Shane Warne's interview with the victorious Australian Cricket players about their post-match celebrations has sparked a torrent of social media comment. The former World Cup winning bowler asked several members of the triumphant Australian team if they were planning to go drinking to celebrate the win. In the on-pitch interview for Channel Nine, Warne asked wicket-keeper Brad Haddin: 'Are you feeling thirsty?' Scroll down for video . The former World Cup winning bowler asked several members of the triumphant Australian team if they were planning to booze-up to celebrate the fifth Australian World Cup victory . Shane Warne asked wicket-keeper Brad Haddin: 'Are you feeling thirsty? He then asked Batsman Steve Smith: 'Are you going to have a bit of a drink tonight too Smitty? Are you going to get thirsty as well?' Finally, Warne asked fast bowler Josh Hazlewood:'So what's the plan - besides lots of drink and that. How long is that going to last. Just one night, two nights? Go and enjoy yourselves guys. Hopefully we'll join you for a few.' The response on Twitter was rapid. Iohyouforever said: 'Shane Warne currently sounds thirstier than James Franco in 127 hours.' Another user suggested Warne was trying to get an invite for a night out. ABC journalist Lucy Carter said: 'I feel like Shane Warne is desperately trying to get invited to drinks but every player he's interviewing isn't having a bar of it.' Iohyouforever said: 'Shane Warne currently sounds thirstier than James Franco in 127 hours.' All Melanie Homer was 'blah blah blah drink' Brodie Kane joked about Warne's love of the mobile dating app Tinder . Celebrations got underway immediately after Australia smashed its way to a seven-wicket victory against New Zealand in the ICC World Cup Final in Melbourne. More than 93,000 fans packed the iconic MCG to watch as Michael Clarke capped off his stellar one-day career with a commanding final innings of 74 runs that helped secured Australia its fifth title. Australian stars such as Steve Smith – who scored the winning run with 17 overs to spare - and David Warner soaked up the atmosphere after their success and celebrated with the record crowd. The dejected New Zealand team was forced to watch on, after coming so close to giving its country a first Cricket World Cup crown. Adam Peacock compared Shane Warne to a Simpsons character . Australia's Shane Warne celebrates with champagne after Australia beat England in the fourth cricket Test at Headlingley, Leeds, England, July 28, 1997 . Lucy Carter thought it sounded like Shane Warne was trying to get himself an invite . A cricket fan admired the way Warne asked the tough questions after the match . Warne eventually got his wish - getting a photo of himself with Michael Clarke, a drink and the gold cup at 3am. 'Congrats buddy, so happy for you !!!! #thirsty Hahahah,' he wrote on Instragram . Australian Head Coach Darren Lehmann poses with the trophy and a beer as he celebrates . Brad Haddin of Australia pours a VB beer over the

Summary: Warne asked several members of the team if they were going to booze it up . Interviewed Brad Haddin, Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood after the game . The interviews ignited a slew of commentary on Twitter .


More than any other telescope in orbit, Hubble has expanded the frontiers of human knowledge. For 25 years, astronomers have used it to peer deep into distant galaxies with unrivalled clarity, revealing the breathtaking beauty of our universe. In the April issue of National Geographic, some of the most stunning images beamed back for the telescope have been revealed. The Horsehead Nebula is a cold, dark cloud of gas and dust, silhouetted against the bright nebula IC 434. The bright area at the top left edge is a young star still embedded in its nursery of gas and dust. The nebula is relatively close at 1,500 light years from Earth . Hubble has helped scientists understand how planets and galaxies form, detected black holes and changed our theories surrounding dark energy, a mysterious force that causes the universe to expand faster and faster as time goes on. The hundreds of thousands of images beamed back from Hubble have helped scientists unravel cosmic mysteries as well as estimate the age of the universe to about 14 billion years old. Among them is the Horsehead Nebula - a cold, dark cloud of gas and dust, silhouetted against the bright nebula IC 434 1,500 light years from Earth. Another remarkable image shows a display of starlight, glowing gas, and silhouetted dark clouds of interstellar dust that forms the spiral galaxy NGC 130. This is one of Hubble's largest images ever made of a complete galaxy. Some of the most striking scenes are created during the death throes of intermediate-mass stars, when great clouds of superheated gas are expelled into space. In 2002, a dull star in an obscure constellation suddenly became 600,000 times more luminous than our sun, temporarily making it the brightest star in the Milky Way. The mysterious star, called V838 Monocerotis, has since faded back to obscurity. But observations by the Hubble Space Telescope of a phenomenon called a 'light echo' around the star have uncovered remarkable new features . This huge, young stellar grouping, called R136, is only a few million years old and resides in the 30 Doradus Nebula, a turbulent star-birth region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way . The telescope captured a display of starlight, glowing gas, and silhouetted dark clouds of interstellar dust in this 4-foot-by-8-foot image of the barred spiral galaxy NGC 130. This is one of Hubble's largest images ever made of a complete galaxy . 'Launched into orbit aboard the space shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990, amid flurries of hope and hype, the Hubble Space Telescope promptly faltered,' explained Timothy Ferris writing in April's issue of National Geographic . An iconic image from Hubble captures the dying breaths from planetary nebula NGC 6302. Known perhaps more appropriately as the Bug or Butterfly Nebula, this complex nebula lies roughly 3800 light-years away from us within the Milky Way. But at first, astronomers didn't expect Hubble to amount to much. 'Launched into orbit aboard the space shuttle Discovery on April 24, 1990, amid flurries of hope and hype, the

Summary: Images include the Horsehead Nebula, which is a cold, dark cloud of gas and dust 1,500 light years away . Another remarkable image is of NGC 130, one of Hubble's largest images ever made of a complete galaxy . Some of the most striking images beamed back from Hubble were created during the death throes of stars .


Bristol Palin has announced she is engaged to her Medal of Honor winning boyfriend Dakota Meyer. The 24-year-old daughter of the former Alaska governor and failed vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin shared the news on her Intsagram page on Saturday. Alongside an image of her kissing the 26-year-old former Marine, who won the Medal of Honor, she wrote: 'Truly the luckiest girl in the world, cannot wait to marry this man!!!!' Scroll down for video . Romantic: Bristol Palin, the 24-year-old daughter of the former Alaska governor Sarah Palin shared the news of her engagement to Dakota Meyer on her Intsagram page on Saturday . The mother-of-one then uploaded a picture of her engagement ring and wrote a piece on her Patheos blog. It read: :Last night, Sgt Dakota Meyer proposed and I said yes! 'Dakota came to Alaska to film Amazing America with my mom last year. He met Tripp during that time, and I’ve seen him in a few places where our paths have crossed since. 'He’s visited us in Alaska, and I’ve visited his wonderful family in Kentucky. He’s wonderful with Tripp and I’m so proud to be marrying him. 'He’s so romantic! He asked me to marry him at a Rascal Flatts concert. The lead singer, Gary LeVox, dedicated 'Bless the Broken Road' to us, and then Dakota got down on one knee and proposed! 'It’s amazing to see what happens when you place everything in life in God’s hands. He really is good and His plans are so much greater than our own.' Happy: She then uploaded a picture of the engagement ring followed by a string of heart symbols . Kentucky native Meyer, who served in the Marines for four years, also shared his excitement on social media, saying: 'I'm definitely the luckiest guy ever to be able to spend the rest of my life with [Bristol].' The couple have recently started positing pictures together. Last week she uploaded an image of the pair playing in the snow with her six-year-old son, who she had with former fiancé Levi Johnson when she was just 17. Since her mother's failed bid to become vice president in 2008, Bristol has appeared on Dancing with the Stars and featured in her own Lifetime show about raising her son, titled Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp. She also released a best-selling memoir in 2011, Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far. Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2011 after repeatedly charging into a kill zone during a 2009 ambush in Kunar Province, Afghanistan in search of four of his missing Marines. Excitement: Meyer, who served in the Marines for four years, also shared his excitment on social media, saying: 'I'm definitely the luckiest guy ever to be able to spend the rest of my life with [Bristol]' Reaction: Sarah Palin congratulated the pair on Twitter after their announcement . He was able to rescue 36 troops and kill eight Taliban attackers despite being shot in the arms. Tragically he was not able to save his four fellow Marines

Summary: The 24-year-old was popped the question by former Marine Dakota Meyer . Kentucky native got down on one knee during a Rascal Flatts concert . Shared the news on Instagram with a picture of the pair kissing in a car . She then uploaded an image of her engagement ring to social media . Pair recently posed for a picture with Bristol's six-year-old son Tripp . He won the Medal of Honor in 2011 - the first Marine to do so .


From tiny keyboards that learn your intentions to ones that fold in half to save space, the race is on to modify the humble computer keyboard, which has remained largely unchanged since it was invented. Now Google has been granted a patent that hints that the clunky piece of hardware could one day be replaced with not much at all. It suggests that using audio sensors that plug into a smartphone or tablet, any flat surface could be transformed into a virtual keyboard. Just like magic: Google has been granted a patent (image shown) that suggests that using audio sensors that plug into a smartphone or tablet, any flat surface could be transformed into a virtual keyboard . The design would make it far easier to type on devices with smaller touchscreens, which are currently dominated by pop-up keyboards. The patent suggests that a user would tap on a surface just as if they were typing on a regular keyboard. The audio sensors would decipher vibrations made by tapping to work out which ‘keys’ a user is pressing and the corresponding letters would appear on a screen, like normal, Quartz reported. The patent hints that the Google is one of many thinking about ways to revolutionise large piece of hardware, which have outgrown portable devices such as tablets and phones. A Samsung patent (pictured) shows a system that could turn a user’s hand into a keyboard . Developers have created a keyboard cover that turns every key of the board into one emoji. Once installed, the Caps Lock key lets users switch between regular and emoji keys meaning people can easily add images to Facebook posts, tweets and even official documents. Developers have made a keyboard cover that turns every key into one emoji (shown) The Emoji Keyboard and its custom software were developed by a team of designers at California-based Disk Cactus. Each of the covers are made of silicone and act like standard covers to block out dust, dirt and liquid. More than 150 emoji are accessible directly from the keyboard but using the Shift, Control, and Option keys gives access to related characters. It is available to pre-order from Kickstarter for just $15 (£10) and, if funded, will ship in April. The design may have a few drawbacks however, as it could make typing tricky for people who can’t touch type and no cushioning when pressing ‘keys’ would mean that the process could become uncomfortable or even painful after a while. While the patent filing doesn’t mean that Google is working on the design, it hints that the firm is one of many thinking about ways to revolutionise the traditionally large piece of hardware, which has outgrown many portable devices such as tablets and phones. A patent filed by Samsung last March showed a wearable system that could turn a user’s hand into a keyboard. In the proposed system, people wearing a camera - on a Google Glass-style device dubbed Galaxy Glass - would be able to look down at their hands, which would be mapped using a virtual

Summary: Patent suggests audio sensors could be plugged into a phone or tablet . Sensors could detect vibrations to work out which 'key' is being pressed . System would transform any flat surface into a full size keyboard . Google is one of many firms working to revolutionise physical hardware .


