The devastated parents of a New Zealand man, jailed for making a joke about Buddha, have revealed the horrific conditions their son is suffering through in a Myanmar prison. Wellington-based Brian and Angela Blackwood have launch an online petition to campaign for Philip Backwood's freedom, insisting that their son and his colleagues have been unjustly convicted. They have revealed their pain they feel as they can not help their son, who is being subjected to the brutal conditions inside Yangon's notorious Insein Prison. He has been sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment. He has been held in the jail since his arrest in December. 'He sleeps on a wooden pallet, no bedding is allowed, no mattress, no pillow,' Brian told ABC. He is only allowed to see his fiancé Noemi Alamo and their seven-month-old daughter for an hour every fortnight. Scroll down for video . Philip Blackwood (C) is escorted by police to a court hearing in Yangon. Blackwood and his two Myanmar colleagues were sentenced to two and a half years in jail for using a Buddha image to promote a cheap drinks . Two weeks ago the bar manager and his two Myanmar colleagues were jailed for two and a half years with hard labour by a Yangon court for using a Buddha image to promote a cheap drinks night. However, Blackwood's hard labour penalty has been lifted as he is a foreigner. The ad posted on Facebook in December caused a stir of outrage in the former junta-ruled country, where surging Buddhist nationalism and religious violence has sparked international concern. Philip Blackwood, who worked at the VGastro bar in Yangon, was found guilty of insulting religion, after the New Zealander posted a mocked-up photo of the Buddha wearing DJ headphones on Facebook — in reference to a well-known international club brand. The three convicted men have the support of a number of human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. The group have condemned the court's ruling and called for the unconditional release of Mr. Blackwood and his colleagues. 'It is ludicrous that these three men have been jailed simply for posting an image online to promote a bar,' a spokesperson for Amnesty International in South East Asia and the Pacific said. “They should be immediately and unconditionally released.” According to International commission of Jurists in the Asia and Pacific, the conviction violates Mynamar's own legal standards. 'The conviction violates international standards for imprisoning people for speech (and) seems to violate Myanmar’s own legal standards which require intent.' Blackwood's loved ones are fighting to help alleviate some of Blackwood's struggles during his sentence. 'He has a hole in the ground for a toilet and he has a bucket of water that he washes in, keeps himself tidy with. 'He is only given broth and rice to eat. 'I don't believe that we understand half of what he is suffering.' Mr Blackwood leaves court after being sentenced to two and half years in prison. He was found guilty of insulting Buddhism . Blackwood, the manager of

Summary: Philip Blackwood sentenced to two and a half years jail with hard labour . He used a psychedelic image of Buddha which 'insulted the religion' His parents have started a petition to campaign for his freedom . Supported by Amnesty International & other Human Rights groups . Blackwood sleeps on a wooden panel with no mattress, blanket or pillow . New Zealander can only see his fiance and baby daughter once a fortnight . There are serious concerns for his physical and mental health . His colleagues Tun Thurein, 40, Htut Ko Ko Lwin, 26, were also jailed . Myanmar has been rocked by acts of religious violence in recent years . The bloodshed has seen hardline monks advocate controversial new laws .


The mother of two missing boys has issued an emotional plea for their safe return after they were allegedly kidnapped by their father five weeks ago, saying she will 'never stop looking' for them. Sandra Hughes Dohm reported her sons Parker, eight, and Jaxon, seven, missing on February 9 after her former husband, Kristopher Dohm, 36, reportedly failed to return them to her New Jersey home. The boys had been scheduled to stay with their father for a week. Under a custody agreement that was made during the couple's 2012 divorce, Dohm was required to bring them home after the trip. But instead, he abducted Parker, who has asthma, and Jaxon and drove out of the state in his 2009 grey Nissan Pathfinder to an unknown destination, police said. The boys have not been seen since. Scroll down for video . Missing: Sandra Hughes Dohm (center) has issued an emotional plea for the safe return of her sons Parker (right), eight, and Jaxon (left), seven, after they were allegedly kidnapped by their father five weeks ago . Distraught: Ms Hughes Dohm has released a heart-wrenching video (pictured) begging for the return of her sons, whom she says may have had their appearances altered by her former husband, Kristopher Dohm, 36 . Suspect: Dohm (left, in a police mug shot, and right) allegedly abducted Parker, who has asthma, and Jaxon and drove out of the state in his 2009 grey Nissan Pathfinder to an unknown destination in early February . Now, Ms Hughes Dohm has released a heart-wrenching video begging for the return of her two sons, whom she says may have had their appearances altered by Dohm, who suffers from diabetes. In the footage, posted on YouTube, the distraught mother, who shares custody of the boys with Dohm, tells her ex-husband: 'Kris, you need to bring them back home. They need their mother.' Addressing the boys, she adds: 'Parker and Jackson, I love you dearly. If you can pick up a phone and call me, or call the police, or tell somebody, ask for help. I'm looking for you every day, every night. 'I love you and I will never, ever stop looking for you. Please come home soon and safe.' Ms Hughes Dohm has also released some personal details about her children in the hope that the public may be able to help in locating them, including their nicknames and their favorite restaurants. In a post on a dedicated Facebook page, called Help Find Parker And Jaxon Dohm, on Saturday, the mother-of-two wrote: 'It has now been 5 weeks since I last spoke to my Parker and my Jaxon.' 'Abducted': In her video, posted on YouTube , Ms Hughes Dohm tells her ex-husband: 'Kris, you need to bring them back home. You should not have taken them from me... they need their mother.' Above, the two boys . Together: Addressing her sons, she adds: 'Parker and Jackson, I love you dearly. If you can pick up a phone and call me, or call the police, or tell somebody, ask for help.

Summary: Parker Dohm, eight, and his brother, Jaxon, seven, vanished February 9 . They are believed to have been abducted by father, Kristopher Dohm, 36 . Dohm shared custody of youngsters with ex-wife, Sandra Hughes Dohm . Now, Ms Hughes Dohm has issued a tearful plea for the boys' safe return . 'I will never, ever stop looking for you,' she told sons in a YouTube video . Police say it appears the kidnapping was planned in advance by Dohm .


A tiny flat in an exclusive area of London has gone on the market for £500 a month and comes with a shower underneath the bed. The one-bedroom studio, marketed as 'cosy' and located in the 'up market area of West Kensington', comes with a bed at the top of a ladder and a kitchenette. It's also furnished with a table, chair, wardrobe and a chest of drawers - all within easy reach of each other. The tiny flat comes with a bed on a mezzanine level, accessed by a ladder (left) as well as a kitchenette (right) The Zoopla advert, which lists a rent price of £120 a week, boasts that tenants have the perk of a 'personal shower' that can be found stored away beneath the mezzanine bed. But this does mean that they will have to share a toilet with the other residents in the building on Castletown Road. The advert says: 'A cosy, single studio located in the heart of London's fashionable and up-market area of West Kensington, this compact mezzanine includes not only a fully furnished living area including table, chair, wardrobe and chest of draws but also a personal shower and kitchenette complete with storage. The Zoopla advert describes the flat, which comes with a £520 a month price tag, as 'cosy' 'This property is sure to be a popular choice with, students, working professionals and those looking for a thriving London life but at an affordable rate.' The flat is believed to be owned by a private landlord, registered with letting agents Interlet International Lettings and Space Let. Properties in the same postcode usually retail at around £1,000 a month and were once home to the likes of Freddie Mercury and later the rest of Queen as well as Mahatma Gandhi. However, housing campaign groups have blasted landlords for renting out the flat, with one describing it as 'depressing'. David Orr, from the National Housing Federation, told the Evening Standard: 'It's absurd and unfair that people are shelling out around half their incomes to live in homes the size of a shoebox in London. This is one of the many signs of the chronic housing crisis currently facing our capital.' A spokesman for affordable housing campaign Priced Out also told the newspaper: 'This so-called studio is cartoonishly small and it is depressing to think that someone is willing to live there.'

Summary: One-bedroom studio located in West Kensington has bed at top of ladder . Tiny flat also comes with a table, chair, wardrobe and a chest of drawers . Advert boast tenants will have 'personal shower' but have to share a toilet . Properties in postcode are typically £1,000 a month and house celebrities .


A pickpocket's victim decided to take revenge by sticking a sign reading 'I am a thief' to the criminal's back, who was then pictured as he tried to steal from others. Chinese police confirmed they are investigating after the bus passenger, who has not been named, took several pictures of the pickpocket attempting to steal from other unsuspecting people. The pictures were posted online last week after being taken in the city of Yulin in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, The People's Daily reported. A victim of a pickpocket decided to take revenge by sticking a sign reading 'I am a thief' to the criminal's back . Unaware of the sign on his back, the thief is pictured with his hand covertly placed in a backpack belonging to a man waiting at a bus stop. Having found nothing of value, he is then seen switching his attention to a black bag hanging off the young man's shoulder. After the pictures went viral, police confirmed that they were aware of the matter. A police spokesman said they were investigating and trying to track down the victim, the photographer and the alleged thief. The thief, unaware of the sign on his back, was then pictured trying to steal from other people at a bus stop . Ye Chung, of Yulin city police, said: 'We were already aware of these images circulating, and I can confirm that we are trying to track down those involved so that we can get to the truth of the matter. 'We are in particular appealing for anybody who knows the alleged thief to contact us and identify him, but we also need to speak to the suspected victim who had been waiting for the bus and if possible the person who took the pictures.' The pictures were uploaded online without any comment. It is unclear why the victim did not report the matter to police at the same time as taking the pictures. Chinese police confirmed they are investigating the matter after the pictures were posted online and went viral .

Summary: Chinese police confirmed they are investigating after pictures went viral . Taken in city of Yulin in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region . Unaware of the sign, thief is seen trying to steal from people at bus stop .


