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Out with a wave and a whimper they went. Out without the slightest echo of Fabio Capello raging against the injustice of a disallowed goal. Or the sense of crushing disappointment following the penalties against Portugal that marked the end of Sven Goran Eriksson’s tenure and prompted David Beckham to quit the England captaincy in tears. During a spell in charge that almost now feels like a golden era for the England team, Eriksson had even led Brazil at the quarter-final stage four years earlier, only to then lose to a Ronaldinho lob that had David Seaman blubbing, too. VIDEO Scroll down to watch De Telegraaf's Valentijn Driessen: Roy Hodgson should resign . Tough to watch: Roy Hodgson stares at the ground alongside Ray Lewington and Gary Neville in the England dug-out . Halcyon days: England players look dejected after Ronaldinho's effort put Brazil 2-1 up in Shizuoka . Four years prior to that and it was Argentina on penalties, but only after that marvellous Michael Owen goal and the drama of Beckham’s dismissal. It was petulant. It had Glenn Hoddle raging at a young player for undermining what had been a fine England performance. But at least England went down fighting. At least they played with a bit of style and vigour. Here? There was nothing like that. There was just this sense of meek surrender. A sense that England had come to the greatest World Cup in history and pretty much stunk the place out. Roy Hodgson tried to give this encounter with Costa Rica some meaning, standing as he did in the dug-out for the entire match. He certainly acted as if it mattered. But if this was the first step towards a brighter future, the first step away from the nadir that was defeat by Uruguay, then why end the game with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in midfield? Greg Dyke, misguided though he was in the timing of his comments, said these matches here in Brazil would prove valuable experience for Euro 2016. Game-changer: Kim Milton Neilsen gives David Beckham his marching orders . Time old conundrum: England ended up with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in midfield . But what value, beyond sentiment, could there be in reuniting Gerrard and Lampard for 17 minutes when their failure to operate effectively as a partnership has been a source of frustration for more than a decade? ‘We need to improve, otherwise we would not be going home,’ said Lampard afterwards. ‘It is about the future and looking for them to get better.’ Well, quite. Hodgson may take comfort in the reception he and his players received from England’s fans at the end. But he shouldn’t kid himself into thinking it was an acceptance of failure. It was actually rather surreal; a response, you suspect, driven almost by pity. Nobody can claim it was anything other than a pitiful effort over the three matches, with this performance providing further evidence that Hodgson fails as an international manager where others succeed. Hollow applause: England's performance at the World Cup has been a disaster . Down and out: England players applaud their fans after ending their World Cup in the group stage . Louis van Gaal turned a dodgy Dutch defence against Australia into a superbly disciplined one against Chile. Here, England still looked vulnerable to long balls. Lampard seized on the positives. ‘It was amazing,’ he said of the reception they received at the end from the fans. ‘They were singing for the manager. It made you proud to be an Englishman. It makes you feel a bit bad we have not given them a longer stay.’ Lampard also said such support would help the younger players in the future. But they need more than that. They need leadership and guidance and a clear vision of how they should play. They need to know that this will never happen again. That the people in charge, the people in the highest offices at the FA, implement the changes to make damn sure it doesn’t happen again. Whether they will, of course, is another question entirely.

England went down fighting at previous World Cups . There was nothing like that. There was just this sense of meek surrender . If this was the first step towards a brighter future, then why end the game with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in midfield? Hodgson may take comfort in the reception he and his players received from England’s fans at the end. But he shouldn't kid himself into thinking it was an acceptance of failure . Nobody can claim it was anything other than a pitiful effort, with this performance providing further evidence that Hodgson fails as an international manager where others succeed .

Gunmen have murdered a man with suspected links to the secretive Camorra Mafia syndicate at the wheel of his car in broad daylight. The shocking killing comes a week after Italy's escalating gang wars claimed their most poignant victim - a three-year-old boy whose grandfather failed to repay a drug debt. Police in Naples, Italy, said the car belonging to 46-year-old victim Antonio Errichiello was flanked by another from which several shots were fired. Killed: The victim, named in Italian media as Antonio Errichiello, was gunned down in broad daylight . Murdered: The shaven-headed victim, said to have Mafia links, was seen with blood on his face and shirt . Crime-hit: The Secondigliano neighbourhood where he was shot is home to a fierce turf war over drugs . Deadly trade: Police estimate illegal drugs in just two Naples districts are worth £79 million a year . Italian media reported the victim, who was driving at the time, was already known to law enforcement officers and had been linked to the Licciardi clan, one of several in the Camorra. 'A man died in Naples in an ambush, L'Unita reported. 'The man was approached by two people in the car who fired . several shots at him.' The newspaper claimed the man, nicknamed 'O Cinese, had been released from prison in May last year and had a lengthy criminal record. The Secondigliano neighbourhood where . he was shot is home to one of Italy's fiercest turf wars over the . hotly-contested drug empire in the region. Police estimate the illegal drugs trade in the area and nearby Scampia is worth £79 million a year, with dozens of killings in the battle for domination. Onlookers can be seen gathering close to the scene as the victim, shaven-headed and wearing a black puffer jacket, lies dead in the driver's seat with blood trickling down his temples. Mafia: The man was reportedly ambushed by what could be members of a rival clan in Naples, Italy . Police later hid the scene from view with a sheet. The Camorra are engaged in fierce, bloody in-fighting . Italian media reported the victim, who was driving at the time, was already known to law enforcement officers and had been linked to the Licciardi clan, one of several in the Camorra which is at war with other families . Shock: Crowds of onlookers gathered at the scene in one of Italy's most crime-ridden city neighbourhoods . Common event: The brazen killing was a shock to those in the neighbourhood, but not much of a surprise . The Italian Mafia syndicate, which dates back hundreds of years, is said to control everything from the drug industry to waste collection in the south of the country . It is made up of family-based clans which have worked together in the past but also fight brutal wars against each other, with bloody results. Last week the body of toddler Nicola Campolongo was found in a burnt-out car in Cosenza, Calabria. Police believed both the killers and the victims, which also included the three-year-old's Salvatore Iannicelli, 52, and his girlfriend Ibtissa Touss, 27, hailed from the equally war-torn Ndrangheta Mafia syndicate. On top of the car was a single unmarked 50 cent piece, apparently a symbol that the grandfather had not paid his debt.

Italian media name victim as Antonio Errichiello, 46, with Camorra links . The syndicate is locked in bitter turf wars over drug supply in Naples, Italy . Victim was driving when another car pulled up and shots were fired .

(CNN) -- As fellow American officials met with allied and Iranian counterparts in Geneva, Switzerland, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday that all sides are closer than they've been in a long time on a nuclear deal. But they stressed it hasn't been reached yet. "It's important to exhaust the remedies and possibilities of diplomacy," Kerry said from Washington. "We have the best chance we've had in a decade, we believe, to halt progress and roll back Iran's program." The prospect of an agreement that could roll back some punitive measures against Iran in exchange for measures assuring that the Middle Eastern country isn't developing a nuclear weapon has met significant resistance. Some in Congress have voiced opposition, saying leaders in Tehran cannot be trusted. It's a sentiment echoed by Israel leaders. Kerry insisted the continuing talks represent "the initial stage of determining whether or not there's a first step that can be taken." Whether the ultimate result is Iran having access to peaceful nuclear energy is a long ways off; for now, Kerry claimed that a prospective deal wouldn't give that country leeway to move toward developing a nuclear weapon. Iran nuclear talks: 11 things you need to know . "We will not allow this agreement should it be reached -- and I say, should it be reached -- to buy time or to allow for the acceptance of an agreement that does not properly address our core, fundamental concerns," he said. Kerry spoke as negotiators met in Geneva, where the major players engaged in three days of intense talks earlier this month. Those discussions concluded without the agreement some had anticipated, albeit with optimism that it could come soon. "I think we are all on the same wavelength, and that's important," Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said then. "And that gives us the impetus to go forward." Like those discussions, the current talks involve delegations from Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain and France -- plus Germany in what is known as the P5+1. "The atmosphere is positive," one senior U.S. official said, adding that the Western powers expressed condolences for a bombing that happened near the Iranian Embassy in Beirut. "We are not in a rush," the official said. "We want to get a good deal, the right deal." Israeli leader: 'This must be a genuine solution' One sticking point has been Iran's insistence on enriching its own uranium for peaceful purposes. The U.S. official said the issue "can be navigated in an agreement." U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said the plan would benefit the global community. "The international community would have unprecedented access to Iran's nuclear facilities and full transparency into what they're doing, so they wouldn't have the ability to sneak out or break out," Rice said. But Israel, the United States' closest ally in the region, staunchly opposes the tentative plan. "It's a bad deal -- an exceedingly bad deal," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN this week. Netanyahu opposes lifting some sanctions now without getting further concessions to ensure Iran would be unable to continue with uranium enrichment and other steps. "I think you should not only keep up the pressure; I think you should increase the pressure, because it's finally working," Netanyahu said, labeling Iran's economy as close to paralysis. "If you give it up now, when you have that pressure, and Iran doesn't even take apart, dismantle one centrifuge, what leverage will you have when you've eased the pressure?" At the same time, Netanyahu repeated his insistence that Israel "always reserves the right to defend itself against any threat," which is diplomat-speak for a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities to stop the development of a weapon. Netanyahu elaborated Wednesday during remarks in Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He characterized Iran's development of nuclear weapons "the biggest threat against us and against global security." Carrying through on U.N. Security Council resolutions like those "to halt all enrichment, to remove all enriched material (and) to dismantle the centrifuges" are central to that goal. "I would like remove any doubts: We want a peaceful, diplomatic solution; everyone prefers this over any other solution," Netanyahu added. "But this must be a genuine solution." Iran: Some Israeli officials 'are like animals' The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, didn't mince words when he fired back at Israel, his nation's staunch adversary. "Israeli officials cannot be even called humans. They are like animals, some of them," he said Wednesday. The ayatollah also said Iran's "heroic flexibility" is not a violation of Iran's values. He coined that term a few months ago to explain that Iran's leadership can be flexible while remaining "heroic" in the face of Western powers it still doesn't trust. In remarks Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his country is looking for an agreement that will benefit both sides. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is looking for stability and tranquility in the entire region, and success in our negotiations with the Group 5+1 will benefit all the regional countries and the world," he said, according to the semiofficial FARS news agency. Tuesday's twin suicide bombing near the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon's capital will not sway the talks, Rouhani said. "Those who think they can achieve their goals through terror, intimidation and violence have always been in mistake, and they are erring again this time," he said. Rifts within the U.S. Some U.S. lawmakers aren't sold on the new plan. On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of six senators urged the administration to reject the proposed deal with Iran and accept only an agreement that better dismantles Iran's ability to develop nuclear weapons. "I think all of us are concerned," said Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee. "We know who we are dealing with, and we've watched this same type of activity occur in North Korea, where you began to alleviate sanctions, and I think what the concern is that whatever you do in the interim basis becomes the new norm." But U.S. President Barack Obama said the current sanctions put in place during his administration had forced Iran to the negotiating table because of economic contraction and frozen oil revenue. He said the proposed deal would "open up the spigot a little bit" on some of the frozen revenue while leaving in place the bulk of the most effective sanctions involving Iranian oil exports and banking. But Obama also stressed that all options, including military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, remained on the table as far as the United States was concerned. Vice President Joe Biden, joined by members of his national security team, explained the administration's position Wednesday to 12 Democratic senators. He laid out potential parameters of a six-month deal such as addressing 'Iran's enrichment capabilities, existing stockpiles of uranium, centrifuges and ability to produce plutonium using the Arak reactor" and allowing for "intrusive monitoring" by international inspectors. "The Vice President reiterated that the President has a responsibility to seek a peaceful resolution that prevents Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon before pursuing alternatives," the White House said in a statement. "The current P5+1 proposal has the potential to do just that." Why Israel, Gulf states are wary of Iran nuclear talks . U.S.-Israel rift over Iran nukes now in the open . CNN's Jim Sciutto, Saad Abedine and Reza Sayah contributed to this report.

NEW: Vice President Biden explains parameters for a possible deal to Democratic senators . Secretary of State John Kerry says "it's important to exhaust ... diplomacy" Prime Minister Netanyahu says Israel wants a "genuine" diplomatic solution . Delegations from the key players meet in Geneva, Switzerland .

They can burn with intense heat that destroys swathes of habitat in just a few hours and throws out huge clouds of thick black smoke. But it seems that despite this pollution, forest fires may actually be helping to cool the planet. Scientists have found that the destruction caused by wildfires in the huge boreal forests of north America and Eurasia can lower temperatures. Forest fires like above can destroy huge areas of vegetation so the landscape reflects more of the sun's heat . This is because fires transform the landscape, allowing snow and ice to cover the ground and changing the amount of sunlight it reflects. Cows and other livestock can produce large amounts of methane as they digest their food - a gas that can contribute to global warming. However, biologists have found that by tweaking the way in which cattle graze in fields it is possible to use cows to cut the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by trapping it in the soil. The researchers used a technique called adaptive multi-paddock grazing management, which involves using small-sized fields that are grazed for only short periods of time. The fields are then given a long period to recover before they are grazed again, allowing plants to grow longer roots and store carbon dioxide from the air in their tissues. As they die, the carbon stored in the plants then becomes trapped in the soil. The method mimics the natural migration of wild herd animals such as elk, bison and deer. Dark green foliage of trees tends to absorb heat from the sun while the snow covered ground is more reflective. The study, led by Dr Brendan Rogers at Woods Hole Research Centre in Massachusetts, found that in areas where the destruction is greatest the cooling affect is also bigger. In total it could account for twice as much cooling as other natural cooling, such as aerosols release from volcanoes, put together. The findings could alter predictions for how the climate is likely to change as carbon dioxide emissions increase. Dr Rogers said that climate scientists may need to factor in the affect of forest fires on global warming in their models. He said: 'Current global fire models neglect the influence of these species-level traits and misrepresent boreal fire feedbacks to climate warming. 'We need to move beyond generic representations of trees, and use this information to make informed decisions on how to manage forest fires for climate mitigation.' It has been commonly assumed that forest fires might contribute to global warming by releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The black soot produced from these fires can also cover the surrounding landscape and absorb heat from the sun. The graph above shows the amount of sunlight reflected by the landscape after a forest fire in North America (NA), Eurasia (EU), north east Eurasia (NEEU), southern Eurasia (SEU) and northwest Eurasia (NWEU) Spruce forests in North America, like this one above in Yosemite National Park, are particularly flammable . Black spruce, like above in British Columbia, Canada, can absorb a lot of heat from the sun even in winter but after a forest fire the snow can lie on the ground and reflect much more of the sunlight than before . However, the researchers found that the long-term 'albedo' effect - where the colour of the landscape changes and reflects sunlight - caused by the destruction of the forest by fire has an overall cooling impact, particularly in the cold winter months. The researchers, whose work is published in the journal Nature Geoscience, found that the forests in Alaska and Canada are dominated by black spruce trees that burn ferociously. It is here that the forest fires also seem to cool the climate the most. In northern Europe and Siberia, where the forests are dominated by Scots Pine and larch, their impact on the climate is 69 per cent weaker. This, say the researchers, is because more of the vegetation that covers the ground is destroyed by the fire in the black spruce forests, opening up more of the land to snow cover. The diagram above shows how natural and man-made influences can cause 'radiative forcing' of the climate . Forest fires release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but they also produce cooling that lasts for years . The researchers calculated that in North America, forest fires like this can cool the climate by around 6 Watts per square metre. In Eurasia, they found that forest fires will cool the climate by around 1.9 Watts per square metre. Known as 'radiative forcing' this suggests that forest fires can make a significant contribution to balance global warming from carbon dioxide emissions. Writing in the journal Nature Geoscience, Dr Rogers and his colleagues, said: 'Our results provide evidence that fire-related climate feedbacks from the two continents are decidedly different. 'It has been shown that fires in North American boreal forests may have an overall cooling effect because of the dominant surface short-wave forcing5. 'Although highly dependent on severity, this can be twice as strong as the other combined biogeochemical and aerosol forcing terms, which are generally positive and scale with carbon emissions. 'In contrast, fires in boreal Eurasia may be close to climate-neutral or have a warming effect. 'We found that current-generation global fire models do not capture the continental differences described above.'

Researchers at Woods Hole Research Centre looked at the impact of fires . Forest fires removes vegetation from the landscape changing its colour . This change increases the amount of sunlight reflected back into space . The scientists found that forest fires in North America cooled the most . Forests in Siberia and northern Europe are more fire resistant, they say . They say their results will require climate change models to be revised .

By . Hayley Peterson . PUBLISHED: . 17:35 EST, 25 September 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:50 EST, 25 September 2013 . Former President George H.W. Bush served as an official witness at a same-sex wedding over the weekend. The 41st president was pictured signing a set of documents at an outdoor celebration for the Maine wedding of Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen. Thorgalsen posted the photo to her Facebook wall on Sunday with the caption, 'Getting our marriage license witnessed!' George H.W. Bush is pictured signing a set of documents at an outdoor celebration for the Maine wedding of Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen . Newlyweds Helen Thorgalsen (left) and Bonnie Clement right) are pictured at their wedding reception . Clement and Thorgalsen are co-owners of a Kennebunk general store. 'This has been a wonderful wedding experience for us and we were honored to have President and Mrs. Bush not only in attendance but also happy to sign our license,' Thorgalsen, who is with her wife on their honeymoon in London, told ABC News. 'As Nancy Sosa, our officiant, said, "God did not make a love that is wrong." If we can make a difference in the world with our wedding and marriage, we are thrilled,' she added. Bush rep Jim McGrath confirmed to the Washington Post that the former president and his wife attended the wedding. 'They were private citizens attending a private ceremony for two friends,' he said. Helen Thorgalsen (left) is pictured at her wedding ceremony. She and Clement are co-owners of a general store in Kennebunk, Maine . The couple posted this photo at Boston Logan International Airport on Monday with the caption: 'The beginning of another adventure!! See you in London!' Many of Thorgalsen's friends commented . on the photo of Bush and commended the former president for his official . role in the couple's union. 'I think this picture should go national. Most definitely a historical moment!!!' wrote Katherine Lee Reece. Steven Webb added, 'Awesome - not just for you, but for all the others waiting for the right to marry.' Bush, who is 89 years old,  owns an estate in neighboring Kennebunkport, Maine. He spent much of his childhood there and inherited the property after the death of his parents.

The 41st president and his wife, former first lady Barbara Bush, attended the wedding of Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen in Kennebunk over the weekend . Bush, 89, was pictured signing the couple's marriage license .

By . Emma Thomas . PUBLISHED: . 11:49 EST, 21 November 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:35 EST, 21 November 2013 . If you think relations with unions are difficult now, take a look at this mansion which a millionaire businessman built with fort-like defences to keep out activists in the 1800s. The spectacular £1.95m home in Newport, South Wales, was built by a wealthy Victorian industrialist. Magnate John Jenkins put up the walls to keep out 'invaders' as he feared the rise of Chartists - the early trade unionists. Mansion: The home in the Welsh town of Carleon near Newport is on the market for £1.95m and comes complete with it's own fort and Stone defences . He wanted the defences around the mansion, the Mynde in Caerleon, to protect the property from any working class enemies. But today the stone fortications mark the grounds and gardens of the luxury family home. Current owner Terry Greenhaf, a successful engineer, said: 'The house has history and lots of it. 'We’ve brought our children up here and it’s also a very peaceful, relaxing home where owls and buzzards fly by, herons come and visit. 'You can just sit or walk in the grounds and think you’re right in the heart of the countryside.' Fort: The home was built in 1839 by wealthy trade unionist John Jenkins. He erected the stone defences to keep out activists . Luxury: As well as the fortified defences, the mansion has 20 rooms, a swimming pool and a bar nestled in the heart of the Welsh countryside . Defences: The home has a wall around it and fortified defences which were built to keep out 'invaders'. Current owner Terry Greenhaf, a successful engineer, says the house has lots of history and is a 'peaceful, relaxing home' The property’s stone fortifications were . built in 1839 by Mr Jenkins, who was a tin plate businessman turned . High Sheriff of Monmouthshire. He constructed the walls for protection against the Chartists - working class activists who campaigned for the right to vote. The Chartists were becoming increasingly belligerent and the sheriff built the wall to keep them off his land. Today the three and a half acre site is home to a 20 room mansion complete with it’s own swimming pool and a bar. The house also boasts seven reception rooms, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, sitting rooms and a triple garage. Secluded: The mansion, the Mynde in Caerleon, is up for sale after being owned by the same person for 35 years . Land: The three and a half acre site is home to lots of wildlife and is regularly visited by owls, buzzards and herons . Walks: The owner says you feel like you are completely in the countryside while walking through the grounds . But the property is now up for sale after the Greenhaf family, who have lived there for 35 years, said they want to 'downsize'. Peter Reilly, head of residential sales at estate agent Savills’ Cardiff office said: 'The property is spectacular. 'Ornamental plaster work, wooden doors and wide staircases add to the feeling of opulence throughout this most elegant property. 'The gardens have been beautifully landscaped with low walls, raised borders, ornamental railings and a lovely pergola-covered walk to side of the house. 'There are also far reaching views over the River Usk and the countryside beyond.' Picturesque: The house also boasts seven reception rooms, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, sitting rooms and a triple garage . Peaceful: The home is surrounded by a fort and stone defences leaving it totally untouched . Grounds: The mansion comes with a large garden as well as a pond and swimming pool .

Home in Newport, South Wales, built in 1839 by wealthy industrialist John Jenkins . High Sherriff of Monmouthshire constructed the walls to protect himself against the Chartists activists . Three and a half acre site is home to 20 room mansion as well as swimming pool, triple garage and bar .

Washington (CNN) -- In a classic "Saturday Night Live" sketch, Christopher Walken plays a music producer with just one message for his bands: "More cowbell! I gotta have more cowbell!" Sometimes you wonder if Walken is producing this year's election, too. In Mitt Romney, the GOP has nominated its least ideological candidate since Richard Nixon. At every turn, the party has demanded, "More ideology! I gotta have more ideology!" With the selection of Paul Ryan as his running mate, Romney has now acceded to that wish. The least ideological Republican candidate since 1968 has committed himself to the most ideological Republican program since 1964. Democrats must be stunned. The first battle in every election is the battle to decide what the election is about. What's the question voters must answer? Romney's choice of Ryan energizes two sides . In 1992, for example, Republicans wanted the election to be about George H.W. Bush's steady leadership in a dangerous world: the end of the Cold War and victory in the Persian Gulf. Democrats countered, "It's the economy, stupid!" This year, an incumbent even more embattled than George H.W. Bush has his own preferred election theme. He doesn't want to debate his own record, which is pretty dismal. He wants to debate the record of the congressional Republicans elected in 2010, a bunch radically less popular even than the president himself. You'd imagine that Romney's job was to refuse the Democratic invitation, to choose his own ground for the election, and to keep his distance from the congressional GOP. You'd imagine, but you'd be wrong. Romney has instead chosen to bolt himself to the House Republicans. He has chosen as his running mate Paul Ryan, the House Republican leader -- not their formal leader, but their intellectual leader, the person who set their agenda. He has effectively adopted Paul Ryan's agenda as his own: big immediate cuts in spending, a dramatic cut in the top rate of income tax to 28% and a bold reform of Medicare for those 55 and under. Obama's message in 2012: "Forget the economy. It's Medicare, stupid!" The Romney-Ryan response? "We agree. Medicare it is." William Bennett: Why Paul Ryan? The Romney-Ryan team will tell you that fixing Medicare is crucial to their plans for economic growth. By assuring markets that Medicare costs will grow more slowly after 2023, a Medicare fix -- it's argued -- will ignite job creation in 2013. In the meantime, federal spending cuts and upper-income tax cuts will restore business confidence. Will voters accept this argument? Possibly, although relatively few economists will do so. Most economists would draw a distinction between the government's fiscal problems over the medium term and the economy's problems in the near term. The economy's near-term problems can be traced to the housing crisis. Americans assumed crushing levels of debt in the 2000s to buy expensive homes, homes they assumed would continue to rise in price forever. In 2007, household debt relative to income peaked at the highest level since 1928. (Uh oh.) When the housing market crashed, consumers were stranded with unsustainable debts, and until those debts are reduced, consumers will drastically cut back their spending. As consumers cut back, businesses lose revenue. As businesses lose revenue, they fire employees. As employees lose their jobs, their purchasing power is reduced. As purchasing power is lost throughout the economy, housing prices tumble again. Rinse and repeat. Opinion: Is Paul Ryan for or against Ayn Rand? Since 2008, the debt burden on households has declined somewhat, partly because of increased saving, mostly because of mortgage default. But household debts have declined nowhere near enough, and the pace of household debt reduction is slowing. The result: slow recovery of the private economy, weak consumer demand, paltry job growth -- considerably offset by continuing job shrinkage in the public sector. Paul Ryan's various plans and road maps contain many interesting elements for the reduction of government in the decades ahead. They do not respond to the most immediate and urgent problem: prolonged mass unemployment caused by heavy household debt. Why not? There's why the ideology makes itself felt. Conservatives ardently believe that big future deficits are the cause of today's unemployment. They feel it. They know it. And they don't want to hear different. When naysayers worry that the Romney campaign has over-indulged the ideology, the answer quickly comes: "Well, Reagan was ideological in 1980 -- and he still won. Why can't Romney do the same, especially since the economy is even worse now than it was then?" Opinion: Ryan will shift the campaign dynamic . Fair answer. Here's the difference: Although Ronald Reagan was a highly ideological candidate, he did not run a highly ideological campaign. Quite the contrary! Precisely because party conservatives trusted Reagan's ideological commitment, they allowed him space to move to the center. Seeking the GOP nomination in 1976, Reagan had pledged large immediate cuts in federal spending ($90 billion, at a time when that was a lot of money). In 1980, Reagan emphasized an easier-to-swallow message of tax cuts, not spending cuts -- and indeed promised that he'd protect the Medicare program he'd opposed when it was created in the mid-1960s. No such leeway for Mitt Romney. He has been constrained first to endorse Paul Ryan's budget plan (which he did in December 2011 after months of attempted evasion), to endorse a cut in the top rate of income tax to 28% (March 2012), and now finally to choose Ryan himself as his running mate. No leeway -- and now no exit. Conservatives exult that the GOP will now offer the country "a choice, not a referendum." That phrase does not make a lot of sense. (What is more of a choice than a referendum?) But there's good reason why conservatives say it. They are looking for a rephrasing of the slogan uppermost in their minds: "a choice not an echo" -- the title of the best-selling manifesto that helped persuade Republicans to follow Barry Goldwater to disaster. Opinion: Why Ryan pick won't help Romney . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Frum.

David Frum: Conservatives have pushed for a more ideological approach to the campaign . He says that in Paul Ryan, conservatives get their wish but it may come back to haunt them . By picking a running mate with a plan to change Medicare, Romney gives Obama an issue . Frum: Ryan's long-term fiscal fix does nothing to deal with the causes of current economic slowdown .

LONDON, England (CNN) -- DJ and pop star Boy George has been denied a visa to enter the United States, his Web site said Tuesday. In 2007, George spent five days cleaning the streets of New York to fulfill a community service sentence. U.S. immigration authorities denied the visa because George, 48, faces trial in November in London on charges of false imprisonment relating to an April 2007 incident, according to a statement from Boy George's management, posted on his site. "George is astounded at the decision and is having his lawyers here in the States look at it in the hope that someone will change their mind," the statement read. Boy George, whose real name is George O'Dowd, was charged in London last November with false imprisonment following a complaint from a 28-year-old man, police said. The incident happened in East London the previous April, police said. George is free on unconditional bail and is not barred from traveling as he awaits trial, his management said. His upcoming schedule includes a series of U.S. club dates in July and August. George is best known as the singer of '80s pop group Culture Club, with hits including "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" He quit the band in 1987 and embarked on a short solo career before reinventing himself as a club DJ and launching a fashion label, B-Rude. In August 2007, George spent five days cleaning the streets of Manhattan to fulfill a community service sentence for falsely reporting a break-in at his New York home. George's management said the denial of his U.S. visa had nothing to do with that case.

48-year-old Boy George on trial in London in November . Performer faces charges of false imprisonment relating to 2007 incident . George is free on unconditional bail and is not barred from traveling . Due to play series of U.S. club dates in July and August .

Bill O'Reilly has remained a controversial voice in the aftermath of a grand jury deciding not to indict Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown, but on Monday the anchor went so far he even manged to alienate a fellow Fox News contributor. Remarking on a group of St. Louis Rams players who adopted a 'hands up, don’t shoot' stance in a show of solidarity for Ferguson protesters prior to Sunday's game, O'Reilly said on The O'Reilly Factor; 'Quite frankly, I don’t think they’re smart enough to know what they’re doing.' He then added again, 'I absolutely don’t think they’re smart enough to know what they’re doing.' Scroll down for videos . Protest: Five members of the St. Louis Rams adopted a 'hands up, don't shoot' stance before taking the field on Sunday in a show of support for the protesters in Ferguson . Speaking out: Bill O'Reilly said on his show Monday that the players weren't 'smart enough to know what they were doing' and that they were propagating a lie . He went on to say the men were propagating the lie that Brown's hands were raised at the time he was shot. Not agreeing at all with this statement however was Mary Katharine Ham, a regular Fox News contributor, who seemed disgusted with what O'Reilly had to say. Ham said she thought that the players 'non-violent' protest was fine, and then later defended her comments on Twitter, saying, 'Thing is I DON’T CARE if NFL players make displays w/ which I disagree. Not being as upset as you doesn’t mean I betrayed America.' Fox News analyst Juan Williams, also a guest on Monday, disagreed with O'Reilly as well, and his take away that the football players were somehow coming out against all police. 'Look, you’ve got crazy people on all sides, Bill,' said Williams. 'But if you think that those football players identify and say, "Oh, all cops are bad"? That is not true.' Other side: O'Reilly's guests on Monday, Fox News Contributor Mary Katharine Ham (left) and analyst Juan Williams (right) did not agree with his statements . On Sunday, St. Louis Rams players Stedman Bailey, Jared Cook, Chris Givens, Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt took to the field making the same gesture many protesters have been making across the country these past two weeks. This as crowds gathered outside the stadium during the game chanting 'Hands up, don't shoot!' It seems that even Fox News may have had a problem with O'Reilly's statement, as they took down the clip after posting it earlier in the day on Tuesday. O'Reilly has been very vocal about his disdain for Ferguson protesters, saying that even those who did not loot or set buildings on fire should still be considered criminals for continuing to protest as these events happened. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Police Officers Association has called on both the NFL and the Rams to discipline the five players. They called the moved 'tasteless, offensive and inflammatory.' The NFL and the Rams said Monday that the players would not be punished. Unrest: A protester is dragged away outside the St. Louis Rams home game on Sunday . Cook spoke about the gesture following the game, saying; 'There has to be a change that starts with the people that are most influential around the world.' He then added, 'No matter what happened on that day, no matter how the whole situation went down, there has to be a change.' St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar has claimed that Rams' chief operating officer called him to apologize about the incident, something he vehemently denies. 'We did not apologize,' Rams spokesman Artis Twyman told CNN. The Officers Association then responded to that claim by posting on their Facebook page; 'Even though Mr. Demoff stated he never apologized, the Chief believed it to be an apology and the Chief sent the email to police staff to let them know about the call, after he told Mr. Demoff he would share his sentiments with his staff.'

Bill O'Reilly commented on five St Louis Rams players who adopted a 'hands up, don't shoot' pose before game Sunday . He said that he the players weren't 'smart enough to know what they're doing' and that they were propagating a lie . His guests, Fox News contributors Mary Katharine Ham and Juan Williams disagreed with his statement . Williams then disagreed with O'Reilly's assessment that this was implying the players were against all police . This as the Rams and the NFL refuse to apologize to the St. Louis Police Officers Association for what they call a 'tasteless, offensive' move .

Offensive ‘tribute’ pages devoted to alleged criminals on Facebook will not be tolerated as the social networking site takes a strong stance against internet trolls. It comes after a man was arrested for allegedly creating a tribute page for Dale Cregan, the alleged killer of police officers Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes. Simon Milner, Facebook’s director of policy, said there was ‘no grey area’ when it came to the offensive tribute pages and that immediate action will be taken against anyone who deliberately sets up such a group. Strong stance: Facebook will not tolerate offensive tribute pages to alleged criminals such as this page set up by an internet troll praising Dale Cregan, the man who allegedly shot dead two policewomen . Facebook arrest: Another man was arrested for allegedly setting up a page called 'Dale Cregan is a Hero', after the murders of Pc Nicola Hughes (right) and Pc Fiona Bone (left) after police traced the Facebook page back to his home . Police arrested and questioned a man in September under the Communications Act 2003 after they traced the Facebook page ‘Dale Cregan is a Hero’ back to his home. The page contained posts which mocked the deaths of policewomen Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes. One read: ‘So a pair of coppers got killed who gives a s***?’ Another internet troll, who described Cregan as a ‘legend,’ stood by his comments, comparing the murder suspect to crazed killer Raoul Moat. This week, Facebook made changes to the way members could report their concerns about posts. Reporting posts: Facebook has made changes to the way members report their concerns about posts . For the first time people who make complaints can keep track of Facebook’s response using a new ‘support dashboard’. The system has been tested since April and this week it was made available to all one billion members. Online bully: Sean Duffy admitted defacing a tribute page for a teenager who was accidentally shot and was accused of posting fake photos of her with bullet holes in her head . Mr Milner told The Telegraph that . the new system will be especially useful in alleged bullying cases on . Facebook because moderators often find it hard to deem whether a post is . designed to be hurtful and the changes will make it easier for members . to challenge decisions. Mr Milner said: ‘Only a small minority of our users ever report problems. ‘This will just increase transparency around how we respond to those that do.’ Earlier this year an online bully, who targeted dead teenagers and cruelly mocked their deaths, has been spared jail and banned from social networking sites today for 'trolling' about a tragic schoolgirl. Sean Duffy, 26, from Reading, Berkshire, had admitted defacing a tribute site set up to remember Sophie Taylor, 16, between April 18 and 20 last year. The teenager was shot accidentally by her boyfriend, 18-year-old trainee gamekeeper Calum Murray, who then turned the gun on himself at a cottage near Tomintoul, Moray in Scotland, that month. Duffy, an autistic alcoholic, was accused of posting fake photos of Sophie with bullet holes in her head. He earlier admitted he was hooked on 'trolling' – where internet users deliberately leave abusive and bullying comments on networking sites to provoke others. He was sentenced to a community payback order with supervision for two years and told to do 300 hours of unpaid work. He is also banned from creating any accounts on social networking sites and is not allowed to post any videos or buy any device with internet access. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.

Facebook will not tolerate 'tribute' pages devoted to potential criminals . A man was arrested for allegedly creating a page for alleged police killer Dale Cregan . Facebook made changes to the way members can complain about posts .

San Diego police say a 40-year-old man died after a border inspector shot him with a stun gun at the nation's busiest crossing. Police said Thursday that the man jumped over a counter and attacked an inspector after being escorted to a separate area for questioning at the San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. The man used a pedestrian crossing at the port of entry at around 7pm and during secondary inspections, agents realized the man was wanted on a felony charge, NBC reports. Stun Gun: San Diego police say a 40-year-old man died after a border inspector shot him with a stun gun at the San Ysidro port of entry between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico (photographed is the San Ysidro border crossing) Busiest)The man was crossing the border on foot, and authorities stopped him during secondary inspections (photographed is the San Ysidro port of entry, the nation's busiest crossing) When authorities tried to take him into custody, the man attacked. 'The male would not comply with the agents’ instructions and had concealed his hands from the view of the agents,' said homicide Lt. Paul Rorrison, according to Patch. Officials say they used a Taser to control the man, who is only being identified as a 40-year-old male, but soon noticed the man had stopped breathing and was unresponsive. Authorities attempted CPR on the man and called for paramedics. Hospital: The man was taken to the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in San Diego where he was pronounced dead . The man was taken to the Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in San Diego where he was pronounced dead. Police said he wouldn't be identified until his family was contacted. Four Customs and Border Protection officers suffered moderate injuries and were hospitalized. Homicide detectives with the San Diego Police Department will investigate the man's death and the county's medical examiner's investigation will determine the cause of death.

An unnamed 40-year-old man died after a border inspector shot him with a stun gun at the San Ysidro, San Diego crossing . Authorities uncovered that the man was wanted on a felony, and when they tried to take him into custody, the man attacked . The man stopped breathing and became unresponsive, he died soon after being taken to a hospital .

A woman has lost nearly 8st after motivating herself to stick to a diet by taking selfies and posting them online. Eva Rut Gunnlaugsdottir, 35, from Reykjavik, Iceland, weighed 19st 2lb in January last year when she finally tackled her weight gain after the birth of her two children. The mother-of-two felt so bad about how she looked in the images that they spurred her to carry on eating healthily and keep documenting the results. Scroll down for video . Eva credits taking regular selfies with helping her drop from 19st 2lb (left) to 11st 4lb (right) Eva says that while she finds it painful to look back at earlier selfies (left), she is much more confident now . Eva felt constantly embarrassed by her self-portraits but used that shame to stay on course. She said: 'I posted the first one almost as a joke. I felt really bad about myself and looked bad and I felt if I could start to see the change it might help me to carry on. 'But in fact I was also so embarrassed about the images that it was something that made me determined to carry on.' Her diet before consisted mainly of takeaways, fast food, ready meals, lots of cheese and sandwiches laden with fatty fillings. She also snacked on chocolate, biscuits, crisps and high calorie snacks. Determined to shed the pounds she revamped her her diet, eating healthy homemade meals such as soups, lots of fruit, vegetable, lean meats and salads. She also cut out certain food categories including wheat, sugar and starch. Eva says her friends soon noticed the change in her appearance, with every successive selfie . The first posting that she had posted online had included the message: 'just a joke, selfie no. 1.' 'I've always had trouble controlling my diet and have been immensely overweight since I was 18 years old,' she said . Although many of the selfies are just of her face, the difference in her size as she loses weight is obvious . The first snap she posted online included the message: 'Just a joke, selfie no.1.' On the worst days when she felt desperate for chocolate, she only needed to scroll back over the previous selfies to remind herself what it was all about, and get the energy to carry on. She said: 'My friends were the ones who pointed out the difference between then and now pictures, and that kept me on the diet.' Eva says a major reason she wanted to lose weight was to have energy for her children Agust, left, and Eva . When temped to reach for chocolate she scrolled back through the pictures to see how far she had come . By the end of the year she had managed to shed 7st 12lb. 'I felt fantastic. In fact I felt fantastic after the first few days and that feeling just continued,' she said. The first picture she posted online had included the message: 'Just a joke, selfie no.1.' But despite its jokey nature, the snap did encourage her when she realised she did not want to look like that any more. 'After I had my children almost seven years ago, I completely lost control of everything and put on quite a lot of weight.' If she was tempted by chocolate, Eva scrolled back through her pictures as reminder of how far she'd come . An added factor was the fact that she did not have the energy for her children, Eva and Agust, any more. She would prioritise easy access to food over being active and physical with them on the weekends. 'It was like I didn't do anything unless I got to eat at the same time,' she admitted. Eva measured her year-long slimdown which she documented with her 'embarrassing' selfies . As the weight dropped off, Eva's brother was even able to pick her up for the first time since she was 18 . 'For me, food was a drug. I never ate just one little chocolate piece, it was always something more. 'The first two or three days of the diet were a bit difficult, but since then I've been so stable, floating around on a pink cloud. 'I was more energetic and could easily get up in the morning. The mental recovery was so much that I thought I had already lost 60 kilos (9st) in February, even though it was still a long way to go. 'I felt better as all kinds of physical pain disappeared.' She added that she is no longer anxious about going abroad, when she was always wondering if she would fit into the airplane seat or if she'd need a seatbelt extension. 'I still find it painful to look at the first few selfies from last year, but I always feel better looking at the end of the year.' Eva's diet involved cutting out certain food groups like wheat, and she posted snaps of her meals online .