Jeremy Vine has been funnelling cash through a limited company, Jelly Vine Productions, of which his daughter, Martha, is a shareholder (both pictured) In a tongue-in-cheek guide to ‘tax accounting for the rich’, Jeremy Vine once advised the wealthy to find a ‘tax magician with the power to bend the rules, befuddle the tax inspector and make money invisible’. Now it seems that the BBC Radio 2 star has taken his own advice to heart. Mr Vine appears to have been using his ten-year-old daughter Martha to avoid tax payments. The presenter of the Jeremy Vine Show and the TV quiz Eggheads, has been funnelling cash through a limited company, Jelly Vine Productions, of which she is a shareholder. The controversial move will highlight the BBC’s practice of paying some presenters off its books using money from the millions of pounds it earns in licence fee-payers’ money. In 2012, it emerged that more than 140 BBC stars were funnelling cash through private firms to avoid paying millions in tax. During the resulting furore, Mr Vine ran a spoof, ‘Jeremy’s six-step guide to tax avoidance for the rich’, on his radio show. Jelly Vine Productions had almost £810,000 in cash on its books in 2013 – the last accounts available, and £1million in 2012. If the funds had been paid to Mr Vine through the Pay As You Earn scheme used by most firms, it would have been taxed at 40 or 45 per cent. But by channelling them through a private firm, he can declare them as company profits, subject to corporation tax of 23 or 24 per cent. It is not clear whether these were earnings for Mr Vine’s BBC work or included other fees such as payments for speeches or book royalties. But by arranging his finances in this way, he ensured Jelly Vine Productions could pay dividends to its shareholders. The firm is controlled by Mr Vine, who has 51 per cent of the shares. His wife, Rachel, has 30 per cent and the remaining 19 per cent is owned by Martha, one of their two daughters. Richard Murphy, an accountant at Tax Research, said: ‘He is obviously using the company to reduce his tax bill. It is perfectly legal, and perfectly allowed. Jelly Vine Productions had almost £810,000 in cash on its books in 2013 – the last accounts available . 'What is a little unusual is his daughter. Let’s be honest, she is unlikely to have said, “Daddy, I want to spend my pocket money on shares in the company”.’ Jelly Vine Productions’ accounts do not disclose how much it has paid out or whether it has paid dividends to all three family members, or just Mr Vine himself. Mr Murphy said Mr Vine could have named his daughter as a shareholder for ‘long-term tax-planning’ purposes, reducing the tax she would pay if she inherits part of the business. Alternatively, Mr Vine may have made his wife and daughter shareholders to split the dividend payouts, keeping them just small enough to ensure they are taxed at a

Summary: BBC's Jeremy Vine appears to have used daughter to avoid tax payments . Daughter Martha, aged 10, is shareholder in Jelly Vine Productions . The presenter has been funnelling cash through the limited company . Controversial move highlights BBC practice of paying some presenters off the books using money from millions in earns in licence fee money .


With it's 'exceptional location' and 'prestigious, exclusive environment', you might be forgiven for thinking this advert referred to a sought-after luxury flat. But the estate agent's blurb is actually for Britain's most expensive car parking space - which has just put been on the market for nearly £500,000. The 'fantastic' underground parking space is located in Kingston House in Kensington, one of the most affluent areas of London. Britain's most expensive car parking space, in Kensington, London, has been put on the market for £480,000 . The 'fantastic' underground parking space, which is a triple bay, is located in Kingston House (pictured) A resident's parking permit in Kensington and Chelsea, where the car parking space is located, typically costs up to £207 per year depending on the car's carbon dioxide emissions . Described as 'spacious', the triple parking bay comes with 24-hour security, a valet service and extensive state-of-the-art CCTV. There is also a complex ventilation system which ensures the regular flow of clean and extraction of carbon monoxide emissions. The parking space has been put on the market with Foxtons for £480,000. With stamp duty, the buyer will end up paying a total of £494,000 - three times the price of the average home in England and Wales and the same price as a pretty cottage in the Cotswolds. With the same money, you could also buy three plush Ferrari 458s, 50 new Ford Fiestas or a lavish superyacht. On top of this, the purchaser will also have to pay an additional £1,500 per year service charge. The bay is one of two triple spaces currently for sale in the underground car park. The other one costs £390,000. There is also a single space for £132,000. Paul Wallace, who runs the YouTube channel Supercars of London, believes it is unfortunately a price to pay for keeping your cars safe. The same amount could buy you this quaint country cottage in Costwolds village Bourton-on-the-Hill . It could also buy you this lavish 16th century castle, which has six bedrooms, in By Chryston, Glasgow . He said: 'You might think the super wealthy residents of Central London would have unlimited secure parking spaces, but it is becoming more apparent that this is not the case. 'There are lots of £200,000 supercars left on the side of the roads overnight, which exposes the cars to having wing mirrors clipped, rain and pollution on paintwork and even worse. '£480,000 is an very excessive cost to keep your car safe at night, but it's relatively essential with potential vandals.' The Kingston House car park, on Prince's Gate, can house a maximum of 144 cars. As part of a multi-million pound renovation, engineers installed a state of the art ventilation and fume extraction system which is designed to 'ensure the regular flow of clean air throughout the car park and the extraction of harmful carbon monoxide emissions'. The £480,000 - which would also have stamp duty added on - could also buy you this luxury yacht . A prospective buyer could also swap the parking space for

Summary: Triple bay is based underground in Kingston House, Kensington, London . Comes with 24-hour security, CCTV and ventilation system for emissions . Cost is three times the price of average UK home or a plush Ferrari 438 . Experts say cost is necessary to keep supercars safe on London streets .


Steven Fletcher thanked Scotland manager Gordon Strachan for standing by him after he ended his goal drought with a hat-trick against Gibraltar. Fletcher had only scored one goal in 19 internationals before hitting a treble in Scotland's 6-1 European Championship qualifying win at Hampden. And he has also been suffering at club level, having not scored for Sunderland since hitting two against Crystal Palace on November 3. Steven Fletcher (right) curls the ball around the Gibraltar defence to net his third goal of the game . Gibraltar goalkeeper Jamie Robba dives to his right but is unable to stop the ball hitting the back of the net . Steven Fletcher celebrates after having scored just one goal in 19 internationals before hitting this treble . There was speculation that Strachan might start with Jordan Rhodes against the Group D minnows but the Scotland boss maintained confidence in Fletcher. 'It meant a lot that he stuck with me, but that's the way he is,' Fletcher told www.uefa.com. 'The gaffer's made a point of standing by the guys who've got us to this position and saying that, whatever anyone else says, he knows we're good players. I'm delighted to have repaid a bit of that faith.' Fletcher's only previous international goal came in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Iceland six years ago but he is now the first Scotland player to score a hat-trick since Colin Stein hit four against Cyprus in 1969. Fletcher headed Scotland back in front in the 29th minute after Lee Casciaro had stunned the hosts by nodding home a 19th-minute equaliser after finding space round the outside of the home side's three-man defence. Fletcher thanked Scotland manager Gordon Strachan for standing by him after he ended his goal drought . Sunderland forward Fletcher is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring against minnows Gibraltar . The former Hibernian forward headed another in the 77th minute and curled home a low finish in the last minute as Scotland - who also scored through two Shaun Maloney penalties and a Steven Naismith strike - maintained their qualifying hopes. 'I feel my game's about more than goals but you know as a striker that people don't judge you on how many times you link up play, but on how many you score,' the 28-year-old said. 'So I was conscious of the fact it had been so long. That said, my confidence genuinely hasn't been dented. You just enjoy these days when they come along, and they don't come much better than scoring a hat-trick for your country. 'I only realised after the match that I'm the first Scottish player to do that in so long. That was a shock. I wondered if Shaun might get there first, but a few of the lads came up after my second and said: 'Go on, make sure you get the match ball'. 'You'd have seen from my celebrations how much the goals meant to me, especially the first. That seemed to take an age to go in.' Fletcher was recently mocked on Twitter for

Summary: Scotland beat Gibraltar 6-1 in their European qualifier on Saturday . Steven Fletcher scored a hat-trick; Scotland's first in 46 years . Fletcher scored his first goals in international football since April 2009 . The Sunderland forward admits he will cherish his hat-trick .