A driver who accidentally killed his own step-sister during an illegal road race has been jailed for seven years. Aaron Bridgeman smashed into his step-sister Vicky, 40, after she was thrown off a motorbike she was riding and landed in the path of his car. Bridgeman, 35, who does not have a driving licence, could not stop his Peugeot in time and ran his step-sister over before she was hit by another car. Aaron Bridgeman (left) was jailed for seven years for accidentally killing his step-sister Vicky (right) during an illegal road race . Biker Jason Szalkowski, who also does not have a licence, was thrown from the motorcycle and left with brain damage after hitting floodwater on the lane near Caerphilly, south Wales. Bridgeman then fled the scene because he did not want to be caught driving a borrowed car without insurance. He pleaded guilty to driving without a licence and insurance, to fleeing the scene of a crime and of failing to report an accident. Bridgeman, from Caerphilly, was today jailed for seven years and banned from driving for six years. Bridgeman, from Caerphilly, was today jailed for seven years and banned from driving for six years . Sentencing him at Newport Crown Court, judge Daniel Willliams said: 'You never passed a driving test but that did not stop you from driving almost every day. 'You thought that the rules of the road did not apply to you. Your driving was terribly dangerous. 'Driving conditions that day were terribly hazardous but you knew that would make the race even better and you used that narrow lane as a race track. 'You were driving at a grossly excessive speed, driving the car at its limit to keep up with the motorbike. 'You drove into your sister - driving so close to the bike it could not be avoided. 'You took a cursory look at your sister and Mr Szalkowski and calmy drove off.' At a previous hearing, the court heard that Bridgeman was 'right behind' the motorcycle when his step-sister fell into the road. Prosecutor Ieuan Bennett said: 'Bridgeman simply wasn't able to avoid his own step-sister as she went over the front of his car.' Bridgeman briefly stopped his car before fleeing the scene of the accident in December 2013, the court was told. Ms Bridgeman was riding on the back of Jason Szalkowski's (pictured) motorbike when it hit a puddle, flinging her off the bike and into the road . Mr Bennett added: 'He looked briefly at Jason Szalkowski, who he knew well, and at the body of his own step-sister. 'He then got promptly back into his car and drove off.' Ms Bridgeman was run over by another car as she lay in the road. The driver thought he had hit a sheep because of her white jumper. Mr Bennett said it was 'impossible' to say which impact killed Ms Bridgeman - also known as Claire - but that she died as a result of the race. Mr Szalkowski could have faced prosecution but it was decided it

Summary: Aaron Bridgeman killed his step-sister Vicky during an illegal road race . Ms Bridgeman, 40, was flung from back of a motorbike into path of his car . Step-brother ran her over before fleeing scene as he had no insurance . She was hit by another car and it is not clear which impact killed her . Unqualified Bridgeman found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving . He was jailed for seven years and was banned from driving for six years .


An Oklahoma woman has been charged with second-degree murder stemming from an ATV crash that killed her two-year-old daughter. Angela Russell, 34, reportedly had a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit that September 2014 night when she put two-year-old Ava on a four-wheeler with her, going for the ride that would end in the toddler's death,Tulsa World reports. Russell pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in commission of a felony Monday. Mother: Angela Russell, 34, has been charged with second-degree murder stemming from an ATV crash that killed her two-year-old daughter Ava . However, prosecutors claim that the mother-of-five engaged in child neglect when she strapped Ava to her in a forward-facing device without a helmet before going for a ride on the 2013 Honda all-terrain vehicle, according to Tulsa. Police say that Russell lost control of the four-wheeler and she and the toddler were thrown from the vehicle just before 8pm on Sept. 27 near Chouteau, according to Oklahoma's Own. Russell hit the ground face-forward with the two-year-old still attached to her front. Ava died of blunt impact injuries to the head. Neglect: Prosecutors claim that the mother-of-five (right) engaged in child neglect when she strapped Ava (left) to her in a forward-facing device without a helmet before going for a ride on the 2013 Honda all-terrain vehicle . Control: Police say that Russell lost control of the four-wheeler and she and the toddler (photographed) were thrown from the vehicle just before 8pm on Sept. 27 near Chouteau . Police say Russell was uninjured but smelled of alcohol. A toxicology report released in January revealed that Russell's blood alcohol level was 0.173, Tulsa reports. That's more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. Reports say that Russell also tested positive for barbiturates, a drug prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders that can cause drowsiness. Russell is being held on $500,000 bail and is set to appear in court in April. A second-degree murder conviction carries a weight of 10 years to life in prison. Alcohol: Police say the mother-of-five was uninjured but smelled of alcohol. A toxicology report released in January revealed that Russell's blood alcohol level was 0.173 . Ground: Thrown from the four-wheeler, Russell hit the ground face-forward with Ava still attached to her front (stock image)

Summary: Angela Michele Russell, 34, has been charged with second-degree murder stemming from an ATV crash that killed her two-year-old daughter Ava . Russell strapped the toddler to her chest in a forward-facing device without a helmet before going for a ride on a four-wheeler . Russell lost control of the vehicle and crashed, Ava died and officers learned that Russell had a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit .


A new test that can identify whether long-dead ancient humans had suffered from malaria could help scientists trace how the disease has evolved. Archaeologists at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, have developed a way of diagnosing the disease in skeletons thousands of years old. Scientists have used the technique to reveal that infants and toddlers found in a cemetery within an ancient Roman villa in Italy had died of the disease. Scroll down for video . The scientists scraped bone marrow from bone sample to search for telltale crystals of a molecule called hemozoin that show the person who the bone belonged to had been infected with the malaria parasite . The method could now be used to track the spread of malaria back to its first appearance in humans by examining other ancient skeletons for signs of the infection. Jamie Inwood, an archaeologist at Yale University who led the research team, said: 'The data set we build with this will be revolutionary for establishing the epidemiological curve for malaria in ancient societies. Attempts to develop a vaccine against malaria have been frustrated by the parasite's highly variable nature. The parasite also tends to hide within red blood cells, making it difficult for the immune system to spot. Scientists at the US National Institutes of Health claim to have created a potential vaccine that can protect against lethal strains of malaria. The vaccine, developed blood samples taken from Tanzanian children naturally resistant to the disease, works by imprisoning the Malaria-causing parasites inside the red blood cells they infect. The scientists pinpointed a protein called PfSEA-1 which the parasites need to escape from the red blood cells they infect. Scientists found that an antibody produced by the immune children hits the malaria parasite at a critical stage in its life-cycle by taking action against this protein. The researchers said that an experimental vaccine based on this idea protected mice in five trials and will be tested on lab monkeys beginning in the next four to six weeks. 'By understanding how this parasite reacted to societal shifts in the past, we can aid in predicting its future behavior. We can understand the way it has evolved.' Miss Inwood and her colleagues developed the test by identifying specific chemical signals and molecules that are found in the bones of people infected with malaria. They found that a large molecule called hemozoin, which is expelled as a waste product by the malaria Plasmodium parasite. Using X-ray defraction, Miss Inwood and her team found they were able to identify black crystalline lumps of the molecule in the bone marrow of bone samples. They tested the technique on the remains of 100 children buried in a cemetery within the ruins of Roman villa at Lugnano in Teverina, Italy. The bodies, which dated from 550AD, had been buried with heavy roof tiles to weigh them down. Miss Inwood said: 'Researchers from the University of Arizona had found burial practices that were throwbacks to pagan rituals. 'It was suspected there must have been an epidemic in the community that

Summary: Scientists at Yale University developed a new way of diagnosing malaria . They look for a waste product produced by the parasite in bone marrow . Crystals of this protein form inside ancient bones of infected individuals . This allowed researchers to diagnose children that died 1,500 years ago . They say it could be used to trace the spread of malaria in human history .


Juan Mata will start his first game for Manchester United since January 17, as Louis van Gaal looks to shake things up against Tottenham. Mata, having joined the club for £37.1million in January 2014, has struggled to make an impact since the turn of the year, only making three starts. His last appearance in Van Gaal's starting XI came on January 17 against Queens Park Rangers, but since then he has only made four fleeting appearances off the bench. Juan Mata (right), pictured in training last week, will start his first game for Manchester United since January . Mata's last starting appearance for Manchester United came against Queens Park Rangers on January 17 . Van Gaal has made three changes to his United team from the side that faced Arsenal in the FA Cup on March 9. He said of Mata's inclusion: 'Mata has played there a long time also with Chelsea. 'He is the same type of player as [Angel] di Maria. He's left-footed and he can do the job there I think.' Mata's inclusion is a straight swap for the suspended Angel di Maria, while Phil Jones and Michael Carrick replace Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo. United are fourth in the Premier League, but can close the gap on Arsenal to one point with a victory against Tottenham.

Summary: Louis van Gaal has opted to start Juan Mata against Tottenham . He replaces the suspended Angel di Maria, who was sent off vs Arsenal . Mata's last start came on January 17, against QPR in the Premier League . The Spaniard has only made four Premier League appearances in 2015 .


Three missing British schoolgirls who fled to Syria to join Islamic State were last night believed to be in a house in the city of Raqqa. Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase went missing two weeks ago after boarding a flight from Gatwick to Istanbul. The girls are believed to have crossed from Turkey to Syria through the town of Arai. Yesterday Sky News reporter Stuart Ramsay said: ‘We are told by very good sources in Raqqa that they are there and that they are under the control of Islamic State.’ Missing: The three British schoolgirls, Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and 15-year-old Amira Abase, are believed to be in a house in the city of Raqqa after going missing two weeks ago . He also revealed that they were staying with a British girl – thought to be a pupil from their school who went missing in December and is believed to have joined IS. The 15-year-old student, the first to disappear from Bethnal Green Academy in east London, has not been identified by the authorities. Over the weekend it also emerged that letters from Scotland Yard to the girls’ families – explaining that the pupils would be part of the inquiry into their friend’s disappearance – had been given to the schoolgirls rather than their parents. Fled London: Amira Abase, 15, is among the trio believed to have flown from Gatwick to Istanbul . Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe admitted that ‘with the benefit of hindsight’ officers should have communicated directly with the families. But he said parents had a responsibility to come forward if their teenagers betrayed any interest in extremist ideology. However Abase Hussein, the father of Amira, said his daughter would still be at home if he had seen the warning. ‘If we knew, this wouldn’t have happened,’ he said, adding: ‘We would have discussed it and taken away their passports.’ And Halima Khanom, sister of Kadiza, said: ‘We wouldn’t have been here today if we’d got that letter and known what was going on.’ At least 22 young women are feared to have travelled to Syria from the UK over the past 12 months. Scotland Yard has said the investigation into all the missing girls continues. Sir Bernard yesterday warned that girls lured to Syria by IS faced sex abuse at the hands of ‘deeply misogynistic’ militants. He said British jihadi brides were oblivious to the reality of life under the terror group and will be powerless to escape once they arrive.