At 19st 2lb, mother-of-two from Iceland had no energy for her children . Eva Rut Gunnlaugsdottir, 35, posted selfies to spur her to eat healthily . If tempted to cheat on her diet, she'd look back at photos of her progress . Managed to lose nearly 8st and now weighs a slim 11st 4lb .

(CNN) -- The body that represents England's professional footballers says it still has work to do to enable gay footballers to come out while still playing the game. Bobby Barnes, the Deputy Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), was speaking after Robbie Rogers, who quit the sport on the day he revealed his homosexuality last month, said it was "impossible to come out" while still playing. In his first media interview since, Rogers -- a former United States international who was playing in the English football league earlier this season -- admitted concerns about how both the dressing room and fans would react to news of an openly gay player. Having played for third tier Stevenage on loan earlier this season, the 25-year-old was released by parent club Leeds United in January, days before retiring from football when coming out through his personal website on February 18. "I think the PFA -- along with all the stakeholders -- have a responsibility to perhaps redouble our efforts if players do not feel that enough is being done," Barnes told CNN.com. "I think football has tried hard to create an environment where there is a supportive network around a player should he decide to come out as a gay." Nonetheless, Rogers did not feel the environment was conducive to staying in the English game after his announcement and says he would have found it hard to come out at any global club -- after being asked whether he could have done so during a 2007-2011 stint with MLS side Columbus Crew. "No. Not at any club -- anywhere," Rogers told England's The Guardian newspaper. Rogers is only the second footballer in England to have come out, with Justin Fashanu -- the first £1 million black player in the country's football history -- having tragically committed suicide in 1998, eight years after revealing his sexuality while still a professional. At present, Sweden-based Anton Hysen is the only openly gay footballer although other sportsmen have come out in different disciplines, such as Puerto Rican boxer Orlando Cruz, Welsh rugby player Gareth Thomas and English cricketer Steven Davies. In a wide-ranging interview, Rogers revealed the internal strife he went through when trying to reconcile his love of playing football for a living with his desire to be honest with those closest to him. View: Gallery of openly gay athletes . After Columbus Crew won the MLS Cup in 2008, what should have been a night of collaborative celebration for the winger -- who won 18 caps with the U.S. while also representing his nation at the 2008 Olympic Games -- turned to individual torment instead. "We won that trophy in Los Angeles, in front of my family, with this amazing team. Afterwards we went to a bar and I was like, 'I should be so happy now...'," Rogers recalled. "But I left after a few drinks and sat on my own in my room, thinking, 'OK. I'm gay. But I can't come out because I love football so much. What am I going to do?'" "The more successful you become, the harder it is to step away." Yet that is precisely what he did, despite being at an age where he had yet to reach his peak, with most footballers performing best in their late 20's. Barnes, who believes that Rogers' revelation received a positive response all round, with "nothing negative", feels the American may have been pleasantly surprised had he felt empowered enough to continue in the game after his announcement. "I don't think he tested the water as such -- in that he had already made his decision to quit when the announcement was made -- but I hope he would have found a much more supportive arena," he said. "I think the attitude now is far more: 'A player is gay, so what?' We don't see it as a major issue and I do not believe players do either. "The big concern, I feel, is the negativity that players might receive from the terraces." Rogers, who says he was 14-15 when he realized he was gay and who sometimes dated girls as a cover for his sexuality, did have concerns about his teammates however, in addition to those about supporters. "Maybe a lot of fans aren't homophobic. But, in a stadium, sometimes they want to destroy you," he said. "I was very fearful how my teammates were going to react. Was it going to change them? Even though I'd still be the same person would it change the way they acted towards me -- when we were in the dressing room or the bus?" Even if he has yet to hear from another gay footballer in the game, Rogers has been so inundated with support from fellow players and the public that he has mixed feelings on his future. "About a month ago I would've thought: 'I don't want to be a spokesman for gay footballers.' I have so many different things I'm interested in. "But after thousands of emails, I'm thinking, OK, how can I help others? How can I make some positive change? How am I going to reach young Robbie and tell him to be himself? "He might not fit the gay or football stereotype. That's one thing I definitely want to do -- break some barriers and kill some stereotypes." And most intriguingly, a man who is weighing up a career in fashion and who co-owns a clothing label (Halsey) is finding himself being seduced by an old flame -- his former profession itself. "Football will always be part of me. I don't know if I'm done playing yet. I might ask [the coach] Bruce Arena if I can train with LA Galaxy -- we'll see. I miss it and think about it a lot. "But I'm so happy now I don't want to mess with that. Football was my life and maybe I'll need to go back ... or maybe I'll just be a fan. But it's an industry where there are lots of problems -- from sketchy agents to homophobic culture."

The body that represents footballers in England may step up efforts to help gay players . Professional Footballers' Association reacting to Robbie Rogers' first media interview . Former U.S. international says it is 'impossible' to come out while still playing football .

Despite being crippled in space, Kepler has managed to discover a star that hosts three Earth-sized planets. The outermost planet orbits in the 'Goldilocks' zone - a region where surface temperatures could be moderate enough for liquid water and perhaps life to exist. At a distance of 150 light years, the star ranks among the top 10 nearest stars known to have transiting planets. Scroll down for video . After the Kepler Space Telescope lost two if its four reaction wheels, it was unable to point accurately enough for long observations. Despite being hobbled in space, Kepler has managed to discover a star that hosts three planets only slightly larger than Earth . The star, EPIC 201367065, is a cool red M-dwarf about half the size and mass of our own sun. Its distance means it's bright enough for astronomers to study the planets' atmospheres to determine whether they are like Earth's atmosphere and possibly conducive to life. 'A thin atmosphere made of nitrogen and oxygen has allowed life to thrive on Earth,' said Ian Crossfield, the University of Arizona astronomer who led the study. 'But nature is full of surprises. Many exoplanets discovered by the Kepler mission are enveloped by thick, hydrogen-rich atmospheres that are probably incompatible with life as we know it.' This cartoon shows the three newly discovered extrasolar planets (right) casting shadows on their host star that can been seen as eclipses, or transits, at Earth (left). Earth can be detected by the same effect, but only in the plane of Earth's orbit (the ecliptic) In their hunt for alien life, astronomers have so far focused on looking for Earth-like planets around smaller, cooler suns. But these exoplanets - despite having a chance of holding water - are believed to be locked in a rotation around their sun which causes only one side of their surface face the star. Now astronomers claim that such exoplanets actually rotate around their stars, and spin at such a speed that they exhibit a day-night cycle similar to Earth – increasing the chance of finding alien life. 'Planets with potential oceans could have a climate that is much more similar to Earth's than previously expected,' said Jérémy Leconte, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Toronto. 'If we are correct, there is no permanent, cold night side on exoplanets causing water to remain trapped in a gigantic ice sheet,' he said. Though astronomers are still awaiting concrete evidence, theoretical arguments suggest that many exoplanets should be able to maintain an atmosphere as massive that of Earth. While their models show that they would have a day-night cycle making them more similar to Earth, the duration of their days could last between a few weeks and few months. The three planets are 2.1, 1.7 and 1.5 times the size of Earth. The outermost planet, at 1.5 Earth radii, is the smallest of the group and orbits far enough from its host star that it receives levels of light from its star similar to those received by Earth from the sun. 'Most planets we have found to date are scorched. This system is the closest star with lukewarm transiting planets,' Eric Petigura a UC Berkeley graduate student who made the discovery. 'There is a very real possibility that the outermost planet is rocky like Earth, which means this planet could have the right temperature to support liquid water oceans.' University of Hawaii astronomer Andrew Howard said that extrasolar planets are discovered by the hundreds these days, though many astronomers are left wondering if any of the newfound worlds are really like Earth. The newly discovered planetary system will help resolve this question, he said. 'We've learned in the past year that planets the size and temperature of Earth are common in our Milky Way galaxy,' Professor Howard said. 'We also discovered some Earth-size planets that appear to be made of the same materials as our Earth, mostly rock and iron.' The next step will be observations with other telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope, to take the fingerprint of the molecules in the planetary atmospheres. If these warm, nearly Earth-size planets have puffy, hydrogen-rich atmospheres, Hubble will see the tell-tale signal. The Goldilocks zone is the belt around a star where temperatures are ideal for liquid water to pool on a planet . The discovery is all the more remarkable, the researchers said said, because the Kepler telescope lost two reaction wheels that kept it pointing at a fixed spot in space. Kepler was reborn in 2014 as 'K2' with a clever strategy of pointing the telescope in the plane of Earth's orbit, the ecliptic, to stabilise the spacecraft. Kepler is now back to mining the cosmos for planets by searching for eclipses or 'transits,' as planets pass in front of their host stars and periodically block some of the starlight. 'This discovery proves that K2, despite being somewhat compromised, can still find exciting and scientifically compelling planets,' said Professor Petigura. Kepler sees only a small fraction of the planetary systems in its gaze: those with orbital planes aligned edge-on to our view from Earth. Planets with large orbital tilts are missed. A census of Kepler planets that the team conducted in 2013 corrected statistically for these random orbital orientations, and concluded that one in five sun-like stars in the Milky Way Galaxy have Earth-size planets in the habitable zone. Accounting for other types of stars as well, there may be 40 billion such planets galaxy-wide. Kepler sees only a small fraction of the planetary systems in its gaze: those with orbital planes aligned edge-on to our view from Earth. Planets with large orbital tilts are missed. Pictured is an artist's impression of an Earth-like planet orbiting a star that has formed a planetary nebula .

EPIC 201367065 is a red dwarf about half the size of our own sun . It hosts three Earth-sized planets located around 150 light years away . The outermost planet orbits in the 'Goldilocks' zone - a region where surface temperatures could be moderate for water and life to exist . The next step will be observations with other telescopes, including the Hubble, to determine if they have atmospheres where life can thrive .

Witnesses to a tragic motocross crash that left a 14-year-old New Zealand boy dead have said the layout of his last fateful jump was too dangerous. Popular Tauranga teenager Trent Haywood died after coming off his bike on a 30m jump in the Michael Godfrey MX Memorial in Omihi on Sunday, the New Zealand Herald reported. Police were unable to confirm what caused the the incident, but witnesses told the newspaper the size and shape of the jump made it unsafe. Scroll down for video . Tragedy: Trent Haywood, 14, died on Sunday after coming off a 30m jump during a motocross event in New Zealand . World at his feet: Trent was posthumously crowned the winner of the event thanks to points he had already accrued . Around 100 people - including Trent's father - witnessed the tragedy. Tributes began inundating the Tauranga Boys' College student's Facebook page, with friends and family expressing their disbelief that the talented young rider had been snatched away from them so soon. 'I had the pleasure of knowing and training Trent. He trained like a Demon, and loved every second of what he did. He had a heart of gold and will be sorely missed,' wrote his former coach. 'I have never met a kid who was so happy, constantly smiling and thankful for everything. It was a privileged to have been able to train him, and see how he improved. He went out on a win, well done.' Friend Mitchell Bond wrote: 'I can't believe this has happened bro! This is so not fair, gone way to early (sic).' In yet another tragic twist, Trent was named champion of the event - which was cancelled following his death - thanks to points he had already accrued on the day. A family friend of the Haywoods told the New Zealand Herald the young rider died doing what he loved. 'He has been riding since he was just a little guy, about 4 or 5,' he said. 'And he is just awesome, he loves it, motocross is his absolute passion. 'He has had a lot of success regionally and was starting to enjoy the rewards of hard work. Talented: Trent in action doing what he loved. Friends said he died engaged in an activity he was passionate about . 'This is just tragic. He was far too young but I can't help thinking he was doing what he loved and that is a lesson for all of us in life. Spend your time doing something you are passionate about.' Police said his death was the first in the event's 35 year history.

Trent Haywood, 14, died after coming off his bike during motocross event . Witnesses said the size and shape of the jump made it unsafe . Remembered as a talented, happy boy who died doing what he loved . His death was the first in the event's 35-year history .

England manager Roy Hodgson was in the stands at Villa Park but he will have left impressed by a save from an American goalkeeper late on that ensured a goalless draw which ultimately satisfied both teams. Brad Guzan reacted quickly to block a powerful shot from Newcastle substitute Siem de Jong, put clear by Remy Cabella, and preserve a second successive clean sheet for the first time since last November. Only six players eligible for Hodgson started this match and none are England regulars. Of those, Fabian Delph impressed most, and it was he who burst forward to launch a counter-attack in the final minute before being crudely blocked by Mike Williamson. VIDEO Scroll down to watch Paul Lambert: Huge change from last season's doom and gloom . Unfortunate: Mike Williamson is sent off after picking up his second yellow card for stopping, cynically in Mike Dean's eyes, Fabian Delph's counter attack . Stalemate: Neither manager could outwit their opponent as Newcastle and Aston Villa shared the spoils in Saturday's early kick off . Tussle: Fabricio Coloccini gets in the way of Delph as the Villa midfielder attempts to set the home side on their way . Aston Villa 4-3-3 . Guzan 7.5; Hutton 8, Senderos 7.5, Vlaar 7, Cissokho 8 (Baker 83’); Richardson 7 (Bent 76’ 6), Westwood 7, Delph 8.5; N’Zogbia 7 (Sanchez 63’ 6), Agbonlahor 6.5, Weimann 6.5 . Booked: N’Zogbia, Senderos, Weimann, Sanchez . Newcastle 4-1-4-1 . Krul 6.5; Janmaat 7, Williamson 6, Coloccini 7, Dummett 7; Anita 7 (De Jong 70’); Cabella 7, Colback 7, Sissoko 7, Gouffran 6.5; Riviere 6 (Perez 77’ (Taylor 90’)) Sent off: Williamson . MoM: Delph . The central defender was shown a second yellow card by Mike Dean and as he trudged off Alan Pardew brought off forward Ayoze Perez 13 minutes after he had been sent on so Steven Taylor could help see out the game. In truth, two moments on the touchline did most to entertain. In the first half Pardew tried to rouse misfiring winger Cabella, who did well on his debut against Manchester City, by dancing a jig and pulling a toothy smile with his fingers. A short clip of Pardew’s performance became a hit on Twitter. ‘My girls will be laughing at me tonight,’ said Pardew. ‘I just felt he was trying too hard. He had a lot of publicity last week and he was a bit tense to start here. He had a couple of great situations that he didn’t deliver, and that’s not like him. I was trying to get him to play with a smile.’ There was black humour when opposing manager Paul Lambert was struck in a sensitive area by a water bottle flung from the hand of No 2 Roy Keane during a fiery reaction to a foul by Daryl Janmaat on Alan Hutton. Lambert had booted the ball down the line in anger and as he turned back he was inadvertently caught by Keane’s missile. The pair shared a hug and the Irishman growled his displeasure at Janmaat. ‘You try and tell him not to throw a water bottle,’ joked Lambert. Last season Lambert’s team struggled at home, losing a record 10 matches. But the mood was positive here after an opening-day win at Stoke and with a revamped defence, Villa should prove robust this season. Spectator: England manager Roy Hodgson takes a seat at Villa Park as he contemplates who will make his next squad, which will be announced in September . Transfer: latest signing Colombian midfielder Carlos Sanchez started on the bench but did make an appearance in the second half . Acrobatics: Central defender Williamson cartwheels through the air after a challenge from Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor . Attention: Yoan Gouffran is closed down by Aston Villa's Ashley Westwood, and the Frenchman missed the visitors' best chance in the first half . MINS  KM  MILES . Aston Villa total                           107.2 66.6 . Ashley Westwood                    90   11.6   7.2 . Fabian Delph                           90   10.6   6.6 . Andreas Weimann                   90   10.4   6.4 . Newcastle total                            110.3 68.5 . Jack Colback                            90    11.4  7.1 . Daryl Janmaat                           90    11.0  6.9 . Moussa Sissoko                        90    10.9  6.7 . Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League . Hutton, making his first appearance here since May 2012, was excellent at right-back — covering across the back line and bringing the ball out with assurance — while Aly Cissokho, signed for £2m, was equally strong on the other flank. Ron Vlaar is continuing his fine form from the World Cup and Philippe Senderos looks more composed than during his troubled spell at Fulham. There were no shots on target for Villa — Charles N’Zogbia’s first-half free-kick which whistled past the post was their closest effort — but once Christian Benteke is back from achilles injury a genuine striking thrust should emerge. ‘After everybody’s doom and gloom about the football club last season we’ve certainly took the challenge on,’ said Lambert. ‘We were resolute.’ Newcastle had the majority of possession and Cabella should have at least tested Guzan when the ball fell to him at the far post in the 26th minute after Yoan Gouffran’s deflected shot. But he side-footed wide. The visitors’ best period came soon after the interval when three chances came and went. First Cabella’s deep free-kick was headed back across the six-yard box by Williamson and Janmaat connected well to force a fine save from Guzan. Minutes later Janmaat went close again when he cut in from the right and hit crisp left-foot shot narrowly over the bar. Then Cabella dinked a pass to Williamson, but he slashed wildly and missed the ball. ‘I thought we deserved to win,’ said Pardew. ‘I felt we controlled 75 per cent of that game.’ After Guzan’s heroics and Williamson’s marching orders, the heavens opened and Villa pushed forward but failed to find the breakthrough. Old habits die hard: Daryl Janmaat and Aston Villa's assistant manager Roy Keane exchange words on the touchline . Stare: Janmaat isn't the only person attracting Keane's attention as the former Manchester United midfielder talks to fourth official Martin Atkinson . Blink and you'll miss it! Referee Mike Dean uses vanishing spray to mark the Villa wall during the Premier League match . Competing for possession: Moussa Sissoko tracks back and attempts to get the ball off Westwood in midfield . Aerial: Coloccini and Agbonlahor compete for the ball in mid-air at Villa Park in the lunchtime stalemate . Tackle: Remy Cabella, signed this summer from Ligue 1 side Montpellier, is tackled by Charles N'Zogbia . Blocked: Both teams had periods of dominance but ultimately they cancelled each other out as the two sides played out a 0-0 draw at Villa Park . Punch: Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul had little to do during the match but, here, produces a good punched clearance under pressure . Downbeat: Williamson wasdisappointed to see red after an impressive performance in the heart of the visitors' back four . It’s not too late to play MailOnline Fantasy Football… There’s £1,000 to be won EVERY WEEK by the highest scoring manager .

Joe Cole and Carlos Sanchez started on the bench for Aston Villa . An even first half ended goalless between Alan Pardew and Paul Lambert's sides . Both Villa and Newcastle enjoyed good spells in the second half but neither could make the breakthrough . Siem de Jong spurned best chance of the game in 89th minute but foiled by Brad Guzan . Mike Williamson sent off for two bookable offences late on .

Cesc Fabregas made Premier League history after becoming the first player to assist a goal in six consecutive games. The Chelsea midfielder's run follows on from his spell with Arsenal, when he set up goals in his final two top-flight games for the Gunners before departing for Barcelona in 2011. Fabregas broke the record with two assists for Diego Costa in the Blues' 4-2 victory over Swansea which keeps them top of the fledgling Premier League table. Record breaker: Cesc Fabregas, taking on Swansea's Bafetimbi Gomis, has assists in his last six Premier League games . Match made in heaven: Fabregas has forged an instant understanding with fellow new boy Diego Costa . Cesc Fabregas is the first player in Premier League history to get an assist in six consecutive Premier League games . For Chelsea against: Swansea (two), Everton, Leicester and Burnley (two) For Arsenal against: Bolton and Spurs . And five players have scored in five consecutive games: . Darren Anderton - Spurs, 1992/93 . Gianfranco Zola - Chelsea, 2002/03 . Ryan Giggs - Man United, 2002/03 . Thierry Henry -  Arsenal, 2004/05 . Antonio Valencia - Man United, 2011/12 . He also assisted Costa for goals against Everton and Hazard versus Leicester as he proves himself an inspired piece of business by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho. And the Spaniard had started the season in flying form, laying on goals for Andre Schurrle and Branislav Ivanovic on the opening weekend of the season at Burnley. The 27-year-old finished his Arsenal career how he has started his spell in west London. Fabregas laid on a goal for Robin van Persie in a defeat at Bolton after setting up efforts for Theo Walcott and van Persie in a thrilling 3-3 draw at north London rivals Spurs. Before Fabregas' sparkling performance against the Swans he had been one of six players with assists in five consecutive Premier League appearances. But Chelsea's new hero moves ahead of Darren Anderton, Gianfranco Zola, Ryan Giggs, Thierry Henry and Antonio Valencia to set a new benchmark.

Fabregas laid on two goals for Diego Costa in Chelsea's 4-2 win over Swansea . Also set up strikes against Everton, Leicester and Burnley in an explosive start to his Blues career . Run carries on from his time at Arsenal when he claimed assists in his final two Premier League games . Proving to be an inspired signing by Jose Mourinho after arriving in the summer from Barcelona . Had been one of six players with assists in five consecutive games .

By . Darren Boyle . A Russian tycoon who was gunned down in front of his luxury London flat two years ago will face an extradition hearing in September over an alleged plot to assassinate a rich banker. German Gorbuntsov, 48, who was shot six times in a murder attempt in March 2012, is wanted in Moldova to stand trial over the claims. He was discharged from hospital today after having surgery for his injuries. German Gorbuntsov, pictured, was shot six times outside his London flat in March 2012 . Gorbuntsov is accused of ordering the contract killing of businessman Renat Usatiy, in a fight for control of a bank. He was not required to attend the hearing today at Westminster Magistrates' Court. The extradition hearing will take place on September 1 at Westminster Magistrates' Court in front of senior district judge Howard Riddle. Gorbuntsov went into hiding at a secret address guarded by armed police after the shooting two years ago. Following the botched murder attempt in March 2012, detectives released CCTV images of a man suspected of carrying out the shooting. A suspected was seen in Canary Wharf underground station. Authorities in Moldova want to question Gorbuntsov over an assassination plot against Renat Usatiy, pictured . Michael Evans, representing Gorbuntsov, said there is an ongoing threat to the defendant’s life. ‘The assassins are still at large, as are the people who instructed them,’ he said. ‘Gorbuntsov’s life could be endangered.’ He added: ‘Gorbuntsov has been in hospital and on bail to the hospital address. ‘It was anticipated he would be in hospital for four weeks for an operation following on from the 2012 assassination attempt. ‘This morning doctors told him he had made a speedy recovery and they want to discharge him today. ‘We would like to make an application to vary bail to his home address with curfew conditions.’ The feud allegedly started after Mr Usatiy bought a stake in Universal Bank in Moldova for £1.2 million at a time when Gorbuntsov was facing debt problems. Moldovan prosecutors have confirmed their request to Britain to put Mr Gorbuntsov on trial. There will be a preliminary hearing on August 6. Gorbuntsov is on bail with a curfew requirement. The suspect, pictured, shot German Gorbuntsov at least six times with a handgun before fleeing . Officers investigating the attempted murder released CCTV footage from Canary Wharf station . The suspect, left, escaped from the scene of the crime on March 20, 2012 using public transport .

German Gorbuntsov was shot six times in the chest by a would-be assassin . Gorbuntsov needed emergency surgery following the March 2012 shooting . The businessman is accused of trying to arrange the murder of a rival . Moldovan authorities wish to extradite Gorbuntsov to answer the charges . He will appear at Westminster Magistrates' court on September 1 .

A teenage student accused of making bombs in his home told police he took a stolen handgun to his Maryland school last week, but was too drunk to carry out a deadly shooting attack, records show. Sash Alexander Nemphos, 16, wrote in his journal that he planned to kill his parents, as well as students, teachers and a police officer at the Towson school in Baltimore, court documents state. The student took the .38-calibre revolver in his backpack to the George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology on Halloween but forgot the explosives for the deadly attack he plotted. 'Talented artist': Sash Nemphos (pictured), 16, had planned to carry out the attack on the George Washington Carver Center for the Arts and Technology on Halloween but told officers he had drank whisky before classes . Plot: During a police interview for vehicle break-ins, Nemphos allegedly revealed he had explosive devices at his home and wanted to kill people at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology (pictured) Nemphos, described as a 'shy and talented artist', said he drank whiskey before classes that day and was too drunk to go ahead with his plans, the documents show. He said he intended to try again on Monday – two days after he was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of car break-ins in Monkton, according to the Baltimore Sun. But during an interview with Baltimore County police, he told officers he had explosive devices at his home for his plot to kill people at the Towson school. He was later charged as an adult. Nemphos' arrest stunned students, staff and parents at the arts school. Wednesday was Carver's first full day of school this week since the arrest was announced, and counselors were made available to speak with students, according to the school's spokesman. Police documents show Nemphos told officers he had been bullied for years and had told teachers, but he said they took no action. Suspect: Nemphos (pictured in his Google Plus  profile) told officers he planned to carry out the shooting spree last Monday and had even practiced taking a gun to the school inside his backpack in the Towson school . Spokesman Mychael Dickerson said he could not discuss the case because of student privacy laws, but said county schools have procedures that teachers must follow if they get reports of bullying. 'Teachers work with counselors immediately,' Dickerson said. He said staff also are trained to take note of students exhibiting abnormal behaviors. Police were first alerted to Nemphos after three employees at the Monkton Grille on Saturday said someone stole items from their unlocked vehicles in the back lot while they worked. One worker told the officer dispatched there that she had seen a teenage boy hanging about the restaurant around the time of the break-ins. A worker at a nearby local shop said a boy fitting the same description often tried to buy cigarettes there. The employee had written down the tag number of a vehicle he once saw the boy enter. Charged as an adult: The teenager was originally charged as a juvenile on suspicion of the possession of a destructive device and a handgun violation. But on Monday, the suspect's status was changed to 'adult' Proud: Earlier on Monday, Baltimore Police Chief, Jim Johnson, said the first responding officer who had interviewed Nemphos 'did an exceptional job of police work'. Above, a Baltimore Police tweet says the same . It belonged a vehicle owned by Nemphos' father, and police tracked it to the family's home on Quiet Oaks Lane. In a police search of Nemphos's house in Monkton after his arrest, officers apparently found three crude, homemade explosives, hazardous materials and a gun, according to the Baltimore Sun. They then called their Hazardous Devices Team, who dismantled the devices , made from 'readily-available. The teenager reportedly told police he had taken the handgun from his father's job. Search: During a search of Nemphos's house (pictured) in Monkton, police reportedly found three crude, homemade explosives, hazardous materials and a gun that Nemphos allegedly took  from his father's job . At one point during his interview with police, the boy's father pulled the officer aside and told him a handgun at his business in Baltimore had been stolen a few months ago, and he was worried his son might have had something to do with it. Police said Nemphos eventually admitted he had stolen the gun and hidden it in a plastic container in his bedroom, the documents state. Chief:  In an online statement: Baltimore Police Chief, Jim Johnson said thanks to the responding officer's 'diligence, we intervened in what could have been an extremely serious situation' at the school in Towson . When asked what he planned to do with the weapon, the teen said he was going to kill his parents and then drive to the school and shoot the school police officer. He said he planned to take the school officer's gun and kill as many students and teachers as he could, according to the documents. Shooting: It comes just 10 days after teenager Jaylen Fryberg (pictured) shot five classmates in the cafeteria at Marysville Pilchuck High School in Washington State, killing three girls and injuring the three others . Nemphos faces charges including possession of a destructive device, theft and a handgun violation. He is being held at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School in Parkville. No attorney is listed for him in online court records, and his parents could not be reached for comment. Meanwhile, a Carver administrator told the newspaper there were no 'red flags' that could have alerted staff to the student's deadly intentions. 'At this point, nothing has been shared with us [from the school] to give us any indication that this could have happened,' said Maria Lowery. 'We had no reason to suspect we had an issue.' Parents of students at Carver - a premier arts school that is considered one of the top-performing insitutions in the country - were notified of the suspect's charges on Monday. School guidance counselors are currently on hand to help students who have concerns or are distressed about the allegations against Nemphos. The teenager, who was initially taken for a mental health evaluation, is being held at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School, a detention center for male youths, without bail. He is also charged with theft in relation to the car break-ins he had reportedly carried out. It comes just 10 days after teenager Jaylen Fryberg shot five classmates in the cafeteria at Marysville Pilchuck High School in Washington State, killing three girls and injuring the three others . The unsuspecting teens were all seated at a lunch table when 15-year-old Fryberg pulled out a .40-caliber Beretta handgun and shot each one, before committing suicide. Last week, investigators said the shooter had lured his victims to the scene by text message before launching the deadly attack. And on Monday, another alleged plot for a school shooting was thwarted by police when a 17-year-old girl was arrested in Radnor Township, suburban Philadelphia. The senior at Radnor High School allegedly wrote in a notebook that she was influenced by the 1999 Columbine High School massacre and wanted to become a mass murderer, . She was arrested and will be charged as a juvenile for making terrorist threats.

Sash Nemphos, 16, took a .38 revolver to his Maryland school on Friday . But drank whiskey before classes and was unable to go ahead with plot . The 'shy artist' had planned to try his deadly gun attack again on Monday . Police, however, arrested him on Saturday on suspicion of car break-ins . In an interview he told officers of his plans to 'shoot and kill' in school . Teenager reportedly told officers he took handgun from his father's job .

By . Kerry Mcdermott . PUBLISHED: . 06:43 EST, 10 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:09 EST, 10 July 2013 . Martin Clarkson: The 59-year-old attacked his estranged wife with a pocket knife . A man who stabbed his estranged wife in the head because she was given custody of their dogs following their split has walked free from court. After attacking Sarah Dowse in the street with a pocket knife as she walked the terriers near her home in Redcar, Martin Clarkson, 59, was heard to say: 'I've given her face a good kicking... she'll need plastic surgery.' Police initially treated the incident as attempted murder, but Clarkson was given a 15-month suspended sentence after admitting inflicting grievous bodily harm. Ms Dowse, 34, last night told of her shock that her former husband was not jailed for the incident on January 24, which saw Clarkson repeatedly stab his ex in the head and fracture her cheekbone before he was overpowered by a passerby. Teesside Crown Court heard he fled to the home of another former wife following the attack and asked: 'Have the police been?', before describing how he had given Ms Dowse's face 'a good kicking'. Passing sentence, Judge Peter Moorhouse imposed a five-year restraining order preventing Clarkson from contacting his ex, but Ms Dowse has since said the ban 'won't stop me feeling in fear of him every day'. 'I expected him to get a prison sentence, and I feel what he received was inadequate for the suffering he caused me,' she said. Prosecutor Tamara Pawson told Teesside Crown Court the couple had been together for eight years and married for two. The relationship broke down late last year and by the time of the incident, Clarkson was said by his barrister to have been at 'an all-time low'. Ms Dowse was walking the Patterdale terrier and border terrier when Clarkson shouted from across the road: 'Can I talk to you?' She replied 'no'. 'Inadequate': Judge Peter Moorhouse gave Clarkson a 15-month suspended sentence . He then ran at his former wife with an open pocket knife in his hand, threatening to stab her, Ms Pawson told the court. Clarkson sliced through one dog lead and then began 'sawing' at the neck of Ms Dowse’s jacket and repeatedly stabbing her head, the court heard. Peter Makepeace, mitigating, told the court the estranged couple's disagreement over their dogs had caused his client to 'snap'. 'Huge difficulties arose about the dogs, who would have custody of them,' he said. 'That is what made Mr Clarkson snap this day. He has never been in trouble before in 60 years and it is explicable by extremely heightened emotions involved in relationship breakdowns. 'He is deeply ashamed of what he has done... he understands it is in everyone’s interests he is kept apart from Sarah Dowse.' Imposing a restraining order and supervision to include alcohol treatment, Judge George Moorhouse told Clarkson: 'It is a very sad day when someone of your age with no previous convictions comes before the court for the first time.'Ms Dowse said last night: “No-one deserves to suffer domestic violence and I would urge anyone who is to get help, there is help out there. 'When I was told what he had received by my barrister, I was devastated. He was given a restraining order but that won’t stop me feeling in fear of him every day.' Peter Cuthbertson from the Centre for Crime Prevention said: 'This is an appalling example of the overuse of suspended sentences when prison would be more appropriate.' The Centre for Crime Prevention is calling on the government to limit suspended sentences to instances involving minor, first-time offenders. 'They should not be used for hardened criminals and crazed stabbings,' Mr Cuthbertson said.

Martin Clarkson, 59, attacked Sarah Dowse, 34, in the street in Redcar . Given a 15-month suspended sentence after admitting inflicting GBH . Clarkson's sentence has been branded 'inadequate' by victim .

By . Ian Parkes, Press Association . Jenson Button does not believe Nico Rosberg will fall prey to Lewis Hamilton's mind games this season. Button knows only too well how Hamilton ticks following their three years together at McLaren from 2010-2012. In what appears to be a clear battle of the Mercedes team-mates for this year's Formula One world title, Hamilton appears to have already started employing psychological tactics with Rosberg. Familiar sight: Lewis Hamilton (right) secured his fourth straight victory in Spain by pipping Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg . Easy street: Hamilton's fourth straight grand prix win sent him top of the drivers' standings . Winning team: Mercedes have won all five races this season so far . Although victorious in the last four grands prix, Hamilton claimed at the end of two of those Rosberg was faster and he was lucky to win in the wake of holding off the German. Button is wondering whether Hamilton is trying to get inside the head of Rosberg and make him doubt his own pace and car. Double duty: Jenson Button was seen recently filming an advert for a sponsor . 'I am sure there will - if there aren't already - be mind games going on. There were a few things he played on me,' said Button. 'It would work on some drivers, whereas others it just makes them stronger because they laugh it off. 'Nico is intelligent to know if Lewis is playing mind games or not, which in some ways could help Nico or harm him. He might just end up getting fed up with it. 'But Lewis is fully of confidence at the moment and he is a fierce competitor when he is like that, even when he is not having a good day.' Whilst Hamilton may also be attempting to draw Mercedes' focus on to himself rather than Rosberg, Button is confident the Brackley-based team will continue to deal an even hand to both of their drivers, as has been the case so far. 'The thing is with that team is because they are going to walk away with it - I know we are only five races in, but they have such a big lead - they're not going to favour just one driver,' added Button. Struggle: Jenson Button finished 11th in the Spanish Grand Prix for McLaren . Best hope? Button hinted that Red Bull have an outside chance of winning in Monaco, with Daniel Ricciardo finishing third in Spain . 'They will let their drivers race because they need to keep the show going, and we need them to keep the show going and let both drivers race. 'So there is no point trying to get the team behind you because they won't. I think they will be very fair, and they need to be for the sport.' With Mercedes dominating the year, with five straight victories and four successive one-twos, Button believes Mercedes could yet make history and become the first team to win every race in a season. 'I would be amazed if another car wins a race this year,' remarked Button. 'Maybe Red Bull might in Monaco (next weekend) because that circuit is not about power. But it is going to be tricky for anyone (other than Mercedes) to win a race, and if they do then they have done a bloody good job catching up.'

Hamilton has won four out of five Formula 1 races this season . Mercedes team-mate Rosberg won opening grand prix . Button admits 2008 world champion tried similar tactics during their period as McLaren team-mates . 2009 world champion would be amazed if Mercedes don't win every race . German team led home one-two finishes in last four rounds . Button warns Mercedes that they owe fans by allowing drivers to race fairly .

Opulent processions, well-coiffed royals and a few European landmarks thrown in - it is the perfect light watching to ease you into the day. And television networks didn't miss a trick with the Queen's Jubilee, sending out their big names - topped with a variety of obnoxious hats - to cover the four-day event in London. With the UK five hours ahead of Eastern time, the festivities fall perfectly for morning television.  And as the celebration reaches its conclusion on Tuesday,  the networks battle for the best coverage. Together again: Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira were reunited as co-hosts at Buckingham Palace while cover the Queen's Jubilee clebration for the Today show . Leading the pack has been the Today show, which sent Meredith Vieira to preview the long weekend's festivities on Friday from the Tower of London. She has since been at the helm of the show's coverage, broadcasting from Buckingham Palace. On Tuesday, NBC added more big names to the mix, sending out Al Roker and Matt Lauer to join her. Vieira had previously warned them to 'bring the long . johns' to fight the weather, but joked that the drizzle made 'the events . more British, not less'. CNN flashed jubilant scenes of thousands of well wishers waving flags along The Mall. Piers Morgan and Brooke Baldwin will lead the live CNN broadcast live for two hours starting at 9 a.m. ET. Getting to know the people: Today's Al Roker mingles with the crowds in London to ask about the Jubilee . Coverage: Vieira flew to London last week to preview events. She is joined by CNN and Good Morning America . Protests by British republicans – a mere footnote in the UK -- are enjoying prime-time coverage on Iranian state-run television channels which have ignored the loyal majority’s revelry. 'Chants of Monarchy Out! Republic In echo in UK,' trumpeted a headline on the website of Iran’s English language Press TV. Tehran’s main Persian language channel, IRTV 1, declared that the Queen should shoulder some responsible for Britain’s 'grave economic situation.' It opined: 'The extravagant spending of the Queen, including the expensive wedding of Prince William, her annual tours and festivities and the current diamond jubilee celebrations have added to the problems.' RTV 1featured a protestor proclaiming, 'I speak on behalf of millions of British people who are opposed to the monarchist system.' Iran has been staunchly republican since its Islamic revolution in 1979 overthrew 2,500 years of monarchy. Good . Morning America is hosting 'GMA at the Jubilee' with Robin Roberts . broadcasting live from outside Buckingham Palace, interviewing British . celebrities while looking at processions below. CNN led the coverage over the weekend, broadcasting the Thames Jubilee Pageant and the Diamond Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving. But, . while UK viewers reveled in the wonderment of the concert on Monday . night - featuring Kylie Minogue, Will.i.am and Elton John, among others - . U.S. audiences were comparatively hard done by. ABC nabbed exclusive rights to the show and presented excerpts from 9 p.m. ET during 20/20: Concert for the Queen. Coverage of the occasion has varied across the world. Republican France celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee as if its own Revolution had never happened. The celebrations in London dominated TV screens and newspapers, with Le Monde correspondent Marc Roche saying the French 'don't know much about the Queen, but they like the pomp and circumstance, they like the grandeur of the institution.' More than 3.5million watched a three-and-a-half hour live Jubilee special on France 2 television on Sunday afternoon. 'We got 26.3 per cent of the audience, despite the French Open tennis tournament being on at the same time on another channel,' said Yannick Letranchant, who commissioned the programme. Last year's Royal Wedding and the success of the film 'The King's Speech' has made the British monarch extremely popular. Princess Diana, who died in Paris in 1997, is also remembered with great fondness. 'We have no royal family, so we end up with characters like Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni living like royals,' said Parisian Genevieve Blanc. 'They are nothing like as impressive as the real thing, and in fact end up embarrassing us. This is one of the main reasons why we envy the British.' All newspapers covered the Jubilee on their front page at some point, with Figaro giving a number of reasons why the Queen is 'cool again'. In Italy, the were covered extensively on the TV, newspapers, radio and internet with photographs of the river pageant dominating - as well as several pictures of the Duchess of Cambridge looking regal in her bright red dress. Having a jolly good time: Queen Elizabeth, with the Dean of St. Paul's David Ison, leaves after a service to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee at St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday. The four-day event concludes today . Family: Prince Charles, Prince William, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge leave the service . Every morning, the main channels had a . live link-up via their London correspondents to describe the previous . day's events and go through proceedings. Even British Rome-based correspondents were asked to contribute an opinion. Italian coverage highlighted how a . Venetian gondola had taken part in the river pageant and all the . coverage described how despite the dismal weather that more than a . million people turned up to see the spectacle - underlining the strength . of feeling for the Queen. Repubblica described the Queen as . 'Elizabeth the Great' adding how the crowds had been 'partying wildly' throughout the whole weekend. Corriere Della Sera said the pageant . had 'told the story of the Windsors,navigating through crisis and . splendour, through love and intrigue'. Il Messaggero described the . celebrations as an 'unprecedented spectacle' adding how the . photographers had all been 'pointing their cameras towards Kate as well . as the Queen, with her stunning red dress.' Jubilant: The Jubilee events - which conclude today - will be widely covered by US television networks today . The coverage also highlighted how the . Duke of Edinburgh had been forced to miss the last two days of . celebrations after 'bravely enduring the cold for four hours', but the . Queen had continued with the festivities once informed he was doing well . in hospital. BBC Worldwide aired the Diamond . Jubilee Celebrations on channels across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, . Latin America, India, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. A . spokesperson said it was still too early to obtain exact viewing . figures, but said they had already received 'amazing feedback.' In . Australia there was an outcry as ABC shunned the celebrations and . showed a repeat of raunchy Warren Beatty movie Shampoo instead. Australians for Constitutional Monarchy head, Professor David Flint, has  attacked the ABC for the snub. 'I think it is absolutely appalling and astounding,' Professor Flint said. In . Canada, CBC covered an extensive amount of the celebrations and . reported that more than a million Canadians watched their coverage . yesterday morning. In the spirit: Elise Pearce holds a flag showing the Queen while waiting for the carriage procession during the Diamond Jubilee on Tuesday . It . seemed that on a worldwide basis, the Jubilee received much lighter . coverage from the media than the Royal Wedding in April 2011. 'I . assumed the ABC was going to at least broadcast the central events, as . you would expect them to do a royal wedding or a coronation.' On Tuesday night, ABC in the U.S. will broadcast two-hour highlights of the concert from 9 p.m. ET. Audiences . still have the Ceremonial day to look forward to, where the queen and . royal family and 2,000 British worthies will attend an Anglican . thanksgiving service at St. Paul's Cathedral. After this, the queen and royal . family will attend private receptions, then a lunch at Westminster Hall . before taking a procession, lined with military bands and troops, back . to Buckingham Palace. Around 3:30 p.m. local time - 10.30 a.m. ET - the royal family will assemble on the balcony. Good Morning America, World News with Diane Sawyer and Nightline will broadcast throughout the day. In addition to the U.S. channels, BBC . America has been offering wide coverage. On Tuesday, BBC America will . broadcast live from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET. All smiles: There will be a procession later today before the royal family assemble on the balcony . It comes after some channels also heavily previewed the weekend's events. Viera popped out to London well ahead of the festivities to preview events from the Tower of London on Friday. And in last week's ABC special,The Jubilee Queen with Katie Couric, the beloved anchor quizzed Princes William and Harry, as well as the Duke of York and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. While colourful scenes were splashed across television screens, the coverage by the American newspapers was comparatively lifeless. In the U.S. newspapers, mentions . of the widespread parties and the Queen's processions have been sparse, . hidden in the back pages and squashed alongside the ads. Instead, the press, including the New York Post and the New York Times, focused on the bad news from the weekend - Prince Philip's trip to hospital. The Queen's husband, who turns 91 this weekend, was admitted to hospital on Monday with a bladder infection and will remain there for a few days as a precaution.

