Scottish Nationalist leader Nicola Sturgeon vowed yesterday to ‘frighten the life out of Westminster’ if her party storms to victory north of the border on May 7. She demanded the abolition of the ‘undemocratic’ House of Lords and pledged to put the ‘backbone and guts’ into a Labour government led by Ed Miliband. And Miss Sturgeon repeated her party’s promise to overthrow a Tory minority administration even if the Conservatives have more seats than any other party after the Election. Nicola Sturgeon, whose critics have compared her to President Putin in attempting to divide the UK like Russia did Ukraine, has vowed to shake up the Westminster system . The SNP is on course for huge gains on May 7, with Miss Sturgeon boasting it can win all 58 of Scotland’s Commons seats. In a speech to SNP activists, she said a party that ‘frightens the life out of the Westminster establishment’ was ‘good news for ordinary people in Scotland and right across these islands’. Miss Sturgeon, who is also the Scottish First Minister, said: ‘The House of Lords has no place in a democratic society. ‘Its members are paid £300 a day for just showing up, and it’s totally tax-free. That’s got to stop. It is now time to abolish the House of Lords. ‘So, yes, David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, if you are worried that a strong SNP is a threat to all that is deeply undemocratic and unfair about the Westminster notion of democracy, then all I can say to you is this: you had better believe we are.’ Miss Sturgeon’s uncompromising message came after Tory whip Ben Wallace accused her of aping the tactics of Russian president Vladimir Putin in her bid to break up the UK. Ms Sturgeon (far right) also repeated the pledge of Alex Salmond (near left) to vote with Labour to lock the Tories out of government, even if neither of their parties hold the biggest number of seats . He said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon is intent on stoking division in England in the same way Putin used it to break apart Ukraine.’ The SNP leader also faces accusations of trying to exert ‘Stalinist’ discipline over proposed new rules banning her MPs from speaking out against party policy. Yesterday, Miss Sturgeon also echoed former party leader Alex Salmond, now bidding to return to Westminster as an MP, by insisting that the SNP would vote down a minority Conservative Government, despite the long-standing tradition that the party with the most MPs should have an opportunity to form a Government. ‘The SNP will never put the Tories into government – not now, not ever,’ she said. ‘As long as there are more anti-Tory MPs – Labour or SNP – than there are Tory MPs in the House of Commons, we can keep them out of government.’ Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said last night: ‘It is clearer than ever that the prospect of Ed Miliband, in Downing Street and dancing to Alex Salmond’s tune, would mean chaos for Britain.’

Summary: SNP leader also vowed to abolish the 'undemocratic' House of Lords . Echoed Alex Salmond's pledge to lock Conservatives out of government . Said SNP will contest for all of Scotland's 58 House of Commons seats .


A very proud farmer has woken up to 40,000 followers on Twitter after live-tweeting his beloved sheepdog giving birth to ten puppies on Friday. James Rebanks, a farmer from the Lake District in England, has been chronicling the pregnancy of one of his sheepdogs Floss from his Herdwick sheep farm in anticipation of her due date. Early on Friday, Mr Rebanks tweeted 'Floss doing fine. No news to report. (Other than she is fed up)', before the action started and puppies started appearing one by one. Scroll down for video . James Rebanks, a farmer from the Lake District in England, has been chronicling the pregnancy of one of his sheepdogs Floss . Less than an hour after reporting that Floss was still 'bursting at the seams', Mr Rebanks tweeted that the first of her puppies had been delivered safely. Within an hour and a half, four pups had been born, and the farmer continued to chronicle the birth, and his children's reaction to their newborn playmates. 'Growing up on a farm has its great moments...' he tweeted, along with a photo of his children holding several of the pups. 'I've had five puppies... I might have more', Mr Rebanks tweeted after three hours. He reported that Floss was 'knackered' after the birth of her seventh pup, as his children reluctantly headed to bed despite the action looking to continue. Less than an hour after reporting that Floss was still 'bursting at the seams', Mr Rebanks tweeted that the first of her puppies had been delivered safely . The busy farmer went to bed himself and woke up seven hours later to ten healthy puppies wriggling about their tired mum. 'Floss is going to be... Er... A bit busy... Ten pups to raise... Ten little limpets on her teats...,' he tweeted. Mr Rebanks reported that his children were determined to spend as much time with the newborn puppies as possible. 'We are going to school dad... But not until we have made friends with these puppies'. Despite the excitement and exhaustion of the night, the farmer reported that having ten puppies around would be 'fun', and said that his Herdwick sheep should watch out for their future herders. The busy farmer went to bed himself and woke up seven hours later to ten healthy puppies wriggling about their tired mum . 'Sheep be warned. Cavalry is coming,' he said. After Mr Rebanks tweets garnered attention from social media users all over the world, he woke to a staggering 40,000 Twitter followers. 'Where did you all come from? Been feeding my sheep and suddenly lots of new followers and whizzed past 40k. Hello,' he tweeted. Mr Rebanks is no stranger to surges in his Twitter followers, after gaining nearly 20,000 followers for his photos of his prized Herdwick sheep on the social media site. Mr Rebanks, whose family has been farming in the district for almost 600 years, is also the author of The Shepherd's Life: A Tale of the Lake District.

Summary: James Rebanks live tweeted his sheepdog Floss giving birth to ten pups . Early on Friday morning he reported she was 'bursting at the seams' The puppies came quickly and seven were born in three hours . He and his children woke to ten healthy sheepdog pups suckling their mum . Mr Rebanks was surprised when he found he had 40,000 Twitter followers .


Despite flying through the air at high-speeds, researchers have discovered that bats avoid mishaps because they have their own set of ‘traffic rules' when hunting for food. Somerset Daubenton’s bats, in particular, chase each other, perform tandem turns and can even slow down without ever hitting each other. And now researchers have found this is down to the way they take part in 'formation flying'. Researchers from Bristol University measured biosonar bat calls to calculate what members of group perceived as they foraged for food. It found the bats interact by swapping between leading and following, and they swap these roles by copying the route a nearby individual was using up to 500 milliseconds earlier . Dr Marc Holderied, of the School of Biological Sciences at Bristol University, studied pairs of Daubenton’s bats foraging low over water for stranded insects at a site near the village of Barrow Gurney, in Somerset. These flying mammals perceive their surroundings by emitting loud and high-pitched biosonar calls and listening for the returning echoes. Because bat biosonar imaging is much sparser in information than vision, Dr Holderied was able to accurately measure the biosonar calls of the interacting bats and then calculate what each of the individuals perceived. The researchers found that the winged mammal uses one simple trick to create their interactive behaviours - they swap who is taking a leading role and who is following. They swap these leader-follower roles and perform chases or co-ordinated manoeuvres by copying the route a nearby individual was using up to 500 milliseconds earlier. The experts studied Daubenton's bats (pictured). They said: 'The bats seem to have adopted a simple trick - once another individual is close enough for your biosonar to pick up its echo [and] copy this individual’s flight direction. The discovery could help improve search and rescue missions and surveillance operations . This almost as fast as the blink of a human eye, which as been measured at between 300 to 400 milliseconds. Dr Holderied said: 'The bats seem to have adopted a simple trick - once another individual is close enough for your biosonar to pick up its echo, copy this individual’s flight direction within four to five of your own wingbeats.' And his team said the discovery could have wider implications - helping improve search and rescue missions and surveillance operations. The study was published in Plos Computation Biology. The robotic wings are made using carbon fibre and, similar to the wing of a bird, each have a wrist joint custom built using a 3D printer . Inspired by the way bats and birds avoid colliding in mid-air, roboticists have created flying drones with 'morphing wings'. The robotic wings are made using carbon fibre and, similar to the wing of a bird, each have a wrist joint custom built using a 3D printer. These joints are hinged in such a way so that as the rest of the wing flaps, the hand can freely fold and unfold over the arm, much like origami folding, without any actuation. In particular the pin joint connects

Summary: Researches studied pairs of Daubenton’s bats in Barrow Gurney, Somerset . Flying mammals perceive their surroundings using biosonar calls . Study measured these calls to calculate what members of group perceived . It found the bats interact by swapping between leading and following . They swap these roles by copying the route a nearby individual was using up to 500 milliseconds earlier .