A&E departments across England are 'near breaking point' experts have today warned, as they called for an end to the fixation with the four-hour waiting target. A new report by the Nuffield Trust said an 'undue' focus on the national target can 'distort' behaviour inside hospitals 'in ways that are not in the interests of patients or staff'. Focus on the target can mean a significant amount of time is spent by staff reporting up the chain to those who commission healthcare, and regulators, with a potentially detrimental impact on the quality of care. The think tank's critique What's Behind The A&E 'Crisis'? comes as NHS England reveals emergency departments have not achieved the benchmark in England since July 2013. It comes as the latest figures, published today, show performance is getting worse. In the week ending March 1, 91 per cent of patients spent less than four hours in A&E before being discharged or admitted to a hospital ward - short of the 95 per cent target. The Nuffield Trust think tank today warned A&E departments across England are 'near breaking point', as they called for an end to the fixation with the four-hour waiting target . It marks a slight fall from the previous week, when performance was 92 per cent. But authors of the Nuffield Trust report argue that while the four-hour target has 'played an important part in improving patients' experiences', it is just one part of a complex system of urgent care. The report argues a set of 'richer performance indicators' should be considered alongside the weekly waiting time performance figures. Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, and the report's co-author, warned: 'England's A&E system is near crisis. 'With the financial squeeze set to continue, there is no relief in sight if we keep up the current approach. 'We need to rethink our assumptions as many of the "magic bullet" solutions suggested miss the point. 'It's not about more people turning up, but about a system with a squeeze on hospital space and staff, which needs to get better at discharging people safely and on time.' Every minute of every day, an average of 40 patients arrive at emergency departments in England. The speed with which people move through A&E 'has come to be regarded as a sentinel marker of the health care system'. The chair of the British Medical Association, Dr Mark Porter, agreed, adding the four-hour wait has become 'disproportionate'. Responding to the Nuffield Trust briefing, he said: 'Doctors want to treat patients on the basis of their individual need, rather than an arbitrary target. 'Moving away from a system that prioritises targets above all else to one which takes a wider view of how services are performing would improve the quality of patient care by preventing rushed admissions, or leaving those most in need waiting longer for treatment. 95 per cent – the national target specifying the proportion of patients that should spend four hours or less in A&E before being sent home or admitted elsewhere in the hospital. 92 per cent

Summary: Nuffield Trust report warns A&E units in England are 'near breaking point' The What's Behind The A&E 'Crisis'? briefing says 'undue' focus has been placed on the four-hour waiting time target . Argues it 'distorts' behaviour 'in ways not in the interest of patients' Report reveals four-hour target was last achieved in England in July 2013 . Today's weekly figures show 91% of patients seen within four hours . Think tank argues target is 'essential' but must be considered alongside a 'richer set of performance indicators' to ward off the impending crisis .


A priest is under investigation after allegations he halted his sermon to publicly shame a wheelchair-bound, partially sighted dementia sufferer for rustling her prayer sheet. It is claimed that Father John Lochran, 67, suddenly stopped Mass to rebuke retired psychologist Frances Haler, 87, who also suffers from leukaemia. The congregation at the Roman Catholic church looked on as the priest – who denies the accusation – told the octogenarian: ‘Will you stop rustling!’ A Catholic priest is being investigated after claims he halted his Sunday sermon mid-flow to berate wheelchair-bound Frances Haler (pictured with her granddaughter Alanna) for rustling her prayer sheet . After the service, Mrs Haler’s daughter Toni Bewley said she confronted Father Lochran but he was said to have retorted: ‘It’s my church.’ He is then said to have suggested the elderly lady take communion in her nursing home instead of his church. The incident at St Winefride’s Roman Catholic Church in St Asaph in Denbighshire, is being investigated by the Bishop of Wrexham, the Right Reverend Monsignor Peter Brignall. Last night the pensioner’s family condemned the priest. Mrs Bewley, 60, a college lecturer from Bodelwyddan in North Wales, said: ‘Mum was really quiet throughout the service, and then I got the hymn and prayer book and all the bits of paper. Mum folded the paper in half and held it up close to her eyes. ‘He looked up and said, “Will you stop rustling paper and holding paper up – I’m doing a sermon.” Thankfully, I don’t think Mum realised. ‘I was absolutely livid. At the end of the service I told him he had publicly humiliated my mother. ‘He said he was in the middle of his sermon and he was in flow and it was disturbing him. Mrs Haler's daughter Tony Bewley (right) says she was left feeling 'absolutely livid' at the priest's behaviour towards her mother at St Winefride's Roman Catholic Church (left) in St Asaph in Denbighshire, Wales . Mrs Haler, who has chronic leukaemia and dementia, is pictured left, receiving an award and right, on her wedding day 60 years ago . ‘I have got more Christianity in me than he has in his big toe. I’ve been left very upset. ‘I just can’t see what justification he had to humiliate her in the way he did. It’s so sad, given dwindling congregation numbers, that he could be like this. ‘It’s made me question my faith. There’s no way he can justify such an un-Christian attitude.’ Mrs Bewley said her mother usually enjoyed the services because it helped with her dementia by allowing her to recall long-term memories. But trouble started before this particular service even began, when Father Lochran directed Mrs Haler to sit at the side of the church by the organ – despite her being blind in one eye and partially sighted in another. When Mrs Bewley told him she would not be able to see the Mass, he allegedly responded: ‘This is where she sits, this is my church.’ The incident happened earlier this month when Mrs Haler was

Summary: Father John Lochran, 67, was saying Mass when he suddenly stopped . Frances Haler is said to have been told off for 'disturbing' his service . 87-year-old retired psychologist has chronic leukaemia and dementia . Her daughter says after confronting priest, he said: 'This is my church' But Father Lochran has denied the claims, insisting: 'It simply isn’t true' The incident is now being investigated by the Bishop of Wrexham .


Minnie Minoso, who hit a two-run home run in his first at-bat when he became major league baseball's first black player in Chicago in 1951, has died, the Cook County medical examiner said Sunday. The medical examiner's office did not immediately offer further details. There is some question about Minoso's age but the White Sox say he was 90. Minoso played 12 of his 17 seasons in Chicago, hitting .304 with 135 homers and 808 RBIs for the White Sox. The White Sox retired his No. 9 in 1983 and there is a statue of Minoso at U.S. Cellular Field. Remembered: Minnie Minoso (seen here in August 2013), who became major league baseball's first black player in Chicago in 1951, has died . History: In a March 9, 1957 file photo, Chicago White Sox outfielder Orestes 'Minnie' Minoso poses in batting position at Al Lopez Field in Tampa, Florida . Starting out: Minoso made his major league debut with Cleveland in 1949 and was dealt to Chicago in a three-team trade two years later. Minoso is seen with Lou Boudreau, right, and Larry Doby (on the left) in May 1949 . 'We have lost our dear friend and a great man,' White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a release. 'Many tears are falling.' Minoso made his major league debut with Cleveland in 1949 and was dealt to Chicago in a three-team trade two years later. He made his White Sox debut on May 1, 1951, and homered in his first plate appearance against Yankees right-hander Vic Raschi. It was the start of a beautiful relationship between the Cuban slugger and the White Sox. Minoso, regarded as baseball's first black Latino star, was a Havana native who spent most of his career in left field. He is one of only two players to appear in a major league game in five different decades. He got his final hit in 1976 at age 53 and went 0 for 2 in two games in 1980 for the White Sox, who tried unsuccessfully over the years to get the 'Cuban Comet' into baseball's Hall of Fame. 'When I watched Minnie Minoso play, I always thought I was looking at a Hall of Fame player,' Reinsdorf said in an informational package produced by the team for a 2011 Cooperstown push. 'I never understood why Minnie wasn't elected. 'He did everything. He could run, he could field, he could hit with power, he could bunt and steal bases. He was one of the most exciting players I have ever seen.' Saturnino Orestes Armas Minoso Arrieta was selected for nine All-Star games and won three Gold Gloves in left. He was hit by a pitch 192 times, ninth on baseball's career list, and finished in the top four in AL MVP voting four times. Despite the push by the White Sox and other prominent Latin players, Minoso has never made it to Cooperstown. His highest percentage during his 15 years on the writers' ballot was 21.1 in 1988. He was considered by the Veterans Committee in 2014 and

Summary: Minnie Minoso, who he became major league baseball's first black player in Chicago in 1951, has died, the Cook County medical examiner said Sunday . Minoso played 12 of his 17 seasons in Chicago, hitting .304 with 135 homers and 808 RBIs for the White Sox . The White Sox retired his No. 9 in 1983 and there is a statue of Minoso at US Cellular Field .


A woman who was told she may never walk again after having a stroke aged 22 defied doctors to walk down the aisle to marry the love of her life. It was thanks to the quick thinking of her husband, Iain, that Kathryn Grainger was given the treatment she needed right away to survive having a stroke at such a young age. He spotted the signs her health was in serious danger when she woke up with a headache at 4am in July 2008. Kathryn had made enough of a recovery to walk down the aisle in 2012 to tie the knot with Iain . Kathryn, now 29, from Durham, recalls: 'I woke up thinking I was having a bad headache but Iain said, "You're having a stroke". 'To be honest I didn't know what a stroke was until I had mine. I was very confused and didn't know what was going on.' The fashion university student was taken to hospital and put into an induced coma to undergo surgery to remove her skull and reduce the swelling on her brain. But doctors warned her devastated boyfriend, then aged 24, and her parents Leslie and Miriam, that they could not be sure if she would be permanently brain damaged - and warned them she may never walk or talk again. Kathryn and Iain, pictured in 2010, at Berlin Zoo, one year after she suffered a stroke aged just 22 . Kathryn pictured as a child with her elder brother Christopher Thompson . Kathryn said of that difficult time: 'When I first woke up from my coma, I couldn't sit up, walk, speak or move. 'I could just about write with my right hand and couldn't see properly in my left eye. 'Although I was in shock I kept thinking I'd be okay to go back to university in September. 'I had no idea how bad I was. Iain knew though because he saw me with tubes and wires coming out of my head. He can't talk about it because he gets upset.' Kathryn's parents and Iain, who she had met through friends two years before her stroke, were determined to support her and nurse her back to health. She was also determined to regain her health and independence and didn't want to give up on her degree. Kathryn and Iain pictured with her father Leslie and mother Miriam at their wedding in 2012 . Kathryn defied doctors by walking down the aisle on her big day with Iain . Kathryn said: 'I stayed in the high dependency unit for two weeks. I was fed through a tube in my nose for months and then I went on to pureed food. 'The doctors told my parents I may not be able to walk again or talk. They didn't think I would get out of my chair, but I proved them wrong. 'I had physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy. Slowly I re-learnt how to do things. I was really frustrated, as I'd lost the use of my left arm, as a fashion student that

Summary: Kathryn Grainger's husband Iain spotted signs she was having a stroke . Fashion student was put into induced coma after 'waking with a headache' Was warned she may never walk or talk again .