On a worldwide basis the . Jubilee received much lighter coverage from the media than the Royal . Wedding in April 2011 . U.S. press has focused Prince Philip's trip to hospital instead of celebrations . BBC Worldwide aired coverage across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin . America, India, Africa, Europe and the Middle East with 'amazing feedback' Iran state TV focused coverage on minor anti-royal protests in Britain . Celebrations extensively covered by the French media and some 3.6million viewers watched Jubilee special on France 2 television . Italian newspaper Repubblica describes Queen as 'Elizabeth the Great' Australian TV channel ABC shunned the live celebrations and showed a repeat of raunchy Warren Beatty movie Shampoo instead . In Canada over million Canadians watched CBC coverage yesterday .

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) -- North Korea has proposed high-level talks with the United States to "ease tensions in the Korean Peninsula," its state news agency reported early Sunday. The topics that "can be sincerely discussed" include easing military tensions, changing a truce treaty to a peace treaty, and nuclear matters, according to a statement from the North's National Defense Commission, as reported by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. It left some details -- like where and when the talks might be held -- up to Washington, and insisted U.S. officials should not lay out any preconditions for talks. "(The United States should) not lose the opportunity that is laid out and should actively agree with our resolute step and good intention," the commission said. A spokeswoman for the National Security Council said the United States has always been willing to talk. "We will judge North Korea by its actions and not its words, and look forward to seeing steps that show North Korea is ready to abide by its commitments and obligations," Caitlin Hayden said. A senior administration official said Washington will discuss the reports with Japan and South Korea at an upcoming meeting. For years, North Korea has been at odds with many in the international community, including the United States, over its missile and nuclear programs. Whether Pyongyang's offer is accepted -- and if so, on what terms -- and whether the talks will happen remain to be seen. Last Tuesday, North Korea called off what were supposed to be the first high-level talks between North and South Korean officials in years. That meeting was supposed to start the next day. High-level talks between Koreas called off . South Korea's Unification Ministry said the North dropped out after a dispute about who should be involved in the talks, after each side contended that the other wasn't sending a sufficiently high-level official. The talks were to focus on, among other things, reviving joint economic activities. Amid a spike in tensions, the North in April halted activity at the Kaesong Industrial Zone, a shared industrial complex and major symbol of cooperation between the two countries. North Korea removes missiles from launch site, U.S. official says . It was not immediately clear what might be on the agenda if U.S. and North Korean officials meet. Washington has been at the forefront of those demanding an end to Pyongyang's nuclear program, pushing for sanctions and rallying other nations to its side. Tensions in and around the Korean Peninsula surged in December -- one year after Kim Jong Un assumed power after his father's death -- when North Korea launched a long-range rocket, then conducted an underground nuclear test two months later. Adm. Samuel J. Locklear, the top U.S. commander in the Pacific, said in April that North Korea's missile and weapons programs posed "a clear and direct threat to U.S. national security and regional peace and stability." Why North Korean intelligence is so hard to read . That same month, North Korea set out demanding conditions for talks. They included calling for the withdrawal of U.N. sanctions against it and a permanent end to joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises. The United States and South Korea "should immediately stop all their provocative acts against the DPRK and apologize for all of them," the North's National Defense Commission said in a statement carried by state-run media, using the shortened version of North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. But those talks never came to be, with South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Cho Tai-young describing the North's demands as "preposterous." The United States has said that, in order for it to engage in talks, North Korea would have to show a serious commitment to moving away from its nuclear program. If new talks actually happen, it will be the second senior-level meeting between the U.S. and North Korea since Kim Jong Un took power. The first talks were in February 2012, when North Korea's first vice minister, Kim Kye Gwan, held talks in Beijing with Glyn Davies, the U.S. envoy for North Korea policy. At the time, North Korea agreed to stop nuclear activity at its main facility in Yongbyon and impose a moratorium on nuclear tests and long-range missile launches in exchange for 240,000 tons of food assistance. However, the agreement fell apart after the U.N. imposed sanctions in response to North Korea's failed long-range rocket launch in April 2012.

NEW: Washington says North Korea needs to back up its words . A North Korean government group makes its offer to the U.S. to "ease tensions" The U.S. has spearheaded efforts targeting North Korea's nuclear program . The North abruptly called off talks days ago with South Korea .

By . Emily Crane For Daily Mail Australia . Australia's Great Barrier Reef is at risk because authorities are failing to protect the marine park by approving the dumping of dredge spoil, a former government official says. Jon Day, who was a former director of Conservation Biodiversity and World Heritage at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, says the dumping of dredge spoil will put more pressure on a reef that is already in decline. The authority approved plans in January to dump three million cubic metres of dredge spoil at the Great Barrier Reef to expand Queensland's Abbot Point coal port. Scroll down for video . Australia's Great Barrier Reef is at risk because authorities are failing to protect the marine park by approving the dumping of dredge spoil from Abbot Point coal port, a former government official says . It's a decision that should not have been made, according to Mr Day, and is part of an ABC Four Corners investigation on Monday. Scientists and senior officials within the authority faced a tense year-long struggle against the proposal, with fears about the effect the spoil could have on the marine park. 'The big question is why was it allowed to be approved,' Four Corners reporter Marian Wilkinson told Daily Mail Australia. 'The official view from the Environment Minister (Greg Hunt) is that they've put tougher environmental conditions on so they believe it can be done safely. But there's a lot of questions among experts inside and outside the agency about it.' Jon Day, who was a former director of Conservation Biodiversity and World Heritage at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, told ABC reporter Marian Wilkinson the dumping of dredge spoil would put more pressure on a reef that is already in decline . Mr Day, who resigned from the authority last month, says alternatives to sea dumping for Abbot Point weren't properly considered. 'If we take that into account and if we did a proper evaluation of all the alternatives, that decision would not have been made,' he said. 'Our own legislative mandate says "the long-term protection and conservation of the values", and we're not doing that.' Wilkinson said the decision was criticised by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which will decide next year whether the reef should be declared 'in danger'. The authority approved plans in January to dump three million cubic metres of dredge spoil at the Great Barrier Reef to expand Queensland's Abbot Point coal port . Reporter Marian Wilkinson Wilkinson said the decision was criticised by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which will decide next year whether the reef should be declared 'in danger' 'The other options to look at were trying to find a place to dump on land and trying to do something to extend the port's trestles so that ships didn't have to come so close to the reef,' Wilkinson said. Mr Hunt, the federal environment minister who approved the dumping, told the program that Abbot Point was a 'line in the sand' and he has guaranteed that no further dumping will take place in the marine park under his watch. 'Of course, the argument from some of the scientists is why did we have to have this one in the first place?' Wilkinson said. The ABC's Four Corners is on Monday night at 8.30pm. Scientists and senior officials within the authority faced a tense year-long struggle against the proposal, with fears about the effect the spoil could have on the marine park .

A senior official at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority says dumping more dredge would put extra pressure on the reef . The authority approved plans in January to dump 3 million cubic metres of dredge spoil at the reef to expand Queensland's Abbot Point coal port . It's a decision that shouldn't have been made, according to scientists . Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has vowed to stop future dredge spoil at the marine park .

(CNN) -- He has met the United States' former First Lady, and an audience with Barack Obama awaits, but the American that world champion boxer Amir Khan really wants to face next is proving a bit more elusive. The British fighter has set his heart on becoming the planet's best pound-for-pound pugilist, and for him that means taking on the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. -- who, as a five-division champion, once laid claim to that coveted crown. Khan, 24, unified the WBA super and IBF light welterweight world championship belts in July by defeating American Zab Judah in Las Vegas in July, while Mayweather recently returned to the ring after a 16-month absence. Six-time world champion Mayweather has won all of his 42 fights as a professional, 26 by knockout, and emerged victorious from a controversial contest with Victor Ortiz on September 18. But the fight many boxing fans want to see is Mayweather against eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao -- the Filipino rated by Ring Magazine as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. "Floyd Mayweather pound for pound is probably one of the best fighters in the world," Khan, who won an Olympic silver medal in the lightweight category at the Athens Games in 2004, told CNN. "Me and Manny both want to fight him, but that will never happen because at the moment he doesn't want to fight either of us. But it will come to a stage when the pressure will be so much on Floyd Mayweather that he'll have to take the fight." Khan doubts that a match-up between his Golden Boy stablemate Mayweather and Top Rank's Pacquiao will ever happen, with disagreements over drug-testing and money having previously prevented the fight. "You've got two different promotion teams, and for them to agree on terms for a fight is very difficult," he said. "Firstly, you've got Mayweather saying that Manny has to take so many drug tests and blood tests, then Manny talking about the purse. But that fight will generate about $100 million each, so it's a lot of money to say no to." Mayweather, 34, and Pacquiao, 32, have both occupied the position of best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and Khan is aiming to emulate the success enjoyed by the decorated duo. "I want to be known as a legend in the sport and I want to win everything. I want to be a pound-for-pound champion of the world, and every morning when I wake up that's what drives me to the gym to train hard," he said. "When I'm tired in the gym, that's what pushes me, because I want to be the best there is. And, I'm nearly there. I'm only 24, I'm the unified champion, I'm a two-time world champion, and I've done it so young. But I want to achieve more." Khan has seen his international profile increase in the last 18 months, having fought in the U.S. on three occasions since making his American bow against Paulie Malignaggi at New York's Madison Square Gardens in March 2010. It would now appear even politicians are starting to sit up and take notice of the Bolton-born fighter, with Khan having recently met U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and now being lined up for an audience with President Barack Obama later this year. "I was invited to go to the state building," said Khan. "Hilary Clinton invited me and my team. It was an honor to be part of that event. It was about the Muslim sportsmen who were influential and who do good things in the Muslim community. "I enjoyed it and they want me back over there in December probably to meet Obama, so it's good times. "When they first got talking about it, I thought they were just pulling my leg, but they were quite serious about it, and I thought 'Wow'. I might never get the chance to go to the White House or meet Obama again, so I'm going to make the most of it."

Boxing champion Amir Khan tells CNN he wants to face Floyd Mayweather . The Briton says he doesn't think Mayweather will ever face Manny Pacquiao . Khan has set his sights on becoming world's best pound-for-pound fighter . The 24-year-old will meet U.S. President Barack Obama later this year .

By . Chris Greenwood . and Eleanor Harding . and Amie Keeley . PUBLISHED: . 13:51 EST, 27 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 19:51 EST, 27 January 2014 . The home of a top British diplomat was at the centre of a huge counter-terrorism search last night over fears it is being used to hide chemical weapons. Dozens of officers, including specialists in chemical and biological threats, were tearing apart the £650,000 property after a tip-off. The house belongs to Nicholas Sutcliffe, a first secretary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who has served in Brazil and Cuba. Searches: Investigators in protective equipment sift through material at the Streatham house tonight . Operation: Police stand guard outside the address in Stratford, where searches are also taking place . Through the night: This photograph, taken on Monday night, shows the searches continuing after dark . It is not known if the senior public . servant, who shares the property with his wife Carole and four sons, was . at home when the police raid began. A . 19-year-old man, believed to be one of his twin sons, was arrested . under counter terrorism laws and has since been released on bail. In . a second linked operation, a 36-year-old woman was arrested at her home . in Stratford, East London, under the same legislation. She remained in . custody last night. Neighbours . described a ‘motorcade’ descending on their street in Streatham Hill, . South London as more than 30 officers in a dozen vans, including a . satellite communications truck, surrounded the property and sealed the . road. Specialist officers . were seen entering the four-bedroom semi-detached home wearing . protective clothing and carrying breathing equipment. Within . hours they could be seen digging up the back garden as colleagues . searched the home. The search was then expanded to the garden of the . neighbouring property, which is owned by an unconnected family. Forensic tents were erected over the excavations and arc lights erected so they could continue working through the night. Arrests: Police stand guard outside the Streatham property earlier today . Search: Officers have set up tents in houses surrounding the Streatham address . Scotland . Yard described the raid as an ‘intelligence-led, pre-planned operation’ and it is not believed to be linked to an active terrorist plot. A spokesman said residents were not at ‘immediate risk’, adding that   the protective clothing was a precautionary measure. The . teenager was arrested under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, . drawn up after 9/11. A key element allows the Home Secretary to . indefinitely detain, without charge or trial, foreign nationals . suspected of terrorism. It also covers aiding or abetting the overseas use or development of chemical or biological weapons. Mr . Sutcliffe is described in the Diplomatic Service List as a ‘First . Secretary’ to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 2001. He . was posted to Brazil as an economic expert, in 1990, and Havana, Cuba, . in 1998. His sons attended Graveney School in South London. Mr . Sutcliffe’s sister-in-law Jenny, from Chelmsford, said: ‘I don’t know . anything about it. It’s just lunacy. It just sounds so strange. We’re . talking about a normal, middle-class family here. It must be a mix-up.’ Searches: Officers approach the Streatham address, where police confirmed searches were continuing . Planned operation: The arrests were made over the weekend . Officers: Police could be seen around the address in Streatham, south London, where on arrest took place . His . brother Peter Sutcliffe, 49, of Huddersfield, a magazine editor, said: . ‘James and George are my nephews and they are 19-year-old twins. I find . it extraordinary police have made an arrest and I cannot believe either . James or George have involvement in terrorism.’ Neighbour . Serena Agnello, 22, said: ‘The police have come in to use my loo a few . times and one told me they found something. They said they’re going to . be here for the rest of the week.’ Others . described the Sutcliffes as a ‘quiet family’ and said they were . ‘stunned’ by the police operation which was ‘taking the house apart . piece by piece’. One wrote . on Twitter: ‘Scary, gas masks on and they won’t tell us anything!’ Neighbour Peter Petchey, 60, said: ‘They seemed like a very nice family . and they must have lived there for at least 12 years.’ The raid took place at 8am on Saturday. The Stratford operation was mounted at 4pm on Sunday. Local MP Chuka Umunna said police had told him there was no danger to other residents.

A 19-year-old man was arrested in Streatham, south London . Thirty officers swooped on four-bedroom home worth £650,000 . A woman, 36, was also arrested in Stratford, east London, yesterday . Police have set up tents and are thought to be looking for chemicals . Three addresses in London are currently being searched by experts .

By . Wills Robinson . Without his well-groomed quiff, Elvis Presley may not have become 'The King'. Female fans around the world would scream when they saw the singer's stylish pomp. Now the singer's followers can own a single strand as it is being put up for auction, but they may have to spend as much as £500. Authentic: A single strand of The King's hair, set in the middle of this gold record, will go on sale in Northumberland tomorrow . Rare item: Jim Railton says there is no estimate on the rare item, but claims it could sell from anywhere between £50 and £5000 . Display: The tiny strand is mounted in the middle of a disc below a black-and-white picture of The King . The single piece of the world-renowned quiff, which is set in the middle of a framed golden record, will go under the hammer in Wooler, Northumberland tomorrow. It . has come from the collection of a late Elvis fan who lived in Gosforth, . Newcastle. Auctioneer Jim Railton has not placed an estimate on the item, saying: 'It will make whatever it makes. It could sell for £50 or £500.' In the back of the picture frame is what purports to be a signed and witnessed document in the name of Thomas Morgan, who claims he knew Elvis. The document says that Mr Morgan was a close friend of the singer's hair stylist, Homer Gilleland. The letter describes how Mr Gilleland, who died in 1995, worked at Goldsmith's department store in Memphis, Tennessee, where Elvis lived. Members of Elvis' family were among his customers and he got to know the musician, who eventually appointed him. The King: A witness document signed by a man who is said to have known Elvis and his hair stylist Homer Gilleand could prove the item is real . Relationship: The letter from Thomas B. Morgan Jr saying the singer gave his stylist a number of presents, including a 1972 Lincoln Mark IV, before he died in 1977 . It also states that Mr Gilleland accompanied the singer on various tours and . 'One of his prize possessions was a bag of hair clippings that he had saved over many years when cutting and styling Elvis's hair,' Mr Morgan added. 'He ascertained that this bag of clippings were personally saved by him.' Mr Railton said: 'The one thing I have certainly never sold before is a strand of Elvis's hair. There are a lot of Elvis fans out there.' At first Mr Railton was suspicious of how genuine the item was, but claims the documents suggest it could be the real thing. Signed: The correspondence states 'I do solemnly swear and attest that the hair clippings are actually from Elvis Aron Presley'

Sample from The King's head will be sold in Northumberland tomorrow . Comes from collection of late fan who lived in Gosforth, Newcastle . There is no estimate on the item, but could sell for up to £500 . Witnessed document signed by Thomas Morgan who knew Elvis . Said to have been given to The King's hairstylist, Homer Gilleland .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . Pop star Sting’s estate in Tuscany was renovated by workers linked to the mafia, Italian police said yesterday. Police arrested six people on Wednesday, in connection with renovation companies that carried out high-profile work in Tuscany, including the restoration of the famous Uffizi Gallery in Florence and Sting’s 900-acre estate in the Chianti hills. Part of the firms’ profits went straight to the Neapolitan mafia, it is alleged. The singer and his wife Trudie Styler opened the estate to the public last year after renovation works were completed . Sting's 16th-century mansion, Il Palagio, features six cottages, a swimming pool, an outdoor chess board and a wine cellar. The estate produces its own wine, olive oil and honey. There is no suggestion the singer was aware of any alleged criminal action . The singer opened the estate to the public last year after renovation works were completed. Cottages can be rented for £5,800 a week each. The construction companies, Ggf . Construction and Pdp Construction, along with another company evaded . taxes for €10m (£8.3m) by filing fake invoices, to artificially inflate . their costs and lower their taxable income, police say. The . fabricated invoices were provided by eight other companies, closely . associated with the Camorra mafia. Investigators called them ‘paper . mills’ because their sole task was printing the invoices. ‘(They) could offer such (low) prices that honest companies could not compete, enabling them to obtain important public and private works,’ police said. There is no suggestion that Sting or any of the companies’ clients were aware of any illicit activity. As part of the operation, police also seized assets worth £9million.

Six arrested in connection with renovators who worked on property . Workers completed construction on several high-profile estates in Tuscany . Firms' profits went straight to the Neapolitan mafia, it is alleged .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . Gisele Bundchen poses in boxy blazers and smart menswear tailoring as the new face of French label Isabel Marant. Ms Bundchen, 33, fronts the brand’s fall 2014 advertisements – taking over the helm from previous campaign girl Daria Werbowy. This is not Ms Bundchen’s first time representing the label – she last starred in its spring 2011 campaign. New gig: Gisele Bundchen has been named as the new face of Isabel Marant - fronting the label's fall 2014 ads . Perfect poster girl: Ms Bundchen's trademark hair and good looks make her a more than adequate match for Ms Marant's famously laid-back clothes . The mother of Benjamin, four, and Vivian, one, is seen in the label's newest clothes - like an intarsia sweater, and chic buckled boots. Her appointment as the face of Isabel Marant – a label lauded for its unapologetically louche approach to classic French fare – comes just ahead of her starring moment expected at this summer’s World Cup. On July 13, the stunner is reportedly slated to present the tournament’s winning team with its coveted trophy. That is not the only exciting venture for Ms Bunchen, married to New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady since 2009. Last . week word of her topless campaign for Stuart Weitzman was released, . showing the Brazilian beauty in tapered jeans, boots, and little else. In living color: Ms Bundchen has a lot to celebrate this summer - as she was just named the face of Chanel No 5 and is expected to present the world cup trophy in July . In late May, she was named as the new face of Chanel No. 5 – taking over the iconic fragrance campaign from archival footage of Marilyn Monroe. Ms Bundchen is no stranger to Chanel and is currently the face of the brand's Les Beiges make-up range. Her No 5 campaign is expected to launch at the end of this year.

Only last week, the 33-year-old's topless campaign for Stuart Weitzman was released .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:34 EST, 1 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 04:57 EST, 2 January 2014 . Men who can't function without an early morning coffee kick can now get it as they're having a shave. A new product has added caffeine to normal shaving cream. It is absorbed by the skin – and an energy boost can be felt within five minutes, even before you've put your trousers on. The effect of the product is thought to set in when a man uses the matching aftershave. Men who normally head to the kitchen for a cup of coffee in the morning could now kick start their day in the bathroom, thanks to a new caffeinated shaving cream . An 85g bottle of the cream contains around 50mg of caffeine which is about the same level as a fizzy drink such as Coca Cola. It also helps to reduce red patches and blemishes on the skin. The bizarre cosmetic, dubbed the Caffeinated Shaving Cream, was invented by Stan Ades, 43, after he spotted the gap in the market. Stan, who is from San Francisco, said: 'There is lots of innovation on things like razors but not that much for shaving creams. 'I saw that there was a gap in the market and I knew that caffeine is a vasoconstrictor and an antioxidant that helps reduce redness and keeps skin feeling healthy. 'I spoke to a chemist and we infused caffeine into a shaving cream and not only does it help the skin, but it is actually absorbed into the body. 'It probably wouldn't be as effective as a cup of coffee and is more like the effect given from a can of fizzy drink, but you can definitely feel it. 'There is about 50mg of caffeine in a bottle of the shaving cream and between 40 and 80mg in a cup of coffee. 'Although the shaving cream is made from caffeine derived from coffee beans it doesn't smell of coffee and instead has a peppermint oil scent. 'As it is just 85g it is a good size for travellers and can be taken on aeroplanes because it is within the flying restrictions.' The shaving cream costs around five pounds from an online shop.

Caffeine is absorbed by skin when a customer is having a shave . It also helps to reduce red patches and blemishes on the skin . The cosmetic was invented by Stan Ades, 43, from San Francisco .

During a month filled with dropped points and squandered chances, Liverpool have missed an absent striker and, after Everton’s visit, they do so once more. Liverpool, of course, are a different proposition without Luis Suarez but the player they could have done with most in the 223rd Merseyside derby was his sidekick. Daniel Sturridge’s injury has proven damaging. Sturridge has spent most of September with a thigh problem sustained, much to Brendan Rodgers’ anger, on England duty; the longer he has been out, the clearer his importance has become. Liverpool have taken one point from a possible nine without him and need his speed and ruthlessness. Daniel Sturridge is suited (not booted) as he is guided to his seat in the stands ahead of the Merseyside derby . Sturridge was injured on England duty and has been out for most of September . LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Mignolet 5.5; Manquillo 7, Skrtel 7.5, Lovren 7, Moreno 7.5; Gerrard 8, Henderson 8.5; Lallana 7.5, Sterling 8, Markovic 5 (Coutinho 60min, 6); Balotelli 6 (Lambert 88). Subs not used: Jones, Toure, Lucas, Suso, Enrique. Scorer: Gerrard 64. Booked: Gerrard, Moreno. EVERTON (4-3-3): Howard 5.5; Hibbert 5.5 (Browning 73, 6), Stones 7, Jagielka 8, Baines 6.5; McCarthy 7.5, Besic 6.5 (Eto’o 80), Barry 5; Mirallas 6 (McGeady 31, 6), Naismith 6, Lukaku 5. Subs not used: Robles, Gibson, Osman, Alcaraz. Scorer: Jagielka 90. Booked: Barry. Man of the match: Jordan Henderson. Referee: Martin Atkinson 7. Had Sturridge, rather than Mario Balotelli, provided the spear to Liverpool’s attack on Saturday, the game would surely have been taken away from Everton’s grasp long before Phil Jagielka slammed in an extraordinary injury-time effort to cancel out Steven Gerrard’s free-kick. Balotelli had two glorious opportunities, either side of half-time, from around six yards but fluffed both. The second miss in the 67th minute, with the goal almost at his mercy, left Rodgers screaming in frustration. Sturridge would not have been so wasteful. The sooner he can come back, the better for Rodgers and Liverpool. Sturridge was in training on Sunday and joined by the Liverpool manager, who also took part in a series of sprints, slaloms, jogs and agility drills using rope ladders under the eye of two of the club’s coaching staff. Mario Balotelli missed two good chances on Saturday, including this effort which was saved by Tim Howard . Basle defender Taulant Xhaka scored his first goal of the season but the weekend Superleague pace-setters could only draw 1-1 with Thun after Berat Sadik equalised in the final minute. Liverpool and Basle have met twice before, both times in the group phase of the Champions League in 2002-03. Both matches ended in draws. The forward looked pain-free as he completed the workout but the midweek Champions League trip to Basle may be too soon. ‘We needed to see if he was going to train on the Friday to get him through to the Saturday but the message on Thursday was that he would struggle,’ said Rodgers. ‘He wasn’t close to playing. I will see how he is (for Basle). 'He wasn’t far away but not close enough to be on the bench. That pace (Sturridge has) through the middle can help, as you know. But whatever part of the game he comes on, he is a top talent. We want to score goals but as the season goes on it will become better and better. Sturridge celebrates scoring against Southampton in Liverpool's Premier League opener . Steven Gerrard is now the highest scorer in Merseyside derbies in the Premier League with nine goals. Ian Rush (13) holds the record in league games. Merseyside derby appearances . Neville Southall 41 . Ian Rush 36 . Bruce Grobbelaar 34 . Alan Hansen 33 . Kevin Ratcliffe 32 . Steven Gerrard 32 . ‘I think the game against Everton was a step towards that. It was an excellent performance against a very good side and a game in which we were clearly the better team.’ For Everton manager Roberto Martinez there was feeling a season that has stuttered might turn on the missile Jagielka launched into the Kop End net. ‘We needed something like that,’ said Martinez. ‘When you are 2-0 up against Arsenal at home and draw and then at Leicester you draw when the ball gets deflected and ends up in your net, it shatters the confidence. This is an incredible moment. Football’s Gods gave us something back.’ Mamadou Sakho is likely to be fined after he stormed out of Anfield having been dropped from Liverpool’s 18-man squad.

Liverpool missed Daniel Sturridge in 1-1 draw with Everton . Striker has been out for most of September with thigh injury . Brendan Rodgers joined Sturridge in extra training on Sunday . Mario Balotelli missed two great chances against Everton .

(CNN) -- A competitor has died and another is in hospital following a tragic end to the World Sauna Championships in southern Finland. Russian Vladimir Ladyzhenskiy died Saturday after taking part in the final of a competition in which contestants are required to withstand rising temperatures for as long as possible. Finnish finalist Timo Kaukonen was also taken to hospital for treatment, organizer Ossi Arvela said in a statement posted on the event's website. Images of the contest showed Ladyzhenskiy and Kaukonen sitting side by side in the sauna. Both contestants can then be seen lying on the ground, apparently doused in water. Ladyzhenskiy appears to be suffering from severe skin burns. "The event was interrupted immediately after the accident. Competition organization grieves these sad events," Avela said. Finnish police and organizers are investigating the incident, Arvela said. But he said first aid personnel had been in place and all competitors taking part in the contest had provided doctor's certificates. "All the rules were followed," he said. The World Sauna Championships take place annually in the town of Heinola.

Finnish event sees competitors attempting to withstand rising temperatures . Russian finalist Vladimir Ladyzhenskiy died after Saturday's final . His opponent, Finland's Timo Kaukonen, was taken to hospital . Police are investigating incident but "rules were followed," organizers say .

(CNN) -- The United States offers millions for information leading to the capture of the world's most wanted terrorists. A Somali militant group has purportedly countered with an offer of camels for U.S. officials. Al-Shabaab has placed a bounty of 10 camels for President Barack Obama and two camels for information on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. An audio statement posted on jihadist websites purportedly from Al-Shabaab jeered news that the United States is offering millions of dollars for information on seven key members of al-Shabaab through its Rewards for Justice program. The man on the audio claimed to be Fuad Mohamed Khalaf, considered by the State Department to be Al-Shabaab's leading fundraiser. The United States has offered $5 million for information of his whereabouts. "Whoever brings the mujahidin information about the whereabouts of infidel Obama and the lady of Bill Clinton, the woman named Hillary Clinton, I will give a reward," the man said. A study by Galkayo University, which looked at the effects of drought on livestock, said the average cost of a camel in Somalia is $700. CNN can not independently verify the authenticity of the audio recording, which was purportedly made by Khalaf during a speech to followers in the southern port city of Merca. The U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice program is offering $7 million for information on the location of Ahmed Abdi Aw-Mohamed, the founder of the Islamist group in Somalia. This year, he and al Qaeda's leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, released a joint video formally announcing a merger between the terror groups. In announcing the bounties on Mohamed and his key associates Thursday, the State Department called al-Shabaab "a threat to the stability of East Africa and to the national security interests of the United States." The State Department said it is also offering up to $5 million each for information leading to the location of four of Aw-Mohamed's associates, including Khalaf. In addition, it is offering up to $3 million each for two of the terror group's other leaders. Journalist Mohamed Amiin Adow contributed to this report.

The militant Al-Shabaab jeered a U.S. reward offered for seven of its key members . A man purporting to one of those wanted by the United States makes a counter offer . He offers 10 camels as a reward for information on the whereabouts of President Obama . Hillary Clinton's bounty is two camels .

By . Tara Brady . PUBLISHED: . 05:26 EST, 24 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 08:37 EST, 24 October 2013 . The doyen of TV cricket commentators is in a stable condition recovering after the crash . Cricket commentator and former Australian test captain Richie Benaud has been taken to hospital after crashing his car into a wall. The doyen of TV cricket commentators is in a stable condition and said to be recovering after the crash. According to Nine Network, 83-year-old Benaud was driving home after playing golf near his home in Sydney's south-eastern beach suburbs on Wednesday when his vintage 1963 Sunbeam Alpine hit a small brick wall. Benaud sustained chest and shoulder injuries and was expected to remain in hospital for a few days. 'Police attended and there were no charges,' said Nine Network. 'Despite being in some discomfort, the former Australian cricket captain and legendary all-rounder remains in fine spirits and good humor.' In a statement, Benaud said: 'No one else was injured, and I was more worried about the car than myself.' Daphne Benaud said her husband was 'looking unbelievably well.' Benaud, who became Australia captain in 1958, masterminded two Ashes series triumphs against England and never lost a Test series. In 1963 he became the first cricketer from his country to score 2,000 Test runs and take 200 wickets. Scroll down for video . Close call: Legendary Australian cricketer and commentator Richie Benaud was taken to hospital after crashing his car . Damaged: The former cricketer was driving his vintage 1963 Sunbeam Alpine after playing golf . The vintage 1963 Sunbeam Alpine car which Richie Benaud was driving when he crashed last night . He easily transitioned into the role of TV commentator after the . formation of World Series Cricket and has been a mainstay of Nine . Network's cricket coverage ever since. Benaud . had been scheduled to join the commentary panel during the Ashes series . between Australia against England starting next month in Brisbane. The following year, he retired to take . up a career in journalism, where his authoritative, chatty style and . enthusiasm for the game made him popular in the UK, where he worked for . the BBC and Channel Four, and Australia with Channel Nine. Richie Benaud, cricketer and cricket commentator pictured in 1956 (left) and in 1961 (right)

Doyen of TV cricket commentators is in a stable condition . The 83-year-old was driving home in his vintage 1963 Sunbeam Alpine . Former Australian captain had been playing golf near his home in Sydney . He sustained chest and should injuries and was advised to stay in hospital .

Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly has fired back at former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee for calling New York women 'trashy' for swearing. 'I do have news for you before I let you go,' she told him on her show, The Kelly File, on Wednesday. 'We are not only swearing. We're drinking, we're smoking, we're having premarital sex with birth control, before we go to work and sometimes boss around a bunch of men.' After Kelly, who lives in New York City, made the comments, Huckabee laughed, saying: 'I just don't want to hear that.' Scroll down for video . Not impressed: Fox News' Megyn Kelly educated Mike Huckabee on the ways of the modern woman on her show on Wednesday after he said it was 'trashy' that New York women swore in the workplace . Her comments came after Huckabee, who quit his show on Fox News earlier this month, described his shock at hearing women swear in the workplace while he worked in New York. 'In the South, or in the Midwest, there in Iowa, you would not have people who would just throw the F-bomb or use gratuitous profanity in a professional setting,' Huckabee, 59, told host Jan Mickelson. 'In New York, not only do the men do it, but the women... My gosh, this is worse than locker-room talk. As we would say in the South, that's just trashy.' After Politico published an article saying he had been referring to his female colleagues at Fox News, he sought to clarify what he had said. 'I never said anything derogatory about the people at Fox News,' he told radio host Tyler Cralle, who is based in North Carolina, on Wednesday. 'I talked about the overall coarseness of conversation and gratuitous profanity that I hear in places in what I call the bubble zoo like New York, Washington and Hollywood.' Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, announced earlier this month he is considering running for president. He is pictured after speaking at the Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday . He said it was 'an outright lie' that he was referring to women at Fox. Huckabee, who joined Fox in 2008, quit the network earlier this month as he announced he is thinking of running for president. He ran in the Republican presidential primaries in 2008. The latest furor comes less that two weeks after he slammed Beyoncé and Jay-Z for their explicit lyrics in his book, and suggested that the rapper was 'exploiting his wife as a sex object'. After making headlines for the comments, he told Fox News: 'You know, if people read the full chapter, it's in the context of, first of all, saying, "Beyoncé is a wonderful talent." 'My point is, she doesn't have to do some of the things that she does in the lyrics because it's not necessary. She has nothing to make up for. She's an amazing talent.' See below for video .

The Fox News anchor teased Huckabee, who quit his Fox show earlier this month, over remarks he made during a radio interview . He had said that he was shocked when he worked in New York and heard women swearing in the workplace, saying it was 'trashy' He later clarified his remarks to say he wasn't talking about women at Fox . Huckabee, 59, left the network earlier this month as he announced he is considering running for president .

By . Jenny Awford for MailOnline . Hundreds of balloons and discarded metal canisters found during the V Festival clear-up have revealed the widespread abuse of 'laughing gas' by teenage music fans. Increasing numbers of revellers were seen taking legal high nitrous oxide at the Hylands Park site in Essex - unaware of its potentially lethal effect, especially if used in confined spaces. The gas, either carried in balloons or inhaled directly from a canister, leaves users feeling euphoric and relaxed with some people experiencing hallucinations. Thousands of tonnes of rubbish including balloons and discarded metal canisters, which carried legal high nitrous oxide, are being collected by volunteers at V Festival . Nitrous Oxide, known as 'laughing gas' or 'hippy crack', is carried in balloons or inhaled directly from canisters . More than 72 people were arrested at this year's festival, including seven for selling 'legal highs' such as laughing gas. Volunteers from St John Ambulance treated around 500 people over the course of the weekend and 10 people were taken to hospital. With the last tired revellers heading home this morning, the operation to clear the Chelmsford site is well under way. Thousands of tonnes of rubbish and hundreds of discarded tents are being collected by volunteers. At least 72 people were arrested at this year's festival, including seven for selling 'legal highs' Police believe those taking nitrous oxide, legitimately used in dental work to numb pain, risk death as it restricts a person's intake of oxygen . Amongst the litter, there was overwhelming evidence of the increased use of laughing gas amongst festival goers. Scientists from the government's Centre for Applied Science and Technology will analyse samples of substances found at the Chelmsford event, including nitrous oxide. One teenage festival-goer said: 'We're all using it. It's legal and makes you feel good, so what's the problem? 'There were loads of people doing it here - you only have to look at the amount of people carrying balloons around to realise that. 'It's safer than taking ecstasy and cheaper than cocaine so that's why it's everywhere.' Essex Police, Essex County Council, Trading Standards and Chelmsford City Council issued a joint warning this week ahead of V Festival in Hylands Park and Brownstock Festival in Stow Maries. Donna Martin, substance misuse trainer for the Drug and Alcohol Partnership, said: 'I strongly urge festival-goers this summer to take the advice that legal highs could at best ruin your festival experience and at worst be fatal to you or your friends.' Police believe those taking nitrous oxide, legitimately used in dental work to numb pain, risk death as it restricts a person's intake of oxygen. With the last tired revellers heading home this morning, the operation to clear the Essex site is well under way .

Overwhelming evidence of increased use of legal high nitrous oxide . Known as 'laughing gas', the drug can be dangerous due to lack of oxygen . Hundreds of balloons and discarded metal canisters have been found . Seven were arrested for selling 'legal highs' at V Festival in Essex this year . Ambulance staff treated 500 people and ten were taken to hospital .

