAE chapter on its campus and closed down the house. On Tuesday, President David Boren expelled the two students at the center of the racist chant. The video that emerged on social media on Sunday was taken aboard a chartered bus with members of SAE and the sorority Delta Delta Delta. The shocking racist song has been circulating the SAE fraternity at OU for at least three years, trustees said . It included two brothers - 19-year-old Parker Rice and 20-year-old Levi Pettit - leading other fraternity members in singing 'there will never be a n***** SAE. You can hang him from a tree, but he'll never sign with me. There will never be a n***** SAE.' The members of the board of trustees for the fraternity were not identified in the statement. OU spokesman Corbin Wallace told Daily Mail Online fraternity trustee boards are typically made up of alumni and that they oversee the administration and finances of the fraternity houses. A request for comment from the SAE headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, was not immediately returned. The OU SAE Board of Trustees has discovered that a horrible cancer entered into the OU

Summary: Alumni who governed disgraced chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity said they failed to stamp out racist chant when it emerged three to four years ago . Apologized and called the song 'a horrible cancer' Called for 'healing to begin' and said members of the fraternity had been threatened .


A jilted groom who raffled off his honeymoon 'plus one' to a total stranger is back in the UK and sharing his snaps of the paradise getaway. John Whitbread, 32, from Donisthorpe, Leicestershire, only met his pretty blonde travelling companion at the airport before the seven-hour flight, after raffling the spare ticket to his dream honeymoon after his fiancée left him. Now John has shared his pictures of his 'whirlwind adventure' in the Dominican Republic with Kelly Wood, 36, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, in which the duo cavort in a pool and pose on the beach. Scroll down for video . John spent two weeks in the Dominican Republic with Kelly after she won a raffle to accompany him on his honeymoon after being jilted at the alter . And although the pair spent their days lazing by the pool and sipping cocktails, they insist they just became very good friends. John said: 'We had such an amazing time on holiday. 'We had a great laugh and did some amazing things together - Kelly was a great person to go on holiday with. 'It's been a whirlwind adventure, which is exactly what we both wanted, and all the money raised went to charity which was great.' He added: 'It was never really about romance, as I'd just come out of a relationship. But it was lovely to make a great friend, and for that I'm really grateful. 'You hear of people going on holiday with their best mates and falling out, so it's amazing that I managed to become friends with a total stranger. It's sad to think it's all over.' Despite meeting for the first time at the airport, John spent two weeks in paradise in the Dominican Republic with Kelly, 36, the lucky winner . Kelly (pictured left with a parrot and right with John) spotted John's story after watching him being interviewed on TV and won the trip after buying five £10 tickets on Ebay . Appearing on Good Morning Britain today John admitted that the exotic holiday was also tinged with sadness. 'It was my honeymoon at the end of the day, I never did the sob story so it was actually a bit of a tough time for me as well,' he said. 'Kelly was good, she let me have my moments here and there so it was never about that.' Kelly told presenters Susanna Reid and John Stapleton: 'I didn't obviously want to talk about it too much, I thought if John wants to bring it up, then he'll bring it up but I wasn't going to press for information or anything like that. 'I wanted to have a good time, I wanted John to have a good time… but I could see at times he was thinking about where he should have been.' John added gratefully, 'She took my mind off things as well.' Kelly spotted John's story after watching him being interviewed on TV. John had initially planned to sell the spare ticket on Ebay, but after the highest bids were revealed to be fakes,

Summary: John Whitbread, 32, from Leicestershire, was jilted weeks before wedding . Raffled off his honeymoon 'plus one' ticket for charity . Kelly Wood, 36, won the trip to the Dominican Republic . Back in the UK, the pair reveal what went on in paradise .