Summary: Shamima Begum, 15, Kadiza Sultana, 16, and Amira Abase, 15, fled to Syria . Went missing two weeks ago after boarding flight from Gatwick to Istanbul . Sky News reported its 'good' sources say the girls are in a house in Raqqa . Also believed to be with fellow schoolgirl who went missing in December . Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe admitted police should have spoken to parents . At least 22 young women feared to have travelled to Syria in the last year .


It may be one of the UK’s most unlikely tourist draws – a warehouse in the Midlands where everything from books and gadgets are stored before they are delivered to consumers’ homes. An Amazon distribution centre in Rugeley, Staffordshire, has opened its doors to the public for the first time, offering guided tours for visitors. The inaugural tours of the site, north of Birmingham, were offered to friends and families of Amazon employees, but they will soon be available to holidaymakers, school groups or other curious individuals. Amazon will begin offering guided tours to the public at its Rugeley distribution centre later this month . This week Amazon launched an online sign-up for groups or individuals who wish to visit the ‘fulfilment centre’, where internet purchases are shipped, with the first tours beginning later this month. Christopher North, managing director at Amazon.co.uk Ltd, said: ‘Amazon.co.uk sold more than 5.5 million items on Black Friday 2014 at a rate of 64 items per second. ‘We are now proud to invite our customers to see first-hand how our world-class employees and advanced technology in our fulfilment centres come together to make this magic happen.’ Visitors will get a behind-the-scenes look at how millions of products are moved from the warehouse to delivery vans. And they will see people at work for a company which has been at the centre of allegations of harsh conditions such as zero-hour contracts and tracking tags worn by employees. The inaugural tours at Amazon's 'fulfilment centre' in Rugeley were open to family and friends of employees . Tours are open to anyone over the age of six, with each visit lasting about one hour. The distribution centre is 700,000-square feet in size, which is the equivalent of nine-and-a-half football pitches. Amazon said it has created hundreds of new permanent jobs in its ‘fulfilment centres’ in the last few months, bringing its total roster of employees to 7,000 at eight warehouses and corporate offices. John Tagawa, Amazon.co.uk Ltd’s director of UK operations, said: ‘We’re extremely proud of the efforts of everyone who works in our fulfilment centres and opening our workplaces up to these tours is the perfect way to recognise all of their achievements.’ Similar tours are offered at Amazon warehouses in the US and Germany, and there are plans to expand the programme to more European countries.

Summary: Amazon's 'fulfilment centre' in Rugeley will soon open for guided tours . Family and friends of employees were given inaugural tours recently . Visits will be open to anyone older than six, and tours will last an hour . Similar tours are offered at Amazon warehouses in the US and Germany .


Two years after his death, a remarkable twist of fate has meant a loving Navy father's message has finally reached his 10-year-old son. Joseph Torrez passed away two years ago, aged 41, after succumbing to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, an incurable neurological disorder. The rapidly-progressing terminal illness eats away at the brain - causing dementia, memory loss, anxiety and psychosis - and affects motor skills and physical movements. Rowan Torrez, now 10, received the postcard (pictured) in the mail at the weekend, almost exactly two years after his father's death . Rowan and his father Joseph play together when he was a toddler. The young boy was his father's pride and joy, his mother Julie Van Stone said . Rowan (pictured) said he remembers his father as a 'very good person' Prior to the onset of the deadly disease, he moved away from his son Rowan, 10, to Boston, to gain two Masters degrees at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 9News reported. And while studying or travelling home, he sent countless postcards to his only son reminding him how much he missed him. Now, just days away from the two-year anniversary of his death, his son Rowan has received an incredible gift in the mail. It was a postcard, dated June 10, 2007, which read: 'Hello from Pennsylvania. I love you, and I miss you so much. See you soon. Love, Daddy.' It was a touching moment for Rowan, who remembers his father as a 'very good person' and a good father and, as he told the broadcaster, a fitting final goodbye.

Summary: Navy father Joseph Rowan died from a rare brain disease at the age of 41 . Before succumbing to the disease, he moved to Boston to gain a Masters . While away from home, he sent postcards to his young son Rowan . Now, two years after his death, a final postcard has arrived in the mail .


A woman from south-east China has caused a heated online debate after posting a picture of her breakfast of braised mice, served up by her mother. A resident of Fuzhou in Fujian Province, the woman, who is simply known as Miss Chen, said her mother insisted on her finishing a bowl of mice that morning before she rushed to work. She said her mother believed she was looking jaded and the dish would help as it was 'highly nutritious', reported the People's Daily Online. Yuk: Miss Chen is forced to eat this bowl of braised mice as breakfast by her mother, who believes one mouse contains the nutrition of three chickens . Miss Chen said at first she thought they were braised rabbits. After realising they were mice, she refused to eat, but her mum pressured her to eat them all. 'My mum said it was a great effort to pluck out all the hair from these mice,' said Miss Chen. 'She said it's hard work.' She ate all mice reluctantly with her eyes shut, and she said she felt sick all morning. Delicacy: Mice, especially dried mice jerky, are one of the eight treasured foods in western Fujian province. Locals believe eating rodents can treat hair loss . Mice are one of the eight treasured delicacies in western Fujian, with dried mice jerky being especially popular. Miss Chen said her family believes one mouse is as notorious as three chickens. Residents in Fuzhou also think that eating mice can help treat hair loss. Local experts however warn against the consumption of rodents. Lecturer Chen from the School of Life and Science at Fujian University said the small mammal can be the carrier of more than a dozen of germs and this might harm diners' health.

Summary: Young woman from China posted a picture of her breakfast of bowl of mice . She ate it to please her mother, who believes the dish is nutritious . She said she felt sick all morning after finishing meal with her eyes closed . But experts warned eating rodents could be harmful .


Fresh storms due to sweep across the Northeast this week are set to smash Boston's all-time record for winter snowfall, which has already surpassed 100 inches. Including a fresh fall Sunday night, the city has been buried by 103.9 inches of snow since the season began - and needs just 3.7 more to break the record of 107.6 inches, set in 1996. And current forecasts indicate that the historic total will be surpassed, with as much as eight inches of snow due in Massachusetts thanks to snowfalls predicted for Tuesday and Wednesday night. Scroll down for video . Buried again: Boston, pictured above last week, has been hit by 103.9 inches of snow this winter - and this week is set to break the all-time record . Higher! Heaps of snow in the city could be due to get even bigger thanks to new winter storms headed to the Northeast . As well as Massachusetts, this week could see snow across a huge chunk of the nation, thanks to two separate systems which are both due to strike the Northeastern corridor over the next few days, according to the Weather Channel. One will see around three inches of snow hit almost every state along the northern border, from Idaho, across the Great Lakes into New England and Maine. Another, less intense coating could cover an area stretching northeast from the Texas panhandle to Washington. Around Massachusetts, snowfall of 3 to 6 inches was expected by early Monday across the area. Snow is go: A huge chunk of the country is likely to see some snowfall before the week is out - with the Northeast once again at the center of the snowfall . Round one: The system, which the Weather Channel is calling Winter Storm Thor, will first see a band of snow hit the northernmost states . Round two: Wednesday will see a different band of snow stretching from southwest to northeast - bringing more snow to parts of the Northeast . Snow rest: In Queens, New York City, Min Park pauses to brush snow off his wife Michelle's face . Not always sunny: In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a pedestrian wraps up to walk along Broad Street in Sunday's snow . In the south of the state, and over Rhode Island, the totals are more likely to be 4 to 8 inches in southeastern. Up to 6 inches of snow was anticipated in northern Massachusetts and New York state, and on Cape Cod. Elsewhere, heavy snow was falling in the southern Rockies and Great Basin and heavy rain was soaking parts of the Southwest. A flood watch is in effect until 8pm Monday for east-central and south-central Arizona, including metropolitan Phoenix. Snow fell from the Ohio Valley into the Northeast for much of Sunday and freezing rain hit the Mid-Atlantic. All over: Monday is set to see scattered snow in northern areas, while the South heats up again . More snow: To the north of the country a band of snow can be seen. Boston is due snowfall Tuesday evening . And

Summary: Boston has already been buried by 103.9 inches of snow this season . The all-time high, set in the winter of 1995-6, is 107.6 inches . New systems set to hit region Tuesday and Wednesday could break record . Huge chunk of the rest of the country could also be due more snow .


Only one in three people routinely see police officers patrolling their neighbourhood, a new report has revealed. Critics said the shocking statistics sounded the death knell for the traditional Dixon Of Dock Green-style beat bobby pounding Britain’s streets. Police chiefs warned the fall in police visibility would get worse if threatened major budget cuts are pushed through after the general election. But Home Secretary Theresa May has argued that since the Coalition’s austerity drive began in 2010, crime has tumbled – showing police forces have successfully continued to crack offending despite being ordered to make savings. Scroll down for video . Decline: Just 32 per cent of people saw a police foot patrol at least once a week in 2013-14 . The research, published by the Office For National Statistics yesterday also found one in five people think it is ‘likely’ they will become a victim of crime over the next 12 months amid concerns over community safety. The most damning finding was the dwindling number of police officers or police community support officers (PCSOs) seen on foot patrols since the Coalition came to power. Experts say not only does neighbourhood policing help catch criminals, it also deters offending, makes the public feel safe and strengthens links between the police and communities. But only 32 per cent of people saw bobbies on the beat at least once a week in 2013-14, compared to 40 per cent in 2010-11. And while the proportion who saw officers on foot once a month rose from 34 per cent to 40 per cent, the number never seeing them at all rose from 25 per cent to 28 per cent. The figures coincide with a fall in the number of police officers and PCSOs from 161,000 to around 140,000 since ministers began their austerity drive. Fear: One in five people said they thought it 'likely' they would be a victim of crime in the next year - a feeling at odds with Home Secretary Theresa May's assertion that crime has dropped since the cuts came in . There has been a reduction of 20 per cent since 2011 in the amount spent by the Home Office on the police. Constabularies are also bracing themselves for further cuts amounting to hundreds of millions of pounds after the election. David Green, criminologist and founder of think-tank Civitas, said: ‘Theresa May has said police time is being used more efficiently and there is less waste but this shows they have cut so far that it is starting to reduce police visibility. ‘It means the policy of neighbourhood policing, which was very popular, has become if not quite a dead letter, then severely weakened by the reductions in police strength.’ Shadow policing minister Jack Dromey said: ‘Neighbourhood policing – the bedrock of British policing – is being eroded. There has been a reduction of 20 per cent since 2011 in the amount spent by the Home Office on the police - and chiefs warn foot patrols will decrease more if further cuts are made . ‘The Government claims that they have

Summary: Office for National Statistics find 32 per cent saw police patrol every week . Police chiefs warned it will get worse if major budget cuts pushed through . Also found one in five believe it is ‘likely’ they will become a victim of crime . But Home Secretary Theresa May says crime has dropped despite austerity .