(CNN) -- He's been decorated with awards and called one of the world's most influential people. He's addressed packed auditoriums and waved to crowds who line streets just to catch a passing glimpse of him. He's shaken the hands of countless global dignitaries and earned a fan base following on Facebook that might rival that of Hollywood stars. He is His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the 74-year-old spiritual leader of Tibet and the head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, based in Dharamsala, India. And though he describes himself, according to his Web site, as "a simple Buddhist monk," the love so many Americans and others have for him has, no doubt, bestowed on him iconic status -- whether he sees it that way or not. "I'd love to be in his presence. I'd love to be in an audience where he speaks," said Jerilee Auclair, 55, of Vancouver, Washington, who has yet to have that pleasure. "I yearn for it. I watch his schedule to see if/when he'll be in my area. ... I love what he stands for. His inner peace inspires me to find mine, daily." She's far from alone in her admiration. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Thursday, the same day the Dalai Lama visited the White House, showed that 56 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of him, putting him "in the same neighborhood as other major religious figures," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Favorable ratings for the pope, at 59 percent, and Billy Graham, at 57 percent, are virtually identical." Not bad for a guy who lives on the opposite side of the globe, is entrenched in a decades-old political and cultural struggle many don't understand, and lives according to a tradition few Americans follow. Less than 1 percent of Americans identify themselves as Buddhist, with less than 0.3 percent of those being Tibetan Buddhist, according to The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. But what he represents resonates with Americans who may need a figure like the Dalai Lama to look to, said Ganden Thurman, executive director of New York City's Tibet House, an organization dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture and civilization. "He stands for achieving peace by way of peace, and since Gandhi and Martin Luther King aren't around, he's a placeholder for that kind of position," he said. "He says he's a 'simple monk,' but that's wishful thinking. He's a monk that's been saddled with the responsibility of shouldering the hopes and dreams of millions of Tibetan people. ... He's doing the best he can with that, and frankly, these are the kind of people we admire." Not that Thurman, 42, always treated the Dalai Lama with this kind of reverence. His father, Robert Thurman, co-founded the Tibet House, is an Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies professor at Columbia University and holds the first endowed chair in Buddhist studies in the West, according to the university's online biography. The older Thurman, who also happens to be the father of actress Uma Thurman, was a personal student of the Dalai Lama, and it was through this relationship that his son first met the spiritual leader. "My earliest memory of meeting him, I was around 4. I was a pretty rambunctious 4-year-old," he said with a laugh, guessing that he probably jumped on His Holiness and grabbed at the man's glasses. "Diplomatic protocol wasn't high on my list of priorities." Tenzin Tethong has known the Dalai Lama since he was a child. He worked in the exile government and served as the spiritual leader's representative in New York and Washington during the 1970s and 1980s. Now the president of The Dalai Lama Foundation, a Redwood City, California, organization that promotes peace, Tethong said he organized the Tibetan leader's first visit to the United States in 1979, 20 years after he had gone into exile . He recalled not being sure they'd be able to pull off the visit because by the early 1970s, the U.S. had normalized its relations with China, which has long viewed the Dalai Lama as a threat to its national unity on the issue of Tibetan autonomy. But they came at the invitation of various colleges and religious groups, and the American fascination with the Dalai Lama -- the curiosity about his exotic past, his beliefs and his teachings -- spoke volumes then, Tethong said. In the decades since, the Dalai Lama's star power has only risen as Americans have learned more about his commitment to nonviolence, interfaith outreach and more. For starters, there was that Nobel Peace Prize he won in 1989. High-profile supporters, like actor Richard Gere, helped give him and his people's struggles pop culture prominence, as did several mainstream films including "Seven Years in Tibet," starring Brad Pitt, and "Kundun," directed by Martin Scorsese. With the increased exposure, there has also been a growing prevalence of "Free Tibet" bumper stickers, the appearance of Tibetan prayer flags in suburbia and Facebook fans who shower the Dalai Lama with praise. "Have a nice and easy day with Obama! Namaste," one woman wrote Thursday. "thank you for all your love, guidance and wisdom ... u changed my life," a man added. And then this from a college-student fan: "HH Dalai Lama!! You kick metaphorical ass!!!" How has all this attention not gone to his head? "When fame happens, people get carried away, right? The Dalai Lama, despite tremendous adoration as well as adulation ... is very conscious of that," Tethong said. "One of the Buddhist practices is to always be very aware of one's self and how one looks at one's self and not to be carried away with one's ego." Not standing on formalities -- he playfully threw snow at reporters outside the White House on Thursday -- staying grounded and his constant ability to exude warmth and joy have made him easy to love, people who admire him say. "He really is the real deal -- a truly loveable guy. He lives his values," said Jamie Metzl, executive vice president of the Asia Society, a global organization that seeks to increase understanding and relationships between the U.S. and Asia. "Recognizing someone who lives their life according to such positive principles helps us all grow." And Metzl, who said he's met the Dalai Lama three times, suggested the Chinese government, through its denunciation of the spiritual leader, has bolstered his recognition. He said that by saying the Dalai Lama is "a wolf in sheep's clothing," a claim Metzl said doesn't match what people read and see, "the Chinese are doing a great deal to turn him into a rock star." But nothing does more to make people appreciate the Dalai Lama than being with him, said Charles Raison, a psychiatrist with Emory University Medical School. Raison, who's been involved in a program where Western doctors work with and exchange teachings with Buddhist monks, recounted a time when he, his wife and several others met with the Dalai Lama about four years ago. "Many people, myself included, have a powerful experience in his presence. I nearly erupted in tears," he said. And his wife, whom he said "does not have a religious bone in her body" was "just beaming." He said studies have long shown that people have a physiological response to the behaviors, feelings and even smells put forth by others. "Buddhists," he added, "say that sweet smells come from a saint -- a mark of spiritual advancement."

The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, has broad base of fans in America . His sense of peace inspires; 56 percent of Americans view him favorably, poll shows . He fills symbolic placeholder left by Gandhi and MLK, Tibet House executive says . Buddhism helps him avoid trappings of fame, by not allowing ego to take over .

Celebrity chef Paula Deen's contract with the Food Network will not be renewed, the network said Friday, the latest fallout over revelations that she admitted to using a racial epithet in the past. Deen's contract with the network, which airs three shows featuring the chef, expires at the end of the month, it said. The Food Network's announcement followed reports that Deen acknowledged in a lawsuit deposition using the "N word." Earlier in the week, the network said it would monitor the situation, but that it "does not tolerate any form of discrimination." In a statement, Deen thanked the network for 11 "great years." "... I have had the pleasure of being allowed into so many homes across the country and meeting people who have shared with me the most touching and personal stories," she said. "... This would not have been possible without the Food Network. Thank you again. Love and best dishes to all of ya'll." Home shopping network QVC is likewise re-examining its business relationship with Deen, Paul Capelli, vice president of communications, told CNN. He stressed the company does not "tolerate discriminatory behavior." The shopping network features the cookware line "Paula Deen's Kitchen," among other sponsored items. A Walmart spokesman declined to comment on that company's ties with Deen. Last week's events are stunning twists for the chef whose Southern, folksy flair with food made her a household name, spawning a line of kitchenware, cookware and food. The Food Network's announcement came on a head-spinning day of developments that began when Deen backed out of an interview with "Today" on NBC. She later apologized and begged for forgiveness in a video on YouTube that she pulled and replaced with a self-produced video where she again apologized. "I want to apologize to everybody for the wrong that I've done," Deen said in the first video statement. "I want to learn and grow from this. Inappropriate and hurtful language is totally, totally unacceptable. I've made plenty of mistakes along the way but I beg you, my children, my team, my fans, my partners, I beg for your forgiveness." A short time later, Deen replaced the professionally edited video with one she made herself. In that video, she apologized for backing out of the interview, saying she was "physically not able" to do it at the time. "I'm taking this opportunity now that I've pulled myself together and am able to speak to offer an apology to those that I have hurt," she said. "... My family and I are not the kind of people the press are wanting to say we are," she said. "...Your color, your religion, your sexual preference does not matter to me. But it's what's in the heart, and my family and I try to live by that." Share your views on Deen; Did Food Network make the right decision? Deen's friend, Juda Engelmayer, said after Deen recorded the first statement, she said it was not what she wanted to say. "She picked up her own handi-cam and recorded it herself without a production team present," said Engelmayer, who was with Deen at the time. Engelmayer is senior vice president of 5W Public Relations but doesn't officially represent Deen. Deen and her brother are being sued for alleged sexual and racial harassment by a former manager of Deen's restaurants in Savannah, Georgia. Lisa T. Jackson's lawsuit alleges that Deen and Bubba Hier committed numerous acts of violence, discrimination and racism that resulted in the end of her five-year tenure at Deen's Lady & Sons and Uncle Bubba's Oyster House eateries in Savannah. Deen: From the frying pan to the firestorm . Deen's lawyer has called the allegations false. "Contrary to media reports, Ms. Deen does not condone or find the use of racial epithets acceptable," her lawyer, Bill Franklin said. "She is looking forward to her day in court." Deen confirms that she has type 2 diabetes, unveils partnership with drug company . The language in question was revealed recently as part of a deposition of Deen by Jackson's lawyers in May. Jackson lawyer: "Miss Deen, have you told racial jokes?" Deen: "No, not racial." Jackson lawyer: "Have you ever used the 'N word' yourself?" Deen: "Yes, of course." Deen testified that she probably used the racial slur when talking to her husband about "when a black man burst into the bank that I was working at and put a gun to my head." "I didn't feel real favorable towards him," she said, referring to the robber. Jackson lawyer: "Have you used it since then?" Deen: "I'm sure I have, but it's been a very long time." Deen said she couldn't remember other contexts in which she used the slur, but "maybe in repeating something that was said to me." "But that's just not a word that we use as time has gone on," she said. "Things have changed since the '60s in the South. And my children and my brother object to that word being used in any cruel or mean behavior." Deen's company issued a statement Thursday saying the chef used the epithet, but in a "quite different time" in American history. "She was born 60 years ago when America's South had schools that were segregated, different bathrooms, different restaurants and Americans rode in different parts of the bus. This is not today."

Home shopping network QVC is re-examining its ties . Paula Deen thanks Food Network for 11 "great years" Deen apologizes in two video statements posted to YouTube . In a lawsuit deposition, she admitted to using the "N word"

By . Ian Gallagher . Last updated at 12:57 AM on 8th January 2012 . Fall from grace: Derek Smith has been forced to resign from West midlands Police after claiming expenses for a hotel stay with a female colleague . A married police finance chief has quit  his £121,000-a-year job over an expenses claim for an unauthorised hotel stay with a blonde female colleague. Derek Smith, who advised the Government on charging for police services, faced an investigation into the £200 bill. But the West Midlands Police civilian director of finance and resources resigned before the inquiry – conducted by another force – was completed. Mr Smith was also a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers and helped lead West Midlands Police’s £750 million cost-cutting drive, involving hundreds of job losses. An internal investigation into alleged misconduct by the woman, a civilian police worker who is understood to be married, has also been launched. She is not expected to lose her job. It is not the first time Mr Smith has been at the centre of controversy. In June last year it was reported that a £40,000 BMW 5 Series car – normally used by undercover officers – was stolen from outside his home, raising questions about why desk-based staff had access to emergency vehicles. It was kitted out with sirens, police radio and special covert blue lights and was said to be for ‘personal use’. It was unclear how long Mr Smith had been using the car. He spent 20 years with the West Midlands force and had a range of responsibilities, including managing the human resources department, the police estate – its stations and patrol bases – and its fleet of vehicles. In his senior management role, which included attending conferences, Mr Smith was authorised to charge legitimate expenses – including hotel stays. But his fall from grace began after he booked into a Manchester hotel, where he was joined by a female colleague, and charged the stay to the force. The stay was not linked to any police-related event. Long career: Mr Smith had spent 20 years with West Midlands Police (above) where his latest post was that of civilian director of finance and resources . The £200 claim is understood to include the accommodation bill, drinks, food and travel expenses. A West Midlands Police spokesman said its professional standards unit was ‘made aware of an allegation of misconduct against two members of police staff’ in November last year. He added: ‘The allegation concerns the use of police funds in connection with expenses, travel and accommodation. West Midlands Police expects every employee to act with integrity and honesty. ‘In line with our values, any allegation of misconduct or inappropriate behaviour will be investigated by our Professional Standards Department. ‘One individual has left the force. The second individual concerned  continues to be investigated under  the police staff disciplinary arrangements.’ The spokesman defended the decision to accept Mr Smith’s resignation rather than pursuing costly misconduct proceedings. ‘Regardless of the outcome of  the investigation, it was felt by  the individual concerned, the force and the Police Authority that  this person’s position would be  untenable,’ he said. Mr Smith had offered to pay  back the money ‘and this will be accepted’. It is understood there is no suggestion of financial impropriety involving the woman and the allegations are  not serious enough to risk her losing her job. Mr Smith could not be reached for comment last night. When contacted by The Mail on  Sunday, his female colleague said: ‘I’m sorry, I can’t comment on that.’

Derek Smith faced probe over £200 bill, but resigned . Had advised Government on charging for police services .

A doctor infected with Ebola in Sierra Leone who arrived in the United States on Saturday critically ill from the deadly virus is believed to be the worst-affected patient to ever be treated in the country. The University of Nebraska Medical Center said that Dr. Martin Salia, a legal US resident who lives in Maryland, had 'safely arrived' in Omaha after a flight from Sierra Leone's capital Freetown. He was taken by ambulance to the center's biocontainment unit, where he will be kept in isolation to avoid infecting others. Dr. Salia is a general surgeon who had been working at Kissy United Methodist Hospital in the Sierra Leone capital of Freetown. Patients, including mothers who hours earlier had given birth, fled the 60-bed Nebraska hospital after news of the Ebola case emerged, United Methodist News reported. Scroll down for video . Touch down: Health workers in protective suits transport Dr. Martin Salia, a surgeon working in West Africa who had been diagnosed with Ebola, from a jet that brought him from Sierra Leone to a waiting ambulance that will take him to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday . 'Sicker than an other patient': Dr. Salia, 44, who lives in Maryland and is believed to have several children, is critically ill after contracting Ebola . Arrival: Dr. Salia left landed in Nebraska from Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Saturday amid high security . Transport: The driver of the ambulance carrying Dr. Martin Salia, a surgeon working in Sierra Leone who had been diagnosed with Ebola, gives a thumbs-up sign as he heads to the Nebraska Medical Center . Treatment: Dr. Martin Salia is placed on a stretcher upon his arrival at the Nebraska Medical Center Biocontainment Unit in Omaha, Nebraska, on Saturday November 15, 2014 . Dr. Salia is the third Ebola patient to be treated by the UNMC, one of a handful of medical facilities in the United States specially designated to treat Ebola patients. Both of the previous patients survived. He had traveled back to his home country to treat Ebola patients at Freetown's Connaught Hospital amid a devastating outbreak when he became infected. He came down with symptoms of the virus on November 6 but test results were negative. Dr. Salia then tested positive on Monday. Five other doctors in Sierra Leone have contracted Ebola — and all have died. His evacuation was facilitated by the US government at the request of his wife, an American citizen who agreed to reimburse all expenses, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement. 'Just as we have done in previous cases, every precaution is being taken to ensure the evacuation is completed safely and securely, that critical care is provided en route, and that strict isolation is maintained,' Psaki said. Doctors have said they were told that Salia is 'critically ill'. They said his exact condition would be evaluated when he arrives, but that he is 'possibly sicker than the first patients successfully treated in the United States'. Wife: Isatu Salia, seen here with her husband, described him as 'caring' and 'hardworking'. She will now travel to Nebraska to be with him . Scene: The UNMC in Omaha is one of a handful of medical facilities in the United States specially designated to treat Ebola patients . 'We immediately started preparing the unit and notifying staff members of this possibility,' biocontainment unit medical director Phil Smith said in a statement. 'We've obviously been through this a couple of times before so we know what to expect.' Dr. Salia is believed to be the father of at least two sons. CNN reported that he has several children. There are currently no cases of Ebola in the United States, where nine people have been treated for the killer virus. Dr. Salia is the tenth. Only one - Liberian-born Thomas Eric Duncan - has died from the disease on US soil. The cases are part of the deadliest Ebola outbreak ever, which has killed more than 5,100 people in West Africa and infected nearly 15,000 in total, mostly in hardest hit Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Epidemic: . Health workers prepare to carry the body of an Ebola virus victim in Kailahun, Sierra Leone, as the country tried to combat the Ebola virus disease outbreak . Ebola outbreak in West Africa . Health workers from the Sierra Leone's Red Cross Society Burial Team 7 place a body in a grave at King Tom cemetary in Freetown on November 12, 2014. Dr. Martin Salia arrived in the U.S. from Freetown on Saturday . Despite some hopeful signs - Liberia has lifted its state of emergency and the DR Congo announced the end of its own, unrelated, outbreak of Ebola - the recent deaths of three people in Mali have fueled fears of a new African hotspot. There is no known cure for Ebola, one of the deadliest known pathogens, but trials for several possible treatments were announced this week in West Africa and Canada. The disease is spread through contact with bodily fluids. Salia received his surgical training from a group called the Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons, which seeks to train African doctors on a level comparable to training they would receive in the U.S., said Richard Toupin, of Auburn, Indiana, a fellow medical missionary. 'He is one of the best-trained surgeons in his country,' Toupin said. 'He is a very competent surgeon.' Dr Salia (pictured, second right, with his wife and sons) was born in Sierre Leone, but is a permanent resident of the U.S. who lives in Maryland with his family . Sons: The medic, who has at least two sons, including Hinwaii (left) and Maada (right), came down with symptoms of Ebola on November 6. Tests results on Monday were positive, according to the official . Bruce Steffes, executive director of PAACS, said Salia graduated from the surgical training program in 2008. The training includes a requirement to practice in Africa for four years after completion. As a result, Steffes said, Salia was free to practice anywhere he wanted, but elected to stay in Sierra Leone, where the need for surgeons is immense. 'People like Martin are just absolutely dedicated, highly trained ... and doing their best in absolutely horrifying conditions,' Steffes said. Jeff Bleijerveld, director of global ministries for the United Brethren in Christ church, said he last talked to Salia in February 2013, when they met to discuss planning for a hospital in the southern part of Sierra Leone. He recalled watching Salia perform a hernia surgery on a young boy, assisted by a handyman who was not actually a doctor. He recalled Salia leading the surgical team in prayer before the operation. The United Brethren played an early role in Salia's medical training. 'He's a quiet leader,' Bleijerveld said. 'Our people still have a real affection for him.'

Dr. Martin Salia, 44, is undergoing treatment at the the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha . He arrived in the country Saturday from Sierra Leone in West Africa . Surgeon was born in Sierre Leone, but is a permanent resident of the US and lives in Maryland . Dr. Salia's condition is said to be critical and he is 'possibly sicker' than any other Ebola patient treated in the U.S. Came down with Ebola symptoms on November 6; tested positive Monday . He is the tenth person to be treated for Ebola in the U.S. Patients fled the Nebraska hospital as news of the Ebola case emerged . Five other doctors in Sierra Leone have contracted Ebola and all have died .

By . Eddie Wrenn . Floating through space... Nomadic planets may pick up and harbour life as they journey around the galaxy . Researchers have come up with a startling suggestion for how life could propagate across our galaxy. Identifying the mathematical hole between the expected mass of our galaxy - The Milky Way - and what is observed, they theorise that there are billions and billions of 'nomadic' planets, unaffiliated to any particular star, floating through the darkness of space. The scientists from the Astrobiology department at the University of Buckingham have proposed that these planets . originated in the early Universe, within a few million years of the Big . Bang, and that they make up most of the so-called 'missing mass'. The scientists calculate that these planetary body would cross the inner solar system every 25 million years on average - and during each transit, dust from the neighbourhood, including living cells, would become implanted at its surface. These free-floating planets would then end up mixing harbouring the living cells . with the planet's own make-up, and life could spread by this method on a galaxy-wide scale. Since 1995, when the first extrasolar planet was reported, interest in searching for planets has reached a feverish pitch. The 750 or so detections of exo-planets are all of planets orbiting stars, and very few, if any, have been deemed potential candidates for life. The possibility of a much larger number of planets was first suggested in earlier studies where the effects of gravitational lensing of distant quasars by intervening planet-sized bodies were measured. Recently several groups of investigators have suggested that a few billion such objects could exist in the galaxy. The planets of our solar system are anchored in orbit around the sun, in contrast to nomadic planets which simply drift through the ether . The team, led by Professor Chandra Wickramasinghe, have increased this grand total of planets to a few hundred thousand billion (a few thousand for every Milky Way star) - each one harbouring the legacy of cosmic primordial life. Their findings are published online in the Springer journal Astrophysics and Space Science.

Hundreds of thousand billion planets could be floating nomadically through the galaxy . Theory would explain the unexplained 'missing matter' of the Milky Way . Planets would cross the galaxy, picking up living cells as they floated through cosmic dust .

(CNN) -- Surviving economically in downtrodden Elkhart, Indiana, may require doing some things you don't want to do. Elkhart, Indiana, has become the poster child for the nation's economic downturn. "Here in Elkhart, I've never seen things as bad as they are," lifelong resident Yvonne Sell said Tuesday. "When you open the newspaper, unless you want to be a topless dancer, there's nothing." Elkhart became the poster child for the nation's economic downturn when President Obama visited there Monday and then mentioned it several times during his first White House press conference. Unemployment in the Elkhart-Goshen, Indiana, area was 15.3 percent in January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported, the fourth highest of any U.S. metropolitan area. Elkhart's unemployment rate has spiked more than 10 percentage points in the past 13 months. But is it really that bad in Elkhart? According to Sell and several other business owners and workers, it is. Sell and her four co-owners are in the process of selling Blessing Music Co., which has sold, rented and repaired musical instruments for school bands since 1916. "We're not making money. It's just too tight," Sell said. The company has high overhead and a "considerable" high-interest loan, and credit continues to be a problem, she said. Sell said she isn't hopeful that any government plan will kick-start commerce in Elkhart or elsewhere. The banks, which started the mess, have already been bailed out, she said, but "I'm not seeing them loosening their purse strings." Small businesses as well as individuals need credit -- not government spending -- to keep the economy churning, she said. Take, for example, recreational vehicles, one of the town's knotted lifelines: Sell said she knows plenty of people willing to purchase RVs, but they can't without a bank loan. "People won't buy them because they're too scared," she said. "I don't personally see how spending the amount of money [Congress is] talking about spending is going to stimulate the economy." Robert Dunlop runs a different kind of business, but he agrees with Sell. "Unfortunately, when you drop a ton of money to pay billion-dollar bonuses on the East Coast, it kind of sucks on the Midwest," said Dunlop, president of J.A. Wagner Construction Co. in Elkhart. "If banks can free up a little bit of credit so that people can buy products and get people back to work, that would be good for this area." People in Elkhart who were interviewed said they don't have much confidence in the government's ability to resolve the crisis, though Dunlop said he thinks tax relief would help some. "Unfortunately, you still have to have a job to have relief from the tax burden, and a lot of these people are behind in house payments and, quite frankly, it's a vicious cycle: You don't have a job, you can't make your house payment, you're not out buying anything. Even if you reduce the tax burden to those people, they still need to have some sort of income. When that occurs, they start buying things, which creates more jobs, which then starts the cycle back up again." Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore echoes that view. He said people need jobs so they have money to spend and support industries such as RVs. The Democrat supports the stimulus plan Obama was touting in his town Monday because it will get residents to work quickly. "It's jobs, jobs, jobs," Moore told CNN's "American Morning" on Tuesday. Watch what Elkhart's mayor says about the president's visit » . "We have 16 shovel-ready projects ready to go ... These are not pie-in-the-sky items; they're not pork. ... These are projects we will have to do," Moore said. But gift shop owner Joanie Smith said she thinks government programs are no solution. "I think that the government and the banks are the biggest problem, because we have checks and balances to make sure what happened didn't happen, and obviously it didn't work," she said. "They've already bailed out the banks; I don't know why the banks aren't lending money or offering the assistance that most businesses run with." Smith saw traffic at her gift shop start dropping off at the end of 2007. "I have a store that is full of wonderful things, but nothing anybody needs," Smith, owner of The Picture Show for 27 years, said with a tense laugh. "We're just in a real reality-check area right now. It's hard not being negative." Smith has survived in retail by being financially conservative -- she doesn't have any loans to repay and has cut hours for her two employees, she said. Several years ago she downsized her shop from more than 4,000 square feet to a cozy 1,200. Smith said she feels protective of Elkhart and its image. "It's a real entrepreneurial city," she said. "We still manufacture here. We still create here. And unfortunately we've lost so much of our diversity of businesses here to China." Despite these lean times, Smith said she is determined to stay in business. "Women love to come in here and shop, and we want to be there for them."

Elkhart, Indiana, entrepreneurs sweating out tough economic times . Several express doubt the federal government can get commerce moving . Loosening of credit would get people spending again, they say . President Obama visited Elkhart on Monday, mentioned it during press conference .

A hugely popular video game site that streams live video of people placing has been forced to implement a dress code banning naked users. Twitch, a service that lets users broadcast themselves playing games or watch others doing so, has banned 'wearing no clothing or sexually suggestive clothing' in posts on the site. Gamers can be suspended from Twitch, which was recently bought by Amazon for $970m for nudity or broadcasting themselves wearing items 'including lingerie, swimsuits, pasties, and undergarments.' Scroll down for video . whe  using the service players broadcast a live video feed of themselves - and have no been told they must be fully vlothed when playing . San Francisco-based Twitch allows gamers to broadcast live streams of themselves playing videogames. Its social networking features allow viewers to communicate with each other and the featured gamer during broadcasts. The system works on PCs, consoles and mobile phones. The company says more than 55 million gamers visit its site every month. 'Nerds are sexy, and you're all magnificent, beautiful creatures, but let's try and keep this about the games, shall we?' reads a section titled 'Dress ... appropriately' in Twitch's new Rules of Conduct. Under the new rules, gamers can be suspended from Twitch for nudity or broadcasting themselves wearing items 'including lingerie, swimsuits, pasties, and undergarments.' The firm tries to make the ban as lighthearted as possible. 'You may have a great six-pack, but that's better shared on the beach during a 2-on-2 volleyball game blasting 'Playing with the Boys,'' read the rules, with a link to the iconic scene of that nature from the movie 'Top Gun.' 'If it's unbearably hot where you are, and you happen to have your shirt off (gents) or a bikini top (ladies), then just crop the webcam to your face. If your lighting is hot, get fluorescent bulbs to reduce the heat. Xbox One Kinect doesn't zoom? Move it closer to you, or turn it off. There is always a workaround.' It comes amid an online furore known as Gamergate. Beginning this summer, people involved in an online campaign dubbed "Gamergate" have been harassing several prominent women in the video game industry and their supporters for criticizing the lack of diversity and how women are portrayed in games. One of the targets is Brianna Wu, a software engineer and founder of game developer Giant Spacekat. Wu, who is in her mid-30s, said she has frequently been harassed online, but it's gotten worse this year. More than 55 million gamers visit site every month, and it was recently bought by Amazon . Earlier this month, people threatened her and her husband with rape, death and castration on Twitter and posted her address online, she said, and they have been trying to impersonate her on the Internet to smear her reputation. She got so frightened that she left her home in Boston. Wu went to the police, but most people harassed online don't. According to Pew, just 5 percent of those who were harassed reported the incident to law enforcement, while nearly half confronted the person online. Forty-four percent said they unfriended or blocked the person. Most recently, actress Felicia Day, known for the gaming-oriented Web series 'The Guild,' had her email and real-world address posted online less than an hour after a blog post in which she criticized GamerGate. Day had written that she feared retribution when she decided to share her views on the movement.

Twitch was recently bought by Amazon for $970m . Show small window of player in corner of the screen . More than 55 million gamers visit site every month . Has banned 'wearing no clothing or sexually suggestive clothing'

(CNN) -- The news that America now has more cell phone subscribers than people doesn't surprise documentary filmmaker Tiffany Shlain. "There's 5 billion cell phones on the planet, but only 2 billion people online," said the director, whose new film "Connected" explores our increasing dependence on the electronic devices we carry. Shlain seems to have a love-hate relationship with technology. In the film's trailer she recounts a story of being at dinner with a friend and pretending to go the bathroom so she could check her e-mail on her smartphone. "Everything is happening so fast. There doesn't seem to be a lot of time to really talk about what it is doing to us," said Shlain, who is also a founder of the Webby Awards. "What does it mean to be connected in the 21st century? What's the good? What's the bad? What's the hope?" Thanks to smartphones, people aren't just connecting through calls anymore. Increasingly, they're messaging on their phones through texts, e-mail, Facebook or Twitter -- streams of incoming information that are now accessible to us anytime and anywhere we have a signal. According to a trade industry report by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, the United States has 327 million cell phone subscribers, more than its 315 million people. Shlain believes her film presents technology as a next step in shaping society. "These phones extend our desire for emotional connection. So these are all expanding human capacity because it's us evolving. We continue to want to have more ways to exchange ideas and connect," she said. But Shlain also thinks there is a darker side to our always-on, always-connected society. "People have gotten incredibly rude. When you are with a good friend you should not have your cell phone right here like a ticking bomb. I think there should be no texting in funerals. When you walk in to greet your husband or partner, you should not be talking on a cell phone." In the film, Shlain ponders what the lasting impact of this information explosion will be. "I wonder if people are going to look back on this period and say, 'I cannot believe people used their cell phones so much in every situation and there were no boundaries," she said. In her own life, Shlain has taken action to limit her digital diet. One day a week, she and her family have a technology shutdown. "All of the screens go off for 24 hours and it's the most delicious, long, wonderful day. I read, I write in my journal, I hang out with my kids and my husband and the day feels like four days in one. Then we all can't wait to go back online. It kind of helps you re-appreciate technology in a new way." "Connected" is in limited release in the United States. To learn more, check out the film's website.

Filmmaker Tiffany Shlain has a new documentary, "Connected," about our digital lifestyle . Shlain: There's a good and bad side to technology, and both help shape society . She and her family shut off all technology one day a week . For first time, number of U.S. cell phone subscribers has surpassed population .

(CNN) -- Jason Priestley played Brandon Walsh on "Beverly Hills 90210" from 1990 to 1998. Having long since hung up his Peach Pit uniform and Beverly Hills Beach Club cabana boy polo shirt, his character became a journalist and departed to take a job at the Washington Bureau of the New York Chronicle, and Priestley left the show four episodes into the series' ninth season. "I felt that the character of Brandon had kind of run his course. I had explored everything I wanted to explore with him," Priestley told CNN while promoting his new book, "Jason Priestley: A Memoir" (HarperOne) at the New York Bureau of CNN. "In retrospect, I do regret leaving. Understanding what I do now about story and character, I believe that [Aaron Spelling] was pushing the story in a direction that would have had Brandon and Kelly end up together at the end of the show and I think I probably should have stuck around to its fruition." Fans of "90210" surely remember Kelly Taylor's (Jennie Garth) "I choose me" speech following Brandon and Dylan McKay's (Luke Perry) showdown for her affections. Brandon wanted Kelly to marry him. Dylan wanted to take her on a trip around the world. But Priestley believes Executive Producer Aaron Spelling had always envisioned Brandon and Kelly riding off into the sunset. "I think my departure also hurt Aaron's feelings," continued Priestley. "Aaron and I had worked very closely together for a number of years. He gave me a lot of opportunities, and I feel like my departure hurt his feelings and I never meant to do that." Among the opportunities Spelling afforded the Vancouver-born Priestley was the opportunity to direct several "90210" episodes -- 15 in total. In fact, Priestley directed two of the series' most iconic: The one where Dylan's wife, Toni Marchette (Rebecca Gayheart) was killed in a mob hit mix-up in which Dylan was the target; and the episode where Donna Martin (Tori Spelling) lost her virginity. "Everyone remembers the candles," Priestly, 44, said of the episode in which Donna had sex for the first time. "But I could only have, like, six candles because they didn't want to pay for a fire marshal, which would have cost $350." Yep. $350. So six candles it was. "So I had that one candelabra," recalled Priestley, "and I kept moving it around for every shot and through the magic of Hollywood it looked like a lot of candles!" As the director, as well as Spelling's friend, Priestley was under the added stress of directing a scene in which the TV legend's daughter loses her virginity -- albeit her alter ego. "I was in a difficult spot," he said. "I wanted to be respectful, but it had to be sexy. I was kind of walking on eggshells that day." Priestley also contributed to the dialogue of the show. True "90210" devotees should recall that Brandon had quite a few catchphrases, and Priestley was kind enough to reflect on such Brandon Walsh-isms as: . "Stop the bombing!" "Seldom right and wrong again." "Right church, wrong pew." "Dim sum and den some." "It's funny that you bring all those sayings up," said Priestley. "Part of the fun of working on 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' for me, was that I got a lot of freedom from our executive producer, Chuck Rosen, to add things, change things. I got a lot of freedom to be creative. My theater training was all improv, that's sort of the world I came from, so the Brandon Walsh-isms you speak of, a lot of them came from me! I've been saying, 'Stop the bombing!' for a long time." Another reason Priestley regrets leaving "90210" is because the series needed Brandon's Eagle Scout ways to offset the onscreen chaos. "I think there was no more moral center to the show," Priestley said of Brandon's departure. "There was no more lynchpin. There were no more Walshes in the Walsh House. It kind of didn't make sense anymore. So, I regret leaving the show for all those reasons." Though it premiered nearly a quarter-century ago, "90210" continues to resonate with audiences. "It's certainly not the fashions," said Priestley. "I think there were a lot of universal life lessons and truths in that show, and I think that's maybe why it's stood the test of time." The book goes into all manner of "90210" tell-all, such as Shannen Doherty's shenanigans and what led to her firing. Brenda's bon voyage had nothing do do with Doherty's hard-partying ways and nightclub fights. Spelling actually thought that any publicity was good publicity. Rather, it was her chronic tardiness that held up production, costing Fox a ton of money. Spelling gave Doherty many chances, but in the end, it was a business decision. Priestley also writes about who he keeps in touch with (pretty much everybody, but he and Luke Perry are particularly close), his five-year romance with actress Christine Elise (who played the unstable but later redeemed, esteemed Cousteau Institute scholar Emily Valentine), and his not so warm and fuzzy feelings about Tori Spelling's husband, fellow Canadian Dean McDermott. Priestley is at peace with being forever associated with Brandon Walsh. "I'm OK with it," he told CNN. "It's baggage I carry with me. But I find as my career goes on, and I have more and more successes in other arenas and with other characters, I find that Brandon becomes less and less part of my life. I find that a lot of people associate me with 'Call Me Fitz' these days." "Call Me Fitz" is an award-winning HBO Canada half-hour comedy -- available to Americans on DirecTV -- in which Priestley plays an immoral, Sinatra-idolizing used car salesman. "Jason Priestley: A Memoir" also recalls the prefame days of having Brad Pitt for a roommate, Priestley's later battles with alcohol (he once spent five days in jail on a DUI), and the 2002 race car crash that nearly cost him his life. Additionally on the professional horizon, Priestley's feature directorial debut, "Cas & Dylan," a road trip comedy starring Richard Dreyfuss, will hit theaters later this year. Priestley is married to makeup artist Naomi Lowde. The couple has a young daughter and a young son. "My kids are my greatest achievement," Priestley told CNN. "I love being a husband and a father. That aspect of my life has been a joy."

Jason Priestley told CNN he let Aaron Spelling down when he left "Beverly Hills, 90210" He also regrets his departure because "there were no more Walshes in the Walsh House" He directed the candle-lit episode where Donna loses her virginity . His new book also talks rooming with Brad Pitt, a near-fatal car crash and fatherhood .

By . Helen Pow . A New York mom-of-three spent Mother's Day in jail after she crashed her car into a telephone pole while driving with her kids - and then allegedly took them by the hand and attempted to flee the scene. Police in Long Island said Sarah Knakal, 30, was driving drunk around 6p.m. Saturday when her SUV struck the pole and a nearby signpost. She then allegedly shoved an officer before rounding up her daughters, aged 5, 7 and 9, and trying to run away. She was arrested nearby about 10 minutes later. Mom: Police in Long Island said Sarah Knakal, 30, pictured, was driving drunk around 6p.m. Saturday when her SUV struck the pole and a nearby signpost . No one was injured in the crash. The stay-at-home mom was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra's Law, leaving the scene of an accident and endangering the welfare of a child. The 2009 law making drunk driving with a child a felony. She plead not guilty at a court hearing Sunday in First District Court in Central Islip. She arrived in handcuffs and was ordered held in lieu of $30,000 bail, Newsday reported. Her attorney, Jerome Binder, told the newspaper Mrs Knakal had not been drinking, insisting 'She would never endanger her children knowingly.' 'She loves her children. Her parents were killed in an accident during [her] high school [years], so she knows the value of family,' he said. Not drunk: Her attorney, Jerome Binder, told the newspaper Mrs Knakal, pictured, had not been drinking, insisting 'She would never endanger her children knowingly' In the car: The woman's three daughters, pictured, were in the vehicle at the time of the crash . Binder added that Mrs Knakal's blood test has not come back, and therefore there is not yet any evidence that she was intoxicated. She was not charged for the run in with the officer. Child Protective Services was notified and returned the children to their father, Ryan Knakal, who lives at a separate address. Mr Knakal, 32, also attended the court appearance and described his wife as 'a great mother.' 'Sarah's kids love her,' he said, according to Newsday. 'They love their mother and that will never change.' However, due to a protective order they were not allowed to see her on Mother's Day. She is due back in court on May 16.

Police in Long Island said Sarah Knakal, 30, was driving drunk around 6p.m. Saturday when her SUV struck the pole and a nearby signpost . She then allegedly shoved an officer before rounding up her daughters, aged 5, 7 and 9, and trying to run away . She was arrested nearby about 10 minutes later . The stay-at-home mom was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated under Leandra's Law, leaving the scene of an accident and endangering the welfare of a child . Her attorney, Jerome Binder, told the newspaper Mrs Knakal had not been drinking . He said her own parents were killed in an accident when she was at high school .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 17:38 EST, 2 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 17:40 EST, 2 December 2013 . Wanted: Police believe Eugene Palmer, 73, is still alive and on the run after shooting his daughter-in-law dead after a false lead this weekend . Bones that were initially believed to belong to a missing fugitive have now been identified as animal remains. Eugene Palmer went on the run after allegedly shooting his daughter-in-law on September 24, 2012. After the shooting, Eugene is believed to have fled into Harriman State Park where he had previously worked as a park ranger. There was a false breakthrough in the case over the weekend after Eugene's son Clarence consulted a psychic who led them to a collection of bones inside the woods. Clarence and other relatives disputed earlier police reports which claimed Eugene was still alive, saying that he would have died by now given his diabetes, dementia and undisclosed heart condition. On Saturday, the group found a forearm, parts of a shoulder and portions of fingers that they then called in to police. LoHud newspaper reports that police spent three hours investigating the scene and testing the bones before determining that they once belonged to an animal and not the elderly fugitive. 'I thought we were closing in on him, but that’s not the case,' Clarence's friend Kevin Rose told the paper. 'Personally, I think it was a bear... It had five fingers.' The search for Eugene was launched after the death of his 39-year-old daughter-in-law Tammy. Harassed: . Before her September 24, 2012 death, Tammy Palmer, pictured left, said . the man had been harassing her since she separated from his son, John . Killed: Tammy Palmer, pictured right with her two children, was shot dead on Monday September 24 after walking her children to a school bus stop . He remains the sole suspect after allegedly confessing to the crime to his sister. He was charged with the murder two months after she was killed. He is believed to have taken off into the 46,613-acre park and his relatives have complained that they feel the police investigation into his whereabouts has dropped off over time. 'We thoroughly searched these woods over the course of two weeks, I don't believe he's here,' Sgt. George Lutz of the Haverstraw Police Department told Fox News in May. 'He knows that park like the back of his hand.' His truck was found in nearby Harriman State Park on the same day Tammy was killed and officers began their search for him.. Great escape: Authorities say they have combed through Harriman State Park's 46,600-acres (pictured) since his disappearance but have yet to find a body . Mourning: Violet Pannirello, left, says her daughter Tammy's, right, relationship with her father in law had grown ugly. Tammy had just dropped her children at the school bus when she was shot dead . Tammy Palmer's family claimed that . Eugene Palmer had begun a campaign of harassment against her after the . 39-year-old took out an order of protection against her estranged . husband, John. The order . prevented him from entering the home where she was raising their two . children, aged 12 and 16. She lived in a separate house but on the same . property as her father-in-law. The suspect's sister, Elaine Babcock, claimed he rushed to her house straight after the killing and admitted what he'd done. 'He just came in and said, "Here’s money to pay my taxes with, I’ve had enough. 'I . shot and killed Tammy. Give me an hour to get away and then do whatever . you have to do — call the police... whatever you have to do," and then . he just took off,' Babcock told CBS. Babcock said she immediately called police.

Authorities previously believed Eugene Palmer, 73, died in state park after murdering daughter-in-law Tammy Palmer in September 2012 . His son thinks his diabetic dad is dead and has vowed to find the remains . Consulted a psychic who led him to a collection of bones in Harriman State Park in upstate New York over the weekend . Police have ruled the bones were that of a dead animal .