TV presenter Dr Michael Mosley will eat black pudding made from his own blood for a new documentary. In a variety of tests, Dr Mosley will take an in-depth look at blood for a medical series on BBC Four. He will undergo six experiments on his own blood, including injecting it with snake venom to see how it can clot within seconds and starving it of oxygen. Scroll down for video . In a new BBC show, Dr Michael Mosley (pictured) will taste a black pudding made from his own blood . The Wonderful World of Blood, which features specialist photography to look at blood 'as never seen before', is one of several new science shows announced today. Dr Mosley will also chart the journey from single cell to human being in 9 Months That Made You for BBC Two. In the show, he will look at the 'minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour' development of a baby in the first 280 days of life from a single cell. The series will examine the moment the face forms, the first beat of the heart and the day the nerves set off their first signals. Previously, Dr Mosley, a former City banker, has explored the benefits of high intensity exercise and intermittent fasting. He was credited with popularising the 5:2 diet via the Eat, Fast, and Live Longer documentary. This involves fasting for two days a week and then unconstrained eating the other five days. The diet has since been followed by celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez. In his most recent show, Oxford university educated Dr Mosley looked at the world of parasites and deliberately infested himself with them. The BBC screened a Horizon documentary, The Nine Months That Made You, in 2011, which looked at how much of a human being's health has been determined by the time we get out of the womb. The presenter will undergo six experiments on his own blood for the upcoming BBC4 programme . Michael will discovers how blood tastes, when, in a television first, he eats black pudding from his own blood . Elsewhere, TV presenter Dr George McGavin inspects a 350-year-old oak tree in Wytham Woods, near Oxford, in 'forensic detail' over a whole year. Other programmes include Natural Born Hustlers presented by wildlife expert Chris Packham, on how animals use optical illusions, camouflage and mimicry to stay alive. The documentary will feature 'cross-dressing birds, a lizard which fakes its own death and two-timing monkeys'.

Summary: Dr Michael Mosley will eat black pudding from own blood for BBC4 show . Will have six experiments on his own blood, including starving it of oxygen . Wonderful World of Blood one of series of upcoming BBC science shows .


Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez can be seen on surveillance video walking through his home with a gun less than 10 minutes after prosecutors say he killed a man, according to testimony Wednesday by an employee of firearms manufacturer Glock. It was the most conclusive testimony to date in the monthlong trial that puts a weapon in Hernandez's hand around the time of the slaying. Hernandez is charged with murder in the killing of Odin Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. Lloyd was shot to death early on June 17, 2013, in an industrial park near Hernandez's home in North Attleborough, sending his last text message at 3:23am, and two witnesses have testified they heard loud bangs around that time. The murder weapon has never been found. Scroll down for video . Former New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez sits in court during his trial . Former New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez is seen in footage from his home security system . A handgun is shown during the murder trial for former New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez . Kyle Aspinwall, a former New Hampshire police chief who now works for Glock, began his testimony Wednesday by showing jurors a Glock 21. The semiautomatic handgun uses .45-caliber bullets, and prosecutors have argued that based on ballistics evidence, a Glock 21 was the murder weapon. As Aspinwall testified, prosecutor Patrick Bomberg played clips of video recorded by Hernandez's extensive home surveillance system June 17, as well as still photos taken from the videos. At several points in the video, Hernandez can be seen carrying a black object in his hand, an object his defense team has said could have been a TV remote or another electronic device. But Aspinwall said his opinion was based on various characteristics of the weapon, including the curvature of back strap, the magazine well and trigger guard. 'In my opinion, the firearm shown in the video stills is a Glock pistol,' he said. The earliest clip played Wednesday was taken at around 12:45am before Hernandez leaves the house with co-defendants Carlos Ortiz and Ernest Wallace in a rental car. Prosecutors have said the three picked up Lloyd in Boston, then drove him back to North Attleborough. Ortiz and Wallace are also charged with murder and have pleaded not guilty. They will be tried at a later date. Former New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez, left, and his defense attorney Charles Rankin watch as footage from Hernandez's home security system is played during his murder trial . Prosecutor Patrick Bomberg, left, questions Kyle Aspinwall, an employee of weapons manufacturer Glock . Aspinwall testified that in the 12:45am clip, Hernandez can be seen switching a pistol from his right hand to his left as he walks through the living room. Later, after Hernandez, Ortiz and Wallace return to the home at around 3:30am, Hernandez can be seen outside the door to his basement as he faces the camera a few feet away while holding the object in front of him.

Summary: Aaron Hernandez can be seen on surveillance video walking through his home with a gun less than 10 minutes after prosecutors say he killed a man . Glock employee Kyle Aspinwall testified that Hernandez can be seen switching a pistol from his right hand to his left in his living room at 12:45am . Then, at 3:30am, Hernandez can be seen outside his basement as he faces the camera a few feet away while holding the object in front of him . The murder weapon has never been found .


It may not look as appetising as a crisp Chardonnay or a rich bottle of Malbec, but grey wine recovered from a shipwreck is definitely more unusual. The bottle of grey liquid was recovered from a US Civil War shipwreck. Now, a panel of experts have sipped the wine and say it had a heady sulphur bouquet with distinct notes of crab water and gasoline. Grey wine recorded from the wreck of a Civil War blockade runner that sank in 1864 waqs sampled by sommeliers, who said it tasted like a mixture of crab water, gasoline, salt water and vinegar, with hints of citrus and alcohol . The bottle was pulled from the wreck of a Civil War blockade runner that sank off the coast of Bermuda in 1864. It was uncorked at a food festival in Charleston, South Carolina, in front of an audience of 50 who watched a panel of experts decant and taste the rare liquid. Master sommelier Paul Roberts said: ‘I've had shipwreck wines before. They can be great.’ But sadly the grey wine was not. The wine was one of five sealed bottles recovered by marine archaeologists (pictured) from the Mary-Celestia, an iron-hulled sidewheel steamship that sank under mysterious circumstances during the US Civil War . To peals of audience laughter, the panel said the cloudy yellow-grey liquid smelled and tasted like a mixture of crab water, gasoline, salt water and vinegar, with hints of citrus and alcohol. Sommeliers were not impressed with the taste of the grey ship wreck wine. Larry Stone of Napa, California is shown looking at the murky liquid . It could have been a Spanish fortified wine, a spirit, or medicine, but after 151 years at the bottom of the ocean, it's now mostly saltwater, they said. Wine chemist Pierre Louis Teissedre of the University of Bordeaux, had previously analysed samples drawn through the cork. He said the ‘nose’ of the wine was a room-clearing mix of camphor – which is used in vapour rubs to treat colds - stagnant water, hydrocarbons, turpentine and sulphur. Analysis showed it was 37 percent alcohol, he said. The wine was one of five sealed bottles recovered by marine archaeologists from the Mary-Celestia, an iron-hulled sidewheel steamship that sank under mysterious circumstances during the US Civil War. The boat was leaving Bermuda with supplies for the Confederate states when it struck a reef and sank in six minutes, said Philippe Rouja, a cultural anthropologist and custodian of historic shipwrecks for the Bermudan government. Whether the sinking was deliberate or accidental has been debated for decades. Mr Rouja and his brother, Jean-Pierre Rouja, were diving near the shipwreck in 2011 after winter storms swept over the site when they found a bottle of wine inside a secret boatswain's locker in the bow. Subsequent dives turned up the additional bottles, as well as sealed bottles of perfume, women's shoes, hairbrushes and pearl shell buttons, Philippe Rouja said. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, which was fought from 1861 to 1865 and

Summary: Bottle of grey liquid was recovered from a US Civil War shipwreck . Mary-Celestia steamship sank under mysterious circumstances in 1864 . Wine bottle was uncorked at a food festival in Charleston, South Carolina . Sommeliers who sipped the liquid inside said it smelled and tasted like a mix of crab water, gasoline, salt water and vinegar, with hints of citrus .


Adorable footage of a puppy Husky talking back to its owner has appeared online and it’s making quite a stir. The clip features baby Ramsey whining while attempting to speak, much to the delight of Texan owner Kayla Cagnola, who holds the puppy in her arms. Trying to perfect what appears to be either a howl or her skills in conversation, the dog looks down on the room and begins yapping while struggling to break free. Ramsey appears to be attempting to perfect her skills in conversation by howling in a frenetic manner . Reacting to a howl, the puppy continues communicating frenetically before coming face to face with another dog – seemingly as baffled as anyone else as to what Ramsey is trying to say. According to the Huffington Post, the dog was reacting to being told off after eating her roommate’s dog food. There are several theories as to how dog-human communication has evolved over the years. Looking around the room, the puppy begins its high-pitched yapping while struggling to break free . Some believe that communicative skills of dogs arose from the social behaviours of ancestral, group-living wolves. While others believe that domesticated dogs have either evolved to mimic the behaviours of humans or that they have been selectively bred to be tame and collaborative. As for howling, dogs do this for a range of reasons including: locating other pack members, keeping strangers away, or calling the pack for hunting. The dog's owner Kayla Cagnola laughs hysterically while trying to interpret what puppy Ramsey is trying to say . Dog's may also howl when they are suffering from separation anxiety as a way of communicating with owners and other dogs from a distance. Whether these apply to Ramsey – who appears to just like making high-pitched noise – however remains to be seen. So far the original video has been viewed over three million times on YouTube. The original video uploaded to YouTube by the dog's owner has been viewed over three million times .