FIFA President Sepp Blatter says he's concerned by a study highlighting the scale of Russia's racism problem ahead of the 2018 World Cup. The Fare network organization and the Moscow-based SOVA Center detailed dozens of cases of discriminatory behaviour linked to Russian football over two seasons. The report has been received by FIFA and Blatter told The Associated Press: 'I am aware of the report ... sure we are concerned, definitely.' Sepp Blatter admits he is concerned about the level of racism in Russia ahead of their hosting the World Cup . In 2013, CSKA Moscow were ordered to close part of their stadium for racist chanting against Yaya Toure . Last year, Blatter spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin about making tackling racism a priority in 2018. Blatter says 'if it does not stop then there must be some sanctions.' Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting in Northern Ireland, Blatter added: 'Racism is one of the items which is on my agenda on the very top, every day.' Fans of FC Torpedo Moscow chant during the Russian Premier League match against FC Rostov . Blatter and Russian president Vladimir Putin pose at the official World Cup handover ceremony last year .

Summary: Sepp Blatter admits he is concerned by racism in Russia . Russia are due to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup . Blatter insists tackling racism in football is one of FIFA's top priorities .


Police in Dallas are hunting two people linked to the death of a woman who apparently had a botched cosmetic procedure carried out on her buttocks and another who had holes caused by butt injections patched up with superglue. The suspects, named as Denise Rochelle ‘Wee Wee’ Ross and a transgender person called Jimmy Joe Clarke, also known as Alicia, are wanted for practicing medicine without a licence. Wykesha Reid, 34, was found dead on a massage table inside a business that performs eyelash extensions on February 19, with her pants partially pulled down and a blood-stained gauze on her butt. Suspects: Dallas police are hunting Denise Rochelle 'Wee Wee' Ross (left) and Jimmy Joe Clarke - also known as 'Alicia' - (right) who are linked to botched butt injections carried out on two women, one of whom died . The body was found by Clarke and police believe the victim suffered a medical emergency while having injections in her buttocks. Mrs Reid’s daughter, Keira, told police that her mother had booked a session to have ‘butt injections’ and that a woman who goes by the name of ‘Wee Wee’ and a transgender person were going to carry out the procedure. Police were also told by another witness whose boyfriend rents the business, in the 3800 block of East Side Avenue, that a person called Wee Wee and Clarke used it to perform butt injections, according to Wfaa.com. This witness works at the premises performing eyelash extensions and claims that Ross and Clarke arrived on the evening of February 19 and told her and the client she was with to leave. She also told police that Ross later urged her ‘not to break’ and lie about the fact she uses the premises. Clarke told police that she had no idea how Reid had died. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that it found injection marks and a silicone-type substance on the buttocks of Wykesha Reid, 34 . She claims that she arrived at the business on February 18 complaining that she ‘was not well and wanted to lay down’, so she locked her in the building overnight and discovered her body when she returned in the morning. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office reported that it found injection marks and a silicone-type substance on the buttocks of Mrs Reid. The death follows a complaint to police by a 27-year-old woman who said that she visited 3800 block of East Side on February 9 and paid $520 to have buttock injections, but ended up screaming in agony when ‘unknown’ substances were used on her. The holes were then closed with superglue, she said. She later identified Ross and Clarke as the people who carried out the operation. The suspects' whereabouts are currently unknown. Neither are registered with the Texas Medical Board.

Summary: Denise Rochelle 'Wee Wee' Ross is being hunted by Dallas Police . Authorities also want to speak to her colleague, Jimmy Joe 'Alicia' Clarke . They are wanted for practicing medicine without a licence . The suspects are linked to the death of a woman who had butt injections . It's thought that the pair carried out a botched cosmetic procedure on her . Also allegedly carried out butt injections using superglue on another client .