By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 14:15 EST, 14 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 14:16 EST, 14 December 2012 . Violent: James Wallington was jailed for three and a half years over the road rage attack . A man who put a father in a coma following a road rage attack has been jailed for three and a half years. James Wallington, 32, headbutted Peter Hart,40, in front of his partner and young son, and punched him so hard he fell onto the pavement and cracked his skull. Mr Hart was leaving a music festival with his family in Guildford, Surrey, and had tried to slow down the car in which Mr Wallington was travelling when he was violently attacked. The attack in July this year left Mr Hart, a father-of-one, in a coma for three weeks, Guildford Crown Court heard. The road rage assault happened as the Hart family was leaving Guilfest, the headliners for which included Jools Holland, Olly Murs and Bryan Ferry. Witnesses said that Mr Wallington appeared to have been looking for a fight when he squared up to ‘scared and confused’ Mr Hart. One witness heard shouts of ‘get out the way’ before the violent attack . Mr Wallington, soon to be a father of two, clutched his head in his hand and said ‘cheers’ to Judge Christopher Critchlow as he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. On sentencing him Judge Critchlow said: ‘For whatever reason, when Peter Hart tried to stop the car you were travelling in because it was going too fast as a lot of people were leaving Stoke Park you got out of the car. ‘Almost immediately you assaulted him. ‘There was no justification for that whatsoever and the resulting effect on Mr Hart's life has been extremely serious and at the moment we do not know how he will recover.’ Judge Critchlow was told that at Mr Hart was walking with his partner and young son, who was in a pushchair, when a car approached them from the opposite direction. ‘It seems that the driver of the car was driving in such a way so as to cause annoyance to the complainant,’ said Peter Walsh, prosecuting. Mr Hart signalled to the car to slow down, after which Mr Wallington, who was in the passenger seat, got out of the vehicle. ‘He attacked Mr Hart by headbutting him and punching him twice causing him to fall backwards and crack his head on the concrete pavement,’ said Mr Walsh. Mr Hart has no recollection of the attack, which occurred at 6.30pm on July 13 this year on Kings Road in Guildford. The attack left Mr Hart with life-changing injuries including a brain injury that left him in a coma for three weeks. Brain injuries: Mr Wallington headbutted and punched Mr Hart causing him to fall onto the concrete pavement, leaving him in a three-week coma, Guildford Crown Court heard . Mr Walsh said he was still suffering from significant effects with his memory and speech and is still unable to return to work as a plasterer. Mr Wallington was caught after the driver of the car in which he was a passenger, contacted the police. He admitted a charge of assault at a previous hearing. Wallington has a number of previous convictions dating back to when he was a youth, including robbery, theft, burglary and dishonesty. Nadeem Holland, defending, said Wallington was due to become a father for the second time in January next year. ‘In his own words he said to me this morning that he is too old and has too many responsibilities to act in the manner he did on July 13,’ he said. ‘He lost it and lashed out first with his head and then his fists. He has described that to me today as wrong and stupid.’ Mr Wallington, from Bushy Hill, Guildford, was led to the cells as his partner, who is expecting his second child, sobbed. Speaking after the sentence Detective Constable Dave Pellatt said: ‘This was an horrific, unprovoked attack on a local man who was just trying to ensure he and his family could cross a road safely. ‘The sentencing today reflects the severity of this attack and I hope it goes some way to enabling the victim to move on with his life. He has suffered considerably, both physically and emotionally as a result of the brutal encounter and it is a testament to him that he has been able to help officers with the investigation. ‘I would also like to thank members of the public who came forward with invaluable information following our appeals for help.’ ‘Surrey Police will not tolerate behaviour of this kind towards innocent members of the public and will relentlessly pursue every line of enquiry to identify any person/s responsible and bring them to justice.’

James Wallington attacked Peter Hart for trying to get his car to slow down . Mr Wallington headbutted and punched Mr Hart who fell over and cracked his head on the pavement . Mr Hart was attacked in front of his partner and young son as they left Guilfest festival in Surrey .

(CNN) -- Boston Marathon bombing victims were collateral damage in a strike meant as payback for U.S. wars in Muslim lands, the surviving suspect wrote in a message scribbled on the boat where he was found hiding, a law enforcement source told CNN Thursday. In the message, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev also proclaimed that an attack on one Muslim is an attack on all, and said he would not miss older brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev -- who died after a firefight with police three days after the bombing -- because he would soon be joining him, according to the source. The writing on the inside of the boat dovetails with what Dzhokhar, 19, told investigators questioning him in a Boston hospital room shortly after his capture, the source said. Friendly fire led to officer's shooting during Boston manhunt . CNN has previously cited U.S. officials in reporting that Dzhokhar said U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq were motivating factors behind the April 15 attack, which killed three people and wounded 275. According to authorities, the Tsarnaev brothers fashioned explosive devices from pressure cookers and other materials and detonated them near the finish line of the race. Three days later, authorities released their images to the public as suspects in the case. Investigators believe they then killed MIT police Officer Sean Collier and hijacked a car before battling authorities in a wild firefight on a Watertown, Massachusetts, street. Nearly 24 hours later, police found Dzhokhar hiding in the boat after the owner called police to report someone was inside of it. The final hours that paralyzed Boston . Dzhokhar -- who suffered gunshot wounds to the head, neck, legs and hands -- is being held a federal Bureau of Prisons medical facility in Devens, Massachusetts. He has been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction and could face the death penalty if convicted. Tamerlan was secretly buried in a rural Virginia cemetery this month following protests from Massachusetts residents and officials against burying him in that state. Authorities have said they believe the brothers acted alone, but are investigating whether they could have learned from or been aided by terror groups, including groups overseas. Of particular interest has been Tamerlan's 2012 trip to the semi-autonomous Russian republic of Dagestan, home to numerous Islamic militant groups that have warred against Moscow's rule. Source: Russia withheld details about Tsarnaev . Russian authorities asked U.S. officials to investigate Tamerlan before the trip, saying they believed he was becoming increasingly involved with radical Islam. The FBI investigated, but found no evidence of extremist activity, FBI Director Robert Mueller reiterated Thursday during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. Mueller said Russian authorities told the FBI that Tamerlan and his mother appeared to be "very religious" and that Tamerlan seemed "intent on returning and perhaps participating in jihad, in Russia." The FBI conducted a thorough investigation and found "no ties to terrorism," Mueller said. U.S. officials learned after the bombings that Russian officials had intercepted a 2011 phone call between the suspect's mother, living in Dagestan, and one of her sons, in which they reportedly had a vague conversation about jihad, a law enforcement official told CNN earlier. Some lawmakers, particularly Republicans, have been critical of how law enforcement, intelligence agencies and the administration of President Barack Obama handled the Russian tip. While Tamerlan and his mother were added to a terror database following the FBI investigation, Tamerlan was allowed to make his Russian trip in 2012, returning six months later. Timeline: Boston attack, aftermath . CNN's Michael Pearson contributed to this report.

NEW: FBI director reiterates investigation found no terror ties to Tamerlan Tsarnaev . Source: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left a message in boat where he was found hiding . He wrote that the Boston Marathon bombing victims were collateral damage . Dzhokhar also said he expected to join his brother in death .

(CNN) -- A teenager is being held on 19 counts of animal cruelty linked to a month-long killing spree of pet cats in the Miami area, police said. Tyler Hayes Weinman, 18, was charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty in Miami, Florida, on Monday. Tyler Hayes Weinman, 18, also is charged with 19 counts of improper disposal of dead animals and four counts of burglary, police said. Weinman lives in Cutler Bay and has lived with his parents in Palmetto Bay, the two towns where police said 19 cats were mutilated and killed. Pet owners and police began discovering disfigured cats May 13. One pet owner, Donna Gleason, said her family cat, Tommy, was "partially skinned" and left dead in her yard. Police said 34 cats have been found dead in the towns, but only 19 mutilated cats could be linked to a serial killer. Police confirmed that some of the cats were killed by dogs, said Maj. Julie Miller of Cutler Bay police. Weinman, who works odd jobs but spends most of his time at home and unemployed, had been a person of interest for several weeks, Miller said. He was arrested Saturday. Watch the teen suspect's first court appearance » . The police are looking into whether any people Weinman associates with might have been accomplices in the killings. Weinman's sealed juvenile record includes two prior offenses, Miller said. He could face a maximum of 158 years in state prison if convicted on all counts, said Terry Shavez, spokeswoman for the state attorney's office. The mayor of Cutler Bay referred to the string of feline attacks as a "plague in South Miami-Dade." "The cruelty of these crimes were horrific for the animal victims, but there were many human victims as well," Mayor Paul Vrooman said. "Let's not forget the children and the families who found their pets mutilated. These awful scenes inflicted a human toll."

Tyler Hayes Weinman charged with 19 counts of animal cruelty . Teen lived in areas where pet cats were found dead, mutilated . Pet owners began making gruesome discoveries May 13 . Police say Weinman had been person of interest for several weeks .

She may have been working in the industry for nearly 15 years but Sophie Ellis-Bextor's dazzling career shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. The ex-Strictly Come Dancing contestant and pop star has been unveiled as the face of fashion brand Phase Eight for Spring/Summer 2015. Proving that she's more than just a clothes horse, the 35-year-old singer-songwriter worked with the brand to create the campaign, which aims to epitomise the femininity and elegance of the designs. Scroll down for video . Popstar and Strictly Come Dancing favourite Sophie Ellis Bextor has been unveiled as the face of Phase Eight . Modelling the latest collection in a hazy shoot, Sophie showcases the feminine lace and floral print designs. The garments, which are mostly Fifties-inspired and cost between £110-£169, are designed to be worn both at the office or at a social event and each look is completed with jewellery, heels and clutch bags from the collection. Speaking about her new shoot, Sophie said: ‘This collection provides perfect outfit solutions for summer weddings and garden parties where you always want to feel special and unique. 'I love how the collection exudes feminine and stylish dressing’. The brand say she is the 'ultimate Phase Eight woman'  because she is successful, confident, loves fashion and interprets it to work for her own personal style . Starring in a hazy shoot, which she collaborated with the brand on, Sophie showcases the feminine lace and floral print designs for the high street brand . Sophie defies her years in the new campaign - and proves that she's still got her enviable dancer's body . The dresses, which are mostly Fifties-inspired, are designed to be worn at the office or at a social event . A spokesperson for the brand added: ‘Sophie is the ultimate Phase Eight woman - she is successful, confident, loves fashion and interprets it to work for her own personal style. 'She relates well to our customers who aspire to wear dresses that are elegant, flattering and versatile and our full collection offers beautiful and contemporary designs with unique prints and feminine shapes that meet their full wardrobe requirements’. Sophie defies her years in the new campaign - and proves that she's still got her enviable dancer's body. Each look mdoelled by Sophie is completed with jewellery, heels and clutch bags from the collection . The 35 year old said: 'I try to go to the gym two or three times a week if I can.' But she recently admitted that much of her exercise comes from running around after her three children, who are all under 11. This isn't the first fashion coup for Sophie; in September she was unveiled as the face - and legs - of Pretty Polly. The long-limbed singer signed up to front the hosiery company's autumn/winter collection for a six-month stint. The 35-year-old also tried her hand at fashion design, launching a series of styles for the brand's collection called Flirty. Sophie Ellis-Bextor attends the launch of the Burberry festive campaign, proving her fashion credentials . Sophie shows off her skills on Strictly, where she came fourth in 2013's show .

Pop star and ex-Strictly Come Dancing contestant lands new ad campaign . She helped design the Phase Eight shoot and models 1950s-style dresses . Sophie also unveiled as the face of Pretty Polly tights last September .

The rotting carcass of a mysterious-looking 'sea monster' has been found washed ashore on a New Zealand beach. A YouTube video filmed by Elizabeth Ann on Pukehina Beach shows the half-buried head of the carcass with jagged teeth and gaping jaws. Most of the rest of the creature's body is missing. Scroll down for video . The 30-foot long carcass of the mysterious sea creature is seen almost buried under the sand on the New Zealand beach in the Bay of Plenty. Only its head and what appear to be flippers are visible . A close-up of the creature's gaping mouth shows its fearsome jagged teeth. This image is one of a series of photographs taken by YouTube user Elizabeth Anne on the Pukehina beach off the coast of New Zealand . A gigantic sea beast measuring 55ft was discovered washed up on a beach in Guangdong, China in 2011. It was found wrapped in fishing lines, leading locals to suspect that fishermen cut it free from their nets because it was too big to haul in. It was thought to have weighed around 4.5tons. Marine experts claimed it is likely to have come from a whale. Mysterious masses of marine flesh have also occasionally washed ashore on beaches around the world. Dubbed 'blobs' they are so badly decomposed there is rarely enough material to make a definitive identification . The strange 30-foot long carcass washed up off the coast of the Bay of Plenty coast in New Zealand after storms in last month. The coastline is about 120-miles south east from the city of Auckland. Ann filmed the discovery and posted the video to YouTube. The description said: 'Can anyone identify what it is?' 'It is has a huge head and teeth with rudimentary flippers.' 'It seems about 9M in length but the lower part of the body is probably mainly entrails from an attack.' An idyllic scene - until you spot the giant sea monster in the foreground. One marine expert believes the carcass is that of a killer whale, an animal that is commonly found around the Bay of Plenty, the location where the beast was found . The creature's mouth, and skin around it resemble a bizarre prehistoric beast. Other suggestions as to what creature is include a giant moray eel and a saltwater crocodile . The creature was found washed ashore Pukehina beach in the Bay of Plenty off the coast of New Zealand . On another video by Elizabeth Ann, she added: 'The huge marine creature washed up after a storm. 'It had been attacked by something in the water. 'The locals are not sure what it is although it has stimulated lots of discussion.' Suggestions as to what the creature could be include a saltwater crocodile, a giant moray eel, a dolphin or a dinosaur. Photos of the animal have been sent to the New Zealand Department of Conservation and Kelly Tarlton's Aquarium for identification. Marine mammal expert Anton van Helden rejected all these ideas and told New Zealand's Channel 3 that the creature's fin structure is similar to that of a killer whale. Killer whales are common in and around Fiji and the Bay of Plenty. Further tests are being carried out to confirm this theory. The sea monster found off the coast of New Zealand is said to be around nine metres long. It has large flippers, seen below the head, but the rest of the animal's body had been torn out . The bizarre creature has large, jagged blackened teeth, which experts believe could help identify it as a killer whale . VIDEO: 'Monster' washes up on New Zealand beach .

The beast washed ashore in the Bay of Plenty after violent storms hit the coast of New Zealand . Tests are being carried out to determine exactly what the creature is .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 20:52 EST, 4 January 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 20:52 EST, 4 January 2013 . Bosses at a Swedish zoo have been accused of barbecuing their own animals for a staff party. The Parken Zoo in Eskiltuna, west of Stockholm, put two of their own wildebeest on the menu for the event, it is claimed. Financial constraints were said to be behind the decision to cook the animals. Bosses at the Parken Zoo in Eskiltuna, Sweden barbecued some of their own animals for a staff party . The wildebeest had been put down prior to the event because the zoo could no longer afford to keep them, it was claimed. One of the workers at the zoo said he saw colleagues slaughter the animals and was surprised when they were used to feed staff. Another said: ‘There was nothing wrong with the meat and we thought it was all right. But it feels a bit strange in retrospect.’ The zoo’s chief executive Torbjorn Bergvall denied the meat was used for the barbecue and said somebody was trying to create bad publicity for Parken. On the menu: Two wildebeest from the zoo were cooked at the event . He added: 'These wildebeest were put down because they were aggressive towards other animals at the park. We did not have room for them all.' The zoo has been in trouble before. Last year it was accused of taking money from visitors to the zoo which was collected to save endangered species and used it to pay wages. It was also said to have put down several endangered species, including two cougars, to make way for more spectacular animals. It was later claimed the cougars died from natural causes.

Parken Zoo in Sweden put two wildebeest on menu . Financial constraints said to be behind the decision .

A former hostess at a Disneyland restaurant is suing Disney claiming the theme park would not allow her to serve customers while wearing her Muslim head scarf. In a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Monday, Imane Boudlal alleges that when she turned up to work wearing her hijab she was told to remove it, work ‘backstage’ out of sight of customers or go home. The dispute dates back to 2010 when Boudlal, who worked at the Storyteller Café in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, learnt from her US citizenship exam that she could wear her hijab to work. Scroll down for video . Lawsuit: Imane Boudlal is suing Disney for allegedly refusing to let her work at Disneyland wearing her Muslim hijab. Right, she . wears the Disney-made bonnet she claims was provided to wear instead . of her headscarf . Having worked at the restaurant for two-and-a-half years, she then started wearing her hijab to work. However, whenever she did she was told to remove it, work away from customers or was sent home, the suit claims. She was sent home at least seven times without pay for wearing the headscarf to work, reported the OC Weekly. Boudlal’s managers offered her a bow-tie bonnet covered with a hat as a compromise but she refused saying that the hat made a ‘joke’ of both her and her religion. After refusing to wear the bonnet and turning down the ‘backstage’ work, Boudlal was suspended. She filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2010 and last week received a . notice of right to sue. Boudlal's . attorneys also claim that she was taunted the entire time she worked . there by her colleagues, who called her 'terrorist,' 'camel' and 'Kunta . Kinte,' the name of a slave in Alex Haley's novel, Roots. Harassed: Boudlal's attorneys also claim that she was taunted the entire time she worked at the Disneyland restaurant by her colleagues, who called her 'terrorist' and 'camel' Resort: Boudlal worked at the Storyteller Café in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel (pictured) in Anaheim . Boudlal told her managers about the abuse both orally and in writing, but the managers did nothing, her attorneys told the Los Angeles Times. Boudlal is being represented by her union, UNITE HERE Local 11, which has been in a bitter fight for years with Disneyland over an expired contract for hotel workers. Back in 2010, a Disney representative accused the union of distorting the facts in Boudlal's case to distract from the key issues in the contract fight. 'I don't understand why I cannot wear my white scarf that already matches my restaurant uniform, and be left to do my job,' she said to the OC Weekly. 'My scarf doesn't do anything to harm Disney or the guests.' This is not the first time that a Disney employee has insisted on wearing the hijab to work. In 2010, Noor Abdallah, then a 22-year-old intern from Chicago, agreed to wear a specially customised Disney-made bonnet as a compromise. VIDEO: Imane describes how she claims she was treated at Disney .

Imane Boudlal worked at the Storyteller Café in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim . She claims she was told to remove her hijab and work ‘backstage’ out of sight of customers - or go home .

By . Victoria Woollaston . PUBLISHED: . 08:01 EST, 11 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:05 EST, 11 February 2014 . Many of us have a certain pose for photos, but have you ever noticed your face has a tendency to turn to the right each time? If so, you're not alone. Research of paintings dating back to the 14th century has revealed people prefer to pose showing the left half of their face - and this might be because we consider our left side to be our best side. That's according to science writer and author Sam Kean who claims our left sides are more expressive than our right sides, because they are controlled by the part of our brain responsible for emotions. Research claims people have a natural tendency to pose showing more of the left half of their face. This is because the left-hand side of the body, and face, is controlled by the right-hand side of the brain, responsible for emotions. This in turn makes the left side look more expressive . As well as considering our own left sides to be the most attractive, research from the Wake Forest University in 2012 . found we consider other people to be most attractive when they’re . showing their left side, too. A total of 37 male and female students were asked to rate photos of 10 male and 10 female faces. The original photos, and mirrored versions of the photos, were shown. Photos showing the left sides of faces were rated more ‘pleasant’ than those showing right sides, in both sets of photos. Researchers . claimed this was because a poser’s left cheek tended to exhibit ‘a . greater intensity of emotion’, which is more pleasing to look at. During recent studies of paintings of Jesus on the cross, for example, 90 per cent of the images depicted him showing his left-hand side. While further research into the poses of pupils in yearbooks found a similar trend. According to Kean, author of The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons, the majority of people are hard-wired to believe their left side to be more attractive than their right, and this belief influences their poses for photo. Kean said: 'The best explanation is that we don’t view the left and right halves of people’s faces in the exact same way. 'People have a tendency to be more expressive with one half of the face, than the other half because out brains don’t quite work the same on the left side and the right side' The left side of the brain controls language, for example, while the right side controls spatial awareness and identifying faces. The right side of the brain also controls the left side of the body, making the left side more expressive. Kean . concluded: ‘We think we’re aware of most of what we’re doing, and it’s a . little disconcerting to see this ticks, and these little things emerge, . suddenly.’ Research from . the Department of Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan in . Canada, conducted in 2011, found people prefer looking at art when it is . lit from the left side, too. The trend has also been seen for decades in the poses of pupils in yearbooks, such as this Marine yearbook taken from 1956-1959 . During recent studies of paintings of Jesus on the cross, 90 per cent depicted him showing his left-hand side, including this image by Andra Burian . Called ‘the left-light bias’, participants said paintings with lighting on the left were ‘more aesthetically pleasing’ than when it was lighter on the right side. Yet there is an anomaly when artists create self-portraits. In February last year, Professor Marco Bertamini from Liverpool University wanted to put the right- and left-side bias theories to the test. More than 60% of famous paintings, including this image of Abraham Lincoln by George Healy, have the subject posing with their left side facing the artist . Despite evidence showing people prefer to pose for artists, or photos, with their left side facing the camera, when it comes to self-portraits, artists have traditionally depicted themselves from the right. To test whether this was only apparent in people with artistic training, Professor Bertamini asked non-artists to take selfies using a front-facing camera on their smartphones. Each participant was asked to use the camera to choose their preferred side and take a photo of it. He discovered that the trend followed suit, and the majority of participants took a photo of their right side. Yet this doesn’t rule out the left-hand bias. As Professor Bertamini explained, self-portraits are usually painted through the use of a mirror. This switches the view. For example, if an artist shows their left side to a mirror, and draws what they can see, the final image would show the head facing to the right. On smartphone cameras, the front-facing camera is a mirror that reflects what it is being pointed at. When the picture is saved, it is flipped to appear as if it was taken by another person. The trend to take selfies from the right side results in photos ending up showing the left, hence confirming the theory. Professor Bertamini said: 'Our results demonstrate that a preference for self-portraits showing one’s left side, even if this appears as a right cheek in the mirror-reversed display, can be documented in non-artists. ‘Our results can be interpreted as evidence for two separate factors affecting asymmetries in facial expressiveness, a posing bias due to the position of the mirror and an actual difference between the two sides of the face.’

People have a natural tendency to pose showing the left half of their face . This has been seen in around 60% of paintings since the 14th century . Recent studies also found 90% of Jesus pictures show his left-hand side . Writer Sam Kean claims the left half of a person's face is more expressive . It's controlled by the right side of the brain, responsible for emotions . This makes the left side seem more attractive to others .

Labour was last night urged to stop taking unpaid help from an accountancy giant accused by MPs of promoting tax avoidance schemes on an ‘industrial scale’. Senior Labour politicians – including members of Ed Miliband’s frontbench team – have accepted more than £500,000 worth of free help and advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers. Ed Balls, Chuka Umunna and Tristram Hunt are among them. The revelation is particularly damaging because PwC has placed its staff in Labour teams drawing up official policies on economic issues, including tax. Ed Balls (right) was among Ed Miliband's senior frontbench team who has accepted more than £500,000 worth of free help and advice from PricewaterhouseCoopers . Margaret Hodge, the chairman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee and a senior Labour MP, said the secondment of PwC staff to work in the offices of opposition frontbenchers was ‘inappropriate’. ‘The Conservatives took money from PricewaterhouseCoopers when they were in opposition, the Labour Party does and probably the Liberal Democrats too. I think that’s inappropriate, I wouldn’t do it,’ she told Radio 4’s The World at One. Her comments came after the PAC issued a blistering report condemning the way that PwC devised ‘complex strategies and contrived structures’ to help big companies dramatically reduce their tax bills. In a statement, PwC said that its secondees provided ‘limited and fully disclosed technical support’. Mrs Hodge said that the rules governing such arrangements were too weak and needed to be tightened. Analysis of the Register of Members Interests shows that PwC spent a total of £547,565 seconding their staff to work in the offices of many of Mr Milliband’s frontbench team. A total of 11 Labour MPs have had a member of the company working in their Westminster offices in the last year. Mr Balls, the shadow chancellor, has had two members of staff from the accountancy firm working with him, worth the equivalent of £64,162. Chuka Umunna (left) and Tristram Hunt (right) are also among the MPs said to have listed PwC staff working in their offices. Mr Umunna had research assistants worth £99,500 and Mr Hunt had one at value of £74,655 . On three occasions, Mr Umunna, the shadow business secretary, lists having had PwC research assistants working in his office, a perk worth £99,550. Mr Hunt, the shadow education secretary, also had a research assistant for six months at a value of £74,655. Labour defended the arrangements, saying that PwC had provided long-standing support to all three main political parties on a non-party basis. The firm said: ‘PwC has no political affiliation. We do not develop policy on their behalf.’ Labour defended the arrangements, saying that PwC had provided long-standing support to all three main political parties on a non-party basis .

Senior Labour politicians accepted more than £500,000 worth of free help . Ed Balls, Chuka Umunna and Tristram Hunt are among the frontbenchers . PricewaterhouseCoopers placed staff in teams drawing up official policies . Labour said in defence that PwC supported all three main political parties .

By . Arthur Martin . Getting around: The elderly are being put off visiting Britain's town and city centres because of a lack of public toilets and places to sit, a study has found . The elderly are being put off visiting Britain’s town and city centres because of a lack of public toilets and places to sit, a study has found. Failings in the design and planning of centres are deterring older people from venturing in. Campaigners said they are being made to feel ‘left behind by society’. Researchers asked a group of older people with differing levels of mobility to recount their experiences of a visit to Leeds. The participants, who were mainly in . their late 60s and 70s, were asked to pinpoint aspects that made their . experience in shops, streets and markets and on public transport both . easier and more difficult. For many, the basic difficulty of getting around the city over-rode any positive aspects they reported. Several complained that a lack of public lavatories was a major obstacle to their enjoyment of the city. Others, . including some suffering from conditions such as asthma, complained . that there had been little consideration of the need for benches and . seats to enable them to take short breaks as they walked around. They described the seats that were available as ‘uninviting’ and were arranged in a way that tended to be isolating. The findings were presented in a . research paper by a team of design, transport experts and engineers at . Leeds University. The authors highlighted how simple problems such as a . shortage of seating in streets or a lack of post boxes are deterring . many older people from venturing into city centres. They . urged councils and retailers to work together to make simple changes to . avoid excluding the fastest-growing section of Britain’s population . from the heart of major towns and cities. Dr . Kishore Budha, the lead author of the report, said: ‘For older people . there are simple things like toilets and seating which seem to be . completely forgotten. Study: Researchers asked a group of older people with differing levels of mobility to recount their experiences of a visit to Leeds . ‘The participants noticed that even in . new shopping centres with excellent modern disabled access, the . lavatories were often situated on the third or fourth floor. We seem to . get the whole thing wrong. It appears that the provision of ramps and . lifts is enough and that we have ticked the box. ‘Subtly . what this is saying is “don’t use this as a public facility, we will . make it difficult for you to use the toilets in the built environment”.’ Mervyn . Kohler, who carries out similar surveys for Age UK, said: ‘This is . increasing [older people’s] sense of being left behind by society, which . regards them as “past it”. ‘That sense of being a second-class citizen is something that a lot of older people feel quite bitter about. ‘If . that impacts on their ability to enjoy life and get out and socialise . and get about independently, then we are eroding their quality of life . in a serious way.' Worry: For many, the basic difficulty of getting around the city over-rode any positive aspects they reported .

Researchers asked elderly to recount their experiences of visiting Leeds . Participants said they found it difficult to get around the city . Many said a lack of public toilets was a major obstacle to their enjoyment . Findings were presented in a research paper by experts at Leeds University .

By . James Salmon . PUBLISHED: . 19:36 EST, 11 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 19:41 EST, 11 December 2013 . Royal Bank of Scotland has been fined £62million for breaching US sanctions against Iran and other brutal regimes, in another day of shame for British banks. The State-backed lender reached the settlement with US authorities after it emerged that it has been concealing transactions with clients in Iran, Burma, Libya and Sudan for more than a decade. Employees in the UK were given a step-by-step guide on how to conceal the identity of these sanctioned countries, stripping details from transactions with clients. Fined: RBS breached sanctions on dealing with Iran and had been hiding deals with clients in Burma, Libya and Sudan since as early as 2002 . The cover up occurred from at least 2002 to 2011, with more than 3,500 US dollar transactions worth £320 million routed through US banks. The fine is split between the US Treasury, the Federal Reserve and New York state’s Department of Financial Services. Anger: New York governor Andrew Cuomo will continue the battle against the banks . Four senior RBS employees, including its head of anti-money laundering were fired after RBS launched its own internal investigation in 2010. Regulators said they were fully aware of the deceit and in some cases gave instructions to their employees. Last night the bank said it ‘deeply regrets these failings’, which US regulators said ‘threatened the safety and soundness of RBS and violated New York law.’ Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York said: 'We have a vital responsibility to combat misconduct at banks and continue strengthening the long-term integrity of the financial system. 'In New York, we will continue our aggressive work rooting out global money laundering that puts our national security at risk.’ RBS is just the latest British bank to be fined for breaching US sanctions against rogue nations. HSBC, Barclays and Standard Chartered have all reached settlements with US authorities, with Standard Chartered fined £415 million last year. It was accused of dealing with clients including Iranian state backed lenders suspected of financing terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as Iran’s nuclear weapons programme.

RBS has been concealing transactions with Iran, Burma and Sudan . UK employees given guide on how to conceal transactions with regimes .

By . Ruth Styles . PUBLISHED: . 07:29 EST, 27 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 13:38 EST, 27 December 2013 . She might have made headlines when a sprinkling of grey hairs were seen marring her glossy locks but that hasn't stopped the Duchess of Cambridge from being voted the UK's number one beauty icon for the third year in a row. The 32-year-old royal saw off competition from TV favourite Holly Willoughby and Strictly Come Dancing champion Abbey Clancy to take the title, which was bestowed following a poll of 2000 British women. Completing the top five were singer Beyonce and perennial favourite Cheryl Cole who remained popular despite adding an eye-catching tattoo to her posterior earlier this year. Winner: The Duchess of Cambridge was named the UK's top beauty icon for the third year in a row . Runners up: Beyonce took third place while Holly Willoughby narrowly missed out on the top spot . The study placed Hollywood humanitarian icon Angelina Jolie as the sixth biggest beauty icon of the year, while X Factor . judge Nicole Scherzinger was in seventh place, closely followed by . Adele, who leapt from 14th to eighth place. Fashion . designer Victoria Beckham took ninth place, while Cara Delevigne, . perhaps now more famous for her party girl antics than modelling career, . completed the top ten. Older women also proved popular, with 68-year-old Helen Mirren narrowly missing out on a top 10 ranking in 11th place. Other more mature ladies to appear in the top 50 include Dame Judi Dench in at number 32 and Sharon Osbourne in 48th place. Model . Amy Willerton is a new entry in the top 50 beauty icons, at number 39 . following her appearance on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Champion beauty icon: Strictly star Abbey Clancy (pictured backstage after her win) twirled into fourth place . Perennial favourites: The ever popular Angelina Jolie and Cheryl Cole took fifth and sixth place . Celebrities Michelle Keegan, Alexa Chung, Alesha Dixon and Rihanna also appeared in the top 20, along with Michelle Obama and Mila Kunis. The . study also found just under half of all women polled are envious of the . way celebrities look, and one quarter look to their favourites for . inspiration on what to wear and how to look. Forty-two per cent said seeing celebrities look amazing makes them take . better care of their own appearance, while 18 per cent directly compare . themselves to famous people. Simon Comins of Superdrug, which conducted the annual Beauty Icons study of 2013, said: 'Kate Middleton has secured her place in the nation's hearts, and has cemented her position as a beauty Icon. New entry: The former Miss Great Britain and I'm A Celebrity star Amy Willerton appeared for the first time . Over 50 and fabulous: Dame Judi Dench came 32nd while Helen Mirren narrowly missed out on the top 10 . 'The Duchess is always immaculately presented, but is styled in a way the average person can relate to, and take inspiration from. 'Our customers definitely take note of Kate's look, brunette hair colours and natural makeup have never been more popular, and it's interesting that the majority of our top ten list this year have naturally brown hair.' He added: 'We spend a huge amount of time watching celebrity trends and beauty looks because we know our customers watch them too. 'But while today's women are inspired by beautiful women in the public eye, we're not seeing them slavishly copying specific looks - it's more about being encouraged to try something new after seeing it on a famous face.' 1. Kate Middleton . 2. Holly Willoughby . 3. Beyonce . 4.  Cheryl Cole . 5. Abbey Clancy . 6. Angelina Jolie . 7. Nicole Scherzinger . 8. Adele . 9. Victoria Beckham . 10. Cara Delevingne . 11. Helen Mirren . 12. Emma Watson . 13. Michelle Keegan . 14. Alexa Chung . 15. Natalie Portman . 16. Alesha Dixon . 17. Mila Kunis . 18. Michelle Obama . 19. Scarlett Johansson . 20. Rihanna . 21. Kelly Brook . 22. Pippa Middleton . 23. Katy Perry . 24. Kim Kardashian . 25. Taylor Swift . 26. Jessie J . 27. Ellie Goulding . 28. Keira Knightley . 29. Amanda Holden . 30. Nigella Lawson . 31. Rosie Huntington Whiteley . 32. Judi Dench . 33. Jessica Ennis . 34. Mylene Klass . 35. Agyness Deyn . 36. Fearne Cotton . 37. Blake Lively . 38. Alexandra Burke . 39. Amy Willerton . 40. Kylie Minogue . 41. Darcey Bussell . 42. Halle Berry . 43. Dannii Minogue . 44. Tess Daly . 45. Lady GaGa . 46. Anna Friel . 47. Katherine Jenkins . 48. Sharon Osbourne . 49. Miranda Kerr . 50. Amy Childs .

Duchess of Cambridge named the UK's top beauty icon for the third year . Beyonce, Holly Willoughby and Abbey Clancy all made the top five . Judi Dench, Sharon Osbourne and Helen Mirren all appeared in the top 50 .

Smiling Connor Levy is a happy, healthy newborn. But there’s something special about him – because he gives hope to thousands of women desperate to become mothers. His parents are the first in the world to benefit from a fertility test which promises to revolutionise IVF – and could be cheap enough for widespread use on the NHS. The Oxford University DNA test helps fertility doctors select only the best embryos. Doing this could almost guarantee some women a baby. Bundle of joy: Connor was conceived using the new fertility test developed at Oxford University . His mother and father, Marybeth Scheidts, 36, and David Levy, 41, had been trying to start a family for five years and feared they would never have a baby. Then Connor was born seven weeks ago weighing 7lb 15oz. Miss Scheidts told the Mail: ‘The first time I saw Connor, I was smashed with emotion. David and I are crazy, insanely in love with this kid.’ The couple, who live in Philadelphia, took part in a small-scale trial of the test which aims to increase the success rates of IVF. Currently as few as a quarter of IVF attempts lead to a birth. Ecstatic: Marybeth Scheidtz and David Levy were delighted to have Connor after taking part in a small-scale trial of the test which aims to increase the success rates of IVF . The test uses cutting-edge technology . called next generation sequencing to find out whether embryos have just . the right number of chromosomes. The . European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s annual . conference heard that many eggs contain too many or too few chromosomes. This stops any pregnancy from taking place or leads to a miscarriage. Having too many chromosomes can lead to conditions such as Down’s syndrome. Examination: The test uses cutting-edge technology called next generation sequencing to find out whether embryos have just the right number of chromosomes . Therefore the test should also boost . the odds of babies born by IVF being healthy. It would also cut the . financial costs of IVF. Several . tests are already available but Oxford University’s Dr Dagan Wells . believes that his will be half the cost of its rivals. Couples face . paying up to £15,000 per course of IVF, plus £2,000 to £3,000 for . chromosomal testing. The . test can also look for genes behind rare diseases and assess the health . of the mitochondria – the ‘batteries’ inside cells that turn the food . we eat into energy. Defects in these cause around 50 genetic diseases, many of which kill in infancy or lead to miscarriages. Discovery The Oxford University (pictured) DNA test helps fertility doctors select only the best embryos. Doing this could almost guarantee some women a baby . When all three features are taken into account, it is hoped the test will boost the odds of pregnancy by around a third. Used on relatively young women in the best clinics, it could take the odds of pregnancy to almost 80 per cent per attempt. It is thought that the main beneficiaries of the test will be women in their 30s. The embryos of those aged 40-plus carry more defects, so too few could be produced for the test to be used. A large-scale trial is planned for the UK later this year which, if successful, could mean the test will be available through private clinics in as little as 18 months. However, some raised fears that the test could be exploited to give couples ‘designer’ babies with a certain eye or hair colour. Roy Farquharson, of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, warned that the law would have to be amended to limit the genes that could be hunted out by the test.

Connor Levy was born using a revolutionary new fertility test . DNA test helps fertility doctors select only the best embryos for IVF . Currently as few as a quarter of IVF attempts lead to a birth . This new test could almost guarantee some women a baby .

A California jury reached a mixed verdict Friday in the second round of patent infringement litigation between tech giants Apple and Samsung, awarding Apple a fraction of the amount asked of the jury while awarding an even smaller amount to Samsung's counterclaim. The eight-person jury returned a verdict finding that Samsung had infringed on two Apple software patents, awarding the company a total of $119.6 million. The jury also found in favor of Samsung in their counterclaim, awarding them $158,400 for the infringement of one patent. The $119.6 million is barely more than five per cent of the $2.2 billion in damages Apple asked of the court. It is also much less than the $930 million Apple was awarded in 2012 in the same court, the US District Court for the Northern District of California, in San Jose. A jury returned a verdict in the Apple v. Samsung patent infringement case Friday, awarding Apple $119.6 million for their damages . Boxes of documents shown outside of the federal courthouse in San Jose, California, on April 28, 2014. The jury heard four weeks of trial before deliberating on a verdict . In this litigation, Apple accused Samsung of 'slavishly' lifting numerous technologies from the iPhone for use in Samsung's product line. The jury was asked to decide on five patents, deciding that all Samsung phones infringed on Apple's 'quick links' patent, while only some of Samsung's phones infringed on Apple's 'slide-to-lock' patent. US District Judge Lucy Koh had previously ruled on a motion for summary judgment that some of Samsung's phones infringed on Apple's 'auto-correct' patent. Two other patents, including background syncing and unified search, were not found to be infringed upon by Samsung. In addition, the jury found that Apple infringed one of Samsung's patents. The four man, four woman jury deliberated for three days following a four week trial. At trial Apple characterized Samsung as thieves, with Apple attorney Harold McElhinny telling the court that Samsung's 'illegal strategy has been wildly successful.' Samsung's counsel disputed this claim, arguing that Apple was simply trying to attack another nemesis, Google, by preventing the the sale of products like the Galaxy S3, which use Google's Android operating system. According to Samsung, the lawsuit was part of Apple's 'holy war' against Google, declared by the late Steve Jobs in response his belief that Android ripped off Apple's iOS. 'They want to attack Google and Android by attacking the most successful Android maker,' said attorney John Quinn in Samsung's closing arguments. Speculation has arisen that the court's verdict proved to be favorable to both Samsung and Google. Not only did Apple again fail to obtain a court injunction preventing Samsung from selling their allegedly infringing phones in the United States, but the two patents in which Google had agreed to indemnify Samsung (the background syncing and unified search) were not found to be infringing by the jury. Some experts claim that the jury's verdict was favorable to not only Samsung, but Google as well. Apple maintains that they are glad to prevail in the jury's verdict . The $119.6 million awarded by the jury will likely not be the final total. In a review after the verdict was returned, Apple lawyers noticed an error with the way the jury made one calculation, forgetting to assess damages for one Samsung product that was found to infringe an Apple patent. Apple attorneys Harold McElhinny (pictured left) and William Lee (pictured right) walk in to a federal courthouse in San Jose, California, on April 28, 2014. Apple prevailed on three claims of patent infringement against Samsung. The jury will return on Monday at 9am to assess this oversight. The additional amount the jury will add to the verdict will not change the general result of the case for Apple. Despite the jury's award being significantly less than what they asked for, attorneys for Apple maintained satisfaction regarding winning in some capacity. 'We are grateful to the jury and the court for their service,' a representative for Apple told Re/code. 'Today’s ruling reinforces what courts around the world have already . found: That Samsung willfully stole our ideas and copied our products. We are fighting to defend the hard work that goes into beloved products . like the iPhone, which our employees devote their lives to designing and . delivering for our customers.' Both sides will likely file post-trial motions in the coming weeks, and may appeal the result depending on how the court rules. Samsung is still appealing the 2012 ruling in which they were ordered to pay Apple $930 million. This litigation is the latest in an ongoing legal war the tech giants have been locked in, spanning worldwide. This verdict comes when the two have begun to experience stalling in what was unprecedented growth. Both companies have been losing market share.  Two . years ago, Apple and Samsung accounted for more than 55 per cent of world-wide . smartphones shipments, according to research firm Strategy Analytics. In . the first quarter of 2104, that number has fallen to 47 per cent. According to the study, smaller Chinese rivals upstarts such as Huawei and Lenovo have been making gains, with a Lenovo takeover of Motorola pending in several countries.