Summary: Ramsey attempts to have a conversation by howling frenetically . Owner Kayla Cagnola laughs hysterically while cradling the puppy . The dog was reacting to being told off for eating roommate's food . Original video has been viewed over three million times on Youtube .


Most people in Britain now think Scotland will become independent sooner or later despite last year's 'no' vote, a new study has revealed. Some 69 per cent of Scots now believe there will be a split while 59 per cent of those surveyed in England, 54 per cent in Wales and 59 per cent in Northern Ireland think the UK will eventually break up. The University of Edinburgh findings come after Labour leader Ed Miliband moved to rule out going into coalition with the SNP after the election amid growing concern over the prospect of a landslide for Nicola Sturgeon's party at the election in May. Most people in Britain now think Scotland will become independent sooner or later despite last year's 'no' vote in the referendum . The study also found that last year's record turnout for the referendum looks set to boost the number of Scots voting in the general election. Some 76 per cent of Scots said they will vote in May's election, compared to 63 per cent in England, 64 per cent in Wales and 55 per cent in Northern Ireland. The contrast is bigger among young people with 65 per cent of 18 and 19-year-olds in Scotland saying they will vote, compared to just 34 per cent in England. The survey also found that satisfaction with the UK's current constitutional arrangements varies. In England, 43 per cent believe their country receives less government spending than it is due while the figure is 44 per cent in Scotland, 37 per cent in Northern Ireland and 68 per cent in Wales. The researchers found that there is majority agreement that a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union (EU) should be decided by a majority of votes across the UK, instead of individual countries being allowed to veto the result. In Scotland, 45 per cent support a proposal that each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would have to vote in favour of an EU exit for it to happen. In the other countries, support is lower. Some 69 per cent of Scots now believe the UK will split up. The country's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted the country will one day achieve independence . Alex Salmond has described the Prime Minister as a 'silly arrogant man' over his handling of the aftermath of the Scottish independence referendum. The former First Minister has told how he watched David Cameron's television address on the morning of September 19 and realised 'what must now be done'. Extracts of Mr Salmond's book The Dream Shall Never Die, his referendum diary looking back on the campaign for independence. He said he was 'disgusted' with Mr Cameron's decision to link further devolution for Scotland with English votes for English laws in the wake of the No vote on September 18, branding the Prime Minister 'a Tory toff on a day trip' for his interventions in the debate. His attack on Mr Cameron continued today, with his account of how he watched the Prime Minister's speech on television. 'As he struts out

Summary: Seven out of 10 Scots now believe there will be a split sooner or later . 59% in England, 54% in Wales and 59% in Northern Ireland agree . University of Edinburgh findings come after Labour ruled out SNP coalition .


Former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez peers into a monitor as it displays evidence in his murder trial. One day there is a photograph of him smiling next to his fiancee on Father's Day, a few hours before the killing. Another shows Hernandez on video dancing at a gas station minutes before prosecutors say he picked up the victim. Former New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez sits with his defense attorney Charles Rankin during his murder trial at the Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River, Massachusetts . Hernandez is charged with killing semiprofessional football player Odin Lloyd . Hernandez has made hard faces at witnesses as they come of the stand, or even flirted in some cases . And still another shows the bullets that killed Odin Lloyd on June 17, 2013. Hernandez has watched the case against him unfold for more than a month, taking notes but also taking time to banter with his attorneys or make eyes at the high school sweetheart who could be called to testify against him. Hernandez is accused of killing Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee. Lloyd's body was found in an industrial park near Hernandez's home. At the time, Hernandez had a $40 million contract as one of the Patriots' star tight ends. The year before the killing, Hernandez played in the Super Bowl and caught a touchdown pass from Tom Brady. The trial began in January, and now Hernandez spends his days - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. - in a courtroom, with one 15-minute morning break and an hour break for lunch. Hernandez first day of court opened with him giving his attorney a hug and talking high school sports . Hernandez is slighter now than he was June 26, 2013, the day he was arrested in Lloyd's killing. But there are still flashes of the old football star. He often enters the courtroom with a swagger. The first time he was in court after his former team won the Super Bowl last month, he greeted his lawyer with a big hug. He can sometimes be overheard talking high school sports with his lawyer and a court officer. One of Hernandez's lawyers, Michael Fee, would not comment when asked last week how Hernandez is doing. The judge has directed lawyers not to speak to reporters about the case. Hernandez appears to be paying close attention in court, though the judge has told lawyers no to talk to reporters about the trial . For the most part, Hernandez appears to pay close attention to what is happening in the courtroom, even when it is dry and technical. He stands respectfully for the 16 jurors when they enter and leave the courtroom and occasionally passes notes or whispers to his lawyers Charles Rankin, who sits next to him, and Fee and James Sultan, who sit at a table in front of him. He sometimes chuckles at the pointed questions and mannerisms of Sultan, who has aggressively gone after some witnesses in the case. Hernandez can be more interesting

Summary: Hernandez is accused of killing Odin Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez's fiancee . Lloyd's body was found in an industrial park near Hernandez's home . Started trial giving attorney big hug and talking high school sports . Still flirts and giggles whenever his fiancee Shayanna Jenkins visits . Was once under contract for $40 million .


Around 100 solar panels have been stolen during two separate overnight raids on a massive eco-friendly power farm near Derbyshire. The criminals managed to sneak past security guards who carry out 24-hour patrols on the 112-acre site near Sudbury. Police say the gang would have needed at least one vehicle to transport the panels which measure 2ft by 3ft each. Stolen: Thieves stole around 100 solar panels from a massive site at Aston House Farm near Derbyshire . Theft: They stole 11 panels the first night and 84 the next at the 112-acre solar farm being constructed by Solarcentury . Between 6pm on Tuesday, March 3 and 7am the next morning, thieves went into the Aston House Farm fields and stole 14 panels. And another 84 panels were stolen from another site on the same road between 6pm on Friday, February 27 and 11.30am the next morning. Once the stolen panels are replaced and the solar farm being constructed by Solarcentury is switched on, the 20 megawatts of energy it generates will be enough to power 5,500 homes. A spokesman for Derbyshire police said a sit-on roller was stolen from a third site also on Lichfield Road between 6pm on Tuesday, January 13 and 7am the following day. He added: 'We want to hear from anyone who may have seen suspicious vehicles or people in the area around the times of the offences.' Eco-friendly: Once the panels are replaced and the 20 megawatt farm is switched on, it will generate enough electricity to power 5,500 homes . Robbery: Police say the gang would have needed at least one vehicle to transport the panels which measure 2ft by 3ft each .

Summary: There were two separate overnight raids on solar farm near Derbyshire . Security guards carry out 24-hour patrols on the massive 112-acre site . Police say at least one vehicle was needed to transport 100 of the panels . The 20 megawatt plant will power 5,500 homes once panels are replaced .


Britain has undergone a boom in self-employment as mothers seek out more flexible careers (file image) Britain has undergone a boom in self-employment as mothers seek out more flexible careers, the Bank of England claims. Since 2008, the number of self-employed workers has risen by almost 700,000 from 3.8million to 4.5million. One in seven people in employment now work for themselves, compared to one in eight before the recession. The Bank said ‘large numbers’ of people had chosen to go freelance or set up their own business, in recent years, but the rise was particularly noticeable among women. While self-employment among men has remained ‘roughly flat’, more women now work for themselves so they can better juggle childcare, they said. A report by the Bank noted ‘growing self-employment among female workers’, pushing up the overall rate in the U K. ‘Part of this rise could reflect the desire to maintain a work-family balance and flexibility of hours’, they said. The Bank also reported a significant rise in so-called ‘silver entrepreneurs’, as more over 65s remained in the workforce. They said: ‘Older workers are more likely to be self-employed than younger workers. ‘This is perhaps because they have accumulated more knowledge or experience to start businesses. ‘Or it could be because they prefer the greater flexibility that self-employment offers. Growing numbers are now working well into their 70s as Britons live for longer. The number of older workers increased after the default retirement age was abolished in 2011, making it illegal for employers to force staff to retire at 65. The Bank said that around half the increase in self-employment in the last 10 years was associated with ‘the ageing of the workforce’. Improvements in computer technology have made it easier for people to start their own business, the Bank said, with entrepreneurs able to sell their goods online instead of the ‘need for traditional bricks and mortar stores’. Previously, critics have suggested the rise in self-employment was because those who lost their jobs during the economic crisis had been unable to find new ones. But the Bank dismissed this theory and said the increase actually reflected a ‘longer-term trend’ in Britain. It said: ‘While the recession may have pushed some workers into self-employment where they might otherwise have been unemployed, there is little evidence to suggest this was a major factor in the rise of self-employment.’ There was also a rise in the number of over 65s who are still in work, according to the figures (file image) The Trades Union Congress said the most common part-time self-employed jobs for women were hairdressers and cleaners, which are typically low-paid. They claimed that, while many women choose to work part-time, there had been ‘a marked increase in the number of women moving into part-time jobs since the recession because they couldn’t find full-time employment’. Shadow Business Secretary and Labour MP Chuka Umunna also claimed self-employed people had been the hardest hit by the cost-of-living crisis and that incomes had fallen. The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed yesterday disputed this bleak