A Nashville bar owner was convicted of second-degree murder on Friday for the fatal shooting of a country singer-songwriter. Chris Ferrell, 46, had told jurors that he shot Wayne Mills in November 2013 in self defense. But Nashville jurors sided with prosecutors who argued that Ferrell intended to kill Mills when he shot him after a heated argument at his now-defunct bar. Ferrell testified that the two got into an argument at his Pit and Barrel bar in the city's downtown area and that Mills threatened to kill him. Scroll down for video . Nashville bar owner Chris Ferrell (pictured on Thursday) was found guilty of second-degree murder on Friday for shooting country singer Wayne Mills in the head during a heated argument at his now-defunct bar . Ferrell and singer Mills (pictured) were friends before the fatal shooting, according to family members in 2013 . 'I reached to the top of the cooler and retrieved my .22-caliber,' Ferrell said, according to The Tennessean. 'And I fired it. I fired in fear.' Ferrell said he grabbed bar towels to try and stop the bleeding, but then began to panic and put an unloaded gun next to Mills. 'Why would that cause you to panic?' David Raybin, Ferrell's attorney, asked him. 'Because I thought I'd, because I thought I'd done something wrong at that point,' Ferrell said about the shooting, which happened at about 5am. Ferrell (left) claimed he was only protecting himself when he shot Wayne Mills (right) in the head at his bar in November 2013 . Mills toured primarily college campuses for more than 15 years as the lead singer of the Wayne Mills Band. Country music singers Jamey Johnson and Blake Shelton opened for the band before becoming stars . An autopsy found that Mills was shot in the back of the head. He also had two broken ribs, bruises and scrapes, according to WKRN. The jury reached their decision on the fifth day of trial that Ferrell was guilty. His attorneys said that they would appeal, according to The Tennessean. Mills toured for more than 15 years as the lead singer of the Wayne Mills Band. Country music stars Jamey Johnson and Blake Shelton, as well as American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, all opened for the band in their early careers. The Pit and Barrel bar, where Mills was killed, was supposed to be featured on an episode of the SPIKE TV reality show Bar Rescue the day after the shooting . Mills graduated from the University of Alabama with an education degree, and also played football for the school. He moved to Nashville in 2003. The two men were previously friends, according to family members in 2013. Following the night of the incident, SPIKE TV was set to feature the bar on its show Bar Rescue, which brings in a professional restaurant consultant to give struggling pubs a make-over. The network canceled the new episode and aired a re-run instead. Ferrell faces 15 to 25 years in prison and will be sentenced on April 10. Ferrell testified

Summary: Chris Ferrell, 46, claimed country singer Wayne Mills threatened to kill him . Mills was shot in the head at Nashville's Pit and Barrel bar in November 2013 . Mills, 44, toured for more than 15 years as lead singer of Wayne Mills Band . Country stars Jamey Johnson and Blake Shelton opened for him . Pit and Barrel was expected to be featured on SPIKE TV reality show 'Bar Rescue' in an episode the night following shooting but it never aired .


A record has been set for the most snowfall in a day after a tiny Italian village was dumped with 100 inches in 18 hours - forcing residents to ski between houses and climb out of second-floor windows. The village of Capracotta, located in central Italy around 125 miles east of Rome, was hit with the polar blast on March 5 in a remarkable blizzard aggravated by powerful wind gusts. Breaking a 1921 record set in Silver Lake, Colorado, of 76 inches, incredible photos from inside the village show walls of snow carved out from the fronts of doors and shops. Scroll down for video . A man standing in the snow shakes hands with another resident standing at her second-floor window . A resident of Capracotta attempts to dig his way through the record-breaking snowfall . The small village, located east of Rome, received more than 100 inches of snow within 18 hours . The buildup of snow was so fast and furious many residents had to dig their way out of their homes . The clear sky and white snow gave off an eerie blue effect in the village when night fell . Snow remained clinging to the balconies and ledges of buildings following the 18 hour-long blizzard . The snowfall set a world record for the most snow to fall within a single day . Antonio Monaco, the village's mayor, told Italian news agency Ansa: 'It was a spectacle that took our breath away. In some parts of the village the snow was like a long, white wall. 'It was tough but everybody pulled together and made sure that the old people who couldn't leave their houses had the food and medicines that they needed,' The Telegraph reported. According to weather website Meteoweb, it was just one more record in a 'historic winter for Southern Italy, with numerous incidents of frost and snow'. Pictures taken of the village show residents digging through snow that is metres deep and shaking hands from inside the second floor of homes with others standing on the snow piled up outside windows. Remarkably, the town is not located within the Alps - its susceptibility to massive dumpings of snow lies in its unique geography and location. Sitting at an altitude of 1,421metres, it is the second-highest district in southern Italy. It is also close to the sea and sits exposed to cold fronts from the northeast, making it one of the snowiest areas of the world when measured in terms of abundance over short periods of time. Video courtesy of ilcasostanzino . The village lies east of Rome and is not actually located in the Italian Alps. Rather, its altitude and exposure to cold fronts from the northeast are what makes it susceptible to blizzards . The town's mayor, Antonio Monaco, described the snow as like a 'long, white wall' Residents use snow shovels (left) to work their way through the mountains of snow filling the city streets (right) A man digs a tunnel as high as himself using a snow shovel as he