Jury found in favor of Apple on three claims of patent infringement . $119.6 million award less than ten per cent of $2.2 billion sought by Apple . Patents infringed upon: 'quick-link', 'slide-to-lock' and 'auto-correct' Jury will return Monday morning to fix slight mistake in verdict .

By . Ulla Kloster . PUBLISHED: . 12:41 EST, 22 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 04:54 EST, 23 July 2013 . This is the moment a disqualified driver brazenly smashed his pick-up truck into a brand new police car - seconds after officers joked: 'I hope he doesn't ram us'. Thug Chad Harrison, 27, reversed straight into the officer's high-spec BMW X5 on April 18 this year causing £5,000 worth of damage. Shocking footage taken from inside the 13-plate BMW, which only had 400 miles on the clock, shows Harrison ploughing his flat-bed truck into the 4x4 twice. Scroll down for video... First, officers were joking as they spotted the truck and hoping the driver wouldn't reverse into their new BMW X5, but they were in for a surprise... The lorry filmed as it reverses back to hit the police car, a brand new BMW with just 400 miles on the clock, near Stourbridge, West Mids. The driver feared officers would discover he was banned from the roads . He then speeds off on the single-track lane near the A449 in Stourbridge, West Midlands, hoping to leave the brand new £40,000 police car in his wake. But Harrison's attempts to disable the BMW, which was on its first emergency callout, failed and PCs Dal Nijjar and Gareth Phillips pursued him for almost 20 miles. After crashing into the gates of Hunts . Mill Nature Reserve in Dudley, West Midlands, Harrison tried to escape on . foot through woodland. The brand new police patrol car with just 400 miles on the clock, suffered more than £5,000 worth of damage. Officers pursued the driver for almost 20 miles until he crashed through the gates of Hunts Mill Nature Reserve off Coopers Bank Road in Dudley . But with help from the West Midlands Police helicopter, officers were easily able to track him down to where he was lying low in bushes and make the arrest. Harrison, from Kingswinford, West Midlands, admitted dangerous driving, driving whilst disqualified, failing to stop for police and damaging eight other vehicles during the pursuit. And last Tuesday, he was jailed for 19 months and handed a seven-year driving ban at Wolverhampton Crown Court. A video released West Midlands Police after the case shows the shocking moment Harrison reversed his pick-up truck into the front of the stunned motorway officers car. Harrison and his collegues try to make an escape before he is spotted by a police helicopter and apprehended by police on the lane near the A449 in Stourbridge . The lorry, pictured during its doomed attempt to escape, was used to ram a police vehicle . With help from the West Midlands Police helicopter, officers were easily able to track Harrison down to where he was lying low in bushes . Seconds before the impact, audio from in-car cameras captured a discussion between the two PCs saying they hoped the disqualified driver wouldn't shunt their new car. One of the officers can be heard saying: 'I hope he doesn't ram us' before the pair start chuckling. The one minute and 41 seconds long video then shows Harrison fleeing down the track before he eventually dumps his truck and is monitored by the force's helicopter. Speaking after the case, Acting Sergeant Robert Leaver, from the Central Motorways Police Group (CMPG) said: 'Harrison has an appalling record of driving going back many years; on this occasion his reckless driving in a large commercial vehicle caused near carnage and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. The normally peaceful country lane: Damage was caused to other motorists during the police chase as they pursued the driver for almost 20 miles . 'He deliberately drove at a patrol car, injuring the officers, and then led police on a long pursuit during which he strayed onto the wrong side of carriageways and struck at least eight other vehicles. 'The truck was in a poor condition and several of the cars were damaged after being struck by one of the truck's stabiliser booms which protruded out from its side. 'The public need protecting from people who drive in this manner and put other road users in danger. 'He's rightly been jailed and should he be tempted to take to the roads at any stage over the next seven years he's likely to find himself back behind bars.' Police revealed Harrison caused £5,000 in damage to the brand new BMW X5 as well as thousands more to other vehicles he struck as he tried to escape.

Thug Chad Harrison reversed straight into the officer's high-spec BMW X5 . Footage taken from inside the 13-plate BMW. It had 400 miles on the clock . Seconds before impact, audio also captured talk between the two PCs . Driver speeds off, hoping to leave the £40,000 police car in his wake .

The two doctors missing for two days in the Blue Mountains have been found safe and well by search teams. Bupa Australia’s Chief Medical Officer and Medical Director both failed to return home from a bush walk on Saturday night. Dr Paul Bates was last seen on Saturday morning . NSW Police said the men were discovered by an SES team in a canyon on Monday morning. 'About 10am today, an SES search team made voice contact with the two men in an area in the vicinity of Du Faurs Creek,' police said. 'It’s expected to take approximately half an hour to reach the men, due to the dense bushland in the surrounding area,' they added. Dr Paul Bates, 58 of Mosman, and Chris Dalton, 57, of Chatswood, were last seen at 6.30am on Saturday as they embarked on a day trip bush walk at Mount Wilson in Sydney's Blue Mountains. Bupa Australia’s spokesperson Brooke Lord told Daily Mail Australia: 'We are hugely concerned by the news that they didn't return from their hike. Our thoughts are with both Paul and Chris's family and friends.’ Mrs Lord said she knew both men personally and that 'they are both very active men and fit, healthy, outdoorsy types’. ‘My hopes and the whole business’s hopes are they are found safe and well today,' she added. Police found their car parked in a dirt car park next to the Mount Wilson fire shed. Blue Mountains rescue police said: ‘A canyoning group failed to return from a trip yesterday. Chris Dalton, 57, has been described as an active and outdoorsy man . ‘The two men from Sydney intended on doing a canyon in Bell Creek and were expecting to return yesterday afternoon. The group left details of their intended trip with family members.’ Blue Mountains Police, POLAIR, Police Rescue and NSW Ambulance Special Operations originally searched the bushland near where their car was located. The search for the men resumed at 8am on Monday morning. On Bupa’s website Dr Bates is described as a ‘passionate healthcare advocate’. Before joining Bupa he was the National Medical Director for Innovations at OptumHealth, one of the USA's largest health companies. Meanwhile, his friend Mr Dalton worked as an ear, nose and throat surgeon at The Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick for 17 years before joining Serco and then Bupa. The men went for a walk at Mount Wilson on Saturday, in the Blue Mountains .

Dr Paul Bates and Chris Dalton were last seen on Saturday morning . They were on a day trip bush walk at Mount Wilson in the Blue Mountains . Dr Bates is the Chief Medical Officer for Bupa in Australia and New Zealand . Mr Dalton is the Medical Director of the health insurance company . A Bupa spokesperson said 'they are both very active men and fit, healthy, outdoorsy types'

(CNN) -- Ex-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his former treasurer got more than $125,000 in free travel and entertainment from an investment firm that made $3 million handling city pension funds, federal regulators said Wednesday. A lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission accuses Kilpatrick and former city Treasurer Jeffrey Beasley of soliciting the gifts from MayfieldGentry Realty Advisors, which regulators say picked up the tab for trips to Las Vegas, Bermuda and Florida on private jets. Beasley told the firm's owner, Chancey Mayfield, that his company was "in the doghouse" with Kilpatrick's administration after Mayfield backed Kilpatrick's opponent in the 2005 election, the lawsuit states, and Beasley offered to help Mayfield "clear the air" with the mayor. "At the same time Mayfield and MGRA secretly provided these gifts, they were seeking approval from the trustees of the funds, including Kilpatrick and Beasley, for over $115 million in investments," the lawsuit states. "The failure by Kilpatrick, Beasley, MGRA, and Mayfield to disclose these gifts and the resulting conflicts of interest constituted a fraud on the pension funds." There was no immediate response to the lawsuit from the defendants Wednesday afternoon. MayfieldGentry's phone was out of service, and the company's website was offline. Kilpatrick was forced to resign in 2008 in a scandal over his attempt to cover-up of an extramarital affair. He served three months in jail for assaulting a police officer who was attempting to serve a subpoena on one of his friends, then served another 14 months in prison for violating probation. He still faces federal racketeering charges over what prosecutors call "a pattern of extortion, bribery and fraud" during his administration, particularly involving contracts with the water department. Beasley was indicted on federal bribery charges in February, with prosecutors accusing him of taking kickbacks from companies with city pension fund business. According to the charges, Detroit's two pension funds lost more than $84 million as a result of the scheme.

An SEC lawsuit names Kwame Kilpatrick and his former treasurer . The suit says they got free trips from a company that wanted to handle Detroit pensions . Kilpatrick resigned in 2008 and faces federal racketeering charges .

Lampedusa, Italy (CNN) -- More than 400 people fleeing Libya and Tunisia arrived overnight in an Italian island on Saturday, the latest in a stream of refugees escaping volatile and unstable North Africa. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said the people reached the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa in two boats, one from Libya and the other from Tunisia. The vessel from Libya carried 199 people fleeing the country's civil war, and the other carried 218 Tunisians looking for better lives in Europe. Five boats containing 1,271 passengers reached Lampedusa on Friday. Many of the refugees are from sub-Saharan Africa, including Sierra Leone and Senegal. Others include Bangladeshis and Egyptians. More than 30,000 migrants and refugees from Tunisia and Libya have risked this dangerous journey to Lampedusa since last February. Lampedusa and Malta, both islands less than an hour's flight from the North African coast, have borne the brunt of the subsequent wave of migration. At one point, the population of migrants vastly outnumbered the tiny population of Lampedusa, which numbers less than 6,000. The number of new arrivals from Tunisia has reduced somewhat, thanks in part to a recent agreement with Italy to improve patrolling along the Tunisian coast.

One ship was from Libya and the other was from Tunisia . People have been making the journey since February . Lampedusa and Malta have borne the brunt of refugee flight .

(CNN) -- Jo-Wilfried Tsonga boosted his Australian Open hopes by overcoming difficult conditions to beat fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils in the final of the Qatar Open on Saturday. The match was delayed by misty conditions, and world No. 6 Tsonga suffered one worrying slip on the greasy hard-court surface before completing a 7-5 6-3 victory in Doha. The 26-year-old claimed the first title of the 2012 ATP Tour season and the eighth of his career, showing the sort of form that took him to the final of the year's opening grand slam in Melbourne four years ago. He became the third Frenchman to win the event, being played in the Gulf state for the 20th time, and extended his career record over his Davis Cup teammate to 3-1. Federer and Nadal exit Qatar tournament . "It was difficult. The surface was very slippery especially on the 'Qatar' sign painted on the court," Tsonga, who won 16 of the last 19 points, told reporters. "It was dangerous but they did enough to make it okay. This is a good win for me going into the Australian Open, it's just amazing." Tsonga took his place in the final after world No. 3 and three-time defending champion Roger Federer withdrew before their semifinal due to a back problem. Monfils qualified after beating second-ranked Spaniard Rafael Nadal in straight sets. Meanwhile, world No. 4 Andy Murray will take on Ukrainian third seed Alexandr Dolgopolov in Sunday's Brisbane International final. The top-seeded Briton beat Australian teenager Bernard Tomic 6-3 6-2 on Saturday in his first match under the guidance of his new coach, former world No. 1 Ivan Lendl. Murray, last year's Australian Open runner-up, reached his 31st career final after eliminating the 42nd-ranked 19-year-old. World No. 15 Dolgopolov defeated French second seed Gilles Simon 6-3 6-4 to reach his third hard-court final and third overall, giving him the chance to win his second title in a clash with a player who has beaten him in both their previous meetings. In India, Serbian top seed Janko Tipsarevic will face Canadian No. 4 Milos Raonic in Sunday's Chennai Open final. World No. 9 Tipsarevic beat Japanese qualifier Go Soeda 6-1 6-4 to qualify for his eighth singles final, having lost five of those. The 31st-ranked Raonic, named 2011 ATP Newcomer of the Year after winning his first title in San Jose, defeated Spanish second seed Nicolas Almagro 6-4 6-4 to reach his third final.

World No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wins all-French final at the Qatar Open on Saturday . Tsonga defeats Gael Monfils 7-5 6-3 in match which was delayed by misty weather . World No. 4 Andy Murray will take on third seed Alexandr Dolgopolov in Brisbane final . Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic faces Canada's Milos Raonic in Chennai Open title match .

By . Ray Massey, Transport Editor . Last updated at 11:44 AM on 23rd February 2012 . Nearly half of pilots say they have fallen asleep at the controls, it emerged yesterday. The alarming admission came as union leaders warned MPs that even more passengers’ lives will be put at risk due to new European rules that could allow pilots to land their aircraft after 22 hours without sleep. The change – to ‘harmonise’ flying hours – poses ‘a danger to public safety’ and must not be adopted by the UK, the British Airline Pilots’ Association warned the House of Commons Transport Committee yesterday. The pilots' association, Balpa, fears air passengers will be put at risk if changes to their working arrangements are agreed . Its research claims that the . proposals will leave pilots ‘drunk with fatigue’ – as if they had . consumed five cans of lager and were four times over the legal limit for . flying. Balpa’s head of safety, Dr Rob Hunter, . told MPs that its own poll showed 43 per cent of pilots had fallen . asleep on the flight deck – but said this was ‘probably an . underestimation’. Asked if the EU changes would lead to more accidents, Dr Hunter replied: ‘I would say so.’ He added that competition among airlines was so intense it could lead to skimping on safety. ‘If airlines spend on safety today, they might go out of business tomorrow,’ he said. Balpa has said there are no guarantees that mandated rest time for pilots will mean they will get sleep . The pilots’ union is concerned that . the Civil Aviation Authority appears to be supporting the flying time . rules from the EU’s European Aviation Safety Agency when it should be . demanding an opt-out. Before the meeting, Balpa general . secretary Jim McAuslan said: ‘The Government have to answer this . question: “Is it safe to land an aircraft after 22 hours [without . sleep]?” If not, they need to reject these EU proposals now and keep the . current UK rules in place until they have been significantly improved.’ Fatigue was seen as factor in the crash which killed 49 people in Buffalo, upstate New York, in the U.S. three years ago. It emerged the co-pilot was paid a salary so low that she lived with her parents near Seattle and commuted across the country to her job, a combination of long travel and little money that a safety official called a "recipe for an accident". A National Transportation Safety Board hearing then focused on whether Captain Marvin Renslow and co-pilot Rebecca Shaw were fatigued on the wintry night of February 12, 2009, when they apparently made a series of critical errors as Continental Connection Flight 3407 approached Buffalo Niagara International Airport. The Bombardier Dash 8-Q400, a twin-engine turboprop, experienced an aerodynamic stall, rolling back and forth before plunging into a house below. All 49 people aboard and one on the ground were killed in the worst U.S. air crash in seven years. Mr McAuslan added: ‘Twenty hours of wakefulness is far from the only part of the proposals which give us serious concern. ‘Compared with the UK’s domestic . rules, the EU proposals would see pilots being able to fly further – as . far as California – with no back-up crew and, contrary to scientific . advice, allow pilots to do up to seven early starts in a row, which is . desperately fatiguing. ‘We need the Government to say it . won’t support this danger to public safety, and will demand that we . either get the proposals to a much safer position, or retain our own . domestic rules.’ Kris Major, of the Unite union, said the proposals would lead to a 17 per cent increase in pilots’ workloads. And there is a five-and-a-half times . higher chance of an accident when duty periods exceed 13 hours, . according to Jon Horne, executive board director of the European Cockpit . Association. But the Civil Aviation Authority rejected any suggestion that the controversial EU rules would compromise safety. Captain Tim Price, of British Airways, . insisted airlines were not  prioritising profits and that safety was . the responsibility of the airline and the captain flying on that . particular day. Aviation minister Theresa Villiers claimed there would be ‘significant safety gains’ from the European proposals. She  said the EU plans would . ‘broadly’ bring the whole of the continent up to UK levels and would not . see a ‘levelling down’ of standards.

Pilots fear new EU regulations would allow them to land a plane after up to 22 hours without sleep .

By . Leon Watson . Ed Balls has been spared a driving ban but fined £900 and given five points on his licence today for failing to stop after an accident. The Shadow Chancellor revealed in May he had been charged with driving away from a crash after he bumped his car in his constituency of Morley and Outwood, West Yorkshire. It was said he was trying to perform a 'seven point turn'. Today, a district judge said the incident was 'at the lower end of the scale of seriousness' and rejected the option of a total driving ban. Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has been ordered to pay a £900 fine and has had five points put on his driving licence after admitting failing to stop after a minor road collision . District Judge Roy Anderson read a letter from Mr Balls's solicitors admitting the offences of failing to stop and failing to report an accident. He said Mr Balls's account was that he did not realise at the time that he had caused any damage to the parked Peugeot 308 as he moved out of the car park in his Ford Mondeo. The district judge ordered the shadow chancellor to pay a £900 fine plus a £90 Government surcharge and £85 prosecution costs. Mr Anderson said: 'Motorists who leave the scene of accidents without stopping to exchange particulars will, in serious cases, face a penalty which includes disqualification from driving. 'This, however, is a case very much at the lower end of the scale of seriousness. 'No injury was caused to any person and the damage to the car was, in reality, very slight. 'While Mr Balls was careless to a minor degree in colliding with the parked car, it's quite clear that if he had stopped at the time to exchange details, this matter would never have been the subject of criminal proceedings.' MP Ed Balls's car outside his home in Castleford that shows some damage on the rear . The car shows some damage on the rear, just above the bumper . Ed Balls attempted to perform a 'seven point turn' in this street, but crashed into another car . Earlier, Mr Anderson was told the offences carried a possible prison sentence. Smiling, the district judge said: 'I have been sent a bundle of paperwork and, having read it, that would be a most unlikely penalty.' In a blog post on his website, Mr Balls, who did not attend the hearing at Leeds Magistrates' Court today, said he bumped into another car when trying to turn his car round 'in a tight spot'. It happened as he was moving out of a car park next to the Labour Unity Club, in Morley. But instead of alerting the owner of the damaged black Peugeot 306, Mr Balls drove off. He said that he had no idea he had caused any damage. The offence of failing to stop after an accident can mean five to 10 penalty points, driving disqualification, a fine of up to £5,000 or, in the most serious cases, a jail sentence of up to six months. Pictures at the time showed Mr Balls' ageing Ford Mondeo estate clearly showing scratch marks on the bumper, but his spokesman insisted they were the result of police taking a paint sample from the vehicle. Mr Balls said he only found out that he had damaged the other motor when he was contacted by officers a week later. Mr Balls also claimed the police had no choice but to charge him and insisted he accepted it fully. That bump in April was the fourth time in recent years that Mr Balls has landed himself in trouble behind the wheel. In 2013, he received three points for driving through a red light on the Embankment near Westminster in London. The same year he was caught speeding in his constituency in West Yorkshire. He was clocked driving at 56mph in a 50mph zone. Mr Balls paid a fine and attended a speed awareness course rather than accept penalty points. And in 2010, the Labour heavyweight admitted 'stupidity' after being caught talking on his mobile phone while driving. As a cabinet minister at the time, he was fined £60 and given three points on his licence - although these points have now expired.

Shadow Chancellor was charged with failing to stop after an accident . He said in a blog post he bumped into another car while 'in a tight spot' Mr Balls drove off but said he had no idea he had caused any damage . The offence could have meant a driving ban, but Mr Balls was spared . Labour front-bencher believed to have 3 points on his licence already . It is the fourth time in recent years he's been in trouble behind the wheel .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 00:51 EST, 8 December 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 19:29 EST, 8 December 2012 . Reckless: Marvin Travon Hicks was arrested after he crashed his car, killing a two-year-old girl, while running away from police . Police have arrested a California man after he led them on a high-speed chase before slamming his car into another, killing a two-year-old girl and severely injuring her mother. Marvin Travon Hicks, 43, was taken into custody Friday and charged with suspicion of felony vehicular manslaughter. He is being held on a $1 million bail and is due to appear in court on Monday. Meanwhile, the victim was identified as Madison Ruano, a two-year-old girl who was considered a ‘miracle’ child after she survived being born severely prematurely at 25 weeks and weighing less than two pounds. According to the official report, police started pursuing Hicks after he ran a red light on Sierra Highway, shortly before the fatal collision. Authorities say he then weaving between cars going at speeds over 100 mph and even drove briefly on the wrong side of the road in an attempt to avoid police. It was at that point that Hicks drove his black Toyota straight into the blue Lexus driven by Ruano’s mother. Both the woman and child suffered massive trauma to their upper body and were immediately taken to the hospital, where the little girl later died. Her mother remains in serious condition. Meanwhile, Hicks was surrounded by several officers with their guns drawn, according to The Antelope Valley Times. Photographs from the scene show the front of Hicks' car was completely totaled and that he had a difficult time standing as he was pulled by police from his car. It was unclear whether drugs or alcohol had anything to do with the crash, though deputies on the scene said Hicks appeared to be in a state of inebriation. Hicks also has a long history of drunk and reckless driving. In October 2001, Hicks was convicted of driving under the influence, while in August of 1995, he was convicted of misdemeanor hit and run. Destroyed: Hicks' car was completely totaled with the front of his car crumpled and his windshield shattered . Seized: Hicks was pulled from his car after being surrounded by a number of armed deputies . Already, condolences over the young . girl’s death are pouring in, with people leaving balloons and stuffed . animals at the intersection where the accident took place. Meanwhile, a Facebook tribute page for the girl described and a memorial fund has raised nearly $3,000 for the family. On . the Facebook page, Ruano was described as being ‘precious little light . to ALL who encountered her.’ It also describes how Ruano managed to . survive, despite being born nearly three months early and at only 1 . pound and 14 ounces. By the time she left the hospital, she was a healthy four pounds, much to the relief of her parents. ‘We . know that Madison is now in the arms of our dear Lord, Jesus,’ the page . reads. ‘We are thankful for her life and the short time that we had her . with us.' Devastating: The victim was two-year-old Madison Ruano who was described as a 'precious little light to all who encountered her' Shaken: Ruano's mother, left, was hospitalized and has yet to be released. She is in a stable yet serious condition after suffering massive trauma to her upper body . Miracle Life: Ruano was considered a 'miracle child' after she survived being born nearly three months premature, weighing less than two pounds . Grieved: In honor of Ruano, people have left out stuffed animals and balloons at the site of the horrible accident .

Marvin Travon Hicks, 43, was arrested on felony vehicular manslaughter charges . The victim was two-year-old Madison Ruano, who was considered a 'miracle child' after she survived being born nearly three months premature . Her mother is in a stable but serious condition .

By . Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press Reporter . PUBLISHED: . 18:35 EST, 29 October 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 07:37 EST, 30 October 2013 . Found dead: David Welch, 54, was reported missing on September 2 by his family in Manhattan, Kansas . The body of a missing father has been found after he was trapped in the wreckage of his car for weeks - and spent his final days writing emotional handwritten notes to his family. David Welch, 54, vanished without a trace from his home in Kansas on September 2 and police only found his body on October 18 more than 800 miles away in a remote part of Utah. It has now emerged that he likely fell asleep at the wheel, veered off the road and was trapped in his overturned vehicle. Police say that he survived in the wreckage for days and possibly weeks. They have said that he was injured and that prevented him from getting out of the vehicle, but they have not disclosed the nature of his injuries. The car was not visible when driving on the interstate, but a hitchhiker who was walking along the remote road was the one to spot the crash site on October 18. Utah Highway Patrol troopers found Welch trapped inside his mangled minivan at the bottom of a 50-foot ravine - with handwritten notes to his wife and four adult sons. What's in those letters, though, is not being made public. The Welch family declined comment and the Utah Highway Patrol isn't sharing what they call very personal. Horrific: The car was found on October 18 when a hitchhiker was walking along the remote stretch of highway and spotted the car that was not visible from the road . The discovery brought a tragic end to a . difficult several weeks for Welch's family that began on September 2 . when they reported him missing from his home in Manhattan, Kansas. The . family said Welch, a retired salesman, left in a 2000 Pontiac Montana . without telling anyone where he was going - according to Riley County Police . spokesman Matt Droge. Over . the next several days, police did several . searches of the area that came up empty. Welch was put in . the national missing persons database. As the days went on, the family struggled with not knowing what happened. They posted missing signs around the city and started a Facebook page to bring attention to the search, Droge said. On the Facebook page Find Dave Welch they asked people to drive two extra blocks each day in hopes of finding him somewhere in Manhattan. Family: Investigators are still at a loss for why Welch left his seemingly happy family life, seen at left with his wife Kelly and at right with one of his grandchildren . Heartbreaking: Police found handwritten notes addressed to his wife and children in the car when they found Mr Welch's body in the vehicle on October 18 . On October 17, the day before he was found, there was a post written directly to Welch, perhaps in hopes he might read them. 'Dear . Dave, it has been seven weeks since you left. Your wife, children and . grandchildren miss you more than the sky is high. Your classmates and . friends are concerned for your health and want to help. As we sit at . home tonight with tears welling up; our hearts aching, we wonder where . you are. We only pray that you see this message and ask God to bring you . home soon. We love you!' Investigators believe Welch fell asleep at the wheel of his minivan as he approached a curve on Interstate 70 in eastern Utah around September 3, Riches said. His minivan sped off the road and went airborne, smashing into the side of the ravine. It came to rest upside down, resting on the passenger side, he said. Evidence suggests Welch was injured and unable to get out of the van, Riches said. The medical examiner has not yet determined his cause of death. Even if we would have been able to get out, the nearest city, Green River, was about 50 miles west. Thousands of cars sped by on the nearby interstate without a clue - Welch's van couldn't be seen from the highway, Riches said. He may never have been found if not for the hitchhiker walking on the side of the road. 'It is very desolate,' Patrol trooper Gary Riches said. Fatal vehicle: Welch was found in his family's car, a 2000 Pontiac Montana . Long way from home: Welch was reported missing on September 2 and investigators believe he crashed sometime the next day nearly 836 miles away . They believe he survived for days, maybe weeks, keeping a journal and writing notes to family in Kansas. In his obituary, the family said Welch was a salesman at Pepsi Co. and later Frito-Lay until he retired in 2009. He liked landscaping his yard, being outdoors and scuba diving in the ocean. He had been married to his wife, Kelly Welch, an assistant professor at Kansas State University, for 31 years. He was looking forward to the upcoming birth of his second grandchild, the obituary said. It remains a mystery why he left his home state in the first place, said authorities in Utah and Kansas. 'I wish it would have turned out better for the family,' said Droge. 'It was an unpleasant turn of events for them.'

David Welch, 54, was reported missing by his relatives in Manhattan, Kansas, on September 2 . Police now believe he crashed outside of Green River, Utah, the next day . He was trapped inside the overturned vehicle but could not get out because of undisclosed injuries . Police think he was still alive for some time because they found handwritten notes to his wife and children in the car . Reason for him to take off and drive 836 miles without telling anyone beforehand has not been determined .

By . Laura Pullman . UPDATED: . 01:25 EST, 2 March 2012 . A Native American schoolgirl was suspended from playing in a basketball game as a punishment for speaking in her native language. Miranda Washinawatok, 12, was told off by her teacher for saying ‘I love you’ in the language used by the Menominee Tribe of Indians and was later banned from playing in the game. ‘She sort of threw her hands down on her desk and said, "Don’t be talking like that. How would you like it if I started talking Polish?"’ Miranda told NBC26. Benched: Native American Miranda Washinawatok was suspended from playing a basketball game because of speaking in her native language . Punished: Miranda Washinawatok was suspended after saying 'I love you' in her native language . Teacher: Julie Gurta reportedly asked Miranda, 'How would you like it if I spoke Polish and you didn't understand?' The teacher, Julie Gurta, and the principal of Shawano Sacred Heart School in Wisconsin have now apologized for Miranda’s benching from the match. School Principal Dan Minter said he wasn't told the nature of the incident when he made the decision to suspend Miranda from the basketball game. University of North Dakota teams risk being banned from games if their athletes, cheerleaders or band wear or display the school's Fighting Sioux nickname and American Indian head logo. 'We ask that the university take measures to minimize or eliminate the presence of the imagery or nickname brought to an NCAA championship venue,' Bernard Franklin, an NCAA executive vice president, said in a letter. The NCAA has long said the nickname and logo are 'hostile' to American Indians, but the mention of forfeiting games is a new development. ‘We knew going in that this was a possibility, but it's in black and white now,’ Brian Faison, the university's athletic director, said. In March 2011, the North Dakota Legislature approved a law that required the university to use the logo and the Fighting Sioux nickname. Miranda’s mother, Tanaes, has described the treatment as ‘unfair’ and is lobbying for Julie Gurta to be fired from her post. 'It was unfair treatment I thought,' Tanaes told NBC26. 'It could have been handled differently.' Tanaes said the school has a majority of Native American children attending, who shouldn’t be restricted with their languages. 'I’m not going to let anybody tell me they can’t speak that language,' said Tanaes. The Catholic diocese of Green Bay also issued an apology to the entire Menominee nation on Tuesday. 'It is our hope that with greater awareness, we can begin to repair any harm that has been caused, and be able to build new and improved relationships,' said Joseph Bound, director of education for the diocese. Bound's letter states the diocese recognizes a need for cultural diversity training for students, staff and families at Sacred Heart and plans to create a partnership with Menominee tribal members to implement cultural training at the school in the coming months. The diocese also plans to invite other cultural groups, including the Menominee, to bring ideas to create cultural awareness and sensitivity to all Catholic schools in the diocese. Cultural training: Students and staff at the school will now have cultural awareness sessions .

Miranda Washinawatok, 12, was benched after saying 'I love you' in her family's native tongue . Row comes as University of North Dakota risk being banned from games if they wear their American Indian head logo .

Click here to read Matt Lawton's special investigation as Malky Mackay and Iain Moody are investigated by FA over 'sexist, racist and homophobic' text messages during time at Cardiff . Rio Ferdinand became the latest star to cast judgement on the League Managers Association's statement which was released on behalf of Malky Mackay on Thursday. The Queens Park Rangers defender took to Twitter to question the statement, which described Mackay's sexist, racist and homophobic messages as 'friendly text message banter' Ferdinand tweeted: 'Who wrote the #LMA statement???'. Confused: QPR defender Rio Ferdinand took to Twitter to question the LMA's statement . Unacceptable: Stan Collymore believes the LMA statement was 'f****** disgraceful' Institutional acceptance: Former Liverpool and England striker Collymore was unhappy with the LMA statement . In the statement Mackay apologised for sending messages he admits were 'disrespectful of other cultures', but he said he would fully co-operate with any official investigation after Cardiff sent a dossier to the Football Association detailing a number of issues during his stay in south Wales. Mackay and Iain Moody were sacked by the club last season and the Welsh club have sent a dossier to the Football Association alleging misconduct. The statement said that Mackay had been under pressure at the time of the messages and that he was 'letting off steam to a friend during some friendly text message banter.' Reported: Malky Mackay (right) and Iain Moody have been accused of being racist, sexist and homophobicin a series of text messages dating back to their time together at Cardiff City . Exclusive: Chief Sports Reporter Matt Lawton's story in Thursday's Daily Mail . Click here to read Jason Roberts' verdict on the controversial statement from the LMA . Elsewhere, former England striker Stan Collymore has described the LMA's statement as being 'f****** disgraceful'. He said on Twitter: 'LMA statement. F****** disgraceful. Institutional acceptance of the "banter" of casual racism.' He does feel Mackay deserves a second chance, though, adding: 'Always kind to me, hope he says sorry (if true), and moves on.' Another former player who has worked closely on eliminating discrimination, Jason Roberts, tweeted excerpts from the LMA's statement and then said: 'That's it..I'm done for the evening..The LMA said it better than I ever could.. They are actually being serious! Somebody drafted that..WOW!' Shock: Former Premier League striker Jason Roberts couldn't believe the LMA's statement was serious . Opinion: Former Wigan and Reading striker Roberts shares his views via Twitter . Former Football League player and manager Leroy Rosenior has also had his say, revealing he's disappointed with the LMA's use of the term 'banter'. He told the BBC: 'If the LMA are going back into the dark ages to support people then I might have to withdraw my support. 'If Malky did use a couple of texts, as he admits to in the statement, then I'm disappointed and I think it needs to be dealt with not as something swept over or as a bit of banter. 'I know they (LMA) are trying to protect their member but in doing so I feel they are almost abusing another member, like myself.' The LMA wish to clarify the position in relation to recent reports and speculation regarding matters alleged to have arisen during Malky Mackay’s time at Cardiff City FC. In the course of a search by the Club in early 2014 of 10,000 private text messages sent to and from another member of staff during Mr Mackay’s employment at Cardiff, in relation to other matters, it emerged that Malky had, it seems, sent a couple of one line texts that were, with the benefit of hindsight, very regrettable and disrespectful of other cultures. These were two text messages sent in private at a time Malky felt under great pressure and when he was letting off steam to a friend during some friendly text message banter. That said, Malky believes he could and should have conducted himself better on these two isolated occasions. The precise details need to remain private for the time being until any FA process is complete. The LMA does not condone in any way any potential breach of equal opportunities laws but would also point out that out of over 10,000 text messages and 70,000 documents produced over a long period of time it may not be a complete surprise that some inappropriate comments can sometimes be made by employees, like Malky, working under great pressure in highly charged situations. If Malky has caused any offence by these two isolated matters he would, however, wish to sincerely apologise. Malky finds it strange that these matters were only raised with the FA and in the media now, 8 months after his employment ended and the day before he was reported as being offered the opportunity to become manager of Crystal Palace FC. Malky is also very concerned about seriously inaccurate and misleading reports of his alleged involvement in these matters in the media. It has never been alleged that he wrote any homophobic or sexist messages and he has confirmed that he did not do so. Further, there are incorrect and damaging suggestions that he sent a whole host of offensive and unpleasant messages that are simply not true and which give a grossly distorted and unfair view of Malky’s involvement in this matter. Malky looks forward to matters being put straight in due course, following any investigation of this matter. Malky cannot of course comment on the nature of any conduct or communications alleged to have been made by others. Malky has said that he will be fully co-operating with any FA investigation and that he looks forward to putting the record straight thereafter.

Rio Ferdinand tweets 'Who wrote the LMA statement???' Stan Collymore blasts statement as 'disgraceful' Malky Mackay and Iain Moody reported to FA after series of texts . Sportsmail revealed pair exchanged racist, sexist and homophobic texts . Thousands of emails and messages found during raid of Moody's home . Sam Allardyce said manager's 'can be lost in this game very quickly' having spent years building a reputation .

On Wednesday, the Senate and House homeland security committees held their first-ever joint hearing, on the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, to address what has become a familiar theme for both committees -- the threat from "homegrown" terrorists. The hearing, chaired jointly by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Connecticut, and Rep. Peter King, R-New York, examined the threat to "military communities" posed by domestic terrorism, a threat that Lieberman said last week "has increased dramatically" since 2006, when he held his first hearing on the subject. Lieberman cited the attack, allegedly by U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, that killed 13 soldiers and civilians at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009; the shooting death of a soldier outside an army recruiting station in Arkansas the same year; and a purported plot by Army Pfc. Naser Jason Abdo to attack soldiers near Fort Hood with explosives and firearms this year. So what is the actual threat to America's military from homegrown terrorists? The New America Foundation and the Maxwell School of Public Policy examined 192 cases of apparent homegrown terrorism by Islamist militants since 9/11. We found that the American military at home and abroad is indeed a target for Islamist extremist plots. In a third of the cases we studied, the individuals who were charged had targeted the U.S. military. Of those, a little under half targeted military facilities or personnel in the United States, while 55% were targeting American bases and troops overseas. Additionally, attacks against military personnel have accounted for 14 of the 17 deaths attributed to jihadist terrorists in the United States since 9/11 (though all but one happened during the 2009 Fort Hood shooting). These deaths were all caused by gunfire, presumably because explosives are more difficult to acquire and build and often draw the attention of law enforcement. American law enforcement is quite focused on the threat of attacks against U.S. military targets. A government informant or undercover government agent took part in the investigations of 60% of the jihadist terrorism cases directed at U.S. military targets. While some of the anti-military plots were serious, in particular the deadly assault on Fort Hood, others were more aspirational than operational. Rezwan Ferdaus, for instance, is charged with hatching a harebrained plan to attack the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol earlier this year using remote-controlled model aircraft loaded with explosives. Ferdaus was snared by government informants who supplied him with the cash to take his "scouting trips" to scope out the targets, and even to buy the model planes that were to be used in the plot. He has pleaded not guilty. And the FBI declined to investigate Jose Pimentel, a recent convert to Islam arrested by New York police last month on charges of trying to build pipe bombs for use against U.S. service members returning to the United States because, as an anonymous law enforcement official told the Wall Street Journal, "If the FBI declines a case, it's not a strong case.' The desire of Islamist militants to attack the U.S. military may decline as the U.S. completes its withdrawal from Iraq this month and transitions away from combat operations toward a training mission in Afghanistan over the next two years. New America and the Maxwell School also examined nonjihadist terrorist cases since 9/11 and found that while terrorists motivated by far right-wing or anti-government ideologies do not pose a threat to the U.S. military, they do pose a real threat to U.S. government personnel -- in particular to law enforcement. We examined the 118 cases of right-wing and left-wing terrorism since 9/11 and found that more than 40% of them involved plans to strike government facilities and personnel, including federal and local law enforcement officers. Police disrupted a number of such plots, such as the one allegedly organized by members of the "Hutaree" Christian militia last year in Michigan, who authorities said planned to kill a police officer and later ambush the funeral procession using explosives. During the investigation of the Hutaree group, law enforcement seized machine guns and a variety of explosives. On Monday one of the nine accused of the Michigan plot pleaded guilty to weapons charges, the first to do so. The guilty plea in the Michigan case underscores that while Islamist terrorists do pose a threat to U.S. service members, those with other types of extremist beliefs also pose a similar kind of threat to U.S. government officials and American law enforcement. Terrorist threats against U.S. officials and police that have nothing to do with Islamist militancy are surely also worthy of the scrutiny of Congress, but neither the Senate nor House homeland security committee, nor it seems any other congressional committee, has examined the issue in any detail since 9/11.

House and Senate panels hold hearings on homegrown terrorists and U.S. military . Authors say study shows dimensions of the threat . American military is a target for Islamist extremist plots at home and abroad, they say . Authors: Congress should also study threat from non-Islamist terror groups of left, right .