A self-made millionaire from Northern Ireland will put £30million of his personal fortune into Formula One’s phoenix team, Manor. Stephen Fitzpatrick, a 37-year-old entrepreneur, made that commitment at a press conference. With that injection, plus £28m in prize money, the team will run on a total budget of £58million. Manor will take part in the opening race of the season in Melbourne on Sunday week, subject to their cars passing crash tests. Briton Will Stevens is one of their drivers. Ovo founder Stephen Fitzpatrick (left) has joined forces with former Sainsbury CEO Justin King (right) Manor, who as Marussia went into administration last October, will be chaired in the interim by Justin King, former Sainsbury’s chief executive. Fitzpatrick, a former JP Morgan trader turned founder of energy company OVO, revealed he was a Formula One fan. He attended the Singapore Grand Prix, watching from the outside, ‘figuring out a way to get over there’ (on the inside of the sport). He then spoke to King about resurrecting the team. With stability and sponsorship the initial aims Fitzpatrick joked: ‘We’re unlikely to win any races for the first half of the season.’ Britain's Will Stevens has been announced as the renamed Manor team's first driver for the 2015 season . The team, formerly known as Marussia that went into administration at the end of October and missed the final three races of last season, will continue to be run by sporting director Graeme Lowdon and team principal John Booth. Manor has been preparing their cars at their old base in Dinnington, South Yorkshire, which comply fully with the 2015 regulations. Lowdon claims the cars, which are being crash tested this week, are 'a new concept of car with a very high degree of carry over (from 2014), with a lot of safety upgrades for 2015'. But the team will definitely be heading to Melbourne for the first race on March 13-15, with the majority of the freight on its way to Albert Park on Friday. Fitzpatrick, who previously worked as an investment banker at JP Morgan, concedes when he first approached Lowdon the team's cause appeared 'almost hopeless'. Former team Marussia will return to Formula One under the name of Manor this season . Fitzpatrick added: 'It was one of those situations that needed more time to understand everything, so it seemed too late, with no realistic possibility of reviving the team. 'But it was ironic that after making it through a hard first five years, claiming ninth in last year's championship and reaching the first rung of financial stability - if there is such a thing in Formula One - and then running out of steam, it seemed like too good a story to end there. 'So I looked to see if there was a way to help this team cling to life, to survival. 'After speaking to Graeme, who was very straightforward and we had some frank discussions, there was just one long list of challenges, top of which was to re-establish credibility with the main suppliers, like Ferrari. 'It was

Summary: Marussia will return to Formula One under the name Manor . The team has been saved by energy entrepreneur Stephen Fitzpatrick . Former Sainsbury CEO Justin King named interim chairman of F1 team .


Unemployment is falling faster in Britain than any country in Europe, new official figures showed today. A jobs surge means that in the last year the UK has overtaken the Czech Republic, Malta and Luxembourg to have the third lowest unemployment rate in all of the EU. Ministers hailed the figures which show the UK jobless rate at 5.6 per cent, half the Eurozone average. Unemployment in the UK has fallen sharply to the third lowest level in the UK, while Spain and Greece remains over 20 per cent . Overall 9.8 per cent of people across the 28-nation bloc are out of work, rising to 11.2 per cent among the countries using the euro single currency. It means a total of 23.8million people are out of work across the EU. The figure in the UK has fallen from more than 8 per cent three years ago, to 5.6 per cent in the latest league table. In the middle of 2013, the UK also had a higher unemployment rate than Denmark and Romania. Only Germany (4.7 per cent) and Austria (4.8) are now ranked higher in the league table than the UK. The UK figure has fallen faster than all major economies from 7.1 per cent to 5.6 per cent, the government said. Employment Minister Esther McVey said: 'Employers across the UK are feeling more confident, investing in people of all ages and these figures today show that the UK is at the top of the jobs growth league of all the major economies. 'The majority of the rise in employment has been in higher skilled jobs, and around 75 per cent has been in full-time work – providing peace of mind to the record numbers of people in work who can now feel more secure about having a steady income.' An official league table published by Eurostat ranks the UK third out of the 18 countries in the EU . Employment minister Esther McVey the UK is 'at the top of the jobs growth league' of all the major economies . The highest unemployment rate is in Greece, where more than a quarter of people are out of work. The new Greek government has sought to strike a deal with the Eurozone countries on restructuring its debts in a bid to get its economy back on track. In Spain, 23.4 per cent of people are unemployed, well ahead of the next highest, Croatia on 13.2 per cent. Youth unemployment across the EU fell by 562,000 to 4.9million, the figures also showed. In January 2015, the youth unemployment rate was 21.2 per cent in the EU and 22.9 per cent in the eurozone area. In the UK latest figures used by Eurostat show it was 16.1 per cent in November. Miss McVey added: 'No one in this country should be held back by the idea of a 'no-go career zone. 'As part of our long-term economic plan, we will support even more people develop the right skills and experience so they can fulfil their ambitions and step up to take advantage of

Summary: Official league table for the EU puts UK behind Germany and Austria . Ministers say Britain has seen the fastest fall in unemployment in a year . 5.6% unemployment rate is half the level seen across the eurozone .


Brazil came from behind to see off France in a friendly at the Stade de France, with goals from Oscar, Neymar, and Luis Gustavo. France had taken the lead through a Raphael Varane header, and looked to be in total control before Chelsea star Oscar's well-worked equaliser, but the visitors fought back strongly in the second half, and could have scored more as the game wore on. Barcelona's Neymar who already had 42 goals for his country before this game, made it 43, firing past Steve Mandanda from an angle which will have disappointed the French keeper, before Wolfsburg defensive midfielder Luis Gustavo was given the run of the penalty area to head home from a corner. Raphael Varane gets up highest to head France into the lead, after Danilo had slipped and Patrice Evra had blocked Miranda . The Real Madrid defender celebrates his goal, as France went ahead against Brazil in the Stade de France . Chelsea midfielder Oscar shows his delight after levelling the scores shortly before half time with a well-taken finish . Neymar fires home from a tight angle, beating Steve Mandanda with a powerful effort at his near post, to put Brazil ahead . Luis Gustavo celebrates making it 3-1, after he was able to rise unchallenged and power home a header from a corner . France: Mandanda 6.5, Sagna 5.5, Varane 6, Sakho 6, Evra 6, Matuidi 6 (Giroud 84 mins), Schneiderlin 6.5, Sissoko 6 (Kondogbia 74), Griezmann 6.5 (Fekir 74), Benzema 4.5, Valbuena 7 (Payet 82) Subs not used: Costil, Jallet, Guilavogui, Zouma, Tremoulinas, Lacazette, Koscielny, Ruffier. Goal: Varane 21 . Brazil: Jefferson 6.5, Danilo 6.5, Miranda 6.5, Thiago Silva 7, Luis 6.5, Gustavo 6.5(Fernandinho 90), Elias 6.5 (Marcelo 92), Oscar 7 (Souza 86), Neymar 7, Willian 7.5 (Douglas Costa 83), Firmino 6 (Adriano 88) Subs not used: Diego Alves, Gil, Gabriel, Fabinho, Robinho, Coutinho, Grohe. Goals: Oscar 40, Neymar 57, Luiz Gustavo 69 . Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy) France, on the other hand, threatened most from set pieces, and Karim Benzema, Moussa Sissoko and Varane could easily have added further goals for the hosts, as Brazil looked panicky whenever a decent cross arrived in their box. As tends to be the way with such friendlies, there was no great intensity to the play, but, in flashes there was real quality, and Oscar's equaliser epitomised that. The Chelsea man, operating from the left, played a lovely one-two with Roberto Firmino before arriving fractions ahead of a defender to poke past Mandanda. You might say it was a goal worthy of a World Cup final, but, 17 years after these two sides contested one on the same ground, it had to make do with turning the tide in a friendly. France had actually started the brighter, and should have been ahead after just eight minutes, Karim Benzema denied by a brilliant save from Jefferson, but he really should have scored his header from three yards. Brazil, with Manchester United target Firmino playing up front alongside talismanic captain Neymar, failed to find their best play early

Summary: Real Madrid centre back Raphael Varane powers in a header from a Mathieu Valbuena corner to give France the lead . Oscar levels before half time, before Neymar puts Brazil into the lead after 56 minutes . Luis Gustavo arrives unmarked from a corner to make it 3-1 with 20 minutes to play .