Summary: The Italian village of Capracotta was hit with 100 inches of snow in a day . Locals were forced to dig their way out of homes and climb from windows . The massive blizzard broke a 1921 record set in Silver Lake, Colorado . Incredible photos show much of the village had to be dug out of the snow . However, the town is not actually located among the chilly Italian Alps . Located east of Rome, it is at a high altitude and exposed to the northeast .


The Roman Originals two-toned dress sparked one of the fiercest online debates in recent times, with users taking to social media to argue over what colours they saw. But whilst it fascinated the globe - with A-listers and politicians having their say - would you actually ever purchase it? The makers of the original dress are hoping someone will do just that, as they produce a gold and white version to satisfy those who were baffled by its colouring and auction it off on eBay for charity. Scroll down for video . This one really IS white and gold! Roman Originals, whose blue and black dress went viral, have produced a gold and white version . Roman Originals, who made the dress originally worn by Cecilia Bleasdale for her daughter Grace's wedding, have put a limited run of the white and gold dress up for auction. The gold and white dress, which was designed in Birmingham, went up on eBay on Thursday and it already has 40 bids and a price of £540. All proceeds raised by the sale of the dress will go to Comic Relief when bidding ends this Sunday . Roman Originals are producing a limited run of the white and gold dress, one of which will be auctioned off on eBay for Comic Relief . Using its global popularity for a good cause, all proceeds raised by the sale of the dress will go to Comic Relief. A spokesperson for the company told MailOnline: '#TheDress that broke the internet could become one the world’s most wanted dresses as an exclusive white and gold version goes on auction on ebay. 'The winning bidder can grab a piece of internet history as only one exclusive dress in white and gold has been made and will go up for auction until Sunday.' The gold and white dress went up on eBay on Thursday and it already has 40 bids and a price of £540 . The Roman design team, headed by Michele Bastock, in their Birmingham studio creating the famous dress . David Horwich, creative director of 100% Digital, who shot the new images, told MailOnline: 'London is the fashion capital of the world and we’re privileged to have shot the first ever genuinely 'White and Gold' dress here today in our studios. 'We’re delighted that Roman Originals trusted us to capture the world’s most famous dress, in its true colours.' The picture of #TheDress - as it became known - was first posted on Tumblr by Caitlin McNeill, a 21-year-old aspiring singer from Scotland, after noticing her friends saw different colours in the photograph. This picture of the dress sparked debate, with viewers disagreeing over the colour . The dress, made by the company Roman Originals, is in fact blue and black striped . Even celebrities weighed in on the fashion debate, with Kim Kardashian asking her 29.4million Twitter followers to help settle a disagreement between herself and husband Kanye West. Actress Mindy Kaling also joined the discussion, writing on Twitter: 'IT'S A BLUE AND BLACK DRESS! ARE YOU F***ING

Summary: Colours of two-tone dress became a topic of global debate on social media . Some viewers see the bodycon dress as white with gold lace detailing . Others see royal blue with black while a few insist the colours change . Roman Originals, who made dress, have produced white and gold version . It is being auctioned on eBay for Comic Relief with 40 bids already .