By . Sara Malm . PUBLISHED: . 03:58 EST, 21 January 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 15:21 EST, 21 January 2014 . Police in Texas have released a sketch of a suspected robber, but unless they are looking for Morph, they might struggle to locate him. The e-fit was sent out by Lamar County Sheriff’s Department after two women were robbed at knife point in Paris, Texas last Thursday. However, the poorly drawn composite sketch looks more like a cartoon character than a human being. Scroll down for video . Robbed by Morph? This is the e-fit sketch released by Lamar County Sheriff's Department in search for a suspect in an armed robbery . The man depicted in the sketch allegedly robbed the two women around 11am on Thursday as they approached a house in East Post Oak Community in Lamar County, Paris. The man, described as 6ft tall with short black hair, a round face and tattoos on his arms and neck threatened the women with a knife, demanding money. When given when he wanted, the man fled on foot, Lamar County Sheriff’s Department told eParisExtra. The sheriff’s department stresses that the sketch is ‘not a true depiction of the suspect, only a likeness,’ the website said. Just as bad: This e-fit was sent out by Bolivian police in 2009 during a murder investigation and actually resulted in an arrest . The 'egg' man: A sketch of a sketch which Portuguese police used in the hunt for a suspect in the Madeleine McCann case . Although this may possibly be the world's worst e-fit it is not without competition. In 2009, Bolivian police released a sketch of a suspected murderer which looked nothing like an actual person, however they did manage to catch a suspect. Portuguese police did not do much better in their search fro Madeleine mcCann, showing local business owners a faceless, egg-shaped head. The sheriff’s department has released a composite sketch of the suspect and encourages the public with any information on this individual or his whereabouts to please contact the Lamar County Sheriff’s Department at 903-737-2400 or Crime Stoppers at (903) 785-TIPS.

Texas police release 'cartoon' e-fit sketch of suspected robber . The person on the sketch lacks lips, irises and even eyebrows . It depicts a suspect in an armed robbery which took place last week . A man held two women at knife point in Lamar County, Paris .

A grandfather-of-five convicted of dangerous cycling has been left with a £3,000 legal bill for having his dog tethered to his bicycle. Ian Frankland, 54, used an extended dog lead fitted on his bicycle to take his German shepherd Mali for a walk by the river. But he was stopped by police who claimed the dog caused a traffic tailback which could have had 'catastrophic consequences' when it wandered into the middle of the road while trotting behind him. Scroll down for video . Grandfather-of-five Ian Frankland, 54 has been left with a £3,000 legal bill after he was convicted of dangerous cycling at Blackburn magistrates' court . The incident occurred in June in Clitheroe, Lancashire when Mr Frankland had used the Trixie Biker Set he bought on Amazon to take five year old Mali to the river where he planned to take pictures of wildlife . Mr Frankland was pulled over by police when Mali trotted in to the middle of the road behind him . When a police constable told Mr Frankland to pull over on the road that varies in speed limit between 30mph and 50mph, he tried to ride off before pulling out a camcorder to start filming the officer, a court was told. Mr Frankland was then detained and placed in the back of a police van when he initially refused to give his personal details. He relented when he was told Mali would be placed in kennels. He was found guilty at Blackburn magistrates' court of dangerous cycling on a public road and failing to stop when directed by a police officer and failing to give his name and address. He was fined £260, with £340 costs. He now faces a bill of £2,000 for his own defence costs. The maximum fine for dangerous cycling under the Road Traffic Act 1988 is £2,500. Today, Mr Frankland, a mechanic, said: 'The whole thing is outrageous - I've been made to feel like a bank robber when as far as I'm concerned, I've done nothing wrong. I'm not allowed to cycle on pavements so I had to go on the road and as far as I could see the traffic flowed fine. 'I wasn't going at any break neck speed, vehicles were going past and I wasn't causing any obstruction. It's ridiculous that I'm now being branded a danger to the roads. 'There are so many on the internet and when researching them they are the safest way of riding a bike with a dog. 'Everyone recommends them even the veterinary practices because it's one of the best forms of exercise. This was ideal because it was quick release and it had an expanding lead. 'I'd used it 30 or 40 times myself and my wife mainly on country roads to get some exercise and him having a runabout. Now I'm warning other people not to use it after what's happened. In my eyes I've not broken the law.' Mr Frankland was spotted cycling on Mitton Road in Clitheroe with Mali behind him when he was pulled over . The 54-year-old said he did not believe he had committed a criminal offence when he cycled along the road . The incident took place in June and Mr Frankland was detained and placed in the back of a police van when he initially refused to give his personal details - he is pictured here being brought home by police . Mr Frankland shows the extended bike lead to a police officer after he was taken home following his detention . The incident occurred in June in Clitheroe, Lancashire when Mr Frankland had used the Trixie Biker Set he bought on Amazon to take five year old Mali to the river where he planned to take pictures of wildlife. He added: 'We set off back and I wasn't holding anyone up on the road. There was nothing stuck behind me, it was 120 yards of straight road, there are no double white lines so anyone wishing to overtake me could have done. 'Traffic only stopped when the police officer pulled up in a van and told me to stop. He shouted stuck his head out of the window and said "that's inappropriate." 'I simply said I was on my way home. I dismounted but he came running down and grabbed me by the shirt and neck and pulled my bike and wanted my address. 'I got my camcorder out because I'd seen on BBC Breakfast that under no account did people need to give their details to a police officer if they hadn't committed an offence but he took me to the back of the van and threw the mountain bike into the hedge and was frisking me and patting me down. 'I said "what do you think you are doing?". He said he was searching me to make sure there was nothing that can harm me or him.' PC John Scorah told the court he was driving along Mitton Road (pictured) when he saw Mr Frankland cycling towards him . Mr Frankland said: 'For anyone to accuse me of being a bad dog owner it really disgusts me. I would give my own life before seeing my dog come to any harm' Mr Frankland said he was later kept in cells at Burnley Police station for three hours. He added: 'The prosecution kept saying if I pleaded to a lesser charge they would let the rest go and I'd have a £40 fine but my wife and I didn't think that is British justice. 'I kept saying I was was not guilty. I was literally being badgered into a situation where they wanted me to plead guilty to a lesser charge but that's not me. I can't live my life on a lie. 'My wife has told told me to sell the bike and everything with it because she is that disheartened. I'm feeling like I've been penalised for being a law abiding citizen and trying to be healthy and keeping my dog healthy. 'For anyone to accuse me of being a bad dog owner it really disgusts me. I would give my own life before seeing my dog come to any harm. 'I was very disappointed at the verdict. I thought we are meant to have the best justice system in the world. Even my own barrister said he had never come across this. I've driven motorbikes, wagons, motor homes and cars - why should I be victimised for something like this?' A court heard Mr Frankland was close to the kerb but his dog, Mali (pictured here as a puppy), was near to the central white line and there were a queue of cars behind him . In court PC John Scorah told the court he was driving along Mitton Road when he saw Mr Frankland cycling towards him. Mr Frankland was close to the kerb but his dog, Mali, was near to the central white line and there were a queue of cars behind him. PC Scorah said: 'I had never seen anything like it in 25 years of policing. I stopped and shouted out of my window for him to stop. 'There is no way a dog should be running or walking down the centre of the road, let alone tied to a bicycle. If there had been a reaction to a cat or a person or anything like that the consequences could have been catastrophic.' PC Scorah said he had to run after Frankland and take hold of his bike to make him stop. He said: 'He pulled out a camcorder and started filming me. I didn't want to arrest him and would probably have dealt with the whole matter with a caution if he had co-operated.' After the case Nick Lloyd, of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: 'Riding with your dog may act as a visual distraction and has the potential to affect your balance. Even animals that are well-trained may be distracted. RoSPA would not recommend cycling and leading a dog in a road environment.'

Ian Frankland convicted of dangerous cycling and left with £3,000 legal bill . 54-year-old used extended lead to take German shepherd, Mali, for a walk . But was stopped by police when Mali wandered in to middle of the road . Grandfather-of-five from Clitheroe said the ordeal was 'outrageous' Said he would give his own life before seeing his dog come to any harm . But officer said he had never seen anything like it in 25 years in the job .

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero may have an outstanding goal tally so far this season, but Barcelona boss Luis Enrique had no hesitations when asked who he feels is the best player in the world. Following the Catalan giants' draw against City in the last 16 of the Champions League, Enrique was asked his thoughts on their free-scoring front man. 'He's probably up there in the top ten or so players,' he said. Barcelona manager Luis Enrique expressed his opinion on Lionel Messi (left) and Sergio Aguero (right) 'But for me the number one is Leo Messi. Everyone else comes after him.' Having netted an impressive 19 goals in 20 games before suffering an injury against Everton, Aguero is not far behind his compatriot, who has 21 goals in 21 games for Barcelona. It's not the first time City will face Barcelona in the last 16 of Europe's most prestigious tournament, the Spanish side having eliminated Manuel Pellegrini's team at the same stage last season, winning 4-1 on aggregate. That said, Enrique will not be getting carried away with past results. Manchester City will be missing out on Aguero's talents whilst he is sidelined with a knee injury . Manchester City have been drawn against Barcelona in the Champions League for the second straight season . 'In principle (Manchester City) one of the hardest (teams) we could have faced,' he added. 'I am sure it will be a very hard match,' he added. 'The important thing in games like these is for us to be in good condition. 'If we're on form, we are good enough to cope with any competition. I always think positively, and I know we are quite capable of getting through the round against Manchester City.'

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique said he prefers Lionel Messi to Sergio Aguero . The Manchester City striker has netted 19 times for his side this season . Enrique said Messi's 21 goals for Barcelona mean he is still 'number one'

Saanvi is of Indian descent with black hair with brown eyes . By . Daniel Miller . PUBLISHED: . 03:36 EST, 25 October 2012 . | . UPDATED: . 04:27 EST, 25 October 2012 . A neighbour has posted a $30,000 reward for information following the abduction of a ten-month-old baby girl and the murder of her grandmother. The woman, who has not been named, is offering the money to help find Saanvi Venna, who was taken from her home in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County. Her grandmother, 67-year-old Satyavathi Venna, who was babysitting Saanvi while her parents were out, was found dead inside the apartment. Scroll down for video . Reward: A neighbour has offered a $30,000 reward for information about 10-month-old Saanvi Venna, who was kidnapped . after her grandmother was murdered in an apartment block . Police . believe Saanvi was taken between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and are working on . both a homicide investigation and search and rescue mission. Saanvi is of Indian descent with black hair with brown eyes. She was believed to be wearing a white dress with pink flowers. An autopsy has been performed on the grandmother who was visiting her . family from India and was due to return in January.The results of the autopsy have not been released. There are . also reports that Sannvi's family were planning on moving from their . home because of 'safety concerns'. However, it is now known what the . concerns were. Murdered: Satyavathi Venna, 67, was visiting her family from India. She was due to return home in January . Investigators say they  are looking for any suspects who may have harbuored ill-will toward the family. Police searched a wooded area behind the apartment complex today, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. It has now emerged that FBI agents are involved in the investigation to find Saanvi. Montgomery County District . Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said investigators are focusing on reuniting Saanvi with her parents in the . two probes which are 'intricately connected.' Ms Ferman would not say how the grandmother was killed or whether there were any suspects in the case. 'All of our resources are focused on finding Saanvi and reuniting her with her parents,' Ms Ferman said. 'The search for the child is intricately connected to the homicide investigation.' Despite few details emerging of the family's background - It is believed the child's . murdered grandmother was visiting from India. According to gather.com, she had been in the U.S. since summer and was planning on heading back home in January. On Monday night, the girl's desperate father made an emotional appeal for his daughter's safe return in front of news cameras. Hunt: The police and FBI have issued an Amber Alert for Saanvi who is of Indian descent and has black hair and brown eyes . Talking to to 6abc.com, Shiva Venna said: 'If someone finds my baby, could you please bring my baby back? Don't do any harm to the baby. Please, please help me in this matter.' Detectives have said the murder and kidnapping took place between 8am and 1pm while the baby's parents were away. The grandmother was found murdered inside the apartment and there was no sign of the baby. Detectives issued an Amber Alert for . the youngster three hours later. It is not yet known if the murder of . the grandmother was a random attack or if police have a suspect. A dark blue Honda Accord was taken by officers from the apartment complex to the police department on Monday night. Search: The baby was taken from this apartment block in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County .

10-month-old Saanvi Venna taken from apartment in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County . Grandmother Satyavathi . Venna, 67, who was babysitting found dead . Saanvi is of Indian descent with black hair with brown eyes .

Arsene Wenger may have come out fighting against his growing number of detractors this week but the cold, hard truth is that Arsenal remain staggeringly short of what's required. While staunch supporters of the Frenchman will point towards yet another season in the Champions League knockout stages, a glance at the Premier League table shows just how short they've been since August. The Gunners are astonishingly 12 points worse off today than they were at this stage last season when, heading into Christmas, Wenger found himself top of the tree. Arsene Wenger (pictured after defeat at Stoke City last weekend) has seen his Arsenal side struggle this year . Bojan's goal for the Potters went to show how far the Gunners have fallen away compared to last season . West Ham United find themselves a staggering 14 points better off in the Premier League . Everton's Roberto Martinez has some questions to answer after finding it difficult to pick up where he left off . Steven Gerrard's Liverpool have endured a difficult start to the season after the highs of last year . That lead was cut in the end - Arsenal finished fourth - and what's followed has been definite regression. But they aren't the only ones. The Merseyside pair Everton and Liverpool have dropped a combined 19 points from this time last season. Roberto Martinez, heralded as the man who has the stylish brand of football to drag the Toffees into the top four, has struggled; Everton have conceded far too many goals. Then there's Brendan. Red legend Steve Nicol pulled no punches after they were dumped out of Europe, but the domestic form is actually more of a concern. ‘If things don’t change then ultimately Brendan will pay the price,’ he said. And you do wonder whether Daniel Levy is getting twitchy with Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham already, given their negative six-point swing. For others, however, the comparisons are very welcome indeed. None more so than Sam Allardyce, who will be crowing at an incredible 14-point difference in their tallies. This time last year the Hammers were fourth-bottom and Allardyce was for the chop. Now they find themselves in the top four and - perhaps more strikingly - comfortably in the European running, four points ahead of Arsenal down in sixth. Sunderland might have a case to be pleased after accumulating seven additional points in 2013-14, but looking at where they were last year - rock bottom with just eight points - Gus Poyet won't draw too many conclusions. Interestingly, the high-flying Southampton and Newcastle are just a win away from the same totals - suggesting they are at home in the upper echelons of the top flight. It's Wenger who won't want to look. What a difference a year makes. Manchester United are six points better off under Louis van Gaal than they were with David Moyes . The signing of Spain striker Diego Costa has boosted Chelsea's points haul at this stage of the season . VIDEO Wenger laments defence and decisions .

Arsenal were top of the Premier League after 15 games last season . Sam Allardyce's West Ham are 14 points better off this year . Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have all improved . Everton and Liverpool are also struggling comparatively .

Western Sydney Wanderers' stunning year ended on a waterlogged pitch and with a rash of red cards as they let a late lead slip to lose 3-1 after extra time to Mexican side Cruz Azul in the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup on Saturday. Wanderers, who finished the game with nine men, were two minutes from a dream semi-final meeting with Real Madrid after a long-range strike from Iacopo La Rocca had given them a second-half lead. But Gerardo Torrado equalised with a penalty for Cruz Azul and then converted a second spot-kick in extra time, either side of a goal from forward Mariano Pavone. Gerardo Torrado (right) scored a pair of penalties to give Cruz Azul victory over WS Wanderers . Mariano Pavone slides across the wet ground to celebrate giving Cruz Azul the lead in extra-time . The Mexicans celebrate after setting up a semi-final with Champions League holders Real Madrid . Wanderers, who defied the odds to overcome much wealthier Asian powerhouses and win the continent's Champions League in November, lost Matthew Spiranovic to a second bookable offence 16 minutes from the end of normal time. They were then dealt a further blow when captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley followed him off the pitch in extra time. Cruz Azul play Real in their semi-final in Rabat on Tuesday, while Wanderers play off for fifth place with African champions ES Setif a day later in Marrakesh. Groundsmen work to dry out the pitch on a rain soaked evening in Morrocco . Puddle water splashes as Gerardo Flores of Cruz Azul (left) battles with La Rocca . Iacopo La Rocca wheels away after opening the scoring for Western Sydney Wanderers . WS Wanderers players celebrate after La Rocca gives them the lead . Cruz Azul's Mauro Formica slides through the water to make a challenge on Matthew Spiranovic (right) Xavier Baez (left) of Cruz Azul battles with the wet conditions and WS Wanderers' Mateo Poljak . Cruz Azul forward Torrado equalises from the the penalty spot in the 89th minute . Pavone fires Cruz Azul into an extra time lead after the scores were level on 90minutes . Pavone celebrates his decisive goal with a slide across the wet turf .

Cruz Azul defeated WS Wanderers in extra-time at the World Club Cup . Gerardo Torrado scored penalties in final minutes of normal time and extra time to set up a semi-final with Real Madrid . The Wanderers finished the game with nine men after Matthew Spiranovic and Nikolai Topor-Stanle were sent off . Iacopo La Rocca opened the scoring for the Australians while Mariano Pavone netted the other goal for CONCACAF Champions League winners .

Tournament favorites Spain have suffered one of the biggest upsets in Olympic football history, losing 1-0 to Japan at Glasgow's Hampden Park on Thursday. Brazil got their Olympics started with a 3-2 win over Egypt in Cardiff, whilst Team GB, playing their first Olympic football tournament since 1960, began with a 1-1 draw with Senegal. In the afternoon kick off, Spain fell to a goal from Yuki Otsu, who found the net in the 33rd minute, thumping the ball home from a corner. Things got worse for Luis Milla's Spain side as Real Sociedad defender Inigo Martinez was shown a red card minutes before half time. Spain's Olympic squad has been expected to add Olympic gold to the country's already impressive collection of titles. The Spanish team recently won its second consecutive European Championship, to add to the 2010 World Cup won in South Africa. Spain also hold the European under 19 and under 21 titles. The European champions enjoyed more of the ball throughout the 90 minutes but they struggled to deal with the pace of Japan's attacks, with David De Gea, Manchester United's young goalkeeper, keeping his country in contention with several fine saves. Japan, who upset the odds when they beat favorites Brazil at the 1996 Atlanta Games, could have extended their lead as Spain chased a goal, but Nagai and Hotaru Yamaguchi both failed to convert easy chances. Brazil demonstrated why many feel they are the team to challenge Spain for the gold medal, with an explosive opening 26 minutes that saw the South American side take a 3-0 lead against Egypt. The much lauded Neymar drove a fluid attacking performance. It was Neymar, who still plays in Brazil despite repeatedly being linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs, that provided a perfect pass for full back Rafael to open the scoring, before in the 16th minute, providing a low cross that invited Leandro Damiao to double the lead. With 26 minutes gone the 20 year old surged through the Egypt defence before exchanging passes with Hulk, on the left wing, and burying the ball past goalkeeper Ahmed Elshenawi. The five time World champions struggled to continue their dominance in the second half, with Egypt captain Mohamed Aboutrika pulling a goal back in the 52nd minute. Mohamed Salah increased the pressure on Brazil, who are seeking to win their first Olympic football gold medal, with his goal 14 minutes from the end, but Egypt couldn't find an equalizer. Brazil vs. Spain - who will win Olympic gold? In the evening's other Group C game, Belarus enjoyed a 1-0 victory over New Zealand, with Dmitry Baga scoring the winning goal. New Zealand goalkeeper Michael O'Keefe failed to clear a corner on the stroke of half time, and Baga was left with a simple header to give his side the lead. The reformed Great Britain side, who haven't competed in the Olympic football competition since 1960, made a steady, if uninspiring, Olympic return at Old Trafford, Manchester. Craig Bellamy opened the scoring for the host nation in the 20th minute, but Stuart Pearce's team couldn't find a second goal. With eight minutes to go, Senegal striker Moussa Konate pulled his side level with a goal against the run of play. Senegal broke quickly after intercepting a poor Great Britain corner, and Konate did well to reach a through ball from Pepe Souare and chip it over the onrushing Britain goalkeeper. Current South American champions Uruguay got their Olympics off to a good start with a 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates. UAE took a surprise lead when captain Ismael Matar took the ball around Uruguay goalkeeper Matin Campana and slotted it into the bottom corner. Uruguay talisman Luis Suarez dragged his side back into the tie, with a key role in both Gaston Ramirez's equalizer and Nicola Lodeiro's winner. Uruguay's three points sees them top Group A, with Great Britain and Senegal following with a point a piece. Earlier in the day, Spain's group rivals Honduras and Morocco got the men's tournament underway with a 2-2 draw. the result ensured Spain are bottom of the group after the first round of matches. Abdelaziz Barrad opened the scoring for Morrocco, before Honduran forward Jerry Bengtson equalized with a close range tap in. Bengtson, who plays for New England Revolution in the U.S., then put his side ahead with a 65th minute penalty. The lead only lasted two minutes though, Zakaria Labyad chipping the ball over Honduras goalkeepr Jose Mendoza in the 67th minute. Moments later Morocco's Zakarya Bergdich was sent off for kicking out at Mario Martinez, but the African side managed to hold on for a point. Mexico and South Korea got Group B underway with a goalless draw at St. James' Park, Newcastle. Substitute Raul Jimenez struck the post for Mexico in injury time, while South Korea captain Jacheol Koo went close with a glancing header. It was a disappointing game between two sides with genuine hopes of making it to the knockout stages. In the other Group B game, Gabon and Switzerland tied 1-1 after Pierre Aubameyang saved a point for the African side after Admir Mehmedi gave the Swiss side the lead with a fifth minute penalty.

Japan stun Spain with 1-0 victory . Brazil begin with 3-2 win over Egypt . After 62 year wait, Team GB can only manage draw with Senegal . Luis Suarez inspired Uruguay beat UAE 2-1 .

(CNN) -- In the second such incident in three days, fighter jets escorted a diverted commercial flight on Friday after an unruly passenger caused alarm onboard. The military sent up two F-16s in response to reports of an unruly passenger aboard AirTran Flight 39, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said in a statement. The passenger had become belligerent and refused to leave the restroom, airline spokesman Tad Hutcheson told CNN on Friday. The passenger appeared to be intoxicated, he said. The flight, bound for San Francisco, California, left Atlanta, Georgia, at 9:48 a.m. ET, according to AirTran's Web site. NORAD dispatched the fighters at 1:44 p.m. ET, escorting the aircraft to a safe emergency landing in Colorado Springs, Colorado, officials said. The passenger was detained there and FBI agents from Denver, Colorado, were called to question passengers, Hutcheson said. The other passengers were scheduled to continue their trip at 4:30 p.m. ET, he said. On Wednesday, NORAD escorted a Hawaii-bound plane back to its origination city of Portland, Oregon, after a passenger gave a flight attendant a note that was interpreted as being threatening, the federal complaint and supporting affidavit said Friday. The passenger, Joseph Hedlund Johnson, 56, told the FBI he hadn't intended to scare anyone with the note, which began, "I thought I was going to die," and referenced the television show "Gilligan's Island."

NORAD: Two F-16s dispatched Friday on reports of unruly passenger aboard AirTran flight . Passenger was belligerent, wouldn't leave bathroom, airline spokesman says . Atlanta-to-San Francisco flight was diverted to Colorado Springs, Colorado . Fighters escorted jet bound for Hawaii back to Oregon on Wednesday in similar scenario .

By . Simeon Gholam . Follow @@SimGholam . Chico Flores has penned a touching open letter to Swansea City supporters as he announces that he is leaving the club for Qatar. The 27-year-old is set to join up with former Swans boss Michael Laudrup and Qatar Stars League side Lekhwiya. Chico posted the letter on Twitter, thanking the fans for the memories and their support during his two seasons at the club. He alludes to their Capital Cup One victory, their European adventures last season and even his occasional run-ins with opposition players, managers and officials. You can read the letter in full below... VIDEO Scroll down for 'Swansea boss Garry Monk has no problem with Chico Flores' Thank you: Chico Flores has written an open letter to Swansea fans upon his departure from the club .

Chico pens open letter on Twitter thanking fans as he leaves the club . The defender is set to join former boss Michael Laudrup in Qatar .

The moment when a young boy with severe hearing difficulties heard his mother's voice for the very first time has been captured in a heartwarming video clip, which shows the youngster dissolving into a fit of giggles every time she speaks. Entrepreneur Jennifer Colson Aprea, from Huntington Beach, California, posted the clip of her two-year-old son Ryan on her company's Facebook page on Monday, revealing that her son had successfully been fitted with a cochlear implant which is enabling him to hear sounds for the first time in his life. 'We're heading home and it's all good news after the mapping and activation,' the mother-of-two, who founded cloth diaper brand Spray Pal, wrote. What a laugh! Ryan Aprea couldn't stop giggling when he heard his mother Jennifer's voice for the first time . Making a memory: The family captured the heartwarming moment on video and quickly shared the clip with their followers on Facebook . 'His brain is definitely receiving sound. The audiologist programmed the device at three different levels and we will gradually increase them throughout the week. 'These are VERY low levels of sound input because we don't want to overwhelm him and cause him to reject it. We filmed him each time we tested the new level, and he giggled like this when he heard my voice at every level which was the most amazing feeling because we couldn't have asked for a better response. 'As long as he is happy and loving it, we are happy! If this develops into hearing comprehension and oral language down the road, that will be icing on the cake!' And it seems as though life is full of laughs for Ryan these days. Just hours after posting the video of her son's infectious giggling fits, Jennifer shared some photos of the toddler playing with all of his toys at home, adding that the experience was totally new to him now that he is able to actually hear them. 'Every toy is new!' Hours after posting the video, Jennifer shared this image of her son enjoying the sounds of his toys at home . Feeling better: The youngster spent seven months in the neonatal intensive care unit after being born prematurely . 'Every toy is NEW!' she wrote. 'His face lighting up to the sounds is SO incredible! This is such a happy day!!' Ryan, who was born in October 2012 when he was just 25 weeks old, spent seven months in an intensive care unit before being allowed to return home with his family. Since then, Jennifer has continued to document every stage of his life, sharing every success and struggle with her followers on Facebook, from Ryan's first few weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit to his cochlear surgery in November. 'If you've been following our journey for a while, you probably already know that [Ryan] was born at 25 weeks,' she wrote on the page in October. 'Being a micropreemie isn't easy, especially when you end up staying in the NICU 7 months.'

Ryan Aprea, two, was born at just 25 weeks and suffers from impaired sight and hearing . He had a cochlear implant fitted into his ear in November which is allowing him to hear sounds for the first time and the youngster couldn't stop laughing every time he heard his mother Jennifer speak . The family captured the heartwarming moment on camera and posted the video to their Facebook page .

The stars of a new BBC documentary People Like Us have accused the programme makers of making them look 'fat, drunk and destitute'. The six-part BBC Three series follows a versatile selection of residents living in Harpurhey, Manchester - which was named the most deprived neighbourhood in Britain ten years ago. But the locals featured in the documentary believe they have been made to look like 'Jeremy Kyle Show-type chavs' - a talk show well known for its outbursts of swearing and violence from guests and its frequent paternity tests. Angry: Residents in Harpurhey, Manchester, have accused TV producers of making them look like 'chavs' who live in a 'slum' in a new documentary on BBC Three . Reality TV: The BBC Three Documentary called People Like Us follows several residents in the town - which was once labelled the most deprived neighbourhood in Britain . They have also criticised producers for making their home town look 'like a slum'. More than 300 residents attended a public meeting last night to voice their outage at the People Like Us programme, The Daily Star reports. They claim they were tricked into taking part and believed the programme would show how the area had improved. Council worker Richard Searle alleged that his daughter Rosie, 21, was given alcohol before the cameras were turned on. Mr Searle commented: 'This Jeremy Kyle-style, laugh-at-the-chavs type of television has run its course and the BBC should not be propagating this harmful and misleading image of the working class.' Another resident Toni Callan, 26, whose footage was not used in the documentary, told . the newspaper that the film crew bought her and her friends shots of . alcohol and encouraged them to fight because 'it would make good TV'. 'Misleading': Residents claim People Like Us made people in the documentary look 'like chavs on Jeremy Kyle' - a show known for its outbursts of swearing and violence from its guests . She added: 'They've manufactured the whole documentary.' Campaigners are threatening to perform a demonstration outside BBC's Media City in Salford if the show isn't cancelled. The third episode of the show was aired last night and residents have called for the remaining three shows to be axed. Local Labour MP Graham Stringer plans to write to BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten to ask for an explanation. A BBC spokesman said: 'We are listening to the range of . feedback from the local area and contributors, many of whom have been . positive. 'People Like Us takes a warm and at times unflinching look at . the reality of life for young people in Harpurhey and follows a range of . contributors as they tell their own stories in their own words through . both good times and bad. On camera: Amber Wakefield, 18, whose family runs the local launderette in Harpurhey, Manchester, is one of many local residents to feature on the show . 'The series does not focus on negative . stereotypes, indeed many of those featured are resilient, resourceful . and ambitious young people with positive stories to tell – from running . their own businesses to planning their future careers – and they do so . with captivating wit and enthusiasm.' The production company Dragonfly said no one was ever encouraged to fight during the making of the show. A spokesman said: 'Before the series was commissioned, we met with a huge variety of potential contributors, providing reasonable hospitality on occasion. 'Not everyone we met during the research stage was chosen for inclusion in the final series and Toni Callan does not feature in any of the episodes. 'No one was encouraged to fight and we adhered to the BBC's Editorial Guidelines at all times.' Public meeting: More than 300 residents have vowed to perform a demonstration at the BBC's Media City in Manchester if the remaining three episodes aren't cancelled .

Six-part BBC Three series follows residents in Harpurhey, Manchester . More than 300 residents voiced their outrage at a public meeting last night . Accuse producers of making them 'look like chavs' who live in 'a slum' Residents are demanding an explanation and remaining episodes to be axed .

By . Liz Hull . A former boyfriend of one of the ‘Peru Two’ claimed yesterday that both women knew they were being used as drug mules and were warned not to go through with it. Shane Knowles, a heavily tattooed convicted fraudster, said Melissa Reid and Michaella McCollum Connolly were ‘money hungry’ and claimed it was their ‘own choice’ to carry the cocaine. The 37-year-old, who dated Miss Reid over the summer in Ibiza, spoke out as it emerged that his former girlfriend’s own father remained unconvinced by her story and wanted her to plead guilty. Scroll down for video . Shane Knowles, a heavily tattooed convicted fraudster, said Melissa Reid and Michaella McCollum Connolly were 'money hungry' and claimed it was their 'own choice' to carry the cocaine . Miss Reid, from Lenzie near Glasgow, and Miss McCollum Connolly, from Dungannon in Northern Ireland, were caught in Lima, the Peruvian capital, trying to board a flight to Spain with £1.5million worth of the Class A drug stashed in food parcels in their luggage. The pair, both 20, claim  they were kidnapped and forced to carry the drugs by a gang of armed Colombian drug dealers who threatened to harm their families if they refused. But Mr Knowles cast doubt on the girls’ account, claiming they knew exactly what they were doing and had plenty of chances to ‘walk away.’ ‘I told them not to get involved,’ he said. ‘They were girls who hung around people with money in villas. ‘And then somebody made them a good offer and they went and did it. ‘Everyone is out there with no money, trying to make money and they obviously got an incentive to do it.’ Miss McCollum Connolly’s lawyer, Peter Madden, has repeatedly stressed that the women were not offered money at any stage. However, Mr Knowles, who did not know Miss McCollum Connolly personally, but was aware of her circle of friends,  added: ‘They made a choice. There were plenty of chances they had to stop and walk away. 'They are going to have a hard time, aren’t they? Tough on them. All of these girls are just money hungry. Melissa Reid, from Lenzie near Glasgow, and Miss McCollum Connolly, from Dungannon in Northern Ireland, were caught in Lima, the Peruvian capital, trying to board a flight to Spain with £1.5million of cocaine . ‘[Melissa knew] another girl who did something naughty. The girl went and brought stuff back from Marbella.  It gave Melissa the confidence to do this.’ Bodybuilder Mr Knowles,  of Runcorn, Cheshire, lost his left eye in 1999 when he was nearly beaten to death in a gangland feud. He started dating Miss Reid – who friends say took the horse tranquilliser drug ketamine during the month she was in Ibiza, but was not involved in dealing drugs during her stay on the island – after they met in San Antonio. Mr Knowles, who claims he has left his criminal past behind, told the Irish Independent newspaper: ‘I had no connection whatsoever with this happening to the girls, only that I told them not to do it. I have not got one ounce of sympathy for them.’ The women, who were arrested almost three weeks ago, are currently being held in Lima’s tough Virgen de Fatima prison and it could be three years before they go on trial. Miss Reid’s father said his daughter should change her plea to guilty in order to get a shorter sentence. The two Britons could be sentenced to 15 years if convicted following a trial, whereas if they admit the charges they may get off with six years and eight months. Melissa Reid's father, William Reid told The Mail on Sunday that he's . not totally convinced by the Peru Two's version of events and he wants . his daughter to plead guilty to receive a lesser sentence . Mr Reid was reunited with his daughter Melissa at Dirandro police station in Lima last week . William Reid, 53, who works for the National Grid, said: ‘They should plead guilty. God forbid, if it goes to trial, you have the prospect of receiving that 15-year sentence. ‘It’s indefensible to say that they didn’t have drugs or know they had drugs. They did carry the drugs. ‘They were found to have drugs on them. They collected packages which transpired to be drugs. They are going to be guilty of that. ‘If that’s the Peruvian law, regardless of the mitigating circumstances, then you are as well pleading guilty rather than defending that to the nth degree and be sitting there with 15 years that you’re trying to appeal and reduce. ‘These girls are young. They may be living in cloud cuckoo land and thinking that magically next week they’re going to go free.’ Mr Reid confessed that he was still not ‘100 per cent about their story’. ‘But two girls, who prior to Ibiza did not know each other, are telling a very similar story,’ he said. ‘They have been pretty consistent all along. Only those two girls know the truth.’

Melissa and Michaella McCollum Connolly have insisted they are innocent . Pair claim they were forced to smuggle drugs by an armed gang . But Shane Knowles says they're ‘money hungry’ and it was ‘own choice’ They could be sentenced to 15 years in prison if found guilty .

(Mashable) -- Verizon customers interested in signing a one-year contract (as opposed to the standard two) should lock in their selections now; the company has confirmed that it is eliminating the one-year contract option as of April 17. Verizon claims the policy change is taking place because the "greater majority of customers sign up for a two-year contract." The nation's largest wireless provider (at least until that AT&T/T-Mobile deal is approved) previously offered users the ability to sign one-year contracts or contract extensions in lieu of the standard two-year agreement. Customers who opted for the one-year contract were still able to purchase new equipment at a discount, albeit a lesser discount than the subsidized two-year agreements. In an email to BGR, Verizon reiterated that its contract-free month-to-month plans would still be available to consumers. Meanwhile, according to draft circulars obtained by DroidLife, Verizon may be introducing a new month-to-month prepaid plan that offers users unlimited voice and text for $50 a month. Data will cost extra (reportedly $30 a month for unlimited data). AT&T recently increased the early-upgrade price on some of its smartphones and feature phones. What do you think about Verizon eliminating one-year contracts? Let us know. © 2013 MASHABLE.com. All rights reserved.

Verizon eliminating the one-year contract option as of April 17 . Company says greater majority of customers sign up for two-year contract . Contract-free month-to-month plans will still be available to consumers .

When dog walker Melanie  Goodship noticed a group of boys on a raft at the opposite side of a reservoir, she could see some sort of drama was unfolding. Only later did she realise the heartbreaking truth – that she had witnessed the moment her 17-year-old son  had drowned. Yesterday the devastated mother told how  she was walking her dogs with her partner on Sunday, one of the hottest days of the year so far, when she spotted the boys in the distance. Tragedy: James Goodship's body has been found in a reservoir at Burwain Sailing Club, Foulridge, Lancashire . It took her nearly half an hour to walk around to the other side of Lower Foulridge reservoir in Lancashire. There, she was given the news that every mother dreads – that it was her son James who had gone missing in the water. The 40-year-old civil servant said she hoped his death would act as a warning to youngsters who think they are ‘invincible’ not to cool off in open water. Speaking from her home in Colne, she told how she had left James to spend the sunny evening with his friends. After watching the ‘commotion unfold’, she tried to phone him but received no answer. Unknown to her, he had disappeared underwater after trying to swim from the raft to the shore. Police divers recovered his body ten hours later after searching through the night. A 17-year-old boy who drowned while sailing with friends has been named locally as James Goodship . Idyllic: The tragedy took place at Burwain Sailing Club near Colne in Lancashire yesterday afternoon . Friends of James Goodship gather at the reservoir to pay their respects. People living in the area have described the death as 'heartbreaking' Floral tributes have been left at the scene where James Goodship drowned while sailing with friends . Miss . Goodship said: ‘Not for one minute had we known what had happened until . we saw a couple of his friends who were asking if we’d seen another lad . and they said James had been there. ‘I . was trying to phone James – there was no answer but I was thinking, . “It’s ringing so he can’t be in the water”. 'What we didn’t know is that . they had left their phones on the side.’ She added: ‘We couldn’t have . done anything. We were too far away.’ Miss . Goodship and her partner, 41-year-old policeman Emlyn Parry, were . offered use of a kind local person’s home while they waited for news. James’s body was found at 5.40am yesterday. Miss Goodship said her son . was an experienced swimmer but she had warned him about reports of . people dying in cold, open water. The body of a teenager who got into difficulties in a reservoir has been found by police today . Tragic: A note which has been taped to a post reads: 'To James, RIP pal. Love you' A local teenager lays flowers by the side of police tape which cordons off the area where the body was found . Picture shows the scene where a 17-year-old boy's body has been found in a reservoir at Burwain Sailing Club . Police tape cordons off reservoir at Burwain Sailing Club in Lancashire where the body was found . Scene: Lower Foulridge Reservoir where James's body was found is on Lake Burwain in Lancashire . ‘He . was full of life,’ she added. ‘He was a 17-year-old lad who had the . rest of his life to live. As kids do, they were just messing about and . he got  into difficulty. ‘They . think they are invincible. They have no fear and are out to enjoy life, . and unfortunately it’s a tragic accident. If it just helps one kid not . do it again, that’s all that matters.’ Temperatures . on Sunday peaked at 25.6C (78F). One of James’ friends, 16-year-old . Liam Menmuir, said the group of seven found the raft on the bank and . launched it. It drifted into the middle of the reservoir so James and . another boy got off to swim back to shore. Liam . said: ‘‘The other lad got back on but James carried on and wanted to . swim. He began shouting for help and disappeared.’ The other boy was . taken to hospital for checks. James, . who had recently finished a plumbing course at Burnley College, also . leaves his father Peter, 45, sister Lauren, 19, step-brother Jack, 15, . and brother Thomas, seven. His former girlfriend Martina Robinson wrote on social media: ‘He meant the world to me.’