Embarrassing footage has emerged of a military vehicle delivered to the Ukraine from Britain seemingly incapable of driving up and over a small hill. The all-terrain Saxon could be seen trying and failing to get up and over a mound of earth in the war-torn country while a Russian-made amphibious patrol car completed the same task untroubled. About 20 of the troop carriers were sent to the Ukrainian government by a private company under a 2013 deal which predated the current conflict. Scroll down for video . Struggling: Footage has emerged of an all-terrain Saxon, sent to the Ukraine from Britain, trying and failing to drive over a small mound of earth . About 20 of the troop carriers were sent to the Ukrainian government by a private company under a 2013 deal which predated the current conflict . Last month, the former head of the British Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt slammed the decision to send dozens of the redundant British vehicles to the Ukraine claiming they were 'useless'. He said in an interview: 'They are quite useless, semi-armoured lorries that should be nowhere near anyone's front line. 'To suggest that the UK is making a significant gesture of support by supplying vehicles which we took out of service ten years ago, because we deemed them unsafe, seems bizarre at best and downright dangerous at worst.' First built in the late 1970s, Saxons were intended to be a cheap and efficient option for units making long journeys. The Saxon, pictured right next to a a Russian-made amphibious patrol car, has been described by General Sir Richard Dannatt as 'quite useless' Up and over: A Russian-made amphibious patrol car was seen completing the same task untroubled . The first operational Saxons were sent to Germany in 1983 where they were used as troop transporters . The first operational Saxons were sent to Germany in 1983 where they were used as troop transporters. They were taken out of service 10-years-ago. In February, a Ministry of Defence spokesman told the Daily Telegraph that the sale was organised through the Disposal Services authority and the vehicles were provided unarmed. A spokesman from the British Ministry of Defence added that 20 had so far been delivered to Ukraine by a private company and a further 55 were still waiting to be delivered as part of a commercial arms deal. One of Poland's top politicians has called for a permanent US military presence on his country's soil. The nation's defence minister Tomasz Siemoniak said Poland hoped to welcome more than 10,000 'allied armed forces' troops to take part in military exercise in 2015. Uatoday, reports that this comes after the US Army deployed a Patriot missile defense battery near Warsaw. US Ambassador to Poland Stephen Mull (left) and Tomasz Siemoniak (centre), Polish Minister of Defence, take part in the short briefing at an air and missile Patriot battery installation site . The battery arrived in Poland along with 100 US soliders and about 30 vehicles. Stephen Mull, US Ambassador to Poland is reported as saying: 'Today we

Summary: Footage emerges of an all-terrain Saxon struggling to get over a small hill . About 20 of the troop carriers have been sent from Britain to the Ukraine . Armoured vehicles delivered by private company under trade deal in 2013 . Former head of British Army has described the vehicles as 'quite useless'


Should a man pay for dinner while on a date with a woman? As if the dating game wasn't difficult enough, this issue has now become a minefield for men and women over the last few years. As females fight for equality on all terms, stars like Emma Watson have encountered awkward situations at the end of a meal when they insist on paying their way. But others, like Atomic Kitten's Natasha Hamilton say that a man SHOULD look after a woman - in her new blog for Babycentre, the singer explains why Emma's stance on male chivalry is wrong. Natasha Hamilton with her boyfriend Ritchie Neville from the boy band 5ive . Natasha, who is currently dating Ritchie Neville from the boy band 5ive, said: 'What is wrong with a man displaying good old fashioned ‘chivalry’ and feeling uncomfortable that she wants to pay? 'This is not a weakness on either side, it’s about letting a man be a considerate, generous, kind human being. Why emasculate him? It’s unnecessary. 'This just puts more pressure on women.' Natasha goes on to point out that the pay gap between women and women is still huge in most of the western world, so through no fault of their own,females bring home much less money than their male counterparts. She said: 'I recently took part in the TV show The Big Reunion, which was a great success. 'But the following year all the female acts got dropped from the tour and all the male acts had yet another opportunity to bring home the bacon.' Actress Emma Watson recently revealed that she tried to pay for the bill at the end of a date and it made the man feel very awkward . Natasha continued: 'There are so many expectations placed on women now. 'If shows like Ex-On-the-Beach are anything to go by, its common place for lads to think they can “bang” as many “birds” as they want, like we’re pieces of meat. 'This is the cultural shift that is openly part of the youth today. 'On top of this, now it’s being suggested girls “pick up their own tab”. Well, it just gets rosier for men doesn’t it?' Natasha Hamilton (left) with her Atomic Kitten band mates Jenny Frost (centre) and Liz McClarnon (right) in 2003 . In fact, Natasha believes that in the 21st Century, it is crucial that men be taught to look after the fairer sex. She said: 'I personally think that men should look after women. That is not a weakness. 'By allowing them to do that, it may create more empathy and stop some men viewing women as “bangable” pieces of meat. 'I fully expect my three boys to be respectful, kind and generous to their future partners too.'

Summary: Emma Watson tried to pay for meal on date and it made the mood awkward . Natasha Hamilton criticises the actress for 'emasculating' the man . She believes men looking after women should not be seen as a weakness .


It is the only way to sail around the world without ever leaving the comforts of home, but it doesn’t come cheap. The World, a luxury vessel with 165 private residences, offers wealthy individuals the chance to live on a ship while visiting the most exotic or remote locations on the planet. At 644ft, it is billed as the only private residential community-at-sea, with studio flats selling for more than USD$1million (£660,000) and the top suites costing up to $13million (£8.5million). The World boasts 165 private residences - from a posh six-bedroom penthouse that can accommodate 12 people to 40 studio flats . The luxury ship is billed as the only private residential community-at-sea with its suites owned by 130 families from around the world . The ship’s 165 residences are privately owned by 130 families from around the world, and a small number are put up for resale every year. There is such demand for each exclusive piece of real estate that there is a waiting list for certain room sizes, including three-bedroom flats and a six-bedroom penthouse suite that can accommodate up to 12 people. The annual ownership fees are based on square footage. When residents of The World are at home on the high seas, they can enjoy the only full-size tennis court at sea, a 7,000-square foot spa and fitness centre, and swimming pools, and sample 12,000 bottles of wine with advice from an on board sommelier. The 12-deck ship, managed by Florida-based ROW Management Ltd, also boasts six restaurants, multiple bars, a tea room, golf simulator, library and cinema. There is such demand that there is a waiting list for certain room sizes, including three-bedroom flats and a six-bedroom penthouse suite . The 12-deck ship boasts six restaurants, multiple bars, a tea room, golf simulator, library and cinema to keep passengers entertained . The World is usually occupied by 150 to 200 residents or guests at a time, with the average owner spending three to six months on board over the course of a year. Since it launched in 2002 the floating city has visited more than 900 ports in more than 140 countries while sailing on a continuous worldwide itinerary at a maximum speed of 18.5 knots. This year The World set sail from Singapore and toured exotic islands in Southeast Asia before visiting Maldives and Seychelles. The luxury ocean liner is scheduled to arrive in Europe in April, with stops all over the Mediterranean Sea before sailing to Southampton in August. Amenities include swimming pools, the only full-size tennis court at sea, a 7,000-square foot spa and fitness centre and a sommelier . The itineraries are determined two to three years in advance by a community vote, and guests can stay on board as long as they want . From there it will visit Fowey in Cornwall before sailing to Dublin and on to the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland while residents and guests are taken care of by a crew of 270. Before the end of the year the ship’s residents, who are from

Summary: The World is billed as the only private residential community-at-sea with its suites owned by 130 families . At 644ft, the luxury ocean liner sails to some of the most exotic and remote locations on the planet . The 12-deck ship boasts the only full-size tennis court at sea, a spa, swimming pools and a sommelier . Guests can spend as long as they want on board, with the average owner spending three to six months . This year's itinerary includes stops in India, Italy, the UK, Greenland, Canada and the Antarctic Peninsula .