Summary: One in seven people who are in employment work for themselves . Bank of England said 'large numbers' had set up their own businesses . The rise was particularly noticeable among women to juggle childcare . The Bank also noted a rise in number of over 65 'silver entrepreneurs'


Eden Hazard may be supporting Arsenal's opponents for the rest of the season as the Gunners mount an improbable title bid, but for now the Chelsea winger is on Arsene Wenger's side. Hazard says he is backing Arsenal to beat Monaco on Tuesday night, because them reaching the quarter finals would be good for English football. The Gunners, who go to France attempting to overturn a daunting 3-1 deficit from the first leg, need to score at least three times to progress, after Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco's stoppage-time goal renewed Monaco's two-goal advantage. Eden Hazard has been in superb form for Chelsea this season, but is backing rivals Arsenal in Europe . Hazard is friends with Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco, but favours Arsenal over his compatriot's team . Ferreira-Carrasco fired in a crucial third goal to give Monaco a seemingly decisive advantage in the tie . But Hazard, a friend of the young Belgian forward, is backing the country of his employers rather than his compatriot in Tuesday night's clash. 'I have a friend Ferreira-Carrasco over there [at Monaco] and I wish him the best,' Hazard told Canal Plus. 'But for English football, I hope Arsenal go through.' England are currently second in UEFA's country coefficients, which determines how many clubs qualify for the Champions League, only narrowly ahead of Germany in third. Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had given the Gunners a way back into the tie with his goal . Olivier Giroud beats the ground in frustration, as his poor night leaves Arsenal with it all to do on Tuesday . The Gunners look dejected after Ferreira-Carrasco's late goal, but Hazard believes they can turn it around .

Summary: Eden Hazard says an Arsenal win would be good for English football . Hazard has friends at Monaco, but wants the Gunners to progress . Arsenal trail 3-1 going into Tuesday night's last 16 second leg . Arsene Wenger: Arsenal can defy the odds against Monaco . CLICK HERE for the latest Arsenal news as Monaco crunch clash awaits .


Fired: Sergeant Richard Evans, 46, was sacked today after being accused of having sex with a woman suspect in the cells . A police officer was sacked today after being accused of having sex with a woman suspect in the cells. Sergeant Richard Evans, 46, was dismissed by Gwent Police for 'disgraceful' sexual behaviour towards women in custody - and against his own colleagues in the police force. Evans, an officer with 25 years experience, denied having sex with women suspects and fondling their breasts and was cleared in a subsequent court case. But a police misconduct hearing today heard there were 41 complaints allegations against Sgt Evans - 32 of a sexual nature - and he was dismissed for gross misconduct. Evans was accused of kissing one woman in a police van before later having sex with her in the sluice room at the police station. One woman held in custody told how she was 'flattered' and boasted to her daughter: 'You're not going to believe it, but I s****** a policeman'. A second woman alleged he kissed and fondled her after she was arrested and taken to Ystrad Mynach police station near Caerphilly, South Wales. And a third woman said that while she was getting dressed he pulled a blanket off of her so he could see her breasts. He denied all charges and a jury found him not guilty of two counts of misconduct in public office and three counts of sexual assault. But Evans, of New Inn, near Pontypool, South Wales, faced an internal misconduct hearing by senior officers at Gwent Police who upheld 41 against him involving inappropriate sexual behaviour towards female detainees and colleagues. Deputy Chief Constable Craig Guildford said: 'Richard Evans' attitude and behaviour was disgraceful, he abused his authority when dealing with female colleagues and female detainees. 'He failed to treat them with courtesy and respect, and failed to have regard to the equality and diversity duty in the workplace. 'His immediate dismissal was the only appropriate course of action. 'The police officers, police staff members and members of the public who provided accounts and came to the hearing to give evidence demonstrated admirable courage, dignity and integrity.' During his trial in August last year a mother-of-three told a jury that Evans had a 'five minute fumble' with her after spending a night in cells sleeping off a drinking session. But Evans denied the misconduct on duty after being accused of having sex with her up against a sink in a sluice room in the cell block. The woman told the court: 'I just let it happen, I wanted it to happen. It was flattering - you've got a man in uniform and he fancies you. 'I felt a bit cocky - not everyone can say they've had an affair with a policeman.' The woman was taken to Ystrad Mynach police station in Caerphilly, South Wales when she was 'worse for drink'. Allegations: One of the complainants woman alleged he kissed and fondled her after she was arrested and taken to Ystrad Mynach police

Summary: Sergeant Richard Evans, 46, accused of having sex with woman in cell . Woman had said to daughter: 'You won't believe this. I s****** a policeman' Evans also accused of kissing, fondling and ogling suspects at work . South Wales Police sacked him after getting 41 complaints about him .


Former baseball star Jose Canseco's model daughter got busted for a DUI in the heart of Hollywood early Monday morning. Eighteen-year-old Josie Canseco was pulled over about 1am after police officers saw her hit a curb with her car. She had to do a series of sobriety tests, which she failed, and was subsequently arrested, police said. Jose Canseco's 18-year-old model daughter Josie Canseco was busted for a DUI on Monday after police in Hollywood saw her hit a curb. A source said police believe Josie may have been under the influence of drugs . Josie Canseco was told to do several sobriety tests after being pulled over. After failing, she was arrested . Josie (pictured left in 2013 and right as a child with her father Jose) was booked by police at 6.15am. She was held on a $15,000 bail . Police don't believe, however, that Canseco was under the influence of alcohol, but believe she could have been under the influence of drugs, sources told TMZ. She was booked at about 6.15am and was held on a $15,000 bail. Josie's father Jose had his own run-in with drugs when he was accused of using steroids when the slugger played Major League Baseball. He admitted to using steroids and in a 2005 book he opened up about the widespread use of the drug in the MLB. Jose Canseco (pictured left in 2014 and right in 1989) admitted to using steroids when he played Major League Baseball. He claimed in a 2005 book that steroids are more widely used in the MLB than it's known .

Summary: Josie Canseco was pulled over at about 1am Monday in Hollywood . After failing a series of sobriety tests she was arrested . Sources say she may have been under the influence of drugs, not alcohol . Her father, Jose Canseco was busted for using steroids while in the MLB .


Charles Greene, 52, was charged with aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping . Ohio police have arrested a man they suspect killed an elderly woman he sometimes worked for by stuffing her into a wishing well and leaving her to die. Charles Greene was arrested by police in Columbus on Saturday and charged with killing Alyce Seff, 81, at a rental property she owned in German Village in July of 2008. Greene, 52, was charged in Franklin County Common Pleas Court with aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping. One of Seff's neighbors found the landlady stuffed upside-down into the wooden well on the unoccupied property. The decomposition of the body indicated Seff slowly asphyxiated over the course of three or four days. There was blood splattered on a wall near the well, according to 10 TV. A search of the area did not turn up anything that could have been used as a weapon. Police think money was the motive for the murder as Seff was known to carry around a lot of cash. Alyce Seff, 81, was found in a wishing well at a rental property she owned in Columbus, Ohio, in July of 2008 . A neighbor found Seff's body stuffed into the wooden well and there was blood splattered on a wall nearby . Greene became a suspect after Seff's credit cards were found in his possession and her 1993 Ford Escort was discovered near his home after her death, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Columbus Sgt. Christ Holzhauser called it a 'sick death'. He said: 'She basically was left in a decorative well in the backyard and left there to die, and we have no idea how long.' 'She suffered.' Four detectives worked on the case, although two of them are now retired. Greene has a criminal record which dates back to 1981 and includes charges of burglary, theft and drugs, NBC4i reported.

Summary: Charles Greene was arrested by police in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday . Suspected of killing landlady Alyce Seff at one of her properties in 2008 . Charged with aggravated murder, aggravated robbery and kidnapping . Police think Seff slowly asphyxiated over the course of three or four days .