Two single beds side by side, canes hanging from coat hooks and retro British food tins on a gingham-covered countertop - these are the poignant images that capture the lives of two elderly sisters in their family home. Jean and Joy Taylor were born in the house in Ryde, Isle of Wight, in 1916 and 1922, never married and even shared a bedroom in their family home for 27 years until Jean's death in 2008. Now their quiet, old fashioned life together has been documented by a photographer Zoe Barker, with her picture series, The House Of Two Sisters. Scroll down for video . The sisters' guest room is decorated with pink candlewick bedspreads, an electric fire and family pictures on the mantelpiece. Jean's picture is in the centre, to the right is their brother Jim in his Royal Artillery Uniform . The new owners have kept the enamelled pots and pans and other vintage pieces of kitchenware and continue to use a 'cool cupbord' with perforated metal door and sides for storing cheese, butter and eggs . Jean Taylor (left) was born, lived and died in her home in Ryde, Isle of Wight; after the loss of her sister in 2008, Joy, now 99, (right) sold the house in 2013 to move into a care home . Barker's pictures are as much a document of the sisters' lives together and of a glimpse of a vanishing Britain. Her images record an immaculately kept house with vintage features such as antimacassars on the armchairs, tins of treacle in the kitchen, a dressing table and highly-patterned carpets. There are no computers cluttering up surfaces, or plugs, wires and cables wending around furniture and only a few black and white photographs decorate on the walls. The women were born into a well-known local family, which originally set up a successful coaching business in the town in the 1840s. They also had two brothers James and John. Barker said: 'Very much a family home in the early days, the sisters shared the house with their mother and their Aunt Edie until both mother and aunt passed away. This was Jean's home all her life.' Aged 23 and 17 respectively when the Second World War broke out, the Taylor sisters came of age in an era of thrift, rationing and self-sacrifice. And their wartime experiences are evident throughout the house. The dressing table in the twin bedroom that Jean and Joy shared. Their beds are seen reflected in the mirror . The new owners have kept the old Electrolux hoover along with the carpet that remains in this room . Jean and Joy shared a bedroom from the 1950s until Jean's death. The picture on the wall is of their family friend and Spitfire pilot George Gribble who was never found after bailing out over the sea near Dunkirk . Both of their brothers survived the war and there is a picture of James, who served in North Africa and Italy while John fought in the jungles of Burma, on the guest bedroom mantelpiece. In their

Summary: Photographer shot preserved house of two elderly sisters on Isle of Wight . Jean and Joy Taylor shared the family home and a bedroom for 34 years . New owners wanted to capture their old fashioned vintage home . Jean died in 2008 and Joy, now 99, has moved to a care home .


You might want to think twice the next time you put some bacon under the grill. A video has revealed just how smart pigs are, which may leave some people a little more reluctant to tuck into a choice cut of pig. The latest evidence of the creature's intelligence shows a pig sorting shapes without any human intervention. Moritz the pig in Berlin, Germany has solved a complex puzzle. The pig did it without any help from a human. In a video (shown) the pig puts coloured shapes into a wooden block. Recent research also revealed they have empathy like humans . The video was recorded by Nicolle von Eberkopf, who lives in Berlin, Germany. In a video, Moritz the pig places coloured pig-shaped blocks in corresponding coloured holes on a wooden board. The pig does this using its mouth, without any help. ‘Animals are an important part of our society,’ said Ms von Eberkopf. The sign of pig intelligence follows research earlier this year when scientists discovered that the creatures may be capable of empathy - a characteristic thought to be almost uniquely human. In an elaborate experiment, experts discovered that pigs shared the stress and happiness of their penmates. This findings by Wageningen University in the Netherlands suggest that swine respond to each other’s feelings, and adds weight to the argument that the practice of separating the animals in farms is especially cruel. The pigs were trained either to anticipate happiness or distress, by playing them music and either rewarding them with a pleasant treat such as chocolate raisins and a roomy house filled with peat, or putting them in a stressful situation, such as keeping them in isolation in a small pen. Untrained, ‘naïve’ pigs were placed in a pen with a pig conditioned to expect happiness, or one that expected discomfort. All the pigs were then played the same music – a piece by Bach - used in training. Some of the trained pigs showed that they anticipated what may happen to them, either by displaying happy behaviours - such as wagging their tails and barking - or signs of stress, such as keeping their ears back, urinating and defecating. Despite most of the trained pigs failing to react at all, they were still taken to another pen, leaving the naïve pigs behind, and were either rewarded or punished, depending on their training. The naïve pigs, which could not have known what lay in store for their penmates, reacted to the trained pigs’ behaviour anyway. Asian elephants show concern for others when they are stressed, using their trunks to caress the suffering elephant and emit a soft 'chirp,' Discovery recently reported. Consoling elephants put their trunk into another elephant's mouth so they are vulnerable, perhaps showing they are there to help. Crows and ravens are also known to be emotionally intelligent, with researchers at the Konrad Lorenz Research Station in Austria finding that the birds comfort others that are stressed after a fight. Ravens sit next to the distressed bird so their bodies are touching and sometimes preen

Summary: Moritz the pig in Berlin, Germany has solved a complex puzzle . The pig was able to carry out the task without any help from a human . In a video, the pig puts coloured shapes into a wooden block . Recent research also revealed they have empathy like humans .


A former Temple University football star and another man have been charged with human trafficking after they allegedly brought three girls aged 14, 16 and 17 to a hotel for prostitution, according to Baltimore police. Matthew Warren Brown, 25, and Anthony Leon Eley Jr., 30, were arrested during a sting operation at a Best Western Hotel. Undercover detectives used the escorts section on the website Backpage.com and arranged to meet with a woman, who claimed to be 23, at the hotel on St Patrick's Day, according to court documents. Matthew Warren Brown, 25, (left) was arrested with Anthony Leon Eley Jr., 30, (right) during a sting operation at a Baltimore hotel where they allegedly brought three underage girls aged 14, 16 and 17 for prostitution . Police said one of the girls asked for money, according to WBAL TV. Brown, a former Temple University running back, and Eley were arrested after they arrived at the hotel with the three underage girls in their car, according to police. Court documents state that Brown told police he had met the three girls on the street and gave them a ride to a different hotel before driving them to the Best Western. Brown claimed he did not know the girls were underage or involved in prostitution and that Eley provided the car, according to charging documents. One of the girls told police that both men had known the girls were underage, according to court documents. The girl alleged Brown drove them to two meetings with two other men before they arrived at the Best Western. She claimed the girls had robbed both of the men of their money and intended to do the same at the Best Western meeting. According to court documents, the girl told police she paid Brown $300 to drive the girls around. She said Eley had given the girls condoms for their meetings. The 17-year-old girl told police that Brown was the girls' pimp and also said he knew they were underage, documents state. Brown, a former football star at Temple University (pictured), told police he had met the girls on the street that day and were unaware they were underage or involved in prostitution, according to court documents . The girls were taken into custody as human trafficking victims and were interviewed by the FBI Child Sexual Exploitation Task Force. They face no charges and are under the care of social services, according to a spokesman for the police department. Brown is the son of prominent Baltimore attorney Warren Brown, who told WBAL TV that the news was 'gut-wrenching' and 'devastating'. 'It brought tears to my eyes. My heart was broken,' he said. 'I haven't had time to sit down and go talk to him about this. I haven't had time really to look at the charge papers.' Both Brown and Eley were released on bond. This month Eley was charged with assaulting a police officer, as well as second-degree burglary of a pharmacy. Brown was a Big East Special Teams Player of the Year while he played for Temple

Summary: Matthew Warren Brown, 25, and Anthony Leon Eley Jr., 30, were arrested during a string operation at a Baltimore hotel . Undercover detectives used the escorts section on a website and arranged to meet with a woman who claimed to be 23 . Brown told police he did not know the girls were underage or involved in prostitution . Brown was once signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .


Manchester City are looking to freshen up their ageing squad by signing Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson this summer, but the Brazilian is said to be happy with his current life in Rome and not looking for a move away. Anderson's agent claims City have sent scouts to the Stadio Olimpico to keep an eye on his client ahead of a possible bid - even though he has recently signed a new contract keeping him at Lazio until 2020. City have struggled to keep the pace in the Barclays Premier League title race this season and are out of all three cup competitions with critics noting that their first-choice starting XI has not changed much since Roberto Mancini's spell as manager. Manchester City are looking to sign Lazio midfielder Felipe Anderson this summer, according to his agent . Anderson does not want to leave Lazio though, who he is pictured scoring a header for against Hellas Verona . And according to Anderson's agent Stefano Castagna, the 21-year-old has been identified as a potential reinforcement in midfield. Castagna told Rome radio station Radiosei: 'The rapport with the club has always been excellent and in this case our interests coincided with those of the directors. 'It was not difficult to reach an agreement for a renewal. The president and his staff deserve praise and we are very happy with the faith shown in us. Anderson (centre) has also been linked to City's local rivals Manchester United but he is happy in Rome . 'It's a good sign that Manchester City are coming to see him, as that means he is doing very well. He has just signed a new deal and is very happy in Rome.' Anderson has also been linked to City's local rivals Manchester United, but Castagna sees no reason for him to leave Rome even if Lazio fail to reach the Champions League. 'I see no particular problem in keeping him, even without Champions League qualification. Playing in that tournament would be ideal, but the Europa League is good too.' Stefano Castagna said that even if Lazio did not qualify for the Champions League, he would happily stay .

Summary: Felipe Anderson is a Manchester City target, according to his agent . City scouts are said to have visited Rome to watch the Lazio midfielder . But the Brazilian 21-year-old is happy and does not want to move away .


Classical music can help slow down the onset of dementia, new research has found. Scientists discovered that patients who listened to experts of Mozart had enhanced gene activity in the brain in areas including memory and learning. Meanwhile, the music also affected the activity of a risk gene connected to Parkinson's disease. Classical music can help slow down the onset of dementia by enhancing gene activity in the brain, new research has found . The Finnish researchers found the changed activity was only present in 'musically-experienced' patients, who listened to music regularly, suggesting the importance of familiarity with music. For the study, participants were asked to listen to Mozart's violin concert No 3, G-major, K.216, a piece that lasts 20 minutes. The experiment was carried out on both musically experienced and inexperienced participants. The research involved participants listening to Mozart (pictured) for 20 minutes . The study showed that genes were enhanced in those deemed 'musically experienced' in areas such as dopamine secretion, which is when a neurohormone is released in the brain, synaptic neurotransmission, which is how neurons receive information, and learning and memory. Meanwhile, the music appeared to down-regulate genes associated with neuro-degeneration, which is the progressive loss of the structure or function of neurons. The researchers said several of the up-regulated genes were ones which are responsible for song learning and singing in songbirds. This suggests a common evolutionary background of sound perception across different species, they said. One of the most affected genes in this area was synuclein-alpha (SNCA), which is also a known risk gene for Parkinson's disease. Study leader Doctor Irma Jarvela, of Helsinki University, said: 'The up-regulation of several genes that are known to be responsible for song learning and singing in songbirds suggest a shared evolutionary background of sound perception between vocalizing birds and humans.' He added: 'The effect was only detectable in musically experienced participants, suggesting the importance of familiarity and experience in mediating music-induced effects.' Dr Jarvela added that the findingscould give give further insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying music therapy. The effects of this are still largely unknown.