If Louis van Gaal is struggling for inspiration he might be pleased to see that Sir Alex Ferguson has written a book on leadership. The former Manchester United manager, who released his last autobiography in 2013, will be back on the shelves in the autumn. Ferguson, like Van Gaal, endured a torrid time to his start in the Old Trafford hotseat before going on to usher in an unheralded era of success at the club. Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will release a new book on leadership this autumn . Co-authored with Michael Moritz, the book will detail Ferguson's tactics and management techniques . He has now teamed up with investor and author Sir Michael Moritz to pen an analysis of his 38 years in management. Promoters say the book, entitled 'Leading', reveals 'the key tools he used to deliver sustained success on and off the field'. They add: 'From tactics to teamwork, from hiring to firing, from dealing with the boardroom to responding to failure, the book will analyse the pivotal leadership decisions of an astonishing career.' Van Gaal's men, who have a tricky run-in, are currently looking vulnerable in fourth position in the Premier League and are out of the Capital One Cup and FA Cup following Monday night's disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal. The Dutchman is expected to have a busy off-season with another £150million spending spree planned as he attempts to overhaul an under-performing squad. But he may do well to seek out Ferguson's latest effort when it is released next October - which even reveals the details behind his own philosophy. The man himself, now 73, said: 'Since stepping into retirement I have had the opportunity to reflect on my time as a football manager, and to consider the reasons behind my success through personal recollections, conversations with Mike Moritz and my role at Harvard Business School. 'It has been a new experience for me to be looking into the past rather than planning for the future, but one that I have found enjoyable and rewarding. Current United boss Louis van Gaal is enduring a difficult debut season in English football . Van Gaal's men are currently fourth in the Premier League table, but out of the FA Cup and League Cup . Arsenal's Francis Coquelin shields the ball from United midfielder Marouane Fellaini during the FA Cup tie . Wayne Rooney tussles with Arsenal's Per Mertersacker during the FA Cup quarter-finals at Old Trafford . Ferguson celebrates with his United players after wining the Premier League back in 2013 . 'The process behind creating this book began many years ago following my first meeting with Mike, which immediately created a mutual respect for each other's achievements. Over the past year, we have spent many hours together as we have worked our way through my life in order to draw out and discuss the key philosophies I applied during my career.' Sir Michael added: 'Though I have two left feet and cannot dribble, I have long been fascinated by the characteristics of those extremely

Summary: Sir Alex Ferguson will release a new book, Leading this autumn . Co-authored with Michael Moritz, it reveals tactics and boardroom politics . Ferguson is the most successful Manchester United manager of all time . He led the club to 13 Premier League titles and two European Cups . The book could provide inspiration for new boss Louis van Gaal .


Australian rugby league referees are to ditch their pink jerseys, because they believe it jeopardises their authority. With the NRL season due to begin again this week, the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that officials have been switched out of pink for the coming campaign. Instead, the referees will wear blue or red, depending on the kits of the two teams involved in any game. NRL referees have ditched the idea of pink jerseys after claims they undermined official's authority . The new colours have been chosen as they apparently encourage discipline but the move has come in for criticism. Performance psychologist Chris Pomfret said it was purely a symbolic gesture which wouldn't change how the game was refereed. 'The colour of a uniform is irrelevant to the skill execution of referees, just the same as the colour of a jersey worn by players is irrelevant to their skill execution,' he said. 'In short, the colour of a uniform shouldn't matter as it doesn't directly impact on the performance of a referee, which ultimately has the most influence on their perceived credibility.' Officials will wear red or blue for the new season, which starts this, in a move that has been criticised . There was also a suggestion that the NRL risked alienating the gay community and breast cancer awareness campaigners. Dr Tom Heenean, from the Natonal Centre for Australian Studies, told the BBC it was a move away from 'social inclusion.' 'If you are wanting a more inclusive football community you have to be more aware of the symbolisms of marginal groups within that community,' he said.

Summary: Australian NRL officials had been wearing pink jerseys . But Rugby League chiefs have decided to switch to blue or red . Referees had complained the pink shirts made it hard to enforce discipline .


Kell Brook reduced the mandatory challenger for his world title from Jo Jo Dan to Yo Yo Dan in four murderous rounds and then threatened to bounce Amir Khan on and off the canvas ‘as soon as he gets in here with me.’ Brook sent Dan crashing to the brink of oblivion four times and after referee Earl Brown administered a mandatory count eight for the last flattening a split second before the bell ended the fourth stanza of pain, everyone had seen enough. The US official and the now desperate Dan’s corner men agreed to call a merciful halt. VIDEOS Scroll down for Kell Brook's reaction post-fight and his thoughts on Amir Kahn . Kell Brook celebrates stunning return to the ring with his partner Lindsey on Saturday night . Brook retained IBF welterweight world title by beating Jo Jo Dan in Sheffield . This was all Brook could have hoped for after having his left thigh slashed to the bone by a machete wielding hooligan barely six months ago. Having feared either dying or being crippled, he came back fitter and stronger, just like the Six Million Dollar Man of old. There was not a trace of anxiety, a flicker of hesitation or an inkling inconvenience as smashed Dan to pieces. Kell Brook returned from an horrific knife attack to win his first IBF welterweight world title defence in style . Kelll Brook floored Romanian challenger Jo Jo Dan four times in four rounds on Saturday night . Brook Dan . Round 1: 10 9 . Round 2: 10 7 . Round 3: 10 9 . Round 4: 10 7 . TOTAL 40 32 . This was an exceptional performance by Special K and the Motorpoint Arena rose to anoint Brook as Sheffield’s rightful heir to the throne of Prince Naseem Hamed. The faithful joined him in calling out Khan for what Brook envisages as ‘the biggest fight out there for both of us.’ ‘Who do you want to see me beat next,’ he roared. ‘Khan, Khan, Khan’ came the deafening, blood-thirsty response. Six Million Dollars may be an underestimate for what they both could earn now from a stadium fight in late summer. Brook, already the IBF world champion stamped his credentials as a serious player in the welterweight division and will go to Las Vegas next month pressing his case for fighting the winner of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. But the Khan fight later this year is a more realistic option. Not that Khan would provide such a willing target as the Canadian-based Romanian who went through a world of pain. Brook was defending his IBF world title belt for the first time since beating Shawn Porter in LA last summer . Brook's range-finding left set up a hurtful right and then Dan was put down by a sharp uppercut . Not only did Brook win every round but he inflicted deadly punishment with a right hand which could not miss. The Motorpoint Arena was packed to the tank-full, waiting to welcome the fighter Sheffield believes can

Summary: Kell Brook returned from an horrific knife attack last year to win his first IBF welterweight world title defence in style . The unbeaten 28-year-old floored Romanian challenger Jo Jo Dan four times in a four-round stoppage win . Victory paves the way for a more lucrative fight against the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez, Marcos Maidana or Amir Khan .


Fans didn’t know what to do or where they should go. The final whistle went in Twickenham, Ireland were Six Nations champions for the second time in 12 months and after two absurdly dramatic hours the realisation dropped out of the Edinburgh night as suddenly as a falling star. The match in London had been such a frantic and joyous mess that nobody with a dog in Ireland’s fight dared to secondguess their emotions. When Nigel Owens brought 80-plus minutes of frenzied farce to a finish in London, the hundreds of Irish fans who had congregated around a big screen outside the Scottish stadium were stunned. For a while they did nothing but roar. Beer accounted for it in most cases, but their reactions were, shall we say, a deal less sharp than those of Luke Fitzgerald and Seán O’Brien earlier in the day. Ireland players celebrate as they are crowned Six Nations champions at Murrayfield . Captain Paul O'Connell holds aloft the Six Nations trophy after Ireland were crowned champions . It took supporters several minutes to stop screeching and turn and lurch back towards the stadium, where the presentation took place within ten minutes of the cessation in Twickenham. Events moved with the suddenness of a palace coup, and Ireland took the crown watched by 5,000 delirious countrymen and women who eventually scrambled back into the ground. It was dark night by now, but the inky gloom thrown by cold Scottish concrete didn’t bother them. They would have raised a party on Lough Derg. Eventually a camera caught the Irish players in the tunnel, in their suits but hugging and kissing as if the final whistle had just sounded on a cup final. They bounded on to the pitch, cheers poured off the south stand like water and they went to the presentation stage. There, Paul O’Connell lifted the Six Nations trophy high above his head and his colleagues leaped around him. The suits and the jubilation lent the scene the look of a Lotto celebration photo. But there was more to this than luck. Two bizarre hours had to be put in by Joe Schmidt and his team as England and France competed like a pair of boxers with big fists and no guard, but they had put in a couple of outstanding hours of labour themselves before then. The Irish squad celebrate their Six Nations success as fireworks are set off from within Murrayfield . Irish fans celebrate their side winning the Six Nations after watching England beat France 55-35 in London . They didn’t fluke their way to the nighttime joy that created a terrific racket in the well-appointed neighbourhoods around the home of Scottish rugby. They earned their right to truly unique celebration circumstances. These days become in memory an account of inevitable success. In years to come, when the events of Saturday March 21 are considered, it will seem like the outcome was irresistible. An Ireland title retention will in the telling become a certainty from early in the day. But in the bumpy, brittle

Summary: Ireland crowned 2015 Six Nations champions after dramatic final day . Ireland beat Scotland 40-10 at Murrayfield to move into driving seat . England's 55-35 win over France not enough for Stuart Lancaster's men . Ireland fans in Edinburgh watched the drama unfold at Twickenham .


When the Queen ascended to the throne in 1952, the latest thing in ship design was the Orient Line's Oronsay, a 1,500-passenger vessel built by Vickers-Armstrong at its yard in Barrow-in-Furness. The excellent P&O Heritage website offers fascinating glimpses of life on board - all tea dances and cucumber sandwiches. What a change there is today. The bow of Britannia carries a huge stylised Union Jack, which serves not merely as a clever national marketing device, but broadcasts a British heritage which has been brought bang up to date . You feel that the latest P&O vessel Britannia, which the Queen officially named last Monday in Southampton, could fit the Oronsay on to one deck. However, they are not just vessels from different eras - they come from wholly dissimilar philosophies. Oronsay was built primarily to get passengers from Tilbury to Sydney - fun was considered to be a fancy dress party or the odd beetle drive. Britannia has been purposefully built for enjoyment. It is an entertainment monster, bristling with fun on almost every deck. It is, to borrow a line from poetry, a stately pleasure dome. It's customary to bemoan the compromised standards of the modern era, to yearn for the sturdier certainties of times past. Cruising, at least, is one area where newer almost always means better. P&O Cruises may be part of the American Carnival corporation these days but, happily, it remains British to the tips of its mastheads. The bow of Britannia carries a huge stylised Union Jack, which serves not merely as a clever national marketing device, but broadcasts a British heritage which has been brought bang up to date. The ambassadors for modern P&O Cruises are chefs such as Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochar and James Martin because it is in the area of food, strangely enough, in which the UK has begun to lead the world. Another area where we set the standard is in hotels: the international success of Nick Jones and his Soho House group has ushered in a new era of laid-back elegance. It is this very style that Britannia has captured so impressively. The modern era of British cruising, which P&O Cruises began with the Oriana more than 20 years ago, has now achieved an apotheosis with Britannia. For those poor holiday limpets who will not consider cruising because they refuse to acknowledge the emergence of what is arguably the purest form of holidaymaking, I have one piece of advice: be ruled by Britannia because Britannia really does rule the waves.