The last salmon fisherman on the River Severn is embroiled in a legal battle with the Environment Agency - after catching just a single fish too many. Nigel Mott, 71, has been catching salmon in traditional basket traps since the 1970s and once netted up to 600 fish a year worth £100 each. But his livelihood was thrown into doubt in 2012 when the Environment Agency ruled that no individual fisherman could land more than 30 in a season. Nigel Mott is the last remaining commercial salmon fisherman on the River Severn and claims it is impossible for him to make a living if he is restricted to catching just 30 fish in a season . The River Severn. Nigel's home in Stroat, Gloucestershire, is around six miles from the town of Lydney, off which he fishes. The 71-year-old used to catch up to 600 salmon a year worth £100 each . Defiant Nigel continued to use his putcher rank - an array of 650 basket-like traps - and hit the quota in just 26 days. As a protest he presented his 31st fish to the local Environment Agency office - and was duly prosecuted. He won his case but the agency has now announced plans to appeal the decision. Nigel said: 'When I caught the 30th fish, I rang them up and told them I was going to fish in excess of the 30 - I even brought them my 31st fish. 'They seized my fish and warned me of a prosecution - which is exactly what I wanted because I was very anxious to get my evidence before a court.' The Environment Agency introduced the new quotas amid fears that the salmon population in the Severn was dangerously low. Nigel, of Stroat, Gloucestershire, has won his case, but must face another hearing in the Court of Appeal . After catching his 31st fish Nigel was prosecuted for breaching his licence and the case was heard at the High Court in London in February. Nigel, of Stroat, Gloucestershire, argued that the unreasonably low quota threatened his livelihood and would put him out of business. He claims his form of fishing has minimal impact on salmon in the Severn, as his putchers stretch out just a couple of hundred metres from the riverbank. That leaves a mile of open water for the fish to swim past his cages, he argued, allowing plenty of space. Despite winning the case his legal battle still shows no signs of ending as the Environment Agency has vowed to take it to the Court of Appeal. A spokesman said: 'Although the judge has at this stage ruled in Mr Mott's favour, we will be seeking leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal. 'All of these sites are designated to protect salmon, and these populations are currently under threat. 'We impose restrictions on salmon fishing for all fisheries in these areas because of the need to protect the designated habitats and fisheries.'

Summary: Nigel Mott has been fishing with traditional basket traps since the 1970s . Livelihood was thrown into doubt by 2012 Environment Agency diktat . 71-year-old argued he could not get by catching just 30 salmon a season . Challenged the ruling by presenting 31st fish to EA and was prosecuted . High Court ruled in his favour but case will now go to Court of Appeal . Nigel, of Stroat, Gloucestershire, argues his 'putcher' traps have minimal impact on salmon levels in the Severn as fish can easily swim past them .


Teachers should be allowed to show Prophet Mohammed cartoons in school as part of a national curriculum on the Europe massacres caused by the images, Danish politicians have said. In January, 12 people at the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo which reprinted Danish cartoons, and later created some of their own, were shot dead in a jihadist attack on their Paris offices. And the Danish newspaper which originally printed 12 satirical cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in 2005 sparked protests in parts of the Islamic world. The paper received death threats. In January, Cherif and Said Kouachi (pictured) shot 12 people dead in a jihadist attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in revenge for the paper printing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed . Solidarity: Just days after the attacks, an estimated 3.7million people took to the streets of Paris in a defiant show of support for Charlie Hebdo staff . Mai Mercado, a Conservative People's Party spokeswoman, wrote in the daily Jyllands-Posten: 'The cartoon crisis, the Charlie Hebdo killings and the latest terrorist attack in Copenhagen on February 14 are such an important part of history they should have a permanent place on the school curriculum.' However, she stressed that teachers would be free to choose whether or not to show the cartoons themselves, as long as the topic was discussed. 'Politically we don't regulate the details of what students are taught, that's an old tradition to make sure that Danish schools are kept free from political interference.' But she added that if teachers refused to show the cartoons she was 'convinced the students would go home and run a Google search because students are curious'. The Conservatives were shown as having 5.3per cent of voter support in a poll this week, meaning it would be the second smallest party in parliament if elections were held today. But the anti-immigrant Danish People's Party (DPP), which was ranked third with 19.6per cent support by the same poll, went even further, saying that showing the cartoons should be mandatory in schools. The Danish embassy in Damascus, Syria, is set alight after hundreds protest the cartoons printed in a Danish newspaper in 2005 . In 2005 a Danish newspaper's cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed triggered protests across the globe. Pictured are Iranian protesters burning a Danish flag . British Muslims protest outside the Danish embassy in Knightsbridge, London, in February 2006 during the controversy caused by the newspaper's cartoons . 'If you live in Denmark you should also be able to tolerate seeing the drawings,' party spokesman Alex Ahrendtsen told the daily Berlingske. However, the head of Denmark's teachers' union, Anders Bondo Christensen, said that he believed it should be up to each teacher to decide whether and how to talk about the controversial drawings. An appropriate way to discuss them could be to 'perhaps invite some Muslim children's parents to explain why it provokes' them, he told news agency Ritzau.

Summary: Danish politicians call for Charlie Hebdo attacks to be taught in schools . Teachers 'should be allowed to show students the cartoons if they wish' Crisis caused by the cartoons 'should be on the school curriculum' In 2005, cartoons in a Danish newspaper also sparked widespread protests . Conservative parties say the controversies are an important part of history .


Former Australian netball captain Liz Ellis has championed a controversial netball ad after critics claim it draws uncomfortable parallels to a domestic violence ad. The Fox Sports ad, which is promoting the upcoming ANZ Netball Championships, depicts Diamonds star Sharni Layton with a badly blackened eye. An injury Ms Ellis claims she earned 'giving her all' in training earlier that week. ‘I love the ad,’ Ms Ellis told Daily Mail Australia. Scroll down for video . Standing tall: Sharni Layton didn't want to use make up to cover the black eye she sustained in a training session . Liz Ellis penned a though provoking article hitting back at critics of the ad saying it shows what netballers are capable of . ‘It’s great because it shows what netballers are capable of and it doesn’t shy away from the fact that they are physical,’ she added. Ms Ellis penned a column for The Age defending the controversial ad after critics claimed Ms Layton’s bruised and bloodshot left eye was distasteful. She hit back saying more people need to recognise that these highly trained athletes are not only capable of putting their body on the line, but they love it. ‘I think people don’t want to emphasise the fact that it is a physical game and women can go hard.’ Australian TV journalist Sam Squires claims the ad could have conveyed the message that womens sport is tough without such a 'confronting image.’ Sam Squires likened the sports injury to one sustained at the hands of an abuser . Liz Ellis is adamant that women play with a level of physicality that can sometimes lead to injuries . ‘It screams violence not toughness,’ she said in an article on her website. Respectfully disagreeing, Ms Ellis said it would be a mistake to see elite female athletes, playing with the ferocity that men would, and assume it's an act of violence. 'The game isn’t violent, the players don’t go out there to inflict pain, there is no malice. Netball is a tough game and that’s what it portrays.' 'I don’t think this conversation would have happened if it were a blokes sport,' she added. Twitter users expressed their support by backing Ms Ellis' claims that women and girls can be tough on court. Star player Sharni Layton sustained the controversial eye injury in a training session and was offered to cover it up with make up before shooting the ad. She declined as she saw no reason to cover up the realities of the game. Ms Ellis says people don't want to emphasise the level of physicality involved in netball . Ms Ellis said she was elated to see a role model for young girls who can say 'look at what I can do, not at how I look'. 'This is so vital because of the way society is. Little girls from a young age are reinforced that it’s all about how you look,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'What sport does is that it flips it from what your body looks like to what

Summary: Ad for ANZ Netball Championship shows star Sharni Layton with black eye . Ms Layton sustained the injury playing netball and didn't want to cover it . Critics likened the ad to domestic violence campaigns . Netball-great Liz Ellis hit back saying it shows the reality of the game . 'Netball is a tough game and that’s what it portrays,' says Ms Ellis .


Gerard Pique launched his new mobile football game on Friday but the Barcelona defender looks may need a bit more practice after struggling to find the target during a short demonstration. The app, called Final Kick, is a penalty shootout simulation game and the former Manchester United player attended the Mobile World Congress in Spain to show off his latest off-pitch venture. The 28-year-old Spain international was invited on to the stage during the event in Barcelona to discuss the game and even showed the audience how it's done. Or not in this case. Gerard Pique attended the launch of his new mobile football game Final Kick on Friday . Pique got up on stage to give the audience a demonstration of the penalty shootout simulation . The Barcelona defender addresses the audience during the launch at the Mobile World Congress . Pique take a penalty with Barcelona team-mate Neymar Jnr during the demonstration . Pique hit the cross bar with another attempt as he showed the audience how to play . The Spain international signs a Barcelona shirt to give away as a prize . Pique, playing the game as Barcelona team-mate Neymar, blazed his first attempt high and wide of the target but managed to see the funny side as he hung his head in shame. His got closer with his next attempt as the ball cannoned off the crossbar as he failed to find the net for a second time. After his short demonstration presentation, Pique handed out prizes to participants after they took part in an organised Final Kick tournament. The game has proved hugely popular among football fans and has already been downloaded a staggering eight million times.