Summary: Research saw patients listen to Mozart's violin concert No 3 for 20 minutes . The 'musically-experienced' people had enhanced gene activity, it found . Music also affected risk gene synuclein-alpha, connected to Parkinson's .


Under-fire Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal insists his team have done ‘rather well’ this season and that he has great chemistry with his players at Old Trafford despite widespread discontent among supporters over recent results and the team’s style of play. United’s indifferent league form and FA Cup exit against Arsenal on Monday have led to doubts on whether the current squad are buying into van Gaal’s ‘philosophy’. However, the Dutchman has robustly defended his record. Louis van Gaal is targeting second place in the Barclays Premier League with a late push in the run-in . The Manchester United manager believes catching local rivals Manchester City is an achievable target . City are just five points ahead of United in the Premier League table, with Arsenal four behind City . ‘We lost the first match against Swansea and had a bad start but in spite of the bad start we are a stable club in the top four,’ said Van Gaal. ‘When you are so long there after such a bad start, I think we’ve done rather well. The coming matches are very decisive. We are so close to a lot of clubs. We can be second or third. It is not a big difference, I believe. 'Manchester United have to be one of the teams who have to play in the Champions League.' United have only lost twice in the league since early November but have ridden their luck in certain games and are currently fourth, 10 points behind leaders Chelsea, and in grave danger of not qualifying for the Champions League for the second successive season. The financial implications of missing out would be devastating but Van Gaal insists that is not his concern. ‘I don’t think that I’m here to think about the financial consequences, that is (for) Ed Woodward,’ he argued. ‘I’m here to manage the professional football department.’ Manchester United have attracted unwelcome publicity all season. Expensive signings Angel di Maria, Juan Mata and Radamel Falcao have failed to shine. Van Gaal said that United 'have to be one of the teams' who play in the Champions League next season . City and United face each other before the end of the season, and that could make a big difference . Sergio Aguero and Co haven't been up to their usual standards at the Etihad and that could help United . Last weekend, defender Jonny Evans was banned for six matches for spitting at Newcastle’s Papiss Cisse. A bullish Van Gaal declared his relationship with the United squad is first-class. ‘When I think the chemistry between the players and the manager is not good enough anymore, then I go, he added. ‘But when I see this chemistry between myself and my players then I don’t have any doubts,’ Manuel Pellegrini will have his eyes on the teams behind him... as well as Chelsea in front . Ryan Giggs and Van Gaal haven't had the greatest season but are still well in with a chance of a top four spot . Van Gaal rejected the opportunity to

Summary: Louis van Gaal wants to finish second in the Barclays Premier League . There is a five point gap between United and Manchester City in second . He sees games against Tottenham, Liverpool and City as opportunities . Van Gaal says United 'have to be' in next year's Champions League . Dutchman is confident he will be a success this year and in the future . He rejected chance to discuss how close he came to joining Tottenham .


The Chancellor used this week's Budget to announce the first above-inflation increase in the threshold for the higher rate of tax . George Osborne is expected to pledge to accelerate increases in the 40p income tax threshold if the Conservatives win the general election. The Chancellor used this week's Budget to announce the first above-inflation increase in the threshold for the higher rate of tax, which has sucked in ever-more middle-class families, in seven years. But yesterday economists said that even after the latest rise, the decision to limit increases had left millions out of pocket. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said higher-rate taxpayers will be £535 worse off in 2017-18 than they would have been had the threshold risen in line with inflation since 2010. Those earning up to £100,000 have benefited from repeated increases in the 20p threshold, but not as much as the 26million basic-rate taxpayers. Mr Osborne persuaded reluctant Liberal Democrat colleagues to agree that the higher-rate tax threshold should rise gradually from £41,865 this year to £43,300 in April 2017 as he sought to woo voters ahead of May's election. He is now expected to use the Conservative election campaign to say he would go faster if the party wins outright. The Chancellor says he wants to deliver a threshold of £50,000 for higher-rate tax and £12,500 for the basic rate. The IFS said yesterday that higher-rate taxpayers were feeling the pain from the Coalition's earlier decisions to cut the threshold for paying 40p and then increasing it by less than inflation. The think-tank said the threshold would need to rise to £48,650 by 2017 to ensure that higher-rate taxpayers had not lost out since 2010. Robert Joyce, a senior research economist at the IFS, said: 'Higher-rate taxpayers will be £535 worse off because the point at which you start paying 40p income tax has been reduced in real terms significantly over this Parliament.' But he said basic-rate taxpayers will be £597 a year better off by 2017-18 because of increases in the personal allowance – the point at which income tax of 20 per cent kicks in. Mr Osborne says he wants to deliver a threshold of £50,000 for higher-rate tax and £12,500 for the basic rate . The Coalition has already raised the personal allowance from about £6,500 to £10,000 and it is due to hit £11,000 in 2017. Mr Osborne said the planned increases in the 40p threshold in the coming years – which could be reversed by an incoming Labour government – were a modest 'downpayment' on Tory plans to raise the threshold to £50,000 by 2020. David Cameron vowed last year to end the scandal of so-called 'fiscal drag', which has seen millions of people dragged into higher rates of income tax by below-inflation increases to thresholds. The number of people paying 40p tax has risen from around three million to five million since 2010 and is due to keep rising. The IFS, the leading independent expert on tax and spending issues in Britain, has estimated that one in four taxpayers

Summary: Chancellor detailed in Budget first above-inflation tax rise in 40p threshold . Economists said decision to limit increases had left millions out of pocket . Mr Osborne urged reluctant Lib Dems to agreed to higher-rate threshold . Expected to use Tory campaign to say would go faster if they win outright .


Robin van Persie has targeted the Manchester derby on April 12 for his return from injury. The Manchester United striker has missed the last five games after suffering ankle ligament damage in the 2-1 defeat at Swansea more than a month ago. But Van Persie believes he will be back in time for the Premier League clash with City at Old Trafford as Louis van Gaal’s side fight for second place with their neighbours, who are currently two points ahead. The Dutchman scored a memorable late winner at the Etihad in 2012 to help United seize the title back from City. Robin van Persie could return from injury in time for next month's Manchester derby against rivals City . The Dutchman scored a memorable late winner at the Etihad in 2012 to help United seize the title . Van Persie has spent some time at home in Holland during his layoff, but he has been working hard in the gym under the supervision of United physio Matt Radcliffe and is expected to step up his rehabilitation during the international break. United have coped well in Van Persie’s absence, winning all four Premier League games – beating top-four rivals Liverpool and Tottenham – but lost in the FA Cup against his old club Arsenal. The 31-year-old has scored 10 goals in 26 games for his club this season, although he admitted in January that his form has not been good enough and is uncertain if United will offer him a contract extension before his current deal runs out in 15 months’ time. Van Persie has missed the last five games after suffering ankle ligament damage in the 2-1 defeat at Swansea . United have coped well in Van Persie’s absence, winning all four Premier League games .

Summary: Robin van Persie injured his ankle against Swansea last month . The striker believes he will be back in time for the Manchester derby . Manchester United are fourth in the table, two points behind rivals City . READ: Radamel Falcao will be offered to Liverpool on loan this summer . CLICK HERE for all the latest Manchester United news .


Gary Neville says he is a worried that Liverpool's recent form will see them knock Manchester United out of the Barclays Premier League top four and leave them without Champions League football for a second successive year. Liverpool face Burnley at Anfield on Wednesday night having taken 19 points from a possible 21 in the last two months while United have stumbled, claiming just 13 in the same period. Louis van Gaal's side travel on Newcastle United on Wednesday ahead of a daunting run of fixtures that includes Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea within their next seven games. Liverpool have emerged as serious contenders for a top four place in the Barclays Premier League . Manchester United defeated Sunderland at the weekend but are far from firing on all cylinders . Gary Neville fears Liverpool could leapfrog Manchester United and take the final Champions League spot . And United legend Neville is concerned that his former club will be unable to hold off the Merseyside club in the fight for a top-four place as the season reaches its biting point. 'For the first time this season I am concerned as to whether Manchester United can fight them off in the scrap for the Champions League places,' Neville wrote in his Daily Telegraph column. 'It’s fair to say Liverpool have emerged as much more of a threat than I considered a few weeks ago. Neville believes the Anfield club are as well equipped as anyone to take the final Champions League spot . Record £60million signing Angel di Maria has struggled for form along with his United team-mates . 'I arrived at Anfield expecting City to reassert themselves in the title race and make their extra few days preparation. It both impressed and concerned me to see Liverpool play as they did.' Chelsea and United's local rivals City are widely expected to take up two of the Premier League's four qualification places and with Arsenal going strong in third place, United, Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham will all be eyeing the last spot. 'Liverpool look as well equipped as any side to take that final Champions League spot now,' Neville added. 'They've stopped conceding goals, have found a system that works for their players and have their high intensity game back.' Although now a pundit, Neville remains supportive of United from his playing days spent at Old Trafford . Philippe Coutinho scored a brilliant winner for Liverpool against Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday .

Summary: Liverpool have closed the gap on Manchester United to two points . They beat champions Manchester City 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday afternoon . Gary Neville says Liverpool could well finish above their rivals United . READ: Why Liverpool have the edge in race for top four . CLICK HERE to read more about how Liverpool have turned it around .