Summary: Britannia has been purposefully built for enjoyment . Chefs Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochar and James Martin are ambassadors . Nick Jones and his Soho House group responsible for laid-back elegance . The bow of Britannia carries a huge stylised Union Jack . For further information visit pocruises.com/britannia or call 0843 374 0111.


Charges against a garbage collector outside Atlanta who had been sentenced to 30 days in prison for starting his work too early have been dropped. Kevin McGill, 48, who works for Waste Management Inc, took a guilty plea deal after violating an ordinance in Sandy Springs, north of Atlanta, that bans collections before 7am - he would reportedly start collecting around 5am. But Sandy Springs Solicitors Office released a statement on Monday announcing that charges had been dropped after realizing that 'there are times when taking a step back provides the opportunity for better perspective'. Scroll down for video . Dropped charges: Kevin McGill, 48, was supposed to serve 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to picking up trash in Sandy Springs, Georgia, before 7am. But Sandy Springs Solicitors Office dropped the charges . The statement read: 'In retrospect, the actions of the court with regards to Mr. McGill’s sentence for violating the city’s noise laws, was disproportionate to a first-time offense. 'As such, the court has amended its sentence to time served and further probation suspended. 'City ordinances are implemented for the protection of quality of life within a community. The adherence to these laws is important, and the City is obligated to enforce these laws, which includes imposing sanctions against those individuals who break the law. McGill was originally sentenced on February 20th at the local courthouse, the running of which was handed over to private contractors by the city. There were no real negotiations between her client and Court Chief Solicitor Bill Riley when he was sentenced, attorney Kimberly Bandoh told Daily Mail Online on Saturday, adding that the solicitor had claimed the offense meant 'automatic jail time'. Daily Mail Online reached out to Bandoh again on Monday but her office was closed. McGill turned 48 on Friday, but reported to a local jail at 6pm for his first night in jail. Sandy Springs solicitor Bill Riley said last week that it was the right decision to punish McGill, rather than his company, Waste Management . Justice served: McGill's attorney Kimberly Bandoh (pictured) said were no real negotiations between her client and Court Chief Solicitor Bill Riley when he was sentenced . He was allowed to serve his time on the weekends so he can still work collecting wealthy residents' trash so he can support his wife and two children. Riley has stood by the request for jail and says that 'fines don't seem to work' and 'The only thing that seems to stop the activity is actually going to jail.' The solicitor said that residents of Sandy Springs, which include professional athletes and executives for Delta Air Lines, begin calling 9-1-1 when they hear early garbage men, according to WSPA. He said it was the right decision to punish McGill, who had only been on the route for three months, rather than his company, which the city has contracted to pick up its residents' trash. The prosecutor said that early garbage collections are a nuisance to residents who want to sleep and that his office had met

Summary: Kevin McGill, 48, violated ordinance banning trash collection before 7am . He was originally sentenced to 30 days in jail but charges were dropped . Sandy Springs Solicitors Office said said the charges were 'disproportionate to a first-time offense' Residents called 9-1-1 when they heard early garbage pickup services . Suburb has privatized almost all of its services, including court system .


Connor Marshall has died after being found in a life-threatening condition outside a caravan at Trecco Bay Caravan Park, Porthcawl, on Sunday morning . Police have launched a murder investigation after a teenager died in hospital after being seriously assaulted at a Welsh caravan park. Connor Marshall, 18, from Barry in south Wales, was found in a life-threatening condition at Trecco Bay Caravan Park, Porthcawl, in the early hours of Sunday. He was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and remained in intensive care for almost a week - but despite the best efforts of doctors he died today. South Wales Police say they have now launched a murder inquiry. The teenager and two friends went to a number of pubs in the Porthcawl area before they returned to the park at 1am. Connor was found seven hours later by early morning campers. Police made a caravan to caravan search at the park - one of the biggest in the UK and a favourite for families. Holidaymaker father-of-three Martin Hatley, from Swindon, said: 'I was shocked. As a dad to a teenage boy myself it's terrible to hear about something like this. Detective Superintendent Paul Hurley said: 'Officers are continuing to conduct inquiries to establish the full circumstances of what happened. 'However, we would appeal to anyone who has any information that could assist us with our inquiries to contact us immediately. 'This was a brutal attack upon Connor with fatal consequences. 'I believe the person responsible may have shared information with friends, relatives or neighbours and I would urge anyone who has information or who may have been in the area of Trecco Bay between midnight and 7am on March 8 to contact the police. Connor Marshall was found unconscious at Trecco Bay Caravan Park, Porthcawl, on Sunday morning . Connor (pictured) and two friends went to a number of pubs in the Porthcawl area before they returned to the park at 1am. Connor was found unconscious seven hours later by people in the caravan park . 'I would like to reassure residents and visitors to Porthcawl and Trecco Bay caravan park that this appears to be an isolated incident on a well-managed site. 'Parkdean Trecco Bay Management are continuing to work closely with South Wales Police. 'Our thoughts are with Connor's family and all those affected by this tragic incident.' Earlier in the week, forensic specialists were seen searching for clues in the Sycamore Drive and Cedars area of Trecco Bay - one of the UK's biggest caravan parks. A caravan park spokesman said their thoughts were with Connor's family and that they are doing all they can to help the police with their investigation. Anyone able to help police with their inquiries should contact 01656 655555, 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, quoting the reference number 1500080214. South Wales Police announced they were launching a murder investigation after Connor died today .

Summary: Connor Marshall, 18, died after being seriously assaulted in a caravan park . He was found unconscious in the early hours following a night out . The teenager died today at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff . South Wales Police say they have now launched a murder investigation .


Jamaican Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt cruised to victory in his first individual race of the season, clocking 46.37 seconds over 400 metres at the GC Foster Classic in Kingston on Saturday. Bolt, the world record holder at 100 and 200 metres, used the race as part of his build-up for the upcoming season, where he plans to defend his sprint titles at the IAAF world championships in Beijing in August. 'Give thanks for an injury free 400m run,' Bolt, who was slowed by injuries last year, said on his Twitter account. Usain Bolt is looking forward to an injury free season after winning his first race of the year comfortably . Bolt has been training at his base in Jamaica ahead of what will be an important season for him . The six-time Olympic gold medallist came off the final curve comfortably ahead of the field and his time was slightly faster than his last effort at the distance, 46.44 seconds in 2013, but more than a second slower than his personal best of 45.28 in 2007. In his only other race of the year, Bolt's Racers Lions 4x100 metres relay team wound up second in the Gibson McCook Relays on February 28. Bolt is currenlty the double world and Olympic champion, and will defend that world title this year .

Summary: Usain Bolt saw off the field in GC Foster Classic in Kingston, Jamaica . Bolt ran 400 metres in a time of 46.37 seconds in season opener . It is not his fastest time over the distance, but his best for over two years .


Smiling sweetly for the camera, this is Susan Berman as she looked when she met the man who would become her lifelong friend - and alleged killer - Robert Durst. Three decades after these happy photos were taken she was murdered in cold blood - a crime for which her University of California pal Durst has now been charged. These never-before-seen student photos of Susan obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Online were taken at UCLA, where the pair met. Durst, now 71, was sensationally charged with the writer's murder last Saturday - the day before his shocking 'confession' to the killing aired in HBO documentary The Jinx. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO . Graduate: Susan Berman as she was when she graduated from UCLA in 1967. She returned as a graduate student and met Robert Durst who was also there as a graduate student . Charged: Durst smiling as he leaves court in New Orelans last week. He was wanted in California for the murder of Susan Berman after the HBO documentary series The Jinx produced new evidence about her death . Victim: Susan Berman, pictured in Las Vegas in 1996. She was shot dead in her Beverly Hills home on Christmas Eve 2000 and although Robert Durst was a suspect, he was never arrested until now . Friends: Susan Berman and Robert Durst together. They had become close friends when they met at UCLA where both were graduate students. A friend speculated that they bonded over the loss of their parents . Berman had been his close friend and acted as his spokesman in the wake of the disappearance of his wife in 1982. Although Durst was suspected of being involved in the disappearance, he was never charged. Susan's family are now hoping 'justice will prevail', 15 years after the 55-year-old was found gunned down, 'execution-style' at her Beverly Hills home on Christmas Eve 2000. Durst was questioned over Berman's murder but only arrested when the finale of HBO's The Jinx last week revealed new evidence, including an apparent confession when he was taped saying: 'Killed them all.' Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Online, Susan's cousin Deni Marcus said: 'I really want justice to prevail for my lovely cousin who should be here now watching my son, her nephew, all grown up and she does not get to do that. 'The loss of my cousin has never stopped stinging. We have been waiting for justice and I don't want anything to impede it. 'Please, please let there be justice for all [the victims] including my cousin.' Deni is the first family member to speak to the media since Durst's dramatic capture and arrest. Speaking from her home in Los Angeles, Deni continued: 'I want the process to proceed, I want it to be swift and be without a circus. 'Liberty and justice for all and I'm hoping it will be that for my cousin.' Deni added that the family are grateful to HBO for bringing the world's attention to Susan's brutal murder. She said: 'Anything that got us to this place I'm

Summary: Susan Berman became friends with eccentric real estate heir Robert Durst when they both studied at UCLA . She was found gunned down at her Beverly Hills home on Christmas Eve 2000 - a crime for which Durst has now been arrested . Her cousin Deni Marcus is first family member to speak since dramatic arrest and tells Daily Mail Online: 'I really want justice to prevail.' Berman pictured as a sorority member and graduate of UCLA where she studied after both her parents' death . Friend from the time says she believes Durst and Berman bonded over both being orphans .