A Buddha statue containing a mummified monk was actually stolen from a village temple twenty years ago, Chinese experts have claimed. The mummified remains were discovered at the end of February after a private owner took the statue to a museum in the Netherlands to be restored. While there Erik Bruijn, an Buddhism expert, discovered the 1,000-year-old mummy and said it was Buddhist master Zhang Liuquan, People's Daily Online reported. Scroll down for video . A Buddha statue (left) containing a mummified monk (right) was actually stolen from a village temple twenty years ago, Chinese experts have claimed . The Cultural Relics Bureau in Fujian has now found photos and historical records suggesting the statue was actually stolen from eastern China in 1995. The private owner, who wants to stay anonymous, bought the relic in 1996 at a European market. During the CT scan Mr Bruijn was particularly shocked to discover the monk's organs had been removed. Rolls of paper scraps covered in Chinese writing were also found. If the Cultural Relics Bureau succeed in its investigation it will seek repatriation of the statue. The mummified remains were discovered at the end of February after a private owner took the statue to Drents Museum at the Meander Medical Centre in the Netherlands for restoration. Above, the museum completes a CT scan . The Cultural Relics Bureau in Fujian has now found photos and historical records suggesting the statue was stolen from eastern China in 1995. Above, it is wrapped in white material and examined in February . The remains were due to be put on display at the Hungarian Natural History Museum until May 2015. They have now been pulled after Drents Museum at the Meander Medical Centre in the Netherlands, which completed the CT scan and endoscopy, requested they were no longer used. Many practising Buddhists believe that mummies are not actually dead but are in an advanced state of meditation. To achieve mummification monks drank a special herbal tea believing it could stop their corpse from rotting for thousands of years, experts from Fuzhou Ethnicity and Religion Bureau said. In January mummified remains of a man apparently meditating in the lotus position were unearthed in Mongolia. Erik Bruijn, an Buddhism expert, determined the mummy dated back to the 11th or 12th century and was Buddhist master Liuquan. Above, a scientist examines the base of the statue . The human relic is believed to be around 200 years old and was preserved in animal skin. Initial speculation is that it could be Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov, a teacher of Lama. Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov, born in 1852, was a Buryat Buddhist Lama of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, best known for the lifelike state of his body.

Summary: Mummified remains in the statue discovered at the end of February . Private owner took them to a museum in the Netherlands to be restored . Study determined the 11th century mummy was Buddhist master Liuquan . Stolen from village in eastern China in 1995, Cultural Relics Bureau claims .


Wimbledon winner Andy Murray has blasted claims that he dislikes the English as 'nonsense' pointing out 'I am going to get married to one'. The British tennis number one, who will tie the knot with English fiancee Kim Sears in April, said he finds the accusation upsetting as some of his family are English as well as his future in-laws. 'The whole notion that I don't like English people is nonsense,' he said. 'I work with English people on a daily basis. I am going to get married to one. I live here. It is just nonsense.' Wimbledon winner Andy Murray, who will tie the knot with fiancee Kim Sears (pictured together) in April, has blasted claims that he dislikes the English as 'nonsense', saying: 'I am marrying one' 'That's the thing that upsets me the most about it. Some of my family are English. I am also getting married to an Englishwoman so my in-laws are all English.' He defended his late intervention into the Scottish independence debate to declare his support for a Yes vote on the eve of the referendum. 'I was lying awake at night. I wanted to say something,' said the Scot. 'The thing that irritates me the most is that somehow you can't be pro-independence and pro-British. 'My feeling is Scotland is its own country. Every country would work better if it was in control of its own destiny. 'I said at the time was that the people of Scotland will make the right decision. Just because I think one way doesn't mean it's the right way for Scotland.' He defended his late intervention into the Scottish independence debate to declare his support for a Yes vote on the eve of the referendum . His tweet saying that 'No campaign negativity totally swayed my view on this' provoked a backlash on the eve of the poll. And after an onslaught of abuse online, the player said he was 'disappointed' by his decision to send the tweet and claimed it was not really in his character. 'I don't normally do stuff like that. So, yeah, I was a bit disappointed by that. It's time to move on. I can't go back on that and I'll concentrate on my tennis for the next few months,' he said at the time. Murray first received his anti-English tag in 2006 as a 19-year-old when he jokingly said he hoped 'anyone but England' would win the World Cup. But the champion tennis player insisted his commitment to playing for Great Britain was beyond doubt, saying he 'loved' representing his country. The champion insisted his commitment to playing for Great Britain was beyond doubt and said he 'loved' representing the country . He won the British public round when he beat Novak Djokovic to win the Wimbledon title in 2013 . 'When I compete for GB, I absolutely love it,' said Murray. 'My results when I have competed for GB since I was 12 would suggest that. 'When I represented Britain in the Olympics, I played maybe the best tournament of my