Summary: Gerard Pique launched his new mobile football game on Friday . The app Final Kick is a penalty shootout simulation game . Pique got up on stage at the launch to give a quick demonstration . The defender could use a bit more practice after failing to score . The game has already been downloaded eight million times .


America has long been known for its cultural diversity but the rise of the Hispanic population is unlike any other minority group in the country's history. By mid-century, up to one in four Americans will be of Hispanic descent and the white majority will give way to a so-called 'minority majority.' The US Census Bureau defines Hispanic or Latino to refer to 'a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American (except for Brazil), or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.' The Economist reports that more lenient immigration laws in the 1960s took the Hispanic population from just 7m in 1970 to 57m today, a number which is predicted to double by 2050. Rise of Hispanic America: Hispanics are becoming the nation's largest minority but inequalities between whites and Hispanics still exist . The Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965 abolished the quota system based on national origin. National quotas limited the number of people who were allowed immigrate from other countries. Thanks to the Civil Rights Movement, the immigration policy shifted and became focused on reuniting immigrant families and attracting new labor to the United States. For nearly two centuries and up until the time Ronald Reagan was president, white European immigrants made up to 80 per cent of the US population. Now less than two thirds of the population are white and whites will be a minority by 2044, says Census Bureau. Since 2000, the population of the United States has grown by slightly over 40 million people. Thirty five million , or 90 percent, of that growth is from minorities - Hispanics, Asian Americans and African Americans, says a report published byBusiness Wire. The U.S. Hispanic population jumped to 58.2 million in 2015, an increase of 2 million during the past year, says the same report. The growth of the Hispanic population is due to both convenient geography and rising birth rates, says The Economist. The United States is close in proximity to Hispanics' several countries of origin which makes immigration and communicating with families back home much easier. Increase in numbers: More lenient immigration laws in the 1960s took the Hispanic population from just 7m in 1970 to 57m today, a number which is predicted to double by 2050 . Rapid growth: Close geography of Latin countries to the United States and growing birth rates among Hispanics in America is causing rapid population growth compared to other minorities . Currently, 85percent of Hispanics are legal residents and Latino growth is not so much from immigration anymore as it is from births in the United States. According to a study published by Pew Research on March 9, births within the Hispanic community drives 78 per cent of population growth in the United States. Despite Hispanic growth, many inequalities still exist between whites and minority groups. Currently American Hispanics earn less money, on average, than white Americans. The median income of Hispanic homes at $36,949 and the medium income of white households at a much larger $75,448. With almost 1million US-born Latinos reaching voting age annually,

Summary: More lenient immigration laws in the 1960s took the Hispanic population from just 7m in 1970 to 57m today . The number of Hispanics today is predicted to double by 2050 . European whites once made up 80 per cent of the American population but will be a minority by 2044 . Geographic closeness of Hispanic countries to the U.S. along with rising birth rates among Hispanics within the country account for the growth .


The world's oldest mummies buried more than 7,000 years ago in the arid desert of northern Chile are being turned into black slime by climate change. Scientists have found that growing humidity can cause an explosion of bacteria living on the preserved skin of the Chinchorro mummies. The bacteria then feeds on the ancient skin, causing it to break down into a black slime. The preserved skin on the outside of Chinchorro mummies in Arica, northern Chile, have begun to rapidly degrade as bacteria and humid air is turning it into black slime, as can be seen in the photograph above . Researchers say that rising humidity levels in Arica, Chile, is putting the 120 Chinchorro mummies at the University of Tarapacá's archaeological museum at risk. However, they warn that hundreds of other mummies buried just beneath the sandy surface in the valleys throughout the region are also under threat. While some of the earliest mummies found in the Atacama desert appear to have been the result of natural preservation in the extremely dry conditions, around 5,000 BC, the Chinchorro people began deliberately preserving their dead. Although the practice began 2,000 years before the Ancient Egptians began mummifying their own dead, the techniques used by the Chinchorro were often surprisingly sophisticated. They would often take the most care when preserving the remains of dead children and babies - suggesting the act had a deep significance with linking the living to the dead. First the Chinchorro would extract the brains and organs before then reconstructing the body with fibres. They would fill the empty skull with straw or ash. Reeds were then used to sew it back together and connect the jaw to the cranium. A stick was used to keep the spine straight and the skin was patched back together before being covered with a paste made from manganese, red ocher or mud. Professor Marcela Sepulveda, an archaeologist at the University of Tarapacá, said: 'In the last 10 years, the process has accelerated. 'It is very important to get more information about what’s causing this and to get the university and national government to do what’s necessary to preserve the Chinchorro mummies for the future.' The Chinchorro mummies are in some cases nearly 4,000 years older than those found preserved from ancient Egypt. The oldest mummy discovered in the Atacama desert dates to 7020BC while the oldest in Egypt dates to 3,000BC. However, the practice of preserving the dead with mummification became popular among the Chinchoro around 5,000 BC, with children and babies often being the most elaborately preserved. The Chinchorro were a prehistoric people who lived in scattered communities and used fishing to help them survive on the desert coast of Chile and Peru. It is thought they began preserving their dead though mummification as part of a religious act designed to bridge the world between the living and the dead. An estimated 282 mummies have now been recovered from the dry, sandy soil in the region, but scientists say there could be hundreds more buried there. Preserved corpses are often

Summary: Hundreds of mummies preserved and buried by ancient Chinchorro people have been found in the arid sand of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile . In the past ten years black wet patches have appeared on some mummies . Scientists found bacteria on preserved skin is breaking the mummies down . Rising humidity levels in the region have 'supercharged' the skin bacteria . They are then causing the preserved skin to break down into black slime . Scientists now hope to protect the mummies from suffering further damage .


Brandon Marshall is to be traded for the third time in his NFL career and will join the New York Jets after three years with the Chicago Bears. The prodigiously talented wide receiver turns 31 this month, but the move had been widely touted. Deemed an outspoken maverick by many at Soldier Field, he raised eyebrows with a post-game locker room rant after defeat to the Miami Dolphins in October. His appearances as an analyst on 'Inside the NFL' weekly were also said to be a distraction. Brandon Marshall will head to New York on Tuesday for a medical ahead of his move to the Jets . The mercurial Marshall is yet to play in the play-offs . New head coach John Fox and offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase appeared lukewarm about Marshall at best. 'We’re trying to evaluate where everybody fits and how we best use them and, again, trying to put the best football team on the field. He’s part of that process,' Fox told the Chicago Tribune last month. Marshall was close to Jay Cutler - following him to Chicago from Denver via Miami - but raw quarterback Geno Smith could test his short fuse. ESPN broke news of the trade, which will also see the Jets give the Bears a fifth round draft pick. Marshall signed a four-year deal in Chicago last May, and had seven consecutive 1,000 yard seasons before falling short last year - largely due to missing the final three games with a shoulder complaint. Despite the numbers, Marshall is yet to appear in a play-off game. Perhaps that will change in New York. New head coach Todd Bowles was with Marshall during his two-year stint in Miami and will have been influential in the trade. The move will likely mean the end of Percy Harvin's short stint with the Gang Green, with Marshall to pair up with Eric Decker. Marshall was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 draft by the Broncos and is a mental health spokesman, spreading awareness of his battle with Borderline Personality Disorder.

Summary: Marshall turns 31 this month and joins his fourth NFL franchise . The talented wide receiver is an outspoken figure in the locker room . The trade likely spells the end for Percy Harvin's short stint with the Jets .