Ronny Deila believes he will soon be fending off interest in Stefan Johansen from English Premier League clubs. The Norwegian midfielder has thrived since his former Stromsgodset manager moved to Glasgow last summer. On the verge of adding the domestic Treble to the championship he won a year ago, the 24-year-old is also a forerunner for the player of the year awards. Celtic boss Ronny Delia believes Premier League clubs will soon come calling for midfielder Stefan Johansen . And, speaking to a Norwegian TV station this week, Deila was asked how long he could keep the player at Celtic Park. He replied: ‘It’s clear it’s difficult. He is good enough to play in the Premier League but then it is a question of whether he wants it. ‘I think Stefan is very fond of Celtic and it’s a much bigger club to play for than for example West Bromwich. ‘Stefan made a wise choice when he chose to go to Celtic. Here he is allowed to develop, not least physically. He has been playing regularly at a high level.’ Johansen, who also spoke with the Norwegian broadcaster TV2, was adamant that he had no immediate desire to leave Celtic, though. The 24-year-old is adamant he has no immediate desire to leave the Scottish giants at present . ‘The reason why I’m doing so well now is that I enjoy where I am,’ he said. ‘I see no reason why I should change clubs. I’m at a club that will win trophies, who have the ambition to play in Europe.’ Meanwhile, Queens Park Rangers are monitoring Jason Denayer’s situation. The Premier League strugglers have had the Belgian watched several times recently with a move to a summer transfer. Deila has stated that he’d like the defender to return to Glasgow for another year-long loan from Manchester City even though the player’s preference is a return to his parent club. QPR boss Chris Ramsey remains hopeful of persuading Denayer to switch to London – regardless of what league his side are playing in. QPR are interested in signing on loan Celtic defender Jason Denayer (left) in the summer .

Summary: Stefan Johansen has thrived since joining Celtic from Stromsgodset . Celtic are on the verge of winning the domestic Treble this season . Johansen is also a forerunner for the player of the year awards .


PSV frontman Memphis Depay has been tipped to match Arjen Robben and even touted as a better player than Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age. With 16 Eredivisie strikes to his name, the 21-year-old winger has stormed to the top of the goalscoring charts this season and even found the net for Holland at the World Cup in Brazil last summer. Wanted by Manchester United and Tottenham, Depay may well depart the Philips Stadion at the end of the season after PSV admitted it may be difficult to keep him at the club. Here, Sportsmail tells you everything you need to about the exciting Dutch hotshot. PSV star Memphis Depay is wanted by Man United and Tottenham and tipped to one day match Arjen Robben . The 21-year-old is the current leading goalscorer in the Eredivisie having scored 16 league goals this season . Early years and PSV Eindhoven . Born in 1994, Depay started out at hometown club VV Moordrecht - a Dutch amateur side in south Holland - at the age of six before joining Sparta Rotterdam three years later. The son of a Ghanaian father and Dutch mother, Depay moved to PSV at the age of 12 before making his first-team debut in September 2011 having impressed during a trial. Depay signed his first professional contract in June 2012 and has already made over 100 appearances for the Dutch giants. Depay joined PSV at the age of 12 before making his first-team debut for the Dutch giants in September 2011 . Signing a professional contract in 2012, Depay has already made over 100 appearances for the Dutch giants . Playing style . Pacy, with neat close control, Depay loves to run at defenders and completed the most dribbles in the entire Eredivisie during the 2013/14 campaign. Adding more goals to his game this season, the youngster is more than capable at shooting from distance and boasts an explosive right-foot. Often playing on the left-wing and cutting inside, Depay is strong on the ball and has more than a few tricks up his sleeve to bamboozle opponents. However, still at a young age and learning the game, the 21-year-old can sometimes be guilty of making the wrong pass or keeping hold of the ball for too long. Depay loves to run at defenders and has more than a few tricks up his sleeve to leave opponents for dead . Depay boasts neat close control, an explosive right foot and is often deployed on the left wing for PSV . Top of the scoring charts . Depay's strike during Saturday's 3-0 win away at Go Ahead Eagles was his 16th of the season and took him to the top of the Eredivisie goalscoring charts - one ahead of PSV team-mate Luuk De Jong. An impressive feat for a player who is not an all-out attacker. The No 7 has enjoyed a steady flow of goals during the last two seasons and has found the net 19 times in all competitions this term. Scoring four braces, Depay's goals from out wide have

Summary: Memphis Depay is the current leading goalscorer in the Dutch Eredivisie . The PSV hotshot is wanted by Manchester United and Tottenham . Frontman scored twice for Louis van Gaal's Holland at the World Cup . The man who scouted Cristiano Ronaldo prefers Depay at the same age .


Despite the likes of auto giants Ford, BMW and Tesla releasing electric cars, the technology has yet to become mainstream. And a major sticking point is the number of charging stations available. Now Goodyear has created a concept tyre that could spell the end of these stations, and ultimately petrol cars, by charging the car as it drives. Scroll down for video . Goodyear’s concept BH03 tyre (illustrated) was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show. It is fitted with thermo-piezoelectric materials that convert heat into energy to charge an electric car without the need for a charging station. This conversion happens when the car is both stationary and moving . Called BH023, the tyre concept is fitted with thermo-piezoelectric materials. When parked, sunlight heats the tyre and this heat is transformed into electricity using the thermo-electric material. The tyre has also been designed to be ‘ultra-black’ to absorb as much heat as possible. When being driven, the friction between the tyre and the road as well as the ‘squeezing’ and movement of the piezoelectric material as it rolls generates a small electric voltage. Piezoelectricity is the charge that builds up in materials such as those made of crystalline and ceramic structures. Exposing them to mechanical force causes a separation of electrical charge, which sets up a voltage that can be used to charge products. When a piezoelectric material is squeezed rapidly, it produces a small electrical voltage for a moment. If a voltage is put across the material it makes a tiny change in shape. In 2001, Trevor Baylis, the British inventor best known for his wind-up radios, famously walked 100 miles across the Namib desert in his ’Electric Shoes’, which charged a small battery that allowed him to use his mobile phone. This electricity is captured and directed to the car’s battery to charge it as it moves. ‘This tyre generates electricity through the action of materials in the tyre that capture and transform the energy created by heat when it flexes as it rolls during normal driving conditions,’ explained Goodyear. ‘The materials used would optimise the tyre's electricity generation capabilities as well as its rolling resistance. ‘As demand for electric cars grows, this technology has the potential to significantly contribute to the solution of future mobility challenges. ‘This visionary tyre technology could eliminate the vehicle-range anxiety motorists may have with electric cars.’ Goodyear also unveiled a second concept called ‘Triple Tube’. This tyre features three internal tubes located beneath the tread near the inboard and outboard shoulders of the tyre, as well as the centre. It relies on an internal pump that moves air from the main air chamber to the three individual air chambers, or tubes. When parked, sunlight heats the tyre and this heat is transformed into electricity using the thermo-electric material. The tyre has also been designed to be ‘ultra-black’ to absorb as much heat as possible . The tyre automatically adjusts - on its own - to three different positions based on road conditions and modes include the Eco/Safety, Sporty and Wet Traction. Eco/Safety offers

Summary: Concept BH03 tyre was unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show . It is fitted with thermo-piezoelectric materials that convert heat into energy . This is charged either using sunlight or from friction when the tyre rolls . Firm also unveiled a second concept called 'Triple Tube' This contains tubes that adjust pressure depending on the road conditions . There are no immediate plans to release these concepts . But the tyre-maker said it predicts future cars will use the technology .


A blundering Indian groom was dumped at the altar by his bride-to-be after he failed to solve a simple maths problem. The woman walked out of the ceremony after her would-be husband revealed his appalling arithmetic skills moments before they said 'I do.' She had asked him to add up 15 + 6 and he wrongly replied that the answer was 17. An Indian groom was dumped at the altar after he failed to solve a simple maths problem (file picture) 'The groom's family kept us in the dark about his poor education,' said Mohar Singh, the bride's father. 'Even a first grader can answer this.' Most marriages in India are arranged by the families of the bride and groom. Except for brief meetings, the couple rarely gets to know each other before the nuptials. The incident took place in the village of Rasoolabad village near the industrial town of Kanpur in northern Uttar Pradesh state on Wednesday, local police officer Rakesh Kumar said. The groom's family tried persuading the woman to return, but she refused. She claimed the groom had misled them about his education. The woman's family said that a child could have solved the simple arithmetic (file picture) Local police were called in to mediate between the families and both sides returned all the gifts and jewelry that had been exchanged before the wedding, Kumar said. Last month, another bride in Uttar Pradesh married a wedding guest after her groom-to-be had a seizure and collapsed at the wedding venue. Groom Jugal Kishore was just about to exchange vows when he collapsed with a seizure and was rushed to hospital. Angry that she had not been informed of his condition, the 23-year-old bride, Indira, asked a member of her brother-in-law's family, Harpal Singh, to marry her instead. Mr Singh, who was wearing jeans and a leather jacket, was caught off guard, but agreed to go ahead with the wedding. After the ceremony, Mr Kishore returned to the venue after being treated in hospital to find that his fiancee had married someone else, it was reported by The Times of India.

Summary: Indian bride walks out of wedding after groom fails basic arithmetic test . Claimed that her husband-to-be had mislead her about his education . Police forced to mediate between two families in Rasoolabad, near Kanpur . Comes after an Indian bride married a wedding guest after her groom collapsed at venue .