Summary: Andy Murray has blasted claims that he dislikes the English as 'nonsense' He said it is absurd as he is marrying English fiancee Kim Sears in April . Wimbledon champion is 'upset' by claims as some of his family are English . He defended his late intervention into the Scottish independence debate . Scot won the British public round when he won the 2013 Wimbledon title .


Liam Stewart, the son of rock star Rod Stewart and former model Rachel Hunter, is poised to make his senior Great Britain ice hockey debut after being named in the World Championship squad. The 20-year-old, born in London, has been included in new head coach Pete Russell's 23-man party for next month's tournament in Holland. Stewart plays his hockey in America for Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League and has already represented Britain at Under 20 level. Liam Stewart, the son of rock star Rod Stewart and model Rachel Hunter, plays for the Spokane Chiefs . Stewart is set to make his senior Great Britain ice hockey debut at the World Championships . He is in his fourth and final season with the Washington-based Chiefs, being an assistant captain for the last two years, after previously impressing for the Los Angeles Junior Kings Under-16s. Stewart was recently named the Chiefs' players' player of the year after posting career highs in goals and points with 25 and 53 respectively from 71 games. Russell has also awarded debut caps to Josh Batch (Cardiff Devils), Chris Blight (Dundee Stars), Jonathan Boxill (Nottingham Panthers), Matt Haywood (Braehead Clan) and Jack Prince (University of Alabama-Huntsville). Rod Stewart performing at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games last July at Celtic Park . Rod Stewart with his second wife, Rachel Hunter, in Beverley Hills in 1996 . Experienced duo Russell Cowley (Coventry Blaze) and Mark Thomas (Sheffield Steelers) earn recalls, the latter a replacement for the injured Stevie Lee (Nottingham Panthers) while Belfast Giants goaltender Stephen Murphy, who has missed the majority of the season, will not be risked. The two notable absentees are Coventry Blaze captain Ashley Tait, who is the national team's all-time appearance holder with 102 caps, and Belfast Giants' Craig Peacock, who is named on the reserves list. Russell said: "Since Christmas we have watched a lot of hockey and evaluated all our available options but, more importantly, searched for the right players who we believe fit into our playing philosophy and identity. "When taking on the role of head coach I stated my goal to implement a new identity of play and to select players who fit into each role to make our group more balanced and complete as a unit. I believe we have done this and we have selected the right individuals for this period of the process. "We have players returning with good international experience and we have some new blood coming into the fold as well, which is exciting. We have a good mix of speed, skill, power and grit. We also have the right mix of offensive-minded talent and more defensive-minded talent. For me, this is vital to us while pushing forward to reach our goals for not only this championship but for our future." After two warm-up matches against Poland, Britain head to Eindhoven for their Division 1B campaign where they will face Holland, Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania and South Korea between April 13-19. Goaltenders: Ben Bowns (Cardiff), Stevie Lyle (Swindon), Tom Murdy (Telford); Defencemen: Josh Batch

Summary: Liam Stewart is in GB squad for World Championship in Holland . Stewart is son of pop legend Rod Stewart and model Rachel Hunter . Liam Stewart plays ice hockey for Spokane Chiefs in Washington, USA . He is now poised to make his GB debut .