The teenager has been named by police as James Goodship . He was on a raft at Burwain Sailing Club, in Foulridge, Lancashire . A body was recovered this morning by specialist divers . The 17-year-old was part of a group of seven on the water yesterday . Friends pay tribute to a 'quiet and polite' boy and a 'brilliant lad'

A mother has spoken of her devastation after the NHS withdrew funding for an operation which could help her daughter walk for the first time. Sophie Sharman, 10, from Bedworth, Warwickshire, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was just eight weeks old and has never been able to walk unaided. She was due to undergo a potentially life-changing procedure called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy at the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham. Sophie Sharman (pictured with her mother, Natalie), 10, has cerebral palsy and needs surgery to allow her to walk. She was offered the operation on the NHS but the offer was withdrawn because of budget cuts . The idea of the operation is to loosen the muscles to help patients walk independently. But the NHS has now withdrawn its offer of funding the operation due to budget cuts. The hospital announced it would only fund the operation for those children who had completed all the preliminary tests and had a date set for the operation. Sophie had just one more test to undergo but in a cruel twist of fate, she was unable to attend because her mother, Natalie Rider, was rushed to hospital to have her gall bladder removed. Had she made the appointment she would have had a date set for surgery and the NHS would not have withdrawn their offer of funding. Ms Rider, 33, said she was devastated by the NHS decision. She said: ‘I do blame myself in a way but I’m angry that Sophie is not being offered the surgery any more. Sophie's mother is appealing the NHS decision but if this fails, she will have to try and raise the money herself . ‘It seems unfair because she missed her second test through a legitimate reason and we’re being penalised. ‘It’s devastating. We were so close and because I fell ill and was unable to attend the final appointment, Sophie’s chance to walk has been cruelly snatched away.’ Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy is a neurosurgical technique used to treat spasticity (increased muscle tone) in the lower limbs. The lower vertebrae are opened to reveal the spinal cord which contains the neurones of the central nervous system. These neurones (bundles of nerve fibres) channel messages between the brain and different areas of the body. Electrical stimulation is used to identify and sub-divide sensory and motor nerves. This process continues until the specific nerves and nerve roots affecting the spastic muscles are identified and cut. Due to the size of the nerves and rootlets, this is a very precise procedure and therefore the surgery can last several hours and requires a general anaesthetic. Many months of physiotherapy are needed after the surgery to retrain the legs. Ms Rider said she couldn’t understand . how the NHS could fund gastric band and breast enlargement operations . but were refusing to fund a procedure which could give children the . opportunity to walk. She . is challenging the NHS decision but if she is unsuccessful, she will try . to raise the money to fund the procedure herself which could cost up to . £30,000. She said: ‘The NHS has said there’s not enough proof the operation works, but if there’s even a small chance it could help her walk we want to take it. ‘Sophie’s school friend had the operation and is now learning to walk, so we’re hoping someone within the NHS will change their mind. ‘We’re in a horrible position at the moment and I’m trying to make as many people aware of what has happened.’ The operation is a neurosurgical technique used to treat spasticity (increased muscle tone) in the lower limbs. It involves opening the lower vertebrae to reveal the spinal cord which contains the neurones of the central nervous system. These neurones (bundles of nerve fibres) channel messages between the brain and different areas of the body. During the procedure, electrical stimulation is used to identify and sub-divide sensory and motor nerves. This process continues until the specific nerves and nerve roots affecting the spastic muscles are identified and cut. Ms Rider said she couldn't understand how the NHS could fund gastric band and breast enlargement operations but were refusing to fund a procedure which could give children the opportunity to walk . Ms Rider has set up a Facebook group and launched a petition calling for the NHS to fund the potentially life-changing operation. To sign the petition click here. James Hunter, clinical director for the musculoskeletal and neurosciences directorate at Nottingham University Hospitals, said: ‘We have been in contact with parents of children referred to NUH but where SDR surgery had not been agreed to inform them we will not be proceeding with any further pre-operative tests in light of the changes to funding arrangements for this treatment. ‘It would be unfair on these children and their families for us to continue a process which may not result in surgery. 'We’ve begun discussing treatment and funding options with each individual family.’

Sophie Sharman has cerebral palsy and is unable to walk unaided . She was offered surgery on the NHS which could have helped her walk . The offer was then withdrawn because of budget cuts within the NHS . Her mother, Natalie Rider, says the offer would not have been withdrawn if Sophie had not missed one of her pre-surgery hospital appointments . She only missed it because her mother was rushed to hospital for surgery . Ms Rider is now appealing the decision but if this fails she will have to raise £30,000 to pay for the operation herself .

How brave is Arsene Wenger? He’s seemingly immune from the sack at Arsenal so he’s under no pressure in his job whatsoever. So when does this manager show courage in his work? Having faith in Yaya Sanogo at the start of this season? Was that brave? No, it was just bad management. So after three draws and a scrappy win, Arsenal find themselves a point ahead of Manchester United in the early table. For a manager who has no pressure of the sack, 18 years at the helm, and money to spend, Wenger better pull his finger out soon. But is he brave enough to make big decisions? Mesut Ozil has become a lazy player for Arsenal yet his place in the starting line-up seems secure . Arsene Wenger seems incapable of dropping his £42m midfielder despite his poor level of performance . Mesut Ozil rues his penalty miss in Arsenal's Champions League last 16 tie with Bayern Munich last season . Has Arsene Wenger been cruising along like a lottery winner, safe in the knowledge he doesn't have to do anything extra special to keep his job? Fourth place will do apparently. And Arsenal don’t even have to make it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League these days. Arsene Wenger has the safest job in football. He has starved a club of success to the point where the fans now believe the FA Cup is the definition of success for a big club. I guess what I’m really asking is this: has Arsene Wenger got the bottle to drop Mesut Ozil? He’s paid £42million for a skilful footballer, but one who was always keen on clocking off mid-season. Bringing him to the Premier League where there is no winter break was always risky. Mesut Ozil smiles in training ahead of Arsenal's Champions League trip to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday . Despite his lazy performances, there seems no danger of Mesut Ozil being relegated to the subs' bench as in this match at Stoke City last season . But Ozil is being carried in the Arsenal team, just as his German colleagues carried him for most of the World Cup. He picked up a winner’s medal in Brazil by default. Arsenal’s full-backs go forward, they need protection. There’s more chance of Joey Barton refusing to talk about himself than there is of Ozil tracking back. His mid-season lull now lasts from August to May, with the odd glimpse of brilliance. And in some ways I feel sorry for him. Was he ever cut out for the speed and passion of the Premier League? Signing Mesut Ozil is simple, recognising that he isn’t the player you need would have been brilliant insight. Mesut Ozil showed only occasional glimpses of his brilliance last season . Alexis Sanchez, by contrast, has been in excellent form so far this season and scored against Man City . So as Wenger has dithered about making big signings and spending money in the past, now he is becoming a specialist in dithering over team selection. Ozil seems undroppable, even when his contribution to the Arsenal team cause is minimal. I suspect it’s because Arsene Wenger refuses to see what the rest of us can all see (nothing new there then!). While Ozil strolls around, Alexis Sanchez puts a shift in – with more quality than the German as well. The contrast between the two is breathtaking. Meantime others watch from the bench wondering why they are being left out in favour of a talented but lazy footballer. It’s because Wenger spent a fortune on him, and he hasn’t got the balls to drop him.

Mesut Ozil produces lazy performances on a regular basis for Arsenal . The German is notorious for fading during the second half of the season . But now Ozil's lull lasts from August until May . Arsene Wenger doesn't have the bottle to take the £42m out the side . Alexis Sanchez, by contrast, works hard and has more quality .

England face New Zealand on Saturday at Twickenham to kick off the Autumn internationals, but what constitutes a good series, who has the most to prove and who should we be looking out for? The experts give us their predictions and views on the November action. New Zealand ran out narrow 30-22 winners against England at Twickenham nearly a year ago . Sir Clive Woodward (England World Cup winning coach) Click here to read former England coach Sir Clive Woodward's thoughts on Saturday's clash at Twickenham . What would constitute a good Autumn for England? Beating New Zealand. If England can beat the world’s best with a depleted team their World Cup credentials would be hard to argue with. Which England player should we be most excited about? Semesa Rokoduguni. If he can reproduce his club form he could be a hugely exciting addition. Semesa Rokoduguni has the chance to be the man everyone is talking about after the Autumn internationals . And which one has the biggest point to prove? Owen Farrell. I’m a huge fan but he needs to show he can play that flat, attacking game at No 10 that would unleash England’s backs. Which visiting player will excite us most? Israel Folau. An incredible athlete and one of the most destructive broken-field runners in the game. Can the other home nations take down a big gun? I expect Wales to beat Australia. It is high time they took a southern hemisphere scalp. Sum up the autumn internationals in three words. New Zealand, South Africa, Australia . Owen Farrell has a point to prove over November, and can help release England's backs at Twickenham . Neil Back (England World Cup winning flanker) What would constitute a good Autumn for England? With some luck we could win all four, but the important thing is to at least stay within a score. Which England player should we be most excited about? We’ve got plenty of pace and it can all by bolstered by Brad Barritt doing the basics really well. And which one has the biggest point to prove? There is a lot of focus on Chris Robshaw, he’s got to go out there and prove that he is the best number seven. Chris Pennell (left) of England is congratulated by team-mate Brad Barritt after scoring against Crusaders . Which visiting player will excite us most? Julian Savea’s scoring record against England is phenomenal. Can the other home nations take down a big gun? I think Wales and Ireland will both beat one of the teams ranked above them. Sum up the autumn internationals in three words. Epic acid test. Julian Savea’s scoring record against England is phenomenal, will it continue at Twickenham? Maggie Alphonsi (England World Cup winner) What would constitute a good Autumn for England? Four out of four would be ideal but England are quite slow starters. Opening against New Zealand will be a massive challenge, so I think we will settle for three wins. Which England player should we be most excited about? It’s got to be the Fijian soldier, Semesa Rokoduguni. He’s been playing really well at Bath and it’s a bold but exciting call to give him a debut against the All Blacks. And which one has the biggest point to prove? It’s a massive opportunity for Kyle Eastmond to show what he’s about. There were some good signs in New Zealand but he wasn’t at his best in the final Test, so I think he will have a point to prove. Which visiting player will excite us most? As a back row I’m looking forward to seeing Kieran Read for New Zealand. He’s the best No 8 in the world and his ball handling skills are fantastic to watch. Kyle Eastmond showed his potential in the summer against the All Blacks, and has the chance again . Can the other home nations take down a big gun? Wales are a quality side and Australia are on form, almost beating New Zealand, but I think Warren Gatland’s lot could definitely edge that one out. Sum up the autumn internationals in three words. Testing, physical and exciting. Serge Betsen (France legend) What would constitute a good Autumn for England? If they beat the All Blacks, they will have the belief to win all four. Which England player should we be most excited about? Billy Vunipola; he made his debut alongside me at Wasps and when he told me he was born in 1992 I realised it was time to retire! He is a fantastic player. And which one has the biggest point to prove? My old mate James Haskell is back near the squad. He is taking the challenge really seriously to be part of the World Cup. Which visiting player will excite us most? Sonny Bill Williams was my roommate in the Barbarians and I’m really excited to see him back. Sonny Bill Williams of the All Blacks attempts to break free during the win over USA . Can the other home nations take down a big gun? I don’t see Scotland beating the All Blacks! Sum up the autumn internationals in three words. Exhausting, exciting, enjoyable. Chris Foy . What would constitute a good Autumn for England? Winning three matches out of four - based on one victory against either New Zealand or South Africa, before beating Samoa and Australia. Which England player should we be most excited about? It has to be Semesa Rokoduguni, as the new addition to the back line who can provide power, pace, nifty footwork and finishing class. And which one has the biggest point to prove? After an injury-hit start to the season, there will be a big onus on Owen Farrell to justify his status as first-choice No 10. Which visiting player will excite us most? For open-field audacity, thrills and spills, Israel Folau of Australia. For aggression and hard-edged physicality, the Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth. Eben Etzebeth (left) vies with Victor Matfield in a line out during the South African training session in Dublin . Can the other home nations take down a big gun? Wales have a decent shot against the Wallabies, as have Ireland . Sum up the autumn internationals in three words. North-south divide. Sam Peters . What would constitute a good Autumn for England? Anything less than three wins from four will leave serious question marks over next year’s World Cup. Which England player should we be most excited about? Kyle Eastmond. Tiny by international standards but has quick feet and a superb eye for space. And which one has the biggest point to prove? Tom Wood. One of the fittest players in squad and undeniably a leader of men but has turned over too much ball in recent Tests. Tom Wood has a point to prove in November after failing to live up to his potential in recent Tests . Which visiting player will excite us most? Conrad Smith. The All Black outside centre doesn’t fit the physical mould of a modern-day centre but is clever, inventive and brave. Can the other home nations take down a big gun? Wales and Ireland need to overcome hoodoo in this series to avoid chokers tag. Sum up the autumn internationals in three words. Daunting. Exciting. Brutal. Nik Simon . What would constitute a good Autumn for England? Three wins from four – anything less is a failure. A victory against the All Blacks would send out the strongest statement. Which England player should we be most excited about? Bath’s Anthony Watson has moved above Marland Yarde in selection and has pace to burn. Anthony Watson of Bath has overtaken Marland Yarde in the pecking order for England . And which one has the biggest point to prove? Owen Farrell has had a difficult start to the season and Danny Cipriani will feel aggrieved if he doesn’t come up trumps. Which visiting player will excite us most? Young South African fly half Andre Pollard. Can the other home nations take down a big gun? Australia’s recent turmoil could give Wales their break on Saturday . Sum up the autumn internationals in three words. Unforgiving, revealing, absorbing. England: 15 Mike Brown; 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Jonny May; 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Danny Care; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 David Wilson; 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Courtney Lawes; 6 Tom Wood, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 8 Billy Vunipola . Replacements: 16 Rob Webber, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 George Kruis, 20 Ben Morgan, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Anthony Watson . New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg; 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea; 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks; 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Samuel Whitelock; 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 8 Kieran Read . Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Liam Messam, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Ryan Crotty .

Semesa Rokoduguni has the chance to be the man everyone is talking about after the Autumn internationals . Owen Farrell has a point to prove, and can help release England's backs . Julian Savea’s scoring record against England is phenomenal . Kyle Eastmond showed his potential in the summer against the All Blacks .

We've all been there after a big night out, or a lazy Sunday morning. Feeling a bit worse for wear and wanting the only thing can provide the cure - a great mound of fast-food delivered straight to the door. And now, thanks to Alex Howsam's One Delivery franchise - delivering well-known takeaways and meals straight to the sofa -  those needs can be catered for. Alex Howsam and delivery driver Darren Hodgson with their One Delivery car. The franchise business was started by Ms Howsam, 31 and runs nightly from 6pm to 10pm. Meals from fast food chains such as McDonald's, KFC (pictured), Pizza Express and Burger King are on offer . Ms Howsam, from Stockton, delivers meals from McDonald's, KFC, Pizza Express and Burger King - adding a 20 per cent mark-up cost on top of the food price. The 31-year-old even offers Sunday roasts from local pub The Penny Black, in Hartburn, Stockton. But she said it's not just the hungover masses making use of the new service - in fact it's mainly people who are just keen to enjoy their favourite takeaway in their PJs. Ms Howsam, from Grangefield, who has a fleet of delivery drivers, said: 'I was looking for something to do for extra cash and I saw the franchise advertised on a jobs' website. 'I just thought that I'd give it a go,' she continued. A golf enthusiast, Ms Howsam works full-time as an optician dispenser, and runs the service nightly between 6pm and 10pm. She also accepts delivery orders on a Sunday morning and afternoon . Sunday roasts from local pub The Penny Black, in Hartburn, Stockton (pictured) are on offer . Ms Howsam has done a Saturday on an ad-hoc basis and is looking to also eventually increase the times and areas she covers - as well as the scope of restaurants. Deliveries are to all of Stockton and in the Middlesbrough town centre area. A specialist kit is used to keep the food fresh and warm en-route and her profit comes from a mark-up of the food of around 20 per cent as delivery is free. She added: 'It's been going great and we have lots of regular customers. 'McDonald's is the clear favourite - and there is one guy who just orders McFlurries. 'There are a lot of students. I don't actually get that many hungover people - which I thought it would mainly be when I first started. 'We get people who are just totally desperate for their fast food fix in their PJs!'

Alex Howsam started a franchise business One Delivery in Stockton . Delivers fast food from high street chains and roast dinner from local pub . Orders accepted nightly between 6pm and 10pm and on Sunday morning .

Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- Colombia's FARC guerrilla group has released an American hostage who spent more than four months in captivity, officials said Sunday. The leftist rebels captured Kevin Scott Sutay on June 20, when he was backpacking through Colombia. He was released to representatives from the Red Cross, Cuba and Norway in a rural area of southeastern Colombia, then handed over to U.S. officials Sunday morning at Bogota's airport, the governments of Cuba and Norway said in a statement. Sutay's case drew attention from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who pushed for his release during a trip last month to Cuba. Sutay served in the U.S. Army from November 2009 to March 2013, including a year-long tour in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Defense Department. He is from Willow Spring, North Carolina, and has won a number of awards, including an Army Commendation Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. The Pentagon lists his rank as private. "The United States is profoundly grateful to the Government of Colombia and commends its tireless efforts to secure his release," U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement Sunday. "We offer special thanks to President Juan Manuel Santos for his assistance. We also appreciate the contributions of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Governments of Norway and Cuba in securing Mr. Sutay's freedom." The FARC, Latin America's oldest guerrilla force, is currently engaged in peace talks with the Colombian government. In July, the group said it would release Sutay in a "gesture" to advance the talks. Norway and Cuba are helping to mediate the talks, which are taking place in Havana. The FARC, whose name in Spanish means the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, began fighting Colombia's government in the 1960s. There have been sporadic peace talks between the rebels and the government since the 1980s. The last attempt failed in 2002. Kidnapping government forces and civilians has been a key strategy of the rebel group. Last year, the rebels said they would release government prisoners and stop kidnapping civilians for money. The rebels did not address the fate of its civilian captives then, nor did it renounce kidnapping for political purposes. Dramatic rescues, escapes and hostage handovers have revealed harsh conditions in jungle camps, including stories of prisoners chained to trees, grueling marches between hideouts, torrential rain and blistering sun. After taking Sutay hostage, the FARC described him as a mercenary. But despite Sutay's military background, Jackson said last month that the Army veteran had peaceful motives for visiting Colombia. "The fact is, he is a tourist," Jackson said. On Sunday, an International Committee of the Red Cross doctor said Sutay was in good physical condition to travel. Officials said he would reunite with his family soon. Freed Colombian hostages carry pets tamed in the jungle . CNN's Patrick Oppmann reported from Havana. CNN's Catherine E. Shoichet reported from Atlanta. CNN's Elise Labott contributed to this report.

NEW: Red Cross: Kevin Scott Sutay is in good physical condition to travel . Sutay was released and handed over to U.S. representatives in Bogota . FARC guerrillas kidnapped Sutay on June 20 . His case drew attention from the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who pushed for his release .

By . Harriet Arkell . PUBLISHED: . 06:10 EST, 16 December 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 12:15 EST, 16 December 2013 . Lee Mairs, 24, died after falling during a stag party trip to Tenerife, an inquest heard . A British tourist who died on a stag party trip to Tenerife may have fallen 12 feet off a hotel balcony after a fight, an inquest heard. Electrician Lee Mairs, 24, who had flown to the Canary island with a group of 22 friends to celebrate the imminent wedding of his friend Chris Booth, 29, suffered a fractured skull and bleed to the brain after falling onto some concrete steps outside his hotel in Playa de las Americas. Mr Mairs, from Stockport, was found under his first floor apartment window by another holidaymaker who heard 'coughing and spluttering' coming from the ground. He was rushed to hospital in Santa Cruz but his life support machine was later switched off. An inquest into his death heard that his room at the Hacienda del Sol hotel had been ransacked, with two beds tipped onto their sides, kitchen cupboards and the fridge door open, and a smashed tumbler lying on the floor. Yet nothing was missing, and Mr Mairs' iPhone and iPod docking station were still in the room. Mr Mairs died in June last year, after a night out with his friends in the resort's nightlife strip. The inquest heard from his friend and hotel room-mate Steven Haley, who said that he last saw Mr Mairs in Yates' Bar wearing a hat he'd bought from a street vendor. He said: 'Lee was dancing on a table and playing Air Guitar and having a laugh.' Mr Haley, a joiner, said he left the bar at around midnight and headed back to the hotel, where he saw a flipflop belonging to Mr Mairs. He said when he got back to their room he could not find the key they'd hidden, so he climbed in through a window. Stag hotel: Mr Mairs was staying at the Hacienda del Sol hotel in Tenerife when he injured himself and died . Pictured with his mother, Joanne, Mr Mairs was found under his first floor apartment window by another holidaymaker . Happy: Mr Mairs, kneeling front centre, is pictured on the stag trip to Tenerife before he was fatally injured . Mr Haley said he saw Mr Mairs' phone on the floor, and then noticed that the beds were upended, and the room was in a mess, although no valuables had been taken. He said another holidaymaker told him that Mr Mairs had been taken away in an ambulance, so he went to the reception desk where a member of staff told him that the situation had been dealt with and the police were not needed. He claimed staff told him: 'No police needed - your friend was drunk and fell off the balcony.' Mr Haley said: 'One of the times he . was saying he had been attacked outside the hotel, another time he told . me he had had a fight, each time was a different version from the same . person in such a short space of time.' Mr Haley said that when the police did arrive the following day, they 'decided in minutes what had happened'. The Spanish authorities registered Mr Mairs' death as an accident, saying he had fallen from the balcony, but his family do not believe they carried out a full investigation, the inquest heard. He was rushed to hospital in Santa Cruz but his life support machine was later switched off . Funeral: Mr Mairs' family believes the Spanish authorities have not properly investigated the circumstances of his death . Mr Haley also told the inquest that one of the stag party guests became upset and 'emotional' after the tragedy. He said he asked Ross Collett what had happened with Mr Mairs in Tenerife and said:  'He wouldn't answer me, so I asked him again. 'He was crying, he said "He hit me, it went off".  As I took it, Lee had hit [the guest] and something had occurred in retaliation.' However the inquest was told Mr Collett denied making the comments, and said that he had been drunk. Recording an open verdict, Coroner John Pollard said there was insufficient evidence to decide how Mr Mairs died that night. He said it was possible he had been assaulted on the way back to the hotel and then fell again, or that he fell from the balcony. He said he could have been assaulted at the hotel and fallen over. The coroner added: 'Then there is the possibility a combination of these things happened. We cannot prove it one way or the other.'

Lee Mairs body was found outside his hotel room in Playa de las Americas . He suffered fractured skull and bleed to the brain after landing on concrete . His room appeared to have been ransacked with two beds tipped over .

Two cars in U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's motorcade have been involved in a crash in India. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the collision happened as Mr Kerry's motorcade was heading to the airport in Ahmedabad. Mr Kerry's vehicle was one of those caught up in the crash, but there were no injuries. The crash resulted in some damage to both cars, one of which was substituted, and the motorcade continued its journey to the airport. Mr Kerry was in Ahmedabad for a long-scheduled appearance at an international investment conference and to prepare for President Barack Obama's trip to India later this month. Crumpled: One of the two cars from John Kerry's convoy that were involved in a crash while the Secretary of State was being escorted to the airport in Ahmedabad during his tour of India . Escaped unhurt: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry walks out of the Vibrant Gujarat summit in Gandhinagar, India, hours before he was caught up in a car crash on the way to the airport in Ahmedabad . In a statement, Psaki said: 'During the drive to the airport in Ahmedabad, India, two cars in the motorcade had a minor traffic accident resulting in some damage to both cars. 'Secretary Kerry was in the first of the two vehicles. He sustained no injuries nor did any staff or personnel. 'One vehicle was switched out and the motorcade proceeded to the airport without further incident.' Clarifying, Psaki told reporters on Kerry's plane that he did not get out of his car and that the vehicle switched out was the one behind him. Earlier, John Kerry confirmed he would now travel to Paris after the U.S. government was shamed for not joining a rally yesterday for victims of the French terror attacks attended by 40 world leaders and a million people. It came as a staggering 3.7million people gathered across France today to stage further defiant marches in a moving tribute to the 17 people killed in hostage sieges last week. The Secretary of State said at a news conference that U.S. officials, including himself and President Barack Obama, had been 'deeply engaged' with French authorities almost immediately after the first attack occurred and had offered intelligence assistance. The car was left at the roadside and replaced before the motorcade continued its journey to the airport . Diplomatic mission: Mr Kerry (centre) was in Ahmedabad for a long-scheduled appearance at an international investment conference and to prepare for President Barack Obama's trip to India later this month . As to criticism about the lack of a senior official at Sunday's March, Kerry said: 'I really think that this is sort of quibbling a little bit in the sense that our Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was there and marched, our ambassador was there and marched, many people from the embassy were there and marched. 'As everybody knows, I have been here in India for a prior planned event,' he added. 'I would have personally very much wanted to have been there but couldn't do so because of the commitment that I had here and it is important to keep these kinds of commitments.' He said as soon as he heard about the march, he asked his team what the earliest time was that he could go. While in Paris, Kerry will be meeting with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and pay tribute to the victims of last week's attacks, which killed 17 people. Kerry is a fluent French speaker, has a well-known affinity for France and has visited Paris more than a dozen times since becoming secretary of state. Kerry will arrive in Paris on Thursday after stops in Sofia, Bulgaria and Geneva, Switzerland.

Crash caused damage to two cars in convoy, one of which was replaced . Kerry's car caught up in the crash, but he did not get out of the vehicle . There was no injuries and the motorcade continued journey to the airport .

By . Richard Marsden . PUBLISHED: . 20:27 EST, 23 February 2014 . | . UPDATED: . 09:30 EST, 24 February 2014 . Soaring numbers of 'wolf breed' dogs, such as Malamutes, are being abandoned by owners unable to cope with the pets . Soaring numbers of ‘wolf breed’ dogs are being abandoned by owners unable to cope with the pets - which have become popular after featuring in cult films and television shows such as Twilight and Game of Thrones. Charities including The Dogs Trust say hundreds of dogs such as Malamutes, Huskies and Sarloos were given up last year because their demands for attention and exercise are proving too much. And last week, six day-old Eliza-Mae Mullane was mauled to death by her parents’ pet Alaskan Malamute at their home in Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire. Police are currently still investigating the circumstances of the tot’s death and have not destroyed the dog. The Dogs Trust, Britain’s largest dog rescue charity, has experienced a three-fold rise in wolf breed dogs brought to its rehoming centres. The charity says it is ‘gravely concerned’ about the situation, saying unscrupulous breeders are also to blame, for selling the dogs to people in town-centre flats who were out at work all day and left them unattended. Last year the trust took in 261 abandoned wolf-type dogs — up from 78 in 2010. Although known for being friendly, affectionate and loyal, wolf breed dogs are also prone to separation anxiety and extreme boisterousness. Steve Goward, training and behavioural advisor at The Dogs Trust, said: ‘These dogs are beautiful creatures and can make wonderful companions but they need owners who understand the demands of this breed and are in a position to offer a lifetime commitment. ‘We are seeing too many of these dogs being abandoned when they become too much for their owners and rescue centres have to pick up the pieces.’ Tragedy: Last week, six day-old Eliza-Mae Mullane was mauled to death by her parents' pet Alaskan Malamute at their home in Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire . Another animal rescue charity, Blue Cross, reported a five-fold increase in the number of dogs handed in over the last five years, from 10 in 2008 to 52 last year. The organisation’s head of rehoming, Mandy Jones, said: ‘Copying your favourite celebrity’s hairstyle is one thing but we urge people to put a lot more thought into getting a new pet. ‘We see so many animals given up because their owners did not realise how much time and effort it takes to care for them.’ On Game of Thrones dire wolves, played by Northern Inuit dogs are adopted as pups by the children of nobleman Ned Stark, played by Sean Bean . She added: ‘Sadly, the ‘have-it-now’ attitude of today’s consumer society seems to be the same whether you are buying a handbag or a dog.’ Game of Thrones features dire wolves, played by Northern Inuit dogs which resemble a cross between a German shepherd and malamute. On the show, the dogs are adopted as pups by the children of nobleman Ned Stark, played by Sean Bean, after being found in a forest moping around their dead mother, who had been killed by a deer. The makers of the show had considered using actual wolves but they are illegal in the UK, where the series is filmed.

Breeds became popular after featuring in shows such as Game of Thrones . Charities say hundreds of Malamutes and Huskies were given up last year . Breeds' demands for attention and exercise are proving too much . Last week newborn Eliza-Mae Mullane was mauled to death by family pet .

World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi has retired from football management. The 66-year-old Italian announced his decision on Sunday, after winning a third successive Chinese league title with Guangzhou Evergrande. Lippi, who spent most of his playing career with Sampdoria, entered management in in 1982. He went on to coach 13 different teams including Italy, Juventus, Napoli and Inter. Marcello Lippi secured his third straight Chinese league title and then immediately announced his retirement . Marcello Lippi won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, his side beat France in the final in Germany . Lippi, smoking one of his trademark cigars, talks to goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon after winning the World Cup . 1995: Wins Serie A, Coppa Italia and Supercopa with Juventus. 1996: Wins Champions League, European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup with Juventus. 1997: Wins Serie A and Supercopa with Juventus. 1998: Wins Serie A for third time with Juventus. 2002: Wins Serie A and Supercopa with Juventus. 2003: Wins Serie A and Supercopa with Juventus. 2006: Wins World Cup with Italy. 2012: Wins Chinese Super League and Chinese FA Cup with Guangzhou Evergrande. 2013: Wins Chinese Super League and Asian Champions League. 2014: Wins third consecutive Chinese Super League title. Lippi, the only coach in history to have won both the European and Asian versions of the Champions League, said: 'I don't want to coach any more, I'm too old. 'Guangzhou Evergrande will have a new coach next season.' He added that he will take over as technical director. Former Italy and Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro is among the favourites to replace him as coach of the Chinese team. Lippi steered Italy to World Cup success in 2006 where they defeated France in a final that will be remembered for Zinedine Zidane's headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi. Unfortunately for Lippi, he could not emulate that success in his second spell in charge of the Azzurri - they were eliminated in the group stage four years later in South Africa. By far his most successful periods as a club manager came in Turin. In two spells at Juventus (1994-99 and 2001-04) Lippi won the Champions League, five Serie A titles, the Coppa Italia, Superopa Italiana, European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup. He also won the Serie A Coach of the Year three times while in charge of the The Old Lady. Lippi will become technical director of Guangzhou Evergrande, the team he has been managing since 2012 . Lippi won five Serie A titles with Juventus as well as the Champions League and Coppa Italia and Supercopa . Lippi celebrates winning the Italian league with Gianluca Pessotto at the Stadio Delle Alpi in 2003 . Lippi's second spell in charge of Italy was less successful, with the Azzurri collapsing at the 2010 World Cup .

Marcello Lippi has retired from football management . The 66-year-old said he was 'too old' to carry on . Lippi made announcement after securing his third Chinese league title . The Italian won the World Cup, Champions League and five Serie A titles . Lippi managed (among others) Juventus, Inter, Napoli and Italy .

(CNN) -- A crew member on a U.S.-flagged cargo ship captured by pirates off the coast of Somalia is suing his employers, claiming they sent him into pirate-infested waters without adequate protection, his attorney said Monday. Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse has been charged with piracy in federal court in New York. Richard Hicks of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, a crew member on the Maersk Alabama, filed suit Monday against Waterman Steamship Corp. and Maersk Line Limited, according to the attorney, Terry Bryant. A spokeswoman for Mobile, Alabama-based Waterman Steamship Corp. said she did not know about the suit and did not immediately comment. A spokeswoman for Maersk Line Limited did not immediately return a call from CNN seeking comment. The Maersk Alabama was hijacked by pirates April 8. Hicks, working as chief steward and preparing food for other crew members, heard over the loudspeaker that pirates were on board, and he and other crew members gathered in the ship's engine room for nearly 12 hours, according to a news release from Bryant. "The engine room was dark and hot, maybe 130 degrees," Hicks said in the news release. "We were all cramping up with heat stroke symptoms when we were able to take a pirate hostage and tried to negotiate the return of our captain." The pirates promised to exchange Capt. Richard Phillips for the pirate hostage, but reneged on that agreement, the news release. Phillips offered himself as a hostage in exchange for the freedom of his crew. He was held on a lifeboat until U.S. Navy snipers on a nearby ship fatally shot three pirates, rescued Phillips and arrested a fourth pirate. The ship's owners -- the two companies -- knowingly exposed their employees to danger and took no steps to provide appropriate security and safety for the crew, Bryant alleges. "Waterman Steamship Corp. and Maersk Line Limited chose to rely on the United States military and taxpayers to provide after-the-fact rescue operations," Bryant said in the news release. "This choice caused substantially more cost and risk to human life than what would have been incurred by defendants had they provided appropriate levels of security in the first place." Hicks is seeking at least $75,000, and "reserves the right to amend this pleading for a certain amount in the future, as it is too early to determine the maximum amount of plaintiff's damages," according to the suit. Hicks is still suffering from injuries as a result of the incident and is afraid to return to work, the news release said.

Suit alleges crew sent into pirate-infested waters without protection . Representatives of ship's owners have yet to comment . Maersk Alabama was hijacked by pirates April 8 . Plaintiff Richard Hicks, of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, was the ship's steward .

By . Daily Mail Reporter and Associated Press . PUBLISHED: . 15:43 EST, 12 July 2013 . | . UPDATED: . 15:43 EST, 12 July 2013 . Ariel Castro now faces hundreds of new charges relating to the abduction and imprisonment of three young girls in his Cleveland home for about a decade. The 977-count indictment against Castro includes charges of rape and kidnapping and two counts of aggravated murder on accusations that Castro starved and punched one of the women while she was pregnant until she miscarried. The indictment does not include charges that could carry a death sentence, but Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty said he is still reserving that option. In chains: Castro, seen here at an earlier hearing, now faces 977 charges relating to the abduction and captivity of three young women and one of their children . Castro, 53, is charged with kidnapping the three women and holding them captive — sometimes restrained in chains — along with a 6-year-old girl he fathered with one of them. Castro pleaded not guilty to an earlier 329-count indictment. Castro is charged with two counts of aggravated murder related to one act, saying he purposely caused the unlawful termination of the pregnancy of one of the women. The new indictment also charges him with 512 counts of kidnapping, 446 counts of rape, seven counts of gross sexual imposition, six counts of felonious assault, three counts of child endangerment and one count of possessing criminal tools. Monster: Two of the most serious charges that Castro faces are two of aggravated manslaughter when he allegedly punched and starved one of the women until she miscarried a child . The indictment alleges he repeatedly restrained the women, sometimes chaining them to a pole in a basement, to a bedroom heater or inside a van and assaulting them with a vacuum cord if they tried to escape . The 576-page indictment covers the period . from August 2002, when the first girl disappeared, to May, when the . women were rescued. The first indictment covered only the period from . August 2002 to February 2007. 'Today's indictment moves us closer to resolution of this gruesome case,' McGinty said in a statement. 'Our investigation continues, as does our preparation for trial.' Emotional reunion: Amanda Berry (center) with her daughter and six-year-old daughter after she escaped from a decade in captivity . Freed: Michelle Knight (pictured left) and Gina DeJesus (right) were also rescued from the Castro home in May . News that the women had been found . alive electrified the Cleveland area, where two of the victims were . household names after years of searches, publicity and vigils. But elation soon turned to shock as allegations about their treatment began to emerge. The . indictment against Castro alleges he repeatedly restrained the women, . sometimes chaining them to a pole in a basement, to a bedroom heater or . inside a van. It says one of the women tried to escape and he assaulted her with a vacuum cord around her neck.

Castro, 52, went from facing 329 to 977 charges . Hundreds of new counts included multiple rape, kidnapping, and aggravated manslaughter . Trial is scheduled for August 5 but delays are possible, judge said .

By . Daily Mail Reporter . Last updated at 4:03 PM on 29th June 2011 . Accidental death: Stuart James Bullas, 57, was crushed to death by his beloved classic car at his factory in Lye, near Birmingham . A company director and motor-racing enthusiast was crushed to death when his prized vintage sports car fell on him as he repaired it. Stuart James Bullas, 57, of Edgbaston, Birmingham, had broken several motor racing  records in amateur competitions with his beloved yellow Austin Healey Sprite Mark 1, which weighed more than half a tonne. Mr Bullas, who was divorced and had no children, was found dead on the shop floor of his family engineering firm BG Bullas Ltd in Lye, near Stourbridge, on April 10. He had been doing some last-minute work on the car, which had appeared on Top Gear and was driven by The Stig, before a race. Black Country coroner Robin Balmain . heard the business owner had apparently used a crane to lift the vehicle . but had not secured it properly on the frame. It fell out of a . cradle, crushing him as he lay on the floor beneath it, while clutching a . ratchet drive. His body was found by his driving partner Robin Johnson and some other friends. He was declared dead at the scene by . paramedics. Motor enthusiast: Mr Bullas was a keen race competitor in his beloved Austin Healey . Mr Johnson, of Kings Norton, who had known Mr Bullas . since he was 15, recalled how he tried in vain to life the car off his friend. Fighting back tears, he said: 'Stuart . must have used the crane to lift the car and it probably slipped off . the loop and fell on him.' Mr Bullas had usually been 'a . stickler for making sure things were properly done', Mr Johnson said, as . he had lost two fingers in a metal press when younger. They had co-owned the car and arranged to meet at the factory on the . day Mr Bullas's body was found, so they could go to Loton Park, near . Shrewsbury, for a race. Another friend Dave Powell described Mr Bullas as being 'careful and fearless'. Mr Bullas's older brother Graham, from Christchurch in Dorset, said: 'He was a lovely person - very generous and considerate and it was summed up at the funeral. There were hundreds of people there.' He added: 'Anybody working on a motor vehicle in the future who reads this sad story must take care to avoid such tragic accidents themselves.' Mr Balmain ruled Mr Bullas died of traumatic asphyxia due to being trapped under a motor vehicle and that it had been an accident. Car lover: The Austin Healey of Mr Bullas appeared on Top Gear driven by The Stig (second left) - with presenters Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson .

Amateur racing champion who had beloved classic car driven by The Stig on Top Gear .

Britons are burning themselves out by not getting enough 'me time', suggests a new study. Researchers found nearly two-thirds of adults (61 per cent) aren't getting enough 'down-time' a week - leading to stress, tiredness and even depression. For the study involving 2,000 adults, 'me time' was defined as taking time-out for yourself. Scroll down for video . Psychologist Linda Papadopoulos, pictured, said it was important to remember we are 'human beings not human doings' and it is nceessary to take time out to watch a movie or read a book to re energise . The findings from the study, commissioned by relationship website eHarmony, show that despite needing around 20 hours of mental down-time a week to feel relaxed and refreshed, less than two in five Britons (39 per cent) are meeting the requirement. Among those who said they don't have enough me time, more than a third (36 per cent) felt more tired, while others felt more stressed (33 per cent), burnt out (22 per cent), and even depressed (14 per cent). One in 25 (four per cent) even said they feel less attractive. More than one in seven people (15 per cent) say they have no me time at all, while one in nine (11 per cent) have less than five hours a week. Longer working hours is one of the biggest drains on taking time out, with 42 per cent saying their job gets in the way of their relaxation, rising to 57 per cent among those aged 45 to 54. For younger adults, browsing social media sites has a big impact, with 10 per cent citing 'FOMO' - fear of missing out - as a real issue. Other time drains include household chores (41 per cent), personal admin (21 per cent) and thinking about work (18 per cent), while even optional activities, such as group hobbies (14 per cent), can have a negative impact. 1. North East (28.17 hours) 2. Eastern England (27.75 hours) 3. South West (22.67 hours) 4. North West (20.47 hours) 5. Yorkshire and Humber (20.31 hours) 6. West Midlands (19.52 hours) 7. East Midlands (18.96 hours) 8. London (18.88 hours) 9. Scotland (18.84 hours) 10. South East (18.40 hours) 11 Wales (18.15 hours) NB: UK average (20.73) hours . Psychologist Doctor Linda Papadopoulos, who assisted with the study, said 'It's important to remember that we're human-beings, not human-doings, and finding the time to simply indulge yourself, whether that be watching a movie, reading a book or even taking a nap, is really important to distress and energise. 'Everyone is different, but typically around 20 hours of me time each week is a good amount to help feel in control of life and evaluate your goals. 'Some people may spread this out over the week, while others in highly-pressured jobs may 'binge' on down time at the weekend to catch up after a busy week.' People living in the North East get the most Me Time a week (28 hours) - 10 hours more than the Welsh who have the least (18 hours), according to the research. Those aged 25 to 34 have the least amount of time to themselves (13 hours per week), eight hours less than the national average of 21 hours. Given more me time a week, people would indulge in their favorite hobbies and interests including reading (44 per cent), listen to more music (31 per cent), watch quality TV (30 per cent), go for more walks or simply just catch up on sleep (both 29 per cent). Researchers found that workers are becoming increasingly stressed due to time shortages, file photo . Jemima Wade, of eHarmony, said: 'The findings show that taking some time out for yourself is a necessity these days, not a luxury. 'Busy lives can mean we forget to step back and give ourselves space to relax or take a minute to do the little things that make us happy. 'With that in mind, eHarmony is launching 'Love Sundays' - a project encouraging singles to do something that makes them feel good every Sunday - be it trying out a new recipe at home, curling up on the couch with a good book or just taking 10 minutes out to sit and relax, or maybe even chat to a new match.'

TV psychologist Linda Papadopoulos warned about the need to relax . Household chores, thinking about work and hobbies can hit 'me time' Two-thirds of adults do not take enough time for themselves .