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared victory in Israel's election despite being tied with the opposition party in exit polls. Mr Netanyahu took to Twitter to declare a 'great victory' for his right-wing Likud party despite polls showing a dead heat with its main opponent, the centre-left Zionist Union. The Prime Minister wrote: 'Against all odds: a great victory for Likud, a great victory for the national camp led by Likud, a great victory for the people of Israel.' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) delivered a speech for supporters after declaring victory in Israel's election - which exit polls suggest are virtually neck and neck . The incumbent Prime Minister (left and right) took to Twitter to declare a 'great victory' for his right-wing Likud party, despite polls showing a dead heat with its main opponent, the centre-left Zionist Union . Netanyahu (left) took a moment to greet his wife Sara (right) on stage after reacting to the early exit polls . He wrote: 'Against all odds: a great victory for the Likud. A major victory for the people of Israel!' But his main challenger later disputed Netanyahu's victory claim, saying 'everything is open'. Speaking to supporters at party headquarters in Tel Aviv, Herzog said: 'This result allows us to return to power. We will wait for the real results - everything is open.' He added that he would make 'every effort; to cobble together the next coalition government. Polls carried out by the country's three major TV stations have shown an extremely tight race between the Prime Minister's ruling Likud Party and opposition leader Isaac Herzog's Zionist Union. Two polls showed the parties deadlocked with 27 seats each, while a third gave Likud a slight lead of 28-27. But all showed the centrist newcomer Moshe Kahlon with enough seats to determine who will be the next prime minister. Kahlon, a Likud breakaway, has not said which side he would favour - but is likely to drive a hard bargain. They also seemed to suggest that Netanyahu appears to have the slight upper hand in forming a majority coalition, thanks to his traditional right-wing and religious allies. Israeli supporters of the centre-left Zionist Union party wave their national flag as they take part in early celebrations outside the party's headquarters. Exit polls show the two main parties are neck and neck . According to the polls, carried out by Israel's leading television channels, Isaac Herzog's Zionist Union is tied with the ruling Likud party. Pictured: Zionist Union supporters chant for victory . But the Liked party were also celebrating after Channel 2 said Netanyahu had eked out a narrow victory, winning 28 seats to 27 for Herzog. It also appears Netanyahu has the slight upper hand in forming a coalition . The Netanyahu supporters cheered as they heard the first television predictions for the election results . 'This is a great victory. It's almost a miracle,' Likud lawmaker Ofir Akunis told The Associated Press. 'For months, everybody attacked the Likud. And today is a beautiful day for the Likud. It sends a

Summary: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tied with Zionist Union's Isaac Herzog . TV station polls say both parties secured 27 seats in 120-member Knesset . Another station said Netanyahu eked out narrow victory, winning 28 to 27 . On Twitter, Netanyahu has already claimed a 'great victory' for Likud party . He appears to have upper hand in forming coalition due to right-wing allies . Newcomer Moshe Kahlon has enough seats to affect who will be next PM . Results likely to disappoint Herzog who was tipped to come out on top . He disputed Netanyahu's victory claim, saying the race was 'still open' Early polls triggered celebrations outside Likud's headquarters in Tel Aviv .


He may be known for his party-loving ways, but Prince Harry works tirelessly to help vulnerable children living in extreme poverty at risk of AIDS - and now his services are being recognised. As part of his Sentebale charity, which he set up with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, the 30-year-old royal built the Mamohato Children’s Centre to support vulnerable children through healthcare and education. And now, Harry's programme will be receiving the 2015 Swarovski Crystal Of Hope Award at the glittering Life Ball event in May. Prince Harry, who set up Sentebale, a charity that provides healthcare and education to vulnerable children in Lesotho, Southern Africa, will be honoured with an award for his services . Speaking about the award, Life Ball founder Gery Keszler told FEMAIL: 'We always select programmes to receive this award that are relatively unsung heroes, doing interesting, innovative and important work but not yet well-known. 'This award not only donates substantial funds, but also brings an international spotlight to the work. I will be visiting the programme in April, which helps children living with HIV/AIDS educationally, emotionally and physically - it is really exceptional and we are proud to be working with them.' As part of his Sentebale charity, Harry built the Mamohato Children's Centre to support vulnerable children through healthcare and education and the initiative is being awarded . Speaking about the award, Life Ball founder Gery Keszler, who selected Harry's work, told FEMAIL: 'We always select programmes to receive this award that are relatively unsung heroes, doing interesting, innovative and important work but not yet well known' The Life Ball, which takes place in May, is the biggest charity event in Europe supporting people with HIV/AIDS and is being dubbed Europe's answer to the MET Ball thanks to it's dazzling guestlist. Speaking about the origins of the glittering event, Keszler said: 'Life Ball was born out of the energy and environment prevalent across the world in the late 80’s and early 90’s - particularly in the fashion industry - that saw AIDS as a daily issue profoundly effecting our friends and colleagues who were dying, but that no one understood or was willing to talk about. 'There was this undercurrent of urgency to do something: to help, to get involved and make some noise. 'My main goal with the first Life Ball was to bring a spotlight to the disease, the fundraising aspect was a secondary consideration.' Prince Harry's award will be announced at The Life Ball, pictured, which is the biggest charity event in Europe supporting people with HIV or AIDS and is being dubbed Europe's answer to the MET Ball . Gery Keszler set up the event in 1992 with the goal of the show being to be provocative and have HIV/AIDS and the taboo that it represented acknowledged . Gery Keszler, left, pictured with Sir Elton John, centre, set up The Life Ball in 1992 to raise vital funds . The event, which has attracted the likes of Bill Clinton, left, and Dame Vivienne Westwood, aims to get people talking about AIDS,

Summary: As part of his Sentebale charity Harry built the Mamohato Children's Centre . To be awarded 2015 Swarovski Crystal Of Hope Award at Life Ball . Is biggest charity event in Europe supporting people with HIV or AIDS . Previous guests include Bill Clinton and Antonio Banderas .


A 54-year-old man was recovered from the Gulf of Mexico after he reportedly fell off a cruise ship on a five-day tour of the area. The man, who has not been named, was on the last leg of a five-day cruise around the Gulf of Mexico. The ship, the Carnival Triumph, is due back in Galveston, Texas, today. A surveillance camera spotted the man fall from the rail into the sea and an immediate search was launched. Scroll down for video . Tragic: A 54-year-old passenger, who has not been named, fell from the Carnival Triumph, pictured, on Tuesday night into the Gulf of Mexico . Troubled history: In February 2013, the Carnival Triumph was struck by an engine fire while on a cruise leaving it stranded . Passengers were warned that one of their shipmates had gone overboard on Tuesday evening. The ship was off the coast of Mexico at the time of the incident and Mexican authorities recovered a body shortly afterwards. The 54-year-old man's remains will be repatriated to the United States following formal identification. The company said that the ship was due back in Galveston later today, having been delayed by the incident. A spokesman confirmed that grief counsellors have been made available for the man's family and any passenger who may be distressed because of the incident. 'Our foremost care and concern is with the loved ones of our guest at this very difficult time,' he said. In February 2013, the Carnival Triumph suffered an engine fire while it was sailing 150 miles off the coast of Mexico, leaving it without propulsion. The ship, which was carrying 3,143 passengers and 1,086 crew, had to be towed to safety. Nobody was injured in the incident. Attorney Jim Walker is is representing families of people who have fallen overboard on other cruises. He said that the industry must do more to ensure passenger safety. A 'ship overboard system' could be installed, he said. This would alert the bridge immediately when there is a man overboard, greatly increasing chances of rescue. He told KHOU.com: 'This type of technology assists the cruise line in realising that a guest has gone overboard such that they can conduct a search and rescue assistance.' Mr Walker said that 90 per cent of cruise companies do not use this safety equipment.

Summary: The 54-year-old man fell from the Carnival Triumph late on Tuesday night . The man's body was recovered from the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday . The cruise ship was on the final leg of a five-day cruise to Mexico . The man's body will be repatriated to the United States in the coming days .


Chloe Sevigny has posed with just a lobster covering her modesty. Save her fashion jacket and mirror sandals, the 40-year-old can be seen on the cover of the Marfa Journal stark naked and sprawling out over a retro kitchen work top. The actress, who is considered an influencer within many fashion circles, makes a series of bizarre statements from a nun in chain underwear to scantily-clad Red Riding Hood as she creates four fake movie posters for the magazine. WARNING: EXPLICIT CONTENT . Claws for draws: Choe Sevigny ditches her underwear for new Marfa Journal pictures as she poses with a lobster over her crotch . The four fake billboards divide the whole magazine into four sections: raw, decadent, romantic and progressive. And they're sure to get attention, though loyal fans' interest in the content may be waning as the shoot sees the Swedish actress in a whole new light. Golden Globe winning and Academy Award nominated Chloe has previously enjoyed roles in Boys Don't Cry and American Psycho but these latest roles appear to put her in an all new-genre. In the most shocking image of the four book quarters, the beauty ditches her underwear in favour of the large marine crustacean. Stark naked: Besides a long fashion coat and a belt, Chloe was stark naked in the snaps . Provocative: Chloe posed on her knees wearing knickers and a chain between her legs . The fashionista was not without her accessories nonetheless and layered on some tribal beads between her bare chest and accentuated her enviable waist with a studded belt. She was seen sporting a subtle plaid coat, tying her tresses into a fuss-free low bun as she posed in a derelict kitchen setting. While it is not believed that the lobster is real, PETA's Managing Director Ingrid E. Newkirk told MailOnline: 'We're too kind to say what a pity it is that the lobster wasn't alive and wearing knuckledusters. 'So all we'll say is that we hope one day Chloë will realise how inferior she seems compared to a little animal who was killed just to cover a t**t. Fashionista: The fashion darling was still styled to perfection in Jean Paul Gaultier and Chanel Cruise . Daring: The actress appeared to poke fun at the movie industry with a series of mock film posters . Chloe, going virginal in white for a second picture, shows off her youthful frame in a second poster while dressed in a nun costume and headscarf. The title reads, 'Two Times A Virgin' and she sports lace knickers with a padlock and chain between her thighs to pose provocatively on her knees. Stylist Haley Wollens uses Chanel Cruise to dress the famous style star, as the cover caption indicates, with other credits including Proenza Schouler and Jean Paul Gaultier. Chloe, photographed by Brianna Capozzi, enjoys a throwback moment in velvet for one snap and adds a sexy edge to a red cape for another Running With Wolves mock up. Baring her rock hard stomach, the actress sums it up perfectly as she scrawls

Summary: Poses naked in four fake movie posters for Marfa Journal . Actress poses naked with large marine crustacean between her legs . Writes 'I put the HOT in PSYCHOTIC' on her bare chest . Photographed exposing chain underwear beneath nun's costume . WARNING: EXPLICIT PHOTO CONTENT .