You begin to believe Tim Sherwood after a night like this. Aston Villa’s first win since December 7 came in the 94th minute through their first penalty award of the season. It was late, it was a little lucky, but it was deserved. A roar rose out of Villa Park louder than any heard in a long while. Sherwood, hugged and lifted by goalkeeping coach Tony Parks, looked like he was emitting the most decibels. In the instant Christian Benteke rolled the ball beyond Ben Foster from 12 yards the mood in this stadium lifted. Christian Benteke sends the goalkeeper the wrong way to score a dramatic late penalty and seal the win for Aston Villa . Benteke celebrates his goal with Aston Villa team-mates Jack Grealish and Andreas Weimann . Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood celebrates the winning goal that gave him his first win in charge at the club . Gabby Agbonlahor threads the ball through Ben Foster's legs to open the scoring for Aston Villa in the first half . Agbonlahor salutes the crowd in celebration after opening the scoring at Villa Park . Brad Guzan looks on in horror as Saido Berahino nods home from close range after a knock-down from Joleon Lescott . West Brom's top scorer for the season Berahino wheels away in celebration after equalising for the visitors . Alan Hutton was lucky not to be sent off after this dangerous high tackle on Berahino - both players were booked for the melee . Aston Villa (4-3-1-2): Guzan 6; Hutton 6.5, Okore 7, Clark 6.5, Lowton 6; Cleverley 6.5 (Bacuna 77), Westwood 6.5, Delph 7.5; N’Zogbia 7 (Grealish 59 6); Benteke 7.5, Agbonlahor 8 (Weimann 82). Subs not used: Given, Sinclair, Sanchez, Gil. Goals: Agbonlahor, Benteke. Booked: Clark, Hutton. West Brom (4-4-2): Foster 4.5; Dawson 6, McAuley 6, Lescott 6.5, Brunt 6.5; Morrison 6, Yacob 6, Fletcher 7, Gardner 6; Berahino 6.5, Ideye 5. Subs not used: Myhill, Wisdom, Olsson, Baird, Pocognoli, Mulumbu Sessegnon. Goals: Berahino. Booked: Yacob, Lescott, Berahino, Gardner. Referee: Jon Moss. MoM: Agbonlahor. Att: 31272. CLICK HERE to see Sportsmail's MATCH ZONE feature for goals (like Agbonlahor's - above), heat maps, statistics and more. Seven consecutive defeats punctuated by one mighty win. How momentous it proves remains to be seen, the battle will present many turns, but this felt seismic. Sherwood owes a large dose of gratitude to Foster, mind you. In the third minute of added time the West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper launched into a calamitous dive after fumbling a bouncing ball, bringing down Matt Lowton in the process. Referee Jonathan Moss pointed to the penalty spot. Benteke was the calmest man in the ground, placing the ball the other side of Foster. No longer do Villa hold the unwanted tag of only side in England’s top four divisions without a league win in 2015. It was earned based on a display of vigour, purpose and creativity. Gabby Agbonlahor, scorer of Villa’s first, played his best game in recent memory. Albion boss Tony Pulis conceded Foster had a ‘poor night’ but

Summary: Gabby Agbonlahor scored his first goal for Aston Villa since November last year . Agbonlahor almost fired a second soon after but Joleon Lescott cleared off the line . Saido Berahino equalised for West Brom after nodding home Lescott's knock-down . Christian Benteke scored a penalty in added time to give Tim Sherwood his first victory as Aston Villa manager .


There may still be 10 games and more than two months to go until the curtain falls on this season's Barclays Premier League action. But, somewhat farcically, voting for the Players' Player of the Year award, has already begun. Luis Suarez, who scored 31 league goals for Liverpool last term before his £75million summer move to Barcelona, currently holds the title. Sportsmail's team of top writers give their verdict on which player they would want to follow in the Uruguay international's footsteps if they were asked to cast their vote today. IAN LADYMAN . Nemanja Matic . Jose Mourinho’s current Chelsea team is perhaps the most physically imposing he has ever assembled and Matic stands out as a giant among men. A superb reader of the game, Matic can pass the ball well, too. He would get in just about every team in Europe and that says it all. Nemanja Matic, in action for Chelsea against PSG earlier this week, has starred for the Blues this season . MATT BARLOW . Harry Kane . Chelsea have been the best team with immense consistency from Nemanja Matic and Eden Hazard. But no-one has made a greater individual impact than Harry Kane. He’s transformed the mood at White Hart Lane with his energy and desire, deflected attention from the big-money flops and offered hope for the future as a flag-bearer for the youth system. Not to mention 26 goals, and an anticipated England call-up. He must finish the season and kick on, but Kane seems capable of that. Each time he seems about to fade, he hits back. Harry Kane celebrates with his second successive Barclays Player of the Month award on Friday . Kane, pictured celebrating against Queens Park Rangers, has scored 26 times for Tottenham this season . LEE CLAYTON . Who deserves to be voted Player of the Year today? Here’s my answer to the question: No-one. It’s too early. It’s a nonsense that the players have to vote so soon and shows why the Footballer of the Year award, voted by members of the Football Writers’ Association, has more credibility. I'll save my vote until then, thank you. But among the contenders: John Terry, Harry Kane, Philippe Coutinho, Alexis Sanchez, Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Danny Ings, David de Gea and Charlie Austin. Voting now is like deciding a Wimbledon champion before the quarter-finals are played. I want to see how they fare at the business end of the season. Alexis Sanchez has impressed for Arsenal following his summer switch from Barcelona . MIKE KEEGAN . Eden Hazard . It's close between Hazard and Sergio Aguero but the brilliant Belgian shades it thanks to his remarkable injury-free record. Already this season Hazard has pulled on a Chelsea shirt 41 times and has again been superb. Aguero's susceptibility to various issues stops him from becoming Manchester City's first winner of the award. Eden Hazard has played 41 matches for Chelsea this season but has been one of the league's best players . NEIL ASHTON . Harry Kane . He deserves it for

Summary: Voting for the Players' Player of the Year award has already begun . Liverpool striker Luis Suarez won the gong last year after 31 league goals . Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic, Alexis Sanchez, and Harry Kane are among the stand-out performers this season . But who would our top team of writers go for if they had to vote today?


Movie theaters in Idaho have reportedly been banned from serving alcohol during showings of the erotic R-rated blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey. According to the Idaho Statesman, state law prohibits the sale of booze when it comes to 'sexually explicit films.' Apparently at least two theaters have been ordered to comply with the restrictions - leaving many moviegoers up in arms. Movie theaters in Idaho have reportedly been banned from serving alcohol during showings of the erotic R-rated blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey (stock image above) Indeed, Michele Williams, 50, of Eagle told the newspaper: 'I just found it odd that this movie was singled out. 'I just thought, "What year am I living in here? Women can't control themselves when they drink during this movie?" I don't know what the message was.' Meanwhile, Michael Deeds who reported the ban for the Idaho Statesman, said it's just another example of 'nonsensical' regulation. 'Here's an equally polite if totally exasperated message right back at state lawmakers: Idaho's prudish, remarkably bad alcohol statute needs to be tied up, blindfolded and dominated by someone with a brain,' he wrote. Explicit content: According to the Idaho Statesman , state law prohibits the sale of booze when it comes to 'sexually explicit films' Dave Corkill, a theater owner in Idaho, agrees that the law is flawed. He noted that some PG-13 films seemingly violate the statute as it calls out actions such as 'hugging' and 'caressing another person in the wrong manner.' Corkill hopes by highlighting the issue lawmakers will change the Idaho Code 23-614. He adds that for many customers sitting down in front of a movie with a bottle of wine is 'part of the experience.'

Summary: State law prohibits booze when it comes to 'sexually explicit films' Apparently at least two theaters have been ordered to comply with the restrictions - leaving many moviegoers up in arms . Dave Corkill, a theater owner in Idaho, agrees the law is flawed . He says for many customers sitting down in front of a movie with a bottle of wine is 'part of the experience'


Aviation experts today reassured travellers that the A320 is still one of the safest planes in the world despite a crash in the French Alps which claimed 150 lives. As emergency crews worked to retrieve wreckage from the site near Digne-les-Bains, in France, theories continued to circulate about what caused Germanwings Flight 4U 9525 to fall from the skies. There has been some speculation about the track record of the model which experts were quick to quash. Paul Hayes, safety director at aviation consultancy Ascend, said: 'The A320 family has a very good safety record considering that there is a fleet of 6,000 aircraft out there.' Scroll down for video . The safety of the Airbus A320 is being looked at following the Germanwings crash in France (file photo) Safety experts said it was too early to speculate on the case of the crash, but noted that accidents during the cruise phase of the flight are rare, even though this comes less than three months after the AirAsia disaster. 'We have had a couple of events recently but in general jetliners don't crash during the cruise,' said Hayes. Patrick Smith, an airline pilot and author of best-selling book Cockpit Confidential, allayed any fears the accident was purely down to the aircraft model. 'The A320 is a very sophisticated and popular model,' Smith told MailOnline Travel. 'I am not seeing anything in this accident that encourages me to think it is specific to that model. All Airbus models are designed similarly, and the A320 is the blueprint for other variations such as the A319 and the A321. 'I don't like the idea of blaming these accidents on specific models; this question is asked all the time, and all it does it leads to aircraft being compared with other aircraft. 'Crashes are so rare, and so comparing them considering the type of model is statistically hair-splitting. 'What you will also see is there is lots of discussion, and sadly lots of misunderstanding concerning how computers and how pilots 'fly' the plane. 'Usually in these cases, there isn't a single case, and it is a chain of events that can lead to something like this happening.' Wreckage and debris lie on the mountain slopes after the crash of the Germanwings Airbus A320 . According to separate surveys published last year by manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, only 10 to 12 per cent of fatal accidents take place when the aircraft is at cruise height. The A320 is described as a 'workhorse' of the aerospace industry, transporting more than a million people a day from business travellers to backpackers. The 150-seat medium-haul jet is one of the world's most intensively used, together with its main rival, the Boeing 737. The Germanwings aircraft that crashed in the French Alps yesterday, killing all 150 people on board, was also flying on the industry's most widely-sold engines, made by French-US venture CFM. More than 3,600 of the jets are in operation and another 3,700 are waiting to be built as Asia's economic expansion fuels record demand. Put together with the

Summary: The Airbus A320 is one of world's most intensively used aircraft . More than 3,600 are in operation and another 3,700 are waiting to be built . Germanwings jet that crashed into French Alps was 24 years old . Airline pilot tells MailOnline that nothing about the disaster leads him to believe it was down to type of plane .