The Australian government has rallied behind a plan to protect the Great Barrier Reef from future degradation, releasing a long-term plan to prevent the World Heritage Site from being declared 'in danger'. The World Heritage Committee is to decide whether the Reef is on the 'in danger' list in June, and in a bid to ensure the long-term health of the national treasure, the Federal and Queensland governments released The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan. The Reef, which covers an area of 348,000 square metres, is the world’s most extensive coral reef ecosystem, and is listed by UNESCO 'a site of remarkable variety and beauty'. Scroll down for video . The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan was announced by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Saturday . Prime Minister Tony Abbott revealed the plan on Hamilton Island in far north Queensland on Saturday, and said that Australia is 'utterly committed as an entire nation to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef which is one of the natural wonders of the world', reported The ABC. 'The Great Barrier Reef is an incredibly diverse and rich environment – a maze of 3000 coral reefs and 1050 islands stretching for over 2300 kilometres,' said a press release from Mr Abbott. 'It is already regarded as being among the best managed marine parks in the world. We’re determined to keep it that way.' The Reef includes 2,500 individual reefs and over 900 islands, as well as over 1,500 species of fish, about 400 species of coral, 4,000 species of mollusk, and 240 species of birds. 'Collectively these landscapes and seascapes provide some of the most spectacular maritime scenery in the world,' says the Reef's listing by UNESCO. 'This diversity, especially the endemic species, means the GBR is of enormous scientific and intrinsic importance, and it also contains a significant number of threatened species.' Mr Abbott said that Australia is 'utterly committed as an entire nation to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef which is one of the natural wonders of the world' 'The Great Barrier Reef is an incredibly diverse and rich environment – a maze of 3000 coral reefs and 1050 islands stretching for over 2300 kilometres,' said a press release from Mr Abbott . The Reef includes 2,500 individual reefs and over 900 islands, as well as over 1,500 species of fish . The Reef can be seen from outer space, and includes popular tourist destinations such as the Whitsundays and Princess Charlotte Bay. The plan includes a ban on dumping dredge spoil anywhere in the world heritage area, a limit on port expansion to four sites and targets for reducing sediment, nutrient and pesticide contamination. The plan identifies climate change as one of the major threats, and aims to improve water quality. Queensland Environment Minister Steven Miles said run-off of sediment, nutrients and pesticides was the biggest medium term threat to the reef, which the plan addressed. 'With it, we will be able to convince the World Heritage Committee that not only should they not list the reef as in-danger but that

Summary: The Federal and Queensland governments released The Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan on Saturday . The plan was released in a bid to prevent the World Heritage Site from being listed as 'in danger' The Reef, which covers an area of 348,000 square metres, is the world’s most extensive coral reef ecosystem . Prime Minister Tony Abbott said that Australia is 'utterly committed to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef' The plan includes a ban on dumping dredge spoil and an aim for better water quality .


Arsenal will not qualify for the Champions League as Chelsea, Manchester United, City and Liverpool will finish in the top four, believes Phil Neville. The 38-year-old predicts Arsenal will not qualify for Europe's elite competition for the first time under Wenger, and that his former club United will even finish second behind champions Chelsea. 'For me Chelsea are going to win the league. I think they'll win it with three or four games to spare,' Neville said, as reported by The Express. Arsenal will not qualify for the Champions League for the first time under Arsene Wenger, says Phil Neville . Neville thinks Louis van Gaal's Manchester United will finish second in the Premier League behind Chelsea . How the top of the Premier League is shaping up . 'I'm going for an outside bet of Manchester United finishing second and then I'm for City and Liverpool.' For Neville's prediction to come true, Liverpool will have to make up a six-point gap between themselves and Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League. The teams are currently away during the international break but the race for the top four continues on Saturday, with Arsenal vs Liverpool the early match at the Emirates. For Neville's prediction to come true, Liverpool have to make up six points between themselves and Arsenal .

Summary: Phil Neville predicts Manchester United will finish second behind Chelsea . He then believes Manchester City and Liverpool will claim third and fourth . Neville feels Arsenal will not secure Champions League football for the first time under manager Arsene Wenger . READ: Champions League race gains extra spice as prize money increase means winners next season will scoop £74MILLION . CLICK HERE for all the latest Premier League news .


A disabled woman has been stuck in her armchair for three years because she can't climb the stairs and her wheelchair won't get through the front door. Sally Walker, 50, lives, sleeps and eats in the seat at her home in Southampton, Hampshire, and relies on photographs taken by her family to see what the outside world looks like. The mother-of-two suffers from chronic lymphoedema - an abnormal collection of high-protein fluid just beneath the skin, usually in the arm or leg - which she was diagnosed with at the age of 25. Scroll down for video . Sally Walker, pictured with her husband, Stephen, 51, who is her full-time carer. She is confined to her armchair after being diagnosed with chronic lymphoedema - an abnormal collection of high-protein fluid . Before then she lived an active life, going to the beach and regularly seeing friends, but the crippling condition has left her confined to her living room. Her two-bedroom council home doesn't have a ramp and is too small for her wheelchair - and the last time she went upstairs was seven years ago. She said: 'I just want to give up. I have had enough because I'm thinking what's next because there is nothing. What is the point? I am just existing, not living. 'I've been depressed for years but this has tipped me over the edge. I'm 50 years of age and I am trapped. I have no privacy and no life. 'I'm frightened of dying here in the chair. This is it. This is my life. All I see is these four walls.' Mrs Walker, who lives with her carer husband Stephen, 51, and her sons aged 30 and 28, spends her days on Facebook, reading, watching TV, talking to friends and petting her dog Chalkie. She said: 'I just dream of being able to get out. When I do have to go to the hospital when I get outside in their chair or bed and the fresh air or sun hits me and I think "oh my God, what's that?" It's really weird. 'I have to ask the carers what it is like outside and my family show me photos of the garden.' Sally and Stephen on their wedding day in July 1983, left, and the couple pictured together three years ago on the last time she left the house to go to her auntie's anniversary party . Sally Walker with her husband Stephen and their two children. She developed the condition after the birth of her first child . 'I was never in before. I would find any excuse to go out, even if it was just to go round Steve's mum's house. 'We spent Christmas down the beach with the dog, we used go on holiday.' Following the birth of her first son, she began suffering symptoms and was diagnosed with the condition. She said: 'I had a GP come out to me and he said he'd been a GP for over 40 years and he'd never come across a case so bad in his

Summary: Sally Walker, 50, lives, sleeps and eats in her armchair at her council home . She relies on photographs of the outside world taken by husband, Stephen . Mother-of-two has chronic lymphoedema - an abnormal fluid collection . Previously an active woman, she was diagnosed with condition aged 25 . She has admitted she's 'frightened of dying in the chair' and is depressed . Mrs Walker says Southampton City Council has refused to re-home her .


Mario Balotelli made use of the two days off Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers gave his team by visiting his former AC Milan team-mates in Italy on Tuesday. The Italian international turned up at their training session to watch the squad prepare for their Serie A match with Fiorentina this Monday, and uploaded a photo to his Instagram of him with Stephan El Shaarawy. Balotelli wrote ‘Milan, what a pleasure to see you’ as he visited the club he left for £16million to join Liverpool in August. Mario Balotelli (left) poses for a photo with AC Milan's Stephan El Shaarawy at the training ground . He has struggled for form at Anfield, having scored just four goals in 24 appearances under Rodgers. The Liverpool boss gave his team two days off following their 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup quarter-finals, but will have his team back in training at Melwood on Wednesday ahead of visiting his former club Swansea City. Balotelli played 31 minutes against Blackburn but the 24-year-old will hope to get more time on the pitch at the Liberty Stadium. The Italian international has found goals hard to come by since joining Liverpool in the summer . Balotelli sees a header go wide of the post in their FA Cup quarter final clash against Blackburn .

Summary: Mario Balotelli flew to Italy to visit his former AC Milan team mates . He posted a photo of himself and Stephan El Shaarawy at training . Brendan Rodgers gave his Liverpool players a couple of days off . READ: Balotelli comments on Matteo Salvini racism row . Click here for all the latest Liverpool news .


A warrior beetle lived up to its name when it was recorded dispatching a devil scorpion with little effort. A man placed the two creatures into a container to show what happens they face off, warning viewers that the invertebrate would feed on its natural prey. After feeling out their environment, the combatants lock horns in battle to the death. The competitors begin by feeling out their environments before they approach each other and lock horns . Sensing its predator the scorpion turns and tries to make a run for it. But the beetle steamrolls forward and is undeterred by its competitor’s sting. It dives at the scorpion's tail and clamps on with its powerful pincers. After coming face-to-face with the beetle, the scorpion tries to get away but its competitor clamps down on its tail . The scorpion attempts to get away by running over the piece of wood but the beetle holds it in place with its huge pincers . Chasing the scorpion around the container, the beetle maintains its grip on the tail and hangs from it as its competitor attempts to make a getaway. Despite the scorpion turning and attempting to fend off the beetle on a number of occasions, the outcome is inevitable and eventually it starts to slow down. Releasing the tail – now bent and crooked – the beetle jumps on the scorpion’s right pincer before returning to the tail and chopping it in half. Dispatched: The beetle leaves the scene of the crime after chopping the scorpion in half with its pincers . According to the video's creator, warrior beetles, known scientifically as Pasimachus californicus, eat devil scorpions in the wild. Both are inhabitants of the Sonora Desert of the American Southwest, and the devil scorpion is considered a pest species in Arizona as it often enters homes and stings the occupants. Despite its nasty sting however, the beetle’s strong armour is impervious to it.

Summary: The one-sided battle took place in a plastic container . The beetle latched onto and snipped off the scorpion's tail . Both inhabit the Sonora Desert of the American Southwest . The beetle's armour is impervious to the scorpion's sting .