Generations have flocked to the Isle of Wight to see Queen Victoria's magnificent seaside home Osborne House. It was 'impossible to imagine a prettier spot', she famously declared. And now the island is gearing up for a wave of interest after the Valentine's Day wedding of Oscar-nominated Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter. Fit for a king, queen or prince: The George occupies a splendid spot on the shoreline in Yarmouth . Victoria and Albert were newlyweds when they fell in love with the island. They designed and built Osborne House as a refuge from the stifling royal court, a place to relax with their nine children. The house still boasts the same private beach where they bathed far from the prying eyes of her subjects. Today, you can stay within the grounds - in two cottages called No 1 and No 2 Sovereign's Gate. They both sleep four, and you can explore the grounds long after the house has closed to the public. Not all the royals were so enthused by the island, however. Charles I was a prisoner in Carisbrooke Castle before being shipped back to be executed. After a couple of nights at Osborne, we set off for The George Hotel in the harbour town of Yarmouth, driving past 110-year-old thatched St Agnes church and on to the chalk stacks of the Needles. The Charge of the Light Brigade was required reading at my school, so I took another detour to Faringford, the estate of Alfred Lord Tennyson, who was a familiar figure striding the downs amid the wild orchids in his distinctive hat. The bracing sea air was worth, according to Tennyson, 'sixpence a pint'. A pint costs a bit more these days in Yarmouth, where sleek speedboats are moored yards from the hotel garden. Keeping it under his hat: Benedict Cumberbatch enjoyed his last night as a 'free man' on the Isle of Wight . The wall of Henry VIII's fortress gives shelter from the sea winds so you can dine alfresco for most of the year. It might only be a matter of time before The George boasts its first Michelin star, which explains why Cumberbatch and 140 of his friends spent the night here. In years to come, will there be a plaque saying the Sherlock idol spent his last night here as a bachelor? A much earlier visitor, Charles Darwin, summed up the Isle of Wight as 'the nicest seaside place which we have ever seen'. I couldn't agree more. The Wightlink car ferry (0333 999 7333, www.wightlink.co.uk) from Portsmouth to Fishbourne costs from £47.50 return for a car. A three-night stay at Sovereign's Gate (0370 333 1187, www.english-heritage.org.uk) starts at £402. Double rooms at The George (01983 760331, www.thegeorge.co.uk) cost from £195 B&B.

Summary: Britain's south coast island was a getaway favourite of Queen Victoria's . She regularly stayed at her magnificent seafront palace Osborne House . Benedict Cumberbatch married Sophie Hunter on the Isle in February .


Devin M. Gesell, 17, from St. Charles, is accused of breaking into the home in November . Three teen burglars stole ashes after mistaking them for cocaine - and only realized after they tasted them. Devin M. Gesell, 17, is accused of breaking into the home in St Peter’s, Missouri, in November with two others - a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old who can not be named for legal reasons. The trio thought they had come across a stash of cocaine and took it from the house along with a necklace worth $500, a Xbox 360 game system, bottles of prescription drugs oxycodone and morphine, and over $800 in cash, reports the St. Louis Post- Dispatch. But when they tasted the ashes, which were in a wooden box, they realized their mistake - and threw the homeowner's father's ashes out of the car. Gessel later told the police they could not remember where they threw them out so police have not been able to retrieve them. According to police, the three knew the family who lived at the home and planned the burglary after seeing a Facebook post which indicated they were going to be away. But they were caught after police tracked them through an IP address used on the Xbox. Gesell was charged this week with burglary and two counts of theft. He told police he acted as lookout as the other two went through the house after breaking in through the back door. His bail is set at $10,000 cash-only. His accomplices, ages 15 and 16, were referred to juvenile authorities for charges. Debora Matthews, the victim of the robbery told Kmov.com: 'I just couldn't believe that they would take the ashes.' 'But you know, they were kids and I guess just stupid.' Debora Matthews, the victim of the robbery told Kmov.com : 'I just couldn't believe that they would take the ashes,' said Debora Matthews, the victim of the robbery' The trio are accused of breaking into the home (pictured) in St Peter’s, Missouri, in November .