Controversial radio presenter John Laws has revealed he was abused by a paedophile in a public toilet when he was a child. Laws, who recently came under fire for his tough on-air interview with a sex abuse victim, reducing the caller to tears, has admitted he was attacked in a public toilet in Sydney when he was 10 or 11 years old. 'I was a child. It was in a public lavatory at Mosman Oval. I didn’t know the person. I was disturbed. I took off. I ran,' he told The Australian. 'I made it very clear that I didn’t appreciate it. I would have shouted and yelled.' Scroll down for video . Radio broadcaster John Laws has defended his 10-minute on-air phone conversation with a listener named Brian . The revelation came just over a week after he reduced an elderly man, known only as Brian, to tears when the caller told the broadcaster he was abused as a child in the 1940s. Laws criticised Brian for not fighting the attacker off and called him a 'wet blanket'. But the radio veteran has defended his comments and said he did not think he had treated Brian insensitively. The interview earlier this month stirred an outrage among listeners, with some calling for his resignation over the comments. But Laws rebuked claims he had no sympathy for those who had been abused and said his reaction to Brian's story stemmed from how he had handled his own experience. Brian called Laws during his morning radio show on 2SM earlier this month and told him about his sexual abuse . He said his attacker was someone he did not know and he was left disturbed by the abuse, adding he would have made it 'very clear' he did not appreciate it by shouting and yelling. The broadcaster said his advice to Brian would have been how he would have reacted in the same situation, describing it as 'tough love'. When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Laws did not wish to comment further on the matter. The shock jock called the elderly man a 'wet blanket' and suggested he should 'go to the pub and have a lemonade' In a 10-minute call, Brian told Laws about how he had been sexually abused on several occasions from the age of 11 to 14 live on Sydney radio station 2SM. Laws quipped and chuckled it 'took a little while for you to get around to talk about it'. Brian then told Laws he had in fact reported two instances to the police but he was told to 'go away and forget about it. No one would do anything about it'. It was at this stage, Laws added insult to injury as he told Brian that he should have fought the man off, as he himself had done when men had 'had a go' at him when he was younger. 'Did you scream in fright? Did you yell out 'stop that you bastard'? Did you lash out with your fists? Did you hit him?' Laws asked. The call

Summary: Radio broadcaster John Laws has revealed he was abused in a public toilet . Laws said the alleged incident happened at Mosman Oval in Sydney's north . It occurred when the 2SM morning show host was 11 or 12 years old . This revelation comes after Laws told a sexual abuse victim to harden up . He told the elderly man named Brian to stop being a 'wet blanket' on-air .


Primary school students in Victoria have been punished for using the bathroom during lesson time, leading children to wet themselves in class. Parents have expressed their outrage after learning that students at Bellbridge Primary School in Hoppers Crossing, south-west Melbourne, were fined and kept in during lunch and recess if they went to the toilet during class time. Danielle Henderson, whose 11-year-old daughter Lauren was fined $50 in play money for using the bathroom, said the issue was reported to the school council more than a week ago. Danielle Henderson's (right) 11-year-old daughter Lauren (left) was fined $50 for using the bathroom . Students at Bellbridge Primary School in Hoppers Crossing, south-west Melbourne, have been punished for using the bathroom during lesson time . 'I found out about it a couple of weeks ago via a Bellbridge parents Facebook site,' Ms Henderson told Daily Mail Australia. 'There were a huge number of parents in uproar. 'The school has been fully aware of this for quite some time now.' Ms Henderson said children had been wetting themselves in class and had to be sent home for changes of clothes, while others had to record their bathroom breaks on class whiteboards. 'When kids are that age they like to do the right thing, so if a teacher says they can't go they're going to hold and hold and hold,' she said. 'I haven't had to worry about [my daughter] having an accident, she's 11, but my worry is she's going to end up with a urinary tract infection or something along those lines. 'She has to write up the time she went to toilet and what time she came in, so her name goes up on whiteboard for 29 other children to see. Parents have expressed their outrage after learning that students were fined and kept in during recess if they went to the toilet during class . 'Each child's toileting record is up for public display - I'd love to see how an adult would react to that in the workplace.' Ms Henderson said a parent who was also a school council member agreed to raise the issue at a meeting more than a week ago, but says it was 'brushed off'. 'A number of parents went to individual classroom teachers who again have brushed it off,' she said. 'If there is a child using a toilet break as an excuse to get out of work deal with that particular child rather than punish the whole school.' Bellbridge Primary School principal Debbie Clancy said she became aware of the practice on Monday and has now stopped it. 'Of course, our students are free to go to the toilet whenever they need — and we would never stop a child from going to the toilet during class time, or penalise them for doing so,' Ms Clancy told the Herald Sun. 'A small number of classes have deducted points earned in the 'earn and learn' system as a way to discourage children from using the toilet during class time. 'As this does not fit in

Summary: Primary school students punished for using bathroom during lesson time . At Bellbridge Primary School in Hoppers Crossing, south-west Melbourne . Parents say children have been wetting themselves in class . Bellbridge principal says the practice has now been stopped at the school .


A man accused of plotting to attack the U.S. Capitol called a television station from jail and said if he hadn't been arrested he would have gone to Washington and shot President Barack Obama in the head. WXIX-TV in Cincinnati said Christopher Lee Cornell, 20, called the station from the Kentucky jail where he's being held, confessed to being a supporter of the Islamic State group and said he planned to kill government officials in retaliation for U.S. strikes on the militant organization. The station aired part of the interview on Friday night, hours after Cornell's attorney argued unsuccessfully in court that it could violate the defendant's right to a fair trial. Scroll down for video . Christopher Lee Cornell allegedly plotted to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington and kill government officials inside it and spoke of his desire to support the Islamic State militant group . Cornell, asked by the interviewer what he would have done had he not been arrested in January, said he would have taken one of his guns, 'I would have put it to Obama's head, I would have pulled the trigger, then I would unleash more bullets on the Senate and House of Representative members, and I would have attacked the Israeli embassy and various other buildings.' Cornell, who repeatedly identified himself as Muslim, said he wanted to carry out the attack because of 'the continued American aggression against our people and the fact that America, specifically President Obama, wants to wage war against Islamic State.' He said: 'They might say I'm a terrorist, but you know we see American troops as terrorists as well, coming to our land, stealing our resources and killing our people, raping our women.' Cornell, also known as Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah, grew up in the Cincinnati suburbs and still lived with his parents. He said support of the Islamic State group is widespread. 'We're here in Ohio. We're in every state,' he said. 'We're more organized than you think.' WXIX-TV in Cincinnati said Christopher Lee Cornell, 20, called the station from the Kentucky jail where he's being held, confessed to being a supporter of the Islamic State group and said he planned to kill government officials in retaliation for U.S. strikes on the militant organization . He said that if he hadn't been caught, he would have attacked, President Barack Obama, the Senate, the House of Representatives and many other places in the nation's capital . Cornell, who repeatedly identified himself as Muslim, said he wanted to carry out the attack because of 'the continued American aggression against our people and the fact that America, specifically President Obama, wants to wage war against Islamic State' At times what seemed like a nervous chuckle punctuated his responses. He said he would do whatever the Islamic State group asked of him, including beheading Americans, and predicted 'there will be many, many attacks'. A federal indictment charges Cornell with two counts that carry possible sentences of up to 20 years each upon conviction: attempted murder of government employees and officials and solicitation to

Summary: Christopher Lee Cornell, 20, also known as Raheel Mahrus Ubaydah, is charged with attempting to kill a government official . He called a local news station from his Kentucky jail and confessed to being a supporter of the Islamic State group . He also told the station that he planned to kill government officials in retaliation for U.S. strikes on the militant organization . He allegedly planned to detonate pipe bombs in the Capitol before opening fire on fleeing government employees sometime in December 2015 . FBI says Cornell first caught their attention when he wrote online in support of ISIS and violent 'jihad'