More than half of young adults in Los Angeles can fluently speak a language other than English, despite the fact that the city's percentage of foreign born residents is decreasing. Fifty-seven per cent of those aged 18 to 34, in LA spoke a language other than English at home, beating out Miami which had 55 per cent and San Jose with 54 per cent. Roughly a quarter of the 'Millenial' generation nationwide uses another language, according to the American Community Survey. A map of young adults' ability to speak a language other than English uses dark red for counties where more than 40 per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds communicate in a foreign language at home, and lighter shades of pink for smaller proportions of the population . Roughly 60 per cent of LA city residents age five and older speak a language other than English, with Spanish the most popular language among them. In addition to a large number of Latino immigrants, Los Angeles also has large Middle Eastern, Asian, Middle Eastern and Eastern European communities. However, the proportion of foreign-born adults in Los Angeles has actually decreased 9 percentage points to a little less than a third since 1990, and a large number of the Millenials with foreign language skills are thought to be bilingual. The rise in bilingualism is probably caused by children continuing to speak their parents' tongues in addition to English, according to Voice of America. UCLA professor Raul Hinojosa said that the children and grandchildren of immigrants historically stopped learning to speak the same language of their ancestors, but that there has been a 'sea change in the last ten years'. California has seen a growing percentage of its young adults speaking foreign languages (bars in blue) since the 1980s. The US as a whole (pink bars) has also seen its rate increase at a slower pace . Hinojosa said that languages beyond Spanish, second and third-generation immigrants will be encouraged to keep knowledge of Mandarin and other languages. The American Community Survey collected data between 2009 and 2013 and found that 23.3 per cent of the population was between 18 and 34 years old, a fall from 30 per cent in 1980. Data showed that the generation is less likely to be married and more likely to have gone to college than three decades ago, as well as more likely to speak a foreign language. Areas that showed the highest rates for speaking something other than English were near the US-Mexico border in California and Texas. New Jersey was found to be the third most likely state for a young adult to speak a foreign language at home. West Virginia ranked last for the statistic with 3.63 per cent and Middlesborough, Kentucky, was the metro with the lowest percentage of young adults who could speak a foreign language with 0.034. In contrast to Los Angeles, many US cities and states have seen significant increases in their foreign-born populations. The United States as a whole saw its estimated foreign-born population decline 0.4 percentage points from 2000

Summary: Fifty-seven per cent of 18 to 34-year-olds in LA don't speak English at home . Proportion of foreign-born residents has actually decreased in the city . More than half of Millennials speak non-English language in Miami, San Jose . Immigrant children and grandchildren keep knowledge of family's language .


A conwoman has admitted trying to sell a mews house in an exclusive area of London for £1 million - right under its real owner’s nose. Monika Brzezinska, 28, used false identity documents to pretend to be the lawful owner of a home in Clarendon Mews, in Bayswater, west London, in November last year. The Polish national appeared at Southwark Crown Court wearing a long black skirt and black top with a beige coat draped over her arm. Monika Brzezinska, 28, used false identity documents to pretend to be the lawful owner of a home in Clarendon Mews, in Bayswater, west London, in November last year. Benjamin Khoury, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud earlier this year . Speaking through a Polish interpreter, she admitted one count of fraud and two counts of possessing false identity documents relating to a bogus passport and driving licence. Benjamin Khoury, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud earlier this year. Jamara Pacskowska, 56, denies the charges and will face trial in April. Addressing Brzezinska Judge Alistair McCreath said: ‘I will not sentence you today. ‘In part because the court will want to know more about you before your sentence and I have therefore ordered a pre-sentence report.’ At an earlier hearing prosecutor Peter Zinner said the defendants ‘adopted the identity’ of the lawful owner and had created the fake identity documents to support the sale of this property on Clarendon Mews, Bayswater, last November, for £1 million . Brzezinska of Croydon, admitted one count of fraud and two counts of possessing false identity documents and was released on bail ahead of her sentence. Pacskowska, also of Croydon, was released on bail ahead of a trial later this year. She denies one count of fraud and two counts of possessing false identity documents. Khoury, of Hackney, east London, was released on bail pending sentence at the conclusion of the trial. Brzezinska of Croydon, admitted one count of fraud and two counts of possessing false identity documents and was released on bail ahead of her sentence. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Summary: Monika Brzezinska, 28, falsely pretended to be the lawful owner of house . She admitted one count of fraud and two counts of possessing false identity documents relating to a bogus passport and driving licence . Benjamin Khoury, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud earlier this year . Jamara Pacskowska, 56, denies the charges and will face trial in April .


A ten-year-old girl with a rare but intractable form of epilepsy is leading the crusade to have marijuana extract oil approved for medicinal use in her home state of Idaho as a form of treatment for her deadly seizures. Alexis Carey, from Boise, has Dravet Syndrome, an incurable genetic disease that causes severe and multiple seizures, which often leave parents guessing if the terror of watching their child seize up will pass or turn fatal. After her family learned that oil extracted from marijuana had helped other children with her condition, they wanted to see if it would help her too, but Idaho’s stringent marijuana laws do not allow for medicinal use. Family support: Alexis Carey (left), a 10-year-old girl with a rare form of epilepsy, sat with her mother Clare Carey (center) and five-year-old sister Alanis Carey (right) last Friday in Boise, Idaho . Helping hand: Alexis, who has Dravet Syndrome, worked with her therapist Brigette Borup last week as her family fights to have Idaho lawmakers legalize marijuana extract oil to treat her seizures . 'Parent to parent, when you're in a small community and 10 people that you know are all having success, that's no longer anecdotal,' Clare Carey, her mother, said. 'That's hope.' The family began lobbying lawmakers to decriminalize the oil almost two years ago. Now, they've got some legislative backers and an upcoming hearing, as Idaho joins a larger movement to loosen laws to allow the use of marijuana extract oil. Twelve states have legalized the oil while still banning medical marijuana. Virginia legalized the oil February 26. In Utah, lawmakers have given initial approval to let those with chronic and debilitating diseases consume edible marijuana products, while still banning smoking. Marijuana extract oil first received attention when a Colorado family fought and won for access for their daughter who also had Dravet Syndrome. It is similar to hemp oil, which is legal in Idaho and can be bought in grocery stores. With no known cure for Dravet Syndrome, children are often prescribed a cocktail of medications to counter the seizures. However, the heavy drugs often come with side-effects that can permanently damage a child's developing liver, kidneys and other organs. Proponents of cannabidiol oil, a non-psychotropic extract of marijuana, argue that it reduces the amount and length of seizures in children. Over time, Mrs Carey hopes that the oil would also reduce the number of medications her daughter relies on. 'Like any parent, you never give up hope that you can get complete seizure control,' she said. 'Children die from Dravet by any one of the seizures. Alexis could have a seizure that may not stop, we never really know.' Sisterly bond: Alexis can be seen playing with Alanis. The 10-year-old girl began having seizures when she was only two months old . Natural remedy: This closeup image shows a drop of marijuana oil on the end of a needle. Proponents of the oil for medicinal use argue that it reduces the amount and length of seizures in children . Making a change: Governor Terry

Summary: Alexis Carey, from Boise, Idaho, has Dravet Syndrome, an incurable genetic disease that causes severe and multiple seizures . Proponents of marijuana oil argue that it reduces the amount and length of seizures in children, but Idaho’s laws do not allow for medicinal use . Alexis' family began lobbying lawmakers to decriminalize the oil almost two years ago. Now, they have an upcoming hearing .


The family of Winston Churchill, pictured, have donated 37 of his paintings to the state following the death of his one remaining child . A collection of Winston Churchill’s paintings has been given to the public by the late Prime Minister’s family to settle a multi-million pound tax bill. The politician’s family was left owing £9.4million in inheritance tax following the death of his last surviving child Lady Mary Soames last year. But rather than selling off the prized collection of 37 paintings, his family has given the paintings to the nation under a specialist tax scheme for important pieces of art. As part of the deal the vast majority of the paintings will be permanently displayed to the public at Chartwell, Churchill’s former home that is now run by the National Trust. The wartime Prime Minister took up the hobby at the age of 41 and continued painting in a figurative style into his 80s, producing more than 500 works. Although his amateur offerings never received mass critical acclaim, they have attracted huge prices on the private market from avid fans of ‘Churchilliana’ buyers. The value of his paintings was highlighted last year when The Goldfish Pool at Chartwell – depicting the garden feature which he dug and visited daily - was sold for a record £1.8m. Despite selling many of his prized possessions at auction last year, Lady Soames’s will included a request that the paintings remain on display at Chartwell. She also asked that Coast Scene near Cannes should remain in the Houses of Parliament and that View From a Bathing Hut at the Miami Surf Club stays in the Churchill War Rooms. Lady Soames, who died last June at the age of 91, previously described how painting ‘literally ‘grabbed’ her father in 1915. She credited the hobby for ‘playing an increasing and abiding role in his life, renewing the source of his great inner strength and enabling him to face storms, ride out depressions and rise above the tough passages in his political life’. The items were donated to the nation under the acceptance in lieu scheme, which allows people to offset inheritance tax against valuable items of cultural significance. Churchill's painting 'The Goldfish Pool at Chartwell', pictured, sold recently for a record £1.8 million . Some of the collection will remain on permanent display at Churchill's home, Chartwell, pictured . The scheme sees the Government accept the items for the full market value, provided they can be permanently bequeathed to a museum or gallery. It also offers a ‘good deal’ for those offering up historically important items, with works avoiding the taxes associated with a sale on the private market. Inheritance tax is paid at 40 per cent when an estate exceeds £325,000 but the scheme sees the amount of tax incurred by the objects reduced to 25 per cent of its market value. The secretary of state for culture, media and sport is responsible for deciding whether the items offer a good deal for the taxpayer after being advised by a board of experts. The Government

Summary: Winston Churchill's family donated the artwork to settle a large tax bill . The family faced a £9.4million bill following the death of his last child . The 37 artworks were handed over to the state as part of the deal . However, several of the works will remain at Churchill's hotels .