Summary: Devin M. Gesell, 17, from St. Charles is accused of breaking into the home along with two juveniles aged 15 and 16 . Trio thought they had found a stash of cocaine and took the box of ashes . When they tasted the ashes, which were in a wooden box, they realized their mistake - and threw the homeowner's father's ashes out of the car . Told police they could not remember where they threw them out .


Lionel Messi is the highest-paid footballer on the planet, banking nearly £1million a week last year in wages and sponsorship deals. The Argentina and Barcelona favourite earned an eye-watering £47.8m in 2014, with his club salary of £26m topped up by lucrative endorsements with the likes of adidas, FIFA 15 and Turkish Airlines. It puts him well ahead of his Real Madrid and Portugal nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo, who brought in £39.7m, according to the latest France Football magazine rich list. Lionel Messi tops the France Football rich list for 2014 with an annual income of £47.8m . Messi is thrown an Argentina shirt to sign from a member of the crowd during Tuesday's training session at Georgetown University in Washington ahead of their friendly match with the United States . Messi tops up his salary with Barcelona by promoting various companies, including adidas . Cristiano Ronaldo comes in second in the annual France Football list with earnings of £39.7m . Ronaldo promotes TAG Heuer while driving a McLaren P1 supercar in Madrid . Ronaldo leaves the plane ahead of Real Madrid's Champions League final with Atletico last May . Messi's Barcelona colleague Neymar comes in third on £26.8m, his total underlining the gulf between the world's two leading players and the rest. Manchester United striker Robin van Persie is the highest-ranked Premier League player, earning £18.8m in 2014. This consists of an £11.8m basic salary, topped up by £5m bonuses and £2m from various sponsorship deals. Real Madrid's world-record signing Gareth Bale comes in sixth with an annual income of £17.5m, followed by United and England captain Wayne Rooney on £16.5m. Barcelona's Brazilian ace Neymar (right) comes third in the rankings with £26.8m earned in 2014 . Brazilian star Neymar pictured at his sister's birthday party in Sao Paulo . Manchester United striker Robin van Persie is the highest-earning Premier League player on the list . Gareth Bale may be the world's most expensive player but he ranks only sixth on the rich list . Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney earned £16.5m, according to the rich list ranking . Rooney pictured with his agent Paul Stretford in Manchester last week . The top 10 is rounded out by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero and Robert Lewandowski, followed by another glut of Premier League stars. Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Manchester City's Yaya Toure both made £14.7m, while United duo Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao are jointly on £13.6m. In the manager rich list, Jose Mourinho of Chelsea is the highest paid with his £10m salary and £3.2m in commercial revenue. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger (£8.3m) and Manchester United's Louis van Gaal (£7.3m) also feature in the top five. The Paris Saint-Germain and Sweden star Zlatan Ibrahimovic comes in eighth on the list . Chelsea's Jose Mourinho tops the manager's rich list with an annual income of £13.2m . 1. Lionel Messi £47.8m . 2. Cristiano Ronaldo £39.7m . 3. Neymar £26.8m . 4. Thiago Silva £20.2m . 5. Robin van Persie £18.8m . 6. Gareth Bale £17.5m . 7. Wayne Rooney

Summary: Lionel Messi tops the France Football rich list with 2014 income of £47.8m . His Barcelona club salary of £26m is topped up by sponsorship deals . Cristiano Ronaldo comes in second with annual earnings of £39.7m . Those two come well ahead of third-placed Neymar on £26.8m . Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero feature in top 10 . Chelsea's Jose Mourinho is highest-earning manager on £13.2